bones as ye see me have And when he had spoken these things he shewed them his handâ— and his feet As if he had said Come my Disciples take special notice of me do not be daunted nor affrighted but consider that it is I my selfe Well they could nâ—t beliâ—ve as yet but wondered that such a thing as this should be And while they were thus wondering he did give them another infallible proof And he said unto them have you here any meat v 41. As if the Lord had said Come my Disciples I see that you are very full of unbelief if you have here any meat you shall see me eat before you all And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish and of an honey combe and he did eat before them Againe v. 42. the Lord strives with another infallible proofe against their doubting saying My Disciples doe you not remember what discourse you and I had before I was crucified how that I told you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets concerning me Another infallible proof was that appearance of his at the Sea of Tiberias where he came to them on the shore and called them and provided for them a dinner and wrought a notable miracle while he was there with them at that time Namely the catching of 153. great fishes and yet their net brake not Which as it was a great miracle so it did also shew his power and authority over his creatures Besides his eating and drinking with his Disciples after his resurrection And also his preaching to them Acts 1. 3. This is not the lead viz. that he was with his Disciples on earth 40 daies which was almost six weeks speaking to them the things concerning his kingdome which was a mighty confirmation of their faith in his resurrection I shall now briefly touch two or three Scriptures which hold forth the Disciples testimony of his resurrection And the first is in Acts 10. 40 41. In which place the Apostle speaking of the Lord Jesus saith â—im 〈◊〉 raised â—y the third day and shewed him openly yet not to all the people but to witnesses chosen before of God even to us saith the Apostle who did eat and drink wâ—â—h him after he was risen from the dead Again Acts 4. 10. And Acts 13. 29. 30 31. The words run thus the Apostle speaking of Jesus saith And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him they took him 〈…〉 the tree and laid him in a Sepulchre But God raised him from the dead and he was seen many dâ—yes of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem who are his witnesses unto the people And thus far toâ—ching his resurrection from the dead In the next place I am to prove that this very man Christ Jesus the Son of the Virgin in his very body the same body that was crucified is above the clouds and the heavens And though this is made light of by those men called Quakers and other inâ—idels of this generation Yet I am sure that it will prove true to their cost who reâ—ect it as erroneous and vain But to prove it First I shall prove that he is ascended Secondly that he is ascended above the cloâ—ds and the heaven For the first that he is asâ—eâ—dâ—d see Ephes. 4. 8. 9 10. Whereore saith the Apostle when he ascended up on high he led captivitie captive and gaue gâ—fts unto men Now that he ascended what is it but that he descended first into the lower parts of the earth he that descended is the same that also ascended againe up far above all heavens Againe read Joh. 20. 17. where Christ after his resurrection from the dead saith to Mary Magdalene Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father That is I have not yet ascended with this my body wherewith I was crucified on the cross But go to my brethren and â—ell them meaning his Disciples that I doe ascâ—nd to my father and your father to my God and your God Object But in that place may some say Ephes. 4. 10. he that descended is said to be the same that ascended Now there was no humane nature with God in heaven before the world was Therefore if he be but the same that was with the father from all eternity then the humanity of the Son of Mary is not ascended into heaven Answ. First for answer It is cleer from Joh. 1. 1. that the word or Son of God as he was a Spirit was with the Father before the world was But now in the fulness of time that is when that time that the Father and he had concluded on was come God sent forth his sonne which was with him before the world was Joh. 7. 5. made of a woman that is born of a woman And he took on him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men Phil. 2. 6 7 Now as he was borne of a woman as he was in the likeness of men â—o he ascended to the right hand of his Father in our nature And for this I pray turne to Act. 1. and there you shall find that he is the same that was born of the Virgin that very man that was crucified if you compare v. 3 with v. 9 10 11. you will find it so to be Now in the v. 9. after he had spoken many things while they beheld that is while his disciples looked on him he was taken up that is he was taken up from them into heaven as in v. 11. and a cloud received him out of their sight And while they looked up stedfastly towards heaven as he went up which heaven was not within them if it had they needed not to have looked toward the clouds and the heaven without them behold two men stood by them not in them in white apparrel which also said that is the two men or Angels which stood by them said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven Here again they did not look within them but stood gazing or looking after the Lord Jesus the son of Mary who was carried away from them in a cloud v. 9. But why say the Angels do you stand gazing so much into heaven your Master will come againe after a certain time For This same Jesus Namely which was crucified which rose again and haâ—h been with you these 40 dayes which also you see go into heaven shall so come namely in a cloud as ye have seen him go into heaven But shall be not lose his body before he come again No say the Angels hâ— shall so come that is as ye have seen him go in like manner that is with the same body Or else I am sure he cannot come in the same manner if he lose his body before he comes again for he went thither with that body But thâ—t same Jesus that was crucified is he that
are those in our duâ—es who reject this doctrine that you lay down concerning the Lord Jesus Christ as you lay it down and they are for a Christ within for a cross within for a resurrection and intercession within and they do not hold as you do a Christ without and a resurrection of Christ without and intercession of Christ with uâ— I and they have very much Scripture for that which they say too And therefore what should such as we do that stand tottering and shaking in these distracted and dangerous times for our poor souls are in very much doubt what way to take Ans. Therefore I will speak a few words to you by way of discovery of the falsity of such opinions and a word of direction how you should understand the truth First therefore he that cries up a Christ within in opposition to a Christ without that man instead of having the spirit of Christ in him is possessed with a spirit of delusion for where the spirit of Christ is in truth that spirit causeth the soul to look to the Christ that was born of the Virgin for all justification as it is written Howbeit when he the spirit of truth is come he shall lead you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but what soever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come mark the next verse he saith the son of the Virgin shall take of mine and shall shew unto you Joh. 16. 13 14. he shall take of mine what is that why surely it is he shall take of my Godhead my humanity my birth my righteousness my blood my death my resurrection my ascenâ—ion and intercession my Kingly Priestly and prophetical offices and shall shew you the life merit and value of them And this was it which was revealed to Paul by the holy spirit here spoken of 1 Cor. 15. 1 2. to the 8. Moreover brethren saith he I declare unto you the Gospel which Iâ—p eached unto you which also ye have received and wherein ye stand By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you unlesse ye have believed in vain But what is this doctrine why I delivered to you first of all that which I also receive â— What was that why 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 there is his death and resurrection preached And that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelve after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once of whom the greatest part remain unto this present but some are fallen asleep After that he was seen of James then of all the Apostle And last of all he was seen of me saith Paul as of one born out of due time This is it I say that the spirit of truth doth hold forth to poor sinners a Christ crucified without the gates of Jerusalem Luke 23. 32 33. buried in Josephâ— seâ—ulcher v. 53. risen again the third day Luke 24 6. ascended away from his Disciples in a cloud into heaven as in Act. 1. 9 10 11. And there ever liveth that very man with that very body to make intercession for all that receive him Heb. 7. 24 25. This is I say the doctrine of the spirit of truth whatsoever is the spirit of errour Q. But do not the Scriptures make mention of a Christ within 2 Cor. 13 5. A. Yes And he that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his Rom. 8. 9. But he that hath it is led out of himself by it and as I said before it shews the soul what the blessed son of the Virgin Mary hath done and suffered and is a doing for it Therefore hereby know we the spirit of truth from the spirit of errour Every spirit that doth confesse that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God That is that spirit that doth confess that Jesus Christ took flesh upon him and in that flesh did bear our sins 1 Pet. 2. 24. Col. 1. 20 21 22. 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Pet. 4. 1. and after he was taken down from the cross and laid in a sepulcher rose again from the dead that very man with that very body wherewith he was crucified That spirit that doth believe and confess this is of God and is the blessed spirit of Christ whereof hâ— spake when he was yet with his Disciples touching his bodily presence for he saith the Son of Mary shall glorifie me for he shall take of Mine and shew it to you Joh. 16. 13 14. I have answered this already in my Epistle to the first treatise Therefore believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God for many false spirits and prophets are gone out into the world therefore have a care how thou receivest the voice that speaks to thee but try whether they are according to the truth of Gods word as it is written To the law and to the testimony if it be not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa. 8. 20. Therefore try a little Doe they flight Gods Christ which is the Son of the virgin that spirit is of the Devil 1 Cor. 12. 3. 2. Doe they say that that blood of his which was shed without the gates of Jerusalem doth not wash away sin yea all sin from him that believes that is a spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 1. 7. 3. Doe they say that that man that was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem is not risen again with that verybody wherwith he was crucified out of the Sepulchre Luk. 24. 38 39. That is a Spirit of Antichrist 4. Do they say that that very man that was crucified with that very body is not now in the presence of his father absent from his people touching his bodily presence though present in spirit I say who ever they be that say he is not there they are of the Divel for the proof of this see Acts 5. 30. and 31. and compare it with Heb. 7. 24. 25. The God of our fathers saith the Apostle raised up Jesus But what Jesus Whom ye slew saith he to the Jews Him the very same whom ye slew hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel and forgiveness of sins And indeed here is my life namely the birth of this man the righteousnesse of this man the blood of this man the death and resurrection of this man the ascension intercession of this man for me and the second comming of this man to judge the world in righteousness Acts 17. 31. I say here is my life if I see this by faith without me through the operation of the spirit within me I am safe I am at peace I am comforted I am encouraged and I know that my comfort peace and encouragement
is true and given me from heaven by the father of Mercies through the Son of the virgin Mary Mat. 1. 21. who is the way to the father of Mercies Joh. 14. 6. who is able to save to the utâ—â—rmost all that come to the father by him Heb. 7. 25. Because he that very man with that very body wherwith he was crucified is ascended into heaven Acts 1 9 10. 11. and there ever lives to make intercession for them that come to God by him This is the rock sinner upon which if thou be built the gates of Hell nor Ranter Quaker sin law death no nor the Divel himself shall ever be able to prevail against thee Mat. 16. 16 17. 18. And here I leave thee to the wisdome of the great God who if he hath chosen thee in his Son and brought thee to him and hath made thee by faith to lay hold on him thou needst not fear the divel with his siftings snares wiles and fiery darts wherewith he doth destroy thousands but mayest with the Apostle if thou live in the power and life of the love of God towards thee cry out I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate thee from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. And now Reader if thou be a true Christian I am sure that these be the things that appearto be the glorious substantial truths to thy soul and thou doest not care for that comfort that doth not make this Man the Son of the virgin precious to thy soul 1 Pet. 2. 7. for thou knowest that it is he that hath deliver'd thee from the wrath to come 1 Thes. 1. 10. Bâ—t as for you that are disobedient except you mend your manners you will stumble and fall backwards and be broken and snared and taken Isa. 28. 13. and wonder and perish because you believe not A few words more and so I shall have done and they are words of counsel to thee Have a care thou receive not every Christ that is profered to thee though it may appear very excellenâ— to thy foolish heart For under the name Christ are men deceived as it is written many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shal deceive many Mat. 24. 5. But have a care that thou receive that Christ that was borne without thee fulfilled the Law in his humane nature without thee spilt his blood without thee is risen againe and ascended without thee and maketh intercession without thee And that he that very man that was borne of the Virgin will come againe in the clouds without thee And this truth must thou receive by that Spirit that he hath promised to send and give to them that aske him And that shall dwell in thy heart and shall shew thee what the Son of Mary the virgin the Son of Man the Son of God the true God hath in his body done for thy soule Joh. 16. 13 14. And if thou receive him in truth then though thou doe not boast nor brag of thy holiness as those painted hypocrites called Quakers do yet thou wilt do more worke for God in one hour then they even all of them can do in all then life time Take my counsel and the Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon thy soul and body Farewel Some Questions to the Quakers Or a few quaeries to those who are possessed with a spirit of delusion in this generation Be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you 1 Pet. 3. 15. And I beseech you do it in sincerity 1. IF thou sayest that every one hath a measure of the spirit of Jesus Christ within him why say the Scriptures that some are sensual having not the spirit Jude 19. And when Christ tells his Disciples of sending them the spirit he also saith The world can not receive it Joh. 14 17. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by from the curse of the law Is it by something that is done within them or by something done without them If thou answer it is redeemed from the curse of the law by something that worketh in them Then I ask why did the man Christ Jesus hang upon the Cross on mount Calvary without the gates of Jerusalem for the sins of his people And why do the Scriptures say that through this man is preached to us the forgiveness of sins That is through his blood Eph. 1. 7. which was shed without the gates of Jerusalem Heb. 13. 12. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is or was crucified within you dead within you risen within you ascended within you 4. Is that very man that was crucified on mount Calâ—aâ—y between two thieves whose name is Jesus the son of Mary I say is he the very Christ of God yea or no 5. Is that very man with that very body within you yea or no 6. Was that Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary a real man of flesh and bones after his resurrection from the dead out of Josephs Sepulcher yea or no for the Scripture saith he was as in Luke 24. 39. If so then did that man that said handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have I say did that man go away from his Disciples and not into them in his body as these Scriptures declare Luke 24. 39 40. compared with v. 50. 51. also Acts 1. 9 10 11 or did he with that body of flâ—sh go into his disciple as some fond dreamers think 7. Hath that Christ that was with God the father before the world was no other body but his Church If you say no as it is your wonted course Then again I ask you what that was in which he did bear the sins of his children If you answer It was in his own body on the tree for so saith the Scripture 1 Pet. 2. 24. Then I ask you further whither that body in which he did bear our sins which is also called his own body was or is the Church of God yea or no again if you say he hath no body but the Church the Saints Then I ask what that was that was taken down from the Cross and laid into Josephs Sepulcher Luke 23. 51. 52. Now I know that as Christ is the head of his Church so the Church is the body of the head which is Christ. But as Christ is the Mediatour between God and men I say as he is Mediator so he is a man 1 Tim. 2. 5. and absent from his Saints in the world as is clear 2 Cor. 5. 6. Therefore as he is a Mediator and a man so he hath a body that is absent from his Church which body is descended from his
SOME Gospel-truths Opened according to the Scriptures OR The Divine and Humane Nature of Christ Jesus his coming into the World his Righteousness Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession and second comming to Judgment plainly demonstrated and proved And also Answers to severall Questions with profitable directions to stand fast in the Doctrine of Jesus the son of Mary against those blustring storms of the Devils temptations which do at this day like so many Scorpions break loose from the bottomless pit to bite and torment those that have not tasted the vertue of Jesus by the revelation of the Spirit of God Published for the good of Gods chosen ones by that unworthy servant of Christ John Bunnyan of Bedford By the grace of God Preacher of the Gospel of his dear Son Jesus saith I am the way the truth and the life no man commeth to the Father but by me Jo. 14. 6. Neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4. 12. London Printed for J. Wright the younger at the Kings head in the Old-baily 1656. To the Reader REader thou hast in this small Treatise set beforethee the several pieces of that great and glorious mysterie Jesus Christ God manifested in the flesh and if thou art enlightned by the spirit of Christ here thou maiest see by that spirit how Jesus Christ the Son of God the Son of Mary is both true God and true Man both Natures making but one Christ one Jesus as Phil. 2. 5 6 7 8 9 verses where speaking first of his being God and then of his taking upon him the nature of man afterward in the 8 and 9 verses he saith he meaning this Jesus humbled himself c. and God meaning the Father hath highly exalted him c. speaking of both natures God and Man as together making but one Christ who is the Saviour and is to be beleeved and trusted in for Salvation not only as God but as man also and those who do not thus make him the object of their faith will surely fall short of pardon of sin and of salvation Act. 13. 38 39. through this man speaking of Christ as crucified at Jerusalem is preached unto you forgiveness of sins and in the 1 Tim. 2. 5. saith he there is one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus and this discovers the damnable errors of those commonly called 〈◊〉 who on the 〈…〉 deny him that 〈…〉 of the Virgin 〈…〉 true God as 〈◊〉 as true man and this is also quite contrary to those commonly called Familists Ranters Quakers or others who on the other hand either deny Christ to be a reall man without them blasphemously fancying him to be only God manifest in their flesh or else make his humane nature with the fulnesse of the Godhead in it to be but a type of God to be manifest in the saints and so according to their wicked imagination his humane nature was to be laid aside after he had offered it up upon the crosse without the gate at Jerusalem contrary to Acts the 1. 1 2 3 9 10 11 verses compared with the last chapter of Luke verses 34 39 40 50 51. where it is clearly held forth that the man Christ rose againe out of the grave with the same body which was crucified and laid in the grave and was taken up above the clouds into heaven with the same real body and that he shal again descend from heaven in that same glorious body of flesh as Acts 1. 9 10 11. and this sure truth of Christ being the Saviour Mediatour as man and not only as God will also shew serious believers what to thinke of some who though they will not it may be deny that Christ is a real man without them in the heavens as well as God yet doe own him to be the Saviour only as God first dwelling in that flesh that was born of the Virgin and then dwelling in Saints and thus both beginning and perfecting their Salvation within them and so indeed doe hold Christ as man to be only I say to be only the saved or glorified one of God together with the Saints his members only something in another and more glorious manner and meisure then the Saints and these highflown people are in this very like to Familists and Quakers undervaluing the Lord Jesus Christ God-man and though they may speake much of Christ yet they doe not rightly and savingly lay him for their foundation Now as a helpe against all these dangerous things thou hast here the maine things of Christ laid down before thee briefly and fully proved by the Scriptures first of his being true God out of flesh from eternity and then of his taking flesh or the nature of man upon him in the wombe of the Virgin and so his fulfilling the Law his dying for sins at Jerusalem his rising againe without his ascending into heaven without and not into a fancyed heaven only within as some say his interceding in heaven for all his and his comming again in his body of flesh to judge the world And if thou art yet in a state of nature though covered over with an outside profession here thou maiest find something if the spirit of Christ meet thee in reading to convince thee of the sad condition thou art in and to shew thee the righteousness thou art to fly to by faith and to trust in for salvation when convinced of sin which is a righteousness wrought by that God-man Jesus Christ without thee dying without thee at Jerusalem for sinners here also thou maiest see the difference between true and faise faith If thou art a true believer as these things are the foundation of thy faith so they may be of great use for thee to meditate upon and to exercise thy faith in particularly in meditation and in this way to seek daily for a higher faith in these truths to be given into thy heart from heaven and there is a great need of this for though these truthes be commonly known amongst professors to the notion of them yet very few know or believe them aright nay it may well be said in this age that if the faith of the true saints was wel sifted and tradition notion and the apprehensions of their own reason and fancy was sifted out most of them would be found to have very little knowledge of and faith in these common truths Secondly these truths being put thus together and plainly proved by the Scriptures may be a great help through the Spirit concurring to strengthen thee against all those damnable heresies which are spread abroad which deny the Lord Jesus Christ either plainly or more cunningly and mysteriously And thirdly the more thou art rooted and set down from heaven in the faith of these truths of Christ to believe fully the glorious reality of them their interest in them the more heavenly peace and joy thou wilt have 1. Pet. 1. 7 8. also thou wilt hereby attain the more true
holiness purity of heart and life Acts 15. 9. purifying their hearts by faith and then the more thou hast of the right faith of Christ and of his things in thy heart the more strong and valiant wilt thou be in spirit to doe any worke private or publick for Jestis Christ like Stephen Acts 6 ver 8. who being full of faith and of the holy spirit was also full of power In this book thou hast also laid down from the Scriptures how Jesus Christ is without the Saints as man and yet dwelleth within them that is somthing of his divine nature or his blessed spirit dwels within them which spirit is somtime called the spirit of Christ. Rom. 8. 9. he that hath not the spirit of Christ c. and sometime called Christ Rom. 8. 10. if Christ be in you c. and also how we may know whether it be Christ and the spirit of Christ within or a false spirit calling it self Christ that is thus if it be indeed Christ within that is the spirit of Christ God-man why then it teaches that man or woman in whom it is to apply and trust in Christ without for Salvation Christ as born of the Virgin Mary as fulfilling the Law without them as dying without the gate of Jerusalem as a sacrifice for sin it teaches them to trust in the man Christ as rising againe out of the grave without them as ascending into and interceding in heaven without for them and as to come from that heaven againe in his flesh to judge the world Thus the man Christ himself saith Joh. 16. 13. When he the spirit of truth is come c. he shall glorifie me v. 14. he shall make you more to prize admire and glorifie me who am both God and man And who shal be absent from you touching my body Then followes For he shall take of mine of my glorious things and shew them to you He shall take my divine and humane Nature my birth my person and offices my obedience death satisfaction my resurrection ascension and intercession and of my second comming in the clouds with my mighty Angels to judgement and shall shew them or cleer them up to you He shall take of my salvation which I have wrought for you in my own person without you And he shall take of my glorie and exaltation in the heavens and shew to you Now to minde this one thing and to be set down in a right understanding of it by the Spirit from the Scriptures will be of great concernment to thee and me for for want of this many professors have split themselves some looking only on what Christ hath done suffered without them resting in an historical traditional and indeed a fancyed faith of it without looking for the Spirit of Jesus Christ to come with power into their hearts without which they cannot rightly know nor rightly believe in Christ the Son of God without them so as to have any share or interest in him Rom. 8. 9. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Others have been depending too much upon somthing they call Christ and the righteousness of Christ within them in opposition to Christ and his righteousnesse without them from which all true saints have their justification and comfort it being received through the operation of the spirit which dwels in them and however these may talk much of Christ within them yet it is manifest that it is not the spirit of Christ but the spirit of the Divel in that it doth not glorifie but sleight and reject the man Christ and his righteousnesse which was wrought without them Reader in this book thou wilt not meet with high-flown aerie notions which some delight in counting them high mysteries but the sound plain common and yet spiritual and and mysterious truths of the Gospel and if thou art a believer thou must needs reckon them so and the more if thou hast not only the faith of them in thy heart but art daily living in the spiritual sence and feeling of them and of thy interest in them Neither doth this Treatise offer to the doubtful controversial things or matters of opinion as some Books chiefly doe which when insisted upon more the weightier things of the gospell have alwayes done more hurt then good but here thou hast things certain and necessary to be believed which thou canst not too much study Therefore pray that thou maiest receive this word which is according to the Scriptures in faith and love not as the word of man but as the word of God without respect of persons and be not offended because Christ holds forth the glorious treasure of the gospel to thee in a poor earthen vessell by one who hath neither the greatness nor the wisdome of this world to commend him to thee for as the Scripture saith Christ who was low and contemptible in the world himself ordinarily chuseth such for himself and for the doing of his work 1 Cor. 1. 26 27 28. Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world c. this man is not chosen out of an earthly but out of the heavenly University the Church of Christ which Church as furnished with the spirit gifts and graces of Christ was in the beginning and still 〈…〉 will be to the end 〈◊〉 the world that out o◠which the word of the Lord and 〈…〉 gospel Ministers 〈◊〉 proceed whether 〈◊〉 or unlearned as to humane learning 1 Cor. 12. 2◠28. And though this man hath not the learning or wisdome of man yet through grace he hath received the teaching of God and the learning of the spirit of Christ which is the thing that makes a man both a Christian and a Minister of the Gospell as Isa. 50. 4. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned c. compared with Luke 2. 18. where Christ as man saith the spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor c. He hath through grace taken these three heavenly degrees to wit union with Christ the anointing of the spirit and experience of the temptations of Satan which doe more fit a man for that weighty work of preaching the Gospell then all Vniversity Learning and degrees that can be had My end in writing these few lines is not to set up man but having had experience with many other saints of this mans soundnesse in the faith of his godly conversation and his ability to preach the gospel not by humane art but by the spirit of Christ and that with much success in the conversion of sinners when there are so many carnal empty preachers both learned and unlearned I say having had experience of this and judging this Booke may be very profitable to many others as well as to my selfe I thought it my duty upon
tell you the very Devils themselves who were thrown from their first state for sinne 2 Pet. 2. 4. have such a taste of their horrible sins that when they did but suppose that Jesus was come to put an end to their tyrannical dealing with the world and to bring them to judgement for their sinnes to which they know they shall be brought it made them cry out Art thou comâ— to torment us before the time James doth also signifie thus much to us where he saith The Devils also believe and tremble James 2. 19. Which beliefe of theirs is not a believing in Christ to save them for they know he did not take hold on their Nature Heb. 2. but they do beleeve that Christ will come to their everlasting torment and the belief of this doth make these proud Spirits to tremble Again Man at his coming into the world hath this conscience given him which doth convince of sinne John 1. 9. John 8. 9. yet man as he commeth into the world hath not the spirit of Christ in him for that must be received afterward by the preaching of the word which is preached by the Ministers and servants of Jesus Christ. This is Gods usual way to communicate of his spirit into the hearts of his Elect and this is 〈◊〉 in so many words where Peter preaching to a certaine number the Scrpture saith While Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost oâ— holy Spirit fell on all those that heard the Word And again in Galat. 3. verse 2. 5. compared together Received ye the spirit by the works of the Law saith the Apostle or by the hearing of Faith or the Gospel which is the word of faith preached by us Which Spirit as Christ saith the world cannot receive because it seeth him not nâ—ither knoweth him though his children shall have fellowship with him to the great comfort of their owne souls John 14. 16 17. But now this mercilesse butcherer of men the Devil that he might be sure to make the soule fall short of glory if possible endeavours to perswade the soule that its state is good that it hath the spirit of Christ in it and for a proofe of the same saith he turne thy mind inward and listen within and see if there be not that within thee that doth convince of sin Now the poor soule finding this to be so all on haste if it be willing to professe through ignorance of the Gospel Claps in with these motions of in own conscience which doth command to abstain from this evil and to practice that good which if neglected will accuse and torment for the same neglect of others Rom. 2. 15 both now and hereafter Now the soule seeing that there is something within that convinceth of sinne doth all on a sudden close with that supposing it is the spirit of Christ and so through this mistake is carried away with the teachings and convictions of its owne Conscience being misinformed by the Devil unto the works of the law under which though it work all its dâ—ys and labour with might and maine yet it never will be able to appease the wrath of God nor get from under the curse of the Law nor get from under the guilt of one sinful thought the right way which is to be done by believing what another man hath done by himselfe Heb. 1. 2 3. without us on the crosse without the gates of Jerusalem See for this 1 Pet. 2. 24. Heb. 13. 12. The one saith he bare our sins in his own body on the tree the other saith it was done without the gate And thus the poor soule is most horribly carried away headlong and thrown down violently under the curse of the Law under which it is held all its dayes if God of his meer mercy prevent not and at the end of its life doth fall into the very belly of Hell Again that the Devil might be sure to carry on his design he now begins to counterfeit the work of grace Hence he is very subtil and doth transforme himselfe into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11. 14. Now he makes the soule beleeve that he is its friend and that he is a Gospel-Minister and if the soule will but be led by what shall be made known unto it by the light or conscience within it shall not need to fear but it shall do well Now he counterfeits the new Birth perswading them that it is wrought by following the light that they brought into the â—world with them Now he begins also to make them run through difficulties and now like Baals Priests they must lance themselves with knives c. Now they must wear no hatbands now they must live with bread and water now they must give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils which bids them abstaine from marriage and commands them to abstain from meates which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which love and know the truth as in 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Now they must not speak except their spirit moves them I doe not say the spirit of Christ though when it moves they will speak such sad blasphemies and vent such horrible Doctrines that it makes me wonder to see the patience of God in that he doth not command either the ground to open her mouth and swallow them up or else suffer the Devil to fetch them away alive to the astonishment of the whole world Object But you will say Doth not the Scripture say that it is the spirit of Christ that doth make manifest or convince of sin John 16. 8. Answ. Yes it doth so But for the better understanding of this place I shall lay downe this namely That there are two things spoken of in the Scriptures which doe manifest sin or convince of sin First the Law as saith the Apostle Rom. 3. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight viz. Gods sight For by the Law is the knowledge of sin 2. The Spirit of Christ doth make manifest or reprove of sinne as it is written John 16. 8. 9. And when he the Spirit is come he will reprove the world of sinne of righteousnesse and of judgement of sin because they believe not on me saith the Son of Mary which is Christ. Now the Law doth sometimes by its own power manifest sin without the spirit of Christ as in the case of Judas who was convinced of the sin of marther which made made him cry out I have sinned yet at that time he was so farre from having the spirit of Christ in him that he was most violently possessed of the Devil Luke 22. 3 4. Again Sometimes the spirit of Christ takes the Law and doth effectually convince of sin of righteousnesse and judgment to come Quaer But you will say How should I know whether I am convinced by the Law alone or that the Law is set home effâ—ctually by the
Spirit of the Lord Jesus upon my Conscience Answ. Unto this I answer First when the Law doth convince by its own power without the help of the spirit of Christ it doth only convince of sins against the Law as of swearing lying stealing murdering adultery covetousness and the like I say it doth only make manifest sins against the Law pronouncing an horrible curse against thee if thou fulfill it not and so leaves thee but it gives thee no strength to fulfill it compleatly and continually which thou must do if thoâ— wilt be saved thereby Now thy own strenth being insufficient for these things having lost it in Adam thou art a breaker of the Law Here the Law finds thee in the Sins and condemns thee for thy sins but gives thee no power to come wholly out of them neither doth it shew thee thy right Saviour to save thee from them which is the son of the Virgin Mary the Man Christ Jesus but commands thee upon paiâ— of eternal dâ—mnation to continue in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 3. 10. And therefore if thou hast been convinced of no other Sins but whâ—t are against the Law for all thy convictions and horrour of Conscience thou mayest be but a Naturalâ—man at the best and so undeâ—â—he curse Gal. 3. 10. But perhaps thou wilt say I am not only convinced of my sins against the law I have also some power against my sins so that I do in some considerable measure abstain from those things that are forbidden in the Law This thou mayest have and do as thou thinkest perfectly as those blinde Pharises called Quakers do think that they also do and yet be but a natural man And therefore I pray consider that place in Rom. 2. 14. the Apostle there speaks on this wise concerning the Gentiles obedience to the law For when the Gentiles which have not the law do by Nâ—ture the things contained in the law these having not the law are a law unto themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts Which work of the law Christ as he is God hath enlightned every one withall that cometh into the world Joh. 1. 19. which as the Quakers say doth convince of Sin yet of no other than sins against the Law and therefore must needs be all one light or law for the law is light Prov. 6. 23. and gives the knowledge of Sin Rom. 3. 20. And therefore as I said before so say I now again If thy convictions are not other then for the sins against the Law though thy obedience be the strictest that ever was wrought by any man except the Lord Jesus the son of Mary thou art at the best but under the Law and so consequently under the Curse and under the wrath of God Gal. 3. 10. Joh. 3. 36. whether thou believest it or not But now the second thing how thou shouldest know whether the Spirit of Christ doth effectually set home the law upon thy Conscience or not And therefore to speak directly to it If the Spirit of the Lord Jesus the Son of God doth set home the Law effectually then the same Spirit of Christ shewes thee more sin then the Sinnes against the Law For first it shews thee That all thy righteousnesse is but as filthy-rags Isa. 64. 6. Thou seest all thy praying meditation hearing reading almes-deeds fasting reformation and whatsoever else thou hast done doest or canst doe being an unbeliever deserves at the hands of God his curse and condemnation and that for ever And therefore thou art so far from trusting to it that in some measure thou even loathest it and art ashamed of it as being a thing abominable both in Gods sight and thine own Thou countest thy own performances when at best and thine own righteousnesse a bed too short to stretch thy selfe upon and a covering 109 narrow to wrap thy selfe in Isa. 28. 20. And these things thou seest not overly or slightly and as at a great distance but realy and seriously and the sense of them sticks close unto thee Secondly it shews thee that thou hast no faith in the man Christ Jesus by nature and that though thou hadst no other sins yet thou art in a perishing state because oâ— unbelief according to that 16. of John v. 9. of Sin because they believe not on me If therefore thou hast been convinced arighâ— by the Spirit thou hast seen that thou hadst no faith in Christ the Sonne of Mary the Sonne of God before conversion It shews thee also that thou canst not believe in thine owne strength though thou wouldst never so willingly yea though thou wouldst give all the world if thou hadst it to believe thou couldst not In the next place It will shew thee that if thou doest not believe in the Man Christ Jesus And that with the faith of the operation of God thou wilt surely perish and that without remedy Also it shews thee that if thou hast not that righteousnesse which the Man Christ Jesus accomplished in his own person for sinners I say if thou be not clo thed with that in stead of thine owne thou art gone for ever and therefore saith Christ speaking of the Spirit when he is come he shall reprove the world of Sir and of righteousness too That is The Spirit shall convince men and women of the sufficiencie of that righteousness that Christ in his humane nature hath fulfilled So that they need not run to the law for righteousness for Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. Again if the Spirit of Jesus set eth home the Law upon thy conscience thou wilt freely confesse that although the law curseth condemneth thee for thy sins and gives thee no power either to fulfill it or to come out of thy sins yet God is just in giving that law And the Law is â—oly and the Commandment hol and just and good Rom. 7. 12. Lastly it also convinceth of Judgement to come He viz. the Spirit shall reprove the world of Sin of Righteousnesse yea and of Judgement too Then doth the soul see that that very Man that was borne of the Virgin Mary crucified upon the crosse without the gates of Jerusalem shall so come againe even â—hat same Jesus in like manner as he was seen to go up from his Disciples Yea they that are thus convinced by the Spirit of Christ know that God hath appointed a day in which he will Judge the world in righteousnesse by that Man whom he hath ordained which is the Man Christ Jesus for it is he that is ordained of God to be the Judge of quicke and dead Acts 10. 42. And now O man or woman who ever thou art that art savingly convinced by the Spirit of Christ thou hast such an endless desire after the Lord Jesus Christ that thou canst not be satisfied
or conâ—ent with any thing below the blood of the sonne of God to purge thy conscience withall even that blood that was shed without the gates Heb. 13. 12. Also thou canst not be at quiet till thou doest see by true faith that the righteousnesse of the son of Mary is imputed unto thee and put upon thee Rom. 3. 21 22 23. Then also thou canst not be at quiet till thou hast power over thy lusts and corruptions till thou hast brought them into Subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then thou wilt never think that thou hast enough faith No thou wilt be often crying out Lord give me more precious faith Lord more faith in thy righteousnesse more faith in thy blood and death more faith in thy resurrection And Lord more faith in this that thou art now at the right hand of thy Father in thy humane Natâ—r making intercession for me a â—iserable sinner And then O poor Soul if thou commeâ—h but hither thou wilt never have an itchâ—ng eare after another Gospel Nay thou wilt say If a Preshyter or Anabapâ—â—st or Independent or Ranter or Quâ—ker or Papist or Pope or an Angel from heaven preach anyother Gospel let him be accuâ—sâ—d again and again And thus have I briefly shewed you First how Christ as he is God doth enlighten every man that comes into the world Secondly what this light will doe viâ—â— shew them that there is a God by the things that are made and that this God must be worshipped Thirdly I have shewed you the difference between that light and the Spirit of Christ the Saviour Fourthly I have also shewed you how you should know the one from the other by their several effects As first the first light convinces of sins but of none other then sins against the Law neither doth it shew the soul a Saviour or deliver for that is the work of the Spirit from the curse vvherevvith it doth curse it But I shevved you that vvhen the Spirit of Christ comes and vvorkes effectually it doth not only shevv men their sinnes against the Lavv but also shevvs them their lost condition if they believe not in the righteousness blood death resurrection and intercession of Jesus Christ the Son of Mary the Son of God And thus much I thought necessary to be spoken at this time touching the nature of Conviction Now in the third place Though I have spoken something thing to this thing already namely concerning our Lord the Saviour yet again in few words through grace I shall shew that he was made that is born of a woman and made under the Law to redeem them that are under the Law My meaning is That God is our Saviour And for this see Isa. 45 15. where you have these words Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour and ver 21. 22 you have these words Who hath told it from ancient times have not â— the Lord and there is no God besides me a just God and a Saviour and there is none besides me Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Why who art thou for I am God and there is none else Also in Isa. 54. 5. For thy maker is thine husband the Lord of hosts is his name and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole earth shall he be called read also vers 6 7 8. of that Chapter I could abundantly multiply Scriptures to prove this to be a truth but I shall only mâ—nd you of two or three and so pass on The first is in Jude ver 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and Acts 20 28. Joh. 3. 16. But you will say How is God a Saviour of Sinners seeing his eyes are so pure that he cannot behold iniquity Habak 1. 13. For answer hereunto First when the fulnesse of time was come wherein the salvation of Sinners should be actually wrought out God sent forth his Sonne which Son is equal with the Father made of a woman made under the Law that is he was subject to the power and curse of the Law to this end to redeeme them that are or were under the Law that is to deliver us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us From whence take notice that when the salvation of Sinners was to be actually wrought out then God sent forth the everlasting son of his love into the world cloathed with the humane nature according to that in Joh. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 14. And 1 Tim. 3 16. which saith God was manifested in the flesh that is took flesh upon him 2. This Sonne of God which is equal with the Father did in that Flesh which he took upon him compleatly fulfill the whole Law So that the Apostle saith Christ is the very end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that believes This righteousness which this Christ did accomplish is called the righteousnesse of God Rom. 3. 22. This righteousnesse of God is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe my meaning is it is imputed to so many as shall by faith lay hold on it This is also part of the meaning of that speech of the Apostle As many as were baptized into Christ have put on Châ—ist That is by faith have put on the righteousnesse of Christ with the rest of that which Christ hath bestowed upon you having accomplished it for you This is also the meaning of the Apostle Col 2. 9 10. where he saith For in him that is the sonne of Mary chap. 1. 13 14. dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And ye are compleat in him That is in his obedience and righteousness Which also the Apostle himselfe doth so hard presse after Phil. 3. 6 7 8. saying Doubâ—lesse I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord which Lord was crucified by the Jews as it is 1 Cor 2. 8. for whom that is for Christ I have suffered the loss of all things as well the righteousness of the Law in which I was blameless as all other things and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ And be found in him not having on mine owne righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith which is unto all and upon all them that believe That place also in the ninth of Daniel v. 24 25. holdeth forth as much where prophecying of the Messias he saith that it is he that came to finish transgression and to make an end of sin and to make reconciliation for iniquiâ—y and to bring in everlasting righteousness Now that the righteousnesse of the Sonne of Mary is it mind the 26. verse where he saith thus And after Threescore and
the body are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 6. but now if the man Christ were ascended into that heaven within them he would neither be absent from them nor they from him but in that he is absent from them touching his bodily presence and they from him touching the same it is evident that that heaven into which he is ascended must needs be without above the clouds 4 Consider that that heaven into which the man Christ is ascended must contain him till the time of restitution of All things as in Acts 3. 21. into which heaven he hath been ascended above sixteen hundred years by computation And I am sure there is not a Saint that doth live in this world half so long before he fall asleep and be gathered to his fathers so that that heaven into which he is scended is not within but must needs be that above the clouds But 5. Consider that he that ascended from his Disciples was a man with flesh and bones not a spirit only for handle me and sâ—e saith he for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Luke 24. 39 50 51. verses Now let the Adversaries shew by the Scriptures that there is any place in them called heaven that is able to contain a man of some four or five foot long the space of fifteen or sixteen hundred years besides that therefore it must needs be that heaven without which is above the clouds and Stars 6. Consider That heaven into which the Lord Jesus that man is ascended must not contain him alwaâ—es for saith the Apostle 1 Thes. 4. 16. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an Archangel So that there is another descending from that heaven into which he is ascended and his descending from that heaven is to this end namely to take his people to himself as it is v. 17. so that it is clear that it is not any heaven within thee into which the Man Christ that was born of the Virgin Mary is ascended but it must needs be that heaven without which is above the clouds 1. If thou consider that the place into which he is ascended even the heaven into which he is entred is the same place where all the the deceased Saints are in their Spirits Therefore saith Paul I desire to depart and to be with Christ which is better Now Paul did not in this place Pâ—il 1. 23. mean the enjoying of Christ only in the spirit for that he enjoyed in a great measure when he spake these words but he speaks of a dying and a being with Christ after this life is ended as is clear if you compare the 20 21 22 23 24. 25 and 26 verse together being absent from him while he was here in the bâ—dy 2 Cor. 5. 6. for whilst at homâ— in the body we are absent from the Lord. So that that heaven into which the Man Christ is ascended is not into his Church on earth but into heaven without above the clouds and the Stars And this David doth propheâ—ie of Psal. 47. 5. where he saith God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet Now Christ as God meerly could not go up being no lesse in one place then in another but as God man or in his humane nature he went up as will clearly appear Epes 4 8 9 10. where he speaketh of his triumâ—h over all the enemies of his people at his resurrection and ascension into heaven above the clouds 8. When Christ doth descend from that heaven into which he is now ascended his Saints and he will meet one another just in the air according to the Scripture 1 Thes. 4. 16 17. for saith he the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first that is they shall come out of their graves and then we which shall be saved alive at that day and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Pray mark here a little and see what heaven the man Christ is ascended into and see if it be not the heaven without above the Sun Moon and Stars When Christ and his Saints do meet the second time together the one ascends and the other descends the one is caught up in the clouds towards heaven the other descends from heaven towards the earth and they must needs meet one another just in the air that is between the heaven and the earth So then the one coming from heaven and the other from the earth and their meeting being in the air which is between heaven and earth is an undeniable demonstration that that heaven into which the man Christ is ascended must needs be that heaven without above the Sun Moon and Stars And thus much touching the Son of Mary his ascending up into the heaven without above the clouds Acts 1. 9 10 11. Acts 3. 21 1 Pet. 3 22 In the next place Now I shall prove the intercession of the man Christ Jesus to be in the heaven that I have been speaking of though some have mocked at it and others have called it jugling whose names here I shall not mâ—ntion only I shall admonish them that they doe not blaspheme the truth and Sonne of God in his intercession I shall quote some of the Scriptures that hold out this truth and so passe on And first of all see Psal. 16. 4. where David prophesying of the intercession of Christ saith their sorrowes shall be multiplyed that husten after another God speaking of the wicked their drink offerings of blood will I not offer nor take up their names into my lips Now compare this with Heb. 8. 4. where he saith If he were on earth he should not be a Priest And Heb. 9. 24. For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands meaning the temple which Solomon built which are figures of the true but into heaven it selfe now to appear in the presence of God for us Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25 But you will say is there a man made mention of here Yes for the Scripture saith Ther is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the Man Christ Jesus And in that 8. to the Heb. made mention of before where the Apostle is speaking of Christs priestly office as he is in the heavens compared with other Priests that are on earth he saith v. 3. for every high Priest is ordained to offer gifts and Sacrifices wherefore speaking of Christ it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer For if he were on earth he should not be a Priest seeing there
are Priests that offer according to the Law which law was the law of Moses Chap. 9. from 19. to 23. where also he is speaking of the Priesthood of the Priests under the law and their offering of the blood of Bulls and â—oats verse 12. compared with verse 19 20 21. And of the Lord Jesus the high Priest of Saints and of his blood verse 14. compared with verse 24. Now as men under the Law did offer up the blood of Bâ—lls and Goats so the man Christ Jesus did offer up his own blood to his father and this you may clearly see if you compare Heb. 9. 14. where he saith How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God with Heb 10. 12. where he sâ—iâ—h But 〈◊〉 man meaning the sâ—n of the Virgin Chaâ— 2. 14. compared with Mat. 1. 21. aâ—ter he had offered one sacrifice fâ—r sâ—ns for ever sate down at the right hard of God Again Heb. 7 the 〈◊〉 I mentioned before you shall find his intercession plainly held forth if you read verse 22. and so on where the Scripture saith By so much was Jesus made the surety of a better testament And truly they were many Priests meaning the Priests under the Law because they were not 〈◊〉 to continue by reasâ—n of death That is the high Priests under the Law could not live ever in this world because it was appointed to all men once to die But when he speaks of Christ Jesus he saith on this wise But this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood wherefore he this man is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him seeing he this man ever liveth to make intercession for them And thus in brief have I proved through the assistance of the Lord the intercession of the son of Mary which is also the son of God And this concerning Christs Priestly office might serve also for a proof of his being in the heaven without above the Stars But all men may see unlesse they be blind that these are the truths of our Lord Jesus Christ and of God his father and that those men that oppose them as the Quakers do are very violently possessed of the Divel and beside themselves and have neither the truth of God non his spirit in them 2 Joh. vers 9 10 Joh. 5. 38. 42. And now through the assistance of the Lord I shall come to the last that I promised and that is to prove That this very man Christ will come to judge the quick and the dead And first I shall prove the truth it self viz. that that man shall come again to judge the world quick and dead Secondly I shal shew you that his coming will be very shortly Thirdly What shall be done aâ— his coming Fourthly Who shall stand when he shall come and who not For the first That that man that was â—orn of the Virgin Mary shall come again to judge the quick and the dead read 2 Tim. 4. 1. l saith Paul charge thee therefore before God speaking to him even to Timothy and so to all believers and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and Kingdom Now if you would know who this Lord Jesus is look into Acts 10. 38. and you shall see it was Jesus of Nazareth would you know who that was read Mat. 2 toward the end and you shall see it was the son of Mary the Virgin who was espoused to Joseph the Carpenter But read Acts 10. v. 38 39 40. 41 42. you shall find these words God annointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Divel for God was with him And we are witnesses of all things that he did both in Jerusalem and in the land of the Jews whom they slâ—w and hanged on a tree even Jesus of Nazareth him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not to all the people but unto witnesses chosen before of God even to us who did 〈◊〉 and drink with him after he rose from the dead And he commanded us to preach unto the people that is God commanded us and to testifie that is to be bold in our preaching that it is he namely Jesus of Nazareth whom the Jews did thus crucifie which was ordained of God to be judge of quick and dead This is he also that is spoken of in Acts 17. 30 31. The times of this ignorance God winked at meaning mens being without the Gospel but now commandeth all men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day which day is the day of judgement Mat. 12. 36. in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man namely Jesus of Nazareth whom he hath ordained compare this with that in Acts 10. 38 39 40 41 42. whereof he hath given assurance to all men that is hath given a sure sign unto all men in that he hath raised him that is in that he hath raised Jesus of Nazareth from the dead This also is Christs own meaning Mat. 24. where speaking of his second coming he styleth himself the son of man saying And then shall appear the sign of the son of man and so shall the coming of the son of man be v. 27. So shall also the coming of the son of man be v. 37. So shall also the coming of the son of man be v. 39. Where by the way it is observable to see how the Lord of life and glory doth in this Chapter where he speaketh of his second coming for the most part style himself the son of man Surely he doth it to this end because he would not have his humanity and the doctrine thereof to be rased out from under heaven For he knew that in the last daies there would come mockers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming 2 Pet. 3. 3. I could multiply Scriptures to prove this doctrine of his second coming as Heb. 9. v. last 2 Pet. 3. 2 Thes. 1. 6 7 8. Luke 21. Mat. 24. Mat. 25. Rev. 22. 7 12. and the last 2 Cor. 5. 10. Rom. 14. 10. Acts 24. 25. But Secondly I will shew you that his coming will be shortly It is true no man can tel neither the day nor the hour yet so far as the Scriptures will give us light into the neernest of his coming so far we may go And therefore I shall shew that his coming draws nigh by those signs that he himself said should be forerunners of his coming And if you read Mat. 24. you shall see many signs of his coming spoken of First there is a falling away from the faith spoken of And that hath been fulfilled and is fulfilling every day 2. Wars and rumors of wars â—s another
is come the second time they that are in their graves shall arise and come forth of their graves as I said before in which they have laine according to that in Job 5. 28. Where Christ saith Marvell not at this for the houre is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evill unto the resurrection of damnation You will say Are these graves spoken of here the graves that are made in the earth yea that they are and for a further proof of the same look into Dan. 12. 2 Daniel there speaking of the same thing saith And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall arise or awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt or damnation I shall not stand here to dispute any distinctions of the resurrections only prove that the dead shall arise and that is a clear truth from the Scriptures Acts 10. 42. Rev. 20 11 12 13 14. and 1 Thes. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52. the dead shall be raised 2. He shall call all men and women to an account for all their close sinful thoughts words and actions then will the secrets of all hearts be made manifest Then shall all thy adulterous and theevish and covetous idolatrous and blasphemous thoughts be laid open according to that saying Their consciences also bearing them witness and their thoughts the mean time or while accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 2. 15. But when why in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ ver 16. see also 1 Cor. 4. 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time what time is that why when the Lord comes what will he do He will bring to light the hidden things of darknesâ—â— that is all those cunning close hidden wickednesses that thou in thy life time hast committed yea he will make manifest the counsels of the heart that is the most hidden and secret things that are contrived and plotted by the sons of men Then shal all the midnight whoremongers be laid open with all their sins Then thou it may be who hast committed such sins as thou wouldst not have thy Neighbour thy father thy wife thy husband or any one else know of for thousands then thou shalt have them all laid open even upon the house tops Luke 12. 1 2 3. Then thou that hatest Gods children his waies his word his spirit then thou that makest a mock at Jesus of Nazareth his second coming then thou that livest in open prophaness or secret hypocrisie then I say will be such a time of reckoning for you as never was since the world began then you that shall die in your siâ—s will cry to the mountains fall on us and cover us from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb which Lamb is the man Christ Jesus Joh. 1. 19. And ah my friends if the very looks of God be so terrible what will his blows be think you Then if all thy idle words shall be accounted for as it is written But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement Mat. 12. 36. and also all thy filthy actions shall be then regarded in such sort as thou shalt receive a just recompence for them And know saith the Scripture that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Eccles. 11. 9. Then Thou that are an unbeliever shalt be sure to fall under the judgement for all thy sins first thou must give account Secondly thou must fall in the judgement Oh my friends there are hot daies acoming for all those that are found out of the Lord Jesus Behold saith Malachi the daies come that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hoasts and it shall leave them neither root nor branch The day of judgement will burn like an oven and all that have not the righteousness of Christ upon them shall be as stubble Ah friends put a red hot oven and stubble together and what work will theâ—e be even the one will burn and destroy the other 3. When Christ doth come the second time another end of his coming will be to purge out all things that offend in his Kingdom Mat. 13. 41 42. Then shall the son of man send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that doe iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth There are many things that doe offend in his Kingdom now namely the lukewarm professor he doth offend first the Lord secondly his people But then thou lukewarm offending professor shalt offend the Church of God no more Secondly the loose professors do also offend God Christ and his Church First he scandals the Gospel by his loose walking and naughty carriages Secondly he doth make the world blaspheme the name of God by the same Thirdly he grieves the hearts of Gods people Phil. 3. 18. But know that thou also shalt be taken away from offending any more God Christ and his Saints and thou shalt have weeping and gnashing of teeth for thy thus offending Mat. 18. 6. 7. 4 Another end of Christs second coming is to cut of all the ignorant persons that are in the world There is a generation of poor souls that do think to be excused for their ignorance Alas saith one I am a poor ignorant man or woman and therefore I hope that the Lord will have mercy upon me We cannot say others do as such and such and will the Lord condemn us And thus poor souls as they are in the broad way to destruction least they should misse of the way to hell do swallow down by clusters that which will poyson them body and soul for ever and ever But you will say What will not the Lord have mercy on ignorant soules Ans. Not on those who live and die in their ignorance He himselfe hath said Esay 27. 11. Because it is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Again Paul also in that 2 Thes. 1. 8. saith that when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world he doth come to take vengeance on all them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ. But ye will say who are those ignorant persons that shall find no favour at that day or how doth the ignorance discover it selfe I shall only mention three or four sorts of men and leave thee to the Scriptures which if thou read them diligently will
then thou art one of those that will fall in the judgement except thou art born again and made a new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. But secondly thou thinkest that thou hast been born again 't is well if thou hast but least thou shouldst deceive thy poor soul I pray thee consider when did the spirit of the Lord Jesus shew thee that thou hadst no faith in thee by nature and when did the spirit of Christ convince thee of sin because thou didst not believe in him It may be thou hast been convinced of sins against the Law by the Law and thy own conscience as the Pharisees were Joh. 8. 9. and Rom. 3. 20. I but when didst thou see thy self a lost creature for want of faith in the son of Mary if not thou hast not yet been savingly convinced by the spirit of Christ for that when it convinceth effectually of sin it convinceth of unbeliefe though thou hast been never so much convinced of sins against the Law if thou hast not seen thy self under the power and dominion guilt and punishment of â—in because thou didst not believe in Christ thou hast not yet been savingly convinced for that 's one work of the spirit to convince of sin because they believe not on me saith Jesus the Son of Mary who was espoused to Joseph the Carpenter But on the contrary dost thou not say in thy heart thou never hadst thy faith to seek but hast alway believed with as good a faith as any one alive If so then know for certain that thou hast no faith of the operation of God in thee according to Gods ordinary working and if so then know that if the Son of man should come to judge the world at this moment of time that thou with all thy faith thou thinkest thou hast wouldst fall in the judgement 2 Thes. 2. 12. 3. Art thou born again then thou seest that thy great sin was want of faith in the Son of Mary Then thou seest that it is he that was sent of God to die for the sins of the world Jâ—h â— 19 Jo. 3. 16 17 18 19. Act 13 38 39. and that thou art compleat in him without any works of the Law Rom. 4. 4. theâ— thou rejoycest in Christ Jesus and puttest no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3. 3. yet thou rejoycest in the flesh and blood of the son of Mary knowing that his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed Joh. 6. 55. out of which thou wouldst very willingly make thy life all thy daies out of his birth obedience death resurrection ascension and glorious intercession now at the right hand of his father Heb. 7. 24 25. but if thou art wavering in these things know that thou art but a babe at the best and for ought thou knowest God maycut thee off in thy unbelief and cast thee into utter darkness where there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth 4. Art thou born again then thou seest all true peace and joy comes through the blood of the son of Mary and his righteousnesse as in Rom. 7. 24. 1 Cor. 15. 57. there are many poor souls that are taken with raptures of joy and false conceited consolation Joh. 16 20. which doth come from the Divel and their own deceitful hearts but their joy shall be turned into mourning and sorrow of heart Luke 6. 24 25. but thou that art a Christian indeed and not in word onely rejoycest in Christ Jesus the son of Maâ—y yea though now you see him not yet believing you rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. And these two things are the fruits of thy faith and of thy joy 1. The Lord Jesus Christ is very precious unto thee 1 Pet. 2. ver 7. 2. Thou dost purifie thine heart by this faith and the power of the spirit of Christ which thou hast received into thy soul Rom. 8. 13. Acts 15. 9. and 1 Joh. 3. 3. but if thy guilt of sin goes off and convictions go off any other way then by the blood and righteousness of the man Christ Jesus thy guilt goes off not right but wrong and thy latter end will be a very bitter end without faith and repentance for it is his blood through which all true peace comes Col. 1. 20. and there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we should be saved but by the Lord Jesus of Nazareth Acts 4. ver 10 11 12. compared together 5. Art thou borne againe Then thou canst not be quiet till thou doest see God lift up the light of his Countenance upon thee yea thou hast such a desire after the light of Gods countenance that all the glory riches honour pleasure profits c. of this world will not satisfie till thou doest see God to be a reconciled father to thee in the Lord Jesus Christ as it is Psal. 4. 6. Joh. 14. 8. Ps. 35. 3. then thou wilt not be quiet till thou doest hear from the son of Mary which is the Lord of glory 1 Cor 2. 8. such a voice as this Son be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee and My grace is sufficient for thee But if thou canst content thy selfe with any thing below this thou wilt when all comes to all be found but a rotten-hearted professor who wilt have thy portion among the slothfull ones who will fall in the judgement of the son of Man when he comes in flaming fire with his mighty Angels 2 Thes. 1. 8. 6. Art thou borne againe Then thou knowest that God hath given thee thy faith that thou hast in his son then thou art able to say through grace there was a time in which I had no faith there was a time in which I could not believe in the son of God for eternal life But Gâ—d who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved me even when I was dead in sins and unbelief which is the greatest hath quickned me together with Christ by grace I am saved Eph. 2. 4 5. through faith v. 8. 7. Art thou borne againe Then thou knowest that the doctrine of the Son of God the son of Mary is a right doctrine which is this First that the Son of God which was with his Father before the world was Joh. 1. 1. John 17. 5. came into the world in the fulnesse of time and was made in the likenesse of Men Phil. 2. 7. being made of a woman or virgin made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Gal. 4. 4. And that was done in this wise What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh that is through our flesh God sending his own Son in the likenesse of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that is condemned him in the flesh for the sins of poor sinners For this compare Rom. 8. 3. and 2 Cor. 5. 21. with Gal. 3. 13. and it will appeare
The Lord of that of these servants shall come in a day when they look not for him and in an hour that they are not aware of and shall cut them asunder appoint them their portion with hypocrites and there shall be weeping and gnashin of teeth 5. Then what doth this speak to the Lords own people surely this that they should be in a watchful posture Mark 13. 37. Watch therefore over your own hearts least they should be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkeness and the cares â—f this life and so that day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come upon all the dwelleâ—s upon the face of the earth as it is in Luke 21. 34 35 36. 2. Watch over the Devils temptations Oh have a care in the first place least by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eie so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ And the rather because at this day he is very busie with his doctrines and his ministers trying all waies if by any means he might deceive you with fair speeches and inticing carriages with a fair shew in the flesh yet denying the Lord and refusing to be justified by the blood of Jesus the son of Mary the son of God Watch I say over the Divel touching doctrines for he labours as much this way as any way for he knows if he can but get you to lay a rotten foundation he is sure of you live as godly in your conceit as you will and therefore it is worth your observation in that 24 of Mâ—â— when Christ is speaking of the signs of his coming he breaks forth with a warning word to his Disciples to beware of false teachers ver 4. the very first words that he answers to a question that his Disciples put to him is this Take heed that no man deceive you Again ver 11. And many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many And in ver 24. he saith again for there shall come or arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew signs and wonders in somuch that if it were pâ—ssible they should deceive the very elect 3. Take heed that he doth not deceive you in point of worship that he make you not slight any of the ordinances of God for if he do he will quickly make way for another temptation 4. Take heed that you also have not your lamps to trim when the bridegroom comes if you have you many paradventure be ashamed and blush before him at his coming 1 Jo. 2 last ver Therefore content not your selves with a profession of Christ and no more for the divel may deceive yea doth deceive a professing people many time And if he will deceive a professing generation he must come in this manner first under the name Christ secondly with a fair shew in the flesh of outward holinesse Gal. 6. 12. Thirdly he must come with good words and fair speeches Rom. 16. 18. Now though he come to drunkards swearers whoremongers theives liars murderers and covetous persons in his black colours yet if he will come to deceive a profeâ—sing party he must appear like an Angel of light And the reason why souls are deceived by him in these his appearances is because they are not able to distinguish betwixt the Law and the Gospel the convictionâ— of conscience by the Law only and convictions by the spirit but do though they professe the Lord Jesus give eare to every wind of doctrine and being unstable as Peter saith do fall into the temptations of the Divel in wresâ—ing the Scripture to their own destruction 2. Pet. 3. 16. In a word you that have not yet laid hold on the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life lay hold upon him upon his righteousnesse blood resurrection ascension intercession and wait for his second coming to judge the world in righteousness Acts 17. 31. And you that have laid hold I say to you lay faster hold on your Lord Jesus Who so hath â—ares to hear let him hear Matth. 13. 43. Now that thou mayst the more clearly understand my faith in the doctrine of Gods dear son I have thought good to hold forth again the doctrine in the former Treatise by way of Question and Answer as followeth Qu. Seeing there are many 〈◊〉 Christs gone out into the world according as was prophesied of in former times Mat. 24. 5 23. by the Lord himself And seeing if we be saved we must be saved by a Christ for he that misses of him saith the Scriptures cannot be saved because there is no way to come to the father but by him as it is written Joh. 14. 6. Acts 4. 12. How therefore is the knowledge of the true Christ to be attained unto that we may be saved by him Answ. Indeed to know Christ Gods Christ is as the Scripture saith the one thing necessary Luke 10. 42. without which all other things will avail nothing And therefore I shall according to the Scriptures first tell you what Gods Christ is and secondly how the knowledge of him is attained unto And therefore first Gods Châ—ist is true God and true man That he is true God is manifest by that Scripture in Isaiah 9 6 where it is said to us a child is born to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace also 1 Joh. 5. 20. And we are in him that is true saith the Apostle even in his son Jesus Christ this is true God and eternal life see Heb. 1. 8. Joh. 1. 12. Rom. 9. 5. Joh. 20. 28. But Secondly that he is 〈◊〉 Man see again Isa. 9. 6. where it is said Vnto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and compare it with Mat. 1. 21. where it is said And she shalt bring forth a Son and thou shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins see John 1. 14. And the word was made flesh 1. Tim. 3. 16. God was manifested in the flesh These two Scriptures are expounded by Heb. 2. 14. where it is said Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise tooke part of the same that is of flesh and blood see Rom. 8. 3. and compare it with Luke 24. 39. where Christ saith Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see â—e have And he doth often call himself by the name of the Son of Man Mat. 24. Mat. 16. 13. to signifie that he is very man as well as very God Qâ— But why was he true God and true man Answ. He was true man because man had offended and Justice required that man should suffer and make satisfaction and so it is written 1 Cor. 1 5. 21. For since by man came death by man
Answ. First from that Scripture in Luke 24. 37 38 39 40. where Christ himselfe after â—he was crucified appeared to his Disciples who having seen him supposed they had seen a Spirit But he said Why are ye troubled and why doe thoughts arise in your hearts behold my hand and my feet that it is I my selfe and doe not think you see a spirit handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have This he spake after he was crucified Luke 23. 33. and buried v. 53. and rose againe from the dead chap. 24. 6 7. Many other Scriptures could I give for the proof hereof as Acts 10. 39 40 41 42. And Acts 13. 28 29 30 31. 1 Thess. 1. 10. only read Acts 2. 29 30 31. where the Apostle proveth the same bringing in the words of the Prophet David for a testimony thereof saying He being a Prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loynes according to the flesh he would raise up Christ to sit on his Throne saith he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell neither his flesh did see corruption Mark it his flesh did see no corruption v. 31. But if he had not risen againe his flesh had seen corruption But he rose again from the dead that very man that very body for his flesh did see no corruption Q. Why did he rise againe from the dead with that very body Answ. 1. Because it was not possible he should be holden of death 2. Because in his humane nature he suffered for sin and if he had not recovered himselfe from that very curse even from under death and all other things that lay on him which he had through the sins of his children subjected himselfe unto he had not overcome sin hell death the law and the devil but had been overcome by them and if so then had not redemption been obtained for sinners for it was at his resurrection from the dead that God said unto him Thou art my sonne this day have I begotten thee As saith the Apostle And we declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise made unto the Fathers God had fulfilled the same unto us their children in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is written in the second Psal. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thâ—e Acts 13 30 31 32 33 34 35. And it is this namely the resurrection of that man from the dead that doth give us ground of hope as in 1 Pet. 1. 3. where he saith He hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 〈◊〉 dead 3. Because God intends to redeem the bodies of his Saints out of their graves in which they have lien many a yeare John 5. 28 29. Rom. 8. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 52. and to possesse them with his own glory and when this comes to passe then shall that Scripture be fulfilled that saith He shall change our viâ—â— body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body according to the working of his mighty power whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3. 21. And he hath given us assurance thereof in that he hath raised up Jesus our Lord again from the dead Acts 17. 31. Q. But doe you think that these our bodies that we doe carry about with us in this world after that they are dead and buried and rotten shall rise again out of those graves into which they are laid when the Scripture saith flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Answ. Flesh in Scripture is taken more wayes then one as first it is taken for the workes of the law where the Apostle saith Received ye the spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith Are ye so foolish having begun in the spirit are ye made perfect by the flesh By flesh here he meanes the Law as is clear if you compare Gal. 3. v. 2. 3. with v. 10 11. 12. Again sometimes flesh is taken for sinnes Rom. 8. 1. 5. And sometimes is is taken for the bodies of the Saints * as subject to distempers to pain sicknesse corruptions to death by reason of sinne * 2 Cor. 4. 11. 2 Cor. 7. 5. Now the Apostle in that place where he saith flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of Heaven or of God his meaning is sinful flesh and blood or the sin with any imperfection that is in the bodies of the Saints shall not inherit the Kingdome and that you shall find to be the mind of the holy Ghost if you read with understanding the latter end of the same verse where he saith Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption That is sin or any imperfection of the body shall not inherit eternal life for saith he in ver 53. This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality Mark here I pray you though he saith flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God yet he saith this corruptible must put on incorrution For the Trump shall blow and the dead shall be raised as Christ saith they that are in the graves shall hear his voiâ—e John 5. 28. and shall come forth of their graves incorruptible 1 Cor. 15. 52. and shall all appeare before the judgement-seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 10. Rev. 12. 1â— 13. See also that Scripture Phil. 3. 20. 21 where the Apostle saith He waited for Christ the Saviour from Heaven And what shall he doe when he comes Why He shall change our vile body Mark it it must be our vile body that must be changed But if it be changed then how can it be the same Not the same in respect of sinne or bodily infirmities but the very same in respect of substance For saith he it is our vile body that must be changed And it the very same it shall be fashioned like to his glorious body And if you ask how is it possible that this should be done he answers according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 21. Q. But do you think this is certain methinks the Scriptures semingly hold forth so much yet I cannot believe it for it is contrary to all reason A. Truly the Scriptures do not only hold forth so much seemingly but they do most really and plainly hold out these things to all those that have received the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. For it is it and it alone that can reveal these things For no man knows the things of God but the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 11. Now if thou wouldst know these things thou must first receive the spirit of the son of God without which thou canst not know so much as one of the fundamental truths of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Q. But there