actings taking the shadow for the substance the fruit for the tree nay or rather the false and deceivable fruit of the flesh for both the tree and fruit of holinesse in the spirit but those who sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption 4. I shall adde in the fourth place though I might have mentioned it in the first that fleshly law of unholinesse that dwels in the hearts of all naturall men and yet they blesse themselves in their present condition There is and ever hath beene a naturall antipathy in the hearts of all men naturally against God and the appearance of holinesse in truth in his people such is the contrariety of the hearts of naturall men unto the holinesse of God that they ever did and doe to this day oppose it this is the law of unholinesse that dwels that rules in the hearts of all naturall men and hence it comes to passe that men naturally are taken up with fancies and shadowes instead of the substance something they must have to quiet them but not the truth the substance that affrights them because they are ignorant of it and have an enmity against it hence it is they call evill good and good evill they put light for darknesse and darknesse for light c. Chap. IX Of the power of the law in the spirit I Shall now proceed to speake a word of the power of this Covenant of grace this law in the spirit for as it is a law of light liberty righteousnesse and true holinesse it creates a new man within in righteousnesse and true holinesse so it s a law of power and much glory We preach Christ saith the Apostle the power of God and the wisedome of God This is that word which is mighty in operation and powerfull sharper then any two edged sword it enters in to the dividing of the joints and the marrow it is a searcher of the thoughts and intents of the heart the power of this law in the spirit This Covenant of grace made within the Saints may be discovered under severall considerations 1. The power of this law is a convincing power it over-powers the spirits of men it convinces men of sin of righteousnesse and of judgement it convinceth them of sinne making them truely and deepely sensible of it Of righteousnesse making soules sensible of the unrighteousnesse of all their best righteousnesse Of judgement that al those things delighted in formerly must be judged must receive the sentence of death from Jesus Christ sitting as a refiner and purifier in them c. 2. It converts as wel as convinceth it changeth and reneweth the minde takes off the minde from sinne it changeth the minde and the conversation it makes a separation between the soule and sinne it separates betweene a man and his beloved lusts it converts a soul from the love of sinne it converts it likewise from the practice of sinne it worketh a real change within which produceth a change without This is that power which overcomes flesh world and devil what 's the reason many a poor soul would many times gladly be rid of sinne but they want a power not being sensible where their power lieth but perhaps oppose flesh in the strength of flesh when its proper onely to the spirit to destroy flesh Therefore let Saints be informed where their power lieth that they may wait upon God whose worke it is to subdue all things in them all things without them that are contrary to him in his time 3. As it convinceth and converteth so it makes those in whom it is a free and a willing people In the day of thy power thy people shall be a willing people Psa 110. Willing to have sinne sacrificed lust and corruption subdued willing in the beauty of holiness to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God in Jesus Christ it s this powerful spirit which works in us both to wil to do of his good pleasure nothing in the world is able to over-power the wil and make it free but this free spirit of power it s this spirit which makes soules willing to yeeld up themselves to the scepter of the Almighty which makes soules free and willing subjects to the King of Kings that fils them with joy at the beholding of his presence of his power that saith not with the world He is come to torment them before the time but rejoiceth because the Lord God omnipotent reigns topping and keeping under all other lawes and powers besides it selfe Thus the Lord reignes and the Saints rejoyce the Lord reigns and the world trembles 4. The power of this invisible spiritual law wil appear in the destruction of Antichrist that man of sinne that son of perdition this hee will effect by the spirit of his mouth and the brightness of his coming The coming of Christ in the spirit which is the glorious manifestation of this law is that power that must destroy Antichrist By Antichrist that man of sinne I understand any thing within us or without us whether it appeare in wisdome or power if it be of the flesh though its pretences be never so fair and glorious yet it is but an Antichrist a man of sin a son of perdition its true all the workings of flesh is against Christ but there are workings in a more higher and glorious way and then its the more deceivable the more dangerous and it consists principally in wisdome and power whether within us or without us the wisdom and power of flesh in the things of God which occasions much pride and fleshly exaltation above all that is called God This is that deceivable Antichrist that mystery of unrighteousnesse which the Lord will destroy by this spirit of his mouth and this brightness of his coming therefore let all wisdome pride and power of flesh vale it self to this excellent glory for certainly its that which must be accomplished in these later times The day of the Lord of hoasts shall be upon every one that is lifted up and upon every one that is proud and lofty and he shall be brought low Every proud thing within the Saints and every proud and lifted up person among them upon al the Cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up and upon al the Oaks of Bashan be they as tal as Cedars as strong as Oaks yet the day of the Lord wil be upon them and upon every high mountain and upon al the hils that are lifted up and upon every high tower and upon every fenced wal and upon al the ships of Tarshish and upon every pleasant picture and the loftiness of man shal be bowed down and the haughtiness of man shal be made low and the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day Isa 2. The day of the Lords power wil be upon al the wisdome pride power confidence comfort and beauty of flesh and then the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day this is the day of the Lords
then all turnings aside from all motions and actings contrary unto that Spirit of life and light are sinne and indeed souls living in the light of this law are able to judge between the motions and actings of flesh and spirit they are made able to judge truly of good and evill and that not by eating of the forbidden fruit but by being made partakers of the fruit of the Tree of Life So that now the Christians discovery of sinne is not so much after the law of the old as after the law of the new man that law of spirit and life in Christ which is a sinne discovering law where it enlightens so that a Christian in the light of this law sces every motion to evill every lust and corruption the whole body of flesh to be contrary to that divine spirituall law to that divine nature received and hence is maintained a continuall warre against it untill that warfare be accomplished in the ending of it 2. This law in the Spirit is not only a light discovering sinne but likewise a light discovering Love and deliverance from sinne First it discovers Love notwithstanding the Creatures sinne nay not only so but it is Love in that Law that discovers sinne and it selfe who is Love unto Creatures while they sinne herein is the riches and freenesse of grace unfolded in the discovery of Love and grace unto Creatures who are in themselves unlovely he opens a fountain of Love notwithstanding sinne a fountain of blood and Spirit to wash away both the guilt and power of sinne a fountain of living waters even those waters of life that revives and comforts the weary soule in a barren and dry land thus this Spirit of light leads poor empty hungring and longing soules out of a barren and dry land that land of Aegypt a land of blacknesse and darknesse of oppression and hardship through and out of the wildernesse and solitary condition into the sweet imbracements of the Fathers Love both into the freenesse and fulnesse of it notwithstanding the Creatures sensiblenesse of its own unworthinesse and now the soul being thus lighted to and possessed with this everlasting Love and grace it is likewise brought in sight of a lovely gracious deliverance a deliverance from the guilt a deliverance from the power of the Law in flesh that although the Christian through the powerfull working of corruption can say many times with the Apostle Ob wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of sinne Yet it can say by faith triumphingly Thanks be unto God who giveth a victory through our Lord Jesus Christ flesh oft-times acts in Saints for their tryall and they are to passe through many tribulations to the Kingdome through a Sea of Glasse mingled with fire yet in conclusion they shall stand on top or above them all with the harps of God in their hands the Spirit making sweet melody in their hearts singing the song of Moses Praise be to him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever thus this Law of the Spirit in righteous souls not only of sinne and misery but likewise of love and deliverance it leads the soule not only into the beholding of darknesse and sorrow but it leads the soule out again into the beholding of light love and deliverance and so it shall be truly said of them These are they that are come out of great tribulation and have washed themselves white in the blood of the Lamb these are they that have gone through many tribulations to the Kingdome c. 3. This Law in the Spirit discovers not only a deliverance from flesh and sinne by which the soule is kept below its glory but it likewise discovers a glorious deliverance into that spirituall and eternall Kingdome where is nothing lesse then peace purity and perfection it hath an entrance given into that everlasting Kingdome of his dear Sonne First It hath a light given by and in which it sees into that Kingdome In thy light we see light and that Kingdome is within us in this light the soul sees into the severall dimensions and glory of it it sees it to be a Kingdome altogether lovely altogether delightfull of desire he sees it to be a Kingdom of righteousnesse holines peace joy and full of spirituall glory he now sees that no unclean thing can enter into this Kingdome all flesh and filthines filthines all hypocrites and hypocrisy all things that love and make a lye must be without cast out into utter darknesse where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Secondly As there is a sight so there is an entring into that everlasting Kingdome with a full expectation upon sure ground of being eternally compleated in that Kingdome hence it is the Psalmist saith Psalm 145. 10 11 12. Thy Saints shall blesse thee they shall speake of the glory of thy Kingdome and talke of thy power to make known to men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty of his Kingdome marke you here the Saints shall speake of the majesty of his Kingdome and shall make known the glory of it to the sons of men and why so Because they are a ble to give a true relation of it they have been in the Kingdome and can speak experimentally of that Kingdome note by the way who are the likeliest men to make known the Kingdome of God to others University men or Saints the Scripture saith the Saints shall doe it for to them it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdome they have been in the Kingdome others parhaps have heard of the Kingdome and so can speak somthing by hear-say but the Saints they have been in the Kingdome and the Kingdome in them and they can speake experimentally of the grace and peace of it and of the glory of it too in a measure a wonderfull delusion that poor ignorant creatures should imagine that humane arts the wisdome of the flesh should be able to unfold the Kingdome of God unto them or to preach the everlasting Gospel which is called the word of the Kingdome no no it 's proper to Saints onely to doe it who alone have by the light of this Law in the Spirit been delivered into this Kingdome of righteousnes peace and joy others may speak and talke rudely of it but alas they know not what it is they never did so much as see into the glory of it never had so much as a pee-phole opened to see one glimpse of that light of that grace of that glory John 3. 3. Except a man be born from above he cannot so much as see into the Kingdome of God but Saints are delivered into this Kingdome in a measure by this law in the Spirit beloved it 's the property of this light of God to gather up souls into it selfe The Kingdome of Heaven is a Kingdome of light and in the light of Heaven which is God who is light we shall see light and enjoy that light the
unto it Yet it is that I have said often and must now speake it againe that its such a law such a discovery as in it all carnall ones and hypocrites shall be left behinde in it the one below it still opposing living upon something of flesh the other in the notion of it only running beyond it and so with the dogge returning to his vomit and the sow that was washt to her wallowing againe in the mire This is indeed the narrow and strait gate and way of life few there be that finde it But some perhaps may hereby object and say Sir What you say seemes to savour of the flesh of a low darkened and enslaved spirit and is indeed Barbarisme to a soule In lightnesse we know that all things are good and that which you call sinne is good and all motions and workes are alike good from whence comes sin doth not it come from God is there any power besides God or that which is ordained by him and therefore are not all things and actions alike good I answer First It is true there is no power but is of God yet there are those who in that power act things which the Most High hath sentenced with death and not only the things but those who practise them that not only in Scripture where we finde this truth in the Saints experience I protest saith Paul by my rejoycing in Christ Jesus our Lord I dye daily and this spirituall death which many are ignorant of was and is one great part of the mystery of the Crosse of Christ within us this likewise is the experience of those who live in light they have received the sentence of death within them I meane the death of sin and flesh and for this they waite till it be accomplished Againe although all things had their first rise and being from him and still subsist by him yet the corruption of those things flowes from it self and not from him and besides God hath set up two creations two Adams the one after the flesh the other after the spirit the one being but a figure of the other the one is of the earth earthly the second is the Lord from heaven In the one to declare himselfe a just God in sentencing and condemning all sinne and flesh because in that first creation after the flesh sinne and flesh workes In the second declaring himself not only a God sentencing sinne and flesh but likewise a God of purity and holinesse such a one with whom the throne of iniquity can have no fellowship and this I am sure is the Saints experience nothing eclypses the glorious enjoyment but wars and fightings within them from lusts What need we make so much of sinne God is good and be seeth no iniquity in his people It s true God seeth that is suffereth no travell against nor iniquity in his people to hurt them to separate them from him but it is as true that those who have this testimony within themselves cannot see sin and flesh working in themselves with delight and pleasure Shall we sinne because grace abounds God forbid How shall we who are dead to sin continue any longer therein Fifth false Light Fifthly I might come to visions and revelations too for here will Antichrist this mystery of iniquity appeare likewise for he must come with signes and lying wonders God giving up men by strong delusions to believe a lye Not that I am against visions or revelations from God but the working of Satan will be in lying visions and wonders filling the fancy with toyes and fleshly exaltations The discoveries and revelations of God are revelations full of light power and truth tending to the dethroning of flesh and the exalting of God drawes up the soule into a more spirituall conformity to and communion with God it doth not occasion fleshly exaltations like unto the man of sinne who exalts himselfe above all that is called God saying I am Christ and so deceives many but I passe this at present Sixth false Light Sixthly I shall descend downwards againe to some further discoveries though more fleshly this false light presents a universall will and power in all men to accept and receive grace from God that one man might obtain mercy as well as another all having alike power or at least power enough to receive grace that faith is but an act of reason and they are unreasonable men that doe not believe not knowing that it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy not knowing that it s he that worketh to will and to doe of his good pleasure not experiencing that mighty power of God in those who believe so giving all glory to God but rather laying the stresse of all upon the creature gives all to the creature whereas souls rightly taught by that spirit of light see al not onely love and grace but wil and power flowing from that fountaine And hence it is that as streames flowing from the fountain returne thither againe so those who truly live in grace returne al to that fountaine of grace I am nothing I can doe nothing al flowes from that fountain Thus the Lord alone is exalted in that soule Seventh false Light Seventhly This false light presents God to the understanding to be but a piece of reason and so that there is indeed no God but reason rules al things and upholds al things questioning if not denying the naming of GOD though I shal not question but that some may do it through curiosity finding some new or nise tearme for singularities sake through some temptation yet minding the same thing whereas the discoveries of God are plaine and familiar to his creatures Hence the wisedome of the Gospel is called the simplicity of the Gospel though a mystery in it selfe and indeed farre above the reach of reason I meane the reason of the natural man of the first Adam which is of the earth earthly Thus from the notion of high mystery wee fal downe under the lowest part of the creation of the invisible God by our reason in the creation to judge of God to be but reason who is indeed the fountaine the Creator of reason and of the whole Creation Eighth false Light Eighthly From hence creatures come to conclude at last that the whole creation is God that God is al things and that al things is God that the creation is but God brought forth into forme and that this forme or body of Gods shall again become invisible and as at first so at last there shal be nothing but God no Saints no happinesse no glory no misery but all things returning into that one thing God not seeing God by his power bringing forth a creation that is not himselfe to serve his pleasure an old creation on which he will manifest his justice a new creation on which he will make knowne his grace and glory glorifying some with himselfe which are not
his righteousnesse free justification without workes but they are ignorant of if not enemies unto the righteousnesse of this law in the spirit Although I question not but that many who are yet come no further may be precious and enjoy true comfort according to that measure received yet these two things are considerable First That many are likely to perish after come forth of Egypt in the wildernesse before they come into this land of Canaan this land of rest Secondly That those who truly know Christ without them to be their righteousnesse doe or shal likewise know Christ within them although at present through ignorance they deny it although its that which is or shal be their greatest glory but I say for a man onely to know Christ without him glorying in this without any experience of the life of Christ in him in being made conformable unto him this is a fleshly and deceivable law of righteousnesse Fifthly Others seeme as they say to come higher then al the rest into a way of righteousnesse although lowest of al for they looke not after morality nor legality nor Christ nor this righteous law in the spirit which is the substance and perfection of al but they have found a new law of righteousnesse or rather of unrighteousnesse that is the law of the flesh doe what they wil its al good justifiable righteous but to such I say Be not deceived God is not mocked For what you sowe you are like to reape For God is not as man that he should lie or as the son of man that he should repent Let God be righteous let God be true and all false and fleshly perswasions be a lye 2. The external unrighteousnesse of this deceivable law in the flesh may be considered either 1. Doing or acting things contrary to the true rule of righteousnesse thus either First In acting that so they may appeare unto men to be righteous like unto hypocrites and this satisfies if there can be such a visible walking as may silence men though hypocrisy deceit and unrighteousnesse lie hid and lurking within these are the whited Tombes Christ speakes of which appear beautiful before men when within they are full of dead mens bones Secondly Or else when men take liberty to appear outward to men as they list ful of al unrighteousnesse and yet thinke to be innocent righteous and cleare before God justifying themselves that they have good hearts and the like these are they the Lord reproves by the Prophet Will you steal murder commit adultery and sweare falsly and yet come and stand before God in his house thinking to be delivered saying They shall have peace though they walke after the stubbornesse of their own hearts c. Thirdly Others not onely making gaine to be their godlinesse but gaine to be their rule of righteousnesse to others and hence it comes to pass oft-times that they have a law of liberty within them to lie and cosen for advantage not knowing that righteous rule To doe as they would be done unto and this gain self-advantage is the great rule by which most in the world walk I wish I had not cause to say that its the rule of many who would be accounted more then ordinary Christians which occasions in the fourth place much oppression and fraudulency now there is a liberty to defraud oppress to doe any thing for advantage this is the unrighteousnes of this law in the flesh Chap. VII The law of true holinesse THis law in the spirit is likewise a law of holines and purity in whom it is this law of the Lord is pure purifying and purging soules God is a holy God and he works the spirits of his people into his own likenes hence it is the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 18. saith That all we with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of God are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit and glory of the Lord is a transforming Spirit and glory it never leaves those in whom its manifest until it change them into the very image and glory of the Father This law of holinesse as it works holinesse in the spirits of Saints may be considered under two heads likewise either more internall or more externall 1. More internally as it changes and reneweth the minde for this spirit begins to worke holinesse first within it reneweth the spirit of the minde it takes possession of the heart it doth not only say My sonne give me thy heart but it takes the heart and moulds it and forms it according to its own good pleasure it doth not onely say Be ye holy but it works holiness and saith likewise Thou shalt be holy hence it is called The holy the sanctifying Spirit not only in respect of its own purity but as it workes purity in the spirits of Saints Thus holinesse becomes the house of the Lord for ever every beleever every Saint is Gods house his temple his habitation in them hee dwels and that by way of union and spiritual communion and therefore holines becomes this house this habitation for ever Qu. What is holinesse Answ Holines in spirit it is when the inner man by the power and operation of the spirit is changed and renewed by which means the old man flesh is put off with his deeds and the new man is put on it is an inward change from flesh to spirit being made partaker of the divine nature of the nature of the holy God hence it comes to pass that the minde being thus renewed so earnestly presses after more perfection in this sanctity now the soul sees clearly what was the Fathers everlasting purpose concerning him to gather him up into the same perfection of purity and holiness with himselfe this indeed being the Saints perfection the Saints glory the putting off of al flesh the filth of the old man and to be cloathed in this holiness of the new And he that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as Christ is pure that soul hath no patern or perfection short of him who is their elder brother who is entered into the Sanctum Sanctorum the holy of holies the most holy place perfection it self and a way being opened for Saints to follow him Hence it is they with so much earnestness presse after not as if they had already attained or were already perfect but they press forward if by any meanes they might attain the resurrection from the dead that is a full deliverance from this body of death into the compleat and perfect glory and purity of the Father Thus this law in the spirit is a law of holiness of sanctification it doth not leave men carnal and fleshly and filthy no no the will of God is your sanctification and this he works where he manifests himself he truly effects in the mindes of his people which is his house what he did in the temple at Jerusalem he
power we wil rejoyce and be glad in it this wil minister true occasion of joy to Saints when they can say and sing this song The Lord God omnipotent reigneth And thus this powerful law in the spirit wil appear in the subjecting al powers below or contrary to it unto it selfe when al created powers whatsoever below this omnipotency shal acknowledge That thou Lord God Almighty art worthy to receive glory and honour and majesty for thou only art worthy Thus shal this power cause al other powers to bend the knee unto it to submit and fal down before it Learne therefore to wait upon this powerful law to accomplish al your works for you both within you and without you to bring down al your fleshly enemies and then in conclusion shal you be able to see and say that through the help of your God you have gone through an hoast by the help of your God you have leaped over the wal 5. The power of this Covenant and Law in the spirit appeares in that it upholds those in whom it is from falling it endangers the soul to God the power of standing or falling is not left to the creature but the power of God is become the Christians power to uphold him We preach Christ the wisedome of God and the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Not onely wisedome and power to convert but to uphold and keep up the soule with the Almighty hence this Covenant is called an everlasting Covenant Jer. 32. 40. And saith the Lord I will not turne from them to do them good but I will put my feare in their hearts and they shall not depart from me this is the power of this spirituall law it keeps souls perpetually with it selfe so that as the Fathers love is an everlasting love so he makes with his people an everlasting Covenant that so their soules might live everlastingly in his everlasting love In a word it s this law of power which hath undertaken the effecting of all the Saints worke both within them and for them to carry them through temptations and trials and all oppositions both within and without untill they come to be compleated in that Kingdome Isaiah 42. 8 9 10. But thou Israel art my servant Jacob whom I have chosen the seed of Abraham my friend Believers are the Israel of God the spirituall seed of Abraham Gal. 3. last vers 9. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called thee from the chief men thereof and said unto thee thou art my servant I have chosen thee and not cast thee off Feare them not for I am with thee be not dismay'd for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will helpe thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse A blessed word being spoken in the spirits of Gods Israel how wil this raise soules above themselves worke them to a dependency upon him who is higher then themselves When the Lord speakes this word with power Feare not I am thy God I will uphold thee I will helpe thee c. What need such a soule feare temptations trials enemies This is that rock upon which Christ buildeth his Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it a word of comfort for the weake Saints they are not left to themselves to stand or fall at their own power but they are carried along in the everlasting armes of the Almighty He carrieth his lambs in his bosome he will not loose one of his little ones but will raise them up at the last day See Isaiah 43. 1. 2 3. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob and he that formed thee O Israel Feare not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by my name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy One of Israel thy Saviour this is made good in the spiritual Israel of God he undertakes for them his power and strength is to become theirs he wil help them and uphold them and carry them through fiery temptations and tryalls through flouds of afflictions and tribulations and thus through many a fiery tryall will he carry them to the Kingdome Oh therefore looke to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith looke to him who is your covenant and workes all for you and all all in you it is his word to you and likewise in you Looke to me and be yee saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else Isaiah 45. 22. There is no power below or besides God able to save you able to uphold and keepe you but he alone is able to keepe that which is committed unto him untill that day and his power is made manifest in his Saints 6. The power of this Covenant this law in the spirit enables to doe what it commands it is not onely a law of light enlightening the minde giving understanding to the simple but it carries on the soul in acting sutable to the light communicated hence it is the Apostle could say I can doe all things through Christ strengthening me And Christ Without me you can doe nothing It is he that worketh both to will and to do of his good pleasure I worke saith the Apostle yet not I but his grace in me 1 Cor. 15. 10. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Gal. 2. 20. His power it is in you that destroyes corruption and flesh he it is in you that workes you up to a sutable acting and walking with himselfe I saith the Apostle am dead to the law that I might live unto God Gal. 2. 19. Through the power of this law in the spirit am I dead to the law in the flesh that so in the same power I might live unto God Thus Saints live in the power of this law act to God in the light and power of God an excellent thing to be knowne of Saints where the power the life of their lives lieth Because I live yee shall live also Thus is Christ who is the Covenant become not onely the wisedome of God but the power of God in every one that believes Thus this law in the spirit transcends all other lawes besides it selfe the Law and Covenant of Moses commanded but gave no power to obey hence it is the Lord complaines Jer. 3. That they had broken the Covenant though he was a husband unto them but this is a Law a Covenant not to be broken because it effects what it commands The Law of Moses is called a weak Law Rom. 8. 3. For what the Law could not doe in that it was weake through the flesh c. This is a law of power it doth that which the Covenant in
with him in glory and you never enjoy the end of your faith until you come into the perfection of this glorious salvation Chap. XII The law in the spirit a law of peace THere is a false and fleshly joy and glory likewise which arises from the law in the flesh and that either 1. When creatures glory in sin and prophanenesse and ungodlinesse such a glorying is not good it will prove their shame Or 2. When men glory in the world in their profits pleasures and honours this glorying likewise is after the flesh Or else 3. When men glory in external priviledges as they call them although they are indeed but delusions as ordinances formes performances c. This likewise is but a fleshly glorying and that which Christ fore-told Mat. 7. 22. Luk. 13. 26 27. and the Apostle rejected Phil. 3. Or else 4. When men are gotten into such a notion as that now al is good every worke of the flesh and deed of darkenesse is now justifiable and they glory in it why al these are but fleshly gloryings And to such I say Glory not lie not against the truth for a day is coming when al flesh shal vale it selfe unto this excellent glory and al other glories shal perish as grasse as dung upon the earth and if mercy prevent not al these gloryings wil prove your shame Because you have rejoyced in lying vanities you have made lies your refuge and covered your selves under falshood And to you I say who have tasted how gracious how pure how glorious the Lord is Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome nor the rich man in his riches nor the strong man in his strength but let him that glorieth glory in this that he knows the Lord and his interest in him That the Lord is his portion his relation to him that he is his son his delight that he is heir with Christ to the same inheritance to the same glory and this is a glory wil out glory al fleshly gloryings in which men of the earth are taken up withal Or else 5. when this man of sin gets higher in filling the fancy with high apprehensions and glorious imaginations and seeming revelations to amazement in the creatures apprehension that it thinks certainly its the glorious God but the trial is it ends al in flesh fils the soule with pride and selfe-exaltations and is but like unto new wine put into old bottles that burst them al to peeces and by this meanes the evil one takes an advantage to blow them up root and branch and so to put an end to that which seemed to be in them whereas the discoveries of the spiritual law makes soules in whom it is the more humble the more spiritual the more conformable to it selfe and the more this glorious law appeares the more it changes the soule into its owne glory the more is flesh and fleshly exaltations subdued Chap. XIII It is likewise a Law of peace I Shal adde two or three particulars further in the discovery of this Covenant in the spirit And First It s a Covenant a Law of peace It s not onely a law of grace and love but it s likewise a law of peace hence it s called in Scripture a Covenant of peace Ezek. 37. 26. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them and it shall be an everlasting covenant c. This everlasting Covenant of grace is a Covenant of peace in the spirits of Saints he is our peace who hath broken down that middle wall of partition between us c. Ephes 2. 14. This Covenant of peace may be considered either 1. As it workes the soule into a peace and unity with the Father that now the soul who was once afarre off is made neare through the bloud of this Covenant and so being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and the kingdome of God within the Saints is a kingdome of righteousnesse peace and joy This is that the Apostle so often mindes in his Epistles Grace mercy and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ This is that peace of God which passeth al understanding of nature and flesh this is that peace which produceth joy which is unspeakable and full of glory Now the soule being in a Covenant of peace can goe boldly to the throne of grace there to have communion and fellowship with the God and Father of peace being made through grace a son of peace 2. This law of peace works the soul into a peace with all creatures possesseth it with a disposition of peace and love He is now at emnity with none ready to doe good to all to pray for enemies and those who oppose themselves being possest with that law in the spirit which is pure peaceable gentle easie to be entreated full of mercy and good fruites James 3. 17 18. without partiality without hypocrisie and the fruit of righteousnesse is sowne in peace in them who love peace This disposition is planted in them as much as in them lieth to live peaceable with al men Thus are Saints not onely a people of grace but a people of peace the fruit of righteousnes being sown in peace in them they recompence not evil for evil but overcom evil with goodnes 3. This law of peace affords peace and quietnesse to the soul in al conditions under al trials and temptations when others hearts shal fail them for fear and for looking after those things which shal come upon the face of the earth They shall lift up their heads with joy being possest with peace knowing that their redemption and deliverance draweth near Thus are Saints quieted in their spirits through this spirit of peace Isa 32. 17 18 19. And the worke of righteousnesse shall be peace and the effect of righteousnesse shall be quietnesse and assurance for ever And my people shall dwell in peaceable habitations and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places When it shall hail coming downe upon the forest and the City shall be low in a low place Here is a glorious Covenant of peace and quiet and this shall be effected when the spirit is poured forth vers 15. which wil produce such sweetnesse quiet and peace in Christians and that when the City is low in a low place and hail comes down upon the forest that is earthy creatures and hypocrites shall be filled with trouble perplexity and amazement then shal Saints live in rest and quiet peace shal come they shall rest secure nothing shall make them afraid Blessed are they which sow beside al waters in this water of life whose effect will be in such a soule quietnesse and peace for ever Chap. XIV Of the Law of Love 2. THis law in the spirit as its a law of peace so it s likewise a law of love it s the royal law of love love being the great command the ancient command commanded not onely in the letter