of Office that is they are witnesses unto themselves or as the word will allow witnesses in themselves That they are the childreu of them that murthered the Prophets In which observe two things first that respect which the fathers after the flesh have to them as being their originall and predecessors secondly the respect which they have to the fathers as being their children and off-spring 1 First they confesse that their fathers were murtherers they killed the prophets therefore they acknowledg according to the tru intent of the Law that they themselves are murderers for whatsover may be said of an ancestour that may be truly said of the off-spring and therefore Levi is truly said to pay Tythes in his father Abraham being in his loynes when Melkizedek met him Hâ—br 7. 9 10. For in all the works of God Time weares not out in the off-spring the tru nature disposicion and quality of the progenitor for the off-spring retaines the properties of the progenitor in all points What might be sayd of a Lion in the beginning the same may be sayd of him now what might be sayd of a Lamb in the beginning the same may be sayd of him now and so of all the creatures upon the Earth What was sayd of the Serpent in the begining the same is tru of his off-spring at this day if falsifying of the word of God was the spirit of the Devill in the Serpent at the begining then false interpretacion of the word of God is the same spirit of the Devill in the actors thereof at this day what or whomsoever they may be or seem to appear 2 Secondly as they are the children of such parents wee know that none can assume a child like relacion but he must therein assume the fathers operacion or elce how should the child come by his being therefore they conclude themselves under the act and guilt of murder even of taking away the life of the Prophets in that they are the seed and off spring of them who did it before for the disposicion and operacion of the progenitor departs not from the tru seed and off-spring Exod. 20. 5. therefore the sins of the fathers are visited in the children unto the thirds and to the fourths of them that hate the Lord the word generacion is not in the Hebrew Text the thirds signifying the full and compleat condicion of all haters of God as Three that bear witnesse in Heaven are a compleat and perfect testimony and yet but One 1 Iohn 5. 7. and the fourths being the Number of Extension as the four Corners of the Earth comprehend the whole World in all the parts thereof signifying unto us that all and every sin in that whole estate of the haters of God are inflicted upon every particular party found therein and therefore accordingly in point of opposition there is no period or bound set unto Gods mercy in them that love him in the preservacion of his Law in the purity thereof he therefore that is related unto God in Christ as a son bears the same disposition and hath the same operacions of the Father really reckoned upon him and is in the exercise thereof according to the tru intent of the word of God therefore is that speech uttered by Christ hitherto the Father works and I work Iohn 5. 17. and however the carnall eye of the Iew never saw the man Iesus making this visible World yet without him was not any thing made that was made Iohn 1. 3. and the spirit of the Son being one with the Father is a sufficient testimony and witnesse in every Saint of God of his unity with the Father in his whol work as really as the same spirit witnesseth a unity or faith between the Creator and the creature so that hee which denies unity in the whol work of God not having the witnesse thereof he denies also unity in the Contract and Covenant of God not having any witnesse in himselfe thereof but remaines in the state of unbelief and hath that spirit which as it witnesseth relacion in generacion to him who is a murderer from the beginning so hath it the testimony of unity in the act in it self of being under the guilt of crucifying the son of God for if we confesse a certain innocency in our Progenitours in the act of creation destitute of the righteousness of God in Christ we therin testifie our selvs to be destitute of the righteousnes of God in Christ at this day and a Pharasaical righteousnesse is the most we attain unto and if we confesse our Progenitors of whom we properly do proceed to be actors in falling from God under guilt of sin and out of the favour of God for a moment or any point of time we have the witnesse in our selves that we are now in the way of the fall under guilt and condemnation and out of Gods favour and love unto this day for the spirit of Satan comprehends the parent and the posterity to witnesse in and of both alike as really as the Spirit of God comprehends the father and the son to testifie of them as one undenied act Note here that the children of the Devil as Christ cals them are of him who is a Murderer from the beginning a Lyer and therefore aboad not in the truth for when he speaks a lye he speaks his own it is himself both a father and son for he is a lyer or he is a lye as the product and the father thereof as the original of the same so that wickednesse was never brought forth but by the wicked one who is from the beginning as ancient as the son of God himself Iohn 8. 44. Also the Son of God is he in whom life is preserved from the beginning and therefore an eternal life as ancient as himself and so is said to be the way the truth and the life so that no man can come to the father but by or in him Iohn 14. 6. Whosoever then finds a time when the Lier was not and the Murderer he may as well find a time when truth and life eternal was not and he that goeth about to make a separation of just and unjust and not from the first motion of God towards man which is from everlasting as also to keep each of them that is the way of life and the way of death intire in the whol course of their progresse that man can never preserve and keep the word of God in its native purity but is a false Interpreter thereof and a betrayer of the just and holy One into the hands of the wicked Note further in conclusion of this point that when Abraham is said to be the father of beleevers as the Saints being reckoned as from him Rom. 4. 11 16. Abraham is personated in that high father according to the Etymology of his name or in that eternal father as the Prophet cals him in whom he plainly concludes both father and son as one state and
that Charmers use the same voice note or tune which the Creature hath whom they would charm or allure to come out of their affected Course or Thickers wherein they have hid themselves as man in his guilt did in the beginning Gen. 3. 8. 9. 10. Yet will not the wicked hear but by this earthly translation and false interpretation stops his ear lest the word of life should take hold of him to work him thereto that so he may retain his own language in his own proper construction and principles together with the poysonfull and cruell practices properly accompanying and appertaining thereunto still silencing in him selfe and putting to death the spirit of all true prophesie and righteousnesse of Saints by Iesus Christ whom he crucifies Heb. 6. 6. which he can no more cease to do nor depart from than he can cease or depart from his own being for every wicked man that prevaricates the law of God and teacheth men so to do Mat. 5. 19. is habituated in the aptitudes of Satan and not of the son of God Iohn 8. 44. and of such certainty and voluntary choice is the curse of God founded in all the proper authors and subjects thereof And so much at this time in answer to that question how God sends his message and Ministers to wicked Scribes and Pharises and yet neither salvation nor destruction depends upon the will of man as he is simply a Creature nor doth God tender salvation besides his intent to the wicked the Divell not excepted no more then Satan tempted the son of God besides or contrary to his intent to overcome The next point noted in the Text is the party sending these Ministers and Messengers and that is Christ Behold I send unto you Prophets Wise men and Scribes in which words Christ secretly insinuates his own proper state and condition manifesting his wisdome and skill in that he translates the speeches and practice of these wicked and deceitfull Interpreters into a spirituall and heavenly respect and relation in himselfe that as they relate themselves unto their fathers who they confesse to be Murtherers and so bring guilt upon themselves as they are their off-spring so Christ relates himselfe unto God that heavenly father and makes himselfe one with him as appears by the conferrance of the Evangelists for Luke hath it thus Therefore said the wisdome of God I will send them Prophets and Apostles Luke 11. 49. or as the word will bear the wisdom of God saith in the present tense as being a present and continued act and Matthew hath it Behold I send plainly declaring the wisdom of God and himselfe to be one and the same thing and Gods act in sending and his own to be one and the same power and authority to invest into office such Messengers so that whatsoever the wisdome of God is or what it hath done the man Christ is the same what platform it hath laid what it hath devised contrived counselled about uttered and brought to passe from the beginning that the man Christ Iesus is it is his own present estate and his own proper and peculiar act therefore Christ is called the wisdom of God and the power of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Prov. 8. Prov. 9. â— 2. 3. 4. 5. and therefore must be one with God in the root and foundation of all things for it is not another wisdom that gives being to the man of God to be that which he is than gives being unto God himself to be that which he is for he is not in his own proper nature being but in Christ therefore Christ assumes most justly the same title that God gives to himself when he sends Moses to Pharaoh in Egypt say saith he I am have sent thee Exod. 3. â—4 so Christ saith to the wicked Jews before Abraham was I am Iohn 8. 58. Whatsoever therefore the wisdome of God hath said and whatsoever hath been wrought and accomplisht by iâ— is all reckoned and really accounted upon that mysticall body and spirituall and holy being of Iesus Christ what Prophets have been sent what wonders have been wrought what revelations and intercessions have b en made what deliverances and salvations have appeared they are reckonable upon the true Interpreter and Revealer of the mind and intent of the Father of Lights where or whensoever such an Interpreter appeareth not only what hath been done in times past and at present but also what shall be effected and accomplished in time to come therefore it is said the wisdom of God said as in time past I will send as in time to come and behold I send as an act in present being and operation compare Luke 11. 49 with Mat. 23. 34. and so much for the insinuation of the state and dignity of the party sending Secondly observe who they are that are sent Matthew saith Prophets Wisemen and Scribes and Luke saith Prophets and Apostles First he sends Scribes that is such expounders of the Law as are taught unto the Kingdome of Heaven bringing â—ut of his treasury things new and old Mat. 13. 52. Such as bring forth and lay open the originall Laws and Records of the Kingdome of God as they were first founded and laid in the beginning in that platform and pattern seen and discerned only in the Mount Heb. 8. 5. Act. 7. 44. Exod. 25. 40. Such a one as Ezra the Scribe who brought out the Laws and Records of the house of God at the peoples return out of Babylon declaring plainly that original difference and unmeasurable distance that is between the appointments and exercises proper to Gods house and Kingdome and those Ordinances and institutions of Babel according to which the people of God cannot tune an instrument to make any melody unto the Lord in a Song of Zion and all the people wept for joy to behold their ancient right and inheritance in point of their glorious interest in the law of the spirit of life in opposition to the letter that kils that building of Babylon Ezra 3. 10. 11 12. 13. Ezra 7. 6. 11. Neh. 7. 4 -8 Psalm 137. Such Scribes Christ sends to visit the world yea to confound the hypocriticall and dissembling Scribes thereof who prefer Babylon in the land of â—hinar before Zion the Mount of God Secondly Christ sends Prophets that is such as foretell what shall come to passe in the last dayes yea how these sent ones of God shall be entertained by the men of the world to the end thereof For they are Seers to see a far off yea what is to be in the utmost times and farthest off lists of eternity in respect of time to come 2 Pet. â—9 20. 21. Thirdly he sends unto them Wise-men that is such as have the spirit of wisdom whereby they have sufficiency of skill to gather up the first foundation rise of things so as to give them a reall bâ—ing and exercise in the present time according to the proper scope and true intent
Iaphet brought forth but also that cursed condition of Cham and Canaan so that Noah in this drunkennesse ceaseth from all carnall argumentation in the things of God even as a man drunk with Wine is bereaved of the use of naturall reason and common sense Noah therefore according to Gods intent and meaning is drunk in that sense of the Apostle where he saith be not drunk with Wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the spirit or as the word is be drunk in the spirit Ephes 5. 18. that is as Iohn is said to be in the spirit on the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. even as a man being in drink it hath dominion over his senses carrying him beyond the common operations of them therefore it is said that a man sâ—outeth because of wine Psal 78. 6â— Even so a man being in the spirit it carries him beyond all naturall reason common sense and humane argumentation to resolve conclude and determine of things according to the wisdom power and glory of God and not of the Creature therefore it is that the Spouse in the Canticles saith Eat O friends drink abundantly or as the word is drink and be drunke O well-beloved Canticles 5. 1. The truth is that the argument or wisdome of a Saint encouraging him to stand in opposition unto all the world which he cannot but do though there were not another to stand by him in the cause of God is to carnall reason liker to a man bereaved of his senses than one in his right mind and thence it is that C ham the youngest son of Noah or the least son being so diminished in point of Sonship that he comes not within the compasse of inheriting any part of his fathers blessing because he looking upon his father as being uncovered of all the ornaments of mans power and wisdome and so asleep or dead to them all whom Cham declares to his brethren as the shame of his father looking upon him with that unclean spirit of the Raven but Sem and Iaphet beheld not any shame in that nakednesse but know it to be the only capacity of their father to be clothed with those honourable robes of righteousnesse which they bear upon their shoulders as the Levites carry the Ark of God and go backwards unto their father a quite contrary way than Cham doth therefore Noah awaking unto God or being alive unto the spirit as really as dead to the flesh exercising himself in the wisdom of the spirit knows what his sons have done through this his sleep and drunkennesse ministring unto them according to their deed and therefore denounceth a curse against Canaan not naming Cham but Canaan his son wherein a deep mystery is couched namely that the curse doth not in the least arise out of the Ark wherein salvation is but out of a spirit propagated and ingendred by concluding that the glory of salvation consists in that which it doth not namely in the glory of the Creature and not in that glory which is immediately of God even as C ham lookt at the blasting of mans glory through the power of the holy spirit of God to be the shame of his father and not the true glory Neither doth the curse arise and spring out of any proper work or operation of God in any particular but from a false construction and interpretation made of that good work of God therefore the act of ingendring Canaan as accursed merchandizing as his name signifies by a false construction concerning our deliverance given by Cham comes between Noah and the blessing distributed to his sons and however Cham be not named in denouncing the curse yet he is included else the curse were not full in originall and off-spring even as the blessing is pronounced upon the root and originall of blessing and therefore he saith blessed be the Lord God of Shem but Shem the true off spring is included and so it is full in the root and branch also So is the curse denounced upon Canaan but Cham is included also else the curse were not full in root and off-spring and as Noah here in this place is not the immediate root of Canaan the accursed no more is the Lord of all the Earth the immediate root of any particular in the curse That spirit therefore that stands for mediate Ordinances and offices of God it stands for and upholds the proper propagation of the curse and as the curse goeth out unto Canaan the son of perdition including Cham the father of lies so Christ here denounceth desolation upon the Mother Ierusalem including all false Interpreters her Children in the Scribes and Pharisees as her proper off-spring and thus comes the curse to be propagated in all the men of the World and the orders thereof constituted and established if we may call it order established in all the Cities of the Iebusites namely by preferring the wisdome power authority and glory of man before the wisdome power authority and glory of God maintaining the wayes and operations of the Creature in the vilifying of the operations of the spirit of God as a shamefull thing in that way of the crosse of Christ and in this stands all those mother like conceptions in the orders of the World to produce and bring forth a brood and generation of false Interpreters as the orders of Ierusalem had brought forth these Scribes and Pharisees as her children ingendred by that bond woman or spirit of bondage For the orders constituted and established in the world beget false Interpreters as naturally as every Creature begets and conceivs its own kind for according to the form of order established in any nation Kingdom or jurisdiction such is the officer it brings forth for he must be produced and established according to that law or else he is a Usurper so that the immediate call and invisible vertue of the Spirit of God is thereby to be rejected in whomsoever it appears for the Officer must be a child of that order and law wherin he exerciseth of what order and constitution soever it be which this City order of Iebus or Ierusolem hath ordained and erected and herein she becomes murtherous and diabolicall in her self and in her children or the children are such in the mother and the mother is such in the children in that they reject all immediate revelation of Christ and his Spirit putting it off by their law to a time past or to come or to both and so kill it in the present time as these Interpreters did and as the City ordains and appoints such laws to bring forth children by so the children are bound to promote maintain and justifie that law and order by which they are brought forth Even as children do their Parents whilst they stand in that relation of children for when they are once betrothed they become a root in themselves and these two taken spiriritually according to the intent of Scripture are never separated whether in the mystery of
God or in the mystery of iniquity namely the root and the branch the mother as City order and her children so that as false Teachers look back they are the children of an accursed mother or seed of an adulterous law of the carnall commandement and as they look forward at the fruit and off spring of their doctrine so they are the root or mother City of an accursed off-spring whose inhabitants are no other than the accursed Iebusites enemies to Ierusalem that is above and to the Israel of God Gal. 4. 26. Gal. 6. 16. This City therefore namely Ierusalem ordered by the law of a carnall commandement which is to expound the bond and tie of the word of God as Gods intent to stand in the relation of one Creature to another in any thing wherein God expresseth himself This City is not only that mystery Babylon the â—reat the mother of Harlots and all abominations of the Earth Rev. 17. 5. But it is also the mother of all murthers and therefore called the City of bloods in the form plurall Ezek. 17. 2. Nahum 3. 1. and therefore wo is denounced against her as the bloody City Ezek. 24. 6. 9. And so much for the acclamation and ingemination of the phrase Oh Ierusalem Ierusalem and hence it is that Christ brings in that just and deserved charge which is the second point Thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee wherein observe two things first that they kill the Prophets secondly that they stone them who are sent unto them 1 They kill the Prophets for this order and City government contrived by the letter of the Scripture for the maintaining of the glory wealth honour of the Creature cannot preserve it self therein but by imprisoning or cutting off what ever seems to impaire the same Now the wisdome of God which hath placed all honour wealth and happinesse only in things that indure for ever cannot but vilifie and bring to nought all fading and transient things and therefore our Apostle affirms that the wisdom of the Princes or most excellent and men of esteem of this world comes to nought 1 Cor. 2. 6. Therefore the orders and institutions of this City that is of all carnall policies and states leaning only upon the letter of the Scripture must of necessity bend their force against that wisdome and word of eternity as the only enemy of their pomp and glory being a shame and dishonour to all earthly excellency and beauty even as the glory and splendour of the Sun at noon day abaseth the appearance of a candle for the carnall laws and institutions of the world cannot retain their force if the wisdom of God take place therefore this Ierusalem in erecting of her orders and ordinances perishable she must terminate the word of God in them as the intent thereof or else they are not in force to insnare the conscience neither would they otherwise appear of any more worth than the laws given to the beasts of the field or the fowls of heaven which is neither sin to break simply considered nor righteousnesse to fulfill therefore they are bonnd over by the law of a carnall commandement to terminate the mind and will of God in humane orders and institutions in the neglect and rejecting of that glory of God which appears in Iesus Christ disallowing and disanulling in themselves that eternall word and law of the spirit of life which is in Iesus Christ Rom. 8. 2. which only frees from the law of sin and death and wheresoever that law is not acknowledged there sin reigns Now whosoever nullifies the spirit and life of the Scriptures by erecting a carnall commandement he therein nullifies the true spirit of prophecy and he that nullifies the spirit of the Prophets he takes away the life of the Prophets and so becomes a Murtherer of all the Prophets for the spirit of the Scriptures is of that comprehension in the true intent thereof as that it is the only life of all Prophets in every age of the world without any alteration of Gods proper intent therein no more than there was ever found salvation in any other but only Iesus Christ Acts 4. 10. 11. 12. And therefore every carnall spirit is bound over for the conservation of humane order in the erecting and maintaining thereof upon its proper principles to extinguish and put out the proper life and spirit of the Scriptures otherwise he cannot maintain his laws in force according to the nature of them in their height and glory which man naturally strives after and can never attain unto any eminency therein but by quenching of the spirit of God and despising true prophecy 1 Thes 5. 19. â—0 and all transitory Rites and Ordinances erected and maintained as carrying in them the scope of the word of God are as so many Engines and instruments appointed ordered and maintained for that very end and purpose wherewith they kill the spirit of the Prophets in preferring the dead carkasse and setting up a dumb Image before the spirit and reall substance 2 Therefore Christ addes the second act in his charge against them telling them that they are such as stone them that are sent unto them we heard before how true Prophets are said to be sent to these wicked Scribes and Pharisees as they are the off-spring of the Serpent and of such fathers as killed the Prophets and here it is said they are sent to the originall and mother of them that is Ierusalem from whom they spring whence we may observe that the Spirit and life of the word of God doth not only enterprise to solicite the world to break off and turn from their grosse aberrations and exorbitancies but also to reverse and repeal those Laws and Orders from whence they spring as things of no account in the Kingdome of God nor is there any justice oâ— righteousnesse to be expected from any humane or literall institution or order further than it is used by him who hath that spirit of the righteousnesse of faith to be his Instructer therein therefore it is that Christ affirms that in the Kingdome of God there is neither marriage nor giving in marriage but are as the Angels of God in Heaven and to be ignorant of this point is to be ignorant of the Scriptures and of the power of God Mat. 22. 29. 30. that is in case men acknowledge not that any temporary relation simply considered attains not unto the end of the law of God for men knowing the Scriptures and the power of God cannot but see and acknowledg that For shall we think that marriage which is the way of the multiplication of man and so the ground of all humane institutions is any point of the proper end of the law of God when as it is plain that Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse Rom. 10. 4. but marriage as a humane act may attaine its end in a wicked man as well as in a just
Christian is brought into a point of time as really as that act through the Spirit of God hath in it the extension of Eternity but this false interpreters will not be gathered into 2 They will not have Christ so to neglect himself in the world that there is no stamp of the Image and Spirit of God in wicked men as peculiar to his nature nor so â—o neglect himself as he is Man in the just that there is no excellency or glory of man in any reckoning or account in him that so he may in the fulnesse of God and vacancy and vanity of all the things of man make of these twain one new man in himself this false interpreters will not be gathered into Ephes 2. 15 16 3 They will not have the same life and spirit transfused into every Saint of God which is in the Son of God as he hath respect to the Father or not that however which is in the Father himself but some Secondary or mediate influence else it is not a wing for the children and the bond-woman earthly Ierusalem to come under they are all bound by law of humane learning and their School Divinity to keep with all care and study their Secundâ—m Idem which is a principall pillar set up by Satan to underprop the Nest they belong unto Revel 18. 2. 4 They will not have the form and fulnesse of Christ to be compleated at once where ever or in whom it appears but must have it made up gradually by peece-meal hating inconsistent to the increasings of God and impaires that Salvation that is by Christ for there is nothing peculiar to a Christian but Christ salvation Consists in it so that they will not have Salvation to be perfect it is a wing too sound and wholsome for the Scribes of the world to come under 5 They will not have the word and wisdom of God to be a compleat and all sufficient shelter unto a Christian to save and defend him from storms and tempests snares and intanglements arising from below or descending from above without the help of humane learning whereby to know and humane policy to consult contrive and determine as also humane lawes and Lawyers to maintain rights and interests otherwise a Christian cannot safely be Conveyed through this World we have known all these to come out against Christ and the servants of Christ in all ages but we never knew them take parts with the people of God but as God by his wisdome turned them to another intent than their proper sâ—ope and end was but for the word and wisdome of God simply and singly considered that wing false interpreters would never be gathered under for they say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy waies Iob 21 13 14. Psalm 119. 53. They will not have a Nest of his composure a house of building without hands onely eternall in the heavens they know nor for it is too apparent their Doctrine concerns the things of this life and so properly the state of the bodies of men and for the nature and state of the soul they Know not being void and destitute of the wisdome of God such as have not the spirit Iude 19. and therefore Christ in the words following brings in that affirmation and sentence against them 38. 39. Behold your habitation is left unto you desolate for I say unto you yee shall not see me me henceforth till that ye say blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. In which words observe 1 First a serious affirmation in these words Behold your house is left unto you desolate 2 Secondly a reason thereof rendred in these words for ye shall not see me henceforth untill ye say blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. First observe in the affirmation a note of admiration and wonder that the wisdome of God should speak and expresse it self unto men and they not give Credit thereunto Behold saith he and wonder admire unto astonishment and destruction that the prophecie which hath foretold these things is fulfilled upon you Habba 1. 5. which the Apostle applies to a like act of the wicked Iewes where he saith Behold ye dispisers and wonder and vanish away Acts 13. 41. or perish for the reiection and neglect of the wisdome of God presented unto the world and uttered in Christ is the proper condemnation and destruction of the sons of men therefore the Prophet saith For I will work a work in your daies yee will not beleeve it though it be told unto you Here is then a description of the habitation and abode as the proper brood and nest of all false Interpreters in opposition to that which Christ gathereth his own people into And this devastation here affirmed to be the portion of all false Interpreters is the very same which is prophesied of all Christs Enemies Psalm 69. 26. and is in particular applyed unto Iudas Iscariot that Confessor for hire Acts 1. 20. as his name signifies or man that praiseth the wayes of death as all such do to declare unto us that deceitfull treacherous and perfidious spirit as also that horrid destruction which ever attends the false interpretation of the Word of God which ever bereaved men of all Office and Apostleship of all Vertue and Operation of all holy Ministry and Service yea of all Life Spirit and Power that appertains to the House and Kingdom of God therefore Iudas is said to go to his own place as one estranged from that place and inheritance of the Son of God Acts 1. 25. So that this desolation and depopulation of the habitation of the wicked is the fulfilling of it with death and destruction and with all wickedness and abomination as in Simon Magus who valued the gifts of the Spirit of God according to an earthly estimation which is ever accompanyed with a destructive and perishing condition Acts 8. 20. For it is that unclean spirit which goeth out of the Man or out in a human manner in the things of God walking through dry places barren of the distillations of the Spirit of God seeking rest but hath none to give and therefore never finds it for the Spirit of Christ doth as truly gives rest as receives it But this unclean spirit consulting with it self preacheth a return to his house out of which he came that is he came out of the house of uncleanness and thither he returns for as the holy Spirit of Christ comes or proceeds out of a pure and uncorrupted Fountain as it descends from the Father yet as the spirit of man is in unity therewith there is a real separation and sanctification from uncleanness and all impurity which otherwise man naturally is therefore Christ is truly said to be made in us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemtion 1 Cor. 1. 30. Even so that Spirit of man going out in the matters of God by human wisdom in that respect goeth
and affairs which themselves are freed from so that they only may be drawn out in prayer as a continned act office trade or calling belonging only in that point unto them as their peculiar calling and office this is a false pretence and meer colour and deceitful gloss set upon prayer to beguile the world when men ingross the holy and free spirit of supplication monopolizing it unto themselves by denying the rest of the Saints of God to injoy it in like extent and by as just and good right in the exercise of it continually and as not being of like concernment in every one of the godly as it is or ever was in any one or as thongh others of the Saints stood not so near unto God therein nor came into the holy of holyest by virtue of office as themselves do This is a meer pharisaical and hippocritical deceit concerning praying to delude the world namely to draw out prayer as a continned act and exercise and to be of more concernment in some mens calling then in others of the people of God for the spirit of intercession is of like virtue extent and concernment when and in whomsoever it doth appear otherwise the bloud of sprinkling should not be of like virtue to speak the same good thing in one of the Saints of God as it doth in another for it is the same eternal spirit by which he offereth up himself without spot unto God Hebr. 12. 24 Hebr. 9. 14 in all as one and in one as all And by this pharisaical and hypocritical deceit is the widows house devoured for whosoever he be that sets himself by office nearer to God then the rest of his brethren that man must of necessity exclude and shut them out of that holy place of Gods habitation and dwelling which is that state and faith of the Lord Jesus that habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes 2. 22. and so defrauds the desolate of that plentiful supply which God hath appointed for all such as come unto him by enterposing himself between God and them for he that sets one Saint of God nearer unto God then another he devours and spoils the habitation of God that is he corrupts the state of the Lord Jesus in which holy habitation God is only a father to the fatherless and a Judge of the widow For therein and not elsewhere is he become their head and only Lordship there is he their protection and defence there is he their provision and bountiful supply there is he their only instruction and instructour and there and not elsewhere is he that happy multiplication and multiplier of himself in all those fruits of righteousness which are of God by Jesus Christ Rom. 7. 4. Philip. 1. 11. Therefore Christ saith in opposing these false interpreters to all true disciples be not ye called Rabbi for one is your master even Christ or yet have one mastership even that unction which teacheth you all things John 2. 20. Hebr. 8. 11. and ye are all brethren or ye are all one brotherhood that is equal in any point of dignity and call no man father on the earth for one is your father in heaven You are not the off-spring of any earthly progenitour but are the royal seed of heaven and have alike fatherly authority in your selves to produce a like posterity therefore he saith he that is greatest among you shall be your servant that is the greatest dignity in any of the Saints is to be a servant unto all the Saints therefore did the Lord of all wash the disciples feet and wiped them with the towel wherewith he had girded himself to give them an example of performing the like service John 13. So Christ saith to the disciples Whether is greater he that fitteth at meat or he that serveth is not he that â—itteth at meat but I am among you as he that serveth Luke 2â— 27. 1. He then whosoever he be that in pretence of being exalted by the word of God into place and office above any of the servants of God that is such servants as are the Lords freemen 1 Cor. 7. 22. that man is a false interpreter of the word of God yea an hypocritical scribe and pharisee it is he that loves the uppermost seat in the synagogue for it is not the sitting in any seat but the love of a high seat that he may appear as the nearest to God in all acts of worship and to come more immediately from God in all his commands and exortations then any of his brethren Matth. 23. 6. These are they that devour the widows houses by setting themselves nearer to God then others and thereby shut the desolate out of the place of Gods holy habitation where only the Lord is the present and full supply of them Psalme 68. 5. 2. These are they who loved the uppermost roomes at feasts as being the proper cause of all festivity they being the only instruments of peace the procurers of plenty and chief cause of the joyful condition of the people and so interpose themselves between God and such as are in plenty also that the praise may redound unto them and so deprive God of his glory in their deceiving of the people Matth. 23. 6. 3. These are they that love greeting in the market place and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi Matth. 23. 7. they love to be honoured as masters and lords of the market that is of all commerce and trade not only between man and man but also between God and man and so in the feasts also for who must be an instrument to feast thâ— soul but only they and who must rejoyce and sing when they see cause of mourning this point is not only practised amongst them who are raised bâ— the help and addition of school-divinity to their natural spirit for it is evident amongst these Indians the Barbarians amongst whom we live for if any of the superiours mourn if there be found any of the inferiours rejoycing if he escape with his life it is much if it be not taken away by one means or other But these must be masters and lords of the market also in that they appoint the place the time the manner of commerce for weights measures kinds of coyn with the value of it keepers of the peace quieters and stillers of the people and he that keeps not time comes to the place holding weight and measure acknowledging the rates and valuation set by elders of church or state that man is a sinner culpable of punishment what are they then who love to be called lord â—ord but such as are nearer God then others stand in the place of God which the rest of their brethren do not these devour the habitation of the widow by shutting the desolate out of Gods holy habitation where he hath related himself alike unto all in that judgement which he pass th upon all of them whose first husband the law of the carnal
commandement is dead Rom. 7. 1. where our Apostle makes the death of the law and the party dead to the law to be one and the same thing for where the law is dead so as it operates not upon us we are also dead from working by it For every one that comes into the holy of holyest which is Christ for so Daniel the prophet calls him Messia the holy of holyest as the words are truly rendred Daniel 9 24. and every one that enters therein is alike near and acceptable unto God and all the holy things of God Hebr. 9. 11 12. For howsoever there was but one high priest in the dayes of Moses that entred into the holy of holyest to declare the dignity and unity of the priesthood of Christ yet there was an order of four and twenty in the dayes of David who served in their course by entring into the holy place 1 Chron 24. 1 19. Zachariaâ— the father of John Baptist being of the eight order Luke 1. 5. who was struck dumm in the revelation of the conception of John Luke 1. 19 22. to declare how speechless the priesthood of Christ is in point of Levitical and carnal ministry but in the bringing forth of John his mouth is opened Luke 1. 63 64. to shew that freedome and fulness of the Spirit of God in that way of prophesie and praises in the bringing forth of Christ in his spiritual priesthood and ministry Luke 1. 67 79 wherein every one hath a like dignity and the same access unto God Rom. 5. 2. Ephes 2. 18. He therefore who sets himself nearer to God then others of his brethren by office and dignity whom he accounts to be of the faith of Christ that man under pretence of holyness doth devour the widows houses by denying them that proper habitation wherein alone all their supply consists Psalme 68. 5. Nay it is a devouring of Christ for to devide Christ into places and offices higher and lower in point of his mystical body is to destroy the faith and doctrine of the gospel for Christ cannot be the head of a body wherein every one of the corporation have not a like interest 1 Cor. 1. 12 13. 4. Again these are they who make their phillactaries broad and their fringes long Matth. 23. 5. or as Luke and Mark have it they love to go in long robes Luke 20. 46. Mark 12. 38. noting them to be such as love outward signs of honour as tokens of exemption from other men to shew them to be more grave and wise then any of the rest So they make their phillactaries broad and their fringes long alluding to the Levitical law to declare them to be of that litteral and carnal priesthood which puts Christ to death which ever seeks after a carnal and temporary lordship and dominion Matth. 4. 8. 9. therefore Matthew useth the word phillactaries which signifies keepers as though that grave and long-robed eldership were the only keepers of mens souls bodies names and estates The word translated fringes in Hebrew Gedilim which sometimes is translated wreathes 1 King 7. 17. Exodus 28. 24. and sometimes ropes or cords Iudges 16. 11 12. twisted together by the Levitical priesthood or made of the materials and by the skill of the spirit of the Phillistians which hath no power at all over our spiritual Sampson but are broken in sunder as a thred in Hebrew also a fringe is called Tsitsith or Zizith Numb 15. 38. which is sometimes translated a lock of hair of the head Ezekiel 8. 3. to show a multitude united together in one head And the Greek word used by the holy Ghost in Matthew Craspeda doth properly signifie twisted tassels of thred and the Hebrew word used for fringe is Englished a thred Iudg. 16. 9. And this was to be put upon the four skirts or wings of the garment Deuteron 22. 12. as the word signifies Ruth 3. 9. 1 Sam. 15. 27. and so the four ends or corners of the earth are called the four wings of the earth Isa 11. 12. Ezek. 7. 2. Job 37. 3. The point then amounts to this in false interpreters of the law of God in making their phillactaries broad and their fringes long on the four skirts of their garments that they love to be thought to be the keepers of people and to be heads of multitudes even as the locks of hair on the head to have them twisted unto them as tassels of thred by their offices relations and respects and that their spirit is not bounded but passeth as upon wings unto the four ends or corners of the earth to gather strength as the skirt or hem strengthens the garment and honour it as the riband or thred beautifies the vesture that so they may wear their brethren as a long robe of honour serving only for the raising and maintaining of their headship and earthly authority which is the spirit of all men from the father and master of the family which all men indeavour to come unto unto the greatest Monarch upon the earth whereever that temptation propounded unto Christ and in him to all men takes place which was by him and is in all his rejected and overcome Matth. 4. 8. And let no man think by what we here express that we hold government useless and unlawful but only desire that all things were considered according to their nature and exercised and kept within their proper confines and cercuits so as Christ may be all in all Ephes 1. 22 23. For we know that humane wisdome wrapped up as in a bud or seed Isaiah 18. 5. may by mans industry be brought forth into the exercise of arts and sciences admirable useful and beneficial to man so they be kept and judged of within and according unto their proper sphere So also we know that there are such exorbitancies which may be so ripened in depraved nature that may be restrained curbed kept in or cut off by humane abilities for Moses is said to be learned in all the wisdome of Egypt or in all the wisdome of Mizraim for so the Scriptures call Egypt Mizraim constantly in Moses and the Prophets though the Apostles generally call it by the name of Egypt and we know Mizraim was one of the sons of cursed Cain after whose name it is called Gen. 10. 2. as he being the first planter of it Now this wisdome of Moses could not come short of those arts of the Magicians and priesthood of Egypt who are instructers of the people even as the posterity of Cain were fathers of shepherdy and ordring of cattle and of such as handle the harp and the organ and were such as instructed or as the Hebrew phrase is were whetters or sharpners of every artificer in brass and iron Gen. 4. 20 21 22. Which learning Moses forsakes and departs from as being nothing of that learning and language of the Hebrews coming of Heber of the posterity of Shem and progenitour of Abraham as things not coming
is said the word was made flesh or is made flesh and tabernacles in us as the words are and we saw his glory as the glory or as the word is verily the glory of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth Iohn 1. 14. So that he maintains a Spirit of Christ early or late without the complete matter whereof Christ consists that man is ignorant of Christ and interprets the word in the denyal of him being that spirit denies that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh which is not of God but is that spirit of antichrist 1 Iohn 4. 2 3. for to confess Christ Jesus as born of the Virgin Mary only in the dayes of Herod is not confession which the Apostle intends for it that his coming in the flesh in the confession thereof were to speak by the Spirit of God I think then all that ever spoke the Latine tongue would prove speakers by the Spirit of God and then such as they stile Papists would be the most eminent confessours of Jesus which are so cried out against as hereticks for as concerning that act of his doctrinal coming in the flesh who have more images crucifixes Sacraments and Idolatrous monuments then they amongst whom there is no speaking by the holy Spirit of God at all but are such as compass sea and land walking to and fro without certainty and pitching the points of their circumference at such a distance as the coming of Christ in the flesh never admitted of the Jews propounded a time remote wherein he would come the Gentiles a time remote that he was here in the flesh and neither the one nor the other led by that spirit never would nor will acknowledge him his true and real appearance Psalme 2. 1. 6. 2. The second point in the pronouncing of this wo is the end for which they are in this care and travel and that is to make one proselite that is one religion to have all men of the same profession that so the arm of flesh might bear the sway without controul or disturbance this the world hath travelled in from the beginning thinking it can never be glorious and secure till it be effected at the least in great measure so as to be the major vote at the least to this eomes the study of reformation that great toil of preaching after the manner of the doctrine of the pharises that rigour of executions in carnal governments that all may come to be of one mind to make a glorious Church and state to have no gainsayers nor such as shall offend These cannot be content to give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and unto God the things that are Gods Matth. 22. 21. but they will make Cesar to be God and so convert the devil and cannot rest till light and darkness Christ and Belial be made one 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16. These men are remote from hearing of that voice my graâ—e is sufficient for thee for if they know that the power of God were only made manifest and perfected through the weakness of man that is by an utter cessation of all humane abillities in the matters of God they could not but know also shat the force of man by means of multitude can be no hinderance of the good successe of the Saints though never so few in number in any age of the world for that day of small things in the eyes of carnal contemners and dispisers break forth into those seven eyes of God or seven fold light of the Spirit which are about the throne of God Zachar. 4. 10. Revel 1. 4. together wit that plummet or plumm-line in the hand of our Zorubbabel to give a â—ight form unto all things belonging to the temple in the perfecting thereof then is the time for power to appear in the oxes goad Iudge 3. 31. and strength in the jaw bone of an asse Iudges 15. 15 16. then will terrour arise out of the whistling or the wind in the top of the Mulberry trees 1 Chron. 14 â—4 15. and fear from the appearance of Gidians Barley cake Iudges 7. 13 22. If men knew the manner of the resurrection of Gods power in the Spirit of a Saint how it perfects it self through mans own deficiency they would never be so industrious to make the world become of one religion for fear of a multitude of opposites Not but that the Saints of God may be furnished with abillity to know any art or science as well as any other man and have the practice of it only with this two fold caveat they know all humane and temporary things through the valing of them and the vanishing of them if they know them so as Christ is propagated uâ—to them by the knowing of them as he is the true end of all things Rom. 10. 4. Rom. 11. 36. So to know them is to vale them in point of all glory or excellency appearing in them heing so truly known even as Tamar was valed when Judah knew her in the propagation of Phares Gen. 38. 13. 13 14 15 16 19 20 21. of whom Christ came Matth. 1. 8. so that in knowing her he knew her not the Saints look upon the glory of the world as an inticing harlot nsing it as though they used it not and buy as though they possessed not for the fashion of it passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 31. Therefore in the second place they know the things of the world to the vanishing of them as a leaf tossed with the wind Iob 13. 25. Isa 34. 4. and as the flower of grass when the wind hath passed upon it Isa 4 6 7. even as Tamar was vanished when the kid was sent to receive the robes of honour from her Therefore the Apostle speaking of that glory which seems to be in the administration of the law which he calls the ministry of condemnation saith it hath no glory when the ministration of the spirit appears which he calls the exceeding or excellent glory 2 Cor. 3 9 10. To conclude this point those who see such excellencies to appear in the multitude as to use all their pollicy and industry to bring all into a uniformity they never saw the excellent glory but they are such men of renown as were in the beginning the Giants of the world who to bring forth a mighty and monstrouse generation bring into contract and covenant the posterity of Cain and Seth in the point and matter of increase abroad have been the ruine of the world ever since it existed Gen. 6. chap. the only composers of sea and land to the production of the deluge of Gods displeasure upon the sons of men 3. Therefore the third point is the issue when you have made him he is two fold more the child of hell then you your selves that is when false interpretation of the law hath begotten a spirit of pride and cruelty to execute according to those lying and dissembling dictates which is the bringing forth
man as in twaine or as in a multitude For superiority is not worthy that name bur in the sence which the Apostle speakes when he saith There are that be called gods for there are gods many and lords many unlesse it be such a superiority that hath power over the Angel so as to prevail as a Prince with God when as the Angel or Elohim wept and made supplicacion which is to be applied to the Angell when he peticioned our father Jacob to let him go Gen. 32. 24. 28. Hosea 12. 4. Such authority as hath power with God is that which the Word of God intends and in that sence the Apostle saith that the spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets 1 Cor. 14. 32. that is when the Spirit of God in any of the servants of Christ do rightly interpret and unfold the Wisdom of God in Christ in the glory and power of it the same Spirit of God in all true interpreters of the Word of God yeeld submission and are obedient unto that wisdom appearing in its power and glory for this authority hath rule in such a spirit of obedience as hath Eternity in it which is onely found in the Son of God otherwise it is not worthy the name of superiority in the Language of Gods Kingdome as it is said of the mercies of the wicked that they are cruell Pro. 12 10. So Rule Destitute of this is Cruelty Neither is the way of submission worthy to be called obedience unlesse it yeeld it self over unto that superiority peculiar to the Son God in whom alone there is an everlas ing Dominion for his Kingdom is without end Daniel 7. 13 14. Out of which kingdom there is no obedience but arising from fear which hath painfulnesse either fear of Correction or of falling short of Favour to attain private and base ends or else the losse of favour when it is or seemes to be obtained But perfect love onely which it not found but in Christ casts out seat 1 Iohn 4. 18. and there is a reciprocall love on both sides of the Covenant in what termes of relation soever expressed springing from the Spirit of God as in that state oâ— the Faith of Christ and the compleat Covenant is to be struck and in exercise perpetually in every individuall heart or else Christ it not formed therein which is the onely message and end of the Gospel Gal. 4. 19. Upon these two pillars of Rule and Subjection or Command and Obedience do false Interpreters set the Tombes of the Prophets falsifying the spirit of the Scriptures in stating them between man and man 3 The thrid pillar is equality lodging the Word of God in this point in men of like honour in the world of like riches of like age of like office trade ocupation art learning and the like which is but a dumb shew and lifelesse karkase of the Prophet his spirit is departed and gone it is not in such ministration For they know not how to equalize things in Christ the true end of the Law and so of all Relations take this one instance for all to shew their ignorance in this point of equality they knew not how to make the state of Christ as in the wombe of the Virgin to be of like power and glory as set upon the Throne at the right hand of the power Mat. 26. 64. for they know not what is taught unto us in that the Holy Ghost over shadowed the Virgin namely to shield the Conception of Christ that no Rey or Glimse of the Wisdom Will Power or any sufficiency arising from the creature should contribute in the least to the being or form of the Son of God in that holy and God like Consistence of God and Man in one undivided state which is the Son of God Luk 1. 35. And in this Act the glory of the Son of God is made manifest in that he is shadowed and shielded from all staine or guilt of sin from all power and subtilty of Satan which are never separated yea from any evill or discommodious thing touching Him which is as glorious a thing and full of power in point of freedome and release as his sitting on the right hand of God in the exercise of all glory grace vertue which twain never were nor shall be separated from the state of Christ And thus might we equalize all things in Christ which seem to be unequall unto carnall mindes according to the Letter and Histories of the Scriptures which equality in Christ is that which the Scripture properly intends in all things and when it speakes of equality in point of friendship or brotherhood it intends not a brotherhood compassed within any term or time but an eternall off-spring equall in all points with respect to the right of the first born and not as any one son being preferred before another for there is but one intire son-ship of God for wee are born of God 1 Iohn 5. 1. 18. as being conceived by the Holy-ghost Luke 1. 35. we also are begotten of God for of his own will begat he us by the word of truth Iames 1. 18. so that we are not only begotten of God but also born of God nothing but the wisdom of God in that work of Christ is in conjunction in the uttering and conceiving in the forming of him and bringing of him forth as the first begotten the first born to be the first fruits of the Creacion without which nothing is clean unto us And this twofould parentage as father and mother uttered in the Commandement are they or that which we honour as being the only off-spring of both made one in Christ and hereby our dayes are prolonged in the Land which God hath given us for herein consists the length of dayes even eternall Life and are under the first Commandement with promise for there was never Law before that Ephes 6. 1. 2. For God made the promise of Eternall Life before the world began Titus 1. 2. so that the Saints are equall in being first born of immortall seed equall in possessing the first Land or inheritance even the Land of Emanuel that is God with us Mat. 1. 23. equall in being under the first Law even the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus Rom. 8. 2. and equall in having the first promise annexed for it was made unto us before the world began Titus 1. 2. The true Equality then intended in the word of God is to make all the Saints of God Kings and Priests of the same Honour Holinesse Power and Authority which is only of God therefore a royall kingdom of Priests and priest-hood kingly a chosen generacion not one more choyce than another a peculiar people one not having lesse or more intrest in God than another a purchased possession the same price payd for and worth set upon one that is upon and for another Exodus 19. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 9 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Pet. 1.
18. 19. Therefore to terminate Equality in temporary relacions as the meaning of the word of God is a strong pillar to bear up and establish the Tomb of the Prophet And in these three points of Supportacion of the Tombs of the Prophets wherin their spirit is departed stands the enervating and disanulling of the fift Commandement and he that is guilty of one hee is guilty of all James 2. 10. 4 The fourth pillar supporting the Tombs of the Prophets for the expunging of their spirit out of the world that men may send gifts and gratifications one to another rejoyceing in the glory of the flesh by abandoning the deeds of the spirit Revel 11. 7. 8. 9. 10. stand in the abrogacion of the sixt Commandement Thou shalt not kill but shalt preserve life wherin all meanes of offence and defence are strictly given in charge for the effecting whereof how many are the terms relacions and respects of Honour contrived and composed in Military affaires and Disciplin according to the differing peoples and Nacions wherein it is exercised with their severall Engines and Instruments to attayn their ends and that from the Law of the carnall Commandement as it is written in all mens hearts Rom. 2. 14. 15. And when the word of God is expounded so as to consist in any thing as is naturally brought forth in the heart of man destitute of the spirit of Christ that is a meer karkasse of the Scripture voyd of the spirit of true prophesy so that to place the word of God in warlike affaires attayning its end in gaining or recovering temporary interests of honour riches lands places offices revenues safety or destruction of body goods and the like this may be done as a karkasse of the Law voyd of the spirit and life of it and so no more but a Tomb wherein the Prophet lies buried And the parties thus teaching and submiting to such Doctrin by working accordingly may and are destitute of the current of the Law how it runs wherein the proper plea stands and what is the tru point of issue For the Law is spirituall but the mind of man never so much refined by humane Learning gives a carnall construction therof Rom. 7. 14. But true Martiall Discipline that is of God must have Eternity in it elce it is not of God And all warlike affaires temporarily managed without the spirit of Christ is an unclean thing yea the Tombes of the Prophets and all the strength manifested therein is but as dead mens bones accompanied with rottennesse and filthinesse For the Military affaires intended by the word of God calling him The Lord of Hosts or of Armies Psalm 46. 7. Psalm 48. 8. is to be followers of the Lamb upon mount Zion as an Army of an hundred forty and four thousand every one of the twelve Tribes being multiplied into twelve thousands to signify unto all men that in whom soever Christ Iesus becomes a Root in Israel whether the Root in David Revel 5. 5. or a Root in Iesse Isay â—1 10. or the Root in Ephraim or any of the Tribes Judges 5. 12. 13. 14. 15. he multiplies himselfe into a compleat and triumphant Host for the conquering of whatsoever opposeth him who have their fathers name as the Motto in their Ensigne written in their foreheads that is the authority and power of God alone openly chearfully and boldly professed and maintayned amongst them Revel 14. 1 And for the Harnesse wherewith the spirit of the Prophet strengthens and animates it selfe it is the whole armour of God for a good souldier of Christ hath his loynes girt about with truth and hath the breast-plate of righteousnesse the helmet of salvacion the shield of faith his feet shod with the preparacion of the Gospell of peace the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and therefore a spirituall war praying with all supplication in the spirit watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Ephes 6. 14 -18 And for their Onsets and Assaults it is to resist the Devill in the stedfastnesse of Faith 1 Pet. 5. 9. to quench the fiery darts of Satan Ephes 6. 16. and war a good warfare according to the Prophesies that are gone before of every son of God 1 Tim. 1. 18. centring themselves in each of them as their proper intent in whom they are fulfilled and made good by which wee are made able to war a good warfare For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but spirituall mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginacions and every high thing that exalts it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 4. 5. And so much for the four Pillars upon which the Tombs of the Prophets are erected and are every one of them a compleat grave wherein Christ is buried that he appears not in the world but in a sensuall respect 1 For the Superiority and Authority of the world is a grave wherein Christ as King is covered with that dust or earth and men walk over it and perceive it not Luke 11. 44. 2 The Inferiority and temporary Subjection of the world is a grave wherein the High-priest of our profession lies hid and covered mens eyes being directed unto that Monument that they perceive not the Subjection of the Son of God who humbled himselfe and became obedient unto death even the death of the Crosse 1 Phil. 2. 8. Hebr. 3. 1. 3 The Doctrin of Equals in the world is a Monument to cover Christ as he is the First-born of God when they state Equals in King and King earthly in Priest and Priest made by men in Captain and Captain only for the slaughter or preservacion of an earthly body or corporacion these things in Equality being made the scope of their Doctrin do fill the eys of men as a Monument set upon a grave and so hide the state of the first-bornship that is in Christ Iesus where every one hath equall Dignity for every Saint and Son of God is the first prime and chief act of God for the tru form of Christ Gal. 4. 19. is the principall and chiefe work that ever God did and all other things whatsoever are subservient thereunto Rom. 11. 36. P ov 16. 4. No direct nor tru Equality can bee found therefore out of the Son of God which is hid and buried by false interpretacions of the Word of God 4 The fourth particular is a grave to bury Christ as he is the Captain of our Salvacion Hebr. 2. 10. whilst men set up a Hearse of temporary Conquest over the bodies of men to be the end and accomplishment of the word of God for which their prayse is to be returned which hath not Eternity in it for they dare not lay prayses upon the Altar for that they have thrust mens souls down to Hell therefore a temporary act that mens eyes must be held
the breach of every law under the breach of every one Jam. 2. 10. And the multiplyed and innumerable manifestation of distinct laws and punishments for the breach of them is to declare how unreckonable the wayes are wherein that one holy mind and will of God in Christ may be contradicted and violated with the variety of plagues and punishments appertaining and annexed thereunto but every one of them of an infinite and eternal nature which cannot admit of any conteinment limitation or bounds of restraint even as it is with one Son of God to have such infinite wayes of the legal and orderly expressing of himselfe and to every one of them an eternal peace and satisfaction in God annexed To terminate the word of God therefore in the distinctions of these humane laws and institutions together with their penalties or rewards annexed is nothing else but to garnish the burying place of that righteous and equal one declaring to all the world that his spirit is ceased therein and departed therefrom so that all manner of dissimulation and cruelty is to e expected in all the wayes of their administration indevouring only to uphold the throne of iniquity by establishing the wisdome and glory of the flesh in the pulling down and demolishing that righteous Reign and Scepter of the Son of God Psal 94. 20. 23. Heb. 1. 8. Keeping him in the grave as dead and buried in regard of any of his life vertues-wisdome justice or righteousnesse appearing in such way of interpretation and administration For God as he hath formed himself in Christ is not in all their thoughts Psal 10. 4 5. Psal 56. 5. For he that forms another law to himselfe besides the law of the spirit in Christ as under the bond of the word oâ— God that man frames another God to himself besides the true God and lies under the breach and guilt of the law of God expressed in the first Commandement Exod. 20. 2 3 2 The second point in the order proposed in the Text stands in what these false Interpreters say that is in what they teach for it is their doctrine wherby they build the Tombs of the Prophets and garnish the Sepulchers of the righteous therefore where one Evangelist saith he said unto them another saith he said unto them in his doctrine Compare Mat. 13. 3. with Mark 4. 2. so that it is matter of doctrin whereby both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdome of Satan are erected and maintained 1 And first they conclude their Progenitors to be Murtherers in that they took away the lives of the Prophets by which we see that it is a maxime written in all mens hearts that the cessation of the spirit of prophefie which is done by falsifying and counterfeiting of the Scope and intent of the word of God is a grosse and capital sin which is to extort and violently to take away the life of any one that is innocent Q. But if it be a sin to take away by violence the life of the innocent is it not a sin to lay down and part with an innocent life if there be power to retain it as Christ is said to lay down his life Iohn 10. 11 12. Answ The Answer to this is twofold first it is not against law to suffer as an innocent for it is the gift of God to suffer as well as to beleeve Phil 1. 29. And it is a blessed thing to suffer for righteousnesse sake 1 Pet. 3. 14. but it is against law to take away the life of the innocent for God never made law to take away the life of his Son as the world do violently extort and take it away for then he should institute a law against himself and that eternal life for the Father and the Son are one Iohn 10. 30 Secondly we answer that Christ layes down his life properly with respect unto his death unto all the motions of sin operations of the flesh in all things which is his proper quickning and reviving in the spirit and living eternally unto God which death iâ— nothing else but his Resurrection and possession of everlasting life therefore a righteous and glorious act in the Son of God thus to lay down his life being an innocent act to crucifie all the affections and lusts of the flesh to the quickning and reviving of all the operations of the spirit of God Gal. 5. 24. Ephes 2. 16. 2 The second point in the order of the text stands in what they say in way of excusing and clearing of themselves in these words if we had been in the dayes of our Fathers we would not have taken parts with them in the blood of the Prophets wherein they acknowledge their Fathers to be murtherers â—â—t themselves reformed and become in better state and condition than their fathers were wherein they professe a better condition and a worse in the same Line Posterity Generation and Ofspring of Father and Son as though there were a better state and a worse where God is the Father and Fountain and his sons and offspring Iohn 1. 12. and a better and worse condition also where Satan is the Father and Fountain and his offspring and Children Iohn 8. 44. 1 Iohn 3. 8. This is the doctrine of all false and hypocritical Interpreters at this day who say that Satan is in a worse condition than mankind though never so wicked because the Devil sinned voluntarily without a tempter but man sinned being tempted drawn aside by another plainly declaring thereby that they know not what the Devil is who is so often in their mouths and hearts also nor what mans fall from God is nor wherein consists that great though secret inlet of sin into the world Neither can they truly teach what Christ is what his resurrection from the dead is nor wherein consists that great though secret and hidden inlet of Gods righteousnesse into the sons of men Again they teach that in the way of God there is a better and an inferiour condition as that one son of God is nearer to the father and in greater favour and dignity than another whereas they reall first-born Heb. 12. 23. or else they cannot be an acceptable gift nor are they to be consecrated unto the Lord unlesse they be the opening or emission of the womb Exod. 13. 1 2. Luk. 1. 13. therfore they are called in Hebrew Coach the first of Gods might or able strength or the beginning ofstrengths so the first-born is named Deut. 21. 17. Gen. 49. which Christ complains to be dryed up personating himselfe in those wicked Iews his persecutors Psal 22. 15. These men teach also that the Fathers who served in their generations before us were more remote from God under dark semblances and shadows the light of salvation not so appearing nor the approach and appearing of Christ so neer and perspicuous as it is to us at this day and such Fathers as were in favour with God also for we know that
it is common to carnal Israel in all ages to stand upon and imploy themselves in types shadows bodily exercises and temporary institutions that perish in their use Col. 2. 20 21 22. In this point of their doctrine let all men judge have these men that so teach more opprobation from God of the acceptation of their sacrifices in any of their offerings than Abel had Heb. 11. 4. Do men now walk nearer to God than Enock did who tasted not of any thing that savoured of death Gen. 5. 24. Heb. 11. 5. Have men attained to more skill in these dayes than Noah had who could make a house to contain all creatures according to their kind both clean and unclean Gen. 7. 7 8 9. and yet it is of no lesse difficulty to make one field to contain both Wheat and Tares Mat. 13. 25 26 27. Was ever man more in favour with God than Abraham with whom the Lord is said to eat drink to walk with him towards Sodom and converse with him about Sodom so as he will hide nothing from Abraham Gen. 18 who is therefore called Gods friend or familiar Iames 2. 23. Did ever man in these dayes stand nearer to God or attain a clearer vision and aspect of God than Moses who talked with him face to face as a man speaks to his friend Exod. 33. 11. had ever man more power with God in these dayes than Jacob had who as a Prince prevailed with God and with men and had power Gen. 32. 28. Can any man in these dayes in the finishing of his ministry attain to a more honourable Funerall than Eliah did or give a more effectual and honourable Legacie than he did in his departure 2 King 2. 9. â—15 It may seeme strange considering the voice of Scripture and the nature of the Son of God who is yesterday and to day and the same for ever Heb 13. 8. that men should beleeve such doctrine as proclames Christ to be nearer and more effectual and glorious in the Saints in one age of the world than in another but by this means we see they glorifie themselves and say we are not in so low and mean wayes of dispensation as our Fathers were and by this means hide the Devil in their doctrine by telling men from this ground that how ever so pure and glorious estate appear not now in the Saints nor those operations of the Spirit so plentifully powred out as the Scriptures foretell and make mention of nor that reall presence of Christ in his ordinances yet a time is coming wherein a more glorious Dispensation shall appear for the fulfilment and making good of all such Prophesieâ— and Promises as are recorded in the word of God Acts 2. 18. Mark â—6 17 18. and thus men have been deluded and the word of God falsified from the heginning of the World unto this day by mens vayn Tradicions with respect to time past conjecturall and meer imaginary hopes for time to come never yeelding unto Christ the reality and compleat blessing of his presence upon the Earth Exod 3â— 14. 15. but slanderously intreat and cruelly persecute him when or in whomsoever he appeareth Mat. 5. 11. Iohn 15. 20. Acts 7. 52. 3 Hence ariseth a third point in what they teach that is They falsly translate the matter to justify themselves in their present wickednesse as though they themselves were of that spirit which loves maintayns and justifies the Cause of the Prophets and impute the persecution and murdering of the Prophets only to their fathers to be an act done in their fathers dayes as though their time afforded no such thing And in like manner impute the spirit of wickednesse unto Christ and translate their own practice unto him to justify themselves thereby to be the holy ones of God whilst they are seeking the life of the Son of God to entrap and ensnare him as an evill doer a friend of Publicans and Sinners a gluttonous person a wine bibber a Samaritan and one that hath a Devil and works by the power of Belzebub the chief of Devils Mat. 11. 19 Iohn 8. 48. Mat. 12. 24. Thus they translate the state of the Son of God into the condicion of the Devil as being a practicioner of Devilism and the state of the Devill as the state and condicion of Christ a lover and maintayner of the Prophets which is the very way of all false interpreters of the Word of God who to varnish and colour over their deceitfull and cruell spirit and practices cry out against Hereticks Scismaticks Blasphemers and enemies of Church and State as themselves being innocent friends to Religion and upholders of State and all good Order and are no such persons as their forefathers have been out of whose loyns they are come and upon whose proper principles they do proceed these are men of close conveyance by sleight of hand in their Ministry the juglers of the Time the witches of the world in all the ages thereof according to the tru intent of the word of God concerning witchcraft for the Hebrew word Cashaph signifying a changing or turning intending properly false Teachers as our Apostle witneseth Gal. 4. 1. such as Iannes and Iambres were who withstood Moses alluding to the Sorcerers in Egypt which the Apostle met with in his dayes 2 Tim. 3. 8. such as change the things of God into things humane the Eternall Ordinances and Offices of Christ into such as are transitory Institucions of men Col. 2. 20 21 22. who delude men by proposing a false object and corrupting the ayer or medium of doctrin in the conveyance of the ey to the object For as the word of Blessing in all its expressions terminates it selfe as its proper scope in the playn and saving liberty of the Spirit in the Son of God so also the word of the Curse in all the manifestacions thereof terminates it selfe in that guilefull destructive enthraling spirit of entanglement of that son of perdicion which is the Reall Communion of the Woman with the Serpent whereby the off-spring of the Devill is brought forth as the other is the real fellowship of the Bride and Bridegroom whereby the Son of God that off-spring of Heaven is brought to light in his tru Office and Exercise and as these Ministers place the highest excellency of Christ now in exercise and being on the Earth in point of Regall Authority and Priestly Vertu in Officers made and appointed by men so also they place the basest degree of Satans Subtilty in simple women loaden with iniquity whom they can easily snare in the words uttered for their own defence with the help of som envious witnesse prejudic'd against them whilst they themselves do not only passe away in the croud as innocent finding out and revealing of the iniquity of the Times but also sit as judges of them and as gods over them for execution The third generall point noted in the Text is what these Interpreters are in point
condition which no man can expound otherwise Isaiah 9. 6. but he that is the son is the father also according to the true intent of the Prophet and in this respect the saints of God as naturall sons have the Spirit of a natural father namely the spirit of God Isaiah 61. 1. and as the Saints of God are taken from that naturall disposition and common reasonings of the spirit of mankind as being chosen out of the house of him who is estranged from God as mankind following the naturall propencity of his own spirit is so they are truly said to receive the spirit of adoption whereby they cry Abba father or father father Rom. 8. 15. that is they lay claim to God as sons in a twofold respect he is a father as they are naturally descended of him and he is a father as he hath taken them out of the house of a stranger as Solomon took a wife out of the house of Pharaoh and as Paul took Onesimus for his son and as the Gentiles became the family and houshold of God in Christ Psalm 45 Philemon 9. 10. Ephes 2. 11. 12. 13. And the Saints of God come not unto God but with respect nnto their Sonship in both respects beholding therein for ever from what they are delivered and set at liberty and into what they are delivered and invested with power and authority By the spirit then it is that they cry Abba father that is father by natural descent and generation as springing from God having that gracious inclination and disposition of his son from heaven and father as being freely adopted and chosen out of and from that carnal common and sensual disposition that all men by nature are subject unto Ephes 21. â—8 To be sons and heirs of that heavenly Kingdom of glory and of God Rom. 8. 15 16 17. 1 Pet. 4. 14. 4 The fourth point in the order of the text is the extent of their witnesse or that estate witnessed unto in these words Fulfill ye the measure of your Fathers that is as your Fathers by your own acknowledgement are come down unto you and are extant in you in point of generation and so no time vacant wherein they have not appeared in the defcent so fill you up the same measure of your Fathers in that your sin of false interpretation by building a Tomb upon the carkasse of the Prophet in the letter of the Scripture void of the Spirit thereof which is the bloodshed and murder of the men of the world to this day this your sin reacheth up in like manner unto them from whom yon are descended even to him who is a murderer from the beginning Iohn 8. 44. And you by vertue of that onenesse of spirit are conversant in that first act in the beginâ—ing as really as the Serpent in his seed iâ— extant in you at this day in your guileful and deceitful interpretation and this your spirit shall descend in like sort in your posterity generated by this your doctrine and their guilt shall ascend up unto you in the measure and fulnesse of the same so that the sin and guilt of the Progenitour and Offspring are the same even as the holinesse and righteousnesse of the father and the son are one and the same in Christ Ephes 4. 24. Iohn 10. 30. Phil 3. 9. Rom. 1. 17. and hence is brought in the ensuing and following sentence The 33. Verse contains a vehement acclamation inveighing against these false Interpreters wherein observe two things 1 First The names he gives unto them in these words Oh ye Serpents yee generation of Vipers 2 Secondly An Interrogation How can you escape the damnation of Hell 1 First in that he cals them Serpents in the plurall number it is to shew that all false Interpreters are of the same brood and offspring though they may seem to be divers and averse one from another and in that he cals them Vipers also it is to declare that every one hath the poysonfull disposition of all kind of venemous Serpents in him of what name or manner of poyson soever iâ— may be false interpretation hath it included in it as being the proper Cistern and continent thereof and in that he cals them Serpents he brings hem back to their proper fountaine and Originall whence they Spring as being the very spawn and seed of all deceit Oh Serpents that is ye deceivers of mankind from the beginning by false exposition of the word of God affirming in your teaching that man shall not dye but live as Gods in that way wherein God affirms death doth confist Gen. 2. 16 17. compared with Gen. 3. 4 5. Rom. 8. 13. That is by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evill bearing men in hand that they shall communicate in a better and a worse condition then they have in their originall and first motion of their beginning Gen. 3. 1 -5 Whereas God affirms that his image which is his holy Son takes being together with man for out of man that is that Son of man God never was for he cannot be all things out of man and then he is not God for otherwise than he is God in Christ he cannot be a Creature as well as the Creator he cannot be death as well as life the receiver as well as the giver the heaterâ— as well as the speaker the obeyer as well as the commander without which salvation cannot be wholly and compleatly of God therefore the Psalmist cals him the God of salvations in the form plural as he is salvation in all and every respect for the hearing ear and the seeing eye are both alike of the Lord Psal 68. 20. Prov. 20. 12. When God affirms man to be in his image that is to have the compleat form of his Son who is the engraven form of his subsistance the Serpent affirms somthing must bee done before that be accomplished and perfected they must eat and communicate with sornthing elce to bring it about so say all false interpreters unto this day elce for what serves your water in Baptism your bread and wine on the Table your corporeall fasting and feasting ccommunicating with Schools and corporeall laying on of hands before the gifts of the Spirit your eating up of time before Christ come to Rule the Nations and before Christianity can be perfect Oh ye Serpents that teach men to communicate in somthing elce than that which is all things before that good work of God can be perfected This is the Doctrin from the begining that doth and ever did deprive men of the glory and power of God transforming men into Devils as we see him work effectually in all those destructive wayes among men at this day and thus the Serpent is discovered by his speech 2 He is discovered by his gate or motion he moves not but upon his belly Vpon thy belly shalt thou go Gen. 3. 14. For his belly is his god as is affirmed of all false
teachers Phil. â— 19. For they move not but to satisfie their carnall appetite with honour wealth friendship outward peace and prosperity to be strengthned in the arm of flesh and leave plenty of such things unto their posterity Oh ye Serpents that move not but upon the cause of your belly to satisfie your corporeall body and life and when you attain to any preferment herein your religion either becomes a slavish underling or else withers quite away as the Serpent casts his withered slough or skin in the heare of Summer Yea he goes upon his belly breast or heart as the word imports that is their principal part signified by breast or heart cleaves unto the earth that is unto carnal and terrene things their mind understanding wisdom will affections and conscience yea all their learning is carnal earthly in the very prime and height thereof so that their principal aptitudes as breast or heart move not but upon the earth other creatures tread upon the earth as a thing mean and base put under their feet the Serpent moves not but layes it to his heart and bosom Oh Serpents the original of the curse of God but for false interpretation there had never been curse in the world nor wrath of God upon mankind which consists in going upon the belly or breast that is in carnalizing the word of God going upon it as upon the words of mâ—ns wisdom and principles not according to the wisdom and power of God 1 Cor. 2. 5. And in the words of mans wisdome and principles the letter of the Scriptures doth properly consist as is apparent to all that are not wilfully blind by the histories thereof proverbs parables relations offices buildings battels journeyings genealogies life and death of the Saints with the nature and operations of all Creatures in the heavens and on the earth which we see come in some sort within the confines of humane capacity which is the common doctrine of the world only adorning it as with God or making it as their God which is that which the Hebrews call Cashaph of which the Greeks have formed their word â—a caino and the Latins Fascino which is to bewitch and is the changing of the glory of the incorruptible God into thè image of a corruptible man and into birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things Rom. 1. 23. Which is nothing else but to place the glory of God to consist in conformity with the letter of the Scripture which is naturally written in every mans heart else the word of God could not expresse it selfe in all men that is in such as unto whom the spirit of God is not given also such as never had the written word of God could not lie under the breach of any known law of God and therefore their consciences could not accuse or excuse which is the portion of all men Rom. 2. 15. for doubtlesse the sound of the Scriptures is gone into all the earth and their words unto the end of the world Rom. 10. 18. 3 Thirdly the Serpent is known by his food dust shalt thou eat saith God Gen. 3. 14. to declare the basenesse of his proper sustentation to be such as all creatures decline dry dust can bring forth nothing that is good to perfection Isaia 65. 25. This is the food of all false Interpreters they carnallize and corrupt the word of God in all things for as dust is void of moisture which makes the earth fruitful so do they bereave the word of God of all that moisture and oyly intent of the Spirit or else it s no acceptable food for them to sustain the works of the slesh in terrene glory and beauty Oh Serpents that feed on nothing but basenesse by the verdict of God for to cast the word of God into a transitory form is nothing else but that unclean Spirit of the Devil which Christ here as his manner is rebukes for though there be an acknowledgement of Christ to be the Son of the most high God yet in that they professe Christ to be another thing than themselves are for they are affraid of being tormented by him therefore reckon themselves to be another thing for Christ doth not torment himselfe no man hates his own flesh Ephes 5. 19. In this they appear to have that unclean Spirit for it is and ever was the very form of the Devil so to do as really as it is the form of the Son of God to make himselfe one with the Father Iohn 10. 30. Iohn 14. 9. Therefore Christ rebukes such as unclean spirits yea that spirit of Satan as such as hath no interest in them that are his Mark 5. 7. 8. Oh Serpents who feed so basely as upon the husk the shell the barke and rinde of the word of God whereby the curse is formed and maintained in the world forsake the â—eed of immortality the kernel the sap the pith and the marrow of all things which is the scope intent and spirit of all things recorded and registred in the word and works of God 4 Fourthly the Serpent is known by his hearing for his custome is to stop his ear though the Charmer charm never so wisely Psalm 58. 5. he will not hear now we know that to charm a thing is to utter the same tune note speech or language which that uttereth which we are about to charm with an interposition or infinuation of something whereby to take with guile in the motion or coming forth of the thing as the Apostle useth the word guile in a good sense 2 Cor. 12. 16. But this Serpent in false Interpretation stops the ear let the good Charmer charm never so wisely it will not hear that is let the Son of God in tru interpretation opening of the word of God sound forth speak in the very same note tune which mans heart is known by naturally according to the history proverb parable and progresse of the word of God in way of ushering it into the heart of man or bringing forth the thoughts of mans heart to symbolize and agree therwith as it is propounded in the figure similitude metaphor allegory and dialogiums thereof yet when the truth of the thing appears which the spirit of God intends and is properly taken with against that doth the Serpent and false and subtle interpreter stop his ear even as it is said of the Serpent that he layes one ear to the ground and stops the other with his tayle wherein his life and motion properly resides for some Serpents after their head be cut off will live and move many hours which life and motion appears properly in the tayl So these false Interpreters when truth appears stop their ear in one respect with an earthly conjecture and conception of the word of God and in another respect with that lively aptitude which naturally they have to move and act in such carnal and sensuall wayes and respects which resides in the tail or in
the sight of all good men making it clear and manifest unto whom they belong and of what brood and off-spring they are 5 The fifth conclusion is that the word of God is of like concernment in all men and takes hold of them with like force whether it be laid in the way of the blessing or of the curse for it is of like concernment to maintain and uphold the principles of the Creature that it is to maintain and uphold the principles peculiar to God for if the principles of the Creature were not upheld to their height which argue themselves into the place office and seat of God 2 Thes 2. 3. 4. then there were no place for the curse and then the redemption of Christ were without vertue in that it delivered from no wretched nor cursed condition and then praise-worthinesse due unto God should cease having no matter nor cause from which to take place Again if mans principles were not maintained as well as the principles peculiar to God the word and work of God should faile and be extinct for the word of God never uttered it self nor did the work of God exist but in order to Gods wisdom framing the Son of man into its own likenesse making him in conformity with it selfe which is the state of the Son of God Iesus Christ as also the wisdom of man framing the Son of God into its own similitude and likenesse conforming him into the proportion of naturall and earthly principles which is the state of Antichrist that son of perdition and if either of these should fail the word and work of God should faile which are as durable as God himself Psal 119. 89. 90. The word of God therefore takes hold of all men yea of whole mankind with like authority and force both in way of the curse as also in the way of blessednesse for each maintains its own proper principles as upon life and death for in case mans principles and reasonings should take place and beare sway in a Saint the life and spirit of God should be extinct and if the wisdom and argument of the Son of God should take place and bear sway in any wicked man then the spirit of Satan whereby he lives would be extinct so that each of them hath the foâ—ce and authority of life and death upon them than the which a greater bond cannot be for if the force and authority of the word of God were not of like power in point of wrath in the way of the curse as to hold proportion with the word of blessing and peace then could not the word of God hold proportion with it selfe which must of necessity be in all things of an infinite and illimited force and authority 6 In the sixth place we conclude that the word of God hath ordained necessitated it self to come unto all men in way of interpretation and that in all its expressions and intimations whatsoever because it speaks and utters it self in mankind from divers principles and therefore the word must be interpreted or translated â—ut of one into another that is out of one proper speech or language into another and the very formings and fashionings of the heart is the proper speech or language of man therefore the abundance of the heart is that which he speaks Mat. 12 34 Now God hath taken up all things of man as he hath respect to all Creatures to utter and reveal his secret wisdom and counsel by in Christ the spirit of God therefore in the Saints takes out the minde and meaning of God from that originall Copy naturally written in the Tables of stone in all mens hearts and translates it according to that wisdom of God in Christ into the fleshy Tables of the heart fitted to receive the impressions of God by the removal of those stony strong and earthly apprehensions and conclusions which man naturally conceivs and concludes within himselfe from the word of God so that Gods true intent according to the dictate of his spirit being taken out of that husk or shell wherein it is expressed is no more the language of the flesh but of the spirit and this is of necessity to be done in the conservation of the Spirit and life of Iesus Christ the Son of God Again the spirit of errour and false interpretation takes out of that originall copy of the wisdom of G d that law of the spirit of life in Christ and translates it into principles and conclusions humane proper to the thoughts device and invention of a Creature terminating the mind and will of God in things limited by time place and person things transitory which cannot hold proportion with the Son of God and by means of this translation it is no more the language of the spirit but the language of the flesh and so the dictates of the Serpent the mind and will of Satan who captivates man by the lusts of his own heart 2 Tim. 2. 26. Furthermore the word of God is not the word of life without interpretation as it is translated out of death into life therfore he saith Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see Corruption Psalm 16. 10. Neither is the spirit of God a spirit of Revelation nor hath the honour of opening the mind of the father in any without this grace of interpretation whereby man is conformed unto the image and similitude of the Son of God Add further that man cannot lay claime to his proper being and prerogative as he is wicked namely to be wiser than the beasts of the field or to have dominion over the inferiour Creatures but as he translates the excellencies of God into his own humane principles and thereby exalts himself as Lord over all the works of Gods hand and by this his translation he interprets the word of God in direct opposition unto Gods true intent and proper meaning in that originall Copy of Gods wisdome in Christ presented unto the world and hereby are the principles of humane wisdom set up to bear sway in the world in the vilifying of the wisdom of God in Christ by which means the life of Satan is continued in the sons of mortall men And this interpretation is by translating one tongue and language into another which cannot be done but by presenting the originall Copy which by this means is cast aside and vilified as to be no more imbraced nor accepted and in this presentation of the original Copy of the wisdom of God which cannot but be acknowledged by all men ought to be magnified and submitted unto by all doth the answer of the question propounded consist for in this representation of the wisdom of God unto mankinde contained in such yea the same expressions written upon every mans heart herein doth the spirit of the Prophet the Wise-men and Scribes visit all the wicked of the world yea there where never good man bodily appeared a d in their rejection
ruine and overthrow unresistably even as the spirit of God departing from Saul an evil spirit from the Lord troubles him and nevers gives him â—est till he had brought him to destruction 1 Sam. 16. 14. 1 Chron. 10. 4. 5. 6. false interpretation is a transformation of the spirit of the Lord into a spirit of trouble and torment as really as it transforms the truth of God into a lye Rom. 1. 25. and therefore it is said of the Lord I will be unto them as a Lion as a Leopard by the way will I observe them I will 〈◊〉 them as a Bear that is bereaved of her Welps and will rent the caul of their heart and there will I devour them like a Lion the wilde beast shall tear them Hos 13. 7. 8. So that it is a reall truth that God destroyes the wicked with a mighty and unresistable power in that way of Antichrist aâ—d unbelief though otherwise a God of salvation and deliverance Psalm 68. 20. even as it is a reall truth that man in that way of Christ saves the chosen of God though otherwise a worm and no man and as a beast before the Lord Psalm â—2 6. Psalm 73. 22. and thus much for the first point namely the guilt that cleaves to false Interpreters the second is the manner of their Progresse in which observe these things 1 First A discription of the parties on whom this cruelty is exercised and they are described first by their Names that is Abel and Zacharias Secondly by an adjunct in the one and by the ancestor of the other Abel the righteous and Zachariah the Son of Barachiah 2 Observe the manner of the Fact which doth greatly agravate or extenuate a matter that is said here to be from blood to blood from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah 3 The Application of the Fact done so long before unto the â—arties then present in these words whom ye slew 4 The place where the Fact is done that is between the Temple and the Altar 5 A serious asseveration or an affirmation of a just and proportionable recompence to come upon the Murtherers in these words verily I say unto you all these things shall come upon this generation 1. And first they are described by their names upon whom this cruelty is exercised the first being Abel as Luke hath it from the blood of Abel but Matthew addes righteous Abel whence observe that we are not to take up a name or to use it uponany occasion title or epithite given in the word of God but as we consider the nature of the thing therin included otherwise we use the name in vaine it is an empty and fruitlesse title unto us without truth and substance and carrieth not in it as conveying unto us the weight of Gods purpose and appointment unto his people Therefore when we use the word Lord as speaking from the Lord unto others if there arise not in our hearts a royal courage and authority as having dominion over whatever might oppose his truth with confidence of prosperous successe to accomplish his holy ends otherwise we participate not in the nature of the name used in that respect and God never gave name without the nature accompanying the same therefore every Creature in the beginning had its name according to its nature if the name of God therefore be called upon us or we called by his name Jer. 14. 9. we have the nature of it also or else it is an empty and vain title which the wisdom of God never gives to any Again if we use the name Lord as speaking to God in Prayer or Thanksgiving then there is annexed unto it in our hearts a ready willing chearfull and voluntary submission and obedience unto his will in all things otherwise it is but an empty and fruitlesse title Likewise if we use the title or tearm Father as we exercise the place of gravity beseeching men in Christs stead to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5. 20 then are our hearts possessed and replenished with a spirit of tendernesse and bowels of compassion earn within us Hosea 11. 8. or else we take that name of God in vain in that respect it is an empty title unto us and God will not hold him guiltlesse that takes his name up as a bare and empty term Exod. 20 7. Also if we use the name Father as we appeal unto God for instruction protection and supply then doth the disposition of a Child fill our hearts as though we stood in no other relation but of a Child to a tender and compassionate father for the Spirit of God is full in all its operations Adde further but that which might be added in this point is infinite if we take up the name or title of King we must bring in therewith the true nature of eternity and immortality the only wise God who reigns in peace is glorious and hath everlasting life Psalm 93. 1. Heb. 7. 1. 2. 1 Tim. 1. 17. unto whom all glory doth appertain and belong and to none else what ever he be where that Princely spirit is not found otherwise we measure and account of our selves according to transient titles offices and actions a rule wherby the Son of God never took form unto himself nor doth he account of any thing in his condition and Kingdome according to the worth or dignity of any momentany thing whatsoever but only takes them up as Gideons souldiers did the water out of the Brook with their hands not to lodge and lie down by the River but took up that contained in the River as a furtherance and helpe to their proper intent and design and those that lie down by them by lodging the word of God in them they may turne back into Egypt from whence they came for they are no souldiers of our Lord Iesus Christ they do but take up his name in vaine without the nature annexed to the same Iudg. 7. 5. 6. 7. 8. Note further in this name together with the adjunct Abel the righteous according to the Etymologie of the name Abel it signifies vanity or emptinesse or a soon vanishing vapour such is every mans life said to be Iames 4. 14. and here the spirit of God annexeth righteousnesse unto it saying Righteous Abel whence we observe that there is a righteousnesse in vanity which being rightly considered it is a vanity or emptinesse wherein all things are contained both good and evill and so the righteousnesse of Condemnation and the righteousnesse of Absolution are adjoyned and annexed thereunto for there is a vanity and emptinesse to be found in all unbeleevers and also in all the elect or chosen of God and that Christ Iesus is personated in Abel is most evident for in Abel he is said to be a Lamb slain from the beginning Rev. 13. 8. even as Satan in that wicked act of Cain in staying his brother is said to be a Murtherer from the beginning Iohn 8. 44.
And as Abel hath a respect and a reall relation unto Cain his brother who takes away his life so as in a true sense it may be said of Abel as Iacob said of Ioseph he is not so also he hath a real respect and relation unto his brother Seth who is given or set instead of Abel Gen. 4. 25 in whom his life is upheld and preserved and there Abel is brought in by the Apostle speaking in the way of faith in Seth as well as in the way of terrour and wrath in Cain Heb. 11. 4. Gen. 4. 10. 11. In Seth being dead to the things of sin and Satan he yet speaketh and in Cain he being dead to the things of God speaketh also and accordingly there is a twofold vanity and also a twofold righteousnesse appearing in his blood and therefore it is said to be the voice of thy brothers bloods in the form plurall There is then a vanity accompanied with vexation of spirit as in Cain who is emptied of the glory and peace of God who fears that all that sees him will kill him Gen. 4. 14. And there is also a vanity accompanied with the breath and spirit of the Lord in the propagating of the Son of God in the way of Seth in whom the spirit of the Lord breaths in the blasting of all humane glory and emptying man of all carnal reasonings that the glory and wisdome of God may take place and become the fulnesse of that state and condition Isaiah 40 6. 7. 8. The vanity filled with vexation which is that evill spirit of Saul is man emptied of all the vertues proper to that holy Son of God which emptinesseis the filling of him with that evil spirit of Satan which is that enmity against Christ and if there were not through Gods devise a spirit a state and condition of this Satanicall nature corrupt and vile and that in all respects and eternally otherwise there had never been footing for the appearances of Gods glory in the salvation of any of the sons of men nor had his power and proper vertue ever been made known to the Creature to render to the Creator the praise thereof For if there were not a damnable and destructive estate and condition in man that is in man so depraved and corrupted there had never been deliverance of man into the glory and purity of the Son of God yea and that the destruction be of the same capacity and duration that the deliverance is otherwise there had never been ground for deliverance and salvation such as becomes the presence the onely Son and excellency of the work of an infinitely wise allsufficient and an eternall God For what is salvation in reality more than the destruction that it saveth from and how can the reality of mercy be extended further than the nature of the misery which it taketh the commiserated from and what is an acquitting and clearing either for sum or substance further than there is weight and duration in the guilt and condemnation Yea the glory of God vanisheth and comes to nought in point of any eternall salvation of man if there be not an eternall damnation and destruction of man For what thanks worthy is there to save from nothing for if mankind be not eternally destroyed then man is saved from nothing if no eternall destruction be and if man be saved from temporary evils then hath he only a temporary salvation and than the creature hath the glory of the salvation noâ— God for every Creature hath an instinct or skill to save it selfe that doctrin then of universall salvation makes man no better than a beast and is no better than grosse Atheism for denying a salvavation compatible to the Son of God is to deny God himself Therefore Abel is become vain and empty in his brother Cain though propagated of the same stock to the fulnesse of vexation in that spirit of enmity being in him made void and emptied of all that love life and vertue which is proper to the Son of God else were there no place for the glory of God in salvation to be found nor had it ever been heard of among the sons of men nor had it any ground or basis to stand upon and to enervate salvation is no lesse then to enervate the Son of God himselfe for it is he alone who is our salvation Psalm 27. 1. Psalm 14. 7. let such as hold a universall salvation of all men take notice of this point and let others observe their abominable lascivious and loose tenent that they hold in the truth and intent of their doctrine that there is neither God nor Devill nor man in better estate than a bruit beast Again there is a vanity in Abel as he hath respect and relation unto his brother Seth who is set in Abels stead in whom the image of the father is upheld and preserved Gen. 5. 3. and this is a vanity or emptying not unto vexation but unto salvation which is an emptying and a vanishing of all things proper unto that spirit of Cain or that first-born after the flesh that so all the things of God proper unto the first-born of God may take place and therefore Seth is reckoned in the Geneology as the only and first begotten of Adam Luke 3. 38. which emptying of Abel or of Christ personated in Abel of all carnall and cruel things which is the slaying of the enmity in himself Ephes 2. 15. 16. is the putting of them into their proper place for they are the proper right and inheritance of Cain that first born after the flesh and therefore he is called Cain that is a possession as the proper inheritour of corruption and all things pertaining thereto for as there is an inheriting of the promise Heb. 6. 1â— and blessing 1 Pet. 3. 9. so there is an inheriting of the threat and the curse Psalm 109. 16 -20 Ier. 16. 19. or as the Hebrew word following after his name signifies I have gotten Kanuhi a man of Iehovah that is according as all men judge that the prime and chiefe things of nature shall have preheminence and are most acceptable to the Lord. Faith therefore in its expression of vanity comprehends both the emptying of man of all the things proper unto man as he is made of the dust of the Earth and in that respect subject to corruption to the filling of him with all things peculiar to the Son of God which the Apostle affirms is the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. Col. 1. 19. Col. 2. 9. As also the emptying of man or his vanity in regard of all things peculiar to the Son of God as man was made in the image of God and so capable of life and immortality to the filling of him with all things proper unto Satan which is that fulnesse of sin Gen. 15. 16. fulnesse of curse and bitternesse Rom. 3. 14 fulnesse of that deadly poyson of the Serpent Iames 3. 8. yea it is that
that all true and reall office and administration springs out of Iesus Christ as becoming vain and empty in Abel for being emptied of all humane abilities and constitutions as holding no weight nor being of any account in the Kingdom of God thereby the spirit of the Lord breaks forth as the light at noon day that shined upon Saul as he went to Damascus Acts 22 6. and so upon Zachariah the spirit of the Lord comes upon him and officiates him as a Prophet of God as one who is above all the idolatrous Princes and Priests of Iudah cleaving to Ioash We see then that Ioash being made vain and empty of all the righteousnesse of Kingdom and Priesthood in that holy way of administration upheld and maintained in the dayes and time proper to our spirituall Jehoiada and high Priest of God who is that wisdom and knowledge of the Lord clothing himself as the Text declares 2 Chron. 24. with the praises of men counsell of his wicked Senators and submission of the people becoming thereby officiated in all the corrupt wayes of Idolatry both in Kingdome and Priesthood contrary to the wayes wherein Iehoiada the high Priest walked in his dayes and ever doth where he liveth and therefore in his son Zachariah inveighs against such abominations declaring in order to Abel that all holy and acceptable office and administration ariseth and springeth out of becoming vain and empty of the pursute aprising and love of the glory of this world and that all diabolicall office and idolatrous worship ariseth out of this that men are become Abel vain and empty of all the holy things of God in apostatizing and falling away from God as Ioash did this doctrine taught by Zachariah as it is by all such as are mindfull of the Lord and have the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 16. stirs up apostatizing Ioash together with his wicked Servants against the true Prophet of God For the world cannot indure to hear that Christ is so dead in Abel unto all carnall and temporary Sacrifices exercised by Cain that it sets him in all spirituall holy and acceptable offerings in the bringing forth of the Saviour in all things in Seth or the fulnesse of salvation in that which is set or ariseth in the stead of those carnall offerings Nor can it indure to hear that Christ is so dead in Iehoiada unto all carnall and humane institutions and administrations set up in Joash that it is an investing and installing of him into all spirituall office and administration as in Zachariah his son upon whom the spirit of God comes in such sort that he stands up above the people or as the word stood signifies to minister Ier. 52. 12 compared with 2 King 25. 8. Numb â—6 9. Deut. 10. 8. he ministred by a spirit supereminent in order to all the carnall and idolatrous Princes of Judah and Ierusalem whereupon they find no other means to promote their honour but only to put to death him that is the true Successour of his Father in office only acceptable unto God which springeth only from the power of the Spirit of God coming upon him from no humane education or carnall way of administration whatsoever which vexeth the spirit of the world that it should fall short in all its policy and power to create and institute a godly officer the World therefore in the rage of Cain rejects and slayes the Sacrifice of God which Abel is Rev. 13. 8. and also the Officer and Minister imployd and exercised about the offering which Zachariah the son of Barachiah is therefore the murther of false Interpreters extends from the blood of Abel that is all true Sacrifices and offerings unto the blood of Zachariah the son of Barachiah that is all true Office and Officers or all true Ministry and Ministers for they may not indure that all true Sacrifice and Offering should be the firstling of the Flock or else it is rejected which firstling of the Flock is the Son of God himself and they are ignorant how Christ is all in all in his Saints Ephes 1. 23. and therefore are in a rage against him 1 Cor. 2. 8. or against it that is the true Sacrifice of Christ Neither can they indure that all true Office and Officers should arise from and be created made only by the Spirit of God without which they are of no force verâ—ue nor reckonable in the Kingdome and house of God for then mans common industry in humane Schools publick Votes bodily conquests with Baptisms laying on of hands and common exercise of humane Elderships would be in no estimation nor honour in the sight of God nor any thing whatsoever further than the Spirit of God testifies of it selfe in the use of it No the world cannot indure that all false worship both in point of offering and office matter and manner of performance springing from earthly and vanishing things in the glory or humbling of the Creature in the exaltation or mortification thereof should be that evill one that is the Devill therefore in Abel they slay all true Sacrifice and offering that those which are earthly and carnall within their own Sphear may take place and in Zachariah they slay all true Office and Ministry that so that which is diabolicall may be set up and advanced a work of wicked Scribes and Pharisees false Expounders and Interpreters of the Law of God who in the death of Iehoiada that is in the silencing of the Lord in point of all Kingly and Priestly authority they will only have Ioash to reign in the maintainance of all humane institutions in the way of idolatry advancing the Creature into the place of God in the doing of which they despise and destroy the true succession of the Kingdome and Priesthood of Christ and therein all the proper offerings officers and enterprises of the Spirit which is free in all its administrations not bound to any where it s own image and superscription appears not nor requiring ought from any where it comes not from the same fountain in the suppressing and quenching whereof they set up that spirit and advance it whose office is to accuse and condemn deceive and beguile destroy and torment which ever was is and will be the only exercise and office of Satan Rev. 12. 9. 10. which evidently appears in that wicked Ioash with his retinue who cruelly murther Zachariah the true Successour of that Priesthood royall which only is of God Exod. 19. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 9. set forth in the Kings command and the names of his servants who did it that afterward conspire together to take away the life of the King for so God makes the wicked Executioners and tormenters one of another 2 Chron. 24. 2â— 26. The third point is the place where this Fact is committed and that is between the Altar and the Temple which includes the place both of the murther of Abel and of Zachariah for they are never separated one from
by Iebusie who when David was made King in Hebron he and all Israel went unto Iebusie which is Ierusalem which resisted David saying Thou shale not come in hither 1 Chron. 11. 4. 2 Sam. 5. 6. So also Ierusalem is called Iebusie when the land is divided unto the sons of Israel Ioshuah 15. 8. and by that name falls in the inheritance of Benjamin in whose lot the Temple was built Ioshua 18. 28. which is a Temple destroyed into which Christ never carne and a Temple reedified wherein Christ stands and preacheth Luke 4. 16 -22 of which Moses the man of God prophecies when he saith The Lord shall cover him all the day speaking of Benjamin and between his shoulders that is in the midst of the Coasts of his Land the Lord shall abide and dwell in his Temple Deut. 33. 12. So also when that Levite who sojourned on the side of Mount Ephraim fetched home his Concubine it is said they came over against Iebus which is Ierusalem which is then said to be a City of Strangers and not of the children of Israel Iedg 19. 10. 11. 12. We conclude therefore that Ierusalem is to be understood in a diverse respect according to the mind of the Scripture and that according to a reall state and condition in both for it is to be taken in that order and constitution of blessedness and peace according to that order and place of aboad of our Melchizedeck who hath his Kingdom and Priesthood there Gen 14. 18. for Salem is Ierusalem and so the Chaldees paraphrase reads that place of the Psalmist Psalm 76. 2. Jerusalem is also to be taken as it is constituted ordered or inhabited after the manner and according to the state of the curse as it is built and inhabited by the Iebusites who are of Iebus who is of Canaan who is of Cham the cursed Gen. 10. 15. 16. Gen. â— 25. Ierusalem then in this place together with her children according to Christs true intent is to be taken in the accursed state of the Iebusites Enemies to Israel as it is constituted ordered and inhabited by her proper off-spring of false and counterfeit interpreters even as the sons of men do erect constitute order and possesse the Cities and affairs of this world namely for their glory benefit safety and peace by advancing all honourable thing according to mans account in the disparadgement debasing and abandoning all things of shame discommodity and danger so far as mans wisdome in their constitution can find out with the exercising and executing their laws and edicts accordingly Even so this City and Temple of these accursed Iebusites it erects and possesseth it it self by the advancing and promoting of all things acceptable in the eyes of mans wisdom with contempt and despising of all things which might impair or any way abate the glory and lustre thereof which cannot be maintained but by debasing and despising the Spirit of God whose propertie is to blast and to wither as grasse and as the flower of the field all things set up and consisting in whatsoever that perisheth in the use thereof as all humane institutions do if ever the spirit of the Lord breath upon them they wither and come to nought where such things then are the things chiefly maintained we may safely say that the Spirit of the Lord never breathed there Isaiah 40. 6. which are the only things that false Interpreters promote and erect amongst men in the world It is not without cause therefore that Christ ingeminates upon this word Jerusalem Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem most emphatically declaring thereby that false Interpretation is cruell and accursed both in the Mother and in the Children in the Root and in all the Branches these are accursed in their Fathers who murthered the spirit of the Prophets and their Fathers are accursed in them that do the same things that spirit which is the originall and ground of their interpretation is accursed and cruell and all the fruits that flow therefrom are cruelty and accursed Oh Ierusalem yee carnally constituted and moment any Churches Oh Jerusalem yee carnally instructed Members made great of flesh Ezek. 16. 26. Ezek. 23. 19. 20. Oh Jerusalem the Mother of false Interpreters as she is in bondage with her children by the works of the Law and in all things ingendreth thereunto Now the erecting of the curse in this City is the same with the setting of it up in Canaan the son of Cham and father of Jebus Noah having planted a Vineyard after the Flood which had swept away all Cains posterity from the face of the Earth as such as have not a being in order to the new Heavens and the new Earth wherein dwels righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3. 13. yet is the curse conserved in the Ark in that spirit of the unclean Raven as well as the blessing is in that spirit of the Dove for the work of God as well as the word of God hath its operation in way of death as well as in the way of life 2 Cor. 2. 15. 16. for death springs up and revives through the resurrection of Christ in the wicked as really as life springs up and revives through his death in the godly and yet there is no savour of life in the wicked nor any savour of death in the just and this conservation of Cham in the Ark who is of Noah and so of Enoch in the destruction of all Cains posterity in the Flood is to declare that neither the blessing nor the curse is tyed or entailed to any naturall and carnall generation according to mans judgement but God hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Rom. 9. 10-18 But it is said that Noah drinks of the fruit of the Vine unto drunkennesse Gen. 9. 20. 21. we know that the spirit of God alludes there unto naturall drunkennesse in the stupifying of the senses through excesse of strong drink and deny not but that holy man might take liberally of the very fruit of a naturall Vine to the obstruction of the use of naturall reason as it is in the time of sleep but we affirm that God teacheth a higher thing hereby which is Gods proper intent as the Apostle affirms concerning the care of God in not mussing the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the Corn 1 Cor. 9. 9. 10. God therein takes care for men and not for beasts according to the true scope and intent So God in Noah teacheth what the death of Christ is personated in Noah and not what taking away of mans naturall sense is by strong drink which is common to a beast as well as man so that as out of a deep sleep in Adam a woman is brought forth that is not only the way of mans propagation and preservation on the Earth but also one who through deceit brings in the fall and death so out of this drunkennesse and sleep of Noah there is not only the blessing of Shem and
hindred the Ship will be ready to set sayl about fourteen dayes hence but at present the Master doth not know what to doe their demands being so unjust to force him to carry us and they not to â—ay him for it nor we shall not and yet will not take hiâ— own 〈◊〉 but will have security besides so that hâ— and they are troubled with a burthensome stone the Ark of God doth afflict them send it away they would but yet they are not agreed what to do with it so we shall leave thee to be guided by that wisedome which governs all men and things â—ccording to the counsell of his own vvill and bringeth his purposes to passe by vvhom and in vvhom he pleaseth From the Servanâ—s and Messengers of the Lord vvhom he hath sent and brought by the arm of his power into these parts of the Word for vvhich vve suffer bonds and close imprisonment none suffered to speake or confer vvith us nor scarce to see us being locked up in the inward prison as the Gaoler pretends because vve do not deliver our Ink-horns although he hath taken away three from us already and vvill not suffer us to burn our owne Candles but takes them away from us because vve shall not vvrite in the night though vve are strangers to thee and others in this place yet seen and knowne in the light yet known in the World by these Names From the Common Gaol in Boston this 28 of the seventh 1656. William Brend Thomas Thurston Christop Holder Iohn Copeland Post We and all the rest of friends with us remember their love to thee and if thou hast freedome let us heare from thee Barwick in the Nanhyganset-Bay this prefone Octob 6. 1656. The Superscription To the Strangers suffering imprisonment in Boston for the name of Christ these with trust present in Massachusets Loving Friends WE have thankfully received your late and loving Letters but are informed that since the penning of them the Master of the Ship is ingaged with two of Boston bound with him to set you ashoar in England so that we perceive God hath diverted our desired designe we doubt not but for the best in a further discovery of that spirit so wickedly bent to hinder if it were possible the fruitfull progresse of the grace of the Gospell and it may be the name given unto you we know not upon what ground may come through an unalterable appointment to be the naturall practice of such as so deal with you when the terrours of the Almighty shall take hold of them And we are glad to see the waters move for then we know that spirit stirs which brooded upon them in the beginning and the Angell troubleth them unto healing but it is only of such as first step in after the troubling or moving of them which must be he who first lookes out from the early morning seeing in the first light that ever shined in that day which springs from on high who is endued with strength sufficient to put himself in without help of any other besides himself for there is none but the first begotten of the dead that can participate in this cure yet we know also how to cure the lame and impotent who hath no strength nor abilitie at all in himself to move towards the waters but only waits for help from another and therefore perceives how all come to be cured before him but the of word salvation passing upon him retains its healing and creating vertue from the beginning and is no lesse healthful in the last than in the first for they are one Yea he is not only the root bâ—t the branch or off-spring of David also the secret mystery of God hid from the world from the foundation thereof effectually moves the waters and a mighty worke done doth visibly appear to all men in uttering the word of salvation beyond the reach and capacity of all carnall Jews who are angry thereat seeking to take away the life and light of the Author of it who never appeareth but they find their Sabbath broken their power impaired or one or other of their carnal laws of sin death cries out in them as being violated as by him that coms to torment them before the time so that in the visibility of him who is invisible we rejoyce with Moses and fear not the wrath of the King In that you say that in the spirit of meeknesse and lowlinesse out of much love you came into these parts such a spirit we can thankfully imbrace knowing that it is the Spirit of the Redeemer who is meek in the losse of all humane and worldly helps without the least murmuring or grudging not opening his mouth in the language of the world in any thing whatsoever Also lowly submitting unto the spirit and will of the Father in whom or in whomsoever it appeareth the Spirit of the loving and loyall Spouse never admits of any divorse in that espousall but in all things submits unto and obeys Abraham and cals him And whosoever doth not become as a little child cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven But we know also that he who comes meek and lowly he comes so therein as he saves himself which is the part of a Victor and Conquerour and the prudent and diligent woman or Spouse clothes her Husband and Family with Scarlet her Husband is known in the Gate when he sitteth among the Elders by her industry yea the heart of her Husband doth safely trust in her so as he fears no spoil and whoso becomes as a child is greatest in the Kingdome of Heaven for in the mouths of Babes and Sucklings God hath ordained and founded his strength And in us a Child is born in us a Son is given but the government is upon his shoulder and he is called Wonderfull Counseller the mighty God t e everlasting Father the Prince of Peace so that whereever this lowly and meek Spirit is there is also the Spirit of that Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah and the Lord thereby shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Ierusalem and the Heavens and the Earth shall shake but the Lord is the hope of his people and the strength of the Children of Israel True lowlyness of spirit and the loftiest minde that ever was are never separated for these twain are made one so as never to be separated no more than a child in point of all humane abilities and the antient of daies shall For as we receive the Kingdom of Heaven as a little child so we are never otherwise in the same respect which we know no wisdom humane serpentine or upon principles properto a creature can ever yeeld unto or finde out And therefore we are fooles unto the world being bereaved of all their principles in regard of any exercise of them according to their proper intent in any of our designs Our wisdom consults not upon any of their principles our judgement determines not according