nonsensical and to no purpose contrived without reason or necessity nay repugnant to the end it was instituted for viz. the breaking of the flesh 1 Cor. 11.26 and the communicating to Christs spiritual body ch 10.16 which is done in becoming spiritual men our selves and a very wicked fool to persecute another because he will not be as great a fool as thy self I say that he who eats of this flesh shall live by it and shall by this flesh and bloud the power of our Christ and from on high Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 be quickned and so strengthned that he shall overcome the accuser or Tempter that tempted Eve Rev. 12.11 I mean shall bruise the head of the flesh that creeps and makes our Souls to creep with it Gen. 3.15 like Serpents v. 14. to cleave unto this vile Earth Psal 119.25 and to sink down from God into Hell it self Philip he that hath seen me hath seen the Father also John 14.7 9. for the Son is his express Image and represents him Heb. 1.3 John 1.18 And can therefore the Son of the invisible God who is a Spirit saith he that Son who dwells in the light no man can approach unto 1 Tim. 6.16 in the bosom in the throne of the most infinite God John 1.18 Rev. 3.21 be like unto flesh and bloud and sit there and come therence Rev. 3.20 to make us sit there also in the same bodily shape he lived with in the flesh what and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up saith he John 6.62 where he was before how can you then think he shall have flesh and bloud about him since when he was there before he had neither flesh and bloud nor humane shape and body John 5.37 Deut. 4.12 how can the flesh and bloud I had then about me which is not my flesh and bloud John 8.23 but the seed of Abraham Heb. 2.16 which I took upon Earth in the womb of one of his daughters that I might dye therein to deliver you from it v. 14 15. Rom. 8.6 be the true bread from heaven and the meat and drink indeed that makes you live for ever John 6.32 33 38 41 50 54 55 58. Truly if I had still a body of flesh and bloud I could not quicken you and the words that I speak being Spirit v. 63. how can you take them in a carnal sence but if you understood them and knew me saw my glory John 17.24 whereof that in Mat. 17.2 was but a very weak beam that body of flesh and bloud which you so much doat upon would vanish out of your sight Luk. 24.31 Heb. 10.20 2 Cor. 3.14 and then you would understand that I am risen indeed Luk. 24.34 from such body of death Rom. 7.24 and by rising from it or being no more in it made the fitter author of your eternal salvation Heb. 5.9 that is more able to help you and fitter to strengthen you John 16.7 both against the said body and him that tempts you by it 2 Cor. 5.1 4 6. by the power I have in rising unto glory obtain'd of an endless life Heb. 2.18 7.16 whereby you may rule over the tumultuous Nations the lusts that war in your flesh and come out of their bondage into the glorious freedom of the Sons of God v. 15. Rev. 2.26 27. which is rising from the dead and entring in the kingdom of God or your Salvation O you house of Israel both Jews and all Christian Sects come on now for the time past ought to have sufficed you open your eyes and at last walk in the light of the Lord Isa 2.5 Ephes 5.8 sit no longer in darkness and in your shadow of death otherwise under the thick umbraculum which your flesh darkneth and deads your Souls with learn to know me in Spirit and in truth according to mine own essence and nature and look no more upon me as your Antecessors John 6.42 and as the Mahometans and even as you your selves have done and do to this hour John 14.7 for the Jews look for nothing but worldly and temporal blessings for their flesh from Christ to wit to live in plenty glory and prosperity in this life under his reign as when Solomon reigned 1 Kings 4.20 21 24 25. taking accordingly what the Prophets say of the Spiritual kingdom of the Messiah literally as Isa 55.10 and therefore they thought of a visible appearance of Gods kingdom in the days of Christ Luk. 17.20 19.11 And the Turks expect to have all fleshly lusts satisfied by the mediation of their Prophet Mahomet when he comes with God say they to save his true Musulmans or them that truly believe in him and to judge the World So that Christians believing that they shall be one day saved with their flesh and bloud 2 Cor. 5.6 that their Salvation was once performed and perfected in the flesh by Christ as man by his becoming a man and by dying in the flesh when by his incarnation and death without ascending and coming in the Spirit there is no body saved John 3.5 13. 16.7 and that the second coming of Christ will be seen of all appear with observation to the eyes of all the World Luk. 17.20 look on him with the same eyes and in the same manner as both the Jews and the Turks have no higher thoughts of his kingdom than the others have know him still as the man of sorrows humiliated not as sitting from the time of his humiliation on the right hand of power and coming with great glory though he tells them so himself Mat. 26.64 Mark 14.62 and concurring thus with them in a temporal worldly and carnal knowledge of him they do not only bring back his Spiritual knowledge and worship introduced by him and the Apostles to the old bodily and ceremonial worship of God in the Jewish Church but even to a creature worship Rom. 1.25 23. and like the Heathen changing the truth of their God into that which he is not the shape or Image of man they set up an Idol made like unto flesh and bloud the fleshly conceits of him in the holy place their heart thus instead of knowing God as a Spirit in Spirit destroying his Spiritual knowledge and establishing a knowledge after the flesh and also per consequent a worship accordingly a down-right idolatry for Lux intelligendi being in mankind the Lex volendi agendi man willeth and acteth but according to his knowledge worships God as he knows him quia ignoti boni nulla cupido lusts for no more than that which he conceives and knows of him to wit a bodily temporal and carnal good and so continues to be such as he was at his birth that is carnally minded and this carnal mind being enmity against his God Rom. 8.7 Jam. 4.4 man in revolting to it or siding with that party which is in war against God he commits adultery that is falshood against God Luk. 16.13 18. with the great whore worldly
THE ETERNAL GOSPEL Once more Testified unto and Vindicated Against the Ignorance or Malice of the Bishops and Teachers of the now Church of England This Book proving against their Doctrine That the Holy Ghost is not ceased but is still given to all the Faithful and to some in the same measure as the Apostles and Disciples of Christ had it Also at the occasion of a late Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Bishop of London by the Vicar of West-ham that Miracles and other gifts and works of the Holy Ghost are not ceased in the Church and that the School-Learning helps no man to understand Scripture and the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven nor the knowledge of Nature where by the way the true cause of the so much perplexed and famous Phoenomenon taken for a Weather-glass is by Experiments cleared and demonstrated against the Hypothesis of the New Virtuosi John 5.44 12.43 Luk. 7.35 How can they believe who seek for the honour of one another and love the praise of men more than that which comes from God But wisdom is justified or known of all her Children LONDON Printed for Allen Banks and are to be sold by most Booksellers in London 1681. HAving received this Book from the Author in order to its Printing I do hereby appoint Allen Banks to print the same Witness my Hand HENRY SCARLOT TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS JAMES Duke of YORK Patroni valeant Ecquis proteggere Verum Luci aut optatae fautor adesse potest Qui Lux qui Verum est qui Verum in saecula servat I liber ille tuus nempe Patronus erit THis is not therefore Great Sir to beg your Patronage for this Book nor for my self but rather to direct you to the Light of salvation Luk. 1.17 and to make it shine to you 2 Cor. 4.4 lest you lose here your Earthly and after your Heavenly Kingdom for lack of knowledge Hos 4.6 for though I seem angry with some men for Religion I am so far from hating a man for his Religion that I look upon him as he whom the Son of man came to save Mat. 18.11 a fit object of my love and charity and as a wounded man who needs me that am neither Priest Minister nor Levite for his Friend Luk. 10.30 37. and Physician Mat. 9.12 And therefore I am so much farther from being concern'd against Your Highness for yours with the Epidemical distemper though it wants not a President in Scripture 2 Kings 3.13 14. that Your Highness is one of the powers of this Land whom I am bound to honour and that for the Oath of God Rom. 13.1 2. Eccl. 8.2 and that looking upon you not only as a wounded but as such wounded man who though fallen unhappily into the hands of those Thieves John 10.1 20.21 22. that are stripping Your Highness both of the Triple Earthly Crown you might else enjoy one day and of your chiefest Kingly Heavenly Prerogative the Holy Unction whereby Christ makes all those Kings indeed Prov. 16.32 25.28 that do obey his commands Rev. 1.6 Exod. 19.5 6. may not only recover but be a great instrument to promote Gods Spiritual Kingdom and therefore as such Dan. 12.3 deserve one the first Thrones and Crowns among the twelve Tribes of Israel in Heaven Luk. 13.30 7.43 47. I tender your safety more than that of any man wishing with all my heart that like the Samaritan I might pour Oyl and Wine into your Highness's wounds set you on my Beast bring you to an Inn your Throne and thence to an everlasting Kingdom where may your Highness reign for evermore Amen But how can I do this except you own and believe that you are wounded and sick and how can you believe it except you come to know it and how shall you come to know except one doth shew it you and except you attend to the things that shall be shewed Act. 16.14 Rom. 10.14 15 17. If you will be pleased therefore to peruse this Book it shews you and you may easily gather from it that all men generally Christians as well as Gentiles are by birth bruised and sick Gen. 3.15 Rom. 3.23 1. Cor. 11.7 that the way to recover from the said sickness and bruise and to become whole again as to the Kingdom of God which is in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 being by the said new birth of the Holy Ghost who is then renewed within them Tit. 3.5 all men must to be saved be thus regenerated and receive the Holy Ghost therefore as well and as much as the Primitive Christians and that the said renewing or new birth of the Spirit being a reformation to the same Image of God Adam was created to which doth consist in knowledge Coloss 3.10 as well as in righteousness Ephes 4.24 the Spirit of the Father that doth create us anew to his Image and likeness teaching all things John 14.26 16.13 1 John 2.20 27. 1 Cor. 2.10 as well as he is the power of Christ Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 Gods arm revealed to us and the bloud of the Lamb whereby sin is overcome and righteousness fulfilled Rev. 12.11 is inconsistent therefore with a despondent relying on other men for what we are to know to believe and to practise and is not attained to by a change or conversion from Popery for instance to another Religion which knows Christ as much after the flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 worships the Father as little in spirit and truth John 4.24 aâ—â— grieves the Holy Spirit no less than the Popish Church and which under the pretence of Reforming makes a Schism which is a far greater sin than to bear with some few erroneous opinions but by a true conversion from sin to righteousness by knocking and by waiting at the posts of Wisdoms doors Prov. 8.34 Jam. 1.5 by perusing daily and keeping diligently the precepts of that wisdom contained in the Scriptures in vitam lucem assurgendo our selves For such conversion is to know me saith the Lord Jer. 22.16 9.3 and such knowledge of God is saith Christ John 17.3 life Eternal Verily such knowledge and not an implicite Faith is both Salvation it self and the cause of Temporal and Worldly felicity for when a man meditates daily in the Law of God and observeth to do according to all the words that are written therein he makes his way prosperous and successful in all things Josh 1.8 Deut. 28.1 to 14. and when his ways please the Lord even the worst Enemies he hath are at peace with him Prov. 16.7 But Sir as such knowledge is our summum bonum both in this and the next World so extremum malum est non recognoscere Deum in the said manner for though God for a great while winketh at this ignorance Act. 17.30 yet he will be known at last and felt specially of those that either forget to know or having the means offer'd to know him do neglect them see Judg. 2.10 11 14. And the Egyptians
is in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 that he may preserve his own Earthly kingdom which consists in meer beastly affections and a brutish ignorance what he can to keep from men the knowledge of their most excellent Prerogative thereby to make them sit still contented and without sense of their base despondency in the shadow of that death all men dye of with Adam from the very first moment of their life until the time of their regeneration O that Christians were but left to their reason and Scripture in matters of Religion for who is he though never so careless of his future and eternal happiness that would not be glad and strive with all his power and might to obtain the gift of that which shews and teacheth all things if he knew he might have it But woe be to you Doctors who notwithstanding your fair pretence to the contrary pag. 11. do your endeavour to keep by imposing upon them your Doctrines and Traditions from men the key of knowledge Deut. 27.18 and would scarce have allowed them any such distinction were not the existence of Gods Spirit in the Church so plainly taught in Scripture that you dare not deny it But yet a little while and you will not stick to say that both your ordinary and extraordinary Spirits are wholly ceased if the two witnesses of God viz. the Holy Ghost that testifieth of him John 15.26 5 32. and the cloud of witnesses both recorded in Scriptures and not recorded to wit those that have been and are still since the same were written having already prophesied out near their time of 1260 years hidden under their sackcloth do not prevent you quickly by standing upon their feet and killing the beast that hath so long made War against them killed and overcome them that the kingdoms of this world may at last become the Lords Rev 11.15 Obad. 21. Pray had not the Jewish Church such Spirit as you say pag. 7. is continued to Christians viz. sufficiently helpful to them suitable to their necessities and to what God required of them in order to be partakers of his blessings and did they not understand as much of their Religion and of the Messiah as you of yours and of him that is witness the place above cited out of Hales viz. that otherwise than out of the Apostles books the Spirit speaks not to you as much as was related out of the Law and of the ancient Prophets Books to them and so what doth the Spirit you pretend to amount to what greater priviledge have Christians than they by it what signifies Christ's coming and their being anointed thereby for his Kings and Priests dignities granted but to few men in the Jewish Church what signifies the promise which God made that all Nations should be blessed by the said coming of the Messiah and in short what signifies the Prophecy in your Text In the last days I will pour my Spirit on all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy viz. by it Act. 2.17 18. Now were the Apostles days more the last days than ours and were only they and their children meant here by all flesh or else are as many meant according to St. Peter v. 39. as the Lord shall ever call unto the end of the World And to see which of Peter or your Church is in the right that is which explication his or yours is Orthodox will you be pleased my Lords to be tryed here by your Peers for you will grant I hope that the Bishops of Antioch Jerusalem c. were as good men as you are and that we may as well say my Lord Paul my Lord Peter my Lord St. John and St. James Bishop Archbishop Primate Patriarch and Cardinal and Pope except you grudge them the same honour the Papists allow them who say Peter was one and chief amongst them as say my Lord of London Henry the Right Reverend Father in God to no man and to allow of their sentence out of Scripture Law as well as Peter himself and other Apostles did Act. 15.19 15 22 28. Hoping which I say first that St. John by applying the promises of Christ concerning the Holy Ghost teaching all things c. John 14.26 16 13. to all those he wrote to all Christians generally 1 John 2.20 27. shews that they do not belong to the Apostles only as Hales and you out of him pag. 10. lin 20. seem to take it for granted but to all them that believe in Christ who should as he saith John 7.39 receive the holy Spirit after Christ was glorified which should make the knowledge of all things to rise and spring like wells of living waters flowing out of their belly from their heart within themselves And it is most evident that these Promises of Christ were meant to all his disciples that is all that learn of him since he did speak to them all as appears by John 15.8 and by his new commandment given them at the same time ch 13.34 15.12 which no Christian will deny but that it doth belong to all the disciples of Christ and not to some few of them and since Christ himself declares Mark 13 3 37. that what he spake to Peter and James and John and Andrew was spoken unto all the Servants of the Son of man v. 34. and all them that are to watch And we find accordingly that not only some few great Believers in some Churches but that all the Believers and the whole Christian Churches received the Holy Ghost And first to begin at the visible descent thereof and with the first Christian Church The Apostles were no more than twelve in number and yet hundred and twenty disciples received the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost Act. 1.14 15. for as in the 14 th verse they were all with one accord and ch 2.4 all the very same disciples were fill'd with the Holy Ghost Besides v. 14 15. Peter with the eleven standing up lift up his voice and said these are not drunken meaning some others besides the eleven that standing and saying the same with him could not say these of themselves to wit as many as some had said were full of new wine v. 13. that is as many as they heard speak with new Languages which were not the twelve only as appears by ch 10.46 19.6 Again ch 2.38 repent saith he to the whole multitude of Jews that were come together to see them v. 6. and you shall receive also the gift of the â—oly Ghost out of which three thousand souls were baptized v. 41. with Spirit according to his promise as appears from that they did continue with one accord and gladness and singleness of heart v. 46. in the fellowship of the Apostles themselves v. 42. which fellowship they could not have but by the unity of the same Spirit with them 1 Cor. 6.16 17. â—phes 4.3 4. 1 John 1.6 7. Again repent ye saith he Act. 3.19 to another Assembly whereof see
vers 11. that your sins be blotâ—ed out when the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord shall come and he shall send you Jesus Christ the Comforter as he doth call him elsewhere to refresh and to fill you with the joy John 15.11 and strength rising from his true power of life Next both the men and women of the Town of Samaria received the Holy Ghost Act. 8.12 16 17. Then all the Churches throughout Judea and Galilee walking in the comfort and strength of the Holy Ghost whom they must have had therefore had rest and were multiplied ch 9.31 Afterwards the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles likewise Act. 10.45 as upon Cornelius and his near Friends and Kindred v. 24. and all them that heard the Word v. 44. who magnified God and spake with new languages as well as the Apostles v. 46. here note well that St. Peter applys ch 11.16 the promise of Christ mentioned Act. 1.5 to those at whose occasion he spake viz. to the Gentiles ch 11.1 17. to confirm what he saith in ch 15.9 that no such difference as that of ordinary and extraordinary Spirit was put between them and to shew that it belongs to all the present Churches of Christians if besides that they were Gentiles heretofore when the Gospel was brought into their Native Countries they may pretend to as much priviledge as the Gentiles as they do all and to more And by course all their Churches of Antioch ch 13.52 of Ephesus ch 19.6 Ephes 2.17 18 19. 3.6 5.18 of Galatia Gal. 3.2 3 5 14. 4.6 7. 5.5 16 25. Corinthus 1 Cor. 6.11 19. 2 Cor. 11.4 Rome ch 5.5 8.10 11 23. Philippi ch 3.3 Colossus ch 1.8 3.10 and of Thessalonica 1 Thes 1.5 5.19 20. 2 Thes 2.13 received the Holy Ghost And in fine the holy Ghost being the blessing that was promised in Abraham Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 8. 2.33 38 39. 7.17 13.32 33. Rom. 4.13 Gal. 3.14 29. Heb. 9.15 10.36 11.39 to all Nations Gen. 12.3 Rom. 4.16 Ephes 3.6 whence St. Paul calls him the Holy Spirit of promise Ephes 1.13 all their Churches in all Nations and places if they were believing Churches received it likewise although the Scriptures give us no further account of it and so might our Churches partake of the same blessing if they would but believe as gladly as the Gentiles did specially seeing the Son of man comes to save all men Mat. 18.11 and to save them as Paul saith Tit. 3.5 by regenerating and restoring unto them what they do all come short of at their birth Rom. 3.23 the Holy Ghost John 3.3 5. coming himself unto as many as will keep his words John 14.23 as being himself the same with the Comforting Spirit v. 18. by which being conceived Luk. 1.35 according to our Creed in them but brought forth by them Gal. 4.19 Rev. 12.5 they become his Mother therefore Luk. 8.21 and so he becomes by this means the Son of man so that though the whole Scripture afforded no instances at all of the Holy Ghost being given to other men besides the Apostles the said promises of Christ coming to bless and to save all Nations in turning them away from iniquity Act. 3.26 by his power from on high Luk. 24.49 and of his coming to as many as will keep his word by the Spirit c. are enough to shew that if any man will obey him though he be no Apostle he shall receive the same gift But besides these passages so many other places of Scripture witness the same that it is a wonder to me how the great Divines with all their Humane Learning in seeing perceive it not and so much the greater wonder that after they have been told of it so often they whilst they believe Scripture as they say believe not this But their heart is waxed gross and their eyes they have closed lest they should see and convert Mat. 13.15 Some of the other places are The heavenly Father of all men will give to them the Holy Ghost much sooner than any Father will give good gifts unto his Children Luk. 11.13 To as many as receive or believe on John 7.39 Christ he gives the right to become the Sons of God ch 1.12 13. to be born anew by the said quickning Spirit ch 3.5 6.63 and no man ascending up to heaven except the Son of man that came down from thence ch 3.13 all the Saints must receive him before they ascend thither And they are all baptized by one Spirit into one body the Spirit of life that moves the feet or the tail of any living creature being the same Animal Spirit that actuates the head and moves all the other parts or members of his body and made all to drink into one not therefore into two extraordinary and ordinary Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 And I would not have you brethren ignorant v. 1. that the manifestation of that Spirit is given unto every man v. 7. that believes as follows from v. 8. And the Holy Ghost was sent down from heaven at the time that the Gospel was preached to all those whom St. Peter wrote his Epistles to 1 Pet. 1.12 which preaching of the Gospel and mission of the Spirit therefore have been since the first mission of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost to as many as have believed upon hearing the Gospel preached to them And it being impossible for those who were enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and of the powers of the world to come and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost if they shall fall away to be renewed again into repentance saith Paul Heb. 6.4 5 6. it appears from these his words that he took it for granted that some other besides himself and the Apostles received not only the Vicars ordinary gift but such as brought with it the powers of the world to come and that in this very life seeing there is no place left for repentance after it And if the Spirits of God are sent into all the Earth Rev. 5.6 it must not be understood of the first Christians alone for the first Christians were not all the Earth and by the Earth is meant the natural man who is from the Earth earthly Luk. 18.8 John 3.31 1 Cor. 15.47 whence to go the way of all the Earth is a Scripture phrase used instead of to dye for the Spirits of God are not sent into the ground Also the Prophecies of the Evangelical blessings by the Holy Ghost include all and except none all thy children shall be taught of the Lord saith Isaiah 54.13 and they shall all know me from the least to the greatest Jer. 31.34 which cannot be but by means of the Holy Ghost saith Paul 1 Cor. 12.3 the Nations shall bless themselves and also glory in him ch 4.2 The strangers saith Ezechiel in his new Jerusalem ch 47.22 23. that is to
them afterwards in the Island of Patmos Rev. 1.1 9. did not dye until he had seen the whole kingdom of Christ even in its full power having seen in the Spirit the holy Jerusalem having the glory of God v. 10. 21.10 11. And upon the same account Verily saith Christ again Mat. 24.34 to all them that follow him Mark 13.37 this generation which lasts no longer than a mans life shall not pass till all these things to wit the coming of Christ in the dark and clouded Souls Luk. 21.27 of the Heaven within us with power and great glory Mat. 24.30 be thorowly fulfilled And Verily you shall not have gone over in your flight to avoid persecution to which men are exposed here only before they dye the Cities of Israel till the Son of man be come And I will not henceforth drink of the fruit of the Vine until the kingdom of God shall come Luk. 22.18 or as saith Mat. 26.29 till I drink it with you new in my Fathers kingdom which he did with some of them Luk. 24.43 both before and after that they were by the Holy Ghost come in the kingdom of God drinking it new together John 7.39 6.57 he himself drinking of it in Gods kingdom all the while I mean as well before as after they were in it as being he that did still accomplish all righteousness overcome all the kingdoms of the World and of the Flesh Mat. 4.8 John 16.33 by dying himself to them and thus remaining himself under the kingdom of God and purchasing by this means and delivering to God the whole power and kingdom 1 Cor. 15.23 24. which he could not do but by drinking of the Holy Ghost and living by the Father of his power from above Then if the kingdom of God is within us like a seed growing into a great Tree and like a little Leven working in us till we come unto the measure of the stature of the perfect man the Son of man Jesus Christ Ephes 4.13 and like a hidden treasure which we must to purchase it sell all we have in the World Mat. 13.44 Luk. 14.33 then is this kingdom of God which is the same thing as the coming of Christ as appears from Mat. 16.28 Mark 9.1 Luk. 9.27 Rom. 14.17 1 Cor. 4.20 conferred together before we are grown unto the measure of that stature even in this very life and before we part with it and with all the things we do enjoy whilst we enjoy it God hath saved us saith Paul whilst he was yet in the flesh 2 Tim. 1.9 and that by renewing or sending the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 and received ye the Spirit saith he to the Galatians 3.2 who therefore had received it before they read his Letter which was sent them in this world and in a word as all the Primitive true believers received the Holy Ghost in this world during this life so must all believers now since they are to receive it even in the same manner as I have fully shewed receive it before they taste of death Every Spirit that confesseth not that Christ comes to us whilst in the flesh being that Spirit of Antichrist gone into the Woâ—ld whereof see 1 John 4.1 3. for truly though flesh and bloud inherits not the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15.50 because till we have escaped the corruption which is in the World through lust we cannot saith 2 Pet. 1.4 partake of Divinity put on the new man which is created after God Ephes 4.24 and of a divine nature in the flesh we are saved in the flesh is the kingdom of God attained unto although not with all its full glory and Prerogatives Ephes 1.14 Now that when the Holy Ghost is sent or comes unto men it is Christ that comes himself it appears from what Paul saith 2 Cor. 3.17 1 Cor. 8.6 that the Lord is that Spirit And to see the days or the coming of the Son of man is to have him revealed compare Mat. 24.27 37. Luk. 17.22 with v. 30. which revelation is by the coming of the Spirit that doth testifie of him John 15.26 16.14 Gal. 1 16. Also to see the kingdom of God coming with power Mark 9.1 Luk. 9.27 that is as Luke saith elsewhere with the power from above Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 1 Cor. 4.20 Rom. 14.17 is to see the Son of man himself come in his kingdom Mat. 16.28 And I will pray saith Christ to his disciples John 14.17 the Father and he shall give you Another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth who dwelleth with you now that is whilst I am yet dwelling with you in the flesh and shall be or dwell in you when I am glorified John 7.39 16.7 Ephes 4.8 And I will not leave you comfortless I will come v. 18. and I will come again v. 28. that the other Comforter may dwell with you for ever v. 16. Where Christ saying Another Comforter and I come not to leave you comfortless it appears in the first place that he reckons himself the same with the Comforter or Spirit that was to come And secondly by saying that the other Comforter which was to be and to dwell in them for ever after dwelt with them and they knew him at the time he spake these words he shews that he is himself the same with that Comforter for that it was he only of all them that dwelt with them who was able to comfort them having the fulness of the comforting Spirit in him Coloss 1.19 2.9 John 3.34 and did really comfort or rejoyce them by his presence ch 16.5 6. 14.1 2. But more intelligibly ch 16.22 he declares himself the same with the comforting Spirit ye now saith he have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce your sorrow shall be turned into that joy thereupon v. 20. which no man taketh from you And again v. 16. 14.19 yet a little while saith he and you shall not see me and again a little while and you shall see me because I go to the Father but the World seeth me no more viz. when you see me again or when I make my self manifest to you v. 22. because it cannot receive and see and know the Spirit of Truth v. 17. 1.5 Where note that from that the World sees Christ no more afterwards from his first disappearance at his passion and burial whilst the Apostles see him again and that by reason that he went to the Father it is evident that this was not fulfilled upon his apparitions to them after his resurrection for then he was not as yet ascended to the Father ch 20.17 and the World might see him then as well as the disciples did seeing that he was palpable to Thomas his hands and fingers v. 25. and visible to the eyes of the disciples that were travelling to Emaus Luk. 24.15 even whilst their eyes were as much held from knowing him as those of the World v. 16 25 31. who might therefore see him talk
with them and sit at meat in the house v. 30. so that this seeing him again and especially because he should go away must needs be meant of that sight they had on Pentecost day Act. 2.11 17. of the comforting Spirit that shewed them plainly of the Father John 16.25 and of him therefore ch 14.9 and that except Christs body went away was not to come ch 16.7 Then the other Comforter that dwelt at that time with them being to abide and stay with them for ever after ch 14.16 this seeing of Christ again ought not to be understood of the short transitory abode which he made with them between his resurrection and his ascension to God specially he being not yet another Comforter for he was not glorified with the glory which he had when he vivified all things John 17.5 Heb. 1.2 until some days afterwards which it was necessary a Comforter that is one that gives life strength and virtue and refreshment to all things note Christ is the living bread see John 6.51 should have John 16.7 and so he was still but the same that dwelt with them before he was crucified Moreover I will give to him that overcometh saith he that is alive for ever Rev. 2.28 the morning Star or the light of the Spirit arising in our hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 and he is the morning Star himself ch 22.16 20. and cometh quickly to his Bride the Soul of man which was void of her own form to wit the Image of God to impregnate or inform and make her conceive and breed and bring forth the Son of man who is the Image of God Heb. 1.3 and is formed within us Gal. 4.19 being by the Holy Ghost conceived then born of the Virgin a pure and chast Soul thus Christ being himself and effecting now himself what was at the creation of man done by the Holy Spirit breathed into man Gen. 1.27 2.7 whence Christ calls the works and fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 his own works Rev. 2.26 and thereby making himself the same with the Holy Ghost What Peter confirms saying Act. 3.19 20. when the times of refreshing shall come from the Lords presence and he sends you Jesus Christ understand to refresh them or to be their comforter In fine if we do allow that it is no robbery in the only Son of God to make himself equal with God Philip. 2.6 who is a Spirit John 4.24 we cannot without robbing him of his Divinity Coloss 1.19 2.9 and his Spiritual nature John 3.34 say that he is not the same and have a different notion and knowledge of him than of the Holy Spirit specially since he sits now on the right hand of power in the Majesty on high or is glorified again with the glory which he had with God before the World was John 17.5 and before he took the Seed of Abraham upon him As the Father hath sent me and in the same manner as I live by the Father which is done spritually so he that will live by me must eat me and receive me Heaven the heavenly Souls and not the material Heavens that shall pass away and that cannot contain him 1 Kings 8.27 is that which must receive him and where he dwels like the Sun in and through the Vegetables and the Soul in and through all the members of the body until the time that all things shall be restored again into the glorious freedom that they had before they fell under the bondage and the curse of corruption Act. 3.21 Rom. 8.21 How absurd it is to think that the Son of any man or any thing born of flesh and bloud as Christs body was John 1.14 can sit in that Majesty which belongs to God alone as Christ doth Heb. 1.3 when flesh and bloud doth not so much as come in that glory 1 Cor. 15.50 far from sitting therein in the highest place And to know after the flesh him that saves us from the flesh obtaining us eternal redemption from the body Heb. 9.12 Rom. 8.23 7.24 when we must not henceforth know him so 2 Cor. 5.16 And to worship the Image of the Father of all Spirits in the flesh John 4.24 when he is no more to be by us dealt with in the flesh John 20.17 and saith that the flesh of man otherwise his humane flesh profiteth nothing to man John 6.63 but his own true flesh and bloud which he had ab aeterno and came down in tempore from his stillness and rest his Heaven to be the bread of life unto all the World v. 51. and which is the Holy Ghost whereby he that eats the same shall live how even as Christ himself lives by the Father v. 57. which cannot be by eating and drinking of flesh and bloud and much less by transmuting his flesh in bread to eat it for bread is eaten only by the flesh and quickneth but the fleshly body alone v. 63. By transmuting I say of flesh and bloud into bread and not of bread into flesh as some who heaping non-sence upon their deep ignorance of God do by the excess of blind zeal which usually men have for idolatry most blasphemously and ridiculously hold Rom. 1.22 23 25 28. for as long as we neither see smell nor taste any flesh but still bread as well after as before the pretended miracle of transmutation it cannot be a change of bread into flesh but of flesh into that which remains bread if so be that a change of substances were effected as nothing but their bare word appears for the proof of it for the Scripture though this thing deserves better than many others to be observed takes not the least notice and makes no mention of it Secondly they cannot shew a necessity for it but rather contrariwise for what reason is there that our flesh which is death Rom. 8.6 and can never be saved 1 Cor. 15.50 and even must he destroyed 1 Cor. 6.13 and that maketh imperfect Gal. 3.3 and therefore cannot be made perfect John 17.23 1 Cor. 13.10 that is very good as man when first created Gen. 1.31 should be fed and nourished with what gives eternal life the flesh and the bloud of Christ and that this should be therefore turned into common bread for our flesh to feed on And thirdly no body yet having ever seen any flesh and bloud to become bread and that the Communion-bread was once flesh and bloud before this strange transubstantiation the miracle pretended to do it is invisible and if it be invisible it is therefore no miracle for all miracles are wrought to be seen that God may shew his power and that his name may be declared thereby among men throughout the Earth Exod. 9.16 John 9.3 and before the water was turned into bloud or wine Lots wife in Salt c. the water was by some tasted and seen and the flesh of the body of Lots wife was seen and felt Brother art thou not a fool to stand for that which is both
Holy Ghost being given but after that Christ ascended to his Father John dying before was not entirely in God's kingdom Rom. 14.17 and had not the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dwelling in him as appears from his doubting whether Christ was the true Messiah that was to come Luk. 7.19 for they that have it know that 1 John 5.20 and so he was but one and the last of the old Prophets But notwithstanding this great Prerogative which all the Apostles had above them they were but men of the like passions and infirmities with them and with other men Act. 14.15 as appears by Act. 15.39 and by Peter compelling the Gentiles to do those things Gal. 2.14 which he himself condemned Alas per Antithesin to Master Vicar's alas which I have mentioned before out of his 5 th page lumen patiebantur tenebras interdum to wit when they did but slack the hand over the body Mat. 25.13 Rom. 6.6 8.13 23. 1 Cor. 9.27 Jam. 3.2 and had it been but for their extraordinary Spirit and Humane Learning Dionysius and Damaris had no more cleaved to them than those that heard the same things that they heard and yet mocked Act. 17.33 for what is Peter and Paul but the Ministers by whom Dionysius Damaris and the others believed and that how not as Paul's extraordinary Spirit prevailed but as even as God gave to some of them the grace to believe 1 Cor. 3.4 5. Quaere Seeing Damaris is mentioned together with learned Dionysius preferably to the men that believ'd at the same time Act. 17.34 and submitted with him to the School-learned reasons which as it follows from what the Vicar saith pag. 5. Paul was necessitated to make use of at that time to convince Dionysius was not the said Damaris a very learned woman and brought up in the Greek Schools or else was Dionysius become so much a Changeling that Paul had no greater need of Learning to convince him than to convince a woman Luke mentioning with a man of great Learning a woman before any of the rest seems to hint at the latter and Christ saying that we must become like little children to come into his Kingdom Mat. 18.3 and Paul that the wise worldlings must become fools to be wise 1 Cor. 3 18. because not many wise men after the flesh are called 1 Cor. 1.26 and God hides from such wise men his mysteries Mat. 11.25 it is plain that the learned Athenian was become so woman-like that the Bishops must look out elsewhere for another proof of the great necessity of Learning to convince him and for another better confutation of those Sects which they say do revile it Alas had it been but for the pretended supplement of it in the Apostles the Gospel had been nipped in its very budding forth the preaching of the Gospel had convinced no more men than it doth now amongst us the World had continued to be imposed upon like the people of Samaria Act. 8.9 10. and in general all they that heard the Word had mocked Is it wisely done therefore of the Lords Bishops to use or suffer to be used a falshood in a Pulpit with out check and correction as an argument of the great necessity of the thing so falsly supposed viz. School-learning in Preachers to reduce unbelievers to the obedience of Christ especially when Paul asserts flat and plain that he made no use at all of it God having chosen saith he 1 Cor. 1.27 the foolish things of this world to confound the wise whereof you have an instance in me and he preach'd not with wisdom of words the Humane Learning of the Vicar which he calls somewhere else a vain deceit Col. 2.8 lest the Cross of Christ saith he v. 17. should be made of none effect for it is to the Cross that the powers of the World among which Humane Learning and wisdom is not the least are nayled and by the Cross by self-conceited wise men resolving to become fools which is a great cross to them are the proud worldly wiselings with their imaginations and high conceits overcome 2 Cor. 10.5 Col. 2.14 15. Nay it is altogether injurious to the power which worketh effectually in the hearts of all converts Gal. 2.8 to call to help the wisdom of man and the School-learning in the preaching of the Word and therefore the Apostles spoke not with enticing words of mans wisdom v. 4. but planted and watered or preached always with all plainness of speech and simplicity committing the success to him that gives the encrease and trusting to his Spirit not to their own industry the work of man's conversion from sin to righteousness the means and the way to which is all that all Preachers ought to treat of in their Sermons And for all this their plainness weakness and infirmities they seldom preached in vain and they had better success than our Lords with all their great wisdom that comes to nought 1 Cor. 2.6 Also for all their want of Logick and Metaphysick they did not doubt as having saith Paul 1 Cor. 7.40 obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful but that they had the Spirit of God that directed them that what they designed was purposed in that Spirit Act. 19.21 and would have Christians to know that what they spake or wrote as their judgment or sentence was the command of the Lord 1 Cor. 7.25 14.37 And here had I but time enough I could run down the Bishops so very low that they would be glad to make of their Sleeves a Moses vail if they knew what they know not Zeph. 3.5 and were not so confident Prov. 14.16 For the fear of God being not only the beginning and instruction of wisdom Prov. 1.7 15.33 but also wisdom it self Job 28.28 and a whole treasure of it Isa 33.6 is not learning the Greek Tongue Logick and Metaphy sick and such like excluded from the means to get wisdom for what can they contribute and add unto that which yields a whole treasure of wisdom If a man asketh wisdom in faith God will give it him Jam. 1.5 6. God will give him his good gift the wisdom of the Father that is the Spirit of Truth Luk. 11.13 to guide him into all Truth For if any man will do Gods will John 7.17 keep the words of Christ ch 14.23 he and the Father will come to him by the Holy Ghost whereby he shall not only know of the doctrine of Christ but know all things and all Truth both Divine and Natural the word all comprehending omnia scibilia specially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 3.12 or the knowledge of nature as done before our eyes For such an understanding have all they that keep Gods words Psal 111.10 that they come of themselves to know and understand more than all their wisest Teachers Psal 119.99 100 104. and in a word the Scriptures proclaim almost nothing more than that men grow in knowledge as fast and by the same means only
Doctor to the silliest Country child shew against all other Sects and against the Traditions which they do not hold themselves as not to hear Truth it self if one of a dissenting party from them shew it them being fully perswaded though without ever so much as calling into question whether it be so or not that they are in the right way and that all wander out of the right way but themselves so all that will be saved or rise again from the fall or death Adam died of above 900 years before his temporal death Gen. 2.17 5.5 must come in through this entry I mean through singleness of heart and humility For did any of the proud Pharisees believe in Christ John 7.48 whilst the more humble vulgar that pretends to no learning heard him gladly saith St. Mark 12.37 and received him readily Luk. 19.6 The poor and humble vulgar is nearer the kingdom of God than the most learned Mat. 5.3 by the mouth of Babes Gods praise is still perfected Mat. 21.16 Blessed be thy Name O Lord that thou dost reveal thy Truth to none but such as receive the same like little Babes Mat. 11.25 Certainly Pride and the School-learning which puffs up with Pride 1 Cor. 8.1 is and ever was the cause of general and private Jewish Romish and English Protestant Apostacy Out of pride Angels and man fell from Heaven into Hell which is in outer darkness whereas the inheritance of Saints in the light Coloss 1.12 within Luk. 17.21 doth begin from a single eye Mat. 6.22 and out of pride Clergy-men are the first in all Ages and among all parties that reject and make others reject the counsel of God and it is to be observed that upon this same account the Clergy is the Author and hath ever been Author of all the persecutions that have been for Religion Act. 13.8 44 45. Lam. 4.13 as it was typified by Levi slaying Hamor and Shechem with all their men on no other pretence but why should he deal with our Sister that is our Church as though she were a Harlot Gen. 34.31 Which the Protestant Levi brother in iniquity to the old Christian Levi that is the Popish Clergy is upon the same account as ready to act likewise that is to slay any man that makes so bold as to shew that their Church is a Harlot and to speak against that which ever made the Priests heart glad Judg. 18.18 20. Indeed not immediately no more than Levi their type but like the Pharisees who did not set upon Christ at first sight to destroy him whence the people thought him mad when he did because he knew the hearts of the Pharisees and foresaw what the pride thereof would drive them into John 2.25 tax them for it long before they went about to do it John 7.19 20. by degrees as by calling him first the worst of Christians the Agent of the Devil a Fool an Enthusiast and if they cannot answer what he saith a Blasphemer a Beelzebub Mat. 10.25 and at last persecute him openly which is what I look for at their hands when they know me Neither is the said knowledge of Christ and how to preach him to be learned out of Books as from the testimony of the Word of Prophecy from the relation of Paul Luke Matthew or from reasons or arguments drawn from thence by one man for another but as in the dark only they serving us but until the bright and the morning Star and the Sun of Righteousness the holy Spirit of Christ that testifieth of him John 15.26 5.32 and that teacheth men all things dawns and shines in our hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 for when that Sun is risen upon earthly-minded Souls they enter into Zoar Gen. 19.23 the turning of the Anger and the beginning of the Love of God shed in their hearts by the Spirit of knowledge Rom. 5.5 knowing Christ then not because of the words of other men but by reason that themselves have also within themselves the same teacher others had which by enlightning their minds doth perswade and convince them by the same reasons he did suggest to those other men that he is indeed the Christ and the Saviour of the World John 4.24 Otherwise unto this day when Christ or Moses is read a vail is upon their hearts which is not taken away but by a true conversion unto the Lord the Spirit by the which we are changed from glory and from knowledge to glory and to knowledge into the glorious Image of God in knowledge Coloss 3.10 2 Cor. 3.15 16 17 18. and if the Scripture be true no man comes to the knowledge of the Son but he to whom the Son will reveal himself Luk. 10.22 John 10 30. 14.9 The Revelation of Christ or the knowledge of Christ to be revealed to man is written unto the seven true Churches only that is to the only true members of the Church of Christ and sealed with seven seals Rev. 1.1 5.1 No man in heaven or earth but the Lamb who hath and sends the seven Spirits of God whereby he doth make us Priests that we need no more be taught of Priests being taught of God Isa 54.13 Jer. 31.34 can open or look therein Rev. 3.7 Surely the knowledge of Christ puzzleth the Angels themselves 1 Pet. 1.12 much more men who are born like the dull Colt of a wild Ass Job 11.12 and dwell in houses of clay ch 4.19 and who having never seen the Father at any time John 1.18 1 Tim. 6.16 for the world hath not known him John 17.25 cannot see or know the Son for he that hath seen the Son doth know the Father also ch 14.7 9. So that no natural man such as all the Sons of Adam are by nature as he never saw or knew the invisible Father of all things the Deity can see that is know the Son who is invisible also from the bare testimony of the holy men of God but the spiritual man only which is born of God and able therefore John 6.46 to search even the deep things of God knows the Father and his Son and understands this hidden wisdom the knowledge of them which is a great foolishness but indeed a great secret to the School-men and other learned Princes of this world 1 Cor. 2.14 John 14.7 flesh and bloud or all the skill and learning carnal men have cannot make known unto them the Son of the living God Mat. 16.17 but the Father witness those whom the Lord spake these words to viz. the Apostles themselves who though they were taught of him for when they were alone he expounded unto them all things which concerned the mysteries of his kingdom Mark 4.11 34. yet not only for some time after they had been with him Mark 7.18 but even when they had heard all that which he was to preach and teach them by word of mouth John 16.12 17.4 that is after that he was risen again from the dead far from understanding it they understood
that I have said nothing tending to establish the doctrine or opinion of an equality of Spirit among believers as though every member of Christ's mâ—stical body or every believer had an equal share or part of Spirit with those that are instead of eyes ears and of the other senses to it No I have from St. Paul 1 Cor. 12. and in some other places of the foregoing pages inferred the contrary and I only assert that the Holy Ghost being given to all the faithful even in the same manner as unto the Apostles they may by knocking asking praying and by watching so as to purifie themselves 1 John 3.3 from that which defileth man Mark 7.21 22 23. serve God in such holiness and walk in such righteousness before him Luk. 1.74 75. as to obtain as great a portion and gift thereof as the Apostles And this grounded besides the instances we have of it Act. 10.35 46. 19.6 upon the promises of Christ Mat. 19.28 Rev. 3.21 that they which shall follow him in the regeneration and overcome the seventh time that is to say to the end shall sit with him in his Throne as well as the Apostles shall partake as much as they of Gods own divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 shall be one with God himself John 17.21 or transibit in Deum as the Right Reverend Doctor Trismegistus said For note that though Christs promise makes mention but of twelve Thrones it extends nevertheless further than to the twelve men who were then speaking with him as appears first from the words themselves of the said promise which are you that follow me or that shall follow me in the regeneration and not you my Apostles that have followed me as the Translator mistakes for none of the Apostles had as yet followed Christ in the regeneration but were still to do it then being not till afterwards when Christ was glorified born again of the Spirit John 7.39 and which shew that the promise belongs to the Apostles upon condition only for pray shall Judas sit with the rest upon a Throne and so to you Lords Bishops if you will but dye to your Lordships worldly-mindedness to follow in the new birth your Lord and to them likewise that have and shall accomplish and perform that condition and this appears secondly from the forementioned place of Rev. 3.21 which saith not Peter and James and the other Apostles but he that overcometh shall sit with me in my Throne and so doth confirm this sence And thirdly from that Christ would not promise any of them the first seats in his Kingdom but they shall have them saith he Mat. 20.23 for whom such reward is prepared of my Father as he who knows which of all mankind shall deserve it best Verily I dare say that as many as shall wade through the red Sea of their bloud Luk 22.44 and the other deep waters of tribulations with Christ Act. 14.22 shall sit with him on twelve Thrones that is get the brightest Crown of glory or highest state among the twelve Tribes that is among the whole multitude or the compleat number of the Israel of God And though this is not meant of nor attainable in this life yet Salvation being in and through the Holy Ghost Rom. 14 17. and being rendred to man but according to his works which he hath done in this life an adequate proportion or supply of the Spirit proportionable unto his degree of future glory and capable to procure it is required in this life and must be got before death Besides not Peter and the other Apostles only but whoever is righteous shall shine as the Firmament and if any man should turn more men to righteousness than the greatest Apostles he should shine brighter than they as the Sun above the Stars in the kingdom of Heaven Dan. 12.3 Mat. 13.43 But because all Believers do not purifie themselves to that degree of brightness or holiness that some do therefore in the Fathers house which is the Holy Ghost as I have shewed before there be several mansions John 14.2 distinguishable from the state and the proportion of Faith the faithful shall be found with and not distinguished by any place assigned or state before-hand decreed for them as Babel teacheth so that any righteous man that will live by Faith indeed in going from Faith to Faith mounting up with wings as Eagles and never being weary of knocking asking watching and of waiting on the Lord Isa 40.31 Psal 84.7 may not only press into Zion the kingdom of God Luk. 16.16 but take by force even the highest seat that is in it as I doubt not many have done since the Apostles and shall do to the Worlds end That the Holy Ghost is sent and given during this life or whilst we are in the flesh and before we taste of death to them that prepare themselves for Salvation it appears from John 14.23 Rev. 3.20 where if we open the door hear Christs voice and keep his Word which is done during this life Christ will come by his Spirit and make his abode with us Behold I come quickly had not been repeated three divers times in the last chapter of all the Scriptures Rev. 22.7 12 20. if that coming were meant of Christs coming in Judgment for that being deferred already near a third part of the age of the World that is near two thousand years is far from a quick coming and so it is another coming by the Holy Ghost which St. John meant in that place And the regeneration or new birth of the Spirit John 3.3 5 8. is performed here upon Earth v. 12. And verily doth Christ say Mat. 16.28 Mark 9.1 Luk. 9.27 there be some here standing by which are not to taste of death till they see the Son of man come in his kingdom that is as Mark and Luke explain it the kingdom of God come with the power of the Spirit Act. 1.8 Luk 24.49 Which saying could not be true had it not been fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in many of the disciples that stood by when Christ spake it by their receiving power after that the Holy Ghost was come and sate upon them Act. 1.8 2.3 4. for all they which stood by Christ when he spake these words are dead so long ago and therefore so long before his coming to receive and deliver the kingdom to the Father viz. at the end of the World Luk. 19.15 1 Cor. 15.24 that no man can think but that since they did see the kingdom of God before they dyed the said coming of the Son of man in his said kingdom is before they and other disciples of Christ taste of death and not when all men are dead Whence John that doth not tarry till the day of Judgment comes tarried till God's kingdom came John 21.22 for he having received the revelation of Christ the Holy Ghost John 15.26 14.26 Luk. 17.30 not only upon that day with the rest but more particularly than some of