I shall branch them out in particulars as first Mr. Henden saith Every thing hath its beginning and continuance from the Word of God Answ It is very true hence we conclude that God having commanded in his Word that we should hear his Son in every thing whatsoever he shall say unto us and that the Son also hath commanded his Apostles to teach others to do every thing which he had commanded them to do which was the observation of all his Ordinances alwaies even to the end of the world Mat. 28.19 20. Mark 16.15 16. which sheweth for what I can yet see from your fore cited text Isa 56.5 that all Christs Ordinances are perpetuated and to remain Secondly you say and cite many texts to prove it that the Ministry Prayer Praises Baptisme and the Communion was upheld and did not fall in the greatest to Apostasie My answer in breif to it is this That if the fore mentioned Ordinances were upheld by the power of Gods Word in the greatest times of Apostasie practicable to be practised as a duty injoyned to the Godly then see your self that you condemn your self in the thing that you alow for you do alow and believe as you say that Baptisme and the Lords Supper was upheld by the power of Gods Word and did not cease but was practicable and tole practised by the Lords People thorowout all the times of Apostacy as in page 2. line the 25. compared page 17. Paragraph the first and if so then you are to be condemned out of your own mouth for to my best understanding of your practise you neither baptize and nor practise that Ordinance of the Lords Supper and then it 's to marvel if that God hath given you over to blindness of understanding and mind for it is just with God both to give an inlargement of understanding to him that faithfully practiseth that which he knoweth and also to take away the Talent from him that improveth it not and give him up to blindness of mind be wise to consider before the decree pass and there be no remedy Thirdly The third particular is That the Ordinance of Ordination with Church Censures and the like are ceased Your first cited Text is Isa 56.5 in these words Even to them will I give in my House and within my walls a place and name better than that of Sons and of Daughters I will give unto them an everlasting Name that shall not be cut off The Place say you is to be understood by interpretation from the Hebrew word J A D a Hard alluding to Church power and why should not the word Place within my House be everlasting as well as the Name especially they being both joyned together if the Spirit had not seen the fail and interruption of the change thereof Answ If this Text say that some of Christs Ordinances as Ordination or Church Censures or the like are to cease I have wholly lost my understanding in the Scriptures but yet give me leave to shew my opinion and then judge of it as the Lord shall guid your understanding There is these two things in chief that Mr. Henden gathereth from this Text the one is that it is a Prophesie of the primitive Gospel Church containing the Gentiles which at that time should turn unto the Lord. And secondly That the place within his House is to be understood a HAND alluding to Church power viz. outward Discipline as Ordination of Ministry and Government and Church Censure and the like To which I answer and say though it will be proved to be a Prophesie of the primitive Gospel Church I have not yet seen by what Mr. Henden hath said that there was Gentiles and Eunuchs proselyted and joyned unto the Lord under the Law is plain and that they were to keep the Sabbath from polluting is also as plain and that they should have a place and a name in Gods House by laying hold of the Covenant is plain hence the Eunuch came from a far Country to Jerusalem to Worship who was after converted by Philip and this Text speaks in order both to provoke the Jews to be zealous to observe the Law of Moses and also to encourage the Gentiles who were made Proselytes in their so doing that they should have a Place and a Name in his House as well as others even the Jews and that it speaks of that juncture of time and of those Ordinances under the Law and not of Gospel Ordinances read vers 7. where he saith that their burnt Offerings and their sacrifices should be acceptable upon his Altar the which if I well understand it relates to the Ordinances under the Law which were to be observed by the proselyted Gentiles as well as the Jews and not at all to Gospel Ordinances mark I do not deny but the Prophet Isaiah doth prophesie of the conversion of the Gentiles to Gospel Ordinances as in Chap. 42.1 2 3 4 5. and in many other places but not at all in that place And as for the word My salvation is near it may be understood their being saved from the hands of their enemies or many other wayes and not of Gospel Ordinances which the word Salvation will bear And the word I will gather others unto him which you seem to question is shewn to be the House of Israel as well as the House of Judah to wit the dispersed of Samaria and that this speaks of the other House as Judah and Israel are distinguished into two Houses namely the House of Israel read vers 8. and peruse it well and consider the two Sticks that are to become one in the Prophets hand and compare these together Ezek. 37.16 17 18 19 20 21 22. and you may find what is meant by the word I will gather others unto him But I pass this for brevity sake and come to the fourth and last Particular as an answer to the above-mentioned Maxime which is The Name and Place which saith Mr. Henden are joyned together in the Text and yet one perpetuated viz. the Name and the other to cease viz. the Place which by interpretation is a Hand alluding to Church Power To which I answer and say That although this Text cannot be proved a prophesie of the primitive Gospel Church as before said yet I shall speak to this to leave it without a cover And whereas Mr. Henden saith that the Hebrew Word J A D signifying a Hand alluding to Church Power it is known that the variety of acceptations both in the Hebrew and the Greek are so great and many that if men be of a corrupt opinion they may wrest and pervert the mind of the holy Spirit I could instance some places according to the small knowledge that I have in it but I suppose the Assertion will not be denied by you take heed of making the Scripture a nose of Wax to turn both this way and that way or as men please bear with my expression and
sink and be loosed for their efficacy for a time Answ From what you say here I understand you do believe or at least admit of it that the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against the Church of Christ but that there shall be one in all ages only this Church is to loose her keyes as you think so as not to bind and loose open and shut that is as I understand not to receive in nor to cast out and how this Church shall come to loose her keyes I know not although I have well perused what you say concerning the star that fell from Heaven to Earth for God will not take away the keyes that I can find from the Church and Devils or wicked men cannot take them away for the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it how then shall these keys come to be loost I am a thinking what you might have said from Mat. 25. That while she slumbred and slept shee let them fail out of her hands but I suppose that if she had so done she would have took them up again when she was awake but you say that there was a star fell from Heaven to Earth that had the key of the bottomless pit viz. an evil Angel or Minister as I understand you which had usurped all Church power into his custody totally apostated from Heaven to Earth and becomes a meer earthly Angel by which the Church policy that before was a Kingdome of Heaven is become a bottomless pit and instead of the keyes of the celestial Kingdome was another contrary key of the same bottomless pit the key being the same with the Church Answ The particulars considerable are these as first there was an Angel that had usurped all Church power into his custody say you To which I say me thinks its very strange that an Angel should usurp all Church power into his custody sure it was not while he was in Heaven nay but I remember it was after he was fallen to Earth and then it was not the key of the Kingdome of Heaven viz. the power of the true Church corrupted but it was another key viz. another power ever the key and power of Darkness and indeed it cannot be rationally imagined as I think that an Angel that is to say or Minister should carry all the power and authority away of all the seven Churches of Asia which had seven Angels belonging unto them and not only those seven Churches but also many other Churches that were then extant upon earth so then if the Angel received his key after his fall the which he did read Revel 9.1 2 3 4. then it could not be the key of the Kingdome of Heaven CORRVPTED but another key given to him namely the key of the bottemless pit and what proof is this to prove that all Church power was lost when an Angel viz. or Minister fell away from Heavenly mindedness to earthly mindedness let the rational Reader Judge Secondly That the keyes spoken of Mat. 16.18 were to remain in the Churches hands for ever is very plainly proved in the Scripture as First From the words of our blessed Saviours own mouth Mat. 18.18 19 20. in these words Verily I say unto you that whatsoever ye viz. the Church shall blind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in HEAVEN from these words we may see that Christ hath given his Church power to deal with offenders and to bind them that is to exclude them from that Communion of Saints and that it is to be perpetuated is plain because it is annexed to vers 20. which is perpetuated as is most evident Thus we may see in the first place that Christ did once give his Church his power and never took it away again from them and the power and strength of Hell cannot do it For the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and surely the falling of one Star from Heaven to Earth namely the fall of one Minister could not dispossess the whole body of Christ namely his Church in all places consisting of many particular Churches and Stars or Ministers of all their power that Christ gave unto his body the Church it being further considered that the Gates of Hell was not to prevail against it take this comparison Suppose the Constable of Benenden should lose his power as an Officer by reason of his rebellion doth it therefore follow that all the Constables in the seven hundreds or in that division have lost their power who have not rebelled and the several Parishes thereby lose their power so as they cannot execute the Law upon offenders which if so it is a Paradox unto me even so if one Minister of the Church or one Minister and Church should fall away and so lose their true power and in the room thereof take up the power of darkness doth it therefore follow that all the other Churches and Ministers which did not fall should lose their power also surely no there is no reason to be given to prove it but we find there was but one STAR in the singular number and not STARS in the plural number that fell and therefore to say because one Minister fell and lost his place and true power therefore there must needs be a sink of all Ministers and power is all one as if I should say that because Judas fell and lost his power and Apostle-ship therefore there was no Apostle-ship nor power upon Earth which to say would be rediculous and yet there is as good reason for the one as for the other but indeed no reason at all for neither so then the sum of what can be said from Revel 9.1 2 3. Is that there was a STAR that fell from Heaven to Earth and worked wickedness that is one Minister fell from Heaven that is to say from the Heavenly Church state to an Earthly Church state from the Oracles of God to the traditions of men and so it might be and was that one Minister amongst many might fall and yet the rest stand fast as it was with many in the primitive age and this is all which can be said from Revelations 9. And Secondly That Church power was perpetuated and to remain after these Apostles Death amongst the Churches is plain because the successive Ministers and Churches were to use the same practice of receiving and rejecting as we may read Tit. 3.10 2 Tim. 4.2 2 Thes 3.14 And your own principle alloweth of it for you do affirm that the practice of the Lords Supper is perpetuated and to remain in all ages and suppose you did do what you judge is your duty to do namely observe and keep the Lords Supper it must also of necessity be your own practice for suppose that one of your communicates that appeared to be a civil honest religious man but last Lords day and one which ye much delighted in but peradventures before the next Lords day
and darkly but so plain that he that is godly and yet of the weakest capacity may plainly know it because it concerns every man in point of his eternal peace and salvation to know it for if Christ have put an end to any of his Laws and Statutes so as they are not to be practised in all Ages by the godly then those that do practise or set up any thing that Christ hath put an end to are strivers with their Maker and fighters against Christ Even so whosoever shall adventure to nullisie or extenuate any of the Laws or Statutes of King Jesus which he hath appointed to be practised and hath confirmed by Signs and Miracles and with his own blood and hath no where repealed them nor shewed that they must cease and come to an end before his second Coming it had been good for that man if he had not been born or that a milstone had been tyed about his neck and been cast into the depth of the Sea in the day of his birth rather then have so done and to stand the hazard of the indignation of the great King at his appearance and Kingdome if he with an high hand do persist in it Therefore dear friend and Courteous Reader take heed and try well what thou receiveth and let not supposed consequences and mens opinions upon sentences of Scripture which are doubtful and disputable which neither thou well understandeth nor he that would expound them unto thee perswade thee to forsake or transgress against the known Laws of King Jesus which hath been confirmed and no where repealed and in thy so doing namely in thy keeping faithfully that which he hath left upon record uncancelled and committed unto thy trust to keep he also will keep thee in the great time of temptation and tryal safe under the covert of his wings to everlasting life and glory which is the desire of him Whose delight is in such as are zealous for the Laws of King Jesus and the Servant of all men for Christs sake GEORGE HAMMON The Good Ancient Laws and Statutes OF KING JESUS VINDICATED SIRS THE diversity of Opinions in our times is very great as you well know the which causeth much division and strangeness in point of Neighbourhood amongst men professing Godliness the which is much to be pittied by all such as have their hearts awakened from Self-love but let us as men of Liberty lay aside all envyings evil-speaking as fruits of the flesh which must be destroyed or otherwise what are we better nay are we not worse then those that are open professed enemies to Liberty for all that they do at present is but to persecute or smite with the tongue and that is too frequently found amongst some it is well if you be innocent in the matter to make it their greatest study to preach that which tends more to Controversie and Division than soul-saving Knowledg and Humility and inward grace and the like but let us in that say as Ephraim said as touching his Idols what have we to do with such things any more for ever and cast them a way as filthy rags and ever follow that which makes for peace and the things wherewith we may edifie one another which is well pleasing to God and approved of by men And now because of time I shall come to the point in controversie which is Whether all the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ be to be held up and practised by the Lords people in all ages to the worlds end yea or nay To which I answer and say That they are all to be upheld contended for and practised by the Lords People to the worlds end and in order to the clearing of this point and opening this discourse of yours hinted at above I shall lay down a position as a ground for the discourse and shall prove it by Scripture and Scripture reasons and also in the examination of your words I shall shew that you in effect confesse it or at the least to my understanding it appears so but shal leave it to be judged of by the serious reader together with my answer to your objections to that point now the point that I shal lay down as a ground of my discourse is That whatsoever Ordinances or all the Ordinances that Christ appointed in his last will and Testament to be practised by his Apostles and Churches in that age is to continue and to be practised by his Churches in all ages to the end of the world The which I prove clearly from the words of Christ in his last will and Testament Mat. 28.18.19 20. in these words And Jesus came and spake unto them viz. his Disciples saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Amen From whence we may see that Christs Precepts or Ordinances are to continue to the worlds end But give me leave to paraphrase a little upon the text as first from the words viz. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth Go ye therefore and so forth From whence we may learn that Christ did inform his Disciples that his command was sufficient to authorize them and all the godly after them to go forth and preach and baptize and gather costitute or state Churches as you call it to the worlds end as if Christ should have said you need not question your authority in your going forth and doing what I command you for all power in heaven and earth is given unto me therefore I have sufficient authority to appoint you to the work and my commandement and appointment is a sufficient authority for you to do it therefore go questioning nothing for the Father hath made me the great Law-giver and also given me power over all flesh that whosoever obeyeth not my Laws shall be cut off from among the people therefore go question not but make Disciples and Baptize them they must be first made Disciples by preaching to them and instructing them and they being thus made Disciples baptize them and also there is a further thing to be taught them for as you must teach them to believe in Christ and repent of their former sins before ye baptize them so their is a teaching also after baptizing and that is you must teach them to observe all the Ordinances and Statutes that I have commanded you that they may be followers of your steps as you are followers of mine that so it may appear their is but one Faith one Baptisme one Lord one Law-giver one Hope of calling that my statutes may be unalterable till the worlds end mind the weight of these wotds Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you So then whatsoever
man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed From which words we plainly see it is of a very dangerous consequence for any man to bring any other Gospel save the very same which was preached by Saint Paul and the Apostles and that Gospel was a Gospel containing all the Laws Statutes and Ordinances of King Jesus as hath been already proved therefore let every man take heed of perverting the Gospel either by adding or detracting or wresting any part thereof to their vain corrupt ends and so I pass to the ninth ground or reason of the point saying If it should be objected that this text speaks of some that would have brought the believers back again to be justified by the law I answer breefly and say that let it be what particular it will this we learn in general that the very same Gospel with the very same Laws Statutes and Ordinances which Saint Paul and the rest of the Apostles preached and practised is the very same that we must preach and practise or else be accursed Reas 9. It further appears that all Christ Laws Statutes and Ordinances are perpetuated and to remain because when Christ left the world he put his house in order and appointed to every man his work Mark 13.34 and blessed is that servant that when his Lord comes he finds so doing as he left him in chrage and thus Christ goeth before leading his people an example and they follow his steps and at last receive that blessed sentence These are virgins these are they that followed the Lamb whithersoever he goeth here are they that keep the commandements of God and the faith of Jesus right blessed are such dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labour and their works follow them And again they only are Christs friends that do whatsoever he commandeth such shall never be put to shame that have a respect to all his commands and again blessed and thrice happy are they that do all his commandements they shall have right to the tree of life and enter in thorow the gates into the City Amen Reas 10. and lastly because I am called upon to hasten and must be very breif I lay down this as a ground and reason to prove that all the Laws Statutes and Ordinances of Christ given forth in his last will and Testament is practicable and to be practised by the Lords People because as it is proved that they are commanded by Christ and confirmed given out as Laws Statutes to all men even every creature to the end of the world even so they all stand firm and undeniable without disanulling or adding thereunto unless the Lord Jesus have repealed or disanulled any one of them for Devils or men cannot disanul or repeal any one nay not the very least of them for he that gave them and commanded them to be observed is greater than all hath all power both in heaven earth given unto him therefore no men nor devils can disanul or add unto them the least jot or little Mat. 21.18 19. Rev. 22.18 John 17.2 Acts 3.22 23. This tenth reason why all Christs Ordinances are to continue practicabe and to be practised by the Lords people is because as devils and men cannot cancel or disanul any one of them neither hath Christ either cancelled his will or disanulled any of his Laws Statutes or Ordinances therefore they are perpetuated and to remain practicable and to be practised by the Lords people in all ages according to their several abilities untill the second and glorious coming of Jesus Christ and thus being in much hast I leave these few grounds and reasons to prove the continuance of all Christs Ordinances practicable and to be practised by the Lords People in all ages according to their several abilities and in the next place I come to the examination of the grounds and reasons which are cited by Mr. Henden to prove That some of Christs Laws and Statutes were to cease and are ceased and shall leave the serious reader to judge when I have impartially offered them to thy view without any lessening the strength of any one of them for although I am neccessitated to gather up the strength of his reason in as few words as may be yet I will not willingly miss any one thing that is material or hath weight in it cited by him to prove the cessation of Christs Ordinances and withal shall endeavour as much plainness of speech as that the weakest capacity of them that are Godly may understand it when they read it that I may not be as a Barbarion unto them the which I find to be the way most profitable unto Edification And first I shall begin with the first thing considerable which is that which he calls or lays down as a sure Maxim page 2. which is saith he Every thing hath its beginning and continuance from the word of God now whatsoever in Gospel times is fore declared and promised in Scripture for abiding did not fall but was upheld by the power of the Word thorow all the times of Apostacy as the Ordinance of Ministry Prayer Praises Baptisme and the Communion 1 Thes 5.16 17 18. Rev. 9.13 Chap. 11.1 Heb. 13.15 Isa 55.13 Chap. 65.5 Mat. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.26 and also a sealed elect number with the spiritual union Rev. 7.4 5 6 7 8. Chap. 9.4 Chap. 11.1 Chap. 14.1 Likewise the being and profession of faith duties of charity with all morall precepts 1 Cor. 13.13 Mat. 16.18 Rev. 11.3 Mat. 5.17.18 Heb. 13.1 with whatsoever else is promised to continue but that which is not so perpetuated in the Word as Confirmation Ordination Church censures with the primitive order or Church stating was corrupted and turned to confusion by the great Antichrist it wanting the same word and promise to uphold its abiding For proof whereof viz. The cessation of these last mentioned Ordinances we will begin with Isa 56.5 Even unto them viz the Eunuch will I give in my house and within my walles a place and a name better then of that of sons and of daughters I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off It was a prophesie of the primitive Gospel Church the ingrafting the Gentiles there into as appears verse 2. by the salvation coming and the righteousness the Gospel Ministry then revealed also the stranger then joyning to God and the Eunuch the dry tree before then taking hold of the Covenant must allude to the Gentiles who in time past was dead and the place within the walles being interpreted from the Hebrew word J A D which signifieth Hand alluding to Church power now Why should not the place be said to be everlasting as well as the name especially being before both joyned together if the spirit had not seen the fail and interruption of the change thereof Answ In order to the clear answer of these things
caution without offence but admit it were as you say which it is not so that is to say what if that should be as it is not a prophesie of the primitive Gospel Church and that also the word PLACE should signifie Hand alluding to Church Power Doth that Text imply that the word Place is not perpetual or everlasting as well as the Name I am sure that the Text doth not say that the Place viz. Hand as you call it is not perpetual or everlasting as well as the Name but if it be as you say that is that by PLACE is to be understood a Hand alluding to Church power then I will take your own argument and disprove you that is if I can prove the PLACE perpetuated and to remain as well as the Name then all that you have said here falls to the ground without remedy and that they are to remain in the PLACE viz. the Hand which is the Church power as you say see the words of the Prophet Nathan which is a prophesie of that House and Place and Name which Isaiah speaks of that the Gentiles as well as the Jews should have the priviledge to have a Place therein before ever the Place or Walls or House was built read 2 Sam. 7.10 1 Chron. 17.2 in these words Moreover I will appoint a PLACE for my people Israel and will plant them that they may dwell in a PLACE of their own and move NO MORE And that this Text holds correspendency with the fore-cited Text Isa 56. see vers 3. compared with vers 8. Chap. 57.13 which also agreeth with the words of the Psalmist Psal 69.35 36. which saith For God will save Zion and build the Cities of Judah that they may dwell there and have it in possession the seed also of his servants shall inherit it and they that love his Name shall dwell therein according to that Text Revel 3.12 which saith that they shall go no more out but I will write upon him the Name of my God c. and that is a better Name than of Sons and of Daughters So then the Place is as lasting as the Name But give me leave to speak a little like your self by conjectures and imaginations and probabilities and the like and if I be admitted I shall thus say that whereas you say that the word PLACE is to be understood Church Power I say that the word NAME is that which signifieth Church Power in Scripture and in reason more properly than the word PLACE for it is said that God gave Jesus a NAME above every NAME that at the NAME of Jesus every knee should bow both of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth Now if we simply understand it as a NAME there were other which were Named Jesus as well as the Lord Jesus But by NAME I understand signifieth Power that Christ had all Power in heaven and earth resigned up into his hands and so his NAME signifieth his Power and also it hath been a Proverb formerly We charge you in the Kings NAME meaning by his Power or Authority much more I could say but enough to prove the word NAME to signifie Power and if so then the power is to be an everlasting power and Throne viz. PLACE and so to remain to all generations I could peradventure alligorize the Scriptures and make them serve my own imaginations and carry a very fair face that wayes and thereby be like unto one hopping in the Clouds and lead other after me but these things I do protest against and endeavour nothing more if my heart deceive me not than to know and declare Christ Jesus and his Laws in the plainness and simplicity of them as they were delivered to and practised by the primitive Churches whose footsteps we ought to walk in agreeing with that Propesie Psal 78.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. in these words We will not hide them from their Children shewing to the generations to come the praise of the Lord for he hath established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children that the generations to come might know them walk about Zion and go round about her tell the Towers thereof mark ye well her bull-works consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the generations following FOR I have made a covenant with my chosen thy seed will I establish for ever and build up thy Throne to all generations wherefore Glory be to God in the Church by Christ Jesus through all ages World without end Amen Ephes 3. last Psal 89.3 4. Psal 48.12 13. And now I shall only sum up all in a few words and pass from this particular And the first is First That every thing hath its beginning and continuance from the word of God saith Mr. Henden and yet did say in the above mentioned Conference to Captain Tucker when he urged a Scripture command for to warrant the practice of Baptisme in our age said that a command to warrant the practice of it was not sufficient unless it were accompanied with the same power the which I conceive agreeth not together Secondly Mr. Henden saith that Baptisme and the Lords Supper did not cease in all the time of Apostacy BVT DID REMAIN practicable as a duty to be practised it having a word for its continuation and yet to my best understanding of his practice by information he practiseth neither of them and thereby condemns himself in the thing that he alloweth and therefore its just with God to give him up to blindness Again as for his cited place Isa 56.5 to prove some of the Ordinances to cease is answered as First by shewing it was not a prophesie of the primitive Gospel Church because the primitive Gospel Church was to offer no burnt offering and sacrifice upon the Altar as these were to do and to be accepted in so doing but these things were taken out of the way and not to be mentioned amongst a Gospel Church for so saith the Spirit sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings thou wouldst not neither hadst thou pleasure in them but a body hast thou prepared Again the Gentiles were then under those sacrifices joyned to God Again it s proved that the PLACE is as everlasting as the NAME and that NAME in Scripture signifieth power more properly than PLACE And thus I pass to the next proof or reason to prove the cessation of some of Christs Ordinances cited by Mr. Henden which is saith he Turn to Mat. 16.18 Where you may observe that to the profession of Peters faith and Christ the rock believed is fore-spoken that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it but vers 19. The keyes of binding and loosing opening and shutting are set after â—as having no such promise annexed to them and why should this be but to shew that these keyes in the Churches hand should have a
he appears to be an hypocrite even a drunkard or a fornicator or the like now will you admit of that man although formerly he had communion with you to have communion with you now when he appears both to you and all men that behold him to be a scandalous and prophane man I hope not and if another man of the great or little Bodies as you call them should proffer to have communion with you whom you judge godly would you not admit of him surely yea and if so consider at your leisure how much less this is than receiving and rejecting taking in and casting out binding and loosing consider well if yours were a congregation approved of by Christ the danger of such as ye reject and the benefit of such as ye admit of and indeed my opinion is that the great reason why ye do not practise that Ordinance is because if you did then you would be necessitated to receive in and cast out or otherwise you would have such a communion as the very worldlings would hisse at but now that you may shuffle a company together of all sorts and inlarge your Tents rather than you would let go some the which you would be ashamed of if yours were a communion of Saints you let go Christs Ordinance and so condemn your self in the things that you allow and indeed I do profess it seems very strange to me that any man that hath but a face of zeale in Religion and godliness that they will associate themselves with you in spiritual things for I do assure you that I should be very cautious how I had any communion with a man that liveth in the breach of that which he knoweth to be his duty to do fearing that he that makes but little conscience or indeed no conscience in one duty will make as little conscience in another provided it be inconsistant with his credit or reputation But to pass these things I shall give an argument to prove the continuation of receiving and rejecting binding and loosing which is If there be such a conjunction between keeping the Lords Supper and receiving and rejecting as that the Lords Supper cannot remain practicable and to be practised so as to be approved of God without it then receiving in and casting out is as perpetual as the Lords Supper But there is such a conjunction between the keeping of the Lords Supper and receiving and rejecting so that the Lords Supper cannot remain practicable and to be practised so as to be approved of by God without it Ergo the Ordinance of receiving and rejecting is as perpetual as the Lords Supper and one to attend the other The major is undeniable that is to say in short thus if receiving in and casting out be an Ordinance of such consequence as the Lords Supper cannot remain to be practised without it then it of necessity will follow that if one remain practicable so doth the other and Mr. Henden saith one doth remain namely the Lords Supper And the minor I shall prove that one cannot remain practicable without the other that is to say that without receiving into the Church and casting out of the Church the Ordinance of the Lords Supper cannot remain practicable and practised so as the Lord will approve of it and if so receiving into communion and casting out viz. binding and loosing is perpetuated and to remain as well as the Lords Supper but now to prove the minor namely that the Lords Supper cannot remain practised so as to be approved of by God without receiving in and casting out is first persons must have a time to be received into the visible Church of Christ one way or other unless persons are born members of Christs Church the which I think none will affirm because Christ saith that unless a man be borne again he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God for that which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of Spirit is Spirit marvel not that I say unto thee that thou must be borne again And that it was the practice of the primitive Churches to receive in her members is clear from these Scriptures and many more that might be added Rom. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. 2 Cor. 7.2 Gal. 4.13 14. 3 John 10. So that if there be not a continual adding to the Church daily such as shall be saved then Christs House will be quickly empty Secondly If there be not also a casting out the Lords Supper cannot remain practised so as the Lord will accept of it for the Lord hath commanded that if any be a fornicator or covetous or extortioner or an idolator or a drunkard or a railor that the Church should not have communion with him no not with such an one to eat and that there hath been such in the Church of God and have been cast out when they have been discovered read 1 Cor. 5. from the first verse to the 12. and that it is so in our dayes is plainly seen that there be some that seem to walk a while as Christians and then who can deny them the Lords Supper and not long after do shew themselves wicked and prophane and then who dares to administer it unto them and who dares to eat with them because the Lord hath forbid it And therefore to say that the Churches may and ought to break bread viz. eat the Lords Supper at such a time as she hath lost her power to deal with the wicked and scandalous so far as to exclude them is no less than to say that Christ is a transgressor in building the things the which he hath destroyed and will not the Church then be a cage of all manner of unclean birds or is it not as frequently seen that there be apostates in our dayes as in the primitive age and in short take this maxime that take either a Common-wealth without its power in government namely power to bind and loose in Civils and a Family without its power in government and a Church of Christ without its power in government and you shall see that the best of it will be a lump of confusion and at the end come to destruction or be a desolation so then the sum of all is this in short that if the Ordinance of the Lords Supper be perpetuated and to ramain in the greatest times of apostacy then the power of the Church also did remain because it is impossible for persons to eat the Lords Supper so as for God to approve of it if the Church have not power to exclude offenders because with such the Church may not eat nor have no fellowship in Spiritual things 2 Cor. 6. And that such were and will be found in the visible Church till they be purged out the Scriptures and our experience witnesseth daily from whence we may see that if the Church have not lost that precious Ordinance of the Lords Supper neither hath she lost her keyes of binding and loosing
Mountains or the like and to this agreeth the Prophets that saith The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for he shall come in the clouds and every eye shall see him and they that pierced him and all the kindred shall waile because of him So in short I understand it is the personal coming of the Lord Jesus which is spoken of in that Text Mat 24. and not any spiritual coming for the same Jesus even the same blessed man which did once ascend in like manner shall again descend as I have proved in the former part of this Treatise intituled Truth and Innocency and thus much briefly of the coming of the Lord Jesus like lightening which lightening is to be seen from one end of Heaven to the other even from the East unto the West which light all men that have their natural eye-sight do see at once even so shall the personal appearance of Jesus Christ be that all men shall see his glory together when he shall appear in the Clouds of Heaven with all his holy Angels with him and this I am very confident was the mind of Christ in that place and thus I pass to speak somewhat to the Carkass and Eagles being gathered unto it which is Fourthly the fourth and last thing sheweth the taking up of the Saints to meet Jesus Christ the Carkass being understood Christ and the Eagles the Saints it s only a simily shewing that as the Eagles suddenly gather themselves tegether to the place where a Carkass is even so the Saints shall suddenly be gathered together to the place where Christ is agreeing with 1 Thes 4 14 15 16. and Mat. 24.40 the which I have before spoken of more at large therefore shall leave it at present with the Reader and pass all the other things very briefly because I find the things already spoken to is the whole grounds or master-pieces of your Book and those things that I shall now speak to I shall take them as they lie in order in your book and the first thing that I observe and shall speak to is Of the new pouring out of the Spirit and a new marriage after the former Page 5. Answ I find there was a Marriage between God and old Israel which is a Metaphor to wit the enjoyment of the inheritance and the marriage bed as I may so call it the presence of the Lord in Types dwelling amongst them in that holy Land or glorious Mountain Jerusalem which was a Type of the heavenly Jerusalem and the Tabernacle of God to be with men when they shall injoy the marriage bed to wit being present with Christ knowing him as we are known by him the which while we live in this Body we do not for we are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 And that there shall be a marriage and a marriage Supper I grant but it s after Christ is come the second time read Luke 12.35 36 37. compared with Revel 19.7 8 9. with more that might be said but as to the first marriage spoken of by you which was say you in the primitime times in the first breathing of the Spirit I cannot see nor believe nor I am certain you cannot prove it for the Church of Corinth had as great breathings of the Spirit as any had coming behind in no gift and yet were in that time but in a Virgin estate and condition as you may read 2 Cor. 11.2 in these words But I am jealous over you with godly jealousie for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chaste VIRGINE to Christ From whence we may see that the primitive Church who lived under the breathings of the Spirit and had excellent gifts of working of Miracles and yet were but in a Virgine condition and so shall the Church be at the very time of the second coming of the Lord Jesus until he is come read Mat. 25.1 to the 11. And as to your cited text Mat. 22.1 2 3. it is a Parrable and it s also clear that the whole time of the preaching of the Gospel is the time of the inviting the Ghests and the Parrable holds not if all the Ghests be not invited before the day of the marriage supper and I am sure that all the Ghests are not yet invited nor born I could speak at large unto it but I study brevity and so shall pass to the next thing which is The Churches was in Babylon as appears saith Mr. Henden by her being called out Revel 18.4 it being a strange Land from the native Canon of a Gospel word where they were strangers under other Lords page 8. Answ I have read that the Israel of old was in Babel in Chaldea from whence they were to depart but I never yet read that the Elect Sealed Number were subject to other Lords in respect of order that is to say they submitted not to the Babylonish order neither was their order become Babel read Dan. 3. It 's true that the Jews had several Ordinances which were to be performed only at Jerusalem and hence it came to pass that they practised them not in Babylon and therefore they were far from being Babellish but the Gospel Ordinances are limitted to no one place more than other insomuch if there were a Church in Rome they might practise all Christs Ordinances if they could enjoy their Liberty so to do although it be the seat of the Pope and yet not be blamed but commended of by the Lord as was the Church of PARGAMVS Rev. 2.12 who lived where Satans seat was and yet did hold fast their profession even so it 's like there may be some in the City called Babylon Revel 18.4 which may own and practise the Truth although unknown to the Pope at the very time when the Lord will destroy it and so he may call them out as once he did call Lot out of Sodom but to suppose that God owns a People to be his People which are Babel in their order is but vain when we rightly understand how zealous God ever was of his order never admitting of his own people to mix it with the confused order of men or Babel for those that are partakers of her sins which they were not which were called out Revel 18.4 shall be partaker of her plagues but if Babels order were sin and the Church order which was in Babel was established then the Church must be partakers of her sins and so of her plagues which was not and so I pass this also and come to the next thing which is You may find all your new stated Churches saith Mr. Henden of a different Mettal from the true how near soever to the primitive they seem to be in the outward shell and yet in reallity do ground upon another foundation upon Believers not possessed with such a power sent down from heaven page 14. Answ They differ not in their Mettal
Mr. Henden seems to reprove Mr. Elmestone in his 33. pag. for calling Babylon by way of argument Zion and yet in his 29. pag. he calls Mount-Zion Babylon himself so that I may take up St. Pauls words Rom. 2.22 which saith Thou that abhorrest Idols dost thou commit sacriledge but I pass to the conclusion which is saith Mr. Henden If the Romish and Antichristian defection be not decyphered by these figures but the Jews only then it is altogether omitted in this book then must all from thence to the end of the Revelations be peculiar to the Jews Answ These figures do not decypher the defection of the Romish Babylon and yet both her defection and judgment was shewn unto John as in Revel 17. chap. 18. and also somewhat shewn as a consequence of it chap. 1.5 chap. 6. but these things would be too large to speak to in particular at present considering my time is short I may have time to open these things more at large hereafter but at present I say in a few words that both the vision of Daniel and also of the Revelations speaks more properly of the change of the Monarchical Governours and Governments of the World than the defection of a Church to wit the Church of Rome for the fourth kingdome upon earth which was the Roman kingdome was begun before the vision was shewn unto John yea before Christ suffered for he suffered under the Roman power and therefore he speaks not much of that and the defection of a Church or false worshippers and the people of God suffering under them is no strange thing and therefore not so observeable when we consider how frequent apostates and false worshippers are in this world and for a Church to change its government into states pollicy is no great thing to be noted in Scripture but the alteration of Monarchical Government and Governors is of great note in the Prophesie of Daniel and also in the book of the Revelations because they are the things that shew forth the government of the great King Jesus upon Earth whose Kingdome shall break in pieces all other Kingdomes when their Kingdom cometh into the hands of the eight who also is of the seventh the which I have shewn how it is although in differing phrases before the which time and things approacheth very near for we doutless live in the latter end of the fourth Kingdom viz. the Roman Kingdome in the time of the feet and toes which was partly Iron and partly Clay which holds not together in its mixture which is the Cause of the great stir and strivings in our Nations and other places in the World at this day Dan. 2.31 32. to the 45. But I leave this and the reasons cited by Mr. Henden to prove that the Sealed number were Gentiles and leave the serious Reader to peruse Revel 7.4 5 6 7 8. which will better inform them who the Sealed number is and thus I pass to the next thing considerable which is The best of Saints saith Mr. Henden are not yet come to that height of righteousness requirable in a Gospel order in point of love and mutual fellowship page 70. Answ I had thought that you had said before in page 2. that their spiritual union and charity and all moral Precepts did remain according to their primitive institution and were not corrupted by the Beast in all the times of apostacy and now to say that the sealed elect number had lost their righteousness in point of love mutual fellowship is to say that the sealed elect number that were not hurt as you say were so hurt as they had not only their outward order corrupted but were also so corrupted within that the notable and theological grace of love and mutual fellowship was so defaced as they not fit to meddle with outward Ordinances and if they were not fit to meddle with them how were they fit to meddle as I may say with God in that Ordinance of Prayer and Praying and how could such eat the Lords Supper which signifieth mutual love and fellowship the which Ordinance you say was practicable and to be practised in all the times of apostacy and would not their defection in that point as well disable them from being an elect number as well as from outward Ordinances when we consider all other graces without that grace of love is nothing when they had lost that grace of love or so defaced in it as not fit for the out-side of things I mean the outward Ordinances which you speak of how then could they be fit for God and spiritual worship I know not mend it when you write again and when you have done all that you can do to it there will appear in my judgment more confusion contradiction in it than good reason but I leave it at present and shall speak somewhat to your sixth Reason against constituting as you call it of Churches in our times which is A further reason of the unwarrantableness of Church constitutions in our times is the divisions rents amongst the godly page 72. Answ The divisions amongst the godly is acknowledged not to be their strength but weakness not their vertue but rather their vice yet notwithstanding it may be and is a time now for the gathering of Saints and constituting them into congregations in the order of the Gospel for so we understand the word Church to be a congregation for there was divisions in the primitive time amongst the Churches and also amongst the Apostles so as that St. Paul and Barnabas rent or divided one from another and also there was great contentions amongst the Corinthians and the Philipians and others Acts 15.39 1 Cor. 1. 1. Phil. 1.16 which was not their vertue as before said and there are a people in our dayes even in our Nation I may say and speak safely consisting of thousands that are one in the faith fellowship and order of the Gospel many more are coming onwards according to their several abilities in the knowledge of God although there be some that are weak amongst professors yet that may not hinder those that are strong and able to work in their building of a house for the Lord but I pass these things and come to the next and last Objection which is to prove a seperation without Church stating cited by Mr. Henden which is saith he This return from mystical Babylon is not fully accomplished at one time but is traced by distinct steps and degrees Answ You would have done well to have shewn the steps that is to say how many there be and what time they require to be trod that we may know when we be at the journeyes end surely its a long journey for you have been almost ten years already in your journey for now it s almost 1660. and the fullfiling of the time of the captivity ended as you say in the year 1650. was Israel so long coming out of
Christ and take its Government with him to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron then shall the Jews suck their breast namely partake of their glory who shall judge the world in righteousness So then the first Reason to prove the Man-child to be the faithful Gentiles is because the Jews are mentioned in the Text as the Mother and the converted Gentiles as the Man-child sucking her breast and also because she is to be troden under foot until the fulness of the Gentiles So then her travelling in pain to be delivered of a Man-child to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron is to be the bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles so that the Gentile Gospel Church being compleated and risen from the dead which shall be at the time of the appearing of Christ in the clouds at the same time when the Jews shall see him and believe in him because that Man-child that shall rule all Nations with a rod of Iron And Secondly That the faithful Gentile Church is the Man-child which is to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron is clear because they are the people that have the promise made to them to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron even the very same thing which is spoken of the Man-child for saith the Text Revel 12. He was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron and that this is to be understood the faithful Gentile Church who are to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron read the words of the Lord Jesus spoken by St. John Revel 2.26 27. which saith He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron even as I have received of my Father c. From whence we see that the very same honour that God gave the Lord Jesus spoken of in Psal 2. which was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron even the very same honour he hath given unto his Church which followeth him in the regeneration as it was promised to the Church of Thyatira And I call the Gospel Church the Church of the Gentiles because that there was but a very few Jews converted it being the Gentiles day and the Jews shut up under unbelief yet I would not be understood to exclude the converted Jews of the same priviledges that the converted Gentiles shall have for they are all one in Christ and to have all one priviledge And as for the Man-child which is to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron we see plainly that it is the Gentile or Gospel Church as is promised to the Church of Thyatira and they are also called joynt heirs with Christ that as Christ had that honour put upon him even so did Christ put it upon his Church which is his Body and thus I pass this second Reason saying that it is plain that the Man-child was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron and I find none have that honour put upon them but Christ and the Gospel or Gentile Church for the whole House of Israel have not that honour because the Scripture saith that the converted Gospel Church shall judge the twelve Tribes of Israel so then the Man-child spoken of Revel 12. is either Christ or the Gospel Gentile Church because none else have the promise of ruling all Nations with a rod of Iron and that the Man-child is not meant Christ I could give many Reasons if I did find any that did affirm it but because I find none assert it I shall spare my pains And secondly if it be not Christ which is called the Man-child which was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron then it must needs be the Gentile Church because none else have the honour promised them to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron but Christ and the Gospel Church and thus I pass to the third and last Reason to prove that the Man-child spoken of in Revel 12. is to be understood the Gospel Church which is Thirdly and lastly Because the Man-child spoken of in Revel 12. is to be caught up unto God and to his Throne before the Woman takes her flight into the Wilderness the which agreeth not as I understand to any thing else save that of the Gentile-Church who are to arise first from the dead and be caught up to meet the Lord in the ayr 1 Thes 4.14 15 16. Revel 20.5 6 7. Mat. 24.40 41. Luke 17.35 36. And from the time of the Signs of Christs coming until he shall descend upon the Mount of Olives the Jews shall be in perplexity and every Family shall mourn apart and there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as in HADADRIMMON in the valley of MEGIDDON Zech. 12.10 11 12. And that the Jews shall then be living upon the earth in their bodies before their change at the very time when the Lord Jesus shall come is so plain that I think that none can deny it for the Scripture saith it is the time of Jacobs trouble and also saith that in that day when Jerusalem shall be spoiled that then shall the Lord come and his feet stand upon the Mount of Olives The two things which is observable to clear the truth of this Reason and to shew the parrallel between the Man-child being caught up before the Womans flight and the Resurrection of the faithful Gentiles and their being caught up to meet the Lord in the air is first to shew that when the Lord Jesus comes to raign upon the earth that then there will be some living in the flesh unchanged or not changed into an immortal state And secondly to prove that all the faithful shall be changed before he descends upon earth and that they are to come with him being before caught up to meet him these things proved and well considered will shew us that the Man-child is no other but the Christian Gentiles And First That there will be some namely both Jews and Gentiles although not such Gentiles as were converted by a Gospel preaching living upon earth at the Lord Jesus his coming upon the earth to take his Kingdome and to raign is plain for when the Lord shall have descended upon the Mount of Olives and shall have made Jerusalem the praise of the whole earth when the voyce of weeping shall be heard no more at all in her which will not be till after the very coming of Christ and yet when all this shall be fulfilled that Christ shall be in Jerusalem and rejoyce over his people there even in that time of Christs raign there shall be death and dying in Jerusalem for death is the last enemy that shall be conquered and that there shall be dying after Christs raigning in Jerusalem is clear from the words of the Prophet Isaiah which saith That the child shall die an hundred years old and the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed Isa 65.19 20. in
namely of receiving in or casting out although one Star fell from Heaven to Earth Revel 9. yet he carryed not away the heavenly keyes or power no more than the evil Angels when they fell could carry away the heavenly power and authority of the good Angels no they were so far from carrying away the power that the good Angels had that the power that the evil Angels had was taken away and given to the good Angels as the one Talent was taken and given to him that had ten so to him that hath shall be given and to him that hath not shall be taken away that which he hath so then the conclusion is that if one Star did fall it s nothing in comparison of many Stars which did not fall and that fallen Star did not carry away the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven namely the heavenly power but God took it away from him and the Devil gave him the keyes of drakness so it was not the keys of the Kingdome for they still remained with them that abode in the truth as hath been already proved and by your self in effect hath been granted and thus I pass to the next thing considerable which is The four Winds Revel 7.1 with its interpretation by Mr. Henden But by the way I take notice of what is said in the beginning of his 4. page from Zech. 4. which speaks concerning their building of Jerusalem and the Temple after the seventy years of captivity in Babylon the which he applies to be a Gospel Church and the Pipes there spoken of to be understood Ordinances and from the seven Pipes spoken of vers 2. is to be understood the practising of the full number of Ordinances in the Primitive time and the two Golden Pipes in vers 12. Is to be understood the least of numbers and that least of numbers relates to the time of the Churches being in Babylon that then the lesser number of Ordinances were practicable and to be practised This is the sum in short that I gather from that his discourse To which I answer briefly and first that the 4 Chapter of Zech. is a Prophesie of a Gospel Church I cannot as yet see nor believe it is clear that it was a prophesie of the redifying of Jerusalem and the Candelstick the Lamps and Pipes belonging to it is the same vessels that God appointed in the Temple as you may read Exod. 25. Lev. 24.4 Numb 4.9 the oyle vessels ministering unto it is to be understood the Pipes Chap. 8.2 2 Kings 4.10 1 Chron. 28.15 from these and many more Scriptures that might be added we may see that the Candlestick with the Lamps and Pipes viz. the ministering vessels unto the Lamps and Candelstick was the same that God shewed unto Moses in the pattern and appointed it to remain in the Temple and after that pattern it was made in Solomons time and the very same was to be after the seventy years of captivity and it is far more evident because if we observe the Prophesie of Haggai who speaks of one and the same thing he will tell us that Zerubbabel and Joshua according to Zechariahs words that he should lay the foundation and also finish it Hag. 1.14 Zech. 4.9 and that this prophesie relates to Jerusalem read Haggai and Zechariah at large I do not say that it relates only to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple at the end of the seventy years captivity but in it is a Prophesie of the redifying of the City and Temple destroyed since by Titus Vespatian which is yet to be built again according to the Word of the Lord Rev. 11. but more of that anon but in a short sentence I further add this as a reason to prove that the Prophesie of Zechariah Chap. 4. most primely relates to the redifying of Jerusalem at their coming out of the seventy years of captivity because that both Haggai and Zechariah have the Word of the Lord coming to them both at that time as to Haggai the Word of the Lord came to him in the sixth seventh month in the second year of Darius Chap. 1.1 Chap. 2.1 and to Zechariah it came in the eighth month in the same year Zech. 1.1 and the work of both Prophets was to stir up the People to the work of building of the House of God for they being hindred by subtilty in the dayes of Cyrus because that Zerubbabel and Joshua and the rest of the chief of the Fathers would not let the people of the Land build with them as you may see at large in Ezra 4.1 2 3 4 5 6. that they at last out of custome grew careless and was content to live in their sealed houses and let the house of God lye waste Hag. 1.2 and hence the Word of the Lord stirred them up by the two fore mentioned Prophets namely Haggai and Zechariah that they might go on to finish the Work for Zerubbabel had begun it before and laid the Foundation in the daies of Cyrus and being stopped as before said he was to finish it in the daies of Darius which agreeth with the words of Zechariah Chap. 4.9 in these words The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house his hands also shall finish it compare Haggai with the four first Chapters of Zechariah and compare them both with Ezra 3.8.9 10. Chap. 4.1 2 3 4 5 6. and you may clearly see that what I have said is undeniably true and that is the thing that Zechariah speaks of in Chap. 4. which Mr. Henden would have to be a Gospel Church it 's clear that men may be carried away very strangely in the judgments and understandings if that they be guided by their own spirits or immaginations without searching the Scriptures and well comparing them together so as they may hold a correspondency together I am not willing to be nice in observing obsurdities the which if I were and had time I could observe many but at present I shall leave this thing saying that if the Pipes signifie the Ordinances of the Gospel and that they were lost from seven to two so that there is now but two Ordinances practicable and it 's a question to some whether Mr. Henden practise above one of them two what Ordinances they be which remain but you say that the two signifie the least of numbers and so I think that two is the least of numbers but that I may take you in the best sense I understand you mean that the Ordinances was devided in two numbers and the biggest number was to cease in Babylon as you call it and the lesser number to be perpetuated and remain the which if so cast up your account again and you will find upon your own account that the greater number is perpetuated and to remain as 1. Ministry 2. Prayer 3. Praises 4. Baptisme 5. the Lords Supper 6. the Sealed elect number 7. the Spiritual union 8. the beginning and profession of faith