Thus the first assertion in part is truth Christ shall reigne a thousand yeares that is many Generations but it will be spirituall and not personall 2. Assertion from thence is that all the Saints from the beginning of the world shall be raised and come and reigne with Christ Ans For the clearing of the truth in this Scripture which wil answer this assertion consider 1. what is meant by the behading for the witnesse of Jesus 2. What is meant by not receiving the mark of the beast 3. What is meant by being raised living and reigning with Christ 4. What is meant by the not living of the rest of the dead untill the thousand yeares were finished 1. What is meant by being beheaded for the witness of Jesus It is a spirituall beheading such a beheading as all the Saints who shake off Antichrists badge and yoake like to meet withall Christ is said to be the head of the Church and the head of every man that is of every Saint is Christ now when the Lord discovers the evill of Antichristian wayes to his people and they forsake it they durst not receive either the Image name or marke of the beast they shall presently be beheaded by the beast that is they will condemn them as those that forsake Christ and cry out unto them that they are revolted that they are Sectaries Hypocrits Heritickes c. And thus they behead the Saints spiritually and that for the testimony of Jesus because they cannot but declare the things that they have seen and heard from him which will overthrow and ruine all things contrary to himselfe in the. 2. What is meant by a receiving of the Image or marke of the beast Answ By the Image of the beast is meant that likenesse that it hath unto the first beast who seemes to receive a deadly wound being compared with Chap. 13.11 to 16. that is this beast seemes to make a change he speakes great words his looke is more stout then his fellows he thinks to change times and Lawes yet when all is done it is but the Image of the first beast the exercise of the same power the same wisdom in the things of God the same worship for substance it is all the same in substance and it is but the number of a man all of the flesh it is from below yet such must the worth and the excellency of it be for a time that whosoever will not receive the Image of the first beast and account it somthing too is likewise to be beheaded and not to be suffered either to buy or sell amongst them and many a Saint is like to be given into his hand and he shall prevail over them but it shall be but for a time times and the dividing of a time and then the Kingdome shall become the Saints Dan. 7.2 The Image is that internal spiritual principle from which the beast acts for none can truly follow the beast but those who have received this Image that is who act from the same principl e those are acted who act for and from the man of sin and it is called an image because it resembles Christ both in the internall as well as the externall part yet acts from his own wisdome by its own power according to its own mind to its own end and this in all resembles Christ Now these who refuse this Image in the spirit and cannot be contented with a wisdome like Christ a selfe-acting in the roome of Christ a rule short of Christ and end besides Christ from hence casting off this Image is caerrid on in another track then before they come to be beheaded for Christ because they cannot receive the Image who is the Antichrist in the spirit and not Christ so that here is not onely the Image of the first beast with relation to patern and power but likewise in relation to holiness the first will be for Christ and so the second yet are both but Antichrist 2. What is meant by the marke of the beast in the forehead and in the right hand by the marke in the forehead is meant the visible profession of Antichrist in the externall part those that would not visibly professe the wayes of Antichrist or in the right hand that is to act for him these were denyed to buy or sell Chap. 13.17 to sel that is to preach the Gospel for Antichrist under the notion of preaching the Gospell sells his wares but a time is comeing that none will buy their wares any more so they deny any who own not the Image name or marke to sell hence they may examine those who preach upon such and such intergatories and if it appear that they deny the Image name or marke they may not sell that is give forth freely what God communicates unto them when others sel or buy that is partake of any spirituall good amongst them if they could prevent it and those were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus but they were at last raised and lived with Christ 1000. yeers that is raised up from their low condition taken up into heaven in the sight of their adversaries lived with Christ in the spirit reigning triumphantly over all spirituall enemies selfe sathan world and those Merchants that sell all yea the soules of men too shall be weeping and crying alas alas Rev 18. when the Lord shall make good that word of truth Esa 66.5 Heare the word of the Lord yes that tremble at his word your brethren that hated you that beheaded you that cast you out for my names sake said let the Lord be glorified that is it tends to the Honour of God to behead and to cast out these men but he shall appeare to your joy you shall be raised up with Christ and I will give you a new name but they shall be ashamed Obj. John saith the Saints that had not worshipped the Beast he speakes in the Preterpluperfectence therefore it seemes not to be the Saints raised who at present were beheaded in the mysticall sense but the Saints that had been beheaded in the litterall sense Ans First it is the use of the spirit or the spirits Language to deliver it selfe in darke and mysticall termes so the Apostle saith in another case 1 Thes 4.5 that we which are alive and remaine till the coming of the Lord c. the Apostle speakes of wee as if he had intended the Thessalonians and Himselfe which was least intended but the Saints who being all one in the spirit and but one mysticall body in Christ while there are any Saints in the world the Apostle makes it to be all one as if he and the Thessalonians were them and so delivers it in the present tense when he might have said rather to speak after the manner of men then they which shal be alive at his coming c. as in Rev. the word might have run thus and so questionlesse it is to be understood then they that were beheaded
of Christ teacheth the spirituall knowledge of God 1. Cor. 2.12.14.15.16 Hence it is that those who are taught of God despise the worlds wisdome and are content to be fooles to the world and in the worlds eyes that they may be wise in God Hence it is likewise that so many ignorants in the wise and learned mens account are made partakers of the knowledge of God in the mystery which indeed according to the word of the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.27 confounds the wise and learned and mighty things of the world this being a truth that Saints are made one in the wisdome of the Father How should this in the first place incourage them to look up to the Lord for the more full enjoyment of this spirituall wisdome that as they are made one in the wisdom of God so they might live in the same wisdome and from a deep sense of their own folly to look unto the Lord for continuall teachings and leadings forth in the spirit expecting that promise to be fulfilled Thou shalt heare a voice behind thee saying This is the way walke in it when thou turnest to the right hand or to the left 2. This might be a ground of comfort to the Saints in all their walkings with God the wisdome of God is theirs that God with and in whom they are made one is their wisdome and in the conclusion they shall be swallowed up in the perfection of it as Christ himselfe 1 John 3.2 3. This might answer that foolish opinion of they world who look upon the most spirituall Saints as the worst fooles in the world It is true the wisdom of God is folly with men but if the could look with a spirituall eye they should see that those people are the only wise people wise in God and those who live below upon Creatures and things that will not nor cannot satisfie are indeed in Gods account the only fooles and they themselves shall be driven to confesse it one day 4. Christ and the Saints are made one with God in righteousnesse Gods righteousnesse was Christs righteousnesse for the fulnesse of the God-head dwelt in him bodily He was filled with the spirituall in-dwellings of God who continually acted him according to the divine pleasure and as the second man was made one in the righteousnesse of the Father so are all the Saints made one in the same righteousnesse he was made sinne for us that wemight be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Quest How may the Saints be said to be the righteousnesse of God in Christ Answ Either First in the Letter there is a righteousnesse presented which is the first thing sinners are made partakers of that is the righteousnesse of a Christ dying upon the Crosse making satisfaction to the letter of the Law and to the conscience troubled by reason of that letter which is indeed the cause of sin for where no law is there is no transgression Now Christ dying upon the Crosse satisfies the Law and likewise upon the sight and application of him satisfies the troubled conscience This is the first righteousnesse of God discovers to the soules of sinners and by faith makes them partakers of it and this is called the righteousnesse of God because God gave forth his Son inabled him to go through and by his suffering to obtaine such a righteousnesse for his people that might both satisfie the Law transgressed and the Conscience of mans transgressing Secondly in the spirit the Saints are made the righteousnesse of God that is God now as in Christ dwells and acts in the Saints by his Spirit writes his Law in their hearts makes them partakers of his owne nature and so goes on in fulfilling his owne righteousnesse in them For the righteousnesse of the Law in the Spirit is fulfilled in us as well as the Law in the Letter for us who walke not alter the flesh that is after the Law in the Letter but after the spirit of Christ who dwels in us and acts according to its own pleasure and so by degrees drawes up the spirits of his people to himselfe untill at last they are swallowed up in the fulnesse of the rigbteousnesse of God in the Spirit and be made wholly and for ever one in the Father with Christ 1 Iohn 1.2 A glorious mysterious truth meet to be knowne of all spirituall Ones this is the top of the Saints glory and their height of spirituall perfection the knowledge and enjoyment of this spirituall Onenesse in the Father and in the sonne 1 Iohn 2.2 4. 5. There is an Onenesse in love and delight between the Father Son and Saints the Fathers love and delight is in his Son and Saints Mat. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased well pleased with his Son and with his Saints in his Son Hence the Lord speaking after the manner of men is said to delight and sing and rejoyce over his people even as the Bridegrome rejoyceth over the Bride Esa 62.5 Zeph. 3.17 to rejoyce even with joy and singing So Likewise it is the delight and joy of the Saints to live in the Fathers love the very thoughts of it is precious and the injoyment of it exceeding glorious though the soule seemes to come short of the perfection of that injoyment in this world yet what it sees and injoyes with the expectation of perfection in another world fills the soule with joy unspeakeable and full of glory and now as the soule dwells in the Fathers love delight and joy so likewise it dwels in the Fathers will and it delights in and is well pleased with the will of the Father it can say with Christ what ever temptation presents it selfe yet not my will but thy will be done such is the Onenesse betweene the Father Sonne and Saints they delight and take pleasure in each other 6. There is a union in glory likewise the Fathers glory is the Sonnes glory and the Sonnes glory is the Saints glory what this glory shall be is unconceiveable and unexpressable to go about to expresse it either with tongue or pen would rather darken it then illustrate it yet a word by the way the perfection of the Saints glory shall be the enjoyment of all things in God who is and shall be their everlasting fulnesse in the spirit Those who dreame of a Kingdome after the flesh or of any externall pleasures in the highest measure discover themselves to have exceeding carnall thoughts of the Saints glory It is true they shall have a Kingdom but a spiritual one so called because injoying all spirituall satisfactions in the fountaine when the body and all the whole internall and externall part of man shall be turned into spirit 1. Cor. 15.44 And our vile body shall be changed made like his glorious body In a word Such is the Saints Glory and shall be in the perfection of it through their union with God in Christ that we must conclude
for the witness of Jesus were raised or lived and reigned with Christ as the sense of the former then they that shall be alive at the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep so that the spirit of God might as well deliver a truth which is in the Present tense in the Preterpluperfect tense as a truth in the Present tense which was in the Future and yet is all to exercise the mind of him that readeth and to let us know there is mystery in the Gospel Secondly very few Saints have been beheaded in the litterall sence those that have dyed for Christ have dyed other deaths and not beheaded therefore we cannot understand it in the Letter but in the spirit The fourth particular propounded was what was meant in that the rest of the dead were not raised untill the 1000. yeares were finished that is none that had been bodily dead Saints or wicked good or bad were raised till after the 1000. yeares were finished and then you shall see the resurrection of all which is called the second resurrection the first is called a resurrection and the first resurrection because it shall be a resurrection from shame and disgrace in the world And secondly it shall be a glorious resurrection in the spirit this first all the Saints have in some measure been partakers of it Thus it appeares that Christ shall have a Kingdome a glorious a spirituall One Quest But when shall this Kingdome be Ans It is already begun in the spirits of Saints The Kingdome of Heaven is within you 2. I beleeve that the time of the 1000 years which is a more glorious estate in the spirit is not yet begun but the beginning of that time shall be when the 7. seales are fully opened c. the 7. Trumpets fully sounded and the 7 vials powred forth they being but effects of each other the opening of the seales occasions the sound of the Trumpets the sound of the trumpets occasions the vials the opening of the seales the unfolding of the mysteries of the Gospell which have been hid Rev. 5.1 2. As light breaks forth the Trumpets sound the servants of Jesus preach forth the mystery of the Gospell in the power and puritie of it occasions the vials of wrath to fall upon the Antichristian estate both in the spirit and in the letter which work is now adoing Wait the Lords time and it will come on apace But first we are yet like to be given into the hands of the little horn who changes times lawes the two witnesses are yet like to be slain and to lye dead 3 dayes and a halfe and the Woman cloathed with the Sun to be driven into the wildernes for a little space a time times and halfe a time the beast with two hornes like a Lambe hath yet a little time to make use of his power perswading them that dwell in the earth to make an Image to the first beast and that none but those who own it shall buy or sell with them the Saints beheaded under the Alter to wait a little time before they be raised up to live with Christ 1000. yeares but it is not long the vision is for an appointed time in the end it will speak and not lye it will come and not tarry the first 1000. is almost past the second and third are coming on apace and all the Nations and Kingdoms in the world will come apace to be the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever their lives shall be prolonged for a season and a time and other Scriptures are alleaged for a personall reign of Christ as the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands Dan. 2. that is the glorious power of Christ by weak meanes subduing al Antichristian enemies without his Saints all Antichristian things by his spirit within them So that in Dan. 7.10 the glorious company of Saints attending on Christ in the spirit which shall be fulfilled at the raising of the two witnesses up into Heaven in the sight of their enemies Rev. 5.10 11. This is the first glorious work of the Lord Jesus in and amongst the Saints the Lord reigneth let the Saints rejoyce the Lord reigneth let the world tremble see Zach. 14.5 The Lord our God will come and all the Saints with him that is Christ will come in the Spirit and all the Saints shall appear gloriously in him A word of application First if this be truth that the Kingdome of Christ is a spirituall Kingdome and not of this world this may inform us how farr besides the Gospel in the spirit and truth of it those men are who make the Kingdome of Christ to be meerely politicall and a state-Kingdome who turne the world by a humane power into the Church and Kingdome of Christ as they say and Christ must have a worldly carnall Kingdome no better th n the Kings of the earth enjoy or else he shall have none at all it savours exceedingly of the earth and ere long thither it must returne 2. This could incourage the Saints to pres forward after the knowledge of God in the spirit that as the Kingdom of Christ is spirituall and not of this world so may the Saints Kingdome likewise be in the spirit and so all their enioyments may be spirituall enjoyments this is that will make the soule fat and wel-liking in the Lord I l fithe soule with joy and peace which the world is not acquainted with their eyes never saw it nor their hearts conceived it neither are they like to see it unlesse the Lord make them spirituall SECT X. Of Death Resurrection Iudgement and the state of the Saints after Iudgemene eternally with God FIrst of death It is appointed for all men once to dye Dust we are to dust we must returne and therefore it behoves us to to expect it All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite til my change come Death is certaine although the time be uncertaine it is that none are in a common aid ordinary way exempted from unlesse those Saints who are alive at the last comming of Christ they shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1. Cor. 15.51.52 and so shall be caught up in the spirit to meet the Lord in the ayre 1 Thes 4.17 Secondly of the Resurrection That there shall be a resurrection of the Body at the last day is evident John 5.28 29. John 11.24 with 1 Cor. 15. throughout Rev. 20.12.13 although this truth is by some denyed and by others too carnally looked upon some thinking that our bodies of flesh shall be raised in the same forme in which it dyed others that it shall be spiritual yet question whether it shall be of the same substance therefore it will be necessary to consider two particulars for the clearing of it First by what power we shall be raised Secondly with what bodies 1 By what Power
THE MARROVV OF CHRISTIANITY OR A spirituall discovery of some Principles of Truth meet to be knowne of all the Saints represented in ten SECTIONS By T. Collier Minister of the Gospell Whereunto is added an Epistle written by M. SALTMARSH Isaiah 32.20 Blessed are ye that sow besides all waters c. Isay 33.16 He shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munitions of Rocks bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure verse 17. and thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty c. London Printed by Charles Sumptner for Giles Calvert at the Black spread Eagle neer the West end of Pauls 1650. To the READER Christian Reader FOr to thee alone do I commend this smal Treatise who alone art able to judge of spirituall things for the spirituall man judgeth all things I have here in this Treatise presented unto publike view some principles of truth Although I suppose that some particulars herein may seem somewhat strange at the first sight yet I question not but the same spirit of Truth which is given forth from the Father through the Son to the Sts. will by degrees so gather us up into the mystery of Truth that we shall all speak the same thing from our walking in the same light and acting in the same power I have in this place only three words to mind thee of as a preparative to what thou shalt read in this ensuing Treatise First that the discovery of the first man Adam to be but a humane man a man indued with humane perfections is not a strange but a glorious truth and meet to be known for the knowledge of this one particular leads us to the knowledge of the Creatures nothingnesse the wisdome power righteousnesse c. of the Creature it is all but of the Earth and that it is the proper work of Christ the second man to ruine and destroy in thee all that is of the first Adam even those reliques that remaine that wisdom is turned into folly that strength into weaknesse that righteousnesse and holinesse into meere filthinesse and pollution so that Christ doth not where he comes in mercy restore man to his first condition as it was in Adam but destroyes those principles as we are Christians and so creates a new man in us which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephes 4.24 and he that is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 All old things are done away behold all things are become new and as is the earthly such are they who are earthly as is the heavenly that is Christ such are they who are heavenly 1 Cor. 15.48 Secondly that the glory of a Christians life is in the knowledge of Christ living in him so the Aposte Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ Neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and Christ in you the hope of glory is the great mystery of the Gospel for the Saints to know Col. 1.27 that is not to live wholly on the eying of what Christ hath done without us for us but likewise to be able to experience the life of that Christ in us being made partaker of the same spirit of the same Anointings c. Thirdly that the knowledge of Antichrist is the knowledge of a mystery I mean a mystery of Iniquity which none can know but those enlightned from above that as the mystery of the Gospel is hid so likewise is the mystery of Iniquity hid from them that perish Lastly and in a word my desire is that what truth thou findest here written thy spirit may be made one in and with the same truth that so both thou and I may have communion and fellowship with the spirit in the same truth and what information and consolation thy spirit findeth from what is truth letting any Creature-weaknesse thou findest passe let God have the glory and so thy poore friend in the unity of truth and fellowship of the 〈…〉 A Table of the principle things contained in this Treatise SECTION 1. OF Adams condition before his fall Page 1 Adams in a condition of humane perfection p. 1. 2. The Jmage of God what in Adam p. 2. 3. 5. Mans best wisdome but the remainder of the first Adam in it many too much glory p. 3. 4. What the Jmage of Adam is not p. 8. SECTION 2. The cause or ground of mans fall First the mutability of his condition p. 8. God not the cause of sin p. 10. The second causr of mars fall p. 11. Satans temptation Why Satan called a Serpent p. 12. The cause of mans fall disobedience p. 13. The tree of knowledge of good and evill why so called p. 13. SECTION 3. Mans misery by reason of his fall p. 14. 15. Mans misery considered under 3 heads p. 16. SECTION 4. What is the means God hath appointed for the recovery of man out of this condition that is Jesus Christ p. 27 The sin and fault is layd upon Christ p. 17. 18 Christ bare the sins of all all are saved and how not saved and the reason why p. 19. 20. 21 Christ not the efficient cause of love but rather an effect of love p. 22. 23. 25 How Christ delivers from wrath p. 13. 24. SECTION 5. How persons come to have benefit by this means that God hath appointed as the way of life which is by Faith p. 26. What Faith is p. 26. 27. How Faith is obtained p. 28. Faith not a condition of the Covenant p. 29. Faith a branch of the Covenant p. 3. Faith an evidence of the Covenant p. 30. The means by which Faith is wrought p. 31. The properties and effects of Faith p. 31. How Faith justifieth p. 32. 33. Faith produceth peace with God p. 33 Faith puts the soule into the possession of love it fills the soule with joy p. 34. SECTION 6. Wherein the condition of person restored by Christ and their union with God is discovered which is first a freedome from sin p. 35 Second in being one with and in Christ p. 36. Christ and the Christians relations one first Christ a Son so the Saints p. 36. Secondly relation of spirituall union p. 37. In the spirit power wisdom righteousnesse love and glory p. 38. to the 49. Saints Communion with the Father Son and each other p. 50. 51. 52 SECTION 7. Wherein is declared what the Law is what the Gospell with the difference between them both in the Letter and in the Spirit p. 55. First what the Law is in the letter p. 55. 56. 57 Secondly what the Law is in the Spirit p 56. What the Gospell in the Letter is p. 61. 62 What the Gospell in the Spirit is p. 64. The Mystery of the Gospell what p. 65 The life of Faith in the most spirituall 67. 68 The difference between the Law and the Gospell p. 70. 71. The glorious effects of the knowledge of God in Spirits p. 63. SECTION 8. The matter of
shalt die the death Man having yet the principles of that law remaining in him God having by the promised Messiah given a farther being to mankind in the world he gives forth the righteous Law more at large in the letter that so his creatures might have a rule in the Letter to walke by and likewise might be the more sensible of the losse of both that principle and power they had once in Adam given unto them and likewise with it given though not the same power yet the same promise of externall life in the Land God gives them 2. The Law was that by which sin came that is by which sin became sinfull For it is true had not God given a Law yet man would have been acting contrary to the pure mind of God therefore he give a Law that sin might become out of measure sinfull and it was added because of transgression for where no Law is there is no transgression For by the Law was the knowledge of sin and so it was an administration of death both in the hands of Adam as well Moses 1. Cor. 3.6.7 3. The Law in the letter was an Image or Character of that spirituall righteousness God intended to bring in by Jesus Christ as Adam was an Image of that spirituall perfection God intended to make his partakers of in the spirit by Christ So this Law in the letter was a rule answerable to that morall principle of righteousnesse in Adam a Character likewise of that spiritual righteousnes that every believer attains in Christ the righteousnes of the law in the letter was not that believers injoy in Christ but that righteousnesse Adam injoyed in his state of innocency It was not the righteousnes of God but a Character of that righteousnes holyness and purity that all believers are made partakers of in the spirit It was not that righteousness by which God intended to give life and glory eternally but such a righteousness which had externall promises annexed unto it For if there had been a Law given that could have given life then righteousness had been by the Law Wherefore I conclude that the Law in the letter was but a Character of the spirituall righteousness of God which is the life of the Saints and that by which God never intended to justifie any to eternity for the law in the letter killeth not justifieth but the spirit giveth life 2. Cor. 3.6 The law was given to Adam in the letter and Moses was the Minister of the law in the letter but Christ is the Minister of the law in the spirit Therefore Moses saith himselfe A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me him shall you heare in all things Acts 3.22 23 Deyt 18.15 Obj. It is said Rom. 15.8 that Jesus Christ was the Minister of Circumcision Answ True he was the minister of it for the truth of God to confirm the promises made unto Abraham he was a Minister of it so as to fulfill the truth held forth in it So the word Minister Diaconos signifies God having promised Christ to come of the seed of Abraham he gives forth circumcision and divers other Ordinances as Types representing him and he is the Minister of all to act and fulfill all and to be the substance of all those Types for the truth of God else God had not been true in his promises neither had salvation been obtained either by the Fathers to whom the promises were made or the Gentiles who were a farr off and likewise included in the promises Therefore he was the Minister of circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises unto the Fathers and likewise that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy Not so much a Minister in the giving forth of it but in the fulfilling of it which gives occasion to the Gentiles to rejoyce and praise the Lord. Obj. Paul applyeth the words of Moses in the Law Deut. 30.12 13 14. Rom. 10 6 7 8. to be the righteousnesse of faith the righteousnesse of faith speaketh on this wise Answ It is true that Christ and the righteousness of the Gospel was included in the Law There was a literall or externall righteousnesse expressed in the letter to which were externall pall promises annexed but there was a spirituall and internall righteousnesse included which only beleevers were made partakers of which was a righteousnesse brought in by Christ and obtained by faith which is the law in the spirit or that spiritual righteousnesse of God that beleevers are made partakers of which is the second thing propounded what the law in the spirit is Secondly the law in the spirit or the spirituall righteousnesse contained in the law as you have already heard is the righteousnesse of God which every believer is made partaker of Note these two words for the more full clearing of it First that there wasa spirituall righteousnesse included mystically in the letter of the Law which none ever saw into but those spiritually enlightned Paul had experience of it Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall The Law in the letter was not spirituall For the same Apostle could say that he walked concerning the righteousnesse of the Law in the letter blamelesse Phil. 3. yet he calls it a fleshly walking If any man had cause of glorifying in the flesh I much more And he saith he was alive ones without the Law but when the Commandment came sin revived and I died Rom. 7.9 alive without the law in the letter by that it was he judged himselfe to be alive he walked concerning that blamelesse but when the Commandment came that is when the spiritual righteousnesse of the Law was unfolded which was no lesse then the righteousnesse of God then he saw how short he came of that righteousnesse he was yet but in the letter in the flesh and not in the spirit Then sin revived I died Secondly that this Law in the spirit is that spirituall righteousnesse of God that believers are made partakers of 1 Cor. 3.6 The letter killeth but the spirit giveth life The letter killeth the letter requireth an exact and perfect obedience which none was able to performe and so the very letter of the law did kill So at first it killed Adam and all his posterity and so it killed the Jewes being given forth in a more large way for it was the administration of death but the spirit giveth life viz. the Lord Jesus the spirit and substance of the law both morall and ceremoniall for the first man was made a living soule to answer a morall righteousnesse the second was made a quickning spirit to give life to those dead in the first Adam And as the Father hath life in himselfe so hath he given to the Son to have life in himselfe and he quickneth whom he will John 5. The Law in the letter killeth the Law in the spirit quickneth Therefore Christ saith I came not
14.26 That if they loved him they would not reason because he said he would goe away because his spiritual presence was the most glorious presence we see it by experience that the Disciples of Christ were most spirituall and had most spirituall enjoyment of God when Christ was gone from them in person and they enjoyed him in the spirit That the presence of Christ in the latter dayes will be most glorious appeares by all that have been formerly spoken and I think none of light deny it then the conclusion holds true that the presence of Christ with his people in the latter dayes wherein they shall enjoy most light and glory will be a spirituall presence 2. Argument If Jesus Christ be known of the Saints no more after the flesh but after the spirit then his regne in the latter dayes of the Gospel will not be personall but spirituall but he is no more to be known of the Saints after the flesh as you have formerly heard 1 Cor. 5.16 Therefore his presence so and his Kingdome wil not be a fleshly or personall presence and Kingdome but a spirituall 3. Argument Spirituall glory and spirituall enjoyment is that which most of all suites with the Majesty and glory of God John 4.22 23 24. Col. 3.1 1 Cor. 2.9.10.14 The glory of the Saints shall be spirituall and their enjoyment spirituall in the latter dayes spirituall knowledge Esa 11. and spirituall conformity unto Christ Zach. 12.8 and spirituall joy and rejoycing Esa 35.10 Ergo the presence and Kingdome of Christ in and with his Saints will be a spirituall Kingdome and not a personall 4. Ar.g. Christs Kingdome and presence shall be with all his people filling them with spirituall glory Esa 25.7 He shall take away the veil spread over all Nations and v. 6. And they shall say Loe this is the Lord we have waited for him Christs personall presence cannot be with all his at once therefore his presence and Kingdome will be spirituall and not personall Objections answered concering the personal reigne of Christ Obj. 1. That Christ was promised to the Jews to come as a King they to this day expect him to come as a King to deliver them from their captivity Ans 1. It is is true he was promised to come as a King Isa 9.7 and so he came King although not in outward appearance Mat. 2.2 Where is he that is borne King of the Jewes we have seen his Star in the East and are come to worship him He was the King of the Jewes when he was born he was a Child and yet a King 2. he is King of all spirituall Jewes For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but he is a Jew that is one inwardly and Christ reignes spiritually in all his people the Kingdome of Heaven is within you 3. Christ will appeare a spirituall glorious King to the Jewes the natural seed of Abraham in the latter dayes gathering them from among the Heathen to himselfe in the spirit and so will reigne in and over them in the spirit gloriously Ezek. 37. throughout see ver 24 25. That they shall be gathered in with all the beloved of God by the spirituall working of Christ and not by his personall appearing is cleare from this ground They shall be gathered unto Christ from the beholding of Christ crucified and not from the beholding of his glorious personall appearing Therefore Christ shall come a King in the spirit to his people and not in the flesh see Zach. 12.10 They shall looke upon him whom they have pierced and mourn over him c. The eying of a pierced Christ shall be the way of bringing in Jew as well as Gentile Obj. 2. Christ suffered reproach and shame in the flesh from his enemies therefore it is likely he shall be glorified in the flesh before his adversaries Answ Christ shall without question be glorified in the presence of his adversaries and all Nations shall be gathered together before him when he shall appeare from Heaven in flaming fire to render vengeance to them that know not God and obey not his Gospel but whether Christ shall appeare personally or in any personall form will be a great question but with much spirituall power manifesting himselfe to the salvation of his people and to the confusion of all his and his Churches enemies Matt. 5.25 Obj. 3. It is said Rev. 20.4 That those that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God that had not worshipped the Beast nor his Image nor received his mark in their fore heads and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeares and the rest of the dead lived not againe Answ For clearing the mysterie of this Scripture it will be requisit first to set downe the things asserted from hence Secondly to unfold the mysterie intended which will answer the things asserted the things asserted hence are these 1. That Christ shall reigne a thousand yeares personally 2. That all the Saints departed from the beginning of the world shall be raised and come and reigne with him 3. That the wicked shall not be raised till after the thousand yeares be finished For answer unto and clearing of the truth 1. I conceive it to be a glorious truth that Christ shall come and reigne a thousand yeares a long time spiritually in his people but not personally amongst his people that Christ shall reigne thus gloriously see not onely this Scripture but Rev. 11.15 And the seventh Angell sounded and there weare great voyces in Heaven saying the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord. and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever Thus you see Christ shall have a Kingdome and for the time of it it is said Rev. 20. to be a 1000. yeares and in Isa 60. to be many Generations I will make thee an eternall Excellencie a joy of many Generations Obj. But it s said Rev. 11.15 That the Nations and Kingdomes of the world are become the Nations of Christ and he shall reigne for ever therefore it seemes that his Kingdome shall be personall Answ The Nations and Kingdomes of the world may be said to be the Nations and Kingdomes of Christ in a two fold respect and yet Christ not reigne personally and this the Scripture clearly holds forth 1. In respect of the abundance shall be converted unto Christ in all Nations that in comparison of what hath been formerly the Nations and Kingdomes shall become the Kingdomes of Christ Esa 66.19 20.60 ch from 5. to 12. verse 2. Christ may be said to be the King of Nations in respect of the ruling of his Saints over their enemies for in this Kingdome of Christ shall the enemies of Christ be subjected and shall serve the Saints the Nations that will not serve thee shall perish and Christ reigning in his Saints over them may be said truly to reigne over them Psal 149.7 8 9. Rev. 2.26 27. Rev. 5.10