very unlikely Answ Nay saith the Lord I will effect it rather then this great work shall be left undone I will make a new Creation Behold I Create new heavens and a new earth verse 17. This Ecce behold notes the excellency of the thing to be beheld Doctr. But the generall truth which I shall at present commend unto you is this That the great work which God hath to effect in the world and in the Saints in these latter dayes of the Gospel is to set up a new Creation viz. New heavens and a new earth In the prosecution of this truth I shall first open the tearms unto you what is meant by the new heavens and the new earth in the unfolding of which I shall confirme the truth propounded First For the word Heaven it hath different acceptations in Scripture sometimes it s taken for the Aiery Firmament in which the fowls flie sometimes for the Starry Firmament Gen. 1. 8. Sometimes for the Preaching of the Gospel which is the word of the Kingdome yet called the Kingdome of Heaven The Kingdome of Heaven shall be taken from you c. Sometimes for the Church Rev. 18. 20. Sometimes for the Saints Union with God and spirituall injoyment of him now I understand Heaven in this place according to the two last acceptations viz. the Saints with their injoyment of God in the spirit It is true there are different apprehensions in many concerning this Scripture some apprehending that it relates to the destruction of this materiall form and frame of heaven and earth and the creation of a new from that in 2 Pet. 3. 13. Because say they that the destruction of this materiall frame and form is only minded in that Chap. Now although I shall not deny that which is from hence concluded yet I beleeve that there is much mysterie in that Chapter and shall be made good within the Saints in the Spirit as well as without them according to the Letter and that of the new heavens is wholy mysticall according to what light I have received not that I desire to argue forth the thing at present but with much tendernesse to passe it by Secondly some apprehend that Christ shall come and reign personally subduing his enemies and exalting his people and that this is the new heaven and the new earth but this is not my apprehension but that Christ will come in the Spirit and have a glorious Kingdome in the spirits of his people and they shall by the power of Christ in them raign over the world and this is the new heavens and the new earth First He will have a glorious Kingdom in the Saints The kingdome of God is within you heaven is the kingdome of God and this kingdome is within the Saints and this is the new Creation the new heaven the Kingdom of heaven that is in the Saints It 's true we have had and still have exceeding low carnal thoughts of heaven looking on it as a glorious place above the Firmament out of sight and not to be injoyed till after this life but God himselfe is the Saints kingdome their injoyment their glory where God is manifesting himselfe there is his and the Saints kingdome and that is in the Saints Here lieth the great hidden mysterie of the Gospel this new creation in the Saints Querie Wherein lieth the nature and glory of this new Creation Answ The nature and glory of it lieth in that renovation or renewing of the minde an internall and spirituall change a transformation out of the nature of the first into the nature of the second Adam This I shall for your satisfaction confirme unto you from Scripture although I trust I shall deliver nothing unto you but experimentall truth See 2 Cor. 5. 17. He that is in Christ is a new Creature old things are past away behold all things are become new Here is this new Creation within a new creature a minde renewed by the Spirit this is that new man mentioned Ephes 4. 23 24. which after God is Created in righteousnesse and true holinesse note it is Created and that after God now what this Creation or new man is according to what I understand no farther I dare to speak it is that Union which the Divine nature the Spirit hath with and in our spirits by which Union it transforms our spirits into its own glory and shall in conclusion wholly swallow up the Saints in that spirituall glory which will be their eternall perfection their heaven their kingdom their glory This is the first part of both the nature and glory of this new Creation Querie Why is it called new heavens in this Scripture as if it were some more then ordinary glory this mentioned is that which God works ordinarily in every Saint this new birth or spirituall renewing Answ First It 's true that this new spirituall work of God in the spirits of men is effected in the spirit of every Christian but this new Creation minded in my Text is a more then ordinary degree of this spirituall glory for I do not understand by the new heavens a new thing contrary to what hath been formerly but a higher measure or manifestation of one and the same glory as the covenant of grace was called a new covenant not because it was not in being formerly but because it should be more gloriously manifested then formerly it should bring forth more glorious effects in the Saints then formerly For my more cleare proceeding in and your better understanding of the glory of this new Creation I should minde one thing unto you by the way and that is this I minde the dispensations of God to the world or rather the Saints in the world to be answerable to his dispensations in the spirit of every Saint I minde it thus That as God proceeds gradually in the manifesting of himself in the spirits of his people the first second and third heaven as Paul 2 Cor. 12. or children yong men old men as John hath it 1 John 2. 11 1â— so he makes known himself unto his Saints in the world gradually the first second and third heaven or dispensation of heavenly light and glory or rather a different manifestation of one and the same dispensation of light and glory As first in the times of the Law God made himself known to his people under dark shadows and types there was a glory but it was such a glory which made them exceedingly to quake and tremble Secondly in the dayes Christ who put an end to those shadows there was a higher manifestation of light and glory wherein was more clearnesse of light and joy which was the yong or middle age But thirdly in this last time or third dispensation of God to and in his people will be much more glorious much more in the spirit and therefore called a new heaven it shall be the light of the same dispensation began in the Law see this confirmed Rev. 21. 1.
A DISCOVERY OF THE New Creation IN A Sermon Preached at the Head-Quarters at Putney Sept. 29. 1647. By Thomas Collier 2 Pet. 3. 13. Neverthelesse we look for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at the Black-spred-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1647. The Epistle to the Reader Reader THE new Creation the Kingdom of Heaven in the Saints is that great Mysterie God is now revealing in them I having both opportunity and freenesse at the head Quarters spoke something according to that measure of light God hath communicated unto me concerning this new Creation in the Saints this truth being by some owned yet by others privately opposed and contradicted I therefore at the desire of some who judge themselves one with and in this truth as also for satisfaction of the contrary minded have published that which was in weaknesse yet in power then delivered Although its true thou maist not here reade verbatim what was then delivered yet thou hast here the heads and substance of it God making thy spirit one in with any truth that thou findest here let him have the glory and he who is thine and the Truths servant hath his end and utmost desires T. C. Isai 65. 17. Behold I create new heavens and a new earth THis Scripture propounded is a satisfying reason of some propheticall Gospel-truths formerly discovered Wherein we may take notice First of the grace of the Gospel verse 1. I was found of them that sought me not c. Wherein you may note that persons not seeking after grace are made partakers of grace or that persons seek and finde grace from their being sought out and found by grace Men participate of Gospel grace not because there is either desert or desire in themselves but from the everlasting love free bounty of a gratious God who is the fountain of Grace and Love see this testified Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore in loving kindenesse have I drawn thee As this was a truth to the naturall Israel much more is it a truth to the spiritual Israel Whence was it that God shewed mercy to Mary out of whom was cast seven Devils that is a perfection of wickednesse was in her but Free-Grace and Love see Luke 7. latter end with Chap. 8. 2. with those Acts 2. who were the betrayers and murderers of Christ made partakers of Grace by Christ Saul Acts 9. 1 2 3. who persecuted Christ received mercy by Christ Vse 1. How might this incourage sinners yea and the worst of sinners too to expect not only the Declarations but the Communications of Grace from the Almighty Hast been a filthy polluted creature so was Mary hast been an enemy to Christ a persecutor of christians so were those Acts ◠and Saul Chap. 9. Yet he obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. And this is written for thy incouragement that thou likewise maiest expect mercy Vse 2. To raise up the spirits of Persons made partakers of Grace to admire God who is the fountain and to cry Grace Grace unto it Secondly here is the disposition of man naturally verse 2. which is to oppose Grace notwithstanding God spreads forth his hand unto them in the tenders of mercy yet they walk after their own thoughts A second Gospel-Truth by the Prophet discovered is Gods exaltation of his own Name and People in the latter dayes ver 9. with the ruine of all enemies both within them and likewise without them within them that ignorance and darknesse in the things of God that carnalnesse and fleshlinesse that naturally dwels in them that unsatisfiednesse at all times and in all conditions with the will of God all enemies without must be spiritually slain verse 12. See what the slaughter is verse 13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold my servants shall eat but ye shall be hungry behold my servants shall drinke but ye shall be thirsty that is my servants who live in me shall dwel on high Isa 33. 1. Bread shall be given them to eat their waters shall be sure they shall feed on that feast made of fat things Isat 25. which is God in the spirit when Formallists and Legallists who live on things without them shall be hungry and thirsty nothing to feed on when the glorious appearance of truth discovers the emptinesse and destroyes the beeing of that wherein they lived Behold my servants shall rejoyce but ye shall be ashamed behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of spirit they shall be ashamed because that wherein they trusted their spirituall life and livelyhood is taken from them but ye to wit the Saints who live in the spirit shall rejoyce shall sing for joy of heart Isai 35. 10. Then shall the redeemed of the Lord return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flee away This shall be and is the life of Saints who live in the fountain or rather in whom the fountain lives In a word these two things are here presented First The rejection or rather the subjection under feet of the enemies of God Secondly The exaltation glory and joy of the Saints ver 15. Ye shall leave your name for a curse to my chosen for the Lord God will slay thee and call his people by another name That is whereas the name viz. the power of the wicked hath been exceeding high the Lord will slay that name bring down their power and glory and lay it in the dust make it a reproach but he will call his servants by another name whereas formerly they had a name of reproach accounted the off-scouring of all things a reproach and proverb amongst men and so that word of truth hath been verified behold I and the children whom God hath given me are set for signes and wonders in Israel Oh beloved How have the Saints been set for signes and wonders even amongst those who pretend themselves to be the Lords Israel It s true in this and other Nations called Christian it 's looked upon as an exceeding contemptible thing not to be a Christian to be a Heathen an Infidel this is an evil thing But 2. It 's accounted a far more contemptible thing to be a Christian indeed not to be a Christian in form profession is a cōtemptible thing but to be a Christian indeed is a more contemptible thing a sad word indeed and it behoves those who are the causers of it to look about themselves for the leaders of my people cause them to erre and God is now casting reproach upon them but he will call his people by another name Object But how shall this be effected may some say it is exceeding unlikely wickednesse prevailes both within and without in high and low it seemes to be
almost all men from highest to lowest men act according to their wils whether with or against law a burthen exceeding oppressive to this Kingdome A 4th Oppression is that of Tythes and it is that the Kingdome in almost all parts is sensible of it and groans under it with Petitions for deliverance note First That it is an oppression the taking away by force not only the tenth part of mens estate but the tenth part of the increase which is more then the fifth part of the Estate It s that likewise which was never injoyned to be paid by any Magisteriall power either in Law or Gospel but by God and that not under a penalty neither this was only to the Tribe of Levi and to be paid in no land but the land of Canaan by command Secondly The people groan under it as an oppression with an expectation of deliverance witnesse the many Petitions from many parts of the Kingdom Thirdly Many Saints groaning under it as a cafe of conscience to them yet suting so near with the Jewish constitution carrying such a face with it as the denying of Christ to be come in the flesh A Fifth oppression and burthen of the Kingdome is free-quartering of souldiers much need there is of provision for souldiers pay lest the cure seem more heavy then the disease lest the work be either obstructed or else carried on with the more difficulty Sixthly And finally I say unto you as Paul in another case whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are of good report c. think on those things that so justice and righteousnesse may flow down abundantly without respect of persons whatsoever bears but the face of oppression in it let it be removed Vse If this be the new earth and the great interest to be followed in a word then to conclude how should this carry on those whom it concerns who are called of God unto it to the accomplishment of this great work to help forwards this great work and designe of God in and by you Note First Policy cals for it at your hands Right Honourable is it not time for you to do something for the Kingdome that may ingage their hearts unto you is there not much division and confusion amongst us much expectation of taking away of burdens do not the people in their Petitions call for it daily truly prudent policy cals for righteousnesse and undoing of burthens that the hearts of the people may be ingaged unto you in these times of danger and distraction Secondly Piety cals for it it is the great designe of God at present to exalt righteousnesse and certainly God cals for it at your hands Do justice love mercy walk humbly with thy God Micah 6. 8. This the Lord requireth of you Thirdly Peace and safety cals for it your own peace and the Kindomes peace what is likely to produce peace in the Kingdome if not the flowing down of righteousnesse and justice from you the undoing of heavy burthens and breaking of every yoke of oppression your own peace and safety consists in it beleeve it there is no safety to be expected if once you derogate from this great interest of God the publick good you may reade in Scripture how God poures contempt upon Princes Psal 107. 46. He poureth contempt upon Princes and causeth them to wander in the wildernesse where there is no way Hath not God poured contempt upon many princes already when once they derogate from that publick interest undertaken by them seeking their own ends does not God poure contempt upon them and be you assured whom God hath called to this great work if once you turn aside from the publike to your own private interests God will poure contempt upon you This being a truth of God I shall at present conclude with that Scripture Isa 58. the 6 and the 8 verses If you loose the bands of wickednesse and undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free and break every yoke Then verse 8. Shall thy light break forth as the morning and thy health shall spring forth speedily and thy righteousnesse shall go before thee and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward Here is light here is peace here is safety thy righteousnesse shall go before thee that is God in Christ and the same glory shall be your rear-ward So much for present FINIS