Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	flesh_n	sin_n	sinful_a	2,809	5	9.4946	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91351	A cryer in the vvildernesse of England, declaring the baptisme of the eternall spirit, to be the onely baptisme in Christs kingdome published in Gospel-light, according to the word written in the Scriptures, and the eternall word written in the hidden man of the heart, for satisfaction of those, who are satisfied with truth alone. By Edward Punch of Carisbrook in the Isle of Wight, who is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God to salvation.	Punch, Edward.	1653 (1653)	Wing P4211; Thomason E725_7*; ESTC R206765	72,185	101

practise then you have for water-baptism and that will be more in force when the other doth appear to be no Ordinance at all But now to the latter part of your Objection that this is the way to bring in ranting principles if we deny water-baptism to be an Ordinance c. First must carnal liberty be brought into the Church of Christ if that be not set up and practised there which Christ never commanded this is very strange 2 Is this the way to bring in carnal liberty and ranting principles among believers to exalt the work of all power in heaven and earth I thought that creature-exaltation self-seeking and setting up idols had been the way to bring in carnal liberty and ranting principles when these things are imposed upon creatures to make up an out-side society then take heed of ranting 3 God doth according to his promise write his righteous and holy just and good laws in his peoples hearts and puts his fear in them that so they may never depart from him and hath said they shall not depart from him any more and that he will be their God and they shall be his people that he will live in them and dwell among them and they shall be all taught of him and great shall be their peace c. Now I hope this is not the way to bring in ranting principles and carnal liberty among the people of God who are thus taught of God and do live in the law of the spirit of life that is in Christ who is their life and their all The Law of God written in his peoples hearts doth no way bring in ranting principles into their mindes but these that is unto the kingdom of the devil and antichrist that do consist in sin and all unrighteousness and in empty forms traditions and precepts of men who proceed from fleshly and carnal principles in the world and carnal Church And I must tell you that the Law of God written in his peoples hearts and mindes this is the most rantingest principle to these that can be upon the face of the earth therefore when God writes his Laws in his peoples hearts and brings forth the new creation in them and so makes them partakers of the divine nature then let antichrist and all his carnal priviledges look for a final rooting out and an eternal destruction For the life and power of godlimess wrought in the people of God by a divine principle destroys all empty carnal and formal and traditional outside Religion in them that proceeds from antichrist which proceeds from carnal principles of flesh and blood The Law of God in the new nature destroys the Law of sin and flesh in the old nature with the very corrupt nature it self The life of God in his people or rather God living in them destroys the dead works of sin and flesh in them the power of God from on high being present in his people destroys the power of sin in them the wisdom of God in his people destroys the wisdom of the flesh in them The work of God in his people in the new creation brought forth in them destroys the works of sin and antichrist in their old nature yea the whole body of sin it self Yea the work of God in the new man is the onely ranting principle to antichrist the whole mystery of iniquity and man of sin for it makes it all flie in pieces before it even all the gross darkness and corruption and filthiness of the flesh with all the false light in the flesh and spirit of man with all empty forms and carnal observations c. all goeth down when God appears in his people in the brightness of his coming in spirit and power from on high in the hidden man of the heart And now where are your Ranting principles and carnal liberty you so much speak of to fall upon those that obey not your carnal Ordinances it falls altogether upon time-servers outside-professors self-seekers c. but not upon those that worship God in spirit and truth For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation to light in the souls of his people teacheth them to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live godly righteously and soberly in this present world and this proves Ranting principles to be nothing but the whole body of sin which is contrary to the divine principle that God brings forth in his Temple therefore take heed of throwing dirt in the face of truth and of slandering the Grace of God shed abroad in his peoples hearts the onely principle of true holiness and righteousness Do you think nothing can keep us from Ranting principles but a little cold water why then have so many that have gone under water fallen also under Ranting principles Obj. 23. Several baptisms were used in the primitive times and water-baptism is nowhere forbid in Scripture therefore we may use it still c. Answ 1. If the truth were not a mystery then antichrist might understand it but God is pleased to declare the truth in a mystery that so those that receive it not in the love of it may be blinded and so given up to strong delusions to believe lies as it is appointed for the antichristian world man of sin and mystery of iniquity 2 Thes 2. in which the antichristian world is deceived and blinded even to this day 2 Paul teacheth one baptism unto the Church of the Ephesians Eph. 4. 5. and doubtless Paul would not leave out another baptism viz. water if it had been any one bond of the true Churches unity seeing he doth reckon up seven which are a perfect number And that we may not be mistaken in the true understanding of this baptism Paul here speaks of he satisfies us what baptism it is 1 Cor. 12. 13. for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether Jews or Gentiles whether bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit So here Paul bears witness to the one and onely baptism of the New-Testament which witness is enough to satisfie those who are satisfied with the truth it self But you will say that baptism spoke of Ephes 4. 5. is one baptism of a sort and that this is the meaning of the place c. First this is more then the word declares and so we have no ground to build where there is no foundation 2 If you make an addition unto this part of the words namely one baptism and put in this word here one of a sort then we must put this word unto the sense of all the rest of the bonds of the true Churches unity mentioned in this place And then we must read it thus One body of a sort one spirit of a sort one hope of a sort one Lord of a sort one faith of a sort one baptism of a sort and one God of a sort And now let all that have eyes to see behold the gross blindness and more then Egyptian

Spirit and that we may not be mistaken in the great mystery of God opened in the Commission and so with the world and carnall Church understand the Baptisme of the eternall Spirit to be meant of materiall water Let us consider the difference between being baptised into materiall Water and of being baptised into the name of God or Father Son and Spirit First then it will be good to know and consider well what the name of God is that so we may see and know what we are baptised into when we are baptised into the name of God who is the true eternall nature or being declaring himself to the sons of men by severall names and titles weak creatures not being able to apprehend God who is infinite in all whatsoever he is but through such severall discoveries First then let us consider whatsoever name is ascribed unto God in Scripture it is suitable to the nature of God as appears clearly Secondly And let us observe this also in our following discourse that as the name of God is suitable to himself who is onely good so our name is also suitable unto our nature which is corrupt and evil First then the Scripture declares the name of God to be light and this is the nature of God God is light and in him is no darknesse at all 1 John 1. 5. here we see the name and nature of God is light it is contrary to the nature of God to have any darknesse at all in him And that we may the more clearly see into this mystery of our partaking of the name of God let us see also what our own name is of our selves Ephes 5. 8. we have our very name and nature described Ye were sometimes darknesse here is our name and very corrupt nature even darknesse it self we are filled in our hearts and minds with darknesse yea thick darknesse so that our very name is derived from it And now see what a change here is when we come to partake of the name and nature of God which is light then we are called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord hath named according to his promise Isa 62. 2. now we are light in the Lord heere is our name given us of the Lord. And herein is our happinesse to Eternity that as we are light in the Lord so God is and will be our light to eternity Rev. 21. 23. 22. 5. as he hath promised Isa 60. 19. 20. The Sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightnesse shall the Moon give light unto thee for the Lord shall be to thee an everlasting light thy God thy glory c. and thus we are baptised into the name of God which is light the Spirit being as refiners fire in us burning up and destroying our darknesse and blindnesse and bringing forth the light of God in us and translating us into the light of God in the new Creation creating light in us and so we are no longer darknesse but light in the Lord and so God changeth our name and nature from darknesse to light and we beholding in the light of the Lord the glory of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. are changed into the same image or name or likenesse of the Lord not from any thing of our selves but by the Spirit of the Lord who is the Spirit of burning and of brightnesse in us and thus light is sown for the righteous and it springs up in them Secondly as God is called light so he is called love God is love 1. John 4. 16. Here is the very name and nature of God meeting in one and the same principle even love and as we may read the name of God and his nature to be love so also we may read our own name in our own nature principles and actions to be enmity it self Col. 1. 21. Ye who were sometimes Enemies in your minds hath he reconciled c. we are of our selves in our corrupt nature Rebellious and Stubborn against God yea our minds are set on evill works fulfilling the lusts of the flesh c. Eph. 2. 3. Tit. 3. 3. And we being baptised into the name and nature of God which is all one love infinite love this love of God wrought in us by the operation of the Spirit of love it is so hot and strong in us that it burns up and destroys our enmity that is in us in our old nature and it changeth us into the very love of God which is his nature and so we come to be partakers of the divine nature and so the new nature or Creation is brought forth in us and as we do grow up more and more in the love of the Father in the same nature so our enmity in our old nature is destroyed with the very corrupt nature it self for that which is enmity cannot be reconciled but must be burned up and quite destroyed by the fire of the Spirit in the Spirit Baptisme and thus we may see already there is infinitely more in the Baptisme of Christ then as we do imagin when our minds are fixed upon a little cold water in a River there below the Firmament and that the Baptisme of Christ is suitable to all power in heaven and in earth which is onely able to burn up and destroy our enmity and bring forth a principle of Divine love in our souls which all the angels in heaven and all the men on earth are never able to do but onely he who createth all things anew that are new indeed and this is not done but by an infinite power wrought by him that worketh and none can hinder Thirdly the name of God is wisdome for Christ is called the wisdome of God Prov. 8. and Christ and the Father are one and as God is called in Scripture The onely wise God Jud. 25. now the name and nature of God is wisdome and God is infinite in wisdome and it is impossible there should be any folly or ignorance in God but now our name is foolish we are of our selves fools and our very wisdome is foolishnesse with God nay our wisdome is enmity against God and these two cannot stand together but the one must destroy the other and when we are in the Baptisme of the Spirit made partakers of the wisdome of God then the spirit burns up and destroys our wisdome that is earthly fleshly carnall and divelish and brings forth a principle of divine wisdom that is from above and so we come to live and dwell in wisdom and wisdome lives and dwells in us so that we because wise to salvation the wisdome of God is now brought forth in us and Christ is made of God unto us wisdome and Christ is the wisdome of the Father and all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge are hid in him and Christ living in us the treasures of divine wisdome are opened in our souls and spirits and we are the children of wisdome and wisdome is

will give them a new name saith God Rev. 2. 17. God gives his people a white stone and in the stone a new name written that none knows but he that hath it this is the new Name that God brings forth in his people in the new nature written in them by the eternal Spirit And none knoweth this white stone nor the name written in it but those that have received it and this onely is an eternal name that shall never be blotted out it being the name of the living God and written by a divine power in the new man or new name which is the white stone the eternal word brought forth in us in which God writes his own name which is the name of all names and so we do become living and pre●ious stones by partaking of the divine nature in him who is the foundation of all precious stones being laid of the Father the onely precious stone and chief corner-stone by whose vertue we do become pure white and precious stones builded up together for an habitation of eternal being through the power and operation of the eternal Spirit But the waters of this world can never baptize us into this name nor give us this name nor write this name in us But the name any have by going into water is such a name as all may read because it is an external name and it is no better name then Simon Magus may partake of yea any wicked person is not this giving holy things to dogs I mean the name of God not water-baptism But he that hath the name given him of God in the baptism of the eternal Christ none can read it or know it but he that hath it therefore water-baptism is not that name neither can it give this name unto any nor baptize any into this name 5 Water-baptism cannot interest people into the name of God for Christ hath promised to write the name of God upon his people yea he will write upon them his own new name Rev. 3. 12. here we see it is the work of him who hath all power in heaven and earth to write the name of God upon souls and this is done in the power of the eternal spirit not by dipping in water For water-baptism is not the name of God neither can it work such effects upon souls as to bring forth the name of God in them nor to write the name of God upon them Creatures are onely partakers of the precious name of God by power from on high not by a little cold water Those that have any experience of the name and nature of God in themselves and those that are not wilfully blinde they may see or hear what the name of God is if you look but into the word written in the Scriptures that will tell you what the name of God is and Gods name and nature is one You know the Name of God is declared in Scripture to be Love Mercy Goodness Light Wisdom Righteousness Holiness with many the like and I hope none that knows and loves the truth wi●l sa● that the glorious Name of the eternal God doth consist in a bare outside profession taking its denomination from dipping in a little cold water and that those who are interested into this glorious name that it is from their being thrown into a brook of earthly water there cannot be a more carnal conceit then this The Commission is to baptize people into the name of God and that is declared to be Love Goodness Mercy c. as in Exod. 34 c. But I hope no man will say water-baptism is the Name of God that doth consist in all good sutable to his Nature nor that to be baptized into the Name of God that consists in Light Love Wisdom Purity Strength Fruitfulness c. that this is into material water But the truth is in the baptism of the spirit which consists in power from on high we are dipt and washed in the pure River of the water of life that proceeds from the Lord God and from the Lamb and this is the onely baptism in Christs pure and spiritual kingdom which consists in spiritual fire and spiritual water and this spiritual fire will lick up all our earthly waters and quite destroy them In a word this fire and water of the spirit burns up destroys wasteth away and cleanseth us from all filthiness both of spirit soul and body in which way we do come to live in the name and nature of God in holiness and righteousness And thus we may see that material water is not the Name of God nor to be baptized into the Name of God is not into earthly waters but it is into Life Light Love Wisdom Truth c. yea into the divine nature for as we have first been partakers of the earthly even the old man which is corrupt and sinful So in the baptism of the spirit we do partake of the new name or are made new men in him who is the Lord from heaven and such a baptism is onely suitable to all power in heaven and earth which is able to write the Name of God upon his people and in them and whosoever do call themselves by the name of God or are called by his name from any outward form in the time of r●formation and have not the name of God written within them they are bastards and not children of God it is onely the spirit and spiritual power and work of the spirit that do or that can interest us into the name of God So we conclude the Commission is spiritual and consists in spiritual baptism even power from on high sutable to the person that gave it and also to the dispensation which was wholly spiritual and so interests us into the name of God which our earthly water cannot do for that cannot interest us into eternal Love Light and all good as spirit-baptism can and doth Obj. 17. The Commission cannot be as you say to baptize men into the Name of God or Father Son and Spirit because it is not mans work to baptize with the Spirit but it is the work of Christ alone to baptize us with the Spirit and therefor● we affirm that no man can baptize with the Spiri● into the Spirit c. Answ 1. First I would propound one thing to you as unto reasonable creatures and it is this Whether you do think that God doth speak unto men by means or without means And whether God doth work by means or without means and if God do work upon creatures altogether without means then why do any of you call your selves Ministers of Christ and for what purpose you are or declare your selves to be Ministers 2 You do manifest abundance of ignorance in this not to distinguish between the efficient cause and the instrumental cause Now in the first place we ascribe the whole work of the baptism of the spirit unto God alone as the author and finisher thereof in spirit and