Rom. 10.14 15. thus it is now afoote 2. As preaching is a publishing of the Gospel of Christ occasionally to bring men to the truth as Act. 8.4 Act. 11.19 20 21. so it is now afoote 3. As the Disciples were to preach the Gospel of Christ freely to all persons without exception as Mark. 16.15 Act. 10.34 thus it is now afoote Lastly As men are to trade with that abilitie given them of Christ for their Lords advantage as Mat. 25.15 1 Cor. 12.7 1 Pet. 4.10 so preaching the Gospel is now afoote For men are now to improve that abilitie they have received because that all men are by the same Word now as well as then to give account for the same Luk. 12.41.48 Mat. 25.25 26 27.30 All which is according to Christs Commission Mat. 28. and no way contrary to the same Object 14. There is not that converting Ministery now abroad in the world that the Word of God holds forth there is one Ministery abroad that converts men unto faith in Christ for salvation or justification but the Ministers labour to keepe such still in the sin of idolatry or false worship and then others pretend to convert these further by bringing them into order as they say by dipping But where is that Ministery that calls Persons out of the world and plants them at once in Church-fellowship For such a conversion to faith in Christ for salvation Answ as fully leaves the said converts in idolatry and short of the Gospel-order and fellowship I know no such conversion Christ owning no such faith in him for salvation that brings not persons out of idolatry unto the fellowship of the Gospel But what though there be a Ministery abroad that brings persons but part of the way and then another that brings the same persons more fully home into fellowship This order the Word of God will beare us out in for a truth as Joh. 4.37 38. And also the Jewes they made Proselytes and John the Baptist he brought them further and the Apostles they brought the same persons fully home into fellowship Act. 2.10.40 41 Act. 18.24 28. Act. 19.1 7. The same order was shadowed out in the building of the Temple by King Solomon 1 King 5.6 Where the Sidonians hewed timber and stone for the house of God abroad but the servants of Solomon laid them in the building And this I say that in reference to the meanes it is a far harder worke to convert and fit matter for the spirituall house of God out of Antichrists hard and rookie frame then-out of the heathenish and prophane world and yet not onely the best if I may so say but the very worst of them hath been from thence called home and planted in the Lords vineyard And there must be as great a power from God appeare to bring these deniers of a believers priviledges of the Gospel from their selfe-wisdome and carnall principles unto the simplicity of Christ as ever was to cast out a devill heale the sicke raise the dead or convert any sinner And yet our weaknesse through Gods power hath so prevailed that it hath brought off the chiefest of sinners unto the obedience of the Gospel and prophane persecuters of us have been convinced and become lovers of God and his truth together with us and so as Serpents have been taken up and their stings pulled out and of Lions made Lambes and thus hath Christ been pleased to honour the Ministery which he hath now in his Church and leaves not himselfe without witnesse against such as oppose him in the same 4. Inquiry Whether there be any time in which man is freed from obedience to the Scriptures since the new Testament came in force And if not then what part of truth stands now in force to be obeyed and what not For man to be freed from obedience to the Scriptures in generall I suppose none that feare God will once countenance such an opinion therefore I come more particularly to consider what part of the Scriptures is now in force and specially to be knowne and obeyed They are those Scriptures that are necessary to bring God and man together unto a onenesse in Christ And this is the Gospel which is called the Word of Reconciliation the Gospel of the Kingdome which holds forth Christ to be King Priest and Prophet and the onely way unto the Father and brings persons to be of the houshold of God Which houshold is that composed order and instituted state of Christs Church of the new Testament with the subjects in that order and state according to the same Testament of which Testament Christ is the Mediator who hath confirmed the same by his own bloud and sanctified all things therein contained All which the Scriptures of the new Testament hold forth and therefore they of all others are to be obeyed for therein the whole Mediator ship of Christ together with the effect of the same and his rule and order for ever to be observed is written for our learning This Testament and Christ the Mediator thereof and mans salvation are all so inseparably joyned together by the holy Spirit that the Gospel holds forth no one of these without the other so that there is no faith in Christ approved of apart from the word of the Testament of which he is the Mediator And that faith which is truly of him and in him brings up the heart believing to a professed subjection to him Both which together viz. faith and the profession of faith doe give unto a man both a being and a name in Christs Testament Rom. 10.10 Gal. 3.26 27. Mark 16.16 Take away from a man either faith or the profession of faith and there is no name found for that man in Christs new Testament Rev. 22.14 Heb. 3.1 Heb. 10.22 23. None are owned either of God or man to be members of Christ that are no way under the profession of him as appeares in Mat. 10.32 33. 1 Joh. 4.3 And there is now no profession of Christ according to the rule of his Word without Baptisme Mat. 28.19 Mark 16.16 Luk. 7.30 Gal. 3.26 27. Ephes 4.5 By all which it appeares not onely in generall that the Scriptures of the new Testament stand now in force and are to be obeyed of all that doe believe but also in particular that the word of the new Testament which holds forth Baptisme and require the use of the same is still in force and to be obeyed because the cleare promise of the saving benefits of Christs Mediatorship and the administrations of the new Testament whereof he is Mediator goe together in the Word Act. 2.38 Act. 22.16 Rom. 6.3 4 5. 1 Cor. 12.13 Col. 2.12 1 Pet. 3.21 And here let it be well minded how Christ encourageth us to the perpetuall observation of that rule in Mat. 28.19.20 by this promise And lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world And how the Apostle signifies it to be our duty
injoying of our Ordinances for want of a Ministery but to hold fast our true possession and inheritance once delivered into the hand of faith in all our captivitie as Israel of old did Believers now have lost the possession of all Administrations Object 10. for there hath been a cessation for these many yeares both of Ministery Church and Ordinances according to the first Rule and institution of Christ and therefore men are to waite upon God for him to restore the same againe in power and not to take up wayes and ordinances of themselves Believers never lost their right to any truth Answ or ordinance of Christ for they by faith doe or ought to possesse all truth once given unto them 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. 2 Cor. 6.10 Jude 3. And if any depart and forsake their own mercies through unbeliefe they are to returne againe to the same by faith and God prohibits none that believe in his Son the use of his Ordinances ordained by him for their comfort and confirmation of their faith but helpes them on to the same by giving his Spirit for their guide his Word for their rule and himselfe for their warrant who commands them to obey him in all truth that he shall make knowne unto them Men are indeed to waite upon the God of truth for him to discover truth But when he hath not onely made it knowne to them but also revealed truth in them and by the power of it made the heart one with it then men take not up truth of themselves but are taken up by truth into the nature of truth and shall stand by the power of it when such as take up truth of themselves and for their own ends shall lay it downe againe to their own destruction Object 11. God ordained a Ministery in the Gospel which ever was in order first namely Apostles Prophets and Evangelists by whom Churches were planted and other Officers ordained for those Churches well-being This Ministery I confesse and own and therefore I say still Answ that men must come from God with truth and with abilitie to deliver the same for the converting of men to the faith Now when God shall assist his Word with power to bring over mens hearts to believe and obey the same such the Scriptures hold out to be true Messengers sent of Christ declared by their worke as it answers to the Rule And this way men were convinced and Churches planted that now stand under the profession of christ And thus came Churches to be planted and other Officers ordained by those that God made the first instruments to bring on the worke in communion with the rest as to direct and assist them in the same Tit. 1.5 Act. 14.23 The Ministery aforesaid to bring men to the faith Object 12. was attended with the power of miracles as raising the dead healing the sicke casting out devills and the like to confirme their testimony to be of God none of which appeares now whereas there is as much need to confirme the truth of God as ever among so much confusion as now is The like miracles are assigned by Christ ever to attend his Ministery Mark 16.17 and confirmed by the Apostle as an Ordinance of God in his Church Jam. 5.14 15. and the first Principles of Christ Heb. 6.1 2. All which are now wanting that should confirme a true Ministery from God to us Answ That the working of miracles did attend the Ministery of Christ at the first and that to confirme the truth then held forth to be of God this I confesse to be true But that the working of those miracles should be so essentiall to the Ministery that there can be no true Ministery of Christ neither in whole nor in part without working of the said miracles that I deny 1. John the Eaptist was a true Minister and sent of God who did no miracle Joh. 10.41 and yet he was more then a Propher Mat. 11.9 And so was Apollos a true Minister of the new Testament who knew onely the Baptisme of John and no more untill that Aquila and Priscilla had further informed him in Gods way but was never knowne to worke any miracle Act. 18.25 26 28. with a Cor. 3.5 And likewise the scattered Disciples that gathered the Church at Antioch Act. 11.19 20 21. All which were true Ministers of Christ and yet not attended with the foresaid power of working miracles in their Administrations It is a Herods hope to see a miracle Luk. 22.8 And a Pharaohs sign Exod. 7.9 2. Miracles can be no true note of Ministery nor Minister sent of Christ because the working of miracles is that by which false Prophets shall deceive the people Mark 13.22 Rev. 16.14 Rev. 19.20 3. The same miracles that confirmed the truth at the first to be of God stand in equall authoritie together with the same truth as witnesses together for God and against all that oppose untill the coming of Christ without adding more miracles to them any more then of truth to what is written Heb. 2.4 Nothing more is now to be expected then the holy Spirit for to open the Scriptures and inable men to unfold the minde of God in the same and the same Spirit working faith in the hearts of the Elect to believe his own testimony of they mystery of the Fathers love in the Sonne through the word without any other miracle So that if Christ inableth men to understand and to open the Word and God opens the heart and the Spirit workes faith here will need no miracle to bring such to believe Lastly As great miracles are done now as ever to cast out Devills out of mens soules to open the eyes spiritually blind to raise the dead from the death of sinne In a word to bring forth a new creature and offer up the same to God These are the substance of all miracles to such as by experience know them and greater then all as Christ saith Joh. 14.12 And for Christs words Mark 16.17 These signes shall follow them that believe c. These signes are there said to follow such as believe and not such as are sent of Christ to preach the Gospel The words are to be taken either literally or mystically If mystically then all those signes are to be taken in a spirituall sense as to cast out devills by converting of foules to God in preaching of Christ as afore said and to speake with new tongues is in reference to the new creature which being of a new nature he speaks with a new tongue so a new language as he never did before 2 Cor. 5.17 according to these Scriptures Zeph. 3.9 Isai 19.18 35.5 6. And to take up Serpents that is in respect of the great worke of the Gospel by which God will alter and change the Serpent-like nature of men unto a Lamb-like temper of spirit Isai 11.6 9. and the sweet peace God will make for his people with
now for substance appeare the same in his Ministeriall operations as ever he did formerly Though there be much imperfection and weaknesse in the creature this causeth not truth to cease from being truth Otherwise there can be no salvation for any man which is the next thing to be examined Having discovered the way how to know such as come from God to the worke of the Ministery in Christs new Testament which is by their worke as it answers to the word of God which is the Rule of truth I come now to the third particular namely Whether there be salvation now for man and a way or meanes thereunto approved and appointed of God and if there be then what the same is This being the third inquiry about the Saints enjoying the Ordinances of Christs new Testament I answer directly that to me it is out of question there is salvation now for man and meanes to it appointed by God or else none can be sav'd and so every person in the world must perish But in a word note what I meane by salvation and that is for one to be in such an estate here in Grace that the word of God justifies to be attended with glory hereafter as follows 1. To believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God ordained of the Father to be the Saviour of man 1 Joh. 2.22 Mat. 16.16 Act. 8.37 1 Pet. 1.20 2. And that Christ is come and hath suffered in the flesh dyed and risen againe by the power of God and is exalted to be Lord over all 1 Joh. 4.2 Rom. 10.9 Act. 2.32 33.36 Rom. 14.9 3. And that Christ by one offering hath made a free and open way into the presence of his Fathers love the most holy place for all that believe to have free accesse unto the Father by him Heb. 9.12.24 Heb. 10.19 20. Eph. 2.18 3.12 4. And that by his own bloud he hath washed away all the sinnes of his people and presents them to the Father in his own perfection in whom they are all compleat and perfected for ever Rev. 1.5 Joh. 17.21 22 23. Col. 2.9 10. Heb. 10.10 5. That Christ hath not onely by his bloud redeemed a people from death condemnation and the curse for sinne and so the guilt of sinne but also hath redeemed them from among men and from a vaine conversation and traditions of men to an holy confession of him according to that rule and order instituted by him in his last will and Testament sealed with his bloud Rev. 5.9 10. Rev. 14.1 2 3 4. 1 Pet. 1.18 2.9 Eph. 2.13 22. Gal. 1.4 Tit. 2.14 Lastly This truth believed of us is not onely by the Scriptures presented to us and from thence onely learned by us but also made good upon us and revealed in us by the holy Spirit given unto us who hath given us an understanding to know him that is true Rom. 5.5 1 Joh. 5.20 Which Spirit of truth as he brings light and reveales love so by the power of love he subdues sinne mortifying the flesh and brings up the new creature to God and draws forth the heart in love to man And thus in briefe of salvation that is now for man which is a being in the sweet possession of the Fathers love through Christ by faith unto eternall glory Now the meanes approved and appointed of God for this great worke of salvation is also manifest which in generall is the Ministeriall power and operation of the Spirit of God in what instruments soever he pleaseth to appeare and to use them for that work who is limited to none but commonly doth great things by weake and despised meanes that the crowne and glory might rest on his own head as 1 Cor. 1.27 28 29. And yet there is the same meanes now to bring men to God in truth and for substance which hath been formerly 1. For wee have now the holy Scriptures of God which are to us in the place and stead of the personall presence both of Moses and the Prophets Luk. 16.31 and Christ and his Apostles if God please to speake to us by them as he did to his people of old by the other Who being dead yet speaketh Heb. 11.4 2. Wee heaving this blessed word of truth to reade search and studie and Gods blessing being the same to us as to his people formerly he being the same God still and Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13.8 wee may therefore expect and doe enjoy the same effect with them which is to understand the minde of Christ concerning us in the same 3. We have the same Spirit who enables men to preach Christ crucified which though to some a stumbling blocke and to others foolishnesse yet to many appeares to be the power of God by which they are brought to believe in Jesus Christ for eternall life and glory And thus we have the same Gospel the same faith the same Christ and so the same way to salvation as they formerly had and these meanes doth God appoint and approve and blesse for the effecting of this great worke of salvation to us now as well as unto others before us that we together with them may be provoked to praise and magnisie the great Name of so gracious a God that hath done such great things for us to keepe himselfe a Name and witnesse in the earth But some demand of us Quest Whether that the Ordinance of preaching the Gospel be now afoot for to bring men to life according to Christs Commission Mat. 28.19 20. There be some that strive against the Ordinances of God Answ by putting nice distinctions in the word Preaching to beare the simple hearted in hand of some great matter therein to be minded and that in the Originall thinking that every one is not able to deale with them there But if we were minded to cavill wee might demand of them how they know that to be the Originall or the some copie Christ and his Apostles did speak or write But we seriously demand whether we may not as well depend upon that translation in our own tongue by the helpe of the Spirit of God to know the minde of Christ in things absolutely necessary for faith and life as they upon the Originall seeing that their Originall and our translation hold forth the same Gospel of Jesus Christ They make as if none could ever preach the Gospel but only such as had and have the same measure of the gifts of the Spirit that the Apostles themselves had and yet they are at a stand about Philip Act. 8. and confesse that he did preach in the proper signification of the word But for my part I freely grant them thus much that no man can truly preach the Gospel but he that hath the same Spirit of God that the Apostles had And so I come to answer their demand briefly thus 1. As preaching is to deliver a Message received of the Lord as
word what all this is The worke to be done is to call home the Elect of God into the faith and fellowship of Christ The Ministery are men stirred up and sent by Christ with gifts and abilities fit for the worke called unto Which Ministery remaines untill all the Elect of God are brought unto one unity of faith and fulnesse of Christ as Eph. 4 Mat. 28. But what gifts and abilities are of absolute necessitie required by Christ unto this worke is well to be minded To gather the Elect of God into the fellowship of Christ and to edifie them in the same is the worke And God inlightening men in the knowledge of the mystery of Christ in the Principles of the Gospel and the Spirit inabling them with gifts of utterance to preach the same for the convincing of sinne and to bring over the heart to believe and submit to Christ and to teach them their dutie to God and man here is now the workmen or Ministery that Christ gave and is to continue to the end of the world Mat. 28.19 20. It is said Object 2. The diversities of tongues are of necessitie for the Ministery of Christ because they are to preach the Gospel unto all Nations Mat. 28.19 Mark 16.15 The Gospel indeed is to be preached unto all Nations Answ that is to one nation as well as to another excluding none as before the Gentiles were but now to all seeing God is the God of the Gentiles as well as of the Jewes Rom. 3.29 For now Christ by his death hath opened a free way for the Gospel to goe into all the world to gather the Elect out of every nation tongue and people Zech. 2.11 Mat. 24.31 Rev. 5.9 Isai 54.1 2.3 But this rather seems to be by some instruments whom God shall stirre up in every nation of their owne language then by all languages in one man which thing was never yet knowne Isai 19.18.25 Zech. 8.20 21 22 23. 2. Tongues are of necessitie for such to speake unto a people to whom they are sent and Christ never sends any man to preach or with a message to a people or person but he gives him a tongue at the present to deliver the same And more then is usefull herein is not of necessitie 3. That all tongues to speake all languages should be so essentiall to the Ministery of Christ that there can be no true Ministery without them this lies to be proved for it is very questionable whether all the severall languages by which God did confound and scatter the people Gen. 11.6 7 8 9. were ever yet all knowne to any one man and if not then how shall any man know when he hath them all But if it be granted that onely so many tongues as are needfull this I freely confesse must be in the Ministery of Christ and no more are required of necessitie 4. Where the diversities of tongues are not of use for the well being of a Church they cannot be of absolute necessitie for the being of that Church But strange tongues are not of use for the well being of a Church that understands them not 1 Cor. 14.27 28. and therefore not of absolute necessitie for the being of it 5. The first Church of the new Testament which may be our chiefe pattern consisting of the hundred and twentie Disciples Acts 1. was neither converted or constituted by a Ministery of diversitie of tongues and yet by a true Ministery of Christ These were in Church-fellowship before the diversities of tongues were given who were a Church Act. 1. To whom the 3000. were added and converted by the tongues given Acts 2. 6. The want of such diversities of tongues will not excuse a mans silence much lesse prohibite the use of such tongues as for the present men have of God to declare and publish what light and truth the Lord doth reveale and so much the more seeing every man stands accountable of himselfe to God for every gift and measure of light and truth he receives of the Lord for the improvement thereof to the glory of God and good of man as these Scriptures compared together doe manifest Luk. 19.11 15. Luk. 12.40 41. 47. with Mark 13.34.37 1 Cor. 11.26 Which Scriptures speake of the Lords coming and the condition both of times and persons the mean while in his absence with their work charged upon them so as that they are at no time freed from the same untill his coming to take an account of them And it is a vaine thing for any man to thinke he shall be excused by his pleading the want of tongues to speake all languages and the like but rather expect to be called to account how he hath improved that abilitie and tongue which he hath for his Lord and Masters advantage as Mat. 25.14 15 24 25 26 27. And thus men are to improve what abilities they have received to the glory of God and when he cals them to greater worke he will give them answer able abilities for the same whether tongues or else as Exod. 4.11.13 Mat. 10.18 19 20. And lastly The Ministery which Christ hath now in his Church hath as many tongues and I conceive can speak as many languages as that Ministery which converted and planted the first Gospel-Church of Christs new Testament which may be well our example And as God did honour and beautifie his Church and Ministery then by powring out of his Spirit in such a measure upon them so he may doe in his owne time upon his Church and Ministery now as the sees occasion when the hath tryed who are the despisers of the day of small things It is said Object 3. that by the power of darknesse over-spreading the whole world the true Church Ministery and Ordinances have all been lost and a false Antichristian forme come in the place There must be now as at the first an immediate Ministery sent of God with the holy Ghost and power to restore the same againe The Church Answ Ministery and Ordinantes are not lost to the Scriptures the Spirit and faith but onely to the world as all divine and heavenly things are subject to be through their opposing and despising of them But it 's said Object 4. the Administrations of these were lost c. The Administrations were not lost to Word Spirit and faith Answ for all the holy things of God lie cleare and free in the Word to whomsoever the Spirit reveales them and gives faith to believe by which they become one and rise together But some may say Object shew us now a true Administrator sent of God So much in effect said the Jewes of old to Christ Answ Joh. 6.30 and the opposers of Gods truth to the Apostle 2 Cor. 13.3 But let such shew us believers approved so by God after Christs Resurrection without which there is no salvation and then will I by the helpe of the Lord shew a true Administrator sent
such Joh. 5.23 And for drinking any deadly thing it shall not hurt such as believe that is if they drinke in at any time false doctrine or errour which in it selfe is poyson and deadly but God of his grace will so provide that it shall not hurt them so as to destroy them but he will recover and preserve them by some way or other Mat. 24.24 Jam. 5.19 20. 1 Cor. 10.13 2 Pet. 2.9 But if the words be to be taken literally then consider whether the faith may not be the same with the signes viz. the faith of miracles which men might have and yet perish Mat. 7.22 23. But grant the faith there spoken of to be faith unto salvation spoken of in the verse aforegoing and the words to be taken literally yet Christ there onely shews how the truth of the Gospel should then be confirmed by signes and miracles but doth not meane that in every age or in that age none should be accounted believers but such as could doe such miracles or shew such signes see 1 Cor. 12.28 29 30. As touching James 5.14 15. the direction there given is still to be observed according as God gives in faith into mens hearts to depend upon the promise there made and such observation of that direction in the exercise of faith will surely be accompanied with the promised successe Neither was it any more in the Apostles dayes for even in that age Saints might and did dye as well as in succeeding ages And for Heb. 6.1 2. there is nothing at all of any miracles but onely of laying on of hands All therefore that hath been objected makes nothing to prove the working of miracles a note to declare a true Ministery of Christ either in whole or in part but rather the contrary now in our dayes And againe it is not to the point in hand what power any persons were attended with but to what power or qualified persons Christ hath confined the dispensing of his Ordinances absolutely so that none but onely such must meddle with the administring of them Either let such as condemne our practise hold us out and confine us to an absolute Rule from the mouth of Christ or else cease to oppose us lest they oppose Christ himselfe and his Saints portion and so at his coming be found in stead of feeding to be smiting of the flocke Luk. 12. As of old at the peoples returne out of temporall Babylon in the type was onely the simple call of God without any miracle even so in the antitype the peoples coming out of spirituall Babylon is onely by the simple call of God without any miracle as Rev. 18.4 The Apostles having a Commission to preach unto all Nations Object 13. Mat. 28.19 yet they were afterwards commanded to stay at Jerusalem untill they had received power from God to execute the same Acts 1. Which power they received Acts 2. Which shews that none can preach the Gospel nor are any to attempt the same without the like power of the holy Ghost for if any might then the Apostles who had their Commission but they must stay for power from God and so must men now This is but the same in effect that I have ever said Answ that if any man goes before he hath a Message from God and power to deliver the same such a one goeth of himselfe unsent but one who hath a Message and abilitie to deliver it God assisting the same with power to effect the worke this now is one truly sent as aforesaid But in a word briefly let us a little minde what this power here is which the Apostles were to waite for as Jerusalem this power was the holy Spirit the comforter the Spirit of truth the promise of the Father as the Scriptures manifest Acts 1.4.8 Luk. 24.49 Act. 2.4.33 Joh. 14.16 17.26 Joh. 7.39 The holy Spirit in respect of his sanctifying power and gifts the comforter in respect of his evidence in the mystery of the Fathers love in which sense he was to supply the place of Christ and was not to come untill Christ was ascended Joh. 14.16 17.26 Joh. 16.7 Joh. 7.39 This holy Spirit and comforter was the promise of the Father received of Christ and is given to all that believe through Grace Joh. 7.38 39. Rom. 8.9.11.14 15 16. Gal. 4.6 Being the holy regenerating Spirit of Grace Joh. 3.5 6. Joh. 1.12 13. 1 Joh. 3.9 The comforter that brings the Fathers love through his Sonnes death to a cold heart Joh. 14.16 Rom. 5.5 The witnesse of all our happinesse and the holy Spirit of promise that seals us up in the Fathers love enabling of us to cry Abba Father 1 Joh. 3.24 5.10 Rom. 8.15 16. Eph. 1.13 14. Gal. 4.6 All which is onely one and the same Spirit not many but onely one and no more 1 Cor. 12.4.11 Eph. 4.4 Whose Ministeriall abilides I shall reduce unto two heads 1. Light and knowledge in the mystery of Christ in the Gospel Eph. 3.3 4 5.6 2. Power or abilitie of utterance to preach and teach the same Act. 2.4 Eph. 6.19 Col. 4.3 Let men strive while they will here is the substance of the Ministeriall power of Christ and according to every mans talent and abilitie he is to labour in this worke Mat. 25.14 15. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man none excepted to profit withall 1 Cor. 12.7 So that the Message of the holy Spirit is holy and sound doctrine such as tends to bring persons to one unitie of faith and conformitie to the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. Col. 2.2 Eph. 4. And the Messengers are such as the same Spirit stirres up and enableth to deliver the same as aforesaid Such are as it were the eyes and hands and feet of the holy Spirit to call and guide and to goe before and lead on others And as God in Christ hath received these so he doth others brought to him by their Ministery This was the power or promise of the Father that they were to waite for the Spirit to inable them to lay out Christ dead and risen for a foundation to beare up the spirituall house of God and as Lord and King of that Kingdome preached before to be at hand and now exalted at Gods right hand and advanced to the throne of his Father David and to hold him forth among all Nations as the way to life by faith in his death All which could not be preached untill Christ was ascended and the holy Spirit given that must teach the same And this in briefe was the power the Apostles were to waite at Jerusalem for and so is every man now Though the holy Spirit appeared then more fully and richer in his gifts then now he doth yet for the essentialls of truth both for salvation by believing in Jesus Christ and professing him under those honourable titles assigned him by his Father the holy Spirit doth
Touching the first By believing in Christ I meane that believing that Jesus is the Christ which John speakes of in 1 Joh. 5.1 That believing with all the heart which Philip spake of in Acts 8.37 That believing with the heart unto righteousnes which Paul speaks of in Rom 10.9 10. Touching the second The confession that Christ requires of men so believing is to confesse him in his Name and Titles that his Father hath honoured him with and set him out by viz. To be a sufficient and onely Saviour and the Mediatour of the new Testament as King Priest and Prophet A Priest to redeeme and purchase his people a Prophet to teach and instruct that people and a King to protect and defend the said people in their obedience to the truth revealed by him as a Prophet and by him as a King commanded to be obeyed And as this is to be knowne and believed of such as expect life by him even so it is to be confessed by a professed subjection to him in the same The Rule of which professed subjection and confession is the instituted order and administration of Christs Testament for no other confession doth he approve of but that which holds him forth to be Jesus Christ the Sonne of God come in the flesh dead and risen againe ascended and exalted at Gods right hand to the throne of his Father David and so to be Lord of Lords and King of Kings And submission to the instituted order and administration of Christs Testament is an ordained confession of this believing in him in a professed subjection to him This confession doth Christ therefore require of such as believe in him and ownes no believing unto salvation in his new Testament once confirmed by his death where this is refused For the benefits of Christ as Mediatour and his administration and the state order and rules of that Testament whereof he is Mediator and the subjects partaking of those benefits goe together in the record of Scripture so that if there be no baptizing into Christ then is there not confession of Christ according to his appointment Mat. 28.19 1 Cor. 12.13 Gal. 3.27 Rom. 6.3 Eph. 4.5 Luk. 7.30 And if not confession of Christ according to his appointment then no faith to salvation by Christ expresly owned Mat. 10.32 33. with 1 Joh. 4.2 3. Joh. 12.42 43. This I speake in reference to the expresse word of God which ought to be every mans rule to trie his way and walke by because by the Word he shall be tryed and judged justified or condemned according as he appeares by the same Joh. 12.48 Rom. 2.16 This makes against the free grace of God Object 17. that saves man without any condition of obedience or respect to any outward externall Ordinance but onely to Christ and believing in him 1. Answ The truth aforesaid no way opposeth Gods free grace in saving man through faith in Christ for it brings nothing in with Christ to save any man but lays out the way that God brings persons into whom he doth save For they come not into that way of profession to be saved but being saved they come to shew their thankfulnesse to God for the same 2. This order of truth discovers and sets out the true nature of Grace in its proper place and use Gods electing and chusing persons to salvation is of his free Grace but whom he so chuseth he chuseth in Christ Eph. 1.4 Therefore to make Christ effentiall to mans salvation is not against grace but for it 3. The gift of Christ and life by him is free grace but neither Christ nor life by him is given without faith Therefore to make believing in Jesus Christ of absolute necessitie to life is not against grace Eph. 2.8 Faith it selfe is the free gift of God and the work of grace in the heart of man yet is there no faith approved by God in his Word without workes James 2. Therefore to put faith to tryall by its workes and to bring both to the light to try and to see if it be indeed that which God of his grace hath given to man for life and the manifestation thereof and to make them both inseparable companions is no way against the free grace of god that saves not man without faith nor approves of faith without works and tryes all workes by his Word 4. The foresaid truth confirmes grace or faith in grace by holding forth from the Scriptures the priviledges that belong unto such as believe through grace and the freedome thereof in grace to faith alone without any other condition at all As the gracious new Covenant it selfe is free which comprehends all that is between God and man in grace and requires nothing but onely faith in Jesus Christ to admit persons into the same which makes them one with all that the said Covenant containes whether state order ordinances administrations administrators things administred or to be administred things past present or to come All is theirs who are in the Covenant of grace that contains all And none are in the way of life held forth in the word of God that are out of this Covenant And all priviledges and benefits comprehended in the said Covenant lie all as free without conditions unto such as believe as the Covenant it selfe For the Covenant in generall comprehends the severall parts in particular and therefore looke what condition any one part lies under the same doth another and so all If one part be free all is free and so indeed it is a free Covenant to such as believe And all the particular branches of this gracious Covenant are so inseparably joyned together that if a man be truly under any one part he is under all if he have Christ he hath all if he have faith he hath all if he have one promise truly he hath all and if he have right to any one ordinance he hath the same right to all So that he that dis-inherits himselfe of any one part dis-inherits himselfe of all For grace in the Covenant and the priviledges therein contained are not divided And when faith finds the treasure shee will have also the field where the treasure is hid Matth. 13.44 Thus joyning of faith in Christ and subjection to Christ inseparably together as the Scriptures doe both being branches of one and the same gracious Covenant doth no way oppose Gods free grace in saving man by faith in Christ If the administrations of the new Testament lie so open and free to all that believe Object 18. without condition or exception then any that believe may administer all Ordinances and so women as well as any other By pretended absurdities and false consequences Answ the truth of God is commonly opposed and obscured by the adversaries thereof yet truth never brings upon it selfe any absurdity But absurdities sometimes seeme to follow through the subtilty of men opposing the truth and sometimes through the ignorance of men
encounter with his enemies Though the Church lyes sometimes low and obscure yet God at some times raiseth her up againe The Church is as the Temple sometime open and sometime shut and as the Moone sometime at the full and sometime in her change and as a wife sometime sporting with her husband as Rebecca with Isaac Gen. 26.8 and sometime in travaile and paine sometime singing the song of Moses and the Lambe and sometime hanging her harpe upon the willowes And thus shee is made conformable unto Christ her head who is sometime is bloud sometime on his throne sometime in a cloud and sometime with his face shining as the Sunne sometime with a raine-bow on his head and sometime in the brightnesse of his glory Therefore although that truth doth not alwayes in like manner appeare yet this frees not man from his obedience unto it when it appeares but rather engageth him the more Christ foretells of false Christs and false Prophets that shall arise and deceive many Object 21. saying Lo here is Christ or there Matth. 24. And this is fulfilled in those that attempt the worship of God some one way and some another and yet have missed the right way And some perceiving their mistake have begun againe and all for want of the infallible Spirit of God to lead them forth at the first And as they failed before even so they may doe againe 1. Answ Christs words in Matth. 24. are an answer to a demand of his Disciples concerning his coming and the end of the world see vers 3 4. And Christ doth not answer concerning his coming in the ministery of the Gospel and administration of his Ordinances for therein he came not in such a manner as he speakes of in this Chapter see vers 27.30 But concerning his personall coming the time whereof was to men unknowne whereupon he chargeth all his to be alwayes ready waiting and looking for his coming continually see vers 36.42 43 44. 2. The false Christs and false Prophets that Christ here forewarnes the faithfull to take heed of are such as shall shew great signes and wonders ver 24. How then comes it to passe that they which hold forth the Gospel and Ordinances of Christ are closely insinuated to be these false Prophets whiles this is one maine exception against them That they do not shew great signes and wonders Surely they prepare men to be deceived by these false Christs and false Prophets who teach men to receive none as Ministers of Christ though they prove their doctrine and way by the Scriptures never so clearly unlesse they shew great signes and wonders and confirme their word and way thereby 3. The false Prophets here spoken of are such as shall falsly affirme themselves to be such Prophets as the Prophets of the old Testament Isaiah Jeremiah and the rest were in their time and as Agabus and some others were in the Apostles time And the false Christs here spoken of are such as shall falsly affirme themselves to be Christ in person as appeares in vers 5. This therefore cannot be taken up and applyed against those that now stand up for the present use of the Ordinances of Christ 4. As in the next Chapter Christ teacheth his servants not to hide their talents in the earth but to trade with the same that is to use their gifts to the gathering of the Elect and the Churches edification in which use their gifts also shall be encreased so in Mark 13. which is the same in effect with this present Chapter he mindeth his servants not onely to watch that they may not be found sleeping vers 35 36. but also to consider the authoritie that he hath given unto them and the worke that he hath appointed them vers 34. which must be understood of a ministeriall authoritie and a worke of the Ministry to continue till his coming And in this Chap. vers 45 46. he minds them to give unto his houshold their meat in due season which houshold must needs be his Church and their meat his Word and Ordinances 5. Doe not they in some sort affirme Christ to be in the desert and in secret chambers who affirme the Church to be in such a sort in the Wildernesse as that there is now no place for the appointed Ministry of the Gospel and Gospel Ordinances 6. As touching the want of an infallible spirit to lead men forth into all truth It is true indeed that not onely all true and faithfull Preachers of the Gospel but also all true believers have an unction from the holy One and know all things 1 Joh. 2.20 But this is meant onely of some measure of knowledge for true believers must still grow in knowledge 2 Pet. 3.20 And it is meant onely of their knowing all those things the knowledge whereof is necessary to salvation As touching other things the Spirit of truth doth not leade the Saints into all truth at once The Apostle Peter and the Church at Jerusalem was defective in the understanding of the extent of Christs Commission touching the preaching of the Gospel to those Gentiles that were not Proselytes untill God did further informe them This appeares in Acts 10.10 15 19 20 28.34 Acts 11.2 18. yet was Peter a true Apostle and the Congregation at Jerusalem a true Church Yea it appeares that the brethren which prophesied in constituted Churches were not free from all possibilitie of mistaking Note well 1 Cor. 14.29 and 1 Thes 5.20 21 22. David and all Israel with him did mistake when they carried the arke of God in a Cart 1 Chron. 13. And were afterward sensible of their mistake and reformed it 1 Chron. 15. yet David was the faithfull servant of God the Priests were the Priests of the Lord and Israel was his people and God did not reprove their endeavour to bring up the arke to Jerusalem though he made a breach upon them at the first because they sought him not after the due order Therefore mens mistaking the truth in some things doth not make voyd that truth which they have neither should men forbeare to receive truth till they can infallibly receive all at once Although even godly men be not infallible yet the rule of Gods written word according to which the Saints are to walke and to judge of wayes and Doctrines is an infallible rule To prevent some further objections to make the answers more full to some objections already minded consider how the vessells of the house of the Lord being cut in pieces the doores of the Temple shut up the Lampes put out and the burning of incense and offering burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel being quite let fall in the dayes of Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.24 and 29.6 7. in the dayes of Hezekiah the Priests and Levites being encouraged and commanded by the King renewed and restored the solemne worship of God their authoritie for the doing of this being not from any
our adversaries here and the principall refuge to which they fly is this Christ say they hath not presented to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for the unbeliefe of any But the falshood of this appeares by the places now alledged as I shall also easily manifest if our adversaries will answer directly whether our unbeliefe be a sin or not I conceive they dare not say it is no sin in as much as it is disobedience against the Gospel and against the command of God in Matth. 17.5 and that whereby so farre as it workes in us we cast upon God the imputation of lying trusting him no more then wee would trust a lyer 1 Joh. 5.10 and our adversaries affirme it to be the onely damning sinne Now if it be a sin the bloud of Jesus Christ doth wash us from it 1 Joh. 1.7 I further demand Is our unbeliefe remitted unto us or not If it be not remitted unto us our case is most miserable If it be remitted unto us it is then done away by the bloud of Christ for without shedding of bloud is no remission Heb. 9.22 Whereas some say that we have already suffered punishment for it in the want of that comfort and joy that faith brings I demand Doth our sin of unbeliefe deserve no other punishment If they say No it shews that they neither know the nature of this sin and its ill deserving neither yet the glorious righteousnesse of God and the declaration thereof in his Word But if they say yea it deserves eternall destruction but for all that it is neither remitted unto us with the rest of our sins as being washed away by the bloud of Christ neither shall we be so punished for it then they will be found to utter manifest contradictions Whereas they plead that our unbeliefe doth not continue but is broken off I answer Indeed it doth not continue in the reigne of it but it is enough that it did once reigne in us and that there is a remainder of unbeliefe still rebelling in us And the same and no more is to be said of the rest of our fins and corruptions also for which notwithstanding wee must have been punished with everlasting descruction if the bloud of Jesus Christ shed for us for the remission of sinnes did not clense us from the same Whereas they object that there could not have been that unbeliefe whereby the Gospel is refused if Christ had not dyed that he might send forth his Gospel and that therefore this unbeliefe could not be looked upon before the death of Christ and the declaration of his Gospel I answer 1. That Christ foreseeing this sin as he did all other sinnes and all the fruits thereof in his Elect did accordingly provide a remedy for the same otherwayes he had not been unto them a perfect and effectuall Saviour 2. That the condemnatory sentence of the Law takes hold on men for this sin also and for all the fruits of it because it binds men to obey every command that God shall give and to believe every word that he shall speake without which obeying and believing no man can have the Lord for his God according to the meaning of the affirmative part of the first Commandement Therefore Christ had not taken us off from the Lawes condemnation if he had not presented to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for this our sin as well as for our other sinnes 3. The Passeover a type of Christ was not killed for any uncircumcised but onely for the Israelites and those that were joyned unto them Exod. 12. Neither were the Priests to offer sacrifice for any other All this was appointed of God to signifie that when the Messiah through the eternall Spirit should offer himselfe without spot to God he should present unto divine justice a satisfaction for the sinnes of the Israel of God and none other Whereas it is objected that many of the Israelites for whom the Passeover was killed and sacrifices were offered were unbelievers and perished I answer So also the high Priest himselfe might be an unbeliever and perish yet in his Priestly office he was a type of Christ notwithstanding that disparitie So the whole Nation of the Israelites separated from the world to be a peculiar people unto God were a type of Gods chosen Israel 4. When Christ prayed unto his Father that they for whom he laid downe his life might receive the benefit of the same he expresly affirmed that he prayed onely for the Elect and for none other Joh. 17.9 Whereby he sufficiently declared that he did not then present to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for the sins of any other but onely of these 5. The highest degree of Gods love to man is set forth by his Sonnes being given and giving himselfe to dye for mens sinnes that so he might present to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for their sinnes Joh. 10.11.15 Joh. 15.12 13. Rom. 8.32 1 Joh. 3.16 and 4.9 10. Rom. 5.8 If then we shall say that Christ in his death presented to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for the sinnes of all men we shall be found to extend the highest and choicest love of God as well to hated Esau as to beloved Jacob as well to the seed of the Serpent as to the seed of Christ which doctrine the Scripture will not endure 6. The whole doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ being delivered unto us in the Scriptures it is a sufficient ground for us not to believe that Christ presented to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for the sinnes of all men because the Scriptures doe no where declare this to be a truth as through the helpe of God shall be made to appeare by our answers to the objections of our adversaries For the more easie discovery of the weaknesse of which objections I lay downe these ensuing Propositions 1. The word All in Scripture doth many times signifie onely some of all forts as appeares in these places Mat. 4.23 Act. 10.12 Mat. 3.5 6. In Mat. 4.23 it is said that Christ healed every sicknesse and every disease among the people yet the meaning is onely this That he healed every kind of sicknesse and disease see Mark. 6.5 and Joh. 5.3 c. In Acts 10.12 it is said wherein were all foure-footed beasts c. that is All kinds of foure-footed beasts c. In Matth. 3.5 6. it is said There went out to him all Judoaea c. And in Mark 1.5 it is also expresly said that they were all baptized of him c. Yet this was true onely of all orders and degrees of men coming to John from all the parts of Judaea 2. The word All must sometimes be understood with limitation unto the present subject spoken of As in Heb. 12.8 whereof all are partakers not all persons but onely all sons 3. The word All doth sometime signifie onely the greater part as in Philip. 2.21 All seeke their owne c. and in Luk. 6.26 Woe
man thus believes then both the Spirit and the Word of God doth testifie and declare that Jesus Christ hath presented unto divine justice a satisfaction for his sinnes in particular and that accordingly his sinnes are forgiven unto him This then he is now and not till now bound to believe as a certaine truth as indeed it is and now appeares to be And touching the unbelieving and disobedient person who obeys not the Gospel of Jesus Christ this is one part of the truth that God reveales and commands all to believe viz. that persons still continuing such remaine under the curse and wrath of God and must be judged condemned and punished for all their sinnes Joh. 3.18 Jude 15.2 Thes 1.8 9. As also hath been already fully proved Now God doth not command any man to believe contradictions Touching that in 1 Joh. 5.10 it is to be minded that a childe of God hath unbeliefe remaining and rebelling in him and sometimes it rebells very strongly and grievously As farre as this unbeliefe workes in him so farre he believes not God but makes him a lyar that is casts upon him the imputation of lying because he believes not on the testimony that God bath testified concerning his Sonne That this is Johns meaning appeares by that which follows in vers 11. And this is the record or testimony that God bath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Sonne God hath not given this eternall life to us men whether we be believers or unbelievers but to us to whom he gives grace to believe in his Son See Joh. 3.36 and 17.2 This is farther confirmed by that which follows in 1. Joh. 5.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that yee may know that yee have eternall life and that yee may believe on the Name of the Son of God It is also objected that in Mark 16.15 33. Object From Mar. 16.15 answered Christ commands that the Gospel should be preached to every creature but by our doctrine there remaines no Gospel to be preached to the world for the conversion of sinners I demand Is this indeed no Gospel viz. That the Father hath given his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life That through Christs Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sinnes Surely this is called The word of the Gospel Acts 15.7 with Acts 10.43 Also that Christ came into the world to save finners even the vilest of sinners that doe or shall believe in him 1 Tim. 1.15 16. Is all this I say no Gospel If this be Gospel as indeed it is then there remaines a Gospel which through the grace of God we faithfully preach unto sinners and God makes the preaching of this Gospel effectuall to the conversion of his It is further objected 34. Object From Coloss 1.23 answered that true believers are grounded in the faith Coloss 1.23 But we have no ground of our faith Answ The ground of our faith is the divine truth of that Gospel which we are commanded to believe and the fulnesse of power and authoritie and righteousnesse and faithfulnesse and love and mercy which is in him that commands us to believe in him which the Scripture declares and the holy Spirit discovers unto us This is a sufficient ground of our faith and they which build not upon this ground will be found to build upon the sand Paul built upon this ground 2 Tim. 1.12 And the Elect that lived in his time did build upon no other ground see Acts 17.11 12. 1 Thes 2.13 2 Pet. 1.16 Lastly it is objected that the Devill is a lyar 35. Object From Joh. 8.44 answered and there is no truth in him Joh. 8.44 But our doctrine makes him to speake truth when he saith to a vessell of wrath that dyes in despaire Christ hath not presented to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for thy sins I answer 1. Though the Devill be a lyar yet sometimes he speaks some truth Mark 1.24 Acts 16.17 1 Sam. 28.17 18 19. 2. We doe no more justifie the Devill as speaking truth herein then the Scripture doth justifie him when he saith to a vessel of wrath Thou wast before of old ordained to this condemnation Jude 4. Yea bertunto thou wast appointed 1 Pet. 2.8 Thou art none of Christs sheep John 10.26 Thy judgement lingreth not and thy damnation slumbreth not 2 Pet. 2.3 3. He that affirmes a truth to be a cretaine truth not knowing it to he so is therein a lyar And God doth not acquaint the Devill with his counsail further then he manifests the same to all by his Word and by his accomplishing thereof 4. When one speakes truth maliciously that by false inferences he may make a person rebell against truth he is now an odious lyar And this is the Devils case when he speakes any truth Now in conclusion let it be minded that the opposing of the truth which I have now asserted brings forth among other these evill fruits 1. It makes men deny the truth of the Scriptures doctrine concerning divine predestination 2. It robs God of the glory of his speciall and singular love and mercy to his chosen ones 3. It tends to puffe up believers with pride perswading them that they have distinguished themselves from the rest of the world and so saved themselves for Christ for his part did no more for them then for those that perish 4. It robs the Saints of assurance of perseverance and so of assurance of salvation For if men come to be believers by a common grace afforded to all then they may also cease to be believers through that weaknesse and corruption that is in all Now take away from Saints their assurance of salvation and yee take away from them their joy their thankfulnesse their love their life 5. It holds forth God as making a shew of being equally loving to all when indeed and in his purpose he is not so and seeming most graciously to forgive the sinnes of all men when yet he determines to punish the vessels of wrath eternally in hell for all their sinnes I could say much more and yet may not now with convenience enlarge this Booke any further I therefore conclude sustaining my selfe against the errour that I have thus opposed and the progresse of the same with that in 2 Time 2.19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seale The Lord knoweth them that are his FINIS