13.8 Which saith Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines but do all things according to the pattern which the Lord Jesus hath shewed us in his last Will and Testament and as many as walk according to this rule as Paul in another case saith peace be upon them and mercy upon all such Israelites of God and thus I passe to the fifth ground and reason to prove that all the Laws Statues and Ordinances appointed by Christ in his last Will and Testament are to remain practicable and to be practised by the Lords people Reas 5. It further appears that all the Statutes and Ordinances of Christ are to be practised by the Lords people till his second coming because when the Apostle Jude speaks by the holy spirit of some that would be as wandring stars which had turned from the simplicity of the Gospel he exhorts the Saints earnestly to contend for the faith once delivered unto the Saints Jude 3. which agrees well with that prophetical saying of the wise man Solomons Song or the Cant. 1.7 8. which saith Tell me O thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flockes of thy companions If thou know not O thou fairest among women go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flocke and seed thy kidds beside the shepheards tents The which both places sheweth plainly that the people in after ages should walk in the same footsteps and by the same rule that the primitive Church walked in for that text is a prophesie of these times or that which very much concerns these times as we may see from Chap. 2.9 10 11 12 13 14 15. in these words My beloved is like a Roe or a young Hart he standeth behind our wall he locketh forth at the window shewing himself thorow the lattesse My beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my fair one and come away for loe the winter is past mark that the raine is over and gone The flowers appear on the earth the time of the singing of birds is come and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land The fig tree putteth forth her green figgs and the vines with her tender grapes give a good smell Arise my love my fair one and come away O my dove thou that art in the clefts of the rocks in the secret places of the stares let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voyce for sweet is thy voyce and thy countenance is comely Take us the foxes the little foxes that spoile our vines for our vines have tender grapes From this text we may learn or observe these things first that Christ doth manifest or shew himself to his People now although not so visibly to be beheld or tooke notice of by others no but as it were out of a window or thorow a lattesse secondly that it is a prophesie that concerns us is clear from these words for loe the winter is past meaning the sharp persecutions of the Romish Whore which hath made all Nations drunk with the wine of fornication and the Kings thereof to commit fornication with her and so they by her appointment have persecuted the Saints in their severall dominions and so have caused the people of God to creep as it were into the clefts of the rocks out of the which they are to come forth and the next and last deceit of the Devil is to transform himself like unto a Angel of Light and so shall destroy more by subtilty then by violence and that is his design in the last daies as Christ and his Apostles have foretold at large the which we see to be accomplishing a great pace in our Nation which sheweth that these are the last dayes and also this text speaking to the same thing saying Take us those foxes those little foxes that spoile our vines for our vines have tender grapes Which is to be understood that when the Church is young and newly come forth out of those troublesome times that many shall be spoiled by the subtilty of the Devil putting it into the hearts of the sons of men to pervert the Scriptures and turn men away from the good ancient paths of Christ which makes the Spouse inquire in the midst of these varieties of opinions where Christ would have his Flock to rest and his answer is that they must Goe by the footsteps of the flocke that is in the very steps or way that Christs flock of old walked in and contend for that faith and hold fast the profession of that faith without wavering because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever and thus it appears that all the Laws Statutes and Ordinances which are comprehended in the last Will and Testament of the Lord Jesus are practicable and are to be practised by the Lords people and thus I passe to the sixth ground and reason to prove that al Christs Statutes and Ordinances as before mentioned are perpetuated and to remain till the Lords second coming Reas 6. It further appears that all Christs Laws and Statutes are to remain because the author to the Hebrews 10.28 Set the transgressors under Moses law as an example to those that despise or observe not Christs laws and if all Christs Laws Statutes and Ordinances which are written in the new Testament and confirmed are not as perpetual as Moses law then it cannot be a more greater transgression and a more sore punishment to disobey them for Moses laws was perpetuated with a cursed is he that continueth not in all things that is written in the book of the law to do them and all the people shall say Amen but Christs Laws which are written for many of them were not perpetuated but lost their authority and dyed with that age or generation as saith Mr. Henden and some are so bold as to say that not only some but all the Statutes Ordinances of Christ which are written in the new Testament were only theirs or belonging to them in that age and not to us and in my understanding one speaks as true as the other for he that saith some of the Laws and Statutes of Christ are to cease and yet cannot prove that the will of Christ is cancelled nor shew where Christ or his Apostles have said that these Statutes and Ordinances must cease at such a time were as good say all must cease one having as good a warrant for what he saith as the other But passing this all that was written in Moses laws was to be observed kept as wel when they had lost that gift of Vrim and Thummim after their coming forth of Babylon as before For we find that the book of the law was to be read and the People to observe and do it according as it was written therein and we find that good Josiah
when the book of the law was found after it had been lost rent his cloathes when he heard it read in the consideration how far the people were revolted from it and gave commandement to the people to reform and observe to do the commandement of the Lord as it was found written in the book of the law of Moses and as it was given in commandement to all the godly or all the Israelites to observe and keep the commandement as it was writeen even so all that were godly amongst the Israelites did accordingly observe and keep them untill Shilo or the great law-giver came even Jesus Christ and in like manner as Jesus Christ did command his Laws and Statutes to be tought to every creature and to be observed by all the faithful even so the faithful have and will in every age faithfully keep them and that Christs Laws are set in oposition to Moses Laws that is to say they are as weighty and as perpetual as Moses were is proved and it is also evident that they were to remain as well when they came out of Babylon as before they went into Babylon Nehem. 8.1 2 3. Chap. 13.1 2 3 4. and so I pass to the seventh ground and reason to prove that all the Laws Statutes and Ordinances appointed by Christ in the new Testament which is his last will are to remain to be practised by the Lords people untill his second coming Reas 7. It further appears that Christs Laws are perpetuated and to remain as aforesaid because if it be but a mans Testament yet if it be confirmed no man must disanul nor add thereunto as saith Saint Paul Gal. 3 15. but this is not only the will and Testament of him who hath an unchangeable Preist-hood and liveth for ever but also it is confirmed not by the blood of bulls and goates but by his own blood and therefore no man may disanul or add thereunto without being in danger of everlasting wrath and cuting off from amonst the people and that Christs will and Testament was confirmed both by his blood and with signs and miracles read these few cited texts in the room of many that might be cited see Heb. 9.13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. In these words For if the blood of buls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God And for this cause he is the Mediatour of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance For where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator For a Testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth Whereupon neither the first Testament was dedicated without blood For when Moses had spoken every precept unto the people according to the Law he took the blood of calves and of goats and so forth Saying This is the blood of the Testament which God hath enjoyned unto you It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these From this text compared with chap. 2. and vers 3 4. with Mark 16.20 we may learn that the new Testament is confirmed both with signs and miracles and divers gifts of the holy Ghost and also with Christs blood for the Testator did die and is alive and therefore unless one greater than Jesus Christ or himself do cancel that will and Testament woe woe woe be to that man or woman that disanulleth any one of Christs Laws and Statutes they at the last will be found to be transgressors and guilty of all for so it was in Moses Law all things must be done according to the pattern as it was written and even so saith Christ Teach them after you to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And the very same as hath been said already was given in charge by St. Paul to the Ministry after him as Acts 20 35. Phil. 4.9 Those things that ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you And thus I pass to the eighth ground and reason to prove that all the Laws and Statutes of Christ given forth in his last will and Testament are to remain and be practised by the Lords people Reas 8. It further appears that Christs Laws Statutes and Ordinances are perpetuated and to remain till the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ because St. Paul saith that if I or an Angel should bring another Gospel than what he had preached we must hold him accurst and we well know that the Gospel that Saint Paul preached was a Gospel with all the Laws Statutes and Ordinances of Jesus Christ even Repentance Acts 17.30 Faith Acts 16.3 Baptisme Laying on of Hands Acts 19.6 2 Tim. 1.6 1 Tim. 5.22 Heb. 6.2 The Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. Eternal Judgment 2 Cor. 5. Church fellowship Phil 1.5 with receiving into communion Col. 4.10 Rom. 15.7 casting out of the Church 1 Cor. 5.4 5. Tit. 3.10 and to sum up all in short be did declare the whole counsel of God Acts 20.27 and taught the Churches how to deale with offenders 2 Thes 3.6 1 Cor. 5.7 9 10. to keep themselves pure And now for men to bring a Gospel as they pretend without some of these Ordinances and to nullifie others and extenuate the strength of many is to bring such a Gospel as Saint Paul never brought but it is another Gospel and such are to be rejected by the servants of Jesus Christ admit of this short argument which is If the Gospel which Saint Paul brought and preached was a Gospel containing all the Laws Statutes and Ordinances of King Jesus then those that bring a Gospel with many of them left out bring not the same but another Gospel and is to be rejected But the Gospel that Paul brought was a Gospel containing all the Laws Statutes and Ordinances of King Jesus Therefore he that brings or preacheth a Gospel with manay of them left out bringeth another Gospel and is to be rejected Read the words of Paul Gal. 1.6 7 8. which saith I marvail that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ But though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have alreardy preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again If any
Israelites Sixthly The number Sealed from amongst them was the same not hurt by the Locust Chap. 9.4 The same standing on Mount-Zion which duly pondered with all circumstances can be reduced to no time or condition but that of the elect in Babylon if the Romish and Antichristian defection be not decyphered to these figures and but the Jews only then it is altogether omitted in this Book Answ The assertion is denyed and hath already been disproved and all men that have their eyes in their head I mean all those that have not the eyes of their understanding out may see it for as I have already proved the Spirit of God doth not only call those that are Sealed the Tribes of the children of Israel but names every Tribe distinctyl Revel 7.4 5 6 7. and when you write again I pray you cite one Text written between the Alpha of Genesis and the Omega of the Revelations to prove plainly that when God speaks of the TRIBES of the Children of Israel and names every Tribe distinctly that he then means Gentiles and then I will believe it As for the Sealed number spoken of Revel 14. are the same number and people and whereas it s said that they were Virgins its clear at that time Israel is to be in a Virgins condition and at that time or straight after it they shall be marryed unto Christ by their being put into the possession of the covenant or the thing covenanted which is to be made after those dayes saith Jeremiah 31. relating to the last dayes even till the appearance of Jesus when they shall say loe this is our God Isa 25. Rom. 1.1 but that they are called Virgins read Jer. 31.4 21. Isa 62.5 Hosea and many Texts might be given to prove the House of Israel as it is considered in the latter dayes to be in a Virgin condition I mean Israel the ten Tribes and not Judah Secondly The Scriptures is very full in shewing that they are called a people redeemed from among men where they have been scattered and made to serve their enemies Isa 35.10 chap. 51.11 chap. 62.12 with many more which might be added Thirdly as for their following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth it is spoken in reference to the juncture of time in which the Beast or great Antichrist is to raign who striveth to have them believe and follow him but they refuse and will own none but Christ to be their King their minds running after him they having before been informed of his glory by the two Prophets and also seen a glimps of it in the glorious signs of his coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory and so they are said to follow him And as for the order of the words following I could speak largely to it if I had time but if I should speak of the things in particular contained in this book with their attendance it would take up a large time the which necessitates me but just to mention it as it were and to leave it and so I pass the assertion and come to the reasons to prove the Sealed number Gentiles cited by you which is First Because the book of the Revelation was not sent to the Jews to the Gentiles Answ Suppose it were so that all the seven Churches of Asia were Gentiles which I think Mr. Henden will not affirm although some of them might be and were Gentiles yet this makes not at all as I humbly conceive to prove that the Ministry contained in the vision seen by John did not appertain to the Jews neither do I say that it did wholly appertain to the Jews so as not to include some things also which related to or concerned the Gentile Church but if it were only spoken of the glory and goodness of God unto the Jews yet it would have spoken much comfort and joy unto the Gentile Churches in their tribulation because their blessing and rich promises are bound up as I may say amongst the promises of Israels redemption and glory the which is proved at large in the Scripture but at present I shall only cite these two places Isa 60.2 Rom. 11.12 13 14 15. Secondly I understand that John to whom the vision was shewn unto was a Jew as I think none will deny and I suppose that the vision was to comfort him in his persecuted banished condition and unless Johns nature was estranged from Pauls and the rest of the faithful Jews it was a thing of no small comfort to him in his tribulation to be shewn the glory of his brethren after the flesh the Jews shortly to be conferred upon them And Thirdly it was the way of God of old to comfort his servants the Propets in their persecution and captivity in that way and indeed nothing will comfort a godly Prophet or Minister more than that thing namely for them to see the prosperity and glory of the godly to approach more especially if they be related unto them in the flesh Rom. 9.1 2 3. and that it was the way of God to comfort his Prophets that way see Ezek. 40.1 2 3 4 5 6. Dan. 7.1 2 13. And so I pass this and come to the second which is Reas 2. The main body of the vision was after the dayes of John Revel 4.1 saith Mr. Henden Answ In this reason as I think you want an interpreter to explain your mind that is to say whether the accomplishing of the body of the vision were after Johns dayes or whether the greatest part of the vision signified by your word body was shewn or revealed to some other person after Johns dayes and if it was shewn unto another person after Johns dayes when you write again cite a Text of Scripture to signifie the person and Secondly resolve by Scripture when Johns dayes ended because the Text saith that he was to prophesie again before many people and Nations and Languages and Kings Revel 10.11 I would not be looked upon as one that made it his practise to ask curious questions because you may as well ask me when the dayes of some other of the Apostles ended and demand me to resolve it by the Scripture which could not very well be done only by good reason drawn from Scripture But I desire to hear your judgment about the end of Johns dayes because it was a question amongst Christs own Disciples John 21.23 Secondly because that the Text saith expresly of John that he should prophesie again as before said and the accomplishment of that prophesie is yet to be fullfiled the which I have spoken of before and shall again if the Lord will when I come to speak somewhat of the two Witnesses But as in answer of the two Reasons I say there is not so much as the colour of a Reason in it to prove as I conceive that those Israelites were to be understood Gentiles The four Angels saith Mr. Henden stood upon all quarters of the Earth and the with-holding
is universal the four Winds and the hurt thereby to all the unsealed Israelites which cannot agree with any one Nation Answ That the Angels stood upon the four quarters of the Earth is true and the with-holding of the Winds is so universal as to hurt all places and persons except the Sealed number and the places that escape the Antichrist which some shall as is before proved but what for all this doth it therefore follow that the Sealed Israelites were Gentiles its no reason at all to me for it is clear that the Jews are scattered into the four quarters of the Earth and it is as clear that God will gather them from thence and will get them fame in all places where they have been put to shame and also it is as clear that it is the family of the Gentiles which are to be deceived as hath been already proved and it may also be further seen to be they that shall be deceived first and last even Gogg and Magog as Revel 20.8 He shall deceive the NATIONS viz the family of the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are in the four quarters of the Earth Gogg and Magog c. but the Elect viz. the Jews shall not be deceived And whereas you say the hurt is to all the unsealed Israelites my answer is Shew that any of the Israelites at the fullfiling of this Prophesie shall be unsealed I am sure that the Prophets and also the Apostles saith that then they shall all be holy unto the Lord and all Israel shall be saved as it is written when the Lord shall thorowly purge away the filth of the Daughter of Zion then although they seek for sin in Judah they shall find none for they shall defile themselves no more with any of their detestable things or abominations So then in short the answer to the third reason is that although the Angels were standing on the four quarters of the Earth holding the four Winds and the with-holding the four Winds were universal and the hurt to all the unsealed Israelites proves not at all to my understanding that the Sealed number were Gentiles they that can receive it let them for I do asure you I cannot see not so much as a colour of reason in it and thus I pass to the examination of the four reasons to prove the sealed number cited by Mr. Henden to be Gentiles which is saith he because This hurt was chiefly introduced by the Locust Chap. 9.4 and by the Beast which cannot be applyed to the Jews but to the Christian Nations Answ I could if I had time speak much concerning the Locust and their King and the persons tormented but that which I say at present in answer to it is I think that herein Mr. Headen and I am very near of one opinion in this thing for saith he the hurt was chiefly introduced by the Locust and Beast which can in no sense be applyed to the Jews And all that I have been contending about is that those that were not hurt were the Jews which were the sealed number and here Mr. Henden saith the hurt introduced by the Locust and Beast was unto the Nations I understand him Gentiles for he saith it cannot be applyed unto the Jews and if the hurt cannot be applyed unto the Jews then upon his own argument the Jews were the sealed number for all others were hurt only they that were sealed were not to be hurt Revel 9.4 But by the way the hurt there was not at all by the Beast and his followers but to the Beast and his followers by the Locust and so I pass this and come to the fifth reason which is By comparing the Text with chap. 11.2 we may clearly see saith Mr. Henden that the Nations possessed the Court without the Temple Answ It is true the Nations or Gentiles did take the outward Court before it was measured viz. Walled and did tread the holy City under foot for which cause the Lord sent those plagues on the Nations when he had sealed the Tribes of the Children of Israel which were not to be hurt by the plagues of the Locust or Angels although they were troubled and persecuted by the Beast for which cause God sent plagues upon him as he did upon Pharaoh King of Egypt for the case may be fitly paralleled with Israels suffering in Egypt by Pharaoh King of Egypt and as God sent several kinds of plagues on Pharaoh for his cruelty exercised against his people Israel even so will the Lord send several kinds of plagues upon the Antichrist and his followers the Nations for their cruelty again the very same people viz Jews for his love unto them is an everlasting love and therefore will he have compassion on them and gather them and destroy all their enemies according to his word and thus I pass this reason also saying that although it be not denyed that there be alligorise in the vision of this book yet it 's meet that we distinguish between reason and madness and take heed of making an alligory of that which is plainly to be understood that we come not under that reproof of darkning words without knowledge and perverting and wresting the Scriptures to our destruction and thus I come to the sixth and last reason cited by Mr. Henden to prove that the Sealed Number were Gentiles which is saith he The number Sealed from amongst them was the same not hurt by the Locust chap. 9.4 nor utterly deceived by the Beast chap. 13.8 Mat. 24.24 The same standing on Mount-Zion chap. 14.1 which duly pondered with all the circumstances can be reduced to no time or condition but of that of the elect in Babylon if the Roman and Antichristian defection be not decyphered by these figures but the Jews only then it is altogether omitted in this book Answ Whereas it is said the number sealed was not hurt even so have I said already that the Tribes of the Children of Israel were sealed to the end that they might be distinguished from the worshippers of the Beast that they might not be hurt when the plagues were to be executed upon the Beast and his worshipers And Secondly where you say nor utterly deceived by the Beast I understand your Judgment is that they were deceived although not utterly deceived it seems to be a kind of a curious distinction the word nor utterly deceived by the Beast such an one as I find not made by Christ either in Mat. 24. or Revel 9. for saith Christ they shall deceive if it were possible the very elect implying that it was impossible to decive them And Thirdly whereas it is said the same sealed ones standing upon Mount-Zion can be reduced unto no time or condition but the Elect in Babylon Answ This is a strange alligory indeed to reduce Mount-Zion to Babylon or that Babylon is set forth by Mount-Zion I pray when you write again cite one text that calls Babylon by the name Mount-Zion
confirm it again when Israel came out of Babylon nor after the Book of the Law was lost and found again in the dayes of Josia no more need we any Sign to confirm that which is already confirmed and also we know that John did no Miracle and yet was an approved Administrator Again whereas Mr. Henden said that he was a legal Minister and a Minister of condemnation which had no visible demonstration from the spirit viz. Miracle The answer was then Mr. Henden was a legal one and a Minister of condemnation because he professeth himself to be a Minister and yet never work a Miracle that ever I heard of there was much time spent upon a kind of running discourse to little edification for that which I would have had done in order to the legal managing of the discourse was that there should have been one question stated at a time and that managed but when one began he spoke of several things and so confounded one with another and cleared it not as it should be I could repeat what was said about the four Winds and what was said by Captain Tucker as to the grounding of faith upon the obscure and dark Prophesies which was well minded although not well weighed by our Antagonist and as I think as little understood I have found it a sure maxime that the greatest confidence amongst men hath the least reason to warrant it which is sad And whereas Hebrews 12. was brought together with Galatians 4. to prove the Church to be called Mount-Zion neither of the places proveth it the Apostle to the Galatians tels us that it is the Covenant which is called Jerusalem which is from above and from the Hebrews we learn also that it is the Covenant or the thing Covenanted and whereas he saith that we are come to Mount-Zion he also saith that we are come to an innumerable company of Angels and to God the Judge of all things and the Spirits of just men made perfect so that we are come to one as well as to another and to neither of them but by faith in the Covenant for while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord for we walk by faith and not by sight And Paul doth not say to the Galatians that ye are Mount-Zion or Jerusalem but Jerusalem which is from above is the Mother of us all so then it was the Church which was called Jerusalem but Jerusalem from above was the Churches Mother mark a difference between the Children and the Mother and secondly the Author to the Hebrews doth not call the Church of the Hebrews Mount-Zion but tels them that they were come to Mount-Zion viz. the Covenant of Mount-Zion and the Heavenly Jerusalem but I shall leave these things at present and pass to the Answer of some Objections usually urged against the perpetuation of Christs Ordinances or the constant practising of them and the first that I shall speak to is Object 1. There was a time when God did appear in his Ordinances which shewed there was the power of the Spirit went along with them as Peter in his Ministry in converting three thousand souls at one Sermon saith Mr. John Henden but now we see not the same effects therefore the cause ceaseth God hath left them and they are become as a dead carkass without a soul Answ It is very true there was a time when there was such need of a visible demonstration of Gods Spirit to go along with his Ordinances to bear witness to the sons of men that they were the Ordinances that were approved of by the Lord that they might be a pattern or platform for all men to walk in to the Worlds end and hence it was that when God gave to Moses and the rest of the Children of Israel the pattern of the administration of the Law he gave it with the visible demonstration of his own presence with thundrings and lightenings and the Mountain smoaking with a visible maifestation of Gods glory with and upon Moses so that his face did so shine with the Glory of God when he came from the Mount that the Children of Israel could not stedfastly behold him by reason of the brightness of the Glory of God shining upon him this was his appearance when he came down with the Tables of the Law written by God so gloriously did God appear in the giving forth of it but afterwards all that the Children of Israel were to do was to have the words of the Law read to them and they to do it or keep it and not to say who shall ascend up into Heaven for some visible demonstration but the Law is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou maist do it saith Moses Deut. 30.10 11 12. even so saith St. Paul Rom. 10.6 7. The righteousness of faith speaks on this wise say not in thy heart who shall ascend up into Heaven to fetch Christ down from above c. but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart So that true faith giveth heed to Gods word and looks not for miracles for so saith Christ blessed is he that hath not seen and yet believed for a sinful and an adulterous generation seek a sign but none shall be given unto them c. Secondly If no Ordinance may be an approved Ordinance of God but such an one as hath a visible manifestation according to Mr. Hendens sense as aforesaid then he himself never met together so as God did approve of it because we find that when the Disciples met together the house spoke where they were assembled Thirdly his Ordinance of preaching hath not the Spirit with it because instead of converting three thousand at one Sermon I suppose he never converted three hundred in his life nor scarce half half so many and as for the Ordinance of Prayer I never heard any of those that usually hear Mr. Henden say that he hath prayed till the place hath spoke where he was praying as it did when the Disciples were a Praying Acts 4.31 and as for the Ordinance of Preaching and praying and the like Mr. Henden saith he owns to continue in all ages uncorrupted and they had once as great a visible manifestation as any Ordinance that I know of and yet there is no more appearance in a visible manifestation in them now than there is in any other Ordinance which Mr. Henden cryeth down and I may fitly say to Mr. Henden as Christ said to the Scribes and Pharisies which did much dote upon signs and miracles that the Kingdome of Heaven cometh not with Observations as gadding after miracles saying loe here or loe there for the Kingdome of God is within you that is as if he should have said it consists more in inward glory than outward glory or manifestation for the Kings daughter is all glorious within and the proper work of the Spirit is within as Christ
when Ephraim and Judah shall be one after Israels return out of Assyria as you may read in the foregoing Chapters as chap. 36. and 37. And they shall never be divided into two Nations any more but as yet they are Quer. 4. Whether shall the Jews be succoured in the time of the Man of Sins raign by any Nation that shall be unsubdued by the Antichrist Answ Yea Moab is appointed of the Lord to be a hiding place to Israel and Moab shall not be subdued by the Antichrist but shall escape him that Moab shall escape him read Dan. 11.41 and that Moab is appointed to be a harbour or place of safety to Israel from the spoiler read Isa 16.4 I could cite many Scriptures more but I pass Quer. 5. Whether shall the Jews be changed at the coming of Christ and made immortal as the believing Gentiles or whether shall nature have more years accompanying it Answ I do not find in Scripture that any shall- be raised from the dead at the coming of the Lord but as have dyed in the Lord neither do I find that any shall be changed amongst the living at that day but such as have before that day believed in Christ and waited for him for at his coming two shall be in one bed the one taken and the other left behind and the Saints are to judge the twelve Tribes of Israel not when the twelve Tribes are changed into an immortal state but before for I do not find that one immortal Saint shall judge or govern another who himself when so judged is immortal Mat. 24.40 1 Thes 4 15 16. Revel 20.6 7 8. Luke 22.30 But if it should be Objected and said what correspondency can there be between bodies mortal and bodies immortal I Answer and say in what may they not correspond in their commerce one with another Was there not correspondency between Christ after his resurrection and his Disciples which were in their mortal bodies did they not walk together and discourse yea did they not eat together after his resurrection surely they had society and communion one with another although Christ was raised from the dead and his Disciples lived in their mortal bodies Luke 24.38 39 to the 48. And that nature shall have more years is clear from the Text cited Isa 65.19.20 and also Zech. 8.4 and more which might be added but I pass saying that I have spoke more or less to the chifest part of thy Queries already as thou maist read at thy leisure in my Book elsewhere Quer. 6. Whether shall Christ give the Jews a Law to keep in obedience to him differing from the Law of Moses or the new Testament Answ I do not find in Scripture mention made but of two Testaments one given from God by Moses as a mediatour and the other by Christ and as for the second or new Testament which is by Christ the Jews did reject and therefore it was taken from them and they shut up under unbelief until the fulness of the Gentiles and I do not find that the gospel administrations are to remain any longer than until the fulness of the Gentiles which will be at the appearance of the Lord Jesus and as touching the Gospel the Jews are to be enemies unto it and as I before have said I never find that the preaching of the Gospel is the way to turn the whole house of Israel from their sins but God hath appointed another way of convertion to the house of Israel namely the glorious appearing of Christ in the Clouds of Heaven at which time the spirit of grace and supplication shall be poured out upon them when they look upon him whom they pierced then shall they mourn and say this is our God we have waited for him Zech. 12.10 Isa 25.9 Mat. 23.38 39 Rom. 11 26 27 28. Isa 59.18 19 20. And as touching the two places of Scripture cited Isa 2.3 Mich. 4.2 to prove that the Law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem it appears that as the Jews shall be waiting for their King in the Laws of Moses even so those Laws shall remain with the Jews in that day read Isa 66.20 21 22 23 24. Zech. 14.16 17 18 19 20 21. There is many Scriptures speaks to this purpose but I study brevity only giving those Scriptures which lie before me in my mind at present and so pass to the seventh Query which is Quer. 7. How it may appear that Christ shall raign in Mount-Zion in Jerusalem and judge in the valley of Jehoshaphat Answ This also I have before shewed that although the Wine-press shall be trod without the gates at the valley of Iehoshaphat so as blood to come out even to the horses bridle when the Man of Sin shall go forth with fury to destroy the Jews at the Womans return and the ten Tribes with her yet afterwards Jerusalem shall be cleansed and Christ shall have his Seat there as I have fully proved in this Book Dan. 11.44 45. Ezek. 39.11 12 13 14. Revel 14.20 So then the great slaughter shall be without Jerusalem in the valley of Iehoshaphat where he will judge or plead with the heathen with fire and the sword yet he shall afterwards possess Jerusalem or Zion his holy Mountain and his Throne shall be in the place where his Father Davids was where he shall raign in Mount-Zion in Jerusalem thenceforth even for ever Isa 24.23 chap. 9.7 Luke 1.32 33. Quer. 8. Whether the new Jerusalem that shall come down from Heaven be the place for Christ and the Saints to raign in Answ The Scripture saith that they that are saved shall walk in the light of it and shall go no more out and there shall in no wise enter into it that which is unclean but such as are written in the Lambs Book of life Revel 21.24 27. cap. 3.12 Isa 36.1 2 3. So then that is the place for Christ and the Saints where they shall be glorified and there they shall remain for ever for it is the City which Abraham looked for whose maker and builder is the Lord and it is Gods Tabernacle which shall be with men when he shall dwell with them Quer. 9. What shall be the condition of the wicked and also of such as shall believe in Christ and own him in the time of Christs raign Answ As for the wicked they shall have great Judgments in this life as I before have shewed their eyes shall consume in their holes and their flesh shall consume from their bones while they stand upon their feet and afterwards have their due deserts at the time when all shall arise at the general Judgment Zech. 14.12 18. Revel 20.12 And as for those that do believe and obey Christ so as to come up to worship the King the Lord of Hosts even such Gentiles shall have priviledges although inferiour to the Jews and see his glory Isa 60.10 11 12 13 14. chap. 61.1 chap. 66.23
Babylon in Caldea trow I think not but in short take this that Israel might not neglect their building but go on with all speed that might be so soon as they were set at liberty from the hands of their enemies even so it is our duty to be imployed about the work of God in his Church so soon as we be delivered from the hands of our enemies yea while the enemy is raging against us as he was against our brethren before us who kept stedfast in the practising of all Christs Ordinances even so ought we to do finally the Lord Jesus Christ when he went away did give forth his last will and Testament in much plainness the which he commanded to be observed by every creature unto the Worlds end and did ascend up on high and gave gifts i. e. the gifts of Ministry containing Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers to that end that his Laws and Statutes might be published and Saints gathered and established until the last Saint which is to be born in the World is united into the faith of Jesus and made perfect therein to the end that God may be glorified in his Church in or thorow all ages even to the Worlds end and if the breach of Moses Law was so hainous in the sight of God much more will the breach of Christs Laws be unto him therefore take heed of breaking one of the least of Christs Commands and teaching men so to do and courteous Reader be well advised what thou dost in the neglect or breach of any of Christs commands before thou dost it and let him that perswades thee to it give thee as plain Texts of Scripture to prove the cessation of them as Christ hath given thee for the continuance of the practising of them for remember that when once the Testament is confirmed no man must add or disanul and to suppose that Christ would give forth his mind in plain words at length and forbid the continuance of them in a figure which may be changed from 1-1-0-0-0 one to ten or to a hundred or a thousand or seven thousand or what men please yea any thing that men will have it to be my meaning in plainness is this as for those figures brought by Mr. Henden to prove the cessation of some of Christ Ordinances have been spoken to or opened by many and some have applyed them one way and some another they are so dark and mysterious as beyond the reach of every godly soul to understand insomuch that if they do neglect the practising of Christs Ordinances from those dark places it must not be from their own understanding but because Mr. Henden openeth it and applyeth it so and if this be a good ground for persons to make void the statutes of Christ which he hath confirmed with his own blood together with mighty deeds of the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven I shall leave the serious Reader to Judge and shall wind up all with these words of our blessed Saviour which said to his Apostles Teach them viz. every creature or all Nations to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the World Amen Mat. 28.20 Mark 16.15 16 And having thus done in the next place I shall speak somewhat briefly as touching the conference before mentioned but the main things have been spoken to already they being the same in substance with the things in his book the which I have already answered and therefore shall speak very little to it the first thing in order was The Ordinances saith Mr. Henden were footed or founded upon an unerring spirit shew the man that hath the same spirit to prove his succession The answer was given that the Ordinances now practised was no new Ordinances but the same which was footed upon the unerring spirit and to remain by the same old appointment of Christ until the worlds end this was the substance although I gave it in more words which time fails me to speak of in particular at present Secondly This man saith Mr. Henden would lead you all in the dark about Baptisme by what authority he takes up his Baptisme is from Mat. 28. the which being truly read according to the Original is Go teach all Nations and baptise them c. And loe I am with you to the end of the world that is to the end of that age which further appears that there was to be a sink or cessation for a time Revel 10.8 The words again denotes a new work of Prophesie so Baptisme doth denote to a particular time The time of speaking at both hands was so long that as I have said I cannot give you an account of the particulars of things because as there was speaking long even so the answer was long the answer in short is the same in substance with the former that I could not lead men in the dark in the business of Baptisme because it was the same that Christ practised and appointed and left in his last will and testament to be practised to the worlds end But the worlds end saith Mr. Henden is to be understood the end of that age Which then was opposed because upon that consequence preaching was as well to cease in the end of that age as Baptisme But however Mr. Hendens judgement was altered he contends in his Book for the continuance of Baptisme in all the times of Apostacy as to the Text Revel 10.8 from the word AGAIN thou must prophesie AGAIN the meaning of it was that although John was then banished into the vail of Patmose from the faces of men yet he was to prophesie again before Kings Rulers and so forth not alluding at all to a sink of the Ministry or Ordinances for a time as Mr. Henden said he also pleaded for Infant Baptisme urging some old thredbare Arguments which is not worth speaking to and railed at me for denying the Covenant although I spake nothing of the Covenant to move him thereunto but my answer in short was that I was so far from denying the Covenant that I did believe that there was two Covenants made with Abraham as I long before that time had published in print But said Mr. John Henden Your power is not derived from the primitive because you do not make the same manifestations Mark 16.17 These Signs shall follow them that believe It was answered that if these Signs must follow in his sense or else the thing it self false for want of that visible demonstration then Mr. Henden was a false Minister and also by the same consequence there is never a true Believer upon earth and then no salvation for the Signs were to follow such as did believe But as I have before proved Signs were for confirmation and the Gospel being once confirmed there is no such use of them as the Law of old being once confirmed with Miracles need no new Sign to