is a wicked and disallowed ministry rejected and reprobated by God and doth in his heart conclude that the righteousness of Christ is one thing to one Saint and another thing in another Saint that it is of one virtue in one age of the world and of another virtue more or less or some alteration in another age this is reprobate doctrine rejected and reproved by God For our Apostle saith I beat down my body not the body of another So that they who seem to beat down sin in another and know not how to make it their own as it being naturally in that body whereof they by nature are such are in this ministry of reprobation therefore all such as go about to cry down a sin which was committed in a body destitute of humane nature that is the sin of angels before man was or at the least before man sinned these beat down sin in another not in their own body a sin say they which man was never guilty of nor subject unto for say they man sinned by means of a tempter but the evil angels the devils they sinned without a tempter these men preach in another not in themselves and these our Apostle by transferring the thing to himself concludes by the Spirit of God that it is a reprobate and rejected ministry disallowed of God in all good men throughout all ages They therefore that preach a sin without that body whereof man by nature is which are all those which preach the fall of angels not to be the proper fall of man and the sin of the devil in its first act not to be the proper sin of man as well as of Satan all these are reprobate ministers and this their ministry is reproved rejected and disallowed of God Again they who preach a righteousness a wisdome a sanctification or redemption that is in another but not in themselves or that which is not in all the Saints of God as really as they in it or as really in all as in any one these preach in another but not in themselves they build up or seem to do another not their own these are reprobate ministers such as are rejected and disallowed of God And wherewithall shall these men come before the Lord and bow themselves before the high God shall they come before him with burnt-offerings with calves of a year old will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oyl shall they give their first-born for their transgression or the fruit of their body for the sin of their soul But thou O man of God who art known of him he shall shew unto thee what is good yea what that good thing is which is only acceptable unto him and what doth he require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to abase thy self in point of all humane excellencies that so thou may walk in the power and glory of thy God Amen S. G. The Preface THe piece presented according to the nature of it is as a judge of assize riding his circuit who being set on the seat of judgement is as a man ignorant of all causes apertaining to that place where he is so set as also impartial with respect to any mans person for he knows no man But when the cause is produced the parties brought in and examined with observation of their countenance carriage and demeanure together with manner of speech and all circumstances The witnesses standing up being such as are free from the act as also from passing of sentence and yet have really communicated in the act by eye or ear or some of the sences in way of approbation or dislike The voluntary declaring their testimony without any extraction obstruction interruption or mollestation and it recorded The case opened declared and made manifest The records of the law read seriously considered and skilfully interpreted The Auditours satisfied in the conviction of the guilty and clearing of the innocent And the spirit of the judge animated through sound and indubicable knowledge of the matter and conscience of his office freely determineth in case of right and wrong passeth sentence of absolution or condemnation without either fear or flattery and such manner of progress expect in this presented and so I adventure it to publick view as a thing impartiall having sufficient in it self for its own defence S. G. Matth. the 23. 29. Wo unto you scribes and pharises hypocrites c. THis is the seventh wo denounced by Christ in this chapter against scribes and pharises being hypocrites and once being blind guides to lay open the fearfnl estate and condition of such as oppose Christ Jesus in his doctrine and seek by all means to insnare and intangle him therein to make him appear unto men as a guilty person that so all men might contemn and dispise his sayings as is plentifully declared in the former chapter which is not to be limited or confined to any particular time or age of the world as excluding others nor to any particular rank or calling of men as belonging to them and not to others But is to be taken according to the true etymology of the phrases which are here expressed The word scribe signifies an expounder of the law and so the Evangelist Luke hath it saying wo be to you expounders of the law that is ye reporters of or bringers in the original and first foundation of the law and records of the kingdome The word pharise signifies one who curiously divides makes distinctions in the interpretation or prophesie foretelling what will insue and come to pass upon the principles and foundations premised which are never separated and therefore Luke concludes them in one Luke 11. 52. saying Wo be to you lawyers or wo be to you interpreters of the law The word hypocrite or dissembler is therefore added to declare that they give a false exposition and interpretation of the law of God both in the ground and original of things as also in all the success and prosecutions thereof otherwise the words scribes and pharises might be taken in a good sense 1. The word hypocrite properly signifies a stage-player which sort of men we know are counterfeits in divers respects first they counterfeit the persons of men representing godly or noble men when they are of no such disposition nor degree so do false interpreters represent the person of Christ yet cannot but confess he is as far remote as heaven is from earth 2. The stage-players counterfeit the records and histories of a kingdome as though they were now in their wise and grave agitation and solemnization when as they cannot but confess there is nothing but a bare resemblance of them and so do false interpreters they treat of the records and histories of the Scripture when as they confess they were in act long ago and are not now in present and real existance 3. The stage-players counterfeit time pretending the season of Gods providence
doth eternize the spirit of the creature which by its own nature and property is momentany and mortal So that in this inocculation of the wisdome or word of the creature all the motions and operations springing up in the Creatour as being the stock which in it self is eternal are all translated and changed into temporallity and mortality and so the power of God works effectually in the way of death as the wisdome of God implanted in the weakness of man the creature comes to work effectually in that way of eternal life and that whole state or tree is but one eternal Son and Saviour And in that implanting of the wisdome of man in the power of God that whole state or tree is a state of mortallity and destruction and is but one son of perdition and law of sin and death because all that spring up and what fruit it yields is of the nature of the science and doth not savour of the stock at all but is become mortal and diabolical even as a man in that way of Christ is become eternal and the real son of the immortal God So long therefore as an eternal wisdome abides to draw forth the stock in whatsoever it yields according to the nature of the science so long shall the fruits of righteousness and delight appear upon the Saints in a blessed estate and condition And so long as the power and plenty of an eternal stock yields any motion or matter of growth so long shall that graft or science of the wisdome of the flesh mortalize it and change it into corruption in it self then the which greater indignity cannot be done unto a pure and immortal word or spirit so long shall that unhappy guilty and accursed condition of the wicked abide and remain so that both estates have their pereminency arising from the eternity of the holy word of God though the one be a state of the eternal life and the other a state of eternal death and the stock of each is no proper cause of the fruit which the whole tree yields and forever brings forth Take in also Christs inference and conclusion in these words therefore you shall receive the greater damnation Mat. 23. 14. The word damnation implies a disinheriting and binding over to distruction and by greater here we are not to understand it comparatively with respect to others damned but superlatively as the greatest measure of distruction so that false interpreters are in the grand condemnation that is they receive no less then damnation of the devil who is a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth or inheritance Iohn 8. 35 44. a false interpreter therefore is the grand sinner and therefore receives the damnation of the devil for as the serpent set himself nearer to God then the woman as knowing more of God then she did Gen 3. â— 2 3 4 5. So do those false interpreters these hypocritical praâ—ers as though their calling were nearer to God then others of their brethren wherein they act the part of the serpent and are in the grand condemnation of the devil so in Scripture Language the eldest is said to be the greater Gen. 25. 23. the Hebrew word Rab whereof great men are called Rabbies as first or chief in place and office is translated by the holy Ghost in Greek the greater Rom. 9. 12. so that whilst men talk of Original sin speaking they know not what for mans sin cannot be Original if there was sin in the devil before they are in the very progress thereof and are in that act of false expounding of the law of God as truly the first bringers of sin into the world as the continuation thereoâ— for a spirit cannot be devided though the kingdome wherein it works may and they have the proper spirit of the serpent which is only to make false repo t of the word of God whether to a mans self or to others which may be comprehended in this bud namely that one Saint or Son of God is nearer to God and in more fâ—vour and respect with God then another or that God was ever or at any time or in any thing at one with himself out of mankind For a man to conclude that any Saint of God fails or falls short of the grace of God in any particular wherein another hath interest is that root of bitterness or gall of wormwood which springs up to the trouble of all the world for it is that which springs up as the Greek translates en cholee with gall Dent. 29. 18. and enochlee with trouble Heb. 12. 15. having both the bitterness of death in it being the bond iniquity Acts 8. 23. and the trouble and vexation of disinheriting in the loss of the first birthright therefore the Apostle brings in the fornication and profaneness of Esau thereupon as under the guilt of sin Heb. 12. 16. as also the trouble of his being disinherited as seeking a blessing too late with tears for there is no place of repentance found in the father Heb. 12. 17. or way to change his mind forever the Apostle concludes this to be the defilement of many that is to say of all the world for so the word many is taken Rom 5. 18. We would think that man a fool that went about to teach any humane art to another if he did not conclude that the principles thereof were wrapt up as in a bud in the disciple and he only indeavours the drawing of them out in their proper luster and use otherwise a man might as well set himsâ—lf awork to teach a dog or a horse humane arts who are altogether destitute of that proper nature in which they are only found and if we understand the bud we see the whole tree therein and wrong the bud if we give it not the glory of it And though a grain of mustardseed be one of the smallest seeds yet it hath branches for the fouls of heaven to make their lodging in the branch or under the shadow of it Matt. 13 31. unto which Christ compares the kingdome of heaven So that if we give not the whole glory of the kingdome unto the seed in which it is involved we give not the seed its proper right and due which belongs unto it but are faâ—sifiers of the word of God And no man can look upon a Saint destitute of the seed of God 1 Iohn 3. 9. nor void of the Spirit of God Rom. 8. 9. he therefore that gives not the seed the glory of the whole off-spring of God he wrongs the kingdome and is a false interpreter and he that denies the Spirit of God the compleat life and virtue of the Son of God he is a false expounder of the work and operation of God and so is under that grand condemnation Matth. 23. 14. of the devil That ministry therefore that spends its time study and care in seeking and hoping for the transfusing of the Spirit of Christ into such hearts
us read it in the woman and the serpent from the beginning Again if we say it is we as we are men that must be made better by our endeavours and use of means and not the son of God then we divide our selves from Christ making his condition one and our own another which is to divide Christ and hath ever been from the beginning that main bar of infidelity that shuts men out from entring into that rest of God Heb. 4. 1. 2. 7. which is to interpose some good thing yet to be attained by doing or suffering that is not yet in its perfection in the state of a Saint of God this is to reckon and account of our selves according to the proportion and measure of a Creature and not according to the dimensions of the son of God which is and ever was that great contest between the Angel of God and the Devil about the body of Moses or incorporated state according to law whether it is to be measured according to the periods and limitations of the Creature or according to the illimited and immense condition and incomprehensible state of the son of God Zach. 3. 1. 2. Iude 9. Again if we interpose a thing that is evil between God and the perfection of his Son or Saints as sin Devil fall of man terrours of the law spots and breaches in our sanctification stains of conscieuce and the like then we either adde unto the death of Christ who is a lamb sâ—ain from the beginning Revel 13. 8. who was made sin for us or in our nature in them that perish proportionable unto that righteousnesse of God which we that beleeve are made in him or in that nature divine which is infinite and therefore neither sin nor righteousnesse can admit of increase or diminution 2 Cor. 5. 21. 2 Pet. 1. 4. Christ then having perfectly suffered the just for the unjust nothing is to be added thereunto under the pain of making his death ineffectuall 1 Pet. 3. 18. which it is in every one who makes it not perfect infinite and all sufficient And if the evils we bring in be such as concern us and not the son of God then we take them up upon our selves as we being the saviours and deliverers of our selves being out of that proper state and condition of the son of God and so deny the death of the son of God to be that which it is namely to comprehend and comprize aâ—l evill whatsoever as his life comprehends all good and so take upon us to bear our own burthen in that state of death and of the damned for ever And thus false Interpreters bring in a Tree of the knowledg of good and evill to be communicated with in the perfecting of the word and work of God which is the way of the Serpent in his seed at this day which ever kils and murders the true Prophet in not suffering the life and Spirit of the word of God to come forth and appear which life is ever taken away by them to raise up advance and maintain the life of the flesh in all the lusts pride glory power and abominations thereof according to their present state as they can stand with the rank and station wherein they are set or serve in way of further preferment Therefore saith Christ Behold that is look up and wonder to your astonishment and overthrow for ever for so much the word Behold imports in this place I send unto you saith he Prophets c. the persons to whom he speaks here are false Interpreters who judge falsely of the word and work of God whether in themselves teaching and declaring it to others or approving it from others it matters not it is alike detestable in all the Serpent divulging and the woman approving is all one in this point and to parties of this rank and quality the son of God utters these words Behold I send unto yon Prophets Wise men and Scribes which are all taken in a good sense as good and holy men in this place sent from the Lord our righteousnesse from whence this question may be moved namely how the word of God by good men yea by the Son of God himselfe may be said to be sent to wicked men yea to false Interpreters thereof which spirit of falshood is never found but in the Devil himselfe 1 This point narrowly scanned may breed some commotion in the mind of man for if God send his word unto the wicked which hath salvation in it then if he deal plainly with them whose nature it is so to do his intent is to do them good therby and to save them and if so then salvation depends upon the will of the Creature in the approving or disallowing in its reception or rejection thereof 2 Again if God do not intend their salvation that is of these wicked Scribes and Pharisees unto whom he sends it then he may seem to pretend one thing in sending it unto them and to intend an other which is deceit and therefore he being a God of truth which cannot lie or feign a thing to be which is not it may seem that he sends his word only unto the elect of God which is contrary unto this expression of Christ but the son of God being one is at unity in all his enterprises 3 Furthermore the waters may seem to be troubled in this point in regard that the word of God was never sincerely expressed as the word of God sent from him but by one who is of the faith of Iesus made one with God by vertâ—e of that covenant of grace in Christ for in other way the Lord never sent nor uttered himself in his own language and upon his own proper terms for otherwayes it is not the word of God but the word of man which is naught and brings to naught Therefore if the word of God be sent by a Prophet a Wise man or Scribe men that are godly and holy as the word is holy being one with it for the word of Christ never appeared nor uttered it self but in and by the spirit of man for if it come not from him in whom God and man consist in one it is not the word of Christ how then can it be sent to all wicked men seeing as many men live and dye and a godly man never cometh nigh unto them yea it may be as is like people and nations if we look but upon the Moores Indians and Barbarians in these our dayes doubtlesse it is and hath been the case of many thousand men in the world never to hear a Prophet and holy man of God speak although Scribes and Pharisees may speak plentifully for their own advantage as also many Infants dying before they have the use of reason a godly man therefore can never be sent or expesse himselfe unto them 4 Add further the voice of Satan never uttered it self but as man was really considered therein so it was in Cain in whom
doe all things through Christ who strengthens him for we dare not deny him to be set in heavenly places in Christ yea at the right hand of power and therefore sits at the stearn of the world layes hold on the helm and governs the ship to guide it unto its appointed haven A Christian is stil saying let there be light and it is so he shall ever divide the light from the darknes the waters that are above the firmament from the waters that are below the out-spread firmament In a word he is forever to form all things out of that antient Chaos of God and Man being made one which is a formless confusion unto the highest topped-up pinacles of the wisdome of this world but onely as they beat out a tract unto themselves through the Schools of mens policies and traditions But a Christian knows how to adorn that world whereof Christs Kingdome doth consist with all those glorious ornaments of that new heaven and earth wherein righteousness and peace dwels for ever where sin and sorrow fly away and that out of the antient Chaos that abides for ever and it is his glory and perpetuated work in God as also his rest from all the works of darkness and death to give every thing a right and due form and an effectual nature and name or authority according thereunto placing them in their proper relations and giving them their operations in the propagating and promoting of the glory of God And this is a labour which for ever beseems the honour and dignity of a Son of God who will never be disrobed of his creating virtue as to admit a cessation thereof no more than he can lay aside the glory of his power to preserve order and govern his kingdom And this work or labour hath the rest of God intayled and is never out of conjunction therewith which is a day of rest or cessation from all operations of that evill one yea it is a Sabbath or as the word signifies an Host or Army not bounded by evening and morning for it admits not of any period in the one nor in the other for neither beginning nor end thereof can be found out And this rest and labour are of the same duration and continuance else were a Christian utterly undone but God hath made him Lord in or of this Sabbath for ever whilst the carnal Jew even those amongst whom you are are in bondage under their Sabbath for it Lords it over them which they have set up as a God of time as they have their Gods of creatures and bodily exercises and this they fall down and kneel unto as a God of four and twenty hours continuance Wee know the Word of the Lord hath been amongst them and they have rejected it which makes them so carefull to guard themselves against you having felt the fury thereof as a savour of death unto them If you expect a feed of God among them take heed it prove not of the God of this world that seed of the serpent Some of them may seem to commiserate people in prison or in some want or outward necessity which is the top of their Religion to bee of that compassion which Peter seems to express when he said Master pittie thy self let not this come upon thee not judging rightly but fatanically of the Cross of Christ than the which there is nothing else that a Christian gloryes in and desires as it is that Baptism wherewith he is baptized which in desiring he still desires in the accomplishing of it as really as hee that sits upon the white horse goeth forth conquering and to conquer for if the Fountain of every thing in Christ were not inexhaustible heaven should have an end salvation ceased for there is nothing in Christ wherein salvation doth not consist and that for ever And to preach or profess Christ otherwise falsifies the Gospel and makes the faith of the Son of God of no effect We conclude then that labour and rest harmonize and kiss each other in the Kingdom of God consisting so in one that they shall never be parted without demolishing of that work wherein God himself is one not onely as a maker but is made Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption in that mystical body of Christ which workmanship and Masterpeece of Gods Wisdom and Skil is onely abolished in the men of the world and ever was from the beginning for the wicked are estranged from the womb but in the Saints it never was nor shall be impaired for they are a congregation of the firstlings of God which abide for ever Whereas you please to say Wee are vvandring from mountain to hill in our imaginations seeking rest but knovv not the place thereof Indeed it is true we know not that rest which the world ever seeks after in that way of the unclean spirit which goes out of the man of sin seeking it in barren and dry places which are altogether destitute of the dews of heaven that are the waterings of Zion and of that Riveret which refrâ—sheth the City of God But that rest which the Son of God attains and betakes himself unto in his labour of love in the ending of all carnal operations of soul that rest which yet remains for the people of God as to enter into being daily as really renewed as our Apostle protests he dies daily although it be that which we have entred into from the beginning being of an eternall rise as all things proper to the Son of God are who however it be true that he is a man yet that which makes him to be such a man is of God and not of the creature and that in all things yea death it self in Christ is not the death of a meer creature or a momentany death but it is the eternal death of the Son of God for what Christ is or doth once it abides such for ever and otherwise no truth of the Gospel appears This rest therefore we seek as diligently as the woman sought her lost groat and by sweeping that vast house of God of all uncleannes and superfluous things which cannot be done but by carrying them into their proper place in which place of uncleanness we see what the loss of all the things of God as wealth and glory is which wealth and honour of God we find through our own emptiness of all superfluous things of man which continued and eternal act of loss of the Sonne of God in the world is a perpetual renewed joy in the finding of him in our selves which joy and rest wee wait for to come in our selves everlastingly as really as wee have the present possession thereof and see our selves in it also from everlasting with respect to time past for wee judge not no not of our selves according to mans judgement but according to the account and judgement of God And for our imaginations they are such as we can give a like good and certain account of
it were better for me to die then any man should make my glorying vain that is it were better for me to loose this natural and bodily life in the want of all necessaries tending to the support and supply thereof or it is better for me to die dayly unto them in spirit as he saith of himself in another place so as the want of them cannot Anoy me no more then it can anoy or trouble a man void of natural sence rather th n any man or as the word will bear then any thing should make my glorying vain or void and empty as if he should say I had rather be as a man dead then that any temporary or transient thiug whatsoever should be brought in as an ordinance of Christ or any part of the glory and fulfilment of the gospel for it being full and compleat of it self in Christ cannot admit of any riches honour wisdom or power but it s own as any means of its supply nor of any office institution Sacramental sign or relation which is not of the nature of the Son of God but in time ceaseth and vanisheth away for then my glory or my boasting or thinge of my praises which I only speak well of would admit of an emptiness and vacuities in it self in case it should have need oâ— supply and to be fulfilled with such things as are not of like worth and duration with any thing whereof it doth not consist and must of necessity suffer loss in the cessation of any such thing as should fade and vanish away in case it should come into the account of any supply or means of the glory thereof no temporary thing therefore whatsoever office relation or bodily exercise institution or order that vanisheth is to be named as any excellency of the gospel for then my praise and my glory namely the Lord Jesus should have an emptiness in him which is worse then death for an apostolical heart to give way unto Vers 16. For though I preach the gospel or thus for if I preach the gospel I have nothing to glory of that is if I faithfully publiâ—â— and declare doing 〈◊〉 embassage s ilfully concerning that good news came down to mankind from heaven then I have nothing of mine own proper to the sons of men in the of their wisdome counsels and indeavours to boast of or to glory in as if he should say the gospel is so full and compleat in the son of God who is filled with all the fulness of God that there can be no transitory thing subject to be bounded within the confines of this mortal life brought into the account and reckoning thereof for then man might have something to glory in or boast of which is altogether excluded that so all the praise and glory thereof may be of God which is immortal and fades not and not of the creature therefore to bring in things subject only to this life as parts and ordinances of the gospel is not to preach the gospel in the glory of it but to boast and glory in the creature and not in the things of God which is nothing else but abominable Idolatry For necessity is laid upon me necessity is twofold first in point of want and penury as if I should say I am destitute and stripped of all humane and carnal glory and excellencie such as the carnal Jew adorns himself with unto the putting of Christ to death of which stock I naturally come as I am made of the dust of the earth for by nature we are the children of wrath even as others so that necessity is upon me to exclude all boasting for I am laid waste and empty of all glory humane as the spirit of God hath breathed upon it and made it to appear to be vanity even as grass So also by nature considered in my ancestours the carnal Jew I am destitute of the glory and virtue of the Son of God for it is impossible that a creature simply considered should have any of those virtues and properties peculiar to the creatour as an eternal salvation and life my necessity in that point also stands in an utter devastation of all divine good yet is my necessity in point of being laid wast of all the wisdome and glory of the creature the proper and only capacity for the reception injoyment and exercise of all those eternal and unsearchable treasures proper only to the son of God Secondly there is a necessity of urgency and constraint so as the things of God are of that plenty virtue and motion that they inforce and constrain unto the devulging and promulgation thereof therefore it is said that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force for the things of the kingdome of God in whomsoever they please to convent themselves as an Original fountain and well-head and from thence to distribute and dispence themselves as a living spring there can be no more stoppage made in the outlet and dispersing of them abroad then there can be any prevention of their inlet and reception into the places appointed for them for as it was in the beginning when no dry land appeared or as in case of the deluge when the waters covered the earth the spirit of God testifies that they went up by the mountains and down by the valleys into the place which God had appointed for them even so it is in this case neither way of ascention nor yet of discention can hinder the Spirit of God those waters of the Sanctuary from the proper place appointed for their abode therefore he saith And wo is unto me or as the word is wo is in me if I preach not the gospel this word wo is a phrase wherein the tenure of the curse is expressed signifying a state most base trod upon as being beneath all things that ever God made having in it a deprivation of all good that ever God placed in the creature whereof the Image of the creatour is the sum therefore an utter loss and departure of all good together with the succession and real possession of all evils as houlding proportion in way of Antithesis in all points with that Image and goodness of God which is lost which cannot be less then of an infinit and eternal extent which is the ground and Original of all vexation and penalty in that way of eternal death And the not preaching of the gospel is accompanied with them both namely the loss of God and all goodness for he only is good and the possession of all evil which in that loss inevitably succeeds for according to the goodness of a thing lost ruinated or perverted through our own default such is the evil that succeeds this being written in all mens hearts therefore men proportion punishments for offenders as they judge of the nature of the fact wherein they preach a greater point then themselves are aware of it is well if it prove not condemnatory to
teachers Phil. â— 19. For they move not but to satisfie their carnall appetite with honour wealth friendship outward peace and prosperity to be strengthned in the arm of flesh and leave plenty of such things unto their posterity Oh ye Serpents that move not but upon the cause of your belly to satisfie your corporeall body and life and when you attain to any preferment herein your religion either becomes a slavish underling or else withers quite away as the Serpent casts his withered slough or skin in the heare of Summer Yea he goes upon his belly breast or heart as the word imports that is their principal part signified by breast or heart cleaves unto the earth that is unto carnal and terrene things their mind understanding wisdom will affections and conscience yea all their learning is carnal earthly in the very prime and height thereof so that their principal aptitudes as breast or heart move not but upon the earth other creatures tread upon the earth as a thing mean and base put under their feet the Serpent moves not but layes it to his heart and bosom Oh Serpents the original of the curse of God but for false interpretation there had never been curse in the world nor wrath of God upon mankind which consists in going upon the belly or breast that is in carnalizing the word of God going upon it as upon the words of mâ—ns wisdom and principles not according to the wisdom and power of God 1 Cor. 2. 5. And in the words of mans wisdome and principles the letter of the Scriptures doth properly consist as is apparent to all that are not wilfully blind by the histories thereof proverbs parables relations offices buildings battels journeyings genealogies life and death of the Saints with the nature and operations of all Creatures in the heavens and on the earth which we see come in some sort within the confines of humane capacity which is the common doctrine of the world only adorning it as with God or making it as their God which is that which the Hebrews call Cashaph of which the Greeks have formed their word â—a caino and the Latins Fascino which is to bewitch and is the changing of the glory of the incorruptible God into thè image of a corruptible man and into birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things Rom. 1. 23. Which is nothing else but to place the glory of God to consist in conformity with the letter of the Scripture which is naturally written in every mans heart else the word of God could not expresse it selfe in all men that is in such as unto whom the spirit of God is not given also such as never had the written word of God could not lie under the breach of any known law of God and therefore their consciences could not accuse or excuse which is the portion of all men Rom. 2. 15. for doubtlesse the sound of the Scriptures is gone into all the earth and their words unto the end of the world Rom. 10. 18. 3 Thirdly the Serpent is known by his food dust shalt thou eat saith God Gen. 3. 14. to declare the basenesse of his proper sustentation to be such as all creatures decline dry dust can bring forth nothing that is good to perfection Isaia 65. 25. This is the food of all false Interpreters they carnallize and corrupt the word of God in all things for as dust is void of moisture which makes the earth fruitful so do they bereave the word of God of all that moisture and oyly intent of the Spirit or else it s no acceptable food for them to sustain the works of the slesh in terrene glory and beauty Oh Serpents that feed on nothing but basenesse by the verdict of God for to cast the word of God into a transitory form is nothing else but that unclean Spirit of the Devil which Christ here as his manner is rebukes for though there be an acknowledgement of Christ to be the Son of the most high God yet in that they professe Christ to be another thing than themselves are for they are affraid of being tormented by him therefore reckon themselves to be another thing for Christ doth not torment himselfe no man hates his own flesh Ephes 5. 19. In this they appear to have that unclean Spirit for it is and ever was the very form of the Devil so to do as really as it is the form of the Son of God to make himselfe one with the Father Iohn 10. 30. Iohn 14. 9. Therefore Christ rebukes such as unclean spirits yea that spirit of Satan as such as hath no interest in them that are his Mark 5. 7. 8. Oh Serpents who feed so basely as upon the husk the shell the barke and rinde of the word of God whereby the curse is formed and maintained in the world forsake the â—eed of immortality the kernel the sap the pith and the marrow of all things which is the scope intent and spirit of all things recorded and registred in the word and works of God 4 Fourthly the Serpent is known by his hearing for his custome is to stop his ear though the Charmer charm never so wisely Psalm 58. 5. he will not hear now we know that to charm a thing is to utter the same tune note speech or language which that uttereth which we are about to charm with an interposition or infinuation of something whereby to take with guile in the motion or coming forth of the thing as the Apostle useth the word guile in a good sense 2 Cor. 12. 16. But this Serpent in false Interpretation stops the ear let the good Charmer charm never so wisely it will not hear that is let the Son of God in tru interpretation opening of the word of God sound forth speak in the very same note tune which mans heart is known by naturally according to the history proverb parable and progresse of the word of God in way of ushering it into the heart of man or bringing forth the thoughts of mans heart to symbolize and agree therwith as it is propounded in the figure similitude metaphor allegory and dialogiums thereof yet when the truth of the thing appears which the spirit of God intends and is properly taken with against that doth the Serpent and false and subtle interpreter stop his ear even as it is said of the Serpent that he layes one ear to the ground and stops the other with his tayle wherein his life and motion properly resides for some Serpents after their head be cut off will live and move many hours which life and motion appears properly in the tayl So these false Interpreters when truth appears stop their ear in one respect with an earthly conjecture and conception of the word of God and in another respect with that lively aptitude which naturally they have to move and act in such carnal and sensuall wayes and respects which resides in the tail or in
pittance thereof is applicable to every particular beleever in any or in all ages of the world and to tye the salvation of God unto any time or party concerned in that mystical body of Christ more than to any other is to divide Christ and may as well say that Paul was crucified for us as to ascribe more power of salvation to one Saint than to another â— Cor. 1. 13. for it is nothing else but to deny God to be all in all Ephes 1. 23. Therefore false Interpreters are the proper and immediate Actors of that so cruel and bloody murther in the shedding of one and the same innocent blood of the Son of God for no more than Christ can be divided or the proper spirit and life of his word can be made twain Iohn 6. 6â— or the spirit of Satan halfed or parted which is the quenching of that immeasurable spirit of God in all its vertuous operations no more can any false Interpreter of the word of God free himself from being guilty of all the righteous and innocent bloodshed upon the Earth since the foundation of the World Therefore in the fifth place Christ affirms in way of an asseveration or oath saying Verily Amen or So be it to that which he hath and shall affirm concerning this matter being irrevocable confirmed by an avowed sentence which depends upon the truth and certainty of his being the word of God to perform and put in execution the same Verily I say unto you that all these things shall come upon this generation that is in how many respects that one Sacrifice of Christ is offered up to God as an holy and acceptable offering which is multiplyed according to the severall Sacrifices and Offerings appointed by the law which are innumerable in so many respects shall guilt in the annihilating of all these things come upon this generation of false interpretation of the law of God and also by how much the offices and Officers by the appointment of God are multiplyed in way of Family Tribe City Tabernacle Temple Army ' and in the whole Kingdom of God which cannot be numbred by so much shall the multiplication of guilt and condemnation come upon this generation for killing and unjust annihilating of them all therefore it is said that all these things shall come upon this generation of false Interpreters as with full force and power never to be resisted but it shall come upon this age line or off-spring of false interpretation of the word of God as it is the proper portion of every particular of them as their inheritance both by birth as being the seed and off-spring of the Serpent and also by due desert as purchased unto themselvs by their own act Mat. 3. 7. Hos 13. 9. 1 Note from hence that such are false Interpreters of the word of God who teach that only the sins committed in one time place or age shall come upon those who live in that age time or place they not being guilty of any other for it is the sin and guilt of all ages that every Unbeleever attracts ur to himself for it is the nature of the spirit sinning that attracts the guilt and not any place or tract of time therefore Luke saith it shall be required of this generation as one intire act for as the demand of the Almighty is but one in making inquisition for blood Psalm 9. 12. so the blood is but one the guilt is but one and it is but one act of exaction of penalty requiring it to the uttermost farthing at the hands of every one found in the Fact Matthew â— 26. It is to be admired to see how zealous some persons are to cut off exorbitant persons where they live to clear the Land of sin and so free it from Gods execution of vengeance if they can cut off the seed of the Serpent there were some hope to attain their end which is as difficult a thing to do as to dry up the water in the Ocean Sea or if they could take away the life of Cain whom God hath said no man shall kill Gen. 4. 15. for there is no man that is a meer man destitute of the Spirit of God but will uphold and maintain earthly Sacrifices which whilst men cry out against other exorbitances to the cutting off the lives of thousands as for Theft Murther Adulteries and the like which are not to be tolerated amongst men in the mean time the life of Cain is not only preserved but stood for and maintained in earthly worships and carnall and blemished Sacrifices halt lame and blind brought unto God wherein Cain lives as also the spirit of the Serpent is maintained in carnall policies subtle devises and enterprises in all estates callings and conditions of men though secretly carried on that the body and bulk of the people discern it not or else over-awed they dare not expresse it but Satan in such things can transform himself into an Angel of Light so as all hands shall set to to maintain it 2 Cor. 11. 14. 15. And this spirit of the Serpent or of such as wander in the way of Cain Iude 11. is that which attracts not only the guilt of the sin of the present age but also the sin of all ages past and to come if these Zealots could cut off this spirit from the Land it were a work that was never heard of that is that it hath not a residency upon the Earth yea in every earthly minded man though he never come under the breach of the lawes of man but could walk as Paul speaks of this Pharisaicall practice concerning the law blamelesse that is in the judgment reason of man Phil. 3. 6. if men could cleanse the world or their jurisdiction of this spirit which carries the guilt of the sin of all times and places in every particular time place and person when where or in whomsoever it properly acts then I should think they would not rest in Heaven till they had been in Hell to vanquish it there also and this is the spirit that every Christian contends with and stands in opposition against for falsifying of the word of God for ever and to shew the wickednesse thereof is his proper errand in the world in the justification of the words of wisdome which is of God but he can no more desire that such a thing should not be than he can desire a nullity of his own salvation or a cessation of the justice of God 2 Note further that they are no lesse false Interpreters of the word of God who reach that the labour of a Saint and glory wherewith he is clothed consists in those particular acts and operations done in that tract of time wherein he sojourns and abides here below conversant among these terrene creatures whereas it is true that his operations and the benefit and glory of them reacheth according to the extent of that spirit whereof he is and from which all his
out of an unclean and corrupt Fountain or habitation for Earth holds no correspondencie nor hath any congruity with Heaven the Creature with the Creator but falls infinitely short in all things not a blemish forbidden in all the Sacrifices and Offerings but in that respect he hath the defect superfluity and defilement upon him yet doth he corrupt a pure and holy thing in himself and unto himself namely the holy Word of God in the false construction thereof so that as this unclean Spirit corrupts a pure Word of Eternity in it self mortalizing it by putting it into a human form so also its return is into an house of uncleanness of like antiquity in point of the state of death and mortality and so is truly said to go out of an unclean habitation which never was otherwise and yet he makes it unclean and desolate of all the things of God unto himself by false interpretation bringing the will of God unto the mind of the Creature and not the mind of the Creature to the will of God But the Spirit of Christ coming out of a clean Fountain even from God himself and therefore is said to come forth from God and go to God Ioh. 13. 1. yet doth he purifie in himself that which by nature is otherwise unclean namely the spirit of man else were he not the son of Man as he is called a matter of eighty eight several times in the Prophecie of Ezekiel and according to the eternity of that Word or Spirit that purifies such is the state and condition of the purified for they are no more twain but one Mat. 19. 6. And thence it is that Man who otherwise is mortal lives an eternal and immortal life being that the Wisdom of God hath formed his mind according to the Will of God and not to the will or law of a creature and so Man in Christ who otherwise is mortal lives for ever and knows no death no more than En ch did Gen. 5. 24. who was translated that he should not see death Heb. 11. 5. That is that he should never tast of it or feel the nature thereof so the Psalmist saith Tast and see how gracious the Lord is Psal 34. 81. And the Son of God who otherwise is immortal doth in that way of Antichrist dye an eternal death where never any life appears but a mortal state and condition of like time of him who is mortalized therefore they are said to go into everlasting fire which must have respect to time past as well as time to come Mat. 25. 41. Therefore Tophet is prepared of old or of antiquity or from eternity as the word imports yea it is prepared for the King the burning whereof is fire and much wood and the breath of the Lord as a River of Brimstone kindles it Isaiah 30. 33. So that as antient as the breath of the Lord is so antient is that place of abode for the wicked therefore a full measure of wrath in point of time as well as present torment So that unclean spirit is said to take seven spirits worse than himself that is fulness of uncleanness and vexation which a creature simply considered could never have therefore his going out in the matters of God in a carnal manner is the way of his multiplication of mischief in himself therefore his house is empty and swept of all the things of God but furnished with all uncleanness and wickedness suitable to that unclean and wicked condition therefore the end of that man is worse than his beginning for the original and proper ground ofthis abomination ariseth from the creature whichin it self is but a finite thing as all other creatures are but his end and scope being to adorn himself with God in making him like to himself as the Psalmist speaks Psal 50. 21. thence it is that God becomes a fearfull and infinite death and torment to him which all the creatures in the world could never be And of such nature and concernment is the house or habitation of these false Teachers which is left unto them or in them desolate of all the things proper to God and filled with all the things of Satan even as Iudas was to become his own Executioner and the bursting of him in sunder that all men might see his abomination and shame who is said to goe to his own place Act. 1. 25. as one laid waste of all Apostleship and Ministry in the Faith of Christ and therfore his proper inheritance or habitation yeelds him nothing that is holy or profitable to Minister but is voyd and desolate of all Neither hath he any life or spirit to move or act in the things of God though tendred unto him for he is dead and gone to his own place and office of an eternal executioner of himself And this is the desolation of the habitation applied to Iudas the false and counterfeit betrayer of Christ with a kiss which Christ applyes hereunto all false Interpreters of the Word of God in these Scribes and Pharisees who faun upon Christ in their Doctrin in all lowly demeanour to maintain uphold him in the ways of the flesh by things mortal momentary therby give a sign unto the world for the betraying of that life and spirit of the Son of God into the cruel hands of the wicked that the law of the Spirit or Christ taught after the Spirit wilnot be suffered or endured among them the habitation of such Confessors Pharisees or Preachers of Christ with Iudas is left unto them desolate without any in-dwellings of the Spirit of God with them or any building up of the House of God by them but ruination of themselves and others with Iudas who are their maintainers and upholders The Reason of this Desolation and Destruction follows For ye shall not see me henceforth Whence observe that the want of Christs sight and revelation in the world is the cause of all ruin and desolation of the world as Christ affirms Without me saith he ye can do nothing Ioh. 15. 5. It is alike true without me ye have nothing without me ye are nothing Christ is unto man that Microsmos or little world as the Sun in the Firmament is unto this spherical world take away and annihilate the one or the other and all things therin perish and come to ruin Want of true Revelation is the cause of all Desolation and Destruction By seeing here we are to understand the communication of the sences The Apostle Paul saw Christ when he went to Damascus even that light that shined about him clearer than the Noon-day for it is said he saw no man Act. 22. 26. Act. 9. 8. That is he saw no humane shape of Christ though he opened his eyes to see but Christ according to the spirit in his mystical body was revealed unto him therefore he saith Am I not aâ— Apostle am I not free have I not seen our Lord Iesus 〈…〉 Cor. 9. 1. Paul alâ—â—â—eard