that so we may be found in him for the knowledge of him in what he hath done and is become for us while we were yet out of him being heartily imbraced leades the heart and mind into him and to be stayed in him See Phil. 3. 8 10. 1 Joh. 5 20. And to that purpose the first thing in all the commandements as brought to us by the glorious Gospel is to hear that word or doctrine of faith that presents the Lord our God to be one Lord as evidenced in that one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all a testimony in due time which shews him to be light and in him no darkness at all See and compare Mark 12. 29. 1 Timothy 2. 4 5 6. 1 John 1. 5. Whence also we are exhorted to be swift to hear that word of truth in what condition so ever we be come as we are to it listen to and receive it with all acception as a faithful saying full of truth and goodness for us at all times that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners To hear alwayes before we speak or do that thence we may be rightly taught strengthned and qualified so to speak and do as those that shall be judged by that royal law of liberty Be more ready to hear then to offer the Sacrifices of Fools James 1. 19. Eccles 5. 1. Prov. 22. 17 21. And so the way to seek righteousness profitably that we may attain it is to seek it by faith in Christ Romans 9. 30 32. To believe in him that we may be justified by the faith of him Gal. 2. 15 16. For as by his knowledge or skill so also through the knowledge of himself through his name he gives the forgiveness of sins and justifies the believer Isaiah 53. 11. with Acts 10. 43. and 13 38 39. And so likewise if we would get victory over sin and Satan cleanse our hands from sins our hearts from guile be made partakers of his holiness without which no man shall see him The way to seek it is also in the knowledge and faith of him and to that purpose to be exercised in beholding the glory of the Lord as shined in that glass even in the face of Christ through the glorious Gospel 2 Cor. 3. 18. with chap. 4. 6. Whence the Psalraist tells us That they that have clean hands and a pure heart are onely the Generation of them that seek his face and so seek righteousnes and strength there Psalm 24. 4 6. with Isaiah 45. 24 25. And therefore also calling upon us to seek the Lord and his strength leads us to this as the way to it in his fundamental instruction seek his face evermore Remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth Psam 105. 4 5. They then seek him not after the due Order that first seek to frame or work up their own hearts to a belief or hope in God or confident expectation of good from him before they hear or dare receive and consider the word of faith as true for them but seek to find the act or grace of faith first in their own hearts that from thence they may conclude the truth of the word of faith to themselves that first seek to work up their own hearts to love God before they will know or believe his love to them in Christ as and while sinners and enemies which onely is fit and able to get true love and good affection to him that so from the imagination of their love and good affection to him they may conclude his love and good affection in Christ â—o them Now herein is not love saith the Apostle that we have loved God herein Gods love is not rightly perceived But in this that he fiâ—st loved us even while enemies and sent his Son the propitiation for our sins And therefore and from thence we indeed love him because he fiâ—st loved us and from thence also that being first known and believed springs true love one to another 1 John 4. 9 10 19 and 3 16. They therefore do greatly err as likewise in seeking to get victory over sin and strength against their corruptions before they dare receive the report of his comming into the world to save sinners and the victory and conquest obtained in his resurrection over sin and Satan as faithful and true for them And then from what they imagine they find in themselves they conclude the truth of that done in him for them In this preposterous and disorderly way of seeking the Lord men make iâ— their first and great inquiry whether they be elected or in a good condition before God which they strive to guess and to conclude to themselves from some imagined gracious frames good affection victory over sin or the like or from some particular assurance that hath no better ground for the bottom of it then some testimony of their own or some private spirit before they will believe Gods testimony of his sending his onely begotten Son by his grace to taste death for them and giving him glory that their faith and hope might be in God And then gather up conclusions of the truth of that for them from their imagination of the truth of the former Namely that Christ by the grace of God tasted death for them because they find themselves such as before Hence it is that the way men too generally walk in to comfort themselves and others in distress is to labour to perswade them that they are in a better condition then they think they are Their sins less their Hearts Desire Frames and Works better or else from some signs or testimony of their owne spirit or of others that they are of the Elect and that therefore Christ and all his things belong to them Behold a more excellent way then any of these crooked paths in which who so walketh shall know no true or lasting peace First inquire in the light of Gods testimony and consider diligently what Jesus Christ by the grace of God hath done and what an infinite rich provision of all things pertaining to life godliness is in him for such vile sinners and wretched ones as at the worst thou mayest suppose thy self to be even for such as yeâ— are not of the Elect or chosen Generation that through him they might be saved and in finding him find Life Election Sonship and priviledges of Sons in him and so be made of that Generation that were chosen in Christ from the beginning of the World to be his peculiar treasure even of the chosen generation the Holy Nation Beloved with peculiar manner of love who before were not so as Rom. 9. 24 25. 1 Peter 2. 9 10. Instead then of striving to conclude thy self in a good or safe condition see and consider in the testimony of Christ what there is for such as are in a bad and lost condition like
of Christ the power of godliness that creep into houses or gather into companies and societies like the Churches of Christ Then such as Timothy are advised with more diligence to follow their work and design together with them that call on him out of a pure heart 2 Timothy 2. 22. with chap. 3. 1. 6. And all of us to be followers together of the Apostles and mark them which walk so as they have them for an example considering the end of their conversation as afore-said and so knowing and owning them for our companions to strive together with Phil. 3. 17 18 19 20 21. with chap. 1. 27 28. and 2. 1. 6. c. And that in all our acts of seeking and striving for the faith of the Gospel in all our hearing speaking doing suffering yea in our prayers to God as Romans 15. 30. with Ephesians 6. 18. Acts 1. 14. and 12. 12. See the many instructions and earnest entreaties and exhortations to this seeking and striving together in the Scriptures already mentioned and in divers others Surely a good and pleasant thing is this unity of the Spirit and the generation of seekers dwelling together in it For there the Lord hath commanded the blessing even life for evermore Where ever two or three are gathered together in his name there is he in the midst of them rendring them comely as Jerusalem that is compact together and terrible as an Army with Banners Psam 103 Cant. 6. 4. Mat. 18. 20. This last branch of order in the manner of our seeking is fitly added to the latter part of the former branch For onely by Pride commeth Contention Envying and Strife And then follows confusion and every evil work Proverbs 13. 10. James 3. 13. 16. and 4. 1 6 10. Therefore our Saviour thus joyns them in his instruction and exhortation Mark 9. 50. Have Salt in your selves have peace one with another Meaning by Salt the humbling instructions of the Gospel and the reproofs of instruction and signifying that the retaining them and suffering their effecacy each of us on our Spirits is the way to have peace one with another hence also the Apostle instructs with all lowliness of mind to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace for there can be no union or perfect joyning together without suffering the desires of vain glory to be subdued and our selves to be broken off from our own purpose and desire in which we are each minding and seeking his own things nor will there be any right submission of the younger to the elder nor of all of us one to another in the fear of the Lord without being cloathed with humility in the hearty acknowledgement of his glorious name Ephesians 4. 2 3 c. Philipians 2. 2 3 4 7 20 21. 1 Peter 5. 5 6. According to these last considerations of the due order in the manner of our seeking after which the Lord is to be sought by us They seek him not after the due order that are not gathered together to him in his name and so seeking him in the instruction encouragement and acknowledgement of it and in the unity of the Spirit in it or thus They that worship not in the spirit in the light teaching and instruction of that one spirit that is in and with the testimony of Jesus taking of his things and shewing them and so teaching all things and leading into all truth For as this is the spirit of prophesie so also of faith and of grace and supplication in which all the true worshippers worship God Rev. 19. 10. They therefore worship not aright that worship not in the spirit and so that have not their rejoycing in Christ Jesus who is the truth with a relinquishing and free giving up all Idols and rejoycings in the flesh for the excellency of the knowledge of him John 4. 23 24. Phil. 3. 3. Particularly thus 1. They that run not into that name of Christ in which is the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power for their light and instruction what to seek for in him and from him and how to seek but adhere to their own or some private spirit for that which will instruct and lead to seek and wait for in him or from him such things as God hath not put in him for us and therefore not promised to give with him to us as some such private assurances or speakings of peace and liftings up as are more suited to the sensual mind and may a little gratifie the flesh that desires ease or liberty or like things which instructions cause to err from the words of Knowledge and therefore neither can they stay upon or rest satisfied with the incouragement and strength which that spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus giveth to seek him to hope in and wait upon him and so not with that rejoycing which is onely in Christ Jesus because that gives no incouragement or strength to seek hope or wait for such things in him or from him or to seek in such a way as by their own or some private spirit light word or spark of their own kindling they are led to They therefore run to such sparks for light and heat and for a time may walk in the light of them stollen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret places is pleasant But from all those sparks and rejoycings in them they must lye down in sorrow Nor can these persons while wilfully walking in this way heartily acknowledge his name or give glory to it in submitting and falling down under the discoveries and reproofs of its instruction because their deeds are evil Their principal works and wayes are so contrary to it and reproved by it nor can they be heartily united with those that fear his name and worship him in truth And truly any branches or rellicks of that way of iniquity above-mentioned will have answerable like effects of confusion and disorder upon those that retain and walk in them 2. Nor are they seeking after the due order that though in some good measure right as to the first branch That is as to the things they seek and look for in him and from him seeking according to his will yet are not content with that ground of incouragement and way of approach that is onely in and through his blood and powerful mediation with it and therefore instead of attending principally to seek farther assurance of understanding in that that their hearts might be comforted and strengthned therein are even seeking peeping into corners and waiting for some other private incouragement or ground of assurance in which to seek expect and wait for his righteousness in perfecting what concerns them and so unsatisfifyed if they cannot gather up or kindle something of that nature as if they were without hope in the World as if all that ever God hath done for them in his Son and for and to them through him were nothing to assure them
that yet they may have space and opportunity to repent and seek him while he may be found and God shall give us life of sparing to a farther gracious end for them that sin not unto death compare 1 John 5. 14 16. with James 5. 15. 16. See also Luke 23. 34. Acts 7. 40. Romans 9. 1 2 and 10 1. with Psalm 35. 13 14. And for other things pertaining to this life concerning which we know not by the light of his testimony whether this or that may be best for us or for others or most conducing unto life and godliness Even so without carefulness earnestness or fervency for this or that to present our needs wants affliction case and matters to him and leave it with him waiting and seeking for his good will to be done and that however he deal with us he will not correct us in anger that we may earnestly beg of him as Psalm 38. 1. and 6. 1. Jeremiah 10. 24. And so committing our matters wholly to him without a will or fervent spirit for this or that of all such things as before that he may add and dispose to us what is good before him Phillippians 4. 5 6. Matthew 6. 32 33. with James 4. 13 15. 2 In the incouragement and strength of his name always retaining in the midst of the heart the believing remembrance and consideration of that which he hath already done for us in not sparing his own Son but delivering him up for us all when we were yet sinners enemies and without strength and of the plenteous redemption in him through his blood not forgetting all his benefits through that precious sacrifice of the body of Christ once for all and the powerful mediation of the sacrificeâ— who is the Great Apostle and High-Priest of our profession bestowed upon us But calling them to mind and considering how they lead into that good name and commend to us that unspeakable gift and the infinite grace in and through it there seeking our strength and incouragement and thereby ingaging our hearts to approach to him and seek his fâ—ce for such things and in such wise as is according to his will therein declared as afore-said And so waiting and staying on his name because it is good yea even when by any tryals or difficulties that befal us we are in darkness and see no light yet staying upon that and trusting in him according to it till he make that in every such case a light to us and give us to behold his righteousness according to it with hearty submission to his Government though sometimes he makes us to wait for that Alwayes relinquishing all other lights rejoycings and incouragements that may offer themselves from sparks of our own kindling or from any private grounds to come in that onely and as that ingageth and incourageth So in and unto all our seekings and striving for the faith of the Gospel standing fast in that one spirit that is in the testimony of Jesus seeking our strength in the Lord and in the power of his might even in the grace that is in Christ Jesus as revealed in the glorious Gospel and going in that strength of the Lord God making mention of his righteousness as our support incouragement and stay And of his onely Psalm 71. 16 and 4 1 and 50 14 15 and 52 9 and 95 1 7 and 100 and 103. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. 1 Tim. 2. 1 8. Isa 50. 10 11. with Mich. 7. 7 8 9. Isaiah 26. 3. with Philippians 4. 6. and 3. 3 Romans 5. 1 11. And so in the strength and incouragement of that grace and name of God in Christ to perswade others to be reconciled to God in the publishing his name because God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses to them and hath given us that word of reconciliation instructing moving and strengthning to such in deavouring the good of others in hope There seeking our strength and incouragement and not in any of our gifts parts or excellencies to the Discipling the Nations baptizing them in his name and going in that might according to our capacity because all power is given to him as Lord and Saviour and by him the word of his Grace made able especially in the faithfull ministration of it to give them repentance and the forgiveness of sins Likewise to suffer the little children to come to him and receive them in his name because of such is the Kingdome Mark 10. 14. with chap. 9. 37. And on that ground and in that encouragement instructing others according to their capacity to rejoyce with his people pray to him and seek him while he may be found and call on him while he is near observing what Christ commanded his Apostles Proverbs 9. 1 6. Isaiah 55. 1 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14 21. Matthew 28. 18 20. Rom. 15. 6 12. And whatever we do in word or in deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Col. 3. 17. 3 In and with a hearty confession and acknowledgement of his name and of the goodness and truth of it in all that it saith so as therein acknowledging our own vileness and sins and knowing every one the Plague of our own heart as by the light and instructions of his name discovered and reproved or by his corrections according to the instructions of his name witnessed against Confessing our faults to him and one to another as discovered and reproved that so he may be justified in his sayings and proceedings and glory given to his name by us as 1 Kings 8. 33 35 38 46 48. James 5. 16. Psal 32. 5 and 51 5. Jer. 13. 15 18. And in such wise seeking pardon and healing in his name willingly giving up to him and laying apart in the light and strength of his gracious reproofs what ever secret purpose idol or way of iniquity he discovers and reproves not secretly hiding it under our Tongue or in our Heart that we may still hold it and find pleasure in it even while yet we are praying to him for help and healing of the breaches or evils procured to us by it nor shunning the light least som secret deeds and wayes of our own heart which we love should be detected by it but coming to the light giving earnest heed to the instructions of his name and searching and trying our wayes thereby that we may yet be taught to see what we see not as Job 34. 31 32. Psalm 19. 11 12 c. and 139. 23 24. Lam. 3. 39 40 c. Jam. 1. 21 25. Our unwillingness to see and confess our fins our secret designs and purposes for vain things that cannot profit us our loathness to acknowledge or be made sensible of our idolatry let go our idols hinder us from knowing and proving what is the good and acceptable will of the Lord Romans 12. 1 2 3. from reaping the peaceable fruit of his righteousness
by his chastisements Hebrews 12. 11 15 16. from gracious returns of prayers and from beholding the light of his countenance and so from victory over our iniquities and the evil of our temptations Isaiah 1 10 18. Psalm 32. 3 4. Yea the secret and wilfull retaining divers lusts disables from so coming to the knowledge of the truth that we might be saved by it 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. Therefore saith James we have not because we ask not or we ask and receive not because we ask amiss to consume it upon our lust or still secretly retain the purpose desire or idol of iniquity in the heart whence he thus admonisheth Submit resigne or yeeld up your selves to God Resist the Devil and he will flee from you draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you Clense your hands ye sinners purifie your hearts ye double minded c. James 4. Oh! That yet we were willing so to discern diligently to look into and consider the Lords body as to examine our selves search and try our wayes in that glass and to see what we see not and judge our selves as there discovered and reproved as we are instructed 1 Cor 11. 28 31. Yea so to remember him in all his wayes as to acknowledg him in all our wayes not leaning to our own thoughts or understanding But as those that call on the father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear The good Lord would yet be merciful and pardon and heal us though yet we be not sanctified after the sanctification of his sanctuary were we but willing in the light and strength of his grace and name in Christ so to prepare our hearts or suffer him to prepare and fix them to him that the iniquities and idols might be discovered and the purpose or desire to hide and hold them fast broken and we made willing to see and part with them for the excellency of the knowledge of him for he doth not onely alwayes prevent with his abundant grace in Christ to humble but will also prepare the heart of the hamble and cause his ear to hear Psalm 10. 17. Isaiah 1. 16 19. 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. James 4. 6 10. Thus have his servants the Prophets that have spoken to us in the Name of the Lord in all their earnest and diligent inquiries after God and for understanding the visions of the times and the things that in both parts of them as to the actual accomplishment bringing forth of them were then yet to come namely the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow Humbled themselves to the searching ouâ— and being sensible of and acknowledging their iniquities and the iniquities of their people as discovered in the instructions of his name and written upon the rod See Ezra 9. 6. to the end 10 1. Neh. 1. 6 7 and 9. tot Psalm 32. 5 and 38 and 39. Isa 64. 5 9. Dan. 9. 3. 20. And thus they have instructed us in the way not to be as the Horse or Male c Psalm 32. 8. But to search and try our wayes and turn to the Lord to examine and judge our selves in the true light to humble our selves in the sight of the Lord and under his mighty hand And surely such walking humbly and mournfully before him in the sence of our own vileness and searching out and giving up our iniquities and Idolls in the light and power of Gods name in Christ is found in the right worshipping in which the father is worshipped in spirit and truth in the light of the Spirits testimony given of Christ and so in Christ the truth Yea the way the truth and the life that rejoycing in and giving glory unto Christ Jesus in which the father is truly honoured and worshipped in the spirit hath alwayes in it and is it self found in a taâ—king shame to our selves and relinquishing all rejoycing in the flesh that no flesh may glory in his presence Philipians 3. 3. 4. I might here add in this seeking him after the due Order as to the manner of our seeking that there is in it a joyning and cleaving together in his name and so seeking and striving together for the faith of the Gospel even in the Vnity of the spirit with them that call on his Name in truth that worship him in Christ according to the Gospel The persons with whom we may and are to joyn dwell and walk in the Unity of the spirit and so together with whom we are to be followers of the Apostles they are such as walk as they have the Apostles for an example Philippians 3. 17 20 21. And we are diligently to mark know and distinguish them by considering the end of their conversation Compare this to the Philippians with Hebrews 13. 7 8 9. For there are many other walkers zealous pretenders to godliness mortification holiness that have also much of the form or outward appearance of it in many things who yet are the enemies of the Cross of Christ the very end of their conversation though privily carried on under a fair shew of mortification and holiness with good words and fair speeches to deceive the simple is to deny the Lord that bought them To destroy or cast down him from his excellency to render him undesireable and to corrupt believers from the simplicity of him And the thing thereto worshipped adhered to and magnified by them is their own Belly their own or some private Spirit experiments works mortifications sufferings and the like instead of the person of Christ and the works finished in his body and the grace treasured up and hope set before us in him for this life and that to come as evidenced by the spirit of truth in his testimony given of Christ They glory in their shame mind earthly things things suited to sence and in which they have their portion in this life But as for me sayes David I will behold thy face in righteousness even in Christ the true light and manifestation of the righteousness and glory of God and so in the great and precious promises confiâ—med in him For here we walk by faith that is the evidence of things not seen the confidence of things hoped for and not by sight When I awake sayes he namely in the morning of the resurrection of the just by Christ at his comming then I shall be satisfied with thine image Psalm 17. 15. with 2 Cor. 4. 17. 18. and 5 1 7 9. Hebrews 11. 1. Romans 8. 23 24. So here the Apostles conversation and so theirs that walk as they have them for an example is in Heaven exercised in and about the treasure they have there in the person of Christ with God and the expectation they have in him as now appearing in the glorious presence of God in the Heaven it self for them from whence also they look for the same Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to
of his grace And so the fountain of that Water of Gods grace and Spirit and so the testimony of him that anointing by the pouring out and shedding abroad of which we in receiving and attending to it shall be washed inlightened healed strengthned and made meet for service Yea that one offering by which all our Sacrifices brought and offered by him shall be made acceptable and to his praise It s not any other Sanctification Separation or consecration that makes meet for this inheritance of the Holy Priesthood or of the Saints in light not the outward and tipical sanctification that was but to a tipical service in the flesh and in the letter Nor any such as may be by the works of the law Nor any such redeeming from any part of the vain conversation as may be effected by corruptable things as silver and gold or by any other Wisdom Strength or Motions onely in the Lord in whom they have righteousness strength In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory 2. As to the nature of the work or effecacy of this one Spirit through the Gospel on the subject needfull to go before to make meet for this service and inheritance of the Saints It is such as in which through the righteousness of God our Saviour they are made partakers of like precious faith with the Apostles through this sanctification of the Spirit fore-mentioned they are chosen out of the way and condition of the World that lyes in ignorance of God in Christ and enmity to him and so under the power of the Wicked one unto obedience the obedience of faith so to understand and know him that is true that therein the soul is brought into him and united with him by faith 1 Peter 1. 2. 2 Peter 1. 1. with 1 John 5. 19 20. They are begotten by the word of truth to such an unfeined belief of the truth as now come forth in Christ as in which it s believed and received not in vain but to purpose even to the same purpose to which it is discovered and given to them viz to the saving of the soul bringing it out of the World and worldly wayes of seeking rest righteousness wisdome strength c. into Christ for all such as in which they are redeemed from among men and from their vain conversation received by tradition from them and so washed in the Spirit of their minde from the errours and pollutions of the World in which men are vainly seeking rest peace wisdome righteousness c. where it is not unto God in Christ to seek all in him by an exercise of faith in him in what he hath done and is become for them in his own body and in the hope set before them in him Such it is as in which their minds or souls are purified to unseigned love of God of Men brethren in obeying the truth They are principled with those principles of truth that naturally lead so to trust in him and seek all in him and so to love that they may thenceforth walk in that newness of life They are so baptized into Christ euen into his death that as to the Spirit of their minde they are subdued and made willing to put on Christ for all and be devoted to him and to that purpose for the excellency of the knowledge of him to let go all other excellencies as loss and dung that they may win him and be found in him yea herein to hate Father Mother Brethren Sisters Wife and Children yea and their own life also for his sake and in comparison of him for they have obeyed his word and kept his covenant Answerable to that Exodus 32. 6. 29. Deut 32. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 1 2. with 2 Cor. 6. 1. Hebr. 10. 39. 1 Peter 1. 18 22. and 2 Peter 1. 4. and 2. 18. 20. Romans 6. 3. 4. Gal. 3. 26 27. James 1. 18. Luke 14. 26 27. 33. Phil. 3. 3. 10. 2 Tim. 1. 5 6. with 1 Tim. 1. 5. There may be among them many feighâ—ned or halting believers That have yet believed but in vain still halting between two opinions or have not yet so crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts as to be renewed and purified in the Spirit of their minde from double-mindedness to have the heart fixed to seek rest wisdome righteousness and strength onely in him by an exercise of faith in him yea there may be many daughters and attenders who though in some good degree of simplicity waiting yet are not so of them of his Spiritual house and holy Priesthood Yet let all that hear say come Revelations 22. 17. 3. Aâ— to the seal and confirmation of the truth of this washing effecacy of the Spirit through the Gospel making meet for this inheritance it is such as in which they are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise even the same which is the earnest of the Apostles inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession by which fealing they are marked out and approved by God as unto the day of redemption so also as a peculiar people unto this service Ephes 1. 13 14. and 4. 30. By this manifesting himselfe unto them powring out abundantly of the Spirit of his Son into their hearts making known his words and so teaching and leading into the Spiritual injoyment and usefulness of the truth making Christ unto them all that which by the power of his word they are instructed and led to seek for in him even wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption and so filling them with peace and joy through the power of the Holy Ghost in the belief of the truth quickning them to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ Giving them access with boldness and confidence in him strengthning them to cry Abba Father by that Spirit of his Son opening the testimony of his Son believed and so spiritually sprinkling the blood of Christ and shedding abroad his love therethrough in their hearts making it usefull and powerfull to all those ends and purposes Also inriching them with some usefull understanding and gifts for the profit of others even as the testimony of Christ is confirmed in them so anointing and fitting them for ministring to him and in his name that through them others may be saved turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that in turning they also may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance with them that are sanctified by fiath that is in Christ John 14. 21. 23. and 17. 20. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. Rom. 5. 1. 11. and 15. 13 14. 1 Peter 1. 3. Ephes 3. 12. Romans 8. 15. Galatians 4. 6. 1 Corinthians 1. 5. and 12. 4 5 6 7. Acts 26. 17 18. A man may say he hath faith in Christ and so fellowship with the light and in so saying lye and deceive himself but if indeed he have it will be manifested by these works and fruits of it If
Prov. 19. 27. To go from the presence of such yea to withdraw our selves from them in their preachings acknowledgements fellowships as in whom we perceive by the light of Gods Testimony that lip of knowledge is not but some other lip or word privily undermining or slighting the preaching of the Crosse and lifting up some other thing in its name and place Prov. 14. 7. 2 Tim. 3. 1-5 1 Tim. 6. 1. 3. Rom. 16 17 18. Gal. 1. 8 9. with 2 John 10. From such they are to with-draw themselves but not to bid such stand aloofe from them or with-draw from them in their acknowledgments and worship see that instruction to Jeremiah Directing him how to take forth the precious from the vile not by separating or putting out the vile from the precious in their precious Doctrine Society and Worship But thus let them return unto thee but return thou not to them The believer can have no true or profitable fellowship with an infidell or unbeliever in his principles or practises nor in spirituall things partake of his Table or worship as by them and according to their principles presented commended and invited too But the unbeliever may come in to and joyne himselfe with and have profitable fellowship with the believer in his right acknowledgments and worship and so in the Table of the Lord with them and that is not nor can be accounted the believers having fellowship with them or being yoaked to or with them but rather the strangers joyning himselfe to the Lord to rejoyce and praise him with his people see Jer. 15. 19. with 2 Cor. 6. 14-17-18 Rom. 15. 9-11 They the chosen generation and holy Priesthood are not to forbid or keepe out any of the world But to instruct them as they have opportunity by their listening to their word or maine doctrine I say so to instruct and teach them how on what ground and in what manner they even now may and ought to joyne with his people in their worship and observance of ordinances rejoyce yee Gentiles with his people Yet if any after joyning to them and with them professedly in their acknowledgement and worship of the Lord if any that is called a Brother Walke disorderly and will not be admonished they are to withhold or withdraw from such by putting away from among them in their fellowships in breaking of bread if not also in some other ordinances such stubbornely wicked persons in such wise as themselves may beare shame and others may see they are disowned in such evill wayes and this till they be ashamed or judge and take shame to themselves But till any come in to the house or Church of believers so to joyne with them in professed acknowledgement and worship of the Lord they have not to doe with them soe to judge them see 1 Cor. 5. tot with 2 Thess 3. 14 15. They the holy preisthood are not to be yoaked together with unbelievers in fellowship with them in their unfruitfull works of darknesse or in marriages with them or in society and fellowship with them in their acknowlegments and worships as by them propounded and called too and taught by their precepts and according to their principles yea in these things they are to separate from them not to mind or to let their eyes fly upon their pretended excellencyes or dive into their depths but to depart and come out from among them But not to keep them or any of them out from the house or Church of God where they may be redeemed as they have been from their vaine conversation through the precious blood of Christ and the love of God commended through it there shewed forth yea they are as they have opportunity as aforesaid in their holding forth the word of life to and among them to instruct and invite them to come into his house and rejoyce with his people To examine themselves in the glasse of the Gospell as there held forth and so to eate of his Bread and drink of the Wine of his mingling yea so to to remember him in his wayes and ordinances with his people 3. There is an accidentall sanctification or a renewing of sanctification on occasion of polutions happening and prevailing to defile through forgetfulnesse and neglect of the first love also necessary to fit for this service and render persons acceptable and profitable therein Answerable to such renewed tipicall sanctifications wherewith they were exhorted to sanctifie themselves after long forgetfulnesse neglect and confusion had been found with them such as we reade off in this text 1 Chron. 15. 12 14 15. and in 2 Chron. 29. and 30. In which they were to search in the Law and see wherein they had transgressed to confesse their sins and repent and doe againe the first works to cleanse themselves from all their uncleanesses as in Ezrah Nehemiah and other places So the renewed sanctifications in the spirit and truth necessary to the Holy Preist-hood now on occasion of defilements or polutions in principles or practices contracted to themselves by such neglects and forgetfulnesse of the great salvation in the Crosse of Christ and wandering out of the way of understanding is such as in which they call to mind the day in which they were illuminated remember how they have heard in that preaching of the Crosse and how precious Jesus Christ was then to them and what blessednesse they met with in him And so here and in this case the remembring and considering the sweetness tasted in the graciousnesse of the Lord and the operations that it hath had upon our spirits as commended and displayed in and through the preaching of the Crosse is very good and usefull though as we have shewed before the efficacyes of the grace of God on our own spirits or the operations of it in us or by us are not to be looked to as things that commend us to God or as the ground of our rejoycing and hope in him or that give us title to the things of Christ or are the way or ground of our encouragement to approach to or stand before him yet they are to be remembred and called to mind as things that discover the preciousnesse of the Crosse of Christ and his gracious and spirituall presence with that Gospell his speaking in and through it and so in and through his servants faithfully ministering it 2 Cor. 13. 3 4 5. and present us with cause of shame of our comming 〈◊〉 a◠best of answerablenesse and conformity to him according to those efficacies and more abundantly for our departings from such a fountain having never found any want in it as by such calling to mind we shall be convinced and so no iniquity with him and yet that we should depart and go away from him by an evill heart of unbelief and dig to our selves broken Cesterns that can hold no water yea those things remembered or called to mind do so present his preciousnesse comelynesse and excellency for our
help and escape as that they lead to him yea allure back again from all our wanderings and give instruction and encouragement yet again to turn to him though we have deeply revolted to confesse our sins and do again the first works or seek the same things even rest to our souls righteousnesse and strength in the Lord and that in the same way And therefore also admonish and engage to what follows namely in this calling to mind the day in which we were illuminated and remembering how we have heard from the beginning as Hebr. 10. 32. 1 Joh. 2. 24. 27. Revel 3. 2 3. Therein to search and try our wayes in that true Glasse or Light of the Lord with willingnesse and desire to see what we see not and hearts fixed to take shame to our selves and not to hide excuse or seek to hold what we may see reprooved but acknowledge and give it up to him with whom is pardon and healing and so to repent change our minds and way cleanse our hands from our sins and our hearts from our divers lusts guile or doublemindednesse in and according to the reproofes of instruction in the true anoynting unto which we turn for light and healing and so do again the first works for there is no other way to renew our sanctification but the first good and old way in drawing nigh to God in Christ to cleanse our hands and hearts that so he may draw nigh to us again in a peculiar sense to dwell in us and walk in us James 4. 8. Isa 1. 15. 19. 2 Cor. 6. 16. 17. c. ch 7. 1. We find it many times very hard and difficult to recover our selves out of the snares of Satan when we have willingly suffered our selves to be entangled in them after knowledge of the truth received and so to recover out of relapses when we have back-sliden from him that called us into the grace of Christ to seek to perfect our peace hope joy confidence or sanctification according to the wisedom or desire of the flesh and so procured a losse of our first love and decay of his work or the powerfull efficacy and usefullnesse of his grace in us And surely its more hard than to keep our selves in it when we are in it yet the preaching of the Crosse is the power of God to save in both senses to preserve and to deliver even to seek and to save them that are lost and have wandered and gone astray lâ—ke lost sheep And that which makes it so hard to recover our selves out of such relapses and to at â—in his righteousnesse in the reviving his work it our unwillingnesse to take shame and judge our selves as discovered and reproved in the true light for so infinitely gracious is our God and such the plentious redemption even the forgive-of sins of that nature with him that he is not wanting to follow us in our wandrings all the day long while yet it is called to day and especially to meet us in our looking back to him and calling to mind the day in which we were illuminâ—â—ed remembering how we have heard and received with such discoveries of the Crosse of Christ and bringing to remmbrance his Graciousnesse tasted therein as might make â—is ashamed and then were we but willing to take shame to our selves to be sensible of and acknowledge our own wayes and doings that have not been good and so to lay apart and cast from us our iniquities and Idols that we have loved and after which we have wandered he would then farther and more abundantly poure out of his spirit upon us making known his words and leading us into the understanding and usefulnesse of his truth and grace in Christ as in the former dayes and much more abundantly According to that instruction tipically held forth Ezek. 43. 10 11. to which also agrees Prov. 1. 23. Psal 32. 3 4 5 6-9 Prov. 28 13. 1 Joh. 1. 9. with Jer. 3. 12 13. 21-25 Such is the sanctification of the sanctuary in the spirit and truth needfull to fit persons for and render them acceptable and profitable in this service and charge committed to the holy Preisthood and chosen generation 4 We are in the last place to consider What farther order is to be observed in the mannagement of the affaires of the Gospell by the holy Preisthood and chosen generation now answerable to the order appoynted to the Preists and Levites under the Law And to this we shall first briefly propound some considerations of their order 1. The whole Tribe of Levy were separated to beare the Arke of the Convenant of the Lord and the vessels of the Ministry and to keep the whole charge of the Tabernacle of the congregation to Minister unto the Lord to sing praise on outward instruments and to blesse in his name as was shewed before Num. 1. and 3. and 8. 9-22 Deut. 10 8. But these both Priests and Levites were to waite on their office in their courses according to their severall charge and set office according to to the commandement of the Lord by the hand of Moses So while the Ark of the Lord Alter and vessels of the Ministry were under curtains in a Tabernacle moving from place to place as the children of Israel also moved The Priests and Levites had their severall charges and set offices as to the keeping and bearing the vessels of the Lord and Ministring about holy things as to give some instances The Levites the Sons of Kohath were to take the charge of and beare the Ark the Table of shew bread the Candle-stick and Golden Altar with the vessels pertaining to them as taken downe put together and covered by the Priests and committed to them Num. 4. 4-15 But to the office of Eleazar the Priest partained the oyle for the light the sweet incense the dayly meate offering and the anoynting oyle and oversight of all the Tabernacle c. The Sons of Gershim were appointed to beare the severall hangings and coverings of Badgers skins c. As the Priests should appoint them their charge in all their burthens To the Sons of Merary in like manner pertained the Boards Bars Pillars Sockets Pins c. And in stead of these services when Israel and the Arke and Tabernacle of the Lord had rest They had also their divers severall set offices ordayned by Samuell David and Solomon according to the word of the Lord by Moses Severall chosen to be Porters in the Gates who were reckoned by their genealogy and had the over-sight of the Gates of the House of the Lord by wards and certain of them had the charge of the Ministering Vessels that they should bring them in and out by tale some of them also to oversee the Vessels and the fine Flower the Wine the Oyle the Spices c. but to the Sons of the Preists still it pertained to make the oyntment of the Spices Againe some had their set office over the things made in the
the Apostles that they are therein mighty through God to the opening the eyes of the blind convincing the ignorant and gainsayers of the vanity and falsenesse of other foundations in the plaine demonstration of this in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power and to the helping them much who through grace believe Acts 18. 24 25 27 28. 1 Cor. 14. 1 3 4 20 24 25. There is also an inferiour degree of this gift of prophecy called in Eph. 4. 11. Evangelizing included in Prephets 1 Cor. 12. 28. In which though there may be wanting some of that abillity and skill forementioned yet there is so much of that nature as may render their feete beautifull to the alluting and drawing to Christ especially on the barren Mountaines where men are not so setled on other objects or where they are in any measure taken off from finding content rest and feeding in them Yea they that have not this gift that are much wanting and short in such understanding and acquaintance with the Scriptures and such skill in the word of righteousnesse the great things of his Law contained in them as might apt them so to open the foundation and shâ—w the great things of Christ by the Scriptures and therewith open the Scriptures of the Prophets by the Apostles shew things to come and thence and therewith to instruct c. as before Yet they may have some word of knowledge or of faith some feeding or teaching gift in which they may be fellow helpers to the truth by confessing his name as they have proved the goodnesse and truth of it and may be helped to expresse it by the Scriptures though not so to open interpret and give the sence of the Scriptures and shew the scope of them and instructions contained in them as others that have a more excellent gift that way Each might be profitable to themselves and others to their brethren and the world and comely and usefull in their generation were they content to keep their place and so to minister as they have received the gift and as God hath distributed to every one Every one might have joy and praise from God in a right exercise of his owne gift that God hath given him if he were not seeking to have the rejoycing use and praise of anothers gift which yet is not his owne which indeed springs from a desire of vaine glory whence those admonitions Rom. 12. 3. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. with such vehemency urged 2. There are some appointed of God to goe before others as guides rulers elders or leaders in the Word of the Lord to whom is especially committed the peculiar service of Preaching the Crosse of Christ of witnessing repentance and remission of sins in his name and so of shewing Jesus Christ and the things of him out of the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles compared And therewith interpreting and opening the Scriptures giving the sence of the manifold instructions judgements encouragements reproofes exhortations c. Contained therein and contending with opposers to them also is more peculiarly committed the whole charge of ordering and managing the affaires of the Gospell in the Church and to the world-ward according to their capacity and opportunity in the severall places where they are set And these according to the instructions of the Apostles given by the one Shephard with the advice prayers and help of their brethren in the faith as they may enjoy it are to commit to others their severall charges according to their fitnesse in first and second degrees They are to commit the chiefe worke of preaching and giving the sence of the Scriptures and shewing the things of Christ out of them and contending with adversaryes for the faith unto faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also Seeing to them as they have opportunity that they teach no other doctrine instructing helping and going before them in their Ministry and seeking in a Gospell way to stop the mouths of unruly and vain talkers And to others that are faithfull though not so able nor gifted for the forementioned services as there is occasion and need they may commit the administration of the outward ordinance of Baptizeing in his Name which is mentioned by the Apostle as a lighter matter of the Law and not so peculiarly appropriated to choice instruments as also we have shewed before in 1 Cor. 1. 14-17 which likewise is signified in our Saviours committing that to his disciples before so sit to be sent forth to preach John 4. 2. And in Peters appointing that to be done by others when yet none of them but himselfe that we read of had preached the Gospell to that people Act. 10. 48. And so the testimoniall receiving in that ordinance the little children brought and presented to the Church As also some care and charge of them and of their parents that they may be kept and brought up in the Schoole of Christ and so in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Likewise according to their capacity some care and charge of other persons adheering to the Gospell with them and so also of one another Care of their souls in faithfull admonishing warning the unruly comforting and strengthening the weake exhorting one another bearing one anothers burtherns c. as 1 Thess 5. 14 15. c. Heb. 3. Gall. 6. 1-5 6. And so care of their bodyes also in visiting the sick having inspection into the wants of the needy and some more particularly as they have capacity and opportunity to see to what is needfull to the mannagement of the affaires of the Gospell as to the entertainment of strangers and otherwise helping forward the fellow-helpers to the truth and to these purposes to be ready themselves and to provoke and stir up others to love and good workes And some to receive and distribute as necessity and opportunity calls for it the liberallity of others to the reliefe of the needy as to other the forementioned purposes And those that are appointed or in any wise set apart as by way of office to such service for all that have believed in God ought to be carefull to maintaine good workes each acording to their capacity and are so to be charged by those over them in any sence in the Word of the Lord yea to stir up and provoke one another thereto Tit. 3. 8 14 1 Thess 5. 14 15. Heb. 10. 24 and 13. 1 2. 3 John 4. 5 6. But those that are in any wise set apart by way of office to such service as the takeing any oversight of their brethren in these things and mannaging these affaires in the Church and for the good of the world They especially are to be such as are knowne to be men sound in the faith honest and of good report and in some measure full of the holy Ghost and of wisedome that the name of God be not evill spoken of but gloryfied among the Gentiles and the designe of the