mouth what he believeth in his heart for of the torments he goeth back from Christ but if any see the prize in immortality namely Jesus the Authoux and perfecter of that faith raised from the dead and believeth in his heart that if he suffer death with Christ God will also raise him by Christ to life this faith will encourage a Christian to enter the conflict in the love of Christ and without feare to confesse to his name If after they enter combate with the seede of the serpent are at length vanquished by intollerable payne and are not able to indure the agony and conflict of Martyrdom they loose the glory of their confession for they are to hold the confession of their faith constantly unto death without wavering But if they looke to the end of the conflict and set their eyes on the resurrection of Jesus they by the power of his love will hate their mortall life and think it long before they can come to knock at the gates of death whereof he hath the keyes to receive such into life Rev. 1.18 5. These sufferings of Christ are of absolute necessity to enter in life and immortality for by meanes of the Serpent we have put on the old and sinfull man which is mortall by reason of the lusts of deceit And therefore in Jesus Christ we must put off this body of sin by death that we may put on the new and spirituall man which is immortall by reason of this love in the truth 6. The necessity of chastisements in Christ are shewed by a Schoolmaster The Child naturally hates his book and would never learne it except the Master did by his presence and chastisements keepe him to learne The Child is the Christian the book is to learn Christ Ephes. 4.20 the rod are men in authority the Schoolmaster is the Law or the heavenly Father discovering our miserable and mortall estate by the Law of his presence And as a Child so a Christian if he should not learne obedience by what he suffers would soone grow wild and vain such as are worldly Christians that in time are grown so proud as to blot the book and teare it to despise and burne the rod and to correct controule contradict and defie the good Master The 4. day of the Week I Have observed the course of Religion in the world and I find that another word and authority doth alter the Religion As in Christian Religion the word or Law of the Church is Christ manifest in the Scriptures and Doctrine from the beginning The authority thereof is from Heaven manifested in power to hold the words against the authority of men The Sea or seate to governe according to this world and new Covenant is the Lord Jesus his 12. Apostles and all that are built upon them having the same word and spirit their conversation is love meeknesse and humility towards others so as he which is most poore and humble in the flesh is endued with most authority in the spirit of holinesse their faith is in immortality after this mortality according to the Communion in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ the head of the whole Church of true Christians If now there stand up another man that taketh upon him the Christian Religion and the maine of Jesus Christ and the apostolick Sea if he bring in any other word he bringeth in another Christ he alâ—ereth the Religion if another authority of carnall force to impose his word upon the Consciences of men he opposeth Jesus in his spirituall authority which worketh in the heart invisibly if he under the name of Christ enforce other Christians by oppression to do contrary to any word or any jot or title of the Scriptures delivered by the foundation of the Christian Church he is an Antichrist he denyeth the Father by presuming to possesse the Conscience of man which he made with his word and he denyeth the Sonne in denying the word and the power thereof The Conversation of such is also contrary to the suffering Christians being putt up with mortall pride to exalt themselves one over another in the flesh and pride of life Their faith is also contrary in that it is fixed on mortality wherein they rejoyce and are confident of the durable estate in the pleasures of sin And thus the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ immortality is in all things perverted under the colour of his own name and of his own word and Ordinances to mortality and wickednesse greater then paganisme 2. It is observed that in processe of time after the much blood of the Christians had brought forth the world to bee Christian from that time the Church of Christ ceased to be visible of the world and the world blinded it self under the name of the Church of Christ which cannot so be for Ecclesia the Church of Christ consisteth of the people that in all times are called out of the world to the unity of spirit now the world cannot be called out of it self Therefore the true and spirituall Christians are hidden to the world under the feighned and carnall Christians yet the Church is as visible in it selfe now as it was viz. when Christians suffer joyfully under worldly Christians for the same cause of the Word Commandement and Faith of immortality as they did in the beginning 3. Men deny the Catholike Faith when they labour to comprehend it under their carnall authority For the Catholike Faith must needs be granted from the name of it to be both universall and spirituall If then it is such a Faith as is to extend to all the ends of the earth such as withstand it or hinder the spreading thereof by their wisdome and power do deny that the Faith should be universally obeyed and so Catholick Again sâ—eing Faith is the onely work of the spirit of truth which spiritually worketh in all men alike If anyby carnall authority doe hinder the spirituall work of Christ they fight against the spirit and Faith of Christ to bee preached to all nations for the finishing of the Body and Church of Christ And thus some that professe themselves to be of the Catholicke Faith of the Church may deny it yea fight against both the faith and the universality thereof 4. If prayers and tears are the weapons defence and authority of the true Church of Christ as all grant then fire and sword must needs bee the weapons and offensive authority whereby the kingdom of Antichrist is discovered in all places 5. It is a horrible thing to behold the Creator without Christ the Word For he teacheth with terror of death for transgression of the Law but he that seeing his estate to bee thus before God and goeth to Christ and learneth obedience in the word and in the death of Jesus Christ shall in him have boldnesse to stand before the throne of his gracein immortality 6. A truth may be preached and yet made utterly void by worldly practize as the popish
given you my Christ to become flesh that he might be a perfect guide and redeemer of you from the bondage of mortality in this evill world so as the subject may know his duty to his Magistrate the sonne to the Father the servant to his Master it every one do thus walk according to my word in their severall estates and degrees and yet your superiours do take offence as you for not obeying them rather then me I will justifie you in what you do in Conscience of my law fear not their condemnation but learn obedience in the flesh as Christ Jesus my only Sonne hath shewed you and looke unto the throan of my judgement sent which I have appointed and know my righteousnesse in the love of Christ and come unto me from mortality and bondage for by constancy to death you and every one of you shall evercome and be more then Conquerours and you shall condemn then for sin that have condemned you for sinners in hatred of my word and of my Christ which I have given to be a light unto the world whom with you they have killed 2. In the estate of enmity between God and man that repentance which men teach is apostasie from God for when a man yeeldeth obedience to the word as the Servant of God If the authority of man do compell him to repent of this his obedience in any matter wherein the word of God requireth obedience and this man doth repent under the fear of man and blaspheame the service of God as wicked and magnifie the service of man as holy and righteous it is manifest from antiquity that this repentance is the worldly wickeknesse against God for whosoever in oath with them saith destroy the wicked saith in effect to destroy all Christians that live godly in Christ and all the servants of God both great and small because these only are the wicked in the evill worlds account and these that are righteous are their spirituall enemies so as whosoever seeth not this enmity to avoid it as not to have Communion of enmity with the world against Christ is yet guilty of the curse with the seede of the Serpent The fifth day of the week IT is noted that he which preacheth the Crosse of Christ must do it sincerely not scaring the shame and death of the Cross in the Communion of his sufferings but there are those which preach the Cross of Christ in enmity of the Cross in that they go back from Christ crucified to follow their profit or pleasure in this mortall life These also set up a Throan of Judgment in enmity against Christ by authority whereof they keepe men from looking to the Judgement if Christ so as it is of necessity for every man to discern these two Throans of Judgment for if a man fear the Judgment of mortality he is darkened from seeing the Judgment of immortality but if he truly see the Throan of Judgment setled in Heaven he will be enlightenned not to respect the humain Judgment of men on earth The fifth day of the week 1. THe shame and reproach of Christ and his Christians is that they are men without honour in the world and suffer all things as base men Therefore they which follow him in the honour of the world and in power to defend themselves from oppression are not under the shaddow of Christs Cross for these count it a great shame to suffer as a Christian constantly to death 2. It is noted from 1 Sam. 15.22.23 That it is a worshipping of false God to break the Commandement of God for any worldly or carnall respect whatsoever 3. The unclean meates forbidden in the Law note out how abominable the Idoll and false Doctrines of Devills should be unto us to obey them in our soules who so observeth the Law may escape what it discovereth as death 4. It is noted that Christ made an end of the Law when he took revenge and desire of judgement out of mens hearts that they should not now require eye for eye and go to judgement one with another but on the contrary to forgive each other and so to go to God beseeching him to forgive them and thus in all cases to judge themselves and not others for sin 5. It was the wisdom of God that his own Sonne Christ should come in poore state that none might be allured with worldly glory nor terrified with mortall terrours but that who so receive him may be known to follow him in true love more of him then of themselves 6. Evill Shepherds of mens soules keeping the word in their own authority do as if a Shepherd pretending to feede the flock should keepe the sheepe from the pasture and from safe feeding and agree with these for a part and with the wolfe for the skin and yet aske wages for their service The sixth day of the week 1. AS the eye is the light of the mortall so he mind is the light of the immortall man The eye is simple when is clearly seeth by the light of the world the mind is simple when it is clearly enlightenned by the Word and spirit of Christ which is the â—â—ue light to immortality the mind kept under mens authority is as a man blind-folded 2. If it be Church-robbery or sâ—criledge to take vessells and goods consecrated to holy uses what is it to take the holy word it selfe out of the Book which is sealed in the blood of Christ The first day of the week COncerning the workes of the Law Rom. 3.20 I have this understanding that seeing that is certain that none can be justifyed by the works of the law namely by the justifications holden in the ministery mediation and Priesthood leviticall constituted under the fear and authority of men Then we may conclude that all the service under any worldly authorities though it may seeme farre better then that of Rome yet it Will be found only to condemnation and cannot justifie as to purge the Conscience from dead workes to serve the living God for as these were the workes of the Law of God in the worldly holinesse and authority of justification by men so are these of other Common-wealths the workes of their Law constituted in their feigned holinesse and justifications by their own authority And if that of Israel could not cleanse the Conscience surely all Religions of mens devising do make vain man more vain and harden the heart to commit sin in enmity of the word of God The third day of the weeke 1. FRom Ephes. 3.15 is apparant that as a housholder is over his Family so the heavenly Father is over his Family which consisteth of all his Creation both in the Heavens and upon the earth Therefore his good servants are carefull that Christ of whom all this family is named may dwell in our hearts by faith looking to his invisible presence being rooted and grounded in love both towards the Father and his Sonne who is over the Family in
my mortality to shew it in my sufferings to death and I put on his immortality upon my mortall mind and in all things have the mind of Christ to guide me in my life and to give me to mind onely the things that are above with him in immortality 2. I am instructed to put difference between the teaching under the law and under the authority of Christ The Law commandeth obedience upon payn of death saying thou shalt not do thus or thus or thou shalt do thus or thus but Christ saith thou shalt love the Lord thy God c. thou shalt love thy neighbour c. so that a man is first taught so truly to know the true God as to love him and when he hath obtained this love then he doth willingly all whatsoever he hath commanded and also he rejoyceth in the Law of Christ which is the bond of perfection The third day of the Week I Consider the reason of doing miracles from the word that whosoever hath the word of God in him to do it and to suffer for it in the spirit of Christ he hath the word with him to effect whatsoever he desireth of the Father in the name of Christ Iohn 15.7.5 The fourth day of the week IN the Common wealth of Israel there is the enmity of the Creator There are the men of the worldly authority that justifie themselves and condemn and persecute the true prophet and the obedient Children of Syon the mother City and God justifieth them against their accusers There is the fear of men and the fear of God in seperation There is the Law of God holden in the worldly authorities and the Law within the faithfull in opposition The worldly men make to themselves a light and walk in it condemning the oppressed as if they being separated from them did walke in darkenesse without light Thus carnall Israel in all things walke by sight in a visible worship of God persecuting and despising all that submit not to their glory whereas the spirituall Israel though they seeme to this world as living in darkenesse and dishonour without the scare of men and without the Law given by Moses yet it is farre otherwise in spirit and truth for God their God is a light unto them they feare God and obey him and they are not without the Law of God but the Law is within them And these onely are the redeemed of God the Lord as Esa. 50.51.1 Cor. 9.20.21 2. In a generall enmity Babel oppresseth â—srael And God hath purged and chosen Jsrael in affliction and hath given his glory unto him and will be glorified in him Esa. 47. 48. 41.9 42.8 with 46.13 49.4 3. Abraham and Sarab are a type of God and Sion the barrennesse of the one is compared to the solitarinesse of the other and the delight and comfort of the one is signified to be fulfilled in the other Esa. 51.1 c. 54 4. If the way of Christ were that his people should so low him in the life of the flesh to immortality then men would perish in their hast but seeing he is gone before in reproach through death to life all that follow him in this way of suffering death in the flesh doe walke soberly and make no haste but goe out so as the Lord Jesus is gone before them Esa. 52.11.12 53. with Luk. 9 22.23 2 Tim. 1.10 The fifth day of the Week AS I understand carnall Adultery and Fornication in the flesh so I apply spirituall Adultery and Fornication in the spirit from Esa. 57.3.5 c. If the worldly authoritieâ— make to themselves gods and doe worship to them they are men that ingender with gods in such a place vers. 5. c. and all that goe with them commit whooredome against God their maker either as Adulterers that have the authority of a man or Adulteâ—â—ssâ—â—s that willingly submit to mortall shame And so further we may conceive that what man or woman soever hath in them the spirit or authority of Idols or other gods if they enforce others to agree to their spirit they are tyrannous over the conscience and are as they which ravish the weaker to their filthy lusts If any of these privately doe allure any to consent to their spirit and to submit to them in prayer and spirituall worship of God these deceivers or any one of them with many or but with one that is allured hath committed the act of spirituall whoredom with the minde of all that are subject Therefore it standeth us upon both to shun all Idol worship in publike and to trie all spirits that wee shall be subject unto in private prayer or submission in conference For by submission in conference with the uncleane spirit Eve and the whole world is deceived and so it is manifest that whosoever humbleth himselfe an anothers desire in prayer is become one spirit with him that prayed and thereby is defiled if he have aâ— common spirit by the word that from what he in his prayer conceived to bee God entred as seed of the uncleane spirit into the heart of all that in unity received the spirit of that prayer a Wherefore it is as necessary to know the God onely one true God and the one spirit of holinesse in Christ Jesus as it is for a maide on wise to know her owne husband from all Adulterers and that they be one spirit with him onely and not weake to any other that waite to deceive and abuse to vanity The sixth day of the week THere are communicants of the body of Christ in shewing his death by suffering death till he come And there are communicants of Devils or serpents in shewing their pride by killing the righteous blood as 1 Cor. 10.16 to 21. â—â— 26. with Math. 23.33 35. All that continue perfect and single hearted in the word of Christ have his word and presence to keepe them from the evill of the world untill they have finished their testimony and have shewed his death Ioh. 17.14 15 c. with Revel. 11.7 But if any communicate outwardly in profession of Christ crucified and discerne not his body killed in the enmity of the world so as to shew themselves a member thereof by manifesting Christs death in their death and their death to be for Christs cause 2 Cor. 4.9.10.11 These comming short of communicating in the spirit of Christ in not discerning the presence of his body both to suffer in the flesh and to sustaine in the spirit may fall into sicknesse weakenesses yea and into death among those which dye of the plague after the condemnation of the world but if in this plague of the world wee discerne our own weakenesses our ignorance of his invisible presence to save or to kill and our readinesse to goe backe from shewing his death by divers worldly or carnall temptations moving us to save our soules from following Christ that dyed by suffering for us for which causes we
may bee left to the evill of the world and doe now confesse our sinne against Christ and our readinesse to deny the faith of Jesus and doe take our sicknesse weaknesse or danger of infection with the sinne of the world as a chastisement for our profit as 1 Cor. 11.29 30.31.32 and learning obedience under the present hand of our Lord resolving to renew our Covenants in his communion and doe thus with simple hearts pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by the spirit of holynesse in his resurrection all things will worke that we may live to glorifie God our Creator in the love of his Word and may be preserved to obtaine that crowne of life which is in the Martyrdome of Jesus The first day of the VVeeke THere is a corporall idlenesse which is the way of deadly sinne as Ezech. 16.49 And there is a spirituall idlenesse which is the way of apostasie from Christ as 2 Pet. 1.5 to 8. Now the common Professors and such as have the authority and glory of the world know no Idlenesse but bodily idlenesse and when they urge men to labour they compell to bodily labour in a worldly calling for riches or to get the meat that perisheth but how to labour for assurance to make their calling and election sure they are blinde Wherefore seeing corporall labour is but a type or example of true Christian labour in the minde all that so much urge labour in an outward calling and confound the labour in inward calling as a thing inferiour to the type these are deceivers of mens minde and to bee avoided Mark 8.36 The sixth day of the week J Understand by that in Rom. 3.5 to 8 How God in judging the world bringeth wrath upon man for their sinnes If man doth repent and turne to God tho unrighteousnesse and the lye according to which he walked before his conversion doth now commend the righteousnesse and truth of God thuâ— in that he which was unrighteous is not now to be judged according to what he was namely a sinner but the righteousnesse of God is to bee commended in him because that he which was a sinner is now righteous and will doe no evill no not though good may come of it and the lye of him which was once deceived maketh the truth of God abound to his glory thus in that he which was a lyar doth now walke in the truth and convinceth the world of Gune The first day of the Weeke JN this plague I have considered the enmity of God Iam. 4.4 How from the beginning since mankind was devided upon the earth the judgement of God the Creator and the judgement of men are contrary In that evill men sit on earth to judge God in his word and people Rom. 3.4 and on the other side God sitteth invisibly on his thraone judging the men of the world in righteousnesse Psa. 9.1 Chro. 16.14 2 Chron. 6.30 The judgements of men are in sight but the judgements of God are seen of his people by faith and they discerne how God hee killeth men by the plague c. According to the judgement of men Christ and all his people have their tempration under the authorities of men Luk. 22.28 According to the judgement of God the whole world hath its temptation comming from God Rev. 3 10. From whence we may gather in truth that seeing these two judgement seates are so contrary and the people that are separated to put difference so contrary the people of God are so farre from partaking of the judgements of God upon the people of the world as the people of the world are farre from the judgements of men in the sufferings of Christ Notwithstanding if any of the people that are separated to God doe sinne secretly or openly hee judgeth them by plague or other curses and so killeth them like wicked men of the world as Levit 26 25 25-Num 16.11 46. with Rev. 2.21 23. 2. I consider that it proceedeth from the efficacie of the resurrection of Christ to justifie from sinne Rom. 4 25. with 1.4 5.1 19. And all that doe not apprehend the truth of Christ raysed from the dead they are yet in their sinnes 1 Cor. 15.17 All that condemne us for doing the Law in the righteousnesse of Christ doe judge the Law and doe in effect say that the Law is sin as Rom. 7 7. whereas all that doe the Law confirme it to be holy just and good The third day of the week BY observing the power of God present tâ— helpe I have compared salvation from the plague or other such curses by the faith of Jesus to that salvation from the biâ—ing of Serpents when by faith they looked to the Brasen Serpent and to the word of our God for helpe as Num. 21. with Ioh. 8.14.15 That whosoever can by the word within him apply the communion of Christ either in his own body by suffring as a Christian or in true love and mercy with any that so suffer If any such are smitten or infected with the plague and they presently pray in faith to Jesus the King of Israel looking to his power authority and immortality together also to the fellowship of his sufferings here on earth I am perswaded that the plague shall have no more power over their bodies but they shall be preserved to glorifie God in the love of the Church of Christ as they desire but they must be mindfull in every danger presently to looke up to Jesus whom God gave to save the world and they must looke or pray in faith of his name and of his judgement Joh 3.16.17.18 The fourth day of the week I Have considered that they which have the Martyrdome of Christ God truely known to them in their owne sufferings have the communion of the Sonne of God Jesus Christ in whom they are wonderfully inriched in all speech and in all knowledge 1 Cor. 1.5 to 9. with 2.1.2 The fifth day of the week I Have considered the wonderfull price of mans purchase and the reason of our being Gods owne peculiar body in this price given thus Christ having given himselfe for the life of the world and being gloryfied from the sufferings in mortality hath obtained to give his holy spirit to those which follow him in the new birth Ioh. 14.16 26. with Act. 2.33 All therefore that deny themselves in their sinnes and bring their bodies subject to God so as he accepts of their body for a Temple by the gift of his Holy Spirit these are now bought with this price of the holy Spirit which is of God Therefore seeing the spirit which is in the body is one with God in Christ it is manifest that not so much as the body is any mans owne but it is Christs which liveth in it 1 Cor 6.19.20 17. with Gal. 2.20 And thus every man that in the Baptisme of Christ hath received the earnest of his Spirit as 2 Cor. 1.22 5.5 Ephes. 1.14 Is bought
with the precious blood of Christ in that by the death of his flesh he imparted the Word of the living God which remaineth for ever according to the Worke of God in the resurrection of Jesus 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1.18 to 25. So as now he must give his body which is thus bought from the earth and from earthly men to follow the holy Spirit of Christ whithersoever it shall guide his body till death Ioh. 16.13 with Revel. 14.3.4 The sixth day of the week IN my sleepe by night I was instructed in the righteous judgements of our God by comparing them with the judgements of men thus There are diverse States of governement in the world and these all have their Religion severall under their owne authority If any of these Kingdomes doe send forth their spirituall authority to condemne and execute all within their Dominion which as they terme them are Heretickes Schismatickes and Rebells against the present religion or worship of God constituted by their Authority at the publishing of this judgement all that are guilty in their Consciences doe flee and hide themselves as from men whereas all that are faithfull in that Religion and devour in that will-worship doe not scare but are more bold and confident under the power of that God knowing that every man shall be examined by name whether he be Hereticke if he be so found it is examined whether hee will repent and conforme to their will and not one shall perish without good tryall Such is the estate of the Kingdome of God our Creator in the authority of his Christ those of the world whose hearts condemne them of rebellion against the World and will of Majestistie and doe feare and shift to put off his excention whereas all that repent and are reconciled to him in all things and know the reason of his judgement are safe from feare of the evill which is sent against those which are from their Maker For if men be so just as nor to condemne one that is no rebell or that will repent how shall we thinke that the executioners of the judgement of God in the plague warre or famine are carelesse to destroy any one without great cause The first day of the weeke I Have grieved to consider how men are deceived by the authority or God of this world in that they bring all both God and Christ Spirit and Word subject to their judgement a Thes. 2.4 So that whosoever pray in spirit subject to their spirituall authority they pray but to what they are servants unto which cannot helpe because it is the feare and authority of mortall man to whom such spirituall service is done the onely true God and his Christ is despised the power and wisdome of man is exalted in their hearts therefore if man doe not heare and helpe there is not God to heare except it bee to require vengeance for the abuse of his name and word 2 I have considered that they which use the word of the holy Scriptures translated or preached in worldly glory under morall authority their estate is farre more inexecusable then they which never use that word in way of prayer praise thankesgiving or spirituall worship because these doe not so blaspheme God in Christ as to give that honour unto man the creature which is due to the Creator as the professors doe 3. I have observed how the wise men of this world doe destroy their wisdome by thir authority For in any doctrine of Religion they will propose the holy Scriptures to be then wisdom and ground of truth but if their doctrine be opposed by any then they leave their wisdome and slee to their auâ—hority for helpe which sheweth that their wisdome is but a pretence and that their authority is the pillar and ground of their Church 4. I have noted also the deceit of mans mind that not what he professes or pretendeth in word to be his God and Christ is so to him but what he mindeth in his heart under such a pretence As if a man professâ— the onely true God or preach the Lord Jesus Christ and indeed doe minde another word or authority then of God or doe seeke meat for his belly under the name of Jesus Christ in these cases it is not what hee speaketh but what he imagineth mindeth and seeketh indeed which is his God and for the obtayning of the desire of his minde he denyeth God in deed and all power of godlinesse 5. Whatsoever spirituall service or worship men performe as to God their reading prayers cryings howlings teares and assembling in Idoll Churches are all turned into sinne while they know not God but give that service to the World or Authority of men which is onely due unto God the Creator of all men according to his Word and Will manifested from the beginning in Christ The fifth day of the week THe building and maintaining of the heathen Idol Temples hath been in enmity of the Temple of our God in Israel but now they are in contempt of the Temple of Christ which is his body endued with the holy Spirit Therefore all that partake of I doll-temples doe seeke their life and honour in the flesh under the Persecutor and thereby turns the backe in contempt of the reproach of Christ they all deceive themselves in the flesh they seeke to save themselves by the authority of the Devill to kill whereas to deny their service is to deny ones selfe for they will spoile one of all FJNJS
come thither they spend every day without any other then mortall profit so they passe away the year and it goes into darknesse without comfort at length they have consumed the length of their Age and then they go into darknesse without so much as worldly good These are shut up in darknesse kept unto the Judgement of the Lord who shall render to them according to their unprofitable and evill workes The Children of light are they which exercise themselves in the Law and light that shineth to mortality eschewing evill and doing good as if they were alwayes with the Father of lights and enlightened to treasure to themselves for the time to come Those go into light continually every day addeth unto their strength and they profit in the true riches which preserve the man of God to an immortall life the day and the year they spend in the light going to immortality and the time filleth up to their comfort and consumeth their evill sorrow and sufferings for the light sake in this world when they have spent their time all their labours go with them they go out of this world as a good Servant to be refreshed and rewarded for his good service their immortall soule is gathered into Paradice and joy way ting yet for the day of Judgement and Redemption of the body when according to their good workes they shall be crowned with unutterable and immortall glory Thus the Children of light do so number their dayes and spend their time as that they may apply their hearts unto wisdom and to receive the honour and glory thereof whereas the Children of this world as a bird that rejoyceth in the bait before the snare turne over and take it so these rejoyce in their temporary pleasures and mortall joyes untill the Judgement of the Lord overtake them in their rioting as a snare out of which they shall not nor cannot escape Luke 21.28.35 2. It is appointed from the beginning as the onely way to immortality from mortality that righteousnesse here should suffer in inseculer conflicts which conflicts whosoever refuse thereby to save their mortall life do loose the immortall life and that justly because they feare man more then the maker of man Mat. 10.28 to 39. 3. As treasure is distributed to the poore by the hands of men so the treasure of the spirit of Christ is communicated to the poore which live in the world by the distribution of the poore to whom it is committed The 3. day of the week I Have seen how the Children of this world study Athisme or to live without God in that whereas the Godly study to retoine God in all their knowledge by doing the worke of the word in all obedience to it as to God Rom 1.28 Jam. 1.22.25 with Iohn 1.1 These of the world on the other side will not have God in all their thoughts but as ungodly do make voide all ungodlinesse and conscience of God above and mind only the feare of men and the love of this present world so as they keepe their Conscience sanctified towards men to shine forth onely from themselves to others though in words they professe to know God and Christ yet all their thoughts and practices do manifestly shew that they do deny to know God as he is in spirit and truth to live in all good Conscience to him as all do that hold the power of the word is it is from the authority of the living God and not from men as it requireth obedience of all without respect of Pope Prelate Emperour King Prince Noble Ignoble Jew Gentile Bond or Free Male or Female 2. The tryall of Christians by torments to death is to discover the man of God that is the hidden man of the heart which in Christ is renewed againe in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse which as the power and spirit of Christ the word doth shew it solfe more lively in the sufferings of the mortall body for whereas the persecutors are deluded to think that there is no immortall soule in man but that their soules and bodies shall dye together these Christians by their faith in the estate of immortality â—o put a wonderfull difference in that there is in them a mind and spirit to overcome all the paines and torments of their body and to tryumph over all the power and authority of men and mortality which doth evidently shew that in such men the divine nature of Christ in immortality is distinct from the humane nature of mortality as death is distinct from life which spirit and divinity of Christ as it doth sustaine them to suffer death so it shall raise from death every body that is sanctified by its abiding within it 3. The sufferings of Christ do also put difference between those which worship and serve God in spirit and truth and those which worship him in word or outward forme for whereas all men in the world have God without them and the power of God without them yea and the heathen to shew the mouth of mans heart do make Gods to looke upon without thom and do within themselves retaine the wisdom power and authority of their Gods and that without or against the true God and his Law or authority on the other side the Christians only have the living God his word power and authority within them and wheresoever or in what estate soever they be they carry their God within them and their heart is to him as the Arke to hold his Law and their body to containe his glorious essence so far as every one is capable of it and this part or distribution of the spirit of God to every body doth witnesse and testifie to the Conscience together with the invisible and inconceaveable Majesty of the spirit of God above that they are of the seede and Children of the living God in immortality whereby also they may serve God in truth without any legall forme or visible worship in place or company The manifestation of this is first within every one to do according to the diverse effects the reoâ— in so much as if it be so that many do meete together which have the gift of the same spirit the more there are the greater is the presence and power of God that even the place doth shake as the glory of the one invisible Majesty of God inspiring and expiring the severall effects of the essence of Gods spirit 4. I have understanding of the power of God in the word which saith that if thou shalt confesse with thy month the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart it is believed unto righteousnes and with the mouth it is confessed unto salvation Rom. 10.9.10 And thus I propose it There are all manner of Torments proposed and threatned to be inflicted upon whomsoever shall confesse the Lord Jesus to be Christ the Judge of all if none dare to confesse with his
to bring the price of the sale to the distribution of the whole body and he lye against the holy spirit wherein he promised and detained a part and yet say that there is all this is a sin a great breach of the love and truth of Christ as Act. 4.32.36 37. with 5.2 3.8 9. or if one have much good and yet detaine it from one Member that wanteth this his hardnes doth discover to all the brethren that such a churlâ— hath a dead faith and no love of God and to be such an one as is unprofitable to the body of Christ in any kind and therefore such are known by the word of Christ to deny Jesus and the Communion of his Body and so being divided from the naturall and true love of the Body that suffereth they will be scone of the Brethren to fall away of themselves as leaves from a tree The 5. day of the Week I Consider the estate of the Church of Christ in unity universality and free consent that Jesus Christ is the head thereof and is gone before as a husband goeth before his wife by sufferings the place whither he goeth is the Kingdom of Heaven which cannot be entered into but by the death of the flesh 1 Cor. 15.49 50. the doore whereby we follow him is death and hell whereof Christ hath the keyes Rev. 1.18 the power and authority of these keyes is given to every one by mane through Jesus Christ who in love to his Father having power to lay down his life had in himselfe also power or authority to take it again and this Commandement he received of his Father Iohn 10.17 18. Therefore having in himselfe the keyes of the Kingdom of heaven as being Christ the Sonne of the living God he gave them to Peter to whom the Father of Christ gave to know and acknowledge Jesus to be his sonne as Mat. 16.16 to 19. The authority of these keyes is proper to every one that hath the testimony of Jesus by vertue whereof he openeth a doore through death to follow his Mister Jesus into the Kingdom of his Father this doore every one that is constant to death doth open in the eyes of all that see his constancy according as Stephen the first Martyr doth declare even before his death that others might offer violence to enter into it Act 7.55 56. And seeing these keyes are so effectuall towards God in the love of Jesus Christ Therefore Peter by name and so whose-ever is sealed by the same holy spirit of promise hath by vertue of these keyes in Christ authority also towards men before their sufferings that whatsoever he or any one that is apt and able to hold the confession of Jesus to be Christ by authority of the keyes hath also authority to bind or loose according to the Word so as whatsoever such do bind or loose must needes be confirmed in heaven where Christ that giveth the keyes is with his Father Mat. 16.16.10 19. Iohn 20.21 22 23. 1. Men now boast against the Jew that the Law is not of faith and that faith is now come and therefore say they we are no more under the Law but under grace as Gal. 3.12.23.25 with Rom. 6.13 This boasting against the Jew is not carnall but spirituall against God who gave them the Law and this turneth to the shame of all such as so boast and yet do worse things then they did as appeareth by the word faith for the Law while it is holden under the authority of men in the glory of a present and mortall state is of sight which feareth men and not of faith which only feareth and apprehendeth the authority and power of the invisible God by the spirit of Christ so as all that are holden under the feare and authority of men are of faith no more then the Jewes yea it may be under the Law more worse then they as being without the knowledge of the true God and so of necessity without any faith of God for whosoever hath faith believeth that God is present with him and seeth his thoughts and actions and therefore will not dishonour his presence in which hee liveth by counting sin against him though no man seeth whereas the infidell that walketh by sight under the law hath only respect to the feare authority and judgement of Magistrates and therefore when they can sin in secret or without feare of bodily payne or worldly shame they do sin without and feare of God or Conscience of the judgement to come whereby appeareth that all that live by the Law of faith do feare to offend without the feare of men and that are of faith they will in meeknesse and feare shew to infidells what the life of faith is both by word and example that they also may know God The 6. day of the week 1. IT is a misery to have ones body at liberty by the procurement of men and ones minde and conscience in perpetuall prison by ones own Act 2. There is a twofold justification arising from the Law the one of workes under the Leviticall Priesthood the other of faith under the Priesthood of Christ Jesus The former justification is only if sight and by report of men and it was effectuall to justifie the slosh before the King and the authority of the Kingdom according to this justification was Zachary and his wife righteous before God in this life Luke 1.5.6 but this Law made none perfect and pure in Conscience before the spirit of God Heb. 9 8. to 14. Therefore of necessity upon the defect of this first justification ariseth a perfect justification which is of the Kingdom of God Mat. 6.33 This justification is of faith in spirit and truth according to the spirituall Priesthood of Jesus Christ which is effectuall to justifie the heart and spirit of a man so that in conscience of the worke of the spirit whereby the justifications of the Law is fulfilled in us Rom. 8.3.4 we have boldnesse to come to the Throane of the grace of God in the Heavens Heb. 4.14 15 16. which freedom no unclean person or secret sinner can have but only such as being condemned of men have good Consciences towards God so as they can willingly suffer in the mortall blood that so they may come to be present with the Lord for the justification of their spirit 1 Tim 3.15.16 3. In the power of Christianity there is a twofold knowledge at the gate the one of Christ Rev. 3.20 the other of the Christian Mat. 7.8 The gate standeth as an interstitium or interposition between immortality and mortality and it is called the gates of Hell and of death which are the many tribulations through which the Christians must enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14.22 with Rev. 7.14 and they are the diverse torments Heb. 11.25 36.37 and whatsoever authority the Divill and his seed in mortall bodis have from the power of death to sever the mind and
spirit of the Christian from Christ Heb. 2.14 with Mat. 16.18 through this gate Jesus Christ the head is entered into the Kingdom of Heaven and from death is living in immortality Luke 24.26 Rev. 1.18 Christ therefore being in the state or immortall glory knocketh on the farther side of the gate calleth to his spouse that are in suffering estate of mortall shame to come away to him from mortality to immortality On this hither side of the gate the spouse or Church which are every suffering Christian in the truth do knock when they sigh in their â—â—ibulations being oppressed and grieved desiring that mortality may be swallowed up of life and wishing hartâ—ly that they might be out of mortall bodies be present with the Lord which is best of all 2 Cor. 42.4.6.8 Phil. 1.23 And thus we may understand how earnestly Christ the husband knocks at one side calling the Christian his wife and we may consider how lovingly the wife also knocks at the other side beseeching him to draw her and indue her with power to put off the mortall cloathing whereby she is yet holden in this world from him that so she may overcome all the power principalities and authorities which do keepe them from the full enjoying of love not that Christ can come to his spouse againe into a mortall and cursed estate but that she having the earnest of his spirit may follow him through the straightest gates to his glory in an immortall and blessed estate And as many as are thus gathered unto Christ from mortality are the Church of the first borne written in the Heavens and their spirits are perfected all which at the time of the judgement of Christ shall receive that Kingdom of God which cannot be moved Heb. 12.22 to 28. 4. It grieves me to heare such as think themselves to be spirituall and Christians to boast in a carnall mortall Bondage after the worldly elements of the heathen whereby they are inforced to eat swines flesh as a thing necessary to eternall salvation and to justifie themselves in defiance of God his holy spirit and word whereas in Christ the lawfull meates which were sanctified to an holy Use for sacrifice profited not to purge the Conscience from sin nor to justifie before the holy God of Israell Heb. 9.8 c. These therefore are much deceived and blinded in mortality and reprobate to every good work as Tit. 1.15.16 untill they are by the light of the word enlightened to immortality and by the grace of God the saviour which hath appeared unto all men are by chastisement taught what to deny how to live and for what to waite Tit. 2.7 to 14. 5. From the fulfilling of this word I will have mercy and not sacrifice Mat. 12.7 Hos. 6.7 is shewed what the Lord rejecteth and what he now requireth in Christ If any man bring to God an offering or be envious against a brother or neighbour for Gods sake as he thinketh first he rejecteth the offering for that it is the gain of oppression as if God should say I gave thee life and commanded thee not to defraud or oppresse therefore I will not â—obery for an offering if the goods be lawfully gotten yet God rejecteth him saying I commanded thee to be mercifull and to love thy neighbour and the stranger as thy selfe which thou hast not done this Offering and more then this is by my will due to the poore and so none of thine therefore I will not have neglect of the poore or transgression for an Offering If the Offering be lawfull and free from sin against the poore yet the Lord saith I will not now have thee to offer thy goods in sacrifice but that with them thou extend mercy to all that are in want of thy mercy If a man do thus serve God in his goods yet offend in his person in being hard hearted to his brethren that confesse and desire forgivnesse of the trespasse against him if he yet bind and will not loose the sin the Lord will say unto him except you forgive men their offences Mar 11.25.26 neither will the heavenly Father heare thee to forgive thy sins Mat. 6.14.15 All which sheweth that it is in vaine or a procuring of judgement for any man to go to the Lord by faith in Christ and his heart not perfect in mercy and love to his brother that he seeth with his eyes 1 Iohn 4.20 The first day of the Week 1. THe eare receiveth the word as the mouth eateth meate The bread which the mouth eateth is no bread nor the life which bread sustaineth is no life in respect of the bread of an immortall life therefore the holy spirit calleth mortall man to eat of the true food for to live which is done by hearing to obey the word for thus their soule shall live c. Isai. 55. 〈◊〉 c And thus we eat the bread of God which is come down from Heaven and thus we are communicants in the body and blood of Christ for life when we hear and do the word of God and be made obedient in the fellowship of his sufferings John 6.27.33.35 c. this hearing is the same with believing as John 6.47 c. and this is the immortall eating for not every one that heareth and understandeth the word eateth or believeth to life but he only that so tasteth the word with his eare as that he obey and delight in it from his heart to do the work thereof in spirit and truth and knowledge 2. From the presence of Gods being with us we have faith as Heb. 11.6 with Reu. 1.8 For as we believe his presence to be such in his visitation that in him we live move and have our beings so likewise in his inspiration whereby we are instructed to avoide all wayes of errour heresie and are guided into all truth so also by his being with us in spirituall presence we are kept by his power from all evill of this world and are likewise rewarded with the blessing of his presence because we wait on him to seeke him diligently and to serve him with all our heart in love This his presence requireth faith in his guidance protection and preservation as in the mind so in the body that no evill shall come to us from him whether of the Plague or otherwise as Psal. 91. Those which sin against his presence and have not the love of God in them do lye open to the hand of his destroying Angel but whosoever have good Consciences towards his presence with us love his name if we should now fear the fears of worldly men we dishonour the presence of the living God we bewray our infidelity in his presence which is all sufficient to keepe us that the evill one shall not hurt us or if we are faithfull in his presence that hath all power in his hands so as a sparrow cannot fall without him nor a hayre of our heads perish but hâ—â—â— his
their kinde as 2 Pet. 2.22 Or evill trees cannot but bring forth evill fruit whatsoever they shew at first Whereas good simple and perfect of heart that hath received the good seed will bring forth fruit to perfection When the tree is of a good nature it cannot but bring forth good fruit Math. 7.16 c. The branch that is in Christ is fruitfull to the Father and it is more fruitfull Ioh. 15.1 c. The new man that is once borne againe from above is renewed dayly 2 Cor. 5.17 with 4.16 Men that are imperfect and wavering minded will looke forward and then backward Luk. 9.62 Iam. 1.8 Whereas perfect men forgetting the things behinde doe stretch forward to the things before they presse hard to the marke c. Phil. 3.13.14.15 All that are perfect in love mercy towards the Brethren the grace of God and his love and mercy remaineth firme to them 6. There is great difference betweene the repentance under the Law of works and the repentance under the Law of faith They after the Leviticall Law were borne holy according to the carnall Commandement and were instructed in the Law of God from the breasts and whensoever they sinned they repented and were justified by the works of the Law and because their conscience was never freed from the weaknesse of the flesh they fell commonly into sinne and repented and this was the course of the obedient men such as of David till they came to know the free justification of God by faith whereas the true repentance after the Priesthood of Christ doth clense the Conscience from the guilt of all sinnes past and doth perfect them from that minde of the flesh so as sin doth no looger raigne in their mortall body but in this justification by faith in Christ they present themselves to God as living from the dead and their members weapons of righteousnesse to God Hebr. 9.9 14. Rom. 6.2 12.13 The third day of the VVeeke THe mysteries of the Kingdome are shewed by the Parable of a Sower Luk. 8.10 c. with 5. The Sower is the Sonne of man and the seed is the word of God inlightening to immortality The Deceiver is the Devill both as hee is a spirit and as he hath the authority in men of this world which as vessell or a bed do cover and darken the light of immortality in this world under mortality The men that heare the word are of foure sorts The first sort of hearers are onely hearers and no doers these deceive themselves in the vaine knowledge of the word for the Devill and the World take away the word from the heart that they cannot beleeve the truth of it in such sort as to reforme their lives and to fulfill it in their obedience that so they should be saved but as an hard way hath seed and sheweth it as to allure the fowles of the ayre So aâ— hardâ—â—d heart and worldly minde as Matth. 13.15 May have knowledge by the word but they onely boast of it in a common profession after the mortall life whereby they may be made the better instruments for the Devill to possesse such hearts commonly to serve every lust as turne and to be subject even as for a man to walk in a hard way at his pleasure these are such as know but beleeve not 2 The second sort are such as receive the seed in stony ground These doe both know and beleeve the Word so as with joy to doe it very hastely for as the stony ground doth make the seed to spring forth soonest so these take the Word quickly with joy as Mat. 17.13.5.20 Matt. 4.5 but have no strength of heart to hold the word constantly in the faith hope and love of immortality but when the mortall Authorities come upon them and afflict them with the Sun beames of their torments and chastise them as a Father for that they would forsake them and their mortall glory to embrace a vaine base word as it seemeth to them without any wordly society honour or pleasure And thus wordly men being offended at the Word do rage against these sort of people that with such joy received it whose hearts also being not prepared for these tryals doe faint under the burthen and all their knowledge faith and obedience to the word is by force of the hard persecution disdained to bee any longer beleeved in their heart and as stony ground it is able to bring the fruit of the word to no further perfection therefore they now submit their heart to the power that oppresseth from without them by which all their former light is concluded in darkenesse 3. The third sort are such as receive the seed amongst thornes These also are such as know and believe for a time but they nourish an enemy to the word within them namely worldly cares desire of riches and the pleasures of this mortall life which may seeme to sustain and to give honour and credit to the word but in the end it will quite chocke the faith hope and love to immortality as that such will fall away of themselves wholly to imbrace this present world the reason is because these were never perfect in love nor sound in the faith but having a heart and a heart the deceits of sin which are in the world through lust growing naturally in the hart will soone exalt such men in pride of knowledge to fall into the condemnation of the Devill secretly For thus much doth the parable import to them which know it that the seede which fulleth among thornes doth by helpe of the thornes in some part of the seede spring up to be taller and longer yet at length the thornes take away the naturall being of the corne so as it perisheth as a man whose breath is stopped if the thornes riches and pleasures of life be cut down and fall from him he is seen to fall of himself as a tree that being decayed at the roote is overswayed of the top and the fall thereof is greater by how much the weight of the branches is heavier This is the estate of those which receive the word of Christ with the glory of the world pleasures of sâ—â—s the greater shew it maketh the greater shame it bringeth in the end the greater condemnation in the word and none of these can bring forth fruit to perfection 4. The last sort of men are like good ground These receive the word as the Children of wisdom and the Children of light they know believe the word with reverence they prepare the heart that it be gentle perfect and simple as worthy to receive it being carefull that what they know and believe they may hold both in profession and practice constantly and with increase wherefore this good ground bringeth forth fruit in patience Luke 8.15 The reason is because of the contrariety of the evill one either in worldly authorities or in the lusts of the flesh which hate the word
spirit of Christ manifested in expresse words doth resist all meanes of salvation for Christ came and gave his word to be made so plaine with his life-blood that now no man can more sensibly apprehend the image and nature of God and Christ then by the letter which we by reading doe conceive in our minde so as though a man walke according to all that is written and yet deny one little direction this man resisteth God with open face this one word which hee despiseth to doe it will cut him off from the life of the Christian and for this one thing the peace and protection of Almighty will goe from him so as hee will be in feare night and day and evill may come to him suddenly out of which he cannot escape because the word of God is against him the least part whereof is stronger then that min can quiet or justifie his owne heart against it for it may be concluded that what man soever wilâ— not yeeld obedience to an expresse word will not follow the inspiration of God moving his conscience without an evident Scripture either to do good to others or evill to his flesh for Christs sake 3. It is great hypocrisie for men to preach the honour and glory of the Crosse of Christ when they tkemselves feare or refuse the condemnation of the Crosse in the testimony or martyrdome of Jesus Christ The first day of the Weeke 1 THe Lord Jesus Christ devideth himselfe into three parts Ioh. 14.6 saying I am 1. The way 2. The truth 3. The life that whosoever suffers for any of these doth suffer for Christs sake 1. The way is the devision of the Christians from the glory and authority of the worldly Priesthood to follow him in spirit and truth according to the invisible authority of his Priesthood 2. The Truth is the Law Psal. 119 142. whose perfection as it is spirituall every Christian acknowledgeth and suffeth for it And in this sence it may be said that John Baptist his blood was shed for Christ insomuch as he suffered for the testimony of the truth or spirituall law against turpitude in unlawfull marriage 3. The Life is the immortality after the death and resurrection of the Body If the carnall authority doe by their force withhold this life mortality and enforce to take the Gospel in a mortall state in this case the faith or Jesus Christ is suffered for in the confession of his glory to bee enjoyed in immortality and not in this present life 2. I have meditated how the fear of God-Lord is the beginning of wisdome to the Nations that are not under the Law When by any meanes any of them come to have any thing to doe with the Lord he first requireth them to feare his Name which is to depart from evill pride of minde and every way which is contrary to his Word This feare worketh a knowledge of his invisible and terrible presence that as a man will not sinne against his Law so he will not presume to partake of his service and holy things or any of his Mysteries untill this feare have wrought a reconciliation and peace of Conscience with God in such sort as he so apprehendeth the immortall Lord in his minde that he inclineth to love him and to desire his Law in his heart or minde and to make an everlasting covenant with him in the mysteries of Christ Whosoever of the Nations that hath his heart thus purified by faith willingly to take upon him the yoake and Law of Christ in love is accepted of God as a sonne to partake of the mysteries of his holynesse 3. Whether we ought yeeld to a mans private opinion thus farre as not to offend him in doing what he misliked Offences arise either in respect of the authoritie of God or of man In respect of God the offence doth rise from the world or any of the world when they doe offend any that beleeve in Christ and doe hurt them in contempt of the authority of the Word of God Matth. 18.6.7 Againe offences arise betweene the servante of God when the authority of his Word is denyed by transgressing the law thereof in any thing Offences arise in respect of the authoritie of men when the authority of Jew of Gentile is publikely provoked by trangressing their Commandements or blaspheming their divine worship Act. 19.37 Againe offâ—â—ce is also given by the Christian if he offer any violence or carnall force or use any evill words against a man that is otherwise perswaded then by the word of Christ that walketh after his owne heart neither according to the Law of God nor the course of the Commonwealth In this case as I offend him not by evill word or deeds so I am not bound to doe as he dotâ— that I may nor offend him but let him follow hâ—â— will and I will follow the law of righteousness otherwise in this I may be brought in bondage a private mans conceit I may harden him in errour and partake in his folly And at last 〈◊〉 should be drawne to offend both the authority 〈◊〉 God and man by favouring every one that are â—â—ven up to a reprobate sence The second day of the Week THe justifying of a sinner in the blood of Christ is the act of the spirit of Christ and it hath 2 parts 1. The acquitting of all sins past that the sinner have no feare or conscience of guilt or punishment for them Rom. 3.25 and this is applyed by the merit of his blood 2. The preserving from all sin by the power and spirit of Christ so as the evill one cannot touch him by prevailing against the man whom Christ hath made righteous to move or carry him to do any sin but on the contrary he shewâ—th forth the righteousnesse of God in Christ by the saith of Jesus whereby he communicateth in the sufferings and blood of Christ in his own â—ody The third day of the week JEsus is truly a doore to his suffering Christians on this manner that when they through many tribulations are brought to death then through his presence they enter into life for as it is by fight in a doore whereby men enter into other places so when we come to death there are two doores the great doore openeth to passe into the torment of the second death the straiter doore openeth to passe from death to eternall life and this doore and way is Jesus to all that suffer death in the testimony of his name The fourth day of the week I Cannot but admire the wisdom of the only true God who having put enmyty into the world so as of necessity offences are taken against his holy people to condemn them according to their worldly wisdom and carnall authority hath also given a Law in Christ according to which he will justâ—fie his Children against the condemnation of meâ— as Rom. 8.33 As if our heavenly Father should say I have given you my Law and I have
immortality and also towards each other even as Christ loved us when he for our instruction became an houshold Servant and learned obedience as a Servant that by his example we might be armed with the same mind so to love and so to be obedient Ephes. 3.15 177. Phil. 2. and thus to keepe the unity of the spirit of Christ for the increase of his body and Church to a perfect man that then he may come and receive us unto himselfe in immortality when we shall see him as he is Ephes. 4.1 Iohn 3. but wo to the folly of such as will not acknowledge the Father nor the Sonne as they are over their house but suffer their own reprobate sence to dwell in their hearts and that walk by sight of the world and not by Faith and not only are disobedient themselves but also compell others to rebel against the Mr. of the house Let hot my soul touch with them that do thus despite the spirit of grace and provoke the good man of the house against their own soules 2. It is evident that though a man do keepe all the Law and Commandements of God yet he is unprofitable Luke 17.10 wherefore there is some excellent thing required in Christ in the state of perfection as Mat. 5.20 to 47.48 with Luke 6.20 to 32. c. 3. It must be granted that they which keepe the Commandements of God to the end shall inherit life according to the promise in the Lawyer in such a life God is not glorified in Christ his Sonne for in this estate men are defective and want that one necessary thing without which they may fayle of the grace of God namely the perfect love of Christ wherein all worldly things are put away with the love thereof and that only for the love of Christ to follow him for the Kingdom of God Luke 18 18 -22.-29 with Mat. 19.17 c. Mark 10. The sixth day of the week I Have received to put difference between the Church gathered according to the letter in Moses and the Church gathered according to the spirit in Christ the legall Church is from the earth the spirituall Church is from Heaven The Church by the Law were and are to be gathered from all places of the earth unto Ierusalem here beneath but the Church which is called by the spirit of Jesus Christ are delivered from this world and are gathered from mortality unto the City of the living God to heavenly Ierusalem Therefore as earthly Ierusalem is the mother of all those which are after the righteousnesse of the mortall seed so Jerusalem which is above is the mother of all the suffering Christians which are borne again of the immortall seed through Jesus Christ the word of the living God and which remaineth for ever Heb. 12.22.23 Gal. 4.26 1 Pet. 1.23 The first day of the VVeeke FRom Psalm 91. I have considered a preservative against the plagve of Death thus There was is and alwaies shall be a twofold people in the world the greater part are after the seed of the Serpent and the remainder after the seed of the Woman between these two peoples there is enmity and a perfect separation in the Word Over these there is a two-fold government or spirituall authority Over the greater part which are the childen of disobedience is the Devill Satan or the old Serpent that first deceived our parents who is by his government the prince of the authority of the ayre Ephes. 2.2 his power wherewith he afflicteth are the spirituall things of wickednesse in heavenly places Ephes. 6.11.12 The throane of his people is the throne of misery or perversenesse by authority whereof the frame being wicked mischiefe by a Law and murder and condemne for wicked the righteous and innocent soules which patiently suffer persecution and death under them for their conscience of the service and word of their Creator Psalm 94.3 20.21 Rom. 8.36 Mark 4.17 Over the poore afflicted people is the protection of the most high and the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91.1 who since they were separated out from their persecutors under Moses the fraithfull servant of God are knowne manifestly to beare the reproach of Christ Hebr. 11.25.26 This people are in one name called the Israel of God Gâ—l 6.16 which is not of any whether Jewes or Gentiles that trust under a carnall visible authority but of all that come to put their confidence under the wings of the God of Israel as Ruth did Ruth 2.12 These people are known by that they serve and declare the praises of the great name of God the Creator every Sabbath day Psal 92.1 Luk. 4.16 And for their Creators sake they are hated and afflicted of all other people Therefore the God the Creator being the judge of the earth doth render vengeance to the proud and wicked people that afflict the people of his heritage whom he teacheth and instructeth out of his Law and also speake proudly against him the God of Iacob Psa. 94.1 c. According to this judgement all the world is made subject to God and guilty of death by the Law in Christ Jesus and none can be justified from sinne and so freed from the guilt of death by any works under any worldly or carnall authorities Rom. 3.9 19.20 The spirituall things wherewith the Prince of the authority of the ayre doth invade or bring men to death are declared in the Law to be especially three The first is the snare of the hunter The second the Pestilence The third the Keteb or destruction Psal. 91.3 6. First the snare of the Hunter is sinne the reward whereof is death Rom. 7.23 All therefore that sinne against the God of their life as the children of the Devill are subject to all the curses in the Law of God 1 Ioh. 3.8 Gal. 3.10 Secondly the second spirituall thing that from hence doth manifestly invade men is the Pestilence or plague of death which is a sicknesse call debir a thing destroying It is taken with the common ayre which is corrupted and poysoned with the crying sinnes of the most people in the mother city and into whomsoever this poysoned ayre entreth it poysoneth the life and soon killeth the body except it have issue out of the body 3. The other deadly destruction to the body is called bitter destruction Dent 32.24 which as an evill spirit seiseth upon the body and worketh torments in the joynts and sinewes which disease some learned men call Ophisthotonos a strange and vehement disease in the necke when by the stiffenesse of the nerves the necke is strained backward to the shoulders and killeth a man within foure dayes and therefore it is said to destroy at noone Psal. 91.6 because thou maist see a sound body thus suddenly tormented before thine eyes and thou canst see nothing but the evill done These three evils the Lord Christ inflicteth upon his adversaries for the redemption of his Israel from destruction Wherefore the Apostle Paul