A DISCOVERY OF THE New Creation IN A Sermon Preached at the Head-Quarters at Putney Sept. 29. 1647. By Thomas Collier 2 Pet. 3. 13. Neverthelesse we look for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at the Black-spred-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1647. The Epistle to the Reader Reader THE new Creation the Kingdom of Heaven in the Saints is that great Mysterie God is now revealing in them I having both opportunity and freenesse at the head Quarters spoke something according to that measure of light God hath communicated unto me concerning this new Creation in the Saints this truth being by some owned yet by others privately opposed and contradicted I therefore at the desire of some who judge themselves one with and in this truth as also for satisfaction of the contrary minded have published that which was in weaknesse yet in power then delivered Although its true thou maist not here reade verbatim what was then delivered yet thou hast here the heads and substance of it God making thy spirit one in with any truth that thou findest here let him have the glory and he who is thine and the Truths servant hath his end and utmost desires T. C. Isai 65. 17. Behold I create new heavens and a new earth THis Scripture propounded is a satisfying reason of some propheticall Gospel-truths formerly discovered Wherein we may take notice First of the grace of the Gospel verse 1. I was found of them that sought me not c. Wherein you may note that persons not seeking after grace are made partakers of grace or that persons seek and finde grace from their being sought out and found by grace Men participate of Gospel grace not because there is either desert or desire in themselves but from the everlasting love free bounty of a gratious God who is the fountain of Grace and Love see this testified Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore in loving kindenesse have I drawn thee As this was a truth to the naturall Israel much more is it a truth to the spiritual Israel Whence was it that God shewed mercy to Mary out of whom was cast seven Devils that is a perfection of wickednesse was in her but Free-Grace and Love see Luke 7. latter end with Chap. 8. 2. with those Acts 2. who were the betrayers and murderers of Christ made partakers of Grace by Christ Saul Acts 9. 1 2 3. who persecuted Christ received mercy by Christ Vse 1. How might this incourage sinners yea and the worst of sinners too to expect not only the Declarations but the Communications of Grace from the Almighty Hast been a filthy polluted creature so was Mary hast been an enemy to Christ a persecutor of christians so were those Acts ◠and Saul Chap. 9. Yet he obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. And this is written for thy incouragement that thou likewise maiest expect mercy Vse 2. To raise up the spirits of Persons made partakers of Grace to admire God who is the fountain and to cry Grace Grace unto it Secondly here is the disposition of man naturally verse 2. which is to oppose Grace notwithstanding God spreads forth his hand unto them in the tenders of mercy yet they walk after their own thoughts A second Gospel-Truth by the Prophet discovered is Gods exaltation of his own Name and People in the latter dayes ver 9. with the ruine of all enemies both within them and likewise without them within them that ignorance and darknesse in the things of God that carnalnesse and fleshlinesse that naturally dwels in them that unsatisfiednesse at all times and in all conditions with the will of God all enemies without must be spiritually slain verse 12. See what the slaughter is verse 13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold my servants shall eat but ye shall be hungry behold my servants shall drinke but ye shall be thirsty that is my servants who live in me shall dwel on high Isa 33. 1. Bread shall be given them to eat their waters shall be sure they shall feed on that feast made of fat things Isat 25. which is God in the spirit when Formallists and Legallists who live on things without them shall be hungry and thirsty nothing to feed on when the glorious appearance of truth discovers the emptinesse and destroyes the beeing of that wherein they lived Behold my servants shall rejoyce but ye shall be ashamed behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of spirit they shall be ashamed because that wherein they trusted their spirituall life and livelyhood is taken from them but ye to wit the Saints who live in the spirit shall rejoyce shall sing for joy of heart Isai 35. 10. Then shall the redeemed of the Lord return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flee away This shall be and is the life of Saints who live in the fountain or rather in whom the fountain lives In a word these two things are here presented First The rejection or rather the subjection under feet of the enemies of God Secondly The exaltation glory and joy of the Saints ver 15. Ye shall leave your name for a curse to my chosen for the Lord God will slay thee and call his people by another name That is whereas the name viz. the power of the wicked hath been exceeding high the Lord will slay that name bring down their power and glory and lay it in the dust make it a reproach but he will call his servants by another name whereas formerly they had a name of reproach accounted the off-scouring of all things a reproach and proverb amongst men and so that word of truth hath been verified behold I and the children whom God hath given me are set for signes and wonders in Israel Oh beloved How have the Saints been set for signes and wonders even amongst those who pretend themselves to be the Lords Israel It s true in this and other Nations called Christian it 's looked upon as an exceeding contemptible thing not to be a Christian to be a Heathen an Infidel this is an evil thing But 2. It 's accounted a far more contemptible thing to be a Christian indeed not to be a Christian in form profession is a cōtemptible thing but to be a Christian indeed is a more contemptible thing a sad word indeed and it behoves those who are the causers of it to look about themselves for the leaders of my people cause them to erre and God is now casting reproach upon them but he will call his people by another name Object But how shall this be effected may some say it is exceeding unlikely wickednesse prevailes both within and without in high and low it seemes to be
2 Pet. 3. 13. Isa 66. 22. Querie Wherein doth the glory of this new heaven consist more then ordinary Answ First in the abundance of knowledge Isa 11. 9. The knowledge of God shall cover the face of the earth as the waters cover the sea you may reade from ver 6. That the Lion and the Lamb c. shall lie down together I shall declare by the way what I understand to be the truth intended not that I limit it from any farther truth that any may see in it 1. There are all these things within us in that old Creation the Lion and the Woolf c. which opposes and prevents the Saints joy and spirituall enjoyment of God now these shall be so over-powred by the glorious appearances of light that they shall no more hurt or destroy the Saints peace in their holy mountain their enjoyment of God in the Spirit which is the Saints mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God the glorious appearings of light in the spirits of Christians will so cover that earth which is within them that they shall be in a great measure freed from those corruptions those distractions which formerly were prevalent in them 2. God will take away the nature of wicked men that although they remain Wolves Lions and brutes still yet they shall not hurt nor destroy in all the holy mountain of God that is the Church and that through the abundance of light that shall be communicated even unto naturall men for the earth that is earthly men must give glory to the God of heaven so Hab. 2. 14. The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the face of the earth as the waters cover the sea for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God there shall not be only the knowledge of God that there is a God but the knowledge of his glory shall be much more abundantly manifested And the truth is that herein lyeth one principall part of the glory of this new Creation in the knowledge of God As ignorance is the grand cause of so much corruption so many mistakes in the things of God for alwaies the will and affection follows the understanding whether inlightned or blinded so it is the knowledg of God the breakings forth of light in the spirit that delivers souls from that corruption and darknesse This truth Paul manifests in his prayer for the Ephesians Chap. 1. 17 18. in his desire for himself Phil. 3. 10. That I might know him c. Querie Wherein shall the knowledge of the Saints increase Answ Amongst many I shall instance in these particulars following First In the knowledge of the mysterie of God and that as he is in them for God is a mysterie Col. 2. 2. And it is by the appearance of God in us we come to know God who is a mysterie The truth is that we have had and still have low and carnall thoughts of God judging him to be a God afar off and not a God nigh at hand this is that Antichrist which denies Christ to be come in the flesh this is that mysterie of which we are exceeding ignorant God manifest in the flesh 1 Tim. 3 16. we have had very narrow apprehensions of Christ and the manifestation of the glory of Christ limitting it to that one man when the truth is that Christ and all the Saints makes up but one Christ 1 Cor. 12. 12. And God as truly manifests himself in the flesh of all his as he did in Christ although the measure of that manifestation is different This is a mysterie which God is revealing in the spirits of his people and is indeed the glory of this new Creation this being in some measure manifested in the spirits of christians produceth in the second place Secondly A knowledge of their spirituall liberty in Christ 1. Spirituall liberty and justification from all spirituall enemies sin law condemnation whatever opposes the souls peace in this new heaven it s all done away Ioh. 8. 36. If the Son shal make you free then you are free indeed Saints shall now come to see that they are free indeed by Christ Acts 13. 39 By him all that beleeve are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Gal. 5. 1. Thus Saints shall know their liberty and stand fast in it too For the Inhabitant shall not say I am sick they that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity Isai 33. last That is they shall live in the knowledge of their liberty from sin although formerly through ignorance we have not so much looked after it This hath been accounted the highest measure of Christianity to see our selves justified to injoy the full assurance of justification by Christ a desire of Faith was a high measure of Faith and well if the soul get assurance while it hath a beeing in this body and thus many a pretious soul hath lived low under legall bondage through ignorance whereas justification from sin by Christ is the first step in Christianity and that which gives us the denomination of children 1 Iohn 2. 11 12. I write unto you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his names sake Persons injoying the forgivenesse of sin are but little children babes in the school of Christ Now this liberty from sin is that the Saints shall live fully in the knowledge of it as likewise in the knowledge of their liberty from legall bondage and so from legall actings Rom. 1. 2. which I passe in this place 2. In the knowledge of their liberty from men 1 Corinthians 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price be ye not the servants of men That is not to be subject to men in the things of God in matters of conscience that belongs only to God himself it is his proper peculiar right to rule in the spirits of his people although its true that there hath been and still is through ignorance a principle in man not only to usurp authority to rule in and over the conscience of others but a principle in us also out of conscience to submit to man in such cases now God is discovering and likewise delivering his people from this spirituall bondage unto men in the things of God and that from the knowledge of their liberty in the spirit 3. There is a liberty in knowledge 1 Ioh. 2. 20. Ye have an Vnction from the holy one and ye know all things that is all things that the Spirit makes known They are not tyed to other mens approbation but walk in that light the Spirit makes known in them see 1 Cor. 2. 15. Secondly The glory of this new Creation consists in the Saints knowledge of their peace and union with God First Peace and that first peace with God this is injoyed by faith Ephes 2. 13. Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God Every man naturally is at a distance
from God but by Iesus Christ they come to injoy reconciliation But Secondly They injoy not only peace with God but peace with the Saints it is only the glorious light of this New Creation that will put an end to these divisions amongst Christians it is not Magisteriall power setting up Uniformity but that one Spirit of light and truth that must bring the Saints into this unity I question not but many of you have read what Zephaniah writes Chap. 3. 9. I will turn to the people a pure language and they shall serve me with one consent or with one shoulder This pure language is the language of the spirit and the truth is that nothing else will be able to put an end to these divisions but this spirituall dispensation this new creation of God in the spirits of his people and this is and shall be the glory of this heaven unity and peace amongst Saints see Isa 11. 13. The envy of Ephraim shall depart and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off Ephraim shall not envy Judah neither shall Judah vex Ephraim Whence is it that there is so much envy in the spirits of christians but from their fleshlinesse vexing each other when they should rather be a comfort each to other but this shall depart be gone in this new Creation this kingdome of God it shall be a kingdome of peace not only internall with God with the Saints Isa 66. 12. but Secondly With men and amongst men of the earth this new creation will put an end to all those wars and confusions in the world See Isa 2. 4. When once the Saints mountain comes to be established in the top of all mountains when they shall live in God who is their mountain this light and glory shall go forth so far amongst the wicked as that they shall imbrace peace it will put a period to wars and commotions that are amongst the men of the earth Secondly There is the knowledge not only of their peace with but of their union in God here still lieth the great mysterie of the Gospel the Saints union in the Spirit the knowledge of it is exceeding glorious that this is a truth see Ioh. 17. 21. There is a union of spirits 1 Cor. 6. 17. A union in the power wisdome and glory of the Father but I forbeare the inlarging of these at present 2. The glory of this new Creation consists not only in knowledge but in spirituall injoyment likewise there is the abundance of spirituall injoyment it does not only see and know but it injoyes what it sees it sees liberty and peace and injoyes it and lives in it it sees God in the Spirit and lives in him it not only sees a union but injoyes a union both in spirit wisdome power and glory of the Father thus Saints that live in that abundance of life that is in God Iohn 10. 10. I am come that ye might have life and that ye might have it more abundantly O the abundance of spirituall injoyment of spirituall communion Saints in this heaven injoy hence it is the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 3. 23. All is yours c. And truly friends if all be the Saints when they see it and injoy it it will be enough to fill them with joy unspeakable and full of glory 3. The glory of this new Creation consists not only in being delivered from legall and fleshly actings but likewise lives in the power of heavenly and spirituall actings and that first to God in spirituall prayer and praisings but secondly from God not only in the whole conversation but likewise in acts of righteousnesse and justice unto men but likewise in preachings and praisings all shall be done in the wisdome and power of the Spirit that so grace may be communicated to the hearers This is the third part of the glory of this new Creation and injoyed by those who live in it 4. And finally the glory of this new Creation brings forth joy and gladnesse in the spirits of those who live in it perpetual singing of new songs of praise unto the Lord see Rev. 21. 4. with Isa 25. 7. I shall instance more particularly Rev. 19. 1. where you shall finde after the fall of Babylon which is effected as well within us as without us there was a voice of thunderings saying Hallelujah and ver 6. For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth This is that will minister occasion to souls to sing praises when they can say truly The Lord God omnipotent reigneth that is reigneth over flesh and corruptions and the powers of darknesse are vanquished and subdued Chap. 15. 3. They sing the song of Moses the servant of the Lord but who sung this song those who had gone through this sea of glasse and gotten the victory over spirituall enemies who had gone through this fiery sea and overcome they sing this song of Moses it s called the song of Moses because when Moses could look back and see his enemies dead in the red sea then he could sing so when souls see themselves spiritually delivered all their spirituall enemies lie dead before them then they can sing this is that new song mentioned Rev. 14. 3. That none could learn but those who were redeem'd from the earth it is called a new song in opposition to the old carnall and formall singings of the world it is such a song that none can learn but those who are redeemed from the earth what is that why it is to be delivered from that earthlinesse and fleshlinesse that possesseth souls when once souls are delivered from this earth as they shall in this new heaven then they can sing new songs and not till then see one Scripture in the old Testament amongst many answering this truth Zac. 8. 19. Thus saith the Lord The fast of the fourth moneth and the fast of the fift and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladnesse and chearfull feasts therefore love the truth and peace This its true relates to the Jews in the Letter concerning their Babylonish captivity but it principally relates unto our comming forth of mysticall Babylon as its clear in the verses to the end of the Chapter all those dayes of fastings shall be turned into dayes of feastings I remember in the Gospel when the Pharisees queried of Christ what the reason was that Johns disciples fasted and Christs fasted not his answer was the children of the Bridegroom cannot fast so long as the Bridegroom is with them but the time will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away and then shall they fast beloved it is an argument that the Bridegroom hath been gone from us a long time and that is the cause of those fastings and mournings but when the Bridegroom is come those dayes of fastings and mournings shall be ended and shall be turned into feastings and spirituall praisings This is that Paul mindes in the Primitive
times Col. 3. 16. Teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymnes and spirituall songs And truly when we come into these new heavens we shall then know what it is thus to teach one another Thus amongst many have I branched forth these few particulars wherein the nature and glory of this new heaven consists Vse 1. As to discover the ignorance of those who would retain men still in the old heavens under carnall and fleshly forms so 2. To incourage Saints who have yet but low apprehensions of this glory to presse forwards as Paul Phil. 3. forgetting those things which are behinde pressing forward to the mark that is the perfection of Christ who is the mark the prize run for It is a low and carnall principle for to set men a looking back after what once the soul injoyed not that I shall deny but that God may communicate comfort to souls in this low condition but that this is the temper of a Gospel spirit inlightned in the mysterie of truth to see the greatest glory to be before and that darknesse which is behinde and so it forgets that which is past from the glory of that which is before truly a soul taught of God in this spirituall mysterie of the new Creation cannot rest it self satisfied that is so satisfied as not to presse forward short of glory of that perfection which he sees in Christ this is the end of all Gospel ministrations thereby to work up souls into that unity of faith and knowledge of the son of God God working in it it shall be accomplished 2. To speak more externally by new heavens I understand to be meant a new Church estate and that in opposition unto the old it s said to be new First in respect of matter or members The old heavens were all carnall and prophane creatures people for the most part without the knowledge of God such was the matter of the carnall Church but the matter of this spirituall Church this new heavens shall be the Saints such as are all taught of God Thy children shall be all righteousnesse Isa 60. 21. Rev. 21. ult 2. New in opposition to the old manners and old conversation The members of the old Church were perhaps ignorant prophane having a form of godlinesse without the power of it but the members of this new heaven shall so walk with God as to honour his name God will so gloriously appear in them as that the world shal be convinced by their godly conversation The remnant that are left shall do no iniquity c. 3. They shall be new in respect of form compacted together by the Spirit not literall forms and ordinances The old heaven or Church-constitution hath been formed up with externall compactings the wisdom and power of the flesh knit together by things without them not by the bands of the Spirit the principle and power of love which is an everlasting band which will occasion Saints communion to be sweet and spirituall 4. They shall be new in respect of ministery not in the Letter but in the Spirit not fetcht out of the bottomlesse pit of creature-wisdom and humane abilities but the single ministration of the Spirit pray in the Spirit preach and prophesie in the Spirit praise in the Spirit that is in the wisdom and power of that law in the Spirit which will deliver Saints from fleshly actings into the glorious liberty of spirituall actings that they shall no more act from a legall principle to a law without them but from a principle of light life liberty and power within them Thus God will create a new heaven a new Church estate in the Spirit which will produce spirituall communion spirituall joy and gladnesse amongst the Saints who live in this light and glory This that mentioned Zac. 4. 2. The candlestick all of gold which notes unto us the purity of the Church not only in their comming forth of litterall Babylon but principally of our comming forth of mysticall Babylon in these latter dayes so likewise the woman cloathed with the sun Rev. 12. having the moon under her feet that is the Church cloathed with Christ the sun of righteousnesse But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4. with the Moon under her feet all things be low and short of Christ under feet low in esteem with the spirituall soul shee being with childe travailing pained to be delivered that is to bring forth Christ in the spirit This informs us of the vanity and ignorance of those who seek so much to keep up the old Heavens the old Church for matter and Members that will turn the world into Church by a human power they are those that must be spiritually slain Isa 65. 11 12. But ye are they that forsake the Lrod and forget my holy mountain that prepare a table for the troop and furnish a drinke offering unto that number therefore I will number you to the sword and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter c. Here is the vanity of such persons that seek to uphold forms fleshly actings and fleshly compactings the old Ministery fetcht out of humane abilities the wisdome of the flesh limiting the spirit to those humane qualifications where he appears least all these both persons and things must bow down to the slaughter Now I come to the second part of my text and a new earth in this new Creation there is not only new heavens but a new earth What this new earth is it 's to be looked upon either more mystically or more litterally as the new heavens 1. Mystically there is an earth in the heart of every man nay of every christian flesh and fleshly corruptions fleshly conclusions which prevents the joy of Saints now the Lord will make a new earth he will subject that old earth that is in his Saints that it shall not so prevail in them he will be a fire in them Mal. 3. 3. burning up and consuming this old earth and flesh O beloved there is much ignorance even amongst Christians of Christs appearing powerfully within as a fire to burn up and consume the deeds of darknesse this is that Iohn mindes when he saith he shall baptize you with the holy Spirit and with fire and Christ himself I am come to set fire in the earth and what will ye if it be already kindled truly friends it is the work of Christ to set fire in the earth that is that earth which is within you as well as without you 1. There shall not be such earthly actings actings after the flesh either the lusts of the flesh or the righteousnesse of the flesh 2. There shall not be such earthly distractings which flowe from those corrupt motions and actings but this earth being covered with the knowledge of the glory of God and delivered from this earthlinesse and fleshlinesse into the glorious liberty of the sons of God shall act to God