that so we may be found in him for the knowledge of him in what he hath done and is become for us while we were yet out of him being heartily imbraced leades the heart and mind into him and to be stayed in him See Phil. 3. 8 10. 1 Joh. 5 20. And to that purpose the first thing in all the commandements as brought to us by the glorious Gospel is to hear that word or doctrine of faith that presents the Lord our God to be one Lord as evidenced in that one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all a testimony in due time which shews him to be light and in him no darkness at all See and compare Mark 12. 29. 1 Timothy 2. 4 5 6. 1 John 1. 5. Whence also we are exhorted to be swift to hear that word of truth in what condition so ever we be come as we are to it listen to and receive it with all acception as a faithful saying full of truth and goodness for us at all times that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners To hear alwayes before we speak or do that thence we may be rightly taught strengthned and qualified so to speak and do as those that shall be judged by that royal law of liberty Be more ready to hear then to offer the Sacrifices of Fools James 1. 19. Eccles 5. 1. Prov. 22. 17 21. And so the way to seek righteousness profitably that we may attain it is to seek it by faith in Christ Romans 9. 30 32. To believe in him that we may be justified by the faith of him Gal. 2. 15 16. For as by his knowledge or skill so also through the knowledge of himself through his name he gives the forgiveness of sins and justifies the believer Isaiah 53. 11. with Acts 10. 43. and 13 38 39. And so likewise if we would get victory over sin and Satan cleanse our hands from sins our hearts from guile be made partakers of his holiness without which no man shall see him The way to seek it is also in the knowledge and faith of him and to that purpose to be exercised in beholding the glory of the Lord as shined in that glass even in the face of Christ through the glorious Gospel 2 Cor. 3. 18. with chap. 4. 6. Whence the Psalraist tells us That they that have clean hands and a pure heart are onely the Generation of them that seek his face and so seek righteousnes and strength there Psalm 24. 4 6. with Isaiah 45. 24 25. And therefore also calling upon us to seek the Lord and his strength leads us to this as the way to it in his fundamental instruction seek his face evermore Remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth Psam 105. 4 5. They then seek him not after the due Order that first seek to frame or work up their own hearts to a belief or hope in God or confident expectation of good from him before they hear or dare receive and consider the word of faith as true for them but seek to find the act or grace of faith first in their own hearts that from thence they may conclude the truth of the word of faith to themselves that first seek to work up their own hearts to love God before they will know or believe his love to them in Christ as and while sinners and enemies which onely is fit and able to get true love and good affection to him that so from the imagination of their love and good affection to him they may conclude his love and good affection in Christ â—o them Now herein is not love saith the Apostle that we have loved God herein Gods love is not rightly perceived But in this that he fiâ—st loved us even while enemies and sent his Son the propitiation for our sins And therefore and from thence we indeed love him because he fiâ—st loved us and from thence also that being first known and believed springs true love one to another 1 John 4. 9 10 19 and 3 16. They therefore do greatly err as likewise in seeking to get victory over sin and strength against their corruptions before they dare receive the report of his comming into the world to save sinners and the victory and conquest obtained in his resurrection over sin and Satan as faithful and true for them And then from what they imagine they find in themselves they conclude the truth of that done in him for them In this preposterous and disorderly way of seeking the Lord men make iâ— their first and great inquiry whether they be elected or in a good condition before God which they strive to guess and to conclude to themselves from some imagined gracious frames good affection victory over sin or the like or from some particular assurance that hath no better ground for the bottom of it then some testimony of their own or some private spirit before they will believe Gods testimony of his sending his onely begotten Son by his grace to taste death for them and giving him glory that their faith and hope might be in God And then gather up conclusions of the truth of that for them from their imagination of the truth of the former Namely that Christ by the grace of God tasted death for them because they find themselves such as before Hence it is that the way men too generally walk in to comfort themselves and others in distress is to labour to perswade them that they are in a better condition then they think they are Their sins less their Hearts Desire Frames and Works better or else from some signs or testimony of their owne spirit or of others that they are of the Elect and that therefore Christ and all his things belong to them Behold a more excellent way then any of these crooked paths in which who so walketh shall know no true or lasting peace First inquire in the light of Gods testimony and consider diligently what Jesus Christ by the grace of God hath done and what an infinite rich provision of all things pertaining to life godliness is in him for such vile sinners and wretched ones as at the worst thou mayest suppose thy self to be even for such as yeâ— are not of the Elect or chosen Generation that through him they might be saved and in finding him find Life Election Sonship and priviledges of Sons in him and so be made of that Generation that were chosen in Christ from the beginning of the World to be his peculiar treasure even of the chosen generation the Holy Nation Beloved with peculiar manner of love who before were not so as Rom. 9. 24 25. 1 Peter 2. 9 10. Instead then of striving to conclude thy self in a good or safe condition see and consider in the testimony of Christ what there is for such as are in a bad and lost condition like
by his chastisements Hebrews 12. 11 15 16. from gracious returns of prayers and from beholding the light of his countenance and so from victory over our iniquities and the evil of our temptations Isaiah 1 10 18. Psalm 32. 3 4. Yea the secret and wilfull retaining divers lusts disables from so coming to the knowledge of the truth that we might be saved by it 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. Therefore saith James we have not because we ask not or we ask and receive not because we ask amiss to consume it upon our lust or still secretly retain the purpose desire or idol of iniquity in the heart whence he thus admonisheth Submit resigne or yeeld up your selves to God Resist the Devil and he will flee from you draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you Clense your hands ye sinners purifie your hearts ye double minded c. James 4. Oh! That yet we were willing so to discern diligently to look into and consider the Lords body as to examine our selves search and try our wayes in that glass and to see what we see not and judge our selves as there discovered and reproved as we are instructed 1 Cor 11. 28 31. Yea so to remember him in all his wayes as to acknowledg him in all our wayes not leaning to our own thoughts or understanding But as those that call on the father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear The good Lord would yet be merciful and pardon and heal us though yet we be not sanctified after the sanctification of his sanctuary were we but willing in the light and strength of his grace and name in Christ so to prepare our hearts or suffer him to prepare and fix them to him that the iniquities and idols might be discovered and the purpose or desire to hide and hold them fast broken and we made willing to see and part with them for the excellency of the knowledge of him for he doth not onely alwayes prevent with his abundant grace in Christ to humble but will also prepare the heart of the hamble and cause his ear to hear Psalm 10. 17. Isaiah 1. 16 19. 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. James 4. 6 10. Thus have his servants the Prophets that have spoken to us in the Name of the Lord in all their earnest and diligent inquiries after God and for understanding the visions of the times and the things that in both parts of them as to the actual accomplishment bringing forth of them were then yet to come namely the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow Humbled themselves to the searching ouâ— and being sensible of and acknowledging their iniquities and the iniquities of their people as discovered in the instructions of his name and written upon the rod See Ezra 9. 6. to the end 10 1. Neh. 1. 6 7 and 9. tot Psalm 32. 5 and 38 and 39. Isa 64. 5 9. Dan. 9. 3. 20. And thus they have instructed us in the way not to be as the Horse or Male c Psalm 32. 8. But to search and try our wayes and turn to the Lord to examine and judge our selves in the true light to humble our selves in the sight of the Lord and under his mighty hand And surely such walking humbly and mournfully before him in the sence of our own vileness and searching out and giving up our iniquities and Idolls in the light and power of Gods name in Christ is found in the right worshipping in which the father is worshipped in spirit and truth in the light of the Spirits testimony given of Christ and so in Christ the truth Yea the way the truth and the life that rejoycing in and giving glory unto Christ Jesus in which the father is truly honoured and worshipped in the spirit hath alwayes in it and is it self found in a taâ—king shame to our selves and relinquishing all rejoycing in the flesh that no flesh may glory in his presence Philipians 3. 3. 4. I might here add in this seeking him after the due Order as to the manner of our seeking that there is in it a joyning and cleaving together in his name and so seeking and striving together for the faith of the Gospel even in the Vnity of the spirit with them that call on his Name in truth that worship him in Christ according to the Gospel The persons with whom we may and are to joyn dwell and walk in the Unity of the spirit and so together with whom we are to be followers of the Apostles they are such as walk as they have the Apostles for an example Philippians 3. 17 20 21. And we are diligently to mark know and distinguish them by considering the end of their conversation Compare this to the Philippians with Hebrews 13. 7 8 9. For there are many other walkers zealous pretenders to godliness mortification holiness that have also much of the form or outward appearance of it in many things who yet are the enemies of the Cross of Christ the very end of their conversation though privily carried on under a fair shew of mortification and holiness with good words and fair speeches to deceive the simple is to deny the Lord that bought them To destroy or cast down him from his excellency to render him undesireable and to corrupt believers from the simplicity of him And the thing thereto worshipped adhered to and magnified by them is their own Belly their own or some private Spirit experiments works mortifications sufferings and the like instead of the person of Christ and the works finished in his body and the grace treasured up and hope set before us in him for this life and that to come as evidenced by the spirit of truth in his testimony given of Christ They glory in their shame mind earthly things things suited to sence and in which they have their portion in this life But as for me sayes David I will behold thy face in righteousness even in Christ the true light and manifestation of the righteousness and glory of God and so in the great and precious promises confiâ—med in him For here we walk by faith that is the evidence of things not seen the confidence of things hoped for and not by sight When I awake sayes he namely in the morning of the resurrection of the just by Christ at his comming then I shall be satisfied with thine image Psalm 17. 15. with 2 Cor. 4. 17. 18. and 5 1 7 9. Hebrews 11. 1. Romans 8. 23 24. So here the Apostles conversation and so theirs that walk as they have them for an example is in Heaven exercised in and about the treasure they have there in the person of Christ with God and the expectation they have in him as now appearing in the glorious presence of God in the Heaven it self for them from whence also they look for the same Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to
BREACH upon BREACH OR AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF Judiciall Breaches MADE UPON US PROCURED BY SINFULL BREACHES FOUND AMONGST US With Instruction Admonition and encouragement yet to turn to him that smites us and the sum of it was delivered at the Funerall of Mr. Jeremiah Colman late Preacher of the Gospell at Hetherset in Norfolk February 18. 1658 9. By Tho. Moore Junior If they shall confesse their iniquity And that they have walked contrary to me and I also have walked contrary to them Then will I remember my covenant and I will remember the Land Levit. 26. 40 41 42. If any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profitted me not he will deliver his soul from going downe to the pit and his life shall see the light for he hath found a Ransome Job 33. 24. 27. 28. For this cause vide not so discerning the Lords Body that was broken for us as to examine and judge our selves in the light thereof many are weake and sickly among you and many sleepe for if we would judge our selves we should not be judged c. 1 Cor. 11. 28 29 30 31 32. LONDON Printed by J. B. for the Author 1659. The Epistle to the Reader THis our beloved Brother deceased had his conversation in times past among a people zealous about some lighter matters of the Law as to outward order and discipline in the worship of God while yet neglecting the weighty matters as judgement and the love of God ernest in building Churches but slighting if not as there is too much cause of jealouâ—y of many of their builders refusing that stone for the foundation and head of the corner which God hath laid in Sion for that purpose too much like though it may be hoped not so much out of order as Israel of old who when forgetting his maker And counting the great things of his Law even Christ the end of the Law and the knowledge of God in Christ and his righteousnesse the things witnessed in the Law and Prophets as a strange thing were yet zealous in building Temples and multiplying Altars and sacrifices Hos 8. 11 12 14. with ch 6. 6 7. Psal 118. 22. Math. 21. 42. and 23. 23. Luk. 11. 42. Act. 4. 11. with Isa 28. 12. 16. and 29. 11. But God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins and â—respasses and that he might thereby shew the exceeding riches of his grace to others inclined his heart more dilligently to enquire into the great things of his Law or doctrine summed up in the testimony God hath given of Christ and gave him to perceive the faithfulnesse of that saying that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners By the light of which he karned to relinquish the former apprehensions he had of Christ and so of other persons and things after the flesh or as that teacheth and to account losse and dung for Christ and for the excellency of the knowledge of him such things as before were gain to him that he might farther win him and be found in him And so in receiving his word as the word of God and not of men Christ as testified in the scriptures the son of God the Saviour of the world became precious to him And having tested that the Lord is gracious to whom comming as to a living stone disalowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious he also as a lively stone was therein built up in him and so made of the spirituall house and holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ the love of Christ constrained him with much earnestnesse to perswade and beseech others to be reconciled to God and to seeke help in the name of God in Christ to warne the unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weake to be patient towards all men in meeknesse instructing them that oppose themselves and to encourage and stir up such as had believed through grace to abide in him as they had received him and to provoke them to love and good works and so to help forward and strengthen the hearts and hands of the fellow-helpers to the truth As one that had his heart seasoned with those principles of certainty and truth that one died for all so effectually with the father that all have died in that death of one as all have sinned and death passed on them in and by the sin of one And that he therefore died for all that they which live in their severall ages by the grace of God bringing salvation to them as it doth to all men in due time should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose again knowing also in this knowledge of the greatnesse and truth of Gods grace in Christ to manward the unspeakable terror of the Lord against those that will not know him but are contentious and do not obey the truth or by an evil heart of unbelief depart from him and go on in their trespasses and backslidings till the day of grace pass and the master of the house be rissen up and have shut to the dore And in this his earnest seeking the good of all and the edifying of the Body of Christ he was much stirred up espâ—cially in his latter days to press for more fellowship in the Gospell with them that did know and acknowledge the grace of God in truth and so callon the Lord out of a pure heart And that such should joyn together as the heart of one man for the promoting that designe To which purpose he moved it as of great advantage and very necessary that brethren in the Gospell should often gather together as they might have opportunity frroâ— divers parts to consult one with another and together with the Scriptures and the testimony of God concerning Christ as contained in them how they might walk and strive together in more joint order for for the faith of the Gospell This though much upon his spirit to his latter end Yet was too little considered by us Our generall dulness and loss of our first love by wandering out of the way of understanding made us insencible both of the advantage to be sâ—â—â—net within such endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond if peace and so seeking the Lord and his things and therein the things and good of others after the due order and also of the necessiry of it especially in these evill times It seemed to me that Gods removing this instrument in the midst of his days and while his spirit was so earnestly set for the promoting and carrying on so good a worke and yet it was so little apprehended or considered by us had in it a great reproofe of our dulnesse and a loud voice signifying necessity of timely listening to it to awaken us to righteousnesse in this particular that standing up from the dead Christ
those people were by a conceit of their ability and strength yet to make up the breaches in the wall by pulling down the houses But with fear and trembling let us look unto the maker thereof and with reverence have respect to him that fashioned it long agoe For 2 It is he even the Lord that is the maker of such breaches in it The Lord our God hath made this breach upon us He is the authour of all evil of punishments or corrections of sin They are his work though his strange work Isaiah 28. 21. to which he is unwillingly provoked It is not the work of his delight in this day of his grace and patience to prepare and frame such evil things against men He delighteth in mercy that pleaseth him he is the Father of lights and therefore every good and perfect gift commeth down naturally and freely from him but there is no darkness in him Evil or wrath towards men hath not its original in his gracious heart or councels whence he is said to frame and create it against men as a thing without him or that had not its original in him but his strange act not framed against any till he be highly provoked to it I the Lord form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Isaiah 45. 7. Note That darkness which he is said to create is darkness as opposed to light Favour Grace and good things vouchsaled to men and so evil as opposed to peace and not as opposed to good things done by men It s not the evil of sin that he frames or creates that is their wayes their doings none of his but the evil of punishment as Amos 3 3. 6. You have I known above all the families of the earth therefore you will I punish for all your iniquities And of these punishments for their iniquities he saith verse 6. shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it Yea that he tempts no man with evil nor can he be tempted or moved to have any hand in or fellowship with any thing that is sinful no not inmoving â—rompting approving or allowing it is evident in this that he is the Authour or maker of all punishments of it present eternal and righteous in executing such judgments as indeed all his ways are equal and he is holy and righteous in all his works Now he could not be righteously or lawfully the Authour of the punishment if he had any hand or heart in the sin or iniquity punished It is great cruelty injustice and wickedness for any Magistrate to punish that fact in another of which he knowes himself to be the first and principal authour and mover or if but a promoter and approver of it And shall not the Judge of all the earth do right far be it from us to attribute any manner of cruelty injustice or wickedness to the Almighty Yea therefore to him of Right it belongeth to execute vengeance upon all ungodly sinners that despise him and run to other Rocks because he is the Rock his work is perfect A God of truth and without iniquity just and 〈◊〉 They have corrupted themselves c. Deut. 32. 4 5 15 31 35. Therefore he would have us commit vengeance to him as indeed altogether unmeet our selves to assume it It s his work and he will do it seasonably and righteously to punish the world for their iniquity and the wicked for their sin Isa 13. 11. Of the evil of punishment for mens evils and iniquities or corrections and tryals for purging them There are some of which God is more remotely the authour viz. Such as are executed by evil instruments and in the execution of which the instruments do evil or sinfully As those many and great afflictions on Job Shimeies cursing David and the like which yet they did well to take out of Gods hand as his doing and ordering to them But in such judgements as these this cautionary distinction is well to be observed God is the authour of the punishment to the party punished not of the sinful action of the instrument by whom he punisheth He hath no hand in or fellowship with the sinful action of the instrument in moving or promoting to it or allowing and approving of it but yet is the Author orderer of the punishment or correction that is in the influence of such evils on the subjects they fall upon by permitting ordering such influence of others evils to light upon them And whatsoever he doth is holy just and good and for the good of those to whom he doth it while it is to day though in that which they 〈◊〉 the instruments do the influence of which he permits to fall on others they do evil and sinfully and intend it for evil as Joseph well said to his brethren Gen. 50. 20. Yea thought it for evil but God meant it for good They envied and hated him and thought to destroy him God had no hand in that but suffered their evil to have influence upon him so far as might tend to the sending him to Egipt to preserve them and much people alive They meant no such thing in it it was not they but God that by that means sent him thither Gen. 45. 7 8. So the Assyrian Tâ—e rod of Gods anger was by him ordered and used to punish and purge an Hypocritical nation Howbeit he meant not so nor did his heart think so but to destroy and cut off Isaiah 10. 5 7. So also in raising up the Caldeans that bitter and hasty nation that came to eat up and to destroy God in giving permissive commission to them was yet of puâ—eâ— eyes then to behold iniquity or have fellowship with them in their sinful thought and action But he did ordain the influence of their wrath and evils for righteous judgment and for correction that utter destruction to his people might be prevented and so was holy and righteous in all his wayes though they were wicked and sinful in theirs Hab. 1. 6. 12 13 And so generally he hath made the wicked for the day of evil and wrath he makes no man wicked but such as make themselves so he hath made and ordered them to be in his hands to be used and ordered by him in the influence of their wickedness as rods to execute wrath on others for his own glory They shall be kept in store for judgements to execute such judgements as he delights not to imploy good Angels and as they desire not to be imployed in Proverbs 16. 4. God did not move Shemei to curse but Shemei hardning his heart against that grace that brings salvation to all men which would have prevented him and conceiving the evil and malitious thought and lust which God approved not nor came it into his mind as Jer. 19. 5. and 32. 35. And being at this time himself a fit person to be left or given up
of Christ the power of godliness that creep into houses or gather into companies and societies like the Churches of Christ Then such as Timothy are advised with more diligence to follow their work and design together with them that call on him out of a pure heart 2 Timothy 2. 22. with chap. 3. 1. 6. And all of us to be followers together of the Apostles and mark them which walk so as they have them for an example considering the end of their conversation as afore-said and so knowing and owning them for our companions to strive together with Phil. 3. 17 18 19 20 21. with chap. 1. 27 28. and 2. 1. 6. c. And that in all our acts of seeking and striving for the faith of the Gospel in all our hearing speaking doing suffering yea in our prayers to God as Romans 15. 30. with Ephesians 6. 18. Acts 1. 14. and 12. 12. See the many instructions and earnest entreaties and exhortations to this seeking and striving together in the Scriptures already mentioned and in divers others Surely a good and pleasant thing is this unity of the Spirit and the generation of seekers dwelling together in it For there the Lord hath commanded the blessing even life for evermore Where ever two or three are gathered together in his name there is he in the midst of them rendring them comely as Jerusalem that is compact together and terrible as an Army with Banners Psam 103 Cant. 6. 4. Mat. 18. 20. This last branch of order in the manner of our seeking is fitly added to the latter part of the former branch For onely by Pride commeth Contention Envying and Strife And then follows confusion and every evil work Proverbs 13. 10. James 3. 13. 16. and 4. 1 6 10. Therefore our Saviour thus joyns them in his instruction and exhortation Mark 9. 50. Have Salt in your selves have peace one with another Meaning by Salt the humbling instructions of the Gospel and the reproofs of instruction and signifying that the retaining them and suffering their effecacy each of us on our Spirits is the way to have peace one with another hence also the Apostle instructs with all lowliness of mind to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace for there can be no union or perfect joyning together without suffering the desires of vain glory to be subdued and our selves to be broken off from our own purpose and desire in which we are each minding and seeking his own things nor will there be any right submission of the younger to the elder nor of all of us one to another in the fear of the Lord without being cloathed with humility in the hearty acknowledgement of his glorious name Ephesians 4. 2 3 c. Philipians 2. 2 3 4 7 20 21. 1 Peter 5. 5 6. According to these last considerations of the due order in the manner of our seeking after which the Lord is to be sought by us They seek him not after the due order that are not gathered together to him in his name and so seeking him in the instruction encouragement and acknowledgement of it and in the unity of the Spirit in it or thus They that worship not in the spirit in the light teaching and instruction of that one spirit that is in and with the testimony of Jesus taking of his things and shewing them and so teaching all things and leading into all truth For as this is the spirit of prophesie so also of faith and of grace and supplication in which all the true worshippers worship God Rev. 19. 10. They therefore worship not aright that worship not in the spirit and so that have not their rejoycing in Christ Jesus who is the truth with a relinquishing and free giving up all Idols and rejoycings in the flesh for the excellency of the knowledge of him John 4. 23 24. Phil. 3. 3. Particularly thus 1. They that run not into that name of Christ in which is the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power for their light and instruction what to seek for in him and from him and how to seek but adhere to their own or some private spirit for that which will instruct and lead to seek and wait for in him or from him such things as God hath not put in him for us and therefore not promised to give with him to us as some such private assurances or speakings of peace and liftings up as are more suited to the sensual mind and may a little gratifie the flesh that desires ease or liberty or like things which instructions cause to err from the words of Knowledge and therefore neither can they stay upon or rest satisfied with the incouragement and strength which that spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus giveth to seek him to hope in and wait upon him and so not with that rejoycing which is onely in Christ Jesus because that gives no incouragement or strength to seek hope or wait for such things in him or from him or to seek in such a way as by their own or some private spirit light word or spark of their own kindling they are led to They therefore run to such sparks for light and heat and for a time may walk in the light of them stollen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret places is pleasant But from all those sparks and rejoycings in them they must lye down in sorrow Nor can these persons while wilfully walking in this way heartily acknowledge his name or give glory to it in submitting and falling down under the discoveries and reproofs of its instruction because their deeds are evil Their principal works and wayes are so contrary to it and reproved by it nor can they be heartily united with those that fear his name and worship him in truth And truly any branches or rellicks of that way of iniquity above-mentioned will have answerable like effects of confusion and disorder upon those that retain and walk in them 2. Nor are they seeking after the due order that though in some good measure right as to the first branch That is as to the things they seek and look for in him and from him seeking according to his will yet are not content with that ground of incouragement and way of approach that is onely in and through his blood and powerful mediation with it and therefore instead of attending principally to seek farther assurance of understanding in that that their hearts might be comforted and strengthned therein are even seeking peeping into corners and waiting for some other private incouragement or ground of assurance in which to seek expect and wait for his righteousness in perfecting what concerns them and so unsatisfifyed if they cannot gather up or kindle something of that nature as if they were without hope in the World as if all that ever God hath done for them in his Son and for and to them through him were nothing to assure them
received in and through him and in the receiving of him even in the believing on his name unto which also his Gospel is his arm or power sent forth 1 John 5. 11 12. Col 1. 14 15 19. and 2. 2 9. with John 17. 4 5. 1 Peter 1. â—1 Hebrews 1. 3. and 9. 24. 1 Joh. 1. 1 2. Hebr. 7. 23. 25. c. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Joh. 14. 3. Rom. 8. 17 18. Phil 3. 3. 9 10. 21. In him is manifested the righteousness of God in that promise and Oath unto David That of the fruit of his Loynes according to the Flesh God would raise up Christ to sit on his Thrrne In that God hath made that Jesus of the seed of David after the Flesh both Lord and Christ and set him on his Holy Hill on his Right Hand in that Glory of his Father in which also he shall gloriously appear in due time to take to him his great power and reign till all enemies be subdued and then deliver up the Kingdome to God his Father He is already raised and entered into his glooy and shall no more return to corruption And as so raised and exalted with the Right Hand of Power is called the sure mercies of David in whom God hath manifested his truth to David and that he will not lye unto David or fail him of a man to sit on his Throne for ever Acts 2. 25 36. and 13. 32. 37. compared with 2 Sam. 7. 12. 16. 1 Kings 2. 4. and 8. 25. with 2 Sam. 23. 5. Psal 89. 19. 37. and 132. 11. Isa 55. 3 4. 6. In him likewise is the body and truth of those manifold figures tipes and shadowes under the law as to instance in some few He in that body raised from the Dead is the true Temple and Sanctuary which the Lord hath pitched and not Man John 2. 19. 22. Hebrews 9. 11. 2 Cor. 5. 1. In whom the fulness of the God-head dwells bodily that so of his fulness we may receive Col. 2. 9. John 1. 16. As also the Great Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession and so the Minister of the holy things of that true Tabernacle of his own body Heb. 1. 2. And in comming into him others are made of the Spiritual House and holy Priesthood as before is shewed He is the body and truth of all signified in those tipical offerings of the Lord made by fire yea of all those Sacrifices Atonements and Offerings for sin in that offering of his own body once for all in which the Father hath smelt a savour of rest for ever and which he ever lives to present and now to appear in in the presence of God for us He is the true Ark and treasury of all Grace and Truth for the Law came by Moses discovering sin witnessing and leading to the better hope in Christ and this whole Testament was kept in the Ark with divers other things But gâ—â—câ— and truth in the forgiveness of sins charged by the Law and the fulfilling all the Tipes and shadowes of it came by Jesus Christ and is now manifested as kept and treasured up in him in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdome and Knowledge that with him they may be given and opened to us and so he is the true mercy seat answering to the tipical one which covered the Ark of the Testament that charged with sin and concluded under curse and whence also the oracle came forth He is the propitiation or covering the atonement and reconciliation for our sins and not for our sins onely but also for the sins of the whole World He is our peace and being so is also the way by and through which God is gracious and speaks graciously to men yea the Oracle by whom he hath spoken and through which he speaketh to us in these last dayes Yea in him the Oyl for anointing to service and light for directing in all our worship even in the man Christ Jesus and so brought to us in the revelation of him in the Doctrine of God our Saviour in which dispensation of the fulness of times God hath gathered together all things in one even in Christ and so given us the manifestation of the truth of all those former Oracles Prophesies Tipes and Shadowes in the testimony of Jesus of the seed of David after the flesh delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Of this truth of all former witnesses and shadowes and so of the righteousness of God in them as now come forth in Christ the Church may be said to be the Pillar and ground not so as to uphold or support the truth in a proper sense To be put to that charge and hard service is proper to the makers and worshippers Idols the imagined Deities and Rocks of mens chusing which indeed are no Gods but vanity and lyes and therefore cannot bear up support or save them that look to the nor can they stand by themselves but must be born up and maintained by them that make and worship them And prove so heavy a burthen to the weary beast that they are not able to support maintain defend and save them Isa 46. 1 2. 5. 7. Jer. 10. 5. c. But the portion of Israel is not like them for he is the former of all things The truth of God in Christ as now raised from the dead iâ— the begetter maintainer and upholder of his Chruch Isa 46. 3 4. Jeremiah 10. 10. c. with James 1. 18. 1 Timothy 4. 10. In the Lord they have righteousness and strength Isaiah 45. 20. 25. But their work to which also they are begotten and strengthned of him is so to keep retain and bear upon them the writing of this manifestation of the truth of God in the tidings and patterns of it so fair and without spot that others may see and read it in their word and conversation and so instrumentally also through him that worketh in them mightily to maintain and defend it in the World To watch in all things to keep the commandement delivered to them without spot unrebukable c. That the truth of the Gospel may continue with others So Paul was a chosen Vessel to Christ to bear his name before the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel to keep the Faith and that the truth of the Gospel might continue with others Acts 9. 15. 2 Timothy 4 7. Gal. 2. 5. And so he instructs Timothy to watch in all things to the keeping this charge 1 Tim. 6. 12 13 14. and 2 Tim 4. 5. And all believers so to shine as lights in the World as a City set on a Hill as a Candle on a Candle-stick holding forth the word of life in word and conversation That it may be seen and read of all men Matthew 5. 14 15 16. Philippians 2. 15 16. And as in old time a pillar was used for a witness remembrance of Gods gracious appearances Gen. 28. 11. 18. 22. and 35.
of his grace And so the fountain of that Water of Gods grace and Spirit and so the testimony of him that anointing by the pouring out and shedding abroad of which we in receiving and attending to it shall be washed inlightened healed strengthned and made meet for service Yea that one offering by which all our Sacrifices brought and offered by him shall be made acceptable and to his praise It s not any other Sanctification Separation or consecration that makes meet for this inheritance of the Holy Priesthood or of the Saints in light not the outward and tipical sanctification that was but to a tipical service in the flesh and in the letter Nor any such as may be by the works of the law Nor any such redeeming from any part of the vain conversation as may be effected by corruptable things as silver and gold or by any other Wisdom Strength or Motions onely in the Lord in whom they have righteousness strength In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory 2. As to the nature of the work or effecacy of this one Spirit through the Gospel on the subject needfull to go before to make meet for this service and inheritance of the Saints It is such as in which through the righteousness of God our Saviour they are made partakers of like precious faith with the Apostles through this sanctification of the Spirit fore-mentioned they are chosen out of the way and condition of the World that lyes in ignorance of God in Christ and enmity to him and so under the power of the Wicked one unto obedience the obedience of faith so to understand and know him that is true that therein the soul is brought into him and united with him by faith 1 Peter 1. 2. 2 Peter 1. 1. with 1 John 5. 19 20. They are begotten by the word of truth to such an unfeined belief of the truth as now come forth in Christ as in which it s believed and received not in vain but to purpose even to the same purpose to which it is discovered and given to them viz to the saving of the soul bringing it out of the World and worldly wayes of seeking rest righteousness wisdome strength c. into Christ for all such as in which they are redeemed from among men and from their vain conversation received by tradition from them and so washed in the Spirit of their minde from the errours and pollutions of the World in which men are vainly seeking rest peace wisdome righteousness c. where it is not unto God in Christ to seek all in him by an exercise of faith in him in what he hath done and is become for them in his own body and in the hope set before them in him Such it is as in which their minds or souls are purified to unseigned love of God of Men brethren in obeying the truth They are principled with those principles of truth that naturally lead so to trust in him and seek all in him and so to love that they may thenceforth walk in that newness of life They are so baptized into Christ euen into his death that as to the Spirit of their minde they are subdued and made willing to put on Christ for all and be devoted to him and to that purpose for the excellency of the knowledge of him to let go all other excellencies as loss and dung that they may win him and be found in him yea herein to hate Father Mother Brethren Sisters Wife and Children yea and their own life also for his sake and in comparison of him for they have obeyed his word and kept his covenant Answerable to that Exodus 32. 6. 29. Deut 32. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 1 2. with 2 Cor. 6. 1. Hebr. 10. 39. 1 Peter 1. 18 22. and 2 Peter 1. 4. and 2. 18. 20. Romans 6. 3. 4. Gal. 3. 26 27. James 1. 18. Luke 14. 26 27. 33. Phil. 3. 3. 10. 2 Tim. 1. 5 6. with 1 Tim. 1. 5. There may be among them many feighâ—ned or halting believers That have yet believed but in vain still halting between two opinions or have not yet so crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts as to be renewed and purified in the Spirit of their minde from double-mindedness to have the heart fixed to seek rest wisdome righteousness and strength onely in him by an exercise of faith in him yea there may be many daughters and attenders who though in some good degree of simplicity waiting yet are not so of them of his Spiritual house and holy Priesthood Yet let all that hear say come Revelations 22. 17. 3. Aâ— to the seal and confirmation of the truth of this washing effecacy of the Spirit through the Gospel making meet for this inheritance it is such as in which they are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise even the same which is the earnest of the Apostles inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession by which fealing they are marked out and approved by God as unto the day of redemption so also as a peculiar people unto this service Ephes 1. 13 14. and 4. 30. By this manifesting himselfe unto them powring out abundantly of the Spirit of his Son into their hearts making known his words and so teaching and leading into the Spiritual injoyment and usefulness of the truth making Christ unto them all that which by the power of his word they are instructed and led to seek for in him even wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption and so filling them with peace and joy through the power of the Holy Ghost in the belief of the truth quickning them to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ Giving them access with boldness and confidence in him strengthning them to cry Abba Father by that Spirit of his Son opening the testimony of his Son believed and so spiritually sprinkling the blood of Christ and shedding abroad his love therethrough in their hearts making it usefull and powerfull to all those ends and purposes Also inriching them with some usefull understanding and gifts for the profit of others even as the testimony of Christ is confirmed in them so anointing and fitting them for ministring to him and in his name that through them others may be saved turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that in turning they also may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance with them that are sanctified by fiath that is in Christ John 14. 21. 23. and 17. 20. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. Rom. 5. 1. 11. and 15. 13 14. 1 Peter 1. 3. Ephes 3. 12. Romans 8. 15. Galatians 4. 6. 1 Corinthians 1. 5. and 12. 4 5 6 7. Acts 26. 17 18. A man may say he hath faith in Christ and so fellowship with the light and in so saying lye and deceive himself but if indeed he have it will be manifested by these works and fruits of it If
Prov. 19. 27. To go from the presence of such yea to withdraw our selves from them in their preachings acknowledgements fellowships as in whom we perceive by the light of Gods Testimony that lip of knowledge is not but some other lip or word privily undermining or slighting the preaching of the Crosse and lifting up some other thing in its name and place Prov. 14. 7. 2 Tim. 3. 1-5 1 Tim. 6. 1. 3. Rom. 16 17 18. Gal. 1. 8 9. with 2 John 10. From such they are to with-draw themselves but not to bid such stand aloofe from them or with-draw from them in their acknowledgments and worship see that instruction to Jeremiah Directing him how to take forth the precious from the vile not by separating or putting out the vile from the precious in their precious Doctrine Society and Worship But thus let them return unto thee but return thou not to them The believer can have no true or profitable fellowship with an infidell or unbeliever in his principles or practises nor in spirituall things partake of his Table or worship as by them and according to their principles presented commended and invited too But the unbeliever may come in to and joyne himselfe with and have profitable fellowship with the believer in his right acknowledgments and worship and so in the Table of the Lord with them and that is not nor can be accounted the believers having fellowship with them or being yoaked to or with them but rather the strangers joyning himselfe to the Lord to rejoyce and praise him with his people see Jer. 15. 19. with 2 Cor. 6. 14-17-18 Rom. 15. 9-11 They the chosen generation and holy Priesthood are not to forbid or keepe out any of the world But to instruct them as they have opportunity by their listening to their word or maine doctrine I say so to instruct and teach them how on what ground and in what manner they even now may and ought to joyne with his people in their worship and observance of ordinances rejoyce yee Gentiles with his people Yet if any after joyning to them and with them professedly in their acknowledgement and worship of the Lord if any that is called a Brother Walke disorderly and will not be admonished they are to withhold or withdraw from such by putting away from among them in their fellowships in breaking of bread if not also in some other ordinances such stubbornely wicked persons in such wise as themselves may beare shame and others may see they are disowned in such evill wayes and this till they be ashamed or judge and take shame to themselves But till any come in to the house or Church of believers so to joyne with them in professed acknowledgement and worship of the Lord they have not to doe with them soe to judge them see 1 Cor. 5. tot with 2 Thess 3. 14 15. They the holy preisthood are not to be yoaked together with unbelievers in fellowship with them in their unfruitfull works of darknesse or in marriages with them or in society and fellowship with them in their acknowlegments and worships as by them propounded and called too and taught by their precepts and according to their principles yea in these things they are to separate from them not to mind or to let their eyes fly upon their pretended excellencyes or dive into their depths but to depart and come out from among them But not to keep them or any of them out from the house or Church of God where they may be redeemed as they have been from their vaine conversation through the precious blood of Christ and the love of God commended through it there shewed forth yea they are as they have opportunity as aforesaid in their holding forth the word of life to and among them to instruct and invite them to come into his house and rejoyce with his people To examine themselves in the glasse of the Gospell as there held forth and so to eate of his Bread and drink of the Wine of his mingling yea so to to remember him in his wayes and ordinances with his people 3. There is an accidentall sanctification or a renewing of sanctification on occasion of polutions happening and prevailing to defile through forgetfulnesse and neglect of the first love also necessary to fit for this service and render persons acceptable and profitable therein Answerable to such renewed tipicall sanctifications wherewith they were exhorted to sanctifie themselves after long forgetfulnesse neglect and confusion had been found with them such as we reade off in this text 1 Chron. 15. 12 14 15. and in 2 Chron. 29. and 30. In which they were to search in the Law and see wherein they had transgressed to confesse their sins and repent and doe againe the first works to cleanse themselves from all their uncleanesses as in Ezrah Nehemiah and other places So the renewed sanctifications in the spirit and truth necessary to the Holy Preist-hood now on occasion of defilements or polutions in principles or practices contracted to themselves by such neglects and forgetfulnesse of the great salvation in the Crosse of Christ and wandering out of the way of understanding is such as in which they call to mind the day in which they were illuminated remember how they have heard in that preaching of the Crosse and how precious Jesus Christ was then to them and what blessednesse they met with in him And so here and in this case the remembring and considering the sweetness tasted in the graciousnesse of the Lord and the operations that it hath had upon our spirits as commended and displayed in and through the preaching of the Crosse is very good and usefull though as we have shewed before the efficacyes of the grace of God on our own spirits or the operations of it in us or by us are not to be looked to as things that commend us to God or as the ground of our rejoycing and hope in him or that give us title to the things of Christ or are the way or ground of our encouragement to approach to or stand before him yet they are to be remembred and called to mind as things that discover the preciousnesse of the Crosse of Christ and his gracious and spirituall presence with that Gospell his speaking in and through it and so in and through his servants faithfully ministering it 2 Cor. 13. 3 4 5. and present us with cause of shame of our comming 〈◊〉 a◠best of answerablenesse and conformity to him according to those efficacies and more abundantly for our departings from such a fountain having never found any want in it as by such calling to mind we shall be convinced and so no iniquity with him and yet that we should depart and go away from him by an evill heart of unbelief and dig to our selves broken Cesterns that can hold no water yea those things remembered or called to mind do so present his preciousnesse comelynesse and excellency for our
to perish and nigh to cutting off and burning For by means of his death he hath obtained power to forgive those sins that deserve a second death while it is yet to day that is before they be so finished in any as to procure the utter bloting out of their names out of the book of the living and so to save us from the wrath to come and hath received gifts for the rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them Hebr. 7. 27. 9. 15. 1 John 2. 1 2. 1 Thess 1 10. Psal 68 18 19. 20. And is therein able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him as well as to hold open the dore for rebellious sinners approach and that he might bring them back from all their wanderings to God And all this because this man continueth for ever in the name and majesty of God his Father to improve for us that one offering of his owne body by which he hath obtained plenteous redemption even the forgivenesse of sins and in which he liveeth to appeare in the presence of God for us Though good men are perished from us and being taken away by death can be of no more personall usefulnesse to us for the dead know not any thing nor have any more a portion in any thing that is done under the Sun and so no simpathy with us in our present joyes or griefes nor is there any more that they can doe for us by speaking to us or praying for us for there is no worke or devise nor knowledge or wisedome in the grave nor have the dead any capacity or opportunity to perfect any thing left undone under the Sun They cannot praise him or celebrate his truth to the living nor hope or seeke for it for them Eccles 9. 5 10. Psal 6. 5. Isa 38. 18 19. Yet the Lord liveth and blessed be the God of the Rock of our Salvation 2 Sam. 22. 47. Psal 18. 46. For because he liveth for ever in that body in which he once dyed for us therefore also they that sleepe in Jesus and we that waite for him shall live together with him in a like consideration even in these bodyes that are now vile which then shall be fashioned into the likenesse of his glorious body yea therefore all shall be raised and stand before his judgement-seate to receive in their bodies according to the things done in them whether good or bad And therefore also they that waite on him shall not be ashamed but though they heere passe through the vally of the shaddow of death and may sit in darknesse as the fruit of their owne wayes yet looking to him he will be a light to them and his rod and staffe shall comfort and uphold them For he is able to uphold support preserve and deliver them when all other helpers and Saviours fail from them even yet to preserve his Church in the world as a people to his praise when their power is gone though those pillars be removed which were a strength to them and their enemies thought were their only foundations whence they encourage themselves saying if the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do But our God our Rock of salvation foundation and high Tower is in heaven he dyed once and â—an dye no more but is alive for evermore and hath the keyes of Hell and Death yea the Lord is in his holy Temple God hath set his King upon his holy Hill of Sion Therefore saith Micha I will looke unto the Lord I will waite for the God of thy salvation For 3 My God saith he will heare me He is ready to save to forgive and heale he delights in mercy that pleaseth him he hath no pleasure in the death of any or that any should perish but that they should come to repentance and be saved And therefore will not be wanting in seasonable admonitions to rebellious ones while it is to day yea will make his rods and reproofes powerfull to the awaking unto his righteousnesse to the giving wisdome and opening the eare to discipline and turning at his reproofe will farther power out his spirit and make knowne his words as is shewed before yea he the Lord of the harvest will yet raise up and thrust forth many more faithfull labourers into his vinyard if yet we be willing to be humbled under his mighty hand and seeke it of him after the due order for because of his infinite compassions kindnesse and pitty to man-ward that they may heare of the things that concerne their peace and learne to know and seare his name therefore he will not make his peculiar people an utter desolation in the carth bâ—t will preserve a Seed to serve him in their generation for the good of others Psalm 22 30 31. and 103. 1 7. 8. c. and 145. John 17. 15 20. Yea therefore the Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make them his people onely feare the Lord and serve him in truth with a perfect heart for consider how great things the Lord hath done for you 1 Sam. 12. 22. 24 For 4. These things considered will instruct incourage strengthen and admonish not to forsake him though all this evill be come upon us nor fly to any other mountaine or refuge for help but to fly to him trust in him and resigne our selves to his government for truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of Mountaines truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israell yea he that is our God is the God of salvation and to God the Lord belong the issues from death Jeremiah 3. 23. Psalm 68. 20. And they that know thy name will trust in thee for thou Lord never forsakest them that seek thee Psalm 9. 10. But as for such as will still go on in their trespasses not regarding the work of the Lord nor the operation of his hands but still persist in their falling away and turning aside unto their crooked paths the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity he shall destroy and not build them up But peace upon Israel Psal 28. 5. and 125. 5. and 68. 20. 1 Sam. 12. 25. Heb. 10. 38 Seek we therefore the Lord and his strength seek his face evermore remember his marvelous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgements of his mouth he is the Lord our God his judgements are in all the earth Psal 105. 4 5 7. FINIS Post-Script WHereas in page 20. speaking of the examining a mans selfe and so eating the Supper of the Lord to which we are instructed 1 Cor. 11. 28. I have written That it is not to search for know or take notice of the goodnesse of our owne frames or qualifications as things rendâ—ring us worthy or by which we may come nâ—r in this case or to such an end are we so to examine or