had seen Christ That he the said Moor never saw Christ as Paul did That the benefit that Drunkards have by Christ is that they injoy that drink wherewith they are drunk That there is something which is not of God which teacheth the creature to deny sin The Answer to the aforesaid charges sent them the same evening by Thomas Moor. 1. THat God is not manifest in the Creature I never said But that God was not manifested in the flesh in a full and absolute sense in any natural son of Adam in the time of this mortality nor so as he was manifested in that person the onely begotten Son of God that is now received up into glory in the nature of man in that one body 2. To the next Charge that which I said was That Timothy did not receive his word nor so his furniture to his service in the Gospel immediately from the person of Christ as the first Apostles but mediately through their word and by the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit therein and for proof of this I brought that 2 Tim. 1. 14 15. and 2. 1 2. and 1 Tim 4. 14. And so all others for blessing on whose ministration our Savior prayes besides those first Apostles that immediately received their word from him are thus distinguished Joh. 17. 20. Them also which shall beleeve on me through their word 3. That Timothy had not the same Testimony as the Apostles had I said not nor delivered any thing in like expressions nor do I understand by his expressions what he means or would fasten upon me If he mean that he had not the same that they had I disown it if he mean that he received it not in the same manner it is spoken to and Answered before 4. That Paul was strengthened with his bodily eyes to behold the person of Christ after his ascention To this I desire this be considered which I then propounded though it could not be heard Act. 9. 7. 8. And the men which journyed with him stood speechless hearing a voyce but seeing no man and Saul arose from the earth and when his eyes were opened he saw no man Do not the verses together imply That immediately before his falling at least in that light shining about him he did see the glorified Body in the Heavens which might occasion his falling to the Earth even the man Christ Jesus from whom the voyce came whom they saw not at all that were with him though they heard a voyce especially if we compare it with that 1 Cor. 15. 8. where after he had said He was seen of James then of all the Apostles he adds And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time I desire in the fear of God This may be considered was he born out of due time to enjoy a spiritual appearance or discovery of him or was he the last to whom he so appeared yea is it not plain that he appeared to him last of all in the same manner as he had done to the other before I stretch not my words in the same manner further than to a personal appearance or visible demonstration of his person And do they not say That their eyes had seen that their hands had handled of that word of life in such a sense as Beleevers since had not seen compare 1 Joh. 1. 1 2. with 1 Pet. 1. 8. Joh. 20. 19. Whence Paul to prove himself an Apostle saith Have I not seen the Lord 1 Cor. 9. 1. 5. That Naylor was a false witness in saying that he had seen Christ To this I Answer That Naylor would not suffer me to speak out what I was about to say as to that and other things all will bear me witness yet I suppose I at first said and I am sure did after explicate my saying thus That if he had said he had seen Christ as Paul did in the same manner or I might say also received the word in the same manner immediately from the person of Christ which was the thing reasoned about then he was a false witness For they were the Apostles last in that respect 1 Cor. 4. 9. Paul the last of them to whom he so appeared as before 1 Cor. 15. 8. That he might have seen Christ after another manner of demonstration which in this immediate Revelation was not wanting but more abundant to them also I will not deny yea that he yet in some sense and at this time might through the Spirits demonstration of him in his words for many see and hate as those Joh. 15. 24 6. That I never saw Christ in the same manner that Paul and the rest of the Apostles did with their bodily eyes I own yet not having so seen I desire to love him even that person and to wait for his second appearing as those 1 Pet. 1. 3 7 8. 1 Thes 1. 9 10. 7. That the benefit Drunkards have by Christ iâ— That they enjoy that drink with which they are drunk That that is the benefit I said not â—â—â— one of the benefits And they injoy many more and all to a saving 〈◊〉 and not to abuse them which is the thing that makes them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their condemnation great in abusing such benefits which as then more fully explicated was the answer given to their Queerying What benefits Drunkards had by Christ 8 That every thing that teaches to deny sin is not the true light many false principles and lights teach to deny many sins as that which teaches to establish a righteousness of a mans own yea the wisdom of the flesh teacheth to deny many lusts of the flesh And having thus fully answered I desire him to Answer and Prove 1 That God is manifested in his flesh and how 2 That no wicked man hath any benefit by Christ nor any man till he can witness Christ in him 3 Whether the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles be a dead letter 4 Whether Christ be any thing that beareth our sins in us as the propitiation yea or no Which things if he asserted not let others witness The Answer to one of the fore-mentioned Charges as it was writ and left for them the next day ON review of their Paper next day I find another Charge which truly I slipt over unawares in my answer to it the last night viz. That the Scriptures are the absolute Rule and medium of Faith To this I answer viz. That which I said to this I am sure was with this clause According to which it is begotten and regulated which I suppose they wittingly leave out for it was oft urged on their cavilling at it And for proof and demonstration of the sense of what I affirmed as to that I propounded that Job 7. 38. He that beleeveth on me as the Scripture hath said And that Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever beleeveth in him c. I had then spoken
the Gospel immediately from that person was that I said though indeed not on such occasion as thou mentionest in they letter but in Answer to thy witness That thou hadst seen Christ as Paul had And also by way of demonstration That Timothy and so all secondary Ministers in the Gospel since had not their demonstration of the person of the Lord nor their furniture in the Gospel in the same manner that those first and great Apostles had who were also the Apostles last in that respect of which Paul was one though born out of due time and the last so immediately called and furnished On this occasion I say was that assertion forementioned And that also that appearance or immediate Demonstration of the person of Christ was such as his bodily eyes were strengthened some little time to behold or see that also at least I supposed and gave my reasons for But that I positively affirmed so much I remember not I suppose you will find in my Answer to your Charges that on the mention of that Charge I neither own nor disown it as charged on me but being then in haste onely desired you again to consider what was propounded as to that This I mention not as doubting whether he did or no though to dispute such a thing with men that have no faith in that person I think is in vain because such men are also unreasonable or absurd 2 Thes 3. 2. They will not regard understand or be swayed by the plain import and force of the words of the Holy Ghost they would as lightly cast off the words themselves and reject all use of them or allusion to them if they did not fear its being disadvantagious to their design among a people where the Scriptures are generally esteemed But to that which I said about this whether laid down by way of position or supposition it matters not this was plain enough to be understood in both my saying and writing That he was on earth when he enjoyed that immediate demonstration was so strengthened to behold that person that glorified body in the Heavens that Just or Holy One Act. 22. 14 with chap. 2. 27-30 31. and to hear the words of his mouth I say that he was on earth then is plain in what I said about it for I brought that Act. 9 3 7 8. as implying that he was strengthened to behold that glorified body in the Heavens even in that light shining round about him above the brightness of the Sun which sight occasioned his falling to the earth And it is clear that then he appeared to him in the way vers 17. And that he had then and probably after such a sight of the Just one as was as to the manner of his seeing equivalent with the manner of hearing vouchsafed him of the words of his mouth see Act. 22. 14. which whether it was not with bodily ears also let the Text be considered Act 9. 7. which saith The men that were with him heard a voyce also they heard a sound of a voyce though the voyce or the distinct words of that sound they understandably heard not Act. 22 9. that discovers what manner of bearing was vouchsafed but saith the Text seeing no man as it even thereby appears Paul dâ—d even that mâ—n Christ Jesus from whom the voyce came before his falling at least And that which makes it more clear is that he saith 1 Cor. 15. 8. Last of all he was seen of me as of oâ—e born out of due time And it is evident he was not the last to whom he was spiritually demonstrated nor born out of due time for that yea to prove himself an Apostle as well as the rest 1 Cor. 9. 1. even one of those immediate Messengers and Ambassadors of the Lord for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his name as Rom. 1. 5. though last of all called and furnished he saith Have I not seen the Lord which must needs bee in another manner of demonstration than onely spiritual for so all beleevers have seen him as Gal. 3. 1 2. in or through the hearing of saith yet all are not Apostles 1 Cor. 12. 29. yea his sight was in such manner of demonstration as other beleevers since have not seen as in my first Answer and might be more fully shewed but I forbear onely this I have mentioned partly to discover the falseness of thy charge in this Letter And that it may appear as in all said it dâ—th That I do and did in all said about it apprehend and fully signifie my appreheâ—sions to be such that Paul was on earth when he had that demonstration of the person of Christ in the Heavens And are you so sensual that you cannot beleeve that God may manifest his Son even in his person visibly to men on earth while yet the same person so demonstrated remains in Heaven Is not he able to give supernatural demonstration of objects and strengâ—h to behold them too And what more is this we have said of Paul as to sight of the person than was vouchsafed to Stephen the first Martyr we read of after Christs A scension with what eyes did he look up sted fastly unto Heaven and was it not with the same that he saw the glory of God and Jesus even the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God See Act 17. 55 56. But why art thou not ashamed to mention my words by peece meaâ— leaving out such a material clause and yet calling it my saying As when thou chargest me with saying That Paul saw Christ after the same manner that the other Apostles did I did indeed in the paper query whether that last of all of me c. 1 Cor. 15. 8. as added to the former Verses do not signifie that he appeared or was demonstrated to him in the same mannen that he had been to the other after his Resurrection and before this But thou well knowest its backed with this caution which is so placed that it cannot go for my saying without it But thou leavest it out knowing it would spoil thy intention and clear me of thy slander as likewise all fore-written about it in that paper will do The Caution is this I stretch not my words in the same manner further than to a personal Appearance or visible Demonstration of his person which surely he might injoy as well as Stephen though he on Earth and the Lord in Heaven But thou wilt not beleeve any thing thou sayest that thou knowest to be a lye however fully implied though in Scripture for there was no other implications mentioned I suppose thou wilt not say whatever thou think that the Scriptures do by any fair and clear implication signifie a lye But to wave that How dost thou know that this is a lie That Paul enjoyed such a visible demonstration of the person of Christ as before for thou speakest to that as well as to the other branch which I
have disowned and of them both together signifies thou knowest it is a lye I say how dost thou know it or how shall we know it when thou bringest nothing at all to prove or demonstrate it to be such Is this all the Answer we must look for when thou affirmest any thing or deniest any thing I know I witness it to be True or I know it to be a Lye Indeed these were the strongest Arguments and Demonstrations we had from thee in our meeting to any thing that I know of and with these and such like in the mouths of divers of you together you could be as confident wise and strong in your own conceit as seven men that could render a reason and stop the mouths of others too with these when you had none of the faithful word to do it withall I know it is a lye and I pray how dost thou know dost thou think we will all fall down and worship James Naylor in receiving what he urges upon us onely in his own name I know I witness c. It may be such may do it as will not receive or have rejected the testimony of the other J. N. Jesus of Nazareth that came in his Fathers name Joh. 5. 43. But give us leave to question how thou knowest and because thou dost not tell us I will guess in this thy conscience knows whether I guess right or no I fear thou dost not at all in thy heart beleeve or acknowledge that one person of Christ as personally absent from thee while in this clay Tabernacle that that which we read of that person and the work done in him is sleighted as figures of some other truth to be found in us is evident enough to me as I shall further make appear anon but that which I here look upon as the ground of this thy confident knowledge is something more namely That thou hast in thy heart wholly rejected the faith and acknowledgement of that one person of the Son of God in our nature in one individual personal body even the same that was crucified slain and hung upon a tree that Jesus of Nazareth to be now received up into glory by the Father in the Heavens and there remaining in the most glorious presence of God even in the Heavens as opposed to the Earth where the former high Priests served and where while he is he is personally absent from us while we are in these bodies on earth I suppose thou mayst think there might be such a one as Jesus of Nazareh and that he dyed as is written of him and happily that he rose again but if thy thoughts go so far I doubt they leave him there even that Jesus of the seed of David after the flesh as one that in all done before in him was but a type of some first appearance to be accomplished in us and now as a type or figure vanishing and ceasing from thence so to be So that what we read of his Ascention into Heaven and remaining in the Heavens until the Restitution of all things and of his second personal Appearance is to be understood of some other internal mystery to be accomplished now in us not so plainly expressed in the words which must therefore be slighted as a dead letter I fear I have almost touched upon thy thoughts though we will not boast as thou dost of compreheading and discerning us perfectly in root end and off-spring while yet God knows and all that know us know thou dost not discover us at all nor speak as one at all acquainted with whence we come or whither we go but as he Joh 3. now if thou be so far given over to strong delusions to beleeve such a lie that there is not such personal body in our nature in the Heavens as before thou must needs from thence be confident Paul did not see him for he could not see that which is not But to remove such false ground of such a confidence there is sufficient demonstration and power in his words as left on Record and will be yet to thee in the consideration of them if thou hast not wholly crucified the Son of God to thy self and so thy self to the light and power of his words See I pray thee Luk. 24. 39 40. with vers 51. How our Saviour in the last discovery of himself to his Disciples after his Resurrection and before his Ascention demonstrates himself to hâ—ve a real body and not onely the shape or appearance of one which a spirit without a body may assume by his having real flesh and bones to be felt And that body to be he himself the same that was peirced and nailed to the cross so demonstâ—ated by his hands and his feet â—â— little before to Thomas by his side and hands Joh. 20 27. and at that time of his having so demonstrated himself unto them he led them out as far as to Bethany and be lifted up his hands and blessed them and it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carryed up into Heaven compare it with Act. 1. 9 10 11. Where having in the verses before repeated the Narration of his shewing himself alive to them after his passion by many infallible proofs and then of his commissionating and blessing them he saith And when he had spoken these words while they beheld that may assure us their sences were not deluded but it was even the same person in the same personal body as before demonstrated by his hands and feet his flesh and bones which their eyes had seen and their hands had haâ—dled even that word of â—â—e in that flesh which he was made now spiritualized or made in the Resurrection a spiritual body yet the same so made Even while they behold he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their fight and while they looked stedfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel which also said yee men of â—â—lilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as yee have seen him go into heaven Note the wisdome and care of the Holy Ghost here lest being taken out of their sight they or any after should doubt whether that body as then demonstrated vanished or what became of it He adds here that he was taken up from them into heaven even the same Jesus which they had seen and in this his Ascension in their sight in which he was taken up from them vers 9. 11. with Luke 24. 51. He was carried up into heaven yea saith Mark. He was thou received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God Mar. 16. 19 even there in the heavens he is â—et on the right hand of the Throne of Majesty there officiating as a Minister of the true Sanctuary c. Heb. 8. 1. 2. Christ after the same consideration of him
to death for our offences and raised again for our justification In him as so considered God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels preached to the Gentiles beleeved on in the world and received up into glory And that this Scripture speaks of these great things of the mystery of godliness as done onely in that one person I propounded this consideration for one That the word that is immediately prefixed and especially applicable to the first clause is in the Preterperfectense or in the time past God was not God is he was manifest in the flesh yea the phrase of the last clause renders that as a thing also done and finished in the person spoken of He is received up into glory And surely In that person and in him only this is absolutely true God is in the nature of man even in the flesh in which he descended received up into glory not now receiving or to be received but now already received up into glory set down on the right hand of Majesty on the Throne of glory in the heavens Consider I pray you how suitable to this understanding of the last and first clauses is that which is affirmed of this person Heb. 9. 24 25 26. Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true But into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us nor yet that he should offer himself often as the former high Priests entred into the holy place every year with blood of others hee needeth not daily to offer up sacrifice for this he did once Heb. 7. 27 for then also must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world but now once in the last Ages of the world he hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself even as it s appointed unto men once to dye so Christ was once offered not in many Ages or divers times but once in the last Ages when men were multiplied into many whereas they were but one when the ordinance of death passed on them yet in that one it passed on the whole kind so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many even of all of that kind all men every of the nature he took then when they and their offences were multiplied into many he saith not to bear sins in many for then indeed he must often have suffered But now once he was offered in his own body even that so and then prepared him Chap. 10. 5-10 to bear the sins of many Then was God in Christ condemning sin in the flesh yea then and therein when one dyed not in but for all and rose again Then was God in Christ reconciling the world not imputing their trespasses to them but causing them to meet together on him 2 Cor. 5. 14. 15 19. with Isa 53. 6. Rom. 8. 3. 1 Pet. 2. 24. And raising him and giving him glory as the publick man that by and through him our faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 3. 18. and 1. 21. with these and that 1 Tim. 3. 16. compare that Joh. 13. 31 32. See how our Savior there directs us to the person in whom the time and works in which God was so manifested and glorified in the flesh and did straightway after the finishing of these works glorifie it in that person even then faith our Savior when Judas was gone out to betray him when he was presently to finish those works the Father gave him to do on earth yea his soul was already in trouble Joh. 12. 27. now saith he even in that his being made an offering for sin is the Son of Man glorified and the Father is glorified in him If God be glorified in him God shall also glorifie him in himself and shall straightway glorifie him Then and therein was the Son of man glorified in his being appointed and set as the surety in that publick place that by the grace of God he should tast death for every man he was therein said to be crowned with glory and honor above all other persons among Men or Angels for no man could redeem his Brother nor give to God a ransom for his soul the Redemption of the soul is more precious neither was there any other thing or person in Heaven or Earth that was counted worthy but this Holy One Herein was the Son of man glorified And so in Gods supporting him and carrying him through so great sufferings when all our sins met together on him Psal 40. 11 12 16 17. Heb. 5. 7 9. Likewise in Gods giving so glorious a testimony to him at his death Mat. 26. 50 54. And in his Resurrection from the dead This Jesus who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness Rom. 1. 3 4. In these things the Son of man was glorified and â—o the Father glorified in him in the exercise and agreement of all his holy and glorious Attributes his Wisdom Holiness Truth Mercy Goodness Power c. for manssalvation God was manifested in the flesh condemning sin and yet therein preparing Attonement and Propitiation for sinners and straight-way after the finishing of these works in his own body the father who glorified him in himself in his own Power Name and Glory declaring himself satisfied in and for what he delivered him raising him from the dead in which he was justified in the Spirit or according to the Spirit of Holiness did further and fully and perfectly glorifie him in the same body in receiving him up to glory and setting him on his own right hand in the Heavens far above all Principality and Power Might and Dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but in that to come and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him then distinct from him in his personal body now raised and glorified yet they in that to be done in and upon them are the filling up or compleating of him in the ends and vertues of his cross who as so considered namely in the ends and vertues of his cross filleth all things as Ephes 3. 8 10 but he gave himself for hâ—s Church for all that through his grace to man-ward come in to him That he might wash them with the washing of water by the word that so he might in the issue present it to himself as he now presents it in himself before the Father a glorious Church without spot or wrinckle Eph 5. 25-27 and ch 1. 20 21 22 23. 1 Pot. 3. 22. Phil. 2. 6-11 Joh. 17. 1-5 Col. 2. 9. Read these Scriptures and compare them and see how they explicate and agree with the explication given of that 1 Tim. 3. 16. And after some little Discourse to this purpose demonstrating
type shadow or figure that so thou mayest confirm thy imagination of something within as the truth Is not this plain in thy comparing our opposing thy witness forementioned and not beleeving concerning the flesh of Christ farther or otherwise than wee read in the Apostles writings with such opposition of the Apostles preaching down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without c. in their day Yea its farther plain in that thou sayest The confirming them within in spirit is the ground and bottome of all and that in which all must end In whâ—ch word All thou hast evidently reference not only to the things last mentioned But to the things first mentioned also concerning the flesh of Christ about which was our contest and so thy witness is That the confirming them within us in spirit is not only the ground bottome and end of all those types and shadows of the Law Concerning which neither is thy witness true For Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness even to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10. 4. yea in the works done and finished in his own body He is the body the prime and main thing figured in all the types and shadows of the Law But also of the personal appearance of Christ and the works done in and by that one person in his own body and the mention of his second appearing the confirming these â— things within us in some imagination or operation wrought or found in us saith Thy witness is the ground and bottome of all and that in which all must end Now if this be not another Gospel or Doctrine than what the Apostles preached and in this Letter so acknowledged too let the considerate Reader judge Yet I shall also here add a word or two to make it farther appear That this thy Message or Doctrine is not another manner of or farther revelation of the same thing or such as in which the things they said should come are declared as fulfilled even so as they said they should be as the Apostles Message or Doctrine as added to and following the Prophets was But so absolutely another Doctrine and contrary to what they have preached that the truth of them both cannot stand together as the things written by the Prophets and Apostles did seeing the Apostles said nothing but what the Prophets did say should come to pass who signified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and of the glory that should follow The righteousness of God as its now come forth in Christ was so witnessed to in the Law and Prophets that the Apostles Doctrine was but a farther revelation of the same mystery of God in Christ before witnessed and according to what the Prophets had before said should come more fully opening and in all things confirming them Rom. 3. 21. Act. 26. 22 23. 1 Pâ—t 1. 10 11. But this Doctrine in which Gods being manifested in the flesh in that one person and the works done in his own body for us is preached down as they preached down the outward Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices as being but a farther type shadow or figure of the truth it self and that to be found in something else is so far from agreeing with the Apostles Doctrine or witnessing what the Apostles said should come so as therein to confirm their word as they did the Prophets that it wholly contradicteth and blasphemeth both and cannot be in the least measure granted but the truth of theirs is therein denyed For they have in their revelation of the Mystery told us That that Jesus of Nazareth and no other thing or person was the eternal word that was in the beginning with God and was God by whom all things were made and in whom in all Ages was life and his life was the light of men even hee to whom John witnessed that was not John but another person distinct from John and all other persons who was in those dayes made flesh by a work of new creation in the womb of a Virgin and so came into the world in the nature of man and dwelt amongst men in that his own personal body and they his Disciples then in that personal converse they injoyed with him on earth did behold his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father there is not another thing or person among men or Angels that is the immediately begotten Son of God the Father and him as so made flesh and in that body delivered to death for our offences and raised again for our justification they did behold and witness to be infinitly full of grace and truth as the fountain for all others and as the truth and body of all types figures and shadows of the Law Yea farther That they in receiving that word and testimony which himself began to preach and which they received immediately from him and fully after his Ascension they had therein received of his fulness in respect of the ministration or revelation of him to be given to mortal men And grace for grace A plaâ—n and full ministration or revelation of the grace of God in and by Jesus Christ to receive grace through whereas our Fathers before though saved by grace yet received that grace through a ministration of works For the law came by Moses but grace and truth by Jesus Christ c. read Joh. 1 1-18-29-40-45 c. The former things were indeed shadows and so they were alwayes signified to be but Christ is the body Col. 2. 17. And what ever is said in the Law and the Prophets of their continuing for ever I mean those typical Sacrifices and Ordinances It appears plainly signified even in those Scriptures of the Prophets if they be compared that in the things themselves that were types and figures of the true and as they were so they were only to continue for ever as Ordinances among them in their Generations till the Seed should come that was promised before that Law was given and in him the truth end and fulfilling of them was to remain for ever and ever The Law was added because of transgrèssion till the Seed fore promised should come Gal. 3. 19. and did in the whole and every part of iâ— shadow out and witness good things to come lead to a better righteousness and hope than was to be attained in or by it and that only to be found in Christ that was to come in the nature of man who is the end of the Law for Righteousness He is the body truth and end of all those former things that indeed were shadows and so was witnessed and directed to by them Rom. 3. 21. Heb. 9. and 10. So that the Law Prophets and Apostles do all agree and with one mouth witness declare and confirm him to be The He the Son of God the Savior of the world in whom onely dwels the fulness of the Godhead bodily In all which former witnesses and latter manifestations of his power and coming they have not made known
the Gospel or testimony of God concerning him who hath abolished death by his appearing and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel 1 Cor. 15. 1-4 1 Pet. 2. 24. Rom. 4. ult 2 Cor. 4. 6. 2 Tim. 1. 10. and 2. 8. In this the Spirit and teaching of God is primely known and distinguished from all others it doth unto and for all things confess acknowledge and praise or commend Jesus Christ as already come in the flesh not coming but come and now through sufferings entred into glory in that his own personal body in our nature and for us according to the Apostles Doctrine 1 Joh. 4. 1 2 3 6. for reproving the world and teaching and leading the beleever into all truth It takes of his things and shews to the soul and so glorifies him even lifts up the Son of man the personal abasement sufferings or cross of Christ with the ends and vertues thereof as now manifested in him being raised and received up into glory Joh. 16. 8 9 10 13 14. with Joh. 3. 14. Rom. 1. 1-3 4. 1 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Tim. 2 8. This is so the summe and subject matter of all the Fathers teaching That every one that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh to Christ according to the testimony God hath already given of him Joh. 6. 45. And he that beleeveth not the testimony or record that God hath already given of Christ maketh God a lyar 1 Joh. 5 10. Yea it is so the summary and fundamental matter of all his teaching that he is said to learn all truth and so to teach and lead into all truth in Jesus in the demonstration opening and usefulness of Jesus and those things of him according to the record God hath given of him by the one month of a â— his Prophets and Apostles since the world began Eph. 4. 20 21. with Joh. 16. 13 14. Act. 3. 20 21. This the purpose and grace of God given us in Christ from the beginning now manifested by the appearing of Christ c. as 2 Tim 1 9 10. That the Son of man must be lifted up above all and for or unto all help and healing of men even as Moses lift up the Serpent in the wilderness That whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have eternall life For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son namely the Saviour of the world and to be so lifted up That whosoever beleeveth in him c. Joh. 3. 14 15 16. 2 Those things contained in the matter of Gods teaching as springing out of and arising from the things main and fundamental are Doctrines and Instructions concerning all things needful to be known given and opened in and through the demonstration opening and usefulness of the knowledge of him in what he hath done and is become for us for so saith our Savior The holy Spirit as now coming forth in and with the testimony of Jesus as the works of our salvation are finished in his body he shall reprove the world of sin of righteousness and of Judgemâ—nt and all this in with and through that testimony of Jesus as given forth to them for thus he explicates Of Sin because they beleeve not on me of Righteousness because I go to my father and ye see me no more He comes down no more to suffer in which the infinit and abiding vertue of his once suffering is declared And the second and glorious Appearance they should not see in the time of this mortality nor till we all come together Of Judgement because the Prince of this world is judged already which also was done in him as Joh. 12. 31 32. speaking of that vertually done from the beginning now presently to be actually done in his own body and by his being lifted up from the earth both on the cross and then because of that being raised on the right hand of Majesty he saith now is the judgement of this world now is the Prince of this world cast out And with this Argument or in the Demonstration and usefulness of this as he reproves the world of Righteousness that all theirs is nothing his onely perfect and will stand them instead So he reproves them also of Judgement shews the vanity and falseness of all theirs whether of Condemnation or Absolution or in their apprehensions concerning things and persons And likewise he saith He shall teach them the beleevers on him further in and by the same Instrument and shall so lead them into all truth and shew them things to come for saith he He shall not speak of himself but whatever he shall hear that shall he speak he shall take of my things and shew unto you he shall glorifie me c. Joh. 16. 8 14. In the demonstration and opening of him God learneth all truth and so also therein instructeth and directeth to all right demeanors towards God and men So the Apostles gave all their commandements by the Lord Jesus in the demonstration opening and applying the things of him did give the ground and reason of them shew their equity move and press to the observing them in the strength afforded in those mercies of the Lord in and through that testimony of Jesus 1 Thes 4. 2. Rom. 12. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 13-18 c. Ephes 4. 1-8 10. For that Grace of God that bringeth Salvation to all men especially in this appearance of it now come forth by Jesus Christ teacheth that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearance of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ c. Tit. 2. 11 12 13. 2 That in the second place propounded to be considered is where and how this teaching of the Father is held forth by himself unto men surely that is 1 In all the books of his Creation and providence in all mercies chastisements and changes of his providence with men Job 33. 14-29 30. and 36. 22. 26. Psal 19. 1-7 107. with Rom. 10. 17 18. But 2 More clearly and abundantly in the holy Scriptures which were both given and left upon record by immediate inspiration and furniture of God Rom. 15. 4. 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. 1 Cor. 14. 37. 2 Pet. 3. 2. 1 Joh. 1-4 5. and are therefore profitable for all doctrine or teaching c. They are able being his words and preserved in the Records of them from any fundamental or material perversion on the account of his righteousness who hath so promised Psal 12. 6. Prov. 12. 19. Isa 8. 16. 20. 44. 25 26. and so owned by him and accompanied with his spiritual presence to the end of the world Mat. 28. 20. able I say to make us wise to salvation both of our selves and others through faith which is in Christ Jesus and throughly to furnish the man of God to every good word and work 2 Tim. 3. 14 15 16 17.