A bare external painted form they have a shel of duty and carkass of Religion but without the Life and inward vigour Such are Pharisaical monkish Hypocrites varnished potsheards garnished Sepulchres Christ was troubled with such and so are we still Profession is grown into fashion shifted by many as men shift their cloaths They make use of God to serve their own turn and enjoy their Lust Such are on a round of duty like a Mill-horse in a course perfunctorily Religionis their task and Burthen They post from one Ordinance to another as to a stage longing to be rid of their trouble Used to a Road as a Carriers horse they carry their Load and take their turns But this gracious knowledge they are strangers to Their worship is much like the mongrel Samaritans that knew the Lord in a mixt formal way but knew him not aright Is not this a woful condition thinkest thou to baffle Christ thus Will this foppish way of dead performances be pleasing to him who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and Truth Did not Paul himself see the vanity of his utmost Pharisaical holiness wherein he rested before his conversion Hast thou not much more need to bewail thy coldness and deadness thy cursoriness and heartlesness A sacrifice without a heart was alwayes ominous as it proved among the Romans Wilt thon put off God as Heathens serve their Idols with a liveless worship If thou offer the lame and the torn is it not evil How far art thou from knowing of Christ that knowest not thy self but art well conceited of thy good meaing and thy good Duties Who hath required these things at thy hand Will not the Lord rebuke thee as he did Israel in the like case 4. It justly reproves the Justitiary Legalist that seems exact in his way of good works and rests thereon He is not so bad as the worst and therefore thinks himself as good as the best His seeming Justice equity and charity beguiles him as much as the Formalists painted holiness He hopes to be saved by his good Deeds and good Intentions as the Papists do thinking that Christ will make up for him what is defective Alas wretched soul wilt thou patch up thus a Linsey Woolsey Garment of thy own Righteousness mingled with Christs Merits Will thy fig-leaves cover thy nakedness Will thy crack'd peny make amends to God for millions of pounds due to him from thee Canst thou do any thing without sin Art thou not bound to be wholly his Canst thou satisfie his Infinite Justice or deserve his Infinite Mercy Did Christ merit that thou mightest merit Is he a Remote Saviour that thy self mightst be thine immediate Saviour Canst thou climbe to Heaven with a Ladder of thy making or waft thy self over into the Indie's in thy own Nut-shel of self-Righteousness Civil morality is good in it self but not to Justifie thy person as a piece of brass is good for something but not to pass for Gold nor to pay an Infinite ransom God gives indeed a Reward to his according to their works but not for their works sake Thou canst not be saved without good works and yet not by works If thou knewest Christ graciously thou wouldst know thy self to be unworthy and insufficient still See thy folly and thy misery in trusting to self thou loosest and slightest the only Pearl of Price 5. This point casts a very ghastly glance upon all profane licentious persons that turn Christs grace into wantonness and delight in a sinful Liberty Consider it thou Swearer and drunkard thou Lyar and unclean wretch thou scoffer and malicious thou proud and wanton thou slanderer and riotous Liver Why dost thou profess the Knowledge of Christ to abuse him thus Art not thou much worse then Pilate or Judas then the Jewes and Romanes in affronting and murthering of Christ Dost thou not give him ten blows for one good word destroying thy self in disgracing him Dost thou presume on his mercy still whilst thou delightest in the Devils work Doth the Name and Baptism of Christ give thee a Protection from Divine Justice whilst thou remainest still in open Rebellion Dost thou hope still to pacifie him with a few faint words of Lord hove mercy I am sorry and such like mock-speeches Is Repentance in thy own power or thy Life and Means that still thou puttest off Wilt thou lay the whole Burthen on the tyred horse and wave returning till thy elder age Wilt thou give Satan the creame and Christ the Refuse of thy time and strength Canst thou hope for Christs Salvation in the high Road to thy damnation Wilt thou still delight in the Devils work and yet hope for wages from Heaven Is not thy case very desperate to follow the Devil into every sin Couldst thou but see thy Infernal Guide that leads thee captive at his will what a dreadful sight would that prove to thee Hast thou lived so long under the Gospel as the Smiths Dog under the Anvil to deafen and harden thee Will not thy later end prove most desperate that hast made so much haste in the broad way to Hell If Grace prevent not miraculously thou shalt know that Christ to thy confusion whom thou wouldst not know to thy conversion 6. This Truth looks wishly on carnal Notionists who pretend much to the Knowledge of Christ and yet remain destitute of his Grace They have learned to prate about Christ and to use his Name for a Sanctuary to sin From vain Notions they speedily run into vile affections and their devotion lies most in their fancy Their Tongue is tipped with the Language of Canaan to deceive the simple in deceiving themselves This age abounds with such the Lord awaken them who are lulled asleep in the Devils Lap. Alas wretched soul what will be thy end and what is thy case in such delusions If thy head swel much with giddy Notions doth it not betoken a woful disease Whither will Satan transformed into an Angel of Light lead thee at the last How sad is it thus to poyson thy self so many more in mingling fancies with Gods holy Word perverted by thee to dream thy self into a fools Paradise whilst thou slightest Christ his Ordinances how woful is it Thou playest like a Gnat and Moth about the Candle till thou be consumed by the heat thereof Golden Imaginations do tickle thy thoughts whilst Satan is leading thee captive at his Will Are not such spiritual Judgements the worst of all to be given up thus to strong delusions to believe such Lies Is it not because thou receivest not the Truth in the Love of it that God gives thee up to thy own hearts Lusts How far art thou from a gracious knowledge that turnest his Grace into wantonness Didst thou know Christ
be a common Road for every Notion pretending to new Light Observe well the great gate of your understanding that no disguised enemy may slip in unaware Sift and search every thing by Scripture-Light that ye may know the Truth Watch narrowly the Fort of Judgement and Conscience that carnal Reasonings may not get in and thrust out spiritual Reason Let divine Reason by the Scripture of Truth fortifie the same against all surprises of the enemy Yield up your selves therefore to the Spirit of Truth for effectual renewing that through the Blood of Christ you may have it purified and pacified If Error get once into your conscience he will make sad work there Exercise your self therefore to have it alwaies void of offence towards God and man The Cittadel of your Will requires a special watch Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Have a singular eie to the Ammunition of your Affections if wild-fire get thither it will make work indeed See them all well ordered and well guarded least any be mounted for Error against Truth and for Revolt against perseverance Your Love and hatred your desire and fear your joy and grief your anger and distaste your hope and despair are Guns of great use if well managed but if error get once the mastery they will tear you and others to pieces Stand on your watch then as Christ commands all in these sleepy daies Watch and pray watch and Believe watch and Labour against such an enemy The Baits are specious that will entice you but dreadful hooks lie close under them Deadly poisons desperate Diseases will tempt you round under fair disguises Satans Powder-plots are most desperate in these later daies His venom is refined and sublimed to its height His old stratagems are revived afresh with more plausibleness Unclean spirits struggle and rage most stil when near ejection The Lord will keep you whilst you keep close to him in his Word and Waies He is with you whilst you keep with him if you forsake him he will forsake you 2. Relatively Keep close to your work in looking to others All Superiours have a special charge to keep their Inferiours from these dreadful Evils Study and improve your Relations well to this very end whether Political or Ecclesiastical Magistratical or Ministerial whether Parental or Magisterial Take heed to your selves and to the whole flock committed to your charge Act Gods part towards them and act like God whom you Represent Use all such means in Church or state as Christ himself would use were he in your place If fair Means will do good so much the better but rather then fail use sharper Tools If Lenatives will not avail Corrosives must be used When a Limb is gangreend and mortified it cals for Iron and fire If the Patient grow phrentick he must be bound and kept very close and solitary If the disease be contagious company must be kept off If the sore will not fairly resolve by proper discussives it must be ripened lanced cleansed with stronger medicines If a member be broken disjointed or wrenced you can hardly cure it without pain and trouble Superiors are Physitians in their kind if your Patients be froward you need the more wisdom care diligence You are Shepheards and Rulers of men all your Titles of Honor will still mind you of your Duty and Burthen Dignity and Duty are still inseparable You are set over others for their good Keep off therefore these great evils from them and keep them from these evils of revolting Errors The external man is within your reach The internal man accounts to God alone They that so honour God he will surely honor but they that dispise him in slighting his work shall become vile and base Whilst you act like God in acting for God the Glory will be his and the comfort yours in the furtherance of the publique good God looks now for such to stand in the Gap and make up the breach to prevent a fatal ruin One man of note may do a world of good one Moses one Phineas one Joshua one Nehemiah may be an eminent Saviour under Christ in this Israel Who is on Gods side now against Blasphemy and damnable Heresie against divisions and strong delusions Act Gods part now in your relations with zeal and courage with prudence and care Its Gods own work you may well trust him for Council and strength support and blessing The Lord never yet failed faithfull Reformers who denied themselves for the publique Weal Carnal policy will discourage you Divine Policy will quicken you still Christ himself met with strong Contradictions from all evil men and evil Spirits Your worst enemies are conquered ones both in Spirituals and in Temporals remember and improve all your experiences renewed so often for these many years Error discountenanced will soon wear away whereas Truth opposed will gather more strength Sinfull tolerations are the devils Nurses in all relations publique private Be zealous for God mind his Interest then shall your interest besurely settled Doctrine 4. The Grace and Knowledge of Christ is a singular Jewel THE word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace in Scripture-sense hath divers acceptions improperly and properly Improperly it signifies in a larger sense Thanks Joy Liberality Gift Office c. Properly and strictly it denotes two things 1 Gods special favour towards his Elect. 2. His sanctifying work in the Elect the former is favouring Grace this later is renewing Grace 1. It signifies Gods peculiar favour towards his Elect and that considered in the fountain and streams 1. Grace in the spring is called his pleasure purpose councill of his Will Amor Benevolentiae his love of benevolence 2. Favouring Grace in the stream signifies the various emanations of that eternal Love in all the expressions thereof towards them sutably to all their necessities thence the denominations of his predestinating and redeeming Grace his adopting and pardoning Grace his supplying and supporting Grace c. Which are in God one single intire Act that is variously denominated from its object This is Amor beneficientiae his love of beneficence whence flows his Amor Complacentiae his love of delight embracing of them Secondly Grace signifies also properly Gods sanctifying work of his Spirit in his Elect called the fruits of his Spirit the work of his Grace the gift from above 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 often the peculiar saving operations of his gracious Spirit in them and by them this Grace is considerable in the Root and Branches in the habit and acts in the principle and effects in the seed and fruits in the source and streams in the beginning and progress thereof being often called metonymically the Spirit for the gifts thereof 1. Renewing Grace in the Root and
is verified of such the name of Christ is engraven on their heart by the finger of his own Spirit 3. It s a penitential knowledge that melts the soul with godly sorrow as looking on Christ pierced by him and for him The sight of such a Saviour so unkindly requited cannot but make sin out of measure sinfull to such a tender heart The sweetness of Christ must needs embitter every sin to such who have tasted how good the Lord is Such do hate sin with perfect hatred knowing the baseness and unreasonableness thereof Christ clears their eyes to descry and detest the least appearance of evil The more beauty is discovered in him the more ugliness do such observe in sin his grand Opposite They take most pains to mortifie those Lusts which are most opposite to Christ 4. It s an obediential knowledge carefull to observe the Lords Will made known If any say that he knows him and keeps not his Commands he is a liar and the truth is not in him If we know that he is righteous we know that he that doth righteousness is born of him This knowledge is not notional but practical It rests not in the brain but conveys Influence into the whole Life It s not idle but very active It studies his Will to fulfill it and fulfills it in studying thereof It s obedience is neither blind nor lame but a spiritual Sacrifice a rational Service The whole man in heart and life compleats this oblation of loyal observance It minds the precepts as much as the Promises and desires holiness as much as happiness It would act like Christ in acting for him 5. It s an humbling knowledge that puffs not up but laies the soul low The more any know of Christ aright the more still do they know of their sins The best of Christ being duly known makes them to know the worst of themselves Christs eye-salve doth so clear their eyes that they see easily those sinfull motes of lesser faults which by their moon-light of notional knowledge they could not discern Their beholding of Christ in their Gospel-glass with open face thus shews more of this shame and of his Glory Thus Job was more humbled by seeing of God in a clearer light Abraham acknowledges himself dust and ashes upon familiar Conference with Christ Their Affronts put on him in their time of darkness humble them soundly in this season of Light They learn daily as Socrates said to know their ignorance As Simonides the more they study the knowledge of God the more amazed are they with his glorious unsearchableness 6. It s a grateful knowledge that cannot endure sinful ingratitude They know thereby the worth of Mercy and the high price paid by Christs blood for every favour afforded to his The bounty of Christ so magnificently multiplied on them still renders them thankful Debtors mindful of their Bonds Their Insolvency they more throughly know which makes them the more beholding to him What others enjoy by common Providence they receive still by a Gracious Promise Ingratitude the sum of all evil they abominate as the Devil himself Their homage and rent do they bring to him whom they well know to be their chief Lord. Returns of Duty they labour to make in some proportion to their Receipts of Mercy 7. All other Graces do beautifie this attending on Christ in following his Train Patience and Prudence are found in their Rank Zeal and diligence will not be backward Meekness and sweetness will not be strangers Courage and Fortitude are ready at hand Sincerity and self-denial are inseparable companions thereof The Knowledge of Christ then is a choyce Jewel that is so well set and accompanied Nothing is wanting for knowledge or comfort so far as Christ is known or enjoyed Reason 6. The Effects of this gracious Knowledge do add very much to the price thereof It works effectually upon the whole man in every Relation towards God and man There is no condition nor occasion here wherein its Influence is not manifested It s a precious Root that bears much fruit solid substantial and still seasonable It renders a man fit for every good and is a Preserver from all kind of evil It makes a man still to look to Christ and to seek for him in every Ordinance The matter and means of Divine worship with the manner and solemn time thereof it spiritually minds In every Providence Christ is also acknowledged by such in every Duty towards their Neighbor As the first Table of Christs Divine Law is unto them the Standard of Worship so is the second Table of his Decalogue their constant Rule of officious Duty towards every man That order and safety setled by Gods Word for Beauty strength and use in this worldly Fabrick the knowledge of Christ teaches how to preserve with all possible care The chastity and propriety of body and goods as well as of souls it looks after The credit and content that concerns all men in their respective places is much furthered and duly preserved by this gracious Knowledge It s good physick to purge out ill humours for the curing of all distempers It affords choice food for old and for young for strong and for weak in all necessities What the Rabbies soy of the material manna is truly verified of this spiritual Meat that its relish suits every Palat and may satisfie every desire It s a Cordial against all faintings to revive the feeble in their Agonies Armour of Proof it furbishes for war against all enemies inward and outward It is the Key of Christs Magazin and of all his stores opening the Treasures of our All sufficient God our El Shaddai If you can conceive any thing of worth either in Heaven or earth This Knowledge of Christ will both match it and get it for you so far as may tend to your real good It s in a word the true Elixar and Philosophers Stone that turns all to Gold and puts a choice vertue into every thing towards felicity Vse This knowledge appears a singular Jewel upon good Reason good use thereof should be made also The best things are made for the best use and appear best therein As Christ himself is of infinite usefulness every kind of way so is his Grace participatively and communicatively This may be improved then 1. In a word of Information 1. See hence by way of Corollary the singular Method that should regulate every mans study Men are naturally desirous of Knowledge by an Instinct suited to their rational Being Mans soul was at first made after Gods Image in perfect Knowledge What sin lost and defaced in Adams Treason Grace only Restores The Knowledge of Christ affords a Tree of Life but most follow the Serpents advice stil in longing after another knowledge both of good and evil The sinful Issue of sinful Adam do stil love to
tread in his steps hearkening to Satan rather then to God They are still Learning to know good and evil by sad experience This Tree of Life is little observed and less improved mens palats are so far degenerated Most are still scrambling about that Tree for fruit which can yield nothing but sin and sorrow The best of its fruit like to Sodoms Apples look very fair but by the least touch turned into Ashes Most men break their necks in clammering about and climing of that Tree whose fruit brings death If that fruit seem hard it s but a shell if it appear soft it s through rottenness In every condition men study something but most mind least this choice Tree of Life Christ is Divine Wisdom Essentially and Personally In him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge He keeps open school and sends his Spirit to be his Usher He teaches within by motions of Conscience and without us in his Word and Providence The Volumes of his Truth and of all his works he gives us to read that the former may explain the latter He is the best Master for skil and sweetness Yet few do learn to any purpose because they slight the knowledge of him Men study pleasures profit honor in the world below which are to be had only from him Arts and Sciences others would attain but they miss their aim imâ—missing of him Some gaze at the stars and stumble in the dark like the blind Philosopher for want of Christs Light Many study words to tickle mens ears neglecting Christs Word that would teach the heart Some mind the Law of men so disorderly that they attend not to the Law of Christ The bodies of men are studied by many whilst their own poor souls are wholly neglected The care of souls is professed by some who yet little mind this saving knowledge Divers Parrot-like do speak of Christs knowledge not by experience but only by Roat Too many are found studying how to sin without trouble and sence without stop and Remorse Not a few tempt Satan to tempt them and study how to act a Satanical part of tempting of others Til Christ be the Rule of all our studies they will be fruitless being without Rule Till he be our End they will be sure still to prove endless Til he be the ground and the strength thereof they will prove groundless and supportless still If we learn him well he will teach us all that we need to know If we know him not we shall learn nothing that 's worth the knowing Knowledge is excellent when it s orderly learned and improved but it proves mischievous when it s once corrupted and abused Such men like Toads carry a stone of worth in their heads being full of poyson in their heart and Life Like monstrous Syrens they have a fair face but a shameful Tail The tinkling Cymbal and the sounding Brass is the fit Emblem of too many now The Lord teach us to study Christ stil in all above all that we may know all in him and for him Second Vse is for reprehension both to the Graceless and to Gracious souls 1. IT justly reproves the Graceless and unregenerate that still many wayes stand against this Truth as 1. All ignorant ones that do not know and will not learn Christ Such live in the dark as Moles under ground and Owls or Bats in the open ayr They are born blind and will continue so not looking for cure It was so of old and it s so stil my people parish for lack of knowledge was the Lords complaint A people of no understanding shall find no mercy from him that made them Consider it well Gross wilful ignorance will aggravate not lessen your sins Under Gospel-Light such Ignorance is very dreadful This is a sad condemnation indeed that seals up the full measure of all other sins Men think they see and therefore remain blind None are such fools as the conceited wise My people is foolish saith the Lord again they have not known me They are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge Men pretend business they have not leisure like the Duke of Alva who had so much to look after on earth that he had no time to look after Heaven But is not this egregious folly to slight the Jewel and mind only the cask If you have not so much time as others why do not you Redeem what you have should not you rather spare it from your sleep work or Recreation then from this Jewel so much concerning both Gods honour and mans good Is Christ so little worth knowing and owning Will not you rue it to eternity Is not sinful darkness the beginning of Hell and utter darkness Is it not the womb and Nurse of all sin If Papists be content with picture-Teachers and blind obedience slighting and slandering the Word of God should their folly be followed among us Is the Light of Christ so to be disowned If the servant that knows not his Masters will shall be beaten though with fewer stripes what will become of him that would not learn to understand his will 2. All negligent ones that will not take pains to attain unto this gracious knowledge Such may possibly enjoy special helps they may have pregnant parts profess fair and seem to desire good but they are sluggish they improve not all means and prove lazy in their enquiries after Christs wisdom This is a sad and common evil Many such shall seek to enter in and shall not be able He that asks lazily teaches denyal The lazy servant that hoarded up his Talent smarted sore for it None can be excused for such a neglect Is not Christ well worth the taking pains for Who looks for a conquest without trouble Who expects a crop without care cost Who can drive a Trade without pain and venture Is not this the best Trade and Husbandry the best warfare and surest Venture Who gets acquaintance with the Lords wisdom without crying waiting and searching Why art thou content with a Velleity and a woulding will without endeavour like the sluggards wish Why art thou pleased with barren desires and fruitless Resolves If thy seeming longing make thee not active and inquisitive impatient of delay and unsatisfied it s a false longing If thou be not better then the stony ground lasting but a while and soon blasted what will thy end be Dost thou not hereby reproach Christ sadly by preferring creatures before him Thou wilt Repent when it s too late if Ephesus warning do not rouz thee up Be convinced then of thy laziness be ashamed and weary of it It concerns thee to see thy folly and thy misery 3. This Truth looks wishly upon Formalists that have indeed a form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof
our Israel The Method thereof appears clearly from what hath been said This gracious knowledge will afford us the sure Medicines for a distracted Church and a discomposed State Any diseased soul and disordered Family may hence take Receipts with the best Probatum Politicians would prove far more prosperous would they study Christ more and Machiavel less Did Ministers know him more graciously they would meet surely with better success Did all Superiors attend his Prescripts every business would find under them much facility Did private Christians observe this better they would sure enjoy much of Truth and Peace both for the internal and external man The Lord thy Physitian is his Title of honour which Christ sets up by his great Herauld and proclaims to his people for speedy help in every trouble Vse 2. It should admonish all carnal and notional Christians under the total Reign or partial Remainder of Spiritual Errors and Revolts What pity is it that such a choice Help so freely tendered should be so basely slighted and abused Doth not this Point then justly Reprove 1. Such as are under the total Reign of sin and Error all sinners in grain Is not your case very woful indeed that wilfully abide in a Christless state by still abiding in a sinful state Sin is your plague and you know it not Error Rules in you and you feel it not why are you sensless in such a danger Because sin is there in its Element Your disease is a sleepy feaver or a phrantick madness else you would never slight Christs Physick no more then his Person You feed upon ashes a deceitful heart hath carried you aside that you cannot see the lye in your right hand It may be you think you Reject not Christ why then do you reject his Terms and prefer your own Why do you stil love what he loaths and loath what he loves Why do you then continue stil in the love and trade of your darling sins secret or gross Why do you stil provide for your Lusts and plead for them covering of them mincing the matter and returning still thereto as the dog and swine Why do you stil then loath his Ordinances his Word and Sabbath his service and servants Do you pretend Allegiance to him and yet continue stil in Rebellion Do you profess to own his marriage terms and yet remain stil wedded to the world to your gain and will to sensual pleasure and windy honour Do you profess to believe in Christ and yet will not do what he bids you nor forbear what he forbids This is to mock not to honour Christ he knows you not that wilfully and constantly work iniquity in opinion affection or life 2. Under the partial Remainders thereof will Regnerate Saints be found though not all alike The best therefore may justly be Reproved for their sinful estrangedness from Christ Is not this the cause of so many Errors and Revolts our not growing in that gracious Knowledge that would prove our Soveraign Antidote Why do we study the Lord Christ so little and the world so much Is not our ignorance and self-conceitedness our sloth and neglect about this main thing the great cause of our sad distempers Factions and Fractions we justly bewail in every Relation Most carry fire and fuel to the common Incendy to encrease it stil few mind the water of the Sanctuary for to quench the same Do not the best find upon due search much of selfishness in all disputes and controversies Do they not also find in their private affairs how much self is preferred before Christ Should not this great evil humble our souls deeply that we thus forsake the Fountain of living Waters and dig unto our selves broken empty Cisterns that will hold no water Is this our kindness to our dearest friend Is this our Loyalty to our dread Soveraign Is this our love to our selves and Neighbor to despise thus the only way of cure Be we ashamed of this vile neglect that Christs Truth and Waies have suffered so much through our great folly Are our experiences of so little worth and our acquaintance with Christ so inconsiderable that we slight all and yield to every assault of temptation and corruption drawing us aside Vse 3. Enquiry and search into our spiritual state our Complexion may be hence observed that the Tokens of our Personal and publike Constitution may be duly brought to Divine Test 1. Hence may every one personally view his case and state towards Eternity We are all by Nature deadly sick of sin still subject to Error and Apostacy of the basest kind Our hearts are full of mortal poison carrying still within the seed and Root of the worst disease naturally and spiritually What Antidote have we got against all such dreadful evils Have we learned Christ in the truth of him that our gracious knowledge might stil be growing Are we thereby fenced against the sinful causes of Error and Revolt Are we daily mortifying sin dying to the world resisting Tempters denying our selves through the knowledge of Christ Are we still fortifying our souls with his precious Grace that all our Faculties may be preserved in spiritual health against sin and Error Do we rightly apply the vertue of this Christ in each of his specifick properties whilst we attend his will and Blessing in the diligent use of all the means appointed by him Do we still mind his Word and Blood his Grace and Favour in every Ordinance and Providence through his Spirits help 2. May we not hence also take a Publick Estimate of the state of Affairs in this place in this Land in this Republique yea of any place whatsoever The true Prognosticks of present and future Weal or Wo will be hence made perspicuous Away with Star-gazers and carnal wisdom that we may consult with Gods own Personal Wisdom How far are we then in a publike posture acquainted with Christ How far is that Acquaintance improved Resolve these queries and the case will be as clear as Noon-day God may save us with A Notwithstanding miraculously at his own pleasure But we must judge of persons and things by the known Rule of his Word compared with Providence So far as we slight Christ publickly in any concernment of his so far may we rationally expect that he should slight us in our concernments Let every one make due application as he shall see cause in all publike Affairs whilst God is shaking and overturning all things in the Nations and will do so still til Christ come to his Right to fill his house with Glory Vse 4. May be for counsel to all Christian Professors prize and desire embrace and insure Keep and improve this precious Antidote It s an infectious season it concerns all to look to themselves and therefore look well after this Antidote to prevent and remove all sinful diseases That it may be yours effectually
death was the complement and utmost His whole life was a continual passion and he was most active in his most passive Obedience He laid down his Life of himself-freely and shewed his active Power in his giving up the Ghost That perfection of his Merits excludes the least Ingrediency of mans Merits Our Obedience is required indeed and rewarded of Grace not for its worth or proportion The Childs duty is required not to merit his Inheritance by but to shew his Ingenuity The Beggars reaching of his hand is a condition yet no merit of the Gift 8. His Prophetical Charge is undermined First By the Errors forenamed Secondly By the Popish pretences of Infallibility in their Church Pope or Councel Thirdly By the immediate Revelations and infallible Oracles of Enthusiasts Quakers Behmenists pretending extraordinary acquaintance with God and Spirits besides above and against his Word Fourthly By the Perfectionists of divers sorts who pretend to a sinless state wherein they need no further teaching Fifthly By such as despise Christs Prophets and Apostles Pastors and Teachers extraordinary and ordinary Messengers of his AGainst such a disease improve this Antidote to vindicate the Lords Infallibleness and to detect the cheats of all Impostors pretending thereto You will see thereby that Christs Spirit alone is the supream infallible Judge speaking to us by his written word è Cathedra coeli That we need no other infallible Judge on earth That every Christian in his place whether private or publique Civil or Ecclesiastical hath a Judgement of discretion to regulate him in his own Acts by the Scripture Rule That Churches and Counsels have an Authoritative Judgement of direction to the several members under their respective Charges still in subordination to Christs writen Word That yet there is no need of any Infallible immediate and sinless assistance or spirit in any mortal man now since the Canon of Scripture our perfect Rule was compleated by John the Beloved Apostle That all pretenders to such infallibility since the Apostles days have successively bewrayed their notorious Impostures and contradictions both notionally and practically That Popish Bishops and Councils Enthusiastical Behmenists and Quakers have hitherto been found guilty of such absurd falshoods and blasphemous extravagancies that they sufficiently confute themselves That Paul himself after all his Raptures knew but in part complaining stil of his own and others weakness and insufficiency That Peter himself failed and was reproved by him openly That there is indeed a perfection of sincerity and Truth begun below in the Regenerate and a perfection of Growth which is comparative progressive But that a sinless perfection of fulness is reserved for the Glory of Heaven not enjoyed before mans dissolution That Christ therefore is the grand Prophet who teaches his people stil by his Word and Spirit the Will of God for their Salvation gradually That being taught all needful things by his Anointing who writes his Law upon their heart they need not to be taught by any Sect-master in a Pharisaical way so as to pin their faith upon any mans sleeve upon his own credit but must attend Christ who teaches from Heaven by men and Means That no meer mans word is to be believed upon his own credit but that all Doctrines must be examined by the Scriptural Teachings of Christ That those spirits and persons who pretend to bring Infallible Oracles and a new Gospel are cursed of the Apostle for shaking off Christ and his Gospel That all Christs servants are to be heard so far as they keep to his scriptural Commission but no further That Christ himself is received or rejected so far as his Embassadors following his Instruction are owned or slighted It s the common and ominous Symptom of Error to despise the Ministers of Christ though Godly and Learned and prefer their own Imaginations before the plain Word of God The Gospel is to us the only Glass of Heaven wherein the Glorious Revelations of Gods Image are made out to transform us into the likeness thereof gradually through his Spirit 9. The Kingship of Christ is much abused 1. by the Errors forenamed 2. By Libertines and Ranters of all sorts 3. By the Pontifician Supremacy pretended to be over all things and persons in the Pope as Peters Successor 4. By Quakers and others slighting the Christ above under pretence of a Christ within 5. By sensual pretenders and abusers of a fifth Monarchy Against these Rebellious Tenets the Grace and Knowledge of Christ will satisfie us that Christ Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who must Reign even in the midst of all enemies till they be made his footstool That he will destroy all such who refuse to stoop to his Golden Scepter but chuse to live in the kingdom of Darkness under the Rule of sin and Satan That Conscience is his seat Royal in mans soul which is by Sin Satan and self usurped from him That he will surely recover his Right if not in mercy yet in his just wrath That pretence of conscience to shake off his Rule is the highest Treason under his Pavilion That to shelter any sin or Error under that covert is but to cloath Traytors in his robes of state That he will not save where he doth not Rule and will not be our Priest if he be not our King That to desire or plead Liberty to sin is to set up Hell in Rule among men under the habit of Heaven That the more of Christ is in any soul the more obedience in true faith and Love is given to him That to set up a Pope or any other meer man for a supream Head over the conscience is to set up a sinful wretch in the Throne of Christ That his Jealousie will not endure long such a Rebellion That Peter never had any Supremacy of Power or Authority what ever priority of Order and Age may be granted by some That Peters being at Rome is very uncertain and yet to be proved though many affirm it That if his being there were fully granted yet his fixed charge and continuance there shall need as much proof That upon supposal of his setling there yet must it be shewed that he acted there such a Supremacy That if that also were clear it must be shewed also that his full power was made over to his successors there more then to any other Minister of Christ at Antioch or elsewhere That in case that should be proved likewise they must demonstrate a clear succession from that time till now which is impossible And if that could be yet they must evince their succession in Doctrine also else all the former will only prove Papacy to be the Man of Sin got into Gods Temple the grand Antichrist and the scarlet Whore riding on