first born which are written in heaven This is the Church to which Jesus Christ is all and in all filling all the Apostle to thisChurch the Prophet Pastor and Teacher preaching to it prophesying in it feeding it and watching over it and teachingit so as all are taught ofGod This is the Church against which the gates of hel cannot prevail having Iesus Christits rock and foundation This is the Church to which all the promises of Spirit life and glory are made to the beleevers and members that are in this Fellowship and of this Church And into this Church all are admitted through the Spirit of Christ and all are discerned members in the same Spirit and tryed by the Spirit And this Church of Christ being thus baptized by Spirit into one body is not to be divided by any outward things which are of this Creation which are visible outward and perishing or by any fellowship and ordinances below the glory of the Spirit which are part of the first Tabernacle nor are the members of this spiritual Church to be divided by any schism or division procured or effected by any principle less or less excellent then the Spirit of God And therefore whatsoever fellowship in pretence of Church-notion or Baptismnotion or Presbyterial-notion shal cast it self into any model of the letter which allows not communion with other beleevers in Spirit in whom the power of the Spirit and of Christ cannot be denyed but to be visible and apparent though not in the practice of some particular ordinance such fellowship wil in the day of the Lord Iesus or clearer revelation of Christ see how they have offended many little ones whom in these outward things they ought to have pleased to edification the law of love and spirit or life being more royal and excellent then any worldly rudiment whatsoever The true Personal Raign of Christ as it is Spiritual The Lord Jesus is entered into his glory having crucified flesh and sits at the right hand of God or in the choycest glory of the Father where he is the Lord that Spirit and the Lord of glory The Lord Iesus must reign til he hath put all his enemies under his feet he fils all administrations of Dominion Iudgement Power and Magistracy in the world which is part of his Kingdom here all judgement and power in heaven and earth being committed unto him yet this is not his spiritual reign though administred by him who is in Spirit The Lord Jesus hath a kingdom inward and spiritual the kingdom of God is within you the kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy the kingdom of God is in power The Lord Jesus denyed his kingdom to be of this world or to come with observation as lo here or lo there as the glory of the world and the kingdoms of the world is in its appearance The Lord Jesus his coming is as lightning from East to West filling heaven lightning is a glory without figure so shal Christs coming and revelation in Spirit be for as the lightning lighteth from one end of heaven to the other so shal the coming of the Son of man be The Lord Jesus his coming is in Spirit and glory in revelation in his Saints he shal come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that beleeve The Lord Jesus reigns already all things are put in subjection under him death and hel and sin and Antichrist and the wicked only we see not all yet put under him Jesus Christ reigns inSpirit only his reign appears not yet now are we the Sons of God but it doth not appear what we shal be but when he shal appear we shal be like him All the prophesies and promises of glory and a kingdome of Antichrist to be destroyed of the great Battels of the Thrones of the new Ierusalem of him on the white horse the Lord of Lords and King of Kings are most glorious in Spirit and most suitable to Christ in the glory of his Father and for any other figure of Christs reign or kingdom in any fleshly glory political or monarchical kingdom according to any pattern upon earth these conceptions or notions are occasioned by the Allegories and Allusions and Parables the Spirit speaks which they that are weak and carnal as some Disciples and Pharisees were take more in the Letter then in the Spirit Antichrist within us THat Antichristian mystery which seems to be working in so many figures and shapes without in the world and makes up the truth of those Scriptures of the beast and the whore and the false prophet c. flows only from the Antichrist within us or the mystery of iniquity which lies in the flesh or old man or man of sin the Son of perdition as in the root seed or principle and in us you may finde all the delusions and deceivableness of unrighteousness with all the severall figures it appears in in the Revelation and Epistle to the Thessalonians and the Spirit of that Naturall man in us acts all that wickedness in us which in the World comes forth onely in Images more Visible and fleshly and to the destruction of this Antichrist we should look and lay the Axe to the root of the tree carnall wisdome self-righteousness high imaginations fleshly apprehensions of God and Christ changing the truth of God into a lye with all the false testimonies of our own spirits for the Spirit of God the counterfeit sealings and assurances of our carnall hearts the deceiveableness of carnall reason with all other actings of the flesh The Doctrine of Baptisms THe Doctrine of Baptisms is such a doctrine as cleerly and spiritually understood and opened will establish the Spirits of many Christians who are much in the dark in these not distinguishing nor discerning the Baptisms as they are in their own Nature and in Spirit or as the truth is in Jesus The Baptism of Sufferings THe Baptism of Sufferings is that Passion Crucifying and death which the Body or flesh of Christ was to be Baptized or washed in Can ye be Baptized with the Baptism that I am Baptized with The Baptism of Sufferings is that in which the Lord Jesus was to be perfected according to the flesh it behooved him to make the Captain of our Salvation perfect through sufferings The Baptism of Sufferings is that Jordan that stream or flood of Passions which all the Spirituall Israelites were to pass through this was that River of Brimstone which is kindled from the breath of the Lord Jesus himself through the flowings of which he was able to conduct all his and Land them safely upon the shore or land of Promise or on the other side Jordan I have a Baptism to be baptized with and how am I straitned till it be accomplished This Baptism of sufferings is that in which all the whole
state and persecution of the Lord Iesus in Spirit and the time of the womans being in the wilderness all things in this time seeming as a wast and barren dispensation about her not inhabited by the Spirit of God and she in a retirement of Spirit dweling with God out of the power of the Dragon who casts only his flood after her but not upon her So as here is no more in this time of Antichrists ragin in the Flesh and the World but only the Churches oppression in Spirit and the crucifying the Lord in Spirit And all these appearances of the Lord Iesus in many glorious Saints who in particular ages appeared were but appearances of him who is that Faithfull and true witness against this power of the man of sin and were but drops of the vialls Soundings of the Trumpets openings of the Seales before the Battle of the great Day when fire shall come down from God out of heaven and devour them the Lord Iesus being revealed in flames of Spirit and glory against all Flesh So as there is not any word appearing in all the Scripture that the first ministry by gifts and ordinances shall in any measure be continued though in part or in reservation to the restored as if this were the great work the Lord intended to bring to pass viz. the setting up a purer ministery of gifts to teach his people or restoring some legal ordinances as Baptism of water the church way or Presbyterie of Elders and all the glory of the last times or ages should be only the bringing in these and taking them out of the hands of Antichrist all which arise from a mistake of the type of the Iewish Apostacy and captivity which figured out the Spirituall Church or new Ierusalem in Babylon or Captivity to the flesh or man of sin in all his deceivableness and Power and the restoring of all shall be only the appearance of the Lord Iesus who shall destroy Antichrist with the brightness of his coming and the two edged Sword of his mouth his Spirit And there is not a word spoken in all the Scriptures of these things to be restored as gifts and ordinances but the glory of the Lord in Spirit and therefore the Reformation or Restauration that the Lord Iesus brings with him for Moses Ioshua and all the reforming Kings of Iudah were but types of him the last and most excellent and glorious Reformer King of Kings and Lord of Lords that Reformation I say that he brings with him is the revelation of himself in Spirit he and his Father being the light and Temple of his people for there shall be no other there This shal be a glory without Sun or Moon or Stars or any such low or faint appearance as gift or ordinance but the Lord God shall be the everlasting light and God the glory and light shal cover the earth as the waters cover the sea light shal not Sparkle or be in bright beams as in a gift or an ordinance but it shal flow out from the Lord himself even cover the earth swallowing up or overflowing all earthly administrations And it shal be as much â—â—stacy in the Saints to go back to that first ministry of the Gospel-times which was the ministery to the first discovery of that mystery hid from ages as it would have been in them to have gone back to Iewish Temple and Preisthood c. And have taken the setting up of those to have been the great and only Reformation of Christ come in the flesh and as the Lord Iesus himself did in his coming in the flesh fulfill all these and destroy nothing save only as to the outward and perishing nature of those ordinances and Rudiments of the law So in this his last glory to be revealed in the saints here he shall not destroy any of the first ministry of the Gospel by gifts and ordinances but shal fulfil it It being but a type of his glory to be revealed in the Saints and the former ministery is only destroyed as to that outward Perishing part of it And this destruction of Antichrist and the glory to be revealed is the Prophesie of the Prophets and John in the Revelation and is the sum and substance of all types and ministrations wch were before So as all the pretended Reformations by gifts and Ordinances which tends to a reducing us to that first ministery of the Apostles times which that of Presbytery of Independency and baptism-way endeavors is but a building up such things as the Lord wold have destroyed it being an administration which he would use no longer therfore suffered Antichrist to prevail upon it and the man of sin to overcome it and as God to sit in the Temple or in all that outward form and worship figured out in that word the Temple as God or as God himself used to do when he was pleased to appeare there And therefore all that ministery and Pastourship and teaching is not at all upon the account of the first Gospel-ministration according to that very glory of the gifts and pure anointing by which they did minister as the oracles of God and very truthes of God as they did then so farre as they Spake or did any thing in the holy Ghost but they now I mean the Pastours and ministers do Speak and minister doubtfully darkly uncertainly more in the flesh then the Spirit not at all in any thing of unction or annointing exceeding any private Christian or distinct according to any gift of the holy Ghost but so farr only as they exceed others in parts wit or learning which are upon a lower account of the Spirit then the firsts gifts upon that of Arts and sciences And therefore if Pastours ministers and Christians who cannot now minister as the oracles of God nor according to the very gifts of the holy Ghost then wil be content to Prophesie as Christ wil only allow his Witnesses to do even all that bear Witness of him in Sackcloth according to that poor low and legal account and humble condition they are in it being yet the time of Antichrists raign not of Christs and not assume to themselves the names Offices Preheminence glory obedience very administrations which were then in power and in the holy Ghost both in Pastour and Churches and not walk as full and rich and wanting nothing when as they are poor miserable and naked The Church of Laodicea being a figure of all such for my part I then shal look on all such as in the Spirit and walking humbly with God and prophesying in sackcloth and waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus nor do deny but Christians in these wayes and administrations have enjoyed God sweetly though they be not such ways as God approves on though he suffer as many of the Godly Bishops and Martyrs did enjoy Iesus Christ in their times of Ceremonies and Forms of Prayer God stil appearing to
Sparkles of Glory OR Some Beams of the Morning-Star Wherein are many discoveries as to Truth and Peace TO The establishment and pure enlargement of a Christian in Spirit and Truth By JOHN SALTMARSH Preacher of the Gospell HOSEA 3. His coming is prepared as the morning London Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at the Black-spred-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1647. To the High and Honourable Court of Parliament WHat others have done by the Law of your authority Presented before yee their advise in matters of Religion I shall from the law of love to your Iust authority present ye not my advise the Lord himself advise and counsell ye but some things which concern the Lord Iesus Christ and the peace and prosperity of your Kingdome and that I may not be disobedient to the heavenly vision or light of God revealed in me There are two Principles in the world which have these sad and dark conclusions attending them the two Principles are these 1. That such as conforme not to the Doctrine and discipline established and yet as to the State are good Subjects and peaceably affected shall be proceeded against by fines imprisonment c. 2. That such as shall speak upon the Scriptures or open them Publikely or in Private and are not ordained by the laying on of the hands of that present established ministery of a kingdome shall be proceeded against by fines imprisonments c. The sad and dark conclusions which follow are these 1. All the glorious discoveries of God above or beyond that Systeme or form of Doctrine c. shall be judged and sentenced as Heresie and Schisme and so God himself shall be judged by man which must needs be a sin bringing much desolation unless they that enact such Laws were that very infallible Apostleship for Interpretation of all Scriptures as the first Apostleship was for writing all Scriptures And is God a God of the Iewes only is he not a God of the Gentiles also that is is God limited to one sort of men Thou thoughtest saith God that I was altogether such a one as thy self that is a God meerly of one Image or figure behold the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him he dwelleth not in Temples made with hands and where is his habitation and who hath known the place of his rest That is what is man that he should conceive that God is only in a place or Temple or form of Worship or Systeme of Doctrine of his forme or making since the time is come that we do no longer worship in this Temple nor at Ierusalem but they that worship must worship in spirit and truth which truth is he only who is the truth 2. Many thousands of pretious Christians shall be under Delinquency as to fines imprisonment c. and under the scandall of Hereticks and Schismaticks because not seeing by that one light nor believing in that one Proportion of faith nor receiving such interpretations and Consequences of Scriptures for the very Scriptures themselves and by such persecution the civill power which is received from God shall be turned against God or against the more spirituall administration of God and so Gods Administrations dashed one against another Saul Saul why persecutest thou me touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harm not as having dominion over the heritage orLordship over faith 3. That were to set up the Church Politie of the Iews amongst Christians and not according to Gods divine apointment but mans for God in that first Politie of the Iews Church under the Old-Testament joyned to the Kings and Magistracy then a Priesthood with Vrim and Thummim and Prophets anointed of God as a certain true infallible directive power for ordering that way of administration but this way of Christians now without any such warrant or appointment of God brings back again the same Church Politie under the New-Testament which was typicall as to Christ the King and Priest and Prophet and joyns to Kings Magistracy now a ministery less of God less certain less true not infallible so as all texts instances and examples brought from the Old-Testament of the Kings Princes and Magistrates of Israel compelling to the worship of God without proving the continuance of the same Church Politie under the New-Testament and the like Priesthood and Prophets accordingly sent of God to direct them is all invalid and of no effect as to such proceedings 4. The infinitely abounding spirit of God which blows when and where it listeth and ministers in Christians according to the gift and prophesies according to the will of the Almighty God pouring its self out upon all flesh giving out the word and making the company great who publish it even this Almighty all glorious infinitely abounding dispensing and revealing Spirit is made subject to the Laws Ordinances of men to the pleasures and wills to the measures and forms of men to outward ceremonies as Ordination c. God must not speak till man give him leave not teach nor Preach but whom man allows and approves ordains 5. This making laws for punishing all that conforme not to the doctrine and discipline established destroyes the true interests of all states and kingdomes excluding all societies of men but of one sort and forme though never so peaceably affected or obedient as men and Subjects respectively to the State and civill government thereof and was never found in any State or Church Politie by divine appointment but in that one nation of the Iews whose Politie as to such a form God himself peculiarly made owned and preserved and the Lord Iesus himself fulfilled and dissolved For Heresie and Schisme I know ye ought not to tolerate any but to let them bear their own judgement which is spirituall admonition Church-censure rejection excommunication which if effectuall as all true right spirituall censures have been and are is that just proportionable judgment for such Gospel-sins if not effectuall then the insuffiency weakness unprofitableness of such as assume such Church-power and censures will appear before ye And as to that point of the present Ordination which some have so pressed upon ye distinguishing to ye that their Ordination was from the Bishops as Ministers not as Bishops Right Honourable consider that distinction cannot be for there was no such thing as Ministers in the Church of Rome or of England as to this successively pretended Ordination but Priests and Bishops or Episcopacy and Priesthood and surely if Episcopacy doth not yet Priesthood doth altogether evacuate the essence of Ministery now under the New-Testament as by such Ordination and how much more rationall are their Arguments who hold their Ministry lawfull from the lawfulness of Episcopacy then those who deny Episcopacy c. and yet have no Ordination but from them For this Christian-liberty it is such as preserves not only the outward peace of Christians who enjoy
his body is a Spirituall one and fashioning like his glorious one by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body The Baptism of Christ is that whereby we are compleat in him now we are compleat in him onely by being one with him in Spirit and Nature He being made unto us Righteousness and Sanctification c. and thus we are said to be circumcised with the circumcision made without hands and buried with him in baptism wherein also we are risen with him through faith or Spirit so as we are Baptized in him as we are Circumcised in him that is we are all in him and as the Circumcision is without hands so is the Baptism it being the Apostles whole business in this Chapter to take us and the Colossians up higher then rudiments which perish with using The Baptism of Christ is that true spirituall washing and clensing wherein all his are baptized not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ and this is the Baptism which is said in this place to save us as Noahs Ark did those eight persons in figure therefore saith the Apostle the like figure whereunto Baptism doth now save us The Divers Ministery with the Ministery of Christ in his Saints UNder the Law there was a Priest-hood the administration of the Law and Sacrifices being gathered up into one Tribe that of Levi none was to take this Office but he that was called of God as was Aaron Under the Law there were Prophets as Moses Samuel Elijah Isaiah Ezekiel c. the Interpretation of the Law and the more spirituall Revelation of the Will of God were administred by the Prophets or some few to whom the Word of the Lord came Both Priests and Prophets were Types and Figures of Jesus Christ to come the the great high Priest and Prophet of his people as well as in ministery to the people In the more cleer Revelation of the Gospell the administration of Christ was committed to a few or certain Disciples in distinction of Gifts and Office twelve of whom were called Apostles and seventy Disciples When Jesus Christ went out of flesh into spirit or ascended he confirmed and setled this ministration by powring out gifts of Spirit for the more glorious and visible quickning and spiritualizing this Ministration he ascended up on high and gave gifts unto men he gave some Apostles some Evangelists some Prophets some Pastors some Teachers for the work of the Ministery c. During the Ministration of Iesus Christ in the Church in this distinction and diversity of gifts there were such as were spiritually visibly gifted accordingly so as the Apostles and Evangelists and Prophets and Pastors were known to be such both by the Saints or people of God to whom they did according to their gifts administer and to themselves they administring in the knowledge of such gifts of Spirit as were in them During this Ministration of Iesus Christ by Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors c. the Disciples that were not in the distinction or number of such but were onely called Disciples yet did Preach and administer as they had received Antichrist or the Mystery of Iniquity came in upon this Ministration by gifts and Ordinances and the glory of the Spirit and power of gifts went off from the visible Church as the glory of God from the Temple to the threshold til it was wholy departed this was the falling away prophesied on by Paul and by Iohn in his Epistles and in the Revelation in the vision of the Churches of Asia and of the Beast and false Prophet All things in the visible Churches of the Nations were and are in the absence of the Spirit and of gifts administred by Arts and Sciences Grammatical knowledge of tongues and languages and according to some spiritual measure received in some to whom these things are in some degree sanctified and spiritualized All knowledge and understanding of the Original all Interpretation of Scriptures is according to the outward and inward administration of both through Arts Sciences and tongues acquired and through such a measure of spirituall understanding as each have received There is no restauration of these gifts of Spirit which were in the first ministration of the Church as of Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors Teachers according to the first institution that is so as the gifts of all these Offices are cleerly to be seen and discerned in Spirit to be the very unction and gift either of Prophet or Pastor or Teacher as in the first Ministration which will more cleerly appear in singling that pure gift of Spirit that is in each from the habits of Arts and Sciences and Languages acquired and from that Spirituall understanding which is in all the Saints according to that work of the Spirit or regenerate part in them which is one and the same for nature and substance of regeneration with all so as no super-added or proper or distinguishing gifts appear upon any other account but either a naturall or artificiall or purely Spirituall account not upon any account of distinction of gifts and Office as at first when the Spirit was poured out and this will appear yet more in comparing times and persons and gifts our times with the first our Pastors even of all Churches with the first and the gifts of al now with the gifts then then the Spirit of God was poured out in gifts and the Disciples were taught of God and Prophesied and Preached from the meer gift and spirit received but now Prophets and Pastors are taught from another account viz. upon a more Artificial and industrious and humane account and their regenerate Nature then they ministred and spake as the Oracles of God then they spake as the Spirit onely gave them utterance The Ministery that is raised up to destroy Antichrist or the man of sin which prevailed against the first ministry and gifts is to be more glorious and powerful and mighty as the Ministry of gifts was more excellent then that of the Law and so destroyed that power of Apostacy that had prevailed upon the Priesthood and Law then so the Ministry that is to destroy that mystery of iniquity which prevailed upon the Gospel Ministry of gifts must be more excellent and glorious and powerful then that and this is Jesus Christ himself called the Prophet whom we are to hear and that GOD of whom we shal all be taught Ye shal be all taught of God and he that shal destroy Antichrist by the brightness of his coming and that Angel with the everlasting Gospel prophesied on by John preaching and enlightning the earth with his glory this is the day of Iesus Christ whose coming is prepared as the morning The Ministry of Iesus Christ this Angel of the Covenant is through his
people who are his Angel or the Angel and Messenger to him as he is the Angel to God or Messenger or he that was sent of God and this Ministry is a Ministry of Iesus Christ in all his Saints or people according to his administration of light and glory and truth in them shining in them to the revelation of truth and the Gospel This Ministry exceeds the Priesthood of the law which was but in one tribe and one sort of men and was but a Ministry of Christ to come in the flesh this Ministry is of Iesus Christ the Prophet in the whole body of his Saints come in the flesh and perfected in spirit and entred into glory This Ministry of Iesus Christ the great Prophet in all his saints or people or body is a Ministry exceeding the Ministry of the Gospel in gifts of miracles and other gifts for that was in some this in all that of men more immediately this of Iesus Christ more immediately that of some gifts which though excellent in their nature and operations of the same Spirit yet these might be in such as were not spiritual but carnal but the pure Ministry of Iesus Christ in his Saints in himself as he is the quickning Spirit and Lord from heaven is in none but such as are of his body and in one Spirit with him The present Ministry of men amongst all the Churches at this day according to any appearance of the Spirit of God in them though running through the channel of Arts Sciences and Languages acquired by natural power and industry is such a Ministry as we may hear and receive or partake of any thing of God or Christ there that we find in their administration though this be not that pure Ministry of Christ in Spirit as we find the Apostles and Disciples of Christ in the Jewish worship in the Synagogues and Temple under the Apostacy and Corruption And this Principle of bodily and local separation I find is both Legal and Iewish and literal and is suckt in by the Saints from the first Gospel-discoveries and from the law and Mosaical principles of separation and when the Spirit of God is more in them they shal see it and hath bin as I clearly find no little hinderance and is at this day to the power of the Gospel and Iesus Christ in Spirit and the body of Christ in the unity of the Spirit and since our controversies in these outward things and Church-ways c. have increased the law of love and Spirit and power of godliness hath much abated while form and meer letter and something of outward order have taken up the place And though this may be an offence to such as Paul saith who make conscience of the Idol yet we know saith he an Idol is nothing nor an Idol Temple but when they shal see the Christian as he is in Spirit and the new Creation and no other thing part of him but what is glory spirit and life and that all the law of outward order and form is only a supplement to the absence of the Spirit of God and to order their outward man amongst men to their fellow saints and the world while the law of the Spirit of life is not in them shining and conforming them in Spirit and love to the Image of Christ And for my part I am far from denying any Gospel form or way which appears to be the practice of the Saints then because I conceive that saints see gathering and practising are yet under such a ministration and are to walk in it while they are in bondage and weakness But on the contrary I am far from thinking these administrations to be our glory and high point of Reformation which our Brethren of the Independent and Baptism and Presbyterian way do but in all tenderness love and yet faithfulness to them rather a ministration of bondage and weakness to the Saints because the Scriptures make it clear calling such ministrations our seeing darkly as in a glass and seeing in part and that when the more perfect is come then that which is in part shal be done away The passage from lower Ministrations to higher THe administrations in which God hath appeared and doth appear yet in some proportion are these The law or righteousness of the first Creation in which God had communion with man and man with God yet rather as with a Creator then with a Father or an Immanuel and in the outward Court or first Creation not in the inward or holiest Paradise it self being but an Image of the excellency of this Creation Man having fallen through the temptation of the serpent or fleshly wisdom and the espousals of the woman or the weakness of that Creation wherein he was made hath the first law of righteousness presented to him in a new ministration of letter by Moses in Tables of stone from God in which the first glory and excellency was ministred to man in his faln and apostated condition And because the law or first righteousness was weak through the flesh there was the lowest ministration of Angels viz. by vision dreams c. added and likewise a ministration of Priests Sacrifices Ceremonies Tabernacle Temple Prophets by which man might have access unto God and speak with him yet but in the outward Court or flesh or things of this Creation though he filled these with another glory a richer and a more excellent discovery of his love in the promised seed There was another ministration added of war and peace of the Nations enemies in the flesh and of a promised land or blessing in the flesh and the Israelites or Iews were to pass under this ministration through all the enmity oppositions and battels of the Nation to this Canaan all which was accomplished to them in letter and in that in figure of a more spiritual enmity and kingdom and glory which is fulfilled in the more Gospel-revelation when the fulness of time came The next ministration is something clearer then all these and something brighter then the law yet not so clear nor ful as that of the fulness of time which followed it or of Christ in the flesh and this ministration was that of Iohn then whom a greater Prophet did not rise yet he that was least in the kingdom of God was greater then he he was a burning and a shining light The law and the prophets were till Iohn he was the Prophet of the highest and was sent to prepare his way and to make Christ manifest to Israel by word and water and this was only a ministration in order to one more spiritual was to decrease as the other did increase The Baptism of the Spirit or fire was to lick up this of water as in that figure of the sacrifice performed by Eliiah the Prophet when the fire came down and suckt up all the four barrels of water
The other Ministration was the Gospel in the flesh of Christ or in gifts and ordinances something more clear and in more discovery and revelation for the flesh of Christ in which he taught and did miracles and was circumcised and baptized was a copy or draught of that ministration of gifts and ordinances which was as perfect as the first Creation in its glory and purity and yet higher and neerer to God coming forth in more revelation of an Immanuel or God with us A further Ministration was more neerness and participation of God manifested in flesh or of Christ and that was in graces or operations and fruits of the Spirit as of faith repentance love self-denial humiliation meekness all which are a sweet spiritual administration even the light of the glorious Gospel of God shining in the face of Iesus Christ Another Ministration respectively to a more excellent glory to come is that by Angels in their highest administration which is the only Angelical and Seraphical revelation being something below the Spirit yet higher then reason or mans highest principle and this Iohn received all those more excellent discoveries to be fulfilled in their seasons There is another Ministration of more Spirit of love meekness self-denial suffering overcoming evil with good and conquering by receiving in the wrath and enmity of the world and this I take one of the last and glorious truths respectively to the flesh and the world into which God wil gather up his people by times and degrees from all worldly and fleshly interests and ingagements wherein they shal be carryed up into a more ful enjoyment of God and conformity to Christ in his sufferings death and resurrrection The Lord Jesus walkt first in this truth he was led as a sheep to the slaughter when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not The Lord Jesus revealed this Gospel-truth and distinguished it from the law which law was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth But he saith resist not evil but whosoever shalsmite thee on the one cheek turn to him the other also Ye have heard it hath been said thou shalt love thy neighbour but I say unto ye love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that despitefully use you and persecute you that ye may be the children of your heavenly Father The Apostle to the Romansreveals this dearly beloved avenge not your selves vengeance is mine c. If thine enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good The Lord Jesus prophesied of this blessed are the meek for they shal inherit the earth through their meekness they shal inherit through their meekness only shal the jealousie and enmity of the Nations be allayed concerning them Iohn in his vision of the latter times saw an appearance of this Here is the patience and faith of the Saints of them that have the commandments and the faith of Iesus to which that of the Apostleto the Hebrews answers there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God and he that is entred into his rest hath ceased from his works as God did from his The last and more ful andrich Ministration and mostnaked is that of God by himselfin Spirit to the sonnes ofGod into which Iesus Christ the fore-runner is entred andI saw no Temple therin forthe Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it And this Ministration is fulfilled then when Christ shal have delivered up the kingdom unto God and this is not only done upon the whole body of Christ at the last but is fulfilled in its particular accomplishments and mystery of Spirit here there being sound these transitions passages and resignations and exchanges of glory in the Saint He that can receive it let him receive it The more ful and naked Ministration of God by himself in Spirit and I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it And as God hath appeared in all these former saving the last into which Jesus Christ hath entred so they remain stil as figures and as so many several Signes or Planets in this Creation and the other for beleevers to be born in and to pass thorough in some proportion and measure till Christ hath delivered up the kingdom unto God God hath appeared in all these former administrations to his people and they have enjoyed him in these degrees and distances and approaches and they remain stil as figures and as so many signs and planets in the first Creation and the second for Christians in some measure and proportion to pass thorough so as he that is of any spiritual discerning in these may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the height and depth and bredth of Gods ministration to his People and to know Saints according to the measures they receive and the ministration they live in with God I have drawn out these ministrations in their particular orbs and spheres and circles which I could have folded up in three only of Law Gospel and Spirit or of letter graces and God or of the first second and third heavens but I saw God something abounding and variously dispensing and I followed him in that fulness and variety so far as he hath lighted my candle I shal now discourse a little more generally of all these and of the passage from these and of God appearing in these and his going out from these til he hath scattered all these vails before him that he and his may see and enjoy each other with open face where we shal see as we are seen and know as we are known The Christian passes through several ages and dispensations as Christ was in the world so is every Christian he was made under the Law under Circumcision under Baptism and the Supper of bread and wine and then he crucified all that flesh he walkt in under those dispensations and entred into glory for thus it behoved Christ to suffer and enter into his glory The Jewish Church or dispensation which was according to Moses and the letter in which they were led out in carnal and more fleshly courses as in the proceeding against the Nations by war and fighting with all their other legal rites and rudiments were a clear figure of the Christian under age or under tutors and governors and worldly rudiments The Disciples of Christ according to Iohns ministery and Christs in the flesh were another type or figure for all Disciples of their age and ministry and the Spirit of Christ works in all the Disciples according to such a way and proportion and measure and dispensation the heir as long as he is a child differing nothing from a servant though he be Lord of all until
the time appointed of the Father And I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ I have fed you with milk and not with meat And the great and excellent design or mind of God in all these things is only to lead out his people Church or Disciples from age to age from faith to faith from glory to glory from letter to letter from ordinance to ordinance from flesh to flesh and so to Spirit and so to more Spirit and at length into all Spirit when the Sonne shal deliver up the kindom unto the Father and God shal be all in all which last transition or resignation or resolution of all into the kingdom of God is not as some think only when the fulness of times or ages is come but is transacting and finishing in parts and members of the body of Christ and is not one single act point or effusion of glory but a perfecting and fulfilling it in the several members of Jesus Christ till the fulness of the stature of Christ be made up and the Church become the fulness of him that filleth all in all For the day dawns and the day-star arises in the heart shining more and more unto a perfect day and he who is the bright and morning Staris stil shining into the glory of the Sun of righteousness and the light of the Moon shal become as the light of the sun and the light of the Sun as the light of seven dayes till the Lord God himself be the everlasting light and our God our Glory Thus is the Christian or Disciple of Christ passing on upon the severall degrees and measures into the glory of Christ and crucifying each condition as he passes thorough it as all the Disciples have done before the Jews passed out of that of the Tabernacle into the Temple and from thence into the flesh of Christ that Temple destroyed and raised up in three dayes a greater then Solomon being there and from thence into Christ Crucified and so into a ministry of spirit and life And the Disciples all of them had a measure of time and season in each Ministration and God had his when he filled the Tabernacle with a cloud and the Temple with Glory and the flesh of Christ with unction or spirit above his fellows and while God lived in each ministration quickning and glorifying and acting it for himself that presence of God and of Spirit was to the Disciples like the Sun in Summer shining upon them the candle of the Lord shining upon their heads and his secret upon their Tabernacles But when the line of Gods season was run out to its point and extremity that he would no longer stay there nor have his glory inhabit in such or such a ministration then that ministration became but a place of desolation a solitary place for the Satyrs to dwell in and the screech Owle to sing in that is for the Spirit of Apostacy and of Antichrist or iniquity to possesse and act in And for Disciples to stay longer in any ministration then the Lord or the life and Spirit of Christ is in it is as if Lot should tarry in Sodom Israel with the Ark when God was departed the Iews in the Temple when the Vail was rent and the glory gone off to the threshold and from thence too their house being left unto them desolate even that house or ministration where the light of God did formerly dwell As if the Disciples of Christ that went into the Grave should step in and sojourn there where his body had lain and was risen and gone seeking the dead amongst the living The disciples of Christ were a true figure of such who when Christ was dead were embalming the body and would preserve it with spices and ointments when the spirit and life was out of it The Iews were a figure of such who would preserve their Law and the shadows of all their worship when Christ had left them who was the life and substance of all that ministration Peter and the rest were a true image of such who in that sword he wore was a true figure of all such as Christ suffers in a warlike and defensive posture about his flesh or whom he suffers to be so far conformed to the fashion of the world as to guard and preserve those fleshly priviledges of his presence and power amongst them and in that activity of his to rescue and preserve that flesh and body in which so much glory and excellency had appeared and so many miracles were done beyond that point or end of ministration which God even the Father and the Son himself had set was a figure of all such as should stretch out any dispensation or ministration of God farther than the line or spiritual sinew of it wil bear Let the Reader take notice that this following of the Baptist should have been placed next after the Doctrines of Baptism but by reason of the Authors absence it was misplaced The Baptists BAptism of Water being a Legall Ordinance though a more cleer administration of Christ was administred alwaies by persons of more than ordinary gift and spirit for in all Legall administrations which pointed at and shaddowed Christ still they were performed by some properly and specially and extraordinarily enabled for that Office or Ministration and therefore the tribe of Levi was for administration of Ordinances then under the Law and Abraham for circumcision Moses and Aron c. Iohn Baptist the Apostles and the more then ordinary gifted Disciples and Philip and Ananias not is there any extant in all the new Testament who did administer Baptism but they were such as by a power and gift more than ordinary could make demonstration of their calling to the administration of water which was first in that way of doctrine performed by him then whom a greater Prophet hath not risen even by Iohn who Baptized and so Philip and Ananias the one working glorious miracles at Samaria the other having a vision from God to warrant and glorifie his call to that administration upon Paul and so all the Apostles and seventy Disciples were such who went about doing miracles as men excellently gifted for administration and whereas the Scriptures make mention of some Disciples as those with Peter who did not appear to do any thing more then others nor Philip nor Ananias at the time of their administration of water it ought to be sufficient to us that the Scriptures doth set forth Iohn Baptist and the Apostles and Disciples that were more than ordinarily gifted and Philip and Ananias who had sufficient warrant to themselves by such glory upon them for that Office and administration of water upon any and for those other Disciples surely we see and read enough to tell us in those that were so gifted and in them and their gifts there is light enough to shew us
the glory of those Baptists that did undertake to administer which in the Scripture method is sufficient for all others of whom the Scripture is silent And for that of Christs Disciples both in Iohns time and Christs and after his Resurrection in the Acts of the Apostles baptizing by water we finde this That the Lord Jesus himself baptized none but his Disciples nor did he in his first sending them forth give them any power to baptize as in his Ministery but they Baptized upon Iohns account that of water being his ministration who Baptized unto Christ as well as they though not in that cleerness of ministration and Doctrine as they did and therefore Paul did tell the Corinthians he was not sent to Baptize and did it according to his spirituall liberty he was a Iew to the Iew c. and Peter and the rest did it upon the like account though I beleeve they were under more bondage to these outward things as washing for Peter was an Apostle to the Circumcision and Ananias who baptized Paul was a Jewish Disciple And further I beleeve that as the Lord did suffer the Law of Ceremonies to dye out by degrees and to be worn out by the ministration of the Gospel so he did that part of Johns Ministery of washing by the Baptism of Christ of his Spirit I must decrease but he must increase which surely was spoken not according to the persons of John and Christ but according to their ministration which is the great thing the Scripture takes notice on The Spirit and life of outward Ordinances THe second Man or Adam in whom we all live is a quickning spirit and the Lord from heaven and is at the right hand of God viz. in the choicest glory of the Father That by which the people of God or all true Christians are born is the seed of God or Word of God or the divine nature of Jesus Christ or the Spirit of God which is called sanctification regeneration That the true spirituall Christian is that new creature that sanctified one or regenerate one who is thus born and hath Christ formed on him and this new creature is fed by the Spirituall life of Christ That the new creature or spiritual man is one who receives all his growth and encreasings in the power seed and Principle of the Spirit of God or Jesus Christ That the Ministry or Ministration by which he grows up to that fulness of stature in Iesus Christ is a Ministry or ministration of glory spirit That the true and spiritual Baptism by which every Christian is baptized into Christs death is the Baptism of Blood which is the righteousness spirit or life of Christ That the due and spiritual Sacrament of the Lords Supper is the very body and blood of Christ in the Spirit or that pure spirituall nature of Iesus Christ quickning and feeding up the Christian into a spirituall life and vnion with God That the true spirituall Minister is Iesus Christ who is called a Minister of the Sanctuary which the Lord pitched and not men That Iesus Christ is the true Spiritual Apostle sent out from God to reveal the Father and is so called by the Spirit of God in Scriptures the Apostle and high-priest of our profession That Iesus Christ is the true spirituall Prophet that teaches his people so as they are all taught of God and is so called in Sccriptures a Prophet which the Lord God raised up in stead of Moses That the true Spirituall Pastor is Iesus Christ who is that one Shepherd prophesied on who can lead his people onely into green Pastures or places of life That the Spirits of just men made perfect or the true Christian in spirit are those true spirituall Elders in the New Testament That the true Church of Christ is that spirituall company whom Christ hath washed in his blood cloathed in his righteousness sanctified in his spirit espoused to himself this is the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem the generall Assembly and Church of the first-born the House and Temple and Kingdome of God That the true spiritual keyes of the Kingdom of God is the very Spirit of God the very Spiritual power of Jesus Christ upon beleevers and unbeleevers who hath the keyes of David and opens and no man shuts and shuts and no man opens That true spiritual excommunication is Jesus Christ who is mighty in Spirit and Power in all his pronouncing an anathema maranatha or curse upon all flesh and delivering the body or sinful flesh over to Sathan or the power of darkness whereby flesh and every fleshly member is cast out from all communion with God and Jesus Christ and from those who are indeed born of God and are the true Spirituall Church of God which is no more then that true difference and distinction which Jesus Christ puts betwixt the pretious and the vile The true Spirituall Gospel-Order which the Apostle rejoyced to behold is that spirituall distinction and variety in the body of Christ wherein one Member differs from another in measure of Spirit and Glory and Power and yet all compleat and make perfect that body of Christ in the Spirit for he being a spiritual head must have a spirituall body The true Spiritual government is Christ reigning in the Saints in Spirit ordering them in thought word and deed holding forth his power and scepter which is a scepter of righteousness against flesh and blood Principalities and Powers spirituall wickedness in high places The true Spiritual Covenant is the New Covenant which God makes with us in Christ and wherein he is manifested to be their God and they his people to teach them and write his law in their hearts The true Spirituall Ordination is the hand of Jesus Christ stretched out or laid on upon the Spirits of such Christians as preach or Prophesy of the Ministery of the Gospel that is such are rightly and purely ordained and sent out who are sent out from the power of the Lord Iesus to whom all power in heaven and earth is given and are annointed of him to preach the Gospel and sent of him who ascended to give gifts unto men some Apostles some Evangelists some Prophets some Pastors some teachers The true spirituall tryall or examination of the gifts of any is then when the Spirit of the Prophets is onely subject to the Prophets that is when the gift by which any one speaks of Jesus Christ is manifested in the hearts and spirits of the Saints when they see the truths they minister as they are in Jesus and in themselves and in them that are spiritual and truly anointed by the same Spirit and so are all Prophets according to the measure given or as they are all baptized into one spirit and body and have all received of his fulness who is that great Prophet raised up of our brethren like unto Moses and are redeemed to be Kings and Priests and
the Power and Iudgment committed to Christ Scripture and the gift of wisdom justice and righteousness are his unction now as the oyl or anointing was his unction under the Old Testament Magistracy for form is not one and the same but divers according to the several polity of Nations and Kingdoms by Kings singly or Kings and States joyntly as in this Kingdom or States singly as in the old notions of Monarchy Aristocracy Democracy and that each Nation is subject according to its polity and form to the respective government and that Scriptures cloath and invest that form in its very first being and constitution and that form receives an Image of God upon it as the first man who as soon as he became such a model of earth or clay became a man and had the glory of God upon him and dominion over the creatures These Powers and Magistratesupon earth are set up for the punishment ofevil doers and for the praise of them that do wel justice and righteousness being that very line or golden reed by which they are measured the very Scales by which Godweighs them where if they be found too light he gives their Kingdoms to another All lawful subjection is to be rendred honour to whom honour tribute to whom tribute and subjection to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake Prayers and Supplicationsare to be made for them that we may lead a peaceable and a quiet life in all godliness and honesty Magistracy is set up not only to be an Image of Christ to the world but to administer Peace and Judgment to the world and Societies of men and more principally to his people in the flesh who while they are nursing fathers to them do administer truly and to Christ in his people when Persecutors Christ stil turns their administration though evil in it self into good for his all things working together for good to those that love God The high and glorious design of Christ in Magistracy is to open a way in all their kingdoms and dominions for the Spirit of God to breath in Kings shal be thy fathers c. and walk in in such outward administrations as it pleaseth the Spirit of God to appear in to the Saints who are in flesh and weakness and so far as concerns any outward administration of Christ Iesus Christ becomes a subject in his Saints to the power he hath committed to Magistracy they having power to hinder and further his spiritual design so far as it comes forth in the outward man therefore all power of Magistracy turned against the Spirit of God in this apearance shal and all such Kingdoms and Nations as proceed accordingly viz. to oppose that Kingdom Power and Dominion they receive from Christ against him in his spiritual Kingdom shal be dashed to pieces like a potters vessel Be wise now therefore O ye Kings and be instructed ye Judges of the earth But all such Nations States and Kingdoms as shal administer not only judgment and righteousness in the world but shal bring their glory and honour to Christ and hiâ— Spirit in his People Peace shal be within their walls and prosperity within their Palaces judgment shal flow there like a river and righteousness like a mighty stream The discerning of Spirits THere was such a Maniâ—estation of Spirit given to the people of God in the first Gospel-times as they could in the very unction or anointing of God discern Spirits and try Spirits Ye have an unction and ye know all things the same anointing teacheth ye to another the gift of discerning Spirits In this Manifestation of Spirit were all False-teachers Deceivers Antichrists and Hypocrites judged and discerned I wil come to you saith the Apostle and will know not the words of them that are puffed up but the power This Manifestation of Spirit is that in which Spiritual men are known and revealed to each other and have as ful assurance of each other in Spirit and in Truth as men know men by the voice features complexions statures of the outward man The Manifestation of Spirit may be darkned and clouded in Christians sometimes and hath been in the purest times when the Disciples did not know Simon Magus nor Demas nor Hymenaeus and Philetus nor those that went out from them nor Judas The Manifestation of Spirit hath been much lost and darkned in the Churches for many hundred years since the Antichristian darkness upon them and therefore they have judged Spiritual things in a mist and in much dimness and doubtfulness it hath been neither night nor day For supplement of this Manifestation of Spirit Christians walked by Candle-light and Star-light and set up marks and signs of tryal and demonstration in the letter and outward man so as any hypocrite might appear for a true Christian and therefore most of their way of Manifestation hath been from formal relations and confessions of faith and experiences according to the Law or standard of their own Spirits trying and judging all other measures of grace by their own The experience of Christians who have the Spirit of God in them is very clear concerning the workings and manifestations of the same Spirit in others as in Prayer Preaching Prophesying Conference Conformity to Christ Spiritual conversation so as Christians can in a manner say the Spirit of God is here and here or here I tast and see something of God here is a spiritual savour there is none as in natural things there is such a proportion betwixt the sense and object that the sense knows and discerns its own object as in smelling tasting seeing hearing so in Spirituals and as there is an outward a letter or Scripture Christianity by which men are distinguished as Jew and Gentile as Professors and Prophane as of the visible Church and of the world so there is in the true spiritual Church or Kingdom of God in Truth a more pure spiritual and glorious way of knowing each other according to that true spiritual glory nature and light that each walks in being all children of the day and of the light And this is no more then the fulfilling of that promise then shal ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not but it is in that day when the Lord makes up his jewels which the more glorious revelation of Jesus Christ in the Saints gathering his people into more unity and glory of Spirit All works and fruits of men as they are Christians and spiritual must either be judged and discerned in the same Spirit and measure of light and glory in which they are wrought and from whence they flow or else it is but a meer formal outward pretended false and fleshly way of judging in those that so judg and thus the tree is truly and purely known by its fruits and faith by works The same Faith
Arguments for Liberty of conscience and thus far it hath been wel in order to the peace of those whose consciences in outward things runs cross contrary and destructive to others both in rule and practise so as when Christians are under several forms and administrations and these diametrical or opposite to each other and mutually contradicting and expelling each other here can be no Peace nor Preservation of all but from an indulgency or liberty in all and this is such a liberty as men may give to men this is the liberty of the outward man and is upon the old legal and first Gospel or New Testament-account as in the meer letter as in those Scriptures but this is yet below the true Christian Liberty and a mystery unwritten which is originally from the Spirit of God and is meerly spiritual and works from a pure enlargement of Spirit and a true spiritual Prospect of all outward things which is an image of that liberty which is in God who appears under his several forms of Creation pure and holy in himself or his own nature But this is a mystery yet and a land of peace and purity not yet clearly discovered nor the right inhabitants of it but to some and this liberty wil further appear as the Lord Jesus is more and more revealed in the Saints judging the world in Spirit and raigning over the tyranny and power of men in a glory of Spirit which shal judg and torment their adversaries while they shal triumph over all the practises in the flesh against them A Discovery of the highest attainment of the Protestants generally in the mystery of salvation ADam was the first man created after Gods own image he was a publick person and he sinning sin entred upon all and death by sin the Law was afterwards revealed by God to Moses wherein was a copy of that first image or righteousness from whence man fell and under the condemnation of which all mankind were by nature or as born of their first Parents The way of life or salvation which was revealed to be a way our of this condemnation and death was by Iesus Christ the Son of God born of a Virgin in the fulness of time made under the Law and fulfilling the Law bearing our sins crucified dead buried and risen ascended and entred into glory and sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us and by the Preaching of this Iesus Christ in the Ministry of the Word which he hath set in his Church a true and lively faith is begotten in the hearts of men such as are elect or chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world were layd not from any works foreseen but of Gods meer grace and by this faith so begotten they apply Iesus Christ and all his merits to righteousness and justification and through this and the sanctified use of all other ordinances of God as Preaching Prayer Sacraments the regenerate are more and more sanctified and so built up in graces of faith repentance love new obedience and made to persevere through the power of God unto salvation Nor is the Ministry of the Law useless in this the Law being a part of this Ministry to bring men to Christ or to make them seek out for mercy they discerning their misery by the preaching of the Law it being Gods usual method in Scriptures not to offer the Gospel without this preparatory of humiliation and contrition and men so humbled and wounded by the Law are only fit for the mercy of the Gospel or of Jesus Christ This Iesus Christ they beleeve to be one ascended according to that body he appeared in and sitting at the right hand of God and in the figure of glorified flesh according to which all the Saints shal be glorified in their souls and bodies and in Jesus Christ thus glorified in flesh and entred thus into his Fathers glory they beleeve and to the Lord Jesus in this figure and form of glory without them they are carried out in faith and through Jesus Christ thus they believe that they are justified and through the Spirit of God in this Iesus Christ they are sanctified Of Faith FAith they say is a grace wrought by the Spirit of God whereby a beleever rests upon Jesus Christ for justification and this they cal faith of adherence and when this faith works through love obedience self-denial and other fruits they call it faith of assurance for they say assurance is obtained through the Spirit of God bearing witness in promises and good works as wel as by it self and faith working thus is sanctification too or holiness wrought by graces A further Discovery as to Free-Grace THey beleeve Iesus Christ ascended in the body accordingly and glorified in flesh and through Iesus Christ thus ascended and sitting on the right hand of God in this figure and bodily form they accordingly conceive all graces of Spirit to flow forth into the Saints in faith love obedience c. But they look not on justification as flowing from Christ acted upon by the faith of a beleever first and so a consequent of beleeving or of faith but an antecedent or going before faith they hold Jesus Christ to be righteousness and justification to a sinner and that all are justified before they beleeve or repent and faith repentance are fruits of righteousness or justification Christ being given to open the eyes of the blind and to bring the prisoners out of prison c. and that all such righteousness and justification clothes the sinner so compleatly through Gods imputation that all sin is done away like a thick cloud and none imputed to beleevers Christ hath taken away all sin by his offering up one sacrifice once for all and that faith in the beleever doth nothing no not instrumentally as to justification but as by way of revelation and manifestation of that justification Hence it is that they affirm no beleever ought to pray for pardon of sin being a righteous person at once in Christ and wholy pardoned but all this righteousness and justification they take upon the account meerly of Gods imputation of Christ without us or in heaven who calleth things that are not as if they were and they look upon all works and duties c. as works flowing from love and from justification or righteousness not directed to justification or in any order to it we beleeve repent love and obey say they not that we may be saved but because we are saved and any other way of beleeving obeying c. they look upon as legal and not so purely Evangelical and they hold forth all the work of justification and righteousness to be of meer grace and that all Gospel-promises are free and Christ is freely offered to sinâ—ers as sinners in the Ministry of the Word So as their highest attainment is this that God
and the seven and ten figures of perfection and compleatness as to the man of sin for the number of the beast is the number of a man and yet his number is but 666. that is is but a number of weakness and imperfection and work or bondage not the number of God or of seven which is perfection and rest And the whore is adorned with gold and pearl which are those excellencies of nature and forms of wâ—rship and Scriptures with which she decks her self and is adorned as a counterfeit spouse of Christ and upon her head is mystery that is all this appearance of hers even her highest and choicest her head is mystery to all who are made drunken with the cup of her fornications or spiritual whoredoms and idolatries they discerning none of these but all being in mystery to them And this Antichrist is one who denies Christ coming in flesh or God in his people who is coming and coming that is ever flowing out in fresh and glorious discoveries and manifestations of himselfe forbidding all beyond them as new lights and false revelations and fixing God and his appearances in their Conceptions Votes and Results and Councels and Consequences and Conclusions and Laws of worship This Antichrist thus described is found in man or the spirit of meer man in al his departure or falling away from God in al his lying signs or counterfeitings of the spirit in his sitting as God in his being a beast or opposing the Spirit in his scarlet colour or his crucifyings of Christ in us in his denying the Lords coming or further manifestations of his light and Spirit in us and thus quenching the Spirit And from hence he flows out and spreads himself in the world in all Idolatrous forms of worship in all false interpretations of God and of the truth as it is in Jesus These are the several attainments The Common Protestant THe common Protestant as to doctrine and fundamentals are so far in a discovery of the mystery of salvation as to behold a state of condemnation in sin and a way of salvation by Jesus Christ and faith in him yet some take this way to be but a knowledg of Christ after the flesh and of Christ as one single person or figure of a man and the first glympse of the love of God and but meerly a discovery beyond the law and all but a fleshly spirituality The generall Redemptionist THey that are for general redemption through Christ in the free offers of grace to all and his dying for all some say attain no higher in this then Christ after the flesh and fall into the same consequence with those that hold the particular election and reprobation of some and though there be in this a more general ministration of Christ held forth according to the letter yet they say it goes not so high as the mystery of Christ in Spirit and in pure glory and truth but of Christ in glorified flesh and as in one single person or figure of a man and all end but in a fleshly spirituality and in an attainment as to the meer letter of Scripture The Free-Gratian THey that have discovered up into free-grace or the mystery of salvation singled out from conditions qualifications and works some say attain no higher in that then a discovery meerly beyond the common Protestant both going no higher then a justification by imputation and through Christ after the flesh as in one single person or figure of a man glorified in flesh or the body without and in a local glory or a circumscribed nature and putting all the righteousness upon a meer account in God and all the taking away of sin or sinful flesh upon a non-imputation or not-accounting in the crucifying death or fiery trial of the flesh and the pure spiritual incorruptible seed of God within Christ in us the hope of glory And their highest attainment as to duties and works is only as some say to the nature and manner of their production or flowing forth they counting the nature and original of all no higher then an habit of grace or quality and their proceeding as immediately in the nature of that which they say is love all they do being from love and in love not in bondage Conclusion ANd these attainments are not such as are therefore condemned because no higher or more spiritual but are only considered as not the highest but in order to the mystery of salvation and several measures and ages of attainment and seeing darkly as in a glass till that which is perfect is come A Discovery of Prayer THat which hath been discovered concerning Prayer is this First That they who could not pray in the Spirit might use a form of prayer as John taught his Disciples and the Lord Jesus his in that of Our Father c. and David in Psalms and the Apostles and Christ himself are found in the same form and expressions of prayer very often he went away and prayed the same things again Moses prayed arise Lord c. and again arise Lord this is the first discovery and is truth though truth in weakness infancy A further discovery is that prayer is rather a work of the Spirit then of any form and that no set form ought to be puâ— upon the Spirit of God out what it freely breathes and speaks and all constant speakings to God in this as they call a conceived way or impremeditate or ex-temporary way is taken commonly amongst Christians for prayer in the Spirit and for that spiritual way of prayer which the Disciples of Christ used in the Gospel who were grown up from the infancy and childishness of forms or words taught them which is but a meer natural or outward thing as they say which any may performe by strength of natural parts as wit and memory and affections The furthest discovery as some say is this That Prayer is no other but the revelation of the will of God or mind of God as to such and such particulars either spiritual or temporal and is an immediate proper and spiritual act of the Spirit of God in the Saints and that all such speakings as are not from the very manifestation of the Spirit of God in us are but such prayers and petitions as natural reason and memory and affections may form and dictate and doth usually and that there is no difference betwixt such kind of praying and forms of prayer though it may be ex-temporary or conceived as some who can pray upon this account three or four hours and nothing more frequent now nay this kind of prayer is far worse by how much it transforms its self more into an Angel of light and is not sitting in the Temple of God as God or pretending its self to be the Spirit of God and is not being more properly the flowings and breathings of reason and the strength of mans wit and memory and affections and is constantly performed in publick and
private and thus fire is fetched down from heaven in the sight of men that dwel upon the earth or such as are yet more below then above or in heaven and Spirit and thus the people of Israel prayed whose prayers were an abomination thus the Pharisees made long prayers c. So as Prayer then according to this discovery is the Spirit of God only revealing and speaking in the people of God we know not what to pray for as we ought that is we as we are our selves know not And therefore all that we pray and not the Spirit of God in us not that Spirit of Prayer spoken on in Scripture is but the Spirit of man praying which is but the cry of the creature or a natural complaining for what we want as the Ninivites and the children and beasts of that City all cryed unto the Lord But in pure prayer the Spirit helpeth our infirmities the Spirit of God which makes intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered that is the speakings or manifestations of the Spirit of God or not so utterable by the flesh or voice of man and the Spirit maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God or according to God as in the Greek that is Prayer is God speaking in us his mind and will And therefore the Lord Jesus taught this in that form and doctrine of his thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven wherein he set forth that more spirituall and perfect Prayer which was only according to God and which the Saints should pray afterwards when the Spirit was more revealed And this is prayer in Spirit and to pray thus is to pray in some evidence and demonstration of God and in faith or beleeving the will of God as to this or this thing at this or this time whatsoever ye ask in prayer beleeving c. And all other asking or seekings of God which are not thus in Spirit and in the will or mind of God in some evidence or pure work of Spirit or raising of Spirit is but the askings of creatures as creatures and thus all meer natural and carnal people pray and are heard and answered many times in the mercy and goodness of God who makes his Sun to shine upon the just and unjust All exhortations in Scripture to this duty of prayer as seek ye my face pray continually watch and pray be fervent in prayer ask and ye shal have c. are only then rightly effectually and properly applied and obeyed when the Spirit of God doth it in the Christian when the Spirit of God breaths in and reveals the will of God and acts in the duty or expressions and the Christian speaks in himself or in presence of others that mind of God and so this Spirit of God clothes its self in flesh or letter or expressions as to the outward man and they who say Amen in the Spirit as the Apostle saith say Amen in the same Spirit or else they are not in prayer in a pure spiritual closure or unity of Spirit Prayer is the workings and weaker or fainter manifestations of the Spirit of God in the Christian while he is in bondage that is while God is not the fulness the light and glory and all in all unto him for where there is any asking or seeking or desiring there is not perfect rest enjoyment alsufficiency and fulness And therefore while Christians are in bondage and not yet brought into the glorious liberty of the sons of God they are under the Ministration of Prayer to God or of asking as children are to a father in non-age and pupillage All Scriptures of Prayer or concerning Prayer and the prayers of the Saints in the vial are considerable respectively to the state of weakness and bondage the Saints are in praying not in the Spirit of God but in weakness or the flesh according to their own wils hath been usuall with Saints formerly as Paul who prayed thrice to remove the buffeting and was answered my grace is sufficient for thee or is it not enough that I have grace for thee in all my dealings and dispensations towards thee live thou upon that and the Lord Jesus himself prayed Father if it be thy will let this cup pass yet afterwards he was more the manifestation of God Father not as I wil that is not as I or that of man in me but as thou will and many Christians wanting the clear and glorious revelation of the will of God pray for such and such things for the obtaining such and such mercies and removal of such and such miseries being all this while in the dark to the will and mind of the Lord when as if the will of the Lord were seen or discovered they would rejoyce and be at rest in such conditions and learn how to want as wel as to abound that is to want such or such things as the Lord takes from them and to abound in the Lord without those things or with those things which is the sweet state of the Christian and a rest or peace in figure to that glory and fulness to be revealed in us and those Christians as are in some measure in this light or glimpse of the fulness of God are entred upon the borders of Canaan and are feeding upon some bunches of the grapes of the promised land A discovery of the Law SOme say the Law is obligatory and binding to all Christians because moral and so perpetual and that it was revealed because of transgressions And that the Law is of no less efficacy now then before to reveal sin and convince of sin and that Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it that the ministery of the Law ought to precede and go before the Gospel because none ought to have Christ offered to them in a promise but such as the Law hath humbled and prepared that God doth sanctifie the Ministry of the Law to conversion and sanctification of his people and such as preach it are not legal thus the Protestant in general Others say that a further discovery of the Law is this That the Law was a discovery or appearance of Gods righteousness and mans according to the nature of both as in the first Creation God is revealed in the Law to be one God and only to be worshiped and no other Gods but one and man is revealed in his first created righteousness love thy neighbour as thy self The Law is in every one by nature accusing and excusing and Gods transcribing it into tables of stone was to set before man a testimony or witness in the letter of what Law he had inwardly the Law is spiritual and to bear witness to his Apostacy and falling away and to all his sins transgressions and enormities committed Moses and the Prophets were Ministers of it in the letter the Law was given by
Moses it being first delivered or preached by the Ministry of Angels or dispensation of Angels the Lord Jesus himself and the Apostles were clearer and more spiritual Ministers of it The Law as it is in letter and in the Ministry of Moses and the Prophets and Christ c. is a witness and image to the more excellent Law that of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ The Law in meer letter and legal ministry works bondage and brings forth the spirit of bondage in those who are under the Law working convictions and testimonies of good and evil whereby the law of nature is awakened and strengthned to accuse sinful flesh The Law as it is a figure or shadow or image of Spirit or spiritual righteousness may be a Ministry of preparation or witness as John was prepare ye the way and the Baptism of water to an outward purification or washing as the letter or Ministry of the Law is and this is a Ministry of Gods first appearance to a sinner Men may work very high as to God and duties and works by the Ministry of the law or letter without and the law within and the letter of Scriptures interpreted by no higher a light then that of the law and yet all such righteousness is but to bondage compared with the higher law or Spirit of life The Law curâ—eth all unrighteousnessas to the fleshor man sinning and it is thatstanding condemnation offlesh or sin the Law was revealed because of transgression and cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Law All the repentance and reformation which the Law or meer ministry of the letter works is not spiritual but legal and yet if in order to a more spiritual or to Christ in Spirit it is of the nature of Johns Ministry a preparatory and figure of more glory and truth in substance The spiritual man who lives in the Spirit is not under the meer law of the letter but it is according to its spirituality the principle and spirituall life of him so as such are not under the Law but under Grace and not in bondage and feare but love perfect love casting out feare They that are true spirituall comprehensive Christians know in what order and subserviency to place the law as it is in a ministery of letter when as the Infant Christian in the first discovery of Christ or Free Grace looks upon all Ministrations below him as legall and so is carried out to oppose them too disorderly A Discovery of duties and works SOme say that duties and works are fruits of faith and of the habits of grace in us and are the conformity of a Christian to the Commandments and Laws of God revealed in Scriptures and that duties are to be done because commanded and that they are such ways and means as God hath appointed a Christian to walk in to salvation and that according as these are performed more or less strictly a Christian ought to judge himself or approve himself and that Christians are to wait upon God in duties for the Spirit and for all other discoveries of himself thus the Protestant in general Others say that the duties and works of a Christian flow from the Spirit of God of love and of adoption else they are but the performances and obedience of servants not of sons and such as are born of God That the meer Commandments or letter of Scripture is not a law to a Christian why he should walk in duties but the law written in our hearts the law of life and this is the difference of duties and performances under the meer Old-Testament-dispensation and the New or pure Gospel or new Covenant the one or that of Moses was a Ministery from without that of Christ from within and that duties in the letter are but Images and figures of what the spirituall man doth act from that life of Christ in him not as things commanded him nor in relation to heaven and hell because such obedience and actings are of service and acted as first from without and mercenary or of price and for salvation A Discovery of outward Ordinances SOme say outward Ordinances are Commands of Christ and therefore to be done because they are Commands and that they are sanctified by God and his Spirit and that we are to waite on God in the use of means and that spirituall things are conveighed by Ordinances into the souls of men thus says the Protestant generally Others say That outward Ordinances as in the letter are the Old Testament Ministration or a Legal ministration of Johns ministry or Christ under the Law or in flesh and that such Ordinances as the Lord Jesus commanded while he was in the Ministery of the Law made under the Law a minister of circumcision and not commands of Christ as in meer glory and spirit nor a ministration of his as in that more excellent condition and the not distinguishing Christ as in flesh and so teaching and commanding and as in Spirit and so ministring in pure spiritual light and glory is the reason of all such legal doctrine and use of ordinances in bondage as is this day in the letter Other of Baptism c. or Church-fellowship c. That the new Covenant or God revealed in his and teaching his is not by any outward way or ministry or means but by the inward or unction and anointing ye are all taught of God no man shal teach his neighbor or brother any more saying know the Lord and all conference and discoveries in letter or speech is but meer witnessing to the Lord and the discoveries of God of what we are taught not any ministry as formerly for teaching No outward ordinance or ministration of the creature or of letter can convey or confer or bring in pure spiritual things there is a great mistake in that and they are but signs and shadows of spiritual things and they are to the Spirit in the New Testament as the shadows of the Old were to the flesh of Christ figures and perishing things and to be fulfilled in Spirit and in the coming of Spirit They are that which are called the beholding God as in a glass the seeing darkly and in part the heavens and earth which are to be rolled up as a garment A discovery of the Jews and their conversion SOme say they are those who are of the seed of Abraham and have Abraham to their Father and are Jews by fleshly birth and such as live yet in the Old Testament Laws and Priviledges as circumcision and have the vail upon their hearts un-taken away opposing Christ come in the flesh and expecting the Messiah yet in a more carnall glory they shall be converted and called in before the coming of Christ in Judgement Others say That the Jews were but a figure
of the children of the bondwoman and of the Christians under the Apostacy or in meer letter and corrupted forms of worship and as the Jew was reckoned before to be the people of meer Ordinances and of the worship of God according to the letter of Scriptures to whom the Oracles of God were committed and to whom pertained c. so the Christians generally who are now the people of the New Testament as to letter and of all the worship according to the scriptures in the letter are that Jew under the new Testament answering to the Jew under the old there being two seeds according to the flesh and according to promise though they by promise or faith are counted for the seed The calling of the Jews is the bringing up the Christians from letter to Spirit and according to this mystery the Jews shal be called and converted dayly and are for in the whole Nations of Christians as of Italy Germany Poland Denmark Spain France Scotland England c. the Lord shal call in many by his own Spirit into himself and shal be revealed in them in power not in form That the Jews who are by nature Jews or according to fleshly generation shal be no otherwise called but as the other Jew of which they are a figure and thus they interpret the call of the Iews and not in any such outward observation as men commonly suppose not remembring that the kingdom of God comes not with observation as to the world and that the day of the Lord shal come as a snare upon all the earth All false worships ways practised in Conscience or in Liberty will be destroyed in Christ's day GOD hath a time before Christ come in Spirit as he had before Christ came in the flesh a time wherein he suffered long and was patient and was revealed to his people though dwelling in much Gentilism Judaism and ignorance and therefore Gods appearance or communion with his people from the time of the falling away or of the man of sin being revealed hath bin in grace and long suffering and hath patiently born his being crucified in spirituall Sodome or Egypt and therefore he hath been with his people under Popery under Episcopacy and is at this day not in approbation of their forme but in his own meer love grace and long-suffering and is at this day accordingly with the people in Independency Presbytery Baptism c. and all other male-administrations The Lord Jesus hath a day and time to be revealed in which is his coming in the Saints when he will judge the World and then shall Antichrist be consumed and the flesh of the whore or Babylon in all her administrations shall be tormented and burnt with fire and not a little one of Babylon shall be spared but dashed against the stones not the purest Idols she hath even Idols of gold and silver with all her merchandise pearls and pretious stones and cynamons and odours and frankincense all things of false worship c. and administration though very sweet and pretious in the judgement of flesh and blood and then shal all the saints Indulgencies cease to all these things under which they are now walking some in Conscience some in Liberty even then when Gods indulgency ceases A discovery of Christ in us SOme say it is no other but habits of grace in us and such a work of sanctification mortification wrought by the graces of the Spirit and this they say is Christ formed in us the image of Christ the conformity to Christ this the Protestant generally Others say Christ in us is when we are made the anointed of God which is the Christ or the whole entire Christ as one spiritual new man And that the image of Christ in us is Christ manifested in our flesh as to sufferings and death whereby the flesh is crucified in the power of God and of the Spirit and the outward man or the Flesh is dying and perishing even day by day and is then dead when the very life of the Flesh is slain and we live no more unto our selves but God or Christ liveth in us it being no more we that live and manifested as in resurrection or in the life of the Spirit wherein we who were dead in sins and trespasses are risen with Christ who is the resurrection and the life I am the resurrection and the life The Fiery Tryall THere is a State and condition of Christians scarce known and it is the fiery Tryall or that power of God put forth upon the administrations that Christians are under and so passing out of them into higher discoveries of God and the fiery tryall is the Spirit of God burning up or destroying such an administration to a Christian as when a Christian passes from a meer legall state into a state lesse legall or more Gospell receiving some more precious and sweet appearances of God in Grace and free promises in this passage there is a Fiery Tryall upon that first Administration that was Legall whereby mans own righteousness is consumed and crucified to a more excellent discovery of God and even in that more Gospel-State of a Christian whereby he enjoyes God in that ministration of graces gifts and Ordinances there will be a fiery Tryall in a Christians passage into more glorious manifestations of God and there will be a burning and torment even in that ministration of his graces and gifts c. And this State is Prophesied of in that Scripture the sun shall be turned into darkness the moon into blood before that great and notable day that is not only the Lord Iesus the Sun as some say wil be as darkness to the world c. but all that which was the glory and light of a Christian and his way of communion with God his Sun and Moon and Stars shal be darkned and become as blood before that notable day or that more excellent revelation of God and that of Peter but the day of the Lord will come c. in the which the heavens shal pass away with a great noise and the elements shal melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up which is not only a Prophecy of the last judgment but of the particular judgment upon former administrations in a Christian which is figured out in the heavens and earth and elements which are those more or less glorious administrations and the fire is that trial by the Spirit of God which as fire burns and destroys This is accordingly figured out in that to the Corinthians The fire shal try every mans work of what sort it is If any mans work shal be burnt he shal suffer loss which work is those several administrations of gold silver pretious stones wood hay stubble which pass under the revelation of the day or glory of Christ or fire of the spirit This is
further revealed in Revelations 2. 9. I know thy works and tribulation and poverty c. and ye shall have tribulation for ten dayes this was written to the Church of Smyrna or to all Christians under the figure of that Church which was tribulation prison or bondage and poverty that is while Christians are in their former administrations as in bondage prison poverty looking at all they have as nothing and all former things they were rich in as nothing and now as bondage to a more excellent enjoyment of God This is likewise in the mystery of it the cross of Christ or the fellowship of Christs sufferings crucifyings and death for as Christ crucified all that glorious administration in which he was in the flesh and it all died to a more glorious life even the glory of God the father so every Christian is to take up this cross and to bring his highest and choycest administration to this cross and to have them all crucified to higher discoveries of God this is the knowledge of Christ Crucified or self-denial Many Christians who are sadded darkned in much tribulation as to the administrations they are under and take them for desertions and withdrawings of God when as they are the presence of God upon such administrations making them dark and wither and consume and the bringing in of a richer and fuller glory God in heaven or in a place of distance as to our infirmity MAny Christians in theirconceptions of God andprayings or addresses to Godconsider him as in a local glory and so change theglory of the incorruptibleGod into an image made like to corruptible man God is infinite and all in all and whither shal I go saith the Psalmist from thy spirit or whither shal I fly from thy presence and where is the place of his rest And say not in thy heart who shal ascend into heaven to bring Christ down from above The word is nigh even in thy heart the word saith the Apostle that we preach which word was Christ the eternal Word which was with God and was God And thus the Lord is said to be at hand the Lord is at hand The spiritual Christian knows that all figures of place as of Gods residence as heaven and all such discoveries of God as to place or distance are only as to man and to the infirmities of man and therefore prays not and speaks not to God nor of God as to Place or distance but as if he were in him and about him his right hand embracing him and his left hand under him and in such discovery of God as he hath by faith c. or any such graces and other administrations he worships not God nor considers God as that or that discovery because then he should worship something for God which is not God and as Iohn fall down at the feet of the Angel or some glorious ministration and worship there The carnall and weak christian worships prayes c. and thinks of God as to form figure and place and distance and discoveries of him by graces gifts c. Whereas God is only to be enjoyed in those as in a glass darkly for we have not seen his shape nor heard his voice The Spirituall Sabboth THis Mystery of God was held forth first in the Creation in that of the seventh day which God was said to sanctifie which was no other then the enjoyment of God in the Revelation of himself who is perfect rest and sabboth in his own glory the six dayes being accordingly a figure of the Christian in bondage or under active and working administrations as those of the Law and Gospel are as all forms of worship duties graces prayer Ordinances c. This Sabboth was a sign to the people of God in bondage or under the law and the Lord Jesus in his Active and fulfilling Administration while he was in the flesh was the Antitipe of the six dayes and his entring into glory was that very Sabboth and rest which was the bosome of the Father from whence he came and where he returned and this is the scope of that fourth chap. to the Hebrews and the bosome of the Father is that Sabboth or Rest there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God and he that hath entred into his rest hath ceased from his works as God did from his that is the Lord Jesus having fulfilled his dayes work as to the law entred into his glory or rest so Christ in that held forth the true Christian Sabboth which was the father as Philip shew us the Father and it sufficeth us there is fulness rest sabboth and sufficiency in the Father or Revelation of God in the Christian So as the Spirituall Christian in the true discovery of God his fulness lives in an eternall every-day sabboth while some live in little more than the bare sign or one day in the week The Gospel as in its own glory and as in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament THe Gospel is everlasting for it is the tydings and Revelation of God in love grace or mercy to his or God manifested in flesh or making his Tabernacle with men This Gospel which is no other then the mystery of Salvation revealed or declared in Spirit to men is cloathed in several administrations as that of the Old Testament and the New the Scriptures of both being the Revelation of heavenly things by earthly or created things or by naturall forms and expressions so as the letter is a parable figure or allegory by which spirituall things are spoken and brought forth amongst men they are they which testifie of Christ hitherto I have spoken to you in Proverbs c. The Scriptures or writings of the everlasting Gospel are the true scriptures as they are the very Image and letter of the mystery of Salvation or of Spiritual things or the mind of God or as they are in that pure and spiritual Order and form of words to truth its self not as they are meerly in their grammaticall construction and sense or common reading which any that understand the Hebrew or Greek may receive and therefore the Scriptures according to such or such interpretations consequences of men are not to be imposed as meer things of faith and fundamentals but so far as the spirit of God reveals them to be that very truth and minde of God in those who receive them else they are received and acknowledged for the Authority and reputation of men not of God therefore Christ told the Pharisees they erred not knowing the Scriptures and yet they had the Scriptures and read them and understood them in the letter but not in the Spirit The Gospel being thus distinguished into the spiritual nature of it and into the administration with which it is cloathed nothing is pure spirituall divine Gospell but that which is light life glory spirit or God revealed whatsoever is of meer
Testament before Christ came in the flesh and now in the New Testament since his coming and this is said to be as in a glass 6. By Gods own light evenhimself revealed and this is that pure increated divine immediate glory flowingfrom himself or himself FATHER saith Christ glorifie me with thy self or the glory that I had with thee and the glory that thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one as we are one Now let us consider who knows God according to himself or his own light glory None saith God can see me and live so as they that see God do not live they do not live or that thing called themselves doe not live that which is called a mans self is his own reason his wisdome his righteousness his desires or wil his imaginations his affections his lusts now if these live God was never yet seen none can see God live for when any see God it shall be no more they that live but Christ or God that liveth in them now who is there that hath seen God that doth not live in whom nothing of self lives And that we may see how God revealed wil annihilate and bring to nothing all flesh consider the appearances of Angels graces c. How was Daniel smote into astonishment no spirit was left in him how was Isaiah Wo is me I am undone I have seen the Lord how was John when he fell at the Angels feet how have many left the world and worldly contents relations and all other creature comforts as many Anchorites and contemplative souls who are carried no higher then by Angel discoveries Oh! how doth the pure appearance of God pour shame upon all flesh fleshly glory and excellency upon all the visions and dreams that man hath had of God either by pure reason his image or by creature-imagery or outward administration and notion by letter or by graces c. for when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away The day of the Lord wil be upon all our Cedars and Oaks and pleasant pictures and Idols of gold and silver even our richest and most spiritual Idolatry and judgment shal be upon all the merchandise of Babylon the pearls and pretious stones the Cinamon and odours and frankincense upon all deceiveableness of unrighteousness and all false worship c. A further discovery of the mystery of Salvation in the Gospel-administration and its own glory THe Gospel-administration wherein the mystery of salvation is first discovered is in the Scriptures of the New Testament held forth in these following particulars 1. In repentance which they say is a sorrow for sin wrought by the Spirit of God and the Law flowing from Christ who gives repentance to Israel and the Spirit of grace which mourns over him c. and is that godly sorrow for sin the new-man grieving over the old 2. In faith which they say is an act of the regenerate soul upon Christ resting and beleeving in him for justification righteousness or as some say a grace from Christ or righteousness 3 In conversion or calling which is the work of the spirit of God turning or sanctifying or perswading the soul of the Christian from his sinfull and unregenerate estate to God in Christ 4. In justification which is Gods pardoning the sins of a beleever or not imputing sins unto him and imputing the righteousness of Christ unto him whereby he stands justified and forgiven and righteous in the sight of God freely and of Gods grace through faith instrumentally which as the hand receives Christ as some say without faith as others say Thus the scripturs in the letter hold forth the first revelation of the mystery of God in such words and expressions as these and such as these are as prayer good works duties ordinances which are very suitable and proportionable to the first appearance of God in us or the mystery of salvation working in its infancy and first creation in the Christian and thus the infirmity of Christians is fitted with a manifestation of the mystery in words and forms and all the Christian Churches of the world generally draw out all their Systemes and models of divinity into articles of faith and Confessions of faith according to this very letter of Scriptures which is no other but a revelation of the mystery of Salvation as to mans infirmity and say some they call it their fundamentals and the highest attainment of Christianity Others say the mystery of salvation is no other then Immanuel or God with us or God in flesh not only in that man Christ but in the whole Christ Christ being no more but an annointed one and that annointed one is our nature or weakness annointed with the Spirit even God himself who is strength and this mystery of great and exceeding glory is revealed in pieces and parts and after the manner of men according to the infirmity of our flesh within the Christian in graces c. and in the Scriptures or expressions and forms without the Christian The SEEKERS their Attainment With a Discovery of a more Spiritual Way THey finde that the former Christians of the first or of the Apostles times according to Institutions then and the administration of Ordinances then were more visibly and spiritually endowed with power from on high or with gifts of the Spirit and so were able to make cleer and evident demonstrations of God amongst them as in the Churches of all the Christians then in Corinth Ephesus c. And that all who administred in any outward Office as to spiritual things were visibly gifted there was then an Apostle Evangelist Prophet Pastor Teacher Gifts of Healing Gifts of Miracles of Tongues c. And all was administred in the anointing or unction of Spirit clearly certainly infallibly they ministred as the Oracles of God But now in this time of the Apostacie of the Churches they finde no such gifts and so dare not meddle with any outward Administrations dare not preach baptize or teach c. or have any Church-fellowship because they finde no attainment yet in any Churches or Church-ways or administration of Ordinances according to the first patern in the New Testament they finde nothing but the outward Ceremony of all Administrations as of bare water in Baptism of bare Imposition of hands in Ordination of bare Election of Officers as Pastors Teachers c. of bare Church-censures without the visible power of gifts of Spirit which were before Therefore they wait in this time of the Apostacie of the Christian Churches as the Jews did in the time of their Apostacie and as the Apostles and Disciples at Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high finding no practice for Worship but according to the first patern They wait onely in Prayer and Conference pretending to no certain determination of
things nor any infallible consequences or interpretations of Scriptures They wait for a restauration of all things and a setting up all Gospel Officers Churches Ordinances according to the patern in the New Testament They wait for an Apostle or Angel that is some with a visible glory and power able in the Spirit to give visible demonstration of their sending as to the world and thus they interpret those places of the Revelation This is the highest of their Attainment But some speak of a further discovery and more spiritual then this of the SEEKERS as this 1. That there is no warrant from Scriptures to expect any restoring of Offices or Ordinances according to the first patern in Scripture 2. That the first patern in Scripture of Offices and Ordinances was but a more purely-legal Dispensation or a discovery of the Gospel rather as to Christ after the flesh then after the Spirit and a discovery as to the weaknesse both of Jews and Gentiles then respectively to visible Administrations and gifts of Spirit 3. That the Administrations and gifts then were but a ministration in part and darkly as in a glasse and of things that should vanish away 4. That God never set up any Administration or Office but for a time and season and used it as a temporary dispensation as the Tabernacle Temple Law Priesthood c. and then left them never to be restored So the first Gospel-administration by Ordinances gifts c. 5. That to wait in any such way of Seeking or expectation is Antichristian because there is no Scriptures to warrant any such restauration or expectation of such administrations and that all such waiting is that desert wildernesse-condition prophesied on by Christ that is waste and barren as to spiritual things If they say Behold he is in the desert go not forth And that it is that condition prophesied on to be in the secret chambers or single fellowships that are in such expectations a chamber signifying an upper room or a room above others so this state of Seeking is thought by those of that Way to be an upper room or higher administration as to Presbytery Independency Baptism c. and that Lo Christ is here or the gathering into that Way and saying it is his to wait in 6. That the truth is Christ is in all his in spirit and truth and as the eternal seed and his fulnesse is already in the Saints or all true Christians and that all growth improvement or reformation that is to be is onely the revelation or appearance of this When he shall appear c. or to be revealed in the brightnesse of his coming in the day of the Lord Jesus and that he is in us that true life salvation glory onely we see him but in part and that all conceptions of God or Christ as to distance of coming c. administrations ordinances gifts are but to expect Christ in a fleshly way or appearance not as he is in us our life fulnesse hope of glory c. And this next appearance of his shall be in his own light spirit and glory in himself and his And this is that Reformation to be expected this is the last administration of himself by himself in his In his light we shall see light And the Saints or true Christians shall not onely see God thus in himself face to face as they are seen but the world shall see him in a way of conviction and spiritual judgement upon themselves even him that sits upon the throne And all that pure administration of Ordinances and Gifts which was and is expected by these is but a middle or interdispensation betwixt God and his wherein God is seen as in a glasse not as he is in his own glory which is himself which is the last and most spiritual discovery The Grounds both against Liberty of Conscience and for it clearly stated for all to judge Against Liberty of Conscience these are the strongest Grounds and all the Grounds generally known 1. THe Magistrate is the keeper of both the Tables of the Law and as he may punish any evil committed against the second Table or the society of man so he may punish any Idolatry committed against God or the Worship of God in the first Table 2. The Magistrates under the Old Testament reformed Moses and Joshua the Kings and Princes of Judah and Israel Nehemiah c. so the Magistrates now 3. The Magistrate is the minister of God for good and a terrour to evil works and bears not the sword in vain therefore may punishHeresie and Schism becauseevil 4. The Magistrates are prophesied on to be assistants to the Church of God Kings shall be thy fathers and Queens thy nursing mothers and therefore may punish all such as are enemies to it as all Hereticks and Schismaticks are 5. Peter smote Ananias and his wife Sapphira with death which was a temporal punishment for their sin of Hypocrisie so may the Magistrate put forth a temporal punishment for a spiritual offence 6. Paul wished that they were cut off which troubled them therefore Magirates may cut off Hereticks because they are troublers of the Church 7. The Church of Thyatira was reproved for suffering Jezebel to teach and to seduce therefore Magistrates are not to suffer false Prophets or Seducers to be 8. The father and mother of him that is a false Prophet shall thrust him thorow and say Thou shalt not live for thou speakest lyes in the Name of the Lord This was a Prophecie as to Magistrates punishment forHeresie 9. If Magistrates shall not punish for Heresie Errours and Schism there will be nothing but Confusion and no settlement nor establishment of any Peace Order or Truth in the Church 10. It appears from the practice of all Christian States generally who punish all such as conform not from all Councels and Synods who still hold this power to be in the Magistrate of reforming and punishing Heresie and Schism The Grounds for Liberty of Conscience which are strongest and are all commonly known 1. Moses was a keeper of both Tables onely as he was a Type of Christ and so called the Mediatour of the Old Testament and Worship of God then but so is not the Magistrate now the Office of Moses being fulfilled in Jesus Christ and ending in him even in that Person in whom all the Types were fulfilled 2. The Magistrates of the Old Testament as Moses Joshua the Kings of Judah and Israel Nehemiah c. were in a peculiar and special way of Magistracie as to that Church-Politie of the Jews and had a special and peculiar and infallibly directive power of Priesthood with Urim and Thummim and Prophets anointed of God to assist and direct and instruct them in the Law or Reformation of the Church at such times as they reformed And the Law of the Old Testament lay more
of true light in what is writ but more light to what is already writ to make it more clearly appear true light To Master KNOLLS The Authour of a Book called The shining of a flaming fire c. writ against me as to the point of Baptism Dear Brother I Have been long silent not because what you writ had prevailed in me to believe the Ordinance of Baptism by water so practised of that necessity or of that pure Apostolike practise in these times since the outward Court given to the Gentiles hath been troden down and the gifts of Spirit which was the glory and life of those visible administrations then now taken away But I was not very hastie because I know it is not man that teacheth Truth but God Ye shall be all taught of God There are three things I propound to ye with many other 1. That all that baptize now by the power of teaching Go teach and baptize do teach in the same gift the disciples that baptized formerly did teach that is as the oâ—acles of God in the pure manifestation of the Spirit of God else that Command Go teach and baptize belongs not to disciples of lesse pure lesse certain and lesse infallible teaching as all dâ—sciples now in mystical Babylon or the flesh are but to disciples of the first anointing or first fruits of the Spirit such as the Apostles were and such as Philip and Ananias and the brethren with Peter c. 2. That the Baptism of water is Christs Baptism or his administration but it is Johns and his Ministery I come baptizing with water but he shall baptize ye with the holy Ghost And therefore Christ never gave it to his disciples in their first Commission to preach to the Jews nor baptized he any himself that can be found nor doth it appear that this in Matth. 28. is meant of baptizing by water but by the Spirit or baptism of gifts which Christ baptized with in their administration saying Lo I am with you or in you c. 3. That the disciples of Christ baptized onely by water as in Johns Ministery though into Christ as all legal administrations were viz. to Christ and did it partly in honour to Johns Ministery for a greater prophet then John hath not risen and to the believers weaknesse as in that To the weak I was weak To them under the Law as under the Law c. yet saith he I was not sent to baptize It was no part of his Commission but of his spiritual liberty and to edification of the weak for he circumcised And there is another thing which hath caused much mistake and confidâ—nce in this point of Baptism by water and that is The not distinguishing the doctrine of Baptisms but interpreting the words of Baptism used in the Epistles which appear to be words of mystery and spiritual immersion as to the mysteries of God and of being made by one Spirit one with Christ one in his death buried with him by Baptism c. to be of a meer literal elementary signification and to be meant of water onely and from this pressing it as necessary c. And further there is no little mistake of that in the Hebrews where the doctrine of Baptisms is reckoned amongst the first principles of the doctrine of Christ whereas those first principles are reckoned in the Hebrews not as if all of them were things to be for ever the principles of every Christian but of the doctrine of Christ in some of those things as to that age those things being first brought forth in that ministration of Christ then for if it were otherwise and all they of necessity as the first principles then where is the other Baptism of gifts there mentioned in the Word For the word is Baptisms not Baptism And further the Apostle rather calls Christians up higher more into Spirit Wherefore leaving saith he the doctrine of Christ let us go on to perfection or to that which is perfect which is Christ himself As if he should say Let us be no more weak Christians but such as seek higher and more excellent things I refer you to the Doctrine of Baptisms here in my Book where I have not controversially written but in meeknesse and plain distinction of things Nor am I against Baptism by water if administred according to the measure of light ye are under and not in an Apostolical necessity and pressure and as a dividing Ordinance to the unity of the Spirit of God in Christians Dear Sir I love and tender those true appearances of God that are in you and rejoyce with you in beholding that glory by which we are all changed from glory to glory c. and am Your Friend and Brother in the Lord JOHN SALTMARSH {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Act. 26. 19 Rom. 3. 29. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Psal. 51. Psal. 51. Psal. Joh. 4. Joh. 14. Act. 9. Psal. Joh. 3. 8. Rom. 12. 6. Act. 2. 18. Psal. 68. 11. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Tit. 3. 10. 1 Cor. 5. 5. 2 Thes. 3. 15. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} See Mason Fox booke of Martyrs Beda Ephes. 5. 30. Act. 9. 4. Mal. 3. Psal. 105. 15. Thse 1. 5 19. Act. 7. 51. Ephes. 4. 30. Joh. 8. 32 36. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Rom. 13. 1 2 3. Rom. 13. 4 5. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 Sam. 19. 22. 1 Cor. 9. 22. 1 Cor. 8. 4 7. Matth. Phil. 3. 3. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Eph. 4. 22 23. 1 Cor. 15. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Eph. 4. 22 23. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Rev. 21. â— {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Rom 5. 14. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Gen. 1. 26 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Heb. 1. 3. Psal. 36. 9. Gen. 1. 26 Ephes. 4. 23. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Zac. 4. 12. 1 Cor. 17. 47. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Rom. 1. 20 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Gen. 3. 2 Thes. 2. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} abolitionis Gen 4. 1. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Gal. 4. 23. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Rev 19. Eph. 4. 24. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Col. 1. 15. 1 Ioh. 1. 2. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Joh. 1. 1. Rev. 1. 18. Prov. 8. Mat. 1. Rev. 21. Ioh. 1. 18. Ioh. 1. Prov. 8. 1 Cor. 3. 18. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Rev. 21. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Heb. 12. 2 Cor. 15. 1 Cor. 2. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Heb. 9. 14. Luk.