in us working the same in the opening and Declaration of his name unto uâ— Psalme 9. 10. this is a Faith that springeth from and worketh by love But such a Faith none can have till the love of God is discovered to them and so they see and believe his goodnesse towards them The serious consideration of this would put a check upon that preposterous mistake about mens teaching the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation unto the world and limitting the Gospell and death of Christ unto a few only which is not in the Commission of Christ given to the Apostles but rather to preach the Gospell to every creature and to invite them to that feast prepared by Christ and all things ready for their entertainment and that God is willing to receive them and so invite all and call upon all to goe to the wedding to believe and submit unto him and when this Gospell hath taken its effect upon some that they are perswaded to let goe all for him to receive him to believe in him and cleave to him then to minde them of the Doctrine of Election as the Apostles did apply it to believers minding them it was Gods goodnesse and free grace to elect them in Christ before the foundation of the world so that now they are begotten to the Faith they are to give all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure but many men endeavour to hold forth to the world those decrees of Election and Reprobation which they rightly understand not making them dangerous and unprofitable Doctrines which otherwise in due place and manner propounded are very safe and wholsome for herein they goe besides the rule preaching an uncertaine sound which the world can make no good use of for when they heare it what use can they have of it but to perplex or harden them for what other consequence can they naturally draw from thence then this Either I am Elected or not If I be then I am well enough no sinne can or shall hurt me no matter whether I heare pray read or not If otherwise I shall but here torment my self with a melancholy and religious life in vaine what profits it for me to pray unto him no duties will profit me therefore I will take my pleasure no actions of mine can either help or hinder c. whereas he should be wrastling with God as Jacob and give him no rest till he had obtained the blessing What I have endeavoured to present before you in this ensuing Treatise as in a Map doe you consider more particularly viewing and weighing well the stumbling-blocks cast in youo way and the corruption of your owne understanding memory conscience will and affections with thoughts words actions omissions commissions we cannot likely goe too far in these things nor wrong your nature yea take a man that thinketh worst of himselfe he is far worse then he thinketh himselfe to be In a word our well-being doth much depend upon our removing these stumbling-blocks and removed they cannot be without Faith and Faith is the work of the Spirit of God in us out of the free love of God to us not for any good done by us or foreseen in us but being by nature all in misery we were objects of mercy Ezek. 16. 6. and so after in mercy he had clensed us we were beautifull through the comlinesse that he had put upon us ver 14. Election is the Election of grace Vocation is according to grace Regeneration was of Gods owne will Faith is the gift of God Justification is freely by grace Forgivenesse of our sinnes is according to the riches of his grace Eternall life is the gift of God all the Portion that God expecteth of us is Poverty Oh! the consideration of this free love of God held forth in the Gospel will engage the soule to a constant spirituall combat by faith and hope and other graces of the spirit against the flesh and so by the spirit mortifie the deeds of the flesh daily crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts this love as an inward principle worketh out pollution and corruption as being repugnant thereunto it putteth the soule upon true endeavours to purifie both soul and body person and conversation from all corruption universally both in kinde and degrees This word of grace hath a purifying faculty in it Ye are clean through the word I have spoken to you saith Christ John 15. 3. Againe the Word is as an Antidote against sinne Psal 119. 11. and as a lamp discovering the spot Rom. 7. 7. and as a Starre conducting to Christ the Fountain of purifying 1 John 2. 1 2. Zach 13. 1. and as a rule according to which we are heedfully to order our conversation Psal 119. 9. and the chiefest motive unto selfe-purifying 2 Cor. 7. 1. The appearing of this stirreth up fervent desires and prayers for thorough purity Psal 19. 9. Clense thou me from secret faults purge me with Hysop and I shall be cleane Psal 51. 7. Wash me and I shall be whiter then snow c. Avoid Satan How can I do this evill and sin against God I must love him because he loved me first his free grace hath appeared unto me I must runne after him he hath set my feet at liberty I must run the wayes of his Commandements he doth let my soule live therefore I must prayse him he hath made the Tree good therefore the Fruit must be good Robert Purnell The way to Heaven discovered and the stumbling blocks cast therein by the World Flesh and Devill removed ALL Men Women and Children under the Sun are either in the state of Nature or in the state of Grace in Christ or out of Christ only here is their misery many that are in the state of nature doe think they be in the state of grace and many that are in the state of grace doe think they be in the state of nature Now although there be but these two states yet there be severall degrees in each of these states viz. Those that are in the state of Grace are in one of these four fourmes either babes children young men or old men 1. Babes 1 Pet. 2. 2. 2. Children little children 1 Joh. 2. 12. 3. Young men 1 Joh. 2. 13. 4. There is Old men or Fathers 1 Joh. 2. 14. So also for those in the state of Nature there be some nearer some further from the kingdome of God Isai 46. 12. Hearken unto me ye stout hearted that are farre from righteousnesse all stout hearted obstinate self-conceited Ranters and Ordinance-forsakers and vice-advancers Scripture-rejectors and hypocriticall dissemblers c. These are farre from the kingdome of God But then there is another sort of those in the naturall state spoken of by our Lord Jesus Christ Mar. 12. 34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly he said Thou art not farre from the kingdome of God c. Thou art more moderate more teachable more tractable thou
re-insnarement and re-intanglement in sinne and sinnefull courses as that he is thereby overcome and made the servant and slave of sinne again for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought into bondage to doe the will of sinne to obey it in the lusts thereof and to give up his members as servants to commit iniquity and that with greedinesse But I trust this is not thy state and if not consider that we have proved before that sinnes against light and checks of conscience have been pardoned and sins against experimentall tasts of Spirituall things have been pardoned and blasphemous thoughts have been pardoned and some fallen from their first love have been restored so thou hast no just cause to doubt of but rather to betake thy selfe unto Gods pardoning mercy freely tendred to thee in Jesus Christ XIV The fourteenth stumbling block Well say many misgiving hearts I could almost beleeve but that it is so difficult a thing to beleeve in health and prosperity is easie but to beleeve when tryals come O then O then the difficulty appeareth wherefore I would not have my wounded soul healed slightly as in Jer. 6. 14. Most men by their glossings and flatteries lull people asleep in security bearing them in hand that there is no such dangerous matter against them and so draw a skin over places full of corrupt matter which will cause the wound to fester the more inwardly to the patients greater and further evill I fear my graces are not true but counterfeit for all is not gold that glisters and that which men call faith is but fancie and that which they call zeale is but unnaturall heate and passion and that light men have is but common it is short of that many have attained to that are now in hell Answ If thou hast but the least grain of faith in thee it will lead thee to the Sunne of righteousnesse that ariseth with healings in his wings Mal. 4. 2. 1. This Physician will cure thee speedily Psal 46. 1. 2. He will heale thee perfectly Matth. 14. 36. 3. He will cure all thy diseases whatsoever universally Mat. 9. 35. 4. He cures every one he takes in hand freely Isa 55. 1. Revel 22. 17. 5. He doth heal those that come to him eternally Jer. 17. 14. And if any say their sins are great he saith his mercy is greater If thy sins be of diverse sorts he tels thee in his Word that in him there is multitudes of mencies If thou say thy sins have been repeated he tels thee his mercies are revealed and renewed every morning If thou say thou art unfit for mercy he saith in his Word if thou thoughtest thy selfe fit for mercy thou shouldest not have mercy We read in the booke of Martyrs of some that were so full of misgivings of heart and fears did doubt they should never hold out to suffer for Christ but when they came to the tryall they prayed earnestly and were strengthened immediately and suffered valiantly when some others that boasted of their strength had no strength to suffer We also read of some others that could not dispute for Christ and yet they would die for him one â—icely Ormes Martyr when she was brought to the stake layes her hand on it and sayes Welcome the Crosse of Christ and then kissed it and said Welcome the sweet Crosse of Christ Again we read of one Mr. John Bradford being brought to the stake took up a faggot and kissed it and turning his head to the young man that suffered with him said Be of good comfort brother for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night and imbracing the reeds said Straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternall salvation and few there be that finde it By all which we may see that many pretious soules have had true grace and yet have feared that they have had none true grace we see will inable a man to step over the worlds Crown to take up Christs Crosse to preferre the Crosse of Christ above the glory and bravery of this World One Godfry of Bullein first King of Jerusalem refused to be crowned with a Crown of gold saying that it became not a Christian to weare a Crown of gold where Christ had wore a Crown of thornes and we may see by dayly experience that there is many a poor questioning weake Christian will follow Christ through thick and thin whilest many of the great professors that did seem to be pillars in the Church doe fall away with Doctor Demas from Christ to imbrace this present World or else with the young man in the Gospell come and bid fair for heaven but when Christ sets his Crosse before him he steps over that to enjoy the Worlds Crowne when Christ bid him goe and sell all that he had and give to the poore he went away sorrowfull for he had great possessions if heaven be to be had upon no other termes Christ may keepe his heaven to himselfe hee 'l have none of it but true grace doth worke the heart to the hatred of all sinne and to the love of all truth it workes a man to the hatred of those sinnes that for his life he cannot conquer and to loathe those sinnes that he would give all the World to overcome so that he can say though there be no one sinne subdued in him yet every sinne is hated and loathed by him so that though sinne dwell in him yet it doth not live in him Now if thou hast any wisdome from Christ it will lead thee to center in the wisdome of Christ and that love the soul hath from Christ it leads the soul by degrees to center in the love of Christ and that righteousnesse the soul hath from Christ it lead the soul to rest and center in the righteousnesse of Christ the streame doth not more naturally lead to the fountaine nor the effect to the cause then true grace leads the soul to Christ But pretended grace leads the soul to rest and center in the promises of men or in the rewards of creâ—tures whereas true faith if it injoy Christ without honour it will satisfie the soul the injoyment of Christ without riches will satisfie the soul the injoyment of Christ without relations the injoyment of Christ without pleasure and without smiles of the creatures will content and satisfie the soul though honour is not and riches are not and health is not and friends are not it is enough that Christ is mine and I am his my being and well being consists not in honour for then Pharaoh had been blessed neither in wit naturall for then Achitothel had been blessed not in wealth for then Ahab had been blessed all these are but leaves that may grow on such a figge-tree as Christ hath cursed wherefore I would be such a tree that hath a root which is hope a heart which is faith a barke which is charity and branches which
are spirituall virtues green leaves which are good words and fruit which are good works Besides thou mayest know whether thou are sound in the maine by these things 1. Thou wilt walke more by rule then by example 2. And be willing to be searched in all things and not only to doe but to suffer for the name of Christ and to mourne in secret when God is dishonoured 3. Thou wilt do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. XV. The fifteenth stumbling block I have sinned that unpardonable sinne against the holy Ghost that God will not pardon in this life nor in the life to come there is no hope for me Mat. 12. 31 32. I have sinned against my light and the checks of mine own conscience I have sinned against the experimentall tastes of spirituall things I have crucified Christ afresh I have had many blasphemous thoughts in mine heart I have fearfully fallen away from my first love and I finde my heart as hard as a stone without all repentance for all this Answ Originall sin is the proper seed spawn and fountain of this sin aswell as of any other but every sinne against the light of minde and checks of conscience is not that sinne Rom. 7. 15 19. nor every falling away from the first love Revel 2. 4. Nay farther the sin against the Holy Ghost is not every blasphemous temptation for the dearest Saints and servants of God have been so as frequent experience doth prove not every sinne against knowledge is that sin against the Holy Ghost for the best of Gods people have so done Rom. 7. 19 20. Peter knew he ought not to deny his Lord and Master David knew he ought not to commit adultery nor kill yet strength of corruption drew him into both not every sinne against the truth of Christ and the Gospell is the sinne against the Holy Ghost as those in the Church of Corinth that denyed the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 12. and those in the Church of Pergamus that held the Doctrine of Balaam and the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes yet are not accounted hopelesse but invited to repent of their opinions Neither is it every sinning against the gracious motions strivings and operations of the Holy Ghost for it is possible men may thus sinne and sometimes with an high hand and yet not sinne against the holy Ghost Act. 7. 51 52. Neither is it sinning against grace received for the most heavenly and gracious souls are daily perplexed with inseparable and invincible infirmities as doubts fears distracting thoughts distempered passions they may and doe too often quench the spirit 1 Thess 5. 19. and grieve him Ephes 4. 29 30. by suppressing his good motions nay a man may grosly fall and break his bones yet not quite fall away as Noah to drunkennesse Gen. 9. 21. Lot to incest Gen. 19. 33. David to murther and uncleannesse I suppose that these are recorded to caution them that stand that they fall not and to comfort them that are fallen that they despair not Now the Judgements of men are various as to the nature of this sinne some say it is despair others that it is presumption or an obstinate purpose of continuing in sinne or a fixed will never to repent an opposing of the known truth and an envying of our brothers graces c. Others say that the sinne against the Holy Ghost is this viz. An universall finall and wilfull falling away from the truth and common graces of the Holy Ghost once received and professed c. to a malicious obstinate and incurable opposition thereof c. 1 Here is the general nature of this sin a falling away 2 Here is the properties of this falling away 1. An Universall 2. Finall 3. Wilfull 3 The good from which he fals 1. From the truth once received and professed 2. From the common graces of the Spirit or Holy Ghost 4. The evill into which he backslides which is threefold 1. Blasphemous despiting of the Spirit of grace 2. Horrid contempt and malice against the Son of God 3. Violent persecution of the way of Christianity Now where these particulars dwell joyntly and act vigorously mark that man or woman for in Scripture sense that man doth commit the sinne against the Holy Ghost and this is the highest sinne against the saving remedy this is to sin wilfully mâ—liciously incurably this is to crucifie Christ afresh and to put him to an open shame and to tread him under foot and to count his bloud of the Covenant an unholy thing c. This sinne never can possibly be repented of for so the Apostle tels us Heb 6. 4 5 6. Again this sinne is impardonable so Christ tels us the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven nâ—ither in this world neither in the world to come Mat 12. 32. Heb. 10. 26. Mar. 3. 29. So this sinne is damnable for if it can never be repented and if it will never be pardoned it must needs alwaies be punished with eternall death and damnation but such is the love of the Almighty God that he hath placed that sinne in so high a degree that most men cannot commit that sinne if they would for there must be knowledge in the minde and malice in the heart and that not in an ordinary but in an extraordinary measure or else thou canst not commit that sinne Peter had knowledge in his minde but no malice in his heart when he denied his Master again Paul he had malice in his heart but no knowledge in his minde so that neither Paul nor Peter sinned against the Holy Ghost but take the malice in Pauls heart and the knowledge in Peters and joyne them both together in one man if that man deny Christ with cursing and swearing as Peter and persecute the Church of Christ with Paul then we may safely say that man hath sinned that unpardonable sinne But we may take notice by the way that those persons that are truly regenerate and born again cannot sinne against the Holy Ghost for the Scripture saith that the regenerate sinne not this great sinne Whosoever is borne of God sinneth not as in 1 Joh. 5. 16 17 18. For if the regenerate might sinne against the Holy Ghost then they might totally and finally fall away from God but that it is impossible as that Gods Promises Covenant and faithfulnesse should fail or that Gods Spirit grace and power preserving them should be overcome or that Gods immutable decree for their salvation should be shaken so that there is a vast difference between the sinning of a regenerate person and their sinning that sinne against the Holy Ghost 1. They that sinne against the Holy Ghost are not nor cannot be in any fear or trouble because they have sinned but are wickedly hardened for no person that ever sinned against the Holy Ghost either was or could be afraid perplexed or troubled in spirit about it such trouble being inconsistent with the nature of that
I have been speaking to XVIII The next stumbling block is or may be this I fear saith another poor stammering soul that I shall never be saved for Christ tels me plainly Mat. 5. 20. that except my righteousnesse doe exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees I shall not be saved and I have examined my self and doe finde that my righteousnesse is so farre from exceeding theirs that theirs doe much exceed mine Answ The Scribes and Pharisees sought righteousnesse only by the works of the Law which made none perfect in that the Scriptures saith it was weak through the flesh Rom. 8. 3. none were able to fulfill it therefore Israel attained not to the Law of righteousnesse because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law Rom. 9. 31. our righteousnesse must exceed this as doth the righteousnesse which is of faith in Jesus who perfectly fulfilled the Law for us or you shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven For by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified Rom. 3. 20. and we are justified by faith only without the works of the Law Now if by righteousnesse was meant works of mens own acting as temperance obedience mercy and justice and upright dealing then we finde in Scripture that Heathens have outstript many if not most of us 1. For temperance King Ahasuerus Hester 1. 8. a Heathen King made a law that no man should be compelled to drink and yet many that call themselves Christians can hardly lay aside their drinking of healths 2. For Obedience when King Abimelech took Abrahams Wife no sooner did the Lord command him to deliver her to Abraham again but he obeyed the command of the Lord. Jonah preached at Niniveh to the Heathen and no sooner did they hear him but they did beleeve and repent 3. For Mercy when Paul and the rest of the company suffered ship-wrack the Heathen came and did receive them See Act. 28. 1 2 3. 4. For Justice and upright dealing the King of Sodome a Heathen when Abraham had overcome the four Kings and brought home the Sodomites the King of Sodome said unto him Give me the men and take thee the goods for thy pains Belshazzaâ— see how he kept promise with Daniel for when he saw the hand writing on the wall he said unto Daniel If thou wilt interpâ—et it for me I will make thee the third ruler in my kingdome Daniel told him that it tended to the ruining of him and all his house and notwithstanding this Heathen King kept promise with him and made him the third ruler in the land Dan. the 5. from the 16. to the 29. vers Again consider well this Scripture Ezek. 5. from the 6. verse to the end of that chapter the Lord doth send heavie judgements upon his people for being out stript by Heathens Vers 6. Shee hath changed my judgements into wickednesse more thâ—n the Nations and my Statutes more then the Countries round about therefore Vers 7. Thus saith the Lord God because ye multiplyed more then the Nations that are round about you and have not walked in my Statutes neither have kept my Judgemenâ—s Vers 8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold I even I am against thee and will execute Judgements in the midst of thee in the sight of the Nations and I will doe in thee that which I have not done and whereunto I will not doe any more the like because of all thy abominations Vers 12. Therefore a third part of thee shall die with the pestilence and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee and I will scatter a third part into all the world and I will draw out a sword after them Verâ— 13. Thus shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal when I have accomplished my fury in them c. From all which we may clearly learn that God will not spare a sinfull people but let out his fury to the full to the highest degree stirre up all his wrath pour out his full vials upon a disobedient people although they were known by the name of the Lords owne inheritance if their righteousnesse doth not exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees But on the contrary if their wickednesse doe exceed the wickednesse of the Heathen then there is no escaping from Gods judgements one or other will overtake them 1 King 19. 15. The Lord will scatter them into Babylon Moab Ammon Egypt Psal 44. 12. So that if we look only upon the externall performance and judge according to the outward appearance you shall finde many civilized men and women out-strip some of the Saints but yet for all that we are exhorted by Christ in some cases not to judge according to the outward appearance but to judge righteous judgement Joh. 7. 24. Now the righteousnesse of a Christian doth exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees and all Heathens in the world in these two things 1. By faith in Christ whereby all the righteousnesse of Christ is made his 2. In works done in faith which the other cannot doe one thing done in faith is better then a thousand in unbelief Rom. 14. 23. 1. Every Christians righteousnesse doth exceed that of the Pharisees by saith in Christ whereby the righteousnesse of Christ is made his by faith the poor creature seeth all his sinnes which the Spirit of God had convinced him of laid upon Christ Isai 53. 6. Again by faith he cometh to see Christ made unto him wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. And so by faith in him he can say the Lord our righteousnesse and hear the Lord say unto him in me is thy fruit found So the soul looking upon Christ in whom he is accepted Ephes 2. 13. and so he seeth all is of grace nothing of debt election is the election of grace vocation is according to the good pleasure of his will 2 Tim. 1. 9. regeneration was of Gods own will Jam. 1. 18. Faith the gift of God Phil. 1. 29. Justification is freely by grace Rom. 3. 24. and a free gift Rom. 5. 15 18. and forgivenesse of our sins according to the riches of his grace Ephes 1. 7. Eternall life the freest gift of God Rom. 6. 23. Act. 15. 11. even the life of glory is the grace of life 1 Pet. 3. 7. Christ himself was a token of free love from the Father to mankinde and as his whole work was to love so his whole love was free and as we said before there is not one soul that ever be loved but it was poor and empty sick and impotent unamiable and filthy regardlesse of him and opposite to him The language of the Law is Doe this and live if not die no work no
Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost 1 John 5. 5 6 7 8 9. 18 19 21. Mat. 28. 19. Ephes 4. 4 5 6. and 1 John 2. 22 23. and 2 John 9. 10. and 1 Tim. 2. 4 5 6. and 2 Tim. 3. 15. 1 John 2. 22. Acts 4. 10. 12. and 1 Cor. 3. 10 11. Isaiah 45. 21 22 23. 4. A true Church may be known by this also I say a true Church that is perfectly joyned together for of such a Church I am now speaking 1 Cor. 1. 10. I say that this Church doth hold that Jesus Christ is very God and very Man of the very Substance of the Virgin Mary begotten by the spirit of God 1 Joh. 4. 23. 2 Joh. 7. and 1 John 4. 3. That Jesus Christ is God and Man doth further appeare in these Scriptures Mat. 16. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Isaiah 53. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 24 25. 1 Corinth 15. 2 3. 2 Timoth. 2. 4 5 6. 5. That the same Lord Jesus Christ dyed for the sinnes of the people being crucified at Jerusalem and rose againe and ascended into Heaven whereby there is a way opened for all sinners whom God shall draw and make willing freely to come to God and their duty so to doe and whosoever doth come and none else he doth wash away their sinnes in his owne bloud and present them to his Father pure in his owne purity John 8. 24. Acts 4. 10 11 12. Acts 10. 38 39 40 41 42 43. and 1 Cor. 15. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Act. 22. 8. Acts 2. 36 37 38. Rev. 22. 17. Isa 55. 1 2. Col. 1. 22. 28. Ephes 5. 27. 2 Peter 3. 14. Colos 2. 10. 6. A true Church sound in the Faith and holy in Conversation doth hold that this same Jesus Christ being the onely God and Man in one person remaines for ever a distinct Being from the Saints and Angels notwithstanding their Vnion and Communion with him Col. 2. 8 9. 19. and 1 Tim. 3. 16. 7. A true Church doth hold that precious faith or comming to God is a spirituall and peculiar gift of God and that there is no freenesse or willingnesse in any naturall man to that which is spiritually good but an absolute enmity thereto so that no naturall man can by any thing that he can doe bring himselfe into a state of grace or holinesse or sit himselfe thereto 8. A true Church sound in the Faith doth hold that we are justified and saved by grace and saith in Christ and not by workes Rom. 1. 16 17. 31. Rom. 8. 13. Rom. 9. 31 32 33. and 10. 3 4. Act. 15. 24. Gal. 1. 6 7 8 9. Gal. 5. 2. 4 5. Ephes 2. 8 9 10. and 1 John 1. 6. 8. 1 John 3. 3 4 5 6 7 8. and 2 Pet. 2. 19 20. 9. A true Church doth hold that God meerly of his good pleasure without the fore-sight of any good in the creature elected a certaine number by name unto eternall salvation and hath decreed also to effect all the wayes for them and in them to bring them thereto Ephes 1. 4. Mat. 24. 22. 24. 31. Rom. 8. 33. and 9. 11. and 1 Tim. 5. 21. and 2. 2. 10. and 1 Pet. 1. 2. and 2 Pet. 1. 10. and 2 Thes 2. 13. 10. A true Church holds that no person that is so elected and regenerated shall fall away out of that state and be damned but shall be undoubtedly kept by the power of God in that state of regeneration unto salvation 2 Tim. 2. 19. Titus 1. 2. and Mat. 24. 24. Phil. 1. 6. 1 Per. 1. 5. Rom. 8. 1. and 6. 22. and 8. 30. Ephes 4. 30. and 5. 27. Heb. 12. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 23. Prov. 24. 1◠1 John 3. 9. Jude 24. Mat. 7. 24 25. Besides the Lord hath engaged by way of promise that none of his shall fall finally John 10. 27 28 29. and 4. 14. and 3. 36. and 5. 24. and 6. 40. 47. 54. and 14. 16. and 1 Cor. 1. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 6. and 2. 1. 10. 1 Sam. 12. 22. Psal 94. 14. Prov. 10. 30. A true Church doth hold that God is to be worshipped according to his owne will but those that slight his Ordinances and despise the duties of his worship doe manifestly declare that they are none of those that shall be saved Jer. 10. 15. Psal 14. 4. Jude 18 19 20 21. 12. That Church that is perfectly joyned one to another in one spirit doth hold that the dead shall rise and that there is a day of Judgement Acts 17. 30 31. 1 Cor. 15. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. Heb. 9. 27. 1 Pet. 4. 17. Jude 6. Rev. 20. 12 13. Rom. 2. 16. In a word to say no more a true Communion of Saints according to a Gospel-institution is a Communion of Saints arising from a clear apprehension of their Union with Saints 1 Cor. 12. 13 14. for by one spirit we are all baptised into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles bond or free 〈◊〉 have been all made to drink into one spirit for the body is not one member but many ver 20. for now are they many members but one body Now when a Saint comes to see that every one in whom the Lord Jesus appeareth is a member together with him in the same body whereof Christ is the head then his heart longeth to joyne himselfe in fellowship with such who have fellowship with the Father and the Son 1 John 1. 3. Obj. But I am a little unsatisfied in this saith some soule I heare that those Churches that walk nearest to those Rules before laid downe doe suffer some to speake and teach amongst them that are not Ministers but private Members pray Sir how is that exercise proved Answ Their exercising their gifts may be proved by these four demonstrations 1. By examples in the Jewish Church where men though in no Office either in Temple or Synagogue had liberty publiquely to use their gifts as doth clearly appeare by these Scriptures Luke 2. 42. 46 47. Luke 4. 16 17 18. Acts 8. 4. and 11. 19 20 21. and Chapt. 13 14 15 16. chap. 18. 24 25 26. 2. By the Commandement of Christ and his Apostles Luke 9 10. chap. 10. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 1 Cor. 14. 1. 5. 30 31. 3. It will appeare plainly by the prohibiting of women to teach in the Church hereby liberty being given unto men their husbands or others 1 Tim. 2. 11 12. 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. 4. This will yet more fully appeare by those most excellent ends which by this meanes are to be obtained As 1. The glory of God in the manifestation of his manifold graces See 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 2. That the gifts of the Spirit in men be not quenched 1 Thes 5. 19 20. Quench not the Spirit despise not prophesying that is Stop not the motion of the Spirit in your selves nor restraine the gift thereof in others Despise not prophesying that is Contemne not the Word
how meane soever the speakers gifts seeme unto thee Set not lightly by the declarations and applications of the Scriptures either by such as have the extraordinary gifts of prophesying see 1 Cor. 14. 15. or by the ordinary gifts 3. For the fitting and tryall of men for the Ministery 4. For the preserving pure the doctrine of the Church which is more indangered if some one or two alone may onely be heard and speak Act. 2. 42. 5. For the debating and satisfying of doubts if any doe arise Act. 13. 15. 6. For the edifying of the Church and conversion of others alwayes provided that he have the gift of the Spirit to speak unto edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14. 3. Now to say no more in order to the removing of this last stumbling block let me exhort thee in the name and fear of the Lord to inquire and make diligent search amongst all sorts of Assemblyes prophesying and pretending to Christ for such a Congregation that of lively stones have built up a spirituall house and set down therewith many at the feet of Christ hear his words and endeavour to be serviceable to his Lambs thy fellow Members so shalt thou dwell in his house and behold his glory and inquire in his Temple Psal 27. 4. and thou being thus planted in his house shall flourish in his Courts Psal 29. And this is all I shall lay before thee or commend unto thee as touching the removing those stumbling-blocks that lye in a Christians way to Heaven and the maine end next to the glory of God that put me upon removing these stumbling blocks is that we might keep up faith in our soules which will be of singular use unto us viz. 1. It will purifie the heart Acts 15. 9. 2. It will enable us to heare the word with profit Heb. 4. 2. 3. It will inable us to overcome the world 1 John 5. 4. 4. It will inable us to overcome the Devill Ephes 6. 16. 5. It will make mercies present that are absent Heb. 11. 1. 13. 6. It will fill the Soule with joy unspeakable 1 Pet. 1. 8. 7. It will multiply peace in the Soule Rom. 5. 1 2. 8. It will assure a Soule that God will answer his prayers James 1. 5 6. 9. It will inable us to be fruitfull in well-doing even to shew forth our faith by our workes James 2. 18. it will inable us not only to do the thing commanded but as it is commanded Rom. 14. 23. 10. It will not only give us the title of honour of being called the children of Abraham but it will furnish us with a heart and principle to walke in the steps of our Father Abraham to come forth of our own Countrey as he did if God call us and to trust upon God although he had but a bare word for it and to give God as he did his own time to make God his owne promise and to part with the nearest and dearest thing for God at first word and to look through all difficulties and impossibilities unto the fulnesse of God and so to believe in hope against hope and so to wait upon God as not to neglect the meanes Faith Prayer Hope c. for the accomplishment of the mercy promised yea this faith will help the soule to act in Spirituall duties from Spirituall ends as from the sence of Divine love that doth as it were constraine the soule to waite upon God and to waite upon God and to act for God in love to God the choice and pretious discoveries that the soul hath formerly had of the beauty and glory of God whilst it hath been in the service of God the blessed love-letters the glorious kisses and the sweet imbraces that a believing soul hath had from Christ in his service this doth provoke and move the soule to wait upon him in the way of his Ordinances but an unbeliever doth put himselfe upon religious duties only from externall motives as the Eare of the creature the Eye of the creature the reward of the creature and the keeping up of a name amongst the creatures and a thousand such lâ—ke considerations and as we may see in Jehu Saul Judas Demas and the Scribes and Pharisees c. It would much heighten our Faith if we did seriously consider the sweet condescentions of our tender Lord God to all staggering misgiving weak Christians viz. Luke 9. 56. but The Son of Man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them 1 Tim. 2. 5. I am saith Christ willing that all should be saved and come to knowledge of the truth Mat. 9. 13. I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Heb. 2. 15. I am saith Christ to deliver those that were all their life time subject to bondage Jer. 3. 12. Heb. 8. 12. I am very mercifull and will be mercifull and will pardon thy Sins Isa 43. 25. Though thou deservest nothing of me yet I will pardon thy Sins for my owne name sake and though it doth seeme impossible to thee that I should be so mercifull Mark 9. 23. Consider all things are possible to him that believeth Obj. O but I am the child of wicked Parents and the Lord hath said he will visit the sinnes of the Fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation Answ If a wicked Father and Mother beget a Son that seeth all his Parents sinnes and considereth and doth not such like that Sonne shall not bear the iniquity of his Father Ezek. 18. 14. 20. Ezek. 16. 3. to the 13. besides we finde in Scripture that wicked Parents had good Children 2 Kings 16. 20. wicked Ahab had good Hezekiah Idolatrous Ammon zealous Josiah 2 Kings 22. 2. see 2 Kings 21. 21 22. and ungodly Saul had a godly Jonathan nay if thou be a Bastard the child of a Whore that doth not hinder thee neither to be saved for Gods servant Jeptha was a Bastard so was his servant Phares who is reckoned in Christs owne Genealogie compare Judges 11. 1. with Heb. 11. 32. compare Gen. 38. 18. and 29. and Ruth 4. 12. with Mat. 1. 3. in a word he that is borne a Bastard if he be borne againe of the Spirit he is reckoned among the Sonns of God Obj. But I am an old Sinner and have one foot already in the grave saith another trembling Soule Answ Christ doth call some at the ninth houre yea some at the eleventh houre and saith Jer. 3. 5. returne unto me and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon thee I will multiply pardons for thee Isa 55. 7. Nay if thou hast been an Idolater an Adulterer a Thief a Drunkard yet we finde in Scripture such were many of the Lords deare ones that are now in Heaven 1 Cor. 9. 6. 9 10 11. Tit. 3. 3 4 5 6 7. What shall we say Christ left his own glory and came into the world to save Sinners Joh. 17. 5. 1. Tim. 1. 15. though he