full of excellent Philosophy both morall and naturall Mat. 5. 6. 7. Chap. 5. and all throughout the Gospel So Paul Acts 14. 17. c. Be not offended at Philosophy which is the work and providence of God unlesse it be vaine Philosophy which is against God If any of my Syllogisms were fallacious surely you were more quick then Mr Cranford and all the Schollars there to discerne it and truly know it better then my selfe for I know of none nor meant none shew it and I shall amend it Your last Letter from John 10. 5. I confesse in all senses true and whosoever is but taught of man is but mans sheep Whether any pretend to be mine or Mr Cranfords they have nothing to boast of But if I speak the words of Christ in the power of Christ it is no more I but Jesus Christ that dwelleth in me And g then they that hear not me hear not him that sent me Thus you see how large a Letter I have written to you in love unto the truth and compassion to your soule that you may know me to be Your true Freind in the Lord Peter Chamberlen NOw the reason why I doe not answer this last Letter of the Doctours in a private way as he sent it me is because he hath so boldly and publickly wronged the truth that she hath no way to be righted and relieved but by publick reparation And if I should reprove all I know of the Gentleman both old and new some other things would fall in with my pens reprehension also But we will lay aside all these and many more till another opportunity and now proceed to the tryall of his Syllogismes THE Shipwrack of all False Churches AND The Immutable Safety and Stability of the true Church of CHRIST THE Disputes and Arguings of Dr Chamberlen March 1. 1651. which are since published and as he saith for the satisfaction of all that love the truth but tendeth wholly contrary thereunto and it is so far from being justified that it is condemned by all the Children of Wisdome as I shall shew plainly and that from his owne printed Papers gathering these three Conclusions out from amongst abundance of unsound positions vain repetitions and absurd inferences and although he hath scattered them up and down yet we will orderly reduce them and Quaerie 1. What he saith of the Church of Christ 2. Of the Ordinances And 3. Of the Ministry thereof And this shall be my method with Gods helpe 1. I will shew how the Doctour in all these particulars misseth the truth and then I will manifest and confirm the truth it selfe as the Scriptures doe determine of all and each respectively In the 20â—h page of his Book of Vaine Syllogismes he hath these words Dr Chamberlen here took liberty to make a short Discourse concerning the Church which indeed is very much and large but to little purpose and therein declareth himselfe not to be acquainted with true Divinity for what are all Heathenish or carnall Christian Assemblies to the Congregation of Christs Members which are his Church or the multitudes of carnall Christians in their devotion and worship in the litterall externall Ordinances and yet notwithstanding be a sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity a seed of evill doers children that are corrupters such as in heart have forsaken the Lord and have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger and are gone astray backward that is have estranged alienated or separated themselves from God through their impenitency and hardnesse of heart notwithstanding all their pretence of outward sanctity in Externall Ordinances and Church Discipline where there is no such thing at all in truth and in sincerity although drawne out from others into seperated Congregations according to the traditions of mens devices filling themselves with the old wine of harisaicall righteousnesse And although among other Churches the Doctour is pleased to affirm that the Church of Christ comprehendeth all the Saints but in that he sheweth not his meaning what a Saint is he thereby cleareth not himselfe from being ignorant thereof forasmuch as Antichrist himselfe gives the Title of Saints to his ungodly Church also But if the Doctour would have edified the Congregation he should in the first place have distinguished between the true Church and all such as are false by a right definition and description of the Saints and true Church of Christ from all others that assume to take upon them her Name and yet are ignorant of her Nature which he wholly omitting hath lost his labour and rendered himselfe unwise to the Children of wisdome And for wanting better principles in his Premises he makes his conclusion as equally corrupt in these words page 21. The Church of Christ saith he is then and so long the Church of Christ as she saith and doth what Christ gave her to say and doe even as Christ himselfe By which saying he maketh the being and continuance of the Church to depend on her own obedience and for proof thereof quoâ—es John 7. 17. 8. 26 28. 14. 10. 24. 5. 19 20. and concludeth thus and when she saith or doth otherwise she speaketh or playeth the Harlot in that particular Which is not the doctrine of the spirit of Christ but of the spirit of Antichrist For the Doctour makes the Church to be her owne Keeper but the spirit of God saith the Lord is the shepheard and keeper of her The Spirit of Christ saith she is chast and undefiled the Doctour on the contrary affirmeth she may play the whore and be a Harlot The Spirit saith she is led into all truth that she is the ground pillar and upholder of it and so impregnable that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against her that every member is living every stone precious But on the contrary the Doctour saith she is mutable and so changeable as that she may say and doe contrary to it that leads her that guides her that speaks in her Oh miserable doctrine and no lesse miserable are those that receive it for if the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the ditch yet the Doctour would have the people beleive he is not blind but seeth and therefore quotes many Scriptures to prove it as are before mentioned which being the letter of the Text without any exposition we will examine the meaning thereof Our Lord being at Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles the Jewes saith the Text marvelled concerning him and his Doctrine some said he was a good man others that he deceived the people but Jesus answered My doctrine is not mine but his that sent me and so adviseth them how they might have benefit by it If any man will doe his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my selfe where there is not one word of the Church of Christ for they that doe not obey his will are not his Church nor
THE SHIPWRACK OF ALL False Churches AND The Immutable Safety and Stability of the true Church of CHRIST Occasioned By DOCTOUR CHAMBERLEN His mistake of her and of the Holy Scriptures also by Syllogising words to find out Spirituall Meanings when in such cases it is the Definition not the Name by which things are truly knowne Jer. 9. Trust not in lying words saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord c. Psal. 87. 2. The Lord loveth the Gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob Matth. 12. 36 37. But I say unto you That every idle word that men shall speake they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgement For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned LONDON Printed and are to be sold by G. Calvert at the West End of Pauls and J. Hancock in Popes-head Alley 1652. To the Church of Christ at London Beloved of God called by the Spirit to be Saints in Christ Jesus All grace be multiplyed FAITHFULL FRIENDS IN love to you and the Truth I have undertaken in your Cause and in the right of you all to discover a counterfeit Friend whom I lately met with that did aver to my selfe and to others of your society That to be your state and condition your devotion fruit and manifestation which upon triall proved no better then carnall and sensuall And having received perfect knowledge of you by the same spirit that doth make and constitute you I could not keep silence but instantly reproved him openly yet notwithstanding that publick disclaim I made of what he said he hath since printed that which he then verbally avouched which is so unsavory and to your holy and pure nature so contrary From which aspersion to free you I have made bold to declare and make knowne your holy and spirituall birth life constitution fellowship communion hope and worship in the purity and spirituall part of Gods Ordinances your divine communion with the Father and with the Son in the Spirit your righteous Garments without you and Gods habitation with his comfortable refreshments within you your peculiar treasures and priviledges in knowing the Truth and the Administration of it also the heavenly power you have with Christ and what it is indeed to be gathered together in his name and how clear and intire you stand distinct from all other Churches that boldly call themselves by your Titles and Appellations and lay claim to your own immunities and priviledges also with such particular Letters that have passed interchangeably between us touching the vindication of you in the premises who am the Lords and yours In all humble Service In the Truth J. G. Bucklersbury the 25th of June 1652. SIR I Have twice borne your contemptuous slightings although what I moved was seasonable both for Gods glory and the present occasion And had not earnest businesse caused my long absence from London you should have heard of me before this time to have required an account concerning your great seemings to no purpose Sir As there was in times past an outward appearance that was not righteous so there is still in this present time which was as much manifested by your selfe in those Arguings where I was with you at Mr Webbs as ever heretofore by any of your Generation Now since my returne to London I have seen you have printed a Monument of your owne weaknesse which except you repent of will unavoydably redound to your great prejudice and if you will give me satisfaction in the two particulars I reproved you in well if not I shall publish not only my reproofe of those two Arguments but of every thing else you then spake of and since have printed this is the mind of him that answered your uncivill questions what he was that spake and how in profession where for habitation and his distinction for nomination who then told you he was alwayes ready to meet you at any time to discover the fallacy of your Baptisme and Church also Subscribing my Name as it is John Graunt Dwelling as abovesaid at the signe of the halfe Moon London the 9th of July 1652. Sir THe last Month I gave you to understand of your incivility towards me intimating the time and place also and because your regardlesnesse is still continued I thought good the second time to write although you denyed me to speak once and againe and to let you to know that there is not a more certaine time of sinning against God his truth and children then of suffering for wronging them For he that affirms that to be the Church of Christ that is not wrongs the Lord the Husband and his holy Spouse also And he that gives any other meaning of the Scripture then what the holy Ghost intendeth hurts and wounds the truth of Gods testimonies and his Children also Now the truth is thou art the man that hast blasphemed the Tabernacle of God and them that dwell therein affirming her to be untempered morter and fading that is true dureable everlasting And that to be the meaning of Christ Mat 16. 17. and the Apostle Rom. 10. 9 10. which was never meant nor intended by them Sir you did not consider the Scriptures when you read them if you had you might have discerned the meaning otherwise then that you have there declared and if it be possible look on the Text with a single eye and then you may perceive more then yet you have for this is a spirituall Scripture and none but spirituall eyes can discern it In the letter it runs thus upon Peters confession Thou art Christ the Son of the living God Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon c. For flesh and bloud hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven You see the Lord pronounces him blessed because he was one that the Lord had inspired taught and instructed that it was not Peters confession as he was a naturall but as he was a spirituall man and so uttered from the Spirit of adoption as in another place the same Apostle speaking to the same purpose We beleeve and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God And as in the foregoing words he calls him Lord saying Whether shall we goe thou hast the words of Eternall life Again consider the terms he useth We beleeve and are sure this sure and stedfast Faith is that Faith which â—â—y had that received him that is that loved understood and obeyed him To whom he gave the priviledge of Sonship even them that beleeve on his name And then he shewes what manner of men they are in these words Which were borne saith he not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God so then this blessed confession is from a blessed man a regenerated man the Confession of a Child of the Covenant as the Apostle Paul in the
all the abundance of earthly things or shaddows of that which is spirituall the witnesse and evidence of the Spirit of God exceeds all testimonies and assurances and fills the soul with satisfaction Now in this condition they know the truth of their Lords words by blessed experience My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed living bread that came downe from heaven and they that eat thereof eat everlasting life It is immortall food this body and blood is the resurrection and the life for they that eat this flesh and drink this blood dwell in Christ and Christ in them This food causeth union co-habitation one-nesse of mind and likenesse of affection between Christ and his Members This is the fatted Calfe that fed the prodigall this is the Childrens bread provided of God himselfe for his servant Iacob those excellent dainties sweet and fat things full of marrow the wine and milk the honey-comb with the honey with which the Lord feeds his friends his beloved and chosen ones which food doth not only cheare delight and comfort but it confirms and seals with assurance even that gold Ring that sealed the Fathers favour to his lost Son the best Robe of all the Wardrobe for there is none like it in Heaven nor in Earth for it is the Righteousnesse of the Saints it covers all nakednesse it defends from all dangers and it ever finds acceptance with their heavenly Father in all services and sacrifices for these worshippers have their hearts purged from an evill conscience and their Garments dipt in blood for the Lamb is in them and they in him And thus spirituall are their prayers also this sacrifice likewise is a broken heart and as it is the spirits habitation and dwelling so it is his place of acting and working and although the Saints themselves cannot tell how to pray as they ought yet the Spirit their continuall comforter guider and directer helpeth them and secretly prompteth them with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered with the Organ of the Tongue so inward faithfull and fervent are the spirits requests to God that only knowes the meaning thereof and for their matter they are faithfull supplications they ask in faith in the name of their Lord that is in the powerfull assistance of Christs Spirit And this is the confidence we have in him say the Saints if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us and if we know that he hears us that is if the Spirit do so witnesse to us we know then that we have the Petitions that we desired of him for number they are but few for place private for practice and performance often and frequent Pray continually saith the Apostle And shall the Elect cry day and night unto God their Father against their Enemies oppressions and shall not he avenge them yea he will avenge them and that speedily In all their spirituall warfare this is the last and principall piece of Armour Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance This Servant of our Lords had very well learned his Masters Lesson Watch and pray least yee enter into temptation and this part of their worship is spirituall as the worshippers themselves are spirituall Again their understanding the Scripture is not only litterall but spirituall and that it may the more clearly appear we must remember to make use of this distinction that the Scriptures may be spoken of as of a Body and a Spirit in the letter and the meaning thereof Now all carnall Gospellers and false Expositors as they understand no further then the letter or common gifts declared therein by the sense which such give of the Scriptures they kill Gods Witnesses the two holy Testaments Priests whose Visions are darknesse doe violate wrong and injure all the holy Writings of Gods faithfull servants and witnesses of which company aâ—e the Learned Clerks of Rome and all other fleshly Preachers for that Church coâ—sisting of the fat Beasts of the field did kill havock and slay them in such a barbarous manner in that great City of Rome which in a spirituall wicked meaning is called Sodome and Aegypt for their uncleannesse and malice against the true intent of the Scriptures that notwithstanding they had the letter and Corps amongst them yet they did deny the life and soule the mind and will of God therein revealed to be buried or inter'd in their proper Monuments the hearts of men and as they then so the same things doe all carnall Churches now that are of her old nature although of a new frame by their like lying and false Expositions and interpretations even take the life from the body and separate the soule from the corps of these two Witnesses two Prophets two Candlesticks two Testimonies two Olive Trees and two Covenants which two in all and each appellation are but one thing in the true meaning and so they shall continue to doe the remainder of the 42 months till 14 years of the whole number to come be expired In the mean while the voyce of the Church of Christ is heard from out of the Wildernesse and wholly tends to the vindication resurrection and restoration of the true meaning of the Word of God as it is written And after three dayes and a halfe the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet And Gods Church fears not to speak although she cares not to be known she being indewed with the spirit of life from God and in her reading the Scriptures you shall find her full of consideration and understanding as our Lord directs her Let him that readeth consider For they that read and hear the words of this Prophecy and keep those things that are written therein and are blessed in so doing must needs truly understand them and indeed it is Sion Gods Church only that understandeth and declareth the Gospel truly by the Scriptures administration For by the Church saith the Apostle is made knowne the manifold wisdome of God which shall be more manifested in the next particular in declaring what the Ministers of the Church of Christ are And it is an undenyable truth that they are Regenerated spirituall men for if every Member of their Church be so and all their Ordinances and Sacrâ—fices their Communions and administrations then of necessity their Ministry must be so also and therefore in Scripture they are called Holy men of God and Holy Apostles and Prophets and are thereby distinguished from all others that are vaine and ungodly 1. They are holy personally 2. They are holy giftedly And as God hath joyned them together so I shall not seperate them in their description A Scribe instructed unto the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a good Housholder that brings forth of his Treasury things new and old Now in that our Lord saith He is taught unto the Kingdome of Heaven it is all one as if he had
other place saith speaking in the meaning of the Lord The word is nigh thee saith he even in thy mouth and in thy heart That is or this is the word of faith which we preach the word or Covenant of Promise That is whoever by vertue of the New Covenant the Word or Statute of life the Covenant of Grace shall be born again and shall Beleeve in his heart and confesse with his mouth the Lord Jesus as before is shewed he shall be saved for such a one is the Child of salvation Now Doctour see how you have wronged these Scriptures by making the first a ground of a long discourse of Philosophy in declaring to the people how in the improvement of naturall Faculties first the Judgement is informed then the Will consenteth and accordingly the Affections are exercised I tell you the truth Doctour I was ashamed of your Doctrine and that made me speak though you returned me a scoffe And when your wisdom led you to shew us the meaning of the Apostles tearms Believing and Confessing by a Sillogisme without distinguishing the meanings that were of divers significations in the Word of God I was so bold as to tell you before all the people your Argument was fallacious and tended to deceive because the tearms were dubious and then you scorn'd and despis'd me again And according to these corrupt Expositions are all the rest of your Arguings whereof except you prevent me by your speedy repentance I shall make a publick Anatomy to the view of the World and Subscribe my Name Your Friend John Graunt SIR I Received a thing subscribed with your Name full of Basket-hilted words and quarrelsome phrases to provoke me to a challenge as I suppose about Mr Cranfords Dispute at Mr Webbs and in Justification of your uncivill behaviour there which not I but your own party rebuked The businesse concerns Mr Cranford and how you should come to interest your selfe in it I know not If Mr Cranford be pleased to resigne it to you under his hand I shall accept it If any thing else lye upon your stomach you may signifie what it is and you need not doubt of a reasonable Answer from June 30. 1652. Peter Chamberlen London thâ—â—â— of July 1652. SIR YEsterday I received a Letter from you dated June 30. 1652. which Antedated the last from me of the 3d Instant which had you seen before you had written this I suppose your mind would not have been as here is expressed for therein you might have understood no carnall quarrelling nor provocation to fleshly challenges nor vaine and uncivill expressions of basket hilted words nor any private naturall mans suppositions but a clear plain and earnest contention for the doctrine of faith once delivered to the Saints clearly discovered and not dissembled nor counterfeited minding more the spirit of faith by which Gods Servants are inabled to speak then this or that mans busines And a Child of truth that hath his right or interest therein they hear they receive they understand they beleive the voyce of their shepheard but a strangers voyce they will not they cannot they may not hear and receive and of the same nature was yours as I have signified twice before At this time I shall deal only with you I speak not of others and mind no such resignation as you speak of but a vindication of the truth of God from you withholding it in unrighteousnesse and pray for your repentance to become truths Friend truly and plainly to distinguish between Divinity and Philosophy and of terms also to preserve differing proprieties and the contrary lyes on my stomach undigested Yours John Graunt SIR THe last night late I met with a more civill Letter of yours and surely therein you shall not outdoe me Wherefore now taking all your a Reproaches of me as done out of Zeal and Conscience I can willingly passe them by and endeavour to satisfie you in whatsoever you may make a scruple as far as the Lord shall enable me In your Letter July 2d you say he that affirmeth that to bee the Church of Christ which is not wrongs the Lord c. And he that gives any other meaning of the Scripture then what the holy Ghost intendeth hurts and wounds the truth of Gods Testimony c. To both these I b assent Let us therefore see whether I be the man that have blasphemed as ye say and I shall not dare to maintain it I shall also desire you in the like candour to lay these Rules to heart and examine your selfe You say I affirm her that is True Durable and everlasting to be fading and framed with untempered morter and that to be the meaning of Christ Matthew 16. 17. and of the Apostle Rom. 10. 9 10. which was never meant nor intended by them which if I were guilty of I confesse your accusation Just Let us therefore speak of them both apart First of the first wherein we must first endeavour to bring your words to your meaning or your meaning to your words For if it c relate unto the first Rules set down it is a kind of contradiction The Rule intimating the making of a false Church to appear as a true the other the making of a true Church to be as a false But if you mean two severall things then I suppose your rule would infer an imputation on me of having maintained our Church to be the Church of Christ which you say is not so and your Church not to be the Church of Christ which neverthelesse is so For surely you mean not that ever I affirmed the Church of Christ to be fading and framed with untempered morter but rather that such Churches which were so fading and framed with untempered morter are not the Churches of Christ Now that whereby we aver our selves to be the true Church of Christ is by keeping the d pure Ordinances of Christ according to his word and if you think otherwise you should instance in any perticular On the other side we say that yours is not the true Church of Christ because you keep not the true Ordinances of Christ according to his word And we instance in Baptisme and the Lords Supper and could instance in more Now this we doe not for any Spleen or Malice for I say the same things to my best Friends but that I might provoke you and them to examine your selves exactly by the Word of God and forsake the Traditions of men As to the Scriptures mentioned Mat. 16. 17. The word it seems saith it was the Father that revealed it to Peter and not e flesh and blood which thing I brought to prove that the knowledge of Truth commeth not by Flesh and Bloud but by Revelation from God And Rom. 10. 9. 10. was no whit clouded or disparaged by the Philosophicall Discourse of f Experience as you suppose since David Psal. 19. 104. c. and Christ himselfe is
any other title to the Doctours purpose In the second place he continues his speech to his persecuting enemies which I hope upon second thoughts he doth not understand to be his Church In the third place he graciously informs and confirms his faithfull servant Phillip in the Mystery of his Divinity as of his Humanity and that his words are the works of God but not a word in the Doctours meaning And in the 24. verse as he speaks of them that love him so he speaks of them that hate him whom to affirme to be his Church is to blaspheme her And in the last place John 5. 19 30. the Lord speaks of himselfe as distinguishable from the Father and also declareth the hypostaticall union of both Natures Humane and Divine The true meaning of these Scriptures being thus considered shewes plainly that his doctrine and their intention were at a vast distance for it is far from their meaning that the Church of Christ may play the Harlot and of pure become base and unclean because they testifie that she is so long to last and continue holy even every member of her his body as Jesus Christ her head is to be Christ who was yesterday and to day and for ever And sâ—ving your learning Sir this doctrine sheweth that you are still tainted with the old leaven of corrupt Popery and Arminianisme which will be more manifested when I come to shew what the true Church of Christ is indeed discovering thereby your fancie more particulerly and exactly Another conclusion that he would teach the people was That his Church was a Baptized Church and had the true marks of a true Church which is the true Preaching the Word and the true administration of the Sacraments as he calls them Here the Gentleman is at a losse also and beats the air as before and that which he saith is to as little purpose his terms not being cleared to what sense he means from their various acâ—eptations But the truth is his owne meaning by Baptisme is but that which is outward that any man may bear witnesse to that is present as he affirms in page 23. So then his Baptisme is of the same nature as his Church is both carnall the inside foule as Simon Magus his heart was not right in the sight of God his estate naturall and miserable in the Gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity yet washt and cleansed without Where doe you read in the Scriptures that the Churches of God true spirituall Christians did ever brag and boast of the fleshly and carnall parts of the Ordinances of the Gospel as you have done No they see those are shaddows elementary representations and say that it is not Baptism in the flesh that saves not but the Baptism of the heart the heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and the body washed with pure water by this spirituall Baptisme men are saved So also they affirm that 's not Circumcision that is in the flesh but that is Circumcision that is of the heart in the spirit and not in the Letter inward spirituall and heavenly Baptisme And this Circumcision is that which Gods Church glories in and not the outward that Divells may participate of as well as Saints But the Doctour fears not to avouch that the washing with the Old Ford or Thames water and the like places is that Baptisme which the Scripture in a speciall sense speaks of by which men are regenerated because he maketh it the true mark of the rue Church Indeed this is the opinion of the stupid obdurat hard-hearted Jews and Papists and of most carnall Protestants in which they are all alike But as the true Church of Christ is spirituall so is her Baptisme and so are her fruits and manifestations her marks and seals by which she is distinguished from all other Churches that are false as when I come to establish the truth shall be cleared But the Doctour further affirmeth that their Baptized Churches have the true Preaching of the Word and he thinks himselfe to be none of the meanest amongst the rest and therefore in the first place and in the behalf of all the Baptized Churches as he calls them we will examine his owne true Preaching of the word as he affirms in page 24. That his Church and all other Baptized Churches baptize such as shall be saved according to Mark 16. 16. because as he saith they are beleivers and repenters Again saith he they that Baptize such as confesse with their mouth the Lord Jesus and beleeve in their hearts that God hath raised him from the dead Rom. 10. baptizeth such as shall be saved But baptized Churches baptize such as confesse with their mouth the Lord Jesus and beleeve with their hearts that God raised him from the dead therefore baptized Churches baptize such as shall be saved This professed workman for want of true understanding to divide the word aright hath from his own mouth eternalized his own shame for want of a clear and true distinction in the same terms that have divers meanings And that his folly may the more be manifested we will ingeniously consider the Scriptures the first we read thus He that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved Now to find out the true meaning hereof two terms of necessity must be opened for one and the same term admitting of divers meanings in Scripture that sense must be distinguished from all others of like nature that is properly and only intended in that place Now for the term Faith it hath divers significations in the Scripture somtimes it is referred unto God somtimes unto men when unto God then it implyeth or intendeth nothing else but the sure and certain unalterablenesse of his promise and decree If unto men then it signifieth and intendeth either the doctrine of the Gospel it selfe or their faithfulnes that declare it or else some speciall gifts which the Spirit of God indueth his servants with now of such gifts there are but three sorts that bear the name of faith Somtimes the knowledge and certain understanding of the truth of Gods word is called Faith which for distinction sake may be called and that truly The Faith of knowledge or Historicall Faith which Faith although all the Saints under the Scriptures administration of the Gospel have yet it is not peculiar to them alone but common to all perishing Christians such as the Doctours Church consisteth of and may abundantly exceed in yea even Sathan himselfe The second gift of the holy Ghost is that by which any one miraculously doth such things as causeth admiration in the beholders exceeding naturall effects and is often in holy Writ called by the name of Faith and so may be denominated Miraculous Faith But with this gift the unholy may more excell then the holy men of God for John the Baptist did no Miracle but Iudas the Traytour did many in which gift of Faith the Priests and Juglers of Rome were famous as
Righteousnesse is her Mantle her cloathing It is a metaphoricall speech often used in the Scripture thereby declaring the Righteousnesse of Christ by being cloathed in sine linnen by a wedding Garment and a white stone and very apt is the resemblance for as a stole or Garment covers and adornes the naturall body so the righteousnesse of Christ covers and cloaths adorns and beautifies the poverty and brokenness of the peninent souls of his Elect. And this Garment is of that nature and quality as that it warms and sustains the feeble and thirsty soule with the assurance of the mercy and favour of God in Christ Jesus for ever And the Holy Ghost giveth testimony also of the fruits of her lively justifying faith in declaring her newnesse of life in her detestation of sin and true love to her Lord in this figurative expression And the Moon under her feet declaring thereby her mortification and death too and of her sinfull corruption and worldly naturall affection and also her vivification and daily renewed mind to a heavenly conversation delighting and meditating day and night in the Holy Law and Word of God being no more carnally but spiritually minded The next externall yet spirituall description is the Ornament of her head wherein shee took most pleasure saying Shee wore on her head a Crowne not with gold and silver beset with precious stones for the excellent matter thereof it exceeded all these for it was made of the holy and pure Doctrine of the Twelve Apostles which testimonies and verities of theirs are the Lords lights and torches to guide and direct sinners when they are benighted and darkned with their sins and for this cause are called by the name of stars And lastly the Holy Ghost declares the effects and operation of Gods spirit and word in her for by the heavenly truth which was by her ears received her heart spiritually conceived and shee was greatly filled with a deep sence of her owne vilenesse and unworthinesse with bemoaning and mournfully lamenting her sad forlorn condition travelling and labouring under great oppression by reason of sin in restlesse desire of reconciliation to God which paines and anguish of her mourning heart and contrite spirit the Apostle most truly compareth to the throwes and paines of a woman in travell of Child-birth of which spirituall pains and labour shee could not possible by any means be eased or releived untill her Lord were formed in her even untill her tender heart were sanctified by faith for nothing could cure the wound but the assurance of mercy nor nothing satisfie her restlesse desire but the love of God insured her in Christ her Lord and written in the fleshy Tables of her heart according to his everlasting Covenant Thus you see both the definition and description of the true Church of Christ that she is holy and spirituall within and without also distinguished and disevered from all other Churches by Regeneration as the outward Court and the Temple were parted by a vaile and described by such perfect fruits of righteousnesse as no Pharisaicall Congregations can bring forth And herein I have made good my promise to you in this first particular The second thing I promised was to make known unto you the divine Ordinances of this holy Church and they are many but we will briefly and that truly discover such as are most materiall to our purpose Now as shee her selfe is spirituall and their communions one with another so also is every part of her worship spirituall likewise and yet we must ever remember that most Ordinances consist of two parts the one carnall and outward the other spirituall and inward Now the common and carnall Christians are most busied about the carnall part as fleshly washings corporall eatings litterall Expositions and verball supplications like the Pharisees that were strict to tyth mint and the meanest externall things but wholly omitted the weightiest and greatest that which was internall as true Repentance c. diligently washed the outside but minded not at all to cleanse inwardly the heart in all which Mr Doctour you spent most of your labour and very few words or none about the spirituall part And one Reason was because all your Disputes tended but to a carnall Church for a Congregation of carnall Christians make no better then a carnall Church and carnall Arguments and actions doe manifest the hearts of such to be carnall But I desire your Repentance of these things and hasten to the discovery of the truth that may make you a Child thereof indeed and therefore we will returne to a further discovery of the true Churches spirituall Worship in the Heavenly part of Gods Ordinances in which shee and her Children are most conversant for they are alwayes mindfull of the Holy Covenant of their Lord in the heavenly parts of it they mourne and weep and suffer together in their patience possesse their souls and passe through the Valley of Tears participating each with other knowing they are thereunto called of God not only to beleeve but to suffer for his sake the assured hope they have of the great portion inheritance and salvation they are born unto by the spirit doth so support them that they rejoyce in tribulation the Holy Ghost bearing them witnesse That if they suffer with him they shall also reign with him Know you not saith the Apostle as if he had said in other words you know assuredly that as many of us as are Baptized into Jesus Christ were Baptized into his death therefore we are buried with him by Baptisme into death Mark the tearms Baptized or Buried with him into death which sheweth if men be Members of his body then if our head suffer the Members must suffer also and as sure as the Head is raised from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also his Members are raised in our mind and affections to newnesse of life And in the same sence he saith again For if we have been planted together in the likenesse and similitude of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his Resurrection And these broken melting hearted Saints that at first in their Regeneration were thus humbled and made low and poor in Spirit yielding inclining and bowing to the will and pleasure of Almighty God This heavenly grace which the Lord calls water in a spirituall meaning abides in and with them alwayes throughout their whole life and by it they are enabled to be Baptized with sufferings as they were born or begotten of water which is Repentance So likewise at the Lords Supper they sometimes and that with much comfort eat and drink corporally the Elements of Bread and Wine and therein declare the Lords death till his comming but they alwayes by faith communicate of his body and blood the Spirit of Adoption that dwells in them still bearing witnesse of the Lords everlasting kindnesse with the refreshings of the light of his countenance affording them more comfort then