Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n
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A90376
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Of the internal and eternal nature of man in Christ.
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Pembroke, William Herbert, 3rd Earl of, 1580-1630.
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1654
(1654)
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Wing P1127; Thomason E740_6; ESTC R207015
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15,566
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64
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loved the Church and gave himself foâ— it 26. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word 3. Whereas page 5. line 6 7 8. we declare that after the peace and love of God are perfected in us we find the beasts who lived before within us in enmity now agreeing with each other as sometime those in Noahs Ark lived in amity we desire you to understand that there are two sorts of lusts desires and affections in us the one of these are reformed according to upright nature and kept in due subjection to the Spirit having a true proportion and temperature among themselves and these are the beasts here meant which were signified by the clean beasts that entered into Noahs Ark and according to the tradition of the Hebrews these had a distinct or several room apart for themselves in the Ark. The other are unnatural inordinate thoughts lusts and passions these are the brute beasts which we do awaken by breaking our wills off from the will of God of which beasts we spake page 7 in the 4 last lines in the beginning of page 8. and in the 9 also and these are very soul unclean and deadly beasts 4. Whereas page 8. line 12 13 we said Then you shall evidence that it is sown a natural body and it is raised a spiritual body there is a natural body and there is a spiritual body our clear intent was to intimate that besides our outward body of the four Elements which shall be raised up again in one pure Element according to some writers which are Authors of singular credit there is an inward body of inordinate members which must be sown or buried in mortification that a new spiritual and incorruptible body may rise up in stead thereof 5. VVhereas page 12. line 11 12. there is mention of one and another Adam one of them was created a living soul another must become a quickening Spirit as it is there hinted for there is a twofold Adam so termed by the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.45 And so it is written The first man Adam was made a living soul the last man Adam was made a quickening Spirit And so much we have expresly mentioned page 8. line 17 18. where we used the words of the Apostle though we coted him not The first Adam may be understood both of our first parent and of our earthly and natural man also but the second Adam or man from Heaven is Christ himself of which the first was a figure as the Apostle witnesseth Romans 5. v. 14. Nevertheless death raigned from Adam to Moses even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression who was the figure of him that was to come 6. VVhereas we say page 17 line 1 2 But to do this you must get you into the Cross the Virgin fire into the Bride we would not be so understood as if these three were one and the same thing for first The Cross in a large sence meaning signifies the whole work of our Humiliation Repentance and Regeneration as page 19. line 1 2. we use it where we with S. Paul 1 Cor. 1.18 say that the preaching of the Cross of Christ is to them that perish foolishness but to them c. And thus to sink down in our selves by the sense of Gods wrath and to become humble penitent and tractable to do and suffer the will of the Lord is the first step to that Cross of which we give a touch in many places as pag. 22. li. 13. pag. 16. and page 30. and lines 12 13. But the spiritual Cross in a more peculiar notion is the like patience or sufferance of Christ through which we dye voluntarily unto all temptations and allurements of sin and are enabled to persevere in the greatest tryals of faith till through the power of Christs assisting grace we have gotten the victory And upon this account S. James exhorts us thus Chap. 1. v 3 4. But let patience have her perfect work in you that you may be perfect and entire wanting nothing But the Virgin fire or fire of Faith is in it self a fire of Light a Love-fire and yet a consuming fire to all darkness and iniquity And finally the Bride is that Jerusalem aforesaid which followeth in order after the iniquity is consumed 7. Whereas we make mention also in page 17. line 5. first of the Saints Purgatory and immediately after of the fiery Tryal out of 1 Pet. 4.12 we took occasion from the purging fire which we had mentioned to speak of our condition and trouble which we must necessarily pass through whilest we are under the Refiners hand but the fiery Tryal it self ariseth not so much from that fire which in it self is soft and gentle as from the fiery darts and temptations of the Devil mentioned by the Apostle Ephes 6.16 Above all taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and from fierce and fiery persecutions by which the Saints are sometimes tryed also 8. Whereas in the same 17 page line 12. we say That by taking up our Cross dayly which is the sufferance of Christ aforesaid we enter into the Holy the sacrifices which we through the help of Christ offer up unto God therein are our sin-offerings of Repentance our whole burnt-offering of mortification and our death-offering in passing through a spiritual but yet a temporary Hell and all this in conformity to Christs voluntary offering himself upon the Cross and sufferings in the flesh which is the thing we hinted at in page 4. line 8 9 10. the words are these namely VVho cometh through fire to drink of the living waters into the inward society of Love yet through this Holy we enter into the most Holy where Christ the chief high Priest first brings unto us gifts and offerings of unvaluable price as the final Remission of sins the heavenly Bread and Wine whereof that of Melchisedec was a figure and the everlasting Benediction of all heavenly Treasures of which you may see more at large Hebr. 7. v. 3. Without father without mother without descent having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a Priest continually and then enables us to offer unto God the sacrifices of everlasting praises not of sins but remission of sins Thus you may understand the Authors meaning to the Hebrews how Melchisedec was Without father mother having neither descent beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the Son of God which St. Peter confirmeth also in his first Epistle Chap. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever And Chap. 2.5 6. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ 6. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a ch ef corner stone elect precious and he that beleeveth on him shall not be confounded Lastly Whereas we alledg divers Texts of Scriptures in our four last Pages to arm us for our duty and conflict of suffering with Christ that afterwards we may raign with him we conceive that most of those Scriptures speak of those inward afflictions and sufferings which we must pass through under Gods chastisements and Satans temptations whilest we suffer the loss death and burial of all our own imaginations carnal wisdom chosen holiness self-made righteousness turbulent zeal as well as of our sinful lusts desires and affections and that those testimonies aforesaid are not to be restrained to the oppositions and persecutions of wicked men only Loving Friend HE that continually sinketh down through Faith waiting in patience besides his continual preservation when it is meet for him the Lord doth comfort him with unspeakable joy letting him know that he hath ordained him to inherit the Promises For by that means when the Virgin will reigneth our own wills forsake their title and are secured by that of our Lord Jesus For a pure heathenish Virgin yeildeth to no defiled desire but entereth into the unity of Virtue whereby she is protected by the harmony of an unknown Power arising from the divine Law written in her heart namely the spirit of Abel who delivereth her from the multiplicity of treacherous and perfideous delights Therefore by faith let us appeal to our only Redeemer and Protector leading us to that pure and undefiled Champion and Conqueror Christ Jesus in our Souls who fighteth for us only and not after the manner of Aaron for himself and others shewing always his almighty Power when we have most need of the same I heartily rejoyce that in the Name of the Lord you purpose to meet for wheresoever two or three are gathered together in his Name he is in the midst of them upon which account likewise by the joynt custom and consent of those who meet within the Walls called Aldermary Church upon the first day of the week I am if God determine not otherwise resolved to meet there where I doubt not but many of the children of God will meet coming singly in his Name to receive spiritual promises therefore let not place divide the unity of our spirit so we shall at the same time in several places through faith in God receive in his holy Name what is necessary So professing my self your unfeigned Friend for the love you bear to our Lord Jesus I remain yours Dear Friend THe Grecians did abound in natural wit and lived much in bondage under the false will namely their own will being very ambitious of self-humane wisdom and reason that certainly was the Idol that more then in an ordinary measure they worshiped therefore the Apostle said unto them 1 Cor. 2. vers 6 7 8 9. 6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought 7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory 8. Which none of the Princes of this world knew for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 9. But as it is written Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Men certainly are as inclinable and willing by false rules to adorn themselves with unregenerated and unbeleeving wit and wisdom and set up their Rest therein as women to adorn and embelish themselves with overmuch art and care which breedeth vain thoughts and vile inclinations nourishing thereby the false will that leadeth into temptation the former being thereby inclined to determine the will of God regulating and governing the same by his comprehension the latter the will of Nature by art and dexterity whereby knowledg in man and ingenuity in women is made captive to the false depraved will Yet Nature when she returneth again and yeildeth obedience to the will of God is good for Nature her self standeth and hath its center and being therein But our own will that is artificial it is a violent possession a false usurped propriety a peculiar self-conceited selfishness goten by Adam when he fell from Gods will into his own O therefore return unto the will of God again for the life of faith more by far excelleth our own wisdom and willing then transitory and corruptible Nature in her perfection doth excel sophisticated and counterfeited Art therefore I hope the good will in us will enable us to sink down into the Cross and crucifie the bad will then shall we know and plainly understand the mystery of Christ crucified that immortal and pure Wisdom that incorruptible and resplendent Beauty Thus may you clearly see the Apostles meaning 1 Cor. 1.22 23 24. For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom 23. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness 24. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God Let none hence conclude ' cause I speak of right and regenerated Nature that I would endeavor to perswade women to think well of transitory and fadable beauty no I would most humbly have them look after that eternal and unfadable one 1 Pet. 3. v. 2 3 4. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear 3. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of puting on of apparel 4. But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price And Paul saith 1 Tim. 2.9 10. In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefastness and sobriety not with broidered hair or gold or pearls or costly aray But which becometh women professing godliness with good works Now as corruptible beauty is destructive to it self and others unless the inward man be renewed for in Christ there is no difference twixt man and woman Galat. 1.27 28. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus For the vanity pride and lust of artificial and sophisticated beauty allayeth very much virtue and piety alluring and inwardly kindling vile thoughts interrupting many times the simplicity and innocency of a harmless conversation Thus it is with those likewise who live in artificial painted self-reason making faith subservient to their humane wisdoms And the Apostle found it so amongst the Grecians who gloried in their self artificial knowledg not regarding the mystery of Christ crucified Hereby we may conclude that the wit of man unregenerated is like unto horsedung which before it is well rotted spoileth all the moulds it is mixed with Repentance and Resignation fitteth every man onely wherefore the Apostle saith 1 Corinth 1. vers 23. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness They indeed would raign with Christ but it must be in their own artificial wills not in his in their own false wisdoms not in his Fain they would live with him but not dye with him know him they would most willingly suffering for them but to suffer with him by no means that They would fain have his Power and Crown but not his faith virtue and patience Like a seed that would fain be a fine flowr and have a fine scent but not go into the earth to rot putrifie and dye Take this Direction PAtience is the divine Water Humility the divine Earth and Faith the divine Sun Love and Charity the divine Man Christ himself in the Spirit regenerated from thence Now as all things proceed from Water falling into the Earth being percolated and strained by virtue of the Suns warmth So likewise is it in the eternal Nature as in this temporary where the natural man is made of a clod of earth nourished by moisture circulated and digested by heat Even so the inward man Christ is generated Humility is the earth of which he is made Patience the water with which he is nourished and Faith the Sun of divine Righteousness by which he is digested circulated and brought to perfection whereby God is regenerated in us namely love and charity This is the Process if any one practise the same the vail shall be drawn from off their heart and the great Mystery shall be made manifest in them in their several proportions according as God hath ordained Colos 1. vers 26 27 28 29. Even the Mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest unto his Saints 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory 28. Whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus 29. Whereunto I also labour striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily Farewell FINIS