things is God And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a Servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after but Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Heb. 3. 1. to the 8. And make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fail for so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 9 10. Thus saith the Scriptures I say where there is no calling and what that calling is I have signified it is unto Holiness there is no justification and where there is no justification there is no glorification and this is in Christ Jesus And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Therefore brethren we are debters not to the flesh to live after the flesh for if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joynt Heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified together Rom. 8. 10. to the 18. And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you who by him do believe in God who raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Seeing that you have purified your souls in the obeying of the Truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently being borne again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever For all flesh is grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass the grass withereth and the flower thereof fadeth away but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever And this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you 1 Pet. 1. 17. to the end So this is the calling and this is the word and this is the hope and this is the Predestination and this is the fore-knowledge and this is the Justification and this is the Glorification viz. Christ Jesus and as men are for him and are found in him not having their own Righteousness which is through the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by faith Phil. 3. 9. And where men are not here they are mistaken to talk of these things or to think them theirs They appertain to another state then Transgression which delivers out of it and maketh men indeed the Sons of God and so are Heirs of the Blessing that came on Abraham who believed and it was counted to him for Righteousness of whom God saith I know him that he will command his Children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the Way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Gen. 18. 19. And who raised up the Righteous man from the East called him to his foot gave the Nations before him and made him rule over Kings He gave them as dust to his sword and as driven stubble to his bow Isa 41. 2. And art not thou our God who didst drive out the Inhabitants of this Land before thy People Israel and gavest it to the Seed of Abraham thy friend for ever 2 Chron. 20. 7. And if ye were Abrahams Children ye would do the Works of Abraham but now ye seek to kill me a man that hath told ye the truth which I have heard of God this did not Abraham you do the deeds of your Father Then said they to him we be not born of Fornication we have one Father even God Jesus said unto them if God were your Father you would love me for I proceeded forth and came from God neither came I of my self but he sent me Why do ye not understand my speech Even because ye cannot hear my Word Ye are of your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own for he is a lyar and the father of it John 8. 39. to the 45. v. So here 's an end to all this matter Those that the Father hath chosen unto himself it is unto good works which he hath before ordained that they should walk in them We are his work manship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them saith the Apostle Ephes 2. 10. And shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works Faith without works is dead Jam. 2. 18. 20. And the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2. 11. to the end And those that are not redeemed from all Iniquity he hath not given himself to save And those that are not zealous of good Works he hath not purified unto himself a peculiar people And those that deny not Vngodliness and Worldly lusts and live not soberly and righteously and godly in this present World are not such as look for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ And those that have not works their faith is dead and they that walk not
in good works and such as sin walk not in good works are not his Workmanship and those that are not his workmanship which is unto good works the fruit of Faith which is not dead but living by which those of old though dead yet speak the Vertue in them which brought forth the works the fruit unto Holiness unto Eternal life are not created in Christ Jesus So see your state all you that are here and be no longer deceived It is the Word of the Lord and so I have done with this Particular which for the sake of you I am moved to write to open their understandings because the time is neer wherein these things will be made manifest that they are so and the Door will be shut and then it will be too late to say Lord Lord open unto us For he will say depart from me I know ye not ye workers of iniquity for when once the Master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the Door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the Door saying Lord Lord open unto us And he shall answer and say unto you I know ye not whence ye are Then shall ye begin to say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say I tell you I know ye not whence ye are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God and behold there are last which shall be first and there are first which shall be last Luke 13. 25. to the 31. And so I am clear of your blood whether ye will hear or whether you will forbear The Word of the Lord hath been often to you and his tender bowels through me and he would not have you die but live and it is the third time that I have particularly wrote to you in the movings of the Lord and my travail and my sufferings I speak of that which is not of this world have been great for you that your eyes might be opened and that ye might see where you are ere it be too late For the Lord hath known you and you have known something in you that hath given you the sence of his presence which is Christ Jesus the measure of him in you which reproves which makes manifest that draws ye to God-ward though ye have not believed that it is he and therefore have risen against the Corner Stone which ye builders have refused which is made Head of the Corner but there is no other way to God but by him Christ the Light God that quickneth the dead and calleth things that are not as if they were for that is not natural that shews Nature in the transgression and that is not of the evil one that shews evil and that is not of man in whom it is not to direct his way that leads unto God but it is of God the love of God that sent his Son into the world to redeem man and to bring him back again unto God And his work it is to deliver to set free the Captive that which is bound under sin and he that sinneth is bound to sin and to purifie and to cleanse and to make white and to break down the Partition that which is gotten between by reason of Transgression and to bring to God that so man may feel his Maker again and be joyned to him with whom nothing that is defiled can have any fellowship and sin desiles For our God is a consuming fire Heb. 13. last Now to hold that a man being chosen can never be removed from that state unto which he is chosen and that a man is justified when he is found a sinner and that he is in Christ when he is not a new Creature and he is not a new Creature whilst he is in sin old things are not past away the old man is there remaining with his lusts and deeds whose lust and deeds are sin all things are not become new and that a man is in God when he is not purged when he is not made clean and he is not made clean he is not purged that sinneth whilst he sinneth whosoever sinneth hath neither seen him neither known him John 3. 6. whilst he knoweth not nor believeth in nor is joyned to the Word of Life which dwelleth in the Saints which witnessed to God the Word that endures for ever The Word which by the Spirit is Preached unto you the Word that purifies 1 Pet. 1. last the Word that endures for ever and ye have not his Word abiding in you For whom he hath sent him ye believe not John 5. 38. The Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart which is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 8. For the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart who shall ascend c. But what saith it the Word is nigh thee c. vers 6. 7. So that is the Word the Word of Faith the living Word that endures for ever that cleanseth that purifies which is that which witnesses to God which abides Now are ye clean through the Word And now are ye clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you abide in me ye have not his Word abiding in you said he to the Pharisees and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me in him that witnesses the Word of Life John 15. 3 4. And saith the Prophet he shall sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver and he shall purifie the Sons of Levi and purge them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto him an offering in Righteousness then shall the offerings of Judah Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the dayes of old and as in the former years and I will come neer to you in Judgement and I will be a swift witness here 's the Messenger that prepares his Way before him the Messenger of the Covenant that he saith he will send whom he saith they delighted in behold he shall come saith the Lord of Hosts But who may abide the day of his coming And who shall stand when he appeareth For he shall be as Refiners fire and as Fullers soap I will be a swift Witness this is he who is the Judge of all that comes nere to Judgement that witnesseth that saith I will be a swift witness I will come neer to you to Judgement against the Sorcerers and against the Adulterers and against false Swearers and against those that oppresse the Hireling in his wages the Widdow and the
manifest to Christ the light and all must believe in him who is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World and abide in him who is light or they shall never see life they can never be delivered and this is truth Now this is the state in the which man is in the fall in the transgression he sees not God nor hath seen him nor can see him in that state nor know him The state is without a proof a witnesse a feeling of God and being without a proof a witnesse a feeling of God in him How can he come to him whom he neither sees nor feels nor knows nor of him hath a proof or witness For Ignoti nulla Cupido as the Axiome is A man hath no desire to that which he knows not And a man knows not that which he doth not feel and a man feels not that which he doth not witness and a man cannot witness that which he hath not and a man hath not that which he doth not witness that is to say in his sence in his understanding though it may be in him And the reason is this because he being in a state which is void of that which gives the feeling the sence the witnesse the proof of God in him He in that state can have no proof of God nor witness nor sence nor feeling more then of wrath and eternal condemnation none of life nor of Salvation or that leads to it for Wrath and Eternal condemnation is the portion of that state and of all that are in it whilst they are in it And though the light be in man that which reproves that which makes manifest and God hath plac't it there a measure of himself in every man to bring him back again to God which calls on him to turn unto the Lord from whom he is gone that it may be well with him and man knows it and it often appears and shews and makes manifest and reproves and judges which is the love of God and his kindness unto man who seeks to gather him and therefore hath he placed this of himself in him to bring him to God yet the Spirit of Reprobation the Spirit which is without the living sence and feeling of God or proof or witness of him or the state of Reprobation or the Reprobated state or condition being that which hath man and holds him being that in which man is it keeps him from believing in that which reproves which makes manifest which shews which judges which witnesses to God and answers to him and so as this hath power over him he obeys it not Now being made perfect he became the Authour of Eternal Salvation to as many as obey him Heb. 5. 9. And man obeying it not he doth not receive it he doth not retain it Iniquity comes which he obeys and blots it out and so it is to him as if he had it not it is made of none effect to him he becomes not the Athoâ—r of Eternal Salvation to such Iniquity races it out as it were comes over it covers it and so man feels not the Power and Vertue of that which calls upon him so as to deliver him because he receives it not he doth not obey it and therefore it is that he is not delivered that to him he becomes not the Authour of Eternal Salvation who is it though it is Vertue and Power above the strength of darkness that shews it else it should never shew darkness and make manifest what darkness is Nor hath that man any other advantage by it then to know his Condemnation which is the state of the Devil the state of Reprobation the state of the Reprobates the Reprobated state who though they know God yea and though they also believe and tremble yet it is in a sence of Wrath and Judgement For he is over them and they know him to be Lord over all Principalities and Powers who is Head of the body the Church yet they obey him not nor receive him nor can they the state they are in and he is contradistinct and so their knowledge to him is but to Judgement What have I to do with thee Jesus and yet the Pharises would not confeâ—s him so to be thou Son of the most high God I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not cried the unclean spirit whose name was Legion when Jesus said unto him come out of the man thou unclean spirit Mark 5 8. And thou believest there is one God thou doest well the Devils also believe and tremble said James to the vain man concerning the Faith which was without works which he said was dead which obeyed not which received not his Vertue therefore it wrought not For as many as received him to them gave he power to be called the Sons of God even to them which believe in his Name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Who was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not who came unto his own but his own received him not Was not Abraham our Father said James justified by works when he had offered Isaac his Son upon the Altar Seest thou how Faith wrought with his works and by works was Faith made perfect And the Scripture was fulfiled which saith Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for Righteousness and he was called the Friend of God You see then saith he how that by works a man is justified and not by Faith only Likewise also was not Rahab the Harlot justified by works when she had received the Messengers and had sent them out another way For as the body without the spirit is dead so Faith without works is dead also This testified James and John also Jam. 2. 19. to the end John 1. 10 11 12 13. And the reason is this because as hath been hinted that spirit having man and possessing him man comes to be as that spirit is and that spirit being so man comes to be like it and man being like it or coming to be formed into the image of the Devil who was made after the Image of God he comes to be concluded with him and this is the state of the fall the state of Reprobation the state of him who is reprobated from God of the Reprobates they are such as are in him in the Devil he is their Root their Ground their Source and their Spring who is reprobated from God who feels him not who is without any thing of him in him that is the principle of him who doth not know him and therefore it is that they are called Reprobates And here I must end as to this Particular having spoken that which I have received of the Lord to communicate that all may see and understand this great mistery viz. how the Lord made not man to destroy him and that he hath concluded no man
to ly We might have strong Consolation who have fled for refuge to the hope set before us which hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the Vail Whither the forerunner is for us entered even Jesus made an high Priest for ever after the Order of Melchesidec Heb. 6. 16 17 18 19 20. Now he hath sworn that he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live as hath been said and he having sworn it Impossible it is for him to lie it is Immutable but possible it is for him to lie and he must be Mutable and Vary With whom there is no Variableness nor shaddow of turning Jam. 1. 17. For I am the Lord I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Mal. 3. 6. If he hath concluded man to destruction from all Eternity and then saith unto them turn and live If he hath determined some to Reprobation and yet swears he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will ye die O house of Israel and O Israel thy destruction is of thy self but thy help is in me with whom is no Variableness nor Shaddow of turning For I am the Lord I change not therefore ye Sons of Jaeob are not consumed as aforesaid So Friends all you who are here take heed how ye impose upon the Lord in things of this Nature Or take upon ye to meddle with his Decrees who understand not the Lord nor the Counsel of his Decree whose way is in the Deep and his Foot-steps in the Mighty waters least he dash you to pieces For who are you that you should place such a thing upon the Lord which among men is the most horrid and Abominable much more as to the Lord if one can say more who is far above man as the Heavens are above the Earth whom man cannot reach He hath given something of himself to you and placed it within you by which you may know him and understand his counsel to you-wards and his thoughts of old even from the beginning which have been good to you which is that which Invites you that which draws you that which inclines you to God which shews you evil and is with you to resist it which watches evil and shews you the very approach of it and the appearance of evil and is near to deliver you which judges evil and reproves it in you and you for evil when you have joyned to it This testifies for the Lord that he hath no pleasure in your death This is a living witness that he hath not concluded you to destruction from all Eternity but that he seeks you that he desires your welfare that he would not have you die but live and is a living testimony even in you against this Opinion which you hold and such your conclusion as aforesaid who know not the Lord nor the way of his working who impose upon him and place that on the Lord which never was in his heart and this of him in you as I have said that seeks to gather you that makes your heart tender to God and to fear before him is in and to you and all men a living witness Therefore lay down such your Opinions and come to that of himself in you and believe in that which shews you which makes manifest which reproves that you may find his counsels of good to you that have been of old even from the beginning which seeks to gather you And if you say He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Rom. 9. 18. And who hath resisted his Will v. 19. And so Why doth he yet find fault And even for this same purpose have I raised thee up speaking of Pharaoh that I might shew my Power in thee and that my Name might be declared throughout all the Earth and so he sheweth mercy on whom he will shew mercy and whom he will he hardneth And Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated and the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth It was said unto her unto Rebecca the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated v. 11 12. 13 17 18. And so it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy v. 16. and so I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion As he said to Moses v. 15. and as the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I might shew my Power in thee c. as aforesaid I answer The Lord hath shut up no man in Vnbelief that he might have mercy on no man but he hath concluded all in Vnbelief that he might have mercy on all as the Apostle speaketh Rom. 11. 32. that is to say he hath concluded no man to Damnation that he should be Damned irreversible but he finding all men in the fall in the state of Vnbelief in the state of Damnation in the state of Reprobation he concluded all men in Vnbelief in that state What that he might Damn them that they might be Reprobated for ever that they might be destroyed that they might be damned No but that he might have mercy on all that is to say that they might come to life whom death was over How is that you may say Why thus the state of all men in the fall is the state of Reprobation in this state there is no being no believing in God the state is concluded in Vnbelief and all that are in it their eyes are darkned that they cannot see their ears are stopt that they cannot hear God hath given them the Spirit of slumber Eyes that they should not see Ears that they should not hear unto this day saith the Apostle of Israel that abided not in the Election Israel saith he hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the Election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded according saith he as it is written God hath given them the Spirit of slumber Eyes that they should not see and Ears that they should not hear unto this day and David saith Let their Table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling-block and a recompence unto them Let their eyes be darkned that they may not see and bow down their back always Rom. 11. 7 8 9 10. So then the state of Reprobation being a state of Vnbelief and the state of Vnbelief being a state of Reprobation the Lord hath concluded all in the state of Vnbelief in the state of Reprobation that he might
and see Life Now this is mercy and the Lord might have chosen whether he would have done this to his creature whom he made upright but had turned from him for he was not bound to his Creature and have let him remain in that state for ever Nevertheless herein the love of God was made manifest to Man that he gave him something of himself that had never sinned nor consented to sin and placed it in him to call upon him to turn unto the Lord and that whilest we were yet sinners saith the Apostle Christ died for the Vngodly and herein the greatness of his love is shewn that he continues this in man which waits upon man and calls upon him and seeks him and entreats him to turn unto the Lord. Now man resisting this and disobeying this and not believing in this which suffers which bears which waits which seeks and the day of his visitation this suffering this waiting this seeking this bearing coming to an end Man comes to be unredeemed to God to be a vessel of wrath a vessel of dishonour fitted to destruction and so his destruction is of himself but man coming to heed this to retain this that calleth to believe in it to be guided by it he comes to be redeemed unto God out of the hands of him who had him in captivity to be a vessel of mercy a vessel of honour prepared unto Glory and so his help is in God So he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Nay but O man who art thou that replyest against God Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it why hast thou made me thus Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto Honour and another unto Dishonour Man cannot plead with God in this case for as I have said he is not bound unto his Creature he might make it as he pleased even of the same lump one vessel to Honour another to Dishonour he hath power over man as the Potter hath over the Clay so man may not plead man may not reason with God in this Particular stood the Case only here had he been made so at first the Lord would have been clear and who durst to have opened his mouth seeing the Lord had power over man to have made him as he pleased But the Case stands not here it lies further the Lord made not man so he did not so forme him nor with an intent that he should be so did the Lord make Man but he formed him a vessel of Honour He planted him a noble Vine wholy a right Seed He made of one blood all Nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their Habitation that they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him though he be not far from any of us for in him we live and move and have our being as certain of your own Poets have said for we are his off-spring said the Apostle to the Athenians Acts 17. 26 27 28. Jer. 2. 21. He made him upright after the Image of God made he man but man as I have said found out many Inventions and having turned aside and proved the degenerate Plant of a strange Vine even a vessel oâ— Dishonour bearing the image of the Devil who was made after the Image of God It was the loving kindness of God to visit man again and to call upon him to turn unto him to place something of him-thing of himself in him to call upon him to shew him where he is and what he hath been doing and to turn unto the Lord. Now he that will not hear this Prophet which the Lord hath raised up like unto me said Moses who gave the Law without which was the Similitude of the Law within Christ Jesus the fear in the Inward parts that which calls that which makes manifest that which reproves that which judges that which makes the heart tender to God and to fear before him shall be destroyed from among the people Acts 3. 22 23. For if the word spoken by the Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Hebrews 2. 2 3. So he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy he visiteth whom he will and he waits on whom he will and he calls on whom he will and he suffers as he will and as long and whilest he will and whom he will he hardens he suffers iniquity to go over which the more it turns from God the more it hardens man against him on whom he calls long and they will not turn unto the Lord and so the more he calls the more they turn from him and the more they turn from him the more they are hardned against him and the movings of his Spirit and the more they are hardned against him and the movings of his Spirit the less his Spirit strives with them and therefore it is said O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and heardned our hearts from thy fear Return for thy Servants sake the Tribes of thy Inheritance Isa 63. 17. The Lord was withdrawn that of him ceased to call which they had transgressed against they grew cold to the Lord whilst that strove not with them that made their hearts tender to him they began to grow hard as that turned from them that turn'd them to him they began to go astray as that removed which led them to him O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and hardned our hearts from thy fear Return here was the matter the Lord was withdrawn the Lord was removed that of him turn'd from them as they had turned from it that was the cause and of this they grew sensible Return â—ay they for thy Servants sake the Tribes of thy Inheritance So whom he will he hardens as they withdraw from that of him which calls on them to turn to him he withdraws that in them of him which turns unto him as they let not in that of him in them that calls upon them to turn unto the Lord which makes them tender they grow hard So Pharaoh the more he withstood Moses that called upon him to let Israel go the more hard Pharaoh was and even for the same purpose have I raised thee up that I may shew my power in thee and that my Name may be declared throughout all the earth So when the Lord calls and man will not hear when he stretcheth out his arms long and man will not come when he strives and yet man will not be gathered who is turned from God It 's just with God to withdraw from man to turn that of him that turns
had put off the Old man seeing that ye have put off the Old man saith he to them Col. 3. 10. with his deeds and had put on the New man Which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him as hath been said v. 11. So People must be created again must be renewed must be put into another temper into another mould into another stock into another nature who are in the Transgression they must be born again or they can never enter into the Kingdom of God The Old must be marr'd must be broken down must be done away must be put off The Old man with his deeds and the New man must be put on ere Salvation can be witnessed by Christ Jesus The Old building must be thrown down and the New must be raised Ye also as lively Stones are built up a Spiritual House an holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye are God Husbandrie ye are Gods building According to the Grace of God which is given unto me as a wise Master builder I have laid the Foundation and another buildeth thereon but let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon for other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ Now if any man build upon this Foundation Gold Silver Precious Stones Wood Hay Stubble every mans work shall be made manifest For the Day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is If any mans work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward If any mans work shall be burnt he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God deâ—troy for the Temple of God is holy whose Temple ye are 1 Cor. 3. 9. to the 18. And rooted and built up in him and stablished in the Faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with Thanksgiving Col. 2. 17. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord in whom ye are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes 2. 21 22. Now the Temple of God is holy as hath been said whose Temple ye are said the Apostle to the Saints and Holiness becomes thy House for ever and without are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whore Mongers and Murders and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie Rev. 22. 15. And there shall in no wise enter into it the holy City any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but they which are written in the Lambs book of life Rev. 21. 27. And these things he testifies who is faithful and true who is the Root and Off-spring of David and the bright and morning Star And the Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the Water of life freely For this I testifie unto every man that heareth the Words of the Prophesie of this book if any man shall add unto these things God shall take his part out of the book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things which are written in this book He that testifies these thing saith surely I come quickly Amen even so come Lord Jesus Rev. 22. 17 18 19 20. And so unto all this I speak in the Name of the Lord and in the Power of God that the hour is very nigh wherein these things shall be proved so to be in the hearts of all even of them that oppose themselves And then they will see that these things are so and that they have been mistaken otherwise to think and that the Enemie was in it to deceive them when they came to this great thing Christ Jesus the Power of God and the Wisdom of God that which reprov'd them that which made manifest which is in them in which they should have believed that so they might have felt his Power which redeems which cleanses which purifies which brings back to God again which Moulds which Forms which I eavens all into its own lump which works up all into himself and makes holy as he is holy and builds up all that so believe and abide and obey into an holy habitation of God through the Spirit and so saves which is the Will of God This is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication saith the Apostle 1 Thes 4. 3. And by the wich Will ye are Sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all Heb. 10. 10. And by one offering he hath for ever perfected them that are Sanctified Heb. 10. 14. And both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are of one therefore he is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2. 11. And being Sanctified by the Holy Ghost Rom. 15. 16. And to them that are Sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1. 2. Now the Enemie hath turn'd people another way and they have suffered it to be so viz. To believe that they shall be saved because the Lord desireth not the death of a sinner And so be they what they will the Lord looks not to that he is a free Agent the Lord wills it and they shall be saved For in his will there is Power And so people are deceived by Satan the old deceiver which deceiveth the whole World whose time is neer wherein he must be cast out therefore worketh he as he can to save himself from being cast out and in some after this sort and in others after that according as he can prevail with the understandings of any and deceiving them there lead them aside And so I have done with you also For this is the Will of the Lord as to me in this thing that I should clear up this thing to the understandings of all that all might have a living savour of these things in themselves and come out of that in which they have been led Captive and the Enemie hath deceived them that they may be his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works as he hath before ordained that we should live in them who are the first fruits of his Spirit who he is coming to trie and to suffer the Enemie to come forth to trie that ye may have a living sence I say of these things in your selves as many as to whom these things shall reach and be drawn unto God when you shall see us lifted up and our constant abiding in our Testimony and sufferings shall let yâ—u see that God is with us and draw you to us And so as I have said I have finished what I have to say unto
Apostle as aforesaid and were it not that the Lord first touched man that of him in him which lies in death and by reason of the fall is buried in the Grave so that it cannot move to God man never would look after God nor know the state in the which he is for the enemy having him and holding him and compassing him about would never suffer him so to see nor so to understand Now herein is the love of God manifest and his great loving kindness that when man whom he made upright and in his Image and breathed into him the Breath of Life and he became a living Soul turned away from the Lord and from that in which he was made which kept and would have preserved him had he kept to it and let in the enemy and so death came over him in the Transgression over that in which he was made that it moved not but lay as dead Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave whom thou remembrest no more and they are cut off from thy hand Psal 88. 6. I say that the Lord should then visit man and reach to that of himself in man which lay in the grave free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave and so give man to see the state in the which he is and his enemy and to cause a moving after God a Will to God this is the Lords great loving kindness and his free mercy and this the Apostle reckoned when he cast up the sum and minded the great love of God to man in this state In this saith he as hath been said was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Herein is the love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins 1 John 4. 9 10. And when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly Rom. 5. 6. So then man cannot move to God unless God reach him that of him in him that lies in death by reason of Transgression and quicken him then it moves to God again not that we loved God see in what state the will of man is in the fall where all men are found when God comes to them when God visits them when he speaks to them when his voice reacheth them that shaketh the Wilderness when that moves in them which shews them sin and evil and judges it not that we loved God saith he before whilst we were in this state the state in the fall we loved not God before God reached to that of himself in us that lay in death Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave whom thou remembrest no more saith he also as aforesaid but he loved us and sent his Son that of himself in us to be a propitiation an atonement for our sin and herein is love and in this was manifested the love of God towards us that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him We who were dead in trespasses and sins who were without sence or feeling of God over whom death was gotten who had no mind nor will to God nor moving to him who could never have moved to him nor minded nor willed him in the state in which we were in the fall in the Transgression when we were from that of him which gives the sence and feeling of him and willing to and moving after him because of death which was got between us and that of him in which we were made from which we fell which came under by reason of Death by reason of the fall and so were at that time without Christ Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel strangers from the covenants of Promise having no hope and without God in the World that we who were in this state might live through him through that which speaks in us which in us moves to God So that it is not in the will of man in the fall for so man as to this particular is to be considered for that which restores him brings him to God is another thing being brought to God is another state of which I speak not now but of the state in which man is before he is brought thither I say it is not in the Will of man considered in the fall to will to God or to move to him that which moves him to God and makes him will to God is another thing as I have shewed and there being no will in man as to God in this state wherein every man is found when God comes to him as hath been instanced where then is free will or the freedom of his will to God for where there is no such thing as a thing there cannot be said to be the freedom of such a thing because there is a non entity as I may so speak if so be it be proper so to speak and yet how shall I otherwise speak to give a demonstration of the thing of which I speak there is no such thing in being of which the freedom or the freedom of which is pretended there is no such thing in being therefore there cannot be said to be the freedom of such a thing For again of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures saith the Apostle Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will then it is not of man's will that man is begotten to God that he is delivered for two wills cannot consist in this Particular no more can it consist then two Fathers in the Generation of man or for a man to beget himself which is incongruous to Nature to say as it is to reason to think it and it being not of man's wil then man hath no freedom of will to be begotten to beget himself to God And this is manifest for it is by the Word or with the Word of Truth too that he is begotten to God So man hath nothing to do in the matter of his own will With the Word of Truth hath he begotten us the Word of Truth the Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart the Word of Faith which we preach said the Apostle The Word of the Lord which endures for ever and this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you saith Peter 1 Epist 1. 25. The Word which is quick and powerful and sharper then any two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing assunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a discerner of the Thoughts and intents of the heart neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 12 13. So it is by this Word the Word of Truth the
witness These things saith the Amen the faithful and true Witness writes John to the Laodeceans who were grown neither hot nor cold and therefore he would spue them out of his mouth I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot neither quite dead nor quite alive neither being without sence nor having much I would thou wert cold or hot So then because thou art luke-warm and neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth Rev. 3. 15 16. A sore word to be cast out as salt that hath lost its savour and is good for nothing but to be cast to the Dunghil If the salt hath lost its savour where with shall it be salted It is henceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden under foot of men saith Christ Mat. 5. 13. And shameful spueing shall be on thy Glory Hab. 2. 16. And Moab also shall wallow in his Vomit Jer. 48. 16. And it is happened unto them according to the true Proverb The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 22. This is the condition of all that are in this state whom the Lord spues out I say He that beleiveth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 36. And here 's the state of all men by nature the nature that is in the fall in the Transgression they are without God the sence of God the life of God the Son of God without God in the World without Christ the Son of God Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Strangers from the covenants of Promise having no hope as aforesaid and the reason is because they believe not on the Son on that which witnesses to God in them Which Judges and reproves them when they do evil and shews them what they should do Is not this the Christ John 4. 21. That which tells them all that ever they have done that searcheth their hearts and trieth their Reigns and knoweth the compass and end of all their Actions and sitteth down with them and risieth up with them and follows them wheresoever they go They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ 1 Cor. 10. 4. Which speaks to them in secret and convinceth them of evil which they know they should not go against which is the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation that hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live Soberly and Righteously and Godly in this present World of which the Apostle speaketh Tit. 2. 11 12. The Comforter which reproves rhe World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement of Sin because they believe not in me saith Christ John 1. 6. 8 9. of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more Of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged vers 10 11. So that which reproves and judges is the Spirit the Spirit of the Son the Comforter that which reproves gives comfort and hope to Godward that he will shew mercy It is his Arm that opens to gather It is his Crook by which he brings back O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee How often would I have gathered thy children together as a Hen gathers her chicken under her wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 27. Now that which gathers is that which brings together that which is astray that is out of its place out of its way and that which so gathers corrects or it is a correction or a reproof to that which is astray and the voice of that which gathers is a reproof to that which is astray the very calling to come together reproves that which was not so Now this comforts this is the Comforter that calls to man who is out of the way to turn him to bring him out of the wrong to the right way and that which tells a man that he is in the wrong way judges the wrong way reproves it And that which reproves the wrong gives comfort to a man as he receives it and lets it judge the wrong in him that he is regarded and shall be brought into the right And so thy Rod and thy Staffe they comfort me Psal 23. 3. It gives a man to see that its like to be well with him As a man that is travelling hard and he hath a long way to go and night will come and he fears least having mist his way he shall come short of home and then great perils will attend him and he happily may miscarry and be undone for ever If any man meet him and tell him how he is out of his way and that the other is his way and if he will go with him he will bring him in safety to his journeys end and deliver him from all his enemies and the sad event of a miscarriage this will revive the heart of the man that is in sence of his condition and instead of repining at or resisting or slighting his friend or persisting in the wrong way in which he was or rising against his friend and his admonition and reproof he will gladly go with him and accept the offer and he will say pray let me go with thee and I am glad I have met with thee and what a thing is it that I have met with thee that I should meet with thee and what a providence was it and his heart will be light and rejoyce that he hath met with the right and be comforted that now he shall come home and miss his dangers and be out of fear of miscarriage So his trouble is gone and all the way along he will be talking to his friend and telling him what a thing it was that he met with him Even so it is as to that which is Eternal man that is out of his way and comes to be in sence by that which calls upon him and tells him he is out of the way lying is out of the way swearing is out of the way deceit is out of the way the form of godliness without the Power is out of the way Profession without the prossession of that which is profest a Name that one lives and yet is dead as to the life of God a circumcision without when there is no circumcision within a walking as to the Law blameless and yet without law to Christ a Jew without and no Jew within a cover of Righteousness without and yet within a rotten Sepulcher full of dead mens bones an open Sepulcher a man that comes to be in the sence of this through that which calls upon him and thereby to be awakned to see the danger in which he was and so to be apprehensive of his deliverance will rejoyce at this and be comforted in this that so reprov'd
to say when he is from this when he came to himself he came to sence to understanding to the right thing that he should have been guided by which was in him but he went from it he went forth and spent his Portion on Harlots and wasted his substance on riotous living minded not how he dealt with that which should have kept him when he came to this he said How many hired Servants of my Fathers have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger I will arise and go to my Father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants Luke 15. 13. to the 24. So he is the Mediator that which witnesses is that which shews that Judges that makes manifest between God and man as the Apostle saith For there is one God saith he and one Mediator between God and man the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due time 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. And to him must every man come to this of him in every man must every knee bow and tongue confess that he is it is Lord of all whether of things in Heaven or things in Earth or things under the earth to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 10 11. for being in the form of God he thought it no robbery to be equal with God but took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of man and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross therefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow c. as a foresaid v. 6 7 8 9. So here is the sum of all this same Jesus that which shews which reproves which judges which makes manifest in man is the wel-beloved Son he whom the Father is wel-pleased the beloved in whom we are accepted by whom we have access by faith unto this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God Who is as I have said the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole World The Mediator between God and man The Intercedor who maketh intercession for us the spirit it self maketh intercercession for us with groanings see what it is that is weighed that 's oppressed that 's heavy laden in man that sighs often in man and groans to God which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. And he that searcheth the hearts see the thing knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose vers 27. 28. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth that which reproves that which judges in man that which shews him what he should do ever lives to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25. It interceeds it comes between it speaketh to God for man that which doth it Judges that reproves evil in man and would bring him to God that which searcheth the Hearts that shews a man the end and compass of all his actions that trieth the Reins and knoweth the mind of the Spirit makes intercession comes between prayes intreats wooes beseeches keeps off the wrath waits long suffers to bring man to God and he ever lives that does so that makes intercession that is able to save to the uttermost those that come to God by him that which searches that which tries that which judges that which reproves And so he is the Judge of all that saves all that come to God by him that is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him by him that judges the Law-giver there is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Jam. 4. 12. And ye are come to God the Judge of all Heb. 12. 22 23. So that which judges interceeds and that which interceeds searches and that which searches saves and that which saves destroys and that which destroys shews and this is the Law-giver the one Law-giver the one Law-giver who is able to save to destroy who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him who searches the Heart and knows the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God who ever lives to make intercession for them the Spirit it self which maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered This is that which Witnesses which shews which judges which makes manifest And unto this must all come To whom coming saith the Apostle as unto a living stone disallowed indeed of man but chosen of God and Precious ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual House an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner Stone Elect Precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded Vnto you therefore who believe he is precious but unto them which be disobedient the Stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the Head of the Corner and a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offence even unto them which stumble at the Word being disobedient unto which also they were appointed But ye are a chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood an Holy Nation a Peculiar People that you should shew forth the praises of him which hath called you out of darkness to his marvelous Light which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2. 4. to the 11. So I say to this must all come unto this must all be subject who is Lord of all the Foundation of the Prophets and the Apostles as the Apostle also saith And are built saith he to the Saints upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone Ephes 2. 20. The Foundation other then which can no man lay For other Foundation saith he again can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3. 11. Vpon which if any man build Gold Silver Precious Stones Wood Hay Stubble every mans work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is vers 12 13. If any mans work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward If any mans work shall be burnt he shall suffer loss yet he himself shall be saved yet
so as by fire vers 14 15. And upon this must all be built upon him who is the Corner Stone the tried Stone the sure Foundation the Foundation of many Generations the Restorer of Paths to dwell in the Builder of the old waste Places the Repairer of the breach And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste Places thou shalt raise up the Foundation of many Generations and thou shalt be called the Repairer of the breach the Restorer of Paths to dwell in Isa 58. 11. The Reconciler The Maker of Atonement The Offering The Sacrifice The Altar The Sanctuary The maker of Twain one New man so making peace The Blotter out of the hand writing of Ordinances which was against us which was contrary to us The Taker of it out of the Way The Nailer of it to his Cross The Spoiler of Principalities and Powers The maker of a shew of them openly The Triumpher over them in it The maker of both one who is our Peace The breaker down of the Middle wall of Partition between us The Abolisher of the enmity in his flesh even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances The Preacher of Peace to them that were afar off and to them that were nigh through whom we both Jew and Gentile have an access by one Spirit unto the Futher The Saviour of the body the Church The Saviour of all men especially of them that believe The Saviour of the World whom God hath sent into the World so to be The destroyer of the works of the Devil The Atonement The New Covenant The Law written in the heart The fear put into the inward parts The Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart The Word of Faith which the Apostles preached The Light of the World The true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World who was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not Who came unto his own and his own received him not Who as many as received him to them gave he power to be called the Sons of God even to them who believe in his Name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God The Light in whom whosoever believeth shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of Life The Condemnation of all that believe not in the light In whom whosoever believeth shall not be condemned The Judge of all The Judge of the quick and the dead Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and coming The King Immortal The second Adam The Lord from Heaven The quickning Spirit The Hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble The man Christ Jesus is he that witnesses that shews that judges that reproves that makes manifest it is the Word of the Lord. Into him into this Seed which is Christ the Election that which reproves that which makes manifest that which shews that which judges must all come and grow up therein who are redeemed unto God And the Word of the Lord unto every man whether he will hear or whether he will forbear The measure of him in every man which he hath placed in every man the manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal that in every man it may grow and that every man growing up in it and abideing may be blessed of the Lord the Seed of the blessed of the Lord and their Off-spring with them That they may be of the Root that 's holy of the true Olive in which being ingrafted though a wild Olive contrary to Nature the fatness of the true Olive he may come to be a partaker of which brings forth fruit unto God unto Holiness unto Life Eternal And this unto all is the Word of the Lord of whom I am moved to write that all may know the Root that is in them what it is that brings forth fruit unto God unto Life which the Lord hath blessed unto which being â— joyned and in which continuing a growâ—â—g up will be witnessed in that which is Eternal which never fadeth away but endures for ever And so I have cleared this Matter as I have received it of the Lord whether men will hear or whether they will forbear they all shall witness it in the day of the Lord which is neer wherein he will render unto every man according to his deeds It is the Word of the Lord. And so I have finished this Matter even the Word of the Lord in me to this Generation To whom I am known by the Name of G. Bishop Bristol the 20th of the 6th Moneth 1663. Printed In the beginning of the Second Moneth 1664. THE END