and civill which tend to his extraordinary good or hurt in respect of the nature of the things themselves and stands him upon to be most exact in the reall discovery of them 2 Is to lead us in fullest discovery and best distinction of things what they are in themselves to shun or enjoy them in their use with most care and tendernesse correspondent to their natures and institution given forth by God himself The truth of both these common reason amongst good dispositions in meer naturals in humane creatures confirmeth and so Gods Word in the greatest case of mans welfare expressed in 1 Tim. 3.16 in relation to Christs personall state and in Colos 4.3 to this politique and visible kingdom the like also ye have of the opposite conditions 1 Joh. 3.7 to ver 13.2 Thes 2.7 Revel 17.5 It being declared wherein a Mystery doth consist the reason and the use of it in both respects the result and chief benefit thereof is to help us in distinction between good and bad in the creatures and their use especially in those of greatest concernment to the welfare of mankind both temporall and spirituall and the contrary in both kinds For ever since the curse man is liable to both and most disposed to what is evill as no reasonable man will deny for brevities sake I shall wholly omit to meddle with that of Artificials Vegitables and Animals which if men buy with experience and losse it reflects onely upon estate which being high or lowe commendeth not to God but in the right use of both they are approved of him And shall touch upon humane nature and the Civill Pollcie thereof but chiefly addresse my self to spend my talent of time and strength received in the distinction of Divinity and Divillishnesse in the State personall and politicall and that principally of Policie In the distinction of humane nature which since the fall in generation is extreamly corrupted it is naturally discerned with reason concluded that that man whose naturall constitution or composition of Elements is most equall and freest from violent predomination of either particular is naturally most healthfull and comfortable and in humane reason hopefully lasting this no Naturalist will denie the opposite hereof must needs be the contrary in every respect In the distinction of Civill Policie which was and is a State God since the fall approveth of where he formerly gave no religious Institution as amongst the Gentiles neither yet doth or will injoyn any but as spiritually received from his Son and Disciples all rationall Naturallists and Disciples of Christ hold that to be safest whose constitution and contrivance in State is most free for justice in matters between man and man And is least incident to wayes of oppression through unruly and destructive pride and covetousnesse it s not intended by this expression to question what is in present being and stir up contention about it I wish the chief persons in it for Government were but so free to do Justice as the way is open for it but evill men and oppressors have done do and will abuse all wayes of Equitie and goodnesse In the distinction of truly Spiritual and Divine Nature in a particular or personall way all the holy men of God from Adam to this day in the effects thereof do declare in the measure of wisdome power and love received to be endeavouring of the most good obtainable towards mankind and the generall well-being of all things for its use this is most perfectly expressed in Jesus Christ the perfect pattern of Equity and kindnesse answerable to the Angels Proclamation at his coming Glory to God c. on earth peace good will towards men all the records of Doctrine and Discipline of the way of Redemption and salvation the Actions also and sufferings of Christ fully declare the same sutable to his divine spirituall nature he instituted a visible politique State without the least prejudice to the Civill as the Scripture holdeth forth at large in his own and his peoples sufferings by it without any trespasse against it In the distinction of the true Ecclesiasticall State or Divine Policie you shall find it hath its pattern in the nature of Christs personall being according to that is the Spirit of his Policie not snaring humane nature but saving it not imposing carnall ordinances or spirituall bonds upon any whether within or without the State but incouraging and approving the innocent in their wayes with freedome of spirit both perfect not extinguish humane nature in its proper use this hath no works of violence in the way of offence or defence worketh not upon any but with the word and counsell of the Spirit of truth t is alwayes suffering not doing wrong to any within or without it its free to give not to receive to serve not to be served In short its most clear that all that is of God and Christ in any spirituall way in personall and particular respects or in the politique and publique is in spirit and truth one and the same with him Every Truth discovereth its opposite in the nature thereof whether in things naturall or spirituall And so in the distinction of falsely spirituall or inhumane divillish nature in a particular or personall way All the wicked men from Adam to this day in the effects thereof declare in the measure of deceit pride and envie received from the devill to be endeavouring the most mischief or evill that can be laid upon mankind and upon all things provided for its use This is most perfectly expressed in the cursed nature thereof transported out of it self and subjected under the disposition of the most false and divellish nature of spirit which runneth out in ful streame in the expression of a false way Religion or in the abuse and perversion of any institution of Gods the truth hereof is proved in Cain in the Jews and in all false spirited persons likewise since those times and most magnificently in these last times in the spirit and policie of Antichrist wherein the very way of living is denied to those that submit not under the power thereof in this personall way from whence springeth the policie thereof The holy Ghost giveth the same distinction in 1 Joh. 3.10,11,12 in the distinction of the policie whereof the nature of the spirit of the divell and his off-spring brought forth in the cursed nature of man are most publiquely and palbably manifested and discovered In the distinction of the Mystery of Iniquitie in the publique or politique part thereof it will appear to be the same with the personall in disposition or nature of spirit not saving but snaring mankind with all the wayes of sin and miserie that the strength and violence of pride deceit and envie can make and do as t was Abels portion under Cain the Jews under Aegypt and Babylon Christs under Jews and Gentiles so t is his Churches under a spirituall Aegypt and Babylon the great cathedrall State