unto himself but make it his busines to unveil and shew the twofold distinct headships over him in the pure single divinity and invisible conjunction of divine and creature-nature And both these give their distinct testimonies to him as the invisible glorified son and branch in order to his visible exercise of universal power therein over all as the blessed medium exactly calculated for declaring and executing the whole mind and will of both in reference to all Angels and men good and bad This could no otherwise be discovered and done save by the branch the man Christ For it is below the dignity of the single infinite divinity the divine essence or the first and highest conjunction of divine and creature-nature or the divine and supream creature-form of God in the Mediatour immediatly to exercise the power belonging to them both They therefore delegate the exercise of this their power to Christ the branch as set up in the express likeness of the divine glory to whom therefore the divinity of the mediatour says Thou art my Son that I have begotten in my own likeness in personal union with me and appointed thee heir of all things Heb. 1. 2 5. Christ as creature-root is heir of all as the great and supream creature-spouse of his own divinity who brings forth the creature-son and branch in his likeness the visible Image of his invisible creature-spirit as that is the invisible Image of the infinity divine So is this son and branch made visible heir of all things receiving the power from his own creature-root that his root has from his own divinity Hence when as glorified branch brought forth in the visible likeness of his invisible-creature-root his root declares him his vvel-beloved Son vvhom all the saints and Angels of God are to vvorship Heb. 1. 6. This first-begotten son and branch is the happy and marveilous day of the mediatour's own making in vvhich blessed Saints and Angels are to rejoyce Psal 118. 23 24. For by this the divinity in its simple unity and in its first and invisible conjunction with creature-nature in the mediatour do first give themselves forth in a day-break of knowledg and revelation to Angels and men Thus come the distinct divine and creature-glories to shine forth upon them through this son and branch And in their name and power is he visibly to rule over all The title then of this branch to such universal Rule is twofold For it descends upon him and is derived to him first from God in his simple divinity as absolute head to the mediatour Secondly from the mediatour to Christ in our glorified nature which is his visibility as that in which dvvels the fulness of the God-head bodily Col. 2. 9. From this twofold fountain and original headship over him has the man Christ his right to the exercise of a universal visible rule over all creatures made sure and undoubted by their twofold testimony to him But in possessing and exercising this rule must he still acknowledg the twofold head-ship of the pure divinity and first conjunction of divine and creature-spirit in the mediatour over him These are both in themselves invisible and incommunicable and consequently at too vast a distance and emient a height to have ever been seen or approached by creatures Their condescention therefore to have come forth in either of these capacities in a visibility to angels or men and so in the immediate exercise of the power essential to both the said headships over Christ the branch had been too great for them and unsafe for their creatures Hence hath God of his free Grace in order to the creation of the World and communications of himself to angels and men when created contrived a twofold distinct creature-building and capacity in the mediatour the inferiour part whereof is exactly fitted to answer all the intents and designs of God towards his creatures as to the declaration and exercise of his power over them and giving the safe and comfortable enjoyment of his presence to them which in the two former headships without the branch would have been a consuming fire to them Heb. 12. 29. and everlasting burnings to any meer creature-organs natural or spiritual The pure divinity or infinite divine essence and Father and the first invisible conjunction of divine with creature-nature in the mediatour are both above the capacity of immediatly creating angel or man and then much more above the immediate exercise of rule over them But the whole will of both these distinct heads to the man Christ is exactly answered and executed by the creature-son and branch in the heavenly and immortalized earthly capacity thereof The twofold glorious creature-building in the mediatour taken into personal union with his divinity makes up such a blessed instrument for doing the whole will of the divine nature that it is infallibly impossible any thing but the divine will should be executed by it Yet though each part of the said creature-building live in a perfect voluntary subjection to the divine will the whole does preserve and retain its own creature-will in the said subjection distinct from the divine And thus have we seen the distinct testimonies of the divine father and son to the twofold capacity of creature-nature in the mediatour root and branch The divine son or form of the divine essence and father from all eternity is the purely divine likenes and unseen shape of the father and the creature-root is the unseen likeness of the divine son but then is creature-son or branch the visible Image of its own creature-root by which all divine and creature-glories are let down to the understanding and injoyment of creatures And each of these Images of God divine and twofold creaturely in the mediatour are according to their distinct natures and gradations the representations or likenesses of each other And not only the divine but supream creature-likenes of God in the mediatour the original of all creature-beings on which the soveraign power of the divinity descended from everlasting is of too neer a kin to the divinity and in too transcendent a sublimity above any creatures understanding sight or enjoyment to come forth in the immediate exercise of the soveraign divine power imparted to it and committed to its trust It is the proper immediate receiver of the divine will but above the capacity of executing it The declaring and executing the divine Will is committed to Christ as creature-son and branch exactly fitted for it This Son and Branch is the body that gives visibility to the Mediatour's whole divine and great creature-being And though inferiour to its creature-root is it in personal union with it and the divine nature of the Mediatour and this in a twofold resurrection-life heavenly and glotified earthly to the compleating his personality The two distinct Offices of the Mediatour's twofold creature-nature root and branch are significantly figured out by the Candlestick all of gold vvith a bovvl on the top of it Zech. 4.
2. This Bovvl or Top of the great creature-building in the Mediatour is the fitted immediate reception of the divine mind in order to the execution of it by his inferiour creature-capacity signified by the golden Candlestick This inferiour part as living in personal union with the superiour and through that with the divinity it self in the Mediatour is said to be God's equal or fellovv who thus found in the form of God accounts it no robbery or presumption to be equal vvith God even in our soveraignly exalted nature as therein fitted to declare and execute the whole will of his divine and creature-lord Zech. 13. 7. Phil. 2. 6. This inferiour creature-capacity of the Mediatour is the second reception of the divine will and power which was first received by and treasured up in his creature-root and by that transmitted to its Son and Branch to exercise and execute the same as fitted thereunto From the creature-root does the branch receive the power of creating the worlds Heb. 1. 2. as also the essentials of all Rule and Government For all these undertakes does the Son and Branch become abundantly qualified through personal conjunction with his creature-root and divine Lord even to create all things and make Laws whereby clearly to state conserve the absolute headship of the single divinity and the Supream Prerogative of the first conjunction of divine and creature-spirits in the Mediatour The Man Christ as Son and Branch declares the deriving all his power from the two headships over him and his exercise thereof in a visible rule over this world in perfect subjection to them according to the righteous Laws of his own making And he allowes unto Angels and Men all such priviledges as are essential to their spiritual rational and sensual Principles in the life and exercise of their intellectual beings So does he render them according to their creature-liberty free Agents as well as immortal spirits Thus deep is the foundation laid for the Rule and Power of the Kingdom of Christ as visibly to be exercised by him in our glorified nature And this power does he ascribe to his conjunctive divine Lord and creature-root and in harmony therewith to God's absolute divine unity as above all and head to all Thus does Jesus Christ as subjected Lord over all under the said twofold headship over him ascribe and bring the glory to God most high in his single divinity the great and high Father of all So through the happy union of divine and twofold creature-nature in the Mediatour may we behold the Government of Peace under which blessed Saints and Angels are to live everlastingly as shining forth betvveen them both Zec. 6. 13. to wit both his creature-capacities In the higher he is the immediate receiver of the divine mind in the lower the executour of the divine will in all things This twofold office of the mediatour is excellently figured out in the essential parts of man's make and the distinct usefulnesses thereof by which fitted for the compleat exercise of his whole being Yea the whole person of the mediatour in all the essentials of his constitution may fitly be represented by what is found in man For as a shadow of the divinity his spirit or intellectual part is the conceiver of its own will Then his Soul as figure of the mediatour's creature-root is the fitted reception of the said will and mind of the spirit And thirdly the will thus conceived by the Spirit and received by the Soul must be brought into visible exercise and execution by the third essential part in man the body 1 Thes 5. 23. figure of the inferiour part or capacity in the mediatour's creature-creature-nature as visible branch to his invisible creature-root in vvhom the god-head also dvvells bodily and so becomes visible to Angels and Saints Thus by owning every distinct part in the mediatour and in man and accordingly assigning to them their proper offices the usefulnes of the whole both in type and substance is compleated as also their respective personalities And as the body is put for the whole man as that by which the invisible Soul and Spirit are rendred visible in the exercise thereof which dignity belongs to it through its personal union with its invisible Soul and spirit it bears the Title and denomination of the whole man in the figure after the same manner as in the substance the person of the Mediatour Hence every distinct Name of the Mediatour is applyed to Christ the Branch as in our nature glorified For therein the fulness of the Godhead dvvels bodily and in personal union therewith shines forth visibly to Angels and Men. In the lowest essential part of the Mediatour in Christ the Man-child that 's to be manifested in the glory of his Father put upon our exalted nature in him And so is the Government of his divine and creature-lord put upon his Shoulders Hence is he called by his Father's wonderful Names The vvonderful Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father and Prince of Peace Isa 9. 6. This is a full significant Prophecy of Christ the Branch in our nature glorified as the body and visibility of the Mediatour by which his other superiour essential parts his divine spirit and creature-soul are brought to light and rendred visible to his creatures So is the Man Christ Jesus the one Mediatour betvveen God and Men 1 Tim. 2. 5. Yet does not the Mediatour hereby lose either his divine or creature-name in the first conjunction thereof but on the contrary that divine Light and original Creature-immortality which was inaccessible invisible and incommunicable to creatures is made visible in the Man Christ as glorified and exalted on the Throne of David in personal union with his divine and creature-lord Of the encrease of vvhose Government through the said union there shall be no end vers 7. For hereby is this happy Prince of peace abundantly qualified to execute and fulfill the whole divine and creature-will And so through the perfect subjection of the visible body our exalted nature in him to the invisible creature-soul and divine spirit is the will of God and of the whole person of the mediatour declared and fulfilled The will of all is manifested and done by the actual setting up of the kingdom over which Christ is to reign as son and branch in the glory of his divine Lord and creature-father This is significantly figured out by Hilkiam the Father and Eliakim the Son holding forth this relation of our mystical Eliakim the branch bearing the same date with his spiritual root and father Hilkiam in his invisible angelical life that he had in his root from everlasting And in his appointed time must all the glory of his Fathers house be visibly put upon our nature in him on earth as invisibly inherited and possessed by him in Heaven So comes he to be clothed with the twofold Robes of mystical Hilkiam his root and father when this son and branch shall appear in
and undeniably assert and demonstrate his right to the universal monarchy of the whole Earth And having thus seen in a parallel to Moses his day how all the materials of Christ's visible Kingdom are to be provided the mystical Stones hewed squared and polished for compleating the new-building we are next to consider by way of parallel also the view that from an angelical hand and glory is to be given of the Throne and heavenly Temple of Christ as was of Moses his Tabernacle by the rearing thereof before fixed in the Land of Canaan Through the angelical light of the preparatory day shall the new-creation Temple of Christ be opened and rendred much more perspicuous than ever it hath yet been And this as a needful qualifying of the new Earth for so great a glory as will shine forth upon it by Christ's personal coming to set up and establish his visible and everlasting Kingdom In order to this work let us yet more particularly examine the type in which Moses in every thing relating to it received exact direction from God and was also shewed the original patern of the typical Tabernacle in that holy Mount the same with this angelical ministration that 's to reveal Christ the original and substance of all According to this angelical sight through faith given to Moses was he to provide every Pin and Board belonging to the Tabernacle and answerable to the pattern joyn and linke every part of the whole together And so became it a lively figure of the compleat new-creature-building in Christ and his comprehensive body head and members who must all be exactly and inseparably joyn'd together in a spirit of faith and love by that supply to each other which must be made by every joint and member according to the effectual working of the distinct measure of the new-creature-spirit of the head in every part to the increase and perfecting of the whole body in love Eph. 4. 16. Of this compleat creature-building in the invisible existing state of the new-creature-seed in their head before Angels or Men personally and individually were and also as to be brought forth in his spiritual life and inseparably therein joyn'd to Christ their Head and Parent in their distinct subjected places as lively spiritual Stones in his new-creation-Temple 1 Pet. 2. 5. was the literal Tabernacle an appointed type The foundation of Christ's visible Kingdom is laid in this preparatory dispensation giving Pisgah-sights and views of the glory of Christ and his true spiritual Land of Promise before his actual appearance This will yet be more evident from the spiritual meaning of all things belonging to Moses his Tabernacle the type both of Christ's invisible Being and visible Kingdom Exod. 40. There was first the Tabernacle itself then the tent of the Tabernacle and thirdly the cover of the tent each a cover to the other This done in the truth and substance makes the new-creature-house in Christ a fitted reception for the divine inhabitant and to blessed Saints and Angels also This was also figured out by the covering Mercy-seat Ark and Testimony the holy things put within the Tabernacle So in the figure is a compleat view given of the original patern or creature-building in the Mediator of which it was the appointed representation as to be acknowledg'd in root and branch fitly figured by the threefold distinct covers on the infinite divinity which the Tabernacle consisted of The single fleshly humanity of Christ was the outermost cover put upon the twofold immutable being of his creature-nature his heavenly and earthly glorified spirit fitly represented by the Tabernacle and tent thereof and as so the fitted receptacle to the most choice high and holy things his eternal power and divinity and then also to those things of his eternal Power and God-head to wit his original creature-being or root the immediate workmanship of his own divinity In this twofold respect may he not unfitly be represented by the Ark and covering merey-seat The divine and creature-nature of the Mediatour in this first and invisible fellowship or conjunction are the things as in type preserv'd in such an invisibility as not to be immediately look'd upon or seen by any Therefore on purpose did they lodg and seat themselves in that mystical Tabernacle the body or visibility of the Mediatour provided also by himself as the new-creature-Temple and Sanctuary pitch'd by God not Man in which his invisible holy divine and creature-creature-nature or things are laid up out of the immediate sight of any But they are to shine forth through the said blessed Tabernacle with safety and to the comfort of every worshipper and attendant about the said Tabernacle according to the lesser or greater distance in which placed The true Tabernacle in the capacity of branch exalted into personal union with the Mediatour as his divine head and creature-root is become that Temple of God in Heaven that by the setting up of Christ's visible Kingdom is to be open'd on Earth Rev. 11. 19. And so will the compleat personality of the Mediatour be beheld in his divine and twofold creature-being Thus by considering the spiritual meaning of the Type have we the reason why the literal Tabernacle was to consist of so many covers and also for the invisibility of the holy things with which furnish'd to wit as the significant types of the great original that is the invisibility of the divine and also creature-nature in its first conjunction with divine and so also of the fulness and variety of his new-creature-nature For it was needful his divine and creature-nature in their first and invisible conjunction should wrap up themselves in Christ the branch as in a threefold cover or Tabernacle and this as the only means to give the vision of his divine-nature and creature-root to Angels and Men. And having thus considered the distinct parts of the Tabernacle and holy things wherewith furnished consider next the form and manner in which set up to wit in a four-square shape God assigning the distinct places of every Attendant about it from highest to lowest At East or upper-end were placed Moses Aaron and his Sons At each side and West or lower-end were the other Levit's placed according to their respective charges as chosen into the room of the First-born Israelit's for the service of the Tabernacle in a subjected service of love to the high-Priest's office preparing and slaying the Sacrifices but not permitted immediately to draw nigh to God by offering the Sacrifices or touching the Ark and holy things therein Thus Moses Aaron and his high-Priest Sons together with the whole Tribe of Levi were the first Attendants in their higher and lower places round about the literal Tabernacle Then about the same and Court thereof at a greater distance were the whole Congregation of Israel placed in their several Tribes with a Prince and Head to every Tribe and other inferiour Rulers appointed according to Jethro's advice approved by God over thousands
time the spirit in them did signifie vvhen it testified before hand the suffering of Christ and glory that should follovv 1 Pet. 1. 11. And it vvas revealed to them that not unto themselves but us under the gospel-dispensation witnesses both of his comming in flesh and state of grace or resurrection-life which was to follow they did minister such things The Apostles and other Saints in the gospel-day received that spirit not before given Jo. 7. 39. by which the mystery of Godliness became opened even through Christs being manifested in flesh justified in spirit and in our nature exalted into heaven All this visibly accomplished in Christ's person is the sum and substance of the gospel-testimony The resurrection-state is now no longer a land of distances very far off but brought neer and set open in Christ's glorified humanity Hence is the gospel-dispensation much more spiritual then that of the Law the object of faith being now brought into sight though spiritual saints under both these dispensations found a like acceptation with God The elders and worthies under the Law vvere through their powerful faith pleasing to God Heb. 11. 39. as well as spiritual-saints under the gospel They obtained a good report by faith They willingly and cheerfully confessed themselves strangers on earth or as to their natural state and principle though not actually possessed of the spiritual and heavenly This better thing vvas kept in reserve as neither given to nor received by them in such manner as after Christs comming for the compleating of their blessedness and finishing of that faith he was authour of before But the whole seed of faith spiritual saints before and under Law and Gospel agree in their witness to Christ's resurrection-state as that new name and life vvherein alone any ever were or can be saved or receive the vision of the divine glory And though the gospel-ministration be more glorious then that of the Lavv as a ballance to this priviledg of saints under the gospel those under the Lavv vvere made the first-fruits unto Christ in his resurrection-state in our nature For to their imprisoned spirits shut up in the faith of what was to be revealed Christ appeared and in the first degree of his resurrection-life preached it to them or bestowed it on them rendring the state of those just spirits a paradise by entring among them in his resurrection-life and glory And after this he poured forth his glorified spirit on saints in the body which rendred them powerful experimental witnesses of his resurrection-life and new name Thus the whole generation of faith whether as prophetical messengers before Christs comming in flesh or declarers of him after come have all most harmoniously agreed in their testimony to the spiritual nature and visibility of Christ's kingdom here treated on And thus having seen the testimony of the divine nature itself and the infallible creature-testimony of Christ and his saints to this truth as a secondary general confirmation of it we may observe the various types and figures in Gods providential workings for strengthning his Peoples faith in this important truth Even before the fall every voice of God to man was to point out this spiritual State of Rest he was to look after But all this counsel of God was neglected by him Yet did God even after the fall and before the giving of the Law warn Noah of this his twofold great design to wit of taking down the old or first creation-World and setting up that new one in which to establish this visible kingdom of Christ As a token hereof vvas he commanded to build an Ark and by his obedience to God therein did he condemn that sinful World which wilfully neglected the voice of God therein But Noah by faith saw Christ in that resurrection or kingdom-state figured by the Ark as a spiritual Rock of safety to himself and whole spiritual seed from that destruction figured out by the floud which all Angels and men that obstinately fix themselves in the old World or first-creation state against God and the second bring upon themselves And this deluge or destruction of man-kind by water points out the far greater destruction by fire in that day of the Lord wherein he will destroy the very heavens and earth on purpose reserved for the exercise of Gods long-suffering For their abuse of all will ripen them for a final consumption by the fire of God's wrath 2 Pet. 3. 7. Then even amidst those flames will he most certainly set up that spiritual kingdom in which shall be a like visible protection and safty to his saints as Noahs litteral Ark was to him and his family The next remarkable type of this spiritual truth before the giving of the Law was Abrahams conquest of the four Kings as figuring out not only the corrupt but righteous principles of nature in men and Angels which as singly naturall are all in a combined interest against the spiritual seed of faith and Christ their head These are signified in Abrahams person and his followers And their victory was a type fthe compleat and final conquest our spiritual Lord Abraham with all his saints will obtain over all that come against them to oppose the setting up of his spiritual kingdom visibly in the world After this have we another signal figure hereof in Gods remarkable dealing with the Egyptians as his enemies on behalf of the Israelites his friends in his marvellous wayes of punishing the one and delivering the other by his own right hand and out-stretched arm Both were types of that irresistable power in which Christ in these last dayes of greatest bondage and oppression to his people will give them a more remarkable deliverance then ever In these last and worst of times will be a combination in religious and civil principles against them figured by the Egyptian powers and the Magicians by the latter counterfeiting and by the former persecuting the new-creation spirit and power they both hate which Christ is ready to break forth in and thereby to bestow on his spiritual Israelites an absolute deliverance out of all their litteral and mystical captivities And by the same power will he so judge and deal with his enemies of all sorts as never to suffer them to rise up more against him or his spiritual Israelites Moses his whole government with the sanctuary and other things in his ministration were speaking figures and significant voices of this universal kingdom of Christ No circumstance in the civil or religious constitution of that government but remarkably signified the present truth And by signal sounds of his providence under every dispensation has the Lord been declaring and setting this truth before the faith of his People The sanctuary or tabernacle was not to be fixed as in its resting-place till his People were possessed of their resting-place the typical Land of promise Next this was Solomon's Temple on various accounts a signal type of Christ and of what he was to do
altogether ignorant of the Spiritual nature of his visible Kingdom yet to come and of that Spirit and Life in which it will be managed According to appointment were they assembled on the day of Pentecost waiting for the Holy Ghost that Spirit in which Christ's Kingdom is to be managed That day under the Law was a commanded feast of first fruits reaped in the Typical Land of Promise This type significantly represents the mystical truth or substance the first fruits of the true Land of Promise or Christ's risen Spirit brought forth in and by Saints This Spirit came upon them as a sound from Heaven of a rushing mighty wind and sate upon each of them as cloven Tongues like Fire So they spake with other Tongues words which the Holy Ghost taught them as that Spirit gave them utterance These other Tongues were the new Tongues Christ promised them they should speak with Mar. 16. 17. The new-creature-Spirit of Christ partaken of by Saints becomes another or new Tongue in them distinct from and superiour to any Tongue thoughts or words found in their natural Spirit This new Tongue both from its own nature and operation of it on the natural Spirit of the Saint may fitly be typed out by a visible cloven or twofold fiery Tongue First From its own nature as consisting in Christ's person the true original thereof of a twofold Resurrection-state and building inseparably united though distinct from each other Secondly From its twofold secret invisible operation upon man transforming yet not burning or consuming him by its fire-baptism upon him It empties him of all his changeable life and wealth unmakes and builds him anew and fill's him with its newness of Life and true riches And as in Christ so in his peculiar spousal Saints capacitated by their double portion of Christ's twofold Resurrection-Life to receive the double vision of the divine Glory are the twofold spiritual Principles of Christ's new-creature-nature fitly represented by cloven Tongues as Fire The inferiour earthly glorified Saint of the single portion in spiritual resurrection-life as found in unchangeable harmony with those of the double may both and altogether be fitly signified by cloven Tongues of Fire as distinct from each other and yet inseparably join'd together The Holy Ghost that descended upon the Apostles is that new-creature-Spirit which in Christ lives in personal union with the Divinity in both parts thereof upper and lower or most heavenly and glorified earthly all spiritual and above the first-creation-building or natural state of Angel or Man at best as far as the material Heaven is above the Earth No wonder then if the effects of this Spirit poured down on the Apostles were amazing to all natural observers thereof For as a figure of this commanding Tongue or new-creature Spirit could they make themselves understood by all their hearers of whatever differing languages By this litteral miracle was given an undeniable demonstration of the comprehensive nature and universal knowledg of this new Tongue or Spirit including all spiritual both heavenly and earthly-glorified wisdom and knowledg and also comprehending all single natural knowledg in it self Hence fitly said to know see or judg all things 1 Cor. 2. 15. This new-creation-tongue that could make itself understood by all in that primitive Gospel-day was a type of the powerful ministration of the Gospel in the last days under the latter rain or pouring down of the same Spirit or new-creature Tongue in a visibility and discernableness to all so as to command its acknowledgment from all hearers thereof through its suitable sound or voice to every one's understanding and irresistible demonstration of its intrinsick excellency to all hearts The wonderful effects of its first showring down were that the receivers thereof did work miracles cast out Devils and healed all sorts of Diseases litteral and spiritual This precious mystical balm of Gilead became in them a powerful antidote against all inward and outward Poison Mar. 16. 17 18. They could thereby not only discern but cure all diseases of Spirit as well as Body Yea a union by Faith with this Spirit under the Law was of such power that Elisha at a great distance was able to discern and declare the secret designs of God's and his People's Enemies and to cure diseases spiritual as well as bodily as in Naaman the Syrian He not only by his counsel cleans'd him from his bodily Leprosy but as seems implied by bidding him go in peace and Christ's owning his coming to a spiritual Prophet as a reproof to the Jews for rejecting his spiritual ministry and gospel-doctrine Luk. 4. 27. of the enmity of his Spirit by an effectual faith in the new-creation name of the true Son of Peace He was able also to discern the inward disease of enmity in Gehazi to be mortal and incurable as was figured by the outward Leprosy which was cureable in Naaman but rendred unchangeable in him and his unbelieving Seed forever 2 King 5. 27. And by the like new-creature power of spiritual Faith did he raise the Widow's Son from bodily death typing forth the like power of raising the natural Spirit out of its state of enmity and death All this as fore-running types of what was fulfill'd on the natural spirit of Saints by the first Gospel-rain of Christ's risen Spirit upon them And this yet was but a type of the more abundant effects of the latter rain of the same Spirit in the last days Under that first rain were they impowred to find out and cure both bodily and spiritual diseases by forgiving all Sins that were of a pardonable nature Joh. 20. 23. But under the former or latter rain are Saints not to assume any thing to themselves but ascribe all to the new-creation power of their Lord and Head Act. 3. 12 16. To him must they ever own and pay their subjection though in marriage union with him by partaking of his Spirit Nor does the Saint by surrender of his will and life to Christ in order to live in his will and Spirit any more lose his distinct personality from Christ's than the distinction of sexes is lost in the litteral marriage-union of man and woman The Saint by union with Christ lives wholly in his will at last and so is possess'd of his power and riches Whatever he asks in that will new name or life of Christ is given him Joh. 16. 23. This Spirit qualified Saints above all the inticing words and thoughts of man's or Angel's natural wisdom that 's but vain Philosophy for their distinct respective Offices in the Gospel-Church as Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers c. By the diversity of the gifts and operations thereof was every of them fitted for their distinct Offices in the assemblies of Saints 1 Cor. 12. 4 11. They were thereby enabled rightly to discern and determine all things according to the mind of Christ And hereby did they gain Love from those that believed and fear from those that would
just hand of God upon them will they take all opportunities to effect what they have long desired even the compleat slaughter of the two witnesses And in all this the Devil discovers himself only in his powerful influencing of outward and visible means towards the carrying on this great design But he is furnished also with inward mystical weapons to fight against God and his spiritual Saints in this latter age that are of a more dangerous nature than the other For these will he use as in the very name and authority of Christ committing therein the highest treason against him In such exercise of his diabolical power will he send forth his false spirits in Christ's new-creation-name as false Christs to make false Apostles joining men with themselves in all sorts of spiritual craft to deceive Spiritual Saints This by such lying signs and wonders of such a deep hidden nature as if Christ had not laid an impossibility on them would deceive the very Elect. On the one hand in imitation of the Cross of Christ will Satan say he is in the Wilderness or secret Chambers on the other in a counterfeit resurrection-state will he exalt himself by sinful transformation into his heavenly spiritual life All this by an angelical ministration knowing Christ's fore-running dispensation to his everlasting Gospel-day by his holy Angels to be at hand as the only means to raise up his slain witnesses out of their Graves And thus have we observed the hand or means by which the two witnesses are to be slain and what the slaying of them is Visible and invisible enemies Men and Devils will combine against them to bring them into such a captivity as all former under Law or Gospel have bin but fore-running types of and so seen by spiritual Prophets and Saints under both dispensations Jeremy Ezekiel Daniel c. have declared this last and great day of sore trouble such as never hath been or shall be So also hath Christ himself prophesied Mat. 24. 21. This very season is indeed the sum of Daniel's many visions the result of what is held forth by the two Kings of the North and South in all the variety and differing appearances they have bin in towards one another through the common profaneness of the former in the cold dead corrupt spirit of nature and the warmth or zeal of the latter in and for the first-covenant life and righteousness of Man Through the powerful influence of the Devil on both can he soder and unite them in a combination against the Saints of the most high so as to bring forth a day of utmost trial and trouble to them For this end Daniel saw these two Kings joined together as the Devil 's twofold weapon in the corrupt and refined principles of nature speaking lies at one Table Dan. 11. 27. and setting or joyning their hearts and hands to mischief true Saints And so both of them in union of mind with the Devil will do his work in effecting the death of the two witnesses Thus will Satan by the practise of the most refined spiritual wickedness and in the expressing greater malice than ever before when his reign draws neer to an end employ all his instruments of cruelty muster up all his force and power for the slaying of Christ's two witnesses And he with his instruments will prosper herein to the accomplishing of their death This we find in the mighty King in Daniel that was to arise last and the beast in John's vision that at end of the Sack-cloth prophecy was to ascend out of the bottomless pit furnished with all sorts of weapons and instruments not only to war upon but overcome and kill Christ's twofold witnessing Saints magnifying himself against the God of Gods The same thing was repeated to Daniel in the vision of the four beasts commonly understood to point out those four Monarchies that are to spend out the remaining ages of the World during the Devil's active power and man's day The fourth beast is described as far worse than any of his Fellows being strong dreadful and terrible and so furious and malicious as with its great iron teeth not only to devour and break in pieces but stamp the residue under his feet This beast had also ten horns and another little horn came up among them which is in a signal manner to war with and prevail against the Saints of the most high Dan. 7. 21. The fourth beast and little horn figure out the utmost strength the Devil from the beginning kept in reserve for this last and most bloody design At the end of the Sack-cloth prophecy in the appointed time of three years and an half will the two witnesses be slain by the little horn Daniel saw come up last and in the least and most unlikely appearance for such a design yet by it the most bloody battel is to be fought in which the twofold witnesses are to be overcome and killed and that in such an enraged malice of their Enemies as not to have any burial permitted them By all may appear the Devil will then rally up all his forces in an universal conjunction of all sorts of principles that are singly natural humane and angelical to bring this most dismal season that ever was experienced by Saints Herein will Satan cause as was shewed Daniel such abominations as shall make wholly desolate all sorts of visible worship and humane affairs Then will all moral and civil Laws customs and constitutions be broken and changed to the setting open a flood-gate and causing an inundation of all sorts of wickedness litteral and spiritual And hereby will be denied both liberty to Saints and propriety to men even to all that shall either from spiritual or rational principles at that season refuse to receive the mark of the beast by not joining with the Devil for slaying the two witnesses litterally or mystically This sad season to be brought on the true spiritual Israel of God was lively represented to Ezekiel by the valley of dry bones Ezek. 37. 1 2. Thus by faith had he a view so long before of these two witnesses that are to be brought into the most deplorable circumstances to the enlightned reason of man imaginable This is implied in the judgment the then house of Israel figure hereof made of themselves saying our bones are dried our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts Secondly On this sad condition and slaughter of the two witnesses or whole house of spiritual Israel in the last and most perillous times their enemies will be found in the height of joy and satisfaction looking with great delight on the dry bones or dead bodies of the said house of Israel the two witnesses during the three years and half or time of them utmost extremity in which not permitted burial As an expression of this joy and gratification of their spiritual lust will they send presents to each other as triumphing over the slain witnesses of Christ which