the Testimony of CHRIST according to the plain sayings of the GOSPEL PART I. CHAP. 1. A Direction to discern Truth from Error ISa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it 's because there 's no morning or Light in them Now God hath according to his Promise given forth his Son for a Covenant to the People and a Light to the Gentiles a Isa 42.1 6 7. 49.6 with Luk. 2.31 32. Act. 13.47 and so for a Law b Isa 42.4 and for a Witness or Testimony c Isa 33.4 1 John 4.9 10. John 3.16 yea the Scripture witnesseth of Christ and Moses and all the Prophets wrote and spake of him d Joh. 5.39 40. Act. 3.22 24. and He is the Brightness of the Father's Glory and the express Image of his Person e Heb. 1.3 Col. 1.15 in whose Face the Knowledge of the Glory of God shineth f 2 Col. 4.6 he received the Word of the Gospel in which both Law and Testimony is from the Father and in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Understanding g Deut. 18.18 Isa 42.1 6.1 2 3. Col. 2.3 and he spake the words the Father gave him to speak h Ioh. 3.34 â—7 16 12.49 50. and his Record is true i John 8.14 and he spake of excellent things and the opening of his Mouth was right things his Mouth spake Truth and wickedness is an abomination to his Lips all the words of his Mouth in Righteousness nothing wreathed or froward or perverse in them they are all plain to him that understandeth and Right to them that finde Knowledge k Prov. 8.6 7 8 9. And this Word and Gospel which he received and preached he gave unto his Apostles and first Witnesses and gave them the Holy Spirit which gave them to understand and receive the same l John 15.16 17.6 8. By which Spirit they had the Meaning and Mystery in them so revealed to them as never was to any in any ages before m John 14.26 16.13 14 15. Col. 1.26 27. And so he put and bound and sealed the Law and Testimony in his Disciples n Isai 8.16 2 Cor. 5.19 as in some measure he still doth in them that believe o 1 John 2.8 Col. 3.16 and this Word Gospel and Testimony did the Apostles preach as they had received of the Lord according to the Revelation of the Mystery p Rom. 16.25 26 1 Cor. 11.23 and this with great plainness of Words and evidence and demonstration of Spirit and power q 1 Cor. 2.4 2 Cor. 3.12 And this they also writ and left upon Record in such plainness that they intended nothing but what we in their Writings read r Phil. 3.1 2. 2 Cor. 1.13 and in reading may understand their Knowledge in the Mystery of Christ s Ephes 3.3 4. whence Christ that by his Spirit set them on this work as he did the Prophets before and by that Holy Spirit guided them in writing saith Have not I written to thee excellent things in Counsels and Knowledge that I might make thee know the certainty of the Words of Truth that thou mightst answer the Words of Truth to them that send unto thee t Prov. 22.20 21. And so it is affirmed That that which was and is so written is upright Words of Truth acceptable Words and Words of delight to receive and declare the Minde of God in and so fit also for the Preacher u Eccles 12.10 2 Tim. 3.16 17. So that the Law and Testimony as it is manifested in the first coming of Christ and by him given to his first Witnesses and by them delivered and recorded to us is the Law and the Testimony to which we are to resort and so the whole Scripture as witnessing of Christ and opened by Christ to them and by them to us w John 5.39 Luk. 24.25 26 27 44 45 46 47. Rom. 15.3 4 16.25 26. 2 Pet. 3.2 for Christ spake by his Spirit in the Ministration of Noah x 1 Pet. 3.19 and it was the Spirit of Christ in the Prophets that did signifie to them when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow y 1 Pet. 1.11 the Spirit of the Son being also the Spirit of the Father and that by which God ever hath and doth testifie of his Son z 1 John 5 6. And so God at the first did immediately preach the Gospel in Paradise and after more fully to Abraham in Canaan a Gen. 3.15 15.5 17.1 8. and afterwards by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets b Luk. 1.69 70. which Prophets spake and writ as they were moved by the Holy Ghost c 2 Pet. 1.21 whence what the Spirit foresaw and preached the Scripture that was written by his Inspiration is said to foresee and preach d Gen. 12.3 with Gal. 3.8 16. And what the Scripture saith the Holy Ghost is said to say e Psal 95.7 with Heb. 3.7 And we shall finde many sayings in the Scriptures both of Moses and the following Prophets testifying of Jesus Christ his coming and sufferings and resurrection and glory setting him forth to be the great Prophet High Priest and King and God's Salvation to the end of the Earth and that whoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed calling men to look to him and be saved And this is the main thing to which the Scripture testifieth all other parts and portions of Scripture besides this plain Testimony being subservient and having their tendencie to this even to lead men to the Knowledge and Acknowledgement of this Testimony and so of Christ testified therein f John 5.39 And so The Genealogies from Adam to Abraham g Gen. 5.1 32. 11.10 26. Luk. 3. and from Abraham to David and from David to Christ h Mat. 11 18 25. Luke 3.23 32. are to demonstrate of whom Christ came according to the flesh and that he is very Man of the Seed of a Woman c. And also the Love Truth and Faithfulness of God in performing his Promise i Act. 13.32 33. Gal. 4.4 The end of the Law given to and by Moses was to be a School-Master to Christ k Gal. 3.24 and for Righteousness to have it in Christ l Rom. 10.4 the one part of the Law that of ten Words was to discover sin and sentence to death that men might die to themselves magnifie Grace and be quickened by Christ and live to him m Rom. 3.19 20. 4.15 5.20 Gal. 2.19 20. 3.19 The other part that of Types and Figures in Temple Altar Propitiatory Priests Sacrifices Washings c. To figure and shadow out the Truth that was to be found in Jesus that was to come n Heb. 8.5 9.8 9. 7.19 And so many Metaphors and
Mediator between God and Men 1 Tim. 2.5 Isa 43.1 8 55.4 5 61.1 2 3 1 Joh. 2.1 Heb. 7.25 9.15 19 the chief and Prime Caller of Men to come to God by him and the special Advocate and Intercessor for all that come to God by him and so the chief Priest Prophet and King Heb. 5 7 8 9 10. 3. That by the means he useth Joh. 3.17 1 Tim. 1.15 Isa 53.10 11 55.5 Joh. 12.26 17 24 Psa 68.18 19 20 24 Rom. 2.16 and Spirit he sendeth forth as it is in earnest to all and hath a sufficiency in it that they might be saved so he shall see his Seed many shall thereby run in to him and so come to God by him and shall be blessed in him and inherit with him and they that persist in willing rebelling against him when by the means he useth they might come in to him and will not he shall judge also justly 4. That he shall have the Kingdom in the new Heaven and new Earth 1 Chron. 17.9 14 Psa 2.6 9 72 Dan 7.13 14 27 Luke 1.32 33 and shall sit on the Throne of David raigning in Jerusalem and over all the Nations under the whole Heaven and all his Seed even all that have believed on him and lived to him in the days of his Grace and Patience shall then have the Kingdom and raign with him and all his Enemies shall be destroyed 5. Isa 52.13 14 15 53.10 11 12 That to bring all this about in making it known and extending Divine Power in giâ—â—â—g forth his Knowledge to bring Men in to Christ and so to God by him that they might not perish but become his Seed and have Eternal Life and so he may see his Seed Isa 45.23 24 Phil. 2.10 11 Joh. 12.32 and of the travel of his Soul and be glorified and satisfied according to that promised him and is dayly fufilling and will be openly and manifestly to all when all shall come before him and confess him Lord to the glory of God Mat. 25.31 46 2 Thes 1.8 9 10 and he gives the Kingdom to all those that believed on him in the Day of Grace whom by his Knowledge he justified and then shall be admired in them and be glorified also in his equitable and righteous judgement on them that in the Day of Grace refused to believe on him by the means he used and so shall see the travel of his Soul and the excellency and acceptableness of his sufferings and Sacrifice with God in both Isa 45.22 Ezek 33.11 Prov. 9.12 to the Glory of God his Will and Pleasure all the dayes of his Patience being that by the means he useth Men should turn to him and live yea rather rest that though he will have his Glory on the scorners and not suffer loss to himself and that all this may be by this Knowledge of him and his Divine Power therein and so he have a numerous Seed and Refusers be altogether excuseless He in his Purpose and choice of the Man Christ did therein also purpose and chuse him Exod. 23.21 with 1 Cor. 10.9 Heb. 1.3 Isa 55.4 5. 1 Pet. 1.21 Joh. 14 15 16 17 and according to his purpose hath put his Name in and upon him to declare and make it known in by and through him and for that cause to make him known to cause him to be lifted up and displayed and in that discovery of him to glorifie him that Men might behold him and in beholding believe in him and so come in to him and to God by him and so be of his Seed and have Eternal Life and for understanding this we may briefly view three things in this 1. Exod. 6.2 3 4 What the Name of God is and that by his own Declaration appears to be himself and his memorial Rev. 1.4 Act. 17.24 25 Psa 105.8 9 10 Exod. 3.6 14 15 Exod. 34.6 Psa 145.8 9 Exod. 34.7 Joh 21.14 17 Psal 81.11 12 Mat. 24.37 38 Pro. 1.24 Ezek. 24.13 Joh. 5.40 Deut. 5.9 Psal 109.2 3 4 Ezek 18.2 20 31 32 Prov. 8.30 Psa 89.8 Gen. 17.1 Psal 66.7 Isa 45.21 22 Psal 9.9 10 Jer. 9.24 or the appearance of him in his Titles Word Works and so he is Jehovah he that is that was that is to come that hath his being of himself and giveth being to all things and to his Word The God of Abraham The God of Isaac and The God of Jacob with whom he made the everlasting Covenant This his Name for ever and his Memorial to all Generations and so The Lord The Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and Truth great in mercy good to all and his tender mercies over all his Works keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means cleer the guilty that is such as refuse and rebel against this mercy and goodness when in the means tendered to them and so will not come into him for Life will none of him and his wayes but visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children and upon the Childrens children unto the third and to the fourth generation explicated Exod. 20.5 upon them that hate me that hate me that am so gracious and merciful and so reward me with evil for good and hatred for love on such and no other but such as so hate him will he execute sore punishment He is the Lord God of Hosts All-sufficient that ruleth by his power for ever a just God a Saviour and there is none besides him that calls all the ends of the Earth to look to him and be saved This and much more abundantly explained in many places of the Holy Scriptue is the Name of God which is so excellent glorious and gracious that they that know his Name will put their trust in him and are allowed therein to rejoyce 2. That this his Name even Himself Joh. 14.9 10 1.18 1 Cor. 10.9 Mat. 3.1 Isa 55.4 Exod. 23.21 Isa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 Isa 9.6 Jer. 23.6 Tit. 2.13 Rom. 9.5 1 Joh. 4.14 and his Memorial he hath put in and upon his Son that is The Man Christ he is The Angel that Israel tempted in the Wilderness the Messenger of the Covenant in whom his Name is and he is and is called so that he and his Name is Emmanuel that is God with us in our Nature and for us Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Jehovah our righteousness the mighty God and our Saviour Jesus Christ God over all blessed for ever The Saviour of the World Joh. 4.42 God's Salvation to the ends of the earth Isa 45.22 Phil. 2.7 10 Col. 1 28 Col. 2.9 10 Joh. 1.4 1 Job 5.10 11 Col. 2.3 Isa 42.1 61.1 2 3 4 2 Cor. 3.18 4.6 Isa 55.4 5 Joh. 4.10 Isa 65.1 2 Cor. 3.3 4 Heb. 1.3 Isa 49.6 Act. 1.3.47
his beloved People as now they are are counted for the Seed and so let us count as God counteth that is the best and safest for us Now this Seed he saith Christ is to see to upon the account of his sufferings if by see he means a Seed to see to he speaks short for it is upon the account of his suffering Resurrection sacrifice fulness of Spirit and means using and God's glorifying him and bearing witness of him by which in that gracious donation they are in their times drawn in to him Isa 53.10 11. 55 4 5. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. and so made his Seed If by see he mean see to or look to to preserve c. he is in that short too for that is not onely upon the account of all before said but also in an especial manner upon the account of the Father's enabling them in the Testimony of Christ to discern Christ and believe on him and so giving them to him in the heavenly call Joh. 6.40.45 47. 10.27 28 29. 17.2 6 7 8. Heb. 9.15 7.25 causing them to hear and follow him and so on the account of his Mediation of the New Testament for the Called by vertue of his Oblation and for these who only are the Seed of Christ indeed If it were granted to Mr. Owen though in his words they cannot be though they do sin and transgress yet God hath put all these gracious Obligations upon himself to reduce them by corrections and afflictions but never to proceed to final sentence of utter rejection If this I say were granted yet it makes nothing for his other Sayings mentioned here nor against any thing here said in and upon the 2 Tim. 2.8 to the 19 vers for it is before proved Par. 4. ch 5. That many may believe the promise displaied in the Testimony of Christ that are not yet born of thâ—â—romise and so are not of this Seed and yet continuing in that believing shall become to be born of the Promise and so be counted of the Seed but by departing may never come to be of it and so be utterly rejected for whom all this faithful Saying and Warning is needful and profitable both for Teachers to minde them of and for them to heed and minde But let us to the Testimony with his Saying the place most probable it might be wrested from is Psal 89.28 33. consider it both in Type and in Truth and first in Type The Covenant was with David and stood fast with him for him and his Seed so far as he would though chastning his Seed for their Transgression yet not take his Mercy from him as he did from Saul 1 King 1.11 12 13. 15.4 5 that he should have no Son to sit upon his Throne which Covenant is yet firm to David and a first Fruits of the performance related yet what is befallen many of David's Children as well as of Israel and Judah the Word and Works of God declare and shew yet is not his Covenant broken nor his Mercy taken from David But now for the Truth it self which is Christ the Son of David and the choice David Certain it is The Covenant in the full extent of it stands fast with him his Seed will God make to endure for ever and his Throne as the Dayes of Heaven I will not press this here That this is a thing to come the whole Seed and such a manner of Seed is not yet come in and presented before him as shall be when he comes to take to him his great Power and Raign Eph. 5.25 26 27. and sit upon the Throne of David his Father He is now in his Mediation sending forth Spirit in the Testimony of him preparing Believers that they may be such a Seed as in whom the new Birth is compleated But lecting this pass to speak of them onely in whom the new Birth is begun and of them mark what he saith If his Children for sake my Law c. then will I visit c. their iniquity with stripes nevertheless my loving-kindness will not I utterly take from him Minde the words for I will not press the change of the terms nor deny that in what follows his Seed shall indure for ever his Children are meant Rom. 9. â— 8.16 17. 〈◊〉 3.8 16 26 29. as if Christ his Seed were the term fit to set them forth when compleated and till they come to that they are counted for the Seed the Children of God by Faith and the Seed of Abraham begot by the Gospel given Abraham to minister yet not in their own persons fully actually 〈◊〉 of God till the Resurrection But minde what he saith of these Children now he saith not I will not take my Mercy utterly from any of them but My Covenant shall stand fast with him I will not take my mercy utterly from him c. which can be no less then My love mercy faithfulness and Covenant shall not fail to be in to upon and through him so as I will be propitious and continue loving-kindness to all his Children all that believe in him and love him yea if they go astray I will correct them to reduce them and in receiving correction my mercy and loving kindness in him shall be ever upon and through him to receive them again c. but if they refuse c. yet I will preserve and multiply a seed to him I will not fail him And if we minde it such is our Saviour's complaint for the peoples untowardness Isa 44.4 5 6 10. and rejoycing in God's kindeness according to this Covenant like that in the Type so that here is great mercy and comfort held forth for all Believers and encouragement for backsliders to receive correction and return and a motive to wait for the coming of Christ to sit on the Throne of David when all iniquity will be done away and this Covenant given and performed to all the Seed of Christ And though neither this place nor Isa 53.10 quoted by Mr. Owen bears out his Notion yet I desire the greatest comfort and hope it giveth should be believed to the utmost of believing but not that it should be abused according to fleshly reasoning Rom. 11.20 21 22. or Satanical Temptation to puff up Believers with pride or presumption to say or conceit Though we transgress c. we are God's Sons he cannot cast us off and reject us utterly but he must alter his Purpose break his Covenant c. which he cannot do and so they fall into that foolish confidence Peov. 14.16 The Devil himself may tempt a Man to such confidence yea he did so tempt though he could not fasten his Temptation on the Lord himself If thou be the Son of God if thou be sure of that as if he should say then the Promise belongs to thee and he mentions one as full and free as this or any we read of then cast thy self
elect Surely the faith so set forth Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. is even so in respect of any other gifts upon any account by men called Faith Eph. 4.4 5. 2.8 For in Scripture we finde but one true faith and that is the gift of God The object held forth for faith one the Gospel discovering it one and the Spirit witnessing and calling in that Gospel to that object one his light and motion Pages 217 218 from the free grace of God discovered drawing to beleeve in Christ draws into one and worketh one faith and there is not another as is shewn before As for that in Tit. 1.1 the Apostie was setting forth to Titus the Grace of his Apostleship And in and according to what it was to be exercised Ro. 1.1 2 3 4 5. 16.25.26 Eph. 1.3 12. Gal. 1.11 12. Tit. 1.1 Isa 43 1. Mat. 12.18 Gal. 2.20 Rom. 1.5 16 26. uttering in few words that he did to the Romans in more words and to the Ephesians and to the Galatians and other Churches And so here by Gods elect is primely meant Jesus Christ who is Gods elect and his beloved Son And so the faith of Gods elect and the faith of the Son of God is all one and the same faith And by faith is here meant primely The doctrine of Faith in which Jesus Christ is set forth and this preached for the obedience of faith that men might beleeve it and so come in to the acknowledgement of the truth which is after godliness in the hope of eternal life which is set forth in this Gospel 2 Thes 2.14 Gal. 1.23 This the same faith which Paul when Saul sometimes persecuted and after his conversion preached so that we have here plainly set forth to us 1. The testimony of Christ who is Gods elect his Son The Word our Saviour and the medium and Doctrine setting him forth in these words The faith of Gods elect And 2. Joh. 3.14 15 16 17 18. The repentance from dead works and faith towards God which it calleth to teacheth requireth and worketh 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. Rom. 1 1-3 16 25 26. in these words The acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness And 3. The blessing and hope in such repenting and beleeving to be met and enjoyed in these words In hope of eternal life c. Is not this the same with that in other places And is not this that which God promised before the world began before there was any beginning of increase or society for multiplication only creatures made and man fallen God then promised the sending of his Son and this manifestation of him and eternal life in him and so by him to call and give eternal life in him 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 1 Joh. 1.2 3 5.10 11 12. Col. 1.26 27 28. Eph 3 3-9 Rom. 16.26 and through him to all that beleeve in him And now God hath manifested this in sending forth his Son and through Gospet-preaching declared and made it known that men might beleeve and in beleeving have eternal life And this the very same so set forth and exprest in many other places so that here is the compleat object and foundation of faith Gods elect the medium of declaring the word manifested through preaching The true beleeving The acknowledgement of the truth which is after godliness And the blessed hope given and received in such beleeving The hope of eternal life and the ground of the certainty of this hope The Almighty that is All-sufficient God that cannot lye that is Truth it self he hath promised it even when mankind was fallen in enmity and weakness before the beginning of any increase or rising and hath since confirmed it by oath to Abraham Gen. 3.15 22.17 18. Isa 55 14 5. And he hath given a testimony of his love truth and righteousness in beginning to fulfil his word in that he hath sent forth his Son and delivered him up for us all and according to his will and command causeth the same to be preached Now when any through this testimony of God concerning his Son what he laid aside what he became and suffered for us what he is and is become and hath to bestow on us And so the love of God to mankinde appearing through him Rom. 4.23 24 25. 5.1 2 3. 2 Thes 2.13 14 1 Pet. 1.2 2 3 5 9. is thereby convinced and brought in to beleeve in Jesus Christ the elect of God so as he is therein broken off from all other confidences and delights to confide in God that raised Christ from the dead through him to save renue and preserve them in and by his grace to eternal life through this beleef of the truth and sanctification of the Spirit they are chosen into union and fellowship with Christ and conformity to him These are in 2 Pet. 1.1 Tit. 1.4 Jude 3. Tit. 1.9 2.2 11 12 13.14 3.4 5 6 7. and through Christ the elect of God and have the like precious faith with the Apostles And thus was Titus Pauls son after the common faith which is also called The common salvation and the faith which was once delivered to the Saints The faithful word to be holden fast The faith that beleevers are to be sound in explicated to Titus in the foundation and teachings of it And in the manner and gracious ends of its operation where the fountain streams effects and hope are exprest and opened so as we may be sure This is that common salvation common faith The faith once delivered to the Saints called also The faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 Rom. 3.3 Act. 14.24 Jam 2.1 Rev. 14.12 Phil. 1.27 The faith of Gods elect yea the faith of God and the faith of Christ the faith of our Lord Jesus And the faith of the Gospel And I hope none will say This is Gods peculiar manner of beleeving or Christ his beleeving or the Gospels beleeving nor that the faith of Gods elect was the peculiar manner of beleeving in Christ distinct from others beleeving in Christ which Paul sometime persecuted and now preached and yet no record of it so that this of Tit. 1.1 2 3 9. agrees in one and the same faith set forth Heb. 6.1 2 4 5. And for this that God did from eternity elect a certain number of men that were to come of Adam from the rest of mankinde to Son-ship and eternal life and that he gave these to Christ to dye for them and that these shall in due time be invested with a peculiar faith and holiness and that by his Spirit witnessing of Christ he will work a faith and holiness really true in its kinde in others of the sons of men for whom Christ dyed not when such as have it cannot be eternally saved by it but are capacitated thereby to sin against the Holy Ghost which in falling away they do and though they abide in this
Parables had the like end which whatever the outside and face of the Letter was yet their import was in their end which was to witness of lead to Christ o Rom. 3.21 in minding of whom the meaning of all is seen and so the things and sense in sayings plain p Prov. 8.9 2 Cor. 3.13 16 17. But when Christ the Truth came he by compleating that done in his Body and sending forth the Holy Ghost opened the way into the Holiest q Heb. 9.9 15. revealed the Father r John 1.18 And God hath now spoken to us by his Son s Heb. 1.1 who hath filled his first Witness with the Holy Ghost and so with Knowledge of the Mystery of his will in all Wisdom and spiritual Prudence and sent them forth t Act. 2. Ephes 1.3 8 9. and they have testified and in their Testimony the Holy Ghost hath testified of Christ u Act. 5.32 1 Pet. 1.12 and this Testimony of Christ have they preached and recorded not in a Fable to be Allegorized but the very Truth concerning Jesus Christ himself w 2 Pet. 1.15 16 17 18. not in dark and parabolical Words nor in the Wisdom of man nor with Rhetorical flourishes but with simplicity and great plainness of speech x 1 Cor. 1.17 27. 2.1 2 13. without any deceit or cloak of craft commending themselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God y 2 Cor. 2.17 4.1 2. So that this Gospel of Jesus Christ as now come forth in which is the Law and the Testimony to which we are to resort for Knowledge of Truth is the Testimony of Christ and as it is of deep and profound Mysteries so it is true verily true and plain without any deceit or equivocation as is evident To it therefore go c. CHAP. 2. Evidences of the Truth and Plainness of this Testimony THat the Testimony of Christ in all the sayings thereof is true is evident first in that it came forth from Almighty God and is the declaration of his minde who is the onely true God the God of Truth even Truth it self a John 17.3 1 John 5.20 Deut. 32.1 4. whence it is called the Gospel of God b Rom. 15.16 1 Thes 2.2 3 8 9. Secondly In that it testifieth and setteth forth Jesus Christ who is the Truth c John 14.6 in whom Mercy and Truth are met d Psal 8 5.10 and in that he became hath done doth and will do Truth is and is fulfilled e 2 Thess 2.10 12 13 14. 2 Cor. 5 21.1â—0.130 2 Pet. 1.16 19. Ephes 4.21 and he also sends forth the Holy Spirit that witnesseth Truth and leads into all Truth f John 15.26 16.7 13. Rom. 1.3 16. 15.29 whence also this Gospel is called the Gospel of Christ Thirdly in that it was inspired and witnessed by the Holy Spirit of Truth into the Prophets and Apostles and by them breathed forth and written as the Holy Spirit gave them to speak and write g 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 2 Pet. 1.21 Luke 1.70 Prov. 22.21 Rom. 15 4. True it is All the Holy Scripture was given and so narrated and writ by Divine Inspiration and so is profitable c. h 2 Tim. 3.16 But though the Narration of Sayings written in the Scriptures were by Divine Inspiration recorded yet are there many Sayings recorded which in respect of the Sayings themselves were not Divine Inspirations but the Spirations and Sayings some of Satan some of Seducers and wicked men some of weak Believers some even of strong Believers tempted which were by the Inspiration of God given to the Writers and so by them recorded but not recorded as the Inspirations of God's Minde but as God's Declaration of the Sayings of Satan or of Men that we may know the subtilties of Satan and beware and the seducements and evils of the wicked and take heed and so the weakness of some and frame of Spirit in others and so such Sayings are to be taken as God's Declarations of the Deeds and Sayings of others to warn instruct us c. but not as his own Sayings to be received obeyed and built on as true and good that would be an abuse of them But as for the Gospel it self that is the Testimony of Christ even All of it was not onely narrated by Divine Inspiration or given of God by Inspiration to be narrated as those things that were indeed spoken or done by Satan or wicked or weak men But as the very Things Sayings Spirations and Inspirations of God himself of his own Minde and so it is Divine Truth Divine Spiration divinely inspired as well as by Divine Inspiration written and recorded and therefore True not only true it was so said and done for so were all the other sayings but true in it self yea Truth and the Revealer of the Minde of Truth it self Fourthly the Gospel and Testimony of Christ is a full and perfect Truth in all that it narrateth and in all that it affirmeth and in all that it promiseth containing the Declaration of the whole Truth that is for natural Men or Believers to know believe or do in the worship of God or towards the Conversion and Salvation of Men yea even to make the Man of God himself perfect to every good Work i John 15.15 Act. 20.26 Micah 6.8 2 Pet. 1.12 16. 2 Tim. 3.16 And therefore we are bounded up to it k Isa 8.20 Gal. 1.6 12. without adding or diminishing l Deut. 12.32 Rev. 22.18 19. there being no Morning-light in any Spirit Doctrine Saying or Doing that is not in and according to this Testimony it being the Truth and Discoverer of and Guide to all Truth and Trier of all things m Ephes 5.13 it being true in Christ and of Christ and from him to men and for men whether men believe it or not n Joh. 8.40 45 46. 1 Thes 2.10 12. 2 Tim. 2.13 4.4 And as it is true in and of Christ and to and for men so it is true in Believers also so as they discern and experiment and testifie the Truth thereof o 1 Joh. 2.8 20 27. 2 Joh. 2. 3 Joh. 3 John 3.33 and so this Gospel is most rightly called the Word of Truth p 2 Cor. 6.7 Col. 1.5 yea the Truth q 2 Cor. 12. Fifthly the Testimony of Christ which is in the Gospel is the Spirit of Prophecie r Rev. 19.10 it is the Original the Spring Teacher and Guide to all right understaing of Truth and for speaking Truth to Men in Charity and to Edification and Exhortation and Comfort s 1 Cor. 14.1 3. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 21. yea this Testimony of Jesus believed is verily 1. Both the Opener of Truth and of the Understanding to discern Truth as pointed out both in the end of the Law and in Types Parables and dark Sayings and also as set
forth in Prophecies in which attending to this Testimony minding and believing it it will make all Wisdom's Sayings plain and open the meaning and rightness of them t Joh. 12.36 46. Prov. 1.3 7. 2.2 7. 8.9 Joh. 1.18 14.7 1 Joh. 2.20 27. 2. It hath its meaning in it self and the same is in its Discovery according to the plain import of its Sayings it abhors all Equivocations dissembling and pretending any Love or good-will more then really is u Prov. 8.6 7 8. 26.24 26. 3. It hath Evidences and Demonstrations of Wisdom Power and Goodness and Motives unmatchable to draw to the Belief of its Testimony w 1 John 5.6 9 10. Rom. 5.6 8. Act. 5.32 11.21 4. It is the Instrument and Medium by which the Holy Ghost convinceth of sin unbelief and error x Joh. 15.15 8.7 8 9 10 11. and bringeth the convinced in to Believe and love the Truth y James 1.18 1 John 3.19 and leadeth Believers into all Truth z Joh. 16.13 14 and he that believeth this Testimony believeth the Truth and it being in them and they living according to it they are of the Truth a 1 John 3.19 and in the Truth b 1 John 2.5 2 John 4. and the Truth is in them c 1 John 1.8 2.4 3 John 3. and such as teach it are Ministers of the Truth d Rom. 15.8 2 Tim. 2.15 and such as acknowledge profess and obey it do acknowledge profess and obey the Truth e Heb. 10.26 1 Pat. 1.22 2 Joh. 4. 3 Joh. 3 and such as turn from it turn from the Truth f 2 Tim. 4.4 and such as oppose deny and resist it do oppose deny and resist the Truth g 2 Cor. 13.8 2 Tim. 3.8 So that we are well directed for knowing of Truth to the Law and to the Testimony in which Truth is and all the sayings thereof are true yea all the sayings in Scripture as they witness of this Testimony and are opened by this Testimony and agree in one with this are true and not only true but they are also exceeding plain as may be seen in that foresaid 1. In that God and Christ have affirmed these sayings to be not onely true but also plain and right h Prov. 8.6 9. Isa 45.19 Eccles 12.10 2. In that he affirmeth the end for which he hath written them to be that we might know the certainty of the words of Truth i Prov. 22.20 21 Luke 1.3 4. Ephes 4.3 4. Rom. 15.4 3. In that our Saviour directeth and commandeth for knowing and finding Truth to search the Scriptures k Joh. 5.39 to minde what is written and how we read in the Law and Testimony l Luke 10.26 Isa 8.20 and to apply the Ear to his Knowledge and so the Heart to the Words of the Wise that have written by his Spirit m Prov. 22.17 18 20. 4. In that our Saviour promiseth blessedness to such as believe on him as the Scripture hath said n John 7.38 avouching all that keep not his sayings that do not Believe Love and hold to his sayings to be no Lovers of him * Joh 14.28 5. In the Profession of those inspired with the Holy Ghost in the knowledge of the things of Christ that they spake them in the wisdom and words which the Spirit gave them to speak o Act. 2.4 1 Cor. 2.12 13. and this sincerely without craft in all plainness p 1 Cor. 2.17 4.2 2 Cor. 3.12 and not with a veil over their face 6. In the confession of those that have believed this Testimony that his Word is true very pure q Psal 119.160 140 130. Eccles 12.10 and bringeth Light and giveth Understanding to the simple 7. The Title put on this Testimony as The Word of Truth the Scripture of Truth r Col. 1.5 Dan. 10.21 8. The Commendation and Approbation of such as are diligent in searching the Scripture to see what is Truth and take heed to the Word of Prophecie as to a Light s Act. 17.11 2 Pet. 1.19 Now if the sayings of the Gospel in the Testimony of Christ have not the sense they naturally and plainly import where then is the Truth of God and Christ his Affirmation or the fitness in his words for his ends to give the certainty of the Knowledge of Truth or what Profit in following his direction in searching the Scripture or where is the Truth of this Promise or of the Prophets and Apostles Protestation or of the Title of the Gospel or why are any commended for searching it If it have not the sence it importeth in its own sayings who then shall tell us the sense what Man what Apostle what Angel or what Spirit when we are warned to hear none that speak other or beside that by these before already preached and written who have professed also before God That they did not lye in the things they writ and God hath born Testimony of them Gal. 1.6 9 12 20. Heb. 2.4 So that their sayings in this Testimony are true and plain and have the sense they plainly import and what the Prophets and Apostles have spoke and writ of this Testimony God hath spoken by them and if we believe God to be true and love him then will we believe and love his sayings and so to the Law and to the Testimony for the discerning of every Whisper Spirit Doctrine Opinion and Saying and if they speak not according to that Word there is no Morning-Light in them wherefore let God be true and justifie him in his sayings and let every man whisper Rom. 3.4 Eccles 12.10 Doctrine or Spirit that speaketh not according to his sayings be to us a lyar knowing his Words are true upright and plain though the wisdom of the flesh be enmity to them whose oppositions I will endeavour to remove CHAP. 3. Of the Enmity of Flesh and Satan to Him THe carnal Minde or Wisdom of the Flesh is Enmity against God a Rom. 8.7 so that the natural Man having no other but the Wisdom of Men the Wisdom of this World though never so learned wise prudent doth not approve or receive the things of the Spirit or his sayings but accounts them Foolishness b 1 Cor. 1.18 19 20. 2.5 6 41. And among the rest in this one thing hath this Enmity appeared in that it accounts light of the sayings of the Spirit of God in the Scripture and of that Knowledge given in the plain Testimony thereof c Jer. 8.9 and pretends in its fleshly Minde to a farther and better knowing d Job 11.11 12. Col. 2.18 by which it presumes to understand and to amend contradict the plain Sayings of God and to frame sayings better truer and safer for Men to believe and receive e Job 4.17 18 19. Isa 40.2 8. Isa 40.13 14. In which thinking to
it but by Christ typed out in one part of this Law and so and to this end the Letter killeth yet this killing and death that fitteth for life in Christ was not effected by a dead Letter or by Words or Sound heard only but by some gracious operation of God therein minding them of and opening their Understandings to discern their sinfulness and submitting their Hearts to say Amen to the Curse and helping them in Observance of the Rites to look to Christ to come that so having no hope in their own Observances being in that respect dead also they saw the end of the Law to lead them to Christ And this was the right use of the Letter and the Work of God by and with the Letter in this killing way to fit them for Life But this Medium and Way of killing to prepare for Life God was not minded always to use but as it was given 430 yeers after the Covenant made with Abraham Gal. 3.16 17 19 20 25. to whom the Seed and Blessing in that Seed was promised so it was to continue but till Christ that Seed came so that this Law ministred by Moses appears all the way in every place speaking of this business and in this very 2 Cor. 3. to be meant by Letter for that Law in Ministration of it was the Ministration of sin and of death or condemnation for sin to death and that to so gracious an end as is said whence said to be glorious and yet to be done away 2. By Spirit is not here meant simply and onely a supernatural shine and infusion of Divine Power and Spirit into the Hearts of Men creating a new and living Spirit even the Epistle or Minde of Christ in the Heart a living Principle springing up in living and quickening Efficacies by Spirit is not meant this only but the Gospel through which this was conveyed for they by whom this Epistle was ministred in respect whereof they were Ministers of the Spirit and their Ministration of Life That which they did Minister was the Epistle of Christ Mat. 22.20 John 14.17 18. 25.26 27. even the Gospel as come forth and witnessed by the Holy Ghost since his Ascension in Ministration whereof Christ according to his Promise is present with them by his Spirit and his Work it is in their Ministration to send forth of his Spirit so as the Ministration of the Epistle of Christ the Words of Christ which are Spirit and Life is their Work but the Supernatural Shine Infusion and Writing the Minde of Christ in the Heart is the very Work of the Holy Ghost from Christ himself though in their Ministration and in with and through the Gospel ministred by them which distinction is here given us by the Apostle himself in this 2 Cor. 3.2 3. in divers other places p 1 Cor. 3.5 6 7. Gal. 3.2 Eph. 4.21 Act. 11.21 So that by the Spirit is here meant the Gospel yet the Gospel in a peculiar sense for Moses preached the Gospel also even the same Gospel although not in the same Manner and Spirit also went forth in the Ministration of the Gospel as delivered by Moses q Rom. 10.6 7 8. Act. 3.22 26 but they to whom it was so preached were still under the Law and had the Law to convince them of sin and the Law to lead them in Observances to look to Christ so that the Gospel was also preached with and under the Law or Letter which was the first and now Old Testament But now that Christ is come and Truth fulfilled in him r Joh. 1.14 16 17 18. that Use of the Law enjoyned to the Jews is taken away and in the Gospel preaching Life is preached with Freedom s 2 Cor. 3.11 Act. 5.20 in a Word of Grace in and with which believed the Spirit operateth both to convince of Sin and to lead into Christ and so into all Truth t John 16.7 17 Heb. 8.10 and write the Minde of Christ in the Heart And this is the New Testament of which the Apostles were Ministers and according to which with Freedom and Fulness they preached the Gospel and Testimony of Christ And so of this Testimony of Christ was Paul and the residue of the Apostles and first Witnesses made Ministers u Act. 26.18 Rom. 15.16 Eph. 3.7 Col. 1.23 And this Gospel being testified and brought forth by the Holy Spirit w 1 Joh. 5.6 Act. 5.32 and being that in Ministration whereof the Holy Spirit witnesseth x Joh. 15.26 27 16.7 8 13. and so the Gospel the Power of God in every one that believeth to Salvation working in and with it in the Believer y Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 it therefore hath the Name of the Spirit z John 3.6 Rev. 19.10 and so is rightly called Spirit yea it is the Spirit of Prophecie and this Testimony of Christ is of him and that which abideth for ever and this Ministration of it to abide till his own personal coming again and so is a more glorious Ministration than that of Moses which is done away that having also a veil but this delivered without veil and this to be meant by Spirit is seen in the whole Chap. of this 2 Cor. 3. And this Testimony of Christ is one and the same whether writ printed read preached or heard and so not Letter but Gospel ministring not Sin and Death but Forgiveness and Life whether Men believe and receive it or not a John 6.32 Act. 13.37 18. And it is a kinde of Blasphemy to call this Gospel Letter much more to call it a killing Letter the Gospel in Moses Ministration was not so called but The Law much less may it now be so called it is a Word of Life and they that refuse it refuse Life and the refusal brings death though only Believers receive and meet with the spiritual Power and living Efficacies thereof b 2 Thes 1.8 10. 2 Thes 2.13 so that quite contrary to the end of the Objection we are led by this place to magnifie the Gospel and Testimony of Christ for the Truth Livingness Excellency and Plainness thereof And thus much to take away that by which these most dangerous troublers of Believers endeavour to withdraw them from believing the plain import of the plain sayings of Christ in Scripture CHAP. 5. An Assay to remove the Stumbling-blocks laid in the way by them that seek to trouble them by Word that is by pleading the Iudgement and Traditions of Fore-fathers or by Philosophy and vain Reasonings or by subtil and Rhetorical Queries and Perswasions to draw them from belief of Gospel-sayings Object 1 OUr Fathers the Holy and learned Men and chief Teachers in the Church have thus understood and interpreted these have been their Doctrines and Traditions which they have unanimously taught and the most zealous and consciencious for many Generations have so held and observed will you be so profane
to turn aside therefrom so proud to think you know more and better than all these so singular from all other Men in your Opinion and Way know you not it will be an Offence to our learned Men and Teachers and lay a blemish on them and our Fore-fathers as if they were mistaken and did erre Answ We have a plain Answer to all this in the Doctrine of Christ that all Doctrines Sayings Interpretations Glosses Sences Traditions that are not found in the Law and Testimony that have but the Doctrine and Tradition of Men to warrant them how many learned and how ancient soever they be yet they must not be taken because their Words and Sense to be therefore right but must be rectified and brought to the plain sayings of Truth and all not so rectified must be rejected And thus did our Saviour rectifie the commonly received sense of the Law and rejected the false Glosses a Mat. 5.21.22 39. Mar. 10.3 9. and so he hath likewise taught us That it is in vain and makes the Word and Sayings of God of none effect to teach and believe and worship God with and by the Doctrines Traditions and Opinions of Men that are not in the Sayings of God and so not of him but of men how many learned holy or ancient soever they appear b Isa 29.14 Mat. 15.1 9. Mar. 7.1 14. And he hath likewise taught us That every Plant which our Heavenly Father hath not planted must be plucked up and God's own Sayings Believers are to justifie whoever be thereby found a lyer letting such lyers alone not being troubled with fear of offending them because they be blinde leaders of the blinde c Mat. 15.13 14. 11.19 Rom. 3.4 The Jews of old were commended for observing the plain Words and Sayings of the Law though many right holy Men for divers Generations before had not done so exactly according to the plain saying of the Law d Neh. 8.14 15 16 17. yea the Priests and Scribes of the Jews in Herod's time when they answered a Question with a plain saying of Scripture erred not in the Answer given e Mat. 2.5 6. so victorious is the Truth in its own sayings Nor is it Pride or sinful Singularity or just cause of Offence to any to believe the Sayings of God to be true whoever be reproved as a lyer thereby but rather true Humility in laying aside our own Wisdom and desire of Repute with humane Rabbies and it is Obedience to God in justifying him in his Sayings which are never rightly understood but in believing them f 1 Cor. 3.18 19 20. Rom. 3.4 so that he that believeth the plain sayings in the Testimony of Christ to be true will not hearken to or be waved by this Objection Object 2 It is not like yea not possible yea against Reason That Moses should speak of so low a business as the Creation of this visible World with visible Heaven Earth and Creatures or That from one Man and one Woman the World should be so people'd by Noah 's time or That eight Persons with Creatures of all kindes should be preserved a whole yeer in such an Ark as is mentioned when all the World of Mankinde and other Creatures besides should be drowned or That if the World were so drowned that it should be so people'd and inhabited so fully by Abraham 's time or That there should be Three in One God and yet God but One or That God in the Person of his Son should become Man or That that Man should be God and yet die or if as Man he died that that very Body that died should be risen again and ascended into Heaven and remain so long in the Heavens or That by his Death and Righteousness other Men should be saved or That if there be such a thing as Eternal Salvation if God made all Men and Christ died and gave himself a Ransom for All that All should not be Eternally saved or That there should be a Resurrection of all the Bodies that have died since Adam 's time c. Answer These are all such plain Blasphemous and Atheistical Assertions that they are rather to be abhorred and answered with silence and departure than any parleying about such Absurdities and Infidel-like Blasphemies according to the Counsel given us not to answer but depart g Prov. 26.4 14.7 Isa 36.21 yet because many devise Allegories to make them true in an Allegorical Sense thereby to colour their Atheism and Unbelief and pretend a Fancy of higher things though they are vain Fancies and Dreams Prov. 26.5 we may give an Answer beside plain Denial which yet were enough And so it 's answered That however Types and Shadows and Parables might be Allegorized to an Agreement in a spiritual sense with the substance of Truth shadowed and typed Col. 2.17 2 Pet. 1 16. 2.1 2 18. Jude 12. yet the Truth it self is no Type or Shadow no Fable nor can there be any higher Business so as it admits not of Allegorizing and such as fancy Allegories to shew something more high and spiritual their Allegories are vain Dreams Fancies meer Winde and Vanity As for others not so far departed from the Faith that yet not believing the extent of God's own Sayings about his own Works of Creation Redemption and Extention of means that men might partake of Redemption c. who to colour their Unbelief bring in Forrain Senses and limiting Interpretations as if the words of a Man concerning the work of a Man and not the Words of God concerning the Works of God and so where he faith All men every man they gloss it Some of all sorts if he say The world and The whole world they will gloss it The world of the Elect. Whereas in a saying that is of God and his works if general and large and no saying of his contradicting it at any time there can be no limitation let not mortal Man presume to be wiser than his Maker But our Saviour's Answer may serve for all these who tells us That Unbelief and Ignorance of the Scripture and of the Power of God is the cause of all such Errors g Mat. 22.29 Mat. 12.24 and disables to give any right Interpretation Allegorical or Logical Object 3 You have the Scripture but in a Translation and have not sufficient Words to import the full sense of many Words in your Language which the Hebrew and Greek the Original in which the Scriptures were writ do import therefore the sayings are not plain to you that understand not the original Tongues Answer This is a meer gull to deceive the ignorant that their Rabbies might be Lords of their Faith for against this Objection we may finde in the Scripture it self many things viz. 1. That all words are not in every sentence to be taken according to the full extent of the Etymologie of the word as where it is said Our Saviour will
about the Truth and Righteousness of the Sayings of Christ lest that lead us to stumbling as it did those John 6.30 52 60. Secondly Read the Scripture as the Declaration of the God of Truth which he by the Spirit of Truth hath caused to be written for our learning and in which he speaketh to us d Rom. 15.4 Mat. 22.31 Heb. 3.7 13.5 And therein first and chiefly minde what he hath testified of his Creation of the World for Mankinde and of Mankinde righteous in one publick Man and of the Disobedience and Fall of Mankinde into sin and death in and through one publick Man and of the Redemption wrought for Mankinde in and by another publick Man and of the fulness that is in the second publick Man to make known the Minde and Love of God and to send forth Spirit to convince Men and bring them in to believe and of the Remission of sins and Eternal Life for Believers and the just Condemnation of such as disobey and refuse to believe and of the Resurrection of the just and unjust and the appearing of all before the Judgement-Seat of Christ and his sentence of the Just into Everlasting Blessedness and of the unjust to Everlasting Torment and how all these Sayings are plain being written to that end that we may know the certainty of the words of Truth and that we might apply our Hearts to his Knowledge and put our trust in the Lord e Prov. 22.17 21. And if these Sayings should not hold forth their own Sence no man could tell us what the Sence is let not our Mindes be waving in this but give God the Honour of his Truth and Love in speaking these things so plainly to us as they admit not of any Limitation Glossing or Allegory These be the first things to be known and most needful to be first known and all other Sayings known by their agreeing in Sence with these therefore read them as God's Declaration of his Minde to us that we may know it Thirdly as God hath been pleased to condescend so low to us as to make known his Minde to us in words understandable to and used among Men and in such manner as is usable among Men for importing their Sence so let us observe and minde about them that which is observable of Men about the Import of words to know their sense as to say 1. The Country or People where such words are used knowing that many things are expressed by divers words in divers Countries and understood by the use of the expression in that Country where it is used and that in some one Country one and the same word is diversly used and the Sense it beareth known by the sentence in which it is used Now the Country whence the Gospel came being Zion and according to the Spirit 's breathing writ in the Scriptures we are to minde how and in what sence words are used there and so to understand them according to the sentence in which they are used 2. By and of whom a Speech is whether Governour or Subject wise or simple true faithful and knowing or ignorant and unfaithful and accordingly we value the Extent Truth Worth and Goodness of their Sayings or put Limits and make Doubts thereof so in the Scriptures being related the Sayings of God by his Spirit and the Sayings of Men both of faithful and unfaithful Men we may understand those sayings accordingly for their Extent Worth Truth or for their scantness weakness c. 3. The persons and things treated of whether the chief Magistrate of a Commonwealth or inferiour Magistrates or Fathers or Masters and so whether of a Kingdom Commonwealth Corporation Association or Family and so understand the words All Every Head Body or Hand ruling or subjection accordingly so may we observe in reading the Scriptures of whom and what we read where we read of two Adams or two publick Men the first a living soul the second a quickning Spirit the first fallen and of the Earth earthy the second alive for evermore the Lord from Heaven heavenly the first having all his Generation in his loyns naturally to come forth of him the second taking the Nature of the first and spiritualizing it to have his Generation out of the first Man's Children by bringing them in to him in a spiritual manner And so we read of Men as they are of the Race of the first Adam and of some Men as born of Water the Spirit and become of the Generation of the second and spiritual Man And so we read of the Works of God and of Men about both and of things sutable to the one and his Generation and of things sutable to the other and his Generation And so when we read the sayings of the first Man and his natural Race and of things pertaining to them whether All Every or Head Body Eye Hand Foot or of Wisdom Power Works of Righteousness or of Lands Waters Trees Mountains we may understand it in a sense sutable to the natural Man and his Race whether it be plain or metaphorical But if the sayings be of the second Man that is the spiritual Man and his spiritual seed and of things peculiar to him and them we may understand it spiritually in a sense suiting to Christ and the things of Christ whether it be Temple House Body Eye Hand Foot Fire Water Trees Wisdom Strength or righteous Doing yet still according to the Import of the Letter speaking of such things comparing natural things with natural and spiritual things with spiritual and in sayings relating to both natural and spiritual Men to understand them in both senses according to their Relation 4. The Business in and about which the saying is whether Monarchical agitated by Imperial Edict or National agitated by a Parliament or State or whether the Business of a Province or Country agitated by Judges Justices and Jurors or a Corporation Business agitated by Major Aldermen Counsellor or a Family-Business agitated by a Father Master or Steward's direction or Personal Business between two or three and then the words Rule House Order Law All Every Many or Elect are easily understood of a larger or less extent or more general or more special in the Import of the Sense so in Scripture we may observe the Business of which the Sayings are whether of God and of Christ and his Works and therein whether of his Works in general as of Creation of all things and of Mankinde or his Redemption of Mankinde or his Preservation of them and Extention of Mercies and Means to them to call them to Repentance or whether of more special Mercies and Means extended to one Nation more than to another or of peculiar Graces extended to his new-born People and so whether of his Works of Salvation for Men or iâ— Mâ—n or of his Redemption and Purchasing of Men of God and calling them to God or of his redeeming and purchasing some Men from among Men
also might believe and this in Redemption applied to fallen Mankinde hath also in it an opposition in respect of sinfulness to righteousness and so he did not offer the Oblation for himself or for the Holy Angels but for us sinners and unjust and somtime in respect of the nature species or kinde in which fallen Men are opposed to fallen Angels whose nature and cause he took not on him but the nature and cause of Man and so gave himself for us Men and not for the Angels somtime the word is used with a special reference to Mankinde above other Creatures so as the life in him is the light of Men. And in confession of Truth the word Us We and Our is frequently used in Scripture as comprehending all Men yet testifying the Faith of the Confessors so Psal 100.3 It is he that hath made us and not we our selves Psal 100.3 v. 1 3. Psal 33.8 9. Roin 15.10 11 This true of all Men of all the Lands and Nations in all the ends of the Earth and that a good Ground to move them all to come in to believe in him rejoyce in him fear and serve him that so they might become the sheep of his pasture yet the special benefic and the Testimony of Faith is enjoyed breathed forth by the believing Confessors the like Mal. 2.10 Hath not one God created us This true of all Men and the Confession grounded on that very Truth That he is the Creator of all the ends of the Earth Isa 48.28 Act. 17.26 and hath made all Nations of Men of one Blood yet the force of the reproof and exhortation is found only in the believing Confessors of the same so 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish c. where it is evident vers 3. with Rev. 2.21 that Us includes as yet the very scoffers and such as yet were not come to the knowledge of the Truth express vers 9. and grounded on that Truth b Psal 1 45.8 9. and that the word Us is used in the same sense and signifieth all Men in Tit. 2.14 He gave himself for us us men and Believers confess it is evident and manifested divers wayes by the Scriptures namely 1. In the place it self in the beginning of the Profession or Confession Tit. 2.11 12 13 14. vers 11. The Grace of God saving to all Men or bringing salvation to all Men hath appeared c. and giving the Ground both of its appearing and teachings He renders it thus Who gave himself for us and having made no difference what can Us be less than all Men though the believing Confessors are they that receive and enjoy the benefit of its teachings And this will yet farther appear 2. By comparing with it other places of Scripture speaking of like things to the same end Act. 17.26 27. Act. 7.26 31. where having affirmed That God made all Nations of Men of one Blood c. and also shewn his gracious end towards them all in their several Generations and Habitations that they should seek the Lord c. in removing the Objection of impossibility and affording encouragement he saith Though he be not far from every one of us where it 's evident That Us is us Men yea in such a sense as is true from the beginning us Men every one in their Generations Us every one now living in our Generations Us every of us following in all the Generations of Men on Earth where also we may note That this Apostle like the residue of the Apostles as did the Prophets of old when speaking of the love and goodness of God to Mankinde Gen 2.7 23. 1.27 Eccles 7.29 either in the first Creation wherein Man was made in innocency and said to be flesh and bone he speaks of it as that which pertained to all Mankinde in the first Man 2 Cor. 15.50 before the fall and what he speaks of the love and goodness of God extended through a Redeemer Mediator to Mankinde fallen that by the fall became flesh and blood Heb. 2.14 weak and mortal which weakness and mortality the second publick Man for a time partook of that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death and so what goodness God extends to this fallen Mankinde in making them of and from the first fallen man whose Nature and weakness the second man took making them of the same Blood Psal 75.3 Col. 1.17 Psa 33.6 7 8. Rom. 2.4 of the same Nature and kinde and preserving and extending mercies to them as it is through the second man that is the Redeemer so it is all to one and the same gracious end in the first place that they might seek and finde him and fear him so the Apostle speaks of this as appertaining to all men and so in relation to men both Unbelievers and Believers he saith Every one of us Act. 17.27 28. and then proceedeth in giving some evident and undeniable demonstrations thereof saying For in him or by or through him We live and move Joh. 1.2 3 4. or have our being as vers 25. yea takes advantage from the power and victory of this Truth causing one of their own Poets in his way to confess it saying For we also are his off-spring Joh. 1.4 5 9. Act. 14.17 and however this Light hath formerly shined in Darkness and the Darkness comprehended it not yet God being patient and forbearing till he brought forth the Light more cleerly yet bringing forth the Light more cleerly Act. 17.30 31. he doth now admon̄ish Men all men all Men every where to repentiso that that former Every one of us and We he shews it to mean all Men and all Men every where and then gives this as the ground of the verity and equity of that admonition and a motive to receive it Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath appointed Rom. 14.9 10 11 12. or ordained namely by vertue of his Death and Sacrifice for them to that rule dispose and judgement of them whereof he hath given assurance to all men or offered Faith in giving a sure object for Faith and medium to bring to Faith a witness of the Truth to move to and facilitate Faith to all Men in that he hath raised him from the dead So that all the way here about these things the words Us and We and all men are of like extent and in the largest sense that can be appliable to Men in their several Generations from the beginning of the World to the end thereof and if I should add to this those places in which he saith That Christ died for all tasted death for every Man and gave himself a ransom for all and is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world and compare them with other places where speaking of
Death and Curse there could be no remission of any of our sins and that must be better blood than that of Bullocks and Goats or our own personal Blood and yet it must be the blood of a man yet a just and perfect man and one that is more than a man even God-Man therefore God was pleased to send forth his own Son in man's Nature and to lay on him the iniquity of us all And he was delivered for our effences Isa 53.5 6. Rom. 4.25 1 Pet. 2.24 Heb. 2.14 1.3 9.12 14. 10.12 14. Eph. 2.13 and so he his own self bare our sins in his own Body on the Tree and by Death overcame Death and so in and by himself made purgation of or for our sins and by the Eternal Spirit offered up himself for us a spotless Sacrifice to God and obtained Eternal Redemption and sate down on the right Hand of God and thus hath he given himself for our sins and made the Atonement for us Now in this general Answer there are five particulars included as that for which he gave himself a Sacrifice to God and which by that Offering he hath obtained of God for that work that is fully done 1. To satisfie for and take out of the way those sins into which mankinde was fallen and which through the corruption of his Nature he was necessitated to commit against the Law under which he was fallen and so to redeem mankinde from the Curse of the Law and also to overcome that death into which mankinde was fallen and the Devil that had the power of it or which is brought forth to terrifie men with it man being weakned thereby and it being due to be executed on mankinde that so mankinde might not perish in it but be raised out of it and these are the sins which were seen to be in Adam and all his natural Race as so coming forth from him and bearing his Image and this the Death in which mankinde should have perished and so was mankinde beheld before Christ his undertaking for him and these sins and this death Christ undertook not to be an exempter of men wholly from feeling any part of either Isa 53.4 5 6 7. 1 Pet. 2.24 Psal 40.6 7 12. but to be a Redeemer of men from both these and so these sins in a special manner were laid upon him and in respect of the penalty to be suffered and satisfaction to be made they were counted his sins and he bare them in a special manner and confessed them as his own sins 2 Cor. 5.21 Gal. 3.13 and did as under the same bond with us suffer the full punishment due to us for them in which respect he is said to have been made sin for us and to have been made a Curse for us and so vertuous his Blood and Sacrifice Isa 53.5 Gal. 3.13 and so effectual with the Father that by this one Oblation as offered to God this our great wound is healed Heb. 1.3 10 12. Col. 2.14 15. 2 Tim. 1.10 and he hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law and so in and by himself as in and by the publick man our sins are purged the Law satisfied all that was in the way contrary to us is taken out of the way and that for ever and death overcome so that though men be conceived and born in sin and come forth with Natures polluted yet there is redemption wrought and though through ignorance and unbelief the consciences of men may charge them for these sins by this Law and so they may be terrified for these sins by this Law and with the fears of the Curse in this Death while they live this natural Life and know not Christ yet God will not so go to Law with them to judge them by this Law by which Christ was judged for them nor shall they perish in this first Death which Christ hath suffered for them but be raised out of it Rom. 3.24 25. 5.12 18. And this such as do know and believe in Jesus according to the revelation of the Gospel do know and consess as is cleer in that Testimony 2. To make such an abundant and overflowing propitiation by the dignity excellency and vertue of his Blood and Sacrifice that he by vertue thereof might have power and authority to take away from and extend forgiveness to men for those following sins which through their weakness and Satan's new attempts they may be found to commit against that new and gracious Obligation under which they now are to him and to God for the gift of him and so against that Light and those means and spiritual motions extended to them while he continueth his patience towards them and is by Spirit so striving with them These being the sins Joh. 1.4 5 9 10 29. Heb. 2.17 7.27 that will fasten on conscience indeed and bring reproofs and condemnation and correction from God of which dayly pardon and justification is needful to be sought and received through the sprinkling of his Blood and these are called The sins of the people and The sins of the world But because some not well catechized in the word of the beginning of Christ may count this strange I will therefore also shew where I finde it in Scripture plainly first then I finde it in the Types in which though much dissimilitude yet ever so much fitness of similitude that we may know the Truth though but darkly typed to be yet verily fulfilled and cleerly appearing in Jesus Christ and so to instruct us into the knowledge of Christ the Apostle produceth those types as Heb. 4 5. For every High-Priestaken from among men Heb. 4.15 5.1 2 3 4. is ordained for men in things pertaining to God that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sin Who can have compassion on them that are out of the way for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity Vers 5 6 7 8 9 10. and by reason hereof he ought as for the people so also for himself to offer for sins And no man taketh this honour to himself but he that is called of God as Aaron was so also Christ c. as follows Heb. 9.7 8 12 13 14. And so into the second Tabernacle went the High-Priest alone once every yeer not without blood which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people the holy Ghost thus signifying c. But most plainly Heb. 7.27 speaking of Christ saith Who needed not daily as those High-Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sin and then for the peoples for this did he once when he offered up himself Minde the words That which they daily or often did this not a part only but this he did once and at one time namely when he offered up himself and consider what this teacheth us The dissimilitudes are so evident between the typical High-Priests and our High-Priest that I
Believers since the beginning of the World though more abundantly present where he is more known as declared since his Ascension into Heaven and this his presence by Spirit in Believers is the whole time of believing and living by Faith and though more abundant in operations at some time than at others yet it is also to help them in their weaknesses and temptations and through sufferings while they are yet mortal But his personal coming which Believers wait for is to free them from weakness temptation sufferings and mortality and it is a personal visible and bodily coming as is foreshewn so as the deceit of these is by it easily seen and avoided 5. Those who though they vary from the former sayings Mat. 24.5 23 24. yet say in effect the same as Lo here is Christ in this or that Form of outward Discipline or such a way of outward performing such an Ordinance to be seen in the strictness severity or some outward appearing excellent thing in it or Lo he is in the wilderness Mar. 13.6 21 22. if you will let go all the hopes begot in you by the Letter of the Gospel concerning Christs dying for sinners c. you shall then see Christ or Lo I am Christ I speak from the infallible Spirit if you receive my saying and Testimony you receive Christ if you refuse my saying you refuse Christ Isa 52.6 1 Joh. 5.19 20. 2.20 27. Of these our Saviour hath forewarn'd us and we that believe the Testimony of Christ do know That he is by his Spirit in his own word the Testifier of his own Grace so as they that believe shall know the same and his personal appearing will be so visible as we shall need no man to tell us where he is or which is he for every eye shall then see him as is said Thus will the knowledge of this Branch of the Testimony of Christ help us against all these and such-like delusions which withdraw from the Faith and disciple to Men and make Schisms and Rents from the true Church Secondly The knowledge belief and minding of the coming of Christ as set forth in this Branch of the Testimony of Christ will help to preserve and keep us from falling into many miscarriages mis-conceptions and mis-expressions of some Brethren and also to afford help to such of them as do prefer the plain sayings of Christ before the Notions of any other Man as to instance some of them 1. Such as deny any appearance of Christ in person on the Earth till the last and final Judgement and sentence when all the wicked shall be cast into the Lake of Fire c. True it is he will be visible on Earth and on his Throne at that time and true it is That all the Just shall enter into everlasting Joy then also And then Christ delivereth up the Kingdom to his Father that God may be All in all but then is no time for destroying all worldly powers and for restoring all things and for bringing the Creation into the Liberty of the Sons of God and for the new Heaven and new Earth to be filled with Inhabitants and for Christ to sit on the Throne of David his Father and for Abraham and his seed to inherit the world and for Christ and his Saints after his coming to rule over the Nations or for the Nations to serve them and bring their Glory and Honour to the City c. In this Life the Saints according to their measure glorifie God through sufferings and in the new Heaven and new Earth God both glorifieth his Saints making them to raign and they glorifie him by raigning but in that last State God only glorifies himself upon them and in them and through them and them with himself And why should any of us so dishonour God as to deny the Truth and true fulfilling of so many plain sayings of Scripture so oft affirmed as hath been shewn and will be more If any say That we stick too much to the Letter of the Scripture in understanding those places It might be answered That in such plain sayings so often affirmed and bound with the Oath of God and his Protestation of the Faithfulness of them it is safer and better to stick close to the Letter or VVords of Scripture as they have been breathed forth by the Holy Spirit than to make Unbelief of the Truth of those plain sayings the Interpreter of their meaning though with never so much humane VVisdom and Learning And it may be also answered That so to understand those sayings is according to the Rule commanded by God and approved by all Believers yea and godly learned as is foreshewn But I farther answer Part 1. ch 7. That we are led by the Scripture thus to understand these things both in that the things spoken of his first coming in which many things had their spiritual sense also yet were all performed according to the plain expression of the Letter as his being born of a Virgin in Bethlem his being called a Nazarite his riding on an Ass his being sold for thirty pence the banding of the Rulers and people against him the scattering of his Disciples his Death Burial Resurrection Ascension his pouring forth the Holy Ghost and sitting on the right hand of God all fulfilled to the utmost of the plain import of the Letter and shall any thing be wanting in the second coming of Christ saith not the Angel This same Iesus shall so come even as ye have seen him go c. And also in that the Apostle speaking of these things shews both a certain measure of fulfilling spiritually now and also a fulfilling according to the utmost of the Letter which is also spiritual but the one is inward in the soul spirit the other outward on the Body also of that inward in Soul and Spirit he saith We that believe have a first fruits he saith not all nor half nor a tenth but a first fruits and that we wait for is not only the whole or harvest of this but the adoption even the redemption of the body when also the whole Creation shall be restored into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God And I might add the Apostles alluding to Psal 8. in Heb. 2. but enough is foresaid for this So that all our Brethren that heed and prize Scripture-Testimony more than Traditions and Opinions of Men will soon yield to believe this 2. Such as believe and look for Christ his raigning in and over the VVorld in his Saints and so would fight and strive to set Christ on his Throne and think all Adversaries to Christ that oppose them in his design to be before his personal appearing These Brethren seem to acknowledge this Truth That Jesus Christ will come and appear personally to raign on Earth and that the Saints that now suffer with him shall raign with him in the Earth and over the Nations and that Christ
writings we may discern that all the Sriptures testifie of Christ CHAP. 6. Of the next and sixth Revelation of Christ his person and personal coming in the flesh THe next Revelation of Christ was of his person and personal coming in the Flesh who he was what a one he was and wherefore come c. and this was first to Zacharias by an Angel Luk. 1.13 14 15 16 17. declaring his Son that should be called John to go before him in the Spirit and Power of Elias c. him before whom he should go the Angel called The Lord their God then by the Angel to the Virgin Mary her self declaring his conception and birth and who Luk. 1.26 27 35 Luk. 1.41 42 43 48 55 67 68 69 79. Mat. 1.20 21 23. Luk. 2.10 11 14 16 17. and what a one he should be and that he should have the Kingdom of his Father David then by the holy Ghost in the Prophecy of Elizabeth my life of Zacharias then by the Prophecy of the Virgin Mary the Mother of Jesus then by the Prophecy of Zacharias being filled with the holy Ghost then by an Angel to Joseph the espoused Husband of the Virgin Mary then to Shepherds by an Angel with a multitude of Angels confirming the same declaring his birth with the day and place thereof and that he is the Saviour even Christ the Lord and this tidings of great joy which shall be to all people And then by the Shepherds when they had both heard and seen unto others then by old Simeon who had it revealed to him and was inspired by the holy Ghost Luk. 2.25 28 32 35. and came and took him in his arms and declared him to be God's Salvation which he had prepared before the face of all people a light to enlighten the Gentiles and to be the Glory of his people Israel Luk. 2.36 38. And then by one Annah a Prophetess And after all this by certain wise men that came from the East to Jerusalem being directed to him by a Star Mat. 2.1 2 9 10 11. who declared him born King of the Jews and worshipped him and offered him gifts And after all this to John the Son of Zacharias declaring this Jesus to be The He Joh. 1.31 33. Luk. 3.1 2 3. The Christ c. to which John the Word of the Lord came at that time mentioned Thus and in many things now came to pass according to fore-prophecies Christ was declared to be already begun to be come in the Flesh and to be the Son of God and the Son of David the King of the Jews and the Saviour of the world the great Prophet and Messiah promised and that this very Jesus that was born in Bethlem of the Virgin espoused to Joseph and seen of the Shepherds and taken in the arms of old Simeon and witnessed to by Zacharias and John his Son even this very Jesus is he even the Christ c. and ready to set on his work And now the person of Christ thus come and thus witnessed and pointed out who he is and that he was personally on the earth and ready to set on his great business doing and that that very Jesus is he is more than ever was so revealed and manifested before and the beginning both of the performance and the more cleer opening of all the prophecies that have been of him from the beginning and so light began to shine forth more cleerly And now in this Revelation of Christ and for making him known according to this Revelation Isa 40.3 4 6 7 8. Mal. 3.1 Luk. 1.13 14 15 16.17 76 79. 3.15 16. Joh. 17.20 23. Luk. 1.15 44 76 78 79. Luk. 1,17 to prepare men that they might come into the acknowledgement of him it pleased God to chuse in Christ the Messenger of the Father and his own Messenger also fore-purposed and now declared to be his immediate Fore-runner to go before his Face to prepare his way and him he approved for this Ministration And for this blessed Ministration he was abundantly furnished in that he was filled with the holy Ghost from his Mothers Wombe and was confirmed by all the Declarations and Prophecies fore-mentioned given to him by the Spirit in the Prophecies and Instructions of his Father and was himself indued with the Spirit and Power of Elias to go on in his Ministration before the Lord and had the word of the Lord came to him revealed and inspired by God into him both in the Doctrine he had to teach and how to apply it to his hearers and also commission to testifie the Truth of it by baptizing with water And in this receit of the Word of the Lord that came to him he received his Commission to set on the business of preaching and babtizing and so did set on it in the fifteenth yeer of the raign of Tiberius Caesar Luk. 3.1 2 3 4. when Poutius Pilate was Governour of Judea and Herod the Tetrach of Galilee and Annas and Caiaphas High-Priests and what his Testimony and Doctrine was appears in that which is recorded of what he taught and delivered to be 1. That Jesus Christ is the Word that was in the beginning with God that was God and that was with God Joh. 1.1 2 3 14. Gen. 3.15 by whom all things were made that are made and that this same Word was made Flesh and dwelt among them Emmanuel God with us in our Nature and for us even he that was promised and manifested to do that great work for taking away our sins and destroying the works of the Devil 1 Ioh. 3.5 8. Ioh. 1.4 7 8. 9. so that in him is Life and the Life is the Light of Men and he is the true Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the World 2. That he is the onely begotten Son of God and yet very Man full of Grace and Truth and being in the heart Joh. 1.14 16 18. minde and bosome of the Father knowing all his counsels and being one with him in his will and design and so in all his decrees and purposes and as Man having commission from him he hath revealed and declared him so as in knowing him his minde is to be known 3. That he the Man Jesus Christ being the Son of God Joh. 1.11 and perfect Man the Mediator between God and Man full of Grace and Truth declaring the Father he is so loving to Man and so bountiful to all that receive his Declaration and so believe on him that he giveth them of his own Priviledges even to be the Sons of God and so dispenseth to them of his own fulness so that as the Law discovering sin and sentencing to death and that part of it also which by types and figures in Sacrifices and purifications shadowing out a better hope to be looked to in Christ to come though afar off came by Moses even so Grace and free favour in forgiveness of
sins and delivery from death and truth in receit of and enjoyment of true righteousness peace quickning purity heavenly riches came by Jesus Christ even in all times past and so now more fully and cleerly doth so as though he came after John yet he is preserred before him yea he was before him so as now he is come John and all the residue of Believers then and since even we of his fulness have received and Grace for Grace for the Grace of God in Christ by vertue of his Sacrifice which God hath graciously accepted of him for us we receive the Grace of Faith to believe and therein remission of sins and so Grace for Grace yea this and so one to make us meet to receive another and that to make us meet to receive more still and so Grace for Grace plentifully one heaped upon another Tit. 3.3 4 5 6 7. Col. 1.12 13. Joh. 1.15 16 17. Act. 26.18 yea as Moses had a Law of Works to nurture the people towards Grace so we a Doctrine of Grace and Law of Grace to teach and lead people to partake of Grace 4. That this Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God the sin-offering and the true passover which by vertue of his sacrifice mediating taketh or beareth away the sin of the world Job 1.29 36. Col. 2.14 15. Eph. 2.12 13 16 17. Rom. 5.18 that by his own death and sacrifice offered takes and now hath taken sin out of the way removed the contradictions that were in the mid-way between God and the world of Mankinde and made peace that it may be preached to them and that by vertue of his blood and sacrifice Isa 53.12 1 Tim. 2.4 Rom. 2.4 Rom. 3.24 25 26. 1 Joh. 3.2 Gen. 22.18 Act. 10.43 Rom. 4.5 Mat. 3.2 11. hath fulness fitness authority and readiness to take sin out of the consciences and nature of Men and by his Mediation procures forbearance patience and mercies to sinners to lead them to repentance being he and onely he set forth for that end the propitiation for the sins of the world in whom there is blessing for all Nations and that by spiritual application of his Blood he doth so take sin away from all that in believing come to him for it and that he is neer at hand to set up his spiritual Kingdom the fore-runner of his Davidical Kingdom 5. That the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Joh. 3.34 35 36. and immeasurably filled him with the Spirit so that whoever believeth in him hath everlasting life and be that believeth not on him the wrath of God abideth on him This Doctrine was John filled with to teach And with this Doctrine he was to throw down the Momtains exalt the Valleys Joh. 14.18 29 33. Mat. 3. Mar. 1. Luk. 3. cry down all Flesh and exalt the Word of the Lord and so to call Men to Repentance and to Faith in Christ and so to newness of life assuring them that Christ would baptize them with the holy Ghost and as a witness of the Truth of this Doctrine and that Christ was at hand and shortly to be manifested to Israel he did baptize with water unto repentance and so discipled all that came to him and refused it not Yet did he not in the beginning of his Ministration point out which of all the Sons of Men was that Man that is the Christ so he shewed not which was the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ till he was especially fitted and directed and commissionated for that also by the direction of the holy Spirit by communication with Jesus Christ himself Joh. 1.33 34. Mat. 3.13 17. Mar. 1.9 10.11 Luk. 3.21 22. and seeing the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting on him and hearing the voice of the Father from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And so was he furnished to know and declare the person of Christ as distinct from all others and who he was And then he did most plainly point out the Man Jesus Joh. 1.29 35 36. 3.30 36. the Son of the Virgin with confession that not himself and so no other Man but that very Man Jesus was the He the Christ the Lamb of God the King of Israel the Bridegroom the Son of God he even this very Jesus he pointed to and affirmed to the be very he and so exhorted his Hearers to behold him even Jesus and to follow him cleave to him and exalt him And in this his Ministration he was greater than all the Prophets that were before him Mat. 11.10 11. though less than any of his Lord's first Witnesses of his Resurrection that were to come after him and although in the exercise of his Ministration he was but for the House of Israel who if they had received him as he came in the Spirit and Power of Elias they would then have received Jesus Christ also and so they might have enjoyed the Gospel of the Kingdom and have continued in their own Land till his coming again to raign and then John Baptist had been all the Elias they should have needed and the coming of Elias mentioned Mal. 4. it would have been needful onely for the ten Tribes of Israel formerly cast off but they refusing came to be cast off also and so its needful for them And in this Ministration Mat. 11.13 14 15. 17.11 12. 23.37 according to this Revelation all the former helps in and under all the former Revelations and Ministrations still remained and all for the good of Men specially the house of Israel CHAP. 7. Of the seventh Revelation and the last that shall be of Christ till his own return and personal and visible appearing THe next Revelation of Jesus Christ and the last that is to be carried an end for usefulness by teaching and use of such outward Ordinances as now even until his personal appearance when all such means shall cease and the eternal Sabbath be Isa 42.1 61.1 2 3 4. Joh. 12.49 50. Heb. 1.1 2. 2.4 and this Revelation was by the Father to the Son even to the Man Jesus Christ his Elect upon whom he hath put his Spirit and by Jesus Christ to his Disciples God by his divine power bearing witness thereto and confirming the same and this Revelation by Jesus Christ was of the same things fore-revealed to and by the Prophets but now more fully and cleerly manifested with the mystery more abundantly opened and this his Revelation was in a threefold manner or by three distinct wayes or means 1. By manifestation of himself and all that appertained to him to do in his first coming by demonstrating the same in the very act visibly c. 2. By his personal and bodily Ministration in a vocal and audible teaching the Gospel and the Testimony of himself in the Prophets and explicating it 3. By pouring on his witnesses and
this that in due time he will in that body of his personally come again and receive them to himself and then take his great power and raign and they shall raign with him nor need they be deceived about this his coming Mat. 25.32.46 Joh. 5.28 29. for it shall be so personal open and visible that every eye shall see him and when he doth sit upon the Throne of his glory then shall all Nations be gathered before him and having raised all the dead will separate those that have believed in him and lived to him from those that have rebelled against him setting the one on his right hand and the other on his left hand and then judge and give sentence on both and the righteous that are on the right hand shall go into everlasting joy and the wicked that are on the left hand shall go into everlasting Fire there to be tormented for ever and that all that believe on him may with patience and comfort wait till that day come he taught and assured them that he would not leave them as Orphans comfortless Ioh. 14.16 17 18 26. but by his word and Spirit in that word he with them and in them and by that Spirit both minde them of Joh. 16.13 14 15. 15.4 7. 1 Pet. 1.5 Joh. 14.6 10.9 14.9 10. and teach them the words that he had fore-given them and also so take of the things of Christ and shew to them that he should present him glorious to them and lead them into all truth that by Faith well-pleasedness in him they may be made fruitful and preserved to the inheritance and that he thus discovered is the door and way of access to the Father and entrance into the Church yea the Father is in him and he in the Father and all that is the Father's is his so that in seeing and having him they see and have the Father also and that he is the Truth and the Life in whom they have Wisdom Righteousness 1.3 Sanctification and Redemption Covenant quickning and all spiritual Riches and Life yea he is such a sure Rock that whoever is found in believing built on him Mat. 16.18 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. the gates of Hell shall not prevail against him his Flesh even his Body as given for the Life of the World is Bread of Life and Meat indeed and his Blood as having confirmed the New Testament is Drink indeed Joh. 6.51 58 63. 15.10 17.24 and what Spirit or Soul of Man soever eateth and drinketh hereof shall never die but have everlasting Life his words are Spirit and Life and as the Father hath loved him even so hath he loved those that believe in him and will come again and receive them to himself that where he is they may be also So that in all this is a blessed clear great gracious and glorious Revelation of Jesus Christ in his own personal teachings Yet to free them from mistakes and inform them cleerly how by him this blessed and saving work shall be carried an end till his coming again that there may be a spiritual Seed encreased and preserved to him till then he instructed them how Men and Women should be brought in to God namely John 3.14 15. Tit. 2.3 Mar. 16.25 Rom. 16.26 that He even Christ the Son of God and Saviour of the World as thus manifested to them must be by them so made known to others yea lifted up and made manifest by preaching his word he had taught them and this to all Men all Nations and in and about this right preaching manifestation elevation declaration and tenders of Christ he taught them much and many things as appears plainly by his own sayings to them and theirs which they learned of him as to instance some of them 1. That it be Jesus that be lifted up and exalted as the Christ Joh. 8.14 15. Luk. 24.47 43. Joh. 15.26 Rom. 1.1 5. 16.25 26. 1 Cor. 22. 3.10 11. 2 Cor. 4.5 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. 5.6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Isa 49.6 the Son of the living God the Propitiation for our sins he in whom God is well-pleased who by vertue of his death is the Lord of all the onely Rock and Refuge in whom whoever believeth shall receive forgiveness of sins this Jesus the He and not the works of the Law not any order or sort of men not any dreams or devices nor any personal endowments or gifts nor any internal Lights and Operations but onely Jesus Christ to be the Lord the Foundation the He in whom all Peace Righteousness and Eternal Life is prepared of God for us and given us of God in him even in Jesus Christ that in believing in him we may receive it and have it And this is plain in comparing his sayings and theirs 2. Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Joh. 4.9 10 14. Rom. 5.6 7 8 9 10. Tit. 3.4 5. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 21. That both this gift of Christ the Saviour of the World and the setting him forth and tendering him in the Gospel is and is to be affirmed a fruit and witness of the love of God to the world to Mankinde even sinners and ungodly ones and the love Grace and good-will of God here-through commended and tendered to them that they might repent and believe and in believing receive remission of sins and eternal Life and this is plain in comparing his sayings and theirs according to that prophesied Psa 36.6 7 8. 145.8 9. Isa 55.4 3. That the end and purpose of God in this gift of Christ and so setting him forth Joh. 3.17 Luk. 9.56 Mat. 18.11 Joh. 12.47 Isa 42.6 7 8. 49.6 8 9. 55.4 5. 63.1 2 3. Act. 3.26 14.15 26.17 18. Joh. 12.35 36 46. 9.5 Joh. 1.4 7 8 9. and making him known and witnessing and commending his love through him and so the end of Christ his first coming and Ministration and of his continuing the same Ministration of the Gospel in which he is still sent held forth and tendered to men till his personal coming again is that the world might be saved yea sinners and the chief sinners that the eyes of the blinde might be opened c. and men brought in to believe and so turned from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God that so they may receive Remission of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by Faith that is in Jesus Christ and this is plain in the sayings of Christ by himself and by his Spirit in the Prophets and by his Spirit in the sayings of those that learned it of him whence he saith of his Ministration that while he is in the world he is the Light of the World and so before was and in the Ministration of his chosen Witnesses will be till his coming again Mat. 5.13 14 15 16. whence his Servants as Ministers of the Gospel are also called
The Light of the World so that the Ministration of Christ in the Gospel by himself or his Servants it or he in it is not to condemn Joh. 8.12 12.47 Joh. 5.34 Rom. 2.5 Joh. 33.16 17 24 29 30. Prov. 1.23 Rom. 11.11 23 32 33. 1 Cor. 5.5 2 Pet. 3.15 Rev. 2.21 Isa 5.4 Ezek. 24.13 Joh. 3.19 Rom. 11. 2 Cor. 4.4 Mat. 13.15 Ier. 8.9 Iona. 2.8 Mat. 10.26 Mar. 8.36 Ioh. 3.18 19. Mar. 16.16 Exod. 34.6 7. Isa 30.16 17 18. Psa 145.8 9. Ioh. 7.47 48. destroy or judge to perdition the World no not those in the World and of it that at present reject his words but even to save such his words to them are still That they might be saved his mercies are to lead to repentance that they might be saved his chastisements to break them of their pride and enterprizes that they might be saved yea his reproofs and beginning to deliver them to Satan are for the destruction of the flesh and to abase them that they might be saved yea his killing by the Law was that they might live to God Gal. 2.19 yea all his patience and long-suffering is and is to be accounted Salvation being extended to Men because he is not willing that any should perish but that they might come to Repentance and be saved yea he doth that in the means he useth whereby they might be saved so that he loseth none Joh. 6.39 17.12 but whoever are lost it is by rebelling against the light and so causing that which was for their welfare to be turned into a snare in their joyning with Satan that is blinding their mindes refusing when their eyes are opened in seeing to see and casting aside his word and following lying vanities they lose their own mercies and their own souls and these have one that judgeth them even the Light in the Word that hath come to them doth inwardly accuse and condemn them as guilty of sin and liable to death But yet notwithstanding Christ in his Ministration is patient towards them and waits to be gracious to them like as his Father doth being the same with him and having his Name on him and doth not in his Ministration in the dayes of his patience judge them but reserveth that his judging and passing Sentence until the last day when he is come again Whence we may understand the meaning of that sentence Eccles 9.4 To him that is joyned to all the living there is hope Rom. 11.23 so that if they abide not still in unbelief they shall be grafted in again for God is able to do it and therefore continue means still towards them but if they persist still in dis-obedience till the dayes of his patience be out Eccles 9.10 11.3 Ioh. 12.48 then no more hope but at that day the word of the Lord that he hath spoken and the light in the means that he hath extended shall judge them Rom. 2.16 for then will God judge all Men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel not by the Law of bondage as they fell under it in Adam but by the Law of liberty brought to them by Jesus Christ Iam. 2.12 which could not rightly be if in his word Salvation were not for them 2 Thes 2.10 and truly tendered to them and means whereby they might have received it and this not onely in a shew and pretence but verily and in truth that they might have been saved So far our Saviour's own Testimony of himself and his Father's and his own end in his Ministration and the same he testifieth of himself and his end in the Ministration continued by his Servants left by him in the World to that end that the words he gives them to speak are such as whereby Men should be saved and to that end and that he sends them in Ministration to that end to open their eyes and turn them Ioh. 17.15 18 21. Act. 11.14 Act. 26.17 18. c. and this affirmed by his Spirit in his Servants that God in Gospel-Ministration sends Christ to bless them in turning every of them from their iniquities and so of Christ his coming into the World both in his personal Ministration and his Ministration by his Servants Act. 3.26 This is affirmed as a faithful saying in which there is no dissimulation no equivocation no wreathedness Prov. 8.4 5 6 9. but it is according to the very Heart and Minde of God and very plain to be understood according to the import of the words and worthy all acceptation to be heeded believed and imbraced with the heart That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners 2 Tim. 1.15 sinners indefinitely such and all such as are sinners and to put all out of doubt the Apostle having mentioned what a sinner he was saith of whom I am the chief such the purpose and gracious end of God in the gift of his Son and of Christ in his coming and Ministration both immediate and mediate extended for teaching to Men. 4. That Jesus Christ according to all this Revelation of him and of the Father's love in giving him and making him known and his gracious end in this Ministration of him is to be displayed held forth preached and affirmed as a word of Truth and Verity to the World of Mankinde to all Nations to every Man in the whole Creation where-ever they come and this is plain in the commission and charge given them True it is the Ministration of John Baptist was but to the people of Israel though the light of it to be extended farther Mat. 28.19 20. Mar. 16.15 Luk. 1.16 77. Ioh. 1.7 Mat. 15 24. Mat. 10.5 6. Rom. 15.8 9. and so the personal Ministration of the Gospel by Christ was primely to them the Circumcision the lost Sheep of the House of Israel and his Disciples Ministration while he personally abode with them on Earth was no farther but to the House of Israel yet was this also to confirm the promises unto the Fathers and that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy whence when by providence led among the Samaritans Ioh. 4.10 42. he as an over-plus in his Ministration converted some of them that in hearing his voice became the Sheep of his Ministration yet he did not outwardly fold them till after his ascension and pouring forth the Holy Ghost Ioh. 10.14 15 16. when the commission and mission was enlarged for his Servants Ministration But now when his suffering-work was finished death overcome the acceptable Sacrifice offered and he on the right of God and having sent forth Spirit the veil of the Temple rent the partition-wall broken down and all Tongues sanctified to declare the Work and Name of God in they are to go into all the World and to declare and preach Christ as thus revealed Rom. 5 12 18. Mat. 22.1 7. Prov. 9.1 2 3. Isa 55.1 2 3 4. Rom. 5.18 3.23 24. to every
man of all Nations in all the World where-ever they come and this as a Word of Truth and so to set forth this second publick Man the spiritual Man the Lord the quickning Spirit as he on whom God hath executed the Judgement that was due to Mankinde for their sins as fallen in whom their Nature is restored the Nature of Man being united and married unto God in the Person of his Son and so a great Feast of fatness even the sure mercies of David prepared in him is Mankinde perfect again as in a publick Man having in him forgiveness pardon peace wisdom righteousness eternal Life so verily that in believing in him they may receive it 1 Ioh. 5.10 11 12. 2 Cor. 2.17 3.12 4.2 and be partakers of it and so is he to be set forth without any Cloak or equivocation plainly to every Man appealing to their consciences in the sight of God and that Jesus is so and as such a one to be held forth to all that every one may behold him as he in whom there is healing for them to be received in believing is plain in our Saviour's own personal Testimony a Ioh. 3.14 15. and the Testimony of his Spirit in his Apostles b Rom. 3.24 25 26. 2 Cor. 5. 14 19 21. Col. 1.28 and this to this end that by this Men might be reconciled to God c 2 Cor. 5.20 And this hope given the Servants of Christ in such elevation of Christ that he will confirm their words and manifest their Testimony true so that all Men shall be drawn thereby even by Christ testified unto him d Joh. 12.32 such as in this day of grace believe this Testimony of him it shall be the power of God unto Salvation in them and work effectually in them uniting and conforming them to Christ so as they shall by degrees and in due season enjoy all this revealed blessedness e Mat. 10.40 Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 2 Pet. 1.1 10. And such as persist in refusing and rebelling against the Light extended shall by the same Spirit that breatheth in the Gospel be at the last day convinced f Joh. 16.7 8 9 10 11. and come before Christ and bow to him and confess him Lord to the glory of God g Phil. 2.10 11. and shall confess the Truth of the Testimony his Servants delivered and them to be the Servants of the Lord which in the dayes of his patience they despised and opposed h Isa 60.14 Rev. 3.9 and all before the final sentence be executed on them for God that frustrateth the tokens of the lyars and maketh diviners mad that turneth wise Men backward and maketh their knowledge foolishness doth and will confirm the Word of his Servants and perform the counsel of his Messengers i Isa 44.25 26. And to both parts of this said he hath given us his Oath That all shall come before him k Isa 45.22 23 24. And thus was the mystery of Christ revealed by himself in his own personal Ministration Part 1. ch 6. in which also as he uttered many Parables so he opened them all to his Disciples to teach them openly and whereas the Disciples did not yet cleerly understand all this Revelation of Christ so taught to them before Christ had suffered and risen from the dead therefore Christ after his Resurrection appeared to them and taught the same again to them and then expounded Moses and the Prophets and in order opened in all the Scriptures unto them the things concerning himself also opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures l Luk. 24.26 27 45 46 47. yet because all was not yet acted by Christ as well as taught by him that was to be in the mystery held forth in their Ministration for Christ his body though then risen was not as then ascended and glorified m Joh. 20.17 and so the fulness of understanding of the whole mystery by the Holy Ghost not yet given n Joh. 7.39 16.7 therefore they were yet to wait for further divine Power even the holy Ghost to be given them to open cleerly this Revelation to them and to help them to witness it which Christ promised them and did perform it after his ascension o Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 CHAP. 9. Of the third way of our Saviour's Revelation and manifestation of himself to the first witnesses of his Resurrection OUr Saviour according to his Promise did within a few dayes after his Ascension by vertue and as a fruit of his Ascension and Sacrifice offered and accepted and his Mediation begun he did send and shed forth and pour upon and in them the Holy Ghost in an audible sensible Act. 2.2 3 4 c. and visible shape both resting upon them and supernaturally and inwardly filling them by which Holy Spirit he brought again to their minde and gave them to understand all his fore-Revelation and sayings to them and shewed the things of himself and the Father so leading them into all Truth and making known to them the whole counsel of God in things pertaining to Eternal Life to be taught till his coming again enduing them with power motion and fitness to witness of him and giving them the gift of tongues to speak to every Man in his own Language wherein he was born so abundantly was the Revelation of the mystery of Christ by the Spirit made known to them and yet that we may rightly understand what the Holy Ghost is that was thus given unto them it is good to consider what in Revelation of Christ from the beginning and now by himself is given us to understand and that is that it is something that was never before this so given no not as then while John was baptizing Mar. 1.8 Joh. 7.38 39. Joh. 14.16 16.7 Act. 5.3 4. 1 Ioh. 5.7 Gen. 1.2 Psal 33.6 139.1 11. nor yet while Christ himself was personally ministring here on Earth nor could be given till he left the World in that body of his and went to the Father so that it cannot be meant properly of the essence and being of the Holy Ghost which is one and the same with the Father and the Son the same God by whom the Heaven and the Earth was made and all the Hosts of them for in this respect he fills heaven and Earth and is everywhere present and alwayes was so that in respect of essence he is not said to be sent or proceeding from the Father and Son or descending being ever one in and with both but onely in respect of person or manner of existence in and operation of that one divine essence but it must be meant of some forth-coming of the divine power from the Father by Christ yet in this also it cannot be meant of such forth-coming in breathings and operations as tend to the supportation of the old Creation Joh 26.12 13. Psa 104.29 30. in
spiritual Gifts and Vertue to witness the Testimony of Christ still in all this time And as God forsook Shilo where his Tabernacle was in Canaan first pitched for the wickedness thereof Jer. 7.12 and returned his Tabernacle no more thither Rev. 12.1 so God may reject this outward Court in which his Sanctuary once was and his Glory shined in it and for the wickedness of it never beautifie it with his true Sanctuary again but preserve his true Sanctuary by his Word and Spirit till Christ come Rev. 11 19. and the Holy Ones beneath and the Holy Ones above do meet and the false Prophet be slain and the Church become a Kingdom which whether hinted in leaving out the Name of the outward Court Heb. 9. I will not say but onely that the placing helps in Government among such Temporary things as came in afterward may afford these instructions to us and so leave it to each man as Light of Truth perswades But for the Gospel and these spiritual Gifts given from Heaven that they have already been abundantly confirmed by Miracles and they so divinely recorded as is enough to confirm Faith and no need of doing them over again is that affirmed and proved and yet to make it more cleer and evident we have it expresly testified 4. By the Apostles own words to the Hebrews when having set forth the excellency of Christ as in Testimony of him set forth and then exhorted them to diligent heed taking thereto Heb. 1. 2.1 2 3 4. he admonishing them saith How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was after confirmed unto us by them that heard him God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his own will So that the Gospel hath been confirmed above all that the Law of Moses was and as the Miracles confirming that was no more to be iterated after the Law was once taught setled and confirmed but those remembred with the Law yea the Prophets that came after endeavouring to move them to deviate from that Law with Signs and Wonders Deut. 13. were not to be believed or hearkned to so we are now warned for these times that false Prophets false Christs and Antichrists will come with signs and wonders to deceive and draw credit to their false Doctrine with Mat. 24.24 Mar. 12.22 2 Thes 2.10 So that which we are now to heed is the Word of the Testimony of Christ in which is testified Jesus to be The Christ the Apostles and first Witnesses to have declared his Minde even the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery and the spiritual gifts with which they went forth and the Gospel revealing all this to be taught and left upon record by them Mat. 24.14 Rom. 10.18 the sound whereof went through the whole World before the first Witnesses all of them left the World And it was and hath been setled in many Churches in divers parts of the World and sufficiently confirmed with Signs Wonders Miracles and miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghost already and they also written that we might believe And thus have I shewn according to this last and fullest Revelation of Christ who were chosen in and by him the first Instruments for laying the Foundation and beginning the building on it and so to set this glorious Ministration on foot and how plentifully they were furnished Now it is needful also to shew the Furniture of the following Witnesses that are of the same society and house and to carry on this Ministration to the same end till the return and personal appearing of Jesus Christ CHAP. 15. Of the Furniture of the following Witnesses till Christ come again WHo are the chosen of God in Christ to be Part 3. c. 11. and so are these Witnesses to carry on this blessed business till Christ come again is already before shewn and that they are such as through belief of his Grace in the Testimony of Christ delivered by the Apostles are by his Spirit built on Christ and so come unto Mount Sion Heb. 12.22 2 24. and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly of the first-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Jesus thn Mediator of the New Covenant c. and so have fellowship with the Prophets 1 Joh. 1.3 Eph. 2.19 22. Isa 59.20 21. Phil. 2.15.16 Heb. 3.6 1 Tim. 3.15 and Apostles and so with the Father and the Son being now fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God build upon the Foundation c. having the same Word and Spirit in their Heart and in their Mouth which the Apostles had these are to hold forth the Word of Life c. as hath been shewn for these are the House of God and of Christ the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth So that 1. Isa 43.10 Act. 13.47 As a Pillar was used for a Witness of Peace Gen. 31.51 52. so these are God's Witnesses to the World of Christ being his salvation to the ends of the Earth to open the eyes of the blinde c. 2. Isa 43.10 11. 1 Joh. 2.2 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 3.25 1 Tim. 1.16 Heb. 12.1 As the Pillar of the Cloud was a Testimony of God's presence and a Guide to Israel Exod. 13. so these are God's Witnesses and Holders forth of his presence and propitiatoriness to the World as Preachers and Patterns that they might repent and come in to follow him God spake to his People in a cloudy Pillar Psal 97.7 8. and through the same Pillar looked upon the Egyptians and troubled them Exod. 14.24 and so by and through these God speaks unto the World 2 Cor. 5.20 and manifesteth the savour of his knowledge through them 2 Cor. 2.14 17. which proves a savour of Life unto Life in them that in believing receive it and a savor of death unto them that oppose and rebel against it 3. As a Pillar the word is sometimes used to express some chief ones as Gal. 2.9 so whereas God hath testified his goodness in that rumour of the Gospel proclaimed in Paradise and in his works of Creation and Providence and after by Types and Prophesies and after by the Fore-runner of his Son Eph 3.3 4 5 6 9 10. 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 1 Tim. 3.16 and had Instruments suitable to each for Ministration yet when his Son is manifest as come in the Flesh who is the Brightness of his Glory and chief Testimony of his goodness so in that respect the Ministers that thus hold him forth they are the chief and such are these and the Church now 4. A Pillar is used for an upholder
and stay and so the Truth is the upholder and stay of the Church and the giver of Authority to it and not the Church the stay of and Authority-giver to the Truth yet even in this respect also as Christ is the Head of the Church and his Truth and Spirit and he thereby an Indweller in the Church so they in holding forth the Truth are instrumental upholders of it Act. 9.15 2 Tim 4.7 Mat. 5.14 and maintainers of the Faith to the World and so the Light of the World and in respect of some in the outward Court that turn the Grace of God into wantonness pervert the Gospel deceive the World and labour to beguile Believers in turning them from the Faith These are the Keepers of the Faith by teaching it and opposing and fighting with the sword of the Spirit against their prophaness and errors and so maintaining the Faith against their falshoods And in all these senses the Church that are these Witnesses 2 Tim. 4.1 7. 2 Cor. 10.4 5 6. Jude 3 4. is the Pillar of Truth and yet more fully in one sense more including all the former in it This Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth taking in as is given us both the words that is to say 5. As they were of old to write the Commandments and Statutes of the Lord upon the door-posts of their house Deut. 6.9 11.20 and their gates as the Ten words were written in Tables of stone that they might be seen and read and as some say The Prophets did hang or fasten their written Prophesies upon one of the Pillars in the Temple as is the use of the chief Magistrate to have his Proclamation fastned on some noted post or pillar in the Market-place where all the Country may take notice of it and read it so these are the Church or House and so that post and pillar the Table or Ground in and upon whom the Truth is so written that all may read it though some with likement and some with dislike as the Apostle hath plainly affirmed saying to the Church Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts seen and read of all Men forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone as the Law of old was but in the fleshly Tables of the heart in which there is a performance spiritually by Christ of that said to the Prophet of old Write the Vision Feb. 2.2 and make it plain upon Tables Isa 29 11 12. that he may run that readeth it and being taken with that read he may read to others even that Vision of All and others may read it on him And this writing is the very work of Christ by his Spirit in Ministery of the Gospel We never read that Christ did personally in his own Body write any part of the Scripture that work he left for his Servants by his Spirit to do yet once we finde that he wrote with his Finger on the ground as not regarding his Tempters Joh. 8.6 yet what he wrote is not said but to say the Apostle alludeth to that I dare not nor yet will I say it was an intimate Instruction of his own work so freely to write by his Finger which oft signifieth his Spirit his Epistle in the ground of the heart of his unworthy ones but this I may say in treating of his spiritual writing To allude to this is no error But however it cleerly appears this Society and Church spoken of is the Pillar and ground of Truth where Truth is written and holden forth to be read 1 Tim. 3.16 yea even the Truth that is the Mysterie of godliness that great Mystery God was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit c. And so these unfeigned Believers united to Christ having his word as delivered by his Apostles in their heart be his Witnesses now and the Ministers he hath chosen for this Ministration to minister according to the grace and gifts given them none presuming beyond these are the holy City and Sanctuary of his building and the Ministers of the things thereof Rev. 11.1 2 3. to whom he gives Spirit and Power that they may witness him even to the World and among these is the true Altar even in this Temple and these are the Worshippers thereat and because of the Gospel in their hearts and there through some portion of these forementioned spiritual gifts by which they witness him hold forth the word of life with their tongues therefore their tongue is said to be as choice silver and their lips to feed many Prov. 10.21 22. Pro. 15 10. Psa 35.28 71.24 119.172 51.31 1 Thes 1.8 1 Cor. 3.3 18. Gal. 5.22 23. their tongue useth knowledge aright and speaks of God's righteousness and praise all the day yea even so as sinners may be converted to him and so from them the word of God soundeth forth And also by the same Spirit in the Gospel their hearts being framed to the minde and design of Christ they so have a Christ-like Spirit springing up Love Joy Peace c. which leadeth them to walk in Faith and Love in Holiness and Mercy Mat. 5.16 c. So that also hereby they do witness of him and hold forth the word of Life also in their conversation in good works and holy profession whence the Fruit of the Righteous is called A Tree of Life Prov. 11.30 Ezek. 47.12 Rev. 22.2 2 Cor. 9.2 and a way of winning Souls yea their Fruit is for Meat and their Leaf for Medicine so their Conversation winneth and their Zeal provoketh many and because the Spirit of Glory resteth on them 1 Pet. 4.10 11 14. and giveth them power to glorifie God in witnessing both these wayes though through sufferings Therefore in respect of their twofold witnessing and holding forth the word of Life to glorifie God and do good to Men convincing by Truth and comforting with Truth and confuting falshood Rev. 11 4. They are also called the two Witnesses that witness yea that witness the Truth on God's part against the Man of sin and God of the World and the two Olive-Trees that bring forth that good Fruit whence the good Oyl runneth and the two Candlesticks that hold forth the true Light that shineth so that every way it appears that these unfeigned Believers united to Christ in him by Faith and he in them by Word Spirit are his chosen Ones to bring forth Fruit his Ministers for carrying an end the Ministration of this last Revelation of Christ till he come again these are the Temple of God the House of God the Church of God I need not to use worldly terms else I might shew how these are the Achademah or School University and Colledge in which are all the Scholars that are taught of God And
VVord recorded by my first Witnesses that received it immediately from me they in believing come in to me receiving my words they receive me So that I by my word and in that by my Spirit with all the heavenly riches and treasures I am filled with in their Nature am thus spiritually in them and pray that I may so be still and more abundantly Vers 23. 23. And thou in me the Father is in the Son and all that is the Fathers is the Sons so that as he that in believing receiveth the Gospel doth receive Christ therein and he that receiveth Christ receiveth the Father and so from both that Holy Spirit that uniteth both to Father and Son and frameth to oneness of minde love and design and so for that farther end also here exprest that being made perfect in one and so in this unity of Spirit in love and design their design may prosper in this That the world may know that thou hast sent me the Saviour of the World and that the World through me might be saved and so that I am the Christ and that thou hast loved them these that believe in me and in love minister Gospel to them in my Name as thou hast loved me Which if any one come to know and believe what a one Christ is and how he loves and approves them and their Ministration who also are as patterns to them this will draw them also to believe and be pulling them out of the VVorld into the Church Joh. 4.10 1 Cor. 2.8 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 4. Joh. 17.24 The next Petition is for glory to be conferred on them after their Ministration the hope whereof is an encouragement and support to them in their Ministration through all sufferings And by all this our Saviour gives us to understand both who be his chosen Ministers and also what their Furniture is and the same that appears in our Saviour's Prayer is to be seen likewise in the practice and counsel of the Apostles who were so filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit as to be unerring both in delivery of their Doctrine and direction for the Ministration 2 Tim. 1.13 Gal. 1.8 2 Tim. 3.4 4.5 1 Cor. 11.2 23. 2 Tim. 1.14 1 Tim. 6.20 so as it is well done of their followers to keep both Gospel and Ministration as they delivered the same and they committed the Gospel and things thereof to such as were known to be faithful and endued with the Holy Ghost and charged them to commit the same to faithful Men not limiting it to outward Officers though in such an Epistle as was most needful to name them 2 Tim. 2.2 if such a thing had been intended but to faithful Men whether such Officers or no. But more need not be said of this enough is shewn before proving these the spiritual House the royal Priesthood the chosen Generation his chosen Ministers to shew forth his praises But yet a word or two more to make plain the Furniture those following Ministers have and in this Revelation of Christ we shall also finde that for Furniture 1. They have the VVord or Gospel discovering Christ Joh. 14 21 22 23. 1 Joh. 2.14 24. Isa 59.21 2 Joh. 2. Eph. 3.17 Heb. 12.22 Isa 78.16 46.13 1 Pet. 2.6 Isa 40.9 and so Christ in that Gospel in their heart and so are come to Sion and so are of Sion and the Foundation is laid in Sion that is Christ as set forth in the Gospel for Sion to hold forth to others the same Foundation that they may come in and be built thereon yea this word hath come from Sion Jerusalem that is above and is the Mother of us all Joel 2.23 Gal. 4.26 and is in the Heart Fellowship and Ministration of Sion that part of it which though in heart and Spirit above Phil. 3.20 Col. 3.1 yet in Sion hath God taken up his rest and will abundantly bless her Psa 132.13 14 15. Joel 3.21 Psa 77.2 he dwelleth there yea the Lord loveth the Gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob besides And so we may say This Ministration more then all that fore-went it So that the word of Truth of Life and Salvation is here as in the outward record so in the understanding and heart and floweth forth from hence as a first fruits of that Isa 2.3 Mic. 4.2 2 They in believing and imbracing this word have with it the Holy Spirit Isa 59.21 Rom. 8 9 10. 1 Joh. 2.20 3.24 Eph. 4.7 2 Cor. 12.4 7 11. Jer. 30.17 Isa 35.2 3. Cant. 6.8 9. Cant. 1.7 8. effecting the Spirit and Minde of Christ in them all and in some good measure enduing them with all the first mentioned spiritual gifts among them to every one some though not to all and every one alike Thus are they furnished And this may be truely said of Sion whom no Man seeketh after they are in worldly appearance made so like their Lord and there are so many Concubines though this Beloved be but one and the onely one of her Mother that for discerning her that prayer is needful Shew me where thou feedest c. and the direction there given needful and to such as do discern it it may be said as Psal 48.12 13 14. But now because these following VVitnesses that part of Sion yet below have not the Gospel and these spiritual gifts so immediately from Christ and so not in so full a measure as that they are alwayes infallibly freed from erring in every particular thing altogether in delivery of Doctrine and Ministration as the first witnesses were but as they have received their Doctrine and Ministration mediately in belief of and receiving the Doctrine and Gospel as delivered by them that are Sion now above so their preservation from error in Doctrine and Ministration is mediate likewise Prov. 6.20 23. 1 Tim. 4.15 16. 2 Tim. 3.14 17. Col. 3.16 even in heeding the Gospel received from God and Christ by them and delivered by them to us and so both the Commandment of our Father and the Law of our Mother in one to be imbraced and kept by us and so we are directed and commanded and promise of guidance given us therein And so 3. Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 They are furnished with Matter Rules Directions and Cautions in this Doctrine of the Gospel as delivered and recorded by the Apostles and which they also in believing it have in their hearts savingly working And this helpful 1. For speaking right and wholesome words in Faith and Love and to edification Pro. 22.20 21. Eccles 12.10 11. learning and comfort Rev. 19.10 2 Tim. 1.13 1 Cor. 4.6 and 14.3 2. 1 Cor. 4.6 Prov. 22.21 Rom. 15.4 Col. 2 18. For keeping measure and due order in our speakings that upon no pretence or presumption of Learning Parts Invention or Office we presume to speak of things we have not seen in the word of
works be manifold yet he is but one God he is one and so the Holy Spirit that proceedeth from the Father and the Son and discovereth Christ and God in Christ and beareth forth the Testimony though his Gifts and Operations be manifold yet the Spirit is one in the same yea the Father and Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same God one in Essence Will Design Testimony and Power and God in Christ propitious to Men and having prepared Eternal Life in Christ for Men this is the Object of Faith to be preached and believed and if this were not there could be no such thing as the Gospel calls Faith to be preached obeyed or enjoyed And this is one 2. The Grace of Faith or that believing in the Gospel that is called Faith it is that believing which is begot in the heart by the Discovery and Testimony Heb. 11.13 Joh. 6.40 Act. 6.7 Rom 3.25 10.8 9 10. the Spirit in the means he useth hath given of Christ in which a Man discerneth the Truth and Goodness testified is perswaded of it in his heart And this is one one way and manner of believing that Object of Faith and from thence it is called Faith and so truely still one Faith the Object discovered having drawn to it self a believing 3. So when through the Operation of Grace believed the Heart imbraceth the Object believed Heb. 11.13 Rom. 10.10 and so by Faith is united to it in trust and well-pleasedness c. it is still but one and the same Faith the same Object uniting to it self whence indeed it hath the name of Faith so as still Faith is one and but one II. That as Faith is used for the prevalency of the Object of Faith drawing the Hearer and Beholder to believe and so for the Grace of Faith or Believing though the Faith be one yet there are divers Degrees in and of it and divers Acts and Operarations of it 1. One Degree of Believing which in respect of the Testimony by which it is begot and which it believeth Joh. 2.23 12.42 and which if abiden in it will unite to may be called faith is yet short of a real new-birth it is such a belief of the Gospel-Testimony as according to light seen one believeth Jesus to be the Christ so far as to count his saying true and yet not so overcome by that believed to see and acknowledge his own vileness and the vanity of all his own best righteousness and his sin in not sooner believing by evidences foregiven and so see not yet the fulness and liberty in Christ for them and so are not by the knowledge of the Truth made single to Christ they are sprinkled with water and moved with Spirit but not yet born of VVater and Spirit they believe Righteousness but not yet with the heart unto Righteousness they are by the hearing of Faith so far born of God as to believe Jesus to be the Christ and confess him to be the Lord but not so far born of God as to be emptied of themselves and united to Christ and so are not yet inwardly renewed and regenerated and so though in the outward Court not yet really translated out of the Power of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's dear Son and yet even these Believers if they abide in this Faith of the Testimony of the Gospel and give heed to the plain sayings thereof Rom. 10.9 Joh. 8.30 31. and abide therein they shall be saved shall know the Truth and the Truth will make them free To say these did but pretend or seem and profess to believe and so are said to believe in respect of their seeming and prosession to believe in the judgement of Charity is too much presumption and sawciness and derogation from the Holy Ghost for the Evangelists writ this after Christ was ascended and they indued with the Holy Ghost and so writ by his inspiration so that those sayings such did believe were not the sayings of Men imperfect in knowledge and judging according to the judgement of Charity by conjecture but the sayings of the Holy Ghost that knoweth all things the Spirit of Truth that cannot erre or be deceived And he saith they believed on his Name they believed on him and who will be so proud of his VVisdom and Knowledge as to direct the Spirit of the Lord and undertake to counsel him and teach him to speak more rightly and safely and say they seemed to believe they professed to believe in the judgement of Charity they ought to be counted Believers though in the issue it appears they did not believe That which some bring to help this conceit helps it not Joh. 2.24 25. namely that Christ did not commit himself to them because he knew all Men c. for it is not said Jesus knew they believed not Gen. 6.5 8.21 or that he knew there was no truth in their believing but he knew what was in Man an evil and unfaithful disposition c. and he knew that his Words or Miracles that brought these to believe on him were not so submitted to as that their evil disposition was yet mortified and they made faithful to him and so they might have served him as he did Joh. 5.14 15. but believe the Spirit saith they did And so in the other place the Holy Ghost affirmeth That as Christ spake many believed on him Joh. 8.30 31. and that our Saviour then spake to those Jews that believed on him And again the Holy Ghost faith Among the chief Rulers many believed on him Joh. 12.42 but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him So that these were Believers and therefore so called and not called Believers because they seemed or professed to believe which the Holy Ghost saith they did not nay the praise of Men had that prevalency with them that it kept them from profession of believing though it had not so great prevalency with these as with those Joh. 5.44 whom it kept from believing or yet put them in an incapacity of it so that these pointed to did believe is evident that it was not a feigned but true believing is evident for else in continuance in it they could not be saved that they were yet short of the knowledge of the Truth c. is express that if they continued in his words received by this Faith they were even then his Disciples and they should know the Truth and the Truth should make them free is express so that here is one Degree of Faith yet short of a real New-Birth which yet abiden in is certain to be effected and was after in many of these as appears in comparing John 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 18. and John 7.50 51. with John 19.38 39 40. 2. The other Degree of believing in which by the prevalency of the Light seen Col. 1 12 13. 1 Pet. 2.3 5 9. Phil. 3.7 8 9. and Grace believed the Heart
kinde which is altogether impossible for any to do so that there can be but one Faith that is really true and holy in its kinde IV. Rom. 16.25 26. Eph. 3.3 9. 2 Cor. 3.12 14. That the fullest and cleâ—rest Revelation of the Mystery of Faith is that given immediately by Christ himself and left upon Record by his Apost es and Evangelists and so the cleering up of all the former Revelations and the sense and meaning of the Prophets is most cleerly and in plain Words to be sound in their Writings and so the Gospel as delivered by them because of the abundance and plainness of Truth and fulness of spiritual Evidence in it is truely and indeed and so called Rom. 1.16 17. The Power of God unto Salvation to bring every one that believeth c. for therein is the Righteousness of God not any deceit or fable or pretence equivocation or falshood but the Righteousness of God in his Words saying or mises revealed not hinted in parabolical and cloking terms but revealed opened brought to light from Faith to Faith from one Revelation of Christ the Object of Faith to another and so to another more cleer from assuring him to come suffer to assure him to be already come and to have suffered and to come again in Glory from Faith in him being so come from believing in him through Types Shadows Prophecies to believing in him now from a cleer Demonstration of his having compleated Righteousness and the Father's face shining in him and so now and from believing this Testimony of him to confiding in him and so from one Degree of Faith to another till he come to Vision and yet all the way one Faith still as it is the same strength encreasing in them in which they are said to go from strength to strength till they appear in Sion and so the Just shall live by Faith Psal 84.7 And here we have the fullest and plainest Revelation of it And so we are to heed all and none but those Purposes Promises and Covenant of God which are set forth in this Testimony and Revelation Christ An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART IV. CHAP. I. Of the Purpose of God in general THE Eternal and Immutable Will of God Psal 33.11 Isa 14 24 26 27. Eccles 3.14 or his Decree and Purpose concerning all that in his infinite Wisdom Soveraignty and Goodness he hath freely purposed to do hath in his seasons from the beginning now doth and for ever shall take place and be done even so as he hath purposed and no power of Creatures can or shall hinder the same yea none can alter it or add thereto or take therefrom And it must needs be so for he is of one Minde Job 23.13 14. Psal 119.90 91. 103.19 66.7 Deut. 29.29 and none can turn him and his Word is established for ever in Heaven and his Kingdom ruleth over all and he ruleth by his power for ever and all are his Servants yet of this his Will Decree and Purpose in respect of the particulars no more belongs to us to search into then himself hath revealed to us but what he hath revealed by his Work in which his Purposes are brought forth Eph. 1.11 for he worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will so that in the event as things are indeed done we may so far know his Decree and Purpose Psal 39.9 118.23 126. and so far to know the same is of good use for us and likewise what he hath revealed in his holy Word of his Decree and Purpose concerning those things that are already done and those things that he will yet now and hereafter do which Word of his is as himself true from the beginning Psal 119 140 160. Prov. 8.6 7 8. Joh. 17.17 Pro. 22.20 21. Ecclis 12.10 and being breathed forth by his Spirit is the most cleer declarer of his Decree and Purposes his Word being pure and without any wreathedness yea the Truth and therefore written that we might know the certainty of the Words of Truth and that which is written is upright even Words of Truth And according to the discovery of the Decrees and Purposes of God in his holy written Word and by his Works they are to be heeded and believed by us as true certain and good and of good usefulness to us and other imaginations and devices by whomsoever Isa 8.20 and how appearingly goodly soever we are not to heed believe or own Now then the Purpose of God which in respect of the things purposed are called Purposes that I am to treat of are Isa 49.20 Job 27.12 Isa 25. 1. Psal 2.6 148.6 Job 14.5 26.10 28.26 Prov. 8.29 Jer. 5.22 That or those about the Eternal Salvation or Damnation of Men which by these two the Word and the Works of God are revealed to us which though the Will and Purpose of God be one yet in respect of the things willed purposed and decreed are called Many and so Purposes of which is here to be spoken these being all ordered and set in that one Will Counsel Purpose and Decree of his that we are to know and believe hereof is that which by his Word and Works is revealed to us whether in terms of Counsel Will Purposes or Decrees all which terms signifie the same thing and so to begin with that which prepares to the right understanding of all and then so to proceed as by Word and Works we are led we finde 1. Prov. 8.22 23 24 25 26 30. That the Purpose of God was in the first place To exalt his only begotten Son The Word The Wisdom of God equal with God to shew forth his Glory through him and by him bring forth all his glorious Works to glorifie him with his own self to establish him the supream Lord and Governour of all in his own person and all this freely before any view or consideration of any his following Works as moving causes thereto And this he did to his Son the Word Joh. 1.1 2 3. Col. 1.15 16 17. Heb 1.2 3. Joh. 17.5 Phil. 2.6 Rom. 11.36 and so he was possessed in the beginning of his way and exalted from everlasting and brought forth before all things one with the Father in all his Decrees glorified with the Father 's own self and by and for and to him were all things decreed and made that are decreed and made Now in the Son of God The Word The Wisdom The Power of God in this consideration as thus purposed and exalted it was peculiar to his Person as the Son of God onely and there was not in him the Nature of Man in this consideration nor any one of Mankinde elected or purposed to be elected in him into Union and Fellowship and Conformity with him in this Prerogative and Glory in which he was equal with the Father no Scripture
who hath declared the Father's Name Psal 22.22 Heb. 2.11 12. Ioh. 1.18 17.6 Psal 18.49 with Rom. 15.9 and so calleth all to look to him and come to him and be saved for in and by him the peace is made the price is payed and all fulness and perfection of Furniture is in him for every Man in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily in him is life yea in him God hath given us Eternal Life and in him it is in him are all the Treasures of Wisdom and Understanding yea the fulness of Spirit to shew forth the same yea in his appearance presence or face as in the Glass of the Gospel presented the Face of the Father shineth and in that shine the Divine Power and Spirit goeth forth to draw the Beholders to desire after and believe in him and to confirm the Believers while beholding him and conform Believers to him so that the Father's Name for Goodness Power Excellency c. is in and upon him he is the brightness of his Glory 3. That God in his Purpose hath appointed and approved this to be the way to call and bring in a Seed to Christ namely to declare his Name and set him forth as the Holy Ghost hath testified of him and left that Record in the Gospel and so to preach him the Saviour of the VVorld the only Rock Foundation the VVisdom of God the Beloved of God See this in Part 2. chap. 10. c. 11. and Lover of Men c. as is foreshewn And thus of his Purpose and in that his Purposes concerning the Man Jesus Christ from which known and believed we may learn 1. Rom. 1.2 5 16.25 26 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3 1 Pet. 1.20 21 Eph. 3.3 9 â— That the Gospel in the whole Testimony of Jesus Christ it is in that which he is become and hath done according to the Purpose of God now manifested according to the Revelation of the mystery so as the Gospel is the Revelation of the Purpose of God 2. Prov. 8.4 9 22.20 21 1 Tim. 2.6 7 Prov. 26.23 26 That the Gospel in all the Sayings and Promises of it is really true and true to all to whom it 's declared there is no wreathedness or equivocation no Declaration or pretence of Love no tender of Mercy to any but what is really true no fair words with an inward covered hatred which God abhorreth but all Truth even that which is in 2 Cor. 1.18 19 20 21 2 Pet. 1.16 and came forth of the Bosome and Heart of the Almighty God of Truth it being the opening of his Will and Purpose 3. That the Purposes of God beginning in his Son Luke 1.70 2 Pet. 1.20 21 and being through and for his Son and so made known by him they all as revealed and written in the Holy Scriptures are all and altogether true like himself his own Minde and in that manner to be performed being all the Breathings of his own Spirit by the Mouth of his Holy Prophets and so there is no secret or unrevealed Purpose in God that is in any wise contrary to those he hath revealed 4. That Purpose and Approbation of that purposed Isa 42.1 1 Pet. 1.1 2 and so Election are distinct and Purpose in order first though they meet in one 5. That Jesus Christ even as the spiritual Man that died and is risen and exalted at the right Hand of God Col. 1.15 19 is the first and choice Elect in order and manner of choice before and above all others and no other but in and by him 1. He had his Being in and with the Father even from Eternity Joh. 1.1 2 Pro. 8 22 Col. 1 17 18 and the Lord possessed him in the beginning of his way he is before all things but that Being of his and the Glory he had with the Father was incommunicable to Mankinde yea without his taking Man's Nature Heb. 2.7 12. and the consideration of his Abasement and Exaltation in that Nature the Excellencies and Priviledges thereof was incommunicable to fallen Mankinde and he as Man is God's first Elect Isa 42.1 Eph. 1.3 4 and without that could none be elected in him and had any been otherwise fore-elected in him he would without doubt have kept them and so must have laid aside their Glory when he laid aside his own which I suppose none will say he did nor that any were in him as he gave his life for the World and so Redeemers with him 2. He was one with the Father and with him in his being Prov. 8.22.31 and in all his Purposes and Decrees and Ways and so in the Election of himself as the second publick Man his first-begotten Son c. I hope none will affirm or conceit the like of any other elect ones 3. Psal 40.6 7 Heb. 10.5 10 Isa 42.1 He accepted the Fathers appointment of him to suffer and sacrifice and do all his will which being accepted of him by the Father was vertuous from the beginning and so he as the spiritual Man was approved of God and being pre-approved was also in that sense elected before the beginning of the World but so and on such account was no other besides him elected 4. The actual and visible election of him was begun in his birth perfected through sufferings Luke 1.35 Heb. 2.10 8.1 Joh. 1.13 16 17 Eph. 1.3 and compleated in his exaltation at the right hand of God and so filled with all fulness of Grace Truth and spiritual blessings and the blessed election of others is in him thus considered 5. Psa 89.19 Deut. 18.15 18 Joh. 8.23 15.19 He was chosen from among Men being made Man and born of a Woman but he was not chosen out of the World of which he never was but others that come to be chosen in and by him are chosen out of the VVorld of which they sometime and in some sense were 6. Joh. 15.16 He was chosen in and by no other Man but all other Men that are chosen are chosen in and by him all these things are shewn in that foresaid By all which it appears he is the first prime and choice elect and the fountain medium and root of election for others 6. Joh. 1.18 1 Joh. 5.20 Mat. 7.27 That no man of us can rightly understand and know the Purpose and in it the Purposes of God or his election of any in Christ but by first knowing Christ and the purposes of God concerning him and God's election of him all right knowing of God being in knowing of Christ and so all right knowing of his Purposes and Election in the knowledge of his Purposes concerning Christ and his election of him Ch. 2. before as appears in all foresaid And according to this knowledge with the Cautions fore-premised I will proceed to speak of his Purposes concerning Mankinde as included and ordered in this great Purpose and
interpretation in his gracious account and acceptance they are as Believers and of the Kingdom and he can regenerate them in the very taking away their breath if not before and he will compleat their Regeneration with the reft of the Saints in the Resurrection of the Just and of these he hath an innumerable Seed or Generation But these come not in the number I am to speak of nor was any purpose against these Let this be heeded Again for the Sons of Men as Men fallen and meerly natural and come to the use of understanding yet if no day of gracious visitation hath passed on them so as in some measure to open their eyes and give them to discern and move in their hearts towards convincement and turning these are all yet in blindeness darkness and under the power of sin and Satan corruption in sinful lusts working in them and so are blinde deaf dead in respect of the Life of God in Christ and so are unable to hear see understand and believe the Testimony of Christ yea all that come to the use of understanding till by some light and power from God they be so visited as to be touched in heart somewhat lighted and touched with some convincements in means used are in this evil case and none better then other in that respect And these are not the objects or subjects of the purposes I have to speak of but as there is in the will and purpose of God a Day or Dayes of Visitation for all that are come to the use of understanding 1 Pet. 2.22 especially where the Gospel comes and is preached among them as it is among those I can speak or write to So of such as this Day of Visitation hath passed upon let me be understood namely of those towards whom God in using means doth in the means he useth and by the light and power he therein extendeth open their ears to hear his voice and enlightneth their minde to discern so opening their eyes to see in some measure what is presented to and required of them and moveth in their hearts by his word sounded and grace presented that they might in seeing see in hearing hear and so understand and turn towards him and so he would heal them In all which there is no betterness in one more then in another yea they that in seeing see have nothing to glory in but the Riches of his Grace in giving them such an eye and alluring them with such an object in seeing to see and extending so freely following Grace to heal them But they that in seeing see not when an eye is given them and such an object presented to their view but for the love of any other thing dislike the light and so close their eys stop their ears and harden their hearts have therein willingly made themselves much worse then either themselves or their Fellows forewere and this not through any want on the part of God or Christ but meerly through wilfulness in themselves and siding with the Tempter And of Men thus visited and under this consideration I am now to speak and so in the Scripture I finde 4. God's will and purpose concerning these thus described and under this consideration and so beheld That those who when he hath so opened their ears and eyes and sounded his Word and presented Truth to them and moved in their hearts that they might in hearing hear and in seeing see and they then do in hearing hear or attend his voice and in seeing see and minde what he displayeth and presenteth to them and so in the motion and strength given them are assaying to turn at his reproof he will heal that is save enlive and enable them to believe and so pour our his Spirit and make known his words unto them such his purpose his word his promise But those that when he hath so opened their ears and eyes and is moving in their hearts as hath been said that they having eyes and ears might in seeing see and in hearing hear and then they for the love of any lust or conceited goodly thing or opinion or supposed righteousness close their eyes at the light reproving it and so will not in seeing see c. lest they should understand and be converted these he will blinde and harden so as they cannot believe but stumble at the word discovering Christ and convincing yet will he not altogether give over these at the first repulse but come again with some chastisements and renewed reproofs and strivings and if they abide not still in impenitency and unbelief he will receive and save them but if they still wilfully persist in their rebellion he will reprobate them and then they cannot believe but shall be eternally damned and so eat the fruit he saith not of his decrees but of their own wayes Prov. 1.31 32 Hos 13. 2 Pet. 2.1 Mat. 16.26 so that their destruction is of themselves they have lost their own Souls And these to be the purposes of God and in this manner to be fulfilled is abundantly cleerly revealed and affirmed in the Scripture John 5.25 The dead as all by nature are in sins and trespasses Joh. 5.25 Eph. 2.1 2 3 and that meant here expresly shewn by mentioning that as another manner of death when Men are in their Graves vers 28 29. shall hear the voice of the Son of God and he saith not all they shall live but they that hear shall live Which can be no other but they that in hearing hear he that quickneth whom he will will quicken them and they shall live vers 21-26 the Father and he being one in will and purpose and so our Saviour openeth it himself declaring this to be the way of his Father's and his proceeding according to his purpose and so his purpose when he telleth his Disciples the cause why he spake to the people in Parables Mat. 4.23 to whom it appears in all the three Evangelists he had before preached the Gospel plainly and they had not so received as to become his Disciples he saith to them that in hearing were become his Disciples Mat. 13. Mat. 13. v. 11 vers 11. Becanse it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given 12 now minde the cause or reason for whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken away even that which he hath And this explicated by himself Therefore speak I to them in parables 13 because they seeing see not and hearing hear not c. which is plain to be They have their eyes opened and their ears opened and by spiritual motion the word sown in their heart And so hath that is hath had given him an eye to see an ear to hear and the Word with motion brought to his Heart and so hath a price put in his hand Pro.
Branches of his Purpose compared with that said in the second Chapter of this fourth part in the Cautions there given But now because we read of many that depart from the Faith some may desire to know what his Purposes are concerning such as are once brought to believe who of them shall be eternally saved and who not To which a short answer might serve Joh. 3.16 Heb. 11.13 2 Pet. 2.20.21 That no unfeigned Believer shall perish but have everlasting life and so all that live and die in the Faith shall be eternally saved only those that fall from their Faith and die in unbelief shall be eternally damned which is a true full answer but it will not satisfie all that enquire I shall therefore endeavour to set forth the Purpose of God concerning these as set forth and explicated in Scripture concerning these who are once brought to believe and in that sense called Believers and so let the term be understood CHAP. 5. Of the Purposes of God concerning Believers BY Believers I mean not such as onely feign pretend and profess themselves to believe and do not nor doth the Scripture anywhere call any upon that account Believers but Hypocrites But as in Scripture-account so by Believers I mean such as do indeed in some measure believe the word or Testimony of Christ and so though that Testimony be but one and Faith one and but one true believing yet of those that do indeed believe the same Testimony confess the same Faith I finde two sorts of Believers as is before shewn at large First See Part 3. ch 17. such as in hearing and minding the Testimony of Christ do indeed believe it to be true and good but are not yet prevailed with and overcome by that believed as to part with all other designs and confidences for life and to believe on Christ for all promised c. as foreshewn Now the Purpose of God concerning these is That they continuing in his Word that is in belief and minding his word they have heard and believed Joh. 8.30 31 attending it and beholding him as discovered therein in which they are his Disciples indeed that is such as he teacheth and do begin to learn of him Joh. 10.26 27 Joh. 8.32 33 36 and so are the Sheep of his Ministration they shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make them free which as yet appears in the following Verses was wanting to them This said Jesus that was in the bosome of the Father and spake nothing but what the Father gave him to speak and so declared nothing about this but what was in Truth the real Minde and Purpose of his Father and himself yea this suits with that declared by the Prophet and this is affirmed to be the End and so the Purpose of God in sending forth his Son the Saviour of the world Isa 45.22 Luk. â— 60 69 70 71 76 77 Joh. 3.14 15 16 17 5.34 Mar. 1 â— 15 16 Act. 10.43 and declaring him in the Ministration of the Gospel And thus hath Christ spoken since concerning every one that believeth the Testimony of the Gospel He shall be saved and by his Spirit in all his Prophets and Apostles Such shall receive Remission of sins they shall be saved he doth not so express it as affirming of them all that which may be affirmed of some even as many as believe with the Heart unto Righteousness Rom. 10.9 Rom. 10.10 1 Cor. 1.18 2 Cor. 2.15 Eph. 2.5 2 Tim. 1.9 and confess with the Mouth unto Salvation that they are saved Neither doth this hinder this understanding of this phrase That there is for these saved Ones a continued saving in preserving them from error in Judgement and Life in the believing remembrance of this Testimony in which they shall be so saved 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4 and a compleat Salvation with which they shall be saved after they have endured to the end inasmuch as in respect of the begun Salvation they are already saved and so affirmed to be which our Saviour saith Mat. 24.13 1 Cor. 6.11 Col. 1.12 13 was yet wanting to these Believers he spake to Joh. 8 30-36 Nor can this said of this Purpose be waved off with this That here is no more said to these Believers then to all unbelievers and mis-believers of whom also it is said his sending forth of Christ in the Ministration of the Gospel is That they might be saved and that also in looking to him Joh. 2.14 17 5.34 Act. 26.18 Isa 45.22 and believing on him they shall be saved All which is true and yet not all said to these Believers for unbelievers and mis-believers are not entring the way of Salvation nor anywhere said to believe in his Name or believe in him so far as to believe the Testimony of him true and good and so it 's never said to them If you continue in your minde or way that is in your unbelief or mis-belief ye shall be saved but the very contrary Nor is it said Joh. 3.36 8.24 If they continue in his words for if they have not rejected them yet they have not received them in believing though it may be in memory to abuse and make ill use of But these spoke of Joh. 12.47 48 15.20 Mat. 26.61 believed his Words and in believing had so received them that our Saviour saith If ye continue in my words ye are my Disciples indeed and ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free and elsewhere shall be saved which yet they were not and if the Word of Faith they believed though yet they saw not all that was in it were not true and saving or if their believing were not true and of a saving Nature such as though yet it had not would in continuance drink in more saving efficacies then by cotinuance therein they could no more be saved then by continuance in unbelief or mis-belief but our Saviour affirms of these Believers If they continue in his words they believed they should be saved In which saying he hath plainly asserted the Minde and Purpose of God concerning such and that there are many Believers in the outward Court of the Church that yet are no farther wrought on then these is evident enough probable also such were in the outward Court in the first and choice times by that phrase Act. 2.47 The Lord added to the Church dayly such as should be saved it 's neither said Such as were saved nor such as against all contradiction shall infallibly be eternally saved but such as should be saved that is according to our Saviour's Doctrine continuing in his words they had believed and of these added Ones we read of two notable Ones among them Act. 5.1 10 that miscarried for want of heeding the Word testified by the Holy Ghost and for this cause because the Devil knows That when the Word is come into the Heart
being in that purposed which is the constant and plain signification of the word stand whenever used about the Purpose Counsel and Word of the Lord a Psa 33.10 11. Pro. 19.21 Isa 14.24 Jer. 44.28 And it 's not here said That the Purpose of God in or upon the Elect might stand but according to Election So that Election or the Grace of God in Christ the Elect discovered and believed which believed electeth and so it s the Grace of Election or the Election of Grace or which Grace believed maketh opposed to the works of Men by the Law b Rom. 6.23 24 33. 11.5 6 7. This that by which the Purpose of God in Christ for communicating the choise salvation shall stand become efficacious and take effect in any whence those by grace so prevailed with are affirmed to be the Called according to Purpose because Counsel had so ordered it to take place in the Efficacy of his appearing Grace c Rom. 8.28 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. and this Election of Grace where it so prevaileth is thereby known d 1 Thes 1.1 3 4 5 6. 2 Thes 2.13 14. and so said to be according to the Foreknowledge of God the Father which is no other but the counsel of his Will in his Purpose approving and appointing this Way for his Purpose to stand and take effect and be accomplished e Eph. 1.11 Rom. 9.11 11.5 6 through the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Christ f 1 Pet. 1.2 which is to say it in more words Through the Demonstration of his Grace in Christ the prime elect in the Gospel-Declaration and Call the Word believed working effectually in them g 2 Thes 2.14 1 Thes 2.13 and so chosen to Salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth h 2 Thes 2.13 So that all the way Election in Purpose or Act is a distinct thing from Purpose yet the act of the Purpose not divided from it but it is the manner of its taking place and coming into act and election is the Name of it self being the manner of the blessed coming forth of the Purpose and not the Name of the Purpose nor is the Purpose named the Purpose according to Election and there the period but some good thing to be brought to pass it 's said to be so spoken That the Purpose of God according to Election might stand or take place All which is cleered by plain Sayings of Scripture set down often before to which I might add Rom. 11.25 29. Deut. 7.6 7 8 9 10. that which the Apostle desired Believers not to be ignorant of concerning the natural Branches the Seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and those few that were chosen for the love God bare to and the Covenant he made with their Fathers of whose natural Seed remaining in unbelief he telleth the Gentiles As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes Rom. 11.28 but as touching election they are beloved for the Father's sake Now what is here meant by Election is that Rom. 11.25 in which is the mystery there mentioned and it is evident that it cannot be the election of the very individual persons that were then Enemies to the Gospel for the sake of the Gentiles 1 Thes 1.13 2 Thes 2.13 14. because the very fastning and prevalency of election is in through the belief and prizing of the Gospel and Grace by it discovered and the stumbling at Christ as now discovered in the Gospel though because of Gentiles or any receiving him and accepted caused their ejection and was the evident Testimony that such were not elected but blinded c. And the Apostle divides these unbelieving Ones from the Elect and calls them the rest that is none of them Rom. 15.7 8 9 10 11. Rom. 11.7 8 10 15 17 19 20. but saith expresly These are blinded hardned east off and that because of unbelief so as according to the Doctrine of Election delivered not by God but by Men not acquainted with his Minde there would be no love of God to them no possibility for such reprobated Ones to come into favour with God again which the Apostle affirms there is still Rom. 11.16 23. And that God's dealing with them in such a heavy and severe way is a Fruit of his love towards them and hath its tendency that they might be brought in again Rom. 11.11 14. Act. 13.45 47 52. 1 Thes 2.16 And this is rendered as the ground of all that though their envy and sin be grievous that they are enemies to the Gospel for the Gentiles sake and wrath be come upon them and they rejected yet as touching the Election or for the Election they are beloved for the Father's sakes A great mystery a people not elected but cast off for stumbling at the Gospel and yet as touching Election beloved for the sake of others VVhat shall we think then Election here to be though it may stand with the Purpose of God for their Salvation in his way according to the Election of Grace to stand even the Election here meant yet it cannot stand with an infallible Purpose of God in which their persons were elected to be eternally saved against all interposures and oppositions for then they were as well beloved for their own sakes as for their Father's sakes and should not have so been broken off but what this Election is I conceive may appear in the very terms used compared with other places of Scripture to be the Election of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and so for their sakes the Election of their Children the beloved Father's whose natural seed these were and so for their sakes still beloved with love of pity and compassion and means still extended to recal them yea their abasement and casting off to humble them and so as a means ordered thereto and all for their sakes the Elect with whom the Covenant was made i 1 Chron. 16.13 29 Psa 105.5 14 135.13 14. or rather especially for Christ his sake that was in them and to come and is now come forth of them k Rom. 9.5 Psa 89.19 34. with Deut. 7.6 7 8. Isa 41.8 9 Rom. 11.23 Rom. 11.25 26 27 29. and so whoever of these abide not in unbelief shall be grasted in again for God hath not so tied himself with any decree but he is able to graft them in again and though thousands stand out till Judgement have scattered and broken them yet shall there be a preservation of that natural Seed and in due time the whole company of them then surviving shall be brought in and so all Israel shall be saved And is God's gracious Election of Abraham Isaac and Jacob so forcible and is not the Election of Christ now having come in the flesh in the Nature of Man and the love and well-pleasedness God hath in him
c. for it is written Mat. 4.6 with Psal 91.11 12. he shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up c. as if he should say If thou be his Son God hath absolutely engaged himself for thy safety and thou canst not mis-carry But he subtilly left out the middle clause in which was the Order of the Purpose and Promise to keep thee in all thy ways too neer which fault they come who asserting Believers kept by the power of God unto Salvation citing the Text 1 Pet. 1.5 leave out the middle clause the way in which he keeps them that is through Faith but our Saviour minded the Promise as it was and depended on his Father in his way and resisted the Devil with It is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God so am I by that which is written led to refuse this notion and to imbrace for Truth all that is said 2 Tim. 2.8 11 12 13. according to all which the Apostle also directeth Timothy concerning others and bids him Charge them before the Lord 2 Tim. 2.14 That they strive not about words to no profit as all invention of Purposes or of Election or of any terms or Allegories which are not in Gal. 1.6 7 8. 2 Cor. 11.3 4 5. or are beside the Gospel delivered by Christ and his Apostles are but to the subverting of the hearers amazing and troubling their mindes into wavering and doubting of the Truth And so he chargeth Timothy himself 2 Tim. 2.15 Rev. 19.10 1 Cor. 2.2 3. Luk. 24.47 2 Cor. 5.14 19. Joh. 3.14 17. 2 Tim. 1.11 2.11 12 13. 3.16 17. Study to shew thy self approved unto God a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth which is the Testimony of Christ and him crucified and Repentance and Remission of sins in his Name Surely this is the Foundation and the right dividing it is with that form of sound Words which in the Gospel he had heard of Paul in Faith and Love And this applying according to the faithful saying here mentioned to every one instruction reproof comfort or terror as need was for which the Scripture did furnish him and then he farther warns Timothy to shun prophane and vain bablings as all their Fables and fancied Allegories 2 Tim. 2.16 foolish and vain Queries and opposition of Science falsly so called are which Peter prosessed was not in his preaching 2 Tim. 2.18 23. 1 Tim. 9.20 2 Pet. 1.16 2 Tim 2.16 3.13 2 Tim. 2.17 and here is a reason given For they such bablings and they that use them will increase unto more ungodliness and their word will cat as doth a canker or gangrene and so he names some of them of whom is Hymene us and Philet us who concerning the truth was not this the Testimony of Christ the Object and Foundation of Faith have erred yea departed and blasphemed or spoken reproachfully of it as is the use of such as turn the Truth into Allegories counting the plain Testimony of the Truth it self but a fleshly thing and the knowledge and belief of it but a fleshly knowledge and Faith but their Allegory a spiritual business 1 Tim. 1.19 20. with 2 Tim. 2 1â— as appears in their saying The resurrection is past already which could be no other then in some dreaming Allegorical Resurrection they pretended to have obtained which so took with the heares that thereby they have overthrown the Faith of some So that we have three here that were sometime of great note and eminency in the Church Hymeneus Alexander and Philetus that putting away a good conscience had made shipwrack of Faith themselves and two of them at least excommunicated yet by their corrupt teaching and vain babling they did also overthrow the Faith of some others And in the first Epistle he warned Timothy by the fall of these to look to his own standing And in this Epistle he warns him by the same to look to others and against all the discouragements that might befal him from the departure of such eminent ones and others also turned from the Faith by them tells them The Foundation of God standeth sure c. which is evident to be such a Foundation as bears forth the Truth of all the former faithful Sayings as he and all Believers are brought to and know and by abiding on may be fafe And this is no other but Jesus Christ And he being so often and plainly affirmed the Foundation and that there is no other given unto Men it may be marvelled why so many Worthies should upon this place say That God's Eternal Purpose and Election is the sure Foundation Let the Words be viewed to see if they import any such thing CHAP. 10. A view of 2 Tim. 2.19 to see what 's there meant by The Foundation NEvertheless 2 Tim. 2.19 the foundation of God standeth sure or steady having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity Nevertheless Notwithstanding those that turned their eye from Truth slighted the Foundation aspired in a Dream 2 Cor. 11.1 2 3 4 5 6 11 12 13 14 15. defiled their Conscience and so cast away Faith and others in listning to them as Evah did to the Serpent and so not heeding to the Truth or cleaving to the Foundation are overthrown weakned in or broken off from the Faith yet notwithstanding all this the Foundation of God standeth sure Now the chief business for me in this is to demonstrate what is here meant by The Foundation of God and though other places of Scripture have fully and plainly told us already yet we may minde what this place saith in observing three things What the Apostles scope was What was in his view What the words and terms with their several Branches and Distinctions are In all which it appears what the Foundation is and that it is Jesus Christ as set forth in the Gospel consider it well 1. The scope of the Apostle appears in this and the following Chapter to be to stir up Timothy and so others to faithfulness and diligence in the Ministration of the Gospel 2 Tim. 2.1 2 3 14 15 4.2 2.8 16 22 23 24 25 26 Jude 21 22 23. to be strong in the Grace of Christ for it and instant and fervent in it and for this end to endure hardness and avoid such things as might hinder him to flie youthful lusts vain bablings unlearned questions c. and to minde Christ risen from the dead that so he might with tender love and compassion endeavour the preservation and edification of those which did believe and the recovery of such as were departed and taken in the snare of the Devil some with compassion some with fear all with meekness and to encourage him in all this he tells him The Foundation of God standeth
right faith but that which springs from this eternal Purpose and that is also built on it This framed Purpose affirmed both to be the eternal Purpose of God and the foundation first laid for such as shall be saved to be built on is an inhumane device and a very fable having no Scripture to express it yea it is a Wolf barking against the Testimony of the Gospel and yet so of many will not be owned till some better coat be put upon it But if any can clothe it with and make it bear the Name of Election and Reprobation used in the Scripture and cover it with a pretence to glorifie the Soveraignty Omnisciency and Immutability of God and of abasing Man and magnifying Grace if by Wit Eloquence and Rhetorick and wresting Scripture it be covered with these pretences it may be entertained as a Truth and a harmless Lamb by some zealous humble and learned Men and so it may come to be deposited into the keeping of some Graduates in some University that can charm its voice stop its violence in devouring and set it forth in more orderly form so that though the thing it self be a Wolf yet it having on it a Sheep's-Skin and being charmed from its barking and violence of devouring demeaning it self as by Art it hath been taught It may so long go for a Sheep and be cherished in the Bosomes and commended in the Declarations of wise learned and godly Men and be entertained applauded and pleaded for as a Sheep by many zealous conscientious Professors and have certain brands of antiquity and consent of many learned and godly put upon it and they that so do till the Sheep's-Skin be taken off it may remain godly still and yet much hurt be done for the Wolf as it groweth up cannot but sometime shew its Nature yet subtilly so as if he bark it is so out of the hearing of the judicious that it will be denied to be he that did it and if he devour any Sheep it is so secretly in the Night that when Light comes he is gone and in another place and so not known till by the Watchers he be spied among some of his Fellows and heard barking and seen devouring and yet though they declare it it will be hard to convince many of it till themselves be bitten he hath been so long taken and applauded for a Sheep among them And yet that this Wolf may be known to be so even while the Sheep's-Skin is on him if we as we are taught 1 Joh. 4.1 take Doctrines or Spirits that are false in the same sense with false Prophets we have a good direction given us by our Saviour Christ that saith Mat. 7.15 Ye shall know them by their fruits Now then they being not open and professed Wolves but appearing in Sheep's-clothing Act. 20.29.30 and inwardly Wolves and in Society not with the Wolves of the VVorld but among the Sheep in the profest Church what can fruits be to know them by but onely these that in stead of bleating like a Sheep they bark and instead of feeding with the Sheep they are biting if not devouring Now then confider this Doctrine or devised Fable of such a Purpose as last related and held forth for the Foundation of God's unchangeable Purpose and Election of which and no other I now speak That it is a devised Fable such as the Apostles shunned 2 Pet. 1.16 2 Tim. 4.4 Isa 8.20 and charged others so to do is evident because there is no one saying nor divers to be coupled in the Law and Testimony in its own plainness and simplicity to affirm it with That it is a Wolf the general Affirmation of our true Prophet and Shepherd assures us that saith All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers Joh. 10.4 All that ever came before me and so whatever is presentend to Men before Christ as the Father's Minde and Purpose or any other thing for Men to stay and rest on as a foundation for Faith and Hope a Guide and safe Keeper he saith not onely Were but are Thieves and Robbers and so Devourers He The first purposed The first promised Moses and all the Prophets yea the whole Scripture testifies of him yea they all in those times directed to look to him as then to come that Men might receive the knowledg of God's Minde and behold his grace and receive his Salvation in minding and believing on him as the foundation to be laid in Sion and though the Purpose and Promise was plainly declared yet not before nor farther or otherwise then he was declared nor did it come forth till he came nor did any of the Servants of God teach any to judge it come till he came but in his coming it did come forth into act and he is now laid in Sion and held forth by Sion and by the Anostles plainly declared to be The onely true Prophet Rabbi Teacher Shepherd and Foundation therefore whatever Purpose or Election be feigned to be before him and so to be the foundation to be known and built upon for comfort or hope or assurance of our interest in him and Salvation through him and so before faith in him or any otherwise known then in knowing him or any other then is first compleat in him and flowing through him so as he himself as discovered in the Gospel be the first Opener of the Father's Minde Allurer of and Peace-speaker to the Heart and Door of approach to God and all saving Truth and into fellowship with the Church that same that is not thus is a Thief and a Robber yea his being laid called and sealed for the foundation doth plainly demonstrate this for the foundation is that which is first brought forth to view and so first said and then all that is to be built laid on that foundation and then the foundation beareth and upholdeth all the building And Christ being affirmed to be this foundation yea he onely and no other therefore though the revealed Purpose of God concerning him and of saving and communicating all saving-Grace with and through him and his sealing-Approbation and Election of him for all this and of all for his that are brought in to and upon him be known in knowing him and then and so heavenly cords to draw upon and unite and fasten more to him yet they are by good Men very improperly called the Foundation which Christ himself onely is as is foreshewn But for this foresaid devised Purpose and Election of a certain number of fallen Mankinde to eternal salvation and of Christ to be given to die onely for them to purchase it for them onely c. This is not onely a fable but a Thief and Devourer and so a Wolf and being grown and often with his fellows his fruits do now discover him both in his barking and devouring yea even while some plead for him for it barks and snaps directly against the Purpose of God set
to stumble at Christ And not I onely but many others have cause to bless God that in making Christ known overthrew this Confidence and brought us in to believe in Jesus Christ onely and so delivered us that from snare also But yet some there are Gal. 3.10 13. Tit. 3.4 that heeding the Testimony of Christ in the Gospel see these changes and righteous affections and doings of ones own are very imperfect and too weak to raise such a Conclusion from and not the way in which the Love of God appears to save Men and bring them in to himself and so not to assure Election or trust in for it or for life And that sueâ— Trusters cannot be justified before God but that is onely by the freeness of his Grace discovered to sinners as sinners through the Blood of Christ that died for sinners and so bringing them in to believe in him for Justification yea and Sanctification and all saving Grace through the freeness of his Grace O Grace how freely workest thou O precious Faith thou art now a working But this fable not being yet banished doth secretly suggest All this is true indeed but yet this Death of Christ for sinners as sinners and all this free and rich Grace in and through him is not nor never was intended for all sinners but onely to some of them before the World was the Elect and they onely and no other shall have it And for the reverence so of many holy Men as have affirmed this fable for Truth this Suggestion is received and so in stead of believing what Grace tendereth they are perswaded first to wait for some special and personal Manifestation of their Election from eternity by some supernatural shine and powerful dictate in some speaking to their heart that they are elect sons and so that Christ hath died for them and their sins are forgiven and for want of this many long languish and refuse to believe and to be comforted by the Words of the Gospel and some over-hasty of Consolation snatch at any word that cometh suddenly into their thoughts though left to their own and others Interpretation yet putt up with and boast of them some in this waiting ready to receive any Satanical delusion coming as an Angel of Light and so to be transported with strange dreams and erring fancies yet so merciful is God that to some thus waiting he not laying this their folly to their charge doth for his own Name sake in Christ in some season minde them of his graciousness and love in Christ with some saying or promise in the Gospel put to their heart in which they are drawn through Christ to behold him as a Father and so for the present sweetly comforted and framed yet the Dreams of the old fable not banished Anon after some grow proud of their visits and though foiled with some passions and lusts yet presumptuously confident in their visits They say They cannot by these things miscarry God can as soon cease to be God as cease eternally to save them because of his eternal Purpose corcerning them yet others in minding the great and free love and goodness of God in Christ and their own infirmities are kept more humbly confident in his grace in Christ and stirred up more seriously to acknowledge the failings that appear and to seek in exercise of faith and use of means help preservation and encrease of grace through Christ yet the relicks of the old fable hinders the free stream of their Love to such as are yet in ignorance and their ready declaring Gospel to them and apts them to many lofty Speeches and un-Gospel-like sayings and to judge all that by temptation are turned aside to have been but hypocrites before and to put a stop to weak Brethrens consolation that have not had their visits Yet God being gracious to both these sorts doth yet farther correct and teach them notwithstanding the force the old fable hath with them still and keeps their hearts to himself and out of some backslidings doth recal them and heal them his mercies are greater and his waves above Mans as many of us have cause to confess for by his gracious teachings the Gospel often breathing and shining upon their hearts notwithstanding all the miscarriages before said The Testimony of Jesus That he died for all and is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole VVorld That whoever of them believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life and this the Purpose of God is discerned and believed And so the old fable it self departeth and they are more freely and sweetly drawn upon Jesus Christ and have all their rest and joy in him and the freeness of the grace of God in him and to minde Purpose and Election as it is and appears in and through him and so begin to be united to him and in some measure conformed to him loving delightfully their brethren and with compassion those that are yet in ignorance and unbelief and readily holding forth the word of Life as a word of Truth and Verity to them And yet notwithstanding all this though the old fable be gone some of the dregs of it are left remaining secretly moving in them which they in their fancy are rectifying to a new mould as if though secret yet some such Election there is But God hath purposed and according to his Purpose sent Christ the Saviour of the World and he hath purposed and according to his Purpose hath doth and will use means towards all that they might be saved and especially where the Gospel comes yea so far stretching forth his hand in the means with such sufficiency of light and strength that they might indeed repent and believe in which repenting and believing he will surely save them by Christ and if they in such seasons do not repent and believe it is their own fault and they lose their own Souls all which is verily true But then follows If God should do no more but that which is enough and sufficient to bring Men in to believe then would none believe and so none would come into his rest and be eternally saved but some must enter therefore he hath decreed and purposed to overcome some with an almighty and unresistable power and those onely so purposed and so overcome shall be eternally saved This at first blush would seem to set forth God's Mercy to all Mankinde to free him from all the imputation of hardness and cruelty by the former fable laid upon him to abase Man and magnifie the riches and freeness of his Grace to some and the equity of his Justice to others and leaves room to preach the Gospel as Truth to all which the other fable did not yet in Truth well weighed it is found but a meer Artifice of remaining dregs of the former and if long remaining will have its barking bleat and bring forth many of its Fruits and now it may be more marvelled that the former fable gone
this should be framed out of its dregs after plain Gospel-Testimony is believed there being no one Saying in the Gospel declaring any such thing or that giveth ground for any such consequence and why should any of us that have received so much good in the Gospel-Testimony strain for a consequence to maintain that which the Gospel declareth not yea which stands cross to many Declarations yea Heb. 4.6 and to the scope of that very place alledged some must enter which appears to be spoken to encourage the weakest Believers to abide and go on in their Faith that they may enter the Rest or Canaan Compare ch 3. 4. with ch 6 12-20 11. See Part 3. ch 2. God hath sworn to give Abraham Isaac and Jacob and their Seed and they looked to receive it in a heavenly manner a new Earth c. which they never yet did nor shall till we all to the last that shall be called by the Gospel-Ministration come to enter together with them True God by Moses called them out of Egypt to that very promised Canaan but not at that time to receive it in that manner promised to Abraham but yet to receive it for which he gave them his promise which they not firmly believing especially after the receit of the first-Fruits all the antient Men except Caleb and Joshua that followed him fully in the faith of his Promise fell in the Wilderness and entred not not but that Moses Aaron Miriam Zelophehad and all like them even all but the rebellious shall in the Resurrection of the Just rise again and enter this promised Rest with Abraham c. So that in this they were but Types and Examples to us Those that Joshua led into the Land the Lord by Joshua gave them rest and in continuing in the Law of the Lord they might have retained it in that manner till the coming of Christ but yet the Rest as promised to Abraham was not then given no nor yet so long after as in David's time who when a King there and had both his people and his enemies subdued to him yet confest himself a stranger as his Fathers were and affirmed the promised Rest to be yet to come yet sure all that lived and died in the Faith must rise and enter when Abraham enters after God sent forth Christ for a Witness and Covenant that resting on him by Faith they might be so entring and in due time fully enter And the Gospel hereof was first preached to the Jews who for the most part refused and so entred not by by Faith and deprived themselves of a personal entrance when the time cometh yet God in his faithfulness to Abraham will preserve a Seed of Men of his Generation through all troubles that there should be found of them surviving at the coming of Christ and be brought in by him and shall enter when Abraham and all that sleep in Jesus shall be raised and enter together with them and till then none so enter for were it already so entred our hope would be cut off but it is not the rest yet remaineth for the people of God that we believing and abiding in Christ may have him for our rest and so be entring by Faith now and personally at Christ his next coming to encourage all Believers to firmness and constancy in this faith is the drift scope of the Apostle Rom. 9.19 who hath thus opened the same Methinks none should be so void of fear to affirm that as the Saying of the Holy Ghost which is given as the suggestion of an evil spirit Saying of a vain Man and so reproved Who hath resisted his Will as if none had or could which with grief I suppose true Believers will confess they have too often What other evils of dissention among Brethren c. the affirming of this devised Purpose to be both the Purpose of God and the Foundation and what other inconveniencies follow the maintaining of the last mentioned figment I will forbear to speak onely I confess for the reverence I bare to some I was a long time snared with this old fable till I experimented the evils mentioned and was brought to confess God in his Sayings true whoever be a lyar nor do I now blame any but my self who might have received good onely and not harm by what I read if I had not made Mens holiness and learning but the Scripture onely the umpire of my Faith and yet I have learned this That a Wolf in a Sheep's-Skin may for a time be imbraced and pleaded for by them that are no Wolves and so to be sober in judging yea this I farther confess That when I thought my self freed this last mentioned figment did a long time remain with me yea I was not freed of it when that my first published Tract called by the Printer The Vniversality of God's Free-Grace to Mankinde was put forth some Expressions there of it I wish were amended So that in this whole Chapter I own the blame of all the folly shewn to my self desiring of God as for forgiveness of all my Transgressions so of those in maintenance and favour of this old Fable or the last mentioned figment in Word or any Manuscript of mine desiring him that hath freed me to free others And yet I believe the eternal Purpose of God and the Foundation he hath laid according to his Purpose and his Election of that Foundation and of all in believing united to him to be verily true precious unmoveable unalterable as they are revealed in the Scripture as I have fore-declared CHAP. 12. The Conclusion about the Purposes of God to be known and believed THe Gospel as now come forth the Testimony of Christ in that which he hath suffered and done and what he is to and for them and what he doth to them that they might believe and what he will farther do to and for them believing his Father's and his own end in all this it is the Word and Minde of God yea the very opening and Declaration of the Heart Bosome Counsels and Purposes of God there is no Purpose of God cross to any part of this Testimony nor is there any Purpose that is God's but what is according to this Testimony which is the Word and Declaration of the Minde of the living God Rom. 6.25 26. Eph. 3.3 9. and called his Decree not to be doubted or waved from by any Suggestion of other secret Purposes or by feigned pretences of other meanings as if it were the Word of a Man that spake by guess or probabilities or according to appearances but to be believed and received as the word of the Almighty all-knowing God of Truth wherein the very mystery of his Will is opened to us Wherefore it becomes us neither to imagine our selves nor receive of others nor pry into any Purposes as if Purposes of God that are not declared in and according to the Testimony of Christ
in the Gospel beware of Evah's desire of knowledge but if we would know mysteries Rom. 1.16 1 Thess 2.13 minde well and believe fiâ—â—ly the Declaration of the Gospel and that believed with the heart as the Word of the God of Truth will enlighten and work effectually in us yea if that be so heeded as the very discovery of the Minde Heart and Purpose of God to such unworthy Ones as we what appearances of divine Love what excellencies what depths of understanding and knowledge what supernatural shines divine streams spiritual operations in melting renewing heart-rejoycing yea what nighness approach to God what fellowship with Father and Son and with Prophets and Apostles yea what hope and heavenly riches is to be met with through the Spirit in belief of this Testimony will not be believed without some experiment in the Declarations of well-grown and experimented Believers much less in the scanty Declaration of such a one as I therefore I forbear that Declaration knowing that when any do come heartily to believe the Gospel-Testimony of Christ they will experiment so much that they will confess As they have heard they have found but withall they think the half was not told them and then they will see enough in the Purpose of God as revealed for them to know and this may be farther said That the Purposes of God as revealed in the Gospel are such as are meet and forcible if believed to draw unbelievers to believe to confirm weak Believers in the Faith and to make valiant the strong All which things hath been before shewn and proved An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART V. CHAP. I. Of the Promises of God in the behalf of Mankinde THe Promises of God Psal 12.5 6 7. 2 Cor. 1.20 are true pure and certain to be performed according to the terms of his Word and Promise they are like his Purposes yea the Declarers of his Purposes and so Yea and Amen in Christ And those I am now to take view of are those which have their tendency toward the Salvation of Mankinde out of the death he fell into by the first Adam and the Justification and eternal Salvation of Believers And these I shall view in three Heads or Branches first Those done secondly also in doing thirdly those remaining to be done The first Head or Branch of Promises is of those things that are truly most Gen. 3.15 with 2 Joh. 3.5 Gen. 22.18 with Gal. 3.16 Isa 42.1 7. 49.6 and all in some sense done and performed and these are of two sorts I name the later first because first made known to Man that is 1. To Mankinde for giving and sending a Saviour 2. To Christ the Saviour upon his oneness of Will and Minde with the Father in his undertaking to be the Saviour and to save according to the Will and Minde of the Father 5.3 4 10. with Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Joh. 4.14 Act. 13.47 and these are also both in plain and express Promises and also certainly intimated in the Curse and Threats on the Serpent and Serpentine Seed the Enemies of the Salvation of Mankinde and of the Peace and Prosperity of the Church the Seed of Christ the Seed of the Woman 1. The Promises to Mankinde for giving and sending a Saviour even Christ that he should be a very Man of the Seed of the Woman Emmanuel God with us that he should come of Abraham and blessing be in him for all Nations that he should die and rise and offer the Propitiatory Sacrifice and make Atonement for the sins of Men and be filled with Spirit so as he shall be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth even the Saviour of the VVorld that whoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life which things are before explained in the Purposes of God of which the Promises are the Discoverers And these Promises are fulfilled Act. 13.31 32.33 Rom. 8.32 and he that verily believeth God to have fulfilled his Promise in this may very well trust him in any other Promise 2. The Promises to Christ the Saviour Psa 40.6 7. Heb. 10.5 7. Isa 50.9 Psal 116.10 11. Psal 2.6 110.1 Isa 42.1 50.4 5 6. 61.1 2 3. Psa 110.4 Isa 49.7 8 55.5 Mal. 3.1 Isa 40. Psal 68.11 19. Prov. 9.3 Isa 53.10 11 12. Psa 2.8 9. 89.20 21 27. 1 Chron. 17.13 14. Isa 65.9 upon his oneness of Minde and Will with the Father in his undertaking to be the Saviour and to save according to the Minde and Will of the Father as That he would give him a Body that in it he might do his Will That he would be with him in all his Sufferings and uphold him and raise him out of Death and exalt him after his Sufferings and Resurrection and set him at his right Hand and fill him with the fulness of the Spirit in the Nature of Man and so give him the Tongue of the Learned and That he would make him an High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec and That he would be present with him to make his Mediation prosperous and he would also give him a Messenger to go before his Face or Presence to prepare the way before him and Witnesses also to declare him when he had finished the Work he was to do in his own Body and That he should see his Seed and the work of the Lord should prosper in his Hand and That he would give the Heathen to him for an Inheritance to rule and the Kingdom and heavenly Inheritance for himself and all his spiritual Seed that should be his Jewels and his peculiar Inheritance All which things are explained in the Purposes which are discovered in the Promises And as the former Promises to Mankinde so these to Christ as undertaking for Mankinde are all of both sorts for the good and benefit of Mankinde and yet had they no dependence on the Faith of particular Men but that God would send his Son to be the Saviour and so furnish him to be a Saviour depended onely upon the Truth and Faithfulness of God and should upon that account be performed to and for Men notwithstanding all the unbelief of Men though Men come to the use of understanding cannot receive the special saving benefit but in the belief which belief was not so easie nor had so demonstrating and powerful evidence and Argument to draw to believe as since it is unbared in the performance And note That these Promises to Mankinde and as to Christ for the good of Mankinde are Promises of Christ by God to Mankinde but not so properly as the following Promises through Christ suitable to our Saviour's Doctrine of his Father's VVill in his Love he freely found out the Ransome and promised and gave his Son to be the Saviour but extendeth Salvation by and through his Son Christ Joh. 3.16 17. Rom. 5.6 8 Gal. 4.4 1 Tim.
in reverence of him have been forborn let become of our Opinions what will let God be True and every one that swerves from his sayings a Liar as for Saints by turning aside to fall depart c. Mr. Owen and all of his Opinion grant a falling may be and a grievous one also yea a departure though not total and final yet such as will be visited with grievous corrections such as may be as fire in their bones And we believe and Mr. Goodwin nowhere denieth Ier. 3.6 14 22. Hosea 14.2 4. Iude 22 23. but that there are Promises for these departed ones still That upon God's correcting recalling and renewed strife with them in which he will not be wanting in repenting and returning they shall be forgiven and received into former favour and renewed to former gracious consolation and hope again What needed then this harsh Censure and what profiteth the Opinion of the infallible certainty of the Saints perseverance When some of the Saints never attain this certainty Pag. 294. and some lose it in whole or in part yea many of the Saints who are not enabled all their dayes to mix the Promise of perseverance with faith and on that account do never all their dayes get free from some bondage c. So saith Mr. Owen whereas all that are justified by faith in Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1 2. Gal. 1.1 have peace with God c. What is contended for If it were to help the Saints to persevere and to the Faith thereof then Mr. Goodwin his warning of the danger to avoid it and setting forth the Foundation on which they may safely rest and not be deceived is more farthering that business then the maintaining an impossibilty of final falling and set forth no Foundation for Believers to rest on for it in which they may enjoy it And surely these gracious Promises given to Believers abiding in the Faith with all the Cautions mixt with them are very helpful to Saints perseverance yet seeing there are Promises to help yet farther I will endeavour to quote some of them for the Reader to turn to and mind CHAP. 3. Of Promises to Believers that they may abide in the Faith THe third sort of Promises are to Believers that they may abide in their Faith and holiness Prov. 28.26 and not be left to trust on their own faithfulness for their abiding which would be unsafe for them and folly in them yea if any of them because of their love faithfulness and zeal toward the Lord or any attainments got or resolution made should thence resolve and conclude Isa 50.10 11. Mat. 26.33 35 Rom. 11 18 20. and rest thereon that they shall not depart from him or forsake him this though in the best Saints would certainly presage a fall for their standing and perseverance therefore that it may be by Faith Hab. 2.3 4 Gal. 2.20.1 Pet. 1.5 Gal. 5.5 and so that they may live by Faith and be kept by the power of God through Faith which is the onely way of attaining God in and through Christ hath given many gracious Promises which being mixed with Faith in Believers they will be enabled to follow the Lord fully as Joshua did and so be preserved till they come to the heavenly as he did to the earthly Canaan Psal 125. for the Lord forsaketh none that trust in him they shall be as Mount Sion c. Let us then search the Scripture where these Promises are 1. Psal 84.12 29.11 5.12 Isa 26.3 4. Jer. 17.7 8. They are blessed that believe or trust in the Lord he will bless them with peace and compass them about with favour as with a shield and keep them in perfect peace so as they shall take root and be established be green and fruitful and not wither 2. Deut. 33.3 Ioh. 10.28 29. Psa 18.30 Deut. 23.25 27. Rom. 16.20 Mat. 16.18 They are in the hands and under the wings and protection of the Lord and none can pluck them out of his hands so that he is and will be a Buckler to them and an Enemy to their Enemies and turn them back yea he will tread Satan under their Feet and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against them 3. He will preserve and strengthen them he will preserve their souls Psal 31.23 24. 97.10 Prov. 2.8 Deut. 31.6 Heb. 13.5 Psa 37.28 their way their feet in his way 1 Sam. 2.9 yea he will never leave them nor forsake them but preserve them for ever so as they shall be safe through all dangers and set on high c. Psal 91. throughout 4. Isa 57.13 Psal 34.22 They shall possess the promised Land and inherit his holy Mountain and none of them shall be desolate Can any that believe Christ and therethrough trust God in his Word and so believe his Promises but that according to their Faith they are alike perswaded of his graciousness power truth and faithfulness according to these Promises to preserve their Souls in Faith and them in his Grace and way through Faith unto Salvation in his abundant goodness and truth And to help Believers to this believing and confidence these Promises are brought nigher to us Rom. 13.11 2 Tim. 1.9 10. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. and made more open and easie to be believ'd then when first made before the first coming of Christ in that now 5. Christ hath come in the flesh and Jesus is the Christ and he The Lord Jesus Christ The Son of God The Son and Saviour of Man The Head and Brother of all Believers who hath suffered for our sins overcome death offered the acceptable Sacrifice and is exalted and immeasurably filled in the Nature of Man with the Holy Ghost and in him all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen all the Promises are his 2 Cor. i. 20. Joh. 1.12.13 Joh. 6.37 38 40 7.2 6. and to him it belongs by vertue of his purchase and the donation of the Father to give the Dignity and Priviledges to be the Sons of God to Believers and to keep raise and give eternal life to those by the Fathers testifying of him drawn in to believe in him as hath been shewn in the Declaration of the Purposes which are opened in the Promises And he the Lord Jesus Christ telleth us plainly That his goodness the choice benefits of all his sufferings and Sacrifice and Mediation extendeth not to the Father to help or add any thing to his perfection but to the Saints that are in the Earth Psa 16.2 3. compassed with infirmities and to the excellent yea even the Spirits of just Men made perfect who have not yet received all their happiness in whom namely those Saints both that live by Faith and that have died in the Faith is all his delight And he communicateth the Priviledges of Sons to all that believe in him and they are born of God and have eternal Life Joh.
also and rejoyce for the same being Heirs together of the Grace of Life and so of the Promises mentioned in the third Head or Branch of Promises IV. This Consideration of the Promises of God to fallen Mankinde sinners in the first and second Consideration and his Purposes alike ordered and the Testimony of Christ in the Gospel declaring and witnessing the same will keep us from wresting and lead us to a profitable understanding of that in Act. 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternal life believed This some to favour some Opinion wrest to mean as many as from eternity were in their persons absolutely decreed and elected to eternal life believed so leaving all the rest of Mankinde but that elect number as from eternity decreed to be damned a harsh and untrue position cross to all the plain Declaration of the Gospel and the Purpose of God in giving and sending his Son and causing him to be preached and the Promises of God to fallen Mankinde sinners in first and second Consideration and to the Holy Spirit 's Discovery of the Elect and those that are counted or the Seed and cross to the Text for if as many as were ordained as they say from Eternity decreed to eternal life did then believe then was there no more to be converted and that would not have filled the Disciples with joy nor would the Word of the Lord have been farther published to others still there it were better to acknowledge such a Sentence deep and difficult and wait till we be helped so to understand it as agreeing with the Testimony of Christ then to fancy a sense quite cross to it all as this appears to be nor is there a word here to countenance it for it is not said As many as were from Eternity ordained to eternal Life believed If any say It must be so taken because of the contrary saying in Jude 4. Who were ordained of old to this condemnation I answer They mistake both places for the word in Jude 4 is either forewritten or ordained of old which is not so far as from eternity no not in the works of God Israel said The Lord bath appeared to me of old which could not be from eternity Jeâ— 31.3 though far off in many Ages past and so this fore-writing and Ordainment of old was fore-written by the Prophets And two things are note-able in Jude 4. First Who they were that were thus ordained and that is See Part 4. ch 4. not particular Men as Adam's Sons fallen considered but such as to whom Grace hath been extended and Light opening their eyes to see and so called to yield to the Teachings of it and they willingly close their eyes and pervert the Tenders of Grace and abuse it to take Liberty to satisfie the Flesh and in that sense ungodly and that such as so considered are ordained to stumble is foreshewn Secondly note what that is they are here said to be ordained to and that is to be the Tryers Exercisers and Adversaries of the Saints in contending against their Faith and so to this Judgement Contention or Condemnation to be also contended against by the Saints Gen. 4.15 Prov. 29.27 Psa 101. 139.19 22. which Ordainment and fore-writing is declared of old and may be read and such as persist in the ungodliness are ordain'd to the vengeance of eternal fire and not else as that whole Epistle shews And this Jude 4. speaking of a direct contrary Ordainment to that Act. 13.48 helps to a right understanding thereof namely That such as when means of Grace and the Call of God therein is extended to them and light so given as they are brought to hear and understand and they do in hearing hear and in seeing see and so receive and like the Reproof and Call such are ordained to have Christ made to appear more precious to them and so believe and in believing to have eternal Life as hath been shewn both in Purposes and Promises Par. 4. ch 4. Part 5. Chap. 1. which helps to understand this and according to the Testimony of Christ and the Purposes and Promises set forth in the Gospel is this to be understood And for the words in it 1. Some accounted well skilled in the Greek say It 's thus to be read Act. 13.48 As many as believed were ordained to eternal Life Which however the saying and sense in it is true and safe to be received as Truth which the foresaid contradicting sense cannot be for this agreeth with the residue of the Gospel and the Purposes and Promises of God But grant this Saying to be not fit and proper in this place as other skilful Grecians say it is not yet if we look well into the words as used in Scripture-Language 2. If we should take ordained as some press for it Prov. 1.23 1 Pet. 2.3 4 7. Joh. 5.25 Mat. 13.12 c. to be pre-ordained or ordained of old or fore-written yet the sense is given us in Scripture to be That God hath ordained that when he declares his Grace in Christ and therein opens Mens ears to hear and their eyes to see and puts forth his hand in his Call moving at their hearts that such as then by the Grace extended do in hearing hear and in seeing see and so receive his Words more Grace shall flow in to them so as they shall believe and have eternal life and so it stands well here As many as were ordained to eternal life that is were so prepared by the Grace extended believed This shewn in Purposes and Promises 3. If we take ordained as some skilful in the Greek say The word signifies for ordered or fitted and so for an act of the following Grace of God where his preventing Grace was not rejected but entertained and so such as harden not their hearts against preventing Graces but receive and own it to them more abundant and following Grace is given and so they fitted to prize accept and receive Christ Heb. 3.7 Joh. 4.10 10.38 Joh. 5.38 40 44 10.26 27 12.38 39. Acts 13.39 40 41 47. in whom eternal Life is and so to accept and receive it in God's way and so being ordered inclined and fitted for eternal Life they do in that gracious Operation believe Just as it is said of Despisers of the Word and Resisters of preventing Grace They cannot believe They put away eternal Life from themselves as is seen in the Verses before this Text And so likewise when in this preventing Grace the Lord Jesus was held forth to be a Light to the Gentiles and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth which is the same with The Propitiation for the sins of the whole World The Saviour of the World that died for all and gave himself a Ransom for all and upon that ground Isa 45.22 Prov. 8.4 5. Act. 13.44.45 all the ends of the Earth called to look to him and be saved when this
Prov. 1.22 23. 9.2 6. Isa 55.2 7. of the Promises of God in the three several Heads or Branches it appears That the Love and Free-Grace of God in all appearing hath enough in it to call and draw in the worst of Men and Unbelievers that hear it Rev. 22.17 Joh. 3.33 Rom. 3.4 1 Joh. 5.10 to repent and believe and to confirm the Faith of Believers and to lead â—em to the assurance of Faith for perseverance Oh that Men would believe God more then Men and not make him a liar to justifie Men and surely the Covenants of God are suitable to the Gospel of God and his Purposes and Promises of which next An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART VI. CHAP. I. Of the Covenants of God with the two publick Men. THE Covenants of the Lord are sure and according to his terms of covenanting shall certainly be performed to every Iota but those I am now to consider be such as pertain to life and godliness and so to Salvation And therefore I shall endeavour to set them forth as upon search in and by the Scripture understood according to the Testimony of Christ I finde them either made or promised to be made beginning with those already made and so I shall begin with the two publick Men the first Adam and the second Adam I. What the Covenant made with the first Adam was is not exprest but as it may be gathered by the story and elsewhere in Scripture what such great goodness extended obligeth to and so it cannot be denied but that the Grace of God in the Creation of the Heaven and Earth and a world of Creatures for Man and Man himself in the Image and likeness of God and making him a publick Man and common Father of all Mankinde that were to proceed naturally from him and set him in a place of pleasure and appointed him a service of delight in dressing the Garden making him Lord of all the Creatures below affording him Liberty of Communion with the Creator and a Tree of Life on which eating he might be immortal and live for ever This did oblige him to believe and acknowledge the Word Wisdom Power Truth Love and Goodness of God his Creator and therein to love the Lord his God with all his Minde Heart Soul and Strength and his Neighbour even all Mankinde that was to come of him as himself and so to walk in this belief of God and love of God and his Nieghbour doing whatever God should say unto him from that natural Principle of Righteousness God had implanted in him and though this was to works yet I cannot for all this say God made with him and put him under a Covenant of works to do and live or by doing such things to live not onely because I finde no Record of any such thing imposed by such an Obligation from God on him nor engaged and promised so on the part of Adam but because God in breathing into him the breath of life and making him a living Soul Gen. 2.7 1 Cor. 15.45 Gen. 1.27 Eccles 7.29 Col. 3.10 did so frame him to the likeness of God in Righteousness and Holiness inspiring such a Disposition into his Soul and Aptitude into his Faculties Parts and Members that it was natural to Adam and he freely inclined so to love God and his Neighbour and apted with motion and strength to have walked out in that love yea as natural as for the Sun to give light or the Fire heat or the Earth to bring forth its fruits so as no outward imposed or inforced Law was needed nor was he under the power of any such either to charge or to accuse or excuse If any reply That he was under a Covenant of works because he was set to dress the Garden Gen. 2.8 15. I answer That God put the Man in the Garden to dress it and to keep it is true but That he made that as a Covenant of Works to put Adam under a Covenant of Works it being so easie and delightful it doth no more appear to me then God calling a People out of Darkness and Bondage into Light and Freedom chusing them in and building them on his Son to offer up by him spiritual Sacrifices 1 Pet. 2.5 9. Luk. 1.74 75. and shew forth his praises and serve him in Righteousness and Holiness should be a putting them under a Covenant of Works If it be replied That the Lord commanded the man saying Of every Tree in the Garden eating thou shalt eat or Gen. 2.16 17. thou maist freely eat but of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for c. I answer This implies that Adam knew the Nature of all the Trees and shews the great Liberty that God gave him in his delightful business of dressing the Garden to eat of them all but one and shewed him the danger of eating of that one to keep him from it and therein gave him both the Oportunity and Liberty of exercising the Freedom of his Will in shewing forth his well-pleasedness with and freeness of abiding in the way of his Creator which else he had been in a sort necessitated to and could not have shewn forth that Freedom as now he might And this is not like a Covenant of Works enjoyning Works unless any will have a ceasing from one Work to be the Works to which if any should tempt him he could not plead want fasting Mat. 4.2 hunger all which was on him that overcame to weaken or necessitate him to it and the Truth is 2 Cor. 11.3 See Part 1. ch 9. 10. Had he abode in the belief of the Word of the Lord he had not eaten of it and so fallen So that by all I can finde The first Adam was under a Covenant of Grace Grace obliging and Grace given leading and so at least a gracious Covenant and so was all Mankinde at first in him during his innocency unless one should deny any thing freely from God to be of Grace and free and undeserved Favour but onely forgiveness of sins and that which follows thereupon and so exclude not onely Adam in his innocency but the Holy Angels also from being under Grace or free Favour But Adam in the Female first and then thereby in the Male listened to the Tempter questioning the Truth and meaning of the Import of the plain Saying of the Lord and so let go his Faith or believing of God's Word and so eat and sinned and fell Gen. 3.1 7. Rom. 5.12 18. and so all Mankinde sinned and fell in him and so in this his fall he lost his righteous Disposition and aptitude to love God and his Neigbour the Law of Righteousness was now out of his heart and a contrary Disposition sprung up therein from the poysonous VVord of the Serpent received and so he and all Mankinde in him fell under the Covenant and Law
Spirit and Truth figured is found in the Circumcision Sufferings and Death of Jesus Christ Phil. 3.3 4 7 8 9. Col. 2.9 10 11 12. which Spirit and Truth is so in Christ that whoever believeth in him is interested in the same and it is become his and he receiveth the Circumcision made without Hands even that of the Spirit taking him off from all confidence in the Flesh that he may rejoyce in Christ onely as compleat in him and so that Jesus is the Christ That he had put an end to all bloody Ordinances and Sacrifices for sin That he hath made purgation for our sins to purge us with and then sate down on the Right-Hand of God and the everlasting Covenant firm in him and he filled with Spirit to dispense and so set forth the Saviour of the World and Propitiation for the sins of the whole World that whoever believeth in him may not perish but have everlasting Life and so his part in this everlasting Covenant Compare Gen. 17.9 10 11 12 13. Exod. 12.48 49. with Mat. 28.18 19 20. Act. 16.33 Col. 2.11 12. for all this we have an outward Sign and Testimony more significant easie and free then Circumcision was even Baptism c. to be put on all that accept this Gospel on them and all under their Tuition as a Sign given from Christ to testifie not the Truth of the Repentance and believing of such as are baptized but the Truth of the Faith Gospel and Covenant taught and so disciple into Abraham's Family to be the Scholars of Christ who needeth not as humane School-Masters to have his Scholars bring their capacities and fitness with them for he even giveth that also and as Circumcision and the Passeover were Ordinances of the Gospel in which Christ to come in the flesh was preached and both before the first Testament and yet when that given were both used under it so Baptism and the Supper of the Lord are both Ordinances of the Gospel in which Christ is preached as already come in the flesh and to come in Glory Rom. 3.27 8.2 Iam. 2.8 12. and both instituted before the New Testament was given from Mount Sion yet now both used under it But the new Testament it self will verily appear to be something distinct even that Law of Faith of Life of Liberty for nurturing Sons and in which Believers are to walk in this Life So that yet in this saying we are not satisfied 3. Some say That the New Testament is Christ his Dispensation of a spiritual first Fruits of the everlasting Covenant into the Hearts and Minde of the Believers in putting in by his Spirit his gracious Word into their Heart and so enlivening and operating in them as to unite and conform them to himself and so lead them to the Inheritance This saying is Truth and fully proved in Heb. 8.6 10. and 10.15 16. agreeing with 2 Cor. 3.3 and doth more satisfie according to Scripture then all or any of the former and in this I long rested as if it were the whole of the Truth as indeed it is a part and the chief part of it and that which according to the New Covenant in his present Ministration he dispenseth and in that respect also is rightly said to be given for a Covenant And in this Dispensation given a New Testament is given which what that is I will assay to finde out and delare CHAP. 7. Of the New Testamental Covenant what it is THe New Testament is that Rule and Order agreed on between the Father and the Son in the councel of God both for Christ his Dispensation and the Believers Receit and Perseverance to which the Covenant hath Engagements on both parts as that given by Moses had though not the like Engagements for these two Testaments are one opposed to the other and by comparing the one with the other in their Agreements and Differences and the excellency of the New above the Old as declared in Scripture and the Scripture-Expressions of the New I conceive we may come to the cleerest and fullest satisfaction to know indeed what the New Testament is 1. They were both given by God by and in the Hands of a Mediator Gal. 3.19 20. Heb. 9.15 3.1 6. Rom. 7 10 13. Gal. 2.19 21. 3.21 22. 2 Cor. 3.6 11. Gal. 4.24 25 26 17. Heb. 12.18.22 Deut. 5.23 Gal. 3.17 18 19 25. Heb. 3.2 4 5 6 10. Exod. 20.1 2. Psal 81.10 Act. 26.18 Col. 1.12 13. but not both by one and the same Mediator the one the Servant the other the Son they were both ordain'd to life and so had the same end but not to effect it in the same way but the one preparing by terrifying and killing the other extending it by consolation quickning they were both given on and from a great Mountain but not the same Mountain but the one Mount Sinai gendring to Bondage the other Mount Sion giving to Freedom they both were given after the Covenant made with Abraham and so distinct Covenants made besides that and that by Moses first being no part of the Covenant made with Abraham but only subservient to it and this by Christ after that by Moses and so no part of that yet having in it the quintessence of the Covenant first made with Mankind through Christ and the first Fruits of the Covenant made with Abraham they were both made with a People redeemed not onely redeemed in a publick Man from perishing in the first death as all men were but also called and redeemed in their own persons out of great bondage and servitude to be led to Rest or Canaan yet not both alike the one out of an Egyptian worldly and bodily bondage to go to an Earthy Rest or Canaan the other out of a spiritual bondage in the darkness and pollutions of this World and the powerful Dominion of Satan to be led to an heavenly Inheritance Rest and Glory they were both given for nurture and tutoridge of Sons Gal. 4.1 8 21 31. having both their Directions and Requirings yet not both alike but the one to tutor as a School Master though Sons yet under some bondage like Servants suitably directing to and requiring Works the other to tutor as Sons in the Father's House and Presence with Freedom and its requirings not like the other of obedience in works in the strength they had not putting in new strength to do but of the use of Faith and Love given Gal. 5.6 2 Cor. 6.1 2. Phil. 2.12 13. Deut. 4.1 31.5 6. Rom. 10.5 Joh. 7.37 38 39. Heb. 8.2 6. Heb. 9.12 13 14 15 17 18 22. Exod. 32. 34. Deut. all affording in all its requirings strength for the exercise of them they both had their Promises annexed but not both like Promises the one of an earthy Inheritance with promise of Presence and Assistance in the way upon their keeping his Commandments given in doing them the
moving in our Hearts as namely to discover to us that filth of flesh and corruption that is in us to abase us for it and break us off from it and to bring us more to prise desire and accept that purgation that is in Christ Jesus for us and by this means drawing to him thereby to baptize and wash us into more conformity to him even in his death and purity so to humble and cleanse us that he may quicken and raise us The Word is fit for all this a 2 Tim. 3.16 Psa 119.9 Joh. 15.3 Baptism with Water in his Name having been once received remains a Testimony and Instruction of the Truth of the Peace and Purgation made by Christ and the effectualness of the cleansing that is in him to bestow and his readiness to communicate it to all that by Repentance and Faith come to him having received us into his Family that we might learn and receive the same of him b Mat. 28.19 20 Mar. 1.4 Act. 2.37 38. 1 Cor. 1.13 Afflictions fitted also to the same end to humble us and drive us and conform us to Christ c Job 33.16 23 24. Hof 5.15 Isa 27.19 and spiritual motions are also for the same end d Joh. 16.7 15. and that God in using all or any of these means toward us hath even this gracious end for our good to better us by it e Psal 119.68 in sending his Word Act. 3.26 26.18 in having admitted us into his Family Exod. 12.48.49 in afflicting and chastening us Heb. 12 5-10 in moving at our Hearts by his Spirit Prov. 1.23 Rev. 3.20 extending all for good to us 2. That in beholding and minding Jesus Christ as he died and offered himself for us Rev. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 Psa 65.4 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4. Heb. 22.2 11. Mic. 2.7 Iam. 4.5 6. Gal. 6.8 and so receiving his Sayings and minding our Engagement to him receiving correction in his chastisements and yielding up to his spiritual motions we shall indeed be verily more baptized into Christ more humbled in our selves more cleansed from our filth and more conformed to the minde of Christ and all these things are taught in the Doctrine of Baptisms And so III. The Principle it self is expressed the Doctrine of Baptisms Principle 3. which by all said about it appears plainly to be A right judgement of God in Christ Prov. 22.17 21. Psa 107.43 94.12 13. with Deut. 4.35 36. Psa 119.68 86. concerning his gracious and in all this his dealing with us in a discovery to the heart by the Gospel and an inward perswasion and belief in the heart effected by the Gospel that God both in giving and causing his Word to be preached to us and in having admitted us into his Family and in all his corrections and sufferings that come upon us and in all his spiritual motions of Grace stirring in our Hearts hath this loving and gracious end towards us that we may be thereby more baptized into the Death of Christ that so we might partake more of the vertue of his Resurrection and so to cleanse us more from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit and conform us more to the Minde of Christ And in this we have three things to note 1. Ioh. 3.17 1 Tim. 1.15 That this Principle is founded upon the Oblation of Jesus Christ and the love of God to Mankinde commended therethrough this is the Foundation of reaching this Principle and the ground of affirming the Truth of God's having so gracious ends in all these means used towards us for if there were any man for whom Christ had not died and risen to preach Repentance or Faith in the Name of Christ to such a man 1 Cor. 15.14 15 17 18. 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6 7 8 Rom. 2.8 5.10 8.32 36 Iudg. 23.23 or to declare any gracious ends of God's towards such men by his Word or Baptism or Afflictions or spiritual Motions were to bear false witness of God and if such should receive the Doctrine it would be a vain Faith and Perswasion But the Ransome given by Christ for all men being the ground of the Truth and the motive to perswade all this it is verily true and sound and the same Oblation and Sacrifice of Christ believed is the ground and foundation of such a perswasion and belief of God concerning his gracious ends towards us in such things forementioned 2. That this Principle flows up by and with the former two Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. Psal 119. 68 84. being onely in those that from believing the Oblation of Christ have been led to Repentance from dead Works and Faith towards God in which they are also framed to this perswasion of God about his gracious ends towards us in all these his dealings with us 3. That this Principle and Perswasion of God in the Heart Phil. 2.5 8. ch 3.3 7 8 9 10. Rom. 6.3 4 5 6 inclines the Heart to be willing to be conformed to the death of Christ and so framed to his minde by all the means he useth to that end towards us And this the Perswasion and Principle begotten in the Heart by the Oracles of God in the Doctrine of Baptisms CHAP. 7. Of Hebrews 6.2 HEb 6.2 And of laying en of hands This by the connexion of the words appears to be the Doctrine of laying on of hands And for the right understanding of this Principle four things are to be well heeded 1. What laying on of hands was used by Christ and his Apostles and first witnesses and in what manner they used to lay on hands And this appears in their writings to be sometimes that men might receive the visible Gifts of the Holy Ghost as our Saviour to prepare his Apostles to receive the Holy Ghost breathed on them and lift up his hands and said Receive c. a Joh. 20.22 Luk. 24.5 So they prayed and laid on their hands on Believers that they might receive the Holy Ghost b Act. 8.15 17 19.6 and sometimes they used this for miraculous curing and healing of Diseases c Mar. 6.5 8.22 25. 16.18 Luk. 4.40 3.13 Act. 9.17 28.8 and sometime it was used for procuring special Blessings on men Mat. 19.13 15. Mar. 10.16 as of old Gen. 48.14 15 16. and sometimes it was used for Believers fitness and ability to preach the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.6 as of old for fitness and blessing in leading a people Deut. 34.9 and sometime it was used for setting men in Office in and for the Church and for fitness and blessing therein d Act. 6.6 1 Tim. 5.22 and sometime for fitness and a blessing for Messengers sent by the Church about Church-Affairs e Act. 13.3 And the manner of their laying on of hands was with prayer to God for that they desired for those on whom hands are to be laid f Act. 8.15 28.8 in
kinde he pleadeth for many may go without that assurance all their dayes hee onely undertakes to prove notwithstanding it shall so bee for ever Now let his quotations be viewed to see what they say for one beleever more than another for the Spirits abiding with them for ever Joh. 14.16.26 in vers 16. Ioh 14.16.26 15.26 16 7. Luke 24.49 Our Saviour tells his Apostles and first witnesses that were to carry forth the testimony of him to the world after his Ascention That he after he was gone from them in bodily presence would yet be an Intercessor with the Father for them And the Father in his Name and so he from the Father would send them another Advocate or Comforter Let the words be well minded he faith not Another Spirit no he mindes them of that that it is the same Spirit of truth Joh. 14.17 Mat 16.16 17. Joh. 17.6 7 8. which they knew by which the Father in his ministration made him known to them to be the Christ and had given them to beleeve on him in which he did also stil even now he was with them dwell with them So that it is not one spirit opposed to another spirit but one Advocate or Comforter in respect of the manner of advocation and comforting opposed to another God had been formerly even by the Spirit of Christ Heb. 1.1 2. 7 8 9 10. 2 Cor. 3 7-14 teaching his minde by parcels to them and leading them to look to Christ and so to worship him by types shadows and carnal ordinances which were to be removed and now to these in the personal ministration of himself in his bodily presence in which he had been even so an Advocate and Comforter to them Psal 63.18 Act. 2.33 Rom. 16.25 Joh. 16.7 7.39 1 Joh. 2.1 But he was not alwayes so to abide with them nor was the excellency fulness and mystery of either his oblation or mediation and advocation to be clearly opened and made known till he had finished his suffering work and cast off mortality and overcome death and ascended in his body immortal into heaven and offered the acceptable sacrifice and received the fulness of the Holy Ghost in that nature of man to send forth for that full discovery of himself and the Fathers minde in him and then hee would so send forth this Holy Spirit himself remaining with the Father the Advocate still to discover him and so the Fathers mind in him and so and therein to be an Advocate and Comforter to them even so and such as never was before as is shewn in the eighth and ninth Chapters of the third part of this Treatise about the revelation of Christ and so he opens it vers 26. Joh. 15.15 17.6 7 8. He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you For he had made known his Fathers Counsel and Name unto them and given them his words And this holy Spirit of truth in his coming shal guide them into all truth Eph. 1.8 9. by taking of the things of him and shewing them and glorifying him c. So as they shall have the fulness of the testimony in all wisdome and understanding to minister Oh blessed Advocate and Comforter And yet this not all but as the next quotation Joh. 15.26 He shall testifie of him in them to them and through their ministrations so as they also shall bear witness Act. 5.31 32. Act. 1.21 22 10 34.42 1 Cor. 9 1. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. because they have been with him from the beginning even ear and eye witnesses of his person and ministration and miracles and sufferings and death and resurrection and assent to heaven And this Advocate and Comforter both the Doctrine of the Gospel by him so opened and the ministration of it he taught and lead them in And his power and presence in that Doctrine so ministred should not be as the Mosaical Law to pass away and give place to another ministration nor as the ministration of John nor his ministration in his bodily weakness 2 Cor. 3 3-18 Joh. 5.35 36 14.12 13. Eph. 1 3-10 See part 3. chap. 12. to be over-shined by a more clear ministration but this shall be the last ministration and abide till his own coming again and so her shall be in them in their doctrine and ministration for ever So as to all beleevers here is given certainty of truth goodness and immutability of the Gospel delivered by the Apostles and of the presence of the Spirit in such ministration thereof as left upon record by them to the end of the world And as for the promise and hope given in these promises to beleevers of this Doctrine for the Spirit in their hearts abiding in them for ever Note 1 It is great Joh. 17.20 21-23 7.37 38 39. 14 17. our Saviour having prayed for the same blessing for them also and promised the same but that is not to some peculiar kinde of beleevers but to all that beleeve on him not beleevers opposed to beleevers but beleevers opposed to the world that lieth in unbeleef as is exprest 2 That the manner of the assuring is abiding in them for ever is by our Saviours own explication to be in their abiding in him Joh. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. in that faith love and confidence in him which the Spirit hath wrought and worketh in them and his word that which he hath helped them to understand and by which he teacheth and comforteth them abiding in them This also express So that by there quotations we are lead to hold fast our first faith that Heb. 6. Rom. 8.10 11. The Apostle both admonishing exhorting instructing and comforting in such a manner as telling them how it was with them if Christ be in them and how it should be with them if the Spirit of Christ did dwell in them and so not affirming what would bee for ever but warning and directing that it might be I marvel this should be quoted for this assertion it so suiting to that by him opposed 1 Cor. 6.19 The Apostle tells them that beleeve and surely had such illumination and participation of the Holy Ghost as mentioned Heb. 6.4 5. That their body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost in them c. Their body may be taken either for their personal bodies which were the vessels and instruments in and with which they were to be given up as servants of righteousness unto God Rom. 6.19 or by body may be meant their society in which Truth was and God to be worshipped and therefore to be kept holy 1 Cor. 5.6 7 8. and undefiled Now the Apostle minding them of this That their body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost or rather secretly reproves them for their neglect of minding what their body was consecrated to in the heavenly call
in the mediums begetting faith examples from vers 8. to 31. of the adding to the medium the written word and prophesies and faith begotten thereby Examples from vers 32.37 and then the most clear and full discovery in and through Christ the Author and finisher of faith Chap. 12.2 And yet all the way but one faith and for the nature and property of this faith he saith It is the substance or ground or representation or confidence of things â—oâ—ed for The evidence argument or proof of things not seen 1 The evidences and testimony given from God 1 Joh. â— 9 Rom. 1.18 19 20 10 21. Joh. 3.19 2 Thess 2.10 Rom. 10.6 8 9 hath in it and brings with it such light power demonstration and evidence of truth and goodness as is fit and able to open the eyes to discern the manifestation and to gain credit and beleeve yea there is more in it to gain beleef then in the testimony of any men to gain beleef to things of men affirmed by them yea if men do not close their eyes harden their heart unrighteously hold and detain and refuse its operations it will draw to beleeve and so save and for that end it comes nigh to the mouth and the heart of man 2 This Testimony evidence 1 Joh. 5.10 1.1 2 3 Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 Rom. 5 1-5 Phil. 2.1 2 and demonstration of God beleeved and so received hee that beleeveth hath the Testimony and evidence in himself and in or with that Testimony Christ by his divine presence in the vertue of his oblation and in that the Father in his love streaming in the heart and so this word or Testimony beleeved worketh savingly and powerfully in the heart yea it drinks in of the influences of Christ from the right hand of God and carries the heart and spirit in and makes things absent and to come as present in their vertue solace and comfort to the heart they having the word and Testimony of Almighty God his power truth mercy faithfulnesse his son as a witnesse of all This is ground sufficient for all they hope for and evidence enough for them to beleeve and declare to others the truth of those things that are not seen about Creation Redemption the person of the Redeemer and what he hath done doth and will do the resurrection of the dead the new heaven and new earth c. So Faith is not such a thing as hee that hath it is left to build his Faith on mans Testimony and to have a Ministery all his life long to tell him whether his faith bee right or no though Ministery is profitable for his growth and fruitfulnesse but Faith hath its evidence in it self And this the Apostie proves by many demonstrations in such as had it as 1 That God approves and bears witnesse to such Heb. 11.1 2.3 4 5 7 2 That it opens mysteries to them and gives them understanding in things not seen with the eye nor comprehended by reason 3 It stregthens and encourages to approach to God 4 It inables them to walk with God yea to do and suffer great things and to wait with assurance of enjoying a Kingdome in his season yea so evidencing and powerful is Faith When Gods spake in divers manners or by parâ—â—â—â— how much more now hee speaks by and through his Son as set forth in the Gospel And if any desire a Discription of this beleeving Loe it is all expresse in Heb. 11.13 and plain in three words 1 A discerning according to the demonstration of his goodnesse to look to mind encline the ear and so a discerning 2 A perswasion or credit giving not reasoning against but beleeving his testimony as true and good 3 An imbracing it when it s beleeved with all acceptance and delight that is true beleeving and the grace of God so beleeved operateth in the heart and life as followeth in ver 13 14 15 16. But these things are all shown at large before yea so as the object of Faith is so set forth in Scripture that all might beleeve and such assurance given to beleevers as may encourage both to beleeve and persevere beleeving to help the reader whereto I leave him to consider what is writ in the Treatise and desire that what the scripture plainly saith and in the plain sayings of the Gospel affirmeth may in their own plain import and simplicity of asseveration bee received Pag. 26. in 2 Epistle p. 8 yea Mr. Owen consenteth in this also besides all his sayings forementioned saying 〈◊〉 in his Epistle to the learned that which wee account our wisdome and learning may if too rigorously attended bee our Folly when wee think to sharpen the reason of the Scripture wee may straighten the efficacy of the spirit of it It s often times more effectual in its own liberty then when restrained to our methods of arguing and the weapons of it keener in their own soft breathings then when sharpned in the Forge of Aristotle And or of Ramus either There is a way of perswasion and conviction in the Scriptures that is more Divine and sublime than to bee reduced to any rules of Art that men can reach unto God in his word instructs men to make them wise unto salvation Sillogismes are not doubtlesse the only way of making men wise with humane wisdome much lesse divine so far he If hee should or have warved from his own rule hee can not but bee willing in that to bee refused so that with consent wee all say what is written how readest thou Beleeve the scripture And the Lord in mercy make us ready and constant in imbracing the Truth in his sayings as prayeth the unworthiest of all his people Thomas Moor FINIS
sure Isa 4.2 32.1 2. 55.1 7. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 20 21. Tit. 3.2 3 4 5. c. as a known thing to relie on and to hold forth to others as that which is alwayes the same and is not impaired by our transgressions but hath enough in it to uphold us with desires and endeavours for such as are turned aside and to allure them if they will hear and minde it to turn in again And what can this be other then Jesus Christ as he is set forth in the Gospel having made peace by his Blood and the love of God to Man-ward commended through him Surely the belief and telling of an eternal Purpose of God to save some certain persons of fallen Mankinde having elected them and to damne all the residue having reprobated them and the most of both sorts unknown and the one sort however for the present it be with them shall be eternally saved the other sort shall never attain any saving Faith and what seeming soever they have it shall be taken away and the Purpose and Election of the one sort to be the Foundation that standeth sure Surely this can produce no such effects to encourage to such diligence in Ministration or to help any by it Seeing if this be true it could be no otherwise with any then it is come to pass yea if this Doctrine be believed and minded for Truth it will naturally of it self produce other Fruits for both Scripture and rightly-ordered-Reason will lead us to conform to the will of God to rest well pleased with it yea pray that it may be done in Earth as in Heaven And why then should any be grieved for such as God in his Will and Purpose hath absolutely excluded life and reprobated to damnation that they pesist in unbelief or if at any time believing depart from the Faith and become reprobate seeing nothing is done but God's will and no remedy to have it any better Psa 58.10 107.40 41. Isa 66.23 24. Rev. 13.14 17. Surely when any through their own fault are in that remediless state of perishing the righteous are said to see it and rejoyce And why should any murmur against God and repine at the fulfilling of his will according to his Purposes or stir to pray or use means to assay to cross or hinder the same 1 Sam. 3.18 2 Sam. 15.25 26. but rather submit with quietness to it as in other cases some have done so that such a thought would have made Timothy quiet and sit still and not to trouble himself with desires prayers and preaching to such an end But the Apostle that had experience what the knowledge and Faith of Jesus Christ Rom. 5.5 8 10. 1 Tim. 1.15 Rom. 1.14 15 16. and God's love appearing through him to Man-ward would effect what a sure fruitful Foundation Christ was how it reconciled him to God how it moved him to count himself a debtor to all Men and to pity them 2 Cor. 5.11 14 15 19 20. Rom. 9.1 2 3. 10.1 2 3 4. 11.4 14. 1 Cor. 9.19 20 and adventure his life to bring in Men to believe yea to desire and endeavour earnestly the return and Salvation of Israel those rejecting and cast-off Brethren whereas had he had in his heart that opinion and thought before mentioned he could not have so done But he had in his heart a better thought even the Testimony of Jesus Christ and that did so lead him and therefore he layes the same before Timothy even so to lead him yea I suppose any unprejuced will in reading Paul's Doctrine and Writings and his scope here to Timothy confess that it was Christ according to the Testimony of Christ that he propounded and laid before Timothy as the Foundation to encourage him and not a hidden and secret Purpose in respect of Particulars 2. This still farther appears by that which the Apostle had in his view and which he suggested to Timothy 1 Tim. 1.19 20. 2 Tim. 2.14 16 23. 2 Pet. 2.18 19. Jude 16. as that which threatned some danger to which he opposeth Nevertheless the foundation c. which is clear to be the blasphemy of those that had made shipwrack of Faith in their words tending to no profit but to the subversion of the Hearers their prophane and vain bablings tending to increase unto more ungodliness their foolish and unlearned questions their great swelling words promising liberty perverting the Gospel and giving out as if Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary and died and was buried and rose and ascended in that Body into Heaven c. were but a fleshly Christ and the knowledge of and Faith in him as having died for us and being risen and at the right hand of God interceding c. a fleshly and literal knowledge and faith and the looking and waiting for his personal coming again and the Resurrection of the dead Bodies a vain hope keeping to the Letter and under Bondage But their devised allegorical Christ that is dead and risen in them is the true spiritual Christ and the imbracing and believing this being dead to the former confidence in Christ this Christ according to the Spirit is come to them and in them and they are risen Heb. 13.8 1 Pet. 1.24 25. the Resurrection is past c. O lofty O vain Dream How should any that have once believed in and professed Jesus Christ and the Resurrection from the dead be drawn to this Is not Christ alwayes the same The Word of the Lord that endureth for ever Yes surely but these like the fallen Angels were not content with their place Jude 6. Col. 2.18 2 Cor. 11.3 4 13 14 15. Gal. 1.6 7 8. 2 Tim. 2.18 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Isa 40.8 9. 1 Pet. 19.25 Heb. 13.7 8. in the light and knowledge afforded them in the simplicity of Christ as set forth in the Gospel but would be intruding into things not seen and so pervert the Gospel as if they would declare a more spiritual Jesus a more pure Spirit and more heavenly and spiritual Gospel and truer Resurrection then the Letter as they call it of the Gospel doth declare and so they have erred and departed from the Truth which if they had minded and abiden in would have preserved them from such error Nevertheless The Word of the Lord the Lord Jesus Christ as set forth in the Gospel for the Foundation standeth sure abideth and remaineth for ever the same though they boast of such a glorious change from Christ in the Flesh to Christ in the Spirit from Letter to Mystery yet he is the same and had they abode in belief of that Truth they had not so erred VVherefore let none believe or admire their fancies for though they be changed in their thoughts of Christ and the Truth yet he is the same and whoso holdeth to and continueth in his Words he will preserve for though they have erred from the
Truth Joh. 12.47 48. 2 Thes 1.10 yet nevertheless the Truth standeth firm and will one Day judge these Apostates and justifie such as believe in him So that by this opposition it cleerly appears he means Christ to be the Foundation 3. This also appears in the Words themselves with their Order and several Branches and Distinctions let them be every one considered 1. Isa 28.16 Psa 18.22 Mat. 21.4 1 Pet. 2.6 Act. 4.11 12. 1 Cor. 3.11 The Foundation of God standeth sure Is not this plain in Scripture-Language to be the Foundation God purposed and promised to lay in Sion which Purpose and Promise was before the laying of it and now according to Purpose and Promise he hath laid it and Jesus Christ expresly affirmed to be this Foundation the Love and Wisdom of God in his will found out and purposed this Foundation and according to his Purpose his Hand hath laid this Foundation and hath declared his Purpose of saving all that in believing are by Faith built on him who onely is the Foundation and there is no other The knowledge of this Foundation and so of the Love and Purpose of God according to which he is laid meet us with bands of Love to draw to him and fasten upon him or if declined to return to him that is so sure immovable and precious a Foundation And this cleer-here that none needed have imagined another nor feigned the Purpose to be the Foundation but to proceed 2. Having this seal This is plain This Foundation hath a Seal on it an evident and known Seal it is a sealed Foundation and so the Seal is distinct though not divided from the Foundation it is in it and upon it even that by which it is marked out to be known and to be sure and stedfast even that which God hath appointed and sealed in which Seal also is the sealing and approbation of all that through believing come to be built on him So that it is a demonstrating living quickning and confirming Seal and so Christ the Foundation was sealed approved testified and confirmed both by voice and works to be The Christ Isa 28.16 Mat. 3.17 17.5 Joh. 5.37 Joh. 6.27 Isa 55.4 1 Cor. 2.2 Isa 42.4 Rom. 8.28 8.2 Isa 28.16 8.16 51.4 2 Cor. 1.22 5.14 Eph. 1.13 Isa 2.3.4 Mic. 4.2 3 Isa 8.20 14 15 16. 28.9 16. 29.11 12. 42.21 49.6 13.47 Mat. 5.14 15. Phil. 2.15 16. Joh. 1.4 7 9. 5.35 Isa 44.26 Heb. 2.3 4. The Son of God that precious tried Stone laid for a Foundation and upon this ground he exhorteth to seek of him the Bread that endureth to Eternal Life which he will give to such as come to him for it because or for him hath God the Father fealed yea he being given as the VVitness or Testimony of God's Will Love Purpose and Faithfulness and so preached by the Apostles and for the Law which the Apostle calls The Law of Faith The Law of the Spirit of Life This the Foundation laid in Sion The Law and Testimony bound and sealed up among the Disciples of Christ The Law proceeding out of his Mouth and he doth therewith so seal those that believe in him that he indues them with his own Spirit operating in them so that the same Law and Testimony goeth forth from them to others And this is the Law and the Testimony to which we are to resort for the knowledge of all Truth though because of its crying down all flesh and the reproach it is in in the World and among the Children of the Bond-woman in the Church it is to them as a book pretended by the Learned to be sealed and by the unlearned to be out of their ability to read yet with Christ and in him the Lord is well pleased yea and for his sake with all that believe in him and will magnifie the Law and make it honourable yea he hath given him for a light to the Gentiles and to be his Salvation to the ends of the earth yea he will confirm and hath confirmed the same in making those that believe in him the light of the VVorld in holding forth the VVord of Life and bearing witness of him the true light and he will confirm the Testimony delivered by his Servants yea he hath abundantly confirmed this Testimony already Eph. 2.20 21 22. so that Jesus Christ as set forth in the Testimony of the Gospel he is the Foundation laid by God and ministerially by the Apostles even that Foundation on which the Apostles and Prophets yea the whole Church both of Jews and Gentiles are built and by whom as the Corner-Stone they are united in one and there is no other Foundation but this And this Foundation is sealed and hath the Seal on it which will be sealing all that come to be built on it so that hitherto even by this Word having this Seal We are led to own Jesus Christ for the Foundation on which the Seal abideth Now let us consider what this Seal is and that also is express 3. That Lord knoweth them that are his This is plain the Apostle delivereth not this the Lord knoweth them that are his as the Foundation which by his manner of delivery appears to be some distinct thing forelayed yea even before sealed but distinctly plainly and expresly as the Seal on the Foundation which it alwayes hath on and with it and that is this The Lord knoweth them that are his View the words in their own simplicity according to Gospel-Language and it will appear plainly That The Lord is the Name frequently throughout the Gospel as now come forth given to Christ a Act. 2.36 10.36 9.17 29. 11.16 16.31 20.35 Rom. 14.9 1 Cor. 1 2. 8.6 2 Cor. 1 2. 13.14 Gal. 1.3 6.18 c. but if any will take it for God the Father it will come to the same for the Father and the Son are both one and the same God b Joh. 2.1 2 one in divine Essence and in VVill and Design and in Testimony and Working c Joh. 10.29 30. 1 Joh. 5.7 Joh. 5.17.19 22 23. 14.6 10. 16.14 15. Heb. 1.3 yea the Father doth nothing but the Son doth the same yea he doth all by the Son that all Men might honor the Son as they honor the Father nor can any come to the Father but by the Son and all that is the Father's is the Son 's and through him his glory appeareth The Lord knoweth This Word is more then seeth discerneth and so knoweth Joh. 2.24 25. 16.30 Dan. 2.22 Isa 66.18 Luk. 16.15 Deut. 31.21 2 King 19.27 Isa 37.28 Jer. 48.30 Psa 138.6 139.1 5. for so God yea God in Christ and so Christ knoweth all things yea he knoweth what is in the darkness though onely the light dwelleth with him he knoweth the hearts of all Men even the worst of Men also yea