as present and visible then she believes and hopes For hope that is seen is not hope Rom. 8.24 25. for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for But if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it A great Argument to Patience by having an Eye to the Recompence of the Reward and to the Price of the high Calling which is layd up for us in Christ which causeth us to endure the Crosse and despise the Shame A great Argument to live by Faith as if the Things were sensibly present and seen yea by Faith they are made present and seen for Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of Things not seen Where therefore these Two Principles and Arguments are they do necessarily inferre true Faith and they do shew the excellency thereof by the great effects of Patience and Courage which were wrought in the hearts of those famous Worthies whereby they obtained so good a Report from God who highly favoured them and rewarded them for all their sufferings The several Instances are very remarkable Chap. 2. of Examples of Faith Ver. 3. The World framed by Gods Word Things seen made of Things that do not appear but are understood by Faith By the Things now seen we have a sight of things unseen done long before our times The Scripture makes Faith of it Let there be light Gen. 1.3 Ps 33.6 and there was light c. By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made c. He spake the word and it was done We now see Trees of Trees Living Creatures from Living Creatures Men from Men but these first Trees Creatures and Men had not their beginning from these we now see Wisd 11.17 but from the Chaos or Deep without Form Ver. 4. Abel offered a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain by Faith he leaves out Adam for his Sin Abels Sacrifice was not more valuable than Cains but more acceptable for his Faith The other was the Sacrifice of a Fool i.e. a sinner this of a wise man i. e. just Vers 5. Enoch was translated by Faith Gen. 5.21 for he walked with God and so pleased God how but by Faith for without Faith it is impossible to please God Vers 7. Noah prepared an Arke by Faith i. e. in hope of Gods promises He had a sight of Things unseen i.e. of the Floud yet to come a Subsistence of Things hoped for i. e. safely from the Universal Deluge Vers 8. Abraham sojourned and looked for a City to come by Faith Vers 27. and offered up Isaac the Child of Faith in the Promise not Nature Vers 11. Sarah by Faith conceived in her old Age above the strength of Nature Vers 20. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come in the Promised Land Vers 21. Jacob dying in Faith and worshipping blessed his Sons to the Promised Land Vers 22. Joseph by Faith gave Commandement concerning his bones to be buried in Canaan Vers 23. Moses by Faith was saved from drowning and refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasure of sin for a season Vers 30. The Walls of Jericho fell down by Faith Vers 31. Rahab by Faith perished not with the Unbelievers So Gideon Barak Sampson Jephthah and David Samuel and the Prophets who by Faith subdued Kingdoms and wrought Righteousness obtained the Promises endured tortures stopped the mouths of Lyons quenched the violence of Fire waxed valiant in fight 2 Mace women received their dead raised to life again c. Heb. 11.35 All this Faith arose not from any cleer Promise of a Resurrection Chap. 3. Acts of Faith but hoping in Gods Power and Goodness beyond this Life they endured all things here patiently Much more may we that have a full and open Promise and Example of the Resurrection by him that first brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel and is the first born from the Dead and the first fruits of them that slept Thus the Things that are absent from us and do subsist in themselves are made to subsist to us by our Faith As Christs Birth Life Miracles Suffering Death Resurrection Ascension Glory all real in themselves subsisting though before our times yet are made present by Faith So our Resurrection Ascension and Glory Eternal not yet come nor seen but are made present and visible by Faith anticipating their being to us before they be For we live by Faith here and not by Sense And blessed are those that have seen Christ in the Flesh and the works that he did and heard his words yea but much rather blessed are they that have never seen nor heard him or his Works or Doctrine and yet have believed And this is truly to know Christ and by this knowledg of Faith Christ is in us and we in Christ For we know not Christ now after the Flesh but after the Spirit i.e. as he is spiritually present with us by Faith and will be eternally present with us by sight For although we had lived in his time and known him after the flesh or been his Natural Mother Sisters or Brethren yet from henceforth by our Faith we should have known him no more in that state of weakness and Mortality of Flesh but in a farre better state of Eternal Glory and Power in the Spirit And in the Union and Communion with him by Faith And so we do know him and by the hearing and believing of his Word we are made one with him and he with us are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone are his spiritual Mother Sisters and Brethren Having fellowship already with the Father and with the Son by the Spirit of the Father and the Son and are already in heavenly places in Christ Jesus For Faith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen Doctrine 1. The Subject of this Text is Faith 2. The Circumstances are two 1. The Substance of things hoped for 2. Chap. 4. Of the fruits of Faith The Evidence of things not seen 3. The Reason is Because Faith obtains a present Right to a future Blessing and an earnest and assutance thereof and an Expectation of the full Possession 4. The Reason of this Reason is from the Nature of Faith which is not only an Assent to the Truth of Gods Promises with a Reliance and Dependency upon God for the performance of them but an acceptation and embracing them upon the condition of Holiness that they are offered unto us which Faith is therefore accounted unto us for Righteousness That is whereby we have a true Right Interest Title and Claim to the Inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven which is the Thing promised unto us This Description of Faith is thus illustrated unto us Chap.
pleased He intended farre higher Duties unto which he led them by the hand if they had had the wit to observe it according as the Prophets did often hint unto them But they rested in the Letter and in the worke-daies and would not understand what God farther intended no not when they were sorely slasht in the Babilonish Captivity nor in the time of the Maccabees nor under the sore Yoke of Antiochus nor yet of the Romans when the Gospel began to dawn nor yet in the dayes of Christ himself and his Apostles when the cleer day-spring from an high did visit them and that God did fully reveal what worship he meant should continue for ever and that all their rude and beggarly elements should be laid aside as being added only because of Transgressions till the Promised Seed should come It was therefore necessary that the Patterns of things in the Heavens should be purified with these Heb. 9.23 but the heavenly things themselves with better Sacrifices then these But still they stumbled at the Old stumbling-stone of a Temporal Covenant established upon Temporal Promises and commanding Temporal Services And from hence many Christians first taken from the Nation of the Jews and afterwards from all the Heathen Countries have erred exceedingly Partly by mixing Judaisme and partly by mixing Paganisme with Christianity which both of them are not out of us unto this very day although the Apostles made it their business as they had then too much occasion to overthrow these two maine errors from whence all other Heresies have been derived and that Christ himself did so much speak against the continuance of the Jewish way and the Introduction of Heathenish customs by Preaching a more Spiritual Law and declaring Eternal Promises All though God hath winked at the Nonage of the Jews and the Ignorance of the Gentiles Chap. 9. Châ—iâ—â—â—anisme yet now God will have all men every where to aspire to perfection and learn better things commanded in a better Covenant that is established upon better Promises especially in the dayes of Adversity when we are pinched with long and sore Warrs with plagues of Fire and Water and sundry kinds of Death It is high time now for the World to grow wiser to come off from the Vanities and Pomps of this Life and walk highly with God in the Spiritual Exercise of Faith and Repentance Away then with this Loose and Carnal way of Living This will not do The Gospel calls for higher things 1. This Loose and Carnal Life will never satisfy the Conscience nor please God 2. This formal and outward Worship will not serve the Turne You must come up to the pure Gospel-way to the life of Faith and to the worship of the spirit or you can never please God Be honest and just in your words and Actions Be dutiful and obedient to the Laws Be decent and orderly in Gods Worship But still I shew you a more excellent way This is to be done and you are not to leave the other undone For thus it becometh us after Christs own Example To fulfil all Rigteousness To offend none but to give unto Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things which are Gods APPLICATION I have set before you two wayes Faith and Sight Spirit and Flesh choose therefore the better part that shall never be taken away from you 1. Cherish the life of Nature by Temperance Sobriety and Chastity 2. Regulate the life of sense by Reason Prudence and Moderation 3. Order the Moral life by Virtue Justice Obedience and Honesty 4. Maintain the Civil Life by dutiful submission to Rulers and their Laws for the publike Good 5. Keep the Spiritual Life above all by Faith 1. Which may Sanctify Nature Sense Morality and Laws 2. Which may transcend all carnal Profits Pleasures Honours Arts Powers Glories Liberties Beauties Friends Health Peace Orders c. 3. Which may overcome all Carnal Pains Wants Shames Ignorances Weaknesses Disgraces Deformities Enemies Diseases Warrs Bondage Confusions c. 4. Which may regulate all Passions of Love Hatred Hope Despair Joy Grief c. 5. Which may sublimate all Faculties Understanding Will Memory Conscience 6. Which may arrive at the height of true Wisdome Peace and Tranquility of Minde 1. By exemption from vulgar Errors Vices and Passions 2. By aiming at Universal Liberty in Judgment and Will still submitting to Faith 3. By learning true essential simple honesty and plainness of Spirit 4. By Practicing true Piety 1. Free from Jewish worship 2. Free from Heathenish Idolatry This is the high and noble way of the New Testament of Jesus Christ which is of the spirit that giveth life not of the Letter that killeth Thus we overcome sin from ruling in our mortal Bodies that we should be obedient unto the lusts thereof Thus we overcome the Temptations and miseries of the World Thus we overcome the Devil and bruise Satan under every one of our Feet and through Jesus Christ are more then Conquerors And thanks be to God which giveth us this victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Look therefore on things Spiritual and not on things Carnal Chap. â—0 Faith on things Eternal and not on things Temporal For the things that are seen are temporal and carnal but the things which are not seen but believed are Spiritual and Eternal Believe your sins are blotted out of Gods Book for so they are when forsaken Though you cannot see your Pardon sealed by Gods spirit by your sense yet by your Faith you may see it Believe the Peace of God of your own Consciences though the sense discern it not yet your faith may Believe the Judgments of God are escaped and shall not hurt you though you feel present pain in the Flesh as is needful for you Believe the Devil is overcome though he sift you as the wheat is sifted yet Christ hath prayed for you that your Faith shall not fail you and his Grace shall be sufficient for you Believe you shall live though you die and see corruption for you shall die in Faith This is Faith to believe above sense above hope and contrary to hope the judgment of flesh and bloud This is Faith To be present with God in the Spirit though you be absent from him in the Flesh This is Faith to rejoice in Misery to glory in Tribulations to be ravished with Spiritual comforts during the enjoyment of Temporal To find Rest in God in the midst of Trouble to rest upon Gods Promises of Pardon and Blessedness in the midst of Sins and Miseries I will believe though I see not nor feel not any comfor This shall be my joy comfort in believing I will believe though I can give no Definition nor Reason for my Faith I will live in the Spirit though I live in the Flesh for I do not live after the Flesh I will worship God in the Spirit though I use a Forme and outward Ceremony I will Eat
and Drink and be merry in the Lord. I will suffer patiently in the Lord. I will Live and Die in the Lord. Tell me not of Temptations I know who is on my side and will deliver me Tell me not of Tribulations I know who will Save me Tell me not of Death and Hell I know who will Redeem me Yea He hath Delivered He hath saved He hath Redeemed me already The Forgiveness of my Sins past present and to come is already present with me The Deliverance from all my Sufferings is already present with me Eternal Life and Salvation is already present with me I know in whom I have Trusted Here will I fix say the World the Flesh or the Divel what they will or can But with a Carnal Life Chap. 11. Carnal mâ—n this Faith and Hope cannot consist Of all Tempers these are most opposite to Faith 1. Outward uncleanness Rioting and Drunkenness Chambering and Wantonness Strife and Envy Cursing Damning Oppression and Cruelty and such like 2. Inward Hypocrisy Lying and Cheating c. 3. Open Rebellion Sacriledge Sedition and murmuring and such like The Carnal mind understandeth not the things of God neither indeed can it because they are spiritually discerned Thus it becometh us to Preach and you to practice Grace Faith Repentance Patience c. It is too Legal to preach Laws Duties Curses Threatnings Damnation The Gospel is Faith Love Hope Joy in the Holy Ghost Grace mercy pace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ Till we perswade you to Faith we shall never do our work nor your work for you Believe only and you shall be saved This will bring works and duties and mortifications and all shall be pleasing to God and without this nothing shall be pleasing unto him for without Faith it is impossible to please God Say not You cannot understand this Spiritual Doctrine of the Gospel and this Rule is too high for you to walk by it is too hard a Taske to lead this life of Faith Sol. I answer Chap. 12. Gospel Easy It is easy to understand this Doctrine and he that is willing shall be made to know the mind of God and to do the same It is as easy to understand this Gospel-Precept Thou shalt not Lust or Hate as to understand this Legal Command Thou shalt not commit Adultery or Thou shalt not Kill It is as easy to understand That the thoughts of the Heart and the desires of the Will are to be regulated as the words of the Tongue or the works of the Hand It is as easy to understand Faith as Works to Believe as to Live To accept of the Covenant of Grace as of works As for the Mysteries of Faith in the Trinity Incarnation Descension Intercession of Christ and such like They are more easily and safely to be believed then disputed And the spirit is given to all that Believe that they might understand and do the Will of God That they might know the heighth and length and breadth and depth of the Love of God which passeth all knowledg It is as easy and farre more to hear of Grace Mercy and Peace as to hear of Law Curses and Damnation It is as easy to hope as fear to rejoyce as to mourn to be free as to be slaves to walk in light as in darkness To understand the good of the Soul as of the Body the life to come as this life present Wise are we to know this World Gain Honor pleasure c. and wiser we might be to know the World to come Ob Ob. A hard saying who can hear it Sol. Sol. An easy and true saying and very pleasant and may be heard Yea and he that hath Ears to hear let him hear for he may hear if he will none so deaf as they that will not hear The Charmer charmes often and wisely unless we stop our Ears with the deaf Adder and refuse to hear the voice of this Charmer though he charms unto us never so often never so wisely There is a voice behind us yea within us which saies unto us This is the way walk in it Turn from the ways of wickedness pass by them and come not neer unto them for fear iniquity be your Ruin for why will ye Dye O when will it once be The Sun of the Gospel shines very cleerly but the World shuts her eyes upon it The light is come into the world but men loved darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil The opposers of this heavenly way of walking with God in Faith and spiritual Duties are 1. Outward Formalists and Will-worshippers Chap. 13 â—ormaliâ—ts which rest in the Letter and in the outward work done as in Fasts Feasts Forms Austerities Almes Justice Temperance c. yet there is a more excellent way to go on to perfection not to draw neer to God with our Lips but our hearts As the proud Pharisee that fasted twice in the Week that made long Prayers that paid Tithe of all that he possessed that thanked God that he was not like other men nor as that Publican But the poor Publican went home to his house Justified rather then the other And the very Publicans and Harlots shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven by their Faith when these Hypocrites shall be shut out 2. Law-Preachers Chap. 14. Law-Preachers and hearers of Curses and Damnation Are we Saved by the Works of the Law or by the Faith of the Gospel By the works of the Law no flesh living shall be justified What Law had the Heathens Preached unto them They were never under the Law they needed it not after they did believe nor Wee God did write in the Law in their hearts by his Spirit in the dayes of the Gospel and the Kingdome of Heaven is within us The royal Law of Love The perfect Law of Liberty is written upon the Tables of our hearts and this is a sufficient Rule to bring us to Heaven Mockers of Faith Chap. 15 Mockers Self-denyal Mortification Purity of heart Poorness of Spirit Mourning Meekness hungring and thirsting after Righteousness Mercifulness Peace-making Suffering Persecution Rejoycing in Persecution which are the spiritual commands of Christ to which Blessedness is promised Such Prophets as speak of these things are counted Fools and such spiritual men esteemed mad by the voluptuous and Luxurious men of the World and by the Zenonian Fatalists that depend upon absolute Decrees and put all to a venture What then remains but that all Reasonable men should be satisfied with this reasonable service of Faith which is above their Carnal Reason but agreeable with all spiritual and Right Reason and none but unreasonable and absurd men will deny it I will resolve therefore with my self Chap. 16. Soul-Resolution to go out of my self and trust no longer in my Flesh nor in any Creature I will resolve with my self to understand better things and to know my self more perfectly 1. How
comforts to themselves but are as it were without God in the World 4. I finde some that are open and profane Ranters Cursers Swearers Drunkards Fighters Revellers and slighters of all Religion Laws and Authorities unprofitable burdens of the Earth consumers of the precious things put forth by the Sun and of the precious things put forth by the Moon the enemies and shame of Mankind and to their own Bodies and Souls I wish these men would better consider bethink themselves and examine in what a fearful and hopeless condition they are in with God and Man For their Actions stink in the nostrils of God and he will blast them with the breath of his displeasure For there is no comfort nor safety in their Actions being inhumane and barbarous A modest man that comes into their company and hears their roarings yellings blasphemies and lewd speeches and sees their antike Garbs and monstrous behaviour thinks himself in the Suburbs of Hell or rather in the Court of Beelzebub Therefore these men of all men have the least hopes of any reward in this World or in the World to come For if there be any Dignities Offices or Trades to manage they are most unfit for them Nor can the Gates of honor without great injury lye open to these men who defile their families and shame and undoe the Nation And if there be any Reward in Heaven they are sure never to come there and if there be none they are unworthy to be rewarded here So that they are the very scum and dross of the World and it had been better for them if they had never been born or been like the untimely fruit of a Woman that had never seen the Sun Qu. Who then are they that are in the Faith or have Faith or are in Christ and no Reprobates Answ Onely they that work Righteousness and so shew their Faith by their Works being truly honest and just to God and Men. It is hard for the World to know a true Believer from a false because of Hypocrisy A vizard and Disguise of Religion may cover black Deeds fair Speeches looks and actions may almost deceive the very Elect. But 't is easy for a man to know himself whither he be a Hypocrite or no if he will but try St. Paul saith 1 Cor. 4.4 I know nothing by my self If there had been any thing he might have known it Thine own heart knoweth Eccles 7.22 that thou thy self hast cursed others So thine own heart knoweth whither thou believest or dissemblest 1 Cor. 2.11 Who knoweth the things of a Man save the spirit of man which is in him 1 King 2.44 The King said to Shimei Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to Ob. Say not as the vulgar do to abuse the Scripture and themselves The heart of man is deceitful and Desperately wicked Jer. 17.9 and who can know it Answ I who indeed besides God and your selves No man living can you carry it so cunningly It is an easy matter to cheat the World but it is not so easy to cheat God or your own consciences God is not a man that he should be mocked neither is he the son of man that he should be deceived and the conscience is Gods vicegerent a faithful Register a witness that will speak the truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth one day You need not therefore be ignorant of your selves nor cheat your selves unless you will You are willing to be deceived therefore you are deceived it is your own fault Never tell me you cannot tell your own heart you may tell it well enough if you would examine it The Soul hath a faculty not only to know but to know what she knows and to reflect upon her own Actions I can tell I hope very well whither I be honest or no I and no body else can tell but I if I be cunning to hide dishonesty from them But yet they may at last find me out 't is a thousand to one else if they live long enough by me and try me much and mark me well There is nothing so secret but at last it shall be revealed and that which is done in Closets shall be shewen upon the house tops What do men think that are Hypocrites Alas it is a poor silly business If there be a God as there is he must know all and if there should chance to be a Heaven as there will be they shall be sure to be shut out They had as good put off their vizard and lay aside their painted veil and speak and do plainly and be at open defiance with God and never make mention of his name within their mouths for their labour is in vain to Preach of him and Pray to him in whom they believe nothing at all The humour of these men is very strange to take such pains to no purpose at all Yea but they have worldly ends thereby to be counted Religious that they get Riches and Honour Very well then they have their Reward but 't is a poor one yet it is such as they like much good it cannot do them nay much harm will accrue thereby 1. For God will condemne them much more 2. Men will not love them though they may fear them Men count them as they are false and scorne them in their hearts for their baseness 3. They must shortly Dye and then to what purpose is all this closeness plotting and contriving to get a little Pelfe together and to be revenged and have their Wills for shortly their Enemies and those they have oppressed will dance upon their graves their Names shall stink and rot and their own seed if not strangers throw away what they have unjustly gotten Is it not far better and safer to be plain and down right honest And then Amongst good men a man shall be sure to be beloved and God will certainly reward him Beloved bethink your selves and be as you profess and seem to be Here are Sermons Prayers Communions Bibles and other good Books What then Will this do the work to use all these One thing is wanting and then all is done Hear Pray Receive Read give Almes c. in sincerity and humility What is it to be a great Talker of God and with God in Preaching Praying c. when the heart is not right with God all this while What is it to be a great Disputer and Contender for Religion and the Ceremonies thereof only to get applause and profit thereby What will all this availe at the hour of Death or at the Day of Judgment At the hour of Death they say they care not they must and they can but dye At the day of Judgment they pass not for that for they believe no such thing Let them but alone till that Day and they shall do well enough they will venture that Well then if it be so let them go as they are and Gods Vengeance will
Ablution from Original Sin and a Death to all Sin and a life to Righteousness and thereby exemption from the state of Damnation to the state of Salvation and that to Infants as well as others that are Baptized with water and if not Baptized it was none of their fault And whither outwardly Baptized or no what can hinder the Inward Baptisme of the Spirit to them if they Dye presently before or after Baptisme or to others if they live long to believe and keep that Faith in which they were Baptized except they make Shipwrack both of Faith and a good Conscience by breaking the Vow and Promise made by them None can deny but the Spirit of God is free as the Wind to blow where and when and how it listeth and who so fit objects to receive the gifts of his Grace for life Eternal as these poor Creatures that are so miserable as not so much as to enjoy the comforts of this life Temporal Do not Rights belong to Children and Fools by Law but Grace gives Rights above and contrary to Law Especially the Grace of God which is so Gracious that our shallow understandings and stammering Tongues are not able to apprehend and express it I will therefore stand still admire and hold my peace when I cannot fathom his Infinite Mercy 3. Thirdly Concerning Mad-men who have had Reason and Faith Chap. 4. Untimely Ends. and afterwards without their own fault have lost the use of both at least Quoad nos to outward appearance either wholly or for a certain time or times coming and going I am as favourable to judge of them as I did for Infants and Fools I know well God is favourable and his Royal Laws most favourable and to be most favourably interpreted as good men will allow their own Laws to be And therefore it becomes me and all men to come as neer unto God for kindness as we may and it is most safe so to do I say then as favourably as I can thus As they have had Reason and Faith before their distraction so they have them still under their Distraction The Habits they retain the Acts they cannot shew It is all alike to God though not to us He knows what the Inward Man is though we do not but by the expressions of the Outward Man to guess only 4. Fourthly Chap. 5. Untimely ends Concerning such as have been understanding and faithful both and fruitful in Wisdome and Goodness and yet have suddenly pershed by Fire or Water or the Sword or any other fatal Contingency I answer I do not judge amiss of their Souls at all for the grievous misery that hath happened unto them No not if they have in their Passion or Provocation of uncharitable Censures thrust out their own Souls out of their Bodies supposing they were such as constantly feared God before They have not lost the life of their Souls though they have lost the life of their Bodies they have not lost an Eternal though they have lost a Temporal life All these Changes and Chances of a long Life or a short of a natural or violent Death of a Single or a Married life of Poverty or Riches of Beauty or Deformity of Ignorance or Learning c. are nothing to the farthering or hindering of the state of a Blessed Eternity 5. Fiftly Chap. 6. Sickmen distracted Concerning them that in their health of Body have enjoyed health of minde with Faith and a good Conscience but afterwards have been distracted by violent Diseases and never recovered But as other Madmen that walk abroad or are shut up as otherwise healthy and strong they do talk not only idly and fantastically but wickedly and profanely and act altogether ragingly I am not afraid to answer that notwithstanding all these things have happened unto them through Gods Providence against their own Wills yet their Souls are in as good and as safe a condition as ever they were before Obj. But what will you say may some object of them Chap. 7. Malefactâ—rs that for and by the guilt of some grievous Sins as Murder Rebellion c. or for some grievous Misery as Love Want loss of Children c. have fallen Sick and lost their Wits withal 'till they have dyed either by meer sickness or by laying violent hands upon themselves I answer And what will you say that make this objection or what can any man say of these men whither they repented or no between the Bridge and the Water or of God whither his wayes be not often secret but alwayes just And whither think you is safest for me to say they are damned or to hope the best that by the favour of God punishing them here they may be spared hereafter If you can give a better Judgment then I in this Case then do I leave them to that God that made them who is infinitely just and good and knows how to relieve the weak And hope the best 'T is dangerous to walk upon the Ridges of headlong and slippery Places as the Tops of Towres and steep Rocks or Brinks of deep Waters 6. Sixthly and lastly Chap. 9. Heathens There is one Case more and it is as much as I can think of concerning those honest Heathens that have excelled in virtue and the fear of God though never Circumcised to the Jewish Law nor Baptized to the Christian Gospel but only for ought we know have grown good upon the Stock of Natural Light or some secret supernatural Illumination in what state or Condition their Souls may be thought to be in I answer as well as I can That their Creed is to believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of all such as diligently seek him And so they came to God and whither he rejected them after they came to him as well as they could let the wise judge If then they do believe that God was a Rewarder Chap. 9. Jewes then there is no Reward but in Christ And what did the Jewes know cleerly of Christ or of the Resurrection were they therefore damned They had a dark Dispensation of Resemblances of Heavenly things by the Patterns of Earthly Ceremonies and Promises and these a darker by natural light and impulse If Spiritual and Eternal things were generally hinted unto them and they walked according to what they knew as the best Jews did God will â—equire no more at the hands of the Jew or Gentile then what he hath given them The one shall be judged by that Law they had in Tables and the other by that Law they had in their hearts and the Christians by that Spiritual Law of the Gospel the Perfection of both the former And God will have all men every where to repent and in every Nation and at all times they that fear God and worship him and do justly as well as they can shall be accepted of him And whatever their condition be which yet we have no cause to judge