his first and second Appearance But as the Apostle saith Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things The New Testament which was given forth by the Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles doth take off the Vail from the Old and as to that part of it which concerns the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ is an Exposition of it Our Lord tells the Woman of Samaria John 4.23 But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him Under the times of the Old Testament the Worship of God lay much outward the Body being greatly exercised in it they had killing of Sacrifices they had material Fire to burn the Sacrifice withal and material Salt to season the Sacrifice But under the New Testament the Worship most of all concerns the Soul it is so far spiritual that the Spirit of God must be the Unfolder of it and calls at the first glance for the Soul to apprehend the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Person held forth in it For without a Heart true unto him no acceptance of the Worship neither the Worshipper The Salt which our Worship must be season'd withal must be inward Sincerity the Fire inward Zeal engaging the Heart with God when exercised in the worshipping of him which will not fail to keep the Body in a decent Posture with it How low doth the Apostle go when he speaks of the Old Testament Worship Heb. 10.1 For the Law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very Image of the things can never with these Sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the Comers thereunto perfect By the Law the following words shew he intends the Ceremonial Law which was appointed by God during that Dispensation to typify out that which is with such Clearness presented unto us in the New Testament And in comparing of these together the Apostle doth not vouchsafe to grant unto the Ceremonial Law to be an Image of the other but a Shadow a Shadow is not so much as an Image nor an Image so much as the thing it self It is a Metaphor taken from Painting Painters are wont with Chalk or a Coal to draw out the thing which they propose to themselves to express Which rude Picture is call'd a Shadow for the obscure Representation Then with the Pencil they bring on the lively Colours that it may be a distinct and express Likeness of a thing which is properly call'd an Image There being so vast a Difference in the Matter of the Worship betwixt the Old and New Testament it is very strange to me to see holy Men run back to the Old Testament to warrant their Practice for such things which they want a Warrant for from the New Having found out the nature of the Publication of the Gospel under the New Testament it will not be very difficult to find out what fort of Persons are the visible Members of the Church which leads me to the next thing to be handled What is required to be admitted a Member of the Church according to the Rule laid down in the New Testament And that is a laying hold of the Lord Jesus Christ by Faith and of that rich and free Grace which is extended to Sinners from God the Father through him accompanied with an outward Profession of their Faith before those to whom they join themselves in Church-fellowship and an outward Declaration of their sincere desire to walk with the Church as Members of it according to the Rule of the Word They first saith the Apostle gave their own selves to the Lord and to us by the Will of God It is impossible but Hypocrites and Formalists should creep into the Church because Man judgeth only by outward appearance it is God alone that can behold the Heart However the admittance of them depends upon the Church's Judgment and the Church receives them as sincere and not as Hypocrites or Formalists for if either of these were discoverable before admittance the Church would not accept them Acts 8.13 Then Simon himself believed also and was baptized By believing must be meant an outward Declaration of his believing for it doth appear that his Heart had not laid hold of the Lord Jesus Christ for if it had he would not have been so ignorant how the Gift of the Holy Ghost was given so as to think to procure it by Mony but being discovered the Apostle Peter tells him Thy Mony perish with thee ver 23. For I perceive thou art in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bond of Iniquity That is notwithstanding thy outward Profession of Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ thou art in a state of Sin and Impenitency which if continued in will at last bring forth the Bitterness of eternal Punishment To prove that the New Testament doth require a Work of true Conversion upon the Heart as that which qualifies or fits a Person to be a Member of the visible Church and that no pretence of fleshly right as being of believing Parents will do it I shall offer these following Reasons First Because the Entail which gave the fleshly Seed right of Membership to the Church ended with that Old Testament Church-state for altho the grievous and abominable Sins of the Israelites did cause the Lord to bring very heavy Judgments upon them and often to send them into Captivity before the face of their Enemies yet they were not unchurched neither was the Worship of God taken from them for their Wickedness and given to another People and the great Reason was because it was by an Act of Grace that this Favour was granted to the Seed of Abraham that they should be separated from the rest of the Nations and have the Worship of God set up amongst them And the same Grace that extended this Favour to them above the rest of the World was pleased that an Entail to secure the continuance of the Favour granted until the coming of the Messiah should be a part of the Grant it self as appears from the words of Jacob Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Lawgiver from between his Feet until Shilo come He speaks it with a shall not to shew that altho their Sins might bring other Judgments upon them yet this Judgment was reserved to fall upon them for their slighting the Messiah The Lord Christ lays this before the Jews in the Parable of a Housholder planting a Vineyard Mat. 21.33 Hear another Parable There was a certain Housholder which planted a Vineyard and hedged it round about and digged a Wine-press in it and built a Tower and let it out to Husbandmen and went into a far Country This Housholder is God the Fathers this Vineyard
door Cain presented his Offering as a fruit of his Obedience to his Creator and expected acceptance upon the account of his Obedience which proving otherwise than he hoped he was wroth and his Countenance fell the Lord gives him the reason why his Offering was not accepted because it was imperfect the worthiness of his Brother Abel's Offering lying in an act of Faith put forth in a Redeemer to come upon whose worthiness he grounded the acceptance of it and not upon the terms of the first Covenant Heb. 11.4 compared with chap. 12.2 Another Scripture which I shall mention is Joh. 6.28 Then said they unto him What shall we do that we might work the works of God From whence it is clear that notwithstanding the outward means they enjoy'd which were to lead them as Sinners to a Redeemer they still remain under the first Covenant The next thing is to shew that the Off-spring of the first Adam have the same inward Light which leads to the Creator that Adam enjoy'd Prov. 20.27 The Spirit of Man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly Compared with Rom. 1.18 19 20. For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead so that they are without excuse By the Spirit of Man he intends the Soul of Man that is indued with such excellent Qualities which if improved to their right end do lead the Creature into the Duties required in the first Covenant and by viewing the Works of Creation to that eternal Power and Godhead by which all things were created the not improving of which Light leaves them without excuse before God as they stand under the first Covenant These Gentiles of which the Apostle is treating did darken that Light which led them to view the Godhead in the works of Creation by their Unrighteousness that is Impiety Profaneness and Superstition that they run into so that God gave them up to strong Delusions Secondly I shall prove that all the Off-spring descending from the first Adam are under the same Covenant with him have some remaining Impressions of the same Law upon their Souls and Light from the Creator leading to answer the terms of the first Covenant from the Sayings of many famous Gentiles Timeus one of Pythagoras's Scholars saith That the most excellent thing the Soul is awakened to is her Guide or good Genius but if she be rebellious to it it will prove her Demon or Tormentor but having overcome these things thou shalt know the Cohabitation or dwelling together of the immortal God and mortal Men. Sophocles God grant saith he that I may always be so happy as to observe that venerable Sanctity in my Words and Deeds which is commanded by these noble Laws speaking of the Laws written in Mens Consciences which were made in Heaven God is their Father not mortal Nature neither shall they ever be abrogated or forgotten It is frequently said of Socrates saith Plutarch that he had the Guide of his Life within him which it was told his Father Sophroniscus should be of more worth to him than five hundred Matters he call'd it his good Angel or Spirit who suggested to his Mind what was good and virtuously inclin'd and disposed him to a strict and pious Life Cleanthes the Stoick alloweth not Mankind to be governed of right by the Dictates of their own Nature which barely render them Men but by that Divine Infinite and Eternal Nature which is God diffus'd or sown through the whole race of Men as the most sure infallible Guide and Rule To live saith he according to this Knowledg and Direction is truly to live according to Vertue not doing any thing that is forbidden The Vertue and Happiness of a Man depends upon a close Correspondence of his Mind with the Divine Will of him who governeth the Universe Again saith the same Cleanthes the Knowledg of God is imprinted upon the Minds of Men. Plutarch speaking of the Principle of God in the Conscience saith It is a Law not written in Tables or Books but dwelling in the Mind always as a living Rule which never permits the Soul to be destitute of an inward Guide Again saith Plutarch to debase this antient Faith of Mankind and natural Belief which is planted in all reasonable Souls is to overthrow the strong and everlasting Foundation of Vertue I shall conclude these Sayings of the Gentiles with Antistheties William Penn's Gentile Divinity Christian Quaker pag. 72. He was Institutor of the Cynicks as they were call'd and Scholar to Socrates he taught that Vertue was the truest Nobility that Piety was alone needful to a lasting Happiness that true Vertue stood not in saying but doing that which was good not in much Learning or many words but upright Actions In short that the Principle of Vertue is sufficient to what Wisdom is needful and that all other things ought to have reference thereto that Piety is the best Armor and vertuous Persons are always Friends that Vertue is an Armour none can either pierce or take from good Men. He prefers a just Man before his Neighbour and good Womens Souls have the same Privilege to Vertue with Mens He accounted Pleasure one of the greatest Mischiefs in the World and being ask'd what Learning was best he answers that which unlearns Men Evil for those who would live for ever must have a care that their Lives be holy and just in this World Thirdly I shall prove that all the Off-spring of the first Adam descending from him are under the same Covenant with him have some remaining Impressions of the same Law upon their Souls and Light from the Creator leading to answer the terms of the first Covenant from the common Experience of all Persons that take notice of the dealings of God with their Souls We must distinguish betwixt a sinful Peace gain'd by Persons in a zealous performance of an outward Worship handed down unto them by their Ancestors and that Peace which Persons gain by the Conduct of that Light which leads to God upon the terms of the first Covenant That the first moving or stirring of the Soul is by this first Covenant-light doth appear in that the Work upon the Heart doth usually begin with a discovery of some Sin or Sins committed against one of the two Tables of the Law either that which contains our Duty to God or to our Neighbour which inward discovery of Sin hath attending of it Guilt and Fear of either some temporal or eternal Punishment for the escaping of which Punishment the Soul doth betake it self to a close adherence to this inward Light and by following of it
of Election and answers the Designs of it doth further appear from Rev. 13.8 And all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Here are some by eternal Decree secured from falling into Idolatrous Worship here is the Death of the Lord Jesus Christ taken in by the Decree as the means appointed by the Decree to secure them from falling To sum up this Chapter If the Redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ be comprehended in the Decree of Election as the means appointed to answer that part of the design of the Decree which was the satisfying the Conditions of the Covenant of Works that so the Elect might be delivered from the Penalty of it it will appear to any unprejudiced Christian that the Covenant of Grace and Redemption are but one Covenant CHAP. III. Of the Mediatorship of the Lord Jesus Christ in two parts First In procuring and sending of the Spirit to fit for the publishing of the way of Salvation Secondly For the Spirits accompanying the outward Declaration by opening the Heart and so leading into the way and keeping the Saints in it subservient to the Decree of Election and answering the Designs of it IF we consider the state of the Elect as they come into the World which by reason of the natural Pollution that doth attend them doth make them wholly unfit for Communion with God it is necessary that they should have one to be their Head who doth partake both of the Nature of God and of the Nature of Man as the Person that was to stand betwixt them and God He must be Man of kin to the Nature offending that he might satisfy the Justice of God for the Righteousness of God did require that the same Nature which had committed Sin should undergo the Penalty due to Sin And he must be God that so his Justice Goodness and Righteousness being every way infinite and eternal might make the Sufferings of that Nature to which it was united of no less force than eternal Torment in others to the satisfying of Justice for whom he suffered And altho the eternal Word did not actually take our Nature on him that he might discharge the Elect from the Penalty of the first Covenant until his appearance in the state of his Humiliation yet he stood as the Head of the Covenant and through his Undertaking Mercies were conveyd to the Elect and Judgments prevented from falling upon them We have several Instances in the Old Testament upon special occasions of his appearing in Man's Nature and that as Mediator upon the account of the Elect Gen. 18.1 2 3. And the Lord appeared unto him in the Plain of Mamre and he sat in the tent-door in the heat of the day And he lift up his Eyes and looked and lo three Men stood by him and when he saw them he ran to meet them from the tent-door and bowed himself toward the ground and said My Lord if now I have found favour in thy sight pass not away I pray thee from thy Servant That one of these three was the eternal Word in Man's Nature appears ver 20 21. And the Lord said Because the Cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and because their Sin is very grievous I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the Cry of it which is come unto me and if not I will know That his Eye was upon the Elect in Sodom doth appear ver 32. And he that is Abraham said O let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once Peradventure ten shall be found there that are righteous And he said I will not destroy it for tens sake Compared with Chap. 19. and the former part of the 22d Verse Haste thee escape thither for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither The Son of God who is the Head of the Elect hath searched after the number of the Righteous in this place and hath found them in it who belong unto him they must be removed before the wicked can be destroy'd A second Scripture for the confirming of what I am treating of is Gen. 32.24 And Jacob was left alone and there wrestled a Man with him until the breaking of the day That this Man is the eternal Word in Mans Nature will appear ver 28. And he said Thy Name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel for as a Prince hast thou Power with God and with Men and hast prevailed The Son of God sympathizes with his poor afrighted Member who was in danger to be destroy'd by his cruel Brother Esau Hosea 12.4 Yea he Jacob had power over the Angel of the Covenant and prevailed he wept and made Supplication Having opened the way into this Chapter by the foregoing Introduction I come now to clear up the Matter containd in it and I shall confine my self to the times of the New Testament which affords us the greatest Light in these Truths And first I shall shew that the sending of the Spirit to fit for the publishing of the way of Salvation dependeth on his Intercession as Mediator betwixt the Father and the Elect and that the Spirit 's accompanying the outward Declaration and opening the Heart to receive the Truths held forth in the Gospel Declaration dependeth likewise upon him Secondly That the keeping of the Saints in a way of Salvation dependeth likewise upon him And under this Head I shall endeavour to shew the nature of that Work which the holy Spirit carries on in the Hearts of the Saints Thirdly and lastly I shall shew how it is all subservient to the Decree of Election and answers the Designs of it And first I shall shew that the sending of the Spirit for the publishing of the way of Salvation dependeth upon the Intercession of the Lord Jesus I shall divide this Head into two parts and first treat of the extraordinary Qualification wherewith the first Publishers of the Gospel were indued Secondly the ordinary Qualification without which a Person can have no real Satisfaction to his own Soul that he is call'd of God to that great Work and Service And first I shall treat of that extraordinary Qualification wherewith the first Publishers of the Gospel were endued The Lord Jesus Christ after he was risen from the dead bids his Disciples stay for the Qualification wherewith they should be fitted for the dispensing of the Gospel in these words Luke 24.49 And behold I send the Promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem until ye be endued with Power from on high Compared with Acts 2.1 2 3 4. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they that is the Disciples were all with one accord in one place And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty Wind and it filled all the House where they were
sitting And there appeared unto them cloven Tongues as of Fire and it sat upon each of them And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance As their Commission was to preach the Gospel to all Nations so the Qualification for the Work was agreeable to the Commission Where Persons do pretend to the same Commission with the Apostles and that they have as large an extent of Power and Jurisdiction as they had and want the Qualification wherewith they were endued they carry saith the learned Dr. Owen the mark of Antichrist in their Foreheads That this Qualification for the first publishing of the Gospel did proceed from the Intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator for the gathering of the Elect out of the World will appear if we compare these two following Scriptures one with another Acts 2.32 33. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we all are Witnesses Therefore being by the right-hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Compared with Acts 10.34 35 36 43 44. Then Peter opened his Mouth and said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of Persons But in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him The Word which God sent unto the Children of Israel preaching Peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sins While Peter spake these words the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word In Acts 2.32 33. the Qualification is laid down without which Peter had been unable to preach the Gospel to those of Cesarea here is the Holy Ghost as a fruit of the Lord Jesus's Intercession attending the outward preaching of the Gospel and setting it home upon the Heart with Power the outward preaching of the Gospel being the instrumental means appointed to gather the Elect out of the World unto God Rom. 10.17 So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God By the Word of God here is meant the Declaration of the Gospel The outward Declaration of the Gospel doth contain in it these Truths appointed by God for the Salvation of the Elect the Holy Ghost removes the Vail of Darkness from the Heart subjects the Heart unto the Truth and inclines the Heart to join with it I come in the second place to treat of the ordinary Qualification to preach the Gospel without which a Person can have no real Satisfaction to his own Soul that he is called of God to that great Work and Service The extraordinary Qualisication and the ordinary Qualification do not differ in a different Declaration of Truths delivered but in a different work of the Spirit upon the Heart in discovering one and the same Truth the one having it by the immediate impulse of the Spirit of God overpowering all the Faculties of the Soul and making it stoop to the leadings of the Spirit in the other the holy Spirit works not so powerfully but by giving in of Light to behold the Truth already delivered in the Word and sealed by Miracle gives a Gift of utterance to declare it unto others For the clearing up this Qualification I shall compare two Scriptures Ephes 4.7 8. But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ Wherefore he saith When he ascended up on high he led Captivity captive and gave Gifts unto Men. Which Gifts to Men he tells us in ver 12. are for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ the Body of Christ taking in the Saints until Christ's second appearance The Gifts here intended must be meant the ordinary Qualifications of the Spirit for the work of the Ministry as the means appointed by God to gather the Saints into one Body and to edify them when they are gather'd in until they be brought safe to the Mansions of Glory because the extraordinary Qualification did cease in a little time To clear up this a little further lock into 1 Pet. 4.10 11. As every Man hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God If any Man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any Man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesut Christ to whom be Praise and Dominion for ever and ever Amen Here is contained in these words the Gift given from God the Father here is the Lord Jesus Christ through whose Intercession this Gift is given here is the nature of the Gift which is the Spirit 's inlightnings into the Oracles or holy Scriptures here is the twofold end God's Glory and the Saints Edification Where this Qualification is wanting the Soul can have no real Satisfaction that it is called of God to that Work and Service which I shall make appear by these following Rensons First Altho Learning be very serviceable in order to have recourse to the Original Text for the understanding the Letter of the Scripture in the Original for to stop the mouth of Gainsayers yet the Darkness which is upon the Soul by Nature is not thereby removed Neither can Learning of it self comprehend that inward Life and Virtue which breaths in the holy Scriptures The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Secondly Without this ordinary Qualification of which I have been speaking the Soul can have no real Satisfaction that it is called of God to the work of the Ministry of the Gospel because that altho by Learning many weighty Truths may be collected from the Writings of experienced Christians who have lived in the Power of Christianity yet the inward work of the Spirit being wanting in him that delivers them to others they give an uncertain sound there being a want of an inward sense of these Truths upon the Heart and often a great deal of Man's Corruptions mixt with them which they receive from the Vessel through which they pass Thirdly Without this ordinary Qualification of which I have been speaking the Soul can have no real Satisfaction that it is called of God to the work of the Ministry of the Gospel because without it the Heart is not engaged in the Work that such Persons take upon them neither are their Aims and Ends right in their entering upon this great Work nor in the carrying of it on the getting an outward Support in the World for themselves being the thing they are most concerned for Fourthly Without this ordinary Qualification of which I have been speaking the
take it up They look upon their Lord to be at present absent from them and therefore they are greatly concerned for his Truths white he is absent from the World they are willing to sacrifice their Interests in the World to the Interest of Christianity That Person hath great cause to question his Interest in Christ whose Will is not so far brought over to the Lord Jesus Christ as to become a Martyr for him upon the account of his Truths The Power to enable to go through so great a Work must come from God when call'd to it but they do not find a drawing back of the Will from it if he shall see it good to call them to it Being united to him what Privileges have they in present Possession and what Privileges have they in Reversion At present they are brought into the state of Children John 1.12 But as many at received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Through him they witness what it is to have recourse to God as a Father and to be owned by him as his Children In Reversion they behold by Faith an eternal Inheritance and a redeemed Body 1 Joh. 3.2 Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Compared with Rom. 8.16 17. The Spirit it self heareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God And if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joint-Heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together The third thing is to shew how the Lord Christ is brought into Relation with God the Father and what those Privileges are that he enjoys by virtue of this Relation If I should speak of the Relation of the eternal Word with the Father which was from everlasting it cannot be declared by the Creature therefore to meddle with this were high Presumption I shall only speak of his Relation with the Father as the second Person in the Godhead join'd to our Nature and as so united he is stiled in Scripture the only begotten Son of God the Relation of his Divine Nature with the Father being not thereby dissolved but remaining firm and his human Nature taken in to share with the Divine Nature in this Relation And as so related he enjoys very great Privileges from the Father As first To share with him in Divine Honour Joh. 5.22 23. For the Father judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment unto the Son That all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father As we honour the Father as the giver of every good thing to us we honour the Son as the way through which it is given ver 27. And hath given him authority to execute Judgment because he is the Son of Man That is he shall externally sit on the Tribunal or Judgment-seat at the last day and shall sentence all Persons to their eternal state I come now to treat of that Work which the holy Spirit carries on in the Souls of the Saints The Children of God being brought by the Light of the first Covenant to see themselves under the Penalty of the Law do come to witness by inward Experience the truth of the Apostle's words Rom. 7.10 And the Commandment which was ordained to Life to the first Adam while in Innocency is to them the Messenger of Death Actual Sins which they have committed against God with the Penalty annex'd to them are in the Glass of the Law presented before them they are so far delivered from the Rock of Presumption that they are in danger of splitting upon the Rock of Desperation but that an everlasting Arm is put under to support them To these heavy-laden Sinners are the Tenders of Grace through a dear Redeemer presented outwardly and these doth the Spirit draw inwardly The Sins that they have committed outwardly and the Corruptions that they groan under inwardly are brought with them to the Lord Jesus Christ they have nothing to recommend themselves by to the Redeemer but an inward fight and feeling of the Misery that they groan under they see a real need of a Saviour and to these when laid hold of by Faith he is precious The Evidence of a real Closure with the Lord Jesus Christ and the acceptance of pardoning Grace through him doth manifest it self in a differrent manner All the Children of God have not alike Evidence of a Closure some come only to witness a Faith of dependance on him and upon Grace through him while others are taken into his Arms and imbraced by him and drink deep of the Enjoyment of God through him To each of these Conditions as having received through rich Grace some inward Experience of them upon my own Soul I shall treat And first Of the Faith of dependance which doth discover it self to the Souls of God's Children in this manner The Soul hath strongly born in by the holy Spirit some such absolute Promise as this John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out They have the Evidences of the Father's giving them to him and of his driving them out of self-dependance to this Saviour they have the assurance in the Promise of his acceptance in these words him that cometh extended to every comer and they have the certainty of their Salvation that he will in no wise cast them out This or such like absolute Promises being not only born in but ingraven upon the Heart by the holy Spirit the Soul is inabled by Faith to feed upon and to rest upon for Comfort being throughly perswaded of the faithfulness of the Promiser and of his Ability to perform what he hath promised and from this doth the Soul draw inward Peace going a begging through the World for a more full discovery of their Souls Beloved to them and of the Fathers Love through him but are denied and many times do breath out their Souls unto God in words not much unlike their Lord's My God my God Why dost thou for sake me A Faith of dependance which knits the Soul to him is present but the Evidence of God's Presence with them is wanting It is upon an absolute Promise that I desire to close with Christ saith Mr. Cotton for if the Promise upon which thou closest be conditional there being a Failure through Frailty of the Condition the Comforts flowing from the Promise will thereby cease therefore saith he it is upon an absolute Promise that I desire to trust for Salvation 2ly I come in the next place to treat of that more full and clear Discovery of a closure with the Lord Jesus Christ and of the Father's Acceptance through him which the Holy Spirit doth bring some of the Children of God to
and a share in the Worship of it But the time of the Old Testament Church-state being expired the aim of the New Testament being to gather together the spiritual Seed of Abraham the fleshly Jew must be broken off and the believing Gentile must take his place that so the Church in the times of the New Testament may consist of the spiritual Seed and if he spared not the natural Jew because there was a want of the Qualification be not high-minded but fear for if thou wantest the Qualification thou hast not long to continue a Member of the Church of Christ in the times of the New Testament I have in treating of this Covenant contain'd in Gen. 17. gone from the common Opinion of Expositors and through Mercy I can appeal unto the Lord that I have desired sincerely to follow the leadings of his holy Spirit in his Word If I have varied in any thing from the holy Scriptures which I desire to follow as my Rule and Guide if any can shew me my Error and will do it in the Spirit of Meekness I shall be greatly obliged to them I must desire the Reader 's favour to overlook the weakness of the Stile in which these Truths are laid down and to look at the Truth it self which shines the clearest when it appears in its own native Beauty If it agree with thy Experience bless God for it for thou mayst see in reading of the Appendix which contains the Author's Experience and Advice to his Children that the Author hath nothing to glory in before the Lord It was by rich and free Grace alone that he was brought to see the Truth and to give Obedience to it It is through rich Grace that he receives strength to walk in it and it is by Grace alone that he hopes to come to that eternal Blessedness that is held forth by it CHAP. IV. Of the New Testament Church and what is required to be a Member of it BEfore I come to the matter contained in this Chapter I shall speak of the Church of Christ in general and so it comprehends the whole Elect Body from the Fall to those that shall be living at Christ's second Personal Appearance Ephes 3.14 15. For this cause I bow my Knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named Some of the Family are gotten to their rest others are conflicting with the World and some have only their being in the Decree of God to appear at the time appointed for them The Church so considered is the Body of Christ which he hath redeemed by his pretious Blood not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing when presented to the Father at the Last day But of the Church thus considered are many Members who are not brought to be Members of a gathered Church constituted according to the Rule of God's Word That Lot Job and his Friends were of the Body of Christ and so Members of the Church I think no Christian will deny yet it doth not any where appear that those were Members of the Old Testament Church who never imboided together and so became thereby visible to the Nations round about them As Christ in the times of the Old Testament had many Members who were not brought into the Church so hath he likewise in the times of the New Testament The idolatrous Church of Rome hath assumed to her self the name of the Church or the Spouse of Christ and so was owned for many Ages by the great Ones of the World while the Members of Christ were not visible to the World and in many places not one unto another In not distinguishing the Church as it is here laid down some Persons have driven on strange Designs against God's Children by their Cry That out of the Church there is no Salvation Which is true if we consider the Elect Body to whom Christ was given as a Saviour but will not hold true to any particular gathered Church for many Members of Christ are so scatter'd in the World that for many Ages it hath been and at this time is morally impossible that they should be gathered into a Body according to the Rule of the Word Of the Church as taking in the whole Body of the Elect do I reckon Elect Infants Whether only all Believers Infants or Unbelievers Infants likewise be so to whom Grace is applied by the Holy Spirit I leave as a Secret which God is pleased to reserve unto himself But that they are uncapable of Membership in a visible gathered Church in the times of the New Testament and have no Right to the two Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper will appear in the prosecuting of this and the next Chapter if regard be had to the Holy Scriptures as a Rule and Guide unto us By holding forth the Purity of the Church I do not thereby unchurch those several sorts of Protestants that differ from the poor despised Baptists in many things yet do hold with them the Foundation the Lord Jesus Christ as Redeemer and the one Mediator betwixt God and Man in opposition to the many Mediators brought in by the Idolatrous Church of Rome Yet if regard be had to the Holy Scriptures as a Rule many of the Protestant Churches will appear to have been building upon the Foundation Wood Hay and Stubble they have retained in their several Churches something that hath been handed down unto them from the idolatrous Papists and not from the Authority of the Holy Scriptures Although God hath born with these Churches several Ages as he bore with the Churches of Asia yet it is visible that his Presence is greatly withdrawn from them and may end in the unchurching of them when the Church comes wholly to be delivered out of her Wilderness State if there be not a hearty and speedy return unto him Having by way of Introduction open'd the way into what remains chiefly to be consider'd in this Chapter I shall lay down these two general Heads as that which may take in the whole matter First Treat of the Nature of the Publication of the Gospel under the New Testament Secondly What is required to be admitted a Member of the visible Church according to the Rule laid down in it First I shall treat of the Nature of the Publication of the Gospel under the New Testament and that is in a different manner from the Publication of it in the times of the Old Testament The Lord Jesus Christ was then held forth under such Types and Figures that the end for which they were instituted in the Church was beheld with great difficulty so that the Saints themselves that were waiting for his coming were ignorant of the manner of it and the nature of that Deliverance that should be wrought by him being much upon the expectation of a visible Kingdom in this World and outward Glory attending of it not being brought clearly to distinguish betwixt
which he plants is his affording the People of the Jews the Privilege of having his Worship set up amongst them and hedged it round about for distinction to shew that it was a Favour granted only to that People for the rest of the Nations had not that Privilege granted to them and digged a Wine-press in it that is appointed such Ordinances as were the instrumental Means in the hand of the holy Spirit to bring the Elect that were amongst them into Communion with God built a Tower that is the glorious Temple and let it out to Husbandmen and went into a far Country that is gave forth a Grant with an Entail that they should enjoy it for many Generations until the ruining of their Church and State for their grievous Sin in crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ Ver. 38 39 40 and 43. Therefore say I unto you The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof By the Kingdom of God he means his Worship which is the instrumental Means to fit for the Kingdom of Heaven The Old Testament Church-state being ended that which secures the continuance of the New Testament Worship amongst any People is the improving of it to God's Glory and the good of their immortal Souls God's removing of his Worship from Asia into Europe from one Nation of Europe to another from one City to another is a sufficient Evidence to us upon what terms his Worship is continued amongst us When the Churches in Asia were threatned with a Dissolution no mention of a Covenant made with their believing Fathers or their being saved by their Parents Faith Rev. 2.5 Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first Works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent So that it is plain that it is not by any Right descending from believing Parents to Children that they are admitted Members of the New Testament Church or have the Worship of it continued amongst them I do foresee that this will go to the quick with a great many Persons whose Cries are if the Children of believing Parents be not admitted to be Members of the New Testament Church you make their State and Condition to be worse under the New Testament than under the Old To which I answer that I do not straiten the Privileges of Believers Children for I shew'd before that Salvation doth not wholly depend upon Church-Membership or upon the admittance to outward Ordinances for many of God's Children were saved who were not admitted to be Members of a visible Church yet I do still own it is a great Privilege where it hath its Warrant from the Word of God for then they may expect his Blessing upon it to answer the end for which he appoints it Some Persons do say that believing Parents Children are not admitted to Membership into a visible Church but God with the believing Parent doth take their Infant-seed into the Covenant of Grace But they do not consider that Infants admittance to the Ordinance was by virtue of a right of Membership as Members of the visible Church under the Old Testament That Believers Childrens Privilege is better than theirs that are Unbelievers doth appear in this that those of them that die in Infancy have the Prayers of their believing Parents put up for them in the Name of him through whom rich Grace hath been extended unto them and I think a Heart drawn out to wrestle with God by the believing Parent on behalf of a dying Infant and a Heart enabled to leave the dying Infant to the rich Grace of God which flows through the undertaking of the blessed Jesus will yield a more abiding Comfort to the Parent than a pretended federal Holiness will afford them the Parent many times at the same time being under the sense of inward Corruption And as to these Children of believing Parents that are grown to years of Understanding and are not as yet admitted to be Members of the visible Church if the Parent be found in the discharge of his or their Duty to them they will in Truth and Faithfulness lay before them what is required to their orderly admittance and will seek to the Lord for them that they may enter in at the right Door for the Heart comes not to the Enjoyment of God neither to receive Comfort from Ordinances but as it first is brought into a right frame and hath its Warrant from the Word of God that it is in the way of his Appointments the Worship must be in Spirit and in Truth Secondly A second Reason why the New Testament doth require a Work of true Conversion upon the Heart as that which qualifies or fits a Person to be a Member of the visible Church is because without it the Duties required from one Member to another cannot be discharged as they are concerned in one and the same Interest on the behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ so there is a holy Watchfulness required over one another in order to the faithful discharge of these Duties which their Lord requires of them And saith the Apostle if one Member suffer all the Members suffer with it or one Member be honoured all the Members rejoice with it Where a Church is imbodied together according to the order of the New Testament our Lord hath left us an excellent Rule to walk by that so these things that may tend to bring Dishonour upon the Church may be stopt when they first begin to break forth or otherwise that things may be managed in such a way as that the Church may free themselves of the Offender Mat. 18.15 16 17. Moreover if thy Brother shall trespass against thee go tell him his fault betwixt thee and him alone if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother But if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three Witnesses every word may be established But if he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the Church and if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man and a Publican If thy Brother do thee any wrong or else sin against God and thou be privy to it for that Sin may be said to be against us which is against God in respect of that common Interest that such Persons are engaged mutually in If a sinning Member have his Sin laid before him by that fellow Member that is privy to it and he bear to be told of his fault so as to be brought to an acknowledgment of it before the Lord and to repent of it and return from it then that Member is gained but if he be stubborn let him be again admonished before Witnesses not one only but two or three Witnesses that so it may appear that means are made use of for the reclaiming of the Offender But if
which is given for you this do in remembrance of me Likewise the Cup after Supper saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you The Apostles were the visible Church at that time and to them doth he appoint the Supper Ordinance and from the Appointment of Christ doth Paul recommend the Practice and the continuance of this Ordinance to the Church of Corinth After he had condemned their sinful abuse of the Ordinance 1 Cor. 11. from ver 20 to 23. at ver 23 24. he lays before them how that Ordinance was appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ to be continued in his Church For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betray'd took Bread And when he had given Thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me As the Ordinance of Baptism was appointed by Christ to be administred to those who were qualified according to the Rule of the Word to be Members of the Church so it was appointed likewise to be the entering Ordinance into a visible Church-state and the Ordinance of the Lord's-Supper to these that were visible Members Which serves to clear up the former part of this Chapter what the Ordinances are and what is required to fit for the partaking of them The second branch of this Chapter is what they do hold out when administred according to the Rule of the Word First To have the Ordinances administred according to the Rule of the Word there is required that the Administrator the Subject to whom the Ordinance is administred and the Way of the Administration have its Warrant from the Word of God for God is a God of Order and not of Confusion In the second Part of this Book and the third Chapter I shew'd that there was an extraordinary and ordinary Qualification The extraordinary Qualification was that of the Apostles who had a large extensive Power accompanying them granted by Christ for the first planting of the Churches That this Office of Apostleship is ceased is clear seeing there is no appearance of the Qualifications to that great Work in any of the Dispensers of the Gospel in these latter Ages so that for any Person either to preach or administer the Ordinances as sent out by Christ as Apostles favours of Pride and Presumption But there is a more ordinary Qualification from Christ to dispense the Gospel which depends upon the Inlightnings of the Spirit in the Word and a Gift of Utterance to declare it unto others and for the carrying on of this Work God hath pleased to raise up several Persons to dispense his Truth before they bore any Office in the Church or over it But the Administration of the Ordinances of Christ being that which particularly concerns the Church it seems to me by the Rule of the Word that before such Administration of the Ordinances there should be a setting apart of fit Persons for Office by the Church and an Approbation of their Choice by the Elders of other Churches together with the laying on of Hands and likewise a solemn and earnest seeking unto Almighty God through Jesus Christ for a Blessing upon the Persons whom they have chose And this is to be done as a previous Qualification whereby to invest such Persons into a Right duly to administer the Ordinances I do remember that after God had fully convinced me of the Ordinance of Believers Baptism I went a great many miles to come under the Ordinance but the Person to whom I went not being able to give me a satisfactory account of his regular Admittance as an Administrator I was constrained to return unbaptized although at that time I had a very great desire to have been made a Partaker of that despised Ordinance This may serve to shew that to have the Ordinances administred according to the Rule of the Word there should be a fit Administrator Secondly To the orderly Administration of the Ordinances there is required a right Subject or such a Person as the Rule of the Word doth require And first I shall shew the Qualifications required of those that come to the Ordinance of Baptism and that is Repentance for Sins that are past Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a seeking unto God through him for pardoning Grace and Power to walk with him Acts 22.16 And now why tarriest thou arise and be baptized and wash away thy Sins calling on the Name of the Lord. Compared with Chap. 8.37 38. And Philip said If thou believest with all thine Heart thou mayst and he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God And he commanded the Chariot to stand still and they went down both into the Water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptized him As the Rule doth require a Qualification to fit Persons for the orderly admittance to the Ordinance of Baptism so doth it likewise for the orderly admittance to the Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11.27 28 29. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a Man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup For he that eateth aad drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lord's Body He that eateth and drinketh unworthily that is as an ignorant Person not discerning the Lord's Body that is not having any inward apprehension of him by Faith upon their own Souls or come not with that holy humble Reverence and with that due regard which belongs to such an holy Action If it be so that the Rule doth require Qualifications of those that come to the Ordinances then it doth condemn the Practice of such who do administer without any regard whether the Qualification be there or no. And secondly It greatly condemns such who under the pretence of a spiritual Baptism and a spiritual Supper do lay aside the Ordinances which Christ hath appointed in his Church The more clear the Evidences are of the Work of the Holy Ghost upon the Heart it tends to hold forth the Persons right to the Ordinance of Baptism Acts 10.47 Can any Man forbid Water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we We may in these words behold the different Path that Truth and Error doth walk in Error makes a pretended Enjoyment of the inward a ground to lay aside the outward Truth makes the real Enjoyment of the inward the Qualification it self to partake of the outward and the more clear that the Enjoyment of Christ by the Holy Ghost doth outwardly
secret before God for Counsel and Direction and blessed be his holy Name he did not leave me but open'd a way for my Escape which Mercy I desire to keep in remembrance while I am in this World The night before the Warrant was to be executed I was very sick all the night but in the morning something better the Officers meeting together about that wicked Work to which they were all averse sent for me but my Excuse of not being well would not serve their turn but they proceeded by Lot to take the Houses of that poor People and sent me my Lots which I received with a great deal of joy seeing they desired me either to send Mony or get one to officiate I sent them the Mony rejoicing and upon my Knees blessed God for that great Mercy and tho the poor Quakers did offer me my Mony again yet I durst not for Conscience sake receive it I leave this with you as my Judgment that a misguided Conscience ought to be informed not forced God hath appointed other ways in his Word to reclaim those that are in an Error than by ruining Mens Persons and Estates The Liberty for Dissenters being granted by King James I was brought to hear five or six dissenting Ministers at Richard Cockeril's which through the Blessing of God so far wrought upon me as to take off that Prejudice that I had conceived against them but my Understanding remained dark without any inward discovery of the precious Doctrine of the Gospel until I sat under the Ministry of Mr. Humphreys being before that time a high Asserter of Free-will and general Redemption which naturally falls under the first Covenant-Principle His Personal Failings which brought a stain upon the precious Truths f the Gospel through Mercy I abhorr'd and took the freedom at times to speak to him about it yet his Doctrine which he preached was the instrumental means to bring me and many other poor Sinners to join with the Truth which through Mercy I was inabled to do upon the account of its own Worth and Excellency And mark it my Children that which must establish your Hearts in the Truths of God must be the holy Spirit 's inlightening your Souls to behold the Truth in the Scripture-Glass and inabling your Souls to see a native Beauty and Excellency in it above any Lustre that the Creature can put upon it by any Rhetorical Florishes whatsoever I cannot see what solid ground Persons can have to lay claim to an Interest in the Foundation-Truths of Christianity before the charming Simplicity that doth appear in Truth doth allure and win upon the Heart to lay hold of it When the holy Spirit doth present Truth unto the Soul it puts such a Divine Authority into it as constrains the Soul to bow before it and to submit unto it That Scripture which the Holy Ghost was pleased to make use of to present the Lord Jesus Christ unto my Soul and to seal unto it an Interest in God as my God through him was the words of Christ to Mary Joh. 20. the latter part of the 17th Verse Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God In which words the Lord Jesus Christ was presented unto my Soul as the Person by whom we are brought into relation with God and so was I inabled to lay hold of him with my whole Heart as the Person that opens the door of Grace and Mercy and under the inward sense and feeling of that Grace and Mercy which I did then receive from my heavenly Father as an Evidence of his accepting of me through his Son my Heart was exceedingly melted before him and drawn forth by the Spirit of Adoption into such a familiarity with him as to lay open my Heart before him being not then afraid to let him know the worst of my Condition from that Confidence that I had in that blessed Mediator that stood betwixt us I then experienced a new Principle begotten in my Soul which knit my Heart to the Person of the Lord Jesus I felt my Heart leaning towards him for Security and Safety and while the inward Evidence of my Union with him did last I look'd upon my self to be without the reach of the Tempter and altho many Clouds and Temptations have been upon me since the time of my first closing with him yet he hath not suffered me to be overwhelmed by them but in the midst of Troubles hath discovered himself unto me And this frequently I have experienced that when some sudden surprizing Providence hath fallen upon me that seem'd to be of a frowning nature my Soul being rouz'd did shake it self to see if it 's spiritual Strength remained Its first search hath been after its Union with its Lord and to get the Heart raised to God through him If Grace remained so as to keep the Heart knit unto Christ to wrestle with the Father through him generally slavish Fear fled away and a submissive frame of Spirit took place of it to be disposed of by God according to his Wisdom and before the Trouble was wholly over some comfortable Scripture was born in as an earnest that the Deliverance was coming My hope for Heaven lies in this that I am in the way that all the Flock have walk'd in unto this day For the New Testament stands upon the Credit and Authority of the Old If the Messiah were yet to come to work out Man's Salvation the Old Testament Prophecies concerning him could have their Accomplishment in no other way than they are laid down fulfilled in the New in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sins And besides this my Heart hath been inwardly made sensible of the preventing Grace of God put forth outwardly towards me and his pardoning and renewing Grace hath been manifested inwardly in me First His preventing Grace hath been put forth outwardly towards me in that tender Watchfulness that my Heavenly Father hath shewed towards me to this day How many times have I been in danger of being led away by grievous Temptations and have been without the sense of the danger that I was in and yet something hath fallen out that hath prevented my falling by the Temptation and afterwards I have been made sensible of the Danger and of the Mercy received This was a great means of settling my Soul in the Doctrine of Election for I was many times constrained to cry out Why dost thou manifest such Grace unto me a worthless Creature For my Children I must acknowledg as standing under the first Covenant I was a Sinner before God and liable to his Justice His condemning of me could have been no Injustice in him therefore his dealing with me in Mercy 's way must lead me to acknowledg that it is by Grace I stand Secondly His
Work nor Device in the Grave If out of Christ when Death comes to you then miserable for ever if in Christ when Death comes happy for ever 6. Take care to get your Judgments throughly informd and settled in the Foundation-Principle of Christianity Other Foundation can no Man lay than that which is already laid which is Jesus Christ an all-sufficient Saviour Remember you must always go empty to him but have a care of returning empty from him Have the Saints in all Ages beheld such an Excellency in him and can you see none It 's a sign your Hearts are not right with him you talk of what you do not enjoy To you that believe saith the Apostle he is precious it 's such a Faith as gives a view of his Person in the Gospel-Glass 7. Endeavour to be much in the inward experimental part of Religion Have a care of sticking in the true Form without the Power and have a care of a pretended Power without the true Form If you stick in the purest Form without the Power you get no further than Formalists and are no better than a lifeless Image without Motion in God's account For Revealed Religion was appointed to bring the Heart to Communion with God and where this is not attained the great Design of God in giving forth Revealed Religion is lost Have a care of a pretended Power without the true Form for by this you will be laid open to the Transformings of Satan and to his Deceivings as an Angel of Light Lend not an Ear to that Spirit that gets above the holy Scriptures as a Rule and Guide How many Persons who have seemd to be in a hopeful way in the Truths of Christianity have been led into By-paths through Satan's Wiles and many sincere Christians have so far fallen as to lose much of their former Experiences 8. If the Lord in Mercy to you make you fit Matter of a Gospel-Church and afford you the Means of giving up your selves to other Christians that are gathered together according to the order of the Gospel upon a Profession of Faith and sincere Obedience neglect not so great a Mercy you may then be serviceable unto others by the exercising of the Gifts given you which may be for others Edification and Improvement to your selves and your Hearts may be warmed by the Gifts and Graces of other Christians Besides your Mercy will be very great in having the watchful Eye of sincere Christians over you to incourage you in your Christian Course and to be faithful Reprovers of you if they see that you do not walk orderly according to the Rule of the Gospel This is one of the great Privileges that attend those that are in Church-fellowship Gal. 6.1 Brethren if a Man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the Spirit of Meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted Two saith Solomon are better than one because they have a good Reward for their Labour for if they fall the one will lift up his Fellow but wo to him that is alone when he falleth for he hath not another to help him If two Christians may be serviceable one to another how much more to have a considerable number of sincere Christians watching over you 9. Endeavour to get imprinted upon your Hearts that the Life of a Christian while he is passing through this World is a Life of Prayer When God takes Persons into Covenant with him he pours out upon their Souls the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication Prayer is the Intelligencer betwixt the Saints here on Earth and their Father now in Heaven it is that which keeps God's Ear open to us and our Hearts open for him The blessed Jesus speaking of John's Ministry the effect it had upon sinners to bring them to a sincere Repentance and by strong Cries to lay open their state before God he tells us Mat. 11.12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the Violent take it by force He compareth these poor returning Penitents to a Company of Souldiers drawn up in Battel-array to force their Entrance into a Fort or Castle their Cries here on Earth piercing into Heaven Prayer made God use that familiar and condescending Expression to Moses concerning the People of Israel Exod. 32.9 10 11. And the Lord said unto Moses I have seen this People and behold it is a stiff-necked People Now therefore let me alone that my Wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them and I will make of thee a great Nation And Moses besought the Lord his God and said Why doth thy Wrath wax hot against thy People which thou hast brought forth out of the Land of Egypt You may see in these and the following words to the 15th Verse what prevalency Prayer hath upon God when it is put up on the behalf of others much more when it is on our own behalf In treating of this Subject I shall First Shew what Prayer is and the nature of it Secondly I shall shew the necessity of the continuance of it while we are on this side Eternity First I shall shew what Prayer is and the nature of it We may take Prayer according to Scripture under a twofold Consideration First As proceeding from the Spirit of Bondage And here the Heart doth not cry unto God from an inward sight and feeling that it is interested in God but by the light of the first Govenant It looks upon God as Creator and as having an Ability in him to supply Nature's Wants and to deliver from approaching Misery This Prayer is Nature's Cry and is oftentimes put forth with a great deal of Earnestness where there is no Evidence of an Interest in God or Communion with God But that Prayer which I design to lay open is the Work of the Spirit of Adoption upon the Hearts of the Saints and this consists in these three parts 1st In giving inward Light to see the things necessary to be prayed for 2dly In giving Life and Motion to the Faculties of the Soul that so the Soul may be engag'd in the Duty 3dly In leading the Soul in the way by which an Entrance is obtained into Heaven First I shall shew the nature of the Inlightnings of the Spirit in the Duty of Prayer how they are discovered in the Soul of Man 1. The Inlightnings of the Spirit are discovered in the Soul of Man by discovering the inward Frame that the Soul is in The Hearts of the unconverted World are always in an ill Frame and that which is their great Misery they want Light to see it but if the Saints be in an ill frame they are in Mercy brought to see it remaining Corruption is discovered deadness and dulness and wandering of the Heart from God is discovered the holy Spirit gives Light that the Heart may be rectified and made fit for Communion with God because therein
lies Man's chief Happiness Keep thy Heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of Life 2. The things that concern the outward Man are through the Inlightnings of the holy Spirit beheld as of less Concern and Worth altho they do lie next to Sense and the Hearts of the Saints have been inabled to get above them and to part with them when they stood in Competition with the sincere performance of those Duties which God call'd them to The Inlightning of the Spirit doth concern it self for the outward Man but it is that Nature may be satisfied and not Lust gratified it is that such a Supply may be given as Nature may be kept from Temptations not that we may run into Temptations Remove far from me Vanity and Lies give me neither Poverty nor Riches feed me with Food convenient for me lest I be full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord or lest I be poor and steal and take the Name of my God in vain While the Heart is without the Inlightnings of the Spirit it is made a Servant to those things that are most obvious to Sense Daily Experience shews us that the Heart of every unconverted Sinner doth place its Satisfaction in the enjoyment of these things altho they end in Death so that the Inlightnings of the holy Spirit are absolutely necessary in the Duty of Prayer 3. The holy Spirit gives inward Life and Motion to the Faculties of the Soul that so the Soul may be ingag'd in the Duty Rom. 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our Infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered That is the Spirit follows the Inlightnings with inward Life and Motion by which the Heart is set a working after God for the removal of that which stands in the way of Communion with him and for the obtaining of it there is an inward sensibility doth accompany the Matter which we present unto God in Duty not only the things we pray for are presented unto God as those we have need of but the Heart goes along with them that our Heavenly Father may see we are in earnest with him Psal 25.1 Vnto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul Compared with Psal 119.20 My Soul breaketh for the longings that it hath to thy Judgments at all times The holy Spirit draws out the Heart with such earnestness unto God as if there were a Separation going to be made betwixt the Soul and the Body 4. The holy Spirit doth lead the Soul in the way by which Entrance is obtain'd into Heaven We must distinguish betwixt the Spirit 's Intercession in us and the Son's Intercession for us The Spirit 's Intercession in us is that supplicating begging frame which the holy Spirit doth inable the Soul to express it self in when it appears before God yet this through the weakness of the Creature is attended with a great deal of Imperfection But the Intercession of the Son for us as Mediator the Church's Head is that upon which our admittance into Heaven is granted His Prayer is a perfect Prayer and carries Incense along with it to perfume ours Rev. 8.3 And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a Golden Censer and there was given him much Incense that he should offer it with the Prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne This Angel is the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator and the Church's Head the Censer is his holy glorified Body the Man Christ the Incense is his Divine Nature the Perfume of which perfuming the Supplications or Prayers of the Saints and ascending with them before God gains acceptance That Spirit that would assume a right of giving Salvation by Man's Obedience to it its Work is as opposite to the leadings of the Holy Ghost as Light and Darkness For as the Declaration of the Gospel leads to the Lord Jesus Christ as God-Man in one Person our Emanuel as Redeemer and as Mediator who is able to save all those that come to God by him so with this doth the Holy Ghost agree in his inward Witness in the Souls of the Saints Joh. 15.26 27. But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testify of me And ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me from the beginning This is that new and living way which the Apostle speaks of which gives Boldness in our approaching before God Heb. 10.19 20. Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh The Holiest that is into Heaven of which the Sanctum Sanctorum under the Law was a Type by a living way that enlivens the Person that walks in it boldness or a holy freedom being given to plead with God which yet causeth great Humility in the Soul its acceptance with God being grounded upon the account of another's Worthiness which by Faith the Soul is inabled to behold and not upon the account of its own Worthiness This is the Way that meets the Experience of the Saints that are now upon the Earth this is the Way that the Flock walk'd in who are gone to Heaven before us we may say we are compassed about with a Cloud of Witnesses The second part of this Head of the Duty of Prayer is to shew the necessity of the continuance of it while we are on this side Eternity 1st Because we have a multitude of Temptations attending of us outwardly And 2dly Because the Soul doth too readily join with the Baits that gratify corrupt Nature First I shall shew you that we have a multitude of Temptations attending of us outwardly The World is gotten to a very high pitch of Atheism and Profaneness Christianity as to the Power of it is not only removed but Persons have lost that Morality that former Ages did enjoy You can hardly deal in the World now but you are in danger every moment to be carried away with the Stream the Difficulties of getting an outward Support for the Body being great Satan takes the advantage of it to draw out the Corruptions of Mens Hearts after these things so as to hurry them forward in their Endeavours to keep and to gain a share in this fading World without any Consideration Where is the Person that hath the Fear of the Almighty before him and an inward Tenderness lest he should offend him Did David take up this Complaint Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the Tenths of Kedar My Soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth Peace What cause have we every day to take up the same Complaint if we look upon the
it when it hath answered the end for which it was brought upon you the Providence will be changed or you taken from under it home to your Father's House 5thly Endeavour to get imprinted upon your Minds the necessity of having your Zeal in the Worship of God regulated by the Word of God It is good for to be zealously affected always in a good thing mind that it be from the Inlightenings of the Spirit within you that you are led to behold the Truth in the Letter of the holy Scriptures and that by comparing Scripture with Scripture you receive full satisfaction concerning the Truth you lay hold upon Let this go before and then your Zeal in worshipping of God by it and in bearing a Testimony for it follow after How many Persons are exceeding zealous for things which they practise in their Religious Worship that they have no ground for from the holy Scriptures and do place all their hope in this their superstitious Zeal not being brought in the least to witness the dealings of God with their Hearts What mischievous work hath blind Zeal made in the Christian World All the Sufferings and Troubles that have befallen the Children of God in all Ages have come in by it true Zeal desires to destroy Error and to save the Person that is carried away with it false Zeal falls upon the Person and endeavours to ruin the outward Man for the pretended Errors of the inward Man Where Persons are one with you in the Foundation and do walk with God by Faith answerable to their discoveries of Truth tho you should differ from them in many other things let your Moderation be shewn towards them And for those that may differ from you in the Publick Worship of God upon further discoveries of Light received have you a care of condemning any such of being guilty of Error before you are able from the Letter of the Scripture to lay open their Error It is the Scripture laid down in the Letter that is the Rule and not Mens Consequences from it Consequences may be allowed to strengthen the Rule but must not be allowed to be added to it 6thly Endeavour to get imprinted upon your Minds the necessity of a holy Conversation before Men this is that which keeps up the Credit of Religion in the World in despite of all its Adversaries The World knows how to deal with Religion when they meet it in a loose Professor but they know not what to say to it nor how to deal with it when they meet it in a sincere self-denying Christian whose Conversation pleads for the Reality that is in Truth and gives a check to the Opposers of it By a holy Conversation we vindicate the Interest of the Son of God in the World and do invite poor Sinners that are convinced of the Evil that is in Sin to come and taste of that pleasant Fruit that the ways of Holiness do afford to those that walk in them There is a great difference betwixt the ways of Sin and Holiness Sin tho it affords a seeming Pleasure in the committing of it yet draws after it Guilt and Misery Holiness tho in the Acts of it we receive Reproach from the profane World a train of inward Peace and Comfort doth follow it A Profession of Words cannot be taking to any Person where the Conversation doth speak a quite contrary Language To be loose in Conversation under a pure Profession is for a Man to contrive how he may make himself the miserablest of Persons when he comes in Eternity The Prophet Isaiah speaking of the Gospel in Chap. 35. v. 8. saith And an High-way shall be there and a way and it shall be called the way of Holiness the unclean shall not pass over it but it shall be for those the way-faring Men tho Fools shall not err therein It shall be called the way of Holiness the unclean shall not pass over it Where pardoning Grace is inwardly received for all Sins the Soul under the sense of Divine Love hath an inward hatred against the very nature of Sin begotten in it and an inward yearning after Holiness as that which adds Strength and Vigor to the new Creature in the Souls of the Saints Where there is inward Strength and Vigor in the Soul against that Corruption which hinders Communion there will be a watchfulness against those things that tend to the dishonouring of God by our Conversation Holiness inwardly and sincere Obedience outwarldy are so inseparable that whoever hath the one it is impossible but he must have the other As by a growth in Sin Sinners do ripen for Hell and eternal Misery so by Holiness Saints do ripen for Heaven and eternal Glory Holiness makes us meet for the Heavenly Canaan without Holiness no Communion with God in this Life without Holiness no Enjoyment of God in Glory and as it makes us meet for the new Jerusalem so without Holiness no entering into that holy City Rev. 21.27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh Abomination or maketh a Lie but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life I shall conclude this Book and my Directions to you with the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians Chap. 4. v. 8 9. Finally my Children whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any Vertue think on these things Those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen of me do and the God of Peace shall be with you FINIS The Contents PART I. Chap. I. OF the first Adam the Excellency of the State in which he was created page 1. Chap. II. Of the Nature of the first Covenant-light in the state of Innocency page 4. Chap. III. Of Adam's Fall the miserable change of his Condition thereby how all his Offspring were included in it page 13. Chap. IV. Of God's Image on the Heart of Adam how it discovers it self in the Hearts of his fallen Children The nature of the leadings of that first Covenant-light and the Condition of those that stand under the highest attainment of it page 25. PART II. Clearing that the Covenant of Grace and Redemption is but one and the same Chap. I. Of Election bottom'd on the Soveraignty of God How the Eternal Word united to Man's Nature is chose by electing Love as the Head of the Elect c. page 38. Chap. II. Of the Redemption of the Lord Jesus in two parts 1. Perfect Obedience to the Law 2. Satisfaction to the Penalty of it for the Elect c. page 47. Chap. III. Of Christ's Mediatorship in two parts 1. In sending the Spirit to fit for the publishing of the way of Salvation 2. For the Spirit 's accompanying the outward Declaration by opening the Heart c. page 61. PART III. Chap. I. Of the Publication of Gospel-Grace from the Fall to Abraham the Church-state during that Dispensation page 87. Chap. II. Of the Covenant made with Abraham and of the Old Testament Church-state what was required to be a Member of it page 92. Chap. III. Of the Ordinances of the Old Testament Church what they pointed at to the carnal Seed of Abraham and what to his spiritual page 97. Chap. IV. Of the New Testament Church and what 's requir'd to be a Member of it page 116. Chap. V. Of the Ordinances of the New Testament Church what is requir'd to fit for the partaking of them and what they hold out when administred according to the Rude of the Word page 132. PART IV. Being an Appendix which the Author leaves for a Legacy to his Children page 149. 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