in grace and in his wisdom and goodness thereby to govern his Church and people upon Earth for his own worship honor and their good peace comfort society and safety the which whosoever doth neglect omit and despise doth manifest himself to be none of Gods chosen people none of the chosen of Christ Whosoever professeth himself to be a subject to an earthly King or Governor and despiseth to submit in performance to his wholesom Laws and Ordinances dissembleth and is in truth no Subject to the King or Governor So it is with him that professeth himself to be a Christian if he refuseth and despiseth to submit in performance to the most wholesom Laws of Jesus Christ for the Government of his Church upon Earth before men he is no Christian but an Hypocrite Q. We finde it clear in the holy Scripture that God anointed called and sent before himself his Son Jesus Christ to three Offices for the government of his Church upon Earth of a King a Priest and a Prophet and he did execute the same Offices by himself in manifestation being upon Earth in his Church and hath ever and will execute the same by his instruments upon Earth for the government Isai 9. 6 is ever upon his shoulders He is a Priest for ever And we find in his visible Church he called and sent Moses his Minister and Instrument Exod. 24. 1 9 before men and appointed him to call and send Aaron and his sons and others before men and he called and sent Samuel and he appointed Samuel to call and send Saul and David Elijah to call Elisha in his room and so as it pleased the Lord it appeared in the rest of the Instrumenâ—s of his Offices And having called and sent his Apostles himself as the Apostle saith He gave this to some to be Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastors and Eph 4. 11 Teachers for the gathering together of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ And saith As the Father sent me so send I you As the Father sent me to call Joh. 20 21 you and send you so send I you to call and send others and this was not for a time in these his Offices of continuance but for ever upon Earth so long as his Church is upon Earth So the Apostles called and sent Timothy and Titus and others and advised them to call and 1 Tim 3. 2 c. Tit. 1 5 c. send others not rashly but advisedly And so hath been the continued calling and sending of Pastors and Teachers in the Churches of Christ upon Earth ever sithence Now what is to be thought of those which contemn and despise this Ordinance of God and his Christ which despise his Ordinance of calling and sending his instruments called and sent by such his Ministers and instruments as were so called and sent for the government of his Church upon Earth which despise such Pastors and Ministers so called and sent their Ministry of the Word and Sacraments their long teaching and feeding of Gods people with his Law for government and his Gospel for everlasting comfort by the performance of Jesus Christ for them And which call and send themselves or are called and sent by others which were not called or sent by such as were called and sent according to Christs Ordinance to feed and teach Gods people by his Law and Gospel as they profess A. I take it the sentence of these is plainly held forth and denounced by Christ himself and his Apostles and of Moses long before that and the Prophets The Apostle saith He that despiseth Moses Law dyeth without mercy under two or three witnesses and Heb. 10 28 29 of how much sorer punishment shall he be worthy which trampleth under foot the Son of God and counteth the blood of the Testament an unholy thing and doth despite to the Spirit of Grace And to those that call themselves or are called by others not called according to Christs Ordinance Christ saith He that climbeth up to the sheepfold another way is a thief and a robber Joh. 10. 1 And Moses telleth us that Korah Dathan and Abiram with great congregations which they had gathered against him and Aaron the called and sent of Christ for his Ministers and Instruments to execute his Offices as he pleased in his Church but especially against Aaron which was called and sent by Moses according to the Lords appointment and ordinance saying that they and all the congregation were holy that the Lord Christ by his Spirit was amongst them all and therefore they took too much upon them to be special and onely Ministers and Instruments of Christ in those his Offices That they and the rest had holiness and calling by the Spirit of Christ to execute especially the Office of Aaron as well and fully as he upon whom â—oon after this judgment fell The Earth opened and swallowed up Korah Dathan and Abiram with all their families and all Numb 16 32 the men that were with Korah and all their goods No man saith the Apostle taketh this honor upon him but he Heb. 5. 4 that is called as Aaron was And again How shall they preach except they be sent Certain the Apostle meaneth sent according to Roâ— 10 15 the Ordinance of Christ And the Prophet speaking of them that held forth themselves to speak great things by the Revelation of the Spirit and of the people that did adhere unto such adviseth to go to the Law and the Testimony Isai 8. 16 19. 2â— for tryal of such If â—saith he they speak not according to this Word it is because they have no light in them If they speak without such calling as is according to this word of th Law and Testimonies approved and if they speak not as is approved in the Law and Testimony it is because there is no light in them they are false Prophets Obj. I hear some say Bishops and Presbyters which were called called many lewd persons ungifted to be Teachers and Ministers A. Jesus Christ called â—udas to be an Apostle a Teacher and Minister which was as evil as any man therefore it is possible that those which are called may call lewd and unâ—ifred persons this doth not take away the Ordinance of Christs calling neiâ—her did Q. Doth that Law of Christ first manifested and exbounded by Moses as Christ appointed to Gods chosen people the visible Church of Israel continue in force to all the visible Churches of Christ in the World for the Government of Christs Universal Church in every particular Nation A. In Moses exposition of that Law by Christs appointment to that Church there were many Sacrifices Ceremonies and Figures constituted which had relation unto Christ to come in the flesh and to perform the work of his coming before men and thereupon many Judgments to that Nation peculiar which as they had
Rom. 3. 10 11 12. there is none that understand there is none that seek God All are become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one And Christ said to the man There is none good but one and that is God And Esay Mat. 19. 17. Isa 64. 6. saith of himself and other like him We are all as an unclean thing all our Righteousnesse is as filthy raggs And Paul of himself in his best estate I am carnal sold under sin in me that is in my flesh the corrupt man dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7. 18. And if any saith he is somwhat when he is nothing he deceiveth himself in his own imagination And Paul said he found no means Gal. 6. 3. Rom. 7. 18. to perform that which is good The good he would do he did not and when he would do good evil was present with him Quest But it will be asked if no man be good wise just holy nor have goodness wisdome justice holiness nor can do that which is good c. before God Wherefore do the spirit of God in the Scriptures tearm and call some men good just holy wise c. A good man saith Salomon getteth favour of the Lord therefore Prov. 12. 2. Math. 12. 35. Iob 1. 1. Acts 10. 22. Math. 2. 1. some good man there is A goâ—d man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things saith Christ God called Iob a just man Cornelius was called a just man and Zacharias and Elizabeth were said to be just before God and to walk in all the Commandements of God without reproof They were callâ—d Wise men that came from the East to seek worship and offer gifts unto Christ Paul called those of the church Saints that is Holy men And Luke saith God spake by his Rom. 1. 5. holy Prophets Paul saith God revealed that to the holy Apostles Act. 3. 21. Eph. 3. 5. and Prophets which he did not before to the sons of men Why are men thus said in the Scriptures to be good just wise holy if none are nor ever were so sithence the fall and loss in Adam Answ These were so good holy just wise in the estimation of men and therefore so reorded of the Penmen of the holy Scriptures and no doubt but they were special branches of the Vine Christ such men as the world was not worthy of yea further they were good holy wise just and without blame before God in Christ as they were elected in Christ ingrafted in Christ abiding in Christ as Paul said he and all the elect in Christ were before Eph. i. 4. the world God saith he hath elected us in Christ before the world to be holy and without blame before him in love And after the same manner he saith We are quickned in Christ raised up in Christ we live in Christ saith Luke In him we live move and have our being Eph. 2. 6. Acts 17. 8. Col. 3. 3. 2 Cor. 2. 4. Act. 2. 12 13. Our life is hid with Christ in God saith Paul These are the misteries of Christ the misteries of the gospel the misteries of Faith so called hid to those which are lost as the Apostle saith The misteries of Christ are not manifested tto all When the holy Ghost was come plentifully upon the Apostles according to Christs promise that they spake to much people there gathered the misteries of Christ of the gospel of Faith it is said some marvelled some doubted some mocked some said they were drunk and spake they knew not what but some believed as they did at Pauls Sermon at Antioch As many as were ordained As 13. 48. to eternal life believed And it may be there are of all these somes here some that marvel some that doubt some that mock and deride some that think and will say these misteries now delivered are strange things things spoken by me as I know not what yet there may be some here ordained to eternal life that believe Indeed this is a mistery spoken that Christ should command men to do that which in the least he knoweth they cannot do themselves who will lay a burthen upon the back of his beast that knoweth he cannot bear it It is a mistery that every man should think himself to be have and do that before God at least somwhat which he neither is have nor doth in truth It is a mistery that every man corrupted thinketh himself to be have and do some good thing at least before God whenas there is no man that is hath or doth any thing in the least good holy just in Gods fight It is 〈◊〉 that every man corrupted should be dead in himself and that he that is quickned and liveth shall be quickned and live only in Christ that he that is holy good just wise c. should onely be holy good just wise c. in Christ not in himself And that for these things being in truth so Christ setteth out to every man that cometh after him to deny himself which no corrupt man in truth can do as hath been proved Object I say the Prophet did deny himself when he said We Isa 64. 6. are all as an unclean thing all our Righteousness is as filthy raggs Paul did deny himself when he said When the commandement came Rom. 7. sin revived and I died and when he said I am carnal sold under sin and when he said there dwelt no good thing in him and that he found no means to do the thing that was good and that the good which he would do that he did not and the evil that he would not do that he did Answ This denyal of a mans self is that which Christ intended in his commandement indeed but it was not Esay nor Paul of themselves that did thus deny themselves but this fruit was wrought up in them from the Vine Christ by the spirit of Christ which they as branches of the Vine did bear and hold forth as Christ pleased to make them his instruments thereof This was Christs work and performance in them for an evidence witness and manifestation to them that they were branches abiding in Jesus Christ the Vine and came after Jesus Christ in truth not their own work and performance howsoever of grace it pleaseth the Lord Jesus Christ to account it theirs for a corrupt and evil Tree can bring forth no such good fruit Quest If Christ in these words command and call men to deny themselves which is too hard for them to do in truth before God but onely outwardly before men which is but dissimulation before God what benefit is this to men that Christ teacheth and commandeth them to deny themselves to come after him which they cannot do in truth they shall come after Christ never the more for in whatsoever Christ requireth he requireth truth in the inward parts as David saith and he saith My son give me thy heart A
would think himself bound to be thankful to that friend and to love him as long as he lives otherwise he were an unworthy man Every man is bound to perform this building which is the doing of the command of God but his transgression is so much which is his debt to pay that he is not able to do any thing of the command Jesus Christ put forth himself a friend to all Believers in him he builds the house for them he hath paid all the debt of their transgression with the price of his passion blood and death and they have the whole benefit and the reward thereof Is not this a comfort to every believer will not this make them thankful and ever to love the Lord Jesus Christ Surely that man is no believer that sheweth not comfort therein yea their fulnes and love to the Lord Jesus Christ for this This made David to call out O that men would therefore praise Psal 107. 8. the Lord for his goodness and declare the wonders that he hath done for the children of men And What shall I give unto the Lord for all that he hath done unto mee I will take the cup of salvation and give Psal 116. 13. 1 Cor. 16. 22. thanks unto the Lord. And this made Paul to say Cursed is he that loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ. But now the words of many are stout against Christ his undertakings and performances which notwithstanding say like Hypocrites Wherein have we spoken against thee Of whom the Prophet Mal. 3. 13. fore told never so many of these as now are standing up to set up man and pull down Christ yea instead of denying themselves as Christ commandeth deny Christ in the matter I know there are many that will say O that I had assurance of Christ and his performances for me and the benefits thereof of the forgivenesse of my sins and all my debts paid to God and of life everlasting by Christ Quest But how shall I know this Answ If thou seest and findest the fruits of Christs spirit wrought up in thee mentioned and intended by the Apostle love Gal. 5. 22. joy peace faith goodnesse c. and especially this self-denyal wrought up in thee as Christ in the Text commandeth to deny thy self this is a witnesse and an assurance to thee of all thou desirest to know and to have of Christ The fruit of the Vine witness and assure that the branches that beare them do abide in the Vine and have all of the Vine behoovable for them even so where the good and true fruits of the spirit of Christ appear are born and held forth in truth and simplicity it is a certain evidence witnesse and assurance to that man that he is a living branch abiding in Christ and hath all of Christ that he hath undertaken and performed for Gods chosen ones that he hath forgivenesse of all his sins and everlasting life For these things wrought up in him are the witness and assurance to him of the Spirit of adoption received and the same spirit saith Rom. 8. 16. the Apostle witnesseth that is assureth that we are the children of God and coheirs with Christ The love and free grace of God in Christ the cause of all good unto man THe Apostle saith We love God because he loved us first And again The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the 1 Iob. 4. 19. Rom. 5 5. 1 Pâ—â— 4. 8. Rom. 13. 8 Act. 7. 28. Holy Ghost which is given unto us Love covereth a multitude of sinnes And again Love is the fulfilling of the law From hence I gather that it is the love and free grace of God in Christ to the Elect that is the root the cause and worker of all good to them and of all good called theirs as the gift of Christ to them So God loved the world that he gave his onely Son c Their Election in Christ Ioh. 3. 16. their holinesse justification righteousnes or unblameablenes before God as Paul said We were elected in Christ before the world to be holy and without blame before him in love Their Predestination Eph. 1. 4. and Ordination to eternal life their adoption through Christ their quickning in Christ their raising in Christ their love to God and men their believing and Faith their obedience repentance Eph. 2. 5 6. prayer and thanksgiving the Preaching Teaching and Exhortation of all or any of these to them as the Text saith The love of God to us causeth us to love God if we love him And I take it the love and free grace of God in his Christ to the Elect is the fulfiller and the fulfilling of the will of God his Law and commandement of all these and the rest for them as the Apostle saith Love is the fulfilling of the law But I take it the love of the Elect to God and all the performances Rom. 13. 8. of the Elect never have been are or shall be any cause or motive of Gods love and free grace to them or of any of the performances thereof or therein to them As neither of the gift of his Son Christ nor of their election in Christ their sanctification and justification before him their Predestination and Ordination to eternal life their Adoption and Glorification their Quickning or Raising up in Christ their love to God or man their Believing and Faith their Obedience Repentance Prayers and Thanksgiving Nor of the true Preaching Teaching and Exhortation of all or any of these to them And although I finde not many that say the love and performance of the Elect to God was the cause of Gods love to them before the world and of Gods performances for them and to them before the world Object Yet I finde many that say that the love of the Elect to God now in the world and their performances of the duties of love to God in the world do not cause God move and incite God to love them to do them and others good as their faith their obedience their repentance prayer and supplications their praise and thanksgiving and the like For say they God hath promised good to them that love God and do the duties of love to God and men as to shew mercy to thousands in them that love him and keep his commandements and saith To them that fear my Name the sun of Righteousnesse Exod. 20. shall arise and health shall be under his wings And He that Mal. 4. 3. believeth and is Baptized shall be saved Repent and cause others to repent and return from all your transgression so iniquity shall not be Mark 16. 16. Ezek. 18. 16. Iam. 5 16. your destruction Ask and you shall have seek and you shall finde knock and it shall be opened unto you Acknowledge your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed for the prayer of a Righteous man availeth
do although he know they can do nothing of the holy command before God because he would have them know and consider of his grace and goodness to them in undertaking and performing those things of the holy commandement for them first and last unto their salvation and everlasting happiness which themselves were not able to do in the least and to take up the song of David the sweet singer of Israel continually before men praising the Lord for his goodness and to declare the wonders that he hath done for the children of men so that their labour is not in vain in the Lord. Seventhly Because when it pleaseth the L. Jesus Christ to send his holy spirit to them 1 Cor 5. 1. 5. 8. to act in them these things of his holy commandement and to make them his branches to bear and bring forth such fruits in singlenesse of heart in sincerity and godlinesse as fruits of the spirit in truth then these are true evidences testimonies and witnesses of the spirit received as the Tree is known by the fruits in the rule of Christ And the spirit received doth witnesse that they are the children of God We have received the spirit saith the Apostle and the same spirit doth witness that we are the children of Rom. 8 15. 16. God Object Further the deceiving spirit objecteth to teach that mans love to God his prayer praise his giving forgiving repentance and the rest like commanded do not cause move and incite God to love give and forgive his servants and do them good is the flaking and quenching of all devotion and religious service to God Answ This Doctrine indeed may by the power of Christ quench the devotion and supposed service to God of Hypocrites that there by dishonour Christ for what greater dishonour to Christ can be done then to uphold or think that poore corrupt man by his love believing praying praising giving forgiving repenting and the rest can procure God to love justifie give and forgive which is onely the work that Christ hath undertaken for poor unable man saying Lo I come to do thy will O God which only Heb. 10. 7. procureth the love justification forgiveness and all goodness of God to man freely without any work or labour of mans I will love them freely saith God We are iustified freely by grace Hos 14. 4. Take of the water of life freely And of this work of causing moving inciting and procuring God to love man to justifie forgive Rom. 3. 24 Rev. 21. 6. 2 Thes 2. 3. 4. and do good to man the honour and praise belongeth onely to our Christ that sitteth upon the throne and it is the Antichrist the man of sin which the Apostle speaketh of that taketh this honour or any part of it to himself and robbeth Christ of this honour onely due to him But in those which are true believers their doctrine doth not quench but kindle devotion and religious worship and service to God and his Christ For can there be greater incitement to devotion and Religion then for a man to be taught of God and to be assured by the spirit of Christ in him that Christ hath undertaken to do all for him to his justification and salvation before God that Christ with the will and good pleasure of God hath done doth and will do all for him to God paid his debt made his peace and made his reconciliation with God for his sins obtained the imputation of his righteousness to him in and by his fulfilling of the holy Law of God for him making him to be holy and without blame before God in love causing moving and inciting God to love him give to him forgive him and do him all good when as himself in himself is still a sinner corrupt and abominable and hath no good thing in him as Paul said he had not Rom. 7. 18. dwelling in himself and was not nor is able to do the least with God to procure the least love and goodness of God to himself Surely if this teaching will not kindle devotion in man he is no true Believer yea he is worse then the Heathens and Publicanes that Christ spake of which he said would love them that loved them that would do good to them that did good to them The Heatheâ—s and Publicanes saith Christ will do the same Mat. 5. 46 47. This did kindle exceeding devotion in David as we read it made him sing it made him praise worship fall down and kneel before the Lord his Maker and Redeemer and to call others O come saith he let us worship fall down and kneel before the Lord our Maker Psa 93. 6. These Positions following are the grounds of the Treatises and Meditations following The first Position is THat God fore-saw and fore-knew all things to be in the world before the world A Sparrow falls not to the ground Gal. 3. 8. Act. 2. 23 1. Pet. 1. 2 Mat. 10. 29 30. Ps 148. 6. without his providence That God willed and decreed all things before the world unchangable to be in eternity That Gods eternal will and decree was his present and unchangeable act of all he willed and decreed with and before himself Ps 13. 5. 6. before the world before whom all things are present and not future although in manifestation and appearance to the creature they be in future and appointed fulness of time That God fore-saw and fore-knew all mankind to become the children of wrath by the transgression of the first man notwithstanding Eph. 2. 3. Rom. 5. 18 he had power given him and free-will also to keep the covenant and do the commandement .. That it was Gods eternal act according to his eternal will and decree of love mercy and free grace to elect in Christ some of Eph. 1. 4. Rom. 8. 29 30. Act. 13. 48. Eph. 1. 5. the children of wrath out of the generall company of the children of wrath to be holy and without blame before him in love to be predestinated and ordained to eternal life and to be adopted the children of God through Christ according to the good pleasure of his will That those which according to the good pleasure of his will God so knew before and he so elected in Christ were holy and 1 Cor. 1. 2 3. Act. 13. 48. Rom. 8. 29 30. 1 Cor. 1. 8. Rom. 8. 33 without blame before God after they were elected out of the children of wrath no more to be the children of wrath but of God and were predestinated and ordained to eternal life were adopted the children of God through Christ called justified and glorified before God and were so before the foundations of the world was laid in Gods sight although these be not in appearance and manifestation to the creature till in future and fulness of time appointed That Christ undertook and performed all in acceptance willed Positi 2. Heb. 10. 9. Rev. 13. 8. and
might not be chargeable to the Churches without any certainty of maintenance A. First I say for Elimozinary maintenance of called and sent Ministers of Christs Law and Gospel there is no witness or president in the Scriptures It agreeth not to the honor of the Ministry of the Gospel that the Ministers thereof should be beggars of their maintenance we know alms and beggars and relatives and the Holy Ghost noteth in Scriptures that begging is a mark of unrighteousness and reprobation for David saith I never saw the righteous forsaken See Psal 109. 10 Psa 37. 25 Luk. 16. 3 nor their seed begging their bread Therefore the ascription of Elimozinary and begging maintenance to the Office of the instrumental honorable Ministry of Jesus Christ is antichristian and dishonorable to Jesus Christ Secondly Although we finde in the Scriptures that Priests and Prophets being Ministers of our God sometime were put upon arbitrary maintenance or miraculous in times of persecution and the Apostles his Ministers were put upon like arbitrary and miraculous maintenance according to the wisdom and good pleasure of our God in the alteration and change of the Levitical Priesthood and in the beginning of Christs gathering of Believers of Christ come in the flesh and his performing of all before men to mans salvation according to the Scriptures and in the persecutions of adversaries in those times yet all these did not destroy the Law and and Ordinance of Christ setled and established for certainty of the maintenance of his Ministry continuing in the moral and equity of that first established Law for the Government of his Church upon Earth in the continuance of the world to the end thereof in all Nations where and as he pleaseth as in the moral and equity is most fit And is not the righteous Law of Christ and the Ministry thereof as it was established by Christ to the Church of Israel as useful and necessary to the Church of Christ in all Nations in the moral and equity thereof for Government as it was to Israel Is it not as useful and necessary to Believers of Christ come in the flesh and that he hath performed all to mans salvation before men as it was to Believers that Christ should come in the flesh and perform all to mans salvation before men And is the glory and honor of the maintenance of the ministration of the glorious Law of Christ abated and demolished in the ministration of the moral and equity thereof accompanyed with the exceeding shining and glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ come in the flesh and that he hath performed all before men undertaken of him for the salvation of man to their everlasting comfort according to the Scriptures Certainly the righteous Laws of our God and Lord Christ which he first manifested written in Tables of stone to his Church of Israel for the Government of his Church in all Nations in the moral and equity thereof for worship to God for righteousness peace society safety and comfort among men themselves notwithstanding all or any eclipses through alrerations changes persecutions thereof by the providential wisdom of God therein before men is useful and needful still Certainly the need and use of the Law of Christ is as much now in the moral and equity thereof to Believers of Christ come for government c. as it was then in any way to Believers of Christ to come Certainly the Ministry and Ministers thereof in the moral and equity thereof for Government c. in all Nations of Believers of Christ come c. are as useful and needful still yea as glorious and honorable as ever they were and more glorious and honorable then before the Gospel the glad tydings therewith of Christ come in the flesh and to have performed all before men to mans salvation And certainly the certainty of maintenance appointed layd out and established by Christ himself to the Ministry and Ministers of that visible National Church of Israel in his incomprehensible wisdom as besitting useful necessary and requisite is still and shall be to the end of the world sitting useful necessary and requisite to the Ministry and Ministers of Christs perpetual honorable Law for his Government in the moral and equity thereof to his visible Church in all Nations of the World where the Chuch of Christ is National as it was in Israel and Iudea And this maintenance now to exceed that of the Ministry of the Law to that Nation by the addition of the glorious ministration of the Gospel the work of Jesus Christ come in the flesh and to have performed all before men for mans salvation And certainly the maintenance of the Ministry of the Law of Christ for Government of his Church of Israel layd on t and established there and then in the incontroulable wisdom of the Son of God our Christ and Lawgiver for the certainty of the maintenance thereof by Tythes and Offerings and the rest The same Law Government Ministry and Ministers in the moral and equity thereof remaining and continuing to all Nations to the end of the World where the Church of Christ is gathered in like manner nationally and visibly the same maintenance by Tythes and Offerings is still and shall be to the end of the world in the wisdom of Christ besitting useful necessary and requisit there There being in all Nations the matter of Tythes and Offerings remaining and in being at least to answer the moral and equity of the Law and Ordinance of Christ And the acutest wisdom of corrupt man in laying out maintenance of the Ministry and Ministers of the Law and Gospel of Jesus by other certain arbitrary or Elimozinary maintenance as have been by corrupt man corruptly propounded is but foolishness with God as the Apostle speaketh And certainly Gods people that are led by the Spirit of Christ will submit to the manifested wisdom of Christ for the Government of his Church in all Nations and the maintenance thereof layd out by Christ And I must forced by Religion add this further for the evidence of the wisdom of Christ manifested to men in laying out and establishing by Law and Ordinance Tythes and Offerings for certainty of the maintenance of the Ministry and Ministers of his Law and Gospel in all Nations where his Church is gathered Nationally and visibly That Christ did not lay out these as of that which was mans but of that which was Gods which was his own and not mans own therefore in the Law are called the Lords Offerings the Exod. 35. 21 Lev. 21. 21 Mal. 3. 8 9 Offerings of the Lord. And the Prophet called Tythes the Lords Ye have robbed me saith the Lord in Tythes and Offerings Ye are cursed with a curse for ye have robbed me even this whole Nation c. David saith The Earth is the Lords and all that therein is c. But Tythes and Offerings are at the Lords appointment in his Psal 24. 1 Law and Ordinance in
and none but believers are ordained to eternal life All must be damned that believe not Answ This Text is to be understood of as many of those present which heard the word of the Apostle preached at that time not of all men and women young and old when where and whatsoever whereof many never heard the Gospel preached and are departed Nehem. 1. 7 this life not utterly without hope to us of their eternal life though without manifestation thereof in believing the Lord knoweth who are his Paul was elected in Christ before the world and made sure of Ephes 1. 4 1 〈◊〉 13. eternal lâ—fe when Paul persecuted the Church and did it in unbelief he had not saith The fourth sort of professing believers in Christ which are Hypocrites are such as the Apostle speaketh of that turn the grace of God Iud 4 into lasciviousnes or wantonnes which rather use the liberty that they conceive in their corrupt understandings the grace of God Christ bringeth to believers for to be an occasion to the flesh to give unto Gal 5. 13. them the raines of licenciousness and sinning that the abounding of grace above sin spoken by the Apostle giveth all liberty to do any sin Rom. 5. 10 the flesh inclineth unto And for that the Prophet saith all their iniquities being believers are laid upon Christ And for that the Apostle saith he hath born them already upon the tree in his body and washed Isa 53. 6. them away with his blood There is no conscience or question say they to be made of sinning or not sinning grace hath made no stop or exception of sinning This believing is ungodly and like to the womans eâ—ting of the forbidden fruit wherein the old Serpent the devil made her believe there was no sin so the Devil maketh these believe there is no sin in this their believing that is most abominable sin in the sight of God For the faith and believing which is the fruit of the spirit is quite contrary believing for although the true saith which is the fruit of the spirit of Christ apprehendeth the love and grace of God in their election in the promise in the laying of all their sins and iniquities upon Christ and in Christs bearing them in his body upon the tree and in his washing them away by his blood Yet they which have this true faith do not believe that Christ leaveth them there to themselves to live after the flesh licenciously with loose reigns of sinning But they beleeve the free grace of God that hath done these great things for them through Jesus Christs performances will go along with them and teach them that is fit them inable direct and guide them as the instruments of his spirit to denie ungodlines and worldly lusts and to Tit. 2 11. live soberly godly and righteously in this present world That the spirit of Jesus Christ will fit them to be his instruments of Rom. 8. 13 mortifying the deeds of the flesh by the spirit and lead them that they shall walk after the spirit and favour the things of the spirit yea that the more they have of the spirit in them the more the fruit of the spirit will appear in them in all manner of goodness and less of the flesh unto sin and wickedness The more of Christ they have the more will Christ and his righteousness shine in them The manifestation of 1 Cor. 12. 7. the spirit saith the Apostle is given to every to profit or do good withall where good is not the spirit is not where sin is abounding the spirit is wanting 1 Cor. 12. 3. No man saith the Apostle can call Jesus Christ the Lord but by the Mar. 7. 1. Holy Ghost meaning except he be an Hypocrite Therefore those which call Jesus Christ their Lord and Saviour for their liberty of sinning Gal. 5. 23. are palpable Hypocrites For sin is not the fruit of the spirit but goodness and righteousness It is grace indeed from Christ to wretched sinful man to have wrought out his deliverance from Hell and from sin against his good God But it were no grace from Christ to have wrought forth for Leuâ—â— 19. 17. Rom. 8. 13 Pâ—â— 37. 24 v. 35. man a liberty to sin against his good God But herein appeareth the grace of Christ to his elected believers that he suffereth them not to sin as the flesh lusteth that he mortifieth sin in them by his spirit That though they fall they shall not be cast of for the Lord putteth Ierem. 32. 40â— under his hand That the righteous shall never be forsaken I will put such a feare into their hearts saith the Lord with whom I have made my Covenant that they shall never depart from me Christs Government of his Church upon Earth The truths and lights in this Treatise discover the errors of the Independents Anabaptists and Brownists and of their pharasaical Legalists the great opposites and may reconcile them all through the power and working of the grace of Jesus Christ touching Christs Government of his Church here upon Earth IF those amongst us which are called Independents and the rest which harp of that string who to uphold their Independency and immunity amongst men Therefore hold forth Christ their only head King Ruler Governor Lord Law giver Magistrate Pastor and Teacher c. and not man And that Christ only hath the office and power to rule govern give Laws feed teach c. and no man And that the Laws given by man to the republique and Kingdom whereof Christ is the head King Governor and Law-giver only are not of bounden duty and Conscience to be obeyed But onely those given by Christ himself and under his rule and Government only If those I say which hold forth Christ thus unto men do also further hold him forth to have all power to good all good wisdom righteousness holiness and true goodness in himself alone And that by his own soul and absolute power he doth all good things whether good rule Government Order Law-giving yea love joy peace patience meekness righteousness temperance yea all goodness whatsoever as he pleaseth in his universal national political parochial particular Church and in any member of any of them through his holy and incomprehensible spirit in them sent unto them for their comfort keeping preserving and fitting to the Kingdom of glory and the praise and glory of his grace for ever And that every good thing among the Sons of men done in truth Gods sight good so done and is the deed of Christ himself by his powerful spirit and not of the will of man but of the will of God only And if those do acknowledge that in man as himself dwelleth no good thing And that in and of himself he hath no means to perform that which is good before God as Paul the Apostle of Christ did Rom. 7. 18 confess and acknowledg of himself
And that they have no power to good before God or can think or do any good themselves of themselves but that they know they are wretched miserable poor blind and naked And so by consequence Rev. 3. 17. that man or men of their own power and wisdom cannot rule well govern well order well give Laws well in Gods sight with any goodness in their ruling ordering Law-giving teaching no nor can love well rejoyce well nor pray well as they ought to pray as the Apostle saith we cannot pray as we ought that is with any goodness Rom. 8 26. in our prayers And if those will acknowledge this undoubted truth That although man cannot do these or any good things of himself of the holy Law and Commandment before God yet because it pleaseth Christ all such works of righteousness and goodness should be done among his Elect and other to the glory of the Father in Heaven in the way of mans pilgrimage as Christ speaketh Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which Mat. 5. 16. is in Heaven And that Christ therefore hath sent his holy spirit to his universal national political parochial or particular Church all being but one Catholique Church though severed into particulars and to every member of the same to bear and hold forth such fruit of his spirit of all manner of goodness as should be most fit and most behoofful to all or any of them for the glory of the Father and their comfort whether it be the goodness of ruling governing ordering commanding teaching obeying serving loving c. And of his great grace to man to make and fit corrupted man in his Members of soul and body as he pleaseth to be his instruments of such his good and righteous works best befitting publique and private universal national political parochial and every particular Church and every member thereof in their Relations to the glory of God and the good and comfort of his elect people And that those good and righteous works which Christ doth by his spirit in his Elect He of his grace to his Elect in his word of Rom. 4. 6. grace imputeth and accounteth to them and calleth them their works as if they had been done of themselves Although they were but instruments only of his spirit whereby or wherewith Christ himself by his spirit did them As if a writer of a good matter should sharp fit lead and guide his pen wherewithall he writeth and should afterwards praise his pen and say my pen writ this good matter Certainly man is no more the doer of the good of the holy Commandment then the pen of the writer is the writer of the good matter It is Christ only of his grace that accounteth it unto man to be mans and of grace to call it mans So through his great grace as he accounteth his own works and doings to be the works and doings of his Elect and calleth them their works whereof they are only instruments fitted of him and by him not of nor by themselves even so those which are but his fitted instruments he in his word of grace calleth the doers of the work which himself only doth And giveth them the titles of the doers of his work which are his own only titles due and proper to himself the doer in truth only So the Lord made and called Saul David and Solomon Kings over Israel Now my 1 Sam. 12 13. 1 Sam. 16. 1. 1 King 3. 37. Act. 7. 35. Lord and God saith Solomon thou hast made me King over Israel instead of my Father David So God made and call'd Moses a Prince a Judge and a deliverer of his people Israel out of Egipt Moses whom they forsook saying who made thee a Prince and a Judg The same God sent for a Prince and a deliverer So God made and called Judah his Law-giver and likewise Moses his Law giver to his people saying Judah is my Law-giver The Law came by Moses God called Saul David Solomon by the names of Kings Rulers Psal 6â— 7 Joh. 1. 17. and Governors And he called Moses by the name of Prince Judge and Deliverer And he called Judah and Moses by the name of Law-givers which names titles and works of the Offices of such titles although were only his and proper to him alone As the Prophet Isaiah saith The Lord is our Judg the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us As if he should have plainly said There is Isa 33. 22. no Judg Law-giver or King that can save or do man any good but the Lord as being such And the Apostle saith There is one only Law-giver that is able to save and destroy who art thou that judgest Jam. 4. 12. Ephes 1. 21. 26. Mat. 27. 18 another man meaning there is none but that one Christ to whom the Father hath given and committed all judgment and power yea made all unto good and unto all that can do any good either to save righteously or destroy righteously or judg righteously but only Christ Jesus the righteous Yet the Lord Jesus Christ can and may do these good things and works for the good and comfort of his Church and for his own glory as he pleaseth by any means and Instruments as he pleaseth even as he smote the waters of Egipt with Moses rod and the waters were turned into blood And with the same smote the Rock and the waters gushed out and overthrew the Exod. 7. 20 walls of Jericho by the sound of Trumpets of Rams Horns And sed seven thousand and again five thousand men besides women Children Iosua 6. 20 Mat. 14. 19 Mat. 15. 34 Iohn 2. with a few Loaves Fishes And turned the water into wine So Christ can do his good works of all sorts both publique and private yea in publique and private for his universal national and particular Church and people to their best behoof and comfort by the Instrument of man or men both in ruling governing ordering Law-giving commanding and in obeying serving and submitting which good works of obeying submitting and serving Christ also himself did upon earth being present I am among you saith he as one that serveth he took upon him the form of a Servant and made himself Luke 22. 27. Phil. 2. 7. of no reputation he submitted and humbled himself unto death To shew that his goodness is as well yea as much in obeying submiting and serving as in ruling governing and he maketh men his instruments of those goodnesses and good works as behoofful for the good and comfort of his Church and people and the societies of men in the way of their pilgrimage for private and publique as governing Law-giving teaching and commanding is good and behoofful for his glory and the good of his Church and requblique And are now those instruments of Christ which he of his grace honoureth
with his own Names and Titles of his Offices as King Lord Prince Ruler Governor Law giver and the rest to be honoured with the same Titles as the Instruments of Christ our God And are not the Ruling Governing ordering Law-giving commanding teaching of Christ by his spirit in those his Instruments of his ruling governing commanding judging and the rest wrought done and brought forth by his spirit in them as the fruits of his spirit by or with them his Instruments and of his grace imputed accounted and called by Christ himself there ruling governing judging Law-giving ordering commanding and teaching though they be Christs to be accounted and called of men their ruling governing and therest though they be but instruments thereof when as Christ our God himself so accounteth and calleth them there providing always that they do acknowledg as Peter did It Act 3. 12. 16. Rev. 22. 9. is not through our own power or godliness that we have done this but the name and power of Jesus hath done it And as the Angel did to John I am thy fellow-Servant worship God that is that men do not take Christs honour to themselves not give Christs honour to men Then do not those manifest themselves not to have the spirit of Christ whose fruit is all manner of goodness as well the goodness of obeying submitting and serving as the goodness of ruling governing ordering Lawgiving commanding and teaching c. and so to be none of Christs for the Apostle saith he that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his Yea rather do those not bewray themselves to have the spirit of Antichrist that deny and withstand to obey humble submit and do service to such Christs ruling governing ordering Law-giving commanding teaching and judging as is wrought done and performed of Christ by or with his instruments of men or that deny to account and call such Christs instruments Kings Lords Governors Law-givers and the rest as Christ himself so calleth of his grace or that deny to call that Christs Government of his Church which is done of him by and with his fitted instruments of men for 1 Cor. 15. 25. Heb. 5. 6. chap. 6. 20. 7. 3. Christ is a King Priest and Prophet still he shall raign till all his enemies be subdued under his feet he is a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck yea certainly Christ is not a titular King but doth execute his Offices of King Priest and Prophet still amongst men for the good comfort and society of those which are his in his power wisdom and grace by and with his instruments of men in the ruling governing ordering Law-giving judging commanding teaching c. and in obeying submitting and serving And to make this clear and plain unto men the Apostle of Christ himself being the instrument of Christs spirit advertiseth much to Christians and Christian-churches of ruling preaching or prophecying teaching waiting on the office men have exhorting doing service giving honor And of submitting to powers paying tribute resisting See Rom. 12. Rom 13. 1 Tim. 2 of powers praying for Kings and all that are in authority that under them we may lead a godly and peaceable life and many more touching ruling governing and obeying And wherefore should the Apostle of Christ hold forth these things belonging to the Church and republique of Christ but to shew that these good things being Christs performances in his Church and republique which hath only power to do that which is good by his spirit in his Elect with them his instruments for man himself of himself can do none of these good things as hath been shewed That those are and in those is Christs Government of his Church as by and with his fitted instruments Neither touching Gods Elect people is the Government of his Church taken for inward spiritual Government Christs Government only and Republique Government taken for outward and bodily Government mans Government left to mans corrupt wisdom reason and power for then Christ should not do all good to and for his Elect people then the Government of the Republique of Gods people must needs be evil wholy for man of himself cannot do and bring forth with all his wisdom reason and power any thing that is good either spiritual or bodily inward or outward before God I Rom. 7. 18 find no means to perform that which is good saith Paul But he that is the Keeper of Israel keepeth spiritually and bodily inwardly and outwardly doth govern his people Israel his chosen ones spiritually and bodily doth all good to them by his Spirit in them with such fited means as he knoweth best and pleaseth for their good for the Apostle saith to Gods people The Lord careth for you 1 Pet. 5. 7. And why should men question where Christs Government of his Church is or what the Government of Christs Church is when they see Christ hath always had hath now and undoubtedly will always have his Instruments of his goodness the fruits of his Spirit both in ruling governing and the rest of that kind and also of obeying submitting and serving for the comfort and society of his Church and people in the way of their pilgrimage and for his own glory As he had Abraham his Instrument and his most publique Instrument then of his Church to govern and teach by him the Church in his house Gen. 18. and those that belonged to him And Moses and Aaron and Joshua his Instruments to govern teach and take such other offices of his as he pleased to make them his fitted Instruments in his Church the people of Israel And after Joshua the Judges David the King Solomon and others to judg and govern being his Instruments And afterward his Apostles Bishops or Overseers Presbyters Christian Emperors Kings and by whatsoever names or titles they were called many other his Instruments of his goodness of ordering governing and teaching his Church And whilest goodness appeared or appeareth in the ruling governing ordering Lawgiving judging teaching and Isai 8 20. Act. 20. 32 guiding of the Church according to Christs Law given in Grace and the Testimonies is not this Christs governing of his Church For it is sure there is no true goodness nor righteousness but that which is Christs but that which is the fruit of Christs Spirit which is always accompanied with the rest of the fruits of Christs Spirit Love joy peace long-suffering gentleness meekness righteousness faith temperance Gal. 5. 22. and all manner of goodness as the Apostle speaketh Certainly that was the Government that was layd upon Christs shoulders Isai 9. 6. and is still his Government ordering teaching and guiding which hath true goodness righteousness meekness love and peace known to be Christs by holding forth the fruits of the Spirit and agreeing to Christs Isai 8. 20. Acts 14. 3. Act. 20. 32 Law given in Grace and the Testimonies whomsoever he pleaseth to make his Instruments of
not of any property King or Lord over Gods heritage 1 Pet. 5. 3 It is Christ alone that is of property due right merit and interest King Priest and Prophet Lord Ruler Governor Lawgiver Judg Teacher and men only by account and grace so called and honored of Christ and they all to cast their crowns down to the ground before him and to give and ascribe all honor glory power might and Rev. 4. 10 majesty unto him which is all in all And thus the discovery of the Errors of Independents Anabaptists and Brownists touching Christs Government of his Church is made by the Spirit of grace and truth And also of the Error of the Legalists touching the same and their Reconciliation to the Truth by the grace and power of him that is able to open the eyes of the blind and bring him home that wandereth and goeth astray And certainly if Independents Legalists and all Dependants will acknowledg the undoubtable truth That Christ did ever give doth and will ever give his holy Spirit of Adoption to all of his Elect people to all of his Church catholique as the Apostle saith undoubtedly of all those We have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father And again He dwelleth in you and shal be in Rom. 8. 15 John 14. 1 Rom. 8. 9 2 Cor. 13. 5 you meaning by his Spirit And further If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his And yet further Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates And also if they will acknowledg That man hath no power nor wisdom to do any good thing of himself That all power unto good Psa 62. 11 Mat. 6. 13 belongeth unto good onely That his is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever as Christ himself taught And if they will acknowledg That Christ by his Spirit given to his Church disposed as he pleaseth doth worketh and bringeth forth all good things for publique and private for the whole Church and particular as well of ruling governing lawgiving ordering commanding judging teaching and guiding as also of obeying submitting and serving for his own honor and glory and for the good comfort and society of his people by or with such his instruments of men fitted by his Spirit as he pleaseth Then they must needs conclude That this is Christs Government of his Church which is made done and wrought by his Spirit by or with such fitted instruments of men as are held forth in the word of Grace and Testimonies and guided by his Spirit as he pleaseth having evidence of the fruits of the Spirit love joy peace long-suffering righteousness gentleness goodness faith meekness and temperance always accompanying the same Gal. 5. 22 And as Christ governeth his Church upon Earth by divers his fitted instruments of his Spirit called by him with his own names and titles Kings Princes Lords Rulers Governors Lawgivers Judges Bishops or Overseers Presbyters or Elders Pastors Teachers Deacons Ministers Helpers or whatsoever other names mentioned in the Word of Grace in such place and office of his as he pleaseth to make them fit for by his Spirit of Grace to be his instruments in his compleat Government of his Church and Republique thereof So Christ being the Head of his Church and being the Head of the whole body of his Church in all things upon Earth thus governed by him as the Apostle saith He hath undoubtedly his instruments of Eph. 4. 26 his Headship of his Church severed into many National Churches to which his Government belongeth And certainly to that instrument of Christ upon Earth which he hath fitted and placed for the first and principal of his Government in his ordination and subordination Christ is well pleased to account to him his honor and title of Head of that National Political and Parochial Church So Samuel the Prophet of God accounted the same to Saul being made King When 1 Sam. 11 17 thou wast little in thine own sight saith Samuel wast thou not made Head over the Tribes of Israel for the Lord anointed thee to be King over Israel And David the King praised the Lord saying Thou hast preserved me to be Head over Nations a Sam. 22 44 Now to Christ the Head saith the Apostle the whole body is coupled and knit together in every joynt for the increase of the body Eph. 4. 16 unto the edifying of itself in love So the whole body of the Church is coupled and knit to Christs instrumental Head for the good and benefit thereof in all things of goodness to be directed by the Head for the edifying of the whole in love Every body hath his head otherwise it were a monster The Body of Christ upon Earth cannot be without an Head of Christs upon Earth in which have rested all disquietness and questions of the Church from the beginning As in Moses Joshuah the Judges David Solomon and the rest of the good Kings in the Apostles of Christ and other the Heads of the Church ever sithence and from the beginning Non bona tam sequitur quà m bona prima fuit When the Son of man shall come shall he finde Faith upon the Luk. 18. 8 Earth JOHN 15. 5. Without me you can do nothing The right meaning and understanding of these words of Christ giveth light to the Truths in these Treatises which must needs be included in one of these six Expressions following First That Christ is the Helper of man in the good work Or secondly That Christ is a co-operator with man in the work Or thirdly That Christ is the Instrument of man in the work Or fourthly That man is the Helper of Christ in the work Or fifthly That man is the co-operator with Christ in the work Or sixthly That man is the Instrument only of Christ in the work Solut. If Christ be the Helper of man in the work then is man the beginner and master of the work the principal worker or workman of the work and man is exalted above Christ If Christ be a co-operator with man then Christ is only a partner with man in the work and so Christ hath only his share with man of the work Christ is disthroned If Christ be the Instrument of man in the work then Christ is not the doer of the work but man is the doer the work is wholly mans for the Instrument is only fitted guided and acted by the workman and so is Christ only fitted guided and acted by man if Christ be his Instrument man is exalted above Christ If man be the Helper of Christ in the good work then Christ is not able and strong enough or not sufficient to do and perform the good deed but hath need of mans Help so man is exalted which 2 Cor. 12 11 Gal. 6. 3 is nothing as the Apostle saith If man be a co-operator with Christ in the good work then man may of right claim a share in the work and of the work that is righteous and so man hath something to boast of contrary to the Apostle 1 Cor. 9. 16 and man is exalted If man be only by grace a fitted Instrument of Christ in his good and righteous work as he pleaseth then Christ is the only doer and workman of the work and the work is wholy Christs the honor wholy belongeth to him and man is so made graciously his Instrument also of the praise and glory of his grace especially for Christs accounting and imputing his own work and the righteousness thereof to man as Paul saith David said Blessed is the man to whom-the Lord imputeth righteousness without works of his own Ro. 4. 6 7 To this agreeth that of the Apostle Give or yield your members instruments of righteousness unto God And again Yet it was not Rom. 6 13 1 Cor. 15. 10 Mat. 10. 20 I that labored but the grace of God with me meaning in his instrument So Christ told his Disciples It is not you that speak but the Spirit of the Father in you you are but the instruments So David said My tongue is the pen of a ready writer that is the Psal 45 1 instrument of the Spirit of God as the pen is of the writer The pen writeth not without the writer no more can man do the good thing without Christ the doer as Christ saith in the Text Without me you can do nothing no not being the branches of the Vine the Elect of God The branch cannot bear and hold forth the fruit without the Vine and spirits thereof This way Christ indeed is exalted as God exalted him and any the other ways not so but dis-throned FINIS