2. The Three in the Divine Essence or Father singly and abstractedly consider'd will be absolutely invisible to Saints and Angels in Heaven to all Eternity And the Divine Form Son or Glory thereof in Christ's Person will never be the immediate Object of their Sight but be let down to them in the first Conjunction thereof with his Creature-root through the exalted Creature-Son and Branch in him the immediate Creator of all This is the Branch God made strong for himself Psal. 80. 15. to perform his whole Divine Mind in both Creations in this World and the eternal World to come This is the Branch that shall reign on Earth execute Iudgment and Iustice therein as the Lord our Righteousness Jer. 23. 5 6. 33. 15 16. By and through this exalted Branch the immediate Do-all in both Creations will the same Three in the Divine Essence that shin'd forth in the Divine Form from Eternity let down themselves to blessed Angels and Saints to Eternity All the Three in the Divine Essence and heavenly Creature-Glories are one Trinity and that Trinity one individual God Iohn 10. 20. The Three that are One in the Divine Nature are the immediate Object to the Sight and Enjoyment of the whole Creature-nature in Christ Root and exalted Branch that 's in personal Union therewith but never so to any meer Creatures blessed Saints or Angels 1 Tim. 6. 15 16. Iohn 1. 18. Mat. 11. 27. They are personally united with the exalted Branch in him as Members of his mystical spiritual Body to which he is Head But never so to his Creature-root and much less yet to his Divine Nature The Three in the Divine Nature shining forth to meer spiritual Creatures by and through the exalted Branch are no where in Scripture call'd a Trinity nor said to be three Persons If they be three Persons as three distinct individual Angels or Men in Angelical or humane Nature are would they not be three distinct individual Gods would not this be the asserting a Tritheism the lesser sort of Polytheism If they be call'd three Persons it must be as acknowledg'd in a Unity transcendently above meer Creatures who are so in one specifical humane or angelical Nature The three in God are three in one individual Divine Nature shining forth to Saints and Angels in the Mediator's one individual Creature-nature which in and with his Divine Nature is with his Divine Father or Essence one individual God In this Sense if any may they be call'd three Persons But the acknowledging three distinct Powers in God may justly secure any from the Imputation of Antitrinitarianism They are so three that the first is not the second nor second the third The Divine Form in Christ is not the Divine Essence nor his creature-Creature-nature his Divine nor his Creature-root the Branch in him but all one individual incomprehensible God Iohn 10. 30. He that says knows and owns God the Father and his Divine and Creature-Son says all that God is or is God Man in the fallible Understanding and corruptible Will of his First-creation Life can never truly see rightly know and do the one Will of both All therefore that trust to their own Understanding deny both the Divine Father and the divine and heavenly Creature-Son Whosoever denies the Divine and Creature Son hath not the Father But he that rightly acknowledges the Son hath the Father also 1 John 2.22 23. Antichristian Deniers of both pass in reputed Orthodox Man's Day of Judging under Satan God of this World as the only true Christians excommunicating or casting out of their worldly Churches the true Owners of both as the arrantest Hereticks and Blasphemers in the World God the Son or Mediator in the Divine and Creature-glories of the Divine Essence or Father is call'd a Person 2 Cor. 2. 10. In his Creature-part he is call'd the Brightness of the Divine Glory in himself and therein the express Creature Image of God's whole Divine Person Essence and Form Heb. 1. 3. The Creature-root in the Mediator is God's Soul not immediately discernable to the highest spiritual Understanding of meer Creatures but in its first Conjunction with Divine Nature is let down to their Sight and Enjoyment in and by the exalted Creature-Son and Branch as God's Body or Visibility of all to them Of the Creature-root God's Soul himself says in reference to the unpardonably sinning Shepherds or pretending Teachers of the Way to Heaven and Peace with God in but the restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man my Soul loath'd them and their Soul also abhorred me Zech. 11. 8. Every individual Man in the three essential Ingredients into his personal Constitution Spirit Soul and Body 1 Thess. 5. 23. is a shadowy Image of the three in one God and of the Divine Spirit Creature-root or Soul and Creature-body or Branch in Christ's wonderful compounded Person Man in another Sense was in the primitive Purity of his whole Being a shadowy Image of God's Righteousness This was lost to all Mankind by their first Sin in and with Adam The Reason therefore of the threaten'd Death on Murderers that whosoever sheds Man's Blood by Man shall his Blood be shed for in the Image of God made he Man Gen. 9. 6. relates to Man's being the Image of God in the former Sense Gen. 1. 26 27. The Image of him in the latter being wholly lost the Murderers of him in reference to that might seem unaccountable The Spirit of Man singly and abstractedly consider'd may seem a dark Shadow of the very Divine Essence as comprehending in it a threefold distinct Life rational sensual and vegetable but all three invisible and unexercis'd till brought into hypostatical or personal Union with its fitly organiz'd Body And all the said three Lives when brought into Exercise are called a living Soul in distinction from the Spirit separately consider'd and from the Body that 's the personal Appearance or Visibility of the whole Man And in both and all the Man is but one Person CHAP. VII The Mystery of God in general of all that is truly called God and to be worship'd and in particular of God the Father or Divine Essence and of Christ the Divine and Creature-Son Col. 2. 2. both and all one incomprehensible God John 10. 30. IN general all are one individual God In particular the Divine Form or Son though most intimately one with the Divine Essence or Father in the one infinite Divine Nature became personally united with the Creature-form of God the Divine Essence or Father remaining ever single and uncompounded therewith Gal. 3. 20. A Mediator is not of one Nature but God in his Divine Essence is one God the Mediator as consisting of two Natures Divine and Creaturely in personal Union is fitted to mediate between infinite Divinity and finite Creaturality in blessed Angels and Saints for ever 1 Tim. 2. 5. The Divine and Creature-Son will remain a Mediator for ever in Heaven between infinite Divinity and elect Angels and
Angels and Men by a first Creation of them This Creature-Son and Branch is call'd by the Name of its peculiar divine Causer in the Creature-part of the Mediator's Person the Word This Word as the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Revel 13. 8. and exalted by and out of that Death into the originally unchangeable Life of his Creature-root and Father became the living Word of God and immediate Creator of all Angels and Men by a first Creation and of an innumerable Multitude of both by a second He will also be the immediate Performer of the whole Divine Will on all Angels and Men good and bad in the final Love or Wrath of God in Heaven or Hell to all Eternity 3. In order to all this did the third of the Divine Three call'd Holy Ghost cause the said Creature-root and Father as the supream mystical Abraham to perform a sacrificing Death-work on his Creature-Son and caus'd the said Creature-Son as the supream mystical Isaac not only to submit thereto in a compleat Passive Obedience to the Divine Will but in the supreamly partaken of heavenly Creature-life of his Root and Love thereto to join therewith in Active Obedience to the Divine Will for carrying on the said Death-work on himself The like did he in our mortal Nature when in the Fulness of God's appointed time taken by him in the Fountain-purity thereof above and beyond what it was in the first Adam before his Fall He was therein also full of Grace and Truth John 1. 14. full of the Holy Ghost Luke 4.1 He was Son of Man in Heaven in full Possession of the eternal Life of his Creature-root without any mortal Life about him at same time that he was Son of Man on Earth in our mortal Nature Iohn 3. 13. and long before All in Christ's Person below his infinite Divinity and Creature-root is call'd Man His whole Creature-nature Root and Branch in personal Union is the heavenly Creature-spirit or Holy Ghost render'd communicable to Angels and Men by the exalted Creature-Son and Branch This Creature-Son was one of the three Men that did eat of Abram's Meat else would not have own'd his worshipping him in Prayer for Sodom when the other two created Angels were gone towards it to destroy it and deliver Lot c. The two good Angels are also call'd Men Gen. 18. 1-8 and v. 22-33 Satan also with his evil Angels are Men of Sin 2 Thess. 2. 3. Christ was active in carrying on the Death-work upon himself as First-born of every Creature and so was he in his second Sacrifice by carrying on the Death of our whole mortal Nature in him Spirit Soul and Body By the Holy Ghost or heavenly Creature-spirit in him did he crucify the Spirit of our Nature in himself Luke 12. 49 50. He was also a voluntary Giver up of his Body into the Hands of Men under Devils to put a full Period to all that was mortal about him Iohn 10. 17 18. He laid down the Life of our whole mortal Nature and took it up again in the originally incorruptible immortal eternal Creature-life of his Root above all Deaths or Enemies And by his communicated heavenly Creature-spirit or Holy Ghost in Saints will he enable them to be active in carrying on the like Death-work on the Spirit of Nature at best in themselves and freely also to give up their bodily Life into the Hands of evil Angels and Men God's and their Enemies where God so permits and orders for the witnessing his Gospel-Truths The Record Witness or Products of the first and second of the Divine Three Father and Word in the Creature-part of the Mediator's Person as brought into inseparable Union by the Third bears the Name of the peculiar Divine Causer Holy Ghost All these things were transacted and done by and within God himself before any meer Creatures Angels or Men were brought forth The Three in the Divine Nature with their Record in Heaven the Divine Form are one and the same Three as bearing Witness in Earth the Creature-part of the Mediator agree in one The one Divine Mind is declar'd and done in and by both and all 1 Iohn 5.7,8 By what was done of the Divine Three by their distinct Products and Operations in the Creature-part of the Mediator will they let down themselves to the Sight and Enjoyment of blessed Angels and Saints for evermore The Divine is not the creature-Creature-nature in Christ nor in his whole creature-Creature-nature is the Creature-root the exalted Branch And his whole Divine and Creature-Person is most intimately one with the Divine Essence or Father the Head of all in him 1 Cor. 11. 3. All are one incomprehensible God Iohn 10. 30. The exalted Branch in Christ is the immediate Head of his true Gospel-Church The Creature-root in him Head of that his Divine Form Head of his whole creature-Creature-nature Root and Branch the Divine Essence or Father Head to his whole Divine and Creature-person yet remains uncompounded with creature-Creature-nature as the Divine Form or Son is Gal. 3. 20. 1 Tim. 2. 5. After all this account of Superiorities and Inferiorities in all that 's truly call'd God the lowest Creature-part in the Mediator the exalted Branch or living Word of God thinks or infallibly knows that 't is no Robbery or unwarrantable Presumption in him to reckon himself equal with God as in personal Union with his Creature-root and infinite Divine Nature Phil. 2.6 These are strange seeming Contradictions to Man's Wisdom which is Foolishness to God's and to be destroy'd Isa. 29. 14. in all self-confident Disputers of this World 1 Cor. 1. 19 20. CHAP. IV. The infallible Consequents of the said preparatory Condescensions of God within himself in pursuance and for the accomplishing of his abovesaid twofold Purposes in the twofold Creation of Angels and Men. 1. THUS were the Works determin'd of God to be set up in Angels and Men by a first Creation of them finish'd Heb. 4. 3. to his well-pleasing by the right Use of the mortal earthly First-Covenant Law-life of the Creature in order to receive the Heavenly-Creature New-Covenant Gospel-Life of the Creator Finish'd they were by the Mediator himself as the Lamb slain in the Fountain-purity of the first and ascended into the originally unchangeable Gospel-life of the second Rev. 13.8 All this was done within God himself by the Mediator as the Lamb slain from or in the Foundation of both Worlds natural and spiritual this World and the World to come laid in himself the Creator of both All receiv'd by Angels or Men in their first Creation or restor'd in Men by the Redeemer since their Fall in Adam is with the fallible Understanding and corruptible Will thereof their discerning and desiring Powers their own Righteousness Wisdom Glories natural Excellencies and Perfections therein to be given up in Sacrifice to the Will of God by Passive Obedience This is the only possible Means and Way for their being transform'd and exalted into
all mortal and to be done away for ever He therefore determin'd to set up in personal Union with his Divine Nature a Creature-Spirit of originally eternal Life and render it communicable to Men and Angels by a new Creation of them The former rendred them but mystical Trees of Good and Evil. The latter makes them particular Trees of Life under and with Christ. God hereby works all their works in them Isa. 26. 12. and they in him Iohn 3. 21. The Leaves of such Trees never wither every thing they do therein prospers Psal. 1.3 All good Works or Fruits done or brought forth by them in the former at best are nothing to God Hos. 10. 1. Iob 35. 7 8. nor of any avail for their ever entring into his Kingdom but only a new Creature Gal. 6. 15. The most restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man preach'd up and warranted for Salvation is Man's Dream under Satan's Witch-crafts all their delusive Doctrine therein Chaff Psal. 1.4 And what 's this Chaff to the Wheat the Gospel-Doctrine Words and Things of God Ier. 23. 28. Chap. 3. 1. In pursuance of God's twofold Purposes for a twofold Creation of Angels and Men the first of the Divine Three call'd Father did produce beget and set up a Creature-spirit of immortal Holiness of the same Name in the Creature-part of the Mediator with its Divine Producer Father 2. The Second the Word caus'd the said Creature-root to bring forth a Branch in the Fountain-purity of all mortal First-creation Being and Life that was to be set up in Angels and Men by a first Creation 3. The Third the Holy Gost by its peculiar Operation brought the creature-Creature-Father and Son into unchangeable personal Union and so the whole creature-Creature-nature in the Mediator into unchangeable Union with his Divine Nature The Creature-Son and Branch thus exalted was the immediate Creator of all things in both Creations or Worlds natural and spiritual Heb. 1. 1 2. Chap. 4. 1. Thus were the Works determin'd of God to be set up in Angels and Men by a first Creation finish'd in the Mediator by the right Use of all in order to the second Heb. 4. 3. 2. Herein was the exalted Son and Branch the living WORD and Book of God in which were written the Names of all the Elect that are to be conform'd to him in the like Death of the first Creation and Resurrection into the Life given by a second 3. The exalted Branch or living WORD of God gave Angels and Men their Being and Life by a first Creation as the immediate Hand of God for it 4. He was therein the infallible Mouth of God to declare his whole Counsel to them for the right Use of all given them in their first Creation in order to the second 5. He was therein the High-Priest of God to perform the like Death-work on them as had pass'd upon himself by the Original Melchisedec his Creature-root and Father 6. And lastly He was the ready prepar'd infallible Pattern for them to follow out of the mortal earthly Life of the first Creation into the immortal and heavenly by a second as the only Means and Way to find the Salvation of Heaven or scape the Damnation of Hell CHAP. VI. Concerning the Trinity THE three distinct Powers in the Divine Essence or Father shining forth from all Eternity in the Divine Form or Son consider'd separately in each or jointly in both are call'd Father Word and Holy Ghost 1 John 5. 7. The one of these is not the other in the Divine Father or Son The word Father as the Divine Essence is call'd in distinction from the Divine Form or Son is of a very differing Consideration from the same Word as signifying the first of the Divine Three in both So the word Son as signifying the Divine Form is of a very differing Signification from the same Word as signifying the Second of the Divine Three in Father and Son The like may be said of the Third of the Divine Three the Holy Ghost in Father and Son of distinct Significancy from what the Divine Father and Son jointly together are so call'd as the one Infinite Divine Being The Three distinct Divine Powers in the Divine Father and Son do beget and set up their distinct secondary Record or Witness of themselves in a Creature-Form distinct from the Divine Form The whole creature-Creature-nature of the Mediator Root and Branch is call'd Earth in distinction from the Divine Form in him the supream Heaven of Heavens Their threefold Witness in Earth is signified by Spirit Water and Blood 1 John 5.8 The same Three that are One in the Divine Nature agree in compleating the one Mind of all Three in the Earth or whole Creature-nature of the Mediator The Witness of the First of the Divine Three is Spirit a Creature-spirit of originally immortal Holiness and eternal Life The Witness of the Second is call'd Water signifying the Creature-Son and Branch in the Fountain-purity of all mortal Being and Life design'd to be set up in Angels and Men by a first Creation Blood signifies the Death of that as first-born of every Creature in order to its Resurrection into the originally unchangeable Life of its Root and Father and therein first-born from the dead In by and through this Creature-form do the three in the Divine let down the Vision of themselves to the spiritual Sight and Enjoyment of Angels and Men and by such Transactions therein do notify to both the only Means and Way for their true Blessedness by the Death and Loss of all Life and Things receiv'd by them in the mortal First-Covenant Law-life of the first Creation in order to ascend into and receive his originally immortal new and everlasting Covenant Gospel-life by a second communicated to them by the exalted Son and Branch as first-born from the dead and therein the immediate Performer of the one Will of the Divine Three in both Creations and in dealing with all Angels and Men Good and Bad in final Love or Wrath to all Eternity accordingly as they submit or refuse to submit to the Terms of receiving the Life offer'd by a second Thus was the Foundation laid within God himself in the Creature-part of the Mediator for rendring the three that are one in the Divine Nature discernable and enjoyable to blessed Saints and Angels in their spiritual new-Creation Capacities Man's highest Wisdom and Understanding sees not the heavenly Creature-things of God by which only the Divine Three can be known 1 Cor. 2.9 So all his Conceptions Thoughts and Words about the Trinity can be but implicite random-Conjectures and Discourses not seeing or knowing what he says The immediate discernable Objects of Man's highest natural Understanding are but the mortal Life and Things of the first Creation by which they ought to conclude and may know there is an eternal Power and Godhead but see nor that nor his heavenly Creature-things immediately Rom. 1. 20 21. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Isai. 66.
A Wakening Call OR An Alarm from Heaven TO THE Wise and Foolish Virgins WHEREIN The Vices of this Age is laid open and bewail'd the Subtilty of Satan discover'd in his Temptations in several Particulars I. As to Original Sin II. As to the Love of the World III. As to the Danger of Ignorance IV. As to the Evil of Pride c. Likewise There is discovered the Nature of Regeneration or the New Birth in several Particulars I. The Nature of Union to Christ. II. The Nature of True Faith III. The Nature of True Repentance IV. Christian Carriage commended V. The Glory of the New-Ierusalem Open'd From a Minister in the Country to a Minister in the City for the Publication A Verse may find him who a Sermon flys And turn Delight into a Sacrifice Herbert's Temple p. 1. LONDON Printed for the Author and Sold by Will. Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street and Iohn Marshall at the Bible in Grace-Church-street MDCXCVIII CHAP. I. Concerning the purely Divine Nature and Things thereof 1. GOD in his Divine Nature was infinitely blessed in the Sight and Enjoyment of himself from all Eternity above and beyond all possibility of Addition or Diminution to his Blessedness by any thing meer Creatures Angels or Men good or bad can ever be think say or do to all Eternity yea even Creature-nature in the Mediator's wonderful compounded Person set up by the immediate Divine Hand though by unchangeable personal Union with the Divine Nature all one incomprehensible God adds not to the infinite Blessedness of the Divine Nature but was set up from the Beginning and possess'd by the Lord in the beginning of his Way towards the Creation of Angels and Men Prov. 8. 22 23. This was the Beginning of the Creation of God Revel 3. 14. Divine Nature had no Beginning The whole Creature-part in Christ's Person Root and exalted Branch adds not to the Glory of the Divine Nature but was set up in reference to the twofold Creation of Angels and Men natural and spiritual and as the Means to let down the Visions of the Divine Glory at second-hand with safety to the spiritual Sight Understanding and Enjoyment of blessed Angels and Men in their new-created Capacities 2. In the Divine Nature the Divine Essence and Form are the infinite Divine Father and Son The Divine Form Image or Glory of the Divine Essence is the Son thereof by eternal and ineffable Generation very God of very God in the most absolute Sense co-equal and co-eternal with the Father both are one Infinite Incomprehensible Divine Being But the Divine Essence is not the Form nor Form the Essence The Three distinct invisible Powers in the Divine Essence or Father did from all Eternity shine forth in the divine Form or Son to God's own infinite Understanding Enjoyment and Delight The same three are therein the immediate Object of Sight and Enjoyment to the whole Creature-part of the Mediator Root and exalted Branch as in unchangeable personal Union with the Divine Glory or Form in him but are never so to any meer Creatures blessed Angels or Saints to all Eternity in Heaven They can never so approach unto or see and enjoy the Divine Light or Glory immediately as he does 1 Tim. 6. 15 16. Mat. 11. 27. Iohn 1. 18. In with and through his heavenly Creature-Spirit as born of that which in him is God Iohn 1. 1. and therein Partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. can and will they see and enjoy the Divine Glory mediately as let down to them by the exalted Creature-Son and Branch being Members of that spiritual Body his true Gospel Church to which he therein is Head Col. 1. 18. For this Purpose it pleas'd the Father or Divine Essence that even in the lowest Creature-part of the Mediator the exalted Son and Branch all Fulness should dwell all the divine and Creature-fulnesses and Perfections of his divine Form and Creature-root The Divine Essence singly and abstractedly consider'd in and by it self is absolutely invisible for ever nor will the Divine Form Glory Image or Visibility thereof and of the three that are one therein ever be the immediate Object of Sight and Enjoyment to any meer Creatures blessed Angels or Saints to all Eternity but only to the whole creature-Creature-nature in Christ's Person Root and exalted Branch Never will any meer Creatures be found in personal Union with the Divine Nature as Creature-nature in Christ is They will never have Divine Nature an Ingredient into their personal Constitution or as the supream Principle of Life and Operation in them as some in our Days have most presumptuously and unwarrantably affirm'd for then would there be an innumerable Multitude of Christs and Gods the greater sort of Polytheism The Divine Form or Son is the Eternity the supream Heaven of Heavens the high and lofty Divine Essence or Father inhabited from all Eternity in distinction from the Creature-form Glory or Image thereof the high and holy Place or heavenly Creature-temple of immediate Divine Building Prov. 9. 1. in personal Union with the Divine inhabitant Isa. 57. 15. This heavenly Creature-Spirit House and Temple with the Life and Things of God therein was prepar'd by and within himself to be communicated in the distinct appointed Portions thereof to them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. because he first even from Eternity lov'd them 1 John 4. 19. These spiritual heavenly Creature-things of God communicable to Men and Angels by a new or second Creation are quite out of the reach or sight of the highest single natural Understanding of Man at best in the but restor'd first-Covenant-Law-life of the Creature given in the first Creation No intellectual Eye Ear or Heart therein can see hear perceive conceive receive own or know what to make of them Isa. 64.4 Hence does Man account them and all right Words about them Foolishness 1 Cor. 2. 9 14. Here 's the Case of Man at best in but the living Soul of the first Adam In the Life of the quickning Spirit of the second Adam and the new spiritual infallible all-discerning Understanding therein do Saints see and know all things divine and both spiritual and natural Creature-things in their proper Differences Distinctions Subordinations and Superiorities even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. And as they have an infallible Understanding to know all things they have also therein an incorruptible Will in unchangeable Harmony with the Infinite Divine Will for the doing all things after God's own Heart In his Heavenly Creature Spirit can any rightly worship his Divine Spirit John 4. 23. In it only can any rightly perform all Duties to God and to their Fellow-Creatures All these things lie hid from and are unpracticable by Man as out of the Reach of his own Understanding and desiring or performing Power of his own Will So will he not regard look or seek after God for the Life and things hid with Christ in God Rom. 3. 11.
Col. 3. 3. Paul with others that come to be true Saints till the spiritual Seed of true Life be waken'd up in them are wholly ignorant of any such heavenly Creature-Gospel-Life and things of God however eminent in restor'd Law-life Wisdom and Righteousness of Man Phil. 3.6 Hence they verily think they do God Service in persecuting Gospel-Saints as the arrantest Hereticks and Blasphemers in the World Act. 26. 9 11. Iohn 16. 2. The reform'd natural Man at best understands not the transform'd truly regenerate spiritual Man's Understanding nor any of the Divine or spiritual things he thereby understands and speaks of He cannot know them for they can only be spiritually discern'd and he has no spiritual discerning 1 Cor. 2. 14. If therefore he finally lean and trust to his own Vnderstanding at highest for directing his Steps contrary to God's Counsel Prov. 3. 5 6. Ier. 10. 23. he is gone for ever he never sets one Foot in the Paths of Life A Man of deepest Reason most soaring searching natural Capacity vastest Display of his rational and intellectual Powers with all Imbelishments of Art or acquir'd Accomplishments may be Paul's most unreasonable Man to be dealt with or discours'd in Gospel-Matters which he therefore desir'd his Thessalonian Converts to pray for his Deliverance from 2 Thess. 3. 1 2. What 's here said in this first Chapter may give some aim towards right thoughts of God's Divine Nature and Things which are to be acknowledg'd above and beyond all Conception or Language by the Understanding or Tongue of natural Man or Angel yea will be Master of wonder to blessed Angels and Saints to all Eternity in their spiritual new-Creation-Capacities CHAP. II. The twofold Purposes or Counsels of God within himself from Eternity with reference to the twofold Creation of Angels and Men. 1. GOD in the free Purposes and Counsels of his own Divine Mind did from Eternity when he pleas'd determine to create Angels and Men and to give them immortal Spirits by a first Creation but to put into them a corruptible Seed 1 Pet. 1. 23. of a mortal earthly though pure and spotless First-Covenant Law-life in which to be but mystical Trees of Good and Evil. He declares he will break down this first Building and pluck up this Tree though of his own planting by the Roots Ier. 45.4 This changeable good Life and Things given them in their first Creation could not answer the Needs and Wants of their immortal Spirits nor enable them to answer the whole Counsel Will and Command of God in an everlasting well-pleasing active Obedience to him 2. He did therefore in his Free-Grace-Purposes another sort of Counsels within himself determine from the same Eternity by his own immmediate divine Power to form produce and set up a heavenly Creature-spirit of originally immortal Holiness everlasting Righteousness infallible Truth and eternal Life and to take it into personal Union with his divine Nature in the Mediator He determin'd also to find a way in his infinite Wisdom to render this Life communicable to Angels and Men by a second or new Creation of them as the only Principle of Desire Thought and Action in which ever possible to please him so as to find eternal Blessedness to themselves in the Sight and Enjoyment of him All conducible to this was prepar'd to be given them by a second or new Creation in a New-Covenant Life the Life of the Creator above all Deaths Dangers Enemies Bondages or Fears The Life given them in their first Creation God calls their own with all the things thereof their own Wisdom Righteousness all natural Excellencies and Perfections All is but a Life a Wisdom a Glory to be done away for ever with all Works or Fruits possible to be done or brought forth by them therein The new and everlasting Covenant-Life given by a second Creation of them God's own heavenly Creature-life with all the things thereof the Wisdom and Righteousness of God therein is a Life a Glory that unspeakably excels the former and will remain for ever 2 Cor. 3. 10 11. By God's new building them and putting his incorruptible Life into them they become particular Trees of Life under and with Christ working all their Works in God and bringing forth right Fruits to him Iohn 3. 21. Rom. 7. 4. Their own Life and Wisdom c. was given them for Trial of their Obedience to the declar'd Method of God's Wisdom for receiving his All that finally refuse in Passive Obedience to submit to the Death of their own in order to find all again with unspeakable Gain in his own prefer the Life of the Creature to the Life of the Creator and will perish for ever Rom. 1.25 All Life and things given Angels and Men in their first Creation are character'd in Scripture by Grass Flesh a fading Flower Isa. 40. 6-8 1 Pet. 1. 23 24. call'd a vain Shew altogether Vanity a vanishing transient Shadow of the heavenly Creature-life and Things of God offer'd by a second In this 't is as impossible ever to sin against or displease God as 't is in our own earthly Life to please or find everlasting Peace with him If the First-Covenant-Life given in the first Creation had been faultless or not defective as to the pleasing God or finding true Blessedness to our selves no Place had been sought for a second Heb. 8. 7. CHAP. III. The preparatory Condescensions of God towards accomplishing the said two-fold Purposes or Counsels with reference to the twofold Creation of Angels and Men. 1. THE first of the three distinct Powers in the Divine Nature call'd Father did by the peculiar Operation thereof in the one Divine Mind of all three produce beget form and set up a Creature-spirit of originally immortal Holiness everlasting Righteousness infallible Truth and eternal Life This in the Creature-part of Christ's wonderful compounded Person is call'd by the Name of its peculiar Divine Producer Father This was the first Step of God's preparatory Condescension towards the Creation of Angels and Men the Beginning of the Creation of God Revel 3. 14. that will have no ending This is the supream Root of all Creature-being and Life in both Creations or Worlds Heb. 1. 2. natural and spiritual by a first and second Creation of Angels and Mer and also of the Creature-Son and Branch in the very Mediator's Person This originally unchangeable Creature-Spirit in personal Union with the divine Nature was situated too high above the Capacity of being the immediate Hand of God either for the first Creation of Angels and Men or the giving them eternal Life by a second so as to answer and fulfil the twofold Counsels of God concerning them 2. The second therefore of the Divine Three in One call'd the Word did in the one Divine Mind of the Three cause the said Creature-root to bring forth a Creature-Son and Branch in the Fountain-purity of all earthly mortal First covenant Law-life determin'd of God to be set up in
Men in their compleated spiritual Beings and New-creation Capacities not in reference to Sin or any Danger or Possibility of Sinning ever incident to them But First For letting down the Visions of the Divine Glory or Form in himself with Safety to their spiritual Understanding and Enjoyment through the transparent Vail or heavenly Creature-Image of the Divine Nature in him No Man or Angel hath seen God immediately at any time in his purely Divine Nature nor ever will or can to all Eternity in Heaven The only begotten Son will in and by his Creature-spirit as the prepar'd Means for it let down the Visions thereof to them at second hand Iohn 1. 18. Mat. 11. 27. Should the Divine Glory of the Father in the Son shine forth immediately in the infinite Brightness thereof on Gospel-Angels or Saints in Heaven it would be a consuming Fire to their very Beings Deut. 4. 24. 9. 3. Heb. 12. 29. The Request therefore of Moses ran too high when he said Lord I beseech thee shew me thy Glory Exod. 33. 18. That he meant the immediate Sight of the very Divine Glory Form or Face of God in the Mediator appears by God's favourable Answer to his mistaking Thought saying no Man or Angel can ever so see me and live But there 's a heavenly Creature place by me in personal Union with my Divine Glory through which as my back-parts thou mayest see me but my Divine Face or Glory shall never be immediately seen by thee or any meer Creature to all Eternity in Heaven v. 20-23 By and through the Creature-form or Face of God in Christ did he speak to Moses Face to Face v. 11. Mouth to Mouth as his living Word Numb 12. 8. 'T is the peculiar Prerogative and transcendent Privilege of the Man Christ Jesus only to see the Divine Glory immediately in himself as the supream Ingredient into his personal Constitution He is that King of Kings and Lord of Lords in the Creature-part of his wonderful Person dwelling with and in that Divine Light or Glory which no Man or Angel can ever so near approach unto as immediately to see 1 Tim. 6. 15 16. Thus will the Dignity and Prerogative of the infinite Divinity and the peculiar Privilege of creature-Creature-nature in the Mediator be preserv'd in the transcendent Superiority of both and all above all meer Creatures Saints and Angels for evermore And so will they be secur'd in their unspeakable Privileges and utmost Blessedness by the wonderful compounded Divine and Creature-person of the Mediator Secondly A second Office of the Mediator to all Eternity in Heaven will be the presenting the blessed Persons of Angels and Saints with their spiritual Sacrifices of Praise and Thanksgiving to the absolute well-pleasing Acceptation of his Father and their Father John 20. 17. his God and their God in with and through him for evermore 1 Pet. 2. 5. The Multitude of Saints which no Man can number Revel 7.9 and the innumerable Company of Gospel-Angels Heb. 12. 22. will in their eternal Praises to God most high acknowledg and ascribe their eternal Blessedness in the Sight and Enjoyment of him to his electing Love in the Free-Grace-Purposes and Counsels of his Divine Mind from Eternity as the single and only supream distinguishing Cause of their everlasting Blessedness from those that perish for ever under his everlasting Curse and unquenchable Wrath. creature-Creature-nature of immediate Divine Begetting qualifies him to mediate between two vastly distinct Natures Divine and meer creaturely in Angels and Men so as to answer all that can rightly be desir'd by them and to enable them to answer all that God requires of them By his right Performances therein on both and all Accounts Divine Nature can't suffer the least Diminution nor meer Creatures Angels or Men be swallow'd up or consum'd in their highest Exaltation The infinite Dignity of the one and unspeakable Privileges of the other will ever be preserv'd by the Mediator He is the wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father of Saints and Angels the Prince of Peace the only Procurer of their everlasting Peace with God Isa. 9. 6. He transforms and translates us out of the earthly Life of the Creature and fallible Understandings and Freedom of our own corruptible Wills receiv'd in our first Creation into the heavenly eternal Gospel-life of himself our Creator and infallible spiritual Understanding of all things and incorruptible Will therein for the right doing all things God requires of us which is the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God in unchangeable Harmony with his infinite Divine Will The Head of every Man is Christ the Head of the Woman is the Man and the Head of Christ is God 1 Cor. 11. 3. The Woman or natural Man in the changeable Womanish Life of the First-creation is by Death and Resurrection into the unchangeable manly Life of the second brought into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God into unchangeable Harmony with the infinite Divine Will In this Transformation the manly Spirit of Christ becomes the Head of the transform'd womanish Spirit of Man and the Head of every such spiritual Man is Christ and the Head of Christ's whole compounded Person is God the single uncompounded Divine Essence or Father of all But all these Superiorities and Inferiorities in God the Father and his Divine and Creature-Son are swallow'd up in Christ's wonderful compounded Person into an equality as with his Divine Father one incomprehensible God Iohn 10. 30. All that 's in personal Union with the infinite Divinity is God CHAP. VIII The Mystery of Godliness and Mystery of Iniquity TO awaken'd spiritual Saints it is given to know the Mystery of the Kingdom of God the Mystery and Power of Godliness but to them that are without such spiritual Life and Knowledg all the spiritual heavenly Creature-things of God prepar'd for them that love him are done and spoken in Parables earthly Figures and Similitudes So hearing they hear but do not understand seeing they see yet not perceive or rightly take the mystical Truths therein and by signified Mat. 13. 13 14. and Mark 4. 11 12. They desire not to understand them they are so contrary to their own Wills and self-Interests They rather like chuse and approve of Satan's Mystery of Iniquity and embrace the Doctrine that carries on that which gratifies their own Wills both as to self-Interests in this World and a delusive Hope therein for true Blessedness in the World to come also In Conclusion he that hath not the Life God has prepar'd and offer'd by a New Creation which alone is eternal from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have or thinks to be eternal Life Luke 8. 18. And so will he find eternal Death in a most exquisite Sensibleness of his whole Being Spirit Soul and Body under the unquenchable Wrath of God This will Men get by following Satan's delusive Gospel in his Mystery of Iniquity Those that shall be
Saints till the spiritual Seed of true Saintship be waken'd up in them may be for a time under the same delusive Power of Satan with others Paul till then was a fierce self-confident Enemy to Gospel-Saints and Truths in the Law-righteousness of Man under Satan's Mystery of Iniquity Phil. 3.6 All reading of the Scriptures or hearing them expounded by Men in Law-righteousness however eminent in their own Understandings will never deliver from being captivated by Satan's Mystery of Iniquity All Scripture is a Book seal'd Isa. 29. 11. Let Man in but his own Understanding search the Scriptures he will not come to Christ the living Word and Book of God for that Life in which alone 't is possible to understand receive and own the mystical Truth of all Such Interpreters with their self-confident Hearers should they be at this Work longer than Methuselah liv'd they 'd still be wholly to seek as when they began as to that eternal Life and things of God in which 't is possible to enter into his Kingdom or scape the Damnation of Hell Awaken'd Saints in their new spiritual infallible all-discerning Understanding are enabled to see and declare not only the heavenly Creature-life and things of God therein but to pry and search into the deep things of the infinite Divinity in Christ's Person 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. to understand all things v. 15. the divine and spiritual things of God and what the natural things of Man given him in his first Creation amount unto The becoming a little Child as to the Life Wisdom Will and Understanding of Man in order to a receiving the heavenly spiritual eternal Creature-life and Things of God his Wisdom his everlasting Righteousness true Holiness a new infallible Understanding for knowing all things and a new incorruptible Will for doing all things well in God's Sight this Christ makes absolutely necessary to our ever entrin into his Kingdom Mat. 18. 3. and Luke 18. 17. Paul an eminent self-confident Pharisee in the Law-righteousness of Man and a fierce Persecutor of Gospel-Saints was doubtless of high esteem with those that in his Law-principle were wise strong and honourable But when a Gospel-Saint he became as a little Child a Fool weak and despicable in the Judgment of those who were wise strong and honourable in restor'd Law-life and First-covenant Attainments from Christ Phil. 3. 6-11 1 Cor. 4. 10. When a Gospel-Saint he renounc'd the Knowledg of Christ himself after the Flesh to be married to him in that Spirit into which risen out of the Death of our Nature in himself 2 Cor. 5. 16. Rom. 7. 4. He had now a Life and Things as far above all given Angels and Men in their first Creation as the Heavens are higher than the Earth This Life hid with Christ in God from Man's highest Understanding and all Man regards given up in Sacrifice to God what Esteem could he find with Men This has been the Case of true Saints Prophets and Apostles and of Christ himself all along this World from Abel to this Day Matth. 23. 34 35. While any are confident in Satan's Mystery of Iniquity preferring the Law-life of the Creature and Righteousness of Man to the Gospel-life of the Creator and everlasting Righteousness of God therein such are the greatest Haters of true Saints and were the Murderers of Christ himself when Pilate a Heathen Judg would have releas'd him as finding no Fault in him John 18. 38. 19. 4 6. Christ warns his true Followers to expect the like Usage from such Iohn 15. 18-20 16. 1 2. Saints fix'd in Union of Mind with God become the most hateful to all fix'd in the Law-righteousness of Man in unchangeable Union with the Devil In the Form of Godliness and Righteousness of Man they deny the Power of Godliness and Righteousness of God as a diabolical Fiction 2 Tim. 3.5 Such said of Christ himself he had a Devil and was mad Here 's the demeanour of any fix'd in Satan's Mystery of Iniquity to such as experience and declare the Mystery of Godliness Hence are God's true New Ierusalem-Saints a Contempt all along this World under Satan's Reign But when Christ shall appear the second time in his all-powerful all-discovering Gospel-light and enter upon his Reign on Earth they 'l be a Praise in the Earth For this therefore all Gospel-Saints and Angels continually pray and keep not silence Isa. 62. 6 7. Man's Wisdom denies true Godliness to be any Mystery at all which God's Wisdom declares without Controversy and beyond all dispute or question to be a great Mystery 1 Tim. 3.16 The Scriptures and Mind of God therein as to the eternal Concerns of Men are easy to be understood says Man impossible to be understood says God by Man's highest Understanding in the Light Wisdom and Righteousness of Man 1 Cor. 2. 9 14. Isa. 29. 11. God here says what learned Man should say in his highest Wisdom 'T is not in Man to make one right Step towards eternal Life in his own best natural Understanding Reason or Wisdom Ier. 10. 23. 'T is says Man's Wisdom and warrants final Peace with God therein Ezek. 13. 1-10 where there 's no such Peace Boldly and confidently does Man's lying Spirit of Divination in Satan's Gospel-Divines say this and warrant their Hearers they 'l confirm their Word v. 6. Man may know God's infinite Divine Power by the things that are made in the First-creation but sees neither his Divine Nature and things thereof nor any of his hidden spiritual eternal Creature-things prepar'd to be given by a new or second Creation Rom. 1. 20. 1 Cor. 2. 9. All Mankind are capable of and may receive the common Salvation as a Fruit of Christ's Death in our Nature and convincing Discoveries of his Truth or Gospel-life if they will 1 Tim. 2. 4. But as to special Salvation or eternal Gospel-life this is not of him that willeth but of God who will shew such Mercy to whom he will Rom. 9. 15 16. Many in all possible Attainments in the former will perish for ever Satan attempted to bring Christ himself to be a Member of his Church or Synagogue and worship him as God in his Mystery of Iniquity Mat. 4. 8 9. where are we till infallibly experiencing his Gospel-life and therein the Mystery of Godliness All along this World under God's most wise Permission Satan and his Gospel-Ministers transform'd into the Likeness of Christ and his carry all before them 2 Cor. 11. 13-15 All in but their own Spirit and worldly Life at best wonder and run after them Revel 13. 3 4. worshipping the Dragon and under and with him opening their Mouth in Blasphemy against God and his Creature-name that 's his heavenly Tabernacle and them that dwell therein v. 5,6 And it is given to him and his Party amongst Men to make War with Saints and overcome them ver 7. They are condemn'd as Traitors discovering his Counsels in the Mystery of Iniquity and he will
in himself Rom. 6. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Nor Devil nor Jews could prevail with him to own his Kingdom in the Fountain-purity of his worldly Law-life but in that Gospel-spirit of eternal Life he was to ascend into out of the Death thereof Paul when a Gospel-Saint would no longer know or own Christ himself after the Flesh in but the restor'd fleshly First-covenant Law-life and Righteousness of Man but in his holy Gospel-spirit and Righteousness of God therein 2 Cor. 5. 16. As married to him therein only is it ever possible for any to bring forth Fruit unto God Rom. 7. 4. All fix'd by Satan and themselves in the Common-Salvation become the most irreconcileable Enemies to those in the special Those that own but the Form of Godliness Righteousness of Man in the Common-Salvation as a State of true Happiness and finally deny the Power of Godliness in Christ's Gospel-life they are mystical Infidels after all such temporary Faith in Christ by which they have receiv'd their own Life again from him the most criminal Sinners spiritual Sodom Egypt and Babylon such as crucified our Lord Revel 11. 8. and have been the Murderers of true Saints all along this World from Abel downwards and will so be to the ending thereof and reckon they do God Service therein John 16. 2. Literal Infidels vastly out-number these mystical Ones not believing in Christ at all so as to receive the Common-Salvation-Life and Righteousness of Man from him What a World of such is there now in this World Mahumetans other Pagans and Infidels and amongst all Varieties of such as are call'd Christians innumerable even of them not living in the Principle of rational Light that many meer Heathens walk in Obedience to What final eternal Benefit are all these like to find from the meritorious Sufferings and Death of Christ in our Nature Saints Conformity to Christ's Death as true Followers of him in the narrow unpleasing Way to Nature through the Strait Gate of Entrance into his eternal Gospel-life relates not at all to the peculiar Benefits of Christ's Death in our Nature for Mankind in general or Saints in special But 't is their unspeakable Advantage to follow him into the said Death by the Death of Nature at best or in whatever Condition as the only Way to find the Salvation of Heaven or scape the Damnation of Heâ—l The restor'd righteous Life of Man in his own Spirit of Works put him afresh upon his own personal Trial for the Right Use thereof as was the Case of Adam at first If from Self-love he finally chuse this in preference to the Gospel-life and Righteousness of God therein he sins again in his own Person after the Similitude of Adam's pardonable Transgression Rom. 5. 14. unpardonably and unrepentably Heb. 6. 4 6. 10. 26 27. Filth of Spirit Enmity to God's Divine and Creature-Holy-Ghost or Spirit lurking under all Righteousness of Man's holy Flesh will to all unchangeably fix'd therein be eternal Death The Surrender and Loss of the Life of our own Spirits at best and our own fallible Understandings and corruptible Wills therein is the only Way to arrive at the happy Experience of an infallible Understanding and an incorruptible Will in God's heavenly Creature-life the only Principle of everlasting well-pleasing active Obedience to him and Blessedness to us A ceasing from the best Works and fasting from the best Fruits performable or producible by us in our own Spirit Will and Way to live in God's Sabbath-Spirit of true Rest to us in him and him in us and Delight only in such incorruptible Fruits as can be brought forth by us in his Spirit only this is such a Fast and such a Sabbath as he has chosen Isa. 58. 5 13. And this will all whom he has chosen be brought unto by his infinite Free-Grace-Mercy All outward bodily Fastings and Sabbath-keepings never accompanied with this inward mystical Truth of all were an Abomination to God when his own literal figurative Appointments and Ordinances to the Jews Isa. 1. 10-15 66. 3. Gospel-life is the Wine of Christ's Kingdom which Saints with Christ can daink of only in his Kingdom-spirit as therein new Creatures Mark 14. 25. This was figur'd in Iotham's Parable cheering God and Man Judg. 9. 13. answering all Man can rightly desire of God and enabling him to answer all God requires of him No such true New Ierusalem-Saints shall ever have occasion to say we are sick Isa. 33.24 or need any thing and to say we fear no Danger of Repenting or Change from a mind of everlasting Obedience to God nor therefore of Condition from a State of unchangeable Blessedness in the Sight and Enjoyment of him in his infinite Divine Favour and Love This gets Man by a change from his own earthly continual sinning Life of Vanity to God's own heavenly never-sinning Gospel-life He will be enabled therein to say with Christ I was dead in my own Spirit and am alive for evermore in his Rev. 1. 18. Our own right Eye Hand and Foot the highest Light best Practice and walking in our own Spirit Understanding and Will must be pluck'd out cut off and cast away or we shall be cast into Hell-fire Mark 9. 43-48 They offend us as rendring the Cross or Death-work of Christ's heavenly Spirit on our earthly offensive and displeasing to us and us therein offensive to God and so standing in our Way to eternal Life so on all Accounts and in every Sense offensive to God and our selves We are to pray that God by his Spirit would do this to and for us pluck out our right Eye c. We ought also by his Spirit in us or a living spiritual Faith working by Love to him to be active in carrying on such Work in Obedience to his Command We are also to rejoice in what God suffers evil Angels or Men to do to us in their implacable Malice as knowing all over-rul'd by him in a constant infallible Conducibleness thereunto So only can we arrive at the happy Experience of an infallible spiritual Understanding for knowing all things and an incorruptible Will for doing all things to God's well-pleasing in the marvellous Light and glorious Liberty of the Sons of God in such a Free-will as is in unchangeable Harmony with the infinite Divine Will the Free-will of the second Adam The Light and Free-will of our own Spirit at best kept up in Opposition to his turns it into the greatest Darkness and Bondage of all Mat. 6. 23. The Will of our Nature in Christ found the full Death thereof so exceeding terrible as to pray saying O my Father if it be possible let this Death cup pass from me But he instantly renounc'd the Request of his natural Will so as in the same Breath to say nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt thy Will be done Matth. 26. 39 42 44. As to the Sufferings of Nature in Saints as the Will of God for their greatest