Adoption And I finde that such as did unfainedly beleeve in Christ did receive the Spirit of Adoption into their hearts crying Abba Father But this I also finde That this Adoption is not yet compleated but only begun and a first first fruits and that of the Spirit onely received and those that have this do yet wait for the Adoption injoying yet only by hope even the redemption of the body Rom. 8.12 23 24 25. when Adoption will be compleated in the resurrection of the Just And so I finde not this said That beleevers are compleatly adopted Nor is the Adopted the usual or any expression by which beleevers are now called that I finde 3 Here are some expressions which in the meaning of them are true of all beleevers in this life as things truly and perfectly done though for the measure not come to its height and yet not as expressed the usual expressions of beleevers Ioh. 15.2 4 7 Heb. 4.1 2 3. Psal 86.11 as united to Christ which is a gracious work and in some measure spiritually effected through beleeving in the beleevers that being united by faith to the object of faith the word and so Christ in the word is in their heart and thus by faith love and desires in Christ So also tasting of the heavenly gift c. And so one And yet a farther uniting prayed for yea that they might be one in will Ioh. 17.20 21. purpose design and way And this union of Spirit we are exhorted to keep and to grow up in it till we come to the fulness of it Eph. 4.12 16. but it is not yet fully compleated And so though in a sense beleevers are united to Christ and so truly said to be yet the compleatment is but a working and growing towards Beleevers are not very often and usually set forth by this expression The united to Christ And the term Made the Sons of God is that which in a spiritual sense may be affirmed of true beleevers for to all that receive Christ by beleeving on him by beleeving on his name he gives the power to bee the Sons of God and so the favour to be called his Sons and his Sons they now are by faith and not otherwise yet And shall more fully and compleatly be made the Sons of God in the resurrection of the just Joh. 1.12 13. 1 Joh. 3.1 Gal. 3.26 Luke 20.35 36 1 Joh. 3.2 whence though Sons of God be often and usual expressions of beleevers yet made Sons of God is not so usual an expression as some other 4 Here is one expression that is once or twice used with some other expressions joyned with it and explain it who they be To express beleevers that are cordial with the manner of their calling and the operation of their faith viz. The called according to purpose Rom. 8 28. 2 Tim. 1.9 Heb. 10.32 but as a single expression it is not so usual And illumination is once used as a single expression to express beleevers besides This place Tasting that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2.3 may be taken as so used in another place And what can be less in tasting of the heavenly gift and of the good word of God c. Besides as illumination tasting of the heavenly gift c. are works of the Spirit here mentioned Act. 11.18 20 21. 26 18. Col. 1.4 5. as suited to repentance from dead works and faith toward God they are expressions by which beleevers are usually set forth so as no cause to except against them as not so usual c. 5 Here are some terms in the substance of them though not so usual or not more usual than the terms in the Text here by him rejected as he expresseth them usual terms to express Beleevers viz. Quickned Born again Justified Sanctified by the Spirit Usual indeed Eph. 2.4 Col. 2.13 But minde well Quickned is sometime used as an expression of that enlivening wrought at first in beleevers expressed by Yee and Us. But the word is also used to express the efficacy of the word in beleevers Psal 119.50 93 21.20 119 88. 1 Pet. 3.18 Rom. 8.11 And sometime the word is used for a beleever fallen into some afflicted and drooping condition being raised again sometime for strengthning to walk in the wayes of righteousness and sometime for the resurrection of the body after death And so although this be in some respect a right and good expression of beleevers as thus sometime have been now are and after death in the resurrection shall fully bee yet the expression Heb. 6.4 5. compared with vers 1 2. import the same and are every way as suitable to express beleevers according to their attainments in this life both in principles and spiritual efficacies as is at large shewn The other expression Born again Joh. 3.3.5 1.13 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 if understood or from above and so as explicated of water and the Spirit and so of God by the word of God A good and fit expression of beleevers oft used yet this must be granted That there are degrees and measures of the work of God in this work also that is expressed by this term For whosoever beleeveth that Jesus is the Christ 1 Joh. 5.1 1 Cor. 12.3 Luke 20.36 Rom. 8.23 Act. 13.39 Rom. 5.1 1 Cor. 6.11 is born of God And no man can say in preaching Gospel That Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost And none are fully and compleatly born of God till the resurrection from the dead so that for explicating the state and present frame of a beleever The expressions used Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. are every way as suitable yea explicating that expression And so also Justified is a good expression to set forth a Beleever And so is Sanctified by the Spirit but mostly used rather to set forth what is received in beleeving than the beleeving it self And the expressions in Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. as much set forth beleeving and so may as well express the beleever as either of them So that all these expressions brought in though they are all very good yet the bringing them in to discountenance and eject other expressions used in this business by the Holy Ghost also 2 Tim. 2.14 Job 15.3 38.2 is not good but contrary to the Commandment to enter strife about words to no profit but the subversion of the hearers or readers and a darkning of counsel by multiplying words without knowledge For was not the laying of Christ for the foundation the purpose and according to the purpose of God And was not the lifting up Jesus in Gospel-preaching and glorifying him by Spirit to the hearts of men that they might see and beleeve the purpose and according to the purpose of God And whereas some when light comes would yet be wise in their own eyes and so come in to claim by a righteousness of their own not
c. Just as to the Hebrews Heb. 12.22 Shews to how much more glorious ministration and better Covenant stablished on better promises than they in Moses time had and what happy society they were come to yea even to Jesus where they might enjoy the blood of sprinkling shewing thereby as the benefit of hearing so the danger of turning away so warning to heedfulness Secondly he saith And as to their relative condition whereas they were children of wrath under the curse and condemning power of the Law they are upon the score of him who was made 〈◊〉 curse for them and is made righteousness to them accepted justified adopted and admitted into that family of heaven and earth which is called after the Name of God All this in the truth of it in a measure is true of all unfained beleevers even the weakest of them As for Eph. 2.3 Gal. 5.13 it is fore-spoken to and agrees to all beleevers without difference And Gal. 3.13 shews the way of deliverance through Christ Being made a curse for us And how he hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law so as God will not go to judgement with us thereby however unbeleeving hearts are under the fear of that curse and death but he hath given us all over to Christ to be disposed by him and judged by him according to the Gospel yet this was not all the end he had in so redeeming us from the curse of the Law but he had a more abundant gracious end in this his suffering for us namely That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that so we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith He saith not That we Jews and Gentiles all that he hath redeemed from the curse of the Law which is true to all men are in their conscience from under Law and have received the blessing of Abraham and the promise of the Spirit but that he by suffering for us the curse of the Law hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law to this end That we might c. And so upon the account of Christ being made a curse for us Joh. 3.14 15 16 17 18 36. Gal. 3 7-12 16 29. 2 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4. c. The Gospel of this good news is preached to us that wee might beleeve and in beleeving receive the blessing and promise through faith Not else nor otherwise but in beleeving we shall receive And all this is true for and to all men but onely beleevers receive the blessing and Spirit through faith And this is true of all beleevers and abides in them as they abide in the faith to press to which is the drift of this and following Chapters Gal. 4.4 The Apostle here in shewing That God sent forth his Son made of a woman that is in the common nature of mankinde made under the Law that under which all mankinde was fallen to redeem them that were under the Law as all mankinde was that we might receive the adoption of Sons He saith not And then we did Rom. 3 10-19 20. or all so redeemed from the curse of the Law have But that we might that is in beleeving receive c. And so far true to all alike And then vers 6. And because ye are Sons Chap. 3.13 14 that is because ye have beleeved this testimony and so beleeved in the Name of the Son of God God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son that divine force of his Spirit Joh. 1.12 Gal. 3.26 Mar. 14.36 Rom. 8.2.14 15. working child-like confidence and desires moving to approach to him by Christ crying Abba Father And this all true beleevers receive yet this and the rest he affirmeth in no sort to import an impossibility of their miscariage for he was afraid of them but as a motive to reduce them from miscarriages and prevent farther miscarriages that they might abide in and live by faith and though their declining be great and much fallen from grace yet not being quite departed upon the account of Christ beleeved in he affirms the Spirit in them Rom. 8.1 Rom. 3 19-25 5.18 7 1-7.14.24 The Apostle having before laid the foundation forth in the redemption wrought by and in Jesus Christ And also how by faith it is received and how beleeving in Christ we are dead to the Law by the body of Christ that we might be married to him and that in beleeving we are so quickned and married to Christ That we might bring forth fruit to God and serve in newness of Spirit And then shewing in his own example how the old disposition the law in the members Gal. 5.17 doth war against the Spirit and so hinder them that they cannot do all the good as they would and yet he by following the Spirit in minding Jesus Christ and the redemption in him yeelding up with his minde to side with and walk in the Spirit and so in that faith of Jesus in love c. he was delivered and set free from all charges of sin and sentences of death by the Law yea acquit and justified through the blood of Christ beleeved in Rom. 7.24 25. 5 1-5.9 3.25 Rom. 8.1 and so rejoyce in Christ And this he layes down as true in like manner too and of all that unfainedly beleeve in Jesus Christ and the common priviledge of them all Now then or therefore there is now no condemnation that is none by that law of sin and death either from God or from conscience what ever be from ungodly men yet none that can charge their conscience as under the guilt of sin or liableness to curse no such condemnation or reproof its large No condemnation to them which are in Christ who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit he saith not simply to them that are in Christ Jesus Gal. 5.16 17 18 6 8. and there stop and make the period for if any that have received the testimony of Christ so as to beleeve in him as the flesh lusts against the Spirit do side with the flesh and sow to it 1 Joh. 3.4 and not presently own and confess that faultiness and seek pardon and healing in Christ but go on in any thing to serve such fleshly lusts 1 Cor. 11.31 32. Mar. 10.41 45 Mat. 28.3 Eph. 4.29 30. 1 Cor. 6.7 2 Cor. 12.21 Gal. 6.8 1 Joh. 3.20 21 1 Joh. 1.6 7 8 9. he sinneth against grace and not onely the Law will reprove him of sin but God will reprove him and chasten him also yea Christ will reprove him yea the holy Spirit will convince him of faultiness and all faithful men that walk after the Spirit will reprove him yea and his own heart will condemn him 1 Joh 3.20 And if he go on thus he will reap corruption and become more estranged weakned and deaded and cannot have boldness towards God but in returning to Christ confessing
An Explicite DECLARATION OF The Testimony OF CHRIST According to the plain Sayings of the Gospel And therein Of the PURPOSES PROMISES and COVENANTS of God as by GOSPEL declared With A Consideration of a QUESTION stated about FAITH By Thomas Moore Senior Rom. 15.4 Whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope Printed at London by J. C. for Livâ—â—el Chapman at the Crown in Popes head alley 1656. To such as believe the Testimony of CHRIST GOD having given to all men an object of Faith Act. 17.31 Rom. 16.26 Mar. 16.15 Jam. 1.18 Rom. 10.10 15. 4.5 22 25. and commanded it to be made known by the Scriptures preached to all Nations for the obedience of Faith and that believing it which is begot thereby and closeth therewith so as to rest thereon for that promised being therefore by him called Faith and to such Believers Faith imputed for Righteousness So as it is verily true Heb. 11.6 Eph. 2.17 18. Act. 10.43 13.38 39. Rom. 5.1 2 3 5. Heb. 11.2 Act. 18.26 9.15 Rom. 11.20 Eph. 2.8 1 Cor. 15.1 4. 2 Thess 1.10 1 Job 5.10 By Faith we come and approach to God by Faith we receive remission of sins by Faith we are justified and approved of God by Faith we receive the vertues of the Sacrifice and Blood of Christ by Faith we are sanctified and conformed to the minde of Christ by Faith we stand and are saved by Faith we receive the Testimony of Christ and so come to have that Testimony and therein the holy Spirit testifying and Christ testified of and the Father that is in Christ dwelling in our heart by Faith Eph. 3.17 Gal. 3.26 Hab. 2.4 Rom. 1.17 Gal. 1.13 1 Joh. 5.4 5. Heb. 11. all 1 Pet. 1.5 so as by Faith we are the Sons of God and in all trials and temptations by Faith we live yea by Faith we have the victory over the flesh the world and the devil and by Faith may be enabled to do worthily in our generations and be constant in all services of love enduring through all sufferings till we die in the Faith and so in the Resurrection shall receive the kingdom for we are kept by the power of God through Faith unto salvation I therefore am perswaded it is our best service and fruit of love Jude 20.3 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Eph. 4.4 5. to edifie one another in this most holy Faith yea and to contend for it also against the opposers of it and know this Faith to be one and that there is but one Faith that is Faith indeed though in time past I have conceited divers kindes of Faith and now lately meeting with a Question stated in which are asserted two kindes of Faith each true and real in its kinde by M. John Owen in his Book entituled The Doctrine of the Saints perseverance I was mov'd in my heart to consider the same and to answer some Expressions of his yet leaving the handling of the Controversie to those more fit to whom it may appertain acknowledging all for Truth in his Book that is found in the Testimony of Christ and stands with the Rule proposed by himself also and refuse the rest according to his own counsel direction wherein I have endeavored by plain Testimony and sayings of Scripture to set forth the true Faith in the object of it and Grace of believing with its efficacies and so to encourage men to believe and believers to persevere I desire the plain Testimony of Scripture may be believed and so far as any of us are by the Spirit therein brought to acknowledg Christ and desire the exaltation of his Name and winning in of others thereto and encrease and growth of grace in believers let us keep this unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace that so in all our other differing apprehensions and expressions we may so contend for what the Scripture saith that whatever absurdity thereby we seem to cast upon any expressions of one another it may be without judging or despising of one another taking opposed expressions as consequences of misconception in the fancy and not fruits of the principle of grace in such as acknowledge Jesus the Lord nor judging them graceless or having no principle of grace because of such an expression that so we may do all things in charity seeking the edification of one another and so I hope if any be otherwise minded God will reveal the same to them onely whereto we have attained let us walk by the same rule of Faith and Love and believe what Scripture testifieth and not be waved from that the Scriptures being able to make us wise unto salvation through Faith that is in Jesus Christ And so committing my self and labour to the Lord 's gracious good pleasure and to Believers to be tried and received or refused as they are found to be agreeing or disagreeing with the plain sayings of the Testimony of Christ I rest Wittlesey Oct. 12. 1655. A well-willer of all that love the Lord Jesus Christ Thomas Moore The Contents of the Treatise in seven Parts PART I. An Introduction to the Testimony of Christ Chap. 1. A Direction to discern Truth from Error pag. 1. Chap. 2. Evidences of the Truth and plainness of the Testimony pag. 4. Chap. 3. Of the enmity of Flesh and Satan and their way of opposing pag. 9. Chap. 4. An Assay to remove the Objections of those that pretend Spirit and Inspiration Where what meant by Christ what by Scripture what by Letter and what by Spirit pag. 11. Chap. 5. An Answer to such as seek to trouble by words pag. 20. Chap. 6. Answer to such as pretend Scripture to trouble with pag. 26. Chap. 7. A Conclusion with the consent of a learned man pag. 32. Chap. 8. An Assay to direct the weak to finde the Testimony of Christ in the plain sayings thereof pag. 34. Chap. 9. Of the Creation of Mankinde in the first Adam pag. 41. Chap. 10. Of the fall and misery of him and Mankinde pag. 44. Chap. 11. Of the immutability of God notwithstanding pag. 49. Chap. 12. Of the remedilesness in Mankinde fallen to help himself and the wonderfulness of help in another pag. 55. Chap. 13. Of the similitudes and dissimilitudes between the first now old and the new Creation pag. 60. PART II. A declaration of the testimony of Christ in the branches of it Chap. 1. Of the Testimony of Christ who what a one and whence pag. 67. The first Branch Chap. 2. Of the Oblation of Christ pag. 73. Chap. 3. What that was which was offered up in Sacrifice pag. 75. Chap. 4. Who it was that offered up this Sacrifice pag. 76. Chap. 5. To whom be offered this Sacrifice pag. 83. Chap. 6. For whom and in whose behalf he offered it pag. 86. Chap. 7. For what Christ offered this Sacrifice for men viz. To make
the Testimony of CHRIST according to the plain sayings of the GOSPEL PART I. CHAP. 1. A Direction to discern Truth from Error ISa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it 's because there 's no morning or Light in them Now God hath according to his Promise given forth his Son for a Covenant to the People and a Light to the Gentiles a Isa 42.1 6 7. 49.6 with Luk. 2.31 32. Act. 13.47 and so for a Law b Isa 42.4 and for a Witness or Testimony c Isa 33.4 1 John 4.9 10. John 3.16 yea the Scripture witnesseth of Christ and Moses and all the Prophets wrote and spake of him d Joh. 5.39 40. Act. 3.22 24. and He is the Brightness of the Father's Glory and the express Image of his Person e Heb. 1.3 Col. 1.15 in whose Face the Knowledge of the Glory of God shineth f 2 Col. 4.6 he received the Word of the Gospel in which both Law and Testimony is from the Father and in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Understanding g Deut. 18.18 Isa 42.1 6.1 2 3. Col. 2.3 and he spake the words the Father gave him to speak h Ioh. 3.34 â—7 16 12.49 50. and his Record is true i John 8.14 and he spake of excellent things and the opening of his Mouth was right things his Mouth spake Truth and wickedness is an abomination to his Lips all the words of his Mouth in Righteousness nothing wreathed or froward or perverse in them they are all plain to him that understandeth and Right to them that finde Knowledge k Prov. 8.6 7 8 9. And this Word and Gospel which he received and preached he gave unto his Apostles and first Witnesses and gave them the Holy Spirit which gave them to understand and receive the same l John 15.16 17.6 8. By which Spirit they had the Meaning and Mystery in them so revealed to them as never was to any in any ages before m John 14.26 16.13 14 15. Col. 1.26 27. And so he put and bound and sealed the Law and Testimony in his Disciples n Isai 8.16 2 Cor. 5.19 as in some measure he still doth in them that believe o 1 John 2.8 Col. 3.16 and this Word Gospel and Testimony did the Apostles preach as they had received of the Lord according to the Revelation of the Mystery p Rom. 16.25 26 1 Cor. 11.23 and this with great plainness of Words and evidence and demonstration of Spirit and power q 1 Cor. 2.4 2 Cor. 3.12 And this they also writ and left upon Record in such plainness that they intended nothing but what we in their Writings read r Phil. 3.1 2. 2 Cor. 1.13 and in reading may understand their Knowledge in the Mystery of Christ s Ephes 3.3 4. whence Christ that by his Spirit set them on this work as he did the Prophets before and by that Holy Spirit guided them in writing saith Have not I written to thee excellent things in Counsels and Knowledge that I might make thee know the certainty of the Words of Truth that thou mightst answer the Words of Truth to them that send unto thee t Prov. 22.20 21. And so it is affirmed That that which was and is so written is upright Words of Truth acceptable Words and Words of delight to receive and declare the Minde of God in and so fit also for the Preacher u Eccles 12.10 2 Tim. 3.16 17. So that the Law and Testimony as it is manifested in the first coming of Christ and by him given to his first Witnesses and by them delivered and recorded to us is the Law and the Testimony to which we are to resort and so the whole Scripture as witnessing of Christ and opened by Christ to them and by them to us w John 5.39 Luk. 24.25 26 27 44 45 46 47. Rom. 15.3 4 16.25 26. 2 Pet. 3.2 for Christ spake by his Spirit in the Ministration of Noah x 1 Pet. 3.19 and it was the Spirit of Christ in the Prophets that did signifie to them when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow y 1 Pet. 1.11 the Spirit of the Son being also the Spirit of the Father and that by which God ever hath and doth testifie of his Son z 1 John 5 6. And so God at the first did immediately preach the Gospel in Paradise and after more fully to Abraham in Canaan a Gen. 3.15 15.5 17.1 8. and afterwards by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets b Luk. 1.69 70. which Prophets spake and writ as they were moved by the Holy Ghost c 2 Pet. 1.21 whence what the Spirit foresaw and preached the Scripture that was written by his Inspiration is said to foresee and preach d Gen. 12.3 with Gal. 3.8 16. And what the Scripture saith the Holy Ghost is said to say e Psal 95.7 with Heb. 3.7 And we shall finde many sayings in the Scriptures both of Moses and the following Prophets testifying of Jesus Christ his coming and sufferings and resurrection and glory setting him forth to be the great Prophet High Priest and King and God's Salvation to the end of the Earth and that whoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed calling men to look to him and be saved And this is the main thing to which the Scripture testifieth all other parts and portions of Scripture besides this plain Testimony being subservient and having their tendencie to this even to lead men to the Knowledge and Acknowledgement of this Testimony and so of Christ testified therein f John 5.39 And so The Genealogies from Adam to Abraham g Gen. 5.1 32. 11.10 26. Luk. 3. and from Abraham to David and from David to Christ h Mat. 11 18 25. Luke 3.23 32. are to demonstrate of whom Christ came according to the flesh and that he is very Man of the Seed of a Woman c. And also the Love Truth and Faithfulness of God in performing his Promise i Act. 13.32 33. Gal. 4.4 The end of the Law given to and by Moses was to be a School-Master to Christ k Gal. 3.24 and for Righteousness to have it in Christ l Rom. 10.4 the one part of the Law that of ten Words was to discover sin and sentence to death that men might die to themselves magnifie Grace and be quickened by Christ and live to him m Rom. 3.19 20. 4.15 5.20 Gal. 2.19 20. 3.19 The other part that of Types and Figures in Temple Altar Propitiatory Priests Sacrifices Washings c. To figure and shadow out the Truth that was to be found in Jesus that was to come n Heb. 8.5 9.8 9. 7.19 And so many Metaphors and
3.24 4.25 28. Rom. 1.1 2 3 they know also That what the Scripture saith the Holy Ghost saith the same o Gal. 3.8 Heb. 3.7 and what the Holy Ghost hath once said and testified as true in Christ he never altereth that Testimony but breatheth in it still and so where-ever written that remaineth Truth which proves this Objection vain Object 2 You understand not our meaning for we do believe in and magnifie Christ and the Scripture as much as you do but we have Christ and the Scripture within us and we believe that and speak that from inward and experimental Knowledge and the infallible Spirit and that we speak is the Minde of God but you believe in and magnifie a Christ without you and so believe and speak of and from the Scripture that is without you and so the true Sense and Mind of God which is infallible and from Christ and the Scripture within is to you a Parable and all you hold and believe is but fleshly and fallible Answ Here is still the former boasting and self-witnessing and self-exalting though with more discovery of Vanity Blasphemy and Pride or Atheism than the former as will appear to all that know who we mean by Christ and what we mean by Scripture For 1. By Christ in whom we believe we mean not An Imagination or Frame but the second publick Man the spiritual Man who not only out of us but before we in our Persons were and without any Motion or In-being in us did himself take our Nature being conceived by and born of a Woman a Virgin that was of the natural Seed and Lineal Descent of David and Abraham and Adam and so took a personal Body of his own in which he bore our sins on the Tree and was made a Curse and died for us and overcame Death and shook off all Mortality without seeing corruption in that Body in which being buried he rose again and appeared to and conversed with his Disciples and then in their sight departed from them out of this World in that risen Body and so ascended into Heaven and offered himself a sacrifice to God and sate down on his right Hand and in that now glorified Body remaineth in Heaven a great High Priest appearing before God ever-living to intercede for us This is The Christ our Saviour not to come to take flesh nor so coming nor so in us he hath done that already he was to do in his own Body for us and can die no more but is alive for evermore immeasurably filled with Spirit to send forth to us The right knowing of him is the original and right way of knowing all things and right knowing and worshipping of God is in the Confession of him thus to be already come in the flesh 1 John 4.3 and that Spirit that denieth this is the Spirit of Antichrist and he that denieth that This Jesus is The Christ he is Antichrist 1 Joh. 2.22 23. and denieth the Father and the Son And whoever believeth in This Jesus receiveth of his Spirit which imprinteth his Word and frameth his Minde in his Heart enriching him with his Consolations and so by Word Col. 1.25 26 27 and Spirit and Riches of Grace and not in bodily presence is Christ in Believers and in so being in them he is to them the Hope of Glory But whoever believeth not in this Christ without them and receiveth not the Efficacies and Frames within from the excellency of the knowledge of and Belief in him without so as he that is without in bodily presence is within by spiritual presence but come to undervalue him as without them and magnifie something within them All that within is but meer delusion which the ensuing Discourse will further shew so that the voice of this Objection being so strange the sheep will not hear it 2. And as for the Scripture we mean not by Scripture Ink and Paper nor Letters of A B C c. nor Syllables and particular Words nor Writing or Printing or a Book bound up in Leaves or rolled in Parchment But that we mean by Scripture is not the writing but the thing written not barely the words but the thing sounded forth and imported to us in the words And so the Almighty God that is Eternal without Beginning before all Things and without End Omnipotent Omniscient Infinite and Immutable the Creator of all things and his onely Son that was in the Beginning and from Eternity with him by whom he made all things and whom he sent forth made of a Woman and so Man the essential Word and the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son the infallible Spirit that witnesseth the Minde of God This one God Three in One and this Minde made known to Men the Manifestation and making it known is the Instrumental Word of God whether inspired spoken or written And of this God and his Minde it is as so made known that we mean and when it is once by his Command and Inspiration written and put on record for us to make known his Minde to us Prov. 22.20 21 as now it is then is all this called Scripture and so when God had once by his Spirit preached the Gospel to Abraham this being after written by Moses is since called Scripture Now it was not Moses his Writing that did fore-see and preach nor the Book or Letters or Words written therein but the Spirit in that Testimony did fore-see and preach which being Written and left on Record is therefore called Scripture Gal. 3.8 And when the Holy Ghost had in and by David said to the People To day if you will hear my voice harden not your hearts This being once written and left on Record for Generations following Psal 95.7 the Holy Ghost is said where-ever that Scripture is given still to say it And to those to whom no probability that that particular Word was inspired into every of them Heb. 3.7 which was so given to Israel and Joshua Deut. 13.6 8. yet it being after written and left upon Record for his peoples use it 's said to them many Generations after Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee yea that which God spake to Moses in the Bush our Saviour it being written Exod. 3.6 said to the corrupt and erroneous Sadduces Have not you read that which was spoken by God to you saying Mat. 22.31 32 I am the God c. And so the Spirit in the Apostles teacheth us That whatsoever things were written aforetime Rom. 15.4 were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope Surely this written aforetime so long before we were was written without us yea without even those of us to whom that sentence was written and therefore written without in Leaves that they might have recourse to it and learn it and love it and so have it
about the Truth and Righteousness of the Sayings of Christ lest that lead us to stumbling as it did those John 6.30 52 60. Secondly Read the Scripture as the Declaration of the God of Truth which he by the Spirit of Truth hath caused to be written for our learning and in which he speaketh to us d Rom. 15.4 Mat. 22.31 Heb. 3.7 13.5 And therein first and chiefly minde what he hath testified of his Creation of the World for Mankinde and of Mankinde righteous in one publick Man and of the Disobedience and Fall of Mankinde into sin and death in and through one publick Man and of the Redemption wrought for Mankinde in and by another publick Man and of the fulness that is in the second publick Man to make known the Minde and Love of God and to send forth Spirit to convince Men and bring them in to believe and of the Remission of sins and Eternal Life for Believers and the just Condemnation of such as disobey and refuse to believe and of the Resurrection of the just and unjust and the appearing of all before the Judgement-Seat of Christ and his sentence of the Just into Everlasting Blessedness and of the unjust to Everlasting Torment and how all these Sayings are plain being written to that end that we may know the certainty of the words of Truth and that we might apply our Hearts to his Knowledge and put our trust in the Lord e Prov. 22.17 21. And if these Sayings should not hold forth their own Sence no man could tell us what the Sence is let not our Mindes be waving in this but give God the Honour of his Truth and Love in speaking these things so plainly to us as they admit not of any Limitation Glossing or Allegory These be the first things to be known and most needful to be first known and all other Sayings known by their agreeing in Sence with these therefore read them as God's Declaration of his Minde to us that we may know it Thirdly as God hath been pleased to condescend so low to us as to make known his Minde to us in words understandable to and used among Men and in such manner as is usable among Men for importing their Sence so let us observe and minde about them that which is observable of Men about the Import of words to know their sense as to say 1. The Country or People where such words are used knowing that many things are expressed by divers words in divers Countries and understood by the use of the expression in that Country where it is used and that in some one Country one and the same word is diversly used and the Sense it beareth known by the sentence in which it is used Now the Country whence the Gospel came being Zion and according to the Spirit 's breathing writ in the Scriptures we are to minde how and in what sence words are used there and so to understand them according to the sentence in which they are used 2. By and of whom a Speech is whether Governour or Subject wise or simple true faithful and knowing or ignorant and unfaithful and accordingly we value the Extent Truth Worth and Goodness of their Sayings or put Limits and make Doubts thereof so in the Scriptures being related the Sayings of God by his Spirit and the Sayings of Men both of faithful and unfaithful Men we may understand those sayings accordingly for their Extent Worth Truth or for their scantness weakness c. 3. The persons and things treated of whether the chief Magistrate of a Commonwealth or inferiour Magistrates or Fathers or Masters and so whether of a Kingdom Commonwealth Corporation Association or Family and so understand the words All Every Head Body or Hand ruling or subjection accordingly so may we observe in reading the Scriptures of whom and what we read where we read of two Adams or two publick Men the first a living soul the second a quickning Spirit the first fallen and of the Earth earthy the second alive for evermore the Lord from Heaven heavenly the first having all his Generation in his loyns naturally to come forth of him the second taking the Nature of the first and spiritualizing it to have his Generation out of the first Man's Children by bringing them in to him in a spiritual manner And so we read of Men as they are of the Race of the first Adam and of some Men as born of Water the Spirit and become of the Generation of the second and spiritual Man And so we read of the Works of God and of Men about both and of things sutable to the one and his Generation and of things sutable to the other and his Generation And so when we read the sayings of the first Man and his natural Race and of things pertaining to them whether All Every or Head Body Eye Hand Foot or of Wisdom Power Works of Righteousness or of Lands Waters Trees Mountains we may understand it in a sense sutable to the natural Man and his Race whether it be plain or metaphorical But if the sayings be of the second Man that is the spiritual Man and his spiritual seed and of things peculiar to him and them we may understand it spiritually in a sense suiting to Christ and the things of Christ whether it be Temple House Body Eye Hand Foot Fire Water Trees Wisdom Strength or righteous Doing yet still according to the Import of the Letter speaking of such things comparing natural things with natural and spiritual things with spiritual and in sayings relating to both natural and spiritual Men to understand them in both senses according to their Relation 4. The Business in and about which the saying is whether Monarchical agitated by Imperial Edict or National agitated by a Parliament or State or whether the Business of a Province or Country agitated by Judges Justices and Jurors or a Corporation Business agitated by Major Aldermen Counsellor or a Family-Business agitated by a Father Master or Steward's direction or Personal Business between two or three and then the words Rule House Order Law All Every Many or Elect are easily understood of a larger or less extent or more general or more special in the Import of the Sense so in Scripture we may observe the Business of which the Sayings are whether of God and of Christ and his Works and therein whether of his Works in general as of Creation of all things and of Mankinde or his Redemption of Mankinde or his Preservation of them and Extention of Mercies and Means to them to call them to Repentance or whether of more special Mercies and Means extended to one Nation more than to another or of peculiar Graces extended to his new-born People and so whether of his Works of Salvation for Men or iâ— Mâ—n or of his Redemption and Purchasing of Men of God and calling them to God or of his redeeming and purchasing some Men from among Men
the second and new Creation Secondly Yet notwithstanding there is also a true resemblance in many similitudes between them and that not only in this 1. That they both are the work of one and the same God but also in this 1. Gen. 1.1 2. Psa 33.6 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 4. Col. 1.15 16-19 That as the first was made by the Word and Spirit of the Lord breathed forth by the Father through the Word that is the Son even so was the second and new Creation also begun and shall be finished 2. Gen. 1.1 26. That as in the first the Heavenly and Earthy Matter was first made and framed before any other particular Creatures and they after by the command and word of the Lord formed and made in and out of them even so the second and new Creation in the counsels and purpose of God and actual consent and Agreement of the Word the Son of God and now also in act by the Word made Flesh the original and first being and that which gives being to all and in and out of which and through which all particulars are formed and made new was first prepared made and formed in the Man Christ in whom the Restauration being made God and Man united in one Person through whom the Holy Spirit proceedeth from the Father and so by the word and command of the Lord the particulars in their order are formed and made new and so Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Son of Man even he himself is called the beginning of the Creation of God a Rev. 3.14 the first-born of every Creature b Col. 1.15 the first-begotten first-born from the dead c Rev. 1.5 Col. 1.18 before Abraham was he is d Joh. 8.56 58. the Root of David e Rev. 22 16. the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end f Rev. 21 6. yea he that worketh with the Father and whatsoever the Father doth he doth the same John 5.19 23 26 27. he is the beginning and by him are all things 3. That as in the first Creation in respect of particulars to be formed Gen. 1.3 John 1.4 5. 2 Cor. 4.6 God first commanded and formed the Light for his Creatures even so in the new Creation in bringing in particulars the first thing commanded to come forth is Light and this shining in the Face of Christ into the Heart of those he makes new Creatures 4. That as in the first Creation the first publick Man was first made a perfect Man fit for multiplication Gen. 1.28 4.1 2. 5.3 Rom. 5.19 1 Cor. 15.48 and his seed and posterity after to come forth of him one after one by degrees and all in his likeness such as he was when they come forth of him even so in the new Creation the second publick Man is first made perfect and his Seed in a spiritual way and supernaturally to be after brought in to him and that also one after another by degrees h Rom. 16.7 Act. 2.41 47. and all by degrees framed into the likeness of Christ into whom they are brought i Rem 5.17 1 Cor. 15.48 2 Cor. 5.17 Eph. 2.10 5. That as in the first Creation the Man and Woman fell and lost the benefit of all by questioning and letting go the Word of the Lord Gen. 3.16 in hearing and pondering the voice of the Serpent and so in believing the same looked on and beheld the forbidden Fruit and desired it and so took and eat of it even so in the new Creation Men and Women are drawn in to Christ and participation of the benefit thereof by letting go and turning from the delusions of Satan in hearing and minding the voice of Christ in the Gospel and so believing the same that they behold him as discovered therein and so desire him and accept and feed on him k Act. 3.26 26.18 with Iob. 5.26 Isa 53.3 Iob. 11.25 26. 6.54 55 56 57. 6. In the first Creation the deed and offence of the first Man and condemnation of him for it did reach to all Mankinde and was the offence and condemnation of all in him as the publick Man and that so verily and efficaciously that in coming forth Naturally from him they should verily partake of the same and bear his likeness though yet none of the sons of Men could in their own individual persons so partake of and feel the same until and but as and when in a Natural way they come to have their personal beings of him and so come forth from him even so in the new Creation the deed and righteousness of the second Man and his justification as he was the publick Man did reach unto all Men and was so far in that sense on them all to justification of life from the first sentence and escape out of the first death in through him as the second publick Man Rom. 5.12 18 9. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 17 18 19. Phil. 1.10 11. Gal. 3.26 29. and though all shall one day be freed from that first sentence and raised out of that first death by him to acknowledge him Lord to the glory of God yet do or can none of the sons of Men in their own individual persons partake of or enjoy the benefit of that freedom righteousness and justification but as they are brought in to believe that done by him nor of Eternal Life but as they are in that believing spiritually united unto him and so in such a being in him are made new Creatures In which respects as there is such similitude between the first and second Creation and the first and second Man and interests of their seeds in them and what they receive from them Rom. 5.14 so the first Adam was a Type or figure of the second that was to come and so we may say of the natural Tree of Life and so of divers things in the first Creation there was something typical in them the Truth whereof in a superabounding manner is in Christ whence he is called Adam and The Tree of Life The green Olive-Tree The Tree by the Rivers of Waters The true Vine The Fountain of living Waters The Door Heb. 10.1 Col. 2.17 Rom. 16.25 26. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. The Way The Rock The Foundation c. not that there were or are no such things naturally in being as appertaining to the old Creation but because the Truth Excellency and Life shadowed out by all these things is found in Christ and enjoyed in enjoying him in the new Creation and we know there is more in the Truth than any shadows could type out and the Gospel hath now more cleerly revealed the same And I hope these things considered that are writ from the beginning of this first part of this Treatise till now and understood and believed as far as they are plainly affirmed in the Scripture here and there in many places written and in
Witnesses and remaineth in the Heavens till the time of the restitution of all things this is that Jesus and this Jesus is the Christiand all that the four Evangelists writ Luk. 1.4 John 20.31 Act. 2.36 3.13 16. 4.11 12 c. 17.2 3. 1 Joh. 5 1. Joh. 1.12 13. was to certifie us of this that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that in believing we might have life through his Name And so the Apostles preached that he is the Christ and proved by the Scripture that this very Jesus whom they preached is the Christ he that believeth that this Jesus is the Christ is born of God and he that denieth it is a lyer Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2.22 More of this is shewn part 1. ch 1. 2. Joh. 1.1 Rom. 9.5 Tit. 3.13 Heb. 1. 2 Tim 2.5 Joh. 3.16 17. Isa 53. Joh. 5. Luk. 1 31. Joh. 1.14 Rom. 1 1-4 Mat. 16.16 Joh. 14 14 18. Rom. 5.17 18. 1 Cor. 86. 1 Pet. 3.18 4.1 1 Joh. 3.16 Act. 20.28 Heb. 2.14 What a one he is is also in the Testimony shewn namely that he is God the great God God over all blessed for e-ever that he is Man a true and very Man of the Seed of David c. that he is the Son of God the onely proper and natural Son of God the Son of God by Divine and unconceivable Generation according to the Divine Nature and by a supernatural conception and by the Resurrection from the Dead and by union in person with the Word and wel-pleasedness with the Father according to the humane Nature as he is Man and God-Man the Son of God the Son of Man in one person being one and the onely proper Son of God the Christ one Lord Jesus Christ in respect of the union of two Natures in one person that is one Son of God that which is done by or in either Nature may in respect of person be said of both so though he was put death in the flesh and God cannot die yet God is said to have laid down his Life for us and his Blood called God's own Blood and so though not Man but God could overcome Death yet this Man is said by Death to overcome Death so with respect to each Nature he is diversly spoken of in respect of the Divine Nature Joh. 10.30 even when he was on earth yet the Father and he were one even in Greatness and Power and yet as he was man John 14.28 to suffer and offer Sacrifice the Father was greater than he and having offered the Sacrifice he is exalted above all Principality and Power 1 Pet 3.22 Heb. 8.1 Col. 2.9 and set down on the right Hand of God Angels Powers and Authorities made subject to him and the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily Col. 1. Heb. 1.3 so as all compleatness is in him he is the Brightness of the Glory of God and the express Image of his Person the Image of the invisible God he is one with God Heb. 5. Isa 4.2 Cent. 5.10 God is in him as is said He is God he is one with Mankinde the Nature of Man is in him as is said He is Man a fit able loving and wonderful perfect Saviour Beauty and Glory Comely and Excellent White and Ruddy the Standard-Bearer and chiefest of ten thousand the Saviour of sinners whose Work and Office is to save sinners the Lover of the Righteous whose Office is to preserve the Righteous such a one he is even the Christ 1 Tim. 1.15 Psa 11.7 Rev. 15.3 Heb. 7. Act. 3.22 Isa 42.1 8. 61.1 4. Heb. 4.14 15 16 5.2 7.15 4.12 the King of Saints the King of Kings the Lord of Hosts and Rules the Great High Priest that orders the whole Worship of God by whom Men may approach to God the High Priest over the House of God the great Prophet that revealeth the Father and teacheth the things of God in a word he is full of Spirit full of love and compassion knowing all things and able to do all things such a one he is 3. Whence he is and that is even from Heaven It was the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God that found out this Ransom 2 Sam. 14.14 Job 33.24 Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Joh. 4.9 10 14. Rom. 5.6 8 10. Tit. 3.4 Joh. 1.1 14. 17.5 16.28 Act. 3. Joh. 1.4 5 9. Act. 14.17 Rom. 2.4 Isa 45.22 it was the infinite Pity and Love of God to Mankinde that moved him to give and send forth this his Son to become Man and by his Death and Sacrifice to be the Saviour of the World He was with God in the bosome of God glorified with God's own self he came forth from the Father and came into the world again he left the world and went to the Father and now there in his glorified boby remaineth in the Heavens and from thence by his Spirit beholding discerning all things he sends forth of the beams of his light and goodness and so the Father through him in Testimonies of his goodness in mercies and means to draw Men to Repentance and looking to him that they may be saved by him and so Righteousness flows down from Heaven l Psal 85.11 but especially and more abundantly in the Ministration of the Gospel in which God sendeth and giveth his Son to open the eyes of the blinde and turn them c. m Act. 3.26 26.18 and is giving to men the bread of life to feed on n Joh. 6.32 Jesus Christ in that Ministration is coming down spiritually from Heaven the bread of God the bread of life giving life that Men may feed on him and live o Joh. 6.27 33 48. and so is God the Father of lights from whom comes every good and perfect gift and giving p Jam. 1.17 and Jesus Christ is the Lord from Heaven heavenly q 1 Cor. 15.47 and so Jesus Christ by his Spirit the wisdom of God in its Teachings and saving Operations doth not first ascend or spring from within out of the wisdom heart and frame in Men the wisdom that so doth ascend is earthy sensual devilish but this wisdom is above and descendeth from above and so is pure c. r Jam. 3.15 17.18 and entreth into the heart and so springeth up into sutable fruits so that Christ and Faith in Christ and the things of Christ are from above from the grace favour and free-gift of God even as his next personal coming will be of Gods sending him from Heaven s Act. 3.20 4. For what remains to be said viz. what he became what he hath done what he is become what he doth and for whom and what he will do for some and who they be and what he will do against others and who they be this being the Subject of this following Discourse in this part of this
of them being in him or he any way so obliged to them as it should deserve or engage him to take their Nature and offer Sacrifice for them or that by vertue of being any ways in him they should be so interested in his Death Sacrifice and Righteousness that it should in any sort be theirs yea or counted theirs and they interested in it before by vertue of the compleating of it in and by himself alone he be interested in them and so by Grace bring them in to have interest in him And I hope it will be granted by all that believe in Christ and I am sure it is in Scripture affirmed That by vertue of his Oblation once offered God hath released and given over all Men to him to be disposed by him and hath released over to him the sentence of the first Judgement and Death Joh. 5.22 27. Rom. 14.8 9 10 12. Joh. 17.1 2 5. 1 Joh. 5.11 by and according to the Law as Mankinde at first fell under it so as God will never so judge them by that Law nor cause them to perish for ever in that Death but hath given them over unto the dispose of Jesus Christ and given him to be their Lord and Judge and hath given him power over all flesh and given for Mankinde eternal Life in Christ in whom in the Nature of Man it is put and he hath exalted him and filled him with Spirit to make it known and dispence it in his way and though it was free and undeserved Grace to give him for Mankinde and freeness of Grace to unite the Body given him in union of person with the Son of God yet all this given him by vertue of his death sufferings and sacrifice may in respect of himself be said to be merited and deserved and so called the wages of that one Righteousness of his in his Oblation offered by himself Isa 53.11 12. Phil. 2.10 11. whence it is said Even therefore I will divide him a portion c. and therefore God hath highly exalted him c. yea as rightly thus called in respect of himself only as Death is called the wages of sin in respect of the first Adam and his posterity but now in respect of Mankinde for whom he offered the Oblation or any of them it cannot be said so that their receiving mercies through this Oblation or any of the benefit of it that either it or the benefit of it interest in it or life through it is merited or deserved by them or the wages of any righteous affections or works of theirs or any wayes due to them and descending upon them by vertue of any fore-being in Christ preceding his Oblation but only it comes to Men by the freeness of the Grace of God that freely gave Christ for them and the freeness of the same Grace in Christ that freely gave himself for them and God's gracious acceptance of the gift and sacrifice of Christ for them and so imputing it to them graciously accepting it for them and them for and through it as if they had died and risen and offered the sacrifice and as any in his discovery of this great Grace are found believing in Christ freely giving to them eternal Life through Christ and for his sake Rom. 6.23 5.15 and so it is said The gift of God is eternal Life he saith not unto Christ but through Jesus Christ our Lord and so Rom. 5.15 Much more the grace of God which comprehends his love in the gift of Christ and the whole preparation made in him for Men before any gift through it is extended and the gift by grace and explicating it have by one Man Jesus Christ hath abounded to many that is in respect of release from perishing in the first Judgement and mercies extended unto all men Joh. 1.4.5.9 Rom. 5.17 vers 18. and in respect of the abundance of Grace and eternal Life to all those that in believing receive the same vers 17. so that all the whole offering of the Oblation by Christ and the benefit procured for Men thereby is by the free Grace of Christ and freely done by him and not by debt or fore-engagement unto any there was none in him for him by vertue thereof to be engaged to or in such a sense joyned with him to die suffer and offer with him but he he only he himself Heb. 7.17 9.14 10.12 offered this Oblation and Sacrifice here treated of Oh infinite and unspeakable free and gracious goodness who would entertain any Doctrine that should gain-say or darken this CHAP. 5. 3. To whom it was that he offered this Oblation or Sacrifice TO whom Jesus Christ gave himself is though not expressed plainly yet cleerly and strongly intimated in Tit. 2.14 in that it is not in this place said to us but for us and to whom should it be offered for us but to him against whom we had sinned even God that gave him forth to that end whence it 's also called the grace of God c. vers 11. a like strong intimation we have 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. That gave himself a Ransom for all Men to God that would have all saved therefore found out the Ransom by vertue whereof with God to whom he offered it he mediateth for men But this is seen cleerly in both the former Points also expresly affirmed Eph. 5.2 Christ also hath loved us and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 And so it is said of Jesus Joh. 13.1 3. 16.28 That he knowing all things knew that he was come from God and went to God and that he came forth from the Father into the world and left the world and departed out of the world unto the Father yea all the former typical Priests did offer their Sacrifices to God though they were on Earth Heb. 7.26 27. 8.3 4. 9 9 12 14. and offered on Earth yet it was to God in the Heavens and to whom should our great High-Priest offer up his Sacrifice when he entred into Heaven but to God in the Heavens But I suppose this is not only cleer and evident Heb. 2.17 3.2 6. but also acknowleged by all that believe in Jesus Christ both that he offered his Oblation and Sacrifice to God and also that he was faithful in all his business but that I note this for is that it may be minded That Jesus Christ in the business of his Oblation and Sacrifice-offering he had to deal with God and with none but with God and though for fallen Mankinde yet not with them but with God for them True it is in his after-Mediation of which is after to be spoken as he hath to deal for Men so also both with God and with Men but in his Oblation and Sacrifice-offering though it was for Men
remember Jude 5. How that the Lord having saved the people out of the Land of Egypt afterwards destroyed them that believed not and they being both there and in other places set forth for types and ensamples to us b 1 Cor. 10 1-11.11.18 I will instance yet that which comes nigher it is said Psal 78. He establshed a testimony in Jacob c. That the generations to come might know c. That they might set their hope in God c. And might not be as their fathers a stubborn and rebellious generation c. Which yet many of them were Psa 78.5 6 7 8. and did not set their hope in God as the story shews If it be replied This was but a Ministration I might answer This was God's End expresly that they might know and hope in God c. And that he did order and appoint insufficient and ineffectual means to bring his Ends about I hope none will say neither as I hope will any deny This giving of a Testimony to be a Type of his giving Christ for a Testimony for the same End But I will come to a closer Answer Isa 55.4 in that which the Lord affirms his own doing by the Mouth of the Prophet Jer. 13.11 12. As the girdle cleaveth to the loyns of a man so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah saith the Lord that they might be unto me for a people and for a name and for a praise and for a glory but they would not hear c. And so to this very business our Saviour himself tells us God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world Job 3.17 vers 14 15 18 19 Ioh. 5.34 40 43. but that the world through him might be saved yet he doth not say or infer That the World shall all be certainly saved no not so but He that as he is displayed believeth on him shall be saved c. And so in his own personal Ministration he saith to the Jews These things I say that ye might be saved yet many of them to whom he preached to that End not would come to him nor receive his Words that they might have Life And the like may be seen in his end of sending his Gospel by his Servants so Act. 26.18 that all the way the word might used in setting forth an end aimed at implies sufficiency and effectualness in means to effect the end and good hope yea certainty if not willingly refused and resisted but not an absolute infallibility that the end in the blessed part of it shall be accomplished in fallen Men whether they attend and receive or no And all this is said not to wave one syllable in the Text but to shew what it saith not and how the word might is in such business in Scripture used when the ends of things that are to have their efficacy with and in fallen Mankinde are mentioned And so let us Secondly minde what he doth indeed say that is He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie c. This expresly his gracious End of giving himself for us and so of his Oblation That he might redeem us from all iniquity c. which is partly hinted in the former Chapter shewing for what he offered himself which comes here to be enlarged as it hath reference to this expressed End and so that he might c. is 1. That he might have power and authority in the Nature of Man and as Man also even the Son of Man to be both Mediator between God and Men and to use what means he pleaseth to redeem Men from iniquity and to be the judge of Men and is foreshewn and doth yet farther appear Joh. 5.21 22-26 27. in our Saviour's own giving this as the ground of the Father's giving to the Son to have life in himself to call and to quicken whom he will and to execute judgement because he is the Son of Man And this also by himself explicated with his gracious End affirmed Thus it is written Luk. 24.46 47. and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations c. Phil. 2.7 8 9 10 11. Mat. 27 28. mat 28.18 19. And upon the account of his Sufferings and Sacrifice this power and authority being given him he from thence groundeth his own rightfull calling of them that are weary c. to come to him and on the same ground giveth commission to his Disciples to preach the Gospel and therefore he gave himself for us in sufferingâ— and offering Sacrifice that he might have this power and authority as the publick Man and in and with it use means by the vertue of his Oblation to save c. And that God hath given him this power and authority to this end Act. 5.31 32. is affirmed 2. That he might be filled in the very Nature of Man with the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost to this End that the Love Wisdom Power Mercy Truth Goodness and Face of God might appear to be seen in him and the Holy Spirit proceed from the Father through him in his Name while in the means he is displayed And this our Saviour expresly affirmed Joh. 16.7 both That unless he did go away which was by his Death and Ascension to offer Sacrifice the Comforter would not come and also That if he departed he would send him and this also upon the account of his Sufferings and Oblation Isa 50.2 3 4 5 6. Isa 61.1 2 3 4. he had not only the forementioned Power but God the Lord hath given him the tongue of the learned that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary And this explained by himself The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings c. And this affirmed also by the Father upon the account of his Sufferings and Sacrifice Phil. 2 7-10 Heb. 8. Isa 42.1 2-8 Mat. 12 18. 3.17 17.5 in which he was his Servant and still is in his Ministration as in the Father's well-pleasedness in him and Acceptance of his Sacrifice and Mediation he is his Elect yea as the publick Man Behold saith he I have put my Spirit on him and he shall shew forth judgement to the Gentiles c. 3. That he might by vertue of his Blood in this his Oblation Psa 22 12-22 40.9 10. Joh. 3.14 15 16 12.31 32. Isa 55.4 5. Isa 42.7 8. Joh. 5.25 26 Isa 52.15 Heb. 9.14 1 Pet. 18 19. Rev. 5.9 with this Furniture he hath upon the account thereof in the means he useth especially in the Ministration of the Gospel declare his Father's Name and Righteousness and be himself lift up and
Power and Authority and oneness with the Father with I will c. That they be one with us and filled with Spirit even all the good things of thy holy Temple that their Prayers be answered and he is answered But I will instance in some particulars as well as by Scripture I may 1. By vertue of his Blood presented to his Father and sprinkled in the spiritual documents of it 1 Joh. 1.7 9. 2.1 2. Phil. 4.7 Rom. 5.1 2. believed Isa 52.15 Rom. 15.20 21. upon their hearts to bring them to see and acknowledge their present and daily infirmities defilements and offences and by the vertue of his Blood to dispense to them forgiveness and cleansing and so maintain that Peace of God in them that shall keep their hearts through him 2. Heb. 6.20 9.24 1 Cor. 1 30-31 By presenting himself for them Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and so presenting them before the Father in himself wise righteous holy free 3. Joh. 14.21 23. Heb. 9.13 14. 10.14 Col. 1.22 23. Eph. 5.25 26 27. By procuring of the Father such Manifestations by his Spirit in the Gospel of the vertues of his Sufferings and Sacrifice for them and his Father's Love there-through to them as thereby both to comfort and purifie them so as in due season he may present them as spotless to himself as now he presents them in himself before the Father 4. Heb. 9.15 8.2 6 10. Rom. 8.23 Joh. 14.16 17 18 26. 15.26 27. Act. 5.31 32. Joh. 16.13 14 15. 1 Pet. 2.7 2 Cor. 3.3 13. Heb. 3.10 11. By procuring for them a performance of the promises of the New Testament in sending forthe the holy Spirit in a first fruits to them according to his promise to be an Advocate and Comforter in and to them and so to minde them of and teach them the understanding of his sayings and to witness of him to them and through them to others to take of the things of Christ and shew to them and thereby glorifying him to them and making him precious to their hearts and so guiding them into all Truth so writing his minde in their hearts Rom. 16.20 1 Joh. 4.4 5.4 5. Rom. 5 1-3 8.14 15 16. Gal. 5.22 Phil. 1.9 10. 1 Pet. 2.5 Ioh. 7.38 39. Rom. 8.26 Ezek. 36.37 2 Sam. 7.27 and to subdue their sinful and fleshly lusts Micah 7.19 Rom. 8.13 Gal. 5.16 18. and to answer their opposers Mat. 10.20 and to support them in troubles Isa 43.3 Joh. 16.33 to be treading and so to tread Satan under their feet in due season and to give them victory over all the evil Spirits and Temptations that are in the World and to shed abroad his Love in their hearts and so fill them with peace joy hope and all spiritual springs of his goodness and fruits of righteousness and because of their ignorance and unworthiness of and inability to reach to or receive these things to lead instruct and move them to pray unto God for all these things promised in the Name of Christ Joh. 16.23 24. Zach. 12.10 5. To perfume their Prayers Praises and Services Rev. 8.3 Joh. 14.16 16.22 1 Pet. 2.5 6 7 9. with the Odours and sweet-smelling Vertues of his Death and Sacrifice and so by his Intercession thereby to expel from before his Father's Throne those mixtures of their fleshly weakness that were in them and make their suits acceptable to his Father and so procure them Answers from God 6. To procure their preservation for their Generation Joh. 17.9.13 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. 1 Cor. 3.5 6 7. 4.1 Phil. 2.14 15. Eph. 4.7 8-12-16 Joh. 15.5 8 16. 1 Pet. 1.8 to be in his place in the World for the Ministration of the Gospel and holding forth the word of Life to the World and edifying one another and likewise for unity of Spirit among them and Sanctification and Blessing of them and their Ministration that so the World might be brought to believe and Believers may grow up together into Christ by that which every joynt supplieth that so they may not be barren but fruitful in the knowledge of Christ 7. To prepare for them heavenly Mansions Joh. 14 2 3. 1 Pet. 1.4 5. and them for the enjoyment of them and so to preserve them through Faith to the possession of the promised Inheritance All this doth he make Intercession for for all those that come to God by him and this a brief or little mention of his business he is now doing in heaven in making Intercession for Believers And because of his sending forth his Spirit into their hearts by which he is present with them and in them as in his Body also he appears in heaven before the Father for them Joh. 14.16 17 18. Hence that blessed and Holy Spirit of Christ bears his Name being called their Advocate Rom. 8.26 27. and Christ by him doing that work in them he is said to do it even to make Intercession for the Saints so that this making Intercession for the Saints in his Mediation of the New Testament dealing both with God and with them for them and in them is an high heavenly choice and peculiar business And surely all that come to God by Christ believing this it will fill them with strong consolation and make them pray with assurance of Faith knowing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them that come to God by him And therefore 4. That he is able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him which as it is plainly affirmed so I hope none of us doubteth therefore I will no farther instance proofs only let that be remembred 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. which hath been before noted That though the Death and Ransom by Christ given was for all men and so his Mediation in general for all men that they might be preserved and come to the knowledge of the Truth for which he is able also yet the utmost and Eternal Salvation and Inheritance purchased by his Oblation was and is to be conferred on Believers not on all he died for or mediateth for not on such when through his mediation the heavenly cords are let down Psa 2.3 4 5. 2 Thes 1.8 2.8 10 12. will not obey in suffering themselves to be drawn to him Sure it is there is another portion justly designed for such but to those that by his heavenly cords are drawn to him Heb. 5.9 Joh. 1.12 and so believing come to God by him to these he gives Eternal Life Eternal Salvation and for these Believers that approach to God by him he maketh his special Intercession and Advocation and seeing he ever liveth to do this for them he is able powerful faithful true ready fit doing it at all times evermore to save them to the utmost and this Mediation of Jesus Christ by vertue of his Oblation both as in general for all men and
as in special for Believers is a marvelous heavenly cord to draw to Faith and stablish in the Faith CHAP. 14. Of the Excellency and Prevalency of the Mediation and Intercession of Iesus Christ IEsus Christ that is the Mediator between God and men who also ever liveth to make Intercession for those that come to God by him He it is that by his Oblation hath bought us of God and obtained an Eternal Redemption to bestow He it is that is filled with all fulness of Spirit Power and Authority to make known the Name and Love of the Father and draw to him and in their coming to him to confer Redemption on them He it is that is the merciful High-Priest acquainted with our infirmities and temptations so knowing how to pity and help us in all our needs He it is that is our Kinsman neerly related to us being in our Nature and having bought all Mankinde of God into his dispose and also bought Believers to himself and so unto God by the vertues of his Blood in Gospel made known and applied to them And so our Brother making us Partakers of the Divine Nature maketh us his own House and so full of Love Faithfulness and Prevalency by his Blood for us and in us He it is that is the Accepted and Beloved of the Father ever prevalent with him and exalted and filled with all power by him so as whatever the Father doth he doth the same Yea he is that tried one that having been tried and proved Isa 23.16 is evidenced to be precious and sure failing none that trust in him his Love pity mercy faithfulness have been tried Isa 50.5 6. Rom. 5.6 8. and proved exceeding great and durable in his not shrinking back but induring and going through so great Sufferings and Abasements for sinners c. his power and all-sufficiency hath been tried and proved mighty in that he not only bare the weight of our sins the terror and sentence of death the wrath of God against our sins Act. 2.24 Rom. 1.4 Col. 2.14 15. when all was laid on him and all the powers of Hell fighting against him but that he by suffering and death appeased the wrath of the Father for us made Atonement for our sins and overcame curse and death and devil and all the powers of hell and arose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God His prevalency with the Father in and by his Sacrifice offered to God and the excellency of his Sacrifice is tried and proved precious and prevalent Joh. 16.10 Psa 110.1 Act. 2. Mat. 17.5 2 Pet. 1.16 17. in that the Father hath received him and sends him forth no more to suffer but hath set him at his right hand and made him Lord of all and born witness of him His bounty Rom. 3.10 19 20 25. Act. 14.17 Rom. 2.4 1 Tim. 1.15 17. Isa 42 1-10 45 21-23 Prov. 1.22 23. 9.4 5 6. Joh. 6.33 37. goodness and readiness farther to save men and therein the prevalency of his Mediation for men even transgressors is also tried and found excellent and abundant in and by his long sufferance and induring men's ill requitals his still upholding the earth and extending mercies to men to lead them to repentance his calling and drawing in to believe and so saving the chief of sinners and setting them forth as a pattern to encourage others to believe in him In a word his calling all even the worst of men and refusing none that come to him but hath saved and doth save being the Saviour of the world and giving life to the world His peculiar Mediation and Intercession for Believers Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.18 24. 1 Thes 2.13 Rev. 5.9 1 Pet. 1.4 Phil. 3.7 8 9. Rom. 7.25 8.2 Rom. 5 1-5 Eph. 2.18 1 Joh. 4.4 5.4 5. 2 Cor. 1.9 10. 2 Tim. 4.17 18. Col. 3.4 Isa 43.10 11 12. Joh. 3.33 his chosen that do come to God by him hath also been tried and found exceeding sweet precious and prevalent in and by Believers that approach to God by him in the saving efficacies of his word believed by them the prevalency of his Blood sprinkled on their hearts in that word believed pulling them out from the snares and pollutions of the world to God his Grace therein appearing prevaling with them to let all go to be found in Christ and so freeing them from the lordly dominion of sin and bondage of the Law and so filling them with the springs of peace boldness of access to God joy hope c. making them partakers of the Divine Nature and giving them victory over the world also in Answers of their Prayers and Deliverances out of great Deaths yea in sure hope of appearing in Glory with him when he appears in Glory These and many such-like Evidences have Believers of the Excellency and Prevalency of his Intercession for them by vertue of his Oblation in and through which they also are his Witnesses So that as all hearing the Gospel might be encouraged hereby to repent and believe in him so Believers much more may be strengthened and fully perswaded That he is willing and able evermore and to the utmost to save them that come to God by him And now if both these be put together and considered in the Mediation and Intercession of Christ his Mediation and Intercession as it is in general between God and Men and so for all Men for Transgressors for means to preserve them and bring them in to believe and so also for Believers as they are Men and in some sort Transgressors also that they may still receive the benefit thereof and also as it is in special and of the New Testament for them that are called and come to God by him that they may receive the promised Inheritance And this also having its tendency for the good of the World Men Transgressors that through the vertues of Christ held forth by Believers they might be brought to Repentance Faith and so to fellowship with Believers in these foresaid Priviledges then surely we may discern both the Excellency of his Mediation also of his Oblation by vertue whereof he mediateth how the efficacy of both go ever together in one to Man-ward he procuring all of his Father for Men in his Intercession by vertue of his Oblation from the Prevalency of his Intercession with God working all in Men in his dispensation by and with the vertue of his Oblation And yet here is a manifest difference in respect of the efficacy of his Oblation with God for Men and of his Intercession with God towards and in Men in offering the Oblation to God the efficacy of the Oblation with God was first and by vertue thereof he became a Mediator between God and Men and so for Men and this Oblation is alwayes remaining in its vertue and efficacy before God and with him from whence he mediateth with God but now in
Application to Men in extension of the Fruits and efficacies to and in Men as to Mens discerning and enjoying the vertne and efficacy of the Mediation and Intercession is first though the Mediation be by vertue of the Oblation first offered to God yet the Mediation fore-running the making of it known and being that which procures the making known the Oblation and vertue of it unto Men and also it is through his Intercession and Dispensation according thereto that the efficaciousness of the Oblation is found in Men yet the efficacy with and in Men is various and in and with no mortal Man so full and compleat as with God and this appears cleerly in the Mediation and Intercession of Christ who there-through prevailing with God procureth and extendeth forth the knowledge of his Oblation and vertue thereof with God for Men in all that he hath suffered and done for us in the Nature of Man and in the means used towards us in the Declaration of his Word and in Ordinances Mercies Chastisements and Motions of Spirit in Convincements and Allurements to break Man off his purpose and subdue him to self-denial and so bring him in to believe on Christ and so to Peace and Life and also herein discovering the Father's Love and rich Grace and gracious Ends in giving him and accepting his Oblation and making him the Mediator and now for his Mediation extending so much patience and so many means all sanctified by his Blood to draw Men from their own ovil designs and wayes in sins or righteousness of their own to receive his Grace and Favour And in this Fruit of his Intercession by vertue of his Oblation he being the Man the Word that was made Flesh and shed his Blood and by vertue thereof is now through these means sprinkling it and his Father being that Fountain of Love and living Waters that sent him and hath filled him with himself his Face shining in his It in all appears not only that his Mediation and Intecession is excellent but also That this Love of the Father in giving him and his Oblation offered and Mediation by vertue thereof and the procuring the extention of the Fruits of God's Love therethrough is the Water and Blood by which he came and the way in which the Spirit beareth witness of him and so also the Water and Spirit of which Believers are born And hence also it is That all those means extended to Men in the Love of God as procured by the Intercession of Christ by vertue of his Oblation to so gracious an end they are the Cords of a Man proceeding from the Man Christ and suited to the needs and capacities of Men to whom extended Hos 11.3 4. With Isa 32.2 3. Joh 33 1-7 13-29 and such as will verily draw Men in to him if not presumptuously resisted and they are also the bands of Love that come from the free-Love of God our Saviour and to gracious Ends for the good of them to whom extended in these being the extention of the Call the spreading of the Curtains the means for the New Birth All which things in this Chapter are shewn and proved before in the 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 Chapter of this Part 2. Oh presumptuous Transgressors that conspire against the Lord and his anointed saying Psa 2.3 4. Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us Ah foolish and brutish Pastors that do disgrace these Cords Jer. 10.20 21. Cant. 1.3 Joh. 6.44 45. Col. 3.19 Psa 118.17 86.11 12. and spoil the Church of them Oh blessed they that in these drawings learn of the Father and come to Christ for such shall then finde the benefit of his special Intercession in the same Cords of a Man and Bands of Love to unite them to Christ and so to God in Christ for ever so conforming them to Christ and consolating them in him And so if we well weigh the Mediation and Intercession of Christ by vertue of his Oblation Job 1.29 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 9.15 we may perceive how all things are upheld by him and how excellent and prevalent his Mediation is for the good of Men that they might become Believers and Saints and for the good of Saints that they may enjoy the Promises and receive the promised Inheritance And so the Mediation of Christ is for such as are yet unbelievers that they might believe and for Believers that they may persevere in Faith to the Inheritance and by the Grace here-through extended He is Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End in the work of Grace and so the Author Captain and Finisher of Faith and so he mediating for all Men doth also therein and therewith more especially mediate and intercede for Believers his chosen ones that go to God by him CHAP. 15. An Answer to some Aspersions cast on the Professors of this Truth I Having in a former Treatise written That God so loved the world that he gave and sent forth his Son to be the Saviour of the world and That he sends forth his Servants to bear witness of his Son that all men through him might believe And quoting to the later Sentence Joh. 1.7 and 17.21 23. Mr. Owen was pleased to fault me for giving this Honour to Christ that any should by him believe and to fault my quotation of Joh. 1.7 thereto and saith It is my Sophistry learned of the old Serpent thus to apply this to the Son of God the Light witnessed to and saith We are said to believe in Christ and on Christ but not by him 1. I answer To take that Joh. 1.7 That Iohn was sent forth from God and came to bear witness of the light that all men through him that is Joh. 3.26 27 30 31 32-36 5.35 36 Act. 1.5 22. 10.41 42. 18.26 28. through Iohn might believe and not through the light witnessed by Iohn would be a very small All when a witnessing-Light of that true Light so out-shining the Light of Iohn's Ministration came in so suddenly upon it though witnessing still to the same Light that Iohn's Ministration is over And if Mr. Owen feared any disgrace to the Servants Ministration and so to himself hereby it was a causless fear and not occasioned by this quotation of the place which denieth not at all Iohn to be the Minister by whom all those to whom his Line reached that believed did believe even as the Apostles were Ministers by whom the Believers in their Ministration were brought to believe they ministred the Epistle and held forth and witness Christ the Light therein Joh. 3.14 15. and for any farther thing they disclaim it and for that cause witnessed of him and held forth and exalted him that men beholding him might through him believe and be healed But the believing of any Joh. 6.40 1 Cor. 3.4 5 6. 4.1 2 Cor. 3.3 18 Joh. 3 26-36 Mat. 23.8 9 10.
2 Cor. 4.5 6 7. Isa 42 1-10 Act. 5.31 was from hearing and beholding Christ the Son and so as the Lord gave to every man by his Spirit writ his Epistle in their heart If any desire farther honour to himself Iohn disowns it Christ forbids it the Apostles disclaim it so no wrong done in the quotation yet for giving this Honour to Christ as that glorious Object by vertue of his Oblation and by vertue of his Intercession also thereby such a full flowing Fountain of Life and Prince giving Repentance and Remission of sins that through him discovered and by him the Beholders of him are brought to believe I am not onely blamed but charged to learn this of the old Serpent 2. I answer I have learned to give this Honour to Christ from God the Father that saith Isa 42.1 2 7. 49.7 9. 55.4 5. Isa 61.1 2 3 4. Joh. 5.19 20 25 27. Eph. 2.8 Col. 2.12 Act. 5.31 Isa 55.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 3.4 5 6. He hath put his Spirit on Christ for that end That he should call and open the eyes of the blinde and cause such as foreknew him not to come in to him I have learned from Jesus Christ That he was anointed and filled with Spirit to that end and That the Father and he are one and That the Father doth nothing but the Son doth the same And this honour the Father hath given to the Son That all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father and Faith being the Gife of God and the Operation of God it is verily The Gift of Christ and the Operation of Christ yea He is Author and finisher Alpha and Omega in this work also yea I have learned it from the Holy Spirit both in the Testimony born by the Prophets and Apostles and for a plain express Answer 3. I am learned by the Spirit in the Gospel not only Tobelieve in Christ and on Christ as Mr. Owen saith but also as the Medium of both In the Name and on the Name of Christ yea and also in express words That all that rightly believe it is by Christ 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you Vers 21. Who by him do believe in God that raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God So that to give this Honour to Christ and his Oblation and Intercession That it is by him that men believe in God 1 Cor. 12.2 and so to confess him Lord is by the Holy Ghost though many dare say It 's from the Serpent because it exalts not them in the place of Christ as Rabbies But enough of this nor will I take notice here to answer any more such stuff in that Book of Mr. Owen's it having been fairly answered by a learned and godly Brother But in his pretended Answer to Mr. Iohn Goodwin the Book I minded that occasioned this Discourse he saith Pag. 217. Sect. 3. That Christ interceded for his Elect for whom he died that they may believe which he saith is denied by those he opposeth which both Saying and Aspersion he might have forborn for those he opposeth do hold as firmly as himself and more cleerly according to the Scriptures That Christ intercedeth in a peculiar and special manner for his Elect and chosen Ones that approach to God by him yea even for Believing and Faith in that sense that Believing is taken for abiding Believing and more firmly Believing and for Faith as Faith is taken for Confirmation and Perseverance in the Faith 1 Joh. 5.13 as is shewn in this fore-written Yea more than Mr. Owen can yet be brought to confess even That Christ in act or undertaking died for them before they were elect and That there was not any in him to lay aside the Heavenly Glory and die and rise and offer the Oblation in him and so to be the Mediator in and with him for then there would not have been that room for Imputation or Application to them nor could deserved Grace have been so freely bestowed But he did all this alone and in that respect is the Root and Fountain of Election also so that the Elect are beholding to the Oblation and Intercession of Christ for Election as well as for Faith yea and they believe That Christ interceded for these men also that they might believe but that was before they were personally Elect and so then not for them as they were Elect which then was not nor were they such but as they were Men of the World and Transgressors that means might be extended to them and they so brought to believe 2 Thes 2.13 and in this believing of the Truth chosen through the Sanctification of the Spirit which is God's Way And so Election in some sense a Fruit of Faith but Faith in the beginning of it and first coming into it is not in a proper sense a Fruit of Election yea furely we believe That all the Elect are a holy and peculiar people 2 Pet. 2.5 9. called out of Darkness into his marvelous Light and all of them that yet live on this Earth to shew forth his Praises now as those for whom he especially intercedeth That they may be kept Psa 102.17 23. that when all the Just shall be raised we may all more fully shew forth his Praises together but we dare not entertain vain fancies and dreams to vent them among the Rebellious as if some of them might even now while Rebellious be God's Elect for ought any man knoweth because the plain Sayings of Scripture are against this as hath been plentifully shewn and for that which we believe also and so for the Mediation of Christ in general for all men and more especially for Believers already shewed The third Branch of the Testimony of Christ CHAP. 16 Of the coming again of Christ and the manner thereof FOr the coming again of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ it being one part of the Testimony of Christ it is needful also to be known and believed it being also of the very Object of Faith set forth in the Gospel to be believed so as without believing it no Man's Faith is compleat and entire in respect of the Object of Faith or Doctrine of the Gospel to be believed yet before I proceed in treating of it it is good to consider what manner of coming it is that is here spoken of because divers comings are spoken of in the Scripture though never but of two personal and bodily comings The first called His coming in the Flesh in Abasements to suffer and overcome in sufferings and so to offer the acceptable Sacrifice and so to make the Atonement obtain Redemption receive Spirit in the Man and sit on the right hand of God as the Mediator and great High-Priest and Prophet and King to send forth Spirit to Men
Saints but the Beast and the false Prophet will stand against him also but he comes not then to suffer but to raign and so all the Enemies will be overthrown he coming to the ends aforesaid I have in this but made a homely Comparison of the proceedings with Jews and Gentiles specially Christians how it was with the Jews is plainly declared through the Scriptures how it was with the Gentiles the Christians in the first ages is seen in the Scriptures and for the following ages it is there also propheted and for other knowledge I leave to them that are acquainted with Histories how it is now let such as have understanding judge And I suppose this will come neer to one with the former accounts of those godly learned Men and manifest that first said That the coming of our Lord is nigh at hand the call of the Jews being at the doors the fulness of Gentiles neer come and the personal coming of Christ not long after he shews us daily our lives here cannot be long and he is in his works hastening his coming and all to move us to haste to it and be always ready and waiting for it Behold he cometh CHAP. 20. Some Application of this Branch of the Testimony of Christ concerning his coming again in such manner to such ends c. THe knowledge and mindefulness of this personal coming again of Jesus Christ in such manner and for such ends as is shewn and his coming so fast and nigh-approaching is profitable to warn teach and stir us up first to avoid and resist the evils and keep from the danger of seducing and evil Spirits that labour to with-draw and turn many from the Faith of his coming by their subtil Reasonings and Arguments viz. 1. Those Scoffers that say Where is the promise of his coming for since the Fathers fell asleep 2 Pet. 3 6. all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation Where is this new Heaven and new Earth This Restauration of all things This raigning of Christ and his Saints you say was promised to the Fathers And you have long called these the last dayes and yet no such things appears you are beguiled with some Enthusiasm or Millenary-Opinion you wait for a Fancy one Generation goeth and another cometh all things continue as they were and will so do We in belief of the Testimony of Christ 2 Pet. 3.5.7 may know these Men are willingly ignorant c. we may admire God's Patience to such in forbearing them that they might repent before his coming and his patience towards us that have not done all we might to gain Men in to Repentance that we might renew our Diligence and we know a Day is not in God's account as it is with Men and that there are some things still to be performed that must be done before his coming and the being tried with such Scoffers is one thing in which we see the Truth of his Word that foretold it and the fulfilling of it and the hastening and nighness of his coming to stir us to desire it c. 2. 2 Thes 2.2 Those that go about to shake the minde of Believers by saying the Day of Christ is at hand now presently or within one hour or a day or ten dayes or a month or two months or such a day week or month within this yeer or before a yeer be out and thereto pretend a spiritual Revelation or some word or some thing as out of the writings of the Apostles for though that day be much nigher at hand than when the Apostles gave that warning and though that falling away and the Revelation of the Man of sin be now come to pass yet all there spoken is not yet fulfilled And so we know by the same Rule That all the Horns or ten Kingdoms do not yet hate the Whore and though there is a good beginning and in some places her Flesh eaten yet not by them all nor have they yet burnt her with Fire nor are the Jews yet come into their own Land yea Euphrates is not yet dried up all which must first be So that it is not so at hand as to be this day or week but he is coming apace and hastening in doing these things and our lives short which is enough to move us to be alwayes ready waiting and looking for his coming 3. Those that say The Resurrection is past already The Lord is come to them 2 Tim. 2.18 and they are risen and do raign and Heaven is in them and they are in Heaven enjoying the new Heaven and the new Earth already and are above all Ordinances needing the use of none of them We in belief of the Testimony of Christ do know That when the Lord comes he comes and appears to all at once and so when the Just are raised they are raised all at once and all Saints made immortal at once and go with the Lord to the overthrow of the wicked then enjoy the new Heaven and the new Earth and raign together neither marrying nor giving in marriage 1 Cor. 4.8.2 Thes 4.14 15. Heb. 11.40 nor living in such condition so that whatever they fancy of their being risen and living and raigning in such manner they are deceived for if it were so indeed we should not be left behinde or be as they say we are still in the dark but we should see and raign also with them if they did so in Truth for no one shall prevent another in this or any Saints be perfect without their Fellows 4. Those that put off all the coming of Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 3 â— 2 Pet. 3.18 19. 1 Ioh. 2.22 Prov. 30.13 into a coming in the Spirit and say We must wait indeed for a coming of Christ but it is a coming in the Spirit and That it is but a fleshly Faith to believe in Christ as come in the Flesh but the spiritual believing is to believe in him as come in the Spirit and so enjoying him he is come indeed and then such live above Faith Some such as these are intimated in the Apostles times though the Spirit of Antichrist did but begin then to work But we that believe the Testimony of Jesus Christ do know That Jesus that very Man is The Christ and That his very being come in the Flesh and that he hath done therein and thereby is the Foundation of our Faith and Hope and the way and door of our approach to God and that through which all Mercies are extended yea even the Spirit it self yea this it is which the Holy Ghost whose work it is glorifieth to the Heart and so enables to believe in Christ and unites and frames to him thereby and so to confess him come in the Flesh which none can do but by the Holy Spirit which is Christ his sending Spirit and so coming to them and dwelling in them by Spirit in which he was never absent from
writings we may discern that all the Sriptures testifie of Christ CHAP. 6. Of the next and sixth Revelation of Christ his person and personal coming in the flesh THe next Revelation of Christ was of his person and personal coming in the Flesh who he was what a one he was and wherefore come c. and this was first to Zacharias by an Angel Luk. 1.13 14 15 16 17. declaring his Son that should be called John to go before him in the Spirit and Power of Elias c. him before whom he should go the Angel called The Lord their God then by the Angel to the Virgin Mary her self declaring his conception and birth and who Luk. 1.26 27 35 Luk. 1.41 42 43 48 55 67 68 69 79. Mat. 1.20 21 23. Luk. 2.10 11 14 16 17. and what a one he should be and that he should have the Kingdom of his Father David then by the holy Ghost in the Prophecy of Elizabeth my life of Zacharias then by the Prophecy of the Virgin Mary the Mother of Jesus then by the Prophecy of Zacharias being filled with the holy Ghost then by an Angel to Joseph the espoused Husband of the Virgin Mary then to Shepherds by an Angel with a multitude of Angels confirming the same declaring his birth with the day and place thereof and that he is the Saviour even Christ the Lord and this tidings of great joy which shall be to all people And then by the Shepherds when they had both heard and seen unto others then by old Simeon who had it revealed to him and was inspired by the holy Ghost Luk. 2.25 28 32 35. and came and took him in his arms and declared him to be God's Salvation which he had prepared before the face of all people a light to enlighten the Gentiles and to be the Glory of his people Israel Luk. 2.36 38. And then by one Annah a Prophetess And after all this by certain wise men that came from the East to Jerusalem being directed to him by a Star Mat. 2.1 2 9 10 11. who declared him born King of the Jews and worshipped him and offered him gifts And after all this to John the Son of Zacharias declaring this Jesus to be The He Joh. 1.31 33. Luk. 3.1 2 3. The Christ c. to which John the Word of the Lord came at that time mentioned Thus and in many things now came to pass according to fore-prophecies Christ was declared to be already begun to be come in the Flesh and to be the Son of God and the Son of David the King of the Jews and the Saviour of the world the great Prophet and Messiah promised and that this very Jesus that was born in Bethlem of the Virgin espoused to Joseph and seen of the Shepherds and taken in the arms of old Simeon and witnessed to by Zacharias and John his Son even this very Jesus is he even the Christ c. and ready to set on his work And now the person of Christ thus come and thus witnessed and pointed out who he is and that he was personally on the earth and ready to set on his great business doing and that that very Jesus is he is more than ever was so revealed and manifested before and the beginning both of the performance and the more cleer opening of all the prophecies that have been of him from the beginning and so light began to shine forth more cleerly And now in this Revelation of Christ and for making him known according to this Revelation Isa 40.3 4 6 7 8. Mal. 3.1 Luk. 1.13 14 15 16.17 76 79. 3.15 16. Joh. 17.20 23. Luk. 1.15 44 76 78 79. Luk. 1,17 to prepare men that they might come into the acknowledgement of him it pleased God to chuse in Christ the Messenger of the Father and his own Messenger also fore-purposed and now declared to be his immediate Fore-runner to go before his Face to prepare his way and him he approved for this Ministration And for this blessed Ministration he was abundantly furnished in that he was filled with the holy Ghost from his Mothers Wombe and was confirmed by all the Declarations and Prophecies fore-mentioned given to him by the Spirit in the Prophecies and Instructions of his Father and was himself indued with the Spirit and Power of Elias to go on in his Ministration before the Lord and had the word of the Lord came to him revealed and inspired by God into him both in the Doctrine he had to teach and how to apply it to his hearers and also commission to testifie the Truth of it by baptizing with water And in this receit of the Word of the Lord that came to him he received his Commission to set on the business of preaching and babtizing and so did set on it in the fifteenth yeer of the raign of Tiberius Caesar Luk. 3.1 2 3 4. when Poutius Pilate was Governour of Judea and Herod the Tetrach of Galilee and Annas and Caiaphas High-Priests and what his Testimony and Doctrine was appears in that which is recorded of what he taught and delivered to be 1. That Jesus Christ is the Word that was in the beginning with God that was God and that was with God Joh. 1.1 2 3 14. Gen. 3.15 by whom all things were made that are made and that this same Word was made Flesh and dwelt among them Emmanuel God with us in our Nature and for us even he that was promised and manifested to do that great work for taking away our sins and destroying the works of the Devil 1 Ioh. 3.5 8. Ioh. 1.4 7 8. 9. so that in him is Life and the Life is the Light of Men and he is the true Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the World 2. That he is the onely begotten Son of God and yet very Man full of Grace and Truth and being in the heart Joh. 1.14 16 18. minde and bosome of the Father knowing all his counsels and being one with him in his will and design and so in all his decrees and purposes and as Man having commission from him he hath revealed and declared him so as in knowing him his minde is to be known 3. That he the Man Jesus Christ being the Son of God Joh. 1.11 and perfect Man the Mediator between God and Man full of Grace and Truth declaring the Father he is so loving to Man and so bountiful to all that receive his Declaration and so believe on him that he giveth them of his own Priviledges even to be the Sons of God and so dispenseth to them of his own fulness so that as the Law discovering sin and sentencing to death and that part of it also which by types and figures in Sacrifices and purifications shadowing out a better hope to be looked to in Christ to come though afar off came by Moses even so Grace and free favour in forgiveness of
sins and delivery from death and truth in receit of and enjoyment of true righteousness peace quickning purity heavenly riches came by Jesus Christ even in all times past and so now more fully and cleerly doth so as though he came after John yet he is preserred before him yea he was before him so as now he is come John and all the residue of Believers then and since even we of his fulness have received and Grace for Grace for the Grace of God in Christ by vertue of his Sacrifice which God hath graciously accepted of him for us we receive the Grace of Faith to believe and therein remission of sins and so Grace for Grace yea this and so one to make us meet to receive another and that to make us meet to receive more still and so Grace for Grace plentifully one heaped upon another Tit. 3.3 4 5 6 7. Col. 1.12 13. Joh. 1.15 16 17. Act. 26.18 yea as Moses had a Law of Works to nurture the people towards Grace so we a Doctrine of Grace and Law of Grace to teach and lead people to partake of Grace 4. That this Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God the sin-offering and the true passover which by vertue of his sacrifice mediating taketh or beareth away the sin of the world Job 1.29 36. Col. 2.14 15. Eph. 2.12 13 16 17. Rom. 5.18 that by his own death and sacrifice offered takes and now hath taken sin out of the way removed the contradictions that were in the mid-way between God and the world of Mankinde and made peace that it may be preached to them and that by vertue of his blood and sacrifice Isa 53.12 1 Tim. 2.4 Rom. 2.4 Rom. 3.24 25 26. 1 Joh. 3.2 Gen. 22.18 Act. 10.43 Rom. 4.5 Mat. 3.2 11. hath fulness fitness authority and readiness to take sin out of the consciences and nature of Men and by his Mediation procures forbearance patience and mercies to sinners to lead them to repentance being he and onely he set forth for that end the propitiation for the sins of the world in whom there is blessing for all Nations and that by spiritual application of his Blood he doth so take sin away from all that in believing come to him for it and that he is neer at hand to set up his spiritual Kingdom the fore-runner of his Davidical Kingdom 5. That the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 3.34 35 36. and immeasurably filled him with the Spirit so that whoever believeth in him hath everlasting life and be that believeth not on him the wrath of God abideth on him This Doctrine was John filled with to teach And with this Doctrine he was to throw down the Momtains exalt the Valleys Joh. 14.18 29 33. Mat. 3. Mar. 1. Luk. 3. cry down all Flesh and exalt the Word of the Lord and so to call Men to Repentance and to Faith in Christ and so to newness of life assuring them that Christ would baptize them with the holy Ghost and as a witness of the Truth of this Doctrine and that Christ was at hand and shortly to be manifested to Israel he did baptize with water unto repentance and so discipled all that came to him and refused it not Yet did he not in the beginning of his Ministration point out which of all the Sons of Men was that Man that is the Christ so he shewed not which was the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ till he was especially fitted and directed and commissionated for that also by the direction of the holy Spirit by communication with Jesus Christ himself Joh. 1.33 34. Mat. 3.13 17. Mar. 1.9 10.11 Luk. 3.21 22. and seeing the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting on him and hearing the voice of the Father from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And so was he furnished to know and declare the person of Christ as distinct from all others and who he was And then he did most plainly point out the Man Jesus Joh. 1.29 35 36. 3.30 36. the Son of the Virgin with confession that not himself and so no other Man but that very Man Jesus was the He the Christ the Lamb of God the King of Israel the Bridegroom the Son of God he even this very Jesus he pointed to and affirmed to the be very he and so exhorted his Hearers to behold him even Jesus and to follow him cleave to him and exalt him And in this his Ministration he was greater than all the Prophets that were before him Mat. 11.10 11. though less than any of his Lord's first Witnesses of his Resurrection that were to come after him and although in the exercise of his Ministration he was but for the House of Israel who if they had received him as he came in the Spirit and Power of Elias they would then have received Jesus Christ also and so they might have enjoyed the Gospel of the Kingdom and have continued in their own Land till his coming again to raign and then John Baptist had been all the Elias they should have needed and the coming of Elias mentioned Mal. 4. it would have been needful onely for the ten Tribes of Israel formerly cast off but they refusing came to be cast off also and so its needful for them And in this Ministration Mat. 11.13 14 15. 17.11 12. 23.37 according to this Revelation all the former helps in and under all the former Revelations and Ministrations still remained and all for the good of Men specially the house of Israel CHAP. 7. Of the seventh Revelation and the last that shall be of Christ till his own return and personal and visible appearing THe next Revelation of Jesus Christ and the last that is to be carried an end for usefulness by teaching and use of such outward Ordinances as now even until his personal appearance when all such means shall cease and the eternal Sabbath be Isa 42.1 61.1 2 3 4. Joh. 12.49 50. Heb. 1.1 2. 2.4 and this Revelation was by the Father to the Son even to the Man Jesus Christ his Elect upon whom he hath put his Spirit and by Jesus Christ to his Disciples God by his divine power bearing witness thereto and confirming the same and this Revelation by Jesus Christ was of the same things fore-revealed to and by the Prophets but now more fully and cleerly manifested with the mystery more abundantly opened and this his Revelation was in a threefold manner or by three distinct wayes or means 1. By manifestation of himself and all that appertained to him to do in his first coming by demonstrating the same in the very act visibly c. 2. By his personal and bodily Ministration in a vocal and audible teaching the Gospel and the Testimony of himself in the Prophets and explicating it 3. By pouring on his witnesses and
this that in due time he will in that body of his personally come again and receive them to himself and then take his great power and raign and they shall raign with him nor need they be deceived about this his coming Mat. 25.32.46 Joh. 5.28 29. for it shall be so personal open and visible that every eye shall see him and when he doth sit upon the Throne of his glory then shall all Nations be gathered before him and having raised all the dead will separate those that have believed in him and lived to him from those that have rebelled against him setting the one on his right hand and the other on his left hand and then judge and give sentence on both and the righteous that are on the right hand shall go into everlasting joy and the wicked that are on the left hand shall go into everlasting Fire there to be tormented for ever and that all that believe on him may with patience and comfort wait till that day come he taught and assured them that he would not leave them as Orphans comfortless Ioh. 14.16 17 18 26. but by his word and Spirit in that word he with them and in them and by that Spirit both minde them of Joh. 16.13 14 15. 15.4 7. 1 Pet. 1.5 Joh. 14.6 10.9 14.9 10. and teach them the words that he had fore-given them and also so take of the things of Christ and shew to them that he should present him glorious to them and lead them into all truth that by Faith well-pleasedness in him they may be made fruitful and preserved to the inheritance and that he thus discovered is the door and way of access to the Father and entrance into the Church yea the Father is in him and he in the Father and all that is the Father's is his so that in seeing and having him they see and have the Father also and that he is the Truth and the Life in whom they have Wisdom Righteousness 1.3 Sanctification and Redemption Covenant quickning and all spiritual Riches and Life yea he is such a sure Rock that whoever is found in believing built on him Mat. 16.18 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. the gates of Hell shall not prevail against him his Flesh even his Body as given for the Life of the World is Bread of Life and Meat indeed and his Blood as having confirmed the New Testament is Drink indeed Joh. 6.51 58 63. 15.10 17.24 and what Spirit or Soul of Man soever eateth and drinketh hereof shall never die but have everlasting Life his words are Spirit and Life and as the Father hath loved him even so hath he loved those that believe in him and will come again and receive them to himself that where he is they may be also So that in all this is a blessed clear great gracious and glorious Revelation of Jesus Christ in his own personal teachings Yet to free them from mistakes and inform them cleerly how by him this blessed and saving work shall be carried an end till his coming again that there may be a spiritual Seed encreased and preserved to him till then he instructed them how Men and Women should be brought in to God namely John 3.14 15. Tit. 2.3 Mar. 16.25 Rom. 16.26 that He even Christ the Son of God and Saviour of the World as thus manifested to them must be by them so made known to others yea lifted up and made manifest by preaching his word he had taught them and this to all Men all Nations and in and about this right preaching manifestation elevation declaration and tenders of Christ he taught them much and many things as appears plainly by his own sayings to them and theirs which they learned of him as to instance some of them 1. That it be Jesus that be lifted up and exalted as the Christ Joh. 8.14 15. Luk. 24.47 43. Joh. 15.26 Rom. 1.1 5. 16.25 26. 1 Cor. 22. 3.10 11. 2 Cor. 4.5 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. 5.6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Isa 49.6 the Son of the living God the Propitiation for our sins he in whom God is well-pleased who by vertue of his death is the Lord of all the onely Rock and Refuge in whom whoever believeth shall receive forgiveness of sins this Jesus the He and not the works of the Law not any order or sort of men not any dreams or devices nor any personal endowments or gifts nor any internal Lights and Operations but onely Jesus Christ to be the Lord the Foundation the He in whom all Peace Righteousness and Eternal Life is prepared of God for us and given us of God in him even in Jesus Christ that in believing in him we may receive it and have it And this is plain in comparing his sayings and theirs 2. Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Joh. 4.9 10 14. Rom. 5.6 7 8 9 10. Tit. 3.4 5. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 21. That both this gift of Christ the Saviour of the World and the setting him forth and tendering him in the Gospel is and is to be affirmed a fruit and witness of the love of God to the world to Mankinde even sinners and ungodly ones and the love Grace and good-will of God here-through commended and tendered to them that they might repent and believe and in believing receive remission of sins and eternal Life and this is plain in comparing his sayings and theirs according to that prophesied Psa 36.6 7 8. 145.8 9. Isa 55.4 3. That the end and purpose of God in this gift of Christ and so setting him forth Joh. 3.17 Luk. 9.56 Mat. 18.11 Joh. 12.47 Isa 42.6 7 8. 49.6 8 9. 55.4 5. 63.1 2 3. Act. 3.26 14.15 26.17 18. Joh. 12.35 36 46. 9.5 Joh. 1.4 7 8 9. and making him known and witnessing and commending his love through him and so the end of Christ his first coming and Ministration and of his continuing the same Ministration of the Gospel in which he is still sent held forth and tendered to men till his personal coming again is that the world might be saved yea sinners and the chief sinners that the eyes of the blinde might be opened c. and men brought in to believe and so turned from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God that so they may receive Remission of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by Faith that is in Jesus Christ and this is plain in the sayings of Christ by himself and by his Spirit in the Prophets and by his Spirit in the sayings of those that learned it of him whence he saith of his Ministration that while he is in the world he is the Light of the World and so before was and in the Ministration of his chosen Witnesses will be till his coming again Mat. 5.13 14 15 16. whence his Servants as Ministers of the Gospel are also called
man of all Nations in all the World where-ever they come and this as a Word of Truth and so to set forth this second publick Man the spiritual Man the Lord the quickning Spirit as he on whom God hath executed the Judgement that was due to Mankinde for their sins as fallen in whom their Nature is restored the Nature of Man being united and married unto God in the Person of his Son and so a great Feast of fatness even the sure mercies of David prepared in him is Mankinde perfect again as in a publick Man having in him forgiveness pardon peace wisdom righteousness eternal Life so verily that in believing in him they may receive it 1 Ioh. 5.10 11 12. 2 Cor. 2.17 3.12 4.2 and be partakers of it and so is he to be set forth without any Cloak or equivocation plainly to every Man appealing to their consciences in the sight of God and that Jesus is so and as such a one to be held forth to all that every one may behold him as he in whom there is healing for them to be received in believing is plain in our Saviour's own personal Testimony a Ioh. 3.14 15. and the Testimony of his Spirit in his Apostles b Rom. 3.24 25 26. 2 Cor. 5. 14 19 21. Col. 1.28 and this to this end that by this Men might be reconciled to God c 2 Cor. 5.20 And this hope given the Servants of Christ in such elevation of Christ that he will confirm their words and manifest their Testimony true so that all Men shall be drawn thereby even by Christ testified unto him d Joh. 12.32 such as in this day of grace believe this Testimony of him it shall be the power of God unto Salvation in them and work effectually in them uniting and conforming them to Christ so as they shall by degrees and in due season enjoy all this revealed blessedness e Mat. 10.40 Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 2 Pet. 1.1 10. And such as persist in refusing and rebelling against the Light extended shall by the same Spirit that breatheth in the Gospel be at the last day convinced f Joh. 16.7 8 9 10 11. and come before Christ and bow to him and confess him Lord to the glory of God g Phil. 2.10 11. and shall confess the Truth of the Testimony his Servants delivered and them to be the Servants of the Lord which in the dayes of his patience they despised and opposed h Isa 60.14 Rev. 3.9 and all before the final sentence be executed on them for God that frustrateth the tokens of the lyars and maketh diviners mad that turneth wise Men backward and maketh their knowledge foolishness doth and will confirm the Word of his Servants and perform the counsel of his Messengers i Isa 44.25 26. And to both parts of this said he hath given us his Oath That all shall come before him k Isa 45.22 23 24. And thus was the mystery of Christ revealed by himself in his own personal Ministration Part 1. ch 6. in which also as he uttered many Parables so he opened them all to his Disciples to teach them openly and whereas the Disciples did not yet cleerly understand all this Revelation of Christ so taught to them before Christ had suffered and risen from the dead therefore Christ after his Resurrection appeared to them and taught the same again to them and then expounded Moses and the Prophets and in order opened in all the Scriptures unto them the things concerning himself also opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures l Luk. 24.26 27 45 46 47. yet because all was not yet acted by Christ as well as taught by him that was to be in the mystery held forth in their Ministration for Christ his body though then risen was not as then ascended and glorified m Joh. 20.17 and so the fulness of understanding of the whole mystery by the Holy Ghost not yet given n Joh. 7.39 16.7 therefore they were yet to wait for further divine Power even the holy Ghost to be given them to open cleerly this Revelation to them and to help them to witness it which Christ promised them and did perform it after his ascension o Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 CHAP. 9. Of the third way of our Saviour's Revelation and manifestation of himself to the first witnesses of his Resurrection OUr Saviour according to his Promise did within a few dayes after his Ascension by vertue and as a fruit of his Ascension and Sacrifice offered and accepted and his Mediation begun he did send and shed forth and pour upon and in them the Holy Ghost in an audible sensible Act. 2.2 3 4 c. and visible shape both resting upon them and supernaturally and inwardly filling them by which Holy Spirit he brought again to their minde and gave them to understand all his fore-Revelation and sayings to them and shewed the things of himself and the Father so leading them into all Truth and making known to them the whole counsel of God in things pertaining to Eternal Life to be taught till his coming again enduing them with power motion and fitness to witness of him and giving them the gift of tongues to speak to every Man in his own Language wherein he was born so abundantly was the Revelation of the mystery of Christ by the Spirit made known to them and yet that we may rightly understand what the Holy Ghost is that was thus given unto them it is good to consider what in Revelation of Christ from the beginning and now by himself is given us to understand and that is that it is something that was never before this so given no not as then while John was baptizing Mar. 1.8 Joh. 7.38 39. Joh. 14.16 16.7 Act. 5.3 4. 1 Ioh. 5.7 Gen. 1.2 Psal 33.6 139.1 11. nor yet while Christ himself was personally ministring here on Earth nor could be given till he left the World in that body of his and went to the Father so that it cannot be meant properly of the essence and being of the Holy Ghost which is one and the same with the Father and the Son the same God by whom the Heaven and the Earth was made and all the Hosts of them for in this respect he fills heaven and Earth and is everywhere present and alwayes was so that in respect of essence he is not said to be sent or proceeding from the Father and Son or descending being ever one in and with both but onely in respect of person or manner of existence in and operation of that one divine essence but it must be meant of some forth-coming of the divine power from the Father by Christ yet in this also it cannot be meant of such forth-coming in breathings and operations as tend to the supportation of the old Creation Joh 26.12 13. Psa 104.29 30. in
upholding and ordering and garnishing the Heaven and Earth and Creatures therein for the good of Mankinde and enduing Men with understanding and skill for Husbandry and disposing the Fruits of the Earth Deut. 28.26 29. Exod. 31.3 35.31 and for curious Arts and Works or for War Physick Laws and Government of a Commonwealth c. though these be all Mercies to lead to Repentance for these were extended before Christ carried the Nature of Man into Heaven no nor yet is meant simply of a discovery of the Minde and Grace of God through Christ Heb. 11.6 Gen. 6.3 Act. 14.17 Rom. 3.2 9.5 Joh. 1.7 29. striving with Men to bring them in to God for this also was from the beginning yea and some brought in to believe thereby from the rumour of the Gospel in Paradise delivered and the works of Creation and Providence and yet more abundantly to Israel in Types Promises and Prophesies and yet more in John Baptist's Ministration yea the Holy Ghost in such means to enlighten and teach hath not onely been alwayes in the Church but some have been wonderfully filled with him he signified in and to the Prophets 1 Pet. 1.11 2 Pet. 1.21 Act. 28.25 Luk. 1.41 46 67. 2.25 26. and they spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost spake by them and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and Mary and Zacharias and the Holy Ghost was upon old Simeon and revealed Christ to him and the same may be said of divers others so that though no other Spirit be promised yet some farther Discovery and Operation of the Spirit which was not as yet given is evident to be meant here by the giving the Holy Ghost If any think that his coming like a mighty and rushing winde and sitting on them in the likeness of fiery Tongues and giving them to speak with divers Tongues is that which was promised he is not deceived in that for it was included in the promises as to the first Witnesses but it was neither the whole nor the main in the Promise but an over-plus and addition to the main Joh. 7.37 38 39. 17.20 21. Act. 2.39 the promise being that which however with more abundance to them yet in the Testimony given them it appertained to all that through that Testimony believe in Christ and this appears to be such a giving of the Holy Ghost as never was before in 1. A more full and cleer Revelation of Christ 1 Cor. 2.9 10 11. Joh. 5.39 Heb. 1.1 Rom. 16.25 Eph. 3.3 9. and things of Christ that lay hid in the bowels of the Scriptures then ever was before all being in this Testimony opened so far as is to be known till his own personal coming again so as the full of the Holy Ghosts Testimony of Christ is come forth opened which was not so before 2. A more free and cleer manifestation of the Lord Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Col. 1.25 26 27. Joh. 7.37 38 39. as having compleated the Sacrifice and being filled with Spirit and the Father's Face and Minde appearing in him not through Types and Prophecies but in a cleer Demonstration of him in the Gospel as the Object of Faith and Allurer not with servitude in a Law of Works but with Freedom to believe in him and therein to receive more free and abundant spiritual Operations and spiritual gifts then ever before 3. A larger Freedom for all Gentiles as Jews without difference Eph. 3.3 4 9. Gal. 3.28 Eph. 1.8 9 10. all every or any one in believing the Testimony to receive the gracious Priviledges and in all this he abounded to the first Witnesses in all Wisdom and Prudence making known to them the mystery of his will for the dispensation of these last times 4. That this Testimony of Christ in which all parts of the Testimony fore-given by Inspirations Types Prophecies Joh. 15.26 14.26 16.13 15. Joh. 3.16 Rom. 1.16 2 Cor. 3.6 7 c. Visions Dreams was opened being fully and cleerly given forth by the Holy Ghost witnessing of Christ this Testimony being a birth of the Spirit and the Medium in which the Spirit worketh and his own Testimony it also beareth his Name and he that believing receiveth it receiveth him and shall experiment this Light and Operations And that this is meant by the giving of the Holy Ghost fore-promised now performed by Christ appears both in the Promises and Performance and the Scriptures quoted and also by the Apostles Affirmation that as the Promises of Christ concerning it Psal 68.18 20. Act. 2.33 Eph. 4.8 11. Act. 2.17 18. so the Prophesies of the Prophet concerning his pouring forth his Spirit both for convincing the rebellious and leading Believers into all Truth and also the efficaciousness of the Spirit for making known the Mind of Christ and his Operations for and in Prophesie Vision Dreams had all a fulfilling in this given to them so full a Testimony cleer Revelation with such Divine Illumination and Operation was given to these first Witnesses that by that Testimony Christ and the things of Christ might be made known that Men might believe and so come in to Christ And this the last and fullest Revelation of Christ and no other but the cleer knowledge of this to be looked for till he do personally and visibly come again But now for the way of making this known to the Sons of Men and carrying it an end we have that also shewn us in this Revelation these three wayes given to them In which we have three things to note first The prime Medium or Way of making it known and the chosen Instruments to use that Medium to make it known and also the Furniture wherewith they are furnished to make it known that Men may come to know Christ thus revealed and so be saved reconciled and brought to God by Christ Of which see what the Scripture saith CHAP. 10. Of the prime Medium or Way of making Christ known according to the Revelation of the Mystery to bring Men to God by Christ THis way of making Christ known for so gracious an end so cleerly it is manifest to be preaching this Word Testimony or Gospel as it is now come forth Mar. 1.15 Act. 10.42 2 Tim. 4.2 Tit. 1.3 and such a manner of Preaching as never was before Christ his coming in the Flesh and suffering on the Cross and having been put to death in the Flesh but quickned by the Spirit and now alive in that Body for evermore and by vertue of his Cross and death by which he made our Peace and by vertue whereof he still mediateth for us and by vertue whereof he worketh in Believers and so will have his Cross and sufferings remembred imbraced and professed till his coming again so 1 Cor. 1.18 20. 2.1 2. as the preaching of him now as it is called the preaching of Christ so it is called also the
preaching of the Cross and so the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified and so it must be a preaching suitable thereto and the means to make Christ known according to this Revelation is preaching such a preaching as in which he is lift up as shewn in the eighth Chapter before and in the Scripture we may finde it farther thus set forth that is 1. That it must be preaching Joh. 12.38 Rom. 10.16 1 Pet. 1.12 Joh. 17.6 7. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. Act. 13.32 33. 26.27 Rom. 3.25 26. 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4 5. Act. 5.42 18.26 28.23 31. 1 Tim. 2.7 Act. 20 21. 2 Cor. 5.10 11 14 19 20. that is in Scripture Language proclaiming and reporting Jesus to be the Christ and therewith the things done by him declaring with manifestation and making plain the things reported and therewith so teaching and expounding the same that the ends vertues and excellencies of Christ and his Cross and the things of Christ with his requirings and promises may appear and be made known and evidencing and testifying the Truth of all so taught by the Scriptures according to the Commandment of God Rom. 1.1 5. 16.25 26. Act. 18.25 28. 17.2 3. 26.22 23. And from Christ the things of God in Christ thus declared taught 2 Tim. 3.16 Tit. 2.15 and testified to perswade Men to Repentance and Faith and so to be reconciled to God and then live to him and to press this with Reproofs Instructions Beseechings and Consolations as need is and in this manner to exalt and tender the Grace of Christ as aforesaid is preaching yea that preaching that according to the minde of God is to be used 2. This preaching must also be with plain and understandable words 2 Col. 2.17 3.12 4.1 2. 2 Pet. 1.15 16. not in dark Parables and Allegories but with such simplicity and plainness that they may appeal to every Man's conscience in the sight of God with all sincerity without any cloak of covetousness craft or guile As for Christ before his Ascension preaching many things in Parables it hath been fore-answered Part 1. ch 6. Mat. 10.27 28. and shewn how he opened all to his Disciples and charged them to teach the same openly and plainly so that the mystery of Christ as opened by Christ is by his Servants to be plainly preached now without fear of Man and so as in plain words so in such language and terms Act. 2.6 8. 1 Cor. 14.6 7 19. Rev. 19.10 1 Cor. 14.3 1 Joh. 3.20 21 27 28. 1 Cor. 1.1 2. Gen. 3.15 1 Joh. 3.5 8. as the Hearers do know and understand so the Holy Spirit given them did at first give them to speak to every Man in his own language and so they used to speak in words understandable to the Hearers They are now taught that the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophesie the original spring and Leader to all right speaking for Edification in knowing him all things are known and other knowledge and teaching then according to what is taught by the Spirits witnessing of him is not needful The knowledge of the first Report of the Gospel is in knowing him as now testified cleerly understood whereas those that by humane Wisdom think to know that first saying without this help given run into many mistakes yea all that the Fathers had in Visions and Dreams Act. 2.18 19 20 21. is met with in this Testimony of Christ now given by the Spirit yea all that the Heaven and Earth with his Works therein do witness is seen most cleerly in Christ Psal 19.1 6. Rom. 10.18 Isa 42.6 2 Cor. 1.20 Col. 2.17 Heb. 7 8 9 10. Col. 3.11 as set forth in this Testimony and by him made apparent to be more cleerly seen in them yea the Covenant made with Abraham it is to be seen and met with in him and all that was figured by Sacrifices and all other Types the Truth is in him and to be seen and known in him so that now Christ is all and in all and so in this Doctrine and Testimony And therefore he and the things of him are plainly to be preached and that in a known language and understandable words being alike holy and sanctified to declare the Gospel with and so alike fit to express God's Minde to us as is before shewn Part 1. ch 5. and for us to express our Minde to God in praying to him And so the Apostles writing to the Church at Rome Rom. 8.25 Gal. 4.6 where also both Jews and Greeks were shews how the Spirit breatheth in both languages Abba Father and so to another Church and so they spake with all plainness of Speech in things needful to be known for Faith and good Manners and so is the Gospel to be plainly preached in understandable words 3. This preaching of the Gospel now must neither be with the wisdom of words 1 Cor. 1.17 18 19 20. 2.1 2 3 4 5. which the Spirit of Wisdom that is in the Princes of this World for Learning or the Wisdom of Man teacheth or in such manner as to draw applause to the Preacher or to receive that said for his excellency in Learning and arguing in Rhetorical perswasions Nor must this preaching be with Fables and endless Genealogies 1 Tim. 4.7 6.20 Tit. 3.9 Col. 2.8 1 Cor. 1.19 20 17 23. 2.1 4 12. or opposition of Science falsly so called nor with Philosophical Subtilties Reasons and Depths after the Fashion of humanely-learned wise Men nor with Artificial and framed Eloquence and Rhetorical Perswasions according to Man's Art nor yet with pretences of great Light intruding into things they have not seen in the Testimony there being in that no Revelation of it Rom. 12.3 Col. 2.18 Gal. 1.10 1 Thes 2.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 14.6 19 28. and so beyond the measure of Faith given though covered with great pretences and shews of Humility nor by tempering their Doctrine to the humours of Men to please them and get applause from them nor with using quaint words or words of a strange language not understood If a strange Tongue inspired were to be silenced where it was not of the Hearers understood how much more that which is acquired by study 1 Cor. 2.4 5. Rom. 16.26 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Tit. 2.15 1 Pet. 4.11 1 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 1.1 5. all these things are to be avoided in this preaching and the preaching to be with Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit in the Testimony he hath given of Christ in the Scripture and so with all Power and Authority as the very Oracles of God and all this plain-speaking to Men not for Men to exercise their Wisdom to imagine a Riddle and study for a mysterious sense but for the obedience of Faith that Men as Fools in their own wisdom may be wise in credit-giving to this Testimony and so believe and obey in
I might shew how Christ is here the chief Master Doctor and Rabbi and the Prophets and Apostles the Masters of this Assembly the Scriptures the Library the Testimony of Jesus the Original the Holy Spirit therein the Interpreter the way of Learning and coming to knowledge is Attention and believing the Fellows and Collegiates are all that are built upon Jesus and so one in this spiritual house the pupils are all that like or desire to learn the Doctrine of the Gospel though yet hardly believing or weak and unstable in the Faith or believing the Truth of the Gospel and professing it but not so prevailed with by it as to be united to Christ and framed to his Minde so as to have his word in their heart these not yet to be Teachers but Learners but the residue all Teachers according to the measure of Faith and Gifts given them and their acts are Fellowship in the Gospel and to those acts the World may come also to hear And all the Ministers God approveth and sendeth forth to minister Gospel to the World they are brought up in and sent forth of this University being Members thereof as is proved in that already said and yet I would add one proof more even from the Prayer of our Saviour for these in John 17. where having prayed for the fitness furniture and blessing on the ministration of those immediately called chosen taught and set forth by himself he proceedeth in that Prayer saying Joh. 17.6 7 8 9 11 14 15 16 17 18 19 vers 20. Neither do I pray for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word which is no other but his own word he received of the Father and gave to them and so it is through their Ministration of the word and so the same word and as ministred and recorded by these first VVitnesses who were immediately sent forth by him with this Ministration for the Obedience of Faith among all Nations and for all that believe through their word He prayeth Vers 21. That they all he saith not some onely or the chief Officers they shall chuse but the unfeigned Believers even they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us VVhich cannot be meant of the Essence of God because he speaketh of Ministration nor is it meant onely of being one in him by the Spirit of Faith relying on him though this be included yea the union of the Father and Son in will for Ministration and of the Father in the Son and the Son in the Father and so the union between them is more then so yea I may say there is such an union between them as is higher then we can conceive and incommunicable also though the benefit of it be communicable but the union here meant appears by that foregoing and this following with the scope of the business to be the union of the Spirit for Ministration as the Father was and is one and of one minde in Christ that he should make peace by his blood and then preach peace that Men might believe and that in preaching peace he should speak his words that he gave him and seek his ends for glorifying him in displaying and extending Salvation to Men and eternally saving believing Men. So Christ was one in and with the Father in all this and in the same love with the same design did both make peace by his Blood and preach peace in the same words and for the same end the Father gave them to him and so are they one in the same love and design for the good of Mankinde in this Ministration of peace-preaching to bring Men in to believe and to preserve Believers to eternal Life And now having committed the Ministry of Reconciliation by peace-preaching to his first VVitnesses and prayed for and begun to frame them into union with him in this design he prayeth therewith for all that unfeignedly believe on him through their word and so are united to him by Faith and Love that they may be framed by the same Spirit of Faith to his minde and so be one in the Father and him in the same love and the same design for carrying forth this Ministration as he did and to the same ends though through like sufferings as he did and as the first VVitnesses did that so we may be one together with them and all one in the Father and the Son in this love and design pursued in the same way for Ministration And this to be the union meant appears also in the next words which are That the world that is such as yet believe not may believe that thou hast sent me which can be no less Vers 21. then that through their Ministration carried forth in such love and union of Spirit and way such as yet believe not may believe c. And this to be the meaning the next words shew Vers 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them which is not the glory he had with the Father before the world was and with which he is now glorified at the Father's right hand for that was not then as yet given to him as he was Man but to be given him on the finishing his whole work for suffering and overcoming death and his own immediate personal Ministration and his Ascension into Heaven and offering up the acceptable sacrifice and then was that glory given him so that of this glory he speaketh not but of the glory of the Ministration given him immediately of the Father which was a more great and glorious Ministration then ever before given to Moses or any of the Priests or Prophets or John Baptist and so it 's called the glorious Gospel And this Ministration with commission with power and authority and Spirit he received immediately from the Father and so gave it as immediately to the first VVitnesses and now here mediately through the belief of their Gospel unto all unfeigned Believers in every age that through their word believe to them and all them our Saviour gives this glory of the commission power and authority for Ministration Vers 22. and that to these ends both that they may be one even as we are one in that union forementioned and so Vers 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one I in them The Nature of all Mankinde is in me in which I have died their Death and suffered the Curse that was due for their sins and made peace for them by my Blood and offered the acceptable Sacrifice and obtained eternal Redemption and received in the Nature of Man Remission of sins and fulness of Spirit Grace Truth and Eternal Life for Men that in believing Men might receive me and in receiving me receive it all And now these believing though not by my immediate personal Ministration yet by my mediate Ministration through the
VVord recorded by my first Witnesses that received it immediately from me they in believing come in to me receiving my words they receive me So that I by my word and in that by my Spirit with all the heavenly riches and treasures I am filled with in their Nature am thus spiritually in them and pray that I may so be still and more abundantly Vers 23. 23. And thou in me the Father is in the Son and all that is the Fathers is the Sons so that as he that in believing receiveth the Gospel doth receive Christ therein and he that receiveth Christ receiveth the Father and so from both that Holy Spirit that uniteth both to Father and Son and frameth to oneness of minde love and design and so for that farther end also here exprest that being made perfect in one and so in this unity of Spirit in love and design their design may prosper in this That the world may know that thou hast sent me the Saviour of the World and that the World through me might be saved and so that I am the Christ and that thou hast loved them these that believe in me and in love minister Gospel to them in my Name as thou hast loved me Which if any one come to know and believe what a one Christ is and how he loves and approves them and their Ministration who also are as patterns to them this will draw them also to believe and be pulling them out of the VVorld into the Church Joh. 4.10 1 Cor. 2.8 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 4. Joh. 17.24 The next Petition is for glory to be conferred on them after their Ministration the hope whereof is an encouragement and support to them in their Ministration through all sufferings And by all this our Saviour gives us to understand both who be his chosen Ministers and also what their Furniture is and the same that appears in our Saviour's Prayer is to be seen likewise in the practice and counsel of the Apostles who were so filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit as to be unerring both in delivery of their Doctrine and direction for the Ministration 2 Tim. 1.13 Gal. 1.8 2 Tim. 3.4 4.5 1 Cor. 11.2 23. 2 Tim. 1.14 1 Tim. 6.20 so as it is well done of their followers to keep both Gospel and Ministration as they delivered the same and they committed the Gospel and things thereof to such as were known to be faithful and endued with the Holy Ghost and charged them to commit the same to faithful Men not limiting it to outward Officers though in such an Epistle as was most needful to name them 2 Tim. 2.2 if such a thing had been intended but to faithful Men whether such Officers or no. But more need not be said of this enough is shewn before proving these the spiritual House the royal Priesthood the chosen Generation his chosen Ministers to shew forth his praises But yet a word or two more to make plain the Furniture those following Ministers have and in this Revelation of Christ we shall also finde that for Furniture 1. They have the VVord or Gospel discovering Christ Joh. 14 21 22 23. 1 Joh. 2.14 24. Isa 59.21 2 Joh. 2. Eph. 3.17 Heb. 12.22 Isa 78.16 46.13 1 Pet. 2.6 Isa 40.9 and so Christ in that Gospel in their heart and so are come to Sion and so are of Sion and the Foundation is laid in Sion that is Christ as set forth in the Gospel for Sion to hold forth to others the same Foundation that they may come in and be built thereon yea this word hath come from Sion Jerusalem that is above and is the Mother of us all Joel 2.23 Gal. 4.26 and is in the Heart Fellowship and Ministration of Sion that part of it which though in heart and Spirit above Phil. 3.20 Col. 3.1 yet in Sion hath God taken up his rest and will abundantly bless her Psa 132.13 14 15. Joel 3.21 Psa 77.2 he dwelleth there yea the Lord loveth the Gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob besides And so we may say This Ministration more then all that fore-went it So that the word of Truth of Life and Salvation is here as in the outward record so in the understanding and heart and floweth forth from hence as a first fruits of that Isa 2.3 Mic. 4.2 2 They in believing and imbracing this word have with it the Holy Spirit Isa 59.21 Rom. 8 9 10. 1 Joh. 2.20 3.24 Eph. 4.7 2 Cor. 12.4 7 11. Jer. 30.17 Isa 35.2 3. Cant. 6.8 9. Cant. 1.7 8. effecting the Spirit and Minde of Christ in them all and in some good measure enduing them with all the first mentioned spiritual gifts among them to every one some though not to all and every one alike Thus are they furnished And this may be truely said of Sion whom no Man seeketh after they are in worldly appearance made so like their Lord and there are so many Concubines though this Beloved be but one and the onely one of her Mother that for discerning her that prayer is needful Shew me where thou feedest c. and the direction there given needful and to such as do discern it it may be said as Psal 48.12 13 14. But now because these following VVitnesses that part of Sion yet below have not the Gospel and these spiritual gifts so immediately from Christ and so not in so full a measure as that they are alwayes infallibly freed from erring in every particular thing altogether in delivery of Doctrine and Ministration as the first witnesses were but as they have received their Doctrine and Ministration mediately in belief of and receiving the Doctrine and Gospel as delivered by them that are Sion now above so their preservation from error in Doctrine and Ministration is mediate likewise Prov. 6.20 23. 1 Tim. 4.15 16. 2 Tim. 3.14 17. Col. 3.16 even in heeding the Gospel received from God and Christ by them and delivered by them to us and so both the Commandment of our Father and the Law of our Mother in one to be imbraced and kept by us and so we are directed and commanded and promise of guidance given us therein And so 3. Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 They are furnished with Matter Rules Directions and Cautions in this Doctrine of the Gospel as delivered and recorded by the Apostles and which they also in believing it have in their hearts savingly working And this helpful 1. For speaking right and wholesome words in Faith and Love and to edification Pro. 22.20 21. Eccles 12.10 11. learning and comfort Rev. 19.10 2 Tim. 1.13 1 Cor. 4.6 and 14.3 2. 1 Cor. 4.6 Prov. 22.21 Rom. 15.4 Col. 2 18. For keeping measure and due order in our speakings that upon no pretence or presumption of Learning Parts Invention or Office we presume to speak of things we have not seen in the word of
the Gospel having that also to testifie withal And so that none go beyond the proportion of Faith dealt to him even that which he is without taking it on trust from others Rom. 12.3 4 6 7 8. 2 Cor. 12.4 5 6 12. enabled to see and understand in the Gospel so as verily thereby to believe and that his venting be not in imitation of other Men's Gifts and Administrations but according to the Manifestation of the Spirit and Grace given him freely operating and leading him forth and not straining beyond that 3. For giving this honour to no Man on Earth how learned soever or in what Office soever or of what parts excellency Mat. 23.9 10. Isa 8.20 2 Thes 5.20 21. Col. 2.8 18. Gal. 1.6 7 8. Rom. 3.4 1 Cor. 7.23 Gal. 1.10 2 Cor. 4.5 6. 1 Joh. 4.6 or appearing godliness soever as to make count or call him our Rabbi Master or Teacher so as to take any matter of Faith on trust from him for Truth or to be waved from the belief of or holding forth the Truth of the plain-sayings of Christ in the Gospel out of fear to make such a one a liar or to temper our Doctrine and delivery so as it may suit with any cross sayings of his yea to give this honour of taking this upon trust to none but God and Christ Mat. 23.8 and so to him for his sake taking it from his Prophets and Apostles by whom in the Record left by them he speaks to us still And that none desire or take this honour to himself but let God and Christ by his Spirit in the Gospel delivered and recorded by his first Witnesses be our Father Rabbi and Master for Faith and Love and all holy walking and we as Brethren 4. For keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Eph. 4.2 3. 1 Cor. 4.6 7. 12.4 11. Phil. 2.3 4 5. that we be not any of us puft up with the excellency of our own Gifts or Administrations nor discontent at the meanness thereof in respect of others nor despise or discountenance others for their meanness therein but acknowledging God and Christ in all and in love preferring one another Rom. 14.32 21. 15.1 4. that we judge not despise not one another for difference in some outward things through the knowledge or want of the knowledge of our Liberty in Christ nor trouble the weak Brethren with doubtful disputations But with all lowliness and meekness with all long-suffering forbearing one another in love Eph. 4.2 3 4. 1 Cor. 1.6 10 Phil. 3.14 1â— endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the Gospel-Love and design forementioned in the bond of peace that we may all speak the same thing in the Testimony of Christ confirmed among us and if in any thing any of us be otherwise minded to wait for God in the Ministration to reveal the same to him nevertheless to walk by the same Rule of faith and love according to that we have attained and so minde the same thing that there be no divisions among us so shall all men know us to be Christ's Disciples Joh. 13.35 5. For keeping cleer and fair the Name and Truth that is written upon us 1 Tim. 6.11 12 13 14. Tit. 2.10 Phil. 2.27 Col. 3.17 1 Cor. 10.31 that we follow after Righteousness Holiness Purity Mercy good Works and flie all Pride Wrath Malice Coverousness Fraud Lying Uncleanness Intemperancy c. that we do not blur or deface the Name and Writing that is upon us but adorning the Gospel we profess doing all things heartily as to the Lord in the Name of Christ to the glory of God and good of Men. 6. 1 Cor. 16.14 2 Cor. 5.14 1 Cor. 13. 1 Cor. 8.1 2 3. 14.1 2 5 12. For the profiting in speaking and walking that it may take place with and be edifying to others to see that all our speakings and doings be done in charity with the love and bowels of Christ moving us with desire of the good of others without which all Knowledge Faith Gifts Works or Sufferings will not avail us in this profiting and so in desire of spiritual gifts that we desire them not for our own applause or exaltation but for the edifying of the Church and that in this desire also we do more earnestly desire and follow after charity And these with such-like are the constant and abiding helps given in the Gospel for Believers which in living by Faith they may alwayes have and use and so be preserved from erring in Doctrine Ministration or Manners so that here is a sufficient gracious helpfulness and Furniture always needful and always at hand for all times till Christ come again yet in respect of some occasions there is yet needful to them some other helps as order and helps in Government with which they are also furnished in this Revelation of Christ in the Gospel CHAP. 16. Of the helps in respect of occasions which are given these witnesses FOr the encrease and multitudes of Believers and Professors of the Faith brought in by this Ministration because their Societies and Assemblies may come to be both many and many of them great and numerous and because their employments in this World be many and various and because many brought in to believe the Report of the Gospel to be a Truth are not yet by it convinced of their own unbelievingness vileness and the emptiness of their own righteousness Joh. 2.23 24. 8.31 36. vileness and the emptiness of their own righteousness and some though convinced yet not prevailingly wrought upon to be through-hearted in cleaving and submitting to Christ to have all their life in him and live to him though in abiding in this belief of the Truth and attending this Ministery of it it will save them and work them up to the Truth that will make them free both which though Attenders and of the outward Society yet not the true Sanctuary and so to be Learners and not the Teachers yea it may be also some in some measure unfeignedly believing and yet Novices newly come to the Faith 1 Tim. 3.6 may be ready to speak beyond the proportion of Faith given them yea and it may so be that some feigned and dissembling ones yea and disorderly ones also may creep into the outward profession and so be of this Society in profession and so the outward Court though while such not in nor of the Sanctuary and holy Place of which hath before been spoken and by reason of this if help be not had disorder and confusion will be found in and blemishes besal the whole Society but for remedy hereof there are helps afforded One for Constancy and that is order in speaking in the Assembly that but one speak at once and the rest be silent and so two or three may speak one after another so it be in order and after while time and silence is may
also were to be sound in the Faith and such as is aforesaid yea and proved and approved to be such 5. That for the chusing order and number of these Officers it is to be according to the fitness and necessities of the several Churches and the Liberty God-in his Providence gives them the Church among the Corinthians among whom were many divisions and many puft up for some against other were exhorted to that which should be constant even to order in their proceedings and to let such of them as had prophetical gifts 1 Cor. 14.26 29 40. have the precedence in leading but not being fit because of being puft up for one against another c. they were not yet permitted to chuse their outward Officers that so all things might be so set in order till the Apostle came and did that Believers furnish'd with Apostolical or Evangelistical gifts at least needful in such a case But the Church among the Philippians a gracious sweetly-framed people in their fellowship in the Gospel they had their Bishops and Deacons among themselves and were well approved of And the Churches among the Ephesians had also their Bishops and Deacons but still needed more and more helpfulness about them and Timothy that was an Evangelist by his Gifts 2 Tim. 4 1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 Tim. 1.3 8. 3 4 5 6. and to do the work of an Evangelist in his preaching was left as a Bishop or Elder there to oversee both the several Churches and the Elders or Bishops and Deacons in the several Churches to charge some that they teach no other Doctrine beside that delivered them in the Gospel and to silence and stop the Mouths of perverse erronious Ones by the Word and to help them in choise of Officers Tit. 1 2 3. and for the right ordering of all their Assemblies and Manners and for the same cause was Titus left in Crete both to ordain them Elders and oversee both them and the people and give directions to them yet were all these in Corinth Philippi and Ephesus and Crete true Churches and fought not one with another about these outward Forms it being in and to each according to their firness and necessity Now while the immediate Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers lived and thos mediate Ones that had heard and seen them and that the Officers were chosen by and of those of the true Sanctuary who were clothed with the Righteousness of Christ and gloried in the Doctrine of Christ delivered by the twelve Apostles and contemned the glory Rev. 12.1 2. riches and pleasures of this World and that the outward Court was in the Hands of the Saints and they the Ministers and these the Officers therein also the Church appeared beautiful and glorious indeed But in that time the outward Court is left into the hands of the Gentiles the true Sanctuary is trodden down and as one dwelling in a Wilderness among Briars Rev. 12.14 11.1 2 3 4 5. Thorns and wild Beasts and then cloth'd with Sackcloth and yet patiently bearing this shall carry on their Work with the rich spiritual and constant Furniture given which is shewn to be very good and great though they have not all their Priviledges in the outward Court and to encourage I will name one Help more 6. Joh. 11.25 7.38 39. 14.16 26. 16.7 15 23 26. Mat. 28.20 7.7 Mar. 11.23 24. Luk. 1.7.6 Phil. 4.4.5 7 13. To fit and furnish for and in all the former Directions and against all that comes to oppose or hinder us he hath given us his gracious promise to be with us that believing on him his strength and Spirit shall support lead and go forth with us and whatever we finde wanting ask in his Name and it shall be done for and to us that so we may be able to do all things through Christ that strengthneth us so wonderfully are these chosen Ministers fitted for the Ministration of the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery And thus much of the several Revelations and so of this last Revelation of Christ CHAP. 17. A Corollary from the Testimony of Christ in the three Branches together with all these several Revelations of Christ to the fullest FRom all that hath been said in the second and third Part of this Treatise and the Scriptures alledged and so in the whole Scripture-Testimony of Christ it appears I. That there is one Faith and but one Faith that is Faith indeed real and true in its kinde and so not divers kindes of Faith each true in its kinde The whole Testimony of Christ holds forth to us one and but one kinde of Faith that is true Faith yea Eph. â— 5 upon exhortation to keep the Unity of Spirit this is given as the ground of it There is one Faith as there is one God and Father one Lord and Saviour and one Spirit and so one true Church in which he is so there is one Faith and no more kindes of true Faith then of Gods c. we may see this in every sense the word Faith is used in the Testimony Rom. 1.5 10.8 16.26 Gal. 1.23 3.2 Rom. 4.19 24. Eph. 2.8 Act. 13.8 Rom. 3.20 30. 4.5 5.1 the word Faith being used sometime for the object of Faith and for the Word or Gospel in which that object is set forth and sometime for the Grace of Faith or believing in that object and sometime for both the object and believing so as the Believer is united to it and so still the Faith one and of one kinde For 1. The object of Faith is every way one and the same the Gospel that is the discovering Medium 2 Cor. n. 4. Gal. 1.7 8 9. Col. 1.5 23. the Word of Faith and of Grace though it hath many Branches and Uses yet they flow from meet in one and there is but one and the same Gospel and not another and Jesus Christ set forth and as set forth in this Gospel he is one and there is not another though he be set forth as indeed he is The Son of God and the Son of Man God-Man and what from Eternity he was and what in time he became what he hath done and what he is thereby become and what he is furnished to do 1 Cor. 8.6 Joh. 4.42 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Cor. 8.6 12.6 Gal. 3.20 1 Tim. 2.5 1 Cor. 12.4 11. 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Joh. 5.7 Mar 12.32 34. Joh. 10.29 30. 1 Joh. 5.10 11. and what he doth and will do as the mighty God and the Son of Man as the Saviour of all Men especially of those that believe and the Judge of all yet he is one and but one Lord Jesus Christ the Christ the Saviour of the World and there is not another Jesus that is the Christ and so God the Father that is in Christ and dwells in him though his
works be manifold yet he is but one God he is one and so the Holy Spirit that proceedeth from the Father and the Son and discovereth Christ and God in Christ and beareth forth the Testimony though his Gifts and Operations be manifold yet the Spirit is one in the same yea the Father and Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same God one in Essence Will Design Testimony and Power and God in Christ propitious to Men and having prepared Eternal Life in Christ for Men this is the Object of Faith to be preached and believed and if this were not there could be no such thing as the Gospel calls Faith to be preached obeyed or enjoyed And this is one 2. The Grace of Faith or that believing in the Gospel that is called Faith it is that believing which is begot in the heart by the Discovery and Testimony Heb. 11.13 Joh. 6.40 Act. 6.7 Rom 3.25 10.8 9 10. the Spirit in the means he useth hath given of Christ in which a Man discerneth the Truth and Goodness testified is perswaded of it in his heart And this is one one way and manner of believing that Object of Faith and from thence it is called Faith and so truely still one Faith the Object discovered having drawn to it self a believing 3. So when through the Operation of Grace believed the Heart imbraceth the Object believed Heb. 11.13 Rom. 10.10 and so by Faith is united to it in trust and well-pleasedness c. it is still but one and the same Faith the same Object uniting to it self whence indeed it hath the name of Faith so as still Faith is one and but one II. That as Faith is used for the prevalency of the Object of Faith drawing the Hearer and Beholder to believe and so for the Grace of Faith or Believing though the Faith be one yet there are divers Degrees in and of it and divers Acts and Operarations of it 1. One Degree of Believing which in respect of the Testimony by which it is begot and which it believeth Joh. 2.23 12.42 and which if abiden in it will unite to may be called faith is yet short of a real new-birth it is such a belief of the Gospel-Testimony as according to light seen one believeth Jesus to be the Christ so far as to count his saying true and yet not so overcome by that believed to see and acknowledge his own vileness and the vanity of all his own best righteousness and his sin in not sooner believing by evidences foregiven and so see not yet the fulness and liberty in Christ for them and so are not by the knowledge of the Truth made single to Christ they are sprinkled with water and moved with Spirit but not yet born of VVater and Spirit they believe Righteousness but not yet with the heart unto Righteousness they are by the hearing of Faith so far born of God as to believe Jesus to be the Christ and confess him to be the Lord but not so far born of God as to be emptied of themselves and united to Christ and so are not yet inwardly renewed and regenerated and so though in the outward Court not yet really translated out of the Power of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's dear Son and yet even these Believers if they abide in this Faith of the Testimony of the Gospel and give heed to the plain sayings thereof Rom. 10.9 Joh. 8.30 31. and abide therein they shall be saved shall know the Truth and the Truth will make them free To say these did but pretend or seem and profess to believe and so are said to believe in respect of their seeming and prosession to believe in the judgement of Charity is too much presumption and sawciness and derogation from the Holy Ghost for the Evangelists writ this after Christ was ascended and they indued with the Holy Ghost and so writ by his inspiration so that those sayings such did believe were not the sayings of Men imperfect in knowledge and judging according to the judgement of Charity by conjecture but the sayings of the Holy Ghost that knoweth all things the Spirit of Truth that cannot erre or be deceived And he saith they believed on his Name they believed on him and who will be so proud of his VVisdom and Knowledge as to direct the Spirit of the Lord and undertake to counsel him and teach him to speak more rightly and safely and say they seemed to believe they professed to believe in the judgement of Charity they ought to be counted Believers though in the issue it appears they did not believe That which some bring to help this conceit helps it not Joh. 2.24 25. namely that Christ did not commit himself to them because he knew all Men c. for it is not said Jesus knew they believed not Gen. 6.5 8.21 or that he knew there was no truth in their believing but he knew what was in Man an evil and unfaithful disposition c. and he knew that his Words or Miracles that brought these to believe on him were not so submitted to as that their evil disposition was yet mortified and they made faithful to him and so they might have served him as he did Joh. 5.14 15. but believe the Spirit saith they did And so in the other place the Holy Ghost affirmeth That as Christ spake many believed on him Joh. 8.30 31. and that our Saviour then spake to those Jews that believed on him And again the Holy Ghost faith Among the chief Rulers many believed on him Joh. 12.42 but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him So that these were Believers and therefore so called and not called Believers because they seemed or professed to believe which the Holy Ghost saith they did not nay the praise of Men had that prevalency with them that it kept them from profession of believing though it had not so great prevalency with these as with those Joh. 5.44 whom it kept from believing or yet put them in an incapacity of it so that these pointed to did believe is evident that it was not a feigned but true believing is evident for else in continuance in it they could not be saved that they were yet short of the knowledge of the Truth c. is express that if they continued in his words received by this Faith they were even then his Disciples and they should know the Truth and the Truth should make them free is express so that here is one Degree of Faith yet short of a real New-Birth which yet abiden in is certain to be effected and was after in many of these as appears in comparing John 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 18. and John 7.50 51. with John 19.38 39 40. 2. The other Degree of believing in which by the prevalency of the Light seen Col. 1 12 13. 1 Pet. 2.3 5 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9. and Grace believed the Heart
is convinced and brought off all things to accept of and confide in Jesus and so brought out of the power of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son and so by his Love believed framed to love him and that this is true Faith indeed none that I know but the deniers of Jesus to be the Christ gainsay yet is this but the farther Efficacies of the same Object of Faith beheld and so one and the same Faith still though in this degree united and made one with the Object so as it was not in the former Degree yet even in this Degree also there are divers Degrees and so some weak Joh. 2.13 14. 2 Thes 1.1 3. Rom. 3.21 22 25 26 27. Act. 6.7 2 Pet. 1.1 some stronger some stablish'd some Babes some young or strong Men some Fathers yea and in every of these Degrees some may be more grown then others and be before others yet all still in one and the same Faith and still also in this one Faith 3. There be divers Acts and Operations of this Faith 1 Thes 2.13 Act. 10.43 Gal. 2.3 5. 2 Tim. 1.7 Joh. 7.38 39. Gal. 5.22 23. Gal. 5.6 Rom. 10.10 Psal â—6 1 10. as to say a receiving Act in which is received the Word or Testimony and therein Remission of sins Justification Sanctification Liberty of access to God the Spirit of Faith Love Power and a sound Minde a springing act raising up prizings of Christ Love of God and Brethren bowels of Mercy c. a streaming Act Faith working through Love and so bringing forth the services of Love in Confession Prayers Praises Works of Mercy and Righteousness yet the Faith it self is still one and the same and so called the same the same Spirit of Faith yea when it produced Miracles 2 Cor. 4.13 Act. 4.10 11 12. the Faith was still the same though the Act extraordinary The belief of the History Rom. 10.8 9. is the belief of the Testimony of Christ which whoso believeth with his heart shall be saved and when through the Grace believed one is brought upon Christ he is justified from all sins past and in that believing receiveth continual justification Rom. 3.25 26 27. Gal. 5.7 Mat. 24.13 and if any depart from the Faith that proves temporary but he that endureth to the end shall be eternally saved the Faith it self being one still and but one Faith III. As Faith is used to express the Object of Faith Heb. 1.1 so it hath been reyealed for the full and cleer Demonstration of it at divers times and by divers parcels and degrees and at last fully and cleerly by Jesus Christ and yet that Object of Faith still one and the same each Revelation agreeing with and opening the former and so still one as hath been shewn in this whole third Part of the Treatise And because there is no Faith by the Holy Spirit called Faith but that which by his Discovery of this Object is drawn towards it in believing that the Believer might so be united to it Therefore the Faith is one yea and this Demonstration to lead us into unity because as it unites Believers in one Foundation to one Head so it makes them of one Heart and Fellowship Eph. 4.4 For there is one Body that is one Mystical Body or Corporation Fellowship and Society though the Members of this Corporation and their Offices be many yet the Corporation and Society in Faith Love and Fellowship of their Priviledges is one and all bear one Name 1 Cor. 12.12 20. Eph. 2.19 22. 1 Joh. 1.3 Cant. 6.9 Gal. 3.16 29. Hos 11.1 Rom. 8.17 Gal. 3.36 Eph. 4.4 1 Joh. 5.6 Joh. 15.26 Eph. 2.17 18. 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 2.16 Eph. 4.4 sa 45.22 Joh. 3.14 16. 2 Thes 2.14 Eph. 1.18 Eph. 4.5 Rom. 10.6 15. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 Thes 1.10 Joh. 1.12 13. Eph. 4.5 the Name of Christ being called Christians And so there is but one true Church and Sanctuary that is united to Christ and shall be in and with him for ever and by vertue of their Union with Christ they are all in respect of kinde one Seed and one Son though in respect of their several particular Persons Heirs Children and Sons of God by Faith And as there is One Body so there is in it One Spirit even the Spirit of the Father and the Son that beareth forth the Testimony of Christ and enables to believe in Christ and brings to God by Christ and into this Fellowship working the Minde of Christ and so called the Spirit of Faith by whom all he calleth and so all Believers are called in One Hope of their calling The same Grace proclaimed The same looking and believing required and for the same end To be saved and to the same Hope in believing even the obtaining Eternal Life and Glory and so One Lord even the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily and so One Faith as one Object so one Manner of believing which is Faith indeed that is produced by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel and closeth with Christ the Object of Faith and so also One Baptism one kinde and end of the gracious Operation of the Holy Spirit in Baptizing into Christ and through his Name by all the Mediums of baptizing 1 Cor. 12.12 13. Rom. 6.3 6. Gal. 3.26 27 28. called also Baptisms into conformity to Christ in his Death that they may partake of the vertue of his Resurrection and so into the Fellowship of his body drinking into one Spirit and so becoming of one minde and that the minne of Christ the Son of God even as also there is 1 Cor. 6.11 Phil. 2.1 2 5. Eph. 4.6 Eph. 1.3 17. 1 Cor. 2.6 Mat. 10.40 Rom. 16.20 25 26. 1 Pet. 5.10 â— Psa 138.8 One God and Father of all who is above all and through al and in them all that are Believers he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him and shmes forth his Glory through him that Men might believe and so in and through him he is the Father of all that believe in Christ and above all able to overthrow all their Enemies and Opposers and to perfect all that concerneth them all so as all flows from and leads into Union and this Union of the Spirit bringing into the Union of the acknowledgement of the Son of God is that which the Spirit teacheth and to which all the Degrees and Operations tendeth whence we are exhorted to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace 2 Cor 114. Gal. 1.6 7 8. and so but one Faith which the Gospel calleth Faith and he that would finde out another Faith really true and holy in its kinde must first finde out another true Body that is the Church another Spirit another Jesus to be the Christ another Gospel and another Hope to call to and another God all real true and holy in their
who hath declared the Father's Name Psal 22.22 Heb. 2.11 12. Ioh. 1.18 17.6 Psal 18.49 with Rom. 15.9 and so calleth all to look to him and come to him and be saved for in and by him the peace is made the price is payed and all fulness and perfection of Furniture is in him for every Man in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily in him is life yea in him God hath given us Eternal Life and in him it is in him are all the Treasures of Wisdom and Understanding yea the fulness of Spirit to shew forth the same yea in his appearance presence or face as in the Glass of the Gospel presented the Face of the Father shineth and in that shine the Divine Power and Spirit goeth forth to draw the Beholders to desire after and believe in him and to confirm the Believers while beholding him and conform Believers to him so that the Father's Name for Goodness Power Excellency c. is in and upon him he is the brightness of his Glory 3. That God in his Purpose hath appointed and approved this to be the way to call and bring in a Seed to Christ namely to declare his Name and set him forth as the Holy Ghost hath testified of him and left that Record in the Gospel and so to preach him the Saviour of the VVorld the only Rock Foundation the VVisdom of God the Beloved of God See this in Part 2. chap. 10. c. 11. and Lover of Men c. as is foreshewn And thus of his Purpose and in that his Purposes concerning the Man Jesus Christ from which known and believed we may learn 1. Rom. 1.2 5 16.25 26 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 1 Pet. 1.20 21 Eph. 3.3 9 â— That the Gospel in the whole Testimony of Jesus Christ it is in that which he is become and hath done according to the Purpose of God now manifested according to the Revelation of the mystery so as the Gospel is the Revelation of the Purpose of God 2. Prov. 8.4 9 22.20 21 1 Tim. 2.6 7 Prov. 26.23 26 That the Gospel in all the Sayings and Promises of it is really true and true to all to whom it 's declared there is no wreathedness or equivocation no Declaration or pretence of Love no tender of Mercy to any but what is really true no fair words with an inward covered hatred which God abhorreth but all Truth even that which is in 2 Cor. 1.18 19 20 21 2 Pet. 1.16 and came forth of the Bosome and Heart of the Almighty God of Truth it being the opening of his Will and Purpose 3. That the Purposes of God beginning in his Son Luke 1.70 2 Pet. 1.20 21 and being through and for his Son and so made known by him they all as revealed and written in the Holy Scriptures are all and altogether true like himself his own Minde and in that manner to be performed being all the Breathings of his own Spirit by the Mouth of his Holy Prophets and so there is no secret or unrevealed Purpose in God that is in any wise contrary to those he hath revealed 4. That Purpose and Approbation of that purposed Isa 42.1 1 Pet. 1.1 2 and so Election are distinct and Purpose in order first though they meet in one 5. That Jesus Christ even as the spiritual Man that died and is risen and exalted at the right Hand of God Col. 1.15 19 is the first and choice Elect in order and manner of choice before and above all others and no other but in and by him 1. He had his Being in and with the Father even from Eternity Joh. 1.1 2 Pro. 8 22 Col. 1 17 18 and the Lord possessed him in the beginning of his way he is before all things but that Being of his and the Glory he had with the Father was incommunicable to Mankinde yea without his taking Man's Nature Heb. 2.7 12. and the consideration of his Abasement and Exaltation in that Nature the Excellencies and Priviledges thereof was incommunicable to fallen Mankinde and he as Man is God's first Elect Isa 42.1 Eph. 1.3 4 and without that could none be elected in him and had any been otherwise fore-elected in him he would without doubt have kept them and so must have laid aside their Glory when he laid aside his own which I suppose none will say he did nor that any were in him as he gave his life for the World and so Redeemers with him 2. He was one with the Father and with him in his being Prov. 8.22.31 and in all his Purposes and Decrees and Ways and so in the Election of himself as the second publick Man his first-begotten Son c. I hope none will affirm or conceit the like of any other elect ones 3. Psal 40.6 7 Heb. 10.5 10 Isa 42.1 He accepted the Fathers appointment of him to suffer and sacrifice and do all his will which being accepted of him by the Father was vertuous from the beginning and so he as the spiritual Man was approved of God and being pre-approved was also in that sense elected before the beginning of the World but so and on such account was no other besides him elected 4. The actual and visible election of him was begun in his birth perfected through sufferings Luke 1.35 Heb. 2.10 8.1 Joh. 1.13 16 17 Eph. 1.3 and compleated in his exaltation at the right hand of God and so filled with all fulness of Grace Truth and spiritual blessings and the blessed election of others is in him thus considered 5. Psa 89.19 Deut. 18.15 18 Joh. 8.23 15.19 He was chosen from among Men being made Man and born of a Woman but he was not chosen out of the World of which he never was but others that come to be chosen in and by him are chosen out of the VVorld of which they sometime and in some sense were 6. Joh. 15.16 He was chosen in and by no other Man but all other Men that are chosen are chosen in and by him all these things are shewn in that foresaid By all which it appears he is the first prime and choice elect and the fountain medium and root of election for others 6. Joh. 1.18 1 Joh. 5.20 Mat. 7.27 That no man of us can rightly understand and know the Purpose and in it the Purposes of God or his election of any in Christ but by first knowing Christ and the purposes of God concerning him and God's election of him all right knowing of God being in knowing of Christ and so all right knowing of his Purposes and Election in the knowledge of his Purposes concerning Christ and his election of him Ch. 2. before as appears in all foresaid And according to this knowledge with the Cautions fore-premised I will proceed to speak of his Purposes concerning Mankinde as included and ordered in this great Purpose and
fore-included and mentioned namely That 5. For all this good purposed for and to Believers he hath so ordered his Purpose in his Counsels Joh. 1.13 Rom. 9.6 7 8 9 10 11 11.4 5 6 that it shall take place for effecting and communicating all this rich free and spiritual Goodness not according to Man's natural or first birth of what Family or Man soever born or by what Name in respect of that birth soever called nor according to the Dignities or Degrees or Estates conferred on Men in this World nor according to the Learning Wisdom or Workings of Men of what sort soever but according to the Election of Grace that is as his free and rich Grace in Christ being discovered gains in to believe and in being heeded and believed doth chuse or elect that is sever from the manners and fellowship of the World and unite and bring into oneness fellowship and conformity with Christ and so with his And this is that assured to Abraham That in his Seed all the Families of the Earth should be blessed so as there is blessing in Christ for all Nations and Families and that blessing truely held forth for all in the Gospel given him to preach as is foreshewed so that any of all the Families of the Earth however bounded or different in their earthy or natural Births Habitations Prerogatives Names or Works may in beholding this Grace of God in Christ as displayed be brought in to believe in Christ and so receive of the blessing that fore-was in him for them and so in views and heeding the Grace seen and believed be by it elected chosen out of the Worlds Fellowship and State into union and Fellowship Conformity with Christ Joh. 1.12 13 3.3 5. 2 Thes 2.13 14. 1 Pet. 1.2 and so to enjoy the Priviledges of the Elect. And so the Children of Ishmael or Esau or any Nations of the VVorld in beholding this Grace in Christ as displayed in the Gospel may come in to believe and therein to the service of Christ that is now come forth of Jacob and abiding in believing that electing Grace be through the belief of it elected And this the Apostle renders as the proof of the Righteousness of God and the Immutability of his Purpose Rom. 9.5 6 11 13 14 24 25 30 31 32 33 10.1 2 3 4 in taking the Gospel from the Children of Jacob that heeded not this electing Grace but strove to attain by their works and giving it in a sort to the Children of Esau the Gentiles that in the Gospel-Call imbraced it and yet affirms this cast-off Israel in returning to view and imbrace the same shall also be again received Rom. 11.23 So that the Purpose of God remains firm That his Purpose of all these good things pertaining to Eternal Life shall stand take place come to pass Rom. 9.11 11.5 6 7 not according to Men's works but according to the Election of grace is that is heeded and takes place and goes on in the Believers as is shewn in the Cautions in the beginning of this Discourse of Purposes and needs not be repeated again And yet because of the stumbling of some by some different Phrases and Terms in which these Purposes and this Election of Grace is set forth I shall a little farther treat of them in another way namely by considering that famous place to which every Dissenter from us in this resorts to ground his Opinion on in this business of the Purposes of God in Rom. 8.28 29 30. let us mind what is there said CHAP. 6. Of Romans 8.28 ANd we know Rom. 8.28 that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to purpose Verse 17 18 The Apostle had before intimated a certainty of the sufferings of those that are the Sons of God by Faith and yet comforting them with the greatness of the Glory to be revealed he also intimately admonisheth them to patience of Hope from the consideration both of the expectation of the Creature now subject to vanity 19 21 22 23 24 25 till that glorious Day of the Manifestation of the Sons of God whose deliverance is earnestly expected and waited for and also of the Adoption that is the Redemption of the Body together with the fulness or harvest of the Spirit then certainly expected and till then to be waited for yea he secretly stirreth them up more abundantly to this patience of Hope by the Grace of God in affording them an enjoyment of the first Fruits of the Spirit and to this also opens the way of their safety and preservation and the certainty of it in that way that is by hope even hope for that not yet seen or enjoyed but onely patiently and confidently waited for and because besides the afflictions befallen them they are yet but weak and though God be a God hearing Prayers 26 27 28 yet they know not how to pray as they ought he comforts them with this That the Spirit they receive in belief of the Gospel helpeth them c. and now against all afflictions oppositions and temptations he gives them this farther great consolation All things work together for good to them that long God God is good and doth good and his tender mercies are over all his works and they work from him for good Psal 1.4.5.8 9 Rom. 2.4 Job 33.13 24 even to lead Men to Repentance and so doth his chastisements likewise But to them that believe not and so love not God Psa 69.21 25 109.2 6 Rom. 11.9 but return him hatred for love those things work not so in them to the same end but that which was their welfare turneth to them into a snare But to them that love God all things work together for good Let this be well heeded That the Apostle doth not say Psal 109.4 5 To all that God hath loved or loveth for some that he hath loved or loves have rewarded him hatred for his love Nor doth he say To all for whom Christ hath died and offered himself a sacrifice for some of these tread him under foot deny him that bought them Heb. 10.29 2 Pet. 2.1 Pro. 1.24 Jer. 6.16 30 Heb. 4.1 2 Mat. 22.16 Nor doth he say to all That by gracious means or Ministration of the Gospel he hath called or calleth for some such rebelliously refuse and many not mixing the VVord with Faith are not yet chosen much less doth he say To a Company under a secret Purpose the greatest number of whom cannot yet be known Nor doth he say That all things work together for good to any because they love God as if that were the deserving cause which is but the way and frame of the Heart in which things so work But he saith To them that love God and mark that he speaks it not as a peculiar thing revealed to and so known by him and some
as prevalent for all that are in and of that Nature he took and died and rose in and so of the kinde of Man for whom he gave himself a ransome 1 Tim. 2.5 6. and in which Nature he is now mediating between God and Man as prevalent with God for all Mankinde living on earth as election of Abraham Isaac c. for their natural Seed now he hath sent forth his Son the Saviour of the World for his sake the prime elect to love with pity and compassion all those of Mankinde so as to extend means to those that yet live in unbelief and rebellion to bring them to Repentance and Faith that they might so come up in to Christ Rom. 11.12 15 30 31 32 33. and in their coming in by the means he useth and viewing his electing Grace accept them through unite and ingraft them into his elect Son and so into the number of his Elect and though thousands stand out and rebel yet when his indignation hath passed on all the World those that are left alive at his coming shall then be brought in and Israel and Gentiles become one and all saved as God's elect and chosen Oh the depth of the Riches c Gentiles once shut up under unbelief and now Jews and yet his end in all this That he might have mercy on all See through the Chapter how the Apostle hath opened Election which as it stands firm with the Purposes of God exprest in Scripture so it gives good ground to love and pity all Men to pray for them and use means for their conversion which the Purpose as express'd by Mr. Owen and confounding Purpose with Election as undistinct overturneth And as for Adoption I marvel that term should be brought as the Name of the Purpose first mentioned as for Election I conceive there are none elected but they are in electing as much adopted as elected for though Man may in his thoughts chuse and elect one to be his Son and Heir whom he may yet not so adopt and make his Son and Heir according to his first thoughts Gen. 15.2 3. as it fell out with Abraham yet is it not so with God for any that receive his electing Grace and yet there may be a distinction between election and choise of one to Sonship and Adoption in this free and electing Grace making one a Son But these run so together I desire no farther to search into the distinction but this I finde in Scripture and believe That God hath but one natural Son that is his onely and first-begotten Son even the Word that was made flesh and so the Nature of Man taken by him into personal Union is by the Grace of personal Union the same Son of God Gal. 3.26 Luk. 21.46 Rom 8.23 1 Joh. 3.2 nor other Sonship for any other Man do I finde but in Union with him and so none on Earth the Sons of God but by Faith in him nor they fully and compleatly till the Resurrection of the Just in seeing him as he is And this I also finde That the means appointed of God in his VVord for Dispensation and receiving the Grace of Adopition is even therefore called Adoption Rom. 3.2 9.4 5. and so the Adoption was said to pertain to the Israelites while the VVord and Oracles was with them and those predestinated to the Ministration of Christ in the Gospel are said to be predestinated to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ Eph. 1.5 and those that in believing receive the Gospel and so the Spirit of Faith therein Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.5 7. are said to receive the Spirit of Adoption More might but more need not be said to cleer this That though both Election and Adoption be things purposed of God in Christ yet they are distinct in the counsel of his will and though wrought according to his Purpose yet they bear not the Name of the Purpose but of things wrought according to his Purpose in the counsel of his VVill. So that this Description of the Purpose of God by Mr. Owen is not right nor according to the approved Rule confest by himself See par 1. c. 7. being not Scripture-like and so not fit to build any Opinion on as those in Scripture set forth are but enough of this Yet before I leave it it is needful to remove two mistakes of many about the Purpose of God the one is the making the Purpose of Salvation or Election the Foundation to build Believers on the other is the making that the Purpose of God which is no Purpose of his at all CHAP. 9. An Answer to those that say God's eternal Purpose of Salvation and Election is the Foundation on which Believers that are safe are built THe Gospel discovering the Purposes of God will enable such as believe it to discern things that differ and so that the wisdom and love of God found out and in his Purpose appointed and in performance hath given and laid in Sion to be by Sion held forth Jesus Christ for a Foundation Isa 28.16 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5 6 9. both for Repentance and Faith and for Believers to rest and be built and safe on and that Election is that Work of Grace in which such as believe on him are united to him and approved in him as his peculiar and elect so that neither Purpose nor Election are the Foundation laid and declared as the first thing to be seen known believed and rested on But Jesus Christ is according to Purpose this Foundation Act. 4.12 1 Cor. 3.11 yea and expresly affirmed there is no other Foundation for any or that any Man can lay yet have some Master-Builders not so magnified this but give out That the Purpose and Election of God is the sure Foundation bringing the 2 Tim. 2.19 as so speaking which it doth not but runs in affirming Christ the Foundation with the rest of the Scripture for the Apostle had in that Chapter before exhorted Timothy to minde that which is the Foundation indeed Christ raised from the dead 2 Tim. 2.8 and given him encouragement from his own example of receiving such Grace Strength and Hope of eternal Life in believing on him as to be enabled to go through with his Ministration and indure all sufferings for the Elect's sakes as also to bring in unbelievers to believe even so that Believers the elect Ones might be preserved established and grow in Faith And this no needless work but that they also may obtain the Salvation that is in Jesus Christ with eternal Glory and so provoking and pressing Timothy Rom. 15.20 2 Thes 3.1 2 8. 2 Tim. 2.9 10. to diligence in his Ministration though through the same sufferings in which there is so great hope not onely for themselves but for others also he professeth this to be a faithful saying open plain true and certain in which God will ever be found faithful in his Testimony of
perdition and destruction of ungodly Men yea of all that then will not serve Christ and his people yea all the Saints with him shall have this honor To execute vengeance upon the Heathen to binde their Kings c. as is said 3. Jer. 3.17 18. Ezek. 30.24 37.21 22. Isa 52.8 Jer. 33.7 8 9. Isa 19.24 25. Jer. 48.47 49.6 7. Rom. 11.15 26 27. Psa 126.1 2. Heb. 8.10 11. Jer. 31.31 33 34. 32.38 39 40 41 Ezek. 37.24 28. Yea they shall also be with him and see the natural Seed of Abraham that are at that time found surviving of the whole twelve Tribes of Israel from all the utmost parts of the World come into their own Land yea then will that be fully performed that is promised 2 Sam. 7.10 13. Isa 11.11 16. Jer. 31.8 9. And they shall not onely see this but they shall also see of other Nations come in together with them to worship God as Egypt and Assyria and of Moab and Ammon and Elam yea of all Nations that shall be left living upon the Earth Psal 66.4 and 89.9 O joyful sight what can this be to such as love God less then life from dead and ravishing and satisfying joy and yet this is not all for then also being with the Lord they shall themselves receive of the Lord the full of the Covenant and Testament he in the day of grace was for and to them being the Mediator of that Testament in their behalf the Minister thereof giving in a spiritual first fruits to their Spirits but now openly making it in performance both to Soul and Body and they shall also see it made with the whole house of Israel as it was fore-made for them with their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob yea in a fuller sense because not to be looked and waited for by Faith then but to be enjoyed in performance both to their Fathers and them so as they shall then all know the Lord and there will be no more any remembrance of their sins by him they shall have no more any hunger thirst pain or any sorrow 4. Then also shall they see Jerusalem that great City Psa 128.5 Isa 33.20 66.13 Jer. 3.17 Isa 9.7 24.23 Luk. 1.32 33 Dan. 7.14 Psa 72.8 9 10 11. 106.5 Isa 65.17 2 Pet. 3.13 Isa 9.6 7. 11.1 9. Psa 72. 75.1 2 3. Heb. 2.8 Psal 8.4 5 9. Rom. 8.21 22. the praise of the Earth the Throne of the Lord a quiet Habitation yea then and there shall they see Jesus Christ in his glorious Body The Son of David The King in his Beauty and Glory sitting upon the Throne of David his Father and ruling before his Ancients gloriously in Jerusalem and over all the Nations and Kingdoms of the Earth under the whole Heavens then shall they see the good of his chosen and rejoyce in the gladness of his Nation and Glory with his Inheritance for then they shall have a new Heaven and new Earth wherein dwells Righteousness the Creation restored to its purity the light of the Sun as the light of seven dayes the Earth bringing forth plentiful encrease and all Creatures at peace among themselves the people among them all righteous and not one suffered to live among all Nations that shall rebel against them all Righteousness and Peace and Prosperity streaming among them through the blessed Restauration by and Government of the Lord Jesus Christ the King 5. The Tabernacle of God Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily and the holy City Rev. 21.1 5. 1.6 5.10 2 Tim. 2.12 Mat. 19.28 29. Luk. 19.17 19. which are these that have died in the Faith being risen and meeting the Lord in the Air comes down from Heaven in which God then dwelleth with Men having made all things new and now shall these Children of the Resurrection be Kings and Princes and chief Rulers in the Commonwealth of Israel and shall judge or govern the World and rule the Nations and so raign in this flourishing Kingdom with Christ on whom they have believed and with whom they have suffered yea now the Lord Jesus the King of Kings as he hath secured them from any hurt by the second death Rev. 2.11 20.6 3.5.21 2.7 17. 22.14 Mat. 10.41 42. Luk. 14.14 Mat. 29.29 Rev. 7.13 17. 11.18 so he will give unto them to sit with him in white raiment on his Throne and give them a new white Stone with a new Name even of Victory in it and to eat of the hidden Manna and of the Tree of Life yea also Rewards according to all their services and sufferings for his sake yea the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints Dan. 7.27 Rev. 21.24 6. Isa 66.10 23. Psal 72. Their exercise shall be a joyful and continual Sabbath-keeping with the Lord in singing Hallelujahs and new Songs of praise and all Nations shall acknowledge them The beloved and blessed of the Lord Isa 60.3 14. 61.9 1 Joh. 3.2 1 Cor. 13.12 Phil 3.20 Col. 3.4 yea they seeing Christ as he is and as they are seen they shall be like him but how glorious this estate will be is not yet manifested and so beyond our conceptions but onely that we know that we are now Sons and that in a measure we shall be then like him in glory And all these things may be seen more at large before in Part 2. ch 18. III. For the Promises to be performed to them when Christ shall have finished the work of the Davidical Regiment raised and judged all the Serpentine Seed and cast the Devil and his Angels and all the Enemies the wicked into the Lake of Fire and then delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father the Promises to be then performed I finde no other but an Ascension or encrease of this happiness and glory in God being All in all onely this I finde That the Kingdom shall never end Dan. 7.14 27. Isa 9.7 60.19 20. 61.7 Luk. 18.30 1 Cor. 15.28 Psal 16.11 never pass to another people they shall be ever with the Lord and everlasting joy shall be upon them and they shall be in everlasting life for ever and for ever only the administration of the Government is exalted or ascended higher so as God is All in all in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right Hand are pleasures for evermore that this is and that so it shall be is exprest and so most certain and sure but what manner of glory it will be is not yet revealed nor will be till Jesus Christ come and take unto him his great Power and Raign And these be part of the Promises made to Believers to be performed to them 2 Tim. 4.8 after they have finished their course and at the coming of Christ and if Believers do well minde these Promises Rom. 8.18
the Truth of the Gospel preached to and Covenant made with Abraham abode still and was more fully preached by the Apostles but that manner of preaching with Baptism and Ordinances delivered by them though heavenly in respect of the former and will be in force till the visible appearing of Jesus Christ but then be shaken when still the Truth of the Gospel and Everlasting Covenant will abide for ever to be enjoyed by sight Now then when all the means appointed for Abraham to be the Father of such a Seed ceaseth and no more brought in by believing but by sight nor living by Faith but by sight such are not in respect of any conversion in Scripture-phrase called Abraham's Seed but I conceive they more properly may be called The Seed or the Children of Christ and of his glorified Saints brought in and living by fight not needeth any Covenant to be farther or again made with such as are brought in by and live in the light of this being brought in to enjoy their part in it in their first conversion And if any conceive they may be called The Seed's Seed or his Seed's Seed and so under that Promise to the Seed of Abraham Isa 59 2â— Deut. 30.5 Isa 65.15 16. Jer. 3.16 17 18. I will multiply thee above thy Fathers I hinder it not however this I know The People of God as well as their worship shall then be called by a new Name so that in this is no let or hinderance to that said That the Covenant shall be made to all the spiritual Seed brought in or become of the Seed from the beginning to the ending of the Ministration of the Gospel Isa 41.20 21. 69 7 8. by it to them all together at once yea it will be a great wonder to great admiration to see a Nation born at once and such an infinite Company of Saints presented to them and yet when the Mountain of the Lord's House is thus exalted and the Lord appears in his Glory and the Children of the Resurrection ruling and flying about when the Spirit and the Bride in the presence of the Bridegroom Rev. 22.17 Isa 2.2 3 5. Micah 4.1 2 3 Isa 66.12 Psal 110.3 when Light and Law so proceed out of Sion the Inhabitants of the Nations hearing will say one to another Come and so go together to the House of the Lord without any other Ministration So that then is promised to be the greatest Conversion and more numerous then ever before though all of them brought in by and living in the performance of the Covenant at once so made with the whole Seed and not made over again but continuing and it is enough for all so converted to be under this blessed Government after their Conversion enjoying the happiness of it Rev. 20.9 15. Mat. 25.46 and so escape that great destruction and second death and have eternal Life when the Serpent and all his Seed are cast into the lake of fire which is the second death And so we see who the persons are III. What that is that is to be done in the manner of making this Covenant is fully and sweetly expressed in this Jer. 31.33 34. affirmed also in other places of Scripture let them be considered CHAP. 9. Of the things to be done in making this Covenant see the Text. I. I Will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts Jer. 31.33 Ezek 36.25 26 27. This exprest in other words when having clensed them from all their filth he saith A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them Deut. 30.5 6. Of which Moses spake saying And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the Land which thy Fathers possessed and thou shalt possess it and he will do thee good and multiply thee above thy Fathers and the Lord thy God well circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy Seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy Soul that thou maist live And so by Jeremiah again I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever Jer. 32.39 40. all dayes And I will make an ever lasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them from after them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me So that in all the places we may see That then all sin and sinning shall be removed and a perfect Righteousness framed in them and strength to walk constantly therein and by this we may note the difference between this and the first Fruits of it given in to Believers by the first coming of Christ given for a Covenant as namely That this now-given is but a first Fruits and earnest of that promised which is the Harvest to be waited for also That this given was Rom 8.23 Eph. 1.14 Rom. 11.11 26. 2 Cor. 3.3 Rev. 21.1 8. Zach. 12.10 and yet is chiefly received by the Gentiles but that promised chiefly by the whole House of Israel the natural Seed of Abraham become the spiritual Seed this given is mediately in the Ministration of his Servants that promised is immediately by his own presence this given many Israelites shall have their return into their own Land that promised at the visible appearance of Chrift Rom. 11. this given is to all Believers though Israel be in dispersion that promised not till Israel dwell in their own Land many of those that receive this given may yet through weakness be puft up for one against another but in receiving that promised is no more pride nor envy of one against another 1 Cor. 4.7 Isa 11.13 Phil. 3.2 13. Zach. 12.8 Mat. 2.4 Act. 20.30 Rev. 2 3. Isa 60.21 Joâ—l 3.17 Zach. 14.21 Rom. 8.17 Isa 60.18 19 21. The best of those that receive this given do not here attain to perfection the least of those that receive that promised are perfect In the Assemblies of those that receive this given were and still are found some among them unsound and some decaying and some falling off but those that receive that promised the people in that whole Assembly be all righteous and no more decaying or falling off Those that receive this given are here still under the Cross and Combatants but those that receive that promised are freed from all Sufferings and Temptation and are Conquerors enjoying the Inheritance This given is received now by one and then by another and by all by degrees but that promised is received at once by all together Israel and Judah and all Believers of all Nations together So though this given be a first Fruits of the
onely on that about which the contest pretends on one side to be and he puts it into two sorts of Faith or that Saints are said to believe and to be holy really and in the Truth of the thing it self The first sort of Believers that have Faith and holiness true in its kinde Page 10. Sect. 17. Hab. 41 1 Sam. 10.10 2 Pet. 2.20 1 King 21.27 2 Chron. 7.10 Mat. 17.3 4. 13.20 Mat. 6.20 2 King 10.16 Hos 6.4 he saith Are such as having received sundry common Gists and Graces of the Spirit as illumination of the minde change of affections and thence amendment of Life with sorrow of the world legal repentance temporary Faith and the like which are all true and real in their kinde and do thereby become vessels in the great house of God being changed as to their use not in their nature continuing wood and stone still though hewed and turned to be serviceable vessels and on that account are frequently termed Saints and Believers On such as these there is a lower and in some subordinate work of the Spirit effectually producing in and upon the faculties of the Soul somewhat that is true good and useful in it self Joh 6.34 Act. 25.28 Mat. 7.26 27. Rev. 3.1 Mar. 4.16 answering in some likeness and suitableness of operation to the great work of regeneration the which faileth not There is in them light love joy faith zeal obedience c. all true in their kinde which makes many of them do worthily in their generation howbeit they attain not to the Faith of God's Elect neither doth Christ live in them nor is the life which they lead by the Faith of the Son of God So far he Though this description of Faith and Saints be not in any Scripture-Expression or Terms Isa 28.12 13. or according to any Scripture-Description but rather like unto that reproved by it yet here is granted a Faith and Holiness true in its kinde that hath in it illumination change of effection amendment of life light love joy faith zeal all effected by the Spirit from which he yieldeth a Man may fall And if that be true he after saith That a man may abide with constancy to the death in this Faith through sufferings surely then it being none of the Faith of God's Elect c. and they wood still c. they must needs perish And were it not better to let such a Faith alone when so great danger in falling away and yet no Salvation but eternal perishing though they continue even through sufferings and die in it But I will not meddle with the controversie but onely the stating the Question And so this Faith acknowledged true in its kinde and of the Spirit 's operation I shall consider three things in it 1. That mentioned here which may be mis-conceived by some and those things which are no part of Faith or Holiness true in its kinde of the Spirits operation 2. I shall acknowledge that which is so to be so indeed 3. I shall consider Heb. 6.1 8. whence all his proofs seem to be fetched CHAP. 2. Of things that may be misconceived and things no part of Faith 1. I Suppose himself by common Gifts and Graces of the Spirit Exod. 31. 35. Isa 28.26 29. Isa 3.2 3. means something higher and more special then that Light Understanding and Skill in Arts for working curious Works given to our Types or those given to Men to fit them for Husbandry or those Gifts given for strengthening a Nation to some Men as Wisdom Prudence c. for the Mighty Joh. 1.9 Joh 35.10 11. Ioh. 1.4 5 9. Rom. 2.4 and Captains of War Judges Prophets Counsellors cunning Artificers and cloquent Orators or onely that common Light wherewith he enlightens every Man that cometh into the World and gives them more understanding then the Beasts or Fowls All which are indeed gracious Gifts given to Men through Christ and for his sake and to gracious ends also having their tendency to lead Men to Repentance yet for these things as the Gospel is now come forth Men are not frequently called Believers and Saints and the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit given in his Testimony of Christ in the Ministration of the Gospel to make him known and call to and unite to him in believing are of a higher Nature even the lowest of them This being his Work Ioh. 15.26 27. 16.7 15. Act. 5.32 14.3 and that of which we speak or we speak nothing at all in this business As for that quoted 1 Sam. 10 11. it doth not prove That Saul had the Gift of Prophesie any more then one that hath no Gift of singing yet coming where some are sweetly singing is taken with the melody and carried on with them to sing or by some extraordinary occasion or motion led to sing a Verse or two tuneably and yet hath neither skill nor ability to do it again at any other times can be said to have the Gift though on such an occasion the act of singing so that Saul did sometimes on an extraordinary occasion and by an extraordinary Motion Prophesie yea and some of his Servants also is true and so by some operations of the Spirit they had an act of Prophesying I believe because it is so written and also 1 Sam. 10.10 11. 19.20 21 23. that they were among the Prophets but that he or they were Prophets and had received the Gift of Prophesie so as to have it I believe not because it is not so written and however this place is not to our business onely this I have noted to avoid mistakes about the Gifts and Graces here meant II. For sorrow of the World that is not according to God it hath no-tendency to any gracious quickning or that Light Love Joy c. but aptly worketh Death 2 Cor. 7.9 10. Grief for worldly shame poverty straights or loss of Honour c. leads to murmuring and evil fruits and so to trouble and estrangement from God and so to death and so is evil one of the lusts of the flesh which though in Believers often anoying them yet resisted by the Spirit of Grace Let no man say when he is tempted to evil Gal. 5.17 Jam. 1.13 16 17. Isa 5.20 21. moved to sorrow of the World I am tempted of God This is one of the lower Works of his Spirit one of the common Graces I have received from him do not so erre do not so dishonour God and his Spirit as if he were the Father of darkness and such evil Gifts came in the flowing of the Spirit from him through Christ not call darkness light and light darkness a sorrow will be in the working of the Spirit but that will be a sorrow according to God suitable to the Grace made known effecting it But this worldly sorrow or sorrow of the World is no part of it hath no union with it and so no part
make themselves again as the Dog and as the Sow How great is their sin and how just their Judgement And as for their disposition hee confesseth that was once changed so that the sin here mentioned suits that falling away mentioned in Heb. 6.4.6 without any impeachment to the goodnesse of the Faith such have fallen from 2 Pet. 2.20 1.4 the excellency whereof condemneth their falling 2. But hee saith again though their faith holinesse light love joy zeal obedience bee all true in their kind and many of them do worthily and yet they attain not to the Faith of Gods Elect neither doth Christ live in them nor is the life which they lead by the Faith of the Son of God so hee Marke here that this is not to bee understood of them as before they came to the Faith Nor yet of them as after they are departed from the Faith but of them as and while the Faith is in them and they abide in it And hee eonfesseth their faith really true in its kind Pages 217 218. And it s before proved there is but one kind of Faith that is really true set forth in the Scripture And that very Faith also set forth in Heb. 6.1 2 3 4 5. Nor are wee treating of a worldly or humane faith or a faith begotten by humane strift but of a Faith effected by the Spirit of God and built on Jesus Christ that is the Foundation and the heavenly gift of which they have tasted Mat. 3.17 12 18. Isa 42.1 And is not Jesus Christ the Son of God in whom hee is well pleased And so Gods Elect Doth the Gospel hold forth and call to any other or doth the holy Spirit witness of glorifie and draw to beleeve in any other but Jesus Christ Doth not every good and perfect giving come down from the Father of lights who enlived them and quickened up all these Principles in them if not Christ by his Spirit what is that which was once so precious that the Apostates after departure crucifie to themselves tread under foot c. Is it not Christ the Son of God his blood even the blood of the Covenant and his Spirit even the Spirit of Grace which they so despite Yea if it were not so their sin and danger had not been so great and there would bee more hope of their recovery again It were better for us to forbear such rash assertions and glorifie God in keeping to the expressions of Scripture concerning Faith and the operations of Grace although some bee departed from it as is forenoted I planted thee a hoble Vine Ier 2.21 27 31. and such of you as are fallen from grace yee were called to liberty Gal. 5.2 3.4 Gal. 5. 1. 3 4 5. yea were called into the grace of Christ yee received the spirit of Adoption yee did run well c. So as wee fault the backsliders from such faith to aggravate their sin and fault not the faith to extenuate their sin which is more or less vile according to the excellency or meanness of the faith departed from But Mr. Owen hath yet more sayings to impeach this Faith as 3 In pag. 423. Hee calleth it an inferiour work of the Holy Ghost causing a great alteration or change c. when the persons bee not regenerated or made new Creatures c. It had been good hee had explicated the meaning of his terms for it s already proved the compleating of the work of Regeneration and making new Creatures is in the Resurrection of the just and that the first fruits is in begetting us by his word to beleeve in his Son But that the Holy Ghost operateth more or less in giving the Testimony of Christ working repentance from dead works and faith towards God to work any change or alteration like Regeneration that is not it according to the measure and degrees of his working none that know God and Christ or the Spirit according to Gospell declaration will beleeve that many fain and pretend what they are not that many resist his operations that many are not yet prevailed with to beleeve on him Is true But these are not charged with this forementioned great sin of departing from the Faith but only for disobedience to the Faith and the Servants of God may both use means and wait with patience and hope when God will give these repentance for they are not come to this impossibility of the fallen ones treated of who when fallen from so great grace and operations of the Spirit It will not bee found a true excuse to say there was but some inferiour work of the Spirit vouchsafed us Ier. 2.5.21.31 Isa 5 4.5-7 to work something like regeneration which was not it when God shall say wherin was I wanting what could have been done more c. but yet more is said by Mr. Owen Pag. 4 26 6. 4 Pag. 124. Every person under these works formerly mentioned and partakers of this light gifts and knowledge c. Bee capacitated for the sin against the Holy Ghost Surely to use such an expression by way of derogation from the Truth goodness and gracious ends and tendancy of the works of the Holy Ghost in inlightening men in the knowledge of Christ and bringing in to beleeve in him and thereby working in all the powers and faculties of their soul such change c. as to say as I hope hee will not say men are thereby capacitated to sin against the Holy Ghost is very great presumption and of dangerous consequence without some better explanation For might not some reply and say All manner of sin and Blasphemy shall bee forgiven unto men But the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall never bee forgiven And so it is lesse dangerous to abide in ignorance rudeness and prophaneness and neglect of all Ordinances then by attending them to come to this knowledge of Christ Faith change gifts c. without which wee are out of the danger of so great sinning but in having such faith c. wee are capacitated so to sin which yet would bee a false plea even for those charged with such a sin Mark 3.28.30 who were short of those wee treat of much more for these yet thus much will bee granted If God had not made the Angels holy and set them in so glorious an habitation they could not have sinned so highly in leaving their habitation but the goodness of God in so making and furnishing them did capacitate them to have abiden in which abiding they might have been established And their own wilfull aspiring capacitated and occasioned their falling If God had not made the first publick man righteous hee couldnot have fallen from it as hee did But the Righteousness in which God made him and the furniture wherewith hee endued him did capacitate him to have abiden in his integrity And his forgetting the word of the Lord and listening to Satans temptation did capacitate
and occasion him to fall If Christ had not come and preached to the Jews they could not have been charged with such sinning against the light But his being and preaching among them did capacitate them to have beleeved and been saved And their refusal of and opposition against the light did capacitate them to sin to such a degree as to bee charged with so great sinning Even so this blessed inlightening and operation of the Holy Ghost giving such tasts of the heavenly gift c. effecting such repentance and faith and quickening up such living principles in men Doth capacitate men to abide and live and dye in this Faith But their own neglect of so great salvation and so willing blinding their eyes and hardening their hearts and so turning from him that speaks from Heaven did capacitate and occasion the persisters in such transgression Heb. 12.25 Iâ—â— 28 29 30. to fall into this great sin which is even proved to bee so hainous and great a sin by the excellency of the Grace and Faith given them which they so willingly fell from and so the justness of their great punishment evidenced thereby also It should bee very evilly done of any to vilifie the works of God because of the abuses of men Or to excuse the evil of sinning with saying the woman which thou gavest mee c. But enough to shew the weaknesse of these sayings and the righteousness and goodness of the Faith set forth in Heb. 6.1.2 3 4 5. But Mr. Owen indeavours to gather Reasons out of the Text it self to prove the Faith and holiness here set forth though true in its kind yet not to bee of the right and saving kind I shall only view the heads of them and see their force CHAP. XIII Of Mr. Owens Reasons against the Faith and Holiness that is set forth in Heb. 6.4 5. in pag. 424 c. REason 1 Here is no mention of Faith Pag 426.27 or beleeving or in terms equivalent Answ Hath Mr. Owen quoted and used this place as his main place for proving and his only place for opening a Faith and Holiness wrought by the Spirit effecting change and really true in its kind And having served his turn of it now put it to shame and cast it by as a place where is no mention of Faith or beleeving or in Terms equivalent that no other might look there to see what true Faith is And is not mentioning of the Foundation the object of Faith and the Oracles of God the teacher of Faith the effects and Principles of Repentance from dead works Faith towards God Doctrin c And then presently suiting the works of the Spirit to all these mentioning enlightening taste of the heavenly gift partaking of the Holy Ghost taste of the good word of God and of the powers of the World to come are these Terms vers 4 5. no expressions or mention of faith or beleeving or in terms equivalent Did the Apostle think one of these Terms equivalent even Illumination Heb. 10.32 And are not all these Terms vers 4 5. so expressed and suited to those vers 1 2. where Faith also is named no mention nor Terms equivalent to Faith or Beleeving judge Reader Reas 2 Not any thing here spoken of as ascribed to the persons spoken of which is peculiar to Beleevers or that constitutes them to bee such called according to purpose quickened born again or regenerated justified united to Christ sanctified by the Spirit adopted made the Sons of God Bee the usuall expressions of Beleevers Ans It is clear here is as much said of these with ascribing the works to the Holy Ghost and acknowledgement of the receits and tastes spoken of while they are yet in the supposition and not departed as is said of any of the Hebrews to whom this Epistle is written Indeed when any such are fallen away not these things but other things are ascribed to them but it is the faith and spiritual operations once had and still retained by those not departed and not the departure and crucifying Christ again which is only in those fallen away we now speak of And that those things which are peculiar to beleevers is here expresly spoken of is shewed and proved before at large in opening the principles taught by the Oracles and built upon the foundation and the inlightning and operations of the Holy Ghost in and with working up and suited to those principles expresly that I marvel any that know the foundation and Oracles of God and first principles and Scripture language should deny it and much more that he that more than once hath said that upon other inferior and not justifiable accounts they are frequently called Beleevers and Saints But in this he hath said not proved And as for the Catalogue of terms here brought in and affirmed to be the usual expressions of beleevers conceived to bee terms equivalent to faith and beleeving we may as he opposeth them to these in Heb. 6.4.5 consider 1 That some are said to have beleeved of whom I know not where it is also said they had faith Luke 8.13 Joh. 2.23 8.30 31 32 36. for no man is said in Scripture to have faith unless he be obedient to the faith so as he receive the testimony and close with the object and have some usefulness of it as hath been shewn yet many that beleeved yea so beleeved that if they abode they should be saved where beleeving is expresly mentioned yet these terms under consideration not applicable to such But whether these are usually called Beleevers I need not contend for those we treat of are beleevers in a farther sense as hath been shewn 2 Here are some of these terms affirmed to be the usual expressions of Beleevers which as they are set down I cannot finde at all used in the Scripture as the expressions of Beleevers as they are in this life As the term Regenerated as distinct to being born again as here set down I read in Scripture of a Regeneration in which the Apostles followed Christ Mat. 19.28 Tit. 3.5 Eph. 5.26 27. Luke 20.35 36 And of saving by the washing of Regeneration which as it flows from Christ is a continued work still in doing and to be fully compleated in the resurrection of the just But that the beleevers in this life are called The Regenerated I finde not at all much less usually And so for the term Adopted I finde the Adoption or ministration thereof to have pertained to Israel under Moses ministration Rom 9.4 Gal. 41 2 3. Eph. 1.5 though the Tutorage of sons were then as servants And I finde also the first Trusters in Christ predestinated in their ministration to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ And therefore so to have preached Christ come in the flesh That men in beleeving might receive the Adoption of Sons Gal. 4.5.8 23. Rom 8.15 Gal. 4.6 7. and so a first fruits of the Spirit of
submitting to the righteousness of God and so are not in respect of the prevalency of grace discovered the right called ones yet others in minding that grace discovered are prevailed with to let go all thoughts of confidence in their own righteousness c. and to beleeve in Jesus that they may live in him and to him Are not these the called according to purpose And when in beleeving in Christ on this manner through illumination of the Holy Ghost and tastes of the heavenly gift c. Repentance from dead works and faith toward God is effected c. Are not such in some measure called according to purpose Quickned Born again and spiritually regenerated united to Christ justified and sanctified by the Spirit Who that confesseth God to be true will deny this so that these two Reasons are vain Reason 3. The persons intended here be compared to Briars and Thorns Answ The persons intended here as having and so abiding in these principles upon this foundation and so with these inlightnings tastes of the heavenly gift c. Are verily the holy Brethren partakers of the heavenly Call even the very Hebrews to whom he wrote the persons supposed expressed to be such as do not abide and enjoy these things but are departed and fallen from these things and are now crucifying Christ afresh to themselves they bringing forth such Briars and Thorns are become Briars and Thorns which before they were not nor are any that abide in the faith they are fallen from so called and these fallen upon the very account of their crucifying c. are compared to and with their evil fruits called Briars and Thorns this is plain in the Text and so this Reason though once it was mine is very vain and false for its end and unbeseeming understanding men though weaklings may bee gulled with it as I have been Reason 4. Things that accompany salvation be better things than any in the persons mentioned were to bee found vers 9. We are perswaded better things of you c. Answ Here he speaks of things distinct from the persons though in them Now minde Better things Better than which for the Apostle had mentioned divers sorts of things as he had mentioned Jesus Christ the foundation and the Oracles of God from the foundation teaching those principles to build men thereby on Christ Surely the love of God in the gift of his Son The Son of God given The blood of Jesus Christ that confirmed the Covenant The Spirit of the Father and the Son that witnesseth of Christ and calleth to him and breatheth forth these Oracles to teach these principles and build on Christ Sure this Heb. 10.29 or these things are all holy heavenly rich precious invaluable things not onely accompanying but giving and working salvation though some do tread them underfoot c. which is an evil thing So that sure hee means not better things than these But then here is mentioned also the effects of the word and of the holy Spirit in and with the word in the hearts of beleevers as Repentance from dead works and faith towards God c. with Illumination tasting of the heavenly gift c. Phil 2.12 13 14 15 16. Surely these are also precious things not onely accompanying salvation but even parts of the salvation begun in them and working in them effecting those things to be brought forth which are to accompany it though some murmure and harden their hearts Heb 3.7 15.16 1 Thess 5.19 and so are disobedient and quench and despite the Spirit which is an evil thing and sure he meaneth not better things than these But here are two sorts of things more mentioned that is Heb 3.6 14 13 1 2 4 6.8 9 10. first Abiding in their faith confidence and love And so hearkning to his voyce bringing forth the fruits of faith and love as hath been fore-shewn according to the seed sown in the heart and the refreshings by the rain often drunk in and of these he expresseth himself to men vers 9.10 And these be not better things then the salvation wrought in them as by which they bring them forth but better than the other sort which secondly he names by some supposed to bring forth that is a departing from Christ through an evil heart of unbeleef and so falling from all this salvation and efficacies thereof extended and then crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting him to an open shame And notwithstanding the same seed sown and the same rain oft drunk in yet bring forth Briars and Thorns which accompany not salvation of which hee mentioneth no persons among them that he cahrgeth withall but only by a supposition sheweth the danger even to these Hebrews if any should so do Chap. 2.1 2 3 3.7.18 4.1 15.12 6 4 6 8 9. And having so often warned them before and reproved their dulness And now in his supposition set forth before them the hainousness of the sin and danger of such departing and falling away comparing such transgression and transgressors to Briars and Thorns whose end is to be burned he mollifies the harshness of his sentence in respect of them and saith We are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany salvation though we thus speak which plainly shews the better things to be better than Thorns and Briars which tended to damnation and it shews also that his speech in the warning given was directed to them else they needed not to have been mollified with Though we thus speak surely none would fancy the Apostle to warn the Hebrews by speaking at such a rate as this There is a rock of stability on which who ever once beleeveth and so is can no more fall off not sin not Satan not world though at such and such a rate they listen to them and fall into sueh and such a measure of unbeleevingness and sinning yet they cannot fall off And you are upon that Rock c. Hold fast therefore your confidence Take heed lest any of you fall through an evil heart of unbeleef And give us leave to fear lest any of you come short for there is an unstable rock on which not you but some others are built And they that are built on that rock of instablility if they abide they perish if they fall they can no more rise how fond were this But the foundaion here mentioned is stable nor will the holy Spirit build any upon an unstable foundation nor fill the heart with false light or deceivable works What deceitful illusions such conceits may produce I forbear to name though this Reason be fit for them Reason 5. The persons intended by the Apostle were such as had need to be taught again the first principles c. Unskilful in the word of righteousness c. distinguished from them to whom the promises are c. Chap. 6 9 10 14. Answ This is a very harsh sad and
one man had by high Treason procured on himself and all his posterity the sentence of ejection from all his lands and inheritance and of suffering for ever an ignominious and tormenting death being for ever put under the displeasure wrath and hatred of him against whom the treason was committed and yet the execution deferred till the Traytor have twenty children And in the sentence passed this reserve that the third seventh tenth and fifteenth of that mans children shall be freed from the execution of the sentence and be accepted as sons into favour with the King and enjoy the inheritance though these may be born as sinful and ill-deserving as the rest yet can they not be said to be born or by birth to be the children of the wrath and displeasure of the King even as the other seeing even by their very birth the persons so born were appointed to such freedome favour and happiness as the rest were excluded from before they were born but if none so provided for but all alike before their birth excluded then were they alike the children of wrath or else not This Simily illustrates the Text proveth and Mr. Owen confesseth All are by nature the children of wrath one even as another And so as Adams sons none differenced from others by any such election before their being or by a first birth 2 If by Nature be meant the corrupt disposition with which from our first father we are all naturally infected and so according to the lusts of that disposition what ever means were used towards us more than other yet we according to the course of this world and the motions of Satan walked in fulfilling the wills of the flesh And so were by Nature the children of wrath even as others If we take it thus as surely also we may then it still overthrows the forementioned fancy for to be elect to Son-ship and inheritance and to be well-beloved Isa 42.1 with Mat. 12.18 and under well-pleasedness is one and the same by our Saviours opening the word to be under wrath and under compassion may well stand together but to be under wrath and well-pleasedness stands not together nor are any that are without Christ and out of him Rom. 5.4 1 Cor. 15.45 46 47.48 1 Pet. 2.5 9. 1 Thess 5.3.4 Rom. 9 25 26. chosen or elected in him the natural man is first the spiritual afterward as with the head so with the members who are the elect and chosen is fore-declared and they when elect are not children of wrath even as others nor as themselves sometimes were so that in this saying he hath intimately confessed the truth of their beleef he professedly opposeth 2. He saith That faith and holiness which in due time they are invested withall whereby they are made Beleevers and Saints and distinguished from all others what ever is an effect and fruit of and flows from Gods eternal purpose concerning their salvation and election The faith and holiness of those forementioned 1 Joh. 4.14 Joh. 3.16 17. wants nothing of this Was it not the purpose of God in sending forth his Son the Saviour of the world That the world through him might be saved And was it not in the same purpose of God Act. 26.17 18 3.26 Joh. 3.14 15 16. 15.26 16 14 15 1 Pet. 1.20 21 That his Son having in mans nature dyed for our sins and risen for our justification c. should be preached To turn men from darkness to light that whoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Is not this Jesus He of whom the holy Spirit testifieth and the things of whom he sheweth and so in glorifying him draweth men to beleeve in him And are not those so brought to beleeve in him beleevers indeed and Saints by calling And is not this faith produced by the love of God commended in giving his Son to dye for our sins and fastned on Christ the foundation receiving remission of sins Rom 5.8.10 and spiritual quickning through beleeving on him According to the purpose of God Is there any purpose of God for sending his holy Spirit to witness of Christ to work any other kinde of faith than this of the right kinde or is there any faith in Christ of the Spirits working that is not according to the purpose of God doth he speak of himself or work otherwise than as proceeding from the Father and the Son And are not these beleevers in their coming into Christ distinguished thereby from all that are unbeleevers and of the world what ever And who will say It is questionable whether the holy Spirit thus bringing any to beleeve in Christ be an effect and fruit of and flowing from the grace love and purpose of God concerning their salvation even that in beleeving they might be saved But these things have been often at large cleerlyshewn and proved before nor doth Mr. Owen here say This faith is a fruit of election he knows that with more shew of truth it might be said election is a fruit of this faith but yet that is not a good and right expression neither but the testimony of the holy Ghost is That they were chosen through the sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thess 2.13 14. and the beleef of the Truth to which they were called c. which is already fore-shewn And here yeelded in this saying concerning their salvation or election making these two terms in a sort signifying the same thing and so election a part of the salvation wrought in them and upon them and so the faith the same set out Heb. 6. 3 He saith Their faith being as to the manner of its bestowing peculiarly of the operation of God This agrees well with that set forth Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. It was God sure that in love gave his Son to do that for us in and by which he is the compleat object of faith And Jesus Christ in and through whom God commendeth his love to us is God even one and the same God blessed for ever And the Holy Ghost that proceedeth from the Father and the Son is one and the same God with the Father and the Son and that the Father and the Son is And he discovering and drawing on Christ the foundation and so illuminating and affording tastes of the heavenly gift as the effects repentance from dead works and faith towards God This is certainly both his peculiar operation and the operation of God And to deny this under any surmise of an unknown purpose or election were to derogate from the grace of God even of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost as if their works in this kind were not truly saving and gracious which I hope none wil say so that this faith abideth still right 4. He saith And as to its distinction from every other gift that upon any account what ever is so called in respect of its fountain termed The faith of Gods
faith yet they cannot be saved That first mentioned faith flowing from such an election and purpose of God concerning their persons is the faith of Gods elect This I say Paul never taught nor is there any one line in Scripture to affirm it the Spirit of God leads no man so to beleeve or speak it is quite and directly cross to his Testimony as is shewn at large Part. 2. Chap. 9. Page 87 88 89. Part. 4. Chap. 10. 11. So that the faith here commended is the same with that Heb. 6.4 5. And as for Rom. 8.28 how it speaks the same thing and not a word for this reproved fancy is shewn before at large See Part. 4. Chap. 6 7 8. And so likewise is that Act. 13.48 in Part. 5. Chap. 6. Page 317 318. So that Eph. 1 4. is likewise shewn to make nothing for it Part. 3. Chap. 12. Page 221. And that 1 Pet. 1.2 3 4 5. speaks not of an eternal purpose of God concerning some certain persons of Adams sons in a decree to elect and eternally save them but of the manner of the election of such as were already actually elected viz. That it was through the sanctification of the Spirit unto the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus 2 Thess 2.13 exprest elsewhere The beleef of the truth in which that sprinkling is received This election being according to the fore-knowledge or fore-approbation of God who hath fore-appointed and approved this way for electing and choosing such as beleeve his Testimony as is at large shewn on Rom. 8.28 Part. 4. Chap. 6. 7. 8. So that this Concernment hath gained nothing for any other kinde of faith than that he confest at first true in its kinde I would he had not cast it by CHAP. XVI Of his second Concernment 1. HE saith for the manner of their obtaining this precious faith it is by Gods giving to them that holy Spirit c. In this I shall note three things in which it is pretended to be not only peculiar but of another and better kinde than the former true in its kinde 1. Hee saith It is by giving that Holy Spirit of his whereby he raised Jesus from the dead to raise them from their death in sin to quicken them unto newness of life In this first saying we have two things to note in the manner of true beleevers obtaining faith viz. First What God gives unto them and that is that same holy Spirit of his by which hee raised Jesus from the dead And secondly The end for which God gives this holy Spirit to them and that is to raise them from their death in sin to quicken them unto newness of life both which are very true and will by all true beleevers be so confessed yet the asserting it as a peculiar manner of obtaining faith that is of a better kinde than that mentioned Heb. 6.4 5. and another manner of obtaining also and leaving out something needful in this business to be mentioned is blame-worthy For 1 God for calling any to the faith doth not send forth or give any other spirit nor is there any other spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son than that holy Spirit by which he raised Jesus from the dead This Spirit is called his Holy Spirit the Spirit of Christ the Spirit of Grace 1 Pet. 3.19 20. Act 7.51 By this Spirit Christ preached in the ministration of Noah and of the Prophets whence those that resisted his inlightnings and teachings in those ministrations are said to have been disobedient to and have resisted the Holy Ghost And now more abundantly since the sufferings and ascention of Christ he doth in the ministration of the Gospel inlighten call convince c. whence those that shut their eyes and refuse and despise are said to despise God 1 Thes 4.7 8. Heb. 10.29 And they that after they have received the knowledge of the truth do willingly tread under foot the Son of God and count the blood of the Covenant as an unholy thing are said to have done despite to the Spirit of Grace i.e. If it had not been the holy Spirit they had resisted their sin had not been so grievous It is not good to devise pleas for wicked men to extenuate their sin And though there be a Spirit of truth and a spirit of error yet truth is one and the Spirit of truth is one 1 Joh 4 1-6 1 Cor. 12.4.11 2 Cor. 11.4.13.14 15. 1 Cor 12.2 3. though his gifts be divers and the Spirit of truth cometh onely from God and Christ And no other spirit but error is divers and many and the spirit of error is manifold and various and proceedeth not from God but from the Devil Nor can any man attain any true kinde of faith but by the Holy Ghost yea that faith mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. was attained by the illumination of the Holy Ghost and they were made partakers of the Holy Ghost And to ascribe to the Spirit the working of a faith of Christ dying and by his blood having made peace such as shall cause light love joy and fill the soul with such hope of eternal life as shall ravish the heart of a man and inwardly and outwardly change him And yet that Christ dyed not for that man or that there is no eternal life in him for that man nor truth or reality in Gods intentions to give it him Oh! yee heavens be astonished and let the earth tremble at this that any should say thus of the Holy Ghost the Spirit of truth or that God should have two Spirits one to work this faith which yet cannot be true in any kinde and a better Spirit to work a better kinde of faith His Spirit is one and holy and all his operations to bring any to beleeve like himself true real holy and of the right and saving kinde though many resist and some depart So that this line of truth was in this business not well brought forth seeing it was to oppose another line of truth and to obscure the truth of the holy Spirits operations 2. The object discovered and medium used by the Holy Ghost for bringing any to this faith and effecting this end mentioned is here sleighted and left out That is Christ and him crueified as set forth in the Gospel for sinners to look to and beleeve in For this is certain first That this holy Spirit testifieth of Christ witnesseth of his death resurrection sacrifice exalteth and glorifieth him as the Son of God the Saviour of the world Joh. 15.26 16 7 8-15 Act. 5.31 32. the Prince and Saviour that giveth repentance and remission of sins to Israel and is a light to the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth And that whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sins 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. 2 2. 2.6 9 10 14.16 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 This Jesus and
4 5. is proved nor yet by his quotations Rom. 8.11 is spoken to them whom he had affirmed The called of Jesus Christ Rom. 1.6 7 8 8 9. Beloved of God Called Saints To and of whom he saith Yee are not in the flesh but in the spirit If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Minde he speaketh not of an once or for a time having been in them that was out of question but of an abiding or dwelling as a governor in an house Now if any man have not the Sprit of Christ Mind he saith not hath had so that it s no error to say what ever he had heretofore Rom. 8.10 as to the Galathians ch 3.3 4. 5 7 8. he is none of his And if Christ be in you that is by this abiding of the Spirit or his dwelling in you preserving confidence in Christ c. just as he said to the Hebrews chap. 3.6.14 the body is dead because of sin sin that brought in death which though over come by Christ yet is not removed till his time from off men all must once dye nor will it be wholly removed from beleevers while any sin abideth in them though it rule not in them so as their bodies are yet mortal and so but heavy instruments to be used in spiritual services and must once dye but the Spirit is life because of righteousness Col. 2.12 13. 3.9 10. Eph. 4.21 23 24 Rom. 7.22 24. Rom. 7.22 Gal. 5.16 22 24. Joh. 7.37 38 39. the spirit opposed to the body that is the inward man the new man or Christ-like minde or disposition effected in the heart by the Spirit of Christ quickning them in and through beleeving in Christ to receive forgiveness of them sins and so enlivening c. This is life even a living principle derived from Christ in whom beleeving this principle derived from Christ in whom beleeving this principle is effected and preserved and it is living in faith confidence hope love and joy yea it is life affording living springs and motions And this for righteousness sake Rom. 5.18 that is for Christ his sake who is risen from the dead and hath by one righteousness obtained in himself life for all men and power to raise all men And that such as receive this grace and gift by grace given in and through Christ Grace may reign in them through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ Rom. 5.21 17. and they shall reign in life by Christ And because of the righteousness of God in Christ and the righteousness of Christ in his mediation by vertue of his oblation and in sending forth his Spirit according to his promise to such end The Spirit of the beleever is inlived Rom. 8.23 yea life And so they receive a first fruits of the Spirit in this life and wait for the adoption the redemption of their body to be at the coming of Christ And to comfort not some peculiar among them but all the beleeving Romans with the certainty and the way to enjoy the certainty of all this he saith to them But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead Rom. 8.11 dwell in you He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Minde these words he said before If Christ be in you the body is dead c. But the Spirit is life c. And now he saith again But if the Spirit of him c. dwell in you abide as a governor if so Then he that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit Rom. 6.29 7 4 6. 2 Tim. 2.11 c. that is apt to enlive them to be instruments of righteousness for you to serve with here in newness of life and spirit and raise them up again when dead by his Spirit that dwelleth in you and so by vertue of your union with Christ abiding in this faith of him 1 Thess 4.14 15. and his Spirit quickning your mortal bodies living and dying in this faith He will raise you again in the same union with him in which you slept So that all the way here is no other kinde of faith set forth nor other language of giving Spirit c. used then to the Collossians as also to the Galathians and Hebrews Col. 1.21 22 23. Eph. 1.16.17 as afore-shewn Eph. 2.19 in respect of their knowledge speaks not of what they yet enjoyed but of what the Apostle desired for them and the power of God is as himself one and the same though the manner and degrees of his putting it forth be divers As without a Mediator though by him that now is the Mediator in the first now old Creation It was the same power by which he made the heaven and the earth and man upon it by which also he caused the grass to grow c. but whether with like force put forth I determine not But of this I am sure the infinite greatness of this power is beyond the comprehension of any mortal man Also his power as put forth through a Mediator for upholding and ordering all the old Creation for its time and ruleth for ever by his power It is one and the same power â— Joh. 1.3 Psal 75.3 66.7 by which he upholds the heaven and the earth and preserveth man and beast and ordereth the fowls and flyes and growing of grass c. But whether alike put forth for every of these I determine not But of this I am sure the infinite greatness of this power is not fully known by any mortal man And now for his power as put forth not onely through a Mediator but to unite and conform to him and so to effect and set forward the New Creation that is begun and compleat in himself and to be compleated in and for all his New Creatures in which as in the Resurrection of Christ that dyed for sinners the power of his wisdome mercy truth faithfulness and strengh did most abundantly shine forth so in this work of uniting and conforming to him it is most abundantly dispensed and known and met with And this power thus put forth is ever one and the same power Even that by which he raised Jesus from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and every name that is named not only in this world Eph. 1.20.21 22 23. Eph. 1.19 but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet and given him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body c. This the power here spoken of But whether this power be in this manner alike put forth at all times to every one to whom it is extended as To convince to draw to beleeve To preserve in the faith To
kinde he pleadeth for many may go without that assurance all their dayes hee onely undertakes to prove notwithstanding it shall so bee for ever Now let his quotations be viewed to see what they say for one beleever more than another for the Spirits abiding with them for ever Joh. 14.16.26 in vers 16. Ioh 14.16.26 15.26 16 7. Luke 24.49 Our Saviour tells his Apostles and first witnesses that were to carry forth the testimony of him to the world after his Ascention That he after he was gone from them in bodily presence would yet be an Intercessor with the Father for them And the Father in his Name and so he from the Father would send them another Advocate or Comforter Let the words be well minded he faith not Another Spirit no he mindes them of that that it is the same Spirit of truth Joh. 14.17 Mat 16.16 17. Joh. 17.6 7 8. which they knew by which the Father in his ministration made him known to them to be the Christ and had given them to beleeve on him in which he did also stil even now he was with them dwell with them So that it is not one spirit opposed to another spirit but one Advocate or Comforter in respect of the manner of advocation and comforting opposed to another God had been formerly even by the Spirit of Christ Heb. 1.1 2. 7 8 9 10. 2 Cor. 3 7-14 teaching his minde by parcels to them and leading them to look to Christ and so to worship him by types shadows and carnal ordinances which were to be removed and now to these in the personal ministration of himself in his bodily presence in which he had been even so an Advocate and Comforter to them Psal 63.18 Act. 2.33 Rom. 16.25 Joh. 16.7 7.39 1 Joh. 2.1 But he was not alwayes so to abide with them nor was the excellency fulness and mystery of either his oblation or mediation and advocation to be clearly opened and made known till he had finished his suffering work and cast off mortality and overcome death and ascended in his body immortal into heaven and offered the acceptable sacrifice and received the fulness of the Holy Ghost in that nature of man to send forth for that full discovery of himself and the Fathers minde in him and then hee would so send forth this Holy Spirit himself remaining with the Father the Advocate still to discover him and so the Fathers mind in him and so and therein to be an Advocate and Comforter to them even so and such as never was before as is shewn in the eighth and ninth Chapters of the third part of this Treatise about the revelation of Christ and so he opens it vers 26. Joh. 15.15 17.6 7 8. He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you For he had made known his Fathers Counsel and Name unto them and given them his words And this holy Spirit of truth in his coming shal guide them into all truth Eph. 1.8 9. by taking of the things of him and shewing them and glorifying him c. So as they shall have the fulness of the testimony in all wisdome and understanding to minister Oh blessed Advocate and Comforter And yet this not all but as the next quotation Joh. 15.26 He shall testifie of him in them to them and through their ministrations so as they also shall bear witness Act. 5.31 32. Act. 1.21 22 10 34.42 1 Cor. 9 1. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. because they have been with him from the beginning even ear and eye witnesses of his person and ministration and miracles and sufferings and death and resurrection and assent to heaven And this Advocate and Comforter both the Doctrine of the Gospel by him so opened and the ministration of it he taught and lead them in And his power and presence in that Doctrine so ministred should not be as the Mosaical Law to pass away and give place to another ministration nor as the ministration of John nor his ministration in his bodily weakness 2 Cor. 3 3-18 Joh. 5.35 36 14.12 13. Eph. 1 3-10 See part 3. chap. 12. to be over-shined by a more clear ministration but this shall be the last ministration and abide till his own coming again and so her shall be in them in their doctrine and ministration for ever So as to all beleevers here is given certainty of truth goodness and immutability of the Gospel delivered by the Apostles and of the presence of the Spirit in such ministration thereof as left upon record by them to the end of the world And as for the promise and hope given in these promises to beleevers of this Doctrine for the Spirit in their hearts abiding in them for ever Note 1 It is great Joh. 17.20 21-23 7.37 38 39. 14 17. our Saviour having prayed for the same blessing for them also and promised the same but that is not to some peculiar kinde of beleevers but to all that beleeve on him not beleevers opposed to beleevers but beleevers opposed to the world that lieth in unbeleef as is exprest 2 That the manner of the assuring is abiding in them for ever is by our Saviours own explication to be in their abiding in him Joh. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. in that faith love and confidence in him which the Spirit hath wrought and worketh in them and his word that which he hath helped them to understand and by which he teacheth and comforteth them abiding in them This also express So that by there quotations we are lead to hold fast our first faith that Heb. 6. Rom. 8.10 11. The Apostle both admonishing exhorting instructing and comforting in such a manner as telling them how it was with them if Christ be in them and how it should be with them if the Spirit of Christ did dwell in them and so not affirming what would bee for ever but warning and directing that it might be I marvel this should be quoted for this assertion it so suiting to that by him opposed 1 Cor. 6.19 The Apostle tells them that beleeve and surely had such illumination and participation of the Holy Ghost as mentioned Heb. 6.4 5. That their body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost in them c. Their body may be taken either for their personal bodies which were the vessels and instruments in and with which they were to be given up as servants of righteousness unto God Rom. 6.19 or by body may be meant their society in which Truth was and God to be worshipped and therefore to be kept holy 1 Cor. 5.6 7 8. and undefiled Now the Apostle minding them of this That their body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost or rather secretly reproves them for their neglect of minding what their body was consecrated to in the heavenly call
by Christ that bought them and had the right to dispose of them even to be the Temple of the Holy Ghost and Instruments for him to use And thereby he shewed the heinousness of their sin if they defiled their bodies with fornication and made or abused The members of Christ to be one with and the members of an harlot Rom. 12.1.2 And so on this ground exhorted them to demean their bodies sutable to the purchase made by Christ and to the relation they now stood in with Christ and to the purity and holiness of the Spirit God had given them having upon the very same ground forewarned them That if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy 1 Cor. 3.16 17 18. intreating them not to be deceived c. and how doth the Spirit dwell in such for ever then yet after this he both reproveth warneth and exhorteth on the very same ground 2 Cor. 6.15 16.17 18 7.1 2. assuring them from the promises of God of the Spirits continuing and dwelling in them in their yeelding up to his teachings and therefore calls upon them for that even like as to the Hebrews chap. 6. I marvel this was quoted here to such an end which makes for that he opposeth Rom. 5.5 speaks of the operations of Grace beleeved not in some peculiar kinde of but in all true beleevers and so of that which hope in the exercise of faith doth Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. because of the love of God shed abroad in the heart of beleevers by the holy Ghost given unto them but not a word of the impossibility of any of the Saints by any ill requitals to deprive themselves of that love again and so of that holy Spirit yea he rather warns them to beware of that in the 6. and 8. Chapters following suitable to the warning given the Hebrews chap. 2. 3 4. 6. 1 Joh. 4.4.13 and those that follow speaks of the Spirit in beleevers a thing denied by none but not a word about the infallibility of his ever abiding unless as the former places directing to that in which it may so be but it may be these are quoted for proofs of that which follows in this Concernment which is no part of that contended for or against unless it be to countenance the distinction of two kinds of faith preferring one before another And so I will consider it CHAP. XX. Of the second part of the third Concernment HE saith Vpon the account of which inhabitation of the Spirit of Christ in them they have union with him that is one and the same Spirit dwelling in him the head and them the members Surely this may be truly said of all beleevers that abide in the faith of Christ during the time of their abiding in the faith and so of the faith as mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. yea the mixtures by him put in which are no parts of faith being taken out as they consist not with the rest even that first kinde of faith set forth by himself who hath not yet produced a better but even the same clad with some unjustifiable expressions so that this saying is true of all true beleevers or that in truth beleeve the testimony of Christ search the Scripture This I hope being granted of all that beleeve the Gospel of Christ that there are not two Spirits in Christ to procced from him to work faith in men and dwell in beleevers but onely one holy Spirit that is in the Father and in the Son the Spirit of the Father and of the Son sent by the Son from the Father and by the Father through the Son and in the name or Gospel of the Son one and the same holy Spirit And so where ever the Father and Son is he is and where ever he is the Father and Son is there with and by him Now minde what the Scripture saith Christ saith Mat. 10 40. Joh. 13.20 Mat 10.41 42. Luke 10.16 1 Joh. 4.6 Rev. 19.10 2 Cor. 5.19 20 Joh. 15.16 27. Act. 5.32 2 Thess 2.8 10 Hee that receiveth you receiveth me And he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me And this also spoken of his sending to preach the Gospel And though this in respect of his gracious acceptation and interpretation be true to all that for his sake receive such as beleeve in him yet it is principally meant of receiving his message by and from them And so he that hath the testimony of Jesus hath the Spirit of Prophesie And the holy Spirit witnesseth together with and in that testimony And Christ will in his time come again to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that beleeve because the Apostles testimony was received by them in the dayes of his patience while it was preached to them so that whoever in hearty beleeving receiveth this testimony It is Spirit and life to him Joh. 6.63 Rom. 1.16 1 Thess 2.13 Joh. 15.4 5 7. 1 Joh 1.3 2.24 yea the power of God to salvation to him and worketh effectually in him And as they abide in this word they abide in Christ and as this word abideth in them Christ by his Spirit abideth in them And they have fellowship with the Father and the Son and continue in both and that is his dwelling in them And so of the Galatians of whom Paul was sore afraid yet he doubteth not to affirm of them Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Gal 4.6 7 8 9. c. and yee have known God or rather are known of him And so 1 Joh. 44.13 speaketh in the very same language not of any peculiar kinde of Spirit that is in Christ and flows from him into some peculiar kinde of true beleevers but of that one holy Spirit which is in Christ and his efficacies which also in a measure is in all true beleevers And so verse 4. he salth 1 Joh. 4.4 Yee are born of God or of God and have overcome them that is the evil spirits in the world because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world where the opposition is not of beleevers to beleevers but of beleevers to the world and this he after expresseth both by the effects and the beleevers in whom it is saying What soever is born of God over cometh the world 1 Joh 5.4 5. And who is he that overcometh the world but he that beleeveth that Jesus is the Son of God this being our victory whereby we overcome the world even our faith So that all the way here is but one spirit and one faith Gal 4.9 1 Cor 8.3 1 Ioh 4.6 7.12 And these beleevers marked out by the same terms with others Hee that knoweth God that loves God and loveth his brother these saith he Are of God born of God and God dwelleth in them And to demonstrate who these are he saith
It is he that heareth us that is the Apostles in the word given by Christ to them and by them delivered and recorded Rom. 1.5 16 26. for the obedience of faith among all Nations He that heareth that is accepteth and receiveth our testimony that will bee set appointed and determined in his judgement faith and way by this word delivered by us as it is indeed the word of God and so accounting God true 2 Thess 1.10 1 Thess 2.13 Rom. 3.4 1 Ioh. 4.6.11 Ioh. 1.12 13 7.37 38 39. Ier 11.6 8. 34-6-10 6.17 who ever bee found a lyar c. And so according to this testimony beleeveth in Christ and loveth his brother He and so all such are born of God And that this obedience of faith is meant by hearing is cleer in such a like use of the word in another business And they that refuse this are said to refuse to hearken So on the other side He that heareth not the word of Christ as delivered by the Apostles that is doth not accept it and receive c. he is not of God not born of God that is for the present time he is not now of God what ever he may be hereafter or hath been heretofore And so the word heareth is used for a present and continued hearing Ier. 34.9 10 15 11.16 Ezek. 18.24 Jer. 34. those that were affirmed to have heard yea so to have heard as to have turned and done right in the sight of God yet these after backsliding are then said not to have hearkned unto God according to that word In the day that he sinneth all his righteousness shall not be mentioned to him So then while he thus heareth he receiveth the word as the word of God and therein Christ and his Spirit that frameth inclineth and inableth him to beleeve in God love God love his brother and so the same minde and spirit that is in Christ is in him 1 Cor. 2.16 Phil. 2.12 5. Col. 3.16 1 Ioh. 3.6.9.23 24. Hence so exhorted To let the word of Christ dwell plentifully in us For such are of God born of God and God dwelleth in them And so vers 13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit And so in chap. 3. where abiding in him and being born of him are put one for another And there it is affirmed That he that keepeth his commands in beleeving on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and loving one another dwelleth in him and he in him And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us which needs no further explication to know what Spirit it is and that it is but one Spirit and the same Spirit that is in Christ and in all unfained beleevers And that this Spirit dwelleth both in their society for ever and in every particular soul of them that are found beleevers so long as they abide in the faith he hath wrought and preserveth in them and on that ground are the exhortations given Chap. 3. 4. and of like signification the other quotations 2 Tim. 1.14 1 Cor. 6 17. 12.12 13. Eph. 4.4 There being but one Spirit and I hope for the manner of the spirits being in Beleevers there needs no contention It is not meant simply of the essence or being of the Spirit Psal 1 30.7.13 Ier. 23.23 24. Amos 9.2.3 Heb. 3.1 Mat. 3.45 Iob 37.27 28 31. which is one and the same with the Father and the Son and so filling heaven and earth with his presence yea so with all creatures and so in love and well-pleasedness with the righteous and in wrath with and against the wicked discerning all things so that here is some farther meaning of the Spirit being in beleevers And that is also a farther thing than the forth-putting of his divine force and power upholding and raising up and making operative something in the creature Psal 33 5 11 36.6 104.27 28-30 for so he upholdeth the earth and the heavens and causeth the Sun to shine and the clouds to carry about water and distill their drops and the earth to bring forth fruit and men to live and move He causeth the grass to grow but not to be sensible and knowing he causeth the beasts to live breathe Act. 14.17 17.25 28. Psal 66.7 Eccles 3.14 and move and to be sensible and so to know as far as by sense they may be brought to know but indueth them not with reason or an intelle tual understanding But men besides all the former he also indueth with reason Job 35 10. and understanding above the beasts And all this extended to and for men is an effect of God and so of one and the same Spirit extended to fallen mankinde through a Mediator and so by vertue of the ransome and mediation of Christ and that to gracious ends to lead men to repentance yet all this being but the supportation of the old creation for a time that time and means may be vouchsafed to bring men to repentance and so short of the New Creation It is said still to be in a natural way extended And men thus knowing are but natural and cannot by nature or all the wisdome thus attained perceive 1 Cor. 2.8 14. or receive the things of the Spirit that he witnesseth of Christ But the forth putting of the divine force and power of the holy Spirit in this business is supernatural in the testimony of Christ The New and Spiritual man and for setting forward the New Creation which divine force or power according to the light in the means vouchsafed is at one time or other put forth to all men that come to the use of understanding in their several Ages In which respect also The word of faith Joh. 1.4 5.9 Rom. 10.6 7 8 9. Psal 119.130 1 Joh. 5.20 when preached is nigh to them in their mouth and heart that they might beleeve and confess And such as in beleeving receive the Spirits testimony He by his divine light and power effecteth in them an understanding and heart to know Christ and so to love him and one another for his sake and so to incline to and seek his ends And thus they partake of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1 4. This supernatural force and divine power working in them to this gracious end is the very Spirit that is in Christ and this his supernatural operation of the minde and disposition of Christ and so of faith love and likeness of design in their heart being born of the Spirit Is Spirit Joh. 3.6 1 Cor. 2.16 2 Cor. 4.13 2 Tim. 1.7 yea the Spirit and minde of Christ in them And called The Spirit of faith and the Spirit of love and power and of a sound minde And so bears the name of the Spirit and supernatural divine power that effected it yea is one with
but for the present The Spirit is life for righteousness sake yet the body is dead because of sin yea and something savouring of death is also in and troubling their souls But through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ as they in beleeving walk after the Spirit they are made free and enlived from the sentence and fear of death and filled with the promise and hope of life which comfort in so great love of God enlives us in love of the brethren And 1 Joh. 3.14 We know that we have passed from death to life 1 Joh. 4.7 16. 3 6 9 5.2 because we love the brethren c. We that are born of God that have beleeved the love wherewith God hath loved us and so abide in Christ keeping his commands of faith and love We know we are passed from being judged by our works according to the law which sentenceth to death into the gracious acceptance and favour of God in Christ and so into the liberty and life of Christ and enjoyment of his gracious Spirit which brings forth this fruit of love which whoever hath not abideth in death And this is true of all abiding in the faith without difference Eph. 2 2-5 and Col. 2.13 Speak of that quickning Act. 10.43 Joh. 3.16 18 36. which is through beleeving in Christ in which remission of sins and hope of eternal life is begun to be received which all true beleevers receive without difference though not in like fulness in every beleever And on that ground Rom. 6.11.13 8 9. Are exhortations to persevere walking in faith and love Secondly From darkness to light This is true though that quoted Act. 26.18 doth but shew the end of Gods sending the Gospel to be ministred to men Mat 4 13-16 without difference of any to whom it is so sent which where it comes light springs up And Eph. 5.8 shews what beleevers without difference are in the Lord Eph. 5.8.9 15. since called and inabled to beleeve and that pressed as a motive to abide and persevere walking in the light And 1 Thess 5.4 5. shews that beleevers are not in darkness of ignorance and unbeleef and how efficacious the light of truth beleeved was in them They were born of it They were he saith not some but all the children of light c. From whence he presseth an exhortation Not to sleep as others but to walk 〈…〉 c. And Col. 1.13 Is a blessing of God in giving him thanks for having delivered them he faith not from all darkness but from the power of darkness Col. 1.12 13.23 24. and having translated them into the Kingdome that is the spiritual Kingdome or government and interest in and hope of that promised Kingdome of the Son of his love for which cause he presseth their abiding and continuance And 1 Pet. 2.9 shews That Gods elect and chosen people are such as he hath called out of darkness into his marvellous light to shew forth his praises And what this light is 2 Cor. 4.6 and where it shineth is plain to be in the face of Christ Gods prime Elect. And this is true in a measure of all unfained beleevers let them minde this That conceit an elect company before the appointment of Christ to dye to be given him to dye for and demonstrate what they are and reconcile them into one condition with these Thirdly From an universal habit of uncleanness unto holiness In a begun inclination and through all the powers a tendency thereto that there may be a proceeding to perfection in holiness this is true But Ezek. 36.25 speaketh directly of the Jews when he hath returned them to their own land And as in reference to a first fruits in beleevers in this life Ezek 36.24 25 26 27-37 Eph. 5.23 26 27. It speaks of that God will do to them after he hath called them to beleeve in Christ And so of a continued business on and in beleevers till it be compleat for which he will be sought of them And 1 Cor. 6 11. speaks of a work begun and so in the beginnings of it done in them In the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God And this given as a ground both to reprove some evils and uncleanness in them 1 Cor 6. 1 9 11 2 20. and to warn them from sinning and to stir them up by the same Name and Spirit to press on to further holiness And Tit. 3.5 shews the manner of this work and by what means and to what end it is done and so the beginning and proceeding but shews not the accomplishment as yet to be in them And Heb. 10.22 is not an affirmation of what is attained but an exhortation to use the right way for having a continual increase of renued holiness Heb. 10 12-18 19 20 24 25 12 12 14. upon that very ground of what we have in Christ and have begun to receive and may be daily receiving from him that so in holding last our confidence and profession we may follow after holiness Fourthly From a state of enmity stubboruness rebellion c. into a state of love obedience and delight This is no other but in change of an expression what was confessed to be in the first kinde of beleevers and Saints And indeed it is true of both alike for both so far as true are one Rom. 6.11 speaks of that done and compleated in Christ and not yet in us but by degrees and in due season to be done Rom. 6.11 12 13 14. And that laid as the ground in beleeving on him both to reckon our selves after him and in that account yeeld up our selves to live to him in which that will be verified of us that is said from vers 17 22. and so it plainly appears to be understood Eph. 2.12 13. Speaks of that state of Gentilism enstrangement to God all we Gentiles were in before Christ came in the flesh and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice and the priviledges confirmed before to the Jewish Nation were set open to the Gentiles Chap 3 3-6-9 and they made nigh by the blood of Christ that made peace broke down the partition wall slew the enmity c. and came and preached peace by which peace preached in his Name all that beleeve in him have access by one Spirit to the Father that is clear Col. 1.21 Speaks of the enmity in their mindes and of the efficacie of the Death and Sacrifice of Christ and peace made thereby and Gods love there-through appearing displayed and beleeved how it reconciled them to God And that to this end Col. 1.4 5.20 Tit. 3.4 5. Rom 5.8 10. Eph. 5.25 26 27. Col. 23 24. Heb. 8.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10. Heb. 12.22 23 24 25 26. To present them in the body of his flesh through death holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight if they continued in the faith
word in them they shall be fruitful and so they shall be good trees and bring forth good fruit For so they shall observe the counsel of our Saviour Mat. 12.33 Make the tree good and his fruit good c. For we can no otherwise make the tree good but in beleeving on him and according to grace given yeelding to the teachings of his Spirit And seeing every good and perfect giving comes from him and that his Spirit is good and his operations and fruits good and that an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit what are all those confessed works of the Spirit and whence flows that faith and holiness really true in its kind upon account whereof men are called Beleevers and Saints What is that change of judgement affection and conversation that light love joy zeal obedience true in its kinde sincere and not hypocritical whence come they to do so worthily in their generation and all acknowledged an effectual work of the Spirit Can there be such rightness even from the Spirit and the tree not good or is there any other trees among beleevers to bring forth good fruit of another nature Surely if we minde the proofs and our Saviours words they shew there is but one kinde of faith to bring forth good fruits and this even it set out Heb. 6 Gal. 2.20 This place doth open that already said The Apostle having spoken of being justified by faith shews how he lived not Gal. 1.6 4.6 7. Gal. 2.13 Rom. 4.4 6 7 9. but Christ lived in him and he by the faith of the Son of God to which he endeavoured to reduce the Galatians whom he testifieth to have received the same faith at the first and so exhorted the Hebrews and shews his manner of obtaining it to be in the same way with others 1 Joh. 3.12 This place hath not one word of two divers kinds of faith or of divers manner of obtaining it nor of any habit of one beleever more than in another Joh. 1.12 but affirms That he that hath the Son that is beleeveth in his name hath life that is in having the Son by faith Joh. 3.36 He hath also that eternal life that is in the Son by faith also which is true of all that by grace beleeve in Christ 2 Cor. 5.17 This is true of all that by faith are in Christ Jesus who as and so far as they are in him are affirmed new creatures as is fore explicated though the fulness and compleatness of it is in the resurrection of the just but no word here of a second kinde of faith or of newness in some true beleevers that is not in other true beleevers the words plain If any man in Christ 1 Thes 5.23 This is not an affirmation of what was yet attained but a prayer for what was desired and hoped for and so not to the purpose for which it was quoted unless to mollifie the expressions of the saying Gal. 5.22.25 This place is a discovery of the fruits of the Spirit that were in the beleeving Galatians that were scarce so far grown as the Hebrews And what was done in beleeving on Christ crucified How the flesh with the wisdome and whole bent of it with the affections and lusts of it were crucified that is made vile condemned and begun to be mortified by the cross of Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed and then an exhortation to walk after the Spirit Gal. 6.14 Rom. 6.6 just as to the Romans Ephesians Collossians and Hebrews And not a word of a peculiar kinde in some beleevers and not in other beleevers that are true in their kinde also 1 Joh 3.9 This place faith not a word of any difference between beleevers some true in one kinde and some in another Nor saith it Some that are born of God Nor saith it He that hath been born of God but having said before Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not And having warned them not to be deceived 1 Joh. 3.6 7 8 9. saith speaking in the present tense He that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous or in his righteousness and as he hath promised And then having given warning against being deceived and going on in sin c. He cometh to mention the abiding in him and doing righteousness Again and hee doth it in a third term comprehending both saying Whesoever is born of God doth not commit sin that is approve and act it See this before â— 414 415. going on so to do And that the word Born of God is first appliable to that sight beleef and acknowledgement of Christ and so that new disposition begot thereby in the heart is clear in this Epistle where this is called That which is born of God 1 Joh. 5.1 2 3 4. Mat. 16 17. Eph. 2.8 Hence both faith and confession are said to be of God and the gift of God and so he that in this revelation and operation of the Spirit in and by the Gospel is prevailed with to beleeve and yeeld up to it and so far become one with it so as he beleeveth Jesus to be the Christ and so beleeving in him confesseth him to be the Lord He also on that account is said to be born of God And so likewise the being prevailed with by this grace To hold fast this confidence 1 Joh. 5.2 Ioh. 1.12 13. Rom. 10. â— 10. and so to abide and go on in the faith of Christ and love of him and one another is the operation of God and hath the same promises to it and so is likewise called a being born of God here in 1 Joh. 4.7 8 3 5-10 And that this is the sense here appears cleerly in that the same thing for the same business expressed here Born of God Heb. 3.1 6 14. is a little before exprest by a perfect continued act Abiding in him 1 Ioh. 3.6 7. and doing righteousness And the same there also affirmed such sin not such are righteous And also this appears to be the sense in that it is opposed to a continued approbation acting of and going on in sin for so the devil committeth sin and sinneth from the beginning without repentance or breaking off his course But who ever is born of God he committeth not sin that is doth not approve and so commits but abideth in and goeth on beleeving in Christ and loving him without repentance of it or breaking off that course And it farther appeareth that born of God is in this place abideth in Christ holding fast confidence in and love of God through Christ because it is said His seed remaineth in him that is the divine influence and Spirit of Christ with divine force and vertue abideth and remaineth in him according to that promise Heb. 3.14 And this the constant language of Christ and the Spirit of Christ Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God He
that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son Ioh. 15.1.11 2 Ioh. 9. yea even of his first work of grace in changing our mindes and reconciling us to God it is said to be In the body of his flesh through death to present us holy and unblameable in his sight If we continue in the saith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel of which me have heard Col. 1 22â—23 1 Joh. 2.24 Whence also it is said to these If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you yee shall continue in the Father and the Son And so our Saviour saith to his own Disciples that were clean through the word that he had spoken to them Abide in me and 1 in you Joh. 15 47. as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can yee except yee abide in me I am the Vine yee are the branches he that abideth in me that is beleeving and I in him that is my word in him the same bringeth forth much fruit c. Suitable to like sayings of his Spirit and exhortations in other places And so it is expresly said Rom. 11.22 1 Tim. 2.17 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. Heb. 3.6.14 1 Joh. 3.5 8 9 10. 4.4 5.3 4 5. If we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope firm unto the end We are the house of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end then are we made partakers of Christ and so born of God and his seed remaineth in us and that seed remaining being an influence from Christ and so stronger than the Devil that is in the world we in beleeving on God and so yeelding to it are born of God and so neither sin nor can sin because so born of God but do overcome the world This faith that is born of God being the victory whereby we overcome Rom. 8 2â— Luke 20.36 And this sense is plain and evident and agrees with that mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5 9 10. And yet the compleatness of being born of God is in the resurrection of the just And so none of the quotations countenance two kinds of faith or of obtaining or of habits each true in its kinde As for degrees that is not in question Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained or prepared that we should walk in them What this is to the purpose to shew what God hath given into and wrought in beleevers that are true and in one sort or kinde of them more than in another kinde true also I see not and suppose that none can shew Eccles 7.29 For when God created us all in the first Adam it was certainly in his Image In uprightness and so with furniture for good works that we might have walked in them But he fell and lost himself and us all and so we became weak of no strength lost and destitute of all furniture for any good works But God hath created mankinde anew again in Jesus Christ the second Publick man the last Adam who having satisfied for sin suffered for it and overcome death and ascended and offered the acceptable sacrifice is in mans nature glorified filled with the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost to send for to the rebellious that they might come in and to furnish and lead all that do come in And he sinneth not nor can he dye any more but is alive for evermore so that in him we are compleat and perfect and this held forth to us that beleeving in him we might partake of his fulness which is a good motive to beleeve on Christ and to continue so beleeving And such as through the knowledge of his grace beleeve in Christ are certainly his workmanship and begun to bee united to Christ and this also unto good works such as God hath prepared in him that we should walk in them and so live to him and this the ground of his following exhortation as to other Churches Rom. 5.18 19 20. with 6.1 2 c. but no assertion of the measure of their attainments And it being confessed that the faith and holiness with the effectual operation of the Spirit in all the powers of the foul changing judgement affection conversation effecting light love joy zeal obedience enabling to do worthily in their generation Is not all this being the work of the Spirit that is in Christ comes from Christ and witnesseth of Christ his workmanship on and in them And are not they his workmanship in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 5.14 15 And is there not fulness of furniture in Christ Jesus for good works for them And is it not the gracious end of God in making it known that they should live to Christ by walking in them I hope none will deny it All which justifies this faith set forth in Hebrews 6. and gives no countenance for any other kinde CHAP. XVIII Of the third saying in his second Concernment FOr the nature and property of this habit or abiding principle Thus he saith Being a natural genuine fountain of all those spiritual Acts Works and Duties which he is pleased to work in them and by them of his own good pleasure Though this be not the dialect of Scripture yet in a sober understanding it may be taken as agreeing thereto but not countenancing two kindes or a second kinde of true faith And so with some cautions and provisoes I shall take this saying for true and wholly consent thereto that is to say thus 1 That this abiding principle be not understood of a thing peculiar to any kinde of faith divers from another true in its kinde 1 Pet. 1.13 Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. but of the same kinde of faith set forth Heb. 6. faith being proved already to be one and so the same with that Tit. 1.1 2 That by Natural and Genuine be understood that which is Supernatural and Spiritual Isa 61.13 And so apt free willingly and naturally inclined and kindly putting forth 3 That the calling this principle a fountain be not understood as of a thing inclosed in the beleever to himself or any otherwise Psal 36.9 Jer. 2.13 17 13. Zach. 13.1 Rev. 21.6 Hos 14.8 Joh. 15.4 5 6. then as flowing from Christ to and in him that beleeveth in Christ and so in no sort derogating from Christ For he is the fountain of life with God and so from God unto us the fountain of living waters the fountain for clensing and for fruits And from that flowing from him is all that life cleansing and fruitfulness that is in beleevers And separate from him they can do nothing what ever greenness or springs be in any beleeving on him Jer. 2.13 17. 5 6 13. Joh. 15.4 6. yet if they thereby abide not in the faith of him