in hell torments ELias will come and restore all things I answer Elias is already come for it was John the Baptist See Math. 11.13.14 Luke 1.17 Mark 9 11 12. But John cannot redeeme a soule from hell but then they say As all bare the image of the first Adam and so were cast out of that Paradise so all beare the image of the heavenly Adam and shall come to his Paradise But I say the text saith not all But as we have borne the image of the earthly we shall beare the image of the heavenly But no flesh and bloud shall inherit the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 15.49 50. But they say though they belong in that boyling lake it will be happy for them in the end for they shall be there but till they have put off their mortall estate and at the resurrection these Captives ransome shall be fully paide and Origin was of their Judgement but see here how they pleade for Purgatory But those in hell shall suffer the vengeance of eternall fire Iude. 7. They shall depart from Christ into everlasting fire Math 25.41 where the fire is not quenched Mark 9.46 But they say God reprobates none but upon some fore-seene evill nor elects any but upon some fore-seene good but here it seemes they hold it possible to doe some good in hell where they blaspheme God for ever and doe not repent to give him glory Revel 16.9.11 but they say those that sinne against the Holy Ghost shall be in danger of eternall fire but not in it but I say They that blaspheme against the Holy Ghost shall neither be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Math. 12.32 Then how shall they escape it but they say Abraham gives Dives in hell a loving title calling him Sonne Luke 16.25 therefore there is hope to come out I answer It was but a complement yet he was the Sonne of God by creation and yet not his Sonne by redemption from hell But they say Christ would not have preached to those Spirits in prison if they should for ever abide there I answer Christ did not preach to them in hell but to those that were imprisoned by their sinnes in the dayes of Noah while the Arke was preparing 1 Pet. 3.19 20. and by this argument divels may be saved out of hell as well as they but they say there is hope that Iudas shall come out of hell because Christ seemes to be sorry for his being there saying It had beene good if he had not beene borne Math 26.24 I answer It had beene well for Iudas himselfe if he had not beene borne because of his eternall misery But his damnation addes no sorrow to Christ Neither mens righteousnesse nor his finne nor his salvation nor damnation neither profits God nor takes any thing from him Iob. 22.2 3.35.6 7 8. but they say although he deserved to be tormented millions of yeares in hell yet with Christ there is plenty of redemption◠Psal 130. I answer Christ hath merits sufficient but not efficient for reprobates But then if those be not redeemed out of hell torments yet they are confiden◠that it is the truth and nothing but the truth that Christ died for all and ever man in the world Their scriptures are those Christ was mad◠lower then the A◠〈◊〉 that by the grace of God he should taste death for every man Heb. 2 9. And he 〈◊〉 himself a ransome for all 1 Tim 2.6 I Answ that neither of these places will prove that Christ died for all the world or for every man in the world for the word World is not in those texts And if any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this booke Revel 22.18 Let us see what more proofes they have that Christ died for all and every man in the world Then they say All we like sheepe have gone astray and we have tnrned every man to his owne way and the Lord hath laide on him the iniquity of us all Isai 53.6 I answer this text is limited to us and therefore is not to be taken for all and every man in the world but onely it was a comfort to those to whom he spake being either then converted or else in the use of the Ordinances which is the meanes of conversion and salvation and therefore in the judgement of charity we have gon astray but the Lord hath laide on Christ the iniquities of us all and yet he might be deceived as well as Paul was in Demas But then they say The Angel brought glad tidings of great joy which shall be for all people Luke 2.10 But here I hope they will not say that all and every man in the world shall be glad and truely rejoyce in Christ for then all and every man in the world shall be truely converted and saved which themselves deny and besides the word World is not in that text But then they say Christ taketh away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1.29 And Jesus Christ is a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world 1 Iohn 2.12 I answer That world whose sinnes Christ taketh away and for whose persons Christ is an Advocate and a Propitiation that world must needes be saved as we shall see anon But themselves doe not holde that every man in the world shall be saved and none of them shall perish then if they holde that some shall not be saved but shall perish I hope those that perish are none of that world whose sinnes Christ hath taken away and for whose persons he is an Advocate and that world for whose sinnes Christ is a Propitiation then let us see the meaning of this word World which in the Scriptures hath various significations First the Lord saith the world is mine Psal 50.12 this is to be understood All the whole Fabricke of heaven and earth and all the creatures in them For the Lord made all things for himselfe Pro. 16.4 and he desposeth the whole world Iob 34.13 Secondly this word World is sometimes understood this World here below in opposition to the world to come for saith Christ I am no more in the world but these are in the world While I was with them in the world Now I come to thee these things I speake in the world I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world Iohn 17.11.12 13 15. In this world you shall have an hundred fold and in the world to come eternall life Luke 18.28 Thirdly this word World is sometimes understoode the Gentiles or all people besides the Iewes If th◠fall of them be the riches of the world Rom. 11.12 Fourthly Sometimes this word World is meant the whole race of mankinde That every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be guilty before God Rom. 3.19 Fifthly Sometimes this word World is meant all the reprobates that ever were or ever shall be saith Christ I pray not for the
therefore hee laboured to strengthen the faith in that Doctrine onely Luke 24.37 39. John 20.27 and this doctrine of the resurrection being confirmed all other doctrines taught before were confirmed also But they say the ceremonies of Moses Law may as well continue now as that prayer of Christ for hee did as well then command them to goe and offer sacrifice as Moses had commanded Mat. 8.4 I Answer although the sacrifices of beasts did end at the death of CHRIST yet the sacrifices of prayer and praise was not then to end for praise and thanksgiving must be continually in heaven Heb. 13.15 and that of those Lepers was such a sacrifice nine of them went not at all and the tenth returned to CHRIST and gave him thanks and it was approved of him as sufficient Luke 17.16 18. so then whether they were brought to Christ by the helpe of a sacrifice or immediately it was not much materiall so that they came to him then although the sinne offering of beasts be ceased by the Sacrifice of CHRIST once for all yet the sacrifice of prayer for pardon of sin may still bee a sweet incense Psal 141.1 but they say When Christ taught them thus to pray the Law was in its full strength but now Christ hath put an end to the Law which is the strength of sin 1 Cor. 15.56 And the Law being ended sin also is ended and needs no prayer for the pardon of it I Answer The morall Law is eternally setled in heaven Psal 119.89 103.20 and sin remains in hell for they shall blaspheme God in their torments and cannot repent Revel 16.9 11. and if sinne should cease the fire would goe out for It is sin and the wrath of God that is like ariver of brimstone to it Esay 30 33. so then as in heaven is neither sin nor misery to the elect but in hell is both the reprobate and in this world all things are alike to all Eccles 9 1 2 the Soints and reprobates have both sin and miserie although in a different manner for it reigns in the one and is dying in the other but he is a lyer that saith he hath no sin 1 John 1.8 For no man liveth and sinneth not 1 King 8.48 Eccles 7.20 Then feeing as the Saints have sin they must pray for the parden of it as the best means in the world to subdue it then the godly may say this prayer But then they say the ungodly may not say this Prayer of Christ as a Prayer because they cannot call God Father I Answer although they bee none of his children by grace and adoption yet they are his children by creation thus Adam was the Son of God Luke 3.38 and so God is the Father of all things Job 38.28 and if carnall men doe pray they may obtain some temporall things as well as Ahab did by fasting 1 King 21.29 so God hears all mortall creatures Psal 104.21.145.15.147 9. Then they say carnall men ought not to say the first petition praised be thy name for they cannot doe it from the heart I Answer the best of us all when we pray if Christ did not put the incense of his merits amongst them could not be pleasing unto him Revel 9.3 and if none should praise the Lord but those that doe it with their whole heart God would have very little praise in this world when as every creature that hath breath is commanded to praise the Lord Psal 150.6 Then they say none can give God thanks but they that have received somthing of him but this I grant for what creature in heaven earth or sea that hath received nothing from God if there be none such but all have received of him somthing then let all praise him But they say for carnall men to pray Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven were to pray for their destruction but how can that be when they pray that the will of Christ were done hy man on earth as Saints and Angels doe it in heaven both chearfully and constantly in salvation rather then by suffering his will upon them in hell torments for ever Then they say that carnall men may not say Give us this day our daily bread for that is to be understood The word of God which the Saints have had and still desire but how can this be must we aske for so much of the word as may onely suffice for a day and doth the word of God consume in the using of it when not one jot of it shall fail Mat. 5. It was the loafes that Christ said was meate that perisheth John 6.26 27. Again if Christ in this petition did not teach us to pray for temporall things then how could his prayer be perfect and why would hee give thanks for meate that perisheth if he would not pray for a blessing upon it Then they say here is to be understood that Christ taught them to pray for his spirit but I say again how much of his spirit will suffice for a day and I hope they will not so blaspheme the eternall spirit of God as to say it consumes in the using of it no It is a well of living water springing up unto eternall life John 4 14. then this petition being for carnall things and not the spirit of God carnall men may pray for them and obtain them Then they say if carnall men should say forgive us as we forgive them that trespas against us in this they would seale up their own damnation because they will not forgive others Mat. 18.29 30. But what of this shall they escape damnation by not saying of it and if they cannot they had as good say it to obtain some temporall things as to be both miserable in not saying of it both here and also hereafter and besides the using well of these gifts in seeking them by prayer and giving God thanks for them is Gods way to obtain better mercies as some in asking temporall things by that prayer obtain spirituall mercies Mat. 9.2 Then they say carnall men must not say Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill because they are never out of temptation I answer the godly are in the same condition tempted either by the world flesh or the devill continually and they cannot escape them all together except they goe out of the world 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. then must they not pray and use the meanes to escape them Then they say carnall men are temptation it selfe but I say how can that be For as they are Gods creatures they are good and not to be so called and it is but their words and deeds that tempt for their thoughts cannot neither is it all their words and deeds but some of them onely and they have a naturall conscience to oppose those words and deeds that are tempting to others and why may they not pray against them then we ought not to discourage any but rather teach
ARTICLES of FAITH presented to the PARLIAMENT CHAP. I This Chapter contains a Confutation of many errors maintained by the Anabaptists in their Articles of Faith defended against me by Mr. Spilsbury one of their Teachers Their first Article they beleeve that there is one rule of obedience for all Saints in all places to be observed of which I doubted his answer was that the scripture is that rule to trie and judge all things I answer the scripture is an eternall rule of righteousnesse but not commanding the same things to be observed by all Saints in all times and in all places The Jews were commanded many things which we are not and yet by the Scriptures and we are commanded many things here that cease at our death and shall not be done in heaven then the same things are not to be observed by all Saints in all places Againe if the scripture be a rule for all Circumstances in all duties that make for outward decency and uniformity Then I must see a rule for these things before I give my faith to this Article In their next article they beleeve that all who know God and Christ shall have eternall life but vengeance shall be rendered on all that know not God and Christ but here I doubt they exclude all Infants that dye in their Infancy from salvation because they are not capable of such knowledge of God and Christ You answer saying you know not what is this knowledge neither hath the scripture revealed any such that were saved But was not Jereboams child saved when the Lord himselfe said that there was some good thing in him towards the Lord God of Israel 1 King 14 15. And did David rejoyce that his childe was damned and did he desire to goe to hell to his childe and rejoyce in beleeving it 2 Sam. 12.23 And why should not Infants that dye be saved when as they may be sanctified which is eternall life begunne already and they may be sanctified as well as Jeremiah and John the Baptist Jer. 1.5 Luke 1.15 Then are you a teacher and know not these things but you say you will not judge them when as you make it an article of your faith to beleeve that none shall be saved without this knowledge of God in Christ which infants are not capable of yet they may have the seeds of grace in them wrought by the Spirit of God neither can this be denyed when as they are sanctified by the Spirit of God Againe if I should beleeve this Article I feare I should condemne many of Gods people which have the faith of adherence but not the faith of evidence for many that live a holy life may want a cleare evidence that God is reconciled to them in Christ therefore I dare not give my faith to beleeve this Article Your sixteenth article is this you beleeve that unlesse Christ had beene God he could not perfectly have knowne the will of God which I doubt of but you answer that you beleeve that Christ was both God and man and the Prophet that all must heare but what of this who doubts of it but then you say that you will decline what the Word of God doth not hold forth but I feare you will not be as good as your word but suppose you be yet how doth this satisfie my doubt Yet further I grant that no creature can fully know this secret will of God for Christ as man knew not when the day of Judgement should be Mark 13.32 Neither can one creature know what God hath revealed to all creatures Man doth not know what God hath revealed to Angels nor doe they know fully what God hath revealed to men 1 Pet. 1.12 neither doth one man know what God hath revealed to the soule of another yet all this hinders not but Saints and Angels glorified although they be but creatures doe perfectly know what Gods will is to them and their duty to him then if you beleeve this article that Christ had not perfectly knowne the will of God but that he was God Why then doe you say that you will beleeve no more than the Word holds forth The VVord saith although here we see but darkely as through a glasse or latisee yet then we shall see face to face and know as we are knowne 1 Cor. 13.12 and yet creatures still not Godded with God nor Christed with Christ and yet we shall perfectly know his will to us and our duty to him Then if you be as good as your word you must cast away this Article of your faith The twentieth article you beleeve that the Kingdome of Christ shall then be perfected when Christ shall come the second time and reigne amongst his Saints Here I doubt you beleeve that the Kingdome of Christ shall then be perfected when Christ shall come from heaven personally into this world before the end of it and raigne Monarchically here on earth a thousand yeares Your answer is that Christs Kingdom shall then be perfected when Gods will is accomplished in the same and that Christ by the brightnesse of his appearing shall effect it but in what space of time you know not I answer Gods will cannot be accomplished till all his decrees are fulfilled which cannot be before the day of Judgement then shall all things that offend be gathered out of his Kingdom and cast into the furnace of fire Math. 13.40 41 42. Then after the dissolution of all things saith Peter we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3.13 then indeede what Adam lost shall be restored by Christ the second Adam to its first purity and then the Saints shall inherit all things Revel 21.1.7 For the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remaine before me saith the Lord Isai 66.22 then the Kingdomes and Dominions under the whole Heavens shall be given to the Saints of the Most High whose Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and all Dominions shall serve and obey Christ Dan. 7.27 and of his Kingdom there shall be no end Luke 1.33 But the heaven shall receive Christ till the restitution of all things to their first perfection Act. 3.21 then this article is not by the scripture held forth therefore I dare not give my faith unto it The five and twentieth article you beleeve that the tenders of the Gospell are absolutely free and no way requiring as necessary the preceding ministry of the Law or any qualifications or preparations wrought by it but onely that the naked soule as a sinner and ungodly to receive Christ crucified dead and buried risen and made a Prince and a Saviour for such a sinner But I doubt of this and you answer that you know nothing absolutely necessary to save man but Jesus Christ and him crucified and faith to beleeve and apply the same but is not the Word of God a necessary Instrument in the hand of Christ whereby he
workes faith in us Rom. 10 17 by which we beleeve in Christ then is not the VVord of God necessary to save where it is although God is able to worke faith in his elect without it in places where it is not but this being the orrdinary way for our salvation and while this lasteth we must not seeke any extraordinary way then you say the way that God saves men you will leave to him and every mans experience when as you make it an article of your faith to beleeve that the Law of God can be no instrumentall meanes to worke any qualifications as the Law to fit the soule for the seeds of grace when as three thousand witnesses by experience were pricked by the Law in one place Acts 2.37 before the Gospell was applied to cure them and multitudes more in scripture besides every godly mans owne experience but your conscience hath forced you to renounce this article and instead of beleeving it you leave it to every mans owne experience The seven and twentieth article you beleeve that the three Persons in Trinity are made over to Christians in their fulnesse but I suppose they have no more of God then a finite creature is able by the weake hand of faith to receive According to thy faith be it unto thee Math. 8.13 But you answer God makes knowne his grace and good will to man in Christ by his Spirit so farre as he pleseth but who doubts of this but I suppose we are not capable to receive the fulnesse of God we have but our measure according to the gift of Christ Ephes 4 7 13. neither doe we receive the fulnesse of Christ but out of his fulnesse we receive Iohn 1.16 The nine and twentieth article you beleeve that those which are beleevers are in truth really separated both in soule and body from all sinne through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant but I much doubt of this you answer that you beleeve all sinne is so taken away by Christ that it shall never hinder the salvation of any beleever but this is not my doubt then you say for a beleever to have no sinne while he lives in the flesh that you deny and so have cast away this article of your faith in which you have published to the world that you beleeve that every beleever is really separated from all sinne both in body and soule by the bloud of Christ then for shame doe not carry one face in private and another publickcly to the world The three and thirtieth article you beleeve that Christ hath a spirituall Kingdome here on earth which is his Church that he hath purchased and redeemed but this I grant then you beleeve that this purchased redeemed Church of Christ is visible and a company of Saints called and separated from the world by the VVord and Spirit of God to the visible profession of faith and the Gospell and baptized in the faith and joyned to the Lord and to each other by a mutuall agreement in practicall enjoyment of the Ordinances commanded by Christ their Head and King but I much doubt of these things then you answer saying you beleeve that the Church of Christ is a purchased people called to their visible profession of him and for invisible things you leave to God till he make them visible But here all men may see the falsenesse of your faith for when you should bring it into the presence of God then you leave it but how dare you publish to the world that those whom Christ hath purchased and redeemed are visible making profession of faith and the Gospell and baptized and joyned to the Lord and to each other in the practicall injoyment of the Ordinances When as know I put you to it you dare not stand to it but you will leave it to God and so you cast away this article also and I thinke if I should goe to all whose hands are at them they would shuffle in the same manner and I would wish you to take them to helpe you and so if you can prove all the redeemed of Christ to be such I am sure he saith himselfe other sheepe I have which are not of this fold them I must bring in Iohn 10.16 then are all visible and called and already make profession c. Nay those that are in the state of grace are not so visible for that white stone and that new name written no man knowes but he that hath it Revel 2.17 they are called hidden ones Psal 83.3 and the Lord had seven thousand which the Prophet knew not of 1 King 19.18 And sometimes the Saints themselves in the visible Church may disagree Witnesse Abraham and Lot and Paul and Barnabas Gen. 15.7 Acts 15.39 and then the cruelty of this article shewes from whence it came which condemnes all that are not in your Church to be reprobates then I cannot blame you for leaving it to God when you are questioned for it but if your heart condemne you take heede of hypocrisie God is greater then your heart and knoweth all things 1 Iohn 3.21 The foure and thirtieth article you beleeve that to this visible Church all are bound to come and acknowledge Christ to be their King Priest and Prophet and to be enrouled amongst his houshold servants now this I grant if you mean the universali invisible Church but I much doubt whether it ought to be so in yours or in any visible Church but you answer that you know not how any can be either Sonnes or Servants of God that are not of his houshold this I grant to be true in the invisible Church but as I proved before all are not visible so then their names ought to be written in heaven Luke 10.20 but not written amongst your company then you say that you are ignorant of any invisible Church or House of God I answer Ignorance will not excuse your sinne for Christ is the Head of the body or Church both of things visible and invisible Revel 1.16 17. then although you know not the Church of the first borne in which the soules of just men are made perfect yet you may know that there is such a one Heb. 12. and although the Saints departed know not what is done in the visible part of the Church here as the Prophet saith Isai 63.16 will this prove that there is no such thing Againe if you know nothing in the Church but what is visible to all you plainely show your selfe to be an hypocrite For spirituall things are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 there is foode which you know not of you have not tasted of that hidden Manna Revel 2.7 Iohn 6.32 and while your name is at those articles you want that inward grace of faith to beleeve them and so cannot see like Moses him that is invisible Heb. 12.27 The sixe and thirtieth article You beleeve that every particular Church hath power to chuse for themselves meete persons into office and none other