the same This I only speak to shew the Ignorance or inconsiderate proceeds of our Gospel-preachers who know not what they say nor the way they go nor the work they do nor the word they speak nor the Gospel which they pretend to preach unto the world But because I now write to the baptized Churches I would convince them also of this that they are not the true nor can baptize in truth having not a Gospel yet manifest among them I say not manifest for there may be a seed of it in them as also was in legal Saints I will not minde you of those two Scriptures mentioned in the following dispute John 7.38 39. and John 14.12 nor yet a third proof Mark 16.16 17. Hee that believeth and is baptixed shall be saved and these signs shall follow them that believe c. Those signes did follow Gospel-believers 1 Cor. 1.7 1 Cor. 12.7 compare at least every Gospel Church of believers in whose members as that faith was manifested so especially in the Ministers or Elders who by laying on of hands on the sick and by prayer of faith could save the sick from death The Oyle then used being not a physical receipt or chirurgical salve nor yet an empty Ceremony but a signe of the Spirits presence in the Church and power in the Elder to heal the body as well as the soul James 5.14 15. I will not mention that other laying on of the Presbytery or Eldership in ordaining by a gift of the Spirit ever given thereby 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tim. 1.6 compare as with God I shall shew hereafter onely now 't is clear there is no Gospel-faith in all the Churches this day Know then that in the Churches of Christ there was both the gift of Faith and the grace of Faith the one in some Church-members as well as in Ministers 1 Cor. 12.9 the other was common to all believers though some that were carnal then in Gospel-Churches had but a legal faith because carnal 2 Cor. 3.1 Heb. 5.12 13. compare As for Gospel-faith suitable to that present state of the Spirit and spiritual Saints it was though not differing yet diverse from the legal faith of Gods people under the Law true faith was ever the same for substance but not for manifestation as the Gospel is everlasting and Christ the same to day yesterday and for ever But as Christ was onely vayled in the Law and revealed in the Gospel so the Gospel and Christ Jesus were both Mysteries hid since the world began from the Sons of men yea from the sons of God-under the Law Rom. 16.25 Eph. 3.5 Col. 1.26 compare This Mystery was not manifest till to the Apostles and primitive Saints by the Spirit Eph. 3.5 That Spirit was not given before yea the Spirit was not at all as the Greek there reads John 7.39 And so that Spirit is not now not the Baptisme of the Spirit which the Apostles themselves had not John 20.22 Act. 1.5 compare while Christ was with them in flesh and though after his resurrection he breathed the Spirit on them yet they were not baptized with the Spirit till afterward Before which given they could not go forth to Teach all Nations and Baptize in a Gospel-way Act. 1.4 Therefore Gospel-Believers could not be before the Baptisme of the Spirit that is the pouring forth the gifts thereof on the Church Act. 2.33 44. 1 Cor. 12.7 9. compared Besides as the object of a Gospel-faith was a mystery that 's Christ in us the hope of glory John 4.20 Col. 1.27 Gal. 1.15 and 2.20 compare 1 Cor. 2.2 7 10 12 13. vers compare the Son of God revealed in us living in us and dying in us and we crucified with him for both Christ and him crucified also was a mystery as the Gospel the object of that faith so this Gospel-faith was a mystery likewise the mystery of Faith in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 But the object of a Legal faith was no mystery but a plain promise or God in covenant not God in Christ for this the Apostles themselves knew not in the dayes of his flesh Yee believe in God saith he believe also in me c. Legal Saints believed on God not on Christ for Christ was a mystery not yet manifest or to believe on God by Christ is that which believing Christians this day know not nor consider For what 's this why first 't is to know Christ in the Father and the Father in him and he in us and we in him John 14.20 Secondly to know Christ as the way to the Father for us vers 6.7 how so he that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me and he that seeth me seeth him that sent me that 's the Father in me Iohn 12.44 45. Iohn 14.9 compared What 's that 't is thus to me he that sees God in Christ and the Father in him Emanuel God with us that 's Christ Mat. 1.23 Eph. 3.19 John 17.23 compare may as well see God even the Father in himself for Christ is in us and we in Christ that is God in our flesh as in Christs for Christ and we are perfect in one one with the Father thus he is the way to the Father and thus by him as the way we believe on God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory that our faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1.23 So that in truth to believe on Christ is not to believe on Christ but on the Father in him God in his flesh and in ours also for our faith does tend and end in God yet through him and by him as I said before So that here 's the misbeliefe of Churches this day their faith is onely on God as the Iews or only on Christ as deceived Christians not on God and Christ or on God by Christ And by this it appears there has not been in the Churches a Gospel-faith at least formally for vertually there might be in some but formally and effectually there has not been a Gospel-faith in the Saints these 1400 years for what sign has followed any that believed who could ever shew the Gift of Faith when the grace of Faith was scarce known what mountain or mighty thing has been done Mark 6.17 Mat. 17.20 Mat. 21.21 compare Josh 6.13 or done away and removed meerly by Faith for an outward force and strength of man has alwaies attended great acts in latter times but where 's the fall of Iericho's walls by rams-horns or Gideons conquest by broken pitchers and lights held up in his hand Oh this new light believers are afraid of Judg. 7.20 or to hear the sound of a Trumpet All things saith Christ what soever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive it that is Matth. 21.22 asking in faith nothing wavering c. though the man want wisdom yet he shall have it liberally given him of God saith
Iames James 1.5 6. how then are they who pray most the greatest fools both Papists and Protestants then is not the wisest man as a wave of the Sea when the Sea is over the whole earth Isa 4.11 and the best are in the waters Truly we are all sick let us send then to the Elders of the Church and see if they have the prayer of faith to heal us or heal themselves from the stroke of their wound Isa 30.26 Jer. 30.17 Who among all the gathered Churches can hold forth a Gospel-faith to the scattered Saints who of all their Gospel-Ministers can go forth freely to the world Col. 24.15 1 Pet. 1.12 where is the Power from on high or holy Spirit sent downe from heaven for that work Yea where 's the Spirit of Faith in any of their Believers Gospel-believers were all of one heart and one soul because but one body Act. 2.44 Act. 4.32 c. ours are all divided believers then had all things common c. our Churches and Christians are all for self-interests and to seek their own This is not love as I shall shew anon nor faith indeed which works by love All have not faith saith the Apostle in those Gospel-times no man has a Gospel-faith in these times of the Apostacy and being of the Saints in Babylons captivity Yet this is the confusion that hath ever followed the Churches to this day to take up the Apostles words and writings and to apply that to our selves which was possible to those times and proper only to primitive Saints and Churches where that power was which is now wanting to all the world Thus the Baptists now take up the Apostles call and commission which was never given them by Christ much less by the Spirit afterward Again like the Angel of darkness or Devil cutting off part of Gods word they still tell their Proselytes Mat. 3.6 Mat. 28.19 Go teach and Baptize c. whereas 't is written Go Teach all Nations and Baptize c. Thirdly 't was not directed to the Disciples but to the Apostles upon this ground and the Eleven are mentioned by Matthew and Mark Mat. 28.16 Mark 16.14 for every Disciple had not that power from on high to Teach all Nations Fourthly Who can shew unto us that he is sent of God to Baptize seeing none baptized but either the Apostles or such who had a manifestation of the Spirit to confirm their call Act. 8.6 Act. 9.17 as Philip and Ananias Lastly 'T were well if they would not onely chuse their members by a confession of faith but catechise them and themselves first in the doctrine of Faith For the mystery of Faith was more then men imagine and it may be more then Paul wrote to the Romans and Churches of Galatia Rom 4.2 for both it seems had gone so far back to the Law to begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh that the Apostle goes no farther then a Legal Faith Gal. 3.3 for Faith as justifying was no more and Faith on the promise was no higher then their Faith under the Law as is proved in the dispute hereafter Gospel-Faith was wholly exercised in our union with God in Christ and Christ in us which Paul rather points at in himself then teacheth the Church unless what he hints to some spiritual Saints therein Gal. 2.20 who had the anointing in them teaching them all things that they needed not any man should teach them 1 John 2.27 Therefore as Christ never heard any man preach so neither did the Apostles hear one anothers preachings or sit at a Sermon as our Gospel-preachers do This I onely speak by the way at present and another thing that the Apostles never preach'd a common place of the nature of Faith or repentance to bring people to repeat and believe but so preached Christ to all that they might believe and repent gospel-Gospel-Faith properly was this in knowing our followship with the Father and the Son in the Spirit to know our union with God in Christ and Christ so in us that we are in one with the Father as He in the same love and life in God with him John 14.19 Iohn 17.1 20 21 22 23. now the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ was not manifest to any under the Law nor to Abraham himself who though he saw the day of Christ yet 't was a far off Joh. 8.56 Heb. 11.13 for so the Fathers saluted the promises whose Faith was on the promise or power of God in performing the same and so it s justified Rom. 4.14 to 21. but the justifying faith of Christians was on Christ dying and raised up verse 24.25 though Abraham in a typical mystery believed on Christ dead and raised in his son sacrificed and slain in purpose verse 17. and raised in a figure Heb. 11.19 But as Christ was a mystery so his death and resurrection was a mystery also that none but the Apostles could manifest it by the Spirit which being not given to any one living the Faith which comes by hearing is no higher then theirs under the Law to justify and to save yea we know by experience the best Preachers when they would raise men to believe pitch them on the promise not on that power from on high or promise of the Father which they that believed on Christ did receive and by which the first Preachers of the Gospel brought men to believe But take faith in the lowest acceptance for justifying Faith was but of a legal temper which the Church of Rome beginning to fall from the Apostle is faine to set before them the faith of Abraham and David c to whom the mystery of Christ and of the Gospel being not yet manifested by the Spirit Rom. 3.13 Rom. 4.3 6. as to the Apostles and primitive Saints that Faith of theirs was but suitable to a legal estate I say take Faith in the lowest acceptance as justifying before God and men as working by love where is it when there is no love among you neither to other Churches or Saints differing from you nor to your own Churces who differ in doctrine as I said before much less love to all Saints The Sword doubled Col. 1.4 Tit. 9.3 2.4 to those scattered ones who cannot come to any of your Church-wayes as for love to all men 't is a thing you look not after though this be a higher degree of love then brotherly kindness or love to the brethren 1 Thes 3.12 2 Pet. 1.7 compared But alas the brotherhood is broken Zach. 11.6 9 14. vers there is not love to the brethren among you not onely love unfeigned but love out of a pure heart fervently is not to be found for the love of the best is but cold God knows not that fervent unfeigned that is without Hypocrisie 1 Pet. 1. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh how far are believers from that love the Apostle
and many with me that as the eares of the deaf shall hear the words of the book so the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness Isa 29.18 19. This Scripture I spake of at Brecknock the last first day The Book I shewed was God dwelling in men Immanuel God with us that 's Christ God in us God manifest in our flesh as in his is Christ in us the hope of glory for all the Saints shall be taken up into the same glory with himself and the Nations by this called and joyned to the Lord. This Book is sealed to the learned and unlearned Preachers Isa 29.11 yea to the Prophets and Seers and most seeing men yea sealed with seven seals that 's perfectly sealed and from all Churches for it relates to the seven Churches enclining to the Apostacie which followed Secondly 'T is but a sma book a very little one for Iohn could swallow it at a bit Rev. 10. and 't was bitter in his Belly 't is so to flesh for it suffers by it as Christs did but the little Book is no more then God manifest in flesh in his flesh and in ours Thirdly It shall be open and that surely for the ministery of God shall be finished fully known and the Angel sweares by God that time shall be no more for all shall be taken up into eternity into God himself and God shall be all in all I shall repeat no more onely the remembrance of the Lord and his love to me in your dear deceased Wife who lives with me and in me for there 's the Lord in whom she is and in whom we both are though we know not but we shall when the book shall be opened My dearest salutes to all the Saints with you Farewell Brecknock the 23 of Aug. 1652. Your William Erbery For Mr. Vavasor Powel Dear Sir I Am owing to you in much love and in a Letter you long since sent unto me but now I shall repay you an answer which I had not so fit an opportunity to returne till by the present bearer I do not remember the contents of that onely I conceive 't was something concerning Christ and 't is that alone I shall in this confer with you for your Church-fellowship is at an end with God though some men may see somewhat in it yet 't is but a dead carcase they look upon the form of a man but the Spirit life and power form on high appears not at all to me nor to many in it as I have hinted in a Letter to Mr. Moston This is not to direct you in preaching but to desire your second thoughts in the things you spake of the personal reigne of Christ which with confidence you declare to be in that fleshly presence of his with which he ascended and shall so descend to reign a thousand years on earth and the Saints with him This hath some shew in the Letter of Scripture but if the Spirit hid in your flesh and mine shall be suffered to come forth and truely to interpret without the Tradition and Teaching of men God may shew you another sense then what is commonly revealed by Christians and Churches The first ground whereon your foundation or fundamental doctrine stands is Act. 1.11 Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven this same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall come so in like manner as yee have seen him go into Heaven To this know that the Disciples of Christ were too much taken with his fleshly presence while he was living with them in the dayes of his flesh John 16.7 Joh. 20.13 20. and his departure from them or dying of flesh filled their hearts with sorrow as after he was raised those who were weeping at his grave John 20.17 rejoyced to see him in the flesh again and so to touch him but that must not be saith he till I am ascended and this touch could not be but by the Spirit that in them was to take and touch the Spirit in him And what was he even Jesus but God manifest in flesh for 't was God who rose and ascended up on high Joh. 5.19 30. Joh. 8.27 28. Joh. 14.9 10. compare Psal 68.1 18. that 's God in flesh and what was his coming but when that Spirit and power of God in his flesh should appear in theirs the same Jesus came again for as the shedding forth of all the Gifts of the Spirit on the Disciples was the same so Christ tells Paul persecuting the Saints or the Spirit rather in them I am Jesus whom thou persecutest Act. 9.5 Jesus was therefore come again for his coming that he promised 't was nothing but the promise of the Father which they heard of him and in him for as the Father was all in all in his flesh who dwelt and did all his works spake his words so when God even the Father should appear thus with power in their flesh as in his then he came indeed Iohn 14. 18 19 20. He that believeth on me saith he the works that I do shall he do also and greater works then these shall he do because I go to the Father His going to the Father was his disappearance in flesh for when he no longer appeared to them in flesh then he was said to depart therefore his coming again was in the Spirit when he who was with them should be in them then Christ was the Spirit the quickning Spirit because I live ye shall live also Iohn 14.17 19. thus Christ was the Comforter verse 16. called another Comforter because he came in another presence then that of flesh he came and yet was he the same Comforter for I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you verse 18. yet a little while and the world seeth me no more but ye see me c. the world that 's carnal Christians could see no more of Christ when his fleshly presence was gone but ye see me ye who are spiritual or when spiritual ye see me how sure in the Spirit in the Spirit of life v. 19. and in the Spirit of light or knowledge v. 20. At that day ye shall know that I am in the Father and you in me and I in you No more Christ in the flesh but in the Father and Christ no more to be known after the flesh but he in us and we in him This spiritual understanding of Christ the disciples while carnal yea while Christ was in the flesh were ignorant of therefore he calls them in a common name Ye men of Galilee Acts 1.11 and their gaping up to heaven after his fleshly presence is reproved there also The spiritual knowledge of him is then taught This same Iesus which is taken from you in the flesh shall so come unto you in the spirit and ye shall see him as was said before Joh. 14.19 that is after a little while they should see him Joh.
16.17 This little while cannot be at the end of the world after so many hundreds of yeers to be seen in a fleshly appearence but not many days hence that 's a little while Acts 1.5 Yea but how was this in the like manner for they saw him go up in the flesh true but they saw not the fulness of the Spirit dwelling in that flesh after 't was raised but when he should ascend and give gifts unto men then God who received gifts in the man as the Hebrew reads Psal 68.18 appearing in the Saints and in their flesh with that Spirit and power that was in Christ is said to come and thus in the same sense or in the like manner Jesus came as they saw him go up to heaven Indeed he was taken up in the Cloud but the Cloud was to take him out of their sight Act. 1.9 to take his fleshly presence out of their sight this they would fain see still but should not verse 10. and he will come again in a Cloud that is in our flesh when most confused and darke for so the Disciples were before the Spirit came at first The comfort is at his second coming when in our flesh we are most cloudy dark confused Christ will come or appear in us with more majesty power and glory in the glory of the Father in us Yea the Apostles themselves dream'd of a personal raigne of Christ or restoring the Kingdome to Israel Act. 1.6 But 't is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power but ye shall receive power after that the holy Spirit is come upon you verse 7. Mark I pray you how the times and seasons of the Kingdom of Christ and of Israel with him was in the Fathers power this they were not to know nor could they while carnal but when the power of the holy Spirit came upon them they should then know the Kingdome restored to Israel when they had received power from on high for the Kingdome of God is within us This my dear Brother shall be made know to you and me that the Kingdome of God comes not by outward observation but seeing the Spirit shall againe be poured forth from on high Isa 32.15 let us wait for this together though our Palaces be forsaken verse 14. though our Church-fellowships and flesh fall for so 't will be before the Spirit come verse 9. to 13. for Christs pure flesh was crucified through weakness before he was raised in power or received the Spirits fulness Then shall we know the reign of Christ and of the Saints with him for a thousand years Rev. 20.4 6. but as yet what fleshly thoughts and interpretations have passed over these words by the Millenaries of old and by many gratious Saints of late what is all the book of the Revelation a Mystery and must these one thousand years onely be literally understood just for ten hundred of years and will not the Saints be more spiritual but still to think of a fleshly reigne a reigne of Christ after the flesh and of Saints after the flesh whereas no man nor Christ is to be known so any more And may not the one thousand years be but one day and that one day the day of God when God shall appear for that day is called one day Zach. 14.7 known to the Lord to the Lord alone in us Dear Sir I shall leave but two things and it may be a third to your serious considerations First you know the appearances of God from the beginning have been more and more spiritual and will be so to the end how fleshly and outward did he appear before and under the Law in visible forms In the Gospel the presence of the Lord and his power was more spiritual in inward and eternal things that is in things not seen 2 Cor. 4.18 Therefore the third dispensation which Mr. Mostons Letter tells you will be more spiritual yet Heb. 5.7 who in the days of his flesh c. that was when be was on earth therefore his being now in the Heaven is all in the Spirit for he is far above all heavens Eph. 4.10 for though Christ was in the days of his flesh yet he was not fully come till the Spirit was sent therefore this second coming will be more in the Spirit yet for the Apostles themselves had but the first fruits of the Spirit there will be a harvest a fuller measure of the Spirit then was in the Apostles times as the Prophets testifie Zach. 14.8.9.10 Secondly doth not the reigne of Christ which you hold forth in a fleshly presence hinder the Saints from looking for the Spirit that fulness of the Spirit promised by all the Prophets to be poured forth in the last dayes when he comes the second time without sin to salvation with fulness of the Spirit in us Lastly doth not that preaching of yours cause many Saints to be more carnal earthly looking for a Kingdome here below for they begin to reigne already as Kings but not with Christ nor in righteousness which is that alone and not in forms of Religion that shall dwell in the new Heaven and new Earth now waited for My dearest salutes and service present to all the Saints with you If I have not tyred your Spirit with these tedious lines and if you shall please to interpret my love and enlarged affections therein with acceptance thereof you will much more oblige Brecknock the 23 of Aug. 26. 1652. Your William Erbery For Mr. Walter Cradock Loving friend WHat was at first intended to all the Pastors in Wales that is now presented to you last who are first but as the first shall be last so He who is the last and the first is now beginning to appear not onely in the scattered Saints and against the gathered Churches but to gather up all into himself This is the hope and joy of Your William Erbery Dear Brethren IErusalem is ruined and Judah is fallen c. not onely Judah the National-Church but the gathered Churches of Saints that 's Jerusalem yet the old Jerusalem was the holy City a City in unity or compact together not onely in Spirit as Saints but in Forms as Churches but the Churches of Saints being this day divided in both and de filed also in their worships and walkings shew that they are fallen from their first love and from that Gospel-faith which wrought by love unfained to all Saints and to all men besides that pure conscience peaceable converse with holiness and heavenly mindedness self-denial and zeal once appearing among the Saints in Wales being so far from their present profession I could not but write and print because not admitted or not invited to confer in your Congregations What I have said and done in publique I am not sorry for though sorrow and sufferings are in my flesh being forced in Spirit to make my self bare first and then my brethrens nakedness