Saints be joyful in glory c. Psal 149.5 6 7 8 9. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth or throat and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to binde their Kings in chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgement written This honour have all his Saints Hallelujah Mal. 4.3 For in that Day they shall tread down the wicked and they shall be as ashes under the soles of their Feet and so in the great straight to give the great Overthrow to the Enemies at the Day of the Lord 's coming it is said Zach. 14.1 2-6 Rev. 19 11-21 2 Pet. 3.5 6 7 8-10 The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee And so the Armies in Heaven follow him to the taking of the Beast and the false Prophet and casting them into the Lake of Eire and slaying the Remnant with the Sword c. when also the Earth with the Works that are therein shall be burn'd up and destroyed as the old World was with Water And this being done the next work is 3. To restore all things so said Peter Act. 3.19 20. When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you And so as in the beginning of the first Creation the whole business is first set forth in general Gen. 1 chap. and then the things done in the same time more particularly set forth and explicated chap. 2 and 3 So here in the dissolution of the Old and compleating of the New Creation the things done are in general related Rev. 19 and 20 chap. and then more particularly opened Rev. 21.7 5. chap. 21 and 22. And so Iohn saith He saw a new Heaven and a new Earth c. And the Lord saith Behold I make all things new c. And again These words are true and faithful And so the Believers when that great Overthrow is given to the wicked 2 Pet. 3.12 13. do look for a new Heaven and new Earth according to his promise for so when he cuts off the wicked Isa 65.12 15 17. he hath promised to create new Heaven and a new Earth c. And this is assured to be in that Day of the Manifestation of the Sons of God that the Creature even the whole Creation shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God who shall then enjoy the Adoption Rom. 8.19 20 21 22. Heb. 2.5 6. with Psal 8.4 5 6 7 8. Rom. 4.13 Heb. 11.16 Isa 58.12 the Redemption of the Body which they now wait for This the World to come whereof we speak this the World to come of which Abraham shall be an Heir this the Country he and our Fathers waited for and then shall inherit so as Christ in this respect also is the Restorer of paths to dwell in And having thus renewed the Heaven and the Earth the next work which is done in compleating this is cleerly shewn 4. Rev. 11.18 Luk. 14.14 Joh. 14.3 2 Tim. 2.12 Rev. 1.5 5.10 Luk. 22.28 29 30. Mat. 19.28 29. To take unto him his great Power and Raign and so to give rewards to his Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name small and great and so to receive to himself all that have formerly believed on him lived to him and suffered with him that they may raign with him yea eat and drink at his Table in his Kingdom and sit on Thrones c. In which Raign and Kingdom of Christ with his Saints when he comes and takes it divers things are considerable as expresly declared and affirmed in the Scripture as about the place of his raigning and the place of his Throne and the extent and manner and prosperity and duration of his Kingdom CHAP. 18. Of the things considerable about the Kingdom of Christ THat mentioned in the Scripture about the Kingdom of Christ is 1. The place of his Kingdom and Raign it shall be upon the Earth the Earth being renewed This is plainly intimated in Heb. 2.5 6 7 8. compared with Psal 8.4 6 7 8 9. and affirmed both of him and his Saints upon the making of the new Heaven and the new Earth I Iohn saw the holy City Rev. 21.1 2. new Ierusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband Is not this the Spirits of Just Men made perfect receiving their Bodies raised immortal Heb. 12.22 23 24. Gal. 4.26 1 Cor. 15.51 52 53 54. 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. glorious powerful and spiritual and the living Saints in the same moment of their Resurrection changed and made like them and so both together ascending and meeting the Lord in the Air or Heaven and so coming down with him as is foreshewn And that we may rightly understand the meaning of the Vision declared he farther saith Rev. 21.3 4 5 6 7. Zach. 14.9 Psal 72.8 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and so on Yea the Raign of Christ is expresly affirmed That it shall be on Earth and the Raign of the Saints with him that it shall be on Earth also so they confess Thou hast made us unto our God Rev. 5.10 Psal 37.9 10 11. Kings and Priests and we shall raign on the earth And so it is said When the wicked are cut off and shall not be then the meek that wait on the Lord in these dayes of his patience shall inher it the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace But this will still more appear in the Points following and so I will proceed to them 2. The place of the Throne it shall be Ierusalem the great and Holy City in the midst of Canaan in which Abraham walked and sojourned as a Stranger though then renewed and enlarged Jer. 3.17 and so it is said At that tune they shall call Ierusalem the Throne of the Lord And all Nations shall be gathered unto it Isa 24.23 to the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem c. The Lord of Hosts shall raign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously Isa 33.17 20 21 And again Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty c. Look upon Sion the City of our solemnities Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation a tabernacle that shall not be taken down c. There the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams c. Oh Jerusalem the holy City Isa 52.1 henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean Rev. 21.10 11-27 Isa 2.3 Mic. 4.2 Isa 62.7 Ezck. 38.35 Psal 122.5 Mat. 19.28 according to that Rev.
should now raign in his Saints and both these are true yea without controversie Christ doth now raign in his Saints and its desired to be more and more but yet his raigning in his Saints now is neither his raigning over the VVorld nor making his Saints to rule over the Men of the VVorld and the mistake is easily discernable to such as believe and minde the Scripture-Testimony of Christs coming to raign 1. For Christ his now raigning in his Saints is not his raigning by his Saints or with his Saints and they with him over Men but as the expression is in his Saints and that is by his gracious Word and Spirit subduing every thought to the obedience of Christ and them to accept the cross of Christ 2 Cor 10.3 4. Phil. 1 7-9 2 Cor. 4.11 12 13 14. 2 Cor. 1.7 Gal. 2.20 2 Pet. 2 13-16 1 Cor. 9 19-23 and conformity to him in it and so by the Spirit of Faith Love and a sound Minde he dwells and lives in them and they live to him and yet in this VVorld are for his sake as he was subject to humane Powers and servants to all for their good and though they overcome the VVorld yet their Victory is by Faith and not by carnal weapons and striving for worldly honour and power over Men but by the Word of their Testimony 1 Joh. 5.4 5. Rev. 12.11 2 Tim. 1.12 Act. 9.4 5. Col. 1.24 not loving their Lives unto Death so as while he raigns in them they are sufferers for him and so with him and he with them and they shall after raign with him when he raigns 2. The Saints raigning with Christ Col. 3.4 2 Thes 1.7 10. Rev. 11.15 18. and so his raigning in his own Person and with and by his Saints begins at once together he comes to take to him his great Power and Raign and then and not till then his Saints raign with him he that believeth makes not haste nor desires to raign before his Master and when God by his Providence putteth any Saint into a place of worldly Power and Government to rule among Men yet in that also they will be found sufferers for and with their Master and strangers in this World and though Protectors of their Brethren the Saints in their outward peace Psa 75.2 72.4 Psa 39.12 2 Sam. 23.5 Heb. 4.7 8 9 10. Heb. 11.9 10 16. 1 Thes 1.9 10. yet Rulers of them as men also in their outward affairs not able to carry all as they would by their several Officers under-Governours in this World the Saints must wait for that till their Masters coming even thus it was with David and so it is not yet their rest with Christ and raigning with him over the Men of the World It is better to look and wait for our raigning as Abraham and our Fathers did for the same inheritance and Kingdom that we are to look for 3. Jesus Christ is not to receive his Kingdom Joh. 18.36 Psa 2.6 9. Dan. 2.44 7.13 14. Ezek. 24.13 Luk. 1.32 Dan. 7.27 2 Tim 4.8 Rev. 2.26 and be set on his Throne after a worldly manner or by any worldly power or weapons no it is not the Saints that set him upon his Throne but it is the Father only from whom he receives it and he it is that gives the Kingdom to his Saints and sets them on Thrones True it is before his personal coming will be many Earth-quakes and shakings of worldly Powers Nation against Nation and the hating of the Whore and eating her Flesh and burning her with Fire by the Kingdoms of the Earth who shall enrich themselves with her spoyls in which Battels the Saints as Men and as called by Authority for defence of a People and Execution of Justice on wicked Doers may have their hand and work in these Battels yet as they are Saints so they use no violence commit no rapes seek not the ruine or destruction of Men but even in their overthrow and confusion desire the shame upon them to be blessed to them as a means of their conversion Psal 83.15 16 17 18. Prov. 24.17 whence also they rejoyce not simply in their ruine and harms but rather when they are subdued are very merciful to them though when in their perversness overthrown they rejoyce in the righteous Judgements of God and for his Mercies in their own deliverance their main design being the same with their Masters according to the Gospel-way The Salvation of Men Prov. 16.4 1 Sam. 24.13 they know for revengeful unnatural and filthy actings the Lord hath in this World another Generation of Men therefore though these be valiant in War yet Blood is neither imputed to them nor the Victory ascribed to them as Partners with Christ but this is his own Isa 63.1 2 3 4. and alone work by his Power in his Providence what Instruments soever he useth to overthrow the Enemies in which his Garments are sprinkled with the Blood of his enemies some of his Saints also dying in these Battels his coming also approaching nigh but being come that Battel in which the Saints and none but Saints shall be in which also the Lord is visibly with them and before them shall not be with carnal weapons nor confused noise nor Garments rolled in Blood Isa 9.5 6 7. Rev. 19 11.12-21 20 1-4 nor any Saint dying in that Battel but only the wicked and all the wicked overthrown as hath been foreshewn and yet this also done before he sit on his Throne and raign and the Saints reign with him Oh that our Brethren would consider this 4. As the Saints must not raign before their Master and Lord Christ and that he receives from the Father and they receive from him the Kingdom so likewise must they not raign one before another If Abraham Isaac and Jacob c. must not have it before us Heb. 1.40 1 Thes 4.14 18.2 Thes 2.1 2. much more should not we look for it before them nay not the surviving on Earth see or enjoy before them that sleep in the Lord when we are all gathered together unto him then and not till then shall our raigning be Oh that our Brethren would consider this 3. Such as though they confess this raigning of the Saints not to be till the personal and visible appearance of Christ yet they look for some glorious manifestation of the Sons of God whereby they shall be known from other Men of what different Opinions soever they be and in what different Forms of Church-Government soever they live and so they shall be eyed and may be advanced to some honourable places in this World before the personal coming of Christ surely the Belief and minding of the Testimony of Christ concerning his personal coming as set forth in the Scripture would help our Brethren to keep from the thoughts or desire of such honor to themselves before their Masters coming Dan.
and this is the refreshing c. And that it was this is evident vers Act. 10.36 39 40 42 43. Joh. 3 14-17 Luk. 24.45 46 47 48. Joh. 15.4 5 6 7. 16. and the same commanded by him to the first Witnesses of Christ to the same end 2. This also was both appointed and practifed by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in his own personal Ministration yea he affirms plainly That as no Man in any spiritual good so Ministers for bringing any Fruit to God in their Ministration without him they can do nothing 3. This also of Christ having once died Joh. 15.26 27. Act. 5.31 32. and being risen and offered himself a Sacrifice to God for us all and being accepted of God and so displayed in the Gospel ministred is that by and of and with which the Holy Ghost restifying of Christ doth both convince teach and lead c. 1. He thus convinceth of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement Joh. 16.7 8 9 10 11. 1 Joh. 5.9 10 11. Isa 55.4 Joh. 5 37-40 15.22 Of Sin because they believe not on him that died for their sins and made peace by his blood in whom God hath given us Eternal Life of whom God hath born witness and through him testified his Love that men might believe and in believing have Life Of Righteousness That all compleat Righteousness is in him Heb. 9.7 12 14 10 1-11 12 14. and all other Righteousness of Men vain seeing all other High-Priests entring the holy of holies came forth again still to offer with Blood and Sacrifices again but he having approached to his Father with that one offering it is so accepted that he comes forth no more to suffer and offer himself a Sacrifice propitiatory again but is set at the right hand of God an evident demonstration of Righteousness compleated in and by him and the vanity of all other Righeousness besides Of Iudgement because the Prince of this World is judged already Christ having by death overcome him that had the power of death Meb 2.14 Col. 2.14 15 16. Col. 2.3 16. Mat. 28.18 Joh. 5.27 29. having spoiled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it So that he is rightful Lord of all and all Judgement is in his hands both for discerning appointing and sentencing To which acknowledgement of all this if Men yield not now Isa 45.21 22 23. Phil. 2.9 10 11. 2 Thes 2.10 in these his gracious convincements they shall at the last day be brought to it by his irresistable Force when they shall be left without excuse and justly condemned because they did not receive his convincements when in acknowledgement they might have been saved 2. He also even thus and by this foresaid teacheth the convinced Believers and so leadeth them into all Truth not by a speaking of himself giving immediate Light Inspirations Motions and Dictates without any Ground or Bottom from the Sacrifice of Christ nor by an Exaltation of his own Shines or Inspiration to bottom the Believers on them or lift them up by them nor doth he take of the things of the Believers as they are Heirs either their Righteousness their Changes their Visits or any thing wherein they are better than others to ground their Faith on nor doth he discover to them any secret purpose counsel or election of God concerning them preceding the Death and Oblation of Christ Joh. 16.13 14 15. 14.26 15.26 27. with Luk 24.46 47. 10.3 7 9. purchasing the same and as the Fountain of the same to them But he speaking not of himself but of what he receives from the Father and the Son from whom he proceeds and in bringing to minde his sayings he taketh of the things of Christ his Death Resurrection Sacrifice-offering Peace mad â—nd the Father's Acceptance and Exaltation of him and so of his Sonship Election Fulness and Priviledges and so glorifying him doth lead Believers into all Truth 3. This also the Apostles and first Witnesses of Christ Act. 2 32-38 3 15-26 10 36-43 13.23 47. 2 Cor. 13 14-21 according to the Command of God and Christ and the Spirits guidance practised in their Ministration preaching this Oblation and by and with it all their Reproofs Exhortations Instructions and Consolations yea they determined in their Ministrations to the People not to know own 1 Cor. 2.1 2. approve or make use of any thing save Jesus Christ and him crucified not any other Doctrine Counsels Works Learning Wisdom of Words or Excellency of Speech among their Hearers whence their whole preaching is called 1 Cor. 1.18 19 20.24 The preaching of the Cross and that said to be the power of God to us which are saved though to unbelievers foolishness and a Stumbling-block such fulness they saw in this Oblation of Christ and such use did they make thereof in all their Ministration 4. This Death and Sacrifice of Christ the Purgation made thereby Mat. 28.19 Mar. 6.15 with Iuk 24.46 47 48. Rom. 4.11 with Col. 2.11 12. Rom. 6 3-8 1 Cor. 12.13 Gal. 3.13 14 27. and the Essicacies thereof is that which Baptism with Water in the Name of the Lord in its way and as an addition to vocal preaching of the Gospel doth preach and witness and into which we also are baptized when and as we are spiritually baptized into Christ 5. This also is that the continual remembrance whereof we are to celebrate and shew forth in our use of the Supper of the Lord till he come again 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25 26. 6. It is this and this only in and by which is opened for us the new and living way for all our approach to God Heb. 10.18 19 20. Joh. 10.7 9. 14.6 Eph. 2.13 18. and into union and fellowship with him and his people and acceptable service of both So that this Doctrine of the Oblation of Christ for us all is that with which the Ministers of the Gospel are to do all their work in their Ministration and so doing and so speaking Prov. 14.7 1 Pet. 4.11 1 Joh. 2.20 21 27 28. 2 Tim. 2.15 they shall speak with the Lip of Knowledge and as the Oracles of God and teach as the anointing Believers have received teacheth and so divide to every one their Portion and answer all the cavilling Objections of the Adversaries that pretend contradictions in the Scripture for in holding forth this Oblation as is shewn they shall cleerly shew how Jesus Christ was before all things and yet as the publick Man after Adam and so how he was both before and after Adam Abraham David and how the Lord and yet the Son of David and how equal to the Father and yet was in the flesh inferiour to the Father how as the great Sacrificer he died and offered himself a Sacrifice and Ransom for all Men and also as the faithful and persecuted Shepherd laid down
Deborah Barak and Samuel judged Israel though it will be in more holy manner And so it 's said Have thou authority over ten Cities Be thou Ruler over five Cities and I will make thee Ruler over many things And so likewise for the Governed here is also great diversity of degrees the twelve Tribes of Israel that are surviving at his coming for him to settle in their Inheritance and those of the Nations joyned to them and all the People by the Law going forth of Sion converted to them These are the chief Isa 19.21 22-25 66.29.24 Amos 9 12-15 Zech. 2 6-13 Heb. 4 3-10 Rev. 21.24 Isa 61.5 6. 60. Rev. 21.27 Zech. 14 16-19 Rev. 20.8 9. and as natural Subjects and free Denizens have their recourse to the City to worship and keep a perpetual sabbath and sing Hallelujahs to the Lord and the residue of the Nations shall be Servants and serviceable unto them who if as the Law comes out of Sion to them they do not convert and turn to come and worship they shall not enter the City but receive such punishment as shall witness displeasure and they at last be found of that number that will be destroyed Such the degrees both of Rulers and Subjects in this Kingdom and therefore rightly called Davidical 5. The prosperity beauty and flourishing happiness of this Kingdom is exceeding great and glorious I will only name a little and quote some Scriptures 1. There shall be no sorrow grief pain or crying Isa 14.3 51. 11. Jer. 3.12 13 14. Psal 121.5 6 7 8. Isa 25.8 Rev. 7.15 21.4 nor any thing to cause or occasion it no violence oppression or hurtful Creature no sickness affliction or death no pollution in Earth or Air but all fulness of satisfying in every thing that is good for them 2. They shall all know the Lord Jer. 31.33 34. 32.38 39 40. Ezek. 11.19 20. 36.26 27 and the Law of God shall be in their Heart and they shall have one Heart and one Way to love and fear the Lord for their good for ever 3. They shall not one envy another for any difference in degrees but each rejoyce in others preferment as his own Zech. 3.11 Psa 106.4 5. Isa 11.13 and 29 22 24. 4. Zech. 3.9 13. They shall all speak Truth sincerely both to God and to one another for he will then give and turn to them a pure lip 5. Psa 72.16 Isa 11.6 7 8 9. 2.4 Mic. 4.3 4 5. 5.5 Zeth 6.12 13. Righteousness and Peace shall stream among them in abundance Isa 32.17 18. and 11.4 and 60.17 and 66.12 Jer. 33.6 Psal 72.7 and with this abundance of plenty and all Creatures at peace with one another and all Men so as they shall learn war no more but sit quietly under their Vines and Fig-Trees and in quiet Habitations and for these things we may yet see farther Isa 49 18-23 and 60. and 65.12 to the end In this day Zech. 12.8 Zech. 12.9 Rev. 20.8 9. he that is feeble among them shall be as David and the House of David as God as the Angel of the Lord before them and as at the beginning of the Kingdom he destroyed all the Enemies that would not serve them so toward the end of the Davidical Regiment for of the Kingdom is no end he will destroy all that rise up against them And so I proceed to the last considerable about this Kingdom 6. Isa 54.9 10. Jer. 31.35 36. 33.25 The duration of the Kingdom it self is for ever and ever hath no end as is oft said but for this manner of administration in this Davidical Regiment or Kingdom as in the Kingdom there is such a Monarchy and such degrees of Rulers and ruled we may consider how long that shall continue and that shall be as long as day and night and the course of the Sun and Moon endures Rev. 21.23 25. Isa 30.26 Psa 8.3 4. Psa 72.7 17. Rev. 20.5 6. for though there be no night in the City and it have no need of the Sun yet will there be day and night and the Sun and the Moon keep their course with seven-fold more glorious splendor and useful to the Inhabitants of the Earth also and so it is said In his dayes shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moon end ureth his Name shall be for ever his Name shall continue as long as the Sun and men shall be blessed in him c. It is evident this manner of raigning shall be for a thousand yeers which if taken indefinitely may be a long time if taken strictly as some for weighty reasons conceive it to be yet if as some conceive the measure of the Sanctuary to be double to the common measure we may so conceive it to be a longer thousand than in our ordinary account And surely he that in his love of compassion shortneth the dawes of tribulation may in his love of delight lengthen those dayes of rejoycing raigning but I will neither dispute nor determine it but onely say as it is testified and I believe it shall be a thousand yeers at the least the time of Christ as Man and his Saints with him absolute and cleer raigning and so if minded a long time the complaint of the Prophet in the behalf of the Church was The people of thy holiness possessed but a little while Isa 63.18 19. that possession they fore-had in the times of David Solomon Rehoboam Abiam Asa Hezekiah Josiah c. but a little while our adversaries have trodden down thy Sanctuary c. and the promise of God to them by the same Prophet is As the dayes of a tree Isu 65.22 which is the longest of all vegetable Creatures so the dayes of my people which can be no less than as the Tree in durance abideth longer than the Grass Herb or Corn so his people shall longer enjoy their Land and this manner of raigning then any other Monarch or Nation hath done theirs and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands And this is also cleer Rev. 9.6 10.6 7. That Time shall continue so long as theseventh Angel with his seventh Trumpet soundeth and no longer And it appears by comparing Rev. 11.11 12 13 14. with chap. 19. throughout That the reviving of the Witnesses and the appearance of Christ and the Resurrection of the Just and the Destruction of the Beast and the false Prophet are before the sounding of the seventh Angel And in his beginning to sound the worldly Powers and Dominions are taken down and the Devil bound and shut up and the Thrones set And what time these things take I dare not say but some time sure and then they sit upon Thrones and the whole mystery of God is opened and then and not before then begins the thousand yeers of their raigning and judging Mar. 25 31-46 And when
VVord recorded by my first Witnesses that received it immediately from me they in believing come in to me receiving my words they receive me So that I by my word and in that by my Spirit with all the heavenly riches and treasures I am filled with in their Nature am thus spiritually in them and pray that I may so be still and more abundantly Vers 23. 23. And thou in me the Father is in the Son and all that is the Fathers is the Sons so that as he that in believing receiveth the Gospel doth receive Christ therein and he that receiveth Christ receiveth the Father and so from both that Holy Spirit that uniteth both to Father and Son and frameth to oneness of minde love and design and so for that farther end also here exprest that being made perfect in one and so in this unity of Spirit in love and design their design may prosper in this That the world may know that thou hast sent me the Saviour of the World and that the World through me might be saved and so that I am the Christ and that thou hast loved them these that believe in me and in love minister Gospel to them in my Name as thou hast loved me Which if any one come to know and believe what a one Christ is and how he loves and approves them and their Ministration who also are as patterns to them this will draw them also to believe and be pulling them out of the VVorld into the Church Joh. 4.10 1 Cor. 2.8 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 4. Joh. 17.24 The next Petition is for glory to be conferred on them after their Ministration the hope whereof is an encouragement and support to them in their Ministration through all sufferings And by all this our Saviour gives us to understand both who be his chosen Ministers and also what their Furniture is and the same that appears in our Saviour's Prayer is to be seen likewise in the practice and counsel of the Apostles who were so filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit as to be unerring both in delivery of their Doctrine and direction for the Ministration 2 Tim. 1.13 Gal. 1.8 2 Tim. 3.4 4.5 1 Cor. 11.2 23. 2 Tim. 1.14 1 Tim. 6.20 so as it is well done of their followers to keep both Gospel and Ministration as they delivered the same and they committed the Gospel and things thereof to such as were known to be faithful and endued with the Holy Ghost and charged them to commit the same to faithful Men not limiting it to outward Officers though in such an Epistle as was most needful to name them 2 Tim. 2.2 if such a thing had been intended but to faithful Men whether such Officers or no. But more need not be said of this enough is shewn before proving these the spiritual House the royal Priesthood the chosen Generation his chosen Ministers to shew forth his praises But yet a word or two more to make plain the Furniture those following Ministers have and in this Revelation of Christ we shall also finde that for Furniture 1. They have the VVord or Gospel discovering Christ Joh. 14 21 22 23. 1 Joh. 2.14 24. Isa 59.21 2 Joh. 2. Eph. 3.17 Heb. 12.22 Isa 78.16 46.13 1 Pet. 2.6 Isa 40.9 and so Christ in that Gospel in their heart and so are come to Sion and so are of Sion and the Foundation is laid in Sion that is Christ as set forth in the Gospel for Sion to hold forth to others the same Foundation that they may come in and be built thereon yea this word hath come from Sion Jerusalem that is above and is the Mother of us all Joel 2.23 Gal. 4.26 and is in the Heart Fellowship and Ministration of Sion that part of it which though in heart and Spirit above Phil. 3.20 Col. 3.1 yet in Sion hath God taken up his rest and will abundantly bless her Psa 132.13 14 15. Joel 3.21 Psa 77.2 he dwelleth there yea the Lord loveth the Gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob besides And so we may say This Ministration more then all that fore-went it So that the word of Truth of Life and Salvation is here as in the outward record so in the understanding and heart and floweth forth from hence as a first fruits of that Isa 2.3 Mic. 4.2 2 They in believing and imbracing this word have with it the Holy Spirit Isa 59.21 Rom. 8 9 10. 1 Joh. 2.20 3.24 Eph. 4.7 2 Cor. 12.4 7 11. Jer. 30.17 Isa 35.2 3. Cant. 6.8 9. Cant. 1.7 8. effecting the Spirit and Minde of Christ in them all and in some good measure enduing them with all the first mentioned spiritual gifts among them to every one some though not to all and every one alike Thus are they furnished And this may be truely said of Sion whom no Man seeketh after they are in worldly appearance made so like their Lord and there are so many Concubines though this Beloved be but one and the onely one of her Mother that for discerning her that prayer is needful Shew me where thou feedest c. and the direction there given needful and to such as do discern it it may be said as Psal 48.12 13 14. But now because these following VVitnesses that part of Sion yet below have not the Gospel and these spiritual gifts so immediately from Christ and so not in so full a measure as that they are alwayes infallibly freed from erring in every particular thing altogether in delivery of Doctrine and Ministration as the first witnesses were but as they have received their Doctrine and Ministration mediately in belief of and receiving the Doctrine and Gospel as delivered by them that are Sion now above so their preservation from error in Doctrine and Ministration is mediate likewise Prov. 6.20 23. 1 Tim. 4.15 16. 2 Tim. 3.14 17. Col. 3.16 even in heeding the Gospel received from God and Christ by them and delivered by them to us and so both the Commandment of our Father and the Law of our Mother in one to be imbraced and kept by us and so we are directed and commanded and promise of guidance given us therein And so 3. Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 They are furnished with Matter Rules Directions and Cautions in this Doctrine of the Gospel as delivered and recorded by the Apostles and which they also in believing it have in their hearts savingly working And this helpful 1. For speaking right and wholesome words in Faith and Love and to edification Pro. 22.20 21. Eccles 12.10 11. learning and comfort Rev. 19.10 2 Tim. 1.13 1 Cor. 4.6 and 14.3 2. 1 Cor. 4.6 Prov. 22.21 Rom. 15.4 Col. 2 18. For keeping measure and due order in our speakings that upon no pretence or presumption of Learning Parts Invention or Office we presume to speak of things we have not seen in the word of
Mediator between God and Men 1 Tim. 2.5 Isa 43.1 8 55.4 5 61.1 2 3 1 Joh. 2.1 Heb. 7.25 9.15 19 the chief and Prime Caller of Men to come to God by him and the special Advocate and Intercessor for all that come to God by him and so the chief Priest Prophet and King Heb. 5 7 8 9 10. 3. That by the means he useth Joh. 3.17 1 Tim. 1.15 Isa 53.10 11 55.5 Joh. 12.26 17 24 Psa 68.18 19 20 24 Rom. 2.16 and Spirit he sendeth forth as it is in earnest to all and hath a sufficiency in it that they might be saved so he shall see his Seed many shall thereby run in to him and so come to God by him and shall be blessed in him and inherit with him and they that persist in willing rebelling against him when by the means he useth they might come in to him and will not he shall judge also justly 4. That he shall have the Kingdom in the new Heaven and new Earth 1 Chron. 17.9 14 Psa 2.6 9 72 Dan 7.13 14 27 Luke 1.32 33 and shall sit on the Throne of David raigning in Jerusalem and over all the Nations under the whole Heaven and all his Seed even all that have believed on him and lived to him in the days of his Grace and Patience shall then have the Kingdom and raign with him and all his Enemies shall be destroyed 5. Isa 52.13 14 15 53.10 11 12 That to bring all this about in making it known and extending Divine Power in giâ—â—â—g forth his Knowledge to bring Men in to Christ and so to God by him that they might not perish but become his Seed and have Eternal Life and so he may see his Seed Isa 45.23 24 Phil. 2.10 11 Joh. 12.32 and of the travel of his Soul and be glorified and satisfied according to that promised him and is dayly fufilling and will be openly and manifestly to all when all shall come before him and confess him Lord to the glory of God Mat. 25.31 46 2 Thes 1.8 9 10 and he gives the Kingdom to all those that believed on him in the Day of Grace whom by his Knowledge he justified and then shall be admired in them and be glorified also in his equitable and righteous judgement on them that in the Day of Grace refused to believe on him by the means he used and so shall see the travel of his Soul and the excellency and acceptableness of his sufferings and Sacrifice with God in both Isa 45.22 Ezek 33.11 Prov. 9.12 to the Glory of God his Will and Pleasure all the dayes of his Patience being that by the means he useth Men should turn to him and live yea rather rest that though he will have his Glory on the scorners and not suffer loss to himself and that all this may be by this Knowledge of him and his Divine Power therein and so he have a numerous Seed and Refusers be altogether excuseless He in his Purpose and choice of the Man Christ did therein also purpose and chuse him Exod. 23.21 with 1 Cor. 10.9 Heb. 1.3 Isa 55.4 5. 1 Pet. 1.21 Joh. 14 15 16 17 and according to his purpose hath put his Name in and upon him to declare and make it known in by and through him and for that cause to make him known to cause him to be lifted up and displayed and in that discovery of him to glorifie him that Men might behold him and in beholding believe in him and so come in to him and to God by him and so be of his Seed and have Eternal Life and for understanding this we may briefly view three things in this 1. Exod. 6.2 3 4 What the Name of God is and that by his own Declaration appears to be himself and his memorial Rev. 1.4 Act. 17.24 25 Psa 105.8 9 10 Exod. 3.6 14 15 Exod. 34.6 Psa 145.8 9 Exod. 34.7 Joh 21.14 17 Psal 81.11 12 Mat. 24.37 38 Pro. 1.24 Ezek. 24.13 Joh. 5.40 Deut. 5.9 Psal 109.2 3 4 Ezek 18.2 20 31 32 Prov. 8.30 Psa 89.8 Gen. 17.1 Psal 66.7 Isa 45.21 22 Psal 9.9 10 Jer. 9.24 or the appearance of him in his Titles Word Works and so he is Jehovah he that is that was that is to come that hath his being of himself and giveth being to all things and to his Word The God of Abraham The God of Isaac and The God of Jacob with whom he made the everlasting Covenant This his Name for ever and his Memorial to all Generations and so The Lord The Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and Truth great in mercy good to all and his tender mercies over all his Works keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means cleer the guilty that is such as refuse and rebel against this mercy and goodness when in the means tendered to them and so will not come into him for Life will none of him and his wayes but visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children and upon the Childrens children unto the third and to the fourth generation explicated Exod. 20.5 upon them that hate me that hate me that am so gracious and merciful and so reward me with evil for good and hatred for love on such and no other but such as so hate him will he execute sore punishment He is the Lord God of Hosts All-sufficient that ruleth by his power for ever a just God a Saviour and there is none besides him that calls all the ends of the Earth to look to him and be saved This and much more abundantly explained in many places of the Holy Scriptue is the Name of God which is so excellent glorious and gracious that they that know his Name will put their trust in him and are allowed therein to rejoyce 2. That this his Name even Himself Joh. 14.9 10 1.18 1 Cor. 10.9 Mat. 3.1 Isa 55.4 Exod. 23.21 Isa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 Isa 9.6 Jer. 23.6 Tit. 2.13 Rom. 9.5 1 Joh. 4.14 and his Memorial he hath put in and upon his Son that is The Man Christ he is The Angel that Israel tempted in the Wilderness the Messenger of the Covenant in whom his Name is and he is and is called so that he and his Name is Emmanuel that is God with us in our Nature and for us Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Jehovah our righteousness the mighty God and our Saviour Jesus Christ God over all blessed for ever The Saviour of the World Joh. 4.42 God's Salvation to the ends of the earth Isa 45.22 Phil. 2.7 10 Col. 1 28 Col. 2.9 10 Joh. 1.4 1 Job 5.10 11 Col. 2.3 Isa 42.1 61.1 2 3 4 2 Cor. 3.18 4.6 Isa 55.4 5 Joh. 4.10 Isa 65.1 2 Cor. 3.3 4 Heb. 1.3 Isa 49.6 Act. 1.3.47
this should be framed out of its dregs after plain Gospel-Testimony is believed there being no one Saying in the Gospel declaring any such thing or that giveth ground for any such consequence and why should any of us that have received so much good in the Gospel-Testimony strain for a consequence to maintain that which the Gospel declareth not yea which stands cross to many Declarations yea Heb. 4.6 and to the scope of that very place alledged some must enter which appears to be spoken to encourage the weakest Believers to abide and go on in their Faith that they may enter the Rest or Canaan Compare ch 3. 4. with ch 6 12-20 11. See Part 3. ch 2. God hath sworn to give Abraham Isaac and Jacob and their Seed and they looked to receive it in a heavenly manner a new Earth c. which they never yet did nor shall till we all to the last that shall be called by the Gospel-Ministration come to enter together with them True God by Moses called them out of Egypt to that very promised Canaan but not at that time to receive it in that manner promised to Abraham but yet to receive it for which he gave them his promise which they not firmly believing especially after the receit of the first-Fruits all the antient Men except Caleb and Joshua that followed him fully in the faith of his Promise fell in the Wilderness and entred not not but that Moses Aaron Miriam Zelophehad and all like them even all but the rebellious shall in the Resurrection of the Just rise again and enter this promised Rest with Abraham c. So that in this they were but Types and Examples to us Those that Joshua led into the Land the Lord by Joshua gave them rest and in continuing in the Law of the Lord they might have retained it in that manner till the coming of Christ but yet the Rest as promised to Abraham was not then given no nor yet so long after as in David's time who when a King there and had both his people and his enemies subdued to him yet confest himself a stranger as his Fathers were and affirmed the promised Rest to be yet to come yet sure all that lived and died in the Faith must rise and enter when Abraham enters after God sent forth Christ for a Witness and Covenant that resting on him by Faith they might be so entring and in due time fully enter And the Gospel hereof was first preached to the Jews who for the most part refused and so entred not by by Faith and deprived themselves of a personal entrance when the time cometh yet God in his faithfulness to Abraham will preserve a Seed of Men of his Generation through all troubles that there should be found of them surviving at the coming of Christ and be brought in by him and shall enter when Abraham and all that sleep in Jesus shall be raised and enter together with them and till then none so enter for were it already so entred our hope would be cut off but it is not the rest yet remaineth for the people of God that we believing and abiding in Christ may have him for our rest and so be entring by Faith now and personally at Christ his next coming to encourage all Believers to firmness and constancy in this faith is the drift scope of the Apostle Rom. 9.19 who hath thus opened the same Methinks none should be so void of fear to affirm that as the Saying of the Holy Ghost which is given as the suggestion of an evil spirit Saying of a vain Man and so reproved Who hath resisted his Will as if none had or could which with grief I suppose true Believers will confess they have too often What other evils of dissention among Brethren c. the affirming of this devised Purpose to be both the Purpose of God and the Foundation and what other inconveniencies follow the maintaining of the last mentioned figment I will forbear to speak onely I confess for the reverence I bare to some I was a long time snared with this old fable till I experimented the evils mentioned and was brought to confess God in his Sayings true whoever be a lyar nor do I now blame any but my self who might have received good onely and not harm by what I read if I had not made Mens holiness and learning but the Scripture onely the umpire of my Faith and yet I have learned this That a Wolf in a Sheep's-Skin may for a time be imbraced and pleaded for by them that are no Wolves and so to be sober in judging yea this I farther confess That when I thought my self freed this last mentioned figment did a long time remain with me yea I was not freed of it when that my first published Tract called by the Printer The Vniversality of God's Free-Grace to Mankinde was put forth some Expressions there of it I wish were amended So that in this whole Chapter I own the blame of all the folly shewn to my self desiring of God as for forgiveness of all my Transgressions so of those in maintenance and favour of this old Fable or the last mentioned figment in Word or any Manuscript of mine desiring him that hath freed me to free others And yet I believe the eternal Purpose of God and the Foundation he hath laid according to his Purpose and his Election of that Foundation and of all in believing united to him to be verily true precious unmoveable unalterable as they are revealed in the Scripture as I have fore-declared CHAP. 12. The Conclusion about the Purposes of God to be known and believed THe Gospel as now come forth the Testimony of Christ in that which he hath suffered and done and what he is to and for them and what he doth to them that they might believe and what he will farther do to and for them believing his Father's and his own end in all this it is the Word and Minde of God yea the very opening and Declaration of the Heart Bosome Counsels and Purposes of God there is no Purpose of God cross to any part of this Testimony nor is there any Purpose that is God's but what is according to this Testimony which is the Word and Declaration of the Minde of the living God Rom. 6.25 26. Eph. 3.3 9. and called his Decree not to be doubted or waved from by any Suggestion of other secret Purposes or by feigned pretences of other meanings as if it were the Word of a Man that spake by guess or probabilities or according to appearances but to be believed and received as the word of the Almighty all-knowing God of Truth wherein the very mystery of his Will is opened to us Wherefore it becomes us neither to imagine our selves nor receive of others nor pry into any Purposes as if Purposes of God that are not declared in and according to the Testimony of Christ
in reverence of him have been forborn let become of our Opinions what will let God be True and every one that swerves from his sayings a Liar as for Saints by turning aside to fall depart c. Mr. Owen and all of his Opinion grant a falling may be and a grievous one also yea a departure though not total and final yet such as will be visited with grievous corrections such as may be as fire in their bones And we believe and Mr. Goodwin nowhere denieth Ier. 3.6 14 22. Hosea 14.2 4. Iude 22 23. but that there are Promises for these departed ones still That upon God's correcting recalling and renewed strife with them in which he will not be wanting in repenting and returning they shall be forgiven and received into former favour and renewed to former gracious consolation and hope again What needed then this harsh Censure and what profiteth the Opinion of the infallible certainty of the Saints perseverance When some of the Saints never attain this certainty Pag. 294. and some lose it in whole or in part yea many of the Saints who are not enabled all their dayes to mix the Promise of perseverance with faith and on that account do never all their dayes get free from some bondage c. So saith Mr. Owen whereas all that are justified by faith in Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 2. Gal. 1.1 have peace with God c. What is contended for If it were to help the Saints to persevere and to the Faith thereof then Mr. Goodwin his warning of the danger to avoid it and setting forth the Foundation on which they may safely rest and not be deceived is more farthering that business then the maintaining an impossibilty of final falling and set forth no Foundation for Believers to rest on for it in which they may enjoy it And surely these gracious Promises given to Believers abiding in the Faith with all the Cautions mixt with them are very helpful to Saints perseverance yet seeing there are Promises to help yet farther I will endeavour to quote some of them for the Reader to turn to and mind CHAP. 3. Of Promises to Believers that they may abide in the Faith THe third sort of Promises are to Believers that they may abide in their Faith and holiness Prov. 28.26 and not be left to trust on their own faithfulness for their abiding which would be unsafe for them and folly in them yea if any of them because of their love faithfulness and zeal toward the Lord or any attainments got or resolution made should thence resolve and conclude Isa 50.10 11. Mat. 26.33 35 Rom. 11 18 20. and rest thereon that they shall not depart from him or forsake him this though in the best Saints would certainly presage a fall for their standing and perseverance therefore that it may be by Faith Hab. 2.3 4 Gal. 2.20.1 Pet. 1.5 Gal. 5.5 and so that they may live by Faith and be kept by the power of God through Faith which is the onely way of attaining God in and through Christ hath given many gracious Promises which being mixed with Faith in Believers they will be enabled to follow the Lord fully as Joshua did and so be preserved till they come to the heavenly as he did to the earthly Canaan Psal 125. for the Lord forsaketh none that trust in him they shall be as Mount Sion c. Let us then search the Scripture where these Promises are 1. Psal 84.12 29.11 5.12 Isa 26.3 4. Jer. 17.7 8. They are blessed that believe or trust in the Lord he will bless them with peace and compass them about with favour as with a shield and keep them in perfect peace so as they shall take root and be established be green and fruitful and not wither 2. Deut. 33.3 Ioh. 10.28 29. Psa 18.30 Deut. 23.25 27. Rom. 16.20 Mat. 16.18 They are in the hands and under the wings and protection of the Lord and none can pluck them out of his hands so that he is and will be a Buckler to them and an Enemy to their Enemies and turn them back yea he will tread Satan under their Feet and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them 3. He will preserve and strengthen them he will preserve their souls Psal 31.23 24. 97.10 Prov. 2.8 Deut. 31.6 Heb. 13.5 Psa 37.28 their way their feet in his way 1 Sam. 2.9 yea he will never leave them nor forsake them but preserve them for ever so as they shall be safe through all dangers and set on high c. Psal 91. throughout 4. Isa 57.13 Psal 34.22 They shall possess the promised Land and inherit his holy Mountain and none of them shall be desolate Can any that believe Christ and therethrough trust God in his Word and so believe his Promises but that according to their Faith they are alike perswaded of his graciousness power truth and faithfulness according to these Promises to preserve their Souls in Faith and them in his Grace and way through Faith unto Salvation in his abundant goodness and truth And to help Believers to this believing and confidence these Promises are brought nigher to us Rom. 13.11 2 Tim. 1.9 10. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. and made more open and easie to be believ'd then when first made before the first coming of Christ in that now 5. Christ hath come in the flesh and Jesus is the Christ and he The Lord Jesus Christ The Son of God The Son and Saviour of Man The Head and Brother of all Believers who hath suffered for our sins overcome death offered the acceptable Sacrifice and is exalted and immeasurably filled in the Nature of Man with the Holy Ghost and in him all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen all the Promises are his 2 Cor. i. 20. Joh. 1.12.13 Joh. 6.37 38 40 7.2 6. and to him it belongs by vertue of his purchase and the donation of the Father to give the Dignity and Priviledges to be the Sons of God to Believers and to keep raise and give eternal life to those by the Fathers testifying of him drawn in to believe in him as hath been shewn in the Declaration of the Purposes which are opened in the Promises And he the Lord Jesus Christ telleth us plainly That his goodness the choice benefits of all his sufferings and Sacrifice and Mediation extendeth not to the Father to help or add any thing to his perfection but to the Saints that are in the Earth Psa 16.2 3. compassed with infirmities and to the excellent yea even the Spirits of just Men made perfect who have not yet received all their happiness in whom namely those Saints both that live by Faith and that have died in the Faith is all his delight And he communicateth the Priviledges of Sons to all that believe in him and they are born of God and have eternal Life Joh.
perdition and destruction of ungodly Men yea of all that then will not serve Christ and his people yea all the Saints with him shall have this honor To execute vengeance upon the Heathen to binde their Kings c. as is said 3. Jer. 3.17 18. Ezek. 30.24 37.21 22. Isa 52.8 Jer. 33.7 8 9. Isa 19.24 25. Jer. 48.47 49.6 7. Rom. 11.15 26 27. Psa 126.1 2. Heb. 8.10 11. Jer. 31.31 33 34. 32.38 39 40 41 Ezek. 37.24 28. Yea they shall also be with him and see the natural Seed of Abraham that are at that time found surviving of the whole twelve Tribes of Israel from all the utmost parts of the World come into their own Land yea then will that be fully performed that is promised 2 Sam. 7.10 13. Isa 11.11 16. Jer. 31.8 9. And they shall not onely see this but they shall also see of other Nations come in together with them to worship God as Egypt and Assyria and of Moab and Ammon and Elam yea of all Nations that shall be left living upon the Earth Psal 66.4 and 89.9 O joyful sight what can this be to such as love God less then life from dead and ravishing and satisfying joy and yet this is not all for then also being with the Lord they shall themselves receive of the Lord the full of the Covenant and Testament he in the day of grace was for and to them being the Mediator of that Testament in their behalf the Minister thereof giving in a spiritual first fruits to their Spirits but now openly making it in performance both to Soul and Body and they shall also see it made with the whole house of Israel as it was fore-made for them with their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob yea in a fuller sense because not to be looked and waited for by Faith then but to be enjoyed in performance both to their Fathers and them so as they shall then all know the Lord and there will be no more any remembrance of their sins by him they shall have no more any hunger thirst pain or any sorrow 4. Then also shall they see Jerusalem that great City Psa 128.5 Isa 33.20 66.13 Jer. 3.17 Isa 9.7 24.23 Luk. 1.32 33 Dan. 7.14 Psa 72.8 9 10 11. 106.5 Isa 65.17 2 Pet. 3.13 Isa 9.6 7. 11.1 9. Psa 72. 75.1 2 3. Heb. 2.8 Psal 8.4 5 9. Rom. 8.21 22. the praise of the Earth the Throne of the Lord a quiet Habitation yea then and there shall they see Jesus Christ in his glorious Body The Son of David The King in his Beauty and Glory sitting upon the Throne of David his Father and ruling before his Ancients gloriously in Jerusalem and over all the Nations and Kingdoms of the Earth under the whole Heavens then shall they see the good of his chosen and rejoyce in the gladness of his Nation and Glory with his Inheritance for then they shall have a new Heaven and new Earth wherein dwells Righteousness the Creation restored to its purity the light of the Sun as the light of seven dayes the Earth bringing forth plentiful encrease and all Creatures at peace among themselves the people among them all righteous and not one suffered to live among all Nations that shall rebel against them all Righteousness and Peace and Prosperity streaming among them through the blessed Restauration by and Government of the Lord Jesus Christ the King 5. The Tabernacle of God Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily and the holy City Rev. 21.1 5. 1.6 5.10 2 Tim. 2.12 Mat. 19.28 29. Luk. 19.17 19. which are these that have died in the Faith being risen and meeting the Lord in the Air comes down from Heaven in which God then dwelleth with Men having made all things new and now shall these Children of the Resurrection be Kings and Princes and chief Rulers in the Commonwealth of Israel and shall judge or govern the World and rule the Nations and so raign in this flourishing Kingdom with Christ on whom they have believed and with whom they have suffered yea now the Lord Jesus the King of Kings as he hath secured them from any hurt by the second death Rev. 2.11 20.6 3.5.21 2.7 17. 22.14 Mat. 10.41 42. Luk. 14.14 Mat. 29.29 Rev. 7.13 17. 11.18 so he will give unto them to sit with him in white raiment on his Throne and give them a new white Stone with a new Name even of Victory in it and to eat of the hidden Manna and of the Tree of Life yea also Rewards according to all their services and sufferings for his sake yea the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints Dan. 7.27 Rev. 21.24 6. Isa 66.10 23. Psal 72. Their exercise shall be a joyful and continual Sabbath-keeping with the Lord in singing Hallelujahs and new Songs of praise and all Nations shall acknowledge them The beloved and blessed of the Lord Isa 60.3 14. 61.9 1 Joh. 3.2 1 Cor. 13.12 Phil 3.20 Col. 3.4 yea they seeing Christ as he is and as they are seen they shall be like him but how glorious this estate will be is not yet manifested and so beyond our conceptions but onely that we know that we are now Sons and that in a measure we shall be then like him in glory And all these things may be seen more at large before in Part 2. ch 18. III. For the Promises to be performed to them when Christ shall have finished the work of the Davidical Regiment raised and judged all the Serpentine Seed and cast the Devil and his Angels and all the Enemies the wicked into the Lake of Fire and then delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father the Promises to be then performed I finde no other but an Ascension or encrease of this happiness and glory in God being All in all onely this I finde That the Kingdom shall never end Dan. 7.14 27. Isa 9.7 60.19 20. 61.7 Luk. 18.30 1 Cor. 15.28 Psal 16.11 never pass to another people they shall be ever with the Lord and everlasting joy shall be upon them and they shall be in everlasting life for ever and for ever only the administration of the Government is exalted or ascended higher so as God is All in all in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right Hand are pleasures for evermore that this is and that so it shall be is exprest and so most certain and sure but what manner of glory it will be is not yet revealed nor will be till Jesus Christ come and take unto him his great Power and Raign And these be part of the Promises made to Believers to be performed to them 2 Tim. 4.8 after they have finished their course and at the coming of Christ and if Believers do well minde these Promises Rom. 8.18
calleth them that they may turn to him believe and live and that whoever cometh to him in this his Call Joh. 6.35 37 40. he will not cast out but receive them and give them eternal Life and raise them up at the Resurrection of the Just at the last Day 3. Upon the part of the Father again to Christ That he shall sit at his right-Hand till this Ministration be accomplished Psal 110.1 2. Isa 53.10 11. Joh. 3.35 36. 14.21 17.23 and that he will beat down his Foes and Enemies and make them his Foot-stool and he shall see his Seed and the VVork of the Lord shall prosper in his Hands and he will accept and love all his Seed that believe in him and love them even as he loveth him and that though the Devil with all his Serpentine Seed oppose his Ministration and hold out many from coming in to him Psa 2.9 22.27 28. 72. and seek to delude and turn aside such as are coming and raise up Persecution against him in the World yet his Ministration shall be effectual in many and he shall see his Seed and of the travel of his Soul and shal overturn and judge all his Enemies and then all the ends of the Earth shall remember and turn unto the Lord and come and serve and worship him and then he and all his Seed shall have a new Heaven and a new Earth and shall have the Kingdom and be in his presence with everlasting joy for ever and ever as is shewn before in the Testimony of Christ and Purposes and Promises And this is the everlasting Covenant confirmed in Christ for him and all his spiritual Seed Psa 89.19 37. Joh. 6.56 58. Gal. 3.16 17. Rev. 22.16 Mat. 22.43 44. Rev. 1.8 11. 2.8 3.7 14 21.6 7. and stands fast with him for them for evermore This was confirmed in Christ that spiritually was before Abraham before made to Abraham and so before the Covenant made with David for Christ also is the Root and Lord of David and indeed the Covenant made and as made with Christ is the onely original Covenant and that out of which all Covenants are derived that are for the good of Mankinde or Believers yea without this none could have been for the good of fallen Mankinde and the happiness of Believers And for the right understanding of all and every Covenant of God this is first to be understood The differences between the two publick Men the natural and the spiritual The Covenant under which the first fell and under which the second was made and having satisfied upon that account the Covenant both of Grace and Glory made with confirmed in him and so in respect of the business done 1 Cor. 15 21 22 45 46 47 Rom. 5.14 Mr. O. p. 9. the firmness of the Covenant made in viewing the publick Men oppose the second publick Man to the first publick Man and the spiritual Seed come into the second to the natural Seed come forth from the first and so what we have from the one to what we have from the other and not in such business oppose the first Adam to the Saints but to the King of Saints of whom he was a figure But now I will endeavour to say what I finde of Covenants derived from this made with Christ and through him made with Mankinde or with Believers and so to begin next with Mankinde CHAP. 2. Of the Covenant of God made through Christ with Mankinde VVHat that Covenant is That God hath through Christ made with Mankinde was not so cleerly opened in the beginning when first made as since and yet still it is not so cleerly express in any one place of Scripture as to be plainly there read but in searching and comparing divers places together it is to be found and so this we finde 1. Jer. 5.22 24. Job 36.24 33. 37.3 4 24. That the mercies of God extended to Mankinde through Christ the preservation and upholding the Heaven and the Earth and the Creatures in both and ordering all so sweetly by his providence for the good of Men yea the hinting and rumour of a Saviour extended through whom all this mercy is shewn All this doth still and more oblige fallen Mankinde Psal 104. all even all Men to adore and acknowledge this infinite Wisdom Power Mercy and Justice Love and Goodness of God and so to fear love and trust in him with all their Hearts Minde Soul and Strength and to love their Neighbour as themselves and to walk in this fear and love doing whatever the Lord hereby requireth of them and there is no natural Son of Adam Rom. 3.10 11 19. 2.19 that can free himself from being under this Law since the fall of Adam nor yet fulfil it and though God in and by Christ and so Christ doth not set Men free from being under this Law in themselves till his season nor will judge them in justifying or condemning them by it Rom. 2.24 15. 3.19 20 21. 5.20 Act. 14.17 17.26 27 28. yet there is an usefulness of it that is good in his sight and profitable for Men to which his mercy obligeth and that is that by the effects of this Law upon their Hearts requiring and excusing and accusing they see and acknowledge their sinfulness and the vanity of their best doings and so their need of a Saviour and Mercy through him that they may so seek after God and finde Mercy and free-Favour with him and this sense and use of this Law is also a part of his Covenant But to proceed 2. In the rumor of Christ to come at the beginning Gen. 3.15 1 Joh. 3.5 8. Heb. 11.6 Lam. 3.25 26. there was testified the Love Graciousness and Propitiousness of God in providing such a Saviour through whom Remission of sins and Life is to be had so as this engaged to believe him to be gracious a Forgiver of sins and a Giver of Grace and Life to such as seek him 3. Act. 14.17 17.26 27 28. Psa 19.1 6 Rom. 10.18 2.4 Psal 145.8 9 17 18. See Part 3. ch 1. The Mercies of God extended unto Men in his Works of Creation and Providence do witness forth the Truth of that-first rumored namely That there is some Atonement and Propitiation with God and that he that is so true and righteous is therethrough gracious and merciful which witnessing of his Goodness to Men engageth them in acknowledgment of their own short coming and inability to answer that Obligation in which they are naturally bound to love God c. in this acknowledgement to believe his Graciousness and therethrough to believe in him for life and in that Belief as a Testimony of Love and Thanks to him according to Light and Strength given to live to him and wait for his coming By all which considered we may understand That the Covenant of God
Testimony and Seal was Circumcision which was to be acted upon the Males onely in its beginning to be put on the Father of the Family and Men grown and then on Children of eight dayes old and so to be continued to Generation and Generation on the Male-Children And this Sign and Seal of Circumcision was given to Abraham and he received it to administer even to all his Family however as aforesaid become of his Family even to the Child of eight dayes old as a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith which in believing he had received in the Testimony of God concerning the promised Seed the Object and Foundation of Faith and for alluring to Faith and for Faith to rest on and in the Covenant now made with him to confirm encrease and exercise Faith both which as he believed so he had to preach and so to testifie the Truth of that he taught he had as received from God this outward and sensible Sign to testifie seal and confirm the Faith with not Rom 4 10 11 12.13 Gal. 3.7 8 9. That by this outward Sign he should confirm and seal his own believing that he might be a Son which he evidently and knowingly was before nor yet by this outward Sign to confirm the Righteousness and Truth of the Repentance and Faith or believing in those upon whose Flesh the Sign was put but That he might be the Father c. namely by delivering such a Doctrine of Faith and testifying it with such a Sign and Seal received from God as a Seal of the Righteousness of it he might be an Instrument to draw on Men to believe and bring under the means of begetting to the Faith and Profession thereof and so become the Father of them that believe whether of his own circumcised Nation or of any other Nation in which Seal administred by him Gen. 17.9 10 11 13 14. Act. 7.8 Rom. 3.1 2. Ier. 4.4 Deut. 30.2 6. Rom. 2.25 29. 3.30 Iosh 5.9 Exod. 12.48 49. Gen. 17.10 11. Exod. 19.5 6. this also was included That all that received the same upon that account as given him of God to that end on themselves and theirs God by Covenant engaged himself to afford them such means as they attending and yielding up to him therein he would circumcise their hearts to love him and so make them of the spiritual Seed that they might be interested in and wait with assured Faith for the Good assured in the free and everlasting Covenant whence Circumcision is called God's Covenant in their Flesh and said to be much profitable and they exhorted thus to attend and the Promise also so made to them and the circumcised by this Ordinance were distinguished from the Heathen of the World yea and of them when proselyted they were by it them and theirs admitted into the Family of Abraham And all the Circumcised engaged by this Ordinance to attend on the Lord in all the Ordinances he should give untothem So that the Covenant fore-made by God with Mankinde through Christ was not in this Covenant nulled or made void or weakned but included and opened and farther help for the Observance of it afforded to all the Circumcised with greater Encouragement by the Gospel more cleerly taught and the everlasting Covenant held forth to all that were or came to be of this Family of the Circumcision so that the everlasting Covenant made with Abraham by having Circumcision annex'd did neither exclude nor hinder the eternal Salvation of any in any Nation that according to light and means believed and lived to God according to his Covenant made in and through Christ for and with Mankinde Exod. 12.48 onely such as came not in to be circumcised were deprived of those Priviledges of large Light Means Encouragements and Fellowship in Communion therein afforded by the everlasting Covenant to the circumcised Surely this free and everlasting Covenant is a blessed Covenant no Covenant beyond it nor any could be good for us that should in any sort make this void So that we look for no other Covenant but onely for another manner of making this namely in Performance of which after And in the mean season we will enquire about such Covenants-making as are for our fartherance and help in waiting for this And as we read of a three-fold Performance of this Covenant in three several times first In a literal part of it when God did give the Israelites rest in Canann by Joshua Secondly In the spirituall part of it to the Souls of Believers when God sent Jesus Christ into the World and gave him for a Covenant and the Covenant to be fully made according to Spirit and Letter in Performance at Christ his glorious coming so we shall finde a glorious Covenant made with Israel to tutor them till Christ's first coming and a Covenant made with all that believe in Christ as he hath come in the flesh and is given for a Covenant to tutor them till his next coming when the full will be given them Let us take a view of each of these CHAP. 4. Of the Covenant made with Israel in Moses time AFter Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the Patriarchs together with him in their times had in the Faith of this everlasting Covenant sojourned in the Land of Promise a hundred ninety one yeers the Children of Israel sojourned in Egypt four hundred thirty yeers And after that God in remembrance of this Covenant brought them out of Egypt to lead them into Canaan by Moses Deut. 5.2 3. he made another Covenant with Israel expresly called Another a Covenant God made with them then at that time living and not made with their Fathers that were before them and this called A Covenant also frequently and it had two parts both and each of them called both Law and Covenant I will mention both The first was called The Ten Commands or Ten Words Exod. 34.28 Deut. 4.13 10.4 a holy and righteous Law discovering more cleerly then since Adam's fall was fore-declared all those righteous affections and services which the kindness of God to Man in the works of Creation required and in his great Redemption prepared for Mankinde in Christ and his Providence for preservation of Exod. 20.1 2 3 c. Deut. 5.6 c. Mat. 22.37 38 39. Luk. 7.27 28. Rom. 13.8 9 10. and particular Mercies and Redemptions extended to Men through Christ with his Authority do oblige and binde Men to and so how they ought to love the Lord their God with all their Heart and Minde and Soul and Strength and their Neighbour as themselves in which two Commands the whole Law is summed up and this part of the Covenant as it is called the Covenant so it is called the Law The second was called The Covenant of Levi Numb 25.12 13 Nehem. 13.29 Mal. 2.4 or of the Priesthood where in was more opened then to our first Fathers Adam Seth Noah c. who offered
his Sufferings Victory Ministration and Raign and the Raign of his Seed with him and so of the Holy Ghost to be the Teacher and Leader of his Seed after his Suffering from his Ascension till his personal coming again And thus God planted them a right noble Vine Jer. 2.21.3 Hos 9.18 Psal 147.19 20. wholly a right Seed and so Israel was Holiness to the Lord the first Fruits of his encrease and he found theâ—â— thus of his own planting and bringing forth like Grapes in the Wilderness and as the first ripe in the Fig-Tree And thus were they preferred before all Nations in the World whom though he yet continued to them the means at first given and Covenant at first made with Mankinde through Chrst and so excluded them not so from Salvation Act. 10.34 Rom. 2.4 6 15. but that if any of them repented and believed according to the means vouchsafed they should be saved yet in respect of this knowledge of Christ and of any true outward form of worshipping God and enjoyment of the Priviledges of this Commonwealth of Israel they were strangers and though in coming to them and being circumcised Epb. 2.11 12 15. they might partake with them yet without that none of any other Nation could which was for the time a Law of Ordinances and Hand-writing against them so highly then did God prefer this People of Israel that in respect thereof Psal 114.2 135.4 136.11 14. Hos 11.1 Exod. 4.22 Ezek. 20.5 18 19 20. Josh 22. See for all said more par 3. ch 3. Jer. 2.5 21.22 Ezek. 20.7 26. Jona 2.8 Rom. 3.2 3. 9.5 8. they were his Sanctuary and his Dominion yea his chosen and peculiar Inheritance that he had redeemed out of Egypt yea his Son his first-born whom he led to and set in Canaan In all which we may observe That in this was the first literal performance of the Covenant made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and that these Covenants and Promises and Priviledges were given to whole Israel in which they all had now more means then any other Nation to become of the true spiritual Seed being in respect of the worship set up among them and therein the outward Adoption and means of the inward wholly a right Seed and the Promises in that respect alike to all yet such as contemned and turned aside from these degenerated into a strange Plant and lost their own Mercies and such as in cleaving and attending to these were born of the Promise they were the true spiritual Seed And thus much of the Covenant once made with Israel the natural and proselyted Seed of Abraham that they might become a spiritual Seed c. and we finde this Covenant once made to stand firm in all Generations for every one of Israel till Christ came without making it over again to the whole Israel or to particulars and when Christ came and suffered for all the sins the Law could charge with and fulfilled in Truth that which was typed out in their Order of Priesthood Tabernacle Laver Altar Propitiatory Sacrifices and Washings then was the Law fulfilled and Truth found in him who is the end of the Law for Righteousness and yet there was among Israel another literal performance of a part of the Covenant made with Abraham viz. And Kings shall come out of thee Gen. 17.6 Psa 78.70 71 72. when he chose and gave David to be their King in Israel to feed and govern Israel and then we finde not onely a reviving of the Covenant made with Abraham but in respect of that part of it which concerns the King and Kingdom that shall be enjoyed in the promised Inheritance more opened and again made with David for him and his Seed which is to be considered also CHAP. 5. Of the Covenant made with David concerning the Kingdom promised to him for him and his Seed WHat the Covenant made with David was is express in 2 Sam. 7.10 17. See also par 2. ch 18. and 1 Chron. 17 9-15 and Psal 89 20-37 full and large and hath been before explicated in Part 3. Chap. 4. there read it And I will here onely add a few Observations about it as a Covenant I. That this Covenant in the outward and literal form and manner of making it 1 Sam 7.13 23.2 3 4. Psal 89.30 31 32 39. and in the Declaration and Ministration of it as to David and his natural Sons it was under the Law and Covenant made by God in Moses Ministration with Israel and so had many terms suitable thereto so that by their breaking Covenant they might fail and come short of this for a time and this appear as if failing them II. 2 Sam. 23.5 1 Chron. 17.10 14 That this Covenant was in it self and in the spiritual making of it with David for him and his supernatural and enduring Seed and his House promised absolute free everlasting ordered in all things stablished and sure the same and as made with Abraham III. That this Covenant was confirmed with an Oath as to Abraham before The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David Psal 132.11 89.34 35 36 37. he will not turn from it Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy Throne saying My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Once have I sworn by my holiness That I will not lie unto David his seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the Sun before me it shall be established for ever as the Moon and as a faithful witness in heaven Selah IV. That this Covenant being a part of the Covenant foremade with Abraham Isaac and Jacob is no other but what was first made with and confirmed in Christ and then in and through Christ confirmed and made to Abraham Isaac and Jacob and now in like manner for this part of it explicated made to and with David for him and his Seed and for the good of all Nations that shall be joyned to them what manner of Kingdom and where I leave the Reader to see in the Texts Par. 2. c. 18. Par. 3. c. 4. 1 Chron. 16.15 19. Psal 105.8 11. and that fore-written Hence this Covenant is included in and minded in minding that made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob V. That this being of the same Covenant made with Abraham Rom. 4.1 5 6 9 11 12 13. to which was added the outward sign of Circumcision and given to the circumcised and under the Law given to the Circumcision and Circumcision abiding in its force and use until Christ came and that the Circumcision of the flesh was compleated in his sufferings here needed no other outward Token or Sign and Seal to be added in this new making of the Covenant it having that very Sign and Seal before and then remaining VI. That as the former making of this whole Covenant with Abraham Isaac and Jacob was 2 Sam.
7.19 24 29. 1 Chron. 17.17 27. even so this part of it now made with David is so made that it might have divers times and degrees of fulfilling as is also expresly to be found written The first fulfilling was according to the Letter 1 King 8.15 20. 2 Chron 6.1 10 1 King 11.36 suitable to the Covenant given by Moses that they were under and this began when Solomon was setled on the Throne of David and had built the Temple as is confest plainly yea and after a great breach yet a continuance of fulfilling avouched The second fulfilling is spiritual Luke 1.31 32 33 69 70 71 74. Joh. 1.49 Act. 5.31 32. 1 Pet. 3.23 Heb. 7 8. Psal 110.11 Col. 1.12 13. and that began when God sent forth Jesus Christ and he had suffered and overcome Death and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice and sate down on the Right-Hand of God and received all fulness of Spirit in the Man and sent forth thereof to Men to convince the Rebellious and lead Believers into all Truth and so by that Spirit rule in the Hearts of his People while they as he was are strangers and sufferers here and this is plainly confest and the continuance likewise The third Rev. 5.10 1 Thes 4.14 15 18. Psa 102.16 Heb. 11.13 40. Rev. 11.18 last and compleat fulfilling is That which shall be both spiritual and literal if I may use that term because it shall be on Earth though the Earth renewed and to Soul and Body though both spiritual c. and to all Israel yea this shall be to Abraham Isaac Jacob and all the twelve Tribes of Israel and all the spiritual Seed together even all that sleep in the Lord and all that are surviving at his coming when Jesus Christ will personally and visibly appear and come and take unto him his great Power and sit upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem and raign in Jerusalem and over all Nations of the Earth and all Kings fall down before him all Nations serve him And the Covenant thus fulfilled Heb. 11.14 15 16. 1 Chron. 16.15 19. Rom. 4.16 Gal. 3.7 8 16 26 29. 5.5 Levit. 26.44 45. Deut. 4.31 Psal 105.8 9. 1 Chron. 16.15 16. and this settlement and Kingdom is that which is promised and which all the Fathers waited for through Faith and which all the spiritual Seed are to wait for as Abraham's Seed to whom through Promise it is sure by Faith and they have professed so to wait for it the time place manner prosperity and duration of it being foreshewn and that God for performance of this and the whole Covenant made and as made with the Fathers Abraham c. hath confirmed for and will perform it to their Seed according to his Promise he doth for this remember this Covenant as made with them and wills us so to heed and minde and wait for it as sure in Covenant as made with them and directs us not to look for another personal making of it to us to make it surer to us to whom it is sure enough in that first making in Faith whereof we wait to receive and enjoy it and not for any other making but the making in performance The first fulfilling is past as confest to begin with Israel and Solomon and if any conjecture It was made again with Solomon it is cleer it was not made with him 2 Chron. 7.18 6.16 2 Chron. 7.16 22. 6.15 16. 1 Sam. 12.20 25. as with Abraham Isaac and Jacob nor as with David but as both David and Solomon was under the Law given by Moses and so God did graciously minde Solomon of the Covenant fore-made with David as he often doth Believers now without so making it over again with him and so Solomon understood it and he promised Solomon the continuance of the Kingdom in that manner he had received according to his keeping of that Covenant given by Moses and not otherwise and so he understood it and such was the promise to all Israel for the continuation both of King and Land and so the everlasting Covenant is fully and surely already made and other makings of it I have not to treat of nor other Covenants to be made but as they are Branches of this and made in some performance of this Covenant And so I shall mention three things in this business according to the performances of the Covenant made with Abraham and that is first In his sending forth and giving Christ the promised Seed displayed in the Gospel so he hath given him for a Covenant to be received by Faith Secondly In the Dispensation of his Goodness and Spirit through Christ he hath given by Christ a New Testament for the nurture and guidance of Believers and Receivers to the Inheritance And lastly In the coming again of Christ the making the Covenant by a compleat Performance I shall confider each of these CHAP. 6. Of Jesus Christ being given for a Covenant GOD promised Isa 42.1 6. 49.8 and according to his Promise hath given Jesus Christ The Seed of Abraham of David The Saviour of the World and Propitiation for the sins of the whole World The Lord of all and Head of the Church that hath satisfied the Law and is full of the Holy Ghost The Heir The King The Son of David and The Son of God for a Covenant to Believers the People that are his Seed so that he is The Messenger of the Covenant and he with whom the Covenant was first made and in whom it was confirmed to Abraham Mal. 3.1 Gal. 3.16 17. Heb. 9.16 23. 13.20 Psal 89.28 2 Cor. 1.20 Heb. 8.1 2 6. and hath confirmed the Covenant with his own Blood and with him the Covenant stands fast for ever so that all the Promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen and he is The Minister of the Covenant by whom God will perform all that is in it And so I shall here onely in what is implied or exprest in this saying That God hath given him for a Covenant consider what I am helpt to underdand 1. That he is given for a Covenant implieth That he is given or made to appear in the Gospel Joh. 1.18 Mat. 11.27 2 Cor. 4.6 Heb. 1.2 3. Isa 42.1 6. 49.6 Gen. 3.15 1 Ioh. 3.5 8. Gen. 12.3 1 Ioh. 2.2 4.14 Isa 42.7 49.9 that he may teach and Men in beholding and minding him may know the Covenant and so be brought in to him to enjoy it which is a new and cleer and more alluring and powerful way of teaching it and bringing to it then ever was before so he is affirmed to be given for a Light to the Gentiles and to shew forth judgement to them and be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth And this must needs be so when he is set forth who is the promised Seed that came to take away sins and destroy the works of the
Spirit and Truth figured is found in the Circumcision Sufferings and Death of Jesus Christ Phil. 3.3 4 7 8 9. Col. 2.9 10 11 12. which Spirit and Truth is so in Christ that whoever believeth in him is interested in the same and it is become his and he receiveth the Circumcision made without Hands even that of the Spirit taking him off from all confidence in the Flesh that he may rejoyce in Christ onely as compleat in him and so that Jesus is the Christ That he had put an end to all bloody Ordinances and Sacrifices for sin That he hath made purgation for our sins to purge us with and then sate down on the Right-Hand of God and the everlasting Covenant firm in him and he filled with Spirit to dispense and so set forth the Saviour of the World and Propitiation for the sins of the whole World that whoever believeth in him may not perish but have everlasting Life and so his part in this everlasting Covenant Compare Gen. 17.9 10 11 12 13. Exod. 12.48 49. with Mat. 28.18 19 20. Act. 16.33 Col. 2.11 12. for all this we have an outward Sign and Testimony more significant easie and free then Circumcision was even Baptism c. to be put on all that accept this Gospel on them and all under their Tuition as a Sign given from Christ to testifie not the Truth of the Repentance and believing of such as are baptized but the Truth of the Faith Gospel and Covenant taught and so disciple into Abraham's Family to be the Scholars of Christ who needeth not as humane School-Masters to have his Scholars bring their capacities and fitness with them for he even giveth that also and as Circumcision and the Passeover were Ordinances of the Gospel in which Christ to come in the flesh was preached and both before the first Testament and yet when that given were both used under it so Baptism and the Supper of the Lord are both Ordinances of the Gospel in which Christ is preached as already come in the flesh and to come in Glory Rom. 3.27 8.2 Iam. 2.8 12. and both instituted before the New Testament was given from Mount Sion yet now both used under it But the new Testament it self will verily appear to be something distinct even that Law of Faith of Life of Liberty for nurturing Sons and in which Believers are to walk in this Life So that yet in this saying we are not satisfied 3. Some say That the New Testament is Christ his Dispensation of a spiritual first Fruits of the everlasting Covenant into the Hearts and Minde of the Believers in putting in by his Spirit his gracious Word into their Heart and so enlivening and operating in them as to unite and conform them to himself and so lead them to the Inheritance This saying is Truth and fully proved in Heb. 8.6 10. and 10.15 16. agreeing with 2 Cor. 3.3 and doth more satisfie according to Scripture then all or any of the former and in this I long rested as if it were the whole of the Truth as indeed it is a part and the chief part of it and that which according to the New Covenant in his present Ministration he dispenseth and in that respect also is rightly said to be given for a Covenant And in this Dispensation given a New Testament is given which what that is I will assay to finde out and delare CHAP. 7. Of the New Testamental Covenant what it is THe New Testament is that Rule and Order agreed on between the Father and the Son in the councel of God both for Christ his Dispensation and the Believers Receit and Perseverance to which the Covenant hath Engagements on both parts as that given by Moses had though not the like Engagements for these two Testaments are one opposed to the other and by comparing the one with the other in their Agreements and Differences and the excellency of the New above the Old as declared in Scripture and the Scripture-Expressions of the New I conceive we may come to the cleerest and fullest satisfaction to know indeed what the New Testament is 1. They were both given by God by and in the Hands of a Mediator Gal. 3.19 20. Heb. 9.15 3.1 6. Rom. 7 10 13. Gal. 2.19 21. 3.21 22. 2 Cor. 3.6 11. Gal. 4.24 25 26 17. Heb. 12.18.22 Deut. 5.23 Gal. 3.17 18 19 25. Heb. 3.2 4 5 6 10. Exod. 20.1 2. Psal 81.10 Act. 26.18 Col. 1.12 13. but not both by one and the same Mediator the one the Servant the other the Son they were both ordain'd to life and so had the same end but not to effect it in the same way but the one preparing by terrifying and killing the other extending it by consolation quickning they were both given on and from a great Mountain but not the same Mountain but the one Mount Sinai gendring to Bondage the other Mount Sion giving to Freedom they both were given after the Covenant made with Abraham and so distinct Covenants made besides that and that by Moses first being no part of the Covenant made with Abraham but only subservient to it and this by Christ after that by Moses and so no part of that yet having in it the quintessence of the Covenant first made with Mankind through Christ and the first Fruits of the Covenant made with Abraham they were both made with a People redeemed not onely redeemed in a publick Man from perishing in the first death as all men were but also called and redeemed in their own persons out of great bondage and servitude to be led to Rest or Canaan yet not both alike the one out of an Egyptian worldly and bodily bondage to go to an Earthy Rest or Canaan the other out of a spiritual bondage in the darkness and pollutions of this World and the powerful Dominion of Satan to be led to an heavenly Inheritance Rest and Glory they were both given for nurture and tutoridge of Sons Gal. 4.1 8 21 31. having both their Directions and Requirings yet not both alike but the one to tutor as a School Master though Sons yet under some bondage like Servants suitably directing to and requiring Works the other to tutor as Sons in the Father's House and Presence with Freedom and its requirings not like the other of obedience in works in the strength they had not putting in new strength to do but of the use of Faith and Love given Gal. 5.6 2 Cor. 6.1 2. Phil. 2.12 13. Deut. 4.1 31.5 6. Rom. 10.5 Joh. 7.37 38 39. Heb. 8.2 6. Heb. 9.12 13 14 15 17 18 22. Exod. 32. 34. Deut. all affording in all its requirings strength for the exercise of them they both had their Promises annexed but not both like Promises the one of an earthy Inheritance with promise of Presence and Assistance in the way upon their keeping his Commandments given in doing them the
I will remember their sin no more Minde these words and see That this Covenant was not then made when Jeremiah wrote it he saith neither I have made nor I do make but I will make nor doth he say I will presently make for the old faulted Covenant yet was and for a long time to be in force but After those dayes I will make the last of those dayes being not yet come and so the Covenant yet not so fully made as here is promised to be made and so in them I will view the three things mentioned I. The Time when this Covenant is to be made is cleerly express to be after those dayes he saith not these dayes as speaking of the dayes of his prophecying onely or those neer following after but the dayes of which he prophesied that must first come and the things therein to be done first done and then after those dayes and those things done in them he will make this Covenant it is nowhere said in respect of the fulness That he will make it before as for a dispensation of a spiritual first Fruits and a New Testament made to nurture Sons to wait for the fulness in the making this Covenant to come in its time this was to be and hath been done by Christ at and since his first coming and is here intimated verse 31 c. as is foreshewn But for the fulness before that be done and the Covenant so made the whole House of Israel that are then surviving even Israel and Judah the natural seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob must be first brought into their Land and converted and then Jesus Christ the Son of Abraham and David must visibly descend from Heaven and all the Saints be raised and changed and come with Jesus Christ and break the power of all Oppressors And then when these things are done after those dayes he will thus make this Covenant as is said And this is that said here by this Prophet as elsewhere by the rest of the Prophets This Prophet speaking of all the Families of Israel to whom God will do this saith Behold I will bring them from the North-Country Jer. 31.1 2 3 4 6 7 and gather them from the coasts of the Earth with them the blinde and the lame the woman with childe and her that travelleth with-childe together a great company shall return thither They shall come with weeping 9 and with supplication will I lead them I will cause them to walk in Rivers of waters in a straight way where in they shall not stumble For I am a Father to Israel and Ephraim is my first-born He that scattered Israel 10 will gather him and so on to verse 16. in which he promiseth That the Children of Rachel shall come again from the Land of the Enemy to their own Borders including the Children slain by Herod in and about Bethlehem Mat. 2.17 18. which shall be then also raised and so on to the 27 v. Behold 16 27 the days come saith the Lord that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast 31 33. and so on to verse the 31. saying Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will make a new Govenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah And what and when it shall be he sheweth in verses 33 34. and pointing to the time he saith After those dayes that is those dayes as then to come and in the greatest measure and full sense yet also which he prophesied of from the 8 verse to the 30. And this he again after affirms and explains Behold Jer. 32.37 38 39 40 41. 3.14 18. 24.6 7. 30.16 22. Ezek. 11.17 18 19 20. I will gather them out of all Countries whither I have driven them in mine anger and I will bring them again to this place and I will cause them to dwell safely and they shall be my people and I will be their God c. and I will make an everlasting Covenant with them c. And so elsewhere and so other Prophets Thus saith the Lord I will gather you from the people and assemble you out of the Countries where you have been scattered And I will give you the Land of Israel and they shall come thither and they shall take away all the detestable things and all the abominations thereof from thence and I will give them one heart and I will put a new Spirit within you c. And again For I will take you from among the Heathen Ezek. 36.24 25 26 27 28 38. 34.22 23. 37.22 23 24. Zach. 14.5 and gather you out of all Countries and bring you into your own Land Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean c. A new heart will I give you c. So the Time is cleer and that Christ the Son of David and all the Saints raised must first come with him and then in that time this Covenant be made it is cleer in many places as is shewn Part 2. chap. 17. and chap. 18. part 3. chap. 5. part 5. chap. 5. Now if any demand Why I call not these things the making of the Covenant in performance seeing there is a performance of so gracious and great things in them all I answer Because 1. The Text doth not so call them but speaks of these things to be performed first and of the Covenant to be after-made which is a good answer 2. This Covenant is to be made with the spiritual Seed which all these were not till then so made If any say They were both before the spiritual Seed by Election for as touching Election they were beloved for the Fathers sake That hath been already answered the Election mentioned Rom. 11.28 is not of the persons cast off but of the Fathers whose natural Seed they were for of these scattered it is said I will have mercy on Jacob and will yet chuse Israel Isa 14.1 2 3. Zach. 1.17 Ezek. 20.5 Ier. 2.2 1 Deut. 7.6 8 Rom. 11 26 27 28. and set them in their own Land and strangers shall be joyned with them and they shall cleave to the House of Jacob c. And again The Lord shall yet chuse Jerusalem So as the Lord of old chose Israel by bringing them out of Egypt and giving them his Statutes c. and so planted them a noble Vine wholly a right Seed and this for the love of the Fathers So the Lord will again chuse Israel and make them wholly a right Seed by the personal coming of Christ again who shall come out of Sion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob and then make the Covenant with them and this for the Fathers sakes Which gives farther answer 3. The persormance of those mentioned things Levit. 26.44 45. Deut. 4.30 31. Psal 105.8 are from the remembrance of the Covenant made with
their Fathers and so a performance to these for their Fathers sakes To all which Answers I add this 4. Act. 3.19 20 21. Rom. 8.23 24 25. 1 Cor. 13.12 1 Joh. 3.2 That Faith and Hope is to be exercised by them till all these things be done and that the Lord Jesus do visibly appear and come to them and restore all things and then this Covenant made which once so made in performance they live no longer by Faith and Hope but by Sight and Enjoyment And thus it is every way cleer for the Time when this Covenant is to be so made it is After those dayes II. The Persons with whom this Covenant is to be made Jer. 31.31 33. Ezek. 37.19 20. is also as cleer and express to be all the spiritual Seed that by Ministration have been so made from the beginning of Gospel-preaching till Christ appear personally in Glory and give the new Heaven Iso 13.1 2 3. 19.24 60.1 11. Psal 105.8 11. Hag. 2.23 Dan. 12.2 13. Heb. 11.14 16 29 40. Gal. 3.8 29. 1 Thes 4.14 15 16. Rev. 11.18 and new Earth with them all and with them all together at once not with one or two or some few or now with one or some and after with other but with all the whole spiritual Seed together for the whole House of Israel and the House of Judah it is express And so likewise for the People of other Nations that shall be joyned with them yea Abraham Isaac and Jacob must then receive the performance of this Covenant so made yea Zerubbabel and Daniel must be there to receive their part with many that shall rise out of the dust of the Earth yea all the whole spiritual Seed of Abraham even we that are of the Gentiles yea as the Covenant was first made with Christ and through him a Covenant for Mankinde so all his Seed by Ministration thereof and so Adam Abel Seth Enoch c. In a word None shall prevent another but all that are in the dust and sleep in Jesus shall arise living Saints be changed all together meet the Lord and be and come with him for then is the time in which he will give rewards to his Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name both small and great And so this Covenant will be at once made in performance to all the Seed together and indeed this Covenant was never fore made to be received by Faith to any one person for himself alone but to the Fathers for them and their Seed and to them and their spiritual Seed it shall be at once made in performance to them all together These the persons But to this it may be some be replied That then after this Covenant so made there must be no more conversion no encrease of the Seed for then the Covenant must be made again or else it will not be made with all the Seed and if so then not with all at once To this I answer That some whose labors I reverence and esteem and them for their works sake do so conceive That as that Kingdom shall be sinless and sorrowless so it shall be conversionless there shall be no more converted after that Kingdom is set up but the Reason given thereof is not this I am to answer but another namely That all that have part in the first Resurrection even all the Saints that live and raign with Christ shall raign with him a thousand yeers the whole time of his raign as Man till he deliver up the Kingdom to the Father that God may be all in all Whence this Supposition If any should after the beginning and some time of the Kingdom run out be converted they could not raign the full thousand yeers One Answer will serve both these Reasons which is this That it is nowhere said That all the Inhabitants of this new Earth or all the Members of this Commonwealth shall sit upon Thrones and raign nor is it said That all the natural Seed of Abraham that are then living in unbelief and the unbelieving Gentiles with them that shall be converted at and by the personal and visible appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ and all his Saints with him and so made of the Seed that they shall all be Kings and raign with him they come in after the time of those to whom that Promise is And surely for such as never suffered never waited for him but are so suddenly and with so mighty a Hand brought in it may be counted happiness enough to live in such a Commonwealth and be free Denizens therein and enjoy the pleasures of such a Kingdom till they be swallowed up with the unconceivable joy of the Father and Son when God shall be all in all which alone will satisfie all that are received into it and the Promise of raigning is to such as here in this suffering time live and die in the Faith or are found so believing on him at his appearing that they may be changed while the other are raised and so come together with the Lord which the after-conterted do not And so those that are the Children of the Resurrection that are raised or changed in one and the same moment at his coming be all that I and I suppose that any other can finde the Promise of raigning appertain unto And if I should say These are the whole of Abraham's spititual Seed I should not erre whether Men receive it or no for all the spiritual Seed from Abraham's time so called and if I shall add the Seed of Christ the Seed of the Woman from Adam to Abraham though a spiritual Seed yet not immediately so but mediately through a spiritual operation Rom. 4.11 12 16 17 18 23 24. Gal. 3.6 7 8 9 16 26 29. in the Ministration of some means extended as is cleer all the Scripture through and they that are of the Faith and live by Faith and walk in the steps of the Faith of our Father Abraham and so are the Sons of God by Faith these are the Seed the Children of Abraham and his Seed for which cause Abraham had the Gospel to preach and Circumcision to administer as a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith he had to preach That he might be a Father And the Apostles had the Gospel to preach and Baptisme to administer as a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith preached that they might disciple into Abraham's Family Mat. 29.19 20. Rom. 4.11 12. and so Abraham still be a Father of such as believe But now when this time cometh That Christ with all his spiritual Seed do personally appear and the Everlasting Covenant made in performance with them all then all such Ministration ceaseth yea such Ministration as Moses had in earthly Rites and Shadows were shaken and made unprofitable by the Death Sacrifice and Ascension of Christ pouring forth the Holy Ghost though in force till then but
the Truth of the Gospel preached to and Covenant made with Abraham abode still and was more fully preached by the Apostles but that manner of preaching with Baptism and Ordinances delivered by them though heavenly in respect of the former and will be in force till the visible appearing of Jesus Christ but then be shaken when still the Truth of the Gospel and Everlasting Covenant will abide for ever to be enjoyed by sight Now then when all the means appointed for Abraham to be the Father of such a Seed ceaseth and no more brought in by believing but by sight nor living by Faith but by sight such are not in respect of any conversion in Scripture-phrase called Abraham's Seed but I conceive they more properly may be called The Seed or the Children of Christ and of his glorified Saints brought in and living by fight not needeth any Covenant to be farther or again made with such as are brought in by and live in the light of this being brought in to enjoy their part in it in their first conversion And if any conceive they may be called The Seed's Seed or his Seed's Seed and so under that Promise to the Seed of Abraham Isa 59 2â— Deut. 30.5 Isa 65.15 16. Jer. 3.16 17 18. I will multiply thee above thy Fathers I hinder it not however this I know The People of God as well as their worship shall then be called by a new Name so that in this is no let or hinderance to that said That the Covenant shall be made to all the spiritual Seed brought in or become of the Seed from the beginning to the ending of the Ministration of the Gospel Isa 41.20 21. 69 7 8. by it to them all together at once yea it will be a great wonder to great admiration to see a Nation born at once and such an infinite Company of Saints presented to them and yet when the Mountain of the Lord's House is thus exalted and the Lord appears in his Glory and the Children of the Resurrection ruling and flying about when the Spirit and the Bride in the presence of the Bridegroom Rev. 22.17 Isa 2.2 3 5. Micah 4.1 2 3 Isa 66.12 Psal 110.3 when Light and Law so proceed out of Sion the Inhabitants of the Nations hearing will say one to another Come and so go together to the House of the Lord without any other Ministration So that then is promised to be the greatest Conversion and more numerous then ever before though all of them brought in by and living in the performance of the Covenant at once so made with the whole Seed and not made over again but continuing and it is enough for all so converted to be under this blessed Government after their Conversion enjoying the happiness of it Rev. 20.9 15. Mat. 25.46 and so escape that great destruction and second death and have eternal Life when the Serpent and all his Seed are cast into the lake of fire which is the second death And so we see who the persons are III. What that is that is to be done in the manner of making this Covenant is fully and sweetly expressed in this Jer. 31.33 34. affirmed also in other places of Scripture let them be considered CHAP. 9. Of the things to be done in making this Covenant see the Text. I. I Will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts Jer. 31.33 Ezek 36.25 26 27. This exprest in other words when having clensed them from all their filth he saith A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them Deut. 30.5 6. Of which Moses spake saying And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the Land which thy Fathers possessed and thou shalt possess it and he will do thee good and multiply thee above thy Fathers and the Lord thy God well circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy Seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy Soul that thou maist live And so by Jeremiah again I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever Jer. 32.39 40. all dayes And I will make an ever lasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them from after them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me So that in all the places we may see That then all sin and sinning shall be removed and a perfect Righteousness framed in them and strength to walk constantly therein and by this we may note the difference between this and the first Fruits of it given in to Believers by the first coming of Christ given for a Covenant as namely That this now-given is but a first Fruits and earnest of that promised which is the Harvest to be waited for also That this given was Rom 8.23 Eph. 1.14 Rom. 11.11 26. 2 Cor. 3.3 Rev. 21.1 8. Zach. 12.10 and yet is chiefly received by the Gentiles but that promised chiefly by the whole House of Israel the natural Seed of Abraham become the spiritual Seed this given is mediately in the Ministration of his Servants that promised is immediately by his own presence this given many Israelites shall have their return into their own Land that promised at the visible appearance of Chrift Rom. 11. this given is to all Believers though Israel be in dispersion that promised not till Israel dwell in their own Land many of those that receive this given may yet through weakness be puft up for one against another but in receiving that promised is no more pride nor envy of one against another 1 Cor. 4.7 Isa 11.13 Phil. 3.2 13. Zach. 12.8 Mat. 2.4 Act. 20.30 Rev. 2 3. Isa 60.21 Joâ—l 3.17 Zach. 14.21 Rom. 8.17 Isa 60.18 19 21. The best of those that receive this given do not here attain to perfection the least of those that receive that promised are perfect In the Assemblies of those that receive this given were and still are found some among them unsound and some decaying and some falling off but those that receive that promised the people in that whole Assembly be all righteous and no more decaying or falling off Those that receive this given are here still under the Cross and Combatants but those that receive that promised are freed from all Sufferings and Temptation and are Conquerors enjoying the Inheritance This given is received now by one and then by another and by all by degrees but that promised is received at once by all together Israel and Judah and all Believers of all Nations together So though this given be a first Fruits of the
same Spirit and Covenant yet there is as much difference between this given and that promised as between a handful or first Fruits of the Corn and the whole fulness of the Harvest which is in this making of the Covenant now treated of in which it appears they shall all be made sinless and righteous perfect in the love of God and one another compleat in all true holiness II. And I will be their God and they shall be my people Jer. 31.33 30.22 32.38 Ezek. 11.20 Exod. 3 4 6 20. Psal 120. And this appears in that which went before in verse 32. and several places to be spoken emphatically to be understood in a higher sense and after a more eminent manner then ever before for he was their God and they his people when they were afflicted in Egypt and in more manifestation when they were in the Wilderness and still more appearingly when they were setled in Canaan and his Worship setled among them and of these remaining while Jeremiah prophesied among them and still more manifestly in special manner Rom. 9.24 25 26. he is our God who believe in Christ and receive of the first Fruits of the Spirit and we his people but here is cleerly more implied to be done after those dayes and here and elsewhere exprest as namely That he will multiply his wonders among them and his favours on them so as he will make himself known to all Nations to be their God Ezek. 36.36 37.28 Isa 60.14 Ezek. 37.26 27. and make them known to all Nations to be his peculiar People when the Heathen shall know That he is the Lord and That he doth sanctifie and build Israel and shall acknowledge them The City of the Lord The Sion of the holy one of Israel yea he will set his Sanctuary in the middest of them for evermere yea he saith My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea I will be their God and they shall be my people And so he hath opened his own meaning And what this Sanctuary and Tabernacle is and from whence it comes and where it shall be he hath told us viz. Jesus Christ The Son of God The Son of Man The Man in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwels bodily he that is in the Father and the Father in him he is the Temple and Sanctuary and no other like the old Temple or new formed Church-Governments under the Gospel in this City for the Lord God Almighty Rev. 21.22 Ezek. 37.22 24 25. 34.23 24 30. and the Lamb are the Temple of it and he the Son of David shall sit on the Throne and be the mighty King and Governour among them and Christ also coming with his Saints those that in Spirit are now in Heaven the Jerusalem that is now above these shall come with their Lord and Master down from Heaven and receiving their Bodies glorified the great City the Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God having the Glory of God upon her Of which it is said I saw the holy City Rev. 21.2 3. new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying The Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them their God Thus we have it cleerly opened so that these Saints this spiritual Seed Dan. 7.14 27. Ezek. 48.35 See Part 2. chap. 18. shall be Princes among the people and sit upon Thrones with Christ raign with him And all the Kingdoms under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High and all nations shall serve him and the name of the City shall be from that day The Lord is there Thus will God be with them their God and they shall be his people Thus owned by him III. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them Jer. 31.34 saith the Lord. To know the Lord is both to understand and know That he is Jehovah and that he is infinite in Wisdom Power Goodness c. and to know that is acknowledge Jer. 9 24. Joh. 17.3 love and adore him as the Lord as he doth discover himself such a one in and by his Son Christ and thus to know the Lord every Man except Jesus the Son of God that hath lived or doth live upon this Earth in their several Ages have needed and do need to be taught this knowledge and it is the part of every Man Exod. 18.16 Deut. 4.34 39. 6.11 7.9 Joh 5 27. 11.16 1 Chron. 28.9 according to his understanding and Faith to teach and receive teaching from his Brother saying Know the Lord. But because in respect of some this is confest of all I forbear further proof onely because some conceit established Believers past this need since Christ came I shall consider the place alledged for it which is 1 Joh. 2.20 27. Ye have an unction from the holy One and ye know all things The anoynting which ye have received of him abideth in you and you need not that any man teach you but as that anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is noâ—ly and even as it hath taught you you shall abide in him This place being a sweet needful instructing Truth crosseth nothing here foresaid for the Apostle speaks here of a first fruits of that promised spiritually dispensed Jer. 31.34 Heb. 8.6 10.1 Joh. 5.20 Rom. 8.22 23 24 25. Heb. 11. 13 40. Heb. 11.1 and not of the Harvest as a pears in his former after-Discourse for as he that receiveth Christ receiveth all things with him but still according to his receiving either by spiritual discerning and believing or by open sight and enjoyment so he that knoweth Christ knoweth all things but still according to the manner of his knowing either through a Glass dimly by Faith or else in open view seeing as he is seen Paul confesseth the first to be now in this life but the later 1 Cor. 13.12 1 Joh. 3.1 2. at the time we are speaking of and so this Apostle confesseth the former to be now but the later not to be enjoyed till the time of the visible appearance of Christ And so he saith not Ye need not that any Man teach you saying Know the Lord for that anoynting teacheth you of all things but that he saith is Ye need not that any man teach you 1 Joh. 2.27 but as that anoynting teacheth you of all things c. that is as the Spirit in the Testimony of Christ in that Doctrine of Christ in which he hath helped you to believe in Christ and by that Doctrine teacheth you of all things do ye
his fulness and our interest in him and enjoyment of him who saith Because he liveth we that believe in him shall live also and it is better and safer for us that it is in his Hands then if it were in ours we may better betrust him then our selves for keeping it And knowing all this revealed in the Revelation of Christ and so testified in the Testimony of Christ and therein the Purposes of God to be declared to be such and according thereto the Promises of God given forth and all the Promises assured by his Covenant and now Christ given us for all so as believing in him he is ours and he being ours all that is his is ours his Father Spirit Promises Covenant Inheritance and we his as is all plentifully shewn and proved before in this Treatise Who then can desire a better firmer and stronger assurance of God being ours and with us to preserve us to the Inheritance I confess I have formerly fancied some more particular and personal thing in which I now see I was mistaken And because I meet with Expressions importing the same in others I owning it as my own former mistake will endeavour to remove it from others in considering one Expression more of Mr. Owen's of whose minde in that also I conceive my self to have been CHAP. 11. An Answer to an Expression seeming to cross this last said about assurance or else to give a better THis I finde in Mr. Owen's writing Pag. 139.2 viz. God being with his People from henceforth even for ever is from his giving in that Promise Psal 125.1 c. into their souls in particular and their receiving it in their Generations according to their appointed times even for ever So far he But this saying suits not with the Gospel setting forth Christ to have come in the flesh and to be given for God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth and for a light to the Gentiles and for a Covenant to the People nor is there any place of Senpture in its own plainness and simplicity either to assert it or countenance it no not that very Text it self Let it be considered as agreeing with others 1. They that trust in Jehovah as Mount Sion is not moved Psal 125.1 2. remaineth for ever or as some read it They that put their trust in the Lord are even as the Mount Sion which may not be removed but standeth fast for ever or as we read it They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever 2. The Mountains round about it and Jehovah is round about his people from this time and for ever or as some read it The Hills stand about Jorusalem even so standeth the Lord round about his people from this time forth for evermore or as we read it As the Mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever All comes to one sense in every reading but neither the Text it self nor any Translation of it doth thus read it That such as from God's giving in these particular words to their Souls and they receiving it they shall be as Mount Sion c. nor any such manner of saying here or elsewhere I will not press that I understand not though some of the Learned render it as the Chaldee Explanation and Exposition to be thus The just which trusteth in the word of the Lord and so Jehovah the divine presence or Majesty of the Lord is round about them I say I will not press this though it be far more agreeing with the Text then the former device being suitable to the same thing spoken by another Prophet Isa 26.3 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength But not to press farther the words countenance not at all such a saying as I am answering But 2. Evident it is here That the Lord by this Prophet delivereth the same Doctrine for the comfort of his People Psal 125.1 2. with Hab. 2.3.4 that he did after in discovering the Vision to and by the Prophet Habakkuk The vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lye though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry Behold his soul which is listed up is not upright in him but the just shall live by Faith And this is cleared to us by the Apostles to be Rom. 3.22 23 24 25. 4.5 5.1 2 5 6 8 10. Gal. 2.16 That sinners ungodly ones coming in through the Love of God commended in the Death of Christ for sinners to believe in his Blood and therethrough to believe in God to be saved through Christ That God justifieth these through the Blood of Christ and they receive this justification through Faith and so are justified Rom. 1.17 4.22 25. Gal. 2.20 3.11 5.5 6. or just by Faith And these are the just ones of whom Habakkuk speaks And doth not the Apostle farther declare That these just ones do live abide and receive all their strength encrease and safety by Faith in trusting or believing in the Lord and these are the Trusters in God and Livers by Faith of whom both the Prophets speak And to all such Trusters in the Lord that said Psal 125.1 2. is strong Consolation and he should do an evil work that should take them off from this confidence begot in them by the Grace of God in Christ commended through his Blood to sinners by saying Oh you may be deceived and steal this in trusting on the Lord without warrant if these words Psal 1.25.1 2. were not given in in particular to your Souls and you so received them and then it will prove Gravel to you c. But I desire to wrong none I suppose he limiteth it not to these very words But if any such-like be so given in and received as Son be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee or I have blotted out thy transgressions as a cloud for my own Name 's sake or I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee or any such-like But though these be great and special mercies to be spiritually streamed into the heart yet not rightly taken or used if it be for such an end as to take them for Gods making the everlasting Covenant with us in particular as with Abraham for all these but one were spoken to the Church in general and were not the making but the remembring of the Covenant made with Abraham which though made in particular and personally with him and so with Isaac and Jacob and after with David in respect of the Kingdom yet was it not made with them or any one of them for themselves in particular but for them
and all the spiritual Seed that were to follow of which they were to be Fathers and for that one which was spoken in particular of one particular it was vocally spoken and audibly heard by him to whom spoken and many others that were with him and for their sakes also this Man to whom it was spoken being before this speaking a Son So that all these and the like sayings shew what sure confidence Believers may have in remembring the Covenants made with their Fathers and the spiritual streaming in of such Sayings into their hearts a good relief in their fainting and help to enlarge their use of confidence in God that ever remembreth his Covanant made with the Fathers And this leads to a farther consideration of this Psal 125.1 2. viz. 3. That these words were not directly spoken to and for such as did not trust in the Lord Psal 125.1 2. to beget them to trust in the Lord though such an use may be and come of the hearing and minding them in convincement but they were and are directly spoken to and for such as are already Trusters in the Lord being first begot to trust in the Lord that they might not fear or depart through fainting or go aside in lifting up their Souls to any other strength wisdom righteousness policy or confidence for so he tells them in the same Psalm Such as in any straight or for any pretence turn aside namely Vers 5. from this way of trusting in the Lord unto their crooked wayes the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity but peace upon Israel opened by the Apostle directing as the rule to wait through the Spirit for the Righteousness of God by Faith c. saith Gal. 5 5 6 6.15 16. As many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy upon the Israel of God And this the same with that in Habakkuk He whose Soul is lifted up is not upright in him but the just shall live by Faith And in this very sense doth the Apostle render that saying to the Hebrews Heb. 10.38 to which the whole 125 Psalm fully agreeth 4. This foresaid saying taketh away the strength of the Apostles consolation given to the believing Hebrews and so to all Believers thereby Heb. 13 5 6. viz. For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake theee so that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper I will not fear c. which Consolation the Apostle gives to the whole Church of the Hebrews to withdraw them from coverousness and firm them in confidence and not from a particular in-giving of these words to their Souls nor is there any likelihood they were so to all every or many of them nor is any such Caution put in But he layes it down as it was given when God was about the first literal fulfilling his Covenant made with Abraham and giving Joshua to be their Captain to encourage them to go on in his way he gives this Promise first to all Israel Deut. 31.6 the whole hurch Be strong and of good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the Lord thy God he it is that doth go with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee And this Promise as a part of the Covenant made with their Fathers given to them Vers 7 8. was together with them again given to Joshua their Captain Now as our Joshua even Jesus that is the Captain and Finisher of our Faith the Fore-runner in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen Heb. 12.2 Gal. 3.26 29. so it appertains to all that believe in him as his spiritual Seed and Heirs The Seed of Abraham The whole Church spoken of and to as one Thee and every one having right as being of the Seed of Abraham claiming their interest We. So the Apostle directs these believing Hebrews yea it being recorded and written he directs them to take what the Scripture saith as the Holy Ghost speaking to them Heb. 3.7 Gal. 3.7 8 9 29. Rom. 15.3 4 5. yea and so he directs all Believers even of the Gentile affirming them written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope in believing So that though this place I will be with thee c. have no otherwise been inspired to them then as it is written in the Scripture they believing in Christ in whom all the Promises are certain they are Heirs and the Promises pertain to them Rom. 8.17 Gal. 4.6 7. 3.26 29. and they in believing may have the comfort of them and yet for some particular difficult extraordinary business it may sometime be needful and very profitable for leading to farther trusting in the Lord to go through so great a business to have it particularly streamed into the heart of some chief Officer as this was to Joshua after the ministerial giving of it Josh 1.5 from whence I marvel learned Men should take that saying there as for every Saint rather then from its former ministerial giving to the whole Church and after with them to Joshua Deut. 31.6 7 8 And if we take not this saying thus as appertaining to Christ and in him to all Believers but onely to such into whose Souls it is particularly given in What force hath the Apostles Exhortation to these Hebrews and so to all the Church of Believers or who shall be the Thee and the We here spoken to and speaking if those and all those Gal. 3.7 8 9 16 29 Heb. 3.6 14. and onely those mentioned by the Apostle to be they be not they and he expresseth it to Believers in Christ in believing in whom is Mens entrance into Sonship and special favour and interest in promises as is witnessed in the Testimony of Christ and Declaration of the Purposes Promises and Covenants of God and such particular in-givings are great mercies and sweet enlargements and most to babes and at beginnings till Men have learned to live by Faith but to live on sense and particular visits to make them our Foundation to lift up our selves above our Brethren that have them not is a great abuse of them But I will in this proceed no farther nor yet in farther usefulness of all that written knowing such as read and believe what the Scripture affirms will meet with usefulness but onely in considering that which occasioned me to the writing of this Treatise namely Mr. Owen's stating of the Question pretended to be in dispute or controversie between him and Mr. John Goodwin about Perseverance in or falling from Faith or rather the Faith that may and that which cannot be fallen from An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART VII CHAP. 1. Of the Question as stated AS for his mentioning the many sorts of holiness and holy Ones and such as seem so and are not about which the contest is not I let pass and look