that is the circumcision which is inward known by the spirit and we are the circumcision in Christ who worship God in the spirit and have no confidence in the flesh and who are circumcised outwardly they are bound to keep the whole Law which none of the Jewes could do who had circumcision outwardly but who are of faith are of Abrabraham unto whom the promise was when he was in the uncircumcision or before he was circumcised so that neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new Creature Jer 4.3 Colos 2.11 Rom. 2.25.28 29. Phil. 3.3 1 Cor. 7.19 Gal. 5.2 Ioh. 7.19 Rom. 4.10 4 Of the outward Passover THe Lord God commanded the Passover to be observed in the first Covenant which was a Lambe without blemish a male of the first yeare which was to be roasted with fire and they were not to carry the flesh of it abroad but to eat it with their loines girded and their shoos on their feet and they did strike the blood of this lamb on the posts of the door of the house where they did eat it which was for a token unto them that the Lord seeing it he would not smite them when he smote the Egyptians but his plague did passe over them and did not hurt them that eat the passeover and they kept the feast of it seven daies with unleavened bread But no uncircumcised person might eate of the pasover now the ordinance of the passover was in force untill Christ fulfilled it that night he was betrayed he eate the passover with his disciples Exo. 12. Lev. 23.5 Num. 9.12 and 28.16 Mat. 26. Mark 14.12 Luke 22. In the second Covenant is Christ received and his life made manifest in the Saints and he is our passover who hath offered himselfe a lamb without spot to God having laid down his life for the ransome of many and he is the bread of life and his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed which except a man eat and drink he hath no life in him and with him is the Saints feast and solemnity kept of unleavened bread of sincerity and truth having their hearts circumcised and purified unto God by his spirit and the old leaven of iniquity and corruption purged our and the loines of their minds girded up in the spirit and life of Christ which brings to see him the bread of life which came down from God and in this feast must none be partakers but who come to have their minds joyned unto God and their hearts circumcised from unrighteousnesse by his spirit and they who are come to Christ the Saints passover they are kept in remembrance of him and do witnesse him come that they need not observe the taking of outward bread and wine and elementary things to keep them in remembrance of him or to signifie the crucifying of his body and shedding of his blood as many in the world do 6. Io. 3.36 and 5 24. Mat. 20.28 1 Pet. 1.19 Iohn 6.53 1 Cor. 5.7 8. 1 Pet. 1.13 5 Of the outward Sabbaths THe first Covenant priesthood had a command to keep the Sabbath which was the seven daies of the weeks and in the Sabbath to rest from all their labours and works For the Lord rested from his work on the seventh day and was refreshed so that none of the Israelites was to travel nor bear any burthen on the Sabbath day seeing God had sanctified it neither might they gather sticks nor kindle a fire within all their families on the Sabbath daies Moreover they had a command to keep every seventh year for a Sabbath of rest unto the Lord which was called the year of Jubelee wherein every debter was to be freed from his servitude or bondage wherein he had served towards the satisfaction of his Creditors And every creditor was to release the debts owing them and they that had their lands or estates morgaged for debt were to have them released that every man might possesse his own in the year of the Sabbath but the everlasting Sabbath they were not then come to For they had often fightings and war with their enemies who sought to oppresse them Gen. 2.2 Exo. 16.23 and 20.8.11 and 31.15 and 35.2 Levit. 23.3 and 35.3 Num. 15 Deut 5.14 Neh 10.31 Jer. 17.21 Exo. 21.2 and 23.10 11. Levit. 25. Deut. 15.2.12 Jer. 34.14 They who are come into the second Covenant have received Christ who is the Lord of the Sabboth the end of the Sabbaths without for meats and drinks and new Moons holy dayes and Sabbaths were but a shadow of things to come which they who do observe the shadow they neglect the substance even the body of Christ And the Jewes who observed the Sabboths without they accused Christ because he healed the sick on the Sabboth-day and because his disciples had pluckt the eares of Corn on the Sabboth day but these knew not him who was Lord of the Sabboth And the Jews said unto one that had been an Impotent man that Christ had cured on the Sabboth day it is the Sabboth day it is not Lawful for thee to carry thy bed he Answerred them he that made me whole the same said unto me take up thy bed and walk and the Jews sought the more to kill Jesus not onely because he had broken the Sabboth but said also that God was his Father and in Acts 1.12 it is written then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet which is from Jerusalem a Sabboth dayes Journey And according to one Greek translation in the 6 Chap. of Luke next after the 5 vers it is written Jesus seeing a certaine man working on the Sabbath-day said unto him O man if thou didst know indeed what thou dost thou wert happy but if thou knowest not thou art accursed and a transgressor of the Law And the saints who were come to Christ the end of the outward Sabboths they met on the first dayes of the weeks not in observation to the dayes but in obedience to Christ in whom is the everlasting Sabboth of rest remaining where the burthens must not be for the people of God who continue in his Faith and love whereby the rest comes to be obtained And the year or time of release or restauration comes to be witnessed and the Bedemption from under the bondages and the burthens known and the Iniquity which hath caused burthens is there taken away by the Lord of the Sabboth who is the foundation of many Generations who is raised up to him that maketh the Sabboth his delight and doth not his own pleasure nor speaketh his own words on the holy day he shall delight himself in the Lord but unto this Sabbath are all strangers who are following their own pleasures and lusts from whence the Wars and the strifes do arise speaking their own words And none comes to the true rest but they who receive the true light wch brings man to deny his own will
thoughts words and actions and to be given up in the will of the Lord God in singleness to wait upon him to be refreshed in his holy and everlasting day and to know and witness the acceptable year which the Redeemer of Israel hath proclaimed and is come to make manifest and he that is entred into his rest he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his But all that continue in sin and Rebellion against God and the murmurers and unbelievers are shut out of the true rest Mat. 12.8 Luke 6.5 Col. 2.16 17.23 Mat. 12.1 Mar. 2.23 Luk. 6.1 Joh. 5.9.10.11.18 Joh 20.19 Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Rom. 8.21 Isai 58.13 Heb. 4.10 Rom. 2 8 9. Rev. 21.8 6. Of the brazen serpent that Moses made WHen the people in the time of the first Covenant had murmured against God so that he caused Serpents to come among them and bite them that many of the people died then he caused Moses to make a fiery Serpent of brass which he set upon a pole and behold every man that was bitten with a Serpent if he beheld the brazen Serpent he was cured that he lived but afterward the people idolized this Serpent and it was broken down as the Lord commanded because of their Idolatry Num. 21.6.7.8 2 King 18.4 In the second Covenant is the power of Christ the righteous seed known which bruiseth the Serpents head and taketh away and destroyeth the enmity of the dragon that old Serpent which deceiveth the Nations and this seed giveth power over Serpents that they who are in him may tread upon Scorpions and not be stung and the wicked one cannot touch him that abideth in Christ who is revealed in his people and is the saving health and salvation of his people whose vertue and life hath been manifest of old accompanying the commands of God without which the Israelites could not have been cured when they looked on the Brazen Serpent without which as Moses lifted up the Brazen Serpent in the wilderness so is the Son of man lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life But they who continue in their hardness of heart in impenitency and unbelief they reject the saving health of Christ and must be plagued for their iniquities and their torment will be as the torment of a Scorpion when he striketh a man Gen. 3.15 Isai 27.1 Luke 10.9 1 Joh 5.18 Joh. 3.14 Rev. 9.4.5 7. Of oathes and swearing IN the first Covenant there was oaths and swearing between man and man for the deciding of controversies and they were to perform unto the Lord their oathes and not forswear themselves and men were to fulfill their vowes also which they made unto the Lord and as appears swearing was not used in all cases of controversies nor by both the parties between whom the controversie was but by the party accused or impeached where they had not witnesses to decide the controversie without oaths for at the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established Exod 22.11 Levit. 19.12 Num 30.2 Deut. 6.13 10.20 Num. 35.30 Deut. 17.6 19.15 But Christ Jesus who is the everlasting Covenant of God and the life and fulness of the New Testament said ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thy oathes But I say unto you swear not at all neither by heaven for it is Gods throne nor by the earth for it is his footstool nor by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King neither shalt thou swear by the head because thou canst not make one hair white or bâ—ack But let your communication be yea yea and nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evil And said the Apostle James above all things my Brethren swear nor neither by heaven neither by earth neither by any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay least you fall into condemnation So that all swearers and all swearing is out of Christ and the Apostles doctrine and every one that sweareth shall be cut off and he that transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God and all that professe a love to Christ ought to abide in his doctrine and keep his sayings And they that love Christ are come out of all the strife and the enmity which causeth the controversies and the swearing unto Christ in whom the Godhead dwells and unto whom all power is given over Angels Thrones and Dominions principalities and powers And if Rulers come to the light of Christ in them they will receive wisdom and power to see an end put to the strifes and controversies without swearing either by the mouthes of witnesses or otherwise by diligent inquisition touching the controversies and by true judgement according to the righteous Law of God Mat. 5.34.35.36 37. Jâ—m 5.12 Zech. 5.3 2 Joh. 9. Phil. 2.3 prov 17.14 Mat. 28.18 Col. 1.16.17 Heb. 1.6 chap. 2.5 8. Of the outward anointing of the Priests IN the first Covenant neither Aaron nor his sons the Priests were to Minister before the Lord in the Priests office without being annointed and consecrated And the ointment they were annointed with was the principal of spices composed after the art of Apothecary of pure miâ—he of sweet Cinamon and of sweet Callamous and of sweet Cassia and of oil Olive c. Exod. 30.2 to the 30. verse In the second Covenant God hath a royal Priest and a peculiar people who have received a spiritual and inward anointing from God whereby they are fitted for the Lords service and have dominion over the earth for Christ is their annointing who teacheth them all things that they need noman to teach them which the the outward annointing of Priests was a figure of but none are fitted for the service of God neither are any come to have dominion over sin but who have received the inward unction from the Father of life whereby they become a sweet smelling savour unto God even as a garden of spices knowing the Name of the Lord which is as oyntment powred forth and because of the savour of his good oyntments therefore the virgins love him and a bundle of mirhe is my beloved unto me 1 Pet. 25.9 Rev. 1.6 2 Cor. 1.21 1 Joh. 2.27 Cant. 1.3.13 9. Of the Tithes the Priests received IN the first Covenant the Priests had a command to receive Tythes or the tenths of mens increase onely of their brethren and the people was to give them freely were they more or lefs and the Priests did not take them nor force them from the people by compulsion for the Tythes were the Lords portion And every man was to bring his tenths or the value of them unto a house which the Lord appointed for them to bring the tythes unto wch was the storehouse and the fatherless widowes and strangers was received and relieved out
both Iews professors who are seeking rest for their souls and to meet with God in visible things and carnal ordinances which were upheld either under the Law or since the Law may see beyond and come out of these thing and out of their wil worships and feed no longer upon the husk buâ— come to the bread of life which cometh down from God By a lover of the seed of God and a friend to them that follow on to know him G.W. The seed of Israels Redemption and the Redeemer thereof fully prophecyed and declared of c. NOw are the times of Restauration come and coming as thousands do witness and will witness for the remnant of Jacobs sake the seed concerning which the determination of the everlasting God is gone forth which he will fully accomplish and fulfill for the gathering of the remnant of the seed unto himself for which his his holy Arm is made bare and stretching it self forth over all the Nations of the earth where the Remnant of his seed hath been scattered whether among Jewes or Gentiles bond or free kindreds or Peoples the Lord God of power and glory hath a controversie to plead with all Nations where his remnant hath been carryed away captive yea and his promises will he fulfill which hath been declared by the mouth of his holy Prophets since the the world began for his captivated seed which lyeth desolate and which is troden under foot by the heathen the uncircumcised and the unclean even as a vine that 's troden under foot by the wilde beasts of the forests that it could not spring up nor bud forth nor bring forth fruit for many years yea and the remant which the Lord hath to gather unto himself is even like unto a widow who is cast out of her habitation and bereaved of her children and now hath her habitation been troden down and laid waste and her children taken from her by the enemies and she as a widow is in a waste howling wilderness as one that mourneth for the want of her husband and for the want of her children and who wanteth a Comforter even so hast thou O seed of Jacob and oh habitation of Israel long been oppressed and long hast thou been desolate and long hast thou been destitute thou hast been incompassed with death with captivity with want with bondage by thy oppressor within and without he that hath oppressed thee within is he that hath the power of death and whose dwelling and kingdom is in the darkness and hath caused many thousands to transgresse the Law and to erre from the Covenant and to disobey the Councel of the most high God and they that are thy oppressors without are they that fear not the Lord God neither do they serve nor worship him but followes the imaginations of their wicked hearts and serves and worships strange Gods And even among many who in words professes the true God and do often make mention of his name is Jacob very small in many he is even eaten up and destroyed and among many is his habitation laid desolate and waste And these that feel not his habitation nor him raised up they are out of Gods Councel and out of his Covenant what ever they in words do professe or speak concerning him or what ever they act in pretence of obedience to him who is the true and living God whose name is to be professed in truth and in righteousnes even in the righteousnes of himself whereinto he will gather his seed to serve to obey him and to bring glory to his powerful name through his own righteousness sincerity wherein his pure name must be held forth and no otherwise for the wo is to all them that professe God or hold his truth in unrighteousness and wo to all them that reject and hare the Councel of the Lord God and cast his law and fear behind their backs and yet do present their prayers and vain oblations before him who is Lord of heaven and earth who will have a pure people or seed to place his name in and he will raise up a clean habitation and an holy house to dwell in wherein no uncircumcised nor unclean person must dwell and he will raise up his holy mountain and manifest his everlasting salvation which his holy seed shall possesse and into which no unclean thing shall come and into his mountain shall no venomous beast nor any destroyer enter but there shall the seed inhabit which must have dominion and power over the earth and over all the powers of the earth and the Lord God hath a seed to bring forth and to gather both among Jews and Gentiles yea both among many professors and among many that have not a profession of the truth in words yea the Lord God hath an heritage to possesse among the heathens whom he will rule with a rod of Iron and subdue Nations by his holy Arm and make way for his annointed his Elect seed who is the right heir and chosen One that he may possesse the inheritance now is the day come and the Sun risen whereby the darkness which hath covered the earth and the people shall be expelled and driven away and in this the day of the everlasting God will he fulfill his promises and finish his work which he hath begun in the Northern Islands who have waited for his law and many have received the law and the everlasting Covenant which is the inheritance of the seed which God is bringing forth according to his promises and all that now incline their hearts towards the Lord God and wait for his law believing his promises his righteousness shall appear and his salvation shall be brought near unto them but they who refuse the Counsel of the Lord God and do still walk on in their Rebellion and wickedness who will not wait for his law to be written in their hearts nor yet receive his Covenant nor believe his promises they shall be overturned and scattered in Gods fierce wrath and heavy displeasure and his love to such will be turned into fury and his mercies into bitterness for as much as in the time of their visitation they have hated reproof and hated to be reformed from their evil wayes and have despised the messenger of Gods Covenant even his own living witness which he hath sent and which hath often appeared and knocked at the door of their hearts to warn them and to instruct them to cease from their iniquities and Rebellion that they might have returned from their wickedness and the Lord might have healed their backslidings who often erred and backslided from the true messenger when he hath appeared to convince them of and to draw them from their wickedness and evils Therefore O thou seed of Jacob which hath been scattered and dispersed abroad and oppressed and O thou tabernacle of David and habitation of the righteous arise arise and come forth for thy day is come and thy time
is come wherein he is come to visit thee who will build thee up and restore unto thee thy fermer dignity and renown thee with beauty and Authority that thou maist even be the glory of the Nations and thy King may rule over the whole earth for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords arise come forth and shew forth thy self thou that hast been as a vine troden under foot and as a desolate widow who long hast been barren since the spoilers and the destroyers had power over thee come forth and see him that visiteth thee and know thy Rock the everlasting Councelor that no longer thou may be desolate nor remain Barren but awake and come forth for thy light is come and a time of love is coming upon thee shake thy self from the dust and let thy oppressors come into the dust and sit in the darkness for now is he come who will spoil the spoiler and deliver the oppressed and will take away and remove the bands of wickedness that the oppressed may enjoy glorious liberty and Redemption out of all snares and incumbrances whatsoever that she that hath mourned in dust and ashes may rejoyce and have beauty for ashes and the garment of praise in stead of heaviness and that she that was desolate may be married unto an husband who is the everlasting Comforter and will be an husband unto the widow that receiveth him who hath waited for him and then the Barren shall bâ—ing forth children rejoyce in her precious fruit which shall increase abundantly and multitudes shall come up to the mountain of the Lords house and walk in the light of the God of Jacob in which light he that waiteth shall see these things brought in the day of the mighty God whose power is gone forth to manifest his saving health in the Nations whosoever will let them come freely and taste of the everlasting light and power of the Almighty who breaths and thirsts after righteousness and salvation whether they be Jewes or Gentiles that they may receive and feel his anointed brought forth who sets open the Treasures of life and mercies to all that do receive him who believe in his light according to his promises O ye Jews ye people who are scattered among the Nations There is a remnant the Lord hath among you even as it were the Corne which is left in the time of harvest for gleaners and as the gleaning grapes which is left for the stranger to gather For though you be many in number and you may professe the Law of Moses and the prophets yet the iniquity is great you are in and you worship an unknown God while you are worshiping in the outward observations and traditions held forth by your predecessors and forefathers and you have not seen felt nor known him whom you worship Jacob is small and how shall he arise among you And the remnant is little that will receive the witnesse and Testimony of the everlasting Covenant Say not you are Abrahams children except ye were in Abrahams faith and the righteousnesse which he was in he heard the voice of God and through faith obeyed him and was accepted yea whose worship stands in outward observations ye have not heard Gods voice nor do ye obey him while your hearts are enranged from the light and the power of the living God many of your forefathers transgressed and break the Covenant that God made with them wherein was the outward Tabernacle Altar Sacrifices and outward ordinances which had a shadow of an everlasting Covenant which God hath in store for the seed of Abraham who come into the faith and Righteousnesse of Abraham And the Israelites forsook the true and living God and followed after the Gods of the heathen and prophaned his name and polluted his Sanctuary through their Idolatry and their abominations So that Gods anger turned against them he turned his countenance from them he gave them over for a pray to the heathen so that they were dispersed and scattered among strangers and their seed came to be mixt with the heathen and so the curse came upon them and their enemies got the preheminence over them for they hated his counsel and break his Covenant and persecuted and slew his prophets and messengers and yet the Lord God did not leave himselfe without a witnesse among them after that they had transgressed For he gave his good spirit to instruct them and yet they temped the Lord wrought grievous provocations against the Lord Nehemiah 9. and the Lord God overthrew and cut many off in his wrath and in their iniquities who tempted him would not hearken unto his words which he spake unto them by his holy prophets nor unto his good spirit which he gave to instruct them But they made their hearts as an Adamant least they should hear the Law the words which the Lord of Hosts hath sent in his spirit by his former prophets Zechariah 7.12 Yea and they set up covetous Priests who were greedy after gain as ravening wolves and they prophane the holy things that were consecrated under the Law For the service of the outward Temple which God comands and even abused the outward things that stood in the shadow by their cursed inventions and in serving strange Gods There was a time when Gods presence and of his vertues was found in the Temple that Solomon builded and in the outward things that he comanded which shadowed forth the heavenly things But when Israel fell into Idolatry and offered incense and sacrifices and built up high places to worship strange Gods in then the Lord forsook them and forsook the Temple and outward things which he had commanded according as he promised Read 2 Kings 18. 2 Cron 7. So when they had gon a whoring after their own inventions and had forsaken the covenant the Testimonies of the Lord God he was wearied with their prayers did not esteem of their sacrifices nor accept of their burnt-offerings nor of their vain oblations but cryed away with them and said the true prophet at that day shall a man looke to his maker and his eyes shall have respect to the holy One of Israel and he shall not looke to the Altars the work of his hands neither shall he respect that which his fingers have made Isai 17. And said the prophet David unto the Lord Thou desirest not sacrâ—ficeâ— else would I give it Thou delightest not in burnt offerings the secrifices of God are a broken spirit a brâ—ken and contrite heart O God thou wilt not dispise Psa 51 Therefore hear O ye Jews and consider these things ye people scattered among the heathen for now I come to witnesse forth the everlasting Covenant of Life and peace unto you which the first covenant that stood in the outward observations and ordinances had the shaâ—ow of And this is the second Covenant which in these latter daies the Lord God of power is bringing to light among
world and through him was more way made for his powerful truth and for the spreading of his fathers name that many more came to believe then ever did in the former ages when they slew and killed the holy Prophets though he was despised by Rulers and rejected of men yet all these things were fore-known of God and were done that the Scriptures were fulfilled Read Isa 35.5 chap. 52.15 Mat 8. and chap. 9. Luke 4. 5. Touching the suffering and death of Christ NOw after the Jewes had long laid wait against Christ but could not put him to death untill his testimony was fulfilled though often they sought to have taken away his life but had not power till his time was come that these things that were written of him might be fulfilled one Judas Iscariot who for a time followed and owned Christ who was numbred among the eleaven other disciples he betrayed Christ sould him into the hands of them that sought to take away his life for 30. pieces of silver Mat. 26.14 Mark 14.10 Luke 22. thus the prophets words were fulfilled He that eateth bread with 〈◊〉 hath lift up his heel against me Psal 41.10 and they weighed for my price 30. pieces of silver and the Lord said unto me Cast it unto the potter Zachariah 11.12 and they bought with this price the potters field cal led the field of blood and Judas the traytor was so smitten for what he had done that he hanged himself there came two false witnesses against Christ and the people did spit in Christs face and buffetted him and others smote him with the palmes of their hands thus came the Prophets words to passe I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Isai 50.6 And the chief Priests and Elders of the people took councel together against Jesus to put him to death Mat. 27. Mar. 15. Luke 22 Joh 18. Psal 2.2 and afterward had him forth unto a place called Golvotha or Caluary nigh unto Jerusalem and they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall which he did but taste off then they crucified him and thus came the Prophets words to passe they gave me also gall for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink Ps 79.21 and when they had crucified him they parted his garment casting lots upon them what every man should take and this was according to the Prophets words Ps 22.18 and when Jesus had said I thirst knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled they filled a spunge with vinegar and put it upon hysop and put it to his mouth and when he had received it he said It is finished or done and he bowed his head and gave up the Ghost Ioh. 19.29 thus he finished his Testimony faithfully through his deep suffering and gave his life into his Fathers hands a ransom for as many as believed in him through whom faith is offered unto all men and moreover he was numbered among transgressors for he suffered on the Crosse between two Malefactours who then suffered on each side of him Isai 53.12 and one Pilate put a Title over Christs head in Latin Greek and Hebrew where he suffered the title was Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews and the souldiers brake the legs of those that were crucified with Christ but did not break his legs and this was according to the Scripture touching the typical Passeover Exod. 12.46 Num. 9.12 Joh. 19. Now when Christ was crucified there was darkness over all the Land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour and behold the vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom and the earth did quake and the Rocks rent and the graves were opened and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his Resurrection and went into the holy City a dappeared unto many of this there are the Testimonies of several and one Joseph who was a Disciple of Jesus took his body and wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid his body in a new Tomb which he had hewen out in a Rock and he rolled a great stone to the door of the Sepulchre and Pilate and the chief Priests and the Pharisees caused the stone of the Sepulchre to be sealed and the Sepulchre to be made sure and a watch to be set least that his Disciples should have stollen the body of Jesus away by night as they said thus was the just pierced afflicted and put to death by them of his own-generation of the Jewes who rejected him in the dayes of his flesh when he witnessed forth the power and the righteousness of his Heavenly Father both in life in works and in doctrine and now the Priests were so envious against him that they would have had him kept in the grave thus the just suffered by the unjust and came unto his own and his own received him not who had gotten the Prophets words which foretold of Christ and had gotten Latin Greek and Hebrew as many of the Priests have now but they set it above the just whom they have pierced and crucified as the false Priests and traytors do now thus the just hath suffered for the unjust and his life is afflicted by the wickedness of people Sixthly Touching the Resurrection and Ascention of Jesus Christ MOreover as Christ prophesied often while he was in the flesh of his suffering and of his resurrection and ascending into glory to the right hand of the Father It came to passe that nigh the first day of the week which was the third day after Jesus was crucified when about the day began to dawn there was a great earthquake and the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door of the Sepulchre where Jesus his body was laid and Jesus was raised again from the dead and the Angel smote the keepers with fear whom the chief Priests and the Pharisees had set to watch the Sepulchre where Jesus was laid in so much that the keepers did shake became as dead men And Jesus afterward appeared unto two women and he appeared in a form to some Disciples that then knew him not also he appeared to the eleven Disciples at one time and spoke unto them and he appeared in the midst of his disciples and brethren when thy were assembled and met together in an house where the doors were shut and he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once the greater part of whom was remaining until the Apostle Paul wrote unto the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15. to verifie these things we have certain evidences and Christ himself said after I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee which thing was fulfilled Mat. 26.32 Mar. 14.28 Mat. 28. Mar. 16. Joh. 20.19 As also that this Christ was immediately taken from the
first Priesthood were of and their appointment ANd this we note that in the first Covenant Aaron and his sons who were in the Priests office were of Levi. And there were Priests under the first Covenant made or appointed by the law of a carnal or changeable Commandment without to do their office Exod. 4.14 Num. 18.12 But Christ Jesus sprang up of the tribe of Judah and having finished his testimony through suffering and offered himself freely unto God an offeringwithout blemish for the sins of the people that his life or blood may be made known in them he is become an high Priest over his people by the power of an endless life and not by the law of a carnal Commandment so that such as are made Priests now by the carnal Commandments of men and do uphold or take tythes which was a thing pertaining to the changeable Priesthood of Levi they deny Christ the true Minister of the heavenly Sanctuary and such are not of Christ Heb. 19 14. Rev. 5 5. 16. Of the reading of the Law and of the pulpit of wood IN the time of the first Covenant and the law of Commandments contained in carnal Ordinances the Israelites and Jewes had the law read among them every Sabbath day to put them in mind of it and Ezra the Priest or scribe stood up upon a Pulpit of wood as it is recorded in the English Translation but according to the Hebrew it is a Tower of wood And there he read in the Book of the law in the street that was before the water gate which was in the sight and audience of the people from morning till mid-day and the Priests gave the sence of the law and caused the people to understand the Reading But here is not a telling that a Minister of the Gospel is to stand up in a Pulpit in a Steeple-house and preach half a day from a Text of Scripture as many now do who professe themselves to be Ministers of the Gospel and say they are not under the Law and yet are pleading for pulpits and giving their sences to the Scriptures Nehe. 8 3 4.5 6 7 8 Ezra 3 1 7 6. Deut. 17 19 31 11. And moreover the reading of the Law was continued among the Jewes every Sabbath day in their Synagogues when they were in Rebellion and envy against Christ in the dayes of his flesh nevertheless their reading of the law being before Christ was crucified people were to do these things they commanded according to the law but not after their wicked works for they were enemies to Christ though they had the law and sate in Moses seat Acts 13 27 15 21. Mat. 23 1 2 3. Now in the second Covenant and Priesthood he is not a Jew that 's one outward but he is a Jew that 's one inward whose praise is not of men but of God neither are they all Israel which are of Israel according to the flesh but they are true Israelites who have received the Covenant of God within and his law within who are come to know the Ministration of the spirit which in glory exceedeth the ministration of death written or the law without which was read to the people though in its time it was glorious but the Ministration of the spirit which the true Ministers are Ministers of exceedeth the other in glory And we are not Ministers of the letter but of the spirit and of the New Testament which Christ is the Mediator of that people may come to see and hear the righteous law of God and and his light within them and they may not be forgetfull thereof any more but know Christ the Mediator in whose hand the law is held and by whose power it is executed upon the ground of the offences within and it must come in Judgement upon the head of all them that are wresting the Scriptures and pleading now for their own sences upon the Scriptures and prophesies of the Scriptures who also are pleading for the chiefest places in the Assemblies as the pulpits and high places such did Christ cry often wo against But we have learned the example of Christ Jesus who was meek and lowly in heart and taught meekness and lowliness and he that would be the greatest among his was to be servant to all Therefore away with the Idolatrous high places wherein proud men are exalted And away with their imagined meanings sences and private interpretations which they give to the prophecies of the Scriptures for they came not by mans will neither are they of any private interpretations Rom. 2 28 29. 2 Cor. 3.6 7.8.9.10 11. Gal. 3 19. Mat. 23. Mat. 11 29. 20 27. 2 Pet. 1 21. 17. Of Jewels of silver and gold and costly ornaments IN the time of the first Covenant some did wear Jewels of silver and gold Bracelets and costly ornaments and attire and the Israelites borrowed of the Egyptians Jewels of silver and Jewels of gold and raiment but this was in Egypt but after they were come out of Egypt when the Lord was angry with them for their transgression by the mount Horeb they mourned and stript themselves of their ornaments according to the command of God Exod. 3.2 11.2 12 35. 33. chap. But now in the second Covenant God hath a plain people whose moderation may be known unto all men both in apparrel and other things for they are come to deny the strange apparrel and the gaudy attire and the bravery the bracelets and the Jewels the superstitious ornaments wch they had whom the true Prophets bare witnes against Isa 3. cha and the Harlot which John saw was arraied in purple and Scarlet Colour and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls read Rev. 17.4 And see now how that many professors are attaied in costly superstitious and gaudy attire like the Harlot And let the women be adorned in modest apparrel and their adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or putting on of apparrel but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the fight of God of great price mark this ye proud professors and people And know that the day is coming wherein God will punish them that are clothed in strange apparrel And in the day of their visitation they shall monrn and be stripped of all their deceitful covers 1 Tim. 2.9 1 Pet. 3 3 4. Zeph. 1.8 18. Of Solomons Temple MOreover after the Tabernacle of the first Covenant was forsaken of the Lord in Shilo when Israel had violated the Covenant of God and after they were made a prey upon by the heathen King Solomon builded a glorious Temple for the Lords service according to the Law to be done in which there was neither hammer nor Ax nor any Iron tool heard while it was a building and this temple was furnished