Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	lord_n	see_v	5,685	5	3.6798	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85173	A faithful discovery of a treacherous design of mystical Antichrist displaying Christs banners, but attempting to lay waste Scriptures, churches, Christ, faith, hope, &c. and establish paganism in England. Seasonably given in a letter to the faithful in and near to Beverley. Containing an examination of many doctrines of the people called Quakers in Yorkshire, together with a censure of their way, and several items concerning the designs of God, Satan, and men, in these things, recommended to the consideration of them who are in good earnest for Christ.	Pomroy, John.; Feake, Christopher, fl. 1645-1660.; Glisson, Paul.; Kellet, Joseph.	1653 (1653)	Wing F568; Thomason E699_13; ESTC R202092	45,783	67

the hope of Glory Col. 1. 27. and that it was a mystery hidden from ages and generations that when the Partition wall was broken down the Gentiles should be fellow-heires and that it was manifested now but only to the Saints to whom God would shew the riches of the glory of this Mystery Christ in you Collossians Gentiles Moreover Paul speaks of the Saints when he saith 2 Cor. 5. 26 27. We know no man after the flesh no not Christ which words after the flesh may be referred to know as well as to Man and then it will be thus much We know no man carnally or in the judgement of the flesh no not Christ Besides it is a most evidently sound interpretation We know no man as Jew or Gentile circumcised or uncircumcised bond or free or in any such carnall consideration to be advantaged or disadvantaged by it in order to salvation but as he is a new creature or not Nay though the Apostles have seen and known the Lord Jesus a Man a visible Shepheard an outward Teacher and instructer of them and they had looked on him as the Jews kinsman after the flesh and thought afterwards that the Jewes should onely have the benefit of his comming and that he would then have restored the Kingdome to Israel but now henceforth even since his Ascension and since our Faith in him we for our parts know him so no more but if any man be in Christ or of his Body he doth so know him as to become by this Knowledge and Faith a New Creature as also we read Ephes. 4. 20 21 22 23. But if any man contend to destroy our faith and sleight the person of our glorifyed Saviour for some of them say Christ without will do us no good let such a man know That the Body of Jesus Christ at Jerusalem was offered up to God for an Atonement once for all Heb. 10. 10. and that no man cometh to God but by Him He. 7. 24. 10. 19 that in this name onely is salvation and remission of sinnes to be preached Acts 10. 42. and that he that abideth not in this Doctrine is a Deceiver and Antichrist and may not be received into your houses 2 John 9. 10. nay that we are not ashamed of that Christ whom the Iewes slew and hanged on a Tree nor the foolishnesse of this preaching whereby he doth and shall save them that believe Far be it from us to think that Christ is equally God incarnate in that Sonne of Mary and in all Saints nay in the whole Creation as some say for how is his Flesh and Blood given for the life of the world taken and eaten by Faith and lived by exhibited in the Lords Supper for a memoriall from age to age untill He come How neer such come to trample on the blood of the Covenant as a Common thing Heb. 10. 29. we leave it to them with fear and trembling to examine In the mean time it is most freely confessed by us that God is the Father of Lights and lives Jam. 1. 17. Psalm 36. 9. natural and spirituall and that the Eternall word lightens every mans candle the spirit of man being the candle of the Lord Prov. 20. 27. whereby man sees the Eternal power and Godhead of God Rom. 1. 20. But nothing of the Mystery of the FATHER and CHRIST as Mediatour is seen but only by the children of God John 1. 13 14 John 16. 3. Matth. 11. 27. Col. 2. 2. Further they say This light before mentioned is Pure But how doth vain man justify what God condemns and would perswade us that Nature is not corrupted but that the soul is Pure and by its flesh commeth to be clogged and by ill examples pride and passion c. begetting or rather stirring up the like in others diverted from the rule of righteousnesse in the mind It s true if the eye were single the body would be full of light as when the bright shining of a Candle doth give thee light but as the case stands the Scripture that concludes all under sin concludes all under ignorance saying There is None that understandeth Their light in them is darknesse and they children of the Night for a dimme or bright candle makes not day and of darknesse yea darknesse it self Their wisedome is foolishnesse and the eyes of their understanding fast closed untill the spirit of wisdome and Revelation in the knowledge of Christ open them Ephes. 1. 17 18. Wherefore as the Disciples were clensed by the word of the Gospel which Christ had spoken to them Ioh. 15. 3. so we conclude that the unbelieving are blind and impure in their consciences Tit. 1. 15. which concludes directly that the light of or in conscience before faith is not pure Moreover they affirm that This light discovers every evill as it ariseth in the heart WE answer that the light which lightens every man that cometh into the world discovers not the greatest evill which is unbelief onely those sins which are against the Morall Law as Pride covetousnesse oppression c. which these cry out against but never against unbelief which is the condemning sin and doth bind the guilt of all transgressions on the back of a sinner Now as the evil it discovers is Legall so is the righteousnesse this light brings in these principles directly establishing the works of the Law But though the Law teach Sin-denyall yet its the Gospel teaches Self-denyall even to live out of our own righteousnesse though performed by the grace of Christ seeking peace and righteousnesse in and from him who dyed for us at Ierusalem who is now exalted to the Throne of the Heavenly Majesty from whence he sends the spirit of truth to convince the world of sin and we hope will convince some of these deluded ones because they believe not in HIM But concerning other evills we testify That when the Lord opened our eyes with his eye-salve we saw iniquity abounding like the sand on the Sea shore and yet grace superabounding We are not like to know how much we are beholding to our glorious Redeemer who hath borne them away though they are innumerable Psal. 40. 12. Who knoweth then O Lord the Errors of his life and his secret faults for though some may dare to say their hands are clean yet who can say his heart is clean which is deceitfull above all things who can know it Ier. 17. 9. though he watch its motions We intend not in all this to cherish the sluggishnesse and watchlessnesse of people but to shew to man the impossibility of re-entering Paradise by obedience the same way that he left it by disobedience or that by any lesse light than of the Sun we can discover those secret sinnes especially unbelief which are not discoverable by the Candle-light of conscience as it comes into the world Yet further they boldly conclude that Power

false witness r. all false witness p. 46. l. 4. for proof this r. l proof of this To our dear and Christian Friends in and near to Beverly who are of doubtful mind in this hour of Temptation enquiring after the way of God more perfectly which some say is found among the Separated people called Quakers Truth and Peace be multiplyed GOD who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse having given us of his meer grace to know something of the mystery of Godlinesse and the mystery of Iniquity which now worketh hath mov'd our compassions toward the scattered Lambs of the Flock of God round about us and ingaged us to overlook our weaknesses and in this time of sinfull silence to cast in our Testimony to the Truth of the Gospel while some privily bring in damnable heresies denying the Lord who bought them We cannot wonder though we cannot but grieve that many simple-hearted should listen to the voice of Strangers who come in the Semblance of Christ remembring that we our selves have been tempted and some of our feet had almost slipped Now therefore by our faith hope and rejoicing in Christ Jesus and from our observations and experiences of Satans devices we testify to you that the Deceiver of the Nations hath found out a way wherein one may retire from the Faith and not be called a Back-slider but a Christian of Higher growth His designs are deep and desperate but in subserviency thereto he doth through the sufferance of God make use of some otherwise wel-meaning yet over-hasty of belief as stales and Coies to bring the simple into his Nets while he in others lyes in wait to deceive We shall not mention those doctrines of devills which some imbrace and the basphemous notions of religious Atheism though those are but higher degrees of that light or rather darknesse which we shall advertize you of in these papers but we shall examine certain doctrines and exhortations which are contained in sundry papers which are scattered in the Country and asserted by some who go about deceiving and being deceived We do confesse that there are many words of Truth and some of precious concernment that come from some of them and sundry things which have an aim as it were and guesse at the state of the Church when the New Jerusalem comes down from Heaven But what design the Deceiver hath to forestall those blessed Expectations or bring an odium on them and by those cloking truths to out off many corrupt notions will be manifested in our discourse Surely could we see a simple tendency in those warnings rebukes exhortations which they abound with to awaken this perverse Generation to look after Jesus Christ and direct their steps into the way of righteousnes and true peace we should rejoice that there were so many touched at heart and brought to the Lord though they walk not with us nevertheless we shall not forbear to own what words of truth we shall find though we think it meet especially intending brevity not to insist upon those doctrines wherein they differ not from us for the word of the Lord came not out from them neither came it onely to them but where they seem to us to be mingled with deceits those whatsoever in what moderation the truth allows we shall make to pass under the same For what is the chaff to the wheat saith the Lord Now dearly beloved we beseech you to observe how by a kind of Majestie of seeming Oracle they do as by authority sit down in the chair of Judgement and as the onely skillfull to direct the paths of the children of men they give their advice saying Forsaking all your Teachers without Mind the light which is in you which they say is Christ and is Pure and That it discovers every evill which ariseth in the heart and that Power accompanies that light in them that yield up themselves to it to subdue all the evil it discovers they also say this light is the sure word of prophecy and The Anointing from the holy one so that they that have it as they say all men have need not that any man teach them but as thatVnction teacheth them which is truth and no ly O how is their wine mingled with water untill it lose its vertue its colour though it keep the name of Gospell It must alwaies be remembred that they intend that light which enlighteneth every man that comes into the world wherefore this exhortation is by them directed to all them expressely who are the children of this world Now let him that heareth when they say Mind the light in you and observe not any outward Teachers or teachings consider 1. Whether this maketh not the Scriptures of the Testament of God unnecessary which through the abounding Mercy of the Father of Lights are Superadded revelations of his mind and love which are no where found but there 2. Whether this Admonition brings not down the glorious mysteries of the Scriptures to the Censure of the Spirit of light in Man yea in every man and so natural men although the Scriptures say they grope after God as men at midnight or without sight 3. Whether this intends not to disoblige you from every rule or duty which is not yet in your mind leaving you to be guided by Conscience whether rightly or wrongly informed there being no appeal left from the apprehensions of our uncertain minds to any standing certain rule without contrary to Isa. 8. 20. 4. Whether this establish not Heathenish Philosophy which seeks the repair of Natural light without Scripture principles as equall with the Scriptures which some in this way elsewhere who are scholars have avouched although Paul rejected it Col. 2. 7. 8. We write thus from a Godly jealousie lest as the Serpent beguiled Eve first weakning the Authority of the word afterward denying the Truth of it so he should deal with some of you 5. Consider whether this take not away the advantage of having the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. which was committed to the Jews to transmit unto the Generations to come that the Gentiles might be acquainted with and built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles 6. We leave it further to the spirituall to judge how farr this reflects disparagement on Jesus who owned expounded and commanded to search the Scriptures answered Satan and Men out of them 7. Also how it reproacheth the End of Gifts Ephes. 4. 12. for the perfecting of the Saints who are far beyond naturall men and the order of the Churches 8. And the ordinary standing way of God for the Conversion of sinners by the Preachers or Publishers of the Gospell Rom. 10. 14 15. For if every one that commeth into the World hath light in him sufficient to salvation and that they ought to mind that light onely what lesse can follow than what hath been propounded But you are not ignorant Brethren and Beloved that there are sundry

accompanies that light to destroy every evill as it appears in them that yield up themselves to it and watch that their vain minds draw them not from abiding in the pure light of Christ Thus they say is help layed on one mighty to save even Jesus Christ who is the Author of eternall salvation to all them that obey him IT were a small thing O all ye that passe by if we and our names should sleep in the dust in everlasting silence and contempt But will not the stones cry out if we hold our peace while these deceits seem to lay all upon Christ and his Spirit while as in truth they lay nothing at all upon him Is the light of Nature the light of Christ as Mediatour nay Christ himself and the strength that accompanies that light the strength of Christ Then how is man become the Author of his own salvation while you change the name and call it Christ Moreover here is jealousie administred to the eie of an experienced soul notwithstanding their fair speeches by laying such stresse upon the watchings of man as if Man rightly do his part by watching and yielding up himself to the light in him he shall be ruled and directed by it and his vain and evill thoughts shall be brought into subjection yea so that he may possibly compasse an exact obedience to the Law of Christ or dictates in his heart in this life and so ly down in the bosome of the Father in the everlasting rest which is prepared for the People of God which rest these assertors are displeased at if we refer the Saints for to the resurrection and coming of our Lord Now however this light so shining in man being attended and the evils it discovers being watched and opposed by the power which accompanies this light which is Free-will may be brought to a marvellous Reformation yet it reaches not the work of Regeneration which may be collected out of this assertion duly minded Moreover it reserves to Man a power of turning away from the Lord Jesus and by his disobedience or vain mind notabiding in this light he may fall from that eternal salvation which began to be wrought in him by the power of light while he did abide in it as this Doctrine implies It is further observable that there is no mention made in any of their papers we have yet seen of eternall salvation from the wrath to come or condemnation of Hell by any Atonement price or purchase or blood-sacrifice of our Mediatour without us but of an Eternal salvation from the Dominion of evil by Jesus Christ who is eternal life in us which we partake of as we abide in him in obedience Thus making this eternall light of life to be in every man but not every man in it which a man may truly in their sense be said to partake of and again to fall short of as he is guided by this light or his vain mind every day But having given you the import of these sayings we shall proceed for your further satisfaction in this Argument to declare our faith and experiences leaving you to judge in your selves how far they agree or differ from us or rather whether they or we do differ from the revealed mind of Christ First we believe and know that according to the word of Promise there doth go forth Power from the Father and from Jesus Christ who by the Eternal Spirit doth quicken whom he will by the Gospel 1 Thes. 1. 5. so he makes his Gospel his Power his Arm Rom. 1. 16. Isa. 53. 1. Thus doth he who waits to be gracious seek and save lost sheep beseech and overcome rebellious sinners who did not could not pitty themselves The day will discover how in a mystery the work of salvation is conducted through those intermissions in which for some moneths and years sometimes a soul once awakned sleepes again untill the resolved outgoings of Free grace at length quicken and work Faith unfeigned in such a one so that if thou canst tell how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child then maiest thou come a little neerer to trace out this work of God We are then the children of God being not born of blood or obtaining this privilege by a carnal descent from or good education under godly parents nor of the will of the flesh which is will composing it self to religious observations for carnall ends nor of the will of man though improved heightened to the utmost of humane activity though to close with the Gospel sound by power of free-will but of his own will begate he us by the word of truth Iames 1. 18. Indeed here is the hiding of his power under exhortations admonitions rebukes perswasions offers and promises in the Gospel because as all creatures glorify God in their kind so man as rationall must glorify God his Maker in closing with the Chief Good and eternal life in the Redeemer which is therefore so offered as the most reasonable thing most feeding perfecting and making happy the capacious and necessitous souls of men Yet the secret interposures of Almightynesse in his regeneration are so undeniably affirmed in Scriptures and seald up in the experiences of the sanctifyed that it doth appear it was not their Watchings strivings willings runnings but his mercy and compassions according to the mystery of his will that ingaged him to make a difference where he found none yea often taking of the worst of men to bring them unto Christ that it might yet more fully appear to all men that of his Mercy he saveth us Secondly But in the next place when any soul by this Preventing grace is brought to Christ having once tasted how gracious the Lord is in his dear Son he is taught to wait on Christ for the Renewings of strength morning by morning and doth desire the milk of the Word that he might grow thereby Thus doth the remembrance of the loving kindnesses of the Lord and the sights of his glory in the true sanctuary ingage him as David Psa. 63. 1 2 6 8. to seek wait and follow on to know the Lord Yet to the praise of his Grace the Father doth not only meet halfway his returning Prodigals or backsliding children but in the continuance of his preventing Mercy seekes saves calls upon his own while they are in the wildernesse forgeting their duty or turning out of his way to the right hand or to the left It s true he that waits cannot be exempt from the reproof of the sloathful servant if he be not exercised in Gods ways as Prayers Meditations Assemblies of Saints watching obedience c. Thus he that waits and walks shall renew his strength to wait still untill the Lord come as the latter and the former Rain upon the earth But though this be Mans duty yet it is the pleasure of the Lord to make his wind blow when he listeth and

reading hearing the Scriptures is mans duty faith and understanding is the gift of God yet ordinarily in this way Prov. 2. 4 5. But to conclude Concerning the real word of Prophecy which signifyed beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and the glory which should follow that was in due time fullfilled in its kind the same Apostle saith 2 Pet. 1. 17 19. 1. It s more sure than a voice from the excellent gl ry at least to others and more argumentative 2. More to be attended than the words of one risen from the dead Luke 16. 31. 3. Nay our Lord Jesus himself said that if they believed not Moses Writings he did not expect they would believe his Words Iohn 5. 47. Moreover they affirm That this Light the same which they say is in every one that cometh into the world is the anointing from the Father that they need not teach one another HOw great a progresse O thou most holy will thine Enemy and the Truths make if this doctrine were imbraced 1. To break down the wall about the enclosed Garden the Church and make Common the choicest favours of the King of Saints who endeared himself of old to his people by the promise of his Spirit wherby we know that he dwelleth in us and we in him because he hath given us of his Spirit John 16. 7. 1 John 4 13. This is the Spirit which the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him Joh. 14. 17. This is the Spirit of Promise promised to believers wherby they are or shall be sealed unto the Day of Redemption of the Saints who are the Purchased Possession from the Power of the grave unto the Perfection of Liberty and Glory It being in the mean time the Earnest of our inheritance which is reserved in heaven for us Is not this the oil wherewith our Lord and Saviour was anointed above his fellowes who are his brethren partakers from his fullnesse Psal. 45. 7. John 1. 16. Ephes. 4. 7. 2. Moreover how daringly doth this attempt if it were possible to pull the seven stars Rev. 1. out of the hand of Christ and how easily doth this conclude against Apostleship Pastorship Doctorship Eldership c. admonitions exhortations reproofs and that with a high hand although God hath set them in his Church for the perfecting of the Saints and edifying of the Body and that untill every member be added to his Church and every member already in it be grown unto the fullnesse of the measure of the stature of Christ Eph. 4. 11 12. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Let the wise judge whether this doctrine teach not one member to say to another I have no need of thee But if any rejoice in the Covenant of Promise we also will blesse the name of the Lord who hath established the New Covenant upon better promises than the old Covenant For to the people whom he taketh to himself he will give not only a Law without but in their hearts also and whereas in the dispensation Mosaicall there were many Brethren in that outward ministration who knew not God yet in the new Covenant there is not a Brother need say to his brother Know the Lord as if he was ignorant of the Lord though the least of all Saints Yet surely if this promise exclude all outward Teachers why should Christ give Teachers to his Saints and Peter stir up their minds their pure minds by way of remembrance and endeavour by his Epistle that after his decease they might have the Gospell in remembrance and John write to Believers of all ages in the Church that they abide in Christ notwithstanding that they had the anointing in them All which expresseth the unspeakable love of Christ and care toward his People knowing their weaknesses which favour man would reject to his own losse 3. But as if it were a small thing O you that fear the Lord thus courteously to rob and friendly to betray you this doctrine proceeds if the Authors understand it to cut off at once all instruction and reproof of Enemies and ungodly and states not a Brother but an Enemy and child of ignorance twice over to have no need that any man say unto him Know the Lord because it saith every man that commeth into the world is enlightned by the light which is the Anointing which as these Doctrinists say excludes all need of outward Teaching If any man say The Spirit convinceth the world of sin therefore every one in the world hath the workings of the spirit It is answered The holy anointing oil is not poured upon mans flesh nor the stranger but on the Tabernacle Altar c. Aaron and his sonnes which makes this Mercy peculiar to the Saints the holy Priesthood and not common or like the convincing operations of the Spirit which do not appropriate such a Person or consecrate him to the Lord Besides this Conviction doth not exclude the Teachings of man but rather implyes it For it convinceth of unbelief which is not the sinne of them that have not heard Romans 10. ver. 14. He will say then Have they not heard Is not the word nigh them yea in their hearts verse 8. Most true it is in the hearts of them that believe yea verily their sound is gone forth into all the earth even Theirs who were preachers of Glad tidings v. 14 15. who carried the report which was not believed of some v. 16. even the word of God v. 17. which being received by the Gentiles became a provocation of the Jewes to jealousie because it was first offered to them and they received it not v. 19. it pleased therefore the Lord of All to send forth tidings of Grace into all nations and his Spirit to convince the world contradistinguished to the Jewes Rom. 11. 15. of sinne because when they hear they believe not untill convinced that it is their sin not to believe in Christ or submit to him accept him as King Priest and Prophet when offered to them It might seem strange to you dearly beloved should we say that these discoursings on their part are but a blind to veil what is farther intended It may be their confessions will sometimes give you it that you and all men ought to believe in Christ in them and that they perish for not believing that Christ is manifested in their flesh and that you are saved by the dying rising c. of Christ or the light in you and not by any Christ without you To the evidencing of which in part be pleased to hear them using the word of the Scriptures saying The Kingdome of God is within you and this they say of and to all the children of this world TO which we answer 1. That the Kingdome of Heaven the Jewes expected to come as the Kingdomes of the Earth and Men but it came with no such pomp or shew wherefore the Pharisees were

Prophets without the Call or Gift of either who more steal the word from others then they who have received their notions from Scriptures Teachers and Leaders and phrases also and yet do acknowledge neither one nor other but as it were of themselves He that quotes the Scripture steales not the word He that imitates the Practises of Saints in foregoing ages going forth by the footsteps of the flock not desiring singular waies seeking Christ in his own standing appointments by the Shepheards Tents and holding fast the true sayings of the holy Scriptures erres not if he speak and contend for the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints though it be not so delivered to him by immediate inspiration or confirmed with miracles as it was to them 2 Thess. 2. 14 15. Furthermore these who come unto you in the imitation and resemblance of Christ Prophets Apostles with their deemed Oracles and great wonders do shew themselves in the most composed garb of humility as the greatest friends to the crosse of Christ and the onely bearers of it disswading you From your own wisdome will righteousnesse Pride in apparell Diet c. giving and receiving honour of men and such like which is the crosse you must abide in and through it they say passe unto everlasting rest WE Wish heartily that all that wear the sheeps clothing were sheep indeed but there is one that judges Let us search and trie these Doctrins and let judgement of persons result freely First then we are fully satisfied that he who hath learned Arts and Sciences and hath read over Systems or Bodies of Divinity and Exercitations concerning it must come to Christ as a little child and be abased in all his Pride of Flesh in Gods presence For all these make not one wise unto salvation but what this man hath before Christ he is puffed up with it knowing nothing as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8. 1. Yet doth not this subvert Schools of learning but it sets learning in its place Surely it is clean to the clean-hearted as meat and drink and being rightly improved yields a larger tribute to Jesus Christ than the worlds external goods For want of which its easily observable how these pretenders to the Cross do often mistake in the English idiom or phrase of translation to wrest the sense We affirm also that he that 's wise to buy and sell and shift in shaking times to raise himself while most do fall must give up himself to Jesus Christ seeking first his kingdome and minding his will without consulting with flesh and blood though he be counted a fool for Christs sake Yet doth not this cross the will of Christ for him that hath wisdom in his Generation to buy and sel and provide liberally for himself and his if riches increase by the blessing of the Lord and not the covetous pursute of them that would be rich Still remembring that of him that hath more there is more required and that Man be faithfull with that that is anothers for he can carry nothing out of this world being rich in good works Also considering he that hath most hath most Temptations which is enough if wisely weighed to stop the greediness of Men after more than food convenient Secondly we are assured that who so comes to Christ must forsake his own will as guided by fleshly wisdome or deceitful lusts or expressing it self in opposing the will of Christ Nevertheless this superintendency of the holy Spirit over-awing the will of Man doth not abolish but regulate it For the people become willing in the day of his Power Neither doth it follow that such or such a Motion is therfore of God because it crosseth natures desires though if the clear will of God do so it must be readily obeyed Thirdly we are confident that whatever Man hath done or received before he knew Christ which he accounted gain and boasted of hoping for Gods favour therefore he will reckon his loss when Christ is revealed to him because he was held contented in those snares of Pride without Christ and he will no more desire to be found in his own righteousnesse which indeed are as filthy raggs unlesse when he is under Temptations Yet we also believe that the righteousnesse which is performed by faith or the Power of Christ in us is not to be rested in as that in which we are accepted Eph. 1. 6. Also that the Externals of Religion before rested in become not now abolished to the New-creature as Ceremonies which might be used or not used but the Externals of the Gospel are to be used with the Power of Godlinesse upon a new account transacted to the glory of Christ Fourthly touching Apparel We confess and may not deny that in the Church-relation and in presence of Christ we may not have respect to gay cloathing and a gold ring For then all eyes should be inward while soul affaires are transacted And we may not here know men after the flesh but as they are enriched with Faith and gifts of Grace and as they stand in the judgement of the Spirit Wherefore Apparel concerns the outward Man in the capacity of Man though it is as all other things to be ordered and directed by the grace of God And here we know not how to excuse this wanton nation that generally shews it self childish in nothing more than by respecting gay clothing which sometimes covers an infirm and deformed Body and Spirit too and in its self onely seems to shew a man that hath more thick clay than another But seest thou a man boasting in his Apparel be not troubled for it may be its all his Portion and rejoicing in this world We know the Scriptures that declare against the Pride and wantonness in apparel Is 3. 1 Pet. 3. 3. 1 Tim. 2. 9. and that which judges this wantonness in women condemns the like in men also yet we will consider and that a little more because this is so much insisted on by the Assertors what allowance is by God given to men though not for a cloak of Pride 1. Apparel was instituted to cover shame to defend from weather and grew into use for distinction of sexes and qualities of Persons but for the shape of garments its left to man to attire himself Prudentially and because he is a member of Societies Prudence directs to use the modest customes of the Country as in other and greater matters 2. As all creatures were given to man for his use so some for his conveniency delight and ornament as a Man else the bounty of God in the variety of creatures must be denied Man may serve himself of any Creature so that he be helped in his way and honour his God by it Thus in dayes of gladness the Scripture allows more than ordinary garments after the manner of men 3. Pride doth not lie in putting on of

the Will of the Lord who ordereth the Plenty and Poverty increase and diminishing high and low estate of Persons and Nations Psal. 107. 36. to the end We desire it may be considered that besides the generall interest which the Sonnes of Adam have in the good creatures which was lost in the first Adam and repaired in the second during the day of Patience we say besides that there is a particular interest or propriety in the Creatures whereby one man may say this is mine and not thine which may be considered as diversly obtained 1. By the general distribution of the earth to the Fathers of the Nations For when the whole Earth was of one language and dwelt in the plain of Shinar their proud design of building Babel provoked the Lord to confound their languages in the daies of Peleg Then were they scattered upon the face of the earth and then did the most High divide unto the Nations their inheritance and the people of one language that sat down in any Countrey not yet inhabited according to the Providence of God setting the bounds of their habitati n took it for their inheritance and while there was room enough fed their cattel at large and removed their heards and flocks to fr sh feeding what wells they digged were their own each family removing together and planting together in the Cities which they builded The Elders of families being the chief rulers and the children of their Servants became also their servants Yet where others had planted they had leave also of the Inhabitants to sojourn with them and if they desired a piece of ground they did use to buy it of them Hitherto we may refer Israels title to the Land of the Canaanites because it was given them 430. years before they did inherit it yet after a peculiar and unparalleld manner to Abraham their Father because the children of Canaan that Servant of Servants were a wicked people and because it pleased the Lord to choose Israel for his inheritance Yet here did the Lord provide that each Tribe had their part by lot which did descend to their posterity by inheritance 2. Which is the second considerable in the obtaining of Propriety Children are surviving parts of their parents and have a true right to their Fathers inheritance by the Law of God Nature and Nations And though it may seem not so consonant to reason to make such wide differences in dividing inheritances among many Brethren as some do use yet it was the Law in Israel that the eldest Sonne should have a double portion to his brethren which by the appointment of God most just did perpetuate propriety and that in a way of inequality one having more than another And not onely so but for the preserving each private Interest the Lord commanded solemne curses to be pronounced against him that should remove his neighbours Land mark 3. But a private interest in worldly goods is also had by purchase which is an exchange of things equally valuable in lieu of each other 4. Also by the Victorious Issue of Lawfull Warre when nations offer injuries and violence to their neighbours reparation may be sought in Warre and the wrong-doers refusing to give satisfaction forfeit what they have to the Law of Iustice to make Reparation for the dammage But however propiety may be had it may not be violated no not by the desire of one after his neighbours house wise Servants Ox Asse or any thing that is his Exodus 20 17. Surely he that hath more of worldly goods than his Neighbours if his heart be prepared to serve his God and his generation hath an advantage to honour God probably more than ten men were that estate shared among them though they had like noble spirits But we think it needlesse to adde yet more in this matter saving that the Experiences of other Countreys give us warning of tumultuous attempts from this Generation But if it be disclaimed that any such thing is intended or desired of the crooked selfish proud griping injurious neration which we live among as the casting up each ones propriety in what they have under pretence of submitting them with the lowest of the people to serve the publ que which is a bait for the sonnes of disorder and violence if the preservation of each ones rightfull Possession by Law and Magistracy in way of force be taken away and that this be onely aimed at namely that they who are of the houshold Faith do as in the primitive times enjoy all things in common Our answer is That as for the practise of the Churches of Judaea Act. 2. their love did rise high at the first prevailing of the Gospell and propriety was cast up by no law or perswasion but that of Love as may be seen Acts 5. 4. But that is not all surely the Holy Ghost foresaw that shortly no man should have the benefit of house and lands becausé the Romans should come to take away their place and Nation But it is cleer by Scripture-evidence that there was richer and poorer among the Churches of the Gentiles but the rich were charged to be rich in good works and the poor to work for their own bread As for the giving one Coat of two to him that hath none binds you not to give your coats to any beggar that first coms but the Lord Jesus hath left his people to the prudence of his Spirit in them and discretion to see the time when to give and out of their abundance to supply anothers conveniency and out of their conveniency anothers necessity and out of their necessaries anothers extremity There are certain other commands which are to be obeyed in their time with prudence For our selves we are not ignorant how our souls were carried after the Lord in the day of espousalls to give up all into his hands Soul Body Estate Credit Relations c. resolving to hold nothing but under his favour who gave us them to have and hold by a new tenure abiding his pleasure to whom we hope we shall never deny whatsoever he calls for in the manifest junctures of his word Providences and his Spirit in our hearts who may sometimes make an extraordinary case and call us as once Abraham Gen. 12. to leave his Fathers house and friends to try us as that young man who boasts of his obedientiall heart Mat. 19. Finally they say That God is now come to redeem his people from all outward Teachers and teach them himself and for proof this Prophecy they bring 1 John 2. 26. Jer. 31. 31. Isa. 54. 13. Joh. 6. 45. Heb. 8. 11. Ezek. 34. 11 12. Jer. 23. 23. COncerning Teachers Order and Church administrations we have written what may be here seasonably remembred withall declaring that we know not any prophecy in all the Scriptures that doth foresignify the taking away of all outward Pastors and Teachers until