chosen from among Israel John 10.27,28,29 Of which Remnant were the Elect that should never be deceived by the Beast nor false Prophet And they are the Foundation which standeth sure But the forementioned which were the Elect among the Gentiles were cleared from their past Sins Rom. 3.25 by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness and therefore he saith Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect It is God that justifieth Rom. 8.33 But after they were thus cleared from their past Sins they were to walk in newness of Life and so are all And therefore when he found the Elect to walk disorderly and were guilty of Sin he 〈◊〉 not sparing to charge them with it and reprove them for it like as he did others Gal. 3.1 But he saith vers 35 36 37 38 39. He was perswaded that neither tribulation nor distress nor death nor life nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate them from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus But in the forementioned Verses he mentions not Sin knowing that wilful Sin will seperate them from God therefore the Apostle saith vers 11. And if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the Dead dwell in you that is continue or remain in them And accordingly he saith to the Elect Church of Corinth chap. 11.3 Fearing lest the Serpent should beguile them as he beguiled Eve And then their mortal Bodies will not be quickned again 〈◊〉 his Spirit being in them but if they did not â—…ve the Holy Ghost Ephes 4.13 thereby to cause him to withdraw then the same Spirit would raise up their mortal Bodies to have a part in the first Resurrection and to partake of the glory â—hen the Lord again comes Rev. 20.4,5 Ephes 2.7 〈◊〉 it is also by the same Spirit and Power of God that all that has done either good or bad shall be raised up at the last Judgment For Christ saith All that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Dannation John 5.28,29 But all that remain faithful to the Lord Jesus longing for his appearing Though they have not the Holy Ghost in them but with them they shall likewise have their part in the first Resurrection and receive the Crown of Righteousness in that day 2 Tim. 4. ver 8. But the Lord speaking of the first Resurrection mentions it very darkly John 5.25 because he spake to the Jews that were to be left to blindness so as seeing they might see and not perceive and hearing they might hear and not understand Isa 6.9,10 And likewise it is said the Lord spake to them in Parables and without a Parable spake he not unto them Mat. 13.34 And therefore the Lord also speaks to them darkly about the first Resurrection vers 25. Verily verily I say unto you the Hour is coming and now is when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live These words may have a twofold tendency in having some reference to the first Churches which had the peculiar calling and thereby brought in which was the Hour that then was but whereas the Lord saith the Hour is coming that of certain is the time when he again should come at which time the dead Bodies of the Saints shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and live And also then dead Israel 〈◊〉 both see him and hear his Voice and live And 〈◊〉 these words had their chief reference to the time 〈◊〉 Judgment Power and Honour is given to the Son is evident by the 22 23. Verses But according as the Evangelist saith So spake the Lord to them in Parable that they did not understand it Mat. 13.34 And thâ—… it is the Saints that rise in the first Resurrection 〈◊〉 all that have done good shall afterwards arise to the Resurrection of Life And Israel when judged will not be condemned for that they ignorantly committed against Christ for he prayed for them Luke 23.24 Blessed be the great and glorious God who hath enabled a weak Worm to vindicate his Justice to the praise of his Name and the comfort of his Creatures In that it is now made clearly appear the Judge of all the World will do right who publisheth his Praise by the weak things of this World that thereby all the Glory may be attributed to himself who is God blessed for ever and ever V. Concerning Election ELection doth not always secure the Elect from falling off but by God's electing some it was thereby to accomplish the Counsel of the Will of God as to what he had before determined And therefore accordingly he gave to one five Talents to the other two and to the other but one but every Man had given him according to his ability Matth. 25.15 And each having given them according to their ability that they might according to their day be capable to stand But them that was of the Remnant of Israel of whom the Disciples were they did not only stand by their Election but by a Promise from the Lord That none should â—…ck them out of his Hand John 10.28,29 But â—ikewise both the Disciples and first Churches received 〈◊〉 Holy Ghost to be in them whereby they were â—…ed to God by one Spirit and so beame a Light to the World and thereby the Prayer of Christ was fulfilled in that the World through them might believe that God had sent him John 17.21 Which accordingly â—…llowed for the Nations embraced the Faith and so â—…came the Seed of Abraham But the Elect were to Withstand all the Fury of the Adversaries and therefore had the more Talents given them for on them was shed forth the Holy Ghost abundantly Tit. 3.6 But if they did grieve the Holy Spirit of God whereby they were Sealed to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 For if they sinned wilfully after they had received the knowledge of the Truth there remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation Heb. 10.26 27. But all that have a true Heart separate from an evil Conscience may draw nigh to God in full assurance of Faith that they shall find acceptance through the Blood of the Lord Jesus and they in a more special manner who were fore-chosen to it vers 22. Now these having the greater Light if they fell away fell under the greater Condemnation And that some of the Elect did fall away that was not secured by a Promise from Christ is certain by what St. John saith That if they had been of them they would have continued with them 1 John 2.19 Therefore they were not of that Remnant but it is clear they were of the Elect because the Elect then were known by their Speaking with Tongues and by the Gifts that were given them by which God made them
World who acknowledge the Law and Prophets in the truth of these things it is certainly evident to us and the whole World that the Scriptures are true and the Word of God and to confirm the Truth of what God hath there declared he hath given us a Sign in the Heavens Signs upon the Earth and under the Earth and thro' the World But for Brevity sake I shall here mention but three which are evidently known to all First That the old World for Sin was drowned the Rainbow in the Heavens doth witness to the Truth of the Word Secondly God declareth that his Anger should set on fire the Foundations of the Mountains which should burn to the lowest Hell Deut. 32.22 Which for these many hundred years is come to pass and also that Hell should enlarge her self Isaiah 5.14 Which within these few years is wonderfully come to pass by the Rivers of Fire Pitch and Bitumen which has been sent out thence the which doth likewise bear witness to the Truth of God's Word and also Israel's being scattered doth witness to the World the Truth of the same XV. Christ proved to be the Son of God BUT peradventure some will say how can we prove the New Testament to be true and Christ to be the Son of God seeing the Jews do not own it I shall not here go to prove it from the Words of the Apostles as to believe it through their bare Word but I chiefly believe it because I find those things that were fore Prophessed of by the Prophets concerning the Messiah made good in the Crucified Jesus unto which sure word of Prophesies we are always to take heed And in that the Scriptures now again being rightly understood they are not contradictory to what God before spake by the Prophets for we are to believe nothing in contradiction to what God hath spoken by the Prophets for what God hath absolutely promised he will certainly perform And therefore to declare his Righteousness in the performance of his Promise he sent the Son of his Love to Suffer for Sinners as was declared by the Prophets and that for Israel's wilful Disobedience he was then a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of Offence to both the Houses of Israel for a Gin and for a Snare to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem Isaiah 8.14 Which accordingly so fell out for they expecting he should come as a King and not apprehending that he should first come to Suffer therefore he was Despised and Rejected of Men. A Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief they hid as it were there Faces from him he was despised and they esteemed him not Isaiah 53.3 And it was Prophesied concerning him Isaiah 7.4,15,16 That a Virgin should conceive and bear a Son and that he should be born in Bethlehem Mic. 5.2 And lowly Riding upon an Ass Zach. 9.9 And the Lords Sufferings and Death were likewise foretold Isaiah 53 7 He was brought like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep dumb before the shearers so opened he not his mouth Zach. 11.12,13 And they weighed for his price thirty pieces of silver Ps 22 16,18 And they pierced his hands and his feet Dan. 9.26 And the Messiah was cut off but not for himself all these hings and many more were made good in the Crucified Jesus Therefore I believe him to be the Messiah that Seed of the Woman that should â—…ise the Serpents Head Gen 3. And that Lord unto whom the Lord said sit thou on my right hand till I make thine 〈…〉 Ps 110.1 Which will be when the Lord again comes to deliver his People And for further Proof that this Lord is God God saith Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts And none can be the fellow of God but the Son of God which is God and therefore said of him that Was to be born in Bethlehem that his goings forth have been from of old from everlasting Mic. 5.2 And of him it is said Vnto us a child is born and unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and he shall be called the wonderful counceller the mighty God the everlasting Father the prince of peace Isaiah 9.6 And when this Prince of Peace shall come and take the Government then will he be to all his Sheep the everlasting Father and the God of the whole earth shall he be called Isaiah 54.5 And of this Prince of Peace it is said Thy throne O God is for ever and ever the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Psalm 45.6,7 And according to this the Apostles declare of Christ the Lord that he is God for they were not nor did not hold any thing in contradiction to what God hath declared by the Prophets and what is declared of God in the Old Testament there is nothing contrary thereunto in the New And as the Holy Spirit was spoken of throughout the Old Testament so likewise in the New only sometimes called Holy Spirit sometimes Holy Ghost which is all one it being the Breath of God which is called the River of God the Streams whereof shall make glad the City of God the Holy Tabernacle of the most High Psalm 46.4 Which pure River of Water is said to proceed out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22.1 therefore this River giveth Life and maketh glad Now as there is Figurative Heavens and Earth spoken of in the Old Testament so there is also in the New and as there is a Figurative Sea made mention of in the Old Testament so likewise in the New for there is in both several Figurative Expressions which have one and the same meaning aluding to one and the same thing in both which I have fully made appear in my Book of the Figurative Speeches therefore I shall not insist here up on it But God did not only speak mystically to Israel concerning Christ's first coming because for their Sins they might be snared broken and taken but the second coming of Christ is also to us now since we have lost the true meaning of the word these things appear very mystical in the New Testament to us that the wicked of the Adopted Seed whose turn it is now to be snared broken and taken for God by the Law and Gospel speaks to them that under it as I have fully made appear from the Scriptures in my Book of the Explanation of the New Testament and they are the World that will be Judged by it and the Wicked of them that will not live in Obedience to it are the World that will be then Condemned by it The which the Christians not apprehending they put the Day of Judgment far off expecting the Fall of Babylon and the Restoration of Israel to be before the
of the letter but of the spirit for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life Now the Apostles received their Knowledge immediately from the Lord Christ and also of the Spirit for the Holy Ghost was given to be in them by which they also understood things to come and by the Spirit they were made able Ministers not of the Letter but of the Spirit for all the Gentiles when they were first to be called in had he then Preach'd the Letter of the Law to them they then had thereby all been Condemned But the Apostles were upon the first Publication of the Gospel to Preach Remission of Sins by Christ to every one that would turn from their evil way and by that turn they were to live in obedience to the Letter of the Word And in that he saith they were made able Ministers of the New Testament was in that the Holy Ghost was then given as a Witness to their Testimony to confirm the Truth of their Word and likewise they did Administer the Spirit for 〈◊〉 the laying on the Hands of the Apostles the People received the Holy Ghost Acts 19.6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied So also Acts 8.17 But should any Man now pretend to Preach such Doctrin of Administring the Spirit and not the Letter of the Word the People had good reason to believe that Man was out of his Senses But some have given such a turn to these Words of the Apostle from hence pretending they are not to take the plain Letter of the Word as it is spoken but according to the Spiritual Interpretation which they have put upon it the which has been according to their own Fancy And so by leaving the plain Letter of the Word in what God hath declared promised and sworn to are thereby fallen into these great and dangerous Mistakes for the Scripture admits of no other Spiritual Meaning than what is there specified which is that we perform not the Letter or practical part of the Word to be seen of Men but in sincerity of Heart so as to Worship God in Spirit and Truth But in the Word there are many Figurative Speeches which admits of no other Interpretation than what can be made out from the Word leaving nothing therein to contradict what we say And likewise some have got another way to uphold their false received Notions which is that God speaks after the manner of Men and according to Man's Understanding and if so how doth any Man dare to open another â—…ay for Man to understand of God than what God thought fit for Man's Understanding But there is no such thing said of God throughout the Word but St. Paul to 〈◊〉 the Covenant said that he spake after the manner of 〈◊〉 though it be but a Man's Covenant yet if it be confirmed no Man disanulleth it Gal. 3.15 But our Reformers had done well if they had said there was a great Secret in the Word which as yet they understand not and that it was not to be medled with till the Lord did give more Light according to his Promise before the time of the end and not to have set the Scriptures by their mistaken Interpretations at an unreconcileable Difference as they have done or it would have been much better to have thought that when the False Teachers had ingross'd the Word into their own Hands that they might have put in some words to make the New Testament appear to contradict the Old in what God had positively Promised and Sworn to therein seeing that God had intrusted Man with the Word for his Posterity as Adam was intrusted with Eternal Life for his Posterity the one being forbidden to Eat of the Tree and the other that they should neither add to nor diminish from the Word Gen. 2.16,17 Deut. 4.2 Rev. 22.18,19 But as a Reverend and Worthy Dr. said That when the Reformers first came out of Popery they did plainly see that the Papists were wrong but they themselves did not understand how to come right and indeed in losing the true meaning of the Word it was a hard matter so to do But now God according to his Promise has caused Light to break forth at Evening time Zach. 14.7 And has removed the occasion of Mistakes that thereby Knowledge might be increased whereby the God of Truth is made plainly appear to speak Truth as he is Truth and that he will do in all things according as he has said who having employed and enabled a weak Worm to vindicate his Truth and Justice to the Glory of his Name and the Comfort of Mankind Now such as will stand up to vindicate their false received Notions thereby to make the God of Truth a Lyar let them take what will follow for their Pains I am sure that the honest Heart will be glad that the Truth of God's Word is made plain and his Honour therein Vindicated I understand that some of the Honourable of the Clergy of the Church of England are well-wishers to the Truth and the soundest in the common Faith in the Knowledge of which is our Interest are part of the French Protestants part of the Church of England the Danish and Swedish Ministers and the Baptists that acknowledge that Christ Died for the World I am not to speak for Favour or Affection but as the Truth is in Jesus according to the Gospel A Papist told me that the Church of England gave the Sacrament as the Body and Blood of Christ the which I denied for though they give indeed the Bread and Wine in the words of Christ yet they do not give it as his real Body but as his Figurative Body as Christ did when he was setting whose with them at the Table for the Lord was no otherwise broken in the Sacrament than he was Slain in the Paschal Lamb yet he was said to be Slain in that Sacrifice but what great Mistakes has it caus'd the Christians to be in because they and we have lost the right Apprehension of the Scripture way of speaking XVIII An account of the Lord's five times Hiring Labourers into his Vincyard WHereas the Lord saith Matth. 20.1,2 ' The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Man that is an Housholder which went out early in the Morning to Hire Labourers into his Vineyard and when he had agreed with the Labourers he sent them into his Vineyard ' In the first place we are to take notice by the Comparison that every time the Lord hired Labourers to work in his Vineyard he came forth from Heaven and Hired them that is Agreed or Covenanted with them himself as with Noah and likewise with Abraham and also with Israel in the Wilderness and so Christ when he Established the Gospel the Agreement was that all that were Hired were to Work in the Vineyard and to have a Reward for their Labour And at the last time when the
if so be the Spirit of God dwell in them Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his vers 9. Now there was a twofold Indwelling of God in the first Churches by his Spirit That is there was first a complying frame of Spirit to the Will of God so as not to walk after the Will of the Flesh but after the Spirit which was in a holy Conversation without which no Man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 For if we have not thus the Spirit of Christ we are none of his for it is required that the same Mind be in us as was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2.5 Therefore it is not the Seed after the Flesh to whom the Promise belongs which live after the Will of the Flesh and of the Mind whether of the natural or the adopted Seed of Israel they are not the Seed to whom the Promise is made but the Seed in Christ and Isaac both of Jew and Gentile which walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit so as to have their Wills brought into subjection unto the Will of God are the Seed to whom the Promise belongs For to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace vers 6. For the Kingdom of God and Christ must be within us Luke 17.21 if we are his For Christ must have the ruling Power in the Heart And God also saith Give me thy Heart And when we give to God and Christ the ruling Power in our Heart then is his Kingdom within us And if Christ be in us the body is dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness vers 10. Thus the true Believer is dead to the World that he may live to God And this ruling power Christ had in the hearts of his Disciples before he gave them the Holy Ghost And likewise all that did receive the Holy Ghost to be in them for the confirmation of the Gospel Christ had first the ruling power in their hearts and they yielded to him to be his Servants and then were they Baptized and thus they were prepared before they could receive the Holy Ghost to be in them by which they were then glorified and had power to speak with Tongues and work Miracles and Prophesy and understand Prophesies for the Spirit was to teach them all things John 14.26 And so by all it was then known who were the Elect And these were those whom God made to differ 1 Cor. 4.7 But some through negligence and heedlesness the Prince of Darkness makes to differ they following his dictates and so corrupt thâ—… way and when they have accustomed themselve◠〈◊〉 do evil then it is they cannot learn to do well Aâ—… some make themselves to differ by taking heed to their Ways according to the Word of God And so by considering their ways they become wise Psal 119. â— For God hath promised to bless such endeavours Prov. 3.6 For the common drawings of God are the Invitations of his Word and the good motions of his Spirit But the fore-mentioned were chosen according to the Counsel of the Will of God by the which Will they were sanctified Heb. 10.10 And received the Holy Ghost to be in them And Christ said the World could not receive the Holy Ghost because they knew him not John 14.17 For the World then lay in Wickedness and therefore they could not then receive him because they knew him not and were not prepared for the receiving of him 2dly God did not intend to give the World the Holy Ghost to be in them but to be with all such as will keep his Way And therefore Christ prayed for his Disciples and first Churches which believed on him through the Word 〈◊〉 â—he Disciples as he did not for the World but that 〈◊〉 World through them might believe that God had sent him John 17.21 And therein he prayed for the World and by the evident Witness of the Holy Ghost in them the World did believe and the Nations embraced the Faith by laying hold of the offered Mercy in the common Salvation And Christ did but promise the Remnant which were his Father's Sheep before and given to him that he would be with them to the end of the World and that he would send them another Comforter which should abide with them for ever John 14.16 But he doth not say In them for ever And he will be with all while they keep the Way But the Apostle knowing that the Holy Ghost would 〈◊〉 remain in their succeeding Generations in this time 〈◊〉 â—efore he saith Prophesie should fail and Tongues they â—ould cease and Knowledge it should vanish away 1 Cor. 13.8 Which came to pass when the Nations came to have no Love to the Truth but took pleasure in Unrighteousness Then God gave them up to strong deâ—…sions that they should believe Lyes 2 Thes 2.10,11,12 〈◊〉 he did Israel for Sin to blindness of Mind But Love and Charity among the Faithful was ever to remain as Love to God in their obedient walking according to knowledge and Charity to their Neighbour For Faith Hope and Charity were the Graces that would abide 1 Cor. 13.13 with them that will be faithful And the Apostle saith The time would come when they would not endure found Doctrine but after their own Lust shall turn away their Ears from the Truth For the generality of the World chose to themselves false Teachers before God gave them up to delusions 2 Tim. 4.3 For a Believer is no longer a Believer than a Righteous Man is a Righteous Man in the day that he wilfully commits Iniquity Ezek. 33.12 But they which live holily thereby bring forth Fruit to the Spirit But the Eternal Life that Christ gave to his Sheep which were his Father 's before was given to their Persons and Posterity and to every Believer while they continue in Believing Salvation is to be had according to his Word in the way of their Obedience For every Tree which bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Mat. 3.10 And it is a meer Stratagem of the Prince of Darkness in perswading any Man God will not punish according to his Word that was the way he beguiled Ewe and so he doth the generality of Mankind IV. A Twofold Indwelling of Christ by his Spirit in the first Churches AND whereas St. Paul saith Rom. 8.11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead 〈◊〉 also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Here the Apostle writes to the elect Church among the Romans who were then called and justified and glorified by receiving the Holy Ghost to be in them 1 Pet. 1.11,12 But these had not the Promise from Christ that none should pluck them out of his Hand That Promise did appertain to the Disciples which were of that Remnant
vvas his VVill and his VVord he Gloriously and Terribly appeared on Mount Sinai and to confirm the Gospel he first sent dovvn the Holy Ghost in cloven Tongues like Fire Acts 2.2 And then because that vvould not be a sufficient Evidence to the VVorld vvhat vvas done at Jerusalem altho there vvere then some of all Nations there then present yet notwithstanding for the farther confirmation to the World that God had sent Christ he therefore took from among the Gentiles a People for his Name at the first visiting the Gentiles by the Gospel Acts 15.14 Who through the conviction of the Spirit upon the word of the Disciples believed in Christ through their Word John 17.20 And the Word in this place Christ terms their Word because they received it from the Mouth of the Disciples and believed it God having then given them no other outward visible Testimony than what they had from the Disciples whose Word they believed and so were Baptized And afterwards the Holy Ghost was given to be in them according to the Promise of the Lord John 14.17 by which they were glorified ver 22. 1 Pet. 1.2 And became united to God by partaking of that one Spirit that the World might believe that God had sent Christ John 17.21,22,23 by the mighty Power Signs and Wonders that were seen among them These were those that were foreknown called justified and glorified Rom. 8.29,30 by their receiving the Holy Ghost to be in them by which their Bodies became the Temples of the Holy Ghost These were those that when they were brought before Governours and Kings were to take no thought how or what they should speak for it should be given them in that Hour what they should speak for the Spirit of the Father spake in them Mat. 10.19,20 For the Holy Ghost which was but with the Disciples was afterwards given to be in the Disciples and first Churches John 14.17 chap. 17.21 So then the World did not believe in Christ through the alone word of the Disciples but through the evident demonstration of the Spirit of God which was evidently and visibly mannest in the Elect by their Speaking with Tongues and working of Miracles so as the World thereby might have sufficient Evidence to believe that God had sent Christ And thus was the Prayer of Christ fulfilled in that the World might believe that God bad sent him John 17.21 And the Gospel being thus wonderfully establish'd Heb. 2.4 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things is they were first delivered and not as we first received them And the care of the Lord was such that although he commanded his Disciples to teach all Nations Mat. 28.19 yet notwithstanding they were for bidden by the Spirit to preach the Word in Asia and Bythinia Acts 16.6,7 till such time the Elect were called in that by their receiving the Holy Ghost to be in them they might be a Light to the World And afterwards the Word was preached in Asia and believed on there Rev. 1. And St. Paul saith That the Gospel had been preached to every Creature under Heauen Gol. 1.10,23 And that their sound went through the World Rom. 10.18 And that the World embraced the Faith in the Apostles time Col. 1.16 And their standing was as they continued in the Faith and were not moved away from the hope of the Gospel by which the promised Hope is attained And upon the perfermance of this condition God will never forsake any for as the Lord is the Author of Faith so to them that obey him he will be the Finisher Heb. 12.2 chap. 5.9 the word our in this Verse is not in the Greek And whereas St. Paul saith That none can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 This the Apostle spake when the Gospel was first publish'd at which time the Holy Ghost was given for the confirmation of the truth thereof But since the Christians have learned to say by rote that Christ is the Son of God without the assistance of the Holy Ghost And whereas the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can be know them because they are spiritually discerned That is whilst the natural Man gives himself to sensual delights as the pleasures and profits and other advantages of this life which in the 6th vers is termed the wisdom of this world he will not give himself a liberty to consider his ways to be wise And therefore such cannot receive the knowledge of the things of God because they are spiritually to be discerned that is by a considering Spirit or a Spirit of Consideration And therefore God often calls to Man to consider their ways Deut. 32.29 Job 34.27 Psal 50.22 Isa 1.3 Chap. 5.12 Ezek. 18.14,28 Hos 7.2 2 Tim. 2.7 Rev. 2.5 And also St. Paul saith 1 Cor. 3.18 If any Man among you seemeth to be wise let him become a Fool that he may be Wise For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God But by our forsaking the Vanities Pleasures and subtil Craftiness of the World is the way to become wise in Spiritual things And if ye resist the Devil he will flee from you draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you James 4.7,8 And David by making the Law of God his Meditation became wiser than all his Teachers Psal 119.99 And if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth and upbraideth not and it shall be given him James 1.5 If thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy Voice for Vnderstanding If thou seekest her as Silver and searchest for her as for hidden Treasures then shalt thou understand the Fear of the Lord Prov. 2.3,4,5 Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get wisdom and with thy getting get Vnderstanding She shall give to thine Head an Ornament of Grace a Crown of Glory shall she deliver to thee chap. 4.7,9 But the worldly wise men the Apostle saith will be taken in their own Craftiness 1 Cor. 3.19 And whereas the Apostle saith vers 7. Neither is he that planteth any thing neither is he that watereth but God that giveth the encrease This he spake upon the first publication of the Gospel upon the calling in of the Elect which great increase God gave by a fore-appointment of whom he said they knew God or rather are known of God Gal. 4.9 Because they were those that were fore-chosen For herein he had his reference to the then time which was the great Day of Salvation when the Elect were called in and a Door of Mercy set open to the World that they might take hold of the offered mercy in the common Salvation The which the Nations did and so became the Seed of Abraham But they that were made the Temple of God if any of them defiled the Temple of God him would God destroy 1 Cor. 3.16,17 For St.
Paul's Epistles had their peculiar tendency to them of that time to whom he wrote who then had turned from worshipping dumb Idols to ferve the living God who was then in a more peculiar manner brought home and was then justified through the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness in the Belief of the Truth without their before performing the Deeds of the Law so as none might charge them for their Sins that were past Rom. 3.25 but then they were to walk in newness of Life These were those that were saved not for Works of Righteousness which they had done Tit. 3.5 Thus was a Door of Mercy set open not only to the Elect that had the peculiar Calling but also to the World that had the general Call by the Gospel and believed like Abraham the Word of the Lord. And as he for sook his Country his Kindred and his Father's House So were the Christians to forsake all the Vanities of this present evil world the which accordingly they did And the Lord knew that Abraham would command his Children and his Houshold after him that they should keep the Ways of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he had spoken of him which Promises were to be performed upon Conditions the which conditions he fulfilled So likewise the first Churches generally obeyed and commanded their Children and Houshold after them to keep the ways of the Lord Heb. 2.1,2,3 and to walk blameless and they were to hold fast that which they had received till the Lord comes Rev. 2.25 1 Tim. 6.17,18,19,20 But when the Christians as Israel formerly had done forsook his ways they then became estranged from God and so their Children became estranged from the Womb and stopping their Ear like the deaf Adder who will not hear the Voice of the Charmers charming never so wisely Psal 58.4 Here we see their Ears were no otherwise stopt than as they stopt them themselves And such as harden themselves in Sin and will not do justly God chooses to harden them in blindness and unbelief of the truth and such will be the Vessels of his Wrath and sore Displeasure But as for those that have not so hardned themselves in Iniquity so as to become thereby under a stupid sence let them seek to God for his assisting Grace that thereby they may be enabled to withstand Sin that they may not be guilty of the like again and then will not the Prayers of the Wicked be sin when they go to God to ask Forgiveness for that which they never intend to commit again but it is their Prayers are abomination and Sin who ask Forgiveness for those Sins which they intend to commit again XIII Concerning being Born again WHereas Christ said to Nicodemus John 3.3 I say unto thee except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Here Christ doth not say every Man must be born again that seeth the Kingdom of God but such a Man or Men as Nicodemus that had embraced this present World and valued the praise of Men and so ashamed to own Christ and therefore came to him by Night such must be born again or brought off from the World or they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God But whereas the Lord saith vers 5. Except a Man be born of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God In this Verse he doth not say that all that enter into the Kingdom of God must be born again altho all that enters must be born of the Spirit For some were born after the Spirit from their Mother's Womb as John Baptist Luke 1.41,44 and Jeremiah Jer. 1.5 And the Prophet David says God made him hope when he was upon his Mothers Breast Psal 22.9 And Saint Paul was separated from his Mother's Womb Gal. 1.15 Acts 26.5 And all the Children of Believers are said to be Holy 1 Cor. 7.14 that is before they commit actual Sin Likewise Christ saith Suffer the little Children to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of God Mark 10.14 Mat. 18.10,3,4 Therefore no need of their being born again But as the Lord had a Figurative meaning in his saying a man must be born after the Spirit So it was here but a Figurative Speech in that he said a Man must be born again for the Lord had here no reference to the natural Birth for first those that are Religiously brought up and walk all along in Integrity and do not wilfully corrupt their way such are born after the Spirit and those that like the Prodigal wander from home thereby they become born after the Flesh such must be regenerated that is to say born again or they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And tho' there is original defilement in all Children so the best of Saints are not here without Sin but Christ will take away Original Sin from both Ezek. 18.20 And whereas Christ saith John 3.8 The Wind bloweth where it listeth The Lord had here his more peculiar reference to the time when the Elect were to be brought home by the inward touch of the Spirit upon the heart which then in a more wonderful manner the Spirit like the Wind blew where it listeth Now Nicodemus being one of the Rulers of the Jews unto whom Christ always spake in dark Sentences and Parables And without a Parable he spake not unto them Mat. 13.34 And all that Christ here said to him was so Mystical that it appeared to him as a Paradox But no doubt after the Lord's Ascension but those Rulers that desired the knowledge of the Lord before he suffered believed on him when the Gospel was taught and the Scriptures opened But before these Mystical Sayings of Christ were opened they seemed to contradict what before they had received and therefore they could not believe And it is said Psal 53.2,3 God looked down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there were any that did understand that did seek God Every one of them is gone back they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one From these words it is plain that they might have sought God and God did expect better from them but they were gone backward and became filthy through their own default But with these that were gone back the Elect Remnant were not reckoned For at that time God said of them that were gone back that they did eat up his People as they eat Bread vers 4. And God's People in Scripture are termed the Sons of God and therefore not reckoned with the Children of Men. And tho' God has concluded all under Sin so as none can be saved without the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness Rom. 3. But whereas St. Paul saith in the 10th and 11th Verse Wherein he could have no reference to the Remnant For he saith There was none Righteous no not one There was none that sought after God For if he
Ezek. 14.7 And like not to retain God in their knowledge but in the way of well doing we may commit the keeping of our souls unto God as unto a faithful creator 1 Pet. 4.19 Now St. Paul speaking of the Creation of the World in the fore-going Words Rom. 1.20 makes mention of it as such and not as the Foundation of the World And all the Apostles in all their Writings agree in calling the Twelve Tribes the Foundation of the World to come And likewise Zachariah the Priest said God hath raised up a Horn of Salvation in the House of his Servant David Here he doth not say that this was Prophesied of from the Foundation of the World but by all the Holy Prophets since the World began Luke 1.69,70 That he would raise up a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David And in David and Solomon was the Typical Kingdom of Christ And after David had received the Kingdom God by the Prophet said His seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the sun before me Psalm 89.36 This ever is the ever of the time to come the which all the Prophets Prophesied of from David till Christ came but no Prophet Prophesied that this Salvation should come out of the House of David before David was and had received the Kingdom But we not apprehending the difference between the Creation and Foundation nor the beginning of this World to come has cast us into most dangerous Mistakes for thereby we have received another Faith than what the Gospel teacheth in thinking none but the Elect can be saved and that some thereby have thought they should be saved by the Righteousness of Christ contrary to the Words of Christ which are upon the condition of their Obedience which will prove destructive if unrepented of Likewise we have another Hope than what the Scripture Teacheth for by our Predecessors falling into Popery we have lost the form of sound words as they were first delivered and to maintain our received mistaken Notions we must not believe what God hath declared promised and sworn to And this out of pretence of justifying God's Wisdom which some say doth greatly consist in God's sore-knowing all the Wickedness of the Devil and Man from all Eternity whereby they make God the first conceiver of it and likewise with such approbation as some say as he did not only suffer it but decreed it to be committed which is so quite contrary to the Holy God as the thoughts thereof are to be abhorred it being Blasphemy for to think it for he hath absolutely declared against it For it was after God saw that Man had corrupted his Way it repented him that he had made Man upon the Earth and God said it griewed him at his heart Gen. 6.6 Now whether it is right in the sight of God to believe Man rather than God judge ye Acts 4.19 And that God that is an unchangeable Being in Holiness Wisdom Justice Goodness and Truth which are his proper Attributes and therefore impossible for God to lie Heb. 6.18 For God is not a man that he should lie neither the Son of Man that he should Repent that is when God hath absolutely promised a Blessing he will certainly perform it as it is here declared Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Numbers 23.19 And we are to believe of God in every thing as he hath declared of himself to be moved to pity upon Man's Repenting and Returning and to Anger and Wrath upon Man's Rebellion and of certain God will never be angry with any for believing what he saith or hath promised or sworn to And the Prophet for believing what another Prophet told him in contradiction to what God had declared to him a Lyon met him and Slew him 1 Kings 13.17,18,24 And as the Faith of Abraham was set down for our Example so this was Recorded for our warning that we might not believe Man in contradiction to God Now Christ and the Apostles being rightly understood are found to agree with the Words of God and the Prophets and the Care of the Apostles was such as to compare spiritual things with spiritual things 1 Cor. 2.13 To see if the Spirit spake in them agreeably to what the Spirit spake in the Prophets of old that thereby no Delusion or Deceiver might creep in among them for God did never send his Son and the Servants of his Son to contradict what he himself hath declared promised and sworn to XVI The Glory and Blessedness that will be in time to come For the Lord will come to judge the Nations in the valley of Jehosaphat and restore his People Israel Joel 3.1,2,12,13,16,17,18 and then it is the Lord will make Mount Sion and eternal excellency and the joy of many Generations Isaiah 60.15 And then it is his people shall be all righteous and inherit the land for ever Then it is a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation the Lord will hasten it in his time Isaiah 60.21,22 Here the Lord sheweth there will be another time after this time in which his People will be blessed against which time St. Paul ordereth Timothy that he should charge them that are rich in this world that they be rich in good works laying up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come 1 Tim. 6.17,18 And sure if we were not blind we could not think that all that are Rich in this World are Elected but that by doing good Works all may lay hold of eternal Life ' for Christ is become the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him ' Heb. 5.9 Whether Elect or not Elect but those that remain blind now God has made plain his Word is because they have no desire to see but whether some will see or not it is in the time to come that God will make that promised new everlasting Covenant with his People and put his laws in their inward parts and write them in their hearts and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know ye the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord Jer 31.33,34 And in that day the Lord will make a covenant for them with the beast of the field and with the fowls of heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and then will the Lord break the bow the sword and the battel out of the earth And then will the Lord betroth Israel to him for ever in righteousness in judgment in loving kindness and in mercy Hos 2.18,19 And then the days of his People shall be the age of a Tree and then it is the Meek shall inherit the Earth and delight themselves in the abundance of Peace and then it is the evil Beasts will cease out of the Land Ezekiel 34.25 Now this Covenant some have blindly imagined that it
Angels of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 Gal. 1.8 And we were to receive nothing in contradiction to Moses and the Prophets Luke 16.31 But God will carry on his work according to his word As for any to expect the Spirit to be poured out upon them to prepare them for the coming of the Lord is a great Mistake and the Prince of Darkness would gladly perswade any to believe that for by that belief he keepeth them from preparing themselves that thereby they may be taken at unawares for Satan has many Wiles to deceive poor Souls For the Christians will not have the Spirit poured out upon them before the Lord comes to prepare them no more than Israel had when the Lord first came for if so the Lord would not have commanded them to be upon their watch lest coming suadenly he should find them sleeping XIX Christ saying all Power was given of the Father Explained WHereas Christ said after he arose Matth. 28.18 All power is given to me in heaven and in earth That was he then had paid the purchase of it and he was then as really assured of it as though he had it in Possession having the Promise of God for it And it is the Scriptures usual way of speaking to mention things that are to come as though they were then present Accordingly God said to Abraham I have made thee a Father of many Nations at which time he was not Father of one Child But God having promised it was certainly to come to pass and therefore spoken as then done Gen. 17.5 Rom. 4.17 According to which Christ spake for it is the World to come that is to be put in subjection unto him Heb. 2.5 And when the seventh Angel soundeth then it is the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 When he hath taken to him his own great power verse 17. I hope the Christians will consider these great Truths that they may not be found upon a false bottom For God doth not now compel but chalk out the way and leaves Man to chuse or refuse to obey But in the day of his Power he will again pour forth his Spirit for the first Churches had but a foretast of the earnest of that Inheritance which his People will partake of when the Lord again comes World without end And then his People Israel will be made a willing People Ps 110.3 When he removeth the Iniquity of that Land in one day in that day shall they call every Man under his Vine and under his Fig-tree Zach. 3.9,10 Then it is the two Olive-trees will give out of themselves the Golden Oyl of Grace and Wisdom into the Candlestick that is all of Gold Chap. 4.2 And then the Lord will make his Church a glorious Church without Spot or Wrinkle Eph. 5.27 But now the best of Saints are not without Sin 1 John 1.8 I thought at this time to have given a full Satisfaction who these two Olive-trees were who in the New Testament are termed two Witnesses who all along have accompanied the Church or Woman in the Wilderness who according to Promise had never been deceived by Beast or false Prophet And these two Witnesses always accompanying her therefore said to be cloathed in Sackcloath in bearing part of her Afflictions with her as it was formerly said of Christ that in all his Peoples Afflictions he was Afflicted Isaiah 63.9 And also it is said the holy Spirit may be grieved For these two Olive-trees which in this time are said to be the two Witnesses Rev. 11.3,4 and also elsewhere in the Scripture they are often so called and these two Witnesses we may readily believe can do all those Miracles Cited in the 5 and 6 Verses whereas it is said in the 8 Verse their dead Bodies Now this being spoken of the Remnant to whom the Lord promised to be with to the end of the World and that he would send them another Comforter that should abide with them for ever as is at large in the Woman Cloathed with the Sun prov'd And when these Persons become so opprest by the Beast as Scattered Imprisoned and Slain these two Witnesses cannot then by them bear their Testimony against the Evil of Sin and the Pernicious Idolatrous Worship of the Beast and thus the two Witnesses are said to be dead when their Bodies are thus Slain so as they cannot by them bear their Testimony whose dead Bodies were again to stand upon their Feet As to what I have here but hinted concerning them to give some Light herein I thought to have fully proved and to have made clearly appear who this fore mentioned Beast is But having many other things to answer my time would not permit me at this present O that we had but a Heart to consider the greater Truths of God whose Faithfulness cannot fail according to his Word for which blessed be his Name World without end Amen FINIS