Father manifesting love grace to them in them 8. They living in this light seeing al conditions to be good through the appearance of the good God in it can now see and say thar it 's not the least part of their happinesse while they are here to live fully and compleatly in the will of their Father Oh saith the soul that I could attain to this but to live satisfiedly and contentedly in the will of God what a transcendent excellency doth the enlightned soul see in this one thing how would this quiet and silence all fleshly and carnall risings dislikings and quarrelings against the divine providence it can say Good is the Word of the Lord and good is the will of the Lord and good is this condition to me because it s my Fathers good pleasure so to have it who knows best what is good for me an excellent discovery but more excellent when living in the power in the glory of it 9. This Law of light discovers the vanity and folly of all fleshly wisdome in the things of God this Law of light makes that soul truly sensible in whom its manifest of the difference betweene the wisdome of the first and second Adam and so that word is fulfilled in him if any man will be wise let him be a fool that he may be wise he shall be a fool that is made truly sensible of the folly of all fleshly wisdome the insufficiency of the light of nature and wisdome of the flesh to attain the knowledge of God or the things of God For in him are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge and its a gift of the Spirit to those whose eyes are enlightned to see into this mystery To you its given to know the mystery or secrets of the Kingdome when it s hid from others they are strangers to it though never so much indued with fleshly wisdome 10. And finally This Law of life is a light and lamp unto the feet and paths of those in whom its manifest to lead and direct them into its waies it is that voyce behind them saying This is the way walke in it when they turn to the right or left hand it 's that light which guides them into all their undertakings whether civil or spirituall it is their great comforter without whose direction they cannot comfortably act in any of their undertakings in a word it 's that Spirit of light and life that occasions motion action sutable to its owne nature and sets the soule upon that worke which is higher then it selfe that way which is a way of light and truth Thus the Law in the Spirit is a Law of light giving understanding unto the simple enlightning the minde it is the true light that lighteneth the darknesse of every Sunne and daughter of Sion Chap. II. Shewing nine false Lights flowing from the Law in the flesh BUT there is a false Light as well as a true Light there is a Law in the flesh as well as in the Spirit although its true that all false Light is indeed darknes though men call it light If the light that is in thee be darknesse how great is that darknesse therefore I shal speak somthing by way of discovery of this principle this power of darknesse under the nominall tearme of light this false Christ or rather this Antichrist which if it were possible would deceive the very elect Now this false light or rather delusion of this law in the flesh may be considered under these following considerations First false light 1. It presents low carnall and fleshly excellencies unto the creature as its chiefest good it gives a false representation of things it cals evil good and good evill it puts light for darknes and darknes for light it judgeth sweetnes to be bitter and bitter to be sweet and thus it represents the worst things with the greatest excellency in more particular First it discovers not sinne and fleshly motions and fleshly actings as the greatest evil but as the greatest good thus the soule is deluded with a false light when it looks upon the deeds of darknes as deeds of pleasure and the waies and paths of darknes to be waies and paths of pleasantnes and peace and thus it becomes a pleasure and pastime to a fool to commit folly this is the universall spirit of Satan and law of darknes that rules in the world even in the hearts of the children of disobedience so that in a word the worlds way is a way of darknes and they delight to have it so It s true sometimes they hear of Christ and grace by the hearing of the eare but the use they make of it through the deceivablenes of this false and dark light is to sinne the more freely to give up themselues to the service of the flesh with the less trouble thus are the most the greatest part of the world blinded to their own ruine and yet think they see Second false light Secondly this Law in the flesh presents the world as an excellent thing as the chiefest good to many a soul who will shew us any good saith the worldly creature who thinks the world best hence it is so many and that under the form and notion of godlines to hunt so earnestly after worldly honors profits pleasures doe not such through that false glass that thus represents things apprehend the chiefest good the chiefest exellency to be in the world when alas those poor deluded souls see no excellency no preciousnes in God the fountain it forsakes him and runs to streams not but that every creature of God is good the soule beholding and enjoying the good God in it but without God there is nothing good no man good no creature good nothing good God is the goodnes of all things unto an enlightened renewed minde now this love of the world and being taken up with and living in the worlds excellencie the worlds glory is not only the sinne and will be the shame of men of the earth who have their portion in this life but it s a temptation that lights many times very heavy upon those who are Christians Saints indeed Christ himselfe was set upon by this temptation and I believe Christians who have experience within themselves of that new birth which is from above walking the way of true holinesse can bear witnes to this truth amongst all their fiery tryalsand temptations this is one to imbrace this present evil world not evil in it selfe but evill to him who hath an evil heart to depart from the living God making the world its dead Idol this is that with which the world is overcome mad they are in the imbracing the honours profits and pleasures of this present world this is that which overcomes the heart of many a Judas what will ye give me of many a Demas who after much profession forsake the Lord imbracing this present world be yee therefore watchfull for your adversary the Devil goeth
himselfe though one with himself and so as himselfe partakers of the same light life and glory so that although God created all things yet he is nothing of all those things yet the life and glory of them he is the Creator they but the creatures Ninth false Light Ninthly And in conclusion some in this false light come to conclude that there is no God at all nothing but the God of nature or nature which is God that all things come by nature and are upheld by nature and so at last turn Atheists and here ends all religion and thus the foole hath said in his heart nay he is not now ashamed to say with his tongue that there is no God no heaven no hel no good no bad but all is of nature now nature may take its wil its fil of pleasure for what it lusts it may have there being no God no law unto it or above it nothing but that law of nature which acts it self in its own power in its owne liberty Thus dear Christian have I though with some difficulty tract and with much brevity discovered this false and deceivable man of sinne that is now acting now deceiving if it were possible the very elect not doubting but that those anointings which are in you will teach you in whom it is in truth and keep you untill the day of his appearing Chap. III. Of the liberty of the law in the spirit AS the law in the spirit is a law of light so likewise is the law of liberty a law which produceth much freedom of spirit where it is in truth this the Prophet David knew by experience when he prayed Psal 50. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and stablish me with thy free spirit It s a free spirit For 1. It s freely given 2. It s a spirit working freedom and liberty where it is received This spirit of freedom as its a law of liberty delivers those in whom it is from al their enemies from al their bondage and captivity First It sets them at liberty from sin and Satan I joyne them together because sinne is Satans worke and al natural men are servants and slaves to both servants to Satan enslaved to his wil servants to sinne willingly doing his worke for his servants you are whom you obey whether it be of sinne unto death or of obedience unto righteousnesse Now this law in the spirit which is Christ in you the hope of glory delivers souls from this captivity from that captivity to sin in the conscience which flowes from the enlightning power of this law which doth not only make soules sensible of sinne but workes likewise a deliverance from sinne and so sets the soule at liberty from that bondage in taking away the guilt the sting of death which is sinne This law discovering love brings home that grace and pardon and seales up the soule til the day of redemption the day of its compleat deliverance And then Secondly It sets the soule at liberty from the love and affectation of sinne for naturally the very affections of love and joy are captivated and enslaved to base fleshly and carnal lusts now this spirit of liberty sets the soule free in its affections through its light discovering the evil nature of sinne and so its power in delivering the soule from the love of it Believe it Friends this is the light and liberty of the spirit it enlightens soules to see the evil of sinne and where it s a light enlightening there it s a law of liberty setting free from the guilt free from the love and affectation of sinne Thirdly It workes a liberty likewise from sinne in the conversation How saith the Apostle Rom. 5. 2. shall we who are dead to sinne live any longer therein Sin shal not reigne in the mortal body sin shal not have dominion where this law of the spirit is in power neither over the conscience the affections nor conversation this grace of God which brings home salvation teacheth to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world thus this law in the spirit is a law of liberty from sin from Satan whom natural men serve being taken captive at his wil and that willingly It s true that soules in whom this law of liberty is manifest may be taken captive but its contrary to their mindes it is their burden it is their prison and they can say with Paul O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me And they can say likewise through this spirit of liberty Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ though in my flesh I serve the law of sinne yet in my minde I serve the law of God And thanks be to God who giveth me a victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Secondly This law workes a liberty from the world likewise men naturally being enslaved to it there being such a sutablenesse unto it in the mindes of men The first man being of the earth earthly this first man lookes after nothing delights in nothing because it apprehends nothing above its creation but soules borne from a bone by this spirit of liberty For that which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that which is borne of the spirit is spirit being created after the image of him that created them in righteousnesse and true holinesse that as they have borne the image of the earthly now they beare the image of the heavenly they are made capable to apprehend spirituall and heavenly things Being risen with Christ they now seeke after things above things of another nature and being delivered into the enjoyment of those spirituall and heavenly things that they can say God is mine Christ the Spirit is mine grace love glory is mine all is yours saith Paul they can say I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine now their hearts are tasten off from things below they have a loose affection unto it they see now that nothing is good to them but as they have God in it as they have love and grace in it being set at liberty from the inordinate affection to it by this spirit of liberty and this is the second part of the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Thirdly Those in whom this law of liberty is manifest in power they are set at liberty from men viz. from being slaves and subjects unto men in the things of God The truth is that men through the power and spirit of Antichrist that son of perdition have a long time out of that pride of heart naturally residing in them gotten into the seate of God exalting themselves above all that is called God have become a law in the spirits of men subjecting and enslaving them to their owne wils and men through their ignorance of this law of liberty in the spirit have beene and yet for the most part desire to be subjects and slaves unto them now this spirit of liberty delivers souls from this
bondage from this subjection to the wils of men in the things of God Yee are bought with a price be yee not the servants of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. They now see in this light that they cannot serve two masters they now in this law of liberty are delivered from the fleshly law into the glorious liberty of the spiritual Fourthly This law sets men at liberty from all other lawes besides it selfe it teacheth men not to feare those who can but kil the body and cannot kil the soule it teacheth men not to act in any spiritual duty under the power of any command besides it selfe it sets souls at liberty from being subject to ordinances yet makes the soule able in whom it is in a measure to say with the Apostle Though all things be lawfull to me yet I will not be brought under the power of any thing that is of any thing besides this law of liberty in the spirit Ob. This seems to be a doctrine of liberty indeed and may be an occasion of liberty to the flesh A. First Although it seem to be a doctrine of fleshly liberty in the eye of a carnal and fleshly minde yet to a spiritual Christian there is no such thing and indeed it argues that those who shal so thinke have but little if any knowledge at al of the light liberty and power of this law The Apostle Gal. 5. 1. saith Stand fast in that liberty with which Christ hath made you free and be not entangled with any yoke of bondage Yet vers 13. Vse not your liberty as an occasion to the flesh And I say farther that this law in the spirit teacheth men to put on a conversation sutable to it selfe it teacheth men to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and therefore these men are much mistaken who thinke that it will teach men to be ungodly Secondly It s true that men of the flesh may abuse this heavenly law in getting a notion of it and so instead of a spiritual get into a carnal liberty but mens abuse of things through ignorance derogates nothing from the excellency of that truth this I am sure is a most excellent soule-satisfying truth being knowne in power this liberty from al other lawes besides this law of liberty this law of life well might the Apostle James say Whosoever looks into this perfect law of liberty and continues therein shall be blessed in his deed Jam. 1. 25. Thirdly As this law delivers soules out of bondage so it delivers into its owne glory as it brings soules out of bondage darknes so it delivers them into the Kingdom of his dear Son into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God But because I have occasionally mentioned this deliverance from bondage into a glorious liberty in some other Treatise I have beene and shall be the more briefe in this Onely note this particular they are delivered into the liberty of sons now what this liberty of sons is I shall mind in some few particulars First A liberty to know their Father No man knowes the Father but the Sonne and those to whom the Son reveals him they have a liberty to know his love his grace his goodnesse to them Secondly They have a liberty to know his will likewise the Father reveales in the spirits of his people his will concerning them his will concerning their justification sanctification and glory and so makes their calling and election sure to them seales them up by this spirit unto the day of redemption he makes knowne his will concerning his wayes and actings to the sons of men he doth nothing but he revealeth it to his servants the Prophets To them it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdome when it is hid from others and thus the covenant of grace is made good in the spirits of Christians I will write my law in their hearts and they shall all know me from the least even to the greatest a glorious liberty to know their Fathers will their Fathers love their Fathers secrets Secondly The liberty of a son is to abide in the house for ever to be one of his fathers family when the servant is turned out of dores So is it with the Sons of God made partakers of this free spirit by which they can call God Father Gal. 4. 6. When servants who work for wages that is all formall professors who serve that they may serve themselves shall be turned out of the family out of the Kingdome of his dear Son with their wages into the Kingdome of darknesse When the Son shall remaine a Citizen of the New Jerusalem a member of the family and houshold of God under the everlasting providence perfection and guidance of the Almighty When all servants and slaves shall see Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets and all the sons of God set down in the Kingdome of heaven at their Fathers Table and they themselves thrust out of dores Luk. 13. 28. a glorious word for those who are established with this free spirit Thirdly The liberty of a son is to have communion and fellowship with his Father in the knowledge of his wil in the enjoyment of his love in being one with his Father in all his undertakings so is the spirituall Son made so by his free spirit brought into a sweet communion with the Father where he partakes of love lives in his will communicates with the Father in all his undertakings takes all his Fathers businesse as his own and acts with the like faithfulnesse in it when the servant he works and looks for wages a hireling that looks not so much after his masters businesse as after the reward and that he accounts to be as debt unto him the peny he lookt for he hath it duly paid him though many be called and few chosen when the peny the Son looks for is still to be a Son to have more and more communion with and conformity to his Father that as the Father honours the Son so the Son may honour the Father so as in all things to doe and be in that condition which is sutable to such a calling and all in the liberty and power of that free spirit Fourthly Liberty of the son is to have the Fathers inheritance to be lord of all when the servant shall have nothing but his wages the spirituall Son shal be made heir crownd with his Fathers glory although its true a Son when a child may be a servant through his minority so is it with sons many know not their sonship Gal. 4. 1. The heir when he is a child differeth not from a servant though he be lord of all But when the fulnesse of time is come God sends forth the spirit of his Son into their hearts by which they call God Father and so see themselves now to be lords of all heires to all their Fathers glory crownd not only with the titles of Sonnes but Kings and Princes with their Father partakers of
over-turned the tables of the money-changers and whipt the buiers and sellers out of the temple so hee doth in the spirits of his people whips out all those unclean lusts and fleshly imaginations which defile this holy temple not but that there may be the presence of these but they are not there with delight with content and this sanctifying spirit wil never leave them til hee hath turned them al out the God of peace will tread Satan under feet shortly and all those enemies shall become the Saints foot-stool this is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eies this is the Lords work and he will perfect it in his time Let all those who wait upon him for the accomplishment of it cry grace grace unto it the end of it wil be glory in the highest when al flesh shall vail it selfe to this excellent glory though it be not accomplished as soon as you expect it yet assuredly the end wil be glorious that is it will crown al your temptations and trials expectations when you shal partake of this perfect change 2. There is an external holines likewise that is a visible demonstration in the conversation of what is wrought within There is not onely holinesse within but without The Kings daughter is not only all glorious within but her cloathing likewise is of needle-work There is a visible manifestation of a renewed minde where the God of peace sanctifies he doth it through out not only in soul and spirit but in body too Hence it is the Apostle saith Be ye holy in all manner of holy conversation and godlinesse This outward appearance of holinesse is but the fruit of that tree of holines within and where this tree is this fruit wil appear there wil be fruit unto holines and the end everlasting life This external holines appeares under these two particulars First In the forsaking evil courses Secondly In the performing or acting that which is good 1. In the forsaking evil there is not only an evil root but there is evil fruit the fruit of the flesh now where this law of holiness and purity is there is a purging of al filthiness of flesh and spirit This is that the Apostle minds 1 Cor. 6. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are purged by the Spirit of our God c. This is the true property of this law in the spirit to make clear not only within but without too Wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes Isa 1. cease to doe evil c. al filthines and prophanenesse flows directly from the law of the flesh and are the fruits of the flesh the tree is knowne by his fruit It is altogether unpossible for a renewed changed sanctified heart to be given up to the lusts of the flesh they are fruits that grow in the devils garden upon the tree of nature and not of grace they are the fruit that grow upon the forbidden tree whosoever eateth thereof is dead if you walk after the flesh ye are dead but if by the spirit ye mortifie the deeds of the flesh ye are alive Therefore take this in a word for al That it is altogether unpossible for a man that lives in the spirit to bring forth fruits after the flesh they who live after the flesh savour the things of the flesh Only two cautions considered First That those who live after the spirit may be and oft are burdened with flesh Secondly Although they are burdened with flesh yet they walke not they warre not after the flesh but spirit in them subdues and destroyes flesh and the conversation is in a measure sutable to such a spiritual law within 2. This holines appears not onely in the forsaking that which is visibly evil and carries a clear appearance in it to be of the flesh But likewise 2. In the visible acting and performing works of holines sutable to such an inward principle the soule does not only now cease to do evil but learns to doe wel This is that the Scripture so often mindes and Saints so much experienceth Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good workes may glorifie your Father that is in heaven And this is the wil of God even your sanctification that you may know how to possesse your vessels in sanctification and honour and the tree is known by his fruit Does a man gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistls And the good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things but the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil things Thus Scripture clears this truth experience likewise manifests it Those who are taught of the Spirit can beare witness unto this truth That the more that spirit of holiness appeares within purifying the inner man the more visible does that holines appear without Quest But it may be questioned What are these workes of holinesse that visibly appeare thus in the sanctified man Ans 1. Negative I minde not customs and forms for in this natural men may act far But 2. Affirmatively 1. In speaking forth and declaring the goodness holiness and love of God A heart that is sanctified indeed and enjoyes love and communion indeed cannot but according to the measure enjoyed and the gift received but declare it forth unto others Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Thus Saints cannot keepe silence when God speakes in them but are ever and anon breathing forth the good the love of God then saith the soul Truly God is good O taste and see that the Lord is gracious Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare his wonderfull love to the sonnes of men The soul can now say God is good he is sweet he is lovely and altogether delightfull Thus Saints are not either first breathing forth fleshly and carnal discourse unprofitable and vain things but their words are alwaies seasoned with salt that it may minister grace unto the hearers neither are they dumb and tongue-tied alwaies not but that those who are precious may be slow of speech but being drawne forth something they have to declare of God They are not first altogether empty and so silent that argues a barren fruitless unsanctified soul neither secondly doe they pretend to be high in knowledge but wil not declare any thing except flesh talk of spirit and manifest flesh no they cannot with-hold the truth in unrighteousness nor hide his goodness within them as by stealth but still Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh and the tree is known by his fruit God creating in his people the fruit of the lips peace peace to them who are afarre off and to them who are nigh And as this fruit of the lips appeares in speaking of GOD so likewise in speaking to GOD both in prayer and praise 2. There is the fruit likewise of the
actings taking the shadow for the substance the fruit for the tree nay or rather the false and deceivable fruit of the flesh for both the tree and fruit of holinesse in the spirit but those who sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption 4. I shall adde in the fourth place though I might have mentioned it in the first that fleshly law of unholinesse that dwels in the hearts of all naturall men and yet they blesse themselves in their present condition There is and ever hath beene a naturall antipathy in the hearts of all men naturally against God and the appearance of holinesse in truth in his people such is the contrariety of the hearts of naturall men unto the holinesse of God that they ever did and doe to this day oppose it this is the law of unholinesse that dwels that rules in the hearts of all naturall men and hence it comes to passe that men naturally are taken up with fancies and shadowes instead of the substance something they must have to quiet them but not the truth the substance that affrights them because they are ignorant of it and have an enmity against it hence it is they call evill good and good evill they put light for darknesse and darknesse for light c. Chap. IX Of the power of the law in the spirit I Shall now proceed to speake a word of the power of this Covenant of grace this law in the spirit for as it is a law of light liberty righteousnesse and true holinesse it creates a new man within in righteousnesse and true holinesse so it s a law of power and much glory We preach Christ saith the Apostle the power of God and the wisedome of God This is that word which is mighty in operation and powerfull sharper then any two edged sword it enters in to the dividing of the joints and the marrow it is a searcher of the thoughts and intents of the heart the power of this law in the spirit This Covenant of grace made within the Saints may be discovered under severall considerations 1. The power of this law is a convincing power it over-powers the spirits of men it convinces men of sin of righteousnesse and of judgement it convinceth them of sinne making them truely and deepely sensible of it Of righteousnesse making soules sensible of the unrighteousnesse of all their best righteousnesse Of judgement that al those things delighted in formerly must be judged must receive the sentence of death from Jesus Christ sitting as a refiner and purifier in them c. 2. It converts as wel as convinceth it changeth and reneweth the minde takes off the minde from sinne it changeth the minde and the conversation it makes a separation between the soule and sinne it separates betweene a man and his beloved lusts it converts a soul from the love of sinne it converts it likewise from the practice of sinne it worketh a real change within which produceth a change without This is that power which overcomes flesh world and devil what 's the reason many a poor soul would many times gladly be rid of sinne but they want a power not being sensible where their power lieth but perhaps oppose flesh in the strength of flesh when its proper onely to the spirit to destroy flesh Therefore let Saints be informed where their power lieth that they may wait upon God whose worke it is to subdue all things in them all things without them that are contrary to him in his time 3. As it convinceth and converteth so it makes those in whom it is a free and a willing people In the day of thy power thy people shall be a willing people Psa 110. Willing to have sinne sacrificed lust and corruption subdued willing in the beauty of holiness to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God in Jesus Christ it s this powerful spirit which works in us both to wil to do of his good pleasure nothing in the world is able to over-power the wil and make it free but this free spirit of power it s this spirit which makes soules willing to yeeld up themselves to the scepter of the Almighty which makes soules free and willing subjects to the King of Kings that fils them with joy at the beholding of his presence of his power that saith not with the world He is come to torment them before the time but rejoiceth because the Lord God omnipotent reigns topping and keeping under all other lawes and powers besides it selfe Thus the Lord reignes and the Saints rejoyce the Lord reigns and the world trembles 4. The power of this invisible spiritual law wil appear in the destruction of Antichrist that man of sinne that son of perdition this hee will effect by the spirit of his mouth and the brightness of his coming The coming of Christ in the spirit which is the glorious manifestation of this law is that power that must destroy Antichrist By Antichrist that man of sinne I understand any thing within us or without us whether it appeare in wisdome or power if it be of the flesh though its pretences be never so fair and glorious yet it is but an Antichrist a man of sin a son of perdition its true all the workings of flesh is against Christ but there are workings in a more higher and glorious way and then its the more deceivable the more dangerous and it consists principally in wisdome and power whether within us or without us the wisdom and power of flesh in the things of God which occasions much pride and fleshly exaltation above all that is called God This is that deceivable Antichrist that mystery of unrighteousnesse which the Lord will destroy by this spirit of his mouth and this brightness of his coming therefore let all wisdome pride and power of flesh vale it self to this excellent glory for certainly its that which must be accomplished in these later times The day of the Lord of hoasts shall be upon every one that is lifted up and upon every one that is proud and lofty and he shall be brought low Every proud thing within the Saints and every proud and lifted up person among them upon al the Cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up and upon al the Oaks of Bashan be they as tal as Cedars as strong as Oaks yet the day of the Lord wil be upon them and upon every high mountain and upon al the hils that are lifted up and upon every high tower and upon every fenced wal and upon al the ships of Tarshish and upon every pleasant picture and the loftiness of man shal be bowed down and the haughtiness of man shal be made low and the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day Isa 2. The day of the Lords power wil be upon al the wisdome pride power confidence comfort and beauty of flesh and then the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day this is the day of the Lords
power we wil rejoyce and be glad in it this wil minister true occasion of joy to Saints when they can say and sing this song The Lord God omnipotent reigneth And thus this powerful law in the spirit wil appear in the subjecting al powers below or contrary to it unto it selfe when al created powers whatsoever below this omnipotency shal acknowledge That thou Lord God Almighty art worthy to receive glory and honour and majesty for thou only art worthy Thus shal this power cause al other powers to bend the knee unto it to submit and fal down before it Learne therefore to wait upon this powerful law to accomplish al your works for you both within you and without you to bring down al your fleshly enemies and then in conclusion shal you be able to see and say that through the help of your God you have gone through an hoast by the help of your God you have leaped over the wal 5. The power of this Covenant and Law in the spirit appeares in that it upholds those in whom it is from falling it endangers the soul to God the power of standing or falling is not left to the creature but the power of God is become the Christians power to uphold him We preach Christ the wisedome of God and the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Not onely wisedome and power to convert but to uphold and keep up the soule with the Almighty hence this Covenant is called an everlasting Covenant Jer. 32. 40. And saith the Lord I will not turne from them to do them good but I will put my feare in their hearts and they shall not depart from me this is the power of this spirituall law it keeps souls perpetually with it selfe so that as the Fathers love is an everlasting love so he makes with his people an everlasting Covenant that so their soules might live everlastingly in his everlasting love In a word it s this law of power which hath undertaken the effecting of all the Saints worke both within them and for them to carry them through temptations and trials and all oppositions both within and without untill they come to be compleated in that Kingdome Isaiah 42. 8 9 10. But thou Israel art my servant Jacob whom I have chosen the seed of Abraham my friend Believers are the Israel of God the spirituall seed of Abraham Gal. 3. last vers 9. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called thee from the chief men thereof and said unto thee thou art my servant I have chosen thee and not cast thee off Feare them not for I am with thee be not dismay'd for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will helpe thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse A blessed word being spoken in the spirits of Gods Israel how wil this raise soules above themselves worke them to a dependency upon him who is higher then themselves When the Lord speakes this word with power Feare not I am thy God I will uphold thee I will helpe thee c. What need such a soule feare temptations trials enemies This is that rock upon which Christ buildeth his Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it a word of comfort for the weake Saints they are not left to themselves to stand or fall at their own power but they are carried along in the everlasting armes of the Almighty He carrieth his lambs in his bosome he will not loose one of his little ones but will raise them up at the last day See Isaiah 43. 1. 2 3. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and he that formed thee O Israel Feare not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by my name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy One of Israel thy Saviour this is made good in the spiritual Israel of God he undertakes for them his power and strength is to become theirs he wil help them and uphold them and carry them through fiery temptations and tryalls through flouds of afflictions and tribulations and thus through many a fiery tryall will he carry them to the Kingdome Oh therefore looke to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith looke to him who is your covenant and workes all for you and all all in you it is his word to you and likewise in you Looke to me and be yee saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else Isaiah 45. 22. There is no power below or besides God able to save you able to uphold and keepe you but he alone is able to keepe that which is committed unto him untill that day and his power is made manifest in his Saints 6. The power of this Covenant this law in the spirit enables to doe what it commands it is not onely a law of light enlightening the minde giving understanding to the simple but it carries on the soul in acting sutable to the light communicated hence it is the Apostle could say I can doe all things through Christ strengthening me And Christ Without me you can doe nothing It is he that worketh both to will and to do of his good pleasure I worke saith the Apostle yet not I but his grace in me 1 Cor. 15. 10. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Gal. 2. 20. His power it is in you that destroyes corruption and flesh he it is in you that workes you up to a sutable acting and walking with himselfe I saith the Apostle am dead to the law that I might live unto God Gal. 2. 19. Through the power of this law in the spirit am I dead to the law in the flesh that so in the same power I might live unto God Thus Saints live in the power of this law act to God in the light and power of God an excellent thing to be knowne of Saints where the power the life of their lives lieth Because I live yee shall live also Thus is Christ who is the Covenant become not onely the wisedome of God but the power of God in every one that believes Thus this law in the spirit transcends all other lawes besides it selfe the Law and Covenant of Moses commanded but gave no power to obey hence it is the Lord complaines Jer. 3. That they had broken the Covenant though he was a husband unto them but this is a Law a Covenant not to be broken because it effects what it commands The Law of Moses is called a weak Law Rom. 8. 3. For what the Law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh c. This is a law of power it doth that which the Covenant in
his righteousnesse free justification without workes but they are ignorant of if not enemies unto the righteousnesse of this law in the spirit Although I question not but that many who are yet come no further may be precious and enjoy true comfort according to that measure received yet these two things are considerable First That many are likely to perish after come forth of Egypt in the wildernesse before they come into this land of Canaan this land of rest Secondly That those who truly know Christ without them to be their righteousnesse doe or shal likewise know Christ within them although at present through ignorance they deny it although its that which is or shal be their greatest glory but I say for a man onely to know Christ without him glorying in this without any experience of the life of Christ in him in being made conformable unto him this is a fleshly and deceivable law of righteousnesse Fifthly Others seeme as they say to come higher then al the rest into a way of righteousnesse although lowest of al for they looke not after morality nor legality nor Christ nor this righteous law in the spirit which is the substance and perfection of al but they have found a new law of righteousnesse or rather of unrighteousnesse that is the law of the flesh doe what they wil its al good justifiable righteous but to such I say Be not deceived God is not mocked For what you sowe you are like to reape For God is not as man that he should lie or as the son of man that he should repent Let God be righteous let God be true and all false and fleshly perswasions be a lye 2. The external unrighteousnesse of this deceivable law in the flesh may be considered either 1. Doing or acting things contrary to the true rule of righteousnesse thus either First In acting that so they may appeare unto men to be righteous like unto hypocrites and this satisfies if there can be such a visible walking as may silence men though hypocrisy deceit and unrighteousnesse lie hid and lurking within these are the whited Tombes Christ speakes of which appear beautiful before men when within they are full of dead mens bones Secondly Or else when men take liberty to appear outward to men as they list ful of al unrighteousnesse and yet thinke to be innocent righteous and cleare before God justifying themselves that they have good hearts and the like these are they the Lord reproves by the Prophet Will you steal murder commit adultery and sweare falsly and yet come and stand before God in his house thinking to be delivered saying They shall have peace though they walke after the stubbornesse of their own hearts c. Thirdly Others not onely making gaine to be their godlinesse but gaine to be their rule of righteousnesse to others and hence it comes to pass oft-times that they have a law of liberty within them to lie and cosen for advantage not knowing that righteous rule To doe as they would be done unto and this gain self-advantage is the great rule by which most in the world walk I wish I had not cause to say that its the rule of many who would be accounted more then ordinary Christians which occasions in the fourth place much oppression and fraudulency now there is a liberty to defraud oppress to doe any thing for advantage this is the unrighteousnes of this law in the flesh Chap. VII The law of true holinesse THis law in the spirit is likewise a law of holines and purity in whom it is this law of the Lord is pure purifying and purging soules God is a holy God and he works the spirits of his people into his own likenes hence it is the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 18. saith That all we with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of God are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit and glory of the Lord is a transforming Spirit and glory it never leaves those in whom its manifest until it change them into the very image and glory of the Father This law of holinesse as it works holinesse in the spirits of Saints may be considered under two heads likewise either more internall or more externall 1. More internally as it changes and reneweth the minde for this spirit begins to worke holinesse first within it reneweth the spirit of the minde it takes possession of the heart it doth not only say My sonne give me thy heart but it takes the heart and moulds it and forms it according to its own good pleasure it doth not onely say Be ye holy but it works holiness and saith likewise Thou shalt be holy hence it is called The holy the sanctifying Spirit not only in respect of its own purity but as it workes purity in the spirits of Saints Thus holinesse becomes the house of the Lord for ever every beleever every Saint is Gods house his temple his habitation in them hee dwels and that by way of union and spiritual communion and therefore holines becomes this house this habitation for ever Qu. What is holinesse Answ Holines in spirit it is when the inner man by the power and operation of the spirit is changed and renewed by which means the old man flesh is put off with his deeds and the new man is put on it is an inward change from flesh to spirit being made partaker of the divine nature of the nature of the holy God hence it comes to pass that the minde being thus renewed so earnestly presses after more perfection in this sanctity now the soul sees clearly what was the Fathers everlasting purpose concerning him to gather him up into the same perfection of purity and holiness with himselfe this indeed being the Saints perfection the Saints glory the putting off of al flesh the filth of the old man and to be cloathed in this holiness of the new And he that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as Christ is pure that soul hath no patern or perfection short of him who is their elder brother who is entered into the Sanctum Sanctorum the holy of holies the most holy place perfection it self and a way being opened for Saints to follow him Hence it is they with so much earnestness presse after not as if they had already attained or were already perfect but they press forward if by any meanes they might attain the resurrection from the dead that is a full deliverance from this body of death into the compleat and perfect glory and purity of the Father Thus this law in the spirit is a law of holiness of sanctification it doth not leave men carnal and fleshly and filthy no no the will of God is your sanctification and this he works where he manifests himself he truly effects in the mindes of his people which is his house what he did in the temple at Jerusalem he