speak unto us in his son that we may live and it will not be enough for any man to speak except himself be heard and the 〈◊〉 learned as it is in Jesus Eph. 4. 21. and again it is writâ—… 〈◊〉 59 21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spirit that is upon thee and my words which I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mâ—…uth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 â—…eed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fâ—…rth and for ever See how God hath appointâ—…t for his seed â—…and every Believer is his seed according to 〈◊〉 3. 29. as an everlasting ordinance his spirit upon them 〈◊〉 his words put by himself into their mouth and again Joel 〈◊〉 28. 29. And it shall come to pasâ—… that I will pour my spirit apâ—… 〈◊〉 and your sons and your daughters shall Prophesie c. And 〈◊〉 â—…pon the servanâ—… and â—…idens will I pour out my spiâ—… See further these Scriptures Zach. 12. 8. 10. Isay 40. 5â—… 〈◊〉 10. 11. Isay 41 17 18. Isay 49. 6. Isay 51. 3 4 5. Isay 55. and 〈◊〉 60. througout Now I ask such who say Immediate 〈◊〉 and Gods speaking in men from his own mouth and his pouring forth his spirit upon them to prophesie is ceased whither did these promises belong to the Law or to the Gospel to the old Covenant or to the new that they belonged to the old they cannot say it with any colour of reason seeing these glorious things are promised in these latter days and were gloriously accomplished after Christs resurrection and ascension which put an end to the ministration of the Law and old Covenant but and if they belonged to the new Covenant and to the Gospel yea these things promised are the Covenant it self as is clear in the above cited Scriptures then how are they ceased if the new Covenant or Gospel ministration be ceased then is the pouring forth of the spirit and Gods putting words into the mouth of his seed ceased but if the new Covenant and Gospel ministration be not ceased then is not the pouring forth of the spirit of Prophesie ceased either Argument 4. This was a priviledge common to every Believer in the dayes of the Apostles to whom they ministred as they preached unto them the Lord opened their hearts to believe and the holy Ghost fell upon them who heard and believed see Acts 2. Acts 4. Acts 8. Acts 10. 44. Gal. 3. 23. 1 Cor. 3. 16. and 1 Cor. 4 16. Every one of them had a spiritual gift some a Psalm some a Doctrine some a Revelation some a tongue some an interpretation and verse 21. Ye may all Prophesie one by one c. Lo how a Revelation and the pouring forth of the spirit was not peculiar to the Apostles alone but to believers generally it was common And they were inriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge 1 Cor. 1. 5. and if any man said Paul Rom. 8. have not the spirit of Christ 〈◊〉 is none of his and he prayed for the Eph. 1. chap. 17. ver That God would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of himself c. and he said ver 13. After that they believed they were sealed with that holy spirit of promise tho earnest of their inheritance And Jesus Christ promised this to whom soever should believe in him Joh. 7. 38. He that believeth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters and verse 39. This spâ—… he of the spirit which they that believe on him should receive 〈◊〉 the Holy Ghost was not given for that Iesus was not yet glorified and now if the holy Ghost be not received by them who believe and if the pouring of it forth be ceased and then is that promise falsified and broken but that is impossible therefore is this also And now seeing from what is said it is clear that the pouring forth of the spirit of the Lord the spirit of wisdom and revelation in all knowledge and utterance was the common priviledge of believers in the dayâ—… of the Apostles and that by vertue of the rew Covenant and the promises their to belonging it is also manifest that this glorious dispensation is the priviledge of believers now and in all ages past or to come is so being under the same covenant and to whom belong the sâ—…me promises which they have a right to in their head Christ for in him all the promises are yea and Amen and seeing the Scripture speaks so fully of that abundance of glory that is to be revealed in the days of the Gospel belonging to the new Covenant dispensation how then is it ceased and to cease for ever so as never any more to take place in the earth and wherein do's the Gospel dispensation which brings life and immortality to light transcend and surpass the dispensation of the Law and old Covenant if not herein that the 〈◊〉 is done away in Christ and the substance revealed the Lord being the light of his people and their God their glory the light of the Moon becomming as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun as the light of seven days wherein does the glory of the latâ—…er house transcend and excel the glory of the former but that the Lord whom his people seek shall suddenly come into his temple and that unto them who fear his name the Son of righteousness shal arise with healing under â—…is wings Mal. 3. and 4. And has not God appointed this as a standing ordinance in his church the Son of righteousness to shine therein with his own immediate beams as this visible Sun to shine in the world take away the revelation of Christ his Church and then will she not be left in as great in confusion desolation distress as if the inhabitants of the earth should be deprived of the natural sun what a woful night would come upon them is not the woman Christs spâ—… use cloathed with the Sun and as she went into the wilderneâ—…s fleeing from the Dragon thus cloathed is she not to return so also and such who cry down all Immediate Revelation and prophesying do they not make the Gospel dispensation exceedingly inferiour to the Law for even in that ministration there were some Prophets some to whom the Word of the Lord came from his own mouth and if there be nothing such now at all it is a very poor Law and despisable Dispensation as truly it is so among you Vision is not and therefore the people perish but now is the Lord fulfilling these glorious promises to the people of his pasture whom for a small moment he had forsaken but with great mercies is he gathering them Thy Watchmen shall lift up the voice with the voice together shall they sing for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion Isa. 52. 8. And ver
can have no true nor infallible assurance of Gods love and favour That there is such a thing attainable to every Believer and necessary for him to know as to his comfortable walking with God the Scriptures manifestly declare and it 's generally acknowledged it 's to become to and sought after and therefore I shall not insist on the proveing of it being granted only the way how it is attained that is it I plead for That it is only by the Immediate Revelation of the Spirit of Christ Justifying the man in his heart He is near that Iustifyeth saith the Prophet so near that he is in him and justifieth him in his conscience and without this man can never have true assurance till God justifieth him mans justification or words only spoke without can do nothing Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the children of God Not the words of Scripture or the words of the Spirit spoke to or in other men what is that to me but the Spirit it self witnesseth this and he that believeth hath this witness in himself witnessing in him 1 Phil. 5. 10. And saith Paul 2 Cor. 1. 21. Now he which stablisheth us with you is Christ and hath appointed us is God who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Lo how he makes it a common Priviledge to him and them and this is that which stablisheth setleth confirmeth stayeth the mind and giveth it peace and removeth all doubtings begeteth in it a full assurance of Faith according to Heb. 10. 22. and Heb. 6. 11. It 's called The full assurance of hope and Col. 2. 2. all riches of the full assurance of understanding And this was the fruit of Pauls preaching 1 Thes. 1. 5. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the holy Ghost and in much assurance and Ephes. 1. 13. In whom viz. in Christ when ye had believed for it should be so Translated Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of Promise So blessed are they who receave this Seal and what are all Scripture words without this Seal but a blank and this Seal is the Seal of the holy Spirit of Promise sealing in mans heart that he is beloved justified and approved of God and it can make him cry with assurance that it is so Abba Father And this will yet further appear that its only by Revelation that a man can be assured of his state by the immediate manifestation of his state to him in the Light of Jesus Christ by examining the other grounds which men make for this assurance when they have shut out of doors that which can give it and gives it as is proved by the Scriptures Testimony a man say they can be assured of his state before God if he be Justified by certain Signes Characters and Marks for if he be a true believer that his Faith is the true Faith the living Faith and not the false dead Faith This say they he can know by his Love to God by his meekness his patience his courage his righteousness his love to his Neighbours but now seeing there are semblances of all these a counterfeit love doth to God and Man meekness patience c. For the Hippocrite who has nothing of the true Love Patience Meekness c. Yet he hath a likeliness of them and will proceed as far in the outward actions of Devotion Charity Equity c. As the other that is the true believer yea and even according to their own confession he may go beyond him and so whereas they say the Tree is knoâ—…n by its Fruits and it is so but by what are the Fruits known two men may be found doing the same outward work which has the same outward appearance and yet the one a meet Hippocrite the other a sincere Christian then by what can their works or fruits be judged It 's true some works are so manifestly evil as Cursing Swearing Drunkenness Lying Stealing Killing Whoreing that they are readily known by all to be such and that which makes them known is the Light of Christ in their hearts but now these works which carry in them an appearance to be good and yet are not good but dead works empty without Life though they have a fair show yet they are rottenness within as it s reported of some Aples that have a very pleasant colour but are poyson within how shall man judge of these now he who has Life in himself the birth begotten of God he has a Spiritual sence and discerning whereby he can savour smell and taste of the works the fruits of the good tree for they have a good favour a living spiritual savour they smell and taste of the Tree of Life on which they grow hence they are called living works and these in the Light which reveals them and makes all manifest or seen to be good And the works have but the appearance they are also seen and discerned to be such and being evil they cast an evil favour by which in the Light which begets the discerning they are felt and he can have no union with them nor with the tree on which they grow and this man discerneth in the manifestation of the Light both his own and his neighbours works of what nature they are by the casting and smelling of the fruit the Tree is known both in himself and his neighbour and this is a great Mystery and hard to be received with such who have not got that taste and discerning begot in them of the Lord which tasteth words and works as the mouth tasteth meat but hereto I give my testimony that there is such a thing and I do witness it in my measure and so I confess there are Signes and Characters of a mans state the fruits infallibly manifest the tree but the fruits cannot be certainly and infallibly known but in and by the Light which reveals them and begets a tast to discern them this is it which enters into the Kirnel and pierces thorow the outward appearance and searches what is in the Centre and brings to light the hidden things of Dishonesty and discovers the ravening Wolf in the Sheeps cloathing whether in a mans self or his neighbour And this further makes it the more impossible for a Man without Revelation to know his state especially according to our Advessaries Principle for whereas Christ said Whereby shall ye know that ye love me if ye keep my Commandements Now they say that is impossible we must break them every day in thought word and deed and we must remain in a necessity of sinning while we remain in the body and this Principle takes every wicked prophane wretch to cover his wickedness O sayes he the Children of God have their infirmities David fell in Murther and Adultery Noah into Darkness Peter denied his Master c. and the common Swearer Drunkard Whoremonger Backbiter
like these men who talke of the Scripture Canon being filled up so that the Spirit of Prophecy is Ceased are to the Iews who had such a fancy among them concerning the Scriptures of the Old Testament their being filled up and their becoming a Rule to them so that when Christ and his Apostles came and spoke from the same Spirit the Scriptures were writ from they would not hear them but cryed up the Scriptures We have the Scriptures and Moses Law and God spoke unto Moses and our Fathers but this Man we know not from whence he is Joh. 9. 28 29. And as for Prov. 22. 19 20 21. There is wisdom â—…ught in speaking to Solomon and making known her words and writeing unto him but that proves nothing That the speaking of that wisdom or spirit in others as in Solomon is Ceased Nor yet Isa. 8. 19 29. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word c. Now could this be a good Argument for the Iews against Christ and his Apostles and their Writeings No nor is not now against writeings or words proceeding from the Inspiration of the same Spirit for that which was writ after or is to be writ from the Spirit of God is not contrary to any thing writ before from the same Spirit but according to it for all the words of truth accord and agree together and there was a Law and Testimony writ in Men's Hearts before a Line of Scripture was ever writ in a Book and they who spoke not according thereto were but deceivers and had no morneing in them as the Hebrew carries it And now I come to that Scripture they lay so much weight upon 2 Tim. 3. 15. 16 17. But what Does the Cannon close here is not the next Chapter writ from the Inspiration of the Spirit of God and the other following Books if they were writ after this as they follow after it or if these words prove not but that Paul and others both spoke and wrot afterwards from the Inspiration of the holy Ghost how will it prove that there is no such thing now O say they all new Revelations are superstuous there needs no more Scripture that which is writ is writ is able to make wise unto Salvation from a Tim. 3. 15 16 17. But I say Paul and others wrot Scriptures afterwards But to come to that Scripture It is to be considered there is a writeing by the Spirit of God upon Man's heart See 1 Chron 28. 12. Compared with ver 19. and with Ierem. 31. 33 and 2 Cor. 33. And so this is Scripture or Writeing for both are one by the inspiration of God Scripture or writeing with Pen and Ink upon paper but with the Spirit of the living God upon the heart and these holy writeings are able to make 〈◊〉 unto Salvation And Scripture given unto a Man by Inspiration of God is profitable and the words should be thus Translated All Scripture given by Inspiration of God or all Writting given by Inspiration of God profitable for Doctrine for Reproofs c. That the Man of God may be perfect for the word is is not in the Greek and it 's false that all writeing is by Inspiration of God for much has been writ from the Inspiration of the Devil But I acknowledge these Books set down in our Bible to be writ from the Inspiration of God and when any man receives them by Inspiration that they be given him by Inspiration as to these who wrot them then they are profitable to him but if he come not to that Spirit which inspired the first Writers and there-with to be Inspired they cannot of themselves profit for the Letter kills but the Spirit giveth life and the Inspiration of the holy Spirit giveth understanding as saith Elihu so who come not to this Inspiration they come not to an Understanding of the Scriptures And our very Adversaries dare not plead from this Scripture that there is nothing more required but Scripture to make wise unto Salvation for they acknowledge the inward Illumination of the Spirit to be necessary thereto and if they make one exception why may not we make another That inward Revelâ—…ations and Inspirations are necessary aswel and further it may be said of the Scriptures of the Old Testament all that is spoken here of the use and ability of Scripture yet does not this exclude the writeings of the Evangelists and Apostles and we acknowledge the Scriptures are profitable and useful but not sufficient of themselves to make wise unto Salvation without the inspiration of the same Spirit that gave them forth which can only give the understanding of them But why do they plead that Scripture is able to make the Man of God perfect seeing they deny Perfection and cannot abide to hear that a man can be perfect And that Scripâ—…ure Luke 1. 3 4. Does it prove That no more Scripture is to be written nor any after Luke spoke or wrot from the inspiration of the Spirit of God Was not much writ afterwards Or could Luk's word cause Theophilus to know the certainty of these things of themselves Nay they were a Declaration of what he most surely believed himself and Theophilus reading it having the Spirit of God would find that witnessing in him to the truth of these things and this gives the certainty or assurance See 1 Thes. 1. 5 Their next Scripture is Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning c. What then is Revelation or the Spirit of Prophecy ceased for all this yet Paul himself had it and he sayes The Scriptures were wrot for his learning and he points here at a Scripture in the old Testamenâ—… but this proves not there was no more Scriptures to be added thereto and Paul sayes not the Scriptures were writ that we should learn only by them or stick to the Letter learning for he had a learning beyond them even that of the Spirit and in this same Epistle he points them to the newness of the Spirit beyond the oldners of the Letter Rom. 7. 6. which compare with 2 Cor. 3. 6. Their next Scripture is Math. 4. 4 7. as for ver 4. It fighteth Manifestly against them Man shall not live by Bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Now say they The word proceeding from Gods mouth is Ceased he speaks not from word of mouth now as he did of old but from the Scriptures but if God himself speak not Man lives not And what does this prove that Christ used the Scriptures Testimony against the Devil is there not therefore any Inspiration or Revelation was not Christ inspired himself and was not Paul and the other Apostles Inspired who used the Testimony of former Scriptures writ before them against their adversaries but yet they wrot Scriptures themselves from the same Spirit and why may not it be so now Their
Immediate Revelation OR Jesus Christ the Eternall Son of God revealed in man and revealing the knowledge of God and the things of his Kingdom immediately OR The Holy Ghost the Holy Spirit of promise the spirit of Prophecy poured forth and inspiring man and induing him with power from on high and baptising him thereunto giving him wisdom understanding and knowledge from above and giving to some utterance and moving them by his own immediate assistance to speak forth and declare the wonderful things of God NOT CEASED But remaining a standing and perpetual Ordinance in the Church of Christ and being of indispensible necessity as to the whole body in general so to every member thereof every true Believer in particular asserted and demonstrated And the objections that have any seeming weight against it answered Prov. 29. 18. Where there is no vision the people Perish Writ by George Keith Prisoner for the Truth in the Tolbooth of Aberdein the 29th of the third Moneth 1665. Printed in the Year 1668. A few words by way of Preface IT hath been in my heart once and again from the Lord to write some things unto the people and especially the Professors of this Nation concerning this great and weighty matter of Immediate Revelation which they say both Teachers and People is ceased we say is remaining and we know it to be so from the blessed experience given us of God therein even that it remaineth and is of necessary continuance in the true Church and among the true Saints and is not only necessary for the preservation safety and comfortable walking of the Saints with God but is also necessary in order to men and womens becoming Saints for through Immediate Revelation it is that any man who is naturally void of the true and saving knowledge of God and acquaintance with him comes to attain it The discussing of this controversie is of very great weight for this error of theirs concerning Immediate Revelation is such a Fundamental one that the greatest part of their other errors are built on it and indeed the whole superstructure of their Church and Ministry and Worship at to its outward constitution so that if this their foundation be found and discovered to be false viz. That there is no Immmediate Revelations now a dayes as the common priviledge of the Saints then down falls the whole superstructure of the outward constitution of their Church Ministry and Worship which all of necessity must be false if the foundation on which they are builded be such And here I shal instance several particulars of great weight which are all built upon this false foundation aforesaid 1. That the Scriptures outward testimony is most necessary and that no true and saving Knowledge of God is to be attained but by the Scriptures being read or heard 2. That there is no immediate furnishing gifting and fitting and qualifying men to be Teachers in the Church by immediate inspiration and pouring forth of the spirit of prophesie without any respect had to sex or humane qualifications of better learning such as was frequent in 〈◊〉 Apostles times as in Acts 2. 1. Cor. 14. All this say they is ceased so James Durham a noted man among the Presbyterians saith pag. 471. in his digression concerning prophecying that as it is taken for an immediate revealing of Gospel truths it is now ceased so say they generally hence their Divinity Schools and Colledges are come up both among Papists and Protestants whereby young men being sent of their Relations in order to a lively-hood learn the Art and Trade of preaching and praying and continues so many years till they be licentiated as ever a Shoo maker or other Tradesman serves his Apprenticeship and they make humane learning or the knowledge of Letters and essential qualification to a Minister so as he cannot be a Minister without it but grace only accidentall and not necessary to his being a Minister but to his better being so the aforesaid I. D. now such a learning of the things of God as is taught by man Divinely inspired who teach from the inspiration of God in them and whose care it is to turn and bring up them whom they teach unto the same light life and spirit of God from which they speak that they may learn in that and so come to be partakers with them of the same knowledge and wisdom from the same fountain we dearly own such was the School of the Prophets where the Teachers were the true Prophets of God and taught from Gods spirit in them whose teachings being in the evidence and demonstration of Gods spirit proved effectual unto the Schollars or learners so that they became prophets also and received of the same spirit and this dispensation which was both among Prophets and Apostles we witness to be among us through the mercy and goodness of the Lord at this day even the poâ—…ring forth the spirit of the Lord no less upon the hearers then was at first upon the Teachers whereby they also are become able to teach others both males and females prophecying or speaking forth the great things of God as the spirit gives utterance declaring the great things of the Gospel in its effectual workings on their own hearts now that Prophecying is frequently taken in Scripture in this sence and not only for a foretelling of things to come is clear from Rom. 12. 6. Rev. 10. 11. 11. 13. 19. 10. compared to Rev. 12. 17. Joel 2. 28. 1 Cor. 14. 24. 31. 3dly Another great error following upon the aforesaid is that no man in these dayes is infallibly assisted to write speak preach or pray or praise as the Prophets and Apostles and Evangelists witnessed of old 4thly That there is no Immediate Call unto the Ministry 5thly That none are to wait for an inward call motion impulse or inspiration and assistance to preach or pray or give thanks so as to forbear until it be given them Nor that any should expect an Immediate Call and impulse or motion to the doing of any thing whatsomever that way being ceased 6thly That the Scriptures are a filled up Canon and the only rule of faith and obedience in all things and no more Scriptures to be writ or given forth from the spirit of the Lord. 7thly That their is no infallible way of discerning the true Ministers and Members of Iesus Christ as who be living and wâ—…o not whence proceeds that promiscuous mâ—…t multitude of teachers people where of their Church is composed who are generally void of any experience of a gratious work on their hearts The Controversie truly stated and clearly and distinctly opened Concerning Immediate Revelation whether ceased or remaining and needful to remain in the true Church BEcause in all matters of debate the true State of the controversie is so needful to be known that without the clear and distinct knowledge thereof The arguments brought to prove the thing affirmed do not so manifestly convince nor
body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the Body You see how it is said This Head this Foundation This Corner-stone hath an effectual Working in the Measure of every part for it is a living Stone a Stone which is Life and Spirit and so breathes Life in every part and member of the Body Whereby every Member also becomes a living Stone 1 Pet. 2. 5. A Temple of the Holy Ghost which is therein 1 Cor. 6. 19. So the holy Spirit of Christ dwels in the whole Body and in every Member and is not divided but is one in all and in every one Now mark further Christ is this Foundation as Peter confessed him Revealed not by Flesh and Blood but by his Father which is in Heaven Christ must be revealed by the Father before he become a Foundation this is that which buâ—…eth which edifieth the effectual working in every part the Revelation of the Arm of the Lord in mans heart This is that which diggeth deep beyond all the earth and sand and that which is Corruptible till it come to the Incorruptible The Word of God which abideth for ever and is able to carry the Building and bear it up against all the storms that can affault it Whosoever cometh to me saith Christ and heareth my sarings and doth them he is like a man that built an house and dâ—…gged deep and laid the Foundation on a Rock and this is himself Loâ—… now he saith He that builds on the true Foundation on the Rock he diggeth deep for it and he heareth Christ himself and not only heareth but doeth So he must dig deep beyond all words till he come to the Power wherein the Kingdom standeth 1 Cor. 4. 20. In Power and not in Words he must dig deep beyond all Words till he come to the eternal Word which Created the Heavens and the Earth and is the Foundation which upholds them and hereupon must this new Creaâ—…ion be builded for nothing else can carry the weight of it and as is touched already this Foundation must be revealed not by Flesh and Blood but by God himself or else it cannot be come into and so cannot be built upon No man cometh unto me sâ—…th Christ unless the Father draw him and he who hath heared and learned of the Father cometh to him John 9. 44. 45. See how this agreeth with that which Christ said to Peter Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this unto thee This Rock on which I will build my Church but my Father in Heaven it must be the Revelation of the Father which must give the knowledg of it The living knowledge the knowledge which is life eternal for this Foundation being Life its effectual working is to quicken that which is dead that it may become a Member and it draws to it self by the vertue and power of its life and by the drawings a feeling of the life which draws is begotten and this feeling is the true knowledge and hereby man comes to know infallibly the true Foundation he discerns it in the feeling and so he can distinguish it from that which is Corruptible and is not able to bear up the building And therefore now ye who have not come to the revelation of the Father and of his Son ye have not yet seen the Foundation and how can ye Build on it If ye have not heard Christs words from his own mouth and do them not and if ye have not digged deep beyond all Words yea and thoughts and comprehensions of the carnal Mind if ye have not digged so deep till ye come to the Power wherein the kingdom of God stands your building is but on the Sand and that Church whatsoever which is not builded on this Foundation Christ Jesus immediately revealed both in the whole Body and in every Member thereof is not the true Church but a Synagogue of Sathan a vile Harlot Mystery Babylon the Mother of Fornicators for the true Church is one in all ages past present and to come and it hath ever had one Foundation which is Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever and there is one Body and one Spirit one hope one Lord one Faith one Baptism Ephes. 4. 4 5. Now what was this Foundation of the Church of God before ever Scripture was writ before Moses and the Prophets and Apostles which came after who wrot the Scriptures Was it not Jesus Christ the Word which was in the beginning had it any other Foundation and what gave them the knowledge of this Foundation and builded them upon it when they had no Scripture and whereupon was their faith founded by the hearing of what word did they come by their Faith seeing then the Scriptures was not writ it was even the Word which came from God himself and taught them immediately and many of them believed when they had no man to speak unto them The Word of the Lord came unto Abraham when he was in his own country saying unto him Get thee out from among thy kindred and from thy Fathers house out of thy country unto the Land that I will shew thee and there was no man brought this message to him for those among whom he lived were Idolaters but God spoke to him by his own immediate Word and he heard and believed and it was counted to him for Righteousness Thus ye may see how Abraham's Faith came by the hearing of the Word of God proceeding from his own mouth Now every Believer is the Seed of Abraham Gal. 3. 29. And this Faith is the same Faith with his for there is but one Faith and it hath the same Foundation the Word of God proceeding immediately from himself for no other Word is able to beget it but the same Word of power which begot the Faith of Abraham for Faith is the gift of God it is a Supernatural thing and therefore it must have a supernatural Cause it must stand in the power of God the Word of Power which was in the Beginning 1 Cor. 2. 5. For nothing else is able to bear the weight of 〈◊〉 and so Isaac and Iacob heard God and believed And the Word of the Lord came unto Moses and he believed And so many others we read of who heard God himself and now the 〈◊〉 being one in all and having one foundation it follows manifestly That every believer must hear the Word of the Lord which proceedeth out of his own Mouth on which alone that one Faith is builded And to this one Foundation Moses and all the Prophets and Apostles testified and bâ—…ar witness So did Jesus Christ himself in the daies of his Flesh. Let us begin with Moses after he had fully declared unto the Iews as he had received them from the Lord all the Laws pertaining to the first Covenant and have writ them in a book and had given them
to the People which he caused the Levites to keep and lay up in the side of the Ark see Deut. 31. 24 25 26 He falls a declaring concerning the New Covenant Deut. 30. from 11 ver to ver 16. This Commandment saith he which I Commanded thee this day is not hidden from thee neither is it far of It is not in Heaven that thou shouldest say Who shall go up for us into Heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it Neither is it beyond Sea that thou shouldest say who shall go over the Sea for us and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it But the Word is very nigh unto thee in my 〈◊〉 and in thine Heart that thou mayest do it Now that Moses in these Words points at the New-Covenant is manifest because first he points them to this Word and Commandment not writ in tables of Stone or in the book of the Law But to it in the heart The Word is very nigh thee sayes he in thy Heart This is that which more fully declared Ierem. 31. 32. For then the New-Covenant dispensation came to be more manifestly revealed but in Moses time was more hid and obscure for the Vail hung before his face Secondly 'T is maaifest also from Rom. 10. 5 6 7 8 9. When Paul according to the wisdom given him maketh a full and ample Interpretation upon Moses Words shewing how that Moses described both in the fore-cited place the Old Covenant and the New Which Paul calleth the Righteousness of the Law and the righteousness of Faith ver 5. for sayes he Moses descrybeth the righteousness which is of the Law that the Man which doeth these things shall live by them But the Righteousness which is of Faith saith he speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead But what saith it the Word is â—…gh thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith saith he which we Preach c. In which word it is clear he points at that spoken by Moses Deut. 30. 12 13. c And he calls them the words of the Righteousness of Faith and that Word Moses poynted the Iews too in their heart he calls it the Word of Faith and it is clear he understands it of Christ for he addeth by way of Interpretation to Moses words speaking from the same Spirit Say not in thy heart who shall Ascend into Heaven that is saith he to bring Christ down from above and this is it which Paul pleadeth so much for in the Epistles Rom. Gal. shewing that there is no Justification by Moses's Law to wit that writ in the book of the Law and delivered to the Levites nor that writ in the Tables of Stone which he calls the Righteousness of the Law but by the Righteousness of Faith the word of Faith which is the New-Covenant Faith in Jesus Christ the word in the heart And elsewhere he saith If there had been a Law which could have given Life then Righteousness had been thereby but now by this Word in the Heart Life is given and therefore is Righteousness thereby for it is â—…he Word of Life living and Powerful c. And Moses pointed at the same Jesus Christ before Deut. 18. 18. 19. where he calleth him a Prophet c. And the Iews and People of Israel who lived in Moses's time and were saved it was through Faith in this Word in this Prophet raised up in them in their hearts not at a distance but nigh the Word is nigh in thy Heart And this is Christ in them the hope of Glory the Mistery hid from eyes and Generations but was ever made manifest in his Saints but in the latter daies more clearly Christ in all that believe the hope of Glory and so from what is said It is Manifest that Moses pointed at this Foundation which is one in all ages of the Church which was not the Words writ in Tables of Stone or Books of the Law but the Word of Faith whereby comes the Righteousness of Faith and the believing Iews in Moses's time made not a Church different from that in the time of the Apostles and down-wards all are one Church and under one Covenant and were saved by one Faith in one Lord and Redeemer though the dispensations did differ in many Circumstances and these who succeeded had more full and large discoveries of the Mistery yet in substance they all agreed and were all one upon the matter This being so weighty and it lying before me so clearly and it being so useful to demonstrate so far as words may be serviceable therein the matter in hand I have been driven to insist the more largely upon it and now to descend to David and the Prophets and Apostles whereas I might instance many hundred places in the book of the Psalmes I shall only point at the 119 Psal. And desire the Reader in the fear of the Lord to ponder and weigh what is therein declared concerning this Foundation and fundamental Principle to witt the Word and what word is it he speaks so much and so frequently of here and else where when he sayes ver 11. Thy word have I hid in my Heart and ver 16. I will not forget thy Word and ver 25. Quicken thou me by or according to thy Word and ver 28. Strengthen me according to thy Word and ver 42. I trust in thy Word and ver 43. He calls it the Word of Truth and ver 50. Thy Word hath quickned me and ver 81 82. I hope in thy Word mine eyes fail for thy Word when wilt thou comfort me and ver 89. For ever O Lord thy Word is setled in Heaven and ver 105. Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Path. and ver 123. Mine eyes fail for thy Salvation and for the Word of thy righteousness and ver 133. Order my Steps in thy Word and ver 140. Thy word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it and ver 160. Thy Word is true from the Beginning and ver 162. I rejoyce at thy Words as one that findeth great spoil and ver 169. Give me understanding according to thy Word Let that which is noble and ingenuous in any one answer me what Word this is whether it be the Letter of the Scriptures writ in a Book or that Word of Faith Paul and Moses long before spoke off the Word in the heart That it is not the Letter of the Scripture or any outward Word or Words whatsoever as the national Teachers give poor people to believe may be very clear to that in any man which ever had experience of any opperation of God on his Heart any Life quickning or Comfort from the Lord That which has found this will answer
next proof is 2 Pet. 1. 19. We have a more sure word of Prophecy c. Answ. Supposing but not at all granting hereby he meaned the Scriptures writ or spoke from without he points them to this but till the day dawn and the Day star arise Now some were come to the day and were Children of the day and had the day star arisen in them and then they needed not the Light of the Moon or night starrs But I have shewed before this word of Prophecy is the word in the Heart which was in the beginning before Scriptures was and is that word that came to David Isai Ieremiah and inspired them from which the Scripture came and this Word in my heart maketh me believe the Scriptures and is the more sure and Manifest Word or the most sure as it s in Beza's Translation even surer than Scripture Words which outward violence can rob me off or I may forget them but this remaineth for ever and here lyeth a great deceipt in them where Scripture speaks of the Word and it's Vertue and Excellency and Sufficiency O say they This is Scripture whereas I have shewed though the Scriptures declare of that word yet they are not it but came from it and point to it again for the word is Christ which was in the beginning The next proof Heb. 1. 1 2. This directly proves against them as I have shewed before God spoke to the Fathers in the Prophets but to us in the Son that is more Immediately The next proof Luk. 16. 29. 31. This proves that Moses and the Prophets Testimony is of greater weight then if any should arise and testifie from the dead but it proves nothing that we should stick only to what is written by them for much was writ after nor does it prefer Moses and the Prophets Testimony to the Testimony of the Spirit of Christ this is more certain and satisfactory and the end of their Testimony Their next proof is Ephes. 2. 20. Hereby they would prove That the writeings of the Prophets and Apostles were the foundation of the Church but this Scripture sayes nothing of that kind for Jesus Christ is the Foundation of Prophets and Apostles and the chief or undermost Corner-Stone he is both Foundation-Stone Corner-Stone and Cop-Stone also the First and the Last and there is no other Foundation saith Paul himself 1 Cor. 3. 11. and that Scripture is fully cleared above Their next proof 2 Pet. 3. 15. 16. 17. But of all the Scriptures they have brought this proves least for them but much against them for it mentions Pauls Epistles and Writings which we own and their usefulness also in their place but it sayes nothing that either his Writing or any other are a compleat Cannon or Rule or that Revelation is Ceased but it sayes some things in them are hard to be understood which the unlearned and unstable wrest c. Then I say there is the more need of Revelation to make a man Learned and to open up these hard things seeing only the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation can sufficiently do it as is above Demonstrated The next proof is Gal. 1. 8 9. If any man or an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Gospel unto you let him be accursed Answer The Gospel was Preached unto Abraham saith the Scripture Gal. 3. 8. as well as unto us and it was Preached unto Abel Enoch Noah and to all believers who lived before Scripture was writ in a book and it was spoken into their Hearts by the Spirit of Jesus Christ and the Saints who then lived and were Inspired of God preached the Gospel and the Gospel is the same in all Generations for it is the everlasting Gospel Rev. 4. 6. But now the Declarations Discoveries and Manifestations of this one Gospel hath been many and different under the Law more darkly in the time of the Prophets more Manifestly in the time of the Apostles yet more Manifestly and yet all one Gospel and we Preach no other but the same everlasting Gospel which is the Power of God unto Salvation Rom. 1. 16. The last proof is 2 Thess. 2. 2. Wherein Paul beseeches them not to be shaken in mind or troubled neither by Spirit nor Word nor Letter as from him as that that day of Christ were at hand but this proves nothing against the Inspiration of the Spirit of God as if it were then ceased or to cease for it continued with him and many others long afterwards only it proves they should not recite any such Doctrine aâ—… that That day were suddenly to come he speaks of though some should 〈◊〉 it as proceeding from the Spirit or from Pauls Words or Letters and so that they might not be deceived by pretenders as is said because some has falsely pretended to the Spirit it follows not that none have it in reality And thus I have gone thorow all their Proofs and shewed that they prove no such thing as is intended by them but are abused O j. 5. We much suspect this Doctrine of Immediate Revelation and are feared to receive it lest people coming to this slight the Scriptures and a Ministry Worship and Ordinances for we find you so doing who say ye are come to it and what use hath Scripture or Ministrâ—… if God teach Immediately by the Immediate Revelation of his Spirit Answ. This Doctrine ought not to be suspected by any-honest hearted Man or Woman for it will never teach any to slight the Scriptures but on the contrary They will never know how to use or esteem the Scriptures aright till they come to that Life and Spirit which gave them forth and to which they point and these who were formerly Inspired of God and were taught of him Immediately used and esteemed the Scriptures nor slighted any Ministry Worship or Ordinances of Jesus Christ as neither do we and we acknowledge the Ministry who are sent of God is both useful and comfortable to us and we are bound to hear them and acknowledge them and at all times have we found their Ministry usefull and refreshing unto us having Ministered of the Life and their Gospel came unto us not in Word only but in Power and in the holy Ghost and in much Assurance as Pauls did unto them 1 Thess. 1. 5. And we have also been refreshed with their Prayers in the heart and found the fruit of them and now in our measures are brought to the same Life and yet their Ministry will alwayes be dear and comfortable to us but not absolutely necessary being come to a Teacher even the Spirit of Jesus Christ that cannot be removed into a Corner from us when all men may and be seperated from us and we from them as to bodily presence but indeed who come to the Teachings and Ministry of the Spirit of Christ in themselves this will lead them as it hath done us from the Natural Ministry Worship and Ordinances for that they neither Worship nor