but in the spirit likewise where this law is in power this is manifest first to God God being love drawes love from soules its true hee workes it first in them and then being possest with love they cannot but love We love God because he loved us first and this love being shed abroad in the heart by this spirit wee love him wee love him most we love him best he hath the heart the soul and it s married to him all other lovers being rejected in comparison of him 2. This spirit of love and grace produceth love to the Saints in whom the image of God holines and true righteousnes appears take this as an undoubted truth That where the love of God is shed abroad by the spirit there will be a sweet harmony in those soules a sweet agreement Love as brethren being al sonnes related to one Father al possest with one spirit which it a spirit of unity al heirs to one inheritance to one Crowne to one Kingdome al made partaker of the same divine nature which is love there is no one thing wherein the visibility of a Saint more appeares then in love for love is of God and every one who loveth is born of God and knoweth God hee that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love 1 Joh. 4. 7 8. and he that loveth not his brother neither knoweth nor loveth God 3. This spirit of love produceth love in Saints to al it makes those in whom it is like unto their Father who is good unto al and his tender mercy is over al his workes as much as in them lieth they doe good to al especially to those who are of the houshold of faith In a word this spirit takes away that selfish disposition of nature in seeking it self and causeth the soule in whom it is not to seeke alone its owne but others good it workes out that peevish perverse and envious disposition and fils the soul with the spirit of love and that not feigned in shew but in deed and in truth ready with a real minde at al times to doe good to any man to any creature that is capable of receiving good Thus my deare Friends as God is love so those who dwel in God dwel in love and it s from the flesh and not from the spirit that those divisions backbitings and reproachings flow who cal themselves by the name of Christians This I must tel you that where the soul is possest with love and grace from the Father it produceth love and grace sutable to such an injoyment for grace and love in God being shed abroad in us works grace and love in us love to God to Saints to al men and hee that hath not this grace this love in him how dwelleth the love of God in him Chap. XV. It s a Law of Edification 3. THis law in the spirit it s likewise a law of edification it answers that exhortation of the Apostle Let all things be done to edification It is this law of grace which seasons the soul with grace the words and communications with salt that it may minister grace to the hearers have salt in your selves and have peace one with another In a word it delivers soules from earthlinesse vanity and folly from carnal and unprofitable discourses and that word of Christ is made good in them John 7. 38. He that beleeveth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters And this hee spake of the spirit that he would give and this spirit that he would give and this spirit giveth several gifts worketh several operations but it s given to every one to profit withall How might this discover then first the fleshlinesse of those who pretend to be Christians and yet manifest nothing but flesh vanity and unprofitablenesse in their discourses and communicatitions full of earth and flesh but empty of heavenlinesse and spirit 2. This discovers the fleshlinesse of those pretending such Christianity yet delight in vanity I had almost said slight if not scorne any spiritual or heavenly communication which tends to edification and indeed this law of love and edification is much wanting And therfore my exhortation to al you who have tasted how gracious the Lord is to waite upon him for a more ful pouring forth of this spirit of peace love and edification that so you may declare your selves to be a people of peace and love that you may become a blessing a comfort each to other that the peace and love of God shining in you and through you may so conform you to it self and so gather you up into its owne nature that you may shine forth as a people possest indeed with love that is may be made knowne to al men that you are indeed the children of a heavenly Father not of this world being born from above not of mortal but of immortal seed which shal endure for ever so shal you be to the praise of the glory of his grace who hath called you to an immortall crowne an eternal kingdome and glory which never shall have an end FINIS Errata PAg. 9. lin 1. for in righteous reade inlightens p. 16. l. 15. for eyes r. dies
Father manifesting love grace to them in them 8. They living in this light seeing al conditions to be good through the appearance of the good God in it can now see and say thar it 's not the least part of their happinesse while they are here to live fully and compleatly in the will of their Father Oh saith the soul that I could attain to this but to live satisfiedly and contentedly in the will of God what a transcendent excellency doth the enlightned soul see in this one thing how would this quiet and silence all fleshly and carnall risings dislikings and quarrelings against the divine providence it can say Good is the Word of the Lord and good is the will of the Lord and good is this condition to me because it s my Fathers good pleasure so to have it who knows best what is good for me an excellent discovery but more excellent when living in the power in the glory of it 9. This Law of light discovers the vanity and folly of all fleshly wisdome in the things of God this Law of light makes that soul truly sensible in whom its manifest of the difference betweene the wisdome of the first and second Adam and so that word is fulfilled in him if any man will be wise let him be a fool that he may be wise he shall be a fool that is made truly sensible of the folly of all fleshly wisdome the insufficiency of the light of nature and wisdome of the flesh to attain the knowledge of God or the things of God For in him are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge and its a gift of the Spirit to those whose eyes are enlightned to see into this mystery To you its given to know the mystery or secrets of the Kingdome when it s hid from others they are strangers to it though never so much indued with fleshly wisdome 10. And finally This Law of life is a light and lamp unto the feet and paths of those in whom its manifest to lead and direct them into its waies it is that voyce behind them saying This is the way walke in it when they turn to the right or left hand it 's that light which guides them into all their undertakings whether civil or spirituall it is their great comforter without whose direction they cannot comfortably act in any of their undertakings in a word it 's that Spirit of light and life that occasions motion action sutable to its owne nature and sets the soule upon that worke which is higher then it selfe that way which is a way of light and truth Thus the Law in the Spirit is a Law of light giving understanding unto the simple enlightning the minde it is the true light that lighteneth the darknesse of every Sunne and daughter of Sion Chap. II. Shewing nine false Lights flowing from the Law in the flesh BUT there is a false Light as well as a true Light there is a Law in the flesh as well as in the Spirit although its true that all false Light is indeed darknes though men call it light If the light that is in thee be darknesse how great is that darknesse therefore I shal speak somthing by way of discovery of this principle this power of darknesse under the nominall tearme of light this false Christ or rather this Antichrist which if it were possible would deceive the very elect Now this false light or rather delusion of this law in the flesh may be considered under these following considerations First false light 1. It presents low carnall and fleshly excellencies unto the creature as its chiefest good it gives a false representation of things it cals evil good and good evill it puts light for darknes and darknes for light it judgeth sweetnes to be bitter and bitter to be sweet and thus it represents the worst things with the greatest excellency in more particular First it discovers not sinne and fleshly motions and fleshly actings as the greatest evil but as the greatest good thus the soule is deluded with a false light when it looks upon the deeds of darknes as deeds of pleasure and the waies and paths of darknes to be waies and paths of pleasantnes and peace and thus it becomes a pleasure and pastime to a fool to commit folly this is the universall spirit of Satan and law of darknes that rules in the world even in the hearts of the children of disobedience so that in a word the worlds way is a way of darknes and they delight to have it so It s true sometimes they hear of Christ and grace by the hearing of the eare but the use they make of it through the deceivablenes of this false and dark light is to sinne the more freely to give up themselues to the service of the flesh with the less trouble thus are the most the greatest part of the world blinded to their own ruine and yet think they see Second false light Secondly this Law in the flesh presents the world as an excellent thing as the chiefest good to many a soul who will shew us any good saith the worldly creature who thinks the world best hence it is so many and that under the form and notion of godlines to hunt so earnestly after worldly honors profits pleasures doe not such through that false glass that thus represents things apprehend the chiefest good the chiefest exellency to be in the world when alas those poor deluded souls see no excellency no preciousnes in God the fountain it forsakes him and runs to streams not but that every creature of God is good the soule beholding and enjoying the good God in it but without God there is nothing good no man good no creature good nothing good God is the goodnes of all things unto an enlightened renewed minde now this love of the world and being taken up with and living in the worlds excellencie the worlds glory is not only the sinne and will be the shame of men of the earth who have their portion in this life but it s a temptation that lights many times very heavy upon those who are Christians Saints indeed Christ himselfe was set upon by this temptation and I believe Christians who have experience within themselves of that new birth which is from above walking the way of true holinesse can bear witnes to this truth amongst all their fiery tryalsand temptations this is one to imbrace this present evil world not evil in it selfe but evill to him who hath an evil heart to depart from the living God making the world its dead Idol this is that with which the world is overcome mad they are in the imbracing the honours profits and pleasures of this present world this is that which overcomes the heart of many a Judas what will ye give me of many a Demas who after much profession forsake the Lord imbracing this present world be yee therefore watchfull for your adversary the Devil goeth
souls unto this righteous God and where there is an internall there will be likewise an externall righteousnesse And this righteousnesse in conversation may be considered under these two heads 1. In the abstaining from workes of unrighteousnes amongst men and they are such as these 1 Cor. 6. 8. oppression and fraudulency or such as are mentioned vers 9. Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Be not deceived neither fornicatours nor idolaters nor adulterers c. shall inherit the Kingdome of God These are works of unrighteousnesse that is works that declare men to be unrighteous 2. In performing visible workes of righteousnesse Shew me thy faith by thy works faith ever produceth workes works of piety and works of charity in a word this law of righteousnesse in the spirit makes good that word of righteousnesse in them Whatsoever ye would that men should doe unto you so doe unto them for this is the law and the Prophets It puts the man in whom it is in all his dealings amongst men in the other balance and this is the rule of his dealing with others to do as he would be done unto the true rule of righteousnesse amongst men and truly this law of righteousnesse is that I long to see more abundantly manifest in the Saints in these later daies for God hath a glorious dspensation of righteousnesse to bring forth in his Saints and through them to the world that the righteous God appearing with so much splendour glory and righteousnesse in his people and through them to the world that the world shall be driven to fall down and acknowledge God is in them of a truth he will take out of them that perverse and peevish spirit and fill them with the spirit of love he will take out of them that oppressing spirit of unrighteousnesse and fill them with the spirit of righteousnesse justice and equity and this glorious appearance of righteousnesse in them will by them and through them bring to nought the unrighteousnesse and oppression that is in the world for as the wrath of God was so now it is much more abundantly made manifest against all unrighteousnesse of men against all unrighteousnesse within against all unrighteousnesse without his people and this shall be effected by the glorious appearance of this glorious law of righteousnesse in them See Isa 45. 14. And they to wit men of the world shall be thine they shall come after thee in chains they shall come over and they shall fall down unto thee making supplication saying Surely God is in thee and there is none else there is no God Thus shall a King reign in righteousnesse and Princes shall rule in judgement although its true never more oppression then now under the pretence of liberty a great argument that the time is at hand and then shall all oppressours and oppressions fall to the ground and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day then shall ye return and see the difference between him that served God and him that served him not for unto them that fear his name shall this sonne of righteousnesse arise filling them with righteousnesse with healing under his wings and they shall goe forth and grow up as calves in the stall but this day of the Lord shall burn like an oven and all the proud and all oppressours and all that doe wickedly shall be as stubble the day cometh that shall burn them up and leave them neither root nor branch Mal. 4. 1 2. This is the day of the Lord the day of fire that is coming upon the face of the earth Let the voice of Elijah the Prophet be a warning unto men lest he come and smite the earth with a curse How then should the spirits of Christians be up to the Lord in a way of waiting for the more full revelation of this righteous law within them that they may see all enemies both within them and without them made a footstoole unto this righteous dispensation that the world may not have cause to say as formerly that they professe more then others but they are as covetous as any as proud peevish and hard hearted as any as full of oppression as any by which meanes the name of God hath been blasphemed amongst the world But when they shal reade in the carriage of Christians nothing but love and righteousnesse and in-offensive walking a disposition alwaies to doe good and that unto all I say when this appearance of God is manifest in the Saints it shall throw downe that wickednesse that pride and that oppression which is in the world Waite therefore upon God for it For blessed are they that waite for him Chap. VI. The unrighteous Law I Shal come now briefly in a word or two likewise to speake a word in the discovery of that false law of righteousnesse or rather unrighteousnesse that dwels in the hearts of natural men and I shal minde it under these two heads likewise 1. As it is within them 2. As it is manifest without them First As it is within them and that under severall notions 1. Some thinking their civility and morality to be a perfect law and rule of righteousnesse in them having good natures doing as they thinke and say no body wrong they thinke this shal be their righteousnesse which is but a rghteousnesse of flesh and not of spirit 2. Others looke at and talke of Christ dying for sin not being made partaker of any power by which they are dead to sin and yet expect a justifying a righteousnesse a salvation in the end from the death of sin this is a false law of unrighteousnesse in the mindes of most not believing that the wages of sin is death 3. Others come higher then this under the notion of joining Christ and duty together flesh and spirit as co-workers together talking of the righteousnesse of Christ but looking for it as it were by the works of the law being indeed ignorant of the righteousnesse of God these are zealous but not according to knowledge and this is looked after and pleaded for as a high degree of righteousnesse when perhaps there is no more in it then what Paul accounted losse yea dung and drosse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord and was content to suffer the losse of al such things as grounds of righteousnesse that he might win Christ and be found in him Good it were and much mercy to such if they could with Paul suffer the losse of al such righteousnesse in a way of grace for it must be lost first or last if not til last then they must be bid depart from al their workes as workes and workers of iniquity into utter darknesse where shall be a lake of fire which will occasion weeping and gnashing of teeth 4. Others seem to come higher then this again seeming to be delivered from workes as it is their righteousnesse and are al for Christ and
over-turned the tables of the money-changers and whipt the buiers and sellers out of the temple so hee doth in the spirits of his people whips out all those unclean lusts and fleshly imaginations which defile this holy temple not but that there may be the presence of these but they are not there with delight with content and this sanctifying spirit wil never leave them til hee hath turned them al out the God of peace will tread Satan under feet shortly and all those enemies shall become the Saints foot-stool this is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eies this is the Lords work and he will perfect it in his time Let all those who wait upon him for the accomplishment of it cry grace grace unto it the end of it wil be glory in the highest when al flesh shall vail it selfe to this excellent glory though it be not accomplished as soon as you expect it yet assuredly the end wil be glorious that is it will crown al your temptations and trials expectations when you shal partake of this perfect change 2. There is an external holines likewise that is a visible demonstration in the conversation of what is wrought within There is not onely holinesse within but without The Kings daughter is not only all glorious within but her cloathing likewise is of needle-work There is a visible manifestation of a renewed minde where the God of peace sanctifies he doth it through out not only in soul and spirit but in body too Hence it is the Apostle saith Be ye holy in all manner of holy conversation and godlinesse This outward appearance of holinesse is but the fruit of that tree of holines within and where this tree is this fruit wil appear there wil be fruit unto holines and the end everlasting life This external holines appeares under these two particulars First In the forsaking evil courses Secondly In the performing or acting that which is good 1. In the forsaking evil there is not only an evil root but there is evil fruit the fruit of the flesh now where this law of holiness and purity is there is a purging of al filthiness of flesh and spirit This is that the Apostle minds 1 Cor. 6. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are purged by the Spirit of our God c. This is the true property of this law in the spirit to make clear not only within but without too Wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes Isa 1. cease to doe evil c. al filthines and prophanenesse flows directly from the law of the flesh and are the fruits of the flesh the tree is knowne by his fruit It is altogether unpossible for a renewed changed sanctified heart to be given up to the lusts of the flesh they are fruits that grow in the devils garden upon the tree of nature and not of grace they are the fruit that grow upon the forbidden tree whosoever eateth thereof is dead if you walk after the flesh ye are dead but if by the spirit ye mortifie the deeds of the flesh ye are alive Therefore take this in a word for al That it is altogether unpossible for a man that lives in the spirit to bring forth fruits after the flesh they who live after the flesh savour the things of the flesh Only two cautions considered First That those who live after the spirit may be and oft are burdened with flesh Secondly Although they are burdened with flesh yet they walke not they warre not after the flesh but spirit in them subdues and destroyes flesh and the conversation is in a measure sutable to such a spiritual law within 2. This holines appears not onely in the forsaking that which is visibly evil and carries a clear appearance in it to be of the flesh But likewise 2. In the visible acting and performing works of holines sutable to such an inward principle the soule does not only now cease to do evil but learns to doe wel This is that the Scripture so often mindes and Saints so much experienceth Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good workes may glorifie your Father that is in heaven And this is the wil of God even your sanctification that you may know how to possesse your vessels in sanctification and honour and the tree is known by his fruit Does a man gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistls And the good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things but the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil things Thus Scripture clears this truth experience likewise manifests it Those who are taught of the Spirit can beare witness unto this truth That the more that spirit of holiness appeares within purifying the inner man the more visible does that holines appear without Quest But it may be questioned What are these workes of holinesse that visibly appeare thus in the sanctified man Ans 1. Negative I minde not customs and forms for in this natural men may act far But 2. Affirmatively 1. In speaking forth and declaring the goodness holiness and love of God A heart that is sanctified indeed and enjoyes love and communion indeed cannot but according to the measure enjoyed and the gift received but declare it forth unto others Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Thus Saints cannot keepe silence when God speakes in them but are ever and anon breathing forth the good the love of God then saith the soul Truly God is good O taste and see that the Lord is gracious Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare his wonderfull love to the sonnes of men The soul can now say God is good he is sweet he is lovely and altogether delightfull Thus Saints are not either first breathing forth fleshly and carnal discourse unprofitable and vain things but their words are alwaies seasoned with salt that it may minister grace unto the hearers neither are they dumb and tongue-tied alwaies not but that those who are precious may be slow of speech but being drawne forth something they have to declare of God They are not first altogether empty and so silent that argues a barren fruitless unsanctified soul neither secondly doe they pretend to be high in knowledge but wil not declare any thing except flesh talk of spirit and manifest flesh no they cannot with-hold the truth in unrighteousness nor hide his goodness within them as by stealth but still Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh and the tree is known by his fruit God creating in his people the fruit of the lips peace peace to them who are afarre off and to them who are nigh And as this fruit of the lips appeares in speaking of GOD so likewise in speaking to GOD both in prayer and praise 2. There is the fruit likewise of the
conversation as wel as of the lips there is not onely the fruit of saying but doing If any man doe my will he shall know saith Christ c. Now this doing consists either 1. In doing workes of piety according to the power and liberty received 2. In doing workes of righteous justice and equity not in seeking alone our owne but others good 3. In doing workes of mercy both to the soules and bodies of those who want else you may see the fruits of this spirit Gal. 5. 22. The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against such there is no law These are the fruits of the spirit which being manifest makes God and truth and Saints appeare lovely not onely each to other but to the world likewise they shall fall downe and confesse That God is in you of a truth These fruits of the spirit Peter mindes 1 Pet. 1. 5. Adde to faith virtue to your virtue knowledg to knowledge patience and to patience temperance and to temperance godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse charity Thus the true Christian hath a holy conversation holy within and holy without holinesse written upon the horses bridles every pot in Jerusalem appeares to be holy in al manner of holy conversation and godlinesse a universall walking with and conformity to God in spirit soule and body Their conversation is in heaven their hearts there their minde their comfort and communion and it appeares by their walking before men in their word and actions that it is so Chap. VIII Of false or fleshly holinesse AS there is a holinesse in the spirit so likewise there is a holinesse after the flesh so accounted so called though it be indeed but unholinesse for the man of sinne imitates Christ in every particular and I believe that there hath been as great a mistake in the matter of holinesse in taking it to be what it is not as in any one particular therefore I shal minde a word or two briefly in the discovery of this mystery of iniquity 1. This mystery of iniquity the appearance of holinesse when it is nothing but flesh may be considered either First As it workes within and that either 1. Looking upon good purposes and good resolutions to amend and to doe better Or else 2. In a good minde to leave sin but it wants power a good a holy heart though a bad conversation not knowing that good purposes are common to the worst of men and that where there is a bad outside there is a worse inside for if the streames be filthy the fountaine is much more filthy For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh and the outward man acts an ungodly conversation alwaies flowes from an unsanctified soule if the conversation be light vain and foolish the heart is much more light and vain for all prodigality prophanenesse and vanity hath its first rise in the heart therfore it is the Lord saith My son give me thy heart Or 3. Not only in having a minde to leave it but likewise in having some hatred against it and from hence a forsaking of it because it sees an evill a danger in it perhaps it now apprehends that the wages of sin is death and it feares hell and the eternall flames spoken of in Scripture and from hence growes out of liking with it when perhaps else it could be content many times to embrace it thus most men under the name and notion of Christian deceive themselves with a fleshly fancy of holinesse in the heart when indeed and in truth it is nothing more then fleshly delusions and that which is usually found in the hearts of naturall men Secondly There is likewise a most outward appearance of holinesse in the flesh which is indeed but fleshly and this may be discovered either 1. In the more common and carnall sort who account that now and then the performance of a good act is enough to make them holy and that their good acts will weigh downe their evill they thinke that Lord have mercy upon me or now and then a good prayer is enough to make them holy though perhaps they take the more liberty to sinne by meanes thereof a wonderfull delusion in the mindes of men 2. Others come higher perhaps in an outward civility and an externall acting in the use of Ordinances they will goe to Church as they call it and heare Sermons too perhaps have their Infants sprinkled go to the Sacrament as they call it c. And this is a high degree of holinesse in the mindes of most how doe poore creatures blesse themselves in such vaine and empty formes and fashions to their owne undoing For this is that which is sutable to nature to act in these low and formall waies after the doctrines and precepts of men or after the fleshly imaginations of the vaine and deceitful heart and not after Christ 3. Others come higher then this into an universall as they suppose hatred and forsaking of sin to the acting and performing of that which is good and thus it is much in doing and acting looking upon outward actings to be their holinesse and here hath lien a mysterious mystery of iniquity both in Ministers and People the one teaching the other practising such a holinesse Hence is it that Ministers when they would preach people in holinesse and righteousnesse they presse them to forsake sinne to weepe and mourne pray and heare Sermons to be much in duty and this without all peradventure was enough to make them holy never looking after that internall spirit of holinesse which occasions those external actings sutable to such an internall principle Hence it comes to passe that many poore soules being thus mis-led come under a spirit of delusion or else under a spirit of bondage being sensible of its coming short in performance being daily told that if thou canst not mourne and pray and performe such and such duties then thou art no Christian but Satan rules in thee Now the difference betweene the performance of the externall actings lieth principally in these two things the one acts in it as under a taske a burden a bondage and he hath no comfort till the thing is done the other acts in liberty and freedome of spirit God is his portion without any such acting and God is his portion in it he hath communion with God without it and that is it he expects in it 3. The one acts in duty that he might be holy lookes upon himselfe that the more he is in exercising and performing the more holy he is the other acts in externals because he is holy that is made partaker of that spirit of holinesse all true actions flowing from that fountain of light life liberty and love and thus most under severall forms and apprehensions live low and fleshly contenting themselves with a fleshly holinesse a holinesse consisting in formes formes and creature
actings taking the shadow for the substance the fruit for the tree nay or rather the false and deceivable fruit of the flesh for both the tree and fruit of holinesse in the spirit but those who sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption 4. I shall adde in the fourth place though I might have mentioned it in the first that fleshly law of unholinesse that dwels in the hearts of all naturall men and yet they blesse themselves in their present condition There is and ever hath beene a naturall antipathy in the hearts of all men naturally against God and the appearance of holinesse in truth in his people such is the contrariety of the hearts of naturall men unto the holinesse of God that they ever did and doe to this day oppose it this is the law of unholinesse that dwels that rules in the hearts of all naturall men and hence it comes to passe that men naturally are taken up with fancies and shadowes instead of the substance something they must have to quiet them but not the truth the substance that affrights them because they are ignorant of it and have an enmity against it hence it is they call evill good and good evill they put light for darknesse and darknesse for light c. Chap. IX Of the power of the law in the spirit I Shall now proceed to speake a word of the power of this Covenant of grace this law in the spirit for as it is a law of light liberty righteousnesse and true holinesse it creates a new man within in righteousnesse and true holinesse so it s a law of power and much glory We preach Christ saith the Apostle the power of God and the wisedome of God This is that word which is mighty in operation and powerfull sharper then any two edged sword it enters in to the dividing of the joints and the marrow it is a searcher of the thoughts and intents of the heart the power of this law in the spirit This Covenant of grace made within the Saints may be discovered under severall considerations 1. The power of this law is a convincing power it over-powers the spirits of men it convinces men of sin of righteousnesse and of judgement it convinceth them of sinne making them truely and deepely sensible of it Of righteousnesse making soules sensible of the unrighteousnesse of all their best righteousnesse Of judgement that al those things delighted in formerly must be judged must receive the sentence of death from Jesus Christ sitting as a refiner and purifier in them c. 2. It converts as wel as convinceth it changeth and reneweth the minde takes off the minde from sinne it changeth the minde and the conversation it makes a separation between the soule and sinne it separates betweene a man and his beloved lusts it converts a soul from the love of sinne it converts it likewise from the practice of sinne it worketh a real change within which produceth a change without This is that power which overcomes flesh world and devil what 's the reason many a poor soul would many times gladly be rid of sinne but they want a power not being sensible where their power lieth but perhaps oppose flesh in the strength of flesh when its proper onely to the spirit to destroy flesh Therefore let Saints be informed where their power lieth that they may wait upon God whose worke it is to subdue all things in them all things without them that are contrary to him in his time 3. As it convinceth and converteth so it makes those in whom it is a free and a willing people In the day of thy power thy people shall be a willing people Psa 110. Willing to have sinne sacrificed lust and corruption subdued willing in the beauty of holiness to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God in Jesus Christ it s this powerful spirit which works in us both to wil to do of his good pleasure nothing in the world is able to over-power the wil and make it free but this free spirit of power it s this spirit which makes soules willing to yeeld up themselves to the scepter of the Almighty which makes soules free and willing subjects to the King of Kings that fils them with joy at the beholding of his presence of his power that saith not with the world He is come to torment them before the time but rejoiceth because the Lord God omnipotent reigns topping and keeping under all other lawes and powers besides it selfe Thus the Lord reignes and the Saints rejoyce the Lord reigns and the world trembles 4. The power of this invisible spiritual law wil appear in the destruction of Antichrist that man of sinne that son of perdition this hee will effect by the spirit of his mouth and the brightness of his coming The coming of Christ in the spirit which is the glorious manifestation of this law is that power that must destroy Antichrist By Antichrist that man of sinne I understand any thing within us or without us whether it appeare in wisdome or power if it be of the flesh though its pretences be never so fair and glorious yet it is but an Antichrist a man of sin a son of perdition its true all the workings of flesh is against Christ but there are workings in a more higher and glorious way and then its the more deceivable the more dangerous and it consists principally in wisdome and power whether within us or without us the wisdom and power of flesh in the things of God which occasions much pride and fleshly exaltation above all that is called God This is that deceivable Antichrist that mystery of unrighteousnesse which the Lord will destroy by this spirit of his mouth and this brightness of his coming therefore let all wisdome pride and power of flesh vale it self to this excellent glory for certainly its that which must be accomplished in these later times The day of the Lord of hoasts shall be upon every one that is lifted up and upon every one that is proud and lofty and he shall be brought low Every proud thing within the Saints and every proud and lifted up person among them upon al the Cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up and upon al the Oaks of Bashan be they as tal as Cedars as strong as Oaks yet the day of the Lord wil be upon them and upon every high mountain and upon al the hils that are lifted up and upon every high tower and upon every fenced wal and upon al the ships of Tarshish and upon every pleasant picture and the loftiness of man shal be bowed down and the haughtiness of man shal be made low and the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day Isa 2. The day of the Lords power wil be upon al the wisdome pride power confidence comfort and beauty of flesh and then the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day this is the day of the Lords
the letter could not that was a Covenant that could not give life this is a law of life a law of power in the spirits of Christians Chap. X. The power of the law in the flesh AS this Law this Covenant in the spirit is a law of power so there is a powerfull law in the flesh likewise though this law in the spirit over-powers it and subjects it to it selfe where it is manifest in power This law of power in the flesh may be considered either as it is more grosse or more refined 1. As it is more grosse powerfully working the mindes and actions of naturall men into a conformity unto it selfe it carries on the naturall man to act all manner of unrighteousnesse and that with greedinesse insomuch that they thinke strange of those who run not with them to the same excesse of riot thus it operates in naturall men But 2. This same law of the flesh workes with much power many times even in the spirits of Christians this law of the flesh rebelleth against the law of the minde and lendeth captive to the law of sinne in the members how can Saints experience this truth Many times though the inner man be upright and as they are borne of God they sinne not yet what temptations what workings of flesh appeares within them which occasions blacknesse and darknesse many times the appearance of flesh in a way of power which seemes to stoppe the current of the soules present communion and leaves it under a waiting condition for deliverance Qu. Is this law in the flesh too strange and powerfull for that in the spirit when it seemes thus to prevaile in its rebelling against that holy law Ans It s not too strong for it but wisedome gives way to this rebelling law that it may act its part that so the soule may see it selfe what it is by nature and so may the more prize grace and the more earnestly waite for a deliverance and likewise for the keeping of the soule in a humble waiting dependency upon this Almighty power therefore he sends a pricke in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet lest there should be an exaltation above measure as experience teacheth us that flesh is ready to take advantage and that from spirituall discoveries 2. This law in the flesh worketh in a more refined and pure though in a more deceivable way not onely in working soules with violence and greedinesse in a way of sinne but likewise worke soules when they come to see their sinne into a fleshly righteousnesse so that the soule being ignorant of the righteousnesse of God it goes about to establish its owne righteousnesse Rom. 10. 3. And so it workes the soule into a fleshly boasting and a fleshly glorying in fleshly and carnall excellencies and that with as much violence as into a way of sinne and prophanenesse unlesse the power of this spirituall law prevent then it s true the soule is content with joy to suffer the losse of all and and to account all things but dung and drosse that it may winne Christ and be found in him then its content not only to suffer the losse of this law in the flesh in the grosser consideration but in the most refined consideration then it can say What things were gaine to me those I counted losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord c. Chap. XI The glory of this law in the spirit THis Covenant in the spirit is a glorious Covenant when Christ comes he comes with power and much glory this law rules in that Kingdome where there is power and much glory The glory of this Covenant appeares not onely in all those forementioned particulars as its a law of light liberty righteousnesse holinesse power c. which must needs produce much glory where all those excellencies met together in one soule and all are glorious glorious light and liberty and righteousnesse and holinesse and power it must needs be glorious when made partaker of the light liberty righteousnesse holinesse power and glory of the glorious God Besides this for illustrating of this glorious law I might minde how it 1. Interests the soule in whom it is into a neare relation to the Father not onely of son and of heire but likewise the relation of Wife of Spouse and so is married to the Almighty eternally this is a name better then that of sons and daughters 2. This glorious law makes forth many glorious discoveries and revelations in the hearts of Christians Such as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive those things that he hath prepared for them that love him but he hath revealed it to or in us by his spirit 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. Oh those sweet discoveries God oft makes in the spirits of his that they can say sweetly to their soules after a blacke and darke day Returne to thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Thus are they let see into that glorious mystery of love which passeth knowledge 3. As it discovers glory so it works a glorious minde a desire in the minde to be compleated in this glory not out of self-selfe-love as most doe desire heaven that they might avoid hel but for glories sake its selfe it beholds its beauty its sweetnesse its purity its perfection and so the soule is overcome with it nothing in the world is to be compared to it and hence it is that Saints have such noble heroick spirits looking above slighting all things below as nothing all riches and creature-excellencies and glories is but grasse but drosse unto it this is the nature of this glorious law it fils the soule with so much glory where it is that the desire is taken up with it because it out-glories all other glories in the world besides 4. As it is an out-glorying glory and so drawes the desire of the minde unto it so it is likewise a transforming changing glory it never leaves soules in whom it is til it compleates them in al the glory set before them it workes up soules more and more to it selfe untill it hath perfected them in the glory of the Father Well done good and faithfull servant enter thou into the joy of thy master Hence it was Paul being possest with this truth expecting this compleating in glory presses on to the marke of the price of the high calling set before him and was able to say I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith from henceforth is laid up for me a crowne of glory which the Lord the righteous Judge hath laid up for me and not for me onely but for all those who looke for his appearing Oh therefore my deare brethren in the unity of this spirit looke and waite for this day of God the glorious appearing of the great God because when he shall appear you shall appeare