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
a special manner in a special reservation to himself for his homage worship and service according to his own disposition in the Government of his Church upon Earth We read in the Testament of our God that Cain and Abel being the two first-born of woman mentioned did bring of their fruits for an offering to the Lord sure it is that they did not this of their own corrupted humane invention but from some Law and command that they had from our God either only written in their hearts or other ways manifested to them and in obedience to the same For our God sheweth through the whole Scripture that he rejecteth all sacrifire offring service done by corrupt mans invention as in that of Saul 1 Sam. 15 9 c. in sparing the fat and best things for offering to the Lord in his own invention And Cain dissembling in his obedience was also rejected of the Lord and his offering because he did not bring to the Lord of the best of his fruits as Abel did according to Gods Law and command to them â—nd we read it mentioned in Scriptures That Abram gave Tythes of all to Melchisedec the Priest of the most high God Gen. 14 20. Surely this was not done of Abrams own invention but in obedience to the Law and Ordinance of God either onely written in his heart or by some manifested command of our God otherwise unto him Abram would not tempt God with his own Inventions But this is clear from hence that our God and Lord Christ howsoever the Godhead suffereth and permitteth to man the use of that upon Earth yet reserved to himself from the beginning the Tythes of all and the Offerings at his appointment for homage worship and service to himself in the government of his Church and people And this is most clear in that that when his National first Church of Israel was setled he then by his Law written in Tables of stone in great manifestation and glory did establish his Tythes and Offerings expresly to be to the maintenance of the Ministry of his Law given and of his Ministers appointed for the service of the Tabernacle and Numb 18. 6 7 8 c. Sanctuary Alteration change and persecution made sometime a stay of the manifestation of the Ordinance of our God and the Lord Christ before men but his Ordinance remained still God made the Sun to rule and govern the day and the Moon to rule and govern the night by his perpetual Ordinance and of all thereto belonging The Sun and the Moon are sometime in the Eclipse sometime the Moon changeth before men and the Sun and the Moon go down in appearance to men yet the Sun and the Moon remain still to govern the day and night and shall do as long as the day and night remain Even so the Law of our God Christ being ordained and made by him for the government of his Church his Ministry Ministers and maintenance thereto useful and necessarily belonging in the moral and equity of his Law are as useful and necessary for the government of his Church upon Earth as long as his Church remain as the Sun and Moon are useful and necessary to govern the day and night and shall continue non obstante Obj. But it is the certain maintenance of the Ministry of Christs Law and Gospel by Tythes and Offerings that trouble the dissembling professors of themselves to be of Christs Church now upon Earth Tythes and Offerings are a wearisom burthen to them for they say that they see no reason but themselves should have the tenth part as well as they have the nine parts A. Alaâ—s these do not know and consider that the Earth is the Lords and all that therein is as David affirmeth and that they Psal 24 1. have their life and maintenance thereof only by the Lords sufferance permission and patience in the nine parts of that of the Earth as the Rom. 9. 22 Apostle sheweth And that the Lord hath reserved to himself and his disposition the tenth part of all in the Earth man to have no property in the Earth but at the Lords disposition and therefore the Offerings he reserved he sometimes appointed them or what of them he pleased to be burnt and sacrificed to him by fire And this was from the beginning of the generation of man and continued and not onely to figure the sacrifice of Christ but to shew his will and power in reserving to himself that he pleased to be disposed of as he pleased in the government of his Church for his worship and honor in the moral and equity of his perpetual Law c. in all Nations where his Church is Nationally established And this was that which troubled the Hypocrites in the Church of Israel they were weary of bringing their Tyâ—hes and Offering to the Lord at the Lord disposition Ye said saith the Prophet behold it is a weariness and ye Mal. 1. 13 14 have snuffed at it saith the Lord of hoasts and have offered that which was torn and the lame and the sick thus you offered an offering should I accept this of your hand saith the Lord But cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing Will a man spoyl his gods yet you have spoyled or robbed me in Tythes and Offerings Ye are cursed with a curse for ye have robbed me even this whole Nation Mal. 3. 8 9 Thus we see this wearisomness this snuffing at the burthen of Tythes and Offerings which our God and Christ reserved to himself to be at his disposition in the government of his Church upon Earth from the beginning to the end for homage worship and honor and the rest to the good of men And also the robbing of the same by cursed Hypocrites seeking in the same their own gain and honor among men is no new thing no new attempt but as it was then so it is now But I wish all to consider of the words of the Apostles of Christ speaking in the times the change and in the times of persecution If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things And again Let him that is 1 Cor. 9. 11 Gal. 6. 6. taught in the Word make him that teacheth him partaker of all his goods And again Wo be unto them for they have followed the way of Cain and are cast away by the deceit of Balaams wages and perish Jude 11. in the gainsaying of Corah The way of Cain was we know that although he had the commandment of God to bring the best of his fruits for Tythe or Offering to the Lord yet for gain to himself did rob God of the best and like a dissembler brought of the worst or such as were not worth the acceptance The deceit of Balaams wages whereby he was cast away was for that he knew the
Phi. 6. 7 8. found in shape as a man humbled himself and became obedient to the death even to the death of the Crosse and all this done of Christ imputed to them and made theirs of grace and witnessed by the work of the Spirit in them this hard commandement to corrupt man becometh now a Gospell to the Believers Indeed this and other the commandements are commonly taken and held forth to Gods people under grace in the form of the Law of works as it was held forth to Adam in innocency when he had power and freewill to do where the command and the condition was keep this do this and live eternally break this and die eternally as if men had now power and free will to doe the command as Adam had before he lost for himself and all And some held forth the commandement thus only the curse and commination thereof to be taken away to Gods chosen people by Christ but that they are still bounp to do the command to indeavour rnd do something thereof themselves before God that the commandements remain stil as a rule for them to follow in Gods sight to please God to enjoy life to come to the Father without which themselves indeavouring and doing they cannot come to the Father in heaven But I take it they might more truly say by such indeavouring and doing the command themselves no man shall or can come to the Father in heaven For mark good people of God what Christ saith I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me I am the door no man entreth to the Father but by me and he that Joh. 14 6. Joh. 10. 19. Joh. 10. 9. climbeth up another way is a thief and a robber Christ is the onely way that the Father hath graciously made for all his chosen ones to come to him by Jesus Christ is his beloved Son in whom the Father is only pleased This is the honor that the Father hath given him for his undertaking work and performance for poor lost man to Gods satisfaction and man salvation If any man therefore holdeth himself forth to please God to climbe up to the Father by his own indeavours devotions and performances he robbeth Christ of his honor of the honor only due to him and therefore saith Christ he is a thiefe and a robber If a King should for speciall love and service done to him give to his son that honor that no man should come to him into his presence but by this his Son And if any man should be so bold as to indeavour another way to come to the King both the King and his Son must needs think it a great affront and wrong and dishonor done to them But poor proud man do what thou canst of the commandement to please God to make thy way to come to the Father yet thou canst not do so much as the Pharisees Herod Judas and Demas did which although they were much in mens estimation yet they are accounted in the Scriptures to be but Thieves Robbers APPLICATION THat where the Spirit of Christ is it worketh up consideration of these things and therefore David saith O consider this Use 〈◊〉 you that forget God least he pluck you away and tear you in pieces Psa 50. 22. and there be none to deliver you Where the consideration of these things is not there is the evidence of Gods wrath that he will tear them in pieces and there shall be none to deliver them where meat is not chewed there is little nourishment and where the Word of God is not considered there is little edification The gold of the Sanctuary was all weighed the Bereans searched Act. 17. 13. whether those things preached were so or no to their commendation But where the things of God passe away as they come without consideration it is a token and evidence that the Spirit of Christ is not there that they are not the children of God but the children of Wrath. Use 2. Reproveth all mens Pharisaical pride and boasting of their own goodness honesty holiness and righteousness one saith I am good honest just a Saint another saith I am better then thou and another saith I am not as other men are whenas all are naught as an unclean thing before God in themselves The more any man boasteth and seeketh the praise of men the worse he is before God and therefore Christ saith Woe be to you when all men speak well of you Vse 3. Reproveth the high conceipt of inherent holiness and righteousness in man by the sanctification of the Spirit whereby Luct 16 15 he can do and dâ—th the works of holiness and righteousness before God as the Agent thereof as they hold And it reproveth all Popes holiness to be Saints in themselves and to be able to sanctifie other persons and things by their inherent holiness when as it is clear if any men have had or have any holiness and righteousness in themselves their souls or bodies then no doubt but David Esay Paul had the same as manifest as any other But it is shewed before that they all deny the same they deny themselves to be holy good righteous or to have had any such goodness inherent in themselves or to have themselves done any works of goodnes holines or righteousnes before God They have acknowledged themselves to be unclean carnal corrupt not any good thing dwelling in themselves their inherent holiness and Phil. 3. 8. righteousness in themselves to be nothing but filthiness loss and dung before God that they found no means to do the thing that is good before God Use 4. Reproveth the idolatrous opinion of many that think and affirm that their prayers and the prayers of esteemed righteous men have power to move God and prevail with God to do them good to forgive them their sins to keep and turn evils from them and to deliver them from evils upon them that there is much good and vertue in mens prayers and this they think they have sure ground of Scripture for for say they Object Jâ—sus taught his Disciples to pray for all these things in that which they call the Lords Prayer Christ commandeth to pray and promiseth to give to them that ask and pray and his Thes 5. 17. Apostles command the churches to whom they wrote to pray continually and say The prayer of the faithful availeth much and â—am 5. 16. to make Gods promises good unto prayer the Scripture saith Moses prayed and the Israelites overcame the Amalekites in the Battel Eliah prayed and God sent rain Iam. 5. 18 Answ All these set forth in the Scriptures are true and good But yet if thou thinkest and affirmest that thine own prayers and the prayers of other men have power and strength to move God to prevail with God to do thee or them good to forgive thy sins to keep thee from evil to turn evil
or not to will and desire they may choose if they will and desire they may heare if they will they may believe and receive the Plaister of Christs Bloud and Death and if they will they may apply the same to their wounds and be healed For it hath all sufficient vertues and in tendered to them And they teach that the Justification and Salvation of men whatsoever the Father or the Sonne hath done in Mercy Love and Grace consist and rest in themselves their own will and worke for the Procuring Setling Having and Injoying of the same Whereby I have thought that they thinke better of themselves then they are and that they are some what when as the Apostle saith they are nothing and deceive themselves in their own imagination Gal. 〈◊〉 3. For how can a man being still the child of Gods wrath in the curse death and losse of Adams sinne and his own without his deliverance yet made which losse was the losse of all good before God given of God unto man in his Creation have so great a good as Free-will unto so great a good Work and Deed before God as to heare and believe unto eternall Life lost unto justification and salvation and to have so great a good still before God as power to do the same being yet in the Death Losse and Want of all good before God This is as I thought to rob our God to inrich our selves For the Apostle saith It is God that worketh Phil. 2. 13. in us the will and the deed of his own good pleasure It is not mans own will and his own deed And I thinke it much contrary to the Scriptures of the Gospell that Life and Justâ—fication should come to man by his own will or worke any way but onely by grace and mercy as the Apostle saith we are justified by Grace It is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth Rom. 3. 24. mercy If it be of grace it is no more of workes or else grace were no more grace but if it be of workes it is no more of grace Rom. 9. 16. or else work were no more worke But saith the Apostle election Rom. 11. 6. hath obtained it and the rest have been hardned atlthough Israel hath not obtained that sought it viz. by his own will and worke They would strip God of his Election in Christ before the world being the first Act of his grace to man Quest What may be thought of these in your Christian Judgement and of their teaching I desire to understand Answ I take it the condition of these is farre more out of hope then of Infants and Idâ—ots for these desperately discover Mat. 5. 19. their own nakednesse and shame These break the Commandement and teach men to do so There are as you said Theeves and Robbers 1 Tim. 3. 7. and teach others the same They are fallen into and holden in the snare of the Devill The Devill spake many truths alwayes leaving something Mat. 4 3. 6 out that he may deceive in the end they are like a cunning Fowler that layes scraps of wheat to catch the Birds So these tell men a part of Gods Love Mercy and Free-grace that they may catch them in the snare and pride of their own will and words of robbery and Idolatry Nicodemus a Ruler of the Jewes a Master in Israel yet understood not that which Christ said Except a man be born againe he Joh. 3. 3 cannot see the Kingdome of God unto whom Christ said Art thou a Master in Israel and knowest not these things These may be Rulers Masters and Teachers and yet be ignorant of these things And I conceive these are ignorant of Gods eternall Almighty Power Wisdome Fore-knowledge Foresight Will Purpose Decree and Acts with and before himself and of the rest of God and his Christ which if they were not they would not deny that God might and did choose in Christ whom hee pleased of the children of wrath to be his children so called and justified through Christ before himself even before the World of Mercy and Free-grace without any will or work of their own Eph. 〈◊〉 3 4 5 6 unchangeable Indeed they alledge and cite many places of Scriptures supposed to their purpose of Christs commanding to will to do to heare to believe to aske to seeke to knock to labour to speak to run to come to take to receive to give and the like And the condition that is annexed of reward and penalty unto these commanded to be eternall And therefore they conclude it is in every mans will and power to will and doe these things commanded unto eternall Life otherwise it were oppression and not Love and Justice of Christ our God and Law-giver to command his Subjects to doe that which it not in themselves to doe which they cannot do upon such penalty eternall But alas they do not consider that this Law of Christ to his Church as it includeth the Law of God given to mankinde in generall in Justice absolute is written in the hearts of Heathens as also of such as have the name of Christians which Law of God is therefore knowne though weakly and corruptly to the Heathens and all Mankinde as the Apostle saith of the Heathens Rom. 1. 31 They know the Law of God their consciences accuse and excuse one another And the Heathens have made many Lawes from this Rom. 2. 15. Law of God written in their hearts of Justice and righteousnesse before men in mens estimation good which with the will and power of men have beene obeyed For as Adam and all mankinde had Soul and Body and the faculties thereof temporall Life at Gods will for a time all weakened and corrupted by sinne and the curse left to them so they had Free-will Reason and power in naturall humane and temporall things left all weake and corrupted to choose and refuse to will and to nill to doe things good and righteous before men in the estimation of men although they had lost and had no power left them to will choose desire or doe any thing at all good righteous acceptable and availeable before God unto eternall Life lost to justification before God to their peace with God or to any good in Gods sight good And that the Lord Jesus upon whose shoulders the Government Isa 9. 6. of his Church lay was pleased in great grace as a most gracious Law-giver to manifest in written Tables to his people the chosen of God in him which hee had redeemed and performed all for unto Life Justification Salvation and Glorification before God all to appeare in appointed and fulnesse of time this his gracious Law of greater grace then the first given unto mankinde in generall that it might be established and remaine for ever to his people already redeemed before God for the government of his Church upon earth in worship to God
the Rev. 24 Almighty and holy God as Creator of man Lawgiver and Commander of all of infinite holines and righteousnes requireth purity and perfection in the performance of the duty of both the great Commandements which therefore he was pleased his Christ should undertake for his Elect and Christ was pleased to undertake and hath performed to the full satisfaction of God for all righteousnes before God for them required of him in mans performance Heb. 10. 7 8 9 10. of the whole Law of God even of both the great Commandements thereof of duty towards God and duty towards man so farre and so much as concerned God himselfe therein and to the discharge to his Elect of the whole penalty thereto pretaining But for that duty of the Law which concerne man himself to man so far and so much as it only concerneth man for duty of both Commandements of the whole Law before men in the sight and estimation of men good and righteous to be performed according to the corrupt knowledge reason and power left to man Christ by his undertakings and performance for believers is not the end of the Law so far and so much but this part and purpose of the Law remaineth still for righteousnes before men in the sight and estion of men and the onely temporall proportionable reward and penalties thereof to believers for the reward and penalty of Christs Law given in grace to his Church redeemed cannot bee eternall to them And that must needs be so For otherwise in the Church of Christ upon Earth visible to men which is the whole company of men professing themselves to be believers whereof no doubt but there are abundance of Hypocrites I say otherwise without Law for the righteousnes before men There would be nor could be Religion or Worship nor Safety Society or Comfort amongst men one with another considering the many Wolves among the Sheepe the many unknowne Hypocrites among the true Believers Isa 9. 6. Eph. 5. 23 Againe all bearing the name of Christians acknowledge Christs government of his Church upon Earth Christ to be the governour and head of his Church as the Prophet saith The Government is upon his shoulders And the Apostle saith Christ is the head of his Church Now no government can be without a Law no governour governeth without a Law no doubt but Christ hath a Law whereby he governeth his Church for worship to God safety society and comfort thereof before men And no doubt but this is that Law given in grace God being satisfied by Christ for righteousnesse before himselfe touching his Elect Believers which the Apostle saith was ordeined by Angels in the hand of a Mediatour and which God had delivered up unto his Christ which had satisfied Gal â—3 19 him the Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus That hee thereby might govern his Church upon Earth in righteousnesse 1 Tim. 2. 5 before men By this remainder of the Law for righteousnes before men hath Christ ever fithence his Church was upon Earth governed his Church Instruments upon Earth such as hee pleased to fit for it and assigne to his kingly priesty and propheticall Offices But Christs most glorious gracious government of his Church upon Earth First remarked for a patterne to all his Churches in the holy Scriptures by his instruments is in his Church of Israel which we may see held forth in the Bookes called Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy c. There we may see Christ 〈◊〉 himself to his Church in the government thereof by his 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 by his spirit had fitted and was pleased and most gloriously and graciously first settled when his Church Exod. 19. 3 〈◊〉 grown into a great visibility upon Earth For effecting of which First he called Moses his principall prepared instrument unto him in Mount Sinai appointing him to tell and deliver unto the people the Law in his hand as hee was the Mediator which did so saying to them God spake these words and said I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt and out of the House of bondage c. And who can do that this God and Christ the Mediator in whose hand now the remainder of the Law was Gal. 3. 19. as the Apostle speaketh The undertaker for the Elect people of God and the performance of all what God did ever deliver the Elect of God out of any misery or bring them out of spirituall or bodily bondage but Jesus Christ which was before Abraham Joh. 8. 58 was yea before the Foundations of the World before God although not in manifestation of the Law to the creatures before the fullnesse of time Christ had delivered them the Elect people of God out of the spirituall bondage which they were in before God the bondage of Sinne the Devill Death Hell And out of the bodily bondage that they were in Egypt And therefore Moses said to them that this Christ of God the Lord the God which had delivered them out of the Land of Egypt and out of the house of all bondage both spirituall and bodily was their Lord their God that spake these words to them which they were to heare to obey and do before men conscionably in their hearts in the corrupt weake and fraile power of reason and understanding they had as before in this Law of Christ Mercy Repentance and Forgivenes have place in the other And to this accordeth that of the Apostle Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh with feare Eph. 6. 5 6 7 8 and trembling in singlenesse of heart as unto Christ not with Eye-service as men pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart with good will serving the Lord and not men And know yee that whatsoever good thing a man doth the same hee shall receive of the Lord whether he be Bond or Free All dissembling and hypocrisie in service before men by the Law of Christ in the government of his Church is cast out as worthy of penalty and the service from the heart of good will hath Rom 13. 2 3. the reward of Christ proportionable to the service And to this agreeth that of the same Apostle to the Church of Christ at Rome Let every Soule be subject to the higher powers for there is no power but of God that is Christ and the powers that be are ordained of God that is Christ as Jesus himselfe said All power is given unto mee in Heaven and in Earth And who should ordaine the powers on Earth but hee to whom the power was given of all in the earth And further saith the Apostle hee therefore that resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God that is of Christ and reapeth to himselfe judgement meaning before the power for saith he Princes are not to be feared for good workes but for evill Wilt thou then
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
the same and those in whom Christ is by his Spirit are made and fitted by his Spirit to be his Instruments of the goodness of obeying submitting and serving willingly and joyfully as unto Christ his Government Order Law guiding and teaching having goodness it is Christs although by or with the instrument of man Therefore the Apostle saith Be obedient as unto Christ as the servants Eph. 4 6 7 of Christ and again Serving the Lord and not men Certainly man of himself cannot rule well neither can man of himself obey well nor do any good thing This David a King and Prophet a man after Gods own heart sheweth There is none saith he that doth good no not onâ— Psal 14. 3 And the Apostle of Christ also saith I find no means to perform that which is good It is certainly true that which the Spirit writeth to the Rom. 7. 18 Angel or Minister of the Church of Laodicea of all men Thou art wretched miserable poor blind and naked meaning in respect of good Rev. 3. 17 and righteousness before God Good ruling and governing is Christs ruling and governing and good obeying is Christs obeying they are the good works of Christ wrought by his Spirit in man and brought forth of his Spirit by or with the fitted Instrument of man and no doubt but they that have the Spirit of Christ their conscience will tell them that unto good ruling governing teaching ordering and commanding it pleaseth Christ well that there be good obeying and submitting by or through whatsoever means and Instruments Christ holds forth the same as he pleaseth If Independents and those with them acknowledg that Christ hath power to good only and doth all good in man only by his holy Spirit sent to man of ruling and obeying and whatsoever else and that man himself of himself can do no good and that the good ruling governing Lawgiving judging ordering and teaching done of Christ by and with his Instruments fitted of him by his Spirit given them for the good comfort and society of his people in the way of their pilgrimage is the Rule and Government of Christ himself though with the Instrument of man and of his pleasure and grace accounted mans by him as he doth all manner of his righteous and good works love joy peace c. done of him by his Spirit in them which he pleaseth of his grace to make his Instruments of the same and of his grace as appeareth in the word of grace nameth and calleth them theirs Then there will be no question of Christs Government of his Church nor of the obedience submission and service due to his Government without which the question is not nor will be satisfied with answer and in truth it is the same of righteousness only that giveth light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death to guide their feet in the way of peace The Legalists strive much about this undecided question of Christs Government of his Church against the Independents Anabaptists and Brownists much of the same way but being misled by the Spirit of Antichrist they prevail little for all their Arguments are but mans as Antiquities Customs humane Reasons conveniences and inconveniences the letter of the Scripture of Laws and Ordinances but they draw not so deep as out of Jacobs Well the fountain of Grace They say Though Christ hath power over all and hath Almighty power yet man hath power of his own unto good as unto evil and that man hath power of his own to get to himself habitual vertues by studying laboring practising and endeavoring the same And they say and hold forth That although Christ be King of Kings and Lord of Lords that is supream King supream Prince and Lord c. yet there are Kings Princes and Lords upon Earth and that Kings Princes and Lords upon Earth are Kings Princes and Lords of themselves and their Titles are their own of their own right property and interest and that they by their own power rule govern command and order their people under them and of their own right and that by their own power and right they do and may command the whole Church and people under them and all ought to obey and do service to them and submit to their power and command as their Kings Princes and Lords absolute and that through this their power ruling governing Lawgiving judging and the rest the people have their peace safety society and communion and that they have right to honor for the same But these and such attributions to man favour too much of the spirit that dis-throneth Christ and exalteth man into the Throne of Christ There is no man that is a King Priest or Prophet of himself Christ only is so of himself by the eternal Unction man is nothing of good himself Therefore the Apostle saith If any man think himself to be somewhat when as he is nothing he deceiveth himself in his own imagination Gal. 6. 3. And there is no man whatsoever he be that hath any power to Mans power rotten and corrupted See Iam. 4 13. 14 15 Rom. 13. 1 get or procure to himself an habit of holy vertue or vertues or any goodness before God by his own labor industry study practice or endevor or that hath any power of his own to any good All power saith the Apostle is of God it is Gods power not mans own neither can any man do any thing that is good of himself although he hath the Spirit of Christ for so David who had the Spirit of Christ acknowledged of himself and all others There is none that doth Psal 14. 3 good saith he no not one And Paul which had received the Spirit of Christ acknowledged the same of himself saying I find no means Rom. 3. 10 11 12 Rom. 7. 18 Isai 64 6 to perform that which is good It is Christ only by his Spirit that hath power and that doth the good work by or with his fitted instrument of man of his grace and accounteth the work done by his Spirit of his grace the work of man his instruments only thereof made and fitted by his Spirit whereby and wherewith Christ doth the work And so as the good works of Kings and Rulers and Governors are not theirs but Christs or theirs only by account and of grace as they are the instruments of Christ So their Titles of Kings Rulers Governors Lawgivers Judges Teachers and the rest are not mans Titles by any merit interest or property they have to them or in any of them but only of grace and account as Paul called an Apostle acknowledged he had no property or interest to that Title of Apostle but by account and grace By the grace of God saith he I am that I am I am an Apostle but by the grace of God it is that I 1 Cor. 15 10 am so not of my self my property or interest thereto Man is