21. I believe that when he comes his saints shall have a reward of grace for all their work and labour of Love which they shewed to his name in the world And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour And then shall every man have praise of God And behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be Wherefore my beloved brethren be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord for asmuch as ye know your labour is not in vain in the Lord Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ 1 Cor. 3.8 chap. 4.5 Rev. 22.12 1 Cor. 15 58. Col 3 24. How Christ is made ours or by what means this or that man hath that benefit by him us to stand just before God now and in the day of judgement 1. I believe we being sinfull Creatures in our selves that no good thing done by us can procure of God the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. But that the imputation thereof is an act of grace a free gift without our deserving Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. He called us and saved us with an holy calling Not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus Rom. 3.24 chap. 5.17 2 Tim. 1 9. 2. I believe also that the power of imputing righteousness resideth onely in God by Christ 1 Sin being the transgression of the Law 2. The soul that hath sinned being his creature and the righteousness also his and his onely Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sin is covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin Hence therefore it is said again that men shall abundantly utter the memory of his great goodness and sing of his righteousness For he saith in Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion So then it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Rom. 4.6 7. Psal. 145.7 Rom. 9.15 16. 3. I believe that the offer of this righteousness as tendered in the Gospell is to be received by faith we still in the very act of receiving it judging our selves sinners in our selves Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved The Gospel is preached in all nations for the obedience of faith Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation a sacrifice to appease the displeasure of God through faith in his blood To declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God to declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifyer of him that believeth on Jesus Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins And by him all that believe are justifyed from all things from which they could not be justifyed by the law of Moses Rom 7.24 Act. 16.31 Rom 3.24.25 Act. 13.38 39. 4. I believe that this faith as it respecteth the imputation of this righteousness for justification before God doth put forth it self in such acts as purely respect the offer of a gift It receiveth accepteth of imbraceth or trusteth to it As many as received him to them he gave power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospell of your salvation In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise I believe therefore that as to my justication from the curse of the Law I am as I stand in my self ungodly to receive accept of imbrace and trust to the righteousness that is already provided by and wrapt up in the personal doings and sufferings of Christ it being faith in that and that onely that can justify a sinner in the sight of God Joh. 1.12 1 Tim. 1.15 Heb. 11.13 Eph. 1.13 5. I believe that the faith that so doth is not to be found with any but those in whom the Spirit of God by mighty power doth work it all others being fearfull and incredulous dare not venture their souls and eternity upon it And hence it is called the faith that is wrought by the exceeding great and mighty power of God The faith of the operation of God And hence it is that others are said to be fearfull and so unbelieving These with other ungodly sinners must have their part in the lake of fire Eph. 1.18 19. Col. 2.12 Eph. 2.8 Phil. 1.19 Rev. 21.8 6. I bilieve that this faith is effectually wrought in none but those which before the world were appointed unto Glory And as many as were ordained unto eternal life believed That he might make known the riches of his Glory upon the vessels of mercy which he had before prepared unto Glory We give thanks unto God alwayes for you all making mention alwayes of you in our prayers remembring without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God knowing brethren beloved your election of God But of the rest he saith ye believed not because ye are not of my sheep as I said which latter words relate to the 16. v. which respecteth the election of God Joh. 10.26 Therefore they could not believe because Esaias said again he hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and I should heal them Act. 13.48 Rom. 9.23 1 Thes. 1.2 3 4. Joh. 10.26 chap. 12 38 39 40. Of Election 1. I believe that Election is free and permanent being founded in Grace and the unchangeable will of God Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of Grace And if by Grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace But if it be of works then it is no more of grace otherwise work is no more work Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth who are his In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after
vain janglings backbitings and strangenes among the Christians 13. It occasioneth the World to reproach us 14. It holdeth staggering consciences in doubt of the right way of the Lord. 15. It giveth Occasion to many to turn aside to most dangerous heresies 16. It abuseth the holy Scriptures It wresteth Gods ordinances out of their place 17. It is a Prop to Antichrist 18. Shall I add It is not that which greatly prevailed to bring down these judgments which at present we feel and groan under I will dare to say it was the cause thereof Tenthly and Lastly Bear with one word farther What greater contempt can be thrown upon the Saints then for their Brethren to cast them off or to debar them Church communion Think you not that the World may groundly say Some great iniquity lyes hid in the skirts of your Brethren when in truth the transgression is yet your own But I say what can the Church do more to the sinner or open prophane Civil commerce you will have with the worst and what more have you with these Perhaps you will say we can pray and Preach with these and hold them Christians Saints and Godly Well but let me ask you one word farther Do you believe that of very conscience they cannot consent as you to that of Water baptism And that if they had light therein they would as willingly do it as you Why then as I have shewed you our refusal to hold communion with them is without a ground from the word of God But can you commit your Soul to their Ministry and joyne with them in Prayer and yet not count them meet for other Gospel pâ—iviledges I would know by what Scripture you do it Perhaps you will say I commit not my Sou to their Ministry only hear them occasionally for tryall If this be all the respect thou hast for them and their Ministry thou mayest have as much for the worst that pisseth against the Wall But if thou canst hear them as Gods Ministers and sit under their Ministry as Gods ordinance then shew me where God hath such a Gospel Ministry as that the persons Ministring may not though desiring it be admitted with you to the closest communion of Saints But if thou sitest under their Ministry for fleshly politick ends thou hearest the word like an Atheist and art thy self while thou judgest thy Brother in the practise of the worst of men But I say where do you find this peicemeal communion with men that profess Faith and Holyness as you and separation from the World If you object that my Principles lead me to have communion with all I answer with all as afore described if they will have communion with me Object Then you may have communion with the members of Antichrist Answ. If there be a visible Saint yet remaining in that Church let him come to us and we will have communion with him Quest What! Though he yet stand a member of that sinfull number and profess himself one of them Answ. You suppose an impossibility For it cannot be that at the same time a man should visibly stand a member of two bodys diametrically opposite one to another Wherefore it must be supposed that he who professeth himself a member of a Church of Christ must forthwith nay before forsake the Antichristian one The which if he refuseth to do it is evident he doth not sincerely desire to have fellowship with the Saints But he saith he cannot see that that company to which you stand opposite and conclude Antichristian is indeed the Antichristian Church If so he cannot desire to joyn with another if he know them to be professedly and directly opposite I hold therefore to what I said at first That if there be any Saints in the Antichristian Church my heart and the door of our Congregation is open to receive them into closest fellowship with us Object But how if they yet retain some Antichristian principles Answ. If they be such as eat out the bowels of a Church so soon as they are detected he must be either be kept out while out or cast out if in For it must be the prudence of every community to preserve its own unity with peace and truth The which the Churches of Christ may do and yet as I have shewed already receive such persons as differ upon the point of Water-baptism For the doing or not doing of that neither maketh nor marreth the bowels or foundation of Church communion Object But this is receiving for opinion sake as before you said of us Answ. No We receive him for the sake of Christ and grace and for our mutual edification in the Faith and that we respect not opinions I mean in lesser matters 't is evident for things wherein we differ are no breach of communion among us We let every man have his own Faith in such things to himself before God I now come to a short Application I Keep a strict separation I pray you from communion with the open prophane and let no man use his liberty in Church relation as an occasion to the flesh but in Love serve one another Looking diligently least any root of bitterness any poisonfull herb Deut. 29.18 springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled And let those that before were reasons for my separation be motives to you maintain the like and remember that when men have said what they can for a sinfull mixture in the worship of God the arm of the Lord is made bare against it 2. In the midst of your zeal for the Lord remember that the visible Saint is his and is priviledged in all those spiritual things that you have in the word and live in the practise of and that he is to partake thereof according to his light therein Quarrel not with him about things that are circumstantial but receive him in the Lord as becometh Saints if he will not have communion with you the neglect is his not yours But saith the open prophane Why cannot we be reckoned Saints also We have been Christened we go to Church we take the Communion Poor People This will not do for so long as in Life and Conversation you appear to be open prophane we cannot unless we sin receive you into our fellowship For by your ungodly lives you shew that you know not Christ and while you are such by the word you are reputed but Beasts Now then judge your selves if it be not a strange community that consisteth of men and Beasts Let Beasts be with the Beasts you know your selves do so you receive not your Horse nor your Hog to your Table you put them in a room by themselves Besides I have shewed you before that for many reasons we cannot have communion with you 1. The Church of God must be Holy Lev. 11.44 chap 19 2. chap. 20.7 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Isa. 26.2 Psa. 128.20 Ezek. 43.12 chap. 44. 9. Isa. 52.11 2. The example of the Churches of Christ before hath been a community of visible Saints Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.2 Eph. 1.1 2. Col. 1.1 1 Thes. 1.1 2. 2 Thes. 1.1 Poor carnal man there are many other reasons urged in this little book that shew why we cannot have communion with thee Not that we refuse of pride or stoutness or because we scorn you as men No we pity you and pray to God for you and could if you were converted with joy receive you to fellowship with us Did you never read in Daniel That Iron is not mixed with miry Clay Dan. 2.43 No more can the Saints with you in the worship of God and fellowship of the Gospel When those you read of in the fourth of Ezra attempted to joyn in Temple work with the children of the captivity what said the children of Judah you have nothing to do with us to build an house to the Lord our God but we our selves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel c. Ezra 4 1 2 3. I return now to those that are visible Saints by Calling that stand at a distance one from another upon the accounts before specifyed Brethren Close Close Be one as the Father and Christ is one 1. This the way to convince the World that you are Christs and the Subjects of one Lord whereas the contrary makes them doubt it Joh. 13.34 35. Joh. 17.23 2. This is the way to increase Love that Grace so much desired by some and so little enjoyned by others 2 Cor. 7.14 15. 3. This is the way to favour and taste the Spirit of God in each others experience for which if you find it in truth you cannot but bless if you be Saints the name our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 1.2 3 4. 4. This is the way to increase knowledge or to see more in the word of God for that may be known by two that is not seen by one Isa. 52.8 5. This is the way to remove secret jealousies and murmurings one against the other yea this is the way to prevent much sin and greatly to frustrate that design of hell Prov. 6.16 17 18 19. 6. This is the way to bring them out of the World into fellowship that now stand off from our Gospel priviledges for the sake of our vain janglings 7. This is the way to make Antichrist shake totter and tumble Isa 11.13 14. 8. This is the way to leave Babylon as an habitation for Divels only and to make it an hold for soul Spirits and a cage only for every unclean and hatefull bird 9. This is the way to hasten the work of Christs Kingdom in the World and to forward his coming to the eternal judgment 10. And this is the way to obtain much of that Well done Good and Faithfull Servant when you stand before his face I beseech you Brethren suffer the word of exhortation for I have written a Letter unto you in few words Heb 13.22 FINIS Of justification Of Râ—pentance Of Love Saul was in Antioch before but being brought into suspicion by false Apostles he had need of a new commendation The Strongest may sometimes be out of the way
his mouth Act. 22.14 True Sauls call was out of the ordinary way but yet as to the matter and truth of the work t was no other then all the chosen have viz. 1. An effectual awakening about the evil of sin and especially of unbelief Joh. 16.9 And therefore when the Lord God called Adam he also made unto him an effectual discovery of sin insomuch that he stript him of all his righteousness Gen. 3. Thus he also served the Gealer Yea it is such an awakening as by it he sees he was without Christ without hope and a stranger to the common-wealth of Israel and without God in the word Act. 16.29 30. Eph 2.12 Oh the dread and amazement that the guilt of sin brings with it when t is revealed by the God of heaven and like to it is the sight of mercy when it pleaseth God who calleth us by his grace to reveal his son in us 2. In effectual calling there is great awakenings about the world to some and the glory of unseen things The resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement The salvation that God hath prepared for them that love him with the blessedness that will attend us and be upon us at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ are great things in the soul that is under the awakening calls of God And hence we are said to be called to Glory to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes 2.12 2 Thes. 2.13 14. 3. In effectual calling there is also a sanctifying vertue And hence we are said to be called with an holy calling with an heavenly calling Called to glory and vertue But ye are a chosen Generation a royall priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that you should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light Heb. 3.1 1 Thes. 4 7. 1 Pet. 1.8 9. Yea effectual calling hath annexed to it as its unseparable companion the promise of through sanctification Faithfull is he that hath called you who also will do it 1 Thes. 5 22 23 24. 2. I believe that effectual calling doth therefore produce 1. Faith and therefore it is said that faith cometh by hearing by hearing the word that calleth us unto the grace of Christ. For by the word that calleth us is Jesus Christ held forth to us and offered to be our righteousness and therefore the Apostle saith again that God hath called us unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ that is to be made partakers of the riches of grace and the righteousness that is in him Rom. 10.17 Gal. 1.6 1 Cor. 1.9 2. It produceth hope It giveth a ground to hope and therefore hope is said to be the hope of our calling And again Even us you are called in one hope of your calling Eph. 1.18 19. chap. 4 4. Now the Godly wise know whoso misseth of effectual calling misseth of eternal life because God justifyeth none but them whom he calleth and glorifyes none but those whom he justifyes And therefore it is that Peter said before Make your calling and so your election sure make it sure that is prove your calling right by the word of God For whoso staggereth at the certainty of his calling cannot comfortably hope for a share in eternal life Remember the word unto thy servant whereon thou hast caused me to hope My soul fainted for thy salvation but I hope in thy word Psa. 119.49.81 3. It produceth repentance For when a man hath heaven and hell before his eyes as he will have if he be under the power of effectual calling or when a man hath a revelation of the mercy and justice of God with an heart-drawing invitation to lay hold on the tender forgiveness of sins and being made also to behold the goodly beauty of holiness it must needs be that repentance appears and puts forth it self unto self-revenging acts for all its wickedness which in the dayes of ignorance it delighted in And hence is that saying I came not to call the righteous but sinners to Repentance For the effecting of which the preaching of the word of the Kingdom is most proper Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand Mar. 2.17 chap. 1.10 1. Repentane is a turning the heart to God in Christ a turning of it from sin and the Divel and darkness to the goodness and grace and holyness that is in him Wherefore they that of old are said to repent are said to loath and abhor themselves for all their abominations I abhor my self said Iob and repent in dust and ashes Ezek. 6.9 chap 2.43 chap. 36.31 Job 42.5 6. Ezek. 16. v. last 2. Godly repentance doth not onely affect the soul with the loathsome nature of sin that is past but filleth the heart with godly hatred of sins that yet may come When Moses feared that through his being overburthened with the care of the children of Israel some unruly or sinfull passions might shew themselves in him what saith he I beseech thee kill me out of hand if I have found grace in thy sight and let me not see my wretchedness Num. 14.13 14 15. See also how that that Paul calleth godly repentance wrought in the upright Corinthians Behold saith he this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you what clearing of your selves yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge In all things you have approved your selves to be clear in this matter 2 Cor. 7.9 10 11. 4. It produceth also Love Wherefore Paul when he had put the church in remembrance that they were called of God addes That concerning brotherly Love they had no need that he should write unto them 1 Thes. 4.17.19 As who should say If God be so kind to us to forgive us our sins to save our souls and to give us the kingdom of heaven let these be motives beyond all other to provoke us to love again Farther If we that are thus beloved of God are made members of one mans body all partakers of his grace clothed all with his glorious righteousness and are together appointed to be the children of the next world why should we not love one another Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another 1 Joh 4.11 And truly so we shall if the true grace of God be upon us because we also see them to be the called of Jesus Travellers that are of the same countrey love and take pleasure one in another when they meet in a strange Land why we sojourn here in a strange countrey with them that are heirs together with us of the promised kingdom and glory Heb. 11.9 Now as I said this holy love worketh by love Mark Love in God and Christ when discovered constraineth us to love 2 Cor. 5.14 The name therefore and word and truth of God in Christ together with the sincerity of Grace of
going before Exo. 19. and chap. 34.1.10 The second giving is here intended for so it cometh after faith which first receiveth the proclamation of forgiveness hence we are said to do this righteousness in the joy and peace of the holy Ghost Now he that in these things serveth Christ is accepted of God and approved of men For who is he that can justly find fault with him that fullfilleth the royal Law from a principle of Faith and Love If ye fullfill the royal Law according to the Scriptures Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self ye do well ye are approved of men Again he that hath loved another hath fullfilled the Law for love is the fulfilling of the Law He then that serveth Christ according to the royal Law from faith and love going before he is a fit person for Church-communion God accepteth him Men approve him Now that the royal Law is the moral precept read the place James 2.8 9 10 11 12. It is also called the law of liberty because the bondage is taken away by forgiveness going before and this is it by which we are judged as is said meet or unmeet for Church-communion e. Therefore I say the rule by which we receive Church-members it is the word of the Faith of Christ and of the moral precept Evangelized as I said before I am under the Law to Christ saith Paul So when he forbideth us communion with men they be such as are destitute of the Faith of Christ and live in the transgression of a moral precept I haue written unto you saith he not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous or an Idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such an one no not to eat He saith not if any man be not Baptized have not hands laid on him or joyne with the unbaptized these are fictions scriptureless notions For this Thou shalt not commit Adultery Thou shalt not Kill Thou shalt not Steal Thou shalt not bear false witness Thou shalt not Covet And if there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying Thou shalt Love thy Neighbour as thy self Love thinketh no ill to his Neighbour therefore Love is the fullfilling of the Law Rom. 13.9 10. The word of Faith and the moral precept is that which Paul injoyns the Galathians and Philippians still avoiding outward circumstances hence therefore when he had to the Galathians treated of Faith he falls point blank upon moral duties For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Gal. 6 15 16. As many as walk according to this rule What rule The rule by which men are proved new creatures The word of Faith and the moral precept Wherefore Paul exhorteth the Ephesians not to walk as other Gentiles in the vanity of their mind seeing they had received Christ and had heard him and had been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus that they would put off the old man what is that Why the former conversation which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts Lying Anger Sin giving place to the Divel corrupt communication all bitterness wrath clamor evil speaking with all malice and that they would put on the new man What is that That which is created in righteousness and true holyness A being renewed in the spirit of their mind and a putting away all these things Eph. 4 For in Christ Jesus these words are put in of purpose to shew us the nature of new Testament administrations And how they differ from the old In Moses an outward conformity to an outward and carnal ordinance was sufficient to give they subjecting themselves thereto a being of membership with the Jews But in Christ â—esus it is not so of Abrahams flesh was the national Jewish congregation but it is Abrahams Faith that makes new testament Churches They that are of Faith are the children of faithfull Abraham They that are of Faith the same are the children of Abraham So then the seed being now spiritual the rule must needs be spiritual also viz. the word of Faith and holyness This is the Gospel concision knife sharper then any two edged sword and that by which new testament Saints are circumcised in heart ears and lips For in Christ Jesus no outward and circumstantial thing but the new creature none subjects of the visible Kingdom of Christ but visible Saints by calling Now that which manifesteth a person to be a visible Saint must be conformity to the word of Faith and Holyness And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Hearken how delightfully Paul handleth the point The new creatures are the Israel of God The new creature hath a rule by himself to walk by And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Paul to the Philippians commandeth as much where treating of his own practice in the doctrine of Faith and Holyness requireth them to walk by the same rule to mind the same thing I desire to be found in Christ saith he I reach forward toward the things that are before my conversation is in heaven and flatly opposite to them whose God is their belly who glory in their shame and who mind earthly things Brethren saith he be ye followers together with me and mark them that walk so Mark them For what For persons that are to be received into fellowship and the choycest communion of Saints And indeed this is the safest way to judge of the meetness of persons by For take away the confession of Faith and holyness and what can distinguish a Christian from a Turk He that indeed receiveth faith and that squareth his life by the royal perfect moral precept and that walketh there in the joy and peace of the holy Ghost no man can reject him he cannot be a man if he object against against him not a man in Christ not a man in understanding The Law is not made for a righteous man neither to debar him the communion of Saints if he desire it nor to cast him out if he were in But for the Lawless and disobedient for the ungodly and for sinners for unholy and prophane For murtherers of fathers and for murtherers of mothers for man-slayers for whoremongers for them that defile themselves with mankind for manstealers for prejured persons and if there be any other thing contrary to sound doctrine according to the glorious Gospell which is committtd to my trust 1 Tim 1.9 10 11. Paul also wen he would leave an everlasting conviction upon the Ephesians concerning his Faith and Holyness treating first of the sufficiency of Christs blood and the grace of God to save us he adds I have coveted no mans Silver or Gold or Apparell