utensils and materials holy 2 Chro. cha 4. chap. 5. So now in the Gospel-temple * In his holinesse of Church-Members read that Book p. 88. The Porters that kept out the uncleane Uncleane and uncircumcised ones doe pollute the Temple of the Lord And are not to be suffered Obj. Rutherford Bailey Answ. Expos. Cotton Hooker c. Zach. 9.9 Rev. 15.3 Isa. 33.22 Iam. 4.12 Reasons Expos. 1 Christ is the Churches foundation none are true Church-members but are built up by him and on him What sort of Professors and Professions requisite Ans. affirm Ans. negat not meere verball Sim. Many Professors not Christians Sim. Reall Saints most attractive matter Obj. Answ. Expos. What sort of Professors were taken in primitive times Sim. Not only puncti repuncti but also compuncti a sound worke Wounded for sin crying out foâ— Christ. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 repenting embracing the Gospel greedily Strong in the faith In midst of trials 2 Christ's countermand Mat. 21. Expos. Christ's command Expos. Violent violations of Christs Law to take in any but Saints in appearance and so far as we can judge of them Expos. Object Answ. All called by an outward converting calâ— But they are not to enter in till fitted All the Prophesies are â—ull to foretell that the Church in the latter daies shall consist of Saints and such as so appear Such are in the Lambs book of life Sim. Accounted necessary in the Law times and the Baptists time August in Mat 3. Act. 19 4. The Baptist admitted not of scandalous nor of bare professours Ierom 31 32. The sweet and unseparable relation that is betwixt God and his Saints Christ and his Church Christ our Husband Object Christ is Husband of mixed Congregations too Answ Expos. In the Church none members but such as appeared fit so in all ages in the true Church of Christ Object in Judas Answ. 1 Not known openly to the Church to be an hypocrite when admitted 2 Christ knew him so by an extraordinary Spirit 3 Great reason for Judas admission Christs fellowship is the patterne yet 〈◊〉 Judas was in it Sim. 2 King 15.25 Sim. Gods own Ark may have beasts and toads in it Sim. 2 Sam 23.4 5 6. 2 Christs Church is Gods holy Temple 3 It is the Lords house 4 His Houshold 5 It is Christs Body All these relations teach us what manner of persons Church-members ought to be The Church must judge of them according to orthodox rules of charity Vid. Hooker 1 lib. 2 ch Object Answ. Jude v 4. Not gifts or parts to pray preach c. that doe fit or qualifie us for Church members But union with Christ the Head by saving and sanctifying graces so called Sim. Others are but blazing Deceivers who must and will fall of themselves None but Saints can answer the ends of the Institution of Gospel-Discipline 1 The honour and glory of God which none but Saints can Others cannot 2. The promotion of the true light knowledge of God Others cannot answer this end 3. Edifying one another Others cannot 4. Saint-like love ☞ Others cannot learne this lesson Nor answer other ends of Church-fellowship None but visible Saints sutable matter 1 Cor. 1.2 Object Ans. No Scripture distinction of visible and invisible but all one Church 1 Tim. 3. â—5 2 So Ainsworth against Bernard pâ—g 174. and Robiâ—soâ—s Justif of separ p 112. Parish Churches as Churches Antichristian When Parish-Churches began in England Obj. Many Saints in our Parish Answ. Obj. Our Minister godly Answ. Answ. Sim. Object Answ. Expos. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sim. Object Answ. Sim. Churches as Christs Pallaces must be made of the best materials Object Answ. Hearing of the word without the Church Depart yee out of Babylonian bondage and Parochiall captivity A vindication of the Churches Sim. Sim. Hypocrites in them that are not of them Sim. Sim. Hypocrites hinder the Churches growth We in Dublin had this by wofull experience Sim. Some like wolves looked upward when they howled for lambs to be their prey Sim. They have retrograde motions Sim. Caution to the Churches have from our wofull experience Sim. A Riddle Sim. The Riddle opened in and by hypocrites 1 Eunuchs 2 Pumices 3 Bats 4 Fennels Sim. They had need to see on a good colour Sim. And to study tricks to keep their credit Sim. Like a faire white house within a house of Office Sim. Sim. A heavy action against them at the last day With a Judas kisse they betrayed us and gave us up to the crosse Our experience the mistresse of fools is to â—each other Churches Hypocrites must be that the sound may be manifested True matter must be of the Lords owne adding and ordering Hence in Act. 2.41 5.14 this manner of being made a disciple is expressed by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 added to or incorporated 2 Hypocrites hold off Sim. For they are forbidden in Law and Gospel Sim. Fit matter are sound and sincere Sim. The house is in the builders hands As yet in heaps in most places But must bee a fair structuâ—e They without gather up the châ—ps The matter before fitted must be tryed by saw and hammer Hypocrites will fall from the building ere long As Dâ—mas Judas Their hypocrisie will soon appear to all Sim. To the scandal of the Gospel Sim. Church-members miscarriagâ—s are mindâ—d by all and in every mouâ—h New Ranters nought Old Protestants not enough But aspiring growing Saints are sutable matter Genus cum formae constituit speciem The foâ—me hath two parts 1. Separation 2. Conjunction vide Mr. Owens Eshcoll or rules to the Reader 2 Chron. ch 2. ch 3. Sim. The first part of the forme is their separation from them without doors viz. the multitudes and heaps abroad 1 Proved by Prophesies that Saints must be Separates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Niphal And sâ—t loose to bonds and bondages without Precious separate from the vile cleane from the uncleane Expos. Good from the bad As Israel was gathered out from others as a people by themselves so are the Saints now to be Delivered and brought out by the Spirit of the Lord God will judge for our former injuries And he wil save us for future And separate us from them without And gather us into our owne Land of Canaan And then be our God and we his people And his Sanctuary shall then be in the midst of us The Lord shall reigne over them especially that are thus gathered out Proved by positive precâ—pts that Saints must be separates Wisdome calls for it Expos. Required in the Leviticall Law Expos. Separate saith the Lord. And then I wil be a father to you Expos. Expos. Them without are a generation of frowardnesse and crossenesse Beleevers did separate from such Then calâ—ed a Church and not before Hence Ecclesia the Church is called 1 Cor. 1.9 3 Proved by the practise of Christs Prophets Apostles and all Saints in Primitive times Jeremy separated Calvin in loc
many nice indirect and unprofitable questions or the like Now for orders sake and the peace of the Church when they have appointed whom to speak for the Church the person formerly propounded enquired of and now to be admitted is called in His name is called and prayer made for direction from above that they might have a discerning spirit in this great work to put the Lords difference between holy and unholy sheep and goats and remembring promises made as in such cases This done the person to be admitted doth express his earnest desire of entring and so is to be received upon a threefold Testimony Negative and Affirmative The first is When he is propounded and no body can object against the person propounded which is desired of any that can and upon what grounds For Acts 9.26 though Paul assayed to joyn himself to the Church yet so long as the Disciples were afraid of him and did question him and were in doubt of him he was not received Wherefore he is propounded to them all to know who can object any thing as Mr. Dudley Fenner said before But further 2. Another testimony of him is from others who can give him a testimony upon their own knowledge and for how long if there be any Church-member whose testimony is most valid can so do it will do well as Rom. 16.1 Col. 4.12 13. whose testimonies are many times writ down and upon record for future use if need be Or else such as testifie from the mouths of others as those that the Church sent out to enquire of him giving in their best information and experience of the person and this faithfully and especially touching his unblameableness in conversation as much as may be But 3. For a further and fuller and most satisfactory testimony that comes from within the person to be admitted being desired for the Churches satisfaction to make an account of his faith and of the work of grace upon his heart he does so as we have said before and shall show in the next Chapters what manner of confessions are made or experiences produced But now if enough be not spoken to the satisfaction of all he that hath any doubts doth ask some question for his satisfaction and none can deny that liberty Now this testimony is for the most part most sweet and useful indeed and deserves to be registred Some of the most special that I have met with and written down I shall instance in in the Chapters following and often times from a gracious heart they come undeniably before they have done Although we grant that some are very imperfect in utterance and cannot express themselves so well as others that it may be are most gracious precious Christians Then one of these ways we take either to get what we can from them by asking them some easie questions and that discreetly too and yet such as are useful for that season and so receiving such broken and imperfect answers as they give though they be but words dropping sweetness and savoring of grace yet put together may make weight and will signifie something well-spelled I remember once in Dublin a sister propounded to be admitted as before was thus quaeried with by the Churches appointment and answering at first very fearfully and uncertainly so that some were unsatisfied and desired that she might be past by for this present till the next meeting not daring to put her by because she was an approved godly Christian in life But when she heard this she burst out into tears bitterly before the Church and amongst many other words which argued a broken heart Sir saith she to me then present it was but the last Lords day saith she you preaching over the water said Christ called us freely without any such qualifications first and that he said Joh. 6. that those that come to him he would in no wise put by and upon these promises I am come the Word hath called me and Christ hath called me and bid me come and I must come without any worthiness in my self and shall I now be put by With that poor heart her passage was stopt with tears for a while which drew tears from the tender hearts of divers in the Church who observed a great deal of grace thorough these weeping words and yet her bold challenge of the promise and of an interest in the Church Christs Body upon as free account without any formal qualifications as she had an interest in Christ the Head having the like call c. though there might be a mistake in such an apprehension for qualifications are requisite in this external union that are not in the internal we must take Christ on his terms and the Church on hers yet I say as when the Sun shines through a watry cloud so she appeared gracious and amiable in the eye of the Church and upon debate her love faith zeal obedience and grace appearing to the satisfaction of all this tender soul was received I remember Master Fenner in his Sermon called Christs Alarum to sinners mentions a story of Demosthenes That when a man came and told him how a Neighbor had abused him and beaten him uttering it coldly and carelesly and spoke it as if he dreamed Demosthenes answered the man That he could not believe it No! saith the man in a passion do you not why he took me thus and held me here and struck me thus and thus the man acting it now zealously c. And do ye not saith he call this beating will you not believe it yes saith Demosthenes now I believe thee for now thou speakest as if it were so indeed So many will hardly believe any to be a Christian but such as can word it well and speak and act zealously but let them take heed of grieving tender hearts in expecting too much from them after the formal way of speaking least they should send any away that keep not touch to their fancy and form For as Dell saith and it is true It is a most pestilent doctrine to make things necessary that are not so for God regards not the form time or circumstances of such things as to him but they are left to us to be used according to the wisdom and discretion of the Church without tyes upon the spirits of any It is not the form but the faith nor the appearance but the power of godliness which we are to eye and own and which God does eye and own In the mean time seeing the Church whilst she is with men and dwells with flesh and blood must use some external rites which are not absolutely necessary by which the Church is nothing sanctified nor satisfied and things meerly of outward order and decency Yet let her be sure to observe these rules 1. To order none of them as of necessity or as if they were enough to take in
Ghost which Water-baptisme could not doe Orig. An. 200. in Rom. but how ever it was to be executed by Christs Spirit 2 The command is Teach them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make them my schollars now little ones as well as great ones Infants as well as growne ones may be his schollars in his school to learne for a little childe that knowes not a letter in the book is a schollar as well as others that do so not onely the lowest boughes but the uppermost and least twigs partake of the nature of the root But What do they infer 1 That none must be admitted but such as are baptized we say so too but we deny they must be rebaptized And whereas they instance in the Apostles practise they would doe well to cleare up the difference of old betwixt adulti and catechumeni for qui bene distinguit bene docet otherwise they will but lead about the blinde and leave them in the ditch in darknesse 2 They say this is that fundamental Ordinance by which we put on Christ. Ans. To call the watry part of baptisme viz. in abstracto I say the element the fundamental Ordinance by which wee put on Christ and are ingrafted into Christ and planted into his death c. is to make no lesse if not more then an Idol of it and so it is to attribute to Dipping what is onely attributed to Christ himselfe for what is Idolatry but exhibere cultum Dei honorem Christi creaturae Th. Aq. 22. q. 94.10 to give the worship and service of God the glory and honour of Christ to a contemptible poore creature Is not this to say Lo here is Christ but beleeve them not O sad sad sinne of this age that Professors should fall down so to this Image which they imagine must doe all for them without which no salvation Were ever the Pontificians or Prelates more uncharitably rigid for it to Idolize it on Infants then they are to Idolize it on grown ones that then presently they are accounted Saints Beleevers Christians ingrafted into Christ c. as if Dipping did all Alas a day what could the Pool of Bethesda doe till the Spirit moved the waters there was no healing O this soule-dangerous and dreadfull glorifying the forme Idolatry is gravissimum peccatorum say the Schoolmen and makes the shortest cut to confusion The Lord help poor Ireland still the land of Idols and Ire 3 They say the Jewes might as well have admitted uncircumcised ones as they uâ— to have communion with them O charity where art thou that thou shouldest live longest and strongest of all O unchristian and uncomfortable tenet For 1 Their non-communion with such was by the command of God but yours is not with us 2 Jewish Church was national ours not 3 Jewish worship was in the forme but ours in Spirit and Truth 4 Jewish eating the Passeover was typical 5 Circumcised ones after the flesh was enough with Jewes but it is not with us 6 We have been baptized as you put it in the room of circumcision and more answerably unto it then you 7 The case being altered as it is now we finde that Jews and Gentiles circumcised and uncircumcised had sweet communion together Act. 15.5 Gal. 2.3.7 12. 1 Cor. 12.13 in severall Churches so that the outward forme was left to liberty Rom. 14.2.5 as a thing of nothing Gal. 6.15 as it is nâ—w to be 8 Their end and their beginning they make one viz. Dipping i. e. their all in all and indeed very indiscreetly and disorderly they lay that downe for the end which is the Rule by which they are brought into fellowship so that it is like enough Logicke is the language of the Beast to them that know not how to define Church fellowship Lastly Because I want room to write more They conclude that because of their great disobedience in joyning with us they must make amends by casting all of us that would not be dipped out of Church-fellowship for old leaven and accordingly the members of them sent from Mr. Patient with those of them that walked with us consulted often together conspired and plotted and laid snares in designes to break us in peeces but when that would not be they bruited abroad scurrilous and scandalous reports of many of us to represent us wicked and unworthy to the world and others after that they thought to have excommunicated us for old leaven but the Lord would not suffer it so that their plots and designs brought forth nothing but wind which became a blast to themselves at last But whereas they say they may as well admit all manner of wicked men as one that wil not be dipped do but observe their spirit in deifying Dipping and in vilifying the Spirit that without this though we be under Spirit-baptisme we must not have so much mercy shewn to us as to partake of Church-Priviledges is this doctrine of Christ or the Devil but I pray mark their ground for you may say they as well admit one that will not partake of the Lords Supper c. Ans. Suppose one should be admitted that were unsatisfied therein were that a sinne But Secondly we deny this their haire-brained assertion for that there is positive command for the Lords Supper Preaching Almes c. and so there is not for Dipping but all the Scripture is against Re-baptising as being but the Idol of the Braine and a brat that must be dashed a peeces Psal. 137.9 * The next thing to this Commission with their several forced and unworthy Inferences In the fifth place they would faine insinuate a necessity of Dipping out of Ephes. 4.4 5. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace he saith not the union of the Forme but of the Spirit which is preserved not by outward formes but by inward principles Then follows Verse 4.5 One Faith one Bapâ—isme c. all these must be to make up the Vnity of the Spirit and it is true that they all must owne one and the same Baptisme but what is that I pray not dipping but Christs Baptisme Matth. 3.11 We are all mark all Jewes and Gentiles before and since the Law before and since Christ all Saints of all ages members of one Body viz. the Church of Christ mystical and all this by one Baptisme 1 Cor. 12 13. For by one Spirit we are All baptised into one Body Now this cannot be as by this Letter they would faine have us beleeve by water for so all Saints in all Ages were not so baptized into one Body or Church for before the Law this was not the fundamental point which these men say we must hold so that they peel but the barke of the tree and the Goars may doe so but we feed upon the sap and substance This is a principle of spirituall union viz. the baptisme of the Spirit which all Saints of all judgements must doe and have enjoyed for the life remains
l. 24. r. and oblit as and in marg against l. 30. r. not able p. 141. l. 36 mar r. force p. 152. r. â—ron sides p. 217. l. 20. r. Esau p 320. l. 3. r. that p. 253. l. 14. r. Sun p. 255. l. 13. oblit seu before motum and put in seu before mâ—veâ—tur l. 33. r. men p 261. l. 21. r. approbatione p. 264. l. 31. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marg l. 24 r. Interior p. 268. l. 3. r. found no rest p. 304. l. 11. r. here p. 305. l. ult r. thou before that p. 308. l. 12 r. is called p. 301. l. 4 r. judgements p 316. l. 30. r. they p. 320. l. 12. r. be the cause of a pale p. 328 l. 3. r subscriptions p. 334. l. 32. r. Psal. 36.9 p. 336. l. 1. r. a tenondo p. 358. l. 14. r. they p. 319. l. 9 r. a poor wretch who sayes p 418. l. 38. r unrighteous ones p. 419 l 2. r. full of variety p. 739. marg r. dum sursum sursim p. 453. l. 22. r. those p. 457. l. 19. r. by ther p. 465. l. ult but one r. Act â—4 p. 466 l. 4 r. re-admitting of one l. 5 r. to hold off p. 482. l. 8. r. Intigrale marg against l. 20. r. no Diocesan 467 marg against l. 20. r. duobus locis p. 469. l 33. oblit the p 470. l. 16. r. 1 Cor. 5.13 p. 4â—0 l. 7. r. and as are p. 507. line 37. read Forms of it page 511. l. 35. oblit to be p. 519 l 26. r. an Amethyst p. 523. l. 17. r. presence p. 531. l. 5. r. autem p. 464. l. 31. r. Scriptures p. 468. l. 1. r. to be baptised p. 472. l. 9. his haâ—â— l. 25. r. bread p. 478. l. 34. r. grant it p. 484. l. 37 r that they 480. l. 1. r. about Civil powers p 442. l 5. r For c. Other faults I beleeve there be that have given me the slip but I am not at leasur◠〈◊〉 pursue them Wisdomes Politie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sim. Divinity and Morality Expos. From Faâ—her and Mother Spirit and Truth Expos. Gods design in setting up Gospel-Discipline To make us Gospel Disciples 1 For order 2 For unâ—ty 3 For edification of one anoâ—her Hereby appeâ—rs Gods great love to us Th. Aqu. 22. Q. 80.1.3 Expos. And his great care over us Expos. The necessity of it is undeniable This Discipline is proved 1 cut of Old Testament Expos. It is the beauty of holinesse Expos. The glory of the latter house greatest Proved in New Testament by Christ Expos. It is a building fitly compacted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is not an openly mixâ—d congregation Expos. Ecclesiam esse miscâ—llaneam falsum oft dicere Cam. in loc quia confusis cultibus confunditur vâ—rus Deus cum Idolis Vrsin in secundo praecepto Proved by the Apostles and primitive Saints Examples Christs Church Discipline or Politie why and how called so Visibly and invisibly all one Church Sim. How it differs from carnall worldly Politâ—e 1 One and the sâ—me in all places Sim. 2 In all ages Cuncta temporum cursu mutantur 3. In the interest it drives 4. In the Lawes outward and inward Directories or Cannons are of no use therein 5. In the King and Governor 6. In obedience 7. In altering or adding to Lawes Whenâ—e came Pope Prelates Hierarchy 8. In principle 9. About customs of long continuance 10. In power of making obedient and punishing Offenders 11. In the nature of it 12. In the pomp and beauty of it 13. In respecting persons or opinions 14. In respect of gifts and abilities 15. In the Consequence of it It differs from Ecclesiasticall Polity in a sense Who more Politick then the Beast seven-headed most subtill-pated in his Ecclesiasticall Discipline Saints suspâ—â—ring yet aspiring in a strange Land Revel 9.2 Rev. 12.1 Expos. What a happy condition the Church was in in the Apostles dayes both for Doctrine and Discipline Mat 10.16 17 18. Anno 110. vid. Euseb. lib. 3. chap. 29. 2 Cor. 11.2 The Dâ—agon persecutes her Rev. 12.4 Anno 179. Anno 204. Anno 256. Anno 162. Euseb. lib. 7 c. 17. Images and Idols Cent. 2 cap. 7. Anno 267. Anno 306. Euseb. lib. 8. 9. Rev. 12.3 She was brought into the Wildernesse When and how Pareus in Apoc. 12. v. 6. By loosing her Discipline And how Euseb. l. 10. cap. 3. Socrates lib. i. cap 6. When meeting-places were made Churches When Crucifixes Reliques of Saints c. came up Socrates lib. 1. cap. 1â— cap. 9. c. 17. Monkes Priests Popish Discipline Swum in bloud There were hopes of the recovery of Gospel-Diâ—cipline in King Henry 8. and in Edw. 6. Litâ—le hopes left againe in Q. Maries dayes Great hopes of her restauration were in Q. Elizabeths dayes Cant. 1.6 But what hindred it Prelates falsly accused it to the Queen They falsely accused and abused the Saints that called for Discipline Papists and Prelates alike in Discipline and in opposing the truth Prelates Mungrels Sim. K. James No Bishop No King Both alike have been from and for the beâ—st and shall be punished with the beast Presbyterians too must lose their Discipline in these dayes Sim. Isa. 8.20 The Law is for us the day will be ours Sim. The heat of their Sun meltâ— their waxen wings Sim. Simile Black Discipline will not be better but bitter till it tumble Church Discipline is best at last Rev. 12.8.13 Exhortation to England Ireland and Scotland Sim. We have been cheated in our Child-hood with Copper and counterfeit Coyne But Christs true Discipline is offered in these dayes with the crown of twelve Starres and cloathed with the Sunne i. e. Christ the Churches Light and Lord. Sim. Sim. The Devil takes up straies Sim. Christ in the Churches their fulnesse Sim. There Law of Love A word and a warning to Ireland Sim. Of Persecutors for forme or judgement Sim. Proph. Persecutors Sampsons Foxes that burne up themselves and benefit us Christ in you and with you Sim. Feare not Isa. 43.3 Sim. Proph. Expos. When the Church was Promised to be delivered out of the Wildernesse The time Iunius Parcus in â—a 1643. The Authors judgement Of her graduall deliverance Expos. Mr. Brightmans Judgement 1650. One thousand six hundred and fifty as to us in England Ireland and Scotland begins her graduall recovery The Authors judgement of her universall deliverance thirty five yeares hence to begin Zach 4.6 7. Two times more set for her deliverance Expos. Proph. From Constantine To begin at Anno 1647. The second time reckoned from Julian the Apostate Proph. Anno 362. To begin An. 1652. Gradually to go on till 45. years longer How Antichrist is to be destroyed Not by worldly weapons But by the spirit killed and Tormentâ—d Our troubles begin to be over An. 1656. Sim. Yet forty yeers on the world whiles we are safe in the Ark viz. Châ—ists Churches Forty yeers hence Christ comes to reign visibly Then the
names of dayes months c. Synops. We dissent Fulke Hierom. ☜ 4. They agree 1. That in the Churches God is most to be met with We differ Dr. Willet Proofes ☞ Origen ☞ Origen Witnessed by Martyrs Tindall ☜ 2. Too nigh one another about Churches as dedicated to Saints We differ Euseb. Lib. 4. devit Constant. Lambert ☞ Presbyterians 〈◊〉 truth out of dooâ—s Gospel-propagation by this means Churches how to be dedicated to Saints ☞ 6. Agree against us They alike do take advantages at our râ—nts differences schismes c. Bradford Latimer in epist. ad D. Baynton Hierome Cotton Austin ☞ Sim. Exhortation to unity to all the Churches Expos. Note ☜ How al Churches differing in forms are to be one vide chap. 5. Unity urged 1. Because all one body 2. One Head which is first in ordine Dell. Bullinger 3. Unity can stand well with variety 4. Unity is equality Zanchy 5. Each contented with their place 6. Sympathy 7. By the strings of love which one is drawn by to another 8 Unity is urg'd from the duty of one to another and to the whole Unity urged 1. That one spirits acts all 2. One spirit unites all things under different forms ☞ 3. Acts severally in all and yet but one and the same What breaks the peace of the Church and what not Zanchy Differing in circumstances in Austin's time Buccer For this vide ch 5. lib. 2. at large 3 Vnity urg'd for all that are in one faith ☜ Zanâ—h ☜ 4. Vnity because all alike in hope Zanch. ☜ 5 Because but one Lord 6. One Baptisme idest of the spirit ☞ The Welsh Curate his Rantisme in his Booke so stiled ☞ Sim. Caution to the Churches of that Church-destroying spirits for so they say of themselves 7 Vnity for that all have one God and Father alike of all Above all Through all In all The Churches â—it in unity is a great adâ—antage to Sathan Sim. Vt impâ—ret Dividâ—t is his 〈◊〉 In unity the greatest terrouâ— that can be to Christs enemies Sim. ☞ No feares if we want not in Vnity Sim. ☜ Sim. Three things expected â— an houre of Triall short but shaâ—pe to the Churches ☜ 1 Proph. The Churches more one then ever Sim. ☞ 2. Proph. The spirit poured out upon all Then unity most of all Expos. Sim. ☜ When ☜ 3. Proph. 3. The great dayâ— the Lord the nigher it is the more Churches will be united in every yeare ☜ This Gospel way is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. The great promise of these later dayes 1. Christ shal reign over all in these latter dayes ☞ Especially as Head in his Church or Churches Expos. ☜ Christ a King how and to whom And a Head how Zanch. Expos. A word to the Churches ☞ 2. The precious Saints the matter of these latter dayes Expos. Proph. Jaspers who Agates who Tremel Carbuncles who Most precious Stones ☜ Expos. ☜ A word to the Churches When they shall excell ☞ ☜ ☞ 1. Who are Jaspers In what properties they â—xcell 2. Who are Saphiâ—es In what properties they excell ☞ 3. Who are the Chalcedonie's In what pâ—operties they excell Zanch. In what properties they excell Ignatius 4. Who are the Emeralds In what properties they excell ☜ 5. Who are the Sardonyx Ainsw ☜ 6. Who are the Sardius Paraeus In what properties they excell ☞ ☞ 7. Who are Chrysolites In what properties they excell 8. Who are the Berylls In what properties they excell 9. Who are the Topaz In what properties they excell ☞ 10. Who are the Chrysoprasus In what properties they excell 11. Who are the Hyacinths or Jacinths In what properties they excell 12. Who are Amethists In what properties they excell A mystery of the excellency of Church-members in the later daies Precious stones Gathered out of all parts of the world Proph. ☞ Variety in their excellency ☜ When high-priz'd Propâ—◠☜ When Jewes expected to be most precious Church matter ☜ A word to Churches and members ☜ 3. The forme of the Church promised in these last days ☞ How all enter in 4. The end of it largely promised Zanch. Two-fold Brightman ☞ 5. Spiritual unity and order of Churches promised in last daies Expos. Christs prayer 6. The Spirit poured out on the Churches and Saints in a larger measure By six Heads appeare the Gospel-Ordâ—r in Churches is a great promise Expos. The foundation of all this is layd Comfort to us our day is comming ☞ ☜ Et redirâ— in principium 2. The Types promise the fall of false worship and he glorious rising of the true Gospell spirituall worship ☜ Antichrist â—â—yâ—â—fied by Aegypt Expos. ☜ Sodome ☜ Babylon Expos. Pro Antiochus Epiphanes a figure of the Pope ☞ Polanus Brightman ☞ Types of the Churches Palaces of Sion Tabernacles Particular Churches Dr. Sibs ☜ ☜ Jerusalem a Type The Sun Christ must rule the Dâ—y that comes though the Moon hath ruled the Night till now Solomons Temple a type of the whole Church when all Tabernacles shall bee joyn'd ☞ Vid. 5. Zanch. lib. 1. de Hom. creatione v. 15. Pâ—radise and Eden excellent full types of the Church of Christ in these last dayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Churches â—ypified The Garden was Gods own plantation The excellency of it beiâ—g his work ☜ 2. His protection of them ☞ 3. The name of them which takes in of all languages Zanch. ☞ ☞ 4. The Seat of them in all the World where the Rivers run Pareus ☜ 5. The East of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suidas Lactantius ☜ The later days promise in the East whence the Sun shall rise to all the world Jo. 1.1.2 ☜ 2. The members and ordinances typified by trees of Paradise Odinances Church members trees how 1. Rooted 2. of the Lords making 3. The Lord causes them to grow and flourish ☞ ☜ 4. They are to bee the most fruitful of all the Earth ☜ 5. Lovely to the sight Colloquia congregationes gratiam spirent Bernard de Ecc. cap. 412. 6. Excellent to feed upon For all sorts and Senses ☞ ☞ 7. All sorts of trees that the Lord makes fruitfull must grow there 8. The â—râ—e of life in the midst of them Tree of life two wayes ☞ ☜ Diodate The two Sacraments within the Church kept And not to be carried out ☜ ☜ 9. The tree of life and other trees alike ☞ 3. The Spirit and Word typified by Rivers streams 1. From whence the Rivers came aborigine viz. from the East ☜ Two parts of the East 1. Knowne 2. Hidden but only the River runs from it ☜ ☜ 2. For Churches to what end ☞ 3. The River divided into foure heads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diodate Habes Paradi sum conclusuÌ„ Paradisum e mâ—ssum Beru de Serm. Cant. 35. To take in many Nations ☞ ☞ Where Gods great worke first begins as in the pouring out of the spirit The last discovery of the Type 1. No place for Beasts 2. It is not for meer naturall men For none but whom the Lord addes brings in These Churches must be purged ☜ 3. Of the greatest Use as Universities for others to resort unto and to learn in and to goe from to teach others ☞ Universities of what sort in the latter days 4. Such as are placed in this restored Paradise are under the strictest Lawes of the spirit The Law in love The Churches have their law from the Lord Oâ—hers from the Churches ☜ We have first Life and then Law first a Principle and then a Precept ☜ 5. Those therin are never to be idle but every day dressing and keeping it Zanch. What labours are accursed what not 6 Such as are sinners though in the Church must be cast out ☞ 7. Such as are therein may eat freely yea must of every tree ☜ Ripe fruits 8. Such forbid the Tree of Knowledge before the tree of Life ☞ ☞ Expos. An use of humane Wisdome Learning and knowledge in the Churches But not to be preferred first ☜ ☜ 9. The Serpent got in and tempted by the fruits of the tree of knowledge ☜ He tempts the weakest with Gifts Parts c. Churches beyond Universities Saints are the most and best learned ones ☞ 10. Man put in on the sixth day By the Lords own hand 11. Gods speciall presence there Justin Irenaeus Terâ—ullian Eusebius Ambrose alii in lec 3. The Churches of Christ distinct from all others And shal be so apparently to aâ—l Expos. Not Enemies Who Nor Bastardâ— Who ☜ Nor Ammon nor Moab shal enter in But the Edomits shall or the Jews ☜ Exhort To strive against Nationall and parochiall Churchâ—â— and why Expos. Zanch. A word to England Ireland and Scotland about Naâ—ionâ—ll and Pâ—rochiall Churches The standing impudence of Pâ—râ—sh Church Members ☞ Cawdrey p. 83. Sim. About the Sacraments They are guilty of Treason Felony and Whoredome ☜ ☜ ☜ How the Lord will strip them naked 1. Take away all their Ornaments and leave them naked 2. Show them in their blood and fâ—â—th 3. In their imbecillity 4. With a loud cry ☞ 5. Little 6. In utter darknesse Parish Churches the Children of the Whore shall fall without mercy ☞ Churches and Parishes differ much Flaccus Illiricus vide Bernardus Cant. Beda Serm. 14. Sim. But out of the Churches are great things to be done these latter dayes Sim. ☜ A good caution ☜ ☜ Sim. ☞ A Church is not so intire without Officers and Organs Psal. 48.12.13 The Authours resolve to go the rounds and to make a further and fuller search of Sion Peter
offenders or the like Et istâ—s vi coercere ac ferro punire potest but the Church-power is from above the weapons of her warfare are spirituall Non ferro sed verbo non vi armis sed vi efficacia she uses the two-edged-sword of the Spirit and Word against all her opposers and offenders neither are men compelled as by Politicall powers to obey but they are drawne of God and the Spirit constraineth them Job 32.18 2 Cor. 5.14 Eleventhly Polity is full of Tricks Arts Quilits and Aequivocations and lies ready at the catch according to a Judges or great mans interpretation or construction but this Gospel-way is full of plainenesse truth and simplicity 2 Cor. 1.12 and 2.17 and is not according to mans interpretation but the spirits Rom. 12.8 1 Cor. 5.8 Rom. 16.19 Twelfthly Polity consists most in the Forme and lives most in the out-ward show pomp and appearance but this way of Christ consists most of inward beauty pomp and excellency 2 Cor. 5.12 and 2 Cor. 10.7 Joh. 7.24 and lives most in the spirit and least in the forme Thirteenthly In Polity is the greatest respect of persons one higher then another making some Slaves and others Lords but in this Church-state of Christ it is an intolerable Tyranny and hath not the least allowance Mark 10.42 43. lest thereby we should have mens persons or opinions in admiration Jam. 2.1.3 1 Pet. 5.3 Fourteenthly Polity preferres men according to their outward parts fleshly habits of learning wit or prudence but Christs Church-state sets up Christ and his Spirit for Officers in chiefe and such who are ruled and filled with the Spirit of Christ under them so that not men but Christ rules Judas that had not this Spirit proved a Traitor so will others Fifteenthly Polity grows every day more and more rusty and the longer it lives the more it will be out of date and loathed at last and like a Potsheard be dashed a peeces but this way of Christ growes every day more and more glorious and will be the beauty of the whole earth Piety shall stand whilst Policy shall fall and the Church of Christ that little stone cut without hands shall crowd Policy out of doores and fill the whole earth Dan. 2.35 Rev. 11.15 Psal. 48.1 2. Isa. 62.4.7 In all these respects and many more might I not be too tedious I might easily demonstrate to all men the vast disproportion between this Gospel-Church-state and Policy whither in Church where it hath been set up instead of Piety or State so that I meane not in any such sense that there is an Ecclesiasticall Polity but as I have hinted before and in order to visibles Now who hath been more politick and subtill then that Beast that hath for so long usurped Christs Seat and what a many Romish Ornaments like unto the Aegyptian Jewels doe many men and Ministers yet retaine fitter for a Golden Calfe which is to be grownd to powder then to adorne the Temple or Tabernacles of God O that they were sent away from whence they came and that we would come in sincerity to the Lords worke before us which is the building of his house for his honour to dwell in But thus I have proved that there is a Gospel orderly Church Discipline and how farre it differs from Policy whether called Ecclesiasticall as some make it to consist altogether in formes and things carnall or civill Now the Lord lead us into his owne Spirituall Temple and Gospel-Church-state by his owne light for how sad a thing is it to see his flock so scattered among Wolves and the Saints in a confused darke corrupt Disciplinary way of walking without order rule and ordinances which so many Soules doe sit moaning for and in the want of them in this their Wildernesse-estate wherein they have been lost for many ages together and whilst they are sighing and sobbing in a strange Land they that have led them into this Babylonian Captivity doe call upon them to sing the Songs of Sion but alas their Harps are hung up upon the willowes and they as in a strange Land are silent which is the next thing I come unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gnaraphel CHAP. II. We have had our abode a long time under Antichristian darknesse and Discipline and the Church was driven by the Dragon and drawne by the Beast into a Wilderness for many hundred yeares and ever since how miserably Soules have been blinded by bottomlesse smoake in a Popish Hierarchy and so have continued to these dayes IN the next place we are to shew how for many Ages together we have fallen foulely short of this holy and wholsome Discipline of Christs Church and have been abominably cheated with the rotten figgs and choaked with the thick Romish foggs and filthy infectious mists of Popish inventions so that thereby the Sunne and the Aire have been abundantly darkned The poore Church she was before cloathed with the Sunne encompassed round with purity of Religion with brightnesse of Discipline and in the clear light of Christ and Scriptures which were her rich ornaments in the twelve Apostles dayes yea and after that till Constantines time she wore this Crowne of the twelve Starres those glistring lights And not only were the Saints such as then lived above the Moone and all sublunary enjoyments but they had this borrowed light of the Word meanes and ordinances to guide them in their pathes and to direct them in their Discipline and Church state but alas as our Saviour foretold what would follow it fell out afterward that the red Dragon raged and watched to persecute the Church which was done very sorely in Domitians dayes and in Nero's at which time the Church was pure notwithstanding and as yet presented for a chast Virgin to Christ though tormented because she would not be deflowred and although then the Apostles being all dead fierce wolves met together by Flockes and false Teachers and Pseudo-Apostles rose up apace to oppose openly true Doctrine and Discipline This continued under the Emperours Verus and Severus and Valerianus O then how this red Dragon this bloudy Abaddon followed the Church foaming with flouds of indignation and yet for all that the poore and almost breathlesse Saints had a little respite under Galienus Anno 262. and till that time I finde the Church continued yet very chast but then presently after began Images to be set up and Monuments to be erected in Caesarea Philippi and other places and in Dionysius his dayes Bishop of Rome Anno 267. the Church began abominably to be deflowred and defiled so that the true Saints and Churches could not escape a most sad persecution under Dioclesian and most hot and heavie under Maximinus that matchlesse Tyrant till torments in his bowels moved his bowels against his will to mitigate the violence of the persecution
to surpasse all others without both for abundance and the goodnesse of the fruits As far exceeding such as the choysest Orchard or Garden-fruits excell common hedge-crabs or high-way fruits So sayes he Matth. 5.27 What doe yee more then others else it is a burning blushing shame to bee of the Garden and yet to let others bring forth as good fruits thus sayes Paul 1 Cor. 3.3 c. Are yee yet carnall as yee were before when yee were without Doe yee yet walke as men O fic what not now to live at a higher and holier rate then others when your heels ought to bee above their heads that are without Such Garden-Saints by Christ are to become so fruitfull above others by having from him fuller and freer influences then others For he is the Fountaine of Gardens and streams from Lebanon Thus saith he I will cause them that come out of Jacob to take root Isa. 27.6 Israel shall blossome and bud and fill the face of the world with fruits So in Hos. 14.5 6. I will bee as the dew unto Israel he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon i. e. in abundance of streams and sweetest sap-roots to receive the soule of their soile and the heart of their dewes to reach out and runne farre for his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive tree and his smell as Lebanon then Thus they fructifie from Christ as in Joh. 15.4 5. Without him they can do nothing and are but as withered branches saplesse and fruitlesse wherefore blessed be they that blossome in the Spring now and are not nipped off againe by Borean blasts but be well sett for growing and ripening for in this Autumne-harvest which is now nigh us as the Sunne growes hot and high they shall bee gathered full ripe into the Fathers floore or Garner So be it Fifthly He hath them in his care constantly as a man hath his Garden and that most of all for that hee will not suffer Swine to set footing there but keeps them without amongst their bruitish brood So the Lord hath built a watch-tower to over-look all the Church So Isa. 27.3 I the Lord do keepe it and I will water it every moment lest any should hurt it I will keep it night and day By day and by night upon all her glory I will be her defence Isa. 4.5 Hee will not suffer one Saint to be hurt by the wilde Boars of the wood or the Foxes of the field for he sets traps to take them Cant. 2.15 Sixthly such a society of Saints are his Garden-delights his Darling-delights and he dearly loves to live and lodge there Cant. 7.11 12. to eat and drinke there Cant. 5.1 of his pleasantest fruits and sweetest Spices Cant. 4.16 of his beautifull beds and to gather fair Lillies Cant. 6.2 and there his presence is most eminent excellent free and frequent in the midst of his companions viz. the Saints Cant. 8.13 to the ravishing of their soules with his sweetest loves Cant. 7.12 there he loves to walke alife Psal. 132.13 14. and to shew to his Saints his beauty Isa. 33.17 Thus is the Church of Christ his choysest Garden and therein especially is his presence most excellent as the proper sphere and orbe wherein the Sunne moves to give his light to the world Wee know that nothing which is not what it is by nature can longer be so then the cause continues and the working of the cause which effects it to bee so as water which is not by nature hot will not bee hot longer then the fire makes it so but little by little it returnes to its naturall coldnesse againe so the ayre which is naturally darke is no longer lightsome then the Sunne makes it so but the Sunne with-drawne it will turne againe to darknesse and indeed Christ this Sunne as long as hee shines wee are light and shall be light but no longer Now he hath promised in speciall manner to be a light in the midst of us his Churches for there he delights most to bee O that it may be said of all Churches now as once Caesar Augustus said of Rome That though he found them bricke yet he left them Marble So though Christ hath found us a wildernesse yet hee hath made us an Eden or Gardens-inclosed fruitfull and faire pleasant and profitable to God and men But thus you may see in all and in more then all these respects that the Lord is now raising up the Saints and rearing up his Sion as he hath promised This blessing is already begun and in these dayes Christ calls us aloud as Cant. 4.8 Come with me from Lebanon i. e. out of the Forrest in the North 2 King 14.9 Isa. 29.17 where wild beasts were so out of mixed congregations and from wildernesse-companions c. O my Spouse come with me looke from the top of Amana i. e. interpretatur â—urbulentus that is from all wicked and turbulent spirits that oppose the truth yea a mount of Tyrants void of all goodnesse and great Persecutors of Gods people looke from them all and from the top of Shenir and Hermon Shenir interpretatur faetor from the Lions dens from the mountains of Leopards This is the call of Christ to us in these dayes to have us looke learne and live beyond this wildernesse-condition and all them without that are enemies to the Gospel and Garden-way of Christs Worship for now the Lord in order to the restauration of Doctrine and Discipline declares new things Isa. 42.9 before they spring forth he tels us of them Wherefore sing a new Song verse 11. Let the wildernesse rejoyce and all the Villages of Kedar Darknesse Let the inhabitants of the Rocke Christ and all that dwell in the clefts of the Rocke shout out from the tops of the Mountains Amen Finde no fault with these dayes then but wait Isa. 25.9 for the wine will be best at last and in the evening it shall bee light richest promises are reserved for us therefore called the most precious 2 Pet. 1.4 In these dayes shall the Branch of righteousnesse grow up Jer. 33.14.15 and our blessed Ahashuerus shall take in Esther The face of Church-discipline shall shine againe and the King shall delight in her beauty Psal. 45.10 11. Besides the abundance of Scripture-prophesies prooving of this I have seen many remarkable Prophesies of late largely foretelling these glorious times As of one Methodius in the yeare two hundred and fifty in a Treatise de Novissimis temporibus hee tells us how the Kingdome of Christ in these last dayes shall be lifted up above all mountains but first hee sayes That many mighty Ishmaelites must fall and then shall follow peace and joy to the Saints I have also met with Hermas whom wee read of Rom. 16.14 and Jerome calls
called the way of holinesse no Lion shall be there nor ravenous beast goe thereon meaning unclean and openly knowne sinners but the redeemed shall walke there And the ransomed of the Lord shall returne and come to Sion with songs c. So in Isa. 52.1 From henceforth shall come into thee no more the uncircumcised and unclean So in Zach. 14.21 In that day there shall bee no more the Canaanite in the Lords house So in Joel 3.17 Yee shall know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion my holy Mountaine then shall Jerusalem be holy and there shall no strangers passe through her any more So in Isa. 33.24 and in Rev. 21.27 In no wise shall enter into it any thing that defileth or that worketh abomination or that maketh a lye but they which are written in the Lambs Book of life It is not denied but there is sin in a Church but not a Church in sinne as one may be said to have drinke in him and yet not to be in drinke I meane sinne so seen and knowne and yet allowed of or at least not duely proceeded against by censure and reproof Now in this sense nothing that defileth doth enter the best Church may have spots on her but not in her i. e. tolerated as before no not in her worst estate Besides in all that was before mentioned as in the Law-time typical and so Prophetical in the Baptists dayes there was even then an apparent repentance and visible profession accounted necessary before admission as to baptisme Mat. 3.6 Luke 3.3 how much more must this be so before admission into Gospel-fellowship for as Aug. sayes in Tom. 4. de fide operibus the Pharises and Sadduces that came to his Baptisme were forced to swallow a refusall and a bitter reproofe to boot Matth. 3.7 for a generation of vipers he neither admitted of scandalous persons nor must wee into Christs-Church till there appeares a repentance and reformation But reason 3 3 Runnes from that most familiar relation which is between Christ and his Church God and his Saints in such a fellowship He is their Husband Eph. 5.23 Isa. 54.5 and married unto them Jer. 3.14 Rev. 19.7 Hos. 2.19 20. and they are presented unto him as a chaste Virgin to these Espousals 2 Cor. 11.2 Now he is not thus related to prophane and scandalous persons though the Ranters doe call him the friend of Publicans and Sinners such with whom Christ hath so inseparable and insuperable communion which are Saints called and such must the Church consist of i. e. of such and onely such as far as may be judged whose husband hee is But some will object Say not the Scriptures otherwise as that tares are amongst the wheat untill the harvest Matth. 13.25.38 39. and have you any Church in the Scripture all of Saints not having one Judas Ananias Demas Hymeneus Philetus nor Diotriphes nor others our owne experience is otherwise in all Churches where there be good and bad Lambs and Rams wheat and chaffe sound and unsound and yet Christ is called their Husband First for the Scripture alleadged it is allowed of if we give it its own weight without any other grain or the least addition to it for see v. 38. the field in which they are is the world and so wee say to the end of the world in the world will grow good and bad together but yet grant it with most to be meant the field of the Church visible which is rather a Garden yet this is not an Injunction but rather a Prediction of what will bee for without doubt wicked men will bee in the Church in all ages but that is not the point for this it is that wee say and say againe that such as are knowne openly to be such sinners or hypocrites are neither to bee taken in nor tolerated in the Church of Christ of which hee is the Husband And although our present experiences besides the primitive and past expresse much of this nature viz. that naughty corrupt and sinfull men have been and yet are in every Church yet we will beleeve such were not openly knowne to be such when they were admitted members of any true Church of Christ whether past present or to come yes say some Judas was knowne by Christ to be an hypocrite when admitted 1 But he was not so knowne unto the Church for all the rest of the Disciples did not so much as suspect him Ecclesia nâ—n judicat de occultis therefore they could not take cognizance thereof for hee seemed a very holy Disciple to the rest 2 The knowledge Christ had of him as one before hee appeared such a one was extraordinary but wee are speaking of an ordinary way of discovery as when sin breaks out and hypocrisie appears Besides 3 There was a speciall reason in it that he was received viz. to answer the will of God given out in Psal. 41.8 c. yet this is certaine neither he nor any else appeared hypocrites or wicked ones openly and so known to be when admitted either into that or any other society of Saints although there was is and will be in every particular Church of Christ some that ought not to be For if this fellowship of which Christ himselfe was Pastor and is for a Patterne and had but twelve a small number for the most are not alwaies the best had a Judas much more may others Even as Davids house which is set for a Patterne for future ages Zach. 12.10 was not without an Amnon an Absolon and others even Gods owne Arke may nourish Monsters as Noahs Arke did Cham yea and as some filthy Toadâ— might bee found to lye under the stones of the Temple so may some wicked dissembling Hypocrites sayes Dr. Hall and yet the Temple be the Lords for all that Furthermore the visible Church is called his Holy Temple 1 Cor. 3.16 17. which ought not to be defiled 2 Cor. 6.16 and therefore is made up of living stones 2 Pet. 2.5 that is of visible Saints Also it is called the Lords house and habitation Heb. 3.6 Eph. 2.22 23. 1 Pet. 2.5 wherein he walks and lives and takes his rest which holinesse becomes Psal. 93.5 for ever therefore the holiest are the fittest matter The Church is called his houshold Eph. 2.19 Now if David could not endure a wicked person within his doors Psal. 101.3 4.5 Much lesse will the Lord allow it But to bee briefe Lastly the Church is Christs body 1 Cor. 12.26 27. and Christ is the head of every particular Church gathered Col. 1.18 Eph. 5 23. c. Now such as are united to Jesus Christ by his Spirit 1 Joh. 1.3 7. and have speciall communion with him as their Head as to receive vertue and vitality from him are to be received as members of
in the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 1.17 Secondly being most pure and high-prized Lev. 14.14 Thirdly Lively and lovely Cant. 5.16 Joh. 17.3 and for the Temples use Secondly from the Forme like a thread that is well woven strongly twisted and finely and freely spun out by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.4.12 being very fine thin subtle pure and of a most divine substance and also as the Churches haire-lace being to binde up the people of God to and about their Head viz. Jesus Christ And her speech is comely i. e. lovely gracious sweet and desirable as in Eccles. 12.9 10 11. Prov. 16.23 24. therefore in Hebrew Navah is being very amiable so are the Scriptures full of lovely mysteries lively histories triumphing truths comforting counsels and counselling comforts Her temples are like a peece of Pomegrannet The Temples are those between the eyes and ears which the Chaldee calls the Kings Governours and Keepers of Israel but I meane such as are high in Christ their Head through which runne many vitall veynes for and into the body and such ought all over-seeing and directing governing and guiding-Elders to bee like a peece of Pomegrannet i. e. frustum or fragmen a crust or fragment broken off which is over full and flowing over with juice sirrup and sweetnesse c. in the sight of all and besides this shews the benefit of this Church-Discipline and more then meer Ecclesiasticall politie that I speake of being abounding in juâ—cie sirrups and sweet savours to the meanest and most despised Saint for although there may bee an outward sharpnesse to the flesh yet there is an unspeakable inward sweetnesse and spirituall solaces to the soule to bee had here and to be got in this Government as will appeare hereafter but besides like the Pomegrannet which is full of sweet seed odoriferous graines well united together and gathered into one body every one in order pointing up to the Crown so is this Gospel-government full of sweet juyce and sappy seeds or Saints well-coloured and all in order pressing after the same perfection and verticall point of glory being gathered together into one distinct body But to delineate her beauty more at large Her necke is like the Tower of David sayes the Text builded for an Aâ—mory wherein hang the bucklers and shields of mighty men The Neck is that part between the head and body and united to both and is of necessity through which passes and repasses whatsoever is usefull for both to the nourishment of both and each in and by other Now I am of opinion the Ordinances doe thus and are as the necke between the Head and body between Christ and people to bring both into union and into unseparable fellowship as Heb. 8.10 by the Spirit so that both the head and body may be nourished through them they as conveyances of the vitals to the Animals and of the Animals to the vitals that the one may be refreshed by the other and all be by a mutuall and redamanâ—ine love which is the life of union so that through this Necke the body is abundantly nourished by the vital spirits from the Head I mean by the sanctifying and saving so called graces of the same Spirit in Christ our Head those then that despise Christs Ordinances doe as much as in them lyes behead the Church of Christ A cruell Act Have a care But then like the Tower Migdall great and strong of David Nehem 3.19.25 2 Sam. 5.8 9. an Armory the word is Thalpiioh of Thalah to hang and Piioh sharp two edged weapons to hang swords in the two edged sword of the Spirit hangs there often and the soules bucklers and shields of Defence are ordinarily found in this Armory of the Churches and Helmets and Head-peeces and Breast-plates and what not for every Souldier of Christs under his Banner and Command for the Church is to be in a bitter warfare continually and let a Saint but come hither bee he of what size soever hee may bee armed out of this Armory of the Churches yea the stoutest Champions that march against Christs enemies Furthermore for her two breasts they are like two young Roes twins which feed among the Lillies Her Breasts are both an Ornament as Ezek. 16.7 and for use necessary Isa. 66.11 and indeed to take the two Testaments so called they are both an Ornament and of necessary use to all the Churches of Christ though some for whom my heart akes I feare runne the folly and madnesse of that malicious Apostate who called the Bible a Bawble but hee proved a Babel The truth is these Breasts swell with sweet milke and consolations doe drop out againe even for the Babes that are weake Isa. 66.11 1 Pet. 2.2 they are full in deed of what is absolutely cherishing to the Churches Children and therein are many precious promises and sweet truths easily to be digested by such babes as doe eagerly hunger call and cry for them laying full hold on them drawing and sucking much sweetnesse out of them which are as Twins being both borne of one out of one spirit and for one end and from one God 2 Tim. 3.16 but I had rather read them the Word and Spirit feeding among Lillies For so are Saints white pure pleasant lovely living best in low vallies and well moystned at their root and such are fond to sucke from them as before and to entertaine them and as Moulin once said that in the times of Persecutions whilst they burnt us for reading of the Scriptures we burnt to be reading of them But thus I have beyond my intention examined this Epithalmion which is sung in specie and paints out Prophetically the picture of a true Church called into Gospel government and that upon the breaking of the morning Sunne and the day springing from on high ver 6. for then it followes thou art all faire my Love Now in this description her beauty being discovered so eminently from her most visible Members it needeth not to speake of more then such as are most conspicuous to the eyes of all at this present But to proceed to the second part of this part of the Forme which is That every particular Church of Christ gathered together into one Body according to Gospel-order as before hath as free as full and as compleat a Church-power and Authority to order all affaires within her owne body as any Church whatsoever excluding all sorts of Superiority that may be possibly claimed in point of Church-power and that par in parem non habet imperium equall Sisters have equall powers and priviledges will be proved an undeniable truth In the progresse of which I beleeve I shall much use Mr. Bartlets method as my memory wil admit me for I have no other Booke of his then my breast at present see in Rev. chap. 2. chap. 3. the seven Churches of Asia and
knows they had only the name of it and all of them saluted for Lords and would sit as Barons in Civill Courts which they know is contrary to their own old Canons which they accounted more of then the Scriptures but if it be unlawfull to alter or change the bounds our Fathers have set Prov. 22.28 I am sure it is to alter the limits the Lord hath set them and to serve the Tables of Devils Now what can be clearer then the rule set in such a case Mat. 20.26 Luk. 22.25 Marke 10.41 and how often Christ reproved and repressed the rising desires of the Disciples in but asking after and disputing about greatnesse who shall be greatest which he would not admit of by any meanes it being after the manner of Gentiles O then how Christ detested and I am sure yet does this Lording dominion in himselfe or in his Saints he himselfe being their Servant and Minister washed their feet besides the Apostle abhors it in 2 Cor. 1. ult and yet O what a proud domineering spirit of Prelacy reigned in these Did not some Bishops goe with a great Guard in pomp to the Pulpit with their Officers before them and a great Mace carried in state making Roome for my Lord to preach in his Rochet and square Cap leaning upon a Cushion of cloath of Gold but their pride hath a fall Ah! but had it not been happy if another Generation had not next succeeded in usurping such Lording power I meane the Prelaticall Presbyterians Those Olives and Vines and Fig-trees before very fat sweet and fruitfull have lost their lovelinesse and former excellencies and that meerly out of desire to Lord it too as well as the Brambles did Judg. 9.8 9 10 11. although in a Classicall way as they call it but this being so neare a kinne unto the other hath met with the like destiny and destruction and that Discipline proved but short-lived according to the Proverbe of Fraud and Frost c. for it never thrived and began to be too proud at the first as soon as ever it stepped into the Chaire Besides as their Lording Classes are not Classicall or warrantable in the Word neither are their Synods or commanding Convocations to order and make Directories for Christ's Churches of Divine right what assemblies are more mischievous as they have been hitherto to the Saints of Christ especially when they would exercise Lordship and Dominion Soveraignty and authority over their Brethren or over any Church of Christ as they have done most cruelly confining men to their judgements against their consciences or else crushing them for their consciences much like the Bed in Isa. 28.20 which is shorter then a man can stretch himselfe on Now if a man lye not even with them and but ever so out-reaches their reason judgements or opinions he must presently be punished and cut shorter as the Giant that in the High-way seized upon all Passengers and carried them home to his Bed and those that were not long enough to lye even with his owne length and the length of his Bed he by some most bitter and fatall engines or wracks would rend them out and draw so one joynt from another that by most lamentable tortures he would teare them out to that length but in case any were too long for his Bed and his length he would cut off their leggs till he had made them fit for his humour and fancy But this is a most monstrous tyranny in men to wrack and torture consciences and say too it is for Christ's sake either to rend or wracke them out or else to command and cut them off if beyond them to make them even with their owne length and height in their opinions and practises But these Mothers children that are angry with us and would set us to keep strange Vineyards and these Brethren that have hated us and cast us out for Christ his sake as they say and said let the Lord be glorified shall be ashamed when the Lord shall appeare to be our joy See Isa. 66.5 for the Lord 's designe in these dayes is to pull downe such as are incensed against the Saints Isa. 41.11 and thus saith the Lord Ezek. 35.21 22. Because yee have thrust them with side and with shoulder and pusht all the diseased with your hornes till yee have scattered them abroad therefore will I save my flocke and they shall be no more a prey So in Jer. 30.16 All that devoure them shall be devoured and all thy adversaries shall be captives and they that spoyled thee shall be made a spoile and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey for I will restore health unto thee and heale thee of thy wounds because they called thee an outcast saying This is Zion whom no man seekes after c. For it must be that every plant which the Father hath not 〈◊〉 Mat. 15.13 Jo. 15.2 shall be rooted out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or pulled up by the roots so shall Synods downe for so much as they usurpe Dominion but in some case as we consider hereafter that the Elders appointed by their Churches doe meet together to conferre to assist and counsell not to command we can consent unto and are confident that it is very warrantable by the Word and Mr. Parker I remember in his Church-polity proves by many pregnant Arguments from undeniable Scriptures and Writers Orthodox so called and unanswerable reasons how every Church hath an equall and absolute power without appealing and that Synods Courts or Commissionated Classes have not the least power over any Church of Christ to command or rule only at most to admonish counsell and advise and it is without a warrant and but a barren branch an ill plant and beyond the bounds of Christ to exercise any such authority we shal be more large in this afterwards but yet see honest Mr. Burroughs in his Heart-divisions cap. 22. who cleares it up to any capacity under severall considerations as that the extent of Juridicall power must be by institution as well as the power it selfe and that all power receives its limits and extents in Church or State Discipline from the same Authority whence it first had its originall institution which is undeniable undoubted and infallible truth Now let our Brethren but show their Magna Charta or proofe out of Gods Word for that power they would usurpe over the Saints or Churches by Synods or over any Church of Christ by any Classes whatsoever and we will freely beare it or else let none presume so to oppresse the Saints by Convocations to command and controule any Church of Christ or to wracke any conscientious Christians or to persecute them by reproaches wrongs punishments or the like as cannot crouch to their Crosse or cruell Judgements which is to put a yoke upon their neckes which neither we nor our fathers were
approve of Christs Christ hath commanded theirs and obedience to them they must command Christs and obedience to him And as the Saints for Gods sake Rom. 13.1 Gal. 4.14 are obedient to them for sancti non subjiciunt se homini propter hominem sed propter Deum so they for Gods sake are to be obedient to Christ and servants to his Church his Saints and people of God Let them make much of the Ministers of Christ neither to corrupt them with honoâ—s nor to honor them in their corruptions As Ministers cannot make Magistrates neither can Magistrates make Ministers and as Ministers of Christ cannot hinder Ministers of State or Magistrates in doing their offices for Bodies and in Civil affairs neither can Ministers of State hinder the Ministers of Christ in doing their offices for souls and in spiritual affairs Wherefore as I said before each must remember his place as Constantine could say Vos est is in Ecclesia sed ego extra Ecclesiam Episcopus to a Bishop or Minister in those days ye are Overseers and Officers in the Church within and I am an Overseer and Officer out of the Church without Constantine kept his course some time very well within his own jurisdiction without mingling or mangling Ecclesiastical affairs with Civil or Civil with Ecclesiastical so must every Magistrate be sure to do For it is Gods design to destroy those powers and policies that hinder Christs reign in his Zion and Church as the alone Head and Lord. Christs Kingdom of the Son and the Kingdom of glory the Fathers are both alike who rules in one rules in the otherâ— who are admitted into one are admitted into the other whom the one receives the other receives and none else But the Kingdom of the Father receives not Magistrates as Civil Magistrates to rule and govern or punish there i. e. In Heaven to come therefore not here in the Kingdom of the Son And he that dares usurpe this power of Christ the alone Head and Lord takes too much upon him and as Chrysostom sayes Non est tributum Caesaris sed servitium diaboli c. It is not his due but the devils work And it will cause his unevitable downfal and confusion as it did the Devils Trap observes there on Matth. 22.21 the Greek Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is doubled and repeated for this purpose That our double and special care must be to give God his due Rom. 13.7 Oh! O that we did give the Lord his due then should we not plead so for Caesars Chair in Christs Church that he should sit there with the heel of his cruelty to kick the Saints brains out and to crush them headlong that stoop not to his form In a word Christ sits not on Caesars throne neither shall he who hath too long sit upon Christs throne For though other Lords have had dominion over us and have usurped Headships which are Brass and Iron Jer. 6.28 yet the Lord will give gold for brass and silver for iron Isai. 60.17 This Head of Gold and his Gospel which is better then the silver seven times purified And if the very Philosophers Aristotle Plato and others vid. Cartwrights Ecclesiastical Discipline of the Authority of the Church if they could see and say that Estate is best and those Citizens happiest that had God to be their King and Monarch and his Laws and Decrees to submit unto Sure I am the Church is never so happy holy and heavenly as when Christ alone sits upon his throne in the midst of them and governs them by his Word and Spirit see Cap. 2. 9. of Lib. 2. And sure this is the great work that our God is bringing about who is coming to reign for ever and ever In the mean time let us own neither the Brazen nor the Iron Heads for our Head I mean neither Spiritual nor Temporal Ecclesiastical nor Civil powers so called O none but Christ the Head of Gold our Master Lord Head and Law-giver without any other Partner or Paramount whatsoever as hath been at large proved Wherefore to conclude All others are beheaded having lost their long usurped ruledom and jurisdiction And with John Hus We say Christus sine talibus capitibus monstrosis melius ecclesiam suam regulavit Act. 27. Object Christ alone is Head and governs his own Church influendo infundendo without such prodigious helps or monstrous heads as Antichrist would crowd in Thus said Gregory the first Lib 6. Epist. 24. in his Letter to John Patriarch of Constantinople Quid tu Christo universalis ecclesiae capiti c. What will you answer at the last day to Christ the sole Universal Head of his Church and people that thou darest to arrogate that title which is Antichristian for thee so to do Hold fast the head saith the Apostle Col. 2.19 from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Therefore be sure you hold your Head For first it supplieth the members with all necessaries Secondly It knits every member to its self and one to another and thirdly It increaseth every one with a spiritual increase Now Christ in his The anthropie is this Head which we must fetch our life sense and motion from by Nerves Veins and Arteries Christiani Christo capiti adhaerent ab eo percipiunt hauriunt vitam spiritualem c. No Member of his but hath much moisture nourishment and spiritual growth And every Member is moved with their Head unless some Palsie-Members so Palsie-Christians that move not as the Head Christ directs When Cyneas the Ambassador of Pyrrhus after his return from Rome was asked by his Master What he thought of the City and State answered O Sir It is Respublica Regum a Commonwealth of Kings and a State of Statesmen And so is the Church wherein Christ is King and Head O happiness of such a Church For if he be in us Head he is heart hand and all For quickning of us he is our Anima the life and soul of the Church and of every Member as he resolves us he is Voluntas as he maketh us think he is Animus as he gives us to know he is our Intellectus as he deliberates us he is Mens as he keeps our remembrance he is Memoria as he gives us to judge he is our Ratio as he moves our desires he is Affectus as he breaths us and inspires us he is our Spiritus and as he enables us to apprehend he is our Sensus So that Christ our Head is our Heart and all VVherefore let us hold him fast for our Head and heare of no other no Brazen-face no Iron-pate no O monstrum horrendum informe ingens cui lumen ademptum Christ willed when he saw Caesars stamp on the coyne to give Caesar his due so when wee see Christs stampe
perswasion nor yet have any dependance upon any others whosoever they bee for then the Lord will reject both you and your carnall confidences Jer. 2.37 Thirdly Be not byassed one way or other as by imaginations taken from your owne senses which are very shallow and unsound for by such spirits full of spight came Christs way to be evill spoken of in Act. 28.22 and so 2 Cor. 10.5 Sathan hath strong-holds in such mens hearts to keep out Christ and Gospel wherefore let your judgement master your affections lest false conclusions bee ushered in by carnall reason fancy and conceit For the wisdome which is from above is without partiality Jam. 3.17 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or mis-judging i. e. either out of love to one way or out of prejudice being prepossessed with hard conceits and opinions of any other way We wrong a man much by prejudice when we take up prejudicate opinions of him without grounds so suffer our conceits of him to be envenomed against him by unjust suspicions whereby we deprive our selves of the good which we might have by him So the Pharisees were set against Christ and the Jewes against the Gospel yea this prejudice made Nathaniels question in Joh. 1.46 Canany good come out of Nazareth wherefore bee impartial without any conceit or deceit when thou searchest the Scriptures hearest the word enquirest out for the Truth O then then let the Lord cast the scales and this is the way to be sweetly satisfied in your own breasts and to have a heart full of perswasion according to the word of God When yee have attained to this sweet and swelling Plerophory yee may yea must move accordingly and that upon a certainty which certitude or assurance being the highest part of your perswasion that yee are in Christs way is to bee considered First Ex causa certitudinis from the verity of the word and certainty of the divine truths which do so perswade and assure you and thus yee conclude seeing the word of Christ is sure and true c. the perswasion which it begets must bee so too and sound And then Ex parte subjecti from your own capacities and qualifications according to your knowledge and judgements thâ—nce yee gather up this conclusion that yee are the persons called into this way of Christ by his Word and Spirit and that ye stand in great need of this way and that for divers reasons being fully perswaded of it that yee are appointed and prepared for it and it for you hence arises a full perswasion to enter into it and a clear satisfaction about it which is given by the Word and Spirit and which is so necessary for all that would enter into it and continue in it and have the comforts of it that they should not dare to venture or enter one foot without it For what is not of faith is sinne Now as it will doe well that every one of us bee fully perswaded that it is the very visible way of worship that Jesus Christ hath brought out of his Fathers bosome the Tabernacles that came downe from above and when he ascended on high Eph. 4.10 11 12. that he left behinde him for all beleevers to dwell and be perfected in so also will it be necessary for every one to bring his perswasion to the triall and touchstone that they may be sure else as Dike saith upon Faith you may be left in the lurch gulled and cheated in this point too for in 1 King 22.20 21 22. you read of a lying false spirit that perswades and prevails Now as Clement lib. 5. Recognitionum sayes What is more obnoxious and hurtfull to the Church of Christ then for a man who beleeves he knows what he knows not and sees what he sees not to maintaine that a thing is what it is not being but to him what he imagines tooth and nail he strikes at truth for falsehood and falsehood for truth Like a drunken fellow that thinks himselfe sober he doth all things goes all wayes like a Drunkard and yet is perswaded he doth and goes as well as any sober man whatsoever and would have all others to thinke so too and yet perhaps his giddy braines and fancies make him beleeve that it is others that stagger who goe stedfastly and that he goes steadily whilst he staggers such whimsical perswasions are of dangerous consequence It concerns us then to know whence our full perswasion arises and whither it reaches or what it brings forth But to the first First A true and full perswasion flows from the word of Christ without Thess. 2.13 as we have said before and the Spirit of Christ within us Joh. 16.8 Joh. 14.16 1 Job 2.20.27 1 Joh. 5.6 these have convinced our judgements inlightened our understandings conformed our wills and perswaded our hearts with undeniable arguments and proofs Secondly If it be true it waits upon the Lord with patience for his concurring Providences and for the accomplishing his promises as David did for his Kingdome Abraham for his Son Israel for Canaan runs not rashly without feare or wit as we use to say before God He that beleeves makes not haste Isa. 28. not too much haste or more haste then good speed but he waits to go along with God with his presence by his Providence as is said before into this way of Gospel-fellowship Thirdly It will meet with many trials and assaults but yet will get the better and abide firme So Act. 19.23 What a stir there was about the way of the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contra viam Domini or as some read it against the Gospel-way this way of the Lord which Paul preached at Ephesus and yet it gained the ground So 2 Cor. 7.5 they have no rest but threats and fears and troubles and oppositions yet this faith and full perswasion stayes the soul quiets and satisfies the spirits establishes the heart 2 Chron. 20.20 ie staies the inward man in much peace and assurance in the midst of multitudes of troubles and trials As the ship that lyes at anchor though something tossed with wind and weather and with the swelling threatning Surges of the Sea rising thick one on another and boysterous beating about the ship yet remains safe unmoved being firme and fastened and cannot bee carried away So art thou able to undergo all oppositions threats swelling surging waves or the like if thou rest resolved established and fully perswaded by the word of God so that stil thou wilt stand by faith and grow stronger and stronger as the house of David did 2 Sam. 3.1 in the midst of his dangerous conflicts and trucelesse troubles with the house of Saul and as Israel the more afflicted the more multiplied Exod. 1. for true faith will have the conquest and triumph at last 1 Joh. 5.4 1 Pet. 5.8 Heb. 11.33 34. Eph. 6.16
hath been largely handled in the former leaves Chap. 11. and 13. which I shall adde now little to but this because as Luther sayes in the fore-cited Epistle Christians are all to be so spontaneously onely as they are perswaded by the Word of Christ convinced and lead by the Spirit of God Joh. 16.8 Rom. 8. So are they by the same means to bee brought in members of the Church of Christ Quae ergo insania est spontanee bonos urgere legibus malorum and yet there be some rough spirits abroad that spit nothing but fire and blood and speake of nothing but imprisonments and punishments for such as are not yet convinced inlightned or come up to their opinion Some imagine men must be brought in by the Magstrates sword and that the Gospel is to be promoted and propagated by weapons blows and cuffes It is true as Mr. Hooker in the third part of Church-discipline chap. 1. asserts That the Civil power may as a thing Civil require them to come under the tenders and call of Christ which is vox significativa but cannot compel their consciences and that Power is very uncivil that intermeddles with Church-matters but Magistrates must leave the Church to follow the rule of Christ in receiving such as have gladly received the Word and whom the Lord hath by his Word and Spirit perswaded and prevailed with and so whom the Lord addes unto the Church and not whom men Magistrates or any other by any indirect means soever shall adde It is known to many in Dublin that I durst not but bear testimony to this truth though to no little persecution of my self and others in name and persons as is well known to the Church-gathered with whom I walked for the time I was there who have also had their share of sufferings by some and also have added their testimony to mine I say although the reproof reached great persons that invited many in by indirect means more proper for Seducers then Saints whether by promising expressions of preferment or by commanding words to such as they had power over which were under their commands or by going to houses to make proselytes by their power or the like if their purposes might be good yet the effects were very bad I am sure for hereby many Hypocrites crept in amongst us being byassed with by-ends and who afterwards proved incendiaries and so disturbers of our peace they should have let the Lord alone to bring into his Church whom he pleased and the word alone to have perswaded them by the Spirit and not have sought the inlargement of the Church to get up to great numbers which men eye too much by any other means then the Word and Spirit When great men are Members of a Church that Church must have the greater care of receiving least any should enter or crowd in more out of love to or fear of those great ones or out of any ends of getting a benefit by having great men their Brethren or the like I say more then out of love to the Lords Courts and Assemblies as being inlightned by the Word and enlivened by the Spirit and fully perswaded in their own hearts that they must enter into these ways as the ways of holiness which the Lord hath left here for believers to walk in together wherefore our experiences produce this Caution to others for want of which we have sufficiently suffered to give others warning It was Boniface the third that I first read of that used his Volumus Mandamus Statuimus c. as the means of bringing in Members and ever since hath the Church wanted peace and been persecuted by such commanding powers for till Antichrists time we finde none Members of Christs Church but such as were made willing by the word and power of Christ. Christs words are works when his Word and Spirit go together Psal. 33.9 He spake and it was done In verbo Christi factiva est ratio He said Let there be light and it was light he said to the Damsel Tabitha cumi and she arose he bid Lazarus come forth and he did so John 11. there is so much vertue in his voice verbum Christi est expressivum operativum that it is called the power of God Rom. 1.10 And the arm of the Lord Isa. 53.1 To save assist deliver draw out and to gather into his fold This arm does all this and is the only outward instrument whereby Christ does draw them in and then they run after him Cant. 1.3 and leave Father Friends and all to follow him and his commands or call they stand not disputing it but immediately obey his call Matth 4.20 22. and come away Secondly The inward working Instrument is the Spirit of Christ whose work is to convince us of the truth John 16.8 and to lead us into the truth Joh. 16.13 14.17 26. or guide us that is not to drag us whether we will or no But it implies a willingness in us being informed by the Word that this is the way and that we must walk in it that we must follow the Spirit as a guide a skilful guide a counselling guide a comforting guide that will go before us and make way for us And if we be in suspence and hang off why then it is his work to convince us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were by undeniable Arguments and Reasons and so as that we shall not have a word to say but that we shall heartily and willingly yeeld to his motions and perswasions and finde him both a protection and direction Quest. How shall I know I have Christs Spirit Answ. By his efficacy and power in doing his office A painted fire will not warm nor a painted Sun give light now by their effectual operations you know which is the true fire and the true Sun Besides the true Sun will discover false painted suns and the true fire will burn up the false so will the true Spirit of Christ discover judge and condemn all other false spirits But Quest. How doth this Spirit of Christ convince and bring in and then keep in the way Answ. 1. Mouendo by inlightning our intellect informing our mindes with his counsel and admonitions he leads us with open eyes Psal. 32.8 And the wisemans eyes are in his head Christ This is the first work of the Spirits illumination Eph. 1.18 He makes us to see an amiableness in the Lords Tabernacles above all other tents Thus our understanding is filled with light Col. 1.9 So as that we see the object which moves the will and affections that we spake before of to be the attractivum bonum the best good and then 2. Movendo the Spirit inclines our hearts moves our wills and makes us resolved in this way of Christ before the Spirit took us up as upon Mount Pisgah that is by divine contemplation to
But after this Brother hath delivered himselfe at large having the more liberty because he leads as it were others and declared his clear satisfaction and undoubted perswasion to walk in the way whereinto hee is now entring as the very way of Christ appointed for beleevers to worship God in as the will of God wherein he is confident upon a Scripture and Spiritual account that he pleases God Then follows some others of the ablest of the Brethren for herein care must bee had in publike lest the weaknesse of a Brother give advantage to them without to harden their hearts against the truth and lest thereby Christ should suffer in his honour and the Church in her happinesse I say such Brethren as are ablest to speake are appointed for that one day being so publike And these as Jeshua Bani Sherebiah Jamin c. read in the Scriptures the Law of Christ distinctly I mean they lay down the Scriptures and grounds of their satisfaction and full perswasion to enter into this way as that which Jesus Christ our Law-giver hath laid out and they declare their sense and judgements and then proceed as the former Brother did in rendring a reason of that lively hope which is in them by Confession of faith Experiences of the worke of Grace and the like declaring their cleaving to the Lord in this way with full purpose of heart Thus as many as are appointed and thought fit for that day doe goe on one by one in order as they are set out and possibly on this day but few as eight or ten or more or lesse may be appointed and in the number for the first because the worke is this day the most difficult the most publike and must be most especially regarded and wisely and watchfully carried on Besides as Ainsworth sayes the Church is small at first a little graine of mustard-seed which is the least of all seeds Mat. 13.32 and as Israel once was the fewest of all peoples Deut. 77. Christ began but with two at first and God hath promised to take them but one of a City and two of a Tribe Jer. 3.14 and these are the poore despised contemptible ones of the world too for the most part 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28. and it shal be said of Sion Psal. 87.5 6. This or that man was born there so that not numbers are to bee expected or indeed to be desired at first but rather to be a little stone cut without hands and growing greater and greater and so a little one shal become a thousand After they be gone thus far some will have a formal Covenant in writing brought forth for these to subscribe and so all others as they enter but a Covenant they have taken and engagement made before which may be will appear sufficient when wee come in the following Chapters to speake of the Covenant But after all this is done their names are taken together into the Register Nehem. 7.5 Act. 1.15 upon Record against whom no exceptions could be made as before and these doe by prayer together give themselves up unto God and one to another willingly 2 Cor. 8.5 to worship the Lord and to walke together with him as a Church and to serve him in all his will revealed to them as such whom the Father hath picked out for that purpose Joâ— 4 23. 1 Pet. 2 9. and to bee helpfull to one another in particular and to the whole body in general according to their duties mentioned in the Statute-book of Christ which is alwayes to lye open before their eyes And to conclude this busie day they poure out prayers and praises in such a measure that as it was said of Israel in Ezra 3.13 when the Foundation of the Temple was laid that they could not discerne the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of weeping both were so great So here it may bee said the Saints are so filled with praises and with prayers that the noise of the one can hardly be discerned from the noise of the other And as upon the reading of the Law in Nehem. 13.13 separation was presently practised from the mixed multitude so that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude so these are now a people no more to be reckoned among the Nations without but such as are separated from the mixed multitude As for other Brethren and the Sisters which are to bee admitted they doe make their Confession of Faith and as wee have heard before declare their full satisfaction and clear the worke of God upon their hearts by his Spirit in private I meane when these people thus enchurchedâ—together â—together are alone by themselves separate from the mixed multitude being now a Church in visible order And their admission is most proper so because the world should take no notice of their weaknesse in utterance or expression or the like whereby to upbraid them and the truth But this I purpose to speak to afterward in the mean time I and hundreds of the godly with me must needs be much offended at the practise of some that run preposterously into a way of fellowship without any rule laid downe or any Law of Christ read and opened upon which they embody together clearing nothing of the way first to give satisfaction to such as sit in darknesse to it but without any day of humiliation or due preparation for this weighty worke without any solemne prayers and serious self-examinations on a sudden in an hours warning or two and in some place or other too that is unknowne to any but themselves they write down their names together choose officers and all at once and so in an houre or two's time make up a Body and call themselves a Church and then all that will be joyned must bee joyned to them that are thus jumbled together in darknesse and in a most undecent and undue order but let them remember that in 1 Chron. 15.23 The Lord made a breach upon them for that they sought him not after the due order as Dike saith The failing in a prescribed formality which some would think nothing and that God regards not causes a breach upon them instead of a blessing so precisely strict is God to require the most solemne order too in the most solemne Ordinances and so quick-sighted a Judge he is in small prevarications in such cases For as to goe and fetch the Arke and to enquire of God at it was an Ordinance of God but to neglect the solemnity of carrying it and to carry it in a Cart hurrying and not on their shoulders and to neglect to sanctifie themselves for that service but to runne to it hand over head was not Gods order So also this Church-gathering or uniting together into a Gospel Church-state is an undeniable and solemne Ordinance of God and Law of Christ but to doe it without any seriousnesse solemnity
the Persons that are taken in First The power is the Churches not the Elders or Officers as some would assert to which I cannot assent because that the Keyes were given to the Church and left with them Mat. 16.19 John 20.23 And whom ye receive shall be received whom ye loose or give liberty to shall be loosed and whom ye restrain shall be restrained The words are read in the plural number in John 20. and in Matth. 16. spoken to Peter as the Representative of the rest of the Disciples and in the room of the whole Church as appears from Vers. 15. and 20. where he speaks to all and we finde the Church ever took this Power in the places before mentioned So Acts 9.26 c. and in Revel 2.2 saith the Lord to the Church of Ephesus Thou tryest or examinest them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them liers Now as Perkins upon the place sayes Christ gave every one of the seven Churches and so Ephesus as well as any other power and authority to take in or keep out or cast out obstinate sinners from partaking with them in their spiritual and special priviledges else he would not have commended them for executing this Power Doctor Ames in his Medul Theol. lib. 1. cap. 37. sect 6. saith Potestas quoad jus pertinet ad ecclesiam illam in communi pertinet enim ad illos ejicere pertinet ad illos admittere c. The power by right is the Churches in common for it belongs to them to cast out and to admit Members c. this is most certain And Mr. Dudly Fenner de Sacr. Theol. l. 7. p. 277 278. affirms for affairs that concern the whole body and matters of publick moment that they are to be done in the Assembly by the authority of the whole Church and if the people have any thing to offer or any thing to object or exhort or counsel they have their liberty and after that the matters are to be determined when they have been heard to speak all they can and have given their consent Now I say Officers have not the power to admit or exclude Clave non errante for as Acts 15.22 It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church c. The whole Church had the knowledge of it the voting in it and consenting to it the Elders neither had nor have any absolute power in themselves and therefore can do nothing on their own heads that concerns the whole as hath been spoken in Cap. 8. of the first Book and is like to be at large discussed in the third Book The Church hath the power and authority positively seated in her â—ui inest virtus authoritas essentialiter necessario which she may execute by her self which is always best and safest or by her servants that derive it from her Quibus inest contingenter accidentaliter minus principaliter sayes Dr. Whitaker de Cavil q. 5. p. 178 179. Now if by her servants as from her then let the Church be sure to set orders and limits for her officers in the execution of their derived or borrowed power that they may know they are but servants and not masters and are to be ordered by the Church not to order the Church For all are yours saith the Apostle to the Church of Corinth all whether Paul Apollo's or Cephas all yours to serve you Now in this sence we consent to a derivative power in Officers if need be to prepare matters for the Churches judgement and they may make way ready for the admission of Members as by inquiring into their lives questioning with the persons propounding them to the Church and the like but neither by taking any in nor putting any by nor the like for that Power is absolutely in the Body to admit and judge fit Thus Cyprian Epistolarum lib. 1. epist. 3. And I am much mistaken if Master Hooker grants not as much in his Survey of Church-Discipline Part. 3. chap. 1. but whether he does or no that is all one to me the thing is proved 2. The Persons to be admitted or taken in are chiefly to lie under consideration which are men or women Wherein as Mr. Hooker hath it two things are to be attended 1. What is to be done before 2. What in their admission First What is to be done before The person or persons that does earnestly desire to be admitted makes his desire known to the Elder or some Officer or Brother who acquaints the Church therewith then order is given to take his name into the first Record among those that have been propounded for admission and the person is desired to come on another day In the mean time the Church gives order to some Officers or others to inquire strictly and to inform the Church carefully and honestly of the persons life the uprightness of his conversation his carriage to them without and to them within at home and abroad and what report he hath among those that fear the Lord As also to deal with the said person at some time by conference and questions and to gather what he can of his knowledge and acquaintance in the things of God For the hottest Presbyterians Mr. Rutherford himself admits of this That they ought to be neither scandalous nor ignorant wherefore a searching enquiry must be made of them Now I confess I cannot finde this work with the New England Brethren to be onely the Elders and those that do it to entrench upon the place of the Elders but such as the Church appoints thereunto have a sufficient call and do but their duty therein Now the day appointed being come and nothing appears scandalous or sufficient to the Church to keep him off any longer after this sufficient time of information he is then called in to be admitted But some may say before I step further stay Sir Quest. What is it you count sufficient to keep one off Answ. This hath been at large discussed in the former Book Chapter 5. But in a word If he lives in any known sin either in commissions of evil or omissions of his known duty and makes this his practise Why he professes himself sayes Mr. Hooker thereby not free to submit to the Laws of Christ nor fit to be his subject nor to enjoy the priviledges of his Kingdom not obeying the Authority of his Scepter Nay by such a sinful life in case he had crept into the Church he did enough to be cast out again Secondly what is to be done now in admitting them The Church appoints whom to speak who is usually the Pastor as the mouth of the Church and this the rather to restrin the wantonness and pride as Mr. Hooker hath it of some mens spirits which are ready to impede the progress and profit of Gods ordinance in admitting Members by asking
or keep out any and 2. Let all be done in the wisdom of grace and by the discretion and direction of the Spirit and Thirdly To do all for peace and pieties sake for order and edification And Fourthly Let all be done in deep love and with sweetnesse of spirit in meeknesse and humility without rashnesse or roughnesse These things observed such a forme as wee before spake of will not keep a good Christian out of the Church who is more to eye the substance then the circumstance But of this more hereafter Secondly Or if any is to be admitted that is very unable to speake in publike I mean in the Church as some Maids and others that are bashful or the like Then the Church chooses out some whom she sees fit against the next Assembly to take in private the account of Faith the evidences of Gods worke of grace upon his or her heart which they either take in writing and bring in into the Church or else which is most approved when that person is to be admitted they doe declare by word of mouth whilst some easie questions are notwithstanding asked of him or her for the Churches satisfaction and for the confirmation of what was before delivered in private to the brethren and then declaring his or her clear satisfaction in and full perswasion of this way of Christ the party withdraws untill it be debated and when all consent to his admittance and all objections and scruples are answered and every one declares his consent to accept of him into fellowship with them by some token or other the person is called in againe and the Pastor most ordinarily or whom the Church appoints in his absence to receive him with the right hand of fellowship in the name of the whole Church using a short Exhortation and requiring some resolution which is often done by a formal Covenant from him to cleave close unto the Lord in this way and to his utmost power to walk as becometh his calling the Faith which he professes in all the Rules of the Gospel and under all the Lawes of Jesus Christ which are or shall bee manifested unto him After admission as they end with prayer and praiseâ— so the persons or person now newly admitted must be mentioned especially to the Lord. If any before I goe further should aske me why wee are so strict to have a threefold testimony for all we admit it is to keep out scandalous and ignorant persons as much as we can which makes us so strict and yet we are very tender as I told you before of tying any to a forme or of putting any by that we can judge truly godly Mr. Rutherford in his Right of Presbyteries Lib. 2. pag. 296. requires Profession to be of that nature that it may notifie to the Church that there is indeed saving faith in the soules of such as professe and that they be invisible Saints who desire to joyne themselves members to a visible Church Therefore it is the Church is bound to have her eyes in her head and in an orderly way as Mr. Hooker saith to informe her selfe as fully as she can of the fitnesse of them that she takes in lest she break the Laws of Christ and bring a scandal upon the order of the Gospel Obj. In receiving women you will have them that are able to doe it to make their account of Faith and give out some experience of saving grace on their souls and so to speak in the Church which the Apostle forbids 1 Cor. 14. Answ. Though we shall speak to that more hereafter yet at present I answer onely thus That women are forbid to speak by way of Teaching or Ruling in the Church but they are not forbid to speak when it is in obedience and subjection to the Church for this suits with their sexes as in this case to give account of faith or the like to answer to any questions that the Church asks or the like But I shall answer to this at large afterward because it is so much opposed Quest. What if wee bee to receive a member of another Church Answ. First He must make it appeare that he is so and then Secondly That hee hath liberty from them to joyn with you and is free from any Church-censure and so Thirdly He must have the Testimony of a Church of Christ which will be sufficient to recommend him unlesse there be any suspicion of the person and then for the Churches satisfaction several questions may bee propounded but be sure he hath a recommendation from the Church or at least some Church-members or other as can upon their owne knowledge testifie for him so 2 Cor. 8.18 The brother whose praise is through all the Churches and so Rom. 16.1 Col. 4.13 Eph. 6.21 The Disciples were very cautious of Paul and would not admit him Act. 19.27 till Barnabas did bear a testimony to him which is very large and so exiled the jealousies and fears that they before had of him Thus the Church is to seek such satisfaction as suits with the rule of Christ of all that are admitted and must require therefore some report of the worke of God in them and of the frame of their Spirits tâ—wards him as hath been said before unlesse they bee members of other Churches recommended by a full and satisfactory testimony from a true Church of Christ. But before I conclude this Chapter there bee one or two grand Objections to answer Object First But you take in members such as you judge godly without baptizing them which the Apostles never did in primitive times but first baptised then admitted Answ. First Those that were baptized as Act. 2.41 and 8.12 c. before admitted were such as never were before baptised but those members which we admit have been baptized already which is but once to be administred and never to bee repeated because of the stability of the Covenant of grace and his gifts and calling are without repentance and there is but one Faith one Baptisme Eph. 4. and by this configuramur morti Christi now Christ dyed but once and this is our initiation too Now I say such have been baptized already and they must not be baptized againe And for this see Euseb. Eccl. Hist. Lib. 7. cap. 8. Perkin 1. Vol. p. 75. cap. 34. August lib. 3. cap. 2. contra Petil. Secondly But in Act. 19.4 5. we hear of some Disciples baptized again Answ. First Because they were before washed indeed but answer 1 not baptized but onely to Johns washing Vers. 3. that is first in Johns name which was not Christs institution and therefore none of his Hence it is in Vers. 5. they were baptized now in the name of Jesus Christ but those members wee admit have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and then Secondly The Holy Ghost had not yet fallen on them in answer 2 Vers.
with them till a positive warrant for it in the word I say let them but consider this latter baptisme of theirs will be found guilty on the same grounds they charge ours viz. unlawfully administred or by an unlawfull administrator or one not lawfully called to it Some doe it as if they had extraordinary warrant for it whilst extraordinary officers had their Call and Commission immediately from heaven which they cannot prove but we can prove they are ceased Others doe it upon their own private motion and meer supposition that any gifted brother or ordinary disciple that by his gifts and instruction hath won any to this opinion hee may baptize him and so make him sure but if so why did Christ ordain officers and set them in his Church for this purpose and no man saith the Apostle taketh this honour to himselfe but he that is called of God Indeed I did much wonder at the boldnesse of one in Dublin to doe this and yet knowne to be a man of a most dissolute carriage and conversation for cursing and swearing and blaspheming saying A pox upon all Ordinances and Formes and he would downe with them and the Devil take prayers in such desperate wayes as would make an honest mans heart ake and a man of a most malicious spirit studying to doe mischiefe as indeed most of that judgement there are to all that are not over head and ears in with them in their opinion thereby they bring a very great scandal upon the Gospel and hereby they make many enemies to the way they are in as if it could not bee of God but these things are their shame the Lord humble them for it for in these things they exceed all others of that practise that ever I met with whilst many of that judgement here in London other places may be set for eminent examples both to them at Dublin and us here of sweetnesse patience humility obedience self-denial and love even to all Saints and indeed such in whom my soule much rejoyces and hath been much refreshed but I do not finde what lawfull call they have that do administer this Ordinance of Baptisme anew to any And it is not the purse of a True-man in the hands of a Thiefe that makes the Thiefe a True-man But In the last place to bring up the Reare and so all judgements into one that is in the Spirit Sure none can deny but those truly spirituallized in Christ Jesus have the efficacy of baptisme though they were baptised in their infancy which is a Spiritu sancto the inward worke with the outward washing the inward grace and baptisme of the Spirit within 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 3.6 an insition or incorporation into Christ himselfe Now what can we desire but this in any member that is to be admitted so that grant there were many failings in the outward administration as long as we see so good successe and such a blessing with it though much might be omitted in the outward order of it which might make us judge therefore the Ordinance the lesse useful and more uneffectual but I say as long as we finde the fruit and effect of baptisme to follow this Ordinance in a lively manner upon their soules we are satisfied This covers all former failings and the outward is swallowed up in the inward which is that that we account qualifies them and us and fits them and all for orderly admission and not the outward dipping which many make and call their fundamental Ordinance without which they say they must have no communion with us though wee bee ever so holy or godly Oh I fear such set up the Forme too much and make as meer an Idol of that as others doe or did of Infant-baptisme by attributing to that very empty signe nothing in its selfe Circumcision is nothing nor uncircumcision but a new creature in Christ Gal. 5. what is only to be attributed to Christs baptisme of the Spirit and to his power and powring out from on high And lest I should be thought to censure too severely I shall insert a Letter which was sent to some members of the Church at Dublin with whom I walked there to some few members that those of Waterford held private correspondence with on purpose to break us which they both threatned by the Captaine that brought it and endeavoured by instruments which they had a◠worke on purpose in private places with those members to whom they writ this Letter which was indeed of dangerous consequence and did much mischief in the body and made a sore rent at first from us by some whose judgement were blinded though blessed be our God that keeps us night and day the little Foxes were catched and could not root us up and all the effect was to draw that party from us a great mercy to us who were so rigid in judgement against us who did lamentably raile upon us and cruelly afflict and wrong us that would not run rashly with them into that way But as Paul said of Jannes and Jambres their madnesse is made to appear to all A Letter from Waterford The Church of Christ in Waterford walking in the faith and order of the Gospel do wish all grace and peace to the Saints in Dublin Beloved Friends WE hearing that there were many of you that do not onely beleeve but have professedly put on the Lord Jesus Christ by * Baptisme did think it our duty in the bowels of love to enquire of your estate and we hear that you doe not walke up orderly together but are joyned in fellowship with such as do fundamentally differ in judgement and practise to wit such as agree not with you about the true state of a visible Church nor the fundamental Ordinances thereof Now the Prophet saith Can two walk together except they are agreed but that we may manifest to you beloved that wee have a ground and occasion of griefe and offence at your so walking as we shall make appeare from cleare sight of Scripture Consider the Commission in that of Mat. 28 19.20.* where Christ layeth down an order that is binding which is this That they should teach all Nations baptising them teaching them to observe whatsoever he had commanded them ye see here is an orderly way commended to teach to the Nations secondly to baptise such as are taught and thirdly to teach such as are baptised to observe whatsoever Christ had commanded that is as we understand all the Laws of Gods house the baptised person is to submit unto and by the Ministers taught the observation of and this Order is binding And secondly It appears the Apostles did so understand the Commission because they taught and practised this Order and this onely to wit first preached to conversion then baptised Thirdly put them in the practical observation of what Christ had commanded in and to his Church Againe else the Ordinance of the Supper would be prophaned
same for matter and substance made by all An Account of Faith as it was made and given in by word of Mouth on the Eighth day of the Eighth Moneth 1651. In a Publick Meeting-place at Dublin upon his entrance into Church-fellowship there By J. R. c. I Acknowledge and profess from my very heart before the Lord and you all here present That I do believe there is but one God who is omnipotent omniscient omni-present and an infinite and all-glorious Being and distinguished into three subsistences or if that word offend I will say into three personal proprieties and relations according to his several operations and administrations namely of the Father Son and Holy Ghost The Father is of himself the Son proceedeth from the Father and the Spirit from them both And although the Saints cannot take hold of God as God incomprehensible and inapprehensible yet they know him as a Father as a Son as a Spirit dwelling in them and so far as his several attributes makes him known to them First Concerning the first Person so called of the Trinity or God the Father that he is the great Creator and Governor of all things in Heaven and Earth eternally distinct as in himself from all Creatures as Creatures in his absolute Being and absolute Well-Being And that this God shall judge the World But Secondly Concerning the second in the Trinity the Son Jesus Christ of whom Moses the Prophets and the Apostles wrote and in whom all the Scriptures are and shall be fulfilled I believe him as he is both God and Man making a compleat Mediator and as God equal to the Father as Man of the tribe of Judah the line of David the seed of Abraham and born of Mary c. And as both the onely Mediator between God and Man And he was from everlasting and yet as Man from the Womb he was separated called appointed and anointed most fully with all gifts and graces necessary for all mankinde Concerning his Offices That he is King Priest and Prophet First As the Prophet he hath revealed his Fathers whole will so far as is necessary to Salvation in his Word and Ordinances and speaks it to his Church and Saints by his Word and Spirit Secondly As Priest being consecrated for us he hath appeared to put away sin and hath offered himself the sacrifice for the sins of the people once for all laying down his life for his sheep and he hath absolutely abolished all legal and Ceremonial rites and shadows and is now entred into the Holy of Holies and sits at the right hand of glory making intercession for us Thirdly As King in general all power is given him in Heaven and Earth and he doth exercise his power over men and Angels good and bad for the safety of his Saints and destruction of his enemies till he hath made them all his foot-stool In particular that Christ is King over his Church and shall reign on Earth spiritually in the hearts of his Saints and by his Word and Spirit he gathers all his peoples together from Idolatry Superstition Darkness c. into his own Spiritual way of worship and holiness and brings them to the Father and by his Spirit he makes them a peculiar people a royal Priesthood a holy generation and instructs and governs them by his Laws prepared for his Church and people Thirdly Concerning the Spirit the third of the Trinity that he is sent by the Father and the Son to make application of the whole work of Redemption to those whom the Father hath given to the Son by his decree and whom the Son hath brought to the Father by his blood according to the everlasting Covenant made between the Father and the Son which the Spirit carries on to us as the Covenant of Free-grace for our Salvation By the operation of this holy Spirit in me This Grace was begun first by and through the Law which awakned me so as that I saw I was lost and undone for ever and then by the Gospel whereby Christ was revealed to me and in me by his Spirit and his righteousness cleared up mine But of this hereafter This Spirit applyed Christ Jesus as far as I knew him manifested to and in me by which I was brought at length to close with Christ and that so unfainedly that I resolved to loose all before Christ. So such are First by Christs righteousness justified Secondly by his Spirit adopted sons Thirdly by his Grace sanctified and really changed to the piety and purity of Gods holy Image gradually and Fourthly Glorified and changed from misery to happiness which begins in the inward sence of Gods soul-melting love to them in Christ from whence is the hope of glory and assurance of salvation joy peace and happiness within c. Fifthly Concerning the Scriptures in Old and New Testament they are the Word of God as they were writ and indited by the holy Spirit and that they are the standing rule left us both for our knowledge and practise doctrine and Discipline here below Sixthly I believe that by the first Adams disobedience we all fell and that we are all by nature the children of wrath dead in sins and trespasses and that those who live and dye in their sins cannot be saved nor any without regeneration or new birth Seventhly Concerning the Church of Christ I know it is but one Body Universal and Catholick and that is of all Saints past present and to come invisible and visible yea spiritual and formal But this I also believe that God hath left a rule in his Word for Particular Congregational Churches here upon Earth as the visible to make up his one intire and universal Body Eighthly Now concerning Christs particular Churches I believe as I have preached and proved such a Church to be a Fellowship called out of the world and united to Christ As Members to the head and all one with another according to the Word for the worship of God and the edification one of another and that such must be separate from false ways worships Antichristian superstitions observancies c. and willingly joyn in Christian Communion and Covenant or resolution of cleaving close to the Lord in this his way with purpose of heart and by free confession of their Faith and subjection to the Gospel and therein especially I believe That the Ordinances of Christ are to be freely and frequently dispenced as preaching praying prophecying one by one Singing of Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Sacraments Censures Offices and Officers and often and ordinary exercising of gifts And that there is a chusing of and setting apart Officers by the whole Body and that none doth orderly do the office of a Minister among them but such and besides to omit many other things and bring all up in this rear I do really believe that such orderly Churches have priviledges royal oracles and seals and
precious promises of Gods love presence and protection in a special mâ—nner more then all the world besides And although particular Churches be distinct and Independent Bodies even as Cities compact Temples Houses c. yet all Churches must walk by the same rule and have counsel and comfort and help from one another when need requires as being all Members of one Body of which Christ is the Head And to conclude I am fully perswaded in my very soul that at the day of judgement when the dead shall arise that I shall arise also and shall rejoyce in Jesus Christ my Saviour and reign with him for ever and sing Hallelujah for all Eternity in the Congregation of the first-born where the Spirits of just men are made perfect And this is my Faith fetched from my vâ—ry heart and presented in the hearing of a heart-searching God and all of you here present Thus after satisfaction is given to the Church of their sound faith I finde no other thing necessary for this fifth Chapter wherein I have been prolix but I hope profitably CHAP. VI. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chasid Every oâ—e to be ADMITTED gives out some EXPERMENTAL Eviâ—ences of the work of GRACE upon his SOUL for the Church to judge of whereby he or she is convinced that he is regenerate and received of God which is proved and approved by about forty examples of worth IT is said of Christ Mark. 7.24 That he could not be hid neither can grace nor the Spirit of Christ which is known vel per revelationem vel per operationem either First by Revelation as when God reveals it to a poor soule under extraordinary sad temptations and soule-miseries by extraordinary wayes many times in dreams and visions and voices c. all which you shall finde instanced by and by this way to some he takes to comfort them and recover them and to acquaint them as he did Paul 2 Cor. 12.9 that his grace was sufficient for them Or else secondly by the operation of the Spirit per aliqua signa in the wonder-working and changing effects of grace for then thou hatest those lusts that hinder thee of Christ and then thou longest vehemently after Christ and lovest the meanes of grace and livest in the workes of grace and findest a great change in thy judgement will and affections now and canst look up chearfully as to thy Father now being delivered from the bondage of feare and canst come with an humble boldnesse by the Spirit of adoption and say Father I want a new Coat I must have one viz. Christs garment and I must have a new Booke viz. the Book of life c. and thou canst finde a power in thee more then before for to resist sinne and temptation and a readinesse to obey Act. 2.41 and do any thing for God out of fondnes and sincerity of love to him yea thou contemnest worldly things and thinkest them below thee and eatest hidden manna Rev. 2.17 and hast the white stone and the new name which none knows but he that receives the sweetnesse of which thou tastest and canst tell it by experience which is by no others to be known And such kinde of experiences I could produce abundance and intended it but that I am this very week prevented by a little piece tituled Spiritual experiences of sundry Beleevers recommended by Mr. Powel yet how ever I shall instance in some of both these sorts of Experiences in such as are the most remarkable and picked out as they were given in at Dublin by such as were admitted the rather for that I finde not the like of some of them ever put forth for publick advantage and I beleeve they are some of the flowers of the Spring in these dayes But before this we must prove this practise warantable out of the word of God for I would not willingly offer any thing but what is Gods owne and in Gods order Now to a poore soule all such things as are in the soule are made known by experiences experience we say proves principles A mans principles are known and experienced by his actions as we know how the will stands by what it wills Homo pâ—r actus experitur principia intrinseca But to the thing it will appear by the word that the Saints are to hold out their experiences to others yea in the open Congregations and then we shall shew you the reasons and so to the examples to the proofes first by precept and practise by precept as Matth. 8.4 when Christ had cleansed the Leper he bid him â—oe and shew it for a testimony and Matth. 28.7 the Angels bid Mary Magdalen goe quickly and tell the Disciples that Christ whom yee seeke is risen Go tell them it and Verse 10. Christ meeting with the Maries renews the precept Goe tell them my brethren for all that I am risen yet they are my brethren Goe tell them c. for now yee know it and have seen me and can assuredly say that I am risen Joel 1.3 Tell your children and let their children tell your children and their children another generation And this is observed among the Jewes at this day out of Deut. 6.7 and to adde more solemnity to the commemoration of Gods Law and their deliverance from Aegypt c. they write it downe in a peece of Parchment and then rowling it up superscribe it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shaddai and fastened it to the wall or the post of the doore the right hand of the entrance and as often as thâ—y goe in and out they touch it and kisse it with great affection and devotion This also lyes commanded Psal. 34.8 Come taste and see that the Lord is good and 1 Thess. 5.11 Comfort your selves together and edifie one another even as alâ—o ye doe This is excellent to edification and consolation to tell what God hath done for thy soul for hereby many receive benefit and may meet with the like and other comforts who have met with the like Besides there be abundance of Scriptures to prove the practise of this as in Psal. 26.6 7. I will tell of all thy wondrous works yea Psal. 66.19 Come and heare sayes he all yee that feare the Lord and I will declare what he hath done for my soule for Verse 19. Verily God hath heard me and hath not turned away his mercy from me So that it is no new thing to tell our experiences in publicke to the whole Church and in the society of Saints I wish it were more in practise for the rich discoveries of grace in Christ and many wonderfull various wayes of Gods working in these dayes in his Saints would thereby be laid open But see further Psal. 18 30. The way of God is perfect sayes David God is a rocke faithfull c. How knowest thou this David O sayes he I have tried it the word of the
faith of ruddy complexions lively and vigorous before but tossed about but now at anchor before afraid to lift up their quivering hands and trembling eyes but now boldly wrastling with Omnipotency its selfe before durst not draw nigh the Lord but now durst run into his armes and leap into his lap before came but behinde to touch the hem of his garment Scriptures and Ordinances but now O they can look him on the face and flye into his bosome with embraces before they durst not touch a promise and scarcely cast an eye upon a promise but now they covetously claim all graspe greedily and appropriate for their own all before their performances were green and unfit but now mellowed with the hot Sun-beams and are sweet mature fruits O how they can snap asunder now those arrows that before made them bleed at the heart now they can quench those fiery darts that formerly wounded them so deep and whereas before they were under bondage and went a begging now they have an assurance they are free and can command Command ye me saith the Lord in Isay O blessed people what a change is here from Mount Sinai to Mount of Olives that drops fatness where Christ is found transfigured Matth. 17. Now by their experiences you shall heare how they attained to this top of the Mount and have many remarkable Marks and evidences and yet so as they will neither themselves nor would they have you to confide in those testimonies as infallible for Hypocrites may goe far in these latter but not in the former It is not their new change from sinne to grace from uncleanness to holiness from creature to Christ from conflicts to peace from darkness to light from bondage to liberty from Sinai to Sion from carnal-courses companions c. to spiritual that causes their assurance but their assurance rather causes these and makes this glorious change and these happy flowings of joy and peace It is dangerous to place assurance in mortification of sinne and dying to our former lusts or in vivification and living a new another life such as are legally enlightned may lay hold on Promises claspe about Christ cry out away with their lusts meet with some soul-meltings in praying preaching reading or the like and long after the Ordinances and taste a sweetness in them and what not and yet be under darkness doubts fears c. for there is something within that fetters and manacles them till they are under the ministration of the Gospel for as we know green wood with fire in it besets the room with smoake and fills all and so some poor hearts whose principles are yet too sensual and full of our sap which may have many sparkes of the Law and Curses for sinne kindled in them but they will be fuller of smoak then of light till the Spirit comes And yet such smoaking-flax is not to be quenched but blown up Wherefore I say this makes not assurance they are all in the darke and smoake yet yet we cannot deny but that the times of Assurance are times of great change and alteration the prison-doors are set open the iron-bolts knocked off the captives at liberty yea they are sealing and setling times ad corroborandum Titulum they are times of the soules victory and triumph over lusts Rev. 2.17 and with the Virgin-company of following the Lamb whither soever he goeth they are times of trampling on all things below and keeping the moon under foot yea they are watching and working and warning and arming times too and times of breathing after full possession c. and all this and more too will appeare in the experiences of Saints O what stories can they tell even a new Canticles what Jubiles love songs and soule-raptures doe they meet with then is Aurora gaudii growing more and more to a perfect day Now so far as we can judge of it by the rule of charity we have matter enough afforded us in the historical and demonstrable part of their experiences It is well noted by one Donn fol. 658. of the Evangelist John who was wrapt up so much into the Divinity of Christ of all other that he does ordinarily double that asseveration so often in Christs mouth viz. Amen Amen Verily Verily I say unto you c. whilst the other Evangelists mention it but Verily I say unto you c. so is it that the more we are beloved of God and the nearer we are come to Christ to ly in his bosome and the more we are swallowed up in his Divinity the further we are from single assertions of truth and the more wee meet with and manifest to others double testimonies of Gods love and our assurance which like some precious mineral-waters will not onely mundifie the ulcers but comfort the sores cool the heat supple the wounds stop the infection from going further and by degrees will heal all Now the fuller we are of the love of Christ and the more we are in his Divinity the more assuredly wee assert it and confidently wee â—ver it even as it were by double testimonies and are nothing ashamed to shew our assurance as much as we can expresse it by our experiences But thus for this first Reason wherein I have been the longer because the Point is so usefull and excellent to all Saints of all judgements but I shall be now shorter To the second Reason Secondly True experiences puffe not up as Col. 3.18 c. but teach humility and self-denial for then they know man reason 2 hath nothing to boast of for this end had Paul experience of Sathans buffets of thornes in the flesh of great afflictions of violent temptations and strong corruptions of smart blows from the Devils fingers and such as came so thicke that hee could hardly take breath lest he should have been exalted and puffed up in 2 Cor. 12.17 for then we are most fit for use when we are most humble and kept low And it is observed that the very Turkes at this day doe pretend the pride of the Hungarians and of the Epirots or Albanians to make them unfit for Slaves wherefore when they take them they torment them to death most cruelly of all others So doubtlesse their destruction is most desperate and the Devill takes a great advantage to put to death such without pity that are in his hands who are exalted by their experiences and Diotrephes-like loving a preheminence seek with a corrupt desire to be some body in the eyes and opinions of others Without infinite mercy and deliverance this will ruine us and thus the hearts of many Hypocrites and Professors are puffed up and swell out with conceits that they excell others Such the Apostle speaks of 1 Cor. 4.18 19. and Col. 2.18 Let no man beguile you who is vainly puffed by his fleshly minde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is let him not Lord it and brave it as
made me I could not tell what to say until once that I had a sweet dream which hath done my soul good to this day and in my dream I was told that Gods love was free in Christ Jesus I need not fear for his grace was granted in Christ and he puts none by that comes This proved to me a sure comfort in Christ that I was one of them that could not be put by but reâ—â—ived to mercy to this day but afterward I went into New-England and had much comfort from them and their Ministers and was affected with their way but by reason I could not before bring my Wife and Family over thither with me I came home again hither to my Wife and Family whom I found I thank God all well and living and ever since I have been here but walking alone and very desolate for want of such a society as this and I shall now much rejoyce if I may be one with you in this onenesse of love and spirit which I perceive you are in Experience of Francis Bishop MY earnest desire is that I may be worthy to have fellowship with you in Christ as for my Experiences they are many more then I can tell you in a long time My first main worke upon my spirit was suddenly and it was upon an Alarme given whilst I was in the Troop which took such successe that I lay all under an apprehension of Gods wrath upon me and was much cast down so that though I prayed and prayed yet I could not look up and had no confidence but confusion was before my face Presently after I came to Town here and was impeached upon an Article of War for to lose my life and I was imprisoned for the breach of it by all which I was in the apprehension of Hell about me and could doe nothing but weep and moan and pray sometimes and I counted my life as lost and yet was more troubled under the wrath of God then the wrath of man but it pleased God to give me great comfort even whilst I was thus in despaire and moaning one night in my bed of a sudden the room was all alight and I saw my selfe as in a lightning and being terrified I looked till I saw it written in these words Thy sinnes are pardoned and thy life is bid with Christ in God this comforted me much in that extraordinary trouble and despair which I was in but yet for want of faith this comfort did not continue with me for I thought after that that I saw God with a wrathful countenance and I could not dare to look upon him and the next news that I heard was that I was condemned to be shot to death O then I cannot expresâ— the terrours that I was in my woful misery was such that neither the reading of the Scriptures nor prayers nor the promises would do me any good for I could not beleeve I had a right to them I could not lay hold on them and in this woful misery I lay a condemned man both in soule and body and so lay lamenting When I turned open the Bible in Joel 2.13 and saw it thus written Turn to the Lord YOUR GOD for your God is gracious c. merciful slow to anger and of great kindnesse and repenteth him of the evill with that pondering a while upon it said I and is he such a God well then he is my God and with that I gave my selfe up into his hands to doe what he would with me yet he should be my God and so I resolved and was setled and satisfied but after this I was set free out of prison and though I thought this had been enough yet for all this I found much opposition afterwards in me against God which I did not thinke could have been but I was grievously wounded for it and could have no quiet but went to Mr. W. about it and he told me I had fallen from my first works I must repent which rent my heart and I had no rest I returned from him and applied to prayer and kept that course continually to pray and by little and little I was recovered out of that condition and I praise God since I have seen him smile and looke kindly on me and know that he loves mee and I am sure of my pardon in Jesus Christ on whose merits I relye in whose righteousnesse I rest and by his grace I am now set free to serve him Experience in Mihil made out by John Jecock Captain I Can say something and shall give out some account of Gods working upon me at the first when I was in a wretched state and without God in the world Once as I was walking alone by my selfe God did call to me and began to open and reveal himselfe to me but my heart was hardened and I refusing mercy at that time the Law laid hold upon me very fiercely and I was so terrified in my spirit and my conscience did so reprove me that I was afraid even of every bush and tree that I met with in the darke still I could have no rest nor quiet having refused mercy when it was lovingly tendered to me which I thought was so great a sin that it could not be forgiven me but yet I continued praying alwaies almost and heard the means and one time being in this affliction hard praying and with fervency of spirit seeking God there came and shone such light round about me and in such a way that I could not hold but my heart was full and all admiring I most wondered how the Lord should set his love so on me on such a one as I after this I was full of refreshment and have been by faith wonderfully carried out and I can see God doing great things in mee and for me Truly at sometimes I have had some sweet refreshments after troubles since and I find some enlightments in me oftentimes but nothing to the first which was so sweet that it was extreme glorious After that I was made ever more cautious of company and conversation and ever since that sweet manifestation of love as often as I offended God though but a little it strucke home to my heart and I was very sensible of it ever since and very carefull in my walkings Experience of John Cooper I Have longed to enter into this fellowship ever since January 4. last being the Lords day in the night time after prayers and many troubles I had earnestly praying to be confirmed in faith and fully perswaded for some way or other to walk in which the Lord was best pleased with and after prayer I slept and so continued in one sleep untill about five a clock in the morning having had this Dream that I now give in for I presently upon my waking made hast to write it down lest I should have forgotten it again or any
thing of it and this is that which I writ down as I remembred it that I present to you under my own hand The Dream of John Cooper the 4. of Jan. 1651. as it was given in under his own hand WHich was this I thought I was in the company of Mr. Rogers Col. Hewson and my Lord of Clogher and that we were all going together upon a fine green way and did all travel together a long time and then I thought Mr. Rogers turned backe to us and said Brethren you may see what a great comfort it is to walke in the pathes of Righteousness For for all wee have travelled so long yet we are not any thing a weary c. And Brethren be assured that I will lead you to a place of great joy and comfort before it be long if you will but follow mee So then me thought we went a little further and we came to a very large and spacious place wherein there was a great gate and there Mr. Rogers made a prayer and as soon as he had concluded the Gate was opened and we entred therein and then me thought wee went into a great Garden and there was a very large paire of stairs where we went up and there I saw mee thought a great many of dead peoples bones which appeared to Mr. Rogers in full and perfect shape as ever any were as I conceive for at those bones he made a stand and said unto us all Look brethren and take good notice of the handy work of our great God for here you may see that they are in as perfect shapes as they were in the lower world So then me thought we went up a little further and there Mr. Rogers made another stand and said unto us Brethren Now shall I see whether you be strong in faith or not So then mee thought wee came to a place where we must needs goe over and it was in the likenesse of a small Pike laid over a deep pit and then mee thought Mr. Rogers said Come Brethren our journey is in vain without wee goe over this Pike for they that will see the Habitation of the Lord must goe through many dangers and I will by the grace of God be your Leader And so then me thought he went over with as much safety and ease as if he had gone on the earth The next that went over the Pike aforesaid was Col. Hewson and he went with as much ease also and after my Lord of Clogher The next it came to my turne which I seeing so great a downfall and the Pike did so bend and shake that I could not set one foot over it was afraid so then me thought Mr. Rogers cryed out and said O friend friend you have walked in the pathes of unrighteousnesse So then me thought he made a prayer to Almighty God that he would admit me to goe over And so then me thought he bowed three or four times and cryed out with a loud voyce and said O thou great God how much I am bound unto thee for all thy loves and manifestations towards me So then me thought he took me by the hand and bid me Come over and not to fear and then I walked over with as much safety as the rest so then me thought we went a little further and we came to a very faire Room and there was not any in it as I could see but Mr. Rogers and Col. Hewson and the Lord of Cloghâ—r They saw and spake with God as I conceived for after they had done speaking they gave many bows and thanks and then me thought Mr. Rogers said Come we will sing prayses unto the Lord for all his Promises and great Gifts to us And then me thought wee began to sing and I heard a multitude of voyces with rare Musicke and I could not see any but our selves so when Mr. Rogers had done giving God his glory in singing of praises he did rise up and saluted us and said well Brethren I have but a short time to stay here with you and for the Time I have been amongst you I have endeavoured to bring you the Right way to worship God And for the time I doe stay with you I shall by the helpe of the Lord make knowne unto you Greater things then I have done yet So I desire you to follow my counsel and it shall bee for your owne profits and so I waked or else I might have knowne more After this his Dream he was much confirmed in this way wherein we walked and the effects of it were of such influence that he said he could not rest nor be satisfied untill he had shewed it to the Church and proposed himselfe to walke with them at the time he was admitted he said more though not much that he was called home to God taken off of sinne and the lusts of the world and that he had found in him a great change though he were not able to expresse himselfe in words and was now desirous to please God to walke in his way longing after Christ and communion with his people being long before wrought upon by the word preached and prayer and that now hee had given himselfe up to God with such like expressions comming very brokenly from him in much appearance of humility and holinesse A fuller Testimony as it was taken from Elizabeth Avery out of her own mouth and declared by her self to the whole Church IN this society I see much of God and have a great desire to be one with you From my childhood I have lived under good education my Father was a godly man I was always tender and consciencious but my conversion was wonderful On one Sabbath-day I was playing but I was soon and soundly checked for it in my spirit and went home but I was a great while troubled and lay under bondage all along And I was much distracted and confused for sin a long time till about sixteen years of age and then I began to be very strict and so retired in my life that many wondered at it I had an entire love to the preaching of the Gospel O how I longed after it but alas we had then no good Preaching-Ministery to be had or heard about us and yet my heart longed a long time after it till I came to be married But alas I was yet under the Law and Works until God called me out of Egypt and I could not tell how I was once wrapt up in a light and hearing something spoken of Free-grace then I melted Yet for all these I had great afflictions and amongst others by the loss of my children Gods rod was laid heavy upon me insomuch That he struck three of them together and one childe above all a most sweet childe and one that I least thought of them all would have died was very ill and we were talking I my Husband and some Friends together of comfortable things and amongst
others of David when he said of his childe dead I shall go to it it shall not return to me Ay sayes one that is to the grave which word wounded me and I went into the Garden to wail and moan my self but soon after my Husband came and told me my childe was dying at which I was left in an horror as if I were in Hell none could comfort me nothing could satisfie me no Friends nothing then it was sad indeed to me a Hell indeed I sent for the Doctor and others but to no purpose Yet after this the Lord wrought on me much and one a Minister of Christ that had power from God to do me good gave me much satisfaction by a Letter of his And after that me thoughts I was content to part with all and to let all go then God tryed me and took away another childe from me and I could bear it very well and was not troubled but rather did rejoyce within me to be thus tryed No cross nor loss could trouble me then and I continued in this strength I praise God pretty long But after this I was like to have died and then to adde to my great sorrow the good Minister that did me so much good left the place and went away and my friends slighted me and one thing added to another made me begin to despair again but then I know not how God quieted me again which I wondered at and was much comforted and confident that God would do me good and I hoped and looked for it And the very next morning as I was at prayer God wonderfully appeared and then was it that Christ was manifested to my spirit and I was as in a trance for a while but after I awaked full of joy and yet for all this I was somewhat under bondage me thoughts but the Word and Means of Grace did confirm me and comfort me In the times of the Wars in England I was brought out of Egypt into the Wilderness O! I was much refreshed by the Lord two or three years and was much contented and had his teachings within me yea and many times without his outward instruments for I had his Spirit his voice speaking within me and God alone was with me and no strange god But when the wars began to cease my greatest trouble and that at which I took offence was That we were so without the means and without able Ministers for now I could not be satisfied but even doted on them and could not wait with patience for I had forgot now how God had taught me within before and without them Yet I followed and hunted after my lovers having mens persons in admiration and thus God suffered me for a while to go on after them A while after this Colonel Lambert desired me to go to Oxford and when I was to go I made ready my self packt up my cloaths and all and rid away most with desire for communion with godly people there for as yet I could see no further I heard their disputes between Master Kiffith and others very hot but saw nothing of God there and was troubled at it and could not after that hear him or others but I went into a Garden alone my self mourning and sat so a while under a Wall and by and by came three men to me passing that way and wondered to see me so they asked me many questions But a little after I recovered my self out of that passion and went and told Colonel Lambert how it was with me but he told me I should not onely be taken off of Ordinances but off of believing too within a while at which I was troubled and went away unsatisfied I was troubled to hear any Preach and being once got to go to the publick place I was so tormented that I could not bear it for I could not joyn with them nor hear nor pray nor had no rest no comfort nor ease nor could I eat or drink but went as I was wont to bewail in a Garden where I was moaning when there came one unto me and presently told me That I was under the opening of the fifth seal and very near the sixth in the condition which I was in and should be in Being thus afflicted I desired to go home again from Oxford and writ to my Husbaâ—d but the Letter was burnt but I was in such a condition to see Gods wrath in every thing against me as is not to be expressed I was left in all kindes of troubles as it were at once but here was all the comfort that was left me and it was my Heaven in my Hell that God would be glorified by my destruction And so long I found some ease and content me thought and it did joy me at my heart to think That all things should go well with the Saints and they should be happy though I had no share with them yet these things did me good And indeed I dare boldly say when my faith was gone and hope gone and all gone and flew from me and could not be seen in me that I had any yet love remained and might be seen and was not gone noe though I were to be cast presently into Hell yet I could love God and was glad he was to be glorified though I were to be ruined and so I was glad at the welfare of Gods people Thus I was three quarters of a year and did not now care for my self what became of me for the reasons I said before but it appeared my deliverance was near at hand though as yet I had no assurance of salvation yet at last I was carried out with a great confidence that light was near at hand And yet I met with terrible shakings for all that which lit altogether upon the flesh for the spirit was free So that some three years agone God came in upon my spirit and gave me full assurance and I heard a voice say And sorrow thou shalt see no more Then I writ down what God had done for me and writ about to my friends but yet I was struck in the flesh again which I wonder at and then I heard the voice again say It was sin that was suffering in me and the flesh as the punishment of sin and so I found it was for the destruction of the flesh and ever after that I found Christ in me ruling and reigning and taking all power to himself and he hath caught the man-childe up to God which I brought forth i. e. The flesh by his incarnation and I have found in me and do yet his judgement-seat sâ—t to judge and sentence sin and lust and corruption and his throne is there for himself to sit and to rule by his own Laws And thus it continues with me at this day and the Lord leads me on higher and higher in himself and for that
I thought was the Devil at which I waked with screeks and cries and such frights as for three weeks I thought I should have gone distracted for I found this was sent to raise me out of my sins which were after set so before me so that I was a long time afflicted and so as I could scarce walk about the streets for feebleness But it pleased God to comfort me since by Mr. Fowler and some others and in private meetings and in prayers So that I am sure I am pardoned in Christ and that God hath accepted of him as an offering for me I was zealous before for Forms but now I desire to be built up by the Spirit and to live by the Spirit in Christ whom I make my all And for that end I desire to joyn with you as you do with the Father and the Son Experience given in by Humphry Mills MY Father was a Gentleman of a fair estate had many children eleven Sons of us he was High-Sheriff and when he died we were all the Family of us broken in confusion and dispersed Two of us were brought up within five miles of Glocester in England but I was placed in London an Apprentice after and by this means my sorrow and troubles began to be great first out of consideration of this change and it continued so a while till I was about the seventeenth year of my age and then my sorrow was turned into another kinde of sorrow and trouble for sin I was for three years together wounded for sins and under a sense of my corruptions which were many and I followed Sermons pursuing the means and was constant in duties and doing looking for Heaven that way And then I was so precise for outward formalities That I censured all to be reprobates that wore their hair any thing long and not short above their ears or that wore great Ruffs and Gorgets or Fashions and Follies But yet I was distracted in my mind wounded in conscience and wept often and bitterly and prayed earnestly but yet had no comfort till I heard that sweet Saint now in Heaven Doctor Sibbs by whose means and Ministry I was brought to peace and joy in my spirit His sweet soul-melting Gospel-Sermons won my heart and refreshed me much for by him I saw and had much of God and was confident in Christ and could over-look the World and then I did not care for it and was not afraid of afflictions and yet sometimes I was under a spirit of bondage again unto fear But nevertheless my heart held firm and resolved and my desires all Heaven-ward I heard Funeral Sermons much but Doctor Sibbs most by whom I was most effectually wrought upon and satisfied with comforts After this I married a precious Christian full of Christ and a great comfort to me My Trade was in Whole-sale and since those times I have lost in England and Ireland Fourteen hundred pounds I did not think to have lived here when I came over first and brought wares but I found God to deal very graciously with me And being much refreshed by your Meetings and Members I desire to be one with you in Christ. Experience of Ruth Emerson as it came out of her own mouth in the Church at Dublin THe Lord hath exercised me much and to passe by all outward troubles which have been very many I shall declare what the Lord did for me when I was young I was called out once to hear one some four miles off where I lived who was counted a very good man and I went with others to hear him not knowing well what I went about but I got leave to goe and he was on that subject Thy testimonies are sure holinesse becommeth thy house for ever The Minister preached exceeding well and I began to be affected therewith and after that my mind ran much on what he said and I was carried much after the Word and went often five miles off to hear Mr. Archer whom I followed by whom I came to see that I was lost and left by Adam in a woful condition yet still I heard him one Sermon after another but was all this while in great woe and misery and so continued a long time under the sense of my undone condition and damnation untill Mr. Archer perceiving my condition offered me Christ freely onely upon thirstiness and weariness which he proved was as much as was required on our part to come to Christ upon and to tender him as he did I made many objections which would be long to tell now but he answered them all out of the Word so fully that I could not tell what to say more but was so wrapped in that I could not but resign my self up to this Saviour Jesus Christ and that I would rowl my soul upon him and leave my selfe so with him Yet afterwards not finding my selfe so gifted and graced nor having so much of Gods Spirit as I saw others had I was in great doubt for a while of my estate and was much troubled againe especially when I thought I heard how the damned roared in hell and blasphemed God to his face O this this cut me to the very heart to think I should be one of those that should blaspheme God this wounded me more then hell But after this hearing the Word constantly Christ was offered to me time after time till I was fully called to Christ and to hang upon him as I do at this day with confidence and assurance of grace and mercy And seeing God hath done thus for me and hath given me this beginning to let me see his everlasting love now surely I will relye upon him though I be in darkness and see no light Yet I confesse I walk not according to the mercies received but I find back-slidings yet I remember Gods everlasting love in Christ Jesus and whom he loves he loves to the end wherefore I relye on him and know that by his grace I shall stand and do much desire to walk with you that I may be watched over by you Experience of Anne Hewson wife to Col. Hewson as it was taken in the Church I Lived in London and was a frequent lover of good men and especially of one Mr. Culverwel a very able godly Minister and I received much comfort by him he preached the love of God so sweetly that my heart melted to hear him and hereby he first shewed me my miserable condition in shewing what the love of God had done for me and after I saw my misery in my selfe I came to see no happiness but in Christ alone and I was very much troubled because for a long time I could finde nothing but the legal worke upon my spirit and I feared that the worke was not yet perfect therefore I followed and heard the most searching Ministers I could and was still tormented in my minde but Mr. Culverwel
hath been ever since I acknowledge this great mercy to me and doe live upon Christ the true Messias whom I beleeve to have dyed for my sinnes and will save my soul. Experience of Lawrence Swinfield I Have been a Travellâ—ur for some yeares and wandred about in far Countries beyond Seas till I came backe againe into England and all this while in my natural condition and so I continued a great while but I came hither in a sad condition and very comfortlesse and could not tell what to doe but to fall to prayer and I did that often and found I thanke God much refreshment from that meanes but nothing to satisfie my minde for I have been much troubled in conscience and could not take comfort untill the Lord was pleased to give in some promises to feed upon as Matth. 11.28 29 30. where he promised to ease the heavy oppressed and to make his yoke easie and light and then I began to long for a Reformation and to desire to be under his yoke which was before I thought a burthen to me and so Esa. 55.1 Come buy without price and without money and so I came as freely as I was called and was presently confirmed by the Spirit of God perswading me to give my selfe up into Gods hands upon these his owne termes and so I did to this day and many other sweet promises I had whereby I had a great deale of peace and comfort and can confidently say the Lord is my God and I have ever since found in me a very great change from what I was before As to instance in anger I am now so free from that Passion that I thinke none can anger me and so for many other things and I have a great delight in the Word and Ordinances and have received a great deal of comfort and been much confirmed by Mr. Rogers and some others and I know now that my Redeemer lives Experience of John Chamberlain I Beleeve as you heard before in one God manifested by three Relations and I beleeve this Church-way is Christs and the very minde of God and that the Premises made to the Assemblies of Sion are yours being thus separate from them wihout But to tell you my life it hath been very evill but now the Spirit of God testifies in mee that I am his About fourteen years agone I was a grievous Wretch and was cast out of doors for my disobedience But afterward being bound an Apprentice the example of my Fellow-Prentice who was well-given wrought much upon mee and hee seemed to mee to doe all for Heaven and to minde Heaven altogether which began to incline mee much that way too and one time I went to him and desired him to own me and to let me be with him and partake but hee told mee hee must not cast bread to Dogs which troubled mee much but then I remembred to say But I may have the crummes and thence forward was hee willing to helpe mee all he could so I went with him often and by my selfe to heare good men and the word preached but I was yet puffed up with Spirituall pride and did backslide from my promises and the profession which I made wee were after that about such a way of walking together as this is but wee were not so strict and carefull of admitting so I was admitted without any great Examination or Triall but by reason of a Contract with a Woman which I could not owne I was much troubled and brake out into sinne and God would have one sinne a scourge to another sinne to fetch me home againe which hee did to the purpose and I was after much trouble in minde restored againe to the favour of God Since that being a Souldier I was thereby brought under many Temptations to sin especially that vile lust of Drunkennesse which too much pursued mee and so strongly that sometimes I was ready to yeeld at other times ready to make away my selfe which I oftentimes was tempted to doe and sometimes I was ready to wish all manner of curses upon mee for that sinne yet so I continued till the Lord at last came and delivered mee out of these snares and filled my heart with his promises and presence and assured me of love in Christ and now I long to enjoy more of him and therefore desire to seek him with you in this fellowship Experience of Adrian Strong In short thus FOr my life I was two and twenty yeares a childe of wrath and then by the word preached and read out of good Books and the Bible I was brought in to God for my precisenesse and walking in the wayes of God I have been imprisoned twice Sometimes I have had mony before these troubles and then my heart was set too much on it but afterwards I was taken off of all and then I began to leave swearing and drinking c. which I did too much incline to And ever since as afflictons have growne greater on mee grace hath growne greater in mee I was travelling into England but now I blesse God for this mercy ordained for his Saints that I can have so sweet fellowship with them here in Dublin Experience of Hugh Leeson I Have something to say and I desire that the grace of God may appear more in me every day I am convinced of this way of Christ for believers to walk in and I have nothing to plead but my own unworthiness yet fully assured in Christ I am emboldned to bring my desires here like smoaking flax I cannot deny but my life hath been very bad and I have been exceedingly given to ill company and courses and can complain and do of what I have been more then others viz. A great sinner till grace was given me and mercy shown to me and Christ manifested in me by his Spirit which was begun at first by my Wife a Widdows daughter in this Town a godly Christian and whom God made the first Instrument of my good by her often reading of the Scriptures to me and giving me good councels and admonitions and by the Spirits working within me with it And yet I did even hate the Saints and forbid many of them coming to my house and was yet under many temptations I must needs say but I am now made sure of Christ convinced by the Word and much comforted and established since Mr. Rogers came hither and do now long after nothing so much as Jesus Christ and do desire earnestly to be in one with his people and pray them all to pray for me that I may stand by faith established in the truth Experience of Frances Curtis I Cannot but condemn my self before I speak I am so unworthy of this mercy I have lived wantonly in my youth forgetting God doing no good but all evil till Gods hand was heavy upon me for about eleven years and when in
my outward state I began to mend still in my inward I was much troubled and wished that God had taken me away by my former afflictions these inward were so great and a troubled spirit who can bear But afterward I was much comforted again In these wars I was stripped by the Rebels being abroad and came home so thorough sad tempests and since have gone thorough great troubles and very many A while after I heard my Husband was killed by the Rebels which I feared was by my sins and so my troubles were renewed and then the enemies came upon us the Cannon-bullets flew over my head and in few days I was turned out of doors with my childe in my arms I cannot express what God hath done for me in saving my life and my Husbands in hearing my prayers and tears and now in satisfying my soul with himself I have received much sweet satisfaction by Mr. R. and have now the testimony within me of Gods love to me which makes me so unfainedly to love him and his ways and desire to be a member with his people in his Church Experience of Mary Turrant I Lived till my Twenty third year and knew not God but after that I came to religious people and received some good and soon after was brought to the sight of my self and then I despaired of mercy and thought I was damned and none of Gods a great while but was at last comforted by good Ministers and the Word of God but I was in such a place and condition that for seven years I do not know that I 〈◊〉 so much as a Religious man My children were murthered by the Rebels and I lost my Husband by the sickness and yet the Lord hath spared me in mine old age and now I see why That I may enjoy this great mercy which I never looked for to comfort me in my old age I have received great comforts indeed by Master Rogers and I must needs say That I serve my God with a chearful heart c. Experience of Elizabeth Marrow I Have heard at Cork-house from the Governor and often from Mr. Brisco at precious truths and have been much affected with them and told my Husband that I have heard of Christ. But after that the sickness came into my house which drew me much to God Doctor Sibbils did me much good speaking of every one that had a darling sin which they loved By which I was put upon the inquiry and search and was so troubled and afflicted in my minde for a time until it pleased God to satisfie within by his holy Spirit and to reveal to me That he was my Father of which I have a full assurance and the witness is within me 30. Experience of Rebecca Rich. I Was wont by Gods providence to hear Mr. Cradock by whose Ministry the Lord wrought much upon me and I thought I was the person that he particularly spoke to and I lay long afflicted under the sense of my naturall condition and under the burthen of a wounded spirit and after that whilest I lived nigh London I lived much upon a forme till God was pleased to come in by his Spirit and then all was nothing but Christ was all and the best of all and ever since I have received Christ I have loved his wayes and desired the society of his society I was much comforted and confirmed even the last night in Michaels publique place by that Ordinance of prophecying one by one which the Church kept so sweetly and I was very much convinced of your walking together in love and unity of spirit 31. Experience of Mary Burrill I Have been infinitely troubled by my marriage to my second husband and have been afflicted in Conscience about it much til the Lord gave me comfort within that my sins were forgiven mee I was as prone to sin as any until my God wrought very much by the means of my constant hearing M. R. ever since his coming over to us God hath made him the chief Instrument of doing my soule good for which I thank my God through Jesus Christ. I have had in my dreams two terrible conflicts with Satan by all which I have been much assured of Gods love for that I alwayes had the better the victory O I love the Saints of God! his Word and all his wayes and I rest on Christ Jesus alone and on nothing of self and I doe desire your prayers to God for me◠to grow in grace c. 32. Experience of Mary Barker I Have great experiences of God though at present I am not able to expresse them I have been much afflicted for many years together in my relations which for my sins have been taken from me but the Lord who hath laid his hand heavy upon me hath made me very sensible of my sins and I have long layn under the burthen of them but the evidence of my pardon is that the Lord hath removed the burthen and brought in the roome his grace and given me a heart to him-ward and I have received much benefit by preaching and praying and reading in private and publique and by the preaching of Mr. Rogers I have received infinite good and found great comforts by his showing how we might know Christ is in us of a truth and by prayer which the Lord brought me earnestly into the Lord made those means so usefull to me that I am much satisfied in the love of God to me in Christ in me who is all in all and I doe rest alone on Jesus Christ for pardon and Salvation by his bloud 33. Experience of Margaret Fanshaw I Was a long time under trouble and temptation being perswaded to hear none a great while because I could not tell they were Christs Ministers a twelve moneth agone we came over hither and yet I heard none a while after a while I heard a little boy and then I heard Mr. Fowler but yet I received but little benefit by any untill Mr. R. came over and after I had heard him four or five Sermons I began to see my sin negligence c. which lay a heavy burthen upon me and Oh! I am yet grieved much that I denyed the meanes so and since by Mr. R. I have beene comforted with the offers of Christ and all the promises in him whom I have heartily accepted and am now perswaded by Gods Spirit I shall never run into those sins again but I find his Spirit putting me forward to hear and to follow the means now with all greedinesse and love to God and all his ways 34. Experience of Ann Hanly I Have alwayes had a great desire to walk with God but was very ignorant and in the dark till I heard Mr. Rogers by whom I have had conviction of my ignorance and sin in neglecting the means and Christ offered by the means I have
seen my sins and been much troubled and have earnestly sought pardon and I am by the Spirit of Christ confident of it and I trust in Christ that I shall be established and do beleive it and I doe finde dayly a great change in me and now I long to hear of Christ and I love the Word and Ordinances of Christ and am sure that Christ hath paid the ransome for my sins and I am resolved in the power of the Lord to walk in his his wayes and to doe his will 35. Experience of Sarah Barn-well IT hath pleased God to exercise me with much afflictions and his love was all which drew me to himself and nothing else but first I lay long under a legall sorrow and grief for sin and I was then put upon works and duties hard for heaven but I saw I could not get it that way and in this great Plague-time in this City I was carried further from the notion to the Power and to spirituall holinesse and higher into Christ yet I used the means much as praying preaching reading meditating c. and by the Word I was struck home when Mr. Dunstable teached on the sad condition of some even Professors that were in Hell howling Oh! this sad doctrine struck deep to the heart and I lay long wounded in my spirit upon it But it hath pleased God to work upon me in divers wayes and by his Spirit he hath set me free from this bondage which mercy I obtained first from the consideration of Gods great love in Christ and hereby I was brought to this assurance which I have 36. Experience of Jeremy Heyward THE Lord hath opened my eyes to see sin and showne me my self and I lay under his wrath half a year and so long as I sought to make out my own righteousnesse I lay thus and yet this while I followed the meanes heard the Word and I saw at length nothing but Christ would serve me and till then I could have no comfort wherefore one first day of the week I fell to prayer I prayed thrice and at the third time I heard him say Loe my grace is sufficient for thee whereby I was much satisfied ere since rowling my self on Christ and living in him alone and I finde so great a change that I can say whereas I was blinde now I am sure I see 37. Experience of John Megson I Have often been in danger yea of losing my life and then have desired to live and to amend in many great afflictions I have been in in my youth time I was very ignâ—rant but now I am earnest for more light that I may be in the wayes of God That Scripture of Christ in Revel 3.20 Standing at the doore and knocking did work upon me and then I understood Christ must come in and all evill be put out and then I did desire Christ and seek out after him and so I doe yet and shall doe though I dare not presume of any thing of my owne but all on Christ and therefore I desire to be of this Church for God shall adde such as shall be saved 38. Experience of Ann Megson I Have been long time troubled in minde but yet I dare not despair for Come unto me and I will ease you saith the Lord. The Lord did let me be long where there was but small goodnesse to be learnt But at London-stone I heard a good man out of Isay 53.6 like sheep we have gone astray and he showed how the Shepheard had a Dog when any run out of the flock to fetch him in again and so the Lord did by his Word fetch in us that went astray and thus the Lord wrought upon me and made me see my sins and my self and I was long afflicted and I thought if I were the Lords I should not be in this trouble but then I remembred that Daniel was in the Den and Jeremy and Hezekiah were afflicted and these were the Lords and that the Lord delivered them and so that he would me in due time and I bless God he did deliver me out of them all O that he would give me the heart to praise him I was lewd but now am changed by his grace and goodnesse and I love the Lord and I wish there were such an heart in me that I may ever live for his honor and glory I doe long after Jesus Christ and love to be here in the wayes of Christ and I praise my God that he hath brought us so much out of darknesse as now to see his wayes Many more experiences I might insert but being of the same nature with these I have omitted them and shall keep them by me for another occasion There were others in Dublin that did declare many excellent passages of Gods workings in them and upon them as Captain Jones since Major whose being imperfect I purposely let alone lest he should take offence and William Holme Giles Mee Randall Lester William Fanshaw Elizabeth Holm Anne Bell Joice Latherd Elinor Meeke Robert Barnwell Elizabeth Gardner Robert Glover with many others And I doe earnestly desire pardon where offence is thought to be given especially of such dear friends whose testimonies I have brought into publique view to bear witnesse to the world of the workings of Gods Spirit in these dayes to the facilitating of which I doe to all the world call God who is righteous to bear me witnesse herein That 1. In the first place I have aimed herein at the honor and glory of God in the setting out his rich love to the lost sons of men and declaring the variety of his dispensations in grace and the sundry wayes of working both ordinarily and extraordinarily yea in these days to the fulfilling of his promises made us 2. I have dealt faithfully with all as I finde them in my Notes as near as I can to a tittle taken out of their owne mouths without respect of persons excepting some of the most ordinary sort which I have taken summarily as I promised at the first 3. I think I have done my duty herein and wish it might incite others to doe thus viz. to gather out the flowers of their garden to present to the Saints in other places and though some appear in their weaknesse as wel as in strength this doth the more magnifie free grace and all those variety of notes concur to make up the tune of the song of the Lamb that one song of Moses and of the Lamb So that the variety of the flowers and of the colors and of the natures and of the formalities of them gathered together into one give a glorious lustre and like the Rain-bow of many colours signifie fair weather for Ireland And I am in good hopes no good man can have the heart to blame me for my good will and worke before any take offence let him
a crafty one and a violent enemy both to Church and State but the Lord hath and yet will rebuke his spirit I hope for good at the great day for truly I pity him and more such as are seduced and deluded by him against the truth But before many I offered him the challenge yea the advantage of stating the question himself to prove imposition of hands no materiall or essentiall part of ordination which he Popishly asserts but with words not with arguments and further I offer'd him fairly to prove and yet do it that his ordination which he makes to lye in the laying on of hands is Antichristian and successive from the Pope which I entreat him to accept of or else to lay down his boasting and belching out this against the truth and the friends of it For we affirm imposition of hands to signifie nothing as to the essence of ordination for though it may be used yet it is but a ceremony not as essentiall that it must be used So the Protestants accounted orthodox have unanimously declared against the Papists Synops. 16. controv q. 2. and Dr. Cartwright in 's Ecclesiasticall polity declares plainly that by laying on of hands in primitive times they did use to present the person so set apart to God for his gifts and graces to qualifie them for their offices and that this was their generall end Whence Mr. Hooker in 's Survey of Discipline part â— ch 2. argues thence that imposition of hands cannot be said to be a specâ—ficating act as to give one the essentials of an officer Thus eminent Bucer de Gubern Ecclâ—s p. 337. saies Manus impositio quid est nisi oratio â—uper hominem What is this laying on of hands but a praying oâ—e the person to be set apart We read Act. 6. c. that aâ—ter they had prayed they laid their hands on them not before they prayed nor in the time of prayer as the Presbyterians do but after and it was used some say rather in way of blessing of them as Christ blessed the little children by laying on his hands and so the sick then in a way of setting them apart to an office Chrysostome on 1 Tim 3. cals it plainly ferme nihil a nothing And saies Aug. lib. 5. c. 16. Ordinare quid est aliud nisi orare to ordain what is it but set apart by prayer Hear but the Confession of Bohemia ch 14. Harm sect 11. p. 356. They may use some seemly and indifferent ceremonies which are no waies necessary such as to lay on hands to reach out the right hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or else they omit them say they The like we have in the confession of Wittenbeâ—g Herm. sec. 17. art 35. who say imposition of hands is but an indiffernt ceremony and not alwaies necessary For there is no precept for it and the practise of it was extraordinary and significant yet not alwaies used Christ used it not when he sent forth his Disciples to preach nor gave it in commission to his Apostles nor have they enjoyned it to be a practise for succeeding ages And Matthias was chosen in Judas's room without it But to conclude Polanus Tilenus Calvin himself with many others say it is not necessary but a ceremony 2. By whom ordination is to be dispensed The Papists say by their Bishops or else that they are not ordained Bell. de sacram ordinis cap. 11. So said our Episcopalians the power of ordaining is alone in the Bishops who were rather aposcopi quam episcopi but that Controversie is ended as to the hand of a Bishop to set apart for as Cartwright saies in primitive times there was more then one to set apart Act. 13.1 3. Act. 6.6 the Prophets and Teachers set apart Paul and Barnabas at Antioch O the abominable blasphemies and wicked fogeries of Bishops in laying on hands and saying receive the holy Ghost But now the Presbyterians differ as to that whilest they give this power to a classes or company together in form of a Presbyterie yet in this they agree with Popery and Episcopacy to seat it in a Prelacy and primarily to settle it in a Classis which we deny for if the Classis be Ecclesia orta then the primary and first power must needs be in Ecclesia unde Classis est orta We affirm that first of all Christ had the sole power of ordaining in himself since that he hath left this power in the Church his Spouse and there it is seated And as Mr. Cotton notes in 's Way of congregationall Churches cleared part 1. p. 96. sect 2. that in the second century of years the government of the Church was administer'd not in a Classicall but in a Congregationall way and so in the first century witnesse the Magdeburgenses cent 2. ch 7. de consociatione ecclesiarum Si quis probatos authores hujus seculi perspiciat videbit formam gubernationis propemodum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 similem fuisse administrando sacramenta pure verbum dei docendo excommunicando Haereticos Ministros eligendo vocando ordi nando justissimas ob causas iterum deponendo Conventus Synodus congregando c. If a man say they do but search the authentick authors of this age he shall easily see the form of Church-government to be almost like a Democracy in the pure preaching the Gospell administring the Ordinances excommunicating offenders in choosing calling and ordaining Ministers and upon good grounds in deposing of them and calling Synods c. So that in those ages the power was in the Church yea in the third Century of years Cent. 3. cap. 7 to use the words of the Centurists we shall finde almost the like form of government although somewhat corrupt by ambition which brought in Antichrist For we shall finde Novatus excomunicate by a councell at Rome under Cornelius And Samosatenus was thrown out by a Councell at Antioch So that in those daies though corruption got in in a kind of Aristocracy like the Presbyterian way and after that a kind of Monarchy by the Popish and Episcopall way but even in those days some were orderly and some Churches kept their power liberty and priviledges so that then was the power of Ordination in the Church Cyprian tels us Epistolarum lib. 1. that then Bishops and Church officers were not chosen by a Consistory of Bishops or Pastors amongst themselves as is now in Classes but as they received it from the Apostles so they held it for the orderly celebration of Ordination the Bishop or Pastor is chosen in the presence of the people as was in the Ordination of our fellow Minister Sabinus his office was put upon him by the suffrage of the whole Brotherhood and by the judgement of other Pastors present so in Epist. 4. the people fearing God and obedient to the Laws and
cloathed with flesh Col. 2.9.10 Eph. 3.17.19 the same for quality though not yet for equality Ergo unity amongst all These are the bonds of unity to tye all the Churches together in one Sathan hath no better sport then to see them spit fire at one another and is never in more hopes then then When Cyrus came neare Babylon with his mighty Army and found the River about it over which he was to march with his huge Hoste impassable and unpossible it being so deep to transport his Army that way he was at a losse till he thought of a likely way which he as suddenly set upon he caused it to be divided many wayes into many Channels and severall Currents wherby the main River sunk and so on a sudden and with great facility he got over the River with his Army and tooke the City with ease Thus Sathan doth when he hath any designe against the Saints Churches he sets them into Divisions many wayes Therefore my Councell as from the Lord is to love one another as Christs Disciples be stedfast in one spirit Phil. 1.27.28 and then be in nothing terrified by your adversaries All the powers of Hell cannot hurt thee then It was the Councell Severus gave to his Souldiers in vobis pacem caeterâ—s dispicite be one among your selves and a Fig for your Enemies so ye will then be terrible to all Christs Enemies in the world for they shall know that out of Sion shall the destroyer come and they shall finde Jerusalem a burdensome stone Vis unita fortior as Mathematitians say of figures the strait figure or line is weakest but the circle is strongest of all others and the best and usefullest because one part hath fellowship with another and meets another and holds up one another so should Churches help to hold up one another and as one line runs into another so should they and such are strongest and best that are so united the Lord delights in them most too O my Dove my undefiled is one this unity delights his heart People seem much to eye the Churches now now they appear in publick and preposterous spirits are ready to judge the last news of the Fleet beaten and the Foraigne Nations preparing and threatning to be prodigious signes presaging ruine to the Churches which puts me in minde of Cicero's Oration and answer to the Southsaiers who upon newes of Earthquakes and such terrible signes foretold great calamities ready to come upon the State as our star gazers and sign-observers do now but saies the Orator fear not for the Gods will easily be reconciled to us if we be but reconciled one to another so I say to such our God will easily be at peace with us so we be but at peace one with another and then let them all the world if they will associate themselves together and they shall be broken a pieces yea in order to their breaking a pieces they must associate themselves together Isai. 8.9 and Gog and Magog from all parts of the world must be gathered together in battell in number like the sand of the sea and besiedge the Saints and circumviron the beloved City of God but fire shall come from God the spirit of God out of Heaven the Churches and Saints and shall devoure them and eat them up as in Rev. 20.8.9 Out of their mouths shall come fire and devoure their enemies Rev. 11.5 and whosoever hurts them must in this manner be killed so that there is no fear of all the foes in the world though they be as many as the sand of the sea But if any thing hurt us it will be want of Love if any thing will nothing us it will be want of unity Vnities severed make no number Letters divided make no syllable syllables divided make no word words divided make no speech members divided make no body stones divided make no wall so that without unity all stands for nothing as a Cypher I feare nothing so much as want of unity and love among Churches and Members for as Shepheards observe when sheep fall a butting one another a storme is nigh so may the Pastors that Christians contending and butting one against another and Churches justling one against another presages a sad day without mercy prevent wherefore to ease my heart and unburthen my spirit I am heartily possessed with three things that will produce unity indeed Which I shall hint to the Churches and so wipe my pen. 1. A short but sharp time to try the Churches that those that are approved may remaine which day shall be short for the Elects sake and is called but three dayes and a halfe Rev. 11 9 though in former years the time of persecution was long and hotter for now their bodies shall be above ground all this time of persecution in the sight of all Peoples and Nations till the spirit of life enter in afresh and in a fuller measure then ever before and the witnesses stand upon their feet again v. 11. Then woe woe be to the Nations to the purpose And this time will be so short that it is called the houre of temptation Rev. 3.10 and the hour of Judgement Rev 14.7 and for a little moment his indignation Isa. 26.20 1. Pet. 4.17 and then wil the Lord arâ—e to punish the inhabitants of the earth they must begin at Gods house 1 Pet. 4 17. but end in with the world Then sinners in Sion shal be afraid Isa. 33 14 terror trembling shal surprizâ— the Hypocrites that are in the Churches for they shall not be able to abide his comming like a refiners fire Mal. 3.2 3. nor can they indure to dwel with those devouring fires everlasting burnings which the upright in heart shall live in Yet this triall will be well for the faithfull ones for though two parts will be found drosse and left behinde in the houre of triall yet a third part shall remaine and be purified and shall call upon the Name of the Lord and he will heare them and will say this is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God Zach. 13.8.9 this houre will scatter Shepheards as well as sheep or Pastors as well as People But then shall the Churches be more in unity then ever and like gold run melting together out of the refiners fire for as a flock of sheep are loose about and scattered and every one for himselfe feeding and divided one from another till comes a dog amongst them and then they run together and keep close one to another and so are the Churches too much at a distance one from another and each one minding her selfe too much and her companions too little and too much divided and doubtless wil be till this time of triall comes and makes them keep together and closer in love and unity so in the Prelates times Oh what a
sweet unity love and harmony was among the Puritans and Professors when they were under persecution how they priz'd one another and so it will be again and much more Secondly This Vnity of the Churches will be honoured from Heaven with a large effusion and powring out of the spirit upon them for in that day they shall know the Lord to be their God and as one people they shall acknowledge and never be ashamed and then shall it come to passe that he wil powr out of his spirit upon all Joel 2.27.28 And by this they will bee yet more one then ever before as appears Act. 2.17 and 4.31.32 when those that were filled with the holy Ghost were of one heart and one mind and of one soule neither sayd any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own and then great Grace was upon them all Great grace then indeed Having favour with all people Act. 2.47 This blessed day is hard by us when Jerusalem shall be a praise in the whole Earth round about us but we must be purged first In Ezek. 37.7 as the bones there came together by the shaking bone to bone so will the Churches by the shaking before mentioned in the time of triall cling and come up closer together then ever before Church to Church and all as one Though they were before as the bones scattered so in their affections and far asunder they shall bee shaked together beleeve it and then they shall receive life and breath from God more then ever before v. 9.10 Yea they shall not only be shaked together but tied together with sinewes and cords and lawes of Love that shall never break and this is to be before the full winde from all 4. parts blow upon them and fill them with breath and life So I am assured from the Lord and the Churches shall find it that they must be united together with strong ties and lawes of Love even with the liveliest sinews and strength of affections before they shall enjoy that great and notable effusion of the spirit which is the winde that blowes where it lists in such a measure as from all parts in all gifts graces and admirable administrations as from all quarters to enliven them and multiply them for in that day they will be as an exceeding great army Eze. 37.10 Lastly consider the great and notable day of the Lord is then the next that comes upon us Ioel 2.31 and Zion shall be glorious In the mean time as the lines of a circumference the nigher they come to the center the more they are united and the nigher they are one to another So for certain Sirs the nigher we are to that time the more we are united and the nigher we are one to another So that we shall see every yeare the Churches more and more united and that in the spirit untill the dispensation of the fulnesse of times when all things shall be in one Ephes. 110. The Lord hasten these happy daies I was pressed in my spirit to acquaint the Churches thus much and to call upon them to unity that the enemies might not have such advantages against us as they doe take for our defect in this duty and that our unity consist not in formes but in the spirit as for practicall rules heerto I shall refer the Reader to the following book But thus I have shewn wherein the Presbyterians and Papists agree and are alike in Discipline Doctrine Ordinances and Practises In Discipline for the Church Catholike Head of the Church matter of it force of it foundation of it and in laying their foundation and about the Keyes and Synods and in Officers to all which we have declared our dissent and abhorrance and so for Doctrine and Practises in all in neere fifty particulars wherein I have clearly instanced the Lord make his people in England wise enough to avoyd such Popish tenets and doctrines and give our Brethren that power and will to cry Down with Antichrist Down with Babylon as we do that hear the voice lest pertaking of her sins they pertake of her plagues Rev 18.4 And let them not think me their enemy for telling them the Truth Gal. 4.16 But to the 3. Consid. The 3 Consideration to come to a Conclusion is that the consideration 3 Gospel Order in the Congregationall Church-way which wee have treated of restored to its primitive purity and beauty is one of the great promises of these latter dayes and the spirituall glory of it sparkles in sight of the saints out of many promises prophesies and varietie of the richest types and is to stand apparently distinct by its selfe from all other orders wayes worships or Churches whatsoever as the visible Kingdome of Jesus Christ for his subjects to walk in That it is one of the great promises to bee accomplished in these latter dayes appears Isa. 2.2.3 Micah 4.1 Isa. 35.1 8 9.10 Isa. 30.21 Psal. 110.3 Ps. 46.2.3.4.5 and 48. P. 3. Malach. 3.17.18 Isa. 51.3.4 Dan. 2.32.33.34 Act. 3.21 Dan. 8.3 The higher is last the best wine at last and the glory of the latter house shall be greater then the former Hag. 2.6.7.9.21.22.23 For further Explication though I have beene full in former Chapters yet to conclude this I shall name these 6. speciall Heads which ensue to prove this Generall Assertions without exception The Prophesies and mproises are full for Christs reigne as Head and alone Ruler in his Church especially and most visibly in these latter dayes He alone shall reign over them in Zion and for ever Micah 2 17. Psal. 99.1.2 Isai 9.2.7 and 22.23 Psa. 2.6 And is set up King in Sion He will be greatest in Zion· Rev. 2.26 Yea and rule the nations to Rev. 11.15.17.18 Zach. 14.9 Therefore all power is given him in heaven and earth Church and State Mat. 28.18 to rule all as being more excellent then the mountains of prey Ps. 76.4 till all be under him 1. Cor. 15.25 Thus he â—ides in our dayes conquering and to conquer But to speak to his Headship In his Zion his most speciall habitation and Kingdome Hee is the alone Head of whom all members aptly joyned receive life and growth And this he is to us as he is one with the Father Jo. 17.21 From whom we have life and grace In especiall maner hee is to bee manifested such a Head in these dayes of restauration Hosea 1.11 the children of Judah and Israel though they differ as to form as Independents and Anabaptists c. shall be gathered together and appoint to themselves one Head and come up out of the Land for great shall be the day of Jezreel So the Churches of Christ shall be all one as we said before in Vnity under one Head viz. Jesus Christ. For although the Churches have stood off hitherto one from another as the 10. Tribes did from Iudah and
so weâ—e divided into two parts as Independents and Anabaptists God hath promised to unite them under one Head when as circumcision and uncircumcision shall be nothing but a new creature though for a time by reason of our too much Idol-worship God suffered them to divide 1. King 11.33 Yet God hath promised the elect of them shall be all one under one Head i. e. Christ whom they shall appoint choose proclaime cry up with one suffrage he saith not a King for so he shall bee to the Nations and rule them with a rod of iron but a Head so he shall be to the Churches to testifie the firme sweet and inseparable union they have with Christ as a Head to give vitall spirits power nourishment â—ife wisedome influence and all to them as the members i. e. a more admirable usefull happifying excellent union beyond comparison then can be betweene a King and people And then they shall come up out of the Land the Churches shall arise out of that of Babylon which held them captive out of those forms which made them differ and from those Idols that caused their divisions then shal they come out of that Land that they were in bondage in and bee no more intangled with those yokes Gal. 5.1 and all this in the spirit as Zanchy observes on Hosea because great shall bee the day of Jezreel That is seminis Dei of the holy seed the elect of God that is of Christ as Psal. 118.24 the great and glorious day of Christs reigne and great shall be the day of his Churches i. e. the saints thus congregated that have as before is declared suffered affliction for a short time in the valley Jezreâ—l v. 4. wherfore in a word Exhort all the Churches as Hosea 2.1 say to your brethren Ammi and to your sisters Ruâ—hamah say one to another Ammi my people The Lord saith Ye are my people the people that all these things concern and this great day wil come upon O preach this doctrine and say to them Yee are my brethren and sisters O that we would begin this to stir up one another and to provoke one another to love and good workes Heb. 10.24.25 and so much the more the nigher this day is yea to call abroad to such of Israel and Judah that are not yet gathered with you under this one Head that they may make haste to come up out of the land wherein they are captive to the King of Babylon the Beast saying to them without there is mercy and they may be received for though by nature they are Lo-ruchamah and aliens to the Common-wealth of Israel without grace without God without mercy or love yet by grace they are Ruâ—hamah i. e. a people that have found mercy and hope and may be received as we for his bowels are not shut but means are offered Secondly the Prophesies and promises premonstrate the most precious matter which the Church shall be made up of in these last ages as jewels Mal. 3.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his peculium or pick'd out ones in that day So Esa. 54 11 12. Behold I will lay thy stones with Saphires and fair colours upon Christ as the Foundation of his Church which is already laid and from this very day of the laying Christ to be our Foundation God stands engaged to bless us Haggai 2.18 19. From this day will I bless you saith the Lord your Churches shall be blessed upon this foundation shall be laid up the most excellent stones living stones yea the liveliest 1 Pet. 2.5 having the fairest appearance and the fullest vertue and efficacy The Jaspers viz. are those that are heav'nly minded meant by the excellentest Skie-colour'd ones that are those whose conversations are in heaven and contemplations about heaven The windows viz. those that give light or rather through whom light as they receive from the Sun comes to others are to be of Agates or rather as some read it of Chrystals excelling all in purity and sanctity having of that pure river cleare as Chrystal in Rev. 22.1 yea and the gates by whom they enter into the Churches are to be as Carbuncles Trem. saith red stones Carbuncles being of a red colour like fire the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies fiery burning as well as red and seems to carry out the excellency of those that do receive others as gates to let in into the Church viz. being full of the Word and Spirit like fire in the bones by the searching Doctrine of the Word they make trial of those that would enter Rev. 2.2 as fire purges and tries and proves so do they being most excellent in divine and spiritual knowledge yea all the borders of precious pleasant stones all this showes the excellency of the Church for matter which is fore-told by this Prophet especially relating to these latter dayes all the stones of which this building consists even from the Foundation to the topstone yea and to the very borders are to be of the most precious stones the precious from the vile Ier. 15. not good and bad together or precious and common together as have been hitherto but all of precious stones at least so in appearance as Chrystals Agates Saphires Carbuncles and such like holy and excellent Saints shining severall wayes for singular uses with gifts and graces and what is spoken before figuratively follows plainly They shall be all taught of God i. e. by the Vnction from on high 1 Jo. 2.20.27 and built up in righteousnesse i. e. in grace spirit power c. Such transcendent matter to make up the Church in the latter daies lies evident for an undeniable truth in Rev. 21.17 18.19.20 and the foundations of the wall of this City were garnished with all manner of precious stones c. but that this is spoken of the Church here appears in Rev. 21.2 call'd New Jerusalem comming down to dwell amongst men not that Jerusalem above Gal. 4.26 as Paul speaks of it but the Tabernacles i. e. every particular Church of God with men to whom the Lords presence is sweetly promised v. 3. and all former afflictions and persecutions are to be removed v. 4 and times of restitution for new things to be restored v. 5. Now let the Churches that live in the dayes when the seven Vials full of the seven last plagues are to be powr'd out know that the particular description of their glory and excellency is obvious and view-able for though before till those days they wil be but as poore tabernacles with men yet then they in unity as before shall be the Great City having the glory of God v. 10.11 and light like a stone most precious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Luminosum Corpus lumen ex se diffundens i. e. the presence of God most gloriously in her viz. such a presence and such a light shall the Churches
are not onely sky-colour'd and heavenly but watrish humble and lowly and willing to be of no account for Christs sake they are little or nothing in appearance but full of vigour and vertue to comfort souls to suppresse sighes and cause sorrows to fly away to help their sight to remove humourish obstructions and to work upon ill livers and to restore them to soundnesse and having the power of Christ the influences of this sun of righteousnesse with them they wonderfully inflame souls and kindle a fire in their hearts to embrace and embosome the things of God to long after communion with Christ to bee in love with him and his wayes and to set souls a burning after grace and glory such as these are indeed precious matter Ninethly a Topaz of the Gr. Topazion in Hebr. Pitdah whereunto â—â—pad or Topaz is taken found among the Aethiopians Job 21.19 Pliny sayes it growes among the Troglodites as Dionysius sayes it is an Indian Gemme in Chaldee Jarkam and Jarkatha that is green it is of a rich golden green colour it is of excellent use against the Emrods it affords sometimes a milky liquor cures a wound helps the Lunatick and keeps much from mutability Surely such Saints are precious matter and usefull Gemmes that the latter dayes shall finde out for curing of many sharp humorsome diseases that would obstruct the passages of the excrements which would be to the hurt of the body such as would hinder the casting out of traditions and excrementall doctrines which will hurt the Church Such Saints shall say as Isay 30.22 Get thee hence Oh fie upon 't out with them as the word bears it as with excrements Such Saints shall afford sweet milky consolations for Babes out of their bellies shall flow Rivers of water of life they shall be weak to the weak as well as strong to the strong they shall bind up many a wounded and broken Reed and poure Wine and Oyle into the sad gashes of wounded spirits applying seasonable promises and Balsomes yea the lunatick ones that fall sometimes into the waters of drunkennesse and iniquity wherein without mercy they will be drowned and sometimes into the fire of their lusts fitting them for the flames of Hell if they be not help'd by grace Such as these may be means of recovering and of confirming many in the Faith and keeping them from changing with every wind of Doctrine and they do themselves and endeavour to make others hold fast their profession and that without wavering Oh these wil be precious matter too Tenthly A Chrysoprasus in Hebr. Shebo in Gr. Achate in Eng. Agate the name signifies a golden green and indeed the best of them are green sparkling with golden guttulis it is of excellent use to revive the spirits to help the Eye-sight too and to shine most excellently in darknesse Oh! such Saints will be precious matter indeed that shine best and most in afflictions troubles nights in a time of darkness when they see no light these will be strong in faith and are best in worst times and therefore must needs revive the spirits of others and quicken them which be of great use to helpe the weak-sighted Eleventhly the Hyacinth or Jacinth in Hebr. Leshem it is but little but excellent of a bright purple colour or somewhat violet-like found among the Indians and Aethiopians and so is the following this is of admirable vertue to preserve from the blast of lightnings the danger of Plagues and Pestilence in corrupt and infected ayres and as Albertus testifies it causes sweet rest and sleep defends the animall spirits and makes men rich Oh the unspeakable excellent use of the precious gems the Saints of the last dayes such Saints are surely meant here as are violet-like humble with their heads low but hearts high sweet and savory the first flowers as it were of the time the witnesses of the Churches spring and of the Sunnes approach these will be able by the divine vertue in them to keep themselves and others too from hurt by tempests stormes or flashing persecutions or troubles yea from the contagion of sin and pestilentiall diseases and corruptions which reigne in others and make them rage these keep up their spirits for God and the Truth and doe defend the life of God in them from all that would offend those vitall and soul-spirits yea such will be a means to make themselves and others to rest in Christ their beloved and to finde their bed green too yea such do make soules their own and others Rich in Grace and to abound in wealth and to fetch in apace of those Treasures of Wisedome and Knowledge which are layd up in Iesus Christ for the Saints Twelfthly An Amethysh in Hebr. Achlama is a Stone to be found among the Indians Arabians Armenians Galatians Aegyptians c. this is of a ruddy colour and is of excellent use to cause and keep temperance to restrain all excesse and drunkennesse it takes away from night-feares and provokes sweet rest So the Saints in these latter dayes that excel in these vertues are meant to be the Mystery of this Precious stone such as are exceeding temperate and cause others so to be that will not abide excesse and they are not afraid of evill tidings Ps. 112.7 nor of terrours by night nor of those terrours which attend times of darknesse and afflictions they live above all fears and fancies by an Heroick faith being resolved come life come death nothing shall separate them And they provoke to that sweet soule-rest and holy recumbency of Spirit which they have in Christ. These are the Precious stones the excellent Church-matter promised in these dayes to come And these being under a promise O what happy dayes are comming great shall be the day of Jezreel indeed blessed daies then are approching for the Churches O let us wait for them and begin them by bringing forth the properties of these Precious stones which are a mystery of the excellency of Church-members and matter consisting of excellent gems and jewels which shall be gather'd up in these latter dayes from all parts of the world East West North and South Jewes and Gentiles Indians Arabians Medes Persians Scythians Sardians as well as English French Spaniards Italians c. These Precious stones viz. such Saints are exceeding rare as yet but ere long the appearances of Christ will be higher and the shining approaches of this Sunne will be hotter and the Gospel shall go further ev'n beyond Seas to find them out and to gather them up And after the houres of triall which shall come upon the Churches of Europe will the Spirit be pour'd out amply for such an ample employment viz. to gather Jewels and Precious stones for Church-matter in all parts of the World As the excellency of the matter so the variety of that excellency is also under promise as appears by the various
from thence divided severall wayes abroad so will the spirit as with one mighty rushing Sea into the Churches and from them be divided about and spread abroad But Secondly for what end to water the Garden So the Churches will be abundantly more fructifying and fresh when this spirit is poured out than now they are Cant. 4.15 And they shall be like a watered Garden whose waters faile not Isay. 58.11 they can't faile Heb. 2.14 they are already green and growing and shall no more be like a parched Wildernesse Thirdly a word more about the Division of this River v. 10. From thence it parted into four Heads From thence inde Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de ibi it is a question among some where this Division is made whether before it came into the Garden and after it went out or in Paradise now it appears to me although it came into the Garden uno influxo as by one stream yet it went out by four in v. 10.11.12 13. c. So that the Division was within the Garden and by this Division every part of the Garden was watered So the spirit though it is one and the same as from Christ yet in the Church it flows severall wayes in severall Gifts Graces and Administrations 1 Cor. 12.4 So that every part of the Church may be watered and every one have according to his measure some more and some lesse And from the Church it flows abroad to the World and this foretels us the spirit shall come flowing in such an ample manner into the Churches in these last dayes and that it shall flow from them and out of them run out to others several wayes in severall streams yea four Heads into the four Parts of the World East West North and South and as the foure Heads encompassed and took in many Lands v. 11.12.13.14 as Arabia Syria Chaldea Chus Aethiopia Aegypt c. So shall the spirit that goes out of the Churches in that Great Day of the flowing of it in and pouring of it on them I say that spirit shall go out of the Churches round about severall wayes into all Parts of the World to fetch in and to compasse about and to gather up of many Nations and Tongues and Languages and Lands to the Lord and his Christ who is the East Yea and many pretious stones and gold of Havilah shall be fetched in too as fit matter for the Lords house in those his latter Golden Dayes So that the great and glorious Work that God hath to do by his spirit in these dayes is in the Churches and then by the Churches abroad many wayes in the world but thus far for the second speciall Priviledges of the Churches typified by Paradise in the Rivers that shall run in the midst of their streets and run from them to others See Zach. 14.8 And in that day shall living water go out of Jerusalem the halfe of them one way and the halfe another c. Now we come to the last Description of the Type which is so full for these latter dayes and which relates so eminently and evidently to the Churches and that is in ver 15.16.17 The Lord God tooke the Man and put him into the Garden c. 1. The Man to shew that it was no place for Beasts the Lord hath promised no ravenous beasts shall enter into this earthly Paradise that is to come in these last Ages Isay. 35 9.10 2. The Lord tooke him tulit Jehovah Elohim to shew that he came not thither by nature and was not born to it or created in it but translated into it by the spirit of the Lord the Lord put him in so none are to be in the Churches as Members that be in their meer naturall Condition or as if born to it or born in it O no! only such as are brought in by Grace whom the Lord hath brought in and fitted for Church-Communion by his spirit that must be Members such as the Lord adds and he adds none but such as shall be saved Acts 2.47 Too too many naturall carnall men have crept into the Churches and have added themselves or else others have added them but the Lord will out them and rout them ere long he hath not added them And therefore the fiery tryall will purge them off and over with a powder And that Day will burn up the third part of the trees Rev. 8.7 with Zach. 13.9 and after that there shall be no more the Cananite in the Lords house Zach. 14.21 3. The Paradise was of use in mans innocency as an Academy or the Vniversity sayes Pareus to which men from all Parts might resort to praise the Lord and to learn of him and to behold his most excellent workes and to feed of the best fruits And from thence others might be sent abroad as the Rivers went to give knowledge to the people and of such excellent use will the Churches of Christ be in these latter dayes for all sorts of Saints to resort to them to praise the Lord in them to be instructed by him to be acquainted with his most gracious workings in us and for us and to feed upon the best priviledges and choisest fruits of restored Paradise and to be sent out thence to go abroad all along with the Rivers I mean with the rich measures of the spirit to teach the World to instruct them without that are ignorant of the truth mysteries of the Gospel as they are revealed to the Saints in fellowship Such Churches wil prove the usefullest Vniversities in the World to stock and store the Nation with able Spiritual Teachers and such as shall speake the things they heare and see being all taught of the Lord by the Anointing from on high so to doe and this is promised at large in these latter Dayes Jerem. 32.40 Isay. 46.13 and 54.13.14 For his Law shall go forth from Zion Isay. 22. Micha 4.8 4. God would not have man no not in his innocency to live no not in Paradise without Law but he kept him under strict Law v. 16. the Lord God commanded the man praecepto singulari obstrinxit the Hebrew notes the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Proposition or Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to signifie more then simply to command viz. to command with an Interdiction and Prohibition as follows in v. 17. thus is the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vajesau read in Scripture and this is very significant for God doth not promise us a lawlesse liberty or licentious dayes in these latter dayes but that we shall be under his Lawes and Ordinances which he hath appoynted in the Church The Saints shall be exact walkers up to the rule of perfect righteousnesse in Christ Jesus not destroying but fulfilling the Law and that in Love which is the bond of perfection only this obedience shal be
Knowledge Phil. 3.8 Jo. 7.3 and learning as the taught of God Isay. 29.11 and Isay. 50.4 John 6 45. Rev. 14 3. Rev. 5.5.6 and excelling all in the truest purest fullest sweetest and profitablest originall tongues and languages Dan. 1.17 Jo. 7.15 Viz. the language of Canaan the tongue of the spirit the purest originall Wherefore let not Sathan deceive us with his fair sides of Gifts and Parts so as to make us eat of them and chuse them before the tree of life And yet God forbid but that we should have gifts and parts and learning and languages in the Churches too for the service of the Church and to be under the spirit so that there is great reason that the tree of Knowledge should stand there though the Serpent do make it his Den and Tree of Temptation 10. It was the sixth day that man was put into Paradise by God and now a day is as a thousand years so that we live in the sixth day since the Creation and now God is restoring Paradise apace and he hath gathered some Churches his Garden is enclosed and he hath caused trees to grow there and the River to run there now it remaines that he by his own spirit do put man in we live in this day wherein he will do it as Ezek 36.33.35.36.37 Jer. 32.37 And I will gather them and I will bring them againe into this place Micah 7.9 He will bring me forth to light and I shall behold his righteousnesse Zach. 8.8 I will bring them and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and they shall be my People and I will be their God in truth and righteousnesse the Lord undertakes it himselfe by his owne hand to put men into his Churches and to bring in the sons of strangers and the outcasts of Israel Isay 56.6.7.8 and he will plant them Jerem 32.40.41 and bring all the good that he hath promised in his word upon them Jer. 32.42 and cause them to walk by Rivers of waters Jerem 31.9 Ezek. 34.13 c. 11. But to conclude the Type Paradise is the place wherein God did most familiarly appeare and acquaint himselfe to Man and manifest his love and glory Three wayes we read of by which God spake to men by dreams by visions or else face to face and in this manner whereby his Love and wherin his Glory did most appeare viz. face to face did the Lord manifest himselfe in Paradise although his face was seen but as in a Glasse 2 Cor. 3.18 under the similitude of an Angel or some other bodily appearance This signifies the singular appearances and presence of God which the Churches shall enjoy above all the world besides in these last dayes his presence is especially promised to appeare and his Love and Glory to be manifested in the Churches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Such a speciall manifestation as is mentioned in John 14.21 which is promised in these last dayes shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the brightnesse of his glory Heb. 1.2.3 Jo. 2.11 Eph. 3.3.4 so is it in Psal. 102.16 when the Lord shall build up Zion then he shall appeare in his glory So Habak 2.14 Then shall they bee filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. So Zach. 2.5 Rev. 21.11.23 The glory of God shall lighten the New Jerusalem viz. the glorious presence of God in it Then the Saints in the Churches shall have the most familiar presence of God discourses with him discoveries of him walking in the Garden as Cant. 8.13 and Cant. 7.11 So Cant. 6.2 my beloved is gone down into his Garden to the beds of spices particular Churches to feed in the Gardens to gather lillies There is Christ most and best to be found So Cant. 4.16 and 5.1 c. Psal. 63.2 and Psal. 27.4 yea the Angel of his presence shall be there Isay 63.9 and the name of them from that day shall be Jehovah Shammah the Lord is there Ezek. 48.35 Thus we have done with these Types that foretell the happy state of Saints in Gospel-fellowship and the Glory of the Churches of Christ in these latter dayes sparkling through many more Types then I have mention'd but these are sufficient for present proofe though every day will bring forth more and more excellent matter of praises and rejoycings whilst the Church comes out of the Wildernesse leaning on her beloved persumed with mirrh and frankinsence and the Saints shal have beauty for ashes and be called trees of righteousnesse the Lords own planting that he might be glorified Isay 61.3 But lastly that the Churches of Christ are to stand apparantly distinct from all others we have already prov'd it Chap. 6. lib. 1. c. besides severall Prophesies and Types we might bring forth but that 't is time to conclude and rest me as Numb 239. Lo they shall not be reckoned among the Nations and Rev. 18.4 Johu 15.19 Hosea 4.15 and 14 8. Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols yea so as an apparent difference shall bee known and own'd betwixt them and others Mal. 3.16.17 Jer. 15.16 for the Lord hath made the difference as from the first s Gen. 1.4 God saw the light was good and therefore divided the light from darknesse to be distinct 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Sept. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. by an apparent difference to bee knowne by all and so will he make the Churches of Light distinct from them of darknesse so as it appeares in the Chaldee Paraphrase and tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so in the Samaritan tongue that God made a manifest and bounded separation between them And this distinct separation or division of Gods make must stand It is then no new thing to be distinct from Parishes and all false Antichristian Churches wherein there is a mixture 2 Cor. 6.1415 and is not so distinct a separation as is and ought to be in all true Churches from false wayes and worships We find this too typified by Israel separated from all others Numb 16.9 and they were not to joyn in Religion and worship with the other Nations 1 King 11.3 Joshua 2.3 Exod 23.16 Deut. 10.8 and 32.8 but separated from the mixed multitude Nehem. 13.3 Ezra 10.16 yea in Deut. 23.1 2.3 c. you will read who might and who might not enter into the Church which much concerns us now v. 1. not such as cannot retaine the seed of the word as it is in Heb. Shophcah which sheds and loses that precious seed how can they beget others to the faith that lose the seed such are not to be received into the Congregation of the Lord O precious promises which will produce and procreate a most excellent distinction in the latter dayes when the Lord shall adde to his Churches such as have a fulnesse of his seed 1 Pet. 1.23 1 Io. 3.9 remaining in them and then as v. 2.
Magistrates Judges of p. 164 c. 13 l. 2 Faire without and not within Hypocrites p. 66 c. 5 l. 1 Fair all over the Church of Christ p. 100 c. 8 l. 1 Faith never forced three hundred years after Christ p. 160 c. 13 l. 1 Faith more urged then Forme p. 208 c. 15 l. 1 Faith in prayer forces out a quick answer p. 370 c. 6 l. 2 In the Faith all are to be received p. 348 c. 5 l. 2 Fall suddenly to some Churches p. 188 189 191 c. 14 l. 1 False perswasions dangerous and how to know them p. 249 c. 1 l. 2 False friends flatter most 2 Epist. Familiarity with Christs enemies declined p. 76 c. 6 l. 1 M. 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Israel a separate people So every Saint is a spirituall Jew So are the Disciples of Christ. Sim. Who are therefore haâ—â—d Châ—ists commands 2 Those that partake of her sins partake of her sorrows 3 It publishes disobedience not to be such and a corrupt heart plenis faucibus Quest. Answ. 1 None ought to be without Callings 2 None must separate from their duties 3 Nor to separate from civill â—onverse What it is to separate 1 From all false wayes and worship 2 From familiarity with the adversaries of the truth Sim. Sim. Sim. Have nothing to doe with them Gods anger is against such as do keep company with them Sim. Sim. 3 No fellowship with them in their orders and ordinances out of Christs way Expos. As Paul separated from Iewish Churches Discipline orders and ordinances Vse Parishes have not this part of the Forme Which is twisted up of a threefold cord to draw us out of Parishes into Churches All men are separates from Christ or separates for Châ—ist and which is best Object What Separatists are Schismaticks and what not A sin not to separate from false Antichristian Church-States And parishes as Churches are such Learned men many times most enemies to Christ and his true Churches Sim. Parish-Churches no Churches Churches gathered out of Churches Parish churches are Sathans Synagogues No Parish-rule conveyes a Church-right Sim. Parishioners opposite to Churches Sim. Object Answ. Word preached is no indelible nor undeceivable note of a truâ—â— Church Sim. But a commen adjunct Sacraments must be of right dispensed as Christs Ordinances in Christs order i. e. no where but in the true Church Expos. A word to all friends to submit to Christ. ☞ ☞ Sim. Outward Ordinances out of Christs order may do more hurt then good Sim. Carnall reason keeps many off Church-fellowship Sim. Secondly 2. Part of the forme is after separation from the fals conjunction in the true way Forth with hast into the Churches Else we shall be lost in the wildernesse One reason many Professors formerly strict turne Familists Seekers Ranters and such like In the Answer godly eminent Ministers so accounted must be reproved in the Countries Hag. 1.2.4 The Lord expostulates with them Ministers most complaine who are most the cause of their owne complaines What answers some of them have given the Author when he hath pressed upon them Gospel practise Why many Ministers are against Independency as they call it Expos. Whom the forme is to be showne to What it is 1. One Body 2. One body Independent 1. Christ's Church is his Body how and why All Members make up one and but one body Expos. Sim. If one member be amisse it must be restored into use and order againe for the good of the whole body which cannot misse that one member Sim. That is candidly with all sweetnesse of brotherly-like spirit and christianity Every member is to be in an apt place c of the body Sim. 1 Cor. 12.21.22 and to be content therewith Vide Zanch. de Eccles. 2. Christ his Church is his building Expos. The forme of his building What it is Sim. Rightly ordered to make all one The Lords house fitly framed together Expos. All one in another and every one on and in Christ the foundation v. chap. 14. Expos. 3. Christ's Church is a City compact Sim. All streets houses peoples c. make but one City Saints Citizens Sim. The immunities Priviledges lawes of this City which belong to the Freemen thereof None admitted free-men of this City but by the Citizens consent Expos. Buxtorph and Shâ—indler 4 This Church is his Army All men companies colours Captaines make up one Army 5 Christ's Church is his Kingdome For all Cities Shires countries c. make up but one Kingdome 6 Christs Church called heaven And why All Elements Firmaments Orbes Stars c make but one heaven All Saints in one are so Mr Jacob. Mr. Ursin. Sim. Because they have All one Father All one originall Law All in one Covenant All hewn from one Rock All bear one Image All lay in one womb All of one Seed All lead by one Spirit All called into one hope All one joy All one glory Christ prayed for this onenesse Apostles tooke great paines to preach it Unity and Entity convertibles The beauty and loveliness of Saints embodyed Sim. His Tabernacles amiable His Spouse fair 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such embâ—dâ—ed excel in beauty Informitas materiae duplex vel excludeâ—s formam vel formositatem Th. Aq. 1.66.1 â— Sim. Without form deforme Sim. But in one body their excellency appears In great confusion and disorder till then Sim. But in body in order and proper place Sim. Sim. Till thus embodied they do not their duties one to another Mr. Bartlet The Author abused for him in Dublin Sim. Expos. The soule-sweet issues of such a Gospel-order Priviledges Promises The Lords delight there above all Sim. The united strength of Saints in such Gospel society Vis â—nita fortiâ—â— Such Saints are the surest and the most successefull Souldiers A terrour to the world Expos. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fire proceeds out of the mouthes of Churches to destroy Gog and Magog Expos. By the Spirit of the Lord. Sim. Unity unconquerable Sed informitas infirmitas Sim. Sim. Saints united in one too hard for the whole world Sim. Their joynt powers and joint prayers able to conquâ—r heaven and earth And joynt-praises fill heaven and earth Sim. One member can act by his owne power and by the virtuall power and influence of the whole body Vse Parishes no Churches of Christ in this point of forme For we proved before with the Schoolâ—men Ubi partes non habent rationem materiae ibi totum non habet rationem formae So that they are neither matter nor forme The Devils black cloven foote is set in the midst of them all over England Why Parishes so devoyd of matter form and so full of sinne Expos. In Parishes what plagues arose from their constitution The worse wicked ill-favoured Kine eate up and destroy the others of the Neighbours that are better Exod. 7.12 and errours and sins doe swallow up truths Proph. Aegyptian Plagues must come upon them as in Isa. 10.24 26. Although as yet many like Dan do bite us behind or backbite Many an Adullamite we meet with in Parishes Parishes a Chaos Sim. Sim. Materia informis Expos. Parishes are stalls for beasts to lye down in Sim. Sim. Sim. Parish-Churches have their fatall blow Ezek. 16.36 37 Judg 9.15 The Bramble shall be burnt up in the day that burneth like an oven Mal. 4.1 Sim. Babylon falling Thâ—se that traded with her bewail her Vse A call into Zion into the Churches of Christ. Out of Babylon and Parish Churches Christ beckens to thee ☞ In his Tabernacles and Churches are beauty power his presence safety deliverance pleasure and joyes plenty peace blessednesse salvation all powerfull motives Great hurt to the godly to continue in Parish Churches
man about thirteen years agoe who worked much upon me I heard Sermons and followed Ministers much after that I was wont to hear in London Mr. Cradock and Mr. Simpson Mr. Cradock wrought much upon me being upon that saying in Isa. Woe is me I am an unclean creature c. And truly I could finde it in me as if he had spoken to me onely what he said so that I was thereby wrought upon I was much afflicted for a time and gave my selfe much to prayer and did love the truth and all the Saints and so I continue now and I have found and doe yet those things true in me which were spoken by Mr. Rogers of that onenesse of love and unity of the Spirit which ought to be among all Saints which hath much wrought upon me and affected me I have seen my sad condition by nature and now I shall see it in grace and now O! how I love the wayes of God and holinesse and duties and means of grace which before I did not but such things of God as before I loathed I now love and long after Jesus Christ alone Experience of Edward Hoar Captain I Shall declare something of God upon my spirit It is some twelve years since before which I understood not the happinesse of enjoying Christ that I began to say What shall I doe to be saved I followed the Ministers frequented the means and did too much depend upon my doings and rest on works and what I heard from the Ministers I tooke for granted truths because they said so without searching or examining the Scriptures and the minde of God I tryed the Scriptures by men not men by the Scriptures but at last I saw them to be subject to errors as well or worse as others and then I saw that humane Learning could not get beyond humane And what Peter said in 2 Pet. 3 16. Which they that are unlearned wrest as they doe also the other Scriptures to their own destruction could not be meant of humane Learning Peter himselfe not being so but of Spiritual So that ever since I could not looke on men as infallible and thence forward I beleeved not things to be so because they said so but because God sayd so and his Word But now I live in Christ and I can positively say I have faith and am sure in Christ to be saved and looke upon none else and I was darknesse yet now I am light in the Lord. And so I propose my selfe to you I had opportunity in other places before now to have been of a society but I was not free in my spirit for that I found them to live too much in formes and not in the Spirit but hearing of so much love and freedome of the Spirit in this Society I desire to be one with you in the Lord and one with another Experience of John Spilman Captaine BEing a member of the Church at Yarmouth in England of which Mr. Bridges is Pastor I have given there an account of my faith and life onely shall say thus much more that once in a carnall condition as I was I did slight the Ministers of Christ especially your long Preachers and could not abide that any should preach long but at last I was catched by one and hee was on Heb. 8.8.10 the new Covenant made in Christ which was applied to me very home and touched me to the heart and made me to inquire into my condition hearing the danger of being out of that Covenant as it was to bee out of Noah's Arke and I asked my heart about it whither I belonged to it or no! but alas I lay long in great affliction and had no satisfaction nor assurance so that I knew not what to doe being under many temptations sometimes I would heare and sometimes affected the Ordinances and sometimes not and so I continued a while untill those promises comforted me much in Hosea 14 4. I will heal their back-slidings and love them freely for mine anger is turned away from him And Heb. 8.12 For I will be mercifull to their unrighteousnesse and their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more And that in Rom. 5.6 In due time Christ dyed for the ungodly And verse 8. While we were yet sinners And some other places besides but yet I questioned whether he dyed for me or no and that was answered yes for me for I was one of the number of sinners and ungodly that needed Christ but being in fears I went to Mr. Bridges told him how I was and indeed he satisfied me very much for the time but I fell into great trouble after all this and had a sentence of death within me and thought I was damned and utterly lost for all this still wanting faith and looking upon my owne actings and graces till the Lord laid these sayings of Paul to Corinth home close to my heart Covet the best things and I tell you yet a more excellent way and I thought there was yet a better way but I was a great while troubled for I was well enough untill I had some sweet enjoyments of Jesus Christ and then I discovered the most excellent way which is Christ and nothing but Christ and then I grew confident and full of courage and assurance and loved Christ in all and all that was Christs and Christ more then all Experience of William Walker I Have much reason to know a great worke of God upon my heart in delivering me wonderfully from severall destroying sinnes which once I thought â—leight but so great that I can scarce utter them I was very extravagant even here in Ireland but was brought very low in body and minde together and then was sensible of disobeying my Parents from what the Word sayes of men they shall be lovers of themselves heady and disobeying parents which cast me down afflicted my conscience and troubled me so that I cannot utter it and I lay thus a long time till I heard once Christ freely offered even to the worst of sinners and then I began to looke up a little with hopes of comfort and applied these offers to me as needing him and so I began to be satisfied with peace and rest and I followed the Word and rejoyced in it and loved the godly to have company with them and yet for all this I was under much temptation and too much I was given to drinking till Mr. Strong told me Brother I hear strange things of you that you are given to drinking c. which so smit me with the abuses I received abroad by the prophane sort who said O this is one of Fowlers followers that I was wounded in my spirit a long time that I should bring such a scandal upon the Gospel and a blemish For two months I was tormented in my minde till the Lord recovered me and gave me resolution and power against the sin which