3.6 Mar. 16.16 And of Christ's speedy coming to Judge or his being ready to execute punishment upon the Wicked which is the importance of The Judge standeth before the Door as also to deliver comfort and reward the Righteous you read in many places of Scripture As Rev. 22.12 I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be Heb. 9.36.37 Ye have need of Patience that after you have done the will of God ye might receive the promise For yet a little while and he that cometh shall come and will not tarry Luk. 21.26 Watch and Pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Men. Vers. 20. When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with Armies then know that the Desolation thereof is nigh Vers. 25 c. Vpon the Earth shall be distress of Nations with perplexity Mens Hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a Cloud in Power and in great Glory And when these things begin to come to pass then lift up your Heads for your Redemption draweth nigh I. Parots Wren p. 5. Christ shall come the second time without Sin unto Salvation Thus unto you he is come in whom his coming is compleatly perfected Forster's Guide p. 39. His second appearance is in Spirit which no Fleshly Eye can behold and Live and Blessed are all they who wait for his second coming to wit without Sin unto Salvation For his second coming is to put an end to Sin P. 50. Ye Men of Galilee why stand ye here gazing The same Jesus which hath been taken up from you into Heaven shall in like manner come again to wit in a Cloud for so he went up This is a mystery to the Wise of this World that the Light of the World and Life of Men should come in a Cloud But so it is to the Children of Light it is revealed by the Spirit They can tell you that as Christ's first appearance was in the Flesh and the Fleshly Eye saw him so his second appearance is in Spirit and no Fleshly Eye can behold him he being now a Spirit W. Nature of Christianity P. 29. Is his appearing the second time without Sin unto Salvation in this Life or hereafter Thou sayst after the Bodily Death you shall be raised out of the Grave and made partakers of that Salvation P. 24. Thou puttest Salvation at a great Distance As for the Text Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offered to bear the Sins of many and unto them which look for him shall he appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation You falsely Interpret these latter words of Christ's appearing in the Heart to destroy Sin and free from its power For 1 Whereas to appear without Sin is as the opposite doth shew without being offered to bear Sin or as it is vers 26. without putting away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself can any one imagine that the Apostle would go about to inform us of that which could not be and which none could ever Imagine viz. that Christ shall not Die again and make atonement by way of Sacrifice for Sin in his appearance in our Hearts And that this is the meaning of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Sin as you have seen the opposite doth manifest so you may the rather be convinced when you have observed that Sin doth sometimes in Scripture signifie the offering for Sin and that as applied to Christ in his first appearance Chap. 10.6 In burnt offering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for Sin i. e. in Sacrifice for Sin thou hast had no Pleasure So vers 8. And Rom. 8.3 What the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his Son in the likeness of Sinful Flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for Sin i e a Sacrifice for Sin Or if you read and for Sin Condemned it is the same i. e. by a sacrifice for Sin condemned Condemned Sin in the Flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit 2 Cor. 5.21 He made him Sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Isa. 53.10 When thou shalt make his Soul Sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. an Offering for Sin he shall see his seed And thus the Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is answerable to the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as it signifies Sin so is used in the Old Testament for the sacrifice and offering for Sin Lev. 4.25.29 Psal. 40.7 Ezek. 44.27.29 and 45.19 Our Text then lieth plainly thus Christ came into the World to Die for Sin and whereas he is gone out of the World vers 24. he shall come again into it but not to Die but to give that Salvation which by his Death he Purchased for us He who was made Sin for us shall appear the second time without being made Sin He was once offered here he shall appear again here but shall not then be offered again 2 The Apostle had said just before that Christ entred into Heaven the true Holy of Holies vers 24. He speaking then of a second appearance must needs mean his Coming out of this place and that after the same manner that he went in viz. by local motion he Ascended and he shall so Descend Just as the High-Priest entred into the Holy of Holies of the earthly Tabernacle and came out again only with this difference that whereas the High-priest entred into that Earthly Holiest and came out of it once every year so often sacrificing and making atonement for Sin Christ entred into Heaven and cometh out thence but once and that in the end of the World and not then to offer another Sacrifice and make a new atonement for that he did sufficione for all viz. at his entrance there but to judge the World and to give Salvation to them that diligently wait for him Thus the Apostle here writes Vers 12. By his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place having obtained eternal Redemption for us Vers. 24. c He is entred into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us nor yet that he should offer himself often as the High-priest entreth into the Holy Place every year with Blood of others But he was once offered to bear the Sins of many and to them that look for him he shall appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation Chap. 10.11.12.13 Every Priest standeth daily Ministring and Offering oftentimes the same Sacrifices which can never take away Sins But this Man after he had offered one Sacrifice for Sins for ever sate down at the Right hand of God from
suppose in England by him that came from Jerusalem and redeemed Slaves by that Price paid Now to shew the contrary to your assertion 1 Let us put into the Text the visible Flesh and see whether it cannot be said as it is without any incongruity I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven If any Man eat this Bread he shall Live for ever And the Bread which I will give is this my Flesh which your Eyes behold which I will give for the Life of the World or say we And the Bread which I will give is my Life which I will give for the Life of the World for that that is the meaning of giving his Flesh for the Life of the World shall be shewed anon And that he gave his Bodily Life that which he took of the B. Virgin for the Life of the World I hope you will not deny But the words being thus put there is no incongruity but it is the very same in sense with the Text and therefore the visible Flesh of Christ is here meant So that the whole is this Christ who now was Man having said that he is the Bread of Life which came down from Heaven shews in one eminent particular wherein he is so viz. in Dying for us he being likewise the Bread of Life in other respects namely as to his Doctrine and Spirit and raising unto eternal Life at the last day Which Death is our eternal Life as Bread is our Temporal 2 From these last words I will give my Flesh for the Life of the World I prove that the Flesh and Blood here spoken of are not a spiritual invisible substance which you Imagine Christ always dwelt in and brought from Heaven with him but that visible which he took of the Virgin For to give his Flesh for the Life of the World signifies to offer up himself a Sacrifice for Sin by Death upon the Cross thereby obtaining Life for the World Pardon and Redemption As is manifest from the like expressions which frequently occur Mat. 20.28 The Son of Man came to give his Life a Ransom for many Eph. 5.2 Christ hath given himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God Heb. 9.28 He was once offered to bear the Sins of many Chap. 3.14 As the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he himself likewise took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death the Devil And it being altogether thus spoken of his visible Flesh it is sure enough that this place speaketh of the same For shew another Text if you can that speaketh thus of a spiritual Flesh of his But then the importance of the Phrase being such as you have heard you must affirm that the spiritual Flesh was offered and Died and so obtained Redemption for us Which is altogether a stranger to the Scripture Whether you will affirm this I cannot tell But this we all see that you Interpret the Life which is by Christ's Flesh viz. The spiritual which you phansie of his quickening of our Souls by his Life and Spirit which dwelleth in us Which is quite another thing than to give it for the Life of the World that importing Dying as a sacrifice and atoning for Sin 3 The Flesh and Blood here are two distinct things vers 53. Whereas the spiritual substance which you imagine can have but one part And moreover the Flesh forasmuch as the giving of it as hath been proved signifies Christ's Death must needs be that which was Broken and the Blood that which was shed And accordingly the Bread and Wine which our Lord Ordeined in remembrance of his same Death are symbols of this same Flesh and Blood and of no other 1 Cor. 11. Mat. 26. This is my Body which is Broken for you This is my Blood which is shed for you But spiritual Flesh cannot be broken nor spiritual Blood shed and indeed there are not these two distinct parts in a spiritual substance nor are the Bread and Wine in the Lord's Supper symbols of such and therefore we must conclude that such are not here meant Im. Revel p. 55. Scripture is frequent in its testimonies concerning the appearance of Jesus Christ in his Saints Can any thing which is without Man speak so immediatly to the Soul as Christ who made it and is in it and comes in for that end to reveal himself and his Father therein and so to fulfil that Prayer of his Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me But this Text speaks not of the Saints being with Christ and beholding his Glory whilst they are upon Earth by his operation in their Hearts but of their real presence with him in Heaven after this Life and then and as so present beholding his Glory For as he departed out of this World to be in the place where he is and to receive the Glory there which he hath vers 1. The hour is come Glorifie thy Son Vers. 5. Glorifie thou me with thine own self Ver. 11. I am no more in the World I come to thee Chap. 7.39 Jesus was not yet Glorified Chap. 20.17 I am not Yet ascended to my Father Eph. 1.20 God raised him from the Dead and set him at his own right hand in the Heavenly places 1 Tim. 3.16 Received up into Glory vide Joh. 6.62 So must we likewise depart hence that we may be in the same place with him and behold as there present his Glory For thus it is said 2 Cor. 5.6 Whilst we are at home in the Body we are absent from the Lord. Phil. 1.23 I have a desire to depart and be with Christ. 1 Joh. 4.2 When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is And plain enough is it that our Saviour speaks not of our Beholding his Glory whilst we are absent from him but when we are in the same place with him I will that they be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory And that really and personally there by a proper local removal hence as himself went thither For thus says he vers 11. I am no more in the World I come to thee Whereas then he prays that they that are his may be with him it is manifest he means that they might come to the Father as he did be removed from Earth into Heaven for the same says he of those that lay down their Lives for him Which must therefore needs mean their being with him in the other World so as to be glorified and receive eternal Life Chap. 12.25.26 He that hateth his Life in this World shall keep it unto Life eternal If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my Servant be So says he to the Jews Chap. 7.33.34 Yet a little while I am with you
food Christ then hath ordeined that all the wicked who are always unfit must be famished or else you must say they sin when ever they eat and to save their lives may indeed eat though they do sin But further could you not see that this was done in the Church when many of the Christians came together into one place for this very end and not in their own houses not by every one apart in every eating Could you not see it is called the Lord's Supper with express distinction from their own It is written plain enough vers 20.21.22 When ye come together into one place this is not to eat the Lord's Supper for in eating every one taketh before other his own Supper What have ye not houses to eat and drink in So far are you from the Truth when you say the Christians did partake of the Lord's Table when they eat with the very Heathens and whensoever else Ibid. p. 58. Christ charged his Disciples to wait for his coming at Jerusalem the promise of the Father of which he had told them before his Death which they were to shew so often as they brake bread till he came 1 Cor. 11.26 and after he was come to the Apostles they continued it for their sakes who were weak in the Faith to whom he was not appeared R. Barclay Catechism p. 98. This was to continue till Christ came Which coming is inward 1 The Commandment of our Saviour Do this in remembrance of me according to you belonged only to the Apostles and those that were Disciples before his Death and was obligatory but till the descent of the Holy Ghost that is but fifty days after his Resurrection and that after this time it was arbitrary and they might observe it or forbear But this is false for St. Paul tells the Corinthians that he had received this of the Lord and accordingly delivered the same unto them 2 Cor. 11.23 So that that which was commanded the Apostles before Christ's death was given in charge again to St. Paul and that after Christ's coming to the Apostles in Jerusalem at Pentecost for after this time was he called to the Ministry and moreover was delivered by him as a command to be observed by the Church Nay though Christ was come by the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost yet still says the Apostle As oft as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye shew or shew ye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord's Death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 So that he means another coming and until that be he teaches us that this is to be done 2 Not only in that first descent of the Holy Ghost but also in all Divine operations in the heart by the same spirit was Christ come already when the Apostle wrot for unless he was so come working graciously upon the heart the Corinthians were not to receive the Supper of the Lord v. 27.28.29 Wherefore that inward coming cannot be meant by the Apostle for as much as that which he speaks of was not as yet as is manifest by those words Till he come 3 If the Apostles continued it as you further say for the sakes of the weak why do not you likewise continue it for the sakes of the same What are there no weak ones among you Is the Church of the Quakers better than the primitive Or are you wiser than the Apostles judging that unfit which they judged fit But dear Souls in good earnest is the Lord's Supper below you too mean and beggarly for your strength and spirituality What Christian how great and perfect soever he be if as perfect as St. Paul doth it not become to commemorate Christ and shew forth his Death as this Solemnity requires Which is to declare by this outward Rite to all the world his Faith in this Crucified Person whom the Jews by reason of his vile death despised and rejected 1 Cor. 1.18.23 and to profess himself his Servant and to admire his love and the Love of his Father and to acknowledge that our eternal Redemption is by his Blood-shed and for all to offer most ardent thanks and the profoundest Praises and Adorations of his heart This reason is perpetual and equally concerns all And further was there ever any Church which discontinued the Supper of our Lord Or was there never heretofore the glorious appearance till which time your selves say it was to be observed until now among you Quakers I adde you discern not the wisdom of our Lord in this matter in that he hath injoyned us to come and yet forbids unless we prepare our selves So that he provokes and even compels us to Devotion and Piety and doth what may be not only to excite and animate our coldness but to continue us in our goodness and to bring the more profane to a godly mind and life viz. by the frequent repetitions of this grand and serious solemnity 4 Christ's coming therefore until which time his Supper is to continue is that in the end of the world which is so eminently spoken of every where in the Gospel and all Christians wait for Of which you read again in this Epistle c. 15.23 Christ the First-fruits is risen afterwards they that are Christ's shall rise at his coming Then cometh the end G. K. Help p. 22. This is Antichrist who denies Christ the Son came in the revelation of himself in the heart for that coming of Christ in his Bodily appearance at Jerusalem Antichrist will not does not deny being he knows it will never harm his Kingdom so to confess him come provided Christ's Kingdom be not set up in the heart Tomlinson word of Reproof p. 5. The spirit of Antichrist doth not confess Christ come i. e. when he comes or appears in flesh or in his servants Parker's Discovery p. 20. Every Spirit that confesses Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God but the Pope and his Train and the vilest persons have confessed Christ come in his flesh at Jerusalem yet are not of God They who deny Christ come in their mortal flesh to destroy sin are Antichrists I am sorry to hear such words come out of the mouths of men pretending to Christianity I trust it is out of ignorance and inconsideration you speak not malice For will not Antichrist deny Christ come in his Body when he took that Flesh that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death the Devil and when through the offering of his Body we are all sanctified when by that Blood he entred into the holy place having obteined Eternal Redemption for us and when it is that which cleanseth us from all our sins when in this body he rose again without which Resurrection we had yet been in our sins and in the same ascended without which ascension the Holy Ghost had not come When without this Body the world had never had his Preaching nor Miracles nor Example nor his Apostles nor any of
his Religion for ought we know all depending as the History of the Gospel shews us upon his being made the Son of Man In Conscience can you say that to deny all this doth nothing advantage Antichrist's Kingdom Or to confess it all it being our right Faith doth nothing hinder his Kingdom and advantage Christs Wherefore then hath Christ given us this Faith Will not Antichrist deny Christ's coming in his Flesh that he may frustrate all the benefits that proceed from thence and spoil our whole belief on him You may be sure he will if he can do it by any means handsomly either covertly or more openly as he sees he can prevail and that he hath done it you shall see anon No but say you He will not deny his bodily appearance at Jerusalem being he knows it will never harm his Kingdom so to confess him come provided Christ's Kingdom be not set up in the heart If this be right I may likewise say Nor will the Devil deny God being he knows to confess him will never harm his Kingdom provided God be not worshipped Upon this account I begin to conjecture that by and by we shall indeed have no Antichrist For it may likewise be said Neither will he deny Christ's coming from Heaven his Divinity his being the Son of God and the Christ being he knows it will never harm his Kingdom so to confess him provided Christ's Kingdom be not set up in the heart Yet he is said to be the Liar that denieth Jesus to be the Christ and the Son of God 1 Joh. 2. Who then at last is Antichrist He say you That denies him the Son come in the revelation of himself in the heart But say I again Nor will Antichrist deny this seeing to confess him so come will never harm his Kingdom provided yet Christ's Kingdom be not set up there So that it is come to pass as I feared it would that at this rate we have no Antichrist neither one nor other And it were happy for us if he were thus whifled out of the world But hereby the vanity of your proviso appears Say we then bluntly without any proviso at all as St. John doth He truly is this wicked Antichrist that either denies Christ come in his Flesh or denies him to be the Christ or denies him to be the Son of God You say further Every Spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is of God But the Pope and his train and the vilest Sinners have confessed Christ come in the Flesh at Jerusalem yet are not of God So say I Whosoever confesseth Jesus to be the Son of God and the Christ is of God is Born of him and God dwelleth in him and he in God you know the same St. John likewise asserts it But the Pope and his Train and the vilest Sinners have confessed Jesus to be the Son of God and the Christ and yet are not of God nor are Born of him nor dwell in him nor he in them Yet for all this he that confesses not Jesus to be the Christ is Antichrist as the same divine Author also asserts and therefore likewise so may he be and so say I still notwithstanding your reasoning he is that confesses him not come in his Flesh at Jerusalem Yes and hear you again the Pope and his Train and the vilest Sinners have and do confess that Christ come in the Hearts of his Saints yet are they not of God If you mean or shall so reply they resist him when he comes in their own Hearts I tell you every Wicked man doth so and yet every Wicked man is not Antichrist in St. John's Sense And surely you know the difference betwixt resisting him and denying him and discern I hope what kind of persons our Apostle speaks of when he says in this place Try the Spirits because many False-Prophets are gone out into the World Namely that he doth not mean that every Wicked Man be Tryed but some sorts of Prophets that we may not be Poisoned with false Doctrine As you may learn again from these his precedent words Believe not every Spirit They say you again that deny Christ come in their Flesh to destroy Sin are Antichrists So say I are they that deny him come in his own Flesh to destroy the Devil But Antichrist say you further doth not deny this Well if there be not such an one now the times are altered for I am sure there have been many such heretofore Or if you think I am mistaken in calling them by so ill a name that have only denyed Christ's Flesh and Bodily appearance at Jerusalem speak it out and let us moreover hear what we may more truly call them They have ignominy enough among the Antients Some of whose words I will recite that you may be convinced there have been such Men and may see what they thought of them Ignatius Ad Tral 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. There are some vain Talkers and Seducers mixing poyson with sweetness They reject Christ's Nativity of the Virgin Some as if they were Infidels and without God say Christ was only in appearance a man and took not a true Body and suffered and died in appearance Fly these ungodly Heresies for they are the invention of the Devil Ad Smyrn I warn you of these Beasts that have the shapes of Men. For if the Lord was seemingly in a Body and Crucified in appearance then I am now likewise bound for him in appearance He that says Christ had not Flesh perfectly denies him If any man believe him not to have been conversant in Flesh and confesses not his passion and his blood shed he cannot obtain eternal Life Ad Phil. He was truly Born truly increased did truly Eat and Drink was truly Crucified truly arose He that believes not this differs not from his Crucifiers For the Prince of the World rejoices when any one denies the Cross as knowing that the confession hereof is his destruction Thus again Ad Eph. Hear we another Irenaeus L. 1. C. 22. Saturninus affirms the Saviour was not Born nor had a Body but was only man in appearance Chap. 25. Carpocrates says Jesus was not Born of a Virgin but was the Son of Joseph and Mary after the manner of other Children and that after his Baptism Christ descended into him from the supream God in the shape of a Dove and in the end Christ flew away from Jesus and Jesus suffered and rose L. 3. C. 11. The Gnosticks affirm that the Word and Christ did not come into the World that the Saviour had not Flesh nor suffered But some of them say Jesus was incarnate and suffered whom they affirm to have passed through Mary as Water doth through a Pipe The opinion of all the Hereticks is that the Word was not made Flesh. Hear another Tertullian Adv. Haer. Chap. 46. Basilides the Heretick says Christ was without the substance of Flesh that he suffered not of the
teach and direct the other Apostles thus Was the word committed to them by men Had they learned it of others Were they who were sent forth immediatly by Christ and the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost chosen of men as being judged Faithful 3 But now let us view the Text from whence you have taken occasion to speak as you do a little consideration of which would have delivered you from your errors viz. 2 Cor. 3.5 c. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficience is of God Thus having told them from whence they had their ability he next tells them what a word it is which they Preached Vers. 6. Who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit For the letter Killeth but the Spirit giveth Life And so goes on in commendation of the same Doctrine comparing it with the Law that the glory of it might appear to exceed the Glory of the Law saying The Law is the Ministration of Death and Condemnation but this the Ministration of Life and Righteousness And Moses put a Veil upon his Face and until this day remaineth the same Veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament but this Veil is done away in Christ and we use plainness of Speech and with open Face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image Vid. vers 7. to 12. as by the Spirit of the Lord. Wherefore he concludes Chap. 4.1 Therefore seeing we have this Ministry as we have received mercy we faint not So that the Letter is such a word as is external obscure dead and lifeless which is without the Spirit and which Concondemns And therefore by no means can be the Doctrine of the Gospel which on the contrary is of an internal nature perspicuous quick and powerful which is accompanied with the Spirit and which holds forth justification And that it is the Law is manifest in that as the Letter Killeth so he tells us of the Ministration of Death which you your selves will acknowledge to be the Law and this Ministration which is the Law so exactly answers the Letter that it is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Letters and as the Letter signifies that which is external Rom. 2.28 29. so this Ministration is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Engraven in Stones vers 7. In this sense we find him using the same terms Rom. 7.6 We are delivered from the Law that we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in oldness of the Letter And as for the killing of the Letter we read it thus v. 11. Sin taking occasion by the Commandment deceived me and slew me Again c. 8.2 The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death But I have an argument which I dare say you will not deny viz. G. Fox says the Letter here is the Law Treatise of Swearing p. 52. And so the Apostles were made able Ministers of Christ and of the New-Testament and not of the letter of the Prophets and of the law in the Old Testament in which there was Swearing for the letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life Why the Apostle calleth the law the letter in opposition to the Spirit belongs not to our present business to explain I only therefore refer the Reader for satisfaction to vers 7.8 17 18. Heb. 8.10 10.1 9.10 Gal. 3.2 24. 4.3 9. 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10. Tit. 3.6 Joh. 7.39 Rom. 5.5 And how it Kills and is the ministration of Death and Condemnation he may learn from Rom. 7.5 8 11. with Mat. 6.17.27 28 31 32 33 34 38 39 43 44. Rom. 8.3 Heb. 9.9 10.4 10. Gal. 3.10 21. 2.16 Act. 13.39 G. F. Christian Liberty p. 9. It was matter of Conscience towards God that Mordecay did not bow to Haman Esther 3.2 Clarks Wise pag. 59. If they had put off their hats before you Judges respecting your persons then they had transgressed the Law Jam. 2.9 Christ respected no mans person and God saith ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty Lev. 19.5 Mordecay would not bow to Haman nor do him reverence according to the King's command which was contrary to God's command And yet I say God commands to honour all men Which is not to rise up and bow down to them and to stand bare-headed before them but to do good to all men and to love them Parker's Discovery p. 30. Doffing the Hat is honour below which men seek and give one to another respecting persons bowing to the Rich giving them titles of Lords Masters Sirs but do not so to the poor who are in vile rayment Ibid. p. 65. Christ respected not the persons of men as his Enemies did confess Luk. 15.21 22. 1 If Mordecay refused to bow to Haman and shew him reverence out of Conscience I wonder his Conscience permitted him to receive greater honour himself in riding cloathed with the Royal Apparel and upon the King's Horse through the City with Proclamation made before him of the King's favour Est. 6. If the King had commanded him to see this honour performed towards Haman I believe he would have refused as well as he did to bow and that he would likewise have refused to run before him or to wait upon him at his Table if he could have done it with equal safety For that his refusal was not out of Conscience we have this evidence Many of as good Conscience as he both gave and received this reverence you take for granted that no other bowing and reverencing is meant than what is ordinary among us at this day and they gave and received also titles of Honour 1 Kings 1.23 Nathan the Prophet bowed himself before the King with his face to the ground and said My Lord O King c. 18.7 Obadiah fell on his face and said Art thou that my Lord Elijah v. 12.13 I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth Was it not told my Lord c. Gen 23.7 Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the Land c. 33.3 14. Jacob bowed himself to Esau and said Let my Lord pass over before his servant 1 Chron. 29.20 All the Congregation bowed down their heads and worshipped the Lord and the King Now let the reason be shewed why the single example of Mordecay should prevail against all these But besides examples we have a precept Lev. 19.32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and fear thy God 2 And from this Text it is apparent that you speak just contrary to the mind of God in saying that to rise up is not to honour men when he says Rise up and honour And whereas you interpret that command of our Saviour by his
up thither and so is every regenerate man at present So that it is no strange or peculiar thing which our Saviour said of himself viz. that he was then in Heaven whilst he discoursed with Nicodemus Joh. 3.13 5 And I would then know how he passed through two Heavens or thought he did so for whether this were real or a vision is all one the vision signifying as much as the real motion And if you please I would understand also from your inspiration not conjecture what these two Heavens are which he passed to come to the third For alass I only take the one to be that of the Clouds and the other that of the Stars it being of old said The Clouds of Heaven And the Stars of Heaven But perhaps you can inform me of two other as well as a third hard by us somewhat alike comfortable 6 Being curious I would yet know how St. Paul's Body was or might be caught up Vnto this third Heaven a spiritual substance just before his Face For methinks it should then rather have been said his Body was caught or drawn into it Be truly serious and tell me whether Christ ascended up above the Clouds I mean ten or twenty Miles distant from Earth upward And since we read that at his Death he said to the Thief This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise whether their Spirits ascended upward as the Spirits of Men do especially since this Paradise is the third Heaven vers 4. In the mean time I go on with your words Ibid. p. 7. And out of these Heavens doth the Seed of God come who soweth it in the heart of Man and formeth it by his own immediate power and watereth it with influences from Heaven which have of the vertue and breath of his own eternal Life and Spirit in them whereby this Seed groweth up into a perfect substantial birth of one Heavenly and incorruptible nature which is Christ formed within the Body of Christ his Flesh and Blood which cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto that Soul or Life of Man which eateth it and feedeth upon it and it is called the Body and Flesh and Blood of Christ because his eternal Life and Spirit dwelleth in it immediately and communicateth unto man the knowledg of the glory and beauty of himself only in and through this Seed and Birth G. F. Catechism p. 142. They tell me of Christs human Flesh and human Body Doth Scripture speak of such things is not his Flesh from above and doth not Christ say his Flesh comes from above which was the Bread Ans. It was the first Adam who was earthly but the second is Heavenly The Text which proves as you suppose that Christ hath another Body besides that which was visible Flesh and Blood of a spiritual substance besides the material which he took of the Virgin which giveth Life unto the Soul which feedeth on it by the Spirit which dwelleth in it communicating of the knowledg of the glory of himself through the Seed of God is Joh. 6.50 51. This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven that a Man may eat thereof and not Die I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven If any man eat of this Bread he shall Live for ever And the Bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the Life of the World From whence I suppose you would argue thus The Flesh here spoken of came down from Heaven The visible flesh came not down from Heaven Therefore the visible Flesh is not here spoken of I deny the Major and for this reason because the Text says not the Flesh came down from Heaven Which therefore you must prove by consequence thus The Bread came down from Heaven The Flesh is the Bread Therefore the Flesh came down from Heaven I Answer The Bread in the Major signifies whole Christ. As it is said I am the Living Bread and vers 48. I am the Bread of Life And though he speak of himself as then he was both the Word and Man that he came down from Heaven I came down from Heaven yes and said that he the Son of Man came from thence vers 62. What and if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before Chap. 3.13 No Man hath Ascended up to Heaven but he that came down from Heaven the Son of Man which is in Heaven Yet as the Son of Man he came not from thence but as the Word But Flesh in the Minor is not the Bread as that signifies whole Christ but only part of Christ. Now that may be affirmed of whole Christ or of his Person which cannot be affirmed of every part of him As your selves will grant that he came from Heaven and yet deny that his visible Flesh which is part of him did Wherefore though the Bread came down from Heaven and the Flesh is Bread it will not follow from hence that the Flesh came from Heaven unless either all the Bread which is Christ came from thence or the Flesh is all the Bread that is to say all Christ. Form the Syllogism as it ought thus and you may the easier discern your error All the Bread of Life came down from Heaven The Flesh is some of the Bread of Life Therefore the Flesh came down from Heaven Or thus all the Bread of Life came down from Heaven Some Flesh is the Bread of Life Therefore some Flesh came down from Heaven For the Major is false which affirms all the Bread of Life to come down from Heaven For all the Bread of Life is all Christ and all Christ came not down from Heaven For his visible Flesh did not and yet his visible Flesh is some of the Bread of Life I will use the like Arguments for Proof of the descent of Christ's visible Flesh and leave you to answer them because in so doing you will answer your selves The Bread here spoken of came down from Heaven The visible Flesh is the Bread here spoken of Therefore the visible Flesh came down from Heaven The Minor I prove That which Christ gave for the Life of the World is the Bread here spoken of as the Text affirms The Bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the Life of the World The visible Flesh Christ gave for the Life of the World Therefore the visible Flesh is the Bread here spoken of Again the Son of Man came down from Heaven The Son of Man is visible Flesh Therefore visible Flesh came down from Heaven Again all the Bread of Life came down from Heaven The visible Flesh is some of the Bread of Life Therefore the visible Flesh came down from Heaven Perhaps an Instance may be more clear to you and therefore say I thus Redemption came from Jerusalem The Mony is the Redemption Therefore the Mony came from Jerusalem Which yet will not necessarily follow because it might be taken up
Jews but Simon in his place so that we are not to believe in him that was Crucified lest we believe in Simon Chap. 49. Valentinus the Heretick says that Christ was not in the substance of our Flesh but brought I know not what kind of Spiritual Body from Heaven and passed through the Virgin as Water through a Pipe taking nothing thence Chap. 51. Cerdon affirms him to have been only a Phantasm not to have truly suffered but as it were to have suffered not to be Born of a Virgin nor to be Born at all After these comes Apelles and he says Christ was neither in the appearance nor in the substance of a true Body but for asmuch as he descended from the superior Places in his descent he wove for himself a Flesh of the substance of the Stars and Air and in his ascent restored to each Element what he had borrowed and the parts of his Body being thus dispersed only his Spirit went to Heaven See the same Author De Carne Christi per totum Thus you have seen Antichrist hath denied Christ to have come in his Flesh And I hope therefore you will correct your assertion that he doth not denie this nor will lest you should be thought to judge this monstrous error not foul enough to be called Antichristianism And thus your foundation viz. Antichrist confesses Christ to be come in his Flesh and Bodily appearance at Jerusalem being thrown down that which you have built upon it falls with it viz. That therefore Antichrist denying Christ to be come in Flesh must be understood of his coming in the Flesh of his Servants his revealing himself in the Heart I add as for Christ's coming in Flesh as this signifies his own Flesh his incarnation or his mean condition we every where read of it in Scripture As The Word was made Flesh. God sent his Son in the likeness of Sinful Flesh. God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law He was made like unto us in all things He took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of Men. But in what places of Scripture his coming in Flesh signifies his appearance in our Hearts I require you to shew and withal what Hereticks have denied this coming as I have shewed many that have denied the former But there is another rendring of St. John's words which perhaps may give you a better understanding both of the confessing of Christ and also of his coming in Flesh viz. every Spirit 1 Joh. 4.2 3. which confesseth Jesus Christ who came in Flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is of God Every Spirit which confesseth not Jesus Christ who came in Flesh is not of God And then the Sense is plainly this He is the true Prophet which confesses Christ though he was in the mean condition of a Man made Man and made a Servant And he is the false Prophet which denies him and doth so upon this account Which confession is the acknowledgment of his Person viz. That he is the Christ and the Son of God and the acknowledgment of his whole Doctrine And which denial is likewise the denial of both According to this Sense we read throughout the Epistle Vers. 14.15 We have seen and do Testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God God dwelleth in him and he in God Chap. 2.18.22.23.26 Even now are there many Antichrist's Who is a Liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son Whosoever denieth the Son the same hath not the Father These things have I written to you concerning them that Seduce you Chap. 5.1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is Born of God Vers. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God Vers. 20. We know that the Son of God is come Thus also in his 2 Epist. Vers. 7. Many deceivers are entred into the World who confess not Jesus Christ coming or who did come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Flesh. Vers. 9. Whosoever abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God If any bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your House In his Gospel we have the same Chap. 20.31 These signs are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ. This was the principal thing to be Preached and Believed Act. 9.20.22 and 2.36 Rom. 10.9 And hereby True and False Prophets were known 1 Cor. 12.3 No man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed anathema vile Mar. 9.39 and no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost This is the same with our Text. The importance then of the whole is this The true Prophets confess that Christ the Son of God is come and that Jesus who came in Flesh is he The false Prophets deny both So that according to this rendring of the words which is so much strengthened by what is so oft repeated in this Epistle and is a chief design of it your mystical interpretation can not likewise stand Christ's coming in Flesh here also plainly signifying his bodily appearance in the World in the condition of a Man and not his spiritual appearance in the Hearts of his Servants as he is a Spirit and the Word G. K. Woman Preacher p. 6. Outwardly Christ told her only concerning her Husbands that were Dead and how the man she had was not her Husband Joh. 4.28.29.30 And certainly in so short a time they had together perhaps but an Hour words could not tell her half nor the hundredth part of all that ever she did Christ therefore in her Heart told her all these things as he well could even in a moment bring all things before her and tell her all things in her Life And many an honest man says as she did who never means as you do who understand this Woman's words in the strictest Sense that Christ told her not only half but even all that she ever did in her whole Life not an ace abated and that not only belonging to her Sins but all of what nature so ever Such universals not only in our common speech but in the sacred writings have their limitation Joh. 3.32 No man receiveth his Testimony Yet Vers. 33. He that hath received his Testimony c. And Chap. 1.11 As many as received him to them gave he power c. Mat. 23.3 All whatsoever the Scribes and Pharisees bid you observe observe and do Yet vers 16. They were Blind Guides and said to Swear by the Temple was nothing and taught men to break the Commandment of God and taught for Doctrine the Commandments of men Chap. 15. Again Chap. 10.22 Ye shall be hated of all men Yet vers 40. He that receiveth you Again Chap. 3.5.6 All Jerusalem and Judea went out and were Baptised of John Yet Luk.
Reader should think the Printer hath omitted the word of let him know that they frequently thus write Return to Priests about Beverly p. 10. You have put the Books Mathew Mark Luke John for the Gospel which are the carnal letter and part of the declaration of the Gospel which Gospel is Christ. G. F. Catech. p. 59. The Teachers of the World say To the Law and to the Testimonie and they call the Scripture so The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy and the Scriptures are not the Spirit and the Law is Light Rev. 19 10. Pro. 6.23 And the Testimony was put in the Ark and the pot of Manna was laid up before it unto it the Tribes went up unto Jerusalem and the Testimony Jehojada brought forth and gave it to Jehoash The Spirit of Prophecy was not put in the Ark nor the pot of Manna laid up before it nor to it went the Tribes unto Jerusalem nor did Jehojada bring forth the Spirit of Prophecy and give it unto Jehoash Again the Gentiles had not the Law we are not now under it we are delivered from it But the Gentiles had the Law within which is Light and we are still under this we are not delivered from it Again the Law is Light Then we may be sure that is so which Moses wrot forasmuch as that is the Law The just conclusion therefore is that there are more Laws and Lights and Testimonies than one Yes and more Testimonies of Jesus there are than the Spirit of Prophecy for the Scriptures testifie of him and you your selves say they are not the Spirit Well be it known unto you that as there is a Law within so there is a Law without and this is a greater and more perfect Light being added to that within since the corruption of it by the Fall for the better information of mankind insomuch that all that partake hereof are in a better condition than they that want it as partaking of a peculiar priviledge and special benefit This was the difference of the Jews and Gentiles they had the Law these not And what I pray you was this Law which the Jews enjoyed but that which was published by Moses and the Prophets for as for the internal that the Gentiles had as well as they Rom. 2.14 When the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things conteined in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves Chap. 3.1 2. What advantage then hath the Jew much every way chiefly that unto them were committed the Oracles of God Chap. 9.4 To them was the giving of the Law and the Services of God and the Promises Now when God saith to the Jews to the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no Light in them Isa. 8.20 Let any man judge whether he sends them for the knowledge of his Will to the Law of the Gentiles or to that given by Moses which is peculiarly called their Law It is written in your Law Joh 8.17 and 10.34 Moses gave you the Law Chap. 7.19 whether to the Light of their own hearts or to his Oracles Statutes and Judgments as they were externally published Or when he says the same to us Christians whether he sends us to the Light in us that we may know whether this Doctrine or the other which Men Teach be the Truth or to the Scriptures the Light especially in every one to whom this is said being not perfect especially not so perfect as the Scriptures in which God hath declared all his Will every one being not like Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles Let any man judge since God hath sent Prophets and by them hath published his Will and that in writing he yet sends us to the Light in us for the knowledg of his Will and for the determination of all controversies And whether if he had not externally published a Law and Testimony by his Servants the Prophets he would say to us To the Law and Testimony Let me know whether the Light in the Jews told them God would have them circumcise burn incense offer sacrifice and slay such and such Beasts and not others keep holy the seventh day abstein from several sorts of Meats from Blood and things strangled and if a controversie should arise about these whether they were to go to the written Law of Moses or to the unwritten Law of Light in every one of their own Hearts Let me know whether the Light within sufficiently tells us that the Messias is come or indeed that one was promised that Jesus Born of Mary is he or indeed that he was Born at all of a Woman and had real Flesh that he Died and by that Death redeemed us and through his Blood shed we are Saved upon our Repentance and an holy Life that our Spirits do not Die we shall be made Alive again and rise from the Grave the Wicked shall have endless Torment the Righteous endless Joy insomuch that if Christ and his Apostles had never spoken a word and we had never received the Scriptures nor had heard a syllable of all this Preached by Men we should have known it all and as firmly have believed it as now we do For it is said we are built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles And Jesus Christ hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel The Life was manifested and we have seen it and shew unto you the Eternal Life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us The mystery hid from Ages is now made manifest The things which God hath prepared for us have not entred into the heart of Man but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit And these things were Preached unto others that they might know them and believe and have Eternal Life Lastly the Spirit of Prophecy in the Text you cite Rev. 19.10 is not the Spirit as it is in every man as you understood it unless you will say contrary to St. Paul all are Prophets 1 Cor. 12.29 Eph. 4.11 for it is the Spirit as Prophesying and that in the strict signification of the word which is to praedict as the Angel and St. John did of whom it is here spoken For thus are the Words I fell at his Feet to worship and he said unto me see thou do it not I am thy Fellow-Servant and of thy Brethren which have the Testimony of Jesus worship God for the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy Which is to say I am but as thy self thou hast the Spirit of Prophecy as well as I I am but a Prophet testifying of Jesus like thy self As Chap. 22.9 I am thy Fellow-Servant and of thy Brethren the Prophets So that when Isaiah saith to all to the Testimony exhorting them to keep close to that word and to enquire there whether that which any man shall spake be Truth he
is in the Scripture and that the Power goeth along with the Letter which is Death Burroughs Trumpet p. 20. You say Christ commands it when the Letter doth but declare it and say in such a Verse of such a Chapter such a command is not having received the command by the same Spirit You are in Witchcraft who observe commands without from the Letter thereby drawing from the teachings within by the Spirit They that obeyed Christ were led by the Spirit and not by the Letter for they were not Ministers of the Letter but of the Spirit Return to Priests about Beverly p. 10. You put the Books Matthew Mark Luke John for the Gospel which are the carnal Letter G. K. Help p. 27. The finest truest words out of a bad mans mouth can never reach the seed of God either to the raising it up or refreshing it but kills and burdens it as said the Apostle of the false Apostles who had the Letter and were Ministers of it out of the Spirit and Power The Letter Kills I begin to believe that some of you understand by the Letter and the Scriptures the very Characters and the Books forasmuch as it is usual with them to call them Ink and Paper But others of you are more skilful calling them also words spoken By which yet I hope they do not mean the sounds only which are made by the mouth which if they do they mend not the matter at all the sounds being to the Ear no other than what the characters are to the Eye but I would believe they mean as they ought to do the sense and doctrine for Scripture is all one whether it be expressed by the Pen or spoken by the Mouth or only conceived in the mind that is to say the doctrine is Now we are to consider whether the Doctrine of the Scriptures be dead and liveless carnal and killing Here you differ again some saying it is so in it self alone without the Spirit or as it is Preached from the Scriptures without immediate revelation to the Preacher though that Preacher be neither wicked nor a seducer others saying it is so as Ministred by such vile persons We are again to consider of what Scriptures or Doctrine the Apostle speaks when he saith We are not Ministers of the Letter but of the Spirit And 1 can you in good conscience say the doctrine of the Gospel is a dead and carnal word Or which is all one that those Scriptures are which express that Doctrine and that after the most lively manner even according to the mind of God himself who so delivered them by his own Spirit Thus we read there and thus it is spoken to us from thence by our Preachers Sinners you must forsake your evil ways and become new creatures not only outwardly reform but be inwardly holy and changed in your natures must cleanse your selves from all filthiness not only of the flesh but of the Spirit also you must walk in the fear of God and observe diligently all his Commandments love them and delight in them or else you cannot be saved but must burn as God hath pronounced in the Lake of Fire and Brimstone and suffer his wrath and indignation for ever His love is exceeding great to us who is not willing that any should perish but that all should have everlasting life and to that end hath given his only-begotten Son to die an ignominious and painful death and to bear our sins on his own body on the Tree and to make atonement for us and hath set him upon the Throne with himself to rule over all things for our good and hath sent forth his mighty and gracious Spirit to enlighten convert strengthen and comfort us Courage poor Soul and look up Glory is provided for thee who hast offended greater than the most magnificent Prince on earth enjoys Harken to the holy Guide in thy Soul cease thy Rebellion and thou shalt inherit Heaven dwell with God in that supernal Palace beholding his Face in Peace and have fulness of joy all perfection and life for evermore Blessed art thou O man who hast subdued thy Lusts overcome the World and hast put on Jesus Christ for unto thee belongeth this blessedness Kingdom and Glory Though we Die we shall be made alive again and stand before the Judge which knoweth what we have done and what hath been in our hearts and who will accept no mans person but will render to all according to their deserts so that our portion in the end will be either that bliss or that misery and this is not our word but the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Now call you this a carnal Letter a dead insipid spiritless thing Hath it no more power in it to move the Soul than characters of Ink drawn upon a Paper It pierces the Sinner like a Sword and comforts the humble Soul more than Wine The very contrivance of the Scriptures spits shame in the face of your bold assertion they being adorned with all perspicuity that we may understand the truth and with the strongest arguments to perswade us to our duty as the love of God the Death of his Son the assistance of his Spirit the filthiness and incommodities of Vice the purity and beauty and benefits of Vertue the Resurrection and the Judgment the Glory of Heaven and the Torments of Hell And so long as men have understanding fear hope and love of themselves this word can not be as a mere block and stone to them And you may hence discern that there is a force in the very things themselves in that the same person works more upon the auditors when he Preaches clearly pertinently and the weightiest matters than when he speaks of more extrinsick Points and Doctrines of the least moment and makes Childish descants and involves all he says in obscurity I demand if the Scriptures be such a dead letter and killing thing death it self why the Apostle wrot or why do you Did he contradict his Tongue with his own hand at the same moment Did he believe that he sent the Corinthians a word as dead as his Ink and a letter that Killeth or will you say it was not so with him because he had the Spirit and that went along with it from him to them If so you must tell us why the Spirit may not as well accompany the same to us which we likewise have received But know you however it was that life came into the dead thing they acknowledged that his Letters were mighty and powerful 2 Cor. 10.10 And it seems some of you perceived that this Doctrine and these good works which the Scriptures contein are not altogether so weak and dead as others would make them for that they have added that out of a wicked mans mouth they can do no good and yet further that the Apostle speaks this of false Apostles The Letter kills Well then our Ministers may still Preach them with comfort if
they be righteous out of such mouths they may do good reach the seed of God raise it up and refresh it and there is virtue in them if they be not Ministred by false Teachers who yet you should observe Minister not them but another thing the figments of their own brains in their place false Doctrine as they are false Teachers whereas I thought you had understood by the Letter the Scriptures without their corruption and so you do however you thus speak But I like not these words The truest words out of a bad mans mouth kill and burden the seed of God in others It might be more innocently said his sinfulness doth this or is the occasion of it than to lay the blame upon the pure and incorrupted Doctrine of God or to charge it with so dreadful and dismal an effect I hope such a conceit as this lies not at the bottom viz. that the sin in the man infects the Doctrine and so it becomes noxious to others that hear it like as breath receives contagion from a contagious Body and conveighs the same to them into whose Lungs it enters Nor do I like this saying The truest words out of a bad mans mouth cannot reach the seed of God raise it up or refresh it For that hereby you spoil the word of Christ of all power and render the Doctrine of the Gospel as impotent in it self as is silence and a dead Mouth or as it is our hand to work any good upon the Soul which yet is of such a nature as I have shewed as that it must needs have a force in it and is called the power of God and even herein excels the Law in that it is more vivid and quickening And hereby you make all the efficacy and the effect to depend upon the goodness of the Preacher as if his Soul rightly moving affects the Holy Ghost with whom she is conjoined and that great Spirit which fills all places transfers the motions unto the Souls of others like as some say impresses being made upon the Spirit of nature are carried by the same from Body to Body just as a stroke given at one end of a line runs unto the other so that no good can be done let the Doctrine be never so right and excellent unless such a motion can be made and no such motion can be made but by a Pious Soul If this be the mystery I leave it to them that love it Only let me say The Wind bloweth where it lifteth and thou hearest the sound of it but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit Joh. 3.8 As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the Womb of her that is with Child even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all Eccl. 11.5 So is the Kingdom of God as if a man should cast Seed into the Ground and should sleep and should rise night and day and the Seed should spring and grow up he knoweth not how For the Earth bringeth forth Fruit of it self first the Blade then the Ear after that the full Corn in the Ear. The Seed is good cast it into the Ground and as for the success leave that to God who we may be sure hath a blessing for his own word of truth and as his blessing accompanies the goodness of the Man so it doth the goodness of the Doctrine and his Spirit which waters and quickens and brings forth Fruit proceeds not from man nor depends upon his sanctity as to others reception of it but proceeds from himself and he sends it forth whither he pleases and it is willing to work in us all Paul Plants and Apollo Waters but God gives the increase So then neither is he that Planteth any thing nor he that Watereth but God that giveth the Increase 1 Cor. 3. That we may know whether the Spirit in one can act upon another let the Spiritual man keep silence and let a particular Doctrine or some particular Sins be proposed to him privatly and let us see whether he can instruct the minds of others in that Doctrine or convince them of those Sins St. Paul makes me despair of any effect in that he says the Spiritual man that speaks in an unknown Tongue and that is as much as he kept silence effects nothing 1 Cor. 14. 2 Because you condemn our Preaching from the Scriptures without immediate Revelation calling us for that cause alone Ministers of the Letter let me tell you that whilst our hearts are honest and we entirely desire and labour after the Conversion and Salvation of Souls and God hath blessed us with the knowledge of his Will and with zeal for his Glory and with the sanctification of our natures and with good success of our labours we will not be ashamed of this Ministry though it please him to give us no more than ordinary assistance of his Spirit which he that hath not is none of his and we receive not his word as the Apostles and Prophets did by extraordinary inspiration and by inspiration alone but meditate and study and so Preach as we have learned the truth from the Scriptures through the help of God which we have had in our diligence according to the good sense of divine things upon our hearts For whereas St. Paul received not the Gospel of man nor was taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1.12 you read otherwise of Timothy and Titus and other Preachers 2 Tim. 1.3 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast learned of me Chap. 3.14 Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them and that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by Inspiration and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God Timothy or any other such Preacher 1 Tim. 6.11 may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 1 Tim. 4.11 These things command and teach Vers. 13.15 Give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all Chap. 3.14 15. These things write I unto thee that thou mayest know how to behave thy self in the house of God 2 Tim. 2.2 The things which thou hast heard of me among many Witnesses the same commit thou to Faithful men who shall be able to Teach others also Vide etiam Tit. 1.9 and 2.15 Here then are Ministers of the Doctrine which they had learned and had been taught of men and of things committed to them by others and studying Ministers If they had received the word by Revelation like St. Paul what need he teach and direct them Did he
where our Lord is Crucified Rev. 11.7 8. So again p. 33. G. K. Immed Revelation p. 117. Christ's Spirit shall consume this Antichrist that sits in the Temple of God mans heart and rules as Lord there And this Antichrist is not a person or persons particular but a Spirit Joh. 4.2 and is the spirit of Satan which rules in the children of disobedience In this Temple the heart the Whore Mystery Babylon sits as Queen 2 Thes. 2. Thanks says the Pope I and my Clergy were wont to be branded peculiarly with these ill names but it is now declared by immediate revelation that we are no more Antichrist and the Whore of Babylon than are other sinners and even those among the Heathens for a wicked spirit was in the hearts of men before we ever came to our dominion in the Church and is now in those with whom we have nothing to do as being gone out from us and in Heathens that never were of us and this Antichrist sits in every vitious mans heart and so rules in the Temple of God notwithstanding many of them are contemptible persons and have no authority over others like as we have The Beast hath Seven Heads and Ten Horns which are Seven Mountains and Ten Kings And though it be somewhat odd and I do not understand it yet now sure I am or else Revelation fails that this Beast with all his Power Pomp and Kingdoms is the will of every naughty sinner how mean and impotent soever he be And the woman the Mother of Harlots drunken with the blood of the Saints and Martyrs that sits upon the Beast the will and upon many waters is the Spirit of Satan ruling in the children of disobedience and so this Woman drinks blood in every such Childs heart and whereas one would think she shed the blood of others and those Saints and Martyrs it is only the wicked mans own blood and though it seemeth that blood is really shed and men are literally killed it is in truth quite another matter namely Christ Crucified in the wicked mans heart by lusts which we know may be without the loss of one drop of blood And though the Two witnesses prophesying and being slain hath been judged to signify something acted by men among themselves the faithful Servants of Christ contending for his Truth against a company of evil men and this evil company overcoming them and treating them with all injuries yet it only signifieth what is done betwixt Christ and the Heart Christ speaking there and the will crucifying him there viz. in the deceived heart which is the great City where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was Crucified spiritually called Sodom Good Children go on and tell the Protestants from the Spirit of the Lord that that Spirit did not point at our Papal Power in those names of Beasts Antichrist Babylonish Whore I stroak you my Dearest and lay my hands upon you and give you my Blessing Thus glories the Pope But Friends whereas St. John Prophesies of Witnesses and of a Beast and Whore and makes accurat descriptions of these can you think he means no particular persons but only speaks of the common strife of the Flesh and Spirit in men And I would have you consider whether common vitious Persons that neither propagate nor hold Errors and Heresies nor persecute and offer injuries to the Church are called in the Scripture Antichrist But albeit you say the Beast is the Will and Antichrist is not any particular person or persons yet I find one of you and he a great man contradicting telling us plainly that the Pope is the Beast and the Antichrist G. Fox Few Words p. 6. This is clear that the Pope is the VVhore and the Beast that rose out of the Earth p. 8. The Pope saith they can forgive Sins viz. his Jesuits Priests Friars Here is the Beast with his many names the many Antichrists Seeing then some of you say the Beast is the Will some the Pope some that Antichrist is not any particular persons some that he is the Pope with his Jesuits Priests and Friars I had best stop here till you are agreed And truly may some say you might have stopped long ago and even have spared all your pains for any hope you can have of convincing them who esteem themselves infallible they knowing the shame of Recantation and what injury it will be to their Credit and what dammage to their Party But I am not altogether without hope For who knows what the Lord may do However my Labour may not be in vain to some of their Followers who scarce believe what the Doctors so confidently boast of themselves And especially may it conduce to prevent the lapse of others who by reason of their glorious pretence are smitten with some admiration of their persons and their way Besides the instances which I have given of your false Interpretations I can produce near Forty more which I have observed in reading a few of your books By which any one may perceive what sad work you make with the Scriptures But these may suffice to shew that you are far from doing according to what you affirm of your selves as in the beginning I cited your own words viz. That you dare not make use of Scripture but as the Spirit opens dare not speak the words of Scripture in your own Spirit but tie them to the Spirit so as not to use them but by the Spirit do not Interpret Scripture by the fallible mind the things which you write you received by the Revelation of Jesus Christ and you are not fallible For certainly they that pretend no more than the ordinary divine assistance could not have erred more grosly than you have done I wish with all my heart that you had more of the Spirit and that you were Prophets indeed that we might have more Truth and need not spend our time in correcting follies And admonish you in the Lord that you make your humble and ardent supplications for wisdom to him that giveth and upbraideth not And that withal you labour and search for her as for hid Treasure and despise not the light which God hath set up in any who hath variously distributed his gifts as he hath the members of our Body for mutual assistance Seeing your failings watch against them and take more heed and amend To ascribe any thing that is false to the Holy Ghost you know is wicked impudence and of the worst consequence the Prophane and Atheistical being the more tempted hereby to believe there is no such Divine power How horrid is it to say that Spirit lies How nigh to which you come by asserting him to be the Author of your errors in your seriousness consider If I have erred I have erred as a man and yet I think and know I have the Spirit of God and for all the World would not be without it It would do well since you say you are Prophets like them of old
Interpretations to consult the Text as it stands in the Bible Pro. 15.28 The heart of the Righteous Studieth to answer but the Mouth of the Wicked poureth forth evil things FINIS THE TEXTS Vindicated ISa. 2.3 4. Out of Sion shall go forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem and he shall judge among the Nations Psal. 119. The word of the Lord. Prov. 6.24 To keep thee from the evil woman Rev. 5.6 Seven Spirits of God 2 Cor. 12.2 Caught up to the third Heaven Joh. 6.50 51. This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven And the Bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the Life of the world Joh. 17.24 Father I will that those thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me Jam. 5.9 Grudge not lest ye be condemned Behold The Judge standeth before the door Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Act. 1.11 This same Jesus that is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into Heaven 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto you do well to take heed c. 1 Cor. 12.7 The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 11.29 He that Eateth and Drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lord's Body 1 Cor. 11.25 This do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me c. 10.21 Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table and the Table of Devils 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eat this Bread and Drink this Cup ye shew the Lord's Death till he come 1 Joh. 4.2 3. Every Spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is of God And every Spirit that confesseth not Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is not of God And this is that Spirit of Antichrist c. Joh. 4.29 Come see a man which told me all things which ever I did 1 Tim. 2.12 But I suffer not a Woman to Teach c. 1 Cor. 14.34 Let your Women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted to them to speak but c. Jer. 23.30 31 32. I am against the Prophets which steal my Word every one from his neighbour that say He saith that Prophesie false Dreams and cause my people to erre by their Lies yet I sent them not Therefore they shall not profit this people at all Mat. 6.5 They love to pray standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of Streets that they may be seen of men Mat. 23.6 And love uppermost Rooms at Feasts and Chief-seats in the Synagogues and greetings in the Market and to be called of Men Rabbi Rabbi but be not ye called Rabbi c. neither be ye called Master for one is your Master Christ. Jer. 5.31 The Prophets Prophesie falsly and the Priests bear rule by their means Rev. 17.15 13.7 Power was given the Beast over all Kindreds and Tongues c. 1 Cor. 15.22 As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive Rom. 13.1 Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Isa. 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony c. Rev. 19.10 The Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of Prophecy Isa. 47.5 Sit in silence c. Isa. 15.1 Kir of Moab is laid wast and brought to silence Psal. 31.18 Let the lying Lips be put to silence 1 Cor. 13.8 Tongues shall cease Joh. 15.3 Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you 2 Cor. 5.19 And hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 3.6 Who hath also made us able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit c. Est. 6.2 Mordecay bowed not c. 1 Pet. 2.17 Honour all Men. Honour the King Lev. 19.15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the Poor nor Honour the person of the Mighty c. Luk. 15.21 22. Master we know thou sayest and teachest rightly neither acceptest thou the person of any Jam. 2.2 Have not the Faith of our Lord Jesus with respect of persons for if there come c. Mat. 5.33 34. But I say unto you Swear not at all c. Act. 7.38 39. This is he which was in the wilderness Mat. 10.34 I came not to send Peace but a Sword Joh. 15.22 If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin c. 12.46 I am come a Light into the world Mat. 28.19 Baptising them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Mark 16.16 He that Believeth and is Baptized shall be saved 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is Born of God doth not commit sin Rom. 14.7 Render to all their dues Tribute c. Rev. 11.7 8. The Beast shall kill the two Witnesses c. c. 17.5 Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots 2 Thes. 2.4 The Man of Sin sitteth in the Temple of God FINIS Books Printed and are to be Sold by Benjamin Harris at the Stationers-Arms at the East-end of the Royal-Exchange in Cornhil Octavo and Twelves A Confession of Faith put forth by the Elders and Brethren of many Congregations of Christians Baptized upon Profession of their Faith in London and the Country Lately Published Price 1 s. Warr with the Devil Or The Young-Man's Conflict with the Powers of Darkness discovering the Corruption and Vanity of Youth the horrible Nature of Sin In a Dialogue To which is added An Appendix containing a Dialogue between an old Apostate and a young Professor The Fifth Impression price 1 s. The Second Part of the Warr with the Devil The Grand Impostor Discovered or The Quaker's Doctrine weighed in the Ballance and found wanting a Poem by way of Dialogue wherein their chief and most concerning Principles are laid down And by the Authority of God's Holy Word thereby Refuted price 10 d. Summons to the Grave or A Timely preparation for Death Demonstrated in a Sermon Preached at the Funeral of John Norcott with two Elegies thereunto praefixt price 8 d. All five written by Benj. Keach Minister of the Gospel The History of the Young Converted Gallant or Directions for the use of that Divine Poem Warr with the Devil Here shewing the Readers thereof how to read the same Poem right in these four Respects c. First In reference to the Substance or History thereof 2 dly In reference to the Intent or Mystery thereof 3 dly In reference to the Consequent Doctrine thereof 4 thly In reference to Practical Application thereof Compiled in a Poem by John Mason Gent. of Fordham in Cambridgshire price 1 s. Blessed Rest for the Burthened Sinner or The only Center of the Soul wherein is discovered 1. Who he is that Invites and calls Sinners to this Rest. 2. The Encouragement to come unto him for Rest. 3. Many Obstructions and Impediments which keep back sinners with their Unreasonableness answered 4. The Rest that every one shall have that comes unto Christ Delivered in several Sermons from Matthew 11.28 By John Hopwood Preacher of the Gospel price 2 s. * Note that this is all the Answer to the Question * Yet I find some odd passages in your Writings K. Help p. 2. The letter and outward teachings so much cried up with all the Fruits and effects of the one the Crucified Body of Christ though a very Blessed and Comfortable enjoyment in its place and kind yet being but that which made nothing perfect is now no less necessary to be parted with than at that time it was else the Comforter as the blessed effect of the other the Living Body of Christ can not come F. Truth and Deceit p. 55. Then came Christ according to the Flesh to be Crucified the Lamb slain that Flesh of his which is a mystery when the first Adam's and Eve's Flesh was defiled P. 57. Yet his Flesh never corrupted which Flesh is the offering for as he was not God he did not Die and this Flesh is a mystery and in this Flesh is the Belief which takes away the Sin that never corrupted that is the offering for Sin and the Blood of this Flesh cleanseth from Sin This offering who is found in the Shape of a Man And where this belief is entred into his Flesh it knows Adam's Flesh that corrupted Through his Flesh he doth reconcile and by the offering up his Body his Flesh that which hath been Slain from the Foundation of the World and yet never corrupted he breaks down the Partition-wall betwixt Jews and Gentiles p. 59. So this pure Flesh this offering is set over all which never corrupted which must be your Meat if you Live though there is more in all these things which is hard to be uttered and cannot be uttered yet * Tertullian understands the Text of the visible Flesh De Carne Chr. Chap. 13. In Christo invenimus animam carnem simplicibus nudis vocabulis editas id est animam animam carnem carnem Quid anxia est anima mea usque ad mortem Et Panis quem ego dedero pro salute mundi caro mea est Si una caro una anima illa tristis usque ad mortem illa Panis pro mundi salute salvus est numerus duarum substantiarum in suo genere distantium excludens Carneae animae unicam speciem * See c. 3.17 Act. 15.9 1 Cor. 11.29 * De Spec. Leg. p. 594. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. If necessity require an Oath it is more fit to swear by the health and old age of Father and Mother if they be living and if they be dead by their blessed memory because God is not to be rashly named Some are wont to say So help me omiting the rest which might be compleated not by adding the most High but Earth Sun Heaven or the World But others are so hasty that passing by the creatures they are bold to swear by the Creator himself