as the other by worldly Thoughts they remained stony and so became unfruitful so as how much or how long they believed we have no warrant to make them like those fore-mentioned Nor yet of them John 2.23 of whom it 's not affirmed they professed or confessed him There was more danger in that then in believing But I need take no pains in this for Mr. Owen hath excluded these from those mentioned in stating the Question of whom he affirms the Graces given and received to be the works of the Spirit effectually working in all the powers of the Soul and producing Light Love Joy Zeal change of Affections amendment of Life Obedience And going over them again Page 423. Chap. 17. Sect. 27. he saith That in persons thus wrought upon there is or may be such an assent upon Light and Conviction to the Truths professed and preached to them as is true in its kinde not counterfeit giving and affording them in whom it is wrought Profession of the Faith and that sometimes with constancy to the Death or the giving of their Bodies to be burned with perswasions whence they are called Believers of a future enjoyment of a glorious and blessed condition filling them with ravishing affections and rejoycings in Hope which they profess suitable to the expectation they have of such an estate and condition These cannot be said to be Hypocrites in the most proper sense of that Word c. their high Gifts Knowledge Faith change of Affections and Conversation being in their own kinde true as the Faith of Devils So far he In all which it appeareth That other rabble mentioned by him cannot be brought in to be numbred with these which he confesseth may abide and die in the Faith yea and for the Profession of the Faith or they may fall away and of such as do fall away he saith Page 429. That before their falling they were in a fair way for Life and Salvation As for his Parenthesis about the Truth of their Faith As the Faith of Devils he therein intimately granteth this That the Devils have Faith true in its kinde but That the Devils have Faith and true Faith in any kinde as the word Faith is used in the Scripture I believe not because with all my search I finde not one such word there That the Devils in a sense do believe That there is one God I believe because the Scripture saith it But to believe the Devils have Faith I dare not because it is said The simple believeth every word but the prudent Man looketh well to his going Iam. 2.19 Prov. 14.15 Deut. 32.20 Mat. 17.17 Mar. 9.19 Luk. 9.41 2 Thes 3.2 with Rom. 15.30 31. And upon search and pondering I dare not say but many of them did believe there is one God that are affirmed Children in whom is no Faith and likewise of those our Saviour calleth Faithless yea and some of them also of whom the Apostle affirms All Men have not Faith I mean not to justifie that foolish Proverb Seeing is believing yet there is a believing that is from personal knowledge sight and sensible experience and such believing is in the Devils But the believing that is called Faith is a gracious Gift of God Act. 17.31 Rom. 1.5 16.26 Act. 11.21 Rom. 4.24 5.1 10.15 Gal. 3.1 2 3. 2 Thes 1.3 10. in which he hath provided for all Men an Object of Faith and causeth it to be preached to Men for the Obedience of Faith And those that in hearing hear he by his Spirit enlightneth their Mindes and moveth their Hearts that they may believe and believing is no farther called Faith then it closeth with the Object of Faith and so Faith is by hearing and the Spirit also and so in believing receiving the Testimony is in Men Faith But God hath provided no Object of Faith for the Devils and so for believing by Knowledge Sight and Sense they do know that is so believe that the Man Jesus Christ took neither their Nature nor Cause on him and so did not die or work any Redemption for them but took on him the Nature and Cause of Mankinde whom the Devil had overthrown and came to save Men and of Purpose to destroy the works of the Devil and that there is no door of Repentance for them but he hath destroyed his first work already and is about destroying his second and will utterly destroy it in his time shut him up in prison for a time bound and after cast him into a Lake of fire tormenting him for all the mischiefs he hath done to Mankinde and to his People he knows that God in Christ is one and will thus torment him and this certainty of his knowledge and so believing makes him tremble at the minding of his own Damnation Now I hope none will put the Sons of Men in the same species or rank and order with the Devils as that Christ took not their Nature and Cause on him hath wrought no Redemption for them nor opened any Door of Repentance to them but came to aggravate their sins and so to damn them to the same punishment with the Devils If any should believe thus they should believe as falsly as the Devils believe truely But on the contrary if any Man do by hearing the Testimony of Christ as verily believe Jesus Christ to have taken the Nature and Cause of Mankinde on him and so to have died for our sins and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice to God and so to be the Propitiation for the sins of the World and God through him propitious to Mankinde and so a Justifier of sinners that believe in Jesus and all this for the good of Mankinde that they might believe and in believing be saved This will fill a Man with Consolation and Hope as verily as the Devils believing the Truth of all this to be against them doth fill them with trembling and so believing in the Devils is neither having of Faith it makes them averse to it but such believing in a Man as closeth with the Object of Faith and receives influences from it is Faith Hence the Apostle proveth That though a Man believe there is one God yet seeing God is in Christ propitions if that he believeth work not up confidence and love to bring forth Fruits either it is no Faith he hath never yet been united to the Object or if he were he is withdrawn and so hath lost the Spirit and Life of Faith and so his Faith is become dead like the Body of a Man when the Soul and Spirit is departed so that if the Faith in a Man be as real and true in its kinde closing with the Object as the believing of the Devils is true in their kinde filling them with enmity against that believed then that Faith is right and in a Man as verily saving as to the Devils an occasion of trembling V. Whereas he saith They are changed as to their use not in
12.9 10. to be a speaking against and blaspheming the Holy Ghost in that evidence he gives of Christ and the power and goodness of God in and through him and so it is a willing persisting in contempt and refusal of this Grace in the Mediator when evidenced by the Holy Ghost and so rising up in opposition against his Testimony and strife till he hath finished his Testimony and strife with them for till then the Mediator is mediating for them with God and striving with them by his good Spirit so as in all their sinnings against him though they grieve and sin against the Holy Spirit yet there is forgiveness with him and so hope while he by his Spirit in means is striving with them yea if that be all the dayes of a Man's Life though to all it will not be so But when a Man hath wilfully despited this Holy Spirit after Light and so long and often that he is wholly taken away and the Man given up to Satan and so become of the Serpentine seed then is there no more forgiveness after because there is no other Sacrifice for him and this he hath utterly renounced and this sin is found in such according to the means and light in the means with which the Holy Spirit had been testifying to them and striving with them as may be seen by comparing the Scriptures in the Margent in which sin Prov. 1 24-31 Jer. 6.16.30 Ezâ—k 24.12 13 14. Heb. 10.29 according to the light and power extended to Men in the means less or more is the most high degree against the Father in contemning and ill requiting his love and graciousness and treading under foot his Son whom he hath sent and been giving to them and the highest degree of sinning against the Mediator the Man Christ in counting as common and prophane that precious Blood and sacrifice of his with which they were bought and so given into his dispose to shew favour to and some in some measure sanctified and the highest degree of sinning against the Holy Spirit in his gracious tenders of Grace to them And it is most properly called The sin against the Holy Ghost because the goodness of God in the first Creation was manifested without a Mediator to Man in innocency and so no need of this sanctifying work while Man was naturally holy and the Goodness of God in the Redemption wrought for Men though manifested in works of mercy through a Mediator yet Men so blinde and weak that they come not in thereby through the Mediator unto God therefore God out of his abundant Grace stretcheth forth his Hand by sending through Christ the Mediator and in his Name the Holy Spirit in the means he useth to enlighten the Mindes and move at the Hearts of Men that they might see believe and so turn and after some of their resistings reneweth his strife with more light and power yea if they yeild not then with some reproofs and chastisements And if after all this they sin against light and willingly persist despiting till they have wholly despited the love of the Father discovered by the Spirit in the Blood of Christ and the Blood and Sacrifice of Christ by which Peace was made for them and by and with which the Spirit hath been working on them and herein despited all the Light and Reproof and gracious Allurements and Bands of Love by the Holy Spirit streamed on them to bring them in to God Heb. 10.29 6.6 and so persisting till given up this proves a third sort and degree of sinning for which there is no sacrifice yea which contemneth the sacrifice in which is help for all sins of both the former sorts yea for all but this casting it off Fourthly and lastly These forementioned two sorts of sins so offered for by Jesus Christ as is said appears by the Scripture-Declaration how and in what manner and for what manner of sins and sinning God doth reprove charge and condemn Men either to Correction Judgements or Eternal Condemnation which since Christ undertaking and his Oblation considered we shall never finde to be for fins simply as fallen in Adam nor yet simply for their natural and necessitated weaknesses and swervings having no remedy afforded them to help much less because Christ died not for them or used no sufficiency of mean toward them by which they might have received help yea the manner of God's proceeding with Men witnesseth That Christ died for them and hath discharged the first debt for them and used means in good will and for good to them whence he saith Gen. 6.3 My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with them And so proceedeth in charging with Sin Reproof and Condemnation Prov. 1 24-31 9.12 Isa 1 2-15 5 4-8 Ezck. 24.13 Icr. 6 16-30 Mat. 23.37 Ioh. 3.19 Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and none regarded ye would none of my counsel ye despised all my reproof ye refuse to hearken ye harden your hearts c. I would and ye would not And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light Which is another manner of Charge and Condemnation and for another manner of sinning putting under another manner of guilt than as Men fell in Adam And these are every way directly Men's own sins for which there is cleansing and pardon to be received in and through Christ till the Grace of his Oblation testified by the Holy Spirit be wholly despited but these things are shewn before and will be more in the after-Discourse only I have been thus large to shew that Christ offered his Oblation both to take away the sins Mankinde was fallen into and to procure authority and fitness to take away the following evils found in Men by offering it to God and for the making that known and taking away the following evils by application of the vertue of his Oblation to Men of which in his Intercession And yet farther to shew for what he gave himself for us it was 3. That by this Sacrifice so offered he might become the Lord of of all Men and Saviour of the World that so he may rightfully dispose of them and use such means to make known his Death and Sacrifice and the Ends and Vertues of the same to them as he being one with his Father in his will and design pleaseth and so to reprove and comfort Rom. 14.9.12 Psa 2.6 7 8 9. or abase and exalt accordingly as he pleaseth and this is express For to this end he died and rose and revived that he might be the Lord both of the dead and the living c. 2 Cor. 5.15 answerable to the promise made to him by the Father on that account and so it is said He died for all that they which lived each in their several ages should not kenceforth from the making this known to them though before they did live
of the Faith or Holiness treated of III. Legal Repentance if by legal be meant that which is right true sound and according to rule we would not strive about words it might stand but by many expressions used and the scope of the business it 's evident that cannot be the meaning here and therefore 1. If by legal Repentance be meant a Repentance effected by the Law under which Man was fallen discovering sin and sentencing to death for sin affording no hope Gal. 3.13 Rom. 9.31 32 33. 10.2 3. but in answering the righteousness it requireth and so afflicting with despair and terrors of wrath and death at best effecting such a grief as causeth thoughts or returning to regain such a righteousness c. this stands cross to Faith and submission to Christ and so is none of the works of the Spirit in the Testimony of Christ See Part 2. ch 7. but the Fruit of unbelief if not also of an evil Ministration being the exercise of a natural conscience through ignorance of the Oblation of Christ and Peace made thereby and also ignorance of God's proceedings with Men through a Mediator and upon what account he chargeth sin upon Men and will proceed to punish them so that this is rather a fruit of the deceitfulness of sin the work of the Spirit being otherwise 2. If by legal Repentance be meant such efficacies as were in Men under the Law as given by Moses effected in that Ministration keeping still under a Spirit of Bondage suitable to the time before Christ came in the Flesh and offered the Oblation and sate on the right hand of God to mediate Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.1 7. 5.1 â— Tim. 1.7 1 Joh. 4.3 2 Joh. 7. Act. 20.21 Heb. 6.1 and so sent forth the Holy Ghost This would be denial of Christ come in the flesh to attribute such efficacies to the Holy Spirit in the Gospel now yet a Repentance is wrought in the working of the Holy Spirit but it is such as the Gospel teacheth even Repentance towards God and from dead works and not this legal Repentance nor are any under the Gospel-Ministration on the account of such legal Repentance anywhere called Believers or Saints As for that alledged 1 King 21.27 it was an Humiliation occasioned by the report of the terrible Judgements to be executed which God in great Mercy for a time deferred as he took off some Judgements from Pharaoh yet neither of them said to have Repentance Exod. 9.27 nor were called Believers and Saints but wicked Men so we are quit of this IV. Nor can they be brought into this Company of whom Mr. Owen speaks Page 402. Sect. 8. A sort of Men there are in the World who escape the outward pollutions of it and are clean in their own eyes though they are never washed from iniquity who having been under strong convictions by the power of the Law and broken thereby from the course of their sin attending to the word of the Gospel with a temporary Faith do go forth to a Profession of Religion and walking with God so far as to have all the lineaments of true Believers as Mr. Goodwin somewhere speaks drawn in their faces in hearing the word gladly as Herod did receiving it with joy as the stony ground did attending to it with delight as those did Ezek. 33.31 repenting of former sins as Ahab and Judas until they were reckoned among true Believers as Judas and those Joh. 2.23 who yet were never united to Christ So far he But it is plain these were Hypocrites in a proper sense professing to have that they had not to walk with God as they did not Prov. 30.12 13. Mat. 23.25 26 27 28. 2 Cor. 10 11 12 18. Mat. 7.21 22 23 24. nor are such as these anywhere in Scripture called Believers and Saints but plainly affirmed not washed from their filth of lofty eyes Hypocrites not wise not approved Sayers and not Doers of the will of the Father such as Christ in his Ministration and in the Ministration of his Servants never knew owned or approved by any word of his and though he yet wait with patience on such and use means that they might rightly convert yet if they persist and do not convert he will after when the dayes of his patience is out notwithstanding all their profession say to them Depart from me not ye Saints but yet that work inquity And this he forewarned all his Hearers of that they might truely turn to him neither have these all the Lineaments of true Believers of which Mr. Goodwin speaks nor yet of which the Scripture speaks in their Faces nor will the examples instanced prove them so to have for Herod's hearing John gladly and doing many things c. what Lineament was this when he feared the people and knew John both to be and to be accounted a Prophet and to be just and holy Mar. 6.17 27. Luk. 3.19 20. Ezek. 33.31 32 33. So that he had no just occasion to harm him and yet kept him Prisoner and contrary to his preaching kept to himself his Brother's Wife from him living uncleanly with her and at her motion put John to death nor was he ever reckoned Believer and Saint nor with them And Ezekiel's Hearers are plainly branded with Hypocrifie that heard and would not do their Hearts running after Covetousness and so far from being reckoned among true Believers that a wo is denounced against them As for Ahab's Repentance there is nothing affirmed of it as the Lineament of a true Believer nor was he so reckoned any more then Pharaoh as is foreshewn As for Judas Repentance it was hellish and constrained by torment of Conscience which led him to a vain course Mat. 27.3 4 5. even to the Enemies of Christ to ease his grief nor was that Repentance a Lineament of a true Believer nor was he upon that account or after reckoned among true Believers and yet being a secret Thief before what Believer soever he was before that he comes not within the compass of those set forth in Mr. Owen his stating the Question As for the stony Ground it is a part of a Parable uttered and opened by our Saviour shewing the efficacy of the Word for Fruits rather then for Regeneration for none was good Ground before the receit of the Word but that received and possessing the Heart regenerated and made the Ground good and then kindely fruitful which could not be till then So that the Word in the High-Way if it had abiden would have saved and made it good by degrees but being suffered to be presently stollen out Luk. 8.12 they remained High-way they that suddenly believing were a little touch'd if they had abiden minding that believed and let it sink into their Heart it would have broken the Stone and after that have rooted up the Thorns also Mat. 13.20 21 22 6. Jer. 23.29 30. But by being withdrawn by Tempration
things to them till they were fit to be taught what he now writeth and so would he in his Ministration where he met with them but not for fear of these leave off his intended business thus directed to such as were capable to receive profit by it that also one Reason 4. Because if there should be any among them of their Society to whom he directs this Epistle that have not onely known by a ministerial Teaching the Foundation what it is and the Oracles of God in and by it what they are and the first Principles thereof and so hold them all in Opinion but in the Ministration of the Gospel and their understanding these things have been illuminated by the Holy Spirit and so wrought to Repentance from dead works and such Faith towards God as they tasted of the heavenly Gift and so that the Lord is Gracious and in usefulness of the Doctrines of Baptisms with Word Water Afflictions and Spirit were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost in his spiritual Evidences Operations and Gifts and in the Assemblies Prayers and laying on of Hands of his People have tasted of the good Word of God in his faithful performance of his Promises and in the belief of the Resurrection and eternal Judgement have tasted or felt the spiritual efficacies or powers of the World to come all which he believeth to be in these he writes to And if such do fall away he will not say there is any such among them he is better perswaded of them but if any such he saith not if any that are yet ignorant of the first Principles for notwithstanding their declinings they may be hopefully taught them again but if any such as they fall from the Foundation and first Principles and so fall away even as to the Galatians Whosoever of you of you that received the Spirit of Adoption in belief of Christ crucified for you are justified by the Law Gal. 1.6 3.1 4.4 7. 5.2 3. and so Christ become of no effect to you ye are fallen from Grace And so here they that having received all this before mentioned if they fall away it is impossible to renew them again to Repentance c. and so the laying again of the Foundation and opening the Principles to such Chap. 6.4 5 6. will not be of any profit for them therefore the thoughts of such shall not hinder But he will forbear further discourse in this Epistle of those first things and proceed to his intended business and that another Reason and in them all a full Answer of the cause of his present leaving such a discourse Quest 4. What that going on to perfection is he craveth Liberty for and therein exhorteth them to the same Answ That is evident and manifest in all this Epistle to be no other but to instruct them Ch. 5.10 17. 6.19 20. 7.1 25. 8 9.12 28. 10 c. and that they might be instructed farther in the Ends Vertues and Excellencies of the Cross of Christ his Blood and Sacrifice his Oblation declared in the word of the beginning of Christ as declared discovered and shewn forth in the Excellency and Prevalency of his ever-abiding Priesthood after the Order not of Aaron but of Melchizedec and of his Mediation of the New Testament and of his continual Intercession by vertue of his Blood and Sacrifice once offered and all this Mediation and Intercession for his called that come to God by him to fit them for and preserve them to the Inheritance that they may live by Faith in him and look for his coming again and then receive it that by instructing them in the Knowledge and Faith hereof Eph. 1.17 20. 3.14 15 20. 2 Pet. 1.1 2 8. they might be more built on Jesus Christ and grow up into more Union and Fellowship with him and Conformity to him And in these Answers we may be helpt to see his meaning and drift in saying Therefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ let us go on to perfection CHAP. 5. Of Hebrews 6.1 NOt laying again the Foundation of Repentance and of Faith towards God As if he should say Do not put us to that by such discourse to be still and again laying the Foundation and so to hinder us from building thereon In which manner speaking we may note 1. That the Foundation was forelaid among these The Oblation of Christ taught Heb. 10.32 3.1 6 14. 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4. Gal. 1.6 9. 3.1 4.7 c. with the first Oracles thereof and the first Principles opened and pressed and the same heard known and in believing received and the spiritual Efficacies experimented by these Hebrews who were illuminated Holy Brethren Partakers of the heavenly Call as it was with the Corinthians they had not onely heard but received that in which they stood and in retaining should be saved and so the Galatians 2. That the Foundation laid was not the Principles here named as Repentance Ezra 4.10 5.16 Zach. 4.9 c. but the Foundation is that in which are and from which the Oracles come that teach the Principles and on which they are founded it being the Ground Motive Builder and Foundation of them as the Foundation of an House or Temple is not the House or Temple but that on which the House or Temple is builded 3. That the Foundation is that which is first brought forth and laid 1 King 5.17 6.37 38. yea perfectly and-compleatly laid before any other thing be laid or built on it and so nothing laid under it or before it not any thing to be built on before it or besides it but it first and first compleat and then all that House or Temple and every stone to be laid on and builded comes after and is builded on that first-laid Foundation and so the whole House and building being on that Foundation that is sure and firmly laid the Foundation is the Upholder and Bearer of all the whole building that is builded on it This is plain to any â—uk 6 48. 4. That in spirituals of all the Principles here mentioned and of all that farther growth and excellency the Apostle presseth to of all Repentance towards God Faith in God Love to God Walking with God Hope in God of Vocation Sanctification Election of Union and Fellowship together with him of Teaching Baptizing Praying of Perserance and Enjoyment of the Inheritance Jesus Christ as set forth in the Gospel in which he is Evangelized in respect of what from eternity he was 1 Pet. 1.25 Phil. 2.6 10. Rom. 3.25 1 Cor. 1.17 18. 2.1 2. Heb. 7.27 28. 1 Tim. 2.7 1 Joh. 4.14 2 Cor. 5.18 19. Part 4. c. 10. and what he became and what in himself he hath suffered and done and what received in the Nature of Man and for Men and what he is set forth to be for Men him and him crucified with the Vertues and
Hebrews was neither acquired nor humane notions and motions but the work of the holy spirit affording spiritual operations 2 That those that fall away from Christ when they have so known him it is impossible to renew them c. 3 The reason of that impossibility 1 For the first of these It is evidenced in so many operations of the Spirit as hee had formerly mentioned principles Vers 4 5 And so hee saith who were once that is those fallen if any such should bee among them which he will not say are but where-ever they are they once were as those written to are and not only were seeing they retain it they are 1 They were inlightened whence hee bids them call to remembrance the former days in which they were illuminated Psal 36.9 John 1.9 12 Eph. 5.14 Psal 19.8 119.130 Prov. 6.23 2 Pet. 1.19 2 Cor. 4.6 Eph. 1.17 18 5 13 Iohn 16.7 8 9 10 11 Prov. 1.23 Acts 26.18 1 Pet. 2.9 Chap. 10.32 The Scripture shews the fountain of this light and inlightening to be Christ in the appearance and discovery of whom Gods gracious mind appears the medium and instrument bringing it and opening the eyes Is the Testimony of Christ the Gospel the command or word of grace the light entering that which openeth the understanding enlighteneth the heart and enableth it to discern Is the holy Spirit comming forth from Christ in and through the Gospel with divine and supernaturall light and inspiration to the mind and heart The first effect of this inlightening is convincement of sin of righteousnesse and judgement c. And where any receive this reproof and by the light and strength of it turn to the Lord repentance from dead works is wrought and such are brought out of darknesse into his marvellous light And so lively and evangelicall and effecatious was their repentance with such spiritual illumination from Christ by his spirit with his word 2 And have tasted of the heavenly gift the fallen had and these writ too both had and in some measure still did though through their dulnesse the edge of their appetite and liveliness of relishing in their Pallate had some abatement whence the Apostles discovery of fears Chap. 3 4 5 6. and setting forth such danger and giving such warning are intermixt to quicken up the same again for they have tasted and have yet an appetite to be quickened Now the word Tasting in this businesse appears to bee both eating feeding savouring and relishing and discerning the goodness and pleasantnesse of that is eaten or tasted And so the word Tasting in Natural things is put for eating and feeding 2 Sam. 3.35 Jonah 3.7 And for discerning and relishing 2 Sam. 19.35 Iob. 6 6. and 12 11. Ioh. 2.9 10. And so for spirituals when the words of God are received into and laid up in the heart as food They prove sweeter than honey to the taste Job 23.12 Psal 119. 103 104. 34.8 Cant. 2.3 whence when men are exhorted to make tryal of the goodnesse of the Lord by trusting in him they are bidden to taste and see that the Lord is gracious And the Church professeth his fruit sweet unto her taste c. of which tasting Peter speaketh 1 Pet. 2.2 3. and so this Apostle here for there is no other sence of tasting in this businesse given us in Scripture For the thing tasted that is in some measure eat and drunk of and the sweet savour relished that is expresse to be the heavenly gift The same by which that principle called faith towards God was affected and with which it closed and that is no other but Christ The oblation of Christ the flesh and blood of Christ Jesus Christ as he hath suffered for our sinnes and offered himself a sacrifice to God for us and so filled with spirit to send forth to us and in the Gospel set forth the propitiation for our sins wisdome Iohn 6.35 48 50 51. 3 16 17. 4 10 Isa 9.6 Acts 3.26 Gal. 3.1 Iohn 6.32 Rom. 8.32 Iohn 1.12 1 Iohn 5.11 12 Iohn 6.51 52.64 righteousnesse sanctification and redemption for us and the mediator between God and us so hee so as the true bread of life which came down from heaven and which God so graciously and for so gracious an end hath given the gift of God the heavenly gift And which in the Ministery of the Gospel hee sendeth tendereth and giveth yea and no other giveth hee for any to feed on but this true bread of life And in giving him will with him give all things that are good and in beleeving on his name hee is received and in with and from himself and in exercise of faith in receiving the grace that flows through him and so resting on him and taking latislying 1 Pet. 2.2 3 4 5 and well preasednesse in him And in that he hath done and is become and doth and will do men do eat of his flesh and drink of his blood And so tasting the graciousnesse of the Lord are by him more inlived and bunt upon him And such the tasting here meant of the heavenly gift Gal. 4.15 5 2 4. 2 Pet. 1.9 by which that principle of faith towards God was wrought in exercise of which faith also is still the tasting of the heavenly gift As for those fallen away they did once taste of the heavenly gift and then it was precious to them and of high esteem with them Iohn 6.29 37 47 51 54 56 58. though now having crucified it it is of no effect with them And our Saviour saith not he that once came that once beleeved that hath once eaten but he that commeth that beleeveth that eateth as speaking of a present and continued act Heb. 3.1.6 7 13 14 15 1 Pet. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 which was not in those fallen ones But in those writ too it was they did still in some measure eat and so taste and relish for they had the rejoycing of hope and the beginning of confidence which they are exhorted in beleeving still to hold fast even on like ground as Peter exhorted those new born babes that tasted To whom he wrote And so the principle of faith towards God Being produced through the righteousnesse of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ which is manifested in and through the oblation of Christ and being also built upon Christ the foundation accompanied with such spiritual operation affording such tastes of goodnesse in the heavenly gift It is for the kind of it 2 Pet. 1.1 2 3 4 5 9 10 the same precious faith the Apostles had And so Peter affirms it to the Beleevers giving them the same warning in case of the losse of those tastes and relishings which the Apostle doth here so the faith the same of the same kind I say not of the same degree and measure for growth and establishment yea the drift of the Apostle was to lead them to farther
word in them they shall be fruitful and so they shall be good trees and bring forth good fruit For so they shall observe the counsel of our Saviour Mat. 12.33 Make the tree good and his fruit good c. For we can no otherwise make the tree good but in beleeving on him and according to grace given yeelding to the teachings of his Spirit And seeing every good and perfect giving comes from him and that his Spirit is good and his operations and fruits good and that an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit what are all those confessed works of the Spirit and whence flows that faith and holiness really true in its kind upon account whereof men are called Beleevers and Saints What is that change of judgement affection and conversation that light love joy zeal obedience true in its kinde sincere and not hypocritical whence come they to do so worthily in their generation and all acknowledged an effectual work of the Spirit Can there be such rightness even from the Spirit and the tree not good or is there any other trees among beleevers to bring forth good fruit of another nature Surely if we minde the proofs and our Saviours words they shew there is but one kinde of faith to bring forth good fruits and this even it set out Heb. 6 Gal. 2.20 This place doth open that already said The Apostle having spoken of being justified by faith shews how he lived not Gal. 1.6 4.6 7. Gal. 2.13 Rom. 4.4 6 7 9. but Christ lived in him and he by the faith of the Son of God to which he endeavoured to reduce the Galatians whom he testifieth to have received the same faith at the first and so exhorted the Hebrews and shews his manner of obtaining it to be in the same way with others 1 Joh. 3.12 This place hath not one word of two divers kinds of faith or of divers manner of obtaining it nor of any habit of one beleever more than in another Joh. 1.12 but affirms That he that hath the Son that is beleeveth in his name hath life that is in having the Son by faith Joh. 3.36 He hath also that eternal life that is in the Son by faith also which is true of all that by grace beleeve in Christ 2 Cor. 5.17 This is true of all that by faith are in Christ Jesus who as and so far as they are in him are affirmed new creatures as is fore explicated though the fulness and compleatness of it is in the resurrection of the just but no word here of a second kinde of faith or of newness in some true beleevers that is not in other true beleevers the words plain If any man in Christ 1 Thes 5.23 This is not an affirmation of what was yet attained but a prayer for what was desired and hoped for and so not to the purpose for which it was quoted unless to mollifie the expressions of the saying Gal. 5.22.25 This place is a discovery of the fruits of the Spirit that were in the beleeving Galatians that were scarce so far grown as the Hebrews And what was done in beleeving on Christ crucified How the flesh with the wisdome and whole bent of it with the affections and lusts of it were crucified that is made vile condemned and begun to be mortified by the cross of Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed and then an exhortation to walk after the Spirit Gal. 6.14 Rom. 6.6 just as to the Romans Ephesians Collossians and Hebrews And not a word of a peculiar kinde in some beleevers and not in other beleevers that are true in their kinde also 1 Joh 3.9 This place faith not a word of any difference between beleevers some true in one kinde and some in another Nor saith it Some that are born of God Nor saith it He that hath been born of God but having said before Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not And having warned them not to be deceived 1 Joh. 3.6 7 8 9. saith speaking in the present tense He that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous or in his righteousness and as he hath promised And then having given warning against being deceived and going on in sin c. He cometh to mention the abiding in him and doing righteousness Again and hee doth it in a third term comprehending both saying Whesoever is born of God doth not commit sin that is approve and act it See this before â— 414 415. going on so to do And that the word Born of God is first appliable to that sight beleef and acknowledgement of Christ and so that new disposition begot thereby in the heart is clear in this Epistle where this is called That which is born of God 1 Joh. 5.1 2 3 4. Mat. 16 17. Eph. 2.8 Hence both faith and confession are said to be of God and the gift of God and so he that in this revelation and operation of the Spirit in and by the Gospel is prevailed with to beleeve and yeeld up to it and so far become one with it so as he beleeveth Jesus to be the Christ and so beleeving in him confesseth him to be the Lord He also on that account is said to be born of God And so likewise the being prevailed with by this grace To hold fast this confidence 1 Joh. 5.2 Ioh. 1.12 13. Rom. 10. â— 10. and so to abide and go on in the faith of Christ and love of him and one another is the operation of God and hath the same promises to it and so is likewise called a being born of God here in 1 Joh. 4.7 8 3 5-10 And that this is the sense here appears cleerly in that the same thing for the same business expressed here Born of God Heb. 3.1 6 14. is a little before exprest by a perfect continued act Abiding in him 1 Ioh. 3.6 7. and doing righteousness And the same there also affirmed such sin not such are righteous And also this appears to be the sense in that it is opposed to a continued approbation acting of and going on in sin for so the devil committeth sin and sinneth from the beginning without repentance or breaking off his course But who ever is born of God he committeth not sin that is doth not approve and so commits but abideth in and goeth on beleeving in Christ and loving him without repentance of it or breaking off that course And it farther appeareth that born of God is in this place abideth in Christ holding fast confidence in and love of God through Christ because it is said His seed remaineth in him that is the divine influence and Spirit of Christ with divine force and vertue abideth and remaineth in him according to that promise Heb. 3.14 And this the constant language of Christ and the Spirit of Christ Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God He
that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son Ioh. 15.1.11 2 Ioh. 9. yea even of his first work of grace in changing our mindes and reconciling us to God it is said to be In the body of his flesh through death to present us holy and unblameable in his sight If we continue in the saith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel of which me have heard Col. 1 22â—23 1 Joh. 2.24 Whence also it is said to these If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you yee shall continue in the Father and the Son And so our Saviour saith to his own Disciples that were clean through the word that he had spoken to them Abide in me and 1 in you Joh. 15 47. as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can yee except yee abide in me I am the Vine yee are the branches he that abideth in me that is beleeving and I in him that is my word in him the same bringeth forth much fruit c. Suitable to like sayings of his Spirit and exhortations in other places And so it is expresly said Rom. 11.22 1 Tim. 2.17 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. Heb. 3.6.14 1 Joh. 3.5 8 9 10. 4.4 5.3 4 5. If we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of hope firm unto the end We are the house of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end then are we made partakers of Christ and so born of God and his seed remaineth in us and that seed remaining being an influence from Christ and so stronger than the Devil that is in the world we in beleeving on God and so yeelding to it are born of God and so neither sin nor can sin because so born of God but do overcome the world This faith that is born of God being the victory whereby we overcome Rom. 8 2â— Luke 20.36 And this sense is plain and evident and agrees with that mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5 9 10. And yet the compleatness of being born of God is in the resurrection of the just And so none of the quotations countenance two kinds of faith or of obtaining or of habits each true in its kinde As for degrees that is not in question Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained or prepared that we should walk in them What this is to the purpose to shew what God hath given into and wrought in beleevers that are true and in one sort or kinde of them more than in another kinde true also I see not and suppose that none can shew Eccles 7.29 For when God created us all in the first Adam it was certainly in his Image In uprightness and so with furniture for good works that we might have walked in them But he fell and lost himself and us all and so we became weak of no strength lost and destitute of all furniture for any good works But God hath created mankinde anew again in Jesus Christ the second Publick man the last Adam who having satisfied for sin suffered for it and overcome death and ascended and offered the acceptable sacrifice is in mans nature glorified filled with the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost to send for to the rebellious that they might come in and to furnish and lead all that do come in And he sinneth not nor can he dye any more but is alive for evermore so that in him we are compleat and perfect and this held forth to us that beleeving in him we might partake of his fulness which is a good motive to beleeve on Christ and to continue so beleeving And such as through the knowledge of his grace beleeve in Christ are certainly his workmanship and begun to bee united to Christ and this also unto good works such as God hath prepared in him that we should walk in them and so live to him and this the ground of his following exhortation as to other Churches Rom. 5.18 19 20. with 6.1 2 c. but no assertion of the measure of their attainments And it being confessed that the faith and holiness with the effectual operation of the Spirit in all the powers of the foul changing judgement affection conversation effecting light love joy zeal obedience enabling to do worthily in their generation Is not all this being the work of the Spirit that is in Christ comes from Christ and witnesseth of Christ his workmanship on and in them And are not they his workmanship in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 5.14 15 And is there not fulness of furniture in Christ Jesus for good works for them And is it not the gracious end of God in making it known that they should live to Christ by walking in them I hope none will deny it All which justifies this faith set forth in Hebrews 6. and gives no countenance for any other kinde CHAP. XVIII Of the third saying in his second Concernment FOr the nature and property of this habit or abiding principle Thus he saith Being a natural genuine fountain of all those spiritual Acts Works and Duties which he is pleased to work in them and by them of his own good pleasure Though this be not the dialect of Scripture yet in a sober understanding it may be taken as agreeing thereto but not countenancing two kindes or a second kinde of true faith And so with some cautions and provisoes I shall take this saying for true and wholly consent thereto that is to say thus 1 That this abiding principle be not understood of a thing peculiar to any kinde of faith divers from another true in its kinde 1 Pet. 1.13 Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. but of the same kinde of faith set forth Heb. 6. faith being proved already to be one and so the same with that Tit. 1.1 2 That by Natural and Genuine be understood that which is Supernatural and Spiritual Isa 61.13 And so apt free willingly and naturally inclined and kindly putting forth 3 That the calling this principle a fountain be not understood as of a thing inclosed in the beleever to himself or any otherwise Psal 36.9 Jer. 2.13 17 13. Zach. 13.1 Rev. 21.6 Hos 14.8 Joh. 15.4 5 6. then as flowing from Christ to and in him that beleeveth in Christ and so in no sort derogating from Christ For he is the fountain of life with God and so from God unto us the fountain of living waters the fountain for clensing and for fruits And from that flowing from him is all that life cleansing and fruitfulness that is in beleevers And separate from him they can do nothing what ever greenness or springs be in any beleeving on him Jer. 2.13 17. 5 6 13. Joh. 15.4 6. yet if they thereby abide not in the faith of him
but turning aside and departing from him they lose their principle and wither that remaineth in Christ from whom they are departed and cannot be retained and found abiding and dwelling in any but by or in beleeving on him so as departing through unbeleef Rom. 11.22 Heb. 3.13.6 14. Rom. 7.2.5 8.2 Prov. 13.13 14 6.21 22 23 14.26 27 brings loss and perishing but in beleeving on him the dwelling in the heart of this principle is enjoyed he is the fountain and he that beleeveth on him receiveth from him The law of Grace which as it comes from him and his Spirit in it is called a fountain of life And so the fear of the Lord effected thereby even the faith in and love of adoration and acknowledgement of God in Christ is a fountain of life and this upon the account of Christ the fountain from whom the streams bearing his name do flow And in beleeving on whom they are received and do operate in the beleever even all those principles mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 5. All which run in one living principle which because of its springing and living efficacies is called a Spring or Well of living waters in which from Christ beleevers act in bringing forth the motions of the Spirit Joh 4.10 14. 7.37.38 39 Psal 68.27 Phil. 4.13 Ioh. 15.4.8 Yet the beleevers being still men and having in them another cross inclination abiding to molest them they need still those admonitions Jam. 3.8 9 10 11 12. Rom. 8 5-13 Gal. 6.8 Heb. 3.13 12.15 17 c. 4 That the spiritual Acts Works and Duties be here rightly understood and distinguished and considered that we confound not the workings of God in the beleever inabling and moving him to work with the workings of the beleever in and through the workings of God Ro. 12.1 2 5. Phil. 2.1 2 12. for so all the exhortations given and obedience called for and disobedience reproved will be made void and null and that we may rightly understand view the place quoted Philip. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to Will and to Do even of his good pleasure He in the former verse intreated them as he did the Romans even by that done by Christ and that now in him and flowing from him in them As they had alwayes obeyed not as in his presence onely but now much more in his absence so now saith he to them Work out your own salvation with fear and prembling 1 Ioh. 5.12 Ioh. 1.12 Minde the words he saith not Work for or to get salvation Nor speaks he onely of salvation as it is by and in Christ wrought for them but of that as it is by Spirit in the Gospel applyed to and by faith received in them and so it is their own Christ and that which is his is made theirs 1 Cor. 1.30 3.22 23. Rom. 5.1 2 3-5 Tit. 4-4 7 Tit. 2.11 12 13. and in beleeving this they are saved or have this salvation working within them like as is said in verse 12. And this salvation within them is teaching and working in them with motions To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world and wait for the blessed hope c. Gal. 5.22 23. Col. 3.9 10 12 13. 1 Thess 5.11 20. Rom. 6.16.19 12.1 2. Gal. 5.16 25. Eph. 4.21.25 5.1 2. Col. 3.9.12 And therein stirring them up to live by faith in God and so to love joy peace patience meekness c. To bowels of mercy kindness c. And so to pray to and praise God to exhort one another c. Now all these are the works of God in his grace bringing salvation And as these mercies of God in this salvation given you works within you so do ye obey yeeld up your selves as servants to righteousness Sow to the Spirit And so work out your own salvation with fear and trembling For it is God which worketh in you It is he which gave his Son for you and made him known to you and so inabled you by him to beleeve in God and so forgave your sins and filled you with this consolation of Christ and comfort of his own love and fellowship of the Spirit which by the same Spirit in the operations of this grace moveth you To Will to live by faith to deny ungodliness c. to live soberly c. to pray c. to shew mercy c. And to Do He doth not say It is God that willeth in you that beleeveth prayeth c. Neither doth he say in any other sense than as expressed by giving light motion or power to Will and to Do That God hath given and wrought the will and the deed But it is he that worketh in you both to Will and to Do of his good will or pleasure so as still to Will and to Do is the beleevers work which he cannot do of himself yer in this gracious season by this preventing grace light motion and divine power of God working within him he may both will and do if he yeeld up to this grace and herein is his obedience which being with a willing minde is accepted according to that he hath And in murmuring and withdrawing from this and so grieving the Spirit and sowing to the flesh is his disobedience that he will be reproved and chastened for And so in this saying is a great and forcible motive and encouragement to obedience it is God that in the operations of this salvation worketh in you to Will and to Dâ— yea he dâ—th it of good will So that entertaining his motions and yeelding up according to his strength given into you sowing to the Spirit in willing and doing according to his motions by his strength afforded you have God on your siâ—e his favour and strength is with you to accept defend assist bless and follow on with more grace and you shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal 6.8 And here is a forcible admonition against disobedience It is God that by these operations worketh in you c. If you sleight refuse turn away and disobey Psal 8.11 Heb. 12.25 Eph. 4.30 1 Thess 4.8 5.19 you sleight and refuse God you turn away from God that speaks from heaven and disobey God and grieve and resist his Spirit and so endanger your selves c. Whence suitable to all this follows that exhortation vers 14 15 16. Do all things without murmurings c. Suitable to all said to the Hebrews and like this the other quotation 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfained love of the brethren see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently This appears to be an exhortation to stir them up to such love not an affirmation that it would infallibly so be in and with them but an exhortation that it might so be and that neither in vain
lead us to repentance that coming into him we might have life and this now also all testified by the Spirit of God Oh! let us not deny this Lord that bought us let his goodness melt our hearts and prevail with us to acknowledge him the Lord and Saviour of the world even our Lord that so we may repent and beleeve in him and live to him And let no man deceive you by telling you these are the fruits of the goodness of God as a Creator but not as a Redeemer not so as through a Mediator extended as fruits of the purchase and mediation of Christ for all is through him And no man can know God that doth not so acknowledge Christ his Son For the Father hath committed all judgement to the Son of man Rom. 14.7 Phil. 2 7-11 1 Tim. 2.6 Joh. 5.20 21 22 23 27. 2 Cor. 5.15 upon this account because he hath taken the nature of man and therein given himself a ransome for all men and that to this end That all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father And he that honoureth not the Son in these or other things honoureth not the Father So that the application of the purchase and intercession of Christ as being onely for some peculiar and undemonstrable sort of men doth teach the sons of men to deny the Lord that bought them and shuts the door of repentance against them But now for such as to whom the Gospel is also ministred yea and therein also Spirit vouchsafed and they by the Spirit illuminated in the knowledge of Christ and that with such operations as effectually produceth such a change in the minde affections and coversation that there is in them repentance and sorrow for sin with light love joy zeal obedience and holiness So sincere as makes them do worthily in their generations their faith and holines true in its kind and they upon account thereof called Saints and Beleevers And yet though all this be given them of God yet neither the Spirit nor any of these his operations bestowed on them as a fruit of the purchase and intercession of Christ How then shall we conceive it to be bestowed without some secret blaspheming of God some way in his Truth and Justice and testimony of his Son can any man tell Is there any word of Scripture to say it Col. 1.19 2 Pet. 2.1 2. yea is not all the Scripture against such a conceit yea it shews it to be a denying of the preheminencie of Christ that God would have him to have in all things yea it plainly teacheth not onely other men but even beleevers to deny the Lord that bought them and a leaving them to conclude their faith by fancy seeing there are none by the Gospel to tell them though their faith be true in its kinde and operative whether they be beholding to Christ for it and whether it be a fruit of his purchase and intercession or no and if any presume to tell them they must take it on their word and so their faith rest on man 1 Cor. 2.4 And into what delusions this may lead men let wise men judge But Mr. Owen may be supposed not to deny but that they have the holy Spirit given them as a fruit of the purchase and intercession of Christ but that it is not so given them to dwell and abide in them for ever as to these he pleads for And were it not for his oft and plain expressions elsewhere in his book denying the purchase and intercession of Christ to be for any but these he pleads for I should even so have understood him and suppose it so meant of the end of giving the Spirit I shall consider that also 2 He saith It was given them to dwell and abide in them for ever And this must be taken either as relating to the gracious minde and end of God according to his holy will in giving his holy Spirit or as relating to the answering of that end of his ever-dwelling Let us consider both according to the Scripture 1 The end of God in sending his Spirit in the Gospel to call men Act. 26.17 18. Is to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in Christ So that this appears to be for continuance of his work to the end and that is his abiding in them for ever And so sure his end in sending Eph. 3.16 17. 1 Pet. 1.5 or giving his Word or Spirit to any and inabling them to understand and beleeve is that this gracious word and Spirit may dwell and abide in them for ever but his will and mind is that it shal so dwel abide in their hearts by faith which he hath given them Whence we are so often exhorted to continue in the faith and to let that we have received from the beginning abide in us so shal we continue and abide in him and his Spirit will abide in us therefore are all the beleevers and holy brethren warned to take heed of such unbeleevingness as canseth departure from the living God by which some have deprived themselves of this blessing in this gracious end of God 1 Sam. 3. Psal 78.5.16 Jon. 2.8 which yet is so ordered in his Counsels that his end will be fulfilled in their just destruction for despiting so great grace as it was in Israel of old that fell in the wilderness in Elies house in Ephraim and others But such as he hath given to beleeve having been found trusting in him have never been forsaken c. And this end in such sense to give his holy Spirit to dwell and abide in them for ever may be affirmed of all beleevers even those mentioned Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. And in no other sense of any beleever but to abide in and through faith 2 If the dwelling and abiding in them for ever be taken in relation to answering this gracious end of God in the constancy and durance of the holy Spirit his dwelling and abiding in them for ever that is so as they live and dye in the faith then it is out of question of all hands but this is not determinable till they have finished their course and dye in the faith so that there is no difference or distinguishing and discriminating mark to difference one beleever from another in this thing but as some are quite fallen away and departed from the faith and others dye in the faith As for that assurance of faith where-through the heart may be thorowly perswaded of their perseverance and so the Spirits abiding in them for ever It is that I have endeavoured to lead all beleevers to in this Treatise as may be seen in treating of the testimony of Christ and of the Purposes Promises and Covenants of God though Mr. Owen saith Even those of that
the Testimony of CHRIST according to the plain sayings of the GOSPEL PART I. CHAP. 1. A Direction to discern Truth from Error ISa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it 's because there 's no morning or Light in them Now God hath according to his Promise given forth his Son for a Covenant to the People and a Light to the Gentiles a Isa 42.1 6 7. 49.6 with Luk. 2.31 32. Act. 13.47 and so for a Law b Isa 42.4 and for a Witness or Testimony c Isa 33.4 1 John 4.9 10. John 3.16 yea the Scripture witnesseth of Christ and Moses and all the Prophets wrote and spake of him d Joh. 5.39 40. Act. 3.22 24. and He is the Brightness of the Father's Glory and the express Image of his Person e Heb. 1.3 Col. 1.15 in whose Face the Knowledge of the Glory of God shineth f 2 Col. 4.6 he received the Word of the Gospel in which both Law and Testimony is from the Father and in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Understanding g Deut. 18.18 Isa 42.1 6.1 2 3. Col. 2.3 and he spake the words the Father gave him to speak h Ioh. 3.34 â—7 16 12.49 50. and his Record is true i John 8.14 and he spake of excellent things and the opening of his Mouth was right things his Mouth spake Truth and wickedness is an abomination to his Lips all the words of his Mouth in Righteousness nothing wreathed or froward or perverse in them they are all plain to him that understandeth and Right to them that finde Knowledge k Prov. 8.6 7 8 9. And this Word and Gospel which he received and preached he gave unto his Apostles and first Witnesses and gave them the Holy Spirit which gave them to understand and receive the same l John 15.16 17.6 8. By which Spirit they had the Meaning and Mystery in them so revealed to them as never was to any in any ages before m John 14.26 16.13 14 15. Col. 1.26 27. And so he put and bound and sealed the Law and Testimony in his Disciples n Isai 8.16 2 Cor. 5.19 as in some measure he still doth in them that believe o 1 John 2.8 Col. 3.16 and this Word Gospel and Testimony did the Apostles preach as they had received of the Lord according to the Revelation of the Mystery p Rom. 16.25 26 1 Cor. 11.23 and this with great plainness of Words and evidence and demonstration of Spirit and power q 1 Cor. 2.4 2 Cor. 3.12 And this they also writ and left upon Record in such plainness that they intended nothing but what we in their Writings read r Phil. 3.1 2. 2 Cor. 1.13 and in reading may understand their Knowledge in the Mystery of Christ s Ephes 3.3 4. whence Christ that by his Spirit set them on this work as he did the Prophets before and by that Holy Spirit guided them in writing saith Have not I written to thee excellent things in Counsels and Knowledge that I might make thee know the certainty of the Words of Truth that thou mightst answer the Words of Truth to them that send unto thee t Prov. 22.20 21. And so it is affirmed That that which was and is so written is upright Words of Truth acceptable Words and Words of delight to receive and declare the Minde of God in and so fit also for the Preacher u Eccles 12.10 2 Tim. 3.16 17. So that the Law and Testimony as it is manifested in the first coming of Christ and by him given to his first Witnesses and by them delivered and recorded to us is the Law and the Testimony to which we are to resort and so the whole Scripture as witnessing of Christ and opened by Christ to them and by them to us w John 5.39 Luk. 24.25 26 27 44 45 46 47. Rom. 15.3 4 16.25 26. 2 Pet. 3.2 for Christ spake by his Spirit in the Ministration of Noah x 1 Pet. 3.19 and it was the Spirit of Christ in the Prophets that did signifie to them when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow y 1 Pet. 1.11 the Spirit of the Son being also the Spirit of the Father and that by which God ever hath and doth testifie of his Son z 1 John 5 6. And so God at the first did immediately preach the Gospel in Paradise and after more fully to Abraham in Canaan a Gen. 3.15 15.5 17.1 8. and afterwards by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets b Luk. 1.69 70. which Prophets spake and writ as they were moved by the Holy Ghost c 2 Pet. 1.21 whence what the Spirit foresaw and preached the Scripture that was written by his Inspiration is said to foresee and preach d Gen. 12.3 with Gal. 3.8 16. And what the Scripture saith the Holy Ghost is said to say e Psal 95.7 with Heb. 3.7 And we shall finde many sayings in the Scriptures both of Moses and the following Prophets testifying of Jesus Christ his coming and sufferings and resurrection and glory setting him forth to be the great Prophet High Priest and King and God's Salvation to the end of the Earth and that whoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed calling men to look to him and be saved And this is the main thing to which the Scripture testifieth all other parts and portions of Scripture besides this plain Testimony being subservient and having their tendencie to this even to lead men to the Knowledge and Acknowledgement of this Testimony and so of Christ testified therein f John 5.39 And so The Genealogies from Adam to Abraham g Gen. 5.1 32. 11.10 26. Luk. 3. and from Abraham to David and from David to Christ h Mat. 11 18 25. Luke 3.23 32. are to demonstrate of whom Christ came according to the flesh and that he is very Man of the Seed of a Woman c. And also the Love Truth and Faithfulness of God in performing his Promise i Act. 13.32 33. Gal. 4.4 The end of the Law given to and by Moses was to be a School-Master to Christ k Gal. 3.24 and for Righteousness to have it in Christ l Rom. 10.4 the one part of the Law that of ten Words was to discover sin and sentence to death that men might die to themselves magnifie Grace and be quickened by Christ and live to him m Rom. 3.19 20. 4.15 5.20 Gal. 2.19 20. 3.19 The other part that of Types and Figures in Temple Altar Propitiatory Priests Sacrifices Washings c. To figure and shadow out the Truth that was to be found in Jesus that was to come n Heb. 8.5 9.8 9. 7.19 And so many Metaphors and
be wise they become most foolish and their Wisdom and their Knowledge perverteth them f Rom. 1.22 1 Cor. 3.19 20. Isa 47.10 or else such filth and blasphemy would never come out of their Mouths much less have been set forth by their Pens as to say That the Scripture contains not all things necessary to Salvation That it is full of Obscurity a killing Letter a dumb Judge inky Divinity a Nose of Wax that may be bended any way That every Heretick proves his Heresie by Scripture and That the Scripture is fitted to the time and variably understood so that the sense thereof is one while this another while that according as the Church is pleased to change her Judgement in determining the sense and That the Gospel was written not to rule our Faith but to be ruled by it and so though a Point of Faith be affirmed never so plainly in Scripture yet it is but sub judice and doubtful without a higher Determination though herein be Difference among them who shall give that Determination some say The Pope some say A Council some say The Pope and the Council both consenting some say A Synod or Convocation of learned and holy Men some say This gathered Assembly or Congregation some That and some say Humane Reason in a Logical Discourse and some say The infallible Spirit in this or that Man And thus do they draw Men from God and his Word rejecting that as of none effect occasioning divisions and contentions without number and so in multiplying Sects not onely seducements from the Faith but wars and ruines are like to follow And Satan that takes advantage from the Flesh to rule in the Hearts of Unbelievers is alwayes at hand subtil and diligent to set forward this evil business and he will abuse Reason use subtil and provoking Motives yea and bring Scripture Sentences with some word subtilly left out and also vent Spirations with boldness though false yea pretend to move to confidence in God though out of his way and to help one to a better condition yea he attempted this where he had no advantage g Mat. 4.3 9. Luke 4.2 11. how much more will he do it where he hath the advantage of corrupt Flesh to work upon yea to keep his possession by some unclean lust or to disturb the proceedings of Truth he can transform himself into an Angel of Light and confess Jesus to be the Holy One of God h Mark 1.23 24. 3.11 and pretend to help Believers in Christ to a better condition i 2 Cor. 11.3 14 and he can teach his Ministers to do the same and much more to maintain some false Doctrine or keep the hold of a false Spirit to rent the Union and disturb the Faith and Fellowship of the Saints and yet be counted of that Number and for this end to make Confession of the Truth and give an Honourable Testimony to the Servants of the Truth and yet vaunt of some higher things to lead men to k Act. 16.16 17 18. Phil. 1.15 16. 2 Cor. 11 13 14 15.18 Thus busie is Satan ruling in the Wisdom of the Flesh whence the Wisdom of the Flesh and so all carnal Men are full of oppositions against the plain Testimony of Scripture yea sometimes some in some measure gracious are yet by Satan and his Instruments and the remaining Flesh in them in some measure tainted so as from many Men we have many Objections against the plain sayings of the Gospel and the plain appearing sense imported by them And notwithstanding all said in the Scriptures quoted in the first and second Chapters yet will they neither give that Glory to God themselves to believe him on his word nor suffer those that do to be at rest but seek to trouble and unsettle them many wayes and the wayes by which they endeavour to trouble Believers are especially three first by Spirit or pretence of Inspiration and speaking from an infallible Spirit Secondly by Word in Queries or subtil Reasonings and Philosophical Disputes Thirdly by pretence of Scripture alleadging it with some addition or diminution or wresting of all which we are forewarned to beware l 1 Joh. 4 1. Col. 2 8. 2 Thes 2.2 I shall endeavour to remove the most usual Objections which each of them do make CHAP. 4. An Assay to remove the Objections of those that pretend Spirit come clothed with Pretence of Inspiration and Zeal Object 1 YOu have nothing but Letter what you read in other Mens Writings but I have the Spirit the infallible Spirit God hath inspired this to me and it is God within me that speaketh by me and that I speak is the true Sense and Minde of God your Sense imported by the Letter is carnal and fleshly and of Man and so not the true Sense Answ 1. Your boasting discovers your unsoundness for he that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory a John 7.18 and not he that commendeth himself but he whom God commendeth is approved b 2 Cor. 10.18 2. Your bearing witness of your self makes you like the Heathen Idols c Isa 44.9 and your witness not true d Joh. 5 31 32. and coming in your own Name pretending the Name of Christ as if you were Christ declares you to be a false Apostle or Prophet e John 5.43 7.18 Mat. 24.5 24. 3. For the true Christ full of and led by the Holy Ghost gave every Answer to the Tempter with Thus it is written f Mat. 4. Luk. 4. and directed all his Hearers to search the Scriptures and the true Apostles though filled with the Holy Ghost yet did magnifie the Scriptures fore-written and proved and made known all their Doctrine by them according to the Command of God g Gal. 1.8 16. Rom. 16.25 26. Act. 17.2 3. 18.28 26.22 23. And that Spirit or that Man pretending Spirit which heareth not submitteth not to believe obey and be determined by the Doctrine and Saying of the Prophets and Apostles is not of God h 1 Joh. 4.6 2 Pet. 3.2 Wherefore that Spirit that speaks of himself is not of God for the Holy Spirit never speaketh of himself but he witnesseth of Christ and sheweth and teacheth the things of him and that in bringing to remembrance the Sayings of Christ by himself or his Spirit in the Prophets that were written and he had before taught his Apostles that they might witness them to us and we believe through their word i Joh. 16.13 14.26 Luk. 24.25 26 44 45 47. Joh. 17.20 And those that by Faith do know That the world was made by God k Heb. 11.1 2. and that it is preserved and upheld by God through Christ l Psal 35.3 Col. 1.17 and that the Scripture was given by Inspiration of God m 2 Tim. 3.16 and Christ sent forth and to have done all things according to the Scripture n Act. 13.32 33.
it but by Christ typed out in one part of this Law and so and to this end the Letter killeth yet this killing and death that fitteth for life in Christ was not effected by a dead Letter or by Words or Sound heard only but by some gracious operation of God therein minding them of and opening their Understandings to discern their sinfulness and submitting their Hearts to say Amen to the Curse and helping them in Observance of the Rites to look to Christ to come that so having no hope in their own Observances being in that respect dead also they saw the end of the Law to lead them to Christ And this was the right use of the Letter and the Work of God by and with the Letter in this killing way to fit them for Life But this Medium and Way of killing to prepare for Life God was not minded always to use but as it was given 430 yeers after the Covenant made with Abraham Gal. 3.16 17 19 20 25. to whom the Seed and Blessing in that Seed was promised so it was to continue but till Christ that Seed came so that this Law ministred by Moses appears all the way in every place speaking of this business and in this very 2 Cor. 3. to be meant by Letter for that Law in Ministration of it was the Ministration of sin and of death or condemnation for sin to death and that to so gracious an end as is said whence said to be glorious and yet to be done away 2. By Spirit is not here meant simply and onely a supernatural shine and infusion of Divine Power and Spirit into the Hearts of Men creating a new and living Spirit even the Epistle or Minde of Christ in the Heart a living Principle springing up in living and quickening Efficacies by Spirit is not meant this only but the Gospel through which this was conveyed for they by whom this Epistle was ministred in respect whereof they were Ministers of the Spirit and their Ministration of Life That which they did Minister was the Epistle of Christ Mat. 22.20 John 14.17 18. 25.26 27. even the Gospel as come forth and witnessed by the Holy Ghost since his Ascension in Ministration whereof Christ according to his Promise is present with them by his Spirit and his Work it is in their Ministration to send forth of his Spirit so as the Ministration of the Epistle of Christ the Words of Christ which are Spirit and Life is their Work but the Supernatural Shine Infusion and Writing the Minde of Christ in the Heart is the very Work of the Holy Ghost from Christ himself though in their Ministration and in with and through the Gospel ministred by them which distinction is here given us by the Apostle himself in this 2 Cor. 3.2 3. in divers other places p 1 Cor. 3.5 6 7. Gal. 3.2 Eph. 4.21 Act. 11.21 So that by the Spirit is here meant the Gospel yet the Gospel in a peculiar sense for Moses preached the Gospel also even the same Gospel although not in the same Manner and Spirit also went forth in the Ministration of the Gospel as delivered by Moses q Rom. 10.6 7 8. Act. 3.22 26 but they to whom it was so preached were still under the Law and had the Law to convince them of sin and the Law to lead them in Observances to look to Christ so that the Gospel was also preached with and under the Law or Letter which was the first and now Old Testament But now that Christ is come and Truth fulfilled in him r Joh. 1.14 16 17 18. that Use of the Law enjoyned to the Jews is taken away and in the Gospel preaching Life is preached with Freedom s 2 Cor. 3.11 Act. 5.20 in a Word of Grace in and with which believed the Spirit operateth both to convince of Sin and to lead into Christ and so into all Truth t John 16.7 17 Heb. 8.10 and write the Minde of Christ in the Heart And this is the New Testament of which the Apostles were Ministers and according to which with Freedom and Fulness they preached the Gospel and Testimony of Christ And so of this Testimony of Christ was Paul and the residue of the Apostles and first Witnesses made Ministers u Act. 26.18 Rom. 15.16 Eph. 3.7 Col. 1.23 And this Gospel being testified and brought forth by the Holy Spirit w 1 Joh. 5.6 Act. 5.32 and being that in Ministration whereof the Holy Spirit witnesseth x Joh. 15.26 27 16.7 8 13. and so the Gospel the Power of God in every one that believeth to Salvation working in and with it in the Believer y Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 it therefore hath the Name of the Spirit z John 3.6 Rev. 19.10 and so is rightly called Spirit yea it is the Spirit of Prophecie and this Testimony of Christ is of him and that which abideth for ever and this Ministration of it to abide till his own personal coming again and so is a more glorious Ministration than that of Moses which is done away that having also a veil but this delivered without veil and this to be meant by Spirit is seen in the whole Chap. of this 2 Cor. 3. And this Testimony of Christ is one and the same whether writ printed read preached or heard and so not Letter but Gospel ministring not Sin and Death but Forgiveness and Life whether Men believe and receive it or not a John 6.32 Act. 13.37 18. And it is a kinde of Blasphemy to call this Gospel Letter much more to call it a killing Letter the Gospel in Moses Ministration was not so called but The Law much less may it now be so called it is a Word of Life and they that refuse it refuse Life and the refusal brings death though only Believers receive and meet with the spiritual Power and living Efficacies thereof b 2 Thes 1.8 10. 2 Thes 2.13 so that quite contrary to the end of the Objection we are led by this place to magnifie the Gospel and Testimony of Christ for the Truth Livingness Excellency and Plainness thereof And thus much to take away that by which these most dangerous troublers of Believers endeavour to withdraw them from believing the plain import of the plain sayings of Christ in Scripture CHAP. 5. An Assay to remove the Stumbling-blocks laid in the way by them that seek to trouble them by Word that is by pleading the Iudgement and Traditions of Fore-fathers or by Philosophy and vain Reasonings or by subtil and Rhetorical Queries and Perswasions to draw them from belief of Gospel-sayings Object 1 OUr Fathers the Holy and learned Men and chief Teachers in the Church have thus understood and interpreted these have been their Doctrines and Traditions which they have unanimously taught and the most zealous and consciencious for many Generations have so held and observed will you be so profane
sprung out of the Earth n Psal 85.11 Then he ascended in that very body which died and was raised again and by the Eternal Spirit offered himself a spotless Sacrifice to God and with the Vertue of his own Blood entred the holy of holies and so made peace and obtained Eternal Redemption o Act. 1.9 10 11. Heb. 8.3 4. 10.10 12. 9.12 14. And God also for this hath exalted him p Phil. 2.10 11. and taken up his well-pleasedness in him and set him on his right hand q Mat. 17.5 Heb. 8.1 10.12 and released and given over all Mankinde to him for his dispose and made him Lord of all r Rom. 14.9 Act. 2.34 36. 10.36 and Head of the Church s Col. 1.18 19. and filled him with the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel and call sinners and open the eyes of the blinde c. to draw Men to himself that believing on him they might be his Church and he so confer his own Priviledges on them t Isa 42.1 8. 61.1 4. Joh. 1.12 Phil. 2.10 11. Act. 17.30 31. and that he may raise all Men from the first death that he died for them and bring them before him to be judged by him according to the Gospel Rom. 2.16 and 14.9 12. 2 Cor. 5.10 And thus also hath God testified of him and set him forth the Propitiation for the sins of the whole World u 1 John 2.2 for Men to receive Remission of sins through Faith in his Blood and so to bring them in to God w Rom. 3.25 Act. 10.43 26.18 And thus is he perfect in himself the second and last publick Man the Lord from Heaven the spiritual Man the quickning Spirit in whom the Nature of Man is restored and married to the Divine Nature in the person of the Son of God in which is rich Provision of pardon peace wisdom righteousness holiness redemption and eternal life all to be enjoyed in coming in by his call to believe on him x 1 Cor. 15.44 45 46 47. Mat. 22.1 4. Prov. 9.1 6. Col. 2.9 10. 1.28 1 Cor. 1.30 and such a one is the Man Christ God-Man God with us in our Nature for us y Mat. 1.23 glorified with the Father 's own self as the publick Man with the Glory he had with the Father before the World was which for a while he laid aside for our sakes that in his re-assuming it again we believing on him might come to partake of glory with him z Joh. 17.4 5 9. Col. 3.4 And this is an higher business than that Gen. 1.26 27. 2.7 if not as high as that which was unlawfully aspired to by some Angels and the first Man and this is the Christ nor can there be any Election in him or Belief on him but as he is such a one and so to be considered as such a publick Man the new and spiritual Man 3. In the first Creation the first publick Man had all Mankinde in him in his loyns to come naturally by descent from him and so sinned in his sinning according to that account and language Heb. 7.9 10. and so he stood in the room or stead of none and undertook for none but those that were in him and Naturally to descend from him and so Naturally his own and Naturally interessed they in him and he in them and he Naturally obliged to them But in the new Creation the Son of God the Word that was made Flesh and the second publick Man before considered as his work done in his own Body and he in that Body glorified he had none of Mankinde in him none his Friends or Brethren and peculiar Ones in and with him to lay aside such Glory as he had with the Father before the World was to be supernaturally made Flesh as he was and to offer the propitiatory sacrifice as he did no not in him as there must have been according to that language Heb. 7.9 10. if there had been any such in him nor did he interpose to stand in the room and stead and undertake to abase himself and overcome Death and offer the propitiatory Sacrifice for himself or any his peculiar Friends that were in him and loved him but for the first Man and his Natural Race that were not only out of him sinners and enemies to him as he undertook for them but are also found such when he first calleth or beginneth to work on them a Rom. 5.6 8. 1 Pet. 3.18 1 Tim. 1.15 Mat. 9.13 Luk. 5.32 so that his love his undertaking and all his grace and obligations to Men are unspeakable gracious great and free Nor hath he any other to make his seed but such as are first the seed and of the seed of the first Man him 1 Cor. 15.46 49. Jam. 1.18 Eph. 2.4 10. 2 Cor. 5 17. and those that come forth of him and bear his Image are they from among whom and of whom by a spiritual way he brings in to himself and makes them new Creatures 4. In the first Creation 1 Joh 3 5. Phil. 2 6-10 Jer. 50.4 5 6. Joh. 17.4 6 7. Psal 68.18 the first Mans work and business was easie but to dress the Garden order the Creatures and forbear eating of one of the Trees in the Garden and so to keep sin out of the World which yet he did not But in the new Creation the second Man had a great painful and mighty work to do to undergo abasement in shame and suffering to offer an invaluable Sacrifice to take away sin appease wrath make an Atonement overcome Death and the Devil to purchase an Inheritance and receive Spirit in the Man to send forth even to the rebellious that the Lord might dwell among them c. which also he hath faithfully and fully done 5. In the first Creation Gen. 1.1 Psal 33.6 75.3 2 Pet. 3 5-7 10 11 12. Rom. 8. 19 20 21. Rev. 21 1-5 the Heaven and the Earth was made of no pre-existing matter or being onely the Word of the Lord gave the very being thereto but in the new Creation it is of the old Heaven and Earth dissolved melted and overturned and then made new new created to as good and better estate than at the first 6. The old Creation was finished in six dayes Gen. 1. 2.1 2. Exod. 20.11 Isa 65.12 19. 2 Pet. 3 3-15 Rom. 8.19 20 21. each day consisting of evening and morning consisting of twenty four hours and the Rest Sabbath of the Lord on the seventh day But the new Creation is longer before it be finished and brought forth in its full perfection to open view it 's likely as many thousands of yeers as the first was of dayes it being the whole time of the supportation and decaying of the old And such Dissimilitudes is shewn in Scripture to be between the first and now old Creation and
the second and new Creation Secondly Yet notwithstanding there is also a true resemblance in many similitudes between them and that not only in this 1. That they both are the work of one and the same God but also in this 1. Gen. 1.1 2. Psa 33.6 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 4. Col. 1.15 16-19 That as the first was made by the Word and Spirit of the Lord breathed forth by the Father through the Word that is the Son even so was the second and new Creation also begun and shall be finished 2. Gen. 1.1 26. That as in the first the Heavenly and Earthy Matter was first made and framed before any other particular Creatures and they after by the command and word of the Lord formed and made in and out of them even so the second and new Creation in the counsels and purpose of God and actual consent and Agreement of the Word the Son of God and now also in act by the Word made Flesh the original and first being and that which gives being to all and in and out of which and through which all particulars are formed and made new was first prepared made and formed in the Man Christ in whom the Restauration being made God and Man united in one Person through whom the Holy Spirit proceedeth from the Father and so by the word and command of the Lord the particulars in their order are formed and made new and so Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Son of Man even he himself is called the beginning of the Creation of God a Rev. 3.14 the first-born of every Creature b Col. 1.15 the first-begotten first-born from the dead c Rev. 1.5 Col. 1.18 before Abraham was he is d Joh. 8.56 58. the Root of David e Rev. 22 16. the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end f Rev. 21 6. yea he that worketh with the Father and whatsoever the Father doth he doth the same John 5.19 23 26 27. he is the beginning and by him are all things 3. That as in the first Creation in respect of particulars to be formed Gen. 1.3 John 1.4 5. 2 Cor. 4.6 God first commanded and formed the Light for his Creatures even so in the new Creation in bringing in particulars the first thing commanded to come forth is Light and this shining in the Face of Christ into the Heart of those he makes new Creatures 4. That as in the first Creation the first publick Man was first made a perfect Man fit for multiplication Gen. 1.28 4.1 2. 5.3 Rom. 5.19 1 Cor. 15.48 and his seed and posterity after to come forth of him one after one by degrees and all in his likeness such as he was when they come forth of him even so in the new Creation the second publick Man is first made perfect and his Seed in a spiritual way and supernaturally to be after brought in to him and that also one after another by degrees h Rom. 16.7 Act. 2.41 47. and all by degrees framed into the likeness of Christ into whom they are brought i Rem 5.17 1 Cor. 15.48 2 Cor. 5.17 Eph. 2.10 5. That as in the first Creation the Man and Woman fell and lost the benefit of all by questioning and letting go the Word of the Lord Gen. 3.16 in hearing and pondering the voice of the Serpent and so in believing the same looked on and beheld the forbidden Fruit and desired it and so took and eat of it even so in the new Creation Men and Women are drawn in to Christ and participation of the benefit thereof by letting go and turning from the delusions of Satan in hearing and minding the voice of Christ in the Gospel and so believing the same that they behold him as discovered therein and so desire him and accept and feed on him k Act. 3.26 26.18 with Iob. 5.26 Isa 53.3 Iob. 11.25 26. 6.54 55 56 57. 6. In the first Creation the deed and offence of the first Man and condemnation of him for it did reach to all Mankinde and was the offence and condemnation of all in him as the publick Man and that so verily and efficaciously that in coming forth Naturally from him they should verily partake of the same and bear his likeness though yet none of the sons of Men could in their own individual persons so partake of and feel the same until and but as and when in a Natural way they come to have their personal beings of him and so come forth from him even so in the new Creation the deed and righteousness of the second Man and his justification as he was the publick Man did reach unto all Men and was so far in that sense on them all to justification of life from the first sentence and escape out of the first death in through him as the second publick Man Rom. 5.12 18 9. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 17 18 19. Phil. 1.10 11. Gal. 3.26 29. and though all shall one day be freed from that first sentence and raised out of that first death by him to acknowledge him Lord to the glory of God yet do or can none of the sons of Men in their own individual persons partake of or enjoy the benefit of that freedom righteousness and justification but as they are brought in to believe that done by him nor of Eternal Life but as they are in that believing spiritually united unto him and so in such a being in him are made new Creatures In which respects as there is such similitude between the first and second Creation and the first and second Man and interests of their seeds in them and what they receive from them Rom. 5.14 so the first Adam was a Type or figure of the second that was to come and so we may say of the natural Tree of Life and so of divers things in the first Creation there was something typical in them the Truth whereof in a superabounding manner is in Christ whence he is called Adam and The Tree of Life The green Olive-Tree The Tree by the Rivers of Waters The true Vine The Fountain of living Waters The Door Heb. 10.1 Col. 2.17 Rom. 16.25 26. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. The Way The Rock The Foundation c. not that there were or are no such things naturally in being as appertaining to the old Creation but because the Truth Excellency and Life shadowed out by all these things is found in Christ and enjoyed in enjoying him in the new Creation and we know there is more in the Truth than any shadows could type out and the Gospel hath now more cleerly revealed the same And I hope these things considered that are writ from the beginning of this first part of this Treatise till now and understood and believed as far as they are plainly affirmed in the Scripture here and there in many places written and in
2 Cor. 4.5 6 7. Isa 42 1-10 Act. 5.31 was from hearing and beholding Christ the Son and so as the Lord gave to every man by his Spirit writ his Epistle in their heart If any desire farther honour to himself Iohn disowns it Christ forbids it the Apostles disclaim it so no wrong done in the quotation yet for giving this Honour to Christ as that glorious Object by vertue of his Oblation and by vertue of his Intercession also thereby such a full flowing Fountain of Life and Prince giving Repentance and Remission of sins that through him discovered and by him the Beholders of him are brought to believe I am not onely blamed but charged to learn this of the old Serpent 2. I answer I have learned to give this Honour to Christ from God the Father that saith Isa 42.1 2 7. 49.7 9. 55.4 5. Isa 61.1 2 3 4. Joh. 5.19 20 25 27. Eph. 2.8 Col. 2.12 Act. 5.31 Isa 55.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 3.4 5 6. He hath put his Spirit on Christ for that end That he should call and open the eyes of the blinde and cause such as foreknew him not to come in to him I have learned from Jesus Christ That he was anointed and filled with Spirit to that end and That the Father and he are one and That the Father doth nothing but the Son doth the same And this honour the Father hath given to the Son That all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father and Faith being the Gife of God and the Operation of God it is verily The Gift of Christ and the Operation of Christ yea He is Author and finisher Alpha and Omega in this work also yea I have learned it from the Holy Spirit both in the Testimony born by the Prophets and Apostles and for a plain express Answer 3. I am learned by the Spirit in the Gospel not only Tobelieve in Christ and on Christ as Mr. Owen saith but also as the Medium of both In the Name and on the Name of Christ yea and also in express words That all that rightly believe it is by Christ 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you Vers 21. Who by him do believe in God that raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God So that to give this Honour to Christ and his Oblation and Intercession That it is by him that men believe in God 1 Cor. 12.2 and so to confess him Lord is by the Holy Ghost though many dare say It 's from the Serpent because it exalts not them in the place of Christ as Rabbies But enough of this nor will I take notice here to answer any more such stuff in that Book of Mr. Owen's it having been fairly answered by a learned and godly Brother But in his pretended Answer to Mr. Iohn Goodwin the Book I minded that occasioned this Discourse he saith Pag. 217. Sect. 3. That Christ interceded for his Elect for whom he died that they may believe which he saith is denied by those he opposeth which both Saying and Aspersion he might have forborn for those he opposeth do hold as firmly as himself and more cleerly according to the Scriptures That Christ intercedeth in a peculiar and special manner for his Elect and chosen Ones that approach to God by him yea even for Believing and Faith in that sense that Believing is taken for abiding Believing and more firmly Believing and for Faith as Faith is taken for Confirmation and Perseverance in the Faith 1 Joh. 5.13 as is shewn in this fore-written Yea more than Mr. Owen can yet be brought to confess even That Christ in act or undertaking died for them before they were elect and That there was not any in him to lay aside the Heavenly Glory and die and rise and offer the Oblation in him and so to be the Mediator in and with him for then there would not have been that room for Imputation or Application to them nor could deserved Grace have been so freely bestowed But he did all this alone and in that respect is the Root and Fountain of Election also so that the Elect are beholding to the Oblation and Intercession of Christ for Election as well as for Faith yea and they believe That Christ interceded for these men also that they might believe but that was before they were personally Elect and so then not for them as they were Elect which then was not nor were they such but as they were Men of the World and Transgressors that means might be extended to them and they so brought to believe 2 Thes 2.13 and in this believing of the Truth chosen through the Sanctification of the Spirit which is God's Way And so Election in some sense a Fruit of Faith but Faith in the beginning of it and first coming into it is not in a proper sense a Fruit of Election yea furely we believe That all the Elect are a holy and peculiar people 2 Pet. 2.5 9. called out of Darkness into his marvelous Light and all of them that yet live on this Earth to shew forth his Praises now as those for whom he especially intercedeth That they may be kept Psa 102.17 23. that when all the Just shall be raised we may all more fully shew forth his Praises together but we dare not entertain vain fancies and dreams to vent them among the Rebellious as if some of them might even now while Rebellious be God's Elect for ought any man knoweth because the plain Sayings of Scripture are against this as hath been plentifully shewn and for that which we believe also and so for the Mediation of Christ in general for all men and more especially for Believers already shewed The third Branch of the Testimony of Christ CHAP. 16 Of the coming again of Christ and the manner thereof FOr the coming again of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ it being one part of the Testimony of Christ it is needful also to be known and believed it being also of the very Object of Faith set forth in the Gospel to be believed so as without believing it no Man's Faith is compleat and entire in respect of the Object of Faith or Doctrine of the Gospel to be believed yet before I proceed in treating of it it is good to consider what manner of coming it is that is here spoken of because divers comings are spoken of in the Scripture though never but of two personal and bodily comings The first called His coming in the Flesh in Abasements to suffer and overcome in sufferings and so to offer the acceptable Sacrifice and so to make the Atonement obtain Redemption receive Spirit in the Man and sit on the right hand of God as the Mediator and great High-Priest and Prophet and King to send forth Spirit to Men
Saints but the Beast and the false Prophet will stand against him also but he comes not then to suffer but to raign and so all the Enemies will be overthrown he coming to the ends aforesaid I have in this but made a homely Comparison of the proceedings with Jews and Gentiles specially Christians how it was with the Jews is plainly declared through the Scriptures how it was with the Gentiles the Christians in the first ages is seen in the Scriptures and for the following ages it is there also propheted and for other knowledge I leave to them that are acquainted with Histories how it is now let such as have understanding judge And I suppose this will come neer to one with the former accounts of those godly learned Men and manifest that first said That the coming of our Lord is nigh at hand the call of the Jews being at the doors the fulness of Gentiles neer come and the personal coming of Christ not long after he shews us daily our lives here cannot be long and he is in his works hastening his coming and all to move us to haste to it and be always ready and waiting for it Behold he cometh CHAP. 20. Some Application of this Branch of the Testimony of Christ concerning his coming again in such manner to such ends c. THe knowledge and mindefulness of this personal coming again of Jesus Christ in such manner and for such ends as is shewn and his coming so fast and nigh-approaching is profitable to warn teach and stir us up first to avoid and resist the evils and keep from the danger of seducing and evil Spirits that labour to with-draw and turn many from the Faith of his coming by their subtil Reasonings and Arguments viz. 1. Those Scoffers that say Where is the promise of his coming for since the Fathers fell asleep 2 Pet. 3 6. all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation Where is this new Heaven and new Earth This Restauration of all things This raigning of Christ and his Saints you say was promised to the Fathers And you have long called these the last dayes and yet no such things appears you are beguiled with some Enthusiasm or Millenary-Opinion you wait for a Fancy one Generation goeth and another cometh all things continue as they were and will so do We in belief of the Testimony of Christ 2 Pet. 3.5.7 may know these Men are willingly ignorant c. we may admire God's Patience to such in forbearing them that they might repent before his coming and his patience towards us that have not done all we might to gain Men in to Repentance that we might renew our Diligence and we know a Day is not in God's account as it is with Men and that there are some things still to be performed that must be done before his coming and the being tried with such Scoffers is one thing in which we see the Truth of his Word that foretold it and the fulfilling of it and the hastening and nighness of his coming to stir us to desire it c. 2. 2 Thes 2.2 Those that go about to shake the minde of Believers by saying the Day of Christ is at hand now presently or within one hour or a day or ten dayes or a month or two months or such a day week or month within this yeer or before a yeer be out and thereto pretend a spiritual Revelation or some word or some thing as out of the writings of the Apostles for though that day be much nigher at hand than when the Apostles gave that warning and though that falling away and the Revelation of the Man of sin be now come to pass yet all there spoken is not yet fulfilled And so we know by the same Rule That all the Horns or ten Kingdoms do not yet hate the Whore and though there is a good beginning and in some places her Flesh eaten yet not by them all nor have they yet burnt her with Fire nor are the Jews yet come into their own Land yea Euphrates is not yet dried up all which must first be So that it is not so at hand as to be this day or week but he is coming apace and hastening in doing these things and our lives short which is enough to move us to be alwayes ready waiting and looking for his coming 3. Those that say The Resurrection is past already The Lord is come to them 2 Tim. 2.18 and they are risen and do raign and Heaven is in them and they are in Heaven enjoying the new Heaven and the new Earth already and are above all Ordinances needing the use of none of them We in belief of the Testimony of Christ do know That when the Lord comes he comes and appears to all at once and so when the Just are raised they are raised all at once and all Saints made immortal at once and go with the Lord to the overthrow of the wicked then enjoy the new Heaven and the new Earth and raign together neither marrying nor giving in marriage 1 Cor. 4.8.2 Thes 4.14 15. Heb. 11.40 nor living in such condition so that whatever they fancy of their being risen and living and raigning in such manner they are deceived for if it were so indeed we should not be left behinde or be as they say we are still in the dark but we should see and raign also with them if they did so in Truth for no one shall prevent another in this or any Saints be perfect without their Fellows 4. Those that put off all the coming of Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 3 â— 2 Pet. 3.18 19. 1 Ioh. 2.22 Prov. 30.13 into a coming in the Spirit and say We must wait indeed for a coming of Christ but it is a coming in the Spirit and That it is but a fleshly Faith to believe in Christ as come in the Flesh but the spiritual believing is to believe in him as come in the Spirit and so enjoying him he is come indeed and then such live above Faith Some such as these are intimated in the Apostles times though the Spirit of Antichrist did but begin then to work But we that believe the Testimony of Jesus Christ do know That Jesus that very Man is The Christ and That his very being come in the Flesh and that he hath done therein and thereby is the Foundation of our Faith and Hope and the way and door of our approach to God and that through which all Mercies are extended yea even the Spirit it self yea this it is which the Holy Ghost whose work it is glorifieth to the Heart and so enables to believe in Christ and unites and frames to him thereby and so to confess him come in the Flesh which none can do but by the Holy Spirit which is Christ his sending Spirit and so coming to them and dwelling in them by Spirit in which he was never absent from
to understand That this Jesus is that very promised Seed here primely meant Gal. 3.16 29. Isa 53.8 10 11. Psal 72.7 8 9 14. 89.29 36 And also here is in and with this principal a farther intimate necessary consequential and included sense namely That by Seed is meant all those of the Sons of Adam that by this Grace of God discovered through Christ the promised Seed are brought in to believe in Christ and by Faith united to Christ and reckoned after him his Seed and so of one and the same Seed the same spiritual species or kinde to enjoy the benefit of all his sufferings and victory and to inherite with him 3. Luk. 24.26 46 47. The way in which Christ should take away sins and destroy the works of the Devil and so enter into Glory even by suffering and conquest by Death and Resurrection Heb. 2.14 Col. 2.14 15. Psal 63.18 21. Rev. 12.11 Act. 14.22 Gen. 3.15 and pouring forth of Spirit and returning again to triumph and the way in which those that come to be of his Seed must overcome and inherit with him being by the word of the Testimony of him and by his Blood not loving their lives unto death and so through much Tribulation to enter into his Kingdom Both these are implied and testified in the very words It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel 4. That as there is enmity between the two Seeds yea Rev. 2.8 9. c Mat. 13.25 28 1 Pet. 5.8 Joh. 8.41 44. Gen. 3.15 Jude 4. Rom. 5.14 Eph. 5.31 32. Col. 2.14 15. Eph. 2.16 Joh. 16.11 Psal 68.18 2 Cor. 4.4 1 Joh. 5.8 Phil. 2.10 11. Isa 45.23 Gen. 3.15 Jude 14 15. according to all the whole sense given us that is between Christ and the Devil and so enmity in the Devil against all Mankinde preserved by Christ but especially those of Mankinde that are by the Grace of God through Christ converted born from above and so become the Seed of Christ yea he moveth all he prevails with to do his will to be Enemies to them also and so there is enmity between the two Seeds also as is express I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed where also might be noted That as Adam in his publick place was a Type of Christ so the Woman here a Type of the Church even so also as Christ came first in the flesh and by his sufferings and victory in his Oblation overcame the Devil and overthrew his first work so he is by Spirit overthrowing his second work in which he endeavours to keep men from the knowledge and acknowledgement of Christ and he will come again in glory and fully destroy his later work also and bring all before him to acknowledge him Lord to the Glory of God and then shall the Devil and all the ungodly be overthrown and he and his Seed shall raign all which was included in this saying It shall break thy head And this was opened to and prophesied by Enoch the seventh from Adam and so though mysteriously yet inclusively the whole Testimony of Christ was given in this first Revelation 5. That the fulness and cleerness of the glorious mystery of Christ and life in him contained in the Gospel Joh. 1 18.4-9 Heb. 1.1 2. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. 3.5 as first declared was yet hid with Christ in God and so to be farther opened as Christ came to be farther manifested and this implied in that word also Gen. 3.15 Col. 3.3 4. 1 Ioh. 3.22 It shall break thy head as the glorious life of Believers is still hid with Christ in God and will then be manifest when he shall appear in Glory when and not till then they shall appear in Glory with him 6. Here in this Revelation is no mention or intimation That the promise in this Gospel was made given or applied personally to Adam or to Evah to both or to either of them or any probability of such a thing for in all this the Speech was directed as the Curse to the Serpent Gen. 3.14 15. Iude 6. Gen. 3.16 17 18 19. Rom. 5.12 18. with intimation of the continuance of his malice chains and limits till his full overthrow and final judgement and the sentence of the Curse in sorrow mortality and death is in the Speech directed both to the Woman and the Man after this and the Curse on the Earth for their sakes also and so on all Mankinde in this first publick Man but the promise was fore-made to Christ that now had undertaken and intimated here in this word Gen. 3.15 Isa 50.5 6 7 8 9 10. Ioh. 17.2 It shall c. The Promise for that divine assistance he should have in all he had undertaken to suffer and do in the Nature of Man for Mankinde and the Victory he should have and so that Eternal Life he should have in the Nature of Man and for Mankinde to dispense to all that by the means he useth believe on him so that all the promises of God are his 2 Cor. 1.19 20. and in him yea and in him Amen The Promise of Eternal Life was made with him first and with and to him Tit. 1.2 7. 1 Ioh. 5.11 Gal. 3.17 Ioh. 1.12 1 Ioh. 5.12 Isa 49.8 for all that in believing come to receive it of him yea the Everlasting Covenant was first made with him and confirmed in him and so by necessary consequence for all that should believe in him and so have him and in having him have with and through him Forgiveness of Sins Asstance in Services and Trials the Promises Everlasting Covenant and Eternal Life and so all that is good for them This is the way of God's giving such good things to Men to give his Son to them Rom. 8.32 Gal. 3.13 14 15 16 26 29. Isa 9.6 53.8 10. who was fore-delivered up for us all and in giving him with and through him to give the Blessing and all good things so to Abraham and so to all other And thus is Christ the Everlasting Father of all Believers and they are his Generation or Seed And in this respect also Christ is the first-born before David Jacob Isaac Abraham yea Adam and Evah yea in this respect and relation he is the Root and Father of them all yea Rev. 22.15 Ioh. 8.56 58. he is the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End the First and the Last the Beginner and the Accomplisher of every Man's Faith and bringing in to God and so of theirs also And though in his actual taking of Flesh and so as Man he was after them and of them yet the vertue of his Oblation was efficacious with God and vertuous for Men from his first accepting to undertake and so from the beginning even in the first moment of Adam's Fall and so he the first Receiver and Dispenser of the Promises which in
The Light of the World so that the Ministration of Christ in the Gospel by himself or his Servants it or he in it is not to condemn Joh. 8.12 12.47 Joh. 5.34 Rom. 2.5 Joh. 33.16 17 24 29 30. Prov. 1.23 Rom. 11.11 23 32 33. 1 Cor. 5.5 2 Pet. 3.15 Rev. 2.21 Isa 5.4 Ezek. 24.13 Joh. 3.19 Rom. 11. 2 Cor. 4.4 Mat. 13.15 Ier. 8.9 Iona. 2.8 Mat. 10.26 Mar. 8.36 Ioh. 3.18 19. Mar. 16.16 Exod. 34.6 7. Isa 30.16 17 18. Psa 145.8 9. Ioh. 7.47 48. destroy or judge to perdition the World no not those in the World and of it that at present reject his words but even to save such his words to them are still That they might be saved his mercies are to lead to repentance that they might be saved his chastisements to break them of their pride and enterprizes that they might be saved yea his reproofs and beginning to deliver them to Satan are for the destruction of the flesh and to abase them that they might be saved yea his killing by the Law was that they might live to God Gal. 2.19 yea all his patience and long-suffering is and is to be accounted Salvation being extended to Men because he is not willing that any should perish but that they might come to Repentance and be saved yea he doth that in the means he useth whereby they might be saved so that he loseth none Joh. 6.39 17.12 but whoever are lost it is by rebelling against the light and so causing that which was for their welfare to be turned into a snare in their joyning with Satan that is blinding their mindes refusing when their eyes are opened in seeing to see and casting aside his word and following lying vanities they lose their own mercies and their own souls and these have one that judgeth them even the Light in the Word that hath come to them doth inwardly accuse and condemn them as guilty of sin and liable to death But yet notwithstanding Christ in his Ministration is patient towards them and waits to be gracious to them like as his Father doth being the same with him and having his Name on him and doth not in his Ministration in the dayes of his patience judge them but reserveth that his judging and passing Sentence until the last day when he is come again Whence we may understand the meaning of that sentence Eccles 9.4 To him that is joyned to all the living there is hope Rom. 11.23 so that if they abide not still in unbelief they shall be grafted in again for God is able to do it and therefore continue means still towards them but if they persist still in dis-obedience till the dayes of his patience be out Eccles 9.10 11.3 Ioh. 12.48 then no more hope but at that day the word of the Lord that he hath spoken and the light in the means that he hath extended shall judge them Rom. 2.16 for then will God judge all Men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel not by the Law of bondage as they fell under it in Adam but by the Law of liberty brought to them by Jesus Christ Iam. 2.12 which could not rightly be if in his word Salvation were not for them 2 Thes 2.10 and truly tendered to them and means whereby they might have received it and this not onely in a shew and pretence but verily and in truth that they might have been saved So far our Saviour's own Testimony of himself and his Father's and his own end in his Ministration and the same he testifieth of himself and his end in the Ministration continued by his Servants left by him in the World to that end that the words he gives them to speak are such as whereby Men should be saved and to that end and that he sends them in Ministration to that end to open their eyes and turn them Ioh. 17.15 18 21. Act. 11.14 Act. 26.17 18. c. and this affirmed by his Spirit in his Servants that God in Gospel-Ministration sends Christ to bless them in turning every of them from their iniquities and so of Christ his coming into the World both in his personal Ministration and his Ministration by his Servants Act. 3.26 This is affirmed as a faithful saying in which there is no dissimulation no equivocation no wreathedness Prov. 8.4 5 6 9. but it is according to the very Heart and Minde of God and very plain to be understood according to the import of the words and worthy all acceptation to be heeded believed and imbraced with the heart That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners 2 Tim. 1.15 sinners indefinitely such and all such as are sinners and to put all out of doubt the Apostle having mentioned what a sinner he was saith of whom I am the chief such the purpose and gracious end of God in the gift of his Son and of Christ in his coming and Ministration both immediate and mediate extended for teaching to Men. 4. That Jesus Christ according to all this Revelation of him and of the Father's love in giving him and making him known and his gracious end in this Ministration of him is to be displayed held forth preached and affirmed as a word of Truth and Verity to the World of Mankinde to all Nations to every Man in the whole Creation where-ever they come and this is plain in the commission and charge given them True it is the Ministration of John Baptist was but to the people of Israel though the light of it to be extended farther Mat. 28.19 20. Mar. 16.15 Luk. 1.16 77. Ioh. 1.7 Mat. 15 24. Mat. 10.5 6. Rom. 15.8 9. and so the personal Ministration of the Gospel by Christ was primely to them the Circumcision the lost Sheep of the House of Israel and his Disciples Ministration while he personally abode with them on Earth was no farther but to the House of Israel yet was this also to confirm the promises unto the Fathers and that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy whence when by providence led among the Samaritans Ioh. 4.10 42. he as an over-plus in his Ministration converted some of them that in hearing his voice became the Sheep of his Ministration yet he did not outwardly fold them till after his ascension and pouring forth the Holy Ghost Ioh. 10.14 15 16. when the commission and mission was enlarged for his Servants Ministration But now when his suffering-suffering-work was finished death overcome the acceptable Sacrifice offered and he on the right of God and having sent forth Spirit the veil of the Temple rent the partition-wall broken down and all Tongues sanctified to declare the Work and Name of God in they are to go into all the World and to declare and preach Christ as thus revealed Rom. 5 12 18. Mat. 22.1 7. Prov. 9.1 2 3. Isa 55.1 2 3 4. Rom. 5.18 3.23 24. to every
and so is this that follows if we take the words for God's fore-purpose and pre-approbation of these first Trusters in Christ and so take them without a Parenthesis before the foundation of the world Eph. 1.4 that we should be holy and without blame before him in love It 's cleer he speaks here of something wherein they were preferred before the Instruments in former Ministrations for to be holy and unblameable before him in love shall one day be the portion of all the Saints from first to last Eph. 5.25 26 27. And of faults deserving blame in conversation the best Saints on Earth have not been altogether free Rom. 7. Gal. 2. Jam. 3.2 2 Cor. 3.3 14. yea the Apostles confess That they were not But here he speaks of their Ministration and the Testament they were Ministers of as he did elsewhere And so Moses in his Ministration was faithful in all his House as a Servant and Aaron the Saint of the Lord but the Law and Testament they ministred made nothing perfect Heb. 7.19 Rom. 2.3 Heb. 7.12 8.6 11. 9.14 15. 10.5 10. it was weak through the flesh therefore God sent his Son c. and faulting the former Covenant he changed and took away that Law and hath brought in New Covenant established on better promises which Christ ministers by these chosen Witnesses so that they needed abundance of Furniture and were indeed so abundantly furnished that in Love and Declaration of his Love by an unerring Spirit they were un-erringly led in this excellent ministration holy and unblameable in ministring of an holy and unblameable Covenant before him in Love which they have left upon record which did we more believe we should more prize the Gospel with the sayings in it left upon record by them Eph. 1.5 But he proceeds vers 5. Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will Note well the words he saith not Having predestinated us to be adopted children for they were in election and being chosen whether in purpose or act as much adopted as chosen for sure that Phrase Mint Elect in whom my soul delighteth Isa 42.1 is well and truely rendered My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased and is the same with that This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased Besides Mat. 12.18 Mat. 3.17 17.5 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. Gal. 3.16 26 29. Joh. 1.12 2 Tim. 1.9 Joh. 6.44 Jam. 1.18 Joh. 1.13 Joh. 1.12 16 17 18. Rom. 8.16 Rom. 9.4 Adoption is onely in Christ Jesus and had in receiving and having him as Eternal Life is and no other way and yet farther Adoption and Acceptation to Sonship in Christ is in a peculiar manner the work of God the Father that calleth and draweth and begetteth to Christ And the communication of the Dignitie and Priviledges of Sons is in a peculiar manner the work of Jesus Christ the Son as it is in a peculiar manner the work of the holy Spirit to witness it besides Adoption is a thing to be ministred and did though not so cleerly appertain to the Jews under Moses Ministration So that it is evident here That in saying Having predestinated us to the adoption of sons he points out the more cleer business in their Ministration they were predestinated to as predestination relateth also to the means as well as the person and end and that is here the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ in which the way is pointed out a more cleer one then ever was in former Ministrations by preaching Jesus Christ according to the Revelation of the Mystery Rom. 16.25 26. 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. and so the Gospel is called The Word of Reconciliation and the Ministery of it The Ministery of Reconciliation and both committed to them for that end Whence they said in Ministration to be sent to open the eyes and turn c. that they might receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance Act. 26.17 18. Joh. 15.16 c. whence our Saviour saith of them I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.15 16. Luk. 5.10 c. and what fruit that is is to be seen in the commission given them so that they were appointed to Adoption that is in Ministration of the Son to bring men in to the Faith of the Son of God and so to Sonship or Adoption And this by Jesus Christ that is by abiding in him Eph. 1.5 Joh. 15.4 7 8 27. Luk. 24.47 48. Eph. 1.5 2 Cor. 4 5 6. Heb. 13.7 8. 2 Cor. 5.20 11.2 and so preaching and witnessing him and so Repentance and Remission of sins in his Name to draw men in to him as hath been shewn and this unto himself to draw to him unite to and inamour with him that he may have their heart and the praise such the end of their Ministration and Furniture and so of their preaching so they say We pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God and We have espoused you to one husband even Christ Thus was their Ministration to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself and herein far above the Ministration of Moses and Aaron and all the Levitical Priesthood and their Law for though their Adoption appertained to them and their Ministration was to bring Men to God and so to be Sons and Tutor Sons yet it was not with such a cleer Revelation of Christ but by Types and Shadows and Prophesies of him to come and by Circumcision Gal. 4.1 7. 3.16 26. 5.1 4.18 Joh 1.14 15 16 17. 8.31 36. still holding out the Gentiles as strangers to their Priviledges and binding even the Circumcision to such observances of outward Rites that they were kept still in a kinde of bondage so as they were under Tutors and Governours as Servants so as the most upright that were in Grace and not of works of the Law yet were they under the Law but this Ministration is of Grace onely and of Freedom and leads thereto Mat. 11.11 2 Cor. 4.4 yea even John's Ministration though before and above all the former yet short of this this being a glorious Ministration of a glorious Gospel to a gloriously gracious end Eph. 1.5 even the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ unto God according to the good pleasure of his will not onely according to his will and the pleasure of his will for so were all the former Ministrations but through Men's weaknesses they did not so profit Rom. 8.3 2 Cor. 3.6 14. Heb. 7 8 9 10. nor were to continue but for a time till Christ had offered up the Sacrifice and so were not approved for continuance and perfecting the Saints But his delight is in his Son and the cleer Revelation of him and that Men should love and honour him and
all anointed and called Shepherds to rule order lead teach and minister Jer. 3.15 23.4 5 6. and so suitable to that prophesie by Jeremiah and a spiritual first Fruits of it for here is Jesus Christ the anointed of God into whose Lips Grace is poured the great and mighty King the Prophet and great High-Priest over the House of God the good Shepherd of his Flock sitting in his Body in the Heavens at the right Hand of God till he come again and take to him his great Power and Raign that is also the Anoynter and in sending forth of Spirit hath given gifts unto Men to get him a spiritual Kingdom amongst Men and to order it till he come to take them to raign with him 1 Joh. 2.20 And so he by his Spirit is present with them and anoynteth them and maketh them a spiritual House an holy and royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.5 9. to shew forth his vertues and offer spiritual Sacrifices to God by him suitable to and a spiritual first Fruits of that prophecied by Isaiah and so as he hath put his Word Isa 66.20 and therein laid the Foundation in them so he hath filled and fitted them in his anointing with spiritual gifts to hold forth teach and so lay the same Foundation for others and to convince them of the falseness of all other Foundations and to draw and build them up on this Foundation and to help them to growth and feeding thereon and for direction for walking therein till they come to the fulness of possession Eph. 2.17 22. so richly were these first VVitnesses furnished in the Faith having both the Gospel in such full and clear knowledge and all these spiritual gifts immediately from Jesus Christ himself whose personal body they both saw and heard even after his Resurrection And whereas Paul seemed to be born out of due time for this yet it was vouchsafeth him and he did and was the last that did both hear and see him in his personal Body and receive the Gospel and these spiritual gifts immediately from him 1 Cor. 15.8 9. 9.1 2. Gal. 2.11 12 21. Luk. 16.29 2 Pet. 1.15 3.2 and by that he proves his Apostleship and in this immediateness of receit and commission they have no Successors but do continue with us in all their knowledge and gifts by and in the Gospel recorded by them 3. That the end for which all these gifts were given them was for perfecting the Saints that is Eph. 4.12 all that are prevailingly called by his Grace and so united to him and sanctified by and to him and for his service not limiting this to outward Officers nor engaging it to all them some of them it may be not being such Saints but limiting it to such Saints and enlarging it to all them for perfecting them for the work of the Ministery the Ministery of the Saints of the whole Body whereof no Member is Officeless or useless but each hath some Service or Ministration and fitness for it and spirit of life running therein and so a Ministration for the edifying of the Body of Christ and this such an edification as is for the growth of the Body both in multitude of converts and their growth in Union Fellowship and Conformity every Member in this sense growing by the influence that proceedeth from the Head but yet not immediately into every particular Member nor through some outward Officers onely but as from the Head of the mystical Body so through every living Member making increase to it self in love And so the growth of the Body by that which every joynt supplieth for so gracious an end were these gifts given 4. The time of the continuance of these gifts and that is express Till we all come in the unity of the Faith c. that is Eph. 4.13 till the last Man be called that is to be called before the personal appearance of Christ till we all that is the whole company that is to meet with him and to come and raign with him meet in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge and so the acknowledgement of the Son of God unto a perfect Man Gal. 4.3 7. Jer. 31.34 1 Cor. 13.8 9 10 11 12. 1 Joh. 3.2 a full and compleat Company a fit and suitable Corporation or Body for such an Head the measure of the stature or age of the fulness of Christ which as the knowledge of the Freedom of Sons was by his first coming so this will be at his next coming and appearing in Glory when this manner of Ministration will cease but till then they to continue in this Ministration of the Gospel True it is The Gospel that is the Faith to be taught and received Jude 3. 1 Tim. 6.13 14. 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 2 Pet. 1.13 14 15. 3.2 Gal. 1.6 7. it was once and but once immediately given unto the Saints in these first VVitnesses but that very same Gospel is mediately continued and so to be received and held forth and no other Gospel nor another immediate giving of that unless to some Jews but that kept and held forth by the Saints till Christ come again even so these spiritual gifts to minister the Gospel with were once given and that was when Christ ascended up in our Nature to Heaven Act. 2. and then he sent them down to his Saints at once and in this immediateness and fulness as then but once but these gifts even all of them as mediately received through belief of the Gospel delivered by them which Gospel whoever unfeignedly believeth is become of them and so of Christ and so of the same seed the seed of them who are the seed of Christ and the seed of Christ his seed and his seed's seed And so this VVord and Gospel given them and the spiritual gifts given them therein and therewith and so put in them shall not depart out of them nor out of their seed Isa 59.20 21. nor out of their seed's seed from henceforth for ever and so will he make good his promise to them of being with them to the end of the VVorld Mat. 28.20 and that to this gracious end That having such a standing and enduring Gospel recorded and in that record revealed and in minding and believing thereof receiving such known spiritual gifts as all lead to exalt Christ and draw to and build on him VVe may no more be as Children tossed to and fro Eph. 4.14 15. and carried about with every winde of Doctrine by the slight of Men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love we may grow up into him in all things which is the Head c. And so much for their blessed Furniture that is of continuance and abideth in the Church believing and professing this Gospel in some good measure throughout all ages But with this they had some other Furniture
and stay and so the Truth is the upholder and stay of the Church and the giver of Authority to it and not the Church the stay of and Authority-giver to the Truth yet even in this respect also as Christ is the Head of the Church and his Truth and Spirit and he thereby an Indweller in the Church so they in holding forth the Truth are instrumental upholders of it Act. 9.15 2 Tim 4.7 Mat. 5.14 and maintainers of the Faith to the World and so the Light of the World and in respect of some in the outward Court that turn the Grace of God into wantonness pervert the Gospel deceive the World and labour to beguile Believers in turning them from the Faith These are the Keepers of the Faith by teaching it and opposing and fighting with the sword of the Spirit against their prophaness and errors and so maintaining the Faith against their falshoods And in all these senses the Church that are these Witnesses 2 Tim. 4.1 7. 2 Cor. 10.4 5 6. Jude 3 4. is the Pillar of Truth and yet more fully in one sense more including all the former in it This Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth taking in as is given us both the words that is to say 5. As they were of old to write the Commandments and Statutes of the Lord upon the door-posts of their house Deut. 6.9 11.20 and their gates as the Ten words were written in Tables of stone that they might be seen and read and as some say The Prophets did hang or fasten their written Prophesies upon one of the Pillars in the Temple as is the use of the chief Magistrate to have his Proclamation fastned on some noted post or pillar in the Market-place where all the Country may take notice of it and read it so these are the Church or House and so that post and pillar the Table or Ground in and upon whom the Truth is so written that all may read it though some with likement and some with dislike as the Apostle hath plainly affirmed saying to the Church Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts seen and read of all Men forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone as the Law of old was but in the fleshly Tables of the heart in which there is a performance spiritually by Christ of that said to the Prophet of old Write the Vision Feb. 2.2 and make it plain upon Tables Isa 29 11 12. that he may run that readeth it and being taken with that read he may read to others even that Vision of All and others may read it on him And this writing is the very work of Christ by his Spirit in Ministery of the Gospel We never read that Christ did personally in his own Body write any part of the Scripture that work he left for his Servants by his Spirit to do yet once we finde that he wrote with his Finger on the ground as not regarding his Tempters Joh. 8.6 yet what he wrote is not said but to say the Apostle alludeth to that I dare not nor yet will I say it was an intimate Instruction of his own work so freely to write by his Finger which oft signifieth his Spirit his Epistle in the ground of the heart of his unworthy ones but this I may say in treating of his spiritual writing To allude to this is no error But however it cleerly appears this Society and Church spoken of is the Pillar and ground of Truth where Truth is written and holden forth to be read 1 Tim. 3.16 yea even the Truth that is the Mysterie of godliness that great Mystery God was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit c. And so these unfeigned Believers united to Christ having his word as delivered by his Apostles in their heart be his Witnesses now and the Ministers he hath chosen for this Ministration to minister according to the grace and gifts given them none presuming beyond these are the holy City and Sanctuary of his building and the Ministers of the things thereof Rev. 11.1 2 3. to whom he gives Spirit and Power that they may witness him even to the World and among these is the true Altar even in this Temple and these are the Worshippers thereat and because of the Gospel in their hearts and there through some portion of these forementioned spiritual gifts by which they witness him hold forth the word of life with their tongues therefore their tongue is said to be as choice silver and their lips to feed many Prov. 10.21 22. Pro. 15 10. Psa 35.28 71.24 119.172 51.31 1 Thes 1.8 1 Cor. 3.3 18. Gal. 5.22 23. their tongue useth knowledge aright and speaks of God's righteousness and praise all the day yea even so as sinners may be converted to him and so from them the word of God soundeth forth And also by the same Spirit in the Gospel their hearts being framed to the minde and design of Christ they so have a Christ-like Spirit springing up Love Joy Peace c. which leadeth them to walk in Faith and Love in Holiness and Mercy Mat. 5.16 c. So that also hereby they do witness of him and hold forth the word of Life also in their conversation in good works and holy profession whence the Fruit of the Righteous is called A Tree of Life Prov. 11.30 Ezek. 47.12 Rev. 22.2 2 Cor. 9.2 and a way of winning Souls yea their Fruit is for Meat and their Leaf for Medicine so their Conversation winneth and their Zeal provoketh many and because the Spirit of Glory resteth on them 1 Pet. 4.10 11 14. and giveth them power to glorifie God in witnessing both these wayes though through sufferings Therefore in respect of their twofold witnessing and holding forth the word of Life to glorifie God and do good to Men convincing by Truth and comforting with Truth and confuting falshood Rev. 11 4. They are also called the two Witnesses that witness yea that witness the Truth on God's part against the Man of sin and God of the World and the two Olive-Trees that bring forth that good Fruit whence the good Oyl runneth and the two Candlesticks that hold forth the true Light that shineth so that every way it appears that these unfeigned Believers united to Christ in him by Faith and he in them by Word Spirit are his chosen Ones to bring forth Fruit his Ministers for carrying an end the Ministration of this last Revelation of Christ till he come again these are the Temple of God the House of God the Church of God I need not to use worldly terms else I might shew how these are the Achademah or School University and Colledge in which are all the Scholars that are taught of God And
works be manifold yet he is but one God he is one and so the Holy Spirit that proceedeth from the Father and the Son and discovereth Christ and God in Christ and beareth forth the Testimony though his Gifts and Operations be manifold yet the Spirit is one in the same yea the Father and Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same God one in Essence Will Design Testimony and Power and God in Christ propitious to Men and having prepared Eternal Life in Christ for Men this is the Object of Faith to be preached and believed and if this were not there could be no such thing as the Gospel calls Faith to be preached obeyed or enjoyed And this is one 2. The Grace of Faith or that believing in the Gospel that is called Faith it is that believing which is begot in the heart by the Discovery and Testimony Heb. 11.13 Joh. 6.40 Act. 6.7 Rom 3.25 10.8 9 10. the Spirit in the means he useth hath given of Christ in which a Man discerneth the Truth and Goodness testified is perswaded of it in his heart And this is one one way and manner of believing that Object of Faith and from thence it is called Faith and so truely still one Faith the Object discovered having drawn to it self a believing 3. So when through the Operation of Grace believed the Heart imbraceth the Object believed Heb. 11.13 Rom. 10.10 and so by Faith is united to it in trust and well-pleasedness c. it is still but one and the same Faith the same Object uniting to it self whence indeed it hath the name of Faith so as still Faith is one and but one II. That as Faith is used for the prevalency of the Object of Faith drawing the Hearer and Beholder to believe and so for the Grace of Faith or Believing though the Faith be one yet there are divers Degrees in and of it and divers Acts and Operarations of it 1. One Degree of Believing which in respect of the Testimony by which it is begot and which it believeth Joh. 2.23 12.42 and which if abiden in it will unite to may be called faith is yet short of a real new-birth it is such a belief of the Gospel-Testimony as according to light seen one believeth Jesus to be the Christ so far as to count his saying true and yet not so overcome by that believed to see and acknowledge his own vileness and the vanity of all his own best righteousness and his sin in not sooner believing by evidences foregiven and so see not yet the fulness and liberty in Christ for them and so are not by the knowledge of the Truth made single to Christ they are sprinkled with water and moved with Spirit but not yet born of VVater and Spirit they believe Righteousness but not yet with the heart unto Righteousness they are by the hearing of Faith so far born of God as to believe Jesus to be the Christ and confess him to be the Lord but not so far born of God as to be emptied of themselves and united to Christ and so are not yet inwardly renewed and regenerated and so though in the outward Court not yet really translated out of the Power of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's dear Son and yet even these Believers if they abide in this Faith of the Testimony of the Gospel and give heed to the plain sayings thereof Rom. 10.9 Joh. 8.30 31. and abide therein they shall be saved shall know the Truth and the Truth will make them free To say these did but pretend or seem and profess to believe and so are said to believe in respect of their seeming and prosession to believe in the judgement of Charity is too much presumption and sawciness and derogation from the Holy Ghost for the Evangelists writ this after Christ was ascended and they indued with the Holy Ghost and so writ by his inspiration so that those sayings such did believe were not the sayings of Men imperfect in knowledge and judging according to the judgement of Charity by conjecture but the sayings of the Holy Ghost that knoweth all things the Spirit of Truth that cannot erre or be deceived And he saith they believed on his Name they believed on him and who will be so proud of his VVisdom and Knowledge as to direct the Spirit of the Lord and undertake to counsel him and teach him to speak more rightly and safely and say they seemed to believe they professed to believe in the judgement of Charity they ought to be counted Believers though in the issue it appears they did not believe That which some bring to help this conceit helps it not Joh. 2.24 25. namely that Christ did not commit himself to them because he knew all Men c. for it is not said Jesus knew they believed not Gen. 6.5 8.21 or that he knew there was no truth in their believing but he knew what was in Man an evil and unfaithful disposition c. and he knew that his Words or Miracles that brought these to believe on him were not so submitted to as that their evil disposition was yet mortified and they made faithful to him and so they might have served him as he did Joh. 5.14 15. but believe the Spirit saith they did And so in the other place the Holy Ghost affirmeth That as Christ spake many believed on him Joh. 8.30 31. and that our Saviour then spake to those Jews that believed on him And again the Holy Ghost faith Among the chief Rulers many believed on him Joh. 12.42 but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him So that these were Believers and therefore so called and not called Believers because they seemed or professed to believe which the Holy Ghost saith they did not nay the praise of Men had that prevalency with them that it kept them from profession of believing though it had not so great prevalency with these as with those Joh. 5.44 whom it kept from believing or yet put them in an incapacity of it so that these pointed to did believe is evident that it was not a feigned but true believing is evident for else in continuance in it they could not be saved that they were yet short of the knowledge of the Truth c. is express that if they continued in his words received by this Faith they were even then his Disciples and they should know the Truth and the Truth should make them free is express so that here is one Degree of Faith yet short of a real New-Birth which yet abiden in is certain to be effected and was after in many of these as appears in comparing John 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 18. and John 7.50 51. with John 19.38 39 40. 2. The other Degree of believing in which by the prevalency of the Light seen Col. 1 12 13. 1 Pet. 2.3 5 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9. and Grace believed the Heart
is convinced and brought off all things to accept of and confide in Jesus and so brought out of the power of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son and so by his Love believed framed to love him and that this is true Faith indeed none that I know but the deniers of Jesus to be the Christ gainsay yet is this but the farther Efficacies of the same Object of Faith beheld and so one and the same Faith still though in this degree united and made one with the Object so as it was not in the former Degree yet even in this Degree also there are divers Degrees and so some weak Joh. 2.13 14. 2 Thes 1.1 3. Rom. 3.21 22 25 26 27. Act. 6.7 2 Pet. 1.1 some stronger some stablish'd some Babes some young or strong Men some Fathers yea and in every of these Degrees some may be more grown then others and be before others yet all still in one and the same Faith and still also in this one Faith 3. There be divers Acts and Operations of this Faith 1 Thes 2.13 Act. 10.43 Gal. 2.3 5. 2 Tim. 1.7 Joh. 7.38 39. Gal. 5.22 23. Gal. 5.6 Rom. 10.10 Psal â—6 1 10. as to say a receiving Act in which is received the Word or Testimony and therein Remission of sins Justification Sanctification Liberty of access to God the Spirit of Faith Love Power and a sound Minde a springing act raising up prizings of Christ Love of God and Brethren bowels of Mercy c. a streaming Act Faith working through Love and so bringing forth the services of Love in Confession Prayers Praises Works of Mercy and Righteousness yet the Faith it self is still one and the same and so called the same the same Spirit of Faith yea when it produced Miracles 2 Cor. 4.13 Act. 4.10 11 12. the Faith was still the same though the Act extraordinary The belief of the History Rom. 10.8 9. is the belief of the Testimony of Christ which whoso believeth with his heart shall be saved and when through the Grace believed one is brought upon Christ he is justified from all sins past and in that believing receiveth continual justification Rom. 3.25 26 27. Gal. 5.7 Mat. 24.13 and if any depart from the Faith that proves temporary but he that endureth to the end shall be eternally saved the Faith it self being one still and but one Faith III. As Faith is used to express the Object of Faith Heb. 1.1 so it hath been reyealed for the full and cleer Demonstration of it at divers times and by divers parcels and degrees and at last fully and cleerly by Jesus Christ and yet that Object of Faith still one and the same each Revelation agreeing with and opening the former and so still one as hath been shewn in this whole third Part of the Treatise And because there is no Faith by the Holy Spirit called Faith but that which by his Discovery of this Object is drawn towards it in believing that the Believer might so be united to it Therefore the Faith is one yea and this Demonstration to lead us into unity because as it unites Believers in one Foundation to one Head so it makes them of one Heart and Fellowship Eph. 4.4 For there is one Body that is one Mystical Body or Corporation Fellowship and Society though the Members of this Corporation and their Offices be many yet the Corporation and Society in Faith Love and Fellowship of their Priviledges is one and all bear one Name 1 Cor. 12.12 20. Eph. 2.19 22. 1 Joh. 1.3 Cant. 6.9 Gal. 3.16 29. Hos 11.1 Rom. 8.17 Gal. 3.36 Eph. 4.4 1 Joh. 5.6 Joh. 15.26 Eph. 2.17 18. 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 2.16 Eph. 4.4 sa 45.22 Joh. 3.14 16. 2 Thes 2.14 Eph. 1.18 Eph. 4.5 Rom. 10.6 15. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 Thes 1.10 Joh. 1.12 13. Eph. 4.5 the Name of Christ being called Christians And so there is but one true Church and Sanctuary that is united to Christ and shall be in and with him for ever and by vertue of their Union with Christ they are all in respect of kinde one Seed and one Son though in respect of their several particular Persons Heirs Children and Sons of God by Faith And as there is One Body so there is in it One Spirit even the Spirit of the Father and the Son that beareth forth the Testimony of Christ and enables to believe in Christ and brings to God by Christ and into this Fellowship working the Minde of Christ and so called the Spirit of Faith by whom all he calleth and so all Believers are called in One Hope of their calling The same Grace proclaimed The same looking and believing required and for the same end To be saved and to the same Hope in believing even the obtaining Eternal Life and Glory and so One Lord even the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily and so One Faith as one Object so one Manner of believing which is Faith indeed that is produced by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel and closeth with Christ the Object of Faith and so also One Baptism one kinde and end of the gracious Operation of the Holy Spirit in Baptizing into Christ and through his Name by all the Mediums of baptizing 1 Cor. 12.12 13. Rom. 6.3 6. Gal. 3.26 27 28. called also Baptisms into conformity to Christ in his Death that they may partake of the vertue of his Resurrection and so into the Fellowship of his body drinking into one Spirit and so becoming of one minde and that the minne of Christ the Son of God even as also there is 1 Cor. 6.11 Phil. 2.1 2 5. Eph. 4.6 Eph. 1.3 17. 1 Cor. 2.6 Mat. 10.40 Rom. 16.20 25 26. 1 Pet. 5.10 â— Psa 138.8 One God and Father of all who is above all and through al and in them all that are Believers he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him and shmes forth his Glory through him that Men might believe and so in and through him he is the Father of all that believe in Christ and above all able to overthrow all their Enemies and Opposers and to perfect all that concerneth them all so as all flows from and leads into Union and this Union of the Spirit bringing into the Union of the acknowledgement of the Son of God is that which the Spirit teacheth and to which all the Degrees and Operations tendeth whence we are exhorted to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace 2 Cor 114. Gal. 1.6 7 8. and so but one Faith which the Gospel calleth Faith and he that would finde out another Faith really true and holy in its kinde must first finde out another true Body that is the Church another Spirit another Jesus to be the Christ another Gospel and another Hope to call to and another God all real true and holy in their
is to say first as a Description of the predestinate with that whereto they are predestinate and for what end secondly a propounding of examples to them of such Saints as have gone before and finished their course and so according to both these let the words be minded First I shall consider those three things as the Description of the Predestination 1. Who they are that God hath thus predestinated enough is said already to shew they are not any of Adam's Sons as fallen in him and naturally come forth from him as so remaining and so beheld but only such as are foreknown fore-owned of God which are onely the Called according to purpose 1 Cor. 8.3 Gal. 4.6 9 Joh. 15.16 Act. 9.15 16. 10.41 42. 1 Tim. 1.11 12 2.7 that through the grace and love of God in Christ believed do love God all these and none but these are known of God these all and onely these elect owned and approved God doth having first or fore-owned them in that very election and owning of them appoint ordain and predestinate them to this conformity 2. That is both intimately hinted what not to or expresly affirmed to what intimately shewed that it is not to make propitiation for sins and to offer the acceptable sacrifice c. for according to purpose Christ onely was to do and hath done that and God hath commended his love to Man-ward through him nor is it to be called as sinners to repentance and to believe in Christ and in believing to receive remission of sins past and so to be framed to love God and by Faith to be the Sons of God and in that Faith in him to have the beginnings of eternal life All which in some good measure they haye already being Lovers of God and called according to purpose and so known and approved of God before this predestinating them but that which they as Sons are predestinated unto is something in which Christ as the prime Son is set forth as a pattern to them and so it is expresly said They are predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Son which must needs be to that likeness of him in which he is set before us for a pattern and example to conform to and that may be comprehended in these three Branches as the Scripture plentifully and plainly shews I. 1 Pet. 2.5 9 Eph. 2.10 Rom. 7.4 5 Joh. 15.16 19 1 Tim. 1.11 12 2.7 2 Tim. 1.11 Act. 10.41 42 In services of love in declaring his Name and shewing forth his praises and vertues in word and conversation to this end were they created in him to good works that they should walk in them yea to this end their marrying and uniting to Christ that they should serve in newness of Spirit so Christ in chusing ordains to go and bring forth fruit so Paul when counted faithful was put in the Ministery and so ordained a Preacher and an Apostle Eph. 1.4 Phil. 2.15 16 Eph. 5.1 2. Joh. 13.15 34 35 15.12 yea all his chosen Witnesses and specially his Apostles were predestinated to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ in their Ministration and all Believers commanded to hold forth the word of life c. and so to be Followers of God as dear Children and to walk in love as Christ hath loved us who tells us he hath given us an example and bids us so to do To this they are predestinated II. In bearing the cross of Christ in this their service 1 Thes 3.3 4 in patient acceptance and indurance of such afflictions as they meet with for the Name of Christ and as God is pleased to try and exercise them withall And this the Apostle speaks of Mat. 20.23 10.22 1 Pet. 4.12 1.6 7 Act. 14.22 2 Tim. 3.12 Heb. 12.6 as a known thing among Believers which he had taught them also speaking of afflictions he saith For your selves know that we are appointed thereunto And Christ told his Disciples That they should indeed drink of his cup and be baptized with his baptism Whence Peter admonisheth not to count the fiery trial strange as if some strange thing hapned to us And the Apostle puts it in as of necessity We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God And Paul puts it down not onely as necessary but general All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution and God scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth To this they are predestinated III. Phil. 3.9 10 2 Cor. 4.17 18 Rom. 5.3 4 5 Jam. 1.2 3 1 Pet. 4.14 Heb. 2.10 Luk. 24.26 Rom. 8.17 2 Tim. 2.11 12 Mat. 5.11 12 Jam. 1.2 3 4 1 Pet. 4.13 Through these sufferings to be conformed to the Image of Christ in this life in spiritual vertues in meekness patience submission to the will of God experiments of divine power in fortitude constancy c. and after this life in glory and raigning that as it was appointed him through sufferings to be made perfect and to enter into his glory so it is by the same divine appointment that Believers follow him in the same way to enter rest and glory whence that is closed in with our Sonship and being Heirs If so be that we suffer with him that we may be glorified together if we be dead we shall also live with him if we suffer we shall also raign with him whence those callings to rejoyce when such sufferings befal us And the predestination is principally to the way means and orderly leading to the purposed end and this that to which God's chosen are predestinated 3. The end for which he hath thus predestinated those he hath owned as unfeigned Believers and lovers of him to be thus conformed to the Image of his Son that is express That he his Son Christ might be the first born among many Brethren Plain it is Col. 1.18 Prov. 8.22 c. Col. 1.17 15 Col. 1.18 Act. 17.31 Mat. 2.18 Ier. 31.16 17 That this great design of God in this predestination of the Believers to such conformity to him still to advance and glorifie his Son that in all things he may have the pre-eminence he was and is without controversie in himself the first-born and before all things yea he is also the first-born of every creature so as they were made by him he is also the first-born from the dead and so the object of Faith for all Men. And more I might say in respect of those dying in infancy but in this it is that he might be the first-born among many brethren even those chosen and predestinated to conformity to him in such services and sufferings to pass therethrough to glory Heb. 12.23 Col. 1.18 Eph. 1.21 23 Ioh. 17.1 whence so believing on him they are called the Congregation of the first born as he is also the Head of the Church all whose excellency and happiness is in being still more conformed to him in that in which for
a pattern he is set forth to them in which as he is glorified so God is glorified in and by him so that predestination here cannot be a predestination of Men to be saved for whom Christ should die and suffer to save them for he then should not be the first-born in such a predestination scarce so the first in order but here he is the first in the choise predestination call justification and glorification and so in the whole pattern above all in excellency and they First believing and chosen in him and then predestinated to be conformed to him that therein he may be the chief and first-born among many Brethren And so we have the meaning in the Apostle's Description Secondly Let all these things in the words be considered as the Apostle here proposeth to the Believers according to his wonted manner the examples of such as had gone before them in the Faith to comfort and encourage them to service and suffering and through sufferings to wait for glory in which examples he also sets forth Christ as the chief to behold and conform to they when chosen were predestinated and then called to it and also justified and glorified and there is no change in God we may be sure believing in him 1 Tim. 1.16 he will even so deal in the same manner with us they are patterns for us that believe And so the Apostle giving a definition of Faith and a description of it and the marvellous effects of it in the whole Chapter Heb. 11.1 vers 13.2 sets forth a Catalogue of the great things done and suffered and their victory and certainty of the promises encourageth them having such a cloud of witnesses Heb. 12.1 2 to lay aside every c. and to run with patience the race set before them but above all looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who c. and so likewise James Take Jam. 5.10 11. my Brethren the Prophets c. for an example of suffering afflection and of patience behold we count them happy which endure ye have heard of the patience of Job and ye have seen the end of the Lord. 1 Pet. 2.5 So that as the purpose and promise of the Lord is They that trust in him shall not be confounded so these examples of his dealing with his beloved Ones Psal 9.10 34.22 Psal 22.4 5 is as a cord let down from Heaven to draw and hold us to trust in him at all times yea this exercise of Faith the Spirit leads Believers to and upholds and fills them with pleas in greatest distresses and that the Apostle propounds examples here of such as have finished their course appears in that the whole here said in 29 and 30 verses in the preterfect Tense not a word of that doing or to be done but all done Hath predestinated called justified glorified and thus taken the whole business is yet more plain And so I proceed 3. To shew what the Calling is that is here meant that foresaid hath done it already It is not the Call of unbelievers and sinners to repent and believe for Christ was never so called and though in that Call Believers are brought in to him yet it 's a following work of grace to conform to him so that the Call here is the Call of those that are Believers to such services and suffering and imitation of Christ in both as that both in the Call and the services of love and suffering they are conformed to him as is already shewn Moreover whom he did predestinate them also he called Rom. 8.30 There hath not been any of those that have been called according to purpose and loved God and were approved of him but as he hath predestinated them so also moreover and besides he hath called them forth to these services and sufferings and so to conformity with Christ therein and he is the same God still and keeps the same course still with all Believers and Lovers of him yet may we be confident and rejoyce in him in all for 4. Whom he called them also he justified The Justification here meant Rom. 4.5 3.25 is farther then simply a Justification of the ungodly believing in Christ and so receiving remission of sins past even such a Justification as in which the justified are conformed to Christ in his justification and what that was is express in the place of the Prophet Isa 50.7 8 9 Isa 43.2 Neh. 13.14 Heb. 11.4 2 Cor. 8.12 6.8 Rev. 12.11 Psal 44.17 18 Rom. 8.36 37 Isa 41.9 10 11 12 13 14 15 37 40 to which the Apostle alludes in this Chapter which Justification includes in it Help and Assistance in all services and sufferings even when they pass through fire and water that they shall not be overthrown or harmed and however condemned and defamed by Men yet he will accept and justifie their services and sufferings and approve of and justifie them believing in him when and while they are exercised in these services and sufferings yea he give them victory so as they shall overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony yea he hath alwayes done this to his Saints he called hereto he hath justified them and not onely so but Whom he justified Joh. 17.1 Heb. 12.2 Psal 44.17 18 c. Isa 52.2 Rev. 14.13 6.9 10 11. 2 Cor. 5.8 Phil. 1.23 3.20 them he also glorified He hath glorified his Son in the Nature of Man that suffered and finished the work he gave him to do so as he is glorified at his right hand he hath glorified the Saints that followed him with the glory of victory their Bodies at rest in hope and their Spirits with the Lord enjoying glorious rejoycing in the sight of his glorified body and happiness in his presence with infallible assurance of having their glory compleated on Soul and Body at his coming in the Resurrection of the Just and so hath he done to all his Saints before and so will do still and for ever And thus by this Rom. 8.28 29.30 we are led to understand the Purposes of God to be even such and the same that have been set forth in this fourth Part of the Treatise if we consider in the whole three Verses the next two things forenamed it more appears that is 5. What the end and scope of the Apostle here is and that appears plainly 1. Ch. 7.4 7 8.1 4 5 6 12 13 14 To stir them up to abide firm in the Faith and to minde the things of the Spirit and walk after the Spirit in love-services 2. Vers 17 18 23 24 To comfort and support them in the afflictions that came upon them while they walked after the Spirit in the Faith that worketh by love and so encourage them to patience and constancy in the induring of their afflictions persevering in faith and love yea even 3. To lead them to triumphing
1.22 23. 9.6 Mar. 1.15 Act. 3.26 26 18. Joh. 2.8 Pro. 1.24 Joh. 3.19 Psal 85.8 Heb. 3.7 Jam. 1.21 1 Pet. 2.1 2.3 Jam. 1.25 Act. 15.9 and according to the Purpose in Election For first this saving Grace of God in Christ in its appearance teacheth and requireth every one to whom it is tendered in the Call To submit to his convincements and turn at his reproofs and so turn from iniquity And if any stubbornly refuse they lose their own mercies their own souls and those that begin to hearken and in believing to taste somthing of the graciousness of the Lord it warns also to turn no more to folly but to be still casting off all superfluity of naughtiness and to receive with meekness the ingrafted word that so they may come more upon him and be built on him And such as thus receive his gracious words in believing on him he will purifie from all their iniquities Joh. 3.14 15 16 17 18. Tit. 2.11 12 13 14. 3.3 4 5 6 7. and unite and conform them to himself And so this last sentence shews That this whole Verse agrees with our Saviour's Description of the Will of God and the Foundation he hath set forth and owned and with the Affirmation of the Oblation of Christ and the end thereof and the Teachings and the Efficacies thereof and so with all those holy Cautions and Warnings to take heed of refusing and of back-sliding or of liftning to seducing Spirits And all runs even with the scope of the Apostle and all the precedent and following Verses and the whole current of the Scripture affirming Christ the onely and sure Foundation whereas the affirming of an eternal Purpose and Election of some certain persons of fallen Mankinde to be eternally saved is cross to this Text and all Scripture to be laid as the Foundation though some sometime leave out the words having this Seal that the other following words might be taken for the Foundation Mr. O. p. 77. and then call it The Foundation of God's unchangeable Purpose and Love yet if a Man would say By purpose is meant that purposed I would take it in the most favourable sense Suppose some honest and learned Jew before Christ came in the Flesh should have affirmed God's Purpose of sending forth his Son Christ to die and rise and offer the acceptable Sacrifice and so to be the Saviour of the World that whoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life Suppose I say he should have taught this Purpose of God to be the Foundation he had something miscarried in Expression for the Foundation purposed and promised was the Seed of the Woman to break the Serpent's Head the Seed of Abraham in whom is blessing for all Nations a Man to be the Rock and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth and though he was not then come forth and so not laid as now he is yet he was held forth though afar off in the Promise to be looked to and by reason of the agreement between the Father and him and in his undertaking he was so vertuous and efficacious that he was a sure Foundation so as in beholding him and resting on him as yet to come Heb. 11.13 14 40. such Believers were safe And so they seeing it afar off were perswaded and embraced and lived and died in the Faith and shall receive the Promise of the Inheritance together with us and so the Foundation was the thing purposed and waited for then So that here were a little mistake in this honest Jews Expression yet this mistake might have been tolerable because the Foundation was as then no farther laid but as held forth in the Promise and Revelation of the Purpose of God And so to take the Promise and Purpose therein revealed including the belief of him promised for the Foundation had not been dangerous but safe where farther Light was not come forth But now the Purpose is manifest to be come forth into act Act. 2. 13.32 33. 10.11 Rom. 1.1 5. 1 Cor. 3.11 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. and the Foundation according to Purpose laid the promise fulfilled and Christ that took Man's Nature and died for their sins is risen and manifestly declared to be the Foundation Now to slight over this open and manifest laid and sealed Foundation and to cloke it with making the Purpose of God the Foundation to be built on as if the Foundation purposed were not laid or not manifest is not less then an intimate denial of Christ being come in the Flesh 1 Joh. 4.3 and too neer the Spirit of Antichrist Therefore it is to be desired That Men would acknowledge and call him The Foundation that is so and not avoid it by calling the Purpose the Foundation and yet to call that the Purpose of God which is not and make it the Foundation also is much worse consider that also CHAP. 11. Of a devised Purpose by some called The Purpose of God and counted The Foundation SOme have conceived and are ready to affirm this for the Purpose of God namely That from Eternity before the Foundation of the World God did decree and purpose eternall to save a certain number of persons of fallen Mankinde and eternally to damne all the rest of Mankinde and in this Purpose to elect as a peculiar people to himself all and onely those he so purposed to save and to reprobate all the rest And also That in this Purpose he purposed to give his own Son to take Man's Nature therein to die and rise and offer Sacrifice for all these elect and no other and to purchase for them Repentance Faith and Eternal Life and for no other so that these elect shall infallibly have it all and none but they And That the residue of Men by the Soveraignty and Power of God shall have their lives given them and preserved for a time that living they may by sin deserve this Damnation they were fore-purposed and ordained to before it be executed that so whatever the Purpose was the Execution may be just yea Gospel preached to many of them and some lower works of the Spirit vouchsafed them yea Faith attained by many of them and holiness true in its kinde yea profession and doing worthily from which if they fall the greater their condemnation if they abide and die in that Faith yet they must be damned the Death of Christ and his Gospel and all means extended to call and lead them to Repentance and Faith had nothing really in Truth for their Salvation but to leave them without excuse and aggravate their condemnation All belonging to eternal Salvation is onely for those Sons of Adam that were eternally purposed and elected to be eternally saved and in that Purpose Christ given to die for them that they might be saved through him And this eternal Purpose of God some make the foundation on which whosoever is built shall not miscarry and no
ascended to Heaven and offered the acceptable Sacrifice and obtained eternal Redemption and so is the Propitiation for our sins and Grace is onely by him And Truth that is fulfilling of the Promises he being immeasurably filled with the Holy Ghost in our Nature and the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily he is The Temple of God the High-Priest The Laver of Regeneration the Altar the Sacrifice The Propitiatory The Oracle c. the Truth of all figured by those is in him and so by him and had in having him and this vertuous from the beginning and so even then though in a more hidden way Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. But now he hath come and done his first Work this mystery is manifested and the Spirit hath testified of him and this Testimony is Spirit and Life by which such as are led to believe in Christ do meet with Truth and so are said to worship him in Spirit this gracious Law opposed to that of Works and Types and in Truth acknowledging the Truth in Christ and meeting with him in believing on him as having done his first work for them Job 4.21 22 24. 1 Joh. 5.19 20. and now about the other in them and so they worship God in and through him and that they might thus do God hath done and provided all this in his Son and so made him known And so upon this account of Christ his being so full of Grace and Truth and having been so manifested also in the Nature of Man John Baptist in respect of himself and the first witnesses renders it in these words Joh. 1.14 16 17 vers 17. as the ground of that he affirmed vers 16. For of his fulness have we all received Grace for Grace other profitable senses of this noted before I onely now note this That as Moses received a Law of works and shadows to nurture the people Par. 3. ch 4. that in judging themselves for their sins by one part of the Law and looking to Christ that was to come in their use of the Types the other part of the Law they might through Christ receive Grace as all that so looked did but he having come hath abounded farther to us and we have of him received Grace a Gospel of Grace with a Law of Grace and a Spirit of Grace discovering the Atonement made and forgiveness in the Blood of Christ and Truth fulfilled in him so by the Grace of God in that Cross of Christ he suffered to shew Men the vileness of their sins the vanity of their Righteousness and yet through the same Cross to shew them the great Love Righteousness and Propitiousness of God the pardon of their sins in the Blood of Christ and the fulness of Love and Spirit in Christ to draw them in to believe assuring them in believing they shall receive forgiveness c. and so we have Grace that we may receive and declare Grace and God hath engaged himself that he will so witness of Christ Isa 42.1 8. 55.5 Joh. 3.15 16. Rom. 10.9 10 13 15. Act. 15.9 10 11. Gal. 5.6 1 Joh. 3.23 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. 1 Ioh 1.7 9. and he shall so far proceed with Men where the Gospel comes that they shall have their eyes opened that they may see and believe and hath also engaged himself to all that where the Gospel comes do according to the Light and Power he giveth believe on him he will save pardon and enlive them and write his Law in their Hearts And this Faith working Love he putteth no farther burden or yoke on any but to believe him and love one another and he will preserve them through Faith to the Inheritance and if they fail confess their failing and through the Mediator they shall be forgiven and cleansed And thus far the New Testament is and is to be held forth to all that live under the Gospel and all the baptized in the Name of the Lord have set their Hands to this Engagement and may live in hope of having it personally made with them but yet the personal making of this New Testament with Believers is yet a farther business see how that is exprest in Scripture also 2 Cor. 3.3 Tea are manifestly declared the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of Stone but in the fleshly tables of the heart It is express throughout this Chapter That the Apostle speaks here of the New Testament opposed to the Old Testament and so likewise it is evident here That in preaching the Gospel as now come forth they did also therein minister the New Testament 1 Cor. 1.6 7. and so it is here also evident That when Men in believing the Testimony of Christ in the Gospel come to believe on Christ then they receive the New Testament and how they receive it and what it is see here 1. Phil. 3.3 7 8 9 In believing on Christ the Grace believed breaketh the stoniness of the Heart and taketh down the pride and stoutness of it and humbleth and melteth it and enamoreth it with Christ and so makes the Heart fleshy tender flexible fit to receive his Sayings Teachings and Impressions And then 2. His making the New Covenant with them is begun by writing his Minde Heb. 8.10 2 Cor. 4.13 2 Tim. 1.7 his Design his Epistle by his own Spirit in their so prepared Heart giving into their Heart the Spirit of Faith of Love of Power and of a sound Minde so that they have in them a new Heart a new Spirit a new Man an inward living Principle derived from the Fountain in which they believe inclining them to love God and their Brother and to live by Faith and walk in Love and so to seek the farthering of his design in seeking the Honour of God in the Salvation of Men and the Prosperity of his Church so looking and waiting for the coming of the Lord the Spirit herein springing up Love Rom. 8.28 Joy Peace c. And this is a Dispensation of a spiritual first Fruits of the everlasting Covenant made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and no otherwise made with any since excepting David about the Kingdom but in such a begun-performance But then minding the words and the Apostles scope in this place with other places speaking of the same business and we shall see That 3. In this Dispensation of Grace by his Spirit there is made a double Engagement on the part of Christ and on the part of the Believers in which respect it is rightly called a New Testament in opposition to the Old Testament given by Moses which also in this Dispensation is written not with Ink as the Old Testament was nor in Tables of Stone as one part of that was nor in Leaves of Parchment or any such thing as another part of that was but even in their Heart that is That Jesus Christ will
onely on that about which the contest pretends on one side to be and he puts it into two sorts of Faith or that Saints are said to believe and to be holy really and in the Truth of the thing it self The first sort of Believers that have Faith and holiness true in its kinde Page 10. Sect. 17. Hab. 41 1 Sam. 10.10 2 Pet. 2.20 1 King 21.27 2 Chron. 7.10 Mat. 17.3 4. 13.20 Mat. 6.20 2 King 10.16 Hos 6.4 he saith Are such as having received sundry common Gists and Graces of the Spirit as illumination of the minde change of affections and thence amendment of Life with sorrow of the world legal repentance temporary Faith and the like which are all true and real in their kinde and do thereby become vessels in the great house of God being changed as to their use not in their nature continuing wood and stone still though hewed and turned to be serviceable vessels and on that account are frequently termed Saints and Believers On such as these there is a lower and in some subordinate work of the Spirit effectually producing in and upon the faculties of the Soul somewhat that is true good and useful in it self Joh 6.34 Act. 25.28 Mat. 7.26 27. Rev. 3.1 Mar. 4.16 answering in some likeness and suitableness of operation to the great work of regeneration the which faileth not There is in them light love joy faith zeal obedience c. all true in their kinde which makes many of them do worthily in their generation howbeit they attain not to the Faith of God's Elect neither doth Christ live in them nor is the life which they lead by the Faith of the Son of God So far he Though this description of Faith and Saints be not in any Scripture-Expression or Terms Isa 28.12 13. or according to any Scripture-Description but rather like unto that reproved by it yet here is granted a Faith and Holiness true in its kinde that hath in it illumination change of effection amendment of life light love joy faith zeal all effected by the Spirit from which he yieldeth a Man may fall And if that be true he after saith That a man may abide with constancy to the death in this Faith through sufferings surely then it being none of the Faith of God's Elect c. and they wood still c. they must needs perish And were it not better to let such a Faith alone when so great danger in falling away and yet no Salvation but eternal perishing though they continue even through sufferings and die in it But I will not meddle with the controversie but onely the stating the Question And so this Faith acknowledged true in its kinde and of the Spirit 's operation I shall consider three things in it 1. That mentioned here which may be mis-conceived by some and those things which are no part of Faith or Holiness true in its kinde of the Spirits operation 2. I shall acknowledge that which is so to be so indeed 3. I shall consider Heb. 6.1 8. whence all his proofs seem to be fetched CHAP. 2. Of things that may be misconceived and things no part of Faith 1. I Suppose himself by common Gifts and Graces of the Spirit Exod. 31. 35. Isa 28.26 29. Isa 3.2 3. means something higher and more special then that Light Understanding and Skill in Arts for working curious Works given to our Types or those given to Men to fit them for Husbandry or those Gifts given for strengthening a Nation to some Men as Wisdom Prudence c. for the Mighty Joh. 1.9 Joh 35.10 11. Ioh. 1.4 5 9. Rom. 2.4 and Captains of War Judges Prophets Counsellors cunning Artificers and cloquent Orators or onely that common Light wherewith he enlightens every Man that cometh into the World and gives them more understanding then the Beasts or Fowls All which are indeed gracious Gifts given to Men through Christ and for his sake and to gracious ends also having their tendency to lead Men to Repentance yet for these things as the Gospel is now come forth Men are not frequently called Believers and Saints and the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit given in his Testimony of Christ in the Ministration of the Gospel to make him known and call to and unite to him in believing are of a higher Nature even the lowest of them This being his Work Ioh. 15.26 27. 16.7 15. Act. 5.32 14.3 and that of which we speak or we speak nothing at all in this business As for that quoted 1 Sam. 10 11. it doth not prove That Saul had the Gift of Prophesie any more then one that hath no Gift of singing yet coming where some are sweetly singing is taken with the melody and carried on with them to sing or by some extraordinary occasion or motion led to sing a Verse or two tuneably and yet hath neither skill nor ability to do it again at any other times can be said to have the Gift though on such an occasion the act of singing so that Saul did sometimes on an extraordinary occasion and by an extraordinary Motion Prophesie yea and some of his Servants also is true and so by some operations of the Spirit they had an act of Prophesying I believe because it is so written and also 1 Sam. 10.10 11. 19.20 21 23. that they were among the Prophets but that he or they were Prophets and had received the Gift of Prophesie so as to have it I believe not because it is not so written and however this place is not to our business onely this I have noted to avoid mistakes about the Gifts and Graces here meant II. For sorrow of the World that is not according to God it hath no-tendency to any gracious quickning or that Light Love Joy c. but aptly worketh Death 2 Cor. 7.9 10. Grief for worldly shame poverty straights or loss of Honour c. leads to murmuring and evil fruits and so to trouble and estrangement from God and so to death and so is evil one of the lusts of the flesh which though in Believers often anoying them yet resisted by the Spirit of Grace Let no man say when he is tempted to evil Gal. 5.17 Jam. 1.13 16 17. Isa 5.20 21. moved to sorrow of the World I am tempted of God This is one of the lower Works of his Spirit one of the common Graces I have received from him do not so erre do not so dishonour God and his Spirit as if he were the Father of darkness and such evil Gifts came in the flowing of the Spirit from him through Christ not call darkness light and light darkness a sorrow will be in the working of the Spirit but that will be a sorrow according to God suitable to the Grace made known effecting it But this worldly sorrow or sorrow of the World is no part of it hath no union with it and so no part
their Nature that is rather to be applied to those forementioned to be excluded mentioned in his 402 page then to these mentioned in stating the Question for if by Nature he mean as Men are naturally Gentiles and so not of Abraham's Family and so not naturally under the Hope of that Covenant made with him then I suppose he will confess these to be changed in Nature Mat. 28.19 Rom. 11.24 Eph. 2.11 12 13. in being by the Gospel brought into Abraham's Family If by Nature he mean a change in the Minde Will and Affection and so in the disposition and inclination himself hath confest this of these 1 Ioh. 5.1 If by Nature he mean some beginning of the Divine Birth opposed to the Humane then those that believe that Jesus is the Christ are so far born of God and himself confesseth they have somewhat produced in all the faculties of their Soul by the Spirit subordinate to like and suitable to the great Work of Regeneration Luk. 20.36 Rom. 8.23 Phil. 3.13 13 21. and that is not compleat till the Resurrection from the Dead And so if by Nature he mean the Nature of Man that is yet mortal to be made immortal the best Saints have it not yet but do wait for it to be compleated in the Resurrection which these he confesseth pag. 423. hope for And this I add As he hath professed himself not to mean ceremonial or seeming Holiness so I confess Rom. 1.7 8. 1 Cor. 1.1 9. 6.2 11. Eph. 1.1 13. Phil. 1.1 6. That in the Scripture since Christ his Ascension into Heaven none are called Believers and Saints upon account of any Faith and profession of Faith that is not saving and such as in which Men continuing Col. 1.2 4 22 23. they shall undoubtedly be saved as is foreshewn Part 4. Chap. 4. and Chap. 5. And thus I have according to his own Rule onely taken away those things which cannot be in the Faith and Holiness that is true in its kinde CHAP. 3. Of those things that are right and good in this description of the Faith and Holiness that is true in its kinde IN this Description of Faith and Holiness these things are very good and true 1. That the thing they are enlightned in convinced by and so believe Rev. 19.10 Gal. 1.7 8 9. 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 it is the Truth proposed and preached to them page 423. Chap. 17. Now if it be the Truth it can be no other nor less then the Testimony of Christ and if called Truths they can be no other then the sayings in and according to that Testimony as namely That Jesus is The Christ The Son of the living God The Saviour of the World that he came into the World to save sinners that he died for our sins and rose for our justification and gave himself a Ransome for all and is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole World that Repentance and Forgiveness of sins is preached to them in his Name that this Word is nigh to them that they might believe and even therefore preached to them that they might obey in believing and so be reconciled to God and be saved and that he is at hand in this day of gracious Declaration to succour them and that whoever believeth in him shall not perish but receive Forgiveness of sins and so be saved and have eternal life and that he ever liveth to intercede for them that come to God by him being able to save them to the utmost and that he will come again and receive them to himself and judge his and their Enemies c. These and such-like and none contrary to these are the Sayings of Truth and so in and with these Sayings the Oblation and Intercession and coming again of Christ and therein so far the Purposes and Promises and Covenants of God have been proposed and preached to them as is largely shewn in this Treatise if they have had Gospel-Preachers which is taken as granted in this business and this Gospel the Truth and Sayings of Truth that they are convicted by enlightned in and believe so in this we agree their Faith in respect of the Truth the Object believed is right 2. That this their Faith is not of their acquiring got by their strife and reasoning but by the Truth preached to them Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.21 2 Thes 1.10 and the work of the Holy Spirit therein witnessing of Christ illuminating their Mindes and working upon their Hearts so framing them to assent to and be perswaded of the Truth and Goodness of the Testimony and so to believe and in this we agree with Truth this believing and so this Faith is right 3. That the Spirit is in this Grace believed so effectually working in all the Powers of the Soul Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 1.5 that he frames them to inward sorrow for their former Unbelief and Rebellions against so gracious a God and Repentance for their former evil Thoughts Affections and Wayes and so changeth their Affections and produceth in them Faith and Confidence in God and hope of eternal Life and so springs up love joy zeal and ravishing consolation In all which it appears a lively Faith and in this we agree with the Truth This Faith is right true and living 4. That these inward operations of the Spirit lead to 2 Tim. 2.2 1 Iam. 2.18 25. and bring forth amendment of Life Obedience to and Profession of the Faith and walking with God in which they become Vessels in the House of God that do worthily in their Generations which none can do but such as are purged and made fit for the Master's use And this demonstrates and justifies the Truth and Goodness of their Faith and so right and good 5. That all this Faith Zeal Obedience and Profession is not counterfeit but true in its kinde the kinde can be no other but that which is suitable to Christ the Object the Spirit the Worker and the Gospel the Instrument for there is not another Jesus nor another Spirit nor another Gospel true in its kinde either for object of Faith or begetting Faith and these Believers are affirmed to be no Hypocrites in the proper sense of the word 1 Pet. 2.1 2 3. as for some hypocrisie to be by Grace resisting and casting out this may be found in the best of Saints on earth 6. That these Believers may abide to the death yea give their Bodie to be burned and die with rejoycing in this Faith To all which I assent If any say Mr. Owen saith not thus I answer If he speak of the Gospel of Christ and the Belief and Obedience and Profession thereof he hath said no less then all this by many and plain expressions as may be seen in his stating the Question and going over it again page 10. and 423. nor is here any thing put by and taken out but according to his own direction and rule
make themselves again as the Dog and as the Sow How great is their sin and how just their Judgement And as for their disposition hee confesseth that was once changed so that the sin here mentioned suits that falling away mentioned in Heb. 6.4.6 without any impeachment to the goodnesse of the Faith such have fallen from 2 Pet. 2.20 1.4 the excellency whereof condemneth their falling 2. But hee saith again though their faith holinesse light love joy zeal obedience bee all true in their kind and many of them do worthily and yet they attain not to the Faith of Gods Elect neither doth Christ live in them nor is the life which they lead by the Faith of the Son of God so hee Marke here that this is not to bee understood of them as before they came to the Faith Nor yet of them as after they are departed from the Faith but of them as and while the Faith is in them and they abide in it And hee eonfesseth their faith really true in its kind Pages 217 218. And it s before proved there is but one kind of Faith that is really true set forth in the Scripture And that very Faith also set forth in Heb. 6.1 2 3 4 5. Nor are wee treating of a worldly or humane faith or a faith begotten by humane strift but of a Faith effected by the Spirit of God and built on Jesus Christ that is the Foundation and the heavenly gift of which they have tasted Mat. 3.17 12 18. Isa 42.1 And is not Jesus Christ the Son of God in whom hee is well pleased And so Gods Elect Doth the Gospel hold forth and call to any other or doth the holy Spirit witness of glorifie and draw to beleeve in any other but Jesus Christ Doth not every good and perfect giving come down from the Father of lights who enlived them and quickened up all these Principles in them if not Christ by his Spirit what is that which was once so precious that the Apostates after departure crucifie to themselves tread under foot c. Is it not Christ the Son of God his blood even the blood of the Covenant and his Spirit even the Spirit of Grace which they so despite Yea if it were not so their sin and danger had not been so great and there would bee more hope of their recovery again It were better for us to forbear such rash assertions and glorifie God in keeping to the expressions of Scripture concerning Faith and the operations of Grace although some bee departed from it as is forenoted I planted thee a hoble Vine Ier 2.21 27 31. and such of you as are fallen from grace yee were called to liberty Gal. 5.2 3.4 Gal. 5. 1. 3 4 5. yea were called into the grace of Christ yee received the spirit of Adoption yee did run well c. So as wee fault the backsliders from such faith to aggravate their sin and fault not the faith to extenuate their sin which is more or less vile according to the excellency or meanness of the faith departed from But Mr. Owen hath yet more sayings to impeach this Faith as 3 In pag. 423. Hee calleth it an inferiour work of the Holy Ghost causing a great alteration or change c. when the persons bee not regenerated or made new Creatures c. It had been good hee had explicated the meaning of his terms for it s already proved the compleating of the work of Regeneration and making new Creatures is in the Resurrection of the just and that the first fruits is in begetting us by his word to beleeve in his Son But that the Holy Ghost operateth more or less in giving the Testimony of Christ working repentance from dead works and faith towards God to work any change or alteration like Regeneration that is not it according to the measure and degrees of his working none that know God and Christ or the Spirit according to Gospell declaration will beleeve that many fain and pretend what they are not that many resist his operations that many are not yet prevailed with to beleeve on him Is true But these are not charged with this forementioned great sin of departing from the Faith but only for disobedience to the Faith and the Servants of God may both use means and wait with patience and hope when God will give these repentance for they are not come to this impossibility of the fallen ones treated of who when fallen from so great grace and operations of the Spirit It will not bee found a true excuse to say there was but some inferiour work of the Spirit vouchsafed us Ier. 2.5.21.31 Isa 5 4.5-7 to work something like regeneration which was not it when God shall say wherin was I wanting what could have been done more c. but yet more is said by Mr. Owen Pag. 4 26 6. 4 Pag. 124. Every person under these works formerly mentioned and partakers of this light gifts and knowledge c. Bee capacitated for the sin against the Holy Ghost Surely to use such an expression by way of derogation from the Truth goodness and gracious ends and tendancy of the works of the Holy Ghost in inlightening men in the knowledge of Christ and bringing in to beleeve in him and thereby working in all the powers and faculties of their soul such change c. as to say as I hope hee will not say men are thereby capacitated to sin against the Holy Ghost is very great presumption and of dangerous consequence without some better explanation For might not some reply and say All manner of sin and Blasphemy shall bee forgiven unto men But the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall never bee forgiven And so it is lesse dangerous to abide in ignorance rudeness and prophaneness and neglect of all Ordinances then by attending them to come to this knowledge of Christ Faith change gifts c. without which wee are out of the danger of so great sinning but in having such faith c. wee are capacitated so to sin which yet would bee a false plea even for those charged with such a sin Mark 3.28.30 who were short of those wee treat of much more for these yet thus much will bee granted If God had not made the Angels holy and set them in so glorious an habitation they could not have sinned so highly in leaving their habitation but the goodness of God in so making and furnishing them did capacitate them to have abiden in which abiding they might have been established And their own wilfull aspiring capacitated and occasioned their falling If God had not made the first publick man righteous hee couldnot have fallen from it as hee did But the Righteousness in which God made him and the furniture wherewith hee endued him did capacitate him to have abiden in his integrity And his forgetting the word of the Lord and listening to Satans temptation did capacitate
and occasion him to fall If Christ had not come and preached to the Jews they could not have been charged with such sinning against the light But his being and preaching among them did capacitate them to have beleeved and been saved And their refusal of and opposition against the light did capacitate them to sin to such a degree as to bee charged with so great sinning Even so this blessed inlightening and operation of the Holy Ghost giving such tasts of the heavenly gift c. effecting such repentance and faith and quickening up such living principles in men Doth capacitate men to abide and live and dye in this Faith But their own neglect of so great salvation and so willing blinding their eyes and hardening their hearts and so turning from him that speaks from Heaven did capacitate and occasion the persisters in such transgression Heb. 12.25 Iâ—â— 28 29 30. to fall into this great sin which is even proved to bee so hainous and great a sin by the excellency of the Grace and Faith given them which they so willingly fell from and so the justness of their great punishment evidenced thereby also It should bee very evilly done of any to vilifie the works of God because of the abuses of men Or to excuse the evil of sinning with saying the woman which thou gavest mee c. But enough to shew the weaknesse of these sayings and the righteousness and goodness of the Faith set forth in Heb. 6.1.2 3 4 5. But Mr. Owen indeavours to gather Reasons out of the Text it self to prove the Faith and holiness here set forth though true in its kind yet not to bee of the right and saving kind I shall only view the heads of them and see their force CHAP. XIII Of Mr. Owens Reasons against the Faith and Holiness that is set forth in Heb. 6.4 5. in pag. 424 c. REason 1 Here is no mention of Faith Pag 426.27 or beleeving or in terms equivalent Answ Hath Mr. Owen quoted and used this place as his main place for proving and his only place for opening a Faith and Holiness wrought by the Spirit effecting change and really true in its kind And having served his turn of it now put it to shame and cast it by as a place where is no mention of Faith or beleeving or in Terms equivalent that no other might look there to see what true Faith is And is not mentioning of the Foundation the object of Faith and the Oracles of God the teacher of Faith the effects and Principles of Repentance from dead works Faith towards God Doctrin c And then presently suiting the works of the Spirit to all these mentioning enlightening taste of the heavenly gift partaking of the Holy Ghost taste of the good word of God and of the powers of the World to come are these Terms vers 4 5. no expressions or mention of faith or beleeving or in terms equivalent Did the Apostle think one of these Terms equivalent even Illumination Heb. 10.32 And are not all these Terms vers 4 5. so expressed and suited to those vers 1 2. where Faith also is named no mention nor Terms equivalent to Faith or Beleeving judge Reader Reas 2 Not any thing here spoken of as ascribed to the persons spoken of which is peculiar to Beleevers or that constitutes them to bee such called according to purpose quickened born again or regenerated justified united to Christ sanctified by the Spirit adopted made the Sons of God Bee the usuall expressions of Beleevers Ans It is clear here is as much said of these with ascribing the works to the Holy Ghost and acknowledgement of the receits and tastes spoken of while they are yet in the supposition and not departed as is said of any of the Hebrews to whom this Epistle is written Indeed when any such are fallen away not these things but other things are ascribed to them but it is the faith and spiritual operations once had and still retained by those not departed and not the departure and crucifying Christ again which is only in those fallen away we now speak of And that those things which are peculiar to beleevers is here expresly spoken of is shewed and proved before at large in opening the principles taught by the Oracles and built upon the foundation and the inlightning and operations of the Holy Ghost in and with working up and suited to those principles expresly that I marvel any that know the foundation and Oracles of God and first principles and Scripture language should deny it and much more that he that more than once hath said that upon other inferior and not justifiable accounts they are frequently called Beleevers and Saints But in this he hath said not proved And as for the Catalogue of terms here brought in and affirmed to be the usual expressions of beleevers conceived to bee terms equivalent to faith and beleeving we may as he opposeth them to these in Heb. 6.4.5 consider 1 That some are said to have beleeved of whom I know not where it is also said they had faith Luke 8.13 Joh. 2.23 8.30 31 32 36. for no man is said in Scripture to have faith unless he be obedient to the faith so as he receive the testimony and close with the object and have some usefulness of it as hath been shewn yet many that beleeved yea so beleeved that if they abode they should be saved where beleeving is expresly mentioned yet these terms under consideration not applicable to such But whether these are usually called Beleevers I need not contend for those we treat of are beleevers in a farther sense as hath been shewn 2 Here are some of these terms affirmed to be the usual expressions of Beleevers which as they are set down I cannot finde at all used in the Scripture as the expressions of Beleevers as they are in this life As the term Regenerated as distinct to being born again as here set down I read in Scripture of a Regeneration in which the Apostles followed Christ Mat. 19.28 Tit. 3.5 Eph. 5.26 27. Luke 20.35 36 And of saving by the washing of Regeneration which as it flows from Christ is a continued work still in doing and to be fully compleated in the resurrection of the just But that the beleevers in this life are called The Regenerated I finde not at all much less usually And so for the term Adopted I finde the Adoption or ministration thereof to have pertained to Israel under Moses ministration Rom 9.4 Gal. 41 2 3. Eph. 1.5 though the Tutorage of sons were then as servants And I finde also the first Trusters in Christ predestinated in their ministration to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ And therefore so to have preached Christ come in the flesh That men in beleeving might receive the Adoption of Sons Gal. 4.5.8 23. Rom 8.15 Gal. 4.6 7. and so a first fruits of the Spirit of
Adoption And I finde that such as did unfainedly beleeve in Christ did receive the Spirit of Adoption into their hearts crying Abba Father But this I also finde That this Adoption is not yet compleated but only begun and a first first fruits and that of the Spirit onely received and those that have this do yet wait for the Adoption injoying yet only by hope even the redemption of the body Rom. 8.12 23 24 25. when Adoption will be compleated in the resurrection of the Just And so I finde not this said That beleevers are compleatly adopted Nor is the Adopted the usual or any expression by which beleevers are now called that I finde 3 Here are some expressions which in the meaning of them are true of all beleevers in this life as things truly and perfectly done though for the measure not come to its height and yet not as expressed the usual expressions of beleevers Ioh. 15.2 4 7 Heb. 4.1 2 3. Psal 86.11 as united to Christ which is a gracious work and in some measure spiritually effected through beleeving in the beleevers that being united by faith to the object of faith the word and so Christ in the word is in their heart and thus by faith love and desires in Christ So also tasting of the heavenly gift c. And so one And yet a farther uniting prayed for yea that they might be one in will Ioh. 17.20 21. purpose design and way And this union of Spirit we are exhorted to keep and to grow up in it till we come to the fulness of it Eph. 4.12 16. but it is not yet fully compleated And so though in a sense beleevers are united to Christ and so truly said to be yet the compleatment is but a working and growing towards Beleevers are not very often and usually set forth by this expression The united to Christ And the term Made the Sons of God is that which in a spiritual sense may be affirmed of true beleevers for to all that receive Christ by beleeving on him by beleeving on his name he gives the power to bee the Sons of God and so the favour to be called his Sons and his Sons they now are by faith and not otherwise yet And shall more fully and compleatly be made the Sons of God in the resurrection of the just Joh. 1.12 13. 1 Joh. 3.1 Gal. 3.26 Luke 20.35 36 1 Joh. 3.2 whence though Sons of God be often and usual expressions of beleevers yet made Sons of God is not so usual an expression as some other 4 Here is one expression that is once or twice used with some other expressions joyned with it and explain it who they be To express beleevers that are cordial with the manner of their calling and the operation of their faith viz. The called according to purpose Rom. 8 28. 2 Tim. 1.9 Heb. 10.32 but as a single expression it is not so usual And illumination is once used as a single expression to express beleevers besides This place Tasting that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2.3 may be taken as so used in another place And what can be less in tasting of the heavenly gift and of the good word of God c. Besides as illumination tasting of the heavenly gift c. are works of the Spirit here mentioned Act. 11.18 20 21. 26 18. Col. 1.4 5. as suited to repentance from dead works and faith toward God they are expressions by which beleevers are usually set forth so as no cause to except against them as not so usual c. 5 Here are some terms in the substance of them though not so usual or not more usual than the terms in the Text here by him rejected as he expresseth them usual terms to express Beleevers viz. Quickned Born again Justified Sanctified by the Spirit Usual indeed Eph. 2.4 Col. 2.13 But minde well Quickned is sometime used as an expression of that enlivening wrought at first in beleevers expressed by Yee and Us. But the word is also used to express the efficacy of the word in beleevers Psal 119.50 93 21.20 119 88. 1 Pet. 3.18 Rom. 8.11 And sometime the word is used for a beleever fallen into some afflicted and drooping condition being raised again sometime for strengthning to walk in the wayes of righteousness and sometime for the resurrection of the body after death And so although this be in some respect a right and good expression of beleevers as thus sometime have been now are and after death in the resurrection shall fully bee yet the expression Heb. 6.4 5. compared with vers 1 2. import the same and are every way as suitable to express beleevers according to their attainments in this life both in principles and spiritual efficacies as is at large shewn The other expression Born again Joh. 3.3.5 1.13 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 if understood or from above and so as explicated of water and the Spirit and so of God by the word of God A good and fit expression of beleevers oft used yet this must be granted That there are degrees and measures of the work of God in this work also that is expressed by this term For whosoever beleeveth that Jesus is the Christ 1 Joh. 5.1 1 Cor. 12.3 Luke 20.36 Rom. 8.23 Act. 13.39 Rom. 5.1 1 Cor. 6.11 is born of God And no man can say in preaching Gospel That Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost And none are fully and compleatly born of God till the resurrection from the dead so that for explicating the state and present frame of a beleever The expressions used Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. are every way as suitable yea explicating that expression And so also Justified is a good expression to set forth a Beleever And so is Sanctified by the Spirit but mostly used rather to set forth what is received in beleeving than the beleeving it self And the expressions in Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. as much set forth beleeving and so may as well express the beleever as either of them So that all these expressions brought in though they are all very good yet the bringing them in to discountenance and eject other expressions used in this business by the Holy Ghost also 2 Tim. 2.14 Job 15.3 38.2 is not good but contrary to the Commandment to enter strife about words to no profit but the subversion of the hearers or readers and a darkning of counsel by multiplying words without knowledge For was not the laying of Christ for the foundation the purpose and according to the purpose of God And was not the lifting up Jesus in Gospel-preaching and glorifying him by Spirit to the hearts of men that they might see and beleeve the purpose and according to the purpose of God And whereas some when light comes would yet be wise in their own eyes and so come in to claim by a righteousness of their own not
submitting to the righteousness of God and so are not in respect of the prevalency of grace discovered the right called ones yet others in minding that grace discovered are prevailed with to let go all thoughts of confidence in their own righteousness c. and to beleeve in Jesus that they may live in him and to him Are not these the called according to purpose And when in beleeving in Christ on this manner through illumination of the Holy Ghost and tastes of the heavenly gift c. Repentance from dead works and faith toward God is effected c. Are not such in some measure called according to purpose Quickned Born again and spiritually regenerated united to Christ justified and sanctified by the Spirit Who that confesseth God to be true will deny this so that these two Reasons are vain Reason 3. The persons intended here be compared to Briars and Thorns Answ The persons intended here as having and so abiding in these principles upon this foundation and so with these inlightnings tastes of the heavenly gift c. Are verily the holy Brethren partakers of the heavenly Call even the very Hebrews to whom he wrote the persons supposed expressed to be such as do not abide and enjoy these things but are departed and fallen from these things and are now crucifying Christ afresh to themselves they bringing forth such Briars and Thorns are become Briars and Thorns which before they were not nor are any that abide in the faith they are fallen from so called and these fallen upon the very account of their crucifying c. are compared to and with their evil fruits called Briars and Thorns this is plain in the Text and so this Reason though once it was mine is very vain and false for its end and unbeseeming understanding men though weaklings may bee gulled with it as I have been Reason 4. Things that accompany salvation be better things than any in the persons mentioned were to bee found vers 9. We are perswaded better things of you c. Answ Here he speaks of things distinct from the persons though in them Now minde Better things Better than which for the Apostle had mentioned divers sorts of things as he had mentioned Jesus Christ the foundation and the Oracles of God from the foundation teaching those principles to build men thereby on Christ Surely the love of God in the gift of his Son The Son of God given The blood of Jesus Christ that confirmed the Covenant The Spirit of the Father and the Son that witnesseth of Christ and calleth to him and breatheth forth these Oracles to teach these principles and build on Christ Sure this Heb. 10.29 or these things are all holy heavenly rich precious invaluable things not onely accompanying but giving and working salvation though some do tread them underfoot c. which is an evil thing So that sure hee means not better things than these But then here is mentioned also the effects of the word and of the holy Spirit in and with the word in the hearts of beleevers as Repentance from dead works and faith towards God c. with Illumination tasting of the heavenly gift c. Phil 2.12 13 14 15 16. Surely these are also precious things not onely accompanying salvation but even parts of the salvation begun in them and working in them effecting those things to be brought forth which are to accompany it though some murmure and harden their hearts Heb 3.7 15.16 1 Thess 5.19 and so are disobedient and quench and despite the Spirit which is an evil thing and sure he meaneth not better things than these But here are two sorts of things more mentioned that is Heb 3.6 14 13 1 2 4 6.8 9 10. first Abiding in their faith confidence and love And so hearkning to his voyce bringing forth the fruits of faith and love as hath been fore-shewn according to the seed sown in the heart and the refreshings by the rain often drunk in and of these he expresseth himself to men vers 9.10 And these be not better things then the salvation wrought in them as by which they bring them forth but better than the other sort which secondly he names by some supposed to bring forth that is a departing from Christ through an evil heart of unbeleef and so falling from all this salvation and efficacies thereof extended and then crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting him to an open shame And notwithstanding the same seed sown and the same rain oft drunk in yet bring forth Briars and Thorns which accompany not salvation of which hee mentioneth no persons among them that he cahrgeth withall but only by a supposition sheweth the danger even to these Hebrews if any should so do Chap. 2.1 2 3 3.7.18 4.1 15.12 6 4 6 8 9. And having so often warned them before and reproved their dulness And now in his supposition set forth before them the hainousness of the sin and danger of such departing and falling away comparing such transgression and transgressors to Briars and Thorns whose end is to be burned he mollifies the harshness of his sentence in respect of them and saith We are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany salvation though we thus speak which plainly shews the better things to be better than Thorns and Briars which tended to damnation and it shews also that his speech in the warning given was directed to them else they needed not to have been mollified with Though we thus speak surely none would fancy the Apostle to warn the Hebrews by speaking at such a rate as this There is a rock of stability on which who ever once beleeveth and so is can no more fall off not sin not Satan not world though at such and such a rate they listen to them and fall into sueh and such a measure of unbeleevingness and sinning yet they cannot fall off And you are upon that Rock c. Hold fast therefore your confidence Take heed lest any of you fall through an evil heart of unbeleef And give us leave to fear lest any of you come short for there is an unstable rock on which not you but some others are built And they that are built on that rock of instablility if they abide they perish if they fall they can no more rise how fond were this But the foundaion here mentioned is stable nor will the holy Spirit build any upon an unstable foundation nor fill the heart with false light or deceivable works What deceitful illusions such conceits may produce I forbear to name though this Reason be fit for them Reason 5. The persons intended by the Apostle were such as had need to be taught again the first principles c. Unskilful in the word of righteousness c. distinguished from them to whom the promises are c. Chap. 6 9 10 14. Answ This is a very harsh sad and
Joh. 5.12 2 Cor. 5.17 1 Thess 5.23 Gal. 5 22 23 1 Joh. 3.9 Eph. 2.10 1 Pet. 1.22 Phil. 2.13 Joh. 14.1 26 15 22 16 7 8 Rom 8.10 11 1 Cor. 6.19 Ro. 5.3 1 Jo 4.13 2 Tim. 2.14 1 Cor. 6.17 12.12 13 Eph. 4. 1 Joh. 3.14 Eph. 2.2 Rom. 6.11 13 12.8 9 Act 26.18 Eph. 5.8 1 Thes 5 4 Col. 1.13 1 Pet 2 9 Eze. 36.25 Zich 13 1 Isa 4.3.4 Eph 5.11 1 Cor. 6.11 Ro. 1.10 Eph. 2.12.13 14 15. Col. 1.21 Heb. 12.22 Eph. 2 3. Gal. 3.13 Ro. 8.1 2 Cor. 5.21 Col. 2.10 Ro. 5.1 8.32 3 1 Joh. 3.1.2 Eph. 3.15 that upon any account what ever is so called in respect of its fountain termed The faith of Gods Elect. 2. For the manner of their obtaining of this precious Faith it is by Gods giving to them that holy Spirit of his whereby he raised Jesus from the dead to raise them from their death in sin to quicken them unto newness of life endowing them with a new life with a spiritual gracious and supernatural habit spreading it self upon their whole souls making them new creatures throughout in respect of parts investing them with an abiding principle being a natural genuine fountain of all those spiritual acts works and duties which he is pleased to work in them and by them of his own good pleasure 3. That the holy and blessed Spirit which effectually and powerfully works this change in them is bestowed upon them as a fruit of the purchase and intercession of Jesus Christ to dwell in them and abide in them for ever Upon the account of which inhabitation of the Spirit of Christ in them they have union with him i. e. one and the same Spirit dwelling in him the head and them the members 4. By all which as to their actual state and condition they are really changed from death to life and from darkness to light from an universal habit of uncleanness unto holiness and from a state of enmity stubbornness and rebellion c. into a state of love obedience delight c. And as to their relative condition whereas they were children of wrath under the curse and condemning power of the Law They are upon the score of him who was made a curse for them and is made righteousness to them accepted justified adopted and admitted into that family of heaven and earth which is called after the Name of God These alone are they of whom we treat of whose state and condition perseverance is an inseparable adjunct c. So far he For his stating the question about perseverance what that is I do not meddle with it may be consented in of all hands But for the faith and Saintship I shall consider it because he begins and ends his discourse or description of these with setting them forth as those alone of whom the discourse is Also having before confessed not to stand for the former kinde of faith And this he hath set forth is in such dark and unscripture-like language though many be quoted that let but the mixtures put in about the former kinde of faith beleevers and Saints Confessed True in its kinde be removed as being no parts of it as they are not And there is nothing in this description that will stand but what is found in that which will appear in every particular of his mentioned concernments and what is that then contended for let them be considered and the rather because there is but one true kinde of faith and all else false I desire therefore the Concernments may every one be considered according to Scripture and Scripture-language without prejudice CHAP. XV. Of Mr. Owen his first Concernment 1. HE saith these Saints and beleevers Eph. 2.1 2 3. By nature the children of wrath they are as well as others The Text is plain that the Apostle having said of the Gentiles They were dead in trespasses and sins where in times past they walked c. He saith of himself and the Jews That we also had our conversation among the children of disobedience c. And he saith not are but were by nature the children of wrath even as others or as some translate it as also the rest or as some translate it Naturally the children of wrath even as well as others But neither the Text nor any translation puts in that as the Jews conformity with the Gentiles That they were even as they dead in trespasses and sins though that in some sense were true of the unbeleeving Jews Rom. 11.16 Rom. 3 2. 9.4 Psa 147.19 20 John 4 22. Rom. 3.2 9 4 5. Eph 2.11 12. Rom. 3 9-19 yet not in full sense even as the unbeleeving Gentiles before the Gospel was sent to bee preached to them For the Jews were the natural branches Not so the Gentiles The Jews had the Oracles Covenants Promises and service of God committed to them Not so the Gentiles The Jews had the worship of the true God among them and so the hope set before them and therein means more abundantly to come in to him for receiving and enjoying the same by faith which the Gentiles had not Yet these Jews not by faith coming in Eph. 2.13 14 15 16 17 18 3 5 6.9 were no better but disobedient and the children of wrath even as the Gentiles Now by Christ the partition wall is broken down and by the Gospel the same priviledges with greater inlargement and more spiritual and effectual means given to the Gentiles yet notwithstanding whether Jews or Gentiles such as are not by this Gospel and means it affords Rom. 3.9.20 2 25-29 Joh. 3.36 gained to beleeve and so converted and changed in disposition and conversation what ever knowledge or means they have what ever humane righteousness or profession they have yet walking according to the wisdome and will of the flesh or according to the oldness of the letter they in respect of acceptance with God and eternal life are no better than others but under displeasure and wrath and in the same danger even as others The children of wrath and if here be put in dead in trespasses and sins it will stand even as others Now the difficulty lyeth in what sense Nature is taken for which I will not strive Let men take it in what sense by Scripture they will 1. If by Nature be meant the first or natural birth as men come from Adam by propagation and so sinners Rom. 5.12 18 19. and bear his image which is common to all men Then it overthrows the fancy of some a certain number of persons severed from others before they were born to be an elect people to Son-ship and eternal life for if any were so elect as Adams sons from eternity before the world was then were they not born or by birth The children of wrath even as others no there would be a great and wide difference in humane things men will easily discern it If
nor needless but useful and bottomed upon the same ground with that to the Philippians 1 Pet. 1.20 21. they had and did already by Christ beleeve in God Phil. 2.1 2. and in beleeving or obeying the truth through the Spirit God did lead them and they had purified their souls to unfained love c. like that to the Philippians seeing this See that you love c. And here is the same encouragement as to them being born again c. of incorruptible seed c. And like exhortations grounded thereon 1 Pet. 2.1.2 3 4. And so this saying in this Concernment is in this sense acknowledged true and justifying only the faith set out Heb. 6. In his next Concernment I shall consider it in both parts CHAP. XIX Of the third Concernment The first part thereof THat the holy and blessed Spirit which effectually and powerfully works this change in them is bestowed upon them as a fruit of the purchase and intercession of Jesus Christ to dwell in them and abide in them for ever In this first part of his saying we have two things to note First In what manner he saith the holy Spirit is bestowed on them And secondly To what end he saith the Spirit is so given them Consider both 1 He saith The holy and blessed Spirit which effectually and powerfully works this change in them is bestowed upon them as a fruit of the purchase and intercession of Jesus Christ By them he here professedly meaneth in every of his Concernments another sort and kinde of beleevers and Saints that have another kinde of faith and holiness then that mentioned Heb. 6.4 5. or the best of that set down in that he calls his first kinde of beleevers and Saints or faith and holiness which yet he confesseth true in its kinde and wrought by the Spirit effectually working in all their powers of the soul c. Consider 1 I hope he beleeveth not that the holy Spirit in testifying of Christ and bringing some sort of men to beleeve working in them c. does testifie falsehood or dissemble in his operations c. Nor yet that there are two kindes of Spirits that come forth from God and Christ to work two kindes of faith and holiness one kinde that will fail men by one spirit in some another kinde that will not fail by another spirit in others I have read of some affirming something like this The one they say is indeed the Spirit of God that witnesseth of Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary and dyed at Jerusalem c. And the faith begotten hereby is very effectual in many yet this is but a fleshly spirit a fleshly faith and fleshly operations But the other Spirit that witnesseth of the true and spiritual Christ that killeth all the other confidence that is the heavenly and holy Spirit whose operations onely are profitable blasphemy so contrary to God and Christ and Scripture as hath been shewn Part. i. pag. 9.10 that they deserve rather to be abhorred than mentioned I know no such thing is in this saying intended I would such expressions were lest as give strength to it 2 There is not one word in all the quotations to prove or shew in what the change in these differeth from or is better than the change in the other kinde 3 That this holy Spirit is bestowed on them as a fruit of the purchase and intercession of Jesus Christ This is a true saying in it self and of all to whom the holy Spirit is in any sort given but as applied to a peculiar company that are not demonstrable it is dangerous and very intimatious of error Psal 75.3 Act. 14.17 17 26 27 28. Rom. 2.4 For it is certain that the earth is upheld since the fall of man and brings forth fruit that the beasts are preserved on the earth That the Sun gives comfortable light and heat and the rain waters the earth and it is fruitful and all for the good and service of men And that in these is a testimony of his goodness and extended to lead men to repentance All this is bestowed on men as a fruit of the purchase and mediation of Christ For surely in the fall all was lost And according to the Truth and Justice of God without a Mediator nothing but death curse terror and distraction and torment and vexation by every creature could have come on men no mercy nor comfort to soul or body nor any thing to lead to repentance to which no door could be opened without the purchase and intercession of Christ for men For God is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works Psal 145.7 8 9 10 15 16. And that he is good to all and his mercy is over all his works as indeed he is This is through the sacrifice and mediation of Christ in and through whom God is propitious to fallen mankinde whence the Prophet by the Spirit speaking as well of his general goodness as of his special favour in admiration of both Psal 36.5 6 7 8 9. Joh. 1.4 5. 6.51 3.29 Psal 75.3 Col. 1.17 1 Tim. 2.5 6. Luke 13.8 9. Psal 19. Rom. 10.18 as that which brings men to trust in him he renders this as the ground of both For with thee is the fountain of life Like that is said of Christ In him was life he hath procured it and the life in him is the light the cause of all mercy comfort and of all means of coming to God again of men and that shineth though men perceive it not yea he saith He gave his flesh for the life of the world and that men are not all sorely vexed and suddenly destroyed for their impenitency and unbeleef it s because He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world And so he saith of himself The earth is dissolved and all the Inhabitants c. I bear up the pillars by him all things consist He it is that gave himself a ransome for all men and is the Mediator between God and men And so procures that patience and forbearance mercies and means that are extended to them Hence it is said The heavens declare his glory and the firmament sheweth his handy work c. And that all are witnesses of his goodness Col. 1.23 24 25 26. and to lead to repentance and in that sense is the Gospel said to be preached in every creature under heaven Of which Gospel more fully declared in the opening of the mystery Paul was made a Minister Oh ye sous of men how are we beholding to the Lord Jesus and to God for him who hath by his blood made peace for us Heb. 2.9 2 Cor. 5.14 15 Rom. 14.8 9. and by his ransome bought us all into his dispose and by vertue of that mediating for us with God procures for us so much patience and forbearance so many mercies and all to so gracious an end to
but for the present The Spirit is life for righteousness sake yet the body is dead because of sin yea and something savouring of death is also in and troubling their souls But through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ as they in beleeving walk after the Spirit they are made free and enlived from the sentence and fear of death and filled with the promise and hope of life which comfort in so great love of God enlives us in love of the brethren And 1 Joh. 3.14 We know that we have passed from death to life 1 Joh. 4.7 16. 3 6 9 5.2 because we love the brethren c. We that are born of God that have beleeved the love wherewith God hath loved us and so abide in Christ keeping his commands of faith and love We know we are passed from being judged by our works according to the law which sentenceth to death into the gracious acceptance and favour of God in Christ and so into the liberty and life of Christ and enjoyment of his gracious Spirit which brings forth this fruit of love which whoever hath not abideth in death And this is true of all abiding in the faith without difference Eph. 2 2-5 and Col. 2.13 Speak of that quickning Act. 10.43 Joh. 3.16 18 36. which is through beleeving in Christ in which remission of sins and hope of eternal life is begun to be received which all true beleevers receive without difference though not in like fulness in every beleever And on that ground Rom. 6.11.13 8 9. Are exhortations to persevere walking in faith and love Secondly From darkness to light This is true though that quoted Act. 26.18 doth but shew the end of Gods sending the Gospel to be ministred to men Mat 4 13-16 without difference of any to whom it is so sent which where it comes light springs up And Eph. 5.8 shews what beleevers without difference are in the Lord Eph. 5.8.9 15. since called and inabled to beleeve and that pressed as a motive to abide and persevere walking in the light And 1 Thess 5.4 5. shews that beleevers are not in darkness of ignorance and unbeleef and how efficacious the light of truth beleeved was in them They were born of it They were he saith not some but all the children of light c. From whence he presseth an exhortation Not to sleep as others but to walk 〈…〉 c. And Col. 1.13 Is a blessing of God in giving him thanks for having delivered them he faith not from all darkness but from the power of darkness Col. 1.12 13.23 24. and having translated them into the Kingdome that is the spiritual Kingdome or government and interest in and hope of that promised Kingdome of the Son of his love for which cause he presseth their abiding and continuance And 1 Pet. 2.9 shews That Gods elect and chosen people are such as he hath called out of darkness into his marvellous light to shew forth his praises And what this light is 2 Cor. 4.6 and where it shineth is plain to be in the face of Christ Gods prime Elect. And this is true in a measure of all unfained beleevers let them minde this That conceit an elect company before the appointment of Christ to dye to be given him to dye for and demonstrate what they are and reconcile them into one condition with these Thirdly From an universal habit of uncleanness unto holiness In a begun inclination and through all the powers a tendency thereto that there may be a proceeding to perfection in holiness this is true But Ezek. 36.25 speaketh directly of the Jews when he hath returned them to their own land And as in reference to a first fruits in beleevers in this life Ezek 36.24 25 26 27-37 Eph. 5.23 26 27. It speaks of that God will do to them after he hath called them to beleeve in Christ And so of a continued business on and in beleevers till it be compleat for which he will be sought of them And 1 Cor. 6 11. speaks of a work begun and so in the beginnings of it done in them In the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God And this given as a ground both to reprove some evils and uncleanness in them 1 Cor 6. 1 9 11 2 20. and to warn them from sinning and to stir them up by the same Name and Spirit to press on to further holiness And Tit. 3.5 shews the manner of this work and by what means and to what end it is done and so the beginning and proceeding but shews not the accomplishment as yet to be in them And Heb. 10.22 is not an affirmation of what is attained but an exhortation to use the right way for having a continual increase of renued holiness Heb. 10 12-18 19 20 24 25 12 12 14. upon that very ground of what we have in Christ and have begun to receive and may be daily receiving from him that so in holding last our confidence and profession we may follow after holiness Fourthly From a state of enmity stubboruness rebellion c. into a state of love obedience and delight This is no other but in change of an expression what was confessed to be in the first kinde of beleevers and Saints And indeed it is true of both alike for both so far as true are one Rom. 6.11 speaks of that done and compleated in Christ and not yet in us but by degrees and in due season to be done Rom. 6.11 12 13 14. And that laid as the ground in beleeving on him both to reckon our selves after him and in that account yeeld up our selves to live to him in which that will be verified of us that is said from vers 17 22. and so it plainly appears to be understood Eph. 2.12 13. Speaks of that state of Gentilism enstrangement to God all we Gentiles were in before Christ came in the flesh and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice and the priviledges confirmed before to the Jewish Nation were set open to the Gentiles Chap 3 3-6-9 and they made nigh by the blood of Christ that made peace broke down the partition wall slew the enmity c. and came and preached peace by which peace preached in his Name all that beleeve in him have access by one Spirit to the Father that is clear Col. 1.21 Speaks of the enmity in their mindes and of the efficacie of the Death and Sacrifice of Christ and peace made thereby and Gods love there-through appearing displayed and beleeved how it reconciled them to God And that to this end Col. 1.4 5.20 Tit. 3.4 5. Rom 5.8 10. Eph. 5.25 26 27. Col. 23 24. Heb. 8.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10. Heb. 12.22 23 24 25 26. To present them in the body of his flesh through death holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight if they continued in the faith
And exhortation to them vers 6. And admonition to them that none beguile them vers 4.8 either with inticing words or Philosophy and vain deceit or by shews of humility and great knowledge intruding themselves into things they have not seen c. and so happily either pressing them to Law-observances for their perfection or to some humane and self-mortifications or to look for some particular words or some degree and condition in attainments or some secret decree of election that was of their persons before their calling or any thing what ever besides that which is discovered to them in Christ As if there were not enough in him to be received in beleeving on him And so hee warns to beware that we be not removed from him and that hope of the Gospel given us in beleeving on him Col. 1.22 23 24. For he will present us blameless if we continue in the faith c. This is the Apostles doctrine and scope as appears in this and former and following Chapters cleerly so as in all the proofs not a syllable to maintain any true faith of a second kinde nor the cause contended for but much rather that he contendeth against and more need not bee said but only to view his terms about their priviledges in the works of God passed on them which also are needful to be considered CHAP. XXII Of the terms of Gods works passed on beleevers in this Concernment OF these terms understood as is fore-shewn and some so molified as hath been shewn before in Pages 414 435 436. they may be all received As for the term Regenerated it is not used here and hath been considered where it is onely here let that place Mat. 19.28 Ye which have followed me in the Regeneration c. be considered he saith not Ye which are regenerated as speaking of a work done but a doing and it may be taken both for Regeneration and the Ministry of Regeneration in both which they were then following him Now what was the Regeneration of Christ surely he needed none of heart spirit or disposition he was holy in and from conception and knew no sin but he had a weak frail and mortal body of the seed of David Abraham Adam and how was that regenerated but through many sufferings and death in the resurrection from the dead Luke 24.26.45 46 47. Isa 53 8 10 11 Psal 2. Act. 13.33 And so he passâ—â—on through sufferings till he was truly dead and in the resurrection he was begotten there was his regeneration and such as are so raised are his generation or regenerated people whence such promises to be performing in the spirit and soul as through dying with Rom. 6 4 5. 2 Tim. 2 11. Phil. 3.9.10 11 12 13. Joh. 15 16-25 Mat. 10. 24 9-13 and for him we are conformed to his death for we need it in that and in soul and body after we are truly dead in the resurrection of the just and those that follow him so to the death shall then enjoy that promised Mat. 19.28 and such desires of conformity to him in sufferings And as for the ministration of Christ for regeneration of others it was a ministration carried an end through sufferings in which he persevered to the end and so must that ministration of his servants be also and he that perseveres in following him in that to the end shall enjoy also that promised And that regeneration is thus to be understood here for a work not compleatly yet done but in doing both in regeneration and ministration of it is evident by the Spirit in Luke mentioning the same thing so far as they had proceeded in it saith Luke 22.28 29 30. Yee are they which have continued with me in my temptations expressing that as the medium through which regeneration is here attained which minded will help to understand all the terms that are here used The term Accepted I suppose he means it to be the same with Justified because there is no other quotation for it and they may well be alike taken and they are both alike true of all that are indeed beleevers without difference in respect of their persons as such and so sons by faith yet is not this acceptation and Justification answerable in degree to that which shall be in the resurrection of the just when their persons as Sons and all their wayes as becoming Sons will be alike accepted and justified but not altogether so yet yea in this life even beleevers in whom the faith is may be in that respect accepted and justified as Sons and yet some words or act and so a way of theirs rejected and condemned and they in that not accepted or justified but both reproved and corrected No doubt but Moses and Aaron aboad in the faith Numb 20.12 and were accepted as the Saints of the Lord yet their failing in an act of faith and not honouring the power and freeness of Gods mercy before the people was reproved and they corrected for it No doubt but Peter aboad in the faith and love of his Master Maâ— 16.22.23 and was accepted as a true disciple yet not acting rightly in his faith his carnal counsel is rejected as proceeding from some suggestion of Satan to whom Christ as in Mat. 4. saith Depart and Peter sharply reproved 1 Cor. 11.30 32. No question but those corrected with weakness sickness and some with death for so gracious an end were true beleevers and so accepted but their demeanor not suitable to their faith was deeply reproved and chastened And the same I conceive of David Psal 32. though at one time foulely faln yet not utterly departed from the faith and his beleef in God and adoration of him for then what caused that great grief and disquietness of heart nor yet wholly out of favour of God in respect of his person as the Lords servant but in respect of his evil way disallowed 1 King 15.5 reproved and sorely afflicted And this I conceive because David is affirmed not to have turned aside c. all the dayes of his life it is not said save onely in that time in which sure were many other matters but save onely in the matter of Vriah Rom. 3.22 25. 5.8 3.25 4 5. 10 9 10. c. And the word Accepted thus understood is safe and good for all beleevers and so the word Justified also But for the rest there are quotations to be viewed Rom. 5.1 The Apostle had before discovered what true faith is in respect of the object Christ as having dyed rose c. And the true beleeving begot by the discovery of this object which is therefore called faith first in the beginning bringing to and closing with him namely an hearty beleeving That this Jesus is the Christ and that he dyed for our sins and rose for our justification and is the Lord of all and the propitiation for our sins this is the
Devil the Seed of Abraham in whom is blessing for all Nations The Propitiation for the sins of the whole World The Saviour of the World given to open the blinde eyes and bring out the Prisoners out of Prison c. that so the Hearers and Beholders may believe and whoever believeth not perish Joh. 3.16 17. Isa 42.1 6. 61.1 2 3 4. Col. 1.19 2.3 Ioh. 1.9 Act. 13.47 28.17 18. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. Isa 55.2 3 4. Joh. 1.12 but have eternal life yea the Father witnesseth this of him and himself saith He is filled with Spirit for this end and the Holy Ghost testifieth That all fulness is in him and he enlightneth every one that cometh into the World And that is the command of God to his Servants by the Gospel to hold him forth for a Light and Salvation to open the eyes of Men and turn them from darkness to light c. that they may receive c. and God goeth forth in that Testimony witnessing of and glorifying him that Men may believe on him and so receive the Covenant which-he giveth to Believers And this is above all that was before for teaching and drawing 2. That he is given for a Covenant to the People Isa 42.6 49.8 Gen. 3.29 which implieth and expresseth That the Covenant made with the Fathers for the People that is those come in to believe and so of Abraham's Family to whom the Covenant and Promises appertain he is given for it that though they yet wait for the Inheritance yet they have in him the Interest Joh. 14.6 11.25 Act. 13.32 33. Isa 55 2 3 4. Act. 13.34 Ioh. 17.10 1 Cor. 1.30 3.22 23. Heb. 8.1 Col. 2.9 10. Act. 3.26 13 34 37. Act. 3.19 Col. 3.4 1 Joh. 3.2 the Root the Assurance and certain Hope for he is The Way The Truth The Life yea The Resurrection and The Life yea The Promise and so we may say The Covenant for he as risen from the dead is called The sure Mercies of David in giving which the everlasting Covenant is at least spiritually made for he is he in whom the everlasting Covenant is sure and sure to be performed and the making it in performance sure in him so as in giving him to Believers all is in and with him given and believing in him all is so received in enjoying and possessing him by Faith all is enjoyed and possessed in and with him by Faith if Christ be ours all is ours Jesus Christ raised from the dead and glorified in the Nature of Man the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily Believers are compleat in him and God in giving him in the Ministration of the Gospel giveth blessing and the sure Mercies of David and the first fruits of the Spirit and sending him again visibly it is to restore all things and to taign that Believers may raign with him and so have all the fulness of the everlasting Covenant What other Oracle what Temple Sacrifice Priesthood what Knowledge or Gifts what Covenant-making with us what Inspiration or personal giving a Promise to us can be like this to secure us this is the choicest Testimony of God's Love and our Interest in the Covenant to have Christ given for a Covenant and in believing on him as he is set forth in the Gospel the greatest security and assurance is received God that spared not his Son Rom. 2.4 Joh. 1.4 9. but delivered him up to death for all Mankinde will and certainly doth through him extend patience bounty mercy and means to bring Men in to believe on his Son whom he is so giving to them yet such as believe not receive him not and so have him not as so given them and those that through unbelief have not Christ Joh. 3.6 whatever they have through Christ and for his sake yet they have no eternal life no Interest or part in the everlasting Covenant for eternal life and all pertaining to the everlasting Covenant is so in Christ 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12 13. Joh. 1.12 that there is no receiving or enjoyment of it but in receiving or enjoying him which is yet onely by believing in him and in believing in his Name we receive him and he gives these priviledges So then if God that gave his Son for us do so give him to us Rom. 8.32 Ioh. 1.12 as we be helped in believing to receive him he will with him and as he giveth him to us give us all things freely and in receiving Christ he will communicate the same to us according to his order in his first and second coming and of the Dispensation by his first coming and the Hope of that in his second coming is here treated and meant and so his being given for a Covenant to Believers can be no less then to be given for a Witness Isa 53.3 4. Testimony and Seal of God's Mercy Love Righteousness Immutability and Faithfulness to perform to them this everlasting Covenant and to be the He in whom they may discern and see all for them in him Col. 2.3 9 10. Ioh. 14.19 1 Pet. 1.4 Rev. 1.18 Heb. 19.15 10.2 6 10 11. and by him safely kept who by his power will through Faith keep them till he bring them to it and in mean season to be the Mediator of this Covenant that they may receive the promised Inheritance and the Minister of it to be dispensing a first Fruits to them in these waiting Days and this that he that hath our Nature and loves us c. is given us for a Covenant of the people it is a great and strong consolation and there is nothing to be valued with it to give us rest assurance and establishment This the way to receive it in receiving him and to be established in resting and abiding in him which that we may do here is one word more caught us for our safe guidance and tutoridge till we come to the Inheritance 3. In that he is said to be given for a Covenant of the People as he is for a Light to the Gentiles implies That he is given to give a New and Testamental Covenant a new Law for the Nurture and Tuition of those that are the Sons of God by Faith Jon. 1.17 8.35 36. Gal. 4.1 2 3 4 7. Rom. 3.27 Gal. 5.1 5. Iam. 2.12 Rom. 7.25 8.2 3 4. 2 Cor. 3.6 7 8 9. that they may be led and preserved to the Inheritance promised and kept by him for them that given by Moses was to nurture the Sons or People of God but under tutoridge as Servants suitable to the Servant by whom that Law was given but this given by Christ is to nurture the Sons or People of God in freedom as adopted Sons suitable to the Son of God by whom this Law is given That by Moses was a Law of Works this by Christ a Law of Faith that by Moses a Law of Bondage this by Christ
a Law of Liberty that a Law of Sin and Death this of Righteousness and Life that a Law of Letter this of Grace and Spirit that a Ministration of Sin of Condemnation of Death this a Ministration of Righteousness of Justification and Life And that Jesus Christ is given for a Law in this sense to give this gracious Law and Testament is cleerly exprest A Law shall proceed from me Isa 51.4 42.1 4. 8.16 20. c. And he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles And the Istes shall wait for his Law And Binde up the Testimony seal the Law among my Disciples I think none that believe the Gospel deny this but we do not all agree what this Law or New Testamental Covenant is 1. Some say It is the Gospel and in this saying there is Truth Gen. 12.3 Gal. 3.8 for it is good News which was promised and is discovered in the Gospel but the Gospel was preached to Abraham before the everlasting Covenant was made with him and he and Isaac and Jacob after the making of the everlasting Covenant sojourned in the Faith thereof a hundred ninty one yeers in the Land of Promise and after that the Children of Israel sojourned four hundred thirty yeers in Egypt before the giving of the Testament given by Moses under which the Gospel was preached also Heb. 8.13 and did not make that Testament old or decayed as the coming in of the New Testament doth so though Truth be in this saying yet it answers not the Question at all What New Testament is 2. Some say The New Testament is the Gospel as now declared since Jesus Christ came in the flesh and died and rose and offered the acceptable Sacrifice and sent forth the Holy Ghost Surely they that then preached him to come and do all this preached Gospel yet was the first Testament a distinct thing then besides this And so those that now preach him come and having done all this preach good and true Gospel yet the New Testament may yet be some farther distinct thing then yet mentioned in it though I confess this saying hath much Truth in it and more tending to satisfaction then the former Isa 42.6 8.16 but yet it satisfieth not because of that said before and because all here mentioned is preached in his being a Light to the Gentiles and that is somewhat peculiar to be for a Covenant of the People besides the everlasting Covenant as to be made in compleat performance is mentioned in the Gospel also so that there is more in the Gospel then New Testament though all in the Gospel as now come forth is to be preached under the New Testament as the Gospel was before preached under the old So this saying shews not what the New Testament is to any satisfying 3. Some say The everlasting Covenant made with Abraham now the old Covenant that shadowed it is taken away by the coming of Christ and that so cleerly opened in the Gospel that is therefore called The New Testament This hath much Truth in it and comes nigh to satisfying leaving room for Faith without Mosaical Observances to lay hold on this Covenant as confirmed in Christ to Abraham Heb. 8.6 10.19 and to wait for the making of that Covenant in performance to all the Seed And this might seem to be grounded on Heb. 8 But when I consider That the Holy Ghost speaks there of Laws Heb. 8.10 10.16 and saith I will put my Laws into their minde and write them upon their hearts whereas the Prophet mentions but one Law Iâ—r 31.23 saying I will put my Law in their inward parts c. this gives me to conceive a twofold performance of that Jer. 31.33 34. one spiritual onely to the Sons of God by Faith in and by the first coming of Christ the other literal and spiritual both on Soul and Body at the second coming of Christ of which the Prophet more especially speaketh including the former and so leaving room for a New Testamental Covenant to come in and remain from the first coming of Christ to the second in stead of that old faulted Covenant Ier. 31.32 And the Apostle speaking there more especially of the first coming of Christ and things done thereby including the second coming and things to be then done he speaks of both Laws the first whereof is the New Testament as shall after be shewn and doth here also in this That the Prophet expresly and the Apostle inclusively speaks of a time yet to come saying After those dayes that is Ier. 31.8 31 32. Heb. 8.10 when God hath brought both Israel and Judah together into their own Land and converted them Besides here is that mentioned that shall be but is not done to any Believer in this life nor fully will till it be done to them all together at that day as so to know him as they shall teach no more every Man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know him note this well from the least of them to the greatest of them and what time that is the Apostle tells us and he so forgives iniquity as he will remember their sins no more no 1 Cor. 13 9 10. 1 Iob. 3.2 Ier. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.11 12. not by any corruption abiding in them or any weakness on them in Soul or Body any pain hunger thirst mortality or death as the Spirit explicates it to us Rev. 21.3 4. so that not onely the New Testament but somewhat more even the whole everlasting Covenant as made with Abraham and David is in Heb. 8.10 11. which Covenant being made and lived in so long before the first Testament did not make that Testament old no nor yet the renewing of it to David so that cleerness of satisfying is not yet in this saying and yet truely this everlasting Covenant made with Abraham and renewed to David signed with Circumcision the literal fulfilling as typical both for the Inheritance and King being over the spiritual fulfilling begun by Christ compleated in him manifested and extended by him and the first Fruits received and receiving by the spiritual Seed Rom. 8.23 24 25. 1 Pet. 1.3 9. and the Harvest and full of the Covenant in Soul and Body is that we wait for so that this very Covenant is the Flower of our Hope and it is confirmed in Christ begun to be performed in and by him and given in him and he given for a Covenant and in believing in him and receiving him it is by Faith received and Hope of real receit enjoyed a blessed Hope If any say But the outward Sign and Seal of the Truth of this Covenant to testifie withal which Abraham had is wanting to us I answer That typical fulfillings of the Covenant are over and Circumcision as it was a Seal so it was a Type and Figure also Blood being shed in it and what it did typisie and figure forth the