are hot about the outward circumstances of worship time place and the like Christ reproves them in his answer to the woman of Samaria at Iacobs Well Neither in this Mountain nor at Ierusalem shall ye worship the Father but in spirit and truth Joh. 4. 23. Neither in this Form nor that but excluded out of all Synagogues has the true Church and Spouse of Christ been worshipping God this twelve hundred Years and upwards in her mourning persecuted wilderness-condition out of which she is shortly to appear and speak for her self By this Sufferers reckoning the time times and half a time or three years and a half are very near expired those forty two moneths and one thousand two hundred and sixty days prophetical for years all which do character and point out the same Epocha in Daniel and the Revelation for the Churches abode in the Wilderness from the time of her flight mentioned Rev. 12. 6. She will very shortly be called up out of the wilderness by the name of Shulamite which comes from the same word that Solomon and Salem do signifying Peace This true peaceable Pilgrim and Spouse of Christ that in her Life and Testimony hath been so disgustful to this world out of which she is chosen as to be reputed by all the Inhabitants of the earth a wrangling Heretick a Blasphemer and one that turns the World upside down will shortly come up out af her political grave or exclusion from all authority or allowance in Church and State into the exercise of true Christian Polity in both in association with the holy Angels who with the risen Witnesses will make up the two hosts before whom no opposite power of contradicting man wil be able to bear up See for this Cant. 6. 13. Return return O Shulamite return return that we may look upon thee What will ye see in the Shulamite as it were the company or dance of two Armies Mahanaim relating to Iacobs two hosts of Angels and Men when he was to meet Esau Gen. 32. 1 2. and importing the victory these two obtain over all their enemies as also their dance or triumphant rejoycing after the victory And all this yet amounts but to the preparatory work for the second coming of Christ by plucking up every thing that offends so as at last there may be nothing to hurt in all the holy mountain Mat. 13. 41. Esay 11. 9. But how shall the risen Witnesses handle their enemies when spirited and set upon their feet as a Nation born at once and in one day Esay 66. 8. Rev. 11. 11. 'T is answered fire shall proceed out of their mouth to devour any that would hurt them and in this manner must they be killed that is at the desire of the believing risen witnesses angels that are a flaming fire Psal. 104. 4. will destroy any men that oppose them Fire goes out of the saints mouth that is by prayer to God on which the angels are commissioned to do execution immediately and irresistibly without more ado Thus fire went out of Elias his mouth to devour the two Captains and their fifties Angels were the executioners 2 King 1. 9 12. Those acts of Elias were but Types and shadows of what will be done in the end of the world at the winding up of all dispensations towards the highest even the personal coming forth of Christ with all his New-Ierusalem Armies following him Rev. 19. 14. As to what will be performed by the risen Witnesses relation is had to Elias and to Moses Rev. 11. 6. Where 't is said They shall have power as Elias had to shut heaven that it rain not and to smite the earth with Plagues as often as they will as Moses did in Egypt It may appear what work one Angel can make with whole Armies of men a hundred fourescore and five thousand Assyrians were slain by an angel in one night in the Leagure before Ierusalem 2 King 19. 35. But to return from this Contemplaâ—ion of the true New-Ierusalem spirited Church and Spouse of Christ and what she will do when she comes out of the Wilderness consider we a little the general posture of all visible Churches even at this day as this Sufferer hath left it represented to us in writing There are many Churches in the World that make a profession of the Name of Christ under several Forms and Denominations according to the variety of Judgements and Interests of the Rulers Members thereof There is a Church called Catholick or Universal headed by the Pope who pretends to be Christs Vicar There are also National Churches heâ—ded either by a Civil Magistrate as the Church of England or by general Assemblies as the Church of Scotland hath been with other Reformed Churches There are also particular Independant Congregational Churches distinguishing themselves into variety of Sects and diversity of Judgements and Opinions as well about the way and order of the word of matters of worship and the service of God as in what they hold Fundamental in matters of Faith These all make up one Body as to the owning and upholding a Church in some outward visible Form who notwithstanding all their differences and protestings against one another do generally agree together in one mind as to the preferring of the Church in Name Shew and outward Order before what it is in Spirit and Truth as it is the real and living Body of Christ. Hence it is that the true Church indeed the very living real spiritual members of Christ's Body have been for many hundred years a dispersed captivated people under all worldly powers civil or Ecclesiastical and never been suffered to use or enjoy a freedom in their Communion together and the purity of God's Service and Worship but are upon one pretence or other restrained by Humane Lawes and suppressed as Hereticks Schismaticks Fanaticks and such as turn the World upside down while those that have the repute and credit to be the Church or Churches of Christ under some one of the Formes and outward Orders bâ—fore mentioned have the Powers of the World on their side and are contending one with another who shall be uppermost and give the Rule of Conformity in Doctrine Worship and Church Order to all the rest by Compulsion and Persecution But the dayes are now hâ—stening apace wherein the living Members of Christ's Body shall be made manifest in distinction from all those that have the Name to live but are dead Thus in brief you see his Judgement concerning the Church Concerning BAPTISM he writes thus THere are several Baptismes spoken of in the New Testament and the Doctrine concerning them hath been so dark and mysterious that there is little yet extant in the Writings of men concerning the same that carries with it satisfaction There are two general tearms under which all Baptismes mentioned in the New Testament seem to be comprehended that is to say Of Water and of the holy Ghost and Fire Water Baptism is twofold and
The World was no longer worthy of him He is therefore gone from the earth But his Person and righteous Testimony shall be â—ad in everlasting remembrance Psal. 112. 6. His eye was fixed upon a better Countrey the Saints everlasting Rest. There the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest Those that have been made Prisoners and out-casts in this world as the off-scouring of all things shall rest together there They shall no more hear the voice of the oppressor Job 3. 17 18. The present enjoyments and blessedness of this deceased Saint do set him clear out of the reach of his enemies malice or my pen. He steaddily sees and unchangeably enjoyes what Paul before quite rid of his mortal body had but the transient view of in a short rapture when caught up to the third heaven 1 Cor. 12. or into that vision of God in Christ that is exhibited to the double-portioned Saint that sits on the Throne with Christ. 'T is the favourable presence of God in Christ onely that makes heaven to angels or men God's threefold various presence with his Church in and through Christ makes the three heavens That presence that is afforded in the adaequate intelligible form to the highest life and discerning of the double-portioned Saint the Bride the Lambs Wife makes the third heaven That which is given forth in the adaequate intelligible form to the elect Angels and Spirits of just men made perfect as the sutable immediate object of their discerning makes the second heaven That presence of God together with the fruits of it that in Christ is afforded to Saints on earth makes the first They have their conversation in this first heaven Phil. 3.20 or lowest kind of presence and converse of Christ in spirit They do live in the exercise of that spiritual seed and those principles which when fully awakened in the resurrection will render them fit inhabitants of the second and third heavens Paul in the short glance he had of that most excellent glory of God in Christ that is intelligible or discernable to the most exalted sort of Saints tells us he heard unspeakable words or saw unspeakable things which it is not lawful or possible for a man to utter Here then I must take off my hand and leave you to make the best you can of it in silence and wonder Thus have I cast in my small mite towards the vindication of the Person Doctrine and Way of this choice anointed one of the Lord and faithful assertor of his Countries Liberties unto Death from the groundless aspersions causeless hatred misprisions and injuries that have fallen to his share in this world There are two sorts of enemies who in the rage and vain imaginations of their hearts have reproached blasphemed assaulted affronted resisted and persecuted Christ in him They are both deciphered Psal. 2. 1. under the titles of Heathen and People I have a word of two to divide between them and speak to each of them apart My first word is to a People of God who in whatever variety of form perswasion or way have all of them with one consent separated from Rome as justly loathing and nauseating her most gross visible Idolatries and abominations They have also separated from the dry impertinent formality of a meer outward profession of Protestantisme under a superstitious Episcopacy These they have separated from on the left hand it was their duty so to do But they have also separated from or rather cast out the spiritual Believer and true heir of the everlasting Kingdom on the right hand This is their great sin that has brought a prophane heathenish superstitious idolatrous Interest over their heads again and run all a-ground They have demonstrated themselves to be of that spirit that Paul reproved in some of the Corinthian Church that would be reigning as Kings in the but renewed principles of humane nature and righteousness of man 1 Cor. 4. 8. When therefore this true heir sounded his trumpet in his RETIRED MEDITATIONS and proclaimed another sort of Saints men of another spirit other principles and a more excellent way of life to be the onely true heirs of the Kingdom and possessed of the true reigning Principle they could not bear it They have chosen rather to give the Scepter back again into any hand then the true heir of the heavenly Kingdom should wield it I mean not a Person onely but a People a People prepared for the Lord. Whoever you be that have thus demeaned your selves and sinned away twenty years Mercies and Deliverancies whatever your Judgment Form or Way be as to this or that particular Doctrine or Ordinance if you yet lodge but in the renewed old Adam state of life or first-creation spirit and principles as you have seen them above-charactered to you it is I direct this word You that are in some good measure and degree inwardly cleansed from the pollutions of this world the corruption of nature give me leave to tell you you may be thus wash'd and baptized by the word of truth into a practical experimental knowledge of Christ after the flesh and conformity with him as he was â—ound in the flesh born of a woman made under the Law for your sanctification Let me tell you further you may be made comely through his comeliness or righteousness of that sort put upon you or imputed to you for your justification You may over and above all this be adorned with many jewels and bracelets excellent gifts and the tongue of men and angels and yet fall short of the glory and righteousness of God in the new and everlasting Covenant and so may prove to be at last but sounding brass or tinkling cymbals Ez. 16. 11 12. 1 Cor. 12. 31. 13. 1. All your sanctified justified beautified and adorned state in which you flourished was but the rectified adorned first-covenant natural man and you took all to be spiritual new-covenant Life and ornament This is one of the saddest mistakes mortal men are subject to and is like to cost them dearest Their disappointment is fatal and irrecoverable Their work is exceeding dangerous in kicking against the pricks persecuting of Christ in the true spiritual believer But their case is noâ—remediless as they may see in Paul till they knowingly and malitiously say Come this is the heir let 's kill him and the inheritance shall be ours There are those from amongst these Legal spirited professors both Pastors and People that have had their share in betraying this just man in blaspheming his Principles and Doctrine in casting reproaches upon him while living and pleasing themselves to think that they are now well rid of him his Doctrine and Way by his Death Deceive not your selves His testimony has received a more signal ratification by his Death then in all his Life He warn'd you of many things In reference to one of his warning-pieces as to the making clean riddance of Antichrist from amongst us I shall ask
in this way there is life and joy in the Spirit The Believer the true spiritual Circumcision rejoyces in Christ Jesus having no confidence in the flâ—sh nor mastering much how iâ— goes with that So he may win Christ and know him in the power of his Resurrection he is willing also to know him in the fellowship of his Sufferings and in being made conformable unto his death There is no other way to the eternal Crown If we suffer with him who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession 1 Tim. 6. 13. we shall also reign with him if we deny Him and his â—ause before men through fear of them that can but kill the body and have no more that they can do he that can destroy both body and soul in Hell will deâ—â— us before the Angels of God Whatever frightful appearance the present tribulations may have this remains sure Light â—â— sown for the Righteous and gladness for the upright in heart My harvest is at hand the season for me to reap the good fruit of the incorruptible seed of eternal life that hath been sown in me many years ago by the good hand of the Lord. I have so much already of that fruit as makes me set very light by the present tribulations that are but for a moment and are not to be compared with the glory that follows I have sown in tears and am now going to reap in joy where all tears shall be wiped away for ever There shall be no more sorrow crying or hearing the voice of the oppressor I charge you therefore be ye followers of me as I am a follower of Christ. Walk in that Faith ye have seen me to walk in and be not dismayed Observe what I now say to you and the Lord will bless you yea you shall be encouraged and commended by him as a choice pattern of obedience unto others like the sons of Ionadab the son of Rechab who were commended for performing the words of their father that he commanded them and were therein propounded as an imitable pattern to the men of Iudah and inhabitants of Ierusalem who did most perversly refuse to obey the Commands of God himself in the Messages he sent to them by the ministry of the Prophets Encline your ear therefore and hearken unto me now in this parâ—ing Instruction Listen to my command and obey the words I speak to you in the Name of the Lord. I charge you to walk in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and that with all steadiness and constancy as not in the least discouraged by what you see now to befal me and other his servants and followers in this evil day The servant is not greater than the Lord. He went this way and hath warned us that through much persecution and tribulation we must strive to enter into the Kingdom of God Walk then in the Spirit and Faith of Abraham in that immutable frame of spirit that feeds upon that which is incorruptible whereby you will be nourished up into eternal life and carried on through all difficulties and oppositions to the compleat full and certain saving of your souls Be bold confident stedfast and undaunted herein though bryaâ—s and thorns be with you and you dwell among Scorpions Be not afraid of their big words or stout looks though they be a 〈◊〉 house Ezek. 2. not 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of God before their eyes and therefore lifting up themselves 〈…〉 against the Lord of Heaven and practising to destroy the People of the Most High till the Antient of dayes come and set them upon their feet at which time Judgement shall be given to the Saints of the most High and they must possess the Kingdom Who are you then if you live and abide in the Faith of Abraham that you should be afraid of a man that shall die and be made as grâ—â—â— Isa. 51. 12. All the Nations of the World are less than nothing before Him in whom is your help Isa. 40. 17. Stay your selves then upon God in the greatest outward confusions or alterations of Government or Governours that possibly can befall though the Earth be removed and the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea Be of good courage take to you the whole Armour of God fight the Battels of the Lord the good fight of Faith and he will make you more than Conquerors Let these dying words of your Father never be forgotten Be strong in the Faith of Abraham He that now speakâ— to you hath for many years proved and tryed what this amounts unto he sees great cause to recommend it to you upon that Experience he hath had of the support and relief it carries with it in all occurrences as also how bold stedfast and comfortable it renders the possessors thereof against all possible affronts contradictions and oppositions of sinners When you can no longer enjoy the bodily or visible Presence of your Father with you live more in the Faith of your Father that he that is my heavenly Father may discover himself more and more to be yours also as you shew your selves more to be his Children which will highly concern you that through the more plentiful commâ—â—â—â— of his grace and spirit amongst you and in you you may be more strengthened with his might and glorious power in your inward man unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness and be able to stand it out in this evil day This is the last opportunity I am like to have of this kind The Lord set my words home upon your hearts Be glad and rejoyce thus to be minded of your duty and charged by meâ— And what greateâ— cause of rejoycing can your Father have than that his Children walk in the Truth See then that you alwayes keep your Consciences void of offence towards God and towards men Hate and decline every unrighteous way and whatever is contrary to the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ. Put one another in mind of these things that your Father thus minds you all of in this his last Charge and Instruction which he leaves with you Provoke one another unto love and good worke Exhort one another so much the more as you see the day approaching Shew forth your Faith in the workings of it by which you may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Those that believe in God will be careful to maintain good works Tit. 3. 8. Consider what manner of persons it concerns you to be in all holy Conversation and godliness seeing that all these thingsâ— that now are and which ye see are very shortly to be dissolved sooner it may be than you can yet believe even the Heavens and Earth that now are the whole outward face of things in Church and State the world throughout 2 Pet. 3.7.11,12 Live then as those that wait for their masters coming for the new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness Live in the pure Spirit of this tried Faith of
Synagogues Away with him away with such a fellow from the earth say they it is not fit that he should live Act. 22. .22 We find the Iewish religious party that served Paul thus striking hands with a proâ—ane Interest Act. 17. 5 7. Through envy at the spiritual believers Faith and Testimony they call to their assistance certain Iowa fellows of the baser sort set all the City in an uproar assault the house of Jason dragging him and other brethren before the Rulers of the City and crying These that have turned the World upside down are come hither also and do contrary to the Decrees of Caesar saying there is another King one Iesus This is the charge at all adventures they matter not much for proofes while they can find stones as they served Steven Act. 7. The World is turned upside down indeed But understand how O ye bruitish among the People ye fools when will ye be wise The honest Heathen is soberer than you the legal Christian is soberer than he the spiritual man is the soberest of all and he is reckoned the most disordered He speakes forth the words of greatest truth and soberness The case then is this when the World is in a mad bruitish disordered hurly burly they that attempt to bring righteousness a-floate are accused of turning it up side down Setting all to rights is reckoned the greatest Confusion The Rights of the Kingdom are reckoned the Wrongs of the King and many with whom the true native Rights of an earthly Kingdom will down are ready to startle at and resist the rights of Christs Kingdom in the Spirits and Consciences of men Even they will be ready to say of the Assertors of such Rights that they are no longer fit to live in the World that 's man's judgement The World is no longer worthy of them that 's God's Heb. 11. 38. 'T is plain God and men are of exceeding contrary Judgements concerning the true believer 'T is as plain We must all appear at last before the Iudgement seat of Christ for our final sentence 'T is plain also that we ought to obey God rather than Men Act. 5. 29. And not to be the servants of Men in things pertaining to God 1 Cor. 7. 23. From the cross constitution then which this world is generally found in to all Truth but most of all to the Spiritual and Sublimest sort of Truth it may appear what a hard time a Believer is like to have of it if he stand up for the Cause and Interest of God against the Devil who is called the God of this world 2 Cor. 4. 4. Here is the grand competitor of Christ that struggles for the Soveraignty the great red Dragon Rev. 12. 3. This is he that musters up animates and influences the sons of men to fight against God that he may exalt himself in them above all that is called God 2 Thes. 2. 4. Working in the children of disobedience at his pleasure Ephes. 2. 2. Do you see your General O ye sons of men will ye still fight under his Banner Consider the main Impostures of this self-transformer whereby you are beguiled into his Interest First He seduces your Understanding into this most false perswasision That he is the highest rational Being to whom doth of right belong the Legislative Authority and Supream Magistratical Dominion over the whole earth as God of this World under whose influence and dictates all earthly Thrones and Benches of Judicature ought to proceed in judgement Under this pretended and assumed Title of the highest rational Being he expects to be owned and submitted to as requiring no allegiance or obedience from his Subjects upon any other tearms than as he approves himself to their Consciences to mannage his Government exactly according to the Principles of humane Nature and Rules of right Reason Secondly He assumes and challenges to himself the Authority of the highest Spirit of Truth boasting himself as the infallible Teacher and Guide in matters of Faith and divine Worship in all things pertaining to the good and salvation of Souls Having thus assumed to himself these two grand prerogatives of Christ's Crown as the Supream Head not under but above Christ himself yea in direct contradiction to him in all Causes and over all persons as well Ecclesiastical as Civil 't is obvious to imagine what Titles Christ and his followers are like to have from this Dragon and his First They will boldly and openly assert that that which is indeâ—â— the spirit of Christ in him and his is an irrational Fanatick spirit destructive to all natural Order and good Government in humane Society Secondly That it is a deceitful deluding Spirit destructive to all sound Doctrine divine Institutions Church Order and Rule In these four things this grand Antichrist is the liar that denies Iesus to be the Christ. Under which Generals are comprehended multitudes of Particulars in his skilful methods of delusion needless here to be enumerated He that hath once gained these four points in the generallity of men will easily out-vote and cry down Christ and his for Blasphemers and Disturbers of mankind and accordingly handle them He prevailed even with the learned Religious Jewes to serve Christ thus Yea he attempted to seduce Christ himself to his party to own him for God fall down and worship him Christ refuses He therefore steers another course sets the Jewes upon it to call him Blasphemer and say he hath a Devil This is one step towards the accomplishing of his design when he hath once engaged men to say of Christ and his followers that they are Blaspemers and Devils he that thus makes them liars will make them Murtherers too they will soon cry Crucifie them Crucifie them right or wrong Away with them from the earth it is not fit that they should live Christ hath told us these things before hand Joh. 15. and Chap. 16. 1 and 4. that we should not be offended or surprised when they really come upon us If they have done these things to the green tree what will they do to the dry Luke 23. 31. The Servant is not greater than his Lord Joh. 15. 20. If the Master be called Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his houshold Matth. 10. 25. Satans followers have the start of Christ's for number they out-vote them clear He ha's four hundred lying Prophets against one true 1 Kings 22. 6. and vers 20 23. I suppose you may discern by this time whether this Sufferer or his Enemies were in the fault that he was reckoned a man of Contention But peradventure this may yet grow clearer by considering his Principles He spake much of Principles What meant he Some Fundamental Truths worded and propounded in a Book as Perkins his Six Principles or the like He meant inward ruling Principles or Springs of Life and operation in men By taking a little freedom in handling this Point I shall give you aim at his Principle in its
proper Character of distinction from all other Principles 'T will be requisite here to take notice of all the Principles of Life and Operation Man is capable to be found in or does actually live and come forth in the exercise of That Nature that gives the distinguishing Form or Character to any Creature and is the immediate spring of all its operations is the proper Principle of its Life be it divine angelical humane or sensual Nature The Faculties or Principles of operation scituated founded and rooted in each Nature to wit the discerning and desiring powers called in Men and Angels Understanding and Will do receive their respective denominations from the Nature they are seated in and belong unto and so are tearmed divine angelical humane or sensual Principles of operation For instance The Understanding and Will of participated divine Nature in the true heirs of God are divine spiritual heavenly and high The Understanding and Will of meer humane Nature at best are but natural fleshly earthly and comparatively low holy flesh is but flesh Ier. 11. 15. Renewed refined adorned Nature is but Nature a goodly beautiful but a perishable thing as the flower of the field Isa. 40. 6. As the man is so is his strength so are his works The righteous works brought forth but in the ruling activity of renewed humane nature entring into competition with the righteous works duties and ordinances observed and performed in the Life and ruling activity of participated divine Nature become more loathsom to God than all the debauchery and shame of polluted Nature that is but the result of Adams first transgression and not of the reiterated and more fatal Apostacy in our own persons after a revival from our naâ—ive death in trespasses and sins Those that bring the righteousness of man or the righteous works performed in the single power of renewed humane nature into a self-exalting preference to the righteousness of God or the righteous works and duties performed in the ruling power of participated divine Nature taking the humane into a subordinate co-operativeness therewith may find what entertainment they are like to meet with from Christ in the case of the foolish Virgins and of those that cast out Devils or preach down the corruption that the devil brought into our Nature Mat. 25. 12. and Mat. 7. 22 23. Depart from meâ— I know you not ye are workers of iniquity That 's the answer to both plead while they will or say what they can Casting out Devils preaching the corruption of Nature down the righteousness of it up so as to render men wise strong and honorable in Christ 1 Cor. 4. 10. Is this offensive No But the telling them this is the place or state of their Rest concerning which the Master saith Arise depart let us go hence this is not your rest Micah 2. 10. Joh. 14. 31. You are liable here to return with the dog to the vomit draw back to perdition to be afresh invaded and finally triumphed over by sin and Satan as is expressed 2 Pet. 2. 20 22. Heb. 10. 39. and implied Rom. 6. 14. You must therefore quit this first-creation-state and forme of life at best by way of sacrifice Rom. 12. 1 2. or you will never come to the Father whither Christ is gone to prepare Mansions for those that follow him whithersoever he goes No man can be thorowly happy and at rest till this corruptible be dead in and with the Lord by which meanes onely we may come to inherit incorruption Here 's the highest sense of Ante obitum nemo c. No man can be blessed till he die He that is made willing thus with Christ to lose Life shall find it and whosoever will save his Life shall lose it and never attain the Life that is unchangable and eternal Mat. 16. 25. The corruptible frame of man at his best estate was never intended or warranted by God either in the primitive purity or greatest possible renewals thereof to be the place of God's rest or the state that Man should rest in One crucified broken-spirited man that 's made willing to be taken in pieces and be so joyned to the Lord as to become one spirit with him is more valuable to him than all men and angels or whatever glory and excellency is to be found in the whole first-creation Isa. 66. 1 2. The Heaven is my throne the Earth is my foot-stool but where is the place of my rest All these things hath mine hand made in the first creation I look for regenerated transformed new-creation things in order to which the old fabrick or tabernacle must be taken down To this man will I look or have respect even to him that is of a poor and contrite spirit This is the place of my rest so Isa. 57. 15. Man in his first-creation frame or in whatever renewal of it since the Fall is but the house on the sand founded on the mutable wavering Principles of humane Nature Many that pretend to be great master-workmen in Divinity warrant this for the right building on the rock that will stand it out in all stormes the true spiritual building 1 Pet. 2. 5. into which they need never fear Satans return as Mat. 12. 44. or any fresh Invasions and Revolutions of their old sins into the exercise of dominion over them again They cause their hearers and followers to hope that they will confirm this word Eze. 13.6 But the walls of this building are faulty as wel as the foundation They daube up all with the untempered mortar of refin'd humane Nature nothing of the divine Nature wisdom and righteousness of God will be admitted into their building Building therefore and builders will all tumble together when the storm comes and then also will the sandy foundation thereof be discovered vers 13 16. Blind leaders and blind followers will both into the ditch together Mat. 15. 14. Both these buildings Mat. 7. 24 27. had their beauty their glory while both stood To man's eye that with the sandy foundation and untempered walls generally carried it The more visible literal natural godliness in their renewed flesh or humane Nature and Principles look'd fairer to man that judges by outward appearance then the spiritual mystical hidden Life and Godliness in the house upon the rock which has nothing but the broken crucified transformed Principles and more undiscerned cooperations of humane Nature to set off its self by to man's judgement The Children of the first house or kingdom of Christ shall be cast into utter darkness and many heathens publicans sinners and Mary Magdalenes shall be taken over their heads and caused to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the spiritual house 1 Pet. 2.5 the building on the rock Mat. 7. 24. the second and more excellent kingdom that cannot be shaken Mat. 8.11 12. Heb. 12.26 28. Esay is reckoned very bold for saying this Rom. 10. 19 21. Isa. 65. 1 2. which Moses said before him
both the Children and Wife of Christ though back-slider Turn again O back-sliding Children saith the Lord for I am married to you The Children that are born but of that changeable seed of the first-creation in Christ hate and persecute them that are born after the spirit or of the incorruptible seed of Christ in spirit as he is head of the new-creation in which he becomes that word or image of God that lives and abides in them for ever and then they backslide and lose what they have in the first-covenant Mat. 13. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. Esay 40. 6 8. These two Seeds Births Children as they are typified by Ishmael and Isaac Gal. 4. so by Cain and Abel Esau and Iacob and other pairs of brothers Aaron and Moses rather typify the natural and spiritual Saint in the glory of the Resurrection in the new and everlasting Covenant as above described But Cain and Abel c. signifie the fleshly or first-Covenant worshipper of the one party and both the spiritual new-covenant worshippers whether of the single or double portion on the other Cain and Abel c. may be Allegorized into this spiritual significancy and reach as mystically indigitating and presenting to us the distinction of the fleshly and spiritual Worshipper the reformed natural and the transformed or spiritual man the first and second Covenant Saint The elder often turns malignant envies hates persecutes the younger he after the flesh him after the spirit They may with good warrant also be Allegorized into a narrower compass yet as typifying the natural and spiritual man flesh and spirit in the same individual Saint that is born of Christ after the spirit and yet not quite rid of flesh which will be lusting against the spirit in him that is his sin as the spirit also will be lusting against that flesh which is his duty Gal. 5. 17. Not onely corrupt nature filthy flesh but renewed nature holy Flesh goodliness of flesh that that was born of Christ after the flesh will be envying and lusting against striving and contesting with that in man that is born of the same Christ after the spirit Iohn 3. 6. What struggle they for what 's the matter that enlightened reason and the marvellous light of Faith the renewed old man and the new nature and grace can't agree They have the same Father Christ they tumble in the same womb the soul of man This is it they struggle like Iacob and Esau in the same womb in the same person for the dominion the Scepter The question in debate between them is who shall be king The renewed enlightened natural mind which yet is but flesh though holy flesh thinks it self fit to rule and give Law to the whole person would keep all under the dominion of the Law of the first creation The spirit of the new creation claims all this as its right though the latter and younger birth as reason also had been to sense yet the true heir of the crown and the elder must serve or become subject to this younger The renewed first-creation spirit and state of life glory and freedom in man finally refusing resisting and persecuting the more excellent new creature Life spirit and glorious liberty of the sons of God in the second amounts to no less than the sin unto death the sin against the Holy Ghost or Christ in Spirit This same mystery is typified and by no other way but Allegorizing is to be fetched out of the history of Hagar and Sarai Hagar has the start of Sarai at fruitfulness she is first with Child Sarai is yet barren But sing O barren saies Christ in this sense that didst not bear more shall be thy Children greater thy fruitfulnsss at last God swore to Abraham upon his offering up Isaac and not with-holding his onely Son that blessing he would bless him and multiply his seed as the stars of Heaven and as the sand on the Sea-shore and that in his seed should all the Nations of the earth be blessed Gen. 22. 16 18. and Gen. 15. 3 6. This promise relates to Isaac not Ishmael and to Sarai not Hagar and to Abraham not Abram Ab-ram signifies high Father This was all the name he had while he had but Ishmael onely Gen. 16. but when Isaac the promised Seed is coming the syllable Ha or letter H being the first syllable or letter of Hamon a multitude is added to Abram and Sarai so he is called Abraham Gen. 17. 5. she Sarah v. 15. Abraham by this addition signifies high Father of a multitude of nations and for Sarah as type of the New-Ierusalem Spouse of Christ see her numberless Children her Isaac's Rev. 7. 4 9. We find here first â— hundred forty four thousand sealed ones that are the peculiar Bride and spouse of Christ resembled by Sarah and then a numberless multitude of the lower rank of everlastingly glorified men that stand about the Throne Children of the Bride-chamber and friends of the Bridegroom and the Bride But le ts review that Allegory first in History then Mystery Sarai gives her maid Hagar to Abram to be his wife Gen. 16. 3. Hagar conceives and presently the fruitful servant despises her barren mistresse vers 4. Sarai complaines of her to Abram Abram bids her handle her as she pleased Sarai deales hardly with her and she flies for 't vers 5 6. The Angel of the Lord finds her and advises her to return and submit her self under her Mistresses hands v. 9 Here 's the History Deny Allegorizing and there will be no Mystery in it and then what an insignificant story may this seem Did not all these things happen for ensamples were they not written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come 1 Cor. 10. 11. Is not all Scripture given by inspiration of God for doctrine reproof correction instruction in righteousness 2 Tim. 3. 16. What doctrine reproof or instruction can we receive to any purpose from this and abundance of like Scriptures if Allegorical interpretation be carped at and exploded and insipid litteral glosses owned and adhered unto as the onely sence reach and intendment thereof With your leave then let us try by the Allegorizing engine our spiritual discerning if we have it to give birth to the mystical sence and rich significancy which this history carries in the womb of it As soon as Hagar saw she had conceived the next news we hear is her Mistress is despised in her eyes Behold here the proper Character of the first-covenant wife of Christ. She is warm flourishing prosperous and fruitful in a way of outward Ordinances and also in working Righteousness in the goodliness of Flesh in a wisdom glory and comeliness that Christ himself hath wrought in her and put upon her She is wise strong and honourable in Christ and makes no scruple but this will alwayes hold thinks her mountain so strong that she shall never be moved On this account the true new-covenant
they by their pride apostacy and treachery been the occasion of his and their own sufferings who would not believe him when he prophesied of such a suffering season Have not floods of Belial Judges Counsellors Witnesses Jurors Souldiers of Belial compassed him about Psal. 18. 4. Did Scripture Law or Reason signify any thing with them So the Waters went over his souls they took away his Life from the Earth Yet the rage and violence of bruitish men followed him close at the heels to his very execution-stroke But however it was with him as to a certain fore-sight of particular events yet that he could conjecture and spel out the most reserved consults and secret drifts of forreign Councils against us which they reckoned as tacita concealed till executed the Hollander did experience to their cost The next branch of his publick usefulness in a political capacity was his most happy dexterity at making the best of a war Armies are to small purpose abroad unlesse there be sage Counsel at home He heartily laboured to prevent a War with Holland but the sons of Zerviab a Military party that too much turned War into a Trade were too many for him in that point He therefore set himself to make the best of a War for his Countries defence In this War after some dubious Fights while the immediate care of the Fleet was in other hands he with five others were appointed by the Parliament to attend that affaire Hereupon he became the happy and speedy conâ—â—iver of that succesful Fleet that did our work in a very critical season when the Hollander vapoured upon our Seas took Prizes at pleasure hovered about our Ports and were ready to spoil all His report to the House as to the War-Ships by him recruited ordered and sent forth in so little time to find the enemy work seemed a thing incredible In the beginning of that expensive War as unwilling to make a prey of his Countries necessities he resigned his Treasurer-ship for the Navy causing the customary dues of that Office to be converted into a Salary of a thousand per annum The bare poundage of all expences that way which in times of peace came to about three thousand would have amounted to neer twenty thousand by the year during the war with Holand Were his personal circumstances and the condition of his Family-affaires at that season and since well known it would render this piece of self-denial the more memorable Some inconsiderable matter without his seeking was allotted to him by the Parliament in lieu thereof He had also long before this upon the Self-denying Ordinance little observed by others refunded five and twenty hundred pounds for public uses being the moiety of his Receptions in the said Office from such time as the Parliament had made him sole Treasurer who before the War was joyned with another person As for the keeping of his hands free from all maner of Bribes or what ever might be so interpreted all the while he was engaged in publick action I refer you to his own solemn appeal on the Scaffold to the great God of Heaven and Earth and to all that great Assembly round about him or any other persons on that account which none could contradict He openly challenged all men to shew wherein he had defiled his hands with any mans blood or estate or that he had sought himself in any publick place or capacity Such were his abilities for dispatch of a business if good or hindring it if ill that had his haâ—d been as open to receive as others to offer in that kind he might have treasured up silver as dust Many hundreds per annum have been offered to some about him in case they could but prevail with him only not to appear against a proposal On the least intimation of such a thing to him he would conclude it to be some corrupt self-interested design and set himself more vigilantly and industriously to oppose and quash it That Greek Magistrate left the best Name behind him who having been often in publick place and of general fame for abilities and honesty when he came to die left his family so bare though he had lived frugally that portions for his Children were issued out of the publick Treasury This Patriot for his many years faithful serving of the publick has endured several tedious imprisonments at length lost his Life and hazarded his own estate that should pay his great debts and supply his family with such honourable maintenance as becomes their birth and education Here 's his reward on Earth but great is his reward in heaven The latter part of this Sufferers Elogy in the ' bove-mentioned Verses concerns his skill in distinguishing the two Swords or Powers Civil and Spiritual and the setting right bounds to each He held that the Magistrate ought to keep within the proper sphere of Civil Jurisdiction and not intermeddle with mens Consciences by way of Imposition and Force in matters of Religion and divine Worship In that Healing Question for which he was wounded by the late Protector so called he did sufficiently manifest this to be as well the Magistrates true Interest as the Peoples just Security 'T is observed by MORE and others on various accounts that the Romane Emperors owning and incorporating Christianity with the Laws of the Empire strengthened the Interest of the formal Christian and drave the true Spiritual Worshipper into the Wilderness While Magistrates pretend and it may be verily think they are doing Christ a high piece of service by such fawning and formal compliance they are directly involved in the Antichristian Interest for the persecuting of Christ in his true spiritual members That men yea religious holy men may be so mistaken see Ioh. 16. 2. Acts 26. 9 11. This lover of his Nation and assertor of the just Rights and Liberties thereof unto his death was also for limiting the civil Power delegated by the People to their Trustees in the Supream Court of Parliament or to any Magistrates whatsoever He held That there are certain Fundamental Rights and Liberties of the Nation that carry such a universal and undeniable consonancy with the light of Nature right Reason and the Law of God that they are in no wise to be abrogated or altered but preserved What less than this can secure Peoples Lives Liberties and Birth-rights declared in MAGNA CHARTA and ratified by two and thirty Parliments since Let but once this truth he exploded and blown away all the Rights and Liberties of the Nation will soon go after it and arbitrary Domination and Rapine may securely triumph over all Deny that there are any Fundamental unrepealable Laws and who can be secure as to Life Liberty or Estate For if by an over-ruling stroke of abused Prerogative a majority in Parliament can be procured that will pull up all the antient Laws Rights and Liberties of the Nation by the Roots and establish mischief by a new Law make Reason and Duty
little Stone cut out of the Mountain that will make sad work and that irresistibly with all worldly corrupted magistracies and people The coming of these same angelical powers as immediate attendants on Christ and his heavenly bride when he comes in person seems to be signified by the great Mountain which this stone grows to so as on the demolishing of all opposite Powers every thing that offended having been pluck'd up in the preparatory dispensation it comes to fill and possess the whole earth The meek followers of the Lamb are to inherit the earth The first coming forth of this angelical magistracy which will be the onely suitable magistracy to the Church State of the risen witnesses or Church that 's to come up out of its Wilderness condition and mourning apparrel will put a period to Saints troubles and cast tribulation the other way on those that troubled them It is a righteous thing with God saies the Apostle to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you and to you that are troubled rest with us when the Lord by his mighty angels who are a flaming fire shall take vengeance on all enemies and obstracters of the Gospel 2 Thes. 1. 6 10. Then there shall be righteous judgement vers 5. now ther 's none to be had for them Now they are despised and Christ in them but at that day Christ will be admired in them and furnish them with power to deal with their assailants as they please And after this he will come yet more to be admired and dreaded in his own person with all his heavenly Armies following him Rev. 19. 14. and thousand thousands of Angels ministring to him Thus you see the Believers hopes and expectations of relief where they are placed while he is crushed and abused under corrupt Rulers in worldly States But what is his duty while the night of Sufferings and sackcloth is yet upon him He is to be preparing for and hasting to the coming of this day of God 2 Pet. 3.12 on which man's judgement or man's day will cease In another sence he that believeth will not make haste Esay 28. 16. not grow impatient at Christ's patience and long suffering towards his enemies not antidate his season but quietly wait till the set time for Sions deliverance be come through the State-ministry of the mighty angels and Church-ministry of spiritual believers Peter was too hasty in this point when he drew his sword against those that offered violence to his master Christ checks him for using a wrong weapon that that will never work any full and final deliverance from the tyrannical Powers of this world I could saies he at my prayer have presently more then twelve Legions of Angels to rescue me But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be Mat. 26. 53 54. So after his resurrection Ye fools and slow of heart saies he to believe all that the Prophets have spoken ought not Christ first to suffer and then enter into his glory Luk. 24. 25 26. And ought not his members also to suffer with him till such time as the afflictions of Christ which are behind in their flesh be accomplished and so enter into glory also 1 Col. 24. Must they not dye with him if they will live with him suffer with him if they will reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Must they not go the same way he went if they will come to the same place the heavenly mansions that he is gone before to prepare for them in his Fathers house John 14. 2. I am confident could this choice Martyr have procured at his prayer twelve legions of Angels to have laid all his bruitish adversaries on the Scaffold and round about him dead at his foot he would have forborn to desire it till the proper season for that dispensation be come which he reckoned to be very near This is the dispensation by which God will decide the controversie betwixt his people and enemies in the Valley of Iehoshaphat Joel 3. 12. The Historical type of this related to in Ioel we find 2 Chr. 20. A great multitude of Moab Ammon and mount Seir come against Iehoshaphat God takes the battel out of Iehoshaphat's and his Armies hands tells them they shall not need to fight but stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord vers 17. and vers 22 23. The Lord sets ambushments against their enemies and causes them to destroy one another Iehoshaphats Army has nothing left them to do but to take the spoiles of their enemies which they were three dayes in gathering it was so much vers 25. Farther notice is given of this last kind of undertaking the enemies of God and his People Ioel 2. 1 11. Blow the Trumphet in Zion Sound an alarme in my holy Mountain Let all the inhabitants of the Land tremble for the day of the Lord is at hand A great people and a strong are his Army even Angels that excel in strength a fire devoures before them and behind them a flame burneth Nothing shall escape them The appearance of them is as the appearance of Horses and Horsemen Like the noise of Charets on the tops of Mountains shall they leap Like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble as a strong people set in battle array before whom all their enemies faces shall gather blackness They shall run like mighty men and not break their ranks They are an invulnerable Army When they fall upon the Sword they shall not be wounded The Earth shall quake before them the Heavens shall tremble the Sun and Moon shall be darke and the Stars shall withdraw their shining This day of the Lord will be very terrible who can abide it Mens hearts will fail them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth for there shall be signs in the Sun Moon and Stars and upon the earth distress of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the Waves roaring Luk. 21. 25 26. All this that is so terrible to the Inhabitants of the Earth is good news to those that are in the Wilderness Pilgrims and Strangers in the Earth They are bid to look up and lift up their heads when these things begin to come to pass for their Redemption draweth nigh vers 28. The Lord shall utter his voice before his Army his Angelical Camp which is very great Joel 2. 11. There will be no standing for men before them Then will be brought to passe those sayings indeed Psal. 149. which some made use of in the late war that was but a shadow to what this Angelical host and their performances upon the enemy will amount unto The Saints shall sing aloud upon their beds and have the two-edged sword in their hands The Faith and Prayer of these chosen ones will have Angels ready to do execution upon all enemies Fire thus will go forth of their mouthes to destroy them Revel 11. They shall execute vengeance upon
The natural man perceiveth not the things of God because they are spiritually discerned Spiritual things are not at all the suitable intelligible objects to the natural understanding But will self-confident man ever suffer this to becom the Question Whether the fault lye in him that he perceives not what is said by the spiritual watchman By no meanes specially if this natural man be renewed cleansed enlightened adorned with excellent gifts and the tongue of men and angels so that he is in one kind wise and strong and honourable in Christ a Prince at working righteousness reigning as a King 1 Cor. 4. 8. You may sooner remove a mountain then get this man so accomplished and qualified once to suffer his understanding and reception of things to be scrupled or questioned as insufficient for these things Then there 's no remedy but if the spiritual believers Testimony be not received the fault must be laid at his door That he daringly asserts many things but clears nothing proves nothing Thus the Pharisees serv'd Christ. Are we blind also Do you think that if you talk'd any thing that has Sence Reason or Scripture in it for its evidence we could not see what 't is you drive at John 9. 40. Let 's consider whether these learned self-confidents with the rest of the Iewish Rabbies were blind or no as to the true reach and significancy of those very Oracles they were generally reputed the onely Interpreters of in Moses and the Prophets Paul being set down in the Iewish Synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia upon intimation from the Rulers thereof to speak a word of exhortation a thing not admitted in our Synagogues insists upon this very point They saies he that dwell at Ierusalem and their Rulers because they knew not Christ nor yet the voices of the Prophets which were read every Sabbath day they have fulfilled them in condemning him And though they found no cause of death in him yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain Act. 13. 27 28. They are said therefore to have done it ignorantly The Princes of this World that is the Iewish Priests Scribes Pharisees c. that were Princes in understanding and at working the righteousness of the Law they yet knew not Christ for had they known him they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.8 'T was well for them their murdering of him was capable of such an interpretation for this keeps the door yet open for salvation through Christ crucified to be preach'd even to them that crucified him Men and brethren children of the stock of Abraham to you is the word of this salvation sent Act. 13. 26. What a marvellous thing may it seem that the very learned Rulers and onely reputed expounders of the Law and the Prophets should crucifie Christ and in all the circumstances of their proceedings with him fulfil all that was foretold of him in Moses and the Prophets and yet not know all along what they were doing They thought and so our Rabbies think they understand the Scriptures but did they or do we What though men have been reputed famous expounders of the letter of Gospel thirty or forty years together may not they yet be ignorant of Christ in spirit or the Spiritual man and all his concerns and so with great confidence cry him down for a Blasphemer and persecute him No doubt Is not Christ in Spirit and in the approaches of his second coming as like to be decried blasphemed and persecuted by the onely reputed expounders of the Gospel as Christ in the flesh was by the onely reputed expounders of the Law His second coming both in his Saints the true spiritual believer and in his own person is as fairly foretold in the New Testament in reference to his reign as his first coming in the flesh was foretold in the old Testament in reference to his Sufferings And of the two men will be more short of guessing right at the predictions that concern his second coming then those that concerned his first It lies more remote by far in all the circumstances and things of it from humane understanding then the first did Christ makes this dealing of God with men the ground and matter of a solemn thanksgiving to his Father I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Mat. 11.25 And 1 Cor. 1. 26. Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called See the self-confident reasonings of the Iewes against the reception of Christ or his Doctrine The Officers that went to apprehend Christ are astonished at his doctrine and durst not lay hands on him What say the Priests and Pharisees that sent them have ye not brought him Oh say they never man spake like this man Then answered the Pharisees are ye also deceived Have any of the Rulers or Pharisees believed on him But this people that knoweth not the Law are cursed He onely deludes a company of poor fishermen and the silly credulous multitude that know nothing Here is their Verdict of Christ. Why should his true followers expect other from the learned Rabbies and onely reputed expositours of Scripture in any succeeding generation amongst whom their lot is cast This is the way of man God's way and his reasonings are quite contrary The poor onely those that are emptied of all their Laodicean riches and self-confidences they are the fitly disposed persons to receive the gospel in God's esteem These are they he puts value on That passage in Acts 13. about the Iews crucifying Christ and not being aware what was the matter though the very Scriptures which they were reckoned the only interpreters of that the world had in it foretold and charactered the birth progress and death of him in all the circumstances thereof I say the serious weighing of this one would think should encline men amidst all the repute they have and please themselves with as to the interpreting of the Scriptures to reflect upon and call themselves in question whether they do yet know any thing at all of them as they ought to know If not then all the question they put to the spiritual believer is still How do you prove it how do you make out this from Scripture They 'l not admit the least scruple but that they can discern it if it be proved They will not suffer it to be questioned whether they have the hearing ear and seeing eye to discern what the spiritual man sayes to the Churches Men that have not this eye and ear and yet reckon they have and will not be beaten out of it the true believer were almost as good speak to stones as them These old foolish kings at knowledge and righteousness in first-covenant principles they will not endure to be admonished or told any thing of new-covenant light and righteousness Eccles. 4. 13. Let a skilful Mathematician
the God of Heaven and against the Saints of the most High Practise not thus against them nor think to change the times and the Laws Dan. 7. 25. Will you O Rulers be paid in your own coin You have taken away a famous man in our Israel this day upon some dark REASON of STATE against all the Laws of England and against the common light of Reason in all mankind Will you hear a REASON of STATE that might have moved you to the contraâ—y Though it be too late as to his Life because his blood that you have spilt cannot be gathered up again as the wise woman of Tekoah told David yet it may happily be somewhat preventive to your further proceedings that way against others Remember then what is recorded of Ann de Burg burnt in France 1559. The Death and Constancy of a man so conspicuous made many curious to know what Religion that was for which he had so couragiously endured punishment By that means great numbers of people were baptized into his perswasion Trust me saies one you have gotten nothing by these spectacles Mâ—n return from them more confirm'd in their detestation of you than terrified from any of their purposes towards you Their names will be recorded amongst those who have died out of debt to their countrey by having paid the utmost they owed it Their worth will be remembred Their children and kindred will alwayes be looked upon as descendants from the Liberatours of their Countrey and esteemed accordingly I wish heartily for your own sakes and ours too that this REASON of STATE had come into your mind and had prevailed against any other before you ventured to embrue you hands in the blood of so deserving a subject But proceed no farther to lift up your selves thus against the Lord of heaven for when ye have done all the meek ones of Christ must inherit the earth when the wicked are cut off they shall see it Psal. 37. 34. The Saints of the most High shall take and possesse the kingdom for ever and ever do what any can to hinder them Dan 7. 18. Quarrel not at these things but like noble Boereans search the Scriptures and see whether they be so or no. Do not put far from you the evil day It never was nearer Hinder not Saints assembling together 'T is their duty so to do and that so much the more as they see the day of Christ's heavenly appearance approaching Heb. 10.25 Praying persons praying People that have an interest in God are the main bulwark and security of any Nation Ten righteous praying persons had saved all Sodom and the neighbour cities Gen. 18. 32. The Sodomites vilify and assault Loâ— and he is the onely man that stands betwixt them and the storm of fire and brimstone that was coming upon them God bids him haste away for he cannot do any thing till he be got to some place of security Gen. 19. 9. 22. 'T was a Proverb in Israel Without standings the world could not stand that is without prayers the posture was put for the duty Would you rid your hands and the world of Saints praying Persons and Meetings Then the world will stand no longer and where then will your standing be what should the world stand for when God has no share or portion in it What mean you then O Rulers Are Protestants murder'd and hurried up and down for meeting to worship God and the service of the Devil in the abominable Idolatries of the Mass wink'd at or countenanc'd Nothing hardly of Protestantisme scapes your censure but what 's to be found in the publick Assemblies into which you have returned an insipid frothy Episcopal Ministry whose Divinity amounts not to so much as sound and well managed moral Philosophy Their words have no power to awaken Consciences or authority in Consciences that are already awakened I doubt they aim at no such thing but onely to lull awakened Consciences into a deep sleep againe and those that are so to keep so still 'T is an enlightened knowing People that are the only burdensome stone to them Do you think England can away with such work as this that have flourished of late years in Light and Liberty beyond any Nation round about her Do you imagine that the Mass or a barren Episcopal Ministry with an Organ and a Common-prayer Book will down with a Nation that has such light stirring in it as not only the Presbyterian but in a manner all the variety of Congregational Churches yea the very Fift-Monarchy-men so called will hardly bear Will you pull out all our eyes will you stop our mouths with gags and handkerchiefs because you have no Law or Reason to stop them with Do you think the righteous man has no remedy left him The Lord is in his Temple his Throne is in heaven His eyes behold his eyelids try the children of men The wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth Upon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest Psal. 11. 4 6. God is angry with the wicked every day If he turn not he will whet his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready He ordeineth his arrows against the persecutors He hath prepared for them the instruments of death Their mischief shall return upon their own heads and their violent dealing shall come down upon their own paâ—es Psal. 7. 9 16. Is not here enough for you If you persist in your way every syllable of this will be accomplished upon you There 's no flying from God's presence or escaping his hand No visible confidencies bulwarks forts armies treasure or whatever else can secure you from men much less from angels and much less yet from God 'T is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God He is the transcendently highest over-ruling Magistrate of all He is the great General of all the armies in heaven or earth Angels stars men and all inferiour creatures His host of angels relieved Elisha against the Syrians The stars in their courses fought against Sisera Judg. 5.20 Yea to shew the contemptible folly of self-exalting man God can so animate an army of frogs locusts lice or flies as to appall the proudest Tyrant and make him buckle and acknowledge that he has sinned against the Lord in abusing his people and desire them to pray for his deliverance as we see over and over in Pharaoh's case Exod. 8. 9. 10. How oft have rich and potent kings bin dragg'd out of all their visible supports taken by force out of their ablest troops and choisest armies and carried up and down to be laughed at by their enemies how many signal instances for this do we find in Iewish Assyrian Persian Greek Romane Turkish and other Histories the English not excepted Queen Iezebel with all her pomp and retinue can't secure her body from being dogs meat Have you killed and also taken possession Remember her Remember Ahaâ— Where dogs
dunghil because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort Dan. 3. Yet it appears not that Nebuchadnezzar himself worshipped this true God or forsook his false A while after we find him boasting and vaunting as if there were no other God but he Dan. 4.30 What a fickle thing is that Religion that depends upon the Magistrates Decree Darius the Mede when he comes upon the Stage at Babylon he is flattered by his corrupt Courners to turn Pope take upon him to be the holy Father all must pray to him for thirty dayes and not ask a petition of any other God If they did they must to the Lions den Daniel is charged with slighting the King and his Decree The King set himself to deliver him but could not An Angel did by stopping the Lyons mouths Then his accusers with their wives and children were cast to the Lyons and were torn in pieces immediately before they came to the bottom of the Den Dan. 6. What looking-glasses are here for Kings to give them aim what persons to put most value on Idolatrous flattering Courtiers that counsel them to their dammage and disherison or true Prophets and faithful Subjects that advise them for the safety of their Crown and Dignity True they know not to give flattering titles to men for in so doing their maker would soon take them away Job 32. 22. They fear him more than men 'T is the true advantage of Kings to be plainly dealt with by them Flatterers ruine them They are the Traitors as has appeared in all ages Believe it O ye Rulers and Judges if you go on at the rate you have begun should all the Angels in heaven and Men on earth lay their understandings together to demonstrate the requisiteness yea absolute necessity of having made a Parliamentary and popular defence against such corrupt sticklers for prerogative and arbitrary domination when got into armes 1641. 'T is hard to imagine how they should mend that which your selves have given by your most injurious and oppressive practices since your return What should we mince the matter for The world is almost at an end The Devils rage is great because he knows he has but a short time It highly concerns us to deal plainly with one another lest that great deceiver of the Nations cozen us all If men do as wickedly as they can and make a law that no body must tell them of it must every body therefore hold their peace and let them go on What can the Devil desire more Must God and his Messengers have no hearing with you What do you imagine will become of you then Will ye change Religion and the Laws and must no body dare to say so But they will you see Will you put out the eyes of all the good People of England They have eyes and will use them too do what you can as long as their heads are on With these eyes they see clearer what you are about then it may be you are aware The Lord in the late War was a Rebuker of you all in many pitch'd Fields and a continued series of disappointments for many years together If you would but mend the matter as to what this Nation felt when it groaned under the Tyranny of your apostate Conqueror this yet were something Many of the same persons that he abused and oppressed you have slain and so finished his work upon them You should let the oppressed go free ease those heavy burdens that he put upon the People and you encrease them so that the Nation languishes under a general discouragement as to Trade and almost every thing else What work God will suffer to be made by any instruments of cruelty amongst us that are profound to make slaughter though unfit to fight he himself best knows But that God will send deliverance in the close and preserve a remnant in the scramble I am as confident as that there is a God that judgeth in the Earth who will make himself known by the Judgements which he will execute upon all wicked Opposers of him and his People Freely I have received and I freely give you such portion as the Scripture allots you Yet say not O Rulers there is no hope we will therefore fill up the measure of our wickedness and then let God strike Say not thus There is yet hope You may repent of the evil of your doings and quite lay aside all your mischievous and destructive intendments towards this peeled People and you and we together may be a flourishing Nation If the King say as the King of Nineveh Let every man cry mightily unto God let them turn every one from his evil way and from the violence that is in their hands who can tell but God may turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not Jonah 3. 8 9. FINIS Some Notes of Sir Henry Vane's Exhortation to his Children and Family brokenly and imperfectly taken Iune 13. 1662. being the day before his Execution Genesis 18. 17 18 19. And the Lord said Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty Nation and all the Nations of the Earth shall be blessed in him For I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Iustice and Iudgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him VVE have here a description of God's reasoning within his own mind concerning the open-heartedness he would use towards Abraham who is called his Friend Isa. 41. 8. for the eminency of his Faith by which he was made one spirit and of one mind with the Lord so as he could instantly surrender and perform whatever God called for from him or required of him however hard or contrary to the desire eye and reasonings of flesh and blood The greatest tryal of his Faith and the most signal manifestation of it was the offering up his only begotten son the son of promise of whom it was said In Isaac shall thy seed be called This Typical Father of the Faithful behaved himself but as a pilgrim and stranger even in the earthly Land of Promise seeking yet a better Country a heavenly Heb. 11. 12. He came off readily with this greatest offering of flesh at its best in his Isaac the figure of Christs offering so as by the transforming Baptism of the Spirit to grow up into a perfect harmony with the will of God Rom. 12. 1 2. Hereupon he is termed the Father of the Faithful and hereby Isaac also became a Son of the Resurrection as he was also before in a figure Heb. 11. 12 19. as springing up from Abraham's body and Sarah's womb when both of them were as good as dead The present occasion admits â—o long insisting on this being together with the care he had of his Family but the introductory consideration with God
the tumultuous confusions and insurrections of the workers of iniquity against them they have a steady composure and un-interrupted serenity of mind through an unshaken submission to acquiescence in and conformity to the will of God in all occurrences In the greatest storms the sharpest and most fiery â—ryals that can befal them when they see the flames of man's wrath the floods of Belial or wicked men devouring on all hands and overwhelming all considerations or appearances of true outward peace equity or order they have the inward peace and joy unspeakable and glorious which such strangers cannot intermeddle with or interrupt A perfect calmness and serenity both in spirit and outward deportment may be the Believers portion and ornament in such a season and such circumstances when the vilest of men are exalted and the wicked walk on every side When the world is in the most injurious career against the Saints then doth Christ more intimately imbrace them and more abundantly manifest to their Faith the riches and glory of the world to come Vse 2. for your instruction These things I leave with you as the words of one in my place and circumstances that ought to have weight with you that are young and liable to be misled Learn hence to put value upon the priviledge of believing Saints Be the daughters and children of Abraham and Sarah in all modest chaste and holy conversation Quit the broad way and beaten Road that leadeth to Destruction and be for the narrow path that leadeth unto Life the way everlasting Psal. 139. 24. Let not your care be spent in outward adorning but in adorning the hidden or inner man of your hearts with that which is not corruptible Get the ornament of a meâ—k and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price With all your getting get divine wisdom and understanding Prov. 4. 7. Be as circumspect and cuâ—ious as you can in these heavenly ornaments watching alwayes to cast and keep out every thing that defiles that you may possess your vessels in sanctification and honour as becomes the temples of the holy Ghost glorifying God with your bodies and with your spirits which are his After this manner holy women that trusted in God did in old time adorn themselves whose daughters ye are so long as ye do well and you will find no need to be afraid with any amazement For keeping alwayes by this means a good conscience void of offence towards God and towards man when men shall speak evil of you as of evil doers the shame shall be their own It will appear 't is only your chaste and good conversation in Christ they persecute and accuse you for This is the ground of all their malice and reproaches Christ hath chosen you out of the world be ye followers of him out of it in the peculiar distinguishing spirit and conversation of pilgrims and strangers But then know the inhabitants of the earth will hate you Let this common lot and portion of Believers from this world be expected by you and rendred familiar to you that when you come indeed more eminently under the experiences of it you may not look upon it as any new strange or unusual thing that happens to you above all other Believers But when such things come to pass rejoyce in as much as ye are made partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ if ye suffer for Righteousness sake happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you Be ye not therefore afraid of their terrour neither be you troubled but sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts by your stedfastness and boldness It may be ready to startle you to see a Believer thus handled as you see me now to end his mortal dayes by the hands of violence though not without the free and willing surrender of his Life in compliance with the divine hand and determinate cousel of God herein This is the way which the Lord himself the great Captain of our Salvation went before us in Let not this way of the Lord be evil spoken of by you Let not the least prejudice or thought arise in your hearts against it on this occasion but rather let it serve for the increase and strengthning of your Faith as it ought Vse 3. That which hath been said and observed concerning Abraham as to God's taking such peculiar notice of him and making such peculiar discoveries of his secrets to him should serve to instruct inform and mind us of the great benefits and glorious advantages attainable for us by abiding and increasing in the spirit and faith of our father Abraham It will meet with glorious Returns from God The Spirit of Glory will rest upon such as do thus improve the example of Abraham The secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him The Angels of the Lord encamp round about them and deliver them yet not alwayes from a violent death by the hands of men Christ himself would not imploy the Angels in this service though he could have had more than twelve legions of them for his rescue at his desire The followers of Christ then are not altogether delivered from death but from the fear the sting the power of death and so are made to conquer and triumph over death it self and him that hath the power of death by dying as Christ did who was thus heard in what he feared Heb. 5. 7. Live then in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit and Faith of our Father Abraham Listen to the Experiences of your Father in this dying hour and season of darkness who can and doth here give a good report of that heavenly and better Country he is now going to the more free and full enjoyment of In the midst of these his dark circumstances his enjoyments and refreshings from the presence of the Lord do more abound than ever I can truly say that as my tribulations for Christ have risen higher and abounded my Consolations have abounded much more My Imprisonment and hard usage from men hath driven me nearer to God and more alienated and disentangled my mind from the snares and cumbrances of this mortal life You have no cause to be ashamed of my Chain or no fear being brought into the like circumstances I now am in so it be on as good an occasiâ—n for the Name and Cause of Christ and for his Righteousness sake Let this word abide with you whatever befalls you Resolve to fuller any thing from men rather than sin against God yea rejoyce and be exceeding glad when you find it given to you on the behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but to suffer for his Name Stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the Faith of the Gospel and be in nothing terrified by your adversaries but go on in your
Abraham largely experienced by your Father and by him now recommended unto you Keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that he may fulfil unto you all the rich and precious promises of the Gospel belonging to Abraham and his believing seed the seed of Promise that are found walking in his wayes Observ. 4. Fourthly and lastly observe That it is a duty incumbent on believing parents to mind their children and houshold of walking in the faith and keeping in the way of the Lord doing that which is just and right So also is it the duty of children to obey such charge and be found so living and walking in the spirit and way of the Lord as they expect the blessings of Gods Covenant with Abraham to be made good unto them But here this Query may be offered How did Abraham walk and 〈◊〉 The answer is In a Family-way 't was Family-worship There were in his time no formed Churches or Societies of a larger kind made up of divers families embodying themselves and walking in communion together That which he was capable to do he did He catechized and instructed his Relations spreading abroad amongst them the savour of the tithes of that Grace which through mercy he was partaker of This was the state of the true Church then as to its outward form If larger visible Societies and collective Bodies or Churches of Saints be now interrupted this Family-way of Religion and Worship may be kept up and so things return to their primitive way again as in the dayes of Abraham To this Ioshua professes he will have recourse when the purity of publick Worship fails Iosh. 24. 15. If saith he it seem evil to you to serve the Lord if you be for other goâ—â— or other wayes of worship than God requires I will quit your publick societies as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Use 1. My word of exhortation then to you is When publick worship is to be had in purity without defiling of your Consciences use and frequent that But if that bedenied or is not to be found frequent private and family worship yea however it be as to the publick let these be kept on foot with all diligence Be found still in the way of the Lord own that where ere you see it and joyn in it as the Lord shall please to open the way for you and give opportunity Whatever you do be not conformed to this world in the spirit way principles affections no nor religion thereof Quit those worshippers that are confident in a spirit and way that is liable to apostacy calling that heresie which is the only true way of worshipping the God of our Fathers Amidst the great variety of Churches and ways of Worship that this world abounds with be not by any means induced or forced to observe and become subject to the ordinances of man in things pertaining unto God Give unto God the things that are Gods Give also unto Caesar the things that are his If he unlawfully require more you may lawfully refuse to obey him let him take his course wherein any 〈◊〉 proudly God will be above them If one Church say Christâ— another Lo there and the trumpet that 's blown in both give but an uncertain sound look up to Christ himself with the Spouse in the Canticles and say O thou whom our souls do love tell us where thou feedest and makest thy flock to rest at noon under the scorching heat of mans persecuting wrath He will discover to you the false Babylonish spirit that lurks in such Churches and Teachers as to the deceiving of themselves and others are but transformed into the likeness of the Apostles and Churches of Christ 2 Cor. 11. And he will by his Spirit if rightly sought to and waited on infallibly direct you to the true shepherds tents those spiritual pastors and assemblies that walk in the footsteps of his ancient flock even in the faith spirit and way of Abraham Isaac Iacob and their families who are now in the kingdom of God and in the way doctrine and spirit of the Evangelists and Apostlcs And as I would have you to quit all false Churches and reject the Babylonish spirit whatever curious dress insinuating appearance or refined form she shines forth in so much more yet would I have you to loath and depart from all manner of prophaness and common debauchery whatever countenance or encouragement it may have round about you in the Land of your nativity Do but keep in the Way live and walk in the Faith and Spirit of Abraham and all is done This your Father hath found joy and comfort in upon very large and plentiful experiences but most remarkably in his Prison-state As troubles and straits from without have encreased upon me I have been more enlarged within The more I have been shut up on earth and from earthly Relations and enjoyments the more have the Heavens opened upon me and let down to me the larger sights and tasts of the glory and enjoyments of the world to come Vse 2. Lastly I charge you as the utmost desire of my soul to God on your behalf be obedient to the Lord walk humbly with him and keep close to him Let your heart be right with him Be stedfast in his Covenant not turning aside like a deceitful Boâ— Be not off and on with him yea and nay but in Christ yea only and then all the Promises of God in Christ to you will be Yea and Amen to the glory of God the Father Then if any of you lack Wisdom or particular direction in any difficult circumstances ask it of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given you But then ask in Faith the stedfast Faith of Abraham nothing wavering for he that wavereth must not think or expect to receive any thing of the Lord Iames 1. 5. 7. Christ hath assured you that whatsoever you shall ask in his Name he will do it and the Father will do it Ioh. 14. 13 14. and chap. 15. 16. that is whatsoever ye shall ask in the power and exercise of a living saving Faith or of the heavenly Anointing and new Name of Christ in and upon you it shall be done unto you For whatsoever ye thus ask will be asked by you in the will of God that ye are begotten of Jam. 1. 18. or according to the will of your heavenly Father And this we know that whatsoever we ask according to his will he heareth us 1 John 5. 14 15. Yea though ye be but young and weak in this Faith and in the expression of it if as new-born babes ye do but truly desire the sincere milk of the Word and brokenly stammer and lisp forth such desires to God ye will find acceptance with and answer from him not only according to but abundantly above all that you are able to ask or think No Mother can have so tender a regard to the cry of