SOME Gospel-truths Opened according to the Scriptures OR The Divine and Humane Nature of Christ Jesus his coming into the World his Righteousness Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession and second comming to Judgment plainly demonstrated and proved And also Answers to severall Questions with profitable directions to stand fast in the Doctrine of Jesus the son of Mary against those blustring storms of the Devils temptations which do at this day like so many Scorpions break loose from the bottomless pit to bite and torment those that have not tasted the vertue of Jesus by the revelation of the Spirit of God Published for the good of Gods chosen ones by that unworthy servant of Christ John Bunnyan of Bedford By the grace of God Preacher of the Gospel of his dear Son Jesus saith I am the way the truth and the life no man commeth to the Father but by me Jo. 14. 6. Neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4. 12. London Printed for J. Wright the younger at the Kings head in the Old-baily 1656. To the Reader REader thou hast in this small Treatise set beforethee the several pieces of that great and glorious mysterie Jesus Christ God manifested in the flesh and if thou art enlightned by the spirit of Christ here thou maiest see by that spirit how Jesus Christ the Son of God the Son of Mary is both true God and true Man both Natures making but one Christ one Jesus as Phil. 2. 5 6 7 8 9 verses where speaking first of his being God and then of his taking upon him the nature of man afterward in the 8 and 9 verses he saith he meaning this Jesus humbled himself c. and God meaning the Father hath highly exalted him c. speaking of both natures God and Man as together making but one Christ who is the Saviour and is to be beleeved and trusted in for Salvation not only as God but as man also and those who do not thus make him the object of their faith will surely fall short of pardon of sin and of salvation Act. 13. 38 39. through this man speaking of Christ as crucified at Jerusalem is preached unto you forgiveness of sins and in the 1 Tim. 2. 5. saith he there is one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus and this discovers the damnable errors of those commonly called 〈◊〉 who on the 〈…〉 deny him that 〈…〉 of the Virgin 〈…〉 true God as 〈◊〉 as true man and this is also quite contrary to those commonly called Familists Ranters Quakers or others who on the other hand either deny Christ to be a reall man without them blasphemously fancying him to be only God manifest in their flesh or else make his humane nature with the fulnesse of the Godhead in it to be but a type of God to be manifest in the saints and so according to their wicked imagination his humane nature was to be laid aside after he had offered it up upon the crosse without the gate at Jerusalem contrary to Acts the 1. 1 2 3 9 10 11 verses compared with the last chapter of Luke verses 34 39 40 50 51. where it is clearly held forth that the man Christ rose againe out of the grave with the same body which was crucified and laid in the grave and was taken up above the clouds into heaven with the same real body and that he shal again descend from heaven in that same glorious body of flesh as Acts 1. 9 10 11. and this sure truth of Christ being the Saviour Mediatour as man and not only as God will also shew serious believers what to thinke of some who though they will not it may be deny that Christ is a real man without them in the heavens as well as God yet doe own him to be the Saviour only as God first dwelling in that flesh that was born of the Virgin and then dwelling in Saints and thus both beginning and perfecting their Salvation within them and so indeed doe hold Christ as man to be only I say to be only the saved or glorified one of God together with the Saints his members only something in another and more glorious manner and meisure then the Saints and these highflown people are in this very like to Familists and Quakers undervaluing the Lord Jesus Christ God-man and though they may speake much of Christ yet they doe not rightly and savingly lay him for their foundation Now as a helpe against all these dangerous things thou hast here the maine things of Christ laid down before thee briefly and fully proved by the Scriptures first of his being true God out of flesh from eternity and then of his taking flesh or the nature of man upon him in the wombe of the Virgin and so his fulfilling the Law his dying for sins at Jerusalem his rising againe without his ascending into heaven without and not into a fancyed heaven only within as some say his interceding in heaven for all his and his comming again in his body of flesh to judge the world And if thou art yet in a state of nature though covered over with an outside profession here thou maiest find something if the spirit of Christ meet thee in reading to convince thee of the sad condition thou art in and to shew thee the righteousness thou art to fly to by faith and to trust in for salvation when convinced of sin which is a righteousness wrought by that God-man Jesus Christ without thee dying without thee at Jerusalem for sinners here also thou maiest see the difference between true and faise faith If thou art a true believer as these things are the foundation of thy faith so they may be of great use for thee to meditate upon and to exercise thy faith in particularly in meditation and in this way to seek daily for a higher faith in these truths to be given into thy heart from heaven and there is a great need of this for though these truthes be commonly known amongst professors to the notion of them yet very few know or believe them aright nay it may well be said in this age that if the faith of the true saints was wel sifted and tradition notion and the apprehensions of their own reason and fancy was sifted out most of them would be found to have very little knowledge of and faith in these common truths Secondly these truths being put thus together and plainly proved by the Scriptures may be a great help through the Spirit concurring to strengthen thee against all those damnable heresies which are spread abroad which deny the Lord Jesus Christ either plainly or more cunningly and mysteriously And thirdly the more thou art rooted and set down from heaven in the faith of these truths of Christ to believe fully the glorious reality of them their interest in them the more heavenly peace and joy thou wilt have 1. Pet. 1. 7 8. also thou wilt hereby attain the more true
poore sinners For this thou mayest have and do yet be but a companion for Demas yea for Judas and the rest of the damned multitude As the Apostle saith For all this thou mayest be but as sounding brass and as a tinckling Cymball that is nothing but a sound 1 Cor. 13. 1. 2 3. But Secondly if thou wouldst not be deceived then have a care to avoid false Doctrines which are according to the spirit of the divel and not after Christ. As first If any Doctrine doth come unto thee that telâ— thee Except thou art circumcised after the manner oâ— Moses then canst not be saved That is if any man come unto thee and tels thee thou must doe such and such works of the law to the enâ— thou mayest present thy selfe the better before God doe not receive him For to him that worketh not but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4. 5. 2. If any come unto thee and bring such a Doctrine as this That thou mayest be saved by grace though thou walk in the imaginations of thy own wicked heart his Doctrine also is divellish doe not receive him Deut. 29. 19 20 21 22 23. 3. But if any come unto thee and doth in truth advance the bloud righteousness resurrection intercession and second comming of that very man in the clouds of heaven that was borne of the Virgin Mary and doth presse thee to believe on what he hath done shewing thee thy lost condition without him and to own it as done for thee in particular and withall doth admonish thee not to trust in a bare Notion of it but to receive it into thy heart so really that thy very heart and soule may burne in love to the Lord Jesus Christ againe And doth also teach thee that the love of Christ should and must constraine thee not to live to thy selfe but to him that loved thee and gave himselfe for thee 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Eph. 4. 20 21 22 23. 1 Cor. 7 23. ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of Men. If hiâ— conversation be also agreeable to his doctrine a believing honest loving self-denying counteous Conversation he also is a true Christian Receive that Doctrine * and receive it really for it is the Doctrine of God and of Christ Gal. 4. 4. Gal. 1. 4. Eph. 1. 7. Rev. 1. 5 Acts 13. 38. Joh. 1. 19. Acts 4. 12. Acts 10. 40 41 42. and 1 Thes. 1. 10. Mar. 13. ult 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. 8 9 10. Considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever Heb. 13 7 8. Againe if thou wouldst not be deceived then beware of slighting any known truth that thou findest revealed or made known to thee in the Gospel but honour and obey it in its place be it as thou thinkest never so low Joh. 14. 15. 2. Have a care that thou doe not undervalue or entertain low thoughts of God Christ the Son of Mary and the holy Scriptures but search them John 5. 39. And give attendance to the reading of them 1 Tim. 4. 13 for I will tell thee he that slights the Scriptures doth also slight him of whom they testifie And I will tell thee also that for this cause God hath given up many to strong delusions that they might believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes. 2. 11 12. Therefore I say unto thee In the name of the Lord Jesus the Son of Mary the Son of God the very Creator of heaven and earth and all things that are therein have a care of thy selfe for the divel doth watch for thee day and night 1 Pet. 5. 8. thine own heart also doth labour to deceive thee if by any means it may Jer. 17. 10. Therefore doe not thou trust it for if thou doe thou wilt not doe wisely Pro. 28. 26. I say therefore have a care that thou labour in the strength of the Lord Jesus to escape all these things For if thou fall into any one of them it will make way for a further income of sin and the divell through whose deceitfulnesse thy heart will be hardned and thou wilt be more uncapable of receiving instruction or reaping advantage by and from the Ordinances of Jesus Christ The rather therefore Give all diligence to believe in the Christ of God which is the Son of Mary and be sure to apply all that he hath done and is doing unto thy felfe as for thee in particular which thing if thou doest thou shalt never fall And now Reader I shall also give thee some few considerations and so I shall commit thee to the Lord. 1. Consider That God doth hold out his grace and mercy freely and that to every one Rev. 22. 17. Isa. 55. 1 2 3 6 7. 2. Consider That there is no way to attaine to this free mercy and grace but by him that was borne of the Virgin Mary for he himselfe saith I am the way the truth and the life No man cometh to the Father but by me Joh. 14. 6. compared with Mat. 1. 20 21. 3. Consider if thou strivest to go over any other way thou wilt be but a thief and a robber Joh. 10. 1. compared with ver 9. And know that none of these so continuing shall enter into the Kingdom of he even 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. 4. Consider that if the devil should be too hard for thee and deceive thee by perswading thee to embrace or entertaine a new Gospell which neither Christ nor his Disciples did allow of it would make thee gnash thy teeth when it is too late 5. Consider that though thou hast been deluded by Satan to this day yet if now thine eyes be opened to see and acknowledge it though as yet thou hast been either exceedingly wicked or an idle luke-warme hypocritical professour and hast stood it out to the last for all this there is hope and if now thou receive the truth in the love of the truth being as willing to be rid of the filth of sin as the guilt of it thou shalt be saved 6. Consider that the Lord will call thee to judgement for all thy sins past present and what else thou shalt practice hereafter especially for thy rejecting and trampling on the bloud of his Son the Man Christ Jesus And if thou doest not agree with thine adversary now while thou art in the way he will deliver thee to the Judge and the judge will deliver thee to the officer if he cast thee into prison I tell thee thou shalt not come out thence till thou hast paid the very last mite Luke 12. 58 59. And therefore I beseech thee to consider Here is at this time life and death heaven and hell everlasting joy and everlasting torment set before thee Here is also the way to have
sign that his coming doth draw nigh even at the doors 3 The love of many waxing cold is another signe that it is nigh even the comming of Christ And how cold is the love of many at this day They that were hot two or three year agoe are now grown lukewarm and cold They are cold in love to the Lords appearing they are cold in the profession of the Gospel They are cold in love to the Saints they are cold in the worship of God Yea very cold which is a notable Demonstration that the comming of the Lord draweth nigh 4. The Stars falling from heaven That is profe â—ors falling from the faith which once they professed is another signe that the comming of the Lord is at hand And how many professors doe you see now a dayes fall from the doctrine of God and his Son Jesus Christ as though there were no such thing as a world to come and no such thing as a Lord Jesus Christ and his second coming 5. Many poore souls will go on in their profession with lampes without oyle just before his second comming And the Lord knowes that most of the professors of this generation are such kind of professors yea very foolish professors which is another sure signe that the comming of the Lord drawes nigh 6. When the time of Christs second comming is at hand there will be but a very little faith in the world And the Lord knowes that there be many who are now as high as Lucifer that at that day for want to faith will be thrown down to the sides of the pit even into the very belly of Hell 7. Another signe of Christs second comming is the carnall mindednesse of the most of the world and the very carriages of almost all men now living do discover this truth to be at this day fulfilled and know that when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction comes and they shall not escape 1 Thes. 5. 1 2 3 4. 8. Before Christs second comming there shal come many fals Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders to seduce if it were possible the Elect. And is not this more cleerly fulfilled in our daies then ever it was especially among those men called Quakers who being as persons whose consciences are seared with an hot iron and they being sealed up unto destruction do some of them call themselves Christ and shew great signes as their Quaking and such a legall holiness as makes the simple admire them and wonder after them which shewes the comming of Christ to be very nigh 9. Before Christs second comming there shall come scoffers into the world walking after their own lusts and if ever this Scripture was fulfilled it is fulfilled on these men called Quakers For they are the men that at this day make a mocke at Christs second comming which shall be from heaven without and therefore saith the holy Ghost these Mockers shall be such as shall say where is the promise of his comming for since the fathers fell a sleep all things continue as they were See 2 Pet. 3. 3 4 5 6 7. and there you shall see their mocking and the reason of it Read and the Lord give thee understanding But because I would not have thee think that I speake at randome in this thing Know for certain that I my self have heard them blaspheme yea with a grinning countenance at the doctrine of that mans second comming from heaven above the stars who was borne of the Virgin Mary Yea they have told me to my face that I have used conjuration and witchcraft because what I preached was according to the Scriptures I was also told to my face that I preached up an Idoll because I said that the Son of Mary was in heaven with the same body that was crucified on the Cross And many other things have they blasphemously vented against the Lord of life and glory and his precious Gospel The Lord reward them according as their work shall be I could have hinted in many other things which Christ and his Apostles have shewed to be signes of his comming But I shall commend the holy Scriptures unto thee which are able to make the man of God perfect in all things through faith in the Lord Jesus Now you have also the manner of his comming how iâ— shall be most notably laid down in the Scriptures I shall 〈◊〉 in a few things touching it as first He will come when there is but very few looking for his comming When they shall sâ—y peace and safety then sudden destruction commeth 1 Thes. 5. 1. 2 3 which sudden destruction will be at his second comminâ— for that is it which the Apostle spake of in those three verses Then will all the world be caught at such an unexpected time that it will come upon them even as a snare commeth upon those creatures that are caught in it As it is written Luke 21. 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earâ—h Which is all on a sudden before they are aware 2. He commeth with all his saints and Angels Then will the Lord descend from that heaven into which he now ascended as it is written in 1 Thes. 4. 16. Then will be come and all his Saints with him as Jude saith in his Epistle v. 5. Then shall Abell and Enoch Noah and Abraham David and Job Peter and Paul together with all the Saints which have been now are or hereafter shall be and they shall sit on the throne with the Lord Jesus Christ as in Mat. 19. 28. Before whom shall all the Nations of the world be gathered as it is written Joel 3. 12. Let the heathen be wakeneâ— or raised out of their graves Dan. 12. 2 and come down to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about Which never was yet accomplished though it shall certainly be in in Gods time to the astonishment everlasting damnation of all those that shall continue mocking or sinning against God and his Christ. 3. He shall come in flaming fire when he doth come again he will come in such a manner as will make all that shall be found in their sins rather seeke to creepe under a mountaine then to meet the Lord of Glory Rev. 6. 15 As Esay saith For behold the Lord will come with fire and with his Charets like a whirlwind to render his anger with fury and his rebukes with flames of fire Esay 66. 15. To execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. as I shall shew farther by and by And therâ—fore in the next place I shall shew you what shall be done when he is come First When Christ
thinking thy self to be wondrous well because of that Notion of the Truth and that notion thou hast in the things of God I say being in this state thou art lyable to these dangers First Thou art like to perish if thou die with this notion in thine head except God out of his rich gr ace doe work a saving work of grace and knowledge in thy heart for know this thou mâ—yest understand glorious mysteries and yet be a Castaway 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. Or else Secondly thou art lyable to the next damnable heresy that the Divel sendeth into thâ— world See and consider Luke 8. â—3 2 Tim. 2. 18. I say thou doest lie lyable to be carried away with it and to be captivated by it 〈◊〉 that at last through the delusions of the Divell thou mayst have thy conscience seared as with an hot iron so hard that neither Law nor Gospel can make any entrance thereinto to the doing of thee the least good And indeed who are the men that at this day are so deluded by the Quakers and other pernicious Doctrines but those who thought it enough to be talkers of the Gospell and Grace of God without seeking and giving all diligence to make it sure unto themselves And for this cause God hath sent them strong delusions that they should believe a lye That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness as it is written 2 Thes. 2. 11 12. And indeed if you marke it you shall see that they be such kinde of people who at this day are so carried away with the Quakers delusions namely a Company of loose Ranters and light Notionists with here and there a Legalist which were shaking in their principles from time to time sometimes on this Religion sometimes on that and thus these Vnstable Souls are deluded and beguiled at last 2 Pet. 2. 14. So that these who before as one would have bought had somthing of God in them are now turned such enemies to the glorious truths of the Gospel that there is none so obstinately erroneoâ—s as they And indeed it is just with God to give then over to believe a lye 2 Thes. 2. 11. who before were so idle that they would not receive the Truth of God into their hearts in the love of it And to be bewitched by the Divell to obey his temptations and be damned who would not obey the truth Gal. â— 1. that they migth be saved But you will say what lyes are those that the Divell beguileth poor souls with all I shall briefly tell you some of them but having before said that they especially are lyable to the danger of them who slip into high Notions and rest there taking that for true faith which is not I shall desire thee seriously to consider this one Character a Notionist Such an one whether he perceives it or not is puffed up in his fleshly mind and advanceth himself above others thinking but few may compare with him for religion and knowledge in the Scriptures but are ignorant and foolish in comparison of him thus knowledge puffeth up 1 Cor. 8. 1. whereas when men receive truth in the love of the truth the more the head and heart is filled with the knowledge of the mysterie of Godlinesse the more it is emptied of its own things and is more sensible of its own vileness and so truly humbled in its own eyes And further a Notionist though he fall from his former strictness and seeming holiness and appeare more loose and vain in his practises yet speaks as confidently of himself as to assurance of Salvation the love of God and union with God as ever But now to return and declare some of those lyes which the Divell perswades some of these men to believe First That salvation was not fully and completely wrought out for poor sinners by the man Christ Jesus though he did it gloriously Acts 13. 38 39. by his death upon the cross without the gates of Jerusalem Heb 13 12. compared with Jo. 19. 20. 2. This is another of his lyes wherewith he doth deceive poor sinners bidding them follow the light that they brought into the world with them telling them that light will lead them to the Kingdome for say they it will convince of sinne as swearing lying stealing covetousness and the rest of the sins against the Law Rom. 3. 20. But the Law is not of faith Gal. 3. 12. And then I am sure that it with all its motions and convictions is never able to justifie the soul of any poor sinner For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the law to doe them Gal. 3. 10. but that no man is justified by the law is evident for The just shall live by faith ver 11. Now because I am not altogether ignorant of the delusion of the Divell touching this grace of faith also I shall therefore in short give thee reader a briefe yet true description from the Srcipture 1. What true justifying faith is and what it layeâ— hold upon 2. I shall shew who it doth come from 3. That every one hath it not 4. What are the fruits of it First therefore True faith is a fruit work or gift of the Spirit of God Gal. 5. 22. 2 Thes. 1. 11. and 1 Cor. 12. 9. whereby a poor soul is enabled through the mighty operation of God Col. 2. 12. in a sence of its sins and wretched estate to lay hold on the righteousness bloud death resurrection ascension intercession and comming againe of the Son of God which was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem for eternal life Jo. 3. 16 18. compared with Mat. 3. 17. Gal. â— 20. Rom. 5. 8 9 10. Ro. 3. 25. Act. 16. 31. Heb. 13. 12. according to that saying in Heb. 11. 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen that is the things that are hoped for faith sees layes hold upon and embraces them Heb. 11. 13. as if they were present yea it seales up the certainty of them to the soule Therefore saith the Apostle it is the evidence or testimony or witness of those things that are not seen as yet with a bodily eye which are obtained by the bloud of the man Christ Jesus Heb. 9. 14. comparâ—d with Heb. 10. 12 19 20. by which the soule sees as in a glass the things that God hath laid up for them that feare him 1 Cor. 13. 12. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Secondly If you would know who this faith comes from read Ephes. 2. 8. For by grace ye are saved saith the Scripture through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Againe in Phil. 1. 29. it is thus written For unto you that is believers it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to
Scripture for our Lord sprang out of Judah Heb. 7. 14. Againe when Christ the Saviour was to come into the world at that time the Scepter was to depart from Judah according to the prophesie of Jacob The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh come Gen. 49. 10. Now the Scepter was then departed from those that were Jews by nature and also the lawgiver and Herod who was a stranger and not of Judea was King over them as Caesars Deputy and Caesar Augustus imposed lawes on them The stuborn Jews also confessed the Scepter to be departed when before Pontius Pilate a Romane governour of â—udea they cryed out against Christ We have no King but Caesar Joh. 19. 15. Nay further the Jewes from that day to this have beene without a â—ing of their owne nation to governe them they never had the Scepter swayed since by any of themselves but have been a scattered despised people and have been as it were liable to all dangers and for a long time driven out from their countrey and scattered over all the Nations of the earth as was prophesied concerning them Jeâ— 24. 9. Zek. 5. 14 15. And yet these poor souls are so horribly deluded by the devil that though they see these things come to passe yet they will not believe And one reason among many of their being thus deluded is this they say that the word Scepter in that 49. of Gen. is not meant of a Kingly Government but the meâ—ning is say they a rod or persecutions shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh come Now they doe most grosly mistake that place for though I am not skilled in the Hebrew tongue yet through grace I am enlightned into the Scriptures whereby I find that the meaning is not persecutions noâ— the rod of afflictions but a Governour or Scepter of the Kingdome shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh come And that this is the meaning of the place weigh but the very next words of the same verse and you will find it to be the Scepter of a King that is meant for he addeth nor a Lawgiver from between his feet Marke it The Scepter nor a Lawgiver the Legislative power depending on the Scepter of the Kingdom shall not depart from Judah untill Shiloh come According to that Scripture written in Isa. 7. 16. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evill and chuse the good the land which thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her Kings which Scripture hath been fulfilled from that same time But a word to the Jews exposition of the Scepter to be a rod or persecutions saying that persecutions shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh come This cannot be the meaning of the place for the Jews have had rest oftentimes and that before Shiloh did come at one time they had rest fourscore years Judges 3. 30. againe And the land had rest from warre Joâ—h 14 15. And againe the Lord gave them rest round about according to all that he sware unto their fathers and there stood not up a man of all their enemies before them Jos. 21. 44. Jos. 22. 4. 23. 1. And the land had rest forty years Jud. 3. 11. There was rest many a time from persecution and from the rod thâ—ugh it we but for a season but the Scepter or Kingdome did noâ— depart from Judah and a law-giver from between his feet tiâ—â— Shiloh came Againe to prove that Jesus is the Christ it is cleer from the hand of God against the Jews for putting him to death What was the reason why they did put him to death but this he did say that he was the Christ the Sonne of God Luke 22. 70. Then said they all Art thou the Sonne of God And he said ye say that I am that is I am he as you say I am the son of God Yea the only begotten Son of the Father and I was with him before the world was Now the Jews did put him to death for his thus owning his own That is for not denying of his Sonship but making himself equal with God therefore did they put him to death Joh. 1â— 7. Now God did and doth most miserarably plague them to this very day for their crucifying of him But I say 〈◊〉 he not been the Christ of God Gods Son he would not have laid sin to their charge for crucifying him but rather have praised them for their zeale and for taking him out of the way who did rob God of his honour in that he made himselfe equal with God and was not He would have praised them for doing the thing that was right as he did Phinehas the son of Eleazâ—r for executing judgement in his time on the adulterer and adultereâ—le Numb 25. 8. But in that he said he was the Sonne of God and accounted it no robbery so to call himself Phil. 2. And seeing that they did put him to death because he said he was thâ— Son of God And in that God doth so severely charge them with and punish them for their sin in putting him to death for saying that he was the son of God it is evident that he was and is the sonne of God and that Saviour that should come into the world For his blood hath been upon them to this very day for their hurt according to their desire Mat. 27. 25. Againe Jesus himselfe doth in his day hold forth that he is the Christ where he saith the time is fulfilled and the Kingdome of heaven is at hand Mat. 1. 15. What time is this thâ—â— Jesus speaks of Surely 〈◊〉 that of Daniels Seventy weeks spoken of in Chap. 9. 24. when he saith Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people to finish transgression and to make an end of sin and to make reconciliation or satisfaction for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to anoint the most hoâ—y this time that here Daniel speakes of is it that Christ saith hath an end and the argument that he brings to perswade them to believe the Gospel is this the Kingdome of God is at hand according as was prphesied of it by Daniel repent and believe the Gospel Repent and believe that this is the Gospel And that this is the truth of God Consider that Daniel had a revelation of these daies from the Angel of God and also the time in which it should be accomplished Namely Seventy weekes was the determined time of the Messias his comming from the time when the Angel spake these words to Daniel Seventy weekes that is about 490 years if you reckon every day in the said twenty weekes for a yeare a day for a yeare a day for a yeare for so is the holy Spirits way sometime to reckon dayes Ezek. 4. 6. and this the Jews were convinced of when Christ saith to them ye Hypocrites ye can discerne the face of the skie but can you not discerne the Signes of the
week he appeared first to Mary Magdalen out of whom he had cast seven devils Where take notice how the holy Ghost layes it down in these words Out of whom he had cast seven Devils To intimate to uâ— the certainty that it was the same Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary who did many miracles and cured many diseases who did also cast seven Devils out of Mary Magdalen that did rise again Yea saith the holy Ghost it was the same Jesus that did work such a wonderful miracle on Mary he appeared to her first out of whom he had cast seven Devils And let these Scriptures suffice to prove the Resurrection of the son of God Secondly you shall have the testimony of the holy Angels also by the Scriptures And first look into Mark 16. 3 4 5 6 and 7. verses the words are these And they viz the Disciples said among themselves Who shall roll away the stone They had a good mind to see their Lord but they could not as they thought get away the stone which covered the mouth of the Sepulchre And when they looked that is towards the Sepulchre they saw the stone rolled away for it was great and entring into the Sepulchre they saw a young man that is an Angel sitting on the right side cloathed with a long white garment And they the disciples were affrighted And he said unto them be not afraid you have no cause for it you seek Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified He is is not here he is risen behold the place where they laid him What Scripture can be plainer spoken then this Here is an Angel of the Lord ready to satisfie the Disciples of Jesus that he was risen from the dead And lest they should think it was not the right Jesus he spoke of yes saith he it is the same Jesus that you mean you seek Jesus of Nazareth do you not why he is risen he is not here But doe yâ—u speak seriously and in good earnest Yea surely if you will not believe me behold the place where they laid him This Scripture or Testimony is very clear to our purpose But again the next place is in Mat. 28. 3. 4 5 6 7. In the third verse there is an Angel as before bearing witnesse of the resurrection of Jesus His countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow and for fear of him the Keepers did shake and became as dead men And the Angel answered and said unto them viz. to the women who came to seek Jesus Fear you not but let them that seek to keep the Lord in his grave fear if they will for you have no ground of fear who seek Jesus who was crucisied He is not here for he is risen he cannot in be body here and risen too If you will not beleeve me come see where the Lord lay and go quickly and tell his Disciples that â—e is risen from the dead and behold he goeth before you into Galilee there shall you see him But shall we be sure of it yea saith the Angel Loe it is that have told you See how plainly this Scripture also doth testifie of Christ his Resurrection Here saith the Angel you seek a Saviour and none will content you but he even the same that was crucified Well you shall have him but he is not here Why where is he then He is risen from the dead But are you sure it is the same that we look for yea it is the same that was crucified v. 5. But where should we find him why he goeth before you into Galilee where he used to be in his life time before he was crucified And that you might be sure of it there to find him know that he is an Angel of God that hath told you ver 7. And thus have you in brief the testimony of the Angels of God to witnesse that Jesus the Son of the Virgin the Son of God is risen from the dead Object But you will say might they not be deceived Might not their eyes daâ—le and they might think they did see such a thing when indeed there was no such matter Answ. Well because it is so difficult a matter to be perswaded of the truth of this thing that Christ is raised againe out of the grave that very man with that very body though these things that have been already spoken might be enough through grace to satisfie yet because of the unbelief of some we shall turne to some more of those infallible proofs that are spoken of in Acts 1. 3. to prove the point yet more cleer And therefore First of all do but see how the Lord doth deale with an unbelieving Disciple John 20 v. 23 24 25 26 27 28. You shall see in the 23. ver Christ after his resurrection is talking with his Disciples but Thomas was not with them But when the Disciples saw him againe they said to him We have seen the Lord ver 25. but Thomas would not believe them Another time Jesus comes to his disciples again and then Thomas was with them then so soon as the â—ord had said Peace be unto you he turned himselfe to Thomas and said to him Thomas Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing v. 27. As much as if the Lord should have said Come Thomas thou hast doubted of the truch of my resurrection very much Thou saiest that thou wilt not believe except thou doe feel with thy fingers the print of the nailes and doe thrust thy hand into my side Come Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and see if there were not the nayls driven through them And reach hither thy hands and thrust them into my side and feele if I have not the very hole in it still that was made with the Speare that the Souldier did thrust into it and be not so full of unbelief but believe that my resurrection is a glorious truth Another in fallible proofe is that in Luke 24. from the 36. to the end of the 44. verse In v. 36 it is said that the Lord even while they were talking stood in the midst of them and said Peace be unto you But they were so far from being at peace that they were terrified and suppâ—sed that they had â—eet a Spirit And Jesus said to them Why are ye troubled and why do thoughts arise in your hearts what doe you thinke that I am a spirit Do you think your eyes dazle behold my hands and my feet Look well upon me and see my hands and the holes in them and likewise my feet and the holes in them and know that it is I my self and not a spirit as you suppose Know that it is I my self and not an ther. Doth your heart faile you then take hold of me with your hands yea handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and
are those in our duâ—es who reject this doctrine that you lay down concerning the Lord Jesus Christ as you lay it down and they are for a Christ within for a cross within for a resurrection and intercession within and they do not hold as you do a Christ without and a resurrection of Christ without and intercession of Christ with uâ— I and they have very much Scripture for that which they say too And therefore what should such as we do that stand tottering and shaking in these distracted and dangerous times for our poor souls are in very much doubt what way to take Ans. Therefore I will speak a few words to you by way of discovery of the falsity of such opinions and a word of direction how you should understand the truth First therefore he that cries up a Christ within in opposition to a Christ without that man instead of having the spirit of Christ in him is possessed with a spirit of delusion for where the spirit of Christ is in truth that spirit causeth the soul to look to the Christ that was born of the Virgin for all justification as it is written Howbeit when he the spirit of truth is come he shall lead you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but what soever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come mark the next verse he saith the son of the Virgin shall take of mine and shall shew unto you Joh. 16. 13 14. he shall take of mine what is that why surely it is he shall take of my Godhead my humanity my birth my righteousness my blood my death my resurrection my ascenâ—ion and intercession my Kingly Priestly and prophetical offices and shall shew you the life merit and value of them And this was it which was revealed to Paul by the holy spirit here spoken of 1 Cor. 15. 1 2. to the 8. Moreover brethren saith he I declare unto you the Gospel which Iâ—p eached unto you which also ye have received and wherein ye stand By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you unlesse ye have believed in vain But what is this doctrine why I delivered to you first of all that which I also receive â— What was that why How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures there is his death and resurrection preached And that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelve after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once of whom the greatest part remain unto this present but some are fallen asleep After that he was seen of James then of all the Apostle And last of all he was seen of me saith Paul as of one born out of due time This is it I say that the spirit of truth doth hold forth to poor sinners a Christ crucified without the gates of Jerusalem Luke 23. 32 33. buried in Josephâ— seâ—ulcher v. 53. risen again the third day Luke 24 6. ascended away from his Disciples in a cloud into heaven as in Act. 1. 9 10 11. And there ever liveth that very man with that very body to make intercession for all that receive him Heb. 7. 24 25. This is I say the doctrine of the spirit of truth whatsoever is the spirit of errour Q. But do not the Scriptures make mention of a Christ within 2 Cor. 13 5. A. Yes And he that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his Rom. 8. 9. But he that hath it is led out of himself by it and as I said before it shews the soul what the blessed son of the Virgin Mary hath done and suffered and is a doing for it Therefore hereby know we the spirit of truth from the spirit of errour Every spirit that doth confesse that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God That is that spirit that doth confess that Jesus Christ took flesh upon him and in that flesh did bear our sins 1 Pet. 2. 24. Col. 1. 20 21 22. 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Pet. 4. 1. and after he was taken down from the cross and laid in a sepulcher rose again from the dead that very man with that very body wherewith he was crucified That spirit that doth believe and confess this is of God and is the blessed spirit of Christ whereof hâ— spake when he was yet with his Disciples touching his bodily presence for he saith the Son of Mary shall glorifie me for he shall take of Mine and shew it to you Joh. 16. 13 14. I have answered this already in my Epistle to the first treatise Therefore believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God for many false spirits and prophets are gone out into the world therefore have a care how thou receivest the voice that speaks to thee but try whether they are according to the truth of Gods word as it is written To the law and to the testimony if it be not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa. 8. 20. Therefore try a little Doe they flight Gods Christ which is the Son of the virgin that spirit is of the Devil 1 Cor. 12. 3. 2. Doe they say that that blood of his which was shed without the gates of Jerusalem doth not wash away sin yea all sin from him that believes that is a spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 1. 7. 3. Doe they say that that man that was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem is not risen again with that verybody wherwith he was crucified out of the Sepulchre Luk. 24. 38 39. That is a Spirit of Antichrist 4. Do they say that that very man that was crucified with that very body is not now in the presence of his father absent from his people touching his bodily presence though present in spirit I say who ever they be that say he is not there they are of the Divel for the proof of this see Acts 5. 30. and 31. and compare it with Heb. 7. 24. 25. The God of our fathers saith the Apostle raised up Jesus But what Jesus Whom ye slew saith he to the Jews Him the very same whom ye slew hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel and forgiveness of sins And indeed here is my life namely the birth of this man the righteousnesse of this man the blood of this man the death and resurrection of this man the ascension intercession of this man for me and the second comming of this man to judge the world in righteousness Acts 17. 31. I say here is my life if I see this by faith without me through the operation of the spirit within me I am safe I am at peace I am comforted I am encouraged and I know that my comfort peace and encouragement
is true and given me from heaven by the father of Mercies through the Son of the virgin Mary Mat. 1. 21. who is the way to the father of Mercies Joh. 14. 6. who is able to save to the utâ—â—rmost all that come to the father by him Heb. 7. 25. Because he that very man with that very body wherwith he was crucified is ascended into heaven Acts 1 9 10. 11. and there ever lives to make intercession for them that come to God by him This is the rock sinner upon which if thou be built the gates of Hell nor Ranter Quaker sin law death no nor the Divel himself shall ever be able to prevail against thee Mat. 16. 16 17. 18. And here I leave thee to the wisdome of the great God who if he hath chosen thee in his Son and brought thee to him and hath made thee by faith to lay hold on him thou needst not fear the divel with his siftings snares wiles and fiery darts wherewith he doth destroy thousands but mayest with the Apostle if thou live in the power and life of the love of God towards thee cry out I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate thee from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. And now Reader if thou be a true Christian I am sure that these be the things that appearto be the glorious substantial truths to thy soul and thou doest not care for that comfort that doth not make this Man the Son of the virgin precious to thy soul 1 Pet. 2. 7. for thou knowest that it is he that hath deliver'd thee from the wrath to come 1 Thes. 1. 10. Bâ—t as for you that are disobedient except you mend your manners you will stumble and fall backwards and be broken and snared and taken Isa. 28. 13. and wonder and perish because you believe not A few words more and so I shall have done and they are words of counsel to thee Have a care thou receive not every Christ that is profered to thee though it may appear very excellenâ— to thy foolish heart For under the name Christ are men deceived as it is written many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shal deceive many Mat. 24. 5. But have a care that thou receive that Christ that was borne without thee fulfilled the Law in his humane nature without thee spilt his blood without thee is risen againe and ascended without thee and maketh intercession without thee And that he that very man that was borne of the Virgin will come againe in the clouds without thee And this truth must thou receive by that Spirit that he hath promised to send and give to them that aske him And that shall dwell in thy heart and shall shew thee what the Son of Mary the virgin the Son of Man the Son of God the true God hath in his body done for thy soule Joh. 16. 13 14. And if thou receive him in truth then though thou doe not boast nor brag of thy holiness as those painted hypocrites called Quakers do yet thou wilt do more worke for God in one hour then they even all of them can do in all then life time Take my counsel and the Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon thy soul and body Farewel Some Questions to the Quakers Or a few quaeries to those who are possessed with a spirit of delusion in this generation Be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you 1 Pet. 3. 15. And I beseech you do it in sincerity 1. IF thou sayest that every one hath a measure of the spirit of Jesus Christ within him why say the Scriptures that some are sensual having not the spirit Jude 19. And when Christ tells his Disciples of sending them the spirit he also saith The world can not receive it Joh. 14 17. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by from the curse of the law Is it by something that is done within them or by something done without them If thou answer it is redeemed from the curse of the law by something that worketh in them Then I ask why did the man Christ Jesus hang upon the Cross on mount Calvary without the gates of Jerusalem for the sins of his people And why do the Scriptures say that through this man is preached to us the forgiveness of sins That is through his blood Eph. 1. 7. which was shed without the gates of Jerusalem Heb. 13. 12. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is or was crucified within you dead within you risen within you ascended within you 4. Is that very man that was crucified on mount Calâ—aâ—y between two thieves whose name is Jesus the son of Mary I say is he the very Christ of God yea or no 5. Is that very man with that very body within you yea or no 6. Was that Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary a real man of flesh and bones after his resurrection from the dead out of Josephs Sepulcher yea or no for the Scripture saith he was as in Luke 24. 39. If so then did that man that said handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have I say did that man go away from his Disciples and not into them in his body as these Scriptures declare Luke 24. 39 40. compared with v. 50. 51. also Acts 1. 9 10 11 or did he with that body of flâ—sh go into his disciple as some fond dreamers think 7. Hath that Christ that was with God the father before the world was no other body but his Church If you say no as it is your wonted course Then again I ask you what that was in which he did bear the sins of his children If you answer It was in his own body on the tree for so saith the Scripture 1 Pet. 2. 24. Then I ask you further whither that body in which he did bear our sins which is also called his own body was or is the Church of God yea or no again if you say he hath no body but the Church the Saints Then I ask what that was that was taken down from the Cross and laid into Josephs Sepulcher Luke 23. 51. 52. Now I know that as Christ is the head of his Church so the Church is the body of the head which is Christ. But as Christ is the Mediatour between God and men I say as he is Mediator so he is a man 1 Tim. 2. 5. and absent from his Saints in the world as is clear 2 Cor. 5. 6. Therefore as he is a Mediator and a man so he hath a body that is absent from his Church which body is descended from his