and fancy committing Idolatry with your own wisdoms and excluding the wisdom of God he will then make all things manifest and apparent at his coming shewing you your miserie by the Holy Ghost the Spirit of Truth at which time your soul will lose the harmonie and virtue of the light of Christ 8. One Adam was created a living soul and another must become a quickning Spirit now the Virgin-fire that is in every mans soul must consume all its wisdom and its selfishness which it hath got by falling from the Will of God and Regenerate the same The mortification of the body is onely in order to that work here nothing but the Virgin-fire of faith can prevail the wisdom of man is foolishness before God This is the single Talent that is given to every man but if he bury the same in the ground it is given to him that hath ten Talents t is the light in every mans conscience which according to its proportion would augment it self but the slothful servant saith this is very difficult to do to mortifie the body and Regenerate the soul entirely likewise Who can do this can this ever be done in this life sure I am it must be done before we can possess Heaven no impure and undefiled thing can enter there then if a man may do it when he dies why not an hour before if an hour before why not an year before c. It is true the Cherubins standeth here with a flaming sword Gen. 3. v. 24. So he drove out the man and he placed at the East of the Garden of Eden Cherubins and a flaming Sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life And till Christ be formed in us Gal. 4.19 My little children of whom I travel in birth again until Christ be formed in you This work cannot be done but then we shall see him through faith Ephes 3.17 18 19. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in Love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God Whereby we comprehend him and find him to be a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 For our God is a consuming fire 1 John 3. v. 6 7 8 9. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him Little children let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous He that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God And chap. 5.18 We know that whosoever is born of God sineth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not 8. And this is the great love which he hath shewed us in giving us this pearl whereby we are made partakers of his Divine Nature enabling us to be as Gods with him to all Eternity Psal 82.6 I have said ye are Gods and all of you are children of the most High And also 1 John 3. v. 1 2 3 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God therfore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when we shall appear we shal be like him for we shal see him as he is And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure But to do this you must get into the Cross the Virgin fire to the Bride else there is no coming to the Bridegroom For this is the Saints Prerogative the true Purgatory 1 Pet. 4.12 Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery Tryal which is to try you as though some strange thing hapned unto you 10. O let us take up but this Cross dayly and we shall enter into the Holy where Christ the onely true High Priest will live in our hearts making continual Sacrifices enlightening our souls and reducing our knowledg into practise For this is the Fathers will that we taste of his wrath and that suffering with his Son for well doing patiently we may find him appeasing our souls this is divine reason whereby Christ is known in the spirit in the new-birth for by the wisdom of man we cannot comprehend him he is incomprehensible he is only known in the spirit by his power and vertue where he revealeth himself Luk. 10.21 In that hour Jesus rejoyced in spirit and said J thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight 1 Cor. 1.17.18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31. For Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is the Power of God For it is written I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent Where is the wise where is the Scribe where is the disputer of this world hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that beleeve For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God Because the foolishness of God is wiser then men and the weakness of God is stronger then men For ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty And base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are That no flesh should glory in his presence But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption That according as it is writen He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Chap. 2. v.
OF THE Internal and Eternal Nature OF MAN IN CHRIST HEBR. 6. vers 19. Which hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the vail Vers 20. Whither the Fore-runner is for us entered even Jesus made an high Priest for ever after the order of Milchisedec And also 2 COR. 3.15 But even to this day when Moses is read the vail is upon their heart Vers 16. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord it shall be taken away London Printed by John Macock 1654. OF THE Internal and Eternal Nature of Man in Christ REader J would advise you out of my love to read this following Discourse soberly and warily and above all to remember that Wisdom is justified of her Children 1. WHen through the fire of Repentance we get into the Spirit of Mary the Virgin the Bride in our Souls and are falling before Christs feet the Bridegroom we taste of the Love that through Faith God presents us with which we find experimentally true when ever we make tryal of the same yet the Bridegroom will never admit of any to come to such a communion with him but the Bride only who cometh through fire to drink of the living Waters into the inward society of Love for then there is no more a comprehension but a divine communion and union through faith 1 Joh. 4.16 17. And we have known and beleeved the love that God hath to us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him Herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this world And thus we find the saying true My yoke is easie and my burthen is light whereby we are made likewise to live one with another in the unity of love and the bond of peace as well as within our selves finding the beasts of the field who lived before in enmity living now in Noahs Ark in perfect amity in our hearts 2. O take heed of stifling in your souls the light which leads you to the discovery of your selves Look but in your consciences and 't will enlighten every corner and crany thereof but doubt not neither fear to look upon those Images it will infallibly manifest to your soul 3. Herein is all the policy the Devil hath to keep you from looking ingeniously and candidly into your selves Knowing he hath no other way but to blind you therein whereby to continue you under his dominion for if once you do discern the hideous Monsters and Sorcerers he doth delude you with as natural men you will never take more pleasure in them but his art is to disguise them and make them seem otherwise then they are and he is terribly afraid above all measure you should know you have the Word in your Souls lest it should come into your hearts John 1.4.5 In him was life and the life was the light of men And the light shined in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not 4. O take heed Christ is a Lamb slain from the begining of the world and is come into the world in our very nature and humanity onely to suffer and make peace through the Blood of his Cross but to tell us also that he is the light and life in our Consciences Colos 1. vers 26 27 28. Even the Mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his Saints To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of Glory Whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus 5. Man is fallen into death he hath awakened the spirit of all creatures in him of a Fox a Lion a Goat a Swine c. Here is the death we are fallen into and to these we must absolutely dye in this life-time and become as little children again then shall we see the Law of Moses written in our hearts and find the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world and if upon the discovery of this divine light ye repent then shall you fulfil in your selves the great Mystery and through the mighty power of faith witness Christ risen a quickening Spirit in your hearts Then you shall evidence it is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body there is a natural body and there is a spiritual body and so it is written The first man Adam was made a living Soul the last man Adam a quickening Spirit Now if we look into our selves through the power of God we shall see our selves that we were a living soul free from the subjection of the spirits of the beasts of the world and if through the virtue and merit of Christ we co-operate with him spiritually we shall find our selves become a quickened spirit dead unto these natural corruptible desires And thus shall we easily beleeve the Son of God was slain himself in our humanity by the Jews if we do but reflect on our selves and find that we slay him in our hearts dayly as sinners unless we Regenerate our souls then are our sacrifices no more the sacrifices of Cain but of Abel 1 John 3. v. 6 8. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him He that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifest that he might destroy the works of the Devil And our freedom is in Righteousness But Jerusalem which is above is free which is the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so it is now Read likewise the duty of the children of the Spirit Chap. 5. v. 22 23 24 25. But the fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the spirit 6. Prepare therefore for him and go out of darkness which hinders you from seeing him lest he come like a Thief in the night whilest you live in your unbelief worshipping of Images in your own wisdom and imagination only denying the presence of God which is continually so neer you Acts 17.17.28 That they should seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him and find him though he be not far from every one of us For in him we live and move and have our being as certain also of your own Poets have said For we are also his off-spring 7. O prevent these things lest Christ the Sun of Righteousness when your Soul after death shall rise out of your worldly will
Christ 6. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a ch ef corner stone elect precious and he that beleeveth on him shall not be confounded Lastly Whereas we alledg divers Texts of Scriptures in our four last Pages to arm us for our duty and conflict of suffering with Christ that afterwards we may raign with him we conceive that most of those Scriptures speak of those inward afflictions and sufferings which we must pass through under Gods chastisements and Satans temptations whilest we suffer the loss death and burial of all our own imaginations carnal wisdom chosen holiness self-made righteousness turbulent zeal as well as of our sinful lusts desires and affections and that those testimonies aforesaid are not to be restrained to the oppositions and persecutions of wicked men only Loving Friend HE that continually sinketh down through Faith waiting in patience besides his continual preservation when it is meet for him the Lord doth comfort him with unspeakable joy letting him know that he hath ordained him to inherit the Promises For by that means when the Virgin will reigneth our own wills forsake their title and are secured by that of our Lord Jesus For a pure heathenish Virgin yeildeth to no defiled desire but entereth into the unity of Virtue whereby she is protected by the harmony of an unknown Power arising from the divine Law written in her heart namely the spirit of Abel who delivereth her from the multiplicity of treacherous and perfideous delights Therefore by faith let us appeal to our only Redeemer and Protector leading us to that pure and undefiled Champion and Conqueror Christ Jesus in our Souls who fighteth for us only and not after the manner of Aaron for himself and others shewing always his almighty Power when we have most need of the same I heartily rejoyce that in the Name of the Lord you purpose to meet for wheresoever two or three are gathered together in his Name he is in the midst of them upon which account likewise by the joynt custom and consent of those who meet within the Walls called Aldermary Church upon the first day of the week I am if God determine not otherwise resolved to meet there where I doubt not but many of the children of God will meet coming singly in his Name to receive spiritual promises therefore let not place divide the unity of our spirit so we shall at the same time in several places through faith in God receive in his holy Name what is necessary So professing my self your unfeigned Friend for the love you bear to our Lord Jesus I remain yours Dear Friend THe Grecians did abound in natural wit and lived much in bondage under the false will namely their own will being very ambitious of self-humane wisdom and reason that certainly was the Idol that more then in an ordinary measure they worshiped therefore the Apostle said unto them 1 Cor. 2. vers 6 7 8 9. 6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought 7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory 8. Which none of the Princes of this world knew for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 9. But as it is written Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Men certainly are as inclinable and willing by false rules to adorn themselves with unregenerated and unbeleeving wit and wisdom and set up their Rest therein as women to adorn and embelish themselves with overmuch art and care which breedeth vain thoughts and vile inclinations nourishing thereby the false will that leadeth into temptation the former being thereby inclined to determine the will of God regulating and governing the same by his comprehension the latter the will of Nature by art and dexterity whereby knowledg in man and ingenuity in women is made captive to the false depraved will Yet Nature when she returneth again and yeildeth obedience to the will of God is good for Nature her self standeth and hath its center and being therein But our own will that is artificial it is a violent possession a false usurped propriety a peculiar self-conceited selfishness goten by Adam when he fell from Gods will into his own O therefore return unto the will of God again for the life of faith more by far excelleth our own wisdom and willing then transitory and corruptible Nature in her perfection doth excel sophisticated and counterfeited Art therefore I hope the good will in us will enable us to sink down into the Cross and crucifie the bad will then shall we know and plainly understand the mystery of Christ crucified that immortal and pure Wisdom that incorruptible and resplendent Beauty Thus may you clearly see the Apostles meaning 1 Cor. 1.22 23 24. For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom 23. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness 24. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God Let none hence conclude ' cause I speak of right and regenerated Nature that I would endeavor to perswade women to think well of transitory and fadable beauty no I would most humbly have them look after that eternal and unfadable one 1 Pet. 3. v. 2 3 4. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear 3. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of puting on of apparel 4. But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price And Paul saith 1 Tim. 2.9 10. In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefastness and sobriety not with broidered hair or gold or pearls or costly aray But which becometh women professing godliness with good works Now as corruptible beauty is destructive to it self and others unless the inward man be renewed for in Christ there is no difference twixt man and woman Galat. 1.27 28. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus For the vanity pride and lust of artificial and sophisticated beauty allayeth very much virtue and piety alluring and inwardly kindling vile thoughts interrupting many times the simplicity and innocency of a harmless conversation Thus it is with those likewise who live in artificial painted self-reason making faith subservient to their humane wisdoms And the Apostle found it so amongst the Grecians who gloried in their self artificial knowledg not regarding the mystery of Christ crucified Hereby we may conclude that the wit of man unregenerated is like unto horsedung which before it is well rotted spoileth all the moulds it is mixed with Repentance and Resignation fitteth every man onely wherefore the Apostle saith 1 Corinth 1. vers 23. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness They indeed would raign with Christ but it must be in their own artificial wills not in his in their own false wisdoms not in his Fain they would live with him but not dye with him know him they would most willingly suffering for them but to suffer with him by no means that They would fain have his Power and Crown but not his faith virtue and patience Like a seed that would fain be a fine flowr and have a fine scent but not go into the earth to rot putrifie and dye Take this Direction PAtience is the divine Water Humility the divine Earth and Faith the divine Sun Love and Charity the divine Man Christ himself in the Spirit regenerated from thence Now as all things proceed from Water falling into the Earth being percolated and strained by virtue of the Suns warmth So likewise is it in the eternal Nature as in this temporary where the natural man is made of a clod of earth nourished by moisture circulated and digested by heat Even so the inward man Christ is generated Humility is the earth of which he is made Patience the water with which he is nourished and Faith the Sun of divine Righteousness by which he is digested circulated and brought to perfection whereby God is regenerated in us namely love and charity This is the Process if any one practise the same the vail shall be drawn from off their heart and the great Mystery shall be made manifest in them in their several proportions according as God hath ordained Colos 1. vers 26 27 28 29. Even the Mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest unto his Saints 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory 28. Whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus 29. Whereunto I also labour striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily Farewell FINIS