and so is this that follows if we take the words for God's fore-purpose and pre-approbation of these first Trusters in Christ and so take them without a Parenthesis before the foundation of the world Eph. 1.4 that we should be holy and without blame before him in love It 's cleer he speaks here of something wherein they were preferred before the Instruments in former Ministrations for to be holy and unblameable before him in love shall one day be the portion of all the Saints from first to last Eph. 5.25 26 27. And of faults deserving blame in conversation the best Saints on Earth have not been altogether free Rom. 7. Gal. 2. Jam. 3.2 2 Cor. 3.3 14. yea the Apostles confess That they were not But here he speaks of their Ministration and the Testament they were Ministers of as he did elsewhere And so Moses in his Ministration was faithful in all his House as a Servant and Aaron the Saint of the Lord but the Law and Testament they ministred made nothing perfect Heb. 7.19 Rom. 2.3 Heb. 7.12 8.6 11. 9.14 15. 10.5 10. it was weak through the flesh therefore God sent his Son c. and faulting the former Covenant he changed and took away that Law and hath brought in New Covenant established on better promises which Christ ministers by these chosen Witnesses so that they needed abundance of Furniture and were indeed so abundantly furnished that in Love and Declaration of his Love by an unerring Spirit they were un-erringly led in this excellent ministration holy and unblameable in ministring of an holy and unblameable Covenant before him in Love which they have left upon record which did we more believe we should more prize the Gospel with the sayings in it left upon record by them Eph. 1.5 But he proceeds vers 5. Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will Note well the words he saith not Having predestinated us to be adopted children for they were in election and being chosen whether in purpose or act as much adopted as chosen for sure that Phrase Mint Elect in whom my soul delighteth Isa 42.1 is well and truely rendered My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased and is the same with that This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased Besides Mat. 12.18 Mat. 3.17 17.5 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. Gal. 3.16 26 29. Joh. 1.12 2 Tim. 1.9 Joh. 6.44 Jam. 1.18 Joh. 1.13 Joh. 1.12 16 17 18. Rom. 8.16 Rom. 9.4 Adoption is onely in Christ Jesus and had in receiving and having him as Eternal Life is and no other way and yet farther Adoption and Acceptation to Sonship in Christ is in a peculiar manner the work of God the Father that calleth and draweth and begetteth to Christ And the communication of the Dignitie and Priviledges of Sons is in a peculiar manner the work of Jesus Christ the Son as it is in a peculiar manner the work of the holy Spirit to witness it besides Adoption is a thing to be ministred and did though not so cleerly appertain to the Jews under Moses Ministration So that it is evident here That in saying Having predestinated us to the adoption of sons he points out the more cleer business in their Ministration they were predestinated to as predestination relateth also to the means as well as the person and end and that is here the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ in which the way is pointed out a more cleer one then ever was in former Ministrations by preaching Jesus Christ according to the Revelation of the Mystery Rom. 16.25 26. 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. and so the Gospel is called The Word of Reconciliation and the Ministery of it The Ministery of Reconciliation and both committed to them for that end Whence they said in Ministration to be sent to open the eyes and turn c. that they might receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance Act. 26.17 18. Joh. 15.16 c. whence our Saviour saith of them I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.15 16. Luk. 5.10 c. and what fruit that is is to be seen in the commission given them so that they were appointed to Adoption that is in Ministration of the Son to bring men in to the Faith of the Son of God and so to Sonship or Adoption And this by Jesus Christ that is by abiding in him Eph. 1.5 Joh. 15.4 7 8 27. Luk. 24.47 48. Eph. 1.5 2 Cor. 4 5 6. Heb. 13.7 8. 2 Cor. 5.20 11.2 and so preaching and witnessing him and so Repentance and Remission of sins in his Name to draw men in to him as hath been shewn and this unto himself to draw to him unite to and inamour with him that he may have their heart and the praise such the end of their Ministration and Furniture and so of their preaching so they say We pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God and We have espoused you to one husband even Christ Thus was their Ministration to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself and herein far above the Ministration of Moses and Aaron and all the Levitical Priesthood and their Law for though their Adoption appertained to them and their Ministration was to bring Men to God and so to be Sons and Tutor Sons yet it was not with such a cleer Revelation of Christ but by Types and Shadows and Prophesies of him to come and by Circumcision Gal. 4.1 7. 3.16 26. 5.1 4.18 Joh 1.14 15 16 17. 8.31 36. still holding out the Gentiles as strangers to their Priviledges and binding even the Circumcision to such observances of outward Rites that they were kept still in a kinde of bondage so as they were under Tutors and Governours as Servants so as the most upright that were in Grace and not of works of the Law yet were they under the Law but this Ministration is of Grace onely and of Freedom and leads thereto Mat. 11.11 2 Cor. 4.4 yea even John's Ministration though before and above all the former yet short of this this being a glorious Ministration of a glorious Gospel to a gloriously gracious end Eph. 1.5 even the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ unto God according to the good pleasure of his will not onely according to his will and the pleasure of his will for so were all the former Ministrations but through Men's weaknesses they did not so profit Rom. 8.3 2 Cor. 3.6 14. Heb. 7 8 9 10. nor were to continue but for a time till Christ had offered up the Sacrifice and so were not approved for continuance and perfecting the Saints But his delight is in his Son and the cleer Revelation of him and that Men should love and honour him and
faith yet they cannot be saved That first mentioned faith flowing from such an election and purpose of God concerning their persons is the faith of Gods elect This I say Paul never taught nor is there any one line in Scripture to affirm it the Spirit of God leads no man so to beleeve or speak it is quite and directly cross to his Testimony as is shewn at large Part. 2. Chap. 9. Page 87 88 89. Part. 4. Chap. 10. 11. So that the faith here commended is the same with that Heb. 6.4 5. And as for Rom. 8.28 how it speaks the same thing and not a word for this reproved fancy is shewn before at large See Part. 4. Chap. 6 7 8. And so likewise is that Act. 13.48 in Part. 5. Chap. 6. Page 317 318. So that Eph. 1 4. is likewise shewn to make nothing for it Part. 3. Chap. 12. Page 221. And that 1 Pet. 1.2 3 4 5. speaks not of an eternal purpose of God concerning some certain persons of Adams sons in a decree to elect and eternally save them but of the manner of the election of such as were already actually elected viz. That it was through the sanctification of the Spirit unto the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus 2 Thess 2.13 exprest elsewhere The beleef of the truth in which that sprinkling is received This election being according to the fore-knowledge or fore-approbation of God who hath fore-appointed and approved this way for electing and choosing such as beleeve his Testimony as is at large shewn on Rom. 8.28 Part. 4. Chap. 6. 7. 8. So that this Concernment hath gained nothing for any other kinde of faith than that he confest at first true in its kinde I would he had not cast it by CHAP. XVI Of his second Concernment 1. HE saith for the manner of their obtaining this precious faith it is by Gods giving to them that holy Spirit c. In this I shall note three things in which it is pretended to be not only peculiar but of another and better kinde than the former true in its kinde 1. Hee saith It is by giving that Holy Spirit of his whereby he raised Jesus from the dead to raise them from their death in sin to quicken them unto newness of life In this first saying we have two things to note in the manner of true beleevers obtaining faith viz. First What God gives unto them and that is that same holy Spirit of his by which hee raised Jesus from the dead And secondly The end for which God gives this holy Spirit to them and that is to raise them from their death in sin to quicken them unto newness of life both which are very true and will by all true beleevers be so confessed yet the asserting it as a peculiar manner of obtaining faith that is of a better kinde than that mentioned Heb. 6.4 5. and another manner of obtaining also and leaving out something needful in this business to be mentioned is blame-worthy For 1 God for calling any to the faith doth not send forth or give any other spirit nor is there any other spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son than that holy Spirit by which he raised Jesus from the dead This Spirit is called his Holy Spirit the Spirit of Christ the Spirit of Grace 1 Pet. 3.19 20. Act 7.51 By this Spirit Christ preached in the ministration of Noah and of the Prophets whence those that resisted his inlightnings and teachings in those ministrations are said to have been disobedient to and have resisted the Holy Ghost And now more abundantly since the sufferings and ascention of Christ he doth in the ministration of the Gospel inlighten call convince c. whence those that shut their eyes and refuse and despise are said to despise God 1 Thes 4.7 8. Heb. 10.29 And they that after they have received the knowledge of the truth do willingly tread under foot the Son of God and count the blood of the Covenant as an unholy thing are said to have done despite to the Spirit of Grace i.e. If it had not been the holy Spirit they had resisted their sin had not been so grievous It is not good to devise pleas for wicked men to extenuate their sin And though there be a Spirit of truth and a spirit of error yet truth is one and the Spirit of truth is one 1 Joh 4 1-6 1 Cor. 12.4.11 2 Cor. 11.4.13.14 15. 1 Cor 12.2 3. though his gifts be divers and the Spirit of truth cometh onely from God and Christ And no other spirit but error is divers and many and the spirit of error is manifold and various and proceedeth not from God but from the Devil Nor can any man attain any true kinde of faith but by the Holy Ghost yea that faith mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. was attained by the illumination of the Holy Ghost and they were made partakers of the Holy Ghost And to ascribe to the Spirit the working of a faith of Christ dying and by his blood having made peace such as shall cause light love joy and fill the soul with such hope of eternal life as shall ravish the heart of a man and inwardly and outwardly change him And yet that Christ dyed not for that man or that there is no eternal life in him for that man nor truth or reality in Gods intentions to give it him Oh! yee heavens be astonished and let the earth tremble at this that any should say thus of the Holy Ghost the Spirit of truth or that God should have two Spirits one to work this faith which yet cannot be true in any kinde and a better Spirit to work a better kinde of faith His Spirit is one and holy and all his operations to bring any to beleeve like himself true real holy and of the right and saving kinde though many resist and some depart So that this line of truth was in this business not well brought forth seeing it was to oppose another line of truth and to obscure the truth of the holy Spirits operations 2. The object discovered and medium used by the Holy Ghost for bringing any to this faith and effecting this end mentioned is here sleighted and left out That is Christ and him crueified as set forth in the Gospel for sinners to look to and beleeve in For this is certain first That this holy Spirit testifieth of Christ witnesseth of his death resurrection sacrifice exalteth and glorifieth him as the Son of God the Saviour of the world Joh. 15.26 16 7 8-15 Act. 5.31 32. the Prince and Saviour that giveth repentance and remission of sins to Israel and is a light to the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth And that whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sins 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. 2 2. 2.6 9 10 14.16 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 This Jesus and
3.24 4.25 28. Rom. 1.1 2 3 they know also That what the Scripture saith the Holy Ghost saith the same o Gal. 3.8 Heb. 3.7 and what the Holy Ghost hath once said and testified as true in Christ he never altereth that Testimony but breatheth in it still and so where-ever written that remaineth Truth which proves this Objection vain Object 2 You understand not our meaning for we do believe in and magnifie Christ and the Scripture as much as you do but we have Christ and the Scripture within us and we believe that and speak that from inward and experimental Knowledge and the infallible Spirit and that we speak is the Minde of God but you believe in and magnifie a Christ without you and so believe and speak of and from the Scripture that is without you and so the true Sense and Mind of God which is infallible and from Christ and the Scripture within is to you a Parable and all you hold and believe is but fleshly and fallible Answ Here is still the former boasting and self-witnessing and self-exalting though with more discovery of Vanity Blasphemy and Pride or Atheism than the former as will appear to all that know who we mean by Christ and what we mean by Scripture For 1. By Christ in whom we believe we mean not An Imagination or Frame but the second publick Man the spiritual Man who not only out of us but before we in our Persons were and without any Motion or In-being in us did himself take our Nature being conceived by and born of a Woman a Virgin that was of the natural Seed and Lineal Descent of David and Abraham and Adam and so took a personal Body of his own in which he bore our sins on the Tree and was made a Curse and died for us and overcame Death and shook off all Mortality without seeing corruption in that Body in which being buried he rose again and appeared to and conversed with his Disciples and then in their sight departed from them out of this World in that risen Body and so ascended into Heaven and offered himself a sacrifice to God and sate down on his right Hand and in that now glorified Body remaineth in Heaven a great High Priest appearing before God ever-living to intercede for us This is The Christ our Saviour not to come to take flesh nor so coming nor so in us he hath done that already he was to do in his own Body for us and can die no more but is alive for evermore immeasurably filled with Spirit to send forth to us The right knowing of him is the original and right way of knowing all things and right knowing and worshipping of God is in the Confession of him thus to be already come in the flesh 1 John 4.3 and that Spirit that denieth this is the Spirit of Antichrist and he that denieth that This Jesus is The Christ he is Antichrist 1 Joh. 2.22 23. and denieth the Father and the Son And whoever believeth in This Jesus receiveth of his Spirit which imprinteth his Word and frameth his Minde in his Heart enriching him with his Consolations and so by Word Col. 1.25 26 27 and Spirit and Riches of Grace and not in bodily presence is Christ in Believers and in so being in them he is to them the Hope of Glory But whoever believeth not in this Christ without them and receiveth not the Efficacies and Frames within from the excellency of the knowledge of and Belief in him without so as he that is without in bodily presence is within by spiritual presence but come to undervalue him as without them and magnifie something within them All that within is but meer delusion which the ensuing Discourse will further shew so that the voice of this Objection being so strange the sheep will not hear it 2. And as for the Scripture we mean not by Scripture Ink and Paper nor Letters of A B C c. nor Syllables and particular Words nor Writing or Printing or a Book bound up in Leaves or rolled in Parchment But that we mean by Scripture is not the writing but the thing written not barely the words but the thing sounded forth and imported to us in the words And so the Almighty God that is Eternal without Beginning before all Things and without End Omnipotent Omniscient Infinite and Immutable the Creator of all things and his onely Son that was in the Beginning and from Eternity with him by whom he made all things and whom he sent forth made of a Woman and so Man the essential Word and the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son the infallible Spirit that witnesseth the Minde of God This one God Three in One and this Minde made known to Men the Manifestation and making it known is the Instrumental Word of God whether inspired spoken or written And of this God and his Minde it is as so made known that we mean and when it is once by his Command and Inspiration written and put on record for us to make known his Minde to us Prov. 22.20 21 as now it is then is all this called Scripture and so when God had once by his Spirit preached the Gospel to Abraham this being after written by Moses is since called Scripture Now it was not Moses his Writing that did fore-see and preach nor the Book or Letters or Words written therein but the Spirit in that Testimony did fore-see and preach which being Written and left on Record is therefore called Scripture Gal. 3.8 And when the Holy Ghost had in and by David said to the People To day if you will hear my voice harden not your hearts This being once written and left on Record for Generations following Psal 95.7 the Holy Ghost is said where-ever that Scripture is given still to say it And to those to whom no probability that that particular Word was inspired into every of them Heb. 3.7 which was so given to Israel and Joshua Deut. 13.6 8. yet it being after written and left upon Record for his peoples use it 's said to them many Generations after Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee yea that which God spake to Moses in the Bush our Saviour it being written Exod. 3.6 said to the corrupt and erroneous Sadduces Have not you read that which was spoken by God to you saying Mat. 22.31 32 I am the God c. And so the Spirit in the Apostles teacheth us That whatsoever things were written aforetime Rom. 15.4 were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope Surely this written aforetime so long before we were was written without us yea without even those of us to whom that sentence was written and therefore written without in Leaves that they might have recourse to it and learn it and love it and so have it
him distinct though never divided from the Divine so that this humane Nature or Body of Christ is not only sinless just holy but also exceeding precious and beyond all our valuation for excellency and worthiness yet in this his personal body was he under the Law for us and brought before the Judgement-Seat for us and condemned and put to death in the flesh for sins committed by us in the flesh f Rom. 8.3 2 Cor. 5.21 Gal. 3.13 he himself bare our sins in his own Body to or on the Tree being put to death in the flesh g 1 Pet. 2.24 3.18 and by death he overcame death and him that had the power of death h Heb. 2.14 and so rose again just and for our justification in the same Body that died i 1 Cor. 15.3 4. and by the Eternal Spirit ascended in that Body by or with the vertue of his own blood into Heaven and offered that spotless Body of his which had satisfied for our sins by death and overcome death and risen just a Sacrifice to God k Heb. 9.12 14. 10 5-10 14. and God hath accepted him and taken up his well-pleasedness and dwelling in him and glorified him in the humane Nature also with the glory that he had in person with him before the world was and hath born Testimony of him And this the Oblation Gift Ransom Sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ the second publick Man a matchless and invaluable Sacrifice which excluded all other Sacrifices and all other works of Righteousness from being it or any part of it this Body of Christ that was crucified for us it and it alone is the Sacrifice which in his Oblation he offered to God for us CHAP. 4. 2. Who it was that offered up this Sacrifice THis is here also in Tit. 2.14 plainly express'd to be our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us plainly it was Jesus Christ he himself that did freely give himself Peter also speaking of the sufferings of Christ and having expresly named Jesus Christ that suffered for us saith of him Who his own self bare our sins in his own body a 1 Pet. 2.22 24. and our Saviour Christ saith of himself I lay down my life that I might take it again no man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again This commandment have I received of my Father b Joh. 10.17 18. And so it 's often plainly and expressy said he gave himself for our offences Christ hath loved us and given himself for us he gave himself a ransome c. he offered up himself c. c Gal. 1.4 Eph. 5.2 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 7.27 If it be replied That God the Father he gave his only begotten Son he made his Soul an offering for sin he spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all d Joh. 3 6. Isa 53 10. Rom. 8.32 I answer This is no contradiction or unsaying of any thing foresaid but rather an illustration and confirmation of the approvedness goodness and excellency of that his giving himself a Sacrifice not only in that no other Man did and that he himself did it by the Divine will and authority of the Father in respect of which will and appointment the Father did and in respect of acting and fulfilling that will he himself did but more also in this respect Joh. 10.30 1 Joh. 5 7. that the Father and he are one in respect of Divine Essence and in respect of both Natures in the person of the Son Joh. 5.17 18 16 20 21 22 23. the Father and the Son are both one in love to Mankinde and so both one in will and design so as also they work together so that the Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do and what things soever the Father doth those also doth the Son likewise and also in that the Father fitted him with a Body for this business and appointed and sent him forth to do it and even so he willingly accepted the appointment Heb. 10.5 7 8 9 10 12. and took the Body and came to do and did it and so with free and ready will and oneness of will with the Father he did offer up himself in that body of his once for all so that the saying He gave and offered up himself is not contradicted by saying the Father gave him but receiveth confirmation and illustration of the goodness and excellency of this his gift and giving yea it opens to us the right understanding of it he came and did it not barely of himself Joh. 8 42. 1 Joh. 5.6 but in union of will and approbation of the whole three in one God the Father sent him he came and the Holy Ghost witnessed of him Gal. 4.4 the Father sent him forth made of a woman of the Seed of David and the Holy Ghost sanctified that Seed in the wombe of the Virgin and framed him a Body thereof Luke 1.35 uniting it in the very framing to the person of the Son of God and so it was not the Father nor the Holy Ghost John 1.14 Rom. 1.3 but the Son that is the Word was made flesh of the Seed of David yet the Father by the Spirit made it so and the Son accepting willingly to receive this humane Nature into union of person with himself and to be thus abased he is truly said to have made himself of no reputation Phil. 2.7 8. and took upon him the form of a Servant and humbled himself so it was not the Father or the Holy Ghost that did die Joh. 10.17 18 1 Pet. 3.18 but the Son in the humane Nature or Body which he took he layed down his life for us being put to death in the flesh neither was it the Father or the Holy Ghost that rose from the dead Joh. 10.18 Eph. 4.9 10. but the Son and yet the Son in that Body of his the Father by the Holy Ghost did raise him yet was it he in that very Body that died that rose from the dead even so it was not the Father nor the Holy Ghost that offered the Sacrifice but Jesus Christ himself in oneness of will with the Father Heb. 9.14 Psa 110.1 Heb. 1.13 Heb. 1.3 10.12 and by or through the power of the Holy Ghost he did offer up himself his own Body a Sacrifice without spot to God even the Father who hath accepted him and set him on his right hand and so also as having finished and compleated his oblation and being accepted he sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high so that there is no exclusion or denial of the works of the Father or Holy Ghost about the provision preparation offering and acceptance of this Oblation in saying Christ himself offered it but onely the affirmation of
Blessing on it are all to this end and have this tendency that the world might believe in which believing they shall receive forgiveness and life So that this Branch of the Testimony of the Intercession of Christ thus far is together with his Oblation offered good News true Gospel to be preached to the World to all men that they might believe and having fitness and power to draw them that they might believe it being all also true before they believe that they might believe and so true whether they believe it or not CHAP. 13. Of the more special Mediation of Christ or his Mediation as more specially considered THe more special Mediation of Jesus Christ is his Mediation of the New Testament and this also is by vertue of his Oblation once offered and that to this end That Believers may be preserved in peace Heb. 9. enjoy the Promises of the New Testament and be brought to receive the promised Inheritance And in this respect he is and is called Heb. 8.2.6 The Minister of the Sanctuary and true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man and so the Mediator of a better Covenant established upon better Promises Heb. 12.24 Heb 9.14 15. his Blood being sprinkled on those that come to him speaketh peace to them and purgeth their Conscience c. Therefore also his Mediation is of this New Testament that they which are called might receive the promised Inheritance this Mediation being so full and excellent his special Intercession is in it Whence also it is sometime called Advocation for the fulness of his dealing in it in removing all Stops procuring Grants and affording Instructions and Consolation that Believers may enjoy Peace Compare 1 Joh. 5.7 9. with 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Freedom Union and Fellowship with him and the Father and be preserved in and to their Hope So it is said If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous He saith not If any man sin he hath an Advocate as if this were the common priviledge of all men nor saith he only If any of us sin we have an Advocate as if we had no hope to pray for any but Believers but in general If any man sin whoever of us or not of us if a man we have an Advocate one with the Father known to us and believed in by us to go to God by who advocateth for us and he is righteous and will procure us a gracious Answer when we in his Name pray for our selves or for the Church or any of it yea and also when according to his will we pray for others that are yet of the world for he is also the Propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world so as by his Oblation having made peace for Mankinde and being now the Mercy-Seat of God and the Propitiation to propitiate and mediating with God for that end whereby he hath propitiated us and brought us in to believe in God and is also become our Advocate Joh. 10.9 14.6 16.23 Eph. 2.18 Heb. 10.18 19 7.17.24 25. that we may approach to God by him both for our selves and for others in which confidence Believers approach through Christ with boldness to the Throne of Grace having this Ground Because he continuing ever remaineth a Priest for ever having an unchangeable Priesthood Heb. 7.25 wherefore he is able to save them to the utmost or evermore that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them from whence I shall briefly observe a few things about this special Mediation or Intercession of Jesus Christ as by other places also I have instruction 1. That here is no denial or exclusion of his Mediation for all Men and Intercession for Transgressors as if those only that approach to God by him were the All the only and the whole number for whom he doth in any sort mediate and intercede He neither saith But them or only them not a word to contradict that affirmed in other places nor doth he here speak of his Mediation and Intercession for men for that to be vouchsafed them whereby they might believe and so approach to God through him but of his Mediation and Intercession for those that do already believe and approach to God by him and so are beheld believing and coming in to God by him who are indeed God's chosen a 1 Pet. 1.2 2.3 4 5. 2 Thes 2.13 and those to whom Christ is the Author of Eternal Salvation b Heb. 5.9 to whom he is to give and hath promised to give Eternal Life c Joh. 6 37-40 17.3 11.25 26. And so Emphatically it is said of them as the choice upon whom his eye is set He ever liveth to make Intercession for them for them directly for them especially 2. That he ever liveth to intercede for them that is to officiate and perform this business in Heaven for them every word is of force 1. He ever liveth as their Great High-Priest Heb. 7.23 24. Rom. 6.9 10. Rev. 1.18 2.8 Psal 120. Joh. 6 37-40 appearing in Heaven for them in their Nature and as their Head Husband elder Brother and Keeper he died once for them and rose and offered the Oblation once but now he is alive for evermore and can die no more but liveth ever so as there can be no let nor ceasing of his business he neither slumbereth nor sleepeth so that none shall or can perish through any defect in his Ministration 2. He ever liveth as the Son of God Joh. 11.42 14.16 Psa 20.3 4. Joh. 17.24 and the Man in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily beloved of the Father and prevalent with him so as the Father denies him nothing his suites are all and always granted so that with him it is but I will and it is done 3. He ever liveth as the living Object of Faith Heb. 12.2 Joh. 5.25 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. 1 Cor. 15.44 45. Joh. 7.37 38. Joh. 14.19 Rom. 5.10 the Author and Finisher of it that hath Life in himself and giveth Life to others the quickning Spirit that quickneth and enliveneth all that believe on him and because he ever liveth they that believe on him shall live also his ever living is a strong consolation to Believers For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled to God we shall be saved by his lise or ever living to intercede for us and so to quicken and preserve us 3. That he ever liveth to make Intercession for them I might say in a sense Joh. 14.16 17.24 Psal 20. 65.4 Mat. 7.11 Luk. 11.13 to pray the Father for them though not in that submissive manner as when he was on Earth before he had offered the Oblation with tears and cries but as one accepted having
2 Cor. 4.5 6 7. Isa 42 1-10 Act. 5.31 was from hearing and beholding Christ the Son and so as the Lord gave to every man by his Spirit writ his Epistle in their heart If any desire farther honour to himself Iohn disowns it Christ forbids it the Apostles disclaim it so no wrong done in the quotation yet for giving this Honour to Christ as that glorious Object by vertue of his Oblation and by vertue of his Intercession also thereby such a full flowing Fountain of Life and Prince giving Repentance and Remission of sins that through him discovered and by him the Beholders of him are brought to believe I am not onely blamed but charged to learn this of the old Serpent 2. I answer I have learned to give this Honour to Christ from God the Father that saith Isa 42.1 2 7. 49.7 9. 55.4 5. Isa 61.1 2 3 4. Joh. 5.19 20 25 27. Eph. 2.8 Col. 2.12 Act. 5.31 Isa 55.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 3.4 5 6. He hath put his Spirit on Christ for that end That he should call and open the eyes of the blinde and cause such as foreknew him not to come in to him I have learned from Jesus Christ That he was anointed and filled with Spirit to that end and That the Father and he are one and That the Father doth nothing but the Son doth the same And this honour the Father hath given to the Son That all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father and Faith being the Gife of God and the Operation of God it is verily The Gift of Christ and the Operation of Christ yea He is Author and finisher Alpha and Omega in this work also yea I have learned it from the Holy Spirit both in the Testimony born by the Prophets and Apostles and for a plain express Answer 3. I am learned by the Spirit in the Gospel not only Tobelieve in Christ and on Christ as Mr. Owen saith but also as the Medium of both In the Name and on the Name of Christ yea and also in express words That all that rightly believe it is by Christ 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you Vers 21. Who by him do believe in God that raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God So that to give this Honour to Christ and his Oblation and Intercession That it is by him that men believe in God 1 Cor. 12.2 and so to confess him Lord is by the Holy Ghost though many dare say It 's from the Serpent because it exalts not them in the place of Christ as Rabbies But enough of this nor will I take notice here to answer any more such stuff in that Book of Mr. Owen's it having been fairly answered by a learned and godly Brother But in his pretended Answer to Mr. Iohn Goodwin the Book I minded that occasioned this Discourse he saith Pag. 217. Sect. 3. That Christ interceded for his Elect for whom he died that they may believe which he saith is denied by those he opposeth which both Saying and Aspersion he might have forborn for those he opposeth do hold as firmly as himself and more cleerly according to the Scriptures That Christ intercedeth in a peculiar and special manner for his Elect and chosen Ones that approach to God by him yea even for Believing and Faith in that sense that Believing is taken for abiding Believing and more firmly Believing and for Faith as Faith is taken for Confirmation and Perseverance in the Faith 1 Joh. 5.13 as is shewn in this fore-written Yea more than Mr. Owen can yet be brought to confess even That Christ in act or undertaking died for them before they were elect and That there was not any in him to lay aside the Heavenly Glory and die and rise and offer the Oblation in him and so to be the Mediator in and with him for then there would not have been that room for Imputation or Application to them nor could deserved Grace have been so freely bestowed But he did all this alone and in that respect is the Root and Fountain of Election also so that the Elect are beholding to the Oblation and Intercession of Christ for Election as well as for Faith yea and they believe That Christ interceded for these men also that they might believe but that was before they were personally Elect and so then not for them as they were Elect which then was not nor were they such but as they were Men of the World and Transgressors that means might be extended to them and they so brought to believe 2 Thes 2.13 and in this believing of the Truth chosen through the Sanctification of the Spirit which is God's Way And so Election in some sense a Fruit of Faith but Faith in the beginning of it and first coming into it is not in a proper sense a Fruit of Election yea furely we believe That all the Elect are a holy and peculiar people 2 Pet. 2.5 9. called out of Darkness into his marvelous Light and all of them that yet live on this Earth to shew forth his Praises now as those for whom he especially intercedeth That they may be kept Psa 102.17 23. that when all the Just shall be raised we may all more fully shew forth his Praises together but we dare not entertain vain fancies and dreams to vent them among the Rebellious as if some of them might even now while Rebellious be God's Elect for ought any man knoweth because the plain Sayings of Scripture are against this as hath been plentifully shewn and for that which we believe also and so for the Mediation of Christ in general for all men and more especially for Believers already shewed The third Branch of the Testimony of Christ CHAP. 16 Of the coming again of Christ and the manner thereof FOr the coming again of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ it being one part of the Testimony of Christ it is needful also to be known and believed it being also of the very Object of Faith set forth in the Gospel to be believed so as without believing it no Man's Faith is compleat and entire in respect of the Object of Faith or Doctrine of the Gospel to be believed yet before I proceed in treating of it it is good to consider what manner of coming it is that is here spoken of because divers comings are spoken of in the Scripture though never but of two personal and bodily comings The first called His coming in the Flesh in Abasements to suffer and overcome in sufferings and so to offer the acceptable Sacrifice and so to make the Atonement obtain Redemption receive Spirit in the Man and sit on the right hand of God as the Mediator and great High-Priest and Prophet and King to send forth Spirit to Men
the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of his glory then in that day but whether in the beginning or in the middle or the end I leave to every man to think as he seeth cause all Nations shall be gathered before him this may be in beginning and middle and end throughout this great Day of the Lord and he shall separate them and set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left And when he doth that then he proceedeth to the last and final Judgement which Judgement is not by his Saints as the former judging and ruling was but by himself only and as the Resurrection of the Just at first was Christ his own work alone so the Resurrection of the Unjust and this final Judgement Rev. 20 11-15 is also now The compassing the Camp of the Saints fire coming down from Heaven and consuming the Enemies the time of Satan's last loosing and his being taken and cast into the Lake of Fire and then the Resurrection of the wicked and also their Judgement according to their works who knows what time these things will take What God as God may suddenly do I meddle not with but what God in Christ and so what the Son of Man will do according to the capacities of Men however enlarged by him in judging with as one may say opening the Books setting Mens sins in order before them producing witnesses and passing the sentence upon every one I dare not determine in what space of time this one thing shall be done but how long or short soever although joyful to the Saints yet all this with all that went before it from Satan's last loosing to his being cast into the Lake of Fire and the Resurrection of the wicked it is all after the thousand yeers of the Saints raigning and judging however the thousand yeers be taken and all this time Christ as Man raigneth and judgeth and his Saints are with him and so it is a long time and the Resurrection of the wicked and the final Judgement past then Christ delivereth up the Kingdom to his Father and then is the mystery of God wholly finished and time shall be no more all will be Eternity then the Kingdom continueth still for ever to Eternity only the Davidical Regiment of it is delivered up to the Father and all ruling as Men all differences of Men in ruling or ruled ceaseth yea Christ himself as Man and David's Son and his whole Body of Saints as Men yea he as a Monarch and they as Rulers or ruled are all subject wholly to the Divine Nature God being All in All the Man Christ remaining 2 Cor. 15.28 and God in him the Saints remaining and God in them the Kingdom remaining and God in all God is in all yea All in all he is in them all Wisdom Power Righteousness Truth Love Joy Glory Everlasting Life and Joy God is All and All in all yea so full so glorious and everlasting Joy that all former things are so forgot as if this had ever been yea without beginning and as if all that can be to Eternity were comprehended in present and so will be to Eternity without end the joy of the Lord in which he is in which all the Saints are it being their joy also they are now both filled and compassed with it in them they in it they now enjoy to the full that prayed for to which the first Fruits in the Day of Grace and the Harvest in the Davidical Regiment had its tendency Eph. 3.17 18 19. even to be filled with all the fulness of God yea if it may be born I suppose one might in a true sense say That of all the Saints and every of the Saints according to every of their capacities which by the Divine Nature possessing them will then be unconceivably great which is said of the Man Christ That as all the fulness of the Godhead even the Father Son and Holy Ghost in the Divine Essence Love Goodness Power Truth Glory c. dwells in him bodily so the fulness of the Godhead of Father Son and Holy Spirit in their Love Joy Goodness Power Wisdom c. dwells in them bodily then shews it self and operates in and through their Bodies so as never before only with this exception The Man Christ is one Person in the Son of God and so God-Man yea that very Person is very God though as Man he have yielded up the Government to God yet as God he governs still but none of the Saints are one Person with the Son of God and so not God governing but filled with God I desire to express it only as by Scripture I may We believing in him now live by Faith and enjoy all and walk in and by Faith Hope and Love but in the Davidical Kingdom we shall not live by Faith but by Sight 2 Cor. 5.7 1 Cor. 13.8 13. Rom. 8.24 25. 1 Joh. 3.2 4.7 12. 1 Cor. 15.28 and so there will be no Exercise of Faith nor yet of Hope we seeing as we are seen and none hopeth for that which he seeth and yet the habits of Faith and Hope abide till the Kingdom become wholly Divine but Charity is most in Exercise but when God is become All in all then Faith and Hope and all Desires are streamed into Charity and Charity abideth ever God is Charity and God and so Charity is All in them and in them all his delight in them and their rejoycing in him Oh unconceiveable Life Joy Happiness without any intermission for ever and ever But what manner of Glory this shall be is not yet revealed nor will be till Christ be upon the Throne of David that the whole mystery of God be opened Therefore I desire no farther to pry into it but only as it is revealed that so it shall be and that I desire to believe and for the manner of it let it alone till the Day declare it And this is all I will till farther occasion given me say of the Kingdom of Christ he comes to take and so likewise of the Ends of his second and glorious coming which yet is enough to make Believers long and wait for his coming the Time whereof is next to be spoken of CHAP. 19. Of the third Poynt The Time of the next coming of Christ FOr the Time of the coming again of Christ I shall also say what I finde for as for the precise hour or day natural or prophetical it were presumption in me so to enquire as to think before-hand certainly to know it seeing our Saviour Christ himself hath told even his own Disciples that enquired after it Ye know not when the time is not only when the end of the Day Mar. 13.32 33 34 35. the last and final Judgement shall be but not the beginning of the Day when the Master of the House cometh whether at even or at midnight or at cock-crowing or at morning If
sins and delivery from death and truth in receit of and enjoyment of true righteousness peace quickning purity heavenly riches came by Jesus Christ even in all times past and so now more fully and cleerly doth so as though he came after John yet he is preserred before him yea he was before him so as now he is come John and all the residue of Believers then and since even we of his fulness have received and Grace for Grace for the Grace of God in Christ by vertue of his Sacrifice which God hath graciously accepted of him for us we receive the Grace of Faith to believe and therein remission of sins and so Grace for Grace yea this and so one to make us meet to receive another and that to make us meet to receive more still and so Grace for Grace plentifully one heaped upon another Tit. 3.3 4 5 6 7. Col. 1.12 13. Joh. 1.15 16 17. Act. 26.18 yea as Moses had a Law of Works to nurture the people towards Grace so we a Doctrine of Grace and Law of Grace to teach and lead people to partake of Grace 4. That this Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God the sin-offering and the true passover which by vertue of his sacrifice mediating taketh or beareth away the sin of the world Job 1.29 36. Col. 2.14 15. Eph. 2.12 13 16 17. Rom. 5.18 that by his own death and sacrifice offered takes and now hath taken sin out of the way removed the contradictions that were in the mid-way between God and the world of Mankinde and made peace that it may be preached to them and that by vertue of his blood and sacrifice Isa 53.12 1 Tim. 2.4 Rom. 2.4 Rom. 3.24 25 26. 1 Joh. 3.2 Gen. 22.18 Act. 10.43 Rom. 4.5 Mat. 3.2 11. hath fulness fitness authority and readiness to take sin out of the consciences and nature of Men and by his Mediation procures forbearance patience and mercies to sinners to lead them to repentance being he and onely he set forth for that end the propitiation for the sins of the world in whom there is blessing for all Nations and that by spiritual application of his Blood he doth so take sin away from all that in believing come to him for it and that he is neer at hand to set up his spiritual Kingdom the fore-runner of his Davidical Kingdom 5. That the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 3.34 35 36. and immeasurably filled him with the Spirit so that whoever believeth in him hath everlasting life and be that believeth not on him the wrath of God abideth on him This Doctrine was John filled with to teach And with this Doctrine he was to throw down the Momtains exalt the Valleys Joh. 14.18 29 33. Mat. 3. Mar. 1. Luk. 3. cry down all Flesh and exalt the Word of the Lord and so to call Men to Repentance and to Faith in Christ and so to newness of life assuring them that Christ would baptize them with the holy Ghost and as a witness of the Truth of this Doctrine and that Christ was at hand and shortly to be manifested to Israel he did baptize with water unto repentance and so discipled all that came to him and refused it not Yet did he not in the beginning of his Ministration point out which of all the Sons of Men was that Man that is the Christ so he shewed not which was the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ till he was especially fitted and directed and commissionated for that also by the direction of the holy Spirit by communication with Jesus Christ himself Joh. 1.33 34. Mat. 3.13 17. Mar. 1.9 10.11 Luk. 3.21 22. and seeing the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting on him and hearing the voice of the Father from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And so was he furnished to know and declare the person of Christ as distinct from all others and who he was And then he did most plainly point out the Man Jesus Joh. 1.29 35 36. 3.30 36. the Son of the Virgin with confession that not himself and so no other Man but that very Man Jesus was the He the Christ the Lamb of God the King of Israel the Bridegroom the Son of God he even this very Jesus he pointed to and affirmed to the be very he and so exhorted his Hearers to behold him even Jesus and to follow him cleave to him and exalt him And in this his Ministration he was greater than all the Prophets that were before him Mat. 11.10 11. though less than any of his Lord's first Witnesses of his Resurrection that were to come after him and although in the exercise of his Ministration he was but for the House of Israel who if they had received him as he came in the Spirit and Power of Elias they would then have received Jesus Christ also and so they might have enjoyed the Gospel of the Kingdom and have continued in their own Land till his coming again to raign and then John Baptist had been all the Elias they should have needed and the coming of Elias mentioned Mal. 4. it would have been needful onely for the ten Tribes of Israel formerly cast off but they refusing came to be cast off also and so its needful for them And in this Ministration Mat. 11.13 14 15. 17.11 12. 23.37 according to this Revelation all the former helps in and under all the former Revelations and Ministrations still remained and all for the good of Men specially the house of Israel CHAP. 7. Of the seventh Revelation and the last that shall be of Christ till his own return and personal and visible appearing THe next Revelation of Jesus Christ and the last that is to be carried an end for usefulness by teaching and use of such outward Ordinances as now even until his personal appearance when all such means shall cease and the eternal Sabbath be Isa 42.1 61.1 2 3 4. Joh. 12.49 50. Heb. 1.1 2. 2.4 and this Revelation was by the Father to the Son even to the Man Jesus Christ his Elect upon whom he hath put his Spirit and by Jesus Christ to his Disciples God by his divine power bearing witness thereto and confirming the same and this Revelation by Jesus Christ was of the same things fore-revealed to and by the Prophets but now more fully and cleerly manifested with the mystery more abundantly opened and this his Revelation was in a threefold manner or by three distinct wayes or means 1. By manifestation of himself and all that appertained to him to do in his first coming by demonstrating the same in the very act visibly c. 2. By his personal and bodily Ministration in a vocal and audible teaching the Gospel and the Testimony of himself in the Prophets and explicating it 3. By pouring on his witnesses and
preaching of the Cross and so the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified and so it must be a preaching suitable thereto and the means to make Christ known according to this Revelation is preaching such a preaching as in which he is lift up as shewn in the eighth Chapter before and in the Scripture we may finde it farther thus set forth that is 1. That it must be preaching Joh. 12.38 Rom. 10.16 1 Pet. 1.12 Joh. 17.6 7. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. Act. 13.32 33. 26.27 Rom. 3.25 26. 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4 5. Act. 5.42 18.26 28.23 31. 1 Tim. 2.7 Act. 20 21. 2 Cor. 5.10 11 14 19 20. that is in Scripture Language proclaiming and reporting Jesus to be the Christ and therewith the things done by him declaring with manifestation and making plain the things reported and therewith so teaching and expounding the same that the ends vertues and excellencies of Christ and his Cross and the things of Christ with his requirings and promises may appear and be made known and evidencing and testifying the Truth of all so taught by the Scriptures according to the Commandment of God Rom. 1.1 5. 16.25 26. Act. 18.25 28. 17.2 3. 26.22 23. And from Christ the things of God in Christ thus declared taught 2 Tim. 3.16 Tit. 2.15 and testified to perswade Men to Repentance and Faith and so to be reconciled to God and then live to him and to press this with Reproofs Instructions Beseechings and Consolations as need is and in this manner to exalt and tender the Grace of Christ as aforesaid is preaching yea that preaching that according to the minde of God is to be used 2. This preaching must also be with plain and understandable words 2 Col. 2.17 3.12 4.1 2. 2 Pet. 1.15 16. not in dark Parables and Allegories but with such simplicity and plainness that they may appeal to every Man's conscience in the sight of God with all sincerity without any cloak of covetousness craft or guile As for Christ before his Ascension preaching many things in Parables it hath been fore-answered Part 1. ch 6. Mat. 10.27 28. and shewn how he opened all to his Disciples and charged them to teach the same openly and plainly so that the mystery of Christ as opened by Christ is by his Servants to be plainly preached now without fear of Man and so as in plain words so in such language and terms Act. 2.6 8. 1 Cor. 14.6 7 19. Rev. 19.10 1 Cor. 14.3 1 Joh. 3.20 21 27 28. 1 Cor. 1.1 2. Gen. 3.15 1 Joh. 3.5 8. as the Hearers do know and understand so the Holy Spirit given them did at first give them to speak to every Man in his own language and so they used to speak in words understandable to the Hearers They are now taught that the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophesie the original spring and Leader to all right speaking for Edification in knowing him all things are known and other knowledge and teaching then according to what is taught by the Spirits witnessing of him is not needful The knowledge of the first Report of the Gospel is in knowing him as now testified cleerly understood whereas those that by humane Wisdom think to know that first saying without this help given run into many mistakes yea all that the Fathers had in Visions and Dreams Act. 2.18 19 20 21. is met with in this Testimony of Christ now given by the Spirit yea all that the Heaven and Earth with his Works therein do witness is seen most cleerly in Christ Psal 19.1 6. Rom. 10.18 Isa 42.6 2 Cor. 1.20 Col. 2.17 Heb. 7 8 9 10. Col. 3.11 as set forth in this Testimony and by him made apparent to be more cleerly seen in them yea the Covenant made with Abraham it is to be seen and met with in him and all that was figured by Sacrifices and all other Types the Truth is in him and to be seen and known in him so that now Christ is all and in all and so in this Doctrine and Testimony And therefore he and the things of him are plainly to be preached and that in a known language and understandable words being alike holy and sanctified to declare the Gospel with and so alike fit to express God's Minde to us as is before shewn Part 1. ch 5. and for us to express our Minde to God in praying to him And so the Apostles writing to the Church at Rome Rom. 8.25 Gal. 4.6 where also both Jews and Greeks were shews how the Spirit breatheth in both languages Abba Father and so to another Church and so they spake with all plainness of Speech in things needful to be known for Faith and good Manners and so is the Gospel to be plainly preached in understandable words 3. This preaching of the Gospel now must neither be with the wisdom of words 1 Cor. 1.17 18 19 20. 2.1 2 3 4 5. which the Spirit of Wisdom that is in the Princes of this World for Learning or the Wisdom of Man teacheth or in such manner as to draw applause to the Preacher or to receive that said for his excellency in Learning and arguing in Rhetorical perswasions Nor must this preaching be with Fables and endless Genealogies 1 Tim. 4.7 6.20 Tit. 3.9 Col. 2.8 1 Cor. 1.19 20 17 23. 2.1 4 12. or opposition of Science falsly so called nor with Philosophical Subtilties Reasons and Depths after the Fashion of humanely-learned wise Men nor with Artificial and framed Eloquence and Rhetorical Perswasions according to Man's Art nor yet with pretences of great Light intruding into things they have not seen in the Testimony there being in that no Revelation of it Rom. 12.3 Col. 2.18 Gal. 1.10 1 Thes 2.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 14.6 19 28. and so beyond the measure of Faith given though covered with great pretences and shews of Humility nor by tempering their Doctrine to the humours of Men to please them and get applause from them nor with using quaint words or words of a strange language not understood If a strange Tongue inspired were to be silenced where it was not of the Hearers understood how much more that which is acquired by study 1 Cor. 2.4 5. Rom. 16.26 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Tit. 2.15 1 Pet. 4.11 1 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 1.1 5. all these things are to be avoided in this preaching and the preaching to be with Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit in the Testimony he hath given of Christ in the Scripture and so with all Power and Authority as the very Oracles of God and all this plain-speaking to Men not for Men to exercise their Wisdom to imagine a Riddle and study for a mysterious sense but for the obedience of Faith that Men as Fools in their own wisdom may be wise in credit-giving to this Testimony and so believe and obey in
I might shew how Christ is here the chief Master Doctor and Rabbi and the Prophets and Apostles the Masters of this Assembly the Scriptures the Library the Testimony of Jesus the Original the Holy Spirit therein the Interpreter the way of Learning and coming to knowledge is Attention and believing the Fellows and Collegiates are all that are built upon Jesus and so one in this spiritual house the pupils are all that like or desire to learn the Doctrine of the Gospel though yet hardly believing or weak and unstable in the Faith or believing the Truth of the Gospel and professing it but not so prevailed with by it as to be united to Christ and framed to his Minde so as to have his word in their heart these not yet to be Teachers but Learners but the residue all Teachers according to the measure of Faith and Gifts given them and their acts are Fellowship in the Gospel and to those acts the World may come also to hear And all the Ministers God approveth and sendeth forth to minister Gospel to the World they are brought up in and sent forth of this University being Members thereof as is proved in that already said and yet I would add one proof more even from the Prayer of our Saviour for these in John 17. where having prayed for the fitness furniture and blessing on the ministration of those immediately called chosen taught and set forth by himself he proceedeth in that Prayer saying Joh. 17.6 7 8 9 11 14 15 16 17 18 19 vers 20. Neither do I pray for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word which is no other but his own word he received of the Father and gave to them and so it is through their Ministration of the word and so the same word and as ministred and recorded by these first VVitnesses who were immediately sent forth by him with this Ministration for the Obedience of Faith among all Nations and for all that believe through their word He prayeth Vers 21. That they all he saith not some onely or the chief Officers they shall chuse but the unfeigned Believers even they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us VVhich cannot be meant of the Essence of God because he speaketh of Ministration nor is it meant onely of being one in him by the Spirit of Faith relying on him though this be included yea the union of the Father and Son in will for Ministration and of the Father in the Son and the Son in the Father and so the union between them is more then so yea I may say there is such an union between them as is higher then we can conceive and incommunicable also though the benefit of it be communicable but the union here meant appears by that foregoing and this following with the scope of the business to be the union of the Spirit for Ministration as the Father was and is one and of one minde in Christ that he should make peace by his blood and then preach peace that Men might believe and that in preaching peace he should speak his words that he gave him and seek his ends for glorifying him in displaying and extending Salvation to Men and eternally saving believing Men. So Christ was one in and with the Father in all this and in the same love with the same design did both make peace by his Blood and preach peace in the same words and for the same end the Father gave them to him and so are they one in the same love and design for the good of Mankinde in this Ministration of peace-preaching to bring Men in to believe and to preserve Believers to eternal Life And now having committed the Ministry of Reconciliation by peace-preaching to his first VVitnesses and prayed for and begun to frame them into union with him in this design he prayeth therewith for all that unfeignedly believe on him through their word and so are united to him by Faith and Love that they may be framed by the same Spirit of Faith to his minde and so be one in the Father and him in the same love and the same design for carrying forth this Ministration as he did and to the same ends though through like sufferings as he did and as the first VVitnesses did that so we may be one together with them and all one in the Father and the Son in this love and design pursued in the same way for Ministration And this to be the union meant appears also in the next words which are That the world that is such as yet believe not may believe that thou hast sent me which can be no less Vers 21. then that through their Ministration carried forth in such love and union of Spirit and way such as yet believe not may believe c. And this to be the meaning the next words shew Vers 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them which is not the glory he had with the Father before the world was and with which he is now glorified at the Father's right hand for that was not then as yet given to him as he was Man but to be given him on the finishing his whole work for suffering and overcoming death and his own immediate personal Ministration and his Ascension into Heaven and offering up the acceptable sacrifice and then was that glory given him so that of this glory he speaketh not but of the glory of the Ministration given him immediately of the Father which was a more great and glorious Ministration then ever before given to Moses or any of the Priests or Prophets or John Baptist and so it 's called the glorious Gospel And this Ministration with commission with power and authority and Spirit he received immediately from the Father and so gave it as immediately to the first VVitnesses and now here mediately through the belief of their Gospel unto all unfeigned Believers in every age that through their word believe to them and all them our Saviour gives this glory of the commission power and authority for Ministration Vers 22. and that to these ends both that they may be one even as we are one in that union forementioned and so Vers 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one I in them The Nature of all Mankinde is in me in which I have died their Death and suffered the Curse that was due for their sins and made peace for them by my Blood and offered the acceptable Sacrifice and obtained eternal Redemption and received in the Nature of Man Remission of sins and fulness of Spirit Grace Truth and Eternal Life for Men that in believing Men might receive me and in receiving me receive it all And now these believing though not by my immediate personal Ministration yet by my mediate Ministration through the
VVord recorded by my first Witnesses that received it immediately from me they in believing come in to me receiving my words they receive me So that I by my word and in that by my Spirit with all the heavenly riches and treasures I am filled with in their Nature am thus spiritually in them and pray that I may so be still and more abundantly Vers 23. 23. And thou in me the Father is in the Son and all that is the Fathers is the Sons so that as he that in believing receiveth the Gospel doth receive Christ therein and he that receiveth Christ receiveth the Father and so from both that Holy Spirit that uniteth both to Father and Son and frameth to oneness of minde love and design and so for that farther end also here exprest that being made perfect in one and so in this unity of Spirit in love and design their design may prosper in this That the world may know that thou hast sent me the Saviour of the World and that the World through me might be saved and so that I am the Christ and that thou hast loved them these that believe in me and in love minister Gospel to them in my Name as thou hast loved me Which if any one come to know and believe what a one Christ is and how he loves and approves them and their Ministration who also are as patterns to them this will draw them also to believe and be pulling them out of the VVorld into the Church Joh. 4.10 1 Cor. 2.8 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 4. Joh. 17.24 The next Petition is for glory to be conferred on them after their Ministration the hope whereof is an encouragement and support to them in their Ministration through all sufferings And by all this our Saviour gives us to understand both who be his chosen Ministers and also what their Furniture is and the same that appears in our Saviour's Prayer is to be seen likewise in the practice and counsel of the Apostles who were so filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit as to be unerring both in delivery of their Doctrine and direction for the Ministration 2 Tim. 1.13 Gal. 1.8 2 Tim. 3.4 4.5 1 Cor. 11.2 23. 2 Tim. 1.14 1 Tim. 6.20 so as it is well done of their followers to keep both Gospel and Ministration as they delivered the same and they committed the Gospel and things thereof to such as were known to be faithful and endued with the Holy Ghost and charged them to commit the same to faithful Men not limiting it to outward Officers though in such an Epistle as was most needful to name them 2 Tim. 2.2 if such a thing had been intended but to faithful Men whether such Officers or no. But more need not be said of this enough is shewn before proving these the spiritual House the royal Priesthood the chosen Generation his chosen Ministers to shew forth his praises But yet a word or two more to make plain the Furniture those following Ministers have and in this Revelation of Christ we shall also finde that for Furniture 1. They have the VVord or Gospel discovering Christ Joh. 14 21 22 23. 1 Joh. 2.14 24. Isa 59.21 2 Joh. 2. Eph. 3.17 Heb. 12.22 Isa 78.16 46.13 1 Pet. 2.6 Isa 40.9 and so Christ in that Gospel in their heart and so are come to Sion and so are of Sion and the Foundation is laid in Sion that is Christ as set forth in the Gospel for Sion to hold forth to others the same Foundation that they may come in and be built thereon yea this word hath come from Sion Jerusalem that is above and is the Mother of us all Joel 2.23 Gal. 4.26 and is in the Heart Fellowship and Ministration of Sion that part of it which though in heart and Spirit above Phil. 3.20 Col. 3.1 yet in Sion hath God taken up his rest and will abundantly bless her Psa 132.13 14 15. Joel 3.21 Psa 77.2 he dwelleth there yea the Lord loveth the Gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob besides And so we may say This Ministration more then all that fore-went it So that the word of Truth of Life and Salvation is here as in the outward record so in the understanding and heart and floweth forth from hence as a first fruits of that Isa 2.3 Mic. 4.2 2 They in believing and imbracing this word have with it the Holy Spirit Isa 59.21 Rom. 8 9 10. 1 Joh. 2.20 3.24 Eph. 4.7 2 Cor. 12.4 7 11. Jer. 30.17 Isa 35.2 3. Cant. 6.8 9. Cant. 1.7 8. effecting the Spirit and Minde of Christ in them all and in some good measure enduing them with all the first mentioned spiritual gifts among them to every one some though not to all and every one alike Thus are they furnished And this may be truely said of Sion whom no Man seeketh after they are in worldly appearance made so like their Lord and there are so many Concubines though this Beloved be but one and the onely one of her Mother that for discerning her that prayer is needful Shew me where thou feedest c. and the direction there given needful and to such as do discern it it may be said as Psal 48.12 13 14. But now because these following VVitnesses that part of Sion yet below have not the Gospel and these spiritual gifts so immediately from Christ and so not in so full a measure as that they are alwayes infallibly freed from erring in every particular thing altogether in delivery of Doctrine and Ministration as the first witnesses were but as they have received their Doctrine and Ministration mediately in belief of and receiving the Doctrine and Gospel as delivered by them that are Sion now above so their preservation from error in Doctrine and Ministration is mediate likewise Prov. 6.20 23. 1 Tim. 4.15 16. 2 Tim. 3.14 17. Col. 3.16 even in heeding the Gospel received from God and Christ by them and delivered by them to us and so both the Commandment of our Father and the Law of our Mother in one to be imbraced and kept by us and so we are directed and commanded and promise of guidance given us therein And so 3. Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 They are furnished with Matter Rules Directions and Cautions in this Doctrine of the Gospel as delivered and recorded by the Apostles and which they also in believing it have in their hearts savingly working And this helpful 1. For speaking right and wholesome words in Faith and Love and to edification Pro. 22.20 21. Eccles 12.10 11. learning and comfort Rev. 19.10 2 Tim. 1.13 1 Cor. 4.6 and 14.3 2. 1 Cor. 4.6 Prov. 22.21 Rom. 15.4 Col. 2 18. For keeping measure and due order in our speakings that upon no pretence or presumption of Learning Parts Invention or Office we presume to speak of things we have not seen in the word of
works be manifold yet he is but one God he is one and so the Holy Spirit that proceedeth from the Father and the Son and discovereth Christ and God in Christ and beareth forth the Testimony though his Gifts and Operations be manifold yet the Spirit is one in the same yea the Father and Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same God one in Essence Will Design Testimony and Power and God in Christ propitious to Men and having prepared Eternal Life in Christ for Men this is the Object of Faith to be preached and believed and if this were not there could be no such thing as the Gospel calls Faith to be preached obeyed or enjoyed And this is one 2. The Grace of Faith or that believing in the Gospel that is called Faith it is that believing which is begot in the heart by the Discovery and Testimony Heb. 11.13 Joh. 6.40 Act. 6.7 Rom 3.25 10.8 9 10. the Spirit in the means he useth hath given of Christ in which a Man discerneth the Truth and Goodness testified is perswaded of it in his heart And this is one one way and manner of believing that Object of Faith and from thence it is called Faith and so truely still one Faith the Object discovered having drawn to it self a believing 3. So when through the Operation of Grace believed the Heart imbraceth the Object believed Heb. 11.13 Rom. 10.10 and so by Faith is united to it in trust and well-pleasedness c. it is still but one and the same Faith the same Object uniting to it self whence indeed it hath the name of Faith so as still Faith is one and but one II. That as Faith is used for the prevalency of the Object of Faith drawing the Hearer and Beholder to believe and so for the Grace of Faith or Believing though the Faith be one yet there are divers Degrees in and of it and divers Acts and Operarations of it 1. One Degree of Believing which in respect of the Testimony by which it is begot and which it believeth Joh. 2.23 12.42 and which if abiden in it will unite to may be called faith is yet short of a real new-birth it is such a belief of the Gospel-Testimony as according to light seen one believeth Jesus to be the Christ so far as to count his saying true and yet not so overcome by that believed to see and acknowledge his own vileness and the vanity of all his own best righteousness and his sin in not sooner believing by evidences foregiven and so see not yet the fulness and liberty in Christ for them and so are not by the knowledge of the Truth made single to Christ they are sprinkled with water and moved with Spirit but not yet born of VVater and Spirit they believe Righteousness but not yet with the heart unto Righteousness they are by the hearing of Faith so far born of God as to believe Jesus to be the Christ and confess him to be the Lord but not so far born of God as to be emptied of themselves and united to Christ and so are not yet inwardly renewed and regenerated and so though in the outward Court not yet really translated out of the Power of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's dear Son and yet even these Believers if they abide in this Faith of the Testimony of the Gospel and give heed to the plain sayings thereof Rom. 10.9 Joh. 8.30 31. and abide therein they shall be saved shall know the Truth and the Truth will make them free To say these did but pretend or seem and profess to believe and so are said to believe in respect of their seeming and prosession to believe in the judgement of Charity is too much presumption and sawciness and derogation from the Holy Ghost for the Evangelists writ this after Christ was ascended and they indued with the Holy Ghost and so writ by his inspiration so that those sayings such did believe were not the sayings of Men imperfect in knowledge and judging according to the judgement of Charity by conjecture but the sayings of the Holy Ghost that knoweth all things the Spirit of Truth that cannot erre or be deceived And he saith they believed on his Name they believed on him and who will be so proud of his VVisdom and Knowledge as to direct the Spirit of the Lord and undertake to counsel him and teach him to speak more rightly and safely and say they seemed to believe they professed to believe in the judgement of Charity they ought to be counted Believers though in the issue it appears they did not believe That which some bring to help this conceit helps it not Joh. 2.24 25. namely that Christ did not commit himself to them because he knew all Men c. for it is not said Jesus knew they believed not Gen. 6.5 8.21 or that he knew there was no truth in their believing but he knew what was in Man an evil and unfaithful disposition c. and he knew that his Words or Miracles that brought these to believe on him were not so submitted to as that their evil disposition was yet mortified and they made faithful to him and so they might have served him as he did Joh. 5.14 15. but believe the Spirit saith they did And so in the other place the Holy Ghost affirmeth That as Christ spake many believed on him Joh. 8.30 31. and that our Saviour then spake to those Jews that believed on him And again the Holy Ghost faith Among the chief Rulers many believed on him Joh. 12.42 but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him So that these were Believers and therefore so called and not called Believers because they seemed or professed to believe which the Holy Ghost saith they did not nay the praise of Men had that prevalency with them that it kept them from profession of believing though it had not so great prevalency with these as with those Joh. 5.44 whom it kept from believing or yet put them in an incapacity of it so that these pointed to did believe is evident that it was not a feigned but true believing is evident for else in continuance in it they could not be saved that they were yet short of the knowledge of the Truth c. is express that if they continued in his words received by this Faith they were even then his Disciples and they should know the Truth and the Truth should make them free is express so that here is one Degree of Faith yet short of a real New-Birth which yet abiden in is certain to be effected and was after in many of these as appears in comparing John 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 18. and John 7.50 51. with John 19.38 39 40. 2. The other Degree of believing in which by the prevalency of the Light seen Col. 1 12 13. 1 Pet. 2.3 5 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9. and Grace believed the Heart
is convinced and brought off all things to accept of and confide in Jesus and so brought out of the power of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son and so by his Love believed framed to love him and that this is true Faith indeed none that I know but the deniers of Jesus to be the Christ gainsay yet is this but the farther Efficacies of the same Object of Faith beheld and so one and the same Faith still though in this degree united and made one with the Object so as it was not in the former Degree yet even in this Degree also there are divers Degrees and so some weak Joh. 2.13 14. 2 Thes 1.1 3. Rom. 3.21 22 25 26 27. Act. 6.7 2 Pet. 1.1 some stronger some stablish'd some Babes some young or strong Men some Fathers yea and in every of these Degrees some may be more grown then others and be before others yet all still in one and the same Faith and still also in this one Faith 3. There be divers Acts and Operations of this Faith 1 Thes 2.13 Act. 10.43 Gal. 2.3 5. 2 Tim. 1.7 Joh. 7.38 39. Gal. 5.22 23. Gal. 5.6 Rom. 10.10 Psal â—6 1 10. as to say a receiving Act in which is received the Word or Testimony and therein Remission of sins Justification Sanctification Liberty of access to God the Spirit of Faith Love Power and a sound Minde a springing act raising up prizings of Christ Love of God and Brethren bowels of Mercy c. a streaming Act Faith working through Love and so bringing forth the services of Love in Confession Prayers Praises Works of Mercy and Righteousness yet the Faith it self is still one and the same and so called the same the same Spirit of Faith yea when it produced Miracles 2 Cor. 4.13 Act. 4.10 11 12. the Faith was still the same though the Act extraordinary The belief of the History Rom. 10.8 9. is the belief of the Testimony of Christ which whoso believeth with his heart shall be saved and when through the Grace believed one is brought upon Christ he is justified from all sins past and in that believing receiveth continual justification Rom. 3.25 26 27. Gal. 5.7 Mat. 24.13 and if any depart from the Faith that proves temporary but he that endureth to the end shall be eternally saved the Faith it self being one still and but one Faith III. As Faith is used to express the Object of Faith Heb. 1.1 so it hath been reyealed for the full and cleer Demonstration of it at divers times and by divers parcels and degrees and at last fully and cleerly by Jesus Christ and yet that Object of Faith still one and the same each Revelation agreeing with and opening the former and so still one as hath been shewn in this whole third Part of the Treatise And because there is no Faith by the Holy Spirit called Faith but that which by his Discovery of this Object is drawn towards it in believing that the Believer might so be united to it Therefore the Faith is one yea and this Demonstration to lead us into unity because as it unites Believers in one Foundation to one Head so it makes them of one Heart and Fellowship Eph. 4.4 For there is one Body that is one Mystical Body or Corporation Fellowship and Society though the Members of this Corporation and their Offices be many yet the Corporation and Society in Faith Love and Fellowship of their Priviledges is one and all bear one Name 1 Cor. 12.12 20. Eph. 2.19 22. 1 Joh. 1.3 Cant. 6.9 Gal. 3.16 29. Hos 11.1 Rom. 8.17 Gal. 3.36 Eph. 4.4 1 Joh. 5.6 Joh. 15.26 Eph. 2.17 18. 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 2.16 Eph. 4.4 sa 45.22 Joh. 3.14 16. 2 Thes 2.14 Eph. 1.18 Eph. 4.5 Rom. 10.6 15. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 Thes 1.10 Joh. 1.12 13. Eph. 4.5 the Name of Christ being called Christians And so there is but one true Church and Sanctuary that is united to Christ and shall be in and with him for ever and by vertue of their Union with Christ they are all in respect of kinde one Seed and one Son though in respect of their several particular Persons Heirs Children and Sons of God by Faith And as there is One Body so there is in it One Spirit even the Spirit of the Father and the Son that beareth forth the Testimony of Christ and enables to believe in Christ and brings to God by Christ and into this Fellowship working the Minde of Christ and so called the Spirit of Faith by whom all he calleth and so all Believers are called in One Hope of their calling The same Grace proclaimed The same looking and believing required and for the same end To be saved and to the same Hope in believing even the obtaining Eternal Life and Glory and so One Lord even the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily and so One Faith as one Object so one Manner of believing which is Faith indeed that is produced by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel and closeth with Christ the Object of Faith and so also One Baptism one kinde and end of the gracious Operation of the Holy Spirit in Baptizing into Christ and through his Name by all the Mediums of baptizing 1 Cor. 12.12 13. Rom. 6.3 6. Gal. 3.26 27 28. called also Baptisms into conformity to Christ in his Death that they may partake of the vertue of his Resurrection and so into the Fellowship of his body drinking into one Spirit and so becoming of one minde and that the minne of Christ the Son of God even as also there is 1 Cor. 6.11 Phil. 2.1 2 5. Eph. 4.6 Eph. 1.3 17. 1 Cor. 2.6 Mat. 10.40 Rom. 16.20 25 26. 1 Pet. 5.10 â— Psa 138.8 One God and Father of all who is above all and through al and in them all that are Believers he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him and shmes forth his Glory through him that Men might believe and so in and through him he is the Father of all that believe in Christ and above all able to overthrow all their Enemies and Opposers and to perfect all that concerneth them all so as all flows from and leads into Union and this Union of the Spirit bringing into the Union of the acknowledgement of the Son of God is that which the Spirit teacheth and to which all the Degrees and Operations tendeth whence we are exhorted to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace 2 Cor 114. Gal. 1.6 7 8. and so but one Faith which the Gospel calleth Faith and he that would finde out another Faith really true and holy in its kinde must first finde out another true Body that is the Church another Spirit another Jesus to be the Christ another Gospel and another Hope to call to and another God all real true and holy in their
his beloved People as now they are are counted for the Seed and so let us count as God counteth that is the best and safest for us Now this Seed he saith Christ is to see to upon the account of his sufferings if by see he means a Seed to see to he speaks short for it is upon the account of his suffering Resurrection sacrifice fulness of Spirit and means using and God's glorifying him and bearing witness of him by which in that gracious donation they are in their times drawn in to him Isa 53.10 11. 55 4 5. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. and so made his Seed If by see he mean see to or look to to preserve c. he is in that short too for that is not onely upon the account of all before said but also in an especial manner upon the account of the Father's enabling them in the Testimony of Christ to discern Christ and believe on him and so giving them to him in the heavenly call Joh. 6.40.45 47. 10.27 28 29. 17.2 6 7 8. Heb. 9.15 7.25 causing them to hear and follow him and so on the account of his Mediation of the New Testament for the Called by vertue of his Oblation and for these who only are the Seed of Christ indeed If it were granted to Mr. Owen though in his words they cannot be though they do sin and transgress yet God hath put all these gracious Obligations upon himself to reduce them by corrections and afflictions but never to proceed to final sentence of utter rejection If this I say were granted yet it makes nothing for his other Sayings mentioned here nor against any thing here said in and upon the 2 Tim. 2.8 to the 19 vers for it is before proved Par. 4. ch 5. That many may believe the promise displaied in the Testimony of Christ that are not yet born of thâ—â—romise and so are not of this Seed and yet continuing in that believing shall become to be born of the Promise and so be counted of the Seed but by departing may never come to be of it and so be utterly rejected for whom all this faithful Saying and Warning is needful and profitable both for Teachers to minde them of and for them to heed and minde But let us to the Testimony with his Saying the place most probable it might be wrested from is Psal 89.28 33. consider it both in Type and in Truth and first in Type The Covenant was with David and stood fast with him for him and his Seed so far as he would though chastning his Seed for their Transgression yet not take his Mercy from him as he did from Saul 1 King 1.11 12 13. 15.4 5 that he should have no Son to sit upon his Throne which Covenant is yet firm to David and a first Fruits of the performance related yet what is befallen many of David's Children as well as of Israel and Judah the Word and Works of God declare and shew yet is not his Covenant broken nor his Mercy taken from David But now for the Truth it self which is Christ the Son of David and the choice David Certain it is The Covenant in the full extent of it stands fast with him his Seed will God make to endure for ever and his Throne as the Dayes of Heaven I will not press this here That this is a thing to come the whole Seed and such a manner of Seed is not yet come in and presented before him as shall be when he comes to take to him his great Power and Raign Eph. 5.25 26 27. and sit upon the Throne of David his Father He is now in his Mediation sending forth Spirit in the Testimony of him preparing Believers that they may be such a Seed as in whom the new Birth is compleated But lecting this pass to speak of them onely in whom the new Birth is begun and of them mark what he saith If his Children for sake my Law c. then will I visit c. their iniquity with stripes nevertheless my loving-kindness will not I utterly take from him Minde the words for I will not press the change of the terms nor deny that in what follows his Seed shall indure for ever his Children are meant Rom. 9. â— 8.16 17. 〈◊〉 3.8 16 26 29. as if Christ his Seed were the term fit to set them forth when compleated and till they come to that they are counted for the Seed the Children of God by Faith and the Seed of Abraham begot by the Gospel given Abraham to minister yet not in their own persons fully actually 〈◊〉 of God till the Resurrection But minde what he saith of these Children now he saith not I will not take my Mercy utterly from any of them but My Covenant shall stand fast with him I will not take my mercy utterly from him c. which can be no less then My love mercy faithfulness and Covenant shall not fail to be in to upon and through him so as I will be propitious and continue loving-kindness to all his Children all that believe in him and love him yea if they go astray I will correct them to reduce them and in receiving correction my mercy and loving kindness in him shall be ever upon and through him to receive them again c. but if they refuse c. yet I will preserve and multiply a seed to him I will not fail him And if we minde it such is our Saviour's complaint for the peoples untowardness Isa 44.4 5 6 10. and rejoycing in God's kindeness according to this Covenant like that in the Type so that here is great mercy and comfort held forth for all Believers and encouragement for backsliders to receive correction and return and a motive to wait for the coming of Christ to sit on the Throne of David when all iniquity will be done away and this Covenant given and performed to all the Seed of Christ And though neither this place nor Isa 53.10 quoted by Mr. Owen bears out his Notion yet I desire the greatest comfort and hope it giveth should be believed to the utmost of believing but not that it should be abused according to fleshly reasoning Rom. 11.20 21 22. or Satanical Temptation to puff up Believers with pride or presumption to say or conceit Though we transgress c. we are God's Sons he cannot cast us off and reject us utterly but he must alter his Purpose break his Covenant c. which he cannot do and so they fall into that foolish confidence Peov. 14.16 The Devil himself may tempt a Man to such confidence yea he did so tempt though he could not fasten his Temptation on the Lord himself If thou be the Son of God if thou be sure of that as if he should say then the Promise belongs to thee and he mentions one as full and free as this or any we read of then cast thy self
in reverence of him have been forborn let become of our Opinions what will let God be True and every one that swerves from his sayings a Liar as for Saints by turning aside to fall depart c. Mr. Owen and all of his Opinion grant a falling may be and a grievous one also yea a departure though not total and final yet such as will be visited with grievous corrections such as may be as fire in their bones And we believe and Mr. Goodwin nowhere denieth Ier. 3.6 14 22. Hosea 14.2 4. Iude 22 23. but that there are Promises for these departed ones still That upon God's correcting recalling and renewed strife with them in which he will not be wanting in repenting and returning they shall be forgiven and received into former favour and renewed to former gracious consolation and hope again What needed then this harsh Censure and what profiteth the Opinion of the infallible certainty of the Saints perseverance When some of the Saints never attain this certainty Pag. 294. and some lose it in whole or in part yea many of the Saints who are not enabled all their dayes to mix the Promise of perseverance with faith and on that account do never all their dayes get free from some bondage c. So saith Mr. Owen whereas all that are justified by faith in Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 2. Gal. 1.1 have peace with God c. What is contended for If it were to help the Saints to persevere and to the Faith thereof then Mr. Goodwin his warning of the danger to avoid it and setting forth the Foundation on which they may safely rest and not be deceived is more farthering that business then the maintaining an impossibilty of final falling and set forth no Foundation for Believers to rest on for it in which they may enjoy it And surely these gracious Promises given to Believers abiding in the Faith with all the Cautions mixt with them are very helpful to Saints perseverance yet seeing there are Promises to help yet farther I will endeavour to quote some of them for the Reader to turn to and mind CHAP. 3. Of Promises to Believers that they may abide in the Faith THe third sort of Promises are to Believers that they may abide in their Faith and holiness Prov. 28.26 and not be left to trust on their own faithfulness for their abiding which would be unsafe for them and folly in them yea if any of them because of their love faithfulness and zeal toward the Lord or any attainments got or resolution made should thence resolve and conclude Isa 50.10 11. Mat. 26.33 35 Rom. 11 18 20. and rest thereon that they shall not depart from him or forsake him this though in the best Saints would certainly presage a fall for their standing and perseverance therefore that it may be by Faith Hab. 2.3 4 Gal. 2.20.1 Pet. 1.5 Gal. 5.5 and so that they may live by Faith and be kept by the power of God through Faith which is the onely way of attaining God in and through Christ hath given many gracious Promises which being mixed with Faith in Believers they will be enabled to follow the Lord fully as Joshua did and so be preserved till they come to the heavenly as he did to the earthly Canaan Psal 125. for the Lord forsaketh none that trust in him they shall be as Mount Sion c. Let us then search the Scripture where these Promises are 1. Psal 84.12 29.11 5.12 Isa 26.3 4. Jer. 17.7 8. They are blessed that believe or trust in the Lord he will bless them with peace and compass them about with favour as with a shield and keep them in perfect peace so as they shall take root and be established be green and fruitful and not wither 2. Deut. 33.3 Ioh. 10.28 29. Psa 18.30 Deut. 23.25 27. Rom. 16.20 Mat. 16.18 They are in the hands and under the wings and protection of the Lord and none can pluck them out of his hands so that he is and will be a Buckler to them and an Enemy to their Enemies and turn them back yea he will tread Satan under their Feet and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them 3. He will preserve and strengthen them he will preserve their souls Psal 31.23 24. 97.10 Prov. 2.8 Deut. 31.6 Heb. 13.5 Psa 37.28 their way their feet in his way 1 Sam. 2.9 yea he will never leave them nor forsake them but preserve them for ever so as they shall be safe through all dangers and set on high c. Psal 91. throughout 4. Isa 57.13 Psal 34.22 They shall possess the promised Land and inherit his holy Mountain and none of them shall be desolate Can any that believe Christ and therethrough trust God in his Word and so believe his Promises but that according to their Faith they are alike perswaded of his graciousness power truth and faithfulness according to these Promises to preserve their Souls in Faith and them in his Grace and way through Faith unto Salvation in his abundant goodness and truth And to help Believers to this believing and confidence these Promises are brought nigher to us Rom. 13.11 2 Tim. 1.9 10. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. and made more open and easie to be believ'd then when first made before the first coming of Christ in that now 5. Christ hath come in the flesh and Jesus is the Christ and he The Lord Jesus Christ The Son of God The Son and Saviour of Man The Head and Brother of all Believers who hath suffered for our sins overcome death offered the acceptable Sacrifice and is exalted and immeasurably filled in the Nature of Man with the Holy Ghost and in him all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen all the Promises are his 2 Cor. i. 20. Joh. 1.12.13 Joh. 6.37 38 40 7.2 6. and to him it belongs by vertue of his purchase and the donation of the Father to give the Dignity and Priviledges to be the Sons of God to Believers and to keep raise and give eternal life to those by the Fathers testifying of him drawn in to believe in him as hath been shewn in the Declaration of the Purposes which are opened in the Promises And he the Lord Jesus Christ telleth us plainly That his goodness the choice benefits of all his sufferings and Sacrifice and Mediation extendeth not to the Father to help or add any thing to his perfection but to the Saints that are in the Earth Psa 16.2 3. compassed with infirmities and to the excellent yea even the Spirits of just Men made perfect who have not yet received all their happiness in whom namely those Saints both that live by Faith and that have died in the Faith is all his delight And he communicateth the Priviledges of Sons to all that believe in him and they are born of God and have eternal Life Joh.
make themselves again as the Dog and as the Sow How great is their sin and how just their Judgement And as for their disposition hee confesseth that was once changed so that the sin here mentioned suits that falling away mentioned in Heb. 6.4.6 without any impeachment to the goodnesse of the Faith such have fallen from 2 Pet. 2.20 1.4 the excellency whereof condemneth their falling 2. But hee saith again though their faith holinesse light love joy zeal obedience bee all true in their kind and many of them do worthily and yet they attain not to the Faith of Gods Elect neither doth Christ live in them nor is the life which they lead by the Faith of the Son of God so hee Marke here that this is not to bee understood of them as before they came to the Faith Nor yet of them as after they are departed from the Faith but of them as and while the Faith is in them and they abide in it And hee eonfesseth their faith really true in its kind Pages 217 218. And it s before proved there is but one kind of Faith that is really true set forth in the Scripture And that very Faith also set forth in Heb. 6.1 2 3 4 5. Nor are wee treating of a worldly or humane faith or a faith begotten by humane strift but of a Faith effected by the Spirit of God and built on Jesus Christ that is the Foundation and the heavenly gift of which they have tasted Mat. 3.17 12 18. Isa 42.1 And is not Jesus Christ the Son of God in whom hee is well pleased And so Gods Elect Doth the Gospel hold forth and call to any other or doth the holy Spirit witness of glorifie and draw to beleeve in any other but Jesus Christ Doth not every good and perfect giving come down from the Father of lights who enlived them and quickened up all these Principles in them if not Christ by his Spirit what is that which was once so precious that the Apostates after departure crucifie to themselves tread under foot c. Is it not Christ the Son of God his blood even the blood of the Covenant and his Spirit even the Spirit of Grace which they so despite Yea if it were not so their sin and danger had not been so great and there would bee more hope of their recovery again It were better for us to forbear such rash assertions and glorifie God in keeping to the expressions of Scripture concerning Faith and the operations of Grace although some bee departed from it as is forenoted I planted thee a hoble Vine Ier 2.21 27 31. and such of you as are fallen from grace yee were called to liberty Gal. 5.2 3.4 Gal. 5. 1. 3 4 5. yea were called into the grace of Christ yee received the spirit of Adoption yee did run well c. So as wee fault the backsliders from such faith to aggravate their sin and fault not the faith to extenuate their sin which is more or less vile according to the excellency or meanness of the faith departed from But Mr. Owen hath yet more sayings to impeach this Faith as 3 In pag. 423. Hee calleth it an inferiour work of the Holy Ghost causing a great alteration or change c. when the persons bee not regenerated or made new Creatures c. It had been good hee had explicated the meaning of his terms for it s already proved the compleating of the work of Regeneration and making new Creatures is in the Resurrection of the just and that the first fruits is in begetting us by his word to beleeve in his Son But that the Holy Ghost operateth more or less in giving the Testimony of Christ working repentance from dead works and faith towards God to work any change or alteration like Regeneration that is not it according to the measure and degrees of his working none that know God and Christ or the Spirit according to Gospell declaration will beleeve that many fain and pretend what they are not that many resist his operations that many are not yet prevailed with to beleeve on him Is true But these are not charged with this forementioned great sin of departing from the Faith but only for disobedience to the Faith and the Servants of God may both use means and wait with patience and hope when God will give these repentance for they are not come to this impossibility of the fallen ones treated of who when fallen from so great grace and operations of the Spirit It will not bee found a true excuse to say there was but some inferiour work of the Spirit vouchsafed us Ier. 2.5.21.31 Isa 5 4.5-7 to work something like regeneration which was not it when God shall say wherin was I wanting what could have been done more c. but yet more is said by Mr. Owen Pag. 4 26 6. 4 Pag. 124. Every person under these works formerly mentioned and partakers of this light gifts and knowledge c. Bee capacitated for the sin against the Holy Ghost Surely to use such an expression by way of derogation from the Truth goodness and gracious ends and tendancy of the works of the Holy Ghost in inlightening men in the knowledge of Christ and bringing in to beleeve in him and thereby working in all the powers and faculties of their soul such change c. as to say as I hope hee will not say men are thereby capacitated to sin against the Holy Ghost is very great presumption and of dangerous consequence without some better explanation For might not some reply and say All manner of sin and Blasphemy shall bee forgiven unto men But the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall never bee forgiven And so it is lesse dangerous to abide in ignorance rudeness and prophaneness and neglect of all Ordinances then by attending them to come to this knowledge of Christ Faith change gifts c. without which wee are out of the danger of so great sinning but in having such faith c. wee are capacitated so to sin which yet would bee a false plea even for those charged with such a sin Mark 3.28.30 who were short of those wee treat of much more for these yet thus much will bee granted If God had not made the Angels holy and set them in so glorious an habitation they could not have sinned so highly in leaving their habitation but the goodness of God in so making and furnishing them did capacitate them to have abiden in which abiding they might have been established And their own wilfull aspiring capacitated and occasioned their falling If God had not made the first publick man righteous hee couldnot have fallen from it as hee did But the Righteousness in which God made him and the furniture wherewith hee endued him did capacitate him to have abiden in his integrity And his forgetting the word of the Lord and listening to Satans temptation did capacitate
one man had by high Treason procured on himself and all his posterity the sentence of ejection from all his lands and inheritance and of suffering for ever an ignominious and tormenting death being for ever put under the displeasure wrath and hatred of him against whom the treason was committed and yet the execution deferred till the Traytor have twenty children And in the sentence passed this reserve that the third seventh tenth and fifteenth of that mans children shall be freed from the execution of the sentence and be accepted as sons into favour with the King and enjoy the inheritance though these may be born as sinful and ill-deserving as the rest yet can they not be said to be born or by birth to be the children of the wrath and displeasure of the King even as the other seeing even by their very birth the persons so born were appointed to such freedome favour and happiness as the rest were excluded from before they were born but if none so provided for but all alike before their birth excluded then were they alike the children of wrath or else not This Simily illustrates the Text proveth and Mr. Owen confesseth All are by nature the children of wrath one even as another And so as Adams sons none differenced from others by any such election before their being or by a first birth 2 If by Nature be meant the corrupt disposition with which from our first father we are all naturally infected and so according to the lusts of that disposition what ever means were used towards us more than other yet we according to the course of this world and the motions of Satan walked in fulfilling the wills of the flesh And so were by Nature the children of wrath even as others If we take it thus as surely also we may then it still overthrows the forementioned fancy for to be elect to Son-ship and inheritance and to be well-beloved Isa 42.1 with Mat. 12.18 and under well-pleasedness is one and the same by our Saviours opening the word to be under wrath and under compassion may well stand together but to be under wrath and well-pleasedness stands not together nor are any that are without Christ and out of him Rom. 5.4 1 Cor. 15.45 46 47.48 1 Pet. 2.5 9. 1 Thess 5.3.4 Rom. 9 25 26. chosen or elected in him the natural man is first the spiritual afterward as with the head so with the members who are the elect and chosen is fore-declared and they when elect are not children of wrath even as others nor as themselves sometimes were so that in this saying he hath intimately confessed the truth of their beleef he professedly opposeth 2. He saith That faith and holiness which in due time they are invested withall whereby they are made Beleevers and Saints and distinguished from all others what ever is an effect and fruit of and flows from Gods eternal purpose concerning their salvation and election The faith and holiness of those forementioned 1 Joh. 4.14 Joh. 3.16 17. wants nothing of this Was it not the purpose of God in sending forth his Son the Saviour of the world That the world through him might be saved And was it not in the same purpose of God Act. 26.17 18 3.26 Joh. 3.14 15 16. 15.26 16 14 15 1 Pet. 1.20 21 That his Son having in mans nature dyed for our sins and risen for our justification c. should be preached To turn men from darkness to light that whoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Is not this Jesus He of whom the holy Spirit testifieth and the things of whom he sheweth and so in glorifying him draweth men to beleeve in him And are not those so brought to beleeve in him beleevers indeed and Saints by calling And is not this faith produced by the love of God commended in giving his Son to dye for our sins and fastned on Christ the foundation receiving remission of sins Rom 5.8.10 and spiritual quickning through beleeving on him According to the purpose of God Is there any purpose of God for sending his holy Spirit to witness of Christ to work any other kinde of faith than this of the right kinde or is there any faith in Christ of the Spirits working that is not according to the purpose of God doth he speak of himself or work otherwise than as proceeding from the Father and the Son And are not these beleevers in their coming into Christ distinguished thereby from all that are unbeleevers and of the world what ever And who will say It is questionable whether the holy Spirit thus bringing any to beleeve in Christ be an effect and fruit of and flowing from the grace love and purpose of God concerning their salvation even that in beleeving they might be saved But these things have been often at large cleerlyshewn and proved before nor doth Mr. Owen here say This faith is a fruit of election he knows that with more shew of truth it might be said election is a fruit of this faith but yet that is not a good and right expression neither but the testimony of the holy Ghost is That they were chosen through the sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thess 2.13 14. and the beleef of the Truth to which they were called c. which is already fore-shewn And here yeelded in this saying concerning their salvation or election making these two terms in a sort signifying the same thing and so election a part of the salvation wrought in them and upon them and so the faith the same set out Heb. 6. 3 He saith Their faith being as to the manner of its bestowing peculiarly of the operation of God This agrees well with that set forth Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. It was God sure that in love gave his Son to do that for us in and by which he is the compleat object of faith And Jesus Christ in and through whom God commendeth his love to us is God even one and the same God blessed for ever And the Holy Ghost that proceedeth from the Father and the Son is one and the same God with the Father and the Son and that the Father and the Son is And he discovering and drawing on Christ the foundation and so illuminating and affording tastes of the heavenly gift as the effects repentance from dead works and faith towards God This is certainly both his peculiar operation and the operation of God And to deny this under any surmise of an unknown purpose or election were to derogate from the grace of God even of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost as if their works in this kind were not truly saving and gracious which I hope none wil say so that this faith abideth still right 4. He saith And as to its distinction from every other gift that upon any account what ever is so called in respect of its fountain termed The faith of Gods
by Christ that bought them and had the right to dispose of them even to be the Temple of the Holy Ghost and Instruments for him to use And thereby he shewed the heinousness of their sin if they defiled their bodies with fornication and made or abused The members of Christ to be one with and the members of an harlot Rom. 12.1.2 And so on this ground exhorted them to demean their bodies sutable to the purchase made by Christ and to the relation they now stood in with Christ and to the purity and holiness of the Spirit God had given them having upon the very same ground forewarned them That if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy 1 Cor. 3.16 17 18. intreating them not to be deceived c. and how doth the Spirit dwell in such for ever then yet after this he both reproveth warneth and exhorteth on the very same ground 2 Cor. 6.15 16.17 18 7.1 2. assuring them from the promises of God of the Spirits continuing and dwelling in them in their yeelding up to his teachings and therefore calls upon them for that even like as to the Hebrews chap. 6. I marvel this was quoted here to such an end which makes for that he opposeth Rom. 5.5 speaks of the operations of Grace beleeved not in some peculiar kinde of but in all true beleevers and so of that which hope in the exercise of faith doth Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. because of the love of God shed abroad in the heart of beleevers by the holy Ghost given unto them but not a word of the impossibility of any of the Saints by any ill requitals to deprive themselves of that love again and so of that holy Spirit yea he rather warns them to beware of that in the 6. and 8. Chapters following suitable to the warning given the Hebrews chap. 2. 3 4. 6. 1 Joh. 4.4.13 and those that follow speaks of the Spirit in beleevers a thing denied by none but not a word about the infallibility of his ever abiding unless as the former places directing to that in which it may so be but it may be these are quoted for proofs of that which follows in this Concernment which is no part of that contended for or against unless it be to countenance the distinction of two kinds of faith preferring one before another And so I will consider it CHAP. XX. Of the second part of the third Concernment HE saith Vpon the account of which inhabitation of the Spirit of Christ in them they have union with him that is one and the same Spirit dwelling in him the head and them the members Surely this may be truly said of all beleevers that abide in the faith of Christ during the time of their abiding in the faith and so of the faith as mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. yea the mixtures by him put in which are no parts of faith being taken out as they consist not with the rest even that first kinde of faith set forth by himself who hath not yet produced a better but even the same clad with some unjustifiable expressions so that this saying is true of all true beleevers or that in truth beleeve the testimony of Christ search the Scripture This I hope being granted of all that beleeve the Gospel of Christ that there are not two Spirits in Christ to procced from him to work faith in men and dwell in beleevers but onely one holy Spirit that is in the Father and in the Son the Spirit of the Father and of the Son sent by the Son from the Father and by the Father through the Son and in the name or Gospel of the Son one and the same holy Spirit And so where ever the Father and Son is he is and where ever he is the Father and Son is there with and by him Now minde what the Scripture saith Christ saith Mat. 10 40. Joh. 13.20 Mat 10.41 42. Luke 10.16 1 Joh. 4.6 Rev. 19.10 2 Cor. 5.19 20 Joh. 15.16 27. Act. 5.32 2 Thess 2.8 10 Hee that receiveth you receiveth me And he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me And this also spoken of his sending to preach the Gospel And though this in respect of his gracious acceptation and interpretation be true to all that for his sake receive such as beleeve in him yet it is principally meant of receiving his message by and from them And so he that hath the testimony of Jesus hath the Spirit of Prophesie And the holy Spirit witnesseth together with and in that testimony And Christ will in his time come again to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that beleeve because the Apostles testimony was received by them in the dayes of his patience while it was preached to them so that whoever in hearty beleeving receiveth this testimony It is Spirit and life to him Joh. 6.63 Rom. 1.16 1 Thess 2.13 Joh. 15.4 5 7. 1 Joh 1.3 2.24 yea the power of God to salvation to him and worketh effectually in him And as they abide in this word they abide in Christ and as this word abideth in them Christ by his Spirit abideth in them And they have fellowship with the Father and the Son and continue in both and that is his dwelling in them And so of the Galatians of whom Paul was sore afraid yet he doubteth not to affirm of them Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Gal 4.6 7 8 9. c. and yee have known God or rather are known of him And so 1 Joh. 44.13 speaketh in the very same language not of any peculiar kinde of Spirit that is in Christ and flows from him into some peculiar kinde of true beleevers but of that one holy Spirit which is in Christ and his efficacies which also in a measure is in all true beleevers And so verse 4. he salth 1 Joh. 4.4 Yee are born of God or of God and have overcome them that is the evil spirits in the world because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world where the opposition is not of beleevers to beleevers but of beleevers to the world and this he after expresseth both by the effects and the beleevers in whom it is saying What soever is born of God over cometh the world 1 Joh 5.4 5. And who is he that overcometh the world but he that beleeveth that Jesus is the Son of God this being our victory whereby we overcome the world even our faith So that all the way here is but one spirit and one faith Gal 4.9 1 Cor 8.3 1 Ioh 4.6 7.12 And these beleevers marked out by the same terms with others Hee that knoweth God that loves God and loveth his brother these saith he Are of God born of God and God dwelleth in them And to demonstrate who these are he saith
It is he that heareth us that is the Apostles in the word given by Christ to them and by them delivered and recorded Rom. 1.5 16 26. for the obedience of faith among all Nations He that heareth that is accepteth and receiveth our testimony that will bee set appointed and determined in his judgement faith and way by this word delivered by us as it is indeed the word of God and so accounting God true 2 Thess 1.10 1 Thess 2.13 Rom. 3.4 1 Ioh. 4.6.11 Ioh. 1.12 13 7.37 38 39. Ier 11.6 8. 34-6-10 6.17 who ever bee found a lyar c. And so according to this testimony beleeveth in Christ and loveth his brother He and so all such are born of God And that this obedience of faith is meant by hearing is cleer in such a like use of the word in another business And they that refuse this are said to refuse to hearken So on the other side He that heareth not the word of Christ as delivered by the Apostles that is doth not accept it and receive c. he is not of God not born of God that is for the present time he is not now of God what ever he may be hereafter or hath been heretofore And so the word heareth is used for a present and continued hearing Ier. 34.9 10 15 11.16 Ezek. 18.24 Jer. 34. those that were affirmed to have heard yea so to have heard as to have turned and done right in the sight of God yet these after backsliding are then said not to have hearkned unto God according to that word In the day that he sinneth all his righteousness shall not be mentioned to him So then while he thus heareth he receiveth the word as the word of God and therein Christ and his Spirit that frameth inclineth and inableth him to beleeve in God love God love his brother and so the same minde and spirit that is in Christ is in him 1 Cor. 2.16 Phil. 2.12 5. Col. 3.16 1 Ioh. 3.6.9.23 24. Hence so exhorted To let the word of Christ dwell plentifully in us For such are of God born of God and God dwelleth in them And so vers 13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit And so in chap. 3. where abiding in him and being born of him are put one for another And there it is affirmed That he that keepeth his commands in beleeving on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and loving one another dwelleth in him and he in him And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us which needs no further explication to know what Spirit it is and that it is but one Spirit and the same Spirit that is in Christ and in all unfained beleevers And that this Spirit dwelleth both in their society for ever and in every particular soul of them that are found beleevers so long as they abide in the faith he hath wrought and preserveth in them and on that ground are the exhortations given Chap. 3. 4. and of like signification the other quotations 2 Tim. 1.14 1 Cor. 6 17. 12.12 13. Eph. 4.4 There being but one Spirit and I hope for the manner of the spirits being in Beleevers there needs no contention It is not meant simply of the essence or being of the Spirit Psal 1 30.7.13 Ier. 23.23 24. Amos 9.2.3 Heb. 3.1 Mat. 3.45 Iob 37.27 28 31. which is one and the same with the Father and the Son and so filling heaven and earth with his presence yea so with all creatures and so in love and well-pleasedness with the righteous and in wrath with and against the wicked discerning all things so that here is some farther meaning of the Spirit being in beleevers And that is also a farther thing than the forth-putting of his divine force and power upholding and raising up and making operative something in the creature Psal 33 5 11 36.6 104.27 28-30 for so he upholdeth the earth and the heavens and causeth the Sun to shine and the clouds to carry about water and distill their drops and the earth to bring forth fruit and men to live and move He causeth the grass to grow but not to be sensible and knowing he causeth the beasts to live breathe Act. 14.17 17.25 28. Psal 66.7 Eccles 3.14 and move and to be sensible and so to know as far as by sense they may be brought to know but indueth them not with reason or an intelle tual understanding But men besides all the former he also indueth with reason Job 35 10. and understanding above the beasts And all this extended to and for men is an effect of God and so of one and the same Spirit extended to fallen mankinde through a Mediator and so by vertue of the ransome and mediation of Christ and that to gracious ends to lead men to repentance yet all this being but the supportation of the old creation for a time that time and means may be vouchsafed to bring men to repentance and so short of the New Creation It is said still to be in a natural way extended And men thus knowing are but natural and cannot by nature or all the wisdome thus attained perceive 1 Cor. 2.8 14. or receive the things of the Spirit that he witnesseth of Christ But the forth putting of the divine force and power of the holy Spirit in this business is supernatural in the testimony of Christ The New and Spiritual man and for setting forward the New Creation which divine force or power according to the light in the means vouchsafed is at one time or other put forth to all men that come to the use of understanding in their several Ages In which respect also The word of faith Joh. 1.4 5.9 Rom. 10.6 7 8 9. Psal 119.130 1 Joh. 5.20 when preached is nigh to them in their mouth and heart that they might beleeve and confess And such as in beleeving receive the Spirits testimony He by his divine light and power effecteth in them an understanding and heart to know Christ and so to love him and one another for his sake and so to incline to and seek his ends And thus they partake of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1 4. This supernatural force and divine power working in them to this gracious end is the very Spirit that is in Christ and this his supernatural operation of the minde and disposition of Christ and so of faith love and likeness of design in their heart being born of the Spirit Is Spirit Joh. 3.6 1 Cor. 2.16 2 Cor. 4.13 2 Tim. 1.7 yea the Spirit and minde of Christ in them And called The Spirit of faith and the Spirit of love and power and of a sound minde And so bears the name of the Spirit and supernatural divine power that effected it yea is one with
in the mediums begetting faith examples from vers 8. to 31. of the adding to the medium the written word and prophesies and faith begotten thereby Examples from vers 32.37 and then the most clear and full discovery in and through Christ the Author and finisher of faith Chap. 12.2 And yet all the way but one faith and for the nature and property of this faith he saith It is the substance or ground or representation or confidence of things â—oâ—ed for The evidence argument or proof of things not seen 1 The evidences and testimony given from God 1 Joh. â— 9 Rom. 1.18 19 20 10 21. Joh. 3.19 2 Thess 2.10 Rom. 10.6 8 9 hath in it and brings with it such light power demonstration and evidence of truth and goodness as is fit and able to open the eyes to discern the manifestation and to gain credit and beleeve yea there is more in it to gain beleef then in the testimony of any men to gain beleef to things of men affirmed by them yea if men do not close their eyes harden their heart unrighteously hold and detain and refuse its operations it will draw to beleeve and so save and for that end it comes nigh to the mouth and the heart of man 2 This Testimony evidence 1 Joh. 5.10 1.1 2 3 Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 Rom. 5 1-5 Phil. 2.1 2 and demonstration of God beleeved and so received hee that beleeveth hath the Testimony and evidence in himself and in or with that Testimony Christ by his divine presence in the vertue of his oblation and in that the Father in his love streaming in the heart and so this word or Testimony beleeved worketh savingly and powerfully in the heart yea it drinks in of the influences of Christ from the right hand of God and carries the heart and spirit in and makes things absent and to come as present in their vertue solace and comfort to the heart they having the word and Testimony of Almighty God his power truth mercy faithfulnesse his son as a witnesse of all This is ground sufficient for all they hope for and evidence enough for them to beleeve and declare to others the truth of those things that are not seen about Creation Redemption the person of the Redeemer and what he hath done doth and will do the resurrection of the dead the new heaven and new earth c. So Faith is not such a thing as hee that hath it is left to build his Faith on mans Testimony and to have a Ministery all his life long to tell him whether his faith bee right or no though Ministery is profitable for his growth and fruitfulnesse but Faith hath its evidence in it self And this the Apostie proves by many demonstrations in such as had it as 1 That God approves and bears witnesse to such Heb. 11.1 2.3 4 5 7 2 That it opens mysteries to them and gives them understanding in things not seen with the eye nor comprehended by reason 3 It stregthens and encourages to approach to God 4 It inables them to walk with God yea to do and suffer great things and to wait with assurance of enjoying a Kingdome in his season yea so evidencing and powerful is Faith When Gods spake in divers manners or by parâ—â—â—â— how much more now hee speaks by and through his Son as set forth in the Gospel And if any desire a Discription of this beleeving Loe it is all expresse in Heb. 11.13 and plain in three words 1 A discerning according to the demonstration of his goodnesse to look to mind encline the ear and so a discerning 2 A perswasion or credit giving not reasoning against but beleeving his testimony as true and good 3 An imbracing it when it s beleeved with all acceptance and delight that is true beleeving and the grace of God so beleeved operateth in the heart and life as followeth in ver 13 14 15 16. But these things are all shown at large before yea so as the object of Faith is so set forth in Scripture that all might beleeve and such assurance given to beleevers as may encourage both to beleeve and persevere beleeving to help the reader whereto I leave him to consider what is writ in the Treatise and desire that what the scripture plainly saith and in the plain sayings of the Gospel affirmeth may in their own plain import and simplicity of asseveration bee received Pag. 26. in 2 Epistle p. 8 yea Mr. Owen consenteth in this also besides all his sayings forementioned saying 〈◊〉 in his Epistle to the learned that which wee account our wisdome and learning may if too rigorously attended bee our Folly when wee think to sharpen the reason of the Scripture wee may straighten the efficacy of the spirit of it It s often times more effectual in its own liberty then when restrained to our methods of arguing and the weapons of it keener in their own soft breathings then when sharpned in the Forge of Aristotle And or of Ramus either There is a way of perswasion and conviction in the Scriptures that is more Divine and sublime than to bee reduced to any rules of Art that men can reach unto God in his word instructs men to make them wise unto salvation Sillogismes are not doubtlesse the only way of making men wise with humane wisdome much lesse divine so far he If hee should or have warved from his own rule hee can not but bee willing in that to bee refused so that with consent wee all say what is written how readest thou Beleeve the scripture And the Lord in mercy make us ready and constant in imbracing the Truth in his sayings as prayeth the unworthiest of all his people Thomas Moor FINIS
the Testimony of CHRIST according to the plain sayings of the GOSPEL PART I. CHAP. 1. A Direction to discern Truth from Error ISa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it 's because there 's no morning or Light in them Now God hath according to his Promise given forth his Son for a Covenant to the People and a Light to the Gentiles a Isa 42.1 6 7. 49.6 with Luk. 2.31 32. Act. 13.47 and so for a Law b Isa 42.4 and for a Witness or Testimony c Isa 33.4 1 John 4.9 10. John 3.16 yea the Scripture witnesseth of Christ and Moses and all the Prophets wrote and spake of him d Joh. 5.39 40. Act. 3.22 24. and He is the Brightness of the Father's Glory and the express Image of his Person e Heb. 1.3 Col. 1.15 in whose Face the Knowledge of the Glory of God shineth f 2 Col. 4.6 he received the Word of the Gospel in which both Law and Testimony is from the Father and in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Understanding g Deut. 18.18 Isa 42.1 6.1 2 3. Col. 2.3 and he spake the words the Father gave him to speak h Ioh. 3.34 â—7 16 12.49 50. and his Record is true i John 8.14 and he spake of excellent things and the opening of his Mouth was right things his Mouth spake Truth and wickedness is an abomination to his Lips all the words of his Mouth in Righteousness nothing wreathed or froward or perverse in them they are all plain to him that understandeth and Right to them that finde Knowledge k Prov. 8.6 7 8 9. And this Word and Gospel which he received and preached he gave unto his Apostles and first Witnesses and gave them the Holy Spirit which gave them to understand and receive the same l John 15.16 17.6 8. By which Spirit they had the Meaning and Mystery in them so revealed to them as never was to any in any ages before m John 14.26 16.13 14 15. Col. 1.26 27. And so he put and bound and sealed the Law and Testimony in his Disciples n Isai 8.16 2 Cor. 5.19 as in some measure he still doth in them that believe o 1 John 2.8 Col. 3.16 and this Word Gospel and Testimony did the Apostles preach as they had received of the Lord according to the Revelation of the Mystery p Rom. 16.25 26 1 Cor. 11.23 and this with great plainness of Words and evidence and demonstration of Spirit and power q 1 Cor. 2.4 2 Cor. 3.12 And this they also writ and left upon Record in such plainness that they intended nothing but what we in their Writings read r Phil. 3.1 2. 2 Cor. 1.13 and in reading may understand their Knowledge in the Mystery of Christ s Ephes 3.3 4. whence Christ that by his Spirit set them on this work as he did the Prophets before and by that Holy Spirit guided them in writing saith Have not I written to thee excellent things in Counsels and Knowledge that I might make thee know the certainty of the Words of Truth that thou mightst answer the Words of Truth to them that send unto thee t Prov. 22.20 21. And so it is affirmed That that which was and is so written is upright Words of Truth acceptable Words and Words of delight to receive and declare the Minde of God in and so fit also for the Preacher u Eccles 12.10 2 Tim. 3.16 17. So that the Law and Testimony as it is manifested in the first coming of Christ and by him given to his first Witnesses and by them delivered and recorded to us is the Law and the Testimony to which we are to resort and so the whole Scripture as witnessing of Christ and opened by Christ to them and by them to us w John 5.39 Luk. 24.25 26 27 44 45 46 47. Rom. 15.3 4 16.25 26. 2 Pet. 3.2 for Christ spake by his Spirit in the Ministration of Noah x 1 Pet. 3.19 and it was the Spirit of Christ in the Prophets that did signifie to them when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow y 1 Pet. 1.11 the Spirit of the Son being also the Spirit of the Father and that by which God ever hath and doth testifie of his Son z 1 John 5 6. And so God at the first did immediately preach the Gospel in Paradise and after more fully to Abraham in Canaan a Gen. 3.15 15.5 17.1 8. and afterwards by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets b Luk. 1.69 70. which Prophets spake and writ as they were moved by the Holy Ghost c 2 Pet. 1.21 whence what the Spirit foresaw and preached the Scripture that was written by his Inspiration is said to foresee and preach d Gen. 12.3 with Gal. 3.8 16. And what the Scripture saith the Holy Ghost is said to say e Psal 95.7 with Heb. 3.7 And we shall finde many sayings in the Scriptures both of Moses and the following Prophets testifying of Jesus Christ his coming and sufferings and resurrection and glory setting him forth to be the great Prophet High Priest and King and God's Salvation to the end of the Earth and that whoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed calling men to look to him and be saved And this is the main thing to which the Scripture testifieth all other parts and portions of Scripture besides this plain Testimony being subservient and having their tendencie to this even to lead men to the Knowledge and Acknowledgement of this Testimony and so of Christ testified therein f John 5.39 And so The Genealogies from Adam to Abraham g Gen. 5.1 32. 11.10 26. Luk. 3. and from Abraham to David and from David to Christ h Mat. 11 18 25. Luke 3.23 32. are to demonstrate of whom Christ came according to the flesh and that he is very Man of the Seed of a Woman c. And also the Love Truth and Faithfulness of God in performing his Promise i Act. 13.32 33. Gal. 4.4 The end of the Law given to and by Moses was to be a School-Master to Christ k Gal. 3.24 and for Righteousness to have it in Christ l Rom. 10.4 the one part of the Law that of ten Words was to discover sin and sentence to death that men might die to themselves magnifie Grace and be quickened by Christ and live to him m Rom. 3.19 20. 4.15 5.20 Gal. 2.19 20. 3.19 The other part that of Types and Figures in Temple Altar Propitiatory Priests Sacrifices Washings c. To figure and shadow out the Truth that was to be found in Jesus that was to come n Heb. 8.5 9.8 9. 7.19 And so many Metaphors and
the unchangableness of the state and condition of all such as are once or at any time beloved of God which by the story of the fallen Angels appears to be false and Mr. Owen in part if not wholly Page 33. disclaimeth this conceit yet the consequence not onely he retaineth but many other some avouching it for Scripture in their sayings and some in their Books and writing citing John 13.1 But he that will read that Text may see that that saying John 13 1. or any like it or a word or syllable importing such a sense cannot be there found for it is cleer in the words suited also with other places of Scriptures That the words there in John 13.1 do speak of Jesus Christ not onely nor chiefly as he was God but also and more directly as he was Man q Mat. 26.2 who not onely as God but also and rather as a Prophet spake as he had received of the Father r John 12.50 and that also of his sufferings and departure out of this world s John 16.28 which could not be meant of his Divine Spirit and Presence t Mat. 28.20 And this also is observable That he spake not in this place of himself onely as the Sacrificer and Peace-maker but also and more directly as he was a Minister of the Gospel and Peace-Preacher u Heb. 2.3 Eph. 2.16 17. in whose Ministration declaring the Peace made in and by him God was in him and by him reconciling the World to himself w 2 Cor. 5.19 Heb. 1.1 2. and the persons loved there spoken of were not all that God had from the beginning loved or that he doth now love but onely those that were not onely his own but even then in the World yea his own as then given him of the Father in the Gospel-Call and after the Call chosen by him to be his Apostles Messengers and Ministers x Luk. 6 13. John 6.70 to whom he gave the Words the Father gave him that they might be in his place and stead after his bodily departure to carry on his Ministration and beseech Men to be reconciled to God y 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. Joh. 17.8 Prov. 9.2 3. And the Love spoken of in this place is his Love as a Shepherd and a faithful One using all holy means to keep and preserve and instruct them in the Name of the Father that none of them might be lost but be fitted for their present and after abiding and service for which cause he gave them both instruction and example z Joh. 13.2 18. 17.11 12 13. yea it is express here that Judas was among them a Vers 2 18. and though he was not one of them that in receiving his Words was cleansed b Vers 10 11. John 15.2 nor that said truely though rightly and so not in both respects well and from his Heart in calling him Lord and Master c Vers 13. and so not happy in doing the things counselled by Christ d Vers 14 17. and so no Lover of Christ e Vers 2. John 15.14 yet he was one of Christ's chosen Apostles f Luk. 6.16 one whom Christ loved and prayed for and did good to yea continued his admonitions with loving words to him to the end g Psal 109.4 5. Luk. 22.48 Mat. 26.59 but he dissembled with his Master being Adversary to him for his Love and refusing his warnings and counsels rewarded him evil for good and so and there-through became a Son of perdition and so loâ— himself h John 17.12 Psal 109.4 5. his sin being finished it brought forth death i Jam. 1.15 and he was then no more loved nor prayed for according to that which is said of such Rebellious ones All their wickedness is in Gilgal for there I hated them for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house I will love them no more k Hos 9.15 It is cleer here they were once in his House and loved yet now because of so great wickedness no more loved And so Judas was once loved and prayed for and means used towards him unto the end till he grew to that height of wickedness in rewarding evil for good that against all warnings he persisted to finish his Transgression and then was he hated and cast out of his Office and no more loved but another to be put into his Office l Psal 109.3 4 5 6. Act. 1.16 26. Even as the fallen Angels were once holy and loved but after their wilful aspiring and leaving their place cast down hated and no more loved Yet in all this God is one and of one minde immutable and the change is in and upon the fallen Angels and such as are become like them So that this Text John 13.1 is mightily wrested and abused to be pretended to say Whom God loves once he loves for ever no word in the Text saying it and God's dealing with the fallen Angels and with others proclaims the falshood of that saying But of the fallen and reprobate Angels I may leave off to speak farther seeing there was found no remedy for them no Ransome no Saviour none to take their Nature and Cause in Hand so no Gospel to be preached to or by them no Prayers to be put forth for them no Commands to them to repent and believe the Gospel but Christ and Gospel and Prayers and all against them but of Mankinde fallen there is yet some better thing to say of them all after we have considered the depth of his misery in respect of the desperateness and remedilesness of it in respect of Mankinde fallen and all other Creatures CHAP. 12. Of the remedilesness in Man fallen to help himself and what an inconceivable and wonderful business it is that will help him if God discover and give it MAnkinde fallen as is before shewn into so great sin sinfulness and misery and under the powerful sentence and curse of the Law and under the displeasure of the Almighty and become an Enemy to him the door way and passage for God to extend and give forth the fruits of his Love and Mercy to Men and so for Men to return and come into favour with God again was shut and become impassible yea it was beyond the reach understanding of Men or Angels to open yea or finde out the way how such a door and passage might be opened again for Mankinde For 1. The holy and righteous Law under which Man was fallen Deut 27. â—6 Gal. 3.10 still required Obedience to the utmost of all the Righteous Affections and Services it obliged to or else to suffer the curse for the least short coming of its Requirings Psal â—9 7 12. Mat. 5.7 18. which neither Adam nor any of his Natural Race was able to answer in doing nor in suffering to overcome and this Law must not be abolished but fulfilled to every
redeemed from the Curse of the Law Rom. 8.25 and this by Divine power so made known that they so far believe that they receive Remission of sins past and so begin to be reconciled to God and receive the Atonement yet through the remaining flesh in them Gal. 5.17 1 Joh. 2.16 1 Pet. 5.8 Jam. 1.14 15. 3.2 Heb. 3.12 13 19. and the customes lusts fashions and allurements and terrors of the World without them and Satan with his manifold Temptations taking advantage both from the Flesh and the World to fasten his Temptations on them they may be overtaken many times and in many things to offend and if not helped and healed sins against Grace are so heynous they will lead to depart from God and cast into danger of perishing in a second Death Which that we may be preserved from it is needful That there be vertue and value enough in the Blood shed and Sacrifice offered and fulness of provision in the Sacrificer and Offerer that by vertue of his Blood once shed 1 Tim. 2.5 6. Heb. 7.27 19.12 14 15. 10.10 12 14. 12.24 1 Joh. 1.7 9. 2.1 2. Luk. 5.24 2 Tim. 4.10 and Sacrifice once offered he in continual mediation for us may freely forgive and take away our following evils and so preserve our peace with God and send forth following grace and supplies of Spirit to recover and heal us and to cause us to abide and grow in grace and so preserve us from every evil work unto his heavenly Kingdom without which we are liable to miscarry but if this be afforded us with both the former then have we a perfect Saviour a perfect Salvation and shall be perfectly recovered And now though Mankinde had highly offended God and stirred up wrath and displeasure and incurred Death and Curse to be justly executed on them being also Enemies to God yet here is better news for them than for the fallen Angels namely That God though angry with and hating their sinfulness yea so as he could have no delight or well-pleasedness in them nor extend loving kindness to them in that condition they were in yet he did not upon Man's fall turn Enemy to Mankinde 2 Sam. 14.14 but loved Mankinde still so far that in his love and wisdom his bowels of compassion yearning on Mankinde he found out a Ransome and mean of Recovery for Mankinde that for all this Transgression they might not be banished from him but might have a way of coming in again to him and this in his Son Jesus Christ our Lord by whom by vertue of what he hath done received and doeth Psa 75.3 Rom. 2.4 the old Creation is preserved for a time and means and mercies extended to Men in that time that Men might repent and come in to him 1 Cor. 15.45 2 Cor. 5.17 Rev. 21.5 and a new Creation compleat in him that all that come in to him may become new Creatures and have by him a new Creation compleated for them And of the dissimilitudes similitudes between this second and new creation and that first creation a word or two before I come plainly to set forth what the Testimony of Christ is CHAP. 13. Of the dissimilitudes and similitudes between the second or new Creation and the first and now old Creation FIrst The Dissimilitudes between the two Creations are these 1. In the first now old Creation the first Man the publick Man Col. 1.15 16 17 18. Rev. 3.14 21.5 Rom. 11.36 was made last of all the Creatures made for him so as nothing was made by or through him but in the second and new Creation the second publick Man is first made and then all things in the new Creation by and through him as well as for him 2. In the first Creation the first publick Man was made of the Dust and God breathed into him the Breath of Life and Man became a living Soul and being made Male and Female was fitted for multiplication of personal beings of his own kinde in a natural way and was in his perfection at the first Luk. 3.23 38. Mat. 1.1 2 c. Rom. 1.3 Mat. 1.23 Luk. 1.31 35. Gal. 4.4 John 1.14 on the very day he was made But in the new Creation the second and last publick Man was in a supernatural way made of the seed of Adam Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob David c. of a Woman a Virgin he being Male only and so fitted with Spirit to bring in spiritually to himself being a Man in union of Person with and so the Son of God Yet was not the Man Christ in his perfection at the first a Luke 2.40 he was first abased and made perfect through sufferings b Heb. 2.10 5.8 9. and after service and sufferings perfected c Luk. 13.32 24.26 46 47. and so as Man he was first made that which before he was not nor as he was the Word and Son of God could ever Naturally or in a Natural way have been but he who was not Naturally Flesh and Man but God the Son of God in a supernatural way had a Body given him and so was made Flesh of the Seed of David according to the Flesh a very Man d Heb. 10.5 Iob. 1.14 Rom. 1.3 1 Tim. 2.5 he being holy and sinless in our Nature could not naturally have been subject to the infirmities of Hunger Thirst Weariness Sadness Pains and Mortality but this was freely for our sakes made so and so in the likeness of sinful Flesh though altogether sinless e Heb. 2.17 4.15 Rom. 8.3 Isa 53 4. he had the holy Law in his heart and was free even the Son of God and could not Naturally have been a Servant under the Law under which Mankinde was fallen but he was made so that being under the same bond with us our debt might be charged on and required of him f Gal. 4.4 Rom. 3.19 Phil. 2.7 8. he being without sin could not Naturally have been sin or a curse but for us was made so g 2 Cor. 5.21 Gal. 3.13 and he being made all this and accepting it all and so performing all in our Nature dying for our sins the Truth of God is fulfilled according to that Gen. 2.17 and the justice of God is satisfied according to that Deut. 27.26 h Gal. 3.10.13 Deut. 21.23 and Mercy and Truth are met and Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other i Psal 85.10 yet if Christ be not risen again we can have no such Forgiveness and Justification as to come into favour with God again k 1 Cor. 15 14 15 17 18. but he is risen from the dead just as the publick Man for our justification l 1 Cor. 15 4. Rom. 4.25 and hath overcome Death and him that had the power of Death and so hath spoiled Principalities and Powers m Heb. 2.14 Col. 2.12 15. 2 Tim. 1.9 so as Truth is
sprung out of the Earth n Psal 85.11 Then he ascended in that very body which died and was raised again and by the Eternal Spirit offered himself a spotless Sacrifice to God and with the Vertue of his own Blood entred the holy of holies and so made peace and obtained Eternal Redemption o Act. 1.9 10 11. Heb. 8.3 4. 10.10 12. 9.12 14. And God also for this hath exalted him p Phil. 2.10 11. and taken up his well-pleasedness in him and set him on his right hand q Mat. 17.5 Heb. 8.1 10.12 and released and given over all Mankinde to him for his dispose and made him Lord of all r Rom. 14.9 Act. 2.34 36. 10.36 and Head of the Church s Col. 1.18 19. and filled him with the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel and call sinners and open the eyes of the blinde c. to draw Men to himself that believing on him they might be his Church and he so confer his own Priviledges on them t Isa 42.1 8. 61.1 4. Joh. 1.12 Phil. 2.10 11. Act. 17.30 31. and that he may raise all Men from the first death that he died for them and bring them before him to be judged by him according to the Gospel Rom. 2.16 and 14.9 12. 2 Cor. 5.10 And thus also hath God testified of him and set him forth the Propitiation for the sins of the whole World u 1 John 2.2 for Men to receive Remission of sins through Faith in his Blood and so to bring them in to God w Rom. 3.25 Act. 10.43 26.18 And thus is he perfect in himself the second and last publick Man the Lord from Heaven the spiritual Man the quickning Spirit in whom the Nature of Man is restored and married to the Divine Nature in the person of the Son of God in which is rich Provision of pardon peace wisdom righteousness holiness redemption and eternal life all to be enjoyed in coming in by his call to believe on him x 1 Cor. 15.44 45 46 47. Mat. 22.1 4. Prov. 9.1 6. Col. 2.9 10. 1.28 1 Cor. 1.30 and such a one is the Man Christ God-Man God with us in our Nature for us y Mat. 1.23 glorified with the Father 's own self as the publick Man with the Glory he had with the Father before the World was which for a while he laid aside for our sakes that in his re-assuming it again we believing on him might come to partake of glory with him z Joh. 17.4 5 9. Col. 3.4 And this is an higher business than that Gen. 1.26 27. 2.7 if not as high as that which was unlawfully aspired to by some Angels and the first Man and this is the Christ nor can there be any Election in him or Belief on him but as he is such a one and so to be considered as such a publick Man the new and spiritual Man 3. In the first Creation the first publick Man had all Mankinde in him in his loyns to come naturally by descent from him and so sinned in his sinning according to that account and language Heb. 7.9 10. and so he stood in the room or stead of none and undertook for none but those that were in him and Naturally to descend from him and so Naturally his own and Naturally interessed they in him and he in them and he Naturally obliged to them But in the new Creation the Son of God the Word that was made Flesh and the second publick Man before considered as his work done in his own Body and he in that Body glorified he had none of Mankinde in him none his Friends or Brethren and peculiar Ones in and with him to lay aside such Glory as he had with the Father before the World was to be supernaturally made Flesh as he was and to offer the propitiatory sacrifice as he did no not in him as there must have been according to that language Heb. 7.9 10. if there had been any such in him nor did he interpose to stand in the room and stead and undertake to abase himself and overcome Death and offer the propitiatory Sacrifice for himself or any his peculiar Friends that were in him and loved him but for the first Man and his Natural Race that were not only out of him sinners and enemies to him as he undertook for them but are also found such when he first calleth or beginneth to work on them a Rom. 5.6 8. 1 Pet. 3.18 1 Tim. 1.15 Mat. 9.13 Luk. 5.32 so that his love his undertaking and all his grace and obligations to Men are unspeakable gracious great and free Nor hath he any other to make his seed but such as are first the seed and of the seed of the first Man him 1 Cor. 15.46 49. Jam. 1.18 Eph. 2.4 10. 2 Cor. 5 17. and those that come forth of him and bear his Image are they from among whom and of whom by a spiritual way he brings in to himself and makes them new Creatures 4. In the first Creation 1 Joh 3 5. Phil. 2 6-10 Jer. 50.4 5 6. Joh. 17.4 6 7. Psal 68.18 the first Mans work and business was easie but to dress the Garden order the Creatures and forbear eating of one of the Trees in the Garden and so to keep sin out of the World which yet he did not But in the new Creation the second Man had a great painful and mighty work to do to undergo abasement in shame and suffering to offer an invaluable Sacrifice to take away sin appease wrath make an Atonement overcome Death and the Devil to purchase an Inheritance and receive Spirit in the Man to send forth even to the rebellious that the Lord might dwell among them c. which also he hath faithfully and fully done 5. In the first Creation Gen. 1.1 Psal 33.6 75.3 2 Pet. 3 5-7 10 11 12. Rom. 8. 19 20 21. Rev. 21 1-5 the Heaven and the Earth was made of no pre-existing matter or being onely the Word of the Lord gave the very being thereto but in the new Creation it is of the old Heaven and Earth dissolved melted and overturned and then made new new created to as good and better estate than at the first 6. The old Creation was finished in six dayes Gen. 1. 2.1 2. Exod. 20.11 Isa 65.12 19. 2 Pet. 3 3-15 Rom. 8.19 20 21. each day consisting of evening and morning consisting of twenty four hours and the Rest Sabbath of the Lord on the seventh day But the new Creation is longer before it be finished and brought forth in its full perfection to open view it 's likely as many thousands of yeers as the first was of dayes it being the whole time of the supportation and decaying of the old And such Dissimilitudes is shewn in Scripture to be between the first and now old Creation and
the second and new Creation Secondly Yet notwithstanding there is also a true resemblance in many similitudes between them and that not only in this 1. That they both are the work of one and the same God but also in this 1. Gen. 1.1 2. Psa 33.6 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 4. Col. 1.15 16-19 That as the first was made by the Word and Spirit of the Lord breathed forth by the Father through the Word that is the Son even so was the second and new Creation also begun and shall be finished 2. Gen. 1.1 26. That as in the first the Heavenly and Earthy Matter was first made and framed before any other particular Creatures and they after by the command and word of the Lord formed and made in and out of them even so the second and new Creation in the counsels and purpose of God and actual consent and Agreement of the Word the Son of God and now also in act by the Word made Flesh the original and first being and that which gives being to all and in and out of which and through which all particulars are formed and made new was first prepared made and formed in the Man Christ in whom the Restauration being made God and Man united in one Person through whom the Holy Spirit proceedeth from the Father and so by the word and command of the Lord the particulars in their order are formed and made new and so Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Son of Man even he himself is called the beginning of the Creation of God a Rev. 3.14 the first-born of every Creature b Col. 1.15 the first-begotten first-born from the dead c Rev. 1.5 Col. 1.18 before Abraham was he is d Joh. 8.56 58. the Root of David e Rev. 22 16. the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end f Rev. 21 6. yea he that worketh with the Father and whatsoever the Father doth he doth the same John 5.19 23 26 27. he is the beginning and by him are all things 3. That as in the first Creation in respect of particulars to be formed Gen. 1.3 John 1.4 5. 2 Cor. 4.6 God first commanded and formed the Light for his Creatures even so in the new Creation in bringing in particulars the first thing commanded to come forth is Light and this shining in the Face of Christ into the Heart of those he makes new Creatures 4. That as in the first Creation the first publick Man was first made a perfect Man fit for multiplication Gen. 1.28 4.1 2. 5.3 Rom. 5.19 1 Cor. 15.48 and his seed and posterity after to come forth of him one after one by degrees and all in his likeness such as he was when they come forth of him even so in the new Creation the second publick Man is first made perfect and his Seed in a spiritual way and supernaturally to be after brought in to him and that also one after another by degrees h Rom. 16.7 Act. 2.41 47. and all by degrees framed into the likeness of Christ into whom they are brought i Rem 5.17 1 Cor. 15.48 2 Cor. 5.17 Eph. 2.10 5. That as in the first Creation the Man and Woman fell and lost the benefit of all by questioning and letting go the Word of the Lord Gen. 3.16 in hearing and pondering the voice of the Serpent and so in believing the same looked on and beheld the forbidden Fruit and desired it and so took and eat of it even so in the new Creation Men and Women are drawn in to Christ and participation of the benefit thereof by letting go and turning from the delusions of Satan in hearing and minding the voice of Christ in the Gospel and so believing the same that they behold him as discovered therein and so desire him and accept and feed on him k Act. 3.26 26.18 with Iob. 5.26 Isa 53.3 Iob. 11.25 26. 6.54 55 56 57. 6. In the first Creation the deed and offence of the first Man and condemnation of him for it did reach to all Mankinde and was the offence and condemnation of all in him as the publick Man and that so verily and efficaciously that in coming forth Naturally from him they should verily partake of the same and bear his likeness though yet none of the sons of Men could in their own individual persons so partake of and feel the same until and but as and when in a Natural way they come to have their personal beings of him and so come forth from him even so in the new Creation the deed and righteousness of the second Man and his justification as he was the publick Man did reach unto all Men and was so far in that sense on them all to justification of life from the first sentence and escape out of the first death in through him as the second publick Man Rom. 5.12 18 9. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 17 18 19. Phil. 1.10 11. Gal. 3.26 29. and though all shall one day be freed from that first sentence and raised out of that first death by him to acknowledge him Lord to the glory of God yet do or can none of the sons of Men in their own individual persons partake of or enjoy the benefit of that freedom righteousness and justification but as they are brought in to believe that done by him nor of Eternal Life but as they are in that believing spiritually united unto him and so in such a being in him are made new Creatures In which respects as there is such similitude between the first and second Creation and the first and second Man and interests of their seeds in them and what they receive from them Rom. 5.14 so the first Adam was a Type or figure of the second that was to come and so we may say of the natural Tree of Life and so of divers things in the first Creation there was something typical in them the Truth whereof in a superabounding manner is in Christ whence he is called Adam and The Tree of Life The green Olive-Tree The Tree by the Rivers of Waters The true Vine The Fountain of living Waters The Door Heb. 10.1 Col. 2.17 Rom. 16.25 26. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. The Way The Rock The Foundation c. not that there were or are no such things naturally in being as appertaining to the old Creation but because the Truth Excellency and Life shadowed out by all these things is found in Christ and enjoyed in enjoying him in the new Creation and we know there is more in the Truth than any shadows could type out and the Gospel hath now more cleerly revealed the same And I hope these things considered that are writ from the beginning of this first part of this Treatise till now and understood and believed as far as they are plainly affirmed in the Scripture here and there in many places written and in
this writing collected and on the Margent quoted the Sayings of the Gospel in the Testimony of Christ will appear plain bearing forth their own import and sense and the Testimony of Christ being known all Truth being included in it and flowing from it we shall by that be led into all Truth and so far as is for us meet and profitable understand what we read in the Scriptures so far as to discern Truth from Error in all Doctrines and Sayings brought unto us I shall therefore proceed in the next part according to the Scripture assaying to declare the Testimony of Christ An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART II. CHAP. I. Of the Testimony of Christ THe Testimony of Christ is that Testimony and Witness and Doctrine of Christ 1. Which God the Father hath by his Holy Spirit immediately first given of Christ Gen. 3.15 22.18 Act. 3.18 24. Luk. 1.70 1 Pet. 1.11 12. as the promised Seed and he in whom all Nations shall be blessed after mediately by his Spirit in Moses all the following Prophets concerning his coming and suffering and the Glory that should follow and after all this immediately to John Baptist both who he was and what a one he is and how well-pleased he is in him a Mat. 3.17 and after that mediately by his Spirit in and by John Baptist that he is the Christ upon whom the Spirit resteth full of Grace and Truth by whom it comes and that he is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world and that he that believeth on him hath Eternal Life b Joh. 1.16 17 29-34 3 27-36 and after this immediately to three of the Apostles and first Witnesses of Christ c Mat. 17.5 2 Pet. 1.17 18. and mediately likewise before by types d Heb. 8.5 and Angels and by Zacharias e Luk. 1.32 33 67-79 2.11 30-34 and old Simeon as also in his own Ministration by the mighty works done by him in his Name John 5.36 14.10 11. 2. Joh. 3.16 17. 5 17-30 6 27-69 10. 12.50 Which Jesus Christ himself received from the Father and testified in his Ministration unto Men which also he did explicate and give unto his Apostles and first Witnesses to testifie and witness Luk. 24.25 26 27 44 45 46 47 48. Joh. 15.15 27. 17.6 7 8. Act. 1.8 3. Joh. 14.26 15.26 16 7-15 Act. 5.32 Eph. 3.5 1 Joh. 1.1 2. 2 Tim. 1.10 Which the Holy Ghost did witness to and in and by the Apostles and first Witnesses with the cleer opening and revelation of the Mystery formerly hidden till Christ had opened the holy of holies offered the acceptable Sacrifice and sate down on the right Hand of God and sending forth the Holy Ghost and by the Gospel in his Testimony opening the door to immortality and eternal life 4. Act. 5.32 13 25-39 Rom. 1 1-5 16.25 26. Which also the Apostles and first VVitnesses have by the same Holy Spirit testified witnessed preached written and recorded according to the revelation of the Mystery Ephes 3.3 4. Phil. 3.1 whence the whole Scripture is said to testifie of Christ John 5.39 of which more is said Part 1. Chap. 1 2. And this Testimony VVitness and Record is called the Record and VVitness of God and of Christ and of the Spirit f 1 Joh. 5.6 7 8 9 10. Joh. 3.33 1 Cor. 1.6 Rev. 1 2. 20.4 2 Tim. 1.8 and it is also called the Testimony Record VVitness and VVord of the Apostles and first VVitnesses of Christ because they bare it forth and left it upon record g 2 Thes 1.10 Joh. 17.20 and because it is of Christ by Christ and according to the appointment of Christ by his Apostles opening the things of Christ it is called the Doctrine of Christ h 2 Joh. 9. and in every respect it is one and the same the Testimony of Jesus Christ i Rev. 19.10 and in this Testimony so cleerly come forth is Jesus Christ plainly set forth who he is what a one he is whence he is what he became what he hath done and is become what he doth and for whom what he will do for some and who they be and what he will do against others and who they be how the good to be enjoyed and the peril to be avoided and all this is full and plain in the Testimony 1. VVho he is and that is not Adam Seth Enoch and so none of the Prophets before John Baptist nor was Iohn Baptist the Christ nor any of the Apostles or VVitnesses that followed k Luk 3 Joh. 1. 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 2 Cor. 4.5 nor is it the Church or any Society of Men though such as do indeed bear his Name though they be of his mystical Body as resembled by a King whose Body is the Commonwealth or a General whose Body is the Army or a Major whose Body is the Corporation yet are not the Commons the King or chief Magistrate nor is the Army the General nor the Corporation the Major and so Mat. 23.8 1 Cor. 8.6 Col. 1.18 Eph. 1.22 23. though the Head and Body be one yet the Body is not the Head so the Church is not the Head the Husband the Lord the King of Saints the Christ but the person of Christ is all that and none but he so that the Church Col. 1.15 21.26 27. 2 Cor. 13.3 5. 1 Joh. 3.24 Rom. 1.18 2 Cor. 4.5 though one with Christ is not the Christ nor is it any inward Frame or spiritual Light or Disposition in the Heart of the Reliever though this being right as flowing from him and effected in such as are believing on him is even the Spirit of Christ by which he is in them and dwelleth in them yet is not this the Christ the person of Christ But Jesus that very Jesus and no other but he that was born of a Virgin espoused to one Joseph a Carpenter Mat. 1 2 c. Luk. 2 3 c. and born in the time of Caesar Augustus when Herod was King of Iudea and in Bethlem in an Inn and Stable in that Inn and circumcised the eighth day and his name called Jesus who was carried into Egypt and returned again to Nazareth in Galilee and there lived a time and after was baptized of Iohn in Iordan and then went about preaching the Gospel and working Miracles called Disciples and chose Apostles suffered and was crucified under Pontius Pilate died was buried and rose again in the same Body and appeared often to his Disciples who saw and heard and felt him and received commandments from him and then he blessed them Act. 1 2 3. and ascended up to Heaven in that Body of his and fate down on the right hand of God Mat. 16.16 Joh. 6 69. and sent down the Holy Ghost to his
Witnesses and remaineth in the Heavens till the time of the restitution of all things this is that Jesus and this Jesus is the Christiand all that the four Evangelists writ Luk. 1.4 John 20.31 Act. 2.36 3.13 16. 4.11 12 c. 17.2 3. 1 Joh. 5 1. Joh. 1.12 13. was to certifie us of this that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that in believing we might have life through his Name And so the Apostles preached that he is the Christ and proved by the Scripture that this very Jesus whom they preached is the Christ he that believeth that this Jesus is the Christ is born of God and he that denieth it is a lyer Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2.22 More of this is shewn part 1. ch 1. 2. Joh. 1.1 Rom. 9.5 Tit. 3.13 Heb. 1. 2 Tim 2.5 Joh. 3.16 17. Isa 53. Joh. 5. Luk. 1 31. Joh. 1.14 Rom. 1 1-4 Mat. 16.16 Joh. 14 14 18. Rom. 5.17 18. 1 Cor. 86. 1 Pet. 3.18 4.1 1 Joh. 3.16 Act. 20.28 Heb. 2.14 What a one he is is also in the Testimony shewn namely that he is God the great God God over all blessed for e-ever that he is Man a true and very Man of the Seed of David c. that he is the Son of God the onely proper and natural Son of God the Son of God by Divine and unconceivable Generation according to the Divine Nature and by a supernatural conception and by the Resurrection from the Dead and by union in person with the Word and wel-pleasedness with the Father according to the humane Nature as he is Man and God-Man the Son of God the Son of Man in one person being one and the onely proper Son of God the Christ one Lord Jesus Christ in respect of the union of two Natures in one person that is one Son of God that which is done by or in either Nature may in respect of person be said of both so though he was put death in the flesh and God cannot die yet God is said to have laid down his Life for us and his Blood called God's own Blood and so though not Man but God could overcome Death yet this Man is said by Death to overcome Death so with respect to each Nature he is diversly spoken of in respect of the Divine Nature Joh. 10.30 even when he was on earth yet the Father and he were one even in Greatness and Power and yet as he was man John 14.28 to suffer and offer Sacrifice the Father was greater than he and having offered the Sacrifice he is exalted above all Principality and Power 1 Pet 3.22 Heb. 8.1 Col. 2.9 and set down on the right Hand of God Angels Powers and Authorities made subject to him and the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily Col. 1. Heb. 1.3 so as all compleatness is in him he is the Brightness of the Glory of God and the express Image of his Person the Image of the invisible God he is one with God Heb. 5. Isa 4.2 Cent. 5.10 God is in him as is said He is God he is one with Mankinde the Nature of Man is in him as is said He is Man a fit able loving and wonderful perfect Saviour Beauty and Glory Comely and Excellent White and Ruddy the Standard-Bearer and chiefest of ten thousand the Saviour of sinners whose Work and Office is to save sinners the Lover of the Righteous whose Office is to preserve the Righteous such a one he is even the Christ 1 Tim. 1.15 Psa 11.7 Rev. 15.3 Heb. 7. Act. 3.22 Isa 42.1 8. 61.1 4. Heb. 4.14 15 16 5.2 7.15 4.12 the King of Saints the King of Kings the Lord of Hosts and Rules the Great High Priest that orders the whole Worship of God by whom Men may approach to God the High Priest over the House of God the great Prophet that revealeth the Father and teacheth the things of God in a word he is full of Spirit full of love and compassion knowing all things and able to do all things such a one he is 3. Whence he is and that is even from Heaven It was the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God that found out this Ransom 2 Sam. 14.14 Job 33.24 Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Joh. 4.9 10 14. Rom. 5.6 8 10. Tit. 3.4 Joh. 1.1 14. 17.5 16.28 Act. 3. Joh. 1.4 5 9. Act. 14.17 Rom. 2.4 Isa 45.22 it was the infinite Pity and Love of God to Mankinde that moved him to give and send forth this his Son to become Man and by his Death and Sacrifice to be the Saviour of the World He was with God in the bosome of God glorified with God's own self he came forth from the Father and came into the world again he left the world and went to the Father and now there in his glorified boby remaineth in the Heavens and from thence by his Spirit beholding discerning all things he sends forth of the beams of his light and goodness and so the Father through him in Testimonies of his goodness in mercies and means to draw Men to Repentance and looking to him that they may be saved by him and so Righteousness flows down from Heaven l Psal 85.11 but especially and more abundantly in the Ministration of the Gospel in which God sendeth and giveth his Son to open the eyes of the blinde and turn them c. m Act. 3.26 26.18 and is giving to men the bread of life to feed on n Joh. 6.32 Jesus Christ in that Ministration is coming down spiritually from Heaven the bread of God the bread of life giving life that Men may feed on him and live o Joh. 6.27 33 48. and so is God the Father of lights from whom comes every good and perfect gift and giving p Jam. 1.17 and Jesus Christ is the Lord from Heaven heavenly q 1 Cor. 15.47 and so Jesus Christ by his Spirit the wisdom of God in its Teachings and saving Operations doth not first ascend or spring from within out of the wisdom heart and frame in Men the wisdom that so doth ascend is earthy sensual devilish but this wisdom is above and descendeth from above and so is pure c. r Jam. 3.15 17.18 and entreth into the heart and so springeth up into sutable fruits so that Christ and Faith in Christ and the things of Christ are from above from the grace favour and free-gift of God even as his next personal coming will be of Gods sending him from Heaven s Act. 3.20 4. For what remains to be said viz. what he became what he hath done what he is become what he doth and for whom and what he will do for some and who they be and what he will do against others and who they be this being the Subject of this following Discourse in this part of this
of them being in him or he any way so obliged to them as it should deserve or engage him to take their Nature and offer Sacrifice for them or that by vertue of being any ways in him they should be so interested in his Death Sacrifice and Righteousness that it should in any sort be theirs yea or counted theirs and they interested in it before by vertue of the compleating of it in and by himself alone he be interested in them and so by Grace bring them in to have interest in him And I hope it will be granted by all that believe in Christ and I am sure it is in Scripture affirmed That by vertue of his Oblation once offered God hath released and given over all Men to him to be disposed by him and hath released over to him the sentence of the first Judgement and Death Joh. 5.22 27. Rom. 14.8 9 10 12. Joh. 17.1 2 5. 1 Joh. 5.11 by and according to the Law as Mankinde at first fell under it so as God will never so judge them by that Law nor cause them to perish for ever in that Death but hath given them over unto the dispose of Jesus Christ and given him to be their Lord and Judge and hath given him power over all flesh and given for Mankinde eternal Life in Christ in whom in the Nature of Man it is put and he hath exalted him and filled him with Spirit to make it known and dispence it in his way and though it was free and undeserved Grace to give him for Mankinde and freeness of Grace to unite the Body given him in union of person with the Son of God yet all this given him by vertue of his death sufferings and sacrifice may in respect of himself be said to be merited and deserved and so called the wages of that one Righteousness of his in his Oblation offered by himself Isa 53.11 12. Phil. 2.10 11. whence it is said Even therefore I will divide him a portion c. and therefore God hath highly exalted him c. yea as rightly thus called in respect of himself only as Death is called the wages of sin in respect of the first Adam and his posterity but now in respect of Mankinde for whom he offered the Oblation or any of them it cannot be said so that their receiving mercies through this Oblation or any of the benefit of it that either it or the benefit of it interest in it or life through it is merited or deserved by them or the wages of any righteous affections or works of theirs or any wayes due to them and descending upon them by vertue of any fore-being in Christ preceding his Oblation but only it comes to Men by the freeness of the Grace of God that freely gave Christ for them and the freeness of the same Grace in Christ that freely gave himself for them and God's gracious acceptance of the gift and sacrifice of Christ for them and so imputing it to them graciously accepting it for them and them for and through it as if they had died and risen and offered the sacrifice and as any in his discovery of this great Grace are found believing in Christ freely giving to them eternal Life through Christ and for his sake Rom. 6.23 5.15 and so it is said The gift of God is eternal Life he saith not unto Christ but through Jesus Christ our Lord and so Rom. 5.15 Much more the grace of God which comprehends his love in the gift of Christ and the whole preparation made in him for Men before any gift through it is extended and the gift by grace and explicating it have by one Man Jesus Christ hath abounded to many that is in respect of release from perishing in the first Judgement and mercies extended unto all men Joh. 1.4.5.9 Rom. 5.17 vers 18. and in respect of the abundance of Grace and eternal Life to all those that in believing receive the same vers 17. so that all the whole offering of the Oblation by Christ and the benefit procured for Men thereby is by the free Grace of Christ and freely done by him and not by debt or fore-engagement unto any there was none in him for him by vertue thereof to be engaged to or in such a sense joyned with him to die suffer and offer with him but he he only he himself Heb. 7.17 9.14 10.12 offered this Oblation and Sacrifice here treated of Oh infinite and unspeakable free and gracious goodness who would entertain any Doctrine that should gain-say or darken this CHAP. 5. 3. To whom it was that he offered this Oblation or Sacrifice TO whom Jesus Christ gave himself is though not expressed plainly yet cleerly and strongly intimated in Tit. 2.14 in that it is not in this place said to us but for us and to whom should it be offered for us but to him against whom we had sinned even God that gave him forth to that end whence it 's also called the grace of God c. vers 11. a like strong intimation we have 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. That gave himself a Ransom for all Men to God that would have all saved therefore found out the Ransom by vertue whereof with God to whom he offered it he mediateth for men But this is seen cleerly in both the former Points also expresly affirmed Eph. 5.2 Christ also hath loved us and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 And so it is said of Jesus Joh. 13.1 3. 16.28 That he knowing all things knew that he was come from God and went to God and that he came forth from the Father into the world and left the world and departed out of the world unto the Father yea all the former typical Priests did offer their Sacrifices to God though they were on Earth Heb. 7.26 27. 8.3 4. 9 9 12 14. and offered on Earth yet it was to God in the Heavens and to whom should our great High-Priest offer up his Sacrifice when he entred into Heaven but to God in the Heavens But I suppose this is not only cleer and evident Heb. 2.17 3.2 6. but also acknowleged by all that believe in Jesus Christ both that he offered his Oblation and Sacrifice to God and also that he was faithful in all his business but that I note this for is that it may be minded That Jesus Christ in the business of his Oblation and Sacrifice-offering he had to deal with God and with none but with God and though for fallen Mankinde yet not with them but with God for them True it is in his after-Mediation of which is after to be spoken as he hath to deal for Men so also both with God and with Men but in his Oblation and Sacrifice-offering though it was for Men
bload of his cross and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross having slain the enmity thereby or in himself and came and preached peace Col. 1.20 so the Father's will is having made peace through the blood of his cross by him to reconcile c. Again Col. 2.14 it 's said of him Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross And so there is no more sins to be imputed to Christ or counted upon his score he hath done all of them away by one Sacrifice and made the peace and caused it to be preached that Men might believe it 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20 21. Rom. 5.11 and in believing be reconciled in their hearts to God and so peace effected in them 2. If we also consider of a Reconciliation and so of a purging away of sins that by vertue of this Heb. 2.17 Eph. 5.26 27. Heb. 9.14 compleated in and by himself with God he as the High-Priest after and by vertue of the Sacrifice offered Atonement and Purgation once made in the holy of holies is still continually making for the people Then we shall also finde that there are sins of another Nature and against another Obligation then that Men fell under in and through the first Adam even such as the Law under which Mankinde was fallen did not charge upon Christ directly and they in the committing are every Man 's own sins that doth them as sins against Mercy and Grace extended through a Mediator who by vertue of the Peace he by his Blood and Sacrifice hath made Joh. 1.4 5 7 8 9 10 11. Prov. 1.23 24-36 Jer. 6.16 17. Rom. 2.4 Jer. 13.27 Joh. 13.10 11. Joh. 1.10 11 29. Heb. 2.17 7.27 9.7 extendeth light and means towards them as not minding the light that shineth forth from the Life that is in him not owning him in all the preservation he giveth nor believing or receiving him by all the choice means he useth and so not turning at his reproofs nor hearkning to his Call and Voice but hardning their hearts against the same and so refusing to be made clean walk on according the lusts and wayes of their own hearts and all these and all of this Nature are called The sins of the world and The sins of the people and The errors of the people And Jesus Christ did on the foresight of what through Man's weakness and Satan's malice would be found in Men make provision for Propitiation Reconciliation and Pardon in respect of those sins also in that one Oblation and Sacrifice of his his Blood and Sufferings being the Blood and Sufferings not only of an innocent and just Man but of that Man that was the Son of God Act. 20.28 Joh. 3.16 Heb. 9.14 in which sense his Blood is called The blood of God and His laying down his life And so Jesus Christ offering himself by the Eternal Spirit a Sacrifice to God the Divine Nature did so sanctifie and dignifie this Sacrifice that it is of infinite value and vertue for taking away all sins and so though in his interposing he did not take those sins upon him as his which before his undertaking were neither in being nor in a possibility of being so to satisfie for and discharge as that they should never be imputed to those for whom he suffered nor they condemned for them as he did for the former sorts of sins yet he did so far bear them and offered himself in Sacrifice to God for them as he might have full power to forgive them and so such fulness of vertue in his Blood and Oblation and Propitiation made thereby as to propitiate and speak Peace in its sprinkling being made known to Men in the evidences of the Fruits thereof 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 7.24 25. 8.1 9.15 and for this business he remaineth a continual Mediator between God and Men and an High-Priest ever living to intercede for all that come to God by him and in this work we have to consider that it is done ministerially and spiritually to Men in the former for taking away the former sins and making Peace as he he had to deal with God for Men so he did it by his material Blood shedding and his material Body raised and offered in Sacrifice to God But now as he is a spiritual Man in dealing with Men he doth this business spiritually in Ministration of the Gospel making known the vertue of his Blood and Sacrifice and by his Spirit so sprinkling it on the Hearts of Men to wash and reconcile them to God thereby and so in a daily taking away these following sins and renewing c. and this was also figured in the continual bearing of the sins of the people by the typical High-Priests and Priest â—â—covery of mystâ—â—ous deceits p. 6 7 28. Heb. 9. Discourse of the prâ—câ—ous blood of Christ c. 4. p. 21 22 23. 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20 21. Mar. 2.10 Luk. 5.24 Act. 5.31 32 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. as hath been shewn at large in another Treatise and by their Purifications by sprinkling as hath been shewn at large in another Treatise And this hath Jesus Christ by his Oblation also procured to do himself in Person one while did minister the Word of Reconciliation but now he hath left that to his Servants and the extention of Spirit therein is his own work still and suitable to all this he said The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins And so the Apostles in their Teâ—imony and the Holy Ghost in the same witness That God hath exalted him to give repentance and remission of sins c. In which respect by vertue of his Oblation once offered he so ministring is called The Mediator between God and Man for such an end and The Lamb of God Joh. 1.10 11 19. not only that hath taken away the sins of Mankinde as fallen in A dam but that taketh that is in this present time in a continual act still doing away the sin or sins of the world even Men in worldly fellowship c. and even Believers also are said to come to the Blood of sprinking Heb. 12.24 that not only hath spoken but speaketh c. and he that believeth in Christ according to Gospel-Testimony knoweth both Heb. 10.2 That all sins in view and consideration preceding Christ his undertaking are so taken away by his Oblation to God that he hath no more charge in Conscience for them and also that there is such vertue in that Blood and Sacrifice of his that being believed and received as he makes it known it will take away in such sprinkling all following sins and purge the Conscience from dead works to serve the living God whence he is said to be set forth a Fountain Heb. 9.14 Zach. 13.1 Heb. 10.18 19 21 22 23. 1 Joh.
1.7 9. Eph. 5.25 26 27. even for Believers to wash at and they directed to daily washing in approaching to God by him and he is said to have given himself for them to do this business of washing them with Word and Water till he have made them spotless and in this respect also of the provision made in his Sufferings and Sacrifice for taking away these following evils of those redeemed from the Curse of the Law and bought by him it is said Isa 53.6 5 11 12. All we even we that are healed with his stripes like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath made the iniquity of us all to meet on him c. and so he is a perfect Saviour and a Giver of Salvation to such as believe on him as is demonstrated and affirmed Heb. 2.10 where the Apostle having spoken of his being made perfect through sufferings after mentions his Burthen and Sufferings in the flesh his tears prayers supports and obedience in all and then saith as in another place And being made perfect Phil. 2.7 11. Heb. 5.7 8 9. he became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him Now it 's known he was made perfect as a Saviour in his Oblation-offering and the Father's acceptance of it and exalting and filling him and then he became the Author of eternal Salvation which also cleerly implies some true Salvation which proves not to all the saved Eternal and yet none without Blood but this eternal Salvation he gives unto all them that obey him that is believe on him he saith not to all he died for nor to all whom by vertue of his Death and Ransom he hath redeemed from the Curse of the Law and so bought into his dispose that they shall not perish for ever in the first Death nor to all that he useth means and sends forth Spirit to and so calleth them that they might believe and have eternal Life and so not be hurt of the second Death but to all them that obey him that is hear and believe in his Name which is according to the tenor of the Law by which Christ will judge all Men * Act. 3.22 23. Rom. 2.16 Mar. 16.16 so that all the way both from the Types and the Truth affirmed in Christ answering what was typed it appeareth That Jesus Christ offered himself a Sacrifice to God for sins of two sorts the first such as were not against himself as Mediator but against God as Creator which he took on him so to discharge that the debt became wholly his and he hath fully discharged the same and made full riddance of it before God and will in his time remove it from all Men though many will not now believe it the second sort of sins such as are also against him as Mediator many of which he taketh away and as he hath received power so he useth means that Men on the account of his goodness might believe on him and so not only see their Freedom from those sins which are passed but have these present removed from them also and so be Eternally saved and yet Christ's taking away the first sort of sins and provision to take away the second sort also doth still farther appear Thirdly if we consider the difference our Saviour maketh of sins some greater and more heynous and fearful than others Mat. 12.31 32. Mar. 3.28 29. Luk. 12.10 and yet but one sort excluded forgiveness Verily saith he I say unto you All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men loe he putteth in no condition here at all and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme but he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness but is in danger of eternal condemnation And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him loe here no condition neither but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall never be forgiven him neither in this world nor in the world to come Now what can sinning speaking against and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost be but some such manner and degree of sinning as in which the Sacrifice offered and the Offerer of which the Holy Ghost hath born and beareath witness is in such degree contemned as the sin cannot be forgiven without dishonour and wrong to the Sacrifice and Sacrificer and so such a sinning as for pardon of which the Sacrifice was not offered for there can be no sin or blasphemy against either Father or Son or Holy Spirit as they are one God which is not against them all and every of them in one as much offended as either personally considered and so all sin and blasphemy Mankinde fell into through the fall of the first Man and that necessarily spring from Nature so corrupted while no sufficient remedy to avoid it is afforded they are directly sins and blasphemies against God as a Creator and so against the goodness manifested in the Creation and against the Law under which Mankinde was fallen and so though we according to appearance may call these sins against the Father as indeed they are yet they are sins against the Son and Holy Spirit likewise by whom as one and the same God the Creation was effected but these sins were so satisfied for and done away by Christ in his Oblation offered which God hath so accepted that he hath remitted all over to Christ and if not now as to Believers it doth yet in the World to come it shall appear they shall not be judged and condemned for sins in this manner committed But now Jesus Christ having undertaken and offered such a Sacrifice to God as in which he hath purged from before him all these and obtained power to make this Grace known to draw Men to him and to forgive all other following sins found in Men in this his strife which indeed are as before shewn sins against the Mediator here by himself called The Son of Man yet these sinnings against him are in a higher degree than the former against the Father who in love gave and sent forth and testified of his Son the Saviour of the World and against the Holy Spirit of Grace in his Testimonies of him and Operations from and with him but they are more appearingly and directly against the Mediator that took our Nature and died for our sins and offered himself a Sacrifice to God for us and now extendeth means and Spirit to us to turn us to himself yet of these sins against himself he saith All these shall be forgiven unto men as Believers do begin to experiment in this World and shall fully in the World to come yea unless some higher degree than yet mentioned in sinning in a higher manner Men shall not be cast into a second Death at the end of the World to come and what this high degree of sinning is is also express'd Mat. 12.24 Mar. 3 29.30 Luk.
12.9 10. to be a speaking against and blaspheming the Holy Ghost in that evidence he gives of Christ and the power and goodness of God in and through him and so it is a willing persisting in contempt and refusal of this Grace in the Mediator when evidenced by the Holy Ghost and so rising up in opposition against his Testimony and strife till he hath finished his Testimony and strife with them for till then the Mediator is mediating for them with God and striving with them by his good Spirit so as in all their sinnings against him though they grieve and sin against the Holy Spirit yet there is forgiveness with him and so hope while he by his Spirit in means is striving with them yea if that be all the dayes of a Man's Life though to all it will not be so But when a Man hath wilfully despited this Holy Spirit after Light and so long and often that he is wholly taken away and the Man given up to Satan and so become of the Serpentine seed then is there no more forgiveness after because there is no other Sacrifice for him and this he hath utterly renounced and this sin is found in such according to the means and light in the means with which the Holy Spirit had been testifying to them and striving with them as may be seen by comparing the Scriptures in the Margent in which sin Prov. 1 24-31 Jer. 6.16.30 Ezâ—k 24.12 13 14. Heb. 10.29 according to the light and power extended to Men in the means less or more is the most high degree against the Father in contemning and ill requiting his love and graciousness and treading under foot his Son whom he hath sent and been giving to them and the highest degree of sinning against the Mediator the Man Christ in counting as common and prophane that precious Blood and sacrifice of his with which they were bought and so given into his dispose to shew favour to and some in some measure sanctified and the highest degree of sinning against the Holy Spirit in his gracious tenders of Grace to them And it is most properly called The sin against the Holy Ghost because the goodness of God in the first Creation was manifested without a Mediator to Man in innocency and so no need of this sanctifying work while Man was naturally holy and the Goodness of God in the Redemption wrought for Men though manifested in works of mercy through a Mediator yet Men so blinde and weak that they come not in thereby through the Mediator unto God therefore God out of his abundant Grace stretcheth forth his Hand by sending through Christ the Mediator and in his Name the Holy Spirit in the means he useth to enlighten the Mindes and move at the Hearts of Men that they might see believe and so turn and after some of their resistings reneweth his strife with more light and power yea if they yeild not then with some reproofs and chastisements And if after all this they sin against light and willingly persist despiting till they have wholly despited the love of the Father discovered by the Spirit in the Blood of Christ and the Blood and Sacrifice of Christ by which Peace was made for them and by and with which the Spirit hath been working on them and herein despited all the Light and Reproof and gracious Allurements and Bands of Love by the Holy Spirit streamed on them to bring them in to God Heb. 10.29 6.6 and so persisting till given up this proves a third sort and degree of sinning for which there is no sacrifice yea which contemneth the sacrifice in which is help for all sins of both the former sorts yea for all but this casting it off Fourthly and lastly These forementioned two sorts of sins so offered for by Jesus Christ as is said appears by the Scripture-Declaration how and in what manner and for what manner of sins and sinning God doth reprove charge and condemn Men either to Correction Judgements or Eternal Condemnation which since Christ undertaking and his Oblation considered we shall never finde to be for fins simply as fallen in Adam nor yet simply for their natural and necessitated weaknesses and swervings having no remedy afforded them to help much less because Christ died not for them or used no sufficiency of mean toward them by which they might have received help yea the manner of God's proceeding with Men witnesseth That Christ died for them and hath discharged the first debt for them and used means in good will and for good to them whence he saith Gen. 6.3 My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with them And so proceedeth in charging with Sin Reproof and Condemnation Prov. 1 24-31 9.12 Isa 1 2-15 5 4-8 Ezck. 24.13 Icr. 6 16-30 Mat. 23.37 Ioh. 3.19 Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and none regarded ye would none of my counsel ye despised all my reproof ye refuse to hearken ye harden your hearts c. I would and ye would not And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light Which is another manner of Charge and Condemnation and for another manner of sinning putting under another manner of guilt than as Men fell in Adam And these are every way directly Men's own sins for which there is cleansing and pardon to be received in and through Christ till the Grace of his Oblation testified by the Holy Spirit be wholly despited but these things are shewn before and will be more in the after-Discourse only I have been thus large to shew that Christ offered his Oblation both to take away the sins Mankinde was fallen into and to procure authority and fitness to take away the following evils found in Men by offering it to God and for the making that known and taking away the following evils by application of the vertue of his Oblation to Men of which in his Intercession And yet farther to shew for what he gave himself for us it was 3. That by this Sacrifice so offered he might become the Lord of of all Men and Saviour of the World that so he may rightfully dispose of them and use such means to make known his Death and Sacrifice and the Ends and Vertues of the same to them as he being one with his Father in his will and design pleaseth and so to reprove and comfort Rom. 14.9.12 Psa 2.6 7 8 9. or abase and exalt accordingly as he pleaseth and this is express For to this end he died and rose and revived that he might be the Lord both of the dead and the living c. 2 Cor. 5.15 answerable to the promise made to him by the Father on that account and so it is said He died for all that they which lived each in their several ages should not kenceforth from the making this known to them though before they did live
remember Jude 5. How that the Lord having saved the people out of the Land of Egypt afterwards destroyed them that believed not and they being both there and in other places set forth for types and ensamples to us b 1 Cor. 10 1-11.11.18 I will instance yet that which comes nigher it is said Psal 78. He establshed a testimony in Jacob c. That the generations to come might know c. That they might set their hope in God c. And might not be as their fathers a stubborn and rebellious generation c. Which yet many of them were Psa 78.5 6 7 8. and did not set their hope in God as the story shews If it be replied This was but a Ministration I might answer This was God's End expresly that they might know and hope in God c. And that he did order and appoint insufficient and ineffectual means to bring his Ends about I hope none will say neither as I hope will any deny This giving of a Testimony to be a Type of his giving Christ for a Testimony for the same End But I will come to a closer Answer Isa 55.4 in that which the Lord affirms his own doing by the Mouth of the Prophet Jer. 13.11 12. As the girdle cleaveth to the loyns of a man so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah saith the Lord that they might be unto me for a people and for a name and for a praise and for a glory but they would not hear c. And so to this very business our Saviour himself tells us God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world Job 3.17 vers 14 15 18 19 Ioh. 5.34 40 43. but that the world through him might be saved yet he doth not say or infer That the World shall all be certainly saved no not so but He that as he is displayed believeth on him shall be saved c. And so in his own personal Ministration he saith to the Jews These things I say that ye might be saved yet many of them to whom he preached to that End not would come to him nor receive his Words that they might have Life And the like may be seen in his end of sending his Gospel by his Servants so Act. 26.18 that all the way the word might used in setting forth an end aimed at implies sufficiency and effectualness in means to effect the end and good hope yea certainty if not willingly refused and resisted but not an absolute infallibility that the end in the blessed part of it shall be accomplished in fallen Men whether they attend and receive or no And all this is said not to wave one syllable in the Text but to shew what it saith not and how the word might is in such business in Scripture used when the ends of things that are to have their efficacy with and in fallen Mankinde are mentioned And so let us Secondly minde what he doth indeed say that is He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie c. This expresly his gracious End of giving himself for us and so of his Oblation That he might redeem us from all iniquity c. which is partly hinted in the former Chapter shewing for what he offered himself which comes here to be enlarged as it hath reference to this expressed End and so that he might c. is 1. That he might have power and authority in the Nature of Man and as Man also even the Son of Man to be both Mediator between God and Men and to use what means he pleaseth to redeem Men from iniquity and to be the judge of Men and is foreshewn and doth yet farther appear Joh. 5.21 22-26 27. in our Saviour's own giving this as the ground of the Father's giving to the Son to have life in himself to call and to quicken whom he will and to execute judgement because he is the Son of Man And this also by himself explicated with his gracious End affirmed Thus it is written Luk. 24.46 47. and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations c. Phil. 2.7 8 9 10 11. Mat. 27 28. mat 28.18 19. And upon the account of his Sufferings and Sacrifice this power and authority being given him he from thence groundeth his own rightfull calling of them that are weary c. to come to him and on the same ground giveth commission to his Disciples to preach the Gospel and therefore he gave himself for us in sufferingâ— and offering Sacrifice that he might have this power and authority as the publick Man and in and with it use means by the vertue of his Oblation to save c. And that God hath given him this power and authority to this end Act. 5.31 32. is affirmed 2. That he might be filled in the very Nature of Man with the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost to this End that the Love Wisdom Power Mercy Truth Goodness and Face of God might appear to be seen in him and the Holy Spirit proceed from the Father through him in his Name while in the means he is displayed And this our Saviour expresly affirmed Joh. 16.7 both That unless he did go away which was by his Death and Ascension to offer Sacrifice the Comforter would not come and also That if he departed he would send him and this also upon the account of his Sufferings and Oblation Isa 50.2 3 4 5 6. Isa 61.1 2 3 4. he had not only the forementioned Power but God the Lord hath given him the tongue of the learned that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary And this explained by himself The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings c. And this affirmed also by the Father upon the account of his Sufferings and Sacrifice Phil. 2 7-10 Heb. 8. Isa 42.1 2-8 Mat. 12 18. 3.17 17.5 in which he was his Servant and still is in his Ministration as in the Father's well-pleasedness in him and Acceptance of his Sacrifice and Mediation he is his Elect yea as the publick Man Behold saith he I have put my Spirit on him and he shall shew forth judgement to the Gentiles c. 3. That he might by vertue of his Blood in this his Oblation Psa 22 12-22 40.9 10. Joh. 3.14 15 16 12.31 32. Isa 55.4 5. Isa 42.7 8. Joh. 5.25 26 Isa 52.15 Heb. 9.14 1 Pet. 18 19. Rev. 5.9 with this Furniture he hath upon the account thereof in the means he useth especially in the Ministration of the Gospel declare his Father's Name and Righteousness and be himself lift up and
them and extending to some Revelation Demonstration and making known his minde and goodness to them and also dealing with Men from and for God in opening their Eyes and moving their Hearts to turn to God and look to him and be saved and again still dealing with God for Men for patience pardon and means still to be extended to them that so they might come to Repentance and Faith and that he in his Father's way may freely give it to them By which means and in which patience he is striving with Men in opening their Eyes and moving at their Hearts that they might believe and so from the prevalency of his Mediation by vertue of his Oblation he is giving them Faith and Repentance and such a Mediator he is for all Men yea so set to be of his Father and hath himself accepted to perform this Office also and is furnished for it with the vertue of his Oblation and Immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost being faithful able and constant in performance and so in respect of his receiving from the Father and so from God dealing with the people calling and making known God's minde being full of Spirit Love and Faithfulness he calls enlightens moves and so strives with all 2 Isa 42 1-7 45.22 49.6 8. 55.5 61.1 2 3. Joh. 1.4 5 7 8 9 10 11. Rom. 2.4 5. as hath been foreshewn a. And whereas men closing their Eyes which he hath opened c. not owning and receiving his reachings and motions which is the sin of the world he yet by vertue of his Blood and Oblation once offered so intercedes with God as to procure such forgiveness that they are not cut off presently for these transgressions but that longer time and patience and more mercies and means be extended towards them and farther strife with his Spirit that they might yet repent believe and be saved A gracious Mediator intimated to us in the Parable of the Vine-dresser Luk. 13.8 9. Lord let it alone this yeer also till I dig about it and dress it and if it bear fruit well if not then after c. If any say This is meant of the Church the Vineyard of the Iews I answer However meant it is spoken of particular Trees therein of some of which our Saviour saith Ye are of this World Joh. 8.23 Joh. 1.29 but it is plain express by Iohn Baptist Behold the Lamb of God which taketh or beareth away the sins of the world In which it appeareth evidently he speaketh of more than the Atonement and Purgation made and so of the sins taken away from before the Face of God at once by that one Oblation of his once offered yea he speaketh of a continued act by vertue of his Oblation in Mediation he taketh that is spoken of a present and continued business he taketh or beareth away the sin of the world that is his Office and his continued work That he is faithful in doing and how he doth it was long before prophesied Isa 53.12 He poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with transgressors and he bare the sins of many And then speaking of another and farther business done by vertue of the former he faith also And made intercession for the transgressors A little of which we may see fulfilled in Christ's praying for them that crucified him Father forgive them they know not what they do Luk. 23.34 And this Prayer of his was answered yea in as full a sense and farther degree than that of Amos and they so forgiven this great Transgression that they were not presently cut off Amos 7.2 3 4 5 6. Luk. 24.47 Act. 2.38 3.26 5.31 32. but patience and forbearance and more and greater means extended and used towards them yea the Gospel after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ first preached to them and Remission of sins c. according to Christ his Order so rendered and given to them And many of them did believe and receive the same And in like manner he procured patience and long-suffering for other great Transgressors even for the same gracious end That they might repent 2 Pet. 3.9 Rev. 2.21 2 Pet. 3â—â—5 whence we are willed to account That the long-suffering of the Lord is salvation Yea we are instructed into the knowledge of this Mediation of Christ by the Types of old the Truth of all being fulfilled and found in Christ Heb. 9.28 For Christ was once offered to bear the sins of man and unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation It is evident in this place That more is here spoken of and meant than bearing of sins in his Oblation-offering 2 Pet. 2 24. Col. 2.14 Rom. 4.25 Heb. 9.14 1 Ioh. 2.1 Rom. 6.9 for those he bare in his Sufferings and Death and nailed them to his Cross so as he did them all away in his Resurrection and then by the eternal Spirit offered himself a spotless Sacrifice to God in the Heavens nor can there be any more sin so imputed to him or so born by him he is just and can die no more but his bearing sins now is his taking them away and keeping the punishment of them off from us And this was also figured to us in the two Goats one slain for a sin-offering figuring out the Atonement made by the Death of Christ the other a living Goat Levit. 16.9 10 20 21 22. 1 Cor. 15.17 Rom. 4.25 over whom was confess'd all the iniquity of the Children of Israel and he bare them away into a Land of separation where no man dwelt to be charged with them So figuring out the Resurrection of Christ for our Justification and bearing away our sins the forgiveness whereof men perceive and receive in confessing and believing on him and yet a farther bearing away of sins was here typed 1 Joh. 1.7 9. in that it was of sins confessed after the Atonement was made over the live Goat that carried them away c. But I will not urge that but come to that which is more full and plain for this purpose Aaron the High-Priest did bear the names and the Judgement of the Children of Israel Exod. 28.29 30. when he went into the holy place continually and he with his Sons the Priests were to bear the iniquity of the Congregation to make Atonement for them before the Lord Levit. 10.17 and this was besides the Atonement made in the holy of holies once in the yeer And what bearing of iniquity this was may be cleer to us not that the iniquity of the people was imputed to the Priests and confess'd over their heads and they to suffer the judgement and punishment due to the peoples sins and to be offered in Sacrifice for them not so But as skilfull Hebricians say The word signifies and the Greeks translates so to bear and take away yea Numb 18.1 2
Power and Authority and oneness with the Father with I will c. That they be one with us and filled with Spirit even all the good things of thy holy Temple that their Prayers be answered and he is answered But I will instance in some particulars as well as by Scripture I may 1. By vertue of his Blood presented to his Father and sprinkled in the spiritual documents of it 1 Joh. 1.7 9. 2.1 2. Phil. 4.7 Rom. 5.1 2. believed Isa 52.15 Rom. 15.20 21. upon their hearts to bring them to see and acknowledge their present and daily infirmities defilements and offences and by the vertue of his Blood to dispense to them forgiveness and cleansing and so maintain that Peace of God in them that shall keep their hearts through him 2. Heb. 6.20 9.24 1 Cor. 1 30-31 By presenting himself for them Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and so presenting them before the Father in himself wise righteous holy free 3. Joh. 14.21 23. Heb. 9.13 14. 10.14 Col. 1.22 23. Eph. 5.25 26 27. By procuring of the Father such Manifestations by his Spirit in the Gospel of the vertues of his Sufferings and Sacrifice for them and his Father's Love there-through to them as thereby both to comfort and purifie them so as in due season he may present them as spotless to himself as now he presents them in himself before the Father 4. Heb. 9.15 8.2 6 10. Rom. 8.23 Joh. 14.16 17 18 26. 15.26 27. Act. 5.31 32. Joh. 16.13 14 15. 1 Pet. 2.7 2 Cor. 3.3 13. Heb. 3.10 11. By procuring for them a performance of the promises of the New Testament in sending forthe the holy Spirit in a first fruits to them according to his promise to be an Advocate and Comforter in and to them and so to minde them of and teach them the understanding of his sayings and to witness of him to them and through them to others to take of the things of Christ and shew to them and thereby glorifying him to them and making him precious to their hearts and so guiding them into all Truth so writing his minde in their hearts Rom. 16.20 1 Joh. 4.4 5.4 5. Rom. 5 1-3 8.14 15 16. Gal. 5.22 Phil. 1.9 10. 1 Pet. 2.5 Ioh. 7.38 39. Rom. 8.26 Ezek. 36.37 2 Sam. 7.27 and to subdue their sinful and fleshly lusts Micah 7.19 Rom. 8.13 Gal. 5.16 18. and to answer their opposers Mat. 10.20 and to support them in troubles Isa 43.3 Joh. 16.33 to be treading and so to tread Satan under their feet in due season and to give them victory over all the evil Spirits and Temptations that are in the World and to shed abroad his Love in their hearts and so fill them with peace joy hope and all spiritual springs of his goodness and fruits of righteousness and because of their ignorance and unworthiness of and inability to reach to or receive these things to lead instruct and move them to pray unto God for all these things promised in the Name of Christ Joh. 16.23 24. Zach. 12.10 5. To perfume their Prayers Praises and Services Rev. 8.3 Joh. 14.16 16.22 1 Pet. 2.5 6 7 9. with the Odours and sweet-smelling Vertues of his Death and Sacrifice and so by his Intercession thereby to expel from before his Father's Throne those mixtures of their fleshly weakness that were in them and make their suits acceptable to his Father and so procure them Answers from God 6. To procure their preservation for their Generation Joh. 17.9.13 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. 1 Cor. 3.5 6 7. 4.1 Phil. 2.14 15. Eph. 4.7 8-12-16 Joh. 15.5 8 16. 1 Pet. 1.8 to be in his place in the World for the Ministration of the Gospel and holding forth the word of Life to the World and edifying one another and likewise for unity of Spirit among them and Sanctification and Blessing of them and their Ministration that so the World might be brought to believe and Believers may grow up together into Christ by that which every joynt supplieth that so they may not be barren but fruitful in the knowledge of Christ 7. To prepare for them heavenly Mansions Joh. 14 2 3. 1 Pet. 1.4 5. and them for the enjoyment of them and so to preserve them through Faith to the possession of the promised Inheritance All this doth he make Intercession for for all those that come to God by him and this a brief or little mention of his business he is now doing in heaven in making Intercession for Believers And because of his sending forth his Spirit into their hearts by which he is present with them and in them as in his Body also he appears in heaven before the Father for them Joh. 14.16 17 18. Hence that blessed and Holy Spirit of Christ bears his Name being called their Advocate Rom. 8.26 27. and Christ by him doing that work in them he is said to do it even to make Intercession for the Saints so that this making Intercession for the Saints in his Mediation of the New Testament dealing both with God and with them for them and in them is an high heavenly choice and peculiar business And surely all that come to God by Christ believing this it will fill them with strong consolation and make them pray with assurance of Faith knowing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them that come to God by him And therefore 4. That he is able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him which as it is plainly affirmed so I hope none of us doubteth therefore I will no farther instance proofs only let that be remembred 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. which hath been before noted That though the Death and Ransom by Christ given was for all men and so his Mediation in general for all men that they might be preserved and come to the knowledge of the Truth for which he is able also yet the utmost and Eternal Salvation and Inheritance purchased by his Oblation was and is to be conferred on Believers not on all he died for or mediateth for not on such when through his mediation the heavenly cords are let down Psa 2.3 4 5. 2 Thes 1.8 2.8 10 12. will not obey in suffering themselves to be drawn to him Sure it is there is another portion justly designed for such but to those that by his heavenly cords are drawn to him Heb. 5.9 Joh. 1.12 and so believing come to God by him to these he gives Eternal Life Eternal Salvation and for these Believers that approach to God by him he maketh his special Intercession and Advocation and seeing he ever liveth to do this for them he is able powerful faithful true ready fit doing it at all times evermore to save them to the utmost and this Mediation of Jesus Christ by vertue of his Oblation both as in general for all men and
Application to Men in extension of the Fruits and efficacies to and in Men as to Mens discerning and enjoying the vertne and efficacy of the Mediation and Intercession is first though the Mediation be by vertue of the Oblation first offered to God yet the Mediation fore-running the making of it known and being that which procures the making known the Oblation and vertue of it unto Men and also it is through his Intercession and Dispensation according thereto that the efficaciousness of the Oblation is found in Men yet the efficacy with and in Men is various and in and with no mortal Man so full and compleat as with God and this appears cleerly in the Mediation and Intercession of Christ who there-through prevailing with God procureth and extendeth forth the knowledge of his Oblation and vertue thereof with God for Men in all that he hath suffered and done for us in the Nature of Man and in the means used towards us in the Declaration of his Word and in Ordinances Mercies Chastisements and Motions of Spirit in Convincements and Allurements to break Man off his purpose and subdue him to self-denial and so bring him in to believe on Christ and so to Peace and Life and also herein discovering the Father's Love and rich Grace and gracious Ends in giving him and accepting his Oblation and making him the Mediator and now for his Mediation extending so much patience and so many means all sanctified by his Blood to draw Men from their own ovil designs and wayes in sins or righteousness of their own to receive his Grace and Favour And in this Fruit of his Intercession by vertue of his Oblation he being the Man the Word that was made Flesh and shed his Blood and by vertue thereof is now through these means sprinkling it and his Father being that Fountain of Love and living Waters that sent him and hath filled him with himself his Face shining in his It in all appears not only that his Mediation and Intecession is excellent but also That this Love of the Father in giving him and his Oblation offered and Mediation by vertue thereof and the procuring the extention of the Fruits of God's Love therethrough is the Water and Blood by which he came and the way in which the Spirit beareth witness of him and so also the Water and Spirit of which Believers are born And hence also it is That all those means extended to Men in the Love of God as procured by the Intercession of Christ by vertue of his Oblation to so gracious an end they are the Cords of a Man proceeding from the Man Christ and suited to the needs and capacities of Men to whom extended Hos 11.3 4. With Isa 32.2 3. Joh 33 1-7 13-29 and such as will verily draw Men in to him if not presumptuously resisted and they are also the bands of Love that come from the free-Love of God our Saviour and to gracious Ends for the good of them to whom extended in these being the extention of the Call the spreading of the Curtains the means for the New Birth All which things in this Chapter are shewn and proved before in the 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 Chapter of this Part 2. Oh presumptuous Transgressors that conspire against the Lord and his anointed saying Psa 2.3 4. Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us Ah foolish and brutish Pastors that do disgrace these Cords Jer. 10.20 21. Cant. 1.3 Joh. 6.44 45. Col. 3.19 Psa 118.17 86.11 12. and spoil the Church of them Oh blessed they that in these drawings learn of the Father and come to Christ for such shall then finde the benefit of his special Intercession in the same Cords of a Man and Bands of Love to unite them to Christ and so to God in Christ for ever so conforming them to Christ and consolating them in him And so if we well weigh the Mediation and Intercession of Christ by vertue of his Oblation Job 1.29 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 9.15 we may perceive how all things are upheld by him and how excellent and prevalent his Mediation is for the good of Men that they might become Believers and Saints and for the good of Saints that they may enjoy the Promises and receive the promised Inheritance And so the Mediation of Christ is for such as are yet unbelievers that they might believe and for Believers that they may persevere in Faith to the Inheritance and by the Grace here-through extended He is Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End in the work of Grace and so the Author Captain and Finisher of Faith and so he mediating for all Men doth also therein and therewith more especially mediate and intercede for Believers his chosen ones that go to God by him CHAP. 15. An Answer to some Aspersions cast on the Professors of this Truth I Having in a former Treatise written That God so loved the world that he gave and sent forth his Son to be the Saviour of the world and That he sends forth his Servants to bear witness of his Son that all men through him might believe And quoting to the later Sentence Joh. 1.7 and 17.21 23. Mr. Owen was pleased to fault me for giving this Honour to Christ that any should by him believe and to fault my quotation of Joh. 1.7 thereto and saith It is my Sophistry learned of the old Serpent thus to apply this to the Son of God the Light witnessed to and saith We are said to believe in Christ and on Christ but not by him 1. I answer To take that Joh. 1.7 That Iohn was sent forth from God and came to bear witness of the light that all men through him that is Joh. 3.26 27 30 31 32-36 5.35 36 Act. 1.5 22. 10.41 42. 18.26 28. through Iohn might believe and not through the light witnessed by Iohn would be a very small All when a witnessing-Light of that true Light so out-shining the Light of Iohn's Ministration came in so suddenly upon it though witnessing still to the same Light that Iohn's Ministration is over And if Mr. Owen feared any disgrace to the Servants Ministration and so to himself hereby it was a causless fear and not occasioned by this quotation of the place which denieth not at all Iohn to be the Minister by whom all those to whom his Line reached that believed did believe even as the Apostles were Ministers by whom the Believers in their Ministration were brought to believe they ministred the Epistle and held forth and witness Christ the Light therein Joh. 3.14 15. and for any farther thing they disclaim it and for that cause witnessed of him and held forth and exalted him that men beholding him might through him believe and be healed But the believing of any Joh. 6.40 1 Cor. 3.4 5 6. 4.1 2 Cor. 3.3 18 Joh. 3 26-36 Mat. 23.8 9 10.
21.27 Then the Law shall go forth of Sion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem then shall Jerusalem be the praise of the Earth and the Name of the City shall be from that Day The Lord is there yea in Jerusalem are set the Thrones for Judgement the Thrones of the House of David there shall the twelve Apostles sit on twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel all being but the Throne of Christ who overcoming through sufferings is now set on the right Hand of God and so set with his Father on his Father's Throne And when he comes to take his own Throne Luk. 1.32 Rev. 3.21 Rev. 22.14.19 Gen. 13 14-17 Heb. 11.9 1 Chron. 16.16 17 18. Psal 105.8 9 10 11. Isa 14.2 Zech. 12.6 14.10 Isa 61.7 the Throne of his Father David that God will give unto him he promiseth likewise to him that overcometh to grant to sit with him on his Throne so that all such shall have their part in this holy City Jerusalem which Jerusalem shall be in the Land of Canaan in which Abraham sojourned and where David though a sojourner also yet raigned there shall Ierusalem be and be again inhabited and resorted to even in her own place So as for the shame they have undergone c. they shall rejoyce in their portion therefore in their own Land they shall possess the double and everlasting joyshall be upon them 3. The extent and largeness of this Kingdom Dominion and Raigning it shall be over all Nations over the whole Earth Zech. 14.9 and so it is said And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day there shall be one Lord and his Name one And Psal 72.8 9 10 11. he shall have dominion from Sea to Sea and from the River to the ends of the earth They that dwell in the wilderness shall how before him and his enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him And so in Vision seen Dan. 7.14 27. And there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages shall serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion and the Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions or Rulers shall serve and obey him Rev. 2.26 And so the Promise And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them c. even as I received of my Father Again Do you not know that the Saints shall judge the world 1 Cor. 6.2 4. The manner of this Kingdom in the beginning of it and till Christ deliver up the Kingdom to the Father it shall be Davidical his Regiment Providential among Men hath from the beginning been and till his next coming will be by wordly Governours which by a Divine power he raiseth up and putteth down and changeth by means and Instruments as and when it pleaseth him His Spiritual Regiment is and hath been and will be till his coming again by his Holy Spirit in and with his Word of Grace in the Hearts and Consciences of his Saints on Earth which is also so far Divine that he makes them Partakers of the Divine Nature though not all Raigners but sufferers in this world But his own Personal Regiment as Man and Son of David shall be Davidical though exceeding that of David as Truth is in all things and ever exceeding the Types in which also are some dissimilitudes as hath been foreshewn yet ever fulness in the Truth to answer all that by similitudes was typed or figured And so 1. Jesus Christ shall have the Kingdom of his Father David 1 King 8.18 19 20. 2 Sam. 7.12 16. Psal 132. 11-18 sit thereon and rule that House and Kingdom suitable to and excelling that said of and by Solomon the Type in which shall be fulfilled that promised 2 Sam. 7. according to his Oath mentioned Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy Throne c. and according to that prophesied I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall raign and prosper Jer. 23.5 6. and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the Name whereby he shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness And this 〈…〉 this is 〈…〉 or Jer. 33.14 15 16 17. For 〈…〉 on the Throne of the House of Hyael And â—o by another 〈◊〉 phet In 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 be established and he shall sit 〈…〉 Isa 16.5 Isa 9.6 7. yea more 〈…〉 Counsellor The Mighty 〈…〉 Prince of peace of the 〈…〉 of David to order it c. And this 〈…〉 Apostle and by the Angel Act 20.30 31. Lub 1.32 Act. 〈…〉 13.36 37. 3.19 20 21. 〈…〉 to him the 〈…〉 not in the 〈…〉 raise the 〈…〉 sit on 〈…〉 Throne of David 〈…〉 in the 〈…〉 and Affairs of Men 〈…〉 shall the 〈◊〉 be and so and in that 〈…〉 2. In the Kingdom of David 2 Eam 8.18 1 Chron. 27.23 〈…〉 33 34. 〈◊〉 8.1 29.6 Isa 61.5 14.1 2. there ws both Rulâ—â—â— Subjects and 〈…〉 of degrees in both 〈…〉 also 〈…〉 some also of 〈…〉 over his substance for Land and Cattel and others for 〈◊〉 Affairs of the Kingdom even so in this Kingdom of 〈◊〉 The Inhabâ—â—â—â— of the twelve Tribes of 〈…〉 all parts of 〈…〉 own I and 〈…〉 Mat. 22.30 Mar. 12.25 Luk. 20.35 36. Rev. 5.10 1.6 1.10 2 Tim. 4.8 for ordering and Catrol 〈◊〉 such-like 〈…〉 Men but the Children of the Resuâ—â—â—â— on that are the compleat spiritually born Sons of God 〈…〉 shall be the chief these neither marry nor are given in 〈◊〉 riagâ—â— but are as the Angels of God these for the 〈…〉 of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 chiefest 〈…〉 King and 〈…〉 that shall 〈…〉 and to upon Thrones 〈◊〉 him 1 Cor. 15.41 42. Mat. 20.23 Mar. 10.40 〈◊〉 17.5 6. 〈◊〉 105 9-14 Heb. 11.10 c. and have the Growns of Kighteousness and Life 〈◊〉 among these 〈◊〉 there will be degrees one excelling anoâ—â—â—â— It is ordered for some 〈◊〉 on his right Hand and 〈…〉 his left 〈…〉 shall have the 〈…〉 King so he a Prince among them Dan. 12.13 Hag. 2.23 Mat. 19.28 Rev. 2.26 1 Cor. 6.2 Luk. 19.17 19. Mat. 25.21 23. Ezek. 34.23 24 and 37.24 25. Daniel shall then stand up in his Lot Zerubbabel shall be there as a Signet c. The Apostles shall there sit on twelve Thrones c. The victorious Saints shall sit with him on his Throne ruling the Nations All the Saints judging the World as Sampson
12 And when they come to be discouraged by the tongue of the Egyptian Sea with its seven streams or the great River Euphrates as the Israelites of old by the Red-Sea may not the Lord destroy and divide the same Isa 11.15 16. literally that such as are thereby hindred may go over dry-shod and metaphorically in overthrowing the Turkish and Egyptian Enemies for the time that those that are thereby hindred may come into their Land Rev. 16.12 yea and in that coming rejoyce much as Israel when they were passed through the Sea and saw the Egyptians drowned and yet upon some Trials Ezek. 20.34 38. have many rebellious among them still in due season to be purged out as it was with Israel of old may there not in all this time as in the time of Moses contest with Pharaoh and leading the people through the Sea in during the peoples grievances till they were fed with Mannah and in some settled order that Jethro kept Moses Wife and Children and then brought them to Moses and gave advice to Moses even so the Gentiles or People of the Nations some of them be very serviceable to preserve help forward and bring in of the people of Israel into their own Land Isa 49.22 and advise and help forward toward their settlement and yet after all this as Israel of old had many and great Plagues and Wars with many and great Kings till the Rebellious were purged out as well as those Enemies overthrown so these also have like Troubles and Wars with like Afflictions and Purgations Zech. 14.1 2. as well as Victories And after all this as they of old had a Jordan to pass over and a Jericho to overthrow so these shall have their potent Enemies and Besiegers to try them more Dan. 12.2 and for God to shew his Wonders more among them this their being in their own Land being a Metaphorical Resurrection of which some are to shame and some to contempt their first Conductors being not so prosperous as to be Instruments of the conversion of the generality of them no more than Moses and Aaron of old yet God may be so gracious to them as to Israel of old in giving them a Joshuah to be their Leader so to send Elijah the Prophet Mal. 4.5 6. Isa 31.8 9. Isa 66.19 20. to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to their Fathers and upon this the great Conversion among them and many not before come in to them now coming with weeping and supplication And as Rahab was helpful of old so now the Gentiles may also be more abundantly serviceable to fetch and bring them into their Land and the Enemies still opposing while God is by his mighty power as of old dividing Jordan and taking the shame of Egypt off from his people and to overthrow Jericho about to shew his great wonders and to take the shame of all people from off his people Israel and free them from all Captivity the Enemy still strengthening themselves to oppose then in that strait as to Joshuah of old so to these now Jesus Christ himself appears and comes and all the Saints with him Zech. 14.3 4 5.9 and gives the total overthrow to the Enemy which being done the last 45 yeers is expired I determine not things to be done according to my expressions but such-like things and in a true sense according to the expressions of the Scripture quoted will be done yea even so that it will be done to them like as it was to Israel when he came out of Egypt So that when the 45 yeers are out is easie to be known but when they begin whether at their first assay to enter or in their beginning to settle I know not but could I surely know of the least beginning of these things I should as assuredly know the Lord is so nigh coming as that as one might say he is risen up and on his march and if the 45 yeers be not entred they will presently enter So for Israel and now for our selves that are not natural Israel we may learn something for our information about the time of the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Cnrist in comparing the things and events coming to pass with Israel of old from their coming out of Egyyt unto the first coming of Christ with the things and events coming to pass with and among Christians from the first coming of Christ 1 Cor 10.18 vers 1.6 11. to the second and glorious coming of Christ we are in many things willed to behold Israel after the flesh and they are affirmed to be figures and examples for us and those things to be written for our warning and instruction and concerning God's dealing with them in giving them the Law by Moses and their demeanor towards him Christ uttered a Parable which may be read Mat. 21.33 34. and Luk. 20 9-17 and so for his dealing with Christians from first to second coming and their demeanour towards him he uttered a like Parable which may be read Mat. 25 14-30 and Luk. 19 12-27 Therefore it it is useful for us to consider and compare the same things in reading the Histories of them and we may discern there is hath been and will be some Agreement 1. When God by Moses the Mediator gave them the Law and set their Priesthood Sacrifices and Temple-worship in order the people were generally and many of the Captains and Levites stubborn and rebellious all the dayes of the personal Ministration of Moses so in the dayes of the personal Ministration of Christ the Mediator of the New Testament while he was ministring the Gospel and working Miracles to save the lost sheep of the House of Israel to whom in Ministration he was especially sent yet while he was chusing Apostles and Evangelists and giving them his Gospel and his Ordinances to have ministred to them yet were the people generally with their High-Priest and Priests and Lawyers stubborn and rebellious and but few of them that came in to believe on him 2. In Joshuah's time when Moses was taken away the people were more generally obedient and followed the Lord more fully though some trouble by Achan And so in the dayes of the Elders that out-lived Joshuah So in the Apostles and first Witnesses dayes after Christ left the World and went to the Father both Jews and Gentiles came in apace the Churches encreased and prospered and grew in Grace and kept the Faith sound notwithstanding some harm done by false Prophets for the Spirit of Antichrist began even before their departure to work yet the Churches kept the Faith sound in their dayes and in the days of the Churches of those first times that next succeeded them and received the Gospel from their personal Ministration 3. After Joshuah's time and the time of the Elders that out-lived Joshuah the people learned the manners of the Nations and went
12.4 1â— 32-35 Mat. 24 12. for though knowledge shall abound yet wickedness and Seducers will abound also And whatever shaking of worldly Powers and burning of the Whore and destroying of the Body of Antichrist there shall be yet the Beast in the worldly Powers and the false Prophet 2 Thes 2.8 Rev. 19.11 20. with the Spirit of Antichrist remaineth till the personal appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ and the cross of Christ is to be accepted till then and the Life of Believers in respect of such glorious appearance is hid with Christ in God and they in that respect dead and not to look to appear in Glory Col. 3.1 2 3 4. Phil. 3.20 21. till he appear in Glory that we may appear in Glory with him which will be a better Glory than that thought on to be had in this VVorld even a likeness to him which the Saints look for in his coming besides when the Sons of God are so manifested Ezek. 11.18 19. Eph. 5.27 Act. 3.19 20. 1 Cor. 1.8 Mal. 3.17 18. Rom. 8 19-23 they shall not be of divers Opinions nor in divers Forms of Church-Government as now in some things many may be but of one minde and heart free from all spot of sin shining in holiness and this manifestation of them expresly said to be In the day when he makes up his Jewels or special Treasure explained to be when the Bodies of the Saints are raised and become immortal and the whole Creation renewed so that as the Creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God Col. 3.4 Phil. 3-20 1 Joh. 3.2 that it may then enjoy its Freedom so the Sons of God wait for the manifestation and personal appearance of the Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ that he appearing in Glory they may appear in Glory with him and so be manifested the Sons of God Thirdly the knowledge and belief of the Testimony of Christ concerning his personal coming in such manner and to such ends as is said is profitable being minded to help and move all that believe in Christ 1. To keep them from inordinate loving Rom 8.18.2 Cor. 4.17 18. 2 Tim. 4 8. and pursuing the Glory riches or pleasures of this world and to enable them to count the cross of Christ and sufferings for his sake great riches and so to bear it with patience and go through it with fortitude c. 2. To attend upon Mat. 28.19 10. 1 Cor. 11.2 26. 1 Tim. 6.13 14. 2 Tim. 4.1 2 3 4 5 8. and hopefully use all the Ordinances of Christ according to opportunities given till he visibly and personally come again that being the time of their ceasing 3. To long and wait with patience in well-doing for this coming of the Lord Rom. 8.23 1 Cor. 1.7 Jude 21. that we may be found ready and unblameable at his appearing Phil. 3.20 1 Thes 1. â—â— 2 Thes 3.5 Heb. 9.28 Tit. 2.13 2 Pet. 3.12 13. And thus having gone over the three distinct Branches of the Testimony of Christ and that so as I desire to have them beheld as one whole and entire Testimony I shall sum them up together CHAP. 21. The Conclusion of this Part in summing up the Testimony HAving treated distinctly of The Oblation The Intercession and The coming again of Christ desiring 〈◊〉 Scriptures speaking of each to be well minded I shall add a word or two to shew how all Three are included in one Testimony and are indeed one intire Testimony even the Testimony of Jesus that is The Spirit of Prophesie and one included in the other and all joyned in one in the Testimony in divers places set forth in one John 3.16 17. there is affirmed the Love of God in the gift of his Son in which the Oblation is affirmed and there is set out the End of his coming even to save and that he might save there is his Mediation and Prevlency of it in use of means to apply intimately affirmed and there 's the blessed Hope in his coming for all that obey his call that they might not perish but have Everlasting Life so is his coming again intimated 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. There is both the Oblation of Christ vers 14 15 19. and the Fruit of the Intercession of Christ vers 18 20. and the coming again of Christ vers 10 21. yea all Three together vers 21. intimated Tit. 1.1 2. There is the Object of Faith set forth in the Gospel called The Faith of God's Elect which is Christ as he hath offered the Oblation and there is the Fruit of his Intercession in the acknowledgement of the Truth which is after Godliness and there is intimate his coming again in which is given that hoped for the Hope of Eternal Life And yet because his Oblation in his Humiliation and Exaltation is the Foundation of Faith and the Key of Knowledge and that which gives Light and Understanding into all the whole Testimony and being believed lead into all Therefore we shall finde That that is sometime onely expresly named and yet the other two secretly in the same saying and so with Inclusion of Intercession and Hope of his glorious coming when not named Christ as he hath offered the Oblation c. is named as the whole Testimony 1 Cor. 2.2 so Paul summed up all the Gospel and Doctrine he determined to preach to the orinthians to this even Jesus Christ and him cruciâ—â—â— where the Oblation is express the other included And again he summed up the Gospel he preached and which Believers received and in which they stand and by which if they keep in remembrance they are saved 1 Cor. 15.3 4 5. to this How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and that he was seen c. In which the Humiliation and Exaltation of Christ is comprehended his Oblation express his Intercession and coming again included in that saying According to the Scriptures And such a brief sum explicated 2 Cor. 5 14-24 And so in such a brief sum the Love of God to Mankinde is testified 1 Jo. 4.9 10. Vers 14. Ioh. 3.14 15 16 17. In this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his onely begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins And again shorter and the same was in like manner testified by our Saviour and that also as the Ground of Preaching the same for Men's healing and as the Oblation and Love of God to Mankinde appearing there-through is sometimes named for the whole Testimony so in some places it is shewn how this known and believed saveth and leadeth into all Truth and so teacheth Believers I will instance but two places 1. Tit.
at his coming will be compleatly fulfilled as according to all this vision Nathan spake to David yea God spake the same in vision to David Psal 89. 1 Chron. 17.15 Psa 89.19 20 29 30 37. how he would exalt him and there brings in Christ under his Name as he had before done to Abraham and shews how he will beat down his Foes and make him higher than the Kings of the Earth how his Seed shall indure for ever and his Throne as the dayes of Heaven yet here in this Life if his Children forsake God's Law and walk not in his Statutes he will visit their Transgressions with the Rod and their iniquity with stripes but his mercy he will never take from him nor suffer his faithfulness to fail his Covenant he will not break c. once he hath sworn c. he shall have his Seed still and his Seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun before him it shall be established for ever 2 Sam. 23.3 4 5. and of this he speaketh Psal 132.11 18 and also in 2 Sam. 23.1 5. where mentioning the Ruler what a one he shall be and the excellency of his Raign David confesseth his house in his own personal Raign was not so with God nor in his natural Race did the Lord make it so to grow yet saith he He hath made an everlasting Covenant with me he saith not with my house as then it was but with me ordered in all things and sure and professeth for himself this is all my salvation and all my desire And David by the Spirit filled with the Knowledge of this Kingdom of Christ God did still by inspiration of his Spirit reveal to him and he by that Spirit spake of Christ the Anoynted the true David and Solomon the Son of David the Son of God the great King of him he saw and foretold The great opposition and raging conspiracies that would be against him in his first coming in the flesh Psal 2.1 2 3. Act. 4.25 and spiritual evidencing thereof to draw men in to him and this by Jews Gentiles Rulers and People The great sufferings that he should undergo by great and small Psal 22.7 18. 69.12 21. their laughing scoffing shaking the head at him piercing his hands and feet parting his Garments giving him Gall and Vineger to drink c. The Treason of Judas Psal 41.9 109.2 3 4 8. Act. 1.20 one of his chosen Apostles and the overthrow of that Traitor that rewarded evil for good His Death and Resurrection Psal 16.8 9 10 11. Act. 2.31 and 13.33 His doing the whole will of God and so ascending to Heaven Psal 40.7 8 9 10. 110.1 68.11 18 20. Heb. 10.5 6 14. Act. 2.33 and offering the acceptable Sacrifice and then sitting at the right hand of God receiving immeasurable fulness of Spirit in the Man and for Men and so extending thereof to the rebellions that he might dwell with them and to that end raising up many Preachers to declare his Name c. His coming again Psal 2.6 9. 149.4 9. and sitting upon his Throne and raigning and the coming of his Saints to raign with him and the great overthrow he and they all shall give to all the worldly Powers that stand against him and then the flourishing Estate of his Kingdom in Jerusalem and over all the Earth and this largely in the last Psalm which he sung and committed to the Church Psal 72.1 16. and most probable at the same time with that 2 Sam. 23.1 5. Yea Psal 102.16 the time of this his building up Sion and raigning to be even then when he shall appear in his glory All this and much more with the gracious requirings and operations of this Grace believed was revealed to David and he being filled furnished with the Holy Spirit hath declared the same and left it upon record in the Book of Psalms and so I leave it and the residue for such as desire the same to read there And so there was now a great explicite and cleer Revelation in which also was opened and interpreted to them the meaning of and the Truth typed by their Sacrifices and other figures and shadows yet it pleased God still to give more revelation of Christ and to explicate the Testimony in particulars more CHAP. 5. Of the fifth Revelation of Christ and the things of Christ IT pleased God by his holy Spirit to be still revealing Christ and the things of Christ in and to the following Prophets 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 2 Pet. 1.20 Luk. 1.70 Act. 26.22 and by them to Israel and Judah and that so fully both of his first coming and second coming that there is nothing of the things of Christ as then to come but it was revealed to and by them as to instance some 1. The Messenger that should go before his face or in his presence to prepare the way before him Mal. 3.1 Mat. 11.10 Isa 40.3 8. Joh. 1.16 20 23 29. Mar. 1.2 3. and the Doctrine in crying down all flesh and exalting the word of the Lord by which he should do it and the sudden coming of the Lord on the appearance of this Messenger which is now evidenced to be John Baptist. 2. His own first coming and living among men his Ministery Sufferings Victory and Works in each particular Isa 9.6 Luk. 2.11 Jer. 23.22 Gal. 4.4 Isa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 Isa 11.1 Luk. 1.27 c. Mic. 5.2 Mat. 2.5 Ioh. 7.42 Jer. 31.25 Mat. 2.16 17 18. Isa 61.1 2 3. Luk. 4.18 Psal 69.9 Ioh. 2.14 17. as to say a little his birth into the world of a woman a Virgin of the House and Seed of David his birth in Bethlem-Ephratah in Judah yea his flight into and return out of Egypt Hosea 11.1 Mat. 2.15 and the slaughter of Rachel's Children on that occasion in Bethlem His return to Nazareth and manner of living among men Isa 53.2 3 4. Mat. 2.23 Luk. 2.51 Joh. 1.46 7.52 Mar. 6.3 His Ministery his Miracles and Patience Isa 42.1 8. Mat. 12.1 18. His Parables Psal 49.1 4. 78.2 Mat. 13.35 His Zeal for purging the Temple Zach. 11.12 13. Mat. 26.15 27.3 9. Isa 53.7 8 10 11 12. Isa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 His Meekness and riding on an Ass and a Colt the Fole of an Ass Zach. 9.9 Mat. 21.1 10. His being sold for thirty pence the scattering of his Disciples from him Zach. 13.7 Mat. 26.31 56. His being scourged and crucified between two Thieves Isa 50.6 53.12 Mat. 27.26 38. Yea his Death Burial and Resurrection and his Sacrifice offered his being filled with knowledge and his Mediation on that account or by vertue thereof yea his being God-Man in one Person Emmanuel God with us 3. That in respect of all this which he hath suffered and done Isaiah 28.16 1 Pet. 2.5 6. 2 Cor. 5.19 1 Cor. 3.11 Act. 4.11 Isa 49.6 45.22 1 Joh.
4.14 Act. 13.47 Isa 42.6 7 8. Luk. 2.31 32. Gal. 3.16 26 29. Rom. 8.23 25. and is thereby become and fitted and ready to do God would in and by the Gospel of him lay him in Sion for a Foundation that by Sion he might be so discovered to others that whoever believeth on him should not be ashamed and so he would cleerly declare and set him forth for his Salvation to the ends of the Earth the Saviour of the world that all the ends of the Earth might look to him and be saved And 1. To give him in making him known to be a Light to the Gentiles even to such as are blinde deaf and so dead and know him not to open their eyes and ears and move in their hearts that they in beholding and believing might come in to him and so receive a spiritual birth and become of Abraham's Seed 2. And for a Covenant to the people that receiving and enjoying him by Faith they might in knowing and enjoying their interest in him know and enjoy their interest in the Everlasting Covenant for the inheritance and Kingdom made with and confirmed in Christ first and in and through him with Abraham Isaac Jacob David for them and all the spiritual Seed who in believing in Christ are interessed in the same and receive a spiritual first-Fruits thereof that they may with assured hope wait for the fulness till another Day when in performance it will be made with them 4. the second coming of Christ in his glorious return when he shall come to raign 1 Thes 4.15 Col. 3.4 and all his Saints with him Zach. 14.9 And so 1. That a little before his coming Elias shall come to the Jews and Israelites Mal. 4.5 6. Mat. 17.11 12. to turn the hearts of the Fathers open the minde of the Prophets to the Children and to turn the hearts of the Children to the Fathers helping them to understand and embrace and so repent and turn and so to prepare the way of the Lord 's glorious coming as John Baptist came in the Spirit and Power of Elias to prepare the way of his first coming in the flesh in meekness and so our Saviour affirmeth both that Elias shall come and is come He that is come spoke of Mal. 3. He that still shall come spoke of Mal. 4. 2. That before the coming of Christ personally Hos 14.1 2 3 4. Zach. 14.1 Dan. 12.3 11 12. the Jews and Israelites even all the twelve Tribes of Israel shall by some instinct or motion or medium used by the Lord be stirred up and gathered to Jerusalem from all ends and quarters of the World to Jerusalem in Canaan and be exercised with great wars and troubles for about forty five yeers before the coming of Christ 3. At his coming he will work wonders as he did in the Land of Egypt and in dividing the red Sea so drying up Euphrates Isa 11.11 12 16. Jer. 31.8 9. Isa 4.9 18 23 Jer. 31 13 15 16. Dan. 12.2 12 13. Heb. 11.35 1 Thes 4.14 18. Ezek. 37. Isa 19.23 24 25. and making way for the Israelites to come over and move the hearts of many to bring them so that all young and old men women with child lame c. even all of the twelve Tribes both Israel and Judah shall come and be joyned in one yea in his visible appearance when he is so come those that sleep in the Lord whose bodies are in the dust shall rise and be with them not onely Abraham and all the Fathers before and since but even the young children slain in Bethlehem and all that sleep in Jesus both Houses of Israel joyned in one never more to be divided and of the Gentiles joyned with them a great Congregation 4. In his coming with all his Saints and being so come Isa 11.4 9.5 60.1 12. Zach. 14.3 16. Isa 65.12 17. Jer. 31.33 34. 32.37 40. Dan. 2.44 7.14 Isa 9.7 24.23 66.5 13. Zach. 12 6. Luk. 1.32 33. he shall slay all the wicked and overthrow the worldly Powers even all that will not serve him and his People with the Rod of his Mouth and the Breath of his Lips which slaughter will not be like other battels where blood is shed on both sides for in this the wicked onely shall be destroyed with burning and fuel of fire which Battel fought Then will he make the Heaven the Earth new for his people to inhabit and make in performance the new and everlasting Covenant with all the People and then shall he receive the Kingdom from the Father and sit upon the Throne of David even in Jerusalem and all Nations shall be gathered to him and serve him and he shall rule over them Isa 2.2 4. Mic. 4.3 4. Dan. 7.14 and the Saints that come with him shall rule under him and with him so as all the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given also to them Dan. 7.27 Isa 32.1 14.1 2 3. 5. His Government shall be with Justice and Equity full of Glory Isa 9.7 11 60 65.14 20 66.12 c. Peace Plenty c. and all Creatures at peace one with another yea then the everlasting Sabbath kept and continual Halelujahs sung but I must proceed no further unless I should transcribe a great part of all the Prophets which all that have an heart thereto may read It is enough that the Apostle affirms of the first coming of Christ and so of his Ministration Sufferings Death Resurrection Ascension and being contained in the Heavens till the time of the restitution of all things Act. 3.18 19 20 24. and how in the mean time he spiritually sends Jesus Christ in the Gospel-Ministration to bless us in turning every of us from all evil wayes and that he will in his times send forth this Jesus Christ that hath been thus fore-preached to appear visibly and that then the times of restitution and refreshing shall be from his presence and saith That not onely Moses and Samuel but also all the holy Prophets that followed have spoken and fore-told of these dayes Rom. 16.26 Act. 26.22 and so of these things and that the mystery of Christ is by and according to the Scriptures of the Prophets made known for the obedience of Faith to all Nations and that they said no other things but what Moses and the Prophets did say should come so that the Revelation was now exceeding great and cleer and no more nor further Revelation vouchsafed till the performance began and then of no other but the same things in cleerness and mystery opening manifested And as God chose these Prophets 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. 2 Pet. 1.20 Luk. 16.29 and furnished them with his Spirit to make known the Testimony of Christ according to this Revelation so they have left it on record in their writing in which it and so they are still with us in viewing of whose
writings we may discern that all the Sriptures testifie of Christ CHAP. 6. Of the next and sixth Revelation of Christ his person and personal coming in the flesh THe next Revelation of Christ was of his person and personal coming in the Flesh who he was what a one he was and wherefore come c. and this was first to Zacharias by an Angel Luk. 1.13 14 15 16 17. declaring his Son that should be called John to go before him in the Spirit and Power of Elias c. him before whom he should go the Angel called The Lord their God then by the Angel to the Virgin Mary her self declaring his conception and birth and who Luk. 1.26 27 35 Luk. 1.41 42 43 48 55 67 68 69 79. Mat. 1.20 21 23. Luk. 2.10 11 14 16 17. and what a one he should be and that he should have the Kingdom of his Father David then by the holy Ghost in the Prophecy of Elizabeth my life of Zacharias then by the Prophecy of the Virgin Mary the Mother of Jesus then by the Prophecy of Zacharias being filled with the holy Ghost then by an Angel to Joseph the espoused Husband of the Virgin Mary then to Shepherds by an Angel with a multitude of Angels confirming the same declaring his birth with the day and place thereof and that he is the Saviour even Christ the Lord and this tidings of great joy which shall be to all people And then by the Shepherds when they had both heard and seen unto others then by old Simeon who had it revealed to him and was inspired by the holy Ghost Luk. 2.25 28 32 35. and came and took him in his arms and declared him to be God's Salvation which he had prepared before the face of all people a light to enlighten the Gentiles and to be the Glory of his people Israel Luk. 2.36 38. And then by one Annah a Prophetess And after all this by certain wise men that came from the East to Jerusalem being directed to him by a Star Mat. 2.1 2 9 10 11. who declared him born King of the Jews and worshipped him and offered him gifts And after all this to John the Son of Zacharias declaring this Jesus to be The He Joh. 1.31 33. Luk. 3.1 2 3. The Christ c. to which John the Word of the Lord came at that time mentioned Thus and in many things now came to pass according to fore-prophecies Christ was declared to be already begun to be come in the Flesh and to be the Son of God and the Son of David the King of the Jews and the Saviour of the world the great Prophet and Messiah promised and that this very Jesus that was born in Bethlem of the Virgin espoused to Joseph and seen of the Shepherds and taken in the arms of old Simeon and witnessed to by Zacharias and John his Son even this very Jesus is he even the Christ c. and ready to set on his work And now the person of Christ thus come and thus witnessed and pointed out who he is and that he was personally on the earth and ready to set on his great business doing and that that very Jesus is he is more than ever was so revealed and manifested before and the beginning both of the performance and the more cleer opening of all the prophecies that have been of him from the beginning and so light began to shine forth more cleerly And now in this Revelation of Christ and for making him known according to this Revelation Isa 40.3 4 6 7 8. Mal. 3.1 Luk. 1.13 14 15 16.17 76 79. 3.15 16. Joh. 17.20 23. Luk. 1.15 44 76 78 79. Luk. 1,17 to prepare men that they might come into the acknowledgement of him it pleased God to chuse in Christ the Messenger of the Father and his own Messenger also fore-purposed and now declared to be his immediate Fore-runner to go before his Face to prepare his way and him he approved for this Ministration And for this blessed Ministration he was abundantly furnished in that he was filled with the holy Ghost from his Mothers Wombe and was confirmed by all the Declarations and Prophecies fore-mentioned given to him by the Spirit in the Prophecies and Instructions of his Father and was himself indued with the Spirit and Power of Elias to go on in his Ministration before the Lord and had the word of the Lord came to him revealed and inspired by God into him both in the Doctrine he had to teach and how to apply it to his hearers and also commission to testifie the Truth of it by baptizing with water And in this receit of the Word of the Lord that came to him he received his Commission to set on the business of preaching and babtizing and so did set on it in the fifteenth yeer of the raign of Tiberius Caesar Luk. 3.1 2 3 4. when Poutius Pilate was Governour of Judea and Herod the Tetrach of Galilee and Annas and Caiaphas High-Priests and what his Testimony and Doctrine was appears in that which is recorded of what he taught and delivered to be 1. That Jesus Christ is the Word that was in the beginning with God that was God and that was with God Joh. 1.1 2 3 14. Gen. 3.15 by whom all things were made that are made and that this same Word was made Flesh and dwelt among them Emmanuel God with us in our Nature and for us even he that was promised and manifested to do that great work for taking away our sins and destroying the works of the Devil 1 Ioh. 3.5 8. Ioh. 1.4 7 8. 9. so that in him is Life and the Life is the Light of Men and he is the true Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the World 2. That he is the onely begotten Son of God and yet very Man full of Grace and Truth and being in the heart Joh. 1.14 16 18. minde and bosome of the Father knowing all his counsels and being one with him in his will and design and so in all his decrees and purposes and as Man having commission from him he hath revealed and declared him so as in knowing him his minde is to be known 3. That he the Man Jesus Christ being the Son of God Joh. 1.11 and perfect Man the Mediator between God and Man full of Grace and Truth declaring the Father he is so loving to Man and so bountiful to all that receive his Declaration and so believe on him that he giveth them of his own Priviledges even to be the Sons of God and so dispenseth to them of his own fulness so that as the Law discovering sin and sentencing to death and that part of it also which by types and figures in Sacrifices and purifications shadowing out a better hope to be looked to in Christ to come though afar off came by Moses even so Grace and free favour in forgiveness of
filling them with the holy Ghost 1. Of the first way of the Manifestation of Christ by himself Jesus Christ was manifested and did manifest himself in the very acting and sensible demonstration in himself of all those things fore-told concerning him to be done in upon and by him in his first coming as to say his immediate coming on the appearing of his Messenger and fore-runner and so his conception and birth having the very nature of Man born of a Virgin that never knew Man that was of the Seed of David Abraham Noah Adam born in Bethlem altogether sinless yet having the weaknesses and infirmities of Man's Nature his flight into Egypt while Rachels Children were slain his return to Nazareth and being called a Nazarite his Baptism with the Testimony of God concerning him his fasting temptations victories his poverty and mean life among men his travellings preaching cures miracles his calling Disciples and chusing Apostles and seventy and sending them forth to preach his being persecuted by the High-Priests and Priests Scribes and Pharisees his being betrayed by one of his called Disciples and chosen Apostles the scattering of the rest from him his agony and bloody sweat his being arraigned condemned scorned and crucified between two thieves the souldiers giving him vineger and gall and parting his raiment his bitter cry on the cross his committing his Spirit to God and so his giving up the Ghost and dying and so his death and his burial by two rich Men laid in a rich Man's tombe in which never any man before lay his Resurrection the third day and so victory over death his appearing to his Disciples after his Resurrection being seen and heard and felt by them and giving commandments and commission to them and blessing them ascended up in their sight to heaven testified by an Angel that he even the very same Jesus shall so come again as they saw him go up into heaven his being received and set on the right hand of God and his sending forth the holy Ghost with plenty of spiritual gifts testifying the certainty of his coming again in glory a glimpse whereof three of them had fore-seen in his transfiguration so that he appeared to be and to have suffered and done and shed abroad all that God by the mouth of his Prophets had spoken of him concerning his first coming so that he hath now fully come in the flesh and done all this work and is not now a dying and doing it or so to do it over again he hath finished the work given him to do at his first coming in his own person on earth and in and by him is fulfilled all that the Prophets spake concerning the first coming of Christ so as in no other ever was or will be so that this Jesus is the Christ and hath been thus manifested and so manifested himself to be and this manifestation given in his first appearing to the first Witnesses of his Resurrection for all that should after believe on him that it was manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 1.10 Joh. 2.11 1 Pet. 1.20 21. Joh. 1.1 2 3. Act. 10.41 42. in doing all this is expresly affirmed that it was so manifested for all that 〈◊〉 by the discovery of him and his spiritual operation believe is also expresly affirmed that it was manifested to these first witnesses in this manner who both heard and saw and handled him is expresly also affirmed and that they declared that we might believe and the things that were by the Prophets so foretold and written of him as hath been foreshewn being so fulfilled and manifested in him Act. 13. 17.2 3. 18.28 Rom. 16.26 Luk. 1.1 2 3 4. Joh. 20.31 they did according to the commandment of the everlasting God make known him to be the Christ and make him known according to the revelation of the mystery by the Scriptures of the Prophets and have written and professed to write these things that we might know the certainty of them and so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that in believing we might have life through his Name and according to all this Jesus himself witnessed and affirmed also the Truth of John's Testimony concerning him and how by the works done by him and by voice from Heaven Joh. 5.33 36 37 39. the Father did bear witness of him and how the Spirit in the Scripture did bear witness of him and that eternal life is in him And this the first way of Jesus Christ revealing and manifesting himself to his first witnesses CHAP. 8. 2. Of the second way of our Saviour's revealing and manifesting of himself and the things of him to his first witnesses of it IEfus Christ besides this actual manifestation did also in his performance and bodily ministration vocally and audibly teach the Gospel according to the revelation of the mystery to the first trusters in him and witnesses of him after his resurrection and so he taught them 1. That he is the Massiah the great Prophet and high-Priest and King of Israel the Son of God and the Son of David Mat. 16.16 20. Mar. 8.27 Luk. 9.20 Joh. 1.41 49. 4.25 26 42. 6.69 the Christ the Saviour of the World spoken of by all the Prophets 2. That for estecting his business in all his Offices that he may be manifested to be such a one and thereby have a Seed saved and justified by him to serve him Isa 53.10 11 12. Psa 68.18 21. 2.1 9. and to enjoy the Kingdom with him and Nations for him and them to raign over he must first suffer and die and rise again and ascend into heaven and receive the fulness of the Spirit in the Man and send forth of the same to Men that Repentance and Remission of sins may be preached in his Name to all Nations and so he on rightful terms judge all according to that fore-written of him and therefore from that time that he had instructed them that he was the Christ Mat. 16.21 Mar. 8.31 Luk. 9.22 Luk. 9.29 30 31. Mat. 17.12 Mar. 9.12 Mat. 20.18 19. Luk. 9.44 the Son of the living God the Saviour of the World he then began to shew and teach them that he must go unto Ierusalem and suffer many things of the Elders and chief-Priests and Scribes and be rejected of them and be killed and the third day rise again yea this was spoken of between Christ and Moses and Elias in their hearing when he was in his transfiguration before them and after on that occasion by himself to them and often after on other occasions yea he teacheth them a reason of the necessity of it namely for taking away sin and overcoming death and so having an innumerable generation according to that said Hebrews 9.22 2.14 Isaiah 53.6.7 8. and so he taught saying Verily verily Joh. 12.24 I say unto you except a corn of wheat
put him to death and they did it wickedly and with wicked hands but God raised him and so he will us by him if we follow him through sufferings to the enjoyment of glory In respect of the first end of his death for satisfaction and propitiation making and of the second end for confirming the New Testament the death of Christ was vertuous and efficacious with the Father upon and from his first undertaking and accepting to do it and having accepted it it was vertuous in dispensations through him towards men whence he is called Rev. 13 8. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and upon the account of the vertue thereof all that believed from the beginning of the World Joh. 1.4 5 7 11 12. Rom. 1.16 17 20. 2.4 5 11. Prov. 1.23 33. were saved by this Grace in and through him and all that rebelled against Light and Grace were damned on the same account for rebelling against the Light and Grace extended through him It is an ignorant demand of some Did Christ die for those in Heaven or for those in Hell before his death for his acceptance and undertaking was vertuous from the first and from the beginning and God's proceedings with men through him on that account of his death in due time to be acted and so to the two first ends vertuous and efficacious from the beginning before the actual accomplishing of it but for the last end of his death to bear witness of the truth and give his personal example to follow the same cannot be so affirmed True it is He suffered and was slain in his members and spiritual Seed from the beginning of the World even beginning at Abel Mat. 23.34 35. Rom. 6.9 Rev. 1.18 Col. 1.24 Luk. 10.16 Act. 9.4 5. and so on in those which followed till his own personal coming as our Saviour taught and though himself in his own personal body have now once died and risen and is alive for evermore and can die no more yet in his members and spiritual seed on Earth he is suffering and dying still such his love to them and union with them he counteth these as his own sufferings these examples of the Saints through Faith passing through and overcoming in these sufferings are very useful for us and speaking examples to us to be beheld and minded of us but our Saviour's own personal example was not so before his actual sufferings accomplished as now it is in beholding of which as set forth in the Gospl we may see both more into the vertues and ends and efficacies of his death than before could be seen and his example therein also which could not so be beheld of men Heb. 11. 12.1 2. Jam. 5.10 11. Mat. 5.12 10.13 14 15. Joh. 15.20 21. before his actual accomplishment of it so that in him we have the beginning and foundation of life and strength the motive pattern and example also to follow him and therefore now to look to him and to the other examples also through him and to him in and above all the other and this our Saviour plainly taught his first witnesses 3. Our Saviour having instructed his first witnesses thus about his death and resurrection and the things done by him therein Joh. 12.8 13.3 15.6 28. and so the end of his first personal coming into the World to do and teach all these things he then also instructed them about his leaving the World and going again now in that personal body of his to the Father and this to present himself in that body with the vertue of his blood to obtain eternal redemption of the nature of Man in himself Heb. 10.5 10. 9.12 Rom. 14.7 8 9. Joh. 17.2 Psa 68.18 20. Joh. 16.7 15. and so to have all men into his dispose that he may dispense to them and deal with them according to the Father's will which also is his will and so to receive the immeasurable fulness of the holy Ghost in the Man to send forth even to the rebellious to convince them and to believers to lead them into all Truth Ioh. 17.26 Heb. 12.24 1 Pet. 1 2. Joh. 13.8 15.3 Joh. 14.16 17 26. 16.13 14 15 Eph. 2.5 6. Phil. 3.20 Col. 3.1 Ioh. 14 20 21.24 and so to make known still farther his Father's Name and therein sprinkle the vertue of his blood upon the hearts and consciences of believers and herewith enduing them with his Spirit to be with and in them a Teacher Advocate and Comforter to minde them of his words enable them to prize trust in him and approach to God by him and pray in his Name and so to prepare them mansions that having all fulness in him they might have their rejoycing hope converse and dwelling with him in Heaven by Faith and that in one mindedness with God and Christ in his design Gal. 4.26 Heb. 12.22 23. 1 Ioh. 1.2 3. 2 Cor. 5.8 Rev. 6.9 Heb. 12.22 23. Eph. 2.19 22. 2 Cor. 7.3 Phil. 1.7 1 Thes 2.17 in believing and walking in the Truth breathed forth from Jerusalem that is above they might have in Spirit a dwelling and fellowship with the Prophets and Apostles and Spirits of just Men made perfect that are in and with Christ and under the Altar and also through the efficacy of his Spirit in their Ministration they may have a spiritual dwelling in the hearts of such as living in this World have their conversation in Heaven and fellowship in the Gospel with them And last of all according to the Spirits preparation of them and fruitfulness in and by them enlargedness in his Kingdom which is reserved in Heaven for them Col. 1.5 1 Thes 2.19 20. 2 Joh. 8. 2 Pet 1.11 Joh. 14 2. Heb. 8.1 6. 9.4 1 Tim. 2. â— 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Heb. 7.25 9.15 to be given them at his coming all which he assures them he is now preparing in the Heavens for them yea he is now there in Heaven appearing at the right Hand of God before God for us mediating between God and Men and advocating and interceding in special manner for Believers that come to God by him and so as in that he did in his own Body he made peace wrought and obtained Redemption with God for Men and obtained the Power of extending the vertues thereof in these spiritual efficacies to Men so by these efficacious makings known and application of the same to Men he draweth Mâ—n to himself and worketh Redemption in Believers and preserveth them to the Inheritance all which our Saviour taught to his first Witnesses And moreover 4. Having thus instructed them about his bodily absence from them and how much it is for their benefit because of the buâ—ness he is in Heaven doing with God for them and from God by his Spirit with them Joh. 14.3 Mat. 19.28 29 Rev. 11.17.18 Mat. 24.27 30. he also assures them of and instructs them in
man of all Nations in all the World where-ever they come and this as a Word of Truth and so to set forth this second publick Man the spiritual Man the Lord the quickning Spirit as he on whom God hath executed the Judgement that was due to Mankinde for their sins as fallen in whom their Nature is restored the Nature of Man being united and married unto God in the Person of his Son and so a great Feast of fatness even the sure mercies of David prepared in him is Mankinde perfect again as in a publick Man having in him forgiveness pardon peace wisdom righteousness eternal Life so verily that in believing in him they may receive it 1 Ioh. 5.10 11 12. 2 Cor. 2.17 3.12 4.2 and be partakers of it and so is he to be set forth without any Cloak or equivocation plainly to every Man appealing to their consciences in the sight of God and that Jesus is so and as such a one to be held forth to all that every one may behold him as he in whom there is healing for them to be received in believing is plain in our Saviour's own personal Testimony a Ioh. 3.14 15. and the Testimony of his Spirit in his Apostles b Rom. 3.24 25 26. 2 Cor. 5. 14 19 21. Col. 1.28 and this to this end that by this Men might be reconciled to God c 2 Cor. 5.20 And this hope given the Servants of Christ in such elevation of Christ that he will confirm their words and manifest their Testimony true so that all Men shall be drawn thereby even by Christ testified unto him d Joh. 12.32 such as in this day of grace believe this Testimony of him it shall be the power of God unto Salvation in them and work effectually in them uniting and conforming them to Christ so as they shall by degrees and in due season enjoy all this revealed blessedness e Mat. 10.40 Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 2 Pet. 1.1 10. And such as persist in refusing and rebelling against the Light extended shall by the same Spirit that breatheth in the Gospel be at the last day convinced f Joh. 16.7 8 9 10 11. and come before Christ and bow to him and confess him Lord to the glory of God g Phil. 2.10 11. and shall confess the Truth of the Testimony his Servants delivered and them to be the Servants of the Lord which in the dayes of his patience they despised and opposed h Isa 60.14 Rev. 3.9 and all before the final sentence be executed on them for God that frustrateth the tokens of the lyars and maketh diviners mad that turneth wise Men backward and maketh their knowledge foolishness doth and will confirm the Word of his Servants and perform the counsel of his Messengers i Isa 44.25 26. And to both parts of this said he hath given us his Oath That all shall come before him k Isa 45.22 23 24. And thus was the mystery of Christ revealed by himself in his own personal Ministration Part 1. ch 6. in which also as he uttered many Parables so he opened them all to his Disciples to teach them openly and whereas the Disciples did not yet cleerly understand all this Revelation of Christ so taught to them before Christ had suffered and risen from the dead therefore Christ after his Resurrection appeared to them and taught the same again to them and then expounded Moses and the Prophets and in order opened in all the Scriptures unto them the things concerning himself also opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures l Luk. 24.26 27 45 46 47. yet because all was not yet acted by Christ as well as taught by him that was to be in the mystery held forth in their Ministration for Christ his body though then risen was not as then ascended and glorified m Joh. 20.17 and so the fulness of understanding of the whole mystery by the Holy Ghost not yet given n Joh. 7.39 16.7 therefore they were yet to wait for further divine Power even the holy Ghost to be given them to open cleerly this Revelation to them and to help them to witness it which Christ promised them and did perform it after his ascension o Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 CHAP. 9. Of the third way of our Saviour's Revelation and manifestation of himself to the first witnesses of his Resurrection OUr Saviour according to his Promise did within a few dayes after his Ascension by vertue and as a fruit of his Ascension and Sacrifice offered and accepted and his Mediation begun he did send and shed forth and pour upon and in them the Holy Ghost in an audible sensible Act. 2.2 3 4 c. and visible shape both resting upon them and supernaturally and inwardly filling them by which Holy Spirit he brought again to their minde and gave them to understand all his fore-Revelation and sayings to them and shewed the things of himself and the Father so leading them into all Truth and making known to them the whole counsel of God in things pertaining to Eternal Life to be taught till his coming again enduing them with power motion and fitness to witness of him and giving them the gift of tongues to speak to every Man in his own Language wherein he was born so abundantly was the Revelation of the mystery of Christ by the Spirit made known to them and yet that we may rightly understand what the Holy Ghost is that was thus given unto them it is good to consider what in Revelation of Christ from the beginning and now by himself is given us to understand and that is that it is something that was never before this so given no not as then while John was baptizing Mar. 1.8 Joh. 7.38 39. Joh. 14.16 16.7 Act. 5.3 4. 1 Ioh. 5.7 Gen. 1.2 Psal 33.6 139.1 11. nor yet while Christ himself was personally ministring here on Earth nor could be given till he left the World in that body of his and went to the Father so that it cannot be meant properly of the essence and being of the Holy Ghost which is one and the same with the Father and the Son the same God by whom the Heaven and the Earth was made and all the Hosts of them for in this respect he fills heaven and Earth and is everywhere present and alwayes was so that in respect of essence he is not said to be sent or proceeding from the Father and Son or descending being ever one in and with both but onely in respect of person or manner of existence in and operation of that one divine essence but it must be meant of some forth-coming of the divine power from the Father by Christ yet in this also it cannot be meant of such forth-coming in breathings and operations as tend to the supportation of the old Creation Joh 26.12 13. Psa 104.29 30. in
hath given more abundantly to us Rom. 16.25 26. 2 Pet. 1.3 4. Col. 1.26 27. Eph. 3.5 and revealed the Mystery more fully to us and fitted us to manifest the same in all wisdom and prudence more then ever he did to any of the Sons of Men or any his Servants in former Ages and this to be the meaning is fully cleered in the next words Vers 9. Eph. 1.9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himself Having saith he made known to us the mystery of his will Eph. 3.4 Col. 1.3 1 Tit. 3.9 16. Col. 2.2 Luke 8.10 Mat. 13.11 Mar. 4.11 1 Cor. 4.1 which is called also The Mystery of Christ The Mystery of the Gospel The Mystery of Faith The Mystery of Godliness yea The Mystery of God even of the Father and of Christ in which also the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God all which was given to them to know and these were made Stewards of the Mysteries of God thus made known to them as he saith Having made known to us the mystery of his will Eph. 1.9 according to the good pleasure which he had purposed in himself This of it self clears up to us all God working all things according to the counsel of his will in which is his purpose he having at first so prepared in Christ and ordered for the several Revelations of him and the Miniders with their furniture in the several Ages to carry the same forth he then for these last times purposed this great and cleer Revelation of Christ and the first Trusters in him after his Resurrection to be his chosen Witnesses and to be thus furnished and according to this purpose in himself he hath thus chosen and furnished them to this gracious end in which this sense doth farther appear by that before and following Vers 10. That in the despensation of the fulness of times Eph. 1.10 he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him By fulness of times he gives us to understand is meant the times after that due time was come when Jesus Christ was come and had suffered and compleated that prophesied and typed of him Tit. 1.3 to be done by him in his first coming and so had given his Word to his Disciples to manifest him by preaching and so it is said Gal. 4.4 5. When the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons 1 Pet. 1.20 which fulness of times is also called the last times because also there shall be no more changes of the manner of his Dispensation in any other Revelation or Doctrine of Christ 1 Pet. 1.4 5. Rev. 10.6 7. 11.14 19. 2 Tim. 4.8 Eph. 1.23 4.13 Rom. 4 6. Gal. 4.4 1 Pet. 1.4 5. Act. 2.17 Heb. 2.2 1 Pet. 1.20 2 Pet. 1.15 3.2 but in and by this and this to be continued till that visible coming again of his which is the last day and last time in which the whole Mystery of God will be finished that being called that day when will be the fulness of the stature of Christ when all that are to be brought in to him by such means are come in to him and with him and from his first coming which was in due time in the beginning of the fulness of times to his next personal and visible coming which will be at that day that is the last time all between is called the last dayes the last times and here the fulness of times that we may be mindeful of and heed this Dispensation and Gospel thus dispensed by the Apostles that proved all by the Prophets also and to look for no other till Christ come again And the end of this glorious Revelation and glorious Dispensation is Eph. 1.10 That by Christ thus discovered and as discovered in it he might shew forth in Christ and gather together in one Heb. 1.1 2 3. Col. 1.15 Joh. 1.18 Mat. 1 23. Psal 85.10 even in Christ all things which are in Heaven and in Earth even all the parcels of his Minde fore-declared in the heavenly Prophesies or by Dreams and Visions or by earthy Types and Shadows and that was hid 〈◊〉 Christ now to be revealed and made manifest together in him in whom God and Man are one and Truth and Righteousness with Mercy and Peace meet in one in him yea in Temple Altar Propitiatory Oracle Priest Sacrifice Purincation yea Life and Covenant are all in one Heb. 12.22 24. in him yea in him Father Son Spirit are all one yea the worshipped and worshippers meet in one in him yea the Spirits of the Prophets and Apostles and of all just Men made perfect in Heaven and of all unfeigned Believers on Earth meet in one in him yea Col. 2.10 11. Faith Love De res Refreshings all flow from him and run into him and meet in one yea Jew Gentile Bond Free Male Female all one in him and by Faith in him come to enjoy Union and Fellowship in and with him and one another and enjoyment of his blessing and this Union with him the Gospel thus dispensed effecteth where believed 1 Joh. 5.20 And thus to understand this gathering together of all things in Christ to be of these things and this Union we are led by the 3 vers and other Scriptures so that the end of this Dispensation is to let Men see all in Christ and so draw them in to believe in him to place all their Love Faith Desires and Content in him and so to finde all their satisfaction in him and so partake of the Blessing of this Union in him Vers 11. In whom that is Eph. 1.11 in Christ we have obtained an inheritance this he sheweth to be they had it in hope and the Holy Spirit as the earnest till the possession be given and this they had also to preach to others and assure all unfeigned Believers of the same to be theirs in hope yea there was a confirmation of the Truth of all this and of the Blessing of their Ministration in the Ephesians believing on their report Vers 13 14. and being therein sealed though they had not so much light into the Mystery as the Apostles had for which he also prays after for them and explicates the Mystery to them as it was revealed to the Apostles both in the Doctrine and Effects of it in Believers and the Priviledges held forth to all Men that they might believe with experiments in some measure found in all Believers which I leave to be read in the second and third Chapters onely here taking notice of what he affirms concerning all he hath said Vers 11. Eph. 1.11 That to all this they were predestinated
according to the purpose of him that worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will Mark how he concludes and approves the purpose of God to be such and his predestination of them according to his purpose even from his works in them that God having so chosen and blessed and furnished them-above all his former Servants and put them in this Ministration for such a Dispensation and confirmed it with such Blessings he working nothing at randome but all things according to the counsel of his own will This is an evidence that such was God's purpose and according to his purpose did he predestinate us to all this to this end Vers 12. Eph. 1.12 That we we so elected and furnished according as we were predestinated that we should to be the praise of his glory we in our Ministration in this Dispensation setting forth his glorious rich Grace in and through Christ as never was before should lay the Foundation and deliver the Doctrine and Dispensation in which the Glory of his Grace shall be displayed to the end of the World so that we now in our personal doctrinal delivery and Dispensation and we after in the same Doctrine and Dispensation delivered and recorded by us held forth in the Ministration of those that believe through our word in which our Fruit still remaineth and encreaseth that so we should be to the praise of his glory even we who first trusted in Christ and so were Eye-witnesses of him and had our Gospel immediately from him in which he puts a distinction between the first Witnesses that first trusted in Christ and the believing Ephesians that also trusted in him after they had heard the Word from the first Witnesses Vers 13 14 c. of which Believers he affirms graciously but short of what he affirmed of the first Witnesses putting a remarkable difference in respect of the measure of the Furniture between himself with those spoken of and these he speaketh and writeth unto So that the whole Series of all the things affirmed from vers 3. to vers 12. will agree to none but the Apostles and first Witnesses of Christ to none of the Servants of God before Christ carried our Nature into Heaven nor fully in all and every of the things affirmed scarce to any since their times but to all them all that is said doth fully agree and in the Text is expresly affirmed of them Vers 12. which doth abundantly testifie the Truth and Goodness of the Gospel delivered by them who were so abundantly furnished with such a full and cleer Revelation of Christ which they received so immediately from himself whom they also saw and being so filled with his Spirit have according to his purpose left the same on record for us Ephes 3.3 4. Phil. 3.1 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 2 Pet. 3.2 Rev. 22.18 19. who have the same Gospel and Dispensation a revealed by them to believe and declare as we have it mediately from them and not to gape after another immediate Revelation of it to us but to take it as in believing we may by the Spirit come to know it in and by their writings and so Blessing Election and Furniture with the Predestination according to his purpose for such a gracious end for these last times here set forth speaks good to and for all the Sons of Men to whom it comes that they might believe and sweet Consolation to all Believers and the wresting of Election and Predestination here spoken of to mean a certain set Company of Men severed from the residue of Men that they and onely they shall be eternally saved that were thus absolutely predestinated thereto before the Foundation of the World and these onely and all these thus chosen and blessed as Ephes 1.3 4. sure there is not one word in the whole Text or elsewhere expressing or importing such a sence as this But there are many things in the Text against such a sense and that will not admit it as appears in that said over and beside the expression of this Company to be the first Trusters in Christ and speaking of them distinctly from after-Trusters changing the person from those spoke of to those spoken to with some difference in that affirmed of either yea this sense pretended in the Face of it compared with the Text would cut off all the Fathers from Adam to Noah and all the Believers in their times and all from Noah to Abraham and all from Abraham to Moses and all from Moses to David and from him to John Baptist from being of the number of the Elect and predestinate to Eternal Life for the things here affirmed of these Elect and predestinated cannot be affirmed of those from the beginning no not of John Baptist himself yea and by that Trial few Believers since will ever come to finde themselves of this elect Company beside this pretended sense pleaded for weakens and denies the evidence of good and credit this place affords to the Gospel-Dispensation and darkens the light of the whole Text so cleerly shewing and intended to shew forth the excellency of the Gospel as now revealed and the heavenly and rich Furniture of the Apostles and first Witnesses to deliver it and the Gospel and Dispensation recorded by them to be the Dispensation for these last times and all this according to the purpose of God so were they furnished and in the Gospel recorded they are in Spirit with all this Furniture with us now But as this Furniture was in a sort common to all the first Witnesses so they had also a Furniture of spiritual gifts in which was difference some one some another some more some less Let us view these also CHAP. 13. Of the Furniture of spiritual gifts the first witnesses had as in Ephes 4. EPhes 4.7.13 Ephes 4.7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he saith 8 When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men 9 10 11 And then there is an inference read vers 9 10. and then he saith And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ 12 13. till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature or age of the fulness of Christ In these words are many things affirmed and taught both shewing their rich and plentiful furniture of spiritual gifts and worthy our observing 1. That these gifts as here mentioned were never so given to the Servants of Christ in this manner Ephes 4.9 10. Psal 68.18 19 20. Act. 2.2 6 16 21 33. before his personal Death and Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven in that personal Body of his that
spiritual Gifts and Vertue to witness the Testimony of Christ still in all this time And as God forsook Shilo where his Tabernacle was in Canaan first pitched for the wickedness thereof Jer. 7.12 and returned his Tabernacle no more thither Rev. 12.1 so God may reject this outward Court in which his Sanctuary once was and his Glory shined in it and for the wickedness of it never beautifie it with his true Sanctuary again but preserve his true Sanctuary by his Word and Spirit till Christ come Rev. 11 19. and the Holy Ones beneath and the Holy Ones above do meet and the false Prophet be slain and the Church become a Kingdom which whether hinted in leaving out the Name of the outward Court Heb. 9. I will not say but onely that the placing helps in Government among such Temporary things as came in afterward may afford these instructions to us and so leave it to each man as Light of Truth perswades But for the Gospel and these spiritual Gifts given from Heaven that they have already been abundantly confirmed by Miracles and they so divinely recorded as is enough to confirm Faith and no need of doing them over again is that affirmed and proved and yet to make it more cleer and evident we have it expresly testified 4. By the Apostles own words to the Hebrews when having set forth the excellency of Christ as in Testimony of him set forth and then exhorted them to diligent heed taking thereto Heb. 1. 2.1 2 3 4. he admonishing them saith How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was after confirmed unto us by them that heard him God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his own will So that the Gospel hath been confirmed above all that the Law of Moses was and as the Miracles confirming that was no more to be iterated after the Law was once taught setled and confirmed but those remembred with the Law yea the Prophets that came after endeavouring to move them to deviate from that Law with Signs and Wonders Deut. 13. were not to be believed or hearkned to so we are now warned for these times that false Prophets false Christs and Antichrists will come with signs and wonders to deceive and draw credit to their false Doctrine with Mat. 24.24 Mar. 12.22 2 Thes 2.10 So that which we are now to heed is the Word of the Testimony of Christ in which is testified Jesus to be The Christ the Apostles and first Witnesses to have declared his Minde even the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery and the spiritual gifts with which they went forth and the Gospel revealing all this to be taught and left upon record by them Mat. 24.14 Rom. 10.18 the sound whereof went through the whole World before the first Witnesses all of them left the World And it was and hath been setled in many Churches in divers parts of the World and sufficiently confirmed with Signs Wonders Miracles and miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghost already and they also written that we might believe And thus have I shewn according to this last and fullest Revelation of Christ who were chosen in and by him the first Instruments for laying the Foundation and beginning the building on it and so to set this glorious Ministration on foot and how plentifully they were furnished Now it is needful also to shew the Furniture of the following Witnesses that are of the same society and house and to carry on this Ministration to the same end till the return and personal appearing of Jesus Christ CHAP. 15. Of the Furniture of the following Witnesses till Christ come again WHo are the chosen of God in Christ to be Part 3. c. 11. and so are these Witnesses to carry on this blessed business till Christ come again is already before shewn and that they are such as through belief of his Grace in the Testimony of Christ delivered by the Apostles are by his Spirit built on Christ and so come unto Mount Sion Heb. 12.22 2 24. and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly of the first-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Jesus thn Mediator of the New Covenant c. and so have fellowship with the Prophets 1 Joh. 1.3 Eph. 2.19 22. Isa 59.20 21. Phil. 2.15.16 Heb. 3.6 1 Tim. 3.15 and Apostles and so with the Father and the Son being now fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God build upon the Foundation c. having the same Word and Spirit in their Heart and in their Mouth which the Apostles had these are to hold forth the Word of Life c. as hath been shewn for these are the House of God and of Christ the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth So that 1. Isa 43.10 Act. 13.47 As a Pillar was used for a Witness of Peace Gen. 31.51 52. so these are God's Witnesses to the World of Christ being his salvation to the ends of the Earth to open the eyes of the blinde c. 2. Isa 43.10 11. 1 Joh. 2.2 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 3.25 1 Tim. 1.16 Heb. 12.1 As the Pillar of the Cloud was a Testimony of God's presence and a Guide to Israel Exod. 13. so these are God's Witnesses and Holders forth of his presence and propitiatoriness to the World as Preachers and Patterns that they might repent and come in to follow him God spake to his People in a cloudy Pillar Psal 97.7 8. and through the same Pillar looked upon the Egyptians and troubled them Exod. 14.24 and so by and through these God speaks unto the World 2 Cor. 5.20 and manifesteth the savour of his knowledge through them 2 Cor. 2.14 17. which proves a savour of Life unto Life in them that in believing receive it and a savor of death unto them that oppose and rebel against it 3. As a Pillar the word is sometimes used to express some chief ones as Gal. 2.9 so whereas God hath testified his goodness in that rumour of the Gospel proclaimed in Paradise and in his works of Creation and Providence and after by Types and Prophesies and after by the Fore-runner of his Son Eph 3.3 4 5 6 9 10. 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 1 Tim. 3.16 and had Instruments suitable to each for Ministration yet when his Son is manifest as come in the Flesh who is the Brightness of his Glory and chief Testimony of his goodness so in that respect the Ministers that thus hold him forth they are the chief and such are these and the Church now 4. A Pillar is used for an upholder
the Gospel having that also to testifie withal And so that none go beyond the proportion of Faith dealt to him even that which he is without taking it on trust from others Rom. 12.3 4 6 7 8. 2 Cor. 12.4 5 6 12. enabled to see and understand in the Gospel so as verily thereby to believe and that his venting be not in imitation of other Men's Gifts and Administrations but according to the Manifestation of the Spirit and Grace given him freely operating and leading him forth and not straining beyond that 3. For giving this honour to no Man on Earth how learned soever or in what Office soever or of what parts excellency Mat. 23.9 10. Isa 8.20 2 Thes 5.20 21. Col. 2.8 18. Gal. 1.6 7 8. Rom. 3.4 1 Cor. 7.23 Gal. 1.10 2 Cor. 4.5 6. 1 Joh. 4.6 or appearing godliness soever as to make count or call him our Rabbi Master or Teacher so as to take any matter of Faith on trust from him for Truth or to be waved from the belief of or holding forth the Truth of the plain-sayings of Christ in the Gospel out of fear to make such a one a liar or to temper our Doctrine and delivery so as it may suit with any cross sayings of his yea to give this honour of taking this upon trust to none but God and Christ Mat. 23.8 and so to him for his sake taking it from his Prophets and Apostles by whom in the Record left by them he speaks to us still And that none desire or take this honour to himself but let God and Christ by his Spirit in the Gospel delivered and recorded by his first Witnesses be our Father Rabbi and Master for Faith and Love and all holy walking and we as Brethren 4. For keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Eph. 4.2 3. 1 Cor. 4.6 7. 12.4 11. Phil. 2.3 4 5. that we be not any of us puft up with the excellency of our own Gifts or Administrations nor discontent at the meanness thereof in respect of others nor despise or discountenance others for their meanness therein but acknowledging God and Christ in all and in love preferring one another Rom. 14.32 21. 15.1 4. that we judge not despise not one another for difference in some outward things through the knowledge or want of the knowledge of our Liberty in Christ nor trouble the weak Brethren with doubtful disputations But with all lowliness and meekness with all long-suffering forbearing one another in love Eph. 4.2 3 4. 1 Cor. 1.6 10 Phil. 3.14 1â— endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the Gospel-Love and design forementioned in the bond of peace that we may all speak the same thing in the Testimony of Christ confirmed among us and if in any thing any of us be otherwise minded to wait for God in the Ministration to reveal the same to him nevertheless to walk by the same Rule of faith and love according to that we have attained and so minde the same thing that there be no divisions among us so shall all men know us to be Christ's Disciples Joh. 13.35 5. For keeping cleer and fair the Name and Truth that is written upon us 1 Tim. 6.11 12 13 14. Tit. 2.10 Phil. 2.27 Col. 3.17 1 Cor. 10.31 that we follow after Righteousness Holiness Purity Mercy good Works and flie all Pride Wrath Malice Coverousness Fraud Lying Uncleanness Intemperancy c. that we do not blur or deface the Name and Writing that is upon us but adorning the Gospel we profess doing all things heartily as to the Lord in the Name of Christ to the glory of God and good of Men. 6. 1 Cor. 16.14 2 Cor. 5.14 1 Cor. 13. 1 Cor. 8.1 2 3. 14.1 2 5 12. For the profiting in speaking and walking that it may take place with and be edifying to others to see that all our speakings and doings be done in charity with the love and bowels of Christ moving us with desire of the good of others without which all Knowledge Faith Gifts Works or Sufferings will not avail us in this profiting and so in desire of spiritual gifts that we desire them not for our own applause or exaltation but for the edifying of the Church and that in this desire also we do more earnestly desire and follow after charity And these with such-like are the constant and abiding helps given in the Gospel for Believers which in living by Faith they may alwayes have and use and so be preserved from erring in Doctrine Ministration or Manners so that here is a sufficient gracious helpfulness and Furniture always needful and always at hand for all times till Christ come again yet in respect of some occasions there is yet needful to them some other helps as order and helps in Government with which they are also furnished in this Revelation of Christ in the Gospel CHAP. 16. Of the helps in respect of occasions which are given these witnesses FOr the encrease and multitudes of Believers and Professors of the Faith brought in by this Ministration because their Societies and Assemblies may come to be both many and many of them great and numerous and because their employments in this World be many and various and because many brought in to believe the Report of the Gospel to be a Truth are not yet by it convinced of their own unbelievingness vileness and the emptiness of their own righteousness Joh. 2.23 24. 8.31 36. vileness and the emptiness of their own righteousness and some though convinced yet not prevailingly wrought upon to be through-hearted in cleaving and submitting to Christ to have all their life in him and live to him though in abiding in this belief of the Truth and attending this Ministery of it it will save them and work them up to the Truth that will make them free both which though Attenders and of the outward Society yet not the true Sanctuary and so to be Learners and not the Teachers yea it may be also some in some measure unfeignedly believing and yet Novices newly come to the Faith 1 Tim. 3.6 may be ready to speak beyond the proportion of Faith given them yea and it may so be that some feigned and dissembling ones yea and disorderly ones also may creep into the outward profession and so be of this Society in profession and so the outward Court though while such not in nor of the Sanctuary and holy Place of which hath before been spoken and by reason of this if help be not had disorder and confusion will be found in and blemishes besal the whole Society but for remedy hereof there are helps afforded One for Constancy and that is order in speaking in the Assembly that but one speak at once and the rest be silent and so two or three may speak one after another so it be in order and after while time and silence is may
also were to be sound in the Faith and such as is aforesaid yea and proved and approved to be such 5. That for the chusing order and number of these Officers it is to be according to the fitness and necessities of the several Churches and the Liberty God-in his Providence gives them the Church among the Corinthians among whom were many divisions and many puft up for some against other were exhorted to that which should be constant even to order in their proceedings and to let such of them as had prophetical gifts 1 Cor. 14.26 29 40. have the precedence in leading but not being fit because of being puft up for one against another c. they were not yet permitted to chuse their outward Officers that so all things might be so set in order till the Apostle came and did that Believers furnish'd with Apostolical or Evangelistical gifts at least needful in such a case But the Church among the Philippians a gracious sweetly-framed people in their fellowship in the Gospel they had their Bishops and Deacons among themselves and were well approved of And the Churches among the Ephesians had also their Bishops and Deacons but still needed more and more helpfulness about them and Timothy that was an Evangelist by his Gifts 2 Tim. 4 1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 Tim. 1.3 8. 3 4 5 6. and to do the work of an Evangelist in his preaching was left as a Bishop or Elder there to oversee both the several Churches and the Elders or Bishops and Deacons in the several Churches to charge some that they teach no other Doctrine beside that delivered them in the Gospel and to silence and stop the Mouths of perverse erronious Ones by the Word and to help them in choise of Officers Tit. 1 2 3. and for the right ordering of all their Assemblies and Manners and for the same cause was Titus left in Crete both to ordain them Elders and oversee both them and the people and give directions to them yet were all these in Corinth Philippi and Ephesus and Crete true Churches and fought not one with another about these outward Forms it being in and to each according to their firness and necessity Now while the immediate Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers lived and thos mediate Ones that had heard and seen them and that the Officers were chosen by and of those of the true Sanctuary who were clothed with the Righteousness of Christ and gloried in the Doctrine of Christ delivered by the twelve Apostles and contemned the glory Rev. 12.1 2. riches and pleasures of this World and that the outward Court was in the Hands of the Saints and they the Ministers and these the Officers therein also the Church appeared beautiful and glorious indeed But in that time the outward Court is left into the hands of the Gentiles the true Sanctuary is trodden down and as one dwelling in a Wilderness among Briars Rev. 12.14 11.1 2 3 4 5. Thorns and wild Beasts and then cloth'd with Sackcloth and yet patiently bearing this shall carry on their Work with the rich spiritual and constant Furniture given which is shewn to be very good and great though they have not all their Priviledges in the outward Court and to encourage I will name one Help more 6. Joh. 11.25 7.38 39. 14.16 26. 16.7 15 23 26. Mat. 28.20 7.7 Mar. 11.23 24. Luk. 1.7.6 Phil. 4.4.5 7 13. To fit and furnish for and in all the former Directions and against all that comes to oppose or hinder us he hath given us his gracious promise to be with us that believing on him his strength and Spirit shall support lead and go forth with us and whatever we finde wanting ask in his Name and it shall be done for and to us that so we may be able to do all things through Christ that strengthneth us so wonderfully are these chosen Ministers fitted for the Ministration of the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery And thus much of the several Revelations and so of this last Revelation of Christ CHAP. 17. A Corollary from the Testimony of Christ in the three Branches together with all these several Revelations of Christ to the fullest FRom all that hath been said in the second and third Part of this Treatise and the Scriptures alledged and so in the whole Scripture-Testimony of Christ it appears I. That there is one Faith and but one Faith that is Faith indeed real and true in its kinde and so not divers kindes of Faith each true in its kinde The whole Testimony of Christ holds forth to us one and but one kinde of Faith that is true Faith yea Eph. â— 5 upon exhortation to keep the Unity of Spirit this is given as the ground of it There is one Faith as there is one God and Father one Lord and Saviour and one Spirit and so one true Church in which he is so there is one Faith and no more kindes of true Faith then of Gods c. we may see this in every sense the word Faith is used in the Testimony Rom. 1.5 10.8 16.26 Gal. 1.23 3.2 Rom. 4.19 24. Eph. 2.8 Act. 13.8 Rom. 3.20 30. 4.5 5.1 the word Faith being used sometime for the object of Faith and for the Word or Gospel in which that object is set forth and sometime for the Grace of Faith or believing in that object and sometime for both the object and believing so as the Believer is united to it and so still the Faith one and of one kinde For 1. The object of Faith is every way one and the same the Gospel that is the discovering Medium 2 Cor. n. 4. Gal. 1.7 8 9. Col. 1.5 23. the Word of Faith and of Grace though it hath many Branches and Uses yet they flow from meet in one and there is but one and the same Gospel and not another and Jesus Christ set forth and as set forth in this Gospel he is one and there is not another though he be set forth as indeed he is The Son of God and the Son of Man God-Man and what from Eternity he was and what in time he became what he hath done and what he is thereby become and what he is furnished to do 1 Cor. 8.6 Joh. 4.42 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Cor. 8.6 12.6 Gal. 3.20 1 Tim. 2.5 1 Cor. 12.4 11. 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Joh. 5.7 Mar 12.32 34. Joh. 10.29 30. 1 Joh. 5.10 11. and what he doth and will do as the mighty God and the Son of Man as the Saviour of all Men especially of those that believe and the Judge of all yet he is one and but one Lord Jesus Christ the Christ the Saviour of the World and there is not another Jesus that is the Christ and so God the Father that is in Christ and dwells in him though his
so saith yea all quoted and the rest are against it 2. In this Purpose of glorifying his Son and shewing forth his Glory through him he purposed also to do both in this by creating by him an infinite or numberless company of Angels or heavenly Spirits all holy and good to attend on and minister to this his Son Heb. 1.4 6 7. Psal 104.4 and so to serve and glorifie God in serving and glorifying his Son whom only he had exalted glorified with equality to himself and to endue them with fitness and ability for this service and to free them from any seducing Tempter without them Job 38.7 Psal 9.7 Luk. 20.36 to turn them aside from it and in their rejoycing in him and acknowledge him their supreme Lord rejoycing in his Exaltation and well-pleasedness with their own place and service of him to establish them by his Son as his Sons for ever But if any of them contented not themselves with this their place and service Job 1.6 2.1 Jude 6. See Part 1. chap. 11. but aspired to a likeness and equality with God as was peculiar to his first-begotten Son then to cast them down for ever and reserve them in chains of darkness to the judgement of the great Day All which according to his Purpose he hath done 3. In this Purpose of glorifying his Son and shewing forth his glory through him he also purposed to create by him the Heaven and Earth and a VVorld of Creatures for Mankinde and so to create Man righteous c. for his Glory and the good of Mankinde as hath been shewn 4. See Part 1. chap. 9. In foresight of Man's Fall and Misery thereby he purposed still the shining forth of his Glory through his Son in working by him a Redemption and Restauration for Mankinde and a New Creation for all that by his Glory shined through should believe on him and that he should be the Judge of all See Part 1. ch 12 13. as hath been foreshewn And of the Purpose of God as new last mentioned and the Purposes included in it it is that comes within the compass of this Discourse and of no other for in consideration of this Purpose and Purposes included in it we shall meet with all that is revealed for us to know concerning the Purposes of God about Eternal Salvation for Mankinde or the Eternal Damnation of any of them And yet before we proceed it is needful to observe and minde well a few Cautions to prevent Mistakes CHAP. 2. Of some Cautions to be heeded to prevent Mistakes THat we distinguish between Foreknowledge Caution I. and Purpose or Decree By Foreknowledge I mean not fore-owning or pre-approbation in which sense the word is frequently used in Scripture but knowing before foreseeing or prescience In which sense the word is commonly used among ordinary people and sometime some word also bearing that sense used in Scripture and such foreknowing I mean Reply If any say Nothing could have any being life strength and ability of motion and action for God to foresee if God had not forepurposed and did not according to his purpose give and preserve the same Answer If it be meant of created beings and such life and power of moving and acting as is in Creatures then this is very true but if it be meant of all the demeanor of those beings and their various movings and actings in and with that power of acting and moving which God hath given them then this is not true Doubtless God did foresee how Jerusalem would abuse all that Life Beauty Ezek. 16.2 27. Riches and Ornaments he gave them but he did not will purpose or decree they should so abuse them though he purposed how to deal with them for it yea he expresly sa it They did both chuse such ways and do such abominations as he not onely not commanded them Isa 66.4 Jer. 19.5 32.35 but as came not into his Minde which can be no less then not purposed by him So surely God foresaw when he purposed to make the first Adam and to give him that life and power of moving and acting which he did and that Furniture he furnished him with how he would abuse his power and Furniture and sin against God but God never willed purposed or moved him so to sin Jam. 1.13 much less approved he should so do yea according to his purppose he afforded him sufficient means by heeding which he might have been preserved And farther he would not withstand and hinder him and so onely permitted but decreed not his Fall yet in foreseeing it he purposed to shew forth the Glory of his Goodness more in provision of a fit remedy for restoring of Mankinde of which Purposes we are to treat And indeed he said well that said God is so good that he would never suffer evil to be if he knew not how to work good out of it So that Foresight is one thing and Purpose another Reply If any reply But then God foreseeing these miscarriages did decree to permit the same Answer I answer If this be put in if Men by the means used by him to keep them from sinning would not be so kept back from sinning but notwithstanding all helps to preserve will transgress then I will confess the saying true else not though I finde not the Scripture anywhere calling such permissions decrees nor do such decrees if in such sense they may be so called come within the compass of such purposes as we have before us to treat of And so let this first Caution be heeded That the Purposes of God we are to treat of Caution II. are his Purposes of Eternal Salvation and of Eternal Damnation and not of such Purposes of God concerning Men as being verily fulfilled et even of those persons on whom they are fulfilled some may be Eternally saved and some may be Eternally damned so as the fulfilling of such Purposes neither necessitates the persons on whom they are fulfiled to be Eternally saved nor to be Eternally damned they being fulfilled both on the righteous and the wicked as for some instance 1. As God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth so did he also purpose and in his Purpose determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their Habitation Act. 17.26 27. and this with a gracious end and tendency for their good also in his way yet in this Purpose onely those and all those in all times ages and Nations of the World that fear him should be accepted of him Act. 10.35 so that though purposed and according to purpose some be Kings and Magistrates somâ— Subjects some Rich some Poor and all in a gracious tendency that they might seek and acknowledge the Lord in these condition some of all sorts have been found in every of these conditions seeking and fearing God and so walking
on to Eternal Salvation Rom. 3.10.20 1.18 28. but also some of all sorts if not most of all sorts persisting in rebeâ—lious wayes leading to Eternal destruction Scripture and Mens manners so fully shew this that it needs no farther proof 2. As God in his Works hath put so in his Purpose he decreed to put a great difference between some Nations and other Nations as one to be greater and endued with more Priâ—iledges then the other yea sometime the lesser people or younger to be the chief and the greater or elder people to serve the younger and yet neither doth this Purpose or the fulfilling of it necessitate or imply the Eternal Damnation or hindring the Eternal Salvation of the inferior appointed to serve Deut. 7 6 7. 14 2. Psal 147. 19.20 Rom. 9.6 27. Act. 10.35 or of the Superior to be served So Israel a peculiar people above all other Nation though fewest in number yet were not all this Israel the Israel of God indeed in acceptance of and answering their Priâ—iledges and so not every of them eternally saved nor were all and every of the other Nations Eternally damned that Rule true according to his Purpose Rom. 2.6 11 25 26. and 3.9 but this is most cleer in those two people mentioned Gen. 25.23 And the Lord said unto her that is Rebecca Two Nations are in thy Wombe and two manner of People shall be separated from thy Bowels and the one People shall be stronger then the other and the elder shall serve the younger or Rom. 9.11 as some read it The greater shall serve the lesser Now Christ being to come of Jacob Esau or any of his Posterity in serving Christ that was to come of Jacob and so in a willing service of their Brethren the Sons of Jacob attending the Word and Oracles given them might through Grace be saved as no doubt some of them were Deut. 23.7 8. and means was by God appointed thereto And whereas many for their wilful refusal and violence though constrained did yet in another way serve Obad. 9 10 21. Amos 9.12 with Jer. 49.7 11. Job 2.11 Psal 87.4 5. 60.8 yet for that refusal and violence did perish yet of that Race it is found in Scripture many are eternally saved Isa 60 7-14 And as God in his Purpose differenced one Nation from another in superiority and inferiority so he purposed divers means for divers Ages in the World and to divers People and some means excelling other to some People the Word Oracles Gospel c. to other People onely a rumour of these with such teachings as are natural or by natural Mediums in the Works of Creation and Providence yet the Repentance and so the Faith and Obedience he requireth being no more or greater then according to the means he vouchsafeth and that such will be accepted and where more is given more is required This Purpose of such difference and the fulfilling it in extention of such different means hindreth not but that Rom. 2.3 4 9 12 13 14 15 17 26 27. of those that have but the lesser means yielding to repent believe and obey according to the help therein afforded shall be Eternally saved and those that have the greater means rebelling against the help therein afforded and so persisting in Impenitency Unbelief and Rebellion shall be Eternally damned Let this Caution be heeded God hath purposed some things that he will bring on all Men both those that shall be Eternally saved Caution III. and on those that shall be Eternally damned as namely That 1. Isa 45.23 Rom. 14.11 12. Joh. 12.32 Phil. 2.9 10 11. All Men one and other shall come before him and his Son Christ and he by vertue of his great suffering and Sacrifice offered for Mankinde and the Power Authority and Spirit received thereby shall draw all Men to him and they shall come and bow before Jesus and confess him Lord to the Glory of God yet onely those that by his goodness discovered and bands of love extended are prevailed with in this Day of Grace Rom. 10.9 10. Isa 45.24 Joh. 6.37 40. and so found coming to him and believing on him here with the Heart unto Righteousness and confessing him with the Mouth unto Salvation these shall say Surely in the Lord have I Righteousness and shall be Eternally saved All shall come to him but him that cometh now in the Father's drawing he will Eternally save and all that rebel against these drawings and persist so doing shall yet by his irresistable Power be raised from the dead Joh. 6.37 16.8 9. Isa 45.24 Phil. 2.10 11. and convinced of their sin for not believing on him in the Day of Grace and then to their shame and his Glory confess him Lord to the Glory of God before the sentence pass on them 2. Heb. 9.27 Heb. 11.13 1 Thes 4.14 Rev. 14.13 John 8.24 Eccles 11. All Men shall once die or suffer a change sutable to Death which is the way of all Flesh yet of these some die in the Faith and so sleep in the Lord and these shall be Eternally saved but others die in their sins and unbelief and these shall be Eternally damned 3. All Men shall also rise again by the Power and Authority of Jesus Christ at his voice 1 Cor. 15.21 22. Joh. 5.28 29. Luk. 14 14. Act. 24.15 but the Just such as have believed in Christ and done good shall rise in the Resurrection of the Just unto Eternal life and the impenitent and unbelieving in the Resurection of the unjust unto Eternal condemnation 4. 2 Cor. 5.10 Rom. 2.16 Mal. 25.34 46. Rev. 20.13 15. After Death all being raised they shall all come before the Judgement-Seat of Christ and be judged by him according to the Gospel and then all those that have believed in him and lived to him in the Day of Grace shall enjoy Absolution Eternal Life and Joy with him and all that have throughout the Dayes of his Grace and Patience rebelled against him shall then be cast into the Lake of Fire which is the second Death Let this Caution be also heeded For of all Purposes as set forth in these three former Cautions is not in this business directly but onely inclusively to be spoken God hath set in his Counsel Caution IV. Psal 145.8.9 1 Tim. 1.17 Joh. 12.13 Jer. 32.18 19 20. Isa 25.1 40.14 Prov 22.20 21. Act. 20.27 Psa 33.11 Eph. 1.11 and Purposes concerning the Eternal salvation of Mankinde or the Damnation of any of them an holy wise and heavenly Order agreeing with the Nature and Being of God his Soveraignty Wisdom Holiness Love Mercy Truth Justice and the Testimony of his Spirit concerning his Son Jesus Christ and his Love to Mankinde manifest through him all agreeing in one without any contrarying of one by another Hence his Purposes called his Counsel and said to be brought forth according to the Counsel of
of my bowels Which shews plainly both that he was one with the Father in this Prov. 8.29 30 31 as in all other his Decrees and Purposes and also that he did accept to undertake and do the same as his own words verifie Psal 40.7 Lo I come rendered by the Apostle Heb. 10.7 8 9 Heb. 10.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God and then opened descanted and pressed again From which Will of God of the Father and Christ his oneness in the same the vertue of his Sacrifice is affirmed to be Heb. 10.10 12 14 and to have been from the beginning vertuous and prevalent with God for Men and with and in all that believe in him And as in order to the performance of this his Will concerning and for Mankinde he in his Purpose prepared and gave him a Body so as he might be truely and verily man and the Son of Man and so capable of suffering for Man having right as a Kinsman and fitness as having the Nature of Man to undertake and do the whole business of Mankinde Rom. 5.14 18 being according to this his Father's Purpose a perfect and publick Man yea the Word and Son of God made Man and so having the Divine and the Humane Nature in one Person and so one with the Father and one with Man a fit Mediator between God and Man to deal with God for Man and with Man in the behalf of God and so the digging or opening of the Ear Joh 33.16 17 24 as it signifieth in Men the fitting and preparing for obedience to that which God calleth to that they may obey so in respect of Christ it signifieth the giving him and fitting him with such a Body as in which he might have capacity and fitness to suffer and do his Will which being given him Isa 50.5 6 Psa 40.6 7 he was not rebellious nor did draw back but being one with his Father in his will and love to Man he accepted and delighted to do the same and so the Spirit by the Apostle teacheth us to understand it who knowing that to be the meaning cites that very Text according to the Translation then extant and known A body hast thou fitted or prepared me Heb. 10.5 And that he might do his Will in that very Body he in this Purpose 2. Purposed concerning the Man Christ the second publick Man first an Abasement of him secondly by vertue thereof an Exaltation 1. He purposed and decreed an Abasement of him for Mankinde Gal. 4.4 as that he should be made under the Law for Men and though without sin yet to have on him all the infirmities of the Nature of Man Rom. 8.3 which befel it for sin meerly through the Fall and so though true and sinless flesh yet in the similitude of finful flesh 2 Cor. 5.14 15 2 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 Eph. 2.13 Heb. 9.14 7.27 See Part 2. ch 7. Luke 24.26 46 Mat. 26.24 Isa 53.2 7 Psa 22.6 11 18 Act. 2.23 and so that he in the stead of and for all Mankinde should die that death yea all that death in the ignominy and pain of it yea suffer the Curse in it which was due to Mankinde for the first offence and all the sins that necessarily flow from it and which the Law on that account can charge Men with and also make such full satisfaction and such a vertuous Atonement by his Blood as by it even following sins against himself might in his way be taken away and freely forgiven All which he hath done as was fore-purposed and fore-written of him and because of the certainty of God's Purpose and his being one with God in that Decree having accepted to do it it is spoken of before the actual and visible performance as done and when manifestly performed he is said truely to go as it is written of him and to be delivered thus to suffer by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God so his Abasement was according to Purpose 2. Psa 16.10 11 Isa 5.3.8 Act. 2.25 33 13.29 33 37 Psa 68.18 47.5 Luke 24.52 Heb. 10.12 13 8.1 1 Pet. 3.22 Col. 2.9 10 Joh. 17.5 Psal 20.3 4 110.1 He purposed and decreed the Exaltation of him in that personal Body in which he was so willingly abased and this Exaltation to be in his Resurrection and in his Ascension into Heaven and in the acceptation of his Sacrifice for all that for which he offered it and so filling him with the immeasurable fulness of the Spirit even glorifying him with his own self so that the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and he set at the right Hand of God in all Power and Authority Angels Authorities and Powers being made subject to him and all this now done as was fore-purposed 3. God in Approbation of all this his own Purpose and of his Son becoming the Son of Man and suffering and doing all this for Mankinde and in his own well-pleasedness in his Son in Man's Nature thus exalted the heavenly and spiritual Man the Lord the quickning Spirit He in this Purpose did also purpose to elect and chuse and so did and hath elected and chosen him to be and so made him his Servant or Minister by whom he will do all his choice works of saving and judging yea Isa 42.1 Mat. 12.18 3.17 17.3 Psa 89.19 20.28 his delight in whom he takes his rest and well-pleasedness for ever yea the very he in whom and through whom he will shew forth the brightness and excellency of his Glory and with whom his Covenant stands fast for evermore And so in this Purpose and choice of his and by the vertue of his sufferings and Sacrifice and by reason of and in and with alâ—â—â—â—hs Furniture he hath fitted and made him to be and so 4. He hath purposed and according to Purpose confirmed him to be 1. The Lord of all even of the Devils and fallen Angels as his Captives and Slaves Act. 2.36 10.36 Mat. 4.3 11 Heb. 2.14 Col. 2.25 Eph. 4.8 Heb. 1.3 4 5 6 7 13 14 Rom. 14.7 8 9 1 Cor. 6.20 2 Cor. 5.14 15 Rom. 2.16 2 Pet. 2.1 John 3.16 by vertue of his Conquest and Victory over them in the Nature of Man whom they had overthrown and by conquering death which they brought Man under yea by reason of the transcendent excellency of his Person and his Work and Office even Lord of the holy Angels also but Lord over all Mankinde by vertue of his Death suffered and his Resurrection and his Sacrifice offered for them so as they are all released over to him who in his time will bring them out of that Death he died for them and shall judge them for they are his and ought of right to live to him which if according to the Grace he extendeth to them they do they shall not perish in another death but have everlasting life 2. The
who hath declared the Father's Name Psal 22.22 Heb. 2.11 12. Ioh. 1.18 17.6 Psal 18.49 with Rom. 15.9 and so calleth all to look to him and come to him and be saved for in and by him the peace is made the price is payed and all fulness and perfection of Furniture is in him for every Man in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily in him is life yea in him God hath given us Eternal Life and in him it is in him are all the Treasures of Wisdom and Understanding yea the fulness of Spirit to shew forth the same yea in his appearance presence or face as in the Glass of the Gospel presented the Face of the Father shineth and in that shine the Divine Power and Spirit goeth forth to draw the Beholders to desire after and believe in him and to confirm the Believers while beholding him and conform Believers to him so that the Father's Name for Goodness Power Excellency c. is in and upon him he is the brightness of his Glory 3. That God in his Purpose hath appointed and approved this to be the way to call and bring in a Seed to Christ namely to declare his Name and set him forth as the Holy Ghost hath testified of him and left that Record in the Gospel and so to preach him the Saviour of the VVorld the only Rock Foundation the VVisdom of God the Beloved of God See this in Part 2. chap. 10. c. 11. and Lover of Men c. as is foreshewn And thus of his Purpose and in that his Purposes concerning the Man Jesus Christ from which known and believed we may learn 1. Rom. 1.2 5 16.25 26 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 1 Pet. 1.20 21 Eph. 3.3 9 â— That the Gospel in the whole Testimony of Jesus Christ it is in that which he is become and hath done according to the Purpose of God now manifested according to the Revelation of the mystery so as the Gospel is the Revelation of the Purpose of God 2. Prov. 8.4 9 22.20 21 1 Tim. 2.6 7 Prov. 26.23 26 That the Gospel in all the Sayings and Promises of it is really true and true to all to whom it 's declared there is no wreathedness or equivocation no Declaration or pretence of Love no tender of Mercy to any but what is really true no fair words with an inward covered hatred which God abhorreth but all Truth even that which is in 2 Cor. 1.18 19 20 21 2 Pet. 1.16 and came forth of the Bosome and Heart of the Almighty God of Truth it being the opening of his Will and Purpose 3. That the Purposes of God beginning in his Son Luke 1.70 2 Pet. 1.20 21 and being through and for his Son and so made known by him they all as revealed and written in the Holy Scriptures are all and altogether true like himself his own Minde and in that manner to be performed being all the Breathings of his own Spirit by the Mouth of his Holy Prophets and so there is no secret or unrevealed Purpose in God that is in any wise contrary to those he hath revealed 4. That Purpose and Approbation of that purposed Isa 42.1 1 Pet. 1.1 2 and so Election are distinct and Purpose in order first though they meet in one 5. That Jesus Christ even as the spiritual Man that died and is risen and exalted at the right Hand of God Col. 1.15 19 is the first and choice Elect in order and manner of choice before and above all others and no other but in and by him 1. He had his Being in and with the Father even from Eternity Joh. 1.1 2 Pro. 8 22 Col. 1 17 18 and the Lord possessed him in the beginning of his way he is before all things but that Being of his and the Glory he had with the Father was incommunicable to Mankinde yea without his taking Man's Nature Heb. 2.7 12. and the consideration of his Abasement and Exaltation in that Nature the Excellencies and Priviledges thereof was incommunicable to fallen Mankinde and he as Man is God's first Elect Isa 42.1 Eph. 1.3 4 and without that could none be elected in him and had any been otherwise fore-elected in him he would without doubt have kept them and so must have laid aside their Glory when he laid aside his own which I suppose none will say he did nor that any were in him as he gave his life for the World and so Redeemers with him 2. He was one with the Father and with him in his being Prov. 8.22.31 and in all his Purposes and Decrees and Ways and so in the Election of himself as the second publick Man his first-begotten Son c. I hope none will affirm or conceit the like of any other elect ones 3. Psal 40.6 7 Heb. 10.5 10 Isa 42.1 He accepted the Fathers appointment of him to suffer and sacrifice and do all his will which being accepted of him by the Father was vertuous from the beginning and so he as the spiritual Man was approved of God and being pre-approved was also in that sense elected before the beginning of the World but so and on such account was no other besides him elected 4. The actual and visible election of him was begun in his birth perfected through sufferings Luke 1.35 Heb. 2.10 8.1 Joh. 1.13 16 17 Eph. 1.3 and compleated in his exaltation at the right hand of God and so filled with all fulness of Grace Truth and spiritual blessings and the blessed election of others is in him thus considered 5. Psa 89.19 Deut. 18.15 18 Joh. 8.23 15.19 He was chosen from among Men being made Man and born of a Woman but he was not chosen out of the World of which he never was but others that come to be chosen in and by him are chosen out of the VVorld of which they sometime and in some sense were 6. Joh. 15.16 He was chosen in and by no other Man but all other Men that are chosen are chosen in and by him all these things are shewn in that foresaid By all which it appears he is the first prime and choice elect and the fountain medium and root of election for others 6. Joh. 1.18 1 Joh. 5.20 Mat. 7.27 That no man of us can rightly understand and know the Purpose and in it the Purposes of God or his election of any in Christ but by first knowing Christ and the purposes of God concerning him and God's election of him all right knowing of God being in knowing of Christ and so all right knowing of his Purposes and Election in the knowledge of his Purposes concerning Christ and his election of him Ch. 2. before as appears in all foresaid And according to this knowledge with the Cautions fore-premised I will proceed to speak of his Purposes concerning Mankinde as included and ordered in this great Purpose and
being in that purposed which is the constant and plain signification of the word stand whenever used about the Purpose Counsel and Word of the Lord a Psa 33.10 11. Pro. 19.21 Isa 14.24 Jer. 44.28 And it 's not here said That the Purpose of God in or upon the Elect might stand but according to Election So that Election or the Grace of God in Christ the Elect discovered and believed which believed electeth and so it s the Grace of Election or the Election of Grace or which Grace believed maketh opposed to the works of Men by the Law b Rom. 6.23 24 33. 11.5 6 7. This that by which the Purpose of God in Christ for communicating the choise salvation shall stand become efficacious and take effect in any whence those by grace so prevailed with are affirmed to be the Called according to Purpose because Counsel had so ordered it to take place in the Efficacy of his appearing Grace c Rom. 8.28 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. and this Election of Grace where it so prevaileth is thereby known d 1 Thes 1.1 3 4 5 6. 2 Thes 2.13 14. and so said to be according to the Foreknowledge of God the Father which is no other but the counsel of his Will in his Purpose approving and appointing this Way for his Purpose to stand and take effect and be accomplished e Eph. 1.11 Rom. 9.11 11.5 6 through the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Christ f 1 Pet. 1.2 which is to say it in more words Through the Demonstration of his Grace in Christ the prime elect in the Gospel-Declaration and Call the Word believed working effectually in them g 2 Thes 2.14 1 Thes 2.13 and so chosen to Salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth h 2 Thes 2.13 So that all the way Election in Purpose or Act is a distinct thing from Purpose yet the act of the Purpose not divided from it but it is the manner of its taking place and coming into act and election is the Name of it self being the manner of the blessed coming forth of the Purpose and not the Name of the Purpose nor is the Purpose named the Purpose according to Election and there the period but some good thing to be brought to pass it 's said to be so spoken That the Purpose of God according to Election might stand or take place All which is cleered by plain Sayings of Scripture set down often before to which I might add Rom. 11.25 29. Deut. 7.6 7 8 9 10. that which the Apostle desired Believers not to be ignorant of concerning the natural Branches the Seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and those few that were chosen for the love God bare to and the Covenant he made with their Fathers of whose natural Seed remaining in unbelief he telleth the Gentiles As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes Rom. 11.28 but as touching election they are beloved for the Father's sake Now what is here meant by Election is that Rom. 11.25 in which is the mystery there mentioned and it is evident that it cannot be the election of the very individual persons that were then Enemies to the Gospel for the sake of the Gentiles 1 Thes 1.13 2 Thes 2.13 14. because the very fastning and prevalency of election is in through the belief and prizing of the Gospel and Grace by it discovered and the stumbling at Christ as now discovered in the Gospel though because of Gentiles or any receiving him and accepted caused their ejection and was the evident Testimony that such were not elected but blinded c. And the Apostle divides these unbelieving Ones from the Elect and calls them the rest that is none of them Rom. 15.7 8 9 10 11. Rom. 11.7 8 10 15 17 19 20. but saith expresly These are blinded hardned east off and that because of unbelief so as according to the Doctrine of Election delivered not by God but by Men not acquainted with his Minde there would be no love of God to them no possibility for such reprobated Ones to come into favour with God again which the Apostle affirms there is still Rom. 11.16 23. And that God's dealing with them in such a heavy and severe way is a Fruit of his love towards them and hath its tendency that they might be brought in again Rom. 11.11 14. Act. 13.45 47 52. 1 Thes 2.16 And this is rendered as the ground of all that though their envy and sin be grievous that they are enemies to the Gospel for the Gentiles sake and wrath be come upon them and they rejected yet as touching the Election or for the Election they are beloved for the Father's sakes A great mystery a people not elected but cast off for stumbling at the Gospel and yet as touching Election beloved for the sake of others VVhat shall we think then Election here to be though it may stand with the Purpose of God for their Salvation in his way according to the Election of Grace to stand even the Election here meant yet it cannot stand with an infallible Purpose of God in which their persons were elected to be eternally saved against all interposures and oppositions for then they were as well beloved for their own sakes as for their Father's sakes and should not have so been broken off but what this Election is I conceive may appear in the very terms used compared with other places of Scripture to be the Election of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and so for their sakes the Election of their Children the beloved Father's whose natural seed these were and so for their sakes still beloved with love of pity and compassion and means still extended to recal them yea their abasement and casting off to humble them and so as a means ordered thereto and all for their sakes the Elect with whom the Covenant was made i 1 Chron. 16.13 29 Psa 105.5 14 135.13 14. or rather especially for Christ his sake that was in them and to come and is now come forth of them k Rom. 9.5 Psa 89.19 34. with Deut. 7.6 7 8. Isa 41.8 9 Rom. 11.23 Rom. 11.25 26 27 29. and so whoever of these abide not in unbelief shall be grasted in again for God hath not so tied himself with any decree but he is able to graft them in again and though thousands stand out till Judgement have scattered and broken them yet shall there be a preservation of that natural Seed and in due time the whole company of them then surviving shall be brought in and so all Israel shall be saved And is God's gracious Election of Abraham Isaac and Jacob so forcible and is not the Election of Christ now having come in the flesh in the Nature of Man and the love and well-pleasedness God hath in him
Christ and Christ faithful in performance of the same 2 Tim. 2.11 If we be dead with him he saith not If we were dead for him to die for us or as dead in his dying for us having in his sufferings 2 Cor. 5.14 19 20 21. as in the publick Man suffered the sentence of death in account for all we fell into by Adam that as he is risen we might live to him which is true also of such as yet believe not But he saith Rom. 6.2 11. 7.4 Col. 2.20 Phil. 3.3 7 8. Rom. 6.4 5 8 11 7.4 5 6 Joh. 11.25 26. 2 Tim. 2.12 Rom. 8.17 18. If we be dead with him that is believing in his death in his Blood and in acceptance of that die to our own Wisdom sinful lusts and designs and to all hope in any righteousness of our own and so to all the appearing glory ease pleas and excellency of this World and all by and with him which is to be dead with him in Scripture-Language If we be dead note it he saith not he we shall also live with him receive forgiveness be enlived preserved and raised with and by him yea more still If we in this believing dying and living do suffer with him and so for his and his peoples sakes we shall raign with him at his coming but when such glorious grace is discovered and tendered to us by so gracious a One as hath suffered so much for us and hath gone before us and calleth us to follow him and yet we refuse If we deny him he will deny us This is as plain as all the rest If any say He cannot for this his death will be in vain his call frustrate and his word become of none effect This hath been answered before That his death his word hath its effect and his Purpose shall verily be performed according as he purposed that is for life according to the Election of grace and though these deniers of him bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 Rom. 9.6 8. Isa 65.11 15. Joh. 12.48 Rom. 2.16 Prov. 9.12 Phil. 2.9 10 11. 2 Tim. 2.13 others shall be brought in and the effect of his word shall be seen in those that are born of the promise as was said The Lord shall slay thee and call his Servants by another Name nor shall his death and Ministration of the Gospel be in vain he will have the glory of all in judging them by it according to the Gospel and not he but they alone shall suffer and bear it and will have his glory of being by vertue of his death their Lord and so it follows If we believe not yet he abideth faithful faithful in all his promises and sayings yea in this affirmed and faithful saying and so faithful in and according to the manner of his Purpose he cannot he neither will nor can it suits not with his Nature it is impossible he should deny himself he saith not He cannot deny us though we believe not and deny him for if that were so he must deny himself in his own sayings concerning unbelievers Apostates and Deniers of him and in his faithfulness for bringing forth his Father's and his own Purposes according to his Purpose ordered in his Counsel and breathed forth by his Spirit but he cannot deny himself he will make good his own word and shew himself to be even the same his Spirit hath in the Gospel reported him to be denying none that by his grace in the Day of grace believe in him or having departed do again in his recalling turn to him but denying such as persist in refusing or after coming in in departure and denial of him in which is both warning and comfort and so a great motive to hold them in the Faith that were in it and to return them that were gone astray from it 2 Tim. 2.14 15 16 17 18 19. And therefore he willeth Timothy to put them in remembrance of these things c. and urgeth it because some were departed from the Faith assuring him that notwithstanding all this the Foundation of God standeth sure in which we may see not onely the Purpose of God but the Foundation laid according thereto and the sure standing of it to be such as abides with the Truth of all these foresayings and events yet it is meet to answer that conceited strong Argument against this hereto said which is Mr. Owen's saying thus Though the seed of Christ Pag. 132.3 which he is to see to upon the account of his sufferings for them do sin and trangress yet God hath put all these gracious Obligations upon himself to reduce them by corrections and afflictions but never to proceed to final sentence of utter rejection Isa 53.10 Answ This is nowhere affirmed in Scripture and so propounded as is doubtful what his meaning is if other sayings did not explain it as where he saith Pag. 364. The same sins deserve the same punishment and had not Christ answered for the sins of Believers they could not have escaped punishment And if he had said nor raised from the dead it is as true but that any perish for sin because Christ did not suffer for them is not true nor is God any respecter of persons if the manner of sinning be the same though he also saith Pag. 161. 63.2 The guilt of sin is also taken away from all those for whom Christ died by his death that it shall never be a cause of everlasting separation between God and them which hath been plentifully shewn to be contrary to the Scripture besides the taking sin out of the way by his death is one work 2 Cor. 5.21 Eph. 5.25 26 27. 1 Joh. 1.1 7. and the taking the guilt of sin c. from Men another following work the first done where the later is not done and the first done that by vertue of that by which it was done the later might in his way be done and it is a great perverting of the Scripture to render that done where it saith it is to be done of which enough hath been said but his Expression here being more moderate I will so view it for here he saith not All that Christ died for but his Seed By the Seed of Christ See par 1. ch 13. and par 4. ch 2. is not meant any of the Sons of Adam considered as he was to die and had undertaken it and did die for them for so they were Men fallen Adam's Seed and sinners and enemies to God which the Seed of Christ are nowhere called but they come in upon the account of his Death Resurrection and Sacrifice compleated and Spirit sent forth in the means prevailing with them And this express by the Prophet taught by our Saviour and so the Children of the Promise Isa 53.8 10 11. Joh. 12.23 24. Rom. 9.25 26 8. those that were born of the promise that were not before in that sense
Truth Joh. 12.47 48. 2 Thes 1.10 yet nevertheless the Truth standeth firm and will one Day judge these Apostates and justifie such as believe in him So that by this opposition it cleerly appears he means Christ to be the Foundation 3. This also appears in the Words themselves with their Order and several Branches and Distinctions let them be every one considered 1. Isa 28.16 Psa 18.22 Mat. 21.4 1 Pet. 2.6 Act. 4.11 12. 1 Cor. 3.11 The Foundation of God standeth sure Is not this plain in Scripture-Language to be the Foundation God purposed and promised to lay in Sion which Purpose and Promise was before the laying of it and now according to Purpose and Promise he hath laid it and Jesus Christ expresly affirmed to be this Foundation the Love and Wisdom of God in his will found out and purposed this Foundation and according to his Purpose his Hand hath laid this Foundation and hath declared his Purpose of saving all that in believing are by Faith built on him who onely is the Foundation and there is no other The knowledge of this Foundation and so of the Love and Purpose of God according to which he is laid meet us with bands of Love to draw to him and fasten upon him or if declined to return to him that is so sure immovable and precious a Foundation And this cleer-here that none needed have imagined another nor feigned the Purpose to be the Foundation but to proceed 2. Having this seal This is plain This Foundation hath a Seal on it an evident and known Seal it is a sealed Foundation and so the Seal is distinct though not divided from the Foundation it is in it and upon it even that by which it is marked out to be known and to be sure and stedfast even that which God hath appointed and sealed in which Seal also is the sealing and approbation of all that through believing come to be built on him So that it is a demonstrating living quickning and confirming Seal and so Christ the Foundation was sealed approved testified and confirmed both by voice and works to be The Christ Isa 28.16 Mat. 3.17 17.5 Joh. 5.37 Joh. 6.27 Isa 55.4 1 Cor. 2.2 Isa 42.4 Rom. 8.28 8.2 Isa 28.16 8.16 51.4 2 Cor. 1.22 5.14 Eph. 1.13 Isa 2.3.4 Mic. 4.2 3 Isa 8.20 14 15 16. 28.9 16. 29.11 12. 42.21 49.6 13.47 Mat. 5.14 15. Phil. 2.15 16. Joh. 1.4 7 9. 5.35 Isa 44.26 Heb. 2.3 4. The Son of God that precious tried Stone laid for a Foundation and upon this ground he exhorteth to seek of him the Bread that endureth to Eternal Life which he will give to such as come to him for it because or for him hath God the Father fealed yea he being given as the VVitness or Testimony of God's Will Love Purpose and Faithfulness and so preached by the Apostles and for the Law which the Apostle calls The Law of Faith The Law of the Spirit of Life This the Foundation laid in Sion The Law and Testimony bound and sealed up among the Disciples of Christ The Law proceeding out of his Mouth and he doth therewith so seal those that believe in him that he indues them with his own Spirit operating in them so that the same Law and Testimony goeth forth from them to others And this is the Law and the Testimony to which we are to resort for the knowledge of all Truth though because of its crying down all flesh and the reproach it is in in the World and among the Children of the Bond-woman in the Church it is to them as a book pretended by the Learned to be sealed and by the unlearned to be out of their ability to read yet with Christ and in him the Lord is well pleased yea and for his sake with all that believe in him and will magnifie the Law and make it honourable yea he hath given him for a light to the Gentiles and to be his Salvation to the ends of the earth yea he will confirm and hath confirmed the same in making those that believe in him the light of the VVorld in holding forth the VVord of Life and bearing witness of him the true light and he will confirm the Testimony delivered by his Servants yea he hath abundantly confirmed this Testimony already Eph. 2.20 21 22. so that Jesus Christ as set forth in the Testimony of the Gospel he is the Foundation laid by God and ministerially by the Apostles even that Foundation on which the Apostles and Prophets yea the whole Church both of Jews and Gentiles are built and by whom as the Corner-Stone they are united in one and there is no other Foundation but this And this Foundation is sealed and hath the Seal on it which will be sealing all that come to be built on it so that hitherto even by this Word having this Seal We are led to own Jesus Christ for the Foundation on which the Seal abideth Now let us consider what this Seal is and that also is express 3. That Lord knoweth them that are his This is plain the Apostle delivereth not this the Lord knoweth them that are his as the Foundation which by his manner of delivery appears to be some distinct thing forelayed yea even before sealed but distinctly plainly and expresly as the Seal on the Foundation which it alwayes hath on and with it and that is this The Lord knoweth them that are his View the words in their own simplicity according to Gospel-Language and it will appear plainly That The Lord is the Name frequently throughout the Gospel as now come forth given to Christ a Act. 2.36 10.36 9.17 29. 11.16 16.31 20.35 Rom. 14.9 1 Cor. 1 2. 8.6 2 Cor. 1 2. 13.14 Gal. 1.3 6.18 c. but if any will take it for God the Father it will come to the same for the Father and the Son are both one and the same God b Joh. 2.1 2 one in divine Essence and in VVill and Design and in Testimony and Working c Joh. 10.29 30. 1 Joh. 5.7 Joh. 5.17.19 22 23. 14.6 10. 16.14 15. Heb. 1.3 yea the Father doth nothing but the Son doth the same yea he doth all by the Son that all Men might honor the Son as they honor the Father nor can any come to the Father but by the Son and all that is the Father's is the Son 's and through him his glory appeareth The Lord knoweth This Word is more then seeth discerneth and so knoweth Joh. 2.24 25. 16.30 Dan. 2.22 Isa 66.18 Luk. 16.15 Deut. 31.21 2 King 19.27 Isa 37.28 Jer. 48.30 Psa 138.6 139.1 5. for so God yea God in Christ and so Christ knoweth all things yea he knoweth what is in the darkness though onely the light dwelleth with him he knoweth the hearts of all Men even the worst of Men also yea
in the Gospel beware of Evah's desire of knowledge but if we would know mysteries Rom. 1.16 1 Thess 2.13 minde well and believe fiâ—â—ly the Declaration of the Gospel and that believed with the heart as the Word of the God of Truth will enlighten and work effectually in us yea if that be so heeded as the very discovery of the Minde Heart and Purpose of God to such unworthy Ones as we what appearances of divine Love what excellencies what depths of understanding and knowledge what supernatural shines divine streams spiritual operations in melting renewing heart-rejoycing yea what nighness approach to God what fellowship with Father and Son and with Prophets and Apostles yea what hope and heavenly riches is to be met with through the Spirit in belief of this Testimony will not be believed without some experiment in the Declarations of well-grown and experimented Believers much less in the scanty Declaration of such a one as I therefore I forbear that Declaration knowing that when any do come heartily to believe the Gospel-Testimony of Christ they will experiment so much that they will confess As they have heard they have found but withall they think the half was not told them and then they will see enough in the Purpose of God as revealed for them to know and this may be farther said That the Purposes of God as revealed in the Gospel are such as are meet and forcible if believed to draw unbelievers to believe to confirm weak Believers in the Faith and to make valiant the strong All which things hath been before shewn and proved An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART V. CHAP. I. Of the Promises of God in the behalf of Mankinde THe Promises of God Psal 12.5 6 7. 2 Cor. 1.20 are true pure and certain to be performed according to the terms of his Word and Promise they are like his Purposes yea the Declarers of his Purposes and so Yea and Amen in Christ And those I am now to take view of are those which have their tendency toward the Salvation of Mankinde out of the death he fell into by the first Adam and the Justification and eternal Salvation of Believers And these I shall view in three Heads or Branches first Those done secondly also in doing thirdly those remaining to be done The first Head or Branch of Promises is of those things that are truly most Gen. 3.15 with 2 Joh. 3.5 Gen. 22.18 with Gal. 3.16 Isa 42.1 7. 49.6 and all in some sense done and performed and these are of two sorts I name the later first because first made known to Man that is 1. To Mankinde for giving and sending a Saviour 2. To Christ the Saviour upon his oneness of Will and Minde with the Father in his undertaking to be the Saviour and to save according to the Will and Minde of the Father 5.3 4 10. with Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Joh. 4.14 Act. 13.47 and these are also both in plain and express Promises and also certainly intimated in the Curse and Threats on the Serpent and Serpentine Seed the Enemies of the Salvation of Mankinde and of the Peace and Prosperity of the Church the Seed of Christ the Seed of the Woman 1. The Promises to Mankinde for giving and sending a Saviour even Christ that he should be a very Man of the Seed of the Woman Emmanuel God with us that he should come of Abraham and blessing be in him for all Nations that he should die and rise and offer the Propitiatory Sacrifice and make Atonement for the sins of Men and be filled with Spirit so as he shall be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth even the Saviour of the VVorld that whoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life which things are before explained in the Purposes of God of which the Promises are the Discoverers And these Promises are fulfilled Act. 13.31 32.33 Rom. 8.32 and he that verily believeth God to have fulfilled his Promise in this may very well trust him in any other Promise 2. The Promises to Christ the Saviour Psa 40.6 7. Heb. 10.5 7. Isa 50.9 Psal 116.10 11. Psal 2.6 110.1 Isa 42.1 50.4 5 6. 61.1 2 3. Psa 110.4 Isa 49.7 8 55.5 Mal. 3.1 Isa 40. Psal 68.11 19. Prov. 9.3 Isa 53.10 11 12. Psa 2.8 9. 89.20 21 27. 1 Chron. 17.13 14. Isa 65.9 upon his oneness of Minde and Will with the Father in his undertaking to be the Saviour and to save according to the Minde and Will of the Father as That he would give him a Body that in it he might do his Will That he would be with him in all his Sufferings and uphold him and raise him out of Death and exalt him after his Sufferings and Resurrection and set him at his right Hand and fill him with the fulness of the Spirit in the Nature of Man and so give him the Tongue of the Learned and That he would make him an High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec and That he would be present with him to make his Mediation prosperous and he would also give him a Messenger to go before his Face or Presence to prepare the way before him and Witnesses also to declare him when he had finished the Work he was to do in his own Body and That he should see his Seed and the work of the Lord should prosper in his Hand and That he would give the Heathen to him for an Inheritance to rule and the Kingdom and heavenly Inheritance for himself and all his spiritual Seed that should be his Jewels and his peculiar Inheritance All which things are explained in the Purposes which are discovered in the Promises And as the former Promises to Mankinde so these to Christ as undertaking for Mankinde are all of both sorts for the good and benefit of Mankinde and yet had they no dependence on the Faith of particular Men but that God would send his Son to be the Saviour and so furnish him to be a Saviour depended onely upon the Truth and Faithfulness of God and should upon that account be performed to and for Men notwithstanding all the unbelief of Men though Men come to the use of understanding cannot receive the special saving benefit but in the belief which belief was not so easie nor had so demonstrating and powerful evidence and Argument to draw to believe as since it is unbared in the performance And note That these Promises to Mankinde and as to Christ for the good of Mankinde are Promises of Christ by God to Mankinde but not so properly as the following Promises through Christ suitable to our Saviour's Doctrine of his Father's VVill in his Love he freely found out the Ransome and promised and gave his Son to be the Saviour but extendeth Salvation by and through his Son Christ Joh. 3.16 17. Rom. 5.6 8 Gal. 4.4 1 Tim.
for them in Christ and so the first Promises given and extended to them and as their eyes are opened and their hearts moved by him in the means the two next sort of Promises are extended to them that they might believe and in believing receive though in themselves they be never such sinners and cursed ones and I suppose Mr. Owen's term of qualification will deny nothing of this but for another saying of his Pag. 117. Sect. 8.2 viz. God that hath promised life on believing hath promised believing on no condition on our parts at all because to sinners This is a very hard saying He in the other place said The promises are made to sinners as sinners and under no other qualification whatever And after that again he saith Were not the promises originally made to sinners there would never any one be found in any other condition yet himself hath said That God that promised life on believing hath promised believing on no condition on our parts at all and he gives this as his Reason and Proof because to sinners Minde his saying well VVere they not sinners to whom he promised life on believing what force then in his Reason or Truth in his two other Sayings for any to be induced to believe and yet no Promise of believing to be given produced nor any sinner to whom it should belong nor can he shew any condition in the one namely sinners to whom life is promised on believing but the same is found in the other that is sinners to whom in God his way the grace to believe is promised and they both alike sinners It is before shewn That for giving and sending forth Christ the Saviour of the World the Promise was absolute and not with If Men believe and so the Promises for fitting supporting exalting and furnishing Christ to be such a Saviour all depended onely on the faithfulness of God and though it was for the good of Mankinde yet the performance of those Promises was not made with an if men believe and so the Promises for means to be used and spirit sent forth therein to the opening of the eyes c. that men might believe were not made to be performed if men believe c. all this is done and these Promises all to sinners as sinners and performed to them also before any of them believe and to many that come not in to believe But now when God hath manifested all these Promises so graciously performed that the ears and eyes of Men are open so as they hear and see and he moveth at their hearts the Promises then run thus If they in seeing see c. if they turn at his reproof if they hearken and behold he will save them open his words and pour cut his Spirit to them draw them to Christ enable them to believe and what condition is this when nothing is required but what God hath graciously fore-given in giving them to see that by the same grace they might use their sight Act. 17.31 Joh. 6.32 Isa 5 5.5 1 Pet. 1.20 21. he also in this discovery as they behold gives them an Object of Faith to behold and he is glorifying Christ that Object in their view that their faith and hope may be in him and so giving them faith and to believe so that here is nothing required but the use of that given to that very end the word is in the mouth Rom. 10.8 9. Prov. 17.16 and in the heart that they might believe the price in the hand that they might hold it and so He that believeth on him shall not perish See for all Par. 4. ch 4. c. is no more Condition then the former and as the Promise of saving and believing was not to the qualification of seeing but to him to whom God gave to see in his seeing beholding so this is not to the qualification of believing but to him to whom God is thus giving Faith in his believing all is thus here grace and grace for grace here is a Saviour freely given that wrought salvation in the Nature of Man and that by him means of Salvation afforded that hath it may be made known and extended to us and power in that means to open our eyes that we may behold it and this sight given us that in beholding we may be drawn in to believe Act. 26.17 18. Rom. 10.15 1 Cor. 3.5 2 Cor. 3.3 1 Pet. 1.20 21 22 23 25. and believing afforded that in believing we may rest on Christ and so receive forgiveness c. So that all the way here is still one Grace afforded that we may receive another and that other that we might receive another which if when such divine help afforded we willingly refuse not will still fit and lead us to receive more so great so gracious the Promises of God to Mankinde fallen and this or these are the Promises made and performed in belief or receit whereof Men are united to the immortal Seed and of that through these born from above And yet now for these when so born from above we have more Promises to take view of concerning which Promises Mr. Owen his Sayings That the Promises are made to sinners as sinners and under no other qualification whatever and That if they were not originally made to sinners there would never any one be found in any other condition I know not how to interpret them to make them hold true in a full sense in the Promises to be spoken of for it is evident That those to whom the first Branch of Promises is made known and the second Branch of Promises extended and so received as thereby they are found believing in Christ these though they are sinners and as sinners may still have the use of all the former Promises and so his Saying true in respect of those Promises still yet are these in some better condition and under some better qualification also else the Holy Spirit would not call them The Children of the Free Woman The Sons of God Saints and Faithful in Christ washed sanctified and justified c. translated out of the power of darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son this is a better condition and better qualifications then onely sinners and as sinners and some are brought to and so found in other and better condition Besides upon due search it will be found That the Promises we are to treat of were originally made to Christ and have their fulness of performance in him and are derived from him to Believers under divers qualifications and exercises as appears in the next Branch The third Head or Branch of Promises are those to be performed to such of Mankinde fallen after they come in to believe and they are those that are confirmed in Christ made through Christ to be derived and received from Christ for Believers and so through Christ to Believers and to be received by Believers such as are already Believers and in all
1.12 13. 1 Joh. 5.12 13. Gal. 3.29 Ioh. 6.40 45. 10.27 28 29. Ioh. 14.16 17 26. 15.26 27. 16.7 13 14 Rom. 8.26 23 14 15 16. Psal 73.24 and are Abraham's Seed and Heirs according to Promise and he will own them and keep them so as they hear his voice and follow him and he will give them eternal Life and they shall not perish And this he will do by giving forth into their hearts his Spirit in and with his Word to minde them of his Sayings foresaid by himself and by his Spirit in his Prophets and Apostles and so to testifie of him and take of the things of him and shew them and so glorifying him to them he will both enable them to pray to God in his Name and receive Answers from him and also witness with their Spirits that they are the Sons of God and so lead them in his way into all Truth and unto Glory and assures Believers in a plain Affirmation by his Spirit both that there is an incorruptable and undefiled inheritance that fadeth not 1 Pet. 1.4 5. reserved in Heaven for them and also that they are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation it 's cleer the power of God here meant is Rom. 1.16 1 Thes The Word of Grace he hath helped them to believe which is the power of God to Salvation in every one that believeth and the Holy Spirit in and with that word which is the Hand Luk. 11.20 Act. 11.21 1 Cor. 3.4 〈…〉 3. 2 〈◊〉 3 4. Ioh. 17.11 12. the Finger and power of God the Divine Power or power of the Divine Nature in and with the Gospel which is his Name this that by which Christ in his Ministration kept those given him and by which the Father and he still keepeth such By this power of God are Believers kept through Faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last times and how can it be through Faith if the Object of Faith seâ—â—rth in the Word and the influences of that Object be not continued to them that they may continue believing and in believing mix their Faith with these Promises and so be united to and with Christ in the Promises or how can it be through Faith if they also do not in the belief of the Grace Power Truth and Faithfulness of God which they have been helped to see and believe in believing the Testimony of his love in the gift of Christ and in his Blood shed for them when they were Enemies Rom. 5.6 7 8 9 10. Tit. 3.4.5 6 7. Gal. 5.5.6 6.6 Hab. 2.4 Rom. 1.17 Gal. 3.11 Heb. 10.38 Ioh. 3.36 Rom. 4.13 16. even from thence believe and relie on him for all that Grace and Life which he hath promised and so mix Faith with or be united by Faith to the Promises This being the professed way of the Believers confidence growth expectation and perseverance to the inheritance yea this the way of the Believers living in being justified and so preserved to the enjoyment of the inheritance promised till which time there is no other way for the just to live but by Faith and by Faith they shall live and God hath appointed this to be by Faith even to this end That it may be by Grace and that the Promise may be sure to all the Seed And indeed it can no other way be sure nor is there need of any other assurance of perseverance to the inheritance then the assurance of Faith even the assurance that Faith in the Object giveth and Faith in believing receiveth when through the belief of the Love of God to sinners appeareth Rom. 4.17 25. 5.1 2 5 6. Isa 28.6 1 Pet. 2.6 2 Tim. 1.12 4.18 2 Cor. 5.1 in having given his Son Christ to die for their sins and being therethrough led to believe in God for performing his Promises and so mix Faith with the Promises This the Faith of Abraham of which Faith and assurance of hope therein none that have it will or need to be ashamed for sure here are Promises enough confirmed enough in Christ for Believers to mix with Faith and so trust in God even for keeping and preserving them and as he doth enough to keep them trusting in him so he will never fail or forsake any that trust in him But alas will some say this is comfortable to them that in believing do mix Faith with these Promises for their perseverance and so trust in God but we are not able in and by all we believe to mix Faith with these Promises and so to rest patiently on God for our perseverance yea we are not sure the Faith we have is such but that we may fall from it To whom I answer If thou believe the Testimony of Christ as given in the Gospel thou shalt be saved and in this belief abiding in him thou shalt not miss but finde his Grace enabling thee to mix Faith with these promises for perseverance and to help thee and all that believe Jesus to be the Christ Here is yet farther provision for thee in the precious Promises to lead thee on and so enable thee to mix thy Faith with the Promises and these helps though all to one gracious end yet in some respects they are divers and manifold yet meeting in one to lead thee to unite thy Faith with these Promises onely before I mention them take this Coveat that an Opinion of an impossibility of one that doth once truely and indeed believe to fall away again from the Faith is none of the helps given thee in Scripture nor is this Saying That many of the Saints are not enabled all their dayes to mix the Promises of perseverance with Faith and on that account do never get Freedom from Bondage any of the helps given nor will the holding of an Opinion that all true Believers and Saints shall certainly persevere bring those Saints to the heavenly rest and inheritance which never are united by Faith to the Promises yea even the Promises thereof and so have not their Faith mixed with the Promises The Apostle is plain in this desiâ—ing the Saints That he and the residue that knew this might without offence-taking by the Saints have leave and liberty to fear lest a promise being left of entring into his rest any of those Saints he wrote to should seem to come short of it and the very Ground of his fear was lest this Promise should not be mixed with Faith in every of the Saints that had heard it alleadging That the cause of others falling short and not profiâ—ing because the word heard was not mixed with Faith in them that heard And indeed the Holy Ghost doth not lead his instruments to daub up any with untempered motter as if they may be Saints that shall infallibly persevere and yet never be able all their dayes to nâ—â— Faith with the Promises of perseverance c. But he affordeâ—â— directions
of living Waters Psa 36.9 Jer. 17.13 Mal. 4.2 Col. 2.3 9. Joh. 1.16 of Light Life and Spirit the Sun of Righteousness in whom all Light Life and quickning is in whom the fulness of the Spirit of life is and from whom it flows and so those that through Grace believe on him receive of his fulness and see light in his light and so in beholding of and believing in him the same Spirit that is in him floweth into them Joh. 3.6 and effecteth the minde and disposition of Christ in them which is also called Spirit in which respect Christ is said to dwell in them and the Holy Spirit is said to dwell in them who as proceeding from Christ and remaining in him so he entreth their hearts and worketh this new Spirit or disposition in them and by his light and operations dwelleth in it and so in them and this Spirit effected in them and dwelling in them they have derivatively from Christ and it cannot be had divided from him but they believing in him Eph. 3.16 17. have it of and from him and him within and by it and so they have him and this Spirit of and from him in their hearts by Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 2 Tim. 1.7 1 Ioh. 4.4 and it is in them a Spirit of Faith the Spirit of Power of Love and of a sound minde and this Spirit dwelling in them is greater and stronger then the Devil that is in the World so that they may full readily mix the Promises with Faith 1 Ioh. 5.4 5. yea and believing in the Son of God overcome the World their Faith being their Victory whereby they overcome And thus we have seen the Promises to Believers in their spiritual frames and exercises are many the Promises to them abiding in the Faith given them are many the Promises that they may abide many and the helps for their abiding many and all gracious from the Almighty God of Truth through the Mediator to Believers to whom Faith is given that they may and whoever as they may mix the Promises with Faith and so accepteth the Grace given may have the Assurance of Faith even for his perseverance in which the following Promises will be still farther helpful also let them be considered CHAP. 5. Of the Promises to be fulfilled to Believers after this Life THe fourth sort of Promises are those which are to be performed to Believers when they have lived and died in the Faith when their Battel is fought their Race run and so they have finished their Course and kept the Faith and so overcome The Promises to be then performed to them be great precious and of three sorts 1. Such as are to be performed to them at their death as all shall but such as survive at the coming of the Lord to whom such Promises not needful nor suffer they loss 2. Such as are to be performed at the Resurrection of the Just in the personal coming of the Lord. 3. Such as are to be performed when Christ delivers up the Kingdom to God the Father and so God is All in all I shall according to what I finde hint somewhat of each I. For the Promises that shall be performed to Believers at their death 1. They shall rest from their labours sorrows Rev. 14.13 Isa 26.20 21. 57.2 Ioh. 3.17 18. Zach. 9.11 12. 1 Thes 4.14 Ioh 17.13 16. 19.25 27. combates with temptations being kept as in Chambers of safety till the indignation in which the inhabitants of the earth shall be punished have gone over them all yea they shall enter into peace their bodies resting in the earth in their several places as in beds of peace and though in respect of the enjoyment of the great hope their bodies be as Prisoners yet are they at rest and free from all trouble and fear and so Prisoners of hope that sleep in Jesus and shall be raised at his coming to see him and come with him so it is a blessed sleep and rest 2. Their Spirits or Souls shall walk in their uprightness in the presence of Christ their Righteousness and under his Wings Isa 52.2 Rev. 6.9 10 11. Phil. 1.21 23. 2 Cor. 5.1 2 6 7 8. as the Altar of safety and solace enjoying a more full sight of the Person of the Lord Jesus and being nigher and having more full fellowship with greater rejoycings in him and with him and with the Spirits of just Men made perfect of which they now are then ever they did or could have enjoyed Heb. 6.12 15. 4.3 4 10. while they were in mortal bodies in which respect as touching their Souls they may be said to inherit the Promises to enter into rest and in both these respects the day of their death is better to them then the day of their birth was 3. Their works do follow them Rev. 14.13 Ioh. 15.16 2 Pet. 1.15 1 Tim. 6.14 2 Ioh. 8. 1 Thes 2.19 20. 2 Cor. 10.15 16. Heb. 11.4 12.1 that which through Faith working by love they have done in their preaching the Testimony of Christ their works of mercy their prayers their sufferings and constancy therein in bearing witness to the Truth and against Antichrist have not only had their fruits for holding forth the Faith and winning in others to God in their life-time but in the efficacy of the Truth witnessed by them in preaching and suffering in answer of their prayers and the memory of their good examples their fruits shall remain yea also multiply and encrease upon their account after their decease II. For the Promises to be performed to them at the coming of the Lord Jesus in and at the Resurrection of the Just they are of great and glorious things as to instance some of them 1. Their Bodies shall be raised again not corruptible 1 Cor. 15 23 42 45 52. 1 Thes 4.16 Phil. 3.21 Mat. 22.30 weak and mortal as before they had been but incorruptible powerful immortal and glorious at the very coming of Christ yea so as they shall be as the Angels of God though not Angels and Spirits onely Mar. 15.25 Luk. 20.35 36 Rom. 8.23 yet as the Angels and spiritual equal to the Angels for impossibility of dying or falling for strength agility swiftness of motion in ascending or descending and moving every way Thus shall their bodies be raised and united to and possessed of their own perfect Souls or Spirits for ever being both moved and carried about by the divine power 2. 1 Thes 4.17 Isa 9.4 5 6. 11.4 30.27 28 60.12 Zach. 14.5 2 Pet. 3.7 See Part 2 ch 17. Being so raised and made spiritual and glorious in Soul and Body they shall in a moment ascend and meet the Lord in the Air and so be ever with him yea come along with him to that great Battel in which shall be no carnal Sword no confusion no garments of any Saints rolled in blood and yet the
from above being all the Fruits of Free-Grace The Love of God shining through them all and the Spirit of God breathing in them all they that are through the Promise displayed in displaying born of the Promise displayed Joh. 3.3 5 6. Gal. 4.29 Joh. 1.13 to the Hope of the Promise confirmed in him displayed which is Christ the Son of God and the Fountain of Spirit and Life they are rightly said to be born from above of Water and of Spirit and so of God and that so born of the Spirit is spiritual and they are in every respect of the Promise truely called The Children of the Promise being born of the Promise through the Promise Rom 9 8 9 Gal. 3.23 26 28 29 30 31. 1 Pet. 2.5 9 10. to the hope of the Promise and so both called and are The Children of the Promise of the Free-Woman and these all these and none but these are the Seed and counted for the Seed and so the Apostle Peter avoucheth them also These were before this another Seed even Enemies the Seed of fallen Adam for whom Christ underwent the Curse and he himself is the promised Seed in which blessing is for others even as he came of Man and in Man's Nature died and rose offered the Sacrifice made the Atonement and is filled with the Spirit of Life even the spiritual Man not the first but the second publick Man so the promised Seed that in being so made known sinners may come in to him and receive pardon and renewing and upon that account may in Union with him become of the same Seed And these so one in and with him by Faith are The Seed God's elect Seed and surely God hath no Elect among the Sons of Men but this Seed yea none but these counted for the Seed Therefore for any Seed or Elect to be counted for the Seed before the consideration yea Acceptance and Vertue of the Death and Sactifice of Christ for him to die and offer Sacrifice for and then in due time to call those that were God's Elect Seed before to be born again is such a Dream that it is a marvel any waking Men should be taken with it and not rather hold fast to the Scripture-Language That those that are born of the Free-Woman The Children of the Promise are the Seed and counted for the Seed III. This will also with that Discovery of the same in the Purposes help us to understand those places Psal 69.28 Rev. 3.5 22.19 about which so many through unbelief of the Gospel puzzle themselves for The Promises of God of the first and second Branches to Mankinde fallen to sinners which also opens the Purposes of God as ordered in his Counsel for saving sinners both declared in the Testimony of Christ in the Gospel according to Purpose Promise Testimony of God holding forth Mercy Forgiveness and Life to Mankinde sinners that they might repent believe and receive it In all which it appears That in the Gospel there is a Book declared which may be and truly is called The Book of the Living The Book of Life Psa 69 28. Rev. 3.5 22.19 Rom. 5.6 8 10. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 1 Tim. 2.6 1 Tim. 1.15 Joh. 6.51 33. Rom. 5.18 14.9 2.4 Ioh. 1.9 29. 3.17 1.4 Gen. 6.3 Eccles 9.4 out of which Men may be blotted yea their Name blotted out of it and their part taken out of it and so they were once written therein by these Names Men sinners ungodly unjust Enemies lost Ones because Christ died for such and came to save such and there are Declarations of Mercy Promises for such He gave his Flesh for the Life of the World giveth life unto the World which yet is nowhere called eternal life though that they might come to that and as by his own Righteousness in one Sacrifice-Offering Life was unto all in him as in the publick Man so God hath given them all over into his dispose so God also useth means toward them to lead them to Repentance that they might be saved Whence also the Life in Christ is called the Light of Men and so while he continueth in means to strive with them and they be still joyned to all the living there is hope and while they remain thus though no-better yet if not no worse they are yet written among the living and their Names as Men sinners lost Ones Psal 69.28 Rev. 13.8 Ezek. 13.9 Luk. 10.20 Heb. 12.23 Joh. 1.12 13. 3.1 5. Eph. 1.5 Rom. 8.28 2 Cor. 5.17 are yet in this Book of life though yet they are not written with the Righteous they are not written in the choice sense in The Book of Life of the Lamb not written in Heaven in the secret and Congregation of the Righteous for none are so written in this Book but the Congregation of the first-born the Believers on Christ that are born of God of Water and the Spirit whose Names are Faithful in Christ Lovers of God and Christ and one another new Creatures Saints Brethren to Christ and one another Sons of God by Faith Overcomers of the World c. which Names were never yet on these other And when the Promises of the first Head are held forth and the Promises of the second Head in some measure performed to these and they then persist resisting and opposing till they be reprobated and given up Rom. 11.8 9 10 11 23. with Psa 69.22 27 28. 109.1 5. then begin they to be blotted out of the Book of the Living or that Book of Life in which Mankinde as sinners are written and yet by corrections and renewed strife there may be a recovery but if against that also they still persist in their Rebellion till wholly given up and reprobated then are they wholly blotted out and shall not be recovered to be written with the Righteous and the Names upon them then are Reprobates Sons of Perdition that willingly reward him Evil for Good and Hatred for Love The Seed of the Serpent The Children of the Devil set with full Purpose to do his Will which Names neither are nor ever were in the Book of Life in the first or second sense 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Eph. 5.1 Gal. 5 1â— 20. Rev. 13. â— nay in the second sense of the Book of Life Unbelievers Unrighteous Adulterers Fornicators Wantons Thieves Murderers Lyars Blasphemers and Worshippers of the Beast and such-like with those Names never were are or shall be written in the Book of the Life of the Lamb among the Righteous but onely the Names forementioned of new Creatures Rev. 2.11 3.1 Luk. 10.20 Phil. 4.3 1 Thes 1.3 4 5 6. 1 Pet. 3 7. Psa 3.29 c. and the Promises are to such as overcome they shall not be hurt of the second Death nor their Names blotted out of the Book of Life and such may rejoyce that their Names are written in Heaven yea and discern their Brethrens Names there written
Devil the Seed of Abraham in whom is blessing for all Nations The Propitiation for the sins of the whole World The Saviour of the World given to open the blinde eyes and bring out the Prisoners out of Prison c. that so the Hearers and Beholders may believe and whoever believeth not perish Joh. 3.16 17. Isa 42.1 6. 61.1 2 3 4. Col. 1.19 2.3 Ioh. 1.9 Act. 13.47 28.17 18. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. Isa 55.2 3 4. Joh. 1.12 but have eternal life yea the Father witnesseth this of him and himself saith He is filled with Spirit for this end and the Holy Ghost testifieth That all fulness is in him and he enlightneth every one that cometh into the World And that is the command of God to his Servants by the Gospel to hold him forth for a Light and Salvation to open the eyes of Men and turn them from darkness to light c. that they may receive c. and God goeth forth in that Testimony witnessing of and glorifying him that Men may believe on him and so receive the Covenant which-he giveth to Believers And this is above all that was before for teaching and drawing 2. That he is given for a Covenant to the People Isa 42.6 49.8 Gen. 3.29 which implieth and expresseth That the Covenant made with the Fathers for the People that is those come in to believe and so of Abraham's Family to whom the Covenant and Promises appertain he is given for it that though they yet wait for the Inheritance yet they have in him the Interest Joh. 14.6 11.25 Act. 13.32 33. Isa 55 2 3 4. Act. 13.34 Ioh. 17.10 1 Cor. 1.30 3.22 23. Heb. 8.1 Col. 2.9 10. Act. 3.26 13 34 37. Act. 3.19 Col. 3.4 1 Joh. 3.2 the Root the Assurance and certain Hope for he is The Way The Truth The Life yea The Resurrection and The Life yea The Promise and so we may say The Covenant for he as risen from the dead is called The sure Mercies of David in giving which the everlasting Covenant is at least spiritually made for he is he in whom the everlasting Covenant is sure and sure to be performed and the making it in performance sure in him so as in giving him to Believers all is in and with him given and believing in him all is so received in enjoying and possessing him by Faith all is enjoyed and possessed in and with him by Faith if Christ be ours all is ours Jesus Christ raised from the dead and glorified in the Nature of Man the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily Believers are compleat in him and God in giving him in the Ministration of the Gospel giveth blessing and the sure Mercies of David and the first fruits of the Spirit and sending him again visibly it is to restore all things and to taign that Believers may raign with him and so have all the fulness of the everlasting Covenant What other Oracle what Temple Sacrifice Priesthood what Knowledge or Gifts what Covenant-making with us what Inspiration or personal giving a Promise to us can be like this to secure us this is the choicest Testimony of God's Love and our Interest in the Covenant to have Christ given for a Covenant and in believing on him as he is set forth in the Gospel the greatest security and assurance is received God that spared not his Son Rom. 2.4 Joh. 1.4 9. but delivered him up to death for all Mankinde will and certainly doth through him extend patience bounty mercy and means to bring Men in to believe on his Son whom he is so giving to them yet such as believe not receive him not and so have him not as so given them and those that through unbelief have not Christ Joh. 3.6 whatever they have through Christ and for his sake yet they have no eternal life no Interest or part in the everlasting Covenant for eternal life and all pertaining to the everlasting Covenant is so in Christ 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12 13. Joh. 1.12 that there is no receiving or enjoyment of it but in receiving or enjoying him which is yet onely by believing in him and in believing in his Name we receive him and he gives these priviledges So then if God that gave his Son for us do so give him to us Rom. 8.32 Ioh. 1.12 as we be helped in believing to receive him he will with him and as he giveth him to us give us all things freely and in receiving Christ he will communicate the same to us according to his order in his first and second coming and of the Dispensation by his first coming and the Hope of that in his second coming is here treated and meant and so his being given for a Covenant to Believers can be no less then to be given for a Witness Isa 53.3 4. Testimony and Seal of God's Mercy Love Righteousness Immutability and Faithfulness to perform to them this everlasting Covenant and to be the He in whom they may discern and see all for them in him Col. 2.3 9 10. Ioh. 14.19 1 Pet. 1.4 Rev. 1.18 Heb. 19.15 10.2 6 10 11. and by him safely kept who by his power will through Faith keep them till he bring them to it and in mean season to be the Mediator of this Covenant that they may receive the promised Inheritance and the Minister of it to be dispensing a first Fruits to them in these waiting Days and this that he that hath our Nature and loves us c. is given us for a Covenant of the people it is a great and strong consolation and there is nothing to be valued with it to give us rest assurance and establishment This the way to receive it in receiving him and to be established in resting and abiding in him which that we may do here is one word more caught us for our safe guidance and tutoridge till we come to the Inheritance 3. In that he is said to be given for a Covenant of the People as he is for a Light to the Gentiles implies That he is given to give a New and Testamental Covenant a new Law for the Nurture and Tuition of those that are the Sons of God by Faith Jon. 1.17 8.35 36. Gal. 4.1 2 3 4 7. Rom. 3.27 Gal. 5.1 5. Iam. 2.12 Rom. 7.25 8.2 3 4. 2 Cor. 3.6 7 8 9. that they may be led and preserved to the Inheritance promised and kept by him for them that given by Moses was to nurture the Sons or People of God but under tutoridge as Servants suitable to the Servant by whom that Law was given but this given by Christ is to nurture the Sons or People of God in freedom as adopted Sons suitable to the Son of God by whom this Law is given That by Moses was a Law of Works this by Christ a Law of Faith that by Moses a Law of Bondage this by Christ
follow them Joh. 14.16 17 26. 16.13 15. Joh. 15.4 11. Gal. 5.5 6. in sending his Spirit to teach lead comfort and guide them as hath been shewn in his Purposes and Promises and on their part that they abide in him and so walk in Faith that worketh by Love waiting through the Spirit for the Righteousness of God in all these Promises by Faith In which living by Faith they shall be daily nourished with the Grace Strength and Goodness of the Divine Nature in Christ and so to walk in Love which will fulfil all the Righteousness the Law requires of them and also on their parts in case by any Forgetfulness or Temptation 1 Joh. 1.7 9. they fail in the exercise of their Faith and Love and so be drawn aside to serve some lusts of the flesh that they then confess their sins and crave pardon and healing in his Name and he for his part engageeth to heal them and so to keep them through Faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last times and for help of their weakness he hath afforded them his Ordinances to attend Mat. 28.20 Joh. 13 14 15 16. 1 Joh. 1.9 1 Ioh. 3.23 1 Ioh. 4.21 Joh. 14.21 Prov. 3 4 6. in which he hath promised to meet with them and bless them all these things are shewn before in the Purposes and Promises The Engagements on Christs part are seen in his Promises of Spirit Healing and the Engagements on Believers parts seen in his command to them affirming such as are his to have his commands in them and these commands they are That Christ in the Name of Wisdom chargeth his Sons to keep in the middest of their Heart And so we may see in these three foresaid points what the New Testament is nor can any thing here required be grievous to any that are in this New Testamental Covenant For 4. Rom. 8.1 2 3 4. There is therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit What Consolation is this for such as through believing the Testimony of Christ are brought from under the bondage of the Law and Old Covenant Rom. 7.1 2 4 6. Gal. 5.16 17 18. Rom. 7.14 17 20. into this New Covenant with Christ to bring forth fruit to God and serve in newness of Spirit though they have flesh in them which lusts against the Spirit and much trouble thereby so as many infirmities be found in them and some failings yet if they allow not the same and so yield not to walk after the flesh make not that their Way and Trade but walk after that is allow like and yield up themselves to live sow to and walk after the Spirit the Law of Grace proceeding from the Testimony of Christ believed in their heart if according to the Light Strength and Motion given into their Hearts from this Spirit they do delight in the Law of God and desire and will to walk in it and so yield themselves to walk their wants and weaknesses which they would not are not charged on them there is no reproof no condemnation from God from Law from Conscience that shall wound them nothing that shall break their peace none to them And this the Apostle delivers positively as very Truth and then sets to his Seal rendering his own experience of the same Truth for he also had his flesh his carnality his Law in the Members rebelling against the Law of his Minde and so both disabling him from doing all that good he would and carrying him as a Captive to the Law of sin which discovered his sinfulness and of Death sentencing him to death the beholding of which caused a cry yet believing on Christ he saw and found deliverance so that this Law discovering sin and sentenced to death had not power to fasten its condemnation on him For saith he the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and of death Rom. 8.2 As if he should have said Though it discover sin in me and sentence death upon me yet it cannot fasten on me to condemn me for I looking to Jesus Christ that hath suffered and made peace for sinners in believing on him The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ hath made me free Joh. 8.36 c. And this also he builds on the true and sure Foundation that is laid open for all and gives a general Rule saying vers 3. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh Rom. 8.3 the Law given by Moses discovering sin and sentencing to death was in it self good and holy and promised life on performance but could not give it because of the weakness of flesh so as Men could neither satisfie in performance nor yet in suffering the punishment but they would have perished in it but God sending his own Son in the similitude of sinful flesh and for sin or because of sin or by making him a Sacrifice for sin condemned sin in the flesh even executed judgement on the flesh or Nature of Mankinde that sinned in the person of his own Son as the publick Man in the room of Mankinde and that to this farther end that the righteousness of the Law the life it promised and could not give us and the righteous affections and love services it required not affording strength to bring them forth might be fulfilled in us Rom. 8.4 us that believe in Christ and so are in him having received Remission of sins and Spirit with a new inclination that it might by degrees be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh that is delight not in and approve the Wisdom Righteousness Confidence Affections and Lusts of the flesh which were all condemned and crucified in Christ his being condemned and crucified upon the cross for us so that we make not this flesh our Lord and rule and our way to walk after it but after the Spirit In eyeing and believing in this Blood and Cross of Christ and accepting it Rom. 3.25 4.5 23 24. 5.5 8 10. so believing on him of whom the Spirit testifieth admiring the Grace the Spirit commendeth therethrough and according to the Light and Grace thereby given in the inward Man delighting in this Law of God Law of Grace of Faith of Liberty the Law of the Spirit of life and so taking it as our Rule do will incline and yield to make that our trade to walk therein Jam. 1.25 2.12 Rom. 6.14 1 Joh. 1.7 Rom. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8.1 13. Gal. 5.13 16 18. 6.8 1 Cor. 9.21 we shall receive forgiveness of sins and healing of victory over them and have assistance and encrease of life and so no condemnation Is not this the language of the Spirit in the Apostle to the Romans and to the Galatians and
so abide in that and receive the Testimony and teachings of that by all that teach you as that anointing teacheth you But saith he If there come any unto you 2 Joh. 10. 1 Joh. 2.18 26. Gal. 1.7 8 9. and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house nor bid him God-speed And this Counsel on the same ground given in this place to warn against Seducers And so Paul to the same purpose saith Though we or an Angel from heaven preach unto you other or besides that we have preached unto you c. Again If any man preach any other Gospel unto you then that ye have received let him be accursed And John's saying to be thus understood is cleer by comparing two sayings of Paul speaking by the same Spirit * 1 Cor. 15.1 4. 2 Cor. 11.2 3 4. yea in John's own exhortation a 1 Joh. 2.28 and professed end of his writing which was still to teach them as this anoynting teacheth from Chap. 2. to Chap. 5.13 And so Peter and the residue of the Apostles 2 Pet. 1.12 13. 2 Cor. 3.3 1 Thes 5.11 14. Heb. 3.13 1 Thes 4.18 1 Pet. 4.11 Rom. 12.3 were in this manner diligent to teach Believers that knew the Truth and were established in the Truth yea Christ his anoynting is affirmed to be in such Ministration and all Believers exhorted daily to teach and exhort one another yet still according to this anoynting with the words of the Gospel in which the Spirit testifieth of Christ and according to the proportion of Faith as God hath dealt to every Man So that this place is of excellent use in all teachings and receiving of teaching But when that time comes and that is done of which Jeremiah speaks here 1 Cor. 13.12 1 Joh. 3.2.1 Cor. 4.5 Then they shall see Face to Face and know as they are known yea see Jesus as he is then will be open the hidden things of darkness and then not some of the choise onely but all the Seed even from the least of them to the greatest of them shall know the Lord so that Tongues Prophecying and Knowledge by such Mediums as now shall be useless 1 Cor. 13.8 Col. 3.4 1 Joh. 3.2 and such teachings cease then but we shall all know the Lord by an immediate sight of the Lord which will make us to be like him Such so full and so cleer Knowledge to be given then IV. For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more This is cleer to be such a forgiveness Jer. 31.34 as in which all sin is wholly taken away and they presented altogether spotless before him such a degree of Forgiveness Justification and Sanctification and Freedom as no Man attaineth in this Life In which daily Forgiveness is needed 1 Joh. 1.6 7 8 9 10. Eph. 5.25 26 27. Col. 1.22 23. Act. 3.19 1 Cor. 1.8 But this is that spotlesness which Christ by his Blood sprinkling commending his Father's Love there through in Gospelministring by his Mediation sending forth Spirit in his Word to work on the Heart is now about to fit his Seed for and bring them to and it shall be compleated at that very Day of his coming when also that which follows will be performed with it namely That he will remember their sin no more Whatever Forgiveness God extendeth to Men yea though into their Consciences yet while any sorrow shame pain weakness or oppression lieth on them there is some remembrance of sin for how good and gracious ends soever and while any good promised for Soul or Body is withheld there is some remembrance of sin how advantagious soever it be made yea as long as the Bodies of the Saints are in the dust there is some remembrance of sin But here from this time shall be no remembrance of sin their sins shall be remembred no more which includeth and assureth them That God will wipe away then all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death Rev. 21.4 7.15 16 17. Jer. 31.12 Isa 60.17 18 19 20. 11.6 9. Isa 65.17 18 19. Rom. 8.21 22. Isa 9.6 7. 11.4 5. Psal 72. Isa 60 65 66. neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away and so they shall not have any violence injustice or oppression in their Government nor suffer violence from any nor shall there be contention or strife among the Creatures with them any more nor any pollution in the Air or Earth or any thing that grows out of it but the whole Creation the Heaven and Earth made new for them Their Government and Commonwealth shall be altogether peaceable righteous and flourishing the Earth abundantly fruitful and all Nations bringing their Glory to them and they enjoying and filled with all happiness for evermore everlasting joy upon them as is before shewn in the Promises Part 5. Chap. 5. and Part 2. Chap. 10 13. And this the everlasting Covenant which was made in promise to Abraham Isaac Jacob and David and declared by the Prophets and Apostles who shall in that day be also with them when this shall be made in performance to all the spiritual Seed so as they all shall then triumphingly confess As we have heard Psal 48.8 so we have seen in the City of the Lord of Hosts in the City of our God God will establish it for ever and so filled with Rejoycings they breath forth Hallelujahs Nothing more full and plain in Scripture then these things therefore let the Rule and Consent in it be here remembred and this the Hope we are called to by the Gospel and are interested in Par. 1. ch 7. 2 Thes 2.14 Gal. 3.29 in believing in Christ so that Prayer is good for us That God would grant to us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Christ that we may see what the Hope of his Calling is which is to all engaged in this Covenant and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints a little in this discovered and what the exceeding greatness of his power c. which will bring all to pass CHAP. 10. Of some usefulness of this Discovery of the Covenants IN what hath been shewn we may see if we search and read the Scriptures pointed unto That the Gospel of God and the Testimony of Christ therein is according to the Covenants of God and the Opener thereof and also That the Testimony of Christ The Purposes of God The Promises of God and The Covenants of God agree in one and the same The Revelations of Christ shew forth the Testimony of Christ which is the Key of Knowledge The Testimony of Christ declareth The Purpose of God from his Purpose The Promises of things purposed and as purposed flow and to assure the Promises the Covenants are suitably made so as in the Testimony of Christ
onely on that about which the contest pretends on one side to be and he puts it into two sorts of Faith or that Saints are said to believe and to be holy really and in the Truth of the thing it self The first sort of Believers that have Faith and holiness true in its kinde Page 10. Sect. 17. Hab. 41 1 Sam. 10.10 2 Pet. 2.20 1 King 21.27 2 Chron. 7.10 Mat. 17.3 4. 13.20 Mat. 6.20 2 King 10.16 Hos 6.4 he saith Are such as having received sundry common Gists and Graces of the Spirit as illumination of the minde change of affections and thence amendment of Life with sorrow of the world legal repentance temporary Faith and the like which are all true and real in their kinde and do thereby become vessels in the great house of God being changed as to their use not in their nature continuing wood and stone still though hewed and turned to be serviceable vessels and on that account are frequently termed Saints and Believers On such as these there is a lower and in some subordinate work of the Spirit effectually producing in and upon the faculties of the Soul somewhat that is true good and useful in it self Joh 6.34 Act. 25.28 Mat. 7.26 27. Rev. 3.1 Mar. 4.16 answering in some likeness and suitableness of operation to the great work of regeneration the which faileth not There is in them light love joy faith zeal obedience c. all true in their kinde which makes many of them do worthily in their generation howbeit they attain not to the Faith of God's Elect neither doth Christ live in them nor is the life which they lead by the Faith of the Son of God So far he Though this description of Faith and Saints be not in any Scripture-Expression or Terms Isa 28.12 13. or according to any Scripture-Description but rather like unto that reproved by it yet here is granted a Faith and Holiness true in its kinde that hath in it illumination change of effection amendment of life light love joy faith zeal all effected by the Spirit from which he yieldeth a Man may fall And if that be true he after saith That a man may abide with constancy to the death in this Faith through sufferings surely then it being none of the Faith of God's Elect c. and they wood still c. they must needs perish And were it not better to let such a Faith alone when so great danger in falling away and yet no Salvation but eternal perishing though they continue even through sufferings and die in it But I will not meddle with the controversie but onely the stating the Question And so this Faith acknowledged true in its kinde and of the Spirit 's operation I shall consider three things in it 1. That mentioned here which may be mis-conceived by some and those things which are no part of Faith or Holiness true in its kinde of the Spirits operation 2. I shall acknowledge that which is so to be so indeed 3. I shall consider Heb. 6.1 8. whence all his proofs seem to be fetched CHAP. 2. Of things that may be misconceived and things no part of Faith 1. I Suppose himself by common Gifts and Graces of the Spirit Exod. 31. 35. Isa 28.26 29. Isa 3.2 3. means something higher and more special then that Light Understanding and Skill in Arts for working curious Works given to our Types or those given to Men to fit them for Husbandry or those Gifts given for strengthening a Nation to some Men as Wisdom Prudence c. for the Mighty Joh. 1.9 Joh 35.10 11. Ioh. 1.4 5 9. Rom. 2.4 and Captains of War Judges Prophets Counsellors cunning Artificers and cloquent Orators or onely that common Light wherewith he enlightens every Man that cometh into the World and gives them more understanding then the Beasts or Fowls All which are indeed gracious Gifts given to Men through Christ and for his sake and to gracious ends also having their tendency to lead Men to Repentance yet for these things as the Gospel is now come forth Men are not frequently called Believers and Saints and the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit given in his Testimony of Christ in the Ministration of the Gospel to make him known and call to and unite to him in believing are of a higher Nature even the lowest of them This being his Work Ioh. 15.26 27. 16.7 15. Act. 5.32 14.3 and that of which we speak or we speak nothing at all in this business As for that quoted 1 Sam. 10 11. it doth not prove That Saul had the Gift of Prophesie any more then one that hath no Gift of singing yet coming where some are sweetly singing is taken with the melody and carried on with them to sing or by some extraordinary occasion or motion led to sing a Verse or two tuneably and yet hath neither skill nor ability to do it again at any other times can be said to have the Gift though on such an occasion the act of singing so that Saul did sometimes on an extraordinary occasion and by an extraordinary Motion Prophesie yea and some of his Servants also is true and so by some operations of the Spirit they had an act of Prophesying I believe because it is so written and also 1 Sam. 10.10 11. 19.20 21 23. that they were among the Prophets but that he or they were Prophets and had received the Gift of Prophesie so as to have it I believe not because it is not so written and however this place is not to our business onely this I have noted to avoid mistakes about the Gifts and Graces here meant II. For sorrow of the World that is not according to God it hath no-tendency to any gracious quickning or that Light Love Joy c. but aptly worketh Death 2 Cor. 7.9 10. Grief for worldly shame poverty straights or loss of Honour c. leads to murmuring and evil fruits and so to trouble and estrangement from God and so to death and so is evil one of the lusts of the flesh which though in Believers often anoying them yet resisted by the Spirit of Grace Let no man say when he is tempted to evil Gal. 5.17 Jam. 1.13 16 17. Isa 5.20 21. moved to sorrow of the World I am tempted of God This is one of the lower Works of his Spirit one of the common Graces I have received from him do not so erre do not so dishonour God and his Spirit as if he were the Father of darkness and such evil Gifts came in the flowing of the Spirit from him through Christ not call darkness light and light darkness a sorrow will be in the working of the Spirit but that will be a sorrow according to God suitable to the Grace made known effecting it But this worldly sorrow or sorrow of the World is no part of it hath no union with it and so no part
and occasion him to fall If Christ had not come and preached to the Jews they could not have been charged with such sinning against the light But his being and preaching among them did capacitate them to have beleeved and been saved And their refusal of and opposition against the light did capacitate them to sin to such a degree as to bee charged with so great sinning Even so this blessed inlightening and operation of the Holy Ghost giving such tasts of the heavenly gift c. effecting such repentance and faith and quickening up such living principles in men Doth capacitate men to abide and live and dye in this Faith But their own neglect of so great salvation and so willing blinding their eyes and hardening their hearts and so turning from him that speaks from Heaven did capacitate and occasion the persisters in such transgression Heb. 12.25 Iâ—â— 28 29 30. to fall into this great sin which is even proved to bee so hainous and great a sin by the excellency of the Grace and Faith given them which they so willingly fell from and so the justness of their great punishment evidenced thereby also It should bee very evilly done of any to vilifie the works of God because of the abuses of men Or to excuse the evil of sinning with saying the woman which thou gavest mee c. But enough to shew the weaknesse of these sayings and the righteousness and goodness of the Faith set forth in Heb. 6.1.2 3 4 5. But Mr. Owen indeavours to gather Reasons out of the Text it self to prove the Faith and holiness here set forth though true in its kind yet not to bee of the right and saving kind I shall only view the heads of them and see their force CHAP. XIII Of Mr. Owens Reasons against the Faith and Holiness that is set forth in Heb. 6.4 5. in pag. 424 c. REason 1 Here is no mention of Faith Pag 426.27 or beleeving or in terms equivalent Answ Hath Mr. Owen quoted and used this place as his main place for proving and his only place for opening a Faith and Holiness wrought by the Spirit effecting change and really true in its kind And having served his turn of it now put it to shame and cast it by as a place where is no mention of Faith or beleeving or in Terms equivalent that no other might look there to see what true Faith is And is not mentioning of the Foundation the object of Faith and the Oracles of God the teacher of Faith the effects and Principles of Repentance from dead works Faith towards God Doctrin c And then presently suiting the works of the Spirit to all these mentioning enlightening taste of the heavenly gift partaking of the Holy Ghost taste of the good word of God and of the powers of the World to come are these Terms vers 4 5. no expressions or mention of faith or beleeving or in terms equivalent Did the Apostle think one of these Terms equivalent even Illumination Heb. 10.32 And are not all these Terms vers 4 5. so expressed and suited to those vers 1 2. where Faith also is named no mention nor Terms equivalent to Faith or Beleeving judge Reader Reas 2 Not any thing here spoken of as ascribed to the persons spoken of which is peculiar to Beleevers or that constitutes them to bee such called according to purpose quickened born again or regenerated justified united to Christ sanctified by the Spirit adopted made the Sons of God Bee the usuall expressions of Beleevers Ans It is clear here is as much said of these with ascribing the works to the Holy Ghost and acknowledgement of the receits and tastes spoken of while they are yet in the supposition and not departed as is said of any of the Hebrews to whom this Epistle is written Indeed when any such are fallen away not these things but other things are ascribed to them but it is the faith and spiritual operations once had and still retained by those not departed and not the departure and crucifying Christ again which is only in those fallen away we now speak of And that those things which are peculiar to beleevers is here expresly spoken of is shewed and proved before at large in opening the principles taught by the Oracles and built upon the foundation and the inlightning and operations of the Holy Ghost in and with working up and suited to those principles expresly that I marvel any that know the foundation and Oracles of God and first principles and Scripture language should deny it and much more that he that more than once hath said that upon other inferior and not justifiable accounts they are frequently called Beleevers and Saints But in this he hath said not proved And as for the Catalogue of terms here brought in and affirmed to be the usual expressions of beleevers conceived to bee terms equivalent to faith and beleeving we may as he opposeth them to these in Heb. 6.4.5 consider 1 That some are said to have beleeved of whom I know not where it is also said they had faith Luke 8.13 Joh. 2.23 8.30 31 32 36. for no man is said in Scripture to have faith unless he be obedient to the faith so as he receive the testimony and close with the object and have some usefulness of it as hath been shewn yet many that beleeved yea so beleeved that if they abode they should be saved where beleeving is expresly mentioned yet these terms under consideration not applicable to such But whether these are usually called Beleevers I need not contend for those we treat of are beleevers in a farther sense as hath been shewn 2 Here are some of these terms affirmed to be the usual expressions of Beleevers which as they are set down I cannot finde at all used in the Scripture as the expressions of Beleevers as they are in this life As the term Regenerated as distinct to being born again as here set down I read in Scripture of a Regeneration in which the Apostles followed Christ Mat. 19.28 Tit. 3.5 Eph. 5.26 27. Luke 20.35 36 And of saving by the washing of Regeneration which as it flows from Christ is a continued work still in doing and to be fully compleated in the resurrection of the just But that the beleevers in this life are called The Regenerated I finde not at all much less usually And so for the term Adopted I finde the Adoption or ministration thereof to have pertained to Israel under Moses ministration Rom 9.4 Gal. 41 2 3. Eph. 1.5 though the Tutorage of sons were then as servants And I finde also the first Trusters in Christ predestinated in their ministration to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ And therefore so to have preached Christ come in the flesh That men in beleeving might receive the Adoption of Sons Gal. 4.5.8 23. Rom 8.15 Gal. 4.6 7. and so a first fruits of the Spirit of
Adoption And I finde that such as did unfainedly beleeve in Christ did receive the Spirit of Adoption into their hearts crying Abba Father But this I also finde That this Adoption is not yet compleated but only begun and a first first fruits and that of the Spirit onely received and those that have this do yet wait for the Adoption injoying yet only by hope even the redemption of the body Rom. 8.12 23 24 25. when Adoption will be compleated in the resurrection of the Just And so I finde not this said That beleevers are compleatly adopted Nor is the Adopted the usual or any expression by which beleevers are now called that I finde 3 Here are some expressions which in the meaning of them are true of all beleevers in this life as things truly and perfectly done though for the measure not come to its height and yet not as expressed the usual expressions of beleevers Ioh. 15.2 4 7 Heb. 4.1 2 3. Psal 86.11 as united to Christ which is a gracious work and in some measure spiritually effected through beleeving in the beleevers that being united by faith to the object of faith the word and so Christ in the word is in their heart and thus by faith love and desires in Christ So also tasting of the heavenly gift c. And so one And yet a farther uniting prayed for yea that they might be one in will Ioh. 17.20 21. purpose design and way And this union of Spirit we are exhorted to keep and to grow up in it till we come to the fulness of it Eph. 4.12 16. but it is not yet fully compleated And so though in a sense beleevers are united to Christ and so truly said to be yet the compleatment is but a working and growing towards Beleevers are not very often and usually set forth by this expression The united to Christ And the term Made the Sons of God is that which in a spiritual sense may be affirmed of true beleevers for to all that receive Christ by beleeving on him by beleeving on his name he gives the power to bee the Sons of God and so the favour to be called his Sons and his Sons they now are by faith and not otherwise yet And shall more fully and compleatly be made the Sons of God in the resurrection of the just Joh. 1.12 13. 1 Joh. 3.1 Gal. 3.26 Luke 20.35 36 1 Joh. 3.2 whence though Sons of God be often and usual expressions of beleevers yet made Sons of God is not so usual an expression as some other 4 Here is one expression that is once or twice used with some other expressions joyned with it and explain it who they be To express beleevers that are cordial with the manner of their calling and the operation of their faith viz. The called according to purpose Rom. 8 28. 2 Tim. 1.9 Heb. 10.32 but as a single expression it is not so usual And illumination is once used as a single expression to express beleevers besides This place Tasting that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2.3 may be taken as so used in another place And what can be less in tasting of the heavenly gift and of the good word of God c. Besides as illumination tasting of the heavenly gift c. are works of the Spirit here mentioned Act. 11.18 20 21. 26 18. Col. 1.4 5. as suited to repentance from dead works and faith toward God they are expressions by which beleevers are usually set forth so as no cause to except against them as not so usual c. 5 Here are some terms in the substance of them though not so usual or not more usual than the terms in the Text here by him rejected as he expresseth them usual terms to express Beleevers viz. Quickned Born again Justified Sanctified by the Spirit Usual indeed Eph. 2.4 Col. 2.13 But minde well Quickned is sometime used as an expression of that enlivening wrought at first in beleevers expressed by Yee and Us. But the word is also used to express the efficacy of the word in beleevers Psal 119.50 93 21.20 119 88. 1 Pet. 3.18 Rom. 8.11 And sometime the word is used for a beleever fallen into some afflicted and drooping condition being raised again sometime for strengthning to walk in the wayes of righteousness and sometime for the resurrection of the body after death And so although this be in some respect a right and good expression of beleevers as thus sometime have been now are and after death in the resurrection shall fully bee yet the expression Heb. 6.4 5. compared with vers 1 2. import the same and are every way as suitable to express beleevers according to their attainments in this life both in principles and spiritual efficacies as is at large shewn The other expression Born again Joh. 3.3.5 1.13 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 if understood or from above and so as explicated of water and the Spirit and so of God by the word of God A good and fit expression of beleevers oft used yet this must be granted That there are degrees and measures of the work of God in this work also that is expressed by this term For whosoever beleeveth that Jesus is the Christ 1 Joh. 5.1 1 Cor. 12.3 Luke 20.36 Rom. 8.23 Act. 13.39 Rom. 5.1 1 Cor. 6.11 is born of God And no man can say in preaching Gospel That Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost And none are fully and compleatly born of God till the resurrection from the dead so that for explicating the state and present frame of a beleever The expressions used Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. are every way as suitable yea explicating that expression And so also Justified is a good expression to set forth a Beleever And so is Sanctified by the Spirit but mostly used rather to set forth what is received in beleeving than the beleeving it self And the expressions in Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. as much set forth beleeving and so may as well express the beleever as either of them So that all these expressions brought in though they are all very good yet the bringing them in to discountenance and eject other expressions used in this business by the Holy Ghost also 2 Tim. 2.14 Job 15.3 38.2 is not good but contrary to the Commandment to enter strife about words to no profit but the subversion of the hearers or readers and a darkning of counsel by multiplying words without knowledge For was not the laying of Christ for the foundation the purpose and according to the purpose of God And was not the lifting up Jesus in Gospel-preaching and glorifying him by Spirit to the hearts of men that they might see and beleeve the purpose and according to the purpose of God And whereas some when light comes would yet be wise in their own eyes and so come in to claim by a righteousness of their own not
submitting to the righteousness of God and so are not in respect of the prevalency of grace discovered the right called ones yet others in minding that grace discovered are prevailed with to let go all thoughts of confidence in their own righteousness c. and to beleeve in Jesus that they may live in him and to him Are not these the called according to purpose And when in beleeving in Christ on this manner through illumination of the Holy Ghost and tastes of the heavenly gift c. Repentance from dead works and faith toward God is effected c. Are not such in some measure called according to purpose Quickned Born again and spiritually regenerated united to Christ justified and sanctified by the Spirit Who that confesseth God to be true will deny this so that these two Reasons are vain Reason 3. The persons intended here be compared to Briars and Thorns Answ The persons intended here as having and so abiding in these principles upon this foundation and so with these inlightnings tastes of the heavenly gift c. Are verily the holy Brethren partakers of the heavenly Call even the very Hebrews to whom he wrote the persons supposed expressed to be such as do not abide and enjoy these things but are departed and fallen from these things and are now crucifying Christ afresh to themselves they bringing forth such Briars and Thorns are become Briars and Thorns which before they were not nor are any that abide in the faith they are fallen from so called and these fallen upon the very account of their crucifying c. are compared to and with their evil fruits called Briars and Thorns this is plain in the Text and so this Reason though once it was mine is very vain and false for its end and unbeseeming understanding men though weaklings may bee gulled with it as I have been Reason 4. Things that accompany salvation be better things than any in the persons mentioned were to bee found vers 9. We are perswaded better things of you c. Answ Here he speaks of things distinct from the persons though in them Now minde Better things Better than which for the Apostle had mentioned divers sorts of things as he had mentioned Jesus Christ the foundation and the Oracles of God from the foundation teaching those principles to build men thereby on Christ Surely the love of God in the gift of his Son The Son of God given The blood of Jesus Christ that confirmed the Covenant The Spirit of the Father and the Son that witnesseth of Christ and calleth to him and breatheth forth these Oracles to teach these principles and build on Christ Sure this Heb. 10.29 or these things are all holy heavenly rich precious invaluable things not onely accompanying but giving and working salvation though some do tread them underfoot c. which is an evil thing So that sure hee means not better things than these But then here is mentioned also the effects of the word and of the holy Spirit in and with the word in the hearts of beleevers as Repentance from dead works and faith towards God c. with Illumination tasting of the heavenly gift c. Phil 2.12 13 14 15 16. Surely these are also precious things not onely accompanying salvation but even parts of the salvation begun in them and working in them effecting those things to be brought forth which are to accompany it though some murmure and harden their hearts Heb 3.7 15.16 1 Thess 5.19 and so are disobedient and quench and despite the Spirit which is an evil thing and sure he meaneth not better things than these But here are two sorts of things more mentioned that is Heb 3.6 14 13 1 2 4 6.8 9 10. first Abiding in their faith confidence and love And so hearkning to his voyce bringing forth the fruits of faith and love as hath been fore-shewn according to the seed sown in the heart and the refreshings by the rain often drunk in and of these he expresseth himself to men vers 9.10 And these be not better things then the salvation wrought in them as by which they bring them forth but better than the other sort which secondly he names by some supposed to bring forth that is a departing from Christ through an evil heart of unbeleef and so falling from all this salvation and efficacies thereof extended and then crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting him to an open shame And notwithstanding the same seed sown and the same rain oft drunk in yet bring forth Briars and Thorns which accompany not salvation of which hee mentioneth no persons among them that he cahrgeth withall but only by a supposition sheweth the danger even to these Hebrews if any should so do Chap. 2.1 2 3 3.7.18 4.1 15.12 6 4 6 8 9. And having so often warned them before and reproved their dulness And now in his supposition set forth before them the hainousness of the sin and danger of such departing and falling away comparing such transgression and transgressors to Briars and Thorns whose end is to be burned he mollifies the harshness of his sentence in respect of them and saith We are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany salvation though we thus speak which plainly shews the better things to be better than Thorns and Briars which tended to damnation and it shews also that his speech in the warning given was directed to them else they needed not to have been mollified with Though we thus speak surely none would fancy the Apostle to warn the Hebrews by speaking at such a rate as this There is a rock of stability on which who ever once beleeveth and so is can no more fall off not sin not Satan not world though at such and such a rate they listen to them and fall into sueh and such a measure of unbeleevingness and sinning yet they cannot fall off And you are upon that Rock c. Hold fast therefore your confidence Take heed lest any of you fall through an evil heart of unbeleef And give us leave to fear lest any of you come short for there is an unstable rock on which not you but some others are built And they that are built on that rock of instablility if they abide they perish if they fall they can no more rise how fond were this But the foundaion here mentioned is stable nor will the holy Spirit build any upon an unstable foundation nor fill the heart with false light or deceivable works What deceitful illusions such conceits may produce I forbear to name though this Reason be fit for them Reason 5. The persons intended by the Apostle were such as had need to be taught again the first principles c. Unskilful in the word of righteousness c. distinguished from them to whom the promises are c. Chap. 6 9 10 14. Answ This is a very harsh sad and
elect Surely the faith so set forth Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. is even so in respect of any other gifts upon any account by men called Faith Eph. 4.4 5. 2.8 For in Scripture we finde but one true faith and that is the gift of God The object held forth for faith one the Gospel discovering it one and the Spirit witnessing and calling in that Gospel to that object one his light and motion Pages 217 218 from the free grace of God discovered drawing to beleeve in Christ draws into one and worketh one faith and there is not another as is shewn before As for that in Tit. 1.1 the Apostie was setting forth to Titus the Grace of his Apostleship And in and according to what it was to be exercised Ro. 1.1 2 3 4 5. 16.25.26 Eph. 1.3 12. Gal. 1.11 12. Tit. 1.1 Isa 43 1. Mat. 12.18 Gal. 2.20 Rom. 1.5 16 26. uttering in few words that he did to the Romans in more words and to the Ephesians and to the Galatians and other Churches And so here by Gods elect is primely meant Jesus Christ who is Gods elect and his beloved Son And so the faith of Gods elect and the faith of the Son of God is all one and the same faith And by faith is here meant primely The doctrine of Faith in which Jesus Christ is set forth and this preached for the obedience of faith that men might beleeve it and so come in to the acknowledgement of the truth which is after godliness in the hope of eternal life which is set forth in this Gospel 2 Thes 2.14 Gal. 1.23 This the same faith which Paul when Saul sometimes persecuted and after his conversion preached so that we have here plainly set forth to us 1. The testimony of Christ who is Gods elect his Son The Word our Saviour and the medium and Doctrine setting him forth in these words The faith of Gods elect And 2. Joh. 3.14 15 16 17 18. The repentance from dead works and faith towards God which it calleth to teacheth requireth and worketh 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. Rom. 1 1-3 16 25 26. in these words The acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness And 3. The blessing and hope in such repenting and beleeving to be met and enjoyed in these words In hope of eternal life c. Is not this the same with that in other places And is not this that which God promised before the world began before there was any beginning of increase or society for multiplication only creatures made and man fallen God then promised the sending of his Son and this manifestation of him and eternal life in him and so by him to call and give eternal life in him 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 1 Joh. 1.2 3 5.10 11 12. Col. 1.26 27 28. Eph 3 3-9 Rom. 16.26 and through him to all that beleeve in him And now God hath manifested this in sending forth his Son and through Gospet-preaching declared and made it known that men might beleeve and in beleeving have eternal life And this the very same so set forth and exprest in many other places so that here is the compleat object and foundation of faith Gods elect the medium of declaring the word manifested through preaching The true beleeving The acknowledgement of the truth which is after godliness And the blessed hope given and received in such beleeving The hope of eternal life and the ground of the certainty of this hope The Almighty that is All-sufficient God that cannot lye that is Truth it self he hath promised it even when mankind was fallen in enmity and weakness before the beginning of any increase or rising and hath since confirmed it by oath to Abraham Gen. 3.15 22.17 18. Isa 55 14 5. And he hath given a testimony of his love truth and righteousness in beginning to fulfil his word in that he hath sent forth his Son and delivered him up for us all and according to his will and command causeth the same to be preached Now when any through this testimony of God concerning his Son what he laid aside what he became and suffered for us what he is and is become and hath to bestow on us And so the love of God to mankinde appearing through him Rom. 4.23 24 25. 5.1 2 3. 2 Thes 2.13 14 1 Pet. 1.2 2 3 5 9. is thereby convinced and brought in to beleeve in Jesus Christ the elect of God so as he is therein broken off from all other confidences and delights to confide in God that raised Christ from the dead through him to save renue and preserve them in and by his grace to eternal life through this beleef of the truth and sanctification of the Spirit they are chosen into union and fellowship with Christ and conformity to him These are in 2 Pet. 1.1 Tit. 1.4 Jude 3. Tit. 1.9 2.2 11 12 13.14 3.4 5 6 7. and through Christ the elect of God and have the like precious faith with the Apostles And thus was Titus Pauls son after the common faith which is also called The common salvation and the faith which was once delivered to the Saints The faithful word to be holden fast The faith that beleevers are to be sound in explicated to Titus in the foundation and teachings of it And in the manner and gracious ends of its operation where the fountain streams effects and hope are exprest and opened so as we may be sure This is that common salvation common faith The faith once delivered to the Saints called also The faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 Rom. 3.3 Act. 14.24 Jam 2.1 Rev. 14.12 Phil. 1.27 The faith of Gods elect yea the faith of God and the faith of Christ the faith of our Lord Jesus And the faith of the Gospel And I hope none will say This is Gods peculiar manner of beleeving or Christ his beleeving or the Gospels beleeving nor that the faith of Gods elect was the peculiar manner of beleeving in Christ distinct from others beleeving in Christ which Paul sometime persecuted and now preached and yet no record of it so that this of Tit. 1.1 2 3 9. agrees in one and the same faith set forth Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. And for this that God did from eternity elect a certain number of men that were to come of Adam from the rest of mankinde to Son-ship and eternal life and that he gave these to Christ to dye for them and that these shall in due time be invested with a peculiar faith and holiness and that by his Spirit witnessing of Christ he will work a faith and holiness really true in its kinde in others of the sons of men for whom Christ dyed not when such as have it cannot be eternally saved by it but are capacitated thereby to sin against the Holy Ghost which in falling away they do and though they abide in this
the things of him doth the Holy Ghost witness discover and glorifie and no other thing to bring men to the faith It is not the holy Spirit that speaks of himself or that gives any other thing to bottome faith upon or sleights the foundation And all true faith also is by hearing by hearing the word of the grace of God through Christ Faith is by hearing Rom. 10.15.17 and hearing by the word of God The Spirit is received by the hearing of faith Gal. 3.1 2 3. yea the holy Commandement delivered to them who after turned from it was through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 2 Pet. 2.20 1 2 3. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. even the same way which they that abode in the faith attained it So by the knowledge of Christ the foundation and the oracles of God therein teaching the principles with the holy Spirit inlightning the Hebrews obtained their faith So that as there is but one faith so it is attained by one Spirit Heb. 6.1 2 4 5 and that coming in one way through Christ and witnessing the grace that is through him so that there is no other true kind of faith but that at first confessed true in its kinde and to be set forth in Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. And let his Quotations be read and considered and they say no other 2 Pet. 1 1. Peter affirms not of some peculiar among beleevers but of them all to whom hee wrote That they obtained like precious faith with them through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ See Part 5. Chap. 1. Sure the righteousness of God is in and through Christ he promised him and promised to assist raise glorifie him That he should call c. And God in his righteousness hath done this and according to promise as he hath accepted his sacrifice and will accept c. all that beleeve on him And the righteousness of Jesus Christ being in his oneness of will with the Father to perform all that he undertook for men and hath undertaken for beleevers as in his oblation intercession and coming again in all which is the righteousness of God and Christ And through the knowledge of this the Apostles say 2 Pet. 1.2 3. they received and desire multiplying of grace to the beleevers the same way so as which in the saying was left out the Spirit calls tenders inlightens and works faith in giving forth the knowledge of the righteousness of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ So all that through that knowledge are brought to beleeve in Christ have the same precious faith which the Apostles had and no other kinde of faith nor manner of obtaining is commended by Peter 3 The end he saith for which God giveth his holy Spirit is very right and true but the limiting it to some certain peculiar yea unknown and undemonstrable persons is not right nor according to truth nor I hope will any say God giveth his holy Spirit Joh. 3.17 12 47. 1 Tim. 1.15 Act 26.17 18. 2 Cor. 5.19 20 Act. 14.17 Rom. 2.4 Job 33. Prov. 1.23 Joh. 16.29 to work some kinde of faith in any and not for this end here mentioned The end of God in giving and sending his Son into the world was not to condemn but to save the world even sinners The end of Christ his sending his servants with the Gospel to men Is to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light c. To reconcile their hearts by the reconciliation wrought in Christ yea his mercies and chastisements both have the same end So that we may be fully assured that Gods end in sending his Spirit in the Gospel is to save convince and so turn the heart c. so that a difference of one kind of faith from another cannot be proved by a different end of Gods sending forth his holy Spirit But it may be replied The term in this sentence is more than sending It is Gods giving his holy Spirit To which I answer Joh. 6.27.29.32 33. That such a difference in the terms makes none in the thing For where God is sending the Gospel and demonstrating by it the life in Christ and calling to it He is then and therein so giving the true bread of life But it will be said the sentence speaks of more than giving his holy Spirit to such an end even also of effecting the end endowing them with a new life I answer This implies receit in them to whom given But receit may be in some men that are receivers Not to one and the same end That it is in God the giver Truth with the love of the Truth to save 2 Thess 2.18 Extended and given to some men to that end to save but some however receiving to profess and make some use of yet they received it not to save them And that such do not unfainedly beleeve and so have not any right kind of saving and justifying faith will be granted though such and no other was tendred and given if they had received it in suffering the love of truth to save them But for such as have so far received the Spirit that they are even by the Spirit affirmed To be in the grace of Christ To have received the Spirit of Gods Son and to be Sons yea to have known God Gal. 1.6 3.1 2 3. 4 6 7 8. 5.1 and to be known of God and to be in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free Surely their faith was of the right kinde And yet of these the Apostle speaks after they were indued with all this as if some of them were removed from him that called them into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel which was not another but a perversion Gal. 1.6 3.3 4.9 11. c. seeking to be made perfect by the flesh Turning again to weak and beggarly elements insomuch that the Apostle was afraid of them lest he had bestowed his labour in the Gospel on them in vain And testified to them that whosever of them were so turned back to be justified by the law 5.4 Christ was become of no effect to them they were fallen from grace And this was a more applicatory charge than that in Heb. 6.4 6. and grounded upon that which is undoubtedly found in abiding beleevers Gal. 5.5 6. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith for in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love The perswasion of which abiding in the Hebrews Heb. 6.4 6 8 9 10. withheld him from such a personal charge on any of them and led him to mollifie the harshness of his reproof in the supposition So that in all this saying of Mr. Ouen No other kinde of faith or other manner of obtaining it by other manner of giving the holy Spirit than that set forth Heb. 6.1 2
but turning aside and departing from him they lose their principle and wither that remaineth in Christ from whom they are departed and cannot be retained and found abiding and dwelling in any but by or in beleeving on him so as departing through unbeleef Rom. 11.22 Heb. 3.13.6 14. Rom. 7.2.5 8.2 Prov. 13.13 14 6.21 22 23 14.26 27 brings loss and perishing but in beleeving on him the dwelling in the heart of this principle is enjoyed he is the fountain and he that beleeveth on him receiveth from him The law of Grace which as it comes from him and his Spirit in it is called a fountain of life And so the fear of the Lord effected thereby even the faith in and love of adoration and acknowledgement of God in Christ is a fountain of life and this upon the account of Christ the fountain from whom the streams bearing his name do flow And in beleeving on whom they are received and do operate in the beleever even all those principles mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 5. All which run in one living principle which because of its springing and living efficacies is called a Spring or Well of living waters in which from Christ beleevers act in bringing forth the motions of the Spirit Joh 4.10 14. 7.37.38 39 Psal 68.27 Phil. 4.13 Ioh. 15.4.8 Yet the beleevers being still men and having in them another cross inclination abiding to molest them they need still those admonitions Jam. 3.8 9 10 11 12. Rom. 8 5-13 Gal. 6.8 Heb. 3.13 12.15 17 c. 4 That the spiritual Acts Works and Duties be here rightly understood and distinguished and considered that we confound not the workings of God in the beleever inabling and moving him to work with the workings of the beleever in and through the workings of God Ro. 12.1 2 5. Phil. 2.1 2 12. for so all the exhortations given and obedience called for and disobedience reproved will be made void and null and that we may rightly understand view the place quoted Philip. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to Will and to Do even of his good pleasure He in the former verse intreated them as he did the Romans even by that done by Christ and that now in him and flowing from him in them As they had alwayes obeyed not as in his presence onely but now much more in his absence so now saith he to them Work out your own salvation with fear and prembling 1 Ioh. 5.12 Ioh. 1.12 Minde the words he saith not Work for or to get salvation Nor speaks he onely of salvation as it is by and in Christ wrought for them but of that as it is by Spirit in the Gospel applyed to and by faith received in them and so it is their own Christ and that which is his is made theirs 1 Cor. 1.30 3.22 23. Rom. 5.1 2 3-5 Tit. 4-4 7 Tit. 2.11 12 13. and in beleeving this they are saved or have this salvation working within them like as is said in verse 12. And this salvation within them is teaching and working in them with motions To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world and wait for the blessed hope c. Gal. 5.22 23. Col. 3.9 10 12 13. 1 Thess 5.11 20. Rom. 6.16.19 12.1 2. Gal. 5.16 25. Eph. 4.21.25 5.1 2. Col. 3.9.12 And therein stirring them up to live by faith in God and so to love joy peace patience meekness c. To bowels of mercy kindness c. And so to pray to and praise God to exhort one another c. Now all these are the works of God in his grace bringing salvation And as these mercies of God in this salvation given you works within you so do ye obey yeeld up your selves as servants to righteousness Sow to the Spirit And so work out your own salvation with fear and trembling For it is God which worketh in you It is he which gave his Son for you and made him known to you and so inabled you by him to beleeve in God and so forgave your sins and filled you with this consolation of Christ and comfort of his own love and fellowship of the Spirit which by the same Spirit in the operations of this grace moveth you To Will to live by faith to deny ungodliness c. to live soberly c. to pray c. to shew mercy c. And to Do He doth not say It is God that willeth in you that beleeveth prayeth c. Neither doth he say in any other sense than as expressed by giving light motion or power to Will and to Do That God hath given and wrought the will and the deed But it is he that worketh in you both to Will and to Do of his good will or pleasure so as still to Will and to Do is the beleevers work which he cannot do of himself yer in this gracious season by this preventing grace light motion and divine power of God working within him he may both will and do if he yeeld up to this grace and herein is his obedience which being with a willing minde is accepted according to that he hath And in murmuring and withdrawing from this and so grieving the Spirit and sowing to the flesh is his disobedience that he will be reproved and chastened for And so in this saying is a great and forcible motive and encouragement to obedience it is God that in the operations of this salvation worketh in you to Will and to Dâ— yea he dâ—th it of good will So that entertaining his motions and yeelding up according to his strength given into you sowing to the Spirit in willing and doing according to his motions by his strength afforded you have God on your siâ—e his favour and strength is with you to accept defend assist bless and follow on with more grace and you shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal 6.8 And here is a forcible admonition against disobedience It is God that by these operations worketh in you c. If you sleight refuse turn away and disobey Psal 8.11 Heb. 12.25 Eph. 4.30 1 Thess 4.8 5.19 you sleight and refuse God you turn away from God that speaks from heaven and disobey God and grieve and resist his Spirit and so endanger your selves c. Whence suitable to all this follows that exhortation vers 14 15 16. Do all things without murmurings c. Suitable to all said to the Hebrews and like this the other quotation 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfained love of the brethren see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently This appears to be an exhortation to stir them up to such love not an affirmation that it would infallibly so be in and with them but an exhortation that it might so be and that neither in vain
lead us to repentance that coming into him we might have life and this now also all testified by the Spirit of God Oh! let us not deny this Lord that bought us let his goodness melt our hearts and prevail with us to acknowledge him the Lord and Saviour of the world even our Lord that so we may repent and beleeve in him and live to him And let no man deceive you by telling you these are the fruits of the goodness of God as a Creator but not as a Redeemer not so as through a Mediator extended as fruits of the purchase and mediation of Christ for all is through him And no man can know God that doth not so acknowledge Christ his Son For the Father hath committed all judgement to the Son of man Rom. 14.7 Phil. 2 7-11 1 Tim. 2.6 Joh. 5.20 21 22 23 27. 2 Cor. 5.15 upon this account because he hath taken the nature of man and therein given himself a ransome for all men and that to this end That all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father And he that honoureth not the Son in these or other things honoureth not the Father So that the application of the purchase and intercession of Christ as being onely for some peculiar and undemonstrable sort of men doth teach the sons of men to deny the Lord that bought them and shuts the door of repentance against them But now for such as to whom the Gospel is also ministred yea and therein also Spirit vouchsafed and they by the Spirit illuminated in the knowledge of Christ and that with such operations as effectually produceth such a change in the minde affections and coversation that there is in them repentance and sorrow for sin with light love joy zeal obedience and holiness So sincere as makes them do worthily in their generations their faith and holines true in its kind and they upon account thereof called Saints and Beleevers And yet though all this be given them of God yet neither the Spirit nor any of these his operations bestowed on them as a fruit of the purchase and intercession of Christ How then shall we conceive it to be bestowed without some secret blaspheming of God some way in his Truth and Justice and testimony of his Son can any man tell Is there any word of Scripture to say it Col. 1.19 2 Pet. 2.1 2. yea is not all the Scripture against such a conceit yea it shews it to be a denying of the preheminencie of Christ that God would have him to have in all things yea it plainly teacheth not onely other men but even beleevers to deny the Lord that bought them and a leaving them to conclude their faith by fancy seeing there are none by the Gospel to tell them though their faith be true in its kinde and operative whether they be beholding to Christ for it and whether it be a fruit of his purchase and intercession or no and if any presume to tell them they must take it on their word and so their faith rest on man 1 Cor. 2.4 And into what delusions this may lead men let wise men judge But Mr. Owen may be supposed not to deny but that they have the holy Spirit given them as a fruit of the purchase and intercession of Christ but that it is not so given them to dwell and abide in them for ever as to these he pleads for And were it not for his oft and plain expressions elsewhere in his book denying the purchase and intercession of Christ to be for any but these he pleads for I should even so have understood him and suppose it so meant of the end of giving the Spirit I shall consider that also 2 He saith It was given them to dwell and abide in them for ever And this must be taken either as relating to the gracious minde and end of God according to his holy will in giving his holy Spirit or as relating to the answering of that end of his ever-dwelling Let us consider both according to the Scripture 1 The end of God in sending his Spirit in the Gospel to call men Act. 26.17 18. Is to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in Christ So that this appears to be for continuance of his work to the end and that is his abiding in them for ever And so sure his end in sending Eph. 3.16 17. 1 Pet. 1.5 or giving his Word or Spirit to any and inabling them to understand and beleeve is that this gracious word and Spirit may dwell and abide in them for ever but his will and mind is that it shal so dwel abide in their hearts by faith which he hath given them Whence we are so often exhorted to continue in the faith and to let that we have received from the beginning abide in us so shal we continue and abide in him and his Spirit will abide in us therefore are all the beleevers and holy brethren warned to take heed of such unbeleevingness as canseth departure from the living God by which some have deprived themselves of this blessing in this gracious end of God 1 Sam. 3. Psal 78.5.16 Jon. 2.8 which yet is so ordered in his Counsels that his end will be fulfilled in their just destruction for despiting so great grace as it was in Israel of old that fell in the wilderness in Elies house in Ephraim and others But such as he hath given to beleeve having been found trusting in him have never been forsaken c. And this end in such sense to give his holy Spirit to dwell and abide in them for ever may be affirmed of all beleevers even those mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. And in no other sense of any beleever but to abide in and through faith 2 If the dwelling and abiding in them for ever be taken in relation to answering this gracious end of God in the constancy and durance of the holy Spirit his dwelling and abiding in them for ever that is so as they live and dye in the faith then it is out of question of all hands but this is not determinable till they have finished their course and dye in the faith so that there is no difference or distinguishing and discriminating mark to difference one beleever from another in this thing but as some are quite fallen away and departed from the faith and others dye in the faith As for that assurance of faith where-through the heart may be thorowly perswaded of their perseverance and so the Spirits abiding in them for ever It is that I have endeavoured to lead all beleevers to in this Treatise as may be seen in treating of the testimony of Christ and of the Purposes Promises and Covenants of God though Mr. Owen saith Even those of that
kinde he pleadeth for many may go without that assurance all their dayes hee onely undertakes to prove notwithstanding it shall so bee for ever Now let his quotations be viewed to see what they say for one beleever more than another for the Spirits abiding with them for ever Joh. 14.16.26 in vers 16. Ioh 14.16.26 15.26 16 7. Luke 24.49 Our Saviour tells his Apostles and first witnesses that were to carry forth the testimony of him to the world after his Ascention That he after he was gone from them in bodily presence would yet be an Intercessor with the Father for them And the Father in his Name and so he from the Father would send them another Advocate or Comforter Let the words be well minded he faith not Another Spirit no he mindes them of that that it is the same Spirit of truth Joh. 14.17 Mat 16.16 17. Joh. 17.6 7 8. which they knew by which the Father in his ministration made him known to them to be the Christ and had given them to beleeve on him in which he did also stil even now he was with them dwell with them So that it is not one spirit opposed to another spirit but one Advocate or Comforter in respect of the manner of advocation and comforting opposed to another God had been formerly even by the Spirit of Christ Heb. 1.1 2. 7 8 9 10. 2 Cor. 3 7-14 teaching his minde by parcels to them and leading them to look to Christ and so to worship him by types shadows and carnal ordinances which were to be removed and now to these in the personal ministration of himself in his bodily presence in which he had been even so an Advocate and Comforter to them Psal 63.18 Act. 2.33 Rom. 16.25 Joh. 16.7 7.39 1 Joh. 2.1 But he was not alwayes so to abide with them nor was the excellency fulness and mystery of either his oblation or mediation and advocation to be clearly opened and made known till he had finished his suffering work and cast off mortality and overcome death and ascended in his body immortal into heaven and offered the acceptable sacrifice and received the fulness of the Holy Ghost in that nature of man to send forth for that full discovery of himself and the Fathers minde in him and then hee would so send forth this Holy Spirit himself remaining with the Father the Advocate still to discover him and so the Fathers mind in him and so and therein to be an Advocate and Comforter to them even so and such as never was before as is shewn in the eighth and ninth Chapters of the third part of this Treatise about the revelation of Christ and so he opens it vers 26. Joh. 15.15 17.6 7 8. He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you For he had made known his Fathers Counsel and Name unto them and given them his words And this holy Spirit of truth in his coming shal guide them into all truth Eph. 1.8 9. by taking of the things of him and shewing them and glorifying him c. So as they shall have the fulness of the testimony in all wisdome and understanding to minister Oh blessed Advocate and Comforter And yet this not all but as the next quotation Joh. 15.26 He shall testifie of him in them to them and through their ministrations so as they also shall bear witness Act. 5.31 32. Act. 1.21 22 10 34.42 1 Cor. 9 1. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. because they have been with him from the beginning even ear and eye witnesses of his person and ministration and miracles and sufferings and death and resurrection and assent to heaven And this Advocate and Comforter both the Doctrine of the Gospel by him so opened and the ministration of it he taught and lead them in And his power and presence in that Doctrine so ministred should not be as the Mosaical Law to pass away and give place to another ministration nor as the ministration of John nor his ministration in his bodily weakness 2 Cor. 3 3-18 Joh. 5.35 36 14.12 13. Eph. 1 3-10 See part 3. chap. 12. to be over-shined by a more clear ministration but this shall be the last ministration and abide till his own coming again and so her shall be in them in their doctrine and ministration for ever So as to all beleevers here is given certainty of truth goodness and immutability of the Gospel delivered by the Apostles and of the presence of the Spirit in such ministration thereof as left upon record by them to the end of the world And as for the promise and hope given in these promises to beleevers of this Doctrine for the Spirit in their hearts abiding in them for ever Note 1 It is great Joh. 17.20 21-23 7.37 38 39. 14 17. our Saviour having prayed for the same blessing for them also and promised the same but that is not to some peculiar kinde of beleevers but to all that beleeve on him not beleevers opposed to beleevers but beleevers opposed to the world that lieth in unbeleef as is exprest 2 That the manner of the assuring is abiding in them for ever is by our Saviours own explication to be in their abiding in him Joh. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. in that faith love and confidence in him which the Spirit hath wrought and worketh in them and his word that which he hath helped them to understand and by which he teacheth and comforteth them abiding in them This also express So that by there quotations we are lead to hold fast our first faith that Heb. 6. Rom. 8.10 11. The Apostle both admonishing exhorting instructing and comforting in such a manner as telling them how it was with them if Christ be in them and how it should be with them if the Spirit of Christ did dwell in them and so not affirming what would bee for ever but warning and directing that it might be I marvel this should be quoted for this assertion it so suiting to that by him opposed 1 Cor. 6.19 The Apostle tells them that beleeve and surely had such illumination and participation of the Holy Ghost as mentioned Heb. 6.4 5. That their body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost in them c. Their body may be taken either for their personal bodies which were the vessels and instruments in and with which they were to be given up as servants of righteousness unto God Rom. 6.19 or by body may be meant their society in which Truth was and God to be worshipped and therefore to be kept holy 1 Cor. 5.6 7 8. and undefiled Now the Apostle minding them of this That their body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost or rather secretly reproves them for their neglect of minding what their body was consecrated to in the heavenly call
c. Just as to the Hebrews Heb. 12.22 Shews to how much more glorious ministration and better Covenant stablished on better promises than they in Moses time had and what happy society they were come to yea even to Jesus where they might enjoy the blood of sprinkling shewing thereby as the benefit of hearing so the danger of turning away so warning to heedfulness Secondly he saith And as to their relative condition whereas they were children of wrath under the curse and condemning power of the Law they are upon the score of him who was made 〈◊〉 curse for them and is made righteousness to them accepted justified adopted and admitted into that family of heaven and earth which is called after the Name of God All this in the truth of it in a measure is true of all unfained beleevers even the weakest of them As for Eph. 2.3 Gal. 5.13 it is fore-spoken to and agrees to all beleevers without difference And Gal. 3.13 shews the way of deliverance through Christ Being made a curse for us And how he hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law so as God will not go to judgement with us thereby however unbeleeving hearts are under the fear of that curse and death but he hath given us all over to Christ to be disposed by him and judged by him according to the Gospel yet this was not all the end he had in so redeeming us from the curse of the Law but he had a more abundant gracious end in this his suffering for us namely That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that so we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith He saith not That we Jews and Gentiles all that he hath redeemed from the curse of the Law which is true to all men are in their conscience from under Law and have received the blessing of Abraham and the promise of the Spirit but that he by suffering for us the curse of the Law hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law to this end That we might c. And so upon the account of Christ being made a curse for us Joh. 3.14 15 16 17 18 36. Gal. 3 7-12 16 29. 2 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4. c. The Gospel of this good news is preached to us that wee might beleeve and in beleeving receive the blessing and promise through faith Not else nor otherwise but in beleeving we shall receive And all this is true for and to all men but onely beleevers receive the blessing and Spirit through faith And this is true of all beleevers and abides in them as they abide in the faith to press to which is the drift of this and following Chapters Gal. 4.4 The Apostle here in shewing That God sent forth his Son made of a woman that is in the common nature of mankinde made under the Law that under which all mankinde was fallen to redeem them that were under the Law as all mankinde was that we might receive the adoption of Sons He saith not And then we did Rom. 3 10-19 20. or all so redeemed from the curse of the Law have But that we might that is in beleeving receive c. And so far true to all alike And then vers 6. And because ye are Sons Chap. 3.13 14 that is because ye have beleeved this testimony and so beleeved in the Name of the Son of God God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son that divine force of his Spirit Joh. 1.12 Gal. 3.26 Mar. 14.36 Rom. 8.2.14 15. working child-like confidence and desires moving to approach to him by Christ crying Abba Father And this all true beleevers receive yet this and the rest he affirmeth in no sort to import an impossibility of their miscariage for he was afraid of them but as a motive to reduce them from miscarriages and prevent farther miscarriages that they might abide in and live by faith and though their declining be great and much fallen from grace yet not being quite departed upon the account of Christ beleeved in he affirms the Spirit in them Rom. 8.1 Rom. 3 19-25 5.18 7 1-7.14.24 The Apostle having before laid the foundation forth in the redemption wrought by and in Jesus Christ And also how by faith it is received and how beleeving in Christ we are dead to the Law by the body of Christ that we might be married to him and that in beleeving we are so quickned and married to Christ That we might bring forth fruit to God and serve in newness of Spirit And then shewing in his own example how the old disposition the law in the members Gal. 5.17 doth war against the Spirit and so hinder them that they cannot do all the good as they would and yet he by following the Spirit in minding Jesus Christ and the redemption in him yeelding up with his minde to side with and walk in the Spirit and so in that faith of Jesus in love c. he was delivered and set free from all charges of sin and sentences of death by the Law yea acquit and justified through the blood of Christ beleeved in Rom. 7.24 25. 5 1-5.9 3.25 Rom. 8.1 and so rejoyce in Christ And this he layes down as true in like manner too and of all that unfainedly beleeve in Jesus Christ and the common priviledge of them all Now then or therefore there is now no condemnation that is none by that law of sin and death either from God or from conscience what ever be from ungodly men yet none that can charge their conscience as under the guilt of sin or liableness to curse no such condemnation or reproof its large No condemnation to them which are in Christ who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit he saith not simply to them that are in Christ Jesus Gal. 5.16 17 18 6 8. and there stop and make the period for if any that have received the testimony of Christ so as to beleeve in him as the flesh lusts against the Spirit do side with the flesh and sow to it 1 Joh. 3.4 and not presently own and confess that faultiness and seek pardon and healing in Christ but go on in any thing to serve such fleshly lusts 1 Cor. 11.31 32. Mar. 10.41 45 Mat. 28.3 Eph. 4.29 30. 1 Cor. 6.7 2 Cor. 12.21 Gal. 6.8 1 Joh. 3.20 21 1 Joh. 1.6 7 8 9. he sinneth against grace and not onely the Law will reprove him of sin but God will reprove him and chasten him also yea Christ will reprove him yea the holy Spirit will convince him of faultiness and all faithful men that walk after the Spirit will reprove him yea and his own heart will condemn him 1 Joh 3.20 And if he go on thus he will reap corruption and become more estranged weakned and deaded and cannot have boldness towards God but in returning to Christ confessing
his sins and judging himself and so again walking after the Spirit And this affirmed by the Apostle in this Rom 8.12 13. therefore the Apostle saith There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ who walk not after the flesh though flesh be lusting in them but after the Spirit 1 Cor. 11.31 Gal. 5.6 16 18 1 Joh. 1.7 9. Col. 3.1 2 3 4 5. which worketh by love inclining and yeelding to walk in the teachings and motions of the Spirit confessing and disowning the sinfulness that is in them by the lusts of the flesh and by the Spirit with the cross of Christ mortifying the same yeeld as servants to grace to such not withstanding the weakness molestations and failings thereby Gal. 6.16 18 19 24 25 6.8 Eph. 4 20-31 Col. 3 1-6 there is no condemnation This law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus after which they walk will free them from the power of that law of sin and death and so from all charges of sin and death And they shall not be under the Law but under Grace non yet fulfil the lusts of the flesh but of the Spirit shall reap life everlasting And on this ground are they exhorted To mortifie the flesh by the Spirit and to live in and walk after the Spirit And this is the doctrine of the Apostle as may be seen in all his writings And in this Rom. 8. as well as in Chap. 6. 7. by a general Proposition vers 1. by his own experiment vers 2. compared with 7.25 and by Gods preparation for us in Christ vers 3. and by his gracious end of giving life hereby to them which walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit vers 4. and by his following instructions and exhortations to vers 15. So that how far this quotation serves for that it s quoted for I say nothing but let the next quotation clear it 2 Cor. 5.21 Speaks not a word of any beleevers how far they have yet in this life attained much less of one more than another but directly and expresly shews the preparation God hath made for us in his Son by what way and to what end for the way it is suited to the 14 15 19. verses Him that knew no sin he made to be sin for us This is done not now to do nor yet presented to us in dark figures or parables or allegories but plainly declared to be done And that also to a gracious end suited to vers 15.18.20 Even that we might be made the righteousness of God in him He saith not And we are made as of a thing done But that we might be made as of a thing by the former done in Christ to be after done in us and so layeth here the foundation for repentance and faith Gal. 3.13 14 4.4 5. Tit. 2.14 and so reconcilement of the heart to God and walking after the Spirit that men in beleeving might begin to receive the same so that as any by faith are united to Christ and so made in Christ So is Christ made of God to them wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Phil. 3.12 13 14. 1 Joh. 3 2. and not otherwise And so they begin to be made the righteousness of God in him But fully and compleatly so to be will not be till Christ come again And this is given as the ground of the exhortation following Not to receive the grace of God in vain Chap. 6.1 2. Col. 2.10 Speaks not a word of the attainment of beleevers here in this life but of what they are in Christ sure in Christ as in a publick man that died and rose and gave himself a ransome for them All have dyed and are so given over to him 2 Cor. 5.14 Rom. 14.9 5.18 that to and in him they are discharged and made alive from that first sentence curse and death into which through the first Adam they fell And though this be not yet made over to all men by Christ and unbeleevers know it not yet shall none perish by that first sentence in that first death but be raised out of it 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. Joh. 1.14 16. Col. 1.19 20. Isa 45.22 42 1-7 6.1 4. Col. 1.28 Phil. 3.7 9. 2 Cor. 3.18 Jona 2.8 Mat. 16.26 Yea not only this but God hath given us eternal life in Christ though unbeleevers have it not Yea not onely this but the fulness of grace and truth of wisdome and understanding of divine power and spirit are in him enough to draw any that in hearing behold him to beleeve in him And so the Apostle in preaching endeavoured to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus that so they might see what perfection there is in Christ and that also by Gods gift for them which beleeved and minded would take them off from other things and both draw them into him and conform them by degrees to him although such as heed it not but follow lying vanities forsake their own mercies Joh. â—7 2 3.6 7 8. 6.40 3.16 1.12 13 Rom. 10.10 1. Cor. 3.22 and lose their own souls and so are not so related to him as in which relation he gives to them eternal life and interresseth them so in himself as to interress them in all that is in him and all that is his for this is only given to them that by the heavenly call are given unto him so as they receive his words and beleeve on his name And all that with the heart beleeve unto righteousness are thus related to him and interressed by him Now if we beleeve in him he and all that is his is ours Let us minde what he is even the elect of God the Son of God the Saviour c. And what is his even the Father and Spirit the Promises the Kingdome c. And what is in him Even all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Joh. 1.12.14 16 17. yea in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily so that in him we are compleat and fully furnished Whence also those that in beleeving are united and related to him Do of his fulness receive and grace for grace And what ever may yet be wanting to and in them it is in Christ for them in minding and beleeving in him to be receiving the same so that abiding in the faith of him and walking in him as they have received him in faith and love they shall be rooted in him receive more of his fulness and in due time be compleated by him because the fulness of the God-head dwels in him bodily And they as members and brethren are related to him In whom they are compleat Col. 2.1 2 3 6 9.10 he also being the head of all principality and power that hath the care and charge of all that beleeve in him And this also given as the ground and reason of the Apostles prayer for them vers 2.
set forth as the Propitiation for sins and the Saviour of the World and so call all Men to him and therein by his Spirit open the eyes of the blinde and the ears of the deaf and give life to such as in seeing see and in hearing hear and so by degrees in this life redeem them from all iniquity by vertue of his Blood so applied to and sprinkled on their Hearts 4. That in this redeeming them from all iniquity he may purifie unto himself a peculiar people c. that is such as in his redeeming work upon them are found believing on him Tit. 2.11.13 Rom. 5.8 10. Col. 1.22 23. Eph. 5.25 26 27. and yielding to the motions and teachings of his Grace he may and doth still by vertue of his Oblation and his Father's Love commended there-through besprinkle them more with his Blood in Gospel-Testimony and so purifie them a peculiar people zealous of good works Phil. 2 7-11 that he may present them in due season spotless to himself and so have the glory of his Oblation in the eternal Salvation of all that have lived and died in the Faith and in his righteous judging of all wilful Opposers and Apostates This his gracious End in offering his Oblation and he being righteous holy faithful his Oblation was so effectual with the Father for all that for which it was offered that he hath granted him all this and every way furnished him for this end as is foreshewn And for the Power and Faithfuluess of our Saviour to pursue this End and so to do all that by which it may be brought about enough hath been said and more will be said in treating of his Mediation and Intercession And indeed he is and will be faithful to his Father 1 Joh. 2.1 Heb. 2.17 5 1-9 7.25 26. and merciful and faithful to us he is without sin holy unblameable compassionate merciful and able of which after But here in his dealings with Men he meets not onely with weakness and so offences and ill requitals but in some even after their eyes are opened with willing Rebellion closing them again and so the efficacy in Men is not so prevalent as it was with God nor the End so certain of being so accomplished in the blessed part on every Man though in every one that believeth it will but these things I leave to the after-Discourse having now shown concerning the Oblarion of Christ what was offered who offered it to whom it was offered For whom it was offered for what it was offered and to what End in which is an inclusion of his Mediation and of his coming again though not explicated which some Traditions and expressions of Men that darken it being removed will be very useful for our edification a little of which usefulness I shall in that order mention CHAP. 9. An Antidote and Caveat against some unfound Expressions FOr those Expressions about the plain Sayings of the Gospel that are so Serpentine-like first with Queries about the Truth of the plain-appearing Import of God's Sayings Hath God in saying Gen. 3.1 4. said was that his meaning do you think indeed he meant verily and in truth That Christ died for all Men gave himself a Ransom for all that he is the propitiation for the sins of the whole World or that any do indeed deny the Lord that bought them or depart from the Faith or count unholy the Blood of the Covenant wherewith they are sanctified c. and then follow on with plain Contradictions of the Testimony of the Holy Ghost boldly affirming Christ did not die for All Men he did not give himself a Ransom for All Men he is not the propitiation for the sins of the whole World none that are bought by him can deny him none that have true Faith can wholly depart from it none sanctified by the Blood of the Covenant can count it again as a common or unholy thing these are so gross that none that believe the Sayings of the Scripture for the Testimony of the Holy Ghost therein will entertain them and enough is said before to warn of these Part 1. ch 3 4 5 6 7 8. so that I forbear other answer to them But for those Expressions better coloured though having a tendency to the same End I shall instance a few of that learned Mr. Owens 1. That God will give Faith and Repentance to those whom he hath chosen and given to Christ to be saved a Pag. 264. Sect. 6. If this should be meant of Christ his dying and giving himself a Sacrifice to God and by that to save It 's shewn before That there are none given to Christ but upon the account of his Oblation be was given and gave himself for us but none of us given to him Rom. 14.9 but upon the account of his purchasing us also he in giving himself for us hath saved all Men from perishing for ever under the sentence of the Law as Mankinde at first fell under it and in that Death Rom. 5.18 in which thereby we should have perished and for eternal Salvation there are none given unto him to be saved but in the Heavenly call John 6.40 45. and 17.2 6. nor is he the Author of eternal Salvation Heb. 5.9 but to those that obey him in believing on him nor can there be any choice but in Christ nor any chosen in him but as by vertue of his Oblation he is a perfect Saviour and so none first chosen for Christ after to die for nor is there any elect in him who are not begun to be saved by him for the Election is through the Sanctification of the Spirit 2 Tes 2.13 14. 1 Pet. 2.9 par 1. ch 7. and Belief of the Truth and the Elect are Holy c. but enough is said in treating of the Oblation of Christ to shew the Vanity of this Expression it being also Scriptureless and not according to the Rule by himself approved 2. God purposed to give Eternal Life to his elect Believers and that none of them should ever be lost and committed the accomplishment of this to Christ b Pag. 84 2 Cor. 2.17 3.12 13. 4.1 2. This is no Scripture-Expression nor exprest in the plainness the Spirit in the Scripture useth but with much subtilty so as it might stand with the Doctrine he opposeth for if by Elect Believers he meant only such as believing the Grace testified in the Oblation of Christ are chosen through the Sanctification of the Spirit and the Belief of the Truth unto the Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Christ and so into union and fellowship with him and conformity to him and so being found believing on Christ the Accomplishment of their Salvation is committed to Christ and none such shall be lost Those he opposeth maintain this But if he mean of an elect Company in the Counsels of God preceding the Death
kinde which is altogether impossible for any to do so that there can be but one Faith that is really true and holy in its kinde IV. Rom. 16.25 26. Eph. 3.3 9. 2 Cor. 3.12 14. That the fullest and cleâ—rest Revelation of the Mystery of Faith is that given immediately by Christ himself and left upon Record by his Apost es and Evangelists and so the cleering up of all the former Revelations and the sense and meaning of the Prophets is most cleerly and in plain Words to be sound in their Writings and so the Gospel as delivered by them because of the abundance and plainness of Truth and fulness of spiritual Evidence in it is truely and indeed and so called Rom. 1.16 17. The Power of God unto Salvation to bring every one that believeth c. for therein is the Righteousness of God not any deceit or fable or pretence equivocation or falshood but the Righteousness of God in his Words saying or mises revealed not hinted in parabolical and cloking terms but revealed opened brought to light from Faith to Faith from one Revelation of Christ the Object of Faith to another and so to another more cleer from assuring him to come suffer to assure him to be already come and to have suffered and to come again in Glory from Faith in him being so come from believing in him through Types Shadows Prophecies to believing in him now from a cleer Demonstration of his having compleated Righteousness and the Father's face shining in him and so now and from believing this Testimony of him to confiding in him and so from one Degree of Faith to another till he come to Vision and yet all the way one Faith still as it is the same strength encreasing in them in which they are said to go from strength to strength till they appear in Sion and so the Just shall live by Faith Psal 84.7 And here we have the fullest and plainest Revelation of it And so we are to heed all and none but those Purposes Promises and Covenant of God which are set forth in this Testimony and Revelation Christ An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART IV. CHAP. I. Of the Purpose of God in general THE Eternal and Immutable Will of God Psal 33.11 Isa 14 24 26 27. Eccles 3.14 or his Decree and Purpose concerning all that in his infinite Wisdom Soveraignty and Goodness he hath freely purposed to do hath in his seasons from the beginning now doth and for ever shall take place and be done even so as he hath purposed and no power of Creatures can or shall hinder the same yea none can alter it or add thereto or take therefrom And it must needs be so for he is of one Minde Job 23.13 14. Psal 119.90 91. 103.19 66.7 Deut. 29.29 and none can turn him and his Word is established for ever in Heaven and his Kingdom ruleth over all and he ruleth by his power for ever and all are his Servants yet of this his Will Decree and Purpose in respect of the particulars no more belongs to us to search into then himself hath revealed to us but what he hath revealed by his Work in which his Purposes are brought forth Eph. 1.11 for he worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will so that in the event as things are indeed done we may so far know his Decree and Purpose Psal 39.9 118.23 126. and so far to know the same is of good use for us and likewise what he hath revealed in his holy Word of his Decree and Purpose concerning those things that are already done and those things that he will yet now and hereafter do which Word of his is as himself true from the beginning Psal 119 140 160. Prov. 8.6 7 8. Joh. 17.17 Pro. 22.20 21. Ecclis 12.10 and being breathed forth by his Spirit is the most cleer declarer of his Decree and Purposes his Word being pure and without any wreathedness yea the Truth and therefore written that we might know the certainty of the Words of Truth and that which is written is upright even Words of Truth And according to the discovery of the Decrees and Purposes of God in his holy written Word and by his Works they are to be heeded and believed by us as true certain and good and of good usefulness to us and other imaginations and devices by whomsoever Isa 8.20 and how appearingly goodly soever we are not to heed believe or own Now then the Purpose of God which in respect of the things purposed are called Purposes that I am to treat of are Isa 49.20 Job 27.12 Isa 25. 1. Psal 2.6 148.6 Job 14.5 26.10 28.26 Prov. 8.29 Jer. 5.22 That or those about the Eternal Salvation or Damnation of Men which by these two the Word and the Works of God are revealed to us which though the Will and Purpose of God be one yet in respect of the things willed purposed and decreed are called Many and so Purposes of which is here to be spoken these being all ordered and set in that one Will Counsel Purpose and Decree of his that we are to know and believe hereof is that which by his Word and Works is revealed to us whether in terms of Counsel Will Purposes or Decrees all which terms signifie the same thing and so to begin with that which prepares to the right understanding of all and then so to proceed as by Word and Works we are led we finde 1. Prov. 8.22 23 24 25 26 30. That the Purpose of God was in the first place To exalt his only begotten Son The Word The Wisdom of God equal with God to shew forth his Glory through him and by him bring forth all his glorious Works to glorifie him with his own self to establish him the supream Lord and Governour of all in his own person and all this freely before any view or consideration of any his following Works as moving causes thereto And this he did to his Son the Word Joh. 1.1 2 3. Col. 1.15 16 17. Heb 1.2 3. Joh. 17.5 Phil. 2.6 Rom. 11.36 and so he was possessed in the beginning of his way and exalted from everlasting and brought forth before all things one with the Father in all his Decrees glorified with the Father 's own self and by and for and to him were all things decreed and made that are decreed and made Now in the Son of God The Word The Wisdom The Power of God in this consideration as thus purposed and exalted it was peculiar to his Person as the Son of God onely and there was not in him the Nature of Man in this consideration nor any one of Mankinde elected or purposed to be elected in him into Union and Fellowship and Conformity with him in this Prerogative and Glory in which he was equal with the Father no Scripture
word in them they shall be fruitful and so they shall be good trees and bring forth good fruit For so they shall observe the counsel of our Saviour Mat. 12.33 Make the tree good and his fruit good c. For we can no otherwise make the tree good but in beleeving on him and according to grace given yeelding to the teachings of his Spirit And seeing every good and perfect giving comes from him and that his Spirit is good and his operations and fruits good and that an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit what are all those confessed works of the Spirit and whence flows that faith and holiness really true in its kind upon account whereof men are called Beleevers and Saints What is that change of judgement affection and conversation that light love joy zeal obedience true in its kinde sincere and not hypocritical whence come they to do so worthily in their generation and all acknowledged an effectual work of the Spirit Can there be such rightness even from the Spirit and the tree not good or is there any other trees among beleevers to bring forth good fruit of another nature Surely if we minde the proofs and our Saviours words they shew there is but one kinde of faith to bring forth good fruits and this even it set out Heb. 6 Gal. 2.20 This place doth open that already said The Apostle having spoken of being justified by faith shews how he lived not Gal. 1.6 4.6 7. Gal. 2.13 Rom. 4.4 6 7 9. but Christ lived in him and he by the faith of the Son of God to which he endeavoured to reduce the Galatians whom he testifieth to have received the same faith at the first and so exhorted the Hebrews and shews his manner of obtaining it to be in the same way with others 1 Joh. 3.12 This place hath not one word of two divers kinds of faith or of divers manner of obtaining it nor of any habit of one beleever more than in another Joh. 1.12 but affirms That he that hath the Son that is beleeveth in his name hath life that is in having the Son by faith Joh. 3.36 He hath also that eternal life that is in the Son by faith also which is true of all that by grace beleeve in Christ 2 Cor. 5.17 This is true of all that by faith are in Christ Jesus who as and so far as they are in him are affirmed new creatures as is fore explicated though the fulness and compleatness of it is in the resurrection of the just but no word here of a second kinde of faith or of newness in some true beleevers that is not in other true beleevers the words plain If any man in Christ 1 Thes 5.23 This is not an affirmation of what was yet attained but a prayer for what was desired and hoped for and so not to the purpose for which it was quoted unless to mollifie the expressions of the saying Gal. 5.22.25 This place is a discovery of the fruits of the Spirit that were in the beleeving Galatians that were scarce so far grown as the Hebrews And what was done in beleeving on Christ crucified How the flesh with the wisdome and whole bent of it with the affections and lusts of it were crucified that is made vile condemned and begun to be mortified by the cross of Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed and then an exhortation to walk after the Spirit Gal. 6.14 Rom. 6.6 just as to the Romans Ephesians Collossians and Hebrews And not a word of a peculiar kinde in some beleevers and not in other beleevers that are true in their kinde also 1 Joh 3.9 This place faith not a word of any difference between beleevers some true in one kinde and some in another Nor saith it Some that are born of God Nor saith it He that hath been born of God but having said before Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not And having warned them not to be deceived 1 Joh. 3.6 7 8 9. saith speaking in the present tense He that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous or in his righteousness and as he hath promised And then having given warning against being deceived and going on in sin c. He cometh to mention the abiding in him and doing righteousness Again and hee doth it in a third term comprehending both saying Whesoever is born of God doth not commit sin that is approve and act it See this before â— 414 415. going on so to do And that the word Born of God is first appliable to that sight beleef and acknowledgement of Christ and so that new disposition begot thereby in the heart is clear in this Epistle where this is called That which is born of God 1 Joh. 5.1 2 3 4. Mat. 16 17. Eph. 2.8 Hence both faith and confession are said to be of God and the gift of God and so he that in this revelation and operation of the Spirit in and by the Gospel is prevailed with to beleeve and yeeld up to it and so far become one with it so as he beleeveth Jesus to be the Christ and so beleeving in him confesseth him to be the Lord He also on that account is said to be born of God And so likewise the being prevailed with by this grace To hold fast this confidence 1 Joh. 5.2 Ioh. 1.12 13. Rom. 10. â— 10. and so to abide and go on in the faith of Christ and love of him and one another is the operation of God and hath the same promises to it and so is likewise called a being born of God here in 1 Joh. 4.7 8 3 5-10 And that this is the sense here appears cleerly in that the same thing for the same business expressed here Born of God Heb. 3.1 6 14. is a little before exprest by a perfect continued act Abiding in him 1 Ioh. 3.6 7. and doing righteousness And the same there also affirmed such sin not such are righteous And also this appears to be the sense in that it is opposed to a continued approbation acting of and going on in sin for so the devil committeth sin and sinneth from the beginning without repentance or breaking off his course But who ever is born of God he committeth not sin that is doth not approve and so commits but abideth in and goeth on beleeving in Christ and loving him without repentance of it or breaking off that course And it farther appeareth that born of God is in this place abideth in Christ holding fast confidence in and love of God through Christ because it is said His seed remaineth in him that is the divine influence and Spirit of Christ with divine force and vertue abideth and remaineth in him according to that promise Heb. 3.14 And this the constant language of Christ and the Spirit of Christ Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God He
that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son Ioh. 15.1.11 2 Ioh. 9. yea even of his first work of grace in changing our mindes and reconciling us to God it is said to be In the body of his flesh through death to present us holy and unblameable in his sight If we continue in the saith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel of which me have heard Col. 1 22â—23 1 Joh. 2.24 Whence also it is said to these If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you yee shall continue in the Father and the Son And so our Saviour saith to his own Disciples that were clean through the word that he had spoken to them Abide in me and 1 in you Joh. 15 47. as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can yee except yee abide in me I am the Vine yee are the branches he that abideth in me that is beleeving and I in him that is my word in him the same bringeth forth much fruit c. Suitable to like sayings of his Spirit and exhortations in other places And so it is expresly said Rom. 11.22 1 Tim. 2.17 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. Heb. 3.6.14 1 Joh. 3.5 8 9 10. 4.4 5.3 4 5. If we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope firm unto the end We are the house of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end then are we made partakers of Christ and so born of God and his seed remaineth in us and that seed remaining being an influence from Christ and so stronger than the Devil that is in the world we in beleeving on God and so yeelding to it are born of God and so neither sin nor can sin because so born of God but do overcome the world This faith that is born of God being the victory whereby we overcome Rom. 8 2â— Luke 20.36 And this sense is plain and evident and agrees with that mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5 9 10. And yet the compleatness of being born of God is in the resurrection of the just And so none of the quotations countenance two kinds of faith or of obtaining or of habits each true in its kinde As for degrees that is not in question Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained or prepared that we should walk in them What this is to the purpose to shew what God hath given into and wrought in beleevers that are true and in one sort or kinde of them more than in another kinde true also I see not and suppose that none can shew Eccles 7.29 For when God created us all in the first Adam it was certainly in his Image In uprightness and so with furniture for good works that we might have walked in them But he fell and lost himself and us all and so we became weak of no strength lost and destitute of all furniture for any good works But God hath created mankinde anew again in Jesus Christ the second Publick man the last Adam who having satisfied for sin suffered for it and overcome death and ascended and offered the acceptable sacrifice is in mans nature glorified filled with the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost to send for to the rebellious that they might come in and to furnish and lead all that do come in And he sinneth not nor can he dye any more but is alive for evermore so that in him we are compleat and perfect and this held forth to us that beleeving in him we might partake of his fulness which is a good motive to beleeve on Christ and to continue so beleeving And such as through the knowledge of his grace beleeve in Christ are certainly his workmanship and begun to bee united to Christ and this also unto good works such as God hath prepared in him that we should walk in them and so live to him and this the ground of his following exhortation as to other Churches Rom. 5.18 19 20. with 6.1 2 c. but no assertion of the measure of their attainments And it being confessed that the faith and holiness with the effectual operation of the Spirit in all the powers of the foul changing judgement affection conversation effecting light love joy zeal obedience enabling to do worthily in their generation Is not all this being the work of the Spirit that is in Christ comes from Christ and witnesseth of Christ his workmanship on and in them And are not they his workmanship in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 5.14 15 And is there not fulness of furniture in Christ Jesus for good works for them And is it not the gracious end of God in making it known that they should live to Christ by walking in them I hope none will deny it All which justifies this faith set forth in Hebrews 6. and gives no countenance for any other kinde CHAP. XVIII Of the third saying in his second Concernment FOr the nature and property of this habit or abiding principle Thus he saith Being a natural genuine fountain of all those spiritual Acts Works and Duties which he is pleased to work in them and by them of his own good pleasure Though this be not the dialect of Scripture yet in a sober understanding it may be taken as agreeing thereto but not countenancing two kindes or a second kinde of true faith And so with some cautions and provisoes I shall take this saying for true and wholly consent thereto that is to say thus 1 That this abiding principle be not understood of a thing peculiar to any kinde of faith divers from another true in its kinde 1 Pet. 1.13 Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. but of the same kinde of faith set forth Heb. 6. faith being proved already to be one and so the same with that Tit. 1.1 2 That by Natural and Genuine be understood that which is Supernatural and Spiritual Isa 61.13 And so apt free willingly and naturally inclined and kindly putting forth 3 That the calling this principle a fountain be not understood as of a thing inclosed in the beleever to himself or any otherwise Psal 36.9 Jer. 2.13 17 13. Zach. 13.1 Rev. 21.6 Hos 14.8 Joh. 15.4 5 6. then as flowing from Christ to and in him that beleeveth in Christ and so in no sort derogating from Christ For he is the fountain of life with God and so from God unto us the fountain of living waters the fountain for clensing and for fruits And from that flowing from him is all that life cleansing and fruitfulness that is in beleevers And separate from him they can do nothing what ever greenness or springs be in any beleeving on him Jer. 2.13 17. 5 6 13. Joh. 15.4 6. yet if they thereby abide not in the faith of him