for us and is gone into heaven there to appear in the presence of God for us And why then are we commanded to pray to the Father in the name of Christ A. Christ is indeed at the right hand of God that is the Lord hath advanced him into his own glory and given him his own power and authority even all power in heaven and earth for God doth not manifest himself in any wise unto the Saints or bestow any thing upon them but in and by Jesus Christ neither can or doe the Saints enjoy God or have any true fellowship with him but in and through Christ so that whatsoever is done in heaven or in earth Christ is the doer of it now Christ dwells in the Saints by his Spirit which is the power of his love proceeding infinitely from the Father unto the Son and from Christ into the Saints and by this Spirit or power of love he quickens them up to prayer and not onely so but also frames and endites their prayers in them according to the will of the Father and so they become acceptable to him for whatsoever Christ doth is well pleasing to God for the Father loveth the Son and the Saints being united to Christ and made one with God in him are hereby brought into the love and favour of God through him And thus he is in heaven appearing in the presence of God for us And for that we are to pray to the Father in the name of Christ it is not meant that we must often use or repeat the name of Christ or in word beg or crave any thing at the hand of God for Christs sake for so a wicked carnal wretch may doe but to pray to the Father in the name of Christ is to pour forth the soul unto the Father in the power and intercession of the Son for God looks not at any thing in all this world but Christ men may be high in gifts and notions and may make admirable prayers for words and sentences and also for method and form but if Christ be not there and if the prayer goe not forth in the Spirit and power of Jesus Christ then the Lord regards it not but loaths it and casts it away as abominable To pray then in the name of Christ is when the soul goeth forth into the armes of Gods love by the Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus who is the Son of his love Q. Seeing that men of themselves cannot pray aright and that the Lord to whom we are to pray knowes our wants before we pray What need have we then to pray A. As men cannot pray of themselves so neither can they live of themselves for the life which the Saints now live in the flesh is not by any power of their own but by the power of Christ living in them so that there is not onely a necessity of life in them in whom Christ lives who is the life but an impossibility of not living In like manner though men cannot pray acceptably by their own power or worth yet if Christ who is the mediator and intercessor live in them there is not onely a necessity of praying but it is altogether impossible that they should not pray Christ being in their hearts the Spirit of supplication and of adoption causing them to cry Abba Father Yea in him they have accesse with boldnesse unto the throne of grace And though the Lord doe know our wants yet he hath commanded us to pray ask and yee shall have c. And yee fight and warre and have not because yee ask not The Lord would have his people to rejoyce but they must pray ask and yee shall receive that your joy may be full Now although the Lord command us to pray he doth not intend that we should make Idols of our prayers and think that we receive for our praying but he doth it that we may know and consider on whom our joy our happinesse yea our very life dependeth and also that he may have the honour and glory of all his goodnesse when we in asking acknowledge him to be the giver of all and that we receive all of grace and not of debt and then it occasions much thankfulnesse when we return him the praise of all his love and bounty and live in the use of his mercies to his praise Q. But is not the Lord said to be an unchangeable God with whom is not the least shaddow of turning and if he have determined to bestow any favour or mercy he will doe it without our prayers and if he have not determined us any good to what purpose should we pray seeing by the same we cannot alter nor change his mind A. Although the Lord be altogether unchangeable and unalterable in his purposes and determinations yet he would have his children make known to him their needs by their requests neither is there the least shadow of change in him when he bestowes mercies and blessings upon them in answer to their prayers for whatsoever good thing he purposeth to his children yet before he bestow it upon them he usually stirreth up their hearts to pray for the same Now the Lord whatever he gives to the Saints he gives it them in Christ and what the Saints pray for they request and beg the same in the Spirit and intercession of Christ for he is the way by which the Lord comes down to us in all good and he is the way also by which we goe up to God in prayer and thanksgiving Now as it is impossible that God should alter his determinations in bestowing of mercies so also is it that the Saints should not pray for blessings and favours being quickened up thereto by the Spirit of Christ living in them so then God is not changed but the change is in the Saints for many times when God entends a blessing his children are not fit to receive the same then he by that Spirit of adoption quickens them up to pray and yet delaies them that by the continual use of this heavenly exercise and by the spirit of judgement and burning their corruptions may be consumed and destroyed and their hearts brought into a more holy and humble frame and they at length by this meanes made fit to receive the mercy Q. If men cannot pray unill they be moved or quickened thereunto by the Spirit how then shall it be known when the Spirit moves or which or when is the most convenient and fittest time for prayer A. That no man is able of himself without the help of the Spirit to make any prayer acceptable to God hath been already shewed prayer being a work of that Spirit of adoption called the Spirit of the Son and is nothing else but an effect of that power in the Son given unto him by the Father men may use
him very imperfectly and yet they are in heaven in this low condition But when Christ comes forth in the spirit indeed and transformes them into his Image of glory that is when they apprehend their union with God in Christ and that they partake of the same spirit or divine nature with Christ and that God loves them in Christ and as Christ they being one with him and of him Then are they carried forth unto him above all external things Then they cease to know any man yea even Christ himself after the flesh Then the vaile is taken away even the flesh of Christ or fleshly and carnal ordinances and here they see God cleerly and not in shadowes and formes and enjoy him purely in the spirit without the help of any created thing Then God is the Saints light for they are entred into that City which needs not the light of the Sun Where all teares are wiped away where there is no death neither sorrow nor crying nor pain where they live in God and enjoy him above all feares cares troubles and distractions because all former things or low apprehensions of God are passed away And this is the kingdome of Christ in the spirit which is heaven in a high degree but yet not the highest degree for that is in the kingdome of God which is distinct from the kingdome of Christ Eph. 5. 5. For Christ must raign untill he hath subdued all his enemies and the last energy which shall be destroyed is death Now death cannot be destroyed untill it be destroyed even in the Saints which shall remain to the very last period of time for although Christ by his death did overcome death and plucked out the sting thereof that it cannot hurt the Saints yet death is not slain and quite destroyed untill sin Satan and flesh be also destroyed and that in the Saints of the last generation when Christ hath put down or subdued all that sinfull rule and authority and power that is contrary to him Then shall the end come and then shall he deliver up the kingdome to God even the Father Then shall cease the kingdome of Christ as also his Priesthood and his prophetical office likewise and then shall the bodies of the Saints which have been rotten and consumed to earth for many yeares be raised though not the same bodies for that which is sown is not quickened except it die they were sown corruptible bodies they shall be raised incorruptible they were sown in dishononr they shall be raised in glory they were sown in weakness they shall be raised in power they were sown natural bodies they shall be raised spirituall bodies thou sowest not that body that shall be but God giveth it a body as it pleaseth him Then shall all the Saints be gloriously united into their head and so make up one compleat Christ yea then shall the Son himself even Christ compleated be subject unto God or taken into God that God may be all in all Then relations and manifestations shall cease for God will not be known or enjoyed by them or in them There shall be no more Father and Son Christ and Christian Head and Members for God Christ and the Saints shall be gloriously united and made one in that one entire pure glorious and eternall Spirit and so live and remain in onenesse of glory which is both unspeakable unconceivable and endures and abides to all eternity To God onely wise be glory through Christ Jesus by the holy immortall eternall Spirit for ever Amen FINIS a 1 Cor. 6. 17. b 2 Pet. 1. 4. c 1 Cor. 2. 12. d James 3. 16. 4. 5. e Rev. 2. 9 3. 9 f Eph. 4. 3. Vers 4. Vers 5. Vers 6. Vers 7. g Exod. 34. 12. Heb. 11. 27. h 2 Cor. 12 2 3 4. i Gal. 4. 12. k 1 Cor 9. 19 20 21 22. Col. 2. 17. m Eph. 4. 21. n Col. 1. 27. o 1 Ioh. 4. 12. 1. 2 p Heb 5. 13. 14. q Rom. 14. 4. r 1 Pet. 1. 22. s Isa 2. 18. 19. t Psal 45. 4. u Rev. 6. 2. x Rom. 1. 18. y Levit. 28. 13. z Prov. 8. 21. a Luke 17. 21. b Rom. 14. 17. c Eph. 6. 18. d Phil. 3. 15. e Mat. 9. 3. f 1 Cor. 1. 25. g Heb. 4. 11 h 2 Cor. 6. 17. i Deut. 1. 6. k Jer. 50. 5. l Joh. 17. 21 22 23. m Ioh. 16. 22. n 1 Pet. 1. 8. o Rev. 21. 3 4 p Rev. 22. 3. 4. 5. q 2 Thess 3. 18. Heb. 5. 12. 13. Mark 12. 32. John 4. 24. 2 Cor. 3. 17 Rom. 1. 20. Mat. 19. 17. 1 Tim. 1. 17. 1 Cor. 8. 5. 6. Jer. 23. 24. 1 John 5 7. Isa 9. 6. Psal 36. 9. Isa 41. 4. and 44. 6. Iohn 3. 16. 17. Heb. 12. 10 1 Tim. 3. 16. Heb. 2. 16. Isa 7. 14. Rom. 8. 3. Phil. 2. 8. Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 5. 5. 8. 2 Cor. 3. 18 Rom. 8. 4. Eph. 2. 22. Num. 14. 21. Isa 43. 7. Psal 145. 10. Prov. 8. 31. Psal 19. 1. 2. Rom. 1. 20. Gen. 2. 16. Prov. 30. 24 25 26. Psal 145. 11. 12. Prov. 8. 21. Gen. 1. 26. Gen. 2. 15. Gen. 2. 17. Gen. 2 Eccles 7. 29. Gen. 3. 4. 5. 2 Cor. 11. 3. Jude 6. Gen. 3. 7. 8. Hab. 1. 13. Sect. 2. Rom. 5. 17 21. Jam. 1 13 Deut 132. 19. Eph. â—… 6 7. Rom. 7. 24. Gen. 3. 7 8. Gen. 2. 8 to 15. Gen. 1. 28. Gen. 3. 19 23 24. Eph. 2. 1. Gen. 3. 8 9 12. Gen. 3. 24. Psal 63. 3. Psal 30. 5. Rom. 6. 21 23. 2 Tim. 2. 26. Jer. 5. 25. Hos 14. 1. Mar. 7. 21. Rom. 3. 10 11 c. Sect. 3. Jer. 31. 20. Gen. 3. 15. Isa 53. 6. Rom. 3. 25 26. Rom. 4. 16. Prov. 11. 19 and the 12. 28. Rom. 4. 5. Mark 9. 23. Mat. 9. 29. 1 Pet. 5. 8. Mark 7. 21. Sect. 4. Levit. 15. 2 3 4 c. Rom. 3. c 10 11 c. Gen. 1. 26. Gen. 5. 3. Job 14. 4. and 15. 14. Eph. 2. 3. Ezek. 18. 20. Sect. 5. Gal. 4. 4. Eph. 2. 4. Psal 103. 6. Phil. 2. 7. Luke 1. 35. Mat. 1. 21. Iohn 3. 16. Mat. 1. 23. Iohn 8. 46. Mat. 3. 15. Phil. 2. 8. Rom. 5. 8. Heb. 9. 22. Rom. 5. 6. 1 Ioh. 4. 9 10. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Isa 53. 6. Gal. 3. 13. Sect. 6. Gen. 3. 15. Gen. 22. 18. Rom. 4. 13. Gen. 6. 5. Deut. 27. 26. Gal. 3. 10. Rom. 3. 9 10. Exod. 20. 18. Heb. 12. 21. Heb. 12. 20 Exod. 20. 19. Gen. 1. 28 29 30. Gen. 3. 24. Isa 33. 14. 1 Sam. 12. 12. Eccles 7. 22 Exod. 20. 20. Rom. 3. 20. and 7. 7. Rom. 3. 19. Habbak 1. 13. Josh 24. 19 Levit. 11. 44. Rom. 3. 10 11 12 c. Rom. 4. 13. and 9. 30. and 10. 3. 6. Exod. 3. 6. Exod. 3. 17. Dent. 5. 25 26 27. Deut. 5. 18. and
And he who is a Revealer of secrets and to whom interpretations doe belong shall in due time reveale the same unto you If you cannot receive it at present yet ye may in time but if not at all yet take heed of condemning it for heresie blasphemy Christ was called a blasphemer a Devil and that by Saints in profession Truth hath been adjudged to be falshood and sound doctrine hath been condemned for heresie in all ages If any dislike or cannot receive it because in some passages it may seem beyond his apprehension Let him know that the maine end of this is to carry up his heart to Christ above it selfe and if on the other hand any shall despise it and cast it away as too much below them let such know that it is not sent but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel and that the foolishness of God is wiser than men To whomsoever it comes it will bring this testimonie along that it hath no self-ends at all but comes meerly out of love to poore souls Deare Brethren Let me now in one word beseech you to lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh Be making toward your heavenly rest be longing after your Fathers house be owning of your own priviledges be standing fast in your own liberty be getting out of Babylon ye have dwelt long enough in confusion long enough in the mount of outward observations Take up your carriages raise up your hearts ask the way to Sion set your faces that way if you can but get one step into new Jerusalem you are past all danger here yee see sorrow sighing pain fear and death here you say oh that I were assured of Gods favour oh that I knew he loved me c. poore soules If ye were but entred into Christs spirituall Kingdome indeed if ye did but know God Christ and the Saints in the Spirit indeed your hearts would leap for ioy did you but know God in Christ Christ in the Saints the Saints united and made one with God in Christ by that one eternall Spirit your hearts would rejoyce your joy would be full yea yee would rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Then you should see the Tabernacle of God with men and God dwelling with men or in men then should all teares be wiped away and then there should be no more feare of death no more sorrow nor crying nor paine in respect of the losse of Gods love and favour for all former things as namely all low and carnall apprehensions of God which caused feares doubts distractions would be passed away for there shall be no night nor clouds to hide his love but they that be his Servants shall serve him in Spirit and Truth and they shall see his face with joy and his name or glory shall be in their fore-heads or shine forth in them to his praise and they shall reigne with him here in joy and glory even in this life and shall at last injoy him in unconceiveable and eternall glory of which this is but a tast Brethren the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Your most affectionate Friend and Brother in Chist Iesus William Mason A LITTLE STARRE OR CATECHISME c. QUest What is the end of Catechizing Answ To instruct the ignorant in the knowledge of God and of themselves Q. Is there a God then A. Yes Psal 19. 1. The heavens declare that there is a glorious God and the firmament sheweth forth his handy work Q. What is God A. God is an eternal Spirit having his being in and of himself infinite in wisdome in power in justice in mercy and goodnesse yea who is all these in highest perfection Q. How doe you know that there is a God A. First By his works of creation and providence whereby his eternall power and God-head are wonderfully manifested And Secondly By the Scriptures which doe abundantly declare him But thirdly and chiefly By his Spirit which he hath given us 1 John 4. 14. and 20. Q. How many Gods be there A. There be many that are called Gods but to us there is but one God who is one intire invisible glorious being comprehending all things filling all things and who is not confined nor comprehended 1 Kings 8. 27. Q. Why then are the names and titles of God given to more than one namely to three called the three persons in the Trinity the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost if there be but one God A. God hath been pleased in much wisedom and goodness to manifest himself by and under these three denominations or titles not that there are three Gods but rather so many various discoveries and makings forth of one and the same God Q. What conceive you of God when he makes himself known by the name of Father A. First that he is the fountain the root the originall of all good to all men in relation to the outward condition And Secondly and chiefly that of and from himselfe he doth bring forth glorious discoveries and dispensations of infinite love and goodnesse toward the Sons of men electing and adopting them for himself drawing their souls up unto himself and making them partakers of himself Eph. 1. 4. 5. John 6. 44. Q. What conceive you of him when he makes forth himself by the name of Sonne A. Here is held forth a second way of his inexpressible love to man for here is a wonderfull condiscention the glorious God manifesting himself in the flesh taking on him our nature and our flesh becoming Immanuel or God made one with us in the flesh and in our nature and our flesh fulfilled all righteousness for us subjected himself in the flesh to death and curse to satisfie divine Justice which we had offended that by this means he might 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us from that wrath and curse which we had deserved Q. And what doe you understand when he makes himself known by the name of Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit A. By this is manifested a third way of his abundant goodness for by his Spirit which is the powerfull working of his love in the hearts of his people he reveals and communicates himselfe with all the riches of his grace and love unto them yea by which he sanctifies and transforms them into his own Image fulfilling all righteousness in them and whereby he takes them into union with himselfe to live in him Q. Why did God make the world A. God who is infinitely glorious in himselfe yea who is an overflowing fulnesse of all glorious excellencies needed not the world to add to his glorious perfections but he made the world for the manifestation and declaration of his glory Q. Could not the glory of God shine forth sufficiently without the work of creation A. No That infinite and transcendent
explain those words and to interpret his own meaning â—herein both as they concerned them in their duty to himself and also as they conteined their duty and behaviour one towards another Moses goes up into the Mount where the Lord commands him in particular how they ought to behave themselves one towards another naming also certain feasts-dayes and other observations about them and Moses writes all the words of the Lord in a Book and declares them to the people and they promise obedience And as this Law conteined Gods Worship and their duty therein Moses is again called up into the Mount where he is forty dayes and forty nights in which space God shewes him a Pattern commands him to make him a Sanctuary that he might dwell among them and also gives him rules of a most exact and holy Worship which he expects should be strictly performed by them in which both holy place and holy Worship he doth really yet darkly declare that unless he dwell among them and communicate himself unto them they could not be a holy people For indeed that very Tabernacle and afterward the Temple were representations or significations of the humane body of Christ in which the Lord would manifest himself and dwell among them as the Vessels wherewith they ministred were holy So the Lord would have them know that he could not be Spiritually worshipped with Carnal hearts and hands The Ark was a visible Type of Christ by whom the Lord would manifest himself The two Tables of the Covenant were put into the Ark to shew that Christ was both the Law and the Covenant to his own and that the righteousness which the Law required was wholly in him The Mercy-seat where God appeared was placed above upon the Ark to shew that God would not manifest himself in mercy and goodness to any but onely to them that were in Covenant with him in Jesus Christ The Table and the Shew-bread that stood upon it was to teach them that Christ was both the Feeder and the food The Candlestick with his seven Lamps alwayes burning did signifie the wisdom of the Spirit without which there was no finding out the mind of God in these mysteries The Oyl wherewith the Lamps were dressed and made to burn was of pure Oyl-olive beaten and without mixture to shew that the true knowledge of God in the mystery of Christ was not attained by the help of humane wisdom and learning but by the light and wisdom of the Spirit onely The Altar and all those Beasts that were offered thereon did signifie Christ his death and sufferings who should by offering up himself to God once for all both redeem them from the curse of the Law and for ever perfect them that are sanctified The blood of those Beasts wherewith they were sprinkled did signifie the blood of Christ wherewith the Atonement was to be made and whereby their Consciences were to be purged from the dead works of the Law to serve the living God in Spirit and Truth The Priests which offered the sacrifice were holy men and consecrated and set apart for that service to shew that God will be sanctified in all them that draw near to him The sacrifices might not be offered without a Priest to teach that there is not any service can be acceptable to God unless it were offered up to him in the Spirit and Power of Jesus The glorious and beautiful garments wherein Aaron did minister did hold forth the infinite purity and transcendent excellency and righteousness of the Lord Jesus in whom onely God is well pleased The Onix-stones whereon the names of the Children of Israel were engraven were put upon the shoulder-pieces of the Ephod to teach that true Israel indeed are kept by the power of the Lord Jesus through faith unto salvation for he is the wisdom and the power of God unto salvation in all that do believe The twelve precious stones which were set with the names of the Children of Israel in the Breast-plate of judgement did declare that Spiritual Israel that were in Christ were a precious people in the judgement and esteem of God The curious Girdle wherewith all those goodly garments were girded to the Priest did hold forth the faithfulness and truth of God in making good all his promises in Christ in whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen The holy Anoynting Oyl wherewith the Tabernacle and all the furniture and the Vessels there of were Anoynted did signifie the Anoynting of the Spirit which they that did believe should afterward receive it might not be poured upon mans flesh neither might any man make the like to it nor put it upon a stranger upon pain of being cut off from his people to shew that fleshly carnal outside-hypocytical-holiness is an abomination to the Lord. The Sabbaths were a sign unto them that the Lord Jesus was their Sanctification six dayes might work be done but on the seventh they must rest to shew that in the works of Civil concernment they were to labour but in the business of sanctification they were not to act one jot but rest wholly upon Christ the Messiah In seed-time and in harvest they must rest on the Sabbath even in times of greatest necessity to shew that their best services and most religious performances were like a menstruous cloth and in no wise to be rested in but in the holiness of Christ were they to rest They were forbidden to kindle a fire throughout their habitations on the Sabbath to shew that no selfe-holiness or self-sanctification attained by any religious duties or performances whatsoever must be joyned unto the holiness of Christ but they were to rely wholly upon the Lord Christ onely The Leprosie and all those unclean issues did shew forth the horrible and filthy nature of sin The Offerings and Washings appointed for their clensing did signifie the blood of Christ without which there could be no remission nor Sanctification In a word for it would de too tedious to speak of all in particular There was not the least circumstance in all their commanded Service and Worship but which did mystically hold forth Jesus Christ thus the Law was their Schoolmaster unto Christ that they might be justified by believing in him who was made of God Wisdom and Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption unto them and not by their own outward observations of the Law Q. Was this Law given and this Covenant made with the Israelites or seed of Abraham according to the flesh or did it concern the Gentiles also A. The Law or Covenant so farre as it was outward and literal did concern all Israel as well one as another and they were all of them to observe the same and that strictly in case they would be prosperous in their temporal estates for the promises of
assurance of his love These he holds in suspence and therefore they cry and pray forgive us our sinnes not being assured of the pard on thereof Yea others also that have attained to a higher degree of assurance and are able to conclude and that safely that their sinnes are forgiven and that Christ is their righteousnesse unto justification yet seeing their own weaknesses and knowing that they are sanctified but in part and having a law in their members rebelling against the law of the mind they have need and doe pray for a further discovery of Gods love to perfect their sanctification that they may thereby have a further evidence of their justification and therefore it is said forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors that is Lord work in us such a holy frame of spirit that seeing thou hast freely forgiven us through Christ all our sinnes we may also freely for thy sake forgive our offending brother his trepasses and that our readinesse and willingnesse to pardon others may evidence unto us that thou hast forgiven us so that we are not taught to pray for pardon of sin as though the Lord would not forgive us untill we pray for it but rather that God would manifest himself so to us in acts of sanctification as may testifie unto us our justification And although repentance is not necessary as a meanes of remission and so of life yet it is a necessary consequence or effect of life as the fruit is not a meanes or a condition of life to the tree but an effect or evidence of life in the tree for it is impossible that Christ should be in the soul and not act like himself according to that degree and measure in which he manifests himself therein Now repentance is not onely a sorrow for sin for that may be in wicked men neither is it a bare confession joyned with the former for both these may be done for self-ends But when a man doth indeed apprehend the love of God in Jesus freely justifying and pardoning all sin and transgression whatsoever without any desert or desire and not onely so but also sanctifying and saving him from all sin for the future then his soul is melted and dissolved into godly sorrow mourning and grieving not for fear of death and hell but because he hath walked so contrary to God who hath so farre condiscended in love to him and hereupon falls to confesse all sin and to rip up his heart and to search out his most secret sinnes as well as those that be more outward and desires to appear before God the most vile and abominable sinner in the world in his own eyes deserving nothing but wrath and condemnation and admires at the infinite love and goodnesse of God in Jesus Christ thus pardoning and sanctifying him and prayes earnestly unto God that he will make further discoveries of his love unto him in Jesus that he may be more vile in his own eyes and that he may now hate and abhorre all sin which is so contrary to the holinesse of God that Christ may live more in him and that he may henceforth be enabled through him to walk in all well pleasing And thus the Saints though they be already justified and pardoned yet cannot but repent for if Christ who is the root be within repentance which is a fruit thereof will appear in the branches and thus the Saints can mourn after Christ and blessed are they that so mourn for they shall be comforted Q. Seeing that the Saints or Believers are sanctified but in part and have flesh as well as spirit and are compassed about not onely with many infirmities but also with many enemies which are strong and potent Whereby are they then quickened Or what helps have they to grow in grace and sanctification A. The chief help or meanes whereby the Saints are quickened up to holinesse is Christ himself dwelling in them and acting them by his spirit or power to all well pleasing but there are other subordinate meanes which he hath appointed and sanctified to that end as namely his Word in the reading and preaching of it as also godly conference with one another and prayer Q. How can the Scriptures being but the writings of men be of any force to help us grow in grace c. A. Although the Scriptures were written by men yet they were not the device of mens braines or wits but they were the words of God inspired into men by the holy Spirit neither did men write them at their own pleasure but how and when the Lord who is that Spirit pleased and they are profitable to teach instruct to reprove and correct yea there is in the Scriptures whatsoever is necessary to be known to salvation they being a revelation of the most righteous and perfect will of God in every dispensation and they are also mighty through Christ for indeed to the Saints Christ is the Word and the Word is Christ and when he is pleased to come forth in it read or preached then it casts down strong holds then it divides asunder between soul and spirit between men and their beloved lusts then it subdues every high thought and brings every thing into subjection that exalts it self against Christ and then when he is pleased to come forth thus in it by his Spirit then it transformes the soul into the same nature or Image of it self which is Christ And here is the power of binding and loosing or the power of the keyes There is in the word a double power or efficacy when it comes in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit it is both for softening and for hardening of mens hearts and it alwayes doth the work to which it is sent it is called a sharp two-edged Sword the Sword of the Spirit c. Now no mans word can work any effect upon mens hearts they may blesse or they may curse and all to no purpose they may bind and loose at their own pleasure but there is nothing done in the soul but where this word comes indeed in the name that is in the power and authority of Christ there it doth the work effectually and there is no resistance it either makes men fruitful and meet for salvation or else hardens them and binds them over to damnation Q. Yea indeed Christ is the Word and he came from the bosome of the Father and he onely doth reveal the Fathers will But doth he not doe it by visions and revelations of the Spirit rather than by a written word which is so full of contradictions or so contrary to it self A. Christ hath alwayes manifested himself or the Fathers will by visions and revelations but yet in a different way in every dispensation when the Gospel was first preached he was pleased to reveal himself unto the Apostles for the most part without any written word they having but a few dark
words or formes of prayer but none can pray indeed but they who have received this spirit of adoption and are thereby become the Sonnes of God and they who are thus become Sonnes have not the Spirit by fits and starts but the Spirit or the Lord Jesus who is that Spirit dwells in their hearts and is continually exciting and stirring up their hearts to prayer and every good thing But it is not alwayes apprehended alike for many times by reason of temptation want of watchfulnesse and other infirmities of the flesh it is clouded and acts not so clearly as at other times yet notwithstanding it will in due time break through all difficulties and remove all impediments and acts like it self and ministers matter of prayer upon all occasions so then whensoever the Lord presents occasion or opportunity of prayer then he by the same calls for prayer and then is the Spirit ready to quicken and help if it be not quenched with carnall workings of the flesh as worldly cares worldly sorrowes worldly joyes c. Now if there be any time wherein the Lord doth not minister occasion of prayer and praise then that is no time for prayer and thanksgiving but there is no time in the whole life of a Christian in which the Lord doth not minister occasion of prayer and praise therefore the Saints ought to pray continually and in every thing to give thanks Furthermore as the Saints ought upon all occasions to lift up their hearts to God so also they are to take the fittest opportunity for prayer is not a light businesse but of great weight and concernment it is called a pouring forth of the soul to God a wrestling with God a crying earnestly to God c. Now the fittest time for this serious businesse is when we can set about it with least distraction when we can best sequester our selves from all other occasions whatsoever and attend upon that work with freedome of Spirit And as we must take the fittest time so also we must watch unto it that is so order our outward affaires that there may be convenient time and so watch over our own hearts in the strength of Christ that they may be alwayes well disposed to prayer and not to flag or faint though we meet with many delayes and other discouragements but to continue instant in the same watching when God will give in occasion of thanksgiving Q. But doth not God give us other helpes also to build us up in grace and holinesse What say you of the Sacraments Is not Baptisme of great use in these dayes of the Gospel A. The word Sacrament is no where to be found in all the Scripture and for Baptisme the Scripture mentions divers Baptismes as the baptisme of water the baptisme of the holy Ghost and of fire and the baptismes of sufferings all which were beautiful in their seasons and some of them are still of great concernment to the Saints The baptisme of water was the baptisme of John who was sent of God to prepare the way of Christ Israel had dwelt long enough in that Mount of out-side observations for although they had their legall washings and cleansings which were and might be called baptismes yet all these could not wash away one sin from the conscience but served onely to cleanse them from legall pollutions though they were not without their significations But now the baptisme of John and his ministry was mighty for he came in the spirit and power of Elias and was a sign of a great change of administrations for he called them to repentance even to repent of all that out-side and formal religion which they had so hotly pursued for they were generally grown so corrupt and so blockish and blind withall that they imagined that by the bare out-side performance of those legal cleansings they were sufficiently sanctified though they continued in the practise of most grosse and notorious sinnes But John tells them plain that although God had long endured and born with their hipocrisies and formalities yet now he would bear no longer for he had now laid the axe to the root of the trees and if any tree were barren or did not bring forth good fruit it was to be hewen down and cast into the fire hereby giving them to understand that unlesse they did desist from all their wicked and ungodly wayes and courses and amend their evill lives there was no remission of sinnes to be expected nor true sanctification to be attained notwithstanding all their legal and strict performances and hereupon calls them to his baptisme declaring plainly unto them that though many of them thought he was the Christ yet they were deceived for he was but sent to prepare his way and that his baptisme was but with water which could onely wash away the filth of the body but could goe no further but yet by the same they were to be instructed that there is one among them already in the flesh even Christ who shall baptize them with the holy Ghost and with fire that is wash and cleanse their soules from all the filth and guilt of sin that was upon them And thus John's ministry was to prepare the way or to manifest Christ already come and his baptisme did hold forth the baptisme of Christ in the Spirit which was to follow in its season Q. If Johns ministry and baptisme served onely to prepare the way of Christ or to manifest Christ in the flesh and to instruct them or type out unto them the baptisme of Christ why then was it needfull that Christ himself should be baptized of John A. Christ indeed was baptized of John but not out of any need to shew forth sorrow for sin he being altogether without sin nor yet was he baptized out of any necessity to be instructed in the mystery of the Spirits baptisme but Christ submitted to Johns baptisme for our sakes onely the head that had no sin for the body that was full of sin Again Johns baptisme was part of the Law and it was the last and most lively Ceremony of it and Christ submitted unto the same that he might fulfill all righteousnesse for us Now that Johns baptisme was of the Law and not of the Gospel is evident from his preaching for John preached saying repent for the kingdome of heaven is at hand now the kingdome of heaven is Christ not in the flesh but crucified risen again ascended returned in the Spirit the Comforter dwelling in the hearts of the Saints the kingdome of heaven is within you And from our Saviours words Mat 11. 11. where speaking of John saith that among them that were born of women there hath not risen a greater Prophet than John the Bapptist because other of the Prophets had spoken of Christ afarre off but John pointed him out with the finger saying this
is he but mark what followes not withst anding he that is least in the kingdome of heaven is greater than he meaning that he that is indeed a Preacher of the Gospel though never so mean and contemptible in the eyes of men should doe greater workes than John did Q. But there are other baptismes spoken of in Scripture as well as Johns for the Disciples of Christ did baptize and Christ at his ascension sent them to baptize all Nations Is not water-baptisme then an Ordinance of the Gospel A. True indeed Christs Disciples did baptize while he was with them in the flesh But it was with John's Baptism and so the Scripture calls it For indeed the preaching of John and his Baptism was the same with the preaching and Baptism of Christs Disciples For John preached saying The Kingdom of heaven is at hand Christs Disciples preached saying The Kingdome of heaven is at hand Both John and Christs Disciples by their Baptism which was in cold water could but wash mens bodies and call upon them to repent and to expect remission of sins onely in Christ Jesus who was to wash away the filth of their souls even with a Spiritual water or Baptism of his Spirit So that although the Disciples of Christ did baptize yet their Baptism was the same with John's Baptism and to continue but for a season for so John confesseth I must decrease but he meaning Christ must increase And for Christs Commission to his Apostles to Baptize all Nations that is not to be understood of Water-Baptism as appeareth by his own words Acts 1. 5. when being risen from the Dead and now ready to ascend into his Glory acquaints them with the work whereto he is now sending them commands them not to depart from Jerusalem until they had received the Promise of the Father that is the Spirit for saith he John truly Baptized with water as if he had said it hath been the Fathers good pleasure to appear in Types and significations and to vail himself a while under dark Administrations But now the time is full come in which he will shew himself clearly in his abundant love and goodness for ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost which is the Spirit or Comforter not many dayes hence and then ye shall receive power to know what ye ought to do and be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem c. And when ye are thus impowred or Baptized your selves Then go and teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father c. Where by Name of the Father and of the Son c he doth not mean that they should wash them in water using that form of words but by Name is to be understood the Power of the Father c. As Christ saith Mark 16. 17. In my Name they shall cast out Devils that is by my Power And so in this business All Power saith Christ in heaven and in earth is given to me Go ye therefore and Teach and Baptize the Nations in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost As if he had said All Power is given to me of the Father and by this power I will come into you and into your ministry and ye shall go forth in this power unto all nations and by the same ye shall be enabled to make them know and believe That I am the wisdome of God and the power of God to salvation to the Gentile as well as to the Jew and that whosoever believes in me indeed or is baptized with the Spirit which is all one shall never perish but have everlasting life And this was done effectually for in one day there was added three thousand soules And in another place all that were ordained to eternall life believed Q. But if it was not the command of Christ that they should baptize with Water why then did they they use it after his ascension and if Water-Baptisme was to cease and have an end at that time why then do not the Scriptures declare the same A. As for the Apostles baptizing with Water after Christs ascension it was not from any command of Christ as one of them doth testifie The Baptisme of Water or Johns Baptisme was very famous and of great note in that time and therefore could not at present be very easily laid down as likewise very many other Legall observations And again it is not to be questioned but that the Apostles themselves were ignorant of many things after they had received the Spirit abundantly for Peter was ignorant that he might eat with the Gentiles or that God had a purpose by Jesus to bring in the Gentiles Paul must goe to Jerusalem to be resolved about Circumcision and there were thousands of Jewes which did believe and yet they were all zealous of legall rites God did not reveal himself all at once but by degrees Again the Apostles used water-baptisme as they used Circumcision to avoid contention among the Saints and further they used it sometimes when it was desired and to stoop to the weaknesse of many young believers they became all things to all men that they might not offend any but save all if it were possible And for the Scriptures to declare against water-baptisme to be used in the dayes of the Gospel there be many Scriptures that speak much to that purpose as 1 Cor. 1. 17. Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles utterly disclaimes it for Christ saith he sent me not to baptize but to preach Again Ephes 4. 5. One Lord one Faith one Baptisme now water-baptisme is not the same with the Baptisme of the Spirit for they are two distinct things one is Johns and the other is Christs and if they were both one then they that have the one must also have the other and they that cannot have the one of water neither can they have the other Again it is not water-baptisme that can make us one with Christ or give us a new name or make us partake of the divine nature c. and therefore water-baptisme is not that one Baptisme nor left us in command in the dayes of the Gospel Q The baptisme of water hath been used in all the Churches of Christ from the very time of the Apostles and that with warant from Scripture for Infants were circumcised under the Law and Circumcision was a seal of the Covenant which God made with Abraham and the Covenant is the same now as it was then and Baptisme is come in the room of Circumcision and is a seal of the Gospel-Covenant and therefore Infants may be baptized and the Apostle tells the Corinthians that their fathers were all baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea And Saint Peter saith that Baptisme doth now save us how can it then be denied that Baptisme even of water doth not stand us in great stead even in the dayes
truth which is to be perfected by degrees in this life though not fully untill the life to come Neither is there any outward ordinance or observation that can hold proportion or correspondence with this Spiritual Kingdome it being exalted above all the Hills and infinitely above all significations Now Water-Baptisme can no way shew forth our union with Christ for that is a Spiritual union and Water-Baptisme is a Carnall ordinance and holds no proportion with the former Againe we are not made one with Christ as we are one flesh with him but as we are one Spirit with him Christ by taking our flesh became Immanuel or God one with us in the flesh but now the Lord who is that Spirit takes us into the same Spirit and so we are made one Spirit with him To this very end the glorious God did abase himself and clothed himself with our flesh and took it into union with himself that so by this meanes he might also receive all them that do truely believe in him into union with himself by the same Spirit So that it is not the Baptisme of Water that can ingraft us into Christ or make us one with him But by the Baptisme of the eternall Spirit are all the Saints united to him and partake of the same Divine nature with him And further Water-Baptisme can give us no true fellowship with the Saints for where the Saints have true fellowship one with another they have this fellowship together in Christ So that this fellowship consists not in being of the same opinion or forme one with another But in partaking of the same Spirit are united into one body together in Christ For by one Spirit are we all Baptized into one Body whether we be Jewes or Gentils So that it is not water-baptisme that can give any true fellowship with the Saints but onely a carnall admission into an outward fellowship with men of the same form which may hold for a time and afterward come to nothing Ananias and Saphira may have for a time an outward fellowship with the Apostles and Simon Magus with Phillip and the rest of the Saints in Samaria Q. What say you then of the Lords Supper is not that an Ordinance of Christ to be used now in the time of the Gospel A. That our Saviour Christ did give Bread and Wine unto his Disciples in remembrance of his death which he was now suddenly to accomplish is not denied but that he left it with them as an ordinance to be performed by all believers in the dayes of the Gospel is to be enquired into Our blessed Lord a little before his suffering told his Disciples that he had a great desire to eat one Passeover more with them before his death and being come into the house as they were eating together he tells them plain that one of them should betray him into the hands of the chief Priests and Elders c. and that he was to undergoe great sufferings yea and death also and that all this was no more than what was written of him though they were ignorant of it and that they must now enjoy his company but a very little while for as he came forth from the Father into the world so he must now leave the world and goe to the Father upon this heavy and sad and indeed unexpected newes his poor weak Disciples who looked for better things from their Master at least in their own conceits were so presently filled with sorrow that they knew not what to say much lesse what to doe whereupon our Saviour seeing them take the matter so to heart and knowing that his death was of so great advantage unto them takes occasion to instruct them in the knowledge and ends of the same that as his departure from them was cause of great grief and sorrow unto them so the remembrance of the great benefits which should redound unto them thereby might a little stay and comfort their hearts untill he did appear to them more fully To this end he took bread and brake it saying This is my body which is given for you as if he had said as I break this bread and give it unto you so my body is given and must be broken for you even for your sinnes And taking the cup he saith drink yee all of it for it is the New Testament in my bloud or a signification of the bloud of the New Covenant which is my bloud that must be shed for you and many others also or else yee cannot have remission of sinnes And for a help to their weak faith and comfort in their sad condition he said also unto them doe this in remembrance of me as if he had said I know that for the present you are almost overwhelmed with grief and sorrow because I say such things to you yet let this be a little comfort to you make use of Bread and Wine in-remembrance that my death is of great advantage to you and though I goe away in the flesh yet it shall not be long ere I see you again in the Spirit for I will not leave you comfortlesse but will come to you in the comforter which is the Spirit of truth and then your hearts shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man be able to take from you so that from hence it may appear that this action of Christ and likewise his command was rather to comfort and stay the hearts of his poor sorrowrowfull fainting then Disciples than to be a standing Ordinance for all believers afterwards Q But it is not said in many places in the Acts of the Apostles that this Ordinance was in use even among the Apostles themselves and many other Saints after the Ascension of Christ and sending down of the holy Ghost A. The Apostles indeed are said to break bread and that from house to house but every breaking of bread there spoken of cannot be said to be the Lords Supper for it is said that they did eat their meat with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart whereby it may appear that by breaking of bread in that place is rather meant the Saints mutuall love in receiving and entertaining one another into their houses with feasting and rejoycing than eating the Lords Supper for it is said that the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul neither said any man that the things which he possessed were his own but they had all things common The preaching of the Apostles was of such power and efficacy that it wrought great effects there was none that lacked they that were poor were provided for out of the goods of them that were rich But if by breaking of bread in this or other places be meant the eating the Lords Supper yet it was used as a thing indifferent and of christian liberty rather than a binding Ordinance for the Apostles