1 Cor. 2.14 Application To incourage the Saints in the power and spirit of Iesus to presse forward after this knowledge and injoyment of God in the spirit this was Pauls resolution who had tasted of the spirituall discoveries of God as deeply as any to presse discoveries of God as deeply as any to presse forward after perfection Phil. 3. Forgetting things that are behind not alwayes living below The effects of it will prove very glorious 1. It is that by which you shal be able with the more evidence of light truth to judg of things that differ the spirituall man judgeth all things 2. It is that will make the life of a Christian exceeding glorious carrying him through all difficulties with much spirituall joy 3. It is that will put a period to all differences and divisions amongst the Saints Divisions flow from our ignorance and dwelling so much in the letter 1 Cor. 3.3 Whereas there are among you divisions and strife are ye not carnall and walk as men Those divisions and that strife amongst the Saints about things in the letter argue that they are exceeding carnall but this knowledg of God in the Spirit will as a mighty Gulfe swallow up all those little differences and put an end to all strife both among particular Saints and in the Nations Isa 2.2 3 4. When once the mountain of the Lords house which is his Saints come to be established on the top of all Mountaines and Hills that is in the spirituall enjoyment of God above all caruall and fleshy things then shall all warres and divisions have an end and not till then 4. It is that will cause many a glorious Starre to fall from Heaven many who have acted much after the Letter will upon the discoveries of the glory of God in the Spirit fall from that light they seemed to have SECT VIII The matter of the Church what THE Church of Christ may be considered either as more generall or more particular 1. More generall and then it includes the whole body of the Saints in the spirit This of some is called the invisible Church but to speake in the Scripture-language it may be rather called the generall or universal Church the whol body of Saints in the spirit called the mystical body of Christ because of their spirituall union with and in Christ their head This Church or assembly for so the Greek Ecclesia properly signifieth we shall read of Heb. 12.22 23. Ye are come to Mount Sion unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the genearal Assembly or Church of the first born and written in heaven and to the spirits of just men made perfect this is the Church that shall be made one in glory the generall assembly of Saints the spirits of just men and it is that might be desired at present that Saints Communion might flow more from their union in the spirit and not altogether from the union in the letter this is the glorious Church of Christ and the knowledge of it in the spirit wil cause Saints to own each other more in the spirit 2. The Church of Christ may be considered more particular or a particular body or company of Saints in the visible profession of the Gospell walking in the injoyment of Ordinances taking particular care of each other and building up each other in the faith and of this Church we shall read freqent in the new Testament and this Church is likewise called the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12 27. and it is not to be questioned but that this practise is very commendable amongst Saints and the knowledge of God in the Spirit and of Saints in the Spirit will not breake or lessen the fellowship of particular Churches but increase it and make it to be more spirituall for questionles that which tends to the breach of communion and fellowship amongst Saints is not God for God is love and they who dwell in God dwell in love it is that will increase love and this is the more excellent way that which in conclusion wil swallow up all differences yet one thing is much to be desired that is that there might be a generall union amogst the Saints that those who are spirituall might not be divided in the spirituall Communion because of some literall differences about the use of ordinances and the like Oh that the Lord would help us to beare with each other in such things why cannot Saints in the matters of difference beare with each other according to the Apostles rule seeing he that observeth a day observeth it to the Lord and he that observeth not a day observeth it not to the Lord and both give God thankes Obj. But our difference is in matters of Ordinances for the most part which God commands and hath given them to us as priviledges Answ True yet they are such commands and priviledges as God hath given to His servants to lead them up to himselfe in the spiri and what if some injoy God gloriously in the Spirit without these and we find them spirituall and walking answerable to the spirit of Christ why should my conscience judge another mans Liberty and why should not we hold communion with such in the spirit and in the letter too in those things wherein there is a union but the truth is there is too too much erring at present upon both hands the one judging it too carnall for any Saints to walk in the use of Ordinances which is not a truth at present the other judging it inconsistent with the Gospel and the state of a Christian to live without the practice and use of ordinances a third sort there are that would submit to Ordinances but want Administrators and this is more carnall then either of the former because they expect that to bee in a creature which is only in God but here should be a bearing and forbearing where the Spirit of Christ is A fourth sort there are who put Ordinances upon those not capable of them without any word at all in the letters and this the most carnall work of all and savours much of the earth and of an Old Testament-spirit from whence usually the ground is brought and it were much to be desired that the Lord would be pleased to enlighten their eyes that they might have more spiritual apprehension of the Gospel and the end of Gospel-Ordinances yet it should be the wisdome of the those taught from above to own any thing of God where-ever they find it and although it is true there cannot be a Communion with and in thing a never of God prescribed yet the spirit of love should so temper our spirits as that we should not bite devour on eachother but that as many as are spiritual though differing in some circumstantiall things in the letter yet owne each other in the Spirit imputing those differences to the flesh and this union in the
with 1 Iohn 3.2 We are already the Sons of God but it doth not yet appeare what we shall be But this we know when Christ shall appeare we shall be made like unto him and this is enough for us to know And as there is an Onenesse betweene Father Son and Saints so likewise there is a spirituall union betweene the Saints this was Christs prayer who was heard in all things he prayed for that the Saints might be one as he himself was one in and with the Father the union of the Saints is not a carnall union but a spirituall they who are joyned to the Lord are one Spirit Vse 1. To encourage all the Saints to presse forward in the power of the Lord after a farther knowledge and injoyment of this spiritual union with the Lord and with the Saints Truly friends as this was not onely the resolution of the Apostle himselfe Phil. 3. but his prayer for the Ephesians 1.16 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus the Father of glory might give unto them the spirit of wisdome in the Revelation of him that their eyes being inlightned they might know what was the hope of their calling and the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints so is it my desire not onely to presse forward in the power of God after the knowledge of this mystery but that all the Saints might live in the knowledge of it that their hearts might be comforted together being knit together in the spirit of unity and love The effects of the knowledge of this blessed union will prove exceeding glorious 1. It is that will produce a glorious spiritual communion and fellowship with the Father Son Saints union alwaves being that which produceth communion even a civil union with the flesh when once the Lord saith concerning man and woman they are no more twaine but one flesh that produceth fellowship and communion after the flesh so likewise and much more doth a spirituall union produce a spirituall communion and fellowship a fellowship and communion with the Father and the Son in all his administrations in all the wayes and acts of his providence civill or spirituall the spirituall Christian injoyes God in all 1. John 1.3 Our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ Christ and the Saints from their union with each other 1. They dwell together in the spirit they are his house and he dwels in them the Temples of the holy spirit and they dwel in him they who dwell in God dwell in love 2. They eat together in the spirit Eat O friends drinke yea drink abundantly the Lord takes as it were spirituall satisfaction in his Saints and they take spirituall satisfaction in the Lord it is their life to live in the injoyment of him 3. They walke together in the spirit they have their garden and galleries and pleasant delights 4. They talke together and commune with each other in the spirit the Lord he makes forth himself in the spiritual discoveries of his love to his Saints and then they are carried forth to tell him of it to admire him in it and to praise him for it and thus there is many sweet conference and heart-discovery betwene the Lord and a spirituall Christian which makes the soule to revive within it selfe 5. Christ and the Saints lye down together in the spirit and take their fill of love each with other they sleep as it were in the bosome of each other and so they rest themselves in love And this likewise produceth fellowship amongst Saints a fellowship in spiritualls fellowship in temporalls And they continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship in breaking bread and prayer and breaking bread from house to house being filled with gladness and singleness of heart Act. 2. And they who believed had all things common a community as well as a unity that is so far forth as need is calls for it so in gifts so in all things 1. Cor. 3.22 All is yours Paul Apollo and Cephas And Secondly the knowledge of this spirituall glorious onenesse which the Father produced an exceeding earnest desire in the soule enjoying of it to live more and more in that glory What is the reason Professors content themselves to be so low so carnal in their minds but because they were never acquainted with nor enjoyed higher things but the Apostle who had seen and tasted of that glory forgets all behind and presseth forward if so be that he might obtain the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3. and apprehend that for which he was apprehended that love that grace that God who had apprehended him Certainly that soul who hath once tasted how good how gracious the Lord is in the spirit can never be satisfied with the knowledge of him in the letter 3. the knowledge of the spirituall union with God produceth an acting more in and after the spirit of God How doth the creature set it selfe a works and acts it selfe even in the letter of the Gospel as well as formerly in the letter of the Law for want of knowledg of the union in the spirituall power of the Lord although without Christ that is not being acted by Christ we can do nothing the Creature being unacquainted with that spirituall mysticall union with God acts himself in the things of God 4. The knowledge of this spirituall union with God produceth the killing and crucifying of that earthly part nothing kills and destroyes the flesh but the rowing up in the spirit Oh! how would the soule many times be content to undergoe any thing so it might be rid of pride and selfe and those fleshly corruptions and why it is the growing up in the spirit that destroyes the flesh the more you live in and after the spirit the lesse after the flesh 5. It is that will help us to know Christ and the Saints the more in and after the sdirit the less after the flesh and so will produce a more spirituall communion amongst al the spirituall Saints of Jesus 6. And lastly it is that will make the thoughts of a change exceeding sweet because the soule lives in expectation of a glorious freedome from sin and sorrow and a full perfection of spirituall and eternall glory therefore it can be contented to be dissolved and to be with Christ whichs best of all where it shal for ever live in the connuall admiration of and glorying in the spirituall enjoyment of God whose worke shall be everlastingly and fully to enjoy and freely to sing praises unto the Lord. SECT VII Wherein it declared what the Law is and what the Gospel is with the difference between them both in the Letter and in the Spirit THE Law in the Letter is a rule of Life answerable to those moral principles of nature left in man since his fall the substance of which Law was written in the heart of the first Adam and was contained in that Verball word In the day thou eatest thou
nothing but spirituall Antichristian delusions with invented and Antichritian formes and Ordinances A Vial of wrath is coming on you which will shatter to pieces all your confidence and then if mercy prevent not you may stand looking on and crying alas elas in one houre is so great riches come to naught and then when this is fulfilled there shall be no more War in Heaven or spirituall delusion under the name of Christ A glorious word for those that dwell in Heaven and that which will cause joy to the Saints For first they shall be without and above all danger of delusions in the spirit or in the letter And secondly they shal from the same ground be for ever freed from fellowship with Hypocrits and literall Christians for their communion shall be more in the spirit and lesse in the Letter and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoaever worketh abomination that is lives earthly carnall and prophane or maketh a lye that is Hypocriticall that seems to be what he is not But they which are written in the Lambs book of life and there shall be no more a Canaanite in the house of the Lord for ever This is the great work Christ hath to do in these latter dayes the consumation of the Kingdome of Antichrist who hath a long time sat in his seat with the exaltation of his own Kingdome in the spirit SECTION V. Quest When he shall be ruined Answ FIrst in the mystery and spirits of the Saints as Jesus Christ comes in and shines gloriously in the spirit so shall Antichrist be discovered and destroyed and so he hath received a great blow already in this Nation through the shinings in of Jesus Christ in the spirit amongst many of his Saints so that this is the time of Antichrists ruine when Jesus Christ comes in takes place in the spirit of his people and the Kingdome of Christ increaseth so the Kingdome of Antichrist decayeth and consumeth Secondly Antichrist shall be destroyed when the everlasting Gospell shall be preached that is when the Angell flyeth through the middest of Heaven preaching the everlasting Gospell that is when the Ministers of the Gospel shal come forth with their full and heavenly discoveries of God in the spirit being permitted to preach the Gospel by the earthly power in all places with liberty For much hath been don already by the witnesses prophesyng in sack cloth that is almost always in danger of a civill persecution and much ignorance of the mystery of the Gospel which hath caused them to prophesie in sac-cloth yet they have had power to cause fire to come from Heaven as oft as they please burning up all Antichristian formes and invented delusions And then what will be done think you when the Ministers of the Gospell shall come forih in the full and bright discoveries of the Gospel with liberties here below for the publishing of it Thirdly Antichrist shall be destroyed when the witnesses have been slaine laine dead three dayes that is a short space then a tenth part of the City shall fall and the rest shall have their time prolonged but for a time a season The first woe is almost past behold a second and third woe cometh quickly wait and it will come apace Thus have I from the light of Truth with as much brevity as may be in some measure hinted at this Man of sinne this mystery of Iniquity with his reign ruine with the meanes and time FINIS
spirit the knowledg of it will in conclusion bring all the Saints into one spirituall way Isa 35.9 And so they shall worship God in the Spirit with one heart Zeph. 3. and so put an which flow meerly from the flesh SECTION IX The spirituall Kingdom of Christ in his Church in the latter days of the Gospel discovered THe Kingdom of Christ hath always beene and still is spirituall but in the latter days of the Gospel it shall be much more spirituall and glorious than formerly with relation to the subjects of it for the clearing of this truth in hand note these 4. particulars 1. That Christ is a King 2. Who are the subjects of this Kingdome 3. That his Kingdom shall increase in glory and spiritualnesse in the latter dayes 4. That his Kingdome is spirituall and not of this world First that Christ is King I suppose it is unquestionable all who own the Gospell but in the letter confesse as much in word see a scripture or two to confirm it Ps 2.6 the Lord spaking of Christ saith Yet have I set my King upon the holy Hill of Sion notwithstanding the rage of men yet Christ is King and wil reigne so likewise Psal 45. with Heb. 1.8 but unto the Son he saith Thy Throne O God is forever and ever a Scepter of righteousness is the Scepter of thy Kingdome he hath a Kingdome and a Scepture by which he rules he is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth a King of Kings and Lord of Lords 2. Who are the subjects of his Kingdome it is true he is King over all King of Kings and Lord of Lords he will rule over his enemies with his Iron rod and dash them to peeces like a Potters vessel but he is in a more special manner King over the Saints and in them he lives and so rules in them as well as over them he is not onely King of Nations but King of Saints Rev. 15.3 It is part of the Saints song of joy just and true are thy wayes O thou King of Saints and in the Saints he reignes spiritually powerfully for in the day of his power he maketh them a willing people the Subjects of Christs Kingdome are a free people the manner how Christ reignes in and over his people and what are his Lawes I passe it in this place and referr you to the Kingly Office of Christ in my booke intituled the exaltation of Christ in his Offices and so come to the 3. thing propounded That is that the Kingdome of Christ shall increase in glory and spiritualness in the latter dayes the glory of the Church in the latter dayes shall increase and the manifestation of Christs Kingly power shall increase Esa 9. of the increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no end The Churches glory shall consist of two partciulars that is externall and internall 1. Externall the Church shall injoy much externall glory liberty and peace even in the world in the latter dayes Quest Wherein shall the externall glory of the Church consist Answ 1. In the abundance of peace and quiet even from the men of the World Esa 66.12 I will extend peace to her like a River and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream peace shall be extended not onely in the spirit but in the letter likewise for the ground of this peace is rendred in verse 15 16. for behold the Lord will come with fire c. Esae 65.25 the Wolfe and the Lamb shal feed together c. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain saith the Lord God will take away the Wolvish disposition of men that they shall live peaceably amongst the Saints they shall nor hurt nor destroy c. 2. God will take off the spirits of evil men he will make them stoop and fall before the Saints Mich. 7.16 17. The Nations shall see and be confounded at all their might they shall lay their hands upon their mouth their eares shall be deaf they shall lick the dust like a Serpent they shall move out of their holes like wormes of the earth they shall be affraid of the Lord our God shall feare because of thee Thus will the Lord deale with his enemies in the lattr dayes hee will take away their Chariot-wheels and cause them to drive heavily 3 God will give the Saints a good name even amongst their enemies they shall be high even in the thoughts of bad men Isa 65.15 And ye to wit the Lords enemies shall leave your name for a curse to my chosen for the Lord will slay thee and call his servants by another name Formerly the Saints had a name of reproach amongst the wicked if a man departed from iniquity he made himself a prey but the Lord will give his servants another name even amongst their enemies that men shal not bless themselves in their evill wayes but who so blesseth himselfe in the earth blesseth himselfe in he God of truth 4. God will make his enemies in stead of persecuting to serve the Saints Isa 60.12 For the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish yea thoso Nations shall be utterly wasted Ver. 14. The sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves downe at the soles of thy feet and shall call thee the Cities of the Lord. Thus you see the Churches enemies shall not onely acknowledg the Saints and confesse them to be the Lords Citie but bow down unto them and do them service 5. The Saints shall be exceeding many and that will adde to their externall glory Times have been that to be a Christian indeed would have been a wonder he that departed from iniquity made himselfe a prey and so was counted the off-scouring of all things but now a little one shall become a thousand and a small one strong Nation yea the Lord will hasten it in his time Isa 60.22 and v. 5. Then shalt thou see and flow together and thy heart shall feare and be enlarged because the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee This with much more shall be the externall glory of the Church Secondly the Church shall enjoy abundance of internall glory in the latter dayes both is coming on apace Quest Wherein shall the Churches internall glory consist Answ 1. In the abundance of spirituall light and knowledge Much ignorance hath possessed the soules even of Saints a long time a veil hath been spread over all Nations both Gentile as well as Jew but the veil shall be taken away Isa 25. And I will saith the Lord destroy or swallow up in this mountain that is in the Church the face of the covering cast over all people and the veil spread over all Nations Such hath been the ignorance that hath overspread all People and Nations through the spirituall operation of the
Thus the first assertion in part is truth Christ shall reigne a thousand yeares that is many Generations but it will be spirituall and not personall 2. Assertion from thence is that all the Saints from the beginning of the world shall be raised and come and reigne with Christ Ans For the clearing of the truth in this Scripture which wil answer this assertion consider 1. what is meant by the behading for the witnesse of Jesus 2. What is meant by not receiving the mark of the beast 3. What is meant by being raised living and reigning with Christ 4. What is meant by the not living of the rest of the dead untill the thousand yeares were finished 1. What is meant by being beheaded for the witness of Jesus It is a spirituall beheading such a beheading as all the Saints who shake off Antichrists badge and yoake like to meet withall Christ is said to be the head of the Church and the head of every man that is of every Saint is Christ now when the Lord discovers the evill of Antichristian wayes to his people and they forsake it they durst not receive either the Image name or marke of the beast they shall presently be beheaded by the beast that is they will condemn them as those that forsake Christ and cry out unto them that they are revolted that they are Sectaries Hypocrits Heritickes c. And thus they behead the Saints spiritually and that for the testimony of Jesus because they cannot but declare the things that they have seen and heard from him which will overthrow and ruine all things contrary to himselfe in the. 2. What is meant by a receiving of the Image or marke of the beast Answ By the Image of the beast is meant that likenesse that it hath unto the first beast who seemes to receive a deadly wound being compared with Chap. 13.11 to 16. that is this beast seemes to make a change he speakes great words his looke is more stout then his fellows he thinks to change times and Lawes yet when all is done it is but the Image of the first beast the exercise of the same power the same wisdom in the things of God the same worship for substance it is all the same in substance and it is but the number of a man all of the flesh it is from below yet such must the worth and the excellency of it be for a time that whosoever will not receive the Image of the first beast and account it somthing too is likewise to be beheaded and not to be suffered either to buy or sell amongst them and many a Saint is like to be given into his hand and he shall prevail over them but it shall be but for a time times and the dividing of a time and then the Kingdome shall become the Saints Dan. 7.2 The Image is that internal spiritual principle from which the beast acts for none can truly follow the beast but those who have received this Image that is who act from the same principl e those are acted who act for and from the man of sin and it is called an image because it resembles Christ both in the internall as well as the externall part yet acts from his own wisdome by its own power according to its own mind to its own end and this in all resembles Christ Now these who refuse this Image in the spirit and cannot be contented with a wisdome like Christ a selfe-acting in the roome of Christ a rule short of Christ and end besides Christ from hence casting off this Image is caerrid on in another track then before they come to be beheaded for Christ because they cannot receive the Image who is the Antichrist in the spirit and not Christ so that here is not onely the Image of the first beast with relation to patern and power but likewise in relation to holiness the first will be for Christ and so the second yet are both but Antichrist 2. What is meant by the marke of the beast in the forehead and in the right hand by the marke in the forehead is meant the visible profession of Antichrist in the externall part those that would not visibly professe the wayes of Antichrist or in the right hand that is to act for him these were denyed to buy or sell Chap. 13.17 to sel that is to preach the Gospel for Antichrist under the notion of preaching the Gospell sells his wares but a time is comeing that none will buy their wares any more so they deny any who own not the Image name or marke to sell hence they may examine those who preach upon such and such intergatories and if it appear that they deny the Image name or marke they may not sell that is give forth freely what God communicates unto them when others sel or buy that is partake of any spirituall good amongst them if they could prevent it and those were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus but they were at last raised and lived with Christ 1000. yeers that is raised up from their low condition taken up into heaven in the sight of their adversaries lived with Christ in the spirit reigning triumphantly over all spirituall enemies selfe sathan world and those Merchants that sell all yea the soules of men too shall be weeping and crying alas alas Rev 18. when the Lord shall make good that word of truth Esa 66.5 Heare the word of the Lord yes that tremble at his word your brethren that hated you that beheaded you that cast you out for my names sake said let the Lord be glorified that is it tends to the Honour of God to behead and to cast out these men but he shall appeare to your joy you shall be raised up with Christ and I will give you a new name but they shall be ashamed Obj. John saith the Saints that had not worshipped the Beast he speakes in the Preterpluperfectence therefore it seemes not to be the Saints raised who at present were beheaded in the mysticall sense but the Saints that had been beheaded in the litterall sense Ans First it is the use of the spirit or the spirits Language to deliver it selfe in darke and mysticall termes so the Apostle saith in another case 1 Thes 4.5 that we which are alive and remaine till the coming of the Lord c. the Apostle speakes of wee as if he had intended the Thessalonians and Himselfe which was least intended but the Saints who being all one in the spirit and but one mysticall body in Christ while there are any Saints in the world the Apostle makes it to be all one as if he and the Thessalonians were them and so delivers it in the present tense when he might have said rather to speak after the manner of men then they which shal be alive at his coming c. as in Rev. the word might have run thus and so questionlesse it is to be understood then they that were beheaded