is made with them although they do not find any of those things here promised made good to them Such like Ephraim feed on Wind but the Lord will establish this promised Covenant when he Reigns in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients Gloriously Isaiah 24.23 Which will be when he gathers his wheat into his garner and burns up the chaff with unquenchable fire which is at the time when he will judge the nations in the valley of Jehosaphat and at the time when the Saints are raised which are called the first resurrection Rev. 20. And then will the new Jerusalem come down out of heaven from God and be placed in the elementary Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 This is the tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man Heb. 8.2 The pavement of which is of pure gold as it were transparent glass through which the glorious Saints will then shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father Matth. 13.43 And when this ' World is become the Kingdom of our God and of his Christ ' Rev. 11.15 ' Then will it become the Kingdom of their Father and ' then in the ages to come God will shew forth in them the exceeding Riches of his Grace ' Eph. 2.7 That they ' should be to the praise of his Glory that first trusted in Christ ' Eph. 1.12 And likewise all that overcome and ' keep his Works to the end shall sit with Christ in his Throne ' Rev. 3.21 For the Glorious Tabernacle will be Christ's Throne as the Heaven of Heavens is God's Throne and this Glorious Tabernacle is the Tabernacle or Covert spoken of in Isaiah which the Lord will place over all the Assemblies of Israel when he cleanseth their Blood Isaiah 4.4,5,6 which he hath not yet cleansed Joel 3.21 And the Glory of the Saints in this glorious Tabernacle the Apostle had a Reference to when he said ' God hath provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect ' Heb. 11.40 And the glorious Saints Perfection will not be till Israel receives the Promises for when the Lord comes again the dead Bodies of the Saints will be Raised and then under Christ their Head will be given to them their ruling Power upon Earth Rev. 5.10 For then they will with Christ Descend from the glorious Tabernacle as the Lord formerly did in the Cloudy Pillar to the Tabernacle in the Wilderness so likewise will the Lord Descend upon the real Mount Zion which the Lord will make an eternal excellency and the joy of many generations Isaiah 60.15 And then will the Lord destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people and the vail that is spread over all nations for then he will take away the sting of death from all his people which is sin and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth Isaiah 25.7,8 But when Christ first came he was laid in Zion as a stumbling stone and thereby a Vail was cast upon the Face of Israel and they were made the Rebuke of all the Heathen But when the Lord again coâ—…es he will then take away the covering off of all faces and the rebuke of his people from off all the earth and then his people Israel will be all righteous and inherit the land for ever Isaiah 60.20,21 For the Lord hath said he will gather them out of all countries and will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul Jer. 32.37,38,39,40,41 And at the time of the Judgment of this World it is that unto the Son of God will be given dominion and a kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed Dan. 7.14 And then shall be the end of the Wicked of this World when the son of man shall send his angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity Matth. 13.40,41 Therefore it is clear according to the Word of the Lord in Daniel 7.27 That this Kingdom which shall be given is under the whole Heaven from whence ' those that Offend and them that do Iniquity will be gathered out and cast into a Furnace of Fire after the Lord comes ' and the Angel flies in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth saying with a loud voice fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters Rev. 14.6,7 And then will Israel and the Heathen Nations that know not God be called in which will be after the Lord comes and just before Babylon's Fall Rev. 14.1,8 And this was the Kingdom that St. Peter's Endeavour was that the Elect Remnant to whom he Wrote might be able after his decease to have these things always in remembrance 2 Pet. 1.11,12,13,15 This is the World to come of which St. Paul speaks of Heb. 2.5 And this is the Kingdom the Angel told the blessed Virgin of that Christ should reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end Luke 1.33 But this Kingdom will not be until the times of Refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord and then 't is that the kingdom and dominion and the great ness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7.27 When the Lord taketh to himself his own great Power and Reigneth the which will be when the seventh Angel soundeth Rev. 11.15,16,17 And then it is that the Raised Saints will likewise Reign under Christ their Head Chap. 5.10 And then to Israel and the People under them will be given the Kingdom they being the People of the Saints of the most High Phil. 1.10 And that ye may approve things that are excellent that ye may be Sincere and without Offence till the day of Christ XVII Who they were that were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit AND whereas the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 3.5,6 ' Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God ' that is without God we can do nothing ' for in him we live move and have our being ' Acts 17.28 And if he take away our breath we dye but as God hath made us Rational Souls and given us his Law so as to understand thereby his Will in his Word and God by so doing has made us capable to do something but in that he saith verse 6. God hath made them able ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life Now the Apostles received their Knowledge immediately from the Lord Christ and also of the Spirit for the Holy Ghost was given to be in them by which they also understood things to come and by the Spirit they were made able Ministers not
Curses in the Law were prononced against for although it is said All that are saved are saved by Grace and not of Works that is to show that we cannot perform good Works to that perfection as to become justified by them without the Merits of Christ and therefore saved by Grace and not of Works but Christ's Righteousness will be appli'd to justifie his Creatures sincere indeavours he being the Author of Eternal Salvation to all those that obey him But whereas it is said That it is not of Works of Righteousness that we have done but according to his Mercy he saveth us this was spoken to the first Churches which was then brought out of darkness and hath no reference to us as is proved but since the Nations have fallen into Popery we have not so understood as to distinguish between that part of Scripture which hath a general tendency and that which hath not And whereas Christ said to the Jews They should die in their Sins except ye helievc that I am he John 8.24 And who is this he but him that all the Prophets and Moses Prophesied of That when that Prophet came they should hear him in all things whatsoever he commanded them Acts 3.22 which at his first coming they did not And that all Believers that believe according to the Words of Christ so as to consent to take his Yoke upon them to become his Servants are then of his great Mercy and free Grace saved from their original and past Transgressions by the Gospel tender of his Grace Rom. 3.25 without their before performing the Deeds of the Law for Christ is become to such Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and by him the Eternal Life lost by Adam reenters But we are no sonner listed his Souldiers and Servants but we are to Fight to keep our Ground and Station wherein he hath set us for the Eternal Life given to the Believer to make it an Eternal Inheritance is a Prize set before us and it is the Runner that holds out to the end and the Warrier that overcometh that shall have the reward of the Crown of Life Rev. 3.11 And he that puts his Hand to the Plough and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God Luke 9.62 And it is said Remember Lots Wife And the Apostle saith of Himeneus and Alexander That they made Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1.19 Likewise others who were washed from their old Sins returned as a Dog to the Vomit and some denied the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2.20,21,22 And those that live after the Flesh and despise Government act as irrationally as the Beasts for the Beasts had not Reason given them but were made to be destroyed ver 12. And it is the Ground that remains barren under the tender of Grace and free offer of Mercy in the Call of the Gospel that is nigh unto Cursing whose end is to be Burned Heb. 6.6,8 And those that receive the sincere Milk of the Word to grow thereby are thereby brought off from the World and so Regenerated and Born again 1 Pet. 2.2 But they which have not the Word have not the Call of the Gospel And likewise among us who are not of the Elect there are some in a more peculiar manner brought home by the operation of the Spirit of God upon them by the Word but they do no longer stand than they are found sincere in their Obedience Rom. 6.16 IX The Word of the Scriptures is the Word of Faith and in them the offer of the Common Salvation I Do also here affirm that the Word of the Scriptures is the Word of Faith and in them the offer of the common Salvation and whosoever believes the Truth of the Scriptures they are able to make them wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Therefore the Apostle saith It is the power of God unto Salvation unto every one that believeth for therein is the Righteousness of God revealed and the Just shall live by their Faith Rom. 1.16,17 For the Lord is become the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 And by doing good Works there is a laying hold of Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.19 as well as there was some foreordained to Eternal Life And the Word of the Lord endureth for ever 1 Pet. 1.25 The which we are to hold fast till he come Rev. 2.24,25 And if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every Transgression and Disobedience received a just recompence of Reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by them that heard him Heb. 2.2,3 For the Lord Christ hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gosple 2 Tim. 1.10 And the Apostle with Moses speaking of the Letter of the Word saith The knowledge of it is in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou mayest do it Deut. 30.14 So that we may do the thing that is there required God having promised his assistance and that he will accept our sincere Endeavour and whosoever takes to the way therein directed will find the assistance therein promised with the assured Reward that Christ has purchased which they also will be partakers of as well as those that were forechosen so as for any ones sincere Service the Lord will be their great Reward when he again comes at the time of the Redemption of the purchased Possession for then will he Redeem Israel and give to others Rewards and Punishments according to their Deeds And this is the common Faith which all that are under the common Call of the Gospel ought to contend for the which St. Jude terms the common Salvation vers 3. And it was by the common Faith that Titus became so Eminent a Christian Titus 1.4 XII How God is the Author of Faith in the Belief of the Scriptures BUT peradventure some will say That we cannot of our selves have Faith to believe the Scriptures for that is the Gift of Ged These Words were spoken to the Elect Church of the Ephesians who were part of the peculiar People chosen from among the Gentiles for the Praise of his Name which received the Holy Ghost to be in them who were then first brought out from the Abominations of the Gentiles and to whom the Apostile saith Eph. 2.8 For by Grace ye are saved thro' Faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God That is it was the great Mercy and rich Grace of God the gift of his Son and this great Mercy is to be received thro' Faith which Faith is not of themselves it is the gift of God who unto them in a peculiar manner he did at first manifest himself to but God did never leave himself without vvitness for the ground of Faith to confirm the truth of vvhat he vvould have us believe and therefore to confirm the Lavv that it
Ezek. 14.7 And like not to retain God in their knowledge but in the way of well doing we may commit the keeping of our souls unto God as unto a faithful creator 1 Pet. 4.19 Now St. Paul speaking of the Creation of the World in the fore-going Words Rom. 1.20 makes mention of it as such and not as the Foundation of the World And all the Apostles in all their Writings agree in calling the Twelve Tribes the Foundation of the World to come And likewise Zachariah the Priest said God hath raised up a Horn of Salvation in the House of his Servant David Here he doth not say that this was Prophesied of from the Foundation of the World but by all the Holy Prophets since the World began Luke 1.69,70 That he would raise up a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David And in David and Solomon was the Typical Kingdom of Christ And after David had received the Kingdom God by the Prophet said His seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the sun before me Psalm 89.36 This ever is the ever of the time to come the which all the Prophets Prophesied of from David till Christ came but no Prophet Prophesied that this Salvation should come out of the House of David before David was and had received the Kingdom But we not apprehending the difference between the Creation and Foundation nor the beginning of this World to come has cast us into most dangerous Mistakes for thereby we have received another Faith than what the Gospel teacheth in thinking none but the Elect can be saved and that some thereby have thought they should be saved by the Righteousness of Christ contrary to the Words of Christ which are upon the condition of their Obedience which will prove destructive if unrepented of Likewise we have another Hope than what the Scripture Teacheth for by our Predecessors falling into Popery we have lost the form of sound words as they were first delivered and to maintain our received mistaken Notions we must not believe what God hath declared promised and sworn to And this out of pretence of justifying God's Wisdom which some say doth greatly consist in God's sore-knowing all the Wickedness of the Devil and Man from all Eternity whereby they make God the first conceiver of it and likewise with such approbation as some say as he did not only suffer it but decreed it to be committed which is so quite contrary to the Holy God as the thoughts thereof are to be abhorred it being Blasphemy for to think it for he hath absolutely declared against it For it was after God saw that Man had corrupted his Way it repented him that he had made Man upon the Earth and God said it griewed him at his heart Gen. 6.6 Now whether it is right in the sight of God to believe Man rather than God judge ye Acts 4.19 And that God that is an unchangeable Being in Holiness Wisdom Justice Goodness and Truth which are his proper Attributes and therefore impossible for God to lie Heb. 6.18 For God is not a man that he should lie neither the Son of Man that he should Repent that is when God hath absolutely promised a Blessing he will certainly perform it as it is here declared Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Numbers 23.19 And we are to believe of God in every thing as he hath declared of himself to be moved to pity upon Man's Repenting and Returning and to Anger and Wrath upon Man's Rebellion and of certain God will never be angry with any for believing what he saith or hath promised or sworn to And the Prophet for believing what another Prophet told him in contradiction to what God had declared to him a Lyon met him and Slew him 1 Kings 13.17,18,24 And as the Faith of Abraham was set down for our Example so this was Recorded for our warning that we might not believe Man in contradiction to God Now Christ and the Apostles being rightly understood are found to agree with the Words of God and the Prophets and the Care of the Apostles was such as to compare spiritual things with spiritual things 1 Cor. 2.13 To see if the Spirit spake in them agreeably to what the Spirit spake in the Prophets of old that thereby no Delusion or Deceiver might creep in among them for God did never send his Son and the Servants of his Son to contradict what he himself hath declared promised and sworn to XVI The Glory and Blessedness that will be in time to come For the Lord will come to judge the Nations in the valley of Jehosaphat and restore his People Israel Joel 3.1,2,12,13,16,17,18 and then it is the Lord will make Mount Sion and eternal excellency and the joy of many Generations Isaiah 60.15 And then it is his people shall be all righteous and inherit the land for ever Then it is a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation the Lord will hasten it in his time Isaiah 60.21,22 Here the Lord sheweth there will be another time after this time in which his People will be blessed against which time St. Paul ordereth Timothy that he should charge them that are rich in this world that they be rich in good works laying up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come 1 Tim. 6.17,18 And sure if we were not blind we could not think that all that are Rich in this World are Elected but that by doing good Works all may lay hold of eternal Life ' for Christ is become the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him ' Heb. 5.9 Whether Elect or not Elect but those that remain blind now God has made plain his Word is because they have no desire to see but whether some will see or not it is in the time to come that God will make that promised new everlasting Covenant with his People and put his laws in their inward parts and write them in their hearts and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know ye the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord Jer 31.33,34 And in that day the Lord will make a covenant for them with the beast of the field and with the fowls of heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and then will the Lord break the bow the sword and the battel out of the earth And then will the Lord betroth Israel to him for ever in righteousness in judgment in loving kindness and in mercy Hos 2.18,19 And then the days of his People shall be the age of a Tree and then it is the Meek shall inherit the Earth and delight themselves in the abundance of Peace and then it is the evil Beasts will cease out of the Land Ezekiel 34.25 Now this Covenant some have blindly imagined that it