I said before so say I now againe if any man Preach any other Gospel unto you then that which you have received let him be accursed THe words are the Apostles censure past on all false Gospels and such Gospel preachers 't is short but sharpe they are and let them be accursed As for the occasion of the words and the Epistle you may understand Galatia was a newly planted-Church the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ had lately broken in upon them in purity and with power the Apostles had so Preach'd it these Galatians had so received it It seemes it fell out with them as with most other Churches not onely in ours but the Apostles times where ever God had yet his Church there the Divell would have his Chappell Hee 'le have his Gospel and his Preachers too though both accursed There were some troublers perverters of this glorious Gospel of Christ crept in among them and as it seemed overthrew the faith of some I marvaile that you are so soon removed c. from him that called you into the Grace of Christ. to be removed from the sound profession of the Gospel which is the doctrine of the free and rich grace of God saving sinners by a Christ his righteousnesse his death v. 6. his blood his sacrifice is to be removed from God-Salvation-Grace to another Gospel any other doctrine of salvation beside that by the grace of Christ is another Gospel farre different from and directly contrary to that Gospel which God revealed and declared which is not another though the Divel and false Apostles may conspire to frame and devise another Gospel then the true Gospel revealing Salvation by the grace of Christ yet 't is no true Gospel there is but one Gospel there is not another Gospel beside that one which is indeed a Gospel brings glad tidings of salvation there 's not another Gospel to us there is but one God one salvation one Mediator one Faith one Gospel against such Gospels and Gospellers the Apostle opposes these two or three verses which I have read He tels them their troublers were the Perverters of the Gospell nay more then so these Perverters and their Doctrines were both accursed and so to be accounted by them whatever they might pretend themselves or theirs to be Might the Apostle say be sure there is no other Gospell no more to be revealed for Gospel truth â—hen what we have made known unto â—ou and what you have already receiâ—ed and entertained Talke not of new â—ight Revelations New-teachings this or that though we our selves or an Angel from heaven could you be infallibly perswaded he came from the throne of Glory c. yet beleeve him not there are no new Editions to be expected of the true Gospel No more additions or alterations to be past upon it Christ hath sealed it up with his own blood and revealed unto us fully clearly by his infallible and unerring spirit So we have Preached it so you have Received it I tell you there is no other Gospel though we or an Angel from heaven should Preach't c. Thus for the occasion and scope of this Text. I shall be very plain and briefe in what shall follow For observations take these 1. Obs Obs 1 It 's no new no strange thing to heare of new Gospels true Cospel perverters false Gospel-Preachers You shall heare of such in the purest Churches the Primitive Churches Churches planted even by the Apostles themselves Gos Pist Rom. 1. Cor. 15 John mett with such as denyed the Divinity of the Sonne of God Paul such as denyed the Imputative Righteousnes of Jesus Christ the Resnrrection of the Dead Some there were that told them the Resurrection was past already of whom was Hymaneus and Philetus 2. Tim. 2.16.17 c. It cannot be more strange now in our daies on whom the very ends of the world are come Our blessed Saviour for 1600 yeares agoe foretold us this read through the 24th Chap. of Matthew and there you 'le see that even in these dais there are to be false Christs false Prophets shall shew great signes and wonders and if it were possible deceive the very Elect they shall say loe here is Christ and loe there is Christ but beleeve them not take heed that no man deceive you Here 's a Prophecy of false Teachers even the grossest in these latter Ages of the World note first their Doctrine they hold new Christs and many Christs severall Christs loe here and loe there a Christ even as many Christs as men Secondly their growth their ptogresse to deceive even the very Elect. The Temptation it seemes must fal hard even upon the Elect of God not the grosser part only of the world but even the very Elect should be quite were it not Impossible to be deceived by them Such as belong to Election given to Christ taken into an everlasting Covenant with God it may go hard with them but because of their Election they shall not be finally deceived Thirdly Their power signes and wonders but for lying wonders we have enough of those Fourthly Take this Caution think not this strange when it comes to passe see I have told you be not deceived there will be if Christ be true false Christs and false Prophets and shall deceive and utterly deceive many though the Elect shall stand So you have in 2. Pet. 2. throughout and in the Epistle of Jude there shall be false Teachers even denying the Lord that bought them Damnable Heresie they bring upon themselves swift destruction read the Chapter and the 3. verse of Jude ungodly men denying the only Lord God and even our Lord Jesus Christ turning the grace of God into Lasciviousnesse as some of these say let us sin that grace may abound even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them in like manner giving themselves over to Fornication and going after strange Flesh filthy Dreamers note that I have heard enough of them defile the flesh despise Dominion speak evill of Dignities c. these are spotts c. woe unto them Think it not strange if you meet with such now the Scripture is true they make it good you are forewarned their Gospel are cursed Gospels but of this anon 2. Obs Obs 2 From the Apostles Practise and his undertaking note this That it is the work of the Ministry of the true and everlasting Gospel of God in Christ as to Preach this Gospel to every Creature to take all opportunities for this and to lay out themselves in this so to defend this Gospel and to take all opportunities and to lay out their strength and to bestir themselves with might and maine in maintaining this true and opposing all false Gospels and perverters of the true You shall find this was the work of the true Prophets against the false the true Apostles against the false Apostles The Apostles themselves had as much to doe in preserving Churches as in
are reserved in chaines of darknesse to the blacknesse of the darknesse of that day He that beleeveth shall be saved but he that beleeveth not he shall be damned 3. The true Gospel laies the maine cause of our salvation next to the work of God the father on the obedience on righteousnesse Rem 1.17 Rom. 3.25 Rom. 5. Es 53. Heb. 10. on the sufferings on the death on the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ his soule presented unto God as an offering a sacrifice a propitiation for our sinnes making satisfaction to divine justice bearing the wrath of God which was due unto us for our sinnes He was made sinne for us 2 Cor. 5. ult though he knew no sinne our sinne was imputed unto him that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him that his Righteousnesse might be Imputed unto us for our Righteousnesse Rom. 9.6 thus the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation as it reveales this righteousnesse of Christ imputed to us from faith to faith the gospel places the maine cause of our salvation not in any thing within us but without us not as righteousnesse though wrought in us by the power of God but a righteousnesse without us in the person of the Sonne of God Rom. 5. that was made flesh and dwelt among us There is no other saving name but this you are saved by the merits alone of that pretious blood Acts 20. that very corporal blood of the man crucified at Jerusalem as ye call him 1 Pet. 1.17 4. Rom. 3.25 Mark 16.16 That 's the true gospel which holds out the true application of these merits of Christ unto us in beleeving by faith which holds out the true faith as carrying in it these few particulars 1. True gospel faith saving faith hath this for its generall argument it sets its seale to all Scripture truth 1 Ino 4.2.3 Ino 1.1 à free and a powerfull assent to the whole doctrine of the gospel particularly that the man at Jerusalem as they call him was and is the Sonne of God God blessed for ever 2. That he is true man God-man Immanuell Es 7. Mat. 1. these two natures meet in one person one told me not long since that he that had two natures in one person was Antichrist 3. That he is our Mediator sufficient 1 Tim. 2.5 only mediator surety betweene God and us 4. That he lived died rose againe ascended Sits in glory shall visibly come againe judge the World and whatever else the Scripture speaks of him 5. Heb. 10. That his death was à sacrifice for sin That it is his imputative righteousnesse by which we are justified on the account of which our sins are pardoned our soules accepted saved c. 6. Ino 6. 1 Cor. 15. That there is a life a salvation to corne a judgement a resurrection of the body I know not how any man can be saved that denies any of these I am sure he that professedly blasphemes any one of all these so living and so dying he shall not he that beleeveth not shall be damned Mar. 16.16 Take heed bow ye depart from the faith least ye depart from salvation with it If you be saved by Christs righteousnes mediation you must beleeve all these truths and more 2. Rom. 3.25 True gospel faith carries the soule of it selfe and from of any thing else and applies it by a clinging and a cleaving of the soule unto Christ above fo Salvation It casts the soule upon that person hi offices his righteousnesse the merits o◠his death and sufferings and there expects Salvation and no where else like a shipwrackt creature that catches at a planke and on that layes hold to come to shore Not one falne soule shall come alive to shore that ever heard of Christ and the Gospell but this way Faith casts the soule on Christ the sonne of God the sonne of Mary and if there be no salvation in this crucified Christ 't will be content to perish in those floods of guilt and flames of wrath to all eternity 1 Cor. 2.2 it knowes no other it will have none else Christ and none but Christ for me 3. Rom. 6. That 's the true faith which purifies the heart and transformes the soule into the likenesse of this death of Christ to dye to sin to live to righteousnesse there is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and they are such as walke not after the flesh but after the spirit as have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Faith derives a power from the death of Christ to kill us to sinne and sin to us there is the likenesse of his death brought home unto us and wrought within us but this is not as Familists would have that death of Christ by which we are saved and have our sinnes pardoned our persons justified this is the consequent the fruit of that Such Gospel and such faith as leads unto Licentiousnesse that is a false Gospel an accursed Gospel and such Preachers are cursed Preachers so living and so dying Heb. 12. ye shall never see God without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. You see the true Gospell you may hereby know the false they that deny that deny that Christ his righteousnesse reproach his blood his death that deny those Gospell truths they that preach not this faith take this from me but not from me take it from God himselfe their Gosples they are false accursed Gospells and such preachers they are false and cursed Preachers they are so to God they should be so to you and that 's the next poynt with which I end Other Gospels and Gospel-pretending-preachers besides the true the old the everlasting they are accursed Gospels accursed gospel perverters God so lookes upon them and so should all good men An accursed thing what 's that It 's a thing most abominable detestable to be abhorred by all that come a neare it like the accursed things that were under the law accursed Deut. 2.26 2. An accursed thing such as these gospels is such as render every person thing it touches or comes neere unto accursed Josh 6.18 you know what it was with Achan the accursed thing rendred him accursed and some of this fell upon the whole campe and accursed gospel is the plague of the person that preaches it that heares it to entertaines it the plague of the place to which it comes and where such like are unlesse detested abhorred look't upon both as to their persons and doctrines as accursed by all that know them O what a curse goes with false gospel what delusions Rom. 1. 2 Thes 2.11 what a reprobate minde what horrid wickednesses bring they with them leave once Christ his truth and gospel and entertaine a legion of uncleane Divels nay more even the best of such if there be any that belong to God as some there be what
I had done Mr Coppe did againe and againe under most dreadfull execrations professe his assent and that particularly to the principall poynts which were delivered by mee Whether willingly or unwillingly truly and syncerely or faignedly and Reservedly though I suspect God is his judge and knowes his heart and will reckon unto him all those curses which he reckoned unto himselfe if he were not right in this If Mr Coppe be a reall friend to these truths and as they were delivered blessed be God that once a blasphemer is now a Gospell-preacher If Mr Coppe be still an enemy and like the Divell appears in All formes for his advantage the World shall know the most diabolicall Hippocrisies of such blasphemers There was one passage as eminent among all the rest dropt from him Let me be accursed said he and that with an Anathema maranatha if I deny any one of all those things which were delivered by him Should this fall to the ground no through Gods help it shall not 1. Truth shall triumph as well as conquer 2. It shall not loose one testimony which may to good effect proclaime its soveraignty and divinity The Gospell would not loose a testimony from ehe devils mouth to the divinity of this sonne of God whose cause we now take up This testimony is considerable whether free or forc't if free see here what Truth will doe it will at length prevaile if Mr Coppes Recantation be right and God have chang'd his heart these lines will not offend him If forc't then see what God can doe for truth let the World know that at such a time and such a place God over rul'd his tongue suppressed his rage and made him speake for truth 2. As this may serve to proclaime Gods truth so Mr Coppes conversion and true returne if such to waies of truth and let those know who have been formerly deceived by him what he now professes that ye also if God will may be informed convinced and converted 3. But if ye know Coppes mind in this and he prove a dissembler and a deceiver still I say I will not judge him I doe professe I doe suspect him then let these lines the pillars in that house the stones in those walls within which these things were first delivered rise up in judgement and beare witnesse against the wretch in the great day of the Lord Jesus and let his damnation which of a long time slumbreth not be proved from God as just and himselfe as inexcusable As for the notes on the principall passages of his Sermon they serve 1. To cleare the truth by me asserted and by Coppe in the former part of his discourse with execrations owned 2. To vindicate the Scriptures purity verity and harmony 3. To let the World know that Familists have double tongues and can sometimes use both at once for their advantage A Familist before a Committee at Redding could say Christ was not God and yet at Ildesly could say the fiery deity of Christ did mingle and mixe it selfe with our flesh and was in the center of our Soules burning and consuming c. and at the same time at Redding could call in all with I meant not so Mr Coppe said Christ was crucified at Jerusalem Cursed were the man that should deny it and that Christ was crucified at Sodom and at Aegypt and Cursed was he that should not say it what 's his meaning I cannot tell but let that passe 4. These notes doe likewise serve to vindicate the Spotles purity and holinesse of God from those black and hellish imputations of sins originall approbation liberally conferr'd upon his Holy pure spotlesse being nature word and will and power One told me a while since professedly that the Divell was God appearing in darknesse and distance Coppe himselfe told me too once in New-gate that light and darknesse was all one to God speaking upon this account of sin there 's something in the wind to use his own expressions in his Sermon and Recantation The Parliaments Act concerning Ranters hath done blest be God for it much good but occasionally as Gods laws provokes some to sin the more if not in one kind yet another 'thas made the Divell break out in another straine he loves not Newgate so well as to speake directly however he is resolved he will be known to be the same Collaterally but more of this anon Christian friends for your sakes I have done this the Lord blesse it I shall desire but one or two things from you and so conclude First I beseech you study and keepe to the true Gospell recorded in the Scriptures of truth preached by the God of truth in our natures and those that heard him and received it from him the Sonne of God hath with his own blood sealed it To it even to this Gospel have the Apostles and Martyrs in severall ages with their bloods witnessed 'T is that Gospell which never can though to the price of your bloods too be overvalued 'T is that Gospel which will maintain it selfe and maintaine you by which you must be saved and its accursed despisers and blaspheamers damned ô be tender of Gospel-truths and the God of Gospel truths you shall finde as tender of your comforts You see whither men run when they forsake the Gospel whether the Scriptures or Ordinances or most especially the Christ of the Gospel the Imputative righteousnesse of our Gospel-Christ it seemes I mistooke Mr Coppe when I spake against a Righteousnesse within us of our owne though of Gods working as the matter of our Acceptance or the Gospel righteousnesse refined Familists are for this in opposition to the imputed righteousnesse of Christ the grosser sort of them know none at all but that which bears conformity to hell to whom light and darknesse purity and uncleannesse God and Sathan make but one the Lord rebuke you I say you see whether they runne they seldome stop till they come to irreligion to Atheisme nay what shall I call it Hell it selfe where I leave them unlesse God shew mercy to them which I suspect will never be 2. Let Accursed Gospellers be accursed by you their Doctrines their Persons with their doctrines bid them not good speed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ordinary salutation least you be partakers of their sinnes and of their judgements I mean their plagues of which a reprobate judgement to refuse the truth and entertaine the wrong is not the least Contend earnestly for the faith which was delivered to the Saints I must conclude the fulnesse of the blessing of the Gospell rest upon you In the Gospel-Christ I am yours to further your Gospel-Interest in what I may J. T Abingdon Octob. 3. 1651. A Sermon preached immediatly before M. Coppe came in to Preach at Burford Sept. 23. 1651. GALAT. 1. 8 9. Though we or an Angell from Heaven should preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have Preached unto you let him be accursed as
planting them in defending the true doctrines of the Gospel as in Preaching The series and scope of most of their Epistles are taken up with this See the charge which Paul gives unto the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Acts 20. from 28. to 32. read the Scripture 'T is a speciall commendation which Christ gave the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Revel 3. I know thy works and thy labour c. how thou can'st not bear with them that are evill and thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyers c. Pauls words in 20. Acts there shall grievous wolves com in among you it seems were true c. and for my name-sake hast laboured and hast not fainted O 't is an excellent thing to spend and be spent for the sake of the name of Christ to labour and not faint This Angel had his faults too but yet this was praise-worthy that the deeds of the Nicolaitans he hated which he also hated what ere this generation were it appeares they were too bad Some would have them of neare kin to these sprung up in our generations c. a filthy beastly sect it seems it was God hates such and the Ministers of the gospel should hate such Wretches Iude. for they are accursed Contend then earnestly for the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints or else the blood of Christ the blood of Soules will cry against you Paul buckles himselfe against them our matter which we have now to doe with is other-guess'd matter then that which Paul had the point of Circumcision and Jewish observations impos'd on the Gentiles though that were bad enough the whole Gospel perverted the very Foundations overturned in their Doctrines the Person the Office Understandings the Righteousnes the Death the Blood the Gospel the Ordinances the wayes of Christ Blaspheamed and reproached some turning the very grace of God into lasciviousnes denying even the Lord that bought them giving themselves over unto uncleannesse to follow all manner of lasciviousnes and that with greedinesse How should we plead with this Accursed Generation you that love Christ hate these 3. Obs That Gospel which Paul preached and the Apostles preached and in the Scripture is recorded which holds out the grace of God in Christ unto salvation that 's the true Gospel be side this thereis no other this Gospel is the rule and Standard of all Gospel doctrine by which all men's doctrine must be tried This Gospel is the Everlasting Gospel ' the same Gospel which was from the beginning Revel 14.6 The Fathers knew no other Gospel glad tidings of salvation but through the blood death and Righteousness of Christ The Apostles received no other Gospel from Christ they preacht no other the Churches planted by them received no other into this and this alone they were baptized There is there can bee no other Gospel or doctrine of salvation but this there is no other name Act. 4.14 by which wee can be saved but onely by the name of the Lord Jesus and that as dying upon the Crosse at Jerusalem for our sins according to the Scripture Let all other Gospel be tried by this If they speak not according to this they are accursed Gospels I shall give you some Characters of true-Gospel doctrine and preachers I had rather shew you the true then rake all dunghils for the false truth will manifest errour I take this as the maine That 's the true Gospel and they are the true-Gospel preachers that lay the whole weight and burthen of our salvation on the Lord Jesus Christ the son of God the son of man Equall with God that is God yet God in our flesh our nature I meane not our particular persons as they would have it who despise this Christ they lay salvation on a Christ within them this Christ within in the Gospel sence is true but in theirs is grossely false however the stresse of our salvation lyes not there that may bee an Evidence an Earnest of salvation but Christ in the wombe of the virgin Mary Christ lying in the manger Christ living in Judaea that poore despised Christ that Carpenters son as some abominably call him is the true Christ and the strength of our salvation that Christ that lived here on earth in a low meane way was crucified at Jerusalem dying upon the Crosse lying in the grave arising againe the third day visibly and corporally ascending into heaven and fitting now there at the right hand of the Majesty on high that 's the true Christ and our Saviour that Christ that shall come againe in the same visible way bodily way manner as he went up into heaven to judge the World render to quick and dead Good and bad every man all flesh according to their deeds done in the flesh that shall take his Saints into heaven and curse the wicked and blaspemous to eternall torments that 's the true Christ and the true Gospel places Salvation in this Christ and in no other This is our Saviour our Redeemer neither is there Salvation in any other not in Men not in Angels no not in God himselfe abstracted from this Christ that was borne of Mary lay in the manger died on the Crosse doe yee know what God out of that Christ is he is a consuming fire Everlasting burning and who shall dwell with him shall stubble God out of that Christ considered is an Idoll not our God for God is now God manifest in our flesh in our nature the flesh that was at Jerusalem upon the Crosse now in heaven 2. That 's the true Gospel which holds out the true salvation and true damnation the states of men after this life Salvation 't is true in some sence is begun here in title earnest first fruits but salvation to speake fully and properly of salvation is a state to come the wrath from which we are saved is a wrath to come and the great Evill of sin though I say some be here is yet to come Even then when Christ that Christ of whom we speake shall appear not to our fancies not in the worke of grace neither in the speciall tokens of his spirituall presence but appeare bodily corporally visibly then shall we see him as he is and not till then then shall he appeare unto our compleate Salvation and not till then other salvation there is not vile wretches ye are that would destroy and annihilate salvation it selfe We shall have our bodies and with these eyes shall we then see our sweet redeemer Salvation is not a phancy 't is reall and for its fulnesse 't is yet to come first comes death and judgement and then compleate salvation and for damnation and hell let fooles make a mock of Hell they shall find there is another hell beside that fancied hell of theirs in this life some of them I will not say all are ordained of old unto this destruction they
a spot get they I never knew any one yet though I have known many of this generation that ever came of roundly to the waies of truth to a Crucified Christ Some may escape but it 's an hard matter if they die not in these sinnes read Heb. 6.4 what hopes there are of such and 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. I cannot note it now it is a dreadfull word to me Oh what a curse goes there along with false gospels many of them professe to returne to waies of truth and some may write their recantations but lord shew mercy to them they have that abiding on them which denotes a curse a plague in error 3. An accursed gospel in gospel sence binds over to the curse indeed the wrath of God everlasting burnings the very bottomeles gulfe of hell 2 Pet. 2.1 if Christs blood dont sprinkle them as 't is rare if ever they are damned for ever I le speak it boldly as their doome such as wilfully blaspheame the name of Christ and turne apostates from him damnation is theirs there is no hope for them see a most dreadfull Scripture 10 of the Heb. and then judge whether this be true in the beginning you have Christ in his death and blood preacht to remission of sinne as we have now preacht it in the 26 you see the sentence on Apostates if we sinne wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth the truth that is in Jesus there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin I tremble to read this Scripture and to think of their forlorne condition there 's no hope no helpe but a certaine fearfull looking for of judgement a certaine ô there 's the dreadfull word as God is true these shall not live but dye read the 28s of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant a vaine thing or an unholy a common thing and hath done despight unto the spirit of grace once enlightning him and working somewhat on him still shining in the Scripture to him but rejected by him We know him that hath said vengeance belongeth unto me I will recompence saith the Lord. it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God Let me close up all with this exhortation which the Apostle in these words gave unto his people you see what the true Gospel is what false gospels are ô be perswaded to sacrifice your soules upon this Gospel and forall other gospels who ever bring them whether we our selves who have preacht this true Gospel unto you and which you have received I say whoever whether we our selves or others nay an Angell himselfe from heaven should he by infallible demonstrations make it out unto you that he came from the throne of God beleeve them not abhorre them their doctrines their persons and such Preachers looke upon them as upon the plague as upon the Divel himselfe they are accursed touch not with them their doctrines their principles Ioh. ep 2. least you be partakers of their sins and partakers of their plagues I beseech you in the bowel of the Lord Jesus Christ as ye love his person prize his righteousnesse expect salvation by him as you look that his blood his death his mediation his intercession should save your immortall soules keep and hold to this his Gospel let none deceive you let the truths of Christ the least of which is worth your soules the blood of Christ the ordinance of Christ the works of Christ the waies of Christ be pretious to you ô tender his name that he may tender yours stick close and cleave to him that he may cleave and stick close to you his gospel is the true Gospel the power of God to save y our soules though we or an Angel from heaven should preach any other gospel unto you then this which we have Preached and you received What I said before I say againe and not I but the Holy-ghost himselfe men may say we speak in passion and we rage and raile but God himselfe saies it and the Apostle by the inspiration of the blessed Spirit speakes it let them be accursed AMEN Animadversions on Mr COPPS Sermon at BURFORD Wherein is cleared the doctrine of the Gospel in generall in speciall the Person of Christ His Righteousnesse His union presence with us Scriptures harmony Gods purity c. WHen I had done Mr Coppe began he first Prayed and after Preached as for his Prayer I shall not meddle with it I heard but little of it and of what I heard I knew not what to make some told me he began as Aristotle ended Thou being of beings with another new-coyn'd appellation unlimited Almightinesse I referre these points to that God that heard it As for his Sermon it contained two parts the first had most relation to what I had spoken in my exhortation The second concern'd the text in Esay 40. ult Who gave Jacob to the spoyle and Israell to the robbers did not I the Lord. In these two was much to be observed I shall briefely note the chiefest in it As for the former part of his discourse which referd to mine something in it concerned my selfe and otherwhat the matter For what concern'd my selfe there was a hint of Vsurpation Ans My preaching there and then was not from usurpation I was called to it by God Mark 16. 2 Tim. 4.11 it s a generall Gospel warrant Goe preach the Gospel to every creature wee le take in the Apostles limitation in another generall Let every thing be done in decency and in order to apply it I found a people there to heare I had a word from God to Preach time and season suited with it for order had I known the Minister I would have craved his leave I had it after in the mean time though through a mistake I took it for Mr Osburnes turne on whom I would presume it made no stirre as farre as I conceite 't was done with decency and in order I was no Stage player I blesse God his presence was in mine eye his feare upon mine heart my matter was Evangelicall my method cleare and plaine I know not an exotick terme which Scripture does not use or the peoplet Mat heard it understand I thank God my desire was to observe the forme of wholsome words I wish others had done so too T was said some preacht they knew not what and talkt of Gospel but did not understand what Gospel was An. I ever took the Gospel to hold out the doctrine of salvation by Jesus Christ the son of God Contayning in it good news or glad tidings of salvation in that way to lost and undone sinners I am sure this was gospel with Christ and Paul and all saints as may appeare by the exhortation I desire to know no other If M. Coppe have another gospel beside that which Paul and after him I preacht
I tell him That M. Coppe and his gospel are both accurst Will you know sayd M. Coppe what 's the gospel the gospel is the power of God An. If hee meane what Paul meant I grant it 3 his words seeme to mee to Confound the gospel and the power of God I put no meaning on M. Copps words am loath to misunderstand or represent him but for the peoples sake I write not now to quarle with M. Coppe but to informe the people as to this question How the Gospel is the power of God You must understand the gospel sometimes notes the matter contayned in the gospel Q. 1. An. as the person of Christ his righteousnes the way of salvation by him especiall in his Crucifixion death for sin In this sense I understand that the power of God unto salvation worketh in the person of Christ Rom. 1.17 and through his righteousnes applyed unto us by fayth unto salvation this is the way of salvation even the righteousnes of Christ c. which is preached in the gospel Gods power goes forth through this Christ and no way else unto salvation 2. ibid. The gospel notes the word the doctrine that holds out this salvation by Christ whether written or preacht 1 Cor. 1. so then understand though the doctrine the preaching of salvation through the crosse be a way despised by the world a Crucified Christ accounted a weake a Contemptible saviour the doctrine a foolish simple doctrine the preaching of this by men a weak foolish and Contemptible thing Yet Gods power works this way unto salvation A crucified Christ carryeh in him both the wisdome and power of God unto salvation 1 Cor. 1. ult Gods wisdome and Gods power too shine in it unto Salvation no way so wise no way so powerfull because God appointeth it and God works with it to a full salvation 2 The gospel preached the Greeks count it foolishnes and Jews weakness but Instrumentaly is the wisdom and the power of God God makes use of the foolishnes and the weakness of preaching to save those that beleve and so Christ Crucified in himself and in his gospel preached is both the wisdom of God and the power of God unto salvation Let none despise this gospel then I am not ashamed of this gospel Rom. 1.16 there might be more said let this suffice I will be briefe and God willing clear Gods power working in us holds not out so fully this gospel to us but as if this very power were the very gospel and wee were to look for no other gospel I say the Gospel is the Gospel though Gods power be not actually put forth to the Application of this Gospel unto salvation 〈…〉 the word is a good word and an heart-gladding word though thousands to whom the gospel comes feel not this power The gospel is the power of God instrumentall I meane the word and the word preached is the instrument the power of God his being put forth with strength efficient is the working the principall working cause of this salvation you must distinguish between the toole which is used and the force the hand putteth forth with this toole or instrument strictly the toole is not your hand or the working virtue in your hand Some men love to darken words without knowledge meerely that people may not know where to find their meaning others would abuse the Scripture but they dare not speake plainly 't were a grosse thing for a Familist especially new converted to say the glad tidings of Salvation by Christ contained in the Scripture is not the gospel if he say you understand not the Gospel it 's the power of God he has his designe though we cannot take him If Mr Coppe mean the gospel is the unlimited Almightinesse of God with a mighty power carrying him out to sin sweare blaspheme He be bold to tell him hee 's worse then the divell I say not this is his meaning but if that be his meaning my words are plaine and need no explanation So much for that M. Coppe said there was much spoken after others If I spake after Christ after the Apostle after the faythfull witnessers to gospel truth I speak as I desire it seems t was no new gospel but it harmonized with Christ prophets and Evangelist I would not speake after mine own spirit nor after any but after Christ and as they speak after Christ I tell you friends our accursed gospellers love not the old way of God and Christ in scriptures ye must have something new like Afrike and that makes them such monsters I told you other gospels then the old gospel preacht after Christ and Paul for patternes are cursed Gospels my soule abhorres them For other triviall things I let them passe As to the matter I beseech you ponder well these words As to the matter by me delivered Mr Coppe spake two waies 1. By way of Assent and Confirmation 2. By way of Glosse and Opposition I say not an opposition of contrariety and contradiction I have something to say to both these First Let these lines make known that Mr Coppe againe and againe with dreadfull curses execrations profest his assent in full words to severall the maine passages in mine exhortation should I repeat the particulars I should transcribe the whole I have therefore let the whole lye open to publike view that the world may see if Mr Coppe be right what through Gods grace he is brought to see If otherwise what by Gods power he was made to say I intend it not to reproach him but let the world receive this testimony from him to these gospel truths 1. The divinity 2. The humanity 3. The mediation 4. The undertaking 5. The righteousnesse of Christ 6. The resurrection of the dead with severall others delivered by him particularly in this forme Let me be accursed if I deny that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God Let me be accursed if I deny the Righteousnesse of Jesus Christ Let me be accursed if I deny the Resurrection of the body c. At length to summe up all as 't was noted in the Epistle Let me be accursed with an Anathema Maranatha if I deny any one of all those things that were delivered by him What I have to say upon the account of these assertions of divine truth under execrations is briefely this I most gratefully accept these asseverations from Mr Coppe I heartily thank him for them upon the account of truth that he would so freely so pathetically professe his assent unto it if he were ingenious I will not yet question it Christ and truth will thank him too 2. Upon mine own account I thanke him that he would take so much paines as to repeate it even in mine own words and to confirme it as he did with execrations I professe I had no particular prejudice against his person as such in my discourse I thank him he exprest no more against mine
in his 1. I wish all Mr Coppes hearers would well consider his asseverations that such as have been deceived would be informed and as I said before if God will convinced and converted 2. I wish that all sound Christians would take notice 1. Of the soveraignty and divinity of Gospel-truth even Mr Coppe himselfe doth at length acknowledge it wee thank God and him for it 3. If Mr Coppe did defaulter with us speak one thing and mean another learne from hence never more to trust a Familist unlesse you can by better demonstrations then their verball recantations make good their reall conversions to the waies of God and truth 2. And as for him if it may appeare by these notes or his own discourse that he is the same what he was before only more cunning 1. To preserve himselfe from barres and bolts Newgate a type of Hell 2. To deceive others the very picture of the Divell I say if this appeare I will not say 't is so though you may see my guesse anon then 1. let the World know what to expect when the Bottomlesse pit is opened and the Divell loosed 2. Let the people of God where ever they heare the name of Coppe look on it as accursed either stoppe their eares or pray to God some way or other to stop his mouth that he may no more dissēble blaspheme 3. Let them likewise observe the mighty power of God which doth accompany that weak and foolish so accounted gospel preaching if not to convince convert save yet to harden judicially from God occasionally from the gospel efficiently from the Divel and mans own heart to kill to damne besides to over-awe to over-power that hell it self shall not open its mouth sometimes this is not alwaies to Contradict if Coppe bee still what hee was before see here how God supprest his rage overul'd his tongue what a testimony to divine truth what a witness against himself hath the gospel God forc't and wrested from the wretches mouth but of this before in the Epistle To the second his opposition Reader understand that Mr Coppe would now and then oppose to what by me and himself was spoken to what end I know not I shall give you the opposition and then my thoughts As I remember this was the first however let it be the first here Christ was Crucified at Ierusalem let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth if I deny that Christ was Crucified in Sodom and Aegypt cursed be he that denyes this These words were again and again repeated without a syllable to their reconciliation or interpretation What might be his meaning let the World judge 1. He tell you how Familists use to speak and what they generally intend when they thus speak 2. I shall shew you the Scripture meaning as to those Assertions under this Question How is it said that Christ was Crucified at Ierusalem How may it be said that Christ was Crucified as in Sodom and Aegypt 1. Familists use to speak one thinge and mean another Por as you may see in the Epistle One disputed with me about the Deity of Christ before a Committee he denyed that Christ was God or Jehovah 't was prov'd the man was charg'd by the Committee with it he presently told them he meant not so the like Christ's Imputative righteousnes is a saplesse righteousnes but he meant not so They will say and unsay in one breath 2. Before the late Act against Raunters they spake boldly now they dare not especially in points against the light of nature 3. Since the pretence of the conversion of severall of them to the way of truth they have a generall straine of Clothing their corrupt notions with sound words especially such Scripture expressions as will beare a generall sence as to Instance They will tell you that Christ was Crucified at Ierusalem a sound expression there generall sence is true he was Crucified at Ierusalem but in what sence abominably corrupt as a type and figure of the true death of Christ in them as they pretend An harmlesse Christian that would wrong none and things none would wrong him takes all well the man saies he speaks truth delivers speciall truth he granted that Christ died on the Crosse he does not deny that Christ died for our sinnes according to the Scripture but poore heart he never intended thou shouldest so apply it Again he will tell you by Christs blood that you are saved my self not long since heard words like these I thought no harm but that by Christs blood the man meant the meritorious cause of our salvation But it seems 't is one of their cursed formes of swearing like that the plague of God take all flesh of cursing I should tremble to write this but to discover Familists 4. It seems to me from what I have knowne of them they will put themselves on all expressions wayes windings to keep themselves from being known but to their owne you shall not know where to find them so as to fasten on them but their own shall know their meaning and so may you when you have once got their Key I have heard of canting Beggers and seen some such books for their sakes I shall not easily beleeve some Recantations A Key to Familisme hath cost me more than I le now mention 5. They are designers we may not be ignorant of their devices they have learnt these of their blasphemous ringleader when 't is for their purpose they will tell you Scripture speakes it for them and none then shall speake for Scripture more then they Another time they will let you know they care no more for Scripture then Gesta Romanorum and likely scarce so much 6. When they speak on the account of Scripture Revelation they will tell you if you will beleeve it that the Authentick Copy is their Imagination 7. I find it is one of their close designes and undertakings in undermining Scripture if possibly they can to make one clash against another Their drift is to weaken the Verity Harmony and Purity of the Scripture in the weakest Imagination When they have done that they laugh you are as they would have it they 'l set truth and Scripture as 't were together by the eares and sport at it I say Scripture they undermine and they have an 100 wayes for this whereof this is one now hinted 8. Take this Rule wherever they be they will be sure I meane the craftiest of them to close in with you in all discourses duties that they may promote their designe upon you you shall find it for a never failing observation they will first insinuate an interest in your affections and then corrupt your judgments They will smile upon you and cut your throate use melting words Honny-sweet smooth as oyle but full of poyson A Christ would they exalt within and who would not meeknesse love peace and righteousnesse would they promote who likes not this but friends their