THE New-Covenant OF THE GOSPEL Distinguished from the Old Covenant OF THE LAW AND The Rest or Sabbath of Believers from the Rest or Sabbath of the Jews which differ as much from each other as the Sign and Shadow doth from the thing signified and shadowed out In Answer to some Queries of W. Salters tending to enforce upon Christians the observation of the Jewish Sabbath which was given under the Law to the Jews for a sign As also to some other Queries sent in Writing upon an occasion of an Epistle directed to all such as observe the seventh day of the week for a Sabbath now under the Gospel As likewise to some Letters to the same purpose With a brief Explication of the Mysterie of the six dayes Labour and seventh days Sabbath Whereto are added some Considerations propounded to the Jews tending towards their coâ—â—ersion to that which is the Life and Spirit of the Law By ISAAC PENINGTON the younger VVe which have believed do enter into rest Heb. 4.3 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new Moon or Sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come but the body is Christ Col. 2.16 17. London Printed for Robert VVilson and are to be sold at his shop at the black spredd-Eagle and VVindmill in Martins l' grandâ— 1660 The Preface THE Apostle Paul saith That God had made them able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Cor 3.6 After the dispensation of the Law which was a shadow of good things to come and after the dispensation of the Prophets who foretold of better days and of a better state to come then the days and state under the Law was it pleased God first to send the fore-runner John the Baptist in the spirit and power of Elias to prepare the way for the King and his Kingdom and then to send the King himself in the fulness of his spirit to gather Disciples to him and to furnish them with a competent measure of the same spirit to raise up a Spiritual Seed to him in whom he would set up his Kingdom dwelling walking and reigning there causing his Light to shine from thence round about the Earth as from his holy City founded upon his holy Hill of Sion Now those Disciples or Ministers whom he chose to raise up this holy Seed unto him he made fit and able to minister his New Covenant by which it was to be raised yea he furnished them with such a power of his Spirit that they were able through him to minister not in the Letter as the old Covenant was ministred which left the people still dead nay because of the transgressing nature made the offence abound and so encreased death upon them but in the quickning spirit which raiseth from death and bringeth into the light of the living to walk with the living God towards the land of Eternal rest and peace So that that which they ministred was spirit and that which they ministred to was spiritual By the power of the spirit in preaching the living Word of Faith they reached through the vail to that which lay in death they stirred up a living Principle and ministred life to it through the spirit Gal. 3.5 and such as were born of this living Principle they taught to live in the spirit to walk in the spirit to be made perfect by the spirit and not to run back to the Ministration of the Letter as was proper for the Jews in their day after the manner of the former dispensation but to keep in the living Principle to grow up in the Seed into the eternal life and immortality of the Gospel Mark well O ye Christians who desire eternal life the different way of Ministration between the Law and Gospel The Law was a Ministration of the Letter in which they were to wait for assistance from the Spirit by which they might be kept in the faith of and be made obedient to the Law Nehem. 9.20 The Gospel is a Ministration of the Spirit wherein they are to begin with the spirit and to go on with the spirit not to gather outward Rules out of the Letter from what is written or spoken but to keep to the living Principle and feel refreshment to that in reading or hearing what is written or spoken by the Spirit And thus the Scriptures being read or any one speaking from God being heard it is mingled with faith and becomes profitable feeding and refreshing the young tender plant the living Principle and causing it to grow up into God whereas whatever is understood or received or held out of this feeds but the earthly and doth but thicken the vail over the living Seed to which the Kingdom belongs and to which the Gospel is sent to be preached to raise it that it might live and thrive and grow up into its stature that so it might inherit The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand said John the Baptist Mat. 3.2 It is come unto you said Christ Mat. 12.28 that Power of Life which was made manifest in him was it and this Kingdom is also within you saith Christ to the Pharisees Luk. 17.21 The Pharisees demanded of him when the Kingdom of God should come It cometh not saith he with outward shew or observation it cometh not that way you look for it to wit by the manifestation of an outward glorious King to reign outwardly in the Common-wealth of the outward Israel but the Kingdom is within you How was it within them Christ explains to them in another place it was in them like a Grain of Mustard-Seed it was the least of all the Seeds in their hearts There were many great seeds of darkness there but yet there was also one little Seed of Light It was there as well as the rest though less then them all and did sometimes cast some glimmerings of light and of its shining in the darkness though the darkness could not comprehend it This Seed was also likened to leaven which being received by faith into the lump would leaven the whole lump and bring it into the savor and Dominion of the Kingdom Now the Ministry of the Apostles was to turn men from Satan's Kingdom to this Kingdom from his large compass of Dominion in the heart to this narrow Seed from his great Territories of darkness to this little Principle of Light from his great Power of Death to this little weak Thing of God wherein the Eternal Power and God-head is made manifest as this comes to be opened and encreased by the Spirit Here light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart where it is to grow up and from whence it is to be reaped after its growth to perfection Oh how long have Christians so called wanted the Spirit How have they wearyed themselves in running to and fro about the Letter to find out the mind of God and are still
the Sabbath and if he bid a man Take up his bed and walk which was bearing a burthen and doing of work on the Sabbath day it is no breach of the Sabbath Now this is most righteous that as the Son's rest should be entred into under the Gospel so his day of rest should be kept by his Disciples and family Qu. 14 Whether to say The keeping the Law of God according to the letter is a breaking of it in the Spirit be not a charging of God that gave it forth to be kept and the holy Spirit that incites us so to do now in this administration Jam. 2.8 and says they do well that do so and yet thou saist they break it in Spirit but tell us by any one Scripture how a man assisted by the Spirit to own Jehovah alone to be his God according to the letter of the first Commandement doth break that Command in the Spirit Or so the like of any other of them Ans. This Query is altogether from a mistake for it was not said by me That the keeping the Law of God acccording to the Letter is a breaking of it in the spirit but that he that runs back to the Law in the letter to take up any command as hold forth in it will be found a breaker thereof in spirit And for this the Jews in general and Paul in particular may be my instances who was exceeding strict according to the Letter of the Law but yet was a grievous breaker of it in spirit and did not love his neighbor as himself but in a blind zeal was a bitter persecutor And if the Jews had taken that direction of Moses Deut. 30.14 the observation of the law in the letter might have been more easie to them So that the turning towards and receiving the Word in the heart from whence the letter came is the onely way to fulfll the letter and the Law is not so much as to be known much less fulfilled by running to the letter of it in the first place And this I certainly know that there is no coming to the Lord of life nor no keeping chast to him but in the New-Covenant and in the light of the Lord as it is there dispensed and till then the mind cannot forbear making of images and false representations of him to it self though being from the light of this Covenant it cannot discern that it doth so no more then Paul by the Letter of the Law could discern how he was a breaker thereof in his violent persecutions Qu. 15. Whether the Prophets Jesus Christ or the Apostles their keeping the Law according to the letter that they did do so is evident did break the law in the spirit Ans. The Prophets were under the Law as to their outward state though inwardly not without feeling the vertue of the New-Covenant Christ also was made under the Law and took upon him the fulfilling of that dispensation of Moses that he might bring the believing Jews from under it into the liberty of the Spirit that they might receive the adoption of Sons and the free Ministration which was appointed for the Sons and might not be held under that Ministration of bondage which was appointed for the servants And the Apostle bids Believers to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free not making themselves debtors to the Law Gal. 5.1 for they were children of the promise children of new Jerusalem the free Woman children of the New-Covenant and not children of Mount Sinai the old Covenant the Law in the Letter c. 4.15 16. Qu. 16. If there be but one day of rest holy to the Lord and all the Sabbaths of the law were but signs of it that is said to be the day of redemption that the Lord hath made Then whether that day be a day natural one of the seven days of the week which either respect the Day on which our Redeemer suffered or that on which he rose again from the dead or any other Ans. As the Gospel is not natural but spiritual so its day of rest is not natural but spiritual likewise Yea I may add this also the six days Work in the new Creation are not natural neither Qu. 17. If not so but that it should he intended applicable to the day or time of the Gospel Administration from the time that Christ suffered in the flesh unto the end of the world Then whether this day that is intended as a Sabbath is one with that day that the Scriptures intend and call a Sabbath which Christ himself gave his Disciples charge to have respect unto in their flight Matt. 24.20 Answ. The supposition here put demonstrateth that those that put it have no acquaintance with the Gospel-Sabbath but propose another outward time for it even the time from Christs suffering in the flesh to the end of the World Now if any should so affirm it were as justly to be excepted against as pressing the observation of the Jews Sabbath is That which signifieth is outward or natural and signifieth to that part which is without that which is signified is inward and spiritual and is known entred into kept and enjoyed in the spirit It is a spiritual Sabbath not a natural which God hath instituted for his spiritual people after he hath led them out of spiritual Aegyt into the spiritual Wilderness where he administreth to them the Law in the spirit and teacheth them to worship him in spirit and truth Qu. 18. If they intend one and the same Sabbath day then how impossible was it for the Disciples of Christ to escape flying on that Sabbath day though never so fervent in prayer in regard that this Sabbath spoken of begun when Christ had suffered and put an end to the dispensation of Moses Law and the flight spoken of by Christ which respect the Lords Sabbath was not until many years after his sufferings Supposed-Sabbath being before denied the foundation of this Query fails An. Christs Sabbath is not an outward time or day in the flesh but a day in the Spirit even a day of rest from all the labours of the fleshly part But this was spoken to before in the Answer to the last of W. Salters Queries whereto I may add this Christ spake to his Disciples of things as they were able to bear them Now as they understood not his death so then they understood not the abolishing of those things which were to pass away after his death so that Christ might very well call Jerusalem the holy place and the seventh day the Sabbath speaking to them in that state Qu. 19. If they intend not one and the same Sabbath day then which are the Disciples of Christ to have respect unto whether that that Jesus Christ injoined his Disciples to have respect unto or that that Isaac Penington would injoyn the Disciples of Christ to have respect unto Ans. This Querie hath very little in it save to shew the unsavouriness
the Spirit and in obedience to those Commands which come livingly into his heart from the Spirit of prophesie Fourthly That the fourth Command is to be in love kept by all believers Ans. All the Commands of Christs Covenant are to be kept by believers according as he pleaseth to dispence them under his administration in the New Covenant but the laws of the Old Covenant are not the laws of the New Covenant as so dispensed but only as they are comprehended in the righteousness which is taught and required by the spirit which is fuller stricter and exacter then that which the law of Moses required Nor do I hereby go about to teach any to break the least of Christ's Commands but the way to fulfill them which is by keeping to the certain knowledg and obedience of them in that ministration where Christ hath promised to dispense and make them known to believers which is under the ministry of his own Covenant writing them in their hearts and minds by his Spirit And here the keeping of all Christs Commands is possible yea this is the onely way to have the righteousness of the Law fulfilled in us for he that keeps the eye which the spirit hath opened in him close to the Spirit shall not be able to break any law of righteousness but the righteousness even of Moses his law shall be fulfilled in him Christ is the rest of the Gospel as he is also the holy land believing is the entring into this rest here 's his Sabbath and the keeping of it Keep in the faith the Gospel rest is kept Parting with every lust that he makes manifest observing every thing that this King calls for by his Spirit and waiting for the further manifestation or shining of the Light of his Spirit in the heart here 's the obedience of the faith and the holy and spirituall life and subjection of the living soul to its living King Here 's the beginning of a true Christian his growth his perfection But as for times places persons c. these are of another nature to another part even to that part in man which is to be done away as hee comes into the faith and into the rest Let that which is invisible whose habitation is out of the reasoning part feel and read me in that which is invisible for I do not make void the law by faith or through publishing the ministry of the Spirit but establish it in its ministration in the Spirit to the Disciples of Christ who keeping to the Spirit cannot transgress the righteousness of it though they may there learn not to esteem one day above another but to esteem every day no days having ever had any reall holiness in them one above another but only a figurative or representative which the substance Christ and his Gospel swallow up for as his day dawns those things which were the shadows of it fly away The second Letter Answered Object 1. It is said to be dangerous so to hold forth the Spirituall Sabbatism as to deny the weekly Sabbath wherein our Lord Jesus Christ rested c. and which he blessed and sanctified to Adam and his posterity c. Ans. The Gospell is a state of substance of fulfilling the types and shadows of the Law by bringing believers into the possession of that which they signified of Canaan was a type of Christ who is the land of the living in whom every believer hath an habitation at present according to the proportion of his faith and the Sabbath is the day of rest which every believer is to celebrate to Christ in this holy land which he doth by believing and obeying his Spirit in the faith which keepeth him out of the sin the unbelief the unrest But that the Sabbath of the law the rest thereof which pointed to the faith is still to be held up in the times of the Gospel I know no Scripture which so teacheth and I know somewhat which teacheth me otherwise The day is dawned blessed be the Lord God Almighty the everlasting day is dawned and the shadows of the Law are flown away Object 2. It is said that Heb. 4. Speaks of three rests The seventh day or Sabbath rest Israels rest in Canaan and a remaining rest whereof David speaks Psalm 95. Ans. I grant it There were two rests under the law which were signs of the one rest under the Gospel The two under the Law were outward and natural the one under the Gospel inward and Spiritual answerable to the state of the Gospel· David was not only acquainted with the Law-state but with the free spirit Psalm 51. and the eternal law thereof He knew the new Creation the creating of a new Spirit with its travell through the law also the new rest He knew the circumcision of the heart the spirituall sacrifices of a broken heart and of praise he could take the cup of salvation and sing the song of praise to the Lord which none can do in the strange land nor on any other day but the day of rest And he incites Israel to this rest that they might not harden their hearts against it but in the day of their visitation enter into it by hearkning to the Word which was nigh them which gives the entrance through the faith To day if ye will hear his voyce harden not your hearts c. There is a rest ye are now called to enter into as your fathers were called to enter into the land of Canaan harden not your hearts as they did but hear the voice hear the word which calls to this rest believe and enter This rest remains says the Apostle the others were types of it under the law-state which was to pass away Object 3. It is said Ceremoniall signs are done away but the ten Commands under the mercy-seat are of an other nature and that there are signs which are not yet abolished as the Rainbow Sun Moon and Stars but still remain for us to make good use of Answ. The mercy-seat under the Law is done away and the substance thereof is come and will ye not give him leave to write his law in the Tables which he shall choose where his Disciples may read it with the eye which hee gives Is his law now to be read in the shadow or with the outward eye or to be looked for under the old mercy-seat of the outward tabernacle or is it to be read with the eye of the new creature with the eye of faith with the eye of the Spirit in the everlasting Gospel where the life it self is read and in other books or writings without but tidings or relations of the life Here Christ here the Spirit here the eternall life here the love the joy the peace the rest the purity which is eternall is seen is felt is handled is injoyed for the true faith is indeed the substance of the things hoped for giving victory over the enemies which disturb and a quiet habitation
unsatisfied concerning it and even drowned in fleshly imaginations and contentions about it They seek to have that satisfied which is not to be satisfied They seek to have that know which is not to know they offer to God the service faith and obedience of that which he will not accept keep that from him which he calls for They seek for the Spirit in the Letter according to the manner of the Law but wait not to feel it in the Seed quickening the Seed raising up the Seed and dwelling in the Seed whither Christ and his Apostles directed to wait for it They looke for that knowledge that faith that life that spirit from words written which the Apostle preached was to be waited for from the word in the heart And by this means they raise up several buildings and get various kinds of knowledge each according to his understanding and apprehensions of the Letter every sort being very confident concerning their own apprehensions that they are the right And thus they wander from the City of the living God and from the living knowledge building up Images some outwardly some in their minds some more gross some more refined but all more or less who are not acquainted with the living knowledge and truths of God but have gathered apprehensions with the wrong tool from the Letter have set up somewhat else instead of the true Life and Power The knowledge of the true God which is life eternal the knowledge of the true Christ whom no man can indeed call Lord but by the spirit the knowledge of the everlasting Gospel which alone is read in the spirit the knowledge of the spirit which alone is read in the Seed these are strange things to the several generations of the Christians of this age who commonly know no more of them then according to the apprehensions they have taken in concerning them even from that wisdom and understanding which hath not a capacity in it to receive them but must be destroyed before these things can be understood aright 1 Cor. 1.19 O that ye could read in the eternal light of life O Christians Christians O that ye could see how your understandings and knowledge from the Letter stand as much in your way as ever the Jews did in theirs and must be broken down as flat as ever theirs was before the foundation of the Kingdom can be laid and the building of eternal life reared up in your hearts Be not offended at my zeal for the Lord my God and for your souls It hath cost me very dear what I testifie to you in the simplicity and integrity of my heart and this I know to be most certainly true that that spirit of man which without the leadings of the eternal Light hath nestled it self in the letter got a seat of wisdom and knowledge there raised up a building from thence either of inward or outward Worship will be dissetled driven thence even by that very spirit which gave forth the Letter And when this is done and God's spirit again openeth the Letter O how sweet how profitable how clear how refreshing will it be being read in the light of the spirit in the faith which is in Christ Jesus which is begotten in the heart by the word of Faith which is nigh there From that light from that spring as the Lord pleased to open enlarge and fill the Vessel all the words of the holy men of God came and in that alone they have their sweetness freshness vertue and fulness but how to read the words outwardly written keeping to that and understanding them in that and how to keep out the natural man with his natural understanding which knoweth not the things of the Spirit nor can know or receive them 1 Cor. 2.14 is a mystery to them who have not been turned inwards to this word nor have known or heard his voice The Lord is recovering the Mysterie of Life and as that appears the Mysterie of Death under all its paint under all its painted Faith painted Love painted Knowledge painted Obedience painted Duties Ordinances and Worship will be made manifest Happy is he whose inward Building will stand whose Gold will abide the fire and everlasting Burnings of the jealous God whose Eye-salve was bought of the true spirit whose raiment is right spun but exceeding hard wil it go with that man whom the Lord when he cometh to search him shall not find a right inward Jew as he took himself to be nor truly circumcised by the Lords eternal Spirit with the light thereof but onely by such a circumcising knife as he himself had formed out of the letter of the Scriptures This is the great misery of Christians the vail lies over their hearts even the same vail which covered the Letter of Moses from the Jews and they are groping after the mind of God in the Letter but the life is hid from them even as it was from the Jews because they also say they see that they have the life the spirit therefore the vail remains the caul of iniquity surrounds them so that they cannot see into that which makes free from it but remain yet in captivity and bondage to the Enemy Some Queries of W Salters tending to inforce upon Christians the observation of the Jewish Sabbath ANSWERED Query 1. WHether the Fourth Commandement exprest Exod. 20. be not morall and perpetuall as well as the other nine be yea or no Answer That Covenant which God made with the Jews at mount Horeb when they came out of the Land of Egypt was not to be perpetuall but to make way for that Covenant Priesthood Law-giver and Law which was to be perpetuall That Law so given forth made nothing perfect but was a continuall hand-writing of Ordinances against the Jews and the very Salvation of the Jews was by another Covenant and by the Laws thereof Deut. 30 11. By which Covenant and by which Law they might be made perfect and come to the better hope Which other Covenant is the Covenant of Grace or the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus or the Word which is nigh in the mouth and in the heart and speaks Life to them that can hear and believe the joyfull sound of it Now that this former Covenant was not to abide but to give place to the other see Heb. 8. Which treateth of the New Covenant For God's speaking of a New Covenant importeth that he himself hath made the first Old ver. 13. It had had a long continuance among that people of the Jews but now against the coming of Christ who was to be Mediator of a better Covenant v. 6. even of a New Covenant v. 8. as it had been long decaying and waxing Old So now it was ready to vanish away as v. 13. And indeed it was necessary it should pass away for it was not faultless How not faultless was there any sin in the Holy Law Ministration
God who caused the light to shine out of darkness shined in his heart when God begun the Work of the new Creation in him by his living light when the commandment came fresh from the Spirit the commandment which was ordained to life Rom. 7.10 which the Ministration of the Law in the letter was not no not to the Jews but another Deut. 30.14 15. then Paul began to feel the sting of death and the Power of sin which now arose up in its strength to retain one of its subjects and to keep the stronger man then he from dispossessing him if he could And now how was poor Paul rent and torn and harrased by the Enemy and made to see and feel his miserable captivity until he had passed through the death and was redeemed from under sin and consequently from under this bitter Ministration of the Spirit by his holy pure and severe Law against sin for the man being dead the law hath no force against the Seed nor against that which is one with and lives in the Seed And this is it he speaks to the Romans concerning who also were acquainted with this Ministration of the law as v. 1. of this seventh chap. Now is it not very manifest that Paul knew not sin spiritually by the Ministration of the law in the letter but was alive without it until he felt the Ministry of it from Christ in the Spirit and that soon struck at his life and by degrees slew it killing the body of sin in him with its members and so preparing him for the marriage to another Husband Object But by this then a man is not only freed from the Law of the letter but also from the law of the spirit for if this law be ministred to him til death pass upon him til he be married to Christ then after death is passed upon him and he is baptized into death and risen with Christ and married to him then this Law passeth away likewise Answ. There is a double ministration of the Law of the Spirit a sharp ministration against sin and a sweet ministration in the renewed spirit The ministration against sin passeth away as the sin is wrought out but then the sweet Spirituall current and law of its holy and pure life in the renewed Spirit is more vigorous and full So that the law of the Spirit remaineth for ever but its convictions its reproofs its chastisements towards the worldly part diminish and pass away as the worldly part is wasted and its sweet comforting presence pure peace fresh joy and life increase as the new man grows and flourishes Quer. 2 Whether the scope and drifâ— of that fourth precept be not to perswade us to lay by the works of our calling one day in seven that we may on that day wholly give up our selves to wait on the Lord in the performance of duties of piety and mercy for our attaining of and growing in sanctificaion and holiness Answ. The scope and drift of the fourth Commandement was to injoin the Jews to keep the Sabbath strictly as a sign by forbearing all works and sanctifying it as a day of rest to the Lord according to the law Ezek. 20.12 But the substance being come Christ who is the body Col. 2.17 the day and rest of the Spirit being known the sign is at an end and the thing signifyed taketh place So that the rest is now in Christ through the Faith by his Spirit where the worship is And this in the Gospel comprehends the time of worship the place of worship and the worship it self which are Spiritual where in substance all is known injoyed and solemnized which was figured out in shadows under the law The sanctification being come the rest being come the Lord of the Sabbath being come shall not the sign of the sanctification the sign of the rest which rest the Lord of the Sabbath was to give lead the Spirits of his people into pass away Ex 31.13 Quer. 3. Whether the fourth precept do not as strictly bind us to keep holy the seventh day of or from the creation as it bindeth us to the observation of a seventh Day Answ The fourth Commandement did not require the observation of a seventh Day in general but of the seventh day in particular of those of whom it required it for what the law required it required of those who were under the law and not of others Rom. 3.19 Quer. 4. If the seventh days Sabbath be not morall and perpetuall then how comes it to pass that it was instituted or appointed from the first Creation when man by guilt stood in no need of a Saviour nor yet of such a ceremony Gen. 2.3 Answ. That it was instituted or appointed from the first Creation or that God intended to require of man the observation of it had he abided in innocency is not manifest in the Scriptures but that God did then bless and sanctifie it in relation to the service he had for it that is expressed in Scripture Gen. 2.2 3. And that this was one end for which he did sanctifie it namely that it might be for a sign unto that people of the Jews which was the people he chose to set up his signs and figures of the invisible things among the Scripture also testifies Exod. 20 11. But what further meaning there is in it and what relation it hath to all the redeemed of the Lord in whom God brings about the New Creation with the rest thereof as he did the old it is better to wait to know and feel in the Spirit then to be prying into with the curious searching fleshly understanding Quer. 5. If the seventh days Sabbath be not morall and belonging both to Jews and Gentiles then how comes it to pass that it was given to all men in Adam when there was no difference between Jew and Gentile and was observed by command from the beginning as appears by comparing together Gen. 2.3 and Exod. 16.18 to 31. Answ. That it was given to Adam in innocency or to all men in Adam I do not find nor do these places quoted make it manifest But its being practised before the giving of the law doth not prove its perpetuity or that it was not given for a sign for circumcision was instituted and observed long before the giving of the law Gen. 17. sacrificing long before that Gen. 4. both which were signs of the inward and not perpetuall as to the outward observation of them Quer. 6. If when our Lord Jesus saith Mat. 5.18 that till heaven and earth pass one jot or tittle should in no wise pass from the law If he there meant not the law of the ten Commandements expressed in Exod. 20. then what law did he mean Answ. By the law is meant the whole ministration of Moses as by the Prophets ver. 17. the whole ministration of the Prophets and that it is not to be restrained to the ten Commandements is manifest by
of the Spirits of them that put it and their want of acquaintance with the ministration of the Spirit They that know the Gospell Sabbath which is the substance of the Law Sabbath can tell who injoin'd it them and can also tell that he hath not required of them the observation of the Jews Sabbath But they that are born after the letter have been always subject to revile and reproach the truths of the Spirit and those that testifie thereto Qu 20. If the Lords holy Sabbath be that day which we may suppose is intended by this paper sent unto us to be the day that containes the time of Gospell-administration then whether that Sabbath doth prohibit outward labour as well as abstaining from sin if not then which way must this Sabbath be kept Seeing that they that did and doth observe the weekly Sabbath did and doth it in the Spirit And rest by faith in Christ worshipping the Father in Spirit and in truth Answ. The Gospell-Sabbath begins not in the observation of outward time but as it is Spirituall so it hath a Spirituall beginning increase and persecting wherein there is a rest to the Spirit from sin and from the creaturely works a worshipping in the Spirit even as on the outward Sabbath there was a bodily ceasing from labours and an outward worshipping And he that heareth the joyfull sound of deliverance from sin and self-working and entreth into the faith beginning to cease from his own works and working and to wait in the Spirit on the power for its working in him hath a tast of the Gospel-Sabbath and beginneth to see that day which the type pointed to and ends in Qu. 21. If that that was ministred to Paul Rom. 7. thou shalt keep the Sabbath or believe in the Light follow the Light and the observing of either of these in the Spirit to be a keeping the whole Law Then how are the Scriptures observed if the keeping of one Commandement be a keeping the whole Law when the holy Spirit in Scriptures says that he that offends in one point is guilty of all Jam. 2.10 Ans. I did not say that the keeping of one Commandement is the keeping of the whole Law but that the observing in Spirit of any one of those there mentioned by me is the keeping of the Law which was not barely said but demonstrated because no part of the Law can be broken but every one of these must be broken He that commits any sin breaks the Gospel-Sabbath which is a resting from all sin and self-works errs from the law of love received in the Spirit which shuts out all enmity and transgression both against God and man departs from the fear which keeps from departing from God by any iniquity and enters into the lust which is the womb of sin out of the compass of which womb sin cannot be conceived much less committed So that Paul in that Law received from the Spirit Thou shalt not Lust saw the whole body of sin struck at whereas before under the ministration of Moses in the letter according to which he said he was blameless there was not so much as the life of one sin struck at but for all his exact answering of the Law according to that ministration he was alive still To decide this controversie let it be put to tryall let any one singly wait on the Lord for the administration of his Law in the Spirit and if the Lord give forth that Command to him Thou shalt not lust in the clearness of the Light of his eternall Spirit let him try if continuing in obedience and subjection thereto he can commit any one sin whatsoever I do not say that a mans proposing to himself that he will not lust or his striving of himself to love and fear the Lord or his applying himself to keep the Sabbath or rest from sin to the Lord will do this Nay this is but an administration in the letter and will prove weak against the inward strength of the enemy but receiving the Law in its pure living administration in the Spirit and from the Spirit here comes strength against the enemy which is too hard for him while it is abode in And this the Apostle Paul taught the Galatians who were running backward towards the Law and not forwards in the Spirit He bids them Walk in the Spirit Gal 5.25 and so doing as they should not be under the Law ver. 18. So neither should they be breakers of the Law for within those bounds sin enters not but is kept out not so much as a lust against the Law being there known much less any open transgression against it and against such as thus keep within the bounds of the Spirit there is no Law ver. 22.23 But against all that make themselves debtors to the Law of the letter there stands in force both the law of the letter of the Spirit also they cannot in that state be free from the condemnation and curse thereof whatsoever they may imagine concerning themselves and their own state from a mis-understanding and mis-application of the Scriptures The first Letter Answered There is a double ministration of the Law a ministration in the Letter and a ministration in the Spirit The ministration of the Letter was by Moses from mount Sinai in Tables of stone to that outward people the Jews the ministration of the Spirit is by Christ from mount Sion in Tables of flesh to believers or his Disciples Now this is it which the Lord hath made manifest to me that the Disciples of Christ or believers are to have recourse to their administration for the receiving of the law from the Spirit and not to run back to that ministration which was litterall and outward and fitted to a litterall and outward people This was more fully set down in my Epistle in severall particulars Now in opposition to this it is said Fâ—rst That all written in that Epistle makes no more at all against a Gospel Spiritual observing in love the seventh day Sabbath to the Lord then they make against a Gospell Spirituall observing of the other nine Comandements Ans. My Epistle striketh not at a Gospel Spirituall observation of any thing but he that will obey Spiritually must receive his command from the Spirit in that way which the Spirit hath chosen to dispense it to him in Now the same Spirit which wrote his law in the letter under the old Covenant writeth his law in the hearts of believers under the new Covenant Heb. 8.10 which is a better Covenant and of which Covenant Christ is the Mediator ver. 6. and Christ is as faithfull to give forth the Laws of his Spirit in the hearts of his people as their condition requires them as Moses was to give the Law written in the Tables of stone to his house Heb. 3.5.6 And as Moses pointed his Disciples to Christ coming in the flesh so Christ pointed believers or his Disciples to the
Comforter the Spirit of truth first to wait for him and then to receive light or his law of Life from him And this is Gospel or New Covenant even that which the Spirit speaks or writes in the heart and this hath power in it and saveth whereas the letter killeth Now consider seriously whither should a believer go for this laws to which Covenant to Moses his Covenant or to Christ's Covenant Secondly That all these Commands being holy and good are to be loved and in love to be observed c. Ans. All the Statutes and Judgements and Ordinances and Precepts of the Lord are holy and good and are to be loved but each is to be obedient to that which God requires of him and to have recourse to that ministration for the law of God to him under which God hath set him He that believes he that hath received the Spirit is to have recourse to the law of Faith and to the Spirit for his light or law he who was under the law of Moses was to have recourse to the law of Moses for the law of Moses spake to them who were under it in his family giving forth the precepts or commandements of that dispensation to them who were under his Testament Heb. 9.20 And Christ speaks to his family by his Spirit whom his Disciples are to hearken unto and not to grieve him or quench his motions or despise his prophesyings but give diligent heed thereto untill the day dawn and the day-Star arise in their hearts Now to obey in love doth not make the distinction of the ministrations for love belongeth to each ministration The Jews in their day were to obey the law in love and to have it in their hearts Deut. 6.5 6. But this makes the difference the Jews were to seek to the letter for it the Disciple is to receive it from the Spirit for he is to begin in the Spirit Gal. 3.3 Whereas the Jews beginning was in the letter And this is obedience in the newness of the Spirit when the law is received fresh from the Spirit who both writes new things and brings to remembrance old things livingly and powerfully but to go to Moses ministration and learn it there and get it into the heart from thence that 's according to the old ministration or Covenant which was given in the letter to the Jews as may appear in that place last cited Deut. 6.5.6 Thirdly That in the same spirit and love that we have the Lord for our God c. in the same we are to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Ans. The Lord teacheth believers to know him to be the only true God c. by the Law of the Covenant of life in Christ Jesus which he ministers to their Spirits in the Spirit whereby he teacheth them so clearly and effectually that they need not run back to the Tables of Moses his Covenant from thence to teach one another to know the Lord but they shall all know him from this teaching from the least to the greatest yea and I may add this This Covenant by its ministration teacheth more clearly then the ministration of Moses his Law in the letter could teach Heb. 8.10 11. They that have been with Moses and have learned the Law of him under the ministration of his Covenant have yet need of coming to Christ but they that have been with Christ and have learned the law of his Spirit by the teachings of the new Covenant in their hearts have not need of being sent back to Moses Moses pointeth forward to Christ but Christ even in the flesh sendeth not his Disciples from his own dispensation back to Moses though he also established the dispensation of Moses for its season but pointeth them forward to the Comforter or to his appearance in the Spirit And this is the mark of a Christian which it is the intent of the letter to direct him to and not for him to fix in the letter as men have done since the Apostacy from the Spirit This Argument is further inforced thus because he that said the other said this in the same Law and Spirit Ans. It is true he that said the other by Moses to the Jews said this also to them and they were strictly bound thereto but that which binds the Disciple is the ministration of the new Covenant where Christ writes this Law in the minds and spirits of his people by which they are bound and such as as are out of that the Lord when he cometh to examine them concerning their faith and obedience will say to them Who hath required this at your hands Were ye children of the New Covenant Did ye receive the Spirit had ye a measure of faith given you were ye new creatures Why did ye not keep to your rule Why did ye not wait on the Spirit and receive the Law from the New Jerusalem from whence it issues forth to the family of believers The Jews were to be taught by precepts and Judgments from Moses but all thy children shall be taught of the Lord It is said yet further So that if thou keepest the other and not this thou art a transgressor of the ROYAL LAW OF LIBERTY Ans. What is the Royall Law what is the Law of Liberty Was the law as it was administred by Moses the Royall Law or is it the Royall Law as it is administred by the Son who is the King of Saints and writes his law in their hearts as their King Again was the law which Moses administred to the Jews a law of Liberty or a law of bondage did not the ministration on mount Sinai gender to bondage Gal. 4.24 but in the ministration of the law by the Spirit is life and liberty ver. 26. and 2 Cor. 3.17 And this very law Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self is Royall and a law of pure liberty and there is no bondage in it thus administred but let any man now read it in the letter and strive to obey it to the utmost he can he shall find it weak through the flesh accusing and in bondaging him And this is the reason that Christians so mourn in their prayers even as persons in bonds because they know not the Royall law of liberty because they feel not the love which the Spirit begets but strive to get the letter into their hearts and to answer the Commands in the letter with what love and obedience they can come at and this through not seeing into the true Covenant and ministry of Christ they call obeying in the Spirit The testimony of Jesus Rev. 12.17 is the Spirit of prophecy chap. 19.10 and his Commandements come fresh from that Spirit of prophecy which are to be taken heed to till the day dawn and the day-star arise and then a fuller ministration is witnessed then that of prophecy even the shining and appearing of that which was prophesied of which every believer is to wait for in the prophesies of
things more to them First Whether that People of the Jews as they stood related to God in that Covenant given by Moses at Mount Horeb with the Covenant it self and all things appertaining thereto were not a shadow of some inward and Spiritual thing afterwards to appear and be made manifest in its season Whether they themselves were not a shadow of a more inward and Spiritual People to be gathered to God by the inward and Spiritual Covenant and whether their outward Covenant was not a shadow or visible representation of that Covenant and the Laws of it a shadow or representation of the inward Laws which were to be written in the hearts of that Spiritual People Was not their Tabernacle or Temple a shadow of the true Tabernacle or Temple seeing God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands but in a poor humble contrite Spirit and in the Heart that trembles at his Word Isai. 57.15 and chap. 66.1 2. So was not their circumcision a shadow of the circumcision which is to pass upon the Hearts of God's chosen Were not their Sacrifices types or representations of the Sacrifices of praise and of a broken Heart Psal. 51.17 and Psal. 50.14 Was not their Canaan or Holy-land a type of the true Holy Spiritual rest which the faith gives entrance into Their City Jerusalem a Tipe of the Jehovah-shammah Their Priests and Levites Tipes of the Spiritual Priesthood which was to offer the pure offering and Spiritual Sacrifices among the Gentiles Malac. 1.11 Mark that place if it did not plainly foretel the casting off of the Jews with the rejecting of their Offerings Priests and Levites and God's raising up a seed among the Gentiles where he would have a more acceptable People and Worship even a pure Spiritual People and a pure Spiritual Offering Secondly If they were Types Representations or Shadows of somwhat Spiritual to come then were they not to give place to that which is Spiritual when it came and so to be swallowed up in it Is not the Spiritual Glory the Glory the inward Jew the Jew indeed the circumcision of the Heart the choice circumcision the offering up of praise and of a broken Heart the acceptable Sacrifice the Land of Life and Righteousness the true Land of rest to the living by Faith Is not the Spiritual City House or Temple which God builds the Ierusalem or Temple of the new Covenant Is not this the choice House to God and is not this Spiritual Glory to be expected in the days of the Messiah and all the Tipes and shadows of Moses which pointed at him to end in him when once he comes to set up his true inward invisible substantial Glory among his inward and Spiritual People When the day of Messiah dawns shall not Moses his shadows fly away O that your Eyes were opened to behold the inward Glory of Life the good things of the new Covenant the great Treasure and Riches which are revealed and possessed in the Spirit by the Spirits that are redeemed unto God that ye might partake thereof and then your Eye would not be so much on that which is outward which if ye had even to the utmost of your desires are not comparable to the inward Lastly Search the Prophets see if the Messiah is not first to come in a despiseable way as a man of sorrows Isai. 53.2 3. whose visage in that appearance was to be more marred then any mans Isai. 52.14 and consider whether he was not to be cut off though not for himself Dan. 9.26 and then to sit at the right Hand of God until his Enemies be made his Footstool Psa. 110.1 before he come in that Glory wherein ye expect him So that if he be not thus come already then that coming of his is yet to be expected and his Hands and Feet are yet to be pierced by you and then afterwards ye may look upon him whom you have pierced Zach. 12.10 and all the Families of Israel mourn bitterly apart for it ver. 12. When Moses gave the Law the vail was over his face your Fathers were not able to bear the Light wherein the Law was given nor the Light wherein the Prophecies of the Prophets were given and so they still erred from the Law were offended at the Prophets while they were alive mis-understood their words after their death Now do not ye search into Moses and the Prophets in the same Spirit of error as your Fathers did being shut out from the Light of them even as they were If it be thus if the vail be over your hearts if ye be ignorant of the true Light of the true eternal Power wherein the Scriptures were given forth ye must needs mis-understand them mis-understand Moses mis-understand the Prophets mis-understand the things spoken concerning the Messiah so not be able to see unto the end of those things ministred by Moses of that ministration which was to pass away nor into the beginning of the ministration of the Messiah which was to succeed it O turn within to the Word nigh in the Heart that the true Jew may be begotten and formed in you and his Light may arise and overspread you that in that Light ye may see the Light of Moses and the Light of the Prophets and not gather false meanings from their words but understand them a right in the same Holy Spirit and injoy the blessedness they spake of and directed to which lyes in the inward raising up of an inward Seed and not in an outward conformity of the outward man while the heart and mind remains unchanged and unrenewed which can never be made new by any ministry of the Letter without the Spirit but alone by the ministry of the Spirit whether with or without the Letter as he pleaseth J. P. THE END
of God by Moses can there any just blame be found in any thing that proceeded from the Lord Nay surely the ministration of Moses was holy and without blame but it was weak through the flesh Rom. 8.3 and therefore God would lay that aside so far as it was weak and suited to the weakness of a fleshly people and bring instead thereof a ministration of the Law in the Spirit which should be lively and powerfull and effectuall in the Spirits of his people That which God aimed at in a Covenant was to keep him and his people together Now this Covenant was weak on the peoples part they continued not in it and so according to that Covenant God dis-regarded them v. 9. Now God finding this Covenant not able to effect his purpose of Love towards his people he finds fault with it bringing forth another or second which this gives place to v. 7. And this other Covenant or New Covenant is not according to that How not according to that Why thus It was not written outwardly as that was Not according to that which I made with their Fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt ver. 9. For I will put my Laws in their mind and write them in their hearts ver. 10. And here they shall learn the knowledge of God every one from the least to the greatest v. 11. So that all the Children of this Covenant shall be taught of the Lord and learn the Law from his mouth not as it was given at mount Sinai which ministration was to the children of the Old Covenant but as it goes forth out of Sion and from the Jerusalem which is above which is the mother of all the children of this Covenant and nourisheth them not with the Law of Moses but with the milk of her own breasts Now if any think to restrain this to the types and shadows of the Law they therein err for the main Covenant was the Law of Commandements which they still broke worshipping other Gods making Images and likenesses taking his Name in vain prophaning his Sabbaths and so of the rest It is true The first Covenant had a worldly Sanctuary a Tabernacle wherein was the Candlestick c. But the chief matter of the Covenant was the ten words therefore the Tables wherein it was written were called the Tables of the Covenant or the Tables wherein the Covenant was contained Heb. 9.4 Yea the ten words are expresly called the Covenant it self Deut. 4.13 Observe therefore diligently these few things following in the fear of the Lord First the ten Commandements given by Moses from mount Horeb was the Covenant which God made with the Jevvs when he took them by the hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt Secondly That Covenant God found fault vvith because it was not able through the weakness of the flesh in their parts to keep them to God Thirdly Against Christ's coming God provideth a New Covenant a better Covenant for him to be Mediator of which Covenant was not outvvard like the former but invvard put in the mind vvrit in the heart As the people was invvard the Sanctury inward the Ark invvard The Tables of the Covenant invvard so the Covenant it self and the Writing of it was invvard also And this Covenant as it is onely written in the Spirit and in that which is Spirituall So it cannot be read in the Letter Fourthly That where-ever this New Covenant cometh the other waxeth old whether to a Person or People Where ever the Lavv of the Spirit of Life is made manifest the Law of the Letter is svvallovved up in it and is knovvn no more but as it is comprehended appeareth and is brought forth in it And he that is in the Spirit and hath received the Law of Life from the Spirit knovveth not Christ after the flesh hovv much less Moses but taking the vvhole ministration of Moses in the Spirit not onely the ten Commandements but all the Sacrifices and other types also here they are ovvned and received even in Christ the substance but the ten Commandements so far as they vvere a shadovv pass avvay before the Son of Righteousness as vvell as the other types and shadovvs of the Lavv Obj. But was there any thing of the ten words a shadow Do they not all command abiding things Ans. Moses his whole Ministration as it stood in the letter without was but a shadow of the fulness and perfection of that Ministry of the Spirit which was to come and to be set up by the Son in his house Hebr. 3.5 6. Moses his people but a shadow of the spiritual people Moses his Priests and Sacrifices but a shadow of the spiritual Priests and Sacrifices Moses his Law in the letter ministred from Mount Sinai but a shadow of Christs law in the spirit to be ministred from Mount Sion 2 Cor. 3.10 11. The Law it self which was given by him but a shadow of the grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ Joh. 1.17 of whose fulness every believer receives a portion of the same Grace even Grace for Grace v. 16. which Grace is to be his Teacher both of what he should deny and turn from and how he should live and carry himself both towards God and man Tit. 2.11 12. Look particularly on the Commandments and see if there will not appear something of a shadow in them The first commandment to that people That they should have none other Gods like the heathen but him onely whose powerful Arm had brought them out of Aegypt This is a shadow of the subjection of the spiritual Israel singly in spirit to the Lord of spirits who by his mighty arm redeemeth them out of spiritual Aegypt Now must they bow to other lords no more Isa. 26.13 as they did bow in the land of Aegypt oh who can read this but bow alone at the Name of Jesus and be subject to the arm of his power in their spirits alone for ever The second Commandment That they should not make any Images or likenesses of things in Heaven or Earth or bow down to them is a shadow of what God requires of spiritual Israel in the inward where all likenesses inventions imitations resemblances of what they have seen in the spirit above or beneath in the earthly nature they must not make themselves nor bow to such as any others make And they must not take the Name of the Lord their Redeemer in vain pretending to the living Power when it manifests not it self in them pretending to meet in the living Name and to worship in the spirit when they are gone a whoring from it and become strangers to it What should I mention any more It is easie to observe how the other commandments were shadows of the inward innocency and purity which the believer receives inwardly into his heart from the powerful operation of the law of the Spirit of life in him Obj. But may
any of these Laws be broken if they may not be broken then they are perpetual Ans. The reason why they may not be broken is not because that the dispensation of them is still in force but because the dispensation of the law of the spirit comprehends all the righteousness of Moses his law and the end of Christs dissolving that Covenant was not that any man might have liberty to do any thing which is there manifested to be unrighteous but that the righteousness of it might be fulfilled in them who receive his law in the spirit which never could be fulfilled by receiving of Moses his law in the letter Rom 8.4 And mark this diligently ye that have been exercised in spirit towards God The law of sin is nearer to us then any law of the letter can come the covenant of Death and Hell with the laws thereof are written within by the finger of Satan and that which blots them out must be as near even an inward covenant an inward writing from the Eternal Word in the heart by the law of his Eternal Spirit of life This then is my Answer Moses his law in substance remains as it is taken in by Christ and administred by him in spirit but not as it was given in the letter to the Jews for so it was a shadow making nothing perfect but making way for the better hope for the Covenant established upon better promises for the inward law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which effects that in the spirits of his people which Moses his law could by no means do Quest But what is the substance of the law which abides Ans. The substance of the law is Love To love God above all above all without above all within and to love one's Neighbor as ones self To receive this love from God and to bring it forth in his spirit this is the substance of the law this is the thing which the law drove at in a shadow The law is fulfilled in this one word Love but that love must be received from God which fulfils the law A man may strive to love abundantly and strive to obey in love and yet fall short of the covenant but the Lord must circumcise the heart afore that love can spring up which fulfils the law Deuter. 30 6. Obj. But doth not the Apostle Paul say That by the law is the knowledge of sin and that he had not known lust except the law had said Thou shalt not covet plainly referring to the tenth Commandment which saith Thou shalt not covet Ans. By the law outwardly was the knowledge of sin outwardly to the people of the Jews by the law inwardly is the knowledge of sin inwardly to the spirits of Disciples Now a little consider and wait on the Lord to know what administration of the law it was that Paul knew sin by whether it was by Moses his administration of the law in the letter or by Christ's Ministration of his law to him in the spirit It is rendred in our last Translation Thou shalt not covet but it might more properly be rendred Thou shalt not lust For if {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} be properly rendered Lust then {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} may as properly be rendred Thou shalt not lust And he that hath received the administration of the law in the Spirit knoweth it thus to issue forth from the Word of life into his Spirit It discovers the lusts and affections of the flesh which draw from the yoke and subjection to the spirit and then by a command from the living spirit it hedgeth up the way after the other lovers saying Thou shalt not lust And as the law of the flesh ariseth kindling desires after vanity and after fleshly ease and delight so the law of the spirit arises in the inner man forbidding pricking stopping and limiting that which would be at liberty out of the life and purity of the holy law And here begin the bitter fights and terrible battels and conflicts between the two Seeds wherein all the powers of heaven earth and hell are engaged Now because this interpretation of Paul's words may seem strange and uncouth to persons who have drunk in another apprehension and have taken it for granted that Paul there refers to the tenth commandment consider the place yet further and perhaps the Lord may please to open it to you from the very Letter even as he hath opened it to others immediately by his Spirit by causing them to feel the thing which Paul felt and to receive the Law as he received it Paul in that seventh of the Romans speakes of three states vvhich he had known First a state of life before the law I was alive without the law once v. 9. Secondly a state of death after the commandment came Then sin revived and he dyed When the Word of Life came with its living commandment to set upon sin indeed then sinne would dally no longer it would no longer lye as dead and let Paul live in his Zeal and Worship as he had done before but it slew him it shewed its power in him sometimes deceiving him and sometimes forcing him from that which was holy spiritual just and good and to that which was unholy insomuch as he did do what he hated and could not do what he loved and found himself a wretched man and in miserable captivity because of the body of death and the law of sin in his members v. 23 24. 3dly A state of life after the commandment had done its Work in throughly slaying of him When that was removed which the law came against then then he was marryed to another husband then he could bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7.4 then he could walk freely with God not after the flesh but after the spirit ch. 8.4 and rejoice in the life and the peace instead of roaring out because of the death which came from the carnal mind v. 5. Now when was the time when Paul was alive without the Law Was it not when he was righteous when he was whole then he had no need of the Phisician then he had not received the Wound even the terrible Wound which Christ then gives the soul when he calleth to it by his spirit and giveth forth the commandment Thou shalt not lust When he had confidence in the flesh being circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the Tribe of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the Law a Pharisee concerning Zeal persecuting the Church touching the righteousness which is in the Law blameless Phil. 3.4 5 6. Here was a living man and his exact receiving the Ministration of the Law in the letter was part of his life yea but he had not received the commandment yet that slew him Paul was alive yet and could flourish in the freshness of his life zeal and abundant knowledge under this administration of the Law But when
the instances which Christ gives more of which relate to other parts of the law then to the Commandements for there are but two instances out of the ten Commandements but there are four instances out of other parts of the law as may be seen ver. 31 33 38. and 43. of that Chapter So that Christ doth not onely take in the ten Commandements but he takes in the rest of Moses his Ministry in the Spirit not one jot or tittle whereof is to pass till it be all fulfilled but was to stand in the letter to the Jews its full season and then in the Spirit till all be finished there also The Law and the Prophets were untill John from that time the Kingdom of God began to be preached Luk. 16.16 and both the law Prophets and John himself were to decrease and Christ and his Kingdom to increase Christ in this 5 of Matth. had been preaching the Kingdom declaring to whom it apperteined and the blessedness of such Now this his manner of preaching might seem to derogate from the law of Moses and from the Prophets whose doctrine and dispensation hereby he might seem to destroy But Christ taketh away the occasion of such a mis-apprehension bidding them not think he came to destroy the Law or the Prophets for he was not come for that end but to fulfill Wherein he doth these two things First he establisheth that ministration of the law and Prophets for its season till it should be fulfilled by him the substance who was to fulfill all the righteousness of it It should last out its whole day and should not fail in the least tittle of it as he himself explaineth it Luk. 16.17 til the heaven and earth of the Jews passed away Heb. 12.27.28 Secondly He taketh in the substance of it into his own ministration and layeth it more inwardly and closely and largely upon the Spirits of his Disciples then Moses had done in the letter upon his Disciples But he doth not give it out in full but onely giveth a tast to his Disciples how straitly he would minister it to them by his Spirit as they came under his yoke Matth. 11.29 which yoke is his Spirit or the law thereof as Moses his yoke was the law of the Letter Now mark yet further Christ doth not give out the letter for his law as it was delivered by Moses but requireth somewhat of his Disciples which comprehends the letter As now when he administers the law against revenge from whence murther proceeds he doth not say Thou shalt not kil as Moses had said to them of old time but saith thou shalt not be angry without a cause nor give thy brother any provoking language ver. 22. Nor does he say Thou shalt not commit adultery but thou shalt not let out a lustfull look nor let in a lustfull thought v 28. And had he spoken here about the Sabbath would he have administred it in the letter or would he have commanded the observation of the true Sabbath where no work is done no fire kindled nor so much as any sticks gathered to make a fire with nor no burthen born but the Man-servant the Maid-servant the Oxe the Ass and every creature rests in the seed The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath It is true he subjected himself under the law but yet he was still Lord and he maketh all his Kings and Priests to God who being once baptised into his death know also his resurrection and reign Obâ—ect But all the other Commandements are to be kept according to the letter for although it should prove so that believers are not bound to observe them by vertue of Moses's ministration in the letter but by vertue of the ministration of the Spirit yet the Commandements themselves are kept but take away the outward observation of the Sabbath and this Commandement hath no fulfilling at all according to the letter Answ. This ariseth from the different nature of the thing for the other Commandements require or forbid that which is either good or evill in its own nature but this is but good or evill by institution or command To keep a Day or not to keep a Day is not good or evill in it self but as it is commanded or forbidden or left at liberty in the Lord and according as it is done or forborn by him who receiveth the command or prohibition or is let into the liberty of the Gospel Rom. 14.6 So that if the Nature of the thing required in this Commandement had been alike with the nature of the things required or forbidden in the other Commandements it would have been as durable after the dissolution of that Covenant as the other things therein contained were which vanish not in themselves upon the dissolution of that Covenant but only pass into an higher way of dispensation where they retain their full vertue and strength even according to the letter though not by vertue of the administration of the letter another higher and fuller administration of a better Covenant challenging and taking its own place Qu. 7. If the seventh Days Sabbath be not morall but an abrogated ceremony now since the death of Christ then wherefore should our Saviour instruct his beloved Apostles that must instruct Christian Churches to pray Mat. 24.20 that they might not flie on the Sabbath knowing that their flight would fall out more then thirty yeares after his death Answ. Great was the hardship the Jews under went in the siege of Jerusalem by that apprehension of theirs that they ought not to do any work not so much as of defending themselves on the Sabbath which hardship such Disciples of Christs among the Jews as could not easily be drawn of from the law and Jewish observations but still were for circumcision and keeping of an outward Sabbath might be liable to now Christ and the Apostles after him were not hasty to draw them from such things but for a time bore with them therein insomuch that Paul circumcised Timothy and became to the Jews as a Jew and to them that were under the law as under the law himself also But the strength of the Query seems to lye in this that it should bear the name of Sabbath from Christ's own mouth in relation to somewhat which should happen on it more then thirty years after it should cease to be a Sabbath To which my Answer is plain that that may as well bear the name of Sabbath as Jerusalem or the Temple bear the name of the holy place ver. 15. of the same chap. for Jerusalem and the Temple did as much cease to be the holy place above thirty years after those words were spoken as the Jewish Sabbath could cease to be the Sabbath Now for the sakes of such as have been truly exercised in their spirits by the spirit of the Lord and have felt the powerfull work of his grace a building raised up by him may yet be further exercised I shall add
this Jerusalem was a type of an inward building in the Spirits of Gods people both in its rearing up in its scituation in its standing in Gods dealing with it all the time of its standing and lastly in its downfall and utter desolation There is an appearance and building of God in the Spirits of his People which is to give way to and be swallowed up in a fuller and higher appearance But the fleshly spirit getting into this building will not give way to the further and more inward spirituall appearance of the Spirit but will have the first building stand as the building and will entertain no further appearance of God then as it can comprehend it subject it and afford it a place in the first building Hereupon God distresseth Ariel even the City which David built saying within his heart surely that which I have built will I break down and that which I have planted will I pluck up even this whole land So he causeth the overflowing scourge to pass even over Thy whole land O Immanuel Now when the enemy enters within the holy City and within the holy Temple it is time to fly and exceeding great distress will befall that Disciple whose flight is either on the Winter or on the Sabbath day Do not imagine at this but if the Lord open it not at present wait his season for the thing is true and sealed both by the openings of the Light eternall and by sensible exercises and experiences from that Light Thus I have answered such of the Queries as concern the seventh days Sabbath Such as seem to argue the unwarrantableness of observing the first day of the week for a Sabbath I leave to those to whom they are tendred and of whom an Answer seems so conscienciously zealously desired as I do not see how it can be reasonably neglected or denied that by weighty evidence of Scripture he may be reduced if he hath erred but if not but it be truth vvhich he hath therein held forth the Lord may be honored in mens bovving and subjecting to every truth of his by vvhat instruments soever it pleaseth him to make it manifest Some Queries sent in writing upon occasion of an Epistle directed to all such as observe the Seventh Day of the week for a Sabbath Answered Query 1. IF the whole Law of Moses the Law of the ten Commandments as well as the Law of Sacrifices were both added upon one and the same account for transgressions Then why doth the holy Spirit in the Scriptures lay forth such an antiphitical use of them I suppose he means anti-tipical the one that sin might abound Rom. 5.20 the other sacrificing for sin Heb. 9.7 8 9. Ans. That the Lavv of Moses vvas added because of transgression is manifest from that Scripture quoted by me in my Epistle as vvel as from other Scriptures and one end vvhy it vvas added in relation to transgression vvas that the offence might abound vvhich vvould make the Sacrifice or propitiation for sin appear more necessary and more acceptable And the sacrifices also relate to the sinner some referring to the sin committed others to the thankfulness and acknovvledgement due for the peace mercy and blessings of God tovvards his poor sinful erring creatures both vvhich vvere to last till the time of reformation from the sin Heb. 9.10 Gal. 3.19 But that they vvere both added upon one and the same account that I did not affirm that is vvrongfully put upon me Now though both these were added because of transgression yet they had not both the same use and service in relation to transgression but the one was added to discover sin and to make it appear exceeding sinful Rom. 5.20 the other to blot it out to take it away to make atonement for it which the sacrifices did making the sinner upright and perfect as relating to that outward state and capacity though they could not as pertaining to the conscience Heb. 9.9 Qu. 2. If the whole Law the ten Commandments as well as the Sacrifices were representations figures or shadows of somewhat relating to Christ the Seed Then what did they in general or either of them in particular represent figure or shadow forth before they were written in Tables of stone or since they were written in Tables of stone more of Christ then then now Answ. That the ten Words were some of the Precepts of Moses and appertaining to the first Testament or Covenant all which Precepts were sprinkled with blood cannot be denied And the Apostle distinguisheth the Precepts of Moses under the Law which were sprinkled with the blood of the Sacrifices under the Law Heb. 7.19 from the Precepts of Christ which he writes in other Tables ch. 10.16 which also are sprinkled with blood but not with the blood of Bulls and Goats but with his own blood and he that receives any of these Precepts out of the blood of Christ cannot truly and spiritually obey them though he may strive much to form his spirit into the obedience thereof Now the time and season of their signification was the time which God allotted them under the Law wherein was the use of signs but the Gospel is a state of substance of bringing the life and immortality into the heart and into the possession of believers which the state of the Law shadowed So that they are not signs since the Gospel since Christ put an end to the Law-signs shadows and figures not yet before the Law to Believers so far as they were in the New Covenant For as the thing signified cometh so that which signifieth it passeth away though that was a mixed state wherein God gave a taste of both Covenants before his perfect dispensing or bringing forth of either Qu. 3. If the whole dispensation of the Law was given to the Jews and not to the Gentiles and so the Gentiles not bound to that Law but another way for them to know the mind of God Then whether that Law cited Rom 2 15. which the Gentiles shewed the work of in their hearts be another Law contrary to that Law that was given to the Jews even the ten Commandments Ans. The Law which is the substance is not contrary to the Law which is the shadow but is the comprehending and fulfilling of it The Law in the Spirit written by God's power and presence in the heart and mind is not contrary to the Law in the letter but is an higher and more glorious Ministration of it The one commandment which God gave by Moses to the Jews Deut. 30.11 which was the commandment of life and death as relating to their inward and eternal state ver. 15. was not contrary to the ten commandments which God had commanded them before by another covenant which he had made vvith them as an outward people and which was to be their Rule as to their outward state for they were chosen by God to be an holy people outwardly and so an outward Rule
of holiness and obedience was prescribed them but by all their obedience thereto they could not be justified but only by hearing believing and obeying Christ the Word nigh in the heart and by feeling in the spirit the blood of that one offering Qu. 4. If the Gentiles were not bound under that Law that the Jews were which carryed the curse with it then which way have the Gentiles redemption by Jesus Christ seeing all that are redeemed are redeemed from the Law and the Curse thereof Gal. 4.5 3.13 Ans. As they were under the curse outwardly by transgressing that outward Law or Covenant and so mâ—ssed of the outward happiness of the holy Land and still met with Wrath and Judgements and at last utter cutting off as to their outward state and as to all their hope from that Covenant so he that comes to receive the Ministration of the Law of the Spirit will find the curse as abundantly inwardly even till that be cut down by the sword of the Spirit which the curse is to and that brought into dominion to which is the promise and blessing So that the Gentiles find as great need to be redeemed from the curse inwardly which the inward Law brings upon the transgressor as the Jews did outwardly yea and find a more heavy burthen and load then ever the Jews did outwardly Paul when he was alive in the outward Administration of the Law not being acquainted with the inward he knew little of the curse he was according to it blameless Phil. 3.6 but when he came to receive the living light of the spiritual Administration of it into his spirit then he felt the burthen and weight and misery of sin and the curse indeed and cryed out O wretched man who shall deliver Qu. 5. If the duration of the dispensation of Moses Law in the Letter was till Christ the Seed should come and fulfil it and the dispensation of Moses Law so stated without distinction between that that was perpetual and that that was ceremonially vanishing and so in the fulfilling of it besides Then what law or commandments that or they were which while Moses dispensation was in full force is said to be perpetually sure to stand fast for ever and for ever as Psal. 10.11.7 8. and when Christ the Seed was come and had fulfilled all that the Father had appointed him to do was established Rom. 3.31 and not one jot or tittle of it to pass so long as heaven and earth remain Mat. 5.18 Luke 16 17. Ans. That distinction between something in Moses Law being perpetual and something ceremonial is not sound and proper in this place For all that was under Moses law was but a shadow as in that dispensation and that Testament was dedicated with blood with the blood which was a shadow which related to every precept Heb. 9.18 19. and it was all substantiall and perpetuall in what it signified and related to The sacrifices were substantiall in that Sacrifice which they signified as well as the law and precepts were substantiall in the law and precepts which they signified And as the first Covenant pointed at a second Covenant so the laws of the first Covenant pointed at the law of the second Covenant the ministration whereof is from the Mediator of that Covenant and they come into the heart sprinkled with his blood Now the law or Commandement which even under that dispensation was to be perpetuall and last for ever was the word in the heart and the laws thereof Deut. 30.14 which Moses by especiall order from God and according to the tenor of an other Covenant directed the Jews to v. 4. For the law as administred by Moses in the letter is not perpetuall or eternall but as it comes from the Spirit and is administred in the Spirit so it is Spirituall and eternall That administration was fitted to that people and we knovv the Lord if he had pleased could have given a fuller administration of his law in the letter then that was as Christ plainly intimates divers times Mat. 5. But if it had been never so full yet the administration of it in the letter is to give place to the administration of it in the Spirit So that the administration of it in the letter is not perpetuall but for the time which God allotted it but the administration of it in the Spirit is eternal and perpetual and there it remains an eternall Light witness and sword against sin and the transgressor And thus it is established in the hands of the Spirit after the season of that ministration of it in the letter was ended and thus not one jot or tittle of it was to pass away after the other ministration with every jot and tittle of it was ended Qu. 6. If the coming of Christ in the flesh and his fulfilling all the righteousness of the law and being foretold by Moses to be that Prophet that was to be heard in all things which is not denyed by us but if by these he put an end to the law of the ten Commandements and gave forth an other law to his house or family Then what law that is And whether it be contrary to that law that he with the Father gave forth as Deut. 33.2 with Psal. 80.17 which now is in Gospel ministration holy just good as Rom. 7.12 and Spirituall ver. 14. Answ. It is the law of the Spirit or the Light of the Spirit in the heart which discovers sin not only in the outward acts but in its principle rise first motions and inward nature giving forth his living commands against it This is the law now in which the believer is to begin Gal. 3.3 and according to which he is to go on to perfection For as the believer is begotten of the Spirit and born of the Spirit so he is to receive the ministration of his law from the Spirit and in the Spirit Hee receives a gift of Faith a measure of Faith from the eternall Spring of Life and that 's his Law His law is the law of Faith The Light of Life which receives in the Faith opens the mind and will of Christ to him in the Spirit shewing him both sin and also the things of God more fully then the Law of Moses could though opened by the Spirit for it is a fuller a deeper kind of ministration and so opens the things which it ministers more fully then a ministration of an inferiour nature can Yet it is not contrary to Moses law but comprehends all the substance all the righteousness and equity of it as I said before which it as a shadow represented and commanded to that outward or shadowie people the Jews But the law which Paul spake of Rom. 7. was the law of the Spirit or such a ministration of the law as Paul knew not all the while he was under the ministration of Moses's Law blameless but this law found out sufficient blame in him ver. 14. c.
Qu. 7. If Jesus Christ as he is the Son gave forth another law to his house or family and that law contrary to that that the Father gave forth then whether there is not two law-givers when the Scriptures say there is but one Jam. 4.12 Answ. The substance when it is shadowed out or when it is nakedly dispensed is one and the same thing so that when ever it comes it cannot be an other thing then what the shadow represented it to be Moses his dispensation and Christs are one in Spirit and when he cometh in Spirit he doth not destroy either Moses or the Prophets but comprehends them So that the law is but one although the dispensations of it have been various but the proper dispensation of the law now to Christians is Christ's dispensation not Moses his dispensation Christians are now to look for the Light and Knowledge of it in the Tables where Christ writes it according to his Covenant So that there have not been two Laws given out but the one Law of God hath been variously dispensed in and according to the letter by Moses to the Jews in and according to the Spirit by Christ to his Discipes Quer· 8. If the Tables of Stone the writing of the law of the ten Commandements in the Tables and the Law of the ten Commandements it self which was written were figures or representations Then whether the finger of Gods Spirit doth write the law of God two ways in the inward Tables So called namely in the heart of Christs family in one way whilst Moses dispensation was on foot Psal. 37.31 For the Psalmist speaks in the present tense which was under that dispensation Now is it another way in this latter dispensation expressed 2 Cor. 3.3 Qu. 9. If two wayes then how doth the finger of Gods Spirit write them those ways Answ. The eternall Covenant was the same under the Law as under the Gospell and its Tables were the heart then as well as now and its way of writing the same then as now even by the finger of God's power or eternall Spirit and thither the Jews were even then referred for the inward writing of the Law Deut. 30.14 So that they that truly hearkned even to Moses were to wait on this word vvhich vvas nigh in the heart for the vvriting of his Laws there And they that hearkned to this Lavv vvhich endureth for ever knevv the writings thereof in their hearts whereas the Jews vvho vvere very diligent to get the Law into their hearts from the letter could never thereby attain the writing of it there but vvere still found breakers of it and under that curse vvhich belonged to the breach Abraham Isaac and Jacob David and the Prophets knevv the invvard Jew who becomes so by the invvard Covenant and by the inward dispensation of the Lavv in that Covenant and the Law vvhich vvas after the promise could not disannul the promise vvhich vvas before it but it stood good and firm to the children even to all the Spirituall seed the vvhole time of that outvvard dispensation of the Lavv Qu 10. If not Then how doth the writing of the Law in Tables of Stone represent the writing of the Law in the Tables of the heart seeing the Tables of the heart were writ upon by the finger of Gods Spirit whilst the Tables of stone were in full force and the dispensation had not ceased Answ. Though the Tables of Stone or Law thereof was in force to that outvvard people of God the Jews yet this did not destroy his inward people nor his inward Tables in their hearts nor hinder him from vvriting his invvard Lavv there but the invvard and eternall Covenant ran underneath to them invvardly even all the time of that outvvard dispensation whereby they were made invvardly righteous and obedient to God And as God had perticularly directed by Moses to the Word and Commandement of that Covenant So hee would not fail to write it thereby in the hearts of such as turned to that word and Commandement So that this was the Law vvhich God vvrote in the heart even then and vvas alvvays the invvard substance while as Moses his dispensation was but an outward sign thereof Qu. 11. If the Law of the ten Commandements it self which enjoined love and duty to God and love and duty to man as Matth. 22.37 38 39 40. was or is a figure of an other then what Law that is that 's the antitipe of this Law which in succeeding of it enjoyns not love and duty to God and not love and duty to man Ans. This Query ariseth from a great mistake as if the Law in the letter and the lavv in the Spirit could not require the same thing vvhereas they do require the very same thing in substance but severall vvays according to the difference of each administration to vvit the one litterally of a litterall or outvvard people the other Spiritually of a Spiritual or invvard people The one requires love according to the tenor of the letter the other according to the Spirit Qu. 12 If the owning of the ten Commandements as they are plainly laid down in the letter be a breaking of them in the Spirit and especially those contained in the first Table Then how doth the truth of God written which is life and truth Act. 7.38 and Eccl. 12.10 and the Spirit which is given forth meet together seeing the Spirit leads and guides into all truth Ans. I do not know any who hath said that the owning of the ten Commandements at they are plainly laid down in the letter is a breaking of them in the Spirit but he that hath the Spirit owneth the dispensation of the letter in its place and season but the Spirit doth not teach him to run from his own dispensation where it is livingly administred to such as wait on the eternall Word in his Covenant of Life for it to that dispensation which was appointed for and given forth to others But that the truth as it is written outwardly is Life I do not read but otherwise 2 Cor. 3.6 where Paul saith the letter killeth speaking of the letter of the New Testament The Spirit indeed guides into all truth but it is the living Soul whom hee so guides and it is the living truth into which he guides in the New Covenant though it was he also who gave forth required and was able to lead into the letter of the Old Covenant Qu. 13. Whether when Jehovah gave forth the ten Commandements plainly as a Law in the letter he did intend by the observation according to the letter the breach of them by the Spirit Ans. The Spirit doth not teach to break the commands in the letter but such as are under the ministration of the letter to observe them according to the letter and such as are under the ministration of the Spirit to fulfill the righteosness of them in the Spirit Yet the Son of man is Lord of
in him who is the rest And as touching signs I do not say that signs are so done away as that there is now no good use to be made of them but in reading the law and shadows thereof the Lord may please by his Spirit to enlighten the Spirit of him who reads in his fear to see through them but this I do not find that so much as any one sign or shadow under the law was to be continued in that way of service under the Gospel for indeed to what end should it When that is come which it signified is not its work at an end and that that Sabbath was given for a sign as well as any other Sabbaths of the Law I find expresly Exod. 31.13 to 18. Object 4. It is said That though Christ's law be a new law yet it is also old given of old to the Jews Answ. Yea it is older then so for it was written in Abels and the other holy mens hearts long before this Covenant of the Law in writing was made with the Jews And consider wel which is now to stand in the times of the Gospel the writing of the law by the Spirit in the hearts of believers as it was written by vertue of the promise before the law was given or the outward and visible writing under the Law which was done for the sake of and as a suitable dispensation for that outward people It was not thus from the beginning but after a long time for when God chose an outward people he chose also this way of writing to signifie somewhat by which signification is concerning another state in which state that which was signified is to be set up and advanced and not the shadows which were significant of it It is further said that the Lord writes these things new in his peoples hearts to know the Lord as their God and as the God and Father of Jesus Christ and as their Father in him and to love their brethren as Christ loved them And he writes this law also in their hearts Thou shalt have no other Gods but me make no Image exalt my name keep holy the Sabbath c. Ans. If God write these things in the heart are they not to be read there If God write them in the new Covenant and in the new Tables shal not I read them there And if I can read there in this living book what God writes in it by his Spirit is not this nearer to me and clearer and read by a more certain eye then what I can read with my outward eye in Tables of stone Oh do not turn the believer out of his way do not hinder him from reading in the book which is clear and infallible the clear and infallible things of God Will God write in my heart and will he not give me an eye to read Shall he give me an eye to read and shall I not read therewith Thou hast here confessed this to be the new writing and the new writing belongs to the new Covenant both which are proper to the Gospel-state and to Christs meditation who is Mediatour of the new Covenant Heb. 8.6 And in that he saith a new he hath made the first old Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away ver. 13. Object 5. It is said that Love being the sum and substance of the law of the Spirit makes no more against the fourth Commandement then against the rest Ans. Love is the substance of them all they are all fulfilled in it but they are not after this manner fulfilled to wit that a man should strive perticularly to keep them in his eye and so labour to fulfill them in love but rather thus in waiting on the Lord to receive love from him and to be kept by him in the love in this love received they are all fulfilled and cannot be broken and this is an easie yoke This is the new birth and the path thereof the other is but the old creature with its striving after the path and inheritance of life And as this love is the fulfilling of the law so the heart are the Tables of this love wherein God writeth both the whole and all the parts of his Law Now I am not against any man who in singleness of heart applies himself to the letter but it is but the old way and a conversing with Christ after the manner of Moses's his dispensation but I must confess that I am for the new Covenant and for the ministry of the Spirit which is far beyond the letter and though I have known Christ and the Lavvs of his life after the flesh yet henceforth my desire is not after knowing him so any more but to know him in the eternall life of his Spirit and to drink of the fruit of the Vine new vvith him in his Fathers Kingdome A brief explication of the mistery of the Six Days labour and Seventh Days Sabbath for such to behold the eye of whose Spirit is opened by the pure anointing and who are not so drowned in their conceivings and reasonings about the sence of the letter as most of the professors of this age are Mat. 11.28 29 30. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls For my yoke is easie and my burden is light He that hears the joyfull sound of the everliving power calling him by the voice of his eternall light out of the darkness out of the death out of the misery out of the Dominions Territories and deep slavery of Satan unto himself and cometh unto him in the vertue and power of that life which calleth he hath a tast given him of the eternall rest and a promise of entring into it But the entrance into the fulness thereof is not presently but he hath a long journey to take from Egypt the dark land from Sodom the filthy land from Babilon where all the vessells and holy things of God have been defiled through the wilderness unto Canaan and many battles are to be fought with enemies by the way also with the enemies which possess the holy land and many hardships to be undergone in following the Captain who also leadeth his Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and by a pillar of fire by night and there must be a circumcision a baptism in the cloud in the Sea and the falling of all those carcasses in the wilderness which are not to enter nor so much as see the good land before the entrance be ministred to the seed and to that which passeth through the water and through the fire with the seed In plain terms there must be a taking up of the yoke and a learning of Christ under the yoke till the proud the stiff the stubborn the wise the wilful the selfish Spirit