vvas his VVill and his VVord he Gloriously and Terribly appeared on Mount Sinai and to confirm the Gospel he first sent dovvn the Holy Ghost in cloven Tongues like Fire Acts 2.2 And then because that vvould not be a sufficient Evidence to the VVorld vvhat vvas done at Jerusalem altho there vvere then some of all Nations there then present yet notwithstanding for the farther confirmation to the World that God had sent Christ he therefore took from among the Gentiles a People for his Name at the first visiting the Gentiles by the Gospel Acts 15.14 Who through the conviction of the Spirit upon the word of the Disciples believed in Christ through their Word John 17.20 And the Word in this place Christ terms their Word because they received it from the Mouth of the Disciples and believed it God having then given them no other outward visible Testimony than what they had from the Disciples whose Word they believed and so were Baptized And afterwards the Holy Ghost was given to be in them according to the Promise of the Lord John 14.17 by which they were glorified ver 22. 1 Pet. 1.2 And became united to God by partaking of that one Spirit that the World might believe that God had sent Christ John 17.21,22,23 by the mighty Power Signs and Wonders that were seen among them These were those that were foreknown called justified and glorified Rom. 8.29,30 by their receiving the Holy Ghost to be in them by which their Bodies became the Temples of the Holy Ghost These were those that when they were brought before Governours and Kings were to take no thought how or what they should speak for it should be given them in that Hour what they should speak for the Spirit of the Father spake in them Mat. 10.19,20 For the Holy Ghost which was but with the Disciples was afterwards given to be in the Disciples and first Churches John 14.17 chap. 17.21 So then the World did not believe in Christ through the alone word of the Disciples but through the evident demonstration of the Spirit of God which was evidently and visibly mannest in the Elect by their Speaking with Tongues and working of Miracles so as the World thereby might have sufficient Evidence to believe that God had sent Christ And thus was the Prayer of Christ fulfilled in that the World might believe that God bad sent him John 17.21 And the Gospel being thus wonderfully establish'd Heb. 2.4 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things is they were first delivered and not as we first received them And the care of the Lord was such that although he commanded his Disciples to teach all Nations Mat. 28.19 yet notwithstanding they were for bidden by the Spirit to preach the Word in Asia and Bythinia Acts 16.6,7 till such time the Elect were called in that by their receiving the Holy Ghost to be in them they might be a Light to the World And afterwards the Word was preached in Asia and believed on there Rev. 1. And St. Paul saith That the Gospel had been preached to every Creature under Heauen Gol. 1.10,23 And that their sound went through the World Rom. 10.18 And that the World embraced the Faith in the Apostles time Col. 1.16 And their standing was as they continued in the Faith and were not moved away from the hope of the Gospel by which the promised Hope is attained And upon the perfermance of this condition God will never forsake any for as the Lord is the Author of Faith so to them that obey him he will be the Finisher Heb. 12.2 chap. 5.9 the word our in this Verse is not in the Greek And whereas St. Paul saith That none can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 This the Apostle spake when the Gospel was first publish'd at which time the Holy Ghost was given for the confirmation of the truth thereof But since the Christians have learned to say by rote that Christ is the Son of God without the assistance of the Holy Ghost And whereas the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can be know them because they are spiritually discerned That is whilst the natural Man gives himself to sensual delights as the pleasures and profits and other advantages of this life which in the 6th vers is termed the wisdom of this world he will not give himself a liberty to consider his ways to be wise And therefore such cannot receive the knowledge of the things of God because they are spiritually to be discerned that is by a considering Spirit or a Spirit of Consideration And therefore God often calls to Man to consider their ways Deut. 32.29 Job 34.27 Psal 50.22 Isa 1.3 Chap. 5.12 Ezek. 18.14,28 Hos 7.2 2 Tim. 2.7 Rev. 2.5 And also St. Paul saith 1 Cor. 3.18 If any Man among you seemeth to be wise let him become a Fool that he may be Wise For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God But by our forsaking the Vanities Pleasures and subtil Craftiness of the World is the way to become wise in Spiritual things And if ye resist the Devil he will flee from you draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you James 4.7,8 And David by making the Law of God his Meditation became wiser than all his Teachers Psal 119.99 And if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth and upbraideth not and it shall be given him James 1.5 If thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy Voice for Vnderstanding If thou seekest her as Silver and searchest for her as for hidden Treasures then shalt thou understand the Fear of the Lord Prov. 2.3,4,5 Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get wisdom and with thy getting get Vnderstanding She shall give to thine Head an Ornament of Grace a Crown of Glory shall she deliver to thee chap. 4.7,9 But the worldly wise men the Apostle saith will be taken in their own Craftiness 1 Cor. 3.19 And whereas the Apostle saith vers 7. Neither is he that planteth any thing neither is he that watereth but God that giveth the encrease This he spake upon the first publication of the Gospel upon the calling in of the Elect which great increase God gave by a fore-appointment of whom he said they knew God or rather are known of God Gal. 4.9 Because they were those that were fore-chosen For herein he had his reference to the then time which was the great Day of Salvation when the Elect were called in and a Door of Mercy set open to the World that they might take hold of the offered mercy in the common Salvation The which the Nations did and so became the Seed of Abraham But they that were made the Temple of God if any of them defiled the Temple of God him would God destroy 1 Cor. 3.16,17 For St.
if so be the Spirit of God dwell in them Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his vers 9. Now there was a twofold Indwelling of God in the first Churches by his Spirit That is there was first a complying frame of Spirit to the Will of God so as not to walk after the Will of the Flesh but after the Spirit which was in a holy Conversation without which no Man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 For if we have not thus the Spirit of Christ we are none of his for it is required that the same Mind be in us as was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2.5 Therefore it is not the Seed after the Flesh to whom the Promise belongs which live after the Will of the Flesh and of the Mind whether of the natural or the adopted Seed of Israel they are not the Seed to whom the Promise is made but the Seed in Christ and Isaac both of Jew and Gentile which walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit so as to have their Wills brought into subjection unto the Will of God are the Seed to whom the Promise belongs For to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace vers 6. For the Kingdom of God and Christ must be within us Luke 17.21 if we are his For Christ must have the ruling Power in the Heart And God also saith Give me thy Heart And when we give to God and Christ the ruling Power in our Heart then is his Kingdom within us And if Christ be in us the body is dead because of Sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness vers 10. Thus the true Believer is dead to the World that he may live to God And this ruling power Christ had in the hearts of his Disciples before he gave them the Holy Ghost And likewise all that did receive the Holy Ghost to be in them for the confirmation of the Gospel Christ had first the ruling power in their hearts and they yielded to him to be his Servants and then were they Baptized and thus they were prepared before they could receive the Holy Ghost to be in them by which they were then glorified and had power to speak with Tongues and work Miracles and Prophesy and understand Prophesies for the Spirit was to teach them all things John 14.26 And so by all it was then known who were the Elect And these were those whom God made to differ 1 Cor. 4.7 But some through negligence and heedlesness the Prince of Darkness makes to differ they following his dictates and so corrupt thâ—… way and when they have accustomed themselve◠〈◊〉 do evil then it is they cannot learn to do well Aâ—… some make themselves to differ by taking heed to their Ways according to the Word of God And so by considering their ways they become wise Psal 119. â— For God hath promised to bless such endeavours Prov. 3.6 For the common drawings of God are the Invitations of his Word and the good motions of his Spirit But the fore-mentioned were chosen according to the Counsel of the Will of God by the which Will they were sanctified Heb. 10.10 And received the Holy Ghost to be in them And Christ said the World could not receive the Holy Ghost because they knew him not John 14.17 For the World then lay in Wickedness and therefore they could not then receive him because they knew him not and were not prepared for the receiving of him 2dly God did not intend to give the World the Holy Ghost to be in them but to be with all such as will keep his Way And therefore Christ prayed for his Disciples and first Churches which believed on him through the Word 〈◊〉 â—he Disciples as he did not for the World but that 〈◊〉 World through them might believe that God had sent him John 17.21 And therein he prayed for the World and by the evident Witness of the Holy Ghost in them the World did believe and the Nations embraced the Faith by laying hold of the offered Mercy in the common Salvation And Christ did but promise the Remnant which were his Father's Sheep before and given to him that he would be with them to the end of the World and that he would send them another Comforter which should abide with them for ever John 14.16 But he doth not say In them for ever And he will be with all while they keep the Way But the Apostle knowing that the Holy Ghost would 〈◊〉 remain in their succeeding Generations in this time 〈◊〉 â—efore he saith Prophesie should fail and Tongues they â—ould cease and Knowledge it should vanish away 1 Cor. 13.8 Which came to pass when the Nations came to have no Love to the Truth but took pleasure in Unrighteousness Then God gave them up to strong deâ—…sions that they should believe Lyes 2 Thes 2.10,11,12 〈◊〉 he did Israel for Sin to blindness of Mind But Love and Charity among the Faithful was ever to remain as Love to God in their obedient walking according to knowledge and Charity to their Neighbour For Faith Hope and Charity were the Graces that would abide 1 Cor. 13.13 with them that will be faithful And the Apostle saith The time would come when they would not endure found Doctrine but after their own Lust shall turn away their Ears from the Truth For the generality of the World chose to themselves false Teachers before God gave them up to delusions 2 Tim. 4.3 For a Believer is no longer a Believer than a Righteous Man is a Righteous Man in the day that he wilfully commits Iniquity Ezek. 33.12 But they which live holily thereby bring forth Fruit to the Spirit But the Eternal Life that Christ gave to his Sheep which were his Father 's before was given to their Persons and Posterity and to every Believer while they continue in Believing Salvation is to be had according to his Word in the way of their Obedience For every Tree which bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire Mat. 3.10 And it is a meer Stratagem of the Prince of Darkness in perswading any Man God will not punish according to his Word that was the way he beguiled Ewe and so he doth the generality of Mankind IV. A Twofold Indwelling of Christ by his Spirit in the first Churches AND whereas St. Paul saith Rom. 8.11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead 〈◊〉 also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Here the Apostle writes to the elect Church among the Romans who were then called and justified and glorified by receiving the Holy Ghost to be in them 1 Pet. 1.11,12 But these had not the Promise from Christ that none should pluck them out of his Hand That Promise did appertain to the Disciples which were of that Remnant
the Scriptures are the rule of Faith And they being so the promised Reward is to be had by all that take hold of the offered Mercy according to the Conditions as it is there tendred And so not only the Elect but all believers will be partakers of the promised Mercy But in this latter Confession of Faith 1655. There they believe that Christ dyed only for the Elect. And that Faith comes from the gracious efficacious operation of the Holy Ghost which Illuminates their Souls and carries them to relie on the Mercy of God to be applied by the merits of Jesus Christ Yet they also in this Confession hold that good works are so necessary to the faithful that they cannot come to the Kingdom of God without doing of them And that they must keep the Commandments But tho' in this latter Confession they believe that their Faith in Christ Jesus doth come through the efficacious work of the Spirit of God in them the which is not unlikely because more of the gracious Influence of the Spirit is with them by reason they were to withstand all the fury of the Enemy and to continue to bear their Testimony against all the Superstitious and Idolatrous Worship of the Beast And also to walk in a holy and exemplary Conversation that thereby they might be a Light to the World As for Sins of Ignorance Sins of Infirmity Sins of Surprisal will not be laid to their charge they being kept from wilful and presumptuous Sins which is the great Transgression Psal 19.13 And as in their Articles they say This Church cannot be quite destroyed but that it will always remain This being according to what the Lord hath promised them they being the Church that the Lord prepared a place in the Wilderness and therefore they are of that Remnant or Sheep which were his Father 's before and given to him To whom he promised That none should pluck them out of his Hand John 10.27,28 Those are they to whom the Five Talents were given that according to their Day they might have ability to stand So that if any among them have at any time fallen into a loose or prophane Conversation or adhered to the Beast we may with St. John say They were not of them although they coinhabited with them in the Wilderness in the place the Lord prepared for them because they went out from them For had they been of that Fold to whom Christ made the forementioned Promise they would have continued with them 1 John 2.19 But Christ saith He hath Sheep of another Fold that are not to be brought into that Fold until such time there is but one Shephard and then there shall be but one Fold and one Shepherd Joh. 10.16 And that will be when the Lord again comes For tho' there was at the first publication of the Gospel a peculiar People chosen from among the Gentiles to the Praise of hiâ— Name yet at that time there was many Shepherds But those peculiar People of the Gentiles had not â— promise that none of them should be pluckt out of hiâ— hand and St. Paul cautions them fearing least the Serpent should beguile any of them 2 Cor. 11.3 But the Vaudois as well as we have lost the righâ— apprehension of this World which is to come thâ— knowledge of which was as a Light that shineth in â— dark place untill the Day dawn and the Day-Star 〈◊〉 rise in their Hearts which is an inherent perfect Righteousness will then be given when the Lord agaiâ— comes the which crowns Life to the Soul not onâ—… to the raised Saints but to Israel Isa 60.21 Thy Peopâ—… shall be all Righteous And also to the living Believer thâ—… longs for the Lords appearing to all such he will giâ—… the Crown of Righteousness at that Day 2 Tim. 4.8 The which things St Peter's care was they should always have in remembrance after his Decease 2 Pet. 1.15 He fearing least at any time they should let them slip which since for these many Years is come to pass they having lost the knowledge of these things But God having abounded in his Love to them in electing and forechosing them without their foreseen willing and running as he did likewise at the first publication of the Gospel choose a peculiar People from among the Gentiles to the praise of his Name Therefore the Vaudois as well as us by this their last Confession have thought that God had denied Man the freedom of Will to will his own good the which is quite contrary to what they held Two Hundred Years before the ancientest Acts they now have were made which were those in 1â—00 for Two Hundred Years before that time Claudius Bishop of Turin and of the Vallies writ sharply against all the Errors of the Church of Rome This Bishop maintained the Doctrine of St. Augustine concerning Grace as the late Author of the History of the Vaudois saith in Page 7. And Augustine tells us lib. de precat merit chap. 18. That it was the great care of every Orthodox Teacher in his time to take heed least they did so defend Grace as to deny Freewill and least they should so defend Freewill as to deny Grace And a good care it was and further the Author saith Neither is there I think to be found one of the ancient accounted Orthodox that hath maintained in the strict sence opposed that God commanded Men what they could not do with the common helps that he affordeth But all abhorred it as an Opinion laying high accusation upon God till many Years after Augustine altho' Augustine did fall into mistakes himself as to this point he not understanding how the Election ran And some of the Protestant Christians not apprehending the difference between the Eternal Life that Christ gave to his Sheep that were his Fathers before and given to him that unto them the Eternal Life was given to continue to their Persons and Posterity But the Eternal Life that Christ gave to every true Believer was no otherwise than whilst they did remain such they should never come into Condemnation for a Believer according to the Gospel is no longer a Believer than he yields to Christ his sincere Obedience Rom. 6.16 St Paul said to them that had embraced the Faith so as to yield Obedience unto Christ Know ye not that Christ is in you except you are Reprobates 2 Cor 13.5 That is except ye have rebelled by relinquishing your Obedience and so are become Reprobates as Israel formerly had done and therefore said of them Reprobate Silver shall Men call them because the Lord hath rejected them Jer. 6.30 which rejection was for their Sin And the Prophet speaking of the Body of the People that had wilfully Transgressed saith All our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags and our Iniquities like the Wind have taken us away Jsa 64.6 And the People of Gods Curse to Judgment will be them that will wilfully persist to do the thing which the
be laid for the Foundation of the World to come at which Foundation Christ was figuratively slain in the Paschal Lamb. But was fore-ordained to be slain before the Foundation of the World Which Foundation is that before mentioned and therefore God proved and tryed Abraham to see whether he would offer his only Son as a Sacrifice to him before he made him that Promise that in his Seed all the Nations of the Earth should be Blessed Gen. 22.16,17,18 Rev. 11.15 Which Promise will be made good in time to come and then will be put in Subjection to Christ the World to come Heb. 2.1 Dan. 7.13,14.26,27 At which Foundation the Works of those unbelieving Jews were finished when they refused to go to fight for the Land of Canaan And from that Foundation after that miscarriage God elected a Remnant And they are those of whom it is said they were chosen from the Foundation And the peculiar People chosen from among the Gentiles which likewise had the peculiar calling and also were to receive the Holy Ghost to be in them which was the anointing of the Spirit whereby they spake with Tongues and wrought Miracle that thereby they might be also a light to the World these were they of whom it is said they were chosen before the Foundation of the World which Foundation is Israel And God chose them as to matter of choice and liking before the Body of Israel which were the Foundation because they had wilfully disobeyed him but as to the matter of Time long after Whereas the Apostle saith They were chosen in Christ before the World was That is before the World was which is now to come in which they are to receive the promised Blessing And as to what God said concerning Jocob and Esau before they had done Good or Evil was only that the Elder should Serve the Younger and not that God did ever hate his Creature until such time as they wilfully disobeyed him But these words concerning Jacob and Esau have a far other meaning then what we have hitherto apprehended But this and the other mistaken places of Scripture by which the World has been cast into a mist of Darkness I have now by Gods assistance by laying the Scriptures together made the true meaning of the word appear as may be found in my Book lately Published But St. Peter fairly warns us That in St. Paul's Epistles are things hard to be understood Which those that were unlearned in the Scriptures did wrest as they also did some other Scriptures to their own destruction 2. Pet. 3.16 But the Scriptures rightly understood and believed are able to make us wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Whereas St. James saith Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the World Acts. 15.18 From which words it is clear that all Gods works were not known to him before the beginning of the World And that is was then the works that properly belong to God that were known to him And that the beginning of the World the Apostle here speaks of must have its chief reference to the beginning or Foundation of the World that was laid in the Seed of Abraham when God brought them out of the Land of Egypt to place them in the Heart of the Earth for the beginning or Foundation of the World to come as by his forementioned words doth appear and not that he had his reference to the beginning of the Creation of the World or the beginning of the World in Adam after the Fall For the Apostle speaking how God did at first visit the Gentiles to take out of them a People for his Name Acts. 15.14 Which were them to whom the Holy Ghost was given to be in them vers 8. And they to whom the Holy Ghost was given were to be a light to the World that the world might believe that God had sent Christ John 17.21 After which 't is said he will return and Build again the Tabernacle of David which is Fallen down Acts. 15.16 The which will be when the Lord returns Whom the Heavens must receive until the times of the Restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the Mouth of all his Prophets since the World began Acts. 3.21 And then in his following words he tells us who the beginning of this forementioned world were That it was the Fathers in the Wilderness vers 22. For Moses truly said unto the Fathers a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Bretheren him shall ye hear in all things the which will be when the Lord again comes And then will be Israel's Glory and then the World that is to come will be in Subjection unto Christ Heb. 2.5 And these are the works St. James had his chief reference to when he said known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the World Acts 15.18 Which beginning of the World was as is aforesaid And the Eternal purpose spoken of Eph. 3.11 Only reacheth forward to the Eternity that lies before us As Christ in time became the Author of Eternal Salvation And as in time he promised Eternal Life And whereas St. Paul saith God worketh all things after the counsel of his own will He here had his reference as St. James had to the great works which properly belong to God As the gift of his Son and in electing some setting a door of Mercy open to others And in determining the great Glory should be for the heirs of the World to come For the word All in Scripture doth not include the whole And as for the works of the Devil and the evil works of Man they do not belong to God therefore he ordained Punishments for them after they fell as I have elsewhere proved And whereas St. Paul saith Eph. 3.8.9 That I should preach among the Gentises the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God That is at the beginning of the World which was laid in the Twelve Tribes who were laid for the beginning or Foundation of the World to come They did not see how the Gentiles should be called in as to become heirs with them This great Mystery was all a long hid in God from them so as they as little understood it as the Old World did And tho' God told Abraham he should be Father of many Nations and the Prophets declared the Gentiles should be called in yet it is no where declared they should be brought in by preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ through the Gospel I have here made so long a digression altho I have something more to the former Subject to say the which I could not go on with till I had given some light to the true meaning of these mistaken places That thereby I might make plain the way for what I have yet further to say 3. That is we are
chosen from among Israel John 10.27,28,29 Of which Remnant were the Elect that should never be deceived by the Beast nor false Prophet And they are the Foundation which standeth sure But the forementioned which were the Elect among the Gentiles were cleared from their past Sins Rom. 3.25 by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness and therefore he saith Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect It is God that justifieth Rom. 8.33 But after they were thus cleared from their past Sins they were to walk in newness of Life and so are all And therefore when he found the Elect to walk disorderly and were guilty of Sin he 〈◊〉 not sparing to charge them with it and reprove them for it like as he did others Gal. 3.1 But he saith vers 35 36 37 38 39. He was perswaded that neither tribulation nor distress nor death nor life nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate them from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus But in the forementioned Verses he mentions not Sin knowing that wilful Sin will seperate them from God therefore the Apostle saith vers 11. And if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the Dead dwell in you that is continue or remain in them And accordingly he saith to the Elect Church of Corinth chap. 11.3 Fearing lest the Serpent should beguile them as he beguiled Eve And then their mortal Bodies will not be quickned again 〈◊〉 his Spirit being in them but if they did not â—…ve the Holy Ghost Ephes 4.13 thereby to cause him to withdraw then the same Spirit would raise up their mortal Bodies to have a part in the first Resurrection and to partake of the glory â—hen the Lord again comes Rev. 20.4,5 Ephes 2.7 〈◊〉 it is also by the same Spirit and Power of God that all that has done either good or bad shall be raised up at the last Judgment For Christ saith All that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Dannation John 5.28,29 But all that remain faithful to the Lord Jesus longing for his appearing Though they have not the Holy Ghost in them but with them they shall likewise have their part in the first Resurrection and receive the Crown of Righteousness in that day 2 Tim. 4. ver 8. But the Lord speaking of the first Resurrection mentions it very darkly John 5.25 because he spake to the Jews that were to be left to blindness so as seeing they might see and not perceive and hearing they might hear and not understand Isa 6.9,10 And likewise it is said the Lord spake to them in Parables and without a Parable spake he not unto them Mat. 13.34 And therefore the Lord also speaks to them darkly about the first Resurrection vers 25. Verily verily I say unto you the Hour is coming and now is when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live These words may have a twofold tendency in having some reference to the first Churches which had the peculiar calling and thereby brought in which was the Hour that then was but whereas the Lord saith the Hour is coming that of certain is the time when he again should come at which time the dead Bodies of the Saints shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and live And also then dead Israel 〈◊〉 both see him and hear his Voice and live And 〈◊〉 these words had their chief reference to the time 〈◊〉 Judgment Power and Honour is given to the Son is evident by the 22 23. Verses But according as the Evangelist saith So spake the Lord to them in Parable that they did not understand it Mat. 13.34 And thâ—… it is the Saints that rise in the first Resurrection 〈◊〉 all that have done good shall afterwards arise to the Resurrection of Life And Israel when judged will not be condemned for that they ignorantly committed against Christ for he prayed for them Luke 23.24 Blessed be the great and glorious God who hath enabled a weak Worm to vindicate his Justice to the praise of his Name and the comfort of his Creatures In that it is now made clearly appear the Judge of all the World will do right who publisheth his Praise by the weak things of this World that thereby all the Glory may be attributed to himself who is God blessed for ever and ever V. Concerning Election ELection doth not always secure the Elect from falling off but by God's electing some it was thereby to accomplish the Counsel of the Will of God as to what he had before determined And therefore accordingly he gave to one five Talents to the other two and to the other but one but every Man had given him according to his ability Matth. 25.15 And each having given them according to their ability that they might according to their day be capable to stand But them that was of the Remnant of Israel of whom the Disciples were they did not only stand by their Election but by a Promise from the Lord That none should â—…ck them out of his Hand John 10.28,29 But â—ikewise both the Disciples and first Churches received 〈◊〉 Holy Ghost to be in them whereby they were â—…ed to God by one Spirit and so beame a Light to the World and thereby the Prayer of Christ was fulfilled in that the World through them might believe that God had sent him John 17.21 Which accordingly â—…llowed for the Nations embraced the Faith and so â—…came the Seed of Abraham But the Elect were to Withstand all the Fury of the Adversaries and therefore had the more Talents given them for on them was shed forth the Holy Ghost abundantly Tit. 3.6 But if they did grieve the Holy Spirit of God whereby they were Sealed to the Day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 For if they sinned wilfully after they had received the knowledge of the Truth there remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation Heb. 10.26 27. But all that have a true Heart separate from an evil Conscience may draw nigh to God in full assurance of Faith that they shall find acceptance through the Blood of the Lord Jesus and they in a more special manner who were fore-chosen to it vers 22. Now these having the greater Light if they fell away fell under the greater Condemnation And that some of the Elect did fall away that was not secured by a Promise from Christ is certain by what St. John saith That if they had been of them they would have continued with them 1 John 2.19 Therefore they were not of that Remnant but it is clear they were of the Elect because the Elect then were known by their Speaking with Tongues and by the Gifts that were given them by which God made them
Angels of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 Gal. 1.8 And we were to receive nothing in contradiction to Moses and the Prophets Luke 16.31 But God will carry on his work according to his word As for any to expect the Spirit to be poured out upon them to prepare them for the coming of the Lord is a great Mistake and the Prince of Darkness would gladly perswade any to believe that for by that belief he keepeth them from preparing themselves that thereby they may be taken at unawares for Satan has many Wiles to deceive poor Souls For the Christians will not have the Spirit poured out upon them before the Lord comes to prepare them no more than Israel had when the Lord first came for if so the Lord would not have commanded them to be upon their watch lest coming suadenly he should find them sleeping XIX Christ saying all Power was given of the Father Explained WHereas Christ said after he arose Matth. 28.18 All power is given to me in heaven and in earth That was he then had paid the purchase of it and he was then as really assured of it as though he had it in Possession having the Promise of God for it And it is the Scriptures usual way of speaking to mention things that are to come as though they were then present Accordingly God said to Abraham I have made thee a Father of many Nations at which time he was not Father of one Child But God having promised it was certainly to come to pass and therefore spoken as then done Gen. 17.5 Rom. 4.17 According to which Christ spake for it is the World to come that is to be put in subjection unto him Heb. 2.5 And when the seventh Angel soundeth then it is the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 When he hath taken to him his own great power verse 17. I hope the Christians will consider these great Truths that they may not be found upon a false bottom For God doth not now compel but chalk out the way and leaves Man to chuse or refuse to obey But in the day of his Power he will again pour forth his Spirit for the first Churches had but a foretast of the earnest of that Inheritance which his People will partake of when the Lord again comes World without end And then his People Israel will be made a willing People Ps 110.3 When he removeth the Iniquity of that Land in one day in that day shall they call every Man under his Vine and under his Fig-tree Zach. 3.9,10 Then it is the two Olive-trees will give out of themselves the Golden Oyl of Grace and Wisdom into the Candlestick that is all of Gold Chap. 4.2 And then the Lord will make his Church a glorious Church without Spot or Wrinkle Eph. 5.27 But now the best of Saints are not without Sin 1 John 1.8 I thought at this time to have given a full Satisfaction who these two Olive-trees were who in the New Testament are termed two Witnesses who all along have accompanied the Church or Woman in the Wilderness who according to Promise had never been deceived by Beast or false Prophet And these two Witnesses always accompanying her therefore said to be cloathed in Sackcloath in bearing part of her Afflictions with her as it was formerly said of Christ that in all his Peoples Afflictions he was Afflicted Isaiah 63.9 And also it is said the holy Spirit may be grieved For these two Olive-trees which in this time are said to be the two Witnesses Rev. 11.3,4 and also elsewhere in the Scripture they are often so called and these two Witnesses we may readily believe can do all those Miracles Cited in the 5 and 6 Verses whereas it is said in the 8 Verse their dead Bodies Now this being spoken of the Remnant to whom the Lord promised to be with to the end of the World and that he would send them another Comforter that should abide with them for ever as is at large in the Woman Cloathed with the Sun prov'd And when these Persons become so opprest by the Beast as Scattered Imprisoned and Slain these two Witnesses cannot then by them bear their Testimony against the Evil of Sin and the Pernicious Idolatrous Worship of the Beast and thus the two Witnesses are said to be dead when their Bodies are thus Slain so as they cannot by them bear their Testimony whose dead Bodies were again to stand upon their Feet As to what I have here but hinted concerning them to give some Light herein I thought to have fully proved and to have made clearly appear who this fore mentioned Beast is But having many other things to answer my time would not permit me at this present O that we had but a Heart to consider the greater Truths of God whose Faithfulness cannot fail according to his Word for which blessed be his Name World without end Amen FINIS