vers 11. that your sins be blotâ—ed out when the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord shall come and he shall send you Jesus Christ the Comforter as he doth call him elsewhere to refresh and to fill you with the joy John 15.11 and strength rising from his true power of life Next both the men and women of the Town of Samaria received the Holy Ghost Act. 8.12 16 17. Then all the Churches throughout Judea and Galilee walking in the comfort and strength of the Holy Ghost whom they must have had therefore had rest and were multiplied ch 9.31 Afterwards the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles likewise Act. 10.45 as upon Cornelius and his near Friends and Kindred v. 24. and all them that heard the Word v. 44. who magnified God and spake with new languages as well as the Apostles v. 46. here note well that St. Peter applys ch 11.16 the promise of Christ mentioned Act. 1.5 to those at whose occasion he spake viz. to the Gentiles ch 11.1 17. to confirm what he saith in ch 15.9 that no such difference as that of ordinary and extraordinary Spirit was put between them and to shew that it belongs to all the present Churches of Christians if besides that they were Gentiles heretofore when the Gospel was brought into their Native Countries they may pretend to as much priviledge as the Gentiles as they do all and to more And by course all their Churches of Antioch ch 13.52 of Ephesus ch 19.6 Ephes 2.17 18 19. 3.6 5.18 of Galatia Gal. 3.2 3 5 14. 4.6 7. 5.5 16 25. Corinthus 1 Cor. 6.11 19. 2 Cor. 11.4 Rome ch 5.5 8.10 11 23. Philippi ch 3.3 Colossus ch 1.8 3.10 and of Thessalonica 1 Thes 1.5 5.19 20. 2 Thes 2.13 received the Holy Ghost And in fine the holy Ghost being the blessing that was promised in Abraham Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 8. 2.33 38 39. 7.17 13.32 33. Rom. 4.13 Gal. 3.14 29. Heb. 9.15 10.36 11.39 to all Nations Gen. 12.3 Rom. 4.16 Ephes 3.6 whence St. Paul calls him the Holy Spirit of promise Ephes 1.13 all their Churches in all Nations and places if they were believing Churches received it likewise although the Scriptures give us no further account of it and so might our Churches partake of the same blessing if they would but believe as gladly as the Gentiles did specially seeing the Son of man comes to save all men Mat. 18.11 and to save them as Paul saith Tit. 3.5 by regenerating and restoring unto them what they do all come short of at their birth Rom. 3.23 the Holy Ghost John 3.3 5. coming himself unto as many as will keep his words John 14.23 as being himself the same with the Comforting Spirit v. 18. by which being conceived Luk. 1.35 according to our Creed in them but brought forth by them Gal. 4.19 Rev. 12.5 they become his Mother therefore Luk. 8.21 and so he becomes by this means the Son of man so that though the whole Scripture afforded no instances at all of the Holy Ghost being given to other men besides the Apostles the said promises of Christ coming to bless and to save all Nations in turning them away from iniquity Act. 3.26 by his power from on high Luk. 24.49 and of his coming to as many as will keep his word by the Spirit c. are enough to shew that if any man will obey him though he be no Apostle he shall receive the same gift But besides these passages so many other places of Scripture witness the same that it is a wonder to me how the great Divines with all their Humane Learning in seeing perceive it not and so much the greater wonder that after they have been told of it so often they whilst they believe Scripture as they say believe not this But their heart is waxed gross and their eyes they have closed lest they should see and convert Mat. 13.15 Some of the other places are The heavenly Father of all men will give to them the Holy Ghost much sooner than any Father will give good gifts unto his Children Luk. 11.13 To as many as receive or believe on John 7.39 Christ he gives the right to become the Sons of God ch 1.12 13. to be born anew by the said quickning Spirit ch 3.5 6.63 and no man ascending up to heaven except the Son of man that came down from thence ch 3.13 all the Saints must receive him before they ascend thither And they are all baptized by one Spirit into one body the Spirit of life that moves the feet or the tail of any living creature being the same Animal Spirit that actuates the head and moves all the other parts or members of his body and made all to drink into one not therefore into two extraordinary and ordinary Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 And I would not have you brethren ignorant v. 1. that the manifestation of that Spirit is given unto every man v. 7. that believes as follows from v. 8. And the Holy Ghost was sent down from heaven at the time that the Gospel was preached to all those whom St. Peter wrote his Epistles to 1 Pet. 1.12 which preaching of the Gospel and mission of the Spirit therefore have been since the first mission of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost to as many as have believed upon hearing the Gospel preached to them And it being impossible for those who were enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and of the powers of the world to come and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost if they shall fall away to be renewed again into repentance saith Paul Heb. 6.4 5 6. it appears from these his words that he took it for granted that some other besides himself and the Apostles received not only the Vicars ordinary gift but such as brought with it the powers of the world to come and that in this very life seeing there is no place left for repentance after it And if the Spirits of God are sent into all the Earth Rev. 5.6 it must not be understood of the first Christians alone for the first Christians were not all the Earth and by the Earth is meant the natural man who is from the Earth earthly Luk. 18.8 John 3.31 1 Cor. 15.47 whence to go the way of all the Earth is a Scripture phrase used instead of to dye for the Spirits of God are not sent into the ground Also the Prophecies of the Evangelical blessings by the Holy Ghost include all and except none all thy children shall be taught of the Lord saith Isaiah 54.13 and they shall all know me from the least to the greatest Jer. 31.34 which cannot be but by means of the Holy Ghost saith Paul 1 Cor. 12.3 the Nations shall bless themselves and also glory in him ch 4.2 The strangers saith Ezechiel in his new Jerusalem ch 47.22 23. that is to
say the Gentiles shall have an inheritance among the Tribes of Jacob. And the remnant saith Micah 5.4 not some few of that remnant shall return and stand and seed in the strength or the power in the name and majesty of the Lord and shall abide And in the latter days the children of Israel none excepted shall return and fear or serve the Lord and David or Christ Ezech. 34.24 their King Hos 3 5. which cannot be but by the power the Holy Ghost gives And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of Priests and an holy Nation said Moses Exod. 19.6 1 Pet. 2.5 9. to wit by the true Unction whereof that of Exod. 30.23 30. to anoint the Priests withall was but a type and figure And the type of the true bloud of the Lamb the bloud of Beasts being forbidden to both the people and Priests equally shews that all the Christian people may eat of the antitype Christ's vivifying and health-restoring Spirit John 6.55 63. Mal. 4.2 equally with their chief Priests the Apostles and Prophets And to you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness rise with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 And if Christ doth give his flesh which is the bread from Heaven not therefore his Humane flesh which he had from the Virgin John 3.6 8.23 Rom. 8.6 the true and the living bread the inspiration of God Gen. 2.7 for the life of the whole world John 6.33 50 51. the whole world may eat of it and all they that will live indeed for ever by him must actually and really as well as the Apostles eat and drink or feed on him v. 53 55 57 58. And if he saved St. Paul and those he meant were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise when they believed Ephes 1.13 by the renewing of the Image of God within them Tit. 3.5 how can any believing man be saved otherwise since that Salvation is still the same and by the same means that is through the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 and that no man can enter into the kingdom of God that is live in righteousness and receive the peace and joy passing all understanding which God doth reward it with except he be born of the Spirit that enables him John 3.5 Rev. 12.11 The body of man cannot live out its animal life without natural Spirits Jam. 2.26 and shall the internal man be made to live for ever an uninterrupted life without the Eternal Spirit of God that gave him Nischmat chajim breath of lives Gen. 2.7 and not of one single life as the Translator turns it from whence he doth not saith Christ live by earthly bread alone Mat. 4.4 but by the bread from Heaven Verbum ab ore Dei the comforting refreshing and vivifying Spirit which is the Fathers house into which Christ receives men as appears by his saying that he would come again to receive them to himself to the place he should be in John 14.2 3. for he coming again to them by the Comforter v. 18. and the gift thereof being the result of his coming and the only performance and effect of his promise that he would bring them into the same place he should be in it must also be since Christ cannot lye the thing and place he promised to be in and to receive them into and this place also being by the account which he gave to Thomas whither he went to prepare a place for them v. 6. with the Father it follows from thence that the Holy Ghost is likewise the Fathers house and the Heaven within us Luk. 17.21 where Christ is in the Father and we in him John 14.20 where he is v. 3. 17.24 and where all are together one with the Father and Christ ch 17.21 From all which it most clearly and manifestly appears that the Holy Ghost is given to all the faithful and the distinction of the Vicar in the gift of it to wit his ordinary and extraordinary gift appearing no where at all the Scriptures speaking but of one sort of Spirit given nay teaching that God being no respecter of persons Act. 10.34 puts no such difference at all between believers ch 15.9 in every Nation he that worketh righteousness being accepted with him ch 10.35 and receiving his good gift Mat. 7.11 Luk. 11.13 even as the Apostles Act. 10.47 15.8 can any impartial man that hath his eyes in his head Eccl. 2.14 not see this and deny that the Lords Bishops having been fairly tryed and condemned by as good men as their Peers and having had as good Law as the Statutes or Canons of Scripture could afford them the gift of the Holy Ghost continues still in Gods Church and say that it is ceased and that no man ever since 400 years after the times of the Apostles hath right to pretend to it But if some still contend for their ordinary Spirit thus holding such Gospel as the Saints have not preached Gal. 1.8 let them have it in Gods name Rev. 22.11 for so instead of being reformed to the Image of God that created man not after two Images to wit an ordinary and extraordinary one for God being always the same hath but one Image they must remain deformed and they can have but a mean Salvation accordingly because Salvation being in and through the Holy Ghost as was said out of Rom. 14.17 he that hath but a mean and ordinary share of it hath but an ordinary power to do good works with and so hath but a mean and ordinary righteousness and God rendring unto men but according to their works the peace and joy or the bliss which Salvation consists in that they do receive from thence cannot therefore be but mean and very ordinary like unto the old third state or Limbus a reward fit for our Right Reverend Fathers in God to be it And here I had left them and finished my discourse but that hearing some of them à Limbo Patrum crying alas we did not know that these things were meant of this life but thought that the promises made to all the believers concerning the gift of the Spirit conferred on them were to begin upon the dissolution of their flesh neither did we understand any thing of a second coming of Christ in Spirit to men for their Salvation but took his second coming to be in Judgment only at the sound of the last Trump when he comes with his Angels to judge the quick and the dead I think it convenient to shew likewise that it is in this life before men dye that the gift of the Spirit is conferred upon them and secondly that when the Holy Ghost is sent or comes it is the second coming of Christ Christ comes then himself that I may both fully discharge the task I have taken upon me this day and leave them without excuse that are detained and that keep others in the Limbus of such gross ignorance But first to prevent mistakes I desire the Reader to take notice
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
other persons brought up in the Schools at Athens who well understood the principles and connexion of things would have submitted to the pretences of such bold and rude persons who could shew no reason at all beyond their own consident assertions for what they said No it was impossible and by the way this one thing shews the great necessity of humane Learning and is a sufficient confutation of all those Enthusiasts who do revile it to wit that what the Apostles wanted of it upon the score of Education God supplied by Miracle But for their extraordinary Spirit it is a plain case because we daily experience it that it is ceased and that no man can now pretend to it for he that pretends to the same Spirit the Apostles had must do the same things or else he is mighty vain and argues his understanding to be much impaired Now judge ye who is more vain than this Vicar who denies Scripture and the experience of several sober learned pious godly men who have been Eye-witnesses and testifie and relate the Miracles wrought upon some faithful believing men since his four hundred years as shall be shewed hereafter Judge also whether his own experience can teach him that the said Spirit is ceased For the gift of Miracles being but one of many belonging to that Spirit and all the gifts being not given to every one of those that truly believe but one or two gifts to each as in page appears he must needs be acquainted with all the true Believers that live all the World over to say that his Experience and that of his acquaintance who are as well informed as himself of what passeth daily among the faithful shews him that none of them can at present pretend to it when the Prophet Elijah who was as noted a man I hope as the Vicar knew not one of the seven thousand faithful men who lived in his time in Israel 1 Kings 19.14 18. and they that can do these things do not seek to shew themselves and to be known openly John 5.44 7.4 6. Luk. 8.56 But though they did and wrought some Miracles every day in the sight of all the World yet they that say that Miracles are ceased so long ago would believe them no sooner than their fellow Pharisees who though blasphemous enough to ascribe the glory of them to Beelzebub were not so silly as to pretend that they were ceased Then observe from his own words that what God by Miracle supplied of Humane Learning being wanted upon the score of Education might by Education have been got without Miracle and so what need was there God should supply by Miracle what he might have had and done plentifully without it For there lived at the time that Christ chose the Apostles many other men who had by their Education got Humane Learning enough to hold out an Argument against the learned Heathen And St. Paul who had enough Acts 22.3 needed not I presume to supply his want of it receive the same fulness of Spirit as the other twelve yet he received it and that with as extraordinary circumstance as all the rest Acts 9.17 18. 2 Cor. 11.5 12.4 Gal. 2.6 8. Besides the necessity of Humane Learning Logick Metaphysick c. to convince Dionysius and other learned Gentiles whose conviction the Vicar said before was the hard task that required such an extraordinary Spirit implys that Humane Learning was the means the Apostles made use of to convince them contrary to 1 Cor. 2.6 8. Col. 2.8 Mat. 11.25 And if so may not they that are now great Masters in it although by Education and say they make use of it as the Divines of these times against their Adversaries pretend to do the same things and to have therefore the same Spirit the Apostles had Verhum sat sapienti this being but by the way to give the sober Reader a hint of what the Learning of those wise men will produce 1 Cor. 1.19 20. And they have ill luck who whilst they seek for honour and praise for their Learning and Wisdom not only get no credit but forfeit by what they were in great hopes to procure some that which they were look'd upon to have already gotten But O that they were as wise and learned as they pretend and as they would seem to be for then they might do some good and had saved me the trouble of declaring now for them that the Apostles Spirit continues still in the Church that all men have the same right and as good pretences to the extraordinary Spirit the Apostles had as the Apostles themselves and that they may now have it and if they will make use of the same means they used Acts 1.14 2.1 15.7 8. John 14.23 Luk. 18.1 receive it and be filled with it as much as they were For the gift of that Spirit if we will but take Christ's word and solemn promise for it Mark 16.17 John 14.12 wait upon the Church of God all them that believe in him of any nation and tongue and of any profession Acts 10.35 44 46. and that not for about 400 years only but until now at present and to the end of the World Mat. 28.20 for that I may not leave them comfortless saith Christ John 14.18 23. I will come by what can comfort refresh and give life and joy viz. by my Spirit v. 26. 6.63 Jam. 2.26 Acts 3.19 20. and make my abode with them or within them for the Church being the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 Eph. 4.12 he must like the Soul in man dwell in the Members that make the said body for ever John 14.16 13. and to you and your children and to as many as God shall ever call saith Peter Act. 2.38 39. the promise of the same blessing to wit the receit of the same Holy Spirit Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 8. Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.14 belongs And saith he further Act. 10.47 11.15 not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as he confirms it ch 15.8 according to the same measure as we the first have received the Holy Ghost you may receive be filled with him and have him likewise Which words shew that St. Peter did not arrogate either to himself or to the rest of his fellow Apostles the extraordinary Spirit ascribed to them viz. a more peculiar gift and a greater share of God's Spirit than all other true Believers have or may have and that he did not then dream of being more infallible than they be and of his Church and Church-mens prerogatives as men do before they have received the Holy Ghost witness Mark 9.38 conferred with Luk 24.49 Numb 11.28 29. And so from these words of Christ and Peter that it appears that the Apostles Spirit or the same Spirit they had never ceaseth in the Church nor in any National Religion Sect or party until it ceaseth to be the Church and the Flock of Christ
and do most of their works to be regarded of men who like the Rich man in Luke 12.18 hoard up against the morrow and plead for it from St. Paul 1 Tim. 5.8 as though St. Paul's doctrine contradicted that of Christ Mat. 6.31 32. and as though his meaning were that men must work to be rich and not rather that they should work with their hands as he did Act. 18.3 for their own and Families subsistance from day to day Luk. 11.3 his words having reference to widows speaking of them before and after this verse which were to serve tables Act. 6.1 2. that is take care to buy and dress Victuals and whose office it was not to provide the means or the money for to procure them since they were themselves to be provided for as it may be gathered out of Scripture and his said words ought therefore to be thus interpreted viz. But if some of them widows 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is takes no care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of her own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chiefly or at least 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those of her house that is who dwell in the house with her but minds her pleasure 1 Tim. 5.6 as most of our London Huswives instead of continuing in prayer both night and day v. 5. she hath denied the faith that teacheth us mutual love and care for one another whereas the Bishops do thus cunningly translate and fit the same for their own purpose viz. But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the faith But what faith the Bishops faith in the God Mammon they serve Luk. 16.13 and whom they say they can serve together with the true God blowing like the covetous Pharisees their nose for note the Greek word imports so much v. 14. at whoever doth like Christ deny that they can do it v. 13. thus to justifie themselves v. 15. making themselves wiser than Christ and his perfect Laws those wholsome commands of God void by this their tradition to do then as these Bishops who are carried about in pomp like Shews or pompae quae nullius per se sunt actionis compotes caeteros vero mole sua impudientes in their Chariots and Coaches with Foot-boys in Liveries with long Gowns and soft raiments and all other fine Trappings which things they that wear shall not as being effeminate the Text saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see Mat. 11.8 enter the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 who instead of being contented with what is set before them Luk. 10.8 that is with some allowance willingly made sufficient to maintain them go from house to house v. 7. that is get from their first Benefice into another fatter nay keep both at the same time and still gape for a better who whereas Christ's followers have not where to lay their heads Luk. 9.57 58. have rich and large Palaces where they keep a continual feast like the feast of a King 1 Sam. 25.36 for persons of Quality and their Friends as Nabal did but when a poor man cometh for relief as David did you are a Stranger to me many Servants now a days run away from their Masters v. 10. where is your Certificate you are some idle Fellow and why don't you go to work is all the comfort he finds or stand thou there in the Hall or sit under my footstool Jam. 2.3 until I have dined is the greatest favour that he can expect of them who when they have got some men into their Inquisition that is their Spiriting Court which may be so called from Spiriting of Money and making many poor mans Purse light and Spirits heavy condemn all but inflict no punishment but on the Purse of their Patients who are those they presume to have money and that on no better proof than the bare information of some Whore upon Record whereas Christ would not condemn the Whore John 8.11 though she was taken in flagranti delicto v. 3. for who hath made me a judge saith he to some Luk. 12.14 over you in the kingdom of this World John 18.36 But Bishops will be the first Judges in order therein nay will sit as such upon those that are its proper Judges the Temporal Lords they will be Lords and Masters Mat. 23.8 and that not only Worldly or Temporal as the rest but Spiritual Lords also a brave business if they could tell how to have dominion over the Spirits of men what abomination is a Lord Bishop in Christ's Church O that my Body could but keep as far from the reach of their Lordships and Masterships as my Soul and Spirit are for I should be as safe from the effects of the kindness they shall have for me as they may be from any future invective from me in containing themselves within the bounds prescribed to all Lordship in this World like all the other sober and modest Temporal Lords I say that to do as the Bishops all the said things is not to believe in Christ for do they believe in one who act point-blank contrary to what he shews and prescribes and shew by their fruits or works that they are far from good trees and that they have perverted the righteous ways of the Lord May. 7.16 Therefore it is no wonder if Miracles and such other gifts or fruits of the Spirit are ceased from among them nay it were a great wonder if they should still wait on such for how can the Slave of sin who is taken captive by the devil at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 and hath not strength to shake off the yoke his evil passions have both subjugated and keep him still under with have power to overcome and command evil Spirits Fire Water and the Winds hurtful Beasts and deadly things and why should these obey him when they see not that in him to which they owe obedience to wit the Image of God and whilst the Nations that War against the Spirit in man Revel 2.26 Gal. 5.17 19 20. deny him all allegiance are not only revolted but continue absolute Masters of his mind and will But what sign dost thou shew thy self will some say to me John 2.18 art thou greater than all these famous Doctors of the Church John 4.12 that thou thus takest upon thee to tax and find fault with them as though they made of the house of prayer a Market-place of God's Word a meer Story of his Wisdom great Non-sense and of his Religion or Worship a Pageantry I answer that they are famous according as they lift up hammers and axes to break the Church of God down Psal 74.5 6. that I am I confess more brutish than any man Prov. 30.2 1 Tim. 1.15 pretend not to work Miracles but though I could do it yet I could not shew them any sign at their request because of their unbelief Mat. 13.58 and because it is not done but according to the faith of him that seeketh a sign
Holy Ghost being given but after that Christ ascended to his Father John dying before was not entirely in God's kingdom Rom. 14.17 and had not the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dwelling in him as appears from his doubting whether Christ was the true Messiah that was to come Luk. 7.19 for they that have it know that 1 John 5.20 and so he was but one and the last of the old Prophets But notwithstanding this great Prerogative which all the Apostles had above them they were but men of the like passions and infirmities with them and with other men Act. 14.15 as appears by Act. 15.39 and by Peter compelling the Gentiles to do those things Gal. 2.14 which he himself condemned Alas per Antithesin to Master Vicar's alas which I have mentioned before out of his 5 th page lumen patiebantur tenebras interdum to wit when they did but slack the hand over the body Mat. 25.13 Rom. 6.6 8.13 23. 1 Cor. 9.27 Jam. 3.2 and had it been but for their extraordinary Spirit and Humane Learning Dionysius and Damaris had no more cleaved to them than those that heard the same things that they heard and yet mocked Act. 17.33 for what is Peter and Paul but the Ministers by whom Dionysius Damaris and the others believed and that how not as Paul's extraordinary Spirit prevailed but as even as God gave to some of them the grace to believe 1 Cor. 3.4 5. Quaere Seeing Damaris is mentioned together with learned Dionysius preferably to the men that believ'd at the same time Act. 17.34 and submitted with him to the School-learned reasons which as it follows from what the Vicar saith pag. 5. Paul was necessitated to make use of at that time to convince Dionysius was not the said Damaris a very learned woman and brought up in the Greek Schools or else was Dionysius become so much a Changeling that Paul had no greater need of Learning to convince him than to convince a woman Luke mentioning with a man of great Learning a woman before any of the rest seems to hint at the latter and Christ saying that we must become like little children to come into his Kingdom Mat. 18.3 and Paul that the wise worldlings must become fools to be wise 1 Cor. 3 18. because not many wise men after the flesh are called 1 Cor. 1.26 and God hides from such wise men his mysteries Mat. 11.25 it is plain that the learned Athenian was become so woman-like that the Bishops must look out elsewhere for another proof of the great necessity of Learning to convince him and for another better confutation of those Sects which they say do revile it Alas had it been but for the pretended supplement of it in the Apostles the Gospel had been nipped in its very budding forth the preaching of the Gospel had convinced no more men than it doth now amongst us the World had continued to be imposed upon like the people of Samaria Act. 8.9 10. and in general all they that heard the Word had mocked Is it wisely done therefore of the Lords Bishops to use or suffer to be used a falshood in a Pulpit with out check and correction as an argument of the great necessity of the thing so falsly supposed viz. School-learning in Preachers to reduce unbelievers to the obedience of Christ especially when Paul asserts flat and plain that he made no use at all of it God having chosen saith he 1 Cor. 1.27 the foolish things of this world to confound the wise whereof you have an instance in me and he preach'd not with wisdom of words the Humane Learning of the Vicar which he calls somewhere else a vain deceit Col. 2.8 lest the Cross of Christ saith he v. 17. should be made of none effect for it is to the Cross that the powers of the World among which Humane Learning and wisdom is not the least are nayled and by the Cross by self-conceited wise men resolving to become fools which is a great cross to them are the proud worldly wiselings with their imaginations and high conceits overcome 2 Cor. 10.5 Col. 2.14 15. Nay it is altogether injurious to the power which worketh effectually in the hearts of all converts Gal. 2.8 to call to help the wisdom of man and the School-learning in the preaching of the Word and therefore the Apostles spoke not with enticing words of mans wisdom v. 4. but planted and watered or preached always with all plainness of speech and simplicity committing the success to him that gives the encrease and trusting to his Spirit not to their own industry the work of man's conversion from sin to righteousness the means and the way to which is all that all Preachers ought to treat of in their Sermons And for all this their plainness weakness and infirmities they seldom preached in vain and they had better success than our Lords with all their great wisdom that comes to nought 1 Cor. 2.6 Also for all their want of Logick and Metaphysick they did not doubt as having saith Paul 1 Cor. 7.40 obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful but that they had the Spirit of God that directed them that what they designed was purposed in that Spirit Act. 19.21 and would have Christians to know that what they spake or wrote as their judgment or sentence was the command of the Lord 1 Cor. 7.25 14.37 And here had I but time enough I could run down the Bishops so very low that they would be glad to make of their Sleeves a Moses vail if they knew what they know not Zeph. 3.5 and were not so confident Prov. 14.16 For the fear of God being not only the beginning and instruction of wisdom Prov. 1.7 15.33 but also wisdom it self Job 28.28 and a whole treasure of it Isa 33.6 is not learning the Greek Tongue Logick and Metaphy sick and such like excluded from the means to get wisdom for what can they contribute and add unto that which yields a whole treasure of wisdom If a man asketh wisdom in faith God will give it him Jam. 1.5 6. God will give him his good gift the wisdom of the Father that is the Spirit of Truth Luk. 11.13 to guide him into all Truth For if any man will do Gods will John 7.17 keep the words of Christ ch 14.23 he and the Father will come to him by the Holy Ghost whereby he shall not only know of the doctrine of Christ but know all things and all Truth both Divine and Natural the word all comprehending omnia scibilia specially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 3.12 or the knowledge of nature as done before our eyes For such an understanding have all they that keep Gods words Psal 111.10 that they come of themselves to know and understand more than all their wisest Teachers Psal 119.99 100 104. and in a word the Scriptures proclaim almost nothing more than that men grow in knowledge as fast and by the same means only
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
that I have said nothing tending to establish the doctrine or opinion of an equality of Spirit among believers as though every member of Christ's mâ—stical body or every believer had an equal share or part of Spirit with those that are instead of eyes ears and of the other senses to it No I have from St. Paul 1 Cor. 12. and in some other places of the foregoing pages inferred the contrary and I only assert that the Holy Ghost being given to all the faithful even in the same manner as unto the Apostles they may by knocking asking praying and by watching so as to purifie themselves 1 John 3.3 from that which defileth man Mark 7.21 22 23. serve God in such holiness and walk in such righteousness before him Luk. 1.74 75. as to obtain as great a portion and gift thereof as the Apostles And this grounded besides the instances we have of it Act. 10.35 46. 19.6 upon the promises of Christ Mat. 19.28 Rev. 3.21 that they which shall follow him in the regeneration and overcome the seventh time that is to say to the end shall sit with him in his Throne as well as the Apostles shall partake as much as they of Gods own divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 shall be one with God himself John 17.21 or transibit in Deum as the Right Reverend Doctor Trismegistus said For note that though Christs promise makes mention but of twelve Thrones it extends nevertheless further than to the twelve men who were then speaking with him as appears first from the words themselves of the said promise which are you that follow me or that shall follow me in the regeneration and not you my Apostles that have followed me as the Translator mistakes for none of the Apostles had as yet followed Christ in the regeneration but were still to do it then being not till afterwards when Christ was glorified born again of the Spirit John 7.39 and which shew that the promise belongs to the Apostles upon condition only for pray shall Judas sit with the rest upon a Throne and so to you Lords Bishops if you will but dye to your Lordships worldly-mindedness to follow in the new birth your Lord and to them likewise that have and shall accomplish and perform that condition and this appears secondly from the forementioned place of Rev. 3.21 which saith not Peter and James and the other Apostles but he that overcometh shall sit with me in my Throne and so doth confirm this sence And thirdly from that Christ would not promise any of them the first seats in his Kingdom but they shall have them saith he Mat. 20.23 for whom such reward is prepared of my Father as he who knows which of all mankind shall deserve it best Verily I dare say that as many as shall wade through the red Sea of their bloud Luk 22.44 and the other deep waters of tribulations with Christ Act. 14.22 shall sit with him on twelve Thrones that is get the brightest Crown of glory or highest state among the twelve Tribes that is among the whole multitude or the compleat number of the Israel of God And though this is not meant of nor attainable in this life yet Salvation being in and through the Holy Ghost Rom. 14 17. and being rendred to man but according to his works which he hath done in this life an adequate proportion or supply of the Spirit proportionable unto his degree of future glory and capable to procure it is required in this life and must be got before death Besides not Peter and the other Apostles only but whoever is righteous shall shine as the Firmament and if any man should turn more men to righteousness than the greatest Apostles he should shine brighter than they as the Sun above the Stars in the kingdom of Heaven Dan. 12.3 Mat. 13.43 But because all Believers do not purifie themselves to that degree of brightness or holiness that some do therefore in the Fathers house which is the Holy Ghost as I have shewed before there be several mansions John 14.2 distinguishable from the state and the proportion of Faith the faithful shall be found with and not distinguished by any place assigned or state before-hand decreed for them as Babel teacheth so that any righteous man that will live by Faith indeed in going from Faith to Faith mounting up with wings as Eagles and never being weary of knocking asking watching and of waiting on the Lord Isa 40.31 Psal 84.7 may not only press into Zion the kingdom of God Luk. 16.16 but take by force even the highest seat that is in it as I doubt not many have done since the Apostles and shall do to the Worlds end That the Holy Ghost is sent and given during this life or whilst we are in the flesh and before we taste of death to them that prepare themselves for Salvation it appears from John 14.23 Rev. 3.20 where if we open the door hear Christs voice and keep his Word which is done during this life Christ will come by his Spirit and make his abode with us Behold I come quickly had not been repeated three divers times in the last chapter of all the Scriptures Rev. 22.7 12 20. if that coming were meant of Christs coming in Judgment for that being deferred already near a third part of the age of the World that is near two thousand years is far from a quick coming and so it is another coming by the Holy Ghost which St. John meant in that place And the regeneration or new birth of the Spirit John 3.3 5 8. is performed here upon Earth v. 12. And verily doth Christ say Mat. 16.28 Mark 9.1 Luk. 9.27 there be some here standing by which are not to taste of death till they see the Son of man come in his kingdom that is as Mark and Luke explain it the kingdom of God come with the power of the Spirit Act. 1.8 Luk 24.49 Which saying could not be true had it not been fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in many of the disciples that stood by when Christ spake it by their receiving power after that the Holy Ghost was come and sate upon them Act. 1.8 2.3 4. for all they which stood by Christ when he spake these words are dead so long ago and therefore so long before his coming to receive and deliver the kingdom to the Father viz. at the end of the World Luk. 19.15 1 Cor. 15.24 that no man can think but that since they did see the kingdom of God before they dyed the said coming of the Son of man in his said kingdom is before they and other disciples of Christ taste of death and not when all men are dead Whence John that doth not tarry till the day of Judgment comes tarried till God's kingdom came John 21.22 for he having received the revelation of Christ the Holy Ghost John 15.26 14.26 Luk. 17.30 not only upon that day with the rest but more particularly than some of
them afterwards in the Island of Patmos Rev. 1.1 9. did not dye until he had seen the whole kingdom of Christ even in its full power having seen in the Spirit the holy Jerusalem having the glory of God v. 10. 21.10 11. And upon the same account Verily saith Christ again Mat. 24.34 to all them that follow him Mark 13.37 this generation which lasts no longer than a mans life shall not pass till all these things to wit the coming of Christ in the dark and clouded Souls Luk. 21.27 of the Heaven within us with power and great glory Mat. 24.30 be thorowly fulfilled And Verily you shall not have gone over in your flight to avoid persecution to which men are exposed here only before they dye the Cities of Israel till the Son of man be come And I will not henceforth drink of the fruit of the Vine until the kingdom of God shall come Luk. 22.18 or as saith Mat. 26.29 till I drink it with you new in my Fathers kingdom which he did with some of them Luk. 24.43 both before and after that they were by the Holy Ghost come in the kingdom of God drinking it new together John 7.39 6.57 he himself drinking of it in Gods kingdom all the while I mean as well before as after they were in it as being he that did still accomplish all righteousness overcome all the kingdoms of the World and of the Flesh Mat. 4.8 John 16.33 by dying himself to them and thus remaining himself under the kingdom of God and purchasing by this means and delivering to God the whole power and kingdom 1 Cor. 15.23 24. which he could not do but by drinking of the Holy Ghost and living by the Father of his power from above Then if the kingdom of God is within us like a seed growing into a great Tree and like a little Leven working in us till we come unto the measure of the stature of the perfect man the Son of man Jesus Christ Ephes 4.13 and like a hidden treasure which we must to purchase it sell all we have in the World Mat. 13.44 Luk. 14.33 then is this kingdom of God which is the same thing as the coming of Christ as appears from Mat. 16.28 Mark 9.1 Luk. 9.27 Rom. 14.17 1 Cor. 4.20 conferred together before we are grown unto the measure of that stature even in this very life and before we part with it and with all the things we do enjoy whilst we enjoy it God hath saved us saith Paul whilst he was yet in the flesh 2 Tim. 1.9 and that by renewing or sending the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 and received ye the Spirit saith he to the Galatians 3.2 who therefore had received it before they read his Letter which was sent them in this world and in a word as all the Primitive true believers received the Holy Ghost in this world during this life so must all believers now since they are to receive it even in the same manner as I have fully shewed receive it before they taste of death Every Spirit that confesseth not that Christ comes to us whilst in the flesh being that Spirit of Antichrist gone into the Woâ—ld whereof see 1 John 4.1 3. for truly though flesh and bloud inherits not the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15.50 because till we have escaped the corruption which is in the World through lust we cannot saith 2 Pet. 1.4 partake of Divinity put on the new man which is created after God Ephes 4.24 and of a divine nature in the flesh we are saved in the flesh is the kingdom of God attained unto although not with all its full glory and Prerogatives Ephes 1.14 Now that when the Holy Ghost is sent or comes unto men it is Christ that comes himself it appears from what Paul saith 2 Cor. 3.17 1 Cor. 8.6 that the Lord is that Spirit And to see the days or the coming of the Son of man is to have him revealed compare Mat. 24.27 37. Luk. 17.22 with v. 30. which revelation is by the coming of the Spirit that doth testifie of him John 15.26 16.14 Gal. 1 16. Also to see the kingdom of God coming with power Mark 9.1 Luk. 9.27 that is as Luke saith elsewhere with the power from above Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 1 Cor. 4.20 Rom. 14.17 is to see the Son of man himself come in his kingdom Mat. 16.28 And I will pray saith Christ to his disciples John 14.17 the Father and he shall give you Another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth who dwelleth with you now that is whilst I am yet dwelling with you in the flesh and shall be or dwell in you when I am glorified John 7.39 16.7 Ephes 4.8 And I will not leave you comfortless I will come v. 18. and I will come again v. 28. that the other Comforter may dwell with you for ever v. 16. Where Christ saying Another Comforter and I come not to leave you comfortless it appears in the first place that he reckons himself the same with the Comforter or Spirit that was to come And secondly by saying that the other Comforter which was to be and to dwell in them for ever after dwelt with them and they knew him at the time he spake these words he shews that he is himself the same with that Comforter for that it was he only of all them that dwelt with them who was able to comfort them having the fulness of the comforting Spirit in him Coloss 1.19 2.9 John 3.34 and did really comfort or rejoyce them by his presence ch 16.5 6. 14.1 2. But more intelligibly ch 16.22 he declares himself the same with the comforting Spirit ye now saith he have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce your sorrow shall be turned into that joy thereupon v. 20. which no man taketh from you And again v. 16. 14.19 yet a little while saith he and you shall not see me and again a little while and you shall see me because I go to the Father but the World seeth me no more viz. when you see me again or when I make my self manifest to you v. 22. because it cannot receive and see and know the Spirit of Truth v. 17. 1.5 Where note that from that the World sees Christ no more afterwards from his first disappearance at his passion and burial whilst the Apostles see him again and that by reason that he went to the Father it is evident that this was not fulfilled upon his apparitions to them after his resurrection for then he was not as yet ascended to the Father ch 20.17 and the World might see him then as well as the disciples did seeing that he was palpable to Thomas his hands and fingers v. 25. and visible to the eyes of the disciples that were travelling to Emaus Luk. 24.15 even whilst their eyes were as much held from knowing him as those of the World v. 16 25 31. who might therefore see him talk
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