12.7 to guide them into all truth so that fearching by the Light of this Spirit even the deep and hidden things of God ch 2. 10. Rom. 1.20 and growing in grace by it they may * Note that the English Translation of this place of 1 John 2.20 which reads you shall know all things is false for the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not you shall know but having known you know still for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used instead of the Present Tense as the Latin Verb Nâ—vi know John 14.26 1 John 2.20 27. and do all things Mark 9.23 Phil. 4.13 and thus being taught of God John 6.45 need not that any man teach them But the Question is Whether this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Unction the Holy Ghost be given to all true Believers or good Christians as unto the Apostles For that it is given to them all in some measure their very name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English anointed ones and being made Kings and Priests Revel 1.6 5.10 they must needs be anointed shews and that they partake of the true Oyl of gladness with the Messiah or Christ called so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by reason that he had not the Spirit like the other anointed ones by measure John 3.34 Hebr. 1.9 for both Christ and Messiah signifie the anointed and not the Faithful only but all men Jews and Gentiles partake of the Holy Ghost a certain portion of it being distributed to every man living and allowed to all mankind as appeareth 1. Because Christ by the Light of his Spirit enlightneth every man that cometh into the World John 1.9 and not the Faithful only 2. Then from the spiraculum breathed into man's nostrils Gen. 2.7 being still since Adam lost the Holy Ghost by his Fall to the days of Solomon and likewise in our days the Lamp of the Lord in man Prov. 20.27 3. Next from the reason given by him who is perfect in knowledge the most wise God Gen. 9.6 why man should not shed man's bloud to wit because he is made after the image of God which shews that man had not yet quite lost the image of God for if he had this reason had ceased at the same time and as being of no force God had not made use of it therefore hath some of it still for we find no where that since Noah's time he hath lost it And this Image consisting in the Spirit of promise for by the receit of it men are according to the promise made to Abraham of their being restored or renewed to the same Image of God Adam had which all are fallen short from Rom. 3.23 God's promise to Abraham being but the same as that which he had made to Adam presently after his loss Gen. 3.15 which what is it else but a bruising of what made him creep a rising from the beastly dark state he was fallen into and so a recovery from his said sickness and loss created a new saith Paul Eph. 4.24 Colos 3.10 after the image of God Acts 2.33 38 39. Tit. 3.5 6. Heb. 11.39 40. since man hath still some portion of the said Image left him he hath likewise some relicks of the said Holy Spirit which forms and constitutes it as from the words renewing and newness of the Spirit frequently used by Paul as Rom. 7.6 12.2 Tit. 3 5. upon this account may further be understood 4. Again The kingdom of God being like unto a man travelling from his Estate into some remote Country who delivered to his Servants his goods or good gifts Mat. 25.14 that is the Holy Spirit confer Mat. 7.11 with Luk. 11.13 it follows that God giveth his Spirit to all mankind for all men are God's Servants the being Lord and Master and the Holy Ghost is saith Paul alluding to this 1 Cor. 12.7 given to every man to trade use and improve him for his own best advantage 5. Lastly The Kingdom of God which is within man Luk. 17.21 being like leaven put into meal Mat. 13.33 a thing of the same nature but so heavy of it self that it must be fermented with Leaven to become Bread it appears that though all men have with Adam lost some part and note well come short only Rom. 3.23 of the whole Image of God 1 Cor. 11.7 yet all men some more some less and not only those few that are born of the Spirit have still remaining in them some old ruinous fragments or a certain smoaking Flax which is of the same nature as the Spirit of promise which renews and reforms man but which was not given till Christ was glorified John 7.39 Quicquid in hominibus saith the thrice great and learned Author of the Pymander videt audit verbum Domini that is to say is from the Word of wisdom or Spirit of the great God 1 Cor. 12.8 Neither do any of the Christian Sects I know of deny the said allowance of the Spirit to themselves though some exclude other men such as the Jews and Heathen And Master Vicar himself is so far from denying and arguing against it that he makes it his business by a new distinction of an extraordinary and ordinary Spirit to shew that though the former is ceased as he disputes yet the Christian Church always receives and hath the latter of the two continued His words are these pag. 6. viz. The Apostles extraordinary Spirit continued more or less about 400 years in God's Church and men wrought Miracles and thereby convinced Gainsayers though about that time they were not so numerous and plentiful as they were before and the reason was because there was no such need of them and a little after they ceased For when the occasion and reason of working Miracles ceased as Kings proving Nursing-Fathers to the Church the Gospel being a National Religion in most Countries then God in his wisdom suspended that great and mighty power wherewith he had accompanied good men before Therefore men are now to look for no other Spirit but what is necessary for their needs as they are Christians Having said pag. 4. that the Primitive Christians stood in need as Apostles of their extraordinary Spirit upon the account of both the Jews and Gentiles there being great reason that such as were the immediate Instruments of so great an undertaking as making void a Law to wit the Law of Moses which had been settled by God and convincing the prejudiced Gentiles of the truth of their persons as well as of their doctrine should have a proportionable commission and strength to do it with Alas adds he pag. 5. had it not been for this the Gospel would have been nipp'd in its first budding forth and it would have been a downright impossibility for so great a part of the World to have been imposed upon by such a company of illiterate persons as the Apostles before the descent of the Holy Ghost were Can you imagine that such learned men as Dionysius and
other persons brought up in the Schools at Athens who well understood the principles and connexion of things would have submitted to the pretences of such bold and rude persons who could shew no reason at all beyond their own consident assertions for what they said No it was impossible and by the way this one thing shews the great necessity of humane Learning and is a sufficient confutation of all those Enthusiasts who do revile it to wit that what the Apostles wanted of it upon the score of Education God supplied by Miracle But for their extraordinary Spirit it is a plain case because we daily experience it that it is ceased and that no man can now pretend to it for he that pretends to the same Spirit the Apostles had must do the same things or else he is mighty vain and argues his understanding to be much impaired Now judge ye who is more vain than this Vicar who denies Scripture and the experience of several sober learned pious godly men who have been Eye-witnesses and testifie and relate the Miracles wrought upon some faithful believing men since his four hundred years as shall be shewed hereafter Judge also whether his own experience can teach him that the said Spirit is ceased For the gift of Miracles being but one of many belonging to that Spirit and all the gifts being not given to every one of those that truly believe but one or two gifts to each as in page appears he must needs be acquainted with all the true Believers that live all the World over to say that his Experience and that of his acquaintance who are as well informed as himself of what passeth daily among the faithful shews him that none of them can at present pretend to it when the Prophet Elijah who was as noted a man I hope as the Vicar knew not one of the seven thousand faithful men who lived in his time in Israel 1 Kings 19.14 18. and they that can do these things do not seek to shew themselves and to be known openly John 5.44 7.4 6. Luk. 8.56 But though they did and wrought some Miracles every day in the sight of all the World yet they that say that Miracles are ceased so long ago would believe them no sooner than their fellow Pharisees who though blasphemous enough to ascribe the glory of them to Beelzebub were not so silly as to pretend that they were ceased Then observe from his own words that what God by Miracle supplied of Humane Learning being wanted upon the score of Education might by Education have been got without Miracle and so what need was there God should supply by Miracle what he might have had and done plentifully without it For there lived at the time that Christ chose the Apostles many other men who had by their Education got Humane Learning enough to hold out an Argument against the learned Heathen And St. Paul who had enough Acts 22.3 needed not I presume to supply his want of it receive the same fulness of Spirit as the other twelve yet he received it and that with as extraordinary circumstance as all the rest Acts 9.17 18. 2 Cor. 11.5 12.4 Gal. 2.6 8. Besides the necessity of Humane Learning Logick Metaphysick c. to convince Dionysius and other learned Gentiles whose conviction the Vicar said before was the hard task that required such an extraordinary Spirit implys that Humane Learning was the means the Apostles made use of to convince them contrary to 1 Cor. 2.6 8. Col. 2.8 Mat. 11.25 And if so may not they that are now great Masters in it although by Education and say they make use of it as the Divines of these times against their Adversaries pretend to do the same things and to have therefore the same Spirit the Apostles had Verhum sat sapienti this being but by the way to give the sober Reader a hint of what the Learning of those wise men will produce 1 Cor. 1.19 20. And they have ill luck who whilst they seek for honour and praise for their Learning and Wisdom not only get no credit but forfeit by what they were in great hopes to procure some that which they were look'd upon to have already gotten But O that they were as wise and learned as they pretend and as they would seem to be for then they might do some good and had saved me the trouble of declaring now for them that the Apostles Spirit continues still in the Church that all men have the same right and as good pretences to the extraordinary Spirit the Apostles had as the Apostles themselves and that they may now have it and if they will make use of the same means they used Acts 1.14 2.1 15.7 8. John 14.23 Luk. 18.1 receive it and be filled with it as much as they were For the gift of that Spirit if we will but take Christ's word and solemn promise for it Mark 16.17 John 14.12 wait upon the Church of God all them that believe in him of any nation and tongue and of any profession Acts 10.35 44 46. and that not for about 400 years only but until now at present and to the end of the World Mat. 28.20 for that I may not leave them comfortless saith Christ John 14.18 23. I will come by what can comfort refresh and give life and joy viz. by my Spirit v. 26. 6.63 Jam. 2.26 Acts 3.19 20. and make my abode with them or within them for the Church being the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 Eph. 4.12 he must like the Soul in man dwell in the Members that make the said body for ever John 14.16 13. and to you and your children and to as many as God shall ever call saith Peter Act. 2.38 39. the promise of the same blessing to wit the receit of the same Holy Spirit Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 8. Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.14 belongs And saith he further Act. 10.47 11.15 not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as he confirms it ch 15.8 according to the same measure as we the first have received the Holy Ghost you may receive be filled with him and have him likewise Which words shew that St. Peter did not arrogate either to himself or to the rest of his fellow Apostles the extraordinary Spirit ascribed to them viz. a more peculiar gift and a greater share of God's Spirit than all other true Believers have or may have and that he did not then dream of being more infallible than they be and of his Church and Church-mens prerogatives as men do before they have received the Holy Ghost witness Mark 9.38 conferred with Luk 24.49 Numb 11.28 29. And so from these words of Christ and Peter that it appears that the Apostles Spirit or the same Spirit they had never ceaseth in the Church nor in any National Religion Sect or party until it ceaseth to be the Church and the Flock of Christ
demonstrate to sober minds And though some of your Doctors may speak Hebrew far better and be more ready than he at Sçeva Hiphil Phiel and at finding of your Roots as wisely established for such as the Holy Ghost taken away from Christ's Church yet without Lexicon Grammar Talmud and Targum he went so far beyond them that none of the best of them have ever so much as once dreamed of one word of the most sublime and divine sence which he hath discovered in almost every word of the Book of Genesis And if you had been pleased but to consult him a little about the meaning of some Hebrew words as for instance what means the Scripture by the word Meroz Judg. 5.23 you had never written nor suffer'd to be printed so much Non-sence about it Curse Meroz who can that be in the true sence of Scripture which is every where Figurative and besides in this place Prophetical but the Bishops and all such Shepherds whom God is against Ezek. 34.10 for that being like Meroz some of the men set apart among the Christian Churches to help the Spirit of God to fight against the Nations and the powers of darkness which War against him in man Gal. 5.17 19. and oppress the people of God and lead him away captive as Judg. 5.12 is said for Meroz was a Town of Galilee and belonging to the Tribe of Naphtali which with that of Zebâ—lon was by the Prophetess appointed in Israel to fight against Jabin the King of the Canaanites Judg. 4.6 5.18 and so typifies a part of those which are chosen from the body of the Church to set upon the Prince of this World and his Host in us they instead of thus helping the Lord against these mighty not only go not about either for their own private or publick good of their people to oppose their invasion but freely become their Slaves and betray into the hands of those Enemies of God Rom. 8.7 their Flocks by suffering them to walk and to run with them in the will of the Gentiles to wit Pride and Drunkenness excess in Clothes Patching Plays Revellings c. 1 Pet. 4.4 which Lusts go uncontrolled nay instead of exhorting the Magistrate to suppress the Schools of Vice in this Land viz. all lewd and Play-houses these dumb Dogs that cannot bark but for praise honour and gain Isa 56.10 11. discourage by barking at those that find fault with them as by applying to them on a Temporal account the curse of Meroz appears those few that would go and fight the said Enemies of God Besides as Meroz is not mentioned in the portions divided to the twelve Tribes Josh 19.32 to 40. among the Cities named throughout the inheritance of the people of Israel and yet was a Town of one of the Tribes of Israel so it ought to be applied to those that are in the Church and yet are not of the true Church of Christ have neither part nor lot in the Holy Ghost Act. 8.21 the true inheritance of Saints and Land of promise Rom. 14.17 and whose names are not set down or written among the true Israel in Heaven And who should these be but those who have not the Holy Ghost and deny the gift of it and yet like Simon Magus would gladly make sale of it as from their Ordination for money is manifest These four were Protestants viz. of the Lutherans and Valdenses Profession That the other Protestant parties have also seen some of the same wonders and signs done by the power of Faith upon some among themselves it is no hard thing to give several instances of and even out of some of their own Martyrologies But because they that read them may observe the same themselves and to avoid as much as I can prolixity out of many instances which are come to my knowledge in many parts of Europe I will give only two which occur and have been seen in England not so long time ago but that several sufficient eye witnesses of the one are still living and ready to attest it as the other is likewise by the testimony of great many judicious and learned spectators of the same now deceased The first instance is of a blind man that received his sight who being a Labourer by name Robert Lancaster of Castleacre a Town in the County of Norfolk had lost one eye by a Thorne and the other by a Stubble in binding sheaves in Harvest He was at least five years without the least sight and all that time earned his living with bunching of Flax and Hemp being led by his Son or an Apprentice he had from one Town to another He was a constant hearer of the Word and one Sunday about 30 years ago being at Church where hearing that part of the Gospel read or expounded which we find in the 9 th of John v. 6 7. viz. that Christ spat on the ground made clay and spread it upon the eyes of the man born blind and sent him to wash his eyes in the Pool of Siloam which done he came thence seeing God it seems who opens mens ears in adversity by dreams visions of the night or by an interpreter and one among a thousand to shew man his uprightness that is the way which he may become righteous and just by Job 33.15 16 23. opened his heart to attend to the things that were spoken Act. 16.14 and to believe that God being as able and ready as ever to help all those who trusting to his goodness call earnestly upon him the same thing might then be done by him as well as before and in this confidence as soon as he came from Church he caused his Wife to get some clay from the wall of his Cottage and tempering it with his own spittle anointed his eyes and then desired to be led to a Spring which is in a place not far from thence called Broad Meadow where washing his eyes he did presently receive some sight and washing a second time he had a very good sight for all his life afterwards which was about eight years and used for a great part of that time Threshing in his and other Towns round about All this is certainly affirmed by several yet living in the same Town who knew Lancaster before and since his recovery by the Son of him that was then Minister of that Town who lives now in Snedsham not far from Castleacre his name is William Turner by Philip Pagraff of Little Appleton in Norfolk likewise Thomas Boot a Silk-weaver who dwells now in Goat-Alley by the Artillery-Ground Mrs. Mary Gold dwelling in the Haberdashers-Hall and by Lancaster's own Son who lives within five miles of the said Castleacre and Daughter who is married within three miles of London And this Relation comes from the present Minister of the said Castleacre Mr. William Briggs who though a sound Episcopal man hath sent it in writing to one of my acquaintance The other instance is of one Briggs a North-Country
man of a competent Estate which is observable 1. for his falling into Trances 2. for his great Faith whereby he overcame the Tempter and cast him out or at least far from himself when in the fiery tryal which goes usually before an unfeigned conversion he did as he never fails to do on such occasion assault him with all the might and the wiles he hath at hand to make the despairing Soul fall under his temptation 3. for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and strangeness of his disease and 4. for his cure and recovery without the help of all other means than of a strong Faith in Christ This same Briggs was a Lawyer of the Temple a godly man about 30 years of age and contemporary to Fox the Author of the English Martyrology His case and all that passed between the Tempter and him all the time of his Trances is in truth so remarkable that as it induced then many pious learned men both Physicians and Divines who resorted to his House all that while every day to hear the things which he spake to put it in writing so it induceth me to give it at large as they have left it to the publick that they may see in seeing and believe the extraordinary working of the Holy Ghost in good men to convert them as well now as heretofore and so referring my self for the particulars thereof to their Memorial that shall be God willing printed within a short time I will give over here the discourse of the power of Faith and of the faithful working Miracles to this day to follow the main design of this the demonstration of the Apostles Spirit continuing in Christ's Church as long as the World endures To which end the distinction of an extraordinary and ordinary Spirit set up by Master Vicar is to be considered of and we are to understand that though the Apostles had the extraordinary Spirit he ascribes to them whereby they wrought Miracles yet it is properly such that is extraordinary in respect only of the Spirit of Lip-Christian-Bishops and natural men for the extraordinary circumstances it came and sate with on the Apostles doth not make it to be the more extraordinary neither did it presently though it introduced them into the kingdom of Light and opened unto them the principle and the center of all wisdom and knowledge whence the language of nature and the wonderful works of God were at the same time understood and seen of them shew and reveal unto them what they should believe and teach in any doubtful cases for the time they were to live but respective to that of true Christian believers it is but ordinary for saith Peter again Act. 15.9 the Lord put no difference between us and them meaning those he had said v. 7. believed but he that knoweth the hearts and therefore when men believe bears them witness of their faith by giving the Holy Ghost to them even as to us v. 7 8. Whence follows that since God bears witness to them that believe by giving the Holy Ghost to them even as he did to the greatest Apostles all the faithful are sealed as Paul saith 2 Cor. 1.22 Ephes 1.3 4.30 with the Spirit of promise when they believe and with an equal portion when they believe equally Thus whether Jews or Gentiles whether Apostles Teachers or any men provided they be believers indeed being all made to partake or drink of one and the same extraordinary Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 which is further confirmed Act. 11.17 by Peter pleading that God gave the Gentiles the like gift as he had done unto him what he durst not have pleaded if there had been between the Apostles and the converted Gentiles Spirit such difference as the Bishops imagine for had there been any such difference in their Spirits they that contended with him as grudging and repining that the Gentiles should enjoy the same priviledge they did had given him some answer which we do not read they did and not glorified God for it as we read they did v. 18. But truly this distinction of an ordinary and extraordinary Spirit among believers being yet unknown with them they freely acquiesced and it being neither found nor grounded upon Scripture which on the contrary asserteth the unity and the identity of Spirit and speaks no where but of one and the same Spirit all the Church over we are rather to adhere like them to St. Peter's words denying this difference than to the newer doctrine of the Episcopal Church which to the withstanding of God Act. 11.17 stands stoutly for it And that you may the better judge and understand your selves whether the said difference ought to be admitted of it will not be amiss to consider the working of the Apostles Spirit and how much the Apostles themselves ascribed to it for most of the Lip-Christians attribute so much to it and have such strange conceits of it as for instance they who say that it is ceased that they are kept blind thereby from knowing when they see him and from perceiving when he doth manifest himself that it is he whom they see and his virtue which appears all which might be prevented and what we ought to think clearly seen and perceived if in reading we had ears to understand what is said of it in many places as for instance out of the 13. chapter of the Acts v. 52. it is plain and obvious that Paul as chief Apostle Gal. 2.7 8 9. and the disciples of Antioch were fill'd with the Holy Ghost and from the 15. chapter that upon some new-comers teaching against the doctrine which no doubt Paul had preached to them when they believed ch 13.39 and was still present with them to make it out as he did ch 15.2 yet they the said disciples notwithstanding their being filled with the Holy Ghost not only knew not themselves how to decide the question but refused to believe to Paul and to Barnabas a certain argument that they thought no better of them than of the said new-comers and that notwithstanding Paul's extraordinary gift they thought him not infallible and sent them to know the mind of the other Apostles that were at Jerusalem But what is more observable in an Article of so great a consequence as this was Gal. 5.2 Peter and the rest of the Apostles and the Elders when they came to hear of it were themselves at a great loss for they met all together to consider dispute of and resolve in this matter v. 6 7. and after much disputing pro con Peter stood up and giving a good reason against the thing in question which reason after that Paul and Barnabas had spoken being confirmed by James with some addition to it it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church who gave their assent to it and sent accordingly Letters by some other men besides Paul and Barnabas to the faithful of Antioch And saith James my sentence is v. 19. which sentence or
Doctor to the silliest Country child shew against all other Sects and against the Traditions which they do not hold themselves as not to hear Truth it self if one of a dissenting party from them shew it them being fully perswaded though without ever so much as calling into question whether it be so or not that they are in the right way and that all wander out of the right way but themselves so all that will be saved or rise again from the fall or death Adam died of above 900 years before his temporal death Gen. 2.17 5.5 must come in through this entry I mean through singleness of heart and humility For did any of the proud Pharisees believe in Christ John 7.48 whilst the more humble vulgar that pretends to no learning heard him gladly saith St. Mark 12.37 and received him readily Luk. 19.6 The poor and humble vulgar is nearer the kingdom of God than the most learned Mat. 5.3 by the mouth of Babes Gods praise is still perfected Mat. 21.16 Blessed be thy Name O Lord that thou dost reveal thy Truth to none but such as receive the same like little Babes Mat. 11.25 Certainly Pride and the School-learning which puffs up with Pride 1 Cor. 8.1 is and ever was the cause of general and private Jewish Romish and English Protestant Apostacy Out of pride Angels and man fell from Heaven into Hell which is in outer darkness whereas the inheritance of Saints in the light Coloss 1.12 within Luk. 17.21 doth begin from a single eye Mat. 6.22 and out of pride Clergy-men are the first in all Ages and among all parties that reject and make others reject the counsel of God and it is to be observed that upon this same account the Clergy is the Author and hath ever been Author of all the persecutions that have been for Religion Act. 13.8 44 45. Lam. 4.13 as it was typified by Levi slaying Hamor and Shechem with all their men on no other pretence but why should he deal with our Sister that is our Church as though she were a Harlot Gen. 34.31 Which the Protestant Levi brother in iniquity to the old Christian Levi that is the Popish Clergy is upon the same account as ready to act likewise that is to slay any man that makes so bold as to shew that their Church is a Harlot and to speak against that which ever made the Priests heart glad Judg. 18.18 20. Indeed not immediately no more than Levi their type but like the Pharisees who did not set upon Christ at first sight to destroy him whence the people thought him mad when he did because he knew the hearts of the Pharisees and foresaw what the pride thereof would drive them into John 2.25 tax them for it long before they went about to do it John 7.19 20. by degrees as by calling him first the worst of Christians the Agent of the Devil a Fool an Enthusiast and if they cannot answer what he saith a Blasphemer a Beelzebub Mat. 10.25 and at last persecute him openly which is what I look for at their hands when they know me Neither is the said knowledge of Christ and how to preach him to be learned out of Books as from the testimony of the Word of Prophecy from the relation of Paul Luke Matthew or from reasons or arguments drawn from thence by one man for another but as in the dark only they serving us but until the bright and the morning Star and the Sun of Righteousness the holy Spirit of Christ that testifieth of him John 15.26 5.32 and that teacheth men all things dawns and shines in our hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 for when that Sun is risen upon earthly-minded Souls they enter into Zoar Gen. 19.23 the turning of the Anger and the beginning of the Love of God shed in their hearts by the Spirit of knowledge Rom. 5.5 knowing Christ then not because of the words of other men but by reason that themselves have also within themselves the same teacher others had which by enlightning their minds doth perswade and convince them by the same reasons he did suggest to those other men that he is indeed the Christ and the Saviour of the World John 4.24 Otherwise unto this day when Christ or Moses is read a vail is upon their hearts which is not taken away but by a true conversion unto the Lord the Spirit by the which we are changed from glory and from knowledge to glory and to knowledge into the glorious Image of God in knowledge Coloss 3.10 2 Cor. 3.15 16 17 18. and if the Scripture be true no man comes to the knowledge of the Son but he to whom the Son will reveal himself Luk. 10.22 John 10 30. 14.9 The Revelation of Christ or the knowledge of Christ to be revealed to man is written unto the seven true Churches only that is to the only true members of the Church of Christ and sealed with seven seals Rev. 1.1 5.1 No man in heaven or earth but the Lamb who hath and sends the seven Spirits of God whereby he doth make us Priests that we need no more be taught of Priests being taught of God Isa 54.13 Jer. 31.34 can open or look therein Rev. 3.7 Surely the knowledge of Christ puzzleth the Angels themselves 1 Pet. 1.12 much more men who are born like the dull Colt of a wild Ass Job 11.12 and dwell in houses of clay ch 4.19 and who having never seen the Father at any time John 1.18 1 Tim. 6.16 for the world hath not known him John 17.25 cannot see or know the Son for he that hath seen the Son doth know the Father also ch 14.7 9. So that no natural man such as all the Sons of Adam are by nature as he never saw or knew the invisible Father of all things the Deity can see that is know the Son who is invisible also from the bare testimony of the holy men of God but the spiritual man only which is born of God and able therefore John 6.46 to search even the deep things of God knows the Father and his Son and understands this hidden wisdom the knowledge of them which is a great foolishness but indeed a great secret to the School-men and other learned Princes of this world 1 Cor. 2.14 John 14.7 flesh and bloud or all the skill and learning carnal men have cannot make known unto them the Son of the living God Mat. 16.17 but the Father witness those whom the Lord spake these words to viz. the Apostles themselves who though they were taught of him for when they were alone he expounded unto them all things which concerned the mysteries of his kingdom Mark 4.11 34. yet not only for some time after they had been with him Mark 7.18 but even when they had heard all that which he was to preach and teach them by word of mouth John 16.12 17.4 that is after that he was risen again from the dead far from understanding it they understood
is in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 that he may preserve his own Earthly kingdom which consists in meer beastly affections and a brutish ignorance what he can to keep from men the knowledge of their most excellent Prerogative thereby to make them sit still contented and without sense of their base despondency in the shadow of that death all men dye of with Adam from the very first moment of their life until the time of their regeneration O that Christians were but left to their reason and Scripture in matters of Religion for who is he though never so careless of his future and eternal happiness that would not be glad and strive with all his power and might to obtain the gift of that which shews and teacheth all things if he knew he might have it But woe be to you Doctors who notwithstanding your fair pretence to the contrary pag. 11. do your endeavour to keep by imposing upon them your Doctrines and Traditions from men the key of knowledge Deut. 27.18 and would scarce have allowed them any such distinction were not the existence of Gods Spirit in the Church so plainly taught in Scripture that you dare not deny it But yet a little while and you will not stick to say that both your ordinary and extraordinary Spirits are wholly ceased if the two witnesses of God viz. the Holy Ghost that testifieth of him John 15.26 5 32. and the cloud of witnesses both recorded in Scriptures and not recorded to wit those that have been and are still since the same were written having already prophesied out near their time of 1260 years hidden under their sackcloth do not prevent you quickly by standing upon their feet and killing the beast that hath so long made War against them killed and overcome them that the kingdoms of this world may at last become the Lords Rev 11.15 Obad. 21. Pray had not the Jewish Church such Spirit as you say pag. 7. is continued to Christians viz. sufficiently helpful to them suitable to their necessities and to what God required of them in order to be partakers of his blessings and did they not understand as much of their Religion and of the Messiah as you of yours and of him that is witness the place above cited out of Hales viz. that otherwise than out of the Apostles books the Spirit speaks not to you as much as was related out of the Law and of the ancient Prophets Books to them and so what doth the Spirit you pretend to amount to what greater priviledge have Christians than they by it what signifies Christ's coming and their being anointed thereby for his Kings and Priests dignities granted but to few men in the Jewish Church what signifies the promise which God made that all Nations should be blessed by the said coming of the Messiah and in short what signifies the Prophecy in your Text In the last days I will pour my Spirit on all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy viz. by it Act. 2.17 18. Now were the Apostles days more the last days than ours and were only they and their children meant here by all flesh or else are as many meant according to St. Peter v. 39. as the Lord shall ever call unto the end of the World And to see which of Peter or your Church is in the right that is which explication his or yours is Orthodox will you be pleased my Lords to be tryed here by your Peers for you will grant I hope that the Bishops of Antioch Jerusalem c. were as good men as you are and that we may as well say my Lord Paul my Lord Peter my Lord St. John and St. James Bishop Archbishop Primate Patriarch and Cardinal and Pope except you grudge them the same honour the Papists allow them who say Peter was one and chief amongst them as say my Lord of London Henry the Right Reverend Father in God to no man and to allow of their sentence out of Scripture Law as well as Peter himself and other Apostles did Act. 15.19 15 22 28. Hoping which I say first that St. John by applying the promises of Christ concerning the Holy Ghost teaching all things c. John 14.26 16 13. to all those he wrote to all Christians generally 1 John 2.20 27. shews that they do not belong to the Apostles only as Hales and you out of him pag. 10. lin 20. seem to take it for granted but to all them that believe in Christ who should as he saith John 7.39 receive the holy Spirit after Christ was glorified which should make the knowledge of all things to rise and spring like wells of living waters flowing out of their belly from their heart within themselves And it is most evident that these Promises of Christ were meant to all his disciples that is all that learn of him since he did speak to them all as appears by John 15.8 and by his new commandment given them at the same time ch 13.34 15.12 which no Christian will deny but that it doth belong to all the disciples of Christ and not to some few of them and since Christ himself declares Mark 13 3 37. that what he spake to Peter and James and John and Andrew was spoken unto all the Servants of the Son of man v. 34. and all them that are to watch And we find accordingly that not only some few great Believers in some Churches but that all the Believers and the whole Christian Churches received the Holy Ghost And first to begin at the visible descent thereof and with the first Christian Church The Apostles were no more than twelve in number and yet hundred and twenty disciples received the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost Act. 1.14 15. for as in the 14 th verse they were all with one accord and ch 2.4 all the very same disciples were fill'd with the Holy Ghost Besides v. 14 15. Peter with the eleven standing up lift up his voice and said these are not drunken meaning some others besides the eleven that standing and saying the same with him could not say these of themselves to wit as many as some had said were full of new wine v. 13. that is as many as they heard speak with new Languages which were not the twelve only as appears by ch 10.46 19.6 Again ch 2.38 repent saith he to the whole multitude of Jews that were come together to see them v. 6. and you shall receive also the gift of the â—oly Ghost out of which three thousand souls were baptized v. 41. with Spirit according to his promise as appears from that they did continue with one accord and gladness and singleness of heart v. 46. in the fellowship of the Apostles themselves v. 42. which fellowship they could not have but by the unity of the same Spirit with them 1 Cor. 6.16 17. â—phes 4.3 4. 1 John 1.6 7. Again repent ye saith he Act. 3.19 to another Assembly whereof see
say the Gentiles shall have an inheritance among the Tribes of Jacob. And the remnant saith Micah 5.4 not some few of that remnant shall return and stand and seed in the strength or the power in the name and majesty of the Lord and shall abide And in the latter days the children of Israel none excepted shall return and fear or serve the Lord and David or Christ Ezech. 34.24 their King Hos 3 5. which cannot be but by the power the Holy Ghost gives And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of Priests and an holy Nation said Moses Exod. 19.6 1 Pet. 2.5 9. to wit by the true Unction whereof that of Exod. 30.23 30. to anoint the Priests withall was but a type and figure And the type of the true bloud of the Lamb the bloud of Beasts being forbidden to both the people and Priests equally shews that all the Christian people may eat of the antitype Christ's vivifying and health-restoring Spirit John 6.55 63. Mal. 4.2 equally with their chief Priests the Apostles and Prophets And to you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness rise with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 And if Christ doth give his flesh which is the bread from Heaven not therefore his Humane flesh which he had from the Virgin John 3.6 8.23 Rom. 8.6 the true and the living bread the inspiration of God Gen. 2.7 for the life of the whole world John 6.33 50 51. the whole world may eat of it and all they that will live indeed for ever by him must actually and really as well as the Apostles eat and drink or feed on him v. 53 55 57 58. And if he saved St. Paul and those he meant were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise when they believed Ephes 1.13 by the renewing of the Image of God within them Tit. 3.5 how can any believing man be saved otherwise since that Salvation is still the same and by the same means that is through the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 and that no man can enter into the kingdom of God that is live in righteousness and receive the peace and joy passing all understanding which God doth reward it with except he be born of the Spirit that enables him John 3.5 Rev. 12.11 The body of man cannot live out its animal life without natural Spirits Jam. 2.26 and shall the internal man be made to live for ever an uninterrupted life without the Eternal Spirit of God that gave him Nischmat chajim breath of lives Gen. 2.7 and not of one single life as the Translator turns it from whence he doth not saith Christ live by earthly bread alone Mat. 4.4 but by the bread from Heaven Verbum ab ore Dei the comforting refreshing and vivifying Spirit which is the Fathers house into which Christ receives men as appears by his saying that he would come again to receive them to himself to the place he should be in John 14.2 3. for he coming again to them by the Comforter v. 18. and the gift thereof being the result of his coming and the only performance and effect of his promise that he would bring them into the same place he should be in it must also be since Christ cannot lye the thing and place he promised to be in and to receive them into and this place also being by the account which he gave to Thomas whither he went to prepare a place for them v. 6. with the Father it follows from thence that the Holy Ghost is likewise the Fathers house and the Heaven within us Luk. 17.21 where Christ is in the Father and we in him John 14.20 where he is v. 3. 17.24 and where all are together one with the Father and Christ ch 17.21 From all which it most clearly and manifestly appears that the Holy Ghost is given to all the faithful and the distinction of the Vicar in the gift of it to wit his ordinary and extraordinary gift appearing no where at all the Scriptures speaking but of one sort of Spirit given nay teaching that God being no respecter of persons Act. 10.34 puts no such difference at all between believers ch 15.9 in every Nation he that worketh righteousness being accepted with him ch 10.35 and receiving his good gift Mat. 7.11 Luk. 11.13 even as the Apostles Act. 10.47 15.8 can any impartial man that hath his eyes in his head Eccl. 2.14 not see this and deny that the Lords Bishops having been fairly tryed and condemned by as good men as their Peers and having had as good Law as the Statutes or Canons of Scripture could afford them the gift of the Holy Ghost continues still in Gods Church and say that it is ceased and that no man ever since 400 years after the times of the Apostles hath right to pretend to it But if some still contend for their ordinary Spirit thus holding such Gospel as the Saints have not preached Gal. 1.8 let them have it in Gods name Rev. 22.11 for so instead of being reformed to the Image of God that created man not after two Images to wit an ordinary and extraordinary one for God being always the same hath but one Image they must remain deformed and they can have but a mean Salvation accordingly because Salvation being in and through the Holy Ghost as was said out of Rom. 14.17 he that hath but a mean and ordinary share of it hath but an ordinary power to do good works with and so hath but a mean and ordinary righteousness and God rendring unto men but according to their works the peace and joy or the bliss which Salvation consists in that they do receive from thence cannot therefore be but mean and very ordinary like unto the old third state or Limbus a reward fit for our Right Reverend Fathers in God to be it And here I had left them and finished my discourse but that hearing some of them à Limbo Patrum crying alas we did not know that these things were meant of this life but thought that the promises made to all the believers concerning the gift of the Spirit conferred on them were to begin upon the dissolution of their flesh neither did we understand any thing of a second coming of Christ in Spirit to men for their Salvation but took his second coming to be in Judgment only at the sound of the last Trump when he comes with his Angels to judge the quick and the dead I think it convenient to shew likewise that it is in this life before men dye that the gift of the Spirit is conferred upon them and secondly that when the Holy Ghost is sent or comes it is the second coming of Christ Christ comes then himself that I may both fully discharge the task I have taken upon me this day and leave them without excuse that are detained and that keep others in the Limbus of such gross ignorance But first to prevent mistakes I desire the Reader to take notice
for then not only the gift of Miracles to which and to their skill in Humane Learning got without Education he seems chiefly to confine the Apostolical gift but all other gifts also which do infallibly wait upon that of the Spirit such as wisdom and knowledge 1 Cor. 12.8 are removed and taken away from that Sect in God's wrath Revel 2.5 rather than wisdom as the wise Vicar measuring it by his own shallow brains and dull fancy as shall be shewed in its place saith God did suspend the same that Church becomes desolate and remains according to the Prophecy of Daniel 9.27 and the construction thereof by St. Matthew 24.15 and St. Luke 21.20 compassed instead of Christ's presence by the Holy Ghost with abominable armies and companies of Church-men Only as there are divers administrations and gifts of the same Divine Spirit 1 Cor 12.4 6. such as wisdom and knowledge faith healing miracles tongues prophecy and discerning of Spirits which are not all to be found in one member or Paul is much mistaken v. 6 29 30. so I must here further declare for Master Vicar and all his fellow Watchmen that though one man doth not do all the same operations that all the Apostles did yet if he doth some of them he may pretend to the same Spirit the Apostles had for if the ear shall say because I am not the eye I am not of the body is it not of it therefore v. 16. that is if he that hath but the discerning of Spirits should say because I am not a Teacher or a Prophet I have none of the same extraordinary Spirit as the Prophets have hath he not therefore been made to drink of the same Spirit v. 13. for if the whole spiritual body were prophecy where were the gift of knowledge and discerning of Spirits v. 17. and if they were all Prophets or all workers of Miracles where were the several members and operations that constitute or make up the said spiritual body v. 19. Thus do I from St. Paul speak here for Master Vicar and will yet further instance St. Paul a chief Apostle Gal. 2.6 7. during the time of whose preaching and stay at Antioch arrived certain Prophets one of which did prophesie that there should be a great dearth or famine throughout the World Act. 11.26 27 28. to whom the Disciples who were doubtless directed by Paul and by Barnabas gave credit and Paul himself though he had a greater gift of the Spirit did not say or object that he wondred that his inferiour should have this thing revealed to him when he knew nothing of it And elsewhere that same Prophet foretold Paul what Paul himself foresaw not in his own case Act. 21.10 or he had what he did not foreseen that he had been set at liberty if he had not appealed to Caesar Act. 25.26 26.31 32. to wit that he should be taken at Jerusalem and thus saith the Holy Ghost said then that certain Prophet for so the Scripture calls him ch 21.11 Whence I ask the Vicar since St. Paul could pretend to as good a share at least of the same holy Spirit as that certain Prophet did why did not the Holy Ghost reveal the same things to him Because though he had knowledge and understood mysteries as he was an Apostle yet he was not a Prophet for are all Prophets saith he 1 Cor. 12.29 30. are all workers of Miracles as all are not Apostles v. 28. so I cannot work all the said other gifts in me it being God alone that doth work them all and note in all and not in one man v. 6. Likewise I ask if he that hath the gift to discern the Spirit of the Vicar and some portion of knowledge hath not the gift of Miracles hath he not therefore the same Spirit as the Apostles But what say you Vicar to what Paul himself doth stile yet a more excellent way than Miracles and Prophecy and the best of the said gifts viz. Charity v. 31. 13.2 is that ceased in your Church I dare say you are not willing to acknowledge it and so like the Chief Priests Mat. 21.25 26. you are hedg'd in on both sides for if you say that this more extraordinary gift is not ceased in the Church neither by your Argument are the other gifts also which are counted by St. Paul not so excellent as this ceased as you teach from it and if you say that it is ceased there then judge whether you are still a faithful Church for do they believe in Christ that omit one of the first and chiefest of his precepts Mat. 22.39 John 13.34 1 John 3.11 and take quite another way than that which he hath shewed them And this last your Argument that he must do the same things who pretends to the same Spirit the Apostles had proves further or you must yield that it is of no force and validity at all which dilemma as likewise the other your great Learning could not foresee and prevent your being now put to them for the Apostles were sent to do what Signs and Miracles No sure but to preach and win or gain Souls by teaching them the way to their conversion 1 Cor. 9.19 Mat. 28.19 Mark 16.15 This they did in all places but preached in many places nay they convinced many and Dionysius himself and established Churches without working of Miracles as may be seen by their Acts and their Miracles were not always wrought to convince the gainsayers of the Faith which you say was the reason and the occasion of them since they wrought them sometimes in their private Meetings by night amongst the faithful as for instance at Troas Act. 20.7 8 9 10. Now you will grant that it is incumbent upon the Church to preach exhort and win Souls 2 Tim. 4.12 and you pretend you do it so that if you do it not you are not a faithful Church but burthensom hypocrites inutilia hujus pondera terrae and if you do it you do the works of the Apostles therefore by your Argument have the same Spirit they had and so it is not ceased but it is your Argument that ceaseth to be in force if that can be said to cease which had never any true existence but in a false and erroneous fancy He that winneth Souls is wise Prov. 11.30 Dan. 12.3 wisdom is by Paul counted the first gift of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.8 31. If therefore you win some Souls as it is pretended that some of your number do or else what reason is there why you should be imposed upon a Christian Nation as necessary to them have you not a greater gift of the Spirit than Miracles which are according to Paul v. 29. but the fourth in order and do you not do a greater thing than Miracles and so as great a thing as any of the Apostles He that hath as much faith as a grain of Mustard-seed may do all wonders Mat. 17.20 and yet witness Paul 1
Cor. 13.2 he is nothing And there is a greater need of the best gift Charity and a greater strength of Faith requisite to do like Paul that he might help to save some to become all things to all 1 Cor. 9.22 to be contented to be needy hungry despised Phil. 4.12 and seeing a way fill'd up with nothing but misery and crosses every where most freely to enter it and to bury one self alive to all worldly joy as Christ teacheth we must do if we will be believers Mat. 16.24 25. and thus to overcome the whole World and its power 1 John 5.4 John 16.33 Coloss 2.15 than to suspend or infringe some particular circumstance in its order by doing some such thing above its natural course as the swimming of Iron the Spirits forcing their way again through the Optick Nerves when they are stopt or withered to bring the blind to their sight and the wholesom virtue that issues Mark 5.30 from the healthful body of a faithful man whose mind and will is by his strength of Faith so stirred up and so much bent and intent upon the poor sick man's cure that they make his own Spirits in the height of his zeal like as in another man's passion of anger or lust they fly to the place proper to exercise for instance lust withall and run from thence towards the object of it go forth from him as it were confertim towards the sick 2 Sam. 13.39 working its own simile and by prevailing on the spirit of infirmity Luk. 13.11 setting to rights in the sick his distempered Spirits which were by the said Evil Spirit of infirmity disordered and enraged As for instance to give the Reader some imperfect hint of what difference there is between the Faith requisite to work all other Miracles but that of man's conversion and the Faith necessary to work in another man such change as conversion suppose me a Believer I know that the virtue or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of God is not far from any man for in him we live and move Act. 17.27 28. and lo he goeth by me though I perceive him not Job 9.11 and is it not he that fills the whole world with his presence Jer. 23.24 This I see being sick to wit how this Energy which is the Spirit of God Gen. 1.2 his arm and his organum quo agitantur omnes in hoc mundo species quo summus artifex ad suam machinam potissimum utitur passeth to and fro pervades and conveys the breath of life through every one of us At this Aspect I say what is the reason O Lord that this thy all sufficient and never-ceasing virtue John 5.17 is suspended and withheld from my languishing body Because I have sinned Jer. 5.25 Job 33.27 but I humble my self and knowing thy goodness well I trust that as thou art he that thus chastisest me so thou art able alone to help and deliver me O send forth thy Spirit again Psal 104.30 help mine unbelief say the word and presently he is gracious to me he opens his hand again and le ts go the influence of his virtue that was bound and frozen up as it were in respect of me so that it could not vivifie me I am renewed in a trice my flesh becomes again fresher than that of a child Job 33.25 Psal 103.5 and according to my faith I find it done to me Mat. 8.13 9.29 So if a Serpent a Bear or other hurtful creatures should set and fasten on me I having the Author of my life before mine eyes Heb. 11.6 and believing stedfastly that none of my hairs doth fall to the ground without his leave and that these have no power to hurt me except it be given to them from above John 19.11 I should not be afraid Psal 23.4 but should say thy will be done thy gohdness gave me my life and from thy goodness alone I look for the safety and preservation thereof In this Faith I am sure that no deadly thing could hurt me Mar◠16.18 and dare say that like Daniel I could stop the mouths of Lions Heb. 11.33 bea◠back the flames like Paul Act. 28.5 shak◠off a Vicar with all the poisonous spight i◠his long train of Bishops and through this Faith in the name or power of our Christ any man as well as John and Peter Act. 13.16 can do all sorts of great wonders in the World Phil. 4.13 except the greatest of all viz. anothers conversion for as for man's conversion the same degree of Faith and of Spirit will not serve to work and accomplish it because the Soul of man being a Divine creature a radius emaned from God in Eternity and more excellent therefore than the Earthly body or any part of the World it is harder a great deal to work an alteration in it than in the body or in the Water and Air and this same alteration being a new creation as the Scripture witnesseth of a corrupted creature and that hath naturally a strong averseness from it and a bent and propension quite opposite to God's will it is a greater Miracle than the creation it self of the World and of Adam which brought on their side no such opposition to God's will and requires therefore the power of God himself and so that a man should make himself one with God to have the power to effect it which union with God is not attained to by the same degree of Faith and of Works as that which can cure the sick and overturn a mountain for one grain of Faith doth this whereas it is by keeping the works of Christ to the end overcoming seven times that men come to that union Rev. 2.26 3.21 Behold I see a Soul in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity Act. 8.23 that is in the fiery fretful and anxious state or the wrathful principle wherein are all natural unregenerated men and bound with three dreadful chains first of the anger of God secondly of the corrupt vain earthly and mortal flesh full of evil desires which are hatred against God Rom. 8.7 lastly of the desire and attempts of the Devil to blow and kindle in the Soul all its evil properties to keep it in God's anger and to turn always its will so much the further from God and to throw it from the Truth of God into Vanity viz. Pride Covetousness Envy Anger and all Lusts and I wish heartily that I could any way and by all means do it good But though my fervour of zeal and contention of Spirit would thrust even a Mountain from its place to another as being but a pondus iners and no way active endeavouring against me but by a dead and passive quality gravitation yet it cannot stir the Soul from its state and position neither is it sharp enough to penetrate even to the dividing asunder of the Spirit of the Soul and of the joynts and marrow Heb. 4.12 to cast the Soul into the great gulf Luk. 16.26 of
and do most of their works to be regarded of men who like the Rich man in Luke 12.18 hoard up against the morrow and plead for it from St. Paul 1 Tim. 5.8 as though St. Paul's doctrine contradicted that of Christ Mat. 6.31 32. and as though his meaning were that men must work to be rich and not rather that they should work with their hands as he did Act. 18.3 for their own and Families subsistance from day to day Luk. 11.3 his words having reference to widows speaking of them before and after this verse which were to serve tables Act. 6.1 2. that is take care to buy and dress Victuals and whose office it was not to provide the means or the money for to procure them since they were themselves to be provided for as it may be gathered out of Scripture and his said words ought therefore to be thus interpreted viz. But if some of them widows 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is takes no care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of her own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chiefly or at least 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those of her house that is who dwell in the house with her but minds her pleasure 1 Tim. 5.6 as most of our London Huswives instead of continuing in prayer both night and day v. 5. she hath denied the faith that teacheth us mutual love and care for one another whereas the Bishops do thus cunningly translate and fit the same for their own purpose viz. But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the faith But what faith the Bishops faith in the God Mammon they serve Luk. 16.13 and whom they say they can serve together with the true God blowing like the covetous Pharisees their nose for note the Greek word imports so much v. 14. at whoever doth like Christ deny that they can do it v. 13. thus to justifie themselves v. 15. making themselves wiser than Christ and his perfect Laws those wholsome commands of God void by this their tradition to do then as these Bishops who are carried about in pomp like Shews or pompae quae nullius per se sunt actionis compotes caeteros vero mole sua impudientes in their Chariots and Coaches with Foot-boys in Liveries with long Gowns and soft raiments and all other fine Trappings which things they that wear shall not as being effeminate the Text saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see Mat. 11.8 enter the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 who instead of being contented with what is set before them Luk. 10.8 that is with some allowance willingly made sufficient to maintain them go from house to house v. 7. that is get from their first Benefice into another fatter nay keep both at the same time and still gape for a better who whereas Christ's followers have not where to lay their heads Luk. 9.57 58. have rich and large Palaces where they keep a continual feast like the feast of a King 1 Sam. 25.36 for persons of Quality and their Friends as Nabal did but when a poor man cometh for relief as David did you are a Stranger to me many Servants now a days run away from their Masters v. 10. where is your Certificate you are some idle Fellow and why don't you go to work is all the comfort he finds or stand thou there in the Hall or sit under my footstool Jam. 2.3 until I have dined is the greatest favour that he can expect of them who when they have got some men into their Inquisition that is their Spiriting Court which may be so called from Spiriting of Money and making many poor mans Purse light and Spirits heavy condemn all but inflict no punishment but on the Purse of their Patients who are those they presume to have money and that on no better proof than the bare information of some Whore upon Record whereas Christ would not condemn the Whore John 8.11 though she was taken in flagranti delicto v. 3. for who hath made me a judge saith he to some Luk. 12.14 over you in the kingdom of this World John 18.36 But Bishops will be the first Judges in order therein nay will sit as such upon those that are its proper Judges the Temporal Lords they will be Lords and Masters Mat. 23.8 and that not only Worldly or Temporal as the rest but Spiritual Lords also a brave business if they could tell how to have dominion over the Spirits of men what abomination is a Lord Bishop in Christ's Church O that my Body could but keep as far from the reach of their Lordships and Masterships as my Soul and Spirit are for I should be as safe from the effects of the kindness they shall have for me as they may be from any future invective from me in containing themselves within the bounds prescribed to all Lordship in this World like all the other sober and modest Temporal Lords I say that to do as the Bishops all the said things is not to believe in Christ for do they believe in one who act point-blank contrary to what he shews and prescribes and shew by their fruits or works that they are far from good trees and that they have perverted the righteous ways of the Lord May. 7.16 Therefore it is no wonder if Miracles and such other gifts or fruits of the Spirit are ceased from among them nay it were a great wonder if they should still wait on such for how can the Slave of sin who is taken captive by the devil at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 and hath not strength to shake off the yoke his evil passions have both subjugated and keep him still under with have power to overcome and command evil Spirits Fire Water and the Winds hurtful Beasts and deadly things and why should these obey him when they see not that in him to which they owe obedience to wit the Image of God and whilst the Nations that War against the Spirit in man Revel 2.26 Gal. 5.17 19 20. deny him all allegiance are not only revolted but continue absolute Masters of his mind and will But what sign dost thou shew thy self will some say to me John 2.18 art thou greater than all these famous Doctors of the Church John 4.12 that thou thus takest upon thee to tax and find fault with them as though they made of the house of prayer a Market-place of God's Word a meer Story of his Wisdom great Non-sense and of his Religion or Worship a Pageantry I answer that they are famous according as they lift up hammers and axes to break the Church of God down Psal 74.5 6. that I am I confess more brutish than any man Prov. 30.2 1 Tim. 1.15 pretend not to work Miracles but though I could do it yet I could not shew them any sign at their request because of their unbelief Mat. 13.58 and because it is not done but according to the faith of him that seeketh a sign
ch 8.3 9.29 Signs being besides to wait only on them that believe Mark 16.17 and to follow their belief of the Word to confirm it v. 20. the word confirming used by Mark importing some kind of precedent believing for there must be some belief before we can suppose a need of confirmation and so the adulterous and perverse generation may seek long enough for signs and yet have none given them but the sign of a Prophet which what it is let them that read understand if they can and what I mean by it for truly when men have an evil prejudiced eye like the old seekers of signs and lack some understanding to pass a righteous judgment and to discern the Spirit of a man by his knowledge and to believe at his words John 4.41 uttered by God's Spirit Act. 2.4 neither would they believe if one arose from the dead Luk. 16.31 and did work al the wonders they should require of him This is plain from the hardness of heart of the Aegyptians Exod. 7.11 12. from the blindness of the Jews John 10.24 25 26. 12.37 and from the blasphemous madness of the Pharisees Mat. 12.24 notwithstanding the wonders they saw by Moses and Christ. And it is evident from the stupidity wherewith this adulterous and wicked generation hath beheld the Prodigies which have of late appeared that they would look upon the wonders of Moses and Christ if one did now shew and work some of them in their presence with the same indifference that is behold and wonder Act. 13.41 and believe them supposed or false lying and insignificant wonders for who considers and looks upon the said Prodigies as the sad presagers of his approaching ruine and would no more lay the same to heart make good use of them desist from their ill courses repent and mend thereupon than Jeroboam who saw his Altar rent in pieces and his own hand dried up and afterwards restored yet returned not from his evil way that he might be destroyed from off the Earth 1 Kings 13.33 34. 1 Sam. 2.25 as are all those Kings likewise who walk in his ways that is who forget that the most high rules in the kingdom of men Dan. 4.25 and is he that gave them one not only when they had none but when all the policy friends power and interest they had could procure them none and who as though their own hand had done this great thing for them trust to their wit and cunning for the preservation of it in their Family 1 Kings 12.26 27. and think by forsaking the Author of their greatness and of their life and being in setting up a Calvish worship of God in Bethel that is a Lip-worship bodily Ceremonies and outward Formalities and Shews in the House of God they strengthen themselves mainly and secure to themselves the quiet possession of their Kingdom for ever against all future revolts But the God against whom there is no counsel and wit Prov. 21.30 and who judgeth in the earth Psal 58.11 laughs at their wise contrivance and warns them by Prodigies that his hand is stretched out and ready to strike at them and tells them before he strikes 1 Kings 16.2 3. For as much as I exalted thee out of the dust and made thee Prince over my people and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam and hast made my people to sin and given them great offence behold I take away thee and thy posterity and I will make thy house like that of Jeroboam which God who turneth the hearts of Princes as he pleaseth avert in his great mercy from some Princes in the World And therefore should the wisdom of God quae nihil agit frustra as is confessed and doth not shew her wonders to gratifie the humour of unbelieving scorners Prov. 3.34 but the wishes and prayers of some lowly humble and meek as those of Hezekiah Isa 38.22 7 8. of Gideon Judg. 6.17 37 39. and others that believed what she said and to make known God's power and his name throughout the earth Exod. 9.16 John 9.3 work Miracles at the demand of such unbelieving and perverse generation it were to their destruction â—uk 11.50 which the goodness and patience of God and the love they that believe have for their Neighbour keep God and the believers Spirit from bringing to pass and from executing yet Judgment upon a Nation For which cause Christ who was come to save not to destroy men Luk. 9.56 being the dumb Lamb of God that did not strive nor open his mouth and utter his voice Mat. 12.19 Act. 8.32 like Moses Numb 16.15 and Elijah 2 Kings 1.10 12. went always away from such as Mat. 16.4 21.17 Mark 8.13 lest by their too long tempting and playing the fool with God his holy Spirit had been so grieved and provoked as to stir up the principle of wrath to devour them From whence observe that the end and occasion of Miracles is not the conviction of the gainsayers of the Faith as our worthy Vicar not only takes for granted but urgeth the scarceness of gainsayers by the Gospel becoming a National Religion in most Countries for an argument of the cessation of all Miracles seeing they are wrought first to confirm the believing of the Word to establish and encourage believers to continue in the Faith when they have once received it and secondly to punish the scorners and opposers them that seek to turn away those that are prepared for Salvation from the Faith them that blaspheme the Name of God and that contribute to the dishonour of it as from Elymas Act. 13.8 10. the two Captains of fifty 2 Kings 1.10 12. Gehazi ch 5.22 Ananias and Saphira may be learned Thirdly that the power or name and glory of God may be declared and known among men throughout the Earth To which it may be added that they serve to keep in awe many men Act. 2.43 as Gamaliel ch 5.39 from fighting or declaring for them that fight against God And truly because Miracles have often been are and shall still be done by deceivers Exod. 7.11 22. 8.7 Mark 13.22 2 Thess 2.9 Revel 13.13 they are no full evidence of a true mission from God nor convincing proofs of the truth of the doctrine set forth by him that shews a wonder and works some Miracles for it though the Vicar saith they are pag. 6. For not only we are not if we believe Christ's advice Mark 13.21 to believe what he teacheth but we are to judge of his mission and of the virtue whereby he works his Miracles by the doctrine he preacheth and to set our reason and the knowledge which we should have of God's will and commands above the authority of all his signs and wonders Deut. 13.3 and if his doctrine be found like that of Master Vicar contrary to the Divine contained in the Scriptures he was for all his Miracles by the Law of Moses before Christ came to save what was lost to be put to
death v. 5. And indeed it were better for false teachers to be hang'd or cast into the Sea with a stone tyed to their neck Luk. 17.1 than they should give such offence as that the Vicar's Sermon hath given to many men for when at the Judgment day one shall accuse the other that he hath caused him to erre and curse him for the evil doings he hath committed this shall then excuse himself upon his next Superiour and the Superiour upon the Supreme Authority and the Supreme Power upon his false Counsellors who having no other plea shall cast the fault of all these upon their wicked Teachers who have kept them in darkness and instead of reproving their courses to bring them to a righteous and godly life have for some Preferments sake soothed them up in their sins then shall the bloud of all these be required at their hands Ezek. 33.6 Deut. 27.18 and this great burthen shall lay so heavy on their shoulders that it were better for them to have been cut off betimes than to have lived to give the least of those that shall thus complain cause of offences And in further evidence that signs are not to convince the gainsayers of the Faith we do not find any where in Scripture that any man who was not before-hand prepared and enclined like the Proconsul Sergius Act. 13.7 was convinced thereupon for as for them which John saith 2.23 believed in the name of Christ seeing the miracle which he had done in Cana it appears from what he saith in the following verses 24,25 of Christ not thinking it fit to commit himself to them knowing what faith was in them that their faith was such as that of Simon who believed and wondred Act. 13.41 beholding the mirarles which were done ch 8.13 but believed not like them v. 12. who it is said believed at the preaching of Philip v. 17. for his heart was saith Peter v. 21 23. not right in the sight of God and he was still in the dark austere and anxious source or the gall of bitterness far from a true faith in Christ that brings man off of that state And such as that of the people of Lystra and of Derbe who after they had seen the impotent man cured and taken Paul for a God on the account of this sign ch 14.11 13. stoned him nevertheless v. 19. what no man would do that hath the least grain of Faith in him so though the Barbarians of Maltha said that St. Paul was a God ch 28.6 honoured him and loaded him and the men with him with necessaries v. 10. yet there is not one word said of any that believed at the several great things which he did there before them v. 5 8 9. But without this it is sure that Christ coming to save man salva integra humana creatura as St. Peter witnesseth and as the words of Christ in Luk. 9.56 may be expounded and he saves by reforming and restoring men unto their first state of perfection for it being very good Gen. 1.31 he needs not add or change it he must use some other means than Miracles to convince them for though a man could believe the words of Christ to be true because he should have seen him do some wonders and Miracles yet not understanding the ground and reason thereof his faith were but implicite he were not yet convinced and should still be in the dark and an imperfect humane creature Coloss 3.10 which if saved such were not saved entire and therefore whilst man is such Christ doth not take him hoodwink into his kingdom of Light but first the humane creature consisting chiefly of these three Essential faculties Intellectus Voluntas Animus seu vires potestas agendi and the perfect state wisdom or summum bonum thereof of these three well rectified God works to make man perfect upon his understanding 1 John 5.20 enlightning his mind by his Spirit and prompting him with reasons fit to convince him and to make him know himself that is find out and perceive that it is as he teacheth and that he speaks true indeed John 4.42 Then when the understanding is perfectly reformed man mistakes no more bonum apparens for the true good but apprehends wherein his summum bonum doth consist and Lux intelligendi being the most perfect Law volendi agendi as soon as he perceives this he will naturally bend his will and desire towards the same and chuse it and that done with all the strength of his courage and virtue which without the help of the power from on high that doth enable him is quite helpless he will avoid and abstain from that which keeps him from it Act. 3.26 and follow embrace and use all the means to compass it and thus may become perfect and come to be saved whole or received entirely reformed to his first state whilst others see and wonder Act. 13.41 and are left Luk. 17.36 37. in a broken and imperfect condition though Christ should have wrought all his Miracles before them John 12.37 Truly if blessed are they that have not seen yet believe John 21.29 because intelligere being ipsum credere and there being no belief of what is not understood they that believe things without seeing them done before-hand shew that they understand the possibility thereof and have more understanding and therefore are more blessed than those that must see the same before they can believe them they that would see some Miracles wrought before they believe will remain under the curse of God and in unbelief And from these things I think it is clear and manifest that Miracles convince no man and that there is no need of visible and outward signs for the conversion of the gainsayers and unfaithful but of the sign of the Son of man the Light of his Star coming imperceptibly and shining like the Lightning Mat. 24.27 in those dark clouds of heaven v. 30. And certainly if Miracles were as the Vicar saith the reason of conviction and if there was great reason that such as were the instruments of so great an undertaking in the first Age of the Church before the Gospel was a National Religion and whilst many gainsayers were yet to be convinced should have a proportionable strength of faith to do it with there is now in its old Age as great a need of Miracles and of as great strength of Faith and Spirit as there was then First on the account of the gainsayers of all parties not only Turks and Papists who are fallen from the Faith and from the purity of Christ's Gospel and Doctrine and are by reason of the prejudice they have therefore against the true followers and teachers of a Doctrine which they have departed from harder to be convinced and to be brought back again to the obedience of it but Protestants who deny the same whilst they profess it Secondly on the account of the self-conceited blindness of all Christian Sects
for they pretend all to see John 9.41 to know and understand best Christ and the oracles of God Rom. 3.2 we are the strictest Sect of Christians say most of them we are wise and the Law of the Lord is with us Jer. 8.8 we are of Christ Mat. 24.5 and lo he is amongst us Mark 13.21 and thou wast altogether would they say to Christ himself Luk. 10.16 if he came to preach over again the same things he did and to make them sensible of their neglect of the same and practices against it born in sins or ignorant for that phrase imports so much and dost thou think to teach us John 9.34 who are our selves the best Doctors of his purest Church we know too well the meaning of Scripture to believe thee and we may chuse to credit even an Angel of God if he came down from Heaven to confirm what thou teachest These are doctrines of Devils and it is very probable saith the Reverend Vicar pag. 11. lin 12. that some worse Sect than that of the Quakers if a worse can come in their room will ere long what if this were a Caiaphas prophecy John 11.51 be at the doors and disturb the minds of credulous people Therefore is that party I speak this for instance which calleth another whose doctrine may for all that be far better than its own the worse Sect of all Christians like to believe by its means and to receive from it even the plain truth it self without they see some Miracles and the same power of Faith as the foresaid instruments to wit the Apostles had whilst like the proud Pharisees they thank God that their doctrine and their way is not like this Luk. 18.11 No sure but rather to be like the self-conceited Jews Rom. 11.7 11. made more blind than the Gentiles and per consequent the conversion of all such whom I take to be far from converted Christians is a more difficult work and so needs the same if not a greater Spirit and strength than that which the Gentiles wanted in the Apostles Greater abomination of the desolation cannot be found in the Church than when being made altogether desolate that is brought to the most opposite state to that which constitutes a Christian Church it yet abominably calls it self and will be counted the true Church of Christ But I hear some again of that blessed crew doubtless whom no reason without sence can convince and satisfie saying though we grant all this yet the Apostles wrought Miracles spoke new Languages and Prophecied therefore though you cannot do it your self yet if their Spirit is not ceased and seeing these signs wait upon the gift of it to some of the believers shew us who doth now any of those signs or hath done them within the twelve last Ages and up comes Master Vicar with a scrap of his Learning Dic quibus in terris eris mihi magnus Apollo Opera jam sanctus tam grandia spiritus edat as Miracles and Prophecy the great attestation of any truth whatsoever pag. 3. and per consequent of the truth of the Spirit of the Apostles being continued ever since 1200 years to God's Church For we daily experience that none of the pretenders to their Spirit do the same And we may assert saith he pag. 6. that they ceased soon after the said fourth Century notwithstanding the boasts of the Church of Rome who indeed instead of confirming men in the Christian Religion by their pretended Miracles do if men be considerate rather expose it to their scorn and censure so ridiculous are the stories they tell and upon such slight and pitiful ground do they pretend their Miracles are wrought And here I must confess that the Vicar and his crew have catcht the Bear by the tail for so notwithstanding the boasts of another Church and of what one whom he will call as well as the Quakers one of the worst of Christians can say and shew against him he may still as boldly assert that they are ceased and find pretences enough to defend his assertion But though what he saith of the Miracles of the Roman Church is too true of most of them yet have there been all that time no Believers among them and have none of the signs mentioned Mark 16.17 waited upon some of them this is a bold assertion and a very hard thing for Master Vicar to prove chiefly if we consider that Christ by foretelling us that some false Prophets should rise and shew great signs and wonders Mark 13.13 grants that seeing even those whose coming is after the working of Satan saith Paul have power to work Miracles some of the true Believers living among the Papists have done since that Prophesie some of those many Miracles which are related of them and may now if it were so and though the Vicar could prove that they never did any do some wonders it being prophesied of time to come without any restriction to the sour first Ages Mark 13.13 and of what should come to pass after the Gospel had been published in all Countries v. 10. then in respect to all men v. 37. and per consequent to all times till the Worlds end And if not only those false Prophets who work their wonders by the help of the Devil but the Nigromancer also who acts by the strength alone of humane nature can effect wonderful things as by retiring but for one moment within himself and setting very strongly his will upon a thing though at a great distance from him introduce and bring to pass his desire upon it or at least stamp upon it such mark or impression as the longing Mother doth upon the fruit in her womb as appears plain by Balaam cursing or bewitching by Enchantments whom he would Numb 22.6 24.1 except God by a special providence prevented him Josh 24.10 Numb 23.23 why should the same power be denied to faithful men though they live among the Turks or are reputed Papists especially being more Masters of their own Passions than such natural men as a Nigromancer is and their minds more abstracted from all lower things because their conversation is in the heaven above But to do all parties right it must needs be confessed that some of the Romish Saints as Bruno Lopez and such have by their fruits or their works as by denying themselves and dying to all the World and to all the comfort they did enjoy of this life to follow ever after their Saviour under the cross wandring in desarts mountains and dens Heb. 11.38 without taking thought how they should subsist and live shewed us that they did truly and really believe in Christ and so we have no reason to think but that he met them Isa 64.5 Act. 10.35 made them know of his doctrine John 7.17 and granted that some wonders were according to his promise Mark 16.17 wrought by their hands Act. 5.12 This and let Master Vicar think what he will otherwise though I have not seen
opinion being the result of their disputation and consult is in v. 28. ascribed with one accord v. 25. by them to the Holy Ghost as to him that guided them into this truth by his help and the convincing reasons suggested and gathered from the said disputations are look'd upon as his work 1 Cor. 14.37 7.25 40. Now here first no immediate afflatus inspires them and reveals to any of them what they should believe secondly they take some time and meet together with one accord not to write an Apostolical decree but to consult together and lastly by disputing seeking and examining they come at last to agree and to resolve upon the best-grounded opinion which is that all true Christians with the ordinary Spirit of our Vicar may lawfully pretend to Again the Spirit in Paul saith Luke Act. 17.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he saw the excess of Idolatry in Athens that is he had not a mean and ordinary impulse and paroxysme upon him Well and what was the effect of this fit or paroxysme did it make him work Miracles and like the man of God 1 Kings 13.5 rend their Altars and throw down their Images at his word or did then the Spirit reveal some new thing to him Truly no he disputed daily in the Synagogue and in the Market out of that which he knew already and by reasons which his light and knowledge suggested him were like to work upon them he shewed them their ignorance of God which raised in some a mind to know him better And the sum of the reasons he orged to them was that the God whom they did worship out of their excess of zeal without knowing him was he that made the whole World and could not per consequent be confined to their Temples that he having made also all things in Heaven and Earth and giving to all creatures life and breath we have from him and in him our being and so are all his off-spring as they had even been taught by some of their learned men viz. Aratus and others and therefore ought not to think that the Deity is like unto things far worse than we such as Gold and Silver are whereof their Idols were made that their reason told them it was not fit to remain in that state of ignorance but besides this he shewed them a further necessity to learn the knowledge of God which being Life eternal John 17.3 implys good works righteousness and holiness without which no man shall ever see him Heb. 12.14 which was that being to dye they were after this life upon a day appointed to give an account of their evil works to him that God had made Judge of all the World and declared to be such by the power he gave him to overcome temptation to fulfil all righteousness and so to rise from the death Rom. 1.4 no man ever arose from before him nor since his time but by him and by his gift To which reasons note not fetcht from any Humane Learning against what the Vicar argues so groundlesly for for what necessity is there of Mathematicks Logick and Metaphysick to convince men that they are a more excellent creature than Gold or Silver or Stones Dionysius Damaris and some others submitted and this effect of the said impulse of the Holy Ghost in St. Paul or other Saints is no more than what some men whom I know now living have done upon the same occasion in Italy And indeed we find no where that the Spirit which was mighty in the Apostles Gal. 2.8 was such blind afflatus as would immediately and without previous knowledge suggest and dictate to them the things which they spake and did But rather that it was a renewing of their minds Rom. 12.2 Ephes 4 23. by a new Light which lighting again their smoaking Candle made them capable to see and to discover by it all that which standing before in the dark did then plainly present it self to their view so that they might have given a full description of it As when the bright shining of a Candle giveth light to some men in a dark place Luk. 11.36 2 Pet. 1.19 they perceive on a sudden what they could not see before though it stood round about them and can find out by its meant if they carry it with them what lies hidden in the most hidden corners of the room so the Day-star arising in the hearts of those disciples rendred clear and manifest to them what they could not see and what was not to be seen without it though with the help of all the Humane Learning witness besides St. Paul 1 Cor. 2.9 10. the Vicar against himself in the place he cites pag. 10. out of Hales Golden Remains saying that what the Spirit did give them the knowledge of were great and high mysteries which had never entred yet in the heart of any man The gift of the Apostles was the renewing of the Holy Ghost saith Paul himself Tit. 3.5 now as the word renewing implys an existency of some decayed spoiled thing that receives a new supply of what it lost and lacked so the renewing of the Holy Ghost doth signifie a recovery of it and a restauration to the same Image of God breathed into man's nostrils when the Lord created him Gen. 1.27 2.7 which consisting in knowledge Coloss 3.10 they needed no more than he another immediate blind afflatus to know all things that is all they saw and were to think to speak and to do for the word thing being said of all that which dicitur cogitatur est the knowledge of all things-promised John 14.26 implys so much And that Adam needed no other new revelation or inspiration than that of his own native knowledge to understand perfectly the nature of what he saw c. appears from that God brought all the Beasts to him to see what he would name them Gen. 2.19 and not to teach him their names and from that whatsoever he called every Beast that was saith Moses the name thereof God who had before given names to other things Gen. 1.5 8 10. seeing these were right and good and that he had not only a right notion of the things but that what definition and judgment he made of them was so much according to truth so perfect and so congruous to their nature that nothing was found amiss therein he confirmed them and that was the name thereof as if God had given it Therefore when the Apostles were by the Holy Ghost renewed in light and knowledge they knew all things like Adam without new revelation with this difference only that whereas Adam had the perfect knowledge of all from the very first moment after he was created for then he was very good Gen. 1.31 the Apostles whilst in the body of this death Rom. 7.24 and till that which is perfect to wit the perfect state of Adam in body and soul Ephes 4.13 is come knew and saw all things in part and but as
thorow a glass 1 Cor. 13.9 10 12. neither came all that they knew to them at the first moment after their new creation or new birth of the Spirit John 3.5 but by degrees for saith Paul 2 Cor. 4.16 their inward man was renewed and perfected day by day the morning and the day-star going before them further and further until it came and stood over where lies the young child or Truth new found Mat. 2.9 so guided their minds from one consequence to another as from the lowermost link through the whole intermediate concatenation unto the higher end of the Chain yet in no great space of time that in following it close by seeking and by knocking for he who will that it should be opened to him must knock Luk. 11.10 and rise early and watch at the posts of wisdoms door Prov. 8.17 34. and traffick with his talent but never keep it laid up they did climb up by degrees into all wisdom and truth came to some knowledge in all the most hidden things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and so did stand in no need of a sudden immediate impulse and inspiration to declare and speak of them when they saw an occasion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will lead you in the way John 16.13 now leading one in the way implys that he walks himself and neither is carried to nor the things which he is led into brought unto him And the Son of God saith 1 John 5.20 hath given us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 note he saith not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the understanding it self but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is novum lumen in mente a discerning faculty that we may by consulting judging and examining discern to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the conjunction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in English that we may shews that the said enquiring and discerning faculty is the way and the means which the Holy Ghost brought St. John and the Apostles to know 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Truth by Also it is plain from hence that the gift of the Son of God the Holy Spirit bestowed on the Apostles is first an understanding enlightned and rectified to which they were left even in the midst of their Visions to gather from what they saw what they were to do and teach Act. 16.10 10.15 28. Whereas the ancient Prophets under the Old Testament with whom the true Unction the Comforter or Spirit made no such constant abode as Christ promised it would with those that should keep his words thenceforth or believe in him John 14.16 23. had not the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Light constantly shining in their minds to direct them upon all occurrences but the word of the Lord came to them and his Spirit upon them by intervals God was not yet Emmanuel the Tabernacle of the Lord was yet sometimes taken down Isa 33.20 and his Oracle or his Word the Verbum Domini that is his intellectus voluntas posse actus nam cum omnisciens omnipotens Deus neque consilio neque voce utatur scire velle agere is still but one thing in him to wit his Verbum or Christ who is therefore called the wisdom of the Father by which he knows and willeth and the arm and the power of the Lord John 12.38 41. 1 Cor. 1.24 by which he can acts creates and makes all things Heb. 1.2 and saves all them that believe did not as yet dwell in men John 14.17 1 Cor. 6.19 for they did not receive the promise of the Father Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 5 8. till Christ was glorified John 7.37 16.7 Therefore the ancient Seers had not the Oracle in them to consult with at all times like Christians whom God speaks to in these last days by his Son Heb. 1.2 who is the true Mercy-seat or Propitiatorium Rom. 3.25 found between the Cherubims viz. the Angelical Souls which have Heaven within them Luk. 17.21 Phil. 3.20 from whence God gives his Oracles ever since his first coming or appearance in the flesh But the Angel of God Christ Gen. 48.16 18.1 10 13 16 17. Mal. 3.1 made himself known and spake to them 1. in Visions and Dreams Numb 12.6 Gen. 31.11 Dan. 7.1 2. 2. or spake to them by a voice from above the Mercy-seat between the two Cherubims as the Lord did with Moses Exod 25.22 Numb 7.89 9.8 9. whence to the Testimony saith Isaiah 8.20 Numb 17.4 because that it was then hidden under the Mercy-seat in the Ark Exod. 25.16 21. Heb. 9.4 to enquire for counsel at the Lords mouth by Vrim Numb 27.21 Josh 9.14 Isa 30.2 Exod. 28.30 28. 1 Sam. 30.7 8. 3. or the Lord did put his word in their mouth and in their ears Numb 22.38 23.16 1 Sam. 9.15 Jer. 1.9 Ezek. 5.14 Isa 6.7 49.2 not in their understandings as by the new Covenant Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8.7 8 13. 4. or they were as Peter saith 2 Pet. 1.21 transported 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some sudden rapture of the Spirit upon them Numb 11.26 1 Sam. 10.6 19.20 to 24. 2 Kings 3.15 1 Chron. 12.18 5. or received their Visions falling into Trances like Abraham Gen. 15.12 Balaam Numb 24.4 Ezechiel ch 2.12 8.3 and some others Dan. 10.8 9. And they were called Seers 1 Sam. 9.9 because that for the most part they saw what they were to say and to do represented and described in their Trance Exod. 25.9 Heb. 8.5 thus having their eyes open to see the Visions of the Almighty whilst their body was dead and bereft of sense But the Apostles of Christ being one degree higher understood not by but from their Visions when they had some by means of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what they were to do and speak and fell not into Trances which were accompanied with pain horrour and darkness Gen. 15.12 Dan. 10.8 when they had any Visions but being in the Spirit often of their own accord Revel 1.10 they were in such Extasies caught up into Paradise Rom. 14.17 there to hear and see without weakness anguish and horrour the unspeakable words and Visions they received 2 Cor. 12.4 Whence if according to Christ John 20.29 blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed because intelligere being ipsum credere he that can without seeing understand what other men cannot understand and so believe without they see it is blessed with a better enlightned understanding as hath been shewed already the Apostles were blessed with a greater share of that which gives men understanding and were therefore greater than the said Seers and Prophets And hence comes that John till whom the Law and the Prophets were Luk. 16.16 though the greatest among all them that are born of women was the least saith Christ Mat. 11.11 12 13. among all them that are born of God John 1.13 or the least in the kingdom of God which as it began but from the time John lived Luk. 16.16 so it did not include him for the
Holy Ghost being given but after that Christ ascended to his Father John dying before was not entirely in God's kingdom Rom. 14.17 and had not the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dwelling in him as appears from his doubting whether Christ was the true Messiah that was to come Luk. 7.19 for they that have it know that 1 John 5.20 and so he was but one and the last of the old Prophets But notwithstanding this great Prerogative which all the Apostles had above them they were but men of the like passions and infirmities with them and with other men Act. 14.15 as appears by Act. 15.39 and by Peter compelling the Gentiles to do those things Gal. 2.14 which he himself condemned Alas per Antithesin to Master Vicar's alas which I have mentioned before out of his 5 th page lumen patiebantur tenebras interdum to wit when they did but slack the hand over the body Mat. 25.13 Rom. 6.6 8.13 23. 1 Cor. 9.27 Jam. 3.2 and had it been but for their extraordinary Spirit and Humane Learning Dionysius and Damaris had no more cleaved to them than those that heard the same things that they heard and yet mocked Act. 17.33 for what is Peter and Paul but the Ministers by whom Dionysius Damaris and the others believed and that how not as Paul's extraordinary Spirit prevailed but as even as God gave to some of them the grace to believe 1 Cor. 3.4 5. Quaere Seeing Damaris is mentioned together with learned Dionysius preferably to the men that believ'd at the same time Act. 17.34 and submitted with him to the School-learned reasons which as it follows from what the Vicar saith pag. 5. Paul was necessitated to make use of at that time to convince Dionysius was not the said Damaris a very learned woman and brought up in the Greek Schools or else was Dionysius become so much a Changeling that Paul had no greater need of Learning to convince him than to convince a woman Luke mentioning with a man of great Learning a woman before any of the rest seems to hint at the latter and Christ saying that we must become like little children to come into his Kingdom Mat. 18.3 and Paul that the wise worldlings must become fools to be wise 1 Cor. 3 18. because not many wise men after the flesh are called 1 Cor. 1.26 and God hides from such wise men his mysteries Mat. 11.25 it is plain that the learned Athenian was become so woman-like that the Bishops must look out elsewhere for another proof of the great necessity of Learning to convince him and for another better confutation of those Sects which they say do revile it Alas had it been but for the pretended supplement of it in the Apostles the Gospel had been nipped in its very budding forth the preaching of the Gospel had convinced no more men than it doth now amongst us the World had continued to be imposed upon like the people of Samaria Act. 8.9 10. and in general all they that heard the Word had mocked Is it wisely done therefore of the Lords Bishops to use or suffer to be used a falshood in a Pulpit with out check and correction as an argument of the great necessity of the thing so falsly supposed viz. School-learning in Preachers to reduce unbelievers to the obedience of Christ especially when Paul asserts flat and plain that he made no use at all of it God having chosen saith he 1 Cor. 1.27 the foolish things of this world to confound the wise whereof you have an instance in me and he preach'd not with wisdom of words the Humane Learning of the Vicar which he calls somewhere else a vain deceit Col. 2.8 lest the Cross of Christ saith he v. 17. should be made of none effect for it is to the Cross that the powers of the World among which Humane Learning and wisdom is not the least are nayled and by the Cross by self-conceited wise men resolving to become fools which is a great cross to them are the proud worldly wiselings with their imaginations and high conceits overcome 2 Cor. 10.5 Col. 2.14 15. Nay it is altogether injurious to the power which worketh effectually in the hearts of all converts Gal. 2.8 to call to help the wisdom of man and the School-learning in the preaching of the Word and therefore the Apostles spoke not with enticing words of mans wisdom v. 4. but planted and watered or preached always with all plainness of speech and simplicity committing the success to him that gives the encrease and trusting to his Spirit not to their own industry the work of man's conversion from sin to righteousness the means and the way to which is all that all Preachers ought to treat of in their Sermons And for all this their plainness weakness and infirmities they seldom preached in vain and they had better success than our Lords with all their great wisdom that comes to nought 1 Cor. 2.6 Also for all their want of Logick and Metaphysick they did not doubt as having saith Paul 1 Cor. 7.40 obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful but that they had the Spirit of God that directed them that what they designed was purposed in that Spirit Act. 19.21 and would have Christians to know that what they spake or wrote as their judgment or sentence was the command of the Lord 1 Cor. 7.25 14.37 And here had I but time enough I could run down the Bishops so very low that they would be glad to make of their Sleeves a Moses vail if they knew what they know not Zeph. 3.5 and were not so confident Prov. 14.16 For the fear of God being not only the beginning and instruction of wisdom Prov. 1.7 15.33 but also wisdom it self Job 28.28 and a whole treasure of it Isa 33.6 is not learning the Greek Tongue Logick and Metaphy sick and such like excluded from the means to get wisdom for what can they contribute and add unto that which yields a whole treasure of wisdom If a man asketh wisdom in faith God will give it him Jam. 1.5 6. God will give him his good gift the wisdom of the Father that is the Spirit of Truth Luk. 11.13 to guide him into all Truth For if any man will do Gods will John 7.17 keep the words of Christ ch 14.23 he and the Father will come to him by the Holy Ghost whereby he shall not only know of the doctrine of Christ but know all things and all Truth both Divine and Natural the word all comprehending omnia scibilia specially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 3.12 or the knowledge of nature as done before our eyes For such an understanding have all they that keep Gods words Psal 111.10 that they come of themselves to know and understand more than all their wisest Teachers Psal 119.99 100 104. and in a word the Scriptures proclaim almost nothing more than that men grow in knowledge as fast and by the same means only
reading more learned Books than another that we know better than he Christ and the sence of Scripture And though we be like St. Paul and like Nicodemus Masters in literature brought up in Divinity skill'd in the Law and Gospel for Paul being well versed in the controversies of his time and very deep engaged against Christians Act. 22.4 26.9 cannot rationally be supposed more ignorant of the Gospel-doctrine before he was converted than all the Lip-Christians are yet until it pleaseth God to reveal his Son in us as in him Gal. 1.16 we are as far as he was to seek in the true meaning of the said doctrine of Christ and as much in the dark as to his saving knowledge until it be given us to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven a Turk a Jew a Heathen that can read the Old and New Testament and we Christians understand Christ all alike Mat. 13.11 until he that hath the key of David opens Scriptures no man saith he Rev. 3.7 openeth them till the Son of God doth come and give us understanding to know him by 1 John 5.20 the Scriptures speak unto us in Parables Mark 4.11 and are not capable alone without the other witness that testifieth of Christ John 15.26 to suggest us any true and real knowledge of him till the Comforter doth bring whatsoever Christ hath said unto our remembrance John 14.26 we neither see in seeing nor understand in reading what we read concerning him Act. 8.30 31. The Scriptures are unto us a Parable every where Jo. 16.25 and like an imperfect Tale and full of contradictions 1 Cor. 2.14 which we believe no better though the Lip-Christians perswade themselves to the contrary than the Turks the Jews the Heathen and all those Sects which we count erroneous and the worst of all Christians Mat. 13.13 And the Scriptures are to us like the Book of the Law lost in the days of Amon and Josiah 2 Kings 22.8 historicè understood and believed but neither their full contents nor the depth of their meaning better known than they were then for as the Jews did not think but that the Law was fully known and duly satisfied by the few Ceremonies and Shews performed all those days wherein the Book was not found and what it contained perused and considered of yet after they had found it and read it attentively they perceived otherwise v. 11. so we fancy that we are by learning some few notions out of our Catechism and hearing a Chapter read and a Sermon preached or repeated now and then well informed of the drift and true meaning of Scripture and are fully instructed and made wise to Salvation but when we begin once to mind what we read of them in hearing to understand and in seeing to perceive what we hear and see therein our eyes which like those of the blind man of Bethsaida Mark 8.22 did first but spy out or see some few things confusedly v. 24 are restored v. 25. and we do then become sensible indeed of our past ignorance when we find in the Field of Scripture the hidden treasure Mat. 13.44 the old things of the Vicar pag. 9. which yet are all new to us when we come to perceive them thus being both new and old v. 52. which our eyes like Agars Gen. 21.19 were held from seeing before though we had read the same place over and over often learned without-book and have of it a full remembrance He that hath ears to hear or understand let him hear needed not to have been said and proclaimed so often if the sence were plain to all and all the men that can hear and understand were capable to understand the meaning of what the Scripture saith there Many great Prophets and Kings have desired to hear what the disciples of Christ hear and have not heard it saith Christ Luk. 10.24 and shall they that are not made Kings and Priests with the Unction of Christ the only Master perceive and understand it God manifest in the flesh is without controversie so great and deep mystery 1 Tim. 3.16 that none but the Spirit of God which searcheth all things 1 Cor. 2.10 can justifie that is know and acknowledge this wisdom hidden in a mystery which none of the Princes of this world did ever know but those only whose Faith doth stand in the power of God v. 5 7 8. and that are like St. Stephen Act. 6.8 7.55 perfect and full of Spirit Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor heart of man conceived this hidden wisdom of God which the Angels themselves desire to pry into 1 Pet. 1.12 but God reveals them unto the faithful by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 I will get me unto the great men and speak with them saith Jeremy for all times ch 5.5 for they have known the way and the judgment of the Lord but they have altogether broken the yoke burst the bonds they steal every one my word from his neighbours books ch 23.30 and seek honour and applause so that they cannot believe and the knowledge of Christ is not manifest to them John 14.21 23. and so they cannot make it manifest to other men as I have said before The true and the only way to have it manifested is to become humble and meek Luk. 18 17. Mat. 18.3 and to be born of water with the tears of repentance John 1.31 3.5 Luk. 3.3 confessing and forsaking the sins past Prov. 28.13 like Zacheus Luk. 19.8 and then doing righteousness we shall be accepted of with God like Cornelius Act. 10.35 44. God will love us John 14.23 and meet us Isa 64.5 and make himself manifest by the understanding he will give us 1 John 5.20 unto us whilst he is neither known nor perceived of the world John 14.22 The meek will he guide in judgment and the meek or lowly in heart will he teach his way Psal 25.9 Verily the first entrance or initiation into the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven begins at the singleness of eye and humility usual to a little child who is not self-conceited nor pre-possess'd with any prejudice and opinions but receives what he is taught and endeavours both to learn and to understand it well without murmuring at it and arguing against it and deriding his Teachers as the proud Pharisees did for as by Pride Adam fell from knowledge and righteousness which two the Image of God or the Heavenly kingdom doth saith St. Paul Ephes 4.24 Coloss 3.10 consist in so by Pride men continue fallen think to be as Gods taking upon themselves to judge both good and evil Gen. 3.5 not owning their ignorance and do not embrace the contrary way to Pride which is the beginning of their rising up again And as all men are fallen short of the Image of God Rom. 3.23 1 Cor. 11.7 and are all guilty of pride prejudice and self-conceit as it may be gathered from the aversion all men the highest and the lowest from the most learned
them afterwards in the Island of Patmos Rev. 1.1 9. did not dye until he had seen the whole kingdom of Christ even in its full power having seen in the Spirit the holy Jerusalem having the glory of God v. 10. 21.10 11. And upon the same account Verily saith Christ again Mat. 24.34 to all them that follow him Mark 13.37 this generation which lasts no longer than a mans life shall not pass till all these things to wit the coming of Christ in the dark and clouded Souls Luk. 21.27 of the Heaven within us with power and great glory Mat. 24.30 be thorowly fulfilled And Verily you shall not have gone over in your flight to avoid persecution to which men are exposed here only before they dye the Cities of Israel till the Son of man be come And I will not henceforth drink of the fruit of the Vine until the kingdom of God shall come Luk. 22.18 or as saith Mat. 26.29 till I drink it with you new in my Fathers kingdom which he did with some of them Luk. 24.43 both before and after that they were by the Holy Ghost come in the kingdom of God drinking it new together John 7.39 6.57 he himself drinking of it in Gods kingdom all the while I mean as well before as after they were in it as being he that did still accomplish all righteousness overcome all the kingdoms of the World and of the Flesh Mat. 4.8 John 16.33 by dying himself to them and thus remaining himself under the kingdom of God and purchasing by this means and delivering to God the whole power and kingdom 1 Cor. 15.23 24. which he could not do but by drinking of the Holy Ghost and living by the Father of his power from above Then if the kingdom of God is within us like a seed growing into a great Tree and like a little Leven working in us till we come unto the measure of the stature of the perfect man the Son of man Jesus Christ Ephes 4.13 and like a hidden treasure which we must to purchase it sell all we have in the World Mat. 13.44 Luk. 14.33 then is this kingdom of God which is the same thing as the coming of Christ as appears from Mat. 16.28 Mark 9.1 Luk. 9.27 Rom. 14.17 1 Cor. 4.20 conferred together before we are grown unto the measure of that stature even in this very life and before we part with it and with all the things we do enjoy whilst we enjoy it God hath saved us saith Paul whilst he was yet in the flesh 2 Tim. 1.9 and that by renewing or sending the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 and received ye the Spirit saith he to the Galatians 3.2 who therefore had received it before they read his Letter which was sent them in this world and in a word as all the Primitive true believers received the Holy Ghost in this world during this life so must all believers now since they are to receive it even in the same manner as I have fully shewed receive it before they taste of death Every Spirit that confesseth not that Christ comes to us whilst in the flesh being that Spirit of Antichrist gone into the Woâ—ld whereof see 1 John 4.1 3. for truly though flesh and bloud inherits not the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15.50 because till we have escaped the corruption which is in the World through lust we cannot saith 2 Pet. 1.4 partake of Divinity put on the new man which is created after God Ephes 4.24 and of a divine nature in the flesh we are saved in the flesh is the kingdom of God attained unto although not with all its full glory and Prerogatives Ephes 1.14 Now that when the Holy Ghost is sent or comes unto men it is Christ that comes himself it appears from what Paul saith 2 Cor. 3.17 1 Cor. 8.6 that the Lord is that Spirit And to see the days or the coming of the Son of man is to have him revealed compare Mat. 24.27 37. Luk. 17.22 with v. 30. which revelation is by the coming of the Spirit that doth testifie of him John 15.26 16.14 Gal. 1 16. Also to see the kingdom of God coming with power Mark 9.1 Luk. 9.27 that is as Luke saith elsewhere with the power from above Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 1 Cor. 4.20 Rom. 14.17 is to see the Son of man himself come in his kingdom Mat. 16.28 And I will pray saith Christ to his disciples John 14.17 the Father and he shall give you Another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth who dwelleth with you now that is whilst I am yet dwelling with you in the flesh and shall be or dwell in you when I am glorified John 7.39 16.7 Ephes 4.8 And I will not leave you comfortless I will come v. 18. and I will come again v. 28. that the other Comforter may dwell with you for ever v. 16. Where Christ saying Another Comforter and I come not to leave you comfortless it appears in the first place that he reckons himself the same with the Comforter or Spirit that was to come And secondly by saying that the other Comforter which was to be and to dwell in them for ever after dwelt with them and they knew him at the time he spake these words he shews that he is himself the same with that Comforter for that it was he only of all them that dwelt with them who was able to comfort them having the fulness of the comforting Spirit in him Coloss 1.19 2.9 John 3.34 and did really comfort or rejoyce them by his presence ch 16.5 6. 14.1 2. But more intelligibly ch 16.22 he declares himself the same with the comforting Spirit ye now saith he have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce your sorrow shall be turned into that joy thereupon v. 20. which no man taketh from you And again v. 16. 14.19 yet a little while saith he and you shall not see me and again a little while and you shall see me because I go to the Father but the World seeth me no more viz. when you see me again or when I make my self manifest to you v. 22. because it cannot receive and see and know the Spirit of Truth v. 17. 1.5 Where note that from that the World sees Christ no more afterwards from his first disappearance at his passion and burial whilst the Apostles see him again and that by reason that he went to the Father it is evident that this was not fulfilled upon his apparitions to them after his resurrection for then he was not as yet ascended to the Father ch 20.17 and the World might see him then as well as the disciples did seeing that he was palpable to Thomas his hands and fingers v. 25. and visible to the eyes of the disciples that were travelling to Emaus Luk. 24.15 even whilst their eyes were as much held from knowing him as those of the World v. 16 25 31. who might therefore see him talk