to differ for had they not received those Gifts it would have been known they had been none of the Elect before they went out from them but by their going out from them they knew that they were not of them to whom the Promise was made Which were the Remnant and as St. Peter saith It is better not to know the Way of Righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment 2 Pet. 2.18,21 And also of others it is said they made Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1.19 For tho' the elect were fore-chosen without their willing or running yet when they were brought into the knowledge of the Truth they were to make their Calling and Election sure by improving their Talents for there was a part for them to do before they could receive their Eternal Inheritance unless they were immediately removed by Death And therefore saved by Faith and good Works James 2.24 So we see none stood securely only by their Election but the generality of the first Churches standing the major part in Scripture is reckoned for the whole And the Servant to whom the one Talent was given was the world and the Teachers of the World which after the Gospel was received and established the Word was then the Talent which had they according to their ability improved they had thereby been capable to stand God having promised to all whilst they kept to the way his assistance But the evil Servant the Man of Sin got Ground who were the Teachers in the Romish Church which hid the Talent of the Word and would not improve it themselves nor suffer the Truth to be known among the People among whom it might have been improved according to the similitude the Lord put forth concerning the Money-Changers Mat. 25.15,27 And likewise them that will oppose and smother the Truth will not be counted guiltless when the Lord Christ shall come And it is the He-Goats that have eaten the good Pastures and trodden down the residue and fouled the deep Waters Ezek. 34.17,18 By the false Interpretations that have been put upon the Word so as the Flock of Christ eat that which they have trodden and drank that which they have fouled with their Feet vers 19. For which when the Lord comes his severe Judgments will fall on them and then will the Lord feed his Sheep himself so as then his Sheep shall be no more a Prey as in the 22 23 24. Verses For this is spoken of the particular time in which the Lord vvill come to Judge and Reign And Man in this time was trusted with the Word for his Posterity as Adam was trusted with Eternal Life for his Posterity Therefore the Lord alike laid his Commands that Adam should not eat of the Tree nor we add or diminish either to or from his Word Deut. 4.2 Rev. 22.18 The which Word we are to hold fast till the Lord comes Rev. 2.25 Heb. 2.2,3 But these forementioned Teachers that hid the Word would not so much as suffer or permit any Woman to look into it But when Man acts contrary to God God acts contrary to Man The Lord awaken all the Ministers that truly fear his Name of all parties that by their acknowledging and owning the whole Truth they thereby may clear themselves from the Blood of all Men Act. 20.26,27 as they may not be reckoned with the Goats And that by them Millions of Souls may be brought out of their mistaken Notions and that they themselves for so doing may shine as the Stars but them that will take advantage of the People's Ignorance that thereby they may keep them in Mistakes and Darkness it will be a wofull day to them VI. Concerning Christ and the Elect Angels NOw Christ is said to be God's Elect in whom his Soul delighteth Isa 42.1 But he was not Elected because there was any danger of his falling but he was elected according to the purpose of God That by him might be made good the promise God made to our first Parents That by the Seed of the Woman the Serpent's Head should be bruised And as for the elect Angels St. Paul speaks of it doth not appear that they were elected because the fallen Angels had left their own Habitation Jude vers 6. And therefore God would afterward secure the rest of the Angels by electing them but rather that God did elect them for a purpose he had determined For the terrible Judgments of God resting upon the Angels that fell who are reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the great Day Which thing is known to all the holy Angels and so a warning to keep them from falling And the reason of Lucifer's Fall was not because he was not so much in the favour of God as the other Angels for he was one of the greatest if not the greatest Angel of God And thro' the greatness of the power which God had given him he set himself in opposition to God and so drew off others of the Angels with him in that great Rebellion But if Man had not sinned Christ had not suffered and Christ laid down his Life for the World But I do not here deny but am ready to believe that all the Heavenly Host that is now remaining in Heaven as Arch-Angels Angels Cherubims and Seraphims might have a Promise from God after the Fall that their standing should be secured to them through Christ But in that St. Paul mentions the elect Angels from those words is rather to be understood that they were Angels whom God had made choice of to assist and aid Man And according to this Christ saith of Children That in Heaven their Angels do always behold the face of his Father Mat. 18.10 So likewise the Disciples told the Damsel when she affirmed that Peter knocked at the door that it was his Angel Acts 12.15 From these Texts it is clear that there are some Angels that in particular are concerned with us and were elected and chosen for that purpose and so they being more near our Persons man the other Angels and thereby know our Transactions and therefore more probable the Apostle gave Timothy his charge before God and Christ and the elect Angels 1. Tim. 5.21 Which Angels being imployed concerning them could likewise bear witness of this his Charge And in the whole Book of God there is no mention made of elect Angels but in this place and therefore it doth appear to be as aforesaid And after the Creation God saw every thing that he had made and it was very good Gen. 1.31 as to what he had then made nothing had defiled it self Therefore when God made the Stars they were then all very good and God made the Lights for Signs and for Seasons and for Days and for Years vers 14. And they being in the Creation by God made very good therefore they were not made of God to influence Man to Iniquity But as
Curses in the Law were prononced against for although it is said All that are saved are saved by Grace and not of Works that is to show that we cannot perform good Works to that perfection as to become justified by them without the Merits of Christ and therefore saved by Grace and not of Works but Christ's Righteousness will be appli'd to justifie his Creatures sincere indeavours he being the Author of Eternal Salvation to all those that obey him But whereas it is said That it is not of Works of Righteousness that we have done but according to his Mercy he saveth us this was spoken to the first Churches which was then brought out of darkness and hath no reference to us as is proved but since the Nations have fallen into Popery we have not so understood as to distinguish between that part of Scripture which hath a general tendency and that which hath not And whereas Christ said to the Jews They should die in their Sins except ye helievc that I am he John 8.24 And who is this he but him that all the Prophets and Moses Prophesied of That when that Prophet came they should hear him in all things whatsoever he commanded them Acts 3.22 which at his first coming they did not And that all Believers that believe according to the Words of Christ so as to consent to take his Yoke upon them to become his Servants are then of his great Mercy and free Grace saved from their original and past Transgressions by the Gospel tender of his Grace Rom. 3.25 without their before performing the Deeds of the Law for Christ is become to such Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and by him the Eternal Life lost by Adam reenters But we are no sonner listed his Souldiers and Servants but we are to Fight to keep our Ground and Station wherein he hath set us for the Eternal Life given to the Believer to make it an Eternal Inheritance is a Prize set before us and it is the Runner that holds out to the end and the Warrier that overcometh that shall have the reward of the Crown of Life Rev. 3.11 And he that puts his Hand to the Plough and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God Luke 9.62 And it is said Remember Lots Wife And the Apostle saith of Himeneus and Alexander That they made Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1.19 Likewise others who were washed from their old Sins returned as a Dog to the Vomit and some denied the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2.20,21,22 And those that live after the Flesh and despise Government act as irrationally as the Beasts for the Beasts had not Reason given them but were made to be destroyed ver 12. And it is the Ground that remains barren under the tender of Grace and free offer of Mercy in the Call of the Gospel that is nigh unto Cursing whose end is to be Burned Heb. 6.6,8 And those that receive the sincere Milk of the Word to grow thereby are thereby brought off from the World and so Regenerated and Born again 1 Pet. 2.2 But they which have not the Word have not the Call of the Gospel And likewise among us who are not of the Elect there are some in a more peculiar manner brought home by the operation of the Spirit of God upon them by the Word but they do no longer stand than they are found sincere in their Obedience Rom. 6.16 IX The Word of the Scriptures is the Word of Faith and in them the offer of the Common Salvation I Do also here affirm that the Word of the Scriptures is the Word of Faith and in them the offer of the common Salvation and whosoever believes the Truth of the Scriptures they are able to make them wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Therefore the Apostle saith It is the power of God unto Salvation unto every one that believeth for therein is the Righteousness of God revealed and the Just shall live by their Faith Rom. 1.16,17 For the Lord is become the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 And by doing good Works there is a laying hold of Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.19 as well as there was some foreordained to Eternal Life And the Word of the Lord endureth for ever 1 Pet. 1.25 The which we are to hold fast till he come Rev. 2.24,25 And if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every Transgression and Disobedience received a just recompence of Reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by them that heard him Heb. 2.2,3 For the Lord Christ hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gosple 2 Tim. 1.10 And the Apostle with Moses speaking of the Letter of the Word saith The knowledge of it is in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou mayest do it Deut. 30.14 So that we may do the thing that is there required God having promised his assistance and that he will accept our sincere Endeavour and whosoever takes to the way therein directed will find the assistance therein promised with the assured Reward that Christ has purchased which they also will be partakers of as well as those that were forechosen so as for any ones sincere Service the Lord will be their great Reward when he again comes at the time of the Redemption of the purchased Possession for then will he Redeem Israel and give to others Rewards and Punishments according to their Deeds And this is the common Faith which all that are under the common Call of the Gospel ought to contend for the which St. Jude terms the common Salvation vers 3. And it was by the common Faith that Titus became so Eminent a Christian Titus 1.4 XII How God is the Author of Faith in the Belief of the Scriptures BUT peradventure some will say That we cannot of our selves have Faith to believe the Scriptures for that is the Gift of Ged These Words were spoken to the Elect Church of the Ephesians who were part of the peculiar People chosen from among the Gentiles for the Praise of his Name which received the Holy Ghost to be in them who were then first brought out from the Abominations of the Gentiles and to whom the Apostile saith Eph. 2.8 For by Grace ye are saved thro' Faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God That is it was the great Mercy and rich Grace of God the gift of his Son and this great Mercy is to be received thro' Faith which Faith is not of themselves it is the gift of God who unto them in a peculiar manner he did at first manifest himself to but God did never leave himself without vvitness for the ground of Faith to confirm the truth of vvhat he vvould have us believe and therefore to confirm the Lavv that it
Ezek. 14.7 And like not to retain God in their knowledge but in the way of well doing we may commit the keeping of our souls unto God as unto a faithful creator 1 Pet. 4.19 Now St. Paul speaking of the Creation of the World in the fore-going Words Rom. 1.20 makes mention of it as such and not as the Foundation of the World And all the Apostles in all their Writings agree in calling the Twelve Tribes the Foundation of the World to come And likewise Zachariah the Priest said God hath raised up a Horn of Salvation in the House of his Servant David Here he doth not say that this was Prophesied of from the Foundation of the World but by all the Holy Prophets since the World began Luke 1.69,70 That he would raise up a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David And in David and Solomon was the Typical Kingdom of Christ And after David had received the Kingdom God by the Prophet said His seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the sun before me Psalm 89.36 This ever is the ever of the time to come the which all the Prophets Prophesied of from David till Christ came but no Prophet Prophesied that this Salvation should come out of the House of David before David was and had received the Kingdom But we not apprehending the difference between the Creation and Foundation nor the beginning of this World to come has cast us into most dangerous Mistakes for thereby we have received another Faith than what the Gospel teacheth in thinking none but the Elect can be saved and that some thereby have thought they should be saved by the Righteousness of Christ contrary to the Words of Christ which are upon the condition of their Obedience which will prove destructive if unrepented of Likewise we have another Hope than what the Scripture Teacheth for by our Predecessors falling into Popery we have lost the form of sound words as they were first delivered and to maintain our received mistaken Notions we must not believe what God hath declared promised and sworn to And this out of pretence of justifying God's Wisdom which some say doth greatly consist in God's sore-knowing all the Wickedness of the Devil and Man from all Eternity whereby they make God the first conceiver of it and likewise with such approbation as some say as he did not only suffer it but decreed it to be committed which is so quite contrary to the Holy God as the thoughts thereof are to be abhorred it being Blasphemy for to think it for he hath absolutely declared against it For it was after God saw that Man had corrupted his Way it repented him that he had made Man upon the Earth and God said it griewed him at his heart Gen. 6.6 Now whether it is right in the sight of God to believe Man rather than God judge ye Acts 4.19 And that God that is an unchangeable Being in Holiness Wisdom Justice Goodness and Truth which are his proper Attributes and therefore impossible for God to lie Heb. 6.18 For God is not a man that he should lie neither the Son of Man that he should Repent that is when God hath absolutely promised a Blessing he will certainly perform it as it is here declared Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Numbers 23.19 And we are to believe of God in every thing as he hath declared of himself to be moved to pity upon Man's Repenting and Returning and to Anger and Wrath upon Man's Rebellion and of certain God will never be angry with any for believing what he saith or hath promised or sworn to And the Prophet for believing what another Prophet told him in contradiction to what God had declared to him a Lyon met him and Slew him 1 Kings 13.17,18,24 And as the Faith of Abraham was set down for our Example so this was Recorded for our warning that we might not believe Man in contradiction to God Now Christ and the Apostles being rightly understood are found to agree with the Words of God and the Prophets and the Care of the Apostles was such as to compare spiritual things with spiritual things 1 Cor. 2.13 To see if the Spirit spake in them agreeably to what the Spirit spake in the Prophets of old that thereby no Delusion or Deceiver might creep in among them for God did never send his Son and the Servants of his Son to contradict what he himself hath declared promised and sworn to XVI The Glory and Blessedness that will be in time to come For the Lord will come to judge the Nations in the valley of Jehosaphat and restore his People Israel Joel 3.1,2,12,13,16,17,18 and then it is the Lord will make Mount Sion and eternal excellency and the joy of many Generations Isaiah 60.15 And then it is his people shall be all righteous and inherit the land for ever Then it is a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation the Lord will hasten it in his time Isaiah 60.21,22 Here the Lord sheweth there will be another time after this time in which his People will be blessed against which time St. Paul ordereth Timothy that he should charge them that are rich in this world that they be rich in good works laying up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come 1 Tim. 6.17,18 And sure if we were not blind we could not think that all that are Rich in this World are Elected but that by doing good Works all may lay hold of eternal Life ' for Christ is become the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him ' Heb. 5.9 Whether Elect or not Elect but those that remain blind now God has made plain his Word is because they have no desire to see but whether some will see or not it is in the time to come that God will make that promised new everlasting Covenant with his People and put his laws in their inward parts and write them in their hearts and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know ye the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord Jer 31.33,34 And in that day the Lord will make a covenant for them with the beast of the field and with the fowls of heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and then will the Lord break the bow the sword and the battel out of the earth And then will the Lord betroth Israel to him for ever in righteousness in judgment in loving kindness and in mercy Hos 2.18,19 And then the days of his People shall be the age of a Tree and then it is the Meek shall inherit the Earth and delight themselves in the abundance of Peace and then it is the evil Beasts will cease out of the Land Ezekiel 34.25 Now this Covenant some have blindly imagined that it
be laid for the Foundation of the World to come at which Foundation Christ was figuratively slain in the Paschal Lamb. But was fore-ordained to be slain before the Foundation of the World Which Foundation is that before mentioned and therefore God proved and tryed Abraham to see whether he would offer his only Son as a Sacrifice to him before he made him that Promise that in his Seed all the Nations of the Earth should be Blessed Gen. 22.16,17,18 Rev. 11.15 Which Promise will be made good in time to come and then will be put in Subjection to Christ the World to come Heb. 2.1 Dan. 7.13,14.26,27 At which Foundation the Works of those unbelieving Jews were finished when they refused to go to fight for the Land of Canaan And from that Foundation after that miscarriage God elected a Remnant And they are those of whom it is said they were chosen from the Foundation And the peculiar People chosen from among the Gentiles which likewise had the peculiar calling and also were to receive the Holy Ghost to be in them which was the anointing of the Spirit whereby they spake with Tongues and wrought Miracle that thereby they might be also a light to the World these were they of whom it is said they were chosen before the Foundation of the World which Foundation is Israel And God chose them as to matter of choice and liking before the Body of Israel which were the Foundation because they had wilfully disobeyed him but as to the matter of Time long after Whereas the Apostle saith They were chosen in Christ before the World was That is before the World was which is now to come in which they are to receive the promised Blessing And as to what God said concerning Jocob and Esau before they had done Good or Evil was only that the Elder should Serve the Younger and not that God did ever hate his Creature until such time as they wilfully disobeyed him But these words concerning Jacob and Esau have a far other meaning then what we have hitherto apprehended But this and the other mistaken places of Scripture by which the World has been cast into a mist of Darkness I have now by Gods assistance by laying the Scriptures together made the true meaning of the word appear as may be found in my Book lately Published But St. Peter fairly warns us That in St. Paul's Epistles are things hard to be understood Which those that were unlearned in the Scriptures did wrest as they also did some other Scriptures to their own destruction 2. Pet. 3.16 But the Scriptures rightly understood and believed are able to make us wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Whereas St. James saith Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the World Acts. 15.18 From which words it is clear that all Gods works were not known to him before the beginning of the World And that is was then the works that properly belong to God that were known to him And that the beginning of the World the Apostle here speaks of must have its chief reference to the beginning or Foundation of the World that was laid in the Seed of Abraham when God brought them out of the Land of Egypt to place them in the Heart of the Earth for the beginning or Foundation of the World to come as by his forementioned words doth appear and not that he had his reference to the beginning of the Creation of the World or the beginning of the World in Adam after the Fall For the Apostle speaking how God did at first visit the Gentiles to take out of them a People for his Name Acts. 15.14 Which were them to whom the Holy Ghost was given to be in them vers 8. And they to whom the Holy Ghost was given were to be a light to the World that the world might believe that God had sent Christ John 17.21 After which 't is said he will return and Build again the Tabernacle of David which is Fallen down Acts. 15.16 The which will be when the Lord returns Whom the Heavens must receive until the times of the Restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the Mouth of all his Prophets since the World began Acts. 3.21 And then in his following words he tells us who the beginning of this forementioned world were That it was the Fathers in the Wilderness vers 22. For Moses truly said unto the Fathers a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Bretheren him shall ye hear in all things the which will be when the Lord again comes And then will be Israel's Glory and then the World that is to come will be in Subjection unto Christ Heb. 2.5 And these are the works St. James had his chief reference to when he said known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the World Acts 15.18 Which beginning of the World was as is aforesaid And the Eternal purpose spoken of Eph. 3.11 Only reacheth forward to the Eternity that lies before us As Christ in time became the Author of Eternal Salvation And as in time he promised Eternal Life And whereas St. Paul saith God worketh all things after the counsel of his own will He here had his reference as St. James had to the great works which properly belong to God As the gift of his Son and in electing some setting a door of Mercy open to others And in determining the great Glory should be for the heirs of the World to come For the word All in Scripture doth not include the whole And as for the works of the Devil and the evil works of Man they do not belong to God therefore he ordained Punishments for them after they fell as I have elsewhere proved And whereas St. Paul saith Eph. 3.8.9 That I should preach among the Gentises the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the World hath been hid in God That is at the beginning of the World which was laid in the Twelve Tribes who were laid for the beginning or Foundation of the World to come They did not see how the Gentiles should be called in as to become heirs with them This great Mystery was all a long hid in God from them so as they as little understood it as the Old World did And tho' God told Abraham he should be Father of many Nations and the Prophets declared the Gentiles should be called in yet it is no where declared they should be brought in by preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ through the Gospel I have here made so long a digression altho I have something more to the former Subject to say the which I could not go on with till I had given some light to the true meaning of these mistaken places That thereby I might make plain the way for what I have yet further to say 3. That is we are
termed a City that Reigns over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.18 So this Woman that is clothed with the Sun is likewise termed the Holy City that should be trod under foot of the Gentiles Forty and Two Months Rev. 11.2 These Gentiles were the Gentiles that embraced the Faith which after they came to have no love to the Truth but took pleasure in Unrighteousness and their Kings would not be holden with the Cords of the Laws of the Lord then God gave them up to strong Delusions to believe Lies 2 Thes 2.9,10,11,12 Psal 2.2,3 And then did the Devil hoist up the Beast by whom they were deluded and given up to Worship him Whereas it is said The Holy City should be trod under foot of the Gentiles Forty and Two Months From whence we are to take notice that this Holy City is not of the Gentiles And likewise the Beast was to continue Forty and Two Months Rev. 13.5 And Forty and Two Months reckoning Thirty Days to a Month according to the Chaldean account amounts exactly to a Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Days which is so many Days of Years The which time the Woman was to be fed in the Wilderness Rev. 12.6 And a Thousand Years is with the Lord as One Day and One Day as a Thousand Years 2 Pet. 3.8 And it is so Recorded to enlighten our understanding in the Word And also we are to take notice that the Promise of Christ was not that the Holy Ghost should be in them for ever but with them for ever So now this Remnant or Woman which was drove into the Wilderness is as liable to fall under some mistakes as the Remnant chosen from among Israel was before Christ came for they did not apprehend Christ coming to Suffer neither do these his coming to Reign and likewise several great Truths in the Word they did not rightly understand the true meaning of them so neither do these but the Promise of God was to them which were of the Remnant that none should pluck them out of his Hand which accordingly God has performed in preserving them in a holy and upright Conversation And their Enemies declare that they were a People that walkt uprightly and kept close to all the Commands of God As for some in the Valleys that thro the Cruelty of their Enemies were forc'd to adhere to the Beast in the time of their miserable Destruction 1686. when they were expelled their Country might be some that did come to coinhabit with them as often some of the French Protestants did for as St John saith If they had been of them they would have continued with them I shall hereafter by God's assistance make appear who are the two Witnesses or Olive-Trees who continually gave the Oyl of Grace out of themselves into the Golden-Candlestick or Church or Woman who had a place prepared of God in the Wilderness that they should feed her there Rev. 12.6 with Grace as aforesaid But as the Lord said The Children oâ— this World are in their Generation wiser than the Children of Light Luk. 16.8 For had this Woman and others of Christ's Servants that truly fear him understood the Word as well as the other did to get the Riches of this World they had not taken up with such mistaken Notions as has been put upon the Word X. The Vaudois proved the Church in the Wilderness THe Vaudois By the History made of them It is made appear that they never did adhere to the Beast But have always lived in a very strict and Holy and upright Conversation according to the Commands of God as the worst of their Enemies as it is recorded has declared of them But by their often Wars and devastations by Fire occcasioned by their Enemies they lost the Scriptures and Antient Records So as the Ancientest Acts that were preserved from the Flames was writ in 1100. Called the Lesson As we may find in the late History written concerning them In which Acts there is not so many mistakes as in their Confession of Faith made in the Year 1655. They since having received other of the Mistaken notions of their Protestant Neighbours And they not Apprehending the Foundations of the several Worlds so think they were chosen out of the Mass or Lump of Mankind before the Foundation of the Material world But tho' they think they were then chosen yet they do not hold that God did then reprobate any They also clear God from the Miscarriage of the Devil or Man And declare God to be all Holiness and Goodness and therefore he cannot be the Author of the Evil of Sin And that good works are so necessary to the faithful that they cannot come to the Kingdom of Heaven without doing of them pag. 19. Article 21. This being according to what the Apostles faith of them that were fore-chosen That God had fore ordained That they should walk in good works Ephe. 2.10 1 Pet. 1.2 And this faith of Gods elect is required in every true believer so as they must believe the purchased Redemption and promised reward by Christ is to be had in the way of their obedience to him For in believing that Christ is the Son of God we are to obey him as such For it is required of every true believer to do whatsoever he Commands them Matt. 28.20 For it is he that believes in Christ and his word that is the Disciple and believer indeed John 8.31 But Christ did never require that all believers should believe that they were elected or forechosen But those that were elected were by their good Works to be a light to the World that others might follow their good Example For though they are now fallen into several and great Mistakes concerning Christ's second Coming and several other things as well as the remnant of Israel was heretofore concerning Christ's first coming For the Lord did not promise that the Holy Ghost should be in them to the end of the World but with them to the end of the World John 14.16 Therefore they are now as liable to mistakes as the remnant formerly were But the Lord according to his promise has kept them from worshiping the Beast and has preserved them in integrity and Godly simplicity So that none could pluck them out of his Hand But through the Misinterpretations put upon the Scriptures they have received false Notions So according to the Word of the Lord in Eze. 34.18,19 The Sheep of Christ have Eaten that which others have Troden and Drank that which others have fouled with their Feet And that they have received other Notions than what they had formerly I shall here make appear For in their Ancientest Acts. 1100. Which is the Ancientest they now have There it is said That Christ dyed for all believers and so for every one that believeth according to his word And therein is nothing said of their being chosen before the Foundation of the World And in those Acts it is said
did here include the Remnant he did not herein speak agreeable to what is written for God in the Psalm saith the contrary Therefore St. Paul's meaning here was of the Jewish Nation and not of the Elect Remnant But after the Lord came there doth appear by Scripture to be a larger number of Israel in this Election of Grace then was before which was sinful and had corrupted their way as well as the Gentiles but to all that feared God in Israel was the Word of this Salvation sent Acts 13.26 From whence it is clear there was then some of them in Israel that then also feared God And Christ by the Parable of the Ninety Nine Sheep from whence is made appear they were safe by the Promise of God Psal 15. Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle c. And to all that order their Conversatiâ—… aright he will shew his Salvotion Psal 50.23 And therefore Christ saith He came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Luke 5.32 For they were not then to be called home for such were his Father 's before As for that one Sheep that went astray we are to take notice that the nature of Sheep is not wilfully from their Companions to wander away but the Prodigal that wilfully left his Father's House first lookâ— home before his Father lookt on him Luke 15.18 Now what St. Paul goes to prove from the Prophets Rom. 3.20,21,22,23 was to prove their Justificatioâ— from their past Sins through the Blood of Christ vers 24.25 Without their before performing the deeds of the law for had not God then justified them by the alone Imputation of Christ's Righteousness in the belief of the Truth they could not then have been saved for then not only the Gentile World lay in Wickedness but the elect also that was chosen from among them lay in Wickedness Therefore God at the then time to declare his Righteousness verse 26. which was in his being just to his Promise made to Abraham in bringing in the Gentile Nations to be Heirs with Israel And therefore at the then time at their first calling in they were justified from their past Sins by believing in Jesus according to the word and Faith in his Blood verse 22.25 That they and their Children might be brought in Heirs with Israel according to the Promise Gen. 17.4 And as Abraham after God had called him was commanded to walk before him in a perfect and upright way verse 1. which accordingly he did and so became Heir to the Promises verse 2.7 And so the Lord ordered his Disciples to go and teach and baptize all Nations that they should teach them to observe all things whatsoever he commanded them Matth. 28.19,20 And whilst they so did they were Heirs to the Promises And these things as St. Paul saith were witnessed by the Law and the Prophers verse 21. For Moses wrote concerning it And in Isaiah 55. The tender of the common Salvation was Prophesied of that all that were a thirst might come buy and eat without Money and without Price that is tho there was nothing then in them to render them acceptable but a thirsting after the Lord with a weariness of their Sins Matth. 11.28 And if they did hearken diligently unto the Lord and eat that which is good and let their soul delight it self in fatness and incline their ear and come unto him and bear and their souls shall live verse 23 Here we are to take notice that they were to thirst when they heard of the offered Mercy and then they were to incline their ear and come unto him and when they were come they were to hear that is all that he by his word commanded them Matth. 28.20 And if they did hear and eat that which is good then upon the performance of these Conditions the Lord will make an everlasting Covenant with them the sure Mercies of David The which will be when the Lord again comes at which time God will establish his promised everlasting Covenant with Abraham and his Seed together in their Generations Gen. 17.7 And God also by the Prophet declares the pouring forth of his Spirit not only at the second coming but also at the first coming of Christ Joel 2.28,29 And St. Paul concerning the then fore-mentioned time Rom. 3.26 mentions Isaiah 49.8 applying these words of Isaiah to the then time as in 2 Cor. 6.2 I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of Salvation But afterwards when the Gentiles came to have no love to the Truth for which they were given up to Delusion 2 Thess 2.10 Then it was not the great day of Salvation which falling away was also fore prophesied of Psalm 2.2,3 And in divers other places for those that God calls will not be accepted when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord without their now improving in this time their day of Grace under the call of the Gospel for when the Lord comes we that have the knowledge of him must appear before the judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 For God-without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1.17 And the promised reward was to them that held out to the end Rev. 2.10 That they should receive a Crown of Life that is be saved with an everlasting Salvation as Israel will be when the Lord again comes who then shall not be ashamed world without end Isaiah 45 17. And this is the world to come of which all the Apostles speak of and which is to be put in subjection unto Christ in time to come Heb. 2.5 But as St. Peter saith God before shewed by the mouth of all his Prophets that Christ should suffer he hath so fulfilled Acts 3.18 Whom the heavens must receive until the times of the restitution of all things Which he likewise saith God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets since the world began verse 21. Which beginning of the world was Israel unto whom Moses declared it verse 22. And they will be the world without end when the Lord hath established his new everlasting Covenant with them that they shall not sin against him and then they will never more fall under Condemnation therefore said to be world without end And unto this Promise the Gentile Christians conditionally were brought in Heirs with Israel XIV Part of the Christians Mistakes NOW since the Roman Apostacy the Christians have built their Faith on those Parables that Christ spake to put out the Eyes of Israel's Understanding and also on those mistaken places of Scripture that our Predecessors since Popery have lost the true meaning of and likewise the Christians fancying that
of the letter but of the spirit for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life Now the Apostles received their Knowledge immediately from the Lord Christ and also of the Spirit for the Holy Ghost was given to be in them by which they also understood things to come and by the Spirit they were made able Ministers not of the Letter but of the Spirit for all the Gentiles when they were first to be called in had he then Preach'd the Letter of the Law to them they then had thereby all been Condemned But the Apostles were upon the first Publication of the Gospel to Preach Remission of Sins by Christ to every one that would turn from their evil way and by that turn they were to live in obedience to the Letter of the Word And in that he saith they were made able Ministers of the New Testament was in that the Holy Ghost was then given as a Witness to their Testimony to confirm the Truth of their Word and likewise they did Administer the Spirit for 〈◊〉 the laying on the Hands of the Apostles the People received the Holy Ghost Acts 19.6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied So also Acts 8.17 But should any Man now pretend to Preach such Doctrin of Administring the Spirit and not the Letter of the Word the People had good reason to believe that Man was out of his Senses But some have given such a turn to these Words of the Apostle from hence pretending they are not to take the plain Letter of the Word as it is spoken but according to the Spiritual Interpretation which they have put upon it the which has been according to their own Fancy And so by leaving the plain Letter of the Word in what God hath declared promised and sworn to are thereby fallen into these great and dangerous Mistakes for the Scripture admits of no other Spiritual Meaning than what is there specified which is that we perform not the Letter or practical part of the Word to be seen of Men but in sincerity of Heart so as to Worship God in Spirit and Truth But in the Word there are many Figurative Speeches which admits of no other Interpretation than what can be made out from the Word leaving nothing therein to contradict what we say And likewise some have got another way to uphold their false received Notions which is that God speaks after the manner of Men and according to Man's Understanding and if so how doth any Man dare to open another â—…ay for Man to understand of God than what God thought fit for Man's Understanding But there is no such thing said of God throughout the Word but St. Paul to 〈◊〉 the Covenant said that he spake after the manner of 〈◊〉 though it be but a Man's Covenant yet if it be confirmed no Man disanulleth it Gal. 3.15 But our Reformers had done well if they had said there was a great Secret in the Word which as yet they understand not and that it was not to be medled with till the Lord did give more Light according to his Promise before the time of the end and not to have set the Scriptures by their mistaken Interpretations at an unreconcileable Difference as they have done or it would have been much better to have thought that when the False Teachers had ingross'd the Word into their own Hands that they might have put in some words to make the New Testament appear to contradict the Old in what God had positively Promised and Sworn to therein seeing that God had intrusted Man with the Word for his Posterity as Adam was intrusted with Eternal Life for his Posterity the one being forbidden to Eat of the Tree and the other that they should neither add to nor diminish from the Word Gen. 2.16,17 Deut. 4.2 Rev. 22.18,19 But as a Reverend and Worthy Dr. said That when the Reformers first came out of Popery they did plainly see that the Papists were wrong but they themselves did not understand how to come right and indeed in losing the true meaning of the Word it was a hard matter so to do But now God according to his Promise has caused Light to break forth at Evening time Zach. 14.7 And has removed the occasion of Mistakes that thereby Knowledge might be increased whereby the God of Truth is made plainly appear to speak Truth as he is Truth and that he will do in all things according as he has said who having employed and enabled a weak Worm to vindicate his Truth and Justice to the Glory of his Name and the Comfort of Mankind Now such as will stand up to vindicate their false received Notions thereby to make the God of Truth a Lyar let them take what will follow for their Pains I am sure that the honest Heart will be glad that the Truth of God's Word is made plain and his Honour therein Vindicated I understand that some of the Honourable of the Clergy of the Church of England are well-wishers to the Truth and the soundest in the common Faith in the Knowledge of which is our Interest are part of the French Protestants part of the Church of England the Danish and Swedish Ministers and the Baptists that acknowledge that Christ Died for the World I am not to speak for Favour or Affection but as the Truth is in Jesus according to the Gospel A Papist told me that the Church of England gave the Sacrament as the Body and Blood of Christ the which I denied for though they give indeed the Bread and Wine in the words of Christ yet they do not give it as his real Body but as his Figurative Body as Christ did when he was setting whose with them at the Table for the Lord was no otherwise broken in the Sacrament than he was Slain in the Paschal Lamb yet he was said to be Slain in that Sacrifice but what great Mistakes has it caus'd the Christians to be in because they and we have lost the right Apprehension of the Scripture way of speaking XVIII An account of the Lord's five times Hiring Labourers into his Vincyard WHereas the Lord saith Matth. 20.1,2 ' The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Man that is an Housholder which went out early in the Morning to Hire Labourers into his Vineyard and when he had agreed with the Labourers he sent them into his Vineyard ' In the first place we are to take notice by the Comparison that every time the Lord hired Labourers to work in his Vineyard he came forth from Heaven and Hired them that is Agreed or Covenanted with them himself as with Noah and likewise with Abraham and also with Israel in the Wilderness and so Christ when he Established the Gospel the Agreement was that all that were Hired were to Work in the Vineyard and to have a Reward for their Labour And at the last time when the