when he seeth me ââmming although afar off he will runne ãâã meet me with sweet kisses and loving saââtations He will powre the oile and ââ¦ine of his graces into my wounds he will âât me upon his owne strength and bring ââe into communion and fellowship with ââm and his Saints in Mount Sion But now O Saints and servants of the ââ¦ost High God who have laid down your ââ¦rowns at the feet of Christ and have ââ¦ade choice of him for your portion reââyce in your portion let your thoughts ââe upon and your speeches of your porââon You doe say that ye be sonnes and servants of the most High God Let it appear by your obedience to your Father Rom. 6. 16. You say that ye are his sheep doe ye hear his voice Joh. 10. 27. You say that you doe abide in him learne to walke as he walked 1 Joh. 2. 6. If Christ have dyed for you let us know it by your living unto him 2 Cor. 5. 15. You doe say that you doe know him let us see it by your keeping his commandements 1 Joh. 2. 4. You doe say that you are righteous and religious let us see it by your bridling your tongue lââ¦st your Religion appear to be vaine 1 Jam. 26. If you have received a Kingdome that cannot be moved let us see it by your serving him with reverence and godly feare Heb. 12. 28. You say he is your God and that you see your particular interest in him let it be knowne to us by your obedience to him 1 Pet. 1. 17. You say that you be the Spouse of Christ let us know it by your enquiring after him and telling of the excellencies that be in him Cant. 5. 6. 9. If you be his Disciples let us know it ââ¦y your love one to another Joh. 13. 35. You tell us that you believe in him Shew ãâã your faith by your works 2 Jam. 18. If you live in the Spirit let us know ââ¦t by your walking in the Spirit Gal. ãâã 25. If you be grafted into the true Vine ââ¦et us know it by your fruitfulnesse ââ¦oh 15. 5. If you are Christs let us know it by the ââ¦rucifying your flesh Gal. 5. 24. If you be indeed planted in the house of ââ¦he Lord let us know it by your flourishââ¦ng in his Courts Psal 92. 13. You say that he hath chosen you to salââ¦ation let us know it by your fanctificaââ¦ion of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth Eph. 1. 4. You say that you live in the will of God let us know it by your doing his will ââ¦nd by your rejoycing when his will is lone though it crosse your owne wills Job 1. 21. O my brethren methinks the spirit of ââ¦hankfulnesse is not up in your soules we ââ¦e more sensible of our wants then we be of our mercies O what could the Lord ââ¦ave done more then he hath done already we have all we have sought for and much more O England England Awake awaââ put on thy strength O Sion put on thy beautifââ garments O Ierusalem prepare to meet thâ⦠King Bid adieu to all earthly comforts ãâã not mercies be so common as not to return the praise to him that gave them Oâ⦠what would we have parted with withiâ⦠these 10 years for one of the least of the mercies that we doe now enjoy O be not sâ⦠much in craving and begging and so little in blessing and praising the fountaine oâ⦠our mercies Remember praising the Almighty wilâ⦠be the work of a Saint in the life to come ãâã there will be no need of prayer faith hope and patience all these will end in fruition Oh then begin the work here that thou shalt be alwayes doing in the life to come ãâã The book of Revel that speaks of the last state of the Church upon earth it speaks of Praising but seldome of Prayer And why Those things were granted that they had formerly prayed for Beloved can a man reckon those mercies that the Lord hath given in within these ten years both National and Personal shall we forget all and in stead of rejoicing with the Saints fall a mourning with the world The voice cries Rejoice ye righteous and howl O Babylon Rejoice ye righteous for ye have a Father to stand by you a Christ to deliver you Angels to guard you Comforts to refresh you and Promises to sustain you and rather then ye shall want the Ravens shall ââ¦eed you the Heavens shall drop down food to relieve you the Rocks shall stream forth rivers to refresh you therefore let nothing dismay you or draw your hearts back again like Lots wife into Sodome or the Children of Israel unto the flesh-pots of Egypt The wicked and unbelieving they cannot praise him And shall Christ have none to exalt him O let your mouths be filled with his praises sound Hallelujahs to him who liveth for ever and ever for this is ââ¦he will of God concerning you As for the world alas they know not how to praise him How shall they sing the Lords song in Baââ¦ylon But the living the living in Mount Sion shall praise thee O thou in whom are all our springs and ââ¦rom whom we receive all our supplies and all you that be the true sheep of Christ make it your work with Mary to sit at his ââ¦eet and heare his voyce You have heard ââ¦trangers a long time and have not considered that the glory of Christ doth overââ¦hadow all other glories his voyce is sweet and his countenance is comely his presence desireable and his love unfathomable A few words by way of Prophesie concerning the glorious state of the Church of Christ that will be shortly BEloved if you a little take notice of what is past and fulfilled and diligenly observe what is present you will be the better able to speak or write of something that is to come if you look back and see that the Lord hath delivered us and then look upon the present state and finde that he doth deliver us we shall be the better able to say with Paul In whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 2 Cor. 1. 10. O yee the flocke of Christ for to you I speak chiefly you were scattered but the Lord hath gathered you together and brought you home from exile and banishment and caused you to sit under your owne vine and made you a praise and a same amongst them that had you in derision and a proverb of reproach he hath advanced up between you and your enemies and taken your part and over-powered them and in a great measure stopped the mouths of the dogs of Egypt that did so bark at you some of them are fallen by the sword others of them are fled beyond the seas and those that doe still remaine the Lord is now muffling their mouths Againe your spiritual enemies begin to fall also the Lord hath given you a little more strength against them and discovered his love in the face
make thee ââ¦d but his absence THe second Quaerie is What is it to abide in the Doctrine of Christ For the Scriture saith 2 ep Joh. 9. He that abideth in the ââ¦ctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the ââ¦onne Now there be several discoveries or ââ¦haracters of one that abideth in the doââ¦rine of Christ First there be some inward evidences Secondly there be some outward eviââ¦ences For the inward evidence Call a counsel ãâã thy own heart silence thy own thoughts ââll all the faculties of thy soul and memââ¦ers of thy body to the bar examine thy ââill thy affections thy judgment and meââ¦ory Who are you for what are you doing ââ¦ow are you imployed all day long Search for ââ¦hat White-stone that hath a Name in it that ââ¦ne can read but he that hath it See whether ââ¦e Spirit of God doth witnesse with thy spirit ââ¦at thou belongest to God Doth the presence ââ¦f Christ rejoice thee doth his absence grieve thee See whether thou art like unââ Christ in thy desires and in thy endeavouââ whose work it was to doe the will of his Fââther c. Secondly there be some outward eââdences I shall name a few 1. He that abideth in the doctrine ãâã Christ is one that is not easily withdrawâ⦠from the truth that he first received 1 Jââ 2. 24. Let that therefore abide in you which yââ have heard from the beginning If that whicâ⦠you have heard from the beginning shall remain ãâã you you shall continue in the Sonne and in thââ Father 1. Tim. 4. 16. Take heed to thy self ãâã unto the doctrine continue in them for in ãâ¦ã ing this thou shalt both save thy self and such hear thee Be not carried about with every wiââ of doctrine saith Paul Ephes 4. 14. Beware ãâã you fall from your steadfastnesse saith Peter 2 Pââ 3. 17. If you continue in my words then are yââ my Disciples saith Christ Joh. 8. 31. Oh the continue in the faith to be grounded anâ⦠setled rooted and established Be ye stedfoââ and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the woââ of the Lord. 2. He that abideth in the doctrine ãâã Christ may be known by this He is a verâ⦠fruitful Christian What is the reason therâ⦠is so much barrennesse coldnesse deadnessââ ââlity lukewarmnesse evil furnishings and ââliperings Why behold the reason âây abide not in the doctrine of Christ that abide in that doctrine doe beare ââns there is none barren among thââ¦m âây be planted in his house they abide it doctrine therefore they flourish in his ââurts Joh. 15. 4. The branch cannot beare âât except it abide in the vine no more can you ââept you abide in me 3. He that abideth in the doctrine of ââst may be known by this also He stands ãâ¦ã nd contends for the faith and obedience ãâ¦ã he Gospel against all opposers he envours by sound doctrine to convince all ââ¦nsayers He doth not so much plead for ââmane learning as he doth for the mind God in the Spirit he knows the spiriââl learning can easily foyle the humane âârning that wants the spiritual See that ââce Jude 3 4. That you should earnestly contend ãâã the faith that was once delivered to the Saints âân he brings the reason of this conââ¦entiââ v. 4. For there are certain men crept in unââares turning the grace of God into lasciviousââse And surely this is one of Englands sins this day There be many men and woâân puffed up with a high conceit of their âân knowledge and when their principles and practices are a little examinââ they be but as clouds without rain and ãâã without water as here Jude speaks 4. He that abideth in the doctrine Christ continueth stedfast in the doctrââ of the Apostles Act. 2. 42. And they continââ stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowsâ⦠and in breaking of bread and prayer Not thâ⦠the Apostles doctrine was one thing aââ the doctrine of Christ another thing ãâã whosoever abideth in the one could nââ but abide in the other And they abode frââ fast in the Apostles doctrine that is they coââ¦tinued stedfastly in the doctrine of Chriââ for they delivered that unto us which thâ⦠received from Christ They continued in ãâã Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breakâ⦠of bread and prayer Let us examine a littââ how many men and women that be godââ for I do not speak of others I say hoâ⦠many have we that do walk together Fellowship 2. How many are there that enjoy that Ordinance of the Lords Suppââ here called Breaking of Bread 3. How maââ have the Spirit of Prayer Are they not feââ yea very few And yet all be ready to saâ⦠that they do abide in the doctrine of Chrââ Go from one man to another throughâ⦠a whole Shire and ask them one after ãâã ââer Do you abide in the doctrine of Christ ââou do not you have not God Yea saith the ãâã I do abide in the doctrine of Christ Q. How prove you that A. I do saith he for I have reformed âây things that were amisse in me So did ââod that enemy of truth Mark 6. 20. For ââod heard Iohn knowing he was a just man ãâã when he heard him he did many things Q. Come to a second and ask him Do ãâã abide in the doctrine of Christ A. I do saith he and I know it by this ãâã free from many gross sinnes that others ââmy neighbours are guilty of So was âât Pharisee Luk. 18. 11 12. O God I thank ââe that I am not as other men are I fast twice ââ¦eek and give tithe of all I do possesse Q. Come to a third and ask him Do you ââde in the doctrine of Christ A. I do saith he and I prove it thus ââontinue waiting upon God in the use of Ordinances which others neglect So ãâã those hypocrites Isa 58. 2 3. Yet you seek daily saith the Lord and delight to know my ââes as a Nation that did righteousnesse and ââook not the ordinances of God And yet for this the Lord rejected them and their ââices Q. Come to a fourth Do you abide in the doctrine of Christ If you do not have not God A. I do and I prove it thus I know will of God that many others be ignorââ of and I approve of his wayes Rep. So those cast-awayes Rom. 2. 18. And knowesââ will and approvest the things that be more exâââlent c. Yet we see the Lord rejects the upon this ground They did not pracââ themselves that which they knew taugââ to others Q. Come to a fifth Do you abide in ãâã doctrine of Christ A. I do and I can make it good saith ãâã by this I have humbled my self for allââ sinnes before the Lord. R. So did wiââ Ahab 1 King 21. 27 28 29. Q. Come to a sixth Do you abide in ãâã doctrine of Christ A. I do abide in it and I think there but few that do outstrip me for I am ãâã so
Joh. 5. from the 17. verse to the ãâã of that Chapter you may read many ââângs to be considered and in the 40. verse âârist tells them You will not come to me that might have life And when Christ takes ãâã leave of the unbelieving Jews in the 45 verse he tells them that seeing they wouââ not be brought off the Law to the Gospââ he speaks to them saying Do not think tââ I will accuse you to the Father for not imbratiââ me in the Gospel no no there is no need of thâ⦠there is another that is sufficient to condemâ⦠you even the Law of Moses in which you tââ As if Christ had said to them thâ⦠needs not mine accusation to compleâ⦠your condemnation that very Law thâ⦠you seem to stick to will condemne yoâ⦠but had you understood that Law in tââ Spirit as you did in the Letter you wouââ not have rejected me for Moses writ of ãâã verse 46. For ought I know those that do live aââ dye under the Law of Nature shall ãâã judged by the Law of Nature Rom. 1. Rom. 2. both those Chapters do speââ much this thing And so for those that do live under tââ Law of Moses they shall for ought I knoâ⦠be judged by that Law as in Joh. 5. 45. Aââ whereas I said I could not fully grant ãâã these be my reasons or Scriptures Thiâ⦠condemnation saith Christ that light is coââ into the world and men love darknesse ratâââ then light And again they be condemnâ⦠for unbelief He that beleeveth not is condeâââ ââd already Joh. 3. And again in the Heââws They were shut out because of unbeliefâât I have not said that the Law in the ââirit did not lead them to faith Law I must indeed confesse that there is greater and clearer light held forth in the ââ¦ospel then in the Law and a better Coâânant established upon better promises ââ¦eb 8. 6 7 8 9 10. But if I may not go before doth it thereââre follow that I may not come after If ââ¦ay not sit in Mases Chair at the upper ââd of the table must I not therefore sit at ãâã Pray if thou canst tell me where is my ââace Believ Thon must not have any Taberââcle built for thee for a greater then thou art ãâã here Mar. 9. 7. When Peter saw Moses in ââs glory he would have made a Taberââcle for him but the Lord took away ââ¦oses and answered Peter to his foregoing ââquest to Christ touching a Tabernacle ãâã Moses saying This is my beloved Sonne ââ¦ar him Mar. 9. 7. But the Law in the spiritual substance of ãâã I suppose is still in force for the Law in ââe Spirit is the Gospel for the Gospel ââ¦oth hold forth those things in substance ãâã the Law did in types and shadows as we do receive light from the same Sunne wâââ he is under a cloud as we do when ãâã cloud is over and he shine in his brigââânesse the light is the same for quality aââ nature but not for quantity or measure Fââ the Gospel doth not teach any other Reââgion then the Law did but there is a mââ glorious administration and a more clââârer dispensation of the love of God in tââ face of Jesus Christ under the Gospel thâ⦠was under the Law I Cor. 12. 5. Now thâ⦠are differences of administrations but the faââ Lord and there are diversaties of operations ãâã it is the same God which marketh all in all ãâã that for the substance we have no othââ Gospel now then that was preached to oâ⦠first parents in Paradise after their fall ãâã you may see Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the womââ shall break the Serpents head Here is the s ãâ¦ã stance of all Law and Gospel included aââ contained in these words But this Gospââ was preached something darkly and yââ not so darkly but that many believed aââ were saved Well in processe of time thâ⦠Lord gave forth the Law wherein weââ orders and ordinances types and shadow held forth in several administrations ãâã that now there was a far clearer preachinâ⦠that Gospel Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the wâ⦠man shall break the Serpents head Then shall ââ¦ou finde all the Prophets rising up one ââter another speaking of Christ and the ââory of his Kingdome and as one did ââcceed after another in processe of time so ââe latter did exceed the former in their ââowledge of this mystery and at length ãâã the fulnesse of time Christ whom all ââese had spoken of and many be lieved in ââme into the world then sprang up a ââeater light then ever was before for here ââ¦as come the substance of all the former ââpes so that never man spake as this man ââ¦ither were there ever such miracles done ãâã any as were done by him well Christ ââs the people That those that did believe in âân should do the same works and greater then ââse And after his ascention what wonâârful things were done by the Apostles ââry day the love of God in the face of ãâã Jesus Christ was more and more held âârth and so through the goodnesse of ââ¦od unto this day and at this present me is the Lord displaying the banner of ââ¦s love in destroying our darknesse by the ââghtnesse of his appearing Now then O ââw thou in thy time and place wert gloââous but the Gospel is much more gloriââ¦s the spiritual substance of thee doth remain but all thy rudiments and beggerlâ⦠elements must tumble down And for my part I am commanded bâ⦠my Father Col. 2. 21. 22. saying of theâ⦠Touch not taste not handle not for all are ãâã perish that use them v. 23. Which things haâ⦠indeed a shew of wisdome in will-worship Shaââ I run to the ââ¦ight of a star when I may haâ⦠the light of the Moon Shall I run to thâ⦠light of a candle when I may enjoy thâ⦠light of the Sun Shall I cry up shadowâ⦠when I may enjoy the substance Shall abide under the Law when I may be undââ the Gospel No Law no I have not so leaââ¦ned Christ I desire now with Paul to knââ nothing but Christ and him crucified 1 Coâ⦠2. 2. Law Well saith the Law as thou haâ⦠dealt plainly with me so shall I do witâ⦠thee give me leave then and I will tell thâ⦠that the fault liââ¦s not in me that I am ãâã much cryed up and held forth at this daâ⦠the Clergy and the Laity will not go ãâã Christ till as they say not I I say they wiââ not go to Christ untill I have preparâ⦠them for Christ they preach me in the leââ¦ter and understand me in the letter wheââ as if they understood me in the spirit should lead them to Christ if Christ did nââ âââd them to me yet these men in their âârds will many of them deny me as to ââe any hand in their justification or acââtation but though they deny me in âârds in these or the like
things yet they ââ¦nowledge me in their deeds just as those âârds of Paul Rom. 9. 32. Wherefore because ãâã sought it not by faith but as it were by the âââks of the Law for they stumbled at that ãâ¦ã bling stone Now this word as it were âât were unfolded as now it lyes sealed ãâã should finde most men seeking righteââsnesse if not absolutely by the Law ãâã as it were by the works of the Law ãâã Believ In this that thou hast said O ââw I have nothing to except against for ââe we both agree though there was a ââs-understanding between us at first yet it true the fault is not in thee O Law that âân put thee in the room of Christ no ââ¦ore then the brasen Serpent was in fault ââom the people did Idolize the fault ââs in the people and not in the Serpent at this day mens seeking righteousnesse ãâã thee becomes their own evill not thine ââd as thou hast said though men will not knowledge that they seek righteousnesse ãâã the Law yet they doe seeke it as it were by the workes of the Law Now here lyeth one of the greatest ãâã ferences between the Law and the Gospââ both speak of working and both speak resting onely herein lyes the difference ââder the Law before Christ was come ãâã people were to work first and rest aftââwards that is they were to work six dayâ⦠and rest the seventh when they had dââ their work then enter into rest nââ under the Gospel we are to rest first ãâã work afterwards for as the Sabbath of ãâã was the last day of the week so our Loââ day of rest is the first day of the week ãâã are first to receive a Kingdome that cannot moved Heb. 12. 28. and then next to seââ God acceptably with reverence and godly fââ We are first to believe and then in thenâ⦠place to shew our faith by iââ works ãâã are first to see our interest in the promisâ⦠and then to cleanse our selves from all filthiââ of flesh and spirit Into what soever house ãâã enter we are to say peace be to this house first fore we are to shake the dust off our feet as a wâ⦠nesse against them So much concerning frââdome from the Law by Christ that fulfill the Law c. What Christ hath delivered us from and restored us unto Shall onely speak of two things more ãâã briefly viz. First what we are delivered from by ââ¦hrist Secondly what we are restored unto First what are delivered from and here ãâã I might instance in many things I shall ââely make mention of two First we are delivered from sinne Secondly from death the wages of sin First we are delivered from sinne Isa ãâã 6. it was all laid upon him and so we came free Rom. 6. 18. 22. verses comââred together 1 Pet. 2. 24. 2 Cor. 5. 21. ââ¦atth 8. 17. Rom. 6. 11. Col. 1. 22. 1 Thess ãâã 13. Secondly those and onely those that ââe in Christ are delivered from death the ââges of sinne O death saith Christ I will ââthy death Isa 25. 8. He hath swallowed up ââth in victory 1 Cor. 15. 55 56 57. O death ââere is thy sting O grave where is thy victory ââe sting of death is sinne and the strength of ââe is the Law But thanks be unto God who ââeth us the victory through our Lord Jesus ââ¦rist c. So then by Christ a believer is ââed from the Law First from the curse Secondly from the condemning poweâ⦠Thirdly from sinne and Fourthly froâ⦠death Secondly let us a little consider as whââ we be delivered from so what we are rââ¦stored unto I shall not undertake to ãâã forth this in the heigth and breadth depââ and length but onely give a hint to it ãâã I have ability and time knowing that I aââ straitned in both Ye were servants you be now friends ãâã Christs Joh. 15. 15. And if that be too little ye are Sonnâ⦠and Daughters If that be too little are calls you his Bââthren and Sisters Heb. 2. 11. If that be too little he calls you hââ Chosen Spouse and Wife Rev. 21. 9. If that be too little he tells you that yoâ⦠be members of his own body 1 Cor. 12. 12 If that be too little he tells you that yoâ⦠be heirs with him Rom. 8. 17. If that be too little to expresse the abuââ¦dantnesse of his love to you he tells yoâ⦠That the glory which the Father gave to him ãâã hath given to you that you may be one as ãâã Father and he is one If that be too little he tells you Thaâ⦠you be joyned to the Lord you are one spirit 1 Coâ⦠6. 17. If this be too little he tells you indeed ââ¦hat all these things above-mentioned are âât a taste of what you shall shortly be Joh. 3. 12. Oh thou most noble overcomming Saint âârvant of the most High God heir of proââ¦ises and Son of Sion Consider what ââou art come from and now by Christ ââme to Heb. 12. 22 23 24. But ye are come ââto Mount Sion and to the City of the living ââ¦od the heavenly Jerusalem and unto an innuââ¦erable company of Angels to the general assemâây and Church of the first born which are writâân in heaven and to God the Judge of all and to ââe spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus ââe Mediator of the new covenant and to the ââ¦ood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then ââat of Abel Now manifestly and truly mayest thou ââ¦ay I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine ââe that toucheth me toucheth the apple of his ââye My Father is so tender of me that he ââ¦akes all the wrongs done to me as done ââ¦o himââ¦elfe he that persecutes me perseââ¦utes him Act. 9. 4. And he that hath pity ââ¦nd compassion on me the Lord takes it as ââ¦one to himself Matth. 25. 40. David said Who am I that I should be son in ââ¦aw to King Saul but I may say Who am I that I should be Son and heire yea coheiââ to the King of Kings I was a dry aââ barren tree fit for nothing but burning bââ I shall flourish like a tree planted by tââ rivers of water O how often did he call how earnestââ did he knock how powerfully did ãâã strive how long did he wait upon me bââ¦fore my stubborn heart would yeeld If ãâã had never loved me I had never loved hiâ⦠If he had never drawn me I had never rââ after him If he had never sought me ãâã had been straying in the wildernesse of inââ¦quity and feeding in the fields of vanity ãâã most are but now he hath avouched himself to be mine and I have avouched mâ⦠self to be his Hos 2. 19. I will betroth thee ãâã me So I became the Bride the Lambâ⦠wife First Christ comes and woes me 2 Coâ⦠5. 20. Secondly he gets my good will and became his 1 Joh. 12. Thirdly he makes my soul fruitfull Joh.
wiped from the eyes of his and ãâã there shall be no more sorrow nor paine ââereas thou and I have it may be neither ââtience to wait nor faith to beleeve our ãâã interest in these things There be foure characters of a servant of Christ that I lately received from a frienââ 1. What is highest in thy judgement 2. What is dearest in thy affections 3. What is strongest in thy will 4. What is the most constant thing thy resolution So much shall serve at present to written of the temptations of the worââ flesh and the devil and of the Armour Christ wherewith a Christian may defeââ himselfe and conquer his enemies and ãâã of the power natural and of the po ãâ¦ã spiritual which is our duty to improââ and all our remisnesse to be charged up our selves and not upon God and how serious consideration of this would be ãâã bar to stop that blasphemous princiâââ saying God is the author of sinne Of our in the first Adam and of our recovery by second Adam and how we may know thââ that are restored of Ordinances how tââ they be still in force Next I shall speââ of Faith and then a few words to the âânisters An Epistle to the world Anotâââ to those chosen out of the world Of ãâã deliverances of the Saints and of their ãâ¦ã ing too sudden in expecting deliverances A few words of Faith FAith is as it were the wings of the soule whereby the soule doth flye to heaven and bring downe it's eviâânce under hand and seale Heb. 11. 1. ãâã Now this grace of Faith is of singular ãâã to Christians it is that first and princiââ wheele that makes all the other wheeles ââmove But most men be mightily as I ââppose mistaken in the true definition of ââth Seeing then it is that whereby we live grace and it is that whereby we are ââried on to glory that we might not be ââstaken in that that is of such rare use to Give me leave to tell thee there is a Faith the History and a Faith of the Mystery ââre is a Legal Faith and a Faith of ââracles dead Faith and a temporary ââith c. There is an Evangelical Faith ââing the Faith of the Gospel Now men ãâã various in their thoughts of the true naââre of this Gospel Faith I know one man ãâã Mr. H. D. that saith that this is the faith the Gospel to believe that Jesus Christ is ãâã Son of God and another saith that this the true faith of the Gospel viz. Faith is a holy and humble perswasion ground upon the word of God and witnessed his holy Spirit In a word most men ãâã give too general a definition of Faith ãâã general definition of the history withââ a particular application of the mystâââ will stand the soule in little or no stead the time of necessity Therefore I humbââ conceive that the faith of the Gospel thââ we are commanded to contend for Jude is such a Faith viz. Faith is a gift of God begotten in ãâã creature by the powerful preaching of ãâã word whereby the understanding is ãâã lightned whereby he believeth to be ãâã whatsoever is revealed in the word ãâã cepting receiving and resting upon Chrââ alone for iustification sanctification wiââ a particular application of Christ and aââ his benefits unto his own soul I say Faith is a gift of God begottââ in the creature by the powerful preachinâ⦠of the word whereby the understanding enlightned so that he believeth to be trââ whatsoever is revealed in the word ãâã cepting receiving and resting upon Chriââ alone for justification sanctifieation wiââ a particular application of Christ and ãâã his benefits unto his own soul c. Now the life of all lyes in the particuââr application Psal 18. 2. The Lord is my ãâã and my fortresse and my deliverer my God strength in whom I will trust my Buckler and ãâã horne of my salvation and my high ââ¦ower ââal 118. 28. Thou art my God and I will praise ââe Thou art my God I will exalt thee Luke 46 47. And Mary said My soul doth magnifie ãâã Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my ââviour Joh. 20. 28. Thomas answered and ââd unto him My Lord and my God! In the ââxt verse Christ pronounceth him to be a ââiever Gal. 2. 20. The life that I now live ââive by the faith of the Son of God who loved me ââd gave himself for me Phil. 3. 8. For the excelââcie of the knowledge of Christ my Lord c. general declaration without a particuââr application will not assure the soule of ââlvation Is not faith the first stone in the ââiritual building and the first step in a ââ¦hristian race the first linke in our golden ââaine of Christianity the first act of our ââ¦ew life that first degree of our holy conââ¦ersation the first round in our Jacobs ladââr whereby we ascend up into the presence ââ¦f our Lord First there is in a true believer an assuââ¦ance of understanding Secondly there is an assurance of rejoyââ¦ing 1 Pet. 1. 8. Thirdly there is an assurance whiââ carrieth forth a soule to powerful aââ ings A Christian believeth that he who maââ man was made man himselfe he believe that no man hath seen God at any time anâ⦠yet he believeth that Moses talked with his face to face he believeth him to be borne ãâã time who was from everlasting and him be shut up in a narrow room whom heaveââ and earth could not containe Religion is a mystery in every part of ãâã Faith believeth strange things Hope w ãâ¦ã for the accomplishment of that which reââ¦son cannot comprehend and so for loââ and patience and all other graces there ãâã a great mystery in the actings of each ãâã these as to instance in one for all a littlâ⦠look upon faith and see what it believe concerning the Trinity and Election Justification and Sanctification and Repentance First concerning the Trinity He believes that the Father is not thââ Sonne and the Sonne is not the Spirit and yet the Father Sonne and Spirit are aââ but one He believes that God is Alpha and Omegâ⦠the beginning and the end and yet he beââ ââves that God had never a beginning and all never have an end He believes that the Father sent forth the âânne and that the Sonne sent forth the ââpirit and yet he believeth they were never ââparated the one from the other And concerning Election He believes that God is no respecter of ââersons and yet he believes that God elected ââme and left others when he found no ââfference And concerning Iustification He believeth that his qualifications doth ââ¦ot cause Gods love yet he would question ââ¦hether God loved him if he were not ââ¦ualified Hâ⦠works not for wages yet hath an eye ââ¦o the recompence of reward He believes that the most just God hath ââ¦unished the most innocent person and to ââ¦ave justified himself though a sinner he is often in
point the Arminians erre saying Election and Salvation in effect depend upon Qualification yea for want of the true knowledge of this point doth that error of Free-will and Generall Redemption so abound at this day In a word for want of the knowledge of this point do so many at this time in this Common-wealth make a hotch-potch in mingling and interweaving Law and Gospel in joyning their obedience with the obedience of Christ to patch up a salvation 2. Here is another cheat of Satan wherein he endeavours to cheat thee and me in the Doctrine of Christ The doctrine of Christ tels thee that Christ came to reconcile thee to God 2 Cor. 5. 23. When this point is held forth a little in creeps Antichrist and declares that Christ came also to reconcile God to thee and so endeavours to make the immutable God mutable or the unchangeable God changeable You might trace him in every branch of the Doctrine of Christ and find him either endeavouring to make thee to deny it or if he cannot prevail in that then he endeavours to make thee adde something to it or take something from it Wherefore put on the whole armour of God stand upon thy guard and watch Belieue not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God 2. Again as first he endeavours to cheat us in the doctrine of Christ so secondly he endeavours to cheat us in the discipline of Christ Now Discipline though it be not of absolute necessity as to the being of a Church of Christ yet it is absolutely necessary to the well-being of a Church for as a City without walls a Sea without banks a Vineyard without hedges so is a Church without discipline For a Church without government is as a ship without a Pilot or a Commonwealth without a Magistrate or a World without a Sun Hence it is that you shall find the Apostles so frequently exhorting perswading and intreating the Church of Jesus Christ to walk by rule to observe order The Pastor is commanded to walk as a Pastor and Teacher that both by his doctrine and conversation he might win others to Christ the Teachers Elders Deacons have all their rules laid before them how they ought to build up one another in their most holy faith and to watch over the flock c. And so every member in the Church in his place is to observe order in endeavouring to be usefull to the whole body Nay hence it is that one quarter part of the New Testament is spent about treating of the several gifts of the Spirit to several men to several ends viz. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists some Pastors and some Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry c. Now that Ordinances were the appointments of Christ I suppose that all rational men will easily grant And that they be now in being and ought to be in use will be easily proved The first is granted by all hands viz. That there were Ordinances appointments and institutions given forth by Christ unto the Churches in the Apostles dayes accompanied with Gods presence and confirmed ââ¦y miracles and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit But the question is whether these are still to continue are they now in being as to us Prove that For answer hereunto consider these things 1 ORdinances are not of humane but of divine institution 1 Cor. 1â⦠28. 2. Consider the Saints both in Old and New Testament under the greatest discoveries living in the greatest enjoyments even these waited upon God in the use of Ordinances and Paul saith Phil. 3. 17. Ye ought to walk so as you have us for an example and in another place he saith Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ c. 3. We have not only commands of God and the examples of the Apostles but wâ⦠have experience that God hath done uâ⦠good by them it is our Fathers walks iâ⦠which our soules do often meet with ouâ⦠Beloved 4. Consider the Lord of glory doth blame those that neglect making use of Ordinances Mal. 3. 7. Ye have gone away froâ⦠mine ordinances and have not kept them Is noâ⦠this the state of this Nation Luk. 19. 27 Those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring them before me Compare this 27 verse with the 13. and 14. anâ⦠you shal see that there were a people whoâ⦠Christ threatned to punish for not submitââ¦ing to his appointments nor improving their talents Not to wait upon God in the use of Ordinances is to be carelesse to ââ¦hearken to his voice and so the Lord may justly complain of thee and me as once he did Psal 81. 11. But my people would not hearkââ¦en to my voice c. 5. Consider while we are in a body we be in a form and therefore cannot altogether live without forms unlesse we will be monstââ¦rs and neglect our own mercies God hath given us an external body as well as an internal soul and will be waited upon worshipped and glorified by both 1 Cor. 6. 20. Glorifie God in your bodies and in your souls which are the Lords 6. Consider that these appointments institutions and ordinances when they were appointed and instituted were to continue in the Church till the Saints were perfected Ephes 4. 11 12 13. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ In which there be four things considerable I will but name them 1. Here is the giver and that is the Lord Christ the Fountain in whom all the fulnesse of the Godhead dwels bodily from whom we receivâ⦠grace for grace 2. Here is the gift and that is his Spirit in its measures according to the measure of the gift of Christ 3. Here is the end why God gave such gifts v. 12. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministery c. 4. Here is the time how long these institutions offices and ordinances are to continue and that is in v. 13. Till we all come iâ⦠the unity of the faith into the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measureâ⦠of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Now if there be any Church of Christ oâ⦠Congregation oâ⦠Saints that be compleatly come up to this state spoken unto in that verse why then all that I would say to them is Cast not a stumbling block in thy brothers way speak not so disdainfully of those paths which thouâ⦠thy self hast gone through must not thy brother that is weak eat milk because thou dost eat strong meat must not he speak as
a child because thoâ⦠dost speak as a man must he see by thy eyes oâ⦠else wilt thou say he doth not see at all Thoâ⦠that dost think thou standest take heed lest thou dost fall Think not of thy self above what thou art Ro. 12. 3. Remember thy sister-Church Rev. 3. 17. Because thou sayest I am rich and increased with heavenly enjoyments gracious discoveries and unspeakable manifestations and art perfect and compleat and come to the fulnesse of Christ and hast need of nothing neither Ordinance or Administration helps nor governments Dost thou think thus of thy selfe why so did that Church of Laodiceans Rev. 3. 17. which was the most barren and unfruitful of all the seven Churches of Asia Reason thus with thy self Was that Church so exceedingly deceived then why not I 7. Consider that in the last age of the Church and in the most glorious times of that age when both Jewes and Gentiles shall have one Shepheard and one sheepfold when knowledge shall cover the earth as the waters the sea when the Law shall be written in our hearts and Babylon fallen and the mountain of the Lords house established upon the top of the mountaines Even in these most glorious dayes of light and knowledge freedome and liberty shall the Saints wait upon God in the use of Ordinances and call one upon another so to do Isa 2. 2. 3. Mic. 4. 1 2. Again if there shall be Ordinances in thâ⦠most glorious times that are to come wheâ⦠there shall be a full pouring out of the Spââ¦rit of God upon the children of men theâ⦠certainly they are to remain now And you look upon the last of Isa Jer 3. Zac. 1â⦠or upon other Scriptures where mentioâ⦠is made of the most glorious times that anâ⦠yet to come ye shall find that there is meââ¦tion also made of Ordinances in thoâ⦠times Let us look into Rev. 11. 15. Tââ seventh Angel sounded and there were greââ voices in Heaven saying The kingdomes of thâ⦠world are become the kingdomes of our Lord anâ⦠of his Christs and he shall reign for ever and eveâ⦠Here are plainly the glorious times spokeâ⦠of that are yet to come Well shall there bâ⦠any Ordinances then Yes for v. 19. Anâ⦠the temple of the Lord was opened in heaven anâ⦠there was seen in his ââ¦emple the Ark of his Testââ¦ment What is this but Ordinances Thâ⦠Ark the visible signe of the presence of Goâ⦠in way of Ordinances and the Temple opened though it was shut before 8. Consider if the ministration of thâ⦠Gospel be still to continue then surelâ⦠the Ordinances of Christ are still to abidâ⦠2 Cor. 3. 11. For if that which is done away wâ⦠glorious much more that which remains is gloriouâ⦠The Apostle here makes this difference be ãâã ââ¦he ministration of the Gospel and ãâã ââ¦he Law that the one is to be done ãâ¦ã d the other to remain Now if the ãâã were not to continue what ãâ¦ã rence would there be as concerning ââ¦his matter between the ministration of Moses and the ministration of the Gospel ââ¦ut the Apo ãâ¦ã here plainly speaks that ââ¦his is the ââerence The ministration of ââ¦he one is to be done away the ministration ââ¦f the other doth still continue Therefore ââ¦he Ordinances of the Gospel doe still reââ¦naine 9. Consider if that the word of the new ââ¦estament as commanding to believe and ââ¦romising to give the Spirit I say if this Word do continue then the Ordinances of Christ are still to continue if the Ordinances of Christ be not still to continue ââ¦hen the Word of the New Testament as ââ¦he commandment of believing and the promise of giving the Spirit doe not continue There is the same reason for the one ââ¦s for the other You say you are bound to believe How prove you that Why Christ hath commanded me say you But ãâã answer you with your own answer You ââ¦ue to wait upon God in the use of Ordinances How prove you that I answââ Christ hath commanded you If Sathan ãâã get us to lay down but one Ordinance ãâã the Gospel he will never leave tugging an pulling till he hath brought us out of loââ with all Ordinances and then he wââ teach us to deny the Scriptures and then ãâã deny God and last of all we shall be denieâ⦠of God and so fitted for destruction The Commonwealth of England doth ãâã bound of two sorts of men and women and both in extremes The first will have no Ordinances at alâ⦠The second doe rest upon Ordinanceâ⦠or idolize them The first will have no Ordinances at alâ⦠call the Ordinances of Christ dead form beggerly and those that wait upon God in them Legalists Heaven-drivers Formalists and Duty-mongers And foâ⦠themselves they are taught of God we have nâ⦠need of the teachings of men we be rich and fâ⦠and want nothing not knowing they be pooâ⦠blind miserable and naked Secondly there be another party that dâ⦠rest upon Ordinances and they be not a fewâ⦠you shall know them by their fruits Dâ⦠not you hear them crying and pleading iâ⦠City and Country Give us Ordinances or eââ ãâã die And this they plead for unto and ââ¦ongst a Congregation of people which ãâã not capable of it but for one Ordinance ââd that is to stand under the droppings of the ââspel and the powerful preachings thereof the ââeanes appointed by Christ to work faith ãâã their soules Rom. 10. 17. For untill this ââ¦ord doth come to them in power they ãâã not fitted for Fellowships and Commuââ¦ons they must see their union with God ââfore they can have true communion with ââs people The Ordinances or at least ââ¦any of them be Childrens bread and must âât be given to Swine Those Ordinances ââat be ordained for Conversion and Reââneration are to be held forth to all to the ââd as many as be ordained to eternal life may ââlieve All other Ordinances belong to ââ¦hildren and they have right to them as ââible members of that body whereof Christ ââthe head He who was the Son of God came the Son of man that we who be the these things were well considered meââinks it should abate the practice both of ââinister and People in City and Country ââho for many of them yet being in the ââd man and having spent their dayes in the ââvice of Sathan yet forsooth they would known by the name of Christians or least Apostle-imitators though they cannââ bu know they want the power yet thââ will cry up the form of godlinesse Now wheâ⦠the Ministers of our times or at least soâ⦠of them have gathered a parcel of thâ⦠Rabble-rout together I do not stile thâ⦠so because they be the poorest no no sâ⦠they be such a people as David speaks ãâã they flourish as the green bay-tree their eyes stââ out with fatnesse they go cloathed in the choice array and be the most honorable men in thâ⦠Parish and they want
any measure ãâã I have said before that all our springs aââ in him and all our supplies are from hiâ⦠and that all power centers in him as tââ Fountain from whence all small streams ãâã power do flow I have affirmed furtheâ⦠that as this power was given freely to ãâã from him so it is limited in us by him aââ when the creature hath improved his poââ¦er to the highest he hath done but his dutâ⦠Luk. 17. 10. Our salvation is of Free-grace notwitââ¦standing I have not said that our imprââ¦ving or not improving our power cââ save us or damn us But this I have affirââ¦ed and do affirm that by our non-improvââ¦ment it will exceedingly harm us for ãâã shall lose much of our outward and peââ¦haps inward joy and comfort both in ãâã and death I do not say our eternal weââ being doth depend upon it All our sal ãâ¦ã ion is of Free-grace from God through ãâã redemption of the Son and evidence of Spirit 1. So that our obedience is not the cause ãâã our salvation for Gods love was the ãâ¦ã fe Joh. 3. For God so loved the world c. 2. Our obedience and good works is ãâ¦ã t the way for Christ is the way the truth ãâã the life 3. Our improvement of our power in ãâ¦ã y of good works is not the evidence as ãâ¦ã our selves for that is the work of the ãâ¦ã irit of God in us 4. But our good works do glorifie God ãâ¦ã d inform and edifie our neighbours First they glorifie God Mat. 5. 16. Secondly it doth inform our neighbour ãâã he cannot judge of us but by our fruits ãâã shall know a tree by its fruits saith Christ Thirdly it doth edifie our neighbour ââen every step of our conversation is an âââtruction to him and the Apostle saith âât some are won to God by the good ââ¦nversation of others 2. And as for Free-will in man I know ââ¦ne unlesse it be such a Free-will as was ãâã Paul Rom. 7. 18. For to will is present with ãâã and ver 13. When I would do good evil is present with me I know no Free-will thââ unlesse it be a free-will to sin A man naâârally cannot act in things supernaturâ⦠as to instance a man cannot believe unlââ the Spirit of God work faith in the souâ⦠and yet a man according to common pââvidence may bring his body to the Oâânance of Hearing which is the means orâânarily by which the Lord doth work faiâ⦠Rom. 10. 17. But he the Lord God ãâã mighty is the Author and finisher of Heb. 12. 2. And he makes us willing aâ⦠desirous to have it wrought in us so tââ he doth not work it whether we will no. So the Holy Ghost that works faiââ is not said to believe Man is said to ââlieve Now though man cannot believe of hiâ⦠self without the power of the Lord ãâã man is to attend upon all means as heariââ reading meditation conference for thâ⦠be his appointments and he hath promiââ his presence in and blessing upon the usââ these means to make them effectual Hâââ it is that the Lord commands us to wait him in the use of means Prov. 20. 22. ãâã wait on the Lord and he shall save thee Isa ãâã Blessed be all they that wait for him Isa ãâã 31. ãâ¦ã y that wait upon the Lord shall renew their ãâ¦ã gth Isa 49. 23. For they shall not be asha ãâ¦ã that wait for me Lam. 3 25. The Lord is ãâã unto them that wait for him to the soule ãâã seeks him Isa 64. 4. Eye hath not seen ãâã hath not heard what the Lord hath prepared ââ¦hose that wait for him Now a man cannot be said to wait upon ââd unlesse he wait upon him in the use of ââans to which he hath promised his preââce which are his appointments and ââlks wherein he hath been now is and ãâ¦ã eafter will be found Next I shall come unto the Reasons why ââ¦ave written of the Natural and Spiritual ââwer viz. First I have heard many say They ought ãâ¦ã to pray read meditate conferre or assemble âââmselves together to the practice of any known ãâ¦ã y untill the Spirit by its fresh gales and moveââ¦s put them upon it And I am mightily miâââken if some have not staid so long for ãâ¦ã se fresh gales and movings of the Spirit ââ¦till they have quite forgotten to pray or ââ¦ar or conferr of any spiritual thing unâââse it be in a carnal way Now it is true ââat is the principal time in which a Soule ââght to act but not the onely time I say ââain It is the principal time but not the onely time First that it is the princ ãâ¦ã time I have no need to prove for all ãâ¦ã tional men will and doe grant that ãâã then secondly It is not the onely ti ãâ¦ã for we finde that the command lies up ãâ¦ã us as well at one time as another ne ãâ¦ã there is no time in which we are not ãâã want and therefore need still to seek ââ¦gain we finde in Scripture written for ãâã learning that the Saints acted sometimes ãâã their greatest deadnesse and coldnesse as Dââ¦vid and others When they found theââ¦selves dead and dull cold and slothfull ãâã we finde they stir up them selves as men sââsible of their state to instance in one ãâã all Psal 119. 25. Quicken thou me after ãâã loving kindenesse so shall I keep the testimony thy mouth c. Again Psal 119. 170. I ãâã afflicted very much quicken me O Lord accordiââ to thy word So vers 159 c. so in Psalâ⦠153. verse 11. Quicken me O Lord for tââ name sake so in another place he prayeââ Renew a right Spirit within me and agaiâ⦠Restore again to me the joy of thy salvation In word let me ask thee O man who is it thaâ⦠doth let us see our unfitnesse luke warmneâ⦠and coldnesse Doth not God discover thiâ⦠by his Spirit and doth not the same Spââ¦rit that doth enable us to see our wantâ⦠move us to seek for supplies from the founââin as it is said in Job The Lord speaketh ââce yea twice and man perceives it not So I ââow by experience in my self and others ââat we have many movings and stirrings ãâã the Spirit of God within us and either ââe take no notice of it or if we do we queââion in our selves whether it be the stirâângs of the good Spirit or proceeds not ââ¦om the evil Spirit And so we cease to âât because we be unsatisfied But in some ââses the Spirit that doth move us to it ââ¦ill undoubtedly carry us forth to the doââg of what it moves us to What are we ââith the Scriptures that we could withstand ââe Spirit But in other cases we are said as in the ââ¦cts to resist the Holy Ghost and in another ââ¦cripture Quench not the Spirit and be not unââitfull to the Spirit of God and grieve not the ââ¦pirit of God whereby you are sealed to
the day ãâã Redemption It will be of singular use ââ¦hen to Christians to endeavour to disââ¦ern between the motions of the Spirit of God from the motions of our own spirits ââ¦hat when we finde a motion begin to arise ââ¦n us before it come to action we may ââ¦ither suppresse it or cherish it if it come ââ¦rom our own spirits then to quench it and bring it into captivity to the obedienââ of Christ If from the Spirit of God thââ let the motion arise let thy will will tââ thing let thine affections affect it that ãâã that motion may end in action Object But how shall I know when tââ motion doth arise from the Spirit of Goâ⦠and not from mine own spirit Answ 1. The motions of the Lords Spââ¦rit doth move thee to that and onely thaâ⦠which is agreeable to the spiritual sense ãâã the Scriptures 2. The true Spirit doth move us to thaâ⦠which doth tend to the denying of oââselves and the exalting of God alone in thâ⦠person of Jesus Christ See Joh. 16. 13 14. 3. The motions of Gods Spirit are noâ⦠carried on but with abundance of opposââ¦tion opposition within you and withoââ you on the right hand and on the left 4. When two motions arise within yoââ together as it were and both seem to be aââ¦cording to the Scripture and both seem tââ exalt God and to deny self then befoââ thou prosecute either consider as in thâ⦠presence of God whose servant thou arâ⦠which of these things that I am moved untâ⦠will be most for the honour of God theâ⦠that doe If the Mistresse command the Seââ¦vant to clean such a room immediately and ãâã to touch any thing till that be done ãâ¦ã iles the Maid is in the midst of her ãâ¦ã rk the childe falls in the fire the servant ãâ¦ã ves the work and runs and takes up the ãâ¦ã lde and is commended of her Mistresse ãâã so doing So that which doth make ãâ¦ã st for the glory of God and for our spi ãâ¦ã ual advantage is first to to be done and ãâ¦ã th undoubtedly proceed from the Spirit ãâã God I might instance in many other ãâ¦ã ticulars as to examine the rise of the ãâ¦ã tion next the prosecution and thirdly ãâã ends but I forbear So then the first ãâ¦ã son why I have endeavoured to prove ãâ¦ã re is a power natural and a power spi ãâ¦ã ual is that we might so know it as to ãâ¦ã ploy it to the best advantage A second reason is to prevent as much ãâ¦ã n me lyeth the further spreading of ãâ¦ã se grosse and dangerous errours that ãâ¦ã l follow if there be not a power in the ãâ¦ã ature which he hath received from the ãâ¦ã eator either in his Creation or Rege ãâ¦ã ation to prevent those evils First if there be not a power in men ãâ¦ã ther natural or spiritual but onely ãâ¦ã d in them then all the creatures abuse ãâã nature laid to the creatures charge in the first and second Chapters of the Rom ãâ¦ã must be taken off the creature and laid ãâã on God Secondly if there be no spiritual po ãâ¦ã in a man spiritualized then it is no sin ãâã him to neglect all spiritual duties and he may charge all his omissions and all ãâã commissions upon his Maker For he woâââ have done whatsoever he had been cââmanded if he had received any power Y ãâ¦ã might have been teachers of others by ãâã time if you had improved your powââ saith Paul Heb. 5. 12. This people did not answere the Loâ⦠and say they had no powere and so for thâ⦠commissions they did not charge them ãâã on God as our Ranters do at this day aââ that they be liars St. James will testiââ 1 James 13. 14 15 16. in the 13. vers ãâã no man say when he is tempted he is tempteâ⦠God for God cannot be tempted with evil nei ãâ¦ã tempteth he any man v. 14. But euery maâ⦠tempted when he is drawn away of his own ãâã and inticed v. 15. Then when lust hath conceiââ it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finiââ bringeth forth death v. v. 16. Do not erre my ãâã ved b ethren Whosoever then doth cha ãâ¦ã the most ighteous God with our unriââteous actions doth erre in the highest ãâã ture I have admired at the subtilty of Sathan ââ¦nd the simplenesse of men to say That ââ¦od is the authour of sin these be liars ââke their father the Devil who was a liar ââom the beginning Let me tell thee O ââin man let me tell thee That the Alââ¦ighty God cannot commit sinne if he ââould for if thou didst know what God is ââd what man is if thou didst know what is ââe nature of God and what is the nature ãâã sin thou wouldest know that they canâât dwell together Now sin is a transgression of a Law but ââ¦od is under no Law and therefore cannot âânsgresse there is none above God to give ââ¦ule to him by which he should walk ââerefore his own will in his rule he is ââ¦odnesse it self and therefore cannot do âây thing but what is good So that which is justly called sin in us âânnot be called sin in him if he should do ãâã same thing viz. If thou kill a man ââou hast sinned against the Law of God ââd the Law of Nature and against the ââws of men if God overthrow Pharoah ââd all his host in the Red-sea he hath done ââ¦evil he hath broken no Law if he send the ââ¦tilence and slay every man in the City hath not sinned if he drown all the world at once he hath committed ãâã evill If thou or I should take any thing that another mans from a thread to a shooâ⦠latchet we have sinned by thest But if the Lord command the Israââ¦liââ to borrow Jewels of silver and of golâ⦠and rayment of the Aegyptians the Loââ hath not sinned in bidding them do it nââ they in taking it Wherefore let God be true ãâã every man a liar Canst not thou be contentââ to father thy sin upon thy brother or sisteâ⦠or neighbour as thou doest many times bâ⦠must thou father it upon the most hoââ Lord doest thou know what thou dost ãâã in this thing will he not be avenged ãâã such a wretch as thee Oh remember frââ whence thou art fallen and repent And now to wind up all that I shal at prââ¦sent say to the Power of the Creator giuen foââ to the creature Let me tell thee if thou findâ⦠any thing required of thee to be done hââ no ability to do it consider there was abââ¦lity once given thee in the first Adam whiââ thou hast lost by thy fall in him and itâ⦠just with God to require that now of thâ⦠which once he gave thee then consider tââ as thou hast lost by the first Adam so thâ⦠hast gotten by the second Adam so thâ⦠ãâã enabling thee thou canst with Paul ãâã all things ãâ¦ã nd that
Thus much of the nature of the Fall noâ⦠of the manner of the Fall and of the subtilââ of the Devil that old Serpent thereiâ⦠He himself being fallen comes to the Gaââ¦den in the form of a Serpent out of envâ⦠to mans happinesse he boards the womaâ⦠thus Hath God said Ye shall not eat thereof as if he should have said It is a likely maââ¦ter that the Lord cares what you eat whaâ⦠do you think that he stands upon an appleâ⦠hath he created all things for you then dâ⦠ye use them This is the first assault whicâ⦠ãâã woman weakly resisteth beginning at ãâã first to yeeld whereas God had said ââou shalt dye she answereth doubtfully and ââth Lest I dye Then the Devil perceiving ââe woman to stagger and the ground of ãâã faith to shake plants all his peeces and ââepares his Army for a storm for his name ââegion and he had beleagured the woâân before So the word was no sooner âât of her mouth Lest ye dye but he reââes Ye shall not dye at all What dye with ââing so fair an Apple Can there be any âârt in it O filly woman Ye shall not dye ââall God he affirmeth Ye shall dye certainly The woman saith Lest ye dye The Devil that old Liar saith Ye shall ãâã dye Then not giving the woman any respite ãâã be think her self or to reply Oh saith he ââod knoweth that your eyes shall be opeââd and you shall be as gods as if he should ãâ¦ã e said God envies your happinesse and ââ¦ove you so well that I cannot but tell ââu of it for he knows very well that if ââu should but eat of that Tree you should ââe that which you never faw before and ââat you shall be as gods Oh impudent ââar for by cating both Adam and all we his posterity became more like unto Sathâ⦠then like unto God Behold O filly wâ⦠man saith he what a goodly Tree this how pleasant to the eye dââ¦licate to tâ⦠taste divine for use can it do you aâ⦠hurt would any but fools abstain go ãâã eat and fear not I will warrant you ãâã harm Then the woman seeing it was goâ⦠for meat pleasant to the eyes and a T ãâ¦ã to be desired after to get knowledge ãâã took of it and did eat and by these or ãâã like reasons perswaded her husband aâ⦠gave him and he did eat O all ye sonnâ⦠and daughters of Adam put on all the Aââmour of God If it be possible stand upââ your guard Set forth your Sentinels Maâ⦠ready for an Enemy which hath slain yoâ⦠Father deceived your Mother cheated aââ almost undone all your Brethren defilâ⦠your Sisters wounded your Childreâ⦠and plundred all your Kindred to the skââ and left them all as poor as Job never be peace with him maintain a continual wâ⦠against him acquaint all the men aââ women in the world of his base deceitââ cheating tricks that his ill savour mââ stinke in the nostrils of all men and womeâ⦠under the Sun that they may loath hiâ⦠and stand upon their guard to oppose hiâ⦠though his name be Legion fear him not ââis a conquered Enemy If he meet but ââe poor Saint in the field cloathed with âât a little faith as a grain of mustard-seed ââs poor Saint will challenge all the devils ââ¦hell to give him a meeting and if they âârst to appear he will but resist them with ââ¦ittle faith James 4. 7. Resist the devil and will flie from you For he is a base cowardly beggerly Eneââ¦y he is subtle but there is one that takes ââ¦re of thee is wiser then he he is ancient ââd experiences but thy friend is more anââânt then he he is a Prince but thy friend ãâã King of Kings he is swift of motion ãâã can fly in the air but thy friend hath the ââ¦avens for his Throne and the earth for his ââ¦otstool filling heaven and earth with his ââessed presence though his presence is not ââ¦anifested to all yet he is present in all plaââs at all times beholding all actions Oh ââen keep the word of his patience that he ââ¦ay keep thee in the hour of temptation ââld fast the word of God for with that ââ¦hrist put Sathan to the worst Matth. 4 1 2 ãâã 4 5 6 7 8. Next stand upon thy guard at all times ãâã all places in all companies in all duties ââeep up faith for thou and I fell in the first Adam through unbelief and we be raiâ⦠again in the ââ¦econd by faith so the Dââ is foiled he thought to conquer us whoââ by unbelief but we shall overcome him faith Wherefore above all things take the shiââ of faith whereby ye shall be able to quench all ãâã fiery darts of the Devil Eph. 6. 16. Jam. 4 NOW I shall speak to our Restauratiââ by the second Adam and of the gloââous state of all those that are appointed the Father to be restored by the Son aâ⦠sanctified by the Spirit If I had the tongue of men and Angels aâ⦠understood all mysteries I could not give thââ a full and compleat description in each paââ¦ticular of the happy and blessed state of tââ Elect by the Father that are redeemed ãâã the Son and are or shall be sanctified by tââ Spirit They were servants but now they ãâã Sons and Heirs they shall be shortly inh ãâ¦ã ritors and enjoyers they once knew noâ⦠thing they do now know in part they shall shorââ know as they are known They were dead in sinne they now aââ quickned from sinne they are or shall bââ quite freed from sinne They were naked they be now cloathe with the robe of Innocencie and they shall ãâã cloathed with Immortality They were enemies they be now reconââ¦led and shall be saved They once with Adam hid from the preâânce of God they now take delight in his âârefence and shortly they shall abide in it ââr ever They were Sathans slaves they now are ââe Lords Freemen and shall dwel in Sion ââey were like a beast they be now like a ââ¦rince they shall shortly be like the Anââ¦els They did glory in their shame they now ââe ashamed of their sinne they shall shortly ââe with out and shame They were like the dirt and mire most ââthy they be now like the Moon in her ââ¦eauty and shall shortly be like the Sun in ââ¦is glory Oh the depths of the riches boath of ââe wisdome and knowledge of God! Oh how unââ¦archable are his judgements and wayes past âââding out What is man that thou art mindful of him or ââe son of man that thou shouldest regard him As in the first Adam we dyed so in the second ââe are made alive In the first we lost an earthly Paradise ââ¦y the second we have gotten a heavenly Paradise This is that seed of the womaâ⦠spoken of by the Father to our first Parentâ⦠that should bruise the Serpents head This is he that is called The repairer ãâã the
breach and the restorer of paths to dwell in So that what we lost in the first we havâ⦠made good to us by the second Adam wiââ many additions as in Rom. 5. Much morâ⦠Much more Much more five times in thââ Chapter is that word viz. in the 9 10 1â⦠17 20 verses which is there laid down ãâã declare that our gains by Christ is moââ then our losses by our first Father thougââ that was very great The first Adam brought us under tââ breach of the Law and the curse due therâ⦠unto the second Adam being the Lord Jââ¦sus Christ the Lord of glory and King ãâã Saints hath delivered us from the Laâ⦠viz. First from the curse of the Law Secondly from the condemning powââ of the Law First from the curse of the Law For ãâã was made a curse for us as you may see ãâã large Gal. 3. 10. 13. v. compared togetheâ⦠So also upon him was laid the iniquities of us aâ⦠Isa 53. 6. and not onely our sinnes but aâ⦠the punishments due to us for them of whâ⦠nature kind and quality soever as you ãâ¦ã y read at large in that fifty third Chapter ãâã Isaiah from the first verse to the last ãâã that whole Chapter Rom. 6. speaks of ãâã sufferings for us and our freedome by ãâã It would make a larger Volume then âântend to make of this whole Book if I ââuld but onely name the Chapters and ãâ¦ã ses in the Old and New Testament that ãâã speak to this thing So I shall end this ãâã point with the words of Paââ He was ãâ¦ã de sinne for us that knew no sin ãâ¦ã that we ãâ¦ã ht be made the righteousnesse of God in ãâã Secondly he hath freed us from the conââning power of the Law to which the ââiptures speak abundantly I will menââân but one or two for all Rom. 8. 34. Who ââe that condemneth it is Christ that dyed c. ãâ¦ã o shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods ââ¦ct it is God that justifieth Rom. 8. 1. There is condemnation to them that are in Christ and you desire to know who they are thââ¦y ãâã those that walk not after the flesh but after ãâã Spirit Nay in a sense being warily underââod we are delivered from the moral Law Christ Jesus the second Adam There is the Ceremonial Law and the ââitical Law the Judicial Law and the Moral Law that we are delivered from ãâã two former most of us do know a ãâ¦ã that in a sense being warily understood ãâã are delivered from the two latter very ãâã do know If the Scriptures do say we be not unâââ the Law why is it thought such an iâ⦠proper word for a Christian to say too A Dialogue between the Law and thâ⦠Gospel Or between a Believer and the Law Law THe Law saith If thou wilt ãâã these things thou shalt live ãâã them Lev. 18. 5. Gospel Not he that doth this but ãâã that believeth in me shall live Joh. 11. 26. Law A man is justified by works aâ⦠that I will prove Jam. 2. 21. 24. Gospel A man is justified by faith wiââ out the works of the Law Gal. 2. 19. Rom. 4. 5. Law If thou wilt not do these thingâ⦠require of thee I will curse thee and there ââ¦ave thee Gal. 3. 10. Believer But Christ was made a curse for ââe and so freed me from thee Gal. 3. 13. Law Thou hast committed such and ââch sinnes but not brought a sacrifice for ââem Believ Oh but take notice of that Scripââre Matth. 9. 13. I will have mercy and not ââ¦crifice Law But thou hast gone beyond the ââunds of mercy for thou hast committed ââch sinnes which God will not accept saââifice for Believ But what sinnes are those that ââere is no sacrifice to be accepted for Law First there is no sacrifice that will ãâã accepted for presumptuousnesse Num. ãâã 30. 2. No sacrifice to be accepted for negleââng Circumcision Gen. 17. 14. 3. No sacrifice for breach of the Sabbath âây Exod. 31. 15. Believ Oh but my faith layes hold on ââe that promised to cleanse me from all âây sinnes saith the believing soul 1 Joh. ãâã So O Law I have nothing to do with ââe in all these things Law But thou shalt know that I will have to do with thee for I am thy Schooâ⦠master Gal. 3. 24. And Christ himself saitâ⦠Matth. 5. 17. He came not to destroy me aââ Paul saith He doth not make void bâ⦠establish me Rom. 3. last vers Belieu It 's true thou wast a Schooâ⦠master and in some sense thou art so stilâ⦠but he that is come to Christ Is not undââ a Schoolmaster Gal. 3. 25. And the Loââ Christ came to fulfill thee Matth. 5. 17. aââ if fulfilled by him what dost thou requiââ of me and whereas Paul saith He doââ establish thee that iâ⦠in thy place and rooâ⦠and so the Law is good if a man use it laâ⦠fully 1 Tim. 1. 8. Law But saith the Law Dost thou maââ no account of me Dost thou not know iâ⦠deed that thoâ⦠act under me Believ I am not under thee the Loââ tells me so by the mouth of Paul Rom. 10. Christ is the end of the Law to all that believâ⦠Again Paul tells me from the Lord Roâ⦠7. 6. Thou art dead and I finde it writtââ in 2 Cor. 3. from the 11. vers to the ãâã four times in that one Chapter Thou aâ⦠done away Law Dost thou think saith the Law I were at an end or dead that Ministers aââ Preachers would preach me up in almoââ every Pulpit as they do and set me up as a ââle to the people yea and most of the ââople of this Nation do stand for me ââough they do not obey me Believ O Law see the Lord speaking by ââl and answering this question for me Tim. 1. 7. There be many that do teach the ââw understanding neither what they say nor ââat they affirm And further I finde in ââripture these things of thee viz. Thou art weak Rom. 8. 3. Thou art unââofitable Heb. 7. 18 19. compared togeââer Thou art dead Rom. 7. 6. Thou art ââne away 2 Cor. 3. 11. Law I pray answer to these ensuing ââ¦ueries saith the Law if not let me ââll thee Thou shalt know that thou art ââ¦nder me First what shall convince thee of sin if I ââall not Secondly what shall work sorrow for âân if not my Threats and Judgements Thirdly what shall cause thee to forsake âân if I shall not Believ First the Spirit shall convince ââe of sin Joh. 16. 8. Secondly the looking upon Christ ââ¦hom I have pierced or if you will Christ ââ¦ooking upon me after my sin as he did upon Peter will cause me to weep and rââ¦pent Rom. 2. 4. The goodnesse of Goâ⦠leads to repentance Thirdly the sweet love of God is noâ⦠become my Schoolmaster to lead me intâ⦠the paths of all righteousnesse Tit. ãâã 11. 12.
is the most acceptable work with God See Joh. ãâã 29. and the first Epistle of John chap. 3. ââ¦er 23. 2. This is the way to become fruitful our conversation What is the reason the is such barrennesse among men and womââ professing godlinesse why the reason ãâã there is little fruit because there is so littââ saith Joh. 15. 5. Ye are not planted in ãâã house by faith therefore ye do not flourââ in his courts You want faith hence it ãâã that you have no works Thou hast a ãâã body but a lean soul Thy soul withoââ faith is like a Dove without wings ãâã cannot fly to the storehouse for meat theââfore must needs be lean 3. By this thou shalt be able to over come all the fiery darts of the World Flesh and Devil First it overcomes the world Joh. ep ãâã 5 4. Secondly it overcomes all the Devil 1 Peââ 5. 8 9. Jam. 4. 7. Thirdly it overcomes all the fiery dart of the wicked Ephes 6. 16. 4. Again this is the way to be established Isa 7. 9. What is the reason that men are carried about with every wind of doctrine Why they do not believe and so they are noâ⦠established Oh then be ye stedfast unmoveable rooted and grounded upon the rock ââ¦hrist and so sicklenesse and instability will ãâã done away 5. Faith will reach forth her arm as far heaven and fetch in to thy soule things ââat are absent and make them present ââ¦eh 11. 1. 13. 6. This is the way by believing to ââtain that joy that unspeakable joy ãâã Pet. 1. 8. What is the matter that Christians do ãâã hang down their heads under a spirit of ââ¦ondage Why they have but little or no ââ¦ith the more faith the more joy 1 Pet. ãâã 8. 7. This is the way to have our hearts ââurified from that map of misery or storeââ¦ouse of filthinesse Act. 15. 9. 8. This is the way namely to believe ãâã overcome that unprofitablenesse that is ãâã thee and me How many a Chapter hast ââ¦hou read and learned nothing from it ââ¦ow many a Sermon hast thou heard and ââ¦earned nothing What is the reason why ââ¦hou hast no faith Heb. 4. 2. 9. And again this is the way to obtain ââ¦hat spiritual strength to doe the will of God although it be against our own wils Faith will endeavour to please God alââ¦hough we displease our selves and others See what a peece of self-denial Faith haâ⦠wrought in Abraham who followed ãâã command of God in whatsoever he rââ¦quired as in his departing out of his oâââ country and there trusted upon Gods baââ word notwithstanding all improbabilitiââ in nature he was willing to depart witââ the most dear thing for God as in offerinâ⦠up his only son and gave God his owâ⦠time for the accomplishment of his owâ⦠promises To adde no more 1. Consider that whatsoever you ãâã without it it is sinne Rom. 14. 23. 2. We cannot please God in any thing without it Heb. 11. 6. 3. We cannot pray without it as ãâã ought Mar. 11. 24. Iam. 1. 6. 4. We cannot be saved without it Mââ 16. 16. Ephes 2. 8. When a soul begins to consider the greaââ necessity he hath of it and the willingnesââ of Christ to work it these two wings wiââ carry thee to the treasury of faith Whaâ⦠nccessity thou hast of it is laid before anâ⦠as concerning the willingnesse of Christ ãâã have thee believe I might instance in all thââ it more almost speaking something ãâã it more or lesse Let me instance in one foââ all Joh. 14. 1. 11. 12 13 verses In thâ⦠ãâã verse Believe in me and in the 11. verse ââieve in me for the very works sake Then that ââs precept might not be slieghted he ââmes in with both his hands full of proââ¦ses verse 12. He that believeth in me the ââks that I do shall he do and greater and then ââ¦he 13. verse Whatsoever you shall aske in name that will I do for you As if he had ââd O ye sonnes of men I do but require ãâã thing of you and that is for your ââ¦n good too That you would believe in me ãâã is the one thing that I desire of you ãâã if you will do but this one thing for ãâã I will doe two things for you ãâã You shall doe the works that I doe and grea ãâ¦ã Joh. 14. 12. ãâã You shall but aske and have what in ââon you desire Joh. 14. 13. ãâã had thought to have written many ââgs more concerning Faith But for ââe reasons I forbear A word to the Ministery or a few words to thââ that have taken to themselves the name of the Ministery of England BEloved it may be thought strange you that a man so mean as my ãâã should so presume as to speake a word you or to thinke that you should vouchââ to spend so much time as to hear or ãâã what my thoughts are of you But O yââ learned Clergy I will cast my selfe dowâ⦠at your feet and earnestly beseech you give me audience for one quarter of houre for my heart doth burne within ãâã and though I have been silent this maâ⦠months yet now the words will burst oâ⦠and let me indeed prevaile with you ãâã your attention a little for I will assââ you I have rode on horse-back and runââ foot many miles yea and many times heare a few words from you yea many storme and shower heat and cold havâ⦠gone through to learne something of ãâã from you and I doe not repent of it ãâã should doe it if it were to be done agaiâ⦠wherefore let me intreat your patience little if it be but to give you a briefe count of what I have heard and learnââ ââm you And although mine eyes have ãâã been enlightned at the two fountains ãâã trust that they have been anointed ââth a little clay for I see men like trees ââking If I do faulter a little in my speech ââ¦re with me for I doe want the Hebrew ãâã Greek tongue which is so excellent âât a man would part with any thing ãâã it unlesse grace but I would not give the ââst graine of grace if I had any to spare âânot the third part of a graine for all ãâã tongues arts and parts under the ââmne The first would that I would whisper in ââur eare is this by way of Query conââ¦ning these times My brethren if I may ââso bold to call you so let me aske you ââtly Have you not seene nor heard of ââ¦ose great and wonderful deliverances ââth in England Scotland and Ireland or if âââu have heard of it doe you not believe ãâã that you be so silent in your thanks to mighty God the Father of these mercies âât it may be you have heard of it and doe ââleeve it and yet you cannot give the ââory to God why because these mercies ââd deliverances came in as I have heard ââme of you say by a blasphemous
Hope your Patience and Selâ⦠denyal is not the Faith Hope Patience and ââ¦elf-denial of the Gospel your assurance ãâ¦ã r Heaven is unfound you have been daw ãâ¦ã d with untempered mortar the day is alââ¦ost come that thou must die after death ãâ¦ã me to judgment and then be judged acââ¦rding to thy works Then if thou doest ââant Oyle in thy Lamp which is Grace in ãâ¦ã e heart thou wilt be shut out it will be ãâã vaine then with Balaam to fall a praying ãâ¦ã ord let me die the death of the righteous and let ãâã latter end be like his No no He that will ãâã the death of the righteous must live the life of ãâã righteous Those that he appointed for ââory hereafter shall have the beginning of ââace here for they be chosen to salvation ââ¦rough sanctification of the Spirit and be ãâ¦ã ef of the truth and without holinesse no man ââall see the Lord. Your Leaders have caused ãâ¦ã ou to erre the blinde hath led the blinde and ãâ¦ã th will fall into the ditch unlesse you beââ¦are in time O poore Souls I cannot blame you to ââ¦omplain of bad suffering times to be thus ââ¦heated on every side you have but a Body ââ¦nd a Soule and to be deceived and depriââ¦ed of the comfortable being of the one ââ¦here and to have no assurance of rest for ââ¦he other hereafter is a sad condition indeed Oh how be the people destroyed for want of knowledge Like Priest like People as in Hos 4. 6 9. The Prophets there of doe teach for hire and the Priests divine for money and you poore simple ones love to havâ⦠it so O you simple ones how long will yee lovâ⦠simplicity and you scorners delight in scorning ãâã you are deceived and by those that you least mistrusted namely the Prophets Mich. 3. 5. Do ãâ¦ã but spend a little time and tracethis Tribââ from the Prophet Isaiah's dayes untill now ãâ¦ã First Isaiah complains of them in his dayes Isai 28. 7. Jeremy complains of them in hiâ⦠dayes Jââ ââ¦0 6. and Ezekiel the Propheââ complain of them in his daies Ezek. 22. 26. So the Prophets Daniel Hosea Joel and Amos these also complains of the badnesse of this generation Then the Prophet Micah he complains of their sins and prophesieth of their judgements Mich. 3. from v. 5. to the end of the Chapter Then when Christ came in the flesh hâ⦠was opposed by them and complains o ãâ¦ã them Matt. 23. 13 15 16. then the Apostles themselves were continually persecuted and afflicted from time to time by them as you may read in the Acts of the Apostles And if there be any truth in Histories see what a sort of Ministry there were in Henry ãâ¦ã eighth's dayes when the King denied Popes Supremacy how soon did this ãâ¦ã be face about and side with the King ãâ¦ã en again in the dayes of Edward the sixt ââreason of his pious resolution though ãâã young the Clergie feared a turn and ââesently fell a preaching against the Masse ãâ¦ã ok and it was soon abolished and the ââmmon-Prayer-book set up in its place ââd these men zealous Common-Prayerââok men And then about three or foure ââ¦ars after that Queen Mary was made ââ¦ueen the Clergie bethought themselves ââd presently the greatest part of them turââd about again from Common-Prayerââok to Masse-Book for say they the diffeâânce is not great Then after Queen Mary was dead and Queen Elizabeth had the Crownâ⦠preââ¦ently the whole tribe of them except some ââw turned Protestants again under which shape and in which visage they have ââ¦ontinued untill the beginning of this preââ¦ent Parliament Well the Parliament had not sate long but the Wolfe covered with Sheeps cloathing was discovered and after a little consideration it was put to the Vote and suddenly after tumbled down the Prelatical discipline root and branch Wel what follows why our Clergie for ãâã most part threw aside their Surplisse Hoods and Tippets Organs and Altarââ Bowings and Cringings Tapers and Caââ¦dles and perk up into the Pulpit anâ⦠lifts up their voices and preach again those things and so became the reverenââ laborious zealous Ministers of England thou desirest a fuller discovery of this look into what I have written before caââ¦led A word to the pretended Minister and neither of these will _____ satisfie thee if thou wilâ⦠see the Wolfe stript of his Sheeps cloathing indeed then look into the Chronicles ãâã England Scotland and Ireland Mr. Fox hiâ⦠book of Acts and Monuments of thâ⦠Church and his History of Martyrs c. O then take heed how you hear Luke 8. 18â⦠take heed whom you heare Jer. 27. 9. take heeâ⦠what you hear Mark 4. 24. Beloved I have not written these things to take off your affections from the true Ministers of the Gospel but to disengage your hearts affections from the ravening Wolves that the Lord Christ hath commanded me and you to beware of Matt. 7. 15 and Acts 20. 29. and Joh. 10. 12. Again Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God 1 Joh. 4. 1. For many deceivers are entred into the ââ¦orld 2 Joh. 7. These things have I written ââ¦nto you concerning them that seduce you 1 Joh. ãâã 26. Now that you might take heed whom you hear how you hear and what ââ¦ou hear and that you might not believe ââ¦very spirit but try the spirits whether ââ¦hey be of God I shall under correction ââ¦nd with submission to better judgements ââ¦ive my thought of the one of the other ââ¦nd endeavour to put a difference between ãâã Prelate and a Pilate a Feeder and a Fleeââ¦er a Blinde-beetle and a Seer a Butcher ââ¦nd a Shepheard a Destroyer and an Instruââ¦ter a Tyrant and a Father a Thief and a Keeper a Seducer and a Leader a ravening Wolf and a moderate Shepheard that so ââ¦ou might cast off the one and embrace the other and truly herein I cannot speak in ââ¦allibly but give my thoughts at a distance ââ¦or Satan hath transformed himself into an Angel of light and his works are more myââ¦terious then ever the Lord cannot have ââ¦is Church but the Devil will have his Chappel if they will have Ordinances he will have them too if they will congregate themselves together by uniting in one spirit Sathan and his company will unite together in one form of communion and afterwards teach union If the true Church of Christ will teach first the Doctrinal par ãâ¦ã and then the practical part Sathan wi ãâ¦ã allow his Ministers to preach the same onââ¦ly with this difference he will put theââ upon building before they have laid thââ foundation if the true Chruch will builâ⦠upon the rock Sathan and his companâ⦠will build too but his foundation must ãâã laid on sand I shall now endeavour ãâã give my judgement of the pretended Minââ¦ster first and then of the true Ministââ next that so you might hold to the o ãâ¦ã and forsake the