of Office that is they are witnesses unto themselves or as the word will allow witnesses in themselves That they are the childreu of them that murthered the Prophets In which observe two things first that respect which the fathers after the flesh have to them as being their originall and predecessors secondly the respect which they have to the fathers as being their children and off-spring 1 First they confesse that their fathers were murtherers they killed the prophets therefore they acknowledg according to the tru intent of the Law that they themselves are murderers for whatsover may be said of an ancestour that may be truly said of the off-spring and therefore Levi is truly said to pay Tythes in his father Abraham being in his loynes when Melkizedek met him Hâ—br 7. 9 10. For in all the works of God Time weares not out in the off-spring the tru nature disposicion and quality of the progenitor for the off-spring retaines the properties of the progenitor in all points What might be sayd of a Lion in the beginning the same may be sayd of him now what might be sayd of a Lamb in the beginning the same may be sayd of him now and so of all the creatures upon the Earth What was sayd of the Serpent in the begining the same is tru of his off-spring at this day if falsifying of the word of God was the spirit of the Devill in the Serpent at the begining then false interpretacion of the word of God is the same spirit of the Devill in the actors thereof at this day what or whomsoever they may be or seem to appear 2 Secondly as they are the children of such parents wee know that none can assume a child like relacion but he must therein assume the fathers operacion or elce how should the child come by his being therefore they conclude themselves under the act and guilt of murder even of taking away the life of the Prophets in that they are the seed and off spring of them who did it before for the disposicion and operacion of the progenitor departs not from the tru seed and off-spring Exod. 20. 5. therefore the sins of the fathers are visited in the children unto the thirds and to the fourths of them that hate the Lord the word generacion is not in the Hebrew Text the thirds signifying the full and compleat condicion of all haters of God as Three that bear witnesse in Heaven are a compleat and perfect testimony and yet but One 1 Iohn 5. 7. and the fourths being the Number of Extension as the four Corners of the Earth comprehend the whole World in all the parts thereof signifying unto us that all and every sin in that whole estate of the haters of God are inflicted upon every particular party found therein and therefore accordingly in point of opposition there is no period or bound set unto Gods mercy in them that love him in the preservacion of his Law in the purity thereof he therefore that is related unto God in Christ as a son bears the same disposition and hath the same operacions of the Father really reckoned upon him and is in the exercise thereof according to the tru intent of the word of God therefore is that speech uttered by Christ hitherto the Father works and I work Iohn 5. 17. and however the carnall eye of the Iew never saw the man Iesus making this visible World yet without him was not any thing made that was made Iohn 1. 3. and the spirit of the Son being one with the Father is a sufficient testimony and witnesse in every Saint of God of his unity with the Father in his whol work as really as the same spirit witnesseth a unity or faith between the Creator and the creature so that hee which denies unity in the whol work of God not having the witnesse thereof he denies also unity in the Contract and Covenant of God not having any witnesse in himselfe thereof but remaines in the state of unbelief and hath that spirit which as it witnesseth relacion in generacion to him who is a murderer from the beginning so hath it the testimony of unity in the act in it self of being under the guilt of crucifying the son of God for if we confesse a certain innocency in our Progenitours in the act of creation destitute of the righteousness of God in Christ we therin testifie our selvs to be destitute of the righteousnes of God in Christ at this day and a Pharasaical righteousnesse is the most we attain unto and if we confesse our Progenitors of whom we properly do proceed to be actors in falling from God under guilt of sin and out of the favour of God for a moment or any point of time we have the witnesse in our selves that we are now in the way of the fall under guilt and condemnation and out of Gods favour and love unto this day for the spirit of Satan comprehends the parent and the posterity to witnesse in and of both alike as really as the Spirit of God comprehends the father and the son to testifie of them as one undenied act Note here that the children of the Devil as Christ cals them are of him who is a Murderer from the beginning a Lyer and therefore aboad not in the truth for when he speaks a lye he speaks his own it is himself both a father and son for he is a lyer or he is a lye as the product and the father thereof as the original of the same so that wickednesse was never brought forth but by the wicked one who is from the beginning as ancient as the son of God himself Iohn 8. 44. Also the Son of God is he in whom life is preserved from the beginning and therefore an eternal life as ancient as himself and so is said to be the way the truth and the life so that no man can come to the father but by or in him Iohn 14. 6. Whosoever then finds a time when the Lier was not and the Murderer he may as well find a time when truth and life eternal was not and he that goeth about to make a separation of just and unjust and not from the first motion of God towards man which is from everlasting as also to keep each of them that is the way of life and the way of death intire in the whol course of their progresse that man can never preserve and keep the word of God in its native purity but is a false Interpreter thereof and a betrayer of the just and holy One into the hands of the wicked Note further in conclusion of this point that when Abraham is said to be the father of beleevers as the Saints being reckoned as from him Rom. 4. 11 16. Abraham is personated in that high father according to the Etymology of his name or in that eternal father as the Prophet cals him in whom he plainly concludes both father and son as one state and
of God and this wisdom of God is only in Christ who is the wisdom of God the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. out of whom there is no proper wisdome and power which God owns as his therefore without the opening and revelation of the truth as it is in Iesus Ephes 4. 21. there is no proper wisdom or power of God extant among the sons of men but what is exercised among men otherwise is that Kingdome of darknesse wisdome of the Serpent and power of the Devill and what power or vertue there is in any or all other Creatures is to be referred unto one of these and according to that use which man makes thereof so it becomes cleane or uncleane unto him and is either Christian in its use or diabolicall Titus 1. 15. Rom. 14. 20. 3 The third point noted in the order of the Text is Christs interrogation How often would I have gathered thy Children together wherein observe 1 Christs appeal to the conscience of all wicked men that his solicitations and visitations for their recovery have been evident and are apparently known unto them which stand upon record in their hearts and can never be blotted out nor denyed for the clearing of this point read Psalm the 78. throughout 2 Secondly note the multiplication of this his solicitation How often that is my onsets upon thy children and Off-spring have been so reiterated multiplyed and constantly exhibited and represented that they cannot be reckoned they are altogether innumerable Psal 81. 8 -16 3 Observe what the proper will of the Son of God is How often would I have gathered thy Children together that is my will is only to gather mankind into unity with God for out of him there is no unity therefore he saith how often would I have gathered thy Children into unity that is the proper nature endeavour and will of Christ and he can no more will the death destruction and dissipation of mankind than Satan himself can will to submit and subject himself to the wisdome of God in Christ which he is at utter enmity against Christs will is therefore to bind over by law unto the way of salvation and it is this carnall Jerusalem which binds over by the law of the flesh unto destruction so as her children will not be reclaimed God in the way of Christ can no more will or desire the destruction of mankind than he could will or desire to annihilate the world upon the making of it that his whole work should be in vain and to no purpose It is not in the Son of God to will destruction therefore he takes a solemn Oath upon it Ezek. 33. 11. Ezek. 18. 23. As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of him that dyes and his will is that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4. so that God in the way of Christ hath no will for destruction for his will is his law and the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus only saves and it is the law of sin and death wherein destruction doth consist which is no will nor law peculiar unto God but proper to Satan therefore he adds but ye would not so that destruction consists in the law of this corrupt City and practice of her children it is their wil and law to have it so not that destruction depends upon the will of a Creature but it depends upon the law of sin death in false interpretation of the Word of God wherein they have formed the Word and work of God into the will and wisdome or naturall reason of a man whereby the word is become the word of the curse a savour of death and the Spirit of God a tormenter of mankinde as really as man in Christ is become a holy and a blessed Saviour and reconciler making peace between God and man and so gathering them into unity for ever 4 The fourth point is the manner how Christ strives with man set out in this metaphor As the hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings In this Metaphor we are to Consider how a Hen gathereth her Chickins under her wings or her Brood or Nest as the word imports and therefore is to be taken either as shee broods upon egges to breed life or as shee hovers upon her Chickens for the safety and preservation of them Deut. 22. 6. and secondly how it is applicable unto Christ 1 First we know a nest cannot be Compleat without the maker of it and therefore the dam or mother must be brought in as one with the egges or young therefore it is said that the Eagle stirreth up or maketh up her nest and fluttereth or moveth upon her young Deut. 32. 11. that is the nest is made up and compleat onely by the presence of the dam else either eggs or young suffer dammage So it is with the people of God the Nestling place of the Almâ—ghty he is to be considered and is become one together with them in all things and if we take him from them or them apart from him in any thing whatsoever we spoyle the Nestling place of fruitfullnesse and safety both of God and man iâ— we separate them either in point of time place or subsistence Iohn 17. 5 21 â—2 23. 2 Secondly the Hen neglects her self in the time of her brooding upon her nest that by her Constant hovering upon it no ayre or inconvenience may seaze upon it to hinder life in raising up her Kinde Even so it is with Christ the wisdome of God it neglects it self in all wicked men that none of the vertues or excellencies of the Spirit of God are found there though he be God it neglects it self also in that mysticall body of Christ that no humane glory or excellency bee found there though he be a man also and from the sufferings of the one and of the other of these twain he Broods upon the Saints to raise up an offspring and generation of sons unto God And in this respect it is said that the Spirit of God overshadowed the Virgin Luk. 1. 35. Yea the power of the most High So as neither the glory and excellency of man nor any wretchednesse or misery of man should take place to Contribute any thing to the form and being of any of the sons of God 3 Thirdly the Hen in brooding upon her Nest transfuseth her own proper heat life and vertue to give form and life unto her Nest in raysing up her Kinde and not the heat or life of any other thing the Fire no nor Sun or any artificiall heat devised will do it Even So the Wisdome Life and Spirit of God transfuseth it self into the off-spring and sons of God to give them forme life and motion as being naturallized and Kinded unto God and not any other influences as a secondary or mediate thing whatsoever therefore in every one that is called for so the word is both of
in way of humane genealogies O fools and blind shall we think that the genealogy and off-spring of the Son of God ended and was cut off in the Virgin Mary or that it was more carnal and bodily in onr forefathers then it is in our dayes is not the flesh of Christ though never a carnal and fleshly Christ conserved in his off-spring until now shall we think this word hath not eternity in it and is made good in his mystical body whereever any member thereof appears viz. My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed and he that eateth not my flesh and drinketh not my blood hath no life in him or is this speech worn out so as that it comprehends not the whole body viz. My heart and my flesh rejoyces in the living God Is there no more mention to be made of this word My soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth greatly after thee is a land of drought Such as lay these things aside and count it blasphemy to say Christ is compleatly present in his Saints in these dayes in the reallity of whatsoever his body consists of and will but afford him only some certain spirit or rather rayes and influences thereof to be resident in his Saints to this end that the world may not want power to do what they please with their bodies these men are of that spirit of Antichrist which deny the coming of Christ in the flesh as the Spirit of God in his Apostle averreth for if it were salvation to confess Christ come in the flesh as born of the Virgin Mary in such an age of the world only then would that wicked sea and lake of Rome have as much salvation in it as thy people at this day extant who profess and describe him in that respect by so many abominable signs and Images for our Apostle affirms that that spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God But this spirit which confesses Christ upon the same principles that Rome and the rest of the rabble of the world do who read the writings of the Apostles they do not acknowledge the insufficiency of man in that alsufficiency of the Son of God nor that disability of the creature in point of all humane help to be born up and carried out in that strength and desire proper only to the spirit of God In case therefore of the Jews in their strictness about genealogies and pedegrees I am as a Jew in all such matters and it is the only doctrine I teach whereby I find an ear in them to hear but it is to confound and bring to nought all carnal vain genealogies tribes kindreds and families as having respect unto God that the family and race of the Son of God only may take place of them all that so I may gain them all unto him or vanquish and subdue them all under him that the reality of them all may only be found in him as they are of any truth holiness honour or of any acceptation unto or in any respect with God at all and that all other are but vain and endless genealogies as our Apostle calls them Ignorance of this point in that obcaecoâ—n and pro-caxiouse spirit in the ministry of the world is the cause of that carnal conceit that a member of a church ordered composed and cast into a form by men and the children born in the confines of a church so framed are the true seed and off-spring of Christ and that all others are without any visible ensign of the true Religion and worship of God Again ignorance in this point of the true and compleat proceed of Christ whenever he appears really in any particular person or office is the very ground of that diabollical conceit that the Spirit of God operates in man here on the earth for a time and at his death man as a creature returns unto the earth both in regard of soul and body and is dissolved into the elements whereof natural bodies are made and composed and that nothing but simply God as an increated being is saved or returns to his ancient center these two opinions seem to be far distant but are both alike diabolical denying the truth and reallity of the Son of God and are deceivers of mankind causing them to be inamored with and dore upon the wayes of death and destruction in the villification and rejection of that salvation which is by Christ To them that are under the law as under the law that is to such as are under that Ceremonial bond and ingagement of being tied in the wayes of their worships to persons places times and terms of humane relations as necessary parts thereof instituting of churches creating of officers setting up seals signs services of time which in time will vanish away to these I declare my self to be under as strict bonds and ingagements as themselves be so as I move not in heart nor by hand utterance in tongue or gestures and demeanure in carriage But with respect unto this my ingagement which is the bond of the spirit binding me over unto God by freeing me from all ingagements and things whatsoever inferiour to himself in his Son Christ and not the spirit of bondage which ingageth unto the creature as being set in the place of the Creatour which is ever accompanied with trembling and fear because of the conscience of the insufficiency and uncertainty thereof And by taking up these their bonds and transitory ingagements whereabout as servants of sin they spend their time imploy their studies exercise their zeal in binding heavy burdens upon themselves and others seeking rest by the imployment of that unclean spirit but find none busying themselves in picking at the bark rinde husk or shell and never come to taste of the pith marrow or kernell and by opening of these rudiments and declaring what they be in their strictest injunctions which being followed to the uttermost of their intent in what they drive at and lead unto which is no less nor fall they short of an impossibility to please God thereby I do by these things bring out the reallity of the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus our Lord which is the only freedome from this law of sin and death Which law of God hath all its relations operations and respects only in Christ and out of him it neither binds by any bond nor layes it any burden but hath in it in every respect the liberty freedome and authority of the Son of God And by this means I gain the truth and verity of all law bonds and ingagements to have their subsistance and being only in the Son of God being of the same degree power and continuation which himself is and ever will be which is the onely freedome and therefore the Saints of God are not bound unto but transcend and are far above all humane and transitory things from which God hath freed
is said the word was made flesh or is made flesh and tabernacles in us as the words are and we saw his glory as the glory or as the word is verily the glory of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth Iohn 1. 14. So that he maintains a Spirit of Christ early or late without the complete matter whereof Christ consists that man is ignorant of Christ and interprets the word in the denyal of him being that spirit denies that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh which is not of God but is that spirit of antichrist 1 Iohn 4. 2 3. for to confess Christ Jesus as born of the Virgin Mary only in the dayes of Herod is not confession which the Apostle intends for it that his coming in the flesh in the confession thereof were to speak by the Spirit of God I think then all that ever spoke the Latine tongue would prove speakers by the Spirit of God and then such as they stile Papists would be the most eminent confessours of Jesus which are so cried out against as hereticks for as concerning that act of his doctrinal coming in the flesh who have more images crucifixes Sacraments and Idolatrous monuments then they amongst whom there is no speaking by the holy Spirit of God at all but are such as compass sea and land walking to and fro without certainty and pitching the points of their circumference at such a distance as the coming of Christ in the flesh never admitted of the Jews propounded a time remote wherein he would come the Gentiles a time remote that he was here in the flesh and neither the one nor the other led by that spirit never would nor will acknowledge him his true and real appearance Psalme 2. 1. 6. 2. The second point in the pronouncing of this wo is the end for which they are in this care and travel and that is to make one proselite that is one religion to have all men of the same profession that so the arm of flesh might bear the sway without controul or disturbance this the world hath travelled in from the beginning thinking it can never be glorious and secure till it be effected at the least in great measure so as to be the major vote at the least to this eomes the study of reformation that great toil of preaching after the manner of the doctrine of the pharises that rigour of executions in carnal governments that all may come to be of one mind to make a glorious Church and state to have no gainsayers nor such as shall offend These cannot be content to give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and unto God the things that are Gods Matth. 22. 21. but they will make Cesar to be God and so convert the devil and cannot rest till light and darkness Christ and Belial be made one 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16. These men are remote from hearing of that voice my graâ—e is sufficient for thee for if they know that the power of God were only made manifest and perfected through the weakness of man that is by an utter cessation of all humane abillities in the matters of God they could not but know also shat the force of man by means of multitude can be no hinderance of the good successe of the Saints though never so few in number in any age of the world for that day of small things in the eyes of carnal contemners and dispisers break forth into those seven eyes of God or seven fold light of the Spirit which are about the throne of God Zachar. 4. 10. Revel 1. 4. together wit that plummet or plumm-line in the hand of our Zorubbabel to give a â—ight form unto all things belonging to the temple in the perfecting thereof then is the time for power to appear in the oxes goad Iudge 3. 31. and strength in the jaw bone of an asse Iudges 15. 15 16. then will terrour arise out of the whistling or the wind in the top of the Mulberry trees 1 Chron. 14 â—4 15. and fear from the appearance of Gidians Barley cake Iudges 7. 13 22. If men knew the manner of the resurrection of Gods power in the Spirit of a Saint how it perfects it self through mans own deficiency they would never be so industrious to make the world become of one religion for fear of a multitude of opposites Not but that the Saints of God may be furnished with abillity to know any art or science as well as any other man and have the practice of it only with this two fold caveat they know all humane and temporary things through the valing of them and the vanishing of them if they know them so as Christ is propagated uâ—to them by the knowing of them as he is the true end of all things Rom. 10. 4. Rom. 11. 36. So to know them is to vale them in point of all glory or excellency appearing in them heing so truly known even as Tamar was valed when Judah knew her in the propagation of Phares Gen. 38. 13. 13 14 15 16 19 20 21. of whom Christ came Matth. 1. 8. so that in knowing her he knew her not the Saints look upon the glory of the world as an inticing harlot nsing it as though they used it not and buy as though they possessed not for the fashion of it passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 31. Therefore in the second place they know the things of the world to the vanishing of them as a leaf tossed with the wind Iob 13. 25. Isa 34. 4. and as the flower of grass when the wind hath passed upon it Isa 4 6 7. even as Tamar was vanished when the kid was sent to receive the robes of honour from her Therefore the Apostle speaking of that glory which seems to be in the administration of the law which he calls the ministry of condemnation saith it hath no glory when the ministration of the spirit appears which he calls the exceeding or excellent glory 2 Cor. 3 9 10. To conclude this point those who see such excellencies to appear in the multitude as to use all their pollicy and industry to bring all into a uniformity they never saw the excellent glory but they are such men of renown as were in the beginning the Giants of the world who to bring forth a mighty and monstrouse generation bring into contract and covenant the posterity of Cain and Seth in the point and matter of increase abroad have been the ruine of the world ever since it existed Gen. 6. chap. the only composers of sea and land to the production of the deluge of Gods displeasure upon the sons of men 3. Therefore the third point is the issue when you have made him he is two fold more the child of hell then you your selves that is when false interpretation of the law hath begotten a spirit of pride and cruelty to execute according to those lying and dissembling dictates which is the bringing forth
the men which walk over them perceive not Luke 11. 44. Declaring plainly that men as they are indued with humane wisdome and secular learning may travel and walk constantly over doctrine springing from like principles and never perceive those gross and filthy abominations which lie hid under the same Christ therefore perceiving their outward trappings paintings and pargeting humane traditions with the name of God to make them acceptable for the deluding of carnal minds he openeth their inside unto the world and tells them that these graves however they may appear to simple men unlearned in the mystry of God yet in truth they are full of dead mens bones and of all filthiness and uneleaness 1. Now we know that when men rifâ—le into a grave where nothing appears but dead mens bones they appear in a confused heap there is no order nor comliness to be found among them they are scattered from the original unity of all things yea they are therefore Babylon with respect unto that Jerusalem which is compact and a city in unity with it self forever Psalme 12â— 3. such is the condition of all them where false interpretation of the word of God takes place there is not a jot of Gods order or unity to be sound amongst them 2. They are dead bones also being destitute of any marrow wherewith to oil the points for motion they move not in the way of God Psalme 115. 7. 3. Again they are dead bones without marrow to supple them and make them capable of conjunction with that which was their ornament such are false interpretours not having the Spirit Iude 19. they are not in any capacity of conjunction with that which is the only ornament of the sons of men which is the son of God Psalme 3. 3. no more then dead mens bones are capable of unity with flesh and blood vains sinews muscles arteries and the like 2. Secondly he tells them that as graves they are full of all filthiness and uncleanness wheresoever doctrine is not filled with the marrow of the Spirit of God there is a defiling and corrupting of all the holy things of God for as Christ sanctifies and makes holy mans nature in himself which otherwise is unholy and unclean even so antichrist by false doctrine in misconceiving of the word of God makes that unholy and filthy in himself which otherwise is most holy and undefiled Mallac 2. 11. Ezekiel 22. 26. For as Christ saith in like case if the light that is in you be darkness how great is that darkness Matth 6 23. for there remains nothing to inlighten it or cure it if the light be darkness it self So likewise if their paintings and pargettings their purity and cleanness in their whited tombs and glosses set upon their doctrine amiable and delightful in the eye of humane reason be nothing else in the truth of the matter but rottenness putrifaction and corruption how great is that uncleanness when there remains nothing to cure it for their cure is the proper corruption for their proper way of cure is to turn the truth of God into a lie Rom. 1. 5. by terminating the word of God in vanishing things which is to erect avain Idol for it is all one to deny the Son of God to be the only Authour of all things as to deny him to be the only end of all things For we may as well and safely conclude that something in the word of God comes from some other then the Son of God Iohn 1. 12. who is the only mind wisdome consistance and exsistance of the father as to conclude that any thing in the word of God points at any thing short of or inferiour to the same Son of God in its proper intent and scope then the which nothing can be greater Idolatry either in one respect or in the other for he only is that Alpha and Omega the first and the lâ—st the beginning and the end Revel 22. 13. All things therefore are from Christ as their Authour and to Christ as their end and in him in their exercise Rom. 11. 36. For we know that an Idol is nothing in the world 1 Cor. 8. 4. but a meer vainifying or falsifying of the word of God which is indeed the devil 1 Corinth 10. 19 20. 21. To conclude this point false interpretours are corrupt and unclean by defiling the holy things of God turning the glory of God into shame Rom. 1. 21. 25. by denying Christ the right of inheritance and present possession of all things whether office or execution within the confines of his kingdome which is no other then that Spirit of Saul that ever denies David the present right and possession of the whole kingdome of Israel in all the administrations thereof whatsoever Psalme 4. 2. for to attribute or design an office or administration to another beside Christ is to defame and callumniate the Son of God as though he were unworthy of it or wanted power and skill to accomplish and perform it or as one being in exile and not really present to undertake it which must either deny the incomprehensible vertue of his mystical body or else such officer must exclude the Spirit of Christ out of the world in their dayes and then themselves must of necessity work by another spirit then his body is quickned by Rom. 8. 9 10 11. 2. The second general point noted in this wo is the application of the Metaphor according to its real intent declaring the nature of the doctrine of false interpretours in the inside thereof not discerned by humane learning or the traditions of men therefore they are said to appear righteous before men because it is the letter that kils which they teach which comes within the capacity of mans wisdome according to the judgement and wisdome of God and therefore it can never stand before his tribunal Psalme 1. 5. however men of like principles judge them to be righteous which is only in appearance without the reallity thereof 1. For in truth they are full of hypocrisie that is deceit and guile being of the same spirit which beguiled Eve at the first as she is the mother of all living according to the flesh 1 Cor. 6. 16. 2 Cor. 21. 3. 2. Again they are full of iniquity unequal and uneven in all things they never reconcile the word of God so as to have alike weight and worth in it self all things and of like use in all the Saints of God who are all Kings and all Priests all first-born all servants and all freemen of the city of God Revel 5. 10. Hebr. 12. 23. 1 Cor. 7. 22. They cannot give like dignity unto the Son as to the father at all times and in all things as having received the inheritance and hath the disposure thereof in all things as truly it is the donation of the father which twofold act can stand together in Christ though not in earthly relation nor carnal mind and that perpetually they cannot
teachers Phil. â— 19. For they move not but to satisfie their carnall appetite with honour wealth friendship outward peace and prosperity to be strengthned in the arm of flesh and leave plenty of such things unto their posterity Oh ye Serpents that move not but upon the cause of your belly to satisfie your corporeall body and life and when you attain to any preferment herein your religion either becomes a slavish underling or else withers quite away as the Serpent casts his withered slough or skin in the heare of Summer Yea he goes upon his belly breast or heart as the word imports that is their principal part signified by breast or heart cleaves unto the earth that is unto carnal and terrene things their mind understanding wisdom will affections and conscience yea all their learning is carnal earthly in the very prime and height thereof so that their principal aptitudes as breast or heart move not but upon the earth other creatures tread upon the earth as a thing mean and base put under their feet the Serpent moves not but layes it to his heart and bosom Oh Serpents the original of the curse of God but for false interpretation there had never been curse in the world nor wrath of God upon mankind which consists in going upon the belly or breast that is in carnalizing the word of God going upon it as upon the words of mâ—ns wisdom and principles not according to the wisdom and power of God 1 Cor. 2. 5. And in the words of mans wisdome and principles the letter of the Scriptures doth properly consist as is apparent to all that are not wilfully blind by the histories thereof proverbs parables relations offices buildings battels journeyings genealogies life and death of the Saints with the nature and operations of all Creatures in the heavens and on the earth which we see come in some sort within the confines of humane capacity which is the common doctrine of the world only adorning it as with God or making it as their God which is that which the Hebrews call Cashaph of which the Greeks have formed their word â—a caino and the Latins Fascino which is to bewitch and is the changing of the glory of the incorruptible God into thè image of a corruptible man and into birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things Rom. 1. 23. Which is nothing else but to place the glory of God to consist in conformity with the letter of the Scripture which is naturally written in every mans heart else the word of God could not expresse it selfe in all men that is in such as unto whom the spirit of God is not given also such as never had the written word of God could not lie under the breach of any known law of God and therefore their consciences could not accuse or excuse which is the portion of all men Rom. 2. 15. for doubtlesse the sound of the Scriptures is gone into all the earth and their words unto the end of the world Rom. 10. 18. 3 Thirdly the Serpent is known by his food dust shalt thou eat saith God Gen. 3. 14. to declare the basenesse of his proper sustentation to be such as all creatures decline dry dust can bring forth nothing that is good to perfection Isaia 65. 25. This is the food of all false Interpreters they carnallize and corrupt the word of God in all things for as dust is void of moisture which makes the earth fruitful so do they bereave the word of God of all that moisture and oyly intent of the Spirit or else it s no acceptable food for them to sustain the works of the slesh in terrene glory and beauty Oh Serpents that feed on nothing but basenesse by the verdict of God for to cast the word of God into a transitory form is nothing else but that unclean Spirit of the Devil which Christ here as his manner is rebukes for though there be an acknowledgement of Christ to be the Son of the most high God yet in that they professe Christ to be another thing than themselves are for they are affraid of being tormented by him therefore reckon themselves to be another thing for Christ doth not torment himselfe no man hates his own flesh Ephes 5. 19. In this they appear to have that unclean Spirit for it is and ever was the very form of the Devil so to do as really as it is the form of the Son of God to make himselfe one with the Father Iohn 10. 30. Iohn 14. 9. Therefore Christ rebukes such as unclean spirits yea that spirit of Satan as such as hath no interest in them that are his Mark 5. 7. 8. Oh Serpents who feed so basely as upon the husk the shell the barke and rinde of the word of God whereby the curse is formed and maintained in the world forsake the â—eed of immortality the kernel the sap the pith and the marrow of all things which is the scope intent and spirit of all things recorded and registred in the word and works of God 4 Fourthly the Serpent is known by his hearing for his custome is to stop his ear though the Charmer charm never so wisely Psalm 58. 5. he will not hear now we know that to charm a thing is to utter the same tune note speech or language which that uttereth which we are about to charm with an interposition or infinuation of something whereby to take with guile in the motion or coming forth of the thing as the Apostle useth the word guile in a good sense 2 Cor. 12. 16. But this Serpent in false Interpretation stops the ear let the good Charmer charm never so wisely it will not hear that is let the Son of God in tru interpretation opening of the word of God sound forth speak in the very same note tune which mans heart is known by naturally according to the history proverb parable and progresse of the word of God in way of ushering it into the heart of man or bringing forth the thoughts of mans heart to symbolize and agree therwith as it is propounded in the figure similitude metaphor allegory and dialogiums thereof yet when the truth of the thing appears which the spirit of God intends and is properly taken with against that doth the Serpent and false and subtle interpreter stop his ear even as it is said of the Serpent that he layes one ear to the ground and stops the other with his tayle wherein his life and motion properly resides for some Serpents after their head be cut off will live and move many hours which life and motion appears properly in the tayl So these false Interpreters when truth appears stop their ear in one respect with an earthly conjecture and conception of the word of God and in another respect with that lively aptitude which naturally they have to move and act in such carnal and sensuall wayes and respects which resides in the tail or in
that inferiour part or place of the sting of sin and curse of God Rev. 9. 10. made manifest in his word 1 Cor. 15 56. Oh Serpents this your false and carnall interpretation hath stopped the ear of man from the beginning that he will not hear the voice of the Son of God though he useth all his skil for the opening of it it is carnall and earthly interpretation in all ages that hath stoped the ear from hearing entertaining and approving the good word of God and by other means was the word of life never hindred from making entrance into the heart of man in any age of the world nor among any people or nation And it is only words of spirit and life Iohn 6. 63. that boar the ear and open it to hear the voice of the Son of God Psalm 40. 6. Iohn 5. 25. that they may live it is that which incorporates into the house and family of God so as never to depart thence for he is tyed thereby unto the door post even by that sound of the word in his soul that he can never depart from it even as the Servant that had served his Master seven years and would have no other freedome but what was found in that house and service was brought to the door post and boared thorow the ear entring into covenant therby to serve him for ever Exo. 21. 6. For there may be a Covenant struck by the ear as well as by the hand Heb. 8. 9. Therefore the Psalmist proclames Oh blessed is that people that know the joyful sound for they shall walk on in the light of thy face Oh Lord in thy name shall they be glad all the day and in thy righteousnesse shall they be exalted Psalm 89. 15. 16. alluding to the sound of the Silver Trumpet at the Wars Assemblies Solemn Feasts Iourneys and over the Sacrifices of Israel Psalm 81. 3. Numb 10. 3. 9. 10. Joel 2. 1. 15. The ear listning to true interpretation binds over to God incorporates into that mystical body of Christ and keeps from ever departing thence any more knowing the shrill sound of the trump of God which is the dictate of the spirit of God it preserves in the Camp for ever 5 Fifthly The Serpent is known by his act that is he crusheth the heel of Christ as the seed of the woman breaketh or crusheth his head so he breaks bruiseth or crusheth the heel or foot-soal of the seed of the woman that is of Christ Gen. 3. 15. For as Christ bruiseth the head of the serpent crusheth or squeezeth out the headship and power of the Devil so that nothing of his wisdom subtilty cruelty hypocrisie and authority appearâ— in the Saints of God in any of their wayes even so doth the Serpent by false interpretation bruise and crush the heel or soot soal of Christ or the print of the soot as the word imports that is whereas the Son of God in the Character letter or historical records of the word written in mans heart hath therein secretly and mystically involved his proper and saving intent which the Saints of God know how to take â—ut as their only and meet help Gen. 2. 18. for the propagation of their kind as they are the workmanship of God in Christ and his off spring Ephes 2. 10. Act. 17. 29. Even as the Lord tooke aâ— rib out of the side of the first man that great and original Character of mankind and made a woman of it Gen. 2. 21. for the multiplication of man upon the face of the earth Gen. 2. 28. So false interpreters they take out the letter and history of the word from the intent and mind of God and by that means bruise and squeeze out the life and spirit of Scripture that not a print of Christs proper footsteps which he hath truly taken therein can appear being they have carnallized them by closing up the flesh instead therof as though the glory power consisted only therein and as though no defect were upon man in the departure of the rib or bone the life and spirit of the word wherein all true power and glory doth consist which they by this means of spoyling the proper print of Christs footstep which he hath set upon all things in heaven and in earth terminating the form thereof in transient things which is the arm of flesh and so with the Serpent are accursed Jerem. 17. 5. Oh Serpents who by the bruising and disfiguring of the prints of Christs footsteps which he hath set upon all things rightly considered to make his way known to the sons of men according to the Spirit in closing up the flesh instead thereof to be the glory have thereby deluded and destroyed the world unto this day Rev. 9. 10. But these men cry out against such as stand for the scope intent life and spirit of the Scriptures which Christ saith his words are Iohn 6. 63 that they turn the Scriptures into an Allegory whilst in the mean time themselves are the only persons that so do for they will have all to consist in the proper allegory metaphor history outward form of parable proverb journeys buildings sacrifices and ceremonies and therefore in the laying down of one form and figure they take up another or else they would lose all their Religion as they must needs do at the time of their death for they have nothing to do when they come to heaven according to their own doctrine which they do hear no not to love God himselfe which they say only continues not understanding the speech of the Apostle concerning faith hope and love 1 Cor. 13. 13. for by their owne doctrine they deny to love God in Heaven as they do now here in this world for now they professe they love him mediately in another but then they will love him immediately in himself These are the allegorizers upon the word of God for they turn all into the proper figure Allegory Metaphor and misse of the truth and substance in all things 6 Sixthly The Serpent is known by his names and they are many whereof one is Pithon coming of the Hebrew word Pethen a Spirit of delusion that followed the Apostle Paul thereby to maintain and uphold the way of its delusion this is a certain effeminate Spirit oâ— divination that for gaine fi nds out a way by subtilty to prostrate it selfe to any forme of doctrine and that which seemes to prevail and be in honour with the most that it takes up with great applauding of the same together with the Publishers thereof Act. 16. 16. 17. And that this Sepent sets upon his own principles which are carnall and diabolicall which principles by that means he covertly and cunningly insinuates into the world by transforming himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11. 13. for the upholding of the glory power riches and outward prosperity thereof as though the way of Iesus Christ were promoted and propagated therein Oh ye
give true or false intelligence according to the wisdom or folly of that spirit by which they are managed even as the word of God doth by true or false interpretation thereof in the heart or mouth of him who hath the management of the same 3 Thirdly consider that the word of God terminated in the Creator and in the Creature there is to be considered in the height and perfection of the one and of the other a distinct wisdom that is to say a wisdom peculiar to God with respect unto the Creature and a wisdom proper unto man with respect unto God by vertue whereof the same thing is formed and uttered in the wisdom of the Creature that is in the wisdom and knowledge peculiar to God and therefore all things in the beginning are said to be good that is acceptable and desirable unto man as well as approvable unto God so that there is nothing in the visible Creation that man can reject or desire to have annihilated and not to be if he knew but the nature end and use thereof with respect to himselfe therefore all things are said to be good both in mans account and in the account of God so that whatsoever man called the Creature so its name was concluded to be by the Creator Gen. 2. 19. 20. And therefore the Apostle affirms of all men universally the word iâ— nigh thee in thy heart and in thy mouth Rom. 10. 8. in order unto this that mans wisdom frameth alike thing unto it selfe that the wisdom of God doth the one being the shadow without the substance therfore a lye vanity the other the substance in the vanishing of the shadow and therefore truth and verity If the wisdom of God expresse it self in way of King and Kingdome Psalm 2. 6. Psalm 74. 12. Gen. 14. 18. Psalm â—49 2. the wisdom of man forrneth and expresseth it self in the like thing if the wisdome of God expresse it self in Priest Prophet War Peace Father Son Husband Wife Eating drinking marriage giving in marriage City Town Fort and Tower Youth and Age Labour or Rest Night and Day Summer Winter Seed-time and Harvest Feasting or Fast the wisdome of man naturally expresseth ir selfe in the same things and so expects a Saviour in some to whom power is committed above the rest and an anointed in some of more worth than the rest as they are constitnted and appointed by the Creature else they are not such yea in all points of trade Merchandize and Husbandry mans wisdom speaks the same thing which the word and wisdom of God doth Ezek. 27. Prov. 3. 14. Mat. 13. 45 -48 Isaiah 28. 24 -29 the same expressions therfore wherin the wisdom of God teacheth his people are ingraven in the wisdom of man naturally which Characters being taken for the thing intended by God is nothing else but the wisdom of the Serpent which beguiles the men of the world which Characters humane are by the wisdom of God in all the Saints of God as that handwriting contained in ordinances nullified cancelled and brought to naught Ephes 20 15. Col. 2. 14 -19 4 In the fourth place we conclude that the word of God utters it selfe from divers principles for according to the mind and wisdom of God in Christ it utters it self from eternall and unchangeable principles Iâ— it utter it selfe in way of King and Kingdom it intends one that ever reigns Dan. 7. 27. Heb. 1. 8. iâ— in Priest he ever lives to make intercession and is after the order of Melchizedeck Heb. 7. 3. 25. if in Prophet he ever foresees and interprets the Vision if in Father he is that ancient of dayes Dan. 7. 9. if in Son his birth-day is from the womb of the early morning that is before the hils and mountains were made Psalm 1â—0 3. Psalm 90. 1. 2. if it speak of life it lasts for ever if of death it is eternal if of Captain it is he that leads captivity captive Ephes 4. 8. and if it speak of war it is that which never ceaseth 1 Pet. 5. 8. 9. Jude 3. Although Melchizedeâ—k knows how to reign in peace as in Salem in Abrahams conquest and victory when all the Kings of the Nation are in strife and at enmity Gen. 1â— But the wisdome humane utters it self upon principles momentany and transient as now man is clothed with the righteousnesse of the Son of God by faith in Christ but in the beginning man stood just before God in a certaine innocency which was not that righteousnesse of the son of God Iesus Christ therefore transient it is past away for the righteousnesse of God is sufficient for the Saints and then all other is superfluous neither was there ever any other but such as is coyned by the Pharisee so also it saith now the Saints are in light but there was a time when they were in darkness now they are converted and alive unto God but â—here was a time when they were dead in that respect now they are under sin but at such a time there was no sin that is in the time of that false and counterfeited innocency now the Saints are remote from Christ but a time will come when they shall be near him now they have faith hope but then they shall have need of neither Yea they make Christ a momentany and transient thing saying that now he is one with mans nature but the time was when he was not one with it nor had any use thereof as also they affi m that now he is alive in the same sence wherin he was said to be dead according to the proper intent of the word of God which makes him a transient and changeable son sometime a live and sometime dead in the same respect in the intent of Scripture Yea these men make God himselfe according to their Philosophical description of him to be a transient and changeable God for they teach that he was once well pleased with mankind universally without any exception but in the fall he was displeased with them which is to make a change in the Allmighty and that now he is offended and displeased with his Saints on earth in many things till repentance hath wrought peace again but the time will come when he will be well pleased with them in all things yea and that he was once well pleased with the Divell but now he is at enmity with him which enmity against Satan therefore cannot be eternal and so there is a dislike or disowning in God which is not eternal God then is not like himself nor suitable to his own nature therefore by the doctrine springing out of these humane principles for it makes God momentany and transient and in such principles consists the spirit of that old Serpent the Devil and Satan from the beginning untill now and the more studiously men exercise their thoughts upon such grounds and principles the further they wander out of the way and stray from God in
ruine and overthrow unresistably even as the spirit of God departing from Saul an evil spirit from the Lord troubles him and nevers gives him â—est till he had brought him to destruction 1 Sam. 16. 14. 1 Chron. 10. 4. 5. 6. false interpretation is a transformation of the spirit of the Lord into a spirit of trouble and torment as really as it transforms the truth of God into a lye Rom. 1. 25. and therefore it is said of the Lord I will be unto them as a Lion as a Leopard by the way will I observe them I will 〈◊〉 them as a Bear that is bereaved of her Welps and will rent the caul of their heart and there will I devour them like a Lion the wilde beast shall tear them Hos 13. 7. 8. So that it is a reall truth that God destroyes the wicked with a mighty and unresistable power in that way of Antichrist aâ—d unbelief though otherwise a God of salvation and deliverance Psalm 68. 20. even as it is a reall truth that man in that way of Christ saves the chosen of God though otherwise a worm and no man and as a beast before the Lord Psalm â—2 6. Psalm 73. 22. and thus much for the first point namely the guilt that cleaves to false Interpreters the second is the manner of their Progresse in which observe these things 1 First A discription of the parties on whom this cruelty is exercised and they are described first by their Names that is Abel and Zacharias Secondly by an adjunct in the one and by the ancestor of the other Abel the righteous and Zachariah the Son of Barachiah 2 Observe the manner of the Fact which doth greatly agravate or extenuate a matter that is said here to be from blood to blood from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah 3 The Application of the Fact done so long before unto the â—arties then present in these words whom ye slew 4 The place where the Fact is done that is between the Temple and the Altar 5 A serious asseveration or an affirmation of a just and proportionable recompence to come upon the Murtherers in these words verily I say unto you all these things shall come upon this generation 1. And first they are described by their names upon whom this cruelty is exercised the first being Abel as Luke hath it from the blood of Abel but Matthew addes righteous Abel whence observe that we are not to take up a name or to use it uponany occasion title or epithite given in the word of God but as we consider the nature of the thing therin included otherwise we use the name in vaine it is an empty and fruitlesse title unto us without truth and substance and carrieth not in it as conveying unto us the weight of Gods purpose and appointment unto his people Therefore when we use the word Lord as speaking from the Lord unto others if there arise not in our hearts a royal courage and authority as having dominion over whatever might oppose his truth with confidence of prosperous successe to accomplish his holy ends otherwise we participate not in the nature of the name used in that respect and God never gave name without the nature accompanying the same therefore every Creature in the beginning had its name according to its nature if the name of God therefore be called upon us or we called by his name Jer. 14. 9. we have the nature of it also or else it is an empty and vain title which the wisdom of God never gives to any Again if we use the name Lord as speaking to God in Prayer or Thanksgiving then there is annexed unto it in our hearts a ready willing chearfull and voluntary submission and obedience unto his will in all things otherwise it is but an empty and fruitlesse title Likewise if we use the title or tearm Father as we exercise the place of gravity beseeching men in Christs stead to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5. 20 then are our hearts possessed and replenished with a spirit of tendernesse and bowels of compassion earn within us Hosea 11. 8. or else we take that name of God in vain in that respect it is an empty title unto us and God will not hold him guiltlesse that takes his name up as a bare and empty term Exod. 20 7. Also if we use the name Father as we appeal unto God for instruction protection and supply then doth the disposition of a Child fill our hearts as though we stood in no other relation but of a Child to a tender and compassionate father for the Spirit of God is full in all its operations Adde further but that which might be added in this point is infinite if we take up the name or title of King we must bring in therewith the true nature of eternity and immortality the only wise God who reigns in peace is glorious and hath everlasting life Psalm 93. 1. Heb. 7. 1. 2. 1 Tim. 1. 17. unto whom all glory doth appertain and belong and to none else what ever he be where that Princely spirit is not found otherwise we measure and account of our selves according to transient titles offices and actions a rule wherby the Son of God never took form unto himself nor doth he account of any thing in his condition and Kingdome according to the worth or dignity of any momentany thing whatsoever but only takes them up as Gideons souldiers did the water out of the Brook with their hands not to lodge and lie down by the River but took up that contained in the River as a furtherance and helpe to their proper intent and design and those that lie down by them by lodging the word of God in them they may turne back into Egypt from whence they came for they are no souldiers of our Lord Iesus Christ they do but take up his name in vaine without the nature annexed to the same Iudg. 7. 5. 6. 7. 8. Note further in this name together with the adjunct Abel the righteous according to the Etymologie of the name Abel it signifies vanity or emptinesse or a soon vanishing vapour such is every mans life said to be Iames 4. 14. and here the spirit of God annexeth righteousnesse unto it saying Righteous Abel whence we observe that there is a righteousnesse in vanity which being rightly considered it is a vanity or emptinesse wherein all things are contained both good and evill and so the righteousnesse of Condemnation and the righteousnesse of Absolution are adjoyned and annexed thereunto for there is a vanity and emptinesse to be found in all unbeleevers and also in all the elect or chosen of God and that Christ Iesus is personated in Abel is most evident for in Abel he is said to be a Lamb slain from the beginning Rev. 13. 8. even as Satan in that wicked act of Cain in staying his brother is said to be a Murtherer from the beginning Iohn 8. 44.