Historical Belief of what Christ did for us above Sixteen Hundred Years ago 't is not this only that will administer a sufficient true and saving knowledge of Christ and really interest us in his Death and Sufferings all which People may talk of and please themselves withal and yet continue as fast bound under the Dominion of Satan who still rules where disobedience is as those less perfect in that Lesson But the true and saving Knowledge of Christ is to know our selves turn'd from Darkness to Light Act. 26.18 from the power of Satan to the power oâ— God Col. 1.13 that by it we may be delivered from the power of Darkness and be translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son to know his saving power really to rescue and redeem us from under the power of him that hath enthrall'd us Joh. 8.32.36 Mar. 3.27 and leads Captive at his Will those who lives in the vanity of their Minds to know him bind this strong Man Mal. 3.2 3. to spoil his Goods and dispossess and cast him out to know Christ to sit in the Soul as a Refiner Luk. 3.16 17. Ro. 15.16 Joh. 13.8 1 Thes 5.23 1 Cor. 1.2 Joh. 14.23 Heb. 13.21 to burn up consume and destroy to purify and throughly to purge out whatsoever is contrary to him to wash us and make us clean that we may have right to a part in him that being cleansed and sanctified he may take up his abode with us exercising his Kingly power and working in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure The Mind being thus disentangled and having cast off its former Yoke the old things being done away 2 Cor. 5.17 Ezek. 36.26 all things now become new a new tender Heart of Flesh according to the Promise new Thoughts Desires Inclinations Affections Words and Actions this new inside producing a new outside also Mat. 23. â—6 even throughout a new Creature now in Christ indeed and â—eally entituled to those Benefits that â—…erue to Men through him That liâ—ing Faith that pleaseth God Jam. 2.18 to the end and gives Victory and is ever fruitful to him in â—ood Works being begotten and this work of Redemption and Regeneration thus wrought in the Soul by Jesus Christ Heb. 12.2 together with that most preâ—ious Sacrifice he offer'd up when his Precious Blood was shed upon the Cross for us we believe compleats the Salvaâ—ion of every Soul that is thus awakened and made alive and set free Ro. 6.11.13 by the power and Spirit of him that â—s the Way the Truth Joh. 8.36 and the Life of every Soul that truly lives to God to walk in that Holy way of Life Truth and Peace Isa 35.8 9. that was prepared of old for the Ransomed and Redeemed to walk in And we believe that he graciously waits with exceeding great kindness and long suffering that Men may Repent knocking at the Door of every Man's Heart freely offering Rev. 3.20 but not imposing his Assistance to this most concerning work and change in the Minds of Men Mat. 23.37 so that in the day wherein God will judge the World by Jesus Christ and every secret thing will be made manifest God will be justified and clear of the Blood of a Men and every Mouth will be stopped and every Man's Condemnatioâ— will be of himself for having rejected the Day of his Visitation where in God calls to Man and offers to be reconciled to him for resisting thâ— strivings and slighting the Reproofâ— of his Spirit Neh. 9.20 which in matchless Mercy he hath given Man to instruct him and shew and lead him in the way of Life and Peace We believe that though the pravity of Man's Nature in the Fall is such that the Natural or Carnal Man that is enmity against God in the state of meeâ— Nature Ro. 8.5.7 8. minds only the things of the Flesh and naturally brings forth the Works thereof and cannot please God nor keep and observe his Laws but is prone to evil yet that those who embrace the Visitation of God 1 Pet. 1.23 and are really Regenerated and born again of incorruptible Seed Heb. 4.12 by the Word of God that lives and abides for ever that ingrafted Word that is quick and powerful Jam. 1.21 Joh. 17.17.19 and able to Save and Sanctify the Soul are born into a new Life and invested with another and higher power and becomes Spiritually minded Joh. 3.6 and by the Spirit are set at liberty to walk after the Spirit and bring forth it's fruits and receive ability from the Spirit to serve God acceptably Ro. 8.14.15 being now led by the Spirit of God and become his Children taught of him and through the Spirit of Adoption receiv'd into their Hearts 1 Cor. 12.3 Ro. 8.13 6.6 Eph. 4.22 23 24. Gal. 5.24 Col. 3.9.10 have right to call God Father and Jesus Lord For having through the Spirit mortified the Old Man or first Nature with his corrupt and depraved â—nclinations and evil Deeds and put him off having crucified the Flesh with the affections and lusts thereof they put on the New and Heavenly Man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and being renewed in the Spirit of their Minds Ro. 6.4 7.6 they now walk in Newness of Life and are really in Christ and therefore are changed and become new Creatures and now think and act under the conduct of a principle Superiour to that which formerly governed them having their Minds raised to a Region above that of fallen Nature so that now the stream of their thoughts desires and actions runs in another current and the bent of their affections are after those things that are above where Christ is Col. 3.1 2. that Eye being now open'd that sees a more transcendent beauty and desireableness in the invisible and durable treasures of him than all the transcient felicitles of this World can afford â— Ro. 13.14 And we believe That whosoever expects the blessed imputation of Christ's Righteousness ought thus to put on the Lord Jesus and to be thus cloathed upon and covered with his Righteousness and in measure have his Holy Life brought forth in and through them and know him to enliven and influence their Minds Isa 26.12 Phil. 2.13 and 4.13 Joh. 15.5 and to work in and for them and that without him they can do nothing but through him that strengthens them they can do whatsoever he commands them that as they abide living branches in him through that sap and vertue they daily receive from him Joh. 15.5 8. they are made able to bring forth fruits well-pleasing to God whereby he is glorified For though God the Father accepts us in Christ and for his sake yet is the New-Birth the indispensible Qualification and true distinguishing Mark of those that are really in him He that is in Christ is a new
uncharitable Expression Devil must needs carry us a pick-pack to Hell Is it in that we hold forth the infinite Love of God to Mankind in not only freely of his meer Grace and Favour providing a Sacrifice through which an Atonement is made for the past Transgressions of Man who was never at all in a capacity to make any for himself Joh. 3.15 16. Act. 10.43 1 Cor. 12.7 which is applicable to every one who shall believe repent and return but hath also afforded to all the means of Faith Repentance and Conversion for God requires not impossibilities of Men but expects they should improve those talents distributed to them In not only sending forth the Son of his love to dye for their Sins that they should no longer live therein but also in sending forth his Light and Spirit of Truth into their Hearts Joh. 14.16 17 26. 16.13 to lead and guide them into all Truth and causing his Grace that brings Salâ—ation Tit. 2.11 12. to appear to all Men to inâ—truct and teach them to deny all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts to forsake the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World to rescue and save them from â—iving in the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and help and strengthen them to return to their Obedience and live a Sober Righteous and Godly Life to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of their Lives Which Gift from God to Man the Holy Scriptures plentifully testifie too under various denominations as Spirit Light Word Grace Seed Leaven Anointing c. By all which we understand that Spirit or Heavenly Talent Mat. 25.14 15. with which God hath endowed Mankind in some degree or other that he may profit with it in the improvement whereof by a diligent Co-working therewith to the answering those holy ends for which we receive it we doubt not but to be happy in rendring a good account of our Stewardship and entring finally into the Joy of our Lord. Our Opposers themselves also pretend to the Spirit and Grace of God or else what means their Praying for its Assistance and those plausible fine-spun Discourses of it wherewith they sometimes entertain their Auditory We Charitably hope 't is more real than only to beautify and recommend them to the Hearers as what they cannot well avoid for that the Scriptures are so full of that Language and if indeed it be real why is that aâ—… Fault and Error in us which is so sound and ornamental in them And we think it very strange that they should apprehend any incongruity in granting this Divine Principle to be a Divine Light to the Mind since its proper Office is to teach and instruct to manifest and point to us our Duty as well as to dispose and enable us to perform it and ought to be our Leader and Governour If the Godly Admonitions Tit. 2.11 12. Joh. 14.17 26. 16.7 8 13 14. 1 Joh. 2.27 and Exemplary Lives of Good Men were rightly called Lights to the World surely much more properly may this whose Fountain is Light and does more nearly illuminate and inform the Understanding and renders those effectual justly challenge that necessary and acceptable appellation If then the Grace and Spirit of God be in the Hearts of Men surely 't is not wholly unactive there â—â—t will be making some Attempts â—â—wards accomplishing the end for â—hich 't is placed there 't will be at â—â—mes attacking the Enemy and endeaâ—â—uring to supplant its contrary for â—â—ing holy and pure in its Nature it s â—…ver reconcileable to Sin and Evil â—…t ever strives against it and may as â—â—…en regard it be infallibly known by â—â—e nature of its efforts And we dare â—ppeal even to all Mankind whether â—â—ey find not something placed in their â—inds and Consciences which though â—erhaps not regent there yet never â—ingles with nor consents to their eâ—â—… deeds but always remains undefiâ—â—d and testifies against them and conâ—â—icts reproves Joh. 3.20 21. Eph. 5.13 and condems them for 〈◊〉 and also oft-times in the cooler â—…emper of their Spirits manifests their â—…ates to them and as 't were Reasons â—ith them discovering the evil of their â—ays secretly calling to them to come â—ut of it begetting Desires and Incliâ—ations sometimes to seek after God â—nd to make their Peace with him Now since Man in his meer natural â—tate is totally Dead and fallen from God that he cannot as of himself think 〈◊〉 good Thought and that God only â—…s essentially good and as that which is truly so must needs proceed froâ— him Joh. 16.8 13. this Principle in us that ever coâ—victs us for Vice and Evil whether 〈◊〉 Thought Word or Deed and disposeâ— us to consider of our latter end Prov. 14.13 anâ— oft makes Men sigh in the midst 〈◊〉 Laughter reminding them that fâ—… those things they must give an Aâ—count that draws us Heaven-ward and inclines us to Vertue and Goodness to do to all Men as we would bâ—… done unto to be Just Sober Merciful Temperate c. Must needs bâ—… something that is not of us but 〈◊〉 pure and immaculate and of a divinâ— nature ever aspiring and raising thâ—… Mind towards its Original Whence it cannot be a Natural Light or meer light of Nature as very manâ— would have it who yet talk of the Spirit of God being in Man for 't is aâ— undoubted truth that no Agent can act beyond its own sphere and raise its object to a state more noble that it self nor produce effects of a Nature more sublime than its own Original Besides 't is very clear and evident from Scripture Job 21.17 Psal 18.28 that the Mind of Man is oft lighted by a Light superiour to that of meer Reason and that Man by the utmost power and extent of Humane Reason and Speculation though 〈◊〉 may arrive to an implicit knowâ—â—dge that there is a God yet can â—ver attain to a true spiritual and â—â—ving knowledge of God without the â—oncurrence of a Divine and Superâ—â—tural Agent Ro. 1.19 2 Cor. 4.6 Prov. 20.27 Luk. 24.45 Joh. 1.9 Eph. 5.13 14 17. Psal 36.9 For though the Mind 〈◊〉 Man as a Rational Being be that â—apacity or Candle that is to be Lightâ—â— yet 't is Christ that must so enâ—â—ghten it as to give us a true disâ—â—rning of those things that appertain â—o him and his Kingdom and by adâ—ering and yielding Obedience to its Discoveries Prov. 4.18 1 Cor. 2.10 to the end we shall know an Accession â—f more Light And the Apostle speakâ—ng of what God by his Spirit had reâ—ealed to them saith expresly that â—he spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God and that as none knows the things of a Man save the Spirit of Man which is in him so the things of God knows no Man but the Spirit of God That the Natural Man neither knoweth nor receiveth the
things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned and to that end they had received the Spirit which is of God The Light of Nature is occupied about natural Objects those things that are within its own Region acting within its own propâ—… Orb but reaches not to that knowledg of God which is Life Eternal except our natural Powers or human Capacity be illuminated by the Rays oâ— Divine Light for the World by Humane Wisdom knows not God Anâ— Christ saith very plainly and positively 1 Cor. 1.20 That none knows the Father but thâ— Son Mat. 11.27 and he to whom the Son revealâ— him That these strugglings in us should be the suggestions of Satan that he should disquiet and disturb People for their Sins for serving him and put them upon endeavouring to be freed from their vassalage under his power were absurd to imagine no our Saviour puts that beyond a Question when he asks Mark 3.24 27. Luk. 11.21 Can a Kingdom divided against it self stand And by and by saith plainly That whilst the Strong Man arm'd keeps the House his Goods are at peace till a stronger than he comes to bind him c. So that 't is clear it 's not the Devil but the approaches of a Superiour Power that breaks the peace of People for Sin and that follows and condemns them for Disobedience and Transgression and is the same that would and only can redeem their Minds â—â—t of that miserable state and bind â—…at Strong Man and break his power â—nd cast him out would they but joyn â—ereto and accept of Deliverance by 〈◊〉 Nor does its being extended to all Men through all Ages from their Youth â—pwards bespeak it to be therefore natural or contemptible but on the contrary of the greater moment to all Men For besides that the Apostle saith 〈◊〉 manifestation of the Spirit is given â—o every Man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 the Blesâ—ings and Gifts of God are free and valuable from their intrinsick worth God in nature ordained nothing in vain â—ut by how much any thing is of the greatest use to us for sustaining and accommodating our natural Life the more common it is as the Sun that gives Light to all thro' all Ages c. 'T is we fondly rate things according to our Fancies and esteem and prize them more for their Rarity and Curiosity than Usefulness but God bestows most universally that which is of the absolutest necessity to Man Are not all Men that are born Strangers and Enemies to God in the dark and at a distance from him in the State of Nature and must therefore be enlightned Jo. 3.3 5. converted and born again and becoâ—â— Spiritural before we can be reconcileâ— to him shall not God then that woulâ— have all Repent and be Saved 1 Tim. 2.3 4. 2 Pet. 3.9 cauâ—… the Light of the Son of Righteouâ—…ness to shine upon all and give measure of his Grace and Spirit to aâ—… to assist them in the accomplishment oâ— that in themselves which they cannoâ— do of themselves and yet is of indiâ—pensable necessity to our Salvation Wherefore God by his Spirit strive with Man so long as his day of Visitation lasts Since then our Opposers acknowledge the Spirit and Grace of God which also is Light to be in Man unless they can shew it by its manifestly different and superiour nature tendency and operation to be contradistinct from that we have been speaking of we see neither absurdity nor error in concluding it to be one and the same grace and free-gift of God to all which is always the same in nature though it differs in degree and is that Heavenly Treasure which God hath committed to our trust And blessed will they be who rightly employ and improve it Mat. 13.31 32. and give place and room to this seed of the Kingdom in their Hearts where though it may appear at first contrary to the expectation of Man little mean and contemptible scarcely regarded amongst the stuff wherewith Mens Minds are filled yet â—oyn but to it that it may exert its power and energie and 't will grow and increase Mat. 13.33 Luk. 13.21 let but this leaven have its perfect work and 't will leaven the whole lump into its own Nature Be pleased to consider whether we have justly merited the invidious invectives of our Adversaries Jer. 17.10 Ro. 8.27 Rev. 2.23 Amos. 4.13 in believing that the Lord searches the Heart of Man and shews him his Thoughts that he hath and will remember this â—atter Age of the World and hath not forgotten to be gracious in performing those bountiful Promises made in times past to the Off-spring of the Gentiles Jer. 31.33.34 Ezek. 36.26 27. Joel 2.28 29. Act. 2.16 17 18. Isa 54.13 Mat. 11.27 Isa 42.7 and 61.1 â—n placing his Law in our Hearts and putting his Truth in our inward parts â—n pouring out of his Spirit upon all the Sons and Daughters of Men in becoming our Teacher and giving us the knowledge of himself through the Revelation of his Son Jesus Christ who â—s come to open our blind Eyes and to bring us that were bound in darkness â—ut of the Prison-house who hath promised to be with his People to the end of the World Joh. 14.16 17 26. 16.7 in believing that God hath sent us the Comforter the spirit of Truth to be our Remembrancer and to guide and direct us in the way of Truth in attesting the sufficiency and utility of the Teachings of this Holy Unction 1 Joh. 2.20 27. sent into our Hearts in believing that though Christ be in his glorified Body in Heaven yet that he is present also in the Hearts of his People Joh. 14.17 20 23. 17.23 26. Isa 57 15. 2 Cor. 6.16 Prov. 8.31 who is King of Saints and shall he not then rule in them The High and Holy One that inhabits Eternity hath promised to dwell also with the Humble and Contrite to revive and comfort them shall not he whose Presence fills Heaven and Earth be present in the Heart of Man Shall not he that rejoyceth in the habitable parts of the Earth and delights in the Sons of Men reside in his People Are they not Members of him 1 Cor. 6.15 17 19. and he their Head Can there be a more intimate Union and Communion than between the Head and the Body Joh. 15.4 5. the Vine and the Branches The same Spirit of Life that is in the Head is the Life of the Body also and acts it he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit doth not the Life that is in the Root pass to the Branches also and preserve them living Are not all dead Branches in whom this Life is not Whosoever hath the Son of God Joh. 6.56 57. 1 Jo. 5.12 and feeds on him hath Life by him and those that have not Christ who is the Life of his Saints have
and homely and consisted more iâ—… Power and Divine Love than outward Observations Which in process of time was so drest and garnished that its August Splendour becamâ— inviting to others Under this Degeneracy in degree sprung up Infant Baptism a meer Humane Invention without any Scripture-authority either by Precept or Practice wherefore for those who don't use Baptism as 't was instituted under its proper Dispensation to upbraid us for neglecting it is absurd and unreasonable But that which makes the loudest Out-cry of all is our Dis-use of the Sacrament so called of Bread and Wine 't is this is that pestilent mortal Error that in our Opposer's Account renders us worse than the Papists whatever 't is that makes us the Spawn of the Jesuites which with several others are Epithets that to be sure were calculated tho' unjustly to render us as odious as may be to the People and carry a great deal of Rancour in them and savour of too much Gall to proceed from the meek Spirit of Christianity that teacheth to be at Peace with 2 Tim. 2.22 and have Charity for all that call on the Lord out of a pure Heart But whether upon the whole Matter we deserve this severe bitter Censure or whether those that so liberally bestow it upon us have a just right to cast the first Stone is what we desire our sober Neighbours to consider and not judge us also meerly from an implicit Belief of what others say of us We are not ignorant of the great Noise and Stir there hath been about this in Christendom to the scandalizing Christianity among both Jews and Turks The Papists have improv'd it to downright â—dolatry affirming 't is the real Body and Blood and as such adore it one would think 't were better let aâ—one Others that Christ is in it though they know not how One faith t is this another 't is that while they all seem to expect that from it which â—t doth not necessarily administer for want of distinguishing between that Bread of Life that came down from Heaven Joh. 6.51 56. that Flesh and Blood of Christ that giveth Life to all that feeâ—… thereon by which they dwell in him and he in them and that Supper which was eaten by the Primitive Christians in Commemoration of his Death and Sacrifice which are not so conâ—… next as that the one necessarily in cludes the other as Experience abundantly testifies would People but bâ— true to themselves herein how manâ— are there that receive this from Yeaâ— to Year who yet complain all theiâ— Lives of Deadness Dryness and Leanness of Soul and want of Power noâ— receiving that renewing of Life and Spiritual Strength that is proposed iâ— it and so but an empty Shadow indeed For how can they in truth expect to feed on Christ Spiritually iâ— their Hearts Joh. 14.20 21 23. who will not admit thaâ— he really dwells in his Saints but esteem it an Error in those that do However we believe all People oughâ— to be well perswaded in their owâ— Minds and seriously considerate in thesâ— and other Religious Practises and noâ— take up things meerly traditionally because others do it nor ought they to be vehemently prest to or against things not absolutely essential to Salvation in which their Understandings are not clear Nor should any be scoft or reproacht for those things which to them are Matter of Conscience and therefore Sacred though to others it may appear of less moment a Practice that â—…s a great Shame among People professing Christianity Nor do we judge and condemn those that are found in the Practice either of this or Water-Baptism as 't was primitively used whose Sober Christian Circumspect Lives witnesseth to their sincere Intentions herein who may be conscienciously tender in it and fearful to omit it till they are otherwise fully perswaded But for us to whom the barâ—enness and emptiness of these outward visible Things are manifest we cannot continue therein they yielding no true Soul-satisfaction nor administring any â—nward Spiritual Grace to us 1 Pet. 2.2 3. Wherefore having tasted that the Lord is good and gracious we wait for the sincere Milk of that Word by which we have been begotten to God that we may receive strength thereby 2 Pet. 3.18 and grow in Grace and the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and a greater Acquaintance with that true inward Spiritual Communion and Fellowship with him wherein he sups with his Saints and they with him Rev. 3.20 and receive Life by him who dwells in them and they in him as the Members are joyned to the Head Eph. 5.30 Joh. 15.5 and partake of its Life and live by it or the Branches to the vine which receive Life Vertue and Nourishment from him whereby Fruit is brought forth to the glory of God and well-pleasing to him 'T is not sufficient that we participate hereof once a Month or Quarter but as the Jewâ— had their Manna Exod. 16.21 fresh every Morning so ought we to receive a daily Supply and renewing of Strength in our inward Man by eating that Heavenly Bread that nourisheth up to Eternal Life and drinking plentifully of that Well of Living-Water Joh. 4.14 which in the Saints springs up to Life Eternal for as in God we live move and have our very being so is Christ the true and proper Life of the inward Man by which it truly lives to God nor can it live but by him Those that are begotten to God by the Word of Life and are born again of the Spirit are prlvileged thus to feed on Christ and enjoy him which none can do that are not first quickened and made alive by him none can receive Life Sap and Vertue from him as Head and Vine that are not first joyned to him as Members and Branches of him nor is it sufficient to make People Members of Christ and give them admittance to feed on him in that they were sprinkled when Infants c. as we have already express'd though they should eat Bread and drink Wine all their Days Since then we no less enjoy the Substance without the Sign why may we not omit it as either being but temporary or not of absolute necessity as well as our Opposers do that which was instituted to use their own term at the same time and with as great solemnity and greater formality and was no less positively commanded under the same pretence Why may not the same Authority absolve us from the use of this and exempt us from being chargeable with the breach of a Command of Christ as discharge them from washing one anothers Feet Jo. 13.4 5 8 14 15. and secure them from the like censure As also that of the Apostles Acts 15.20 29. concerning things strangled and Blood and that of James Jam. 5.14 15. anointing the Sick with Oil Why should they be thus partial Have we not good reason to conclude that if