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
blood there was no remission Secondly seeing Jesus Christ â—he son of the virgin Mary was and is the Christ of God and that Salvation came in alone by him for there is salvation in no other Acts 4. 12. then how are they deceived that think to obtain salvation by following the Convictions of the Law which they call Christ though falsely when alas let them follow those convictions that do come from the law and conscience set on worke by it I say let them follow all the Convictions that may be hinted in upou their Spirits from thaâ— law they shall never be able to obtaine salvation by their obedience to it for by the law is the kuowledge of sin Rom. 3. 20. And It is not of workes least any man should boast as those fond Hypocrites called Quakers would do And again If righteousness comes by the law then Christ iâ— dead in vaine Gal. 2. 21. Buâ— that no man is justified by the workes of the law it is evident for the just shall live by faith Gal. 3. 10. Which living by faith is to apply the Lord Jesus Christ his benefits as birth righteousnesse death blood resurrection ascension and intercession with the glorious benefits of his second comming to me as mine being given to me and for me and thus much doth the Apostle signiâ—ie saying The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God whe loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. Againe Seeing Gods Christ which was with him before the world was John 17. ver 5. took upon him flesh and blood from the Virgin Mary who was espoused to Joseph the Carpenâ—er and in that humane nature yielded himself an offering for sin for it was the body of his flesh by which sin was purged Col. 1. 22. I say seeing the son of God as he was in a body of flesh did bring in salvation for sinners and by this meanes as I said before we are saved even by faith in his blood righteousness resurrection c. How are they then deceived who own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the world began who was then without flesh and blood for he took that in time of the virgin Gal. 4. 4. Heb. 2. 14. I say they are wickedly deluded who own him no otherwise but as he was before the world was For in their owning of him thus and no otherwise they do directly deny him to be come in the flesh and are of that Antichristian party which John speaks of Joh. 4. 3. v. Every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the 〈◊〉 is not of God and this is that sprit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already it is in the world Now because the enemy doth most notably wrest this Scripture as they do others to their own damnation I shall speak something to it and therefore when he saith every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God his meaning is Every spirit that doth not confesse that that Christ that was with the father before the world was did in the appointed time of the father come into the World took on him a body from the virgin and was very man as well as very God and in that body of flesh did do and suffer whatsoever belonged to the sons of men for the breach of the holy law of God and impute his glorious righteousnesse which he fulfilled in that body of his flesh to the soules that shall believe 〈◊〉 what he hath done and is a doing in the same body And that this is the mind of the Spirit of God consider First he himself saith handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have when his disciples had thought he had been but a spirit Luke 24 39 40. Now that in this flesh he died for sins consider secondly that Scripture which saith Who his own selâ— that is the Christ that was born of the Virgin did bear our sins in his own body on the tree See Col. 1. 22. in the body of his flesh saith he to present you holy and unblameable unreproveable in his sight Now that he arose again from the dead with the body of flesh wherewith he was crucified consider that forenamed Scripture Luke 24. 39 40. spoken after his resurrection Now that he went away with the same body from them into heaven consider that it is said And he led them out as farre as Bethany and he lift up his hands blessed them it came to pass while he blessed them he was carried from them carried into heaven Lu. 24. 50 51. This is the meaning of those words therefore Jesus Christ is come into the flesh that is Jesus Christ hath come in the flesh that he took of the Virgin hath brought us who were enthralled to the law the divel and sin to liberty and that by his obedience and death For asmuch then aâ—â—h children were 〈◊〉 of flesh and blood saith the Scripture he Christ also himself took part of 〈◊〉 same Wherefore that though death 〈…〉 desirâ—y him 〈◊〉 had the power of 〈◊〉 that is the devill and deliver them who through feare of death were all their time subject to 〈◊〉 Heb. 3. 14 15. For he was delivered for our offerâ—es and was raised again for our justification Rom 4. 25. For he even that man through the power of the eternal Spirit did offer up himself without spot to God and thereby oâ— by that offering obtained eternall redemption for us Heb. 9 12 14. And therefore I say again and again look to your selves that you receive no Christ except Gods Christ for he is like to be deceived that will believe every thing that calls it selfe a Christ. For mâ—â—y saith he shal â—ome in my name and shall deceiue many Matth. 24. 5. Now having spoken thus much touching the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ I shal according to the assiistance of the Lord Jesus proceed and shall speak somthing of his Godhead Birth Death Resurrection Ascension and Intercession together with his most glorious and personal appearing the second time which will be to raise the dead and bring every work to judgment Eccles. 12. 14. ANd first I shall shew you that he is very God Co-eternal and also Co-equal with his Father 2. That by this Son of Mary which is equal with his Father the world was made 3. That he in the fulnesse of time was made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them them that were or are under the Law that is was borne of a woman And in our nature for he made himselfe of no reputation and took on him the forme of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men and in our stead he did fulfill the Law in point of Justification Rom. 10. 4. and was crucified for our
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
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
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
the Lord give thee grac◠to follow thou shalt escape these wicked delusions And first of all I admonish thee to be very serious touching thine estate and condition and examine thine own heart by the rule of the word of God whether or no thou hast as yet any beginnings of desiring after religion and if thou findest that thou hast lived untill now in ignorance and hast not set thy selfe to remember thy Creator as thou art commanded Eccles. 12. 1. then I beseech thee consider that thou art under the wrath of Almighty God and hast been so ever since thou camest into the world Eph. 2. 1 2. being thou in thy first parents didst transgress against thy Maker Rom. 5. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one that is of Adam ver 14. judgement came upon all men unto condemnation Besides the many sins thou hast committed ever since thou wast born Sins against the Law of God and sinnes against the Gospell of the grace of God Sins against the long suffering and forbearance of God and sins against his judgements Sins of Omission and sins of Commission in thoughts words and actions Consider I say thy condition yea get a very great sense of thy sins that thou hast committed and that thou mayest so doe Beg of God to convince thee by his holy Spirit not only of sins against the Law but also of that damning sin the sin of unbeliefe 2. If thou by grace art but brought into such an estate as to see thy selfe in a lost Condition because of sin without the Lord Jesus then in the next place have a care of resting on any dutie done though it be never so specious I say have a care of making any stay any where on this side the Lord Jesus Christ but above all strive to believe that that very man that was borne of the Virgin Mary did come into the World on purpose to save thee as well as other poore sinners I say thou must not be content till thou art enabled to say He loved me and gave himselfe for me And that thou mayest be sure to attaine to this most precious faith for so it is be much in applying the freest promises to thy own soule yea those that have no conditions annexed to them as these or other like Jer. 3. 3. Jer. 3 Joh. 6. 37. also Jo. 14. 19. Hos. 14. 4. I say labour to apply to thy owne soule in particular the most glorious and freest promises in the book of God And if at any time the divell besets thee by his temptations for so is his wonted manner to doe and so much the more as he sees thee labour to get out of his reach I say when he 〈◊〉 thee with his fierie darts be sure to act faith on the most free promises and have a care that thou doest not enter into any dispute with him but rather resist him by those blessed promises that are laid down in the word of God And withall be sure to meditate upon the blood of the Man Christ Jesus who also is the true God and read those Scriptures that doe most fully and cleerly speak of it as 1 Joh. 1. 7. Eph. 1. 7. Heb. 9. 14 Rom. 3. 25. But if thou say as it is often the speech of poore soules lying under a sence of Sin the apprehensions of wrath due to it I cannot apply the promises to mine own soule and the reason is because my sins are so great and so many Consider and know it for a truth that the more and greater thou seest thy sins to be the more cause hast thou to believe yea thou must therefore believe because thy sinnss are great David made it an encouragement to himselfe or rather the Spirit of the Lord made it his encouragement to crave yea to hope for pardon because he had greatly transgressed Psal. 25. 11. For thy Name sake O Lord saith he pardon mine iniquitie for it is great As if he had said O Lord Thy name wil be more glorified the riches of thy grace wil be more advanced thy Mercy and goodness will more shine and be magnified in pardoning me who am guiltie of great iniquitie than if thou pardonest many others who have not committed such hainous offences And I dare say the reason why thou believest not is not because thy sins are great but because thou doest reason too much with that wicked enemie of mans salvation and givest way too much to the fleshly reasoning of thine own heart For Christ hath said he that commeth unto me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. And againe Though thy sins be as red as scarlet they shall be as white as snow Jsa 1. 18. And Christ calleth those that labour and are heavy laden to come to him with promise to give them rest Mat. 11. 28. Wherefore thou must not say my sins are too big but thou must say because I am a great sinner yea because I have sinned above many of my companions and am nearer to Hell and eternal damnation than they because of my sins therefore will I crie unto the Lord and say O Lord Pardon my sins for they are great Now that thou mayest not be deceived in a matter of so great concernment have a special care of these three things First have a care of putting off thy trouble of Spirit the wrong way which thou mayest doe three wayes First when thy Conscience flieth in thy face and tells thee of thy sins thou doest put off convictions the wrong way if thou doest stop thy Conscience by promising to reform thy selfe and lead a new life and gettest off thy guilt by so doing For though thou mayest by this meanes still and quiet thy conscience for a time yet thou canst not hereby satisfie and appease the wrath of God Yea saith God to such though thou wash thee with Nitre and take thee much Sope yet thine iniquitie is marked before me Jer. 2. 22. 2. If when thou art under the guilt of thy sins thou puttest off convictions by thy performances or duties and so satisfiest thy Conscience then also thou doest put off thy Convictions the wrong way For God will not be satisfied with any thing lesse then the blood righteousness resurrection and intercession of his own Son Acts. 4. 12. and thou shouldest not satisfie thy self with any less then God would have thee to satisfie thy selfe withall and that is the water of life Jsa 55. 1 2. which water of life thy duties and all thy righteousness is not for it is but menstruous ragges Jsa 64. 6. 3. Have a care that when thou art under conviction thou doest not satisfie thy self with a notion of the free grace of the Gospel My meaning is doe not content thy selfe with any measure of knowledge that thou canst attain unto or bottome thy peace upon it thinking thou art now well enough because thou canst speak much of the grace of God and his love in Christ to
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
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
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
thinking thy self to be wondrous well because of that Notion of the Truth and that notion thou hast in the things of God I say being in this state thou art lyable to these dangers First Thou art like to perish if thou die with this notion in thine head except God out of his rich gr ace doe work a saving work of grace and knowledge in thy heart for know this thou mâ—yest understand glorious mysteries and yet be a Castaway 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. Or else Secondly thou art lyable to the next damnable heresy that the Divel sendeth into thâ— world See and consider Luke 8. â—3 2 Tim. 2. 18. I say thou doest lie lyable to be carried away with it and to be captivated by it 〈◊〉 that at last through the delusions of the Divell thou mayst have thy conscience seared as with an hot iron so hard that neither Law nor Gospel can make any entrance thereinto to the doing of thee the least good And indeed who are the men that at this day are so deluded by the Quakers and other pernicious Doctrines but those who thought it enough to be talkers of the Gospell and Grace of God without seeking and giving all diligence to make it sure unto themselves And for this cause God hath sent them strong delusions that they should believe a lye That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness as it is written 2 Thes. 2. 11 12. And indeed if you marke it you shall see that they be such kinde of people who at this day are so carried away with the Quakers delusions namely a Company of loose Ranters and light Notionists with here and there a Legalist which were shaking in their principles from time to time sometimes on this Religion sometimes on that and thus these Vnstable Souls are deluded and beguiled at last 2 Pet. 2. 14. So that these who before as one would have bought had somthing of God in them are now turned such enemies to the glorious truths of the Gospel that there is none so obstinately erroneoâ—s as they And indeed it is just with God to give then over to believe a lye 2 Thes. 2. 11. who before were so idle that they would not receive the Truth of God into their hearts in the love of it And to be bewitched by the Divell to obey his temptations and be damned who would not obey the truth Gal. â— 1. that they migth be saved But you will say what lyes are those that the Divell beguileth poor souls with all I shall briefly tell you some of them but having before said that they especially are lyable to the danger of them who slip into high Notions and rest there taking that for true faith which is not I shall desire thee seriously to consider this one Character a Notionist Such an one whether he perceives it or not is puffed up in his fleshly mind and advanceth himself above others thinking but few may compare with him for religion and knowledge in the Scriptures but are ignorant and foolish in comparison of him thus knowledge puffeth up 1 Cor. 8. 1. whereas when men receive truth in the love of the truth the more the head and heart is filled with the knowledge of the mysterie of Godlinesse the more it is emptied of its own things and is more sensible of its own vileness and so truly humbled in its own eyes And further a Notionist though he fall from his former strictness and seeming holiness and appeare more loose and vain in his practises yet speaks as confidently of himself as to assurance of Salvation the love of God and union with God as ever But now to return and declare some of those lyes which the Divell perswades some of these men to believe First That salvation was not fully and completely wrought out for poor sinners by the man Christ Jesus though he did it gloriously Acts 13. 38 39. by his death upon the cross without the gates of Jerusalem Heb 13 12. compared with Jo. 19. 20. 2. This is another of his lyes wherewith he doth deceive poor sinners bidding them follow the light that they brought into the world with them telling them that light will lead them to the Kingdome for say they it will convince of sinne as swearing lying stealing covetousness and the rest of the sins against the Law Rom. 3. 20. But the Law is not of faith Gal. 3. 12. And then I am sure that it with all its motions and convictions is never able to justifie the soul of any poor sinner For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the law to doe them Gal. 3. 10. but that no man is justified by the law is evident for The just shall live by faith ver 11. Now because I am not altogether ignorant of the delusion of the Divell touching this grace of faith also I shall therefore in short give thee reader a briefe yet true description from the Srcipture 1. What true justifying faith is and what it layeâ— hold upon 2. I shall shew who it doth come from 3. That every one hath it not 4. What are the fruits of it First therefore True faith is a fruit work or gift of the Spirit of God Gal. 5. 22. 2 Thes. 1. 11. and 1 Cor. 12. 9. whereby a poor soul is enabled through the mighty operation of God Col. 2. 12. in a sence of its sins and wretched estate to lay hold on the righteousness bloud death resurrection ascension intercession and comming againe of the Son of God which was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem for eternal life Jo. 3. 16 18. compared with Mat. 3. 17. Gal. â— 20. Rom. 5. 8 9 10. Ro. 3. 25. Act. 16. 31. Heb. 13. 12. according to that saying in Heb. 11. 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen that is the things that are hoped for faith sees layes hold upon and embraces them Heb. 11. 13. as if they were present yea it seales up the certainty of them to the soule Therefore saith the Apostle it is the evidence or testimony or witness of those things that are not seen as yet with a bodily eye which are obtained by the bloud of the man Christ Jesus Heb. 9. 14. comparâ—d with Heb. 10. 12 19 20. by which the soule sees as in a glass the things that God hath laid up for them that feare him 1 Cor. 13. 12. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Secondly If you would know who this faith comes from read Ephes. 2. 8. For by grace ye are saved saith the Scripture through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Againe in Phil. 1. 29. it is thus written For unto you that is believers it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to
2. 24 25. Therefore c. 15. He that by his own power commandeth the raging Sea must needs be the true God Job 38. 10 11. Prov. 8. 29. But this did Jesus the sonne of Mary Mark 4. 39 41. Luke 8. 24. Therefore c. 16. He that is the wisedom power and glory of God must needs be the true God But Jesus the sonne of the Virgin is all these as 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. Heb. 1. 1 2 3. Therefore Jesus the son of the Virgin must needs be true God as well as man The next thing that I am to proâ— is this Namely That by â—â— Jesus Christ the sonne of thâ— Virgin the World was made And here I shall be brief â—â—ving touched on it alreaâ— Only I shall lay down someâ— the Scriptures that hold for this to be a truth and sopâ— to the next things that Iâ—tend to speak of ANd therefore in the fâ—â— place see Heb. 1. 1 2. whâ— the Apostle is speaking of â—â— Sonne of God which Soâ—â— was borne of the Virgin Mâ—â— according to these Scriptâ—â— mentioned before Matth. 18 to 23. Luke 2. Matth. 3. â— where God himself saith Tâ— is my beloved fonne c. Tâ— Sonne of God saith the Apâ—stle by whom God hath spoken to us by him also he made the Worlds And Col. 1. the Apostle speaking of the deliverance of the Saints saith Who hath delivered you front the power of darknesse and translated you into the Kingdome of his dear Sonne in whom we have Redemption through his blood even the forgivenesse of sinnes And is that all No but He is also the image of the invisible God ver 15. The first born of every Creature And in ver 16 17. By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him And he is before all things and by him all things consist Also Heb. 1. 10. it is thus written of this Sonne of God Christ Jesus the sonne of Mary And then Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands And again John 1. and the first nine verses the Evangelist or Apostle speaking of the Son saith In the beginning was the Word which Word was the Son Rev. 19. 12 13. This Word or Son was with God and the Word was God All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made In him was life and the life was the light of men And the light shined in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehended it not But in the ninth verse of this first Chapter of Joh. it is written That was the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world Now seeing the Lord hath brought me thus farre and because the Quakers by wresting this Scripture do not onely split themselves upon it but endeavor also to split others I shall therefore before I proceed any further ' speak a few words to it and they are these that follow The Apostle in these nine first Verses or most of them is speaking of the Divinity or Godhead of the Sonne of Mary and shewing that he made the World Now in this ninth verse he speaketh of Man as he is in his comming into the world and not as he is a regenerate person Now every man as he comes into the world receives a light from Christ as he is God which light is the Conscience that some call Christ though falsly This Light or Conscience will shew a man that there is a God and that this God is Eternal Rom. 1. 20. This light doth discover this Eternal God by his works in the world for saith the Scripture before named The invisâ—ble things of him meaning God from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead This light also will reprove of sinne or convince of and make manifest sins against the Law of this Eternal God So that man before he is regenerate is able by that light to know that sins against the Law are sins against God as is manifested in the unconverted Pharisees who as Christ told them had neither the love of God nor the word of God abiding in them John 5. 38 42. yet knew sins against the Law to be sins for they were offended at a woman for committing adultery which act was forbidden Mat. 5. 27 28. by the Law and tiâ— said also they were convicted of sinne by their own consciences John 8. 7 8 9 10. Again the Apostle writing to the Corinthians and admoniâ—hing them to walk orderly 1 Cor. 11. 14. turnes them to nature it selfe saying Doth not even Nature it self teach you c. This Light surely is that wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned every man that commeth into the world which doth convince of sins against the law of God Therefore as the Apostle saith Rom. 1. 20. They are left without excuse That is they have their own conscience that doth shew them there is a God and that this God is to be served and obeyed and the neglect of this will be sure to damn them though the obedience to the Law will not save them because they are not able to make a full recompence to God for the sins that are past neither are they able for the time to come to yield a fall conâ—inâ—al and compleat obedience â—o the law of this Alm◠〈…〉 finite and Eternâ—l 〈…〉 as many as are of 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to doe them But that no man is justified by the works of the law it is evident For the just shall live by faith Gal. 3. 10 11. But now though Christ as he is God doth give a light to every one that cometh into the world which light is the conscience as they themselves confesse yet it doth not therefore follow that this conscience is the spirit of Christ or the work of grace wrought in the heart of any man whatsoever for every one hath conscience yet every one hath not the spirit of Christ For Jude speaks of a company of men in his days who had not the spirit of Christ Jude 19. These be they who separate themselves saith he sensual having not the spirit Yea Heathens Turks Jewes Pagans Atheists have that also that doth convince of sinne and yet are so farre from having the spirit of Christ in them that it is their great delight to serve their lusts this world their sinnes whereas the Apostle saith plainly If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake So that those who are alive to their sinnes have not the spirit of Christ. Nay let me
two weeks shall Messiah be cut off That is Christ shall be crucified But not for himself That is not for any sin that he hath committed for he committed none Then surely it must be for the sins of the people Joh. 11. 50. as the high Piest said It is expedient that one man should die for the people which man was the true Messias Dan 9 24 Which also is the Son of Mary Mat. 1. 18 19 20 21 22. And the sonne of God Mat. 3. 17. And also the true God 1 Joh. 5. 20. And this Messias this son of the virgin this sonne of God this tree God did not die for himself for he had not offended Neither did he fulfill the Law or finish transgression and bring in everlasting righteousness for himself for he had not sinned 1 Pet. 2. 22. therefore it must of necessity follow that this righteousness of God this everlasting righteousnesse is imputed to all and upon all them that believe Rom. 3. 22. 2 Cor. 5. 19. 20 21. But Secondly this Messias this Son of Mary this Son of God this true God he was put to death for the sins that his children had coÌ„mitted according to that saying Herein perceive we the love of God in that he laid down his life for us Also in Acts 20. the Apostle speaking to the Pastors of the Churches saith Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Now I would not be mistaken I doe not think or say that he died in his Divine Nature but as it is written He in his owne body on the tree did bear our sins which tree was the Crosse Col. 2. 14. And as the Apostle saith again Who when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high And again the Apostle speaking of this glorious God saith on this wise Col 1. being before speaking of his Godhead in the 19. ver For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell and having made peace by the blood of his crosse by him to reconciâ—â— all things to himselfe By him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven And you who were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works yet now hath â—e reconciled But how Why in ver 22. he tells you that it is in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight That is Christ who is the true God after that he had finished all actual obedience on earth did in the power and strength of his Godhead yield up himselfe to the wrath of his Father which was due to poor sinners and that willingly according to that saying in 1 Pet. 3. 18. â—or Christ also hath once suffered for sinners the just for the unjust That is the Son of God for poor sinners that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened in the spirit Again 1 Pet. 4. â— For asmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us not for himself in the flesh in his own body which he took of the Virgin 1 Pet. 2. 24. let us arm our selves with the same minde That is let us die to sin as he did that we might live to God as he did and doth And thus have I briefly shewed you â— That the Son of Mary is very God 2. That he made the world 3. That he is our Saviour and how 4. That he died for sinners and how Namely not in his divine nature but in his humane in his own body and in his own flesh redeeming his Church with his own blood Acts 20. 28. and with his own life 1 John 3. 16. John 10. 8. We shall now passe on to some other things the Lord willing touching his Burial Resurâ—â—ction Ascenâ—on Intercession Second comming Resurrection of the body and Eternal Judgement His Burial proved And first I shall prove by several Scriptures that he was buried and so passe on First therefore see that place Matt. 27. v. 57. and so forward After that Jesus the Son of God had been crucified a while he gave up the Ghost that is he died and after he had been a while dead Joseph of Arimathea went in to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus and Pilate gave consent thereto And Joseph took the bodâ— of Jesus wrapped it in clean linnen and laid it viz. the body of Jesus in his own Tomb and rolled a stone upon the mouth of the Sepulchre and departed Matth. 27. 57 58 59 60. Also in Luke 24 51 52 53 The Apostle Paul also teacheth so much 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. where he saith For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ diâ—d for our sinnes according to the Scriptures And that he was buried Again in Actsâ—3 â—3 29. the Apostle speaking there of Jesus Christ saith And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him they took him down from the tree and laid him in a Sepulchre And so much touching the burial of Jesus Christ the son of God In the next place I am to prove That that very man whom the Jewes did crucifie between two theeves called Jesus Châ—ist did rise againe That very man with that they body wherewith he was crucified upon the crosse did rise again out of the grave in which he was laid And this I shall prove by Scriptures by the testimony of Angels by Christs own words after he was risen and by the testimony of the Apostles in the Scriptures First therefore consâ—der Psal. 16. v. 10. where the Prophet speaks on this wise of Christs Resurrection For thou wilt not leave my soule in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption Which words the Apostle Peter cites in Acts. 2. from v. 2â— to 32. also Isa. 26. 19. in the person of Christ saith Thy dead meh shall live together with my dead body shall they rise See also John 20. 15 16. where mention is made of his appearing unto Mary Magdalen and he called her Mary and she called him Master which signifies that he was risen and that she knew him after his resurrection for he was come out of the grave see ver 6 7 8. Again another Scripture is that in Luke 24. 1 2 3. The Disciples of Jesus comming to the Sepulchre thinking to anoint the body of Jesus found the stone that was on the mouth of the Sepulchre rolled away and when they wenâ— in they found not the body of the Lord Jesus and at this they were troubled and perplexed v. 4. But as two of them went up to Emmaus and were talking of what had befallen to Jesus Jesus himselfe drew near and went with them v. 15. Another Scripture is that in Mark 16. v. 9. which saith on this wise Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the
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
further lay them open before thee And first the prophane scoffer who makes a mocke at the truths of God and so goes on in his sins for this see in 2 Pet. 3. 3. which the Apostle attributes to their ignorance ver 5. And therefore he likens them to bruit beasts Chap. 2. 10. and 12. verses who walke after the flesh in the lusts of uncleanness speak evil of the things they understand not and shall utterly perish in their corruption who because they understand not the Scriptures nor the power of God in them speake evil of the truths therein contained and think the Lord like unto themselves Psal. 50. Secondly the formal professor who hath onely a notion of the Gospell and some seeming holiness but wants Gospel faith Such are called foolish virgins Mat 25. 2 3. to whom Christ will say in that day Verily I know you not Adde hereto those that think it enough to confess Christ with their mouthes and profess that they know God but deny him in their works such notwithstanding all their profession shall if they so continue perish eternally being abominable disobedient and to every good work reprobate or void of judgement that is ignorant Tit. 1. v. 16. 3. The legal righteous man or woman though they walke blameless as touching the righteousnesse that is in the law For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness go about to establish their own righteousness as reading hearing Sermons prayers publique or private peaceableness with their Neighbours Fasting Almes good works as they count them just dealings abstinence from the grosser pollutions of the world stricter obedience to the commandments of the first and second table all which with many other things may be comprehended in their own righteousnesse and it is grounded on their ignorance and goes on in rebellion and such ignorant persons shall in that day perish not submitting through ignoranco to the righteousness of God Rom. 10. 3. compared with Luke 19. 27. where Christ saith that when he shall come the second time he will command those his enemies who submitted not themselves to him who is called the righteousness of God Esay 46. 13. or would not have him to reign over them to be slaine before his face 4. Those whose hearts are set upon the world and follow the alluring perswasions of it the Lord calls such fools Luke 12. 20 and Pro. 7. 7. who go after it vâ—z the world held forth by a similitude of a woman with the attire of an harlot as an oxe to the slaughter or a Foole to the correction of the stocks till a dart strike thorow his liver as a bird hasteth to the snare and knoweth not that it is for his life and knows not marke it is through ignorance ver 23. A fift end of Christs comming is that his righteous ones might shine as the Sun in the glory or Kingdom of their Father Mat. 13. 43. there are many things that do hinder the People of God from shining forth as the Sun now As first they have a body of death which makes them fetch many a groane in their journey to Canaan Rom. 7. 24. 2 Cor. 5. 2. They meet with many a sad temptation which also makes them in heaviness many a time 1 Pet 1. 6. They have also many other things that doe hinder their shining now but then the body of death shall be left off My meaning is that sin shall be no more in the natures of Gods people then Their bodies that are now so vile shall then be made like unto the glorious body of the son of God who shall change our vile bodie that it may be like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. ver 21. 6. Another end of Christs coming shall be to take an account of his children how they have laid out their talents that he hath committed to their trust Mat. 25. 19. Rom. 14 12. 2 Cor. 5. 10. 7. Another end of his coming is to set up his Kingdom which will be glorious indeed at his appearing 2 Tim. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 19 20 21. I do but touch these things because I would hasten towards a conclusion many other things might have been spoken to but at this time I shal forbear But you will say Who shall stand when he appears why I told you before that the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous Psa. 1. 5. let him be close or prophane as I told you even now all shall be laid open all shall be made manifest all shall come into judgement Ah poor soul it is not then thy brave words will save thee it is not thine eloquent tongue that will then do thee any good if thou be without the wedding garment thou wilt be speechlesse as in Mat. 22. 12. But thou that art a converted person shalt stand in the judgement thou that are born again shalt enter into the Kingdom and none else Joh 3. 5. Rev. 21. 27. But how shall I know that I am born again Answ. Why if thou art born again then thou knowest that thou wast not born a Christian at first Eph. 2. 1 2 3. you hath the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins 2. Thou knowest that once thou hadst no faith in the Lord Jesus and wert convinced of sin because thou didst not believe in the son of Mary Jol. 6. 9. 3. Thou seest all true joy through the blood and righteousness of the son of Mary 1 Cor. 15. 57. Rom. 7. 24. 25. 4. Art thou born again then thou canst not be quiet till thou seest God smile and lift up the light of his countenance upon thee Psa. 4. 6. and that through the face of the son of Mary the son of God 5. Thou knowest that God hath given thee thy faith Phil. 1. 29. Eph. 2. 8. 6. Art thou born again then thou knowest that the doctrine of the son of Mâ—ry the Virgin is a right doctrine 2 Joh 9. 7. Then also thou lookest for the personal appearing of the son of Mary from heaven in the clouâ—ls Rev. 1. 7. the second time Heb. 9 28 These things though plain yet if the Lord set them home upon thy conscience may be profitable both to thee and me Therefore let us examine the matter a little And first Thou thinkest that thou art a Christian thou shouldst be sorry else well but when did God shew thee that thou wert no Christian when didst thou see that and in the light of the spirit of Christ see that thou wert under the wrath of God because of original sin Nay dost thou know what original sin means Is it not the least in thy thoughts and dost thou not rejoyce in secret that thou art the same that thou ever wert If so then know for certain that the wrath of God to this very day abideth on thee Joh. 3. 36. And if so
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
came also the resurrection of the dead And again All we like sheep have gone astray and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all And in 1 Pet. 2. 24. where that 53. of Esay is mentioned he saith Who his own selfe bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousnesse by whose stripes we are healed And againe God did prepare this body the humane nature of Christ that it should be a sacrifice for sins wherefore he saith Sacrifices and offerings that is such as were offered by the Law of Moses thou wouldest not have but a body hast thou prepared me Heb. 10. 5. In this body which God had prepared for him which he tooke of the virgin Gal. 4. 4. in this he did beare all the sins of all his elect 1 Pet. 2. 24. And he must needs be true God because it was an infinite God that was transgressed against and Justice required an infinite satisfaction and therefore he must be infinite that must give this satisfaction oâ— else justice could not be satisfied and so it written where the Apostle is telling the Pastors of the Church of Ephesus by what they were redeemed he tells them that God did purchase them with his own blood Acts 20 28 see 1 Joh 3. 16. where he saith herein perceive we the love of God in that He laid down his life for us Not in his divine but in his humane nature for as I said before Gods Christ was of both natures Esay 9. 6. Râ—m 9. 5. 1 Jâ—h 5. 20. Joh. 1. 1. 14. True God and true man and the divine nature did inable him to undergoe in his humane nature all that sin curse and wrath that was laid upon him for us and to overcome and obtain eternal redemption for us Heb. 9. 24. 3. Qâ— How did this Christ bring in redemption for man Ans. Why first Man brake the law of God but this man did fulfill it again and became the end of it for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. 2. Man was foiled and overcome by the devil but this man Christ did overcome him again Luke 4. Heb. 2. 14. 15. and that for us 3. Man did lose the glory of God but this Man hath obtained it again 4. Man by sin lost eternal salvation But this man by his own blood hath obtained it again for him Heb. 9. 12. 5. Man by sin brought death into the world But Jesus Christ that Man hath destroyed it again Heb. 2. 14. compared with Hos. 13 14. and brought in life and immortality 2 Tim. 1. 10. Rom. 5. 15. Q. But how are we justified by this Mans obedience Ans. All our iniquities were laid upon him Isa. 53. 6 8 11 12. And his righteousnesse is bestowed on us if we believe as it is written even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe And this is it which Paul so much sought after when he saith yea doubtless and I count all things losse 〈◊〉 do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness of God by faith Phil. 3. v. 8 9. Q. How doe men come by this righteousnesse and everlasting life Ans. By faith men lay hold upon it and apply it to their own souls in particular Gal. 2. 20. For it is by faith they are justifyed as also faith the Scripture Rom. 5. 1. That is faith laies hold on and applies that which this Christ of God hath done and is a doing and owns it as his own Q. What is this faith that doth thus justifie the sinner Ans. It is a gift fruit on work of the Spirit of God whereby a soul is enabled under a sight of its sins and wretched estate to lay hold on the birth righteousnesse blood death resurrection ascension and intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the assistance of the Spirit whereby it is wrought to apply all the vertue life and merit of what hath been done and suffered or is a doing by the same Lord Jesus Christ to its own selfe in particular Gal. 2. 20. Rom. 7. 24. 25. as if it selfe had really done all that the Lord Jesus Christ hath done I doe not say â—hat the soul doth any thing for justification but it doth know that whatsoever Jesus Christ hath done in point of justification is given to and bestowed upon it Rom. 3. 22. and God finding the soul in him that is in Christ doth justifie it from all things from which it could not be justified by the law of Moses Acts 13. 38 39. Q. Well but is there no way to come to the father of mercies but by this man that was borne of the virgin is there no way to come to God but by the faith of Him Ans. No there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Acts 4. 12. And Jesus himselfe that was borne of the virgin Mary said I am the Way the truth and the life No man commeth to the father but by me Joh 14. 6. Q. And where is this man that was borne of the virgin that we may come to the father by him A. He ascended away from his Disciples in a cloud into heaven as we may read Act. 1. 9 10 11. Q. What doth he there Ans. He ever lives to make intercession for all that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. That is they that shall come out of themselves to him and venture their soules on what he did and suffered when he was on earth is doing now in heaven shall certainly be saved For he ever lives to save them that doe thus come to the father by him And it is because he spilt his blood for all that shall by the faith of Gods elect lay hold upon him and thus it is written where he saith we are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Mark it whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse that is to declare Gods righteousnesse for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God to declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth or layeth hold on Jesus Rom. 3. 24 25 36. Q. But did this man rise again from the dead that very man with that very body wherwith he was crucified for you do seem as I conceive to hold forth so much by these your expressiâ—ns A. Why do you doubt of it Q. Doe you believe it Ans. Yes by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ for he hath enabled me so to doe Qu. And can you prove it by the Scriptures Answ. Yes Q. How
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