of the Church in any City and Villages adjacent who for Order sake in Gospel-Government hath Priority Pre-eminence and Authority above the rest of the Presbyters or Bishops of the same Church not alone nor without them but when Convened with them to Act Rule Guide Order and Govern with their Consent Suffrage and Assistance according to the Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ the Constitutions and Commandments the Practice and Example of his holy Apostles Act. 15.2 6 19 22. Nor should the Ministers of Christ strive which of them should be greatest Luk. 22.24 25 26. Neither ought any of them to Love and Affect to have Pre-eminence among them as Diotrephes did 3. Epist of John v. 9. (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6. Titus 1.7 8 9. 2 Tim. 4.1 2 3 4 5. But a Bishop must be blameless an Ensample to the Flock vigilant patient apt to teach not covetous not greedy of filthy lucre and one that Ruleth well his own House that he may take Care of the Church of God holding fast the faithful Word c. CHAP. III. THE Third Work that our Lord Jesus Christ came into this World to do was to institute those Gospel-Ordinances in which his Churches of Saints must worship God in Spirit and in Truth When the Church is Assembled on the first Day of the week in some convenient place to worship God Christ hath appointed that first of all Prayers Supplications and Thanksgivings be made 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour Men having their Heads uncovered and Women having their Faces vailed or covered 1 Cor. 11.4 5 7 10 13. reverently kneeling Psal 95.6 Acts 21.5 or decently standing Luk. 18.11 13. They ought not to sit in Prayer-time unless some weakness of body or some bodily infirmity doth constrain them This part of the Worship of God ought to be administred by one of the Elders of that Church who ought to pray in the Spirit and to pray with the understanding also 1 Cor. 14.15 To pray with the Spirit implies two things First That the Minister have a spiritual Gift to pray Zech. 12.10 Secondly That he have the Spirits Assistance in praying Rom. 8.26 To pray with the understanding is to pray with such words as all the Congregation doth hear and understand that they may say Amen 1 Cor. 4.16 After Prayer the Teacher ought to Read the Written Word of God distinctly and give the sense thereof by Expounding and Interpreting the words of that Scripture that so the People may understand and be instructed or taught to know the Will and Mind of God therein revealed for their Learning and Edification as they did Neh. 8.4 5 6 7 8. And as Christ himself and his Apostles also did Luk. 4.16 17 21 22. Act. 28.23 Reading the holy Scripture is an Ordinance of God unto which Christ hath promised a Gospel-Blessing Rev. 1.3 Col. 4.16 And then the Pastor ought to Preach the Gospel and to exhort the People to Repent and Believe the Gospel to be holy and to walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blamelesly Labouring in the Word and Doctrine to Convert Sinners to Edifie Believers to Convince Gainsayers and to Comfort Strengthen and Establish them that Believe in Christ Also let the Prophets speak two or three and let the rest judge 1 Cor. 14.29 31. Rom. 12.6 7 8. Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given unto us Whether Prophesie let us Prophesie according to the Analogy of Faith Or Ministry let us wait on our Ministring Or he that Teacheth on Teaching Or he that Exhorteth on Exhortation And he that Ruleth with diligence The Apostles so Preached that many believed Act. 14.1 And it pleased God by the Foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 Our LORD Jesus Christ did command his Ministers also to Baptize them that do believe in him with Water in the Name of the Father Son and holy Spirit Mat. 28.19 20. Mark 16.15 16. Joh. 1.33 Our Lord himself was Baptized by John in the River Jordan Mat. 3.13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be Baptized of him Ver. 16. And Jesus when he was Baptized went up straightway out of the Water 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut immergeretur ver 13. and ver 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 immersus Jesus Mark 1.5 9. And were all Dipped of him in the River Jordan confessing their sins We read that both Men and Women were Baptized when they Believed Acts 8.12 But we read not in the holy Scripture of Truth that any Infants were Baptized They that had received the holy Spirit were commanded to be Baptized with Water in the Name of the LORD Acts 10.47 48. Those Men and Women are fit Subjects of Baptism that have received the Spirit of Christ do Believe in Christ Confess their sins and Repent Acts 2 37-41 The Manner of the Administration of this Gospel-Ordinance of Baptism was thus practised in the Daies of Christ and of his Apostles to wit The Person Baptizing and the Persons Baptized went into the Water Acts 8.38 39. And they went down both into the Water both Philip and the Eunuch and he Baptized him That is Philip Dipped the Eunuch under the Water and then they came out of the Water v. 39. The Spirit of God hath inspired the Apostles in writing the holy Scriptures to use one Greek word viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Dipping Joh. 1.25 26 33. Heb. 9.19 21. and another viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Sprinkling So that if to Dip in Water be to Baptize to Sprinkle with Water is to Rantize And the Manner of Baptizing in Water is represented in the holy Scripture by Burying in Water and raising up out of the Water Col. 2.12 Rom. 6.4 whereby is also figured forth the Believer's Fellowship with Jesus Christ in his Death and Resurrection Col. 2.12 Jesus Christ also before his Death did Institute his own Supper Matth. 26.26 27 28. 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25. and commanded his Disciples to do so and to do so often in Remembrance of him 1 Cor. 11.25 26. and as a Memorial of his Death until he come again ver 26. In Administring this Sacred Ordinance of the Lord's Supper according to the Example of Christ and his Disciples these particular things ought to be observed 1. The Time The Lord's Supper ought to be Administred ordinarily on the Lord's Day that is the first Day of the week Acts 20.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. On the only Day of Sabbaths It is an Hebraism And upon the first Day of the week the Disciples came together to break bread c. And the time of the day was at Evening then Christ administred his Supper Mark 14.17 22. 2. The Minister ought to take the Bread and consecrate it by the Word and Prayer
THE VVORLD that Now is AND THE VVORLD that is to Come Or the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ Wherein several Prophecies not yet fulfilled are Expounded By HAN KNOLLYS A Servant of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.19 LONDON Printed by Tho. Snowden An. 1681. TO THE READER Christian Reader SO needful is the true Knowledge of God and Jesus Christ so absolutely conducing unto Man's Eternal Well-being John 17.3 as whereby alone true Happiness is to be attained To that End in the former Part of this little Treatise is set forth First What the LORD Jesus Christ hath done and suffered for the Salvation of Sinners Secondly What HE doth work in them by his holy Spirit and Word in Order unto their Everlasting Salvation Thirdly What kind of Worship Churches Ministers and Ordinances the LORD Jesus Christ hath instituted and appointed under the Gospel And in the latter Part of it is briefly and plainly declared That there is a WORLD to Come That the LORD Jesus Christ will come personally visibly and suddenly That he will set up his Kingdom will Reign Raise the Dead and Judge both the Quick and the Dead 2 Tim. 4.1 At his Appearing his Kingdom It may be some of all sorts of Readers will judge and Censure me for one thing or another but with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by Man's Judgment I only entreat the Judicious Reader to search the Scriptures and thereby to prove all things and hold fast that which is sound I pretend not to Infallibility I know but in part yet I am willing to impart that which I do know unto others that are searching after Knowledge and Understanding And I pray that God will fill you that Read what I have written with the Knowledge of his Will Revealed in his written WORD That you may prove what is the perfect Will of God But if any man seem to be contentious we have no such Custom neither the Churches of God Nor will I contend with any one otherwise than the Apostle Jude exhorts in the third verse of his Epistle That we should earnestly contend for the Faith that was once delivered unto the Saints not by vain Disputings and Janglings but by sober Assertions and clear Proofs of Scripture Isa 8.20 Shew me friendly Reader wherein I have erred from the Truth and it will be as precious Balm and I shall esteem thee my friend indeed that will endeavour to convert me from the Errour of my Way if i◠be done in a Spirit of Love Nay if any one shall do it in another frame of spirit I shall thankfully acknowledge his kindness that will endeavour to Convince me to Reprove me yea although he should Reproach me and I would bear it patiently and humbly acknowledge my mistake And I will not obstinately hold fast any Errour after Conviction through the Grace of God for I love the Truth as it is in Jesus if my heart doth not deceive me more than my self or my esteem in the World Thy Souls Friend Han. Knollys From my Study in Bartholomew-Lane August 3. 1681. THE VVORLD That now is THE holy Scripture of Truth speaketh of three Worlds viz. The WORLD that was 2 Pet. 3.6 The WORLD that now is called this WORLD Mat. 12.32 the WORLD to come Heb. 2.5 The WORLD that now is is the Subject of the first Part of this Treatise And the WORLD to come shall be the subject of the latter Part thereof The principal matter of which we intend to treat touching the WORLD that now is doth concern the first Coming of Christ into this WORLD when the WORD was made Flesh and dwelt among us Joh. 1.14 The chief matter of the latter Part of this Treatise doth concern the Second Coming of Christ in the WORLD to come Wherein there will be New Heavens a New Earth and a New Jerusalem and all things will be new-created Rev. 21 1-5 CHAP. 1. Wherein our general Position is propounded proved and explained § 1. The Position propounded THat the Chief WORK of Jesus Christ in his first Coming into the WORLD was to save sinners to build up his own House the Church of the Living God and to institute all Gospel-Ordinances necessary for his Disciples to worship God in Spirit and in Truth § 2. The Position proved 1. That our LORD Jesus Christ came into the WORLD to save sinners Luk. 5.32 I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Matth. 18.11 For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost And 1 Tim. 1.15 Christ Jesus came into the WORLD to save Sinners 2. That our LORD Jesus Christ being come in the Flesh did build up his own House the Church of God Heb. 3 -- 6. For this Man Christ Jesus was counted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as He who builded the House hath more honour than the House Moses was faithful in all his House as a Servant but Christ as a Son over his own House the Church of God 1 Tim. 3.15 3. That our Lord Jesus Christ hath instituted all Gospel-Ordinances necessary for his Disciples to worship God in Spirit and in Truth 1 Cor. 11.1 2. Be ye followers of me even as I am of Christ And keep the Ordinances as I delivered them unto you Joh. 4.21 22 23 24. The true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth § 3. The Position explained The first part of our general Position to be explained is That our LORD Jesus Christ came into the WORLD to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Now the Method I shall observe in the Explanation of this part of our Position shall be to shew 1. What kind of Saviour Christ is 2. What Salvation Sinners may have by Jesus Christ And 3. How Sinners are saved by Jesus Christ And of these in order First What kind of Saviour is Jesus Christ I answer 1. The LORD Jesus Christ is an Almighty Saviour As there is none other Act. 4.12 so there needs none other Saviour None can pull a Soul out of Christ's hand Joh. 10.27 -- 30. Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-Man Emmanuel God with us Matth. 1.23 Jehovah our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 The Mighty God Isa 9.6 The Almighty Rev. 1.8 The true God and Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.20 There is no Saviour but God Isa 43.3 11. I even I am Jehovah and beside me there is no Saviour And Jude v. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen It is absolutely necessary unto Salvation to know and believe That the LORD Jesus Christ is very God as well as very Man So the Virgin Mary believed when she said My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour Luk. 1.46 47. And so did all the holy Apostles and Saints believe and confess Rom. 9.5 2
willing to resign your whole Man Spirit Soul and Body unto the Government of Christ as LORD and King to Reign and Rule Guide and Govern you by his holy Spirit and Written Word Not that you can do those things of your selves I have told you without Christ you can do nothing Joh. 15.5 But it is your duty to do them and it is the Free Grace of God to work in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure Phil. 2.12 13. that he so working in you you may work out your own salvation with fear and trembling I would through the Divine Assistance of the Spirit and Grace of God make some Application of this our general Position unto the Churches of Saints for their edification First I most humbly beseech all the Churches of Saints to receive this Doctrine of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven And to believe 1. That when HE comes he will glorifie the House of his Glory Isa 60.1 2 7. and will make Zion an eternal Excellency vers 14.15 22. God will build up Zion and then he shall appear in his Glory Psal 102.13 16. Then shall Zion be the Perfection of Beauty Psal 50.2 Out of which God shall shine In that DAY God shall be his Churches everlasting Light and Glory Isa 60.19 Rev. 21.23 Then shall Christ and his Church be each others Crown and Glory Isa 28.5 In that DAY shall the LORD of Hosts be for a Crown of Glory and for a Diadem of Beauty unto the Residue of his People Isa 62.3 Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God Read Zech. 9.16 and Isa 60.13 2. That when Christ comes He will Restore all his holy Ordinances unto their Primitive Power and Purity yea unto an higher and greater degree of Excellency than in the Apostles Daies God will not only give his Churches of Saints Pastors according to his own heart which shall feed them with knowledge and understanding Jer. 3.14 15. but HE will also pour out his Spirit upon Sons and Daughters and upon the Servants and upon the Hand-maids also God will pour out his Spirit Joel 2.28 31 32. Before the great and terrible DAY of the LORD come The LORD will vouchsafe unto his Churches such Anointing of his holy Spirit as the Apostle John witnesseth and recorded 1 Joh. 2.20 27. But ye have an Unction from the holy ONE and ye know all things c. Read v. 27. and Joh. 6.45 Isa 54.13 Jer. 31.34 It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God And not only be instructed and led by the holy eternal Spirit into the sound and saving Knowledge of all the Truths in God's written Word as the Truth is in Jesus but they shall see with their Eyes those things fulfilled which they have read and heard out of the written Word of God Matth. 24.33 34 35. That Gospel Ordinance of Praising God will then be with greater spiritualness and with more heavenly mindedness performed in the General Assembly and Church of the first Born where all the Sons of God shall sing together even all the Saints and Angels shall celebrate the high Praises of God together Read Rev. 5.11 12 13. Rev. 11.15 16 17. Rev. 14.1 2 3. Rev. 15.2 3 4. Rev. 19.1 4 5 6 7 8 9. The whole Worship of God shall then be performed by the true Worshippers in Spirit and in Truth according to Christ's Word John 4.23 24. for God will then give all his People one Heart and one Way Jer. 32.38 39 40. to worship him with one Consent Zeph. 3.9 14 16 17 18. In that day shall there be ONE LORD and his Name ONE Zech. 14.9 A Restitution of all things Acts 3.21 3. That when Christ comes his glorious personal and spiritual Presence with his Church Heb. 12.21 23 24. Rev. 22.2 3. will occasion a Confluence of all Comforts Isa 51.3 12. and 66.13 and Zech. 1.13 17. Then Zion shall be adorned with spiritual and glorious Beauty Isa 52.1 9 10. and compassed about with peace and safety God will be as a Wall of Fire round about Zion Zech. 2.5 10. Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Zion for Lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee saith the LORD Read Ezek. 34.23 24 25 28 29 30 31. No Canaanite in the Land of Israel nor none that shall hurt or destroy in all God's holy Mountains Zech. 2.4 Jerusalem shall be inhabited as Towns without walls for God's salvation shall be her walls and bulwarks Isa 26.1 2 3. Then the State of the Church of God will bear some proportional Resemblance to the Kingdom of Heaven for it will then be a sinless state Isa 60.1 21. Zeph. 3.13 and Rev. 14.1 5. and a sorrowless state Rev. 21.1 2 3 4 5. and a timeless state Rev. 10.6 Time shall be no more For the thousand years time of the Church's Glory being finished and all the time of Satan and his Instruments ended who are the Abusers of Time Time shall pass into Eternity of Glory and Beatifical Vision and eternal Life Secondly I would also humbly intreat my Reverend Brethren to declare to the Ministers of Christ Churches of Saints what is noted in the holy Scripture of Truth concerning the WORLD to come the New Heavens and a New Earth and the New Jerusalem Also the Second Personal Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ from Heaven You are commissioned and commanded to declare unto the people the whole counsel of God revealed in his written Word and this Gospel of the Kingdom and Coming of Christ must be preached in all the Inhabited World towards the latter End thereof Matth. 24.14 as a Witness unto all Nations and then shall the End come This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Generation Truth which ought to be Preached and Testified by the Ministers and Churches of Christ in these latter daies though they be killed for bearing this Testimony Rev. 11.3 4 7. Be faithful to Death and Christ will give you a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 and 12.11 Lastly A word of Consolation to those that do believe pray and wait for the world to come and the Spiritual Glory thereof 1. In general for then the Ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting Joy c. Isa 35.10 Then shall be the confluence of all spiritual Comforts to the Church and People of God Isa 60.1 2 3 7 13 19-22 The LORD shall be thy everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory vers 19. All the promises of Grace and Glory shall then be performed which are in Christ Yea and in Christ Amen to the praise and glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And then all Prophecies relating to the Churches Spiritual Glory shall be fulfilled Act. 3 19-21 which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets Then will be a superabundant pouring out of
possession of Christ and their Faith is not Rooted in him Do but diligently observe and enquire into this matter and you shall find That those Ministers of Christ are most instrumental in converting Souls unto God who labour most in the Word and Doctrine of Gospel-Conviction of Sinners Those Ministers that Preach Christ and the Gospel of Free-Grace most convincingly labour in the Application of every Doctrine to convince the Conscience of Sinners that they are in danger of the Wrath of God and of eternal Death for their sins especially because they believe not in Christ exhorting them to Repent of their sin and Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that they may be pardoned saved by him I say those Ministers have most Converts those are workers together with God and their convinced humbled converted and sanctified Hearers have not received the Grace of God in vain 2 Cor. 6.1 Some poor Souls may haply object or rather query Is there not a sound work of Conversion where there hath not been so great a work of Conviction and Humiliation nor so great horrours fears terrours and so clear and distinct a work of the Spirit 's Reproof of Sin Righteousness and Judgment as God works upon some Sinners I answer Though this be God's workmanship upon some yea many if not upon most notorious sinful sinners yet we may not limit the Holy One of Israel God is a free Agent And because I would not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax I know and acknowledge That some sinful sinners have lesser terrours fewer temptations fears and horrours than others have and some are longer under the work of Conviction and Bondage than others are though they have been as great and notorious sinners as they that were more and longer exercised with fears and terrours Yea and I know both by Experience and by Scripture that some sinners who have had Religious Education under godly Parents or Governours and have lived from their youth up under a godly Soul-saving Ministry and have thereby been restrained by the Common Grace of God from all gross sins that have not experienced the said terrours and temptations nor have they had such horrours of Conscience and fears of Hell Yet this I know that they have been thorowly convinced of their sinful natural state and of their lost and undone condition being and seeing themselves to be without Christ and without Grace and they have been thorowly convinced that their own Righteousnesses are filthy Raggs and that they must have Christ's Righteousness to justifie them and his Holiness to sanctifie them and his precious Blood to redeem them from their iniquity But as for Time whether longer or shorter and as for Measure whether greater or lesser whereby God did this work of Conviction upon them who can limit God God having wrought a thorow Conviction upon a sinful sinner the next part and piece of his workmanship upon his Soul is Spirituall Illumination in the Saving Knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ Eph. 1.17 18· whereby the Eyes of his Understanding is enlightened that the sinner may know that there is hope of pardon and salvation in Christ for him through Faith and Holiness In the work of Spiritual Illumination God doth by his holy Spirit and Word discover to him and enlighten the Eyes of his Understanding first to see the Divine Beauty and glorious Excellency of Jesus Christ above all other persons and things in the world A poor sinful sinner sees no beauty nor comeliness in Christ why he should desire him Isa 53.1 2 3. The Daughters of Jerusalem said What 's thy Beloved Lord Jesus Christ more than anothers Beloved Cant. 5.9 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God-neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 until it please God to make an inward discovery thereof by his holy Spirit and Word in the Soul 1 Cor. 2.9 10 11 12. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit So 1 Joh. 5.20 We know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him c. The Psalmist tells the sinner That Christ is fairer than the Sons of Men full of Grace is his Lips Psal 45.2 The Spouse told the Daughters of Jerusalem That her Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand He is altogether lovely Cant. 5 10-6 And the Apostle counted all things loss and dung for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus his LORD Phil. 3.7 8. Secondly God inlightens the Eyes of Sinners Understanding to see the worth of Christ in some measure and degree As poor lost Sinners discern not the Beauty and Excellency of Christ so they understand not the worth of Christ until God discover it unto them and reveal it in them by his holy Spirit and Word Gal. 1.15 16. Now God makes known to the Sinner the worth of Christ by shewing him in the Glass of the Gospel 1. The unvaluable preciousness of the Blood of Christ that cleanseth Sinners from all sin and unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1.8 9. The precious Blood of Christ purgeth the Consciences of Sinners from dead works Heb. 9.14 And Christ both justifieth and sanctifieth Sinners by his precious Blood Rom 5.9 Heb. 13.12 1 Cor. 6.11 This speaks forth the worth of Christ 2. God shews the Sinner in the Glass of the Gospel the unsearchable Riches of Jesus Christ Eph. 3.8 the exceeding Riches of his Grace Eph. 2.7 And though Christ hath freely richly and abundantly given forth of his fulness so much Grace to so many poor Sinners from the day of Adam's transgression even to this day yet in this Vision of Christ's Riches the poor sinful Sinner sees him still as full of Grace and Truth as the Disciples did Joh. 1.14 3. God shews the Sinner in the Glass of the Gospel the glorious Liberties of the Spirit of Christ Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 And the Saints are commanded to stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free Gal. 5.1 called the glorious Liberties of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 This Gospel-Liberty is not a Liberty to sin nor may this Liberty be used for an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5.13 but it is a freedom from sin Rom. 6.18 22. in respect of the condemnation due thereunto Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus and in respect of the dominion thereof Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace Thirdly God shews the Convinced Sinner in the Glass of the Gospel his need of Christ and acquaints him with an indispensible Necessity of accepting Christ upon Gospel-terms of Free-Grace Without money and without price Isa 55.1 2 3. Rev. 22.17 God doth by his Spirit and Word inform the Sinner that the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the only Saviour
of Sinners Act. 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other And hereby the poor lost sinful Sinner sees his need of Christ to justifie him and pardon all his sins also to sanctifie him and save him from his sins and the wrath of God due unto him for his sins and to save him with an everlasting salvation God having thorowly convinced and savingly inlightned the Sinner the third and next part of God's workmanship upon his Soul is the work of Conversion Sinners are often called upon to turn unto God and to turn from their sins Ezek. 14.6 18 30 32.33.11 that they may know it is their duty so to do and that finding by experience it is not in their power being faln in Adam they should pray to God to turn them from their sins unto himself by his Spirit and Grace Jer. 31.18 19. Turn thou me and I shall be turned c. Conversion is that part of God's workmanship upon a Sinner's Soul wherein God doth first change the whole Man from the sinful similitude of Adam into the Image of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 3.18 We are changed into his Image c. I say in the work of true Conversion the whole Man is changed the heart is made a new heart Ezek. 36.26 A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes The Man is made a New-man Eph. 4.23 24. And that ye put on the New-man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness And his Life a New-Life Rom. 6.4 Even so we also should walk ill newness of Life Secondly God doth in the work of Conversion sanctifie the converted person wholly and throughout in Spirit Soul and Body 1 Thes 5.23 The very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly c. Upon or at the time of the Sinner's Conversion God imparts unto him and implants in him of every Grace that is in Christ a measure Joh. 1.14.16 And from his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Also Eph. 4.7 To every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ which grace is called the incorruptible seed of the New-birth 1 Pet. 1.23 which seed abideth in sanctified Believers 1 Joh. 3.9 It is implanted and it is inherent grace which grows like the grain of Mustard-seed Matth. 13.31 32. unto which Spiritual Growth every sanctified Believer is exhorted 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in grace c. Thirdly God doth in the work of Conversion actually and really turn the converted person from darkness to light from the power of Satan and Sin unto God Act. 26.18 Before Conversion the Sinner was under the Vassalage of Satan who had dominion over him and ruled and worked in him Eph. 2.2 And he was then the servant of sin which had also dominion over him and reigned in him Rom. 5.21 And though the Sinner was convinced of his sins and troubled in his mind for his sins yea and saw the danger that his Soul was in by reason of his sins whereupon the Sinner resolved to forsake his sinful courses and to commit his sins no more yet until he was truly converted he had no power nor strength to overcome them nor could he pray and perform holy duties with delight and comfort but as a task and work that was hard and burdensom Isa 43.22 24 25. Thou hast not called upon me O Jacob and thou hast been weary of me O Israel But thou hast made me to serve with thy sins thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake and I will not remember thy sins Now that the Sinner is converted he is by the Spirit and Grace of God called to Repent and to Turn from his sins to God with his whole heart Jer. 31.18 19 20. Surely after that I was turned I repented I was ashamed c. Thus we may see what work God doth upon sinful sinners in respect whereof they are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus Let us in the next place consider what Work God doth upon sanctified Believers in respect whereof they also are God's workmanship God having called and converted sinful Sinners unto himself by his holy Spirit and Word formed Christ in them and changed them into the Image of Christ given them his holy Spirit and imparted grace unto them and implanted it in them and having of his free Grace adopted and justified them through Faith in Christ Gal. 3.26 Gal. 2.16 God is pleased out of the exceeding Riches of his free Grace to go on with his workmanship gradually until he have made them compleat in Christ Col. 2.10 whom he hath created in Christ Jesus And in order thereunto there are divers other works of God which he doth by his holy Spirit and Word in and upon the Souls of those Converts in respect whereof they are his workmanship And the first is the work of Faith with Power 2 Thes 1.11 called the Faith of the Operation of God Col. 2.12 wherein God demonstrates what is the exceeding greatness of his Power toward us who believe according to the working of his mighty Power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Eph. 1.19 20. And this God doth in raising Souls from the death of sin to the life of Righteousness by Jesus Christ Eph. 2.5 6. This Faith Jesus Christ is the Author of and will be the finisher of it Heb. 12.2 and therefore called the Faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 by which Faith the Soul in its Conversion is united unto Christ and kept through it by the Power of God unto salvation Compare Eph. 4.13 with 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. it 's called the precious Faith of God's Elect 3 Pet. 1.1 even the same Spirit of Faith that Abraham had and that all the Sons and Daughters of Ahraham have and do receive 2 Cor. 4.13 This Faith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 This Faith God worketh in us ordinarily by his holy Spirit and Word in the Ministry and administrations of the Gospel of his Grace Rom. 10.8 That is the Word of Faith which we preach And verse 17. So then Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God By which Faith we receive Jesus Christ our Lord John 1.12 Adhere and cleave to him with purpose of heart never to forsake him or deny him Act. 11.23 but to own him for our Head Lord and Lawgiver our King Priest and Prophet And trust and rest upon him alone and on him only for Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Isa 26.3 with Isa 50.10 And by this precious Faith Believers are justified Rom. 3.28 adopted Gal. 3.26 and sanctified Act. 26.18 through our Lord Jesus Christ But the converted Believer is not yet fully assured that Christ will save
Heb. 8.2 called The Church of the Living God 1 Tim. 3.15 The LORD Jesus Christ in order unto the building up his House the Church of God did ordain a Gospel-Ministry Eph. 4.11 12 13. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers c. And set them in his Church 1 Cor. 12.28 And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers c. The Apostles as wise Master-builders did prepare fit Materials for to build the House of God and to that purpose they having received Commission and Command from the LORD Jesus Christ Mark 16.15 went out into the WORLD and Preached the Gospel beginning at Jerusalem And when they had made and baptized many Disciples they planted those Churches that we read of in the holy Scriptures which were built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner Stone in whom all the building fitly framed together was builded together an Habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2 19-22 The Church at Jerusalem was the first of all those Gospel-Churches Act. 2.47 And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Which Church was at its first Constitution a particular Congregation of sanctified Believers baptized with Water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit Matth. 28.19 and separated from the Synagogues of the unbelieving Jews to worship God in Spirit and in Truth Joh. 4.21 23 24. according to the sacred Institutions of Christ and his Apostles even the Ordinances of God delivered unto his Churches of Saints 1 Cor. 11.1 2. And although the number of the Disciples were multiplied from one hundred and twenty Act. 1.15 to three thousand Act. 2.41 yea to five thousand Act. 4 4. Act. 5.14 And Believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and women So that the Apostles had their own distinct Companies Societies or Congregations in Jerusalem Act. 4.13 19 23. And Peter and John being let go they went to their own Company Yet they all being of one heart and of one soul were but one Church and are so denominated Act. 15.4 And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the Church c. Act. 15.22 The whole Church And so were all the particular Congregations in every City denominated and called viz. The Church of God at Corinth 1 Cor. 1.2 And so our Lord and Saviour denominated all the Churches of God in Asia by the particular Cities wherein they were first planted and assembled to worship God Rev. 2.1 8 12 18. Rev. 3.1 7 14. Read those verses I intreat the Reader to consider 1. That our Lord Jesus Christ in building up his own House the Church of God ordained and appointed a preceding Ministry to be workers together with him in building his House Heb. 3.4 1 Cor. 3.9 10 11. We are labourers together with God Ye are God's Building c. 2. That the Churches of God under the Gospel are not National but Political and Congregational 3. That a particular visible true Constituted Gospel Church of God doth consist of fit Matter and due Form Jesus Christ the Chief Corner Stone is a lively Stone and the Materials of the Church ought to be living Stones Mat. 3.16 1 Pet. 2.4 5. Sanctified Believers 1 Cor. 1.2 6. And Christ himself was Baptized with Water Act. 10.44 47 48. and with the holy Spirit every one in his Visible Churches of Saints ought to be Baptized with Water and with the holy Spirit (a) Joh. 5. v. 5. 2. Those sanctified Believers ought to he fitly framed together and orderly compacted joyned and built together an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.19 20 21 22. chap. 4.15 16. which is the Form of the House of God the Church of the Living God 1 Tim. 3. v. 15. God commanded his Prophet Ezekiel chap. 43. v. 10 11. saying Thou Son of Man shew the House to the House of Israel (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in conjugatione hiph Annunciavit exposuit narravit indicavit And let them measure the Pattern Shew them the Form of the House And write it in their sight A wise Master-builder will take care to prepare fit Materials in every respect answerable and suitable unto the House he is about to build and so ought the Ministers of Christ who are Co-workers with God in building his House which is his Church to take heed both what and how they build 1 Cor. 3 9-14 Every mans work shall be made manifest for the Day shall declare it And the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is c. Young Converts new-born-Babes in Christ may be added to the Church of God Act. 2.41 47. But they are not fit Materials to be laid next unto the Corner Stone of that Spiritual building I say again they are not fit for the Foundation-work of God's building nor are they fit for Pillars in the House of God Consider what St. Paul that wise Master-builder saith of such young Converts 1 Cor. 3.1 2 3. Heb. 5.12 13. Read the words These and such as these are not fit Matter for the Foundation nor for Pillars nor for Beams in the House of God at the first Beginning Planting and Building or Gathering of a Church of God But rather Fathers that is grave gracious holy wise and experienced Believers Also some young Men that is such Christians that are strong in Faith and have in some measure overcome the World the Devil and their own Corruptions who are full of the holy Spirit rich in Grace and zealous for the House of God and the Purity of his Worship I say a competent number of such Christians being sound in the Faith holy in their Life and fitly qualified with diversity of spiritual gifts knowledge and grace are in my Opinion most meet to be by their own mutual free consent and agreement joyned tegether to become a particular Church of Saints by the help of some wise Master-builders and faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3 9-11 The Gospel-Form of a particular Church of God consists as we said in the fitly framing compacting and joyning those sanctified Believers together into ONE Fellowship Society and Gospel Brotherhood in a solemn Day of Prayer with Fasting wherein some Able Minister of the Gospel having by Preaching the Word unto them shewed them their Respective Duties in a Church Relation the Elders and Chief Brethren of some particular Churches of Saints being present and assisting in the work of the Day if they may be obtained may in the Name and Authority of the LORD Jesus Christ by virtue of this Commission given to him constitute and make them a particular Visible Church of God they giving up themselves professedly first to the LORD and then one to another mutually and
22. that is to hearken attend and observe what the Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit saith utno the Churches not to this or that particular Church only Rev. 2.1 7. nor to these seven Churches exclusively but unto all the Churches of Saints in all other Countries Cities and Places in all the future Ages of the World Dr. Scultetus saith (a) Scult observat in Titum Doctissimi quique interpretes per septem Ecclesiarum Angelos interpretantur septem Ecclesiarum Episcopos neque enim aliter possunt vim nisi facere Textui velint All the most Learned Interpreters by Angels expound the Bishops of the Churches nor can it be otherwise interpreted without Violence to the Text. As punctually and pertinently speaks Marlorat (b) Marlorat in Apoc 1.12 Quamvis quaedam tam in Clero quà m in Populo corrigenda essent non tamen Populum sed Clerum aggreditur nec quemlibet de Clero nominatim Principem Cleri utique Episcopum Some things saith he were to be corrected as well in the People as in the Clergy yet doth not Saint John write unto the People nor yet to the Clergy but to the Chief of them which is the Bishop Dr. Reynolds in his Conference with Hart. cap. 2. divisio 3. saith Although in the Church of Ephesus there were sundry Elders and Pastors to guide it yet among these sundry Pastors was there one Chief whom our Saviour calleth the Angel of that Church Apoc. 2.1 And the said Doctor telling us of that very Time when St. Paul assembled the Elders of Ephesus at Miletum Act. 20. 17 28. chap. 8. distinct 3. saith One was chosen as Chief called Bishop § 9. Smectym c. assert that the word Angel Rev. 2.1 c. doth signifie only the Presbytery or the Colledge of Elders Pastors and not the Church (a) Smectym Vindication pag. 146 148. And they draw argument from the Epistle of Christ to the Church in Thyatira Rev. 2.18.20 24. Upon which place Beza thus paraphrased Unto you that is saith he unto the Angel as President and unto the rest of the Elders viz. the Colledge of Presbyters in Thyatira And as many as have not this Doctrine that is have not received this Doctrine of Jezebel But why would Christ have the Angel or Chief Bishop of the Church of Thyatira blamed for suffering false Teachers in that Church to Teach and Seduce his Servants if he was not their President or Superintendent who had Priority Preeminency and Authority above other Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders called Bishops in that Church (b) Beza in Apoc. 2.1 Angelus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quem oportet admoneri per eum Collegas totamque adeo Ecclesiam Gualther Hom. 9. in Apoc. 2.8 Angelo id est Episcopo Smyrnensi atque toti Ecclesiae constat ex Historiis Polycarpum fuisse hunc Angelum Consult Beza Gualter especially Ignatius that holy Martyr who is said to live in the daies of the Apostles who writ an Epistle to the Ephesians wherein he hath plainly and fully distinguished between Bishops and Presbyters and towards the end of that Epistle he doth exhort them to obey both the Bishop and the Presbytery with an undivided mind (b) IgnaEpist ad Ephes p. 17-29 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 § 10. Polycarpus was Bishop of Smyrna when St. John wrote that Epistle Revel 2.8 Unto the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnians saith Irenaeus And who can better inform us than they that lived in the daies of the Apostles Polycarpus saith Irenaeus (c) Iren. advers Haeres l. 3. c. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. was not only taught by the Apostles and conversed with many that had seen Christ but also was by the Apostles Constituted in Asia Bishop of the Church which is in Smyrna Whom we our selves also did see in our younger Age for he continued long And being very aged he most gloriously and nobly suffering Martyrdom departed this Life To this let me add the Testimony which those Brethren of the Church of Smyrna who were present at the Martyrdom of their Bishop Polycarpus gave him (d) Smyrnens Eccles epist de Martyrio Policarpi Euseb lib. 4. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Euseb l. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Eusebius l. 4. Hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. He was said his Brethren the most admirable Man in our Times an Apostolical and Prophetical Doctor and Bishop of the whole Church in Smyrna Famous and certain is the Testimony of Hegesippus in his History of the Church as Eusebius noteth to the same purpose The next and last I shall cite is the Testimony of Clement whom St. Paul mentioneth among other his fellow Labourours Phil. 4.3 § 11. Clement is said by the Antients to have written an Epistle to the Church and Saints at Corinth which Epistle hath the Attestation of Irenaeus who calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a most substantial Epistle to the Corinthians and of Photius that stiles it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an eloquent or a worthy spoken Epistle It is also highly commended by Origin Cyril Justin Martyr St. Jerom and other godly and learned men Which Epistle Mr. Patrick Young saith is extant in the King's Library at Oxford His words in that his Epistle are these (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Clem. Epist ad Corinth pag. 57. D. Patrieii Junii Our Apostles knew saith he by our Lord Jesus Christ that there will be Contention about the Name of Episcopacy And therefore for this very same cause having received perfect knowledge thy appointed the foresaid Degrees and gave thereupon a Designed Order and List of Offices c. And it would be no small sin in us saith he if we should refuse or reject them who have sacredly and without Reproof undergone the Offices of Episcopacy c. The Magd. Cent. 1 2 3. do make mention of such Bishops in the Churches of God And all Ecclesiastical Historians that I have Read do testify the Priority and Pre-eminence of Bishops § 12. I would not be misunderstood therefore I will take liberty to tell the Reader That this Priority Presidence and Pre-eminence of any one Bishop above other Bishops Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders and Ministers of Christ is not any Lordly Prelacy with coercive Power over the Conscience or Dominion over the Faith of God's Clergy For the holy Apostles did approve themselves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.1 2. not having Dominion over their Faith 2 Cor. 1.24 Neither as being Lords over God's Clergy or Heritage 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. But I mean and intend any one of the Bishops Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders who are or shall by the Consent Approbation and Choice of the rest be appointed ordained and set over them as Chief Bishop or Presbyter
Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Which Apostasie happened in the fourth Century as Ecclesiastical Historians tell us when the Church at Rome and other Churches their Bishops Presbyters and Members departed from the Faith and fell away from the sound Doctrine pure Worship and true Discipline of the Gospel And then the Apocalyptical Beast the Pope and the great Whore Mystery Babylon the Great that Mother of Harlots and the false Prophets those Roman croaking Frogs did begin to Rise who afterwards greatly increased in the ten European Kingdoms See my Book intituled Mystery-Babylon unvailed Printed 1679. But the last and greatest Apostasie noted in the holy Scripture of Truth is both in Faith and Manners by Men of corrupt Minds and carnal Principles having the Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. This know also that in the last daies perillous times shall come For men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to Parents unthankful unholy without natura laffection Truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good Traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away The particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 1. This likewise or besides directs us to look back to the former Epistle ch 4. v. 1 2 3. before-mentioned to wit the Time of the first Apostasie In the latter daies v. 1. But here the Apostle speaks of the Time of the Last Apostasie v. 1. That in the last daies c. The great Inquiry now will be What Daies the Apostle meant here I answer My Opinion hereof is That by the Last Daies here we are to understand those three Prophetical Daies and an half of the 1260 Daies that Christ's two Witnesses shall prophesie in sackcloth Rev. 11.3 7-12 And I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth And when they shall have finished their Testimony the Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit shall make War against them and shall overcome them and kill them And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three daies and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves And they that dwell upon the Earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth And after three daies and an half the Spirit of Life from God entred into them And they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them which saw them Read my Exposition of the Eleventh chapter of the Revelation published 1679. These Daies of slaying the Witnesses are those last Daies and will be perillous Times For 1. The Roman Beast will make war against the Witnesses and overcome them and kill them Rev. 11.7 2. They will be perillous hard difficult dangerous grievous and troublesome Times or Daies because the Rights Liberties and Freedoms of the People will be infringed and taken from them and such temptations and snares will be laid whereby mens Liberties Lives and Estates shall be in great hazard and danger Mat. 24.21 Luk. 21.22 26 27. 3. These last Daies will be so full of amazing Distractions Disturbances and Tribulations that wise men shall be at their Wits end not knowing what to do nor what course to take for their own safety And many eminent Professors of Religion will fall off from their former Principles and Practice and be drawn aside to follow the pernicious waies of ungodly men and so fall in with the sins of those last Daies here mentioned 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lovers of their own selves Self-love is the Root of Apostasie both Political and Ecclesiastical When men of Name began to love themselves more than their most solemn Oaths Vows and Covenants more than Truth and Righteousness more than the good Laws of the Nation and the just Liberties and Rights of the People then began the last and greatest Political Apostasie And when men of Eminency for Religion began to love themselves more than the Waies and Worship of God more than the Churches and Saints of God more than Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God then began the Ecclesiastical Apostasie of those last Daies This is one Sign that Christ gave his Disciples of the Ending Time of this world Matth. 24.3 4 12. And as he sate upon the Mount of Olives the Disciples came unto him privately saying Tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world And Jesus answered and said unto them Take heed that no man deceive you And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Covetous Danaeus in Loc. saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hic à Paulo dicitur qui sive aurum sive argentum sive agros sive quaslibet alias opes ardenter expetit vitiose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often rendred studium pecuniae the desire of money And the love of money saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.10 is the root of all evil which whilst some have coveted after they have erred from the faith c. How much of the spirit of the world and of the things of this world is crept into the hearts of many Professors and Church-Members in these last Daies who consider not the Testimony of the Apostle against them 1 Joh. 2.15 If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him Covetousness is Idolatry Col. 3.5 Another Character of those Apostates of the last Daies is Pride 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proud so are those covetous self-loving Professors and Church-Members in these evil Daies witness the Perriwigs and Petticoats of London Professors and Sermon hearers in this City Doth not even Nature it self teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him 1 Cor. 11.14 Yea it is a shame indeed for men professing Godliness to wear such long Perriwigs of Womens hair as some men do What an abomination is it unto the Lord to see an hoary Head covered with long hair that hath been cut off from a Whores Head when he is praying to God and worshipping the All-seeing God Heb. 4.13 All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do And doth
fashioned like unto Christ's glorious Body The Saints raised Bodies will be perfect no defect no deformity but spiritual and glorious 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. So is the Resurrection of the Dead It is sown a natural Body it is raised a spiritual Body It is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory After the Saints deceased are raised and have lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years shall be the general Resurrection Rev. 20.12 13. And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God The last particular in our general Position to be explained is the Eternal Judgment So it is called Heb. 6.2 There are several dayes of Judgment as that of the Old World and that of Sodom and Gomorrah c. but the Eternal Judgment is that last Sentence which our LORD Jesus Christ shall pronounce upon and unto the Righteous and the Wicked Matth. 25.34 and 41. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world And vers 41. Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels And ver 46. These shall go away into everlasting punishment but the Righteous into eternal Life which is the Execution of God's Eternal Judgment CHAP. II. OUR general Position being proved and explained it ought to be improved and fitly applied to the Inhabitants of this World and more especially unto the Men and Women of this Generation whether they be unconverted Sinners or sanctified Believers The unconverted Sinners of this World and of this Generation are either Sinners in Zion Isa 33.14 that is to say sinful Professors who seem to be Religious whose Religion will prove in vain Jam. 1.26 and who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof 2 Tim. 3 1-5 Those are foolish Virgins that having gotten their Lamps lighted wait a while for the Coming of the Bridegroom but while the Bridegroom tarries they slumber and sleep till their Lamp-light go out Matth. 25 1-13 See my Exposition on that Parable Printed Anno 1674 Or else those that that are sinfully prophane which make no Profession of Godliness called ungodly Sinners Jude v. 15. unrighteous 1 Cor. 6.9 and wicked persons Psal 9.17 O ye unconverted Professors Consider I beseech you there is a world to come and Christ will come and then every one shall give account of himself to God Rom. 14.10 11. What account will you give to God for your formality lukewarmness hypocrisie and unprofitableness under the Means of Grace you sinful Professors that have refused the offer of Christ and despised the goodness of God which should lead you to Repentance you that have sinned against Gospel-light and knowledge quenched the Spirit resisted the Spirit and grieved the holy Spirit it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Zidon than for you in the Day of Judgment except you repent and believe in Christ And you unconverted ungodly wicked sinners what account will you give to Christ in the World to come for all your unrighteousness and all the wickedness that you have done and still do in this World Read Jude verse 15. It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for you Jude verse 7. which Cities are set forth for an Example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire O ye unconverted Sinners both Professors and Prophane will you now accept of and receive a word in season of spiritual Counsel then I will instruct you how you that are miserable may become happy and you that are in a damnable state may get into the state of salvation before Christ come from Heaven to judge the quick and the dead and before you dye That you may obtain eternal Life and Glory my counsel to you is as followeth 1. Consider you are dead in sins and trespasses and you are without Christ Ephes 2.1.5 12. you have no saving sanctifying Grace you are not holy and if you dye in this your sinful state and condition you will be damned to eternity Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell 2. Consider your need of Jesus Christ There is not salvation in any other Act. 4.12 no Christ no Salvation He is that One thing necessary without him you can do nothing Joh. 15.5 to please God or to glorifie God Heb. 11.6 Without Faith in Christ it is impossible to please God Without being and abiding in Christ you cannot bring forth fruit nor do any thing whereby God is glorified Joh. 15 5-8 You stand in need of Christ to justifie you to sanctifie you and to save you from Sin and from Hell 3. Consider God offers Jesus Christ to poor lost miserable sinners Rev. 3.17 18. yea to the chief of sinners 1 Tim. 1 12-15 upon Gospel-terms of Free Grace Isa 55 1-7 without exception of person and without respect of price Revel 22.17 The Spirit and the Bride saith come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely that is to say Any one every one that is willing may come to Christ and receive Christ and have Christ freely for HE is the free Gift of God to Sinners who are without Christ in the World Joh. 3.16 Be but willing to take Christ and the work is done Christ complained of them that would not come to him that they might have life Joh. 5.39 40. When you have seriously considered those three particulars then I counsel you poor lost perishing Sinners first suffer the LORD Jesus Christ to come by his Spirit and Word into your hearts and set up the Kingdom of his Grace in your souls that where Sin hath abounded Grace may much more abound and where Sin hath Reigned unto Death there Grace might Reign through Righteousness unto eternal Life by Jesus Christ our LORD Rom. 5.20 21. Do not resist the Holy Spirit as they did Zech. 7.7 8 9 11 12 13. and their Children after them Act. 7.51 Secondly Open your hearts to Christ when he knocks at the Door of your Souls and calls you to come to him to receive him and let him come into your hearts and dwell in your hearts by his holy Spirit and sanctifying Grace Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any man hear my voice and will open the Door 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me If the Sinner be willing to open the door of his heart Christ will come in by his holy Spirit and HE will communicate of his Grace to his Soul Thirdly Let the LORD Jesus Christ have the Throne and be exalted above ALL in your Souls Isa 2.17 And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that Day Let your own Imaginations be cast down and every high thing that exalteth it Self against the knowledge of God that every Thought may be brought into Captivity to the Obedience of Christ Be
the Spirit Joel 2.28 And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesie your old men shall dream dreams your young men shall see visions And God will graciously prevent the Prayers of his Saints Isa 65.17 24. It shall come to pass that before they call I will answer and whilst they are yet speaking I will hear All the Sons Daughters of God will then be of one Heart and of one Mind Jer. 32.39 40. Then all sanctified Believers will come in the Unity of the Spirit to a perfect Man Eph. 4.13 And in that Day there shall be ONE LORD and his Name One in all the Earth Zech. 14.9 Zeph. 3.9 And They shall serve the LORD with one consent And then Honour Dignity and Renown shall be given to the Church of God to Religion to Religious persons and to all holy things Zech. 9.16 The Church shall then be as the Stones of a Crown lifted up Those Living Stones in that spiritual Building will then be a Crown of Glory a Royal Diadem in the hand of the LORD Isa 62.1 2.3 28.5 2. In particular 1. To the seed of Abraham the Jews They shall be called gathered united into one Nation and the Davidical Kingdom of Jesus Christ shall be given to them Micah 4.8 which they shall take and possess for ever and ever Dan. 7.14.18 27 28. They shall be all holy Isa 60. and so all Israel shall be saved Rom. 11.26 27. 2. To the Off-spring of Japhet the Gentiles whom God shall persuade to dwell in the Tents of Shem Even all the Nations of them that are saved who shall then walk in the Light of the New Jerusalem Rev. 21.24 and shall also enjoy the spiritual Glory and Blessings of the WORLD to come whereof we speak A word of Counsel to Virgin Professors in this Generation 1. Take heed you do not fall asleep whilst the Bridegroom tarryeth or rather only seems to delay his coming as they did Matth. 25.5 6. They all slumbred and slept until a midnight Dispensation a Cry did awaken them out of their carnal security when being at ease in Zion they became formal luke-warm and worldly minding earthly things more than heavenly and seeking their own things more than the things of Christ 2. Prepare your selves for that time of Tribulation which shall come before Christ come Matth. 24.21 29 30. It 's call'd an hour of Temptation which shall come upon all the World to try them that dwell upon the Earth Rev. 3. It will come upon the Jews Dan. 12.1 2 3. and upon the Gentiles Rev. 11.7 but more especially upon the Inhabiters of the Earth Rev. 8.13 12.12 Rev. 19.19 20. viz. upon the Beast and the false Prophet and upon the Kings of the Earth and their Armies Prepare for that midnight Dispensation of Darkness Distress and Temptation which is coming upon Nations Cities and Churches to try them 3. Consider what manner of persons you ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness that look and wait for the Glory of Christ his Church and Saints in the world to come 2 Pet. 3.11 13 14. Lastly A word of Instruction to the King the Nobles the Judges and all the Magistrates in this Island and in this City The Kingly Prophet David gave the Instruction I intend Psal 2. wherein by the Spirit of Prophecy he foretold 1. That the Kings of the Earth will set themselves and the Rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against his Anointed vers 2 3. 2. That God speaks to them in his wrath and vexes them in his hot displeasure vers 5. 3. That the LORD Jesus Christ will break them with a Rod of Iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel 4. That God will set his King namely King Jesus opon his holy Hill of Zion vers 6 7. 5. That God will give the LORD Jesus Christ the Heathen for his Inheritance and the utmost part of the Earth for his Possession and his Dominion shall be from Sea to Sea even unto the Ends of the Earth vers 8. And then the holy Prophet exhorts those Kings and Judges to be wise and to be instructed vers 10 11 12. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish This phrase of kissing the Son implies 1. A Declaration or Testimony of Love and Peace between Christ and them Cant. 1.2 Christ who is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 is the Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 and it concerns all Kings to be at Peace with Jesus Christ And the LORD Jesus Christ is the Judge of the quick and dead and he sits among the Judges called Gods of the Earth and they also must stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ therefore it concerns all Judges to kiss the Son that is to make their Peace with Christ 2. To kiss the Son implies to worship Jesus Christ And if God commanded the holy Angels to worship him Heb. 1.6 then Kings and Judges are not exempted from worshiping Jesus Christ Phil. 2.9 11. Every knee shall bow to him and confess that he is LORD Because God hath exalted Christ above all and given him a name above every name c. Eph. 1.20 21. and set him far above all Principalities and Powers in this World c. 3. By kissing the Son is intended the submitting to his Dominion and Government Isa 9.6 7. God the Father hath laid the Government of Saints upon Christ for he is King of Saints Rev. 15.3 and the Government of Zion his Church upon Christ for he is King of Zion Psal 149.1 2. and the Government of the Nations upon Christ for he is King of Nations Jer. 10.7 10. By him Kings Reign and Princes decree Judgment He puts down one and sets up another Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Judge of Judges therefore be wise O Kings and be instructed ye Judges of the Land Now I will conclude with a word of Exhortation to the Magistrates and Inhabitants of this City Consider God hath visited this City with the Pestilence and with a Fire and yet the Inhabitants thereof have not returned to the LORD Now God threatens a Famine of Bread if He shut up Heaven that it Rain not and a Famine of the Word if He suffer the Papists to prevail O Repent and Amend Administer Justice and Righteousness Plead the Cause of the Widow and Fatherless Relieve the Oppressed and Acquit the Innocent Let the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation teach you Citizens of London to deny all ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present evil world that in the world to come you may have Life everlasting Amen FINIS