or accept them in their Worshiping of him A guilty Conscience and an unsanctified Heart is always hypocritical and playeth false and loose in worshiping God hence Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water and the heart must first be sprinkled from an evil Conscience and body washed with pure water by the Blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ before any Man can worship God in Spirit and in Truth and I do and dare too affirm it from the Word of God that there is not a true and spiritual Worshipper of God in all the World but such as are so inwardly sprinkled and washed with the Blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ all others do worship God carnally and hypocritically not in Spirit and in Truth not sincerely and inwardly Oh therefore you that are in Christ see look to it that you worship God in the Spirit and in Truth for else there is none in all the World to do it 3. To worship God in the Spirit is to worship him in and according to his own holy Institutions Ordinances and Appointments and not according to Humane Inventions not according to Mens Traditions there is neither Spirit nor Truth in that Worship that hath not the stamp of Divine Authority upon it Voluntary Humility and Will-worship and all things of mans devising in the Worship of God and that hold not the Head Christ Jesus can minister no grace or spiritual nourishment to the Members and Joynts of the Body Eph. 4.16 compared with Col. 2.18 19 20 21 22 23. A little Leaven will leaven the whole lump and a little Superstition and Will-worship after thâ— Doctrines and Commandments of Men 〈◊〉 render the whole Worship vain and fruitleâ—â— to your selves as well as displeasing provokeâ—ing and unacceptable to God and so wheâ—â— all the ends of Worship are lost it becomâ— altogether vain as Mat. 15.9 But in vaâ—â— they do worship me teaching for Doctrine tâ—â— Commandments of men and who hath â—â—â—quired these things at your hands will 〈◊〉 day dash in pieces the confidence of all sucâ— Worshippers and evidence the vanity as weâ—â— as the impiety of all such Worship Humanâ— Traditions and Impositions of Men undeâ— what name or pretence soever whether of Eâ—â—clesiastical or of holy learned and judicioâ— persons or the Authority of the Civil Magistrate are not sufficient to warrant us iâ— our worshiping of God No no we muâ—â— to the Law and to the Testimony and iâ— they speak not according to this Word therâ— is no light or morning in them And wheâ—â— men have once rejected the Word of thâ— Lord what Wisdom is in them yea whaâ— Holiness is in them what Learning is in them yea professing themselves to be wise they are become fools and why then should you that are in Christ follow them or be led by them wherein they do not follow Christ or are led by his Word and Spirit 'T is time for us to leave them who have left the Head Jesus Christ and have gone a whoring from under their Gods What though all the World wander after and worship the Beast yet those whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life must not comply with them Rev. 13.7 8. Ye that are in Christ are the Temple of the Living God for God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols wherefore come out from amongst them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. And again Rev. 18 4. And having therefore dearly Beloved these promises viz. of God's receiving us and of being a Father to us and our being his Sons and his Daughters as before Let us cleanse our selvet from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 And let it be considered by you that if you be rejected of the World for not worshiping with them after their Rudiments ye shall be received of God in Christ as the true Worshippers that worship him in spirit and truth i. e. that worship him in Christ sincerely and according to his own Institution and whether it is better to please God or Men to be rejected of Men and to be received of God or to be received of Men and rejected of God judge ye for to be jâ—stified by Works and our own Righteousness and to worship God by Humane Inventions are equally hateful and abominable with God tho' highly esteemed amongst Men Jer. 44.4 Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate And Luk. 16.15 Ye are they which justifie your selves before Men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongst Men is abomination in the sight of God And for us to think within our selves that we can be justified in the sight of God by our own Works or Righteousness or that we can worship God by Humane Inventions or Mens Traditions is to think that God is altogether such an one as our selves for which certainly he will reprove us Psal. 50.21 22. And there is a secret yet strong connexion betwixt these two grand Errours viz. to be justified by Works and to worship God by and after our own Inventions for they commonly go together and stand and fall together And those that are corrupt or loose in the Doctrine of Justification are accordingly as corrupt and loose in Worship And therefore when a Professing People grow loose in the Worship of God 't is an ill Omen and just ground of godly jealousie and fear that such are unsound and loose in the Point of Justification Hence Gal. 4.8 9 10 11. And that they are not fast knit by a sincere Faith unto Christ the Head Col. 2.19 20 21 22. Let us therefore as many as are perfect be thus minded to rejoyce in Christ Jesus have no confidence in the flesh and worship God in the Spirit then and not till then are we the tâ—ue Circumcision then and not till then do we walk after the spirit and not after the flesh As therefore ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him And the God of Peace shalâ— be with you Amen The Second Part of the True Light Shining in Darkness To give to us the knowledge of Salvation to guide our feet into the way of Peace OR The Righteousness of God Manifested opened and declared as the True and only Matter of our Justification before GOD through Faith in Jesus Christ. Being one Sermon or Doctrine of five more remaining upon Rom. 3.21 22. But now the Righteousness of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets Even the Righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference Preached first in and about the City
THE True Light Shining in Darkness And dispelling the Mists of Errour arising from the Darkness of Man's heart c. promoted by the Prince of Darkness against the Truth of God in the matter of our JUSTIFICATION Shewing That by the deeds of the Law or Man 's own Righteousâ—ess no flesh can or shall be justified in the sight of God The First Part. By THO. TAYLOR the meanest and unworthiest of the Servants and Ministers of Jesus Christ and now Pastor to a small Congregational Church in Cambridge Rom. 1.21 22. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkned professing themselves to be wise they became fools LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1693. TO THE READER WHoever thou art that Readest this small Treatise upon so great a Subject as the matter of mans Justification before God know that thou art concerned to consider seriously and weigh well in thy mind what is here written without prejudice forasmuch as thou art the man to whom this word is sent either for the informing and undeceiving thee in this matter if thou be'st deceived Or for the confirming thee in the truth and strengthning thy Faith in Christ. If thou be'st already by the teachings of Gods holy Spirit one that knowest him that is true and arâ— in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ 1 Joh. 5.20 And we know the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal Life And it is immediately added Little Children keep your selves from Idols And though there be many Idols in mans heart yet this is one of the greatest and most dangerous and hardest to be departed from a mans own righteousness if it be but as it were by the works of the Law And as we know that an Idol is nothing but the Image and Likeness of that which it is not So verily this mans own righteousness is nothing a meer Imagination of Mans own heart exalted against God which is not nor cannot be in Gods sight and so it should be in thine Abominable to thee and abhorred by thee as it is to him Job 15.14 15 16. What is man that he should be clean And he which is born of a Woman that he should be righteous Behold he putteh no trust in his Saints yea the heavens are not clean in his sight How much more abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water And 9.30 31. If I wash my self with Snow-water and make my hands never so clean yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch and mine own cloaths shall abhor me And Luke 16.15 And he said unto them Ye are they which justifie your selves before men but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongsâ— men is abomination in the sight of God Read therefore this small Treatise pray tâ— God that thou mayest read it without prejuâ—dice To help thee so to do as much as in me lieth I declare unto thee three things namely 1. That I am not ingaged in Spirit worldly interest or design with any party now engaged disputing and contending one against other about these matters further than for the truths sake and so far as the truth of the Gospel obligeth me to defend and bear witness to the same as it may be found to lodge and dwell on the one side or on the other in any part of it And perhaps it will sufficiently appear that I am not of that party that may boast much of this Doctrine which is most true in it self and yet did not give proof and assurance of hope that themselves are sincere and sound in the Faith of Christ. The Doctrine may be true in its self and yet their Faith in the receiving of it be but a dead and a vain Faith which will never save them as James 2.17 18 19 20. Even so Faith if it hath not Works is dead being alone Yea a man may say Thou hast Faith and I have Works shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by my works Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well The Devils also believe and tremble But wilt thou know O vain man that Faith without Works is dead And ungodly men still though boasting of the Grace of God in works yet denying indeed the only Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ by turning the grace of God into lasciviousness Jud. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. And too many such Professors we have now who in Spirit and Practice Course of Life and Conversation practically deny what they verbally profess as they had there Tit. 1.15 16. Unto the pure all things are pure But unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their mind and Consciâ—nce is defiled They profess that they know God but in works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate But let not this offend thee for truth is truth still and will be for ever Hebrews 13.7 8. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Phil. 3.17 18 19 20 21. Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their Belly And whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things For our conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashon'd like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself 2. Here thou wilt find no carnal weapons as Oratory enticing words of mans wisdom excellency of speech fierie if not perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth No reasonings after the Flesh and the Wisdom of the World which cometh to naught But evidence and demonstration of the Spirit with power 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5. For though we walk in the Flesh i. e. in the body we do not war after the Flesh i. e. after the carnal mind which is corrupt and weak For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 1 Cor. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. And I brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mens wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power That your Faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this World or of the Princes of this World that come to nought 3. That the great truth herein declared opened demonstrated and applyed is not mine nor of mine own but is the truth of God in Christ Jesus ministred by the Spirit to the holy Prophets of old and witnessed by them who spake not of themselves but as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 For the Prophecy came not in the old time by the will of man but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And declared in the fulness of time by the Son of God who came from the bosom of the Father John 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him And John 3.31 32 33 34. He that cometh from above is above all he that is of the earth is earthly and speaketh of the Earth he that cometh from Heaven is above all And what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth and no man receiveth his testimony He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him And also witnessed by the Holy Apostles chosen of God to that end Upon which testimony of the holy Prophets and Apostles as the Foundation Christ himself being the Chief or Head-corner stone the whole Church of God is built Ephes. 2.20 And are built upon the foudation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself be-the chief Corner-stone so that he that refuseth despiseth and rejecteth this truth in the ministry of us poor weak earthen vessels despiseth not man but God as Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me And 1 Thes. 4.8 He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit Therefore thou art obliged to pay all honour reverence obedience and subjection to truth because it is Gods truth and not mans and to receive the word because it is Gods word and not ours And to receive the Word as it is indeed the word of God and not as the word of Man is the mystery of effectual or saving Faith Whereby the Faith of Gods Elect is distinguished from the common and temporary Faith of Hypocrites and temporary professors 1 Thes. 2.13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Therefore whatever infirmities thou seest or may see in us and whatever temptations in our flesâ— weaknesses wants necessities emptineâ—s nothingness let not the the word of God be refused or despised But receive it as if Christ himself was present on Earth in human shape to speak to thee with his own mouth Gal. 4.13 14 15 16. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first And my temptation which was in my Flesh ye despised not nor rejected but received me as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus Where is then the blessedness you speak of for I bear you record that if it had been possible ye would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them to me Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth Therefore ask thy heart this question is this the truth of God or no If thy heart answereth No I do not like it nor the persons that preach it Then to the Law and to the testimony to the holy Prophets and Apostles and to Christ himself Whose testimonies are all distinctly recorded and then ask thy heart this question again Darest thou with a stiff neck and uncircumcised heart always resist the Holy Ghost as thy Fathers did so dost thou dare to do Acts 7.51 Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do always resist the Holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye If thou shouldest dare to refuse all the Prophets and Apostles who spake on earth yet there is one more who speaketh from Heaven even the Son of God himself and darest thou refuse him also Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven Consider therefore in thy heart that whatever we are or may be esteemed to be who are the poor Ministers of Christ yet though we be nothing let the Holy Prophets and Apostles be esteemed as something for they shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19.28 And Jesus said unto them Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel And the true Church of the living Ged which is cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet doth wear them as a Crown of twelve Stars upon her head And wilt thou trample them under thy feet Rev. 12.1 And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven a Woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars But however though we be nothing yet let the Son of God Jesus Christ himself be something For verily God the Father thinks him to be something When he hath given him a name that is above every name that is in Heaven and that is on the Earth That every Knee shall bowe and every Tongue confess to him as Phil. 2.9 10 11 12. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name That at the name of Jesus every Knee shall bowe of things in Heaven or things in Earth and things under the Earth And that every Tongue shall confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Wherefore my beloved as ye have always obeyed not as in my presence only but much more in my absence work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling And verily he shall appear to be something at the great day when he shall come to judge the World and before him shall be gathered all Nations as Matth. 25.31 32 33 34. When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the Holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats And he shall set the Sheep on his right hand but the Goats on his left Then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the World And thou thy self also must appear before his judgment seat 2 Cor. 5.10 11. For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whither it be good or bad Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men but we are made manifest unto God and I trust also are made manifest in your Consciences And Rev. 6.15 16 17. And the Kings of the Earth and the Great men and the Rich men and the Chief Captains and the Mighty men and every Bond-man and every Free-man hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains And said to the Mountains and Rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand And Rev. 20.12 13 14 15. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened And another book was opened which is the book of Life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works And the Sea gave up the dead which were in it and Death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them And they were judged every man according to their works And Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire This is the second Death And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire And this day will come as a Thief in the night 2 Pet. 3.10 But the day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night in the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also with the works that are therein shall be burnt up And Rev. 22.11 12. He that is unjust let him be unjust still And he which is filthy let him be filthy still And he that is righteous let him be righteous still And he that is holy let him be be holy still And behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be Well then Reader whoever thou art know that the word Kingdom is good Seed and the Sower is the Son of man Matth. 13.37 He answered and said unto them He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man We are but his under Servants to minister from him this good seed and our great Lord is able to bless the seed sown though we be nothing as 1 Cor. 3.5 6 7 8. Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye believed even as the Lord gave to every man I have planted Apollos watered but God gave the increase So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth But God that giveth the increase Now he that planteth and he that watereth are onâ— And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour With 2 Cor. 9.10 Now he that ministreth seed to the sower doth minister bread for your food and multiply the seed sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness And the ground into which we must sow this seed is the heart tho' thro' the ear Matth. 13.9 Who hath ears to hear let him hear The good ground is the good and honest Heart The Lord make thine such and then there will be good fruit brought forth with patience and to perfections though in different measures and degrees as Matth. 13.23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the Word and understandeth it which also beareth fruit and bringeth forth some an hundred-fold some fifty some thirty Luke 8.15 But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience To thy salvation and God's glory which the Lord grant unto thee And pray for us his poor Ministers and Servants and particularly for the meanest and most unworthy of them all thy Servant for Christs sake in the Work of the Gospel Tho. Taylor To my many Worthy and Beloved Friends of divers Congregations in and about the City of London the Town of Hackney and other Towns within and without the Lines of Communication where I have occasionally Preached this Gospel Grace and Peace MOST Dear and Pretious Friends Pretious I say for the late Pretious Faith obtained by you with us 2 Pet. 1.1 Simon Peter a Servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like pretious Faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ By which Faith the very Faith of Gods Elect Christ is pretious indeed to you 1 Pet 2.7 Unto you therefore which believe he is pretious But unto them which be disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of the corner when to others a stumbling stone even to them that stumble at the word being disobedient Your Names are too many to be prefixed to this short Epistle and besides in the matter of truth I like not to go to the Poll as if truth needed a Muster-roll of names to carry the voice against such as are the opposers of it It is enough that Christ hath a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their Garments and which shall walk with him in white for they are worthy It matters not how many the names of others in Sardis were Rev. 3.4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their Garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy It is enough that wisdom is justified of her Children When true Wisdom neither in John Baptist the forerunner who was greater than all the Prophets nor in Christ the Head and Lord of them all could have a testimony from an evil and adulterous Generation Or if they had
you all as my crown and my joy in the Day of Jesus Christ And though I cannot say of you all that I have begotten you by the Gospel no blessed be God that you were in Christ before my coming amongst you and that others labours were blest for that end to you yet this also I can say of some of you now in the Church and of others not yet joyned to it that I have begotten you through the Gospel unto Jesus Christ and that you are the seal of my Ministry and the proof of Christ speaking in me and by my Ministry unto your Hearts effectually yet in you all and concerning every one of you I do rejoyce in three things Namely 1. Your Election of God known of us and manifestly appearing in you by the Sanctification of the spirit unto Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ as 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledg of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ and 2 Thes. 2.13 14. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Your abiding in the Truth and the Truth abiding in you and that you stand fast both in the Faith and love of the Truth that you may be saved When so many have departed from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and are as is to be feared given up to strong delusion to believe a lie that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness as 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Thes. 2.11 12. Which sheweth the unction of the holy one to be in you as 1 John 2.20.21 But ye have an unction from the holy One and ye know all things I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth But because ye know it and that no lie is of the truth and again v. 26 27. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 28. And now little Children abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming And in this I do rejoyce and will rejoyce in and over you all your stedfast abiding and walking in the Truth when there are so many deserters as 2 John 1. Whom I love in the truth and not I only but also all they that have known the truth for the truth sake which dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever And 3 John 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my Children walk in truth and again John 8.31 32. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free 3. Your order in the Faith and fellowship of the Gospel as a Church which appeareth in your professed and declared subjection to the Government which Christ hath set in his Church and that because it is Christs appointment that so it should be and his Spirit works in you that willing and ready subjection and obedience as a fruit of your Faith upon which dependeth and followeth that blessed Peace that ye now have both in your own Consciences and among your selves it 's prophesied of Christ Isa. 9.7 Of the encrease of his government and of his peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever This belongs to the Kingly Office of Christ to whom only it appertaineth to give and appoint Laws for his Church and they must not appoint Laws for themselves nor can Man or any sort of Men in the World appoint or give Laws to the Church of Christ 't is Christ prerogative Royal and he alone sits and rains as King in Zion as Ps. 2.6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion Now this Government which Christ hath set in his Church is by a Faithful and approved Ministry as Pastors and Teachers freely chosen by the whole Church according to Christs mind and rightly set over them in the Lord as he hath appointed them to be Ephes. 4.11 12 13. And being so set as Acts 14.23 The Church and all the Members are to obey such and to have them in high esteem for their works sake and to be subject unto them in the true light and conduct of the word shining in their Ministry and therefore they are called Stars and Angels or Messengers from the Ministerial light and conduct they give to the Church from Christ himself the Sun of Righteousness and the Angel of the Covenant as Rev. 1.20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the even Churches The Churches therefore I say are to be subject to them and to obey them in the light of Truth shining in their Ministry from Christ the head as the Stars do shine in the Firmament with their lesser lights all borrowed from the Sun and for the proof of this let these Scriptures be considered and well weighed Heb. 13.7 8. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever And again v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you And 1 Tim. 5.17 18 19. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine For the scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the corn and The labourer is worthy of his reward Against an elder receive not an accusation but before or under two or three witnesses Where the rule of the Ministry is secured of the double honour of Maintenance and Reverence and 1 Thes. 5.12 13. And we beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you And to esteem them very highly for their works sake And be at peace
therefore both Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin and Condemnation and that by the law The Gentiles by the light and law of nature and the work of it written in their Hearts Rom. 2.14 15 16. And the Jews by the law written in tables of Stone by Gods own hand and given unto them by Moses at mount Sinai which law was added by reason of Sin and Sin in the Jews taking occasion by the commandment became exceedingly more Sinful in them who were Jews by nature than in the Gentiles as being against more clear light and greater Obligations than the poor Gentiles were indulged with And thus is fulfilled the design of God by Moses in giving the law which was not that any Man should be justified and obtain righteousness and life thereby but that the offence against it might so much the more abound and be made to appear And Man be instructed from the desperateness of his case and the utter impossibility ever to get righteousness and life by works and the law to seek it only by Grace and Faith in Jesus Christ as Rom. 5.20 21. This position being already proved that Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin Rom. 3.9 the Apostle doth further confirm by a text out of the old Testament Rom. 3. 19. where he concludes that quotation Now we know that whatsoever the law saith it saith to them that are under the law intimating that the Jews must needs be concerned in this charge as well as the Gentiles And that the Prophets of the old Testament did plainly declare and confirm this truth that by the works of the law no flesh should be justified For both David and Esaias whose words these are if they would have understood them in saying there is none righteous no not one there is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh after God they are all gone out of the way they are together become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one c. do both testifie from God by whose Spirit they speak that in the sight of God all Men are Sinners and transgressors by the law both Jews and Gentiles and that there is not one righteous Man by the works of the law in the whole World for Jew and Gentile comprehended the whole world And if so and this be true that Jews and Gentiles are all under Sin and that there is not one righteous Man by the works of the law in Gods sight then it follows as a necessary consequence that by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified Therefore we conclude c. And thus I have done with the context In the text it self we have a great foundation truth or point of Doctrin ready prepared to our Hand in words which the Holy Ghost teacheth together with the reason of it And therefore we shall take the point as it lieth in the Text c. That by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God The truth of this doctrin is expresly testified also Psal. 143.2 For in thy sight shall no Man living be justified i. e. by his own works and righteousness for otherwise there were then and are now many Men justified in Gods sight by the free Grace of God through Faith in Jesus Christ. And again Gal. 2.16 Knowing c. For the opening this position or point of Doctrin we shall take it into parts and Enquire 1 Who or what is meant by Flesh. 2 What is meant by Justified 3 What is mean by the works of the law 1 What is meant Or What we are to understand by Flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not any Flesh or as it is Translated no Flesh. In answer whereunto Flesh is sometimes taken in Scripture for the Human Nature separate from the sinfulness thereof so John 1.14 And the word was made flesh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Flesh is here put for the Human Nature seperate from Sin as Adam had it in the state of innocency And Christ the second Adam took it in the Womb of the Virgin Mary and Heb. 10.20 Through the vail i. e. his Flesh put for the whole Human Nature which was a vail to his Godhead and which he offered upon the Cross for our Sins and so consecrated a new and living way for us into the Holiest i. e. Heaven it self And though in propriety of Speech the Flesh or Body is but a part of the Human Nature the Spirit or Soul being the other and more noble part yet is by a figure Synechdoche put for the whole as 1 Peter 2.24 where Christ is said to have born our sins in his own body on the tree Body is there put for the whole Human Nature and so the Soul or Spirit is also sometimes put as Isa. 53.10 When thou shalt make his Soul an offering for Sin yet 't is manifest both Soul and Body were offered for Sin and the Soul of Christ is there put for both but in this sense of the Human Nature separate from Sin the word Flesh is not to be understood in this Text And therefore 2. Flesh is also and indeed most frequently put for the Human Nature as it is corrupt and depraved by Sin since the fall of the first Adam and so Rom. 8.3 where the law is said to become weak through the Flesh i. e. Mans Nature now corrupted by Sin and so not able to rise up unto that true and perfect holiness which the law doth require And in this sense the word Flesh is to be taken and understood in the text Shall not any flesh or shall no flesh be justified i. e. no Man that is a Sinner and corrupted by Sin as all Men now are by Nature And there is a kind of vehemency in the expression The Holy Ghost thereby casting a holy contempt upon Man that is called Flesh i. e. an unclean and a corrupt thing so Eliphas in Job 15.14 15 16. What is Man tha◠that he should be clean c. And thus shall n◠flesh be justified i. e. no Man no Person of Mankind Man Woman nor Child 2ly What it s meant And what i◠to be understood by the word justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shall no Flesh be justified In answer hereto 1. To be justified in the proper significancy and notion thereof is to be made righteous to become righteous or to stand righteous before God justificari is justum fieri to be justified is to be made or to become righteous and so to stand a righteous Person in Gods sight It is a foreinsick term and here is an allusion to courts of Judicature amongst Men wherein the person arraigned is in the issue of the Plea either Condemned i. e. found Guilty and then we say such a Man is cast that is in his Plea or else is acquited and discharged and so justified in the sight of the Court as an Innocent and righteous person and so he is said to stand as
Psam 130.3 And therefore it is added in his sight to shew that whatsoever Man may be in his own sight or in the sight of other Men like himself yet in Gods sight no flesh shall or can be justified by the works of the law And as in Condemnation there are two things First a fixing of the Guilt and therefore we say when a person is found guilty he is condemned so Rom. 3.19 That every mouth may be stopped and all the world become guilty before God 2ly A binding or Obligation unto the punishment which is Death and therefore we say of a Criminal when he is brought in guilty that he is a dead Man because the obligation unto punishment is now fixed upon him and he must inevitably suffer death which is the punishment due to his offence So on the other hand there are two things implyed in Justification first a just discharge and acquitment from the guilt of Sin he that is justified is not guilty in Gods sight his Sin is not imputed to him and Ps. 32 1 2. where David describeth the blessedness of a justified person saying Blessed is he whose Transgression is forgiven whose Sin is covered unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity 3ly There is also a dissolving and making void and null the Obligation unto punishment so that a justified person is no more in danger of that death which is the wages of Sin nor of the curse of the law and the infinite and eternal wrath of God which is the punishment due to Sin to every Sin the least Sin as well as the greatest therefore as Condemnation is called Death because of the Obligation unto punishment so justification is called Life because of the dissolving and making void that Obligation So John 5.24 where the believer is said to be passed from death to life i. e. from a state of Condemnation which is Death to a state of Justification which is Life and Rom. 5.18 It is called justification of Life And upon that account 't is Written the just shall live by Faith i. e. be justified by Faith for justification is his life 3ly But there is yet somewhat more implyed in this word Justified and that is a positive righteousness answering to the perfection of the holy law of God in the utmost extent and demand of it for though non imputation and pardon of Sin makes a Man no more a Sinner nor guilty before God yet to make him a righteous person in Gods sight there must of necessity be a positive righteousness for as it cannot consist with the perfect justice of God to justifie a Man without righteousness so it cannot consist with his veracity and justice to justifie any Man without a perfect righteousness such as is commensurate and adequate to the perfection of his law for otherwise the law should be made void even by faith itself contrary to Rom. 3.31 And to speak with holy reverence as it is impossible for God to lie so it is as impossible for him to be unjust which he should be should he justifie any Man by an imperfect righteousness it is therefore a foolish vain and wicked imagination in any person to think or affirm that a Man may be justified in Gods sight without a perfect righteousness and this I may be bold to say from the clear light of Gods holy word that he which hath not a better righteousness than his own neither is nor ever shall be justified in the sight of God and whoever he be who affims the contrary let him answer it for sure I am the judgment of God is according to truth as it iâ— written Rom. 2.2 and again Rom. 3.4 Let God be true and every Man a liar thaâ— thou mightest be justified in thy sayings anâ— mightest overcome when thou art judged 3. What is here meant and what are we to understand by the deeds or works of the law Ans. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By the needs of the law of or by or upon the account of the deed of the law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 works operations or deedâ— do imply all sorts of works deeds or operatiâ—ons Internal and External 1 There are internal deeds and operatiâ—ons deeds of the mind and of the spirit withâ—in works of the inward Man wherein thâ— inward faculties of the Soul the Mind thâ— Conscience the Understanding the will and affections are operative and working in thâ— sight of God before whom our spirits arâ— naked and bare Heb. 4.13 And there arâ— internal vertues and habits and these are opâ—â—rative within and the holy law of God is Spiâ—ritual and reacheth the inward Man yea thâ— very thoughts and imaginations of the Hearâ— and than inward disposition enclination and habits Rom. 7.7 I had not known lust if the law had not said thou shalt not covet 2. There are external deeds the outward actions and deeds and operations of the light and Conversation which should all be regulated and are judged by the law which is the rule of righteousness to the inward and to the outward Man to the inward frame of Heart with all the Imaginations Thoughts Principles Habits Affections Intentions and Designs thereof and to the outward Man in all a Mans external Actions words and deeds together with the nature and tendency of them whether they be good or evil true or false sincere or feigned so Acts 5.3 4 9. and Acts 8.20 21. 2 Chron. 25.2 Ezek. 33.31 32. So that by the deeds of the law we are to understand all the inward qualifications and inherent virtues and goodness of a Mans Heart together with all the external actions of his life done in the utmost conformity and Obedience to the law that Man can reach unto by these deeds of the law whether internal or external there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Quest. But the greater question is what law is here meant whether the Ceremonial law only or the Moral law also Those that are unsound in the Doctrin of Justification do contend that by the law here is only meant the Ceremonial law And that the Apostle Paul here and in other places contending with the Jews in this point of Justification speaketh only of the Ceremonial law and so far they yield that by the works of the Ceremonial law indeed no flesh shall be justified but the works of the Moral law are not here excluded from the matter of Mans justification insinuating thereby that a Man may be justified in Gods sight by good works done in confirmity and obedience to the Moral law Ans. In answer whereunto we do affirm and shall plainly prove that not the Ceremoâ—nial law only but the Moral law also yeâ— mainly and principally is meant by the Apostle And that law unto the works or deed whereof justification in the sight of God iâ— denied to every Man is the Moral law and not the Ceremonial law only though it iâ— true also of the Ceremonial law And this wâ— prove by two Argumenrs
Rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh these two must go together in the heart and walking of a Christian You cannot rejoyce in Christ Jesus if you have or put any confidence in the flesh and ye cannot have confidence in the flesh if ye do aright rejoyce in Christ Jesus To have confidence in the flesh is to have trust and confidence in the Law and in the Deeds and Works of the Law done by you either before or after your laying hold upon Christ as your Refuge the internal Deeds of the Law which are the qualifications virtues and graces of the mind and the external Deeds of the Law which are the external actions of thy Life and Conversation both with respect to God and Man done and wrought in conformity to the holy Law of God so far as thou art able to reach it The Duties of the first Table and of the second those which respect Religion towardâ— God and those which respect Righteousnesâ— towards Man as they are or can be performed by thee these all are comprehended in the word flesh as appeareth plainly by the Apostle Phil. 3.4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof to trust in the flesh I more And then he addeth all his Legal qualifications priviledges and performances before his Conversion v. 5 6. Circumcised the eight day c. and then he adds all his own Righteousness of the Law in the internal and external Deeds of it after his Conversion and Faith in Christ v. 9. And be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith So that all his own Righteousness both before and after Conversion he sets in opposition to the Righteousness of God by Faith in Christ and this all this that is a mans own Righteousness he calleth flesh and forbids and denies any confidence or trust to be put in it either by himself or by any other man so as that he or any other person should think or judge or reckon himself righteous and justified in Gods sight by his own Righteousness either of inherent qualifications or external obedience no no this is abominable this the Apostle abhors in himself and deters all others from But on the other hand to trust alone unto Christ and rely and depend upon the perfect Righteousness of Christ which is the Righteousness of God and is made ours by Faith and not by Works this is to rejoyce in Christ Jesus but to have confidence in our own Righteousness this is to have confidence in the flesh And there are two reasons why all a mans own Righteousness is called flesh 1. Because it is weak and unable to bear the weight of mans hope and confidence as touching his being righteous thereby or justified before God and thus the Horses of the Egyptians are said to be flesh not spirit because of their weakness and inability to answer the sinful trust and confidence which the Jews had in them Isa. 31. v. 3. And 2. Because it is polluted sinful and unclean by the infirmity and imperfection of grace in the best and by the mixtures of sin and corruption that attend us in our best Duties as Isa. 64.6 But we are all as an unclean thing and our Righteousnesses are as filthy Rags and therefore not to be trusted in and relied upon when we come before and have to do with God Now therefore ye that are in Christ and desire to rejoyce in Christ Jesus have see that ye have no confidence in the flesh covet earnestly the best gifts strive after the highest attainments of inherent grace and holiness but trust not to put no confidence in your own Works and Righteousness for by the Works of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight 3. And last of all See that ye worship God in the Spirit Phil. 3.2 For we are the true Circumcision which worship God in the spirit rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh So that to your rejoycing in Christ Jesus and having no confidence in the flesh you must add this also To worship God in the spirit Now to worship God in the spirit implieth these three things namely 1. To Worship God in the Spirit is to Worship God in Christ those of the Concision spoken of in the beginning of Phil. 3. Who trusted to Circumcision and the Works of the Law or their own Righteousness Worshipped God in the Deeds and Works of the Law which the Apostle here calls Flesh and so they Worshipped God not in the Spirit but in the Flesh They rested in their own Deeds and Works and looked not to Christ Jesus who was the End Perfection and Substance of the Ceremonial Law And so indeed their Worship terminated in their own Righteousness and they did not by Faith go out of themselves unto Christ and his Righteousness and so they did not Worship God in the Spirit i. e. Evangelically and by Faith in Christ but legally and presuming upon their own Merit and Worthiness without Christ and so all their Worshipping was Carnal and in the Flesh after the Old Covenant and Works but not Spiritual and Evangelical i. e. after the New Covenant and Grace To Worship God therefore in Christ and by Faith in him as your only Righteousness and always to come unto the Father by the Son this is indeed to Worship him in the Spirit relying upon his Mediation Merit Blood and Righteousness as the Mediator of the New Covenant and not upon the Old Covenant and Works 2. To Worship God in the Spirit is to Worship him sincerely and with a true heart and thus to Worship God in the Spirit is to Worship him in truth Joh. 4 23 24. But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to Worship him God is a Spirit and they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and in Truth These Concisionisâ— did Worship God not in Truth but iâ— outward Shew and Hyporisie for they Worshiped him in the outward Circumcision oâ— the Flesh but the inward Circumcision of the Heart which is in the Spirit and Soul and Mind that was wanting that they looked not after Thus whilst they doted upon and boasted of the external Sign they lost they minded not the thing signified i. e. the internal Grace and Spirit and there was not that in the Heart and Spirit within that might accord and stand with and answer to Circumcision without i. e. the Answer of a good Conscience no the Conscience was neither sprinkled with the Blood of Christ nor sanctified by his Spirit and hence they did not they could not draw near to God with a true heart nor in that full assurance of Faith that God would either hear
as James 1.17 18. Every good and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning Of his own Will begat he us by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures And again Rom. 11.29 For the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance meaning the gifts of his Grace in Christ all the Gifts and Works of his new Creation are without Repentance God will not Repent nor alter or change what he hath done therein Now that this Righteousness of God which is by the Faith of Jesus Christ unto all them that believe is such plainly appeareth and is particularly declared in that it is called Everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9.24 which plainly referreth unto Christ the Messiah the most holy whose work it was to make an end of sins and to bring in everlasting Righteousness this Righteousness of God therefore brought in by Christ is everlasting Righteousness and remaineth unalterably and eternally the same through all ages and generations and through all Nations and Tongues and Kindreds of Men So that all which have been are or shall be justified in God's sight have been are and shall be so justified by Faith in Christ and by this Righteousness of God which is unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference betwixt Nation and Nation betwixt Jew and Gentile no difference betwixt them that were justified under the Old Testament and those which are justified under the New Testament no difference betwixt them that have been justified from the beginning of the World to this day and those that shall be justified in the Ages and Generations yet to come let them be never so many or never so long this Righteousness of God remaineth unchangeably the same by the Faith of Jesus Christ only and not by the works of the Law unto all and upon all them that believe in all Nations and in all Ages So in the old World all that were justified and saved were justified and saved by this righteousness of God which is by the Faith of Jesus Christ so expressâ—y 't is testified of Abel Enoch and Noah Heb. 11.4.5 6 7. They obtained Witness from God that they were righteous and pleased God and became Heirs of the Righteousness which is by Faith And that is this very Righteousness of God and none other and so all that were Justified in this World and since the Flood both before and after the Law of Moses were justified by this very Righteousness of God by the Faith of Jesus Christ as is plainly declared Heb. 11. from â—he 8. ver to the end of that chapter where â—peaking of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and Sarah yea of Joseph who all were before â—he Mosaical Law and Dispensation about 400 and 30 years in the revolution of time and afterward speaking of Moses of Joshuah of Rahab the Harlot yea of Gedion of Barak of Sampson of Jephthah of David of Samuel also and all the Prophets saith that these all obtained a good report through Faith And what was the good Report which they obtained Namely this that they were Righteous and pleased God and were justified in his sight by Faith in Christ and became the Heirs of the Promise and of this Righteousness of God which is by the Faith of Christ unto all and upon all them that believe And then for the times of the Gospel or New Testament there is no need to say much only take a text or two namely Rom. 8.29 30. For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the first born among many brethren Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified So that look now into God's Eternal Purpoâ—â— and Counsel of Grace in Christ and consider how God hath fore-known and fore-knowing hath predestinated to be conformeâ— to the Image of his Son all those many Brethren among whom Christ is the first born and consider also how all these are called in the dispensation of the fulness of times as Ephes. 1.10 for whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified i. e. by Faith in his Son Jesus Christ who is therefore the first born among all these Brethren so that they are all as they come to be called according to this purpose justified in the sight of God by this Righteousness of God through Faith in Jesus Christ as Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us And as before ver 30. Whom he justified them he also glorified So that all that are elected of God in Christ and are or have been and shall be called according to Gods purpose are have been and shall be justified in this Righteousness of God through Faith in his Son and being thus justified shall be glorified And what shall we say then to these things God be for us who shall be against us And thus in the dispensation of the fulness 〈◊〉 times he doth gather together in one all â—â—ings in Christ both which are in Heaven 〈◊〉 which are on the Earth even in him 〈◊〉 gathers them into or under one head which is Christ by one and the same Faith â—nder one and the same Righteousness which 〈◊〉 not their own but the righteousness of God by Faith and into one and the same glorified estate in Heaven as Job 17.20 21. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us and ver 22 23. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one In these words Christ prayeth for them that already believed in him and also for all those that should afterward believe in him through their words i. e. the Apostolical word the everlasting Gospel to be preached unto all Nations and to the end of the World as Mat. 28.19 20. and that which Christ Prayeth for with respect to them all is that they may be one and that they may be made perfect in one that as the Father is in Christ and Christ in them they also maâ— be one in him and in the Father througâ— him now this union is founded in theâ—â— Justification by this Faith for here by thâ— Spirit on Christ's part given to theâ— and working Faith in them by the 〈◊〉 preached and by Faith on their
and in a state of Death and Condemnation they were not justified from Eternity no not one of them that Live and are Justified by Faith in Christ for they all and always thus judge that they were all dead i e. condemned and not justified before they believed in Christ and do freely confess the truth and therefore not one of them doth profess or can profess any such Faith that he was Justified from Eternity Part. 6. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity denyeth and overthroweth the Doctrine of Regeneration or new Birth and the necessity thereof which Christ himself doth plainly affirm and urge upon every man in this World John 3.3 5 8. and so do all the holy Prophets and Apostles as may be easily proved if there were any so bold as to deny it Now he that is Justified by Faith in Christ and hath this power and priviledge given unto him to become a Son of God as every true believer hath John 1.11 12. he also is born of God as John 1.13 which were born not of blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God as James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth not one Believer and so Justified person in this World but he is born of God and begotten of God and so is born again as 1 Pet. 1.23 being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever ver 25. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you so that not one person is or can be justified by Faith but at the same time and by the same word of Faith Preached to him and Believed by him he is also born again he therefore that saith he was justified from Eternity saith also that he was born of God from Eternity and he that was born of God from Eternity needeth not nor can be born again for Regeneration is but once and those that were born of God from Eternity are far from being new born Babes as all true Believers are after their first Conversion and Calling and as the Apostle Peter calleth and styleth them 1 Pet. 2.2 3. Part. 7. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity denieth destroyeth and overthroweth the Doctrine of Repentance and Conversion to God by Christ and by consequence takes away the necessity thereof the holy Scriptures do every where establish both in the Old and New Testament the necessity of Repentance and Conversion to God as Isa. 55.6 7. Act. 3.19 Act. 26.17 18. Luke 24.45 46 47. But he that saith he was justified from Eternity by consequence saith that he had remission of Sins from Eternity and that his Sins were blotted out from Eternity for Justification is Remission of Sins as Psalm 32.1 2 3. And blotting out of Sins as Isa. 43.25 And so he needeth not to Repent and be Converted for asmuch as he had his sins blotted out from Eternity and was Righteous from Eternity and well it is if men of these notions and traditions which they have received to hold do not become as the Pharisees of old so Whole as they need no Physician and so Righteous in their own Eyes that like the 99 Just Persons they need no Repentance or Conversion as Luke 15.4 8. And if the name of Repentance and Conversion shall still be pretended to and boasted of amongst them it shall only consist in making Proselytes to this their Tradition of Justification from Eternity which they call the Gospel and a more glorious Light than former Ages have enjoyed And some have not blushed to affirm than perhaps the Apostles had But let them take heed lest that Wo come upon them spoken by the Mouth of Truth himself Mat. 23.15 Part. 8. This Doctrine doth frustrate and make void all the ends of Christ Death and Suffering which are the Justification and Salvation of Gods Elect for if they were Justified from Eternity what need was there of Christs dying to obtain that for them which they had from all Eternity So that if this Doctrine be true as they affirm then as the Apostle saith in another case Gal. 2.21 Christ is dead in vain Part 9. This Doctrine of Justification from Eternity destroyeth and overthroweth the Doctrine and Order of God's new Creation in Christ and making all things new in him which the Holy Scriptures do every where establish both in the Old and New Testament This is certain the Old Creation was first and before the New else it were not new Adam was before Christ or the first Adam before the Second as Rom. 4.12 and 1 Cor. 15.45 46 47. And so it is written the first man Adam was made a living Soul the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit howbeit that was not first which is Spiritual but that which is Natural and afterward that which is Spiritual The first or old Creation in Adam is the natural and the second or new Creation in Christ the Spiritual now that was not first which is Spiritual but that is first which was natural therefore the Workmanship of God in the natural or old creation was first And the workmanship of God in the new Creation in Christ is the Spirâ—tual and therefore last the second must be after the first or else 't is not second the new must be after the old or else the old is not old nor the other new Now Justification by Faith in Christ is Gods Workmanship in the new Creation as 2 Cor. 5.17 18. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things i. e. the things of the first Creation in Adam are passed away behold all things are become new And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. And therefore Reconciliation and Justification by Jesus Christ as ver 19. are parts of the new Creation in Christ as also is most manifest Eph. 2.8 9 10. 't is manifest I say that God at first setled all things So the first Adam and all men in him upon the foundation of the Law or Covenant of Works which settlement was broken or dissolved by the first transgression and Death entred upon all men by Sin and no hope or possibility of Righteousness or Life by that Law or Covenant any more therefore now God bringeth forth Christ the second Adam and settles all things again upon a new Covenant of Grace restoring Righteousness and Life by Jesus Christ to all that believe this is the new Creation that which is Spiritual Now therefore Justification and Salvation by Faith in Christ was not from Eternity because 't is Gods new Creation in Christ And forasmuch as the Old Creation and that which is Natural was not from Eternity but in Time 'T is manifest that Gods new Creation in Christ to any man in this World was not from Eternity but in Time for the first must be before the second and the old