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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	act_n	believe_v	faith_n	2,740	5	5.7552	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33947	A second generall epistle to all the saints wherein is unfolded the covenant of grace, as its a law in the spirit, of light, liberty, righteousness, holinesse, power and glory : as likewise as it is a law of peace, love and edification : published for the good of those who love peace and holinesse / written by T. Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.	1649 (1649)	Wing C5297; ESTC R12986	48,646	138

unto it Yet it is that I have said often and must now speake it againe that its such a law such a discovery as in it all carnall ones and hypocrites shall be left behinde in it the one below it still opposing living upon something of flesh the other in the notion of it only running beyond it and so with the dogge returning to his vomit and the sow that was washt to her wallowing againe in the mire This is indeed the narrow and strait gate and way of life few there be that finde it But some perhaps may hereby object and say Sir What you say seemes to savour of the flesh of a low darkened and enslaved spirit and is indeed Barbarisme to a soule In lightnesse we know that all things are good and that which you call sinne is good and all motions and workes are alike good from whence comes sin doth not it come from God is there any power besides God or that which is ordained by him and therefore are not all things and actions alike good I answer First It is true there is no power but is of God yet there are those who in that power act things which the Most High hath sentenced with death and not only the things but those who practise them that not only in Scripture where we finde this truth in the Saints experience I protest saith Paul by my rejoycing in Christ Jesus our Lord I dye daily and this spirituall death which many are ignorant of was and is one great part of the mystery of the Crosse of Christ within us this likewise is the experience of those who live in light they have received the sentence of death within them I meane the death of sin and flesh and for this they waite till it be accomplished Againe although all things had their first rise and being from him and still subsist by him yet the corruption of those things flowes from it self and not from him and besides God hath set up two creations two Adams the one after the flesh the other after the spirit the one being but a figure of the other the one is of the earth earthly the second is the Lord from heaven In the one to declare himselfe a just God in sentencing and condemning all sinne and flesh because in that first creation after the flesh sinne and flesh workes In the second declaring himself not only a God sentencing sinne and flesh but likewise a God of purity and holinesse such a one with whom the throne of iniquity can have no fellowship and this I am sure is the Saints experience nothing eclypses the glorious enjoyment but wars and fightings within them from lusts What need we make so much of sinne God is good and be seeth no iniquity in his people It s true God seeth that is suffereth no travell against nor iniquity in his people to hurt them to separate them from him but it is as true that those who have this testimony within themselves cannot see sin and flesh working in themselves with delight and pleasure Shall we sinne because grace abounds God forbid How shall we who are dead to sin continue any longer therein Fifth false Light Fifthly I might come to visions and revelations too for here will Antichrist this mystery of iniquity appeare likewise for he must come with signes and lying wonders God giving up men by strong delusions to believe a lye Not that I am against visions or revelations from God but the working of Satan will be in lying visions and wonders filling the fancy with toyes and fleshly exaltations The discoveries and revelations of God are revelations full of light power and truth tending to the dethroning of flesh and the exalting of God drawes up the soule into a more spirituall conformity to and communion with God it doth not occasion fleshly exaltations like unto the man of sinne who exalts himselfe above all that is called God saying I am Christ and so deceives many but I passe this at present Sixth false Light Sixthly I shall descend downwards againe to some further discoveries though more fleshly this false light presents a universall will and power in all men to accept and receive grace from God that one man might obtain mercy as well as another all having alike power or at least power enough to receive grace that faith is but an act of reason and they are unreasonable men that doe not believe not knowing that it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy not knowing that it s he that worketh to will and to doe of his good pleasure not experiencing that mighty power of God in those who believe so giving all glory to God but rather laying the stresse of all upon the creature gives all to the creature whereas souls rightly taught by that spirit of light see al not onely love and grace but wil and power flowing from that fountaine And hence it is that as streames flowing from the fountain returne thither againe so those who truly live in grace returne al to that fountaine of grace I am nothing I can doe nothing al flowes from that fountain Thus the Lord alone is exalted in that soule Seventh false Light Seventhly This false light presents God to the understanding to be but a piece of reason and so that there is indeed no God but reason rules al things and upholds al things questioning if not denying the naming of GOD though I shal not question but that some may do it through curiosity finding some new or nise tearme for singularities sake through some temptation yet minding the same thing whereas the discoveries of God are plaine and familiar to his creatures Hence the wisedome of the Gospel is called the simplicity of the Gospel though a mystery in it selfe and indeed farre above the reach of reason I meane the reason of the natural man of the first Adam which is of the earth earthly Thus from the notion of high mystery wee fal downe under the lowest part of the creation of the invisible God by our reason in the creation to judge of God to be but reason who is indeed the fountaine the Creator of reason and of the whole Creation Eighth false Light Eighthly From hence creatures come to conclude at last that the whole creation is God that God is al things and that al things is God that the creation is but God brought forth into forme and that this forme or body of Gods shall again become invisible and as at first so at last there shal be nothing but God no Saints no happinesse no glory no misery but all things returning into that one thing God not seeing God by his power bringing forth a creation that is not himselfe to serve his pleasure an old creation on which he will manifest his justice a new creation on which he will make knowne his grace and glory glorifying some with himselfe which are not

then all turnings aside from all motions and actings contrary unto that Spirit of life and light are sinne and indeed souls living in the light of this law are able to judge between the motions and actings of flesh and spirit they are made able to judge truly of good and evill and that not by eating of the forbidden fruit but by being made partakers of the fruit of the Tree of Life So that now the Christians discovery of sinne is not so much after the law of the old as after the law of the new man that law of spirit and life in Christ which is a sinne discovering law where it enlightens so that a Christian in the light of this law sces every motion to evill every lust and corruption the whole body of flesh to be contrary to that divine spirituall law to that divine nature received and hence is maintained a continuall warre against it untill that warfare be accomplished in the ending of it 2. This law in the Spirit is not only a light discovering sinne but likewise a light discovering Love and deliverance from sinne First it discovers Love notwithstanding the Creatures sinne nay not only so but it is Love in that Law that discovers sinne and it selfe who is Love unto Creatures while they sinne herein is the riches and freenesse of grace unfolded in the discovery of Love and grace unto Creatures who are in themselves unlovely he opens a fountain of Love notwithstanding sinne a fountain of blood and Spirit to wash away both the guilt and power of sinne a fountain of living waters even those waters of life that revives and comforts the weary soule in a barren and dry land thus this Spirit of light leads poor empty hungring and longing soules out of a barren and dry land that land of Aegypt a land of blacknesse and darknesse of oppression and hardship through and out of the wildernesse and solitary condition into the sweet imbracements of the Fathers Love both into the freenesse and fulnesse of it notwithstanding the Creatures sensiblenesse of its own unworthinesse and now the soul being thus lighted to and possessed with this everlasting Love and grace it is likewise brought in sight of a lovely gracious deliverance a deliverance from the guilt a deliverance from the power of the Law in flesh that although the Christian through the powerfull working of corruption can say many times with the Apostle Ob wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of sinne Yet it can say by faith triumphingly Thanks be unto God who giveth a victory through our Lord Jesus Christ flesh oft-times acts in Saints for their tryall and they are to passe through many tribulations to the Kingdome through a Sea of Glasse mingled with fire yet in conclusion they shall stand on top or above them all with the harps of God in their hands the Spirit making sweet melody in their hearts singing the song of Moses Praise be to him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever thus this Law of the Spirit in righteous souls not only of sinne and misery but likewise of love and deliverance it leads the soule not only into the beholding of darknesse and sorrow but it leads the soule out again into the beholding of light love and deliverance and so it shall be truly said of them These are they that are come out of great tribulation and have washed themselves white in the blood of the Lamb these are they that have gone through many tribulations to the Kingdome c. 3. This Law in the Spirit discovers not only a deliverance from flesh and sinne by which the soule is kept below its glory but it likewise discovers a glorious deliverance into that spirituall and eternall Kingdome where is nothing lesse then peace purity and perfection it hath an entrance given into that everlasting Kingdome of his dear Sonne First It hath a light given by and in which it sees into that Kingdome In thy light we see light and that Kingdome is within us in this light the soul sees into the severall dimensions and glory of it it sees it to be a Kingdome altogether lovely altogether delightfull of desire he sees it to be a Kingdom of righteousnesse holines peace joy and full of spirituall glory he now sees that no unclean thing can enter into this Kingdome all flesh and filthines filthines all hypocrites and hypocrisy all things that love and make a lye must be without cast out into utter darknesse where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Secondly As there is a sight so there is an entring into that everlasting Kingdome with a full expectation upon sure ground of being eternally compleated in that Kingdome hence it is the Psalmist saith Psalm 145. 10 11 12. Thy Saints shall blesse thee they shall speake of the glory of thy Kingdome and talke of thy power to make known to men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty of his Kingdome marke you here the Saints shall speake of the majesty of his Kingdome and shall make known the glory of it to the sons of men and why so Because they are a ble to give a true relation of it they have been in the Kingdome and can speak experimentally of that Kingdome note by the way who are the likeliest men to make known the Kingdome of God to others University men or Saints the Scripture saith the Saints shall doe it for to them it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdome they have been in the Kingdome others parhaps have heard of the Kingdome and so can speak somthing by hear-say but the Saints they have been in the Kingdome and the Kingdome in them and they can speake experimentally of the grace and peace of it and of the glory of it too in a measure a wonderfull delusion that poor ignorant creatures should imagine that humane arts the wisdome of the flesh should be able to unfold the Kingdome of God unto them or to preach the everlasting Gospel which is called the word of the Kingdome no no it 's proper to Saints onely to doe it who alone have by the light of this Law in the Spirit been delivered into this Kingdome of righteousnes peace and joy others may speak and talke rudely of it but alas they know not what it is they never did so much as see into the glory of it never had so much as a pee-phole opened to see one glimpse of that light of that grace of that glory John 3. 3. Except a man be born from above he cannot so much as see into the Kingdome of God but Saints are delivered into this Kingdome in a measure by this law in the Spirit beloved it 's the property of this light of God to gather up souls into it selfe The Kingdome of Heaven is a Kingdome of light and in the light of Heaven which is God who is light we shall see light and enjoy that light the

about night day like a roaring Lion seeking whō he may devour one of his greatest temptations delusions is the presenting to your understandings the glory of this world although its true he falsly represents it too for he presents it glorious in it selfe to the deceiving of the soule but never presents God who is the quintessence the excellency and the glory of all things without whom there is nothing glorious nothing excellent nothing truly satisfactory or lovely this is the second false or deceivable light presenting things which are indeed good without him who is the goodnesse of them Third false light Thirdly If God make some discoveries of sinne to the naturall conscience it being convinced of sin waded under the apprehensions of it this false law in the flesh the spirit of Satan and darknesse if possible he can ensnares the soul under one of these mis-presentations Either 1. That notwithstanding there is such a discovery made of sin yet it is not so bad as is presented at present and there he presents the fleshly sweetnesse and pleasure of it hurryes on the creature into the most delightfull motions and actings of it that so by the sweetnesse and pleasure of sinne to flesh the troubled thoughts of sinne might be expeld But 2. If this will not doe the breath of the Lord kindles not onely new discoveries but fiery flames then the best way is with Adam to hide himselfe if not with Judas to hang it selfe an unlikely way to be delivered from fiery flames though many soules are thus deluded by that lying spirit withinthem 3. But if this will not prevaile then it will set the creature on worke with Adam to make clothes to cover it selfe withall although it be but figge leaves that is it will present unto the soule some creature righteousnesse and reformation some forme of godlinesse without the power as light and life enough to deliver the soule out of this condition it cloths the creature with a righteousnesse of its owne setting up reformations humiliations prayers teares preaching hearing in the roome of Christ and the spirit like unto Ephraim and Judah Hos 5. 13. when they saw their sicknesse sinne and wound then they went to the Assyrian for helpe but he could not helpe them and if they are healed that is falsly and unsoundly cured it proves their ruine for they become seven times more the children of hel and darknesse then before thus this law of flesh will through its deceivablenes gather up the soul into fleshly forms things sutable to it selfe mistaking Christ and the spirit of truth saying this is Christ thus transforming himself into an Angel of light to deceive souls but those who are indeed risen with Christ seeke things above of a higher nature if they at any time act in formes it is not the forme that satisfyeth them but Christ who is the substance Fourth false light But Fourthly When the soule comes to see that there is yet something above all formes and fleshly grounds of comfort When it comes to be truly informed or at least to get a notion that there is a law in the spirit an internall an invisible law which is indeed the true light and guide of all the Christians actings This law in the flesh or this spirit of darknesse which is Antichrist working in the highest mystery of iniquity and unrighteousnesse will be here working to the purpose too he hath here severall deceits under the pretence of light First In the throwing downe of all workes of holinesse and visible demonstrations of piety under the pretence of a more spirituall enjoyment Whereas before it lived in these now it throwes off all these as a thing of nought as watchings over and reprovings for sin righteous and in-offensive walkings love to the brethren spirituall communications of what the soule enjoyes meeknesse patience prayer c. which are all fruits of the spirit this is now all destroyed as a thing of nought by this law in the flesh and this false light is that with which the Saints themselves are sometimes tempted but the light of God the law in the spirit discovers it and expels it and it lets the soule to see that holinesse is becoming the House of the Lord for ever Secondly This spirit of delusion workes the minde into an earthly carnall distempered temper filling it with pride high-conceitednesse of its owne excellency passion and peevishnesse of spirit carnall and earthly mindednesse with a contentednesse in this condition because the creature is informed that its sutable to this high discovery of God which is indeed but a false suggestion of the spirit of delusion to this purpose James minds this excellent word James 3. 14. But if yee have bitter envyings and strife in your hearts glory not lye not against the truth This wisedome comes not from above but is earthly sensuall and devilish that wisedome which leades men into a spirituall carnalnesse loosenesse and liberty into pride passion and peevishnesse is not from above but from the bottomlesse pit this likewise fils the conversation with an externall appearance of lightnesse and vanity unprofitablenesse and pride sleighting all others who are not in the same temper with them Thirdly This spirit of delusion this mystery of iniquity never leaves if possibly he can accomplish it till he works the poore creature to and into its first station not onely to the owning in judgement but to the practise of all loosenesse and licenciousnesse and that too under pretence of being taught by the spirit the spirit it is indeed but it s the spirit of darknesse and not of light Now the soule comes as it saith in this darke and destroying light to see that all things are alike to God that there is no sinne but all actings are Gods or in his power therefore all is good There now in the esteem of such to lye steale be drunke commit adultery and the like is all good to such a creature and that God is now throwing his people out of all formes of righteousnesse as well as out of formes of worship Thus this man of sinne working deceiving ruining layes all upon God and the holy and pure spirit must beare all the blame and shame of this filthy spirits working when the truth is God can as soone throw downe himselfe as throw righteousnesse and holinesse out of his people and this those who are taught of God in whom the light of the spirit is manifest can beare witnesse unto although its true there is none of all these temptations but the Saints have had some experience some trials from the Prince and power of darknesse by which means they are the better enabled to speake and write in the discovery of it I deny not in any case the glorious dispensation of that law in the spirit it s a more full discovery of that law I wait for that so there might be a more full conformity both within and without

power we wil rejoyce and be glad in it this wil minister true occasion of joy to Saints when they can say and sing this song The Lord God omnipotent reigneth And thus this powerful law in the spirit wil appear in the subjecting al powers below or contrary to it unto it selfe when al created powers whatsoever below this omnipotency shal acknowledge That thou Lord God Almighty art worthy to receive glory and honour and majesty for thou only art worthy Thus shal this power cause al other powers to bend the knee unto it to submit and fal down before it Learne therefore to wait upon this powerful law to accomplish al your works for you both within you and without you to bring down al your fleshly enemies and then in conclusion shal you be able to see and say that through the help of your God you have gone through an hoast by the help of your God you have leaped over the wal 5. The power of this Covenant and Law in the spirit appeares in that it upholds those in whom it is from falling it endangers the soul to God the power of standing or falling is not left to the creature but the power of God is become the Christians power to uphold him We preach Christ the wisedome of God and the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Not onely wisedome and power to convert but to uphold and keep up the soule with the Almighty hence this Covenant is called an everlasting Covenant Jer. 32. 40. And saith the Lord I will not turne from them to do them good but I will put my feare in their hearts and they shall not depart from me this is the power of this spirituall law it keeps souls perpetually with it selfe so that as the Fathers love is an everlasting love so he makes with his people an everlasting Covenant that so their soules might live everlastingly in his everlasting love In a word it s this law of power which hath undertaken the effecting of all the Saints worke both within them and for them to carry them through temptations and trials and all oppositions both within and without untill they come to be compleated in that Kingdome Isaiah 42. 8 9 10. But thou Israel art my servant Jacob whom I have chosen the seed of Abraham my friend Believers are the Israel of God the spirituall seed of Abraham Gal. 3. last vers 9. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called thee from the chief men thereof and said unto thee thou art my servant I have chosen thee and not cast thee off Feare them not for I am with thee be not dismay'd for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will helpe thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse A blessed word being spoken in the spirits of Gods Israel how wil this raise soules above themselves worke them to a dependency upon him who is higher then themselves When the Lord speakes this word with power Feare not I am thy God I will uphold thee I will helpe thee c. What need such a soule feare temptations trials enemies This is that rock upon which Christ buildeth his Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it a word of comfort for the weake Saints they are not left to themselves to stand or fall at their own power but they are carried along in the everlasting armes of the Almighty He carrieth his lambs in his bosome he will not loose one of his little ones but will raise them up at the last day See Isaiah 43. 1. 2 3. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and he that formed thee O Israel Feare not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by my name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy One of Israel thy Saviour this is made good in the spiritual Israel of God he undertakes for them his power and strength is to become theirs he wil help them and uphold them and carry them through fiery temptations and tryalls through flouds of afflictions and tribulations and thus through many a fiery tryall will he carry them to the Kingdome Oh therefore looke to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith looke to him who is your covenant and workes all for you and all all in you it is his word to you and likewise in you Looke to me and be yee saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else Isaiah 45. 22. There is no power below or besides God able to save you able to uphold and keepe you but he alone is able to keepe that which is committed unto him untill that day and his power is made manifest in his Saints 6. The power of this Covenant this law in the spirit enables to doe what it commands it is not onely a law of light enlightening the minde giving understanding to the simple but it carries on the soul in acting sutable to the light communicated hence it is the Apostle could say I can doe all things through Christ strengthening me And Christ Without me you can doe nothing It is he that worketh both to will and to do of his good pleasure I worke saith the Apostle yet not I but his grace in me 1 Cor. 15. 10. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Gal. 2. 20. His power it is in you that destroyes corruption and flesh he it is in you that workes you up to a sutable acting and walking with himselfe I saith the Apostle am dead to the law that I might live unto God Gal. 2. 19. Through the power of this law in the spirit am I dead to the law in the flesh that so in the same power I might live unto God Thus Saints live in the power of this law act to God in the light and power of God an excellent thing to be knowne of Saints where the power the life of their lives lieth Because I live yee shall live also Thus is Christ who is the Covenant become not onely the wisedome of God but the power of God in every one that believes Thus this law in the spirit transcends all other lawes besides it selfe the Law and Covenant of Moses commanded but gave no power to obey hence it is the Lord complaines Jer. 3. That they had broken the Covenant though he was a husband unto them but this is a Law a Covenant not to be broken because it effects what it commands The Law of Moses is called a weak Law Rom. 8. 3. For what the Law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh c. This is a law of power it doth that which the Covenant in