as the instrumentall meanes of this spirit working as the principall meanes Rom. 10.14 Iohn 6.63 now it is true God is not limited in his way of working that is he hath not confined himselfe to a verbal preaching although it is true likewise that he ordinarily and usually worketh faith by such meanes but a Gospell-preaching is of necessity in the working of faith that is a spirituall Gospel-discovery of the love of God in Christ and such a preaching may be by the spirit of Christ in reading some word or any other way he pleaseth to work and it may truly be called a Gospell-preaching any spirituall Gospel-discovery to a soule through which it is brought up into Gospell-injoyments may truly be called a spirituall unfolding or preaching of the Gospell hence it is that the preaching of the Letter or a verball preaching is no where called a powerfull and prevailing preaching unlesse the spirit preach it is the spirit that must convince the World of sin Ioh. 16. And our Gospell came not onely in word but in power and in the holy spirit 1 Thes 1.5 It is true God usually worketh by means but it is as true that he can as well work spiritually without meanes if he please and this he hath done much of late I do not question but many who are spiritually inlightned and live in the spirituall injoyments of God have had experience of it Qu. 3. What are the properties and effects of faith An. The properties and effects of Faith are many It justifies the soule from sin Act. 13.39 by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Qu. How may faith be said to justifie Answ 1. Not as the efficient cause of our Justification that is God onely in Christ it is God that justifies who shall condemne But 2. Faith justifies as it receives Christ and applyes him as its justification so that it is said to justifie because it satisfies and quiets the soule in Christ who is its justification Rom. 4.5 He that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnes Note two words 1. He that believeth on him that justifieth that is Christ all that believe are justified by him Acts 13.39 So it is Christ that justifieth faith only ownes that justification held forth in Christ 2. Word His faith is counted for righteousnesse that is either first God never declares a man righteous and just untill he gives him faith to enjoy his righteousnesse in Christ or else secondly his faith is counted or called his righteousnesse because he never till then enjoyed his righteousnesse And so that when I say or the Scripture saith that Faith justifieth that is faith receives and ownes the justification of God in Christ declared and so soule by it lives in the injoyment of justification and freedome from sin The 2. property or effect of faith is union and peace with God Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God ch 15.13 Now the God of hope filyou with joy peace through believing This is one glorious effect that those who once were a farre off should now be made nigh by the blood of Christ and be brought into the injoyment of it by believing The third effect is it puts the soule into the possession of the love of God 1 Ioh. 4.16 We have known believed the love that God hath to us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him It acts the soule above it selfe and causeth it to dwel in God and so to dwell in his love and this is an exceeding glorious effects and that which in the fourth place fills the soule with joy 1 Pet. 1.8 joy unspeakable and full of glory What can a soule desire more then to dwell continually in the love of God When the soule is satisfied from its union with God and its dwelling in God that all the administrations and makings forth of God is love unto it And thus it dwels in love and from hence is filled with joy it causeth the soule alwayes to dwell at the right hand of God where is joy pleasure for ever more Fifthly in a word to conclude the effect of faith is such as that GOD by it workes up the soule to an internal and external conformity to Christ in some measure with a spirituall and eternal conformity in perfection in another world 1. Iohn 3.1 2 3. Phil. 3.19 where faith shall cease and love and unity be made perfect 1 Cor. 13.13 SECTION VI. Wherein is the condition of persons restored by Christ their union with God discovered THe Restauration of persons by Christ may be considered 1. Either external and generall or else 2. more special and spirituall First externally and generally and that hath a relation to all it is as ye have heard formerly 1. A condition of being in the world 2. A condition of possibility of a spirituall and eternall wel-being in God if God in his Sonne draw up the soule to himselfe Ioh. 6.44 But secondly and that I principally intend is the more speciall and spirituall condition of soules thus drawne up to God in Christ it is not onely a restauration to the condition of the first Adam with relation to a freedome from sin This every believer enjoyes by Christ a freedome a justification from sinne But secondly every soule drawne up out of it selfe to God is brought into the condition of the second Adam which is a condition as far above the first as the Heaven is above the Earth For the first man is above the earth earthly the second man is the Lord from Heaven and as all men have born the Image of the earthly so those who believe beare the Image of the Heavenly and as is the Heavenly such are all they that are heavenly 1 Cor. 15.47 48 49. And wherein in Christ exceeds the first Adam therein believers exceed for they are as he is even in this world 1 Iohn 4.17 Now the condition of Christ and so the Saints exceeds the condition of the first Adam not only in their being upheld by God but principally in these four particulars 1. In their spirituall relations unto God Christ and so all believers are related to the Father as Sons and that not only by creation as the first Adam or naturall generation but first Christ a Sonne by a spirituall proceeding and comming forth from the Father who was eternally one in the Father and so in him all believers are made by the same spirit the adopted sons of God being made partakers of the same divine Nature Adams Son-ship was in the flesh by creation ours in the spirit by regeneration and the spirit of adoption which is indeed a mystery to all naturall men and worthy to be looked into and knowne of all the sonnes and daughters of Syon 1. John 3.1 2 3. Behold what
more then he is ever able to pay the Creditor having vowed satisfaction the debtor is cast downe and troubled exceedingly the creditor to satisfie both his own word and the mind of the debtor sends forth his son and fully inables him to pay the debt he brings along the debtor with him payes the debt cancels the bonds and sets him free and thus it was with the Father man had sinned God had said in the day thou sinnest thou shalt dye this debt of death must be discharged the Father that he might be just and yet a justifier and that the conscience of faln man whom he loved might be satisfied he gives or sends forth his Sonne he payes the debt and so satisfies the word of the Father and the conscience of the sinner and so indeed is not essentially the procuring cause of love but rather an effect of love to satifie both the word of the Father and the conscience of the sinner and this was Gods way from eternity through which he intended to manifest hmselfe to his people SECTION V. How persons come to have benefit by this meanes that God hath appointed as the way of life SInners come to have benefit by Jesus Christ by believing Iohn 3.16.36 He that believeth on the Son hath life and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth in him Faith as an instrument is the meanes appointed of God by which sinners receive and owne Jesus Christ and life by him For clearing this truth three things will be necessary to be considered First what Faith is Secondly how it comes Thirdly the properties and effects of it 1. What it is Faith is the apprehending and applying Christ and so the Father and his everlasting grace in him 1. It is the apprehending of Christ that is the observing and beholding of him as he is in himselfe the seeing of him in his beauty and excellency Esa 33.17 thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty it is to see all that worth to be in him that the soule needes and then 2. To apply him according to the soules present occasion a dying Christ to a dead soule and this Christ commends unto us to be the faith by which Soules come to enjoy salvation Iohn 6.40 this is the will of him that sent me that he that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life note Hee that seeth the Son that is apprehends that worth and excellency that ability the Father hath put in him to save sinners able to save all those to the utmost that come unto God by him and beleeveth on him that is applieth him receiveth him as its alone Saviour and justifier to them he gives power to become the Sons of God Iohn 1.12 even to as many as believe on his name 3. This faith doth not onely apply Christ as given forth of the Father singly and a part from the Father but it applyes that is ownes the Father in the Son and that everlasting love of the Father to the Soule brought downe through the Son for the Son is but the Fathers way downe to sinners Iohn 14.6 Iohn 12.44 He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me that is believeth not alone in Christ but believes and injoyes that everlasting good will and love of the Father to the soule anb so seeth the Father in Christ commending love and so giving forth himselfe to the soule and so is able to see and say that it is indeed God that justifies and that God was in Christ as the way reconciling sinners to himselfe not imputing their sins and now the sinner sees that Christ never acted any thing or brings downe any thing to the soule but what was and is the good will and pleasure of the Father and so faith ownes not only Christ but the Father giving forth the sonne as the price of their redemption Ephes 1.7 Gal. 3.13 and way of their adoption Gal. 4.5 2. How is this Faith obtained Answ It is the free guift of God as Christ who is its object and all other good things for every good and perfect gift comes downe from the Father God in Christ is the Prince and Author of our faith Heb. 12.2 Looking to Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Eph 2.8 ye are saved freely by grace through faith that not of our selves it is the gift of God faith is the proper and peculiar guift of God no man commeth unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him it is the Father that workes all the Father first loves and then gives his Sonne and then drawes soules up unto himselfe in the Son else they never come No man comes to me unlesse the Father draw him Iohn 6. hence it is that the experienced soule desires to be drawn Cant. 1.2 Phil. 1.29 for unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not onely to believe but to suffer that is you who have received this gift of faith must expect to suffer likewise Obj. But is not faith held forth in the Gospel as the condition of the Covenant of grace he that believeth shall be saved Answ 1. Although it seemes in the letter of the Gospel to be held forth as a condition of the Covenant he that believeth shall be saved yet it is in the spirit mystery of the Gospel a condition on Gods part it is true none can be said and say truly himselfe that he is in the Covenant of grace before faith yet this faith is the gift of God as you have heard and if any condition it is on Gods part in the mystery and it is his promise Heb. 8.10 This is the Covenant I will make with them I will write my Lawes in their hearts saith the Lord that is I will take them off themselves and make them partakers of my spirit which shall cause them to own love in God and to live out of themselves in God and shall cause them to act spiritually even as Jesus Christ himselfe acted and so faith may be said indeed to be rather a branch or part of the Covenant of grace then the condition for God in the Covenant promiseth to write his Law and to give faith and all good unto the soule he gives Christ a Covenant and with him he gives all having given us his Son how shall be not with him give us all things 2 Faith is indeed an evidence to the soule that is in the Covenant of grace and made one with God hence it is called Heb. 11.1 The evidence of things not seen that is not seen with a carnall eye the spirit evidenceth it and saith receiveth that evidence and so the soule is satisfied through faiths believing of the word and spirit of God Obj. What is the meanes by which God worketh faith Answ The meanes by which God workes faith is his word and spirit by the preaching of the Gospel
1 Cor. 2.14 Application To incourage the Saints in the power and spirit of Iesus to presse forward after this knowledge and injoyment of God in the spirit this was Pauls resolution who had tasted of the spirituall discoveries of God as deeply as any to presse discoveries of God as deeply as any to presse forward after perfection Phil. 3. Forgetting things that are behind not alwayes living below The effects of it will prove very glorious 1. It is that by which you shal be able with the more evidence of light truth to judg of things that differ the spirituall man judgeth all things 2. It is that will make the life of a Christian exceeding glorious carrying him through all difficulties with much spirituall joy 3. It is that will put a period to all differences and divisions amongst the Saints Divisions flow from our ignorance and dwelling so much in the letter 1 Cor. 3.3 Whereas there are among you divisions and strife are ye not carnall and walk as men Those divisions and that strife amongst the Saints about things in the letter argue that they are exceeding carnall but this knowledg of God in the Spirit will as a mighty Gulfe swallow up all those little differences and put an end to all strife both among particular Saints and in the Nations Isa 2.2 3 4. When once the mountain of the Lords house which is his Saints come to be established on the top of all Mountaines and Hills that is in the spirituall enjoyment of God above all caruall and fleshy things then shall all warres and divisions have an end and not till then 4. It is that will cause many a glorious Starre to fall from Heaven many who have acted much after the Letter will upon the discoveries of the glory of God in the Spirit fall from that light they seemed to have SECT VIII The matter of the Church what THE Church of Christ may be considered either as more generall or more particular 1. More generall and then it includes the whole body of the Saints in the spirit This of some is called the invisible Church but to speake in the Scripture-language it may be rather called the generall or universal Church the whol body of Saints in the spirit called the mystical body of Christ because of their spirituall union with and in Christ their head This Church or assembly for so the Greek Ecclesia properly signifieth we shall read of Heb. 12.22 23. Ye are come to Mount Sion unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the genearal Assembly or Church of the first born and written in heaven and to the spirits of just men made perfect this is the Church that shall be made one in glory the generall assembly of Saints the spirits of just men and it is that might be desired at present that Saints Communion might flow more from their union in the spirit and not altogether from the union in the letter this is the glorious Church of Christ and the knowledge of it in the spirit wil cause Saints to own each other more in the spirit 2. The Church of Christ may be considered more particular or a particular body or company of Saints in the visible profession of the Gospell walking in the injoyment of Ordinances taking particular care of each other and building up each other in the faith and of this Church we shall read freqent in the new Testament and this Church is likewise called the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12 27. and it is not to be questioned but that this practise is very commendable amongst Saints and the knowledge of God in the Spirit and of Saints in the Spirit will not breake or lessen the fellowship of particular Churches but increase it and make it to be more spirituall for questionles that which tends to the breach of communion and fellowship amongst Saints is not God for God is love and they who dwell in God dwell in love it is that will increase love and this is the more excellent way that which in conclusion wil swallow up all differences yet one thing is much to be desired that is that there might be a generall union amogst the Saints that those who are spirituall might not be divided in the spirituall Communion because of some literall differences about the use of ordinances and the like Oh that the Lord would help us to beare with each other in such things why cannot Saints in the matters of difference beare with each other according to the Apostles rule seeing he that observeth a day observeth it to the Lord and he that observeth not a day observeth it not to the Lord and both give God thankes Obj. But our difference is in matters of Ordinances for the most part which God commands and hath given them to us as priviledges Answ True yet they are such commands and priviledges as God hath given to His servants to lead them up to himselfe in the spiri and what if some injoy God gloriously in the Spirit without these and we find them spirituall and walking answerable to the spirit of Christ why should my conscience judge another mans Liberty and why should not we hold communion with such in the spirit and in the letter too in those things wherein there is a union but the truth is there is too too much erring at present upon both hands the one judging it too carnall for any Saints to walk in the use of Ordinances which is not a truth at present the other judging it inconsistent with the Gospel and the state of a Christian to live without the practice and use of ordinances a third sort there are that would submit to Ordinances but want Administrators and this is more carnall then either of the former because they expect that to bee in a creature which is only in God but here should be a bearing and forbearing where the Spirit of Christ is A fourth sort there are who put Ordinances upon those not capable of them without any word at all in the letters and this the most carnall work of all and savours much of the earth and of an Old testament-Testament-spirit from whence usually the ground is brought and it were much to be desired that the Lord would be pleased to enlighten their eyes that they might have more spiritual apprehension of the Gospel and the end of Gospel-Ordinances yet it should be the wisdome of the those taught from above to own any thing of God where-ever they find it and although it is true there cannot be a Communion with and in thing a never of God prescribed yet the spirit of love should so temper our spirits as that we should not bite devour on eachother but that as many as are spiritual though differing in some circumstantiall things in the letter yet owne each other in the Spirit imputing those differences to the flesh and this union in the
THE MARROVV OF CHRISTIANITY OR A spirituall discovery of some Principles of Truth meet to be knowne of all the Saints represented in ten SECTIONS By T. Collier Minister of the Gospell Whereunto is added an Epistle written by M. SALTMARSH Isaiah 32.20 Blessed are ye that sow besides all waters c. Isay 33.16 He shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munitions of Rocks bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure verse 17. and thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty c. London Printed by Charles Sumptner for Giles Calvert at the Black spread Eagle neer the West end of Pauls 1650. To the READER Christian Reader FOr to thee alone do I commend this smal Treatise who alone art able to judge of spirituall things for the spirituall man judgeth all things I have here in this Treatise presented unto publike view some principles of truth Although I suppose that some particulars herein may seem somewhat strange at the first sight yet I question not but the same spirit of Truth which is given forth from the Father through the Son to the Sts. will by degrees so gather us up into the mystery of Truth that we shall all speak the same thing from our walking in the same light and acting in the same power I have in this place only three words to mind thee of as a preparative to what thou shalt read in this ensuing Treatise First that the discovery of the first man Adam to be but a humane man a man indued with humane perfections is not a strange but a glorious truth and meet to be known for the knowledge of this one particular leads us to the knowledge of the Creatures nothingnesse the wisdome power righteousnesse c. of the Creature it is all but of the Earth and that it is the proper work of Christ the second man to ruine and destroy in thee all that is of the first Adam even those reliques that remaine that wisdom is turned into folly that strength into weaknesse that righteousnesse and holinesse into meere filthinesse and pollution so that Christ doth not where he comes in mercy restore man to his first condition as it was in Adam but destroyes those principles as we are Christians and so creates a new man in us which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephes 4.24 and he that is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 All old things are done away behold all things are become new and as is the earthly such are they who are earthly as is the heavenly that is Christ such are they who are heavenly 1 Cor. 15.48 Secondly that the glory of a Christians life is in the knowledge of Christ living in him so the Aposte Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ Neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and Christ in you the hope of glory is the great mystery of the Gospel for the Saints to know Col. 1.27 that is not to live wholly on the eying of what Christ hath done without us for us but likewise to be able to experience the life of that Christ in us being made partaker of the same spirit of the same Anointings c. Thirdly that the knowledge of Antichrist is the knowledge of a mystery I mean a mystery of Iniquity which none can know but those enlightned from above that as the mystery of the Gospel is hid so likewise is the mystery of Iniquity hid from them that perish Lastly and in a word my desire is that what truth thou findest here written thy spirit may be made one in and with the same truth that so both thou and I may have communion and fellowship with the spirit in the same truth and what information and consolation thy spirit findeth from what is truth letting any Creature-weaknesse thou findest passe let God have the glory and so thy poore friend in the unity of truth and fellowship of the 〈…〉 A Table of the principle things contained in this Treatise SECTION 1. OF Adams condition before his fall Page 1 Adams in a condition of humane perfection p. 1. 2. The Jmage of God what in Adam p. 2. 3. 5. Mans best wisdome but the remainder of the first Adam in it many too much glory p. 3. 4. What the Jmage of Adam is not p. 8. SECTION 2. The cause or ground of mans fall First the mutability of his condition p. 8. God not the cause of sin p. 10. The second causr of mars fall p. 11. Satans temptation Why Satan called a Serpent p. 12. The cause of mans fall disobedience p. 13. The tree of knowledge of good and evill why so called p. 13. SECTION 3. Mans misery by reason of his fall p. 14. 15. Mans misery considered under 3 heads p. 16. SECTION 4. What is the means God hath appointed for the recovery of man out of this condition that is Jesus Christ p. 27 The sin and fault is layd upon Christ p. 17. 18 Christ bare the sins of all all are saved and how not saved and the reason why p. 19. 20. 21 Christ not the efficient cause of love but rather an effect of love p. 22. 23. 25 How Christ delivers from wrath p. 13. 24. SECTION 5. How persons come to have benefit by this means that God hath appointed as the way of life which is by Faith p. 26. What Faith is p. 26. 27. How Faith is obtained p. 28. Faith not a condition of the Covenant p. 29. Faith a branch of the Covenant p. 3. Faith an evidence of the Covenant p. 30. The means by which Faith is wrought p. 31. The properties and effects of Faith p. 31. How Faith justifieth p. 32. 33. Faith produceth peace with God p. 33 Faith puts the soule into the possession of love it fills the soule with joy p. 34. SECTION 6. Wherein the condition of person restored by Christ and their union with God is discovered which is first a freedome from sin p. 35 Second in being one with and in Christ p. 36. Christ and the Christians relations one first Christ a Son so the Saints p. 36. Secondly relation of spirituall union p. 37. In the spirit power wisdom righteousnesse love and glory p. 38. to the 49. Saints Communion with the Father Son and each other p. 50. 51. 52 SECTION 7. Wherein is declared what the Law is what the Gospell with the difference between them both in the Letter and in the Spirit p. 55. First what the Law is in the letter p. 55. 56. 57 Secondly what the Law is in the Spirit p 56. What the Gospell in the Letter is p. 61. 62 What the Gospell in the Spirit is p. 64. The Mystery of the Gospell what p. 65 The life of Faith in the most spirituall 67. 68 The difference between the Law and the Gospell p. 70. 71. The glorious effects of the knowledge of God in Spirits p. 63. SECTION 8. The matter of
manner of love is this that we should be called the sons of God 2. Relation of Christ and so of the Saints as of sons so of a spiritual union with God not only a union by way of peaee but a union of spirit thus was the Father and the Son one Iohn 14.10.11 Ioh 10.30 I and the Father are one And thus are all the Saints one in the Father the Son and in and with each other in the spirit Iohn 17.21 It was a part of the prayer of Christ who was heard in all things he asked That they also may be one in us Now the union of the Father Sonne and Saints may be considered either as first a union of spirits The Lord powred down of his Spirit abundantly upon the Lord Jesus according to that Glorious prophesie Esay 11.2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of councell and might the spirit of knowledge and the feare of the Lord. And this was fulfilled when Christ was haptized Mat. 3.16 Iohn 1.22.23 Of this spirit are the Saints made partakers Ioh. 14.16.17 I saith Christ will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter and he shall abide with you for ever even the spirit of truth whom the world can not receive This spirit of Christ or this spirituall anointing is that which every son and daughter of God are made partakers of Rom. 8.9 Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Christ dwells spiritually in all the Saints Christ is in you except ye be reprobates Therefore it concerns all who professe themselves to be Christians to examine themselves It is much to be feared that there are exceeding many carnall Christians I meane that beare the name of Christians and that in a more then a common and ordinary way And if Christ be in you Rom. 8.10 the body is dead because of sinne that is the body is a dead and sinfull body and cannot act toward God if Christ be in you you shall be sensible of it Never a soule wherein Christ dwels but is sensible of its owne deadnesse through the dwelling of Christ there Col. 3.8 Ye are dead saith the Apostle and your life is hid with God in Christ but the spirit is life because of righteousnesse that spirit of Jesus that adopteth sons to the Father in him and hath discovered and made the soule partaker of the righteousnesse of God in him lives and acts continually in the spirituall Christian Hence it is the Apostle could say by experience Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ lives in me Thus are the Saints made partakers of the same spirit of life that was in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit of the same anointings and the anointings that ye have received shall teach you all things 1 Ioh. 2.27 2. They that are joyned to the Lord are made partakers of the same power there is a union with the Father in his power the spirit of might was powred upon Jesus Christ and he stood in the power of the Father as he came forth in the wisdome of the Father so he acted by the power of the Father and this power the first Adam never had and as Christ the head was upheld in the Fathers power he was anointed with the holy spirit and with power Acts 10.38 All power in Heaven and Earth was given to him so that he stood in the power and strength of the Almighty and this did not the first Adam if hee had then he had not fallen he is called Esa 9. the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace so that he stands while God stands So likewise this is the condition of all the Saints spiritually made one with God in him the same power upholds them that upheld Christ they are kept by the power of God unto salvation Gods power is become the Saints power A glorious word of comfort for the Sonnes and Daughters of Sion with relation to afflictions either externall or internall they stand not in their owne strength they are not founded upon their owne bottome they are out of themselves the power of God is theirs and they may conclude with comfort that while God stands they shall stand he hath promised to be with his in affliction to uphold them to comfort them to carry them through in his bosome If the Saints were but sensible of this truth that the power of God is for them it is that would exceedingly help them against the feare of falling 2. Consider this might be a warning to the Saints to take heed of acting in their owne power but in all undertakings to see themselves acted by a power above themselves 3. As there is a union of spirits a union of power so there is a union in wisdom the wisdome of God is become the Saints wisdome and that not as in the first Adam he was made partaker of wisdome God imparted wisdome unto him so as to make him a reasonable man humane wisdom according to his humane nature so that here dwelt in him as you have heard formerly a humane perfection in this particular but the second Adam Christ was not only made partaker of the gifts of wisdome but he was the very wisdom of the Father hee was both the power and the wisdome of God he had the spirrit of wisdom powred downe upon him hee dwelt in the Fathers hosome and lived in the knowledge of the whole Councel of GOD and from hence he never did his owne will but the will of the Father and as Christ so all the Saints are made one in this wisdom Christ who is the wisdom of God is made unto us wisdome 1 Cor. 1.30 not only by way of imputation but by the operation of the same spirit who dwels as truly in every believer as in Christ and as the wisdom of the spirit increaseth so the wisdome of the flesh decreaseth that wisdome in the first Adam was a humane wisdome this a spirituall and heavenly wisdom this wisdome destroyes that wisdom that is in the things of God he destroyes the wisdome of the wise and brings to nought the understanding of the prudent that wisdome sets the creature aworking this sets the creature a believing that wisdom carryed on the creature in its owne power this spirituall wisdome sets the creature out of himselfe in the power of God that wisdom carryed on the creature to the answering of God in the Letter and yet in all comes short this wisdome carryes on the soule where it dwells not after the oldnesse of the Letter but after the newnesse of the spirit in a word that wisdome could not help to the knowledge of God in the spirit this doth 1 Cor. 1. After that in the wisdome of God the world viz. in the wisdome of the first Adam by wisdome knew not God but the wisdom
of Christ teacheth the spirituall knowledge of God 1. Cor. 2.12.14.15.16 Hence it is that those who are taught of God despise the worlds wisdome and are content to be fooles to the world and in the worlds eyes that they may be wise in God Hence it is likewise that so many ignorants in the wise and learned mens account are made partakers of the knowledge of God in the mystery which indeed according to the word of the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.27 confounds the wise and learned and mighty things of the world this being a truth that Saints are made one in the wisdome of the Father How should this in the first place incourage them to look up to the Lord for the more full enjoyment of this spirituall wisdome that as they are made one in the wisdom of God so they might live in the same wisdome and from a deep sense of their own folly to look unto the Lord for continuall teachings and leadings forth in the spirit expecting that promise to be fulfilled Thou shalt heare a voice behind thee saying This is the way walke in it when thou turnest to the right hand or to the left 2. This might be a ground of comfort to the Saints in all their walkings with God the wisdome of God is theirs that God with and in whom they are made one is their wisdome and in the conclusion they shall be swallowed up in the perfection of it as Christ himselfe 1 John 3.2 3. This might answer that foolish opinion of they world who look upon the most spirituall Saints as the worst fooles in the world It is true the wisdom of God is folly with men but if the could look with a spirituall eye they should see that those people are the only wise people wise in God and those who live below upon Creatures and things that will not nor cannot satisfie are indeed in Gods account the only fooles and they themselves shall be driven to confesse it one day 4. Christ and the Saints are made one with God in righteousnesse Gods righteousnesse was Christs righteousnesse for the fulnesse of the God-head dwelt in him bodily He was filled with the spirituall in-dwellings of God who continually acted him according to the divine pleasure and as the second man was made one in the righteousnesse of the Father so are all the Saints made one in the same righteousnesse he was made sinne for us that wemight be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Quest How may the Saints be said to be the righteousnesse of God in Christ Answ Either First in the Letter there is a righteousnesse presented which is the first thing sinners are made partakers of that is the righteousnesse of a Christ dying upon the Crosse making satisfaction to the letter of the Law and to the conscience troubled by reason of that letter which is indeed the cause of sin for where no law is there is no transgression Now Christ dying upon the Crosse satisfies the Law and likewise upon the sight and application of him satisfies the troubled conscience This is the first righteousnesse of God discovers to the soules of sinners and by faith makes them partakers of it and this is called the righteousnesse of God because God gave forth his Son inabled him to go through and by his suffering to obtaine such a righteousnesse for his people that might both satisfie the Law transgressed and the Conscience of mans transgressing Secondly in the spirit the Saints are made the righteousnesse of God that is God now as in Christ dwells and acts in the Saints by his Spirit writes his Law in their hearts makes them partakers of his owne nature and so goes on in fulfilling his owne righteousnesse in them For the righteousnesse of the Law in the Spirit is fulfilled in us as well as the Law in the Letter for us who walke not alter the flesh that is after the Law in the Letter but after the spirit of Christ who dwels in us and acts according to its own pleasure and so by degrees drawes up the spirits of his people to himselfe untill at last they are swallowed up in the fulnesse of the rigbteousnesse of God in the Spirit and be made wholly and for ever one in the Father with Christ 1 Iohn 1.2 A glorious mysterious truth meet to be knowne of all spirituall Ones this is the top of the Saints glory and their height of spirituall perfection the knowledge and enjoyment of this spirituall Onenesse in the Father and in the sonne 1 Iohn 2.2 4. 5. There is an Onenesse in love and delight between the Father Son and Saints the Fathers love and delight is in his Son and Saints Mat. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased well pleased with his Son and with his Saints in his Son Hence the Lord speaking after the manner of men is said to delight and sing and rejoyce over his people even as the Bridegrome rejoyceth over the Bride Esa 62.5 Zeph. 3.17 to rejoyce even with joy and singing So Likewise it is the delight and joy of the Saints to live in the Fathers love the very thoughts of it is precious and the injoyment of it exceeding glorious though the soule seemes to come short of the perfection of that injoyment in this world yet what it sees and injoyes with the expectation of perfection in another world fills the soule with joy unspeakeable and full of glory and now as the soule dwells in the Fathers love delight and joy so likewise it dwels in the Fathers will and it delights in and is well pleased with the will of the Father it can say with Christ what ever temptation presents it selfe yet not my will but thy will be done such is the Onenesse betweene the Father Sonne and Saints they delight and take pleasure in each other 6. There is a union in glory likewise the Fathers glory is the Sonnes glory and the Sonnes glory is the Saints glory what this glory shall be is unconceiveable and unexpressable to go about to expresse it either with tongue or pen would rather darken it then illustrate it yet a word by the way the perfection of the Saints glory shall be the enjoyment of all things in God who is and shall be their everlasting fulnesse in the spirit Those who dreame of a Kingdome after the flesh or of any externall pleasures in the highest measure discover themselves to have exceeding carnall thoughts of the Saints glory It is true they shall have a Kingdom but a spiritual one so called because injoying all spirituall satisfactions in the fountaine when the body and all the whole internall and externall part of man shall be turned into spirit 1. Cor. 15.44 And our vile body shall be changed made like his glorious body In a word Such is the Saints Glory and shall be in the perfection of it through their union with God in Christ that we must conclude
for the witness of Jesus were raised or lived and reigned with Christ as the sense of the former then they that shall be alive at the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep so that the spirit of God might as well deliver a truth which is in the Present tense in the Preterpluperfect tense as a truth in the Present tense which was in the Future and yet is all to exercise the mind of him that readeth and to let us know there is mystery in the Gospel Secondly very few Saints have been beheaded in the litterall sence those that have dyed for Christ have dyed other deaths and not beheaded therefore we cannot understand it in the Letter but in the spirit The fourth particular propounded was what was meant in that the rest of the dead were not raised untill the 1000. yeares were finished that is none that had been bodily dead Saints or wicked good or bad were raised till after the 1000. yeares were finished and then you shall see the resurrection of all which is called the second resurrection the first is called a resurrection and the first resurrection because it shall be a resurrection from shame and disgrace in the world And secondly it shall be a glorious resurrection in the spirit this first all the Saints have in some measure been partakers of it Thus it appeares that Christ shall have a Kingdome a glorious a spirituall One Quest But when shall this Kingdome be Ans It is already begun in the spirits of Saints The Kingdome of Heaven is within you 2. I beleeve that the time of the 1000 years which is a more glorious estate in the spirit is not yet begun but the beginning of that time shall be when the 7. seales are fully opened c. the 7. Trumpets fully sounded and the 7 vials powred forth they being but effects of each other the opening of the seales occasions the sound of the Trumpets the sound of the trumpets occasions the vials the opening of the seales the unfolding of the mysteries of the Gospell which have been hid Rev. 5.1 2. As light breaks forth the Trumpets sound the servants of Jesus preach forth the mystery of the Gospell in the power and puritie of it occasions the vials of wrath to fall upon the Antichristian estate both in the spirit and in the letter which work is now adoing Wait the Lords time and it will come on apace But first we are yet like to be given into the hands of the little horn who changes times lawes the two witnesses are yet like to be slain and to lye dead 3 dayes and a halfe and the Woman cloathed with the Sun to be driven into the wildernes for a little space a time times and halfe a time the beast with two hornes like a Lambe hath yet a little time to make use of his power perswading them that dwell in the earth to make an Image to the first beast and that none but those who own it shall buy or sell with them the Saints beheaded under the Alter to wait a little time before they be raised up to live with Christ 1000. yeares but it is not long the vision is for an appointed time in the end it will speak and not lye it will come and not tarry the first 1000. is almost past the second and third are coming on apace and all the Nations and Kingdoms in the world will come apace to be the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever their lives shall be prolonged for a season and a time and other Scriptures are alleaged for a personall reign of Christ as the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands Dan. 2. that is the glorious power of Christ by weak meanes subduing al Antichristian enemies without his Saints all Antichristian things by his spirit within them So that in Dan. 7.10 the glorious company of Saints attending on Christ in the spirit which shall be fulfilled at the raising of the two witnesses up into Heaven in the sight of their enemies Rev. 5.10 11. This is the first glorious work of the Lord Jesus in and amongst the Saints the Lord reigneth let the Saints rejoyce the Lord reigneth let the world tremble see Zach. 14.5 The Lord our God will come and all the Saints with him that is Christ will come in the Spirit and all the Saints shall appear gloriously in him A word of application First if this be truth that the Kingdome of Christ is a spirituall Kingdome and not of this world this may inform us how farr besides the Gospel in the spirit and truth of it those men are who make the Kingdome of Christ to be meerely politicall and a state-Kingdome who turne the world by a humane power into the Church and Kingdome of Christ as they say and Christ must have a worldly carnall Kingdome no better th n the Kings of the earth enjoy or else he shall have none at all it savours exceedingly of the earth and ere long thither it must returne 2. This could incourage the Saints to pres forward after the knowledge of God in the spirit that as the Kingdom of Christ is spirituall and not of this world so may the Saints Kingdome likewise be in the spirit and so all their enioyments may be spirituall enjoyments this is that will make the soule fat and wel-liking in the Lord I l fithe soule with joy and peace which the world is not acquainted with their eyes never saw it nor their hearts conceived it neither are they like to see it unlesse the Lord make them spirituall SECT X. Of Death Resurrection Iudgement and the state of the Saints after Iudgemene eternally with God FIrst of death It is appointed for all men once to dye Dust we are to dust we must returne and therefore it behoves us to to expect it All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite til my change come Death is certaine although the time be uncertaine it is that none are in a common aid ordinary way exempted from unlesse those Saints who are alive at the last comming of Christ they shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1. Cor. 15.51.52 and so shall be caught up in the spirit to meet the Lord in the ayre 1 Thes 4.17 Secondly of the Resurrection That there shall be a resurrection of the Body at the last day is evident John 5.28 29. John 11.24 with 1 Cor. 15. throughout Rev. 20.12.13 although this truth is by some denyed and by others too carnally looked upon some thinking that our bodies of flesh shall be raised in the same forme in which it dyed others that it shall be spiritual yet question whether it shall be of the same substance therefore it will be necessary to consider two particulars for the clearing of it First by what power we shall be raised Secondly with what bodies 1 By what Power
nothing but spirituall Antichristian delusions with invented and Antichritian formes and Ordinances A Vial of wrath is coming on you which will shatter to pieces all your confidence and then if mercy prevent not you may stand looking on and crying alas elas in one houre is so great riches come to naught and then when this is fulfilled there shall be no more War in Heaven or spirituall delusion under the name of Christ A glorious word for those that dwell in Heaven and that which will cause joy to the Saints For first they shall be without and above all danger of delusions in the spirit or in the letter And secondly they shal from the same ground be for ever freed from fellowship with Hypocrits and literall Christians for their communion shall be more in the spirit and lesse in the Letter and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoaever worketh abomination that is lives earthly carnall and prophane or maketh a lye that is Hypocriticall that seems to be what he is not But they which are written in the Lambs book of life and there shall be no more a Canaanite in the house of the Lord for ever This is the great work Christ hath to do in these latter dayes the consumation of the Kingdome of Antichrist who hath a long time sat in his seat with the exaltation of his own Kingdome in the spirit SECTION V. Quest When he shall be ruined Answ FIrst in the mystery and spirits of the Saints as Jesus Christ comes in and shines gloriously in the spirit so shall Antichrist be discovered and destroyed and so he hath received a great blow already in this Nation through the shinings in of Jesus Christ in the spirit amongst many of his Saints so that this is the time of Antichrists ruine when Jesus Christ comes in takes place in the spirit of his people and the Kingdome of Christ increaseth so the Kingdome of Antichrist decayeth and consumeth Secondly Antichrist shall be destroyed when the everlasting Gospell shall be preached that is when the Angell flyeth through the middest of Heaven preaching the everlasting Gospell that is when the Ministers of the Gospel shal come forth with their full and heavenly discoveries of God in the spirit being permitted to preach the Gospel by the earthly power in all places with liberty For much hath been don already by the witnesses prophesyng in sack cloth that is almost always in danger of a civill persecution and much ignorance of the mystery of the Gospel which hath caused them to prophesie in sac-cloth yet they have had power to cause fire to come from Heaven as oft as they please burning up all Antichristian formes and invented delusions And then what will be done think you when the Ministers of the Gospell shall come forih in the full and bright discoveries of the Gospel with liberties here below for the publishing of it Thirdly Antichrist shall be destroyed when the witnesses have been slaine laine dead three dayes that is a short space then a tenth part of the City shall fall and the rest shall have their time prolonged but for a time a season The first woe is almost past behold a second and third woe cometh quickly wait and it will come apace Thus have I from the light of Truth with as much brevity as may be in some measure hinted at this Man of sinne this mystery of Iniquity with his reign ruine with the meanes and time FINIS