in this is the discerning and trying of the Spirits which being a faculty that St. John takes for granted all those he writ his first general Epistle to that is all true Believers have already or may have chap. 4.1 and they being made by Christ Priests c. Revel 1.6 5.10 may pretend to the Priests right to discern and to pronounce what is clean and what unclean Levit. 13.17 23. I hope by the mercy of God it belongs to me And therefore I hope that if after having tryed and found that some men have not in them the Spirit of Christ and shewed sufficient reasons and very good grounds for it I pronounce them to be none of the Ministers of God I shall not go for a Reviler of such And truly I have tryed and found that not only some few men among Christians have not the Spirit of Christ but that so many are the false seducing Spirits gone abroad into the World 1 John 4.1 to deny that Christ cometh to men whilst yet in the flesh which Spirits are not of God v. 3. and to speak as St. Paul saith 1 Tim. 4.2 their lies in Hypocrisie that the true Doctrine of Christ and the two Witnesses that do testifie of him seem like to be overcome Revel 11.7 nay to be killed by them nothing but their carcasses the dead letter of Scripture and a dead ineffectual notion of the Holy Ghost seeming now left unburied lying in the Streets of the Spiritual Sodom that is the present Christian Churches v. 8. For what else is allowed them and dispenced among their Members by their own Prophets for instance by the Author of a late Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Bishop of London and by all them that approve hold and teach the same Doctrine who are come to that height of insolence in denying the power and existence of God's Spirit in his Church in changing the truth of God concerning it into lies holding in unrighteousness that which may be known of it Rom. 1.18 19 25. that I think it high time for them who make mention of the Lord not to keep silence Isa 62.6 but with the Rod of their mouth to smite all these Seducers by whom offences do come that the simple may beware and learn to come without them to the knowledge of the truth Prov. 19.25 For my part I declare that reading the said Sermon my Spirit was so stirred up Acts 17.16 that having like Flihu Job 32.11 given ear to their reasons whilst they searched out what to say and waited a good while for an answer to them from some wiser than my self I could hold no longer and seeing none appeared to convince them of falshood I thought it my duty to do it my self lest they should think that they are the people v. 13. 12.2 and lest error should triumph over Christian light and truth Though indeed as a Novice I might have been afraid to proffer my opinion v. 6. against so many grave learned and Right Reverend Fathers in God so called had I not as well as Elihu v. 9. after having thought like him that Days should speak and the old standing Professors should teach wisdom v. 7. found that the famous Doctors are not always the wisest and that these Aged Fathers are not they that understand the Art of discerning best For note It was but a little that I had passed from the Watchmen of the City saith the Soul in the Canticle 3.4 but I found my wishes That is so soon as we pass from the Watchmen or leave them and not whilst we spend the time in consulting and seeking to learn of them as v. 3. our Soul comes to attain to that which it longs after it s own summum bonum the knowledge of God and Christ John 17.3 for it is the gift of God the Watchmen cannot give it since they seldom enter in themselves and keep from others the key of truth and knowledge Luk. 11.52 But on the contrary that they may as St. Paul saith Gal. 4.17 though they exclude others be by them affected cryed up followed after endeavour as for instance this Preacher to suppress it Whence they that relie on them that seek for truth at their mouth that dig for it in their works Nemo dat quod non habet find nothing but vain knowledge and that their bellies are fed as Job saith with the East wind But besides having also found out like Elihu v. 8. that there is a Spirit in man and that the inspiration of the Almighty is that which gives him understanding without respect to his Age or to his Humane Learning and believing that the mouth and wisdom promised Luk. 21.15 Mat. 10.20 which all the Adversaries are not able to resist is given in time of need why should I be afraid to give my testimony and to stand against them all for the truth of the Gospel Therefore though I am neither a Prophet nor Prophet's Son Amos 7.14 not so much as a Graduate in the Schools and High places of your Watchmen and Prophets but a poor obscure Tradesman who am not so much as known among any Christian Sects and am tyed and supported to none and by none of them though briars and thorns be with me and I dwell among Scorpions Ezek. 2.6 yet worthy Master Vicar I am so far from being dismay'd at your and your Bishop's supercilious looks that I will make bold here with the help of God's Spirit not only to answer you in very different terms from those who seeking for praise and applause from other men endeavour to please all men and take care to displease none but to try both your Spirit and of your Lords Spiritual who by their approbation of your Doctrine of Spirits give me cause enough to think that they are of the same mind and to judge and to pronounce call it never so much pragmatical censuring reviling of dignities and rebelling against them that the reason and the cause why you discourse so strangely concerning the Spirit of God is because you are very great strangers to it and meer natural men still who being not able therefore to discern the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 are much less able to teach others what belongs to them Let your reason be never so well improved at your Seminaries of Learning and be you never so much guided by the clue of it they are your words pag. 15. yet except you be born again of the Holy Ghost you are without God's Kingdom John 3.5 Rom. 14.17 and therefore the mysteries thereof are nothing to you but meer Aenigma's Mark 4.11 and you can be nothing but blind leaders of the blind people that hear you There is a Spirit in man And without being Quaker Enthusiast or Fanatick and suppose I were one must men reject truth because they or the Quakers teach it I say that God's Spirit which inspires man with all knowledge and understanding is given to all Christians 1 Cor.
not so much as that the Scriptures foretold or meant any thing of it Luk. 24.25 45. John 20.9 until their understandings were opened by Christ breathing the Holy Ghost upon them v. 22. And much less therefore can we who are not only as blind and dull as the Apostles were before their second birth but never conversed with and never were taught of Christ but of such ignorant men as we are understand Christ the Gospel of his kingdom and what the Scripture teacheth better than the Apostles before the eyes of our dark minds or understandings are enlightned as theirs were by the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation for the acknowledgement of Christ Ephes 1.17 18. This is worth observation and because this very thing was denied by Esquire Boyle and some such other learned Scribblers of Divinity I think it not amiss to observe yet further that although the Apostles had seen Christ still the winds and waves cause the Fig-tree to wither and twice multiply the bread yet they were so slow of heart to understand or believe Luk. 24.25 that not only they could not do the least sign in his name but did not believe him able without taking thought or care for the bread that perisheth and for the leaven thereof Mat. 16.11 to preserve them from starving and that he calls them faithless v. 8. Mark 9.19 using these expressions almost on all occasions viz. how is it ye have no faith Mark 4.40 Are ye also like the world so without understanding ch 7 18. Mat. 15.16 perceive ye not yet neither understand Mat. 8.17 how is it that ye do not yet understand v. 21 9.32 and are so sensual and gross that you savour not the things of God but the things of men Mat. 16.23 From whence if they that heard his doctrine out of his own mouth that were constant beholders of his wonders and miracles and were to be what they did become since great and chief men among the true believers could understand no better until they had received the gift of the holy Ghost the things which they saw and heard what reason have we to think that they who are born nay bred at the Universities like the Colt of a wild Ass Job 11.12 do believe and understand the same things better than they when they can no more than they Mark 9.19 do the least Christian virtue and relish the things of God so much as to deny their vile passions in the least Mat. 16.24 and leave upon the account of his promise Mark 10.30 Houses Lands Country Parents and Children for his sake and the Gospels for who among the present Preachers of the English Church doth leave and venture even the uncertain hope he hath of a mean settlement here to go and preach the Gospel not in Turky or in Spain as Tillotson doth object to some that dissent from him but in Carolina Virginia and New-Jersey where they may do it without danger and find more hearers ready prepared for them and willing to allow something for their subsistence than some of those great many who flock from all parts of the Country to London as the best Market-place to make merchandize of their Sermons and Souls of men in Rev. 18.13 Gal. 4.17 do meet with in many years And if for saying these things some of them should say to me as the Lawyers said to Christ Luk. 11.45 thou reproachest us also let them shew me by their deeds Act. 19.18 how much they believe better than the said spectators of Christ his works of wonders John 10.38 that they need not to take thought for what they shall eat or drink and that Christ would be as good as his word if they did but seek first the kingdom of God Mat. 6.31 33. for God is no accepter of persons and of parties and whoever doth those things is no more excusable than they whom my discourse is chiefly intended against Nay let them shew me that Sect which is not as ready as those Beholders of Christ Mark 9.38 to forbid true believers to shew by their acts of Faith that they do truly believe except they follow that is become of one Sect with them and receive from them the same token and name of the Beast Rev. 13.16 17. Therefore this understanding knowledge and belief on Christ being not obtained by the strength of wit and learning nor from the Scriptures alone even when preached by Christ himself to the Apostles but by the help of the light of the holy Spirit of God which is his free gift Mat. 13.11 John 6.65 how say the Vicar and Hales that all Preachers have a great necessity of Learning and that otherwise than out of the Apostles and other holy mens Books the Spirit speaks not to men Now to return to the main subject in hand it appears from the manner of working of the extraordinary Spirit in the Apostles that all Christian believers do feel the same in themselves and that it is no more than what they may pretend to even the Bishops themselves or Vicars being Judges for they say pag. 13. that whenever any man experiences the genuine operation of the ordinary Spirit under the Gospel he finds a vast alteration in the state of his mind his apprehensions of things are far different from their former selves when he was under the command of lust and prejudice he then better sees the nature of things and those several excellencies that are in them he pitches upon objects which are every way more agreeable to the delights as well as necessities of his Soul than the husks he formerly fed upon and pag. 9. they say that its business is to enlighten our dark faculties whereby we may see the beauty and excellency of those divine objects that are proposed to our understandings to strengthen our good purposes for an holy life and to excite our affections to a love agreeable c. So that even from this same description of the working of the said ordinary Spirit by Master Vicar which makes it almost the same as that which I have shewed was seen in the Apostles it follows that the same extraordinary Spirit the Apostles had is found in all Believers and that therefore in respect of them that believe in Christ it is but ordinary and so that the distinction of an ordinary and extraordinary Spirit among Believers as not grounded in Scripture is erroneous and false and an old Sophism hammer'd even from the time of 1 John 4.3 in the shop of Antichrist who denies the coming of Christ by the Holy Ghost to us whilst yet in the fiesh binding the strong influence of it in the believers or limiting its power to the measure of his own Spirit which is not so great v. 4. giving out that any but the same he hath is ceased and thus by reducing the mighty Spirit some have to the level of his own mean ordinary Spirit doth to the withstanding of the kingdom of Heaven Act. 11.17 which
THE ETERNAL GOSPEL Once more Testified unto and Vindicated Against the Ignorance or Malice of the Bishops and Teachers of the now Church of England This Book proving against their Doctrine That the Holy Ghost is not ceased but is still given to all the Faithful and to some in the same measure as the Apostles and Disciples of Christ had it Also at the occasion of a late Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Bishop of London by the Vicar of West-ham that Miracles and other gifts and works of the Holy Ghost are not ceased in the Church and that the School-Learning helps no man to understand Scripture and the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven nor the knowledge of Nature where by the way the true cause of the so much perplexed and famous Phoenomenon taken for a Weather-glass is by Experiments cleared and demonstrated against the Hypothesis of the New Virtuosi John 5.44 12.43 Luk. 7.35 How can they believe who seek for the honour of one another and love the praise of men more than that which comes from God But wisdom is justified or known of all her Children LONDON Printed for Allen Banks and are to be sold by most Booksellers in London 1681. HAving received this Book from the Author in order to its Printing I do hereby appoint Allen Banks to print the same Witness my Hand HENRY SCARLOT TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS JAMES Duke of YORK Patroni valeant Ecquis proteggere Verum Luci aut optatae fautor adesse potest Qui Lux qui Verum est qui Verum in saecula servat I liber ille tuus nempe Patronus erit THis is not therefore Great Sir to beg your Patronage for this Book nor for my self but rather to direct you to the Light of salvation Luk. 1.17 and to make it shine to you 2 Cor. 4.4 lest you lose here your Earthly and after your Heavenly Kingdom for lack of knowledge Hos 4.6 for though I seem angry with some men for Religion I am so far from hating a man for his Religion that I look upon him as he whom the Son of man came to save Mat. 18.11 a fit object of my love and charity and as a wounded man who needs me that am neither Priest Minister nor Levite for his Friend Luk. 10.30 37. and Physician Mat. 9.12 And therefore I am so much farther from being concern'd against Your Highness for yours with the Epidemical distemper though it wants not a President in Scripture 2 Kings 3.13 14. that Your Highness is one of the powers of this Land whom I am bound to honour and that for the Oath of God Rom. 13.1 2. Eccl. 8.2 and that looking upon you not only as a wounded but as such wounded man who though fallen unhappily into the hands of those Thieves John 10.1 20.21 22. that are stripping Your Highness both of the Triple Earthly Crown you might else enjoy one day and of your chiefest Kingly Heavenly Prerogative the Holy Unction whereby Christ makes all those Kings indeed Prov. 16.32 25.28 that do obey his commands Rev. 1.6 Exod. 19.5 6. may not only recover but be a great instrument to promote Gods Spiritual Kingdom and therefore as such Dan. 12.3 deserve one the first Thrones and Crowns among the twelve Tribes of Israel in Heaven Luk. 13.30 7.43 47. I tender your safety more than that of any man wishing with all my heart that like the Samaritan I might pour Oyl and Wine into your Highness's wounds set you on my Beast bring you to an Inn your Throne and thence to an everlasting Kingdom where may your Highness reign for evermore Amen But how can I do this except you own and believe that you are wounded and sick and how can you believe it except you come to know it and how shall you come to know except one doth shew it you and except you attend to the things that shall be shewed Act. 16.14 Rom. 10.14 15 17. If you will be pleased therefore to peruse this Book it shews you and you may easily gather from it that all men generally Christians as well as Gentiles are by birth bruised and sick Gen. 3.15 Rom. 3.23 1. Cor. 11.7 that the way to recover from the said sickness and bruise and to become whole again as to the Kingdom of God which is in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 being by the said new birth of the Holy Ghost who is then renewed within them Tit. 3.5 all men must to be saved be thus regenerated and receive the Holy Ghost therefore as well and as much as the Primitive Christians and that the said renewing or new birth of the Spirit being a reformation to the same Image of God Adam was created to which doth consist in knowledge Coloss 3.10 as well as in righteousness Ephes 4.24 the Spirit of the Father that doth create us anew to his Image and likeness teaching all things John 14.26 16.13 1 John 2.20 27. 1 Cor. 2.10 as well as he is the power of Christ Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 Gods arm revealed to us and the bloud of the Lamb whereby sin is overcome and righteousness fulfilled Rev. 12.11 is inconsistent therefore with a despondent relying on other men for what we are to know to believe and to practise and is not attained to by a change or conversion from Popery for instance to another Religion which knows Christ as much after the flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 worships the Father as little in spirit and truth John 4.24 aâ—â— grieves the Holy Spirit no less than the Popish Church and which under the pretence of Reforming makes a Schism which is a far greater sin than to bear with some few erroneous opinions but by a true conversion from sin to righteousness by knocking and by waiting at the posts of Wisdoms doors Prov. 8.34 Jam. 1.5 by perusing daily and keeping diligently the precepts of that wisdom contained in the Scriptures in vitam lucem assurgendo our selves For such conversion is to know me saith the Lord Jer. 22.16 9.3 and such knowledge of God is saith Christ John 17.3 life Eternal Verily such knowledge and not an implicite Faith is both Salvation it self and the cause of Temporal and Worldly felicity for when a man meditates daily in the Law of God and observeth to do according to all the words that are written therein he makes his way prosperous and successful in all things Josh 1.8 Deut. 28.1 to 14. and when his ways please the Lord even the worst Enemies he hath are at peace with him Prov. 16.7 But Sir as such knowledge is our summum bonum both in this and the next World so extremum malum est non recognoscere Deum in the said manner for though God for a great while winketh at this ignorance Act. 17.30 yet he will be known at last and felt specially of those that either forget to know or having the means offer'd to know him do neglect them see Judg. 2.10 11 14. And the Egyptians
for then not only the gift of Miracles to which and to their skill in Humane Learning got without Education he seems chiefly to confine the Apostolical gift but all other gifts also which do infallibly wait upon that of the Spirit such as wisdom and knowledge 1 Cor. 12.8 are removed and taken away from that Sect in God's wrath Revel 2.5 rather than wisdom as the wise Vicar measuring it by his own shallow brains and dull fancy as shall be shewed in its place saith God did suspend the same that Church becomes desolate and remains according to the Prophecy of Daniel 9.27 and the construction thereof by St. Matthew 24.15 and St. Luke 21.20 compassed instead of Christ's presence by the Holy Ghost with abominable armies and companies of Church-men Only as there are divers administrations and gifts of the same Divine Spirit 1 Cor 12.4 6. such as wisdom and knowledge faith healing miracles tongues prophecy and discerning of Spirits which are not all to be found in one member or Paul is much mistaken v. 6 29 30. so I must here further declare for Master Vicar and all his fellow Watchmen that though one man doth not do all the same operations that all the Apostles did yet if he doth some of them he may pretend to the same Spirit the Apostles had for if the ear shall say because I am not the eye I am not of the body is it not of it therefore v. 16. that is if he that hath but the discerning of Spirits should say because I am not a Teacher or a Prophet I have none of the same extraordinary Spirit as the Prophets have hath he not therefore been made to drink of the same Spirit v. 13. for if the whole spiritual body were prophecy where were the gift of knowledge and discerning of Spirits v. 17. and if they were all Prophets or all workers of Miracles where were the several members and operations that constitute or make up the said spiritual body v. 19. Thus do I from St. Paul speak here for Master Vicar and will yet further instance St. Paul a chief Apostle Gal. 2.6 7. during the time of whose preaching and stay at Antioch arrived certain Prophets one of which did prophesie that there should be a great dearth or famine throughout the World Act. 11.26 27 28. to whom the Disciples who were doubtless directed by Paul and by Barnabas gave credit and Paul himself though he had a greater gift of the Spirit did not say or object that he wondred that his inferiour should have this thing revealed to him when he knew nothing of it And elsewhere that same Prophet foretold Paul what Paul himself foresaw not in his own case Act. 21.10 or he had what he did not foreseen that he had been set at liberty if he had not appealed to Caesar Act. 25.26 26.31 32. to wit that he should be taken at Jerusalem and thus saith the Holy Ghost said then that certain Prophet for so the Scripture calls him ch 21.11 Whence I ask the Vicar since St. Paul could pretend to as good a share at least of the same holy Spirit as that certain Prophet did why did not the Holy Ghost reveal the same things to him Because though he had knowledge and understood mysteries as he was an Apostle yet he was not a Prophet for are all Prophets saith he 1 Cor. 12.29 30. are all workers of Miracles as all are not Apostles v. 28. so I cannot work all the said other gifts in me it being God alone that doth work them all and note in all and not in one man v. 6. Likewise I ask if he that hath the gift to discern the Spirit of the Vicar and some portion of knowledge hath not the gift of Miracles hath he not therefore the same Spirit as the Apostles But what say you Vicar to what Paul himself doth stile yet a more excellent way than Miracles and Prophecy and the best of the said gifts viz. Charity v. 31. 13.2 is that ceased in your Church I dare say you are not willing to acknowledge it and so like the Chief Priests Mat. 21.25 26. you are hedg'd in on both sides for if you say that this more extraordinary gift is not ceased in the Church neither by your Argument are the other gifts also which are counted by St. Paul not so excellent as this ceased as you teach from it and if you say that it is ceased there then judge whether you are still a faithful Church for do they believe in Christ that omit one of the first and chiefest of his precepts Mat. 22.39 John 13.34 1 John 3.11 and take quite another way than that which he hath shewed them And this last your Argument that he must do the same things who pretends to the same Spirit the Apostles had proves further or you must yield that it is of no force and validity at all which dilemma as likewise the other your great Learning could not foresee and prevent your being now put to them for the Apostles were sent to do what Signs and Miracles No sure but to preach and win or gain Souls by teaching them the way to their conversion 1 Cor. 9.19 Mat. 28.19 Mark 16.15 This they did in all places but preached in many places nay they convinced many and Dionysius himself and established Churches without working of Miracles as may be seen by their Acts and their Miracles were not always wrought to convince the gainsayers of the Faith which you say was the reason and the occasion of them since they wrought them sometimes in their private Meetings by night amongst the faithful as for instance at Troas Act. 20.7 8 9 10. Now you will grant that it is incumbent upon the Church to preach exhort and win Souls 2 Tim. 4.12 and you pretend you do it so that if you do it not you are not a faithful Church but burthensom hypocrites inutilia hujus pondera terrae and if you do it you do the works of the Apostles therefore by your Argument have the same Spirit they had and so it is not ceased but it is your Argument that ceaseth to be in force if that can be said to cease which had never any true existence but in a false and erroneous fancy He that winneth Souls is wise Prov. 11.30 Dan. 12.3 wisdom is by Paul counted the first gift of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.8 31. If therefore you win some Souls as it is pretended that some of your number do or else what reason is there why you should be imposed upon a Christian Nation as necessary to them have you not a greater gift of the Spirit than Miracles which are according to Paul v. 29. but the fourth in order and do you not do a greater thing than Miracles and so as great a thing as any of the Apostles He that hath as much faith as a grain of Mustard-seed may do all wonders Mat. 17.20 and yet witness Paul 1
ch 8.3 9.29 Signs being besides to wait only on them that believe Mark 16.17 and to follow their belief of the Word to confirm it v. 20. the word confirming used by Mark importing some kind of precedent believing for there must be some belief before we can suppose a need of confirmation and so the adulterous and perverse generation may seek long enough for signs and yet have none given them but the sign of a Prophet which what it is let them that read understand if they can and what I mean by it for truly when men have an evil prejudiced eye like the old seekers of signs and lack some understanding to pass a righteous judgment and to discern the Spirit of a man by his knowledge and to believe at his words John 4.41 uttered by God's Spirit Act. 2.4 neither would they believe if one arose from the dead Luk. 16.31 and did work al the wonders they should require of him This is plain from the hardness of heart of the Aegyptians Exod. 7.11 12. from the blindness of the Jews John 10.24 25 26. 12.37 and from the blasphemous madness of the Pharisees Mat. 12.24 notwithstanding the wonders they saw by Moses and Christ. And it is evident from the stupidity wherewith this adulterous and wicked generation hath beheld the Prodigies which have of late appeared that they would look upon the wonders of Moses and Christ if one did now shew and work some of them in their presence with the same indifference that is behold and wonder Act. 13.41 and believe them supposed or false lying and insignificant wonders for who considers and looks upon the said Prodigies as the sad presagers of his approaching ruine and would no more lay the same to heart make good use of them desist from their ill courses repent and mend thereupon than Jeroboam who saw his Altar rent in pieces and his own hand dried up and afterwards restored yet returned not from his evil way that he might be destroyed from off the Earth 1 Kings 13.33 34. 1 Sam. 2.25 as are all those Kings likewise who walk in his ways that is who forget that the most high rules in the kingdom of men Dan. 4.25 and is he that gave them one not only when they had none but when all the policy friends power and interest they had could procure them none and who as though their own hand had done this great thing for them trust to their wit and cunning for the preservation of it in their Family 1 Kings 12.26 27. and think by forsaking the Author of their greatness and of their life and being in setting up a Calvish worship of God in Bethel that is a Lip-worship bodily Ceremonies and outward Formalities and Shews in the House of God they strengthen themselves mainly and secure to themselves the quiet possession of their Kingdom for ever against all future revolts But the God against whom there is no counsel and wit Prov. 21.30 and who judgeth in the earth Psal 58.11 laughs at their wise contrivance and warns them by Prodigies that his hand is stretched out and ready to strike at them and tells them before he strikes 1 Kings 16.2 3. For as much as I exalted thee out of the dust and made thee Prince over my people and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam and hast made my people to sin and given them great offence behold I take away thee and thy posterity and I will make thy house like that of Jeroboam which God who turneth the hearts of Princes as he pleaseth avert in his great mercy from some Princes in the World And therefore should the wisdom of God quae nihil agit frustra as is confessed and doth not shew her wonders to gratifie the humour of unbelieving scorners Prov. 3.34 but the wishes and prayers of some lowly humble and meek as those of Hezekiah Isa 38.22 7 8. of Gideon Judg. 6.17 37 39. and others that believed what she said and to make known God's power and his name throughout the earth Exod. 9.16 John 9.3 work Miracles at the demand of such unbelieving and perverse generation it were to their destruction â—uk 11.50 which the goodness and patience of God and the love they that believe have for their Neighbour keep God and the believers Spirit from bringing to pass and from executing yet Judgment upon a Nation For which cause Christ who was come to save not to destroy men Luk. 9.56 being the dumb Lamb of God that did not strive nor open his mouth and utter his voice Mat. 12.19 Act. 8.32 like Moses Numb 16.15 and Elijah 2 Kings 1.10 12. went always away from such as Mat. 16.4 21.17 Mark 8.13 lest by their too long tempting and playing the fool with God his holy Spirit had been so grieved and provoked as to stir up the principle of wrath to devour them From whence observe that the end and occasion of Miracles is not the conviction of the gainsayers of the Faith as our worthy Vicar not only takes for granted but urgeth the scarceness of gainsayers by the Gospel becoming a National Religion in most Countries for an argument of the cessation of all Miracles seeing they are wrought first to confirm the believing of the Word to establish and encourage believers to continue in the Faith when they have once received it and secondly to punish the scorners and opposers them that seek to turn away those that are prepared for Salvation from the Faith them that blaspheme the Name of God and that contribute to the dishonour of it as from Elymas Act. 13.8 10. the two Captains of fifty 2 Kings 1.10 12. Gehazi ch 5.22 Ananias and Saphira may be learned Thirdly that the power or name and glory of God may be declared and known among men throughout the Earth To which it may be added that they serve to keep in awe many men Act. 2.43 as Gamaliel ch 5.39 from fighting or declaring for them that fight against God And truly because Miracles have often been are and shall still be done by deceivers Exod. 7.11 22. 8.7 Mark 13.22 2 Thess 2.9 Revel 13.13 they are no full evidence of a true mission from God nor convincing proofs of the truth of the doctrine set forth by him that shews a wonder and works some Miracles for it though the Vicar saith they are pag. 6. For not only we are not if we believe Christ's advice Mark 13.21 to believe what he teacheth but we are to judge of his mission and of the virtue whereby he works his Miracles by the doctrine he preacheth and to set our reason and the knowledge which we should have of God's will and commands above the authority of all his signs and wonders Deut. 13.3 and if his doctrine be found like that of Master Vicar contrary to the Divine contained in the Scriptures he was for all his Miracles by the Law of Moses before Christ came to save what was lost to be put to
12.7 to guide them into all truth so that fearching by the Light of this Spirit even the deep and hidden things of God ch 2. 10. Rom. 1.20 and growing in grace by it they may * Note that the English Translation of this place of 1 John 2.20 which reads you shall know all things is false for the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not you shall know but having known you know still for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used instead of the Present Tense as the Latin Verb Nâ—vi know John 14.26 1 John 2.20 27. and do all things Mark 9.23 Phil. 4.13 and thus being taught of God John 6.45 need not that any man teach them But the Question is Whether this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Unction the Holy Ghost be given to all true Believers or good Christians as unto the Apostles For that it is given to them all in some measure their very name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English anointed ones and being made Kings and Priests Revel 1.6 5.10 they must needs be anointed shews and that they partake of the true Oyl of gladness with the Messiah or Christ called so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by reason that he had not the Spirit like the other anointed ones by measure John 3.34 Hebr. 1.9 for both Christ and Messiah signifie the anointed and not the Faithful only but all men Jews and Gentiles partake of the Holy Ghost a certain portion of it being distributed to every man living and allowed to all mankind as appeareth 1. Because Christ by the Light of his Spirit enlightneth every man that cometh into the World John 1.9 and not the Faithful only 2. Then from the spiraculum breathed into man's nostrils Gen. 2.7 being still since Adam lost the Holy Ghost by his Fall to the days of Solomon and likewise in our days the Lamp of the Lord in man Prov. 20.27 3. Next from the reason given by him who is perfect in knowledge the most wise God Gen. 9.6 why man should not shed man's bloud to wit because he is made after the image of God which shews that man had not yet quite lost the image of God for if he had this reason had ceased at the same time and as being of no force God had not made use of it therefore hath some of it still for we find no where that since Noah's time he hath lost it And this Image consisting in the Spirit of promise for by the receit of it men are according to the promise made to Abraham of their being restored or renewed to the same Image of God Adam had which all are fallen short from Rom. 3.23 God's promise to Abraham being but the same as that which he had made to Adam presently after his loss Gen. 3.15 which what is it else but a bruising of what made him creep a rising from the beastly dark state he was fallen into and so a recovery from his said sickness and loss created a new saith Paul Eph. 4.24 Colos 3.10 after the image of God Acts 2.33 38 39. Tit. 3.5 6. Heb. 11.39 40. since man hath still some portion of the said Image left him he hath likewise some relicks of the said Holy Spirit which forms and constitutes it as from the words renewing and newness of the Spirit frequently used by Paul as Rom. 7.6 12.2 Tit. 3 5. upon this account may further be understood 4. Again The kingdom of God being like unto a man travelling from his Estate into some remote Country who delivered to his Servants his goods or good gifts Mat. 25.14 that is the Holy Spirit confer Mat. 7.11 with Luk. 11.13 it follows that God giveth his Spirit to all mankind for all men are God's Servants the being Lord and Master and the Holy Ghost is saith Paul alluding to this 1 Cor. 12.7 given to every man to trade use and improve him for his own best advantage 5. Lastly The Kingdom of God which is within man Luk. 17.21 being like leaven put into meal Mat. 13.33 a thing of the same nature but so heavy of it self that it must be fermented with Leaven to become Bread it appears that though all men have with Adam lost some part and note well come short only Rom. 3.23 of the whole Image of God 1 Cor. 11.7 yet all men some more some less and not only those few that are born of the Spirit have still remaining in them some old ruinous fragments or a certain smoaking Flax which is of the same nature as the Spirit of promise which renews and reforms man but which was not given till Christ was glorified John 7.39 Quicquid in hominibus saith the thrice great and learned Author of the Pymander videt audit verbum Domini that is to say is from the Word of wisdom or Spirit of the great God 1 Cor. 12.8 Neither do any of the Christian Sects I know of deny the said allowance of the Spirit to themselves though some exclude other men such as the Jews and Heathen And Master Vicar himself is so far from denying and arguing against it that he makes it his business by a new distinction of an extraordinary and ordinary Spirit to shew that though the former is ceased as he disputes yet the Christian Church always receives and hath the latter of the two continued His words are these pag. 6. viz. The Apostles extraordinary Spirit continued more or less about 400 years in God's Church and men wrought Miracles and thereby convinced Gainsayers though about that time they were not so numerous and plentiful as they were before and the reason was because there was no such need of them and a little after they ceased For when the occasion and reason of working Miracles ceased as Kings proving Nursing-Fathers to the Church the Gospel being a National Religion in most Countries then God in his wisdom suspended that great and mighty power wherewith he had accompanied good men before Therefore men are now to look for no other Spirit but what is necessary for their needs as they are Christians Having said pag. 4. that the Primitive Christians stood in need as Apostles of their extraordinary Spirit upon the account of both the Jews and Gentiles there being great reason that such as were the immediate Instruments of so great an undertaking as making void a Law to wit the Law of Moses which had been settled by God and convincing the prejudiced Gentiles of the truth of their persons as well as of their doctrine should have a proportionable commission and strength to do it with Alas adds he pag. 5. had it not been for this the Gospel would have been nipp'd in its first budding forth and it would have been a downright impossibility for so great a part of the World to have been imposed upon by such a company of illiterate persons as the Apostles before the descent of the Holy Ghost were Can you imagine that such learned men as Dionysius and
vero illuc commeantibus invicem commixtis fatalem suam sortem quodque complet Divina namque mens edocuit sua opera imitari licet quae imitantur ignorent And one of the old Divines after he had observed the ballancing of the clouds the wonderful works of him that is perfect in knowledge Psal 104.9 Job 37.16 and the proportion God's works stand in against each other Eccl. 42.25 teacheth our Reverend a more dutiful Lesson Psal 104.24 O Seigneur Dieu que tes oeuvres divers Sont merveilleux par le monde univers O que tu as tout fait par grand ' sagesse La terre en est pleine de ta largesse Which wisdom the wise Worldlings who see not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much less 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 3.12 cannot see and justifie Mat. 11.19 1 Cor. 2.8 and so give glory for it like David who understood it well Psal 92.5 to the most wise God Rom. 1.21 They that regard not the works of the Lord neither consider the operation of his hands Isa 5.12 do scarce think that his wisdom which hath dispenced all things by weight number and measure and made all things to stand in order and proportion is so palpable and visible in particular effects and vulgar Phoenomena as that the rising of the Column no higher than to its ordinary station should be referred to it Having seen how far your great School-learning hath brought you on your way towards the knowledge of what is done upon Earth as it were before your eyes and it appearing also from what hath been said before that it brings you no further towards the believing and knowledge of what Christ calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is true Christian Divinity it were not amiss to see and examine how much good Metaphysick and Logick and the like parts of your School-breeding hath done and doth you towards the Preaching of Christ But lest this discourse should swell to a greater bulk than that I at first intended I do referr this to the consideration of all rational Teachers and all true Authors of Books appealing even to Boyle and to Wallis himself and Stillingfleet and others University-Pillars and great Princes of their Sect for the use they make of them and for the good these do them in composing their Sermons and Books of Divinity And affirm that if they had tarried to write until their skill in Metaphysicks had supplied them with method and matter enough for it and not altogether made use of Commentaries and of their own natural parts sense and reason and wit they had not yet to this hour finished one single-sheet Nay if the best Logicians when they dispute in the Schools and have emptied their Quiver of the Syllogisms they had prepared in their Study did not laying by their rules flee for help to common sence and to what their Experience and their Reason suggests them they could scarce make up the hour which they are to dispute in and much less make a whole Book that would take up two or three days time or more to read it by those their rules of Logick which among all the Scholars I have seen and asked no man was the better for towards the apprehending and the deciding of any controverted truth when from the contemplative part of his tedious Learning he passed to the practice thus being ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth 2 Tim. 3.7 Besides what use can you make of what is so defective that it is not only slighted but quite rejected by some of the greatest Masters of your School-learning as for instance by Ramus and his Tribe by Telesius Campanella Verancius the Lord Bacon and others who do utterly condemn Aristotle's Metaphysicks tanquam farraginem quandam massam inconditam doctrinae ex Theologia Naturali Physicae parte de anima congestam sublimitate quadam Sermonis turgentem saith the Lord Bacon and that ex contrariis sententiis contexta tam obscuris tenebris obruta sit ut nec Daedalus quispiam ejus methodum reperire possit saith Verancius adding excutiamus ergo ex mentibus nostris hanc male conceptam ut quae nusquam est chimaeram The like may be said of your Logick and à Logica libera nos Domine saith Austin And for Ethicks such as they are taught by you and practiced amongst you such is the advantage and benefit got thereby that all illiterate men may rather say the Lord have mercy upon the Masters and Scholars that study them than wish for the benefit they think to receive by them Verily said an Author the doctrine of the School-men hath allayed and perverted even the desire of knowledge which God hath planted in man and the many distinctions and divisions translated from thence to Divinity hath set all Christendom on fire violated the peace of many Kingdoms and occasioned more Sects or parties in Religion than there are opinions and Sects in Philosophy Which is the good it hath done and is like to do so long as it shall be preached for and so much encouraged The erecting and founding of all Universities and Colledges for Learning is from a Heathen principle and begun in Christendom at the decay and for want of the true knowledge of God Now this and the like wisdom to that of our Sages being all the advantage that the School and Scholarship of those who are look'd upon as great Masters in Learning affords us and produceth what good are we to expect from the same for our selves And since they are forced to lay aside their Learning and to apply themselves to the use of common sence and of natural reason in debating and handling a Philosophical and Divinity matter what reason hath any man of sence though illiterate to despond of his own strength and to relye upon them because they are Scholars and have taken their Degrees in the University for the right understanding of what he is to believe and for the explication of any place of Scripture And since they who own themselves to be capacitated for Preaching with nothing else or very little more than the said Humane Learning make little or no use of it in composing their Sermons and Books of Divinity for stuffing of a Sermon with the various readings of some original word and the divers opinions of the Authors on a Text as some of their Learned do ministring rather questions scruples and controversies than a satisfactory and godly edifying 1 Tim. 1.4 which is found in the bare exposition and knowledge of the meaning of the Text is not of any use towards sound Gospel-preaching and so is not a use made of it towards true Preaching what reason have they to think that the Apostles of Christ who they grant had somewhat else than the said ordinary Spirit and Humane Learning have been necessitated to use it in their Preaching Alas it is not by much Learning and by
reading more learned Books than another that we know better than he Christ and the sence of Scripture And though we be like St. Paul and like Nicodemus Masters in literature brought up in Divinity skill'd in the Law and Gospel for Paul being well versed in the controversies of his time and very deep engaged against Christians Act. 22.4 26.9 cannot rationally be supposed more ignorant of the Gospel-doctrine before he was converted than all the Lip-Christians are yet until it pleaseth God to reveal his Son in us as in him Gal. 1.16 we are as far as he was to seek in the true meaning of the said doctrine of Christ and as much in the dark as to his saving knowledge until it be given us to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven a Turk a Jew a Heathen that can read the Old and New Testament and we Christians understand Christ all alike Mat. 13.11 until he that hath the key of David opens Scriptures no man saith he Rev. 3.7 openeth them till the Son of God doth come and give us understanding to know him by 1 John 5.20 the Scriptures speak unto us in Parables Mark 4.11 and are not capable alone without the other witness that testifieth of Christ John 15.26 to suggest us any true and real knowledge of him till the Comforter doth bring whatsoever Christ hath said unto our remembrance John 14.26 we neither see in seeing nor understand in reading what we read concerning him Act. 8.30 31. The Scriptures are unto us a Parable every where Jo. 16.25 and like an imperfect Tale and full of contradictions 1 Cor. 2.14 which we believe no better though the Lip-Christians perswade themselves to the contrary than the Turks the Jews the Heathen and all those Sects which we count erroneous and the worst of all Christians Mat. 13.13 And the Scriptures are to us like the Book of the Law lost in the days of Amon and Josiah 2 Kings 22.8 historicè understood and believed but neither their full contents nor the depth of their meaning better known than they were then for as the Jews did not think but that the Law was fully known and duly satisfied by the few Ceremonies and Shews performed all those days wherein the Book was not found and what it contained perused and considered of yet after they had found it and read it attentively they perceived otherwise v. 11. so we fancy that we are by learning some few notions out of our Catechism and hearing a Chapter read and a Sermon preached or repeated now and then well informed of the drift and true meaning of Scripture and are fully instructed and made wise to Salvation but when we begin once to mind what we read of them in hearing to understand and in seeing to perceive what we hear and see therein our eyes which like those of the blind man of Bethsaida Mark 8.22 did first but spy out or see some few things confusedly v. 24 are restored v. 25. and we do then become sensible indeed of our past ignorance when we find in the Field of Scripture the hidden treasure Mat. 13.44 the old things of the Vicar pag. 9. which yet are all new to us when we come to perceive them thus being both new and old v. 52. which our eyes like Agars Gen. 21.19 were held from seeing before though we had read the same place over and over often learned without-book and have of it a full remembrance He that hath ears to hear or understand let him hear needed not to have been said and proclaimed so often if the sence were plain to all and all the men that can hear and understand were capable to understand the meaning of what the Scripture saith there Many great Prophets and Kings have desired to hear what the disciples of Christ hear and have not heard it saith Christ Luk. 10.24 and shall they that are not made Kings and Priests with the Unction of Christ the only Master perceive and understand it God manifest in the flesh is without controversie so great and deep mystery 1 Tim. 3.16 that none but the Spirit of God which searcheth all things 1 Cor. 2.10 can justifie that is know and acknowledge this wisdom hidden in a mystery which none of the Princes of this world did ever know but those only whose Faith doth stand in the power of God v. 5 7 8. and that are like St. Stephen Act. 6.8 7.55 perfect and full of Spirit Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor heart of man conceived this hidden wisdom of God which the Angels themselves desire to pry into 1 Pet. 1.12 but God reveals them unto the faithful by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 I will get me unto the great men and speak with them saith Jeremy for all times ch 5.5 for they have known the way and the judgment of the Lord but they have altogether broken the yoke burst the bonds they steal every one my word from his neighbours books ch 23.30 and seek honour and applause so that they cannot believe and the knowledge of Christ is not manifest to them John 14.21 23. and so they cannot make it manifest to other men as I have said before The true and the only way to have it manifested is to become humble and meek Luk. 18 17. Mat. 18.3 and to be born of water with the tears of repentance John 1.31 3.5 Luk. 3.3 confessing and forsaking the sins past Prov. 28.13 like Zacheus Luk. 19.8 and then doing righteousness we shall be accepted of with God like Cornelius Act. 10.35 44. God will love us John 14.23 and meet us Isa 64.5 and make himself manifest by the understanding he will give us 1 John 5.20 unto us whilst he is neither known nor perceived of the world John 14.22 The meek will he guide in judgment and the meek or lowly in heart will he teach his way Psal 25.9 Verily the first entrance or initiation into the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven begins at the singleness of eye and humility usual to a little child who is not self-conceited nor pre-possess'd with any prejudice and opinions but receives what he is taught and endeavours both to learn and to understand it well without murmuring at it and arguing against it and deriding his Teachers as the proud Pharisees did for as by Pride Adam fell from knowledge and righteousness which two the Image of God or the Heavenly kingdom doth saith St. Paul Ephes 4.24 Coloss 3.10 consist in so by Pride men continue fallen think to be as Gods taking upon themselves to judge both good and evil Gen. 3.5 not owning their ignorance and do not embrace the contrary way to Pride which is the beginning of their rising up again And as all men are fallen short of the Image of God Rom. 3.23 1 Cor. 11.7 and are all guilty of pride prejudice and self-conceit as it may be gathered from the aversion all men the highest and the lowest from the most learned
Doctor to the silliest Country child shew against all other Sects and against the Traditions which they do not hold themselves as not to hear Truth it self if one of a dissenting party from them shew it them being fully perswaded though without ever so much as calling into question whether it be so or not that they are in the right way and that all wander out of the right way but themselves so all that will be saved or rise again from the fall or death Adam died of above 900 years before his temporal death Gen. 2.17 5.5 must come in through this entry I mean through singleness of heart and humility For did any of the proud Pharisees believe in Christ John 7.48 whilst the more humble vulgar that pretends to no learning heard him gladly saith St. Mark 12.37 and received him readily Luk. 19.6 The poor and humble vulgar is nearer the kingdom of God than the most learned Mat. 5.3 by the mouth of Babes Gods praise is still perfected Mat. 21.16 Blessed be thy Name O Lord that thou dost reveal thy Truth to none but such as receive the same like little Babes Mat. 11.25 Certainly Pride and the School-learning which puffs up with Pride 1 Cor. 8.1 is and ever was the cause of general and private Jewish Romish and English Protestant Apostacy Out of pride Angels and man fell from Heaven into Hell which is in outer darkness whereas the inheritance of Saints in the light Coloss 1.12 within Luk. 17.21 doth begin from a single eye Mat. 6.22 and out of pride Clergy-men are the first in all Ages and among all parties that reject and make others reject the counsel of God and it is to be observed that upon this same account the Clergy is the Author and hath ever been Author of all the persecutions that have been for Religion Act. 13.8 44 45. Lam. 4.13 as it was typified by Levi slaying Hamor and Shechem with all their men on no other pretence but why should he deal with our Sister that is our Church as though she were a Harlot Gen. 34.31 Which the Protestant Levi brother in iniquity to the old Christian Levi that is the Popish Clergy is upon the same account as ready to act likewise that is to slay any man that makes so bold as to shew that their Church is a Harlot and to speak against that which ever made the Priests heart glad Judg. 18.18 20. Indeed not immediately no more than Levi their type but like the Pharisees who did not set upon Christ at first sight to destroy him whence the people thought him mad when he did because he knew the hearts of the Pharisees and foresaw what the pride thereof would drive them into John 2.25 tax them for it long before they went about to do it John 7.19 20. by degrees as by calling him first the worst of Christians the Agent of the Devil a Fool an Enthusiast and if they cannot answer what he saith a Blasphemer a Beelzebub Mat. 10.25 and at last persecute him openly which is what I look for at their hands when they know me Neither is the said knowledge of Christ and how to preach him to be learned out of Books as from the testimony of the Word of Prophecy from the relation of Paul Luke Matthew or from reasons or arguments drawn from thence by one man for another but as in the dark only they serving us but until the bright and the morning Star and the Sun of Righteousness the holy Spirit of Christ that testifieth of him John 15.26 5.32 and that teacheth men all things dawns and shines in our hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 for when that Sun is risen upon earthly-minded Souls they enter into Zoar Gen. 19.23 the turning of the Anger and the beginning of the Love of God shed in their hearts by the Spirit of knowledge Rom. 5.5 knowing Christ then not because of the words of other men but by reason that themselves have also within themselves the same teacher others had which by enlightning their minds doth perswade and convince them by the same reasons he did suggest to those other men that he is indeed the Christ and the Saviour of the World John 4.24 Otherwise unto this day when Christ or Moses is read a vail is upon their hearts which is not taken away but by a true conversion unto the Lord the Spirit by the which we are changed from glory and from knowledge to glory and to knowledge into the glorious Image of God in knowledge Coloss 3.10 2 Cor. 3.15 16 17 18. and if the Scripture be true no man comes to the knowledge of the Son but he to whom the Son will reveal himself Luk. 10.22 John 10 30. 14.9 The Revelation of Christ or the knowledge of Christ to be revealed to man is written unto the seven true Churches only that is to the only true members of the Church of Christ and sealed with seven seals Rev. 1.1 5.1 No man in heaven or earth but the Lamb who hath and sends the seven Spirits of God whereby he doth make us Priests that we need no more be taught of Priests being taught of God Isa 54.13 Jer. 31.34 can open or look therein Rev. 3.7 Surely the knowledge of Christ puzzleth the Angels themselves 1 Pet. 1.12 much more men who are born like the dull Colt of a wild Ass Job 11.12 and dwell in houses of clay ch 4.19 and who having never seen the Father at any time John 1.18 1 Tim. 6.16 for the world hath not known him John 17.25 cannot see or know the Son for he that hath seen the Son doth know the Father also ch 14.7 9. So that no natural man such as all the Sons of Adam are by nature as he never saw or knew the invisible Father of all things the Deity can see that is know the Son who is invisible also from the bare testimony of the holy men of God but the spiritual man only which is born of God and able therefore John 6.46 to search even the deep things of God knows the Father and his Son and understands this hidden wisdom the knowledge of them which is a great foolishness but indeed a great secret to the School-men and other learned Princes of this world 1 Cor. 2.14 John 14.7 flesh and bloud or all the skill and learning carnal men have cannot make known unto them the Son of the living God Mat. 16.17 but the Father witness those whom the Lord spake these words to viz. the Apostles themselves who though they were taught of him for when they were alone he expounded unto them all things which concerned the mysteries of his kingdom Mark 4.11 34. yet not only for some time after they had been with him Mark 7.18 but even when they had heard all that which he was to preach and teach them by word of mouth John 16.12 17.4 that is after that he was risen again from the dead far from understanding it they understood
is in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 that he may preserve his own Earthly kingdom which consists in meer beastly affections and a brutish ignorance what he can to keep from men the knowledge of their most excellent Prerogative thereby to make them sit still contented and without sense of their base despondency in the shadow of that death all men dye of with Adam from the very first moment of their life until the time of their regeneration O that Christians were but left to their reason and Scripture in matters of Religion for who is he though never so careless of his future and eternal happiness that would not be glad and strive with all his power and might to obtain the gift of that which shews and teacheth all things if he knew he might have it But woe be to you Doctors who notwithstanding your fair pretence to the contrary pag. 11. do your endeavour to keep by imposing upon them your Doctrines and Traditions from men the key of knowledge Deut. 27.18 and would scarce have allowed them any such distinction were not the existence of Gods Spirit in the Church so plainly taught in Scripture that you dare not deny it But yet a little while and you will not stick to say that both your ordinary and extraordinary Spirits are wholly ceased if the two witnesses of God viz. the Holy Ghost that testifieth of him John 15.26 5 32. and the cloud of witnesses both recorded in Scriptures and not recorded to wit those that have been and are still since the same were written having already prophesied out near their time of 1260 years hidden under their sackcloth do not prevent you quickly by standing upon their feet and killing the beast that hath so long made War against them killed and overcome them that the kingdoms of this world may at last become the Lords Rev 11.15 Obad. 21. Pray had not the Jewish Church such Spirit as you say pag. 7. is continued to Christians viz. sufficiently helpful to them suitable to their necessities and to what God required of them in order to be partakers of his blessings and did they not understand as much of their Religion and of the Messiah as you of yours and of him that is witness the place above cited out of Hales viz. that otherwise than out of the Apostles books the Spirit speaks not to you as much as was related out of the Law and of the ancient Prophets Books to them and so what doth the Spirit you pretend to amount to what greater priviledge have Christians than they by it what signifies Christ's coming and their being anointed thereby for his Kings and Priests dignities granted but to few men in the Jewish Church what signifies the promise which God made that all Nations should be blessed by the said coming of the Messiah and in short what signifies the Prophecy in your Text In the last days I will pour my Spirit on all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy viz. by it Act. 2.17 18. Now were the Apostles days more the last days than ours and were only they and their children meant here by all flesh or else are as many meant according to St. Peter v. 39. as the Lord shall ever call unto the end of the World And to see which of Peter or your Church is in the right that is which explication his or yours is Orthodox will you be pleased my Lords to be tryed here by your Peers for you will grant I hope that the Bishops of Antioch Jerusalem c. were as good men as you are and that we may as well say my Lord Paul my Lord Peter my Lord St. John and St. James Bishop Archbishop Primate Patriarch and Cardinal and Pope except you grudge them the same honour the Papists allow them who say Peter was one and chief amongst them as say my Lord of London Henry the Right Reverend Father in God to no man and to allow of their sentence out of Scripture Law as well as Peter himself and other Apostles did Act. 15.19 15 22 28. Hoping which I say first that St. John by applying the promises of Christ concerning the Holy Ghost teaching all things c. John 14.26 16 13. to all those he wrote to all Christians generally 1 John 2.20 27. shews that they do not belong to the Apostles only as Hales and you out of him pag. 10. lin 20. seem to take it for granted but to all them that believe in Christ who should as he saith John 7.39 receive the holy Spirit after Christ was glorified which should make the knowledge of all things to rise and spring like wells of living waters flowing out of their belly from their heart within themselves And it is most evident that these Promises of Christ were meant to all his disciples that is all that learn of him since he did speak to them all as appears by John 15.8 and by his new commandment given them at the same time ch 13.34 15.12 which no Christian will deny but that it doth belong to all the disciples of Christ and not to some few of them and since Christ himself declares Mark 13 3 37. that what he spake to Peter and James and John and Andrew was spoken unto all the Servants of the Son of man v. 34. and all them that are to watch And we find accordingly that not only some few great Believers in some Churches but that all the Believers and the whole Christian Churches received the Holy Ghost And first to begin at the visible descent thereof and with the first Christian Church The Apostles were no more than twelve in number and yet hundred and twenty disciples received the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost Act. 1.14 15. for as in the 14 th verse they were all with one accord and ch 2.4 all the very same disciples were fill'd with the Holy Ghost Besides v. 14 15. Peter with the eleven standing up lift up his voice and said these are not drunken meaning some others besides the eleven that standing and saying the same with him could not say these of themselves to wit as many as some had said were full of new wine v. 13. that is as many as they heard speak with new Languages which were not the twelve only as appears by ch 10.46 19.6 Again ch 2.38 repent saith he to the whole multitude of Jews that were come together to see them v. 6. and you shall receive also the gift of the â—oly Ghost out of which three thousand souls were baptized v. 41. with Spirit according to his promise as appears from that they did continue with one accord and gladness and singleness of heart v. 46. in the fellowship of the Apostles themselves v. 42. which fellowship they could not have but by the unity of the same Spirit with them 1 Cor. 6.16 17. â—phes 4.3 4. 1 John 1.6 7. Again repent ye saith he Act. 3.19 to another Assembly whereof see
with them and sit at meat in the house v. 30. so that this seeing him again and especially because he should go away must needs be meant of that sight they had on Pentecost day Act. 2.11 17. of the comforting Spirit that shewed them plainly of the Father John 16.25 and of him therefore ch 14.9 and that except Christs body went away was not to come ch 16.7 Then the other Comforter that dwelt at that time with them being to abide and stay with them for ever after ch 14.16 this seeing of Christ again ought not to be understood of the short transitory abode which he made with them between his resurrection and his ascension to God specially he being not yet another Comforter for he was not glorified with the glory which he had when he vivified all things John 17.5 Heb. 1.2 until some days afterwards which it was necessary a Comforter that is one that gives life strength and virtue and refreshment to all things note Christ is the living bread see John 6.51 should have John 16.7 and so he was still but the same that dwelt with them before he was crucified Moreover I will give to him that overcometh saith he that is alive for ever Rev. 2.28 the morning Star or the light of the Spirit arising in our hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 and he is the morning Star himself ch 22.16 20. and cometh quickly to his Bride the Soul of man which was void of her own form to wit the Image of God to impregnate or inform and make her conceive and breed and bring forth the Son of man who is the Image of God Heb. 1.3 and is formed within us Gal. 4.19 being by the Holy Ghost conceived then born of the Virgin a pure and chast Soul thus Christ being himself and effecting now himself what was at the creation of man done by the Holy Spirit breathed into man Gen. 1.27 2.7 whence Christ calls the works and fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 his own works Rev. 2.26 and thereby making himself the same with the Holy Ghost What Peter confirms saying Act. 3.19 20. when the times of refreshing shall come from the Lords presence and he sends you Jesus Christ understand to refresh them or to be their comforter In fine if we do allow that it is no robbery in the only Son of God to make himself equal with God Philip. 2.6 who is a Spirit John 4.24 we cannot without robbing him of his Divinity Coloss 1.19 2.9 and his Spiritual nature John 3.34 say that he is not the same and have a different notion and knowledge of him than of the Holy Spirit specially since he sits now on the right hand of power in the Majesty on high or is glorified again with the glory which he had with God before the World was John 17.5 and before he took the Seed of Abraham upon him As the Father hath sent me and in the same manner as I live by the Father which is done spritually so he that will live by me must eat me and receive me Heaven the heavenly Souls and not the material Heavens that shall pass away and that cannot contain him 1 Kings 8.27 is that which must receive him and where he dwels like the Sun in and through the Vegetables and the Soul in and through all the members of the body until the time that all things shall be restored again into the glorious freedom that they had before they fell under the bondage and the curse of corruption Act. 3.21 Rom. 8.21 How absurd it is to think that the Son of any man or any thing born of flesh and bloud as Christs body was John 1.14 can sit in that Majesty which belongs to God alone as Christ doth Heb. 1.3 when flesh and bloud doth not so much as come in that glory 1 Cor. 15.50 far from sitting therein in the highest place And to know after the flesh him that saves us from the flesh obtaining us eternal redemption from the body Heb. 9.12 Rom. 8.23 7.24 when we must not henceforth know him so 2 Cor. 5.16 And to worship the Image of the Father of all Spirits in the flesh John 4.24 when he is no more to be by us dealt with in the flesh John 20.17 and saith that the flesh of man otherwise his humane flesh profiteth nothing to man John 6.63 but his own true flesh and bloud which he had ab aeterno and came down in tempore from his stillness and rest his Heaven to be the bread of life unto all the World v. 51. and which is the Holy Ghost whereby he that eats the same shall live how even as Christ himself lives by the Father v. 57. which cannot be by eating and drinking of flesh and bloud and much less by transmuting his flesh in bread to eat it for bread is eaten only by the flesh and quickneth but the fleshly body alone v. 63. By transmuting I say of flesh and bloud into bread and not of bread into flesh as some who heaping non-sence upon their deep ignorance of God do by the excess of blind zeal which usually men have for idolatry most blasphemously and ridiculously hold Rom. 1.22 23 25 28. for as long as we neither see smell nor taste any flesh but still bread as well after as before the pretended miracle of transmutation it cannot be a change of bread into flesh but of flesh into that which remains bread if so be that a change of substances were effected as nothing but their bare word appears for the proof of it for the Scripture though this thing deserves better than many others to be observed takes not the least notice and makes no mention of it Secondly they cannot shew a necessity for it but rather contrariwise for what reason is there that our flesh which is death Rom. 8.6 and can never be saved 1 Cor. 15.50 and even must he destroyed 1 Cor. 6.13 and that maketh imperfect Gal. 3.3 and therefore cannot be made perfect John 17.23 1 Cor. 13.10 that is very good as man when first created Gen. 1.31 should be fed and nourished with what gives eternal life the flesh and the bloud of Christ and that this should be therefore turned into common bread for our flesh to feed on And thirdly no body yet having ever seen any flesh and bloud to become bread and that the Communion-bread was once flesh and bloud before this strange transubstantiation the miracle pretended to do it is invisible and if it be invisible it is therefore no miracle for all miracles are wrought to be seen that God may shew his power and that his name may be declared thereby among men throughout the Earth Exod. 9.16 John 9.3 and before the water was turned into bloud or wine Lots wife in Salt c. the water was by some tasted and seen and the flesh of the body of Lots wife was seen and felt Brother art thou not a fool to stand for that which is both