are those in our duâ—es who reject this doctrine that you lay down concerning the Lord Jesus Christ as you lay it down and they are for a Christ within for a cross within for a resurrection and intercession within and they do not hold as you do a Christ without and a resurrection of Christ without and intercession of Christ with uâ— I and they have very much Scripture for that which they say too And therefore what should such as we do that stand tottering and shaking in these distracted and dangerous times for our poor souls are in very much doubt what way to take Ans. Therefore I will speak a few words to you by way of discovery of the falsity of such opinions and a word of direction how you should understand the truth First therefore he that cries up a Christ within in opposition to a Christ without that man instead of having the spirit of Christ in him is possessed with a spirit of delusion for where the spirit of Christ is in truth that spirit causeth the soul to look to the Christ that was born of the Virgin for all justification as it is written Howbeit when he the spirit of truth is come he shall lead you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but what soever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come mark the next verse he saith the son of the Virgin shall take of mine and shall shew unto you Joh. 16. 13 14. he shall take of mine what is that why surely it is he shall take of my Godhead my humanity my birth my righteousness my blood my death my resurrection my ascenâ—ion and intercession my Kingly Priestly and prophetical offices and shall shew you the life merit and value of them And this was it which was revealed to Paul by the holy spirit here spoken of 1 Cor. 15. 1 2. to the 8. Moreover brethren saith he I declare unto you the Gospel which Iâ—p eached unto you which also ye have received and wherein ye stand By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you unlesse ye have believed in vain But what is this doctrine why I delivered to you first of all that which I also receive â— What was that why How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures there is his death and resurrection preached And that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelve after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once of whom the greatest part remain unto this present but some are fallen asleep After that he was seen of James then of all the Apostle And last of all he was seen of me saith Paul as of one born out of due time This is it I say that the spirit of truth doth hold forth to poor sinners a Christ crucified without the gates of Jerusalem Luke 23. 32 33. buried in Josephâ— seâ—ulcher v. 53. risen again the third day Luke 24 6. ascended away from his Disciples in a cloud into heaven as in Act. 1. 9 10 11. And there ever liveth that very man with that very body to make intercession for all that receive him Heb. 7. 24 25. This is I say the doctrine of the spirit of truth whatsoever is the spirit of errour Q. But do not the Scriptures make mention of a Christ within 2 Cor. 13 5. A. Yes And he that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his Rom. 8. 9. But he that hath it is led out of himself by it and as I said before it shews the soul what the blessed son of the Virgin Mary hath done and suffered and is a doing for it Therefore hereby know we the spirit of truth from the spirit of errour Every spirit that doth confesse that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God That is that spirit that doth confess that Jesus Christ took flesh upon him and in that flesh did bear our sins 1 Pet. 2. 24. Col. 1. 20 21 22. 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Pet. 4. 1. and after he was taken down from the cross and laid in a sepulcher rose again from the dead that very man with that very body wherewith he was crucified That spirit that doth believe and confess this is of God and is the blessed spirit of Christ whereof hâ— spake when he was yet with his Disciples touching his bodily presence for he saith the Son of Mary shall glorifie me for he shall take of Mine and shew it to you Joh. 16. 13 14. I have answered this already in my Epistle to the first treatise Therefore believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God for many false spirits and prophets are gone out into the world therefore have a care how thou receivest the voice that speaks to thee but try whether they are according to the truth of Gods word as it is written To the law and to the testimony if it be not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa. 8. 20. Therefore try a little Doe they flight Gods Christ which is the Son of the virgin that spirit is of the Devil 1 Cor. 12. 3. 2. Doe they say that that blood of his which was shed without the gates of Jerusalem doth not wash away sin yea all sin from him that believes that is a spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 1. 7. 3. Doe they say that that man that was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem is not risen again with that verybody wherwith he was crucified out of the Sepulchre Luk. 24. 38 39. That is a Spirit of Antichrist 4. Do they say that that very man that was crucified with that very body is not now in the presence of his father absent from his people touching his bodily presence though present in spirit I say who ever they be that say he is not there they are of the Divel for the proof of this see Acts 5. 30. and 31. and compare it with Heb. 7. 24. 25. The God of our fathers saith the Apostle raised up Jesus But what Jesus Whom ye slew saith he to the Jews Him the very same whom ye slew hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel and forgiveness of sins And indeed here is my life namely the birth of this man the righteousnesse of this man the blood of this man the death and resurrection of this man the ascension intercession of this man for me and the second comming of this man to judge the world in righteousness Acts 17. 31. I say here is my life if I see this by faith without me through the operation of the spirit within me I am safe I am at peace I am comforted I am encouraged and I know that my comfort peace and encouragement
SOME Gospel-truths Opened according to the Scriptures OR The Divine and Humane Nature of Christ Jesus his coming into the World his Righteousness Death Resurrection Ascension Intercession and second comming to Judgment plainly demonstrated and proved And also Answers to severall Questions with profitable directions to stand fast in the Doctrine of Jesus the son of Mary against those blustring storms of the Devils temptations which do at this day like so many Scorpions break loose from the bottomless pit to bite and torment those that have not tasted the vertue of Jesus by the revelation of the Spirit of God Published for the good of Gods chosen ones by that unworthy servant of Christ John Bunnyan of Bedford By the grace of God Preacher of the Gospel of his dear Son Jesus saith I am the way the truth and the life no man commeth to the Father but by me Jo. 14. 6. Neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4. 12. London Printed for J. Wright the younger at the Kings head in the Old-baily 1656. To the Reader REader thou hast in this small Treatise set beforethee the several pieces of that great and glorious mysterie Jesus Christ God manifested in the flesh and if thou art enlightned by the spirit of Christ here thou maiest see by that spirit how Jesus Christ the Son of God the Son of Mary is both true God and true Man both Natures making but one Christ one Jesus as Phil. 2. 5 6 7 8 9 verses where speaking first of his being God and then of his taking upon him the nature of man afterward in the 8 and 9 verses he saith he meaning this Jesus humbled himself c. and God meaning the Father hath highly exalted him c. speaking of both natures God and Man as together making but one Christ who is the Saviour and is to be beleeved and trusted in for Salvation not only as God but as man also and those who do not thus make him the object of their faith will surely fall short of pardon of sin and of salvation Act. 13. 38 39. through this man speaking of Christ as crucified at Jerusalem is preached unto you forgiveness of sins and in the 1 Tim. 2. 5. saith he there is one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus and this discovers the damnable errors of those commonly called 〈◊〉 who on the 〈…〉 deny him that 〈…〉 of the Virgin 〈…〉 true God as 〈◊〉 as true man and this is also quite contrary to those commonly called Familists Ranters Quakers or others who on the other hand either deny Christ to be a reall man without them blasphemously fancying him to be only God manifest in their flesh or else make his humane nature with the fulnesse of the Godhead in it to be but a type of God to be manifest in the saints and so according to their wicked imagination his humane nature was to be laid aside after he had offered it up upon the crosse without the gate at Jerusalem contrary to Acts the 1. 1 2 3 9 10 11 verses compared with the last chapter of Luke verses 34 39 40 50 51. where it is clearly held forth that the man Christ rose againe out of the grave with the same body which was crucified and laid in the grave and was taken up above the clouds into heaven with the same real body and that he shal again descend from heaven in that same glorious body of flesh as Acts 1. 9 10 11. and this sure truth of Christ being the Saviour Mediatour as man and not only as God will also shew serious believers what to thinke of some who though they will not it may be deny that Christ is a real man without them in the heavens as well as God yet doe own him to be the Saviour only as God first dwelling in that flesh that was born of the Virgin and then dwelling in Saints and thus both beginning and perfecting their Salvation within them and so indeed doe hold Christ as man to be only I say to be only the saved or glorified one of God together with the Saints his members only something in another and more glorious manner and meisure then the Saints and these highflown people are in this very like to Familists and Quakers undervaluing the Lord Jesus Christ God-man and though they may speake much of Christ yet they doe not rightly and savingly lay him for their foundation Now as a helpe against all these dangerous things thou hast here the maine things of Christ laid down before thee briefly and fully proved by the Scriptures first of his being true God out of flesh from eternity and then of his taking flesh or the nature of man upon him in the wombe of the Virgin and so his fulfilling the Law his dying for sins at Jerusalem his rising againe without his ascending into heaven without and not into a fancyed heaven only within as some say his interceding in heaven for all his and his comming again in his body of flesh to judge the world And if thou art yet in a state of nature though covered over with an outside profession here thou maiest find something if the spirit of Christ meet thee in reading to convince thee of the sad condition thou art in and to shew thee the righteousness thou art to fly to by faith and to trust in for salvation when convinced of sin which is a righteousness wrought by that God-man Jesus Christ without thee dying without thee at Jerusalem for sinners here also thou maiest see the difference between true and faise faith If thou art a true believer as these things are the foundation of thy faith so they may be of great use for thee to meditate upon and to exercise thy faith in particularly in meditation and in this way to seek daily for a higher faith in these truths to be given into thy heart from heaven and there is a great need of this for though these truthes be commonly known amongst professors to the notion of them yet very few know or believe them aright nay it may well be said in this age that if the faith of the true saints was wel sifted and tradition notion and the apprehensions of their own reason and fancy was sifted out most of them would be found to have very little knowledge of and faith in these common truths Secondly these truths being put thus together and plainly proved by the Scriptures may be a great help through the Spirit concurring to strengthen thee against all those damnable heresies which are spread abroad which deny the Lord Jesus Christ either plainly or more cunningly and mysteriously And thirdly the more thou art rooted and set down from heaven in the faith of these truths of Christ to believe fully the glorious reality of them their interest in them the more heavenly peace and joy thou wilt have 1. Pet. 1. 7 8. also thou wilt hereby attain the more true
Tim. 3. 16. God was manifested in the flesh and 1 Joh. 1. 14. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth And in Heb. 1. 14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he that is God Heb. 1. 8. also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he must destroy him that had the power of death that is the Divell Now as he was thus true God and true man so he became our redeemer and Saviour Compare the first and second chapters to the Heb. together and you may cleerly see that this is a glorious truth that he who is the first and the last Rev. 1. 17 18. and â— 8. humbled himselfe and made himselfe of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men And was this all No he humbled himself unto death even the death of the crosse Phil. 2. 7 8. compared with Revel 1. 17 18. and Rev. 2. 8. with Gal. 1. 4. Now after this Christ of God true God and true man had wrought out eternal redempâ—ion for us poore miserable sinners Heb. 9. 14. compared with 1 Tim. 1. 15. I say after he had done this he ascended up into heaven and there ever lives to make intercession for us Now this Christ having thus compleatly wrought out our Salvation sends his Disciples abroad to preach the same to poore sinners Acts 2. and 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. 1 Cor. 1. 17. and so many as were ordained to eternal life when they heard the word or the Gospell preached by the Apostles which Gospell was this Christ 1 Cor. 1. 17. compared with ver 23. I say so many as were ordained 〈◊〉 eternal life when they hearâ— the word the Holy Ghost oâ— Spirit of Christ fell upâ—â— them Acts 10. 44. compareâ— with Acts 13. 48. which diâ— lead them into the Redemption and glorious things that the Lord Jesus had laid up and prepared for them Joh. 16. 13. 14 15. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Which Spirit was the earnest of their inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory Eph. 1. 13. 14. This earnest of their inheritance was a glorious encouragment to them that had it to hope for the glory that was revealed at the appearing of Jesus Christ which is the meaning of that place in Col. 1. 27. And that will be seen clearly if we truly compare it with Eph. 1. 13 4. before cited Now this Spirit which sometimes is called the Spirit of Christ 2 Cor. 13. 5. This spirit I say being given to all those that were ordained to eternal life it must neâ—ds follow that those that had not this Spirit but did live and die without it were not ordained to eternal life and so were none of Christs but were reprobates Rom. 8. 9. for the Spirit of Christ is the distinguishing Character betwixt a believer and an unbeliever he that hath it and is led by it is a child of God Rom. â— 14. but he that hath it not is none of Christs So then the Answer that I give to the question is this The Spirit of Christ that is given to believers is the Earnest or hope of that Inheritance that Christ hath already purchased and is now preparing for so many as he hath given or shall give this holy Spirit unto And for the proofe hereof Read Eph. 1. 13 14. In whom saith the Scripture ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gâ—spel of your Salvation 〈◊〉 whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance which inheritance is the eternal redemption that was purchased by Christ for poor sinners Heb. 9. 14. untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glorie Againe Gal. 5. 5. for ye through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith And Col. 1. 27. the Apostle speaking of this great mystery saith To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory which glory was then revealed to the Saints no otherwise then by faith as the Apostle saith We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5. 2. Which hope is begotten by the Spirits shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts ver 5. which hope is not yet seen that is not yet actually enjoyed for we are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for But if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it Rom. 8. 24 25. And as I say the cause of believers hope is this Christ or the Spirit of Christ in them the hope of glory And indeed he may well hope for glory to come who hath already an earnest thereof given him of God and that earnest no less than the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Rom. 8. 16 17. But now this Spirit which is the Cause of a believers hope all men have not Jude 19. Eph. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 9. Jo. 14. 16 17. Therefore what a sad doctrine is that which saith follow the light that Christ hath enlightnâ—d every man withall which commeth into the world which light is the Conscience * that convinceth of Sinnes against the Law and that you may see cleerly if you mind that Scripture Jo. 8. 9. which saith that the Pharises which had neither the love of God nor yet his word abiding in them Jo. 5. 38 43. when they had heard Christ speaking thus to them He that is without sin among you c. being convicted by their own Consciences went out one by one beginning at the eldest even to the least But the Divell that he might be sure not to miss of his design labours by all meanes to render the Scriptures also odious and low telling them of the Scriptures within which Christ never taught nor yet his Disciples But they being given up of God to a reprobate minde have given themselves over rather to follow the suggestions of the Divel then the holy Scriptures which God hath commanded us to betake our selves to Isa. 8. 20. compared with Jo. 5. 39. which Scripture is called the sword of the Spirit Eph. 6 17. which weapon our Lord Jesus himselfe held up to overcome the Divell withall Mat. 4. 4 7 10. Luke 4. 4. 8. 12. But this designe as I told you the Divell carries on by pretending to shew them a more excellent way which they may attaine to if they be but wise and follow what is made knowne to them from the light within them But Reader that thou mayest be able to escape the snare of this cunning hunter I shall lay thee downe some few directions which if
thinking thy self to be wondrous well because of that Notion of the Truth and that notion thou hast in the things of God I say being in this state thou art lyable to these dangers First Thou art like to perish if thou die with this notion in thine head except God out of his rich gr ace doe work a saving work of grace and knowledge in thy heart for know this thou mâ—yest understand glorious mysteries and yet be a Castaway 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. Or else Secondly thou art lyable to the next damnable heresy that the Divel sendeth into thâ— world See and consider Luke 8. â—3 2 Tim. 2. 18. I say thou doest lie lyable to be carried away with it and to be captivated by it 〈◊〉 that at last through the delusions of the Divell thou mayst have thy conscience seared as with an hot iron so hard that neither Law nor Gospel can make any entrance thereinto to the doing of thee the least good And indeed who are the men that at this day are so deluded by the Quakers and other pernicious Doctrines but those who thought it enough to be talkers of the Gospell and Grace of God without seeking and giving all diligence to make it sure unto themselves And for this cause God hath sent them strong delusions that they should believe a lye That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness as it is written 2 Thes. 2. 11 12. And indeed if you marke it you shall see that they be such kinde of people who at this day are so carried away with the Quakers delusions namely a Company of loose Ranters and light Notionists with here and there a Legalist which were shaking in their principles from time to time sometimes on this Religion sometimes on that and thus these Vnstable Souls are deluded and beguiled at last 2 Pet. 2. 14. So that these who before as one would have bought had somthing of God in them are now turned such enemies to the glorious truths of the Gospel that there is none so obstinately erroneoâ—s as they And indeed it is just with God to give then over to believe a lye 2 Thes. 2. 11. who before were so idle that they would not receive the Truth of God into their hearts in the love of it And to be bewitched by the Divell to obey his temptations and be damned who would not obey the truth Gal. â— 1. that they migth be saved But you will say what lyes are those that the Divell beguileth poor souls with all I shall briefly tell you some of them but having before said that they especially are lyable to the danger of them who slip into high Notions and rest there taking that for true faith which is not I shall desire thee seriously to consider this one Character a Notionist Such an one whether he perceives it or not is puffed up in his fleshly mind and advanceth himself above others thinking but few may compare with him for religion and knowledge in the Scriptures but are ignorant and foolish in comparison of him thus knowledge puffeth up 1 Cor. 8. 1. whereas when men receive truth in the love of the truth the more the head and heart is filled with the knowledge of the mysterie of Godlinesse the more it is emptied of its own things and is more sensible of its own vileness and so truly humbled in its own eyes And further a Notionist though he fall from his former strictness and seeming holiness and appeare more loose and vain in his practises yet speaks as confidently of himself as to assurance of Salvation the love of God and union with God as ever But now to return and declare some of those lyes which the Divell perswades some of these men to believe First That salvation was not fully and completely wrought out for poor sinners by the man Christ Jesus though he did it gloriously Acts 13. 38 39. by his death upon the cross without the gates of Jerusalem Heb 13 12. compared with Jo. 19. 20. 2. This is another of his lyes wherewith he doth deceive poor sinners bidding them follow the light that they brought into the world with them telling them that light will lead them to the Kingdome for say they it will convince of sinne as swearing lying stealing covetousness and the rest of the sins against the Law Rom. 3. 20. But the Law is not of faith Gal. 3. 12. And then I am sure that it with all its motions and convictions is never able to justifie the soul of any poor sinner For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the law to doe them Gal. 3. 10. but that no man is justified by the law is evident for The just shall live by faith ver 11. Now because I am not altogether ignorant of the delusion of the Divell touching this grace of faith also I shall therefore in short give thee reader a briefe yet true description from the Srcipture 1. What true justifying faith is and what it layeâ— hold upon 2. I shall shew who it doth come from 3. That every one hath it not 4. What are the fruits of it First therefore True faith is a fruit work or gift of the Spirit of God Gal. 5. 22. 2 Thes. 1. 11. and 1 Cor. 12. 9. whereby a poor soul is enabled through the mighty operation of God Col. 2. 12. in a sence of its sins and wretched estate to lay hold on the righteousness bloud death resurrection ascension intercession and comming againe of the Son of God which was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem for eternal life Jo. 3. 16 18. compared with Mat. 3. 17. Gal. â— 20. Rom. 5. 8 9 10. Ro. 3. 25. Act. 16. 31. Heb. 13. 12. according to that saying in Heb. 11. 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen that is the things that are hoped for faith sees layes hold upon and embraces them Heb. 11. 13. as if they were present yea it seales up the certainty of them to the soule Therefore saith the Apostle it is the evidence or testimony or witness of those things that are not seen as yet with a bodily eye which are obtained by the bloud of the man Christ Jesus Heb. 9. 14. comparâ—d with Heb. 10. 12 19 20. by which the soule sees as in a glass the things that God hath laid up for them that feare him 1 Cor. 13. 12. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Secondly If you would know who this faith comes from read Ephes. 2. 8. For by grace ye are saved saith the Scripture through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Againe in Phil. 1. 29. it is thus written For unto you that is believers it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to
poore sinners For this thou mayest have and do yet be but a companion for Demas yea for Judas and the rest of the damned multitude As the Apostle saith For all this thou mayest be but as sounding brass and as a tinckling Cymball that is nothing but a sound 1 Cor. 13. 1. 2 3. But Secondly if thou wouldst not be deceived then have a care to avoid false Doctrines which are according to the spirit of the divel and not after Christ. As first If any Doctrine doth come unto thee that telâ— thee Except thou art circumcised after the manner oâ— Moses then canst not be saved That is if any man come unto thee and tels thee thou must doe such and such works of the law to the enâ— thou mayest present thy selfe the better before God doe not receive him For to him that worketh not but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4. 5. 2. If any come unto thee and bring such a Doctrine as this That thou mayest be saved by grace though thou walk in the imaginations of thy own wicked heart his Doctrine also is divellish doe not receive him Deut. 29. 19 20 21 22 23. 3. But if any come unto thee and doth in truth advance the bloud righteousness resurrection intercession and second comming of that very man in the clouds of heaven that was borne of the Virgin Mary and doth presse thee to believe on what he hath done shewing thee thy lost condition without him and to own it as done for thee in particular and withall doth admonish thee not to trust in a bare Notion of it but to receive it into thy heart so really that thy very heart and soule may burne in love to the Lord Jesus Christ againe And doth also teach thee that the love of Christ should and must constraine thee not to live to thy selfe but to him that loved thee and gave himselfe for thee 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Eph. 4. 20 21 22 23. 1 Cor. 7 23. ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of Men. If hiâ— conversation be also agreeable to his doctrine a believing honest loving self-denying counteous Conversation he also is a true Christian Receive that Doctrine * and receive it really for it is the Doctrine of God and of Christ Gal. 4. 4. Gal. 1. 4. Eph. 1. 7. Rev. 1. 5 Acts 13. 38. Joh. 1. 19. Acts 4. 12. Acts 10. 40 41 42. and 1 Thes. 1. 10. Mar. 13. ult 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. 8 9 10. Considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever Heb. 13 7 8. Againe if thou wouldst not be deceived then beware of slighting any known truth that thou findest revealed or made known to thee in the Gospel but honour and obey it in its place be it as thou thinkest never so low Joh. 14. 15. 2. Have a care that thou doe not undervalue or entertain low thoughts of God Christ the Son of Mary and the holy Scriptures but search them John 5. 39. And give attendance to the reading of them 1 Tim. 4. 13 for I will tell thee he that slights the Scriptures doth also slight him of whom they testifie And I will tell thee also that for this cause God hath given up many to strong delusions that they might believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes. 2. 11 12. Therefore I say unto thee In the name of the Lord Jesus the Son of Mary the Son of God the very Creator of heaven and earth and all things that are therein have a care of thy selfe for the divel doth watch for thee day and night 1 Pet. 5. 8. thine own heart also doth labour to deceive thee if by any means it may Jer. 17. 10. Therefore doe not thou trust it for if thou doe thou wilt not doe wisely Pro. 28. 26. I say therefore have a care that thou labour in the strength of the Lord Jesus to escape all these things For if thou fall into any one of them it will make way for a further income of sin and the divell through whose deceitfulnesse thy heart will be hardned and thou wilt be more uncapable of receiving instruction or reaping advantage by and from the Ordinances of Jesus Christ The rather therefore Give all diligence to believe in the Christ of God which is the Son of Mary and be sure to apply all that he hath done and is doing unto thy felfe as for thee in particular which thing if thou doest thou shalt never fall And now Reader I shall also give thee some few considerations and so I shall commit thee to the Lord. 1. Consider That God doth hold out his grace and mercy freely and that to every one Rev. 22. 17. Isa. 55. 1 2 3 6 7. 2. Consider That there is no way to attaine to this free mercy and grace but by him that was borne of the Virgin Mary for he himselfe saith I am the way the truth and the life No man cometh to the Father but by me Joh. 14. 6. compared with Mat. 1. 20 21. 3. Consider if thou strivest to go over any other way thou wilt be but a thief and a robber Joh. 10. 1. compared with ver 9. And know that none of these so continuing shall enter into the Kingdom of he even 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. 4. Consider that if the devil should be too hard for thee and deceive thee by perswading thee to embrace or entertaine a new Gospell which neither Christ nor his Disciples did allow of it would make thee gnash thy teeth when it is too late 5. Consider that though thou hast been deluded by Satan to this day yet if now thine eyes be opened to see and acknowledge it though as yet thou hast been either exceedingly wicked or an idle luke-warme hypocritical professour and hast stood it out to the last for all this there is hope and if now thou receive the truth in the love of the truth being as willing to be rid of the filth of sin as the guilt of it thou shalt be saved 6. Consider that the Lord will call thee to judgement for all thy sins past present and what else thou shalt practice hereafter especially for thy rejecting and trampling on the bloud of his Son the Man Christ Jesus And if thou doest not agree with thine adversary now while thou art in the way he will deliver thee to the Judge and the judge will deliver thee to the officer if he cast thee into prison I tell thee thou shalt not come out thence till thou hast paid the very last mite Luke 12. 58 59. And therefore I beseech thee to consider Here is at this time life and death heaven and hell everlasting joy and everlasting torment set before thee Here is also the way to have
transgreâ—â—ions 1 Cor. 1. 23 24 25. 4. That very body of the sonne of Mary which was crucified did rise again from the dead after he had been buried in Josephs Sepulchre that he in that very body ascended up into heaven and in that very body shall come again to these ends 1. First to judge the quick and the dead 2. To receive his Saints to himselfe 3. To passe eternal condemnation on his enemies These things in brief I shall touch upon according to the wisedom given me And therefore that Christ is very God I shall first prove by plain texts of Scripture 2. From the testimony of God Angels and men witnessed by the Scriptures 3. By several Arguments drawn from Scripture which will prove the same clearly 1. Then to prove it by the Scriptures though indeed the whole Book of Gods holy Scripture testifie these things plainly to be most true yet there be some places more pregnant and pertinent to the thing then others and therefore I shall mention some of them As first minde that in Prov. 8. v. 22 c. and there you shall finde him spoken of under the name of Wisedome the same name that is given him in 1 Cor. 1. 24. I say in that place of the Prov. above mentioned you shall find these expressions from his own mouth The Lord possessed me in tho beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was when there was no depths I was brought forth while there was no fountaine abounding with water Before the mountains were sâ—tled before the hills was I brought forth While as yet he had not made the Earth nor the fields nor the highest places of the dust of the world When hâ— prepared the Heavens I was there when he set a compasse upon the face of the depth when he established the clouds above when he strengthened the fountaines of the deep When he gave to the Sea his decree that the waters should not pass â—his commandement When he appointed the foundations of the Earth then was I by him as one brought up with him And I was daily his delight rejoycing in the habitable parts of the Earth and my delight was with the Sonne of men Also John 1. 1 2. you have these words spoken of Christ In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God The same was in the beginning with God As also in Heb. 1. 2. the Apostle being about to prove the Sonne of Mary to be very God saith He hath in these latter daies spoken to us by his Sonne which sonne is the sonne of Mary as in Matth. 3. But saith the Apostle Heb. 1. 8. to the Sonne he saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy Kingdome Again in John 17 5. you have the words of the sonne of Mary for it saying And now Father glorifie thou me with thine own selfe with the glory that I had with thee before the world was Again he himself saith before Abraham was I am And again I and my Father are one And in Phil. 2. 5. the Apostle saith Let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it â—o robbery to be equal with God but made himselfe of no reputation and took on him the forme of a servant and was mâ—de in the likenesse of men Also Rev. 2. 8. Christ himselfe saith I am the first and the last which was dead but am alive And thus have I quoted some few Scriptures to prove that the Sonne of Mary is the true God 2. I shall give you the testimony of God himselfe touching the truth of this viz. That Christ the Sonne of the Virgin is the true God And first see Zach. 13. 7. and there you shall finde these words Awake O Sword against my Shepherd and against the Man that is my fellow saith the Lord of Hosts In this place the Lord doth call that Man his fellow which he doth not doe to any meer creature Again in Maâ— 3. 17. he calls him his beloved sonne saying This is my beleved Sonne in whom I am well pleased And in the foresaid place of the Hebrews Cap. 1. the Apostle advancing the Lord Jesus brings in this question To which of the Angels said he at any time thou art my Sonne Ver. 5. But to the Sonne he sâ—â—h ver 8. Thy Throne O God iâ— for ever and ever And this farre of the testimony that God himselfe hath given of the Son of Mary Jesus Christ. 3. The Angels do shew that he is God first in that they do obey him 2. in that they worship him 1. That they obey him is clear if we compare Rev. 21. 9. with Rev 22. 6. In the first of these places we finde that there came one of the Angels of the seven vials which had the seven last plagues and talked with John He came not of himselfe for in that 22 Cap. ver 6. he saith The Lord sent his Angel to shew unto his servants the things that must be done Now in the 16. verse you may see who this Lord God is He saith there I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testifie these things in the Churches * I am the roâ—t as well as the Ofspring of David and the bright and morning star I say this obedience of the Angels doth testifie that Jesus which is the Sonne of Mary is the true and very God for they do obey God only Secondly The Angels doe shew that the sonne of Mary is the true God in that they do not onely obey him but worship him also yea they are commanded so to doe Heb. 1. 6. where it is wriâ—ten When he bringeth his first begoâ—ten into the world he i e God saith And let all the Angels of God worship him viz. the sonne of Mary Now the Angels themselves command that we worship none but God Rev. 22. 8 9. When John fell down to worship the Angel the Angel said See thou doe it not for I am thy fellow-servant worship God Now if the Angels should command to worship God and they themselves should worship him that by nature is no God they should overthrow themselves in commâ—â—ding one thing and doing another and so lose their own habitations and be shut up in chaines of darknesse to be punished with everlasting destruction from God himselfe at the great day And thus much concerning the testimony of Angels touching Jesus the Sonne of Mary the Sonne of God yea very anâ— true God Isa. 9. 6. Now followeth David hiâ— testimony among other of thâ— Saints who witnesse Jesus the Sonne of Mary to be true God and that you may finde in Psa. 110. 1. where he saith The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstoole Also Isaiah in the 9. Chap.
2. 24 25. Therefore c. 15. He that by his own power commandeth the raging Sea must needs be the true God Job 38. 10 11. Prov. 8. 29. But this did Jesus the sonne of Mary Mark 4. 39 41. Luke 8. 24. Therefore c. 16. He that is the wisedom power and glory of God must needs be the true God But Jesus the sonne of the Virgin is all these as 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. Heb. 1. 1 2 3. Therefore Jesus the son of the Virgin must needs be true God as well as man The next thing that I am to proâ— is this Namely That by â—â— Jesus Christ the sonne of thâ— Virgin the World was made And here I shall be brief â—â—ving touched on it alreaâ— Only I shall lay down someâ— the Scriptures that hold for this to be a truth and sopâ— to the next things that Iâ—tend to speak of ANd therefore in the fâ—â— place see Heb. 1. 1 2. whâ— the Apostle is speaking of â—â— Sonne of God which Soâ—â— was borne of the Virgin Mâ—â— according to these Scriptâ—â— mentioned before Matth. 18 to 23. Luke 2. Matth. 3. â— where God himself saith Tâ— is my beloved fonne c. Tâ— Sonne of God saith the Apâ—stle by whom God hath spoken to us by him also he made the Worlds And Col. 1. the Apostle speaking of the deliverance of the Saints saith Who hath delivered you front the power of darknesse and translated you into the Kingdome of his dear Sonne in whom we have Redemption through his blood even the forgivenesse of sinnes And is that all No but He is also the image of the invisible God ver 15. The first born of every Creature And in ver 16 17. By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him And he is before all things and by him all things consist Also Heb. 1. 10. it is thus written of this Sonne of God Christ Jesus the sonne of Mary And then Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands And again John 1. and the first nine verses the Evangelist or Apostle speaking of the Son saith In the beginning was the Word which Word was the Son Rev. 19. 12 13. This Word or Son was with God and the Word was God All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made In him was life and the life was the light of men And the light shined in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehended it not But in the ninth verse of this first Chapter of Joh. it is written That was the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world Now seeing the Lord hath brought me thus farre and because the Quakers by wresting this Scripture do not onely split themselves upon it but endeavor also to split others I shall therefore before I proceed any further ' speak a few words to it and they are these that follow The Apostle in these nine first Verses or most of them is speaking of the Divinity or Godhead of the Sonne of Mary and shewing that he made the World Now in this ninth verse he speaketh of Man as he is in his comming into the world and not as he is a regenerate person Now every man as he comes into the world receives a light from Christ as he is God which light is the Conscience that some call Christ though falsly This Light or Conscience will shew a man that there is a God and that this God is Eternal Rom. 1. 20. This light doth discover this Eternal God by his works in the world for saith the Scripture before named The invisâ—ble things of him meaning God from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead This light also will reprove of sinne or convince of and make manifest sins against the Law of this Eternal God So that man before he is regenerate is able by that light to know that sins against the Law are sins against God as is manifested in the unconverted Pharisees who as Christ told them had neither the love of God nor the word of God abiding in them John 5. 38 42. yet knew sins against the Law to be sins for they were offended at a woman for committing adultery which act was forbidden Mat. 5. 27 28. by the Law and tiâ— said also they were convicted of sinne by their own consciences John 8. 7 8 9 10. Again the Apostle writing to the Corinthians and admoniâ—hing them to walk orderly 1 Cor. 11. 14. turnes them to nature it selfe saying Doth not even Nature it self teach you c. This Light surely is that wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned every man that commeth into the world which doth convince of sins against the law of God Therefore as the Apostle saith Rom. 1. 20. They are left without excuse That is they have their own conscience that doth shew them there is a God and that this God is to be served and obeyed and the neglect of this will be sure to damn them though the obedience to the Law will not save them because they are not able to make a full recompence to God for the sins that are past neither are they able for the time to come to yield a fall conâ—inâ—al and compleat obedience â—o the law of this Alm◠〈…〉 finite and Eternâ—l 〈…〉 as many as are of 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to doe them But that no man is justified by the works of the law it is evident For the just shall live by faith Gal. 3. 10 11. But now though Christ as he is God doth give a light to every one that cometh into the world which light is the conscience as they themselves confesse yet it doth not therefore follow that this conscience is the spirit of Christ or the work of grace wrought in the heart of any man whatsoever for every one hath conscience yet every one hath not the spirit of Christ For Jude speaks of a company of men in his days who had not the spirit of Christ Jude 19. These be they who separate themselves saith he sensual having not the spirit Yea Heathens Turks Jewes Pagans Atheists have that also that doth convince of sinne and yet are so farre from having the spirit of Christ in them that it is their great delight to serve their lusts this world their sinnes whereas the Apostle saith plainly If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake So that those who are alive to their sinnes have not the spirit of Christ. Nay let me
or conâ—ent with any thing below the blood of the sonne of God to purge thy conscience withall even that blood that was shed without the gates Heb. 13. 12. Also thou canst not be at quiet till thou doest see by true faith that the righteousnesse of the son of Mary is imputed unto thee and put upon thee Rom. 3. 21 22 23. Then also thou canst not be at quiet till thou hast power over thy lusts and corruptions till thou hast brought them into Subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then thou wilt never think that thou hast enough faith No thou wilt be often crying out Lord give me more precious faith Lord more faith in thy righteousnesse more faith in thy blood and death more faith in thy resurrection And Lord more faith in this that thou art now at the right hand of thy Father in thy humane Natâ—r making intercession for me a â—iserable sinner And then O poor Soul if thou commeâ—h but hither thou wilt never have an itchâ—ng eare after another Gospel Nay thou wilt say If a Preshyter or Anabapâ—â—st or Independent or Ranter or Quâ—ker or Papist or Pope or an Angel from heaven preach anyother Gospel let him be accuâ—sâ—d again and again And thus have I briefly shewed you First how Christ as he is God doth enlighten every man that comes into the world Secondly what this light will doe viâ—â— shew them that there is a God by the things that are made and that this God must be worshipped Thirdly I have shewed you the difference between that light and the Spirit of Christ the Saviour Fourthly I have also shewed you how you should know the one from the other by their several effects As first the first light convinces of sins but of none other then sins against the Law neither doth it shew the soul a Saviour or deliver for that is the work of the Spirit from the curse vvherevvith it doth curse it But I shevved you that vvhen the Spirit of Christ comes and vvorkes effectually it doth not only shevv men their sinnes against the Lavv but also shevvs them their lost condition if they believe not in the righteousness blood death resurrection and intercession of Jesus Christ the Son of Mary the Son of God And thus much I thought necessary to be spoken at this time touching the nature of Conviction Now in the third place Though I have spoken something thing to this thing already namely concerning our Lord the Saviour yet again in few words through grace I shall shew that he was made that is born of a woman and made under the Law to redeem them that are under the Law My meaning is That God is our Saviour And for this see Isa. 45 15. where you have these words Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour and ver 21. 22 you have these words Who hath told it from ancient times have not â— the Lord and there is no God besides me a just God and a Saviour and there is none besides me Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Why who art thou for I am God and there is none else Also in Isa. 54. 5. For thy maker is thine husband the Lord of hosts is his name and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole earth shall he be called read also vers 6 7 8. of that Chapter I could abundantly multiply Scriptures to prove this to be a truth but I shall only mâ—nd you of two or three and so pass on The first is in Jude ver 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and Acts 20 28. Joh. 3. 16. But you will say How is God a Saviour of Sinners seeing his eyes are so pure that he cannot behold iniquity Habak 1. 13. For answer hereunto First when the fulnesse of time was come wherein the salvation of Sinners should be actually wrought out God sent forth his Sonne which Son is equal with the Father made of a woman made under the Law that is he was subject to the power and curse of the Law to this end to redeeme them that are or were under the Law that is to deliver us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us From whence take notice that when the salvation of Sinners was to be actually wrought out then God sent forth the everlasting son of his love into the world cloathed with the humane nature according to that in Joh. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 14. And 1 Tim. 3 16. which saith God was manifested in the flesh that is took flesh upon him 2. This Sonne of God which is equal with the Father did in that Flesh which he took upon him compleatly fulfill the whole Law So that the Apostle saith Christ is the very end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that believes This righteousness which this Christ did accomplish is called the righteousnesse of God Rom. 3. 22. This righteousnesse of God is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe my meaning is it is imputed to so many as shall by faith lay hold on it This is also part of the meaning of that speech of the Apostle As many as were baptized into Christ have put on Châ—ist That is by faith have put on the righteousnesse of Christ with the rest of that which Christ hath bestowed upon you having accomplished it for you This is also the meaning of the Apostle Col 2. 9 10. where he saith For in him that is the sonne of Mary chap. 1. 13 14. dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And ye are compleat in him That is in his obedience and righteousness Which also the Apostle himselfe doth so hard presse after Phil. 3. 6 7 8. saying Doubâ—lesse I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord which Lord was crucified by the Jews as it is 1 Cor 2. 8. for whom that is for Christ I have suffered the loss of all things as well the righteousness of the Law in which I was blameless as all other things and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ And be found in him not having on mine owne righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith which is unto all and upon all them that believe That place also in the ninth of Daniel v. 24 25. holdeth forth as much where prophecying of the Messias he saith that it is he that came to finish transgression and to make an end of sin and to make reconciliation for iniquiâ—y and to bring in everlasting righteousness Now that the righteousnesse of the Sonne of Mary is it mind the 26. verse where he saith thus And after Threescore and
went or ascended up into heaven If you compare Luke 2â— v. 39 40 41 42 43. with the 50. and 5â— verses of the same Chap. you may cleerly find it so to be And therefore if he come againe in like manner he must come againe with the same body wherewith he was crucified Object But you will say The Scripture saith he that descended is the same that ascended which to me say you implies none but the spirits ascending Answ. For answer We doe not say as I said before that it is another that ascended but the very same That is the very same Christ that was with the father from everlasting did come down from heaven That same Christ also that came down from heaven did ascend up thither again only he descended without a body from heaven and took flesh and blood upon him from the Virgin And though he descended without a body yet he the very same Christ that descended without a body the same did ascend again with a body even that very body that he took of the virgin Mary See Luke 24. from 39 to the 51. verses Now let me give you a Similitude for it is warrantable for both Christ and his Apostles did sometimes use them to the end soules might be the beâ—ter infâ—rmed The similitude is this Suppose there come into thine house a man that is naked and without clothing though he go out of thy house againe well clothed yet the same man that came in without clothing is the same man also that goâ—s out of thy house though very well clothed Even so it is in this case The Lord Jesus came into the wombe of the virgin â— Spirit Mat. 1â— 18. but he came out of the womb clothed with a body and went up into heaven again clothed with a body Compare Luke 24. 39. with Act. 1. 11. and Act. 2. 30 31. Now also I shal lay down some few things to be considered for the better clearing of it 1. Consider that he did say to his Disciples that he would go away from them Joh. 14. 3. Joh. 16. 7. yea saith he I go and prepare a place for you and then I will after a long time come again and take you to my selfe that where I am that is whither I am going there ye may be also Now I say If Christ had not gone from his Disciples for that was his meaning touching his bodily presence I say if he had not gone away from them in respect of his bodily presence he had said more then he had performed which is horrible blasphemie once to assert Which going of his is his going into heaven See 1 Pet. 3. 22. Secondly consider that there it was that he was to receive the promise of the father Luke 24. 49. 50 51. which promise was the shedding forth in an abundant manner the blessed Holy Ghost And for this see Act. 2. 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God which is in heaven exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shâ—d fâ—rth this which ye now see and hearâ— For David is not ascended into the heavens but he saith himselfe The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstoole Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly for t is very tâ—ue that God hath made that same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ. Thirdly Consider that if he were on earth he could not be a Priest Heb. 8. 4. Now the man Christ Jesus is a glorious Priest Heb. 7. 24. in the heavens Heb. 9. 24. And therefore he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them That man v. 25. Fourthly If he be not gone into heaven both his own and his Apostles doctrine is false yea the witnesse of the Angels also 1 Pet. 3. 22. Act. 1. 9 10 11. which to think were damnable infidelitie in any man Fifthly Know that he is gone in oâ— heaven because the Scriptures say he is which is the very truth of God spoken by his holy Apostles and Prophets yea holy men of God spake them as they were moved by the holy Ghost Sixthly Consider If thou sayest that that man is not gone into heaven then thou must also conclude that he is still in the grave and if so then thou sayest that the Prophets Apostles Angels Christ God and all are lyars who have testified these things in the Scriptures for glorious truths Isa. 26. 19. Acts 10. v. 40 41 42. and 13. v. 30 34 36 37 38. Acâ—sâ— 9 10 11. And as the Apostle saith of himselfe and the rest of the Apostles and ministers of Jesus Christ And we are found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he raised not up if so â—e the dead rise not But now is Christ risen and become the first fruits of them that sleep For as by man came death by Man came also the resurrection from the dead 1 Cor. 15. 15 20 21. Secondly now I am to prove that he is above the clouds and the heavens my meaning is he is above the lowest heavens for there are 3 as appears in 2 Cor. 12. 1 2 3 4. I knew a man in Christ saith Paul there caught up into the third heaven now Heaven in Scripture is taken sometimes metaphorically and sometimes properly First metaphorically it is taken for the Church and people of God as in Rev. 12. 12. Secondly properly it is taken for the material heaven where the Sun Moon and Stars are placed as in Genesis 1. v 8 14 15 16 compared together above which heaven Jesus the Son of Mary is ascended Therefore I pray you consider with me a little and first that when he went into this heaven into which he is gone he went AWAY from his Disciples as it is written If I go not away the comforter will not come so that he did not go into a heaven within them in his person and humane nature If so he must needs go into that heaven without above the clouds and the Stars Gen. 1. 8 5 16. 2. Consider he was caught away in a cloud yea and was caught upwards from them as it is Acts 1. 9 10 11. and carried away into heaven yea and his disciples stood gazing or looking up after him into heaven which heaven must needs be that above the clouds 1. If you consider the posture of the Disciples they looked upwards after the cloud that did take him away 2. Consider the manner of his going it was in a cloud 3. He was received out of their sight 4. And so received up into heaven which heaven must needs be above the clouds where God is in his special presence But further 3. Consider that those believers that are alive at this day in
the body are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 6. but now if the man Christ were ascended into that heaven within them he would neither be absent from them nor they from him but in that he is absent from them touching his bodily presence and they from him touching the same it is evident that that heaven into which he is ascended must needs be without above the clouds 4 Consider that that heaven into which the man Christ is ascended must contain him till the time of restitution of All things as in Acts 3. 21. into which heaven he hath been ascended above sixteen hundred years by computation And I am sure there is not a Saint that doth live in this world half so long before he fall asleep and be gathered to his fathers so that that heaven into which he is scended is not within but must needs be that above the clouds But 5. Consider that he that ascended from his Disciples was a man with flesh and bones not a spirit only for handle me and sâ—e saith he for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Luke 24. 39 50 51. verses Now let the Adversaries shew by the Scriptures that there is any place in them called heaven that is able to contain a man of some four or five foot long the space of fifteen or sixteen hundred years besides that therefore it must needs be that heaven without which is above the clouds and Stars 6. Consider That heaven into which the Lord Jesus that man is ascended must not contain him alwaâ—es for saith the Apostle 1 Thes. 4. 16. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an Archangel So that there is another descending from that heaven into which he is ascended and his descending from that heaven is to this end namely to take his people to himself as it is v. 17. so that it is clear that it is not any heaven within thee into which the Man Christ that was born of the Virgin Mary is ascended but it must needs be that heaven without which is above the clouds 1. If thou consider that the place into which he is ascended even the heaven into which he is entred is the same place where all the the deceased Saints are in their Spirits Therefore saith Paul I desire to depart and to be with Christ which is better Now Paul did not in this place Pâ—il 1. 23. mean the enjoying of Christ only in the spirit for that he enjoyed in a great measure when he spake these words but he speaks of a dying and a being with Christ after this life is ended as is clear if you compare the 20 21 22 23 24. 25 and 26 verse together being absent from him while he was here in the bâ—dy 2 Cor. 5. 6. for whilst at homâ— in the body we are absent from the Lord. So that that heaven into which the Man Christ is ascended is not into his Church on earth but into heaven without above the clouds and the Stars And this David doth propheâ—ie of Psal. 47. 5. where he saith God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet Now Christ as God meerly could not go up being no lesse in one place then in another but as God man or in his humane nature he went up as will clearly appear Epes 4 8 9 10. where he speaketh of his triumâ—h over all the enemies of his people at his resurrection and ascension into heaven above the clouds 8. When Christ doth descend from that heaven into which he is now ascended his Saints and he will meet one another just in the air according to the Scripture 1 Thes. 4. 16 17. for saith he the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first that is they shall come out of their graves and then we which shall be saved alive at that day and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Pray mark here a little and see what heaven the man Christ is ascended into and see if it be not the heaven without above the Sun Moon and Stars When Christ and his Saints do meet the second time together the one ascends and the other descends the one is caught up in the clouds towards heaven the other descends from heaven towards the earth and they must needs meet one another just in the air that is between the heaven and the earth So then the one coming from heaven and the other from the earth and their meeting being in the air which is between heaven and earth is an undeniable demonstration that that heaven into which the man Christ is ascended must needs be that heaven without above the Sun Moon and Stars And thus much touching the Son of Mary his ascending up into the heaven without above the clouds Acts 1. 9 10 11. Acts 3. 21 1 Pet. 3 22 In the next place Now I shall prove the intercession of the man Christ Jesus to be in the heaven that I have been speaking of though some have mocked at it and others have called it jugling whose names here I shall not mâ—ntion only I shall admonish them that they doe not blaspheme the truth and Sonne of God in his intercession I shall quote some of the Scriptures that hold out this truth and so passe on And first of all see Psal. 16. 4. where David prophesying of the intercession of Christ saith their sorrowes shall be multiplyed that husten after another God speaking of the wicked their drink offerings of blood will I not offer nor take up their names into my lips Now compare this with Heb. 8. 4. where he saith If he were on earth he should not be a Priest And Heb. 9. 24. For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands meaning the temple which Solomon built which are figures of the true but into heaven it selfe now to appear in the presence of God for us Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25 But you will say is there a man made mention of here Yes for the Scripture saith Ther is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the Man Christ Jesus And in that 8. to the Heb. made mention of before where the Apostle is speaking of Christs priestly office as he is in the heavens compared with other Priests that are on earth he saith v. 3. for every high Priest is ordained to offer gifts and Sacrifices wherefore speaking of Christ it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer For if he were on earth he should not be a Priest seeing there
further lay them open before thee And first the prophane scoffer who makes a mocke at the truths of God and so goes on in his sins for this see in 2 Pet. 3. 3. which the Apostle attributes to their ignorance ver 5. And therefore he likens them to bruit beasts Chap. 2. 10. and 12. verses who walke after the flesh in the lusts of uncleanness speak evil of the things they understand not and shall utterly perish in their corruption who because they understand not the Scriptures nor the power of God in them speake evil of the truths therein contained and think the Lord like unto themselves Psal. 50. Secondly the formal professor who hath onely a notion of the Gospell and some seeming holiness but wants Gospel faith Such are called foolish virgins Mat 25. 2 3. to whom Christ will say in that day Verily I know you not Adde hereto those that think it enough to confess Christ with their mouthes and profess that they know God but deny him in their works such notwithstanding all their profession shall if they so continue perish eternally being abominable disobedient and to every good work reprobate or void of judgement that is ignorant Tit. 1. v. 16. 3. The legal righteous man or woman though they walke blameless as touching the righteousnesse that is in the law For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness go about to establish their own righteousness as reading hearing Sermons prayers publique or private peaceableness with their Neighbours Fasting Almes good works as they count them just dealings abstinence from the grosser pollutions of the world stricter obedience to the commandments of the first and second table all which with many other things may be comprehended in their own righteousnesse and it is grounded on their ignorance and goes on in rebellion and such ignorant persons shall in that day perish not submitting through ignoranco to the righteousness of God Rom. 10. 3. compared with Luke 19. 27. where Christ saith that when he shall come the second time he will command those his enemies who submitted not themselves to him who is called the righteousness of God Esay 46. 13. or would not have him to reign over them to be slaine before his face 4. Those whose hearts are set upon the world and follow the alluring perswasions of it the Lord calls such fools Luke 12. 20 and Pro. 7. 7. who go after it vâ—z the world held forth by a similitude of a woman with the attire of an harlot as an oxe to the slaughter or a Foole to the correction of the stocks till a dart strike thorow his liver as a bird hasteth to the snare and knoweth not that it is for his life and knows not marke it is through ignorance ver 23. A fift end of Christs comming is that his righteous ones might shine as the Sun in the glory or Kingdom of their Father Mat. 13. 43. there are many things that do hinder the People of God from shining forth as the Sun now As first they have a body of death which makes them fetch many a groane in their journey to Canaan Rom. 7. 24. 2 Cor. 5. 2. They meet with many a sad temptation which also makes them in heaviness many a time 1 Pet 1. 6. They have also many other things that doe hinder their shining now but then the body of death shall be left off My meaning is that sin shall be no more in the natures of Gods people then Their bodies that are now so vile shall then be made like unto the glorious body of the son of God who shall change our vile bodie that it may be like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. ver 21. 6. Another end of Christs coming shall be to take an account of his children how they have laid out their talents that he hath committed to their trust Mat. 25. 19. Rom. 14 12. 2 Cor. 5. 10. 7. Another end of his coming is to set up his Kingdom which will be glorious indeed at his appearing 2 Tim. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 19 20 21. I do but touch these things because I would hasten towards a conclusion many other things might have been spoken to but at this time I shal forbear But you will say Who shall stand when he appears why I told you before that the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous Psa. 1. 5. let him be close or prophane as I told you even now all shall be laid open all shall be made manifest all shall come into judgement Ah poor soul it is not then thy brave words will save thee it is not thine eloquent tongue that will then do thee any good if thou be without the wedding garment thou wilt be speechlesse as in Mat. 22. 12. But thou that art a converted person shalt stand in the judgement thou that are born again shalt enter into the Kingdom and none else Joh 3. 5. Rev. 21. 27. But how shall I know that I am born again Answ. Why if thou art born again then thou knowest that thou wast not born a Christian at first Eph. 2. 1 2 3. you hath the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins 2. Thou knowest that once thou hadst no faith in the Lord Jesus and wert convinced of sin because thou didst not believe in the son of Mary Jol. 6. 9. 3. Thou seest all true joy through the blood and righteousness of the son of Mary 1 Cor. 15. 57. Rom. 7. 24. 25. 4. Art thou born again then thou canst not be quiet till thou seest God smile and lift up the light of his countenance upon thee Psa. 4. 6. and that through the face of the son of Mary the son of God 5. Thou knowest that God hath given thee thy faith Phil. 1. 29. Eph. 2. 8. 6. Art thou born again then thou knowest that the doctrine of the son of Mâ—ry the Virgin is a right doctrine 2 Joh 9. 7. Then also thou lookest for the personal appearing of the son of Mary from heaven in the clouâ—ls Rev. 1. 7. the second time Heb. 9 28 These things though plain yet if the Lord set them home upon thy conscience may be profitable both to thee and me Therefore let us examine the matter a little And first Thou thinkest that thou art a Christian thou shouldst be sorry else well but when did God shew thee that thou wert no Christian when didst thou see that and in the light of the spirit of Christ see that thou wert under the wrath of God because of original sin Nay dost thou know what original sin means Is it not the least in thy thoughts and dost thou not rejoyce in secret that thou art the same that thou ever wert If so then know for certain that the wrath of God to this very day abideth on thee Joh. 3. 36. And if so
is come the second time they that are in their graves shall arise and come forth of their graves as I said before in which they have laine according to that in Job 5. 28. Where Christ saith Marvell not at this for the houre is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evill unto the resurrection of damnation You will say Are these graves spoken of here the graves that are made in the earth yea that they are and for a further proof of the same look into Dan. 12. 2 Daniel there speaking of the same thing saith And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall arise or awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt or damnation I shall not stand here to dispute any distinctions of the resurrections only prove that the dead shall arise and that is a clear truth from the Scriptures Acts 10. 42. Rev. 20 11 12 13 14. and 1 Thes. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52. the dead shall be raised 2. He shall call all men and women to an account for all their close sinful thoughts words and actions then will the secrets of all hearts be made manifest Then shall all thy adulterous and theevish and covetous idolatrous and blasphemous thoughts be laid open according to that saying Their consciences also bearing them witness and their thoughts the mean time or while accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 2. 15. But when why in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ ver 16. see also 1 Cor. 4. 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time what time is that why when the Lord comes what will he do He will bring to light the hidden things of darknesâ—â— that is all those cunning close hidden wickednesses that thou in thy life time hast committed yea he will make manifest the counsels of the heart that is the most hidden and secret things that are contrived and plotted by the sons of men Then shal all the midnight whoremongers be laid open with all their sins Then thou it may be who hast committed such sins as thou wouldst not have thy Neighbour thy father thy wife thy husband or any one else know of for thousands then thou shalt have them all laid open even upon the house tops Luke 12. 1 2 3. Then thou that hatest Gods children his waies his word his spirit then thou that makest a mock at Jesus of Nazareth his second coming then thou that livest in open prophaness or secret hypocrisie then I say will be such a time of reckoning for you as never was since the world began then you that shall die in your siâ—s will cry to the mountains fall on us and cover us from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb which Lamb is the man Christ Jesus Joh. 1. 19. And ah my friends if the very looks of God be so terrible what will his blows be think you Then if all thy idle words shall be accounted for as it is written But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement Mat. 12. 36. and also all thy filthy actions shall be then regarded in such sort as thou shalt receive a just recompence for them And know saith the Scripture that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Eccles. 11. 9. Then Thou that are an unbeliever shalt be sure to fall under the judgement for all thy sins first thou must give account Secondly thou must fall in the judgement Oh my friends there are hot daies acoming for all those that are found out of the Lord Jesus Behold saith Malachi the daies come that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hoasts and it shall leave them neither root nor branch The day of judgement will burn like an oven and all that have not the righteousness of Christ upon them shall be as stubble Ah friends put a red hot oven and stubble together and what work will theâ—e be even the one will burn and destroy the other 3. When Christ doth come the second time another end of his coming will be to purge out all things that offend in his Kingdom Mat. 13. 41 42. Then shall the son of man send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that doe iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth There are many things that doe offend in his Kingdom now namely the lukewarm professor he doth offend first the Lord secondly his people But then thou lukewarm offending professor shalt offend the Church of God no more Secondly the loose professors do also offend God Christ and his Church First he scandals the Gospel by his loose walking and naughty carriages Secondly he doth make the world blaspheme the name of God by the same Thirdly he grieves the hearts of Gods people Phil. 3. 18. But know that thou also shalt be taken away from offending any more God Christ and his Saints and thou shalt have weeping and gnashing of teeth for thy thus offending Mat. 18. 6. 7. 4 Another end of Christs second coming is to cut of all the ignorant persons that are in the world There is a generation of poor souls that do think to be excused for their ignorance Alas saith one I am a poor ignorant man or woman and therefore I hope that the Lord will have mercy upon me We cannot say others do as such and such and will the Lord condemn us And thus poor souls as they are in the broad way to destruction least they should misse of the way to hell do swallow down by clusters that which will poyson them body and soul for ever and ever But you will say What will not the Lord have mercy on ignorant soules Ans. Not on those who live and die in their ignorance He himselfe hath said Esay 27. 11. Because it is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Again Paul also in that 2 Thes. 1. 8. saith that when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world he doth come to take vengeance on all them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ. But ye will say who are those ignorant persons that shall find no favour at that day or how doth the ignorance discover it selfe I shall only mention three or four sorts of men and leave thee to the Scriptures which if thou read them diligently will