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
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
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
shall know when I stretch forth my hand that I am â—he Lord saith he Exod. 7.5 and whether men will or no they shall give glory to God 1 Sam. 6.5 and acknowledge that their breath and their ways are in his hand Dan. 5.23 that he rules in the kingdom of men v. 21. 4.25 32. and that no Evil whether against a Nation or against a man only Job 24.29 is done and sent but by him Amos 3.6 Read the Scriptures and see there how all those Kings that followed the way of Jeroboam knew God no better than he and their People for their sake were severely punished and how Manasseb having paid dear for his ignorance came to understand at last and know that the Lord was God 2 Chron. 33.11 12 13. and thereupon was restored again from Captivity to a flourishing State and a glorious Kingdom Nay the most prosperous King that ever was Solomon found true by experience that when a Prince forgets God and goes a whoring after another Worship of God than that which is agreable to that in Spirit and truth Judg. 2.17 then his anger waxeth hot and he doth deliver him into his Enemies hands and stirreth up not only Adversaries against him 1 Kings 11.8 9 10 14 23. but also his own Subjects who lift their hands against him v. 26. 12.18 whilst those whom he trusted to help him not but forsake him 2 Chron. 11.4 for this thing is done of me and neither understanding strength nor counsel against me can avail you saith the Lord Prov. 21.30 In vain is safety hoped for from the hills and from the abundance of strong holds Jer. 3.23 In vain are Garrisons kept and a new Army raised for all will work together to the destruction of those that know and believe not God Rom. 8.28 At the presence of the Ark the waters of Jordan were divided and heapt up the walls of Jericho fell down and the heart of all the Kings of the Canaanites melted before Israel whilst they believed in God Josh 5.1 Judg. 2.7 but when they had forgot him at the presence of the Ark they whose heart melted before receive vigour and courage and Israel that shouted is overcome and smitten 1 Sam. 4.5 7 9. and that when they fled to it as to their Anchora sacra or their sure refuge And because men of the World are very unwilling to acknowledge that it is the immediate hand of God the first time they are smitten and attribute the cause to some fault or accident as the men of Benhadad when they had been defeated 1 Kings 20.23 who said their Gods being Gods of the hills have given them this advantage in the hills but if we fight with them in the plain or the Valleys we shall be stronger than they therefore God to make them know that it is he that doth it brings as upon Benhadad upon them the second time an entire destruction Sir There is no greater sin laid to the charge of a Prince who is born in and pretends to the Covenant of God than that of his ignorance and ungratefulness to God which is properly the sin and way of Jeroboam who thought by establishing in his Kingdom a worship altogether repugnant to the true worship of God 1 Kings 12.28 John 4.24 to preserve it for himself and for his Posterity but lost it and destroyed his Posterity by it The same thing got Gideon by the Ephod which he made for it became saith Esdras Judg. 8.27 such snare unto his house that his threescore and ten Sons were all at once caught in it ch 9.5 and such an evil Spirit of misunderstanding as is now between your Highness and the English People was sent between his Bastard and those who had chose him King v. 23. that they carried it not far but were soon after so fast entangled in the same snare that they utterly cut off and destroyed one another By the revolts of Subjects the Princes sins against God are commonly punished and nothing makes Princes more potent and absolute than when they themselves serve God their King and Master in Truth Do so then rise from darkness to light convert your self Sir to the true God of all flesh and when you are converted set up a strong purpose to promote his Spiritual Kingdom with all your power and those very Enemies that would not have you to reign over them shall be your Friends and shall as they did before at your former return meet you with Acclamations and become your dutiful Subjects and continue such as long as you continue dutiful to your Maker God give you understanding that you may serve him and live as it was the prayer of a wise King for himself Psal 119.34 144. so it shall be mine for you and that the Earth may be full of the knowledge of the Lord Isa 11.9 under you if you outlive and succeed his Majesty The Reader is desired before he reads this Book to correct it as followeth viz. PAg. 4. l. 13. for and the old read and that the old Pag. 31. l. 18. for and I cannot pray read and I can pray Pag. 32. l. 8. for availeth read availing Pag. 38. l. 1 for impudientes read impedientes Pag. 49. l. 6. for mirarles read miracles Pag. 104. l. 20. for these read this Pag. 106. l. 9. for undestand read understand Pag 108. l. 5. for also the Column is very low read also though the Column is as low Pag 108. l. 7 8 9. for whereas the Air flowing then laterally hath no such pressure upon the Stagnum as it would in still weather if it had any at all read yet the Air flowing then laterally ought to have no pressure on the Stagnum which I prove c. Pag 108. l. 24 for the Air would likewise abate read the Air ought likewise to lose Pag. 108. l. 26. for of the descent read all the descent Pag. 117. l. 23. for disjoyns the Fluids read divides the Fluid Pag. 124. l. 8. for casc read case Pag. 126. l. 25. for in D C A read in D C E. Pag. 149. l. 18. for said an Author read saith a Modern Author Pag. 212. l. 6. for hem read him THE ETERNAL GOSPEL Once more Testified unto and Vindicated c. GOD forbid that I should revile or censure the least of the Ministers of God Mat. 18.10 as some will with the Vicar of West-ham pag. 22. be apt to say I do for then I could not but fear some such punishment as fell upon those Children who reviled Elisha 2 Kings 2.25 But God forbid also that I should look upon some men as God's Ministers because they count themselves such Job 32.21 22. for then I must needs be sitting in the same shadow of death ignorance of God John 17.3 and in danger to lye down at last in the same sorrow Isa 50.11 as they that know God only by hear-say and worship him in shews with their mouth and lips The means to avoid mistakes
for then not only the gift of Miracles to which and to their skill in Humane Learning got without Education he seems chiefly to confine the Apostolical gift but all other gifts also which do infallibly wait upon that of the Spirit such as wisdom and knowledge 1 Cor. 12.8 are removed and taken away from that Sect in God's wrath Revel 2.5 rather than wisdom as the wise Vicar measuring it by his own shallow brains and dull fancy as shall be shewed in its place saith God did suspend the same that Church becomes desolate and remains according to the Prophecy of Daniel 9.27 and the construction thereof by St. Matthew 24.15 and St. Luke 21.20 compassed instead of Christ's presence by the Holy Ghost with abominable armies and companies of Church-men Only as there are divers administrations and gifts of the same Divine Spirit 1 Cor 12.4 6. such as wisdom and knowledge faith healing miracles tongues prophecy and discerning of Spirits which are not all to be found in one member or Paul is much mistaken v. 6 29 30. so I must here further declare for Master Vicar and all his fellow Watchmen that though one man doth not do all the same operations that all the Apostles did yet if he doth some of them he may pretend to the same Spirit the Apostles had for if the ear shall say because I am not the eye I am not of the body is it not of it therefore v. 16. that is if he that hath but the discerning of Spirits should say because I am not a Teacher or a Prophet I have none of the same extraordinary Spirit as the Prophets have hath he not therefore been made to drink of the same Spirit v. 13. for if the whole spiritual body were prophecy where were the gift of knowledge and discerning of Spirits v. 17. and if they were all Prophets or all workers of Miracles where were the several members and operations that constitute or make up the said spiritual body v. 19. Thus do I from St. Paul speak here for Master Vicar and will yet further instance St. Paul a chief Apostle Gal. 2.6 7. during the time of whose preaching and stay at Antioch arrived certain Prophets one of which did prophesie that there should be a great dearth or famine throughout the World Act. 11.26 27 28. to whom the Disciples who were doubtless directed by Paul and by Barnabas gave credit and Paul himself though he had a greater gift of the Spirit did not say or object that he wondred that his inferiour should have this thing revealed to him when he knew nothing of it And elsewhere that same Prophet foretold Paul what Paul himself foresaw not in his own case Act. 21.10 or he had what he did not foreseen that he had been set at liberty if he had not appealed to Caesar Act. 25.26 26.31 32. to wit that he should be taken at Jerusalem and thus saith the Holy Ghost said then that certain Prophet for so the Scripture calls him ch 21.11 Whence I ask the Vicar since St. Paul could pretend to as good a share at least of the same holy Spirit as that certain Prophet did why did not the Holy Ghost reveal the same things to him Because though he had knowledge and understood mysteries as he was an Apostle yet he was not a Prophet for are all Prophets saith he 1 Cor. 12.29 30. are all workers of Miracles as all are not Apostles v. 28. so I cannot work all the said other gifts in me it being God alone that doth work them all and note in all and not in one man v. 6. Likewise I ask if he that hath the gift to discern the Spirit of the Vicar and some portion of knowledge hath not the gift of Miracles hath he not therefore the same Spirit as the Apostles But what say you Vicar to what Paul himself doth stile yet a more excellent way than Miracles and Prophecy and the best of the said gifts viz. Charity v. 31. 13.2 is that ceased in your Church I dare say you are not willing to acknowledge it and so like the Chief Priests Mat. 21.25 26. you are hedg'd in on both sides for if you say that this more extraordinary gift is not ceased in the Church neither by your Argument are the other gifts also which are counted by St. Paul not so excellent as this ceased as you teach from it and if you say that it is ceased there then judge whether you are still a faithful Church for do they believe in Christ that omit one of the first and chiefest of his precepts Mat. 22.39 John 13.34 1 John 3.11 and take quite another way than that which he hath shewed them And this last your Argument that he must do the same things who pretends to the same Spirit the Apostles had proves further or you must yield that it is of no force and validity at all which dilemma as likewise the other your great Learning could not foresee and prevent your being now put to them for the Apostles were sent to do what Signs and Miracles No sure but to preach and win or gain Souls by teaching them the way to their conversion 1 Cor. 9.19 Mat. 28.19 Mark 16.15 This they did in all places but preached in many places nay they convinced many and Dionysius himself and established Churches without working of Miracles as may be seen by their Acts and their Miracles were not always wrought to convince the gainsayers of the Faith which you say was the reason and the occasion of them since they wrought them sometimes in their private Meetings by night amongst the faithful as for instance at Troas Act. 20.7 8 9 10. Now you will grant that it is incumbent upon the Church to preach exhort and win Souls 2 Tim. 4.12 and you pretend you do it so that if you do it not you are not a faithful Church but burthensom hypocrites inutilia hujus pondera terrae and if you do it you do the works of the Apostles therefore by your Argument have the same Spirit they had and so it is not ceased but it is your Argument that ceaseth to be in force if that can be said to cease which had never any true existence but in a false and erroneous fancy He that winneth Souls is wise Prov. 11.30 Dan. 12.3 wisdom is by Paul counted the first gift of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.8 31. If therefore you win some Souls as it is pretended that some of your number do or else what reason is there why you should be imposed upon a Christian Nation as necessary to them have you not a greater gift of the Spirit than Miracles which are according to Paul v. 29. but the fourth in order and do you not do a greater thing than Miracles and so as great a thing as any of the Apostles He that hath as much faith as a grain of Mustard-seed may do all wonders Mat. 17.20 and yet witness Paul 1
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
say the Gentiles shall have an inheritance among the Tribes of Jacob. And the remnant saith Micah 5.4 not some few of that remnant shall return and stand and seed in the strength or the power in the name and majesty of the Lord and shall abide And in the latter days the children of Israel none excepted shall return and fear or serve the Lord and David or Christ Ezech. 34.24 their King Hos 3 5. which cannot be but by the power the Holy Ghost gives And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of Priests and an holy Nation said Moses Exod. 19.6 1 Pet. 2.5 9. to wit by the true Unction whereof that of Exod. 30.23 30. to anoint the Priests withall was but a type and figure And the type of the true bloud of the Lamb the bloud of Beasts being forbidden to both the people and Priests equally shews that all the Christian people may eat of the antitype Christ's vivifying and health-restoring Spirit John 6.55 63. Mal. 4.2 equally with their chief Priests the Apostles and Prophets And to you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness rise with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 And if Christ doth give his flesh which is the bread from Heaven not therefore his Humane flesh which he had from the Virgin John 3.6 8.23 Rom. 8.6 the true and the living bread the inspiration of God Gen. 2.7 for the life of the whole world John 6.33 50 51. the whole world may eat of it and all they that will live indeed for ever by him must actually and really as well as the Apostles eat and drink or feed on him v. 53 55 57 58. And if he saved St. Paul and those he meant were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise when they believed Ephes 1.13 by the renewing of the Image of God within them Tit. 3.5 how can any believing man be saved otherwise since that Salvation is still the same and by the same means that is through the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 and that no man can enter into the kingdom of God that is live in righteousness and receive the peace and joy passing all understanding which God doth reward it with except he be born of the Spirit that enables him John 3.5 Rev. 12.11 The body of man cannot live out its animal life without natural Spirits Jam. 2.26 and shall the internal man be made to live for ever an uninterrupted life without the Eternal Spirit of God that gave him Nischmat chajim breath of lives Gen. 2.7 and not of one single life as the Translator turns it from whence he doth not saith Christ live by earthly bread alone Mat. 4.4 but by the bread from Heaven Verbum ab ore Dei the comforting refreshing and vivifying Spirit which is the Fathers house into which Christ receives men as appears by his saying that he would come again to receive them to himself to the place he should be in John 14.2 3. for he coming again to them by the Comforter v. 18. and the gift thereof being the result of his coming and the only performance and effect of his promise that he would bring them into the same place he should be in it must also be since Christ cannot lye the thing and place he promised to be in and to receive them into and this place also being by the account which he gave to Thomas whither he went to prepare a place for them v. 6. with the Father it follows from thence that the Holy Ghost is likewise the Fathers house and the Heaven within us Luk. 17.21 where Christ is in the Father and we in him John 14.20 where he is v. 3. 17.24 and where all are together one with the Father and Christ ch 17.21 From all which it most clearly and manifestly appears that the Holy Ghost is given to all the faithful and the distinction of the Vicar in the gift of it to wit his ordinary and extraordinary gift appearing no where at all the Scriptures speaking but of one sort of Spirit given nay teaching that God being no respecter of persons Act. 10.34 puts no such difference at all between believers ch 15.9 in every Nation he that worketh righteousness being accepted with him ch 10.35 and receiving his good gift Mat. 7.11 Luk. 11.13 even as the Apostles Act. 10.47 15.8 can any impartial man that hath his eyes in his head Eccl. 2.14 not see this and deny that the Lords Bishops having been fairly tryed and condemned by as good men as their Peers and having had as good Law as the Statutes or Canons of Scripture could afford them the gift of the Holy Ghost continues still in Gods Church and say that it is ceased and that no man ever since 400 years after the times of the Apostles hath right to pretend to it But if some still contend for their ordinary Spirit thus holding such Gospel as the Saints have not preached Gal. 1.8 let them have it in Gods name Rev. 22.11 for so instead of being reformed to the Image of God that created man not after two Images to wit an ordinary and extraordinary one for God being always the same hath but one Image they must remain deformed and they can have but a mean Salvation accordingly because Salvation being in and through the Holy Ghost as was said out of Rom. 14.17 he that hath but a mean and ordinary share of it hath but an ordinary power to do good works with and so hath but a mean and ordinary righteousness and God rendring unto men but according to their works the peace and joy or the bliss which Salvation consists in that they do receive from thence cannot therefore be but mean and very ordinary like unto the old third state or Limbus a reward fit for our Right Reverend Fathers in God to be it And here I had left them and finished my discourse but that hearing some of them à Limbo Patrum crying alas we did not know that these things were meant of this life but thought that the promises made to all the believers concerning the gift of the Spirit conferred on them were to begin upon the dissolution of their flesh neither did we understand any thing of a second coming of Christ in Spirit to men for their Salvation but took his second coming to be in Judgment only at the sound of the last Trump when he comes with his Angels to judge the quick and the dead I think it convenient to shew likewise that it is in this life before men dye that the gift of the Spirit is conferred upon them and secondly that when the Holy Ghost is sent or comes it is the second coming of Christ Christ comes then himself that I may both fully discharge the task I have taken upon me this day and leave them without excuse that are detained and that keep others in the Limbus of such gross ignorance But first to prevent mistakes I desire the Reader to take notice