without measure and so was his water Baptism To which I answer briefly the strength of your reason lyeth in these words There is a parallel say you between Johns Baptism and Christs and Johns Baptism was that of water and Christs that of the Spirit and say you Christs Baptism was by pouring of a few drops in the time of the Law and hence you conclude that because Christs Baptism with the Spirit was by springling as you say and yet is called Baptism equivolent with that of Johns which was with water therefore water Baptism may be by sprinkling and this is the sum whole strength of reason that you produce Answer And first to the first There might be a true parallel between Johns Baptism and Christs John did dip or thorowly wash the people of the Regons of Judea and Jerusalem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he might prepare a people for the Lord and as John did prepare a people for the Lord by dipping or thorow washing so Christ would not many dayes after prepare a people for God his Father by dipping or thorow washing of them by his Holy Syirit the which I have proved already that the Baptism of the Spirit is not compared to a little water but to rivers of water and as touching that of sprinkling so often mentioned in the Law it may be granted that it might possibly be meant of the pouring forth of the Spirit in the last dayes because not onely Isaiah but Joel also Joel 2.28 with other Prophets speaketh of sprinkling many Nations Esay 52.15 and of pouring out of His Spirit upon all flesh Act. 2.16 but yet this is no whit for your purpose for what if it be so Ezek. 36.25 that God doth pourâ—forth of his Spirit and that by Rantizing that is to say by sprinkling or scattering here or there or dispersing in divers parts or places yet it doth not follow Spargo to sprinkle or scatter in divers parts although Gods Spirit be scattered or dispersed here and there in many Nations that is to say one of eighty or two of a family or if it be more yet such as do enjoy the Spirit and are cleansed thereby are not sprinkled but the Spirit to them is as a fountain or a river af water whereby they are washed and sanctified and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 and moreover I might shew you how sprinkling represents that of Christs blood the which differeth somewhat from other water or Spirit in proper operation of it although it agree in one for there is three beareth witness on earth as well as three in Heaven but I shall be brief And secondly 1 John 5.7 8. whereas you say that Christ was Baptised with the Spirit or plounged receiving it without measure and so was his Baptism with water from whence you conclude that Christ was plounged in Jordan to manifest to the Sons of men that as he was plounged with the Spirit so he was also plounged in water to signifie his being plounged with or in the Spirit To which I answer and say that if it be true what you say that Christ was plounged in water to represent that he was plounged with the Spirit receiving it without measure and if that be the onely reason that Christ was dipped or plounged as you seem to affirm then none must be dipped or plounged but such as have received the Spirit without measure and it also doth imply that the Jews the Eunuch and some of your children the which you have formerly dipped have received the Spirit without measure so that your own words imply a contradiction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence is mergo or immergo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence is the word subeo or ingregredios these differs not much in their signification neither of them signify to sprinkle and where as you in your Parragraph say that the word Bapto Dyno much differ yet so far as I am able to understand the word Dyno they differ very little the one signifying to dip or plounge or overwhelm in the water so the other signifieth to enter in or go under it But to pass on to your discourse you ask me what I think of that known place 1 Cor. 10.2 in these words all our fathers were Baptised in the Cloud and Sea and say you that was a water Baptism yet they went on dry ground Answer I know the Text saith that they were all Baptised viz. all the fathers but how you will prove it to be water Baptism I know not for the Apostle calleth it no such thing onely sayeth they were Baptised and we know there is a Baptism of sufferings and of the Spirit and if I should affirm that it was a Baptism of the Spirit and of fiery tryals to try who would murmur or who would stand still and trust in God to see his Salvation I know not how you could deny it upon good grounds but that it was a Baptism of the spirit I think no sober man will deny because both the Text in Exodus and that in the Corinths imply so much for we finde that the Angel of Gods presence or his Spirit was a light to Israel but the camp of the Egyptians he darkned and also it is said they eat of the Spiritual meat and so forth and we may very well see if we are not blinde that Gods Spiritual presence was very great to Israel in the Cloud being a light to lead them in their journey to Canaan and also his Spiritual presence great in the Sea in making it to be a wall to them on the right hand and on the left that they wet not so much as their shoe brims and therein God manifested his Spiritual presence to Israel and if any were Baptised in water it was not Israel but Pharaoh and his Host the which were plounged and overwhelmed in the great depth but the people of Israel were lead and directed and upholden with more than an ordinary work and manifestation of Gods Spirit and because I study brevity and also that you are hasting away for Ireland I shall leave this particular with this Request desiring you to show before you go where ever that Baptism was called water Baptism the which is spoken of in that first of Corinths but if you seriously weigh the occasion of the words they will easily show you that the Baptism there mentioned is a Baptism of the Spirit because the Apostle was there shewing what judgments fell upon Gods people of olds for their sins to afright at I may say the Corinths that were a carnal people as if the Apostle should have said take heed of sin for that will bring Gods wrath on you and to take off that objection that the Corinths might use in saying but surely the Lord will not destroy us for he hath given us
then the shadow will flie away upon that account Christ being become our life or when we do enjoy eternall life The tree of life not a type of Christ or Eternal life onely a maintenance of a natural life in Paradice Adam was not Spiritual in his innocency but shall be in the time of the Resurrection a Spiritual body like Christ mark that the shadow viz. the tree of life must flie away my meaning is there must not be use made of him the which there will be at that time when we live Eternally as the Scripture hath said and if not then Christ would not restore all things to his people that was lost by Adam both these the Scripture will prove First That all things shall be restored unless the Serpent and disobedient man and also that we shall eat of the tree of life in future the which is no alligory but shall be fulfilled the which sheweth that the tree of life is not a type of Eternal life because they shall be enjoyed together the which is not proper in types And so I pass onely saying thus Whereas you charge me with agreeing with Papists that you do agree with them in many things is plain witness Baby-Baptism nay you are a branch of that root and your standing in your Ministry is from thence but more of that anon Secondly you urgean Argument from Rom. 5.16 Judgment came by one viz. Adam to condemnation and that Condemnation is not onely the first death but also Condemnation in hell say you Answer and first the Text will not imply what you say but readeth it Condemnation and so forth and the word Condemnation doth in Scripture mean onely the first death in some places were it is used as in the Gospel Luk. 23.40 where our Saviour was condemned to die or in the Condemnation one of the Malefactours reviled him the answer of the other which was penitent was on this wise doest thou not fear God seeing thou art in the same Condemnation that is the same Condemnation that Christ was in the which I think no sober man will think it was a damnation into hell viz. the second death but he was in a condemnation to a death the which was the first death equivolent with Adams death for that sin in Paradise and the same that is spoken of in Rom. 15.18 agreeing with Luk 23. These words used in both places viz. Luk. 23.40 Rom. 5.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adverb 40. Luke reads it thus Condemnation the very same word with the Apostle Rom. 5.18 and yet as I have said no sober man will think that the condemnation spoken by Luke is a condemnation to the second death and as the word is the same in our language that Paul speaketh Rom. 5.18 with Luk. 23.40 So it is the very same in the Greek Testament and also in the Latine see Luk 23.40 Rom 5.18 the Greek in both places readeth it Krima or Katakrima adverb and in the Latine see Luk. 23.40 Damnatione and Rom. 5.18 Condemnationem adverb it is one and the same word so that you may as well say that Christ was in the condemnation of the second death as say that Adam was in condemnation of the second death for that sin in Paradise the words being one and the same But now I shall clearly shew you that the condemnation spoken of in Rom. 5.18 is not a condemnation to the second death the Argument to prove it is thus If that death that entred in to the world by Adams sin passed upon all and reigned from Adam to Moses then it could not be the second death But that death which entred into the world by Adams sin passed upon all and reigned from Adam to Moses Ergo that death could not be the second death there is only the sequel of the Major that may be questioned the which I thus prove if there were many that lived between Adam and Moses which the second death passed not upon nor reigned over then it could not be the second death that entred into the world and passed upon all The second death passed not upon many that lived between Adam and Moses but that death that entred into the world by Adams sin passed upon all which sheweth it was not the second death and reigned over them as beforesaid But there was many that lived between Adam and Moses that the second death pâ—ssed not upon not reigned over Ergo that death which entred into the world as before said was not the second death The Minor of this Argument is clear that there were many that lived between Adam and Moses that the second death had no power of that is it passed not upon or reigned over them as Abraham Isaac and Jacob and Lot and Noah and several others the which clearly sheweth that the death that entred into the world by Adams sin was not the second but the first death and that passed upon all even Abraham Isaac and Jacob and the rest they all dyed the first death as they were dust so to dust they did return and so I pass to the next thing considerable the which is You would prove if ye could That the fleshly or mortal part of man begetteth the immortal part or Spiritual Soul of man and withal refer me to several Authors to prove it and yet when you have all done you lay down the Cudgels as I may say before you have struck a stroak saying but let us not look for the Souls Parentage on earth But if the Spiritual Soul be begotten by our Parents then it is easie to finde our Souls Parentage on earth And whereas we are said to be all of the off-spring of God it respecteth the Spiritual Soul for God is the Father of Spirits no man was yet called the Father of Spirits we have Fathers of our flesh as saith the Apostle which chastiseth us and we are in subjection unto them shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits There is Fathers of flesh and Fathers of Spirits opposed one to another but man is not any where called the Father of Spirits And whereas you ask me Whether Man do not beget as compleat a creature as the Beasts do in their kinde did not Adam beget a son in his own likeness meaning in sin say you To which I answer and first That man doth begot a perfect creature and yet but mortal for you your selves have granted it for first say you by his sins he became mortal saying a mortal stomack could not feed upon immortal food citing Doct Halls contemplations and say you Adam begat a son in his own likeness to the which I say it was a poor mortal creature for if Adam had begot the a Spiritual Soul which is immortal he had begat son partly in the likeness of God but that man and beast probigate alike and have one breath considered barely as man read
Eccles 3.18 19 in these words I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men that God might manifest them and that they might see that they themselves are beasts for that which befalleth the sons of men-befalleth beasts even one thing befalleth them as the one dyeth so dyeth the other yea they have all one breath so that a man hath no preheminency above a beast for all is vanity all go to one place all are of the dust and shall return to dust again From whence we may see that man considered as of himself there is no difference between him and the beast onely there is something that is in man which is not of or from man the which maketh him to differ allthough the Soul in Scripture is frequently taken for the mortal part as in the book of Joshua and so Christ is said to pour out his Soul to death and made his Soul an offering for sins But when you write again show what it is that is the Soul and what it consisteth of And whereas you tell me a story of Levi paying of Tithes in Abraham Answer it was imputed to Levi because the matter that Levies body did consist of Job 31.15 Zach. 12.1 sprang from the loins of Abraham but it is the Lord that formeth and fashioneth us in the womb and createth the Spirit or Soul in us that which Abraham did was imputed to Levi because it might teach us that there was a time that Tithes was to be taken from Levi and given to Christ or that of proper right Tithes doth belong to Christ as I have already hinted at Again You charge me with one errour worse then Pilagius that is because I deny as you say that children were lost or indangered to be Eternally lost in Adam To which I answer Adam and all his posterity was in danger to be lost in the dust had not Christ saved them in delivering from the power of the grave and say in your sense I do deny that children were lost or in danger to be lost in Adam that is to say to be lost as men now shall be lost that die in their sins namely to die the second death in the lake of fire and brimstone but I do beleeve that children were in danger to be lost as in the first death that is if Christ had not come and saved us and them from the sting of death which is the power of the grave we had been kept there and for ever had been deprived from the presnce of God and the Holy Angels and been like water spilt upon the ground and thus they were in danger to be lost from whence Christ hath saved all men for he is the Saviour of all men but especially of them that beleeve and thus we all were in danger to be lost by Adams sin in Paradice but to be lost in your sense by Adams sin that I positively deny and I know or am fully perswaded there is not a man under the Sun that can prove it from the Scriptures Again in your fourteenth page you seem to hint at this That Adam had the promise of Eternal life upon his obedience That natural life that God gave to Adam in Paradice was a free gift and not upon condition To which I answer that the life which God gave to Adam in paradice was free without condition in respect of the gift of it for God breathed him the breath of life and put him into his inheritance freely and afterwards telleth him what he should do there and also sheweth him that if he did sin and transgress his Law that then he must die the death God never told Adam that if he would obey him that there was a further life and happiness in future to be enjoyed but sheweth that the life that then he did enjoy the which was but a natural life should be taken from him and the like But if it be Objected and said Object That the Lord told Adam that in the day that he eat of that tree he should surely die or in dying he should die the which he did not in body the same day To this I answer God calleth things that shall be as if they were and say that according to Gods decree and in Gods account who calls things that shall be as if they were in being as saith the Apostle save Adam and all his prosperity dead they were dead in Gods account that same day and so soon as Christ was promised God therow him looked upon all alive again in a state of Resurrection as you may see when God appeared to Moses in the bush Exod. 3.6 Mat. 22.31 32. he saith I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob and our blessed Saviour maketh use of it to prove the Resurrection shewing that in Gods account Abraham and Isaac and Jacob were alive in a state of a Resurrection to God And again the word will bear it from the Hebrew as in our English margen note in dying thou shalt die Job 14.1 2. that is Adam and all the sons of men are dying from the womb till they be dead never continuing in one stay but in the midst of life we are in death and so go from the womb to the grave and so in dying we do die or we be in a dying estate and condition till we fall into the dust Again in answer to what you say of our Souls being in Adam in essense and not in substance I say that then it is clear that Adam is the Father of our Spirits and not God for if it be so that our Spiritual Souls essentially be in and of Adam and not distinct then Adam must bear the name not onely of being the Father of our flesh but also of our spirit But if it should be Objected and said Object That God may bear the name of the Father of Spirits because he created or formed the Spirit in Adam Then we may as well say that God is the Father of flesh because he created and formed that but you say God may be called the Father of Spirits because he is Father of regeneration and sanctification The which is no answer There is three that bear witness in Heaven and three that bear witness in earth as I conceive at all for as much as there is not such a thing in Scripture to assist the answer as God is distinguished in three as in respect of his diversity of his operation the Spirit is that which begetteth newness of disposition so may be called the Father of regeneration and sanctification because the Spirit is that which sanctifieth and reneweth the Soul yet but one God and Father although thus distinguished and this hath more Scripture to countenance it and yet but a consequence But however there is in man or of man two parts viz. the flesh and Spirit and there is two Fathers the Father of the
will bring them out from the people Ezek. 28.24 25 26. and gather them from the Countryes and will bring them to their own Land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel And they shall be no more a prey to their enemies but they shall dwell safely and none shall make them afraid And there shall be no more a pricking bryer unto the house of Israel nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them that despised them and they shall dwell in their Land that I gave my servant Jacob Isa 12 1 2 3 4. and shall know that I am the Lord. And in that day thou shalt say O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation For thy waste and thy desolate places and the Land of thy destuction shall even now be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away the children that thou shalt have after thou hast lost the other shall say again in thine ears the place is too strait for me Give place to me that I may dwell then shalt thou say in thine heart who hath begotten me these seeing I have lost my children Isa 49 19 20 21 22. and am desolate a captive and a removing to and fro and who hath brought up these behold I was left alone where have these been Thus saith the Lord God behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles and lift up my Standard unto the people and they shall bring thy sons in their arms and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders Ver. 23. And Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and Queens shall be your nursing mothers they shall bow down to thee with their face to the ground and lick up the dust of thy feet and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. Isa 6.10 11. And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls and their Kings shall minister unto thee for in my wrath I smote thee but in my favour have I had mercy on thee Ver. 12. therefore thy gates shall be opened continually and they shall not be shut day nor night that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles and that their Kings may be brought for the Nation or Kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish Let Mount Zion rejoyce Psal 48 11. let the daughters of Judah be glad because of thy judgements FOR in that day will I make the Governours or Judah like a hearth of fire round about the wood like a torch of fire in a sheaf and they shall devoure all the people round about on the right hand and on the left and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place even in Jerusalem The Lord also shall save the Tents of Judah first Zach. 12.6 to 15. that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the Inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnifie themselves against Judah And thou O Tower of the flock the strong Hold of the daughter of Zion unto thee shall come the first dominions In that day shall the Lord defend the Inhabitants of Jerusalem Mich. 4.8 and he that is feeble amongst them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angels of the Lord before them And it shall come to passe in that day that I will seek to destroy all the Nations that come up against Jerusalem And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have peirced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onely son and shall be in great bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first born In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of HADADRIMMON in the valley of MEGIDDON Isa 5â— 20. And so all Israel shall be saved as it is written There shall come a Deliverer to Zion and shall turn away transgression from Jacob Rom. 11.26 O the depth of the riches both of wisdome and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements Isa 64.4 and his wayes past finding out For since the beginning of the world men have not heard or perceived by the ear 1 Cor. 2.10 neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for thee But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God Therefore unto God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit be ascribed glory and thanksgiving might majesty and dominâ—on by all that fear him small and great for ever and ever world without end Amen Thus having from these Scriptures and many more that might be mentioned together with these above written proved the first part of the assertion viz. That the Jews shall yet return and possesse their own Land and be a very glorious people and their scituation viz. Jerusalem a very glorious scituation Although all that hath been said may comparatively be called as the gleaning of the vintage For I know nothing which the Scriptures proves more plainly and yet this is hid from the most part of the prudent and learned men in our times but this is the fulfilling of the Scriptures which saith God hath hid it from the wise and prudent and revealed his wisdome even his hidden wisdome to babes and sucklings not that I say that God hath hid it from all that are prudent and learned men according to humane sciences for I do know some of them do understand the mystery of the kingdome although to the greatest part it is a parable but however the truth of God stands sure and is unchangeable for the Scriptures shall not fall to the ground but shall be fulfilled although heaven and earth passe a way Hence it came to passe that that all which was spoken of Christ to be fulfilled in the dates of his flesh was accomplished in the very letter of the Scriptures that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and so shall all those Scriptures that speak of his glory and reign and the Jews glory be fulfilled in their time For as the Scriptures spake of Christs being born at Bethlehem Mich. 5.2 Isa 7.14 Hos 11.1 Zach. 9.9 Isa 8.18 Mich. 5.1 Isa 5.6 Psal 69.21 Zach. 11 12 13. Psal 22 18. Num. 9 12. Exod. 12 46. Psal 34.7 Zich 12.10 it was so and as the Scriptures spake that a Virgin should conceive it also was so and as the Scriptures prophesied of calling his son out of Aegypt it was so and as he was prophesied to ride to Jerusalem upon an Asses Colt it was so and as it was prophesied that he
read the 14. Chapter and there you shall see he discovereth where the ten Tribes are and shall remain till the Lord shall dry up the River Euphrates and then shall be brought to Zion and Christ shall be their King and indeed the great reason why the Jews did not believe in Christ was because they understood not that he should come twice on earth first to suffer then to reign but at his first coming they supposed that he would restore all things and reign as King neither will they believe till they see him come in that manner in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory then shall they say lo this is our God we have waited for him and so I shall cease at present desiring thee also to be waiting for Christ that thou mayest be found worthy of the Kingdome and sit down therein with Abraham Isaac and Jacob the which is the desire of thy friend G. H. Curteous Reader I desire thee to mend some places in thy reading It being not so proper sense as the Authors desire is it should be by reason he could not be at the Presse to take a surveigh of it him self it also being sent up to the Presse at sevrral times in several parcels the which doub less exused some mistake but I have noted the most past in the Errata in the last page of the Book there is a mistake in the pages by marking of them twice with 55. therefore if I note any thing to be found in 55. If thou find it not there remember that 55. is in two places and in one of them thou shalt find it this I thought good to give thee to understand The Contents of the principal Matters contained in this Book A ARguments given to prove Sprinkling not to be Gods way in Baptism page 16 17 18. Adam proved to be dead in Gods account the same day that he sinned p. 44. Arguments given to prove that Infants ought not to be baptised page 36 37 38. A confutation of that which hath been said to my Argument about Original Sin from page 89. to page 96. Antiochus Epiphanes proved not to be the little Horn spoken of by Daniel in his 7th Chapter page 126. 127. B Baptism came not in the room or place of Circumcision page 14. 15. The Beast and false Prophet distinguished and proved to be two and neither of them to be the Romish Babylon page 163. to 168. C The two Covenants discoursed on and proved to be two individual Covenants not onely in administrations but in substance p. 19 20 21 E A discourse concerning Esaus rejection and of the selling of his birth-right page 59. to page 63. The Ninth Chapter to the Romans fully Expounded page 98. to 132. F The Fulfilling of the words of the Prophets concerning Christ in the letter of them as is proved page 190. G God proved to be the Father of our spirits or spiritual souls p. 42 44 45. Gods fore-knowledge not the cause of mens doing evill and rejection for the same page 52 53. God may love and hate one and the same creature or person and yet be unchangeable in his Decree as is proved page 54. to 59 God hath given every man power to repent and believe the Gospel with Objections of that nature answered page 66. to page 74. H The House of Judah and the House of Israel shall return out of their Captivity into their own Land that is Hierusalem proved by the Scriptures cited page 183 to page 109. I The Jews not to be converted by a Gospel-preaching page 157 to P 160. The new Jerusalem proved not to be the Saints but the habitation for the Saints as page 175. 176. K The Kingdome of Heaven mentioned in Mark 9 1. and Matth. 11 22 proved not to be the Gospel Church page 47 48 49. L The Long-suffering of God waiteth upon the world of ungodly and not peculiarly on the Elect as page 71 72 73. M The Moabites and the Ammonites proved to be the daughters of Sodom page 153 154 N The National Ministery Examined and disproved page 133. to p. 146. The National Church and Ministery proved not to have the true Christian Faith page 179 to 182. O Original Sin brought not the second death upon Adam or any of his lines as is proved by arguments and Objections of that nature answered page 38. to 50. P Gods Power guided by his other Attributes so that there is some things be it spoke in reverence to God which God cannot do as is proved page 78 79 80. R Some men given up unto a Reprobate sense so as they cannot repent and the cause wherefore discoursed on in page 65. to 69. The Saints Reign upon earth is not to be understood Allegoricaly but literally page 171. That Christ shall Reign in Ierusalem over the house of David is proved by the holy Scriptures cited in page 189. to 200 The Resurrection of the wicked at the end of the thousand years doth not contradict the thousand years Reign to be the TIMES of restauration as page 173. S The Objections against Dipping and the Sprinkling under the Law urged to prove Sprinkling in Baptism examined and answered page 1. to 16. Sodom not yet suffering in Hell page 81. to 85. Sodoms return to their former estate discoursed on and proved page 153. T Tythes or a Tenth not lanful to be paid or received by a Gospel people or Ministery as page 31 to 35. The Temple that Antichrist shall sit in is proved not to be the Church of Christ page 168. Of the glorious effects under the sound of the seventh Trumpet page 168. to 171 W Washing of Disciples proved to be an Ordinance of Christ as p. 10. Z Syons Redemption Redeemed wherein is not onely proved that the Captives of Samaria and Ierusalem shall return to their former estate but also the Objections of that nature answered page 147 to 155. SYONS REDEMPTION AND ORIGINAL SIN Vindicated SIR I Am come now to the examination of that which you are pleased to call Errour the which I doubt not but I shall prove it to be the truth of the Gospel of Christ and your self to be Erronious and a leader of blind ignorant men and women which have been a long time a learning yet are as ignorants as ever and no marvel for many times people perish for want of knowledg but if the blind lead the blind at last they will both fall into the ditch but I pass breefly to your discourse in the which you do affirm That Baptizo oftentimes is taken for dipping or sprinkling To the which I answer and say that to say Baptizo is frequently taken for dipping is true because it is the proper signification of the word Heb. 9.10 and sometimes it is taken for thorow washing according to that phrase in the Hebrews but that it is taken frequently for sprinkling as you say is very false No correspondency between
his Holy Spirit and he that hath done this for us will not now destroy us but the Apostle answering them on this wise as if he should have said it is true he hath Baptised you with his Spirit according to his promise and the visable gifts doth appear yet take heed of sin for otherwise God will destroy you for be not ignorant of this that our fathers were Baptised as well as you and with the same Spirit for the Rock that followed them was Christ yet God was displeased with them and destroyed them and these things was saith the Apostle for your example and admonition but now if this had been but a water baptisme that the Apostle saith our fathers were Baptized withal The Apostle sheweth the Corinths that the Fathers were Baptised with the Spirit as well as they and yet God destroyed them that so the Corinths might not boast of their gifts and take liberty to sin least they also were destroyed then the Corinths might have made this reply and said it is true all the Baptism or the washing with water in the Law was but appertaining unto the flesh and also we know Symon Magus was Baptized with water and yet cast away but we have been Baptised with the Spirit and therefore a beloved people and God will not cast us of and upon this account the Apostle endeavoureth to inform them that the Fathers were Baptised with the Spirit for Christ was with the Church in the wilderness and also lead them sometimes going before them sometimes followed them between the Egyptian and the Camp of Israel in the red Sea and thus Gods Spiritual presence was manifested unto them both in the Cloud and in the Sea in the Cloud by being a light to lead them and keeping the Egyptians from them and in the Sea by making the waters a wall to them so as that they were not wet thereby But if it should be objected out of the 77. Psal 16 17. The waters saw God and the depts were troubled the Clouds poured out water the skies sent forth a sound the voice of the thunders were in the Heavens I say This is nothing to that which is mentioned in the Epistle to the Corinths neither was that Cloud there spoken of the Clouds mentioned in the seventy seven Psalm And again whereas you ask me what I think of sprinkling of Bloud in the time of the Law so often mentioned was it not a type say you of the blood of sprinkling Heb. 12.24 To which I answer It may borrow that terme the blood of sprinkling from that of springling in the Law or it may be called the blood of sprinkling because the efficacy of it was to be dispersed abroad to many by speaking better things for them than the blood of Abel but this maketh nothing for your purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is aspersionis viz. sprinkling that Baptizo is to sprinkle as well as to dip for that word in the twelfth of Hebrews will not help you either in the word itself or the consequence of it And whereas you ask me why sprinkling on Infants may not signify Christs blood shed for them Answer because in the first place God never did appoint Infants to be sprinkled in the time of the Gospel or elsewhere to signify Christs blood shed for them Secondly Because Baptism is not barely a signification of Christs blood shed but also of his burial and Resurrection the which cannot be signified by sprinkling in sprinkling in the time of the Law there was a cleansing but in part viz. the flesh and but for a time namely one year for there was a remembrance of sin every year but now out cleansing is of another nature not in part but by one offering perfected for ever such as are sanctified and therefore that which signifieth that great work is not a little water but much water whereby persons must be thorowly washed and therefore the water in Baptism is compared to the waters of Noah 1 Pet. 3 20 21. the which I think no wise man will think was very little but that Baptism doth signifie burial as well as Christs death see the words of the Apostle Rom. 6.4 in these words Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into his death That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in nenness of life and as saith the Apostle to the Corinths If the dead rise not Why are we Baptised for dead that is as if he should say why are we then Baptized to signifie a Resurrection from the dead And again Whereas you say Peter was for a kinde of plounging John 13. till better Catichised by our Saviour To which I answer and say from thence it is evident that it was the onely practice in Baptism to wash or plounge the whole man in water Peters words spoken in John 13 maketh much for total washing in Baptism and no whit against it because Peter was ignorant of washing in part and cryeth out not onely my feet but my hands and my head but however that was not an ordinance of Baptism as aforesaid that Christ taught his disciples but it was an ordinanee which Christ instituted to wash the feet of those that were Baptised as aforesaid and therefore this maketh much against you and will plainlr teach you that it was a total washing or plounging that was Christs and his disciples practice in Baptism but Peter wanted instruction about that Ordinance of washing the Disciples feet and because I am occasioned to speak as to that Ordinance from the precedent discourse But the common scandal the which some wicked men lay upon us in that ordinance we call God to witness we abhor I shall briefly say I would advise every man as they would give an account with joy and not with grief in the dreadful day of judgement to take heed how they speak reproachfully or slâ—tely of any Ordinance that Christ hath instituted as some have done although it may seem strange to them because Christ will look upon them as his enemies and if so his fury will burn out against them like a devouring fire And that the washing of Disciples feet is an Ordinance of Christ read John 13 14 in the room of much more that might be said the Text readeth it thus If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet ye ought also to wash one anothers feet for I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done unto you From whence we may see this is an Ordinance of Christ and therefore I shall not deny it before men for I am not ashamed of the meanest of the waies or Ordinances of the Gospel because I know it is the power and wisdom of God God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and the weak things and the base and despised things hath
Church To which I answer and say that your word federately your matter intimated in it are far ferched consequences that the holiness spoken of in 1 Corinths 7. will not admit any to Baptisme the which if it would then the unbelieving Wife or Husband which is as holy as the Child ought to be Baptized and how far that is from truth I shall leave the Reader to judge but that the Text doth say that the unbeleever is Holy read it and you shall see to difference in the word Sanctification and Holiness in that place for Tindal readeth it thus Eâ—uxor infidelis sanctificata est inviso alioqui câ—rte liberi vestri improbri essent nunc autâ—m sanctisunt So that the word may be red the unbeleeving woman is Holy or hallowed to or by the man as well as sanctified but the holiness mentioned in 1 Cor. 7. is no other but a matrimonial holiness as I also have proved in my precedent treatise and so I pass and leave you to read your answer there Again you say God owned those children presented to him in Circumcision Ezek. 16.20 21. and called them his children To which I answer and say if you were demanded how you could prove that those children were Circumcised you would be much troubled to prove it for surely their Parents were not so careful to give heed to Gods Commands the which if they had they would not have offered their children to Molech which was fobidden and theresore Circumcised they were not doubtless and if they were prove it Exod. 22.39 Exod. 13.2 Nehem. 10.35 36 37. But you will say how cometh it to pass that God calleth them his children The answer is those that were offered up in the fire was the first born and the Lord before had commanded for himself all the first born and they are said to be Holy to the Lord and hence he calleth them his children yet take notice that I do not deny but God did own such as was offered to him in Circumcision but it doth not follow therefore that he will own such offered up in Baptism for he had commanded children to be Circumcised at eight dayes old and therefore good reason that he should own them but he never commanded children of eight dayes old to be Baptised and therefore it is a vaine conceit to think that God will own that which he never appointed Again you say That the premise under the Gospel is to Beleevers and their children by vertue of the Parents Faith Act. 2.39 Answer The Text doth not say that the promise under the Gospel is to beleevers and their children upon their Parents Faith surely your eyes be very dim or your understanding very shallow in looking on that place see the Text Act. 2.39 Repent and be Baptised every one of you and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit is to you and your Children in their non-age are not heirs to the Holy Spirit and heaven by vertue of their Fathers Faith as you fondly conceit children and to all that are afar of even to so many as the Lord our God shall call Now I pray see doth this Text say that the Gospel promise belongeth to children of Beleevers upon their Parents Faith the text hath not such a consequence in it the meaning of the Text is briefly thus the Jews were pricked at the heart for Crucifying of Christ and desiring his blood to be on them their children the Apostle knowing that all sins should be forgiven unless that against the Holy Ghost saith to them not when they were beleevers but before they did beleeve Repent but as if they should say there is no hope of mercy if we should repent yet there is saith Peter for God hath promised to pour out af his Spirit in the last dayes upon all flesh and also on your children even on your sons and daughters and therefore your condition is not so bad as by you supposed nor your childrens but they shall receive the Spirit even so many of them as God shall call your wicked practice in Crucifying Christ hath not so far deprived you or them from mercy but if you or they obey the voice of Gods call he will give you or they after you the Holy Spirit therefore repent every one of you here is ground enough for you to repent and to be Baptised and gladly to walk in Christs wayes That promise Act 2.39 was the promise of the Holy Spirit and it was made to all upon condition of obedience and Faith and declared to those poor wounded Souls that they might have ground to repent and beleeve the Gospel and thus you see the Text saith the promise was to them before they did beleeve that they might have ground to beleeve and obey the Gospel and therefore this maketh not for beleeves seed being under a Gospel promise for these did not beleeve when the Apostle saith the promise is unto you but if the promise of the Spirit be made to all children upon their Parents Faith then every beleevers child most consequently have the Holy Spirit or otherwise God not so good as his promise but the promise in Acts the second is a general promise of the giving forth of the Holy Spirit to all flesh Jews and Gentilis Fathers and Children even so many as are the called ones of God but in my former Treatise I have shewed the reason why the Apostle maketh mention of their children in this Text and so refer you to that further to peruse and pass to the next thing the which is A chaâ—ge of evil on us in denying the children of Beleevers Church Priviledge To which I answer that in that particular your selves do lie under evill in denying children Church priviledges namely that priviledge of the Lords Supper the which of right belongeth to every member of Christs Church for they that were or are to be Baptised or to continue in the Doctrine of Christ in breaking of bread and prayer and Baptism is not properly a Church priviledge but that which is to be done without the Church and those priviledges that are properly accounted Church priviledges you do deprive children of and also when you write again resolve this question whether the Lords Supper of right do not belong to all that are Baptised unless they are cast out forsin and if so then clear your selves if you can of depriving children of Church priviledges but you may see this also is discoursed and answered in my former Treatise entituled Dagons Down-fall And so I come to the Examination of that cited place Mat. 28.29 Go disciple all Nations or make disciples all Nations and Baptize them to which you would have me read Iohn 4 1 2 3. the which is equivolent with the words in Mat. 28. the which is read thus When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had beard that Iesus made and
therefore I say that they are the onely wise men that drink not onely near but at the fountain head that is to take the practise of Christ and the Apostles to be their pattern and so I shall pass from this particular with some Arguments to prove that Insants are not the subjects that Christ and his Apostles Baptised or appointed to be Baptised and first to the first That which is practised in lieu of a Gospel Ordinance Arg. 1 which is not appointed by the Father nor the Son nor the Apostles nor hath been practised in the primitive Churches is mans tradition and will worship But Infants Baptism hath not a command from God nor Christ nor the Apostles nor practised in the primitive Churches Therefore mans tradition and will worship If those that are to be Baptised Arg. 2 are first to be taught and made disciples then a child of seven or eight dayes old which is not capable to be taught ought not to be Baptised But those that are to be Baptised are first to be taught and made disciples the which a child of seven or eight dayes old is not capable of Ergo Such are not to be Baptised And that such as are to be Baptised are first to be taught and made disciples you may see from the commission Mat. 28.19 Mark 16 15 16. John 4.1 2 3. If such as are to be Baptised Arg. 3 are to continue in the Apostles Doctrine in breaking of bread and prayers then children that are not capable so to do are not to be Baptised But they that are to be Baptised ought to continue in the Apostles Doctrine and in breaking of bread and prayer Ergo Children that are uncapable so to do are not fit to be Baptised and that such as are Baptised ought to be sted fast as before said I hope no sober man that knoweth the Scripture in the least will deny If those only are accounted fit to be members of a Gospel Arg. 4 Church that are able to show forth the prayses of him that hath called them then Infants of seven or eight dayes old who cannot show forth Gods prayses as aforesaid are not fit to be members of a Gospel Church But they only are fit to be members of a Gospel Church who are able to show forth the prayses of God in an upright conversation Ergo Infants who are not capable so to do are not fit members for a Gospel Church 1 Pet 2. If Faith Repentance Arg. 5 are the work of Gods Spirit manifested upon the Soul be that which onely admitteth the sons daughters of men to Baptism then Infants that have neither Faith nor Repentance nor the work of Gods Spirit manifested upon their Soul may not be Baptised but Faith and Repentance or the work of Gods Spirit is that only which admitteth to Baptism as before said Ergo Children that have not such qualifications as aforesaid may not be admitted to Baptism And that Repentance and Faith and the works of Gods Spirit manifested upon the Soul is that which fitteth and admitteth to Baptism read these Scriptures Act. 2.38 chap. 10 46 47. chap 8. If men and women were the persons onely Arg. 6 whom the Apostles Baptised and we commanded to follow their examples then men and women are the persons also that we ought to Baptise But men and women were the subjects that the Apostles Baptised and we commanded to follow their examples Ergo Men and women also ought to be the subjects that are Baptised by us This cannot be denied for they did Baptise such onely and we ought to follow their examples Acts 8 12. Mat. 3. Act. 19 1 2 3 4. much more might be said but I pass to the next particular the which is that of Original Sin the which you call your task having shewed you that you have neither a ground to use sprinkling in Baptism nor to Baptise children in their non-age the which neither of them is the minde of God revealed in the Holy Scripture but I shall now Examen what you say to Original Sin and thorow the assistance of God shall answer what you affirm and disprove it if it carry not truth with it That Adams sin brought more on him than temporal death say you with sorrow sickness and such like punishments I prove 1. Because Adam forfeited Eternal life which I thus prove what the second Adam restored the first lost But the second Adam restored Eternal life 2 Tim. 1 10. who brought life and immortality to light Answer There is several wayes I might reply to this Argument There was not a state of a second life or immorality in Pnradice and therefore it cannot properly be said to be restored but brought to light that which before was not and first That the Minor never can be proved that is that Christ restored Eternal life the text saith He abolished death and brought life and immortality to light the sum of that is no more but a state of Resurrection made known to the sons of men and in this you fight with your own shadow Again secondly the question that is between you and I is whether Adam lost a Heavenly Paradice and purchased a second death in the lake of fire and brimstone the which I say he did not neither had he an heavenly Paradice before the fall neither could he purchase a second death unless he had sinned against a second life the which he did not And thirdly I do affirm that had not Adam sinned he should not have dyed but lived in that earthly Paradise the which life in a sence had been Eternal if he had not dyed and when he had sinned then had not Christ brought life and immortality to light we had dyed and been like water spilt upon the ground and never come to a Resurrection and so in a sence it had been Eternal death but this is that you should have proved if you had intended to touch me that Adam had a promise of Heaven before his fall and that by his fall he lost it and purchised a second death the which your Argument toucheth not And whereas you tell me the opinion of Mr. Hall and I know not who it is nothing to me what their opinion is it is proof of Scripture for what you affirm that I look for and without it your words or theirs is nothing and further let me tell you that Eternal life and immortality dwelt in the second Adam and not in the first And whereas you say That Adam had an inclusive promise of Eternal life by eating of the free of life Answer That tree God did appoint him to eat of because there was life or preservation of life comprehended in it but was then that tree that which you call Adams Eternal life If so then it will be easily granted that he lost that for a time but that the tree of life was a type of Christ that will be denied because when the substance is come
flesh and the Father of the Spirits and when that which Adam begat which was dust even like himself Genes 3. did and shall return to dust then that which liveth or dwelleth in it returneuh to God the Father of Spirits who gave it but I pass to the next thing that which you say is David was conceived in sin and therefore there was Soul as well as body Answer And first you abuse the Text for it doth not read it as you have read it for it doth not say In sin was I conceived but I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me This far differeth one sense implyeth as if David lay the sin in the time of conception upon his mother in whom he was shapen in and your sense would imply thus much that is that David did acknowledge sin in himself in the time of conception but the Text it self will not emply it see it and read it distinctly Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Psal 51.5 The Text is thus to be understood as if David should have said O Lord it is true I have sinned against thee and dâ—ne that which is evil in thy sight but take notice or consider or behold this one thing even of the frailty and weakness and imperfection of the mould that I was shapen in meaning her which is the mother of all living and so Davids mother and therefore Lord cast away my sins from before thee David doth not confess sin in himself in the time of conception but rather doth desire God to behold the weakness of his nature from the mould in the which he was shapen and consider my frame and remember that I am but dust agreeing with the words of the Psalmist in the 103. 11 12 13 14 in these words For as the Heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy towards them that fear him as far as the East is from the West so far he removeth our transgressions from us like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him for he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are dust So that David useth his mothers frailty and the imperfection of the mould in which he was shapen an Argument to prevaile with the Lord to have his sins removed out of his sight because he knew God was a God of righteousness weighing every thing as they are and considereth that we are but dust and therefore saith David that thou maiest in mercy pass by my faults that I have committed against thee remember my subjection unto sin for behold or take notice I was shapen in a lump of iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me take notice there is a difference in a person being sinful in the time of conception and being conceived a sinful lump or shapen in an imperfect mould But you will say Who can bring a clean thing out of unclean no not one Answer Object And where it is said who ean bring a clean thing out of unclean it speaketh of the subjection to mortality see Job 14.4 Jesus Christ was clean and yet was conceived in sinful flesh and in reference to what he was shapen or conceived in he was in a subjection not to be tempted onely but did fear death when he prayed that the cup of sufferings might pass from him if it was Gods Will although he came into the world for the same purpose and yet in respect of the matter of which Christs flesh was made of it could not be subject to the least imperfection in that nature it being the word which became flesh But my exposition of the 51 Psalm Will clear the matter more to you and by what is said there and here it standeth undenyably true and what you have said hath not so much as a good collour of an answer Again I pass to the Examination of what you say to my alledged Argument passing your other discourse that of Ezekiel which saith The Soul that sinneth shall die I have made a difference between Adams sin and ours as well as the punishment that is Adams sin as he was natural and not spiritual so his sin brought death upon the natural part but the son is not disabled in respect of the Soul by his Fathers sin but the Soul that sinneth shall die but the Argument that I did urge is this That no defiled creature is fit or can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven But children in their non-age are fit for the Kingdom of Heaven Therefore children not defiled To which you answer thus The Kingdom of Heaven say you is taken two wayes first the Kingdom of Heaven is taken for the Kingdom of Grace as Mark. 9.1 and Math. 11.12 There are some that stand here that shall not taste death till the Kingdom of God come in power till Christened Churches gathered Ordinances administred and children of beleeving Parents belong to this Kingdom though such as you barr them from the Ordinances of the Kingdom of Grace To which I answer and say in what you affirm there is these two things mainely to be considered the first is that the Kingdom mentioned Mark 9.1 in these words There be some that stand here that shall not taste of death till they have seen the Kingdom of God come with power is the Kingdom of Grace to wit the Gospel Church and Ordinances And secondly children are fit for that Kingdom as you say but the question is whether we may beleeve you or not but upon Examination I shall prove it to be a false doctrine And first to the first That the Kingdom coming in power is not meant of the Gospel Church or Ordinances but of the power and glory of the Church triumphant agreeing with or being the same with the words of Matthew Mat. 16.22 the which are thus read Verily Verily I say unto you there be some standing here which shall not taste if death till they sie the Son of man coming in his Kingdom Now that this is not a Gospel Church or Ordinances which is called the Kingdom of God coming in power or the Son of man coming in his Kingdom is evident because it is no where so called Secondly if he had meant the Gospel Church or Ordinances he need not have said Some of them that stand here shall not taste of death till the Kingdom of God come in power or more properly the Son of man coming in his Kingdom because none of them that stood there did taste of death till they saw the Gospel Church and Ordinances unless Judas Iscariot but I shall shew most evidently that it is not meant of the Gospel Church and Ordinances coming but of Christs coming in Glory But by the way it is possible you will say What then is not all the Apostles dead I might say somewhat to it but admit they were all dead many hundred years ago yet there was some that did
power over the clay it is to answer this Objection VVhy doth he yet find fault saying who hath resisted his will the which the Apostle answereth by proving that they had resisted it by being marred in his hands and that God might deal with them as Ieremies potter did with his clay and yet be just when be judged if a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour and this is the summe of the Apostles reasoning in the ninth of the Romans and moreover take notice that whereas the Apostle saith hath not the Potter power over the clay is to answer this Objection Why doth he yet find fault for who hath resisted his will Where the Apostle sheweth that they had resisted his will by being marred in his hand under the means of Grace or otherwise he saith nothing at all in answer to the Objection for if Paul had been of your opinion that is to say if he had supposed that the will of God in the tenderness of grace were irresistable so as it could not be resisted then the Apostle had no ground to make an Objection of that nature because he could never have fairly answered it and that you may see it more evident admit of this comparison for illustration suppose a man should have two Sons and it was the Fathers pleasure to educate one Son very richly and also to leave the other Son without any breeding or education at all so that he could not carry or behave himself at all sutable to his Father in-so-much that he doth bring much dishonour to his Father the which causeth his Father to be much displeased with him so far as to dis-inherit him for that dishonour that he bringeth to him by his ill manners Now if this Son should object and say Why doth my Father deal thus with me to dis-inherit me for my ill manners who hath resisted his will for was it not his will thus to educate me therefore why doth he now find fault with me it is true it was in his power to educate me as he pleased and forasmuch as it was his will and pleasure to educate me no better who canresist his will why doth he now find fault because my carriage and behaviour is no better seeing I have not resisted his will How any man can take off the objection so as to dear the Father and lay the fault on the Son I know not so in like manner if God should appoint persons vessels of wrath before they were born and so with hold the education of his Spirit from them and yet notwithstanding be offended because there behaviour to him was no better if they should say why doth he find fault with us for so doing for who hath resisted his will for it was his will and pleasure so to make us how that or such a like Objection could be answered I know not although I doubt not but I know all or in a great measure what may be said to it for if the Apostle do only plead Gods prerogative over all creatures as you say that he cannot make them what vessel he please either to honor or to dishonour and that it be his pleasure to make some dishonourable yet still the Objection lyeth unanswered Why doth he then find fault seeing he maketh them as he pleaseth who hath resisted his will But as I have said the Apostle Paul cleareth God and proveth that they were the people that had resisted his will by their putting eternal life away from them and so were marred in his hand and that God was just in making them dishonourable and casting them out as before-said and thereby cleareth Gods Justice and so I pass to the next thing considerable to wit Gods power that is Whether God want Power yea or nay because it is a question you ask To which I answer and say That if we speak only of Gods power and not consider his other Attributes then I say God hath not only power to save all Israel and compell them to turn from all their iniquities from which he often fore-warned them and dehorted them and sweareth that he hath no pleasure in their death but rather in their life and cryeth O that they would have hearkened unto my Commandâ—ments and how often would I have gathered them as a Hen doth her Chickens under herwings but they would not Now if we consider God as Power only he could have compelled them to have done what he commanded and he could have saved the whole world without shedding of his Sons blood he had power enough to have kept Adam from that sin in Paradice the which he did forbid and also to glorifie the Devils and damned spirits and in a word what could not God do if we consider him only as Power but if we consider God as consisting of many Attributes as Wisdom Power Righteousness Faithfulness Truth Purity Justice Mercy Long suffering Patience and many more that might be mentioned then there be many things that God cannot do he cannot lye he cannot respect persons he cannot do unrighteousness he cannot command persons to do that which he never gave them power to do and then punish them for not doing of it he hath power enough to save the Wicked but his Justice will not admit of it he had power enough to redeem the World without blood only his Justice must be satisfied he had power enough to have caused Israel to have dwelt safely and not to have been moved for all their sins but his Purity and Truth could not suffer it for the word was gone forth of his mouth That at what instant he spake of a Nation to build and to plant if they did evill in his sight be would repent of the good that he had said he would benefit them withall and therefore he could not prosper Israel when they lived in their sins he had power enough to save Israel without or beyond means but his wisdom and good will and pleasure would not admit of it because his wisdom and good-will and pleasure was to save all thorow meanes and he had power enough to make all their hearts of such a temper that they could not have resisted him but it was Gods wisdom so to dispose of mans heart that he had power enough to stand if he did improve it and yet notwithstanding he put him in such a capacity that he might fall if he took not good heed to that end that he might see a want of daily supplies from God and that he should not be high-minded and solâ— feed up but that he might be humble and fear also God had power enough if we consider him only as power when Adam fâ—ll either to have cast them all away or to have chosen some and to have left other some but it was inconsistent with his Attributes and therefore he could not do it First it was inconsistent with his Wisdom and Goodness and Honour that Satan through his
an Assyrian and also King of Babylon but that there is more meant in the Text than the destruction of any of the Babylonious Kings in foretime as you may see in the discours of the chapter considered with the 5. of Micha Again you say Page 31. That Antichrist is set out in a double form a Tyrant and a false Prophet and yet but one beast Answ Where you learned that lesson that the Beast and falce prophet was one and the same or one Beast I know not to before your cited place Rev 13.4 11.18 will not prove it but you may see they are not one and the same Beasts Read Syons Redemption you my see 〈…〉 why the Antichrist may not be understood to be the Romish Babylon for the answer is not valued to it But another beast rose out of the earth saith John v. 11 and in chap 10. v. 20. they are clearly distinguished into viz. a Beast and false Prophet which was subordinate to the Beast both these mark that Were taken alive and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone Hence your answer to my first reason why the Romish Babylon is not the Antichrist falls to the ground Curteous Reader peruse my Syons Redemption and you shall see the answer given to it not vallued with it Secondly you say That Antichrist shall confesse God and Christ in words Answ I pray when you write again inform me of whom you learned that the Antâ—christ would confesse God or Christ in words For as yet I never learned it from the Scriptures But I shall shew that Antichrist will never own Christ in words or works and it is a main property in Antichrist to deny Christ in words as well as in works as saith the Apostle John Who is a lyar but he that denieth Jesus to be the Christ The Antichrist will not confess Christ in words nor works as is clearly proved he is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is the spirit of Antichrist for many deceivers are entred into the world who confesse not that Jesus Christ is come into the flesh this is a deceiver and an Antichrist From whence we may see the main property of the spirit of Antichrist to deny both in words and actions any other God or Christ save himself and this spirit was working in the Apostles time to bring forth that great design viz. the man of sin or the Antichrist as saith the Apostle Paul The mystery of iniquity doth already work 2 Thes 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 only he that letteth viz. the sixth Head will let till he be taken away then shall the wicked be revealed and oppose HIMSELF above all that is called God or worshipped so that he as God shall sit in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God And Daniel saith that HE shall stand up against the Prince of PRINCES Dan. 8.23 24 25. Dan. 11.36 37 38. and do according to his will and shall exalt himsel fand magnifie himself above every God and shall speak mark that MARVELOVS THINGS AGAINST THE GOD of GODS From whence although more might be said we may see that the great ANTICHRIST will not deny God onely in works but also in words From whence your answer to my second Reason also falleth to the ground without remedy and so I passe to the next which is say you It is plain that the Pope shall not be destroyed untill the last day to the proof of which you cite 2 Thes 2.8 and Rev 19 20. knowing not what you say nor whereof you do affirm Answ I have already proved that HE viz. the Man of sin spoken of in the Tessalonians is the Antichrist and not the Woman which sate upon the scarlet coloured Beast Mystery Babylon and also that power or ten horns that shall support Antichrist shall totally destroy the Pope viz. Rome which is called by the name Whore and after that time Christ and his Army shall destroy the Man of sin and his Army Now that this is a clear truth I shall shew from two plain Texts of Scripture and first to the first that is that the Popes Kingdome shall be unterly destroyed by those that shâ—l uphold and give their power to the Antichrist read Rev. 17.16 17 18. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall cat her flesh and burn her with fire for God hath put it into their hearts to fulfil his Will and to agree and give their kingdom to the Beast untill the word of God shall be fulfilled and the woman that thou sawest is the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Hence we see that those Kings that shall give their power and Kingdoms to the Beist viz. the Antichrist shall utterly destroy Rome and burn her with fire The Pope and his Kingdome is to be destroyed by the Antichrist as is plainly proved insomuch as there shall not remain neither root nor branch Thus you have seen the Pope and his kingdome destroyed by the Beast or the ten horns which were upon the Beast and now in the second place I shall shew that the Beast and those Kings after this victory over Rome shall adventure another engagement and that is with the Son of man and his Army but then he come to hisend and none can help him with an universal destruction read Rev. 19.19 in these words And I saw the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their Armies gathered together to make war against him that sate on the Horse and against his Army and the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beast and them that worshipped his Image not Jupiter these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone and the remnant was stain with the sword of him that sate upon the Horse which sword proceeded out of his mouth and all the fowls were filled with their flesh This was the great sacrifice that the Lord had to sacrifice in Bozra and also the reaping of the earth spoken in Joel and also the Wine presse spoken of in the Apochalips Joel 3.11 12 13 14. Isa 59.16 17 18. ch 63.1 2 3 4 5 6. Ezek. 39.1 2 4 5. 17 18. Rev. 14.19 20. and he that wants further satisfaction as to this read my Syons Redemption although I might adde unto it if time in reference to other occasions would give me leave but I study brevity and thus having vindicated my reasons which proves that the Romish Babylon is not the Antichrist by shewing that Rome shall be destroyed by Antichrist namely by the ten Horns as his servants by his appointment and he to remain till
and his Disciples should be for signs and wonders in Israel it was so and as it was prophesied that the Jews should smite him on the cheek it was so and as it was prophesied that they would give him vineger to drink it was so and as it was prophesied that one should betray him for thirty pieces of silver by which the Potters field should be bought it was so and as it was prophesied that they should cast lots for his vesture it was so and that a bone of him should not be broken but that he should be peirced it was so done to him These and many such like things as touching Christ and also concerning Israels Captivity by the Bibylonians which was foretold by the Prophets was fulfilled in the letter multitudes of such like things as I could speak of but the time fails me which was fulfilled in the very letter Therefore let us believe that what the Prophets as touching Christs glorified condition in Jerusalem and Peter knew well what he said when he speaks of Christs Kingdome saying We have not followed cunning devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus but we were eye-witnesses of his glory and we have a more sure word of prophesie to which you do well if you give heed mark that knowing first that no prophesie of Scripture was of any private interpretation neither came it by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Hence we see the Prophets words are of great weight and also take notice that all the Prophets bare witnesse to the truth of what I have asserted and this intervening discourse I thought good to adde to that end that the courteous Reader might take notice that what the Prophets had foretold was and is to be fulfilled in the letter of the Scriptures unlesse they are proverbs or parables or the like and therefore I shall desire thee to read them the more diligently and distinctly they want not an interpretor but are very plain to him that hath any discerning spirit onely take notice of this that whereas the Prophet Ezekiel speaks of David he means the Son of David viz. Christ which is to sit upon his Throne for ever as the discourse of the Chapter will clearly shew as possibly I may give an hint of it in the marginal â—oat and these few things premised I come to the second part of the assertion which is That Christ shall Reign in Jerusalem And in order to the making of it appear to be truth I shall shew you that the Prophets have foretold it viz. that the Lord shall make Ierusalem or Zion at or in Jerusalem his seat and reign there before whom Kings shall fall down and shall worship before him therefore mark well the words of the Lord spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets Psal 2.6 Zach. 2.10 11 12 13. which saith Yet have I set my King upon his holy hill of Zion Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Zion for lo I will come and dwell in the midst of thee saith the Lord And many Nations shall be joyned unto the Lord in that day and shall be my people and I will dwell in the midst of thee Isa 31.4,5 6. and thou shalt know that the Lord of Host hath sent me unto thee And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy Land Jer. 13.7 and shall chuse Jerusalem again Be silent O all flesh before the Lord Isa 24.23 for he is raised up out of his holy habitation So will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem and in defending of it he will deliver it Ezek. 34.23 24. Then shall the Sun be ashamed and the Moon confounded when the Lord of Hosts shall Reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem David being prophesied to be a Shepherd and Prince in Jerusalem and so to remain for ever is to be understood Christ before his Ancients gloriously At that time they shall call Jerusalem the THRONE of the Lord and all the Nations shall be gathered unto it to the name of the Lord to Jerusalem neither shall they walk any more after the imaginations of their evill heart And I will set up one Shepheard over them and he shall feed them even my Servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their Shepheard And I the Lord will be their God and my Servant David viz. Christ a Prince a-amongst them I the Lord have spoken it Behold I will take the children of Israel from amongst the heathen whither they be gone Ezek. 37.21 10 29. and I will gather them on every side and will bring them into their own Land And I will make them a Nation in the Land upon the mountains of Israel and one King shall be King to them all and they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be devided into two Kingdomes any more at all Neither shall they defile themselves with any of their transgressions but I will cleanse them so shall they be my people and I will be their God And David my servant viz. Christ shall be King over them It cannot be meant that David in the letter shall be their Prince for ever but Christ that is called the Son of David and is to sit upon his Throne for ever and they shall have one Shepheard and they also shall walk in my judgements and observe my statutes and do them And they shall dwell in the Land that I gave to Jacob my servant and they shall dwell therein even they and their children and their childrens children for ever and my servant David viz. Christ shall be their Prince for ever Moreover I will make a Covenant of peace with them and it shall be an everlasting Covenant and I will place them and multiply them and will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore My Tabernacle also shall be with them and I will be their God and they shall be my people The heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctifie Israel when my Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore Rev. 21.3 4. And I heard a great voice from heaven saying the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself will be their God And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 5.9 10. And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the Book and lose the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud out of every kindred tongue and Nation And hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will perform that good thing that I promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah In those daies and at that time will I cause a