in the Kingdom is greater than Iohn well and was Iohn more than a Prophet Yea and Moses was a Prophet how then is the least in the Kingdom greater than Iohn and so consequently greater than Moses How Answer In relation to their Ministry or Service for both Moses and Iohn served with outward Ordinances Observations Types and Shadows Ceremonial Rites and Figures but the least in the Kingdom which stands not in Meats c. their Ministry and Service is in and by the Power Spirit Life Light Love Wisdom and Divine Vertue of Christ Jesus and those that eat and drink now with Christ they are such as know their Kingdom come and are in the Kingdom of Heaven under the Command of Christ Jesus who is King of Righteousness and Prince of Peace and is to be heard truly followed and obeyed in all things But as I said these three viz. Matthew Mark and Luke speak much alike in this matter and it 's worth noting that Iohn the Beloved Disciple neither begins nor goes throughout in his Testimony as they did but was more Spiritual and Mysterious and when he comes to speak of the Supper he passeth it by thus Iohn 13.1 2 4. Now before the Feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his Hour was come that he should depart out of this World unto the Father having loved his own he loved them to the end and Supper being ended Verse 3 4. Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his Hands mark that and that he was come from God and went to God he riseth from Supper and laid aside his Garments and so goes on to shew how he washed his Disciples Feet and what he said unto them was very much for enjoining them to wash one another's Feet but saith not one word further at this time about the Supper that I find which I believe Iohn would not have omitted had it been so that he had known that his Beloved Master had intended it should have been observed to the end of the World but it 's very clear it 's called the Passover by them all and therefore fulfilled and passed away and gives place unto him that fulfils it and all the whole Law concerning Ordinances and outward Observations 3. It 's very clear this Supper was a part of the Passover and so the Bread here spoken of must needs be Unleavened Bread Passover-Bread pray have those that sell Bread now any of this Bread to sell or give for this was that Bread and that Cup that had figured out his Body to be broken for them and his Blood that was shed for them And as that Bread was broken and given to the outward Iew so is his Body broken given to the inward Iew and as that Wine was poured forth into the Cup and given to the outward Iew so is his Blood poured forth and given to the inward Iew to the making of his Heart glad So as the outward Iew who came out of outward Egypt and Bondage fed on the Paschal Lamb so the inward Iew who comes out of inward Spiritual Egypt and Bondage feeds on the Lamb of God as their Passover and as Israel's Enemies were washed away in the Red Sea so are the Christians inward Enemies viz. the Sins of the inward Iew washed away in the Blood of the Lamb of God who washeth his People with or in his own Blood 4. When Iohn comes to speak of what Christ spoke to the Iews and the People that he had fed with Five Barley Loaves and Two Fishes he relates how Christ bade them not to labour for the Meat that perisheth but for the Meat that endureth unto Everlasting Life which the Son of Man said he should give mark should give not sell unto you for him hath God the Father sealed and V. 32. My Father giveth you the true Bread from Heaven but Moses gave them not that Bread from Heaven Again the Bread of God is he that cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the World Again V. 35. Iesus said unto them I am the Bread of Life he that cometh unto me shall never hunger and he that believes on me shall never thirst Again If any Man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever and the Bread that I will give is my Flesh for the Life of the World and except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath Eternal Life and I will raise him up at the last Day for my Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed he that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him Now consider that Bread that Moses gave they that ate it died but he that eats of the Bread that Christ giveth shall never die Pray let me ask What is the Bread that you break is it Living Bread Or is it Unleavened Bread Passover-Bread If it be not Unleavened Bread it is not Passover-Bread and if so then not the Bread that Christ at Supper broke bless'd and gave and if not that Bread then where 's your Foundation for your Bread 5. If it be not that Bread are you sure that Christ's Blessings goes along with it For I am sensible many live very wickedly that eats of the Bread the Priest sells and drinks of the Cup the Priest sells both before and after and there 's no Appearance of Eternal Life and if it were Unleavened Bread such as they eat at the Possover such as Christ bless'd brake and gave them yet it is not Living Bread nor can it give Life Eternal to them that eat it And therefore in the last and great Day of Feasting of this Bread and Wine Jesus stood up and cried If any Man thirst let him come unto me and drink He that believes on me as the Scripture hath said out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water But this spoke he of the Spirit not of Elementary Water which they that believed on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because Jesus was not then glorified 6. But now Jesus Christ is glorified and the Holy Ghost is given then whither must we now go Must we yet run to Moses for the Bread that perisheth or to Christ for the Bread that endures to Everlasting Life Must we that believe on Christ and know the Holy Ghost is given even the Spirit of Adoption by which we cry Abba Father and that God hath glorified his Son Jesus Christ I say Must we now go to Moses for Water Or to Iohn either Did any but Christ or can any other than Christ give us this Living Water If not then let us go unto him who is Faithful that promised that we may drink of the Water he gives all drink into or of one Spirit Oh that Men did know this Living Bread and this Wine or Living Water Then they would say
admitted but after a short time they left their Flocks fled away and were silent Then in came the Surplice-Men and they were for having all to come and take Bread and Wine with them but the other sort were only for admitting such as they upon Examination judged worthy But some of both cry out against the Quakers so called because they do not come under their Ministry of this Ordinance so called and say we deny the Lord's Supper or coming to the Lord's Supper and therefore do they rage against us very sore And I see many People are too willing to lye at ease in a dead state in sin and are not concerned in Heart to seek unto the Lord for Wisdom and Understanding yet for the sake of all such as truly desire to know the things that do belong unto their Peace do I send forth these Lines And First I affirm we do mightily rejoice in Heart Soul and Spirit to meet one with another at the Lord's Table where we meet with the Lord and receive at his Merciful Hand the true and living Bread that comes down from above tho' we are not in Communion with them at that which is called of Men the Lord's Supper and sold by the Priest as such for these Reasons 1. We find that our Lord Christ took Bread at Supper blessed it broke it and gave it to his Disciples but that he said This is a new Ordinance which I now Erect instead of the Passover that shall be observed to be eaten at after the Priest hath done his Forenoon's Preaching before you go to dinner this I find not no nor that those that would stay and eat some of it should pay Two-pence and those that would not should pay likewise eat or not eat pay you must this we find nothing of We find Matthew Mark and Luke calls it the Passover and the Passover which was kept or held seven Days must needs admit of Suppers as well as Dinners and if it was the Passover how then doth it belong to us or enjoin us to keep up a small part of the outward Iews outward Passover This I cannot understand seeing Christ our Passover as the Apostle said is sacrificed for us and so we have no occasion to use the Type because the Antitype is come and has given us a Mind to know him that is true and we are in him But to make it appear that all the Apostles call it the Passover let us hear them speak themselves Mat. 26.17 The Disciples came to Jesus saying Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover And he said Go into the City to such a Man and say unto him The Master saith My time is at hand I will eat the Passover at thy House with my Disciples and the Disciples did as Jesus had commanded them and they made ready the Passover And Verse 26 27. As they were eating Jesus took Bread and blessed it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body and he took the Cup gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it for this is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of Sins but I say unto you I will not drink henceforth of this Fruit of the Vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom Now from all this that Matthew saith it 's very clear it was the Passover which is here spoken of and so plain that he that runs may read Mark 14.12 13 14 15 16. The first day of Unleavened Bread when they killed the Passover his Disciples said unto him Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou may'st eat the Passover He sendeth two of his Disciples and saith Go ye into the City and there shall meet you a Man bearing a Pitcher of Water follow him wheresoever he shall go in say to the Good Man of the House the Master saith Where is the Guest-chamber where I shall eat the Passover with my Disciples And he will shew you a large upper Room furnished and prepared there make ready for us and they went and found as he had said and they made ready the Passover and as they did eat Verse 22. Jesus took Bread and blessed it broke it and gave to them and said Take eat this is my Body and he took the Cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them and they all drank of it and he said unto them This is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many Verily I say unto you I will drink no more of the Fruit of the Vine until that day that I drink it new in the Kingdom of God here it is also called the Passover and Luke 22.7 8 9 10 11 12 13. thus far the same with Mark but in Verse 15 Christ said unto them With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer Verse 16. For I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God and V. 17. He took the Cup and gave thanks and said Take this and divide it amongst your selves for I say unto you I will not drink of the Fruit of the Vine until the Kingdom of God shall come Now these three are full to the Matter concerning the last Time Christ was with them at the Passover and their last eating of it was at Supper And now seeing Christ said that he would eat no more of it until it was fulfilled in the Kingdom of God nor drink any more of the Fruit of the Vine until the Kingdom of God should come pray let me ask this Is the Kingdom of God come yea or nay Doth Christ reign rule and sit as King over all Or is Moses and Iohn's Baptism yet in place yea or nay And if the Kingdom of God be come which the Apostle saith stands not in meats Drinks and divers Washings but in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost then I ask Is the Passover fulfilled yea or nay If it be then he is worthy and ought to have place that fulfilled it for he viz. Christ is our Passover Is he Then Moses's Passover that had the Paschal Lamb Unleavened Bread and the Cup of the Fruit of the outward Vine is not our Passover no that was the Iews outward and was Temporal but Christ the Lamb of God the Bread of Life that gives Living Water and new Wine of the Kingdom that 's Spiritual he is the Passover of the inward spiritual Iew that hath no confidence in the Flesh but worships God in Spirit neither doth he know Christ after the Flesh but after the Spirit who is the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven a quickening Spirit so Christ's Kingdom is come and set up and will come more and more Oh! thy Kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven and the least
Lord evermore give us of this Bread and of this Water that we may eat and drink in thy Kingdom and live for ever For they that know this Bread they know it by eating of it and so they taste of the Goodness of the Lord and of his Divine Sweetness This Knowledge is Experimental as the Child that sucks the Breast of its Mother tho' it knows neither Tongues nor Languages yet it knows the Milk of the Breast is good for it feels and tastes and feeds of it and is nourished by it and enabled to grow from Stature to Stature So none but new-born Babes are thus fed and nourished such as live and abide at the Breast of Consolation and have free access unto it and feel it freely come in upon them and know it made bare unto them Oh! These are sensible of the Love of God and lean upon Jesus Breast upon their Beloved that hath brought them up out of the Wilderness unto his Holy Hill that is exalted above all the Hills and coming up a-top of all the Mountains this is the Mountain of the Lord's House the House of the God of Iacob unto which the weary and heavy laden in all Nations run and find rest unto their poor Souls 7. But why are the Professors of our Age so laborious for outward Bread Is it not Bread that perisheth If so Christ said Labour not for the Bread that perishes but for the Bread that endures unto Everlasting Life which the Son of Man shall give unto you John 6.27 Was not the Unleavened Bread that Moses gave Bread that perishes And pray wherein doth Christ exceed Moses if he give them not Bread that far excels Moses's Bread I tell you Our Spiritual Moses is come that far exceeds Temporal Moses as the Substance exceeds the Type or Shadow and he gives us Spiritual Bread and Spiritual Drink the same that Moses and all that was with him in the Cloud and in the Sea did eat and drink of as the Apostle affirms 1 Cor. 10.3 For they all eat of the same Spiritual Meat and did all drink of the same Spiritual Drink for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ. Now it 's clear from this Apostle he was preaching of Spiritual Meat and Drink to them and the Spiritual Rock Christ and said They meaning Moses and all that was with him did all eat of the same What The same Spiritual Meat and Drink that the Apostle and Disciples of Christ did eat and drink of Then if the same it is Spiritual not Outward or Temporal Meat and Drink but Spiritual Here 's the Meat indeed and the Drink indeed Christ spoke of as aforesaid Now let us come a little farther in this Chapter Verse 14 15 16 17. Wherefore my dearly beloved flee from Idolatry I speak as to wise Men judge ye what I say The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ For we mark we being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all partakers of that one Bread Now here I might say something to Wise Men but not to the Wise and Prudent of this World for they will not receive it But let me ask Wherein stands the Communion and Unity of Christ's Followers Is it not in Christ And are they Wise Men that live in an outside formal Profession of Christ and do not partake of the Flesh and Blood of Christ do not eat of this Spiritual Meat and drink of this Spiritual Drink here spoken of in the Chapter aforesaid For I am certain none but Wise Men know what it is that is they who are made Wise by or with the Wisdom that 's from above And it 's very lamentable to behold that any should be so asleep as to think they eat and drink and be contented altho' they find they are empty of Christ who is this Spiritual Rock whose Flesh is Meat indeed and whose Blood is Drink indeed are empty of his Life Power Virtue Spirit Wisdom Righteousness c. These sit in Darkness and see no Light for they that sleep sleep in the Night and they that are drunk with the Fruits of the wild Grape or blind Opinions of wild-headed Edomites that are hunting in their Airy Earthly Wisdom amongst the high Notionists who have been greatly exalted in the dark Night of Apostacy these are drunk in the Night But let me ask a little further Pray what is this Cup of Blessing Is it an outward Cup If so then why cannot Men that drink of this Cup drink also of the Cup of Devils And pray what is the Table of the Lord Is it outward If so then why cannot Men partake of the Lord's Table and the Table of Devils Consider it for the Table of the Lord is Spiritual and none but Spiritual Men can partake of it The Natural Man knows not the things of the Spirit of God neither indeed said the Apostle can he for they are spiritually discerned and therefore only discerned by the Spiritual Man in whom the Spirit of God dwells see 1 Cor. 2.9 10 11 12 13 14 15. God who is a Spirit hath a Spiritual Table furnished with Spiritual Meat and with Spiritual Drink for all his Spiritual Babes Sons and Daughters who are Born of the Spirit and have Food provided for them according to the Nature of the Seed they are Born of For the Birth being Spiritual it must needs be granted that the Meat and Drink it feeds upon must needs be Spiritual also else how can it agree or suit with the Nature of this Birth For God is a God of Order and hath placed all things in good Order both in Heaven and in Earth so that there is no Communion between the Spiritual and the Natural Man neither can they feed together For every Creature hath its Food according to its Nature the Fish of the Sea cannot feed upon the Land nor can the Beasts of the Field feed in the Sea no more can the Children of God feed at the Table of Devils nor can the Children of the Devil feed at the Table of the Lord neither do they know it Now what is the Devil's Table For I find freedom to be a little plain Let us see if we can shew wicked Men that are the Children of the Wicked One what their Father's Table is and that we may do it in short let us see who are his Children for the Childrens Food is according to and suitable with their Nature Now his Children are these and called by these Names 1 Cor. 6 9 10. Unrighteous Fornicators Idolaters Adulterers Effeminate Abusers of themselves with Mankind Thieves Covetous Drunkards Revilers Extortioners Malicious Enviers Haters of those that are good Murderers Deceivers Haters of God Proud Inventers of Evil Things Disobedient to Parents without Understanding Covenant-Breakers without Natural Affection
Implacable Unmerciful who knowing the Iudgment of God that they who commit such things are worthy of Death not only do the same but have pleasure in those that do them Rom. 1.27 to the end These and all such as live in Lust Pride Lying c. shall not inherit the Kingdom of God and Christ no unclean Man or Woman must enter that Kingdom So the Devil he hath a Table to feed these at where in the World therefore all these love the World But the Love of God is not in them neither do they love one another but love self and are self-ended and love to obtain their worldly Ends and when they shew in appearance to love one another it is for some selfish worldly End So the Devil feeds them with worldly things for he knows they love the Dainties of this World worldly Honours Pleasures Profits Riches and Vanities so the World is very taking with bad People of all sorts Now the Devil would have prevailed with our Lord Jesus Christ to have fed at his Table and he shewed him his finest Dainties the World and the Glory thereof and offered to give it him if he would fall down and worship him but Christ fasted all the Forty Days he was in the Wilderness and did eat nothing mark that Mat. 4.1 to 11. So it 's clear they whose Minds are feeding here are Carnally-minded live in the Flesh to the Flesh have their Affections set on things here in the World love the World these love not God cannot please God nor feed nor know what it is to feed at the Table of the Lord nor do they believe the People of God have such Pastures to feed in such a Table so spread such a Banqueting-house so full of Sweet-meats and Divine Spiritual Drinks as they have where they sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus who hath compelled them to come to the Wedding-Dinner of the great King and the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb every one having on the Wedding-Garment Oh! the things of God are good and precious Things durable lasting Riches yea Everlasting and they that are come to partake of them these look not at things that are seen which are Temporal but at things not seen which are Eternal 2 Cor. 4.18 For the Alpha and Omega is come the First and the Last the Beginning and the End Pray what is he the Last or the End of if not of all Shadows Types Figures and Changeable Things as well as of Sin For if Sin had never enter'd these had not had place in the Church And now he is come that takes away Sin and where Sin is taken away there he that was before Sin was comes to be again in Man as he was in the beginning And how was he then Was there any Types Figures or Shadows then whilst Man kept his State in which he was made whilst Christ the Word the Incorruptible Seed was Head Lord King and all in him Then there was no outward Law of Moses but that was added because of Sin until the Seed Christ came again to put an end to Sin and finish Transgression and bring in Everlasting Righteousness again Gal. 3.19 So to him must the Types Figures yea and the Law that was added give place and he only be exalted for he is worthy who not only bore our Sins on his own Body on the Tree but the Curse of the Law likewise But some may say Paul speaks of the Lord's Supper in 1 Cor. 11.23 that what he received of the Lord was that which he also delivered unto them What was that Why it was this That the Lord Iesus the same Night in which he was Betrayed took Bread and when he had given Thanks he broke it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me After the same manner he also took the Cup saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood this do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lord's Death till he come Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ but let a man examine himself and so let him eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup for he that eateth unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lord's Body Now I desire to know if any thing can be more plain than that the Passover did shew forth the Lord's Death till he came and as before the breaking of Bread the slain Lamb without blemish and the Cup was not all this in the Passover and shewed the Lord's Death till he came But now he is come and and hath tasted Death for every Man was dead but is alive and lives for evermore Death hath no more Dominion over him he died unto Sin or for our Sins once but he liveth unto God yea is God and lives for evermore So that except Men like the outward Iew believe he is not come how can they now live in the use of that Figure which shewed forth his Death till he came well then but did not this Apostle and the Church of Corinth come to the Lords Table and Supper Answer They did some of them but those that did Sup with him must needs do it in the Kingdom of God for he ate no more nor drank no more as he said he would not till it was fulfilled in the Kingdom and till he drank it new in his Father's Kingdom so he is not to be Supped with in the Figure out of the Kingdom but they that Sup with him Sup with him in his Kingdom and if Men Sup with him they must have him to Sup with and are with him where he is and behold his Glory as the only Begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth and so he is with them according to his Promise to the end of the World and if so how then can they run from him to the Figure that was in use and shewed forth his Death until he came But now he is come and is with them and in them and they in him for this Apostle said Know ye not that your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and that Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 How often doth the Scriptures speak of Christ's being in his People and they in him Iohn said The Son of God is come and hath given us a Mind to know him or an Understanding that we may know him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ 1 Iohn 5.20 So that it seems contradictory in it self to say Christ is come and yet to eat the outward Passover which did but shew forth his Death until he came and to do a thing in Remembrance of him and yet be with him and he with them for he gives his People to
inherit Substance and as the Apostle said Heb 9.24 Christ is not entered into Holy Places made with Hands which are Figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us so that Christ is not now in the Figures and if Christ be not in them what Virtue Power or Nourishment is in them For he hath all Fulness dwelling in him and if we partake not of his Fulness what is it we can partake of that can do us any good And if all Fulness dwell in Christ as the Scripture saith then what is there in Figures Types and Shadows Surely these must needs be empty if all dwell in Christ and that he be all in all Well might the Apostle say Let him that glories glory in the Lord so that all the Testimonies of the Apostles point and direct to Christ and testifie of him and his People at this Day preach him For after all his Sufferings Passion Resurrection and Ascension Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any man hear my Voice and open the Door to me I will come in unto him and Sup with him and he shall Sup with me Rev. 3.20 Open therefore ye Everlasting Doors and let the King of Glory enter in for he is Lord of Hosts great and mighty and if God be with you who can be against you He is come to teach his People himself therefore hear his Voice and open the Door of the Soul and let him in that ye may Sup with him and he with you for it 's he that giveth Living Bread and Living Water and his Flesh is meat indeed and his Blood is Drink indeed they that eat his Flesh and drink his Blood dwell in him and he in them and therefore these must needs know he is come for they Sup with him where there is Bread enough and all things are ready the Marriage of the Lamb is come his Beauty and Glory is beheld the Day of his Espousals is come and his Beloved is come up out of her Wilderness-state in a great measure and is made ready for her Beloved for he is adorned with his Wedding-garments O she is the fairest amongst Women no Church nor Woman like her Her Glory is within she feeds on hidden Manna and hath Meat to eat that the World knows not of therefore she tramples upon all Transitory Things and hath the Moon under her Feet she seeks not after the Glory of the Night fine Titles great Honours and rich Benefits Places of outward Profit worldly Gain earthly Treasure and fading Riches no no her Beloved to whom she is joined and made one Spirit with never valued these things or sought after them yet the World hated him and therefore it hates his People because they are not of the World for if they were of the World then the World would love her own but because they are not of the World Christ having chosen them out of the World therefore the World hates them even as Cain hated Abel because Abel's Works were Righteous but Cain's were Evil Oh! therefore be intreated all you that read these Lines to leave the World that is to say be dis-jointed from it and and cleave not to it in your Hearts Minds Souls and Spirit and return unto the Lord with your whole Hearts Mind and Might Souls and Spirits and acept of his Blessed Invitation All you that thirst come unto me said he and drink this was in the last and great Day of the Feast that Christ said after this manner And as the outward Feast drew then to an end so the inward lasting Feast of Fat Things was proclaimed and as the Figure or Type was near its period so the Substance or Antitype Christ the Bread of Life the Passover of the Spiritual Iew was proclaimed And had many known the Gift of God and who it was that gave this free Invitation and proclaimed it himself for all to come that thirsted surely they would have come then and now also But alas there is too few that knows him or thirsteth after him especially of the Wise and Prudent of this World nor of the Great Rich Mighty Noble Learned Disputers of this World who seek their own things their own Honour their own Exaltation yea their own Praise and Glory not the Praise Honour and Glory of God nor the Things of Jesus Christ. But come Remember before this he proclaimed by his Servant Isaiah Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and drink and ye that have no Money come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Wherefore do ye spend your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in fatness Incline your Ear and come unto me hear and your Soul shall live and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David 〈◊〉 55.1 2 3. Oh! what a tender Invitation is here proclaimed unto every thirsty Soul even such as have no Money These are Invited very sweetly But the Lord is grieved and very sorely displeased with Babylon's Merchants who have Traded long and have made themselves Rich Great and Mighty and have taken Money for that which is not Bread and the People have been so unwise as to give it them tho' they have been empty of Living Refreshment of Peace with God and true Satisfaction and have been kept in Bondage have lain in Captivity doing the things they ought not and leaving undone the things they ought to have done O the long Complaints that have been put up towards Heaven And though they say they believe that Christ is come that hath all Power in Heaven and in Earth and gives Power to all that receive him to become the Sons of God even them that believe in his Name who are Born of God But alas People do not come to him tho' they be so very tenderly Invited and Reasoned with as Why will ye give your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which doth not satisfie What Advantage is this to your Souls What Wisdom is there in doing thus to give Money and Labour for that which is worth neither As by long Experience many know Oh then Let the Wicked forsake his way and the Unrighteous Man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have Mercy upon him and to our God saith the Prophet and he will abundantly pardon Seek the Lord therefore whilst he may be found call upon him while he is near for he is come near who is given for a Leader and Commander to the People Read all the Chapter through and consider it and compare it with Chap. 53. and whilst Time is embrace Christ Jesus open the Door of thy Heart and let him in hearken to him learn of him be led guided commanded and ruled by
Sanctifier and Purifier of all his Brethren and Members of his Body or Church and People and nothing else can for as the Work is his so the Power is his and the Glory of the Power is due to him who is Greater than Iohn c. So if Christ wash thee not thou hast no part in him John 13.8 And without Blood there is no Remission Heb. 9.22 It 's the Blood of Christ that cleanseth us from all Sin 1 John 1.7 9. Rev. 1.5 Now it 's clear from that full and clear Declaration of Christ to this Apostle of the Gentiles what he sent him to do and what Christ's Mind was to have done and did he send the rest of the Apostles with any less Authority Or to do any other Work And is not this a more excellent Work To turn People from Darknnss to Light and from Satan's Power unto God than to turn Men into Water or to sprinkle Water in the Faces of Infants and then say They are Sanctified and Changed Regenerated and Born again made new Creatures yea Children of God Members of Christ Inheritors of God's Kingdom and promise to deny the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World the sinful Lusts of the Flesh with all the Desires of the same so that they will not follow nor be led by them And also that they will believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith and keep God's holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the Days of their Life Doth not this set Christ aside and render him useless and ascribe that to Water-Baptism nay to Sprinkling that 's all wholly due to Christ as before is proved Oh where had you Commission for these things Who sent you that run into these things Shew us one tittle of any Command or Example for Sprinkling in all the Scripture how dare you say all these things are done by sprinkling Water in the Face of Infants and yet say there is none free from Sin on this side the Grave Are not New Creatures the Children of God Members of Christ Inheritors of God's Kingdom and deny the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World the sinful Lusts of the Flesh with all the desires of the same so that they will not follow nor be led by them and believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith and keeps God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all their days I say Are not these free from Sin that begin thus when they enter into the World and continue to their Lives end Oh consider these things People you that read and see how you are led and how the same Men that lead you thus to promise and avow teach you all your lives long to say You do those things you ought not and leave those things undone you ought to do and are miserable Sinners or Offenders having no Health in you Can Children of God Members of Christ be miserable Sinners then when they are in a Child's State and Members of Christ What Rule what Title of a Word can be shewed for these things in all Holy Scripture Is it not sadly to be lamented that People should be fed with Husk when there is Bread enough in God's House and to spare But Paul was sent upon a more profitable Work and all that are sent of God are sent to Turn People from Darkness to Light and from Satan's Power unto God Oh how few appear to be thus turned amongst the Professors of our Age So it 's clear what Christ sent Paul to do for Paul saith He sent me not to baptize 1 Cor. 1.17 but to preach the Gospel Now if Paul was not sent to Baptize as it 's clear he was not how then can we think in Reason that others were For he was not behind the chiefest of the Apostles as he himself affirms But he must needs be behind them if their Commission was larger than his but if not then it 's strange how Paul could miss of having a share in that Commission Matt. 28. If it was a Commission for Water-Baptism to them it must needs be so either to him or else he had no share in it and if he had no share in it then he was behind the other Apostles in that Now that that in Mat. 28. was a Commission for Water-Dipping and Sprinkling I deny neither did Paul understand it so at all for had he he would not nor could not have said as he did but I say if it was and he had no share in it how comes Men in our times to have Power from Mat. 28. to Dip and Sprinkle For Paul had none therefore let them tell us plainly or cease from deceiving the People But again we find that Paul Preached the Baptism of Christ and shews what it is very plainly in Rom. 6.3 Know ye not that so many of us as were Baptized into mark into Iesus Christ were Baptized into his death therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life For if we have been planted together into the likeness of his Death we shall be also in the likeness of his Resurrection knowing this that our Old Man is Crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin for he that is dead is free from sin And verse 17. God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the Heart that Form of Doctrine which was delivered you Vers. 18. Being then made free from sin ye became the servants of Righteousness Vers. 22. But now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your Fruit unto Holiness and the end Everlasting Life for the wages of sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Come People all you that read this see if you yet know this Baptism into Christ into Death to sin and know the Old Man Crucified and put off and Christ the New Man put on that sets free from sin and makes Men Servants of God in Righteousness This Baptism is effectual to Salvation this is that we have all need of to be baptized with and if this Baptism be not known by us we fall short of freedom from sin and then the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ so in Christ is Life Eternal and they that are Baptized into Christ puts him on abides in him are alive unto God in him and dead to sin as the Apostle saith in the 2d verse How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein There is surely a vast difference betwixt those that live in Christ and those that live in sin This is a fanning Baptism a cleansing purifying Baptism this
with the Affections and Lust thereof so are Holy and Righteous People in all Conversation and Godliness in Christ Jesus and so bring Honour to the Name of Jesus in whom they live being Baptized into him and so into his Power or Name and are what they are in him who is all in all But alas for Men to talk or make mention of the Name of the Lord who instead of departing from Iniquity do drink it up as the Ox drinks Water and are in the Power of Satan and are Instrumental to plunge one another into sin and urge their Neighbours to drink in excess until they be Inflamed drawing one another into Oaths Whoredoms Pride Malice Envy Covetousness Strife Contention Fightings Bloodshed and what not that 's Evil these do highly dishonour the Name of Christ before all Nations and give both Iews and Heathens occasion to Blaspheme that Holy Name of Jesus which they make Profession of these can say well but alas they do ill pretend unto great things but live ill talk yea may be preach against Pride yet live in it against Cruelty and Oppression and yet live in it in a Word against Sin Iniquity and Transgression yet live in it and so strengthen those in it that hear them talk and Preach against it by their living in it these have Words without good Works yea Faith without Works say well and do ill have a form I do not say a form of Godliness but deny the Power so are like those of old who said they were Iews but were not with whom God was highly displeased Revel These are Enemies to the Name of Christ do not know it nor what it is to be Baptized into it no it 's a Mystery hid from those Wise and Learned Prudent Ones but made known to Babes who are Born again of Incorruptible Seed the Word of God that lives and abides for ever these are Children of God in Christ Jesus have love to God and one to another yea to all Men do good to all but no harm to any prays for all in the Love of God and are as Candles upon Tables as Lights in the World who live worship and walk with God in his own Name and are taught of God so they meet in his pure Name pray preach sing and rejoyce in the Name of the Lord and in the Power of his Might and so are saved sanctified justified kept and preserved in his Living Name a Living People to praise him who is God of the Living not of the Dead These know Christ to be with them and make use of them and in his own Power makes them Instrumental for to Disciple People and Baptize them into the same Power And so the whole Life of Christ's Apostles Disciples and Messengers is of a preaching teaching Nature and those that are not called to Preach or Declare Verbally in Meetings are also in the same Power enabled to preach and teach in Life and Conversation and so all the people of God are Baptized into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and so into one Body by Christ the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven a Quickning Spirit and are all one in him Now this Baptism is beyond the reach of all Babylon's Merchants they cannot Sell this they have no part nor lot in this no more than Simon Magus had who thought the Gift of God might be bought for or purchased with Money no it is Christ's Baptism done alone by his own Arm and Power To him be praise for ever Object But because the word Baptize doth signify to dip or plunge 't is generally thought by many People that therefore it must be Water Ans. There is a Spiritual Baptism and a Temporal or Outward with Water which in the New Testament is called Iohn's Baptism which Temporal or Outward Baptism Men can imitate but the Inward Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire none knows but them that have it And this throughout the Scriptures is call'd the Baptism of Christ. And as Iohn's Disciples were enabled to carry on his Baptism in his Time and Season so Christ enables his Disciples by his Power to be instrumental in his Baptism to the end of the World So that as there was an outward Dipping or Plunging into Water by the Servant Iohn spoken of in the Scriptures so there is an inward Spiritual Dipping or Plunging by the Son into his own Name Power and Spirit c. as before is shewn And it 's only Ignorance that causes Men to think there can be no dipping but into Water or some liquid thing but our Lord Jesus Christ was deeply plunged into Sufferings and Death for us and he calls it a Baptism saying I have a Baptism to be Baptized with and how am I straitned untill it be accomplished Luke 12.50 And when the Mother of Zebedee's Children came to Christ to desire that one of her Son's might sit on his Right Hand and the other on his Left in his Kingdom he answered and said Ye know not what ye ask are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of and be Baptized with the Baptism that I am Baptized with They said they were he said They should indeed drink of the Cup and be baptized with the Baptism that he was baptized with c. Mat. 20.22 23. Oh this Cup was a Cup he prayed to the Father that if it was possible might pass from him nevertheless says he not as I will but as thou wilt And again Oh Father if this Cup may not pass from me except I drink it thy will be done Mat. 26.39 42. And in Luke 22.43 44. there appeared an Angel unto him from Heaven strengthening him and being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly as his Sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground Oh consider this Baptism all that read this and see if you have been Baptized with it and have drunk of this Cup yea or nay for you may plainly see this was a Baptism that neither dipped our Saviour into Water or any other outward liquid thing but into deep Sorrow Grief and Bitterness of Soul And I desire my Reader to take notice that Paul to the Romans Chap. 6. speaks of being Baptized into Christ and into his Death and I declare it all those that are Baptized by one Spirit into one Body they are partakers with Christ and his Body the Church of his and it's Sufferings but said the Apostle further If ye suffer with him ye shall also reign with him c. Now see how deeply our Lord Jesus Christ was plunged into deep Sufferings Agony and Sorrow so that he Prayed earnestly and swear drops as it were of blood falling down to the ground and much more read all his Sufferings on the Cross and elsewhere is not this rightly called a Baptism a deep dipping or plunging when he said My God my God why hast thou forsaken me So he was Baptized for the Dead