Commandements of God 1 Cor. 7.18.19 So if Marriage be exhibited under the worldly authorities it may bring the parties into bondage likewise if lawfull meates be forbidden by the Doctrines of Devills we are to maintain our liberty in Christ in assurance that though we suffer death yet he will raise us again according to his priesthood 1 Tim. 4.1 c. 10. Alwayes with this respect in the Law of liberty that there be no justification of condemnation on one side or other in lawfull meates but to judge indifferently that he which cates is not the better by it neither is he the worse which cates not 1 Cor. 8.8 wherefore in all such indifferent things every man is to have respect to his own Conscience before God and to the present estate and Nation wherein he is either Jew or Gentile that he be without offence but to use his liberty not for any occasion to his own flesh but to the profit of others in such sort that whether any eat or drink or what other indifferent thing soever they do they may do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.23 32.33 31. The second day of the Week I Have observed in Christ how the old man of the flesh doth naturally bring forth the new man begotten in the spirit of truth thus After that the heart hath conceived the immortall seed which is from above so as for joy hereof it estrange 〈◊〉 selfe from mortall vanities by and by the Lords of this mortall flesh will shew their authority and they will labour with all their force and wits to destroy this good conception that they may again rule the heart in this estate the mortall body of a man is as a woman in travell which cryes out not to be eased of the payne but to bring forth the fruit of her wombe and this in Christ is the travell of a Christian he hath conceived the mind of Christ and for this cause is persecuted and suffers all things untill from out of the greatest torments of the heart he is able to deliver or bring forth the spirit of that immortall seede unto Christ whose it is Esa. 26.13 17. 18. Mat. 27.46 with Luke 23.46 Heb 5 7.9.2 Cor. 4.6 amp c. with 5.2.4 5. 2. Further is noted in what respect the Church of Christ a woman and the wife of Christ because from the beginning she hath conceived in her heart the seed of God which is the Word Christ and thus she hath travelled with shadow of Christ till her time was fulfilled that shee should bring forth the spirit and truth of Christ which was when Jesus Christ being made one flesh with the Church she by his divine nature gave up the word law and truth of God perfected into her husbands hands so as the carnall Church is now delivered from that law and labour which was committed and required of her for she hath now in Jesus Christ brought forth the spirit of holynesse to God by the death of the flesh and in the resurrection of of the spirituall man to the immortall life of God her spirituall husband Jesus Christ then which the Church of God having suffered the pain of travell to death being risen from the dead and exalted to glory as Lord and Christ is made the head of his Church in a more neere and familiar manner even as a man that going to take a wife manifesteth the secrets of his hearty love unto her in way of espousals who after his departure returneth againe to her in way of marriage and giveth his owne spirit as Iob. 14.16 17.18 26. Acts 2.33 36. This immortall seed therefore being freely communicated in the love of Christ is gladly received of the Church and of none other which travelleth in subjection to Christ her husband to perfect that birth of the spiritual immortal man of whom she hath conceived immortall and spirituall seed and thus is she become bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh in love which union in Christ is confirmed to every soule of man that in their severall age or nation are so beloved of God in Christ that as an husband he should give of his immortall seed so as every one that conceiveth it in a good heart doth know both the union and her husband unto whom every such heart doth increase that seed of the new and immortall man dayly and in groweth by the obedience and death of the life-blood unto a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead For such is the love of every good heart that she in her proper body will tenderly respect to preserve that word of the living God which shee hath willingly conceived in her minde and heart so as no cares shall choake nor reproches dismay but that her body shall bring forth to her husband that Word which abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1.3.4 22 c. 3. This word of God in what body soever it come in the love and communion of sufferings in Christ Jesus is the salvation of the same body to that immortall life in glory with Christ for whereas the persecutors that would adulterate us from our husband their dead shall not live neither shall their ghosts be raised againe notwithstanding our bodies which have dyed to bring forth the spirit of truth shall be raised to immortall truth of our head Christ Esa. 26. 13 18.19 when being sanctified in the truth with him we shall be perfected in one with our Father and our Lord Christ Jesus Iohn 17.19 21. c. 4. It is a wonderfull wisdome to consider in Jesus Christ how the Lord by his mercy doth call the world to judgement for in that he hath sent his Sonne into the world with mercy toward all that shew mercy and in it hee executeth the justice of his Law on none by the Law It is most manifest that all that out of their owne heart do judge and condemne shewing no mercy to sinners doe by their owne justice in the Law procure the Lord to enter into judgement with them for their judgement without mercy And thus we may see how the Law was given by Moses and sinne was required by pesent justice but grace and truth is by Jesus Christ he requireth sinners to sinne no more and they shall not be judged for their sinnes past and every one to shew mercy and they shall find mercy Math. 18.21 to 35. if not but that men will despise the grace of God towards them by judging and condemning their fellow-servants they are inexcusable before God their owne measure shall be measured to them they have denyed to shew mercy therefore mercy shall be denyed to them Rom. 2.1 to 5. Luk. 6.37.38 5. The cause of falling from the love of God is the evill of the heart whereby men dissembled with men for when men retaine the nature of swine and yet will be washed without doubt they will returne to their filthynesse Or dogges by nature will turne to
A GUIDE To the GODLY OR The dayly MEDITATIONS of RETURNE HEBDON Gentleman who for his conscience through the tyrany of the Bishops suffered many years imprisonment in the Kings-Bench and their remained till death BEING Very usefull for Instruction of all those that desire to walke in the paths of JESUS CHRIST Left to Mrs. TRASKE who not long since for the same Judgment died in the Gate house and published by a friend of hers Psal. 145.2 Every day will I blesse thee and will prayse thy name for ever IER. 6.16 Inquiring for that good and old Way to Walke in it that they may find rest to their soules Printed in the year 1646. To the Reader LOving Reader I suppose it is desired that somthing should be spoken concerning the Authour of this Booke in what way and with what earnestnesse it pleased God he did attaine to the truth of these Misteries in divine knowledge concerning himselfe he was a Gentlemans Sonne of Fashion in the Town of Holmeshurst in the County of Sussex but he being stirred up and desirous rather to live a retired life with little injoyment of this world that he might injoy more of God desired to leave both Father and Mother and meanes and being afterwards a prisoner for the Commandement of Gods sake by his desiring to rest on the seventh day according to the Commandement which the world calleth Satturday who dyed about 23. years since but he remained about eight years in prison in which time he gave himselfe to continuall study in fasting and prayer and it hath pleased God that he diseased hath left as a pledge to his friends some of his labours Therefore some who having the knowledge of him and of his manner of life while living desire â—o print some of his workes for the good of all whom it shall please God to give power to seeke him in truth inquiring for that good and old way to walke in it that they may find rest to their soules Jerem. 6. verse 16. and if this shall be received it may be incouragement to print more Farewell The 6. day of the week 1. THE Christians that leave all mortall things to follow Christ in Communion of his sufferings are in him the salt of the earth as Luke 14.26.33 34 35. with Mat. 5.12 13. They have salt and savour in themselves when they are enabled to indure the fiery Tryall Marke 90 49.50 with 1 Pet. 4.12 13. and in this constancy they shall both save themselves and all that hear them 1 Tim 4.16 Notwithstanding as salt they spend and consume themselves in sufferings to death that others through them may be acceptable to the spirit of God but if any of those which professe to suffer as Christians be unsavory that is have not strength to continue constantly to death they are worse or lesse profitable then that people which they should season for after they leave their testimony sufferings they are the most contemptible and base before God and man 2. They which shine forth in the Gospel of Christ to immortality as Mat. 5.14.15 with 2 Tim. 1.10 and go unto God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 these are those lights of the world that out of their common estate of mortality do shine and give light to immortality in the power and authority of Christ but if any that professe themselves to be such lights and yet are under the bushell compasse and authority of the worlds authority they are hypocrites for as men will not light a light to put it under darknesse so neither wil the Father of lights give the world such a light as shall be put under the authority of darknesse Col. 1.12.13 3. I have considered from the temptation of our Lord Jesus that the Divell hath but two spirituall temptations beside his carnall authority in men namely first to mortality or secondly to transgression 1. His first temptation is to seeke mortality at his word for being in such a place as where it seemeth there was all stones and no bread he would have moved our lord to save his mortall life by a miracle but our Lord giveth him to understand his mind that he was carefull only to perswade the immortall life and so turnes the temptation upon the tempters pate as if Jesus should say if I should turne these stones into bread so as the Countrey were all bread yet the bread cannot sustaine man but that he must dye for the sinne of Adam therefore is not necessary to seeke the breaâ— of mortality but the bread of Immortality c. Anâ— thus the Divell is resisted when a man suffers nâ—â— his belly to be his God that is when he is nâ—â— drawn in cases of necessity to leave the love of thâ—â— immortall life and in his spirit whole desire dotâ— not seeke the bread of a mortall life this temptatâ—â—â— on our Lord avoided and the Angels afterward ministred unto him Mat. 4. 2. The Divells second temptation is to transgresse the word of God in this kind he tempted 〈◊〉 Lord twise with two severall temptations and 〈◊〉 he had tempted him with 200. they had all tendeâ—â— to this end namely by all meanes to seeke if 〈◊〉 could make him guilty of sin for seeing by the siâ—â— temptation that his mind was wholly to the spirituall and immortall life in the word and that 〈◊〉 could not get him to looke on the tree of good aâ—â— evill he knoweth that there is no other meanes 〈◊〉 cut man ost from the eternall life in God but 〈◊〉 cutting him off from the unity and obedience which is by doing the word that came out of 〈◊〉 mouth of God which thing when he could not 〈◊〉 but still our Lord kept himselfe from transgressiâ—â— any thing that came out of the mouth of God aâ—â— was written he could not be ignorant of the knoâ—ledge of the will and law of God as by transgrâ—â—sing the conscience in transgressing had been dâ—â—led the Divell had no other meanes of temptatiâ—â—and therefore departed from our Lord Mat. 4. Luke 4. 4. I consider also whereupon the assurance of a mans standing constantly consisteth namely in the dayly growth and increase of spiritual graces in the inner man as 2 Pet. 1.8.10 with 2 Cor. 4.15.15 For all that set their mindes with Christ in Heaven on immortality will daily treasure to themselves in Heaven which with more and more draw their hearts from mortall thoughts so as they may lay assured hold in this estate upon eternall life as Mat 6.19 20. with Luke 12.21.31.33.34 with 1 Tim. 6.19 From whence also on the other side we must note that all that after their profession of Christ in truth do fall away are such as begin to be sluggish and idle in their service of God and from that fall to mind earthly things which if they do it is manifest that their light or profession of immortality is darknesse and foolishnesse in seeking to be rich
immortality and also towards each other even as Christ loved us when he for our instruction became an houshold Servant and learned obedience as a Servant that by his example we might be armed with the same mind so to love and so to be obedient Ephes. 3.15 177. Phil. 2. and thus to keepe the unity of the spirit of Christ for the increase of his body and Church to a perfect man that then he may come and receive us unto himselfe in immortality when we shall see him as he is Ephes. 4.1 Iohn 3. but wo to the folly of such as will not acknowledge the Father nor the Sonne as they are over their house but suffer their own reprobate sence to dwell in their hearts and that walk by sight of the world and not by Faith and not only are disobedient themselves but also compell others to rebel against the Mr. of the house Let hot my soul touch with them that do thus despite the spirit of grace and provoke the good man of the house against their own soules 2. It is evident that though a man do keepe all the Law and Commandements of God yet he is unprofitable Luke 17.10 wherefore there is some excellent thing required in Christ in the state of perfection as Mat. 5.20 to 47.48 with Luke 6.20 to 32. c. 3. It must be granted that they which keepe the Commandements of God to the end shall inherit life according to the promise in the Lawyer in such a life God is not glorified in Christ his Sonne for in this estate men are defective and want that one necessary thing without which they may fayle of the grace of God namely the perfect love of Christ wherein all worldly things are put away with the love thereof and that only for the love of Christ to follow him for the Kingdom of God Luke 18 18 -22.-29 with Mat. 19.17 c. Mark 10. The sixth day of the week I Have received to put difference between the Church gathered according to the letter in Moses and the Church gathered according to the spirit in Christ the legall Church is from the earth the spirituall Church is from Heaven The Church by the Law were and are to be gathered from all places of the earth unto Ierusalem here beneath but the Church which is called by the spirit of Jesus Christ are delivered from this world and are gathered from mortality unto the City of the living God to heavenly Ierusalem Therefore as earthly Ierusalem is the mother of all those which are after the righteousnesse of the mortall seed so Jerusalem which is above is the mother of all the suffering Christians which are borne again of the immortall seed through Jesus Christ the word of the living God and which remaineth for ever Heb. 12.22.23 Gal. 4.26 1 Pet. 1.23 The first day of the VVeeke FRom Psalm 91. I have considered a preservative against the plagve of Death thus There was is and alwaies shall be a twofold people in the world the greater part are after the seed of the Serpent and the remainder after the seed of the Woman between these two peoples there is enmity and a perfect separation in the Word Over these there is a two-fold government or spirituall authority Over the greater part which are the childen of disobedience is the Devill Satan or the old Serpent that first deceived our parents who is by his government the prince of the authority of the ayre Ephes. 2.2 his power wherewith he afflicteth are the spirituall things of wickednesse in heavenly places Ephes. 6.11.12 The throane of his people is the throne of misery or perversenesse by authority whereof the frame being wicked mischiefe by a Law and murder and condemne for wicked the righteous and innocent soules which patiently suffer persecution and death under them for their conscience of the service and word of their Creator Psalm 94.3 20.21 Rom. 8.36 Mark 4.17 Over the poore afflicted people is the protection of the most high and the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91.1 who since they were separated out from their persecutors under Moses the fraithfull servant of God are knowne manifestly to beare the reproach of Christ Hebr. 11.25.26 This people are in one name called the Israel of God Gâ—l 6.16 which is not of any whether Jewes or Gentiles that trust under a carnall visible authority but of all that come to put their confidence under the wings of the God of Israel as Ruth did Ruth 2.12 These people are known by that they serve and declare the praises of the great name of God the Creator every Sabbath day Psal 92.1 Luk. 4.16 And for their Creators sake they are hated and afflicted of all other people Therefore the God the Creator being the judge of the earth doth render vengeance to the proud and wicked people that afflict the people of his heritage whom he teacheth and instructeth out of his Law and also speake proudly against him the God of Iacob Psa. 94.1 c. According to this judgement all the world is made subject to God and guilty of death by the Law in Christ Jesus and none can be justified from sinne and so freed from the guilt of death by any works under any worldly or carnall authorities Rom. 3.9 19.20 The spirituall things wherewith the Prince of the authority of the ayre doth invade or bring men to death are declared in the Law to be especially three The first is the snare of the hunter The second the Pestilence The third the Keteb or destruction Psal. 91.3 6. First the snare of the Hunter is sinne the reward whereof is death Rom. 7.23 All therefore that sinne against the God of their life as the children of the Devill are subject to all the curses in the Law of God 1 Ioh. 3.8 Gal. 3.10 Secondly the second spirituall thing that from hence doth manifestly invade men is the Pestilence or plague of death which is a sicknesse call debir a thing destroying It is taken with the common ayre which is corrupted and poysoned with the crying sinnes of the most people in the mother city and into whomsoever this poysoned ayre entreth it poysoneth the life and soon killeth the body except it have issue out of the body 3. The other deadly destruction to the body is called bitter destruction Dent 32.24 which as an evill spirit seiseth upon the body and worketh torments in the joynts and sinewes which disease some learned men call Ophisthotonos a strange and vehement disease in the necke when by the stiffenesse of the nerves the necke is strained backward to the shoulders and killeth a man within foure dayes and therefore it is said to destroy at noone Psal. 91.6 because thou maist see a sound body thus suddenly tormented before thine eyes and thou canst see nothing but the evill done These three evils the Lord Christ inflicteth upon his adversaries for the redemption of his Israel from destruction Wherefore the Apostle Paul
may bee left to the evill of the world and doe now confesse our sinne against Christ and our readinesse to deny the faith of Jesus and doe take our sicknesse weaknesse or danger of infection with the sinne of the world as a chastisement for our profit as 1 Cor. 11.29 30.31.32 and learning obedience under the present hand of our Lord resolving to renew our Covenants in his communion and doe thus with simple hearts pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by the spirit of holynesse in his resurrection all things will worke that we may live to glorifie God our Creator in the love of his Word and may be preserved to obtaine that crowne of life which is in the Martyrdome of Jesus The first day of the VVeeke THere is a corporall idlenesse which is the way of deadly sinne as Ezech. 16.49 And there is a spirituall idlenesse which is the way of apostasie from Christ as 2 Pet. 1.5 to 8. Now the common Professors and such as have the authority and glory of the world know no Idlenesse but bodily idlenesse and when they urge men to labour they compell to bodily labour in a worldly calling for riches or to get the meat that perisheth but how to labour for assurance to make their calling and election sure they are blinde Wherefore seeing corporall labour is but a type or example of true Christian labour in the minde all that so much urge labour in an outward calling and confound the labour in inward calling as a thing inferiour to the type these are deceivers of mens minde and to bee avoided Mark 8.36 The sixth day of the week J Understand by that in Rom. 3.5 to 8 How God in judging the world bringeth wrath upon man for their sinnes If man doth repent and turne to God tho unrighteousnesse and the lye according to which he walked before his conversion doth now commend the righteousnesse and truth of God thuâ— in that he which was unrighteous is not now to be judged according to what he was namely a sinner but the righteousnesse of God is to bee commended in him because that he which was a sinner is now righteous and will doe no evill no not though good may come of it and the lye of him which was once deceived maketh the truth of God abound to his glory thus in that he which was a lyar doth now walke in the truth and convinceth the world of Gune The first day of the Weeke JN this plague I have considered the enmity of God Iam. 4.4 How from the beginning since mankind was devided upon the earth the judgement of God the Creator and the judgement of men are contrary In that evill men sit on earth to judge God in his word and people Rom. 3.4 and on the other side God sitteth invisibly on his thraone judging the men of the world in righteousnesse Psa. 9.1 Chro. 16.14 2 Chron. 6.30 The judgements of men are in sight but the judgements of God are seen of his people by faith and they discerne how God hee killeth men by the plague c. According to the judgement of men Christ and all his people have their tempration under the authorities of men Luk. 22.28 According to the judgement of God the whole world hath its temptation comming from God Rev. 3 10. From whence we may gather in truth that seeing these two judgement seates are so contrary and the people that are separated to put difference so contrary the people of God are so farre from partaking of the judgements of God upon the people of the world as the people of the world are farre from the judgements of men in the sufferings of Christ Notwithstanding if any of the people that are separated to God doe sinne secretly or openly hee judgeth them by plague or other curses and so killeth them like wicked men of the world as Levit 26 25 25-Num 16.11 46. with Rev. 2.21 23. 2. I consider that it proceedeth from the efficacie of the resurrection of Christ to justifie from sinne Rom. 4 25. with 1.4 5.1 19. And all that doe not apprehend the truth of Christ raysed from the dead they are yet in their sinnes 1 Cor. 15.17 All that condemne us for doing the Law in the righteousnesse of Christ doe judge the Law and doe in effect say that the Law is sin as Rom. 7 7. whereas all that doe the Law confirme it to be holy just and good The third day of the week BY observing the power of God present tâ— helpe I have compared salvation from the plague or other such curses by the faith of Jesus to that salvation from the biâ—ing of Serpents when by faith they looked to the Brasen Serpent and to the word of our God for helpe as Num. 21. with Ioh. 8.14.15 That whosoever can by the word within him apply the communion of Christ either in his own body by suffring as a Christian or in true love and mercy with any that so suffer If any such are smitten or infected with the plague and they presently pray in faith to Jesus the King of Israel looking to his power authority and immortality together also to the fellowship of his sufferings here on earth I am perswaded that the plague shall have no more power over their bodies but they shall be preserved to glorifie God in the love of the Church of Christ as they desire but they must be mindfull in every danger presently to looke up to Jesus whom God gave to save the world and they must looke or pray in faith of his name and of his judgement Joh 3.16.17.18 The fourth day of the week I Have considered that they which have the Martyrdome of Christ God truely known to them in their owne sufferings have the communion of the Sonne of God Jesus Christ in whom they are wonderfully inriched in all speech and in all knowledge 1 Cor. 1.5 to 9. with 2.1.2 The fifth day of the week I Have considered the wonderfull price of mans purchase and the reason of our being Gods owne peculiar body in this price given thus Christ having given himselfe for the life of the world and being gloryfied from the sufferings in mortality hath obtained to give his holy spirit to those which follow him in the new birth Ioh. 14.16 26. with Act. 2.33 All therefore that deny themselves in their sinnes and bring their bodies subject to God so as he accepts of their body for a Temple by the gift of his Holy Spirit these are now bought with this price of the holy Spirit which is of God Therefore seeing the spirit which is in the body is one with God in Christ it is manifest that not so much as the body is any mans owne but it is Christs which liveth in it 1 Cor 6.19.20 17. with Gal. 2.20 And thus every man that in the Baptisme of Christ hath received the earnest of his Spirit as 2 Cor. 1.22 5.5 Ephes. 1.14 Is bought
spirit of Christ manifested in expresse words doth resist all meanes of salvation for Christ came and gave his word to be made so plaine with his life-blood that now no man can more sensibly apprehend the image and nature of God and Christ then by the letter which we by reading doe conceive in our minde so as though a man walke according to all that is written and yet deny one little direction this man resisteth God with open face this one word which hee despiseth to doe it will cut him off from the life of the Christian and for this one thing the peace and protection of Almighty will goe from him so as hee will be in feare night and day and evill may come to him suddenly out of which he cannot escape because the word of God is against him the least part whereof is stronger then that min can quiet or justifie his owne heart against it for it may be concluded that what man soever wilâ— not yeeld obedience to an expresse word will not follow the inspiration of God moving his conscience without an evident Scripture either to do good to others or evill to his flesh for Christs sake 3. It is great hypocrisie for men to preach the honour and glory of the Crosse of Christ when they tkemselves feare or refuse the condemnation of the Crosse in the testimony or martyrdome of Jesus Christ The first day of the Weeke 1 THe Lord Jesus Christ devideth himselfe into three parts Ioh. 14.6 saying I am 1. The way 2. The truth 3. The life that whosoever suffers for any of these doth suffer for Christs sake 1. The way is the devision of the Christians from the glory and authority of the worldly Priesthood to follow him in spirit and truth according to the invisible authority of his Priesthood 2. The Truth is the Law Psal. 119 142. whose perfection as it is spirituall every Christian acknowledgeth and suffeth for it And in this sence it may be said that John Baptist his blood was shed for Christ insomuch as he suffered for the testimony of the truth or spirituall law against turpitude in unlawfull marriage 3. The Life is the immortality after the death and resurrection of the Body If the carnall authority doe by their force withhold this life mortality and enforce to take the Gospel in a mortall state in this case the faith or Jesus Christ is suffered for in the confession of his glory to bee enjoyed in immortality and not in this present life 2. I have meditated how the fear of God-Lord is the beginning of wisdome to the Nations that are not under the Law When by any meanes any of them come to have any thing to doe with the Lord he first requireth them to feare his Name which is to depart from evill pride of minde and every way which is contrary to his Word This feare worketh a knowledge of his invisible and terrible presence that as a man will not sinne against his Law so he will not presume to partake of his service and holy things or any of his Mysteries untill this feare have wrought a reconciliation and peace of Conscience with God in such sort as he so apprehendeth the immortall Lord in his minde that he inclineth to love him and to desire his Law in his heart or minde and to make an everlasting covenant with him in the mysteries of Christ Whosoever of the Nations that hath his heart thus purified by faith willingly to take upon him the yoake and Law of Christ in love is accepted of God as a sonne to partake of the mysteries of his holynesse 3. Whether we ought yeeld to a mans private opinion thus farre as not to offend him in doing what he misliked Offences arise either in respect of the authoritie of God or of man In respect of God the offence doth rise from the world or any of the world when they doe offend any that beleeve in Christ and doe hurt them in contempt of the authority of the Word of God Matth. 18.6.7 Againe offences arise betweene the servante of God when the authority of his Word is denyed by transgressing the law thereof in any thing Offences arise in respect of the authoritie of men when the authority of Jew of Gentile is publikely provoked by trangressing their Commandements or blaspheming their divine worship Act. 19.37 Againe offâ—â—ce is also given by the Christian if he offer any violence or carnall force or use any evill words against a man that is otherwise perswaded then by the word of Christ that walketh after his owne heart neither according to the Law of God nor the course of the Commonwealth In this case as I offend him not by evill word or deeds so I am not bound to doe as he dotâ— that I may nor offend him but let him follow hâ—â— will and I will follow the law of righteousness otherwise in this I may be brought in bondage a private mans conceit I may harden him in errour and partake in his folly And at last 〈◊〉 should be drawne to offend both the authority 〈◊〉 God and man by favouring every one that are â—â—ven up to a reprobate sence The second day of the Week THe justifying of a sinner in the blood of Christ is the act of the spirit of Christ and it hath 2 parts 1. The acquitting of all sins past that the sinner have no feare or conscience of guilt or punishment for them Rom. 3.25 and this is applyed by the merit of his blood 2. The preserving from all sin by the power and spirit of Christ so as the evill one cannot touch him by prevailing against the man whom Christ hath made righteous to move or carry him to do any sin but on the contrary he shewâ—th forth the righteousnesse of God in Christ by the saith of Jesus whereby he communicateth in the sufferings and blood of Christ in his own â—ody The third day of the week JEsus is truly a doore to his suffering Christians on this manner that when they through many tribulations are brought to death then through his presence they enter into life for as it is by fight in a doore whereby men enter into other places so when we come to death there are two doores the great doore openeth to passe into the torment of the second death the straiter doore openeth to passe from death to eternall life and this doore and way is Jesus to all that suffer death in the testimony of his name The fourth day of the week I Cannot but admire the wisdom of the only true God who having put enmyty into the world so as of necessity offences are taken against his holy people to condemn them according to their worldly wisdom and carnall authority hath also given a Law in Christ according to which he will justâ—fie his Children against the condemnation of meâ— as Rom. 8.33 As if our heavenly Father should say I have given you my Law and I have
given you my Christ to become flesh that he might be a perfect guide and redeemer of you from the bondage of mortality in this evill world so as the subject may know his duty to his Magistrate the sonne to the Father the servant to his Master it every one do thus walk according to my word in their severall estates and degrees and yet your superiours do take offence as you for not obeying them rather then me I will justifie you in what you do in Conscience of my law fear not their condemnation but learn obedience in the flesh as Christ Jesus my only Sonne hath shewed you and looke unto the throan of my judgement sent which I have appointed and know my righteousnesse in the love of Christ and come unto me from mortality and bondage for by constancy to death you and every one of you shall evercome and be more then Conquerours and you shall condemn then for sin that have condemned you for sinners in hatred of my word and of my Christ which I have given to be a light unto the world whom with you they have killed 2. In the estate of enmity between God and man that repentance which men teach is apostasie from God for when a man yeeldeth obedience to the word as the Servant of God If the authority of man do compell him to repent of this his obedience in any matter wherein the word of God requireth obedience and this man doth repent under the fear of man and blaspheame the service of God as wicked and magnifie the service of man as holy and righteous it is manifest from antiquity that this repentance is the worldly wickeknesse against God for whosoever in oath with them saith destroy the wicked saith in effect to destroy all Christians that live godly in Christ and all the servants of God both great and small because these only are the wicked in the evill worlds account and these that are righteous are their spirituall enemies so as whosoever seeth not this enmity to avoid it as not to have Communion of enmity with the world against Christ is yet guilty of the curse with the seede of the Serpent The fifth day of the week IT is noted that he which preacheth the Crosse of Christ must do it sincerely not scaring the shame and death of the Cross in the Communion of his sufferings but there are those which preach the Cross of Christ in enmity of the Cross in that they go back from Christ crucified to follow their profit or pleasure in this mortall life These also set up a Throan of Judgment in enmity against Christ by authority whereof they keepe men from looking to the Judgement if Christ so as it is of necessity for every man to discern these two Throans of Judgment for if a man fear the Judgment of mortality he is darkened from seeing the Judgment of immortality but if he truly see the Throan of Judgment setled in Heaven he will be enlightenned not to respect the humain Judgment of men on earth The fifth day of the week 1. THe shame and reproach of Christ and his Christians is that they are men without honour in the world and suffer all things as base men Therefore they which follow him in the honour of the world and in power to defend themselves from oppression are not under the shaddow of Christs Cross for these count it a great shame to suffer as a Christian constantly to death 2. It is noted from 1 Sam. 15.22.23 That it is a worshipping of false God to break the Commandement of God for any worldly or carnall respect whatsoever 3. The unclean meates forbidden in the Law note out how abominable the Idoll and false Doctrines of Devills should be unto us to obey them in our soules who so observeth the Law may escape what it discovereth as death 4. It is noted that Christ made an end of the Law when he took revenge and desire of judgement out of mens hearts that they should not now require eye for eye and go to judgement one with another but on the contrary to forgive each other and so to go to God beseeching him to forgive them and thus in all cases to judge themselves and not others for sin 5. It was the wisdom of God that his own Sonne Christ should come in poore state that none might be allured with worldly glory nor terrified with mortall terrours but that who so receive him may be known to follow him in true love more of him then of themselves 6. Evill Shepherds of mens soules keeping the word in their own authority do as if a Shepherd pretending to feede the flock should keepe the sheepe from the pasture and from safe feeding and agree with these for a part and with the wolfe for the skin and yet aske wages for their service The sixth day of the week 1. AS the eye is the light of the mortall so he mind is the light of the immortall man The eye is simple when is clearly seeth by the light of the world the mind is simple when it is clearly enlightenned by the Word and spirit of Christ which is the â—â—ue light to immortality the mind kept under mens authority is as a man blind-folded 2. If it be Church-robbery or sâ—criledge to take vessells and goods consecrated to holy uses what is it to take the holy word it selfe out of the Book which is sealed in the blood of Christ The first day of the week COncerning the workes of the Law Rom. 3.20 I have this understanding that seeing that is certain that none can be justifyed by the works of the law namely by the justifications holden in the ministery mediation and Priesthood leviticall constituted under the fear and authority of men Then we may conclude that all the service under any worldly authorities though it may seeme farre better then that of Rome yet it Will be found only to condemnation and cannot justifie as to purge the Conscience from dead workes to serve the living God for as these were the workes of the Law of God in the worldly holinesse and authority of justification by men so are these of other Common-wealths the workes of their Law constituted in their feigned holinesse and justifications by their own authority And if that of Israel could not cleanse the Conscience surely all Religions of mens devising do make vain man more vain and harden the heart to commit sin in enmity of the word of God The third day of the weeke 1. FRom Ephes. 3.15 is apparant that as a housholder is over his Family so the heavenly Father is over his Family which consisteth of all his Creation both in the Heavens and upon the earth Therefore his good servants are carefull that Christ of whom all this family is named may dwell in our hearts by faith looking to his invisible presence being rooted and grounded in love both towards the Father and his Sonne who is over the Family in