and we come to beleeve this 〈◊〉 the faith of Christ this faith is the eye to 〈◊〉 what Christ hath done for us so through thâ— faith we are justified by Christ and this is thâ— free gift of God and is not any thing of oâ—â— selves our faith is imperfect and therefore 〈◊〉 cannot justifie us I beleeve Lord help my unâ—â—liefe So that our faith cannot justifie us bâ—cause there is unbeliefe in it Lord help my 〈◊〉 beliefe but the faith of Christ is perfect aâ— that alone doth justifie every one that hathâ— and without this faith it is impossible to pleâ—â— God Heb. 11.6 and every thing which is 〈◊〉 of this faith is sinne and Christ is the authoâ—â— and finisher of this faith Heb. 12.2 And all long the 11. chapter of the Hebrewes the speakes what great things were done by tâ—â— faith and the Lord calls and invites all men come to him and eat freely of this spiritoâ— feast that he hath prepared for them he 〈◊〉 vites them by the outward preaching of 〈◊〉 word and inward movings of his Spirit Pâ—â— 1.20 21 22 23. Wisdome crieth without uttereth her voyce in the streets she crieth the chiefe place of concourse in the openiâ— of the gates in the citie she uttereth her words saying How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fooles hate knowledge turne you at my reproofe behold I will poure our my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you Here is the outward call and in Genesis 6.3 there is the inward And the Lord said My Spirit shall not always strive with man So it doth appeare that his Spirit doth strive with man to bring him to himself Iohn 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me Hosea 11.4 I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jawes and I laid meat unto them Thus â—hrist drawes all both inward and outward with the bonds of love that he might take off that heavy yoke off their sinnes off them and see them laid upon Christ and see this spirituall meat which is laid before them and they to feed on it and doe appeale to every ones conscience whether they doe not find at one time or other an inward moving by the Spirit of God for to goe unto God and the Lord will receive them and they have some glimpse of the love of God to them to invite them to goe and there is nothing can move us to go to God but the Spirit of God therefore it is the Spirit of God that doth draw all CHAP. VII None can truly repent till they goe unto God anâ— when they do goe he will give them a true repentance THere is not any that can truly repent 〈◊〉 their sinnes till they doe see in some measure the love of God to them they may repent because their sinnes provoke Gods angeâ— against them and for feare of hell and the judgements of God and because they keep them out of heaven but this is not a true repentance a true repentance is such a repentance that they need not repent them of buâ— there requireth a repentance to repent of this repentance but it is the love of God made known to them that makes them to be humbled for their sinnes because they offend so loving a God and they were the cause that Christ was crucified and therefore they hate their sinnes because they are an enemy to God and keeps them from the communion of God O the love of God to thee constrains thee to love him againe and thou art ashamed of thy sinnes and hatest them because God hates them so it is the love of God to them that causeth true repentance When Christ looked upon Peter then he went out and wept bitterly Luk. 22.61 62. Ephraim shall say What have I to do any more w th Idols Hos 14.9 Ephraim was a great sinner he worshipped Idols yet when he saw the love of God to him it so overcame him that he cries out Whot have I to doe any more with Idols though I have had to doe with them yet now I hate them because God hates them Ierem. 31.18 19. I have heard Ephraim lamenting thus Thou hast corrected me and I was chastised as an untamed Colt convert thou me and I shall be converted for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I converted I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Ezek. 16.62 63. And I will establish my covenant with thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that thou mayst remember and be ashamed and never open thy mouth any mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord God Thus the love of God drawes all to repentance and it prevailes more with them to bring them to repentance than to heare of the wrath of God and judgements and this repentance is a true â—â—pentance to hate sinne and to be huâ—bled for it because it offends so loving a Goâ— and therefore to forsake them though neâ—â— so neer and deare to us and be affraid of coâ—mitting sinne for feare of offending God 〈◊〉 Joseph said How can I doe this and sinne agaiâ—â— God Gen. 39.9 Object If it be so that God doth draw 〈◊〉 men thus to himselfe what is the reason thâ— all doe not come unto him for wee see thâ— most keep from him and live in sin and wiâ—â—ednesse Answ The fault is in man O man thyâ—â—struction is of thy selfe For what coâ—â— I have done to my Vineyard that I have 〈◊〉 done it Isa 5.4 And though they goe aâ—â— from Christ yet hee will not leave themsâ—â—â— hee followes them 1 Cor. 10.4 They did 〈◊〉 drinke the same spirituall drinke for thâ— dranke of that spirituall rocke that followâ—â— them and that roche was Christ Hee followes them with his mercie and â—â—ving kindnesse to draw them to him but thâ— would not Ye would not come unto me thâ—â— might have life And if ye believe not that Iâ— he ye shall dye in your sinnes John 8.24 There is nothing that condemnes the woâ—â— but the rejecting and undervaluing of Jeâ—â— Christ and continue so doing and live and dye so He that believeth not is condemned already because hee hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Sonne of God And this is condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darknesse rather than light John 3.18 19. Christ is the light to lighten every one that comes into the world and hee invites all to come unto him and he will give them of his light that they might see to walke in his way and he would direct them what to doe and lead them in the
it for by the manifestation of the appearance of Jesus Christ revealing himselfe in his glory by his Spirit doth destroy Anti-christ for by the preaching of the Gospel this City Babylon doth fall When the Spirit of God doth teach us to know what the Gospel of Christ is to us and in us this doth come with power and doth overthrow Anti-christ in us and the outward preaching of the Word alone will not doe it but the spirit working with it doth doe it and the Lord is well pleased to make use of the outward preaching of the word to work upon us by his Spirit commonly but he is not bound to one way hee workes upon us by his Spirit with meanes or without means or against meanes yet it is one spirit that doth worke upon us sutable to the Word hee would not have us under value the outward preaching of the Gospel nor yet idolize it Revel 8.1 2. And after these things I saw another Angel come downe from heaven having great power the earth was lightned with his glory And he cryed mightily with a strong voyce saying Babylon the great is fallen is become the habitation of Devils and the hold of every foule spirit and a cage of every uncleane and hatefull bird All manner of unclean things hath lodged in her but we did not see it but now the Lord will shew us it Reward her even as she hath rewarded you double unto her double according to her workes In the cup which shee hath filled fill to her double How much she hath glorified her selfe and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her For shee saith in her heart I sit a Queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow therefore shall her plagues come in one day death and mourning and famine And shee shall he utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God that judgeth her Revel 18.6 7 8. He doth double the cup of his wrath and indignation against her and doth destroy her and burne her up with the fire of himselfe we cannot doe it but he is strong and able to doâ— it and doth doe it for us and the fruits that thy soule lusted after are departed from thee and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee and thou shalt findâ— them no more at all Rev. 18.14 And a mighty Angel tooke up a stone like a great mil-stone and cast it into the Sea saying thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be throwne downe and shall be found no more at all And the voyce oâ— harpers and musicians of pipers and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee and nâ— Crafts-man of whatsoever Craft shall be found no more in thee and the found of a mil-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee And the light of 〈◊〉 candle shall shine no more at all in thee and thâ— voyce of the Bride-groome and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee for thy Merchants were the great men of the Earth for by thy forceries were all Nations deceived And in her to 〈◊〉 found the blood of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slaine upon the earth Rev. 18.21 22 23 24. Here is an utter destruction of her and this is that vaile that keepeth us from seeing the glory of Christ for he that keepeth from him is a vaile or if wee see him but darkely it is because the vail is not quite done away There was a vail before the Tabernacle which is called the holyest of all In which Tabernacle were all the glorious and excellent things Heb. 〈◊〉 .3 4. And thou shalt make a vaile of blue â—urple and scarlet and fine twined linnen of tunâ—ing worke with Cherubims shall it be made And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of Shiâ—tim â—ood overlaid with gold their bookes shall be of â—old upon the sockets of silver And thou shalt â—ong up the vaile under the tackes that thou maist â—ring in thither within the vaile the Arke of the Testimonie And the vail shall divide unto you betweene the holy places and the most holy Exod. â—6 31 32 33 34. There was three places in this Tabernacle first the Priests went alwayes into the first Taâ—ernacle accomplishing the service of God â—ut into the second went the High Priest alone â—nce every yeare not without blood which â—e offered for himselfe and for the errours of â—he people The holy Ghost thus signifying â—hat the holyest of all was not yet made maniâ—â—st Heb. 9.6 7 8. For that glorious vaile â—oth hide it quite from us Luke 23.45 The Sun was darkened and the vaile of the Temple was â—â—nt in the midst Mat. 27.51 And behold the vaile of the Temple was rent in taine from the top to â—he bottome and the earth did quake and the â—ockes rent Christ by his death did rend the vail that doth keepe us from the seeing of him Moses after he had seen and talked with God he appeared so glorious that the people could not looke upon him and then he put a vail over his face Moses was a type of Christ and hee had a vaile over him that they could not see him which were types and shadowes and through that vaile they saw Christ darkely 2 Cor. 3.11 12 13 14. Seeing we have such hope we use great plainesse of speech And not as Moses which put a vaile over his face that the children of Israel could not stedfastly looke to the end of that which is abolished But their minds were blinded for untill this day remaineth the same vaile untaken away in the reading of the old Testament which vaile is done away in Christ But even unto this day when Moses is read the vaile is upon their hearts Neverthelesse when it shall turne to the Lord the vaile shall be taken away Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty When the Lord doth open the seales to us and comes with power in us by his Spirit then hee turnes us to himselfe and shewes us by degrees that this vaile that hinders us from seeing him is taken away by him and so by degrees we shall see him as he is and then we shall seee what bondage we were in to sin and Satan and our owne selves and how wee are set at liberty by Christ John 8.36 If the Sonne therefore shall make you free yee shall bee free indeed Isa 25.7.8 And destroy in this mountaine in the face of the covering cast over all people and the vaile that is spread over all Nations He will swallow death in victory 1 Cor. 15.54 This death and this vaile is one and the same for both of them keeps us from seeing life which is Christ For while we live to our selves and to our righteteousnesse so far we are dead to Christ Now as he manifests himselfe in us he swallows up this death and
on him by â—â—th hee will give thee grace to walke in a â—â—w course of life and yet still they offer thee â—hrist upon condition and thou art exceeâ—â—ngly terrified with hearing mercies because â—ou dost not see they belong to thee because â—ou canst not believe Thus thou seest beloved what a spirituall â—â—ndage thou art in with sinne and the Devill â—â—d false Teachers like the children of Israel 〈◊〉 Aegypt what sore bon dage they were in 〈◊〉 temporall things so ar t thou now in spiâ—â—â—uall And thou knowest not what to doe â—â—â—t cry unto the Lord as they did and the â—ord sent them word that they should be â—â—ought out of the Land of Aegypt and that â—ondage to serve him in another Land so he will doe by thee thou art in such a spiritâ— bondage in this spirituall Aegypt that thâ—â— canst not serve the Lord here therefore 〈◊〉 Lord comes to bring thee out which he dâ—â— by declaring unto thee that this is not 〈◊〉 way of God and hee would not have 〈◊〉 walke in it nor heare these false Teacherâ—ny more for thou art more and more woâ—ded by them Oh thinkst thou to thy selfe will goe hear them that they call Independeâ—â— I see they grow exceedingly in grace and hâ—â—â— aboundance of joy and walke very comâ—â—â—tably with God and Paul bids us try all thinâ— So I will see whether they can tell me tidiâ—â— of my Beloved So when thou art thus a â—â—â—ing out of this spirituall Aegypt then conâ—spirtuall Pharaoh the Devill with his Armie â—â—ter thee of reproaches and scandals and â—tream displeasure of those that are of near â—â—lation to thee for thy going in these stranâ—â— wayes as they say calling thee Heretiqâ—â— and threatning thee that if thou wilt not leaâ— off these wayes they will never doe any thâ—â— for thee but will doe thus and thus again thee then thou art in aboundance of slaw feares and the red sea of persecution befoâ—â— thee If the Clergie could but get power 〈◊〉 the Magistrate which they have done the good will to get it in the meane timethey wpersecute you in words and raile on you in heir pulpits and call you Hereticks and say â—is pitty you should live you are the disturâ—ers of the peace and if they let you alone â—ou will be the ruine of the Kingdome And â—his they doe against thee because thou wilt â—ot heare them any more for thou art so â—ounded with their Sermons that thou canst â—â—ot heare them any longer Yet they tell thee â—hou must wait upon them till the Lord make â—nown his mind to them and it is a question whether ever he will make known his minde â—o them or no Mat. 23.13 But woe unto you â—cribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of heaven against men for ye neither goe â—â—your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring â—o goe in But they are blind leaders of the blinde â—nd both shall fall into the pits Thus thou seest what a streight thou art in â—etwixt Pharoah's Armie and the red Sea and â—hou cryest to the Lord as the children of Israâ—â— did and what did Moses say which was a â—ype of Christ Exod. 14.13 14. Moses said â—nto the people feare ye not stand still and see â—e salvation of the Lord the Lord shall fight for â—â—u and you shall hold your peace First I shall shew you that yet thou hast â—ot seen the salvation of the Lord. Secondly Thou must stand still and thou shalt see the salvation of the Lord for thee 1. I will not deny but that thou art 〈◊〉 child of God for that good seed spoken of Mat. 13. is sowne in thee which seed is 〈◊〉 Word in vers 19. of this Chapter and 〈◊〉 Word is Christ John 1. Which seede is Chriâ—â—â— Gal. 3.16 Know ye not that Christ is in you â—â—cept you be reprobates but I trust you shall knâ—â—â— you are not reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5 6. For Gâ—â—â— hath made knowne to thee that this seed is thee for thou findest that there is a new woâ—â— wrought in thee for now thou hatest sintâ— and hast a desire after goodnesse and it is thâ—â— seede in thee which makes thee so For whâ—â— thou wast in thy naturall condition thâ—â— hadst no such inclination to good thouâ—â— sometimes thou art ready to deny this throuâ—â— the Devills temptation and thy owne corruâ—tions But yet thou dost not know the true way Jesus Christ The Sonne of righteousnesse not risen in thee to lighten thee in his truth as the truth is in Jesus Christ saith I am 〈◊〉 way the truth and the life no man commeth the Father but by me John 14.6 And while the Lord doth come and lighten thee in 〈◊〉 wayes thou canst not find it out but thou a in the darke and one that is in the dark caâ—â— not doe any thing well and is ready to stuâ—â— â—e at all things and yet would faine doe â—omething Thus thou goest along in thy own strength 〈◊〉 perform duties but all thy duties and righousnesse is as filthy rags and that the Devill â—ill tell thee and he will overcome thee with is temptations for all thy righteousnesse This not a sufficient armour to stand against him 〈◊〉 will wound thee for all this For except â—â—ur righteousnesse exceeds the righteousnesse of the â—ribes and Pharisees you shall in no wise enter to the Kingdome of heaven Which as yet thou â—â—mmest short of that righteousnesse of the â—ribes and Pharisees for they were wonderâ—â—ll strict in their wayes for they lookt to be â—stified by the workes of the Law They did â—â—t know any other way therefore they walâ—d in that way they were in the dark and 〈◊〉 they worked according So it is with thee â—ou lookest to be justified by the works of the â—â—aw for thou seest no other way nor hast â—en taught any other way although in words â—â—th thou and they that taught thee are ready 〈◊〉 deny it But doe you not say that except ye do thus â—â—d thus God will not doe thus and thus for â—â—ou What is this but to be justified by your â—â—wne righteousnesse but thou dost as the â—â—ouse did in Cant. 3.1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soule loved I sought him bâ— I found him not What was this night but the time of hâ— darke condition and what is darknesse but want of light And in this night on her beâ— what was this bed A bed is to take their nâ— upon which was her owne performances a righteousnesse But she sought him but she câ—â—not find him upon her bed for thy bed is tâ— short for thee to stretch thy self upon tâ— covering too narrow to wrap thy self withaâ— before the Lord had shewed her the light his owne selfe to leade her where shee shou finde him Shee looked for him upon her bâ—â— of her owne performances but it is too shoâ—â— to reach to heaven and this covering of hâ—
way to life eternall but they continue refusing and loving their own darknesse better then the light or Jesus Christ and hate him in his waves and persecute him in his members and make a mock of godliness and thinke to get a righteousnesse of their own that shall carry them to heaven and so they undervalue the righteousnesse of Christ and tread under foote the Sonne of God and count the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified and unholy thing they doe not regard it but slight it and doe not really believe him And hee that doth not believe the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3.36 He that believeth not God hath made him a lyar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Sonne 1 John 5.10 It is the free mercie and love of God thaâ— is offered to all it is that that shall condemâ—â—â— all those that continue alwayes in unbeliefe Christ came neare Jerusalem and wept oâ—â— it and said O Jerusalem Jerusalem that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent â—â—to thee how often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen doth gather her brood â—â—der wings and ye would not Luke 13.34 Mat. 23.37 And in Mat. 23.31 there we may sâ—â— what children these were that hee would haâ—â— gathered to him Ye be witnes unto your selvâ—â— that ye are the children of them that killed the Prophets and they commit the same sin as their Fathers did In the 34. and 35. verse of this chapter Behold I send unto you Prophets and wise men and Scribes and some of them yeâ— shall kill and crucifie and some of them shall yeâ— scourge in your Synagogues and persecute theâ— from Citie to Citie That upon you may come alâ—â— the righteous blood shed upon the earth from thâ— blood of righteous Abel unto the bloud of Zacharias sonne of Barachias whom ye slew between the Temple and the Alter These are the children that Christ would have gathered to him and his bowels of compassion yearns to them Hee wept over them to think what a miserable condition they were in and hee would have preserved them from it but they would not And thus hee offers himselfe still to all even the chiefest of sinners 2 Chron. 26.15 16. And the Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his messengers rising up betimes and sending because hee had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord rose against his people till there was no remedie Prov. 1.24 to the 31. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded But ye have set at nought all my counsell and would none of my reproofe I also will laugh at your calamity I will mocke when your feare commeth When your feare commeth as desolation and your destruction commeth as a whirle-winde when distresse and anguish commeth upon you Then shall they call upon mee but I will not answer they shall seeke me early but they shall not find me For that they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord. They would none of my counsell they despised all my reproofe Therefore shall they eate of the fruit of their owne way and be filled with their own deviecs Thus he strives with them till there is no remedie and then hee giveth them over And when they have thus hardned their own hearts that they refuse all instruction and shut their eyes that they will not see then God hardened their hearts as he did Pharaoh's Exod. 10.1 and blind their eyes Mat. 13.14 15. By hearing ye shall heare and not understand and seeing ye shall see and not perceive For this peoples heart is waxed grosse and their eares are duâ—â— of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and heartâ— with their eares and should understand with their hearts and should be converted and I should heâ—â— them And therefore he spake to them in parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand Luke 8.10 Isa 6.9 Mark 4.12 God hath given them thâ—â— spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see anâ— eares that they should not heare Rom. 11.8 Sâ—â— the fault is in the creature and not in God for this good seede is sowne in all sorts of ground in good ground and in that which is stonie and that which is thorny and by the way side so it is sowed in all and the fault is not in the seede for the seede is all alike That seede is the word of God Luk. 8.11 which is sowne in all man-kind He that was the unprofitable servant had received a talent of his Lord as well as the profitable servants So God hath justified himself and left the world without excuse that they shall have nothing to say for themselves at the day of judgment and this is that that will be their greater condemnation Those mine enemies that would not that I bould reigne over them bring them and slay them â—efore my face Lu. 19.27 Not to have Christ â—eigne over them is that which condemnes â—hem CHAP. VIII How God doth compell those that are his children to come in to him GOd hath chosen and elected some before the world began to bee the children of God in Christ and to reveale himselfe unto â—hem and to give unto them eternall life â—aving predestinated us unto the adoption of â—hildren by Jesus Christ to himself according â—o the good pleasure of his will to the praise of â—he glory of his grace wherein he hath made â—s accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.5 6 According to the eternall purpose which he hath purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord Ephes 3.11 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gosâ—â— 2 Tim. 1.9 10. God did not see any thing in us where to love us but he loves us in his Sonne freâ—â— for his Sonnes sake Christ hath obtained 〈◊〉 things of his Father both in heaven and earâ— for us and there is not any thing that 〈◊〉 keepe them from us and at the time appoiâ—ted of the Father they shall be revealed to 〈◊〉 But the heir as long as he is a childe differeth 〈◊〉 thing from a servant though hee he Lord of 〈◊〉 Gal. 4.1 Before we be called with that hoâ—â— call which is that new work wrought in 〈◊〉 which is alone the worke of the spirit to 〈◊〉 borne againe not of corruptible seede but of inâ—â—ruptible by the word of God which liveth and
idolize it but the excellence of man is but flesh even the best of it as all outward gifts without the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. Though I speake with the tongues of men and Angels and have not charity I am become as sounding brasse or a tinckling cymbal And though I had the gift of prophesie and knew all secrets and all knowledge yea and if I had all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not love I were nothing And though I feed the poore with all my goods and though I give my bodye that I be burned and hoâ—â— not love it profiteth me nothing All this without love which is the Spirit For God and thâ— Spirit is one 1 John 5.7 God is love 1 Joh â— 8 All these excellent things without the Spiriâ— profieth me nothing Why because our happinesse consists alone in God and not in excellent cutward gifts without him Paul haâ— a great many before his conversion yet hâ— looked upon them as the workes of the flesh for he had not then the Spirit of God Foâ— we are the Circumcision which worship Goâ— in the spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus anâ— have no confidence in the flesh Though I alâ— might have confidence in the flesh If any maâ— thinketh that hee hath whereof he might tâ—â— in the flesh much more I Circumcised thâ— eighth day of the kindred of Israel of the trâ—â— of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews by thâ— Law a Pharisee Concerning zeal I perseâ—ted the Church touching the righteousnâ—â—â— which is in the Law I was unrebukeable Bâ— things that were vantage to me the samâ— counted losse for Christs sake Yea doubtleâ— I think all but losse for the excellent knowledâ— sake of Christ Jesus my Lord. For whâ—â— I have counted all things losse and dee 〈◊〉 them to be dung that I might winne Christ and might be found in him that is not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ even the righteousnesse which is of God through faith Phil. 3.3 to the 9. All flesh is as grasse and all the glory of man is as the flowr of grasse The grasse withereth and the flowre falleth away but the word of the Lord endureth for ever 1 Pet 1.24 25. This glory of the flesh which is compared to the flower of the grasse is the righteousnesse of man the most excellent of man without the Spirit of God as Paul had Yet this must all fall away it cannot stand before the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ but the word of God endureth for ever This word is Christ and he and his righteousnesse endureth for ever and when he and his righteousness appeareth in us and to us It will appeare so glorious and shine with such a burning heat that it will wither the flowre of our righteousnesse and cause it to fall away and be brought to nothing It will appeare so odious and filthy in our fight that we shall be ashamed of it as Paul was and count it as dung and drosse the filchiest things as is and so we shall be desirous to have this righteousnesse of ours destroyed by the glorious comming of Jesus Christ by g DESC = missing EXTENT = 1 span Spirit into us So none of the best of the excellencies of man can bring us to know any thiâ— of God in the mystery it is alone the work 〈◊〉 the Spirit of God without any thing of us Tâ—â— things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit 〈◊〉 God 1 Cor. 2.11 And this Spirit searcheth 〈◊〉 things yea the deepe things of God vers 10. 1. It is the Spirit alone that sees the thing of God 2. It is the Spirit that heares the things 〈◊〉 God 3. It is the Spirit alone that understandâ— the things of God 4. It is the Spirit alone that can doe thâ— works of God 5. It is the Spirit alone that makes us accepted with God For the first It is the Spirit of God aloâ—â— that seeth the things of God Mat. 6.22 Thâ— light of the body is the eye If therefore thine eye 〈◊〉 single thy whole body shal be ful of light Lu. 11 3â—â— This single eye is the Spirit of God and it seâ—â— the things of God for it cannot be the eye 〈◊〉 man Matth. 6.23 But if thy eye be evill thâ— whole body shall be full of darknesse If therefoâ—â— the light that is in thee be darkenesse how great 〈◊〉 that darknesse The eye is that whereby we see the eye 〈◊〉 man cannot see any thing but that which iâ—â— man and all the things of man even the best of them are but evill and the eye of man that seeth the things of man is one and the same with man And therefore it must needs follow that the eye of man is evill for it sees nothing done but that which is evill And if thy eye be evill thy whole bodie shall be full of darkenesse What is darkenesse but want of light and the light is Jesus Christ This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkenesse rather than light John 3.19 And the light shined in darkenesse and the darkenesse comprehended it not John 1.5 And that was the true light which lighteth every man that commeth into the world Hee was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not John 1.9 10. So as wee are men wee cannot know God nor any thing of God For if that light that is in us be darkenesse how great is that darknesse If those most excellent performances of man as man without the Spirit of God as Paul did performe before his conversion which is most likest light be darknesse how great is that darkenesse that man is in Man as man cannot comprehend the light of Jesus Christ none can doe it but that which is one and the same with him which is the Spirit of God and he â—s that single eye that sees all the things of God and Christ for they are one and Christ 〈◊〉 promised to send his Spirit unto us But Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the they will send in my Name he shall teach yâ—â— things and bring all things to your remember whatsoever I have said unto you John 14. â— When the Comforter is come whom I will send 〈◊〉 you from the father even the spirit of truth oâ— proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie oâ— Joh 15.26 The spirit of truth whom the world 〈◊〉 not receive because is seeth him not neither knoâ—â— him but ye know him for he dwelleth with and shall be in you and he shall abide with for ever John 14.16 17. These words Christ spake to his Disciâ—â— when he was present with them in the shaâ— man when he was to depart from theâ— that bodily shape they were unwilling 〈◊〉 he should goe away but he tels them that expedient that he should goe away For if 〈◊〉
the holy Ghost is our Comforter and the Angels are our guard to attend us And what can we desire more but 〈◊〉 have the Seale broke open to see what we haâ—â— in him and Christ is comming to doe it 〈◊〉 yet a very little while and he that shall come wiâ—â— come and will not tarry Heb. 10.37 Behold I come quickly Revel 3 11. And doe thou waâ—â— patiently for his comming CHAP. XIII Christ is the Teacher and Governour of his Church CHrist is a King a Priest and a Prophet A King to reigne over his Church spiritually and a Priest to offer spirituall sacrifice to his Father for his Church and a Prophet to teach them He saith My kingdome is not of this world John 18.36 But he is an immortall and an everlasting King 1 Tim. 1.17 He 〈◊〉 a spirituall King and it is a spirituall Kingdome that hee reignes over and the children â—f God are the heirs of this Kingdome Feare â—t little flocke for it is your Fathers will to give 〈◊〉 the Kingdome Luke 12.32 And the kingdome of God is eternall life Joh. 10.28 And 〈◊〉 give unto them eternall life and they shall never â—â—ish neither shall any pluck them out of my band And this is a hidden glorious and mysticall â—â—ing But to you it is given to know the secrets of the kingdome of heaven Mat. 13.11 And the â—ingdom of God comes not with observations Neiâ—â—er shall 〈◊〉 say loe here on loe there for behold â—he kingdome of God is with in you Lu. 17.20 21. â—ry not in thine heart Who shall ascend into heaâ—â—n That is to bring Christ from above Or who â—â—all descend into the deepe That is to bring up Christ againe from the dead But what saith the Scripture The word is neere thee even in thy â—â—uth and in thy heart this is the word of faith â—hich wee preach Rom. 10.6 7 8. And this â—ord is Christ John 1.14 What is heaven but the fulnesse of all happinesse and that is God in Christ and Christ â—â—ing in us by his Spirit then is the Kingdom â—f God in us and so far as he reveales himself to us as he is we see him as he is and have the enjoyment of him and so farre we live in â—im and have out conversation in heaven that is in God For the kingdome of God is not 〈◊〉 word but in power 1 Cor. 4.20 It confâ—â—â— not in speaking of words but so far as he â—â—veales himselfe in us he comes with power enabling us to do that which is pleasing to hiâ— and he reveales heaven to us here in some measure by degrees in his time as shall be to hâ—â— glory and our comfort and in a great aâ—â— high measure in some but wee cannot have 〈◊〉 in such a measure as we shall have it hereafâ—â—â— when our bodies are dissolved then wee shâ—â—â— be wholy in it there shall be nothing to hiâ—der us now here our bodies are weake anâ— cannot containe him and there is a vaile bâ—fore us that wee cannot see him clearely anâ— Christ is the Governour of the Church Isa â— 6 7. For unto us a Childe is borne and unto 〈◊〉 a Sonne is given and the government is upon 〈◊〉 shoulder and he shall call his name Wonderfullâ— Counseller the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace The encrease of his government and peace shall have no end hee shall sâ—â— upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdoâ— to order it and to stablish it with judgement 〈◊〉 with justice from hence-forth even for ever thâ— zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe this Hâ—â— is our husband and he reignes over us in loâ— and so he governs us and all his lawes that 〈◊〉 doth set forth for us to observe is to love him â—â—d so farre as hee doth reveale himselfe to us â—e can doe no other and he defends us against 〈◊〉 our spirituall enemies that rise up against 〈◊〉 and would devoure us And he hath made 〈◊〉 Kings with him 1 Pet. 2.9 Revel 5.10 〈◊〉 reigne with him for ever And hee is our â—â—iest to offer up spirituall sacrifice to his Faâ—â—er for us upon that golden Altar of himselfe 〈◊〉 8.3 And he makes intercession continuâ—â—ly to his Father for us 1 John 1.12 My â—â—es these things write I unto you that ye sinne 〈◊〉 and if any man sinne wee have an Advocate â—â—th the Father Jesus Christ the just and hee is 〈◊〉 reconciliation for our sins and not for ours onâ—â— but also for the sins of the whole world And â—â—e hath made uâ— Priests with him as wee are â—ints for his Spirit in us offers up continuall â—â—rifice to God by Christ of praises and â—â—anks-giving And he is our Prophet to teach 〈◊〉 We shall be all taught of God he will teach 〈◊〉 so plainly by his Spirit his owne minde in â—â—â—h a plain way that a wayfaring man though â—oole cannot erre therein The Lord said Write the vision and make it â—â—â—ne upon Tables that he may run that readeth 〈◊〉 Hab. 2.2 After those dayes saith the Lord 〈◊〉 will put my law in their inward parts and write 〈◊〉 their hearts and I will be their God and â—â—ey shall be my people And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man 〈◊〉 brother saying know the Lord for they shalâ— know me from the least of them to the greatestâ— them Jer. 31.33 34. The Lord will teach his children by his Spâ—rit in a more clearer manner than he haâ— done and so farre as he teacheth them thâ— shall all know him and hee shall teach us 〈◊〉 profit 1 Cor. 2.4 5. My speech and my preachâ—â— was not with enticing words of mans wisdome 〈◊〉 in demonstration of the Spirit and of power Tâ—â— your faith should not stand in the wisdome of 〈◊〉 but in the power of God When the Lord dâ—â—â— teach us by his Spirit that comes with poweâ— and over-powers us and makes us willing 〈◊〉 doe and be what hee would have us so 〈◊〉 power is made knowne in us That whiâ—â— Christ teacheth us to know is himselfe Ephâ— 4.21 If so be that ye have heard him and 〈◊〉 been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus thâ—â— we may know what he is in the Saints and 〈◊〉 the Saints Psal 65.8 I will heare what God 〈◊〉 Lord will speake for he will speak peace to his pâ—â—ple and to his Saints All that Christ doth teach us is to knoâ— himselfe and Paul desired to know nothing 〈◊〉 but Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 Anâ— he speakes nothing but what is in him for 〈◊〉 that all that is in him hee hath purchased 〈◊〉 us and hee hath purchased us unto himselfes and we are his Wife and he will always dwell with us and be in us and alwayes uphold us and never leave us nor forsake us CHAP. XIIII God is very tender and careful over those that are but babes in him and leades them as they
and you in me and I in you John 14.20 For Christ is the head and is one with the Father and the whole Church of God is the body which is the Spirit of God in all the Saints and he is always in us and with us Christ in us the hope of glory we by faith see Christ in us and know that he is the glory and wait patiently upon him while he is pleased to manifest his glory in us So by faith we believe and hope for that which wee have not yet the enjoyment â—f Though wee have Christ who is the fulâ—â—sse of all happinesse yet wee doe not see him 〈◊〉 us till hee is pleased to manifest himselfe to 〈◊〉 and shew us his glory And this faith of â—elieving what we shall enjoy is a very gloriâ—us condition and we have abundance of joy â—â—d comfort in it for the promise to us of the â—â—joyment of himselfe is sealed to us we are â—re of it there is not any thing that can hinâ—â—r him from manifesting himselfe to us Eph. â— 13 14. After that yee heard the word of truth â—â—e Gospel of your salvation in whom also after â—hat ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit 〈◊〉 promise Which is the earnest of our inheritance â—â—till the redemption of the purchased possession â—â—to the praise of his glory So the Lord revealing to us by his Spirit â—â—at there is an inheritance purchased by â—hrist for us which is himselfe that is the â—â—eatest inheritance that can be and this Spiâ—â—â— doth seale it to us till the time is come that â—â—mselfe will give us possession of that inheriâ—â—nce that hee hath redeemed and purchased â—â—r us for the praise of his glory So while we â—ave but an earnest given us of this inheritance â—eing we know it is sure wee are exceedingly â—omforted and carried above all slavish fears â—nd troubles and above all things that wee see below Christ and many the Lord leades a great while by faith before he gives them a full possession of himselfe CHAP. XVI Not for any to despise nor undervalue nor persecute one another IT is a very dangerous thing to embrace and close with that we heare before wee know whether it be truth or no for it is not sufficient for us to believe a thing to be truth because another saith it is truth For us to build upon this is a sandy-foundation we cannot build sure upon it though the things that we heare be truth yet except we know them to be truth by the Spirits teaching us or witnessing to us by sufficient grounds set forth in the Scripture that those things are truth that we heare it is very dangerous to build upon it and it is impossible but this building will fall for this foundation will not nor cannot hold it up and if it come to the tryall it will fall to the great dishonour of God and the scandalling of Religion and it is as dangerous to despise hate or persecute any thing that wee heare though it doth not seem to us to be truth for saith Paul After that way that ye call heresie so â—orship I the God of my Fathers Though it apâ—eareth to you to be heresie yet it may be reâ—â—ll truth therefore doe not hate it nor perseâ—ute it for Paul thought before his conversion â—hat it was heresie and persecuted it Acts 9. â—2 And Saul yet breathing out threatnings and â—aughter against the Disciples of the Lord went â—â—to the high Priest and desired of him letters to â—amascus to the Synagogue that if he found any 〈◊〉 this way whether they were men or women he â—ight bring them bound unto Jerusalem And â—he journeyed he came neare to Damascus and â—â—ddenly there shined round about him a light from â—â—aven and he fell to the earth and heard a voyce â—â—ying unto him Saul Saul why persecutest thou 〈◊〉 And he said who art thou Lord And the â—ord said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest it is â—â—â—d for thee to kicke against the pricks vers 3 4 â— Paul was then one that was very strict in all 〈◊〉 ways and walked very blamelesse as conâ—â—rning the performing of the Law and hee â—ought that all that was not as he was were â—â—retickes and hee persecuted them to the â—ath but the Lord said unto him Why perseâ—â—test thou me I am Jesus whom thou persecutest 〈◊〉 He persecuted Christ in his members Inasâ—â—eth as you have done it unto one of the least of â—â—se my brethren ye have done it to me Mat. 25.40 Take heed how you persecute any though you thinke they are heretickes and therefore persecute them as Paul did and indeed there was never any persecution but it went under the name of punishing Hereticks and doe iâ— by a shew of godlinesse as Paul did but it iâ— hard for you to kicke against prickes for it iâ— God that ye kicke against and he is stronger than you and will overcome you at the last and he is like pricks it will pierce your selves for not any weapon that is forged against hiâ— Saints shall prosper but shall returne backeâ— and destroy their enemies like as those meâ— were that tooke up Shadrach Mesbech and Abednego and cast them into the fiery fornan at the Kings command because they woulâ— not worship their false gods They made thâ— fornace exceeding hot because it should destroy the three men that were cast into it bâ—â— the flame of the fire slew those men that caâ— them in and Shadrach Mesbech and Abedego walked in the midst of the fire and neithâ—â— they nor their cloaths were burned nor 〈◊〉 much as smell of fire Dan. 3. Therefore whosoever thou art that persâ—cutest any take heed what thou dost for the last God will destroy thee whosoever thâ— art except thou commest to be converted and they whom thou dost persecute shall be 〈◊〉 livered out of thy hands if it be to the glory 〈◊〉 God and their good but if God hath giâ—â—n you so much power as to put them to â—â—ath the greatest harm that you can do them 〈◊〉 but to bring them to their full happinesse â—â—d that harm that you thinke to doe against â—â—â—m you doe against your selves for while 〈◊〉 persecute them they are at peace and quiâ—â— and have abundance of the enjoyment of â—â—od and enabled to bear exceedingly whatâ—â—ever is laid upon them for whatsoever is â—â—nting outwardly the Lord supplieth inâ—â—rdly by his Spirit and he conveyeth himâ—â—â—fe to them in that way that all the enemies 〈◊〉 the world nor all the Devils in hell are 〈◊〉 able to hinder them from the enjoyment him but while you persecute them you â—â—â—not be quiet in your mind but are troubled â—â—â—d cannot have peace like Saul that perseâ—â—â—â—d David The Spirit of the Lord departed 〈◊〉 Saul and an evill Spirit from the Lord trouâ—â—â—d him 1 Sam. 16.14 And this Spirit cauâ—â— him to persecute David and wheresoever 〈◊〉 Spirit is it causeth persecutions for it
laying them clearly open by the appearance of himselfe in us and as he breaks open the seals to us there are great earth-quakes Heb. 12.26 27. Yet once more I shake not only the earth but also heaven And this word yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made that those things which cannot be shaken may remaine The Lord when hee appeareth in us doth not only make the earth quake at his presence which is all things that doth appeare to us to be below God whatsoever it be but also heavenly things all glorious things which are of Anti-christ which is like heaven and doth appeare to us to be heaven but this shall be shaken by the appearing of Jesus Christ in us and those things that cannot be shaken which are of Jesus Christ they shall remaine but all things that are not of him shall fall and shall appeare to us to be but earth or flesh as bad as the kilel of the flesh grosse sinne and wickednesse I doe not meane the flesh of our bodies nor this earth that we dwell upon but there are two kinds of seeds of the Devil in us that grosse seed which bringeth forth sinne in us is called earth the first man was of the earth earthly as is the earthly such are they that are earthly That which is not of God is said to be of Satan which is called earth and so farre as we have this earthly seed appearing in us so far we are of the earth earthly then there is that seeming glorious seed of himselfe in us which is our righteousnesse and that seemes to be like the wayes of God and therefore it is called heaven but it is but of the earth and is earthly this is called the first man the second man is Christ and he is heavenly 1 Cor. 15. The first man is of the earth â—arthly the second man is the Lord from heaâ—en as is the earthly such are they that are â—arthly and as is the heavenly such are they â—lso that are heavenly and as we have borne the image of the earthly we shall also bear the â—mage of the heavenly Now this I say brethren â—hat flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdome â—f God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption That which is of Satan which is called â—lesh and blood and earth and corruption â—hall not inherit the Kingdome of God for this â—shmael shall not be heir with Isaac so at the â—ppearing of God in us there will be a great â—arth-quake when the mountaine of the Lord which is Christ comes to be established atop of the mountaines of Anti-christ For thou â—ast said in thy heart I will ascend into heaven 〈◊〉 will exalt my throne above the Stars of God I will sit upon the mount of the Congregation I will â—scend above the heights of the clouds I will be â—ike the most High Isa 14.13 14. The voyce â—f my beloved behold he commeth leaping upon the â—ountains and skipping upon the hills Cant. 2.8 Whether the hils or mountaines though they â—e never so high that is not of himself whatâ—oever it be in us whether high or great sinnes â—r our righteousnesse hee will tread them all under his feete and triumph over them all and this mount makes the whole earth filenâ— before him both outward and inward and make them quake Revel 6.12 13 14. And 〈◊〉 beheld when he had opened the sixth seale and loâ—â— there was a great earth-quake and the Sunne became blacke as a sacke-cloath of haire and thâ— Moone became as blood And the starres of heaven fell unto the earth even as a figge-tree casteth heâ— untimely figges when she is shaken of a mighty winde And the Heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together and every mountaine and Island were moved out of their places Mat. 24.29 Immediately after those dayes shalâ— the Sun be darkened and the Moon shall not givâ— her light and the stars shall fall from heaven the powers of heaven shall be shall be shaken And then shall appeare the signe of the Sonne of man is heaven and then shall all the Tribes of the eartâ— mourne and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory Here is speaking of Christs comming to judgement The comming of Christ to judgement is both outward and inward spirituallâ— in the mystery and at the opening of the sixtâ—â— seale here is the first resurrection for after thâ— Sunne is darkned and the Moone not give heâ— light then shall Christ appeare in his glory iâ— us he is come to this spirituall judgement iâ— us and by his glorious appearance he makes the Sun to appeare as black as a sack-cloath of haire and the Moone to be like blood But while the first Heaven is departed away his glory doth not appear in us for the first heaven hinders us from seeing the glory of Christ the Sun is that whereby we see for that is light it selfe and giveth light to us and by that light that we receceive from the Sun we see the Sun and that light that the Moone hath she receiveth it from the Sun it is the same light infused into the Moon but it doth not appeare so glorious as the Sun for the Sun is the fulnesse of light and the Moon partakes of it all but is not able to containe it all but is filled with the light and glory of it and the starres have that light that they shine withall from the Sun and is the same with the Moone and they give a bright cleare and glorious light yet not so full and great a light as the Moone doth for they are not able to contain it and this typifieth out to us Christ and his Church and every particular Saint for Christ is the Sunne and the Church the Moone and the Saints the Starres Now where the Church of God is there is also the church of Anti-christ and the light that shee hath is infused after the same manner and all in us and both these lye together that as we are men and women we doe not know one light from the other but when Christ doth appeare to us in his pure light then the light of the sun of Anti-christ in us will appear as blacke as sack-cloath of hair and that moone the Church of Anti-christ will appeare like blood being a bloody persecuter of the Church of God and the starres of Anti-christ will also fall for being that sun is darkened whereby the starres receiveth their light they must fall and that heavenly and glorious appearance of Anti-christ shall depart as a scroll when it is rolled together And then every mountain and Island shall be moved out of their places for now is the day of the Lord come to render vengeance on all things in us that knowes not God Now is the time of the destruction of Anti-christ come and he is not able to stand against