Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	spirit_n	true_a	worshipper_n	5,073	5	12.1898	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84069	The great earthquake, Revel. 16. 18. or, Fall of all the churches. Discovering the apostasie of purest churches, not yet sensible of their spiritual whoredoms, EZek. 43.9, 10. Or, The great whore made bare and naked before she be judged, and her flesh burnt with fire, Rev. 27. 16. Proving, that none indeed deny the ordinances of Christ, but present churches not being in a Gospel-order. By William Erbery.	Erbery, William, 1604-1654.; J. W.	1654 (1654)	Wing E3227; Thomason E806_7; ESTC R207174	48,514	64

privater assemblings according to the rule of St. James Chap. 5. v. 13. Is any among you afflicted let him pray Is any merry let him sing Psalmes yea the prayer dictated by Christ to his disciples Mat. 6. Luke 11 2 3 4. seems to be of the same import there being some Petitions especially that v. 3. Give us day by day our daily bread squared to the particular condition of the Disciples themselves for they being to be sent out into the world without money or scrip c. and without ordinary accommodation for the relief of the natural man had need have their daily recourse to and dependance upon him for a supply of those things when as they who have tasted of the goodnesse of God in a plentifull provision of outward enjoyments have greater reason to rejoyce in and magnifie that goodness then to goe forth in desires after that which they already enjoy where by the way it may be queried whethere that prayer were intended for the body of the Saints or the Disciples only and for other Saints no otherwise then as their case suited with that of his Disciples Yet even near the Apostolick times the memory of the Jewish observations being fresh some of the Christian Doctors did lalour to reduce the Saints to the same yoke of bondage as to the strictness of time place and season which the Jews were under An instance of this we have in Clemens living in the very age of the Apostles Clem. 1.52 and who is said to have wrote Epistles to the Corinthians as Paul did in one of which he laies it as a duty upon Christians to perform their services and observations statutis Temporibus horis at set times and seasons and saies that God hath commanded it by his supreme will but where that command is to be found he determins not neither is it any where to be found in the New Testament but rather the contrary but from the practice of the Jews in the Old and so a late learned Critick expounds those words of Clemens that the force of the command lies in the Analogy between the old Testament and the new and not in any particular Text or Scripture under the Gospel As for Prayer he was led into the secret places of the Almighty to see that it was not to be limited as the Jews did to morning and evening tides that it was the least part of it to be vocal That all divine performances are to be managed within that it was proper only for Saints and not mixt multitudes upon which account he was not observed to be frequent in the external demonstration of this or other duties yet he prayed alwaies and in every thing gave thanks yea being afflicted with all the sufferings of all the Saints he managed within himself such groans as could not be uttered Rom. 8. How many now adaies do place all their duties in being seen and heard of men How many outward services do they perform one day after another which perish with the using How are we ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth If such men think they stand let them take heed lest they fall Yet our Author wanted not a clearer demonstration of the truth and power of his Religion then any seemingly religious and external rite could afford viz The works of righteousness and mercy amongst men which justified his faith and shewed his religion to be pure and undefiled Jam. 1. 3. He is a Blasphemer that speaks evil of dignities and of those things which he knows not Jude 8.10 If so let them take heed to themselves who are cloudes without water wandring stars c. That place seems to be understood of those that took upon them to be guides and teachers to others for a cloude guided Moses and a star the wise men who pretending to be divinely sent and commissioned yet speak evil of those dominions and dignities those higher discoveries which they cannot comprehend As for our Author his thoughts of God were raised together with his discoveries of him he owned truth in the power of it 't was only the traditional customs which many place their Religon in which our Author did decry upon which account Christ himself bore the brand of a Blasphemer before him 4. The Scriptures were owned by him as given by inspiraration yet the bare letter not rested in but the truth and power being the treasure hid in the field sought after Yea 't were well if men were single in their adhesion to the Scripture not respecting so much any formal or worldly interest as the equity of those rules and directions therein contained the Majesty of which is such that they have been admired even by Heathens an instance we have in our English Chronicle K. John sent Ambassadors to the King of Marocco in Africa proferring him to renounce Christianity and to receive the Mahumetan religion from him The King made answer that he had been lately reading St. Pauls Epistles where he found so many excellent things that if he himself had been without a Religion he would have chosen his and so dismissed the Ambassadors Math. Par. Yet 't is an usual artifice of Satan in all ages to set up the letter of a thing against the truth and power of it yea no opposition so fierce as that which is managed by the man of Form against the true spiritual worshipper 'T is not enough for men to urge the letter of the Scripture for such or such a practice lest they can shew the same spirit animating and enlivening their practice which was in the primitive times otherwise the practice is not the same but another from it because acted in another spirit the spirit being that which gives its true being and denomination to each part of spiritual worship and when the outward practice was abstracted from its primitive and original spirit and graffed on mens own spirits then came in the Antichrist and the deceivablenss of unrighteousness And though the letter of the word in some sense is a Skreen to secure Antichrist yet the spirit of the Lord in his more discerning servants will find him out 5. As is the Scripture such are the Ministers of it i such as act in the truth and power or in the form and notion only when Christ appeared he set himself in directest opposition against the Pharisee i. the Minister of the Law and was in that sense an Antiministrist as having a more excellent Ministry to hold forth to the world the first Ministry of the Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors was not denyed by our Author but how it could be continued during the Apostasit or how and when renewed are questions and cases not so clearly stated but that they may well admit of doubts and scruples especially since the gifts which accompanied the first Ministry are ceased and our Author was of this mind better no Ministry then a pretended one 6. After Ministry follow

THE Great Earthquake REVEL 16.18 OR FALL Of all the CHURCHES Discovering the Apostasie of purest Churches not yet sensible of their spiritual Whoredoms Ezek. 43.9 10. OR The Great Whore made bare and naked before she be judged and her flesh burnt with fire Rev. 27.16 PROVING That none indeed deny the Ordinances of Christ but present Churches not being in a Gospel-order The Pastors are become brutish and have not sought the Lord therefore they shall not prosper and all their flocks shall be scattered Jer. 10.21 By William Erbery LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the black spread Eagle at-the West end of Pauls 1654. To the truly Christian Reader THe Author of this ensuing Discourse was a person raised up by the Lord to bear his testimony against all formal and traditional waies of Religion Ordinances and Government in the so called Christian world a designe though seemingly managed by him with some eagerness and severity of spirit if you abstract some passages in this and his other discourses yet in much love and oneness of spirit with the worshippers themselves that their persons might be saved but so as by fire 1 Cor. 3.15 The Doctrine of Persecution for Conscience sake though erronious was a stranger to his spirit and principles which owned no compulsion in matters of Religion but that Scriptural one viz. the energy and effectual working of the spirit of God overpowring the soul and leading it captive by an holy violence to those divine and heavenly discoveries which our Author bore witness to And indeed if we consider the judging and persecuting spirit we shall ordinarily find it to ascend i. The weak are most apt to judge the strong Rom. 13.3 though the strong hath another temptation before him viz. to despise the weak so he that is born after the flesh i. the weak legal Saint persecutes him that is born after the spirit Gal. 4.29 The reason I take to be this The higher a mans spirit is raised in the knowledg of God and of divine mysteries the more large and comprehensive it is as coming nearest to that state of love which beareth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 Hence it is that such men comprehend and embrace all weaker Saints though in different forms as to outward observations in one and the same spirit but on the other side when the spirit of a Christian is captivated to this or that particular rite as to a day meat c. in the narrowness of his heart secluding all others he is carried out with a zeal kindled from the outward letter to the censuring reproaching persecuting such Doctrines as he is not able to comprehend An experiment of this we have in Christ himself who coming forth in the glory of God and holding out higher discoveries then the Saints had formerly attained was opposed by none so much as the religious ones of his daies Scribes and Pharisees that sate in Moses Chair And as the Disciple is not above his Master so the Apostle Paul whose errand was to raise up the spirits of Saints to high and evangelical discoveries was thwarted by none so much as by devout women Acts 13.50 The same measure was meeted to this our Author who in simplicity of spirit and love to all the Saints bewailing the bondage of the whole creation did cast in his mite for the deliverance and relief thereof how was he scandalized by some professors of all sorts having various reproaches heaped upon him to render him the more unserviceable for the great work he was upon hence it is that we have heard the brand of a loose person or a Ranter an Apostate and Blasphemer an Antiscripturist Antiministrist an Antiordinancist an Antitrinitarian Vniversalist and what notinured upon him It will not be amiss for the removing of prejudices out of the minds of some and the renewing of the memory of this worthy labourer in the hearts of others to give a brief account of his spirit and Principles as to every one of the abovenamed particulars 1. He was no friend to loosness and prophaneness either in himself or others his own strict sober and Christian deportment in the whole course of his conversation is his sufficient compurgator against all the reproaches and calumnies of this rank and name yea he bore publique testimony against a licentious spirit in whatsoever appearance in several of his private and publique discourses 'T is true some weaker spirits misunderstanding the Doctrines of this Author concerning the restitution of all things the liberty of the creation and Saints oneness in Christ with God c. from these excellent premises drew forth such conclusions as were agreeable to their own private conceptions rather then the truth which conclusions being seconded by a practice agreable thereunto gave just occasion of offence to those without of bewailing and lamentation to them within amongst which this Author bore not the least share 'T is no new thing This when the Lord holds forth any eminent and remarkable truth which is likely to be of signal advantage to the people of God for Satan to raise up much dust about it to cloud its glory yea somtimes by spreading temptations before the pretenders to it unto personal infirmities to abate the edge of other mens spirits from entertaining that which seems accompanied with so horrid and hideous effects But such men would do well to consider whether such conclusions do necessarily follow from such principles or rather are not the principles wrested to what they never meant Have not other mens Doctrines of greatest affinity to the letter of the Scriptures been as much perverted and abused Was not the grace of God turned into wantonness even in the Apostles daies May not new Wine be put into old bottles even to the breaking distempering and overturning of mens spirits All which things do rather evince the world not ripe for such discoveries which our Author held forth then conclude against the discoveries themselves for when the Lord purposes an effectual manifestation of some eminent truth he adds also a ballanced spirit able to entertain it 2. He was rather a presser forward then an Apostate Forgetting those things that are behind c. 'T is true he was formerly as strict and zealous in all literal observations as any of his equals yea he might have boasted herein as the Apostle Paul if it had been worth his labour But it pleased God to raise him up from all fleshly rites to a more near and secret enjoyment which took him from some outward performances which many Christians please themselves in it were to be wished that such persons could give as good an account of their diligence in these things as he could of his omission of them And indeed the prayers of the Saints in the primitive times before the Apostasie began which even then was appearing seem to have been occasional only pro re nata and not limited to times hours or seasons either in their more publike meetings or

departing from Jerusalem Rev. 21.3 that is God dwelling with men if men could be content with God alone live in God onely behold God dwelling in them and they in God they had not run so fast into the Church nor the churches hastned to send forth their Ministers to baptize Isa 52.11 12. there being no Gospel order nor ordinance among them The Gospel-order was in these three things as the Temple had three parts the first is the manifestation of the spirit in manifold gifts 1 Cor. 12.7 Mark 16.18 James 5.14 Secondly A Ministry of the spirit with gifts given by the laying on of hands 1 Cor. 12.28 Ephes 4.11 1 Tim. 4.14 Thirdly The administration of the spirit in all the Ordinances of the Church which were not only Baptism and Breaking of bread but a Psalm a Doctrine a Tongue 1 Cor. 14.26 an Interpretation and Revelation all these also were the Ordinances of Christ for the edifying of the Church but the present Churches have not any one of these not some of them in name or shew therefore sure the edifice is fallen into a confusion into a Babel and the Churches must needs be in an Apostate condition The Apostacie foretold by the Apostle then began when the manifestation of the spirit ceased when the ministry of the spirit was cast down and when that administration of the spirit was trodden under foot and this is a sufficient notoriety or visible signe that all Church Ordinances were changed into a confusion or fleshly performances when the spirit did so visibly disappear and the Gospel-order to be found no more First The manifestation of the spirit in manifold gifts ceasing is spoken of by John Rev. 7.1 where the four winds are held in that it should not blow c. the four winds being nothing else but the fulnesse of the spirit rushing in as a mighty wind at first on the Primitive Church Act. 2.2 and remaining still in the Churches of Christ till the Church came in to spiritual Babylon Therefore the four winds begin to blow when the people of God are brought from thence Ezek. 37.9 Secondly The Ministry of the spirit cast down is also signified Rev. 9.1 where a star fell from heaven to earth ver 1. The falling star is the fall of the ministry of the spirit sent down from heaven now this fell on the earth when gifts of men succeeding those spirituall gifts of God humane Arts and Parts studied Tongues Interpretations and Commentaries became the key of the bottomlesse pit for when the Mysteries of God were opened by the gifts of men in stead of opening heaven they opened hell and a smoke came out of the bottomless pit darkening the Sun and air both Christ and all the means to communicate Christ were darkened thereby ver 2. Thirdly The administration of the spirit in all Gospel-Ordinances after this was trodden under foot Rev. 11. Here the Temple is to be measured c. that is saints though under this spirituall apostacy were still owned of God as those who worshipped him in spirit but as for outward worship and Church-ordinances which are the outward Court ver 2. that was to be given to the Gentiles that is not heathenish Gentiles but Christian Gentiles the most carnal Christians have by continuance in all ages enjoyed the Ordinances of the Church both Baptism breaking of bread for 't was given to them of God as sutable to their fleshly Spirits rather then to the Saints in truth who are the holy City whom these Gentiles and Christians in common have trodden under foot to this day yea not conforming to Ordinances and Doctrines of men not comming to Church has been the cause still of the treading down of the Saints in all Ages and in this also by the Churches themselves who trample on all not in fellowship with them who cannot conform to their forms of Doctrine and fleshly Ordinances for so they are at the best in their primitive and purest order even Gospel Ordinances were but legall things in truth and bodily exercises but now being defiled through the spirits absence they are not only far below Christian duties but the dues of Gentiles and heathenish exercises For so the Protestants have taught that all things in the service of God not according to the Scripture are not only superstitious but profane This I am now with God to prove that there is no Gospel-Ordinance in all the Churches neither in letter or forme much lesse in spirit and truth neither Baptisme nor breaking of Bread nor Prayers nor Preaching nor a Psalme c. First Their Baptizing of Children is so childish a tradition that both the Baptized Churches and some Presbyterian brethren have fully confuted their folly and yet these Churches also come farre short of the truth of Baptisme in the form and end thereof both these we shal prove hereafter that the outward forme of Baptisme was not by dipping but by washing the Disciples feet those that believed went down to the water as t were up to the ancles for the first rising of waters up to the ancles was but a type of that state of Gospel-Saints who should have the first fruits of the Spirit Ezek. 47.3 for the first Churches and Apostles had no more of the Spirit there-they thus were baptized But Secondly the end of Baptisme with water was not that it should abide for ever Joh. 14.16 that was onely the promise of the spirit the spirit or baptism of the spirit was to abide to continue and increase till the waters which were to the ankles should arise to a fulnesse Ezek. 47. to a floud that no man might passe over the baptism of water was to decrease and die in time he must increase saith John but I must decrease Job 3.30 but by the Apostacie the Baptism of Christ the Baptism of the spirit has decreased and the Baptism of water the Baptism of John hath increased and continued to this day Again the Baptism of water which was in the Apostles times was rather by permission then by command 1 Cor. 1.17 an indulgence to the Church that was for the most part carnall as circumcision and many things of Moses Act. 16.3 Act. 21.24 26. did continue for a time in the Gospel-churches so the Baptism of John the baptism of water was not to continue no longer Therefore the doctrine of Baptisms the first principle of Christ is not yet known by any of the Churches who like the whore sitting upon the waters content themselves with the Baptism of water and that in a false way the Presbyters baptise the whole Nation Independents children of beleevers only the baptised Churches dip beleevers indeed but do not baptise them in a true form nor right end not owning baptism of the Spirit at all For this indeed is the baptism of Christ the baptism of the spirit which is not a bare presence of the spirit in graces or in some gifts for

is Deus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 6.70 Mat. 16.23 holy Fathers moderne Divines and Ministers are those Devils as the Worships which great and good Men have set up in the Churches are called the worship of Devils Revel 9.10 Let not this seem strange for not only Ju das was called a Devil but Peter was Satan indeed when he savoured the things of Men more then of God therefore let not our Ministers be moved if hereafter they hear their services called Sorceries as 't is there Rev 9 21 and themselves the Sorcerers of Egypt deceiving the Nation in nothing more then in their Forms of prayer For their preaching begins to appear more powerless flat dead having no discovery of God above the Common Form of Knowledge yea they know less and their preaching is more legal then once it was by the judgment of their wisest Hearers Yea as there are not the prayers of the Church this day as it was neither in power not Form so there is scarce a Christian prayer in private among them though they are full and flow with words at duty-times yet God and their own Conscience can tell how little they pray in their Closets how loose their petitions are in private how seldom they retire into their own spirits yea scarce ever doe they thus seek the Lord as the Prophet speaks that is Jer. 10.21 they seek not any nearer sight of the Lord nor any new discovery of God in them Alass New-lights are laugh'd at by these men though God indeed be the Father of Lights there being more Lights then one begotten and brought forth daily by our God and Father who will shine in us more and more to perfect day till we have a full discovery of himself as he is James 1.17 that is have the Fathers name on our Fore-heads Rev. 14.1 And as the Churches erre in their Formes of publique prayer so they fail in their Forms of private Prayers c. For they pray not to the Father nor secondly in the name of Christ nor thirdly can they pray in the Spirit First They do not pray to the Father but to the first Person in Trinity whom Christ never knew nor acknowledged for had there been a second Person or subsistence in the Godhead coessentiall and coequall with the Father surely Christ should and would have worshipped him but Christ never payed to any Person but to the Father and no Christian ever prayed to the Spirit till the spirit of Antichrist Veni Spiritus Sancte came into the world Not that I deny the holy Trinity according to Scriptures Col. 2.2 8 compared But disclaiming all the Traditions of our Fore-fathers and teachings of men I beleeve that God is Father Son and Spirit and that the Son of God Mat. 28.19 Rom 9.5 1 Cor. 8.6 Ephes 4.6 Isa 96. 1 Tim. 3.16 Luk. 24.49 Act. 1 4 1 Cor. 12.6 7. the Man Christ Jesus is God blessed for ever yet both in a Mystery which no man can manifest or reveal but the spirit Matth. 11.25 Ephes 1.17 The Father being none else but the one onely true God of himself and in himself inhabiting eternity The Son being the same God and Father manifest in Flesh and dwelling among men That one mighty God and Father powerfully going forth and exerting himself or appearing in manifold gifts and operations in flesh is the holy Spirit Which things are not to be carnally understood according to the letter as if God sent his Son 1 Cor. 2.13 John 14 9. Heb. 9.14 1 Cor. 15.45 and the Son sent the Spirit but comparing spirituall things with spirituall we shall perceive that the Son is the Father and the eternall Spirit is both Father and Son so the Father is said to send the Son where he himself appears in flesh from the beginning in the fulnesse of time or this day Heb. 13.8 for Christ is the same to day yesterday and for ever And Christ speaking in the dayes of his flesh that he would send the Spirit is nothing else but that he who dwelt with them should be in them that is when God even the Father who dwelt in his flesh should be manifest in theirs Joh. 14.17 18 19 20. Thus also I confesse that Jesus is the Son of God 1 Joh. 4.15 Joh. 14.7 10 20 verses Phil. 2.6 and that the Man Christ is God blessed for ever God even the Father dwelling in him and doing all in him being all in all in him His flesh being the form of God an image in whom the Godhead appeared to men The Son of God being nothing in himself Joh. 5.19 30. John 8 28. Gal. 4.19 but the Manifestation of the Father and could do nothing of himself but as the Father dwlling in him did all his works and words Again I conceive the Man Jesus Christ the Man-God being in us to be all in all to us Ephes 3.19 John 17.23 God dwelling in us as in him our flesh annointed and filled with the Godhead as his and we perfect in one with the Father as he This is the true Faith and Confession of the Son of God if once revealed in us Gal. 1.16 and 2.20 else how could the Son thus confess'd bring us to God God dwelling in us and we in him thereby 1 John 4.2 3 15. compared I shall not now declare at large how the present Churches deny all the Doctrine of God and of Christ c. which if God will we shall do in his due time onely we are now discovering all their forms of Worship to be false though some may worship the Father in spirit and truth yet in form of words they worship not nor pray to the Father at all Secondly They do not pray in the name of Christ but as saints of the Old Testament knew God in Covenant with them not God in Christ one with them that 's the Father So the Churches apprehend God at a distance standing a far off below in the Temple Heb. 10.19 not able to enter into the Holy of holiest into the Godhead himself but call upon his Name as great and terrible Deut. 28.58 Gal. 4.6 glorious and fearfull for so the Law presented God to Men they have not the spirit of the Son to cry Abba Father the Son being not revealed in them how can the spirit of the Son be sent forth at all I beleeve the Son is in them and the Spirit is there though hid in their flesh but they conceiving Christ at a distance Christ without them as long ago in flesh on earth and now afar off in heaven from them not nigh them and in them They do not pray in his Name Rom. 10.8 Joh. 16.23 They go not as the Son to the Father with that neernesse and confidence as Christ did to God but as strangers and forraigners or as far off from God being very low in the flesh They beg the Father still for Christ Jesus

experiments from outward providences from the writings of Poets and prophane Authors yea from all the Creation Therefore 't is plaine there is no preaching of the Gospell by any Independent-Church or preacher whatsoever But still our Ministers cry Do we not preach as the Apostles did not Paul and Peter hold forth Christ after flesh I answer againe The Apostles indeed did hold forth Christ after the the flesh 1 Because their Ministery was much in the Letter having but the first-fruits of the Spirit 2 They preacht much of Christ after the flesh to the Jewes proving him to be the Messias by Scriptures but to the Heathen who know no Scriptures nor expected the Messias thereby Christ after the flesh is never named to them by the Apostles but Christ only in Spirit God in mans flesh which they manifested yea God manifest in the flesh of the Creation as we said before for this is Christ in Spirit also 3. Though the Apostles did preach Christ after the flesh yet not as the end as the adequate or ultimate object of their ministry or of mens beleiving but Christ being the only way to the Father by him men were brought to God and by him did believe in God that all the Christian knowledg faith of men might tend end in God 1 Pet. 3.18 4. The Apostles were so much Ministers of the spirit yea could so minister the Spirit to men 1 Pet. 1.21 2 Cor. 3.6 Gal. 3.5 that in the man Christ Jesus they could manifest God even the Father in perfect union with Men as with Christ and so raise up beleevers from Christ after the flesh to Christ in spirit to God in their flesh as in his No Minister of the Churches this day has this ministry of the Spirit neither can they manifest the Mystery of Christ in us but carry their hearers no higher then Christ in flesh and there leave them in the flesh which profiteth nothing Joh. 6.63 though God in his free grace and love takes up all his to himself the quickening spirit living in them and revealing himself to men as he pleases Yet this we shall with God make good hereafter when we come to speak of Doctrines that the Churches know not the Doctrine of Christ nor yet so much as Christ after the flesh for what was the Man Christ Jesus but God in flesh the Saviour of men not the Man but God in that man was Jesus the Saviour For as God in Christ was the Reconciler c. 2 Cor. 5.29 so God in Christ was the Redeemer of the world God in him was the Head and Husband of the Church God even the Father was all in all in that flesh brought forth of a Virgin the hypostaticall Union so called being not between the person of the Son and humane Nature but the humane Nature united to God even the Father was the person of the Son The preaching of the Gospel was thus to manifest God in the flesh of men as in the man Christ and men in union with the Father as that Man that Man-God being in us Act. 10.38 Isa 8.8 10. because God was in him for as God was with him so God is with us and God with us is Christ Immanuel Without this knowledge taught of God men preach not Christ but they preach Man and themselves 5. A Psalm was the musick of Churches and the melody of the Gospel but the sound of the Gospel being not heard how we heare a Psalme sung in the Churches Indeed under the Law a Psalm was in ryme and meeter Secondly in tune and melody Thirdly the multitude altogether did sing but a Gospel Psalme was no such thing and the Churches of Christ had no such order women were forbid to speak in the Church much lesse to sing A Psalme then was a special gift of the spirit whereby some one filled with the Spirit and word of Christ did speake the praises of God with exceeding joy and full of Glory I say t was a special gift of the Spirit how is it brethren when you come together every one of you hath a Psalme hath a doctrine hath a tongue hath a Revelation hath an interpretation let all things be done to edifying 1 Cor. 14.26 The Apostle doth not there chide the Corinthians for their disorder as speaking together but he commends their order and decency ver 40. that every one spake that is none spake but according to the gift of the Spirit which each had some had a doctrine that is no common truth delivered but some speciall and glorious discovery of God Esa 29.24 again a tongue and interpretation were two other gifts of the Spirit and a Revelation or the manifesting of the Truth that was long hid from the Churches this was a gift so was a Psalme not which every one had no not all saints but some had a Psalme that is such a one who was filled with the Spirit and word of Christ or Gospel knowledge He could sing that is speak the prayses of God with exceeding joy men thinke they doe not sing unlesse they make a noise like a bird or tune their voice but to sing in the Gospel language is no more then to speak Speaking to your selves in Psalmes hymms and spiritual songs making melody in your hearts to the Lord there was no tune in the voice but in the heart no melody to men but to the Lord God for to sing was to speak his prayses as is plaine 1 Cor. 14 15 16 Ephes 5.20 Col. 3.17 not that every speaking or praysing God is singing but such as was with exceeding joy if any be afflicted let him pray if any be merry let him sing Psalmes Jam. 5. let him expresse his mirth the joy and melody of his heart in the prayses of God as those Re. 14.1 who had the Fathers name on their fore heads i.e. who had a full discovery of God in them were as the voice of Harpers harping with their Harps ver 2. none could sing that song but themselves ver 3. now all all can sing Davids Psalmes the Churches songs but those who sing the song of the Lambe have not Davids harp but the Harpes of God the joy of the Holy Spirit unspeakable and full of Glory Rev. 15.2 'T is too long at present to shew how the Churches as it was said of the Princes of Egypt do err in every work of their hand Isa 19.14 erring in all their Ordinances duties dayes of Fasting feasts of Thanksgiving conforming in all to the National Churches but especially in sanctifying the Lords Day There is nothing they are more dark in then in this whereas the Lords Day is no more then the Day of the Lord the Day of God when God shall reveal himself to men and in them cleerly as John saith of himself Revel 1.10 I was in the spirit on the Lords day that is the manifestation of God in flesh when God did fully reveal

himself in John John was all in the spirit his flesh fell down as dead ver 17. as Isaiah and Daniel were both undone when they saw the Lord in glory appearing in them Isa 6. Dan. 10. But how comes the Lords day to be the first day of the week or the fourth Commandment speaking of the seventh day prove the sanctifying of the first day Who can prove the change of the day by Christ or that the Apostolick Churches kept holy the first day as God sanctified the seventh especially seeing the next succeeding Ages even the primitive Churches of the first 300 yeers kept the seventh day as the Sabbath yea celebrated the Lords day and Sabbath together for a long time for the Apostacie presently succeeded the Apostles departure Ignatius being but about 100 yeers after Christ sheweth the same After the Sabbath day saith he let every one that loveth Christ celebrate the Lords day the Queen of dayes for the Sabbath day was King or chief as one expounds Ignat. Epist ad Magnes The celebrating of the Lords day alone was first instituted by Constantine the Great Hosp cap. 9. pag. 27. anno 300. Afterward it was established by the Laodicean Councel an 364. commanding Christians not to Judaise in keeping the Sabbath but to work on that day and keep holy the Lords day Hosp Orig. Fest cap 9. pa. 27. In all this 't is observed that the Eastern Churches which were the most part of Christendom did celebrate the Sabbath as I said and the Lords day together Socrates cap. 8. lib. 6. and cap. 21. lib. 6. Mr. Brierwood on the Sabbath against Mr. Bifield pag. 77. Perk. 1 vol. on the fourth Commandment But the Romish or Western Churches would not have their Church-Assemblies on the Sabbath as in all other Churches of the world so the Centuries report Cent. 4. c. 6. p. 477. I am the more large in this that Independent Churches may see their Judaisme in their strict observance of an outward Sabbath their simplicity in sanctifying the first day of the week as the Lords day Their ignorance or connivance not cleering those things which are so certain Their conformity with Popish Churches Their carnal complying with the Protestant State Religion Their Laodicean condition thinking they are rich and have need of nothing that they need no Order nor Ordinance nor Officer whereas they are so poor blind and naked that they have no Gospel-Ordinances nor a Day at all but walking in the dark deceive themselves and others The observation of the Lords Day therefore depends much on Popish Churches and the command of Christian Princes to which the Independent Churches are as conformable as ever Prelates were What I conceive of the Sabbath I shall in a few words declare 1. That the fourth Commandment is mystical as wel as moral for there is a mystery in the four first commandments even the mystery of God is there manifest In the first Commandment God the One onely true God even the Father is acknowledged In the second Ephes 4.6 Col. 1.15 Heh 1.3 the same God and Father is known in the Son the expresse or graven image of his substance and no other graven image is to be made of God but the Man Christ In the third God even the Father so known in the Son cannot be acknowledged Ephes 2.18 nor worshiped in spirit and truth but by the Spirit without this whatever men think of God and Christ they take his name in vain The fourth Commandment holds forth mans spiritual rest in God alone so known in the Son by the Spirit And this indeed is the morality of the fourth Commandment the Ceremoniall part thereof being the sanctifying of the seventh day which was so commanded to the Jewish Church not as a law natural to all Nations as other commandments are written in every mans heart but as a positive law to that particular people now not a Sabbath or a seventh day but the Sabbath and the seventh day from the creation is that which the command speaks contrary to all our Protestant Interpreters who teach that the Christian Sabbath or Lords day is grounded on the fourth Commandment Now this Sabbath or the seventh day was meerly ceremonial as 't is called a signe between God and his people the Jewes that I the Lord sanctifie you and that you are a people sanctified and set apart onely for God Therefore that God is all in all to us and in us and that we are to rest in God onely and alone in the true mystery and morality of the Sabbath Prophets and Apostles witnesse The Prophet Isaiah speaking of the Sabbath saith thus Isa 58. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath doing thy pleasure on my holy day and shalt c all the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own wayes nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord c. Observe that the Sabbath indeed is nothing else but the Lord God rested on and rejoyced in by us when we turn away our foot from the Sabbath and turn to God onely else he had said rather If thou turn thy foot to the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy d●y but this last is not so read as we do from doing c. as if we were forbidden to do our pleasure on his holy day on the Sabbath Nay we are there commanded to do our pleasure as the words read For the Sabbath should be our delight the holy of the Lord honourable and we shall honour him For he himself is the Sabbath that is so honorable the holy day of the Lord is the Holy One the Lord himself only whom alone we are to honour in all our wayes workes and words for if God be all in all in us t is not our words that are spoken nor our workes that are done but as Christ saith The words that I speake I speak not of my self but the Father that dwelleth in me he does all the workes yea verily the sonne can do nothing of himself John 14.10 John 8.28 but as my Father hath taught me I speak these things this indeed is the sanctifying the Sabbath not to abstain from worldly thoughts and words and from working on the seventh day of the week but to sanctifie the Lord alone when he onely is our All when we are nothing but he is our Being and our being in Him when we do nothing but the Father dwelling in us doth all our works When we thus find not our own wayes nor speak our own words nor speak words as 't is in the Hebrew Man neither speaks nor does any thing indeed but God does all and is all in us This the Apostle holds forth to be the Rest or sabbath-keeping of the people of God Hebr. 4.9 not as if this were ●o rest to be entred into in this life ver 1. for we which