for the bringing forth of such operations yet cannot but confess the time of them is past and at present is only assemblance of it So do false interpreters they pretend the primative of the church and yet know no more how to make this time the first time then they know how to make a Christian in these dayes to be the first begotten of God therefore meer counterfeiters of time 4. Stage players counterfeit places if he draw but a curtain they act as in the Kings pallace when it may be but in a stew or brothel house So do false interpreters draw but out wine and wafer or water and a person without vale or covering and the act as in the pallace of the king of Saints and in the mean time confess that his dwelling is in heaven where themselves never as yet came and thus false interpreters are the stage players of the world who dissemble the being of persons histories times and places and cannot but confess the reality of them is out of being in point of present appearance Whereas the truth of interpretation doth not only comprehend them all extending it self unto them but also gathereth them up into present exercise and that in the reality of their proper being For he that can look back upon the word and work of God he knows how to convey himself thither or else it is a dead letter unto him he also knows how to bring up convey that word and work to take place and give it self a real and present being in himself otherwise it is not become a quickening spirit unto him and the like skill that the spirit of the Scriptures hath to convey it self back to the original and foundation of things it hath also to convey it self forward to the accomplishing and finishing of them not only in after times but also in the time present otherwise it is as the word of man subject to times and seasons and not as the word of God that is ever the same as himself is Therefore it is that Christ saith before Abraham was I am and the prophet Hosea speaking of Jacob conversing with God saith he met him in Bethel and there he spake with us and the Lord hath set up this name as his memorial in Abraham Isaac and Jacob as being in them conveyed unto Moses and all the Saints of God namely I am that I am hath sent thee for if the sender had not been in him that was sent those great works in Egypt had never been effected for the memorizing of the name of God forever Wo therefore unto false and counterfeit interpreters of the law of God which wo doth not only concern such as know themselves to deal deceitfully with the Scriptures for advantage but also such as upon false principles are never so much perswaded that they speak truth whether they deliver it unto others or receive and take it in as upon their own account it skils not the matter is the same and hath the same acceptance and reward intailed The word wo is a voice of cursing as an edict or proclamation given out by Christ as ruler of all things which none can gain say or contradict containing the whole sum in every part and particular of that cursed estate and condition of sin and unrighteousness as brought in and continued among the sons of men by false and hypocritical interpretation of the word of God as being no other but the spirit of the serpent from the beginning who is said to be the dragon that old serpent which is the devil and Satan Revel 20. 2. And this woful and sinful estate and condition as the proper portion and patrimony of all false interpreters being the only spirit whereby they live in fostring and maintaining the deeds of the flesh is apposed unto that blessed condition of the Son of God the fountain and original of all happiness whose spirit is the true intent and proper scope of the word of God in which alone his life is preserved and maintained forever and therefore he is called the word of God and saith of his proper language the words that I speak are spirit and life therefore without true interpretation of the Scriptures no conservation but a crucification of the Son of God Therefore it is that Christ so often ingeminates and reiterates this word wo as the curse consisting in false interpretation being that and also those which put him to death the persons and the spears being one therefore the Prophet cries out unto God Rebuke the company of spâ—armen or the roor or the crew of the Canes or the wilde beasts of the reed as the word imports Psalm 68. 30. prophecying of those who gave Christ vineger upon a reed in his thirst upon the cross and put a reed in his hand and smote him on the head head with the reed Matth. 27. 29 30 34 48. Psalm 69. â—2 as such as make hollow the word of God emptying it of the proper spirit thereof which thereby becomes as a spunge to draw in sharp bitter and tart things to present unto Christ that is cruel and savage persecutions even unto death therefore the prophet calls them the mighty bulls and calves of the people that is the high priests scribes pharises and elders who falsly expound and apply the word of God to the putting of it to death of whom the prophet largely comments in that two and twentieth Psalme Now to describe a false expositour of the word of God as a general Maxim to hold true undeni bly and universally in the discovery of them in all times places and persons is this They deny the word of God its proper and natural rise and accordingly carry it to an improper and unnatural center First they deny the word of God its proper and natural rise that is they conclude that all things whereinsoever God hath expressed himself do not arise nor have their original in the word of God as considered and consisting in the unity of God and man no nor that any thing in the first act of creating the world could possibly arise out of such a fountain but say they that device of God and man being one was only brought in after man had sinned but in the beginning all things were good yea man himself in a goodness besides short of and out of Christ Whereas the truth is there was never reality of goodness to be found as coming within the account of God but only in that work of God and man being made one in Christ therefore it is that when the man said unto Christ good master taking him for a meer man Christ asks him why callest thou me good there is none good but God not denying himself to be good but that goodness doth not consist in the excellencies of the creature but in the excellencies of the Spirit of God that made all things and what work soever holds nor proportion with the mind of the maker hath not the
of the wisdom of God and imbracing the wisdom of the flesh they kill the spirit of the Prophets persecute and evilly intreat them to their own destruction and finall overthrow So that the word of God in way of the curse as it utters it selfe in the principles proper to a creature cannot take account of it selfe in the conservation of those principles and aptitudes but as it terminates the mind of the spirit of God in them which is an utter cessation of the proper language of the Son of God and killing of the spirit of the Prophets of which spirit and state of the Son of God there is not one Prophet wise man or Scribe in Gods esteem and account suffered to live in the world for the son of God reckons and accounts of himselfe only according to that wisdom which eternizeth all things in his estate and condition for though the Son of God be a Creature as well as a Creator yet his estate through that unity of both is an eternall estate and condition so that the spirit of the word of God is sent unto and presents it self to all men whatsoever in the very same things themselves speak as that the most Excellent is to have the preheminence who is the Author of all things and the end of them also and if this be but granted which no man can deny for Pharaoh in his sober mood will acknowledg Gods preheminency of what worth or of what excellent use then shall any temporary thing be accounted or appear to be if God have preheminence in wisdom power authority riches peace plenty friendship and the like every thing in him is full and compleat in whomsoever he communicates the same where then is there a vacuum found for or a necessary use of the glory wisdom power authority friendship riches and prosperity of the world to make the Saints of God more honourable prosperous or excellent than that wherein their proper being doth consist which the world cannot give neither can they take it away nor work a diminution thereof in the least Note hence that in regard the glory of the Creature is of no use but altogether blasted and withered as grasse wheresoever the spirit of God breaths as a North wind and as the South wind upon the garden of God that the Spices thereof may flow out when the beloved comes to eat his pleasant fruit Isaia 40. 6. 7. 8. Iames 1. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 24. Cant. 4. 16. Therefore it is that the wisdom of the Creature to exalt flesh in preferring it before the life and spirit of the Lord Iesus who lives for ever terminates the word of God in carnal and terrene things according to its own principles whereby it preserves a carnal and sensual life in its selfe contradictory to the life and spirit of the son of God and the spirit and life of all true prophesie or found interpretation of the word of God and so quencheth the spirit and despiseth prophesie 1 Thes 5. 19. 20. pursuing carnal doctrine and bodily exercises upon the life and death of his spirit being engaged and bound over thereunto by the carnall Commandement Customs and Traditions of men and thereby expungeth and evacuateth the life and spirit of the Scripture which is the life and spirit of the son of God who is the only Prophet of the Church singularly considered and all the Prophets of the Church in a true and real distribution and plural acceptation according to the minde of the Scriptures Canticles 1. 3. We conclude then in order to the question that no man can carnalize the word of God out of the Characters written in his own heart Rom. 2. 13. 14. 15. 16. in which expressions the spirit is involved but his heart is touched with a higher thing than himselfe can form in his present act therefore Christ is still to come or hath been here but is departed in the judgment or doctrine of a carnall Iew or Gentile and takes not a perfect and real form in any thing they do or say but something is of a higher nature which these steps are ascending unto shall we think that men constituting a Church of a company of people who were no such thing the other day and in a few years following it shall come to nothing are not touched with something of a higher more excellent eminent and durable nature which this is only a help or step to attain unto shall we think that men exercised in ordaining officers for their defence safety honour and instruction are not touched with higher things which these lead unto shall men be exercised in bread and wine and water chewed with the teeth taken into the naturall stomack washing and dipping the naturall body which food perisheth which water slideth away are not these men touched with matters of higher concernment then any of these things are or ever can be These touches and intimations therefore are the visitations of the spirit of the true Prophet sent unto these wicked hypocritical and dissembling Scribes and Pharisees the blind guides of the world whose vilification of the spirit in preferring carnall Rites and Ordinances is the rejection persecution and killing of the spirit of the true Prophet maintaining nothing but a dead carkasse of Religion or dead bulk or body of the Scriptures in the world for their own gaine honour cruelty and contriving of means and making of engines and instruments to exercise their enmity upon the spirit of true prophesie and interpretation in the person of whomsoever it appears in the world and herein consists the very root and rise the seed and off-spring of the Serpent which is the Devil and Satan in his operations in the men of the world as at this day Observe further in this point that the word of God as it utters it selfe according to Gods wisdom upon principles proper to the eternall Son of God cannot take an account of it selfe in the conservation and maintaining of them nor can it speak its own proper language but as the originall copy out of which it is translated presents it selfe which is the letter of the Scripture the characters written upon mans heart the very engine and instrument of Satan whereby he exalts himselfe whereupon the spirit of revelation is necessitated unto interpretation taking out the mind of God in rejection of the will and wiles of Satan and so becomes an interpreter one of a thousand to declare unto man his righteousuesse to be such as becomes the only begotten Son of God Iob 33. 23. 24. translating the language of the Creature into the proper wisdom and speech of the Son of God in whom the proper language which man naturally speakes with respect to the word of God hath no place nor do humane principles bear any sway in him at all therefore when the Mother of Christ according to the flesh would have had his glory to have appeared at the marriage feast in Canaan of Gallilee to the end
them as others inferior to him These assume a life spirit and righteousnesse of Christ but confesse that the reality of their proper aboad is in another namely in Christ himselfe these have let out the life and spirit of Christ into another condition distinct from himselfe and therefore he is another than they upon whom these things are imputed and powred out And hence it is that as blood shed on the Earth loseth its proper spirit and life and the ground converting it strengthens it selfe thereby even so this doctrine drawes out the blood of Christ so as it loseth its naturall and proper vertue and is no more the life and spirit of the Lamb of God the Saviour of the World but is become the life and spirit of a Woulf ravening and devouring to his utmost power the flock of God whereunto he comes it is no more the life and Spirit of Christ but of Antichrist no more the Spirit of God but is the spirit of that evill one 3 The third point noted is the time that is from what time it is shed that is very ancient namely from the foundation of the World that is this spirit of false interpretation is the originall ground and cause of all bloodshed and murther that ever was in the World as it was in that wicked Cain who slew his brother in the beginning 1 Iohn 3. 12. by false interpreting of the Sacrifices of God to consist in earthly things therefore is said to offer the fruits of the ground Gen. 4. 3. unto the Lord which is his evill work which the Apostle notes to be the cause of the murther saying And wherefore slew he him but because his own work was evill and his brothers good 1 Iohn 3. 12. Even so it is unto this day false interpretation in carnallizing the word of God falsifying that acceptable Sacrifice which is the firstling of the Flock that Abel brings this is the cause of all murther and bloody persecution unto this day for it only upholds the way of Cain and wages of Balam in the World Jude 11. which spirit of Cain kept alive in ceremoniall and traditionall Jews Christ tels them they are of their father the Devill who is a Murderer from the beginning alluding to that act of Cain Iohn 8. 44. 4 The fourth point is to what time this act of murther reacheth and comes that is unto this present generation for as false Interpretation is the originall of murther and killing of the spirit of all the Prophets so also it is that off-spring present appearance and actor thereof in all ages for as the wisdom of God taking the Son of man or Adam earth into unity with it selfe there is blessednesse and conservation of eternall liâ—e in all that off-spring wherein this wisdom is pleased to propagate it selfe in the true construction given of that wisdom and word of God So also the wisdom of the Serpent taking into its counsel or unity with it self the Son of God or heavenly condition which hath Lordship over all by false construction of the word and work of God doth thereby become guilty and accursed in all the off spring and generation thereof where and in whomsoever the spirit of the Serpent in false interpretation appeareth the one of these is the seed of the woman the other the seed of the Serpent which in all ages and in all things are at enmity and in opposition the one to victory to be set upon the Throne of David perpetuated as the Sun before the Lord Psal 89. 35. 36. â—7 and the other in way of the Fall is cast down unto the Earth where he makes war with the remnant of the seed of the woman yea is thrust down into the bottomlesse pit and place of destruction for ever Rev. 12. Rev. 20. 1. 2. 3. and at so wide a difference doth the true and false interpretation of the word of God begin proceed and end in 5 The fifth point is that of them it is required that is the blood of all the Prophets of God shed from the foundation of the world is required of the present generation inquisition for blood being made it is required at their hands and God will inquire after exactly exquisitely or perfectly as the Greek word aâ—riboas translated inquire signifies Act. 23. 20. for the Lord will inquire or the word of God will seek and find out bloods in the form plural Psalm 9 12. that is such as corrupt both the life and the death of the Son of God both being included in the word bloods he will inquire that is execute vengeance exactly to the uttermost therefore where Moses saith God will inquire or require of him that hearkens not unto the words of the Prophets Deut. 18. 19. the Apostle Peter alleging the words of Moses saith that he that will not hearken to the words of the Prophet God shall destroy him from among the People Acts 3. 23. In which inquisition after blood or requiring of it exactly note these two things I. First Consider the incomprehensible nature of the Fact in takingaway and disanulling the life and spirit of the word of God for it is called the blood of God Act. 20. 28. and if it be of that infinite and incomprehensible nature what shall be found of a valuable consideration to satisfie and make payment to the uttermost farthing which is exactly required to be done or else imprisonment for ever Mat. 5. 25. 26. II. Consider that if this blood guiltinesse have not only in it the originall of all murther but also is in a continued act there of successively crucifying the Lord afresh unto himselfe and puts him to open shame Heb. 6. 6. When can a just and exact punishment cease if the cruell act of the murther be still in operation for the cause of this complaint They have pierced my hands and my fe t is never out of act in any wicked man whatsoever Psalm 22. 16. no more than the conservation of the life of the spirit of God is out of act in the Lord Iesus Christ whereit ever liveth to make intercession in the Saints Heb. 7. 25. Rom. 8. 25. 26. 34. 6 The sixth point is that it shall come upon them according to Matthew that is the blood guiltinesse together with the exact punishment and plague for taking away the life and spirit of the word of God in carnallizing and making a dead carkasse of the same And it is said to come upon them in like sense in way of opposition as the Spirit of God is said to come upon the Saints of God so as to cloath them with might and power to do great workes or to performe mighty and miraculous workes in and by them so it is said the spirit of God came upon Othniel Gideon and Sampson to do mighty works unresistably Iudg. 3. 10. Iudg. 6. â—4 Iudg. 14. 5. 6. Even so the spirit of guilt and destruction comes upon false Interpreters to their utter
and affairs which themselves are freed from so that they only may be drawn out in prayer as a continned act office trade or calling belonging only in that point unto them as their peculiar calling and office this is a false pretence and meer colour and deceitful gloss set upon prayer to beguile the world when men ingross the holy and free spirit of supplication monopolizing it unto themselves by denying the rest of the Saints of God to injoy it in like extent and by as just and good right in the exercise of it continually and as not being of like concernment in every one of the godly as it is or ever was in any one or as thongh others of the Saints stood not so near unto God therein nor came into the holy of holyest by virtue of office as themselves do This is a meer pharisaical and hippocritical deceit concerning praying to delude the world namely to draw out prayer as a continned act and exercise and to be of more concernment in some mens calling then in others of the people of God for the spirit of intercession is of like virtue extent and concernment when and in whomsoever it doth appear otherwise the bloud of sprinkling should not be of like virtue to speak the same good thing in one of the Saints of God as it doth in another for it is the same eternal spirit by which he offereth up himself without spot unto God Hebr. 12. 24 Hebr. 9. 14 in all as one and in one as all And by this pharisaical and hypocritical deceit is the widows house devoured for whosoever he be that sets himself by office nearer to God then the rest of his brethren that man must of necessity exclude and shut them out of that holy place of Gods habitation and dwelling which is that state and faith of the Lord Jesus that habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes 2. 22. and so defrauds the desolate of that plentiful supply which God hath appointed for all such as come unto him by enterposing himself between God and them for he that sets one Saint of God nearer unto God then another he devours and spoils the habitation of God that is he corrupts the state of the Lord Jesus in which holy habitation God is only a father to the fatherless and a Judge of the widow For therein and not elsewhere is he become their head and only Lordship there is he their protection and defence there is he their provision and bountiful supply there is he their only instruction and instructour and there and not elsewhere is he that happy multiplication and multiplier of himself in all those fruits of righteousness which are of God by Jesus Christ Rom. 7. 4. Philip. 1. 11. Therefore Christ saith in opposing these false interpreters to all true disciples be not ye called Rabbi for one is your master even Christ or yet have one mastership even that unction which teacheth you all things John 2. 20. Hebr. 8. 11. and ye are all brethren or ye are all one brotherhood that is equal in any point of dignity and call no man father on the earth for one is your father in heaven You are not the off-spring of any earthly progenitour but are the royal seed of heaven and have alike fatherly authority in your selves to produce a like posterity therefore he saith he that is greatest among you shall be your servant that is the greatest dignity in any of the Saints is to be a servant unto all the Saints therefore did the Lord of all wash the disciples feet and wiped them with the towel wherewith he had girded himself to give them an example of performing the like service John 13. So Christ saith to the disciples Whether is greater he that fitteth at meat or he that serveth is not he that â—itteth at meat but I am among you as he that serveth Luke 2â— 27. 1. He then whosoever he be that in pretence of being exalted by the word of God into place and office above any of the servants of God that is such servants as are the Lords freemen 1 Cor. 7. 22. that man is a false interpreter of the word of God yea an hypocritical scribe and pharisee it is he that loves the uppermost seat in the synagogue for it is not the sitting in any seat but the love of a high seat that he may appear as the nearest to God in all acts of worship and to come more immediately from God in all his commands and exortations then any of his brethren Matth. 23. 6. These are they that devour the widows houses by setting themselves nearer to God then others and thereby shut the desolate out of the place of Gods holy habitation where only the Lord is the present and full supply of them Psalme 68. 5. 2. These are they who loved the uppermost roomes at feasts as being the proper cause of all festivity they being the only instruments of peace the procurers of plenty and chief cause of the joyful condition of the people and so interpose themselves between God and such as are in plenty also that the praise may redound unto them and so deprive God of his glory in their deceiving of the people Matth. 23. 6. 3. These are they that love greeting in the market place and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi Matth. 23. 7. they love to be honoured as masters and lords of the market that is of all commerce and trade not only between man and man but also between God and man and so in the feasts also for who must be an instrument to feast thâ— soul but only they and who must rejoyce and sing when they see cause of mourning this point is not only practised amongst them who are raised bâ— the help and addition of school-divinity to their natural spirit for it is evident amongst these Indians the Barbarians amongst whom we live for if any of the superiours mourn if there be found any of the inferiours rejoycing if he escape with his life it is much if it be not taken away by one means or other But these must be masters and lords of the market also in that they appoint the place the time the manner of commerce for weights measures kinds of coyn with the value of it keepers of the peace quieters and stillers of the people and he that keeps not time comes to the place holding weight and measure acknowledging the rates and valuation set by elders of church or state that man is a sinner culpable of punishment what are they then who love to be called lord â—ord but such as are nearer God then others stand in the place of God which the rest of their brethren do not these devour the habitation of the widow by shutting the desolate out of Gods holy habitation where he hath related himself alike unto all in that judgement which he pass th upon all of them whose first husband the law of the carnal
in any inferiour ordinance or appointment which is not the Son of God himself we then falsifie and corrupt the mystery of God by Idolizing and adoring the creature defiling our selves by Idolatry and so all things become unclean unto us And we are found false interpretours of the word of God by washing the outside of the cup and platter in that we put a gloss of divinity upon terrene and transient things and thereby corrupt and defile unto our selves and others that inside or hidden mystry of God in Christ Jesus who is the proper summ and substance of all things wherein the word of God expresseth it self And from hence he brings in the ground of the seventh wo pronounced laid down in the 27. and 28. verses that is they are like whited tombes which appear beautiful outward but are within full of dead mens bones and all filthiness wherein observe two things 1. First a description of false interpretours under the Metaphor of a grave with respect unto what it appears outwardly and what it is really wi hin 2. An application of the doctrine according to the true intent of the Metaphor to shew the nature and condition of deceitful interpreters of the word of God First they are described under the Metaphor of a grave sepulchre or tomb and first for their outward appearance they are whited tombs or as the word imports painted monuments for as in the former wo their cleanness on the outside is set forth and their filthiness within arising there from so now in this Metaphor he shews the form they have on the outside of this sepulcher and what is the matter and form within they are therefore painted or ingraven monuments now we know that the painting or ingraving of a picture upon a tomb is only to set forth a resemblance of him that is not Gen 42. 36. but is turned to dust under that shadow that is set up to appear to men for if the party had been alive to make himself manifest in his proper feature and abillities that painted form had not been there so that it is the death of the party that brings forth the picture to declare that such a one was but is not or in hope that in time he will rise return and live again Right such is the practice of false and hypocritical interpretours they draw out forms and pictures of Christ as one that hath been or will come in carnal ordinances as in momentany Churches offices and officers sacraments and outward services set up as certain pictures or shadowish forms of him who in their true account at present and in point of reality of his presence with them is not for in case he were alive in them he would not need such pictures and formed resemblances to set forth or make manifest his lively operations and virtuous sufficiencies which ever abide and are really resident with him Therefore where such pictures and painted forms of transient and terrene things are set forth and ma ntained Christ doth by this Metaphor declare and publish to all the world that he is dead in all such hearts as are the minters and maintainers of such things for the ground and reason of all such works is because he is not alive in any of his virtues institutions and eternized ordinances peculiar unto that his mystical body and because he is dead in them and they dead to him in all the life and power of his spirit therefore they draw out such pictures and monuments of him whilst their doctrine is the proper sepulchre wherein his mystical body is consumed and turned to rottenness in regard of any life or virtue thereof appearing or exercising it self in any such interpretour And there Christ lies under the stone or strength of Herod Matth. 27. 60 Iob 6. 42 his authority as also under the seal or secresie of Pylates subtil and pharisaical ministry Matth. 27. 62 66. unto such time as the angel of God fowl aside that heavy stone of the earthly strength and authority of Herod and break open that seal and secresie of the mystry of iniquity that the Son of God may be made manifest by his resurrection to be such a one as no such earthly thing contain Romans 1. 4. We conclude then according to the intent of Christ in taking up this Metaphor of a painted tomb or monument that where temporary institutions are limned and drawn out as being the subject matter of the word of God there the Son of God is not but is dead and departed thence in regard of all his properties virtues and operations which accompany salvation for such doctrine is the proper grave wherein Christ hath been buried in all ages since the foundation of the world and the letter or outward form of words in the word of God resolved to be Gods proper intent hath been the proper engine wherewith Satan hath not only tempted but also overcome the sons of men from the foundation of the world which is apparent in that threefold temptation wherewith he assaults Christ and Christ giving the true intent and interpretation gives Satan the foil and overthrow in his compleat mystical body for the Apostle affirms that the temptations of Christ and the issue of them are in like sort in all his mystical body without sin Hebr. 4. 15. It is good to consider wherein the grave consists that Christ is buried in as though he were not Ierem. 31. 15. Gen. 42. 36. Lest whilst we set up our monuments and prepare clean linnen clothes with all respect and modesty in purified and reformed humane ordinances and put the body in a new sepulcher hewn out of a rock or new power set up which hath not formerly appeared and roll a stone or exercise that earthly power to keep him safe in that buried condition We do no more in all this then Joseph of Arimathea did who was a disciple but feared the Jews and Nichodemas who was but a night disciple lest he should lose his honour among the Jews being both just and honourable in the Jews account and therefore would do nothing in that point of Christs burial but by their leave and performed the same according to their customes we may use great diligence begging and petitioning modesty and humane or Jewish purity making use of new hewen out rocks of authority and stones of strength to effect our desires intents and purposes and yet all may amount to no more then the endeavours of these men namely to keep Christ in some new hewen out and formed earthly condition so as none may remove him from thence but under penalty Matth. 27. 57 66. Mark 15. 42. Iohn 19. 38. Luke 23. 50. with respect unto their so religious power Iohn 19. 10. And with respect nuto such Jewish purifications in their deifying of humane and carnal ordinances Luke brings in the sentence in differring phrases saying Wo to you scribes and pharises hypocrites for ye are as graves which appear not and
but that they dissemble the same in point of any present being of them Thus these Hypocrites in expounding of the word of God dissemble the Fall of man as a thing that was and is not the Concepcion Birth Life Death Resurrection and Ascencion of Christ as things past and now are not but only in Records and Histories These Stage players do not only pick the purses of their brethren but pick out their eys in beholding vain Idols not knowing the wisdom and power of God that hath appointed his Kingdom in Christ to bee alike present of like glory power peace and plenty and of like noble acts and operacions in all ages of the world where ever and in whomsoever the mystery of God in Christ appears and is made manifest Col. 1. 26. 29. otherwise let us only hear that Christ prayed but never pray in our selves and so in all things that Christ did or sayd for such is their doctrin The third particular noted in the Text is the Ground and Reason of this their wo wherein observe these particulars 1 First their act what they do and that is twofould 1 They build the Tombs of the Prophets 2 They garnish the Sepulchers of the righteous 2 Secondly observe their speech what they say that is If we had been in the dayes of our fathers we would not have partaken with them in the blood of the Prophets wherein observe 1 First they confesse blood or murder to be a capitall sin 2 Secondly that they have washed and reformed themselves and are become better than their fathers 3 Thirdly they translate and remove the cause or act of blood-guiltinesse from themselves unto their fathers 3 In the third place note what they are in point of their condicion or office in these words wherefore ye be witnesses unto your selves that ye are the children of them that killed the Prophets 4 Fourthly observe the extent of the thing witnessed unto in these words Fill yee up then the measure of your fathers The first is their act being twofould and first they are said to build the Tombs of the Prophets Wee have heard before that a Tomb is a Monument or Memoriall of that which is not in present and reall being and by Tomb in this place is meant the Historicall Narracions or Literall Form of the word of God as it utters it selfe in tearms comming within the capacities of the naturall and racionall conjectures of mans heart or words which mans wisdom teacheth 1 Cor. 2. 4. So that these men assume the word of God according to the literall form and verball expressions of the Prophets and therby build and erect monuments of Constituted Churches Offices therein Governments Orders and painted Excellencies in the world beginning and ending in Time not compatible to the Son of God thereby expelling the proper intent and minde of the Spirit which is the soul or life of the Scriptures and so set up a dead karkasse and livelesse memoriall void of the life and spirit of our great and only Prophet Iesus Christ Deut. 18. 15. For there is nothing wherein the heart of man expresseth it selfe by bringing forth som what wherein to employ himselfe for a time in this world being temporary But it is a grave wherein Christ is buried if the angell or messenger of God roul not away the stone or take away the difficulty guard props and defence thereof and sit upon it as an inferiour and subjected thing Mat. 28. 2. making it the footstool of his feet 1 Cor. 15. 24 25. Yea the Ordinance of humane Marriages is a grave to bury Christ in that he appear not in his espousall when the conjugall ty of the word of God is terminated there For it is in that point as it was at that Marriage in Canah of Galilee performed according to the Iewish Rites or the Dictates and naturall Ceremonies of mans heart where Christ came to declare that the proper power of the word of God consists not in such things no more than that water filling up those six water pots according to the purification of the Iewes was like unto that wine which Christ commanded to be drawn out of the same for when his mother taken according to the flesh offered to terminate the businesse of the day wherefore Christ was bid thither in that temporary feast or marriage teling him there wanted wine to have his power and presence to honour that his answer is woman what have I to do with thee my hour is not yet that is my time and authority consists not in these things But when his mother who brought him forth submitted to his will saying unto the servants whatsoever hee commands that do yee then Christ commands those weak and water-like Ordinances of the Iewes or of the sons of men to bee drawn out having the vigour and vertu of new and strong wine to admiracion Iohn 2. 1. declaring thereby that transcendent power and glory that is in the time and presence of Christ in all his Commands and Appointments beyond all the Ordinances and Appointments of the sons of men the naturall Dictates of whose hearts lead them unto such Orders in all temporary Institucions as naturally as in that of Feastivity or Marriage however the hypocriticall Pharises solemnize them with the intent of the word of God The Tomb of the Prophets erected in these things in the departure of the soul and spirit stands upon four pillars which enervate the sift and the sixt Commandements 1 First in point of Superiority 2 Secondly in point of Inferiority 3 Thirdly in Equality which is the sum of the fift Commandement and first with promise Ephes 6. 2 3. 4 The fourth is our demeanour and carriage towards friends and enemies in killing and preserving life which is the sum of the sixt Commandement First in point of Superiority Rule false interpreters cannot finde any visible power upon the Earth but in Fathers according to the extent of the phrase in the Commandement which phrase of Father and Mother include all exercise of Authority Neither can they utter any Glory of Submission and Obedience but as Children are there to be extended that is to all wayes of yeeldings of obedience and these they resolve to be exercised between man and man creature and creature which is no better than a Tomb wherein the great Prophet is buried yea the tru spirit of all the Prophets is thence departed and the mysticall body of the Son of God corrupted by such Doctrin For the truth of relacion in point of Authority and Submission Command and Obedience stands properly according to that reall intent of the word of God in the relacion and respect that is between God and man in the faith and subsistance of Christ Where the Spirit of God is the proper supply of the party in both respects that is in the exercise of obedience as well as in the power of Command and may as truly be found and exercised in one
the breach of every law under the breach of every one Jam. 2. 10. And the multiplyed and innumerable manifestation of distinct laws and punishments for the breach of them is to declare how unreckonable the wayes are wherein that one holy mind and will of God in Christ may be contradicted and violated with the variety of plagues and punishments appertaining and annexed thereunto but every one of them of an infinite and eternal nature which cannot admit of any conteinment limitation or bounds of restraint even as it is with one Son of God to have such infinite wayes of the legal and orderly expressing of himselfe and to every one of them an eternal peace and satisfaction in God annexed To terminate the word of God therefore in the distinctions of these humane laws and institutions together with their penalties or rewards annexed is nothing else but to garnish the burying place of that righteous and equal one declaring to all the world that his spirit is ceased therein and departed therefrom so that all manner of dissimulation and cruelty is to e expected in all the wayes of their administration indevouring only to uphold the throne of iniquity by establishing the wisdome and glory of the flesh in the pulling down and demolishing that righteous Reign and Scepter of the Son of God Psal 94. 20. 23. Heb. 1. 8. Keeping him in the grave as dead and buried in regard of any of his life vertues-wisdome justice or righteousnesse appearing in such way of interpretation and administration For God as he hath formed himself in Christ is not in all their thoughts Psal 10. 4 5. Psal 56. 5. For he that forms another law to himselfe besides the law of the spirit in Christ as under the bond of the word oâ— God that man frames another God to himself besides the true God and lies under the breach and guilt of the law of God expressed in the first Commandement Exod. 20. 2 3 2 The second point in the order proposed in the Text stands in what these false Interpreters say that is in what they teach for it is their doctrine wherby they build the Tombs of the Prophets and garnish the Sepulchers of the righteous therefore where one Evangelist saith he said unto them another saith he said unto them in his doctrine Compare Mat. 13. 3. with Mark 4. 2. so that it is matter of doctrin whereby both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdome of Satan are erected and maintained 1 And first they conclude their Progenitors to be Murtherers in that they took away the lives of the Prophets by which we see that it is a maxime written in all mens hearts that the cessation of the spirit of prophefie which is done by falsifying and counterfeiting of the Scope and intent of the word of God is a grosse and capital sin which is to extort and violently to take away the life of any one that is innocent Q. But if it be a sin to take away by violence the life of the innocent is it not a sin to lay down and part with an innocent life if there be power to retain it as Christ is said to lay down his life Iohn 10. 11 12. Answ The Answer to this is twofold first it is not against law to suffer as an innocent for it is the gift of God to suffer as well as to beleeve Phil 1. 29. And it is a blessed thing to suffer for righteousnesse sake 1 Pet. 3. 14. but it is against law to take away the life of the innocent for God never made law to take away the life of his Son as the world do violently extort and take it away for then he should institute a law against himself and that eternal life for the Father and the Son are one Iohn 10. 30 Secondly we answer that Christ layes down his life properly with respect unto his death unto all the motions of sin operations of the flesh in all things which is his proper quickning and reviving in the spirit and living eternally unto God which death iâ— nothing else but his Resurrection and possession of everlasting life therefore a righteous and glorious act in the Son of God thus to lay down his life being an innocent act to crucifie all the affections and lusts of the flesh to the quickning and reviving of all the operations of the spirit of God Gal. 5. 24. Ephes 2. 16. 2 The second point in the order of the text stands in what they say in way of excusing and clearing of themselves in these words if we had been in the dayes of our Fathers we would not have taken parts with them in the blood of the Prophets wherein they acknowledge their Fathers to be murtherers â—â—t themselves reformed and become in better state and condition than their fathers were wherein they professe a better condition and a worse in the same Line Posterity Generation and Ofspring of Father and Son as though there were a better state and a worse where God is the Father and Fountain and his sons and offspring Iohn 1. 12. and a better and worse condition also where Satan is the Father and Fountain and his offspring and Children Iohn 8. 44. 1 Iohn 3. 8. This is the doctrine of all false and hypocritical Interpreters at this day who say that Satan is in a worse condition than mankind though never so wicked because the Devil sinned voluntarily without a tempter but man sinned being tempted drawn aside by another plainly declaring thereby that they know not what the Devil is who is so often in their mouths and hearts also nor what mans fall from God is nor wherein consists that great though secret inlet of sin into the world Neither can they truly teach what Christ is what his resurrection from the dead is nor wherein consists that great though secret and hidden inlet of Gods righteousnesse into the sons of men Again they teach that in the way of God there is a better and an inferiour condition as that one son of God is nearer to the father and in greater favour and dignity than another whereas they reall first-born Heb. 12. 23. or else they cannot be an acceptable gift nor are they to be consecrated unto the Lord unlesse they be the opening or emission of the womb Exod. 13. 1 2. Luk. 1. 13. therfore they are called in Hebrew Coach the first of Gods might or able strength or the beginning ofstrengths so the first-born is named Deut. 21. 17. Gen. 49. which Christ complains to be dryed up personating himselfe in those wicked Iews his persecutors Psal 22. 15. These men teach also that the Fathers who served in their generations before us were more remote from God under dark semblances and shadows the light of salvation not so appearing nor the approach and appearing of Christ so neer and perspicuous as it is to us at this day and such Fathers as were in favour with God also for we know that
that inferiour part or place of the sting of sin and curse of God Rev. 9. 10. made manifest in his word 1 Cor. 15 56. Oh Serpents this your false and carnall interpretation hath stopped the ear of man from the beginning that he will not hear the voice of the Son of God though he useth all his skil for the opening of it it is carnall and earthly interpretation in all ages that hath stoped the ear from hearing entertaining and approving the good word of God and by other means was the word of life never hindred from making entrance into the heart of man in any age of the world nor among any people or nation And it is only words of spirit and life Iohn 6. 63. that boar the ear and open it to hear the voice of the Son of God Psalm 40. 6. Iohn 5. 25. that they may live it is that which incorporates into the house and family of God so as never to depart thence for he is tyed thereby unto the door post even by that sound of the word in his soul that he can never depart from it even as the Servant that had served his Master seven years and would have no other freedome but what was found in that house and service was brought to the door post and boared thorow the ear entring into covenant therby to serve him for ever Exo. 21. 6. For there may be a Covenant struck by the ear as well as by the hand Heb. 8. 9. Therefore the Psalmist proclames Oh blessed is that people that know the joyful sound for they shall walk on in the light of thy face Oh Lord in thy name shall they be glad all the day and in thy righteousnesse shall they be exalted Psalm 89. 15. 16. alluding to the sound of the Silver Trumpet at the Wars Assemblies Solemn Feasts Iourneys and over the Sacrifices of Israel Psalm 81. 3. Numb 10. 3. 9. 10. Joel 2. 1. 15. The ear listning to true interpretation binds over to God incorporates into that mystical body of Christ and keeps from ever departing thence any more knowing the shrill sound of the trump of God which is the dictate of the spirit of God it preserves in the Camp for ever 5 Fifthly The Serpent is known by his act that is he crusheth the heel of Christ as the seed of the woman breaketh or crusheth his head so he breaks bruiseth or crusheth the heel or foot-soal of the seed of the woman that is of Christ Gen. 3. 15. For as Christ bruiseth the head of the serpent crusheth or squeezeth out the headship and power of the Devil so that nothing of his wisdom subtilty cruelty hypocrisie and authority appearâ— in the Saints of God in any of their wayes even so doth the Serpent by false interpretation bruise and crush the heel or soot soal of Christ or the print of the soot as the word imports that is whereas the Son of God in the Character letter or historical records of the word written in mans heart hath therein secretly and mystically involved his proper and saving intent which the Saints of God know how to take â—ut as their only and meet help Gen. 2. 18. for the propagation of their kind as they are the workmanship of God in Christ and his off spring Ephes 2. 10. Act. 17. 29. Even as the Lord tooke aâ— rib out of the side of the first man that great and original Character of mankind and made a woman of it Gen. 2. 21. for the multiplication of man upon the face of the earth Gen. 2. 28. So false interpreters they take out the letter and history of the word from the intent and mind of God and by that means bruise and squeeze out the life and spirit of Scripture that not a print of Christs proper footsteps which he hath truly taken therein can appear being they have carnallized them by closing up the flesh instead therof as though the glory power consisted only therein and as though no defect were upon man in the departure of the rib or bone the life and spirit of the word wherein all true power and glory doth consist which they by this means of spoyling the proper print of Christs footstep which he hath set upon all things in heaven and in earth terminating the form thereof in transient things which is the arm of flesh and so with the Serpent are accursed Jerem. 17. 5. Oh Serpents who by the bruising and disfiguring of the prints of Christs footsteps which he hath set upon all things rightly considered to make his way known to the sons of men according to the Spirit in closing up the flesh instead thereof to be the glory have thereby deluded and destroyed the world unto this day Rev. 9. 10. But these men cry out against such as stand for the scope intent life and spirit of the Scriptures which Christ saith his words are Iohn 6. 63 that they turn the Scriptures into an Allegory whilst in the mean time themselves are the only persons that so do for they will have all to consist in the proper allegory metaphor history outward form of parable proverb journeys buildings sacrifices and ceremonies and therefore in the laying down of one form and figure they take up another or else they would lose all their Religion as they must needs do at the time of their death for they have nothing to do when they come to heaven according to their own doctrine which they do hear no not to love God himselfe which they say only continues not understanding the speech of the Apostle concerning faith hope and love 1 Cor. 13. 13. for by their owne doctrine they deny to love God in Heaven as they do now here in this world for now they professe they love him mediately in another but then they will love him immediately in himself These are the allegorizers upon the word of God for they turn all into the proper figure Allegory Metaphor and misse of the truth and substance in all things 6 Sixthly The Serpent is known by his names and they are many whereof one is Pithon coming of the Hebrew word Pethen a Spirit of delusion that followed the Apostle Paul thereby to maintain and uphold the way of its delusion this is a certain effeminate Spirit oâ— divination that for gaine fi nds out a way by subtilty to prostrate it selfe to any forme of doctrine and that which seemes to prevail and be in honour with the most that it takes up with great applauding of the same together with the Publishers thereof Act. 16. 16. 17. And that this Sepent sets upon his own principles which are carnall and diabolicall which principles by that means he covertly and cunningly insinuates into the world by transforming himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11. 13. for the upholding of the glory power riches and outward prosperity thereof as though the way of Iesus Christ were promoted and propagated therein Oh ye
the sight of all good men making it clear and manifest unto whom they belong and of what brood and off-spring they are 5 The fifth conclusion is that the word of God is of like concernment in all men and takes hold of them with like force whether it be laid in the way of the blessing or of the curse for it is of like concernment to maintain and uphold the principles of the Creature that it is to maintain and uphold the principles peculiar to God for if the principles of the Creature were not upheld to their height which argue themselves into the place office and seat of God 2 Thes 2. 3. 4. then there were no place for the curse and then the redemption of Christ were without vertue in that it delivered from no wretched nor cursed condition and then praise-worthinesse due unto God should cease having no matter nor cause from which to take place Again if mans principles were not maintained as well as the principles peculiar to God the word and work of God should faile and be extinct for the word of God never uttered it self nor did the work of God exist but in order to Gods wisdom framing the Son of man into its own likenesse making him in conformity with it selfe which is the state of the Son of God Iesus Christ as also the wisdom of man framing the Son of God into its own similitude and likenesse conforming him into the proportion of naturall and earthly principles which is the state of Antichrist that son of perdition and if either of these should fail the word and work of God should faile which are as durable as God himself Psal 119. 89. 90. The word of God therefore takes hold of all men yea of whole mankind with like authority and force both in way of the curse as also in the way of blessednesse for each maintains its own proper principles as upon life and death for in case mans principles and reasonings should take place and beare sway in a Saint the life and spirit of God should be extinct and if the wisdom and argument of the Son of God should take place and bear sway in any wicked man then the spirit of Satan whereby he lives would be extinct so that each of them hath the foâ—ce and authority of life and death upon them than the which a greater bond cannot be for if the force and authority of the word of God were not of like power in point of wrath in the way of the curse as to hold proportion with the word of blessing and peace then could not the word of God hold proportion with it selfe which must of necessity be in all things of an infinite and illimited force and authority 6 In the sixth place we conclude that the word of God hath ordained necessitated it self to come unto all men in way of interpretation and that in all its expressions and intimations whatsoever because it speaks and utters it self in mankind from divers principles and therefore the word must be interpreted or translated â—ut of one into another that is out of one proper speech or language into another and the very formings and fashionings of the heart is the proper speech or language of man therefore the abundance of the heart is that which he speaks Mat. 12 34 Now God hath taken up all things of man as he hath respect to all Creatures to utter and reveal his secret wisdom and counsel by in Christ the spirit of God therefore in the Saints takes out the minde and meaning of God from that originall Copy naturally written in the Tables of stone in all mens hearts and translates it according to that wisdom of God in Christ into the fleshy Tables of the heart fitted to receive the impressions of God by the removal of those stony strong and earthly apprehensions and conclusions which man naturally conceivs and concludes within himselfe from the word of God so that Gods true intent according to the dictate of his spirit being taken out of that husk or shell wherein it is expressed is no more the language of the flesh but of the spirit and this is of necessity to be done in the conservation of the Spirit and life of Iesus Christ the Son of God Again the spirit of errour and false interpretation takes out of that originall copy of the wisdom of G d that law of the spirit of life in Christ and translates it into principles and conclusions humane proper to the thoughts device and invention of a Creature terminating the mind and will of God in things limited by time place and person things transitory which cannot hold proportion with the Son of God and by means of this translation it is no more the language of the spirit but the language of the flesh and so the dictates of the Serpent the mind and will of Satan who captivates man by the lusts of his own heart 2 Tim. 2. 26. Furthermore the word of God is not the word of life without interpretation as it is translated out of death into life therfore he saith Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see Corruption Psalm 16. 10. Neither is the spirit of God a spirit of Revelation nor hath the honour of opening the mind of the father in any without this grace of interpretation whereby man is conformed unto the image and similitude of the Son of God Add further that man cannot lay claime to his proper being and prerogative as he is wicked namely to be wiser than the beasts of the field or to have dominion over the inferiour Creatures but as he translates the excellencies of God into his own humane principles and thereby exalts himself as Lord over all the works of Gods hand and by this his translation he interprets the word of God in direct opposition unto Gods true intent and proper meaning in that originall Copy of Gods wisdome in Christ presented unto the world and hereby are the principles of humane wisdom set up to bear sway in the world in the vilifying of the wisdom of God in Christ by which means the life of Satan is continued in the sons of mortall men And this interpretation is by translating one tongue and language into another which cannot be done but by presenting the originall Copy which by this means is cast aside and vilified as to be no more imbraced nor accepted and in this presentation of the original Copy of the wisdom of God which cannot but be acknowledged by all men ought to be magnified and submitted unto by all doth the answer of the question propounded consist for in this representation of the wisdom of God unto mankinde contained in such yea the same expressions written upon every mans heart herein doth the spirit of the Prophet the Wise-men and Scribes visit all the wicked of the world yea there where never good man bodily appeared a d in their rejection
of the Scriptures in what soever they expresse themselves therefore it is that Christ saith before Abraham was I am Iohn 8. 58. and the gift of Prophecy which went before of Timothy is to be in exercise in his present ministry 1 Tim. â— 14. As also by this spirit of wisdom the man of God knowes how to cause the acts of eternity with respect to things to come joyfully to face about and swiftly to countermarch to our present station and to exercise themselves in the present postures and operations wherein we are conversant Ezek. 12. 27. 28. Therefore it is that Luke differeth the phrase abridging them into Prophets and Apostles Now we know that Apostles are Leaders to usher in the death resurrection and ascension of Christ as eye witnesses thereof now an eye-witnesse gives a real presence to the things testified because his eye doth communicate in the things else is there no ground of certainty for judgement to passe either in order to absolution or of condemnation Also a Prophet foretel ing things to come must likewise bring and state them in present act and being for he cannot be known to be a true Prophet unlesse the thing foretold become to passe Ier. 28. 8. 9. And the reason of all this is because the work of God is an infinite eternall and undivided act as himselfe is which illustrates and conserves it selfe inpleasure and delight in the Creature for ever through the variety of operations infinitely comprehended in that one simple and intire act so that no time nor place power nor deâ—ect can ever weave any thing thereinto bearing another nature or working to another end than that which this simple and eternal act hath infinitely framed and disposed it selfe unto Psalm 33. 9. 10. 11. And hence Christ brings in that perpetuated act of false interpreters of the word of God in point of their entertainment of these Prophets and Apostles who are thus uncessantly sent unto them that is Of them ye shall kill and crucifie and of them shall ye scourge in your Synagogues and persecute from City to City 1 they kill or murder them as the word imports that is extort and take away without or against law the life and spirit of the prophecies and doctrines contained in the word of God of which Christ thus affirms The words that I speak they are spirit and they are life Iohn 6. 63. and where the spirit and proper intent of the Scriptures is taken away and extinct there the life of the Prophet is never found but a dead carkasse of the law of works so that a false Interpreter will not afford the word of God its proper place of breathing for the spirit of the Scriptures is the proper life of Christ which is in motion where-ever that is kept pure and preserved even from everlasting to everlasting but these men stifle the word of God by confining it to times as thus such parts of the word of God had their lively hood and operations in the world which is now past and therfore not to be acted now but only a speculative or tipical use to be made thereof in our dayes this is to murder the Prophet also such Scriptures are for our proper use to move act by in these dayes which were not in times past nor hereafter shall be of such use this is to murther the Prophet Again such Scriptures shal be in act herafter as many things in the revelation of Iohn which are not now to be practised by us in our dayes this is to kil the Prophets Again they stifle the word oâ— God by peece-mealing and confining it to persons as that some places or parts of the word of God are to be acted by some persons in place and office but not by others of the People of God wheras Christ gives like liberty and like restraint to all that are his for as they are all first-born of God and Kings and Priests unto God so are they all Subjects and Servants of God and one to another Rom. 12. 5 Moreover they confine the word of God to places as in such places it is not now heard of but in such places the report of it is whereas the Apostle affirms that with out all doubt or controversie the sound thereof is gone through the Earth and their words unto the ends of the world Rom. 10. 18. These are the wayes of strangling and murthering the Prophets by expelling the true spirit and spacious intent of the word of God in which life only doth consist and ever did in respect of the true being motion and conservation of the same and to deny the word of God its proper and continued operation and manner of being in the Saints of God is all one as to deny the Son of God to be ever the same which iâ— to crosse and thwart the verdict of the wisdome and spirit of God Heb. 13. 8. and not to give Christ the extent of his life in the simplicity and integrity thereof in his operations in all times and ages yea from everlasting to everlasting Psal 90 1. 2. is to kill and take away the life of the Son of God by measuring him according to the dimensions of a creature and not according to God for he is made of God unto us or in us that is God is in the consistence and the fulnesse of God gives being to that state of the Son and not the things of the creature so that he is made in us wisdom righteousnesse Sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. and that of God not of the Creature it is the righteousnesse of God and not a righteousnesse of a Creature it is the wisdom of God and not of a Creature it is the holinesse of God and not any thing proper to a meer Creature and so it is the Redemption of the Son of God and not of one of lesse worth from all bondage captivity and slavery that he that â—loryeth may glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 31. or as the word is that he that praiseth himselfe may praise himself in the Lord that is we are to praise our selves or commend our selves in the things of God and not of man in the wisdom power riches righteousnesse life peace truth and holinesse roper unto all mighty God and not in any thing proper unto any or all the Creatures For the word of God in the true and native signification thereof was never expressed but by the Spirit of God for that only knows the mind of the Lord and searcheth the deep things of God which none else ever did neither can do 1 Cor. 2. 9. 10. â—1 12. neither was the word of God ever resident or rightly conceived according to Gods intent but as in the minde of that Son of man the man Christ and if his spirit and life be not extended and maintained according to that form and comprehension of his mystical body and otherwise he is not taught a spiritual but a
another no more than the Mediator between God and man is separated either from God or from man but includes them both 1 Tim. 2. 5. for whoever he be that cannot indure Abels Sacrifice that man can never indure Zachariah his office and ministry for a Sacrifice of the first born without blemish that is without any thing superfluous or defective and an office springing up only from the Spirit of God which is secret and invisible with respect to mans sight without the helpe or industry of the wisdome of man nay against the very form and way of the operations thereof 1 Cor. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 1. 21. Such Sacrifice and ministry the world could never indure to be in present existence and being but only are constrained to acknowledge that such have been or such may be hereafter which all wicked men will easily yeeld unto so be it they may be tolerated for present to stand upon and practice according to their own humane and carnall principles as it was in the dayes of Cain so it is now and will be the same with all wicked men as also it was with wicked Ioash The slaughter then was in the Court of the house of the Lord as is expressed by the Prophet 2 Chron. 24. 21. And Christ opening the mystery of that Historicall Narration saith it is done between the Temple and the Altar to declare that wicked and idolatrous Kings Priests Princes and Elderships of the world false Expounders Interpreters and Prevaricators of the Law of God will never permit that such an offering or sacrifice shall be laid upon the Altar of God nor such an Officer as is only authorized and furnished with and by the Spirit of God to enter into the Temple or house of the Lord to exercise in point of worship so far as their power and authority can put forth it self to prevaile against them therefore they permit them not to come neither into the Temple nor upon the Altar but slay them betwixt them both for their act of murder in that place is referred as well unto Abel as unto Zachariah And upon that Altar which the world hath erected where no perfect thing must come but al imperfect or else not acceptable to their God which is the wisdome of the world imperfect word imperfect Sacraments imperfect Prayer imperfect Prophecy imperfect Fasts imperfect Thanksgiving imperfect Faith imperfect Hope imperfect Love imperfect Hatred imperfect Ioy imperfect sorrow imperfect Life imperfect death imperfect Priesthood imperfect Kingdome upon this Altar doth Christ never come but in the losse of his life for where he is alive he is perfect in all things Mat. 5. 48. Col. 2. 10. Col. 4. 12. Mat. 21. 16. Iohn 2. 5. 1 Iohn 4. 12. Heb. 10. 14. So also into that Temple made with hands or mans ability and not of Gods building 2 Cor. 5. 1. Heb. 8. 2. Heb. 9. 1. which the world in the wisdome of man composeth no Minister must be admitted therein whom the ordination of God only designs unto office unlesse the ordination of man be joyned thereunto nor any whom the Spirit of God only furnisheth for the exercise of his office unlesse humane learning and education be joyned therewithall nor is the operation of his ministry counted honourable or of any esteem in hardning mens hearts that they cannot convert and in blinding their eyes that they cannot see as well as in opening mens hearts and eyes to come unto the Lord Isaiah 6. 9. 10. For if a ministry according to Gods wisdome should be admitted by the world then would the wisdome of the world be in subordination to the wisdome of God and the calling of a Christian would prove more immediate from God than any other office or calling in the world and then would a Christian prove the only and supream person or state in the world which is an honour which the spirit of the world could never allow unto the King of Saints which may seem strange that they should conclude that a Christian shall have chiefty of and supremacy over all wicked men hereafter and yet cannot yeeld it unto them for the present but rather must Lord it over them according to the doctrine of the Scribes Luke 23. 2. Mat. 22. 16. 17. 18. whereas the Scripture speaks so expresly that a thousand years in Gods sight are as yesterday when it is past Psalm 90. 4. Nay the holy Ghost concludes that our time here is as nothing Psalm 39. 5. and if so then how shall we reckon a man in another condition than he shall be hereafter in Gods account according to whose reckoning and Records we ought to judge To conclude this point an Officer of Gods ordination and appointment clothed with the Spirit of God cannot be admitted into that carnall Temple where Ioash bears sway and hath rule and command but in the losse of his life for where Christ is in office he is exalted above all the ordinations of men therefore is Zachariah slain between the Temple and the Altar not being permitted to enter with life into the same the world therefore in the letter of the Scriptures only retains a dead carkasse of the Prophets being void of the life and spirit in all the vertues thereof kept in that condition only through false and counterfeit interpretation The fourth point is the Application of the Fact unto the parties present in these words whom ye slew as Matthew hath it particularly applying the fact unto them of that present age Luke saith who perished or which was slain as giving being unto the fact in times past or who perished or perisheth for of such scope and comprehension the words are noting a continued act which comprehends time past present and to come for it is but one only Sacrifice which they thus strangle Heb. 9. 26. Heb. 10. 10. and slay contrary to Gods ordinance and appointment Act. 15. 20 29 not taking the blood or the life away according to the law Lev. 17. 12. Deut. 1â— 23. so that it is but one bloodshed and it is but one Officer which is excluded their Temple who hath all offices upon him whom they thus slay denying all rule and authority that is of the nature of that installing contemning all exercise of the party so installed in all times and ages of the world Psalm 2. 1. 2. 3. Acts 4. 25 -29 Again it is but one spirit and life of the word of God which they spightfully spill and let out in an earthly manner as Cain did the blood of Abel Psalm 79. 1. 2. 3. and it is but one spirit of enmity and falsifying of the word of God which is extant in all the seed and off-spring of the Serpent Gen. 3. 15. and therefore the fact in the full comprehension and operation thereof is really applicable to parties of that race and spirit of the Serpent in all times and ages of the world as really as the whole salvation of God and not a part or
out of an unclean and corrupt Fountain or habitation for Earth holds no correspondencie nor hath any congruity with Heaven the Creature with the Creator but falls infinitely short in all things not a blemish forbidden in all the Sacrifices and Offerings but in that respect he hath the defect superfluity and defilement upon him yet doth he corrupt a pure and holy thing in himself and unto himself namely the holy Word of God in the false construction thereof so that as this unclean Spirit corrupts a pure Word of Eternity in it self mortalizing it by putting it into a human form so also its return is into an house of uncleanness of like antiquity in point of the state of death and mortality and so is truly said to go out of an unclean habitation which never was otherwise and yet he makes it unclean and desolate of all the things of God unto himself by false interpretation bringing the will of God unto the mind of the Creature and not the mind of the Creature to the will of God But the Spirit of Christ coming out of a clean Fountain even from God himself and therefore is said to come forth from God and go to God Ioh. 13. 1. yet doth he purifie in himself that which by nature is otherwise unclean namely the spirit of man else were he not the son of Man as he is called a matter of eighty eight several times in the Prophecie of Ezekiel and according to the eternity of that Word or Spirit that purifies such is the state and condition of the purified for they are no more twain but one Mat. 19. 6. And thence it is that Man who otherwise is mortal lives an eternal and immortal life being that the Wisdom of God hath formed his mind according to the Will of God and not to the will or law of a creature and so Man in Christ who otherwise is mortal lives for ever and knows no death no more than En ch did Gen. 5. 24. who was translated that he should not see death Heb. 11. 5. That is that he should never tast of it or feel the nature thereof so the Psalmist saith Tast and see how gracious the Lord is Psal 34. 81. And the Son of God who otherwise is immortal doth in that way of Antichrist dye an eternal death where never any life appears but a mortal state and condition of like time of him who is mortalized therefore they are said to go into everlasting fire which must have respect to time past as well as time to come Mat. 25. 41. Therefore Tophet is prepared of old or of antiquity or from eternity as the word imports yea it is prepared for the King the burning whereof is fire and much wood and the breath of the Lord as a River of Brimstone kindles it Isaiah 30. 33. So that as antient as the breath of the Lord is so antient is that place of abode for the wicked therefore a full measure of wrath in point of time as well as present torment So that unclean spirit is said to take seven spirits worse than himself that is fulness of uncleanness and vexation which a creature simply considered could never have therefore his going out in the matters of God in a carnal manner is the way of his multiplication of mischief in himself therefore his house is empty and swept of all the things of God but furnished with all uncleanness and wickedness suitable to that unclean and wicked condition therefore the end of that man is worse than his beginning for the original and proper ground ofthis abomination ariseth from the creature whichin it self is but a finite thing as all other creatures are but his end and scope being to adorn himself with God in making him like to himself as the Psalmist speaks Psal 50. 21. thence it is that God becomes a fearfull and infinite death and torment to him which all the creatures in the world could never be And of such nature and concernment is the house or habitation of these false Teachers which is left unto them or in them desolate of all the things proper to God and filled with all the things of Satan even as Iudas was to become his own Executioner and the bursting of him in sunder that all men might see his abomination and shame who is said to goe to his own place Act. 1. 25. as one laid waste of all Apostleship and Ministry in the Faith of Christ and therfore his proper inheritance or habitation yeelds him nothing that is holy or profitable to Minister but is voyd and desolate of all Neither hath he any life or spirit to move or act in the things of God though tendred unto him for he is dead and gone to his own place and office of an eternal executioner of himself And this is the desolation of the habitation applied to Iudas the false and counterfeit betrayer of Christ with a kiss which Christ applyes hereunto all false Interpreters of the Word of God in these Scribes and Pharisees who faun upon Christ in their Doctrin in all lowly demeanour to maintain uphold him in the ways of the flesh by things mortal momentary therby give a sign unto the world for the betraying of that life and spirit of the Son of God into the cruel hands of the wicked that the law of the Spirit or Christ taught after the Spirit wilnot be suffered or endured among them the habitation of such Confessors Pharisees or Preachers of Christ with Iudas is left unto them desolate without any in-dwellings of the Spirit of God with them or any building up of the House of God by them but ruination of themselves and others with Iudas who are their maintainers and upholders The Reason of this Desolation and Destruction follows For ye shall not see me henceforth Whence observe that the want of Christs sight and revelation in the world is the cause of all ruin and desolation of the world as Christ affirms Without me saith he ye can do nothing Ioh. 15. 5. It is alike true without me ye have nothing without me ye are nothing Christ is unto man that Microsmos or little world as the Sun in the Firmament is unto this spherical world take away and annihilate the one or the other and all things therin perish and come to ruin Want of true Revelation is the cause of all Desolation and Destruction By seeing here we are to understand the communication of the sences The Apostle Paul saw Christ when he went to Damascus even that light that shined about him clearer than the Noon-day for it is said he saw no man Act. 22. 26. Act. 9. 8. That is he saw no humane shape of Christ though he opened his eyes to see but Christ according to the spirit in his mystical body was revealed unto him therefore he saith Am I not aâ— Apostle am I not free have I not seen our Lord Iesus 〈…〉 Cor. 9. 1. Paul alâ—â—â—eard
never a true account of Stewardship brought in by any imployd about the things of God Thus much through infinite favour and grace God hath revealed unto us that wheresoever that spirit resides not which first framed the mind of the Son of God according to the eternal wisdom to judge of all things as God judgeth the love of God was never shed abroad in that heart for the spirit of faith works by love and where the love of God is not there is the love of this world which is of that wicked ones and the love of the world is enmity with God and the spirit of envy never makes good construction of the expressions of him it doth repugn therefore where the Spirit of Christ resides not there can never be good construction given of the words of Christ for he hath a name given him that none can read but himself and he is called the word of God therefore all other readers are false interpreters and that is the only in let and progress of sin and death in the world unto this day There be many who arogate a Call to interpret the word of God Some holding themselves set a part from the common affairs of this life in such sort as they are not to intermeddle with any temporary occasions but to have all things brought in unto them that concerns this present life by the labours of and means of others who stand not in that relation neither to God nor men which themselves do being men whose Calling is spiritual and therefore not to be imployed about any carnal things assuming Scripture for that purpose not only from the equity of that Law given concerning Levy but also as the Stand in the room of Christ who is of greater deserts to be maintained then Levy was There is one Scripture looks earnestly upon me concerning this Point which such men make great use of to prove their Apostolical Authority to require Tythes Stipends and Contributions together with the honour of the upermost Seats where they come with respect unto the dignity of their Calling and Office above others of the Saints of God in which regard say they all others are become debtors unto them to contribute both wealth and honour for which they aledge as one special ground for such supply as having divine Authority on their side 1 Cor. Cap. 9. Which form of words they deal with as they do with all other expressions in the word of God using it to mans ends and intents and not according to the mind and intent of the Son of God For that which they go about to prove their Calling by to be spiritual and heavenly is a direct Declaration given out by the Spirit of God to prove their Ministry to be carnal and earthly give me leave therefore as briefly as I can to declare from that Scripture what God seems as by his eye to direct and guide unto Our Apostle in the former Chapter sheweth the difference between Knowledge and Knowledge the one in way of the fall of man from God the other in the way of Resurrection and Ascension to God the one puffeth up as an empty blader filled only with wind above others the other is filled with love to edification which ever prostrates it self to the party known where or in whatsoever he appeareth the one sitting at meat or communicating in the Idols Temple the other refusing to eat carnally so long as the world stands rather then to offend the Brother-hood And having concluded that an Idol or an Idolathite for there is a generation of them is nothing in the world and that there is but one God in truth and verity though many do assume the names and titles of that one God yet an Idolathite is nothing in the world though they so assume and arogate the tearms because the Son of God who is the Maker of all things never contributed any thing unto the form thereof no more then it can be said that the holy Son of God did ever give out any thing to the being of the uncleanness of that unclean spirit namely the Devil which an Idol is concluded to be by the Spirit of God for whatsoever the Son of God gives being unto is a work of Creation but an Idol the Devils is that Abaddon and Apollion that is destruction which is nothing of the work of God in Heaven or in earth and so is nothing in the world Therefore but one God or power of Creation of all things for an Idol is the ruin and destruction of Gods proper creating vertue where it is erected which erection of an Idol is to terminate the scope true and proper intent of any part of Gods word in any thing whatsoever besides Jesus Christ and him crucified besides which our Apostle acknowledgeth he desires to know nothing For all other knowledge besides that or without that is thus explained by our Apostle viz. If any man or any thing see thee that hast knowledge or see thee knowledge or thee that art knowledge for such as mans wisdom or knowledge is such is the man for as it gives man his being above all other creatures so it gives distinctions of men among themselves Sit at meat in the Idols Temple that is continue and abide communicating in the word and worship of God as terminating any part of or thing in the Temple or Pallace in any carnal and fading matter or thing Shall not the conscience or shall not that knowing together in thee for there is a unity in Idols worship as certainly as there is in the worship of the true God in spirit and truth Of the weak that is of such as are sick or dead being without and destitute of that healthful Spirit of grace and life in Christ Be imboldned to eat things sacrificed to Idols that is what ever is in thee or belonging unto that assembly of evil doers shall be encouraged to yeild up it self to the Rule of such knowledge for all things in man are governed by wisdom and a spirit of teaching therefore all things concerning the sons of men make their addresses to the light set up in the mind of man of what nature or mind soever it be to take their form receive commission as also instruction for their progress in execution therefore thou Idolatrous knowledg set up in the Idols Temple art become the Authour of destruction for there was never any destroyed since the world was but by this thy knowledge which puffs up with pride as an empty bladder filled with nothing but with the wind of Satannical delusion where the substantiality of the Son of God never was nor never will be Therefore he saith Through thy Knowledge or through this knowledge for the party and property to know are never separated for man is not man but by ability to know and that with respect to a God to be communicated with and worshipped Shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ dyed that is thou
as to lay claim to your carnal things who minister nothing but earthly things unto you have not we much more or have not we only that authority who minister spiritual and durable treasures unto yon is it possible for any to communicate with us in the greater things not voluntarily contribute the less as things of no account or esteem with respect to the excellencies of them that perish not we should villifie the grace of God if we should so think for the gospel is of a more transcendent nature then to lay a bond upon any carnal thing to contribute unto it or to stand in relation with it in any respect for then it would suffer loss in the vanishing thereof but the Son of God who is the subject matter of the gospel cannot possibly suffer any abatement in any thing no nor any thing no nor at any time for true Christianity consists not in any bodily exercise and therefore suffers no abatement or loss while the body sleeps in the dust no more then it doth while the body so often sleeps naturally in this present life Nevertheless we have not used this power that is we have not accustomed our selves to lay claim to any such carnal right or interest as false apostles do nor to receive any such voluntary contributions from you for our maintainance as the authority of the gospel produceth in such as are indued with the life and spirit of it so as to refrain labour our selves to live upon the pains and labours of others but have laboured with our own hands Yea say the false apostles of our times so they might well do for they had the immediate Spirit of God which we have not plainly professing herein that their ministry who thus speak is onely by humane helps reading of other mens labours ordering their matters so as they may not be not be known in the same tract inventing of some certain conclusions which they call doctrines devising of logical arguments which they call reasons to confirm it and composing uses which may take hold of bodily actions and humane affections proper to some particular men as though the sun were set in the firmament to give light unto men according to age sex and difference of estates places and offices in the world and when they have backed these things with the sound of the words or letter of the Scriptures by means and help of their concordances and either brooded upon them to pile them up in their memory or else blotted them with ink upon paper to take them secretly into the pulpit they are then as good Bishops pastours teachers and godly independent ministers as men of all ranks and qualities in these our dayes do desire But our apostle opposing his gospel against all such saith but we suffer all things lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ we suffer all things the word suffer signifies not only to suffer as one oppressed but also to suffer or sustain as one that supports and bears up something that otherwise would fall so that as a true Apostle suffers hardships in the world as in labours abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in deaths often of the Jews receiving fourty stripes save one thrice beaten with rods once was I stoned thrice I suffered shipwrack a night and day I have been in the deep in journeyings often in peril of waters in perils of robbers in perils of mine own countreymen in perils by the heathen in perils in the city in perils in the wilderness in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren in weariness painfulness in watchings often in hunger and in thirst in fastings often in cold and nakedness these are the true and real expressions of a faithful and true Apostle with respect to the worlds carriage towards him and his faithful dealing in the cause of God but this is his comfort that he sustains these things so as that he supports and bears them up as being a prop and a piller unto them that they fall not down into that proper element or sphere which naturally they press and tumble down men into for they have not such effect upon us as naturally they have of all men namely to make them discontented murmurers miserable and wretched But we bear them up even all the wants and necessities of this present life wearing them as our crown rejoicing under them and in them all we become conqueronrs yea more then conquerours through him who hath loved us and to this end we suffer them namely lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ for the gospel is hindred from its fruitful and successful progress when and in whomsoever any private interest is brought in as any priviledge thereof for the gospel contains that common salvation which is alike proper and peculiar to every Saint of God without any respect of persons so that to bring in any thing as appertaining unto to it which every Saint hath not alike interest in and that in all ages is to bring in a private interest as a thing appertaining to the gospel which is not beseeming nor can it be compactable to the state of Christ in the gospel whether the bodily maintainance or any temporary institution or apointment bnt is a stoppage and hindrance of the free course and success of the gospel and that by intangling of mens hearts to think meanly of the grace of the gospel as a carnal and earthly thing which is only spiritual and heavenly in whatsoever appertains and belongs unto it that doctrine of private interests and temporary institutions to be a priviledge of the gospel is the proper snare of Satan laid and hid privily in all ages under the letter of the Scripture to delude and deceive the world for if Christ were a private interest in any Saint in any particular whatsoever he could not be the Son of God because in whomsoever he appears he must hold proportion with the father which could not be if Christ were more in one of the Saints then is in another Such doctrine therefore that maintains private interests to be any part of the priviledgc of the gospel such doctrine prohibits the Son of God forbidding him to be that which indeed he is and ever was and will be onely a holy use of all things in their proper time and season is a priviledge of the gospel for to the clean all things are clean Vers 13. Do you not know that is 't is taken for granted you do know in case you be but such as read Moses with your hearts vailed unto this day for these interrogations have in them the force of strong affirmations as hath been noted That they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple that is they who rightly divide distribute and give out according to Gods apointments and ordination the holy things of that Sanctuary or Tabernacle which is not of mans building but of God or they
the men which walk over them perceive not Luke 11. 44. Declaring plainly that men as they are indued with humane wisdome and secular learning may travel and walk constantly over doctrine springing from like principles and never perceive those gross and filthy abominations which lie hid under the same Christ therefore perceiving their outward trappings paintings and pargeting humane traditions with the name of God to make them acceptable for the deluding of carnal minds he openeth their inside unto the world and tells them that these graves however they may appear to simple men unlearned in the mystry of God yet in truth they are full of dead mens bones and of all filthiness and uneleaness 1. Now we know that when men rifâ—le into a grave where nothing appears but dead mens bones they appear in a confused heap there is no order nor comliness to be found among them they are scattered from the original unity of all things yea they are therefore Babylon with respect unto that Jerusalem which is compact and a city in unity with it self forever Psalme 12â— 3. such is the condition of all them where false interpretation of the word of God takes place there is not a jot of Gods order or unity to be sound amongst them 2. They are dead bones also being destitute of any marrow wherewith to oil the points for motion they move not in the way of God Psalme 115. 7. 3. Again they are dead bones without marrow to supple them and make them capable of conjunction with that which was their ornament such are false interpretours not having the Spirit Iude 19. they are not in any capacity of conjunction with that which is the only ornament of the sons of men which is the son of God Psalme 3. 3. no more then dead mens bones are capable of unity with flesh and blood vains sinews muscles arteries and the like 2. Secondly he tells them that as graves they are full of all filthiness and uncleanness wheresoever doctrine is not filled with the marrow of the Spirit of God there is a defiling and corrupting of all the holy things of God for as Christ sanctifies and makes holy mans nature in himself which otherwise is unholy and unclean even so antichrist by false doctrine in misconceiving of the word of God makes that unholy and filthy in himself which otherwise is most holy and undefiled Mallac 2. 11. Ezekiel 22. 26. For as Christ saith in like case if the light that is in you be darkness how great is that darkness Matth 6 23. for there remains nothing to inlighten it or cure it if the light be darkness it self So likewise if their paintings and pargettings their purity and cleanness in their whited tombs and glosses set upon their doctrine amiable and delightful in the eye of humane reason be nothing else in the truth of the matter but rottenness putrifaction and corruption how great is that uncleanness when there remains nothing to cure it for their cure is the proper corruption for their proper way of cure is to turn the truth of God into a lie Rom. 1. 5. by terminating the word of God in vanishing things which is to erect avain Idol for it is all one to deny the Son of God to be the only Authour of all things as to deny him to be the only end of all things For we may as well and safely conclude that something in the word of God comes from some other then the Son of God Iohn 1. 12. who is the only mind wisdome consistance and exsistance of the father as to conclude that any thing in the word of God points at any thing short of or inferiour to the same Son of God in its proper intent and scope then the which nothing can be greater Idolatry either in one respect or in the other for he only is that Alpha and Omega the first and the lâ—st the beginning and the end Revel 22. 13. All things therefore are from Christ as their Authour and to Christ as their end and in him in their exercise Rom. 11. 36. For we know that an Idol is nothing in the world 1 Cor. 8. 4. but a meer vainifying or falsifying of the word of God which is indeed the devil 1 Corinth 10. 19 20. 21. To conclude this point false interpretours are corrupt and unclean by defiling the holy things of God turning the glory of God into shame Rom. 1. 21. 25. by denying Christ the right of inheritance and present possession of all things whether office or execution within the confines of his kingdome which is no other then that Spirit of Saul that ever denies David the present right and possession of the whole kingdome of Israel in all the administrations thereof whatsoever Psalme 4. 2. for to attribute or design an office or administration to another beside Christ is to defame and callumniate the Son of God as though he were unworthy of it or wanted power and skill to accomplish and perform it or as one being in exile and not really present to undertake it which must either deny the incomprehensible vertue of his mystical body or else such officer must exclude the Spirit of Christ out of the world in their dayes and then themselves must of necessity work by another spirit then his body is quickned by Rom. 8. 9 10 11. 2. The second general point noted in this wo is the application of the Metaphor according to its real intent declaring the nature of the doctrine of false interpretours in the inside thereof not discerned by humane learning or the traditions of men therefore they are said to appear righteous before men because it is the letter that kils which they teach which comes within the capacity of mans wisdome according to the judgement and wisdome of God and therefore it can never stand before his tribunal Psalme 1. 5. however men of like principles judge them to be righteous which is only in appearance without the reallity thereof 1. For in truth they are full of hypocrisie that is deceit and guile being of the same spirit which beguiled Eve at the first as she is the mother of all living according to the flesh 1 Cor. 6. 16. 2 Cor. 21. 3. 2. Again they are full of iniquity unequal and uneven in all things they never reconcile the word of God so as to have alike weight and worth in it self all things and of like use in all the Saints of God who are all Kings and all Priests all first-born all servants and all freemen of the city of God Revel 5. 10. Hebr. 12. 23. 1 Cor. 7. 22. They cannot give like dignity unto the Son as to the father at all times and in all things as having received the inheritance and hath the disposure thereof in all things as truly it is the donation of the father which twofold act can stand together in Christ though not in earthly relation nor carnal mind and that perpetually they cannot
Serpents that can seem to prostrate your selves as an harlot to any form of doctrine for gain and to get your Masters and Maintainers advantage that can distill your diabolical principles through any Lymbeck or form of expressions for upholding of the trade and merchandise of Tyrus whereof read Ezekiel 27. the whole Chapter in which you manifest your selves to be the original and final cause of the destruction and ruine of mankinde by your subtle insinuations and deceitfull interpretations of the word of God Again another term or title given unto them is he cals them the generation of Vipers there is a brood and off-spring of them as proceeding from the Viper a Serpent differing from the former in the bringing forth of its seed being most poysonfull and venemous it is said that some of that kind biting a man that if present and soveraign remedy be not applyed he dyeth within the compasse of three hours these breed not of eggs as â—â—her Serpents do but take their form and life in the belly of the dam and before they be brought forth they eat and gnaw her belly that she dyes in short time after they be brought forth so that they breed not but by the destruction of her in whom they are bred Right so it is with these false interpreters they breed not but in the womb of that Harlot who adulterates the word of God by making the copulations thereof to consist in earthly relations and things and the very breeding and bringing forth of such a brood and generation is the destruction of that state and condition in which they are bred for the divinations and witchcrafts of the Devil do not only bewitch but it is also bewitched it doth not only destroy but it is destroyed therfore saith Christ of this Spirit or Serpent Oh generation of Vipers who hath bewitched you forewarned or forestalled your hearts as to think that baptisms bodily exercises verball expressions and temporary institutions should be armour of proof upon you to escape the wrath to come being it is as truly to come as it hath been from the beginning therefore a temporary act or institution cannot defend nor shelter from it Yea to destroy and to be destroyed to bewitch and to be bewitched are as really in the wicked as to save and to be saved to heal and to be healed are in the Son of God So that whilst men are destroying silly women for witchcraft laden with iniquity it is well if they be not destroying themselves for there are self destroyers which do not appear to all men when the spirit whereby they are held puts them upon defigns to pursue with great eagernesse which becomes often not only the destruction of their souls but their bodies also in fine therof Againe it is said of the poysonful Viper that the poyson thereof retains its vertue after the Serpent is dead which is not found to be in other Serpents So in false Interpreters be they never so dull incapable naturally civil seeming to be dead in regard of doing any hurt let them but be dead unto the spirit and life of the Scriptures they are as poysonfull and deadly in their wayes in the sight of God as such as are most quick lively and active in the sight and judgement of men 2 From which he brings the second point propounded in the Text how should you escape the damnation of Hell In this interrogation he challengeth them if they can find out any way or means of escape any time or place of escape any hopes or expectation of a possibility of escape and so is a strong affirmation that they never can nor shall in like sence Christ interrogates How can you beleeve and receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God only Iohn 5. 44 that is you can never believe repose trust and confidence in the power of God alone when ye prefer another honour than that which is only of God ye cannot have unity with God when you joy n another glory together with God for he is of such nature that is either all in all or else becomes vain in that party where he is not so in all things this interrogation therefore concludes and strongly affirms by arguing it upon the conscience of the Serpent together with all his off-spring as the brood of a Viper that they can never escape or be released from the damnation of Hell By damnation in this place is meant a just and final Sentence together with the severe execution thereof to an everlasting and utter destruction Mark 3. 29. And by Hell in this place is meant the proper state of the Devil himselfe even as by Heaven the Scriptures intend God himselfe or the Son of God therefore where one Evangelist saith the Kingdom of Heaven another expressing the same thing saith the Kingdome of God Mat. 19. 23. compared with Mark 10. 23. So the Prophet Daniel in the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dreames First he cals God by the name of the most high and secondly by the name of Heaven saying Thou shalt know the Heavens rule or thou shalt know the Heaven rules Dan. 4. 25. 26. the phrase plural may be indifferently taken even so in this place by Hell we are to understand the Devil The force of the argument stands thus you have that spirit of the Serpent by which the curse entered upon mankind therefore you are justly called Serpents you are that generation and off spring of the poysonfull Viper or seed of the Serpent you have the nature disposition and operation of the Serpent who brought in the curse and propagates it in the world untill now which is nothing else but the Devil therefore you being the Serpent the Viper the generation the original and off spring of the Devil how can it be possible that you should escape the proper state and condition the condemnation and destruction of him whom you are for the Devil is that false interpreter of the word of God from the beginning for he is a Lyer from the begining Iohn 8. 44. And that lye hath in it all manner of untruth for he aboad not in the Truth yea it is an untruth of an illimited comprehension for it turns the truth of an infinite God into that lye Rom. 1. 25. Therefore must needs contain all manner of unrighteousnesse as the truth of God comprehends all righteousnesse of what nature or distinction so ever and as the one is the proper seat and subject of grace and salvation which is of God Psalm 3. 8. so is the other the onely seat and subject of all wrath and destruction which is of Satan the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil Rev. 20. 2. The 34. Verse is a Reason rendred how this fearfull and desperate estate of these false interpreters is brought about together with a secret insinuation of the state of the Son of God as all Christians or true Prophets are personated in him in which
us read it in the woman and the serpent from the beginning Again if we say it is we as we are men that must be made better by our endeavours and use of means and not the son of God then we divide our selves from Christ making his condition one and our own another which is to divide Christ and hath ever been from the beginning that main bar of infidelity that shuts men out from entring into that rest of God Heb. 4. 1. 2. 7. which is to interpose some good thing yet to be attained by doing or suffering that is not yet in its perfection in the state of a Saint of God this is to reckon and account of our selves according to the proportion and measure of a Creature and not according to the dimensions of the son of God which is and ever was that great contest between the Angel of God and the Devil about the body of Moses or incorporated state according to law whether it is to be measured according to the periods and limitations of the Creature or according to the illimited and immense condition and incomprehensible state of the son of God Zach. 3. 1. 2. Iude 9. Again if we interpose a thing that is evil between God and the perfection of his Son or Saints as sin Devil fall of man terrours of the law spots and breaches in our sanctification stains of conscieuce and the like then we either adde unto the death of Christ who is a lamb sâ—ain from the beginning Revel 13. 8. who was made sin for us or in our nature in them that perish proportionable unto that righteousnesse of God which we that beleeve are made in him or in that nature divine which is infinite and therefore neither sin nor righteousnesse can admit of increase or diminution 2 Cor. 5. 21. 2 Pet. 1. 4. Christ then having perfectly suffered the just for the unjust nothing is to be added thereunto under the pain of making his death ineffectuall 1 Pet. 3. 18. which it is in every one who makes it not perfect infinite and all sufficient And if the evils we bring in be such as concern us and not the son of God then we take them up upon our selves as we being the saviours and deliverers of our selves being out of that proper state and condition of the son of God and so deny the death of the son of God to be that which it is namely to comprehend and comprize aâ—l evill whatsoever as his life comprehends all good and so take upon us to bear our own burthen in that state of death and of the damned for ever And thus false Interpreters bring in a Tree of the knowledg of good and evill to be communicated with in the perfecting of the word and work of God which is the way of the Serpent in his seed at this day which ever kils and murders the true Prophet in not suffering the life and Spirit of the word of God to come forth and appear which life is ever taken away by them to raise up advance and maintain the life of the flesh in all the lusts pride glory power and abominations thereof according to their present state as they can stand with the rank and station wherein they are set or serve in way of further preferment Therefore saith Christ Behold that is look up and wonder to your astonishment and overthrow for ever for so much the word Behold imports in this place I send unto you saith he Prophets c. the persons to whom he speaks here are false Interpreters who judge falsely of the word and work of God whether in themselves teaching and declaring it to others or approving it from others it matters not it is alike detestable in all the Serpent divulging and the woman approving is all one in this point and to parties of this rank and quality the son of God utters these words Behold I send unto yon Prophets Wise men and Scribes which are all taken in a good sense as good and holy men in this place sent from the Lord our righteousnesse from whence this question may be moved namely how the word of God by good men yea by the Son of God himselfe may be said to be sent to wicked men yea to false Interpreters thereof which spirit of falshood is never found but in the Devil himselfe 1 This point narrowly scanned may breed some commotion in the mind of man for if God send his word unto the wicked which hath salvation in it then if he deal plainly with them whose nature it is so to do his intent is to do them good therby and to save them and if so then salvation depends upon the will of the Creature in the approving or disallowing in its reception or rejection thereof 2 Again if God do not intend their salvation that is of these wicked Scribes and Pharisees unto whom he sends it then he may seem to pretend one thing in sending it unto them and to intend an other which is deceit and therefore he being a God of truth which cannot lie or feign a thing to be which is not it may seem that he sends his word only unto the elect of God which is contrary unto this expression of Christ but the son of God being one is at unity in all his enterprises 3 Furthermore the waters may seem to be troubled in this point in regard that the word of God was never sincerely expressed as the word of God sent from him but by one who is of the faith of Iesus made one with God by vertâ—e of that covenant of grace in Christ for in other way the Lord never sent nor uttered himself in his own language and upon his own proper terms for otherwayes it is not the word of God but the word of man which is naught and brings to naught Therefore if the word of God be sent by a Prophet a Wise man or Scribe men that are godly and holy as the word is holy being one with it for the word of Christ never appeared nor uttered it self but in and by the spirit of man for if it come not from him in whom God and man consist in one it is not the word of Christ how then can it be sent to all wicked men seeing as many men live and dye and a godly man never cometh nigh unto them yea it may be as is like people and nations if we look but upon the Moores Indians and Barbarians in these our dayes doubtlesse it is and hath been the case of many thousand men in the world never to hear a Prophet and holy man of God speak although Scribes and Pharisees may speak plentifully for their own advantage as also many Infants dying before they have the use of reason a godly man therefore can never be sent or expesse himselfe unto them 4 Add further the voice of Satan never uttered it self but as man was really considered therein so it was in Cain in whom
of God which is that wall of partition or separation interposed between the grace and favour of God and the sons of Adam Ephes 2. 14. 15. and where the glory and power of the arm of flesh is advanced there is the proper place of residence for the carnall Commandement that middle wall of separation for unto that is the separation from God fastned for ever and all carnall institutions in their proper nature and kind are there to be found for they are nailed there by the death of Christ in point of all spirit and life which are not in that way of ministration to be found nor never were and yet therein doth the Son of God triumph over all carnall things spoyling thereby Principalities and Powers making a shew or a shame of them openly Gal. 2. 15. for as man being made of the dust is naturally carnall but through that unity of faith is become spirituall in the word of life and thereby is made King of Salem or Prince of Peace set down at Gods right hand as having conquest over all adverse power Heb. 7. 1. 2. Heb 1. â— Heb. 10. 12. 13. even so the word of God being by nature spirituall yet through mans infidelity or that unity of the Harlot 1 Cor. 6. 16. it is become carnal by false interpretation and so is made the King of terrour and feare Iob 18. 14. and contrary to its own nature is an Executioner of wrath and vengeance whereby he triumphs over the wicked even all Principalities and Powers of that nature and is a just tormenter of them eternally thrusting down into Hell and that bottomlesse pit even as man is become a Saviour and lifts up unto the Throne of God and Diadem of Heaven and hence it is that God is said to be as a Lion as a Bear and as a Moth Lam. â— 10. Amos 5. 18. 19. 20. Hos 5. 12. and so many terms and titles of horrour and dread are given unto him in the word of God even as all power and princely authority in Christ peace reconciliation wisdom and judgement are given to the Son of man Mat. 28. 18. Iohn 17. 2. Mat. 1. 21. Iohn 5. 22 -27 3 These false Interpreters scourge the men of God in their Synagogues or Assemblies that is there is no Combination Session Consociation Coupling together or relation according to the intent and exercise of a carnall Commandement terminating the word of God in fading and mortall things but it is the framing and twisting together of a whip or scourge shamefully and ignominiously to beat or thresh out the spirit of the word of God as a Vagrant and that which they cannot approve of For as Christ wips out the Buyers and Sellers money-Changers and all carnall Commerce to clear his Temple and all the relations in his house of all such prophane and common Commerce because the intercourâ—e and mutuall exchange between God and man are full in all points through that plentifull Spirit or Spirit of plenty in Christ where no need of any thing of another nature is found all being spirituall even so false Interpreters whip out the spirit of the Scrip ures in all their mutuall converse in the way of the Harlot to bring in their own corrupt Commerce with God according to their Iewish and carnall institutions in which the Spirit of God breathes nor but is thereby extinct nor can a true Prophet be admitted amongst them without a lash of what shame dishonour or hardship they can possibly put upon him to signifie unto the world that he is rather a Vagabond than one of the houshold of Faith an Heir of Heaven and Co-heir with Christ Rom. 8. 17. and all this cometh to passe because the spirit of a Christian can not but discover the spirit of falshood hid under their hypocriticall interpretation 4 They persecute them from City to City that is they cruelly expell the Spirit of the word of God out of all the forms and orders in their institutions though they be many as the orders of Cities are in the world so are the Ordinances of worship as in way of Turk Pope inferiour Bishop Presbyterian Anabaptist Separatist but who can count how many Cities of this nature they are almost multiplyed as men for two are hardly found of one mind if their supposed principles were but ript unto the bottome there is hardly a man but he will either be shaken out of himself or run away in a rage before his nakednesse be discovered City Orders and forms of Religion are multiplyed in these dayes much like those several Nations which Israel passed by in the Wildernesse and met with in carnall Canaan as named after the son of Cham the cursed though they differ one from another among themselves yet they are all against Israel even so all forms and statues of worship they all agree in this to expell the Law of the Spirit of Life which is not extant nor upon record but only in Iesus Christ Rom. 8. 2. for whatsoever their order or institution may be if it terminate the word of God in any transient thing that vanisheth in time there is no place of residency or aboad for the Law of the Spirit in that City whosoever therefore goeth about to lay a foundation in Gods building not made with hands but eternall in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. according to the ancient customs of that Law of the Spirit as every true Zorubbabel and Nehemiah do at their happy return out of Babylon then stands up Tobiah and Sanballat to hinder the work yea to expell and persecute all such enterprise and workmanship from every order and institution of any humane constitution in the world not permitting it to take place nor abide in peace in one or other Order Exercise or Relation whatever it be where holinesse or righteousnesse is set and terminated in a vanishing and terrene thing to persecute the law of the Spirit from Order to Order is to persecute the Saints that live thereby and not to permit them a place of residency and they that persecute the Saints of God they persecute the man of God even Christ himself Luk. 10. 16. Iohn 13. 20. Now we come to the Event and issue of this false dealing with the word of God and the cruelty manifested thereby in all such in whom it appears laid down in the Verses following 35. 36. That upon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed upon the Earth from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zacharias the Son of Barachias whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar Verily I say unto you All these things shall come upon this geneon Luke hath it thus that the blood of all the Prophets shed from the foundation of the World may be required of this generation from the blood of Abel c. Luke 11. 50. 51. Wherein observe two points first their guilt Secondly the Progress and extent of that guilt In
And as Abel hath a respect and a reall relation unto Cain his brother who takes away his life so as in a true sense it may be said of Abel as Iacob said of Ioseph he is not so also he hath a real respect and relation unto his brother Seth who is given or set instead of Abel Gen. 4. 25 in whom his life is upheld and preserved and there Abel is brought in by the Apostle speaking in the way of faith in Seth as well as in the way of terrour and wrath in Cain Heb. 11. 4. Gen. 4. 10. 11. In Seth being dead to the things of sin and Satan he yet speaketh and in Cain he being dead to the things of God speaketh also and accordingly there is a twofold vanity and also a twofold righteousnesse appearing in his blood and therefore it is said to be the voice of thy brothers bloods in the form plurall There is then a vanity accompanied with vexation of spirit as in Cain who is emptied of the glory and peace of God who fears that all that sees him will kill him Gen. 4. 14. And there is also a vanity accompanied with the breath and spirit of the Lord in the propagating of the Son of God in the way of Seth in whom the spirit of the Lord breaths in the blasting of all humane glory and emptying man of all carnal reasonings that the glory and wisdome of God may take place and become the fulnesse of that state and condition Isaiah 40 6. 7. 8. The vanity filled with vexation which is that evill spirit of Saul is man emptied of all the vertues proper to that holy Son of God which emptinesseis the filling of him with that evil spirit of Satan which is that enmity against Christ and if there were not through Gods devise a spirit a state and condition of this Satanicall nature corrupt and vile and that in all respects and eternally otherwise there had never been footing for the appearances of Gods glory in the salvation of any of the sons of men nor had his power and proper vertue ever been made known to the Creature to render to the Creator the praise thereof For if there were not a damnable and destructive estate and condition in man that is in man so depraved and corrupted there had never been deliverance of man into the glory and purity of the Son of God yea and that the destruction be of the same capacity and duration that the deliverance is otherwise there had never been ground for deliverance and salvation such as becomes the presence the onely Son and excellency of the work of an infinitely wise allsufficient and an eternall God For what is salvation in reality more than the destruction that it saveth from and how can the reality of mercy be extended further than the nature of the misery which it taketh the commiserated from and what is an acquitting and clearing either for sum or substance further than there is weight and duration in the guilt and condemnation Yea the glory of God vanisheth and comes to nought in point of any eternall salvation of man if there be not an eternall damnation and destruction of man For what thanks worthy is there to save from nothing for if mankind be not eternally destroyed then man is saved from nothing if no eternall destruction be and if man be saved from temporary evils then hath he only a temporary salvation and than the creature hath the glory of the salvation noâ— God for every Creature hath an instinct or skill to save it selfe that doctrin then of universall salvation makes man no better than a beast and is no better than grosse Atheism for denying a salvavation compatible to the Son of God is to deny God himself Therefore Abel is become vain and empty in his brother Cain though propagated of the same stock to the fulnesse of vexation in that spirit of enmity being in him made void and emptied of all that love life and vertue which is proper to the Son of God else were there no place for the glory of God in salvation to be found nor had it ever been heard of among the sons of men nor had it any ground or basis to stand upon and to enervate salvation is no lesse then to enervate the Son of God himselfe for it is he alone who is our salvation Psalm 27. 1. Psalm 14. 7. let such as hold a universall salvation of all men take notice of this point and let others observe their abominable lascivious and loose tenent that they hold in the truth and intent of their doctrine that there is neither God nor Devill nor man in better estate than a bruit beast Again there is a vanity in Abel as he hath respect and relation unto his brother Seth who is set in Abels stead in whom the image of the father is upheld and preserved Gen. 5. 3. and this is a vanity or emptying not unto vexation but unto salvation which is an emptying and a vanishing of all things proper unto that spirit of Cain or that first-born after the flesh that so all the things of God proper unto the first-born of God may take place and therefore Seth is reckoned in the Geneology as the only and first begotten of Adam Luke 3. 38. which emptying of Abel or of Christ personated in Abel of all carnall and cruel things which is the slaying of the enmity in himself Ephes 2. 15. 16. is the putting of them into their proper place for they are the proper right and inheritance of Cain that first born after the flesh and therefore he is called Cain that is a possession as the proper inheritour of corruption and all things pertaining thereto for as there is an inheriting of the promise Heb. 6. 1â— and blessing 1 Pet. 3. 9. so there is an inheriting of the threat and the curse Psalm 109. 16 -20 Ier. 16. 19. or as the Hebrew word following after his name signifies I have gotten Kanuhi a man of Iehovah that is according as all men judge that the prime and chiefe things of nature shall have preheminence and are most acceptable to the Lord. Faith therefore in its expression of vanity comprehends both the emptying of man of all the things proper unto man as he is made of the dust of the Earth and in that respect subject to corruption to the filling of him with all things peculiar to the Son of God which the Apostle affirms is the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. Col. 1. 19. Col. 2. 9. As also the emptying of man or his vanity in regard of all things peculiar to the Son of God as man was made in the image of God and so capable of life and immortality to the filling of him with all things proper unto Satan which is that fulnesse of sin Gen. 15. 16. fulnesse of curse and bitternesse Rom. 3. 14 fulnesse of that deadly poyson of the Serpent Iames 3. 8. yea it is that
and victory Heb. 2. 10. Heb. 3. 1. and is here personated in Zachariah as our high Priest and Reconciler unto God by his office and ministry as he is personated in Abel as the only acceptable gift and off-spring which twain are never out of relation but ever in conjunction as here brought in together for no man can prove his office to minister before the Lord further than he can prove himself the acceptable Sacrifice offered up unto the Lord therefore Christ brings in himself here under the name of Zachariah to note the nature and fulnesse of his office which these false Interpreters reject describing himself by this name as well as by the name Abel it signifying the mind of the Lord or the full mind of the Lord or a man of the Lord to declare that as he is emptied of all humane excellencies proper to the mind of man so he is furn shed with the fulnesse of the mind of God for none knows the father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him Mat. 11. 27 who minds only the glory and cause of the Lord and so according to this name he is described to be mindfull of the Lord or the full and compleat mind of the Lord signifying from whom he came as he is the fulnesse of Gods mind and what his errand is namely to be mindfull of Gods cause only Again it signifies a man of the Lord to declare that a Christian is of no humane investment into office nor acts by any humane authority but hath his instalment and authority to exercise from the Lord of all the Earth and thus Christ is declared by this name Zachariah as one who is of the mind and counsell of God in the exercise of the Priests office whom these hypocrites reject to the letting out and spilling the very soul and life thereof by their traditions Mat. 15. 3. 6. Again he is here set forth by an ancestour as being the son of Barachiah in which the mystery of this Scripture is declared and signified unto us for this Zachariah was the son of Jehoida the high Priest of God in the dayes of wicked Ioash though it is said that he did uprightly in the sight of the Lord in the dayes of Jehoida the high Priest 2 Chron. 24. namely that wicked Ioash being that what he did in the time of Iehoida all his Actions as the History declares â—ise from the counsell and operations of the high Priest which are reckoned upon Joash in like sort as the choise of Christ is reckoned upon Iudas together with the rest of the Disciples and as Iudas is said to have part in that ministry which was the proper portion of the rest of the Disciples out of which he is excluded in point of any fruit or benefit thereby but departed therefrom by going to his own place Iohn 6. 70. Acts 1. 17. 25. so that his actions are said to be upright namely the ordering of the Kingdome as it had respect to Iehoiada in his dayes who was the proper Agent in the affais of the Kingdom as well as of the Priesthood in his dayes therefore Zachariah hath not the name of his Father Iehoiada by that name the son of Iehoiada but by the name of Barachiah being related here unto his Ancester by vertue of that Kingly Priesthood which his Father sustained signified closely unto us under the name Barachiah which signifies the blessing of the Lord which is the Priests office to blesse in the name of the Lord Numb 6. 23. 24. 25. 26. Deut. 10. 8. 1 Chron. 23. 13. for ever So that he is related to his Father as the proper off-spring of that Princely office which comprehends the vertue and power both of Kingdom and Priesthood whom these false Interpreters are said to slay for Iehoiada the Priest was the proper Ruler of the Kingdom in his dayes in the time of wicked Ioaâ— and therefore Joash is said to do that which was upright in the days of Iehoiada because Iehoiada was the originall and fountain of the work as was noted above for he submitted unto the high Priest in all things and therefore Iehoiada is buried in the Sepulchre of the Kings which was denyed to Ioash at his death 2 Chron. 24. Jehoiada was privy to his being hid and maintained in the house of the Lord for the space of six years as a perfect escape from the hands of wicked Athalia and cessation from her Idolatry in the time of the high Priest 2 Kings 11. And in the seventh year Iehoida brings a most Princely guard into the house of the Lord for his defence the high Priest lets the Crown upon his head and causeth Athalia to be slain he makes a Covenant between the Lord and Ioash and also between him and the People he gives the King his Wives as being the proper Author of all relations in the Kingdom and is the prime provoker and stirrer up of the Levites and all the people unto the repair of the house of the Lord who otherwise moved not at the voice of the King therefore Zachariah is related unto his Ancester as being the Off-spring Son and Heir to such a noble office by the name of Barachiah blessing and speaking well of the Lord or bowing the knee unto the Lord as being subject to none but he no not to Ioash further than he follows his counsell and advise and therefore when Ioash fals away to Idolatry Zachariah stands up above the People that is as a man of God in the name and authority of God as one above that idolatrous Nation higher than the Princes or People thereof now falne unto Idolatry and feares not to tell them how they have transgressed the Commandements of the Lord and therefore cannot prosper nor passe through their design but as they have forsaken the Lord and departed from the wayes of Iehoiada that is from the knowledge of the Lord as his name signifies so the Lord had forsaken them declaring thereby that as then Iehoiada the high Priest was dead in that time of their Idol worship so wherever there are carnall Ordinances and Institutions set up that men must submit unto there is the Lord Iesus dead the high Priest of our profession in point of all spirituall and holy administrations both in Kingly and Priestly office which includes all other offices whatsoever as they were then dead in Iehoiada in order to Ioash and his Nobles who as his name signifies disagreeing or fiery so he now manifests himself against the godly and propheticall off-spring of the high Priest in Zachariah for he clothing himself with obeisance counsell and honour of his wicked Princes fals to Idolatry in which act of his Iehoiada is dead our high Priest in all spirituall respects Iehoiada is dead also in his son Zachariah in point of all carnall administrations both in Kingdom and Priesthood who is clothed as the Text saith with the Spirit of God and therefore declares
that all true and reall office and administration springs out of Iesus Christ as becoming vain and empty in Abel for being emptied of all humane abilities and constitutions as holding no weight nor being of any account in the Kingdom of God thereby the spirit of the Lord breaks forth as the light at noon day that shined upon Saul as he went to Damascus Acts 22 6. and so upon Zachariah the spirit of the Lord comes upon him and officiates him as a Prophet of God as one who is above all the idolatrous Princes and Priests of Iudah cleaving to Ioash We see then that Ioash being made vain and empty of all the righteousnesse of Kingdom and Priesthood in that holy way of administration upheld and maintained in the dayes and time proper to our spirituall Jehoiada and high Priest of God who is that wisdom and knowledge of the Lord clothing himself as the Text declares 2 Chron. 24. with the praises of men counsell of his wicked Senators and submission of the people becoming thereby officiated in all the corrupt wayes of Idolatry both in Kingdome and Priesthood contrary to the wayes wherein Iehoiada the high Priest walked in his dayes and ever doth where he liveth and therefore in his son Zachariah inveighs against such abominations declaring in order to Abel that all holy and acceptable office and administration ariseth and springeth out of becoming vain and empty of the pursute aprising and love of the glory of this world and that all diabolicall office and idolatrous worship ariseth out of this that men are become Abel vain and empty of all the holy things of God in apostatizing and falling away from God as Ioash did this doctrine taught by Zachariah as it is by all such as are mindfull of the Lord and have the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 16. stirs up apostatizing Ioash together with his wicked Servants against the true Prophet of God For the world cannot indure to hear that Christ is so dead in Abel unto all carnall and temporary Sacrifices exercised by Cain that it sets him in all spirituall holy and acceptable offerings in the bringing forth of the Saviour in all things in Seth or the fulnesse of salvation in that which is set or ariseth in the stead of those carnall offerings Nor can it indure to hear that Christ is so dead in Iehoiada unto all carnall and humane institutions and administrations set up in Joash that it is an investing and installing of him into all spirituall office and administration as in Zachariah his son upon whom the spirit of God comes in such sort that he stands up above the people or as the word stood signifies to minister Ier. 52. 12 compared with 2 King 25. 8. Numb â—6 9. Deut. 10. 8. he ministred by a spirit supereminent in order to all the carnall and idolatrous Princes of Judah and Ierusalem whereupon they find no other means to promote their honour but only to put to death him that is the true Successour of his Father in office only acceptable unto God which springeth only from the power of the Spirit of God coming upon him from no humane education or carnall way of administration whatsoever which vexeth the spirit of the world that it should fall short in all its policy and power to create and institute a godly officer the World therefore in the rage of Cain rejects and slayes the Sacrifice of God which Abel is Rev. 13. 8. and also the Officer and Minister imployd and exercised about the offering which Zachariah the son of Barachiah is therefore the murther of false Interpreters extends from the blood of Abel that is all true Sacrifices and offerings unto the blood of Zachariah the son of Barachiah that is all true Office and Officers or all true Ministry and Ministers for they may not indure that all true Sacrifice and Offering should be the firstling of the Flock or else it is rejected which firstling of the Flock is the Son of God himself and they are ignorant how Christ is all in all in his Saints Ephes 1. 23. and therefore are in a rage against him 1 Cor. 2. 8. or against it that is the true Sacrifice of Christ Neither can they indure that all true Office and Officers should arise from and be created made only by the Spirit of God without which they are of no force verâ—ue nor reckonable in the Kingdome and house of God for then mans common industry in humane Schools publick Votes bodily conquests with Baptisms laying on of hands and common exercise of humane Elderships would be in no estimation nor honour in the sight of God nor any thing whatsoever further than the Spirit of God testifies of it selfe in the use of it No the world cannot indure that all false worship both in point of offering and office matter and manner of performance springing from earthly and vanishing things in the glory or humbling of the Creature in the exaltation or mortification thereof should be that evill one that is the Devill therefore in Abel they slay all true Sacrifice and offering that those which are earthly and carnall within their own Sphear may take place and in Zachariah they slay all true Office and Ministry that so that which is diabolicall may be set up and advanced a work of wicked Scribes and Pharisees false Expounders and Interpreters of the Law of God who in the death of Iehoiada that is in the silencing of the Lord in point of all Kingly and Priestly authority they will only have Ioash to reign in the maintainance of all humane institutions in the way of idolatry advancing the Creature into the place of God in the doing of which they despise and destroy the true succession of the Kingdome and Priesthood of Christ and therein all the proper offerings officers and enterprises of the Spirit which is free in all its administrations not bound to any where it s own image and superscription appears not nor requiring ought from any where it comes not from the same fountain in the suppressing and quenching whereof they set up that spirit and advance it whose office is to accuse and condemn deceive and beguile destroy and torment which ever was is and will be the only exercise and office of Satan Rev. 12. 9. 10. which evidently appears in that wicked Ioash with his retinue who cruelly murther Zachariah the true Successour of that Priesthood royall which only is of God Exod. 19. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 9. set forth in the Kings command and the names of his servants who did it that afterward conspire together to take away the life of the King for so God makes the wicked Executioners and tormenters one of another 2 Chron. 24. 2â— 26. The third point is the place where this Fact is committed and that is between the Altar and the Temple which includes the place both of the murther of Abel and of Zachariah for they are never separated one from
Iaphet brought forth but also that cursed condition of Cham and Canaan so that Noah in this drunkennesse ceaseth from all carnall argumentation in the things of God even as a man drunk with Wine is bereaved of the use of naturall reason and common sense Noah therefore according to Gods intent and meaning is drunk in that sense of the Apostle where he saith be not drunk with Wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the spirit or as the word is be drunk in the spirit Ephes 5. 18. that is as Iohn is said to be in the spirit on the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. even as a man being in drink it hath dominion over his senses carrying him beyond the common operations of them therefore it is said that a man sâ—outeth because of wine Psal 78. 6â— Even so a man being in the spirit it carries him beyond all naturall reason common sense and humane argumentation to resolve conclude and determine of things according to the wisdom power and glory of God and not of the Creature therefore it is that the Spouse in the Canticles saith Eat O friends drink abundantly or as the word is drink and be drunke O well-beloved Canticles 5. 1. The truth is that the argument or wisdome of a Saint encouraging him to stand in opposition unto all the world which he cannot but do though there were not another to stand by him in the cause of God is to carnall reason liker to a man bereaved of his senses than one in his right mind and thence it is that C ham the youngest son of Noah or the least son being so diminished in point of Sonship that he comes not within the compasse of inheriting any part of his fathers blessing because he looking upon his father as being uncovered of all the ornaments of mans power and wisdome and so asleep or dead to them all whom Cham declares to his brethren as the shame of his father looking upon him with that unclean spirit of the Raven but Sem and Iaphet beheld not any shame in that nakednesse but know it to be the only capacity of their father to be clothed with those honourable robes of righteousnesse which they bear upon their shoulders as the Levites carry the Ark of God and go backwards unto their father a quite contrary way than Cham doth therefore Noah awaking unto God or being alive unto the spirit as really as dead to the flesh exercising himself in the wisdom of the spirit knows what his sons have done through this his sleep and drunkennesse ministring unto them according to their deed and therefore denounceth a curse against Canaan not naming Cham but Canaan his son wherein a deep mystery is couched namely that the curse doth not in the least arise out of the Ark wherein salvation is but out of a spirit propagated and ingendred by concluding that the glory of salvation consists in that which it doth not namely in the glory of the Creature and not in that glory which is immediately of God even as C ham lookt at the blasting of mans glory through the power of the holy spirit of God to be the shame of his father and not the true glory Neither doth the curse arise and spring out of any proper work or operation of God in any particular but from a false construction and interpretation made of that good work of God therefore the act of ingendring Canaan as accursed merchandizing as his name signifies by a false construction concerning our deliverance given by Cham comes between Noah and the blessing distributed to his sons and however Cham be not named in denouncing the curse yet he is included else the curse were not full in originall and off-spring even as the blessing is pronounced upon the root and originall of blessing and therefore he saith blessed be the Lord God of Shem but Shem the true off spring is included and so it is full in the root and branch also So is the curse denounced upon Canaan but Cham is included also else the curse were not full in root and off-spring and as Noah here in this place is not the immediate root of Canaan the accursed no more is the Lord of all the Earth the immediate root of any particular in the curse That spirit therefore that stands for mediate Ordinances and offices of God it stands for and upholds the proper propagation of the curse and as the curse goeth out unto Canaan the son of perdition including Cham the father of lies so Christ here denounceth desolation upon the Mother Ierusalem including all false Interpreters her Children in the Scribes and Pharisees as her proper off-spring and thus comes the curse to be propagated in all the men of the World and the orders thereof constituted and established if we may call it order established in all the Cities of the Iebusites namely by preferring the wisdome power authority and glory of man before the wisdome power authority and glory of God maintaining the wayes and operations of the Creature in the vilifying of the operations of the spirit of God as a shamefull thing in that way of the crosse of Christ and in this stands all those mother like conceptions in the orders of the World to produce and bring forth a brood and generation of false Interpreters as the orders of Ierusalem had brought forth these Scribes and Pharisees as her children ingendred by that bond woman or spirit of bondage For the orders constituted and established in the world beget false Interpreters as naturally as every Creature begets and conceivs its own kind for according to the form of order established in any nation Kingdom or jurisdiction such is the officer it brings forth for he must be produced and established according to that law or else he is a Usurper so that the immediate call and invisible vertue of the Spirit of God is thereby to be rejected in whomsoever it appears for the Officer must be a child of that order and law wherin he exerciseth of what order and constitution soever it be which this City order of Iebus or Ierusolem hath ordained and erected and herein she becomes murtherous and diabolicall in her self and in her children or the children are such in the mother and the mother is such in the children in that they reject all immediate revelation of Christ and his Spirit putting it off by their law to a time past or to come or to both and so kill it in the present time as these Interpreters did and as the City ordains and appoints such laws to bring forth children by so the children are bound to promote maintain and justifie that law and order by which they are brought forth Even as children do their Parents whilst they stand in that relation of children for when they are once betrothed they become a root in themselves and these two taken spiriritually according to the intent of Scripture are never separated whether in the mystery of
God or in the mystery of iniquity namely the root and the branch the mother as City order and her children so that as false Teachers look back they are the children of an accursed mother or seed of an adulterous law of the carnall commandement and as they look forward at the fruit and off spring of their doctrine so they are the root or mother City of an accursed off-spring whose inhabitants are no other than the accursed Iebusites enemies to Ierusalem that is above and to the Israel of God Gal. 4. 26. Gal. 6. 16. This City therefore namely Ierusalem ordered by the law of a carnall commandement which is to expound the bond and tie of the word of God as Gods intent to stand in the relation of one Creature to another in any thing wherein God expresseth himself This City is not only that mystery Babylon the â—reat the mother of Harlots and all abominations of the Earth Rev. 17. 5. But it is also the mother of all murthers and therefore called the City of bloods in the form plurall Ezek. 17. 2. Nahum 3. 1. and therefore wo is denounced against her as the bloody City Ezek. 24. 6. 9. And so much for the acclamation and ingemination of the phrase Oh Ierusalem Ierusalem and hence it is that Christ brings in that just and deserved charge which is the second point Thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee wherein observe two things first that they kill the Prophets secondly that they stone them who are sent unto them 1 They kill the Prophets for this order and City government contrived by the letter of the Scripture for the maintaining of the glory wealth honour of the Creature cannot preserve it self therein but by imprisoning or cutting off what ever seems to impaire the same Now the wisdome of God which hath placed all honour wealth and happinesse only in things that indure for ever cannot but vilifie and bring to nought all fading and transient things and therefore our Apostle affirms that the wisdom of the Princes or most excellent and men of esteem of this world comes to nought 1 Cor. 2. 6. Therefore the orders and institutions of this City that is of all carnall policies and states leaning only upon the letter of the Scripture must of necessity bend their force against that wisdome and word of eternity as the only enemy of their pomp and glory being a shame and dishonour to all earthly excellency and beauty even as the glory and splendour of the Sun at noon day abaseth the appearance of a candle for the carnall laws and institutions of the world cannot retain their force if the wisdom of God take place therefore this Ierusalem in erecting of her orders and ordinances perishable she must terminate the word of God in them as the intent thereof or else they are not in force to insnare the conscience neither would they otherwise appear of any more worth than the laws given to the beasts of the field or the fowls of heaven which is neither sin to break simply considered nor righteousnesse to fulfill therefore they are bonnd over by the law of a carnall commandement to terminate the mind and will of God in humane orders and institutions in the neglect and rejecting of that glory of God which appears in Iesus Christ disallowing and disanulling in themselves that eternall word and law of the spirit of life which is in Iesus Christ Rom. 8. 2. which only frees from the law of sin and death and wheresoever that law is not acknowledged there sin reigns Now whosoever nullifies the spirit and life of the Scriptures by erecting a carnall commandement he therein nullifies the true spirit of prophecy and he that nullifies the spirit of the Prophets he takes away the life of the Prophets and so becomes a Murtherer of all the Prophets for the spirit of the Scriptures is of that comprehension in the true intent thereof as that it is the only life of all Prophets in every age of the world without any alteration of Gods proper intent therein no more than there was ever found salvation in any other but only Iesus Christ Acts 4. 10. 11. 12. And therefore every carnall spirit is bound over for the conservation of humane order in the erecting and maintaining thereof upon its proper principles to extinguish and put out the proper life and spirit of the Scriptures otherwise he cannot maintain his laws in force according to the nature of them in their height and glory which man naturally strives after and can never attain unto any eminency therein but by quenching of the spirit of God and despising true prophecy 1 Thes 5. 19. â—0 and all transitory Rites and Ordinances erected and maintained as carrying in them the scope of the word of God are as so many Engines and instruments appointed ordered and maintained for that very end and purpose wherewith they kill the spirit of the Prophets in preferring the dead carkasse and setting up a dumb Image before the spirit and reall substance 2 Therefore Christ addes the second act in his charge against them telling them that they are such as stone them that are sent unto them we heard before how true Prophets are said to be sent to these wicked Scribes and Pharisees as they are the off-spring of the Serpent and of such fathers as killed the Prophets and here it is said they are sent to the originall and mother of them that is Ierusalem from whom they spring whence we may observe that the Spirit and life of the word of God doth not only enterprise to solicite the world to break off and turn from their grosse aberrations and exorbitancies but also to reverse and repeal those Laws and Orders from whence they spring as things of no account in the Kingdome of God nor is there any justice oâ— righteousnesse to be expected from any humane or literall institution or order further than it is used by him who hath that spirit of the righteousnesse of faith to be his Instructer therein therefore it is that Christ affirms that in the Kingdome of God there is neither marriage nor giving in marriage but are as the Angels of God in Heaven and to be ignorant of this point is to be ignorant of the Scriptures and of the power of God Mat. 22. 29. 30. that is in case men acknowledge not that any temporary relation simply considered attains not unto the end of the law of God for men knowing the Scriptures and the power of God cannot but see and acknowledg that For shall we think that marriage which is the way of the multiplication of man and so the ground of all humane institutions is any point of the proper end of the law of God when as it is plain that Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse Rom. 10. 4. but marriage as a humane act may attaine its end in a wicked man as well as in a just
Christ utter himself against that spirit of the High Priest and orders of carnal Iew and Ierusalem saying Saul Saul why persecutest thou me For the hearing ear and the seeing eye are both alike of the Lord Prov. 20. 12. Paul also felt Christ for the force of the revelation struck him to the ground so as he was astonished at the sight of all the Iewish glory to become earthly and corruptible Paul also tasted how good Christ was therefore he reasoned not or communicated not with flesh and blood for his sustentation and support thinking to have it from other Apostles or any man therefore he went immediatly from Christ to preach having tasted how good he was being that the Son of God was revealed in him Galat. 1. 16. and not out of him as the world imagines And this Tast is to see therefore the Psalmist saith Tast and see how gracious the Lord is Psal 34. 8. Paul also smelt the savour of the good Ointments of Christ or else he had not born his name before Gentiles and before Kings and the children of Israel Act 9. 15. For his name is an ointment poured out therefore the Virgins love him Cant. 1. 〈◊〉 The want of seeing Christ in such respects as these is the cause of desolation in the house or nestling place of all false Interpreters â—uâ— of which they will not be gathered by the voice and tender compassions of Iesus Christ though he visit them with such solliciâ—ations as a hen doth her chickens to gather them under her wing yet they will not come into any such unity and safety Again whereas he saith Ye shall not see me henceforth the word henceforth in this place comprehends the time past as well as the time to come So it is taken by the Prophet Isaiah where he prophesies of the Kingdom of Christ with an allusion unto or under the name of David by which name the Son of God iâ— called Hos 3. 5. Jer. 30. 9. Ezek. 34. 23 24. saying that his government shall have no end but that he shall sit upon the throne and establish it with Iudgement and Iustice from henceforth for ever where he explains the word henceforth to be for ever Is 9. 7. which must comprehend the time past as well as that to come or else it is not ever or for everlasting for there can be no time brought in in which he reigns not who overcomes and triumphs both in life and death Heb 2. 14 15. Rev. 12. 6-10 therefore the word is often doubled for ever and ever Psal 9. 5. Isaiah 3. 8. noting thereby the time past as well as time to come And thus the Prophet Micha understands this phrase where he saith that God will make her that halteth a Remnant and her that was cast far off a mighty Nation and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth even for ever where he expounds henceforth to be for ever which comprehends all time past and to come for the wisdom of God was set up and advanced from the beginning no time can be found when that hath not the rule and supremacie Mich. 4. 7. Prov. 8. 22-30 Therefore there is no end of the Kingdom of Christ if we look back we cannot set our thoughts before it and if we look forward we cannot span it out for of his Kingdom and Government there is no end Isa 9. 7. it is for ever and ever As it is said concerning eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil In the day thou eatest thereof dying thou shalt dye as the words are that is if thou look back thou shall appear dead in thine Ancestors and if thou look forward thou art dead in thy Ofspring So in this place ye shall not see me henceforth That is this spirit of false interpretation never saw me to communicate with me in the acknowledging of me as the Son of God in any of the Fathers in timer paâ—t who have truly propagated me on the earth and brought me forth Neither doth it now acknowledge me nor approve of me in this my appearance and converse with you nor shall it hereafter and for ever at any time or in any age acknowledge or communicate with me in any of my true offspring when or in whomsoever I appear concerning any of those offices and excellencies peculiar to the blessed Son of God And hence it is that he addes untill ye say the word untill is here of like signification as when it is used concerning Mical Sauls daughter when she mockd David for Dauncing before the Ark when it was brought out of all private and obscure places subject to transmutation and change to be placed in Zion not to remove thence any more when hee put upon himself the Linnen Ephod exercising the Priests office at the sight whereof Michal despiseth David in her heart and for that canse had no childe after untill the day of her death 2 Sam. 6. 11 -23 That is shee never had child after that act Nay she never conceived nor brought forth fruit according to that act and office of David in his rejoycing and glorying onely in the Ark and strength of the Lord but only in that way of the house of her father Saul who trusted in man and sought onely to be honoured among the people 1 Sam. 15. 30. and so shee had never Childe as of the seed of David whom the Lord chose before the house of her Father And so it is said of the Virgin Mary that Ioseph knew her not till shee had brought forth her first born Mat. 1. 26. That is Ioseph never knew her for the conception and bringing forth of that First Borne of God So Christ saith unto his disciples I will be with you till the end of the world Mat. 28. 20. That is look how I have ever heretofore been with that spirit which teacheth the observation of the fulnesse and perfection of my Word in all things so am I with that spirit in whomsoever it appeares for ever And so is this word till to be taken in this place for all tyme you shall not see me henceforth till you say blessed is hee that cometh in the Name of the Lord that is ye shall never see mee or communicate with me to the investing of you into the office of the true Priesthood which is to blesse in the Name of the Lord Deut. 21. 5. 1 Chron. 23. 13. Numb 6. 22 -27. And to blesse out of the House and Habitation of the Lord in opposition to this house of desolation Psalm 118. 25 26. False interpretation of the word of God therefore upon the affirmation and verity of the Son of God never did nor shall invest into the Office and Priesthood of Iesus Christ It never attained unto the skill to Sacrifice and flay the Beast upon the Altar to Crucifie the World unto it self and it self unto the World accounting that the onely Ioy and Glory to be