manifest unto them when God shall reveale them unto his Saints by making such a cleare evidence of his grace to appeare so that they may discerne the same worke of grace in others that is in themselves For it is impossible that true grace should alwayes lye hid but it will be manifested at one time or other to the comfort and rejoycing of the rest of the Saints Quest But by the parable of the Draw-net in the thirteenth of Mathew it doth appeare that there may be wicked men in the Church undiscovered and not knowne to be hypocrites untill the great day of the Lord Answ It is true there may bee such for I doe not say that all hypocrites may be discerned and knowne but that it is possible for the Saints to know one another even in this life Quest If all the Saints may be discerned and knowne then those that are not discerned to bee Saints are to be judged hipocrites Answ We cannot so conclude of them for though they bee nor as yet discerned and knowne yet afterwards they may be or they may be Saints and depart this life undiscerned through want of the fellowship of the Saints who onely are able to discern the truth of grace in the Saints Quest But how may we discern and know others to be Saints Answ It is very hard to set down any particular notes whereby they may be knowne because the graces that do demonstrate them to be Saints are inward and therefore are better conceived then can be expressed in word by us neverthelesse if we can upon good ground assure our selves that we are Saints let us see and observe wherein we go beyond an hypocrite in the injoying of any speciall and peculiar grace and then let us expect and look for the same grace in others and wheresoever we find that blessed worke of grace and fruit of the good tree ingrafted into Christ by a lively faith we may certainly conclude he is a good tree because he bringeth forth good fruit Quest But the most holy and righteous do daily sinne and do that which is evill and hypocrites may also do many good things even works which are very good in outward appearance Answ It is true indeed but yet notwithstanding the evill which the Saints do is none of their fruit nor the good that hypocrites do is none of their fruit It cannot properly be called their fruit for the fruit is that which doth discover the tree either to be good or evill Matth. 7.16.20 Rom. 7.19 Quest What is then the fruit of the good tree that doth discover it self and prove him to be a good tree Answ The fruit of the good tree ingrafted into Christ is manifold but principally it is love which hath its first beginning from the apprehension of Gods love to them and is first returned to God again and to the Lord Jesus Christ next to their brethren the begotten of God to all men even to their very enemies doing good even to them that hate them Mat. 5.44 1 Joh. 4.19 Chap. 5.1 Quest What is the fruit of the evil tree Answ It is also manifold but principally it consists in the contrary to this fruit of the good tree as contempt of God and despising and hating of his truth and children Quest But hipocrites may dissemble a love unto God and to his truth and children Answ It is true but yet they cannot so dissemble to make the children of God believe and account them for Saints yet they will hope the best of them untill their dissimulation be made manifest and they discovered to be evill trees Quest But is it possible to know them to be Saints of a sudden assoon as they come to converse with them Answ No certainly especially in these times wherein we live for no doubt corruption doth beare great sway in many that no doubt are Saints and the power of Grace doth not manifest it self in many by reason of many discouragements that they meet with and for want of examples to go before them to incourage them and therefore it is very hard to discern them hence it comes to passe that it is held an impossible thing to know them in this life Quest How are the company of Saints called in the Scriptures Answ They are called by many honourable names and titles as the Church of Christ his body his spouse his habitation his Temple Sion Jerusalem the pillar and ground of truth and many such like Ephes 5.30 1 Cor. 12.27 Cant. 4.8.9.10 2 Cor. 6.16 Gal. 4.26 Quest When is this Church and company of Saints to be found Answ This Church is dispersed over the whole world even amongst the very heathen Quest How can it be that there should be any Saints in such places seeing they are ignorant of Christ and there is no name under Heaven whereby we may be saved but onely by the name of Iesus Christ Acts 4.12 Answ It is true neither are they saved by any other name under heaven but by Christ alone Quest How can they be saved by him who never came to know him either to come or come in the flesh Answ It may well be notwithstanding for there is left in man even since his fall a certaine knowledge of God and that he is to be feared and served and there is also a law written in their hearts condemning of them for disobeying the law of God whereby they come to see themselves miserable and to be lyable to the wrath of this just God though they know not how they came to be so at the first and also they see the goodnesse of God extended towards them manifested in his creatures God also working in them by his spirit perswading them that if they will seek mercy at his hands he will be mercifull to their souls as well as to their bodies and this mercy of God is extended unto them for Christ his sake though they know not by whose meanes and for whose sake they receive it Rom. 2.14 15.26 Acts 14.17 Rom. 1.19 20. Qu. Is there not a communion and fellowship amongst the Saints although they be thus dispersed Answ Yes verily they have a spirituall communion and fellowship all partaking of the same grace all being begotten by one father all born of water and spirit all partakers of one precious faith all ruled and governed by one and the same holy spirit who worketh in them a love to one another though they never beheld the faces one of another and do joy and rejoyce in the happinesse and prosperity one of another and for that end are dayly sutors to God in prayer one for another Ephes 2.14 Chap. 4.4.5.6 Quest What is the duty of the Saints being made known one to another Answ Their duty is to assemble themselves together in the name of Christ to worship God to pray unto him and to praise him to exhort comfort and build up one another and to rejoyce in the fellowship one of another
done being decreed by him Rom. 4.17 Quest What great workes did he after he had taken upon him the nature of Man Answ He wrought many great miracles he raised the dead he made the blind to see and healed all manner of diseases and taught his Fathers will Io. 11.43.44 Luk. 7.15.22.4.40.43 Quest Was he obedient to the Law Answ Yea he was obedient to the Law and did fulfill it in every thing that it did command or require Psal 40.7.8 Quest Then he was free from Sinne Answ He did no Sinne at all neither did guile ever enter into his mouth 1 Peter 2.22 Quest Was it needfull he should fullfill the Law Answ Yes it was needfull for us to have such a Redeemer as could perfectly fullfill the Law for us who could not fullfill it our selves Gal. 4.4.5 Rom. 8.3.4 Quest Then it seemes that whatsoever Christ did doe was only for the Redemption of the elect Answ It was all for that end for he was wholly given unto them as the Prophet Esay saith unto us a Child is borne Esay 9. Quest Was he not bound to fullfill the Law for himselfe Answ The Law was never given unto him for to be a rule for him to walke by for he needed no Law being free from that Corruption of nature which all the posterity of Adam were tainted and corrupted with Quest If he were free from Corruption of nature wherefore was he Circumcised and Baptised Answ It was as himselfe saith to fullfill all righteousnesse not that there was any need in him of the Circumcision of the heart or that washing and purging signified by Baptime but he submitted himselfe to both to testifie his willing subjection to the will of his Father and to teach us by his example to doe the like Mathew 3.15 Quest Had he any enemyes seeing he was so innocent and blamelesse Answ Yes he had many enemyes especially the Scribes and Pharises that did persecute him and when that time appointed was come did also put him to death Math. 26.3.4 and Chap. 27. Quest Wherefore did they put him to death Answ There was no cause worthy of death found in him as the Judge himselfe confessed Luke 23.14 Math. 27.24 Quest Could he not have delivered himselfe nut of their hands seeing he was God and have confounded his enemies by his Almighty power and word Answ Yea he could have prayed to his Father as himselfe saith and he would have sent him more then twelve legions of Angells but he came into the World to suffer and to fullfill whatsoever was prefigured and prophened of him to be fullfilled by him Math. 26.53.56 Quest Was his death prefigured and foretold in the Scriptures Answ His death was shadowed out in the Paschall Lambe and in the sacrifices and foretold by the Prophets in very many places of Scripture and that in expresse words Esay 53. Daniell 9.26 Quest Was it needfull that he should dye for to worke the Redemption of Man Answ It was needfull for he did nothing in vaine and God would have him to suffer death to the end he might deliver man from death And the Justice of God did require that he should dye for God had threatned death to Adam upon his disobedience and therefore that God might manifest himselfe to be just and his wrath also against out sinnes and yet also notwithstanding manifest his mercy towards Man God would have him to suffer a shamefull death who was able being God and Man to beare that wrath and satisfie the Justice of God which could not have been satisfied unlesse that Christ himselfe had suffered death Quest What death did he suffer Answ They did Crucifie him upon the Crosse between two theeves Mathew 27.38 Quest Wherefore did they put him to so shamefull a death Answ It was so foretold that he should be so used by the Iewes for as his death was foretold so also the manner of his death Esay 55.12 Quest Then the Jewes did nothing unto him but that which God had decreed and foretold by his Prophets Answ Not any thing at all Io. 19.24.28.29 Acts 2.23 Quest Wherefore did God decree to put his onely Son to so shamefull death Answ To the end he might manifest his Iustice and wrath against Sinne and also his exceeding great mercy and love unto Man that notwithstanding his Iustice did require so shamefull a death yet did not spare his owne Sonne but gave him to death to redeeme us Io. 3.16 Qu. Seeing that all men as well the Elect as others are all borne the children of wrath and are lyable to the curse of God and Condemnation what is required of us that we may be free from that Curse and escape condemnation Answ A new Birth is required as our Saviour himselfe witnesseth except a man be borne againe he cannot enter into the kingdome of heaven Io. 3.3.5 Quest What is that new Birth Answ It is a most admirable and also a supernaturall worke of Gods Spirit whereby all the Elect are made of children of wrath heires of eternall Glory and happinesse Titus 3.5 6 7. Quest Whereof doth this new birth consist Answ It consisteth of these two parts namely of Water and the Spirit that is to say of Repentance and of Faith Jo. 3.5 Titus 3.5 Quest After what manner doth the Lord effect and worke this new Birth in the Elect Answ The Lord doth it two wayes inwardly by his Spirit and outwardly by his Word opening their eyes to see their misery and that there is mercy to be had if they doe repent Ezek. 36.24 25 26 27. Ephes 1.13 Rom. 10.14 Ezek. 33.11 Quest VVhat is the first peculiar worke that God vouchsafeth to worke in them whom he hath apurpose to save Answ The first speciall and peculiar worke that God doth worke in them is Repentance Quest But is not Faith wrought in men before Repentance and doth not repentance proceed from Faith as a fruit and effect thereof Answ No not that faith which is peculiar to the Elect that is never wrought before Repentance neither is Repentance a fruit or effect of Faith but an effect of the Spirit as faith also is Quest VVhat Faith is that which is wrought in men before Repentance Answ It is commonly called historicall faith the object whereof is the truth of the Scriptures and it is a gift of the Spirit common as well to those that shall perish as to those that shall be saved Quest VVhat Reasons have you to perswade you that Repentance is the first peculiar worke that God doth worke in them whom he hath a purpose to save Answ I have very many Reasons to perswade me thereunto Quest VVhat is the first Reason Answ My first Reason is the constant and unchangeable order that the holy Ghost hath observed throughout the Scriptures in requiring Repentance and Faith alwayes requiring Repentance in the first place Mark 1.15 Math. 3.2 Luk. 3.3 Acts 2.38 Acts 3.19 Quest But order in setting downe things in Scripture proves
yeare 1666. as appeareth in the last verse of the thirteenth chapter where the very period and finall determination of Antichrist is layd down in which yeare the destruction denounced against him shall fall on him Quest Shall there not be a restoration of the truth till the destruction of Antichrist Answ The truth hath begun to appeare already and still shall more and more but the full restauration thereof shall not bee till all the darknesse of Antichrist bee removed and his destruction accomplished Revel 11.11 Quest Is not the truth fully knowne published preached and professed now at this time in those Kingdomes where Antichrists power is abolished Answ No certainly much darknesse still remaines even amongst them and great confusion which shall at that time be more fully discovered and the truth made knowne and errors and Heresies abolished by such whom the Lord shall raise up in and about that time and for that end Quest Are we not to expect the truth to bee more fully discovered then now it is before the destruction of Antichrist Answ Yes assuredly for it is the light of the truth maintained by the Saints which shall in a speciall manner abolish Antichrists darknesse and also shall be the greatest meanes of his destruction for the people of God shall by the light of the truth more fully discover his abominations and cause the Princes of the earth to see how grossely they have been deluded and abused by him and so they shall with one consent set themselves against this great enemy of Christ to roote him out and to execute the judgement that the Lord hath denounced against him Revel 19.11 12 13 14 15. Rev. 17.16 Quest Shall the Church of God enjoy any great prosperity after the destruction of Antichrist Answ Yes certainly for then they shall be freed from their great and violent oppressions and have free liberty to professe and practise the whole will of God and enjoy the communion and fellowship one of another their inward graces shall be great and excellent their love shall abound one towards another continually rejoycing in the hope of that crowne of glory which is layd up for them in heaven 4 Esdras 11.46 and chap. 12.34 2 Tim. 4.8 Revel 19.1.2 3 4 5 6 7. Quest Shall the whole Nation of the Jewes be converted and receive the Gospell of Christ before the comming of the Lord to judgement Answ We hope many of them shall be called before that day But that the whole Nation shall be called and receive the Gospell we have no ground in Scripture so to thinke Quest But the Apostle in the eleventh chapter to the Romans seemes to intend to prove that they shall all be called before the day of the Lord Answ Whosoever do so collect and gather from that chapter doe misunderstand and misinterpret the Apostle for his purpose is not to prove that all the Nation of the Jewes shall be called to Christ in the latter end of the world but to shew unto the Gentiles lest they should wax proud against the Jewes that God had a people amongst the Jewes and that hee had not cast them all away but that hee had a remnant according to the election of Grace even amongst Abrahams naturall seed whom he would call when it pleased him many were called in Pauls time and no doubt but many since that time and we hope that yet there are many of them that belong to the Lord which shall be called when the darknesse of Antichrist is expelled and the light of the truth appeareth and shineth by the Church but wee are not to expect any such generall calling of them Quest Doth not the Apostle say in the 26th verse of that thapter that all Israel shall be saved Is not here therefore a sure ground to build upon for their conversion to Christ Ans The Apostle there meanes by all Israell all the elect of God both Jews and Gentiles and not onely the Nation of the Jewes as may be proved by these Reasons First because the Apostle saith in the twenty fift verse that in part blindnesse or hardnesse is happened unto Israell untill the fulnesse of the Gentils be come in which is even till the comming of the Lord to Judgement as appeareth Luke 21.24 Therefore by all Israell is not meant the Jewes onely but all the elect of the Jewes and of the Gentiles Secondly because the Promise of the deliverer in the Testimony of Esay alleadged by the Apostle was made to the Elect Gentiles as well as to the Elect Jewes and the elect Gentiles reape the same benefit by the Deliverer And this promise also pertaines to none but to the Elect of the Jewes and Gentiles not to all the carnall Jewes but onely to the elect the Spirituall seed of Abraham consisting both of Jewes and Gentiles For the test doe not reap this benefit namely to have their ungodlinesse turned away Esay 59.20 Rom. 9.6.7.8 Rom. 2.28.29 Gal. 3.29 Thirdly by all Israell cannot bee meant that in the latter dayes all the Nation of the Jewes shall bee converted Because this great calling which is pretended to be is not once mentioned in the booke of the Revelation and therefore not shewed unto Iohn and yet he was taken up and was promised to have shewne unto him the things which should be hereafter Revelation 4.1 But this great conversion of the Jewes he saw not and yet hee saw all things to the setting up of the new Jerusalem in everlasting glory and beauty therefore certainly we are not to expect any such matter neither in this place doth the holy Ghost intend any such thing Quest But it may seeme that this promise is made onely to the Iewes because is made to Jacob and they only are the posterity and seed of Jacob Answ It is not made only to the naturall Jewes for we are to know that when any such speciall promise is made in Scripture of turning away ungodlinesse and taking away of sins from Israel or Iacob that promise is made and intended as well to the Elect Gentiles as to the Elect Jewes even to all Abrahams spirituall seed which are called by those names of Israel and Iacob who although they be Gentiles in the flesh yet indeed are Jewes in Spirit and truth Rom. 2.29 And Abrahams seed and Heires according to the promise Gal. 3.29 Quest What then may be the mistery that the Apostle speakes of in the 25 verse of that eleventh chapter to the Romans Answ The mistery is Gods giving some up to hardnesse and blindnesse and his giving Grace unto others at the consideration whereof the Apostle breakes forth into admiration in the 33 verse saying O the depth of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11.33.34.35.36 Quest But all the Prophets have prophesied of the returne of Israel and of his restouration to such an excellent estate of glory and happinesse and freedome
me to find out all those sweet promises contained in the Scriptures yet as many as I can call to mind for the present I will set down that hereafter we may read them and take comfort in them and live by faith in the hope and expectation of them and the Lord inlighten our understandings in the knowledge of his truth and give us hearts to obey the truth made knowne unto us that God may be glorified by us through Jesus Christ by the assistance of the Holy Ghost to whom be all praise glory and honour for ever Amen The places of Scripture are these following But for your better understanding of them I pray you consider the words of the Holy Ghost by Saint Peter in the 3 of the Acts verse 21. in these words speaking there of Jesus Christ whom the heaven must receive untill the times of restitution of alll things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began so that you may observe hence that this restitution or restauration must not be til the second coming of Christ and then it shall be and it is that which all the Prophets have spoken of and if these places of Scripture here following do not intend this great restitution then let them who are contrary minded show us where it is spoken of in the Scriptures if they will needs have us to understand these Scriptures to intend the great conversion of the naturall Jewes now in the latter end of the world and before the coming of Christ to Judgement a doctrine never intended or meant by the Holy Ghost for this restitution is not to be till the second coming of Christ Act 3 19.20 21. And so I may now leave you to the reading of the Scriptures here following the Lord give us wisdome to understand them aright and to find and feele the comfort of them for they belong to all Abrahams spirituall seed as well Gentiles as Jewes and not to the naturall Jew except he be also a Jew inward Rom. 2.28.29 Gen. 13 Chapter 14 15 16. verses and Chapter 15.8 and Chap. 17.8 and Chap. 26.3.4 and Chap. 28.4.13.14 2 Chron. 16.30.31 32 33. and Chapter 17.9.11 12 13 14.27 Psalm 8. compared with Heb. 2. Psalm 14.7 and Psalm 15.1 and Psal 37.9.10 11.29 Psal 45.6.16 Psalm 48. Psalm 87.3 and Psal 89.3.4.15 16.17 c. Psal 96.9 10 11 12.13 Psal 98. Psal 132.11 12. c. Esay 11. compared with Romanes the 8.19.20 Esay 25.6 7 8 9. Esay 27.13 and Esay 55.12.13 and Chapter 60.14.15 c. Esay 61.4 5 6 7. and Esay 62.1.2 3 4.5 7 8. and chap. 65.9.10.14 15. c. Esa 66.5.7 8. and so to the end of the Chapter Ieremy 3.16 17 18. and Chapter 23.5 6.7 8. and Ieremy 30.9 10. and Chap. 31.35.36 and Chap. 33.15 16 17 to the end of the chapter Ieremy 46.27 28. Ezekiel 28.24.25.26 Ezek. 34.11 12.13 14 15 16.23 24. to the ' end of the Chapter Chapter Ezek. 36. read the whole chapter and also the 37 chapter Ezek 9.25 to the end of the chapter Daniel 2.44 45. and chapter 7.14.27 and chapter 12.1 2 3.13 Hosea 2.14 to the end of the chapter Joel 3.1 3.12.16 17 18.20.21 Amos 9.11 to the end of the chapter Haggai 2.6 7 8 9. Zechariah 6.12 13. and chapter 12.8 and chapter 14.4 read to the end of the chapter Matthew 5.5 Acts 2.19 20 21. Rom. 8 9.20 and 1 Cor. 2.9 and 2 Thes 1.7.8 and 2 Pet. 3.13 Hebrewes 4.9 reade the whole Chapter Revelation 3.12.21 and Chapter 5.10 and chapter 7.15 16 17. and chap. 11.15 16 17 18. and chapter 21. but read the whole chapter and also the 22. chapter The Prophet Esay is wonderfull excellent in expressing the happinesse of the Saints for ever and therefore to these former places set down I also adde these places following Esay 32.15 16 17 18 19. and chapter 33.15 16 17.20 21.22.24 and chapter 35. read the whole chapter and Esay the 45.17 18 19. Esay 49.9 10.11 12 13. CChristian Reader it may be thought that I have not beene so large in this last matter concerning the happinesse of the Saints in glory for ever with Christ their Lord and King upon this earth as the matter required and therefore for thy more full satisfaction in the same J referre thee to a book called the land of promise and the covenant thereof printed 1641 for John Wright the younger in the old Baily wherein this thing is fully manifested it being the subject matter of the whole book and proved by many places of Scripture for indeed the Scriptures are very plentifull in this thing it being that which God chiefly intended from all eternity it being the rest of God wherein he alwayes took delight and pleasure the setting up of the Kingdome of his Sonne Christ and his dwelling with the Sons of men his Saints for evermore even the full perfection of all his works which he entended from everlasting Revel 11.15 And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever and ever Revel 21.3 Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Revellation 22.3 4 5. verses And there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their forheads And there shall be no night there and they need no candle neither light of the Sunne for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever Christian reader for thy further information in this point J referre thee also to two other bookes th one called the holy rest of God printed for John Wright the younger in the old Bailie 1641. the other called the two olive trees or the Lords two annointed ones c. being an exposition of the 11 Chapter of the Revellation printed by Matthew Simmons 1645. in these two books this point is largely set forth against the millenaries of these times thus desiring thy furtherance in the truth I commend thee to the grace of God J A. FINIS