King in this glorious Kingdom And lastly what are the subjects and inheritors thereof Hym. The names that the Scriptures give unto the eternall estate are very many and excellent and your method very good therefore I pray proceed Silv. The time of the Churches deliverance to the estate of perfection is at the end of this world when he that ascended shall descend as saith the Scripture whom the heavens must conteine and receive untill the restitution of all things forespoken by all the holy Prophets hath been since the world began which things therefore the world might not be ignorant of which are testified by so many witnesses for so saith the spirit every one that have spoke have spoke of these things but the cause of mens ignorance in this as in many other truths of God is in regard people do not labour with God to understand and know the Scriptures for although every one for the most part hath a Bible yet generally they are as ignorant of the intent and meaning of the Scriptures as he that never saw the written word of God at all but no more by way of digression And that the time of the Lords glorious Kingdom and the Churches deliverance shall be at the end of this world is clear by our Saviours own words in parable The harvest is the end of the world and the reapers are the Angels As therefore the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire so shall it be in the end of this world the sonne of man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that do offend and them which do iâ—iquity as also in that Scripture where the question is made by the servants to the house-holder whether the tares the envious man sowed amongst the good seed should be pluckt up the Master answers nay let them both grow together untill harvest and sheweth what shall be done then both with the wheate and with the tares saying at his glorious comming shall be gathered before him all nations and he shall sever the Sheep from the Goates c. Then the King shall say to them on his right hand comeye â—lessed inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the woâ—ld and to this agreeth the Angels words to Daniel Go thou thy ways Daniel at the end of the days shall the end be and thou shall stand up in tâ—y lot meaning thou shalt then be raised to shine as the brightnesse of the Fiâ—mament amongst them that have turned many to God even to shine as the Stars for ever and ever There is none in all the world but the Child of God the heires of salvation have the benefit of the Prophet Ieremies exhortation in these words Ier. 31. Refraine thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from teares for thy work shall be rewarded saith the Lord and they shall come againe from the Land of the Enemy there is the returne from captivity of the naturall Israel and there is hope in thy end saith the Lord that thy Children shall come againe to their own border there is the deliverance of the sâ—irituall Isâ—ael at their Resurrection as the Patriarks have exprest their hope as is more clearly proved in the next particular the place where the bride shall for ever enjoy her bridegroome the King of glory his gloriouâ— Kingdom which the holy Ghost calleth the earth in these worâ—s Behold the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth And so saith our Lord Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth Their inheritance is their recompence then and not before shall the earth be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the Seas which must needs be understood of the new earth promised and to come such an earth as the Lord shall make when he will make all things new for the contrary is most true now here in this old cursed earth that ignorance fills this earth as the waters cover the Seas Hym. This is not understood in these days for I never heard these Scriptures so applied before Silv. To make it more plaine we will first cite the Testimonyes of the Prophets our Lords and his Apostles and then I will shew you how plainly and clearly the heires of the promise have particularly declared her hope and confidence in it Job had the true knowledge and comfort of it which ravisht him and made him thus to cry out as if he were out of himself Oh that my words were now written Oh that they were printed in a book that they were graven with an Iron Pen in a Rock for ever for I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh I shall see God whom I shall see for my self and my eyes shall behold and not another In which he clearly expresses that the place of his blessednesse after the resurrection shall be in the earth where his Saviour shall stand that is shall rule and raigne for ever David a man after Gods own heart excells in this Faith and hope what man is he that feareth the Lord saith he him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose his soule shall lodge in goodnesse and his seed shall inherit the earth And againe Let all the earth feare the Lord let all the inhabitants of the world stand in aw of him for evill doers shall be cut off but those that waite upon the Lord they shall inherit the earth and though it be but a little while and the wicked shall not be saith he and his place shall not be found yet the meek shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in the aboundance of peace for such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off And so he singeth Psa. 48. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God in the mountaine of his holinesse beautifull for situation the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion And also in another place The Heaven even the Heavens are the Lords but the earth hath he given to the Children of men So testifieth the Prophet Esay saying Thus saith the Lord that created the Heavens God himself that formed the earth and made it he hath established it he created it not in vaine he formed it to be inhabited I said not saith the Lord to the seed of Iacob seek you me in vaine I the Lord speak righteousnesse I declare things that are right And the same Prophet makes proclamation Behold saith he I create new Heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind and as the new Heavens and new earth which I shall make shall remaine before me saith the Lord so shall your seed and your name remaine Which clearly shews the intent of the promise to the Patriarks and
A TRVE REFORMATION AND PERFECT RESTITVTION Argued by Silvanus and Hymeneus Where in the true Church of Christ is briefly discovered here in this life in her estate of regeneration as also her perfection in the life to come As it hath been foretold by all the holy Prophets and Apostles which have been since the world began By J. G. a Friend to the truth and Church of God Feare not little Flock it is your Fathers pleasure to give you the Kingdom For now is our Salvation neerer than when we believed LONDON Printed by T. B. and are to be sold by S. B. in Corn-hill 1643. TO THE CHVRCH OF CHRIST IN ENGLAND Faithfull and beloved I The unworthyest of ten thousand of you have presumed to speak while you all were silent of this Subject and have made bold with your honourable and spirituall conditions to make a brief description of you the Lords people who are all of you the Children of wisdom and so taught of God that your own God termes you the wise that shall understand the keepers of his truth his remembrancers the people in whose heart is his Law to whom it is given to know the mysteryes of the Kingdom of God I intreate you all fellow sufferers truly noble and honourable Christians that how much the neerer our salvation approacheth so much the more let our joynt prayers and praises be to our God the lambe that sitteth upon the Throne let us not cease nor give him no rest till he establish and till he make Ierusalem a praise in the earth and if I have failed in negotiating your great affaires let our garment of love cover it and your wise and grave reproof or admonitions shall be as balme to cure my weaknesse so the God of truth multiply the comforts of it in us all in the clear demonstration of the spirit with power that as we are the Children of Abraham by Faith so we may do the works of our Father Abraham for which your Brother J. G. shall ever pray with you and for you to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen A True Reformation and perfect Restitution argued by Silvanus and Hymeneus Silvanus OLD Friend Hymeneus how hath it been with you a long time I heare seven years a go you were in new England Hymeneus I thank you Sir that you would acknowledge your long unseen although longer known Friend for I think it is neere twice seven years since I last spake with you Silv. What news in new England I heare you are there at a hard-ship both for soul and body provision for back and belly foode and clothes very scarce and Religion which should be as both to the soul is so lost that that which seemed unitie in the truth is turned to dissention the ground of error and falshood which custome the Church of Christ hath not which is the Church of God Hym. Friend you may heare more than is true yet I say the superfluitie of this world is not alwayes expedient and for Religion it is requisite that there should be difference amongst us that the approved may be manifest Silv. I see you have not forgotten your former Custome frequently to alleadge Scripture-phrase but I perceive also you have not learned the Apostles rule perfectly which saith if any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God that is the true meaning of it for all that were in the Church of Corinth were not of the Church Hym. I hope I have done the same in what I have said Silv. I spake before of the truth and of the children thereof which admit of no dissention and you speak of the Church of Corinth in which were some which were Sectaries and not the children of the truth and though they were amongst them yet they were not of them but were false Apostles and wicked inordinate persons Hym. I pray expresse your meaning to me more fully Silv. My meaning is that Christians should still intend by their speaking the same meaning which the holy Ghost doth in the termes he useth for one and the same terme sometimes is to be understood in a speciall sence sometimes in a generall as by Iew sometimes the same word intends the inward Iew sometimes the outward so of Religion and of the Church vaine Religion aswell as pure Religion the Synagogue of Sathan aswell as the true Church of God Hym. These distinctions under one and the same name are very profitable without doubt in the reading the Scriptures Silv. I pray you Friend tell me what matter and what manner you have for the constitution of your Churches in new England Hym. The matter are a company of believers the manner or forme is this we from amongst our selves choose a pastor the pastor and we being entred into a mutuall Covenant the one to be faithfull in teaching and feeding the other in hearing and obeying according to Christs ordinance by this reciprocall bond we become one Congregation or body as the head and members are one and so the pastor and people together choose other Church Officers as Elders and Deacons Silv. I understand you thus that this is your first way you take to give your Church the being or name of a Church but what way do you take to encrease this Church or ad unto it for the Scripture saith there were dayly added to the Church such as should be saved Hym. Our custome is that we admit none to be Members of our Church but such as cannot give an Accompt of their conversion and that they do renounce all other congregations as Members to them and doth make themselves by covenant that is by a solemne vow calling God to witnesse that they joyne themselves to us to be our Members only and so to no other Church but to walk with us according to Christs Ordinance and though some of other congregations may come in Communion in the Ordinance of the word yet we account them no Members Silv. And this is all you believe that the Scripture expresses tending to the making and being of a true Church Hym. I professe unto you I know no other Silv. You now grow old and therefore it should not be with you as it is with such as are Novicees in Religion wherefore take heed of faire speeches and holy pretences for there is nothing so common in the world as that which is like the truth yet not the truth the name of the Church and pure spouse and yet upon examination doth prove Strumpets and harlots for Christs Church his Sanctuarie his true Tabernacle is that which he her Lord pitcheth or buildeth not man therfore that we may trie the truth of your Church pray shew me how you prove it by Scripture and first where it is proved that the people of every particular Church are to call and choose their Pastor Hym. In the sixth chapter of the Acts it is thus written wherefore
word as they infer from the text but what say you to the words of the Prophet Ezechiel 34. 14. And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the Countrys and will bring them to their own Land and feed them upon the mountaines of Israel by the Rivers and in all the inhabited places of the Countrey As also the Prophet Ieremy 33 and 26. For I will cause their captivity to returne and have mercy on them Silv. It greives me to see the Ignorance and yet boldnesse of many Ministers amongst us who erre for want of reading the Scriptures for the very literall expression might teach them better then to tell us that from these two testimonies is declared the calling of the Iews from their dispersed and scattered estate to the belief of the Gospell in this last age of the world For both these Prophets writ within few years one of another Ieremy a little before Ezechiel and both of the Babylonish Captivity and of their returne againe into their own Land which according to the word of the Lord was performed above two thousand yeares ago for their returne was in the days of Ezra the Scribe some years after the Prophet Daniels death And if you read the second chapter you cited with a searching affection you shall find the Prophets both of them speaks of also the deliverance of Sion the whole house of Israel from all their Captivities Therefore will I save my flock they shall be no more a prey I will judge between cattel and Cattel and I will set up one shepheard over them and he shall feed them even my servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their shepheard and I will be their God and my servant David a Prince amongst them In those days Iudah shall be saved and Ierusalem shall dwell safely and this is the name wherewith he shall be called the Lord our righteousnesse But this deliverance we will more largely open hereafter Hym. Master Cotton in new England doth much preach of these things of the calling of the Iews and of the flourishing estate of the Church of the Gentils and sence I came to London I heard a preacher say if the two last Chapters of Esay were not to be understood of the glorious estate of the Church before the comming of the Lord to Judgement I do not know saith he what is meant by chose Scriptures Silv. By what he saith I believe he doth not understand what is meant by those Script for the Proph. words are these Behold I create new Heavens a new Earth the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind but be thou glad rejoyce for ever in that which I creat for behold I creat Ierusalem a rejoyceing and her people a joy And I will rejoyce in Ierusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying and there shall be no more thence an infant of days c. In which the Prophet speaks as clearly to my understanding as words can expresse it of the world to come after the Resurrection the salvation that brings Gods chosen people Jerusalem from above into the same perfection againe which by sin we lost and fell from in the day of our transgression and this agrees with Saint Peters and Saint Johns exposition the two most excellent and beloved Disciples and Apostles Saint Peter speaks directly of the end of this world the dissolution of this present Heaven and Earth in these words But the Heavens and the Earth which are now that is now present by the same word are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of Iudgement and perdition of ungodly men And so proceeds to other arguments and proves that the Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up and the Heavens and the Elements shall be dissolved concludes with notwithstanding or neverthelesse we according to his promise look for new Heavens and a new Earth in which dwelleth righteousnesse First the time when these things shall be fulfilled is twice spoken to be in the day of the Lord which throughout the Scriptures notes unto us the day of Iudgement as the time of his second comming Secondly the manner how it shall be when righteousnesse shall dwell in the Earth which must needs be understood of the world to come for in this world righteousnesse is a Pilgrim a stranger and a sojourner and Saint Iohn transcends in his expressions of it after the generall Iudgement in order after the Resurrection of just and unjust saying And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed away and there was no more sea and I Iohn saw the holy City new Ierusalem comming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a great voyce out of Heaven saying behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying nor shall there be any more paine for the former things are passed away The former things are the corruptible things and the things that shall take place are the new created things of God which are all good for nothing can proceed from him but what is very good the words are so plaine that they need no exposition The other proof they do bring to prove their mistaken opinion are these words As one whom his Mother comforteth so will I comfort you and you shall be comforted in Ierusalem and when you see this your hearts shall rejoyce and your bones shall flourish like an herb and the hand of the Lord shall be known towards his servants and his indignation towards his enemies for by fire and by sword will the Lord plead with all flesh And the slaine of the Lord shal be many for any man to think that the Prophet in these words speaks of any time of the Churchs sufferings in this life doth as much as if he should tell me it was his own foolish conceit and that he did not at all search the Scriptures noâ— labour in the word and doctrine for Saint Paul to the Thessalonians to me doth directly comment upon this place of the Prophet saying it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and
Brethren look ye out from among your selves seven men of honest report full of the holy Ghost and wisdom whom we may appoint over this businesse where it appeares to us the Apostles gave the believers for ever power to choose their own Ministers Silv. There is not one word in the Text that proves your conclusion that the people of every particular Church are to call their Pastor but this it proves that the Apostles times were wholly taken up in prayer and preaching in regard the Disciples were so exceedingly multiplied that they could not have time touching the matter of receiving and distribution towards the necessity of the Saints by reason of which there arose murmurings of the Graecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the dayly Administration So that there was a necessity that Deacons should be appointed for that businesse who were comended by the people and confirmed by the Apostles and this is the whole scope of that Scripture Hym. But what say you to that Act. 1. 23. they appointed two that is the people presented them to the Apostles Silv. This place shews that the Apostles and Disciples being together in one place to the number of 120 persons Saint Peter took occasion to speak to the Congregation of the prophecys of Judas treason and of the Iudgment that did befall him and also how the Prophet foretold that another should be chosen in his place to his office of an Apostle wherefore saith he of these men that have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Iesus went in and out amongst us must one be ordained to be witnesse with us of his Resurrection and they appointed two that is the Apostles with the rest thought none so fit as Barsabas and Matthias but which of these two they could not determine of so they cast lots and it fell on Matthias and he by the whole Church was reckoned amongst the twelve this is all that place intends and not the least part of your intention proved by it Hym. Now I will set you a place of Scripture that shall not only prove the custome and manner of our Church but the matter also as before I have related to you and that is the description of the Church of Antioch which will prove all that I have said to you Act. 14. 22. 23. Silv. Wheresoever Paul and Barnabas came they confirmed the souls of the Disciples and exhorting them to continue in the Faith and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God he doth not here by this confirmation and exhortation enter into a reciprocall covenant with the believers as you spake of to stand in a pastorall covenant with them as the head and Members for what one Apostle did they did both and the words are in the plurall number they and indeed they taught them so effectually that they strengthned them and built them up to a further increase and degree in the truth And as it follows they ordained them Elders in every Church that is these Apostles did ordaine not the Disciples so that this Text is cleare against your distinction both for the matter and forme you spake of for as these Christians had received the truth before Barnabas came to them at the first so they did abide in the comfortable profession of it till Barnabas brought Paul with him and then they two ordained them Elders in every Church that is preachers and not the people as you affirme Hym. Good Friend Silvanus I have another Scripture which I pray consider you of and then I hope you will be of my mind that is Act. 11. 19 20. 21. 22. 23. you shall see there that in the 19. 20. and 21. verses there is mention made of believers and that the Gentiles had received the Faith then in the 22. and 23. vers. Barnabas from amongst these believers gathers a Church after he had descended from Hierusalem to Antioch by the Apostles Commission and to me the words prove both the matter and forme of our Church who when he came had seen the grace of God was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord to me it is plaine that with purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord is the covenant the people enter into with their Pastor and Barnabas his rejoycing to see their grace from God and his rejoycing in it his continuing to exhort them and to this Church much people was added as in the 24. verse Silv. I have often observed old friend that there is none so easily deceived as those that would willingly be deceived for if you would not willingly be ignorant the reading of the text would better informe you for there is not one word in all those verses you have read proves what you say the truth is this that the persecution that arose about Stephen was the occasion that many disciples were scattered and disperst amongst the Gentiles and by the witnesse they bare to Christ many believed as many Greeks at Antioch tydings whereof came to the Church at Hierusalem who sent Barnabas thither and when he came to them found the report so true that it rejoyced his heart and his doctrine was of that power and authoritie that he furthered the grace begun and begun it where it it was not for he was a good man and full of the holy Ghost and of Faith that his exhortations wrought so through their hearts that it prevailed with the thought and purposes thereof to cleave to the Lord so full is the phrase as if he had gained the whole heart to the Lord and besides he added much people unto the Lord saith the text and then departed to Tarsus to seek Saul so there is not the least shew for your opinion for when he had found him he brought him to Antioch and doubtlesse for the love of them that walked in the truth it came to passe that a whole yeare they assembled themselves with the Church and taught much people but not all this while made any such covenant nor membership as you suppose that is to say to become Members to that Church only and no other Therefore now Hymeneus I must tell you plaine by that you as yet know not the true Church and being ignorant of that I feare you know not what belongs to a true Christian And for that which you fancy to be the Church upon Scripture ground there is not one Scripture rightly understood by you And if your foundation faile you your whole building cannot stand Hym. My good friend Silvanus I pray let me heare your description of the true Church Silv. By the name of the Church of Christ in Scripture we are to understand Gods faithfull peculiar chosen and regenerate people such and such only as are born of the holy Ghost and that I may the better describe and manifest the true Church the whole body building or house I will first declare
favour by falling on his neck and kissing him such kisses of love as there is none to be compared to them as appears by the multiplyed following favors by clothing him with his own best robe by putting a ring on his hand and shoes on hâ—s feet yeâ— what is this all but to be clothed with the compleat and perfect righteousnesse of Iesus Christ and what more certain assurance then to eate Christs flesh and to drink his bloud this was the fatted calfe the lambe without spot who is the only food to eternall life and on whom whosoever eateth and believeth cannot but rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Hym. But is all justifying Faith an assurance Silv. Yes it is a full assurance for as much as it is witnessed to our spirits by Gods spirit and an assurance cannot be so true from any witnesse as from the spirit of God that beares witnesse with our spirits saith the Apostle that we are the Sonnes of God and so to the Hebrews he exhorteth in these words Let us draw neere with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinckled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water That which makes the heart true or good is the breaking it by repentance and the purifying it by Faith which Faith ariseth from the bloud of Christ shed abroad in the heart expressed by sprinkling and the same Apostle beareth witnesse that Abraham believing the promise was fully perswaded Ro. 4. Hym. But what say you of the Church of Christ which was our first discourse Silv. The regenerated man before declared is the matter of the true Church Of these precious living stones is built Gods spirituall house and of this heavenly nature is the whole building being all begotten from above of water and the holy Ghost As Saint Peter speaketh of these new born babes and calls them Stones and so he calls their Lord also to whom comming as to a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious use also saith he as lively Stones are built up a spirituall house a holy Priest-hood to offer spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ And this is the same Apostle which our Lord spoke to when he said thou art Peter or a Stone and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it In which Scripture our Lord acknowledgeth himself confessed by Peter to be but the chief foundation and corner-stone and the whole building to consist of such spirituall living stones as Saint Peter was Hym. I pray expresse in manner how they do become a Church Silv. The power of God as I have shewed before doth by repentance cut these stones out of the Quarry of this world that is out of the estate of nature and thereby cuts squares and fits them for this building and the power of God by justification and acceptation layes on these stones on the lively building the spirit of God which proceeds from the Father and the Sonne Cements and soders all together by ingrafting or joynting them with the bloud of Christ the love of God poured out on them all and this is the holy Catholique Church the Communion of Saints as the Creed confesseth Agreeing with that of Saint Paul to the Corinthians The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Communion of the holy Ghost be with you as also to the Colossians The head from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred knit together increaseth with the increase of God this is Christs body his spouse the lambs wife who though they be many Graines yet make but one loafe Hym. What authoritie and priviledge hath this Church Silv. Great authority and many priviledges in this present suffering estate of hers for of these our Lord saith if two of you shall agree in earth as touching any thing they shall aske it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven And also where two or three are gathered together saith our Lord in my name there am I in the middest of them where by name he meanes his spirit so that none can be so congregated but such as are led by the spirit of God these have the priviledge to be called the Sonnes of God even such as believe in his name which were borne not of bloud nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God these onely are the house of the living God the ground and pillar of truth these are as it were Gods privy Counsell on earth the Scripture stiles them the keepers of his truth and his dwelling place as say the Prophets Though the heaven of heavens cannot containe me yet will I dwell with him that is of a contrite spirit God dwelling with them teacheth them and declareth his will his mind and purposes to them as he did to Noah Abraham and Moses to these doth the Lord that hath the key of David that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth give the power and authority of the keys of the Kingdom of heaven yea I say againe that great power and authoritie to bind and to loose to remit and to reteine sins by a decree intailed on them till time shall be no more in these words whose sins you 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 whose sins you do reteine they are reteined this is the commission of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings who by his own words hath bound himself thus to be with them to the end of the world Hym. I pray tell me how may a man know this Church Silv. None can truly know this Church but they that are of her for as they are spirituall themselves so they are spiritually discerned as the Apostle saith the spirituall men discerne all things even the deep things of God Yet I will briefly declare some of her excellencies and some of her miseries by which she is manifested for may a candle burne and not bewray her light may the Sunne shine and not shew his beauty can a City built upon a hill hide her face from the passer by or may a sacrifice salted convey his seasoning from the mouth of the taster and if these creatures could forget their natures yet cannot the true Saints in whose heart the eternall covenant of love is once ingraven forget to burne with like affection first towards God that first hath loved them with love of God as the sap puts forth this fruit as the Apostle saith We love him because he hath loved us first And none can love the Lord with all his heart with all his strength and with all his soule as Moses speaketh but such only whose booken heart the love of God hath comforted refreshed and healed So also loveth hee his neighbour as himselfe hee sorroweth rejoyceth lamenteth and is comforted wanteth and aboundeth with him as the Apostle saith
And the Iudgement of the enemie follows And the Devill that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and Brimston where the beast and the false Prophets are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever And so the holy Ghost goes on in the description of the generall â—udgement by describing first the Iudge himself in these words And I saw a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away and there was found no more place for them And so proceeds to describe them that are judged And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened That is all those meanes were manifested and those severall ways by which the Gospell and way of salvation had been preached to them whether they had the Scriptures or the Creatures or only the more secret dictates of conscience all which preached the word of grace and although it prove a Savour of death to some yet to others a Savour of life by every of those books as it followeth And another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were writen in the books according to their works c. There needs no Paraphrase the Scripture is so clear to prove the thing intended Hym. It doth appear to me that the Millenaries opinion hath no ground in the Scriptures they alleadge yet I must tell you plainly in my judgement the Resurrection is past already proved by your self in your description of the first Resurrection Silv. That was an old error which S. Paul condemns in his 2 Epistle to Timothy where he taxes one of your name saying their word doth fret as doth a gangrene of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus who concerning the truth have erred saying the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some Hym. Shew me how that doctrine may be said to overthrow the Faith Silv. This doctrine is the Religion of Homo-novus or of the new-man falsely so called in plaine termes the Familists doctrine who turne the whole Faith of our Lord Iesus Christ into an allegory affirming Christ to be a quality saying righteousnesse is Christ and sin is Antichrist teaching that all the Articles of the Creed are fulfilled in every one of their illuminated ones and that now they themselves are dead and buried raised and ascended set at the right hand of the Father descend and come and judge the world the quick and the dead that they are the holy Catholique Church that they only are the forgiven people and have the Communalty of the Saints and enjoy life everlasting infinitely succeeding one another in this coedified condition affirming also that God is cohominified with them and so this estate and condition even this present evill world to continue for ever saying that as we come from God so againe we return to God at our death affirming no other Resurrection then from that sinfull estate to be illuminated in which illumination they say they are conceived of the holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary c. Hym. You know the Apostle speaking of two seeds of Abraham one born of Hagar the bond woman the other of Sarah the free woman and he saith that by them another thing was meant Silv. As at the first I told you that Christians when they speak they ought to speak as the word of God that is according to the meaning of the Scriptures for though Saint Paul say the two seeds are an allegory in regard of the two Covenants that either stood in the one thereby the child of death the other the child of life Yet he doth not as you do make them nothing but an allegory turning the person of our Lord Iesus Christ into a quality and the person of Antichrist into sin which is no substance but a privation of good take heed of this Hymeneus for it calls to my mind the Apostles words who saith that such doctrine to the soul is as dangerous and destructive as a gangrene is to the body which is inevitably destructive for nothing can prevent the saving of the next member but the death the cutting off of that which is but infected Hym. I am sure if I be mistaken in my opinion yet that which you have delivered in other respects concerning the short time of this worlds continuance crosses most Ministers opinions both in new England and here too Silv. What is that which they teach that I have said doth oppose their Tenents Hym. They almost all with one consent hold the nationall calling of the Iews and that there shall be a great and glorious estate of the Church both of Iews and Gentils alleadging all the Prophets that speak of the deliverance of Syon from all her Captivities and bring the Jews into their own Land out of all Countries whither they have been disperst and scattered Silv. What Scriptures do they bring to prove that the Nation of the Iews shall be called and brought out of every Countrey into their own Land Hym. The 11 Rom. in these words I would not Brethren that you should be ignorant of this mystery lest you should be wise in your own conceits that blindnesse in part is hapned to Israel untill the fulnesse of the Gentils be come in And so all Israel shall be saved as it is written c. Silv. In these verses there is not one word of the Nationall calling of the Iews but shews that the Apostle declared to the believing Romans a Mystery to take off their vaine boasting of themselves who thought that God had forsaken the seed of Abraham wholly and therefore he secretly reproves them and saith It was but a part of the seed that was hardned or blinded as in the seventh verse he clearly distinguisheth between the Elect part and the rest what then Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the Election hath obteined it and the rest were blinded or hardned and in this verse he saith They shall be hardned untill the fulnesse of the Gentils be come in that is for ever Agreeing with the Prophet lâ—t their eyes be darkned and bow down their backs alwayes thus God putting no diffâ—rence between the Iews and the Gentils extends his free grace to both for the calling of the full number of his Elect in all the world and so all Israel shall be saved that is the whole house even every one fâ—reknown and chosen of God shall be câ—lled sanctified and saved both Iews and Gentils throughout the world and this word saved hath respect unto the estate of perfection in the world to come according to the Prophet Esays words Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation he shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end That is all Gods Elect wheresoever of all kindreds tongues nations and people Hym. In this Scripture it doth not appeare there is any
to be admired in all them that believe And further note that Prophet names the place where Gods people shall be comforted and he saith it shall be in Ierusalem that is in new Ierusalem Hym. I confesse it appears to me the Scriptures are not rightly understood by them for you have answered them fully but many of them have told me it is Master Brightmans opinion and I am sure it is Master Cottons Silv. Master Brightman is very corrupt and so is Master Cotâ—on much to be blamed as I have read him in a Sermon preached in the West-Countrey and in an exposition of his on the Canticles I remember the Text of his Sermon was in 1 Chron. 17. 9. And I will ordaine a place for my people Israel and will plant thâ—m and they shall dwell in their place and shall be moved no more neither shall the Children of wickednesse waste them any more as at the beginning This Scripture speaks directly of the Resurrection as our Saviour saith Let both grow together untill the harvest c. Then shall the oppressor and Children of wickednesse be separated and â—ot before not till then shall spoyling and wasting cease the fat cattel and the leane the sheep and the goates shall not be separated so long as this world lasteth and the Prophet David forespake of the Resurrection in this place and not of any temporall Translation as Master Coâ—ton expouâ—ds it and for that Treatise upon the Canticles he speaks often of the calling the Iews â—ut proves nothing so as uncertain words I give no credit to them Hym. Is it not true that many Ministers preach that the Governâ—ment of the Church of England is Popish and Antichristian Silv. No for I have heard Master Callamy say in his prayer that he thankt God that the evills in our Church were not a nationall sin that is as I understood him that the Statutes and Ordinances of this Nation were free from those superstitions and corruptions that were brought in by such corrupt men as were in chief and hiâ—h places heretofore amongst us Hym. Then you justifie the Church of England ever since the reformation in King Edwards dayes Silv. I do affirme that those Laws which were then made and since confirmed did wholly free us and break asunder the Antichristian yoake and bondage of their abominable Doctrines and though England were before one of the ten hornes of the beast That is a Kingdom that mainteined the abomination of desolation and supported the whore that sate upon the waters that is did rule over peoples multitudes nations and tongues yet then it pleased God that his faithfull people the Martyrs did prevaile against the filthy fornications of the whore the lyes and false Doctrine of their Kingly Priests and the Kingdom might then truly be said to fall off from Rome and so still hath continued an opposer and hater and not a mainteiner Hym. I remember you spake thus long ago but within this twenty yeares things have been worse with you than before Silv. Corrupt men endeavoured to bring in many innovations but that is no more to the Christian profession established by Law in the Church of England then rust to pure mettall soyle to a cleane garment or dust in Gods temple which scouring brushing and sweeping will do away so that the truth shall seeme more glorious Hym. But what do you think of the Church of England in comparison of the Church of Scotland Low-countries France Germany and other reformed Churches Silv. I am sure I have had either conference with or reading of the most religious professors in Europe and truly of all both nationall or nominall I have found none in all respects so free from superstition nor so sound in Doctrine as the Châ—rch of England I meane as it stands by acts and ordination of Parliament not but that some things may be altered but I would Christians had wisdom to pray for and waite on our King and that great Councell which our good God hath guided already to prescribe such a forme as I know none extant like it that they that have done so much may in their wisdomes do the rest and we to further it by obeying and praying Hym. I have often heard you speak of the short time that this world shall last and that here is to be expected no such reformation nor deliverance as many have conceived I pray let us heare your Judgement of the Scriptures in this particular Silv. The Scriptures indeed are plentifull fluent and large in their Testimony and witnesse of the world to come the glory felicity and perfection of that world without end a world endles a world deathles a world sinnelesse a world curselesse a world harmelesse in which there shall be nothing but holinesse Godlinesse thankfulnesse and righteousnesse and joyfulnesse with the Saints their captivity shall be ended then shall the great deliverance and salvation come to Sion when God shall put away all her sins Therefore thus saith the Lord to his deare daughter and her little children Refraine thy voyce from weeping and thy eyes from teares for thy work shall be rewardâ—d saith the Lord and all that devoure thee shall be devoured and all thy adversaries every one of them shall go into captivity and they that spoyled thee shall be a spoyle and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey And I will saith the Lord undo all that have afflicted thee and I will restore health unto thee and I will heaâ—e thee of all thy wouâ—dâ— saith the Lord because they called thee an â—ut cast saying this is Sion whâ—m no man seeketh the Sonnes of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all those that dispised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and they shall cal thee the City of the Lord the Sion of the holy one of Israel Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that no man went through thee I will make thee saith the Lord an eternall excellency then shall be the time of Sions â—eliverance which the Devill nor mans wickednesse caâ— no more prevent then they can prevent the spring when the Sun by its operation causes the â—arth to put it forth Hym. This is the thing I have a great desire to heare having had formerly some speech with you about it Silv. That I may the morefully describe the unspeakable glory of Christ the Lord and the Church his spouse I will observe this Order the time when this Kingdom heavenly Countrie City with foundations the inheritance of the Saints the purchased possession the glory the eternall life the masters joy the promised Land the perfection the resurrection the deliverance the restauration and aboundance more of such names the holy Ghost gives to the Church the new Ierusalem the lambes wife the time when I say the Scriptures that foretell of shall be fulfilled Secondly the place where it shall be injâ—yed Thirdly who shall be the