of the Spirits of them that put it and their want of acquaintance with the ministration of the Spirit They that know the Gospell Sabbath which is the substance of the Law Sabbath can tell who injoin'd it them and can also tell that he hath not required of them the observation of the Jews Sabbath But they that are born after the letter have been always subject to revile and reproach the truths of the Spirit and those that testifie thereto Qu 20. If the Lords holy Sabbath be that day which we may suppose is intended by this paper sent unto us to be the day that containes the time of Gospell-administration then whether that Sabbath doth prohibit outward labour as well as abstaining from sin if not then which way must this Sabbath be kept Seeing that they that did and doth observe the weekly Sabbath did and doth it in the Spirit And rest by faith in Christ worshipping the Father in Spirit and in truth Answ. The Gospell-Sabbath begins not in the observation of outward time but as it is Spirituall so it hath a Spirituall beginning increase and persecting wherein there is a rest to the Spirit from sin and from the creaturely works a worshipping in the Spirit even as on the outward Sabbath there was a bodily ceasing from labours and an outward worshipping And he that heareth the joyfull sound of deliverance from sin and self-working and entreth into the faith beginning to cease from his own works and working and to wait in the Spirit on the power for its working in him hath a tast of the Gospel-Sabbath and beginneth to see that day which the type pointed to and ends in Qu. 21. If that that was ministred to Paul Rom. 7. thou shalt keep the Sabbath or believe in the Light follow the Light and the observing of either of these in the Spirit to be a keeping the whole Law Then how are the Scriptures observed if the keeping of one Commandement be a keeping the whole Law when the holy Spirit in Scriptures says that he that offends in one point is guilty of all Jam. 2.10 Ans. I did not say that the keeping of one Commandement is the keeping of the whole Law but that the observing in Spirit of any one of those there mentioned by me is the keeping of the Law which was not barely said but demonstrated because no part of the Law can be broken but every one of these must be broken He that commits any sin breaks the Gospel-Sabbath which is a resting from all sin and self-works errs from the law of love received in the Spirit which shuts out all enmity and transgression both against God and man departs from the fear which keeps from departing from God by any iniquity and enters into the lust which is the womb of sin out of the compass of which womb sin cannot be conceived much less committed So that Paul in that Law received from the Spirit Thou shalt not Lust saw the whole body of sin struck at whereas before under the ministration of Moses in the letter according to which he said he was blameless there was not so much as the life of one sin struck at but for all his exact answering of the Law according to that ministration he was alive still To decide this controversie let it be put to tryall let any one singly wait on the Lord for the administration of his Law in the Spirit and if the Lord give forth that Command to him Thou shalt not lust in the clearness of the Light of his eternall Spirit let him try if continuing in obedience and subjection thereto he can commit any one sin whatsoever I do not say that a mans proposing to himself that he will not lust or his striving of himself to love and fear the Lord or his applying himself to keep the Sabbath or rest from sin to the Lord will do this Nay this is but an administration in the letter and will prove weak against the inward strength of the enemy but receiving the Law in its pure living administration in the Spirit and from the Spirit here comes strength against the enemy which is too hard for him while it is abode in And this the Apostle Paul taught the Galatians who were running backward towards the Law and not forwards in the Spirit He bids them Walk in the Spirit Gal 5.25 and so doing as they should not be under the Law ver. 18. So neither should they be breakers of the Law for within those bounds sin enters not but is kept out not so much as a lust against the Law being there known much less any open transgression against it and against such as thus keep within the bounds of the Spirit there is no Law ver. 22.23 But against all that make themselves debtors to the Law of the letter there stands in force both the law of the letter of the Spirit also they cannot in that state be free from the condemnation and curse thereof whatsoever they may imagine concerning themselves and their own state from a mis-understanding and mis-application of the Scriptures The first Letter Answered There is a double ministration of the Law a ministration in the Letter and a ministration in the Spirit The ministration of the Letter was by Moses from mount Sinai in Tables of stone to that outward people the Jews the ministration of the Spirit is by Christ from mount Sion in Tables of flesh to believers or his Disciples Now this is it which the Lord hath made manifest to me that the Disciples of Christ or believers are to have recourse to their administration for the receiving of the law from the Spirit and not to run back to that ministration which was litterall and outward and fitted to a litterall and outward people This was more fully set down in my Epistle in severall particulars Now in opposition to this it is said Fâ—rst That all written in that Epistle makes no more at all against a Gospel Spiritual observing in love the seventh day Sabbath to the Lord then they make against a Gospell Spirituall observing of the other nine Comandements Ans. My Epistle striketh not at a Gospel Spirituall observation of any thing but he that will obey Spiritually must receive his command from the Spirit in that way which the Spirit hath chosen to dispense it to him in Now the same Spirit which wrote his law in the letter under the old Covenant writeth his law in the hearts of believers under the new Covenant Heb. 8.10 which is a better Covenant and of which Covenant Christ is the Mediator ver. 6. and Christ is as faithfull to give forth the Laws of his Spirit in the hearts of his people as their condition requires them as Moses was to give the Law written in the Tables of stone to his house Heb. 3.5.6 And as Moses pointed his Disciples to Christ coming in the flesh so Christ pointed believers or his Disciples to the
the Spirit and in obedience to those Commands which come livingly into his heart from the Spirit of prophesie Fourthly That the fourth Command is to be in love kept by all believers Ans. All the Commands of Christs Covenant are to be kept by believers according as he pleaseth to dispence them under his administration in the New Covenant but the laws of the Old Covenant are not the laws of the New Covenant as so dispensed but only as they are comprehended in the righteousness which is taught and required by the spirit which is fuller stricter and exacter then that which the law of Moses required Nor do I hereby go about to teach any to break the least of Christ's Commands but the way to fulfill them which is by keeping to the certain knowledg and obedience of them in that ministration where Christ hath promised to dispense and make them known to believers which is under the ministry of his own Covenant writing them in their hearts and minds by his Spirit And here the keeping of all Christs Commands is possible yea this is the onely way to have the righteousness of the Law fulfilled in us for he that keeps the eye which the spirit hath opened in him close to the Spirit shall not be able to break any law of righteousness but the righteousness even of Moses his law shall be fulfilled in him Christ is the rest of the Gospel as he is also the holy land believing is the entring into this rest here 's his Sabbath and the keeping of it Keep in the faith the Gospel rest is kept Parting with every lust that he makes manifest observing every thing that this King calls for by his Spirit and waiting for the further manifestation or shining of the Light of his Spirit in the heart here 's the obedience of the faith and the holy and spirituall life and subjection of the living soul to its living King Here 's the beginning of a true Christian his growth his perfection But as for times places persons c. these are of another nature to another part even to that part in man which is to be done away as hee comes into the faith and into the rest Let that which is invisible whose habitation is out of the reasoning part feel and read me in that which is invisible for I do not make void the law by faith or through publishing the ministry of the Spirit but establish it in its ministration in the Spirit to the Disciples of Christ who keeping to the Spirit cannot transgress the righteousness of it though they may there learn not to esteem one day above another but to esteem every day no days having ever had any reall holiness in them one above another but only a figurative or representative which the substance Christ and his Gospel swallow up for as his day dawns those things which were the shadows of it fly away The second Letter Answered Object 1. It is said to be dangerous so to hold forth the Spirituall Sabbatism as to deny the weekly Sabbath wherein our Lord Jesus Christ rested c. and which he blessed and sanctified to Adam and his posterity c. Ans. The Gospell is a state of substance of fulfilling the types and shadows of the Law by bringing believers into the possession of that which they signified of Canaan was a type of Christ who is the land of the living in whom every believer hath an habitation at present according to the proportion of his faith and the Sabbath is the day of rest which every believer is to celebrate to Christ in this holy land which he doth by believing and obeying his Spirit in the faith which keepeth him out of the sin the unbelief the unrest But that the Sabbath of the law the rest thereof which pointed to the faith is still to be held up in the times of the Gospel I know no Scripture which so teacheth and I know somewhat which teacheth me otherwise The day is dawned blessed be the Lord God Almighty the everlasting day is dawned and the shadows of the Law are flown away Object 2. It is said that Heb. 4. Speaks of three rests The seventh day or Sabbath rest Israels rest in Canaan and a remaining rest whereof David speaks Psalm 95. Ans. I grant it There were two rests under the law which were signs of the one rest under the Gospel The two under the Law were outward and natural the one under the Gospel inward and Spiritual answerable to the state of the Gospel· David was not only acquainted with the Law-state but with the free spirit Psalm 51. and the eternal law thereof He knew the new Creation the creating of a new Spirit with its travell through the law also the new rest He knew the circumcision of the heart the spirituall sacrifices of a broken heart and of praise he could take the cup of salvation and sing the song of praise to the Lord which none can do in the strange land nor on any other day but the day of rest And he incites Israel to this rest that they might not harden their hearts against it but in the day of their visitation enter into it by hearkning to the Word which was nigh them which gives the entrance through the faith To day if ye will hear his voyce harden not your hearts c. There is a rest ye are now called to enter into as your fathers were called to enter into the land of Canaan harden not your hearts as they did but hear the voice hear the word which calls to this rest believe and enter This rest remains says the Apostle the others were types of it under the law-state which was to pass away Object 3. It is said Ceremoniall signs are done away but the ten Commands under the mercy-seat are of an other nature and that there are signs which are not yet abolished as the Rainbow Sun Moon and Stars but still remain for us to make good use of Answ. The mercy-seat under the Law is done away and the substance thereof is come and will ye not give him leave to write his law in the Tables which he shall choose where his Disciples may read it with the eye which hee gives Is his law now to be read in the shadow or with the outward eye or to be looked for under the old mercy-seat of the outward tabernacle or is it to be read with the eye of the new creature with the eye of faith with the eye of the Spirit in the everlasting Gospel where the life it self is read and in other books or writings without but tidings or relations of the life Here Christ here the Spirit here the eternall life here the love the joy the peace the rest the purity which is eternall is seen is felt is handled is injoyed for the true faith is indeed the substance of the things hoped for giving victory over the enemies which disturb and a quiet habitation
Comforter the Spirit of truth first to wait for him and then to receive light or his law of Life from him And this is Gospel or New Covenant even that which the Spirit speaks or writes in the heart and this hath power in it and saveth whereas the letter killeth Now consider seriously whither should a believer go for this laws to which Covenant to Moses his Covenant or to Christ's Covenant Secondly That all these Commands being holy and good are to be loved and in love to be observed c. Ans. All the Statutes and Judgements and Ordinances and Precepts of the Lord are holy and good and are to be loved but each is to be obedient to that which God requires of him and to have recourse to that ministration for the law of God to him under which God hath set him He that believes he that hath received the Spirit is to have recourse to the law of Faith and to the Spirit for his light or law he who was under the law of Moses was to have recourse to the law of Moses for the law of Moses spake to them who were under it in his family giving forth the precepts or commandements of that dispensation to them who were under his Testament Heb. 9.20 And Christ speaks to his family by his Spirit whom his Disciples are to hearken unto and not to grieve him or quench his motions or despise his prophesyings but give diligent heed thereto untill the day dawn and the day-Star arise in their hearts Now to obey in love doth not make the distinction of the ministrations for love belongeth to each ministration The Jews in their day were to obey the law in love and to have it in their hearts Deut. 6.5 6. But this makes the difference the Jews were to seek to the letter for it the Disciple is to receive it from the Spirit for he is to begin in the Spirit Gal. 3.3 Whereas the Jews beginning was in the letter And this is obedience in the newness of the Spirit when the law is received fresh from the Spirit who both writes new things and brings to remembrance old things livingly and powerfully but to go to Moses ministration and learn it there and get it into the heart from thence that 's according to the old ministration or Covenant which was given in the letter to the Jews as may appear in that place last cited Deut. 6.5.6 Thirdly That in the same spirit and love that we have the Lord for our God c. in the same we are to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Ans. The Lord teacheth believers to know him to be the only true God c. by the Law of the Covenant of life in Christ Jesus which he ministers to their Spirits in the Spirit whereby he teacheth them so clearly and effectually that they need not run back to the Tables of Moses his Covenant from thence to teach one another to know the Lord but they shall all know him from this teaching from the least to the greatest yea and I may add this This Covenant by its ministration teacheth more clearly then the ministration of Moses his Law in the letter could teach Heb. 8.10 11. They that have been with Moses and have learned the Law of him under the ministration of his Covenant have yet need of coming to Christ but they that have been with Christ and have learned the law of his Spirit by the teachings of the new Covenant in their hearts have not need of being sent back to Moses Moses pointeth forward to Christ but Christ even in the flesh sendeth not his Disciples from his own dispensation back to Moses though he also established the dispensation of Moses for its season but pointeth them forward to the Comforter or to his appearance in the Spirit And this is the mark of a Christian which it is the intent of the letter to direct him to and not for him to fix in the letter as men have done since the Apostacy from the Spirit This Argument is further inforced thus because he that said the other said this in the same Law and Spirit Ans. It is true he that said the other by Moses to the Jews said this also to them and they were strictly bound thereto but that which binds the Disciple is the ministration of the new Covenant where Christ writes this Law in the minds and spirits of his people by which they are bound and such as as are out of that the Lord when he cometh to examine them concerning their faith and obedience will say to them Who hath required this at your hands Were ye children of the New Covenant Did ye receive the Spirit had ye a measure of faith given you were ye new creatures Why did ye not keep to your rule Why did ye not wait on the Spirit and receive the Law from the New Jerusalem from whence it issues forth to the family of believers The Jews were to be taught by precepts and Judgments from Moses but all thy children shall be taught of the Lord It is said yet further So that if thou keepest the other and not this thou art a transgressor of the ROYAL LAW OF LIBERTY Ans. What is the Royall Law what is the Law of Liberty Was the law as it was administred by Moses the Royall Law or is it the Royall Law as it is administred by the Son who is the King of Saints and writes his law in their hearts as their King Again was the law which Moses administred to the Jews a law of Liberty or a law of bondage did not the ministration on mount Sinai gender to bondage Gal. 4.24 but in the ministration of the law by the Spirit is life and liberty ver. 26. and 2 Cor. 3.17 And this very law Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self is Royall and a law of pure liberty and there is no bondage in it thus administred but let any man now read it in the letter and strive to obey it to the utmost he can he shall find it weak through the flesh accusing and in bondaging him And this is the reason that Christians so mourn in their prayers even as persons in bonds because they know not the Royall law of liberty because they feel not the love which the Spirit begets but strive to get the letter into their hearts and to answer the Commands in the letter with what love and obedience they can come at and this through not seeing into the true Covenant and ministry of Christ they call obeying in the Spirit The testimony of Jesus Rev. 12.17 is the Spirit of prophecy chap. 19.10 and his Commandements come fresh from that Spirit of prophecy which are to be taken heed to till the day dawn and the day-star arise and then a fuller ministration is witnessed then that of prophecy even the shining and appearing of that which was prophesied of which every believer is to wait for in the prophesies of
THE New-Covenant OF THE GOSPEL Distinguished from the Old Covenant OF THE LAW AND The Rest or Sabbath of Believers from the Rest or Sabbath of the Jews which differ as much from each other as the Sign and Shadow doth from the thing signified and shadowed out In Answer to some Queries of W. Salters tending to enforce upon Christians the observation of the Jewish Sabbath which was given under the Law to the Jews for a sign As also to some other Queries sent in Writing upon an occasion of an Epistle directed to all such as observe the seventh day of the week for a Sabbath now under the Gospel As likewise to some Letters to the same purpose With a brief Explication of the Mysterie of the six dayes Labour and seventh days Sabbath Whereto are added some Considerations propounded to the Jews tending towards their coâ—â—ersion to that which is the Life and Spirit of the Law By ISAAC PENINGTON the younger VVe which have believed do enter into rest Heb. 4.3 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new Moon or Sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come but the body is Christ Col. 2.16 17. London Printed for Robert VVilson and are to be sold at his shop at the black spredd-Eagle and VVindmill in Martins l' grandâ— 1660 The Preface THE Apostle Paul saith That God had made them able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Cor 3.6 After the dispensation of the Law which was a shadow of good things to come and after the dispensation of the Prophets who foretold of better days and of a better state to come then the days and state under the Law was it pleased God first to send the fore-runner John the Baptist in the spirit and power of Elias to prepare the way for the King and his Kingdom and then to send the King himself in the fulness of his spirit to gather Disciples to him and to furnish them with a competent measure of the same spirit to raise up a Spiritual Seed to him in whom he would set up his Kingdom dwelling walking and reigning there causing his Light to shine from thence round about the Earth as from his holy City founded upon his holy Hill of Sion Now those Disciples or Ministers whom he chose to raise up this holy Seed unto him he made fit and able to minister his New Covenant by which it was to be raised yea he furnished them with such a power of his Spirit that they were able through him to minister not in the Letter as the old Covenant was ministred which left the people still dead nay because of the transgressing nature made the offence abound and so encreased death upon them but in the quickning spirit which raiseth from death and bringeth into the light of the living to walk with the living God towards the land of Eternal rest and peace So that that which they ministred was spirit and that which they ministred to was spiritual By the power of the spirit in preaching the living Word of Faith they reached through the vail to that which lay in death they stirred up a living Principle and ministred life to it through the spirit Gal. 3.5 and such as were born of this living Principle they taught to live in the spirit to walk in the spirit to be made perfect by the spirit and not to run back to the Ministration of the Letter as was proper for the Jews in their day after the manner of the former dispensation but to keep in the living Principle to grow up in the Seed into the eternal life and immortality of the Gospel Mark well O ye Christians who desire eternal life the different way of Ministration between the Law and Gospel The Law was a Ministration of the Letter in which they were to wait for assistance from the Spirit by which they might be kept in the faith of and be made obedient to the Law Nehem. 9.20 The Gospel is a Ministration of the Spirit wherein they are to begin with the spirit and to go on with the spirit not to gather outward Rules out of the Letter from what is written or spoken but to keep to the living Principle and feel refreshment to that in reading or hearing what is written or spoken by the Spirit And thus the Scriptures being read or any one speaking from God being heard it is mingled with faith and becomes profitable feeding and refreshing the young tender plant the living Principle and causing it to grow up into God whereas whatever is understood or received or held out of this feeds but the earthly and doth but thicken the vail over the living Seed to which the Kingdom belongs and to which the Gospel is sent to be preached to raise it that it might live and thrive and grow up into its stature that so it might inherit The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand said John the Baptist Mat. 3.2 It is come unto you said Christ Mat. 12.28 that Power of Life which was made manifest in him was it and this Kingdom is also within you saith Christ to the Pharisees Luk. 17.21 The Pharisees demanded of him when the Kingdom of God should come It cometh not saith he with outward shew or observation it cometh not that way you look for it to wit by the manifestation of an outward glorious King to reign outwardly in the Common-wealth of the outward Israel but the Kingdom is within you How was it within them Christ explains to them in another place it was in them like a Grain of Mustard-Seed it was the least of all the Seeds in their hearts There were many great seeds of darkness there but yet there was also one little Seed of Light It was there as well as the rest though less then them all and did sometimes cast some glimmerings of light and of its shining in the darkness though the darkness could not comprehend it This Seed was also likened to leaven which being received by faith into the lump would leaven the whole lump and bring it into the savor and Dominion of the Kingdom Now the Ministry of the Apostles was to turn men from Satan's Kingdom to this Kingdom from his large compass of Dominion in the heart to this narrow Seed from his great Territories of darkness to this little Principle of Light from his great Power of Death to this little weak Thing of God wherein the Eternal Power and God-head is made manifest as this comes to be opened and encreased by the Spirit Here light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart where it is to grow up and from whence it is to be reaped after its growth to perfection Oh how long have Christians so called wanted the Spirit How have they wearyed themselves in running to and fro about the Letter to find out the mind of God and are still
unsatisfied concerning it and even drowned in fleshly imaginations and contentions about it They seek to have that satisfied which is not to be satisfied They seek to have that know which is not to know they offer to God the service faith and obedience of that which he will not accept keep that from him which he calls for They seek for the Spirit in the Letter according to the manner of the Law but wait not to feel it in the Seed quickening the Seed raising up the Seed and dwelling in the Seed whither Christ and his Apostles directed to wait for it They looke for that knowledge that faith that life that spirit from words written which the Apostle preached was to be waited for from the word in the heart And by this means they raise up several buildings and get various kinds of knowledge each according to his understanding and apprehensions of the Letter every sort being very confident concerning their own apprehensions that they are the right And thus they wander from the City of the living God and from the living knowledge building up Images some outwardly some in their minds some more gross some more refined but all more or less who are not acquainted with the living knowledge and truths of God but have gathered apprehensions with the wrong tool from the Letter have set up somewhat else instead of the true Life and Power The knowledge of the true God which is life eternal the knowledge of the true Christ whom no man can indeed call Lord but by the spirit the knowledge of the everlasting Gospel which alone is read in the spirit the knowledge of the spirit which alone is read in the Seed these are strange things to the several generations of the Christians of this age who commonly know no more of them then according to the apprehensions they have taken in concerning them even from that wisdom and understanding which hath not a capacity in it to receive them but must be destroyed before these things can be understood aright 1 Cor. 1.19 O that ye could read in the eternal light of life O Christians Christians O that ye could see how your understandings and knowledge from the Letter stand as much in your way as ever the Jews did in theirs and must be broken down as flat as ever theirs was before the foundation of the Kingdom can be laid and the building of eternal life reared up in your hearts Be not offended at my zeal for the Lord my God and for your souls It hath cost me very dear what I testifie to you in the simplicity and integrity of my heart and this I know to be most certainly true that that spirit of man which without the leadings of the eternal Light hath nestled it self in the letter got a seat of wisdom and knowledge there raised up a building from thence either of inward or outward Worship will be dissetled driven thence even by that very spirit which gave forth the Letter And when this is done and God's spirit again openeth the Letter O how sweet how profitable how clear how refreshing will it be being read in the light of the spirit in the faith which is in Christ Jesus which is begotten in the heart by the word of Faith which is nigh there From that light from that spring as the Lord pleased to open enlarge and fill the Vessel all the words of the holy men of God came and in that alone they have their sweetness freshness vertue and fulness but how to read the words outwardly written keeping to that and understanding them in that and how to keep out the natural man with his natural understanding which knoweth not the things of the Spirit nor can know or receive them 1 Cor. 2.14 is a mystery to them who have not been turned inwards to this word nor have known or heard his voice The Lord is recovering the Mysterie of Life and as that appears the Mysterie of Death under all its paint under all its painted Faith painted Love painted Knowledge painted Obedience painted Duties Ordinances and Worship will be made manifest Happy is he whose inward Building will stand whose Gold will abide the fire and everlasting Burnings of the jealous God whose Eye-salve was bought of the true spirit whose raiment is right spun but exceeding hard wil it go with that man whom the Lord when he cometh to search him shall not find a right inward Jew as he took himself to be nor truly circumcised by the Lords eternal Spirit with the light thereof but onely by such a circumcising knife as he himself had formed out of the letter of the Scriptures This is the great misery of Christians the vail lies over their hearts even the same vail which covered the Letter of Moses from the Jews and they are groping after the mind of God in the Letter but the life is hid from them even as it was from the Jews because they also say they see that they have the life the spirit therefore the vail remains the caul of iniquity surrounds them so that they cannot see into that which makes free from it but remain yet in captivity and bondage to the Enemy Some Queries of W Salters tending to inforce upon Christians the observation of the Jewish Sabbath ANSWERED Query 1. WHether the Fourth Commandement exprest Exod. 20. be not morall and perpetuall as well as the other nine be yea or no Answer That Covenant which God made with the Jews at mount Horeb when they came out of the Land of Egypt was not to be perpetuall but to make way for that Covenant Priesthood Law-giver and Law which was to be perpetuall That Law so given forth made nothing perfect but was a continuall hand-writing of Ordinances against the Jews and the very Salvation of the Jews was by another Covenant and by the Laws thereof Deut. 30 11. By which Covenant and by which Law they might be made perfect and come to the better hope Which other Covenant is the Covenant of Grace or the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus or the Word which is nigh in the mouth and in the heart and speaks Life to them that can hear and believe the joyfull sound of it Now that this former Covenant was not to abide but to give place to the other see Heb. 8. Which treateth of the New Covenant For God's speaking of a New Covenant importeth that he himself hath made the first Old ver. 13. It had had a long continuance among that people of the Jews but now against the coming of Christ who was to be Mediator of a better Covenant v. 6. even of a New Covenant v. 8. as it had been long decaying and waxing Old So now it was ready to vanish away as v. 13. And indeed it was necessary it should pass away for it was not faultless How not faultless was there any sin in the Holy Law Ministration
this Jerusalem was a type of an inward building in the Spirits of Gods people both in its rearing up in its scituation in its standing in Gods dealing with it all the time of its standing and lastly in its downfall and utter desolation There is an appearance and building of God in the Spirits of his People which is to give way to and be swallowed up in a fuller and higher appearance But the fleshly spirit getting into this building will not give way to the further and more inward spirituall appearance of the Spirit but will have the first building stand as the building and will entertain no further appearance of God then as it can comprehend it subject it and afford it a place in the first building Hereupon God distresseth Ariel even the City which David built saying within his heart surely that which I have built will I break down and that which I have planted will I pluck up even this whole land So he causeth the overflowing scourge to pass even over Thy whole land O Immanuel Now when the enemy enters within the holy City and within the holy Temple it is time to fly and exceeding great distress will befall that Disciple whose flight is either on the Winter or on the Sabbath day Do not imagine at this but if the Lord open it not at present wait his season for the thing is true and sealed both by the openings of the Light eternall and by sensible exercises and experiences from that Light Thus I have answered such of the Queries as concern the seventh days Sabbath Such as seem to argue the unwarrantableness of observing the first day of the week for a Sabbath I leave to those to whom they are tendred and of whom an Answer seems so conscienciously zealously desired as I do not see how it can be reasonably neglected or denied that by weighty evidence of Scripture he may be reduced if he hath erred but if not but it be truth vvhich he hath therein held forth the Lord may be honored in mens bovving and subjecting to every truth of his by vvhat instruments soever it pleaseth him to make it manifest Some Queries sent in writing upon occasion of an Epistle directed to all such as observe the Seventh Day of the week for a Sabbath Answered Query 1. IF the whole Law of Moses the Law of the ten Commandments as well as the Law of Sacrifices were both added upon one and the same account for transgressions Then why doth the holy Spirit in the Scriptures lay forth such an antiphitical use of them I suppose he means anti-tipical the one that sin might abound Rom. 5.20 the other sacrificing for sin Heb. 9.7 8 9. Ans. That the Lavv of Moses vvas added because of transgression is manifest from that Scripture quoted by me in my Epistle as vvel as from other Scriptures and one end vvhy it vvas added in relation to transgression vvas that the offence might abound vvhich vvould make the Sacrifice or propitiation for sin appear more necessary and more acceptable And the sacrifices also relate to the sinner some referring to the sin committed others to the thankfulness and acknovvledgement due for the peace mercy and blessings of God tovvards his poor sinful erring creatures both vvhich vvere to last till the time of reformation from the sin Heb. 9.10 Gal. 3.19 But that they vvere both added upon one and the same account that I did not affirm that is vvrongfully put upon me Now though both these were added because of transgression yet they had not both the same use and service in relation to transgression but the one was added to discover sin and to make it appear exceeding sinful Rom. 5.20 the other to blot it out to take it away to make atonement for it which the sacrifices did making the sinner upright and perfect as relating to that outward state and capacity though they could not as pertaining to the conscience Heb. 9.9 Qu. 2. If the whole Law the ten Commandments as well as the Sacrifices were representations figures or shadows of somewhat relating to Christ the Seed Then what did they in general or either of them in particular represent figure or shadow forth before they were written in Tables of stone or since they were written in Tables of stone more of Christ then then now Answ. That the ten Words were some of the Precepts of Moses and appertaining to the first Testament or Covenant all which Precepts were sprinkled with blood cannot be denied And the Apostle distinguisheth the Precepts of Moses under the Law which were sprinkled with the blood of the Sacrifices under the Law Heb. 7.19 from the Precepts of Christ which he writes in other Tables ch. 10.16 which also are sprinkled with blood but not with the blood of Bulls and Goats but with his own blood and he that receives any of these Precepts out of the blood of Christ cannot truly and spiritually obey them though he may strive much to form his spirit into the obedience thereof Now the time and season of their signification was the time which God allotted them under the Law wherein was the use of signs but the Gospel is a state of substance of bringing the life and immortality into the heart and into the possession of believers which the state of the Law shadowed So that they are not signs since the Gospel since Christ put an end to the Law-signs shadows and figures not yet before the Law to Believers so far as they were in the New Covenant For as the thing signified cometh so that which signifieth it passeth away though that was a mixed state wherein God gave a taste of both Covenants before his perfect dispensing or bringing forth of either Qu. 3. If the whole dispensation of the Law was given to the Jews and not to the Gentiles and so the Gentiles not bound to that Law but another way for them to know the mind of God Then whether that Law cited Rom 2 15. which the Gentiles shewed the work of in their hearts be another Law contrary to that Law that was given to the Jews even the ten Commandments Ans. The Law which is the substance is not contrary to the Law which is the shadow but is the comprehending and fulfilling of it The Law in the Spirit written by God's power and presence in the heart and mind is not contrary to the Law in the letter but is an higher and more glorious Ministration of it The one commandment which God gave by Moses to the Jews Deut. 30.11 which was the commandment of life and death as relating to their inward and eternal state ver. 15. was not contrary to the ten commandments which God had commanded them before by another covenant which he had made vvith them as an outward people and which was to be their Rule as to their outward state for they were chosen by God to be an holy people outwardly and so an outward Rule
the Sabbath and if he bid a man Take up his bed and walk which was bearing a burthen and doing of work on the Sabbath day it is no breach of the Sabbath Now this is most righteous that as the Son's rest should be entred into under the Gospel so his day of rest should be kept by his Disciples and family Qu. 14 Whether to say The keeping the Law of God according to the letter is a breaking of it in the Spirit be not a charging of God that gave it forth to be kept and the holy Spirit that incites us so to do now in this administration Jam. 2.8 and says they do well that do so and yet thou saist they break it in Spirit but tell us by any one Scripture how a man assisted by the Spirit to own Jehovah alone to be his God according to the letter of the first Commandement doth break that Command in the Spirit Or so the like of any other of them Ans. This Query is altogether from a mistake for it was not said by me That the keeping the Law of God acccording to the Letter is a breaking of it in the spirit but that he that runs back to the Law in the letter to take up any command as hold forth in it will be found a breaker thereof in spirit And for this the Jews in general and Paul in particular may be my instances who was exceeding strict according to the Letter of the Law but yet was a grievous breaker of it in spirit and did not love his neighbor as himself but in a blind zeal was a bitter persecutor And if the Jews had taken that direction of Moses Deut. 30.14 the observation of the law in the letter might have been more easie to them So that the turning towards and receiving the Word in the heart from whence the letter came is the onely way to fulfll the letter and the Law is not so much as to be known much less fulfilled by running to the letter of it in the first place And this I certainly know that there is no coming to the Lord of life nor no keeping chast to him but in the New-Covenant and in the light of the Lord as it is there dispensed and till then the mind cannot forbear making of images and false representations of him to it self though being from the light of this Covenant it cannot discern that it doth so no more then Paul by the Letter of the Law could discern how he was a breaker thereof in his violent persecutions Qu. 15. Whether the Prophets Jesus Christ or the Apostles their keeping the Law according to the letter that they did do so is evident did break the law in the spirit Ans. The Prophets were under the Law as to their outward state though inwardly not without feeling the vertue of the New-Covenant Christ also was made under the Law and took upon him the fulfilling of that dispensation of Moses that he might bring the believing Jews from under it into the liberty of the Spirit that they might receive the adoption of Sons and the free Ministration which was appointed for the Sons and might not be held under that Ministration of bondage which was appointed for the servants And the Apostle bids Believers to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free not making themselves debtors to the Law Gal. 5.1 for they were children of the promise children of new Jerusalem the free Woman children of the New-Covenant and not children of Mount Sinai the old Covenant the Law in the Letter c. 4.15 16. Qu. 16. If there be but one day of rest holy to the Lord and all the Sabbaths of the law were but signs of it that is said to be the day of redemption that the Lord hath made Then whether that day be a day natural one of the seven days of the week which either respect the Day on which our Redeemer suffered or that on which he rose again from the dead or any other Ans. As the Gospel is not natural but spiritual so its day of rest is not natural but spiritual likewise Yea I may add this also the six days Work in the new Creation are not natural neither Qu. 17. If not so but that it should he intended applicable to the day or time of the Gospel Administration from the time that Christ suffered in the flesh unto the end of the world Then whether this day that is intended as a Sabbath is one with that day that the Scriptures intend and call a Sabbath which Christ himself gave his Disciples charge to have respect unto in their flight Matt. 24.20 Answ. The supposition here put demonstrateth that those that put it have no acquaintance with the Gospel-Sabbath but propose another outward time for it even the time from Christs suffering in the flesh to the end of the World Now if any should so affirm it were as justly to be excepted against as pressing the observation of the Jews Sabbath is That which signifieth is outward or natural and signifieth to that part which is without that which is signified is inward and spiritual and is known entred into kept and enjoyed in the spirit It is a spiritual Sabbath not a natural which God hath instituted for his spiritual people after he hath led them out of spiritual Aegyt into the spiritual Wilderness where he administreth to them the Law in the spirit and teacheth them to worship him in spirit and truth Qu. 18. If they intend one and the same Sabbath day then how impossible was it for the Disciples of Christ to escape flying on that Sabbath day though never so fervent in prayer in regard that this Sabbath spoken of begun when Christ had suffered and put an end to the dispensation of Moses Law and the flight spoken of by Christ which respect the Lords Sabbath was not until many years after his sufferings Supposed-Sabbath being before denied the foundation of this Query fails An. Christs Sabbath is not an outward time or day in the flesh but a day in the Spirit even a day of rest from all the labours of the fleshly part But this was spoken to before in the Answer to the last of W. Salters Queries whereto I may add this Christ spake to his Disciples of things as they were able to bear them Now as they understood not his death so then they understood not the abolishing of those things which were to pass away after his death so that Christ might very well call Jerusalem the holy place and the seventh day the Sabbath speaking to them in that state Qu. 19. If they intend not one and the same Sabbath day then which are the Disciples of Christ to have respect unto whether that that Jesus Christ injoined his Disciples to have respect unto or that that Isaac Penington would injoyn the Disciples of Christ to have respect unto Ans. This Querie hath very little in it save to shew the unsavouriness
things more to them First Whether that People of the Jews as they stood related to God in that Covenant given by Moses at Mount Horeb with the Covenant it self and all things appertaining thereto were not a shadow of some inward and Spiritual thing afterwards to appear and be made manifest in its season Whether they themselves were not a shadow of a more inward and Spiritual People to be gathered to God by the inward and Spiritual Covenant and whether their outward Covenant was not a shadow or visible representation of that Covenant and the Laws of it a shadow or representation of the inward Laws which were to be written in the hearts of that Spiritual People Was not their Tabernacle or Temple a shadow of the true Tabernacle or Temple seeing God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands but in a poor humble contrite Spirit and in the Heart that trembles at his Word Isai. 57.15 and chap. 66.1 2. So was not their circumcision a shadow of the circumcision which is to pass upon the Hearts of God's chosen Were not their Sacrifices types or representations of the Sacrifices of praise and of a broken Heart Psal. 51.17 and Psal. 50.14 Was not their Canaan or Holy-land a type of the true Holy Spiritual rest which the faith gives entrance into Their City Jerusalem a Tipe of the Jehovah-shammah Their Priests and Levites Tipes of the Spiritual Priesthood which was to offer the pure offering and Spiritual Sacrifices among the Gentiles Malac. 1.11 Mark that place if it did not plainly foretel the casting off of the Jews with the rejecting of their Offerings Priests and Levites and God's raising up a seed among the Gentiles where he would have a more acceptable People and Worship even a pure Spiritual People and a pure Spiritual Offering Secondly If they were Types Representations or Shadows of somwhat Spiritual to come then were they not to give place to that which is Spiritual when it came and so to be swallowed up in it Is not the Spiritual Glory the Glory the inward Jew the Jew indeed the circumcision of the Heart the choice circumcision the offering up of praise and of a broken Heart the acceptable Sacrifice the Land of Life and Righteousness the true Land of rest to the living by Faith Is not the Spiritual City House or Temple which God builds the Ierusalem or Temple of the new Covenant Is not this the choice House to God and is not this Spiritual Glory to be expected in the days of the Messiah and all the Tipes and shadows of Moses which pointed at him to end in him when once he comes to set up his true inward invisible substantial Glory among his inward and Spiritual People When the day of Messiah dawns shall not Moses his shadows fly away O that your Eyes were opened to behold the inward Glory of Life the good things of the new Covenant the great Treasure and Riches which are revealed and possessed in the Spirit by the Spirits that are redeemed unto God that ye might partake thereof and then your Eye would not be so much on that which is outward which if ye had even to the utmost of your desires are not comparable to the inward Lastly Search the Prophets see if the Messiah is not first to come in a despiseable way as a man of sorrows Isai. 53.2 3. whose visage in that appearance was to be more marred then any mans Isai. 52.14 and consider whether he was not to be cut off though not for himself Dan. 9.26 and then to sit at the right Hand of God until his Enemies be made his Footstool Psa. 110.1 before he come in that Glory wherein ye expect him So that if he be not thus come already then that coming of his is yet to be expected and his Hands and Feet are yet to be pierced by you and then afterwards ye may look upon him whom you have pierced Zach. 12.10 and all the Families of Israel mourn bitterly apart for it ver. 12. When Moses gave the Law the vail was over his face your Fathers were not able to bear the Light wherein the Law was given nor the Light wherein the Prophecies of the Prophets were given and so they still erred from the Law were offended at the Prophets while they were alive mis-understood their words after their death Now do not ye search into Moses and the Prophets in the same Spirit of error as your Fathers did being shut out from the Light of them even as they were If it be thus if the vail be over your hearts if ye be ignorant of the true Light of the true eternal Power wherein the Scriptures were given forth ye must needs mis-understand them mis-understand Moses mis-understand the Prophets mis-understand the things spoken concerning the Messiah so not be able to see unto the end of those things ministred by Moses of that ministration which was to pass away nor into the beginning of the ministration of the Messiah which was to succeed it O turn within to the Word nigh in the Heart that the true Jew may be begotten and formed in you and his Light may arise and overspread you that in that Light ye may see the Light of Moses and the Light of the Prophets and not gather false meanings from their words but understand them a right in the same Holy Spirit and injoy the blessedness they spake of and directed to which lyes in the inward raising up of an inward Seed and not in an outward conformity of the outward man while the heart and mind remains unchanged and unrenewed which can never be made new by any ministry of the Letter without the Spirit but alone by the ministry of the Spirit whether with or without the Letter as he pleaseth J. P. THE END