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

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himselfe though one with himself and so as himselfe partakers of the same light life and glory so that although God created all things yet he is nothing of all those things yet the life and glory of them he is the Creator they but the creatures Ninth false Light Ninthly And in conclusion some in this false light come to conclude that there is no God at all nothing but the God of nature or nature which is God that all things come by nature and are upheld by nature and so at last turn Atheists and here ends all religion and thus the foole hath said in his heart nay he is not now ashamed to say with his tongue that there is no God no heaven no hel no good no bad but all is of nature now nature may take its wil its fil of pleasure for what it lusts it may have there being no God no law unto it or above it nothing but that law of nature which acts it self in its own power in its owne liberty Thus dear Christian have I though with some difficulty tract and with much brevity discovered this false and deceivable man of sinne that is now acting now deceiving if it were possible the very elect not doubting but that those anointings which are in you will teach you in whom it is in truth and keep you untill the day of his appearing Chap. III. Of the liberty of the law in the spirit AS the law in the spirit is a law of light so likewise is the law of liberty a law which produceth much freedom of spirit where it is in truth this the Prophet David knew by experience when he prayed Psal 50. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and stablish me with thy free spirit It s a free spirit For 1. It s freely given 2. It s a spirit working freedom and liberty where it is received This spirit of freedom as its a law of liberty delivers those in whom it is from al their enemies from al their bondage and captivity First It sets them at liberty from sin and Satan I joyne them together because sinne is Satans worke and al natural men are servants and slaves to both servants to Satan enslaved to his wil servants to sinne willingly doing his worke for his servants you are whom you obey whether it be of sinne unto death or of obedience unto righteousnesse Now this law in the spirit which is Christ in you the hope of glory delivers souls from this captivity from that captivity to sin in the conscience which flowes from the enlightning power of this law which doth not only make soules sensible of sinne but workes likewise a deliverance from sinne and so sets the soule at liberty from that bondage in taking away the guilt the sting of death which is sinne This law discovering love brings home that grace and pardon and seales up the soule til the day of redemption the day of its compleat deliverance And then Secondly It sets the soule at liberty from the love and affectation of sinne for naturally the very affections of love and joy are captivated and enslaved to base fleshly and carnal lusts now this spirit of liberty sets the soule free in its affections through its light discovering the evil nature of sinne and so its power in delivering the soule from the love of it Believe it Friends this is the light and liberty of the spirit it enlightens soules to see the evil of sinne and where it s a light enlightening there it s a law of liberty setting free from the guilt free from the love and affectation of sinne Thirdly It workes a liberty likewise from sinne in the conversation How saith the Apostle Rom. 5. 2. shall we who are dead to sinne live any longer therein Sin shal not reigne in the mortal body sin shal not have dominion where this law of the spirit is in power neither over the conscience the affections nor conversation this grace of God which brings home salvation teacheth to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world thus this law in the spirit is a law of liberty from sin from Satan whom natural men serve being taken captive at his wil and that willingly It s true that soules in whom this law of liberty is manifest may be taken captive but its contrary to their mindes it is their burden it is their prison and they can say with Paul O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me And they can say likewise through this spirit of liberty Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ though in my flesh I serve the law of sinne yet in my minde I serve the law of God And thanks be to God who giveth me a victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Secondly This law workes a liberty from the world likewise men naturally being enslaved to it there being such a sutablenesse unto it in the mindes of men The first man being of the earth earthly this first man lookes after nothing delights in nothing because it apprehends nothing above its creation but soules borne from a bone by this spirit of liberty For that which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that which is borne of the spirit is spirit being created after the image of him that created them in righteousnesse and true holinesse that as they have borne the image of the earthly now they beare the image of the heavenly they are made capable to apprehend spirituall and heavenly things Being risen with Christ they now seeke after things above things of another nature and being delivered into the enjoyment of those spirituall and heavenly things that they can say God is mine Christ the Spirit is mine grace love glory is mine all is yours saith Paul they can say I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine now their hearts are tasten off from things below they have a loose affection unto it they see now that nothing is good to them but as they have God in it as they have love and grace in it being set at liberty from the inordinate affection to it by this spirit of liberty and this is the second part of the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Thirdly Those in whom this law of liberty is manifest in power they are set at liberty from men viz. from being slaves and subjects unto men in the things of God The truth is that men through the power and spirit of Antichrist that son of perdition have a long time out of that pride of heart naturally residing in them gotten into the seate of God exalting themselves above all that is called God have become a law in the spirits of men subjecting and enslaving them to their owne wils and men through their ignorance of this law of liberty in the spirit have beene and yet for the most part desire to be subjects and slaves unto them now this spirit of liberty delivers souls from this
about night day like a roaring Lion seeking whō he may devour one of his greatest temptations delusions is the presenting to your understandings the glory of this world although its true he falsly represents it too for he presents it glorious in it selfe to the deceiving of the soule but never presents God who is the quintessence the excellency and the glory of all things without whom there is nothing glorious nothing excellent nothing truly satisfactory or lovely this is the second false or deceivable light presenting things which are indeed good without him who is the goodnesse of them Third false light Thirdly If God make some discoveries of sinne to the naturall conscience it being convinced of sin waded under the apprehensions of it this false law in the flesh the spirit of Satan and darknesse if possible he can ensnares the soul under one of these mis-presentations Either 1. That notwithstanding there is such a discovery made of sin yet it is not so bad as is presented at present and there he presents the fleshly sweetnesse and pleasure of it hurryes on the creature into the most delightfull motions and actings of it that so by the sweetnesse and pleasure of sinne to flesh the troubled thoughts of sinne might be expeld But 2. If this will not doe the breath of the Lord kindles not onely new discoveries but fiery flames then the best way is with Adam to hide himselfe if not with Judas to hang it selfe an unlikely way to be delivered from fiery flames though many soules are thus deluded by that lying spirit withinthem 3. But if this will not prevaile then it will set the creature on worke with Adam to make clothes to cover it selfe withall although it be but figge leaves that is it will present unto the soule some creature righteousnesse and reformation some forme of godlinesse without the power as light and life enough to deliver the soule out of this condition it cloths the creature with a righteousnesse of its owne setting up reformations humiliations prayers teares preaching hearing in the roome of Christ and the spirit like unto Ephraim and Judah Hos 5. 13. when they saw their sicknesse sinne and wound then they went to the Assyrian for helpe but he could not helpe them and if they are healed that is falsly and unsoundly cured it proves their ruine for they become seven times more the children of hel and darknesse then before thus this law of flesh will through its deceivablenes gather up the soul into fleshly forms things sutable to it selfe mistaking Christ and the spirit of truth saying this is Christ thus transforming himself into an Angel of light to deceive souls but those who are indeed risen with Christ seeke things above of a higher nature if they at any time act in formes it is not the forme that satisfyeth them but Christ who is the substance Fourth false light But Fourthly When the soule comes to see that there is yet something above all formes and fleshly grounds of comfort When it comes to be truly informed or at least to get a notion that there is a law in the spirit an internall an invisible law which is indeed the true light and guide of all the Christians actings This law in the flesh or this spirit of darknesse which is Antichrist working in the highest mystery of iniquity and unrighteousnesse will be here working to the purpose too he hath here severall deceits under the pretence of light First In the throwing downe of all workes of holinesse and visible demonstrations of piety under the pretence of a more spirituall enjoyment Whereas before it lived in these now it throwes off all these as a thing of nought as watchings over and reprovings for sin righteous and in-offensive walkings love to the brethren spirituall communications of what the soule enjoyes meeknesse patience prayer c. which are all fruits of the spirit this is now all destroyed as a thing of nought by this law in the flesh and this false light is that with which the Saints themselves are sometimes tempted but the light of God the law in the spirit discovers it and expels it and it lets the soule to see that holinesse is becoming the House of the Lord for ever Secondly This spirit of delusion workes the minde into an earthly carnall distempered temper filling it with pride high-conceitednesse of its owne excellency passion and peevishnesse of spirit carnall and earthly mindednesse with a contentednesse in this condition because the creature is informed that its sutable to this high discovery of God which is indeed but a false suggestion of the spirit of delusion to this purpose James minds this excellent word James 3. 14. But if yee have bitter envyings and strife in your hearts glory not lye not against the truth This wisedome comes not from above but is earthly sensuall and devilish that wisedome which leades men into a spirituall carnalnesse loosenesse and liberty into pride passion and peevishnesse is not from above but from the bottomlesse pit this likewise fils the conversation with an externall appearance of lightnesse and vanity unprofitablenesse and pride sleighting all others who are not in the same temper with them Thirdly This spirit of delusion this mystery of iniquity never leaves if possibly he can accomplish it till he works the poore creature to and into its first station not onely to the owning in judgement but to the practise of all loosenesse and licenciousnesse and that too under pretence of being taught by the spirit the spirit it is indeed but it s the spirit of darknesse and not of light Now the soule comes as it saith in this darke and destroying light to see that all things are alike to God that there is no sinne but all actings are Gods or in his power therefore all is good There now in the esteem of such to lye steale be drunke commit adultery and the like is all good to such a creature and that God is now throwing his people out of all formes of righteousnesse as well as out of formes of worship Thus this man of sinne working deceiving ruining layes all upon God and the holy and pure spirit must beare all the blame and shame of this filthy spirits working when the truth is God can as soone throw downe himselfe as throw righteousnesse and holinesse out of his people and this those who are taught of God in whom the light of the spirit is manifest can beare witnesse unto although its true there is none of all these temptations but the Saints have had some experience some trials from the Prince and power of darknesse by which means they are the better enabled to speake and write in the discovery of it I deny not in any case the glorious dispensation of that law in the spirit it s a more full discovery of that law I wait for that so there might be a more full conformity both within and without
and yet pretend themselves to be the Sons of God but his servants you are to whom you obey whether it be of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousnesse Chap. V. Of the righteousnesse of the Law in the spirit AS this law in the spirit is a law of light and liberty so it is a righteous law that is a law working righteousnesse in those in whom it is making soules partakers of its own righteousnesse which is indeed the righteousnesse of God He was made sin for us that we might be made the righeeousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. Now the righteousnesse of this law may be produced unto these two heads 1. An internal righteousnesse as it hath relation to God 2. An external righteousnesse as it hath relation to men First As it hath relation to God and so it is a righteousnesse in the spirit this may be considered likewise under these two heads 1. As it is more external 2. As it is more internal First As it is more external yes spiritual and the righteousnesse of God too because prepared by the Father for sinners brought home and applyed by the spirit and this is the righteousnesse of God in relation to what he hath done for them in laying helpe upon one that is mighty in laying iniquity upon Christ and condemning it there that so through the apprehending and applying of the Fathers love in this great worke the guilt of sin might be taken out of the conscience through the soules apprehending the Father doing that in Christ for it which it selfe could not doe For what the law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh God sending his owne Son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Rom 8. 3. Herein the soule beholding and enjoying love from the Father sees it selfe now to be justified and that by grace from al things by which it could not be justified by the Law of Moses this is a more external righteousnesse because wrought for us without us yet the righteousnesse of God of the spirit because prepared by God eyed and applyed in the light and power of the spirit 2. That which I cal a more spiritual righteousnesse it is a righteousnesse wrought within us by this law of righteousnesse and this righteousnesse wrought for us without us though declared in us is but a precedent to this righteousnesse wrought within that so the righteousnesse of the law might be fulfilled in us who walke not after the flesh but after the spirit this is that mystery of Christ in you the hope of glory the forming of Christ within that is when the soule hath experience of the same spirit within as was and is in Christ working the soule into a spiritual conformity to Christ growing up in him til it come to the same fulnesse to the same perfection but both these I have in a measure unfolded in another Treatise and therefore passe it with the more brevity in this place onely I shal answer one Objection by the way and so passe to the second part of the righteousnesse of this law in the spirit Obj. Some wil be ready to say That they know no such thing as this law in the spirit justifying this externall forming of Christ they know Christ no other waies but as he dyed at Jerusalem and that this talk of Christ within seems to be a mystery if not a delusion for Christ dwels in his people no otherwise but by faith that is souls beleeving only what he hath done for them and that there is no other forming of Christ in them till the day of resurrection of their bodies from the grave Answ I answer first That its true this forming of Christ within is a mystery indeed the compleater of it will be the top and height of all mystery this is the mystery Christ in you the hope of glory that is the said spirit and power conforming souls to Christ in death resurrection and life and this is the more mysterious man of sinne the antichrist who denies Christ to be come in the flesh this mystery of Christ in you the hope of glory And although some may abuse this truth this mystery being deluded only with the notion of it yet let others take heed they abuse it not through ignorance 2. I answer that whereas the Scripture saith Christ dwels in the heart by faith It 's true but there is a twofold dwelling of Christ in the heart by faith the first is when the soul sees and believes what God in Christ hath done for it and secondly when the soul sees and beleeves that this Christ that is the same spirit that dwelt in Christ dwels in him as a law of light life and liberty in him seeing the law of the spirit of life that was in Christ Jesus freeing it from the law of sinne and death for the soul taught of God sees and beleeves both these to be a truth Christ for and Christ in the soul this we shall finde clearly held forth in Scripture not setting up the one in denying the other but you shall finde that the Scripture presents you with a death with Christ and resurrection with him Rom. 5. Phil. 3. 10. with a life with him John 14. 19. Because I live ye shall live also and in him by vertue of spirituall union vers 20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you Note a word by the way at that day they shall know it At what day in that day when Christ reveals himself in them The world shall see me no more but ye shall see me It is not such a sight as the Apostles had of Christ when he was with them in the flesh it is not such a sight as the world had or at this day have of Christ for the world beleeves that Christ died for sinners yet they see him not now Saints see him first dying for them 2. They see him living in them and this assurance of Christ in them they receive by faith beleeving and knowing this to be a truth for faith and knowledge in this particular is but one thing We beleeve and know saith Peter that thou art the Christ the Sonne of the living God And thus Saints in whom this law of righteousnesse is manifest can in a measure say We beleeve and know that God hath revealed his Sonne not only to us but in us and thus Christ dwels in the heart by faith and there is no one truth of God more clearly revealed in Scripture more glorious in the spirits of Saints then this truth of Christ formed in them 2. I come now to the second part of the righteousnesse of this law in the spirit which is an external righteousnesse amongst men for this law in the spirit teacheth men to live soberly righteously and godly in the world God is a righteous God and this righteous law conforms