Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	faith_n	jesus_n	overcome_v	3,549	5	9.3206	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93680	Gods ordinance, the saints priviledge. Discovered and proved in two treatises. The first, the saints interest by Christ in all the priviledges of grace: wherein their right to the use of baptisme, and the Lords supper, even now during the reign of Antichrist, is cleared; and the objections of those that oppose the same, are answered. The second, the peculiar interest of the elect in Christ, and his saving grace: wherein it is proved that Christ hath not presented to his fathers justice a satisfaction for the sinnes of all men; but onely for the sinnes of those that doe, or shall believe in him; which are his elect onely: and the objections of those that maintaine the contrary, are also answered. / Both written by John Spilsberie. And the last transcribed, and somewhat enlarged, by Benjamin Coxe. Licensed, entred, and printed according to order.	J. S. (John Spilsbery); Cox, Benjamin, fl. 1646.	1646 (1646)	Wing S4975; Thomason E335_17; ESTC R200803	75,307	89

in Christ through their unbeliefe or their unfruitfulnesse I demand when were they other then unfruitfull and unbelieving persons And if men who neither had nor ever would or should have either faith or fruits could notwithstanding be in Christ how comes it to passe that unfruitfulnesse or unbeliefe makes them cease to be in Christ Thus I suppose I have sufficiently manifested the weaknesse and vanitie of this objection The next objection that I will answer shall be that from 2 Pet. 2.20 27. Object From 2 Pet 2. 20. answered If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are againe entangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them then the beginning Hence our opposers would inferre not onely that sinners perishing have escaped the pollutions of the world which touching some of those sinners wee grant in the Apostles sense not in theirs but also that all their sinnes against the Law considered as sinnes against the Law are forgiven unto them which wee neither grant neither did the Apostle meane any such thing 1. The Apostle doth not here speake of all perishing sinners but onely of some upon whom the doctrine of the Gospel had had such a work as that they were thereby outwardly reformed and purged from outward pollutions in which the rest of the unbelieving world did generally lie Even as Johns doctrine did so farre work upon Herod that when he heard him he did many things Mark 6.20 2. The Apostle doth not say nor meane that these sinners were justified in Gods sight from any of their sinnes but onely that they were out wardly reformed in their lives So they were washed vers 22. But how As the sow that hath wallowed and is still ready to wallow in the mire They were externally washed in the outward reformation of their lives but still retained their swinish nature They were not so much as sprinkled with the bloud of Christ and therefore not washed in it from the guilt of their finnes They were just like a dog that hath cast up out of his stomack some filthy thing that he had swallowed downe but still retaineth the nature and appetite of a filthy greedy logge Thus these remained filthy dogs and swine being never any of those sheepe of Christ for whom he laid downe his life and whom he sanctifieth by his death purging them by his bloud from all sinne Joh. 10.15 Ephes 5.25 26. Revel 1.5 6. There is another objection made from the words of Peter in 2 Pet. 1.9 which are thus rendred 28. Object From 2 Pet 1.9 answered But be that locketh these things is blind and cannot see afarre off and hath forgetten that be was purged from his old sinnes From which words our opposers inferre that unbelievers and consequently all men were purged from their sins by the bloud of Christ But 1. This cannot be understood of one that never was a believer by their owne doctrine for though they say that all men are purged from their sins by the bloud of Christ yet they say also that none doe know and mind this but believers and they make faith to be nothing else but the knowing of this Now he that hath forgotten this did sometime know and mind it And though some of our opposers have drunke in this errour also that a true believer may fall away to totall unbeliefe and so perish yet the Scripture teacheth us a more comfortable doctrine Joh. 6.35 1 Pet. 1.5 2. There is nothing in this Scripture that requires it to be understood of an unbeliever For though he that totally lacketh these things viz. faith vertue knowledge temperance c. vers 5 6 7. must needs be an unbeliever yet a true believer may sometimes lacke these things in a great measure see James 1.5 6. They object that in the Greeke it is He to whom these things are not present We answer that this phrase here onely imports these things not to be unto him in a continuall present readinesse as it were at his hand continually for the manifestation of them in exercise and practise And this is confirmed by the antithesis in the verse aforegoing If these things be in you and abound they will make you that yee shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ This also receives further confirmation from that which followes in vers 11. For so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome c. So that is these things being in you and abounding these things being continually in a present readinesse unto you for the manifestation and exercise of them in your practise you being continually doing these things and so never falling vers 10. which is meant not onely of totall but also of grievous falles An entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly that is you shall have abundant assurance of your entrance c. which abundant assurance even those believers to whom these things are not so present may remaine short of for a season 3. Whereas that which follows is in the translation thus rendred He is blind and cannot see afar off The copulative And is not in the Greeke text but onely these words He is blind not seeing afar off or not being able to see afar off And the second word shewes the meaning of the first Though he be not so blind as to see nothing at all for so no believer can be yet he is so far blind as not to see afar off 4. The forgetfulnesse also or forgetting here spoken of is not totall for such indeed is not found in a believer but onely a forgetting in a great measure like that spoken of in Heb. 12.5 This then is all that here appeares viz. that a man purged from his sinnes may yet with the Angel of the Church at Ephesus leave his first love and so far fall as not to doe his first workes Revel 2.4 5. Faith vertue knowledge c. may be farre from abounding in him and so he may be in a great measure barren or unfruitfull Yea the eyes of his minde may be in a great measure dimmed and his mindfulnesse of the purging away of his sinnes may be much abated All this proves not the conclusion of our opposers neither opposeth our doctrine There is yet another place in this Epistle objected unto us 29. Object From 2 Pet. 3.9 answered viz. 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is not slacke concerning his promise as some men count slacknesse but is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repent ance Hence some would inferre that God would have no person to perish and consequently that he gave his Son to present a satisfaction to his justice for the sins of every person But if the Lord open our eyes wee shall see this mist dispelled by the light that shines from this place 1. The

remembring our dutie to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. Where I desire that the force of this word once may well be weighed I therefore advise and earnestly exhort all them that believe to beware of those doctrines and wayes how faire soever they may seeme to be before they be tryed and what safety soever in these times of trouble they seeme to promise which indeed take men off from obedience to Christ and from acknowledging the authoritie of the Scripture Have no fellowship with what Doctrine which weakens and questions the power and authoritie of Jesus Christ and the perpetuall validitie of his Testament which disarmes his Souldiers disbands his armies and so gives them up into the hand of the enemy which empties mens hearts of faith and deprives the world of the appointed meanes of salvation teaching men to shut up the kingdome of heaven Beware of that doctrine which making voyd the authoritie of the new Testament pulls Christs Scepter out of his hand his crowne from his head and himselfe from his throne Remember that the Saints in their communion and order are the Lords portion the declared object of his love in Christ and the expressed subject of his promises and blessings yea they are Christs relative perfection as a wife is to her husband and the body to the head They are his prevailing armie against Antichrist the Standard-bearer to hold him up before the Nations and so the meanes of the worlds conviction and the conversion of the rest of the elect You therefore that believe in Christ for salvation hold forth the confession of him before men Remember that by him you are made the sons of God and Kings and Priests unto God Joh. 1.12 Revel 5.10 Withhold not your selves then from worshipping God and enjoying the appointed priviledges of sons Feare not but believe for you being Christs all things are yours and have you not then a right to his Ordinances Remember Christs love in giving you his Ordinances to confirme your faith Remember the need that you have of these Ordinances and of that effectuall blessing with which Christ useth to follow the right use of his Ordinances Minde your communion with Christ and so be not slow to have communion with him in his Ordinances Have fellowship with us for truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ But specially mind the command of Christ and that charge of his in Joh. 14.15 If yee love me keepe my Commandements THE PECULIAR INTEREST OF THE ELECT IN CHRIST AND HIS SAVING GRACE I Now come to the second Question viz. How farre the death of Christ extended to the taking away the sin of man whether he dyed for the sins of all men without exception or for the sins of some onely My answer hereunto I lay downe in these three Propositions 1. Christ hath not by his death taken away the sinnes of all men for the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience for their sinnes Ephes 5.6 But this is that which he declares himselfe to have effected by his death That through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sinnes Joh. 3.14 15 16. Acts 10.43 And it is given to the Elect and to them onely to believe in Jesus Christ Rom. 8.29 1 Pet. 1.2 2. Christ intended not by his death to save all men from their sinnes but thus to save the Elect onely Joh. 10.15 Ephes 5.25 26 27. Heb. 2.14 Genes 3.15 1 Pet. 2.8 3. Christ hath not presented unto his Fathers justice a satisfaction for the sinnes of all men but onely for the sinnes of those that doe or shall believe in him which are his Elect onely Rev. 5.9 And if this last Proposition be granted to be true the two former cannot be questioned This therefore I thus confirme 1. Those sinnes for which Christ hath presented a satisfaction to his Fathers justice he hath so fully satissied for that they are not to be suffered for againe Heb. 1.3 Heb. 9.26 Heb. 10.10.14 Revel 1.5 Rom. 5.9 10. Isai 53.5 Levit. 17.11 It must needs be thus 1. Because the satisfaction that Christ hath presented to his Fathers justice is sufficient for the full and finall putting away of all their sins for whom it is presented This cannot be denyed 2. Because Christ dyed as a publique person representing all those for whose sins he presented a satisfaction to his Fathers justice 2 Cor. 5.21 Even as the first Adam fell as a publick person representing all those that fell by him and in him see Rom. 5.14 And as the high Priest went into the Holy place as a publick person representing all Israel Exod. 28.29 30. Heb. 9.24 25. Hence it is that wee are looked upon as smitten in Christ and buried with Christ and revived and raised up in Christ and with Christ and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ see Hos 6.1 2. with 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Colos 2.12 Ephes 2.5 6. Now surely they who were thus represented by Christ when he presented to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for their sinnes shall not themselves be punished for the same sinnes 3. Because else the satisfaction presented by Christ would fall short of the type of it Levit. 4.20.26.35 and 5.10 and note Heb. 9.13 14. 4. Because this satisfaction is accepted of the Father for all those for whom it is presented by Christ Isai 53.10 For Christ the beloved Son of the Father presented this satisfaction according to his Fathers will 5. Because it were an unjust and unreasonable thing that God should receive a satisfaction presented to his justice for the sinnes of men and yet punish the same men for the same sinnes And shall not the Judge of all the earth doe right Gen. 18.25 But Reprobates or finall unbelievers shall suffer eternally for all their sinnes as appeares not onely in Eph. 5. 6. but also in Joh. 3.36 Joh. 8.24 Mat. 12.36 Eccles 12.14 Jude 15. Yea for their sins considered as breaches of the Law as appeares in 1 Tim. 1.9 10. Gal. 3.10 Therefore Christ presented not unto his Fathers justice a satisfaction for the sins of Reprobates and consequently not for the sins of all men 2. Christ presenting to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for mens sinnes presents this satisfaction as well for all their sinnes as for any of their sinnes as well for their sin of unbeliefe and the fruits thereof as for their sinnes against the Law considered as sinnes against the Law Levit. 16.21 22. Dan. 9.24 Heb. 10.14 1 Joh. 1.7 But even by our adversaries own confession it is a cleare and certaine truth that Christ hath not presented to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for the unbeliefe of Reprobates nor for the fruits of their unbeliefe considered as fruits of their unbeliefe Therefore he hath not presented to his Fathers justice a satisfaction for any of the sinnes of any Reprobates The answer of

Whether such as believe in Jesus Christ for salvation may injoy the Ordinances of the new Testament namely Baptisme and the Lords Supper now under the reigne of Antichrist And seeing that all the true and right administrations according to the first order and patterne have been lost through the mystery of confusion in the world How wee shall now come by a true and orderly administration of Ordinances according to the first institution if not by the same Ministery with the same calling and gifts of the holy Spirit that the first Ministery had The second Question is How farre the death of Christ extended to the taking away the sin of man whether he dyed for the sinnes of all men without exception or for the sinnes of some onely Unto the first Question I shall by the help of God now addresse my selfe to an answer And first I say that such as believe in Jesus Christ in the Scripture-sense may and ought to enjoy the Ordinances of Christs new Testament as their own free Priviledges by Grace and part of their inheritance as they are heires of glory and that even during the reigne of Antichrist for then have they most need of them as being Christs their Generalls colours and part of that spirituall armour by which they are to fight against the Beast and all false wayes Rev. 12. Eph. 6.12 13. They are the memorialls of Christs love unto all that believe in him and look for him in his absence Luk. 22.19 With 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. And the Ordinances of Christs Testament are given to such as believe for the helps and confirmation of their faith and the declaration thereof and thereby God separates them from the world and owns them for his people And for the same Ministery with the same calling and gifts of the holy Spirit that the first had I own no other Ministery But for the better understanding of this truth I desire that wee may consider well of an answer to some inquiries thus 1. What worke God had for the first Ministery above what he hath for any now 2. Whether Christ hath left in his New Testament an absolute rule to know such as are sent of God to the work of the Ministery and what the same is 3. If there be salvation now for men and meanes thereunto approved and appointed of God then what that is 4. Whether there be any time in which man is freed from obedience to the Scriptures since the New Testament came in force and if not then what part of truth stands now in force to be obeyed and what not 5. Whether the New Testament be not of equall Authoritie with the Old to command obedience and holds not forth a rule for the same as the old Testament did 6. Whether Christ requires not a publick confession of him by all that believe in him and if he doe then what the same is and the rule for it Now to each of these particulars And first what worke God had for the first ministery or workmen to doe above others either then or now Where in generall minde The worke God had for the first workmen was first to be eye-witnesses of Christs doings and sufferings death and resurrection and so to testifie him to be the Son of God come in the flesh and exalted to be Lord over all Acts 1.1 2 3 4. Acts 10.39 42. Acts 4.33 1 Joh. 1.1 2. 2. They were to disanull and make voyd that typicall way of worship standing under types and shadows instituted by God and confirmed to the people by signes and wonders Exod. 19.9 And to set up and establish another way of worship in the place thereof that was never knowne before and therefore to be confirmed by signes and wonders at the first founding of it as that before was Which signes and wonders stand for ever together with the same truth as witnesses for the truth and against all that shall oppose or condemne the same to the end of the world And whereas many look and expect for some to come from God working miracles signes and wonders let such take heed they be not deceived by the man of sinne who is set out by God in his Word to come that way and deceive many Mat. 24.24 Mark 13.22 2 Thes 2.9 Rev. 16.14 Rev. 19.20 But where is one word in all the new Testament that any man shall come from God in this manner of working miracles signes and wonders 3. They were to the people then the unerring Oracles of God and the infallible mouth of Christ for all to have recourse unto for the minde and counsell of God whose testimony was unquestionable being that by which all things must be tryed Mat. 28.19 20. Gal. 1.8 9. 1 Joh. 1.1 7. 4. They were the layers of the foundation and the ministeriall instituters of the whole state and order of Christs Church to be observed of all to the end of the world 1 Cor. 3.10 11. Ephes 2.20 Rev. 21.14 Lastly They were the pen-men of the holy Scriptures of the new Testament in which Christ is held forth or set up as an ensigne among all Nations for the obedience of faith Mat. 24.14 Luk. 2.31 Isai 52.10 By which all both persons and actions shall be tryed and judged 2 Pet. 3.15 1 Cor. 14.37 Rom. 2.16 2 Thes 1.8 This worke God had for the first workmen or ministery to doe who bare witnesse to the same by signes wonders and miracles from heaven for the convincing of the world that the same was of God Heb. 2.4 Mark 16.20 Joh. 16.8 9 10 11. Joh. 17.20 21. There are now no more instituters or beginners of any such work All that men have to doe now is onely to learn their way and to walke in the same and so to believe and receive their testimony Joh. 3.11 Rom. 10.16 2 Thes 1.10 And to build upon the same foundation laid by them 1 Cor. 3.10 11 12. The rule and warrant for the same being their word and writings aforesaid Yet let this be minded that some of the worke in the hands of the first workmen namely the Apostles was then and is now as proper and common unto others as to them As to preach the Gospel and gather the Elect of God into the fellowship of Christs body to beare witnesse to the truth and to suffer for the same and the like All which as well belongs to preaching Disciples now as to them then Joh. 17.20 21. 2 Tim. 2.2 4.2 If it be said Object 1. where the same worke is to be done there the same workmen are required for the doing of it both in respect of Ministery and Gifts because the Scriptures hold forth but onely one Ministery appointed and given by Christ for the work of the Ministery which is to continue to the end of the world where and when the said worke is to be done Eph. 4. Mat. 28. This I confesse and affirme to be true Answ but let us minde in a

word what all this is The worke to be done is to call home the Elect of God into the faith and fellowship of Christ The Ministery are men stirred up and sent by Christ with gifts and abilities fit for the worke called unto Which Ministery remaines untill all the Elect of God are brought unto one unity of faith and fulnesse of Christ as Eph. 4 Mat. 28. But what gifts and abilities are of absolute necessitie required by Christ unto this worke is well to be minded To gather the Elect of God into the fellowship of Christ and to edifie them in the same is the worke And God inlightening men in the knowledge of the mystery of Christ in the Principles of the Gospel and the Spirit inabling them with gifts of utterance to preach the same for the convincing of sinne and to bring over the heart to believe and submit to Christ and to teach them their dutie to God and man here is now the workmen or Ministery that Christ gave and is to continue to the end of the world Mat. 28.19 20. It is said Object 2. The diversities of tongues are of necessitie for the Ministery of Christ because they are to preach the Gospel unto all Nations Mat. 28.19 Mark 16.15 The Gospel indeed is to be preached unto all Nations Answ that is to one nation as well as to another excluding none as before the Gentiles were but now to all seeing God is the God of the Gentiles as well as of the Jewes Rom. 3.29 For now Christ by his death hath opened a free way for the Gospel to goe into all the world to gather the Elect out of every nation tongue and people Zech. 2.11 Mat. 24.31 Rev. 5.9 Isai 54.1 2.3 But this rather seems to be by some instruments whom God shall stirre up in every nation of their owne language then by all languages in one man which thing was never yet knowne Isai 19.18.25 Zech. 8.20 21 22 23. 2. Tongues are of necessitie for such to speake unto a people to whom they are sent and Christ never sends any man to preach or with a message to a people or person but he gives him a tongue at the present to deliver the same And more then is usefull herein is not of necessitie 3. That all tongues to speake all languages should be so essentiall to the Ministery of Christ that there can be no true Ministery without them this lies to be proved for it is very questionable whether all the severall languages by which God did confound and scatter the people Gen. 11.6 7 8 9. were ever yet all knowne to any one man and if not then how shall any man know when he hath them all But if it be granted that onely so many tongues as are needfull this I freely confesse must be in the Ministery of Christ and no more are required of necessitie 4. Where the diversities of tongues are not of use for the well being of a Church they cannot be of absolute necessitie for the being of that Church But strange tongues are not of use for the well being of a Church that understands them not 1 Cor. 14.27 28. and therefore not of absolute necessitie for the being of it 5. The first Church of the new Testament which may be our chiefe pattern consisting of the hundred and twentie Disciples Acts 1. was neither converted or constituted by a Ministery of diversitie of tongues and yet by a true Ministery of Christ These were in Church-fellowship before the diversities of tongues were given who were a Church Act. 1. To whom the 3000. were added and converted by the tongues given Acts 2. 6. The want of such diversities of tongues will not excuse a mans silence much lesse prohibite the use of such tongues as for the present men have of God to declare and publish what light and truth the Lord doth reveale and so much the more seeing every man stands accountable of himselfe to God for every gift and measure of light and truth he receives of the Lord for the improvement thereof to the glory of God and good of man as these Scriptures compared together doe manifest Luk. 19.11 15. Luk. 12.40 41. 47. with Mark 13.34.37 1 Cor. 11.26 Which Scriptures speake of the Lords coming and the condition both of times and persons the mean while in his absence with their work charged upon them so as that they are at no time freed from the same untill his coming to take an account of them And it is a vaine thing for any man to thinke he shall be excused by his pleading the want of tongues to speake all languages and the like but rather expect to be called to account how he hath improved that abilitie and tongue which he hath for his Lord and Masters advantage as Mat. 25.14 15 24 25 26 27. And thus men are to improve what abilities they have received to the glory of God and when he cals them to greater worke he will give them answer able abilities for the same whether tongues or else as Exod. 4.11.13 Mat. 10.18 19 20. And lastly The Ministery which Christ hath now in his Church hath as many tongues and I conceive can speak as many languages as that Ministery which converted and planted the first Gospel-Church of Christs new Testament which may be well our example And as God did honour and beautifie his Church and Ministery then by powring out of his Spirit in such a measure upon them so he may doe in his owne time upon his Church and Ministery now as the sees occasion when the hath tryed who are the despisers of the day of small things It is said Object 3. that by the power of darknesse over-spreading the whole world the true Church Ministery and Ordinances have all been lost and a false Antichristian forme come in the place There must be now as at the first an immediate Ministery sent of God with the holy Ghost and power to restore the same againe The Church Answ Ministery and Ordinantes are not lost to the Scriptures the Spirit and faith but onely to the world as all divine and heavenly things are subject to be through their opposing and despising of them But it 's said Object 4. the Administrations of these were lost c. The Administrations were not lost to Word Spirit and faith Answ for all the holy things of God lie cleare and free in the Word to whomsoever the Spirit reveales them and gives faith to believe by which they become one and rise together But some may say Object shew us now a true Administrator sent of God So much in effect said the Jewes of old to Christ Answ Joh. 6.30 and the opposers of Gods truth to the Apostle 2 Cor. 13.3 But let such shew us believers approved so by God after Christs Resurrection without which there is no salvation and then will I by the helpe of the Lord shew a true Administrator sent

Rom. 10.14 15. thus it is now afoote 2. As preaching is a publishing of the Gospel of Christ occasionally to bring men to the truth as Act. 8.4 Act. 11.19 20 21. so it is now afoote 3. As the Disciples were to preach the Gospel of Christ freely to all persons without exception as Mark. 16.15 Act. 10.34 thus it is now afoote Lastly As men are to trade with that abilitie given them of Christ for their Lords advantage as Mat. 25.15 1 Cor. 12.7 1 Pet. 4.10 so preaching the Gospel is now afoote For men are now to improve that abilitie they have received because that all men are by the same Word now as well as then to give account for the same Luk. 12.41.48 Mat. 25.25 26 27.30 All which is according to Christs Commission Mat. 28. and no way contrary to the same Object 14. There is not that converting Ministery now abroad in the world that the Word of God holds forth there is one Ministery abroad that converts men unto faith in Christ for salvation or justification but the Ministers labour to keepe such still in the sin of idolatry or false worship and then others pretend to convert these further by bringing them into order as they say by dipping But where is that Ministery that calls Persons out of the world and plants them at once in Church-fellowship For such a conversion to faith in Christ for salvation Answ as fully leaves the said converts in idolatry and short of the Gospel-order and fellowship I know no such conversion Christ owning no such faith in him for salvation that brings not persons out of idolatry unto the fellowship of the Gospel But what though there be a Ministery abroad that brings persons but part of the way and then another that brings the same persons more fully home into fellowship This order the Word of God will beare us out in for a truth as Joh. 4.37 38. And also the Jewes they made Proselytes and John the Baptist he brought them further and the Apostles they brought the same persons fully home into fellowship Act. 2.10.40 41 Act. 18.24 28. Act. 19.1 7. The same order was shadowed out in the building of the Temple by King Solomon 1 King 5.6 Where the Sidonians hewed timber and stone for the house of God abroad but the servants of Solomon laid them in the building And this I say that in reference to the meanes it is a far harder worke to convert and fit matter for the spirituall house of God out of Antichrists hard and rookie frame then-out of the heathenish and prophane world and yet not onely the best if I may so say but the very worst of them hath been from thence called home and planted in the Lords vineyard And there must be as great a power from God appeare to bring these deniers of a believers priviledges of the Gospel from their selfe-wisdome and carnall principles unto the simplicity of Christ as ever was to cast out a devill heale the sicke raise the dead or convert any sinner And yet our weaknesse through Gods power hath so prevailed that it hath brought off the chiefest of sinners unto the obedience of the Gospel and prophane persecuters of us have been convinced and become lovers of God and his truth together with us and so as Serpents have been taken up and their stings pulled out and of Lions made Lambes and thus hath Christ been pleased to honour the Ministery which he hath now in his Church and leaves not himselfe without witnesse against such as oppose him in the same 4. Inquiry Whether there be any time in which man is freed from obedience to the Scriptures since the new Testament came in force And if not then what part of truth stands now in force to be obeyed and what not For man to be freed from obedience to the Scriptures in generall I suppose none that feare God will once countenance such an opinion therefore I come more particularly to consider what part of the Scriptures is now in force and specially to be knowne and obeyed They are those Scriptures that are necessary to bring God and man together unto a onenesse in Christ And this is the Gospel which is called the Word of Reconciliation the Gospel of the Kingdome which holds forth Christ to be King Priest and Prophet and the onely way unto the Father and brings persons to be of the houshold of God Which houshold is that composed order and instituted state of Christs Church of the new Testament with the subjects in that order and state according to the same Testament of which Testament Christ is the Mediator who hath confirmed the same by his own bloud and sanctified all things therein contained All which the Scriptures of the new Testament hold forth and therefore they of all others are to be obeyed for therein the whole Mediator ship of Christ together with the effect of the same and his rule and order for ever to be observed is written for our learning This Testament and Christ the Mediator thereof and mans salvation are all so inseparably joyned together by the holy Spirit that the Gospel holds forth no one of these without the other so that there is no faith in Christ approved of apart from the word of the Testament of which he is the Mediator And that faith which is truly of him and in him brings up the heart believing to a professed subjection to him Both which together viz. faith and the profession of faith doe give unto a man both a being and a name in Christs Testament Rom. 10.10 Gal. 3.26 27. Mark 16.16 Take away from a man either faith or the profession of faith and there is no name found for that man in Christs new Testament Rev. 22.14 Heb. 3.1 Heb. 10.22 23. None are owned either of God or man to be members of Christ that are no way under the profession of him as appeares in Mat. 10.32 33. 1 Joh. 4.3 And there is now no profession of Christ according to the rule of his Word without Baptisme Mat. 28.19 Mark 16.16 Luk. 7.30 Gal. 3.26 27. Ephes 4.5 By all which it appeares not onely in generall that the Scriptures of the new Testament stand now in force and are to be obeyed of all that doe believe but also in particular that the word of the new Testament which holds forth Baptisme and require the use of the same is still in force and to be obeyed because the cleare promise of the saving benefits of Christs Mediatorship and the administrations of the new Testament whereof he is Mediator goe together in the Word Act. 2.38 Act. 22.16 Rom. 6.3 4 5. 1 Cor. 12.13 Col. 2.12 1 Pet. 3.21 And here let it be well minded how Christ encourageth us to the perpetuall observation of that rule in Mat. 28.19.20 by this promise And lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world And how the Apostle signifies it to be our duty