Apostle further adds as useful for our direction herein in that sixth of the Ephesians viz. 6. Take unto you also the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God To the Law and to the Testament that that speaks not according to that word hath no morning light in it Isai 8.20 there 's no divine Truth in it That will discover and drive back all assailants The VVord of God that 's the immortal seed that the Believer is born of and this is he still to covet after that he may grow by it This David his in his heart that he might not sin against God and indeed that 's the best preservative from sin and direction in Righteousness when it s so hidden This is the Truth and discovers the true Righteousness of God is preached in and declares the Gospel is the Mother and Nurse of right Faith the word of Faith and of Salvation yea this is a Lanthorn to our feet and a light unto our paths In this the Spirit worketh and in the belief thereof preserveth the soul unto eternal life yea this is Spirit and Life as its full of divine and living operations unto Faith But what is this VVord of God I Answer in one sense Christ himself is the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word or Reason that was in the beginning with God and by which all things were made of God the essential Word or Word of power and Wisdom of God which also was made flesh and dwelt amongst us And it s no doubt but with this Word the Spirit fights as he doth glorifie and lift him up but that 's not done but by the Word in another sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that 's the Word there in Ephes 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word spoken the declaration of the Mind and Truth of God that which God hath uttered by the mouth of Christ and of All his holy Prophets and Apostles this Word as it was originally from and by the Spirit so is that the Sword that he leads his to make use of and by which he driveth back the subtile and violent adversaries of our souls and defends us that believe and believingly make use of it in the Spirit Take to you selves then this Word of God this Sword of the Spirit believe it mind it meditate on it cleave to it bring all Motions Doctrines and Practises to the Light of it let it dwell richly in you in all wisdom it will teach and admonish you it will shew you the right way and how to behave your selves in every condition it will admonish you of the danger that is in by-wayes and in temptations so that it be I say hid in your hearts and dwell there so as that you know love believe understand and mind it in what it speaketh as it was in the heart of the Lord Jesus being so kept it will keep you instruct teach and guide you aright for his words do good to the upright-hearted Mic. 2.7 that believe and obey them in sincerity And indeed this as Cha. 3. Sect. 6. was before hinted is worthy to be minded that that 's the acceptable and right believing which purely and singly closeth with God and Christ not for or according to our sensible experiments and feelings so much as for and according to the Soveraign authority of God and his infallible and most pure sayings that believes the Word though it see not any probability as to Sense or Reason of the things there declared That Faith that 's built upon Sense as we have shewed alters and varies often according to the alterations in sense as we shewed in the Israelites who so long as some great work was in their eye and some satisfaction apprehended in their sense believed the VVord and sang his Praise but when those great things were withdrawn and danger and death surrounded them they distrusted murmured and rebelled the Word of God was of no account or force with them because it was not the bottom of their faith nor abode in them So fares it now also with many souls that receive the Word as the stony ground doth the Seed with joy for a time so long as there is no trial but all seems to go along with and demonstrate the thing that is spoken to and believed by them but when such sensible feelings or satisfactions to Reason fail and trials come then in a day of temptation they fall away they wither in a year of drought as it were not having moisture enough from the Word within to cause them to abide in a patient waiting upon God for his gratious returns to them the Gospel of Peace hath not prepared them for a long travel or trial because not heartily and throughly received and cleaved to by them in the love of it nor well digested in them therefore they have no patience but fall to murmuring repining and inordinate lusting after sensible feelings of comfort and God deferring them they either run back to the world again resolving to have its consolations rather then none or else if any Doctrine or Spirit under pretence of Gods come unto them and promise them feedom from such sad conditions and long waitings though it be from Satan and lead them quite from the faith of Jesus to some strong delusion they embrace and run after it to their own destruction preferring sensible feelings and flashes of joy and comfort and raptures c. though from false and failing delusions of Satan withdrawing them from the VVord before a patient hoping in a dark exercised condition in the VVord for its unspeakable and eternal consolations Surely from this sometimes souls are misled and given over to believe or rejoyce in a lye as if they were now at prefect freedom and as fully possessed of heaven as ever any shall be had attained the Resurrection already as much as any shall or can attain to yea were Godhead with God and made parts of his indivisible Essence Satan mounting them up aloft and causing them to speak great swelling words of vanity and shine as Comets to the admiration of others he transforming himself into an Angel of light and perswading them it is the true Light that they see and glory in though in the issue they go out in darkness and have the blackness of it reserved for them whereas on the other side where the Word of God is in the heart and the meditation thereon day and night and the hope in the Lord Jehovah there-through and according thereto it will preserve and perfect that man to the inheritance being the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes Acts 20.32 a pure infallible and sure Word that will not fail or deceive any Happy is he that though he see not or prove little or nothing in his own sense yet believeth according to what is said in that that will give comfort strength greenness growth fruitfulness and preserve the
soul in patience to everlasting happiness and the fruits that spring up in the soul from that are very good and acceptable Thus Abraham believed and saw not and his faith grounded on the Word was stedfast the sensible deadness of his own body and decay of natural strength nor the known and proved barrenness of Sarahs womb caused him not to stagger but the Word wrought effectually in him to keep him in a patient waiting upon God for the accomplishment of the thing that was spoken and accordingly when he had patiently waited he received the Promise Heb 6.15 the first fruits or some particulars in it for he died in Faith not having received much of it Heb. 11.13 in a better way then Sarahs hasty counsel of turning in to Hagar could have brought about The Word of God the Gospel of the Kingdom being received in a good single honest heart brings forth fruit with patience perswades the heart to waite upon God in his way keeps it from carefulness in a year of drought when sense is not satisfied by more flowing feelings of consolation from the pourings out of Spirit but as faith comforteth in looking to the Word and yet it leads the heart to long and thirst after those flowing consolations promised in the Word in the way of the VVord the desires after which and rejoycing in the injoyments of which I would not be mistook as if I dasht against them or at all faulted It were better for me that my right hand should be withered then write a word to take the heart off from pressing after them in the way of believing but onely from the botoming our faith upon the sensible feelings of them and not upon the VVord that leads to wait for them in Gods way and firms the soul against hast-making and against the ready listening to other doctrines promising greater liberty and freedom or otherwise then the VVord of God declares to us or can there be found for our instruction Take you therefore heed beloved to the VVord of God to believe what he hath said by the mouth of all his holy Apostles and Prophets meditate ye in his Law night and day and try the doctrines yea and the Spirits too that come unto you by their consonancy with those divine sayings and count accursed what swerveth or leadeth you therefrom from or besides the Gospel Gal. 1.8.9 I mean as declared therein so shall you be able to quit your selves as men defending your selves against and driving back from you Satan and his instruments in their Temptations Sect. 4. Of the Scriptures I Know some will grant all this and yet undermine all again by this saying Ay but what is this VVord of God and where to be found Is not Christ the VVord and what he says in and by his and so he being in us speakes to us and what we say he says by us and it s his Word and to be heeded by men And thus even those that come to deceive will put that title upon their own conceptions and sayings and so catch and cheat men For avoiding which snare we are to Know further That as Christ is the VVord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so of him properly and as in his own person merely considered the Apostle here speaks not but of that that declares and unfolds him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is indeed that that God hath spoken by the mouth of his Servants which that none might cheat us he hath ordered and caused to be also written and recorded so much as his wisdom hath seen meet and sufficient for our helpfulness in the holy Scriptures which ceaseth not to be his VVord because written down but becomes of greater usefulness to us for whose sakes they were so written though the letters and syllables as written are but humane instruments of makeing over what was by God spoken yet those divine verities the Oracles of God by and in those mediums made over and recorded are in themselves spiritual and full of divine operations abstractedly taken from the visible Characters or outward sound which are only mediums of conveying them unto men By these then heeded and minded shall you see what is Truth viz. that that agreeth with and is contained in these divine Revelations as also what is the righteousness to be put on and walked in what the Gospel of Peace and its preparation for that Gospel is there recorded as in 1 Cor. 15.3 That Christ died for our sins was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and the publishing of repentance and remission of sins in his Name amongst all Nations c. Luke 24.47 that also is the right and lasting faith that is grounded upon Christ and God in him according to the Scripture declaration of him to that the Promise is made as in Joh. 7.37,38 He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters as also therein witness is born to the salvation to be hoped for By this VVord of God so written and recorded did Jesus Christ himself in the days of his flesh and of his temptations beat back Satan saying It is written thus and thus shewing us that while we cleave in faith and obedience to that that 's written in the Scriptures of Truth we shall not be overcome of Satan Beware ye then of those that impugn the authority of them and by crafty jugling insinuations indeavour to draw you to a slight esteem of them and to take you off from giving heed to them and so to God and his VVord in them Know that they are the Scriptures of Truth a sure VVord yea more sure and safe for you to look to then any dreams visions or sights be they what they will that any shall suggest to you The Apostle Peter preferred them before his own Vision of the glory of Christ and his hearing of the lively Voyce that came from God to Christ for others faith in him 2 Pet. 1.16,19 And our Saviour instructs us that God would have us mind them and not wander in our desires after other things to bottom our faith on as miracles c. and tells us that they that will not believe them will not believe though one should arise from the dead and declare Doctrines to them Luke 16.31 They are the inspirations of God into his servants the Prophets Apostles whom for this cause Christ being ascended gave unto his Church with Evangelists Pastors and Teachers that we might not be as children tossed to and fro with every winde of Doctrine Ephes 4.11,12,13 but taking heed to their words the words of the Prophets and commandements of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.2 we might be preserved from Satan and his Instruments that shall mock at the coming of Christ and other sound doctrines according to godliness and that we might grow up in the unity of the Faith and Knowledge of the Son
freeing not onely the spirits of the Saints from thraldome in a first fruits but their bodies also from death and corruption which is called the redemption of our bodies Rom 8.23 When every eye shall see him c. Rev. 1.7 When all that are in their graves shall come forth some to the resurrection of life others to the resurrection of condemnation c. Joh. 5.29 When all the Saints together shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and be for ever with him 1 Thes 4.16,17 Now as these men deny this his glorious personal coming turning all so well as their wits will serve them and their Father help them into an Allegory so in these two things they grossly err 1. In thinking that persons to whom Christ hath come by his Spirit and whom he hath raised and quickned up to a lively hope as in the first sense are thereby above Ordinances and not bound to attend them for indeed then are they fittest to use them and will be most profitable or profited in attending on God in them Besides we finde the Apostles and other Primitive Believers of another way and judgement when the Spirit was poured upon Cornelins and his houshold that exempted them not from the outward Baptism Acts 10.48 nor were the Apostles themselves exempted from solemn prayers and fasting breaking of bread Preaching the VVord c. even after the holy Ghost was poured upon them and Christ by his Spirit dwelt with them as is plain in Acts 4.24,31 and 6.4,6 and 13.1,3 and 14.23 yea Wo to me saith Paul even after the holy Ghost was shed abundantly upon him Tit. 3 6. if I preach not the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.16 and the Bread saith he that we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ and the Cup that we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 yea in 1 Cor. 12.13 We are all baptized saith he by or in one spirit into one body and have been made to drink into one Spirit and Chap. 6.11 they were washed justified sanctified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God but what were they all above Ordinances therefore no matter for observing them No such matter but they are yet ordered about their eating the Lords Supper yea and such as whose election in the sanctification of the Spirit is affirmed are exhorted by the Apostles to Prayer to attend on Prophesying to stand fast hold the traditionâ— such as the Supper of the Lord is called 1 Cor. 11.25 received from them either by word or writing 2 Thes 2.13,14,15 Many other like passages thou mayst finde in the Apostles Writings which they writ to preserve the Churches from sin and error which may discover the falseness of that conception Yet 2. They err much worse in that confounding the coming of Christ in Spirit to the spirits 〈◊〉 men in particular with the great Day of the Lord when he shall come to the destruction of ungodly men and the utmost salvation of all that have believed on him the Kingdom of God in the hearts of men in this Day of which Christ spake to the Pharisees Luke 17.20,21 that it comes not with observation and that it is in men yea in the Pharisees working and tendring it self to their hearts though rejected by them but filling those that receive it with righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost with the glorious Kingdom of Christ which he â—s gone to receive and which shall be set up or made manifest in the world at his great coming when he shall judge the quick and dead 2 Tim. â— 1 of which he spake to his Disciples Luke 17.21,22,23 they apply to themselves as already â—…ne in and upon them those things that are proper to that great Day of his destroying the â—…eat hope and expectation of the Saints which 〈◊〉 that great and glorious appearing Tit. 2.13 denying and mocking at that his visible and glorious coming yea and where their principle 〈◊〉 somewhat throughly improved denying the Resurrection or Redemption of the body and â—…ying the Resurrection all thats to be hoped â—or or met with is here accomplished which we â—…all speak more fully to in the proper place and â—…casion Onely now I would have thee minde that they are strongly deluded herein and that they are of those that our Saviour there doth warn us of that say Lo here lo there see here in us and to us Christ is come and the day of the Lord is revealed with us or with such and such persons the Judgement is over the mystery is fulfilled the world is at an end and we are iâ— possession of our glory though others yet are not Believe them not saith our Saviour neither go after them for that coming of the Soâ— of man shall be as visible and evident in a moment as the lightning that shines from one enâ— of the heavens unto the other end thereof iâ— shall be open and manifest to all Luke 17.22 23. Every eye shall see him even those that havâ— pierced him and all the families of the eartâ— shall wail over him Rev. 1.7 As the bringing in and alteration of former dispensations or administrations of his Kingdom have been witnessed and evidenced by notorious Demonstrations oâ— Gods Authority and presence so shal this last alâ— teration be more visible and notorious then thâ— rest When God gave the Law of Moses he did iâ— in a solemn manner with the voyces of thunderings and lightnings the shaking of the earth c. by which he owned and confirmed it as of him and when he took away that administration and brought in his onely Son and the Ordinance of the Kingdom in its present external administration he owned and attested his altering the former and bringing this in by the gift of tongues and by many wonders and signs and divers powerful works and distributions of the Holy Ghost Heb. 2.3 And when the time of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken of by the mouth of his Prophets shall come and when he shall send his Son Jesus Christ again Acts 7.21,22 whom the heavens till then must contain to take an account of all men how they have submitted to him in the former administrations of his Truth and Grace amongst them and to render to every man according to his works shall that be hidden and done now to this man and then to that no man sees how without any poblike evidence to the world No no that shall be most powerfully and to the world with greatest solemnity declared so as none shall be thereof ignorant but all flesh shall see his salvation unto is people together and those that have rebelled shall be with wondrous terror delivered over to their eternal destruction The heavens shall be on a flame or the elements melt with fervent heat 2 Pet. 3.7,10,12 even these heavens and elements and the host of them that
our defects and failings in Faith that the convents of the new Covenant may notwithstanding be performed to us his Law be writ in our hearts and his Fear put within us his holy Spirit given to us to sanctifie teach lead strengthen and comfort us and in a word that we may be carried up to the enjoyment of the eternal inheritance Consider him then it s Christ that died for us yea rather that is risen again and is at the right hand of God making intercession for us the Captain of salvation the Author yea and the Finisher too of our Faith Consider his Love Faithfulness Office Goodness that we faint not nor be weary through any temptation Fear not but he that conquered all our enemies by himself for us will also in our following after him give us the victory over them and the reward that he hath abundantly promised It s his Word of incouragement who hath gone before us and is in the head of the battle To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of Life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God and that he shall not be hurt of the second death yea the white stone and new name the hidden Manna and in a word his everlasting Kingdom Rev. 2. and 3. 3 Yea and thirdly hath not God also given us of his holy Spirit his Power and strength to to be in us and to fight our battels for us to lead teach uphold and comfort us and he is a spirit of Wisdom and Knowledge a spirit of strength and courage and of the fear of the Lord. The holy Unction that gives discerning witnessing of Christ and glorifying him and more powerful then any thing that comes to withstand him according to that Greater is he that is in us then he that is in the world 1 Joh. 4.4 Abide but in him and follow after his lustings and instructions in the wayes that our Lord hath prescribed to us and he will work all our works in us and our works shall be wrought in him we need not any other teaching or spirit but as and according to that which that holy Vnction teacheth us what swerves from his testimony is not to be heeded by us and that that swerves is to be discerned by this that it maketh little or no account of Christ come in the flesh 1 Joh. 4.1,2,3 of the things done and suffered by him therein it skips over or le ts go that and makes but a light matter or nullity of it whereas the holy Unction or Spirit of Truth confesseth holdeth forth and glorifieth Christ come in the flesh he saith not in our flesh for many deceivers talk of that who would lead us to exalt themselves though they be Antichrists as also the holy Spirit is the same that was in the Prophets and Apostles and leads us to hear them and to abide in unity of Faith with them Ephes 1.4,5 1 Joh. 4.5,6 whereas the false spirits slight them and lead not to hear or matter Unity of faith and confession with them If we have received this earnest why should we fear that God will fail us of the inheritance in this might and power of the Lord if we be strong nothing shall overcome us Sect. 7. Of Knowing Christ after the flesh and after the Spirit I Know they that lie in waite to deceive you will suggest that this that I have said of Christ his Death Resurrection and mediation is at best but a carnal knowledge of him according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit and that the Spirit in evidencing him will witness a more divine and spiritual knowledge and draw off the heart from this fleshly consideration or looking upon him as he was made flesh and therein suffered and died for us To perswade you to which they quote that in 2 Cor. 5.16 Henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet henceforth we know him so no more as if the Apostle meant that he minded him no more as one that was born of a woman and died in the flesh and was raised again and in that very body glorified they had sometimes such carnal apprehensions of him and looked at him as the Saviour in and by that his death and suffering indeed but now they have a more spiritual allegorical knowledge of him Against which interpretation of the Apostles words though that might suffice to preserve us that I have newly before noted from the Apostle John that every spirit that confesseth not that is glorifies not nor sets not forth Jesus Christ come in the flesh is not of God yet I shall for further satisfaction look more fully into that place And first it may hence appear evidently that that is not the Apostles meaning in that passage because such an interpretation of him is cross to himself and his fellow brethren and Apostles in other places for its evident that both Paul and the rest preached him as of the seed of David according to the flesh the Son of God made of a woman made under the Law made sin and a curse for us crucified and raised again and now mediating for us with God the Advocate High-priest and Prince of the Congregation and to this Doctrine and this Christ thus preached and set forth they frequently exhort believers to take heed to cleave adhere and listen and by no means under what pretext or pretence soever to depart therefrom Heb. 3.1 6.14 Acts 11.23,24 1 Joh 2.28 Gal. 1.8,9 yea to hold as execrable and accursed all that would perswade them thereto or that preach my other Gospel then that of Christ so preached by them Col. 1.22,23 in holding fast to whom and to the Gospel of him they promise safety an abiding happy condition but in the letting him and that go by any means they pronounce certain danger and unavoydable destruction Heb. 2.3 10.25,29 yea Christ as so in the flesh abased for us and now risen ascended and advocating for us at the right hand of God they themselves and in especial that very Apostle Paul rejoyces in and places the foundation of all his hope and confidence in as is plain in that of Rom. 8.32 as the very thing which being known apprehended and received by him was the great manifestation of Gods Love to him and the great argument of his further favor and good will yea the spring of his hope of glory confidence boldness access to God and renovation into his likeness yea Christ as thus he was abased and is risen and mediates for us being known believed and entertained into the heart is in the believer the very hope or that which springs up and nourishes in him an expectation of future glory as is evident from the fore-quoted place and that in Rom. 5.10 where from the consideration of Christ as delivered to death for us while sinners and of our being reconciled to him thereby he infers an
A CAVEAT TO All True Christians Against the spreadings of the Spirit of Antichrist and his subtile endeavours to draw men from JESUS CHRIST Propounded to them by J. Horn one of the unworthiest of Christs servants in his Gospel a Preacher thereof in South Lin Norfolk Together with some brief Directions for their orderly waâ—…ings Prov. 19.27 Cease my son to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge Prov 7.25,26,27 Let not thine heart decline to her ways go not astray in her paths For she hath cast down many wounded yea many strong men have been slain by her Her house is the way to hell going down to the chambers of death 1 John 2.24,25 Let that therefore which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you if that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you ye shall continue in the Father and in the Son And this is the promise which he promised us even eternal life London Printed by R.W. for T. Brewster and G. Moule and are to be sold at the three Bibles at the West-end of Pauls 1651. TO The Vertuous and Religious Gentlewomen M rs Jane Desborow wife to the Honorable Major General John Desborow M rs Alice Toll wife to the Right Worshipful Mr. Thomas Toll Esquire and M rs Judith Cook wife to the Right Worshipful Col. Thomas Cook of Bebmarsh in Essex Esquire Grace Mercy and Peace in Jesus Christ Much beloved in the Lord IT is the Councel of the Apostle John not to believe every spirit but to try the Spirits whether they are of God And sure there is now as much need of this counsel as ever because there are diversity of Spirits and Prophets gone out into the world and all pretend to God but all confess not that is magnifie not or lead not to exalt Jesus Christ come in the flesh but divers of them deny or undervalue that by which it is manifest that they are not of God to those that duly try them but that they are of that spirit of Antichrist of which we have heard that it should come into the world And truly though it be an heavy judgement of God to order such a spirit of error to enter into and amongst men and men to be possessed and acted by him yet if the matter be well and duly considered it will appear a just and righteous judgement and may afford us much matter of warning For wherein hath or could God have testified or commended his love more to the world then in giving forth his only begotten Son to be believed on and to that end to be delivered to death for our offences and become the propitiation for our sins and being raised again and glorified to hold forth in and through him unto us an immeasurable fulness of glory and salvation And what might God look for and challenge at our hands for so great goodness less then all possible thankfulness and most chearful ready receit of and submission to him but alas how contrary are the returns that he findeth from men What is there that is so little regarded and so much neglected as this his Son what so little received and fed upon by men Is not the preaching of the Cross of Christ become foolishness again not onely to the rude and prophane or to the Pharasaical that establish to themselves a righteousness of their own but which iâ— the most to be lamented to such as have tasted of his goodness and had him livelily set â—orth to them even many such have crucified â—im to themselves afresh and have not obeyed the truth so far as to cleave with stedfast purpose of heart unto him Many that have received the â—tdings of Christs Death and Resurrection for them as sometimes the Israelites the Manna with joy and admiration have with them also after a while grown weary thereof as if it was a light bread and their souls have loathed him and lusted after some other thing to feed upon that might more puff them up in themselves and give more sensual satisfaction And alas how few are there who are not more or less tainted with this infection as if there was not an enoughness in Christ his Death Sacrifice and Mediation for them to feed upon Now what more just with God then that his so great love being so abrogated and so nothing set by should turn to jealousie and that he revenge the injury done unto his Son and to himself with the heat of indignation by sending to them as to the Israelites for their offence fiery Serpents Numb 21. spirits of error and of delusion that because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved but had pleasure in their unrighteousness in disesteeming so great a witness of love and not in the truth therefore the efficacie of error should infatuate them and carry them headlong into destruction the abuse and contempt of greatest love deserving to be revenged with the severest condemnation But alas where the spirit of Error hath gotten rooting how many are there so strongly giddified therewith that they make but a mock of these things and think there is no other hell but what here befals them throwing up the whole Christian Faith by the very foundation A piteous and much to be bewailed mischief which cals for not onely our best endeavours by Prayers and Supplications and faithful Instruction to prevent its spreading but might also challenge in many the Magistrates inspection that as of late they have worthily made an Act to prevent and punish Blasphemy against God so they might endeavour to stop the over-free spreading of Blasphemy against Christ by the like provision But for that it s our business to pray God rightly to direct them and that none of them that should discountenance such evil be either tainted therewith themselves or so far destitute of that spiritual Eye-salve as not to have thereof a right discerning As for your parts Worthy Friends I hope you have received so much of that holy Unction as hath helped you to understand the wiles of Satan so that I may say to you as the Apostle in 1 Joh. 2.21 I write not to you because ye know not the Truth but because ye know it and that no lie is of the Truth both blessing God that he doth keep you in so evil a day and praying for you that yet ye may be filled with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and so more abundantly anointed with that spiritual Eye-salve that ye may be further able to discern things that differ and so be kept for even And indeed I know no better thing that I can wish for you then that for where that is not I know not what else can preserve men For Satan coming not in his own colours but disguised as an Angel of Light not as an enemy but as of old the Serpent as a friend that will shew the way to a more happy and glorious
they are all one in him according to the Spirit however different according to the flesh yea aâ—cording to the Spirit they are Sion the belove City the Kingdom and Temple of God and bâ— and his glory appertaineth to them and is theâ—… portion O Israel happy thou a people saved 〈◊〉 the Lord Glorious things are spoken of thee thâ— City of God the most high in the midst of thee 〈◊〉 shall exalt and establish thee and delight in thâ— for ever for this is Sion whom no man regardeth the place and habitation that God hath chosen in which he will dwell and rest for ever because he hath loved and desired it Consider this O ye Saints and let your hearts rejoyce in his that made you in him that called you and made you in Christ Jesus and blessed you in him with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things according as in him he chose you before the worlds foundations and be joyful in your King in Jesus the King of Saints that dwels and rules amongst you and in whom ye are exalted to all this high condition This state of glory and perfection in Christ Jesus given you should be minded by you to out ballance and chear you up against the state of frailty and imperfection experimented in your selves for this like the stone cut out of the Mountains without hands shall dash in pieces and swallow up the other into victory When that state of weakness and mortality shall have overcome you in the flesh yet shall it again be overcome and abolished by this state of glory and shall never more return upon you Surely friends did we more minde this high state to which we are called and in which in Christ Jesus we are interessed it would make us bear chearfully the present sufferings of this life and love him heartily that hath hitherto advanced us It would lead us to contemn things seen and sensible neither to run out in affecting the good or fearing the evil that in the outwward state is met with by us So have the Saints in other times walked trampling upon Death through the hope of Life and the like of hope in them contemning the pleasures of sin for a season for the enjoyment of this eten happy condition and for the love they bear him that thereto called them But I fear weâ—… often so taken up with the view of what we 〈◊〉 according to the flesh that we forget what 〈◊〉 are in and according to Christ Jesus whiâ—… springs from what we come to view in the nâ—… Consideration Sect. 4. Of the state of Saints in a joynt consideration as sons of Adam in Christ FOr though such is the Christians state as Christ and as a Saint yet in a complex joynt consideration as he is a man in Christ theâ— appears yet a double imperfection beside what named 1. An imperfection of his Union with Chriâ—… or in the manner and measure of his being him in his rootedness into Christ in whom 〈◊〉 high estate is A branch of a wilde Olive thenâ— taken out and graffed into a true is by verâ— of that insition interessed in the juice sap aâ—… vertue of the true Olive yet the manner of Union with it may for some time be imperfecâ—… It is not at first so fast rooted and so firmly unâ—ted with it as afterward it may be Thence thâ— Apostle prayed for more rootedness of believâ—… into Christ and Christ himself for further Union of believers in him Ephes 3.17,18 Joh. 17.21 Saints perfect in Christ may not be perfectly in Christ their condition admits of growth in this matter they may come to see further into Christ and to attain to greater riches of assurance of understanding and so grow stronger in faith and love and have their roots deeplier struck into him cleave to him with fuller purpose and resolution The more they know his Name the more they trust in him and their calling to him and election in him made firmer and they further out of danger of falling from him 2 Pet. 1.5.10 Yea as they grow more one with him so they have a more wide and abundant entrance administred into his Kingdom his fulness flows more out into them and they become more comprehensive of him In this regard is that difference amongst Saints that was â—oted in the beginning Some babes in understanding and weak in faith easilier shaken and perverted from the simplicity in him more unstable being less united with the root and so not so much receiving in its sap and these as they are more tenderly to be dealt with and nursed up so they are also to be exhorted to diligence in attending to the Word of Grace and to let go such evil humors brought with and yet retained by them as might clog them and hinder their further growing in and faster uniting unto Jesus such as those things named 1 Pet 2.1 Malice Envy Guile Hypocrisie c. that so coveting after the sincere milk of the Word they may grow up thereby be more rooted and built up in Christ abound in his Work and be kept from falling Others are more firme grown more empty of themselves and fuller of faith and confidence in him and singleness of heart toward him for whom there is greater cause of rejoycing as being in the less danger of mâ—ssing the full injoyment of their spiritual estate to which they are called yet even they also may and are still to be growing up into Christ and to faster union with him for which cause also the Saints are compacted into a body that they by what every joynt supplies from the head may grow up more into the head they being not as yet so perfect as that they can grow no more In this regard it was partly that Paul judged himself not perfect nor to have attained but pressed on counting all things loss and dung that he might win Christ and be found in him Phil. 3 8,9,13,14 He had him not enough yet nor was yet so fast in him that nothing in that regard could be added to him as also â—n another sense which follows he with other Saints acknowledged their imperfection viz. 2. In regard of attainment to an injoyment of the fulness of Christ and their estate in Christ through union with him in regard of the possession or comprehension of it and the effects and fruits of it And there are two Branches in that 1. Their injoyment of the fulness into which they are estated their possession of it they have not yet all that joy and happiness that sight of God that vast possession of life in themselves to which they are called they have not yet attained the resurrection of the dead as it is to be injoyed the greatest part of the possession of this estate is reserved till their race be run their fight accomplished the prize obtained 2 Tim. 4.8 Here we have a time of suffering with Christ the glory is for the main of it reserved as to
that they not being the objects of sense are the less feared or discerned and can the more easily mingle themselves with or insinuate themselves into our spirits which are somewhat of like nature with them that such essences were created by Christ is affirmed in Col. 1.16 Things visible and invisible c and that some of these leaving their first habitation or principality fell from God and are reserved in chains of darkness unto the Judgement of the great Day which they also tremble at the thoughts of is affirmed by the Apostle Jude 6. Nor need I go about to prove to you that there are such for I speak to you that are Saints and therefore I hope not easily gulled into the error of the Sadduces to deny that there are Angels or Spirits or any thing that cannot be seen or discerned with bodily senses you cannot be Saints if ye believe no more then your senses perceive for then neither can ye believe that there is a God forasmuch as with mortal eyes you cannot see him and Saints they are not that believe not in him much less that believe him not to be because they cannot see him The Scriptures everywhere plentifully testifie to this that there are both Angels and Spirits good and evil and such as I speak to are born of that Word of Faith that is held forth in the Scriptures else have they nothing to do to conceive that they have any interest in the glorious priviledges there spoken of I shall leave others to believe what there is said or to take theâ—… course till they experiment the truth thereof iâ— their own smart There is an evil spirit I saâ— whereof the Saints have experience with many emissaries or Angels unclean and evil spiriâ— too that worketh in the children of disobedâ—ence bewitching the minds of men with false iâ—lusions and stirring up that corruption thaâ— is in them to their own and others perjudiâ—… He blows and stirs men up to opposition agaiâ— God and his Truth and kindleth up anger aâ—… wrath against the Saints because of the truth deceiving the world and suggesting to them thâ—… the Saints are an evil people not fit to be peâ—mitted amongst men suiting himself to meâ— several dispositions ways and principles Tâ—… the prophane and men bent upon their lusts aâ—… pleasures he insinuates that the Truth of Goâ— and the Saints that profess it are opposite 〈◊〉 them and seek to cross them of their enterpâ—ses and therefore that it cannot go well witâ— them while they are permitted To those thâ—… are potent and powerful in the world he suâ—gests that these people are refractory to theâ— and under pretence of worshipping God 〈◊〉 Christ deny subjection to them and therefoâ—… not to be tolerated To them that are world wise he presenteth their way as foolish anâ— therefore to be despised To them that are falâ—…ly and ignorantly zealous he representeth theâ—… as Sectaries and perillous to their way of Religion and so fitting his suggestions to their several tempers stirreth them all up to war against them Sometimes also he worketh in some of more seeming ingenuous tempers to flatter and intice them with worldly proffers from their way of Piety and Religion Yea he can insinuate into the Saints themselves and suggest such things to their hearts as tend to supplant them and set one to play the adversary to another either by flattering speeches to perswade one another to turn aside from the way of Christ to avoide the Cross and persecution or else by raising up emulations divisions or the like to weaken them He Proteus like can transform himself into any shape and put into the world and into the flesh an addition of his own power and policy to make them more dangerous enemies unto the Saints to harm them The Beast the worldly power setting it self in the House of God and the false Prophet the pretended spiritual but really corrupt power worldlified into a way of secular pride and pomp are both strengthened by him the great red Dragon to persecute the woman clothed with the Sun and the Offâ—spring that she brings forth in the earth and happy is he that is not overcome by one wile or other of him Great need deer fellow-Travellers to look about us and to take to our selves Armor of Proof and to stand upon our Watch that none of these potent enemies do circumvent us and turn back from the possession of the eternal inherâ—tance to prevent which before I come to sheâ—… you the way to escape their force I shall say little about the Temptations that God orders 〈◊〉 his people by them chiefly some of the moâ—… dangerous of them CHAP. III. Of Temptations Sect. 1. That God suffereth his Saints to be tempted and why YOur estate being such as I haâ—… described you may see that yoâ— have ground to expect tempâ—…tions and cause neither to bâ— secure considering your imperfections nor yet diffident coâ—sidering what perfection you have in Christ Jâ—sus Your ground to expect them may be fuâ—ther seen in this that God pleases to order theâ—… to his people permitting them to be tempted 〈◊〉 Satan who of his own nature is most read thereto as may be seen in the head of the Saint even the Lord Christ Jesus We read thâ—… when He was Baptized and the heavens openâ—… upon him and God had declared him to be his well-beloved Son and the Spirit was poured out upon him designing him to be the Minister and servant of God to the world in the revelation of the knowledge of God to them Matth. 4.1 though God had testified his welpleasedness in him yet even him Satan set upon and thrust sorely at that he might try his strength and God also by his Spirit led him into this way into the Wilderness to be tempted of Satan sure to let us see what we are to expect and look for viz a portion too in temptation as of old he led his Israel also into the Wilderness and suffered a day of temptation to fall upon them before he led them into Canaan And that 's Gods trying men in this way that he leads them into such occasions and into such a way as wherefrom Satan take advantages to tempt them And though Satan do herein evilly like himself yet God doth it for good as to the Israelites of old because as there so here much mixt people comes out of Egypt with the Saints Many come out of the worldly Societies and Fellowships wayes and professions upon the heare-say of the Gospel and through the light truth that they see therein who yet are not so principled as the Saints not of their spirit and disposition though amongst them drawn by the hope of the inheritance but not so moulded into holy confidence and that those might be made manifest and either healed or turned quite out therefore God doth order temptations to them and then many such depart from amongst the Saints because they were not of them of
the snare and ready to be devoured by him yea perhaps he so lulls them asleep that they scarce see or feel it then under pretence of doing more good he inveigles many mens minds to love and seek after more goods and under pretence of crediting the Gospel he leads many to seek to credit themselves in the world and advance their own honor and set their hearts upon earthly dignities and preferments yea and sometimes under pretence of spirituall union and better helpfulness he provokes some men to lust and wantonness oh the subtilty of this wicked one But yet in these things though somewhat sublimated he appears but as a Ruler of the darkness of this world and as the God thereof seeking to glorifie it and snare the Saints by it which also too usually he doth But he is yet more admirably subtle in transforming himself into another guise coming full fraught with spirituall wickednesses in heavenly things He as a subtle Spirit can insinuate pollutions into our Spirits in the things of heaven and where he sees souls taken with such things can meet them in a disguise in the things they are taken with changing his shape and clothing himself with an appearance of light and present himself as a messenger bringer or Angel of light and in this way even at this time also my Brethren he is most busie and doth most hurt unto the Churches and Saints of God when Satan comes to divert Saints from spirituall things he is somewhat more discernable though so sleightfull juggler is he that even there oftentimes he geâ—… beyond them but when he comes and wraps himself in these things and pretends to help them forward in them then he gets the easier attention and entertainment Here then that counsell of the Apostle John is needfull to be taken by us Beloved beleeve not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God I Joh. 4.1 Minde this that Sathan is a Spirit and can be a lying Spirit in the mouth of false prophets yea hath many Spirits as his Angels to send out and do mischief and he can flie up and aspire to heavenly things to be a Teacher and revealer pretendedly of them also so that here the path of the Saints is made very intricate and they have great need of the Spirit of wisdom and understanding to discern their way that they be not cheated Sect. 3. Some observations upon Sathans tempting Christ Mat. 4. LEt us view the members by the head and see what Satan will do to the Saints in this matter by his setting upon Christ the Lord of the Saints Mat. 4. 1. When he saw him an hungry and were there was no bread he tempts him to impatiency of it and to an unusual way to put an end to his hunger by turning stones into bread as if God that led him to a condition wherein he denyed him the ordinary means of refreshing was not able to or would not preserve him by his word without those means or as if he could not be content as well to live upon Gods word without the means when not afforded as upon the means extraordinarily procured And surely Satan is often busie with the Saints to make them impatient in their wilderness of waiting upon God and carries many inordinately after those and those means where they cannot in an ordinary way injoy them as if their life consisted in them and not chiefly in the word of God believed by them and united to them many a Saint he draweth down to a discontentedness for want of visible means in outward things or because he injoys not such an ordinance or means in the time while he is the wilderness as he thirsts or hungers for but God in his providentiall way affordeth not yea by that means sometimes he stirs them up to many irregularities and combustions yea and often when they have though irregularly gotten what their souls thirsted for by assuming power as the Sons of God to make what they have not they take up their rest too much in such enjoyments as if they lived by them and not by the word of God that proceedeth from him But yet behold a more subtle temptation in which is discovered more spirituall wickedness For Christ no sooner had resisted that temptation being stedfast in faith and in the word of God as having it written in his heart but then 2. He sets upon him in another way in which he playes the Angel of light indeed and fight against him with his own weapons tempts him to confidence in God and brings the promise to him which he knew must needs appertain to him he being the Son of God to animate him to step out of the way of God He takes him and carries him upon the top of an high pinacâ—… of the Temple and bids him thence to cast down himself for he being the Son of God nothing could harm him and it is written that God had given his Angels charge over him to keep him and to bear him up by their power that he should not dash his foot against a stone Oh subtle temptation whom would not this deceive but him that holds fast the word and hath it dwelling in him in all wisdom teaching and admonishing him how many souls lifted up on high have been precipated with this suggestion When the Devil turns a preacher and presents Gods promises to further his inticements whom will not his subtilty overthrow from Gods Temple this is a temptation fitted to persons that minde spirituall things persons that look for promises to be given in to them may be easily thus snared How many when they have met in some measure with a baptism unto Christ and some spirituall communication from Christ in which they have tasted of his heavenly gift and the power of the world to come and have rejoyced and made their boast of him and looked upon themselves as called by him and made sons in him and have thought the promises belonged to them yet by such a temptation to confidence with the promises set before them have been perverted from the right way to salvation a temptation taking with high minded pesons filling them with a careless fearlesness of their condition how many doth Satan teach to reason after this manner am not I acquainted with the goodness of God have not I met with such light and knowledge of God am not Jâ—a child of God did not God at such a time and in such a way make me feel and taste of such heavenly vertue eat his spirituall Manna drink his comforts taste of the heavenly gift are not all the promises of God my portion there can I ever fall away or misse of my portion what if I neglect such ordinances and assemblings of our selves together I am above them all and my not waiting on God in them can do me no harm at all all his promises for keeping guiding preservation and everlasting glory are mine and am sure to
withdrawn from Christ so he and his Death and Mediation be but as a dead thing to them he greatly cares not how speciously they walk and talk they are the fitâ—… instruments for him I would to God there wâ—… not too many yea and Teachers of others toâ— to whom he hath made Christ come in the fleâ—… as worth nothing to whom a piece of Plaâ—… Philosophy or some dream of their own is 〈◊〉 more worth and use then the Apostles Dâ—ctrine Sect. 5. Of the Messengers of Satan NOw though I have hitherto spoken of Satan and his subtilty yet think not that I conceive that he alwayes cometh alone or in his own person immediatly to tempt but know this that as Gods Spirit hath built himself an House in man even his people Christ and his members by whom he speaks and works to the drawing in others to God and edifying themselves in whom he dwels imploying them to be his mouth in the opening of his counsel and truths to those purposes So also Satan insinuating himself into men hath his dwelling in them and becomes a lying evil spirit in them that he prevails over and makes use of them to be his mouth to deceive one another and to draw in others into unity with them making them his messengers and these imitate him in transforming themselvs into Ministers of righteousness 2 Cor. 11.13.15 These are the Dragons Tail with which he draws down the stars of heaven having seduced these out of the way he makes them instruments to seduce others after him as having seduced Eve he used her as an instrument to lead Adam also into the transgression So some of the Spies of Canaan bringing an evil report upon that good Land caused many to mutiny and so in Numb 16. Corah Dathan and Abiram men of renown and famous in the Congregation falling off from the Word of God and rebelling against Moses and Aaron the types of Jesus Christ the Son of God the Prince and high Priest of the Congregation occasioned many to rebel for company with them Concerning such its needfull as the Apostle Jude saith to warn you and wish you to contend earnestly against them foâ— the faith once delivered to the Saints for theâ—… are now as was then foretold false Teachers ungodly men forewritten to this judgment to be for exercise unto the Saints of God men thâ—… have departed from Christ denying the Lorâ— that bought them even the only Lord God anâ— our Saviour Jesus Christ and turning his Graâ—… into wantonness who by their pernicious doctrines and practises draw many souls into perdition And though there be others too that 〈◊〉 from the faith and do great disservice to Chrâ—… in limiting the tenor of the Gospel and puttinâ— in their Buts and Onelies like the believers 〈◊〉 the Sect of the Pharisees that would not havâ— the Gospel preached but to Proselytes and mâ—… of the Circumcision that they had some ground to think were of the Elect people yet my puâ—pose is now rather to warn you of that otheâ— sort of people because you that are Saints iâ— Christ and live upon his grace are in more danger as I conceive of these then of those Of these I say that have forsaken the pathes of uprightness to walk in the wayes of darkness men that have let go the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles to walk in their own speculations making the Apostles to have been devisers of Apologues and fables in which there was no truth or verity but only a shadow and parable of another thing people that indeed deny the Lord Jesus Christ some that there was never such a one others that he was no more then a bare man a patern an example not the Saviour of the world indeed but only a type and figure of the true Saviour so evacuating him and denying him to be their Lord Ruler and Commander or Mediator between God and men turning all into an Allegory or vain fancy undermining and subverting the faith of Christ as if he were but a fleshly Christ and the faith in him though begotten by Gods Spirit but a carnall faith which must die and be crucified in us before we come indeed to that that saves us and so they teach men to cast away their confidence in him and trample upon him and count his blood and sacrifice a common carnall fleshly thing though it hath formerly sanctified them and to say of him whom God hath sanctified and sent into the world yea in whom it hath pleased him that all fulness should dwell as the sons of Belial sometimes of Saul how can this man save us crâ—cifying the Son of God to themselves blotting out as much as in them lieth his remembrance from amongst men putting in the place of him some frame or fancy that they conceive they have in themselves and investing themselves or it with his name these are indeed the Antichrists thâ—… deny directly that Jesus is the Christ for who 〈◊〉 a lyar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ 〈◊〉 that say of themselves I am Christ we are the holy one of God and Christ is nothing else with them but themselves and who ever are of their temper in union as they conceive with Godâ— deriding the man Jesus Christ the Lord and heaâ— of all and so making the faith of Christ a very scorn and derision with all that beleeve it these are of those very persons in whom while they slight the Scriptures the Scriptures are verified the mockers that should say in the last dayes where is the promise of his coming for what was is and there is no new thing under the Sun all things continue in like state ever since the Fathers fell asleep as He came then so now and so shall do but no other coming is to be expected yea these are of them that say the Resurrection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is now done or is already past they have it or expect to have in this life even on this side their bodily Death all they shall have denying the Resurrection of the personal body of Christ the same that was crucified such of them as confess there was such a man or at least that it was taken up into heaven and glorified or shall ever come again to be made manifest in glory with them that have beleeved on him and suffered for him the resurrection of whose bodies is denied by them also These are the Antitypes to those Rebels in the wilderness that pleading that all the Lords people were holy denyed the superiority of Moses and Aaron for these also being seduced from the head and not holding it fast plead that all that are of them are holy and anointed and so the Christ and deny superiority over them to the Lord Christ and refuse to have him exalted above them yea though they have been baptized into him both in the doctrine of him and otherwise and have tasted of his sweetness yet they rebell
shadow and type of some spiritual thing in us which is the true Saviour indeed of us Nay he upon this ground teaches men peremptorily to deny that there was ever such a one as that Jesus and that he is to be believed in and though men believe not in him yet shall they not be damned whatever the Scripture seems to say to the contrary And so for the Resurrection of the body it leads to turn that into an Allegory and to say however the Scripture seems to speak of such a thing yet it but seems so for it s to be understood only of a resurrection of the Spirit out of a sad and dark condition into a state of light and gladness Nay the very Being of God and our walking towards him the instructions reproofs and precepts of Grace must at length be so looked upon too as but figurative for I have met with such as have not sticked rashly to affirm that no line in Scripture but hath its spiritual meaning distinct from what the letter speaks which is the way to deny the true God and his Worship yea to make nothing of corporal adultery fornication theft drunkenness and whatever evil the letter of Scripture reproveth so that this will lead a man to be like a wild horse in a fenceless Pasture to run whither Satan shall delude his fancy and stir up his lust to lead him Therefore beware my Brethren of this temptation and of those that shall intice you to fall thereinto by sleighting the open sense of Scriptures themselves and indeavoring to draw you from it too Take the Apostles directions Remember the words of the Prophets the Commandments of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.2 so look for the Spirits opening the mind of God as to hold to the words which he hath declared himself in and think not that he will declare himself to thee in any such new form as to evacuate and make a fable of what he hath fore-declared God raised up and gave to his Church Prophets and Apostles as was noted above to declare his minde and leave his Doctrine so to the Church as that we might not be tossed too and fro with every winde of doctrine But how should their Dispensations of their Knowledge of Christ as left to us by them be usefull to keep us from such tossings if they have given an uncertain found and left their Writings like a Weather-Cock to be turned this way or that with every winde if they have given us hâ—dden expressions and left them at liberty to be interpreted by whatever other spirit can declare to us another mystery then what they seem therein to have delivered Dear souls let us take heed to what is written for our instruction If the touchstone given us be made uncertain what are we better in trying mettals if the Compass given us to say by fail or be uncertain how shall we steer aright by it to our desired Haven Suffer not we our selves then to be baffled out and spoiled by Satan and his instruments in this matter remember it was the written Word and in the sense that the words seem to hold forth withour wresting straining or allegorizing with which Christ opposed Satan in his temptations learn we to do so also if we will go on safely and not be cheated of the inheritance As for that objection of some as of T. C. that the Scriptures have come through the hands of Papists and therefore probably they may be corrupted it s a very weak one as concerning the Original Languages in which they were first written for neither have they only had the keeping of them but those of the Prophets and old Testament the Jews have also and both them and those of the New Testament the Witnesses against them and their evils have had in all Ages as also the Greek Churches not all subject to the Pope and his Faction and yet those Copies they have in nothing of weight if at all differ from the Copies in the Latine Churches nor is there any probability that the Roman Church hath corrupted them not only because they could not do it but others of other Churches yea so many as were faithful Witnesses against its errors within it self must needs detect her falshood and cry shame of her but also because then they would have corrupted them in those places which reprove and detect her own errors Verily if they ever dared to corrupt them they were very fools to leave untouched the places that make against their own errors yea and yet more if they would corrupt them to speak against their errors if ever they spake otherwise more conformably to them for there as they keep them in their original languages we find testimony born against all their errors as against the Lordly dominion assumed by the Pope against their adoration of Images Invocation of Saints and Angels Purgatory Justification by Works and what not so that the preservation of the Scriptures to witness against their corruptions is a notable argument of Gods care of them and that they are not corrupted by them for if they had corrupted them they would undoubtedly have done it in those things in which they make against them But no more to that Let none of those vain assaults of Satan prevail with you to let go the Sword of the Spirit the Record of God in the Scriptures with which ye should oppose him but the more he indeavours it the more fast hold it and the more closely cleave unto them mind we that of David Thy Word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it Psal 119.140 and that ver 126 127. It is time for thee Lord to work for they have made void thy Law therefore I love thy Commandments above gold yea above fine gold the more men slight the Scriptures the more mind we them and cleave we to them there can be no greater folly then for a man to throw away his weapon because his enemy desires to have it wrested away that he might the better harm him Sect. 6. A Caveat against their abuses of Scriptures by wresting them beside their meanings I Know its an ordinary objection against heeding the Scriptures that all Hereticks too will alledge Scriptures to maintain their Heresies which as its true in it self so is it rather an iâ—…gagement to mind the Scriptures more diligently and stick to them more closely then therefore to neglect them it being certain that no Scripture contains in it any error but men do err in their collections from it and that is certainly an error that contradicts the sayings of the Scripture So we find that when Satan himself the father of Heresies set upon Christ with Scripture It is written He shall give his Angels charge c. Christ did not thereupon betake him to some other weapons and let go the Scripture but by cleaving to it repell'd his temptation from the abuse of Scripture indeed here it becomes
say Tush we are Lords we will come no more at thee Jer. 2.31 we need not call upon God for any thing for all things are ours and what profit is it if we pray to him as wicked men are noted to say Job 21.15 seeing God is engaged to us by his Promise or we shall have what is appointed for us If I say we shall thus reason however we may as others guilty of the like pride before us Mal. 3.16 be called happy by others yet surely God will resist us and we are in danger to be given up to Satan and to our own hearts till they have brought us to confusion The Apostle James plainly tels some that they received not because they asked not or because they asked amiss to consume it on their own lusts James 4.3 And our Saviour hath as plainly on the other side bid us ask that we may receive and our joy shall be full Joh. 15. Restrain not your prayers therefore my brethren but pour out your hearts before the Lord not listning to vain Philosophy and Speculations about Gods Will and Way nor prying into his Essence and things not seen so as to contemn and slight his Counsels and then think to defend your selves by saying our prayers cannot alter his Will and Decrees we shall neither have the more for praying nor the less if we pray not for he cannot be wrought upon by any thing in us for this is contrary to all piety and godliness The Prophet Isaiah hath otherwise instructed us that God hath not said to the house of Jacob seek my face in vain Isai 45.19 Do not thou justifie the counsel of the wicked but pray with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit in every season or opportunity and watch thereunto in all perseverance or strength or fervency and pray for all Saints and for me c. as the Apostle exhorts Ephes 6.18,19 Pray with all prayer and supplication for every favor and against every evil acknowledging your follies beseeching for forgiveness intreating for help in all prayer in private and in publike by your selves and with others praying in the Spirit not with the lips onely but with the heart and spirit also according to that I will pray in the Spirit and I will pray with understanding also 1 Cor. 14. It s not saying a prayer that will suffice or is regarded but the heart and spirit exercised in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and that in Gods Spirit too or in the holy Ghost as in Jude 20. in his leadings power wisdom teaching as he shews you your wants or the wants of others and the goodness of God for supply fills you with faith confidence boldness earnestness for prayer 〈◊〉 indeed essentially an exercise of the heart 〈◊〉 and by the Grace and Spirit of God breathing after God and desiring and craving help or favour of him and this may be either with vocal words or without and yet with words usually either in the heart onely the heart speaking to God when no sound is heard as Hannah did 1 Sam. 1. or with the mouth also as David and Christ and the Saints of God in their several ages used most commonly to do It s true that God looks at the heart more then at the words in prayer but yet he regards those petitions that are poured out in the Spirit and in the name of Christ in a single heart that are vocally exprest and they are not to be heard or regarded that contemn praying with words and make a tush thereof though in the mean time they pretend that they pray alwayes in that they are content with what God doth to them or now and then wish this or that to be done to themselves or others I fear such under pretence of praying alwayes pray not at all or very seldom and are rather of those despisers of Ordinances in Mal. 3.14 that say It is in vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances c. surely Christ taught his Disciples to utter words though he told them too that he would not have them vain in thinking to be heard for their much speaking yea verily not onely David Solomon Moses Samuel Daniel and all the antient Worthies uttered words solemnly in prayer unto God but the Lord Jesus Christ also at several seasons surely he needed not to have separated himself into a solitary place apart to pray Matth. 14.23 if to pray had been no other business then many make of it or if he had thought it needless to pray When he was to leave his Disciples he prayed with his voyce too and uttered many sweet and pretious words which are recorded Joh. 17. And so the Disciples after the Ascension of Christ continued together in an upper Chamber in prayer Acts 1. And after the Holy Ghost was poured upon them they were not of this Opinion of these proud spirits that think they need pray no more they have all already but they continued in prayer still and uttered words too therein Acts 2.42 and 4.24 and 6.4 We will give our selves say they continually to prayer c. So when Peter was in prison they were met to pray Acts 12. they could not pass away their time so jovially as some that pretend to know Christ as well or better in laughing and sporting carding and gaming c. but they spent their time when they met in prayer and God heard them too Yea Peter himself one of the prime pillars amongst them when he wa◠at the house of Simon the Tanner went up int◠an upper Chamber to pray and Paul when b◠was to part with the Church of Ephesus kneeled down and prayed with them Acts 20.36 to which also sometimes they added Fasting Surely then they that despise this Ordinance or that think they do it sufficiently by now and then perhaps an ejaculation of a desire despising to pray together solemnly as occasion is offered are scarcely led by the same spirit that led the Apostles and ancient Saints of God and they neglect one part of the spiritual armor provided for them and in that plat lay themselves open to Satans temptations yea sure they that are above Ordinances are also above this spiritual armor at least in some parts of it and when Satan hath got them thither he hath advantage enough against them for now he finds them naked and can as he lists captivate and wound them To be sure they pray not with all prayer and supplication but by the Prophets verdict of such they are proud and high-conceited speaking great swelling words of vanity and because they are sensual they judge of Gods Word and Ordinances according to sense counting Gods Ordinances low and foolish things preferring their own wisdom and ways before them Mal. 3.15 I wish there be not too great an increase of this proud and sensual generation and that it were not too common for people to count such happy
though they have despised the simplicity of Gods Wayes appointed for their salvation But ye beloved beware of such conceits as such are led with and keep ye close to God in making known your requests dayly and as the Apostle exhorts in every season watching thereunto that ye may find the leadings of the Spirit and Grace of God with you therein and know what to ask of him and that ye may hear what answers God will again return to you not giving over your requests because ye are not presently supplied or helped in the things ye ask but herein exercise Faith and Patience and be strong and persevere till God hath blessed you Remember Jacob who wrestled with God weeping and making supplications unto him and prevailed Remember also that Christ our Lord hath left us many instructions to importunity in prayer with many incouragements thereunto that we might not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 18.1 be out-evilled made to faint by his seeming delays and denials of us though he may try us yet calling upon him in his way according to his Will he will not deceive us Indeed if we regard iniquity in our hearts if we set up an Idol in his Temple and pollute his Name he will not hear our prayers he will have us lift up â— uâ—e hands and clean single true hearts and then he will be found of us It s true in many things we sin all and he is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity and we are in our selves too unworthy to have audience by him and too unable to do any thing fit to be presented to him but in that he hath also provided incouragement too for us we have an Advocate and a high Priest with him who hath prevented us with his Love in offering up himself for us an offering of a sweet smelling savour unto God and it s his work to intercede to God for us for us I say in special that come to God by him to take away our sins and perfume our prayers with the odours of his Sacrifice and so make them acceptable unto God yea he mediateth the New Covenant for the called Ones that the holy Spirit may be given to them to work their works in them and that they may receive the inheritance promised them Having then such invitations faithful promises and every way great incouragements let us not put off this business to some pretended illuminate Elders but let us go with boldness true hearts and full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled with the blond of Jesus from an evil conscience and bodies or whole conversations washed with pure water the pure water of his Word and the grace held forth to us therein and call upon God in and by Christ for our selves and one another that he may help and save us Had we an al sufficiency in our selves we should not need to go for help to God but we are not God nor hath God put the disposal of himself and fulness into our hand but reserves it with himself in Christ ready to give it forth to us in submission and supplication to him for it so that we have need also as well as incouragement to call upon him Pray then for help for your selves and pray for one another and for all the Saints and in special that they may be enabled to stand and for me also the meanest of all Saints that I may so declare and walk on in the Mysteries of the Gospel as I ought God will not onely hear you for your selves but for one another and without his hearing and helping the other parts of his spiritual Armor will be too heavy for you you will be as unable to buckle them all on and go forth in them as David was to go forth in Sauls armor but call upon him and he will help you yea and be armor of proof to you Sect. 8. Of Brotherly Communion YEa yet further my brethren that we might yet be better enabled to resist Satan and his temptations and to go on with patience and chearfulness in the race set before us let us go on together in love and unity not forsaking the assembling of our selves as the manner of some yea of too many is God hath called us together unto Christ as to a head and in him hath compacted us together as a body giving us a common interest in the priviledges of Christ and useful gifts differing according to his goodness that we might both have need of and be useful one to another each supplying to other out of that measure given to it from the Head in the faithful loving exercise of themselves in which God giveth forth his blessing even as the body natural thrives while the members compacted together do minister to each other nourishment and spirits without stop or interruption but when the blood and spirits have not free access and recess to the several parts and members it decays grows diseased and ill-affected and often falleth into sickness and death so is it here while the unity of the Spirit is held fast in the bond of peace and brotherly love abides and each in love seeks the love and profit of other all grow up together to a perfect man yea and all together become as a City compacted and at unity within it self and so more strong and able for offence and defence against all that would annoy but being disunited either through Factions and Divisions or through a willing careless neglect of each other and the administrations of the Lord to all by every each one they become weak and feeble and Satan gets great advantage against them to infect them one by one and to devour them for in loose sitting one from another â—or divisions each member contents it self with that measure given to it self or to a few and deprives it self of that strength life nourishment and spirits that might be administred by many Now though God be al sufficient to preserve and strengthen one alone where he by his Providence necessitates it to be so or in a hidden day such as that of Elias when the Saints appear not to or know not one another yet where he hath given opportunities of communion and mutual edification and that through pride negligence envy or arrogance is despised and slighted there souls receive not that measure of his fulness and sufficiency that otherwise they might for he that so sleights and despises sleights and despises the way that God hath appointed and ordained for us to waite upon him in and he that despiseth his Way despiseth him that appointed it and out of his way in a mans own way will he will not meete with blessing nay out of Gods way and in their own seem it never so right to men in their own eyes they may and usually do meet with delusion it being a just judgement of God upon the pride and folly of men that seeing they refuse the simplicity of his they should
that in 1 Cor. 15.50 That flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven neither doth corruption inherit incorruption which they indeavour to wrest and abuse to the denial and overthrowing the whole business of his discourse in that Chapter professedly to prove the Resurrection of the body not considering that 1. The Apostle says not thus Neither flesh nor blood shall inherit the Kingdom of God but flesh and blood copulatively together now flesh and blood is used in Scripture to signifie a natural man in his corruptible unrenewed estate and sometimes a body subjected to weakness and infirmity Heb. 2.14 whose natural life is in the blood and so nourished by a constant supply of blood from food received from without and indeed men shall not be such in the Resurrection to have their life in their blood as now and so corruptible and weak But this we expresly finde that the Body of Christ after the Resurrection by his own affirmation was flesh bones though spiritualized Luke 24.39 his blood was before shed for remission of our sins as the blood of expiation and surely to a raised body and immortalized blood is no more essential then our hairs are of the essence of a body mortal I would say rather that as the corruptible body in this state of corruption may be and subsist without hair or the like excrements so is it very conceivable that a spiritualized body shall subsist without blood its life not being then therein nor to be maintained by a continual supply and course thereof but immediately by the divine Spirit and Power of God Therefore it s a very inconsequent Argument to say because flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God therefore the body of Christ had no flesh in it upon its Resurrection directly contrary to his own assertion Luke 24.39 or that his body in which was flesh and bones was not assumed up into heaven or that mens bodies which now are flesh and blood shall not be raised and in their raised state be glorified or thus A natural body while such shall not inherit the Kingdom of God therefore this natural body shall not be raised and in its rising made spiritual and so be a subject of his Kingdom That speech then doth but point to the condition of the body when raised that it shall not be such as now it is a body of infirmity flesh and blood but it denies not that the body shall rise even as the foregoing similitude of the grain of Corn doth demonstrate that he meant for there he says Thou sowest not that body that shall be and yet we know its the same in another form or rather that that springs up namely the blade and ear and corn in it springs from that very body or bare grain that was sown or that bare grain that is sown by dying revives again in another and better form so also is the Resurrection the same dead body that was sown rises yet not the same in regard of its form and manner of being It s sown in corruption it s raised in incorruption the same it that was sown rises again though in a better manner more glorious powerful spiritual then when it was sown 2. The Apostle plainly expounds himself ver 51 52 53. when he says we shall not all sleep that is rest or lye in death but we shall be all changed Now there is a great difference between a being changed in our bodies and having them annihilated or for ever lost for that the change shall be in the body is plain in Phil. 3.31 He shall change our vile body and make it like to his own most glorious body and that this change shall not be the creating a new body that is totally distinct another from this in which we now live and die is also plain in this that if the Resurrection was the living again of the Spirit in another body then this body that dies should or might yet lye in the grave notwithstanding that resurrection in another body and so the body of Christ in which he died should have been sound in the grave still when the Disciples went to the sepulchre to imbalm him but the Scripture plainly tells us that they found it not there and of that the Angels said He is risen he it not here Matth 28.6 He might have been risen and his body there too if what was put off â—nd laid down in the grave was never reassumed 〈◊〉 raised again out of it but some other body given in stead thereof Nay indeed that conception is inconsistent with the tearm of Resurrection for Resurrection is not a creation of a â—ew or another body but the rising again of â—…at that was dead or faln as all know that understand the force of the word Resurrection Yea that also would be point-blank cross to what the Apostle yet adds further the dead shall â—e raised incorruptible and this mortal shall prit 〈◊〉 immortality and this corruptible must put on incorruption he said not that the spirit that lives and goes to God shall appear again in a new body that never was in being before an incorruptible body made of nothing or of some other materials but the dead shall rise incorruptible yea this mortal this that now is subject to death this very body shall put on immortality and this corruptible not another that never was corruptible or corrupted but this body that 's now corruptible that now hath its life in its blood and dyes corrupts shall put on immortality and so shall triumph over the grave O grave where is thy victory which they could never have ground for if the conquest of the grave should be perpetual and never restore the dead bodies that it had swallowed So that its clear by the Apostles own words and by what we read of Christ raised to which ours are to be conformed that this Scripture also is abused As for the liftings up of their understandings otherwise they are partly conceptions of impossibilities of such a thing as if the bodies were so torn and corrupted and the ashes or reliques of them dispersed that its impossible it should be raised which is an impious conception for it chargeth God with weakness and impotency as if any word was impossible to him well therefore did our Lord tax the Sadduces with erring upon these principles that they knew not the Scripture nor the power of God Vain Earth-worms who are we that we will undertake to measure and put bounds to his omnipotency and make that an impossibility with him that we cannot fathom in our narrow apprehensions Of the like nature is that foolish conception that the world will not afford room enough for so many millions of men that should be raised up as if he that made all things by his Power when as there was yet nothing could not either reduce all the dispersed parcels of his dead creatures into one body again or finde room
might willingly be exhorted to this â—s not to bear with them that are evil and would pervert souls from Christ so neither to fall out â—nd make rents from those that are built upon â—nd sincerely and peaceably seek the glory of Christ Sect. 4. How to walk towards Seducers and the Secuced 3. BUt now for those that have not Christ for their foundation but are bottom'd upon their own works yea and would bottom Christ â—pon them too hindring souls from coming â—…ghtly to Christ and that bring another Gospel then that of Christ tending to deny and overthrow the Gospel of Christ but chiefly those that have apostatized from him the case is otherwise They that divide from Christ the elder Brother are not to be owned as brethren but divided from yea and looked upon in their endeavors to draw others to themselves as enemies to our souls Wolves that come to devour deceitful workers and so we are to avoid them The Apostles looked not upon the zealous Jews and Pharises opposers of the grace of Christ as their brethren in Christ nor upon the false Apostles that perverted the Gospel of Christ mixing it with the Law and withdrawing men from the sincerity of the Gospel of Christ much less those Apostates and Blasphemers Hymeneus and Alexander and Philetus men that denied the Resurrection and affirmed it to be now made or past denying the Lord that bought them and subverting the faith of divers 2 Tim. 2.16,17 If such as these plead for a brothers portion of love from the Saints in those their wayes they are much mistaken brotherly love with them would be as bad as Jehosophats familiarity and correspondency with Ahab which the Lord reproved and punished in him 2 Chron. 19 2. And as the Churches tolerating the Baalamites and Nicolaitans which he hated Rev. 2.14 20. Men are much out in thinking that those that are evidently and upon due trial false Apostles and of the Synagogue of Satan ought not to be so reputed but walked towards and loved as dissenting Brethren How shall the members of the body hold unity with the head that are at one with members separated from the head and disclaim all influence of spirits from it Who ever come unto us we are to try them yea though they come as Angels of Light and Messengers of Righteousness and finding them deceitful workers to beware of them 1 Thes 5.21 Phil. 3.2 So the Wisdom of God speaking of â—he spirit of error under the notion of a foolish and whoorish woman opposed to the Spirit of Truth under the notion of Wisdom or the wise â—oman bids us beware of her and come not neer â—he corner of her house Prov. 5.8.3 nor give ear â—o her sweet and specious inchantments not to â—ut our selves â—…shly into her way and company 〈◊〉 presuming on our own strength to preâ—…rve us much less entertaining her as a friend â—nd companion meet for us and our Saviour while on earth in the flesh left it as a Caâ—…at to us to beware of false Prophets who though â—hey come in Sheeps clothing to us yet inwardly are â—…vening Wolves and seek to devour us Matth. â— 15 He would not have us out of charity to â—…dge all sheep and correspond with them that â—ome to us in the appearance of sheep but wariâ—… try them and discerning Wolves in that haâ—it to flee from them as we are not rashly to account and walk towards all as Wolves that men account so so neither to imbrace all that profess themselves sheep I know the VVolves will plead for charity towards them but what foolish Shepherd would out of charity listen to the VVolves so pleading or what silliness would it be in real sheep to joyn themselves with â—hem because they pretend as sheep a desire to graze with them that 's bad charity to another that layes me open to destruction my self The Jews of old regarded not such a pretended charity in Sanballat and Tobiah desirous to build with them the Temple of the Lord because they discerned them to be no friends to their work but sought by subtilty to hinder it and destroy them Ezra 4.1 It s indeed the common plea of such and of some weak sheep of Christ who are in danger that way to be worried by them what ever a mans principles be yet we ought to permit them and not speak harshly or at all against them but let every man injoy his own minde which is a notorious gross and false position Indeed as we have said where men build and are built upon the same foundation even Jesus Christ there we may and are to tolerate difference in doubtful disputations where the matters of difference are not evident and plain in Scripture and but matters of meer indifferency and lesser moment But that all should be tolerated in the Church of God of what ever opinion and doctrine though destructive to the fundamentals of the faith and no sharpe reproof may be given them is as bad a principle as to tolerate the Devil in his possession of men oâ— to tolerate all vice and wickedness without 〈◊〉 punishment of them yea in â—oâ—…e casâ—s 〈…〉 worse for there are some pâ—…nciples 〈…〉 doctrine as bad or worse then any evil of practise amongst men because some doctrines may naturally lead to all evil practises As that there is no difference to be put between good and evil sin and righteousness that all actions are alike approveable to God the opinion of good and evil is to be destroyed out of men that sin is nothing but an imagination that this or that is sin that all men live or believe how they will shall have eternal salvation that there shall be no resurrection c. Beside that evil doctrines may poyson more secretly and are less dreaded oftentimes then gross actions because they have â—ot so horrid an appearance many times to the eye of men We find Christ commending some Churches for their patience when yet he presently subjoyns by way of praise too that they â—ould not bear evil persons Rev. 2.2 such as seduced the people from him faulting them that bare with and permitted them Revel 3.15,16 yea that were but lukewarm for him and against them as those that mattered not what men hold or teach how destructive to Christ and Christianity so they would think well of them and let them alone such Christ threatens to spue out of his mouth so far is he from allowing and approving them Yea he tels us he hates such wayes himself Rev. 2.6 and sure he leads his people to be like him How canst thou say Christ is in thee when what he declares himself to hate is patiently tolerated and not reproved by thee The Apostles not onely bid us hold them as execrable and account them accursed that preach beside what they have preached or that introduce another Gospel though they come like Angels but they have also themselves given them over to Satan 1 Tim 1.20 and
as well writ earnestly against them as they have exhorted us to contend earnestly with them Jude 3 11,12,13 And yet thou that callest thy self a Saint dost rather bless them and walk with them as brethren But thou wilt say But are we as infallible as the Apostles can we be so sure what is error as they To this I answer That its true we have not so full a dispensation of Spirit from Christ to us as they had that were to lay the foundation they had greater work to do and their talents were proportioned to their work but yet through their infallible doctrine and by the good Spirit of God given us Rom. 8.9 or else we are not Saints or Christs peculiar people we may certainly and infallibly know the foundamental and essential Truths and Principles of Christian Religion which none can be ignorant of and yet be good Christians The infallibility and certainty in Christ and his Apostles which thou pleadest is an argument against unity with all that thou pleadest for for they having been infallibly guided that that is cross to their infallible doctrine is thereby detected to be false and fallible and thou canst not be one with them and yet not dislike and shun that that is contrary to them Sure if we know and love God we shall have some discerning and derestation of such doctrines as blaspheme or dishonor God and beware of those that bring them If we be Christs sheep we have some discerning of his voice from the voice of strangers John 10.5 so much as may render their voice a strange voice to us and such as is not to be approved of us If a man shall come and tell us there was never any such man as Jesus Christ or that if there was he was onely a type and figure of the true Christ in us and not the very Saviour that he rose not nor ascended nor shall come again in glory that he is not the Mediator between God and us that our dead bodies shall not arise that the Scriptures are not to be heeded in their sayings and yet we cannot tell whether these men say truth or not we are plainly blinded and are not sheep of Christ if we cannot discern these voices to be the voices of a stranger Those infallible Writings of the Prophets and Apostles as they tell us that there are and shall be false Prophets and Antichrists VVolves in sheeps clothing deniers of the Lord that bought them and such as bring in heresies of destruction And 2. That such persons and their Doctrines ought not to be heeded and listened to but avoided by us not received to house or bid God speed but held as execrable and accursed 2 Joh. 10,11 Gal. 8.9 Yea 3. That such we are to contend against with earnestness Jude 3. reprove them stop their mouths give warning of them to others that they may not be snared by them Tit. 1.9.11 So they tell us further 4. That real believers have received an holy Unction by which to discern them 1 Joh. 2.20,27 and so have ability of discerning them and indeed that 's intimated too in their precepts and counsels given us to try and avoid them which otherwise were in vain if they were beyond our discerning Nay 5. They have also notably fore described them foretelling us that they would say they are Christ and deceive many Matth. 24.5 that they deny Jesus to be the Christ 1 Joh. 2.22 make a cipher of him call him execrable 1 Cor. 12. deny the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2.1 confess him not come in the flesh 1 Joh. 4.3 Will mock at the promise of his coming 2 Pet. 3.4 pretending that there neither is nor shall be any alteration no other coming but that that is and alwayes hath been to all the Prophets and Patriarks in all times deny the resurrection of the body 1 Cor. 15. and say that the resurrection is now made or is already past 2 Tim. 2.18 hear not the Apostles in their doctrines and sayings 1 Joh. 4.6 Speak high swelling words of vanitie promising men liberty while themselves are servants of corruption 2 Pet. 2.18.19 exalt themselves above all that is called God or that is worâ—…ipped 2 Thes 2.4 above Magistrates and Governors if not suitable to their humors yea against Jesus Christ and above him and God in him unthroning him and despising his Ordinances as light and foolish things lawless men that worship not God pray not to him nor call upon him yea in a word by their fruits we may know them Matth. 7.16 for they lead from Jesus Christ the onely begotten of God in whom onely we may meet with salvation either to rest in their own works joyned with or preferred before Christ or else to looseness in principles and practises to walk after their own ungodly lusts self-lovers covetous boasters of their abilities knowledge attainments proud so as to lift up themselves as is aforesaid blasphemers that is speakers evil of Gods Wayes Temple Ordinances and them that worship therein disobedient to parents either natural or spiritual in Christ unthankful to God especially for his love in Christ and for his appointments for their good unholy not living to God and Christ not calling upon him giving thanks to him c. without natural affection to their own relations truce-breakers that keep not Covenants or ingagements to God or men false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of them that are good 2 Tim. 3.1.2,3,4 c. A marvellous thing it is that a man should be a Saint and yet not know the essentials of that Word that sanctifies him should be begotten by the Gospel and yet know not that Gospel by which God hath begot him so as to discern it from other doctrines that God hath writ to us by his servants so plainly of these things and we have the benefit and help of those gifts given by Christ to them that we might be seâ—led and not tossed to and fro like children and yet we know not who say right and who say wrong sure we know nothing then and so know not what charity is or what love we should walk in and toward whom if we know not the Gospel in its first and bottom doctrines cannot discern whether men preach with or besides that doctrine taught or recorded by the Apostles when we hear them speak they never so fully for or against it we have lost our eyes sure and understanding Obj. But must we not do to them as we would they should do to us though we do discern them must we not still love them Answ I answer yes them that are not given over to destraction them that we see not to have sinned to death and to have trampled under foot the Son of God counting the blond of the Covenant after it hath been sanctifying them an unholy or common thing and have done despire to the Spirit of Grace which things as they may be discerned by us so are we
the Apostles in their Writings I fear men that rightly understand not will abuse this that 's here said even as they do the very Scriptures also yea not onely they that are not believers but even some weaker or rasher believers also will be too often ready to take up these practises which they ought to walk in against the Wolves and Seducers upon due proof and knowledge that they are such against their brethren for some smaller differences but the abuse of truth by some must not hinder the use practise of it in a due way by others It s likely too that the Scribes Pharises and Hypocrites of the Jewish Church would be ready to justifie their own practises against the Apostles and Christians in condemning and speaking evill of them by the Apostles practises and so sharp writings against the false Apostles and Apostates though in this they differed that the one made use of carnal weapons upon unjust grounds against the truth and the other of spiritual weapons upon good and warrantable grounds for the truth the one fought against men with violence to the death for holding to the Scriptures and asserting that Jesus is the Christ and the other spake against and warned men of the Apostates and perverters of the Gospel for what they knew they acted and preach'd against the Scriptures and the faith of Christ and probably some of the like spirit may think to justifie and strengthen themselves in their desired way of persecuting Gospel and Scripture assertions by what is here writ against such as lead men from the Scriptures into heresies of destruction yet that notwithstanding be we wary of our own and one anothers souls and take the Apostles counsel in walking towards those that upon due grounds from the Scripture we see would pervert them I say upon due Scripture-grounds that we may not mistake in our application of the counsels they give us to these or those persons left we condemn such as are not condemned by them It s needful that we try things and persons before we receive them or reject them and in this tryal as its needful to mind the Apostle Johns notes of discerning men viz. to mind whether they confess that is hold forth exalt and lead to faith in Christ come in the flesh that is as he was made of a woman made under the Law died for us and is risen again c. and to minde whether they hear hold forth consent and come up unto the Apostles Doctrine and wholsom Sayings So do I approve that it be with the joint advice and helpfulness of brethren chiefly such as are of more stability and greater understanding not but that weaker believers in case God by his Providence cast them upon such alone in taking heed to the word of Grace and looking to God for help may be able to discern them but God loveth unity of brethren and liketh not of mens despising the help he therein affords but punisheth such despisings of them and self-presumption to brotherly union God hath promised his blessing and Christ his presence to his agreeing together to act in his Name a sheep straying from the fold and going alone is often catcht up when they that abide with the flock sustain no harm To this trial also we may give credit to the testimonies of approved understanding and faithful brethren as to matters of fact or speech of their own knowledge declared by them for so we find even the Apostles to have practised 1 Cor. 1.11 and 11.18 and 5.1 in believing the testimonies of approved brethren against men and to have given warning to others of men whom they proved unfaithful or evil themselves 1 Tim. 4.14,15 yea and it is an argument of some defect and want of charity towards such brethren not to give due credit to their testimonies and brotherly warnings such a thing we finde upbraided in the Disciples by our Saviour in Mark 16.14 Because they believed not them that had seen him after the Resurrection Again when it is evident that men are departed from the faith ye are to put difference between some and others in your carriage toward them as the Apostle Jude hath given direction as towards those that through temptation and simple heartednedness are over-reached and turned aside but as yet not made one with and confirmed in the deceits by which men or Satan hath beguiled them ye are to walk with more tenderness in the spirit of meekness and love seeking to recover them till ye see there is no further hope of them But for others that begin to grow stiff reprove and rebuke them more sharply and by fear and the terrors of the Lord endeavour if possible to scare them from their evil wayes but if after twice or â—…ice admonishing they yet chuse their own â—…y and depart from the Apostolical Doctrine â—one of their own devising then as the Apostle â—…ul advises reject them Tit. 3.11 yea such as 〈◊〉 perceive upon good and due proof to be of 〈◊〉 Synagogue of Satan membred into him and â—…come a seed of his begetting sworn enemies â—s it were to the Lord Jesus doing the devils â—ork for him we may not onely count as accursed and give them up to Satan but also pray against them as divers passages will warrant us 〈◊〉 the Apostles Doctrine onely ye are to be â—…y wary in this case of doing nothing rashly 〈◊〉 upon mature deliberation and a clear â—…cerning Sect. 5. Exhortations to worthy walking towards the world or residue of men yet uncalled FOr your walking toward the world Let it be such as becoms the Gospel such as may â—orn and commend it to men such as in which â—…en may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Matt. 5.16 an unreproveable and faultless walking as the Sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation â—…il 2.15,16 having for the end of it the glorifying of God in Christ and the good of the world viz that the yet uncalled or unsubdued ones may be convinced and drawn to believe if it may be at least have their mouths stopt and their ignorance silenc'd that they may have no excuse for their folly nor any just cause in you of stumbling them and keeping them out from God to whom ye seek to draw them And indeed the grace 〈◊〉 God and what ye have therein heard seen wiâ—… teach you how to walk towards all only I shaâ—… briefly put you in mind of its teachings it wâ—… lead you to sobriety in your selves amongst them not to walk in coveteousness but to shew forâ—… moderation and contentedness in the lot of yoâ—… condition not to drunkenness riotousneâ—… chambering wantonness as if ye had your happiness in the enjoyment of fulness in the creatures or in satisfying the flesh in its lusts and afflictions but in mortification of your earthly members as those that are called to better and moâ—… lasting pleasures and