Iames James 1.5 6. how then are they who pray most the greatest fools both Papists and Protestants then is not the wisest man as a wave of the Sea when the Sea is over the whole earth Isa 4.11 and the best are in the waters Truly we are all sick let us send then to the Elders of the Church and see if they have the prayer of faith to heal us or heal themselves from the stroke of their wound Isa 30.26 Jer. 30.17 Who among all the gathered Churches can hold forth a Gospel-faith to the scattered Saints who of all their Gospel-Ministers can go forth freely to the world Col. 24.15 1 Pet. 1.12 where is the Power from on high or holy Spirit sent downe from heaven for that work Yea where 's the Spirit of Faith in any of their Believers Gospel-believers were all of one heart and one soul because but one body Act. 2.44 Act. 4.32 c. ours are all divided believers then had all things common c. our Churches and Christians are all for self-interests and to seek their own This is not love as I shall shew anon nor faith indeed which works by love All have not faith saith the Apostle in those Gospel-times no man has a Gospel-faith in these times of the Apostacy and being of the Saints in Babylons captivity Yet this is the confusion that hath ever followed the Churches to this day to take up the Apostles words and writings and to apply that to our selves which was possible to those times and proper only to primitive Saints and Churches where that power was which is now wanting to all the world Thus the Baptists now take up the Apostles call and commission which was never given them by Christ much less by the Spirit afterward Again like the Angel of darkness or Devil cutting off part of Gods word they still tell their Proselytes Mat. 3.6 Mat. 28.19 Go teach and Baptize c. whereas 't is written Go Teach all Nations and Baptize c. Thirdly 't was not directed to the Disciples but to the Apostles upon this ground and the Eleven are mentioned by Matthew and Mark Mat. 28.16 Mark 16.14 for every Disciple had not that power from on high to Teach all Nations Fourthly Who can shew unto us that he is sent of God to Baptize seeing none baptized but either the Apostles or such who had a manifestation of the Spirit to confirm their call Act. 8.6 Act. 9.17 as Philip and Ananias Lastly 'T were well if they would not onely chuse their members by a confession of faith but catechise them and themselves first in the doctrine of Faith For the mystery of Faith was more then men imagine and it may be more then Paul wrote to the Romans and Churches of Galatia Rom 4.2 for both it seems had gone so far back to the Law to begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh that the Apostle goes no farther then a Legal Faith Gal. 3.3 for Faith as justifying was no more and Faith on the promise was no higher then their Faith under the Law as is proved in the dispute hereafter Gospel-Faith was wholly exercised in our union with God in Christ and Christ in us which Paul rather points at in himself then teacheth the Church unless what he hints to some spiritual Saints therein Gal. 2.20 who had the anointing in them teaching them all things that they needed not any man should teach them 1 John 2.27 Therefore as Christ never heard any man preach so neither did the Apostles hear one anothers preachings or sit at a Sermon as our Gospel-preachers do This I onely speak by the way at present and another thing that the Apostles never preach'd a common place of the nature of Faith or repentance to bring people to repeat and believe but so preached Christ to all that they might believe and repent Gospel-Faith properly was this in knowing our followship with the Father and the Son in the Spirit to know our union with God in Christ and Christ so in us that we are in one with the Father as He in the same love and life in God with him John 14.19 Iohn 17.1 20 21 22 23. now the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ was not manifest to any under the Law nor to Abraham himself who though he saw the day of Christ yet 't was a far off Joh. 8.56 Heb. 11.13 for so the Fathers saluted the promises whose Faith was on the promise or power of God in performing the same and so it s justified Rom. 4.14 to 21. but the justifying faith of Christians was on Christ dying and raised up verse 24.25 though Abraham in a typical mystery believed on Christ dead and raised in his son sacrificed and slain in purpose verse 17. and raised in a figure Heb. 11.19 But as Christ was a mystery so his death and resurrection was a mystery also that none but the Apostles could manifest it by the Spirit which being not given to any one living the Faith which comes by hearing is no higher then theirs under the Law to justify and to save yea we know by experience the best Preachers when they would raise men to believe pitch them on the promise not on that power from on high or promise of the Father which they that believed on Christ did receive and by which the first Preachers of the Gospel brought men to believe But take faith in the lowest acceptance for justifying Faith was but of a legal temper which the Church of Rome beginning to fall from the Apostle is faine to set before them the faith of Abraham and David c to whom the mystery of Christ and of the Gospel being not yet manifested by the Spirit Rom. 3.13 Rom. 4.3 6. as to the Apostles and primitive Saints that Faith of theirs was but suitable to a legal estate I say take Faith in the lowest acceptance as justifying before God and men as working by love where is it when there is no love among you neither to other Churches or Saints differing from you nor to your own Churces who differ in doctrine as I said before much less love to all Saints The Sword doubled Col. 1.4 Tit. 9.3 2.4 to those scattered ones who cannot come to any of your Church-wayes as for love to all men 't is a thing you look not after though this be a higher degree of love then brotherly kindness or love to the brethren 1 Thes 3.12 2 Pet. 1.7 compared But alas the brotherhood is broken Zach. 11.6 9 14. vers there is not love to the brethren among you not onely love unfeigned but love out of a pure heart fervently is not to be found for the love of the best is but cold God knows not that fervent unfeigned that is without Hypocrisie 1 Pet. 1. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh how far are believers from that love the Apostle
mentions in fifteen several signes thereof 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7 Love suffers long and is kind love envyeth not again love seeketh not her own thinketh no evil is not easily provoked c. wheres's this in our passions pride self-seeking evil speakings ' envy strife together Again Love is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly what unseemly silly frothy fellows are many Church-members and Ministers also who know not how to behave themselves before their betters Again Love beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Pray tell me if you have parts and patience what difference between bearing all things and induring all things Love alone can resolve the question But where 's Faith or Love for both are one Faith works by Love and love believeth also believeth all things therefore there being no love there is no believer among you By this shall all men know that you are my Disciples if ye love one another John 13.35 all the world sees now there is no love in the Churches how can they then be the Disciples of Christ who are thus divided and dash one against another not onely brother against brother but Church against Church Churches of Saints Good-Lord saith the world what shall we do whither shall we go when Churches go this way and that way one against another Ah poor Wales many Pastors have destroyed thee and distract thee how many have I heard crying out Jer. 1â— 10 where to finde their Religion their old Priests and Common-Prayer are gone and new Pastors and Preachers are come in who cannot agree together Oh that God would send men of one mind to minister a word to Wales were it but to speak love or to shew the Lord Christ that 's love in practice in pureness in power and peace 1 John 4.7 8. to the end Indeed brethren there is much love among your Church-members in word and in tongue calling one another Brother and Sister but where's Lots love to call Sodomites and Sinners Gen. 19.7 Ah my brethren do not so wickedly but when ye shall remember your wayes and be ashamed then you shall receive your Sisters your Elder and Younger for God gives them unto you for Daughters but not by your Covenant Ezek. 16.61 Sodons and Samaria are the Churches sisters verse 46. Samaria is the false Church-state therefore the Jewes hated the Samaritans who yet walked in Ordinances and waited for the Messiah as well as they John 4.20 45. Sodom was no Church at all but Sinners like Heathens yet the Church of the Jewes is called in her Ministers and Members Princes of Sodom and People of Gomorrha though abounding in Ordinances Isa 1.10 to 16. verse Yea I shall prove with God hereafter that all those sins of Sodom spoken of Ezek. 16.49 are in the present Churches who are worse then Samaria verse 51. Papists Prelates and Presbyters have not committed halfe of your sins yea the Independant Churches have much more love then you But when the Baptized Churches shall bear their shame and be confounded in all that they have done verse 54. though your Sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride before your wickedness or false worship was discovered c. verse 46 57. yet when God remembreth his covenant with you Rev. 10 7. Rev. 14.6 compare manifesting his grace to you and his love to the world with you for so the everlasting Gospel will when the mystery of God is finished and fully known then you shall remember your wayes and receive Sodom and Samaria as Sisters yea they shall be unto you as Daughters verse 61. For your love shall be so dear unto them Mat. 28.20 Observing all things whatsoever I command you The Baptisme of the Spirit was the first Gospel-command of Christ before water-baptisme in a Gospel-way Act. 1.4 Act. 2.38 For John's baptisme before was but a legal Ordinance not onely love one to another but toward all men thus 't was in Gospel-Churches this will be again and more also but not by thy covenant saith God not by your Church-covenant never known in Gospel-Churches by your Covenant none are called Brethren save those of your owne Church not visible Saints much less sinners Truely this want of love to all men shewes you have no true love among your selves no love unfeigned out of a pure heart fervently one to another You speak much of the command of Christ for baptisme but let me ask you one question why do yee not obey all the commands of Christ in his Apostles yea what he commanded himself Paul and Peter laid this command on the Churches of Christ Greet yee one another with a holy Kiss 2 Cor. 13.12 greet ye one another with a kiss of love 1 Pet. 5.14 The Papists have a Pax to represent this for all must kiss the Pax when they come to Mass in remembrance of this kiss of love but ye brethren have not so much as a shew of this less love among the Brethren then among Popish Churches how can you dispense with his Apostolique command of Christ how can ye omit this kiss of love will ye say of this as ye do of the gifts of the Spirit that 't was extraordinary onely for those Apostolique Churches this indeed is the Popish distinction which Protestants have learnt from them but we have prov'd before that those spiritual gifts were commanded to be followed because for the edifying of the Church 1 Cor. 14.26 If those gifts were extraordinary are Gospel-graces so for that faith you cannot shew nor their love we cannot see not a shew of it for where 's the kiss of love so oft commanded 't was not a Courtly ceremony nor a wanton kiss but a holy kiss the kiss of love 't was when spiritual Saints at the sight of each other especially coming together as one body to break bread as the body of Christ saluted one another with a kist with a hearty kiss they hug'd each other they embraced and kiss when they met as if their souls would move forth and meet together at the lips for as they were all of one heart and one soul so their soul saluted at each others lips Act. 4.32 that was their fervent love But again where are your feasts of love that were once in the Churches of Christ love is a stranger to you you know it not nor the feasts of love what they were 1 Cor. 5.8 Jude 12. compare wherein they did not coenare coenam sed disciplinam as Tertullian tells you This shewes the falling away is come upon you and that Apostacy foretold by the Apostles is come upon you in perfection having no gift of the Spirit nor yet the grace of Faith which because 't is a secret thing and hidden in the heart you cannot so easily be convinced of but love is a visible glory that may be seen of men yea faith also for shew me
thy faith by thy works and as faith works by love James 2.8 so the labour of love cannot possible be hid but 't will appear to all but in you it doth not therefore the first appearance of the Apostacie or falling away of the Churches was in leaving their first love Rev. 2.4 for as the seven Churches of Asia were types of the Apostolique Churches enclining to an Apostacy so Ephesus the first is charged with this Rev. 3.26 that she was fallen from her first love as Laodicea the last being the Type of these last Churches is commended for nothing but condemned altogether for want of zeal or fervent love though the Baptisme of the Spirit and of fire was that especially wanting in that Church and in all this day who are not hot nor have any Spiritual gift at all yea nor any grace of the Gospel as I shewed before For this cause Christ fore-told that at his comming Because iniquity should abound Matth. 24.12 the love of many would wax cold Noting first that iniquity would abound in the Churches as to be carnal covetous unclean proud and peevish without faith or love Secondly men looking upon Churches in this condition would have but cold love unto them whose love is so cold one to another But thirdly here 's the height of love the love of such who are saved from the Apostacy to love those in whom iniquity abounds to love the Churches though iniquity abounds among them 1 Cor. 13.7 for love believes all things and hopes all things believes the best of all and hopes they will be better But yet there is one mark of love I have not mentioned that 's Christs love not in word and in tongue but in deed and in truth pray what 's that 'T is 1 John 3.16 Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our life for our brethren Here 's first a Mystery that men know not how God did lay down his life for the death of the man Christ all conceive but how that man was nothing but God manifest in flesh and how God shed his blood crucifying that flesh to himself is the Mystery of Christ and him crucified not known to the Churches but because God laid down his life for us we ought to lay down our life for the brethren Heer 's love to the brotherhood and mark it this love is commanded as well as baptisme we ought so to love the brethren as to dye for them Oh that my dear baptized brethren could once dye to their own life their living in the world according to Ordinances Col. 2.20 Ordinances that shall be proved with God not to be of a Gospel-appointment or power will you not die to these if it be proved unto you that having not the baptisme of the Spirit and of fire in your Church you have no power to baptize with water I mean in a Gospel way Secondly that there is no true Administrator sent of God to baptize Thirdly that Water-baptisme was not by dipping but by washing the Disciples feet called Believers going down to the waters up to the Ankles Oh that you could dye to your own life to flesh and blood to that reason and understanding of yours raised on the traditions of men Yea that ye could dye to your own credit content comforts truly 't will not be to your credit to disown and lay down your Principles and practice of dipping so long continued I know you have much content and comfort in your performances and gathered Churches while many scattered Saints are mourning over your Formes and their own flesh yea to the flesh of Christ being dead unto them Ioh. 16 7. as the Disciples did at the departure of Christ when that pure flesh of his must suffer withering and weakness and his flesh be taken from them they had sorrow of heart while the world did rejoyce that is Ioh. 16.20 Rev. 11.10 compare Heb. 9.1 while the Church of the Jewes which was but a worldly Sanctuary were rejoycing in their Ordinances in their Temple and Church-fellowship So many scattered Saints are weeping and full of sorrow in their bewildernessed state in the want of the solemn Assembly because it cannot be yea Zeph. 3.18 by the waters of Babylon they sit down and weep while you are dipping in them and while others are merry with singing of Psalmes your brethrens Harps are hanged upon the Willowes Psal 137.1 2. on fruitless trees because they cannot sing one of the songs of of Zion they being in a strange land not in the life of God alone but living still in Babylon in flesh and self in which they feel themselves imbondaged We your brethren are not alive but dead in Babylon as dry bones there we lye even your brethren And will ye not yet dye for us have ye not that love as to give your lives for your brethren Truly if you did live indeed you would give your lives but because you are dead you cannot do it The Church of Sardis had a name that she lived and was dead you have the name of a Church of Church in order of Gospel-ordinances but are they not all dead Forms are not your fellowships divided also This shews you are dead as the dry bones in Babylon because you are so divided as those two sticks so your best Societies are even Judah and Israel Independants and Baptized Churches For as I shewed before the Gospel-Churches were but one Body had but one Baptisme there was the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace but now not onely the staff beauty but the staff bands that 's the brother hood is broken between Judah and Israel Zach. 11.10 14. So now beloved whether you will dye or no for your brethren you are but the dead Body and yet you are the dead body of the Lord Ezek. 37.12 Isa 26.29 compare that 's your comfort and mine that you shall rise at last Onely know at present that you are but the dead Body so indeed the Church under the Law was under a Ministery of death and so the Gospel-Churches were Dead also 2 Cor. 3.7 Col. 3.3 for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God More life was manifest in the Gospel then under the Law their life being not in Ordinances as the legal Church but their life was in Christ 1 Cor. 13.9 12. verse and with Christ in God but because they knew God but in part saw but in a Glass darkly because their life was hidden from them therefore they were said to be dead still and so the Gospel-Churches were but the dead bodie then Yea their Gospel-Ordinances indeed were but to death they held forth nothing but the death of Christ Rom. 6.3 1 Cor. 11.26 as in baptisme they were baptized into his death in breaking of bread they shewed forth the Lords death and as the