of Grace is to Communicate it self 2. The Gospel having such a Communication of Righteousness so High so Perfect can accept a Sinner by putting upon him a Perfect Righteousness and Obedience and so blot out all his Transgressions and Imperfections by a full and free Pardon the Penalty being fully Answered and discharged by Christs Death and Sufferings even as the Righteousness is fulfilled by him who is that Image of Glory But the Law being only a Rule and no more can accept no less than the whole and Perfect Obedience For the least Offence being as they speak Solutio continui a Convulsion or Breach of the whole Frame of Righteousness the Law can pronounce nothing but Condemnation to a Sinner who hath not that Full and Perfect Righteousness of the Gospel to offer to it but sollicits and stirs up and works Wrath by the discovery of Sin and it stains all Imperfect Righteousness by declaring the Offendor in one Point guilty of all It brings to nothing all outward Righteousness by shewing the very first Desire or Coveting to be Sin 3. The inward Inherent Righteousness so absolutely Necessary to be in every Person redeemed by Christ and united to him is not only enjoin'd upon him by a Letter that Kills by Commanding and giving no Power but is conveyed to him by a Quickning Spirit changing him into the same Image from Beginning Glory to Perfect Glory as by that Lord who is that Spirit Jehovah one with that Spirit and who himself is that Image and that Spirit So every one Redeemed by Christ is the Epistle and Gospel of Christ it self written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God This the Law can never do it Commands and supposes the Power which was once given but the Law never considers the Loss by the Fall nor takes Compassion of it So never it can become a Gospel For the Gospel brings every good Work from the Treasury of Eternal Love and Grace from the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant by a meeting of the Spirit of the Gospel in the Heart of every Elected in Christ and from Providential Opportunities and Advantages of such holy Action and good Work according to the Will of God Heb. 13. 4. The Reward therefore and the whole procedure of Judgment is according to the Gospel of and according to meer Grace to all the Elect of God though in and with a Splendor of Holiness and Purity But whatever is done at that day so that the Law hath the Superiority even to and upon Those who enjoy the Gospel all is turned to Condemnation and Aggravation of Punishment even to and upon all those who are not the Evangelized the Children of the Gospel by Election and yet in a way of clearest Justice and Righteousness according to their Works in that Righteous Judgment as shall presently be in a particular Head of this Dscourse made out concerning that great day 5. The Gospel hath this most illustriously peculiar to it that it toucheth nothing even that is in its own Nature most severe and farthest from Grace but it by its high Dominion of Grace it Subordinates it to the Ends Purposes and Service of Grace even the Law Sin and Death that where they Abound Grace does much more Abound where Sin by the Law does Reign unto Death All who receive abundance of Grace and of the Gift of Righteousness shall much more Reign in Life by Jesus Christ and Grace it self so Reigns As therefore it hath been made out Even the Law is throughout taken into this great Service of the Gospel for the great Ends and Purposes of Grace but now the Law takes nothing under its Cognizance but so far as it comes under its Hand with Relation to Fallen Man it turns it like it self into a Killing Letter and into a Ministration of Condemnation Let us therefore consider the most different Influence of the Law in Three Dispensations that Comprehend all the Dealings or manner of Treaties God hath had with Man since the Transgression of Adam 1. That which is the most Universal Dispensation of God towards all Mankind and is generally stiled the Law or Light of Nature or as the Apostle calls it The Work of the Law written in the Heart wherein All should be doing by Nature the things contained in the Law Men being a Law to themselves And this though it be the lowest of Divine Dispensations to Men in order to recovery of the Elect in order to Humane Society for the Elects sake yet it is general to All Only in Children and Ideots it is hidden and close folded up for want of the Use of the Faculties else it is the same And it is by the Interposal of the Mediator for the Elects sake that there should be a World under the Patience and long-Suffering of God and by the same Patience and long-Suffering there was a Reserve and Reprieve from the utter Loss of the Image of God as from Christ Communicated on account of which he is said to enlighten every Man that comes into the World which Light is capable of more and more degrees of Clearness and Power if closely attended to whereby the World becomes habitable by being under the Government of that Eternal Wisdom by which Kings Reign Princes and all the Judges of the Earth decree Justice Prov. 8. 15. Now this Reserve of the Image of God in Man as it falls under the Law or the strict Rule of Holiness It serves only to Self-Accusation as to every particular Person that he hath not acted up to that Law and Light within and yet still if they did live up to the highest degrees it could not make a Recovery or Restoration of any Man without Christ For without any the least Acceptance of what is done according to it It only Aggravates what was not done to the height so that That Accusation of Thoughts the Apostle speaks of the Law hath its Power over and the Excusings or Apologies of Thoughts are from the Grace of the Gospel which does allow them in Abatement of Condemnation for any good thing found in them or done by them and therefore the Apostle says God will Judge the Secrets of all Hearts at that Day according to this Gospel by Jesus Christ shewing that with Relation to this Light given by the Mediator and for his sake God will proceed with great Gospel Equity and Mercy which may be another and greater Senâ—e of those words before given to all those who have laid together those Remainders or Reserves of the Light of Nature and the Patience and Goodness of God of which he hath given so many Witnesses So that it shall be more Tolerable for such than others who have trodden all these under Foot and run into all Excess of Riot Cruelties and all Uncleanness with Greediness But in all the Elect the Grace of the Gospel makes much a higher use of this Light for it lifts them up above it into a New-Creation
into Gospel Truth as stated and vindicated by Mr. Dan. Williams especially in Reference to the Doctrin of justification and the nature of his Proceedings with his Testimonies hereupon By Thomas Edwards Esq Price stitcht 1 s. 6. You may be supplied with Dr. Chancey's Three Parts lately Printed against Mr. Williams 7. You may likewise be supplied with Dr. Crisp's Works 8. Where is Sold Mr. Troughten's first and second Parts of Justification and Caâ—â—â— on Job in two large Volumes in Folio Price bound 40 s. And Poole's â—â—nâ—â—sis Crâ—â—icorum in two large Volumes bound 1 l. 10 s. A Right State of Gospel Truth Presented to Mr. Williams Occasion'd by some Assertions of his so called Defence of Gospel Truth I Have upon the View and Consideration of the Reverend Mr. Williams his Defence of Gospel Truth and the many excellent Confessions of the true Grace of God wherein we stand therein found Thought it necessary for my self as in a low and humble Capacity yet having appeared as a Reconciler upon the Account of the Sermons of Dr. Crisp not to come forth as a Disputant much less as a professed Adversary but as a Reconciler of some of the Collateral and Derivative Branches of that Grace and Truth I find in that Discourse to their Principals and to Prune what seems not to be so Reconcilable that the Whole may be seen in its Order and Beauty And herein I Labour to avoid not personal Reflections I am out of the Temptation of them where I Profess Honour and Esteem only but of any Aculeate Animadversions on or Encounter with particular Expressions wherein the Fundamental Interests of Truth are not lodged or concerned but I have set my self to Establish those grand Points of Gospel Truth which I am perswaded ought at all times to be set in a clear and full Light on all Just Occasions in the most stated and Solemn Discourses and at all other times so interwoven That they may shine out and give their Light both to Prayer and Preaching While there is just room and scope yet left for all those Scriptural Expatiations into Instruction Exhortation Expostulation Reproof as Methods of Direction into the ways of Righteousness but still so as they may be enlightned by these Springs of Gospel Light Truth and Grace which I am now undertaking to Conciliate them unto This I have endeavoured in the most plain and perspicuous Method And so that whatever may appear in Mr. William's Book of a contrary Sentiment and Inclination may be comprehended so as to be resolved in some Cases of Doubt in others Foreprized or Guarded against not to say Answered And herein I have made it my Business to level the Discourse to these Heads or Points 1. To state the Gospel Doctrin concerning the Eternal Councils of God with Relation to all his Elect who are the principal Concernees in all these Points Yet with necessary Respect to all others so far especially as what is said of others or in General is necessary to be considered as Ilâ—ustrating these things with Relation to the Elect. 2. I have made an Essay upon that noblest Point of Debate How far the Law upon its own Authority necessarily and indispensibly falls in with Ratifies and confirms the Power and Authority of the Gospel And how far the Gospel finds necessary to it self and to its great Ends not to make void but to Establish the Law And whether upon all this the Gospel can by it self be properly stiled a Law which I on great Reason make out in the Negative 3. I have offered great proof that the Faith Repentance Sanctification and Good Works the Gospel requires cannot be justly deemed or taken for Conditions or Qualifications but are Effluxes as from Electing Love and Grace so from the Righteousness and Death of Jesus Christ and his Victorious Resurrection through which the Holy Spirit is given and are as free as Election and Justification Themselves When they are considered in strict Relation to the Elect however in Relation to the Non-Elect or as generally spoken of They may put on such Notions or Representations as of Conditions or Qualifications 4. I have endeavored to Illustrate the Procedure of the Day of Judgment to be so described in Scripture that the Primary and Supream Representations and that subordinate all others to themselves are most exactly agreeable to the Free Grace of the Gospel not as a Law nor requiring any Qualifications or Conditions with Relation to the Elect but as gloriously appearing with its own Product and Effect as it shall be made to appear the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God and by the appearance of Jesus Christ with his Saints in whom he will be glorified and admired at that day I begin with the first And seeing I direct this Conciliatory Discourse to them whom I suppose to acknowledge with me an Election of a certrin Number to Salvation and Glory I make this Appeal to them Are there not in Scripture highest Assertions of Eternal Love and Grace Independent upon Qualifications and Conditions in them who shall be made Partakers Do not all stand in a Frame and Connexion Election Calling Justification Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption All as free and as certain the one as the other It is true the Wisdom of God hath so contrived and ordered this Preaching the Gospel That it is to be published promiscuously to the Non Elect with the Elect and as I may say to Probe for the Elect and to draw them out with Efficacy and Power by the Spirit joining with the Word It is also most true These cannot be apply'd to particular Persons but as â—â—â—â—â—ing Grace singles them out by Calling Sprinkling the Blood of Christ on their Hearts and Sanctification but they are always True concerning the whole Number and Body and so concerning every single Person And they may and ought to be openly Asserted and Maintained in Doctrin and also to be offered in Preaching and Publication of the Gospel as occasion Requires to invite and draw Souls by so free Absolute and Independent a Grace declar'd to Lost Man in all the Election of God And who knows but it may draw this and that particular Person in a Congregation and therefore with great hopes of a Divine Co-Operation It ought to be as other Truths Promulged And I doubt not when God opens the Mouths of his Servants in the boldest and frankest Declarations of Truth as he will when the as 't were new Song shall be learnt and so taught by the 144000 on Mount Sion with the Fathers Name on their Foreheads it shall be Sealed with the greatest Number of Converts as it was in Peter's Sermon offering that Grace which thing I humbly declare my self to be waiting for as the great Consolation of Israel And there are undeniably many great Scriptures that set out the freest most absolute and Independent Grace throughout our Salvation from first to last as Patterns or Exemplars of all Scripture such
The true State of Gospel Truth Established upon the Free Election of God in Christ THE Agreement and yet Difference between Law and Gospel So that the Gospel cannot be stiled Law THE Inconditionateness of the Gospel Salvation THE Procedure of the Day of Judgment In the way of a Conciliatory Discourse upon Mr. Williams his CONCESSIONS By T. Beverley LONDON Printed for William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate street where you may be supplied with most of Mr. Beverley's Works and Dr. Owen's late Pieces viz. His Dominion of Sin and Grace bound 1 s. His Meditations and Discourses concerning the Glory of Christ being the Second Part and Application of the First Part that have been Printed twice Price bound 1 s. Two Discourses lately Printed of the Work of the Spirit that is wanting in Dr. Owen's Folio Both Discourses bound together in Octavo Price 2 s. His Guide to Church Fellowship bound 6 d. You may likewise be supplied with most of Dr. Owen s Books in Print 1693. The PREFACE THat the Jealousie of so many of the Servants of Christ hath been so exceedingly Awakned and Enflamed by Mr. William's suspicious Attempts to obscure the Doctrin of the Free Grace of God in Christ is to me a very great Prognostick of that Kingdom of Redemption drawing nigh and that Philadelphian State to which Christ hath opened a Door which none can shut and they therefore who are now nearest to it are obliged by Christ to hold fast his Word herein that among all the Professors of Protestancy who hold it in this part so loose none should take their Crown who are true Philadelphians Hence it appears that no more disadvantagious a Time could have been Chosen out by those who would Eclipse that Glory of Free Grace for their making an Attack or Impression upon those Doctrins wherein it is concern'd with Success So I hope it does appear No happier time when in this present Sardian State there is but room for dispute concerning them could have been singled out for the Friends of it then now when so many zealous Maintainers and Defenders of it have openly shewn themselves and offered themselves willingly should I say To help the Lord against the Mighty in the high Places of the Field of these Debates for so great Truths And indeed it is a duty on such Occasions to Discover the Foundation of Error and Mistake even to the very Neck and if in this Search some Essays are to find out and to bring out of the Scripture Treasury not only Things Old but New I hope none will be offended seeing as it is a duty at all times so it is more hopeful so near the day dawning and the Day-star arising such humble Offers should not be accounted foolish Fires but some Beams and Rays of that Light that shall appear more and more to the perfect day In the mean Time I have made it my earnest Endeavor not only to preserve herein the Analogy of Faith but to offer as a Key and Clue in all these Disputes these Five grand Principles 1. The whole of our Salvation is from God through God by God and so to God From God in the Majesty of the Father through the Mediation of the Eternal Word and Son of God by the Efficacy of the Eternal Spirit to the Praise of the Glory of his Grace All in All. Thus the Divine Being is the Father of Lights with whom is no Variation or shadow of Turning not only in his own Perfection but always looking full on his Elect. 2. That the Manifestation of this Salvation by that mighty Power and Efficacy of the Spirit is in the due Times and Seasons and in the just order really and effectually vested in the Spirits of the Elect and so joins their several Faculties and so the Action and Conversation according to all that is spoken of in Scripture 3. That the Law is the irrepealable standard of all that Man himself is to do whether imprinted on Man in the very Creation or revealed further by God in any after Manifestation of his Will which the Gospel as occasion requires takes into its own hand and makes use of and whatever is to be found in us according to the Gospel the Law lays its Sanctions upon it 4. The Gospel Commands nothing if strictly and properly taken Requires nothing Commands nothing that yet it declares must be in us in answer to it self nor that it declares must and shall be in us according to the Law but it making use of the law as to all the Commanding part It self gives and conveys all as being the Covenant of Grace from the Father through Christ the Son of the Father in Grace and Truth by the Holy Spirit 5. The Judgment of Christ is according to the Law answered thus by the Gospel as the Covenant of Grace in Relation to his own Elect Children Members and Servants written in the Lambs Book of Life by the Fathers Election from the Foundation of the World and in Relation to the Non-Elect His Judgment is according to the law of Righteousness imprinted on the Hearts of Men and according to that Law obliging upon any Manifestations or Intimations of the Gospel revealed to them Whoever then keeps these great Principles as a Pole-star in his Eye shall find himself guided by them in all the various Disputes of them and not fall into either of those great Errors the Apostle James warns us against of saying when we are Tempted we are Tempted of God who cannot be Tempted of Evil neither Tempts any one Nor the second like to it viz. Not to be sensible every good Gift every degree of good much more every perfect Gift is from Above and does not rise up but comes down Therefore above all the Assistances of the Divine Spirit guiding Us into all Truth and bringing every thing into our Remembrance I most humbly beseech for them and for my self and therein beg the Prayers of All who shall Read with any Approbation this short Discussion of these Truths Books Sold by William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street Relating to this Controversie viz. 1. Mr. Beverley's First Conciliatory Judgment concerning Dr. Crisp's Sermons and Mr. Baxter's Dissatisfaction in them Price sticht 2 d. 2. Mr. Beverley's Second Conciliatory Discourse upon Dr. Crisp's Sermons on the Observation of Mr. William's Dissatisfaction in them Price 6 d. 3. Samuel Crisp Esq his Book Entituled Christ alone Exalted in Dr. Crisp's Sermons partly confirmed in Answering Mr. Daniel William's Preface to his Gospel Truth stated How he hath wronged as well the Truth as the said Doctor in the great Point of Justification by the Neonomian Doctrin Price 6 d. 4. Samuel Crisp Esq his other Book Entituled Christ made Sin from 2 Cor. 5. 21. Evinc'd from Scripture upon occasion of an Exception taken at Pinners Hall at Reprinting of Dr. T. Crisp's Sermons Price sticht 1 s. 6 d. bound 2 s. 5. There is lately Published A plain Inquiry
be Holiness to Jehovah in Christ our Sanctification And this is also so worthy a Head as to be determined single and for its own own sake as who will deny 4. God hath Chosen Children who shall be Conformed to the Image of his Son in Glory who is in us the hope of Glory Colos 1. 27. And this is it self so Blessed and Worthy a Point that it may be considered by it self As all will readily grant It is true None of those can be One without the Other but that They most necessarily implicate infer and include One the Other Yet there is not One of Them but Scripture speaks of it singly Not only because It includes the Other but because It is worthy to be alone in the Eye of God and to be the Supream Point of his Eternal Council wherein it can be considered as Distinct as how often are the Fore known Predestinated Elected spoken of without any thing else The People whom he Fore-knew Rom. 11. 1. Knowing Brethren your Election of God The Lord knows them that are his Predestinated according to the Council of him who worketh all Things after the Council of his own Will So of Justification Scripture speaks often by it self In him shall all the Seed of Israel be Justified and Glory Justified by his Grace and so throughout Rom. c. 3 c. 4 c. 5. Galat. 3. 6. So of Sanctification Inheritance among them that are Sanctified He hath for ever Perfected them that are Sanctified So of Glory Written in the Lamb's Book of Life from the Foundation of the World And another Book was Opened which was the Book of Life Heirs of Life bringing many Sons to Glory an exceeding great and Eternal weight of Glory Now if this were Considered It would take away much of the Dispute about Conditions and Qualifications Seeing every Link of the Golden Chain is it self a Jewel of inestimable Value and hath in it self the Oâ—iâ—ncy and Riches of all the Other Yet notwithstanding It is to be freely acknowledged that God for the Manifestation of his own Grace hath setled an Order and Connection but not so as to lessen the Dignity of any Head below the Worthiness it hath in the Eternal Council of God to be one Head with the Other and were It not even as all the Other Freely given of God according to the Riches of his Grace Take any One of them that seems fittest to be look'd upon as a Qualification or Condition and it would as much deserve to have some Qâ—alification Means or Condition found out for it as any of those which seem most Removed from being so and to which Any of the Other may seem to be so But not in a Secondary Consideration but equal with the First All This is to be Considered in Christ the Image to which All is to be Conformed The Eternal Love of God is in Him Calling is to and in Him The Righteousness of Christ is imputed to us Holiness is derived from Christ not only by one Act of Sanctification but by a continual Efflux from Him our Head and Root Even as it is through his whole Meritorious and Efficacious Sanctification of himself that we are Sanctified John 17. our Glory is seeing Him as He is being made like to Him Appearing with Him in Glory in the Beams falling from his Glory Encompassing and Filling us with his Light Now as All these are in Him for us as the Head and Foutain and Example One as well as the Other without any Notion of Condition or Qualification or Means and so They are to be look'd upon therefore in Saints And so He stood in Eternity before God in that Everlasting Covenant wherein All was settled in Him as the Exemplar Head and Root of the Church and not only so but as a Mediator Surety and Testator upon the Foresight of Man a fallen Lost Sinful Nature out of which the Elect are recovered by Christ as such Mediator Testator and Surety Now if this Eternal Settlement had the Solemnity and Sanction of a Covenant For so the Apostle tells us There was an Everlasting Covenant in Christ And if All be settled thus by an Everlasting Covenant It must be in the same Eternity wherein the grace and purpose of God was whatever then was settled in that purpose and Council was Established in and by that Covenant and so must stand Fast for ever And the Apostle there instances a Point that One would be as ready to suppose a Condition or Qualification as any whatever And yet he makes it a Point settled by the Everlasting Covenant viz. To be made Perfect in every good Work to do his Will and the Working whatever is well pleasing in the sight of God What can be more supposed to be a Condition or a Qualification than these Things and the Apostle enough assures us These were settled by the Everlasting Covenant because He prays to Him that brought again from the Dead the Shepherd of the Sheep by the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant to make perfect in every Good work Now as It is most observable The Spirit of God singles out those Attributes of God that are most enforcive of a gracious Answer seeing then God bringing back the Shepherd of the Sheep by the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant is chosen as most moving of God in Prayer for the making perfect c. It shews there is a like certainty of the Everlasting Covenant availing to Perfect Saints that there was in bringing Christ back from the Dead The same for the Shepherd and the Sheep One from the Grave dying for Sin the Other from the Death of Sin Now then if there was such an Everlasting Covenant in Christ For It must be as Old as the Purpose and Grace in Christ That may be most infallibly argued That there can be no Change For as the Apostle saith Though It be but a Mans Covenant Yet if it be Confirmed no Man disanulleth nor addeth thereto And this saith He I say The Covenant that was before Confirmed of God to Christ The Law that was Four hundred Years after cannot disanul Galat. 3. 15. 17. Now how much higher will the Argument run concerning the Everlasting Covenant If every Link of the Chain of Salvation was equally Settled and Established that it should be freely given and most certainly Given No after Model nor manner of promiscuous universal Preaching of the Gospel can add to or take from the Everlasting Covenant settled between God and Christ that every part of Salvation should not be as unchangeably Conserved and Secured by God in Christ One as Another nor turn any part into Condition and Qualification or so much as a Means on our parts on which any thing Relating to Salvation should be dependent any Law or Usage of Scripture speaking to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding For to this Standard Covenant must every Thing be Reduced Adjusted and Reconciled when the Gospel according to the Universal Preaching
Let me have my Portion of good all in my own hands Thus all Mankind had been secured and not left to the hazard of every single Person betraying himself For it is most apparent by Adam what every one would have done he having all possible Advantages in a fresh Vigorous Holiness an unstained World Such a lively Invitation of the Tree of life Such a short Act of Self-denial or refusing to be a God to himself as he thought to be by Eating of that Forbidden Fruit. But now let us see what all this contributes to the Points we are upon which will be found to be exceeding in Enlightning both the Law and the Gospel to us 1. From hence it appears the Law is an immutable and unchangeable Law of Holiness and of Everlasting Obligation while there is such a Being humane Nature For it arises from the Being of God to be enjoyed in Holiness and Blessedness by Man made so to enjoy And it arises from the Image of God Jesus Christ in and by whom that State was to have been Confirmed and so for ever Enjoyed and by whom it is to be so Recovered 2. From hence it Appears there can be no new Law but what must of Necessity entwine and incorporate into that First Law and merge into it so Adequate to the Being of Man Enjoying the holy and Blessed God by Jesus Christ the Image of God Such was that Law of not Eating the Forbidden Fruit It was a Law of Trust in Christ the Image of God the Way and the Truth and the Life by way of Confirmation and so was immediately Adopted into that Law of Righteousnoss and Holiness The Law of Faith in Christ the Redeemer and of Repentance is in this Sense no new Law but that Old Commandment and a New Commandment only by being new Illustrated by a more glorious Light but it unites with that Law first given of Holiness in and by Christ the Image of God for the enjoying God in Conformity to him now in away of Redemption Expiation and Recovery and thereby a Return to our First State according to the first Law 3. From hence it Appears the Everlasting Covenant of God in Predestinating a Number of Mankind to be Conformed to the Image of his Son cannot be disanulled or added to nor taken from by any Dispensation or manner of Speaking that comes after it according to that Fore-mentioned Rule of the Apostle Gal. 4. 3. understanding it of the Elect of God controlling all Doubts so that what Christ was to do as the Image of God by way of Confirmation He now does by way of Redemption by that mighty Eflectuating Image of the Glory of God in Christ by his Spirit 4. From hence it Appears that Jesus Christ in the first and original Right of being the Head of every Man and the Image of the invisible God by whom and for whom All Things were made and without whom nothing was made that was Made and in whom they consist upholds a present State of the World in the Patience and Long-suffering of God and also bears up as he pleases the Natural Law in which Man was made enforcing the Reasonableness Justice and Equity to Turn by Repentance to that God Who leaves not himself without Witness in giving Fruitful Times and Seasons and filling Mens Hearts with Food and Gladness and so signifies Grace and Mercy and to Recover themselves as far as to the utmost they can to that State of Righteousness of which they find such plain mentions of in their Hearts and finding the shortness of their own Power to cast themselves upon Divine Grace and Help And where the Light of the glorious Gospel comes according to all degrees of Divine Revelation the Obligation rises higher and becomes stronger For the Transgression and Ruin of Humane Nature does not take off the Obligation of Duty but it stands wherein soever God does not immediately execute the Penalty or vouchsafes any Remainder of Power at first given or increase and Advantage of that Remainder and wherein soever Men do not thus there is a Just particular Personal Condemnation But yet it Remains according to the first Standard Law of Creation every Man must be miserable for ever and die the Death whoever is not found in the Image of God in Christ in Righteousness and true Holiness for the Enjoyment of him 5. From hence it lastly Appears The Elect of God in Jesus Christ must be perfectly restored into a state of Righteousness and freedom from Guilt into a state of Holiness and Purity for the Enjoyment of God and seeing this cannot be in Man Fallen Sinful Unholy and so Miserable for ever It must be by the Sacrifice Righteoâ—sness and Obedience of Christ imputed by the Restoration of his Spirit and all according to Grace and Riches of Grace and to the Praise of the Glory of that Grace which Adam first refused but is hereby exalted to a far higher Glory by Jesus Christ appearing thus a Redeemer a Reconciler an Eternal Spirit so closely united and fully declar'd in Redemption For the Lord even Christ and his Increated Spirit is that Spirit changing into his own Image from Glory to Glory by that Spirit who is Himself Jehovah That I may now make a nearer Approach to resolve this great and weighty Question Whether the Gospel can be in true proper and strict Sense stiled a Law I will now propose these Two Heads to discourse it upon 1. I will shew how far the Law as it is a Law must yet needs join its Authority for and with the Gospel according to its eternally Holy and righteous Nature and then I will on the other side shew how far the Gospel without any Abatement of its purest Gospel-Nature makes use of the Law as a most righteous holy Law to its own most graoious Ends. 2. I shall make it yet most evident from Scripture that the Law can never as it is Law in the Scripture Definings and Discourses of it become Gospel Nor on the other side can the Gospel as it is Gospel and drawn out according to the Everlasting Covenant pass into the nature of Law according to Scriptures describing of Law I begin with the First Head to shew how far the Law cannot even as Law but join its Authority to the Gospel 1. That the Law of Reason and Understanding of Righteousness Holiness Goodness that God hath engraven upon the Heart of Man and seated in his Conscience cannot but Establish the Revelation of Christ and Grace by him manifested by such a mighty Power from Heaven and asserted by so many Infallible Proofs to be from God so full of Goodness and Grace above the very Law of Creation it self Implanted in Mans Heart It cannot I say but Establish it as a Faithful Saying and worthy of All Acceptation of both Faith Love and Obedience So that in this very Regard it may be truly and properly stiled a Law of Faith and Obedience to the Gospel
and Regeneration by the Spirit of Life and Grace from Christ and of this the Apostle Discourses after the Mentions of the Law of Nature and the Gentiles Conformity to it in some parts the Grace of the Gospel turns the Uncircumcision into Circumcision of the Spirit as he goes on 2. Let us consider the great difference between the Law and the Gospel in that which Scripture in the New Testament so universally stiles the Law viz. the whole Frame of the Mosaic Law and as this was purely by it self and as it did not look to Christ it is Represented as that rigorous and severe Dispensation that is the Killing Letter the Ministration of Death of Condemnation the Law that worketh Wrath by which is the Knowledge of Sin by which no Flesh can be Justified in his Sight a Law of Works done by our own Power in Number Weight and Measure or else it brings under the Curse A Law therefore that can by no means give life and so Righteousness cannot be by it unto Justification of Life and all the Ceremonies are but so many Labels Hand-writings and Seals against us and contrary to us Binding us to keep the whole Law so opposite to Christ that where they are observed since Reversed by the Gospel he can profit us nothing opposite to Grace so that he that Adheres to them for Righteousness falls from Grace and is under the works of the Law and under the Curse as the Apostle says whoever Sins having the Law perishes by it and with having it It is a Covenant that is found fault with because God finds fault with them who are under it for Breaking it And yet all this time the Law is Holy Just and Good and therefore there was a Glory in regard of its so intimate and essential Goodness that reflected a Glory on Moses his Face when God gave the Two Tables as it were in Remembrance of the first Glory on Adam but it soon vanished into a Ministry of Death and Condemnation shewing how soon Adam fell from the glory of God And yet even this whole Mosaic Frame was designed with all its Ceremonies to lead to Christ according to all the Service of the Law to the Gospel when it is in the hand of the Gospel as hath been before explained in which regard also Moses his Face shone receiving the Raies of the Divine glory in the Face of Christ but because the Efficacy of the Gospel-grace was only to the Elect the Law became Superior and the Ceremonies thickned as a Veil upon that glory Emblemed by the Veil on Moses his Face which hid the glory of Christ which Veil so sadly lies on the Minds of the Jews blinding them to this day But this very Law being in the hand of the Gospel to the Elect was a Law converting the Soul making Wise the Way of Life and all its Ceremonies led to Christ and his glory shone through them although because it was not a Dispensation high and Spiritual enough for that glory oâ— grace They saw That glory was to be done away in Christ not to Remain and therefore even as God did often under-value all the legal State in compare with the Gospel-grace So did his Saints also in the time of the Old-Testament and under the Gospel it is done away But the substantial Goodness of of it was then and ever shall be in the hand of the Gospel as hath been more fully set out in the last Head of Discourse 3. Let us now lastly duly weigh how far even the Dispensation of the Gospel becomes Law to them who by not being in Christ are under the Law although they have the Light of the Gospel vouchsafed to them in the outward Administration For to whomsoever the Gospel is hid or veiled and a Savor of Death they are left to the Dominion of the Law over them However the Gospel be never so clearly offered to them The Law then having nothing to do with the Promises of Grace it urges upon us whatever is to be done by our selves it presses the Acceptance of Christ and of his Righteousness a Conformity to his Holiness and to his holy Precepts as the only way to Recover our selves but it having no Power of Promise according to the Gospel in its own proper Ordination or Dispensation it calls upon us in our own Strength and Improvements of our selves to obtain both Righteousness and the Spirit and so entitles us after the manner of Works only to Pardon of Sin Righteousness and Sanctification by Christ which is turning the Gospel into a Law to all who are not the Children of God by Faith in Jesus Christ Hereupon it proceeds to aggravate Guilt and Condemnation and to make it more Tolerable for any than for those who having had the Gospel have not yet reached Justification and Righteousness and Sanctification and Holiness by and from the Gospel according to it But now the Gospel proceeds quite otherwise with all those who are the Evangelized truly the Children of Promise For it gives all to them freely and as a Ministration of Righteousness of Life and of the Spirit even that very Righteousness and Spirit It does not set the Elect of God to Correct their Faces the Face of their Hearts and Lives by it as by a Glass or Mirror shewing them what they are but it presents Jesus Christ the Image of God who is also the Lord that Spirit changing the Saints into the same Image though indeed it be but a Beginning Glory onwards still to Perfection of Glory So that there are Raies of Glory from Christ upon the Soul and Spirit of every one united to him far greater than the Raies of Glory on Moses his Face shining from God in his Law by his Image Christ but not as Mediator but as the Eternal Word in our Nature and as in the First Creation not our Trustee and Surety in the New-Covenant and New-Creation So That Glory was none being so much exceeded by Christ as Mediator which is also a remaining Glory always going on to the Perfection of Glory Whatever therefore of Righteousness arises any way to or in Man not thus derived from Christ Scripture calls it Flesh as being Man's Righteousness not Gods and Righteousness of Flesh that is of Humane Erection not Gods Righteousness and so the Holiness rising from Mens Faculties and Power is Born of Flesh and so is Flesh and is not Spirit not after the Spirit Therefore it cannot See Enjoy or enter into the Kingdom of God And this must needs be plainly our Lords Sense and thus he does not speak of Flesh Corrupt Flesh as it speaks Lust and foul Corruption for that cannot pretend to have any thing to do in the matter of Righteousness and Holiness but by Flesh is to be understood Creature-Righteousness and Holiness as in our present Fallen State and in regard of this No Flesh that is Man with all his Powers even of Soul in this sinful lapsed
of God in Christ by Eternal Election what Qualification or Condition can there be of Cutting out of the Wild Olive or Vine unless to be in the Wild ones or in Darkness are made a Condition Sanctification or making Perfect in every good Work to do his Will and Working in us what is well-pleasing in his sight is as much secured as Glorification is and Justification may as well be called a Condition of Sanctification For God Sanctifies none but whom he Justifies as Calling a Condition of Justification or Sanctification of Glorification Seeing then cutting off only some Particularities as proper to the present State All These are of God in Christ and are found together in the state of Grace here and perfected each distinct in Glorification and Glorification distinct from them All and by it self in that Illustrious state of Saints superadded to all that Perfection of Grace even in Glory I may conclude none of Them is either Qualification or Condition but of and by it self in Free grace And this is Caution Limitation Prevention of Deception sufficient That no one part can be without the other Scripture therefore speaking of these Things so freely so manifoldly It shews All is alike Free-gift Free-grace All is in Connexion and inseparable Concatenation and indefailable Certainty to the Elect and Grace opens sometimes one way sometimes another as to Appearance or Manifestation But whoever is to be advised or directed to the most wise and hopeful Method in Case of Doubt It is to lie at the Foot of God through Christ for All grace from first to last and not to stay for or rest in any of our Preparations or Qualifications but to press up as near and as close to Christ as we can And happy is he whom he Calleth so to do for from whom else can we hope for any for so much as the First Turn of our Souls to God Himself and into the whole way Everlasting as from in and throuâ—h him alone And 〈◊〉 have dispatched the Third Head I proposed and come to the â—ourth and Last I am yet to speak to And that is That the Procedure of the Judgment of Christ at that Great Day However it be Represented in regard of the Exactness Righteousness and Equity of it as if it was and shall be by the Examination of every Mans Works and an Application of those Works to Law and that the Law as vindicating the Gospel Yet from undoubted and undeniable Grounds of Scripture it must needs be that the Good and the Bad are judged by their very Appearance in and out of Christ and so found written or not found written in the Book of Life And that so every Man's Case is determined and yet that the Works of the Servants of Christ Cloath Apparel and adorn them or as the Scripture says Follow them and the Works of Evil Men or their Sin finds them out Comes as Water into their Bowels and as Oil to their Bones is as the Garment that covers them and as the Girdle wherewith they are girded continually Notwithstanding this All these three Things are most admirable in the grand Oeconomy of that Day which the Father only and not so much as the Created Humane Nature of Christ could adjust or set in Order or in that sense knows or hath Cognizance of 1. The Spirits of Good and evil Men re-invested with Bodies must necessarily be understood to return into them with those Resentments they had in the Enjoyment of Christ or in Separation from him the Happiness of the one and Misery of the other For it is not possible to be supposed that such their Re-investiture should stupifie and benum and efface what they were so newly in the full Sense of That to me is the great Argument against Pre-existence that there are no Traces of the Sentiments in that former supposed Existence without which no Improvement can be apprehended to be made of the State before this and the Experiences therein but we are as much Strangers to them as if it were on all sides confessed we never were before This would be much stranger here when the whole Man Spirit Soul and Body are immediately to enter into the full Possession of the Happiness or Misery before enjoyed or sadly felt and therefore can by no means be supposed to lose what they had both in regard of the Justice of God upon that state of Spirits as in Prison and what is to be further executed upon them and much more in regard of his Grace to Spirits that had been as the Apostle says with Christ and that are so immediately to appear in Bodies of Glory 2. The very Company and especially the great Head and Prince under whom and with whom the Saints appear does most illustriously shew their Pardon and perfect Absolution and Justification from all their Sin and the perfected compleated Holiness and inherent Righteousness received from the imputed Righteousness and Spirit communicated by his Spirit of Christ So that they appear in Robes made white in the Blood of the Lamb and with Palms of Victory in their Hands They are Just Men made every way Perfect their Sins are blotted out when the times of Refreshing come from the presence of the Lord Herein they are above Judgment in themselves even as Christ their Head their appearing with Him is their immediate Justification both according to the Eternal law and Everlasting Gospel and with him they Judge Angels and the World But those who have no Interest in Christ not being with him even that is their Condemnation That he knows them not that they are made to depart and to go away from him Thus he that is Justified is for ever Justified and he that is Filthy and unrighteous is so for ever All which is in one view determined by being with or not with Jehovah our Righteousness the Sun of Righteousness arising with Glory in his Rays or Righteousness upon us or Healing in his Wings And this is according to what hath been said and according to all that hath been discoursed of our being found in Christ and receiving all from him and so apprehending that State of Perfection for which we are apprehended of Christ Jesus 3. The very View and Appearance in Bodies of Glory and Light and Purity called Armies of Heaven on White Horses in Linnen white and clean Bodies made like to his glorious Body by that Power of his subduing all things to it self the being made like to Christ by seeing him as he is does without any other Law but the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus set free from the Law of Sin and Death sufficiently declare Saints to be so without laying them to any other Law And all the Wicked are known by their Bodies of Shame and Contempt like Men condemned and known to be so by their Prison Cloths their Chains and Fetters Sheep are presently known and Goats appear Goats by that very Law of Appearance And
thus I have laid down the great Doctrin of the New-Testament in these Points as I have Reason from such an abundant Scripture Evidence to be assur'd Let me for a Conclusion recommend to all the Ministers of the Gospel the due Consideration of the whole matter For it is of most exceeding Concernment to our Ministry This is our Enablement our Sufficiency as Ministers of the New-Testament to Preach not the Letter but the Spirit to Preach it as a Ministration of Righteousness and not of Condemnation as a Ministration not of the Letter but of the Spirit For the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life Thus we shall Minister it in its Abiding Continuing Glory as it shall continue in the Kingdom of Christ set out in all its Freeness and in all its Efficacy We cannot else Triumph in manifesting the Savor of the Knowledge of Christ nor will our Ministry be of Sufficiency to be a Savor of Death unto Death to the lost as it ought to be according to the Divine Ordination laid down by the Apostle 2 Cor. c. 2 3. For if the Full and true Grace of the Gospel be not set out as a Ministration of Righteousness of Life and of the Spirit It does not offer to Men the great Gospel Experiment whether it is unto them a Savor of Life unto Life or of Death unto Death They have not that high Savor of the knowledge of Christ that is the Instrument of Grace as by a most Divine and heavenly Suffumigation or Perfume of Life to excite and bring to Life such a stream of Life to give Life from the Spirit nor on the other side till This be Administred can it according to this Gospel Canon or Rule be said That the Ministry of it is a savor of Death unto Death for to whomsoever this high savor of Life is not Administred there is not that conclusion to be made it is of Death unto Death herein being the strength of the Crisis or distinction If the highest savor of the Gospel give not Life the only flavor of Life be not effectual to Life be but like a dead Savor effect nothing produce nothing of Life it must needs be argued such are unto Death And even the Gospel Preached concludes them unto Death when it does not prevail if the most irradiant Light of Christ the Image of God shining to Men does not Enlighten Such a hiding demonstrates such Lost and their Case Desperate Rationalizing Moralizing upon the Gospel yea Scripture Legalizing upon it without a continual interweaving this high Spirituality and rich Grace of it cannot thus Conclude Seal and Bind up If the Fountain and Sources of Light and Life be not kept clear and open tho Men do indeed die and perish for want of Life and Light yet they are not Sealed and bound up for Death as the true Preaching of the Grace of the Gospel by this Ordination of God declared here by the Apostle does The close Experiment for want of this Ministration of the New Testament is not made For the Apostle says Who is sufficient so to Preach the Gospel as that it should be if not a Savor of Life unto Life the principal purpose design and scope of it then of Death unto Death This sufficiency saith he is of God who hath therein Sufficientized to Minister the New Testament not as of a Letter that Kills but as of the Spirit that giveth Life so that tho it be not indeed to all a Ministration of the Spirit giving Life to all yet it is not our Male Admistration for we are by such a faithful discharge of our selves a Savor of Death unto Death without which so faithful a Discharge we could not be so for such a Preaching only as was said puts such a Crisis upon Persons makes such a Tremendous Gospel Experiment which the only Wise God hath yet Ordained should be made by the Free Gospel Preaching And that this Experiment may be made saith the Apastle we take great care not to allay the high flavor of the Gospel by any mixture of the Doctrin of Works with that of Grace as they who minding thir own Advantages make a Trade of Debasing what is most Excellent by vending worse in Temperament with Nobler Liquors But with greatest Sincerity as in the sight of God we bring forth only pure Gospel Supream Grace and herein we use all Freedom Clearness Frankness Openness and Boldness in manifesting this No darkned unintelligible Doublings between Grace and Works as Moses who veiled so the Gospel-part of his Ministry that it became a Ministration of Death And because Paul knew how distasteful this purity of Preaching is to the Condemned World that would yet be Righteous and to the proud and stately Powers of Reason and Free Will He says we arm our selves with a Divine Courage and constancy in pursuing this Ministry and will not on any account whatsoever use Art or Guile but with all integrity represent Truth in its own Light and leave to God the Discrimination of the Lost to whom this Preaching is as the Jealousie-Water to discover them when their very Mind the highest Rational Part being Blinded by the God of this World find not the Rays of the Glory of the Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God and all our Perfection is Likeness to Him shining to them Wherein the Apostle manifestly alludes to what he had said of the Superior Glory of the Gospel to that of the Law tho that gave such a Gloâ—y to Moses his Face And he alludes also to the Veil on Moses his Face upon that Glory and to the Veil on the Hearts of the Jews to this day Implying That not to receive this Pure Gospel Light is like Jewish Unbelief who Stumbled at that Stumbling-Block of Exalting Works and their own Righteousness above Christ and Grace It is true indeed this Preaching up of our Works Endeavours relying upon our own Action is very plausible and seems to carry greater force as being more a kin to our first Constitution under the First Adam And of this the Apostle also gives a Secret as we say Gird when in this so great Point he interposes not without great Design We Preach not our selves As if Preaching intermingled with Works and Humane Powers of Holiness were setting up and exalting our selves into a Dominion over mens Consciences but saith He we Preach Christ the only Lord and our selves Servants iâ— so high a Ministry And in this Epistle Chap. 11. They who even with design against the Grace of the Gospel Teach the Law are as the Apostle says in the appearance of Angels of Light and Ministers of Righteousness Zealous enforcers of Holiness and good Life if yet they stop up these Springs and are Enemies of this Grace they are False Apostles and Ministers of Satan Evil Workers as the Apostle calls them in a taunt of their high pretence to Works and others for want of true distinguishing Thoughts desirous and most propended to be Teachers of the Law and yet dare not desert the Grand Gospel-Principles Know not what they Speak nor whereof they affirm that is do not accurately Think nor Speak nor Reconcile themselves to themselves For the Law is good if a Man use it Lawfully that is according to the Gospel direction of it But pure perfect Law is only pointed set against those upon whom the Gospel hath not Effect who are given up by it as Incurable and unto Death This I speak not I appeal to Him who Searcheth Hearts with Reflection on any Person or sort of Persons and least upon Mr. Williams of whom I desire much other Esteem But to move and perswade him and all Preachers of the Gospel to reconcile all their Notions Disputes Preaching the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God commited to their Trust which the Apostle hath defined to be then sufficiently Preached when it is Primarily and till the Gospel hath remanded the Lost under the aggravated Condemnation of the Law for refusing the Grace of the Gospel 'till then I say the New Testament is to be Preached as a Ministration of the Spirit and not of the Letter for the Letter Killeth but the Spirit giveth Life a Ministration of Life not of Death not of Condemnation but of Righteousness which Ministration shall in a short time be with Open Face and all Veils removed the Lord drawing near and all Turning to Him beholding Christ the Image of God and the Glory of God in the Face of Christ we shall be Changed into the same Image from the Glory of a lower degree now to the Glory that shall be in perfection by the mighty Effusions of that Spirit who is Jehovah that shall so soon be Now this high and richest Gospel Treasure we have saith the Apostle at the present but in Vessels of Earth Men of like Corruptions and guilt low and base Appearances of outward Condition and State and of the vile and dying Bodies for Sin that the excellency of Divine Grace and Power may be Exalted alone throughout and throughout For at the present we have as the Apostle saith all this Glory but in hope we see yet but as in a Glass tho with an Open Face this Glory But when the Angelical Ministry Rev. 14. 6. shall in the Kingdom of Christ be Missioned and sent out this Ministration shall so Exceed in Glory that all other Glory of Humane Righteousness shall utterly Disappear and when it comes it shall for ever Remain And this shall he when the Israel of God shall be Called and Turn'd to the Lord and that shall be when 〈◊〉 Times are at an End as Christ says Luke 21. 24. And when the Eclipse on the 〈◊〉 Churches going off they shall have a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a full Orbed Light as that Word Rom. 1â— 25. Opposed to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Eclipse in that Chapter properly signifies and All this shall I doubt not begin at 1697. FINIS