power of the spirit and so are become new creatures partakers of Christ a chosen Generation a royall Priesthood an holy Nation Kings and Priests unto God Members of Christ anoynted with the same holy Unction and to the same glory and dignity only in subordination to him as the Members to the head the yonger brethren to the first-born for in all things Christ hath the preheminence and yet they are all one in him according to the spirit however different according to the flesh one from nother according to the spirit they are Sion the beloved City the Kingdome and temple of God and he and his glory appertaineth to them and is their portion glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of god the most high in the midst of thee he shall exalt thee and delight in thee This is Sion that no man regardeth the place and habitation that God hath chosen in which he will dwell and rest for ever because he hath loved and desired it yea God the Father disdains not to count them his Sons and Daughters the Son is not ashamed to call them Brethren the Holy Ghost is pleased to make them his Temples they are called effectually justified freely sanctified graciously and shall be glorified eternally they are servants of God not only servants but friends not only friends but Sons not only Sons but Heires to inherit his Kingdome not only Heirs but co-heirs with Christ no condemnation shall befall them nothing in the world shall separate them from the love of God in Jesus Christ all things in the world shall work together for their good all the surest promises are theirs all the richest graces are theirs all the sweetest comforts are theirs all the highest priviledges are theirs all the noblest hopes are theirs what shall we say theirs is Christ and in Christ all things O happy happy is that Assembly of Saints that thus have the Lord to be their God Obj. But I cannot see nor heare of any such pure Church upon earth as you have hinted at and with whom to joyn I know not therefore let me intreat you to lend me your advice in giving me some clear characters of a visible Church that are pure in doctrine and holy Life and Conversation that I may sit down there Answ The Church of God in Scripture is resembled to a naturall body wherein are many Members united each to other and to one head and by one spirit growing up in unity Now as in the naturall body there may be many infirmities and many things are lyable to offend and hurt it so also it is in this mysticall sometimes it may be subject to distempers by undigested humors the want of through closing with and drinking in Divine truths or the receiving untruths may occasion a surfet sometimes windy humours of pride high-mindednesse and lying spirits getting into some of its Members may distemper it Sometimes Feaverish heats of violent headinesse in stead of well-tempered zeale for God and godlinesse may inflame it and sometimes the cold anguish or Palsy-humours of deadnesse in and benumednesse to spirituall motions in its tendency to its spirituall and supream end may so sease upon him as much to impaire its strength and to outward appearance bring it nigh unto death but God whose temple it is commande thee not to judge according to outward appearance but to judge righteous judgement Because he whose Temple it is hath provided for it against such distempers both Meat and Medicine to feed and cure it so is every one that through grace is brought to beleeve in Christ and gathered up in the fellowship with those that have fellowship with the Father and the Son in one spirit 1 Joh. 1. 3. Now this body may have many weaknesses within and enemies without indangering it yea that many parts of it may be sorely laid open to infections from divers that seem to be of it or at least converse with it and so to poyson it by the insnarement of false Prophets holding forth false Christs these deseivers in stead of hastening mens growth up in Christ which they pretend doe secretly and subtilely corrupt men from the simplicity that is in Christ These are those hirelings that Christ speaks of that come to us in sheeps clothing but let us beware of them and hold fast the head ftom whence we receive the right and true Spirit that we may grow up together by that which every joynt supplyeth so shall our feet abide within the gates of new Jerusalem and the Lord himselfe shall dwell amongst us judge rule and teach us and in his teachings we shall not be vainly pust up with a Carnall minde Now if thou wouldst finde out an Assembly of Saints living stones not only hewn and squared but built up together a Spirituall house Eph. 2. 20 21. and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner-stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord in whom the true Church of Christ is built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit this holy City this Spouse this Kings Daughter Wise of the Lambe this Virgin this garden inclosed may be known 1. By her keeping up the garment of Christs righteousnesse within viz. pure distinct in the doctrinall part Secondly by her keeping up or putting on the garment of Christs holinesse without viz. holy in life and conversation and so I shall proceed to lay down some characters of both by which this true Church may be discerned 1. That Church that is pure in doctrine doth hold the Scriptures known by the names of the Old and new Testament are the holy Word of God and the rule of knowing and living unto God whosoever betakes himselfe to any other way cannot be saved see and well consider these Scriptures 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. and 2 Cor. 15. 1 2 3. and 2 Cor. 1. 13. Act. 26. 22. and John 5. 39. John 4. 22. and 2 Pet. 2. 1. and 2 Pet. 3. 12. A true Church holdeth that all men by nature are dead in Trespasses and sins nay that all persons by nature are children of wrath being guilty of Adams sinne and sinfull in their owne nature deserving thereby eternall damnation from which no person no not by the death of Christ who is not regenerated and borne againe or made a new creature is freed from Acts 17. 30 31. and Acts 26. 17 18 19 20. and Luke 24. 47. and Acts 20. 20 21. and John 5. 24 25. 3. A true Church holdeth that there is an Almighty God filling Heaven and Earth with his presence who is the Creatour and Governour and Judge of the world Heb. 11. 6. Rom. 1. 19 20 21. and 1 Cor. 1. 21. and 2 Thes 1. 8. Rom. 1. 18. 25. and 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. and that this God is one Lord and yet there is a Trinity in Vnity and a Vnity in Trinity viz.
in us working the same in the opening and Declaration of his name unto uâ— Psalme 9. 10. this is a Faith that springeth from and worketh by love But such a Faith none can have till the love of God is discovered to them and so they see and believe his goodnesse towards them The serious consideration of this would put a check upon that preposterous mistake about mens teaching the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation unto the world and limitting the Gospell and death of Christ unto a few only which is not in the Commission of Christ given to the Apostles but rather to preach the Gospell to every creature and to invite them to that feast prepared by Christ and all things ready for their entertainment and that God is willing to receive them and so invite all and call upon all to goe to the wedding to believe and submit unto him and when this Gospell hath taken its effect upon some that they are perswaded to let goe all for him to receive him to believe in him and cleave to him then to minde them of the Doctrine of Election as the Apostles did apply it to believers minding them it was Gods goodnesse and free grace to elect them in Christ before the foundation of the world so that now they are begotten to the Faith they are to give all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure but many men endeavour to hold forth to the world those decrees of Election and Reprobation which they rightly understand not making them dangerous and unprofitable Doctrines which otherwise in due place and manner propounded are very safe and wholsome for herein they goe besides the rule preaching an uncertaine sound which the world can make no good use of for when they heare it what use can they have of it but to perplex or harden them for what other consequence can they naturally draw from thence then this Either I am Elected or not If I be then I am well enough no sinne can or shall hurt me no matter whether I heare pray read or not If otherwise I shall but here torment my self with a melancholy and religious life in vaine what profits it for me to pray unto him no duties will profit me therefore I will take my pleasure no actions of mine can either help or hinder c. whereas he should be wrastling with God as Jacob and give him no rest till he had obtained the blessing What I have endeavoured to present before you in this ensuing Treatise as in a Map doe you consider more particularly viewing and weighing well the stumbling-blocks cast in youo way and the corruption of your owne understanding memory conscience will and affections with thoughts words actions omissions commissions we cannot likely goe too far in these things nor wrong your nature yea take a man that thinketh worst of himselfe he is far worse then he thinketh himselfe to be In a word our well-being doth much depend upon our removing these stumbling-blocks and removed they cannot be without Faith and Faith is the work of the Spirit of God in us out of the free love of God to us not for any good done by us or foreseen in us but being by nature all in misery we were objects of mercy Ezek. 16. 6. and so after in mercy he had clensed us we were beautifull through the comlinesse that he had put upon us ver 14. Election is the Election of grace Vocation is according to grace Regeneration was of Gods owne will Faith is the gift of God Justification is freely by grace Forgivenesse of our sinnes is according to the riches of his grace Eternall life is the gift of God all the Portion that God expecteth of us is Poverty Oh! the consideration of this free love of God held forth in the Gospel will engage the soule to a constant spirituall combat by faith and hope and other graces of the spirit against the flesh and so by the spirit mortifie the deeds of the flesh daily crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts this love as an inward principle worketh out pollution and corruption as being repugnant thereunto it putteth the soule upon true endeavours to purifie both soul and body person and conversation from all corruption universally both in kinde and degrees This word of grace hath a purifying faculty in it Ye are clean through the word I have spoken to you saith Christ John 15. 3. Againe the Word is as an Antidote against sinne Psal 119. 11. and as a lamp discovering the spot Rom. 7. 7. and as a Starre conducting to Christ the Fountain of purifying 1 John 2. 1 2. Zach 13. 1. and as a rule according to which we are heedfully to order our conversation Psal 119. 9. and the chiefest motive unto selfe-purifying 2 Cor. 7. 1. The appearing of this stirreth up fervent desires and prayers for thorough purity Psal 19. 9. Clense thou me from secret faults purge me with Hysop and I shall be cleane Psal 51. 7. Wash me and I shall be whiter then snow c. Avoid Satan How can I do this evill and sin against God I must love him because he loved me first his free grace hath appeared unto me I must runne after him he hath set my feet at liberty I must run the wayes of his Commandements he doth let my soule live therefore I must prayse him he hath made the Tree good therefore the Fruit must be good Robert Purnell The way to Heaven discovered and the stumbling blocks cast therein by the World Flesh and Devill removed ALL Men Women and Children under the Sun are either in the state of Nature or in the state of Grace in Christ or out of Christ only here is their misery many that are in the state of nature doe think they be in the state of grace and many that are in the state of grace doe think they be in the state of nature Now although there be but these two states yet there be severall degrees in each of these states viz. Those that are in the state of Grace are in one of these four fourmes either babes children young men or old men 1. Babes 1 Pet. 2. 2. 2. Children little children 1 Joh. 2. 12. 3. Young men 1 Joh. 2. 13. 4. There is Old men or Fathers 1 Joh. 2. 14. So also for those in the state of Nature there be some nearer some further from the kingdome of God Isai 46. 12. Hearken unto me ye stout hearted that are farre from righteousnesse all stout hearted obstinate self-conceited Ranters and Ordinance-forsakers and vice-advancers Scripture-rejectors and hypocriticall dissemblers c. These are farre from the kingdome of God But then there is another sort of those in the naturall state spoken of by our Lord Jesus Christ Mar. 12. 34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly he said Thou art not farre from the kingdome of God c. Thou art more moderate more teachable more tractable thou
understand his errours Then again for sins of omission thy barrennesse and unfruitfulnesse thy omitting of time that is so precious and omitting of occasions of doing good see Mat. 25. 45. Again let us consider the aggravations of sin first every sin is against the great Majesty of God the greater the person offended is the greater the sin committed is Again we sin against knowledge it was the great sin of the Gentiles that when they knew God they glorified him not as God to sin against knowledge is a resisting the holy Ghost tribulation therefore is first to the Jew that knew the will of God and then to the Gentile Now the Gentiles had but the light of nature see Rom. 2. 9. Again another aggravation of sin is this we have sinned against vowes and covenants made with God now sin after covenant is greater then it was before though in act it be but the same Again we sin against means yea against those means that God hath put as weapons in our hands to resist it as mercies or corrections of God or his word whereby we profit not Now all this that hath been spoken hitherto of our sinfull condition by nature and practise is but a taste of one drop to the Ocean to that bulk and body of corruption that lyeth covered in our hearts as fire under ashes see Psal 19. 12. Who can understand the errors of his life saith David I will set thy sins in order before thee saith the Lord Psal 50. The next thing to be considered is the judgements threatned against those sins Psal 50. 22. Now consider this saith the Lord lest I come and tear you in pieces Cursed is he that continueth not in every thing that is written Gal. 3. 10. and he that keepeth the whole Law and offends but in one point is guilty of all Jam. 2. 10. so that sin and punishment are linked together See the forementioned places Rom. 6 32. Rev. 14. 10. Psal 9. 17. Rom. 2. 9. Deut. 28. 16 17 18. Now when the soul seeth his sin and the judgements due to him for sin then the soul doth begin to make a stop and to consider where it is and whither it is going and as it looks up it seeth an angry Judge ready to pronounce his condemnation and as it looks down it sees hell mouth open ready to receive it If thou look before thee all the world seems in a flame of fire and behinde thee a hideous noise of an innumerable number of thy fellow sinners at their wits ends crying out with the Jaylor What shall I do to be saved or else with the four leapers 2 King 7. 3 4. If we should enter into the city the famine is there and we shall dye and if we sit still here we die also Now therefore let us fall into the hands of the Assyrians if they save us alive we live if not we shall but die Even thus is it with every soul a little convinced of his sinfull life lost and undone condition First if we should look back and enter into the City of all the good that we have done the famine is there and we shall die and if we sit still here in this state of nature not improving the opportunity nor ability that is in our hands we die also now therefore let us fall into the hands of the Assyrians if they save us alive we shall live if not we shall but die This third and last resolution of the Lepers doth shew and fully discover to all men that have their eyes in their heads that a man or woman once convinced of sin both originall and actuall of omission and commission both in flesh and spirit with all its aggravations and denominations this party seeks for healing but it goes to the Assyrians an enemy that could not help themselves so we even we the most of men awakened out of a secure estate of sin the soul seeks and comes to the Assyrian of his own righteousnesse and when he comes to the camp he findes that fled away then he returns to all his friends and relations and finds them unable to help themselves much leste to help him Then the soul comes to the Assyrian of his own duties and ordinances and so rests upon a form without the power and so we wil never come to Christ the true and only physician of the soul untill with the woman in Mar. 5. 25 26 27 28. we have spent all our money time and pains and left no stone unturned no means unattempted to get cuâ—e and healing in something beside the Lord Jesus Christ but when with this woman we have spent all and yet grow worse and worse then the soul begins to make a halt or stop again and so begins to reason with it self If I sit still here in the state of nature I shall die or if I should go into the City of my own works the Lord hath written death upon that no flesh shall be justified by that I will even fall into the hands of God the great Creator of the Assyrians Who can tell but that he may be gracious unto me that I perish not Jonah 3. 9. Joel 2. 14. Nay the Lord may be gracious to me and save me Amos 5. 15. Oh let me and all those my fellow sinners fall into his hands it may be we shall be hid in the day of the Lords wrath It is true we being wicked he may say to us as in Psal 50. 16. What hast thou to do to take my Covenant into thy mouth But for all this I am resolved saith one I am resolved saith another to go to him and cast my self upon him although it doth seem to be contrary to his law which is our Debt-book yet there doth seem to be a way opened in the Gospell which is the Pay-book where if I mistake not are Receipts for most of my debts if not for all Wherefore as Esther 4. 16. she resolved to go to the King though it was contrary to the Law So am I saith the convinced sinner resolved to go in to the King of Kings and if I perish I perish Now sometimes before the soul comes to this strong resolution even when once it begins to be throughly convinced of sin it makes a stop or halt like a traveller meeting with two waies and knows not which to take he stands still and takes neither of them for the present but continues inquiring of all that passe by and at last having silenced his own thoughts he hears a voice behinde him saying as in Isa 30. 21. This is the way walk in it and so the Lords gives a mighty turn to the soul by that secret voice but before the soul comes thus farre there is wrought in the soul the assenting act of faith but not the applying act now the assenting act is that whereby a man assents to the truth of the Scripture that he is such a miserable wretch as
dust of their feet against them Acts 18. 6 7. 4. That we might apply our selves unto God in the use of those meanes that he hath appointed for the working of faith in us Joh. 6. 27. Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for that which endureth unto everlasting life Isa 55. 3. Incline your eare and come unto me hear and your soule shall live 5. That we might wholly deny our selves and search and by searching finde in the Covenant of grace matter of free conveyance of power to beleeve whatsoever is required to be beleeved Rom. 10. 17. Joh. 5. 39. Psal 119. 9 98 99 104 105. Rom. 4. 6. The soul being brought thus far on his journey toward heaven as 1. To be powerfully convinced by the Spirit of God as in Joh. 16. 8. this Spirit doth convince us of our own naturall misery and of Christs supernaturall al-sufficiency to remove it In the next place the soul begins to enquire after a remedy and finds that there is no other name given under heaven whereby it can be saved but by Christ alone so the soul begins to hear what Christ saith in his Word to poor sinners Mat. 11. 28. Come to me saith Christ I will give thee rest Isa 55. 7. I will abundantly pardon thee Isa 55. 1. Come come come to me saith Christ Revel 22. 17. Take the water of life freely If thou doest confesse and forsake thy sin thou shalt finde mercy Prov. 28. 13. 1 Joh. 1. 9. Nay if thou canst not forsake them if thou dost but truly confesse them he will pardon thee Jer. 3. 13. Mica 7. 18. 19. But if thou finde not the conditions of the promise wrought in thee then apply those absolute promises that are made without condition viz. They shall be all taught of God Joh. 6. 45. And I will blot out all thy sins for my own Name sake Isa 43. 25. Jer. 31. 34. I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more I will sprinckle clean water upon you and you shall be clean Ezek. 36. 25. and again I will give you a new heart and take away the stony heart Ezek. 36. 26. Isa 48. 9. 28. 11. Dan. 9. 17. 1 Joh. 1. 1 2. He the Lord Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins Heb. 8. 12. For I will be mercifull to their unrighteousnesse and their sins will I remember no more Rom. 5. 20. Where sinne abounded grate did much more abaund Rom. 4. 5. But to him that worketh not but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Jer. 24. 7. I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord and they shall be my people and I will be their God Rom. 5. 6. For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ dyed for the ungodly 2. Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Isa 5. 3. 6. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all 1 Pet. 2. 24. Who his own selfe bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead unto him should live unto righteousnesse by whose stripes we are healed Now all this is written that we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us as in Heb. 6. 18. and so sit down quiet in hope of eternall life which God that cannot lie hath promised before the world began Tit. 1. 2. In a word Our heavenly Father hath made his Will and given us poor undone sinners great wealth rich possessions and large legacies so that all his children are great heires Rom. 8. 17. Wherefore we ought to have an unshaken expectation and a frequent seeking for all that is promised and not to suffer the heavenly Father to purse or keep a penny that is due but he shall be sure to hear of his promise made to us in his Will and Covenant and if he do not presently give in according to Covenant let us draw a petition and preserre it in the Court of heaven where we have an Advocate prepared Jesus Christ the righteous to plead thy cause without a see 1 Joh. 2. 1. Isa 43. 25. Now when a soul begins to clear up and to beleeve and apply these and the like pretious promises the Devill comes in as a roaring Lyon like a Jaylor that hath lost a prisoner the World comes and holds forth her two fair breasts of profit and pleasure to a lure the soul to returne to its first state of security and so both the World and the Dâ—vill lay siege against our owne misgiving hearts and so all three bending their forces together to cheat the soule or at last to ingage the whole man to put a stop to this blessed worke they begin againe to cheat the soule under more specious pretences covering all the grosse sins flowing from the deceitfull heart with the mantle of Religion and so promise the soule peace and bring it into trouble promise it honour and bring it to disgrace promise it liberty and bring it into bondage promise the soule life and bring it to death and so hide pride under the name of decencie and bring in Covetousnesse under the name of good husbandry clothe Drunkennesse under the name of good fellowship and hide Frowardnesse under the name of Zeale so that sin sings to us and sinks us it kisseth us and betrays us Who would imagine that whiles a man cries out against Pride Covetousnesse Cruelty Treason Heresie Blasphemy c. that he himselfe should be the spring from whence these issue In a word a man may as well tell the starres and number the sands of the sea as reckon up all the deceits in ones own heart At length the poore soule is awakened again and begins to see it is cheated on every side and so breaks forth in these or the like words thoughts or both Well saith the poor soule you have convinced me of sinne or rather the Spirit of God in the of reading the forementioned Scriptures and you have also laid before me the remedy but unlesse you can as an instrument in Gods hand take away all the stumbling blocks that are in my way to heaven I see I shall do nothing but fall for the Devill is ever and anone casting a stumbling block in my way and so doeth the World and so doth my owne deceitfull desperate wicked heart my worst enemy of all that I no sooner have gotten over one stumbling block but another is laid in my way and I walk in the dark and see little or no light and so am ready to fall over every block and my falling so often doth make me so weak that I fear I shall fall so long that I shall never be able to rise again see in Psal 140. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 8.
Jer. 6. 21. For answer unto which let me acquaint the reader that I have had a little experience of these blocks in the way of a sinner to its Saviour The first stumbling block that lyeth in the way is this saith one I am sometimes unsatisfied and remain staggering and doubting whether the Scriptures called the Old and New Testament be the Word God yea or no. Answ If the Scriptures be not the Word of God then there is no rule to walk by but that every man may walk according to his own heart and as it seems good in his own eyes and this is a most pleasing bait whereby our Rantors and new upstart wantons are insnared and become the tribe of disobedience begotten by the seed of the Serpent and travelling towards the land of confusion and they will shortly arrive at the anger of God and be cast into the pit of his eternall displeasure But that the Scriptures are the Word of God it will clearly appear if we consider 1. By the powerfull effects that the Word hath and doth work upon the consciences of men as to avoid the evill and to chuse the good besides many wonderfull effects that have been wrought thereby in all ages 2. It doth appear that the Bible is the Word of God because it holds out holinesse more then any book in the world and they hold forth a self-denying spirit more then any book besides in the world by all which it doth appear that it is the Word of God 3. It doth further appear to be the Word of God because we finde many of the same things written in our hearts by the Finger of God his Spirit bearing witnesse with ours that we are his and both bearing witnesse that this is his Word 4. In respect of the matter of the Scripture it doth appear to be the Word of God for there cannot be more glorious matter for the creature to be centred upon so also for the sweet dependency of the creatures one upon another beasts nourish men and grasse them 5. The Scripture doth appear to be the Word of God because those things that have been promised the rein have in the appointed time come to passe in all ages so that things have fallen out in every age according to their severall prophesies and all this being so doth make it plainly appear to be the Word of God Now when a poor sinner converted hath gotten over this stumbling block and is in some measure satisfied that this is the Word of God so that the subtle Devill and his own deceitfull heart cannot cheat him here then he casts in a second stumbling block II. It is true it cannot be denyed but this is the Word of God and were it truly translated as it was left by the Prophets and Apostles in Hebrew and in Greek it were something but alas the Scripture is corrupted by a spirit of ignorance or a spirit of self-ends in our translations Answ It is possible here and there a word is not so clearly translated but what is that to thee seeing thou art not to build thy faith and adventure thy soul upon God as held forth in any single text but according to the harmony of Scriptures or generall scope and so they be truly translated as to instance in the Scriptures of the Old Testament Christ exhorted them to read the Scriptures and it cannot appear that the Bible should be corrupted since for besides the Apostles there were many thousands of learned Jewes that came to professe the Gospell Act. 21. 20. Jam. 1. 1. And the truth being so gloriously planted it doth appear it could not be corrupted the generality of Scriptures are truly clearly and faithfully translated so that whosoever readeth and understandeth affecteth beleeveth and applyeth and practiseth what is there held forth it is able to make him wise throughly furnished unto every good work c. and so we come to the third stumbling block III. I cannot but grant saith the doubting sinner but that the Scriptures are the Word of God as hath been proved and that they are not so much corrupted by the Translators but in the main and generall bulk are pure and clear but what is all this to me saith the poor soul If God had spoken particularly to me by his Prophets and Apostles as he did to the Jewes and Gentiles then it it were something but alas these promises were made to the people then as being and what is that to me unlesse God had spoken to me as he did to them Answ The promises do belong unto us now in being as well as unto them as doth clearly appear by these and the like Scriptures Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever was written afore-time was written for our learning Joh. 17. 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall beleeve in me through their word 1 Cor. 9. 10. Saith he it altogether for their sakes for our sakes no doubt this is written Rom. 4. 23 24. Now it was not written for his sake alone but for us also 1 Cor. 10. 11. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples unto us and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come Peter tels us from the Lord 2 Pet. 1. 20. that we must not make the Scripture speak in a private sense that is wee must not analyse or interpret them so as if the Prophesies thereof did relate only to the particular times places and persons in by and to whom they were at first uttered c. IV. After the sinner is got over the three former stumbling blocks he begins to run the waies of Gods Commandements and in his way he meets with a fourth block It is true saith he the Scriptures are the Word of God and in the main truly translated and they speak to me upon whom the ends of the world is come as well as unto the people in former ages But how shall I know what they mean The Scripture is to be understood in a spirituall sense the Book is sealed to me I cannot open the seal I want the Key of the Bible the Spirit of the Lord Isa 29. 11. Answ It is true the word is a spirituall word for holy men of old spake as the Spirit gave them utterance and the Apostles spake as the Spirit gave them utterance Act. 2. 4. So that neither the learned man nor the unlearned man can understand this Book till the Spirit of God doth open this unto them see Isa 29. 11 12. And the Apostles themselves although they had been a long time with Christ and heard his woâ—ds and seen his miracles yet Christ after his resurrection must come and open their understandings before they could understand the Scriptures Luk. 24. 45. Again the Scriptures are sometimes to be understood in a literall sense sometimes in a spirituall sense and sometimes in both sometimes as they are exprest sometimes as included sometimes as
implyed but for removing this stumbling blocke take notice that the same God that commanded us to read hath promised to open our understandings that we may be able to understand and apply his Word the Word of God it self shineth as a clear light but as the pillar of fire was darknesse to the Egyptians so is the Scriptures to carnall corrupted mindes for it is spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 10. Untill the Spirit open the understanding the understanding cannot apprehend and when it is opened it doth understand but according to the measure of that light set up in the soul c. Obj. But for the full removing of this fourth stumbling block I desire satisfaction in these ensuing things 1. Whether many of the promises are not made to Christ and if so what they are 2. Whether many of them are not made to the Jewes and what those promises are 3. Whether there be not many promises made to the Gentiles and if so what those are These and many other things must be cleared unto me and in me and all mountains and stumbling blocks that lye in my way removed or else I shall not nay I cannot beleeve nor apply the promises Answ In answer to the first Quaere what promises are made unto and do belong to Jesus Christ 1. It was promised that he should be conceived of the Highest and born of a Virgin Luk. 31. 35. 2. That he should be a Saviour and Redeemer Act. 5. 31. Hos 1. 7. Zach 9. 16. Mat. 1. 21. 3. That he should be given for a Covenant to the people to perform all for them and to work all in them and to perfect all concerning them Isai 42. 6. 49. 7. 4. That he should build his Church Isai 59. 20. Zech. 6. 12 13. 5. That he should have the heathen for his inheritance and judge among the nations Isai 2. 4. Psa 2. 8 9. 110. 1. 6. That he should be exalted above all and his throne established for ever and ever Luk. 1. 32 33. 2. Quaere is Whether many of the promises are not made to the Jewes and what those promises are that are yet to be fulfilled to them Answ 1. That the Lord will gather them and restore them out of and from amongst all nations where they be scattered Isa 27. 12. Ezek. 24. 13. 36. 24. 37. 21. 2. That they shall repent of their sins Zach. 12. 10 11 12. 3. That they shall be fruitfull Ezek. 24. 26 27. Jer. 31. 12. 4. That the great ones of the earth as Princes and Nobles shall serve them Isa 49. 23. 60. 10. 5. That their state shall be so glorious that it shall be called a new heaven and a new earth Rev. 21. 1. 6. That the Gentiles shall come in to them Zach. 8. 23. Isa 60. 3 5 7. 3. Quaere is Whether there be not many promises made to the Gentiles and if so then what those promises were and are Answ I suppose that all or at least many of the spirituall promises made to the Jewes do belong and may be applyed to the Gentiles but there are promises that doe more peculiarly belong to them Hos 1. 10. And it shall come to passe that in the place where it was said unto them Ye are not my people there shall it be said unto them Ye are the sonnes of the living God Hos 2. 23. And I will have mercy upon her that did not obtain mercy and I will say to them which are not my people Ye are my people and they shall say Thou art our God see Act. 15. 17 Mal. 1 11. Isai 2. 3 4. 11. 10. 56. 8. Jer. 16. 19. Ezek 17. 23. Luk. 13. 29. Mat. 12. 21. 21. 23. Rom 15. 12. V. Object But saith the poor staggering soul you have removed four stumbling blocks that lay in my way as so many iron gates barr'd against me but behold a fift block I know not how to apply the promises therefore shew me how I may apply them and make a spirituall use of them Answ You are to apply them understandingly and that you may so doe consider in what condition or state you are in if a sinner then you must apply those promises that are made to sinners viz. 1. As that Christ dyed for the ungodly and for sinners and that he came into the world to save sinners 2. The promises are to be applyed orderly that is according to the intent of the promiser seek and beg pardon and forgivenesse before you beg assurance apply the promise of grace before the promise of glory 3. Apply the promises particularly He loved me saith Paul and gave himself for me and again My Lord and my God see Psal 18. 2. The Lord is my rock and my fortresse and my deliverance my God my strength in whom I trust my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high tower c. 4. Apply the promises strongly for a man can never be established unlesse he beleeve confidently Isai 7. 9. Againe Christ doth often check his Disciples for doubting and staggering And that we may beleeve strongly consider 1. His power that hath made these promises he can and will perform them Heb. 11. 19. Rom. 4 21. 2. Consider his faithfulnesse that he will perform them Heb. 10. 23. 11. 11. 3. Consider he is ever mindfull of his promise Psal 111. 5. Isai 49. 15. 4. Consider his goodnesse he will make good his words in every part 2 Tim. 2. 13. Mic. 7 20. Object But for the full removing of this fift stumbling block I desire satisfaction saith a poor staggering sinner in this many or most of the promises are made conditionally and I finde not the conditions in me how then shall I apply them nay how dare I to apply them Answ It is true many of the promises are made conditionally 1. If thou doest confesse and forsake sin thou shalt finde mercy Prov. 28. 13. 2. If thou doest forgive all those that doe trespasse against thee 3. If thou art weary and heavy laden with sin thou shalt finde mercy if thou doest come to Christ Mat 11. 28. 4. Christ doth call all those that are a thirst to come to him as in Isai 55. 12. Rev. 22. 17. These and many more are made conditionally but consider 1. That the Lord hath promised to work those conditions in thee that he doth require of thee 2. When we read the conditions of the promises in the Gospell they be not like the promises of the Law made to the perfect fulfillers of them these promises are Evangelically made to those that endevour to keep them 3. Consider whatsoever promises are made in generall to all those that hunger and thirst c. every one may particularly apply it to themselves as to instance the Messiah Gen. 3. 14. is promised to all which every one ought to apply to themselves particularly
so the Will of man is wholly depraved it is contrary to God in all things it will not depend nor wait on God it is unconstant in good resolutions the Memory also is full of corruption being apt to forget the things we are commanded to remember and to remember the things we are commanded to forget Jam. 1. 25. So likewise the Conscience is corrupted it abuseth and perverteth the light it hath to make sinnes small where it should accuse it great and sometimes to make sinnes so great as to say there is no mercy for them whereas it should rather excuse and comfort And so for our Affections how are they corrupted being misplaced and ready to run over either to over-love over-grieve over-joy or to hate what it should love and to love what it should hate as our lusts why else do we lodge them and turn enemies to those that reprove us Behold here is a taste of mans corrupt nature and the Apostle saith if a man live and die in this condition he cannot inherit the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. the whole sense is no man can know the mysteries of the Kingdome of grace without a regenerate minde and therefore no man can be saved by adoption without regeneration and renovation of the whole man for as hath been proved we are born aliens from the kingdome of God Ephes 2. 1 12 13. and meer enemies Rom. 5. 10. untill we are born again of water and of the Holy Ghost hence it is that the Apostle requireth a new creature a new man 1 Cor. 5. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 6. 15. Ephes 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. The unregenerate man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither can he because they be spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. Wherefore wait at the pools of Bethesda at the ordinances of God being the pipes of conveyance for the finishing of this great work in thy soul I say wait upon God in hearing reading conversing and inquiring and that diligently and constantly this work deserred will be still greater the time to doe it in will be shorter the strength to doe it will be lesse therefore to day if thou wilt hear his voice Heb. 3. 15. 13. to day lest any of you be â—ardned through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Now thou being throughly and powerfully convinced of sinne which is the stumbling blocke that seems to lie in thy way consider that this conviction is the first step towards heaven Joh. 16. 8. 1. Then consider that these sinnes of thine were laid on the Lord Jeâ—us Christ Isa 53. 6. God laid on him the iniquities of us all and he hath suffered the judgements due to them Iâ—a 53. 7 8 9. And the Lord saw the travell of his soul and was satisfied 2. Consider that God hath promised to pardon them and those promises are of two sorts some conditionall and some free without conditions first some conditionall Matth. 11. 28. Prov. 28. 13. If we confesse and forsake our sinnes we shall finde mercy Then secondly there be some promises without conditions Isa 43. 25 26. Heb. 8. 12. I will doe it for my owne names sake freely 3. Consider that this God is mindfull of his promise Psal 111. 5. He will ever be mindefull of his covenant that is he looks nâ—t at their sinnes but at his own promise Iâ—a 49. 15 16. Can a Woman fâ—rget her suckâ—ng châ—â—de that she should not have compassion on the sonne of her wombe yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee for I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands c. 4. Consider he is able and willing to make good what he hath promised Rom. 4. 20 21. He staggered not at the promises of God 21. For he was fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able to performe Again he is willing he doth not afflict willingly Mica 7. 18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of his people he retaineth not his anger for ever because hee delighteth in mercy 5. Consider he is faithfull he cannot lie Heb. 10. 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithfull that hath promised 1 Cor. 1. 9. 1 Thes 5. 24. 2 Thes 3. 3. In a word he is so faithfull that he cannot but make good every title promised Tit. 1. 2. In hope of eternall life which God that cannot lie hath promised the best of men may promise and lie but it is God that cannot lie that hath promised us life 6. Consider that he hath entred into covenant to us to make it good Now a Covenant giveth strength to the truth of any ingagement when we have but a promise we use to say we have nothing but a bare promise for such and such things now God hath made many promises all sealed and made sure to us by an unchangeable Covenant see 2 Sam. 7. 14 15. Psal 89. 28 to the 37. compared with Heb. 8 9 10. 7. Consider that he hath sworne to us that he will make good his Covenant to us because he delights not in the destruction of us Ezek. 33. 11. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the the wicked Heb. 6. 17 18. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heires of promise the immutability of his counsell confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things we might have a strong consolation 8. He hath sealed his Promise Oath and Covenant c. with the bloud of his Sonne Rom. 5. 6. Heb. 9. 23. Revel 1. 5. In a word to winde up all the Lord hath taken away all the stumbling blocks that lay in our way either from the truth of him that maketh the promise or from his ability to make good his word or of his sincerity to intend really what he speaketh or of his constant memory of taking the opportunity of doing the thing promised or of his stablenesse to be still of the same minde XVII The seventeenth stumbling block that doth many times lie in a Christians way may be this about the Trinity I having received satisfaction in all the former things thought all was well with me saith another Christian but behold I see a greater mountain lying in my way then any of the former and I have no hope either to get over it or to have it removed and that is I doe not know God and He will come in flaming fire rendring vengeance on them that doe not know him 1 Thess 2. 8. Nay it seems to be a paradox to me that there should be three Gods and yet but one God nay some of our Ministers do say that there are three persons and if so there must be there distinct beings others say again that there is but one God and the Scripture saith O Israel the Loâ—d thy God is one Lorâ— and whom to beleive
or what to thinke of it I know not only this I know that all those that live without God in the World and die in ignorance shall never goe to heaven 1 Thess 2. 8. Answ I must confesse if a man should goe about to know what God is by those definitions and descriptions that most men give of God a man may spend all his dayes in learning and yet die in ignorance So confused are most mens notions of God some declaring him to be that which he is not and others saying he is not what he is And for mine own part I can speak by sad experience who was my selfe about 14. years since at such a losse in my soul about this very thing that had not he that doth live in that inaccessible light that no mortall eye can approâ—h unto satisfyed my soul in some measure I had been mad for I was in that condition for the space of one moneth during which time I remained restlesse in my soul and sometimes felt the flames of hell burning within me as it were then I felt what a wounded conscience was and could say by experience who can beare it Well I set my selfe sometimes to reading severall Authours upon the attributes of God and the more I sought after the knowledge of him there the more ignorant I saw my selfe of him I inquired also of many Ministers and of some Antient professors but they could make out but little to my understanding at last I went to another Minister Mr. Stubbs by name and declared to him my condition and after a little serious consideration he gave me a milde and tender answer as one that did sympathise with me in my misery and as he was speaking to me or within few houres after my spirit was finely calmed and my trouble abated The substance of what he said unto me was in these two heads First that whereas I was so troubled that I did not know God he said that neither I nor any man under heaven did know him so as we ought to know him and as hereafter we shall know him Paul himselfe said he knew but in part Secondly he further said this my ignorance of God is not a willing ignorance and God never comes in flaming fire rendring vengeance upon those that are willing to know him but he comes to render vengeance upon those that are willingly ignorant of him With these and such like words the Lord was pleased to calme those stormes that were within me which mercy I trust I shall never forget c. And to proceed for the removing of this stumbling blocke that God hath in mercy removed from me Consider that God in himselfe is wonderfull and God in Christ is wonderfull see Isa 9. 6. Father and Son in the Spirit is wonderfull the Fathers wayes are in tho deep the Sonnes wayes are in the deep the holy Ghosts wayes are in the deep and so their foot-steps are not known Psal 77. 19. If any aske How can these be three and yet but one God I answer great is the mystery the Sonne in the Father and the Father in the Sonne and the Spirit of truth which is sent by the Father and the Sonne Joh. 14. 11. with 15. 26. 14. 26. God is incomprehensible there is something in Gods essence not to be inquired into and there are some things that may be known of God and some things not Rom. 1. 20. Of his great and glorious being we can see but the glimmerings Exod. 33. 20 23. No man can see and know him as he is and live in this sinfull body we may admire his essence but not comprehend it Rom. 11. 33. It is life eternall to know him as we may read Joh. 17. 3. But he dwelleth in that light that no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen or can see 1 Tim. 6 16. No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Joh. 1. 18. And as he is immortall so he is invisible 1 Tim. 1. 17. 1 Joh. 4. 12. But more particularly how can these be three and yet but one God I answer they are distinguished not divided they be distinguished into Father Son and holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5. 7. There are three that beare record and these three are one he is so eternall as is nâ—t onely without beginning and ending but by and in him all things begin and end For the further clearing hereof Consider at the first the Lord made man of the dust of the earth and breathed in him the breath of life and he became a living soul and in this soul there is a spirituall substance as is God but finit and not being of it selfe so is not God the Lord stamped his owne likenesse of an holy Trinity in Unity and of an holy Unity in Trinity as the soul is but one essence yet there ariseth three diverse faculties in that one substance first there is the Minde secondly there is the Will thirdly there is the power of doing or working the minde conceiveth and understandeth things the will affecteth the object according as the minde first conceiveth of the thing and from this minde conceiving and will affecting there proceedeth the working power by which something is done the minde so conceiving resembleth the Father the will having his affections begotten by the minde conception resembleth the Son begotten of Father and the power of doing proceeding both from the minde and will resembleth the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son and as these three Father Son and Spirit make but one God so these three faculties doe make but one spirituall substance or soul But as the Father worketh not without the Son nor the holy Ghost without the Father and the Son so neither doth the minde or will or working power effect any thing apart but joyntly together yet as we attribute Creation to the Father Redemption to the Son Illumination to the Spirit so to the minde we attribute understanding to the will we attribute both well or ill affecting and to the working power we attribute the thing wrought or done And as in that one God no person is before or after another in time but only in order so neither in that one soul is the minde before the will in time nor the working power behinde them in time for the power of working is before the thing wrought There is no distinction but only in order for there is no sooner the soule in the body but there exist all them three and without any one of them the soul cannot be If any demand who created all things I answer God Who redeemeth man fallen God Who doth inlighten man God yet there are not three but one God So if any man demand What is that in me that understandeth I answer the soul What is that willeth or affecteth any thing I answer the soul What is that whereby I am
cups out of which you drink on the bed-steeds where you lye on the wals of the house where you dwell on the garments which you wear and on the foreheads of all them whom ye meet and on your own selves in every member of your body and faculty of the soul Psal 39. 5. Every man at his best estate is vanity Where is the glory of Solomon the sumptuous buildings of Nebuchadnezzar the nine hundred Chariots of Sicera the power of Alexander the authority of Augustus that commanded the whole world to be taxed all these at their best estates weâ—e but vanity nay take Solomon for beauty Samson for strength Achitophell for policy Haman for favour Ahasael for swiftnesse Alexander for great conquests and yet all these at their best estate are altogether vanity Wherefore centre not in any creature comfort take not up thy rest in any thing be this side God the God of rest and peace for all is mutable that hath the name of creature upon it only the Creator is immutable and unchangeable in all that he saith or doth if he be once a Father he will be ever a Father if once a Friend he will be ever a Friend if he once love thee he will never hate thee and for this ground it is we are commanded to love him with a supreme love if we love father mother wife or children more then he we be not worthy of him nay we cannot be his disciples unlesse we in a sense hate all theâ—e for his sake Luk. 14. 26. Moses desired to see the Lord that he might know him more perfectly and the Lord told him Exod. 33. 20. Thou canst not see my face for there shall no man see me and live and Paul renders the reason of this 1 Tim. 6. 16. who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen or can see in a word man is so vailed and clouded and narrow spirited that at the highest degree he can know God but only in his attributes and that but in part neither for he is wonderfull in every attribute and as the Prophet saith such knowledge is too wonderfull for me wherefore to winde up all and for the removing of this stumbling block endevour to beleeve in one God Father of all and in one Lord Jesus Christ redeemer of all and in one sanctifying Spirit of grace it is the office of the Father to Elect the office of thâ— Sonne to Redeem and the office of the Holy Ghost to Sanctifâ—e those and only those whom the Father hath elected and the Sonne redeemed Endevour in the Name of the Lord to see the Father love thee freely and the Sonne manifesting that unto thee and the Spirit beginning to evidence it in thee further endevour to see that the Father loves thee as redeemed by the Sonne the Sonne looks upon thee and loves thee as being given by the Father for him to redeem and the Holy Ghost seeing the love of the Father in choosing thee and the love of the Sonne in redeeming thee he also sets his love upon thee and will shortly manifest it unto thee and evidence it in thee this is that intenall eternall Word by which all things were made supported ruled quickned enlightned and judged this glorious infinite wisdome was vailed in flesh and so God manifest in the flesh was the mirror of Angels the terrour of Devils the expectation of the new creation in a word it is as easie to compasse the heaven with a span and to contain the sea in a nut-shell as to apprehend or comprehend this internall eternall being in the fulnesse thereof we may as soon fill a bag with wisdome and a chest with virtue and a circle with a triangle as the heart of man with the knowledge of God man may have some glimerings and know him in part and this is life eternall but dark man is so narrow spirited that in all things God is above him he saith of himself to man My waies are not your waies nor my thoughts your thoughts for as the heavens are higher then the earth so are my thoughts above your thoâ—ghts and my waies above your waies Isai 55. 9. as if the Lord had said there is as vast a difference between my knowledge of you and your knowledge of me as there is distance between the heaven and the earth my dispositions and dealings both for mercy and goodnesse and for firmnesse and faithfulnesse are as farre above your understanding as the highest heavens are above the very centre of the earth and farre higher for the one is unmeasurable yet finite whereas the other because infinite is for greatnesse and amplitude and immensity inconceivable The best of men that have bowels of compassion some tender heartednesse some ingenuity and readinesse to remit a wrong or some firmnesse or faithfulnesse in making good what they promise what is all this to that which is in God for so much as God is above man in point of Majesty so he is above man in mercy he is a guide to lead you a staffe to uphold you a cordiall to strengthen you a plaister to heal you he will stand you in stead when friends forsake you he is as swift to shew mercy as he is slow to anger he will carry you through the hardest services with the greatest swiftnesse if he give us more knowledge of him we shall live more upon him and delight more in him and be more conformable unto him true happinesse lies only in our injoyment of a sutable good a pure good a totall good an eternall good and God is only such a good the treasure of the Saints is the knowledge of God the presence of God the favour of God union and communion with God the pardon of sin the joy of the Spirit and peace of conscience all which câ—mes into the soule by the knowledge of Christ and is clouded again in the absence of Christ a man wiâ—hout this knowledge of Christ and God is as a workman without hands a painter without eyes a traveller without legs a ship without sails or a bird without wings or as a body without a soul all our discouragements doe flow from our ignorance and want of faith in this Almighty God viz. it springs from our ignorance of the riches freenesse fulnesse and everlastingnesse of Gods love or from our ignorance of the power glory sufficiency and efficacy of the death and of the sufferings of Christ Jesus our Lord or from our ignorance of the worth glory fulnesse and compleatnesse of the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ or from our ignorance of that reall close spirituall glorious and inseparable union that there is between Christ and our precious souls To drive further into this mystery time would fail me strength fail me light would fail me I doe rather lispe then speak in the things of God and therefore must I needs stammer in so mysterious a point as this
Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost 1 John 5. 5 6 7 8 9. 18 19 21. Mat. 28. 19. Ephes 4. 4 5 6. and 1 John 2. 22 23. and 2 John 9. 10. and 1 Tim. 2. 4 5 6. and 2 Tim. 3. 15. 1 John 2. 22. Acts 4. 10. 12. and 1 Cor. 3. 10 11. Isaiah 45. 21 22 23. 4. A true Church may be known by this also I say a true Church that is perfectly joyned together for of such a Church I am now speaking 1 Cor. 1. 10. I say that this Church doth hold that Jesus Christ is very God and very Man of the very Substance of the Virgin Mary begotten by the spirit of God 1 Joh. 4. 23. 2 Joh. 7. and 1 John 4. 3. That Jesus Christ is God and Man doth further appeare in these Scriptures Mat. 16. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Isaiah 53. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 24 25. 1 Corinth 15. 2 3. 2 Timoth. 2. 4 5 6. 5. That the same Lord Jesus Christ dyed for the sinnes of the people being crucified at Jerusalem and rose againe and ascended into Heaven whereby there is a way opened for all sinners whom God shall draw and make willing freely to come to God and their duty so to doe and whosoever doth come and none else he doth wash away their sinnes in his owne bloud and present them to his Father pure in his owne purity John 8. 24. Acts 4. 10 11 12. Acts 10. 38 39 40 41 42 43. and 1 Cor. 15. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Act. 22. 8. Acts 2. 36 37 38. Rev. 22. 17. Isa 55. 1 2. Col. 1. 22. 28. Ephes 5. 27. 2 Peter 3. 14. Colos 2. 10. 6. A true Church sound in the Faith and holy in Conversation doth hold that this same Jesus Christ being the onely God and Man in one person remaines for ever a distinct Being from the Saints and Angels notwithstanding their Vnion and Communion with him Col. 2. 8 9. 19. and 1 Tim. 3. 16. 7. A true Church doth hold that precious faith or comming to God is a spirituall and peculiar gift of God and that there is no freenesse or willingnesse in any naturall man to that which is spiritually good but an absolute enmity thereto so that no naturall man can by any thing that he can doe bring himselfe into a state of grace or holinesse or sit himselfe thereto 8. A true Church sound in the Faith doth hold that we are justified and saved by grace and saith in Christ and not by workes Rom. 1. 16 17. 31. Rom. 8. 13. Rom. 9. 31 32 33. and 10. 3 4. Act. 15. 24. Gal. 1. 6 7 8 9. Gal. 5. 2. 4 5. Ephes 2. 8 9 10. and 1 John 1. 6. 8. 1 John 3. 3 4 5 6 7 8. and 2 Pet. 2. 19 20. 9. A true Church doth hold that God meerly of his good pleasure without the fore-sight of any good in the creature elected a certaine number by name unto eternall salvation and hath decreed also to effect all the wayes for them and in them to bring them thereto Ephes 1. 4. Mat. 24. 22. 24. 31. Rom. 8. 33. and 9. 11. and 1 Tim. 5. 21. and 2. 2. 10. and 1 Pet. 1. 2. and 2 Pet. 1. 10. and 2 Thes 2. 13. 10. A true Church holds that no person that is so elected and regenerated shall fall away out of that state and be damned but shall be undoubtedly kept by the power of God in that state of regeneration unto salvation 2 Tim. 2. 19. Titus 1. 2. and Mat. 24. 24. Phil. 1. 6. 1 Per. 1. 5. Rom. 8. 1. and 6. 22. and 8. 30. Ephes 4. 30. and 5. 27. Heb. 12. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 23. Prov. 24. 1◠1 John 3. 9. Jude 24. Mat. 7. 24 25. Besides the Lord hath engaged by way of promise that none of his shall fall finally John 10. 27 28 29. and 4. 14. and 3. 36. and 5. 24. and 6. 40. 47. 54. and 14. 16. and 1 Cor. 1. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 6. and 2. 1. 10. 1 Sam. 12. 22. Psal 94. 14. Prov. 10. 30. A true Church doth hold that God is to be worshipped according to his owne will but those that slight his Ordinances and despise the duties of his worship doe manifestly declare that they are none of those that shall be saved Jer. 10. 15. Psal 14. 4. Jude 18 19 20 21. 12. That Church that is perfectly joyned one to another in one spirit doth hold that the dead shall rise and that there is a day of Judgement Acts 17. 30 31. 1 Cor. 15. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. Heb. 9. 27. 1 Pet. 4. 17. Jude 6. Rev. 20. 12 13. Rom. 2. 16. In a word to say no more a true Communion of Saints according to a Gospel-institution is a Communion of Saints arising from a clear apprehension of their Union with Saints 1 Cor. 12. 13 14. for by one spirit we are all baptised into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles bond or free 〈◊〉 have been all made to drink into one spirit for the body is not one member but many ver 20. for now are they many members but one body Now when a Saint comes to see that every one in whom the Lord Jesus appeareth is a member together with him in the same body whereof Christ is the head then his heart longeth to joyne himselfe in fellowship with such who have fellowship with the Father and the Son 1 John 1. 3. Obj. But I am a little unsatisfied in this saith some soule I heare that those Churches that walk nearest to those Rules before laid downe doe suffer some to speake and teach amongst them that are not Ministers but private Members pray Sir how is that exercise proved Answ Their exercising their gifts may be proved by these four demonstrations 1. By examples in the Jewish Church where men though in no Office either in Temple or Synagogue had liberty publiquely to use their gifts as doth clearly appeare by these Scriptures Luke 2. 42. 46 47. Luke 4. 16 17 18. Acts 8. 4. and 11. 19 20 21. and Chapt. 13 14 15 16. chap. 18. 24 25 26. 2. By the Commandement of Christ and his Apostles Luke 9 10. chap. 10. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 1 Cor. 14. 1. 5. 30 31. 3. It will appeare plainly by the prohibiting of women to teach in the Church hereby liberty being given unto men their husbands or others 1 Tim. 2. 11 12. 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. 4. This will yet more fully appeare by those most excellent ends which by this meanes are to be obtained As 1. The glory of God in the manifestation of his manifold graces See 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 2. That the gifts of the Spirit in men be not quenched 1 Thes 5. 19 20. Quench not the Spirit despise not prophesying that is Stop not the motion of the Spirit in your selves nor restraine the gift thereof in others Despise not prophesying that is Contemne not the Word
how meane soever the speakers gifts seeme unto thee Set not lightly by the declarations and applications of the Scriptures either by such as have the extraordinary gifts of prophesying see 1 Cor. 14. 15. or by the ordinary gifts 3. For the fitting and tryall of men for the Ministery 4. For the preserving pure the doctrine of the Church which is more indangered if some one or two alone may onely be heard and speak Act. 2. 42. 5. For the debating and satisfying of doubts if any doe arise Act. 13. 15. 6. For the edifying of the Church and conversion of others alwayes provided that he have the gift of the Spirit to speak unto edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14. 3. Now to say no more in order to the removing of this last stumbling block let me exhort thee in the name and fear of the Lord to inquire and make diligent search amongst all sorts of Assemblyes prophesying and pretending to Christ for such a Congregation that of lively stones have built up a spirituall house and set down therewith many at the feet of Christ hear his words and endeavour to be serviceable to his Lambs thy fellow Members so shalt thou dwell in his house and behold his glory and inquire in his Temple Psal 27. 4. and thou being thus planted in his house shall flourish in his Courts Psal 29. And this is all I shall lay before thee or commend unto thee as touching the removing those stumbling-blocks that lye in a Christians way to Heaven and the maine end next to the glory of God that put me upon removing these stumbling blocks is that we might keep up faith in our soules which will be of singular use unto us viz. 1. It will purifie the heart Acts 15. 9. 2. It will enable us to heare the word with profit Heb. 4. 2. 3. It will inable us to overcome the world 1 John 5. 4. 4. It will inable us to overcome the Devill Ephes 6. 16. 5. It will make mercies present that are absent Heb. 11. 1. 13. 6. It will fill the Soule with joy unspeakable 1 Pet. 1. 8. 7. It will multiply peace in the Soule Rom. 5. 1 2. 8. It will assure a Soule that God will answer his prayers James 1. 5 6. 9. It will inable us to be fruitfull in well-doing even to shew forth our faith by our workes James 2. 18. it will inable us not only to do the thing commanded but as it is commanded Rom. 14. 23. 10. It will not only give us the title of honour of being called the children of Abraham but it will furnish us with a heart and principle to walke in the steps of our Father Abraham to come forth of our own Countrey as he did if God call us and to trust upon God although he had but a bare word for it and to give God as he did his own time to make God his owne promise and to part with the nearest and dearest thing for God at first word and to look through all difficulties and impossibilities unto the fulnesse of God and so to believe in hope against hope and so to wait upon God as not to neglect the meanes Faith Prayer Hope c. for the accomplishment of the mercy promised yea this faith will help the soule to act in Spirituall duties from Spirituall ends as from the sence of Divine love that doth as it were constraine the soule to waite upon God and to waite upon God and to act for God in love to God the choice and pretious discoveries that the soul hath formerly had of the beauty and glory of God whilst it hath been in the service of God the blessed love-letters the glorious kisses and the sweet imbraces that a believing soul hath had from Christ in his service this doth provoke and move the soule to wait upon him in the way of his Ordinances but an unbeliever doth put himselfe upon religious duties only from externall motives as the Eare of the creature the Eye of the creature the reward of the creature and the keeping up of a name amongst the creatures and a thousand such lâ—ke considerations and as we may see in Jehu Saul Judas Demas and the Scribes and Pharisees c. It would much heighten our Faith if we did seriously consider the sweet condescentions of our tender Lord God to all staggering misgiving weak Christians viz. Luke 9. 56. but The Son of Man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them 1 Tim. 2. 5. I am saith Christ willing that all should be saved and come to knowledge of the truth Mat. 9. 13. I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Heb. 2. 15. I am saith Christ to deliver those that were all their life time subject to bondage Jer. 3. 12. Heb. 8. 12. I am very mercifull and will be mercifull and will pardon thy Sins Isa 43. 25. Though thou deservest nothing of me yet I will pardon thy Sins for my owne name sake and though it doth seeme impossible to thee that I should be so mercifull Mark 9. 23. Consider all things are possible to him that believeth Obj. O but I am the child of wicked Parents and the Lord hath said he will visit the sinnes of the Fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation Answ If a wicked Father and Mother beget a Son that seeth all his Parents sinnes and considereth and doth not such like that Sonne shall not bear the iniquity of his Father Ezek. 18. 14. 20. Ezek. 16. 3. to the 13. besides we finde in Scripture that wicked Parents had good Children 2 Kings 16. 20. wicked Ahab had good Hezekiah Idolatrous Ammon zealous Josiah 2 Kings 22. 2. see 2 Kings 21. 21 22. and ungodly Saul had a godly Jonathan nay if thou be a Bastard the child of a Whore that doth not hinder thee neither to be saved for Gods servant Jeptha was a Bastard so was his servant Phares who is reckoned in Christs owne Genealogie compare Judges 11. 1. with Heb. 11. 32. compare Gen. 38. 18. and 29. and Ruth 4. 12. with Mat. 1. 3. in a word he that is borne a Bastard if he be borne againe of the Spirit he is reckoned among the Sonns of God Obj. But I am an old Sinner and have one foot already in the grave saith another trembling Soule Answ Christ doth call some at the ninth houre yea some at the eleventh houre and saith Jer. 3. 5. returne unto me and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon thee I will multiply pardons for thee Isa 55. 7. Nay if thou hast been an Idolater an Adulterer a Thief a Drunkard yet we finde in Scripture such were many of the Lords deare ones that are now in Heaven 1 Cor. 9. 6. 9 10 11. Tit. 3. 3 4 5 6 7. What shall we say Christ left his own glory and came into the world to save Sinners Joh. 17. 5. 1. Tim. 1. 15. though he