that ministration yet all that glory and glorying was to vaile it selfe yea to vanish and be done away and rendred Inglorious at the appearing of that which excelled the Mother and Child must be gone Agar and her Sonne must have no tarriance notwithstanding all their pretence of alliance and affinity to Abraham yet these must not abide the Spirit of the Lord must blow upon them and plainly and faithfully is it declared Joh. 3.3 Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God And except that word be fulfilled in him Rom. 7.4 that he become dead to the Law of the first husband and married to that other husband i. e. to him that is raised from the dead he can never bring forth fruit unto God how fruitfull soever he may seeme to be 't is not such fruit as of which it may be said In mee is thy fruit found i. e. fruit unto holinesse the end whereof is everlasting life Rom. 6.22 Let a man follow the dictates of the light and law that is in him with all possible exactnesse that the creature is capable of minding it as his teacher and obeying it as such and arive at a justification in himselfe such an one may have whereof to glory but not before God As is testified in the person of him who said I know nothing by my selfe yet am I not thereby justified but he that judgeth mee is the Lord 1 Cor. 4.4 Forasmuch as not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.17 18. Nor he that pronounceth himselfe cleane is therefore so for who can say I have made my heart cleane I am pure from my sinne Pro. 20.9 But the blessednesse is thus described Rom. 4.7 8 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sinnes are covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sinne Hee therefore that glorieth let him glory in the Lord who silencing and stopping the mouth of all flesh cuts off all pretence of boasting and glorying in his presence how goodly soever men may seeme to appeare to themselves and to one another looking for salvation from the light and law within them as it is common to all men or as it is such in every man for so are the termes whereas God hath not anoynted it to that worke nor laid the great weight of eternall salvation upon the shoulders thereof it being too weake for that service* But upon him that is mighty to save who is able to save to the uttermost all them which come unto God by him even by him in whom all the seed of Israel shall be justified and shall glory * Rom. 8.3 Gal. 3.21 Heb. 7.25 It remaines to Consider whether there be not a great mistake in the applying or rather in the misapplying the scriptures which are annexed at the Close of the recited Paragraph as a proofe of it or of some part thereof The words are these viz. Being obedient to the light within That light obeying it is your salvation Minde your teacher within minde the light within Jer. 31.34 Isa 54.13 Joh. 6.46 Joh. 1.2 27. It is to be observed and remembred by the reader that The light within is all along throughout this discourse understood to be the light within every man and woman which cometh into the world of which light in every man it is said There is your Teacher present with you minde your Teacher within minde the light within and then are the Scriptures added which are last above-cited Reply It may not be denyed but that the light and law in every man is a Teacher a Schoole-master to every man it Commands and directs in matters to be done it approves or reproves the deeds done or undone in the flesh according to the dispensation and administration thereof whether it relate to a law written in letters or only on the heart according to Ro. 2.14 such a teacher it is of all mankind for whatsoever the law saith it saith to them that are under the law that every mouth may be stopped all the world may become guilty before God but no mouth is stopped without a law Rom. 5.13 Rom. 4.15 Every one is bound to hearken to this teacher while he is under the tuition thereof and for his contempt is inexcusable being self-convicted or convict in his owne Conscience It is the lot of all the posterity of Adam to be under this tuition and teaching But by the recitall of the Scriptures above-named it is most Evident that both the Teacher and the Schollers therein intended are differenced from these last above-mentioned and may not without great injury to the truth and scope thereof be applyed for a proofe of that for which they are alledged viz. to prove that the light in every man is that teacher those Scriptures intend and are brought to prove it will plainly appeare upon tryall the Scriptures being examined that the schollers are not every man that comes into the world but they are the children of the New Covenant the borne of God Joh. 1.13 or of the Spirit of God Joh. 3.3.6 Nor is the teacher That light which is within every man that cometh into the world but it is the Spirit of truth the Anoynting of the Father that Spirit of promise which Christ would send and which being come would guide the Anoynted ones into all truth as hath been prooved before from Joh. 14.16 17 26. Joh. 16.7 13. The Scriptures before mentioned are these which follow viz. Jerem. 31.34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know mee from the least unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sinne no more And they shall c. Quest Who are they Ans They with whom the Lord makes the New Covenant Quest Why who are they with whom he makes a new Covenant Ans With the House of Israel and Judah Quest Who are the House of Israel and Judah Ans Not all the seed of Abraham according to the flesh as is testified Rom. 9.6 7 8. For they are not all Israel that are of Israel Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children but the children of the promise are counted for the seed Which promise made by God to Abraham was not made to him as he was the father of the Circumcision only but of the uncircumcision also as is witnessed Rom. 4.13.16 17. As he was Heire of the world and father of many Nations that the promise might be sure to all the seed not according to the flesh but the faith of Abraham as is further testified Gal. 3.7 Know yee therefore that they which are of faith the same are Children of Abraham and are blessed with faithfull Abraham vers 9. For there is neither Jew nor Greeke neither bond nor free neither male nor female for yee
manifest But in the fulness of time the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windowes of heaven were open and the treasure of wisdome and Counsel which had comparatively been hidden from ages and generations not positively so for every Age had its proper measure in proportion to the dispensation under which it was yet in comparison of what was further made out by the appearing of the grace of God giving testimony of his great love to the world in sending his own Son Rom. 8.3 To dye for sinners Rom. 5.8 Yea while they were yet sinners and at enmity with him then to reconcile them to God Rom. 5.10 Then I say and at this time for the Word to be made flesh and Tabernacle among the sons of men and cause his glory to be beheld as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth without controversie this was the great Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the flesh c. He had been hid in God long before but now was made manifest bringing immortality and life to light by the Gospel preparing a way into the Holyest of all which way was not yet open but shut up under veiles and shadowy darkness whilst the first Tabernacle was yet standing and this God hath done upon terms not of the first covenant that is to say of works called the old Covenant but upon the terms of the second Covenant or Law of faith bringing in everlasting Righteousness upon the account of that better hope by which we draw nigh to God Heb. 7.19 Thus as that first Covenant or law of works which was witnessed sufficiently in mans heart so far as to justifie God and render man inexcusable for transgressing it yet through the bountiful goodness of God was afterward engraven on Tables of stone and so became a written and legible Law the keeping of the Oracles whereof was committed eminently to Abrahams posterity yet so as that the sound thereof went forth among the Gentiles far and near who also might be admitted upon the terms thereof into the family of the then Israel of God and many taking hold of that Covenant of God were admitted to whom there was but one Law as well to the stranger as to him who was born in the house Exod. 12.48.49 In like manner this new Covenant which God made with miserable fallen affrighted run-away hidden Adam touching the seed of the woman which should break the head of the serpent as in the promise Gen. 3.15 this in process of time comes to be drawn from under the veil and so immortality and life comes to light through the gospel Which notwithstanding it were so sufficiently manifested from the time it was first promised as that the heirs of Salvation did see through these veils and beheld him that was invisible and all others might have seen and many did see that which left them without excuse for with whom was he angry but with those who had not faith Heb. 3.11 18 19. as with those to whom the Gospel was preached but did not profit them not being mixt with faith Heb. 4.2 Yet out of the super-abundant goodness and riches of grace Eph. 2.7 commending his love to poor sinners God makes this new impression thereof in such large and capital letters as that it may be read and seen of all men to whom the tidings thereof comes making publication of this joyful message by the Acclamation of that heavenly Host who praising God said Glory to God in the Highest on earth peace good will toward men Luke 2.13.14 bringing good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people the sum of which was There is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luke 2.10.11 or the Lords Christ v. 26. a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel v. 32. Which voyce of this heavenly Host was not like that on mount Sinai wherein the mount was altogether on a smoke like the smoke of a furnace where the whole Mount quaked greatly and the people which were in the Camp trembled Exo. 19.16 18. but contrarywise it was here Peace on Earth good will towards Men and glad-tidings of great joy to all people These were the blessed openings of the Fathers bosome bringing life unto light Revealing the Counsels of his heart which had been kept secret from the beginning of the world but was now made manifest for the obedience of faith among all nations according to the tennor of that Scripture John 3.16 17. God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Now is the first promise unbowel'd and declaration is now made who is the seed of the woman and what is the Law of faith and also who are the proper subjects thereof Every one to whom the sound thereof comes is under the obligation thereof but they only which do beleeve in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life and these also are reckoned for the seed This then is the tennor and tendency of the Law of faith That whosoever beleeveth on Jesus Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life and this not occultly but openly declared Together with this new Edition of the Law of faith the Subjects thereof are likewise declared to be such as are to be renewed to be new made to be born again and to have a light implanted in them suitable to this Law as they had a light implanted in them suitable to that of works That like as the former light sprang up with them in the natural birth Man had his candle from the beginning of his Creation to see his Creator and a Law sprang up with him to serve his Maker that is to love him with all his heart with all his soul c. So now in this new Creation is he in like manner to be endued with a light suitable to his birth he must be born of the Spirit or from above and therewith to be enlightned to have this Law written in and on his heart this is a branch of the new Covenant I will write my lawes in their hearts c. This is that which was pointed at all along thoroughout the old dispensation in all the types and sacrifices they looked unto Jesus the Mediatour of this new Covenant whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his Righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God That he might be just and the justifier of him that beleeveth in Jesus Rom. 3.25 26. and by this law of faith to exclude boasting The Law of works speaking on this wise do and live or the man that doeth these things shall live in them sets man upon doing for life or that he may live and while man is doing he is apt to be boasting as he Luk. 18.11 I am
balme nor healing medicine in it but pure wrath and pure Justice powred forth in a curse against the transgressor by a just and righteous Law of equity May I not say then yea I doe say it with earning bowels of compassion Tell me ye that desire to be under the Law I mean the light and Law set up in every man doe ye not heare the Law for it is written that Abraham had two Sons the one by a bond maid the other by a free woman I desire the Scripture might be read in its owne words Gal. 4. from the 21. vers to the end of that Chapter and the Allegory thereof given heed unto as holding forth the 2 Covenants under the Persons of Agar and Sarah vers 24. and the 2 seeds under the persons of Ishmael and Isaac who both had but one father Abraham from whose loines they both descended though not so the one as the other for the former was born after the flesh The other was born after the Spirit The first born of these 2. though the son of the bond woman yet had Abraham to his father as truly and really as Isaac had Abrahams prayer touching Ishmael the interpretation of whose name is God shall hear was heard and Ishmael was blessed and made fruitfull and exceedingly multipled begot twelve Princes and became a great nation Gen. 17.20 Gen. 25.12 16. But notwithstanding all his greatnesse and glory and priviledge of being Abrahams Son yet his glory was no glory in comparison of that which excelled as appears Gen. 17.19 21. For it is said But my Covenant will I establish with Isaac I will establish my Covenat with him for an everlasting Covenant and with his seed after him the Son of the bondwoman for all his parentage priviledge and greatnesse though he say we have Abraham to our Father and we are a great people yet out of the house he must goe Cast out the bond woman and her Son * * Gen. 21.10 though it be never so grievious to part with this goodly birth the first-born of our strength yet it must be done the Son of the bond-woman must not abide in the house though he be Abrahams seed as it was witnessed Gen. 21.10 11 12 13. whom God will make a nation because he is his seed However out of the House he must be cast For the servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Sonne abideth ever Joh. 8.35 36. If the Sonne therefore shall make you free then are yee free indeed Agar the first Covenant and Ishmael the seed of Abraham by the first Covenant must be put away as faulty they may not abide in the House no though the first and first-borne For it is written The elder shall serve the younger and he that caught his brother by the heele must have the dominion The application hereof is plaine Neverthelesse for the sakes of some there may be a gathering up the summe of what hath been spoken touching this matter and it is this That although there be a light and law in every man which proceedeth from the Eternall God the Father and Fountaine of lights and spirits which hath the power and dominion over every man while he is under age as a Schoole-master or Tutor to the Edicts precepts and principles whereof he is obliged to yeild obedience under the penalty of Curse and Eternall separation from God which is the Condition of the first Covenant Yet this is not the abiding estate which God hath appoynted to perfect the Heires of salvation but rather in order to the bringing in that better hope viz. the promise by faith of Jesus Christ That it might be given to them that beleeve Gal. 3.22 And after that faith is come they are no longer under a Schoole-master but admitted to the Adoption of sonnes and thenceforth no more servants but sons not now under the Spirit of bondage and feare of being cast out of the house as a servant or sonne of the bondwoman who is not to abide in the house for ever but now as one whom the sonne having made free is free indeed and shall abide for ever Joh. 8.35 Gal. 3.25 Gal. 4.5 Rom. 8.15 The light and law of the naturall man of which every one is partaker and by which they which are obedient thereunto bring forth fruits as unto a first Husband which are legitimate and lawfull and of which wee are apt to say Oh that Ishmael might live in thy sight Neverthelesse this Husband must dye and so must his off-spring too though they seeme never so goodly nor never so glorious whether they be mournings prayings teares fastings humblings abstinencies righteousnesses loving and obeying the light and law which is in every man These must all dye and the glory of them become as the grasse of the feild when the glory of the Lord is revealed bringing in everlasting righteousnesse by the blood of the everlasting Covenant when the Lord shall pronounce against the goodlinesse of all flesh and when the Spirit of the Lord shall blow upon it cause it to wither declaring all flesh to be grasse and all the goodlinesse thereof as the flower of the feild which shall wither and fade away and its beauty shall be blasted Isa 40.4 5 6 7.8 And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day To him then shall every knee bow and every tongue sweare surely shall one say or surely shall he say of mee In the Lord is all righteousnesse and strength even to him shall men come and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Isa 45.24 25. Thus shall glorying in the flesh and all boasting be cut off Rom. 3.27 to fulfill that word of the Lord Jer. 9.23 Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome nor the mighty man glory in his might nor the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth mee that I am Jehovah which exerciseth loving kindnesse Which passage of the Prophet Jeremiah is made to Center in Christ who of God is made to his wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption That no flesh should glory in his presence But as it is written Hee that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1.29 30 31. This poore and base and contemptible hang'd and crucified Jesus which to the Greekes was foolishnesse and to the Jewes a stumbling blocke but to the Called to them which beleeve both Jewes and Greeks Hee is Christ the power of God and the wisdome of God 1 Cor. 1.18 to 31. This is that other husband to whom the beleeving are married by whom they bring forth fruit to God not in oldnesse of letter but in newnesse of Spirit Rom. 7.4.6 These are they who notwithstanding all their obedience to the law of the first husband wherein they were fruitfull and had whereof to glory as unto and under
but in power and is therein quick and powerful and mighty c. There 's no fleshly weakness in the pure and holy law of God it would and could convey life if man could fulfill it to a title if not then it must kill this is it whereunto it hath received its anointing and beyond which it must not pass and therefore the weakness is mans and lies properly at his door Yet forasmuch as it conveys not strength where it requires duty nor is founded upon any such promises as may be ground of hope in case of failing or non-performance of every title therefore it is found fault with and counted weak in that respect and through the appearance of a greater grace way is made for the bringing in a better hope a better Covenant stablished upon better promises as before This new and better Covenant is Jesus Christ in whom all the promises center as being the Yea and the Amen thereof 2 Cor. 1.20 and so he is called Isa 42.6 and 49.8 I will give thee for a Covenant of the people to establish the Earth agreeing with that in Psalm 75.3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved I bear up the Pillars thereof This Covenant consisting of these better promises is not yea and nay but in him they are yea 2 Cor. 1.19 ratified and confirmed by bloud yea by his own bloud in opposition to the bloud of Bulls and Goats by which the first was confirmed Heb. 9.18 19. but this by the eternal Spirit Heb. 9.14 in order to eternal salvation was confirmed by the bloud of the everlasting Covenant Heb. 13.20 By all which as by very much more which might be instanced in infinitely transcends the former Especially if it be considered that he who confirms the Covenant by his own bloud rendring it thereby eternal and everlasting becomes also the Mediatour of this Covenant even of this better Covenant Heb. 8.6 Not only confirming ratifying making and well-ordering it in all things and sure as touching the promises themselves which are in him Yea and Amen as he was the Sacrifice and Propitiation but by becoming the Mediatour thereof to apply it to all the seed Rom. 4.16 working in them the conditions and qualifications which are requisite for the enjoying the good things which are contained therein 2 Sam. 23.5 If Repentance be a condition of this Covenant and required of the subjects thereof as indeed it is it shall be given them by the hand of this Mediatour Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and remission of sins If Faith be required as certainly it is the same hand conveyes it who is the Authour and the Finisher thereof Heb. 12.2 Phil. 1.29 If any other branch of obedience be requisite it is also undertaken for in this Covenant where it is said I will write my Laws in their hearts and lest when they are written there they should not be heeded nor followed it is further undertaken for that the spirit shall cause the subjects of this Covenant not only to remember the things which are required but shall cause them to walk therein Ezek. 36.27 Jer. 32.40 By leading them by exciting them by quickning strengthening confirming establishing guiding directing and assisting them keeping the feet of his Saints 1 Sam. 2.9 from stumbling sliding and falling in order to all which they are taught to pray daily against being led into temptation and then are promised also to be delivered out of it by him who himselfe also was tempted that he might succour them which are tempted And to the intent that they may not be misguided by their own spirit or any false spirit the Lord Jesus foreseeing there would be many false Christs false Apostles false Prophets false Spirits he committed his mind to writing to the intent also that in other ages Esay 8.19 20. thence forth they might try the spirits the Christs the Prophets the Apostles which pretend to come in his Name 1 Joh. 4.1 Rev. 2.2 Joh. 20.31 2 Joh. 10. As also therein much amplifying and enlarging their direction in point of obedience expressing and declaring more particularly that law of the new Covenant which is written in their heart more generally explaining and expounding his mind and will not only touching the matter but manner of their Obedience hereby ordering and guiding the steps of his Servants that their footsteps slide not Psal 119.9 105. Psal 17.4 5. This bespeaks the Condition of the new-Covenant and consequently the law of faith to be infinitely transcending the old-Covenant or law of works by how much this is more excellent than the former by so much also must of necessity the light be by which it is discerned as that intiles it self to Jesus who is the Covenant and Mediator of the Covenant so must the light also be referred to him who is therefore so frequently in the Scripture called the Light Esa 42.6 A Light of the Gentiles as well as the Covenant of the People Act. 13.47 I have set thee to be a Light to the Gentiles that thou shouldest be for Salvation unto the ends of the earth Christ is this Light in whose face the glory of God is to be seen according to that in the 2 Cor. 4.6 God shining into the heart the Light of the Knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ who as Mediator or one standing between 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus and Gal. 3.19 20. declares and makes forth that bosome-love of the Father which was from everlasting which no man could ever see by the light of his Candle 1 Cor. 2.9 10 11 14. The light of the Father is not to be discerned by any other Medium but as revealed by Christ In thy light shall we see light Psalm 36.9 2 Cor. 4.6 John 1.18 John 14.6 7 9. Nor can any person behold the light of the Father in Christ but by the Spirit of Christ John 14.26 and 16.13 14 15. and 1 Cor. 2.10 Nor can any person behold the light of the Father through Christ in the Spirit otherwise than by faith Heb. 11.1 6. John 17.7 8. John 8.56 Eph. 3.12 Rom. 5.2 so Abraham saw as Moses also did him who is invisible Heb. 11.27 The Spirit emptying the creature of all other mediums and producing this fruit of its own that is faith Gal. 5.22 by which it can look on Jesus and by him on the Father as they of old from the foot of the mercy-seat might behold him who was above the mercy-seat sitting between the wings of the cherubims Exod. 25. from the 17. to the 22. so that the light by which the regenerate or renewed man or the man in Christ comes to see the wonderful things of this law of faith or new Covenant and the mind of God therein is Christ Jesus himself who is both the Covenant and the light
in healing miracles and tongues c. and the one might then be where the other was not as hath been proved already In like manner also such is the Dispensation of the holy Spirit at this day as the wind bloweth where it listeth forming the new-birth which is after and according to God by faith in Christ Jesus becoming a Spirit of regeneration and illumination Eph. 1.17 18. Tit. 3.5 opening the blind eyes not only to see Christ as he is held forth in the word but to be beleeved on accepted and received as the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey him Heb. 5.9 but also by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Spirit purging the conscience from dead works Heb. 9.14 giving boldness and access to the throne of grace through the faith of him who is thus become a quickening spirit and principle of life a new and living way to all that receive him and manifest that faith by obedience true and unfained Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. This may be thus evidenced by divine testimony viz. 1. That as the wind bloweth where it listeth so is the birth of the Spirit in those which are regenerate is proved John 3.3 6 8. 2. That they which beleeve in the Lord Jesus are thus dignified and privileged with the estate of sonship as being born of God and from above is witnessed Joh. 1.12 13. Gal. 3.26 3. That this is effected by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Spirit that being justified by his grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life is likewise born witness unto by the Apostle Titus 3.4 5 6 7. 4. That this was not the work of the spirit in any one particular age only viz. in the Apostles dayes or primitive times as they are called and distinguished by some but as it is said of Christ he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13.8 so is it said He is the Author and finisher of faith not only of theirs Heb. 12.2 though the word Ours being inserted in the English reading may seem to carry it that way but he was the Author and finisher of theirs also who are catalogued and Chronicled in the 11. of Heb. who began as low as Abel and so upwards and not of theirs only who thus beleeved receiving the word of promise or rather Christ in the promise from the first giving forth thereof in Gen. 3.15 mixing the Gospel with faith Heb. 4.2 nor of those who in the times of more clear manifestation thereof did know and beleeve Joh. 17.6 7 8. But of their faith also who from thence forth should beleeve on Christ through their word Joh. 17.20 and therefore in the place mentioned Heb. 12.2 Christ is not said to be the Author finisher that is the beginner and ender of our faith nor of your faith nor of their faith but of faith in relation to all times and persons according to the tenour and testimony of that word of truth Act. 13.38 39. By him all that beleeve are justified from all things c. not only the Jew but the Gentile also even all that are a farre off as many as the Lord our God shall call hence the Apostles testify that they had received the same spirit of faith with those who had gone before 2 Cor. 4.13 And as the faith of all true beleevers from Righteous Abel thoroughout the whole cloud of witnesses and thence forward owns it self to Christ as the Author and the Finisher thereof as was said before So likewise it is as necessarily applyed to the spirit whose gift it is and by whom it is wrought 1 Cor. 12.11 among which operations of the spirit Faith is one reckoned among yet diverse from that of miracles And it is called the fruit of the spirit among many other inward qualifications of the renewed and regenerate Man Gal. 5.22 5. To this agree those other testimonies of the holy Scripture wherein the holy spirit is promised not for this or that particular age much less this or that particular person or persons onely but to all the seed not reckoned according to the flesh but according to the faith of beleeving Abraham Rom. 9.8 2.28 29. Gal. 3.7 8 9 14. Gal. 4.27 28. But to speak more particularly The Scriptures bear witness to Christ Jesus that he is the true seed promised in whom all the Nations of the earth should be blessed according to that so often mentioned place Gen. 3.15 as also Gen. 22.28 expounded by the Apostle in Gal. 3.8 of Christ himself as the seed promised a Covenant to the people So is he also the seed to whom the promise is made as appears by the same Testimony Gal. 3.16 Not to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ who was the seed which was to come to whom the promise was made vers 19. thus is Christ originally both Root and Offspring It is with Christ that the Covenant is made originally Isa 53.10 11. and in him with those that are his to whom he is given for a Covenant as appears Esay 42.1 6 7. Behold my servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him and he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and wil hold thy hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant to the peoples for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes c. In this Covenant it is promised that he should have the spirit put upon him Isa 42.1 which also was fulfilled in Luk. 4.18 And as the spirit was by Covenant to be put upon him so was it also to be put upon them which were his as doth appear in the fifty ninth of Esay 21. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith Jehovah my spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith Jehovah from hence forth and for ever Where it is Evident that the gift of the spirit is a Covenant-promise as to Christ in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen so to them which are Christs to him and to his seed and seeds seed according to Joh. 17.20 Not only they which did beleeve but those who through their word should beleeve were the subjects of Christs prayer in the Application and Mediation of the Covenant This is promised also in Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes c. which promise is not limited to Israel or to Abrahams seed according to the letter or Circumcision but to Abrahams seed according to faith If ye be Christs then are you Abrahams seed and heirs according to promise Gal. 3.8 9 29. and as is
are all one in Christ Jesus And if ye be Christs then are yee Abrahams seed and heires according to promise To this seed of Abraham i. e. the Children of faith whether Jew or Gentile male or female bond or free was the Covenant made and this was it Jer. 31.33 I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour for they shall all know mee from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord. By the Consideration whereof It may most plainly be discerned how this Scripture is mistaken and misapplyed 1. forasmuch as it treats of a new and another Covenant which God would make after those dayes not according to the tenour of the first which obliged the persons of all mankinde either as it was engraven on their hearts according to Rom. 2.14 or on Tables of stone or in a booke under the Administration of the first Mediator Gal. 3.19 But this is another Covenant called here and in Heb. 8. a New Covenant 2. The persons with whom this Covenant is made and confirmed are the seed of Abraham only not the Race of Adam who was the father of every man that comes into the world but of Abraham the father of the faithfull 3. Nor were all the seed of Abraham taken into this Covenant and the priviledges thereof however they were joynt-sharers and partakers in the former yet not here for the Children of the promise were counted for the seed Rom. 9.8 How farre then is this Scripture mistaken and misapplyed which is subjected to the light in every man which intermedleth not with the condition of any man but the children of the New Covenant only i. e. the beleever or man in Christ If yee be Christs then are yee Abrahams seed and heires according to promise Now with Abraham and his seed were the promises made Not with every man that cometh into the world No more was this Covenant promise mentioned before Jer. 31.34 And therefore suites not with the purpose or matter touching which it s produced viz. to prove that the light in every man is his teacher and teacheth him i. e. every man so as that he need not to be taught by any one saying know the Lord for that this Scripture speaketh not to or touching any but the Children of the New Covenant the children of faith or of the new birth only and not of every man coming into the world The next Scripture mentioned is Isa 54.13 And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord. Quest Thy Children Whose and who are They Ans The citing of the very next Scripture by themselves produced will both answer the question and discover the error in their misapplying it to the purpose in hand the place is this Joh. 6.46 which I rather doe judge was intended to have been vers 45. the words are these It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God Now how that saying in the Prophet which was last recited and to which this in John referres is to be understood will appeare from our Saviours words which are these viz. No man can come to mee except the Father which hath sent mee draw him and I will raise him up at the last day It is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard and learnt of the Father cometh unto mee Not that any man hath seene the Father save hee which is of God hee hath seene the Father Verily verily I say unto you hee that beleeveth on mee hath everlasting life Who doth not discerne that Esay doth not speake of every man that comes into the world nor of the light in every such man as being his teacher nor doth our Lord Jesus so interpret his words Nay the contrary is Evident For our Lord doth not say every man hath a teacher viz. the light within him and that being obedient to that light within him it will bring him to purity holinesse c. Obeying it is salvation minde the teacher within the light within But he declares plainly That no man can come to him except the father draw him i. e. teach him for so it follows It is written in the Prophets they shall be all taught of God Quest Who are they Ans Thy Children shall be all taught of the Lord Isa 54.13 Not every one that cometh into the world but every man that hath heard and learned of the father cometh unto Christ and it s hee that beleeveth on Christ who hath everlasting life These are the children who are taught of the Lord who having heard and learnt of the father come to Christ which is not the case of every one that comes into the world but of such only as being regenerate and renewed in the spirit of their minde become children of the Covenant and heires of the promises thereof or being Christs through beleeving are heires according to promise Gal. 3.29 The next Scripture mentioned is Joh. 1.2.7 But the Anoynting which yee have received of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same Anoynting teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye Reply This Scripture as the former doth not beare it selfe in its tendency toward every one that cometh into the world viz. the light in every one nor calls that light their teacher but it speakes of the Unction which they viz. the Apostles and some others had received from the holy one and describes the nature and property thereof its efficacy and operation in them but what 's this to the condition of every man or to the proofe of this that the light in every man is this Unction or Anoynting but this Scripture having come to hand before and been Considered then and there there need not more be said thereto in this place there having been too oft repetition of things formerly spoken the reader is desired to beare in minde what he hath read already or else to helpe his memory by looking backe into those pages where this Scripture is examined That which offers it selfe to be Considered in the next place touching this light in every man and what it does is thus expressed This light opens all Scriptures and leads man out of the fall up to God the Father and Fountaine of lights this is the true light and leadeth unto life Eternall Joh. 1.5.8 9 10 11 12 13. Joh. 17. 10 23 24. Farnworth Ranters discovered pa. 13. Reply God who is light 1 Joh. 1.5 the Father and Fountaine of lights He revealeth secrets Dan. 2.28 29. God the Word Joh. 1.1 That true light vers 9. being made flesh vers 14. and so became the Lord's Christ Luk. 2.26 Hee openeth his mouth in parables Math. 13.35 and openeth the parables which himselfe hath uttered vers 18.38 Beginning
before proved The same is likewise confirmed Joh. 14.16 And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the spirit of Truth but lest it should be said as in the Objection this promise was made to that Age of the Apostles only it is added that he may abide with you for ever Obj. But were the Apostles at that time without that spirit altogether Answ It is answered in the 17. verse But ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you the spirit shall be the same but the measures enlarged the same spirit of faith but not the same measure Object What shall the spirit do when it is given in that larger measure Answ It is resolved partly in the 26. verse He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you And partly Joh. 16.13 He will guide you into all truth and he will shew you all things to come Obj. This is that dispensation of the spirit which is mentioned in Joh. 7.38 39. and for which the Apostles were commanded to waite at Jerusalem Luk. 24.49 and which the Apostles did receive Act. 2.4 according to the prophecy Joel 2.28 A. It is not to be denyed as before that one branch of the dispensation of the spirit is to open it self in such discoveries as those but the whole thereof and the all of that dispensation is not limited or confined to the external and outward and miraculous manifestation thereof only as in the Apostles dayes At which time not to every person individually was it so communicated as hath been proved before unto which you are referred and they which did receive the dispensation of the spirit at large both in its inward operation and outward manifestation yet did receive but the first fruits thereof Rom. 8.23 From the whole of what hath been spoken in answer to this main objection this briefly is the summe 1. That notwithstanding the dispensation of the spirit in the times called primitive viz. in the dayes of the Apostles and primitive Christians was with great evidence and outward manifestation accompanied with signs and wonders and mighty deeds yet it was so but in some persons not in all beleevers as by the instances before cited may appear for there were some beleevers that did not know of such a thing as the spirit Act. 19.2 2. That as some Beleevers were ignorant of outward manifestation thereof so there were others who having the outward were destitute of the inward Mat. 7.22 23. 10.4 8. 3. The gift of the spirit is a Covenant gift first promised to Christ and in him to them that are his that is Christs to him and to his seed throughout their generations seeds seed Isa 59.21 4. It was promised by Christ to his Apostles to be in them for ever Joh. 14.16 17. not so to remain in their individual persons for ever but in their successors and not in them only as such that is Apostles but also in all such as should thenceforth beleeve thorough their word Joh. 17.20 5. It was prophesied to be poured upon all flesh Joel 2.28 and applyed to all that were a farre off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Act. 2.39 6. The Apostle declareth of himself and the beleeving Romans who although they had received the Spirit of Adoption whereby they cryed Abba Father and he at least had also received the outward visible manifestation of the Spirit yet saith of himself and them They had received the first fruits of the spirit intimating that there was yet a further manifestation thereof reserved to them which were to come after according to the tenor of that Scripture Heb. 11.40 That they without us might not be made perfect Hence therefore it may be argued that though it hath pleased the Lord for the misuse or abuse of his holy spirit or for other most holy ends known unto himself to withdraw from the children of men for a season the manifestation thereof in that which is outward in gifts of tongues prophecies healings c. Suffering Arts so called by Man to prevail instead thereof till the faith of his people prevail through cryes and tears to bring back the Anointed and with him the Anointing For the prophesy of Joel is as yet but in part fulfilled and the direction of our Lord remains firm to this day Luk. 11. from the 5. verse to the 14. touching the incessant importunate prayer for the holy spirit concluding thus vers 14. If ye then which are evil know how to give good things to your children how much more shall the Heavenly Father give the holy spirit to them which ask him And surely were but the Lords people awakened to consider the necessity of the return of that spirit which hath been for so long a time withdrawn and to be importunate with the Lord and give him no rest but with all humble and holy boldness continue in prayer and not faint according to that in Luk. 18.1 who knowes how soon the most high might turn the Captivity of his people as the Rivers of the South as to this particular and meet his mourning praying Servants where David met the men of Judah who came to conduct him over Jordan even at Gilgal viz. the place of the rowling away of reproach Ioshuah 5.9 and make it a time as that was a place of rowling away of reproach from his people forever Nevertheless though in respect of its visible manifestation there be a great hiding and withdrawing yet according as was promised Joh. 14.18 Our Lord hath not left his children Comfortless nor Orphans But hath left them a Comforter as promised Continuing to them the invisible Operations of his holy spirit enabling them thereby to cry Abba Father who in that respect is called the spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father becoming in them a sanctifying spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 a spirit of sanctification 2 Thes 2.13 1 Pet. 1.2 witnessing to their spirits their estate of Sonship Rom. 8.16 Causing them to Read that new-Name written on the white stone which no Man knows but he which hath it So that all though they cannot assure another by infallible evidence so as to leave them without doubt touching their estate yet to themselves the spirit of God by which they are regenerated doth evidence its own operation according to that testimony 1 Joh. 5.10 He that beleeveth hath the witness in himself and by filling them with fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of God leading them in paths of righteousness keeping their feet that they stumble not upon the dark mountains sanctifying them throughout as well in body as in soul and spirit enabling them to mortify the deeds of the flesh and to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh