2 Cor. 5.21 that is holy and without all spot of sin in the sight of God to restrain it to the weakness and imperfection of humane Laws and Justice Further those Books do present unto me the Covenant of the Gospel under conditions to be performed by the Creature before the grace and riches of glory in the Covenant become his after the form and example of mans Covenant whereas the whole and every part of the Covenant is free and perfected by God alone first in forgiving sins and remembring iniquities no more and then in putting the spirit into them which brings forth in them faith love and obedience Again they bind up the free spirit of grace to one way that he reveals not the love of God and reconciliation by Christ to any but whom the Law hath first wounded and sore bruised into repentance and sorrow for sin after the custom and manner of men who forgive not the Offender until he ask pardon and confess his Offence thus binding up the everlasting kindnesses of the Lord to the narrow kindnesses of man whereas some are melted with Love as others are bruised by the Law Moreover they confine and restrain the office and power of prophesying or teaching to certain measures and attainments of humane wit and worldly wisdom the anoynting alone which teacheth all truth not giving a sufficiency of light and knowledge for the work of ministring without natural Learning without running for help to flesh and blood They invest the General-Church-Assembly of a Nation with a commanding and coercive Authority over the conscience in matters of faith and Divine worship which lie up as high as in the hands of the spirit they bring down into the hands and power of man herein proudly affecting or aemulating the image and greatness of the civil power they do command over the spirit as he doth over the bodies of men They affirm faith love humility patience temperance c. to be several habits principles or graces in a Saint whereas the Scripture affirms 1 Cor. 12.11 Gal. 5.22 they are not many but one and are but the different effects and actings of the same grace which is one in all and fruits of the same spirit who is one in all Lastly those Books do deny any other coming of Christ until the last Resurrection and so by this Doctrine shut out the Kingdom of the fifth Monarch the Son of God and Saints and the new Jerusalem out of the world and also hereby quenching all that light and glory which shall arise upon Sion Isa 60.1 and that spirit which shall be poured upon sons and daughters in the last days And thus in all these instances it is to be clearly seen that God hath been set at a great distance from Saints by these carnal misty and corrupt doctrines of men so that grace and truth the righteousness and spirit of Christ could not appear in their heights and bredths fulness and glory as near unto us and within us being described and as it were engraven after some similitude in nature and conceived and drawn out as here appears by the short measure and imperfect rule of natural Reason the boundless things of the spirit folded up within the limits and streits of Nature SECT XVIII The third veil which hath been upon the truth of the spirit in Saints THese Systems and Models of Divinity or Canons and Articles of Faith have been the pattern and platform of all the faith and worship the Judge of all differences and controversies the Touchstone of all opinions the Measure of all light and spiritual knowledge beyond which the spirit might not teach nor they profess the key of all Mysteries and the sum and substance of all Doctrines Interpretations and Expositions upon scripture-Scripture-truth caught or written in former times And thus the Church of Christ in those days being rather under the rudiments of men then the clearer teachings of the anoynting in them could not see in any other light then through the principles and traditions received from their Teachers Which principles as they had in them some light much smoke some Divine truth much carnal reason Reason of the low attainments of Saints in former times so they begat in the believers of those times like faith like knowledge like communion like spirit of bondage and of liberty of flâ—sh and of spirit so that their faith was more adherence which is coupled with some darkness of fear then assurance which is the clear sight of love scattering all fear their strength was the strength of Babes not of strong Men their Communion with God stood more in bitter complaints and beggings then in quiet faith joy and praises their knowledge and beholding of the glory of the Lord was by reflexion rather then through direct beams through the shadowy and imperfect illustrations of worldly similitudes and humane eloquence rather then the pure irradiations of the spirit in them And in present times and from hence doth proceed all that darkness which is yet in the temple of the Lord that dimness and legality in Teachers that unstableness and dulness in people ever Learning and never able at least to find the clear knowledge of the truth and all those carnal childish and confining apprehensions principles and practises wherein Saints do know and approach to God as a blessed Being indeed but as one without them and at a distance from them judging and likening the spiritual knowledge of God to the natural knowledge of a creature and that the fruition or enjoyment of God is in contemplation of his glory as without us that Saints are perfectly justified from the Law guilt and condemnation by the death of Christ but not from the spot and stain of sin so as to be perfectly holy in the sight of God by the pure and spotless righteousness of Christ that believers after every falling into sin are brought again under the Law until repenting whereas the spirit sayes Rom. 6.14 Rom. 8.15 ye are no more under the Law but under grace that Christ is here or there in this form of fellowship order of gathering and way of worship and not in any other these and many other low and dark Principles formerly were and still are as a veil upon the face of truth and upon the hearts of most Saints not so thick a veil as to hide all Light knowledge and grace from them yet so thick as to hide deeper Mysteries higher communion a greater glory of light and love from them the summe of all is Attainments of most in former and in present times what gospel-Gospel-truths are either for regeneration into the faith and such are some true discoveries of free love and righteousness by Christ c. or they are for edification from faith to faith and such are deeper discoveries nearer union sweeter and choicer embraces richer understanding of more heavenly Mysteries as of Saints presented perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1.28 of Christ
or spirit in Saints Col. 1.27 of shadows flying away and the breaking of the day c. Cant. 2.17 The first sort of truths belong to children and were all the light and knowledge former dayes attained unto and they saw God and Christ but as it were at a distance and they tasted of the spirit and were refreshed and made glad with him yet they knew not that that spirit and fulness which they felt and tasted was within them that more spiritual and deeper knowledge God hid from them Attainments of a few in present times what because they could not then bear it the other truths belong to them of riper age and as yet they are the light and understanding but of some known and enjoyed only by a few of the wiser children in Sion who have been children and have spoken and done as children but now are putting away childish things and the righteousness grace and salvation which sometimes they only knew and kissed as without them they watch that they may embrace and see it spring forth within them SECT XIX The fourth veil which hath been upon the truth of the spirit in Saints THe Ecclesiastical or Church-state through the favour fear or superstitious zeal of Princes hath been oftentimes promoted to great worldly honour and hath encreased and grown up unto the greatness power and glory of a kingdom and hath twisted and intermingled its power with the power of the Civil state and so became a National Church Civil and Church-state twisted together have veiled up truth and sometimes hath inlarged it self by Royal Edicts Imperial decrees Forces of armies as upon wings over many Nations and hath become a Catholick or Oecumenical Church These great Churches whether National over one Nation only or Catholick over the whole world looking liker Babel then Temples for the Lord it may be observed of them when they came to this greatness they fell in love with their own Image and worldly greatness and that they might establish and confirm the same for ever they call together the wisest and learnedst Doctors of every Countrey or Nation these gathered up truth under such forms of Profession and worship and doctrines of faith as would preserve them in their lordly preheminence over the people and keep the people in blind subjection under them and these they declared and sent abroad as their Decrees Laws and Ordinances to be the Rule of faith National Church-state hath kept light of truth out of the world and conscience pattern of all worships and the measuring line of the Sanctuary and that the union of Saints liberty of worship highest degree of holiness the door to the power of Ministring should be in conformity unto their commandments as the doctrines of Christ in these things was the interest power and practise of a National or Catholick Church-state in times past Now the people of those times and under that government were of three sorts One was of them who delighted to see the Church come forth in this carnal glory and domination that they might be great in her Greatness such magnified her National constitution as most invincible and secure from heretical innovation affirmed her authority sacred and indispensable her decrees and Laws unquestionable and watched against more spiritual worships and worshippers and so all the teachings and writings of these men were no better then Idolatrous and Antichristian admiring of a Babel-church-state Another sort was of Saints and true Believers yet having no further light then the reformation of doctrines and worships established and commanded by that present Church-power they were under they magnified the Church in its National supremacy were zealous for all her rules and prescribed forms as the highest discoveries and only wayes of God did not seek for nor think that there was any other further or more excellent truths to be found out then was prescribed by the Churches these were in the faith yet having their eyes with the carnal glory outward greatness and worldly wisdom of a National Church they opposed present reformation principles against further reformation and knowledge lesser light against greater light and so through their ignorant and inordinate zeal it came to passe that Saints themselves gave their helping hand to the man of sin the Antichrist in suppressing and keeping down all springings and risings of more glorious truth into the world The last sort was of Saints yet such as had passed from under that administration of impurer principles and doctrines established by the National Church and gone on towards more perfection of light and knowledge such could not come back from spirit to flesh nor return again from liberty to bondage they could not bless an Idol nor defile the bed of Christ their conscience by prostituting it to a stranger the commands and force of a National Church or Synodical Council the Church not bearing the light of these Saints nor the word of their Testimony nor their separating themselves from her obedience suppressed their light restrained their liberty and excommunicated their persons and after all gave up their bodies to the Iron-rod of worldly powers to be corrected with chastisements and instructed with sufferings and thus the wisdom of the wise Disposer of all things saw it good that the powers both of Church and State should for many ages down to these last times joyn and unite themselves into one interest force and counsel against the entrance growth and spreading of deeper Mysteries of clearer Gospel-glory into the world SECT XX. The fifth veil upon the truth of the spirit in Saints THe Church of Christ under the New Testament hath her several states vicissitudes and changes through which she passeth to come to the Land of Promise and under every state hath been given unto her spirit light and nourishment necessary for The Church passeth through three eminent changes of state to Sion and becoming her under that present state there are times wherein the Temple of God or Church of Christ is under curtains then her tent is set up and took down and removed from place to place Three eminent changes of state she hath and is to passe through which are as so many outer courts leading her to the Kings Pallace or as lodging-places provided to receive the Kings daughter before she be brought in to the King The first step or change The first step or change of state was when the Lord took down his spiritual Temple and sent it into caprivity under spiritual Babylon that she should be there for a time times and half a time or 1260 dayes which came to passe when the Mysterie of iniquity entered into the Temple of the Lord and many did fall away from the pure faith and truth as it is in Jesus in the morning or first times of the Gospel the Lord Jesus did by his own and the Ministry of his Apostles espouse many from amongst Jews and Gentiles as a chast virgin
Glory sometimes afar off Now stepping in OR The great Gospel-Mysterie OF THE SPIRIT OR Divine Nature in Saints Not in that Philosophical and humane sense by effects and habits of Grace but after a more Evangelical Divine and Mysterious manner of in-being Opened affirmed and cleared and gloriously breaking forth through a cloud of subtil pervertings carnal objections and dreadful condemnings cast upon it And closed up with an account of some principles practises and wayes which have sealed up this Mysterie and thereby held down the Saints in weakness and shut up the world in darkness for so long a time Administred through the hand of a Babe in the knowledge and fellowship of the Mysterie of Christ in us LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at the black spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1653. GLORY sometimes afar off Now stepping in SECT I. IT begins to appear plainly to all men that light and darkness are the two great principles which have formed and given life and being to all the true and false Religions Opinions and Worships the two great Powers which have ruled and acted in all the turnings and overturning of Nations States and Interests and the wombs of all the Apostacies and Reformation Bondage and Liberty Arbitrary and Regular wayes which have been since the beginning of the world It doth not so plainly appear Job 38.19 but may be as truly affirmed what is said in one place that Light hath a way where or whence it is and darkness a place where it dwels that is all Scripture Faith Knowledge Gifts Administrations and Operations which are so many pieces or sparkles of Light do all come from an higher fulness fountain and Sun of Light and as Faith Knowledge and Gifts are to be accounted Light only as they flow from the true Light and have the true Light hid within them so they are no more Light if they fall short of God in like manner all Spirits Doctrines Principles and works of darkness do all come out of some root or first Principle which is the Serpents head the bruising whereof is the confusion of all the rest God in Christ and Christ in us the two fountains of all Gospel-truths Gospel-truths are many and various but may all be reduced under two great and supreme truths as the foundation ground and cause of all the Grace and Truth that is revealed and administred by the Gospel they are either the Mysterie of God manifest in the flesh of Christ or the Mysterie of Christ by Spirit dwelling in Saints the first of these is the producing cause of redemption justification reconciliation and of the whole work of Grace administred by Christ in his flesh the other is the operating cause of Union regeneration sanctification new creature and of all the gifts of Grace administred by Christ or Spirit in Saints As all promises truths and gifts of God in the Gospel do come unto us out of one of these fountains of Grace so our Knowledge and Faith of these many and various truths of the Gospel do come from our Knowledge and Faith in these two mysteries or fountains of Grace truths are either supreme or subordinate higher or lower truths in the Cause or truths in the Effect as subordinate and lower truths have their rise ground cause and reason in their supreme and higher so they cannot be fully believed nor understood Gospel-truths best known in Christ Christ best known in the Father but in their supreme and higher truth or Cause first we see Christ more darkly and imperfectly then through him we see the Father and the love of the Father to be the only cause and reason of Christs coming forth then from thence we look back again and see more clearly Christ and his coming forth and the work he came upon to be more and more precious and glorious Christ is known but darkly at first till the Divine mercies out of which he came be seen in him then both Christ and every work of Christ his obedience and sufferings life and death are seen and known in more lengths and breadths to be blessed and full of glory the Promises are all in Christ Christ is in the Father Christ is greater then the promises they cannot be known nor enjoyed but in Christ the Father is greater then Christ he cannot be known nor enjoyed but in the Father in like manner the fountain and cause of all spiritual light life and sanctification in the Saints is the Spirit dwelling in them those Saints that know not this in-being of the Spirit himself in them know little of that more glorious power those more rare and spiritual gifts and more Divine and ravishing enjoyments which some Saints are led forth into the actings state calling and fellowship of Saints are not known nor discerned by the world and very little discerned by most of themselves because they know not the Spirit of Christ to be in them So that if any were so spiritually knowing and would undertake a work so high and desirable as to make search into the Cause and Grounds of the little Light and much darkness that hath been for so long a time in the world and that in the dayes of the Gospel I humbly judge whatsoever other lesser reasons might be found that the highest reason and cause of all the humane inventions The cause of all the darkness that hath been and yet is upon the world and perverse disputings amongst all sorts of men of all the carnal Doctrines and Gospel-worships of Antichrist of all that Confusion of Law with Gospel letter with Spirit Jewish bondage with Christian Liberty Paganish morality with Gospel-holiness by our own Teachers of all the legality Childishness and weakness of gifts and grace in Saints fearing where no fear is unstable where they should be as mount Sion conflicting instead of conquering in mournings and complainings in stead of garments of praise and a Spirit of joy the greatest reason of all these I judge would be found to be the darkness that hath been upon these two great fountains of all Gospel truths viz. God manifest in the flesh of Christ and Christ by Spirit dwelling in Saints which as they are the great reasons of all other truths so they are the Light and Key into all the truths and riches of grace in the Gospel And for this cause I do here humbly offer what I have in my measure received from the Lord of my understanding and knowledge of this mysterie which is Christ himself in us as the Father is in Christ which as my natural reason and the disputings of flesh and blood could not see nor lead me into it but resisted and gain-said me in it and that Spirit that is mightier then I did by his own drawing and strengthening hand upon me raise me up above the reasonings of my flesh and this world in the conceiving and declaring of it so if any look into the
1 Cor. 15.28 one Father one God all in all From all which it is clear to him that loves to see the truth not through the mists veils or disguises of subtil chaffy distinctions of science falsly so called of glosses received by tradition of prepossessed principles rudiments or opinions of bitterness passion rash prejudicacy and overhasty censoriousness but as a child wained from all these breasts desires to see the truth in the simplicity purity and undefiledness of it to him it is clear with no other arguments then its own beams of light that the same glory or spirit or Divine nature which is in Christ is also in Saints he being not heir alone but they fellow-heirs with him SECT IX A Further testimony to the truth of this Mysterie is gathered from Ephes 4.11 12 13. Eighth testimony to the spirit in Saints And he gave some Apostles c. for the perfecting of Saints c. till we all come in the unity of the faith c. Col. 1.28 That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus which perfection is Christ in us v. 27. Revel 21.3 Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them God himself shall be with them First Truth is that Mysterie that is to be made manifest that of God that is to be revealed Col. 2.2 3. the deep things of God that are to be brought to light In-dwelling of God himself in man is the end of all truth and administrations of truth called also the Mysterie hid in God the Mysterie of God and of the Father and of Christ treasures of wisdom and knowledge the end and perfection of which truth and of all light science knowledge administrations spiritual gifts and powers is the revealing and in-dwelling of God himself in them Secondly the way and maner how this truth is brought forth into the world is through various wayes of administration through doctrine divine worship revelation letter and spiritual gifts all which serve to administer truth and things in heaven to men on earth and as truth is brought forth at sundry times in diverse manners in different degrees of light and is sometimes more dark shadowed and legal after more clear naked and Evangelical so is the administration varied and changed from one degree of light to another Thirdly the spirit bringing forth truth through the administration gives unto men light and knowledge The end of spiritual gifts spiritual gifts and powers otherwise called illuminating and sanctifying graces which are given to this end that through them men may become changed sanctified and made capable to know believe glorifie and own that light and truth which is brought forth under that particular administration and as the administration carries in it more or less light grace and holiness so is the illumination and sanctification of Saints under that administration differing in the measure of light grace and holiness Measuring line of all administrations without and gifts within what it is Fourthly administrations do differ from and exceed one another in glory as they carry in them more or less of that highest end whereunto they do subserve and administer which is the compleating of Saints to one living holy Temple for the Lord and God himself dwelling in them in like manner the Saints do exceed one another in light love and holiness as their union and communion in and with God and God in and with them is in some more then others more compleat and perfected the Ministery of the Prophets had more glory then that of Moses the Ministery of John more then the Prophets he that is least in the kingdom of heaven more then all one excelled another as they had in them the nearer approachings and clearer dawnings of the Day and Sun of righteousness upon the world The end of all administrations and gifts Fifthly so that the end of all administrations without us and all spiritual gifts within us is to bring the Lamb and the Bride together the spirit and the Spouse into one to perfect and finish up the Mysterie which is already in Saints yet hid Ioh. 14.20 which is Christ in the Father Saints in Christ and Christ in Saints the present time is a time wherein Christ is gone to the Father hid in God as it were at a distance from Saints and therefore a time of darkness and of the shadows of the Night 2 Pet. 1.19 stretched upon the world administrations and letter without and gifts of grace within are as lesser lights or stars shining in this dark Night or world until the Lord himself come into Saints and swallow them up as an imperfect lesser and weaker glory is swallowed up of a greater and more perfect or the Morning-star of the Sun so that faith hope knowledge prophesies c. can no more abide when that which is perfect is come then the stars can abide in the clearest day 1 Cor. 13.8 9 10. These things thus considered do contribute their illustration to the further clearing of this Truth that the spirits in-dwelling in Saints which is now in them and shall abide in them for ever is somewhat higher then gifts and graces for these must be done away and if something higher it can be no less then the spirit and God himself dwelling in them SECT X. THE spirits in-being in Saints is further manifestly held forth in 2 Cor. 13.5 Know you not your own selves The ninth testimony to the spirit in Saints how that Iesus Christ is in you except you be Reprobates Rom. 8.9 Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his First no Creature no good God makes not happiness sin makes not misery unless within us no not the highest good it self which is God doth make man or his soul endued with virtue good or blessed so long as it is without the soul in like manner no sin nor unbelief nor spot defiles a man or makes him reprobate or miserable except it be within him if there be no light in the eye the body is darkness though the light shine round about the enjoyment of a thing is perfected in oneness with the thing God is Light Love and Blessedness yet as he is withomt me or separate from me so I neither see his Light tast his Love nor am blessed with his blessedness but as he is within me and is known loved felt and perceived by me darkness within makes darkness without the whole earth is full of his glory yet most men see not this glory in the earth without because they see not his glory within them the glory of nature men can behold because they have the eye of Nature Eccl. 3.11 or the light of Reason planted in them but the glory of God in nature they cannot see because they have not the light of God the spirit dwelling in them Secondly Gospel-truths as they are Doctrines preached by the voyce
through and over and beyond all things most eminently in Christ and Saints These are a further account and reason of my faith joy and hope That the spirit himself in his own glorious power and Divine Nature dwels in Saints however as yet not acknowledged by many of themselves SECT XI THE last record to the spirits in being in Saints Tenth testimony to the spirit in Saints that I shall present is the sweet and heavenly testimony which is in Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Col. 3 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear The Divine life of Christ or the life of God in Christ is not the life of Christ alone as one single person but the life of Christs mystical body of Saints Christ and Saints have but one life the eternal spirit whereby he and they live in one All that Christ received was given to him not as single and alone but as Head of a spiritual Body and so his life and fulness is not the life and fulness of one but of many in one The Father revealed his fulness in Christ not that it should stop and be confined or restrained there that is in the flesh of Christ as one man but that through him it should proceed flow out and be poured forth upon all the Children And so as the Father in Christ is the life of Christ or he by whom Christ lives Joh. 6.57 so Christs in Saints is the life of Saints not the flesh of Christ but God manifest in his flesh or the Father in Christ by whom Saints live And so Christ is the way through which God comes down into Saints not in created influences or graces only but in the spring of influences in the fountain of graces in his own essential love nature and fulness filling them in a divine and incomprehensible manner even as the natural spirit or soul of man is in the head and not there only but diffused in and through all the members and is the life of all in which the members being many become and conspire into one body So is the spirit of God in Christ the Head and thence and therethrough shed abroad not by infusions only as some distinct effects but by himself into all the members 1 Cor. 12.12 13. and is the life of all in and for which they being many become one spiritual body And if it be not so is not the union between the head and members of a body natural more real and substantial then the union of Christ and Saints or is not Christ the head of all things less to his Church then the head of an earthly Creature to its body and if Christ be in Saints by created workings only and not by spirit then all those figures allegories and parabolical similitudes of Vine and Branches Husband and Wife Head and Members chosen and expressed by the spirit in Scriptures to shadow out the union of Christ and Saints have much more in them then is in the mysterie or truth typed and shadowed by them If Christ himself be not in Saints no life in Saints Secondly if Christ himself be not in Saints there is no life in them graces separate from Christ are dead things faith love humility zeal if they have not Christ in spirit wrapped up in them are no more faith nor love then the body of man without the soul is a man Graces are to Christ what the chanel is to the river cut off the stream that runs in the chanel from the river and the chanel becomes as the parched land full of weeds and briars So graces are the passage through which Christ lets out himself if he shuts up they are dryed up and wither The graces of a moral man have glory and beauty in appearance but having nothing above man that is not having Christ living and flowing in them they are clouds without water wandring stars trees without fruit whited wals their faith is the dead faith of Pharisees their holiness the holiness of Hypocrites their beauty in the flesh is the beauty of Harlots graces without Christ in them leave a man dead his soul empty all his worship carnal until Christ awake and bring in himself in spirit and glory and then my soul makes me like the Chariots of Amminadab and my feet are become like Hinds feet and I shall tread upon all high places and nothing shall be able to hurt us because of the Anoynting which dwels in us Thirdly it is worthy of consideration whether the state of the new Creature in Christ be no more nor higher then the state of the first man in his pure Paradisical nature before the transgression if no more then the administration of light and glory from God upon Adam and Adams union with that light was as high and spiritual as is the light and union which by the Gospel is administred to a man in Christ and the first man who was made but a living soul had as much glory in him as the second man who is made a quickning spirit Second Adam and all in him wherein excelling the first Adam and all in him but if the new Creature does excell the first Adam then the preheminence must consist both in internals and externals that is in perfections within him and priviledges without him And this is manifest that the new Creature excels first in priviledge in that Adam was under a Law of works a Covenant that might be broken the new Creature is under a Law of grace a Covenant that cannot be broken a better and surer Covenant better in this that it was established upon better promises Heb. 8.6 This new and better Covenant is the excellency of a man in Christ above Adam under the old faulty Covenant as to external priviledge the better promises of this new and better Covenant are the excellency of the new Creature above Adam as to internals or perfections within him which promises are I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my judgements and do them Ezek. 36.27 Isa 59.21 Heb. 8.10 2 Cor. 3.6 The excellency and dignity of the new Covenant above the old is in that the old Covenant ministred the letter only and could not cause man to walk in righteousness the new Covenant ministers the spirit into Saints 〈◊〉 so causeth them to walk in righteousness and that the Covenant cannot be broken New Covenant ministers spirit into us therefore cannot be broken the Law the letter only therefore broken by all which it appears that the first man broke the Covenant he was under because it put not the spirit into him and also the new Covenant cannot be broken because it is the ministration of the spirit and puts it into Saints so that whosoever takes the spirit himself out of Saints either brings the Saints back again into the old Covenant or he makes the new Gospel-Covenant into which they are redeemed
to be the ministration not of the spirit but of the letter only And as the glory of the new Covenant above the old is in this 2 Cor. 3.7,8 that it is the ministration of the spirit the Law but of the letter only so the new Creature hath in him more glory and perfection then the first man in this that the spirit himself is put into him created gifts only which might be depraved and lost were all that was put into the first Adam And this shall finish and close up this cloud of witnesses which do all give testimony and set their seal unto this Truth not in the sense of any carnal distinction whereunto it is by the infirmity of the Saints unwarily by the disputers and wisdom of this world wrongfully perverted but in the simple and Gospel-sense of the plain and sound words wherein it is expressed That the spirit of Christ which is the Divine Nature dwels in Saints though covered and yet undiscerned by most of them SECT XII THE in-dwelling of the spirit in Saints in this simple and plain sense carries in it a nearness and union between God and the Creature so mysterious high and inconceivable to flesh and blood that the man of sin who sees by no higher light then Nature and therefore not able to judge of spiritual things least of all of the highest of spiritual things God dwelling in Saints and Saints in God is not able to bear it that is this union the truth that is in it being a light so clear that it takes off the veil discovers the mysterie of iniquity which 〈◊〉 at veil stains and shames the pride and glory of his Kingdom and utterly strips shakes and undoes all flesh Spirit himself in Saints why so sentenced and excommunicated out of the world Wherefore that he may quench a light so glorious and keep all the world under the cloud of thick spiritual darkness and the yoke of bondage unto humane inventions commandments of men will-worships pharisaical legal righteousness which are the arm and glory of his Kingdom and horn of his power he judgeth sentenceth and excommunicates it out of the world under the most odious notions and imputations of blasphemy damnable doctrine This truth why so dreaded of Saints making the Creature God equal with Christ and under these black and abominable disguises that which is the beauty of all gospel-Gospel-truths is so deformed that it looks terrible and dreadful unto most Saints being but weak and Children in the faith and knowledge of the mysterie insomuch that we are ready to say of it It is a spirit and to fly from it though it be the nearer approachings of our dear Saviour Wherefore for the sake of such that they may see out of obscurity and the cause of Truth that it may shine out of darkness and scatter all those veils and lying imputations that have made it dreadful to all men I shall enquire into the strongest reasons that I know to be against this Truth and I hope give some account that they are false accusations and lying words against the Truth at the best but shadows of Reason to blind the eyes of the weak from seeing their own liberty and glory SECT XIII THEY are these which follow If the Spirit or Divine Nature it self dwels in Saints First counter-reason against the spirit in us then every Saint is God and so to be worshipped as God even as the Divine Nature dwelling in Christ he is therefore God and so is and ought to be worshipped as God Answer Of this Argument some may say The shew of thy countenance is like lightning and by thy clear beams of reason thou hast at once scattered all that hath been said But of these things I do humbly conceive 1. That the in being of God in Saints does not make them become God no more then the in-being of God in other Creatures makes them God his glory fils both Heaven and Earth he only knows and comprehends himself fully and perfectly the lengths depths and bredths of this stupendious Being cannot be seen or comprehended by the Creature Therefore he comes forth in the Creation as it were cloathed upon with a garment the whole world is but as his vesture or raiment that shall be changed and he that is Eternal Light Love and Wisdom cloaths himself with it as within an house or tabernacle wherein he will dwell for a time that through it as through a little Orb or Globe he may let out some pieces and portions of the external excellencies of his incomprehensible Godhead he stretcheth forth the Heavens as a Curtain and spreadeth out the Earth as a Tent to dwell in and the depths are his Pavilion and thus all Nature is filled with the glory and majestie of the Lord and he is in it and through it yet is not the world God but he that is in the world is God and the world of Nature is no more but the place of the soles of his feet or his lower Tabernacle wherein he sets his dwelling place for a time until he awake and make all things new and come forth in that higher glory which the old Heavens and Earth shall be too narrow to receive too short to contain 2. The in-being of God or the Divine Nature made not the man Christ or the flesh of Christ become God God and man became one in a mutual in-dwelling enjoyment and embracement each of other in Christ yet continued infinitely distinct in Nature and several in being one from the other God came forth in Nature or the things that are made and dwels in it as in an house or Tabernacle that waxeth old and shall be taken down and therefore he shines forth in it in fewer beams and at a greater distance and so more darkly yet so as that the invisible things of him even the Eternal Power and Godhead may be clearly seen and understood of all the world as a testimony to leave them without excuse so God came forth in Christ God in Christ yet the man Christ is not God but Christ is God and dwels in him but as in a living higher and eternal Tabernacle and therefore he shines forth in him in many beams of everlasting mercies grace and reconciling love and in much more nearness and so more clearly yet so as known and manifest only to Saints Therefore to this end was Christ born and came into the world that he might be a Mercy-seat a Throne of grace and a living Mansion for the fulness and glory of God to dwell in and through him to come near reveal himself and commune with us and in and by him to do all our works of obedience death and life for us So that the will and mind of Christ as man became wholly passive and self-resigned and the mind and will of the Divine Nature altogether active to enlighten teach command and do all in him The highest honour and happiness
that the flesh of Christ was capable of or was advanced unto was not to become God but to be glorified in God and God to be glorified in him Christ is both God and son of man both Lord and son of David 3. So God dwels in all Saints God in Saints yet Saints are not God but his Temple who being fitly joyned and compacted together do grow up into one living Temple for the Lord which is that beautiful Sion that Mountain of the House of the Lord the Lambs Wife that near City Jerusalem above that Tabernacle of God with men wherein God himself dwels and the Father and Lamb himself will be the light and glory in it and the Tree of Life and the pure River of the water of Life in the midst of her and the glory of God himself in her shall be joy and praise the terrour and astonishment of all Nations Thus God is in Saints and will glorifie himself in Saints yet they are not God even as he is in Christ yet the flesh of Christ is not God SECT XIV THE union of God and Man in Christ gives this honour to Christ to be called God Second reason against the spirit in Saints If Saints partake in this union to have God dwelling in them why do they not partake in the honour to be called God Answered 1. The flesh of Christ neither is called God nor is God but he is and is called the true God who was manifest in that flesh So that if it be asked who is Christ or what is his name he is Immanuel the Anoynted or God manifest in the flesh In like manner Saints are not God nor are called God but he who is in Saints is and is called the true God So that if it be asked who is a Saint or what is his name he is an inspired man an anoynted one or Christ or the spirit in man 2. Christ so perfectly denied himself of all that was man and resigned it up to the Divine Nature that of himself he did nothing but the Father did work all his works in him and by him The several actings motions and performings of Christ were not from the will of man but were the streams and flowings forth of the Eternal Fulness in him so that God became manifest through Christ the ways and works of Christ as through a Chrystal or transparent glass and therefore came it to pass that God alone was and did all in Christ because he would be known worshipped and approached unto only in Christ and no man should seek or find or come near unto any God but that God which is in Christ Under the Law God filled Heaven and Earth yet he would be known and worshipped only in the Temple at Jerusalem Under the Gospel he dwels in all Saints yet he is with open face beheld and will be worshipped as the true God only in his living Temple or Sanctuary the flesh of Christ so because we come to God and the Father by Christ and worship God in faith and hope through Christ and not through Saints therefore is Christ called God the Saints not SECT XV. Third reason against the spirit in Saints IF Saints partake with Christ in union with God so that the same Divine Nature which dwels in Christ dwels also in Saints then what preheminence hath Christ above Saints Much every way chiefly in these things Answered 1. That it pleased the Father by him to finish the transgression to make an end of sins to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal up the vision and prophesy of the Law and Prophets And that as through one man sin death and wrath entred into the world so he must be that son of man by whom God would put away sin abolish the flesh and death judge the Prince of this world spoyl and triumph over all the Principalities and Powers of darkness and vanquish all the Enemies of man out of the world again and so by him to reconcile all things to himself and in the fulness of time to gather together into one in him all things Dan. 9.25 Heb. 2.10 Col. 1.18 in Heaven and in Earth in him And in this work he hath the honour above Saints of being Messiah the Prince the High Priest and Captain of our salvation the beginning and first-born from the dead who was the Head of the Heasts of the living God and the only Instrument in the everlasting hand and arm of God to cut off the Dragons head to slay the Leviathan in the deeps in his death and drive all the enemies of man out of the world 2. All those things and all that Love that God hath prepared for them whom he loves he hath laid it up in Christ in the Eternal Fulness of the blessed Godhead and to him alone hath committed the administration of all things that the Father hath given unto him for us All things that the Father hath are ours but they are first Christs and given unto him the Father loves the Son and hath given all things into his hand he loves Saints through and for the Son with the same love wherewith he loves the Son Joh. 17.26 and so he gives them the same glory in himself which he gave the Son yet by and for the Son Joh. 17.22 The Father as himself without Christ judgeth no man saveth no man does nothing in the world but hath committed all judgement to the Son and hath committed the authority of executing all judgement both of life and death unto the Son of man God doth all and all things are of God Joh. 5.22.27 yet so as by Christ nothing at all without him The glory fulness light and power of God comes forth upon Saints yet so as through the hands scepter and face of Jesus Christ And in this work he hath honour above Saints to be the Head of the Body the Church the fulness of grace and truth the Mediator of the New Testament the King upon the holy hill of Sion anoynted by the Father Therefore this preheminence and honour of Christ above Saints Preheminence of Christ above Saints destroyes not but confirms spirits in-being in Saints that he hath received the fulness of all the wisdom and power of God that all dominion power and authority is given into his hand and that not for himself alone for his own private and singular enjoyment but to be all administred and shed abroad upon the Saints for their enjoyment and everlasting happiness All this preheminence whereunto Christ is exalted above Saints and Angels and every other name doth instead of casting a cloud upon it bring clear light and reason for the further confirming us in the truth that Saints are partakers with Christ of the Divine Nature it self dwelling in them For as Christ received fulness glory and spirit immediatly from the Father so we receive of that very fulness glory and spirit