the world seeing Gods Laws are pure holy just good righteous and upright Laws that are written in his peoples hearts and brought forth in their conversations what think you are not such Laws who are of God the Laws of the spirit of life of love of power and of a sound mind are not these sufficient to distinguish Gods people from the world the world being led by the Devil and their own lusts 3. What think you is not the light of God in his people clear enough bright enough shining forth in them and they in it to distinguish them from the blind and dark world who do live and walk in darknesse and stumble at they know not what seeing light is sown for the righteous and it springs up in them and they shine forth in it I hope this will be bright enough to see and discern them in without their going under water 4. The wisdome of God being wrought in his people by the word of Gods eternall wisdome in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge this is wise enough to distinguish them from the ignorant and foolish world this is wise enough to direct them in wayes above the wayes of the world and so the wisdome of God being revealed in the secret parts in the inward man and so teaching the whole man to walk wisely toward all men that so wisdome might be justified of her children and this is enough to distinguish wisdomes children from the world they need not have water-Baptisme to help in this businesse 5. Is not the love of God revealed in his people the foundation of their happinesse and that whereby they do stand is not this enough to distinguish them from the world who lives in wrath hatred malice and envy hatefull and hating one another 6. Is not the holinesse purity and righteousnesse of God holy enough and pure enough and righteous enough being brought forth by the mighty power of God in them for to distingish them from the unclean unholy and unrighteous world except they be washed in earthly water what think you can this adde any thing to the purity holinesse and righteousnesse of God for the further distinguishing of us from the profane world 7. The grace of God that bringeth eternall salvation to light in our souls teacheth us to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and teacheth us also to live Godly Righteously and soberly in this present world and is not this enough to distinguish us from the evil world O that we could once see that principle of eternall grace manifest it self in those that professe godlinesse then I affirm they need no more to separate them from the world 8. God dwells in his people walks in them lives in them they are his habitation his resting place they live in God in divine injoyments and what think you now is the presence of God living and dwelling in his people in the precious discoveries and injoyments of love and favour living in them to Eternity Is this enough to distinguish them from the world who do live without God c. What think you is not eternall being the Lord Jehovah the mighty God in the love wisdome life light power c. of divine spirituall glory enough to distinguish his people from the world without their coming under some carnall ordinance of being thrown into water or the like 9. You talk of distinguishing the world and carnall Church one from another by water-Baptisme but you are quite out for this is rather a mark of Antichrist wherein the world and carnall Church are joyned together and so a Kingdome of Antichrist is made up of carnall Christians made so by water-Baptisme Objection 4. But Infant-Baptisme hath been of a long time standing for ought we know even from the Apostles times Answ 1. Let this be granted yet if you cannot make it appear to be of Scripture proof either from command or example it is nothing worth for consider there were many Antichrists gone forth even in the Apostles times and that which hath no ground in Scripture must needs be an Antichrist and then here is the whole line of your succession cut off What do you think Is not this the way to set up an Antichrist to go about to make Christians where Christ makes none Now all Europe have been made Christians by Infant-Baptisme and yet many thousands of them have not been Christians indeed and then what have they been but Antichristians and all this hath been done without any Testimony at all from the word therefore it is of Antichrist and not of the true Christ Again many have been dipped in water at severall times from an outward profession and after their conversation have declared them to be of Antichrist so both forms in both wayes go to make up a Carnall Church for Antichrist From unity in a form for which there is no ground at all for in the word of truth but meerely from mens carnall principles conceits and traditions one never being commanded nor any example of the practise of it and the other in Force and in use when other Ceremonies were Objection 5. Water-Baptisme keeps men in Fellowship Love and Unity among themselves so that they denyed noâ— asunder as others do and as they might if they did not take up this form Answer 1. Example teacheth us that Unity in an externall form cannot keep people together in Unity fellowship and love for many that have been and are still one in some forms as water-Baptisme c. yet they agree not in other things and at last many have broken quite in pieces and parted quite asunder Forms do commonly keep people together for their own ends and interests therefore this Unity is not Gospel-proof but Antichristian Unity for that is Antichristian Unity that tyes up peoples love in one form 2. The people of God who are called by his grace and hath his love revealed in them and do really live in God and so in love and so in the Unity of one eternall Spirit by whom they are all led into all truth faithfullnesse Love fellowship kindnesse tendernesse of heart Bowels of Compassion c. one to another they need not to have any outward form of water or any such thing to keep them in Unity of Spirit c. being one Spirit in the Lord but that one eternall Spirit that is in them all who doth quicken them all it being the spirit of love in them all this internall work of God in power from on high shed abroad in his peoples hearts is of infinite more force to keep them in love and fellowship with one another in the Father and the Son than any earthly form dipping or sprinckling a little cold water you that are truly spirituall consider Objection 6. That which was once commanded and never reversed or repealed is still in force and water-Baptsme was once commanded and never repealed therefore it is still in force An. 1. All Ceremonies were
practise then you have for water-baptism and that will be more in force when the other doth appear to be no Ordinance at all But now to the latter part of your Objection that this is the way to bring in ranting principles if we deny water-baptism to be an Ordinance c. First must carnal liberty be brought into the Church of Christ if that be not set up and practised there which Christ never commanded this is very strange 2 Is this the way to bring in carnal liberty and ranting principles among believers to exalt the work of all power in heaven and earth I thought that creature-exaltation self-seeking and setting up idols had been the way to bring in carnal liberty and ranting principles when these things are imposed upon creatures to make up an out-side society then take heed of ranting 3 God doth according to his promise write his righteous and holy just and good laws in his peoples hearts and puts his fear in them that so they may never depart from him and hath said they shall not depart from him any more and that he will be their God and they shall be his people that he will live in them and dwell among them and they shall be all taught of him and great shall be their peace c. Now I hope this is not the way to bring in ranting principles and carnal liberty among the people of God who are thus taught of God and do live in the law of the spirit of life that is in Christ who is their life and their all The Law of God written in his peoples hearts doth no way bring in ranting principles into their mindes but these that is unto the kingdom of the devil and antichrist that do consist in sin and all unrighteousness and in empty forms traditions and precepts of men who proceed from fleshly and carnal principles in the world and carnal Church And I must tell you that the Law of God written in his peoples hearts and mindes this is the most rantingest principle to these that can be upon the face of the earth therefore when God writes his Laws in his peoples hearts and brings forth the new creation in them and so makes them partakers of the divine nature then let antichrist and all his carnal priviledges look for a final rooting out and an eternal destruction For the life and power of godlimess wrought in the people of God by a divine principle destroys all empty carnal and formal and traditional outside Religion in them that proceeds from antichrist which proceeds from carnal principles of flesh and blood The Law of God in the new nature destroys the Law of sin and flesh in the old nature with the very corrupt nature it self The life of God in his people or rather God living in them destroys the dead works of sin and flesh in them the power of God from on high being present in his people destroys the power of sin in them the wisdom of God in his people destroys the wisdom of the flesh in them The work of God in his people in the new creation brought forth in them destroys the works of sin and antichrist in their old nature yea the whole body of sin it self Yea the work of God in the new man is the onely ranting principle to antichrist the whole mystery of iniquity and man of sin for it makes it all flie in pieces before it even all the gross darkness and corruption and filthiness of the flesh with all the false light in the flesh and spirit of man with all empty forms and carnal observations c. all goeth down when God appears in his people in the brightness of his coming in spirit and power from on high in the hidden man of the heart And now where are your Ranting principles and carnal liberty you so much speak of to fall upon those that obey not your carnal Ordinances it falls altogether upon time-servers outside-professors self-seekers c. but not upon those that worship God in spirit and truth For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation to light in the souls of his people teacheth them to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live godly righteously and soberly in this present world and this proves Ranting principles to be nothing but the whole body of sin which is contrary to the divine principle that God brings forth in his Temple therefore take heed of throwing dirt in the face of truth and of slandering the Grace of God shed abroad in his peoples hearts the onely principle of true holiness and righteousness Do you think nothing can keep us from Ranting principles but a little cold water why then have so many that have gone under water fallen also under Ranting principles Obj. 23. Several baptisms were used in the primitive times and water-baptism is nowhere forbid in Scripture therefore we may use it still c. Answ 1. If the truth were not a mystery then antichrist might understand it but God is pleased to declare the truth in a mystery that so those that receive it not in the love of it may be blinded and so given up to strong delusions to believe lies as it is appointed for the antichristian world man of sin and mystery of iniquity 2 Thes 2. in which the antichristian world is deceived and blinded even to this day 2 Paul teacheth one baptism unto the Church of the Ephesians Eph. 4. 5. and doubtless Paul would not leave out another baptism viz. water if it had been any one bond of the true Churches unity seeing he doth reckon up seven which are a perfect number And that we may not be mistaken in the true understanding of this baptism Paul here speaks of he satisfies us what baptism it is 1 Cor. 12. 13. for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether Jews or Gentiles whether bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit So here Paul bears witness to the one and onely baptism of the New-Testament which witness is enough to satisfie those who are satisfied with the truth it self But you will say that baptism spoke of Ephes 4. 5. is one baptism of a sort and that this is the meaning of the place c. First this is more then the word declares and so we have no ground to build where there is no foundation 2 If you make an addition unto this part of the words namely one baptism and put in this word here one of a sort then we must put this word unto the sense of all the rest of the bonds of the true Churches unity mentioned in this place And then we must read it thus One body of a sort one spirit of a sort one hope of a sort one Lord of a sort one faith of a sort one baptism of a sort and one God of a sort And now let all that have eyes to see behold the gross blindness and more then Egyptian
fulfill the Law of Christ to do as we would be done unto and so living in the love of Christ a principle of divine love is brought forth in us and from this love within us we walk in love unto all and are filled with Kindnesse Pity Bowels of Compassion Humblenesse of Mind meeknesse of Spirit c. unto all our fellow-creatures And Christ being the true way into the possession and injoyment of all the goodnesse of the eternall God and we being baptised into Christ we are partakers of the true and eternal salvation in the true way the Father hath opened for creatures to possesse his love and goodnesse in unto eternity and in this Baptisme we are taken up into God and so we live above all the wayes of this world in Christ and in him in the Father in spirit the onely true way into all happinesse and the onely happinesse to eternity and Christ is also the truth and we being baptised into Christ are made partakers of the truth as it is in Jesus but those who are baptised in materiall water may still live in error for all this but those who are baptised into Christ who is the truth they live in the truth walk in the truth act in the truth and speak truth yea they that put on Christ in truth and are clothed with truth righteousnesse holinesse purity syncerity c. as with a Garment And so as Christ is so are they in this world and so every one that is baptised into Christ have put on Christ and so do appear in the likenesse of Christ in the new Creation the work of God alone in spirit and power from on high Fifthly We have another clear testimony of the Baptisme of the spirit the onely true spirituall washing in Eph. 5. 25 26. and how it is wrought according to the Commission of Christ Mat. 28. the words are these Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Here is a clear testimony of the accomplishing the Commission of Christ upon those people that belonged to his church 1. Here is Christs love to his Church 2. Here is the effect of his love he gave himself for his Church And 3. Here is the end why he gave himself for his Church or people and that is that he might sanctifie and cleanse it 4. Here is the means whereby this is done it is with the washing of water by the word And now the end of all is that it might be presented unto himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinckle or any thing like spot or wrinckle but holy and without blame And now that this great work of washing sanictfying cleansing and purifying the Church of Christ may be accomplished the end of his redeeming it now he was risen and had finished the great work of redeeming his Church now all power in heaven and in earth is given unto him for the reforming of his Church And now Christ having received all power in heaven and earth for the accomplishing this great work of sanctifying and cleansing his Church that this may be done he gives his Apostles a Commission to Go teach all Nations and in this ministry Baptise them into name of Father Son and Spirit and so as instruments sprinkle the name of God upon them and dip them into the pure river of water of life which is onely able to sanctifie and cleanse them that so they might be holy and without blame in the presence of God and of the Lamb who is undefiled Now this is the means whereby Christ sanctifieth and cleanseth his Church with the washing of water by the word now the word being the ministration of the eternall Spirit and given forth in all power in heaven and earth though unto weak creatures Yet the word they preached being the ministration of the Spirit and all power in heaven and earth being present in their ministry they are made instruments in the hand of God for the accomplishing this great work of sanctifying and cleansing souls with the washing of living water by the ministry of the word of life This was that administration that God had declared by the Prophets long before that should be accomplished in the latter dayes as in Isa 35. 6. In the Wildernesse shall waters break out and streams in the Desart v. 7. And the parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water c. And chap. 41. 18. I will open rivers in high places and fountains in the middest of the vallies I will make the wildernesse a pool of water and the dry land springs of water c. and chap. 44. 3. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and flouds upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thy Offspring See also Ezek. 16. 8 9. and chap. 36. 25 26. and cap. 47. with Joel 2. and severall other places that God did declare by his Prophets that should be fulfilled unto us in Gospel-times which is the ministration of the Spirit as saith the apostle 1 Pet. 1. 12. c. This is the way that the onely wise God is pleased to pour out the fountain of living waters upon his people in these latter dayes even in the ministry of the word this is the way God will sanctifie wash and cleanse his people with the washing of water by the word Now this dispensation of God being mighty it brings forth mighty effects in the world upon the Sons of men for the power of God being present in this Gospel ministry it makes his people willing in this day of his power it is mighty through God to throw down the strong holds of sin to turn men from darknesse to light and from the power of the Devill to God In this Ministry God doth by his mighty power bring forth the new nature in his people and makes all things new in them and God in this ministry enters into an eternall Covenant with his people to be their God for ever and they to be his people to Eternity In this ministry of the word through the operation of the eternall spirit God brings forth a principle of power to believe in him alone and trust in him alone and God doth by this ministry take off his people from all dependence upon creatures and creature-excellency and sets them upon the rock of ages in whom is everlasting strength In this ministry God doth enter into an evelasting Covenant with his people and give them a new heart and Spirit according to his promise and pour clean water upon them and make them clean and wash them from all their filthinesse and this is the onely water of the Gospel and the onely washing of the new Testament but Gospel-washing is an outward and carnall or legall washing as carnall creatures do imagine And thus we see
the ministry of the Spirit in Gospel-times is set forth by a spirituall water-washing cleansing c. and the ministry of the spirit is a spirituall washing of spirituall water by the word as we have clear Testimony from the word written in the Scriptures suitable to the word written in the hidden man of the heart the work of God alone See John 4. 14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of living water springing up into everlasting life c. Here Christ takes the woman off from all carnal and outward observations of the spirituall waters of his spirituall Kingdome and sets her a looking after the true waters of life that flows out from the Fountain of life Again John 3. 5. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God But materiall water hath no place in bringing forth a new birth for Christ saith That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit but it is unpossible matâ—riall water can bring forth any part of the new birth but if they were old creatures before and dipped or sprinckled with earthly water they are so still It is onely the Heavenly water that hath force to wash away sin and to bring forth the new birth in us as those can witnesse that have this heavenly birth brought forth in them and are washed with pure water of Life Sixthly We have another Testimony of the Baptisme of Christ in the Epistle to the Colossians that they were made partakers of the Baptisme of Christ 1. Col. 2. 12. in vers 8. The Apostle bids them beware of Philosophy vain deceits the traditions of men the rudiments or Elements of the world c. and is not water-Baptisme an Element of this world among the rest as a tradition or carnall Ordinance c. as we may see v. 20 21 22 23. 2. V. 9. The Apostle sets forth Christ to be the onely substance that we ought to look after For in him dwelleth all the substance of the Godhead bodily and all fullnesse being in him see in the next place what doth follow 3. Ye are compleat in him which is the head of all principalities and powers our compleatnesse consists in Christs being in us and our being in him and no part of our compleatnesse can consist in any of the Elements of this world therefore not in being thrown into the Element of water 4. V. 11. He takes them off from that ancient and honorable Ceremony of Circumcision in the flesh and sets them a looking into the Substance which was the Circumcision made without hands and this was the putting off the body of sinnes of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ which is spirituall for nothing but Spirit can destroy Flesh 5. Having now set forth the true Circumcision which is truly spirituall he comes now to set forth the true and substantiall Baptisme which also is truly spirituall vers 12. buried with him in Baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead c. Now we are not onely buried with Christ in Baptisme but in this Baptisme we are also risen with Christ wherein also ye are risen with Christ but wee may be buried under earthly water and yet never risen with Christ therefore this cannot be the Baptisme here spoken of but in the following words we have the power of God set forth by which this is done even the faith of the operation of God who hath raised Christ from the dead He that hath raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies Here is still relation to the Resurrection of Christ Now we know that after Christ was risen from the dead then all power in heaven and in earth was given unto him of God the Father for the gathering in of his Church that he had redeemed out of every Kingdome People and Nation c. and this was the effect of the Commission Mat 28. Baptising them into the name of Father Son and Spirit So here as the Apostle takes off the Colossions from looking after Circumcision in the flesh so he also takes them off from looking after the Baptisme of water that was but fleshly or in outward washing And as he takes them off from all types and outward resemblances which were in use before the substance came so noâ— he sets forth the substance which is the Baptisme of the Spirit by which they were baptised into Christ and so made partakers of the power and vertue of Christs death and resurrection in which Baptism they were made partakers of the fâ—â—lnesse of God and so were compleat in Christ who is the expresse image and glory of the Father And thus we are buried with Christ in Baptisme and By vertue hereof we are raised from a dead state of sin and evill unto a new life by being baptised into the power of Christs death and resurrection and the power and vertue hereof operating in our souls and spirits changeth and transforms us into the image and likenesse of the Lord Jesus Christ and so the new nature is brought forth in us and we are born from above of water and the Spirit not of flesh and bloud nor of fleshly forms as the world and carnall Church is for it is nothing but Spirit and spirituall waters that can bring forth the spirituall birth in us That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit and nothing but the Spirit Baptisme can baptise us into Christ and his fullnesse for water-baptisme cannot make us partakers of his fullnesse we can onely have unity in a form in this but not unity in the fullnesse of Christ that iâ— onely to be had in Spirit and Spirit Baptisme Unity in forms mâ—kes outside Christians but unity in Christ and the eternall nature in him makes Christians indeed not onely in name but also in nature not in word onely but in power not onely outwardly but in the inward man Seventhly We have another Testimony how Paul and other believers came to be partakers of the goodnesse of God in eternall salvation after they had lived an evil life in the world before it is in Titus 3 4 5. but after that the kindnesse and love or pity of God our Saviour toward man appeared not by works of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Spirit which he shed in us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour c. 1. Here is the kindnesse of God toward man appearing 2. This love of God to us is not from our works of righteousnesse 3. But it is of meere mercy that God doth save us 4. Here is the means set forth whereby God doth save us and that is
which he hath no right to doth this argue that therefore he will throw away all that is his own or any of that he hath right to But do you know what an Ordinance of God is that you do cry out so much for Ordinances if you do not then give me leave to declare some unto you and these are standing Ordinances indeed and those wherein God is glorified among his people in the true and spiritual performance of them First then let us take up that Ordinance of Christ Matth. 5. 16. compared with Phil. 2. 15. Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in heaven I advise those to take up this Ordinance or to walk in it that have the true light of Christ in them let us so walk in the light of God revealed in us that all may see that our light is of God and this you see is a Gospel-Ordinance 2 Observe another Ordinance which is also a command of Christ Joh. 13. 34 35. ver 35. by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another I also advise all to obey this Ordinance of Christ that have the precious love of Christ shed abroad in their hearts by the spirit of love from the Father and the Son Oh let not us who are all in one eternal love brought out of eternal bondage sin and darkness into eternal liberty light and love let not us confine our love to forms and opinions as it is the ordinary practise of our times But let our love extend unto all and from very love to do good unto all we have an Ordinance for this large extent of love Love your enemies do good to them that hate you c. Do good unto all but especially to the houshold of Faith love the brotherhood but nowhere love for opinion that is carnal love for the true brotherhood lies not in any form but from oneness of spirit in love But many now adays look so much upon carnal Ordinances and outward observations that their love is wholly upon that and those that follow those forms they are undone And they are so far from fulfilling this great Gospel-Ordinance toward all that they manifest more hatred and envy to those that liâ—e in the same love of the Father that they say they do live in though they do not live under the same form as they do then they do manifest to the greatest blasphemer or wicked person in the world and all is from some difference about outside things but they that are joyned to the Lord are one spirit not joyned to one form Here is the cunning of the devil to break in pieces the bonds of love and unity among those that profess the Lord Jesus But I could wish love were more practised among all that do own love and that all would do as they would be done unto but this I must tell you There is no command more exhorted unto and no command more slighted then this is I could wish we had not cause now to say to people as Christ said to the Pharisees that they do make void the commands of God by their traditions yet this is the practise of many now to this very yeer 1653. For they set up fâ—rms and traditions of men and confine all to follow them and to obey these Ordinances that are of men and those that will not or that cannot follow them nor submit to them they must be cryed out against for hereticks and blasphemers and so love that is the great command of God that is made void and the Ordinances of men they are sâ—t up and cryed up let love and Christian fellowship go whither it will 3 We have another Ordinance set forth Col. 3. 16. unto which we do well to take heed Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in the several parts of the great mystery of godliness Let us teach exhort instruct and comfort each other as we are taught instructed and comforted in the Lord that so we may be instruments so strengthen one another against all conditions tbat we may fall into Let those who are indued with power from on high continue in the word and doctrine of truth and righteousness Here is another Ordinance of God God enable us to obey it in sincerity 4 Let us walk wisâ—ly toward all giving no offence to Jew nor Gentile nor to the Church of God that whereas others do speak evil of us as evil coers they may be ashamed by the beholding our sincerity in Christ Jesus But as for those who are offended at the truth let them bear their own shame for the cause of offence is not in the truth but those that oppose it let not this Ordinance be forgotten neither 5 Give no place to the devil nor your own deceitful lusts but abstain from all fleshly lusts that do war against the soul and be ye holy in all manner of conversation acting and shewing forth the purity of the hidden man of the heart that you may appear to be the workmanship of God in spirit and power and that ye have received the spirit of power love and of a sound minde have also a special eye to this Ordinance too 6 Deal honestly with all men and speak truth every one to his neighbour put away lying and all deceit guile and hypocrisie let all your actions speak forth righteousness and act in righteousness and uprightness toward all hate flattery and bribes with all things that are evil do unto all men as you would have they should do unto you Here are Ordinances enough if we could but see them and had but a principle from God to walk in them the Lord bring forth righteousness in our hearts and then our actions will speak forth righteousness indeed 7 Be not partial one to another Jam. 2. Let not the rich slight the poor nor let not their benevolence be tyed up under single forms and remember this that pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the fatherless and widdows in their afflictions and to keep himself unspotted from the world Jam. 1. 27. here are Ordinances enough everywhere in the word of God I could wish they were in our hearts too for here are Ordinances enough for us to practise if water were quite down Remember Rom. 14. that the stong should not slight nor despise the weak nor the weak should not contemn the strong but let all keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace 2 Pet. 4. 2 3 c. You may take them exhortations Luk. 3. from John to the people and also many more in the word of truth onely I thought it good to put you in minde of a few that so ye may see there are other Ordinances besides cold water and such as there is a thousand times more ground to
foundation again after the substance was come much less to be builded upon 2 But now to the second thing and that is Faith toward God and this is to be left also but now what strange Doctrine should we have from the Apostle here if this were meant of the life of Faith that Believers do live here in the world in he must then here overthrow his other Doctrine concerning himself and other believers and that of the Prophet Hab. 2. 4. Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20. ch 3. 11. Heb. 10. 38. This Exposition overthrows all these with many more for how can it be that we can leave Faith and yet live in it by it c. But that Faith that was to be left was this that the people should no longer wait for the fulfilling those promises of God concerning the sending Christ to fulfil the work of salvation for his people which Promises are frequent in Scripture And the Apostle well knew the Priests and great ones had blinded the people with looking for Christ to come still and that that was not the Christ but a deceiver and therefore it is said that Christ shewed himself alive after his Resurrection by many infallible proofs Act. 1. and here the Apostle takes them off from such waitings and expectations of Christ to come We have also a cleer proof of this Faith Luke 24. 21. but we trusted it had been he that should have redeemed Israel here is a proof of the peoples waiting upon God and trusting which is believing and this is Faith in God or toward God in his Promises which should be fulfilled and when it was fulfilled then they were no longer to wait for it to be done but to go on unto perfection and so look upon this work perfectly done and finished 3 The Doctrine of several baptisms were to be laid aside or left as there were several baptisms and washings used in those times And they were now onely to look after the true and spiritual washing and baptism of the Spirit as he declareth to them chap. 10. 12 having their hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and their bodies washed with pure water this was the onely washing the Apostle desired should be aimed at amongst them now the substance was come and all other washings and baptisms that were legal and carnal should all be left as ch 9 10 c. there was no foundation nor footing for any such baptism to be laid again therefore it was to be left all 4 The next thing that was to be left was laying on of hands for when the gifts that followed it were ceased and at an end to what purpose should it be used therefore they are much out now adays that think to ordain men by laying their hands upon them seeing they leave them as they were before for the gifts of the Spirit do not follow now therefore it is but like a dead form where there is no life nor power as in other forms 5 We come now to the fifth thing that was to be left which was of Resurrection from the dead but this cannot be meant the Resurrection of the body which shall be at the end of all time when the Son shall give up the kingdom to the Father and God shall be all in all c. for that shall be the highest perfection that ever creatures shall enjoy therefore the expectation of this Resurrection and the Doctrine thereof shall not be left behinde for we cannot leave the highest perfection behinde and so wait for a higher the word written is cleer for this that this Resurrection is to be earnestly expected and waited for of all that have good hope hereof through the grace of God revealed in them as in Act. 24. 15 16 Phil. 3. 11 12 20. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Matth. 22. 30 31 32. with many more Now the Apostle bids us here leave these Doctrines and go on to perfection but we are always to wait for the perfection we shall have in the Resurrection for we cannot be past the Resurrection and perfection before we come to it Therefore this is not the Resurrection we are to leave waiting for and go on unto perfection because perfection is here and we are not come to it nor have not yet attained unto it therefore not gone past it nor have we yet been in it nor taken it up nor left it behinde us But now let us consider what Resurrection the Apostle doth here exhort the Hebrews to leave the expectation of and the waiting for the fulfilling It is the Resurrection of Christ from the dead this was the Resurrection that was then past and therefore the people had no ground to look for it to come and therefore they were to leave that Doctrine which did hold forth the Resurrection of Christ to come and they as well as we now were exhorted to look upon the work of Christ perfectly done and Christ risen and become the first fruits unto God c. for there was no perfection of the work till Christ was risen and if Christ had never risen the work had never been perfected but we had still been in our sin 1 Cor. 15. 14. 17 Rom 4. 25. Act. 2. 31. Col. 1. 14 15 18 c. Now if we should wait for this Resurrection any longer we are antichrists with a witness and take Christ for a deceiver as the old Jews did 6 Lastly We come now to speak of eternal judgement that was to be left and here also we must take heed we do not mistake as in the rest of these Doctrines Now as Christ had undertaken to encounter with eternal judgement and had tryed the utmost what the judgement of God could inflict upon him and had born all and satisfied God and so conquered several judgements due to sin and subdued sin death and hell and all enemies that were against us and was risen in token of a full victory over all Now the people were no longer to wait and look for this great work to be done by Christ in time to come but look upon Christ risen and glorifyed and having finished this great work of eternal judgement and so to leave that Doctrine which declared it to come and look upon it perfectly done waiting for the effect of it even the destruction of sin in them But in this sense we are to wait for eternal judgement still which is the effect of Christs conquering eternal judgement and this is the final destruction of the body of sin rooting out and destroying all sin and evil in the elect of God for whstm he hath destroyed and overcome judgement sin death and hell and all enemies And now though we are in Christ more then conquerers yet we see not all enemies destroyed in our own selves yet but we are still in expectation of the destruction of sin and death which is the last enemy that shall be destroyed and so though eternal judgement
shall pass upon all corruption in us and it shall be all eternally destroyed yet we are still in expectation hereof at present and therefore not past it So here we see in what respect we are to leave the Doctrine of eternal judgement and in what respect we are to look for the fulfilling of it For the Apostle would never exhort the people to leave that they were never come unto yet and also that which he doth cleerly exhort unto in other places this were the way for the Apostle to be like those whose words were yea to day and nay to morrow contrary to his own words and practise Rom. 1. 17 18 19. So this is the beginning of the Doctrine of Christ that was to be left and this was the Doctrine and whole Ministery of John the baptist as he was a fore-runner of Christ as Marke 1. the Ministery of John is called the beginning of the Gospel of Christ 1 The Repentance from dead works that John taught and imposed upon the people in an outward washing and outward Reformation and outward Confession c. this was no longer to be rested in for now Christ was exalted and made Lord of all and a Prince to give Repentance indeed and true and real Remission of sins in spirit life and power which shall never be repented of but men might repent of a fained Repentance as might be taken up from any outward form or outward reformation which was in flesh not in spirit which is but a shew of Repentance 2 Now that Faith that John taught should now be laid aside which was that the people should according to the promises of God expect Christ to come after him and should fulfil all that was testified of him concerning mans salvation and that he should suffer for sin take away the sins of the world c. so that now they should no longer look after a Christ to come and so live under types and shadows still but now they should look upon all the promises fulfilled and all finished Christ having suffered and risen and is glorified and now they were to believe all fulfilled that was promised of Christ as Peter declareth Act. 3. 18. and not to look for it to come as before they did though the chief of the Jews would have blinded all the people if they could to wait still for Christ to come and believe no otherwise 3 Johns testimony was that he baptized with water but there came one after him that was before him and was mightyer then he and that he should baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire yet at that present the people were to be subject to his baptism which was water because the other baptism was not come and he did figure out the baptism of Christ in his baptism But when the true baptism of all baptisms was come then they were to leave all the former that were outward and trust wholly to that which was inward and the true substance of what was figured out before And here you see there is Scripture for leaving out some baptisms And there is also Scripture for the continuance of one baptism Eph. 4. 5. there is one Baptism and 1 Cor. 12. 13. this baptism is declared by Paul himself and therefore Spirit-baptism is still in force though other baptisms were to be left And so of the other three mentioned here Heb. 6. and now where is your practising these Doctrines and yet leaving of them seeing some of them are not to be left behinde while we live upon the earth or are in the body or live in this world and now let all that see truth in its own light behold your blinde and traditional interpretation of the word written wherein are some things hard to be understood which those that are ignorant and unlearned in the mystery of God do wrest c. but observe here it cannot be those who are unlearned in the wisdom of the world for the greatest learned and wisest in the wisdom of this world onely are the greatest fools in the things of God But to answer an Objection from ch 5. 12 13 14. Paul was no babe c. yet he did not leave the Doctrine of the Resurrection nor of Faith c. Phil. 3. 10 11 12. Gal. 2. 20. Heb. 10 38. Rom. 1. 5 17. ch 16. 26. c. therefore this is not that kinde of Faith Resurrection c. that is here spoke of Obj. 24. Christ himself was baptized with water therefore it is to be practised by us seeing he hath left us an Example and we are bid to follow Christ c. A. 1. Are all things that Christ did Examples for us to follow him in then we have example from Christ to be Circumcised as well as baptized 2. Christ said to John that he should suffer it to be so now that so he might fulfil all righteousness but not one word of Christ by way of Precept that it should be an example unto future generations to follow it from his example of taking it up But seeing Christ did not speak one word of the standing of it in his Church to future generations we have no ground to follow it now So these be all the Objections that I do at present know or remember but if there are never so many more I know the truth is able to answer them all though I could answer never a one And I know nothing can satisfie the Spirit but God and when God is pleased to appear in mens souls and spirits in his bright coming in Gospel-light life wisdom and power from on high then men shall be satisfied with truth alone and not before And here I do conclude this Discourse humbly desiring all men that they would not despise the things they know not but try the testimony of all men by the truth alone and not try the truth by mens opinions for all are to be tryed by truth and not it to be tryed by them For at the best man is but a servant to the truth and it were well if they were so much but no man is Lord over truth And here I have declared unto all men what I have received from the Lord in witness to the truth And here I do profess in the presence of God Angels and men that if I could see any just ground from the cleer testimony of the truth that water-baptism were to be practised in Christs kingdom by Command or Commission from Christ and that it were the baptism of the New-Testament I would not be one day older before I would take it up I am so zealous for all the Commands of Christ through his presence dwelling in me in spirit and life But seeing I see so cleer ground against it in all the Scripture and no cleer ground for it therefore I have no ground to submit to it no though all men were for it And thus I leave what I have here declared to be tryed by the truth alone knowing this that whatsoever is of God shall stand in the day of tryal and whatsoever is of man shall be burnt up for God will bring a consumption upon all flesh and the Lord alone will be exalted in his people in his day of appearing in them in his coming in them in light and life and then all men shall cease from man who is vanity and his works of nought FINIS These books are to be sold by Richard Moone at the seven stars in Pauls Church-yard A Pathway unto Englands perfect settlement and its centre and foundation of Rest and Peace discovered by Capt. Robert Norwood 2. An Additional Discourse relating to the Treatise aforesaid By Capt. Robert Norwood Many things therein are fully opened several Doubts and Objections answered a brief account given of the Ancient Laws Customes and Constitutions of this Nation before and since the Conquest so called 3. The Life of that incomparable man Faustus Socinus Senensis described by a Polonian Knight Whereunto is added An excellent Discourse which the same Author would have had premised to the Works of Socinus Together with a Catalogue of those Works 4. Brevis Disquisitio or a brief Enquiry touching a better way then is commonly made use of to refute Papists and reduce Protestants to certainty and unity in Religion 5. The Apostolical and true opinion concerning the Holy Trinity revived and asserted partly by 12 Arguments levied against the Traditional and false opinion about the Godhead of the Holy Spirit partly by a Confession of faith touching the three Persons c. By John Biddle Mr. of Arts. 6 A short Treatise touching the death of Christ also the point of baptism is handled with the qualifications demerits sufficient to the receiving in and casting out Church-Members By J. Dell. 7. The Army Vindicated in their late dissolution of the Parliament By John Spittlehouse 8. A Warning-piece discharged or certain intelligence communicated to his Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell By John Spittlehouse 9. The first Addresses to his Excellency the Lord General with the new Representative elected by him and his Councel c. By John Spittle-house 10. The new Earth or the Magna Charta of the past Ages and of the Ages or World to come called The Jews Commonweal By Joh. Brayne 11. The unknown being of the Soul and Spirit c. By John Brayne 12. The Way of disputing practised by Christ and his Apostles in deciding the Controversies of that Age and the Rule for the determining of out own or the right use of spiritual weapons c. By John Brayne 13. Baptism without Bason or plain Scripture-Proof against Infant Baptism in Answer to Mr. Baxters Arguments and the Exercitations of Mr. Sidenham By William Kaye Minister of the Gospel at Stokesley A Cryer in the Wilderness of England declaring the Baptism of the Eternal Spirit to be the onely Baptism in Christs Kingdom c. By Edward Punch 15 Dissertatio de Pace c. or A Discourse touching the Peace and Concord of the Church This he hath now in the Press Judah's Witness sounding the Trumpet c.