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
spiritual Gifts and Vertue to witness the Testimony of Christ still in all this time And as God forsook Shilo where his Tabernacle was in Canaan first pitched for the wickedness thereof Jer. 7.12 and returned his Tabernacle no more thither Rev. 12.1 so God may reject this outward Court in which his Sanctuary once was and his Glory shined in it and for the wickedness of it never beautifie it with his true Sanctuary again but preserve his true Sanctuary by his Word and Spirit till Christ come Rev. 11 19. and the Holy Ones beneath and the Holy Ones above do meet and the false Prophet be slain and the Church become a Kingdom which whether hinted in leaving out the Name of the outward Court Heb. 9. I will not say but onely that the placing helps in Government among such Temporary things as came in afterward may afford these instructions to us and so leave it to each man as Light of Truth perswades But for the Gospel and these spiritual Gifts given from Heaven that they have already been abundantly confirmed by Miracles and they so divinely recorded as is enough to confirm Faith and no need of doing them over again is that affirmed and proved and yet to make it more cleer and evident we have it expresly testified 4. By the Apostles own words to the Hebrews when having set forth the excellency of Christ as in Testimony of him set forth and then exhorted them to diligent heed taking thereto Heb. 1. 2.1 2 3 4. he admonishing them saith How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was after confirmed unto us by them that heard him God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his own will So that the Gospel hath been confirmed above all that the Law of Moses was and as the Miracles confirming that was no more to be iterated after the Law was once taught setled and confirmed but those remembred with the Law yea the Prophets that came after endeavouring to move them to deviate from that Law with Signs and Wonders Deut. 13. were not to be believed or hearkned to so we are now warned for these times that false Prophets false Christs and Antichrists will come with signs and wonders to deceive and draw credit to their false Doctrine with Mat. 24.24 Mar. 12.22 2 Thes 2.10 So that which we are now to heed is the Word of the Testimony of Christ in which is testified Jesus to be The Christ the Apostles and first Witnesses to have declared his Minde even the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery and the spiritual gifts with which they went forth and the Gospel revealing all this to be taught and left upon record by them Mat. 24.14 Rom. 10.18 the sound whereof went through the whole World before the first Witnesses all of them left the World And it was and hath been setled in many Churches in divers parts of the World and sufficiently confirmed with Signs Wonders Miracles and miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghost already and they also written that we might believe And thus have I shewn according to this last and fullest Revelation of Christ who were chosen in and by him the first Instruments for laying the Foundation and beginning the building on it and so to set this glorious Ministration on foot and how plentifully they were furnished Now it is needful also to shew the Furniture of the following Witnesses that are of the same society and house and to carry on this Ministration to the same end till the return and personal appearing of Jesus Christ CHAP. 15. Of the Furniture of the following Witnesses till Christ come again WHo are the chosen of God in Christ to be Part 3. c. 11. and so are these Witnesses to carry on this blessed business till Christ come again is already before shewn and that they are such as through belief of his Grace in the Testimony of Christ delivered by the Apostles are by his Spirit built on Christ and so come unto Mount Sion Heb. 12.22 2 24. and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly of the first-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Jesus thn Mediator of the New Covenant c. and so have fellowship with the Prophets 1 Joh. 1.3 Eph. 2.19 22. Isa 59.20 21. Phil. 2.15.16 Heb. 3.6 1 Tim. 3.15 and Apostles and so with the Father and the Son being now fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God build upon the Foundation c. having the same Word and Spirit in their Heart and in their Mouth which the Apostles had these are to hold forth the Word of Life c. as hath been shewn for these are the House of God and of Christ the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth So that 1. Isa 43.10 Act. 13.47 As a Pillar was used for a Witness of Peace Gen. 31.51 52. so these are God's Witnesses to the World of Christ being his salvation to the ends of the Earth to open the eyes of the blinde c. 2. Isa 43.10 11. 1 Joh. 2.2 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 3.25 1 Tim. 1.16 Heb. 12.1 As the Pillar of the Cloud was a Testimony of God's presence and a Guide to Israel Exod. 13. so these are God's Witnesses and Holders forth of his presence and propitiatoriness to the World as Preachers and Patterns that they might repent and come in to follow him God spake to his People in a cloudy Pillar Psal 97.7 8. and through the same Pillar looked upon the Egyptians and troubled them Exod. 14.24 and so by and through these God speaks unto the World 2 Cor. 5.20 and manifesteth the savour of his knowledge through them 2 Cor. 2.14 17. which proves a savour of Life unto Life in them that in believing receive it and a savor of death unto them that oppose and rebel against it 3. As a Pillar the word is sometimes used to express some chief ones as Gal. 2.9 so whereas God hath testified his goodness in that rumour of the Gospel proclaimed in Paradise and in his works of Creation and Providence and after by Types and Prophesies and after by the Fore-runner of his Son Eph 3.3 4 5 6 9 10. 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 1 Tim. 3.16 and had Instruments suitable to each for Ministration yet when his Son is manifest as come in the Flesh who is the Brightness of his Glory and chief Testimony of his goodness so in that respect the Ministers that thus hold him forth they are the chief and such are these and the Church now 4. A Pillar is used for an upholder
forth in Prophecies in which attending to this Testimony minding and believing it it will make all Wisdom's Sayings plain and open the meaning and rightness of them t Joh. 12.36 46. Prov. 1.3 7. 2.2 7. 8.9 Joh. 1.18 14.7 1 Joh. 2.20 27. 2. It hath its meaning in it self and the same is in its Discovery according to the plain import of its Sayings it abhors all Equivocations dissembling and pretending any Love or good-will more then really is u Prov. 8.6 7 8. 26.24 26. 3. It hath Evidences and Demonstrations of Wisdom Power and Goodness and Motives unmatchable to draw to the Belief of its Testimony w 1 John 5.6 9 10. Rom. 5.6 8. Act. 5.32 11.21 4. It is the Instrument and Medium by which the Holy Ghost convinceth of sin unbelief and error x Joh. 15.15 8.7 8 9 10 11. and bringeth the convinced in to Believe and love the Truth y James 1.18 1 John 3.19 and leadeth Believers into all Truth z Joh. 16.13 14 and he that believeth this Testimony believeth the Truth and it being in them and they living according to it they are of the Truth a 1 John 3.19 and in the Truth b 1 John 2.5 2 John 4. and the Truth is in them c 1 John 1.8 2.4 3 John 3. and such as teach it are Ministers of the Truth d Rom. 15.8 2 Tim. 2.15 and such as acknowledge profess and obey it do acknowledge profess and obey the Truth e Heb. 10.26 1 Pat. 1.22 2 Joh. 4. 3 Joh. 3 and such as turn from it turn from the Truth f 2 Tim. 4.4 and such as oppose deny and resist it do oppose deny and resist the Truth g 2 Cor. 13.8 2 Tim. 3.8 So that we are well directed for knowing of Truth to the Law and to the Testimony in which Truth is and all the sayings thereof are true yea all the sayings in Scripture as they witness of this Testimony and are opened by this Testimony and agree in one with this are true and not only true but they are also exceeding plain as may be seen in that foresaid 1. In that God and Christ have affirmed these sayings to be not onely true but also plain and right h Prov. 8.6 9. Isa 45.19 Eccles 12.10 2. In that he affirmeth the end for which he hath written them to be that we might know the certainty of the words of Truth i Prov. 22.20 21 Luke 1.3 4. Ephes 4.3 4. Rom. 15.4 3. In that our Saviour directeth and commandeth for knowing and finding Truth to search the Scriptures k Joh. 5.39 to minde what is written and how we read in the Law and Testimony l Luke 10.26 Isa 8.20 and to apply the Ear to his Knowledge and so the Heart to the Words of the Wise that have written by his Spirit m Prov. 22.17 18 20. 4. In that our Saviour promiseth blessedness to such as believe on him as the Scripture hath said n John 7.38 avouching all that keep not his sayings that do not Believe Love and hold to his sayings to be no Lovers of him * Joh 14.28 5. In the Profession of those inspired with the Holy Ghost in the knowledge of the things of Christ that they spake them in the wisdom and words which the Spirit gave them to speak o Act. 2.4 1 Cor. 2.12 13. and this sincerely without craft in all plainness p 1 Cor. 2.17 4.2 2 Cor. 3.12 and not with a veil over their face 6. In the confession of those that have believed this Testimony that his Word is true very pure q Psal 119.160 140 130. Eccles 12.10 and bringeth Light and giveth Understanding to the simple 7. The Title put on this Testimony as The Word of Truth the Scripture of Truth r Col. 1.5 Dan. 10.21 8. The Commendation and Approbation of such as are diligent in searching the Scripture to see what is Truth and take heed to the Word of Prophecie as to a Light s Act. 17.11 2 Pet. 1.19 Now if the sayings of the Gospel in the Testimony of Christ have not the sense they naturally and plainly import where then is the Truth of God and Christ his Affirmation or the fitness in his words for his ends to give the certainty of the Knowledge of Truth or what Profit in following his direction in searching the Scripture or where is the Truth of this Promise or of the Prophets and Apostles Protestation or of the Title of the Gospel or why are any commended for searching it If it have not the sence it importeth in its own sayings who then shall tell us the sense what Man what Apostle what Angel or what Spirit when we are warned to hear none that speak other or beside that by these before already preached and written who have professed also before God That they did not lye in the things they writ and God hath born Testimony of them Gal. 1.6 9 12 20. Heb. 2.4 So that their sayings in this Testimony are true and plain and have the sense they plainly import and what the Prophets and Apostles have spoke and writ of this Testimony God hath spoken by them and if we believe God to be true and love him then will we believe and love his sayings and so to the Law and to the Testimony for the discerning of every Whisper Spirit Doctrine Opinion and Saying and if they speak not according to that Word there is no Morning-Light in them wherefore let God be true and justifie him in his sayings and let every man whisper Rom. 3.4 Eccles 12.10 Doctrine or Spirit that speaketh not according to his sayings be to us a lyar knowing his Words are true upright and plain though the wisdom of the flesh be enmity to them whose oppositions I will endeavour to remove CHAP. 3. Of the Enmity of Flesh and Satan to Him THe carnal Minde or Wisdom of the Flesh is Enmity against God a Rom. 8.7 so that the natural Man having no other but the Wisdom of Men the Wisdom of this World though never so learned wise prudent doth not approve or receive the things of the Spirit or his sayings but accounts them Foolishness b 1 Cor. 1.18 19 20. 2.5 6 41. And among the rest in this one thing hath this Enmity appeared in that it accounts light of the sayings of the Spirit of God in the Scripture and of that Knowledge given in the plain Testimony thereof c Jer. 8.9 and pretends in its fleshly Minde to a farther and better knowing d Job 11.11 12. Col. 2.18 by which it presumes to understand and to amend contradict the plain Sayings of God and to frame sayings better truer and safer for Men to believe and receive e Job 4.17 18 19. Isa 40.2 8. Isa 40.13 14. In which thinking to
and so he approveth as good and rejoyceth in all his own Works e Gen. 1.31 Job 38.4 7. Psa 104 4.31 Act. 15.18 And so having made not onely Mankinde but the Angels before holy and well-qualified he did approve their Essence which he made and the holy Qualifications he endued them with and the Place or Habitation or Degree he put them in and so loved them their Essence their Persons their Qualifications and in love so placed them as he did Mankinde whom he made Righteous c. And that he loved the Angels as he did Mankinde before they fell is evident by the Spirits Testimony That God is righteous and so both loveth the Righteous f Psal 146.8 and Righteousness g Psal 11.7 and knoweth that is owneth and approveth his own Works h Act. 15.8 and upholdeth the Righteous i Psal 37.17 and preserveth the way of the Saints k Prov. 2.8 Psal 1.6 and blesseth the Righteous and will not suffer them to be removed l Psal 5.12 and in all this God is the same for ever immutable without change or shadow of change in himself or in his minde to such approved and beloved ones Whence also it is evident That God did not first forsake the Angels nor did withhold or withdraw from them any part of that Wisdom Holiness and Strength wherewith he had indued them and by which they might have abode in that righteous happy estate he made and put them in and so have continued righteous and holy still and in acknowledging their supreme Lord have been established for ever m Job 4 7 18. 36.7 Psa 34 15. 37.28 Prov. 8.22.36 with Joh. 14.21 17.5 But those of the Angels that did fall they did voluntarily aspire to a higher degree of Dignity and Equality with their supreme Lord and so did first of themselves forsake God and so sinned and ceased to be Righteous and Saints they kept not their first Estate or Principality but left their own Habitation n Jude 6. and so by their Transgression provoked the Love of God to wrath whose Love is such as it abhorreth and hateth wickedness and so by their sinning they made themselves such that in their Persons Qualifications and Wayes they became the Object of God's hatred and wrath so that the change was in them not in God who because they so sinned and sinned of themselves without any other Tempter and sinned not all in one publick Representative but every one in their own Persons freely against so great Light and Goodness he hath therefore forsaken them and cast them down to Hell and reserved them in Chains of Darkness to the Judgement of the great Day to be then tormented in that Everlasting Fire prepared for them and such as by them are led to such-like personal Transgression o Jude 6. 2 Pet. 2.4 Mat. 25.41 Rev. 20.10 And yet in all this is there no change in God he in his Love is the same still though these sinning Angels be fallen out of his Love under wrath and hatred yea it would rather have implied a change in God if he had continued his Love on such presumptuous Transgressors And this also is written to admonish and warn men yea even Believers That none tempt the Lord by presumptuous sinning crying peace to themselves from the Love Mercy and Goodness of God fore-testified to them and the immutability of God in his Love and purposes which though true yet that argues not the immutability of all that are in any sort loved of him so as though they sin presumptuously his immutability engages him to love such notwithstanding so as those persons once loved cannot by any misdemeanor fall from being under that Love and become under hatred we are warned to take heed of such thoughts for it hath with some and may with others so fall out and yet no alteration in God for he hath shewn his mind to be even so p 2 Pet. 2.1.4 Jude 5 6. Deut. 29.18 19.20 And as for the Soveraignty of God it is one and the same and ever agreeing with his Wisdom Holiness Truth Justice Love and Purpose so that change by presumptuous sinning of Persons from being under Love to be under Hatred argues no change in God And this is clear in the case of the fallen Angels that I say nothing of Mankinde changed from being under well-pleasedness to be under wrath and displeasure though compassions were yet toward them who sinned all in one and by the subtilty of a Tempter yet the change in Man great in God none at all which shews the vanity of the Pleas and Inferences of some about and from the immutability of God in his minde and purposes 1. Pag. 13. p 2. That saying of Mr. Owen's That if God can by his power and Spirit keep them whom he doth not forsake in a state and condition of not forsaking him he doth forsake them before they forsake him is not fit for Argument to build Doctrine on or confirm with for it is neither true nor Scripture-like but is plainly derogatory to God and his Truth and Goodness and far from acknowledging that depth of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God Rom. 11.33 and rather tendeth to lead to fancy a depth of some openly appearing respect of Persons and causeless indignation cruelty and unrighteousness to be though no man can yet see how Righteousness which I hope Mr. Owen will not allow nor will he say His saying is meant of the fallen Angels yet Gods proceeding with them overturneth the truth of his saying so as it can be no ground or proof for him or others to ground any Opinion on or prove it by None in their right mind will say The fallen Angels transgressed not without cause God forsook them first and so free them from that number Psal 25.3 that transgress without cause as if God did first forsake them before they forsook him and so lay the beginning of the blame upon the Almighty whereas is was first wholly in themselves who were the first sinners and sinned from the beginning and so sin still Christ saith not Because there was no Truth in them before the fall but 1 Joh. 3.8 Joh. 8.44 Because he abode not in the Truth and so since the fall there is no Truth in him which reproves this foresaid saying 2. Another saying by this also appears untrue though used by many namely That whom God loves once he loves for ever if it had been What God loves once or such as God loves once he loves ever it would have stood for God loves Righteousness and so the Righteous and so Believers and Saints for ever But to say Whom or what Persons all and Every of them whom God loves once he loves for ever is not true and the surmise of it is grounded on a false conceit as if the unchangableness of God did either depend on or at least argue necessitate
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
so saith yea all quoted and the rest are against it 2. In this Purpose of glorifying his Son and shewing forth his Glory through him he purposed also to do both in this by creating by him an infinite or numberless company of Angels or heavenly Spirits all holy and good to attend on and minister to this his Son Heb. 1.4 6 7. Psal 104.4 and so to serve and glorifie God in serving and glorifying his Son whom only he had exalted glorified with equality to himself and to endue them with fitness and ability for this service and to free them from any seducing Tempter without them Job 38.7 Psal 9.7 Luk. 20.36 to turn them aside from it and in their rejoycing in him and acknowledge him their supreme Lord rejoycing in his Exaltation and well-pleasedness with their own place and service of him to establish them by his Son as his Sons for ever But if any of them contented not themselves with this their place and service Job 1.6 2.1 Jude 6. See Part 1. chap. 11. but aspired to a likeness and equality with God as was peculiar to his first-begotten Son then to cast them down for ever and reserve them in chains of darkness to the judgement of the great Day All which according to his Purpose he hath done 3. In this Purpose of glorifying his Son and shewing forth his glory through him he also purposed to create by him the Heaven and Earth and a VVorld of Creatures for Mankinde and so to create Man righteous c. for his Glory and the good of Mankinde as hath been shewn 4. See Part 1. chap. 9. In foresight of Man's Fall and Misery thereby he purposed still the shining forth of his Glory through his Son in working by him a Redemption and Restauration for Mankinde and a New Creation for all that by his Glory shined through should believe on him and that he should be the Judge of all See Part 1. ch 12 13. as hath been foreshewn And of the Purpose of God as new last mentioned and the Purposes included in it it is that comes within the compass of this Discourse and of no other for in consideration of this Purpose and Purposes included in it we shall meet with all that is revealed for us to know concerning the Purposes of God about Eternal Salvation for Mankinde or the Eternal Damnation of any of them And yet before we proceed it is needful to observe and minde well a few Cautions to prevent Mistakes CHAP. 2. Of some Cautions to be heeded to prevent Mistakes THat we distinguish between Foreknowledge Caution I. and Purpose or Decree By Foreknowledge I mean not fore-owning or pre-approbation in which sense the word is frequently used in Scripture but knowing before foreseeing or prescience In which sense the word is commonly used among ordinary people and sometime some word also bearing that sense used in Scripture and such foreknowing I mean Reply If any say Nothing could have any being life strength and ability of motion and action for God to foresee if God had not forepurposed and did not according to his purpose give and preserve the same Answer If it be meant of created beings and such life and power of moving and acting as is in Creatures then this is very true but if it be meant of all the demeanor of those beings and their various movings and actings in and with that power of acting and moving which God hath given them then this is not true Doubtless God did foresee how Jerusalem would abuse all that Life Beauty Ezek. 16.2 27. Riches and Ornaments he gave them but he did not will purpose or decree they should so abuse them though he purposed how to deal with them for it yea he expresly sa it They did both chuse such ways and do such abominations as he not onely not commanded them Isa 66.4 Jer. 19.5 32.35 but as came not into his Minde which can be no less then not purposed by him So surely God foresaw when he purposed to make the first Adam and to give him that life and power of moving and acting which he did and that Furniture he furnished him with how he would abuse his power and Furniture and sin against God but God never willed purposed or moved him so to sin Jam. 1.13 much less approved he should so do yea according to his purppose he afforded him sufficient means by heeding which he might have been preserved And farther he would not withstand and hinder him and so onely permitted but decreed not his Fall yet in foreseeing it he purposed to shew forth the Glory of his Goodness more in provision of a fit remedy for restoring of Mankinde of which Purposes we are to treat And indeed he said well that said God is so good that he would never suffer evil to be if he knew not how to work good out of it So that Foresight is one thing and Purpose another Reply If any reply But then God foreseeing these miscarriages did decree to permit the same Answer I answer If this be put in if Men by the means used by him to keep them from sinning would not be so kept back from sinning but notwithstanding all helps to preserve will transgress then I will confess the saying true else not though I finde not the Scripture anywhere calling such permissions decrees nor do such decrees if in such sense they may be so called come within the compass of such purposes as we have before us to treat of And so let this first Caution be heeded That the Purposes of God we are to treat of Caution II. are his Purposes of Eternal Salvation and of Eternal Damnation and not of such Purposes of God concerning Men as being verily fulfilled et even of those persons on whom they are fulfilled some may be Eternally saved and some may be Eternally damned so as the fulfilling of such Purposes neither necessitates the persons on whom they are fulfiled to be Eternally saved nor to be Eternally damned they being fulfilled both on the righteous and the wicked as for some instance 1. As God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth so did he also purpose and in his Purpose determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their Habitation Act. 17.26 27. and this with a gracious end and tendency for their good also in his way yet in this Purpose onely those and all those in all times ages and Nations of the World that fear him should be accepted of him Act. 10.35 so that though purposed and according to purpose some be Kings and Magistrates somâ— Subjects some Rich some Poor and all in a gracious tendency that they might seek and acknowledge the Lord in these condition some of all sorts have been found in every of these conditions seeking and fearing God and so walking
17.16 with 9.12 Now he that hath that is that here through hath an heart and so hath in usefulness doth in hearing hear and in seeing see and minding the Word come to his heart doth understand and so in heart turneth to learn of the Lord he shall be healed and have more abundance and so be enabled to believe that in believing he may understand the mysteries of the Kingdom and be eternally saved But whosoever hath not that is when an eye to see is given him c. and so he hath a voice and an ear to hear it a demonstration and an eye to see yea the word came with motion to his heart and yet though he hath all this he hath not that is he hath not by all this an heart he hath not in usefulness any of this given him he doth not in seeing see c. but for love of some other thing closeth his eyes c. lest by hearing and seeing and heeding that word that moved at his heart he should be turned from that thing he loveth Mat. 13.13 14 15 19 from these shall be taken away even that they have that sight and hearing and inward moving of the Word in their heart which they have shall be taken away yea even therefore and for that cause and so God will blinde and harden them and so Joh. 12.35.40 those that while light was with them Compar Isa 53. 1 6.9 10 with Joh. 12.35 38 â— 39 40 the Gospel plainly declared to them with such power and helps yet did not believe the report in the plain sayings thereof are said to have the purpose of God in so blinding c. according to the prophesie fulfilled on them yea to be so and on that very ground fulfilled on them and then when so fulfilled they could not believe And the Apostle also in Acts 28.27 renders this also even their own dulness of hearing and closing their eyes Isa 6.9 10 with Act. 28.26 27 28 lest they should see c. as the very ground and cause of that judgement of not perceiving fulfilled on them and so of their not believing And the Apostle Peter saith in effect by the Spirit of Christ the same 1 Pet. 2.6 with Act. 26.18 when having mentioned the excellency of the foundation laid in Sion and held forth by Sion to so gracious an end he saith 1 Pet. 2.7 Vnto you therefore which believe that is which having eyes opened to discern do in seeing see and so are perswadable Isa 4 2. 1 Pet. â— 3 4 5 7 Rom. 1.5 16.26 and brought in to believe he is precious he is beauty and glory comliness and excellency alluring and drawing you more and more in believing upon him but to them which be disobedient that is to the Faith preached to them being unperswadable when means is used Eph. 5.6 and such an object demonstrated and sight afforded Act. 4.11 will not in seeing see and so are disobedient even children of disobedience or unperswadableness the stone which the builders the Ecclesiastical pretended Teachers disallowed the same is become the head of the corner By which notwithstanding their disallowance and opposition Mat. 21.42 Psa 118 22 Mat. 21.43 1 Pet. 2.8 Joh. 3.19 Isa 8.23 16. you are brought in and builded on it and united together by it and they that so disallow it rejected and so that also follows And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to them which stumble at the word which can be no less then when by light discovered do of themselves first stumble being so distinguished from them that upon the discovery sanctifie God in their hearts for this gift of his Son these being disobedient whereunto also they were appointed Luk. 2.34 Isa 8.14 15 16 with Jer. 5.3 4 8.12 Prov. 1.23 24 25-31 Isa 5.3 4 5 Jer. 6.16 30 Ezek. 24.13 Which is very cleer to be that such as when Christ in the Gospel is set forth to them for their fall and rising again in discovery of whom all other Excellencies are cried down and the glory of God's rich Grace in Christ onely exalted they discerning the light what it discovereth do refuse to own their shame in the fall that they may by him onely be raised and so Christ is to them a sign and a rock of offence and they stumble And these and such as these even for this cause were appointed to farther stumbling and so cannot believe yea this is held forth cleerly to us also in many other places of Scripture all speaking in this Language as also in that example forementioned Joh. 6.28 30 41 42 60 66. So that concerning the Purpose of God who shall be helped to believe and who not we have it cleer from Jesus Christ by his Spirit in the Prophets and in the Apostles and in his own personal sayings to be men under such considerations and it becomes us to desire no other knowledge of this And to this also very well agreeth that which is said Rom. 9.18 He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will be hardneth For God hath not left us in the dark nor spoken as a Barbarian to us so as none can know by his revealed will on whom he will have mercy or whom he will harden but hath made known his minde that as he first sheweth mercy on or to all and this that they may repent And therefore discovers the evilness of their hearts and wayes and the emptiness of all their righteousness Rom. 2.4 9.16 Hos 13.9 Job 33.15 16-24 and of all earthy things to help them and that help is onely in and of him that sheweth mercy yea and afflicts them for not turning in to him by his mercy so also he lets us know to whom all this mercy shewn and means used and transgression still found he will yet shew mercy namely to such as by his continued mercies and chastisements for so gracious an end do on sight of his goodness against which they have transgressed fall down in confessing their sinfulness 1 Pet. 5.5 6 Jam. 4.6 Prov. 3.34 Mat. 23.12 Luk. 18.14 Prov. 28.13 14 Deut. 29.19 20 and in belief of the Testimony of his graciousness desire mercy of him he will shew mercy on them he will give Grace to them and lift them up But to such as in his call by the mercies and chastisements which he useth refuse to hearken and behold and so scorn to fall down and humble themselves under his mighty hand but still persist to go on in their own wayes he will not shew mercy on them but harden them and in the continuance of their persisting give them up to a reprobate minde and to Satan as is full and plain in many places of Scripture besides these quoted And thus the Purposes of God concerning Mankinde as revealed in Scripture are verily such as is said and in this written of them in these four
Truth Joh. 12.47 48. 2 Thes 1.10 yet nevertheless the Truth standeth firm and will one Day judge these Apostates and justifie such as believe in him So that by this opposition it cleerly appears he means Christ to be the Foundation 3. This also appears in the Words themselves with their Order and several Branches and Distinctions let them be every one considered 1. Isa 28.16 Psa 18.22 Mat. 21.4 1 Pet. 2.6 Act. 4.11 12. 1 Cor. 3.11 The Foundation of God standeth sure Is not this plain in Scripture-Language to be the Foundation God purposed and promised to lay in Sion which Purpose and Promise was before the laying of it and now according to Purpose and Promise he hath laid it and Jesus Christ expresly affirmed to be this Foundation the Love and Wisdom of God in his will found out and purposed this Foundation and according to his Purpose his Hand hath laid this Foundation and hath declared his Purpose of saving all that in believing are by Faith built on him who onely is the Foundation and there is no other The knowledge of this Foundation and so of the Love and Purpose of God according to which he is laid meet us with bands of Love to draw to him and fasten upon him or if declined to return to him that is so sure immovable and precious a Foundation And this cleer-here that none needed have imagined another nor feigned the Purpose to be the Foundation but to proceed 2. Having this seal This is plain This Foundation hath a Seal on it an evident and known Seal it is a sealed Foundation and so the Seal is distinct though not divided from the Foundation it is in it and upon it even that by which it is marked out to be known and to be sure and stedfast even that which God hath appointed and sealed in which Seal also is the sealing and approbation of all that through believing come to be built on him So that it is a demonstrating living quickning and confirming Seal and so Christ the Foundation was sealed approved testified and confirmed both by voice and works to be The Christ Isa 28.16 Mat. 3.17 17.5 Joh. 5.37 Joh. 6.27 Isa 55.4 1 Cor. 2.2 Isa 42.4 Rom. 8.28 8.2 Isa 28.16 8.16 51.4 2 Cor. 1.22 5.14 Eph. 1.13 Isa 2.3.4 Mic. 4.2 3 Isa 8.20 14 15 16. 28.9 16. 29.11 12. 42.21 49.6 13.47 Mat. 5.14 15. Phil. 2.15 16. Joh. 1.4 7 9. 5.35 Isa 44.26 Heb. 2.3 4. The Son of God that precious tried Stone laid for a Foundation and upon this ground he exhorteth to seek of him the Bread that endureth to Eternal Life which he will give to such as come to him for it because or for him hath God the Father fealed yea he being given as the VVitness or Testimony of God's Will Love Purpose and Faithfulness and so preached by the Apostles and for the Law which the Apostle calls The Law of Faith The Law of the Spirit of Life This the Foundation laid in Sion The Law and Testimony bound and sealed up among the Disciples of Christ The Law proceeding out of his Mouth and he doth therewith so seal those that believe in him that he indues them with his own Spirit operating in them so that the same Law and Testimony goeth forth from them to others And this is the Law and the Testimony to which we are to resort for the knowledge of all Truth though because of its crying down all flesh and the reproach it is in in the World and among the Children of the Bond-woman in the Church it is to them as a book pretended by the Learned to be sealed and by the unlearned to be out of their ability to read yet with Christ and in him the Lord is well pleased yea and for his sake with all that believe in him and will magnifie the Law and make it honourable yea he hath given him for a light to the Gentiles and to be his Salvation to the ends of the earth yea he will confirm and hath confirmed the same in making those that believe in him the light of the VVorld in holding forth the VVord of Life and bearing witness of him the true light and he will confirm the Testimony delivered by his Servants yea he hath abundantly confirmed this Testimony already Eph. 2.20 21 22. so that Jesus Christ as set forth in the Testimony of the Gospel he is the Foundation laid by God and ministerially by the Apostles even that Foundation on which the Apostles and Prophets yea the whole Church both of Jews and Gentiles are built and by whom as the Corner-Stone they are united in one and there is no other Foundation but this And this Foundation is sealed and hath the Seal on it which will be sealing all that come to be built on it so that hitherto even by this Word having this Seal We are led to own Jesus Christ for the Foundation on which the Seal abideth Now let us consider what this Seal is and that also is express 3. That Lord knoweth them that are his This is plain the Apostle delivereth not this the Lord knoweth them that are his as the Foundation which by his manner of delivery appears to be some distinct thing forelayed yea even before sealed but distinctly plainly and expresly as the Seal on the Foundation which it alwayes hath on and with it and that is this The Lord knoweth them that are his View the words in their own simplicity according to Gospel-Language and it will appear plainly That The Lord is the Name frequently throughout the Gospel as now come forth given to Christ a Act. 2.36 10.36 9.17 29. 11.16 16.31 20.35 Rom. 14.9 1 Cor. 1 2. 8.6 2 Cor. 1 2. 13.14 Gal. 1.3 6.18 c. but if any will take it for God the Father it will come to the same for the Father and the Son are both one and the same God b Joh. 2.1 2 one in divine Essence and in VVill and Design and in Testimony and Working c Joh. 10.29 30. 1 Joh. 5.7 Joh. 5.17.19 22 23. 14.6 10. 16.14 15. Heb. 1.3 yea the Father doth nothing but the Son doth the same yea he doth all by the Son that all Men might honor the Son as they honor the Father nor can any come to the Father but by the Son and all that is the Father's is the Son 's and through him his glory appeareth The Lord knoweth This Word is more then seeth discerneth and so knoweth Joh. 2.24 25. 16.30 Dan. 2.22 Isa 66.18 Luk. 16.15 Deut. 31.21 2 King 19.27 Isa 37.28 Jer. 48.30 Psa 138.6 139.1 5. for so God yea God in Christ and so Christ knoweth all things yea he knoweth what is in the darkness though onely the light dwelleth with him he knoweth the hearts of all Men even the worst of Men also yea
of living Waters Psa 36.9 Jer. 17.13 Mal. 4.2 Col. 2.3 9. Joh. 1.16 of Light Life and Spirit the Sun of Righteousness in whom all Light Life and quickning is in whom the fulness of the Spirit of life is and from whom it flows and so those that through Grace believe on him receive of his fulness and see light in his light and so in beholding of and believing in him the same Spirit that is in him floweth into them Joh. 3.6 and effecteth the minde and disposition of Christ in them which is also called Spirit in which respect Christ is said to dwell in them and the Holy Spirit is said to dwell in them who as proceeding from Christ and remaining in him so he entreth their hearts and worketh this new Spirit or disposition in them and by his light and operations dwelleth in it and so in them and this Spirit effected in them and dwelling in them they have derivatively from Christ and it cannot be had divided from him but they believing in him Eph. 3.16 17. have it of and from him and him within and by it and so they have him and this Spirit of and from him in their hearts by Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 2 Tim. 1.7 1 Ioh. 4.4 and it is in them a Spirit of Faith the Spirit of Power of Love and of a sound minde and this Spirit dwelling in them is greater and stronger then the Devil that is in the World so that they may full readily mix the Promises with Faith 1 Ioh. 5.4 5. yea and believing in the Son of God overcome the World their Faith being their Victory whereby they overcome And thus we have seen the Promises to Believers in their spiritual frames and exercises are many the Promises to them abiding in the Faith given them are many the Promises that they may abide many and the helps for their abiding many and all gracious from the Almighty God of Truth through the Mediator to Believers to whom Faith is given that they may and whoever as they may mix the Promises with Faith and so accepteth the Grace given may have the Assurance of Faith even for his perseverance in which the following Promises will be still farther helpful also let them be considered CHAP. 5. Of the Promises to be fulfilled to Believers after this Life THe fourth sort of Promises are those which are to be performed to Believers when they have lived and died in the Faith when their Battel is fought their Race run and so they have finished their Course and kept the Faith and so overcome The Promises to be then performed to them be great precious and of three sorts 1. Such as are to be performed to them at their death as all shall but such as survive at the coming of the Lord to whom such Promises not needful nor suffer they loss 2. Such as are to be performed at the Resurrection of the Just in the personal coming of the Lord. 3. Such as are to be performed when Christ delivers up the Kingdom to God the Father and so God is All in all I shall according to what I finde hint somewhat of each I. For the Promises that shall be performed to Believers at their death 1. They shall rest from their labours sorrows Rev. 14.13 Isa 26.20 21. 57.2 Ioh. 3.17 18. Zach. 9.11 12. 1 Thes 4.14 Ioh 17.13 16. 19.25 27. combates with temptations being kept as in Chambers of safety till the indignation in which the inhabitants of the earth shall be punished have gone over them all yea they shall enter into peace their bodies resting in the earth in their several places as in beds of peace and though in respect of the enjoyment of the great hope their bodies be as Prisoners yet are they at rest and free from all trouble and fear and so Prisoners of hope that sleep in Jesus and shall be raised at his coming to see him and come with him so it is a blessed sleep and rest 2. Their Spirits or Souls shall walk in their uprightness in the presence of Christ their Righteousness and under his Wings Isa 52.2 Rev. 6.9 10 11. Phil. 1.21 23. 2 Cor. 5.1 2 6 7 8. as the Altar of safety and solace enjoying a more full sight of the Person of the Lord Jesus and being nigher and having more full fellowship with greater rejoycings in him and with him and with the Spirits of just Men made perfect of which they now are then ever they did or could have enjoyed Heb. 6.12 15. 4.3 4 10. while they were in mortal bodies in which respect as touching their Souls they may be said to inherit the Promises to enter into rest and in both these respects the day of their death is better to them then the day of their birth was 3. Their works do follow them Rev. 14.13 Ioh. 15.16 2 Pet. 1.15 1 Tim. 6.14 2 Ioh. 8. 1 Thes 2.19 20. 2 Cor. 10.15 16. Heb. 11.4 12.1 that which through Faith working by love they have done in their preaching the Testimony of Christ their works of mercy their prayers their sufferings and constancy therein in bearing witness to the Truth and against Antichrist have not only had their fruits for holding forth the Faith and winning in others to God in their life-time but in the efficacy of the Truth witnessed by them in preaching and suffering in answer of their prayers and the memory of their good examples their fruits shall remain yea also multiply and encrease upon their account after their decease II. For the Promises to be performed to them at the coming of the Lord Jesus in and at the Resurrection of the Just they are of great and glorious things as to instance some of them 1. Their Bodies shall be raised again not corruptible 1 Cor. 15 23 42 45 52. 1 Thes 4.16 Phil. 3.21 Mat. 22.30 weak and mortal as before they had been but incorruptible powerful immortal and glorious at the very coming of Christ yea so as they shall be as the Angels of God though not Angels and Spirits onely Mar. 15.25 Luk. 20.35 36 Rom. 8.23 yet as the Angels and spiritual equal to the Angels for impossibility of dying or falling for strength agility swiftness of motion in ascending or descending and moving every way Thus shall their bodies be raised and united to and possessed of their own perfect Souls or Spirits for ever being both moved and carried about by the divine power 2. 1 Thes 4.17 Isa 9.4 5 6. 11.4 30.27 28 60.12 Zach. 14.5 2 Pet. 3.7 See Part 2 ch 17. Being so raised and made spiritual and glorious in Soul and Body they shall in a moment ascend and meet the Lord in the Air and so be ever with him yea come along with him to that great Battel in which shall be no carnal Sword no confusion no garments of any Saints rolled in blood and yet the
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