their ways of wresting Scripture but to grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ d 2 Pet. 3.16 17 18. Gal. 1.6 7 8. 1 Pet. 2.2 3. And thus much in answer to the Adversaries of the Truth and Plainness of the Import of the Sayings of the Gospel in the Testimony of Christ CHAP. 7. A Conclusion of all aforesaid with the Assent of a learned Man and my submission thereto BY all said from the first Chapter till now it appears to be the only true and safe way for discerning and knowing Truth and avoiding Falshood and Error to resort to the Law and the Testimony and to believe the sayings thereof and count what it sayth and importeth true and good and whatsoever or by whomsoever uttered that is not according thereto let that be counted a lye and deceit that we may justifie God in his Sayings whoever reprove us for it Consenters in this Truth those that read much know I have many but I shall here instance no more but that learned and mighty esteemed Mr. John Owen who in the Book I read over saith Pag. 190. Sect. 2. Doubtless it were better for Men to captivate their understandings to the Obedience of Faith than to invent distinctions and evasions to escape the power of so many plain Texts of Scripture and those literally and properly and not figuratively and metaphorically expressing the Truth contained in them which though it may be done sometime yet is it not in a constant Uniform Tenure of Expression anywhere the manner of the Holy Ghost Pag. 192. Sect. 4. And again he saith Neither is it possible to apprehend That the Scripture would so often so expressly affirm the same things in plain proper words if they were not to be taken in the sense which they hold out And he also saith Pag. 3. One Scripture in its own plainness and simplicity will be of more use for the end I aim at than twenty Scholastical Arguments pressed with never so much accurateness and subtilty yea he also saith Page 375. If an unusual sense of a word be found in a thousand places it will not enforce it in another place unless the circumstances of it and matter whereabout it treateth enforce that sense and will not bear that which is proper yea Page 253. Sect. 14. he saith To the Law and to the Testimony with all the conceptions and notions of the most intelligent Man if they answer not this rule it is because there is no Truth in them And in his Epistle in a Book by him forewritten he counsels To honour God and Christ in his own Language or else be for ever silent and that all our inventions be they never sâ—splendent another adds rational too in our eyes yet to him they are abomination How well hath Mr. Owen said and counselled others in all this Oh that he had walked in this counsel by these Rules himself but if he hath done otherwise in his Controversies yet it is good in all that he saith according to Truth to do as he saith though not as he hath done in some of his Writings It may be these sayings were put in to counsel and cautionate his Reader that he takes not all he readeth upon trust and that he would have others and will hereafter himself follow this Rule and therefore though he would not grant like Christian Requests of mine but went beside all these Rules in dealing with a Treatise of mine yet in Love and Obedience to the Truth I will grant and yield to all this and endeavour to follow this Rule to the utmost of the Ability given me and so desire that every Saying or Writing of mine now or heretofore written and so of others likewise may be tried by the Testimony of Christ and the plain Sayings thereof and all that agreeth not thereto I confess and renounce as a lye and deceit and so I would have others to do Let the Scriptures try and judge us all but let not any of us be the Triers and Judgers of the Scriptures but the Searchers Believers and Observers of the same for which I suppose the Declaration already given and Rule consented in is good yet I will add a word or two suted to the capacity of such as are of the meanest Understanding among Believers CHAP. 8. An Assay to direct the weakest to finde the Testimony of Christ in the Sayings thereof to be plain and to have their own plain Import that such as know their own Tongue and the end and use of words therein may also discern the Sense and Import of the plain Sayings of Christ in the Gospel IF any desire to understand clearly the plain Import of the Sayings of Christ and so the true sense of a Saying in the Gospel There are some Rules very good and safe and useful for some Men as to take that sense which will agree with the Analogy of Faith and with the Ten Commandments and with that Doctrine and Ground of all right Praying called The Lord's Prayer and which most abaseth the Nature of fallen Man and exalteth the Grace of God which surely is good nor can there be any right sense if it agree not with these Rules as Scripture layes them forth yet is there great difference among even the Learned and Godly in the understanding of these Rules and Application of them much difference between some about the Analogy of Faith and between some about the end and use of the Law and about the meaning of divers Petitions yea and also what tends to the abasing of man and magnifying of Grace so that certainty to all will not be found in their use of these Rules seeing even the Rules also must be understood according to the plain Sayings of the Gospel of Christ and so the Rule fore-given and consented in is best yet coming to the Scripture to know the Minde of God that the weak may discern the plain appearing sense Observe these Directions First Beware of those evils that will certainly hinder one from meeting with the right and comfortable understanding of the Minde of God in Scripture and for that cause take heed 1. That we keep no Idol in our Hearts allow of no evil Lust or Confidence or Purpose or Desire of Praise of Men lest as a punishment we be left to false conceits a Ezek. 14.1 8. Numb 22.12 1â— John 5.44 2. That we lean not to our Understandings or think by our Wit and Learning to judge what God's Minde is but become Fools in our selves that we may be wise in believing God b Prov. 3.5 7. 26.12 1 Cor. 3.18 21. 3. That we make no Man nor Men on Earth our Rabbie so as we take our Faith about the Truth of any Doctrine or Sense of Scripture-Sayings on trust from him or so as not to receive any without his approbation c Mat. 23.8 9 10. 4. That we be not over-busie in raising Queries
moving in our Hearts as namely to discover to us that filth of flesh and corruption that is in us to abase us for it and break us off from it and to bring us more to prise desire and accept that purgation that is in Christ Jesus for us and by this means drawing to him thereby to baptize and wash us into more conformity to him even in his death and purity so to humble and cleanse us that he may quicken and raise us The Word is fit for all this a 2 Tim. 3.16 Psa 119.9 Joh. 15.3 Baptism with Water in his Name having been once received remains a Testimony and Instruction of the Truth of the Peace and Purgation made by Christ and the effectualness of the cleansing that is in him to bestow and his readiness to communicate it to all that by Repentance and Faith come to him having received us into his Family that we might learn and receive the same of him b Mat. 28.19 20 Mar. 1.4 Act. 2.37 38. 1 Cor. 1.13 Afflictions fitted also to the same end to humble us and drive us and conform us to Christ c Job 33.16 23 24. Hof 5.15 Isa 27.19 and spiritual motions are also for the same end d Joh. 16.7 15. and that God in using all or any of these means toward us hath even this gracious end for our good to better us by it e Psal 119.68 in sending his Word Act. 3.26 26.18 in having admitted us into his Family Exod. 12.48.49 in afflicting and chastening us Heb. 12 5-10 in moving at our Hearts by his Spirit Prov. 1.23 Rev. 3.20 extending all for good to us 2. That in beholding and minding Jesus Christ as he died and offered himself for us Rev. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 Psa 65.4 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4. Heb. 22.2 11. Mic. 2.7 Iam. 4.5 6. Gal. 6.8 and so receiving his Sayings and minding our Engagement to him receiving correction in his chastisements and yielding up to his spiritual motions we shall indeed be verily more baptized into Christ more humbled in our selves more cleansed from our filth and more conformed to the minde of Christ and all these things are taught in the Doctrine of Baptisms And so III. The Principle it self is expressed the Doctrine of Baptisms Principle 3. which by all said about it appears plainly to be A right judgement of God in Christ Prov. 22.17 21. Psa 107.43 94.12 13. with Deut. 4.35 36. Psa 119.68 86. concerning his gracious and in all this his dealing with us in a discovery to the heart by the Gospel and an inward perswasion and belief in the heart effected by the Gospel that God both in giving and causing his Word to be preached to us and in having admitted us into his Family and in all his corrections and sufferings that come upon us and in all his spiritual motions of Grace stirring in our Hearts hath this loving and gracious end towards us that we may be thereby more baptized into the Death of Christ that so we might partake more of the vertue of his Resurrection and so to cleanse us more from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit and conform us more to the Minde of Christ And in this we have three things to note 1. Ioh. 3.17 1 Tim. 1.15 That this Principle is founded upon the Oblation of Jesus Christ and the love of God to Mankinde commended therethrough this is the Foundation of reaching this Principle and the ground of affirming the Truth of God's having so gracious ends in all these means used towards us for if there were any man for whom Christ had not died and risen to preach Repentance or Faith in the Name of Christ to such a man 1 Cor. 15.14 15 17 18. 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6 7 8 Rom. 2.8 5.10 8.32 36 Iudg. 23.23 or to declare any gracious ends of God's towards such men by his Word or Baptism or Afflictions or spiritual Motions were to bear false witness of God and if such should receive the Doctrine it would be a vain Faith and Perswasion But the Ransome given by Christ for all men being the ground of the Truth and the motive to perswade all this it is verily true and sound and the same Oblation and Sacrifice of Christ believed is the ground and foundation of such a perswasion and belief of God concerning his gracious ends towards us in such things forementioned 2. That this Principle flows up by and with the former two Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. Psal 119. 68 84. being onely in those that from believing the Oblation of Christ have been led to Repentance from dead Works and Faith towards God in which they are also framed to this perswasion of God about his gracious ends towards us in all these his dealings with us 3. That this Principle and Perswasion of God in the Heart Phil. 2.5 8. ch 3.3 7 8 9 10. Rom. 6.3 4 5 6 inclines the Heart to be willing to be conformed to the death of Christ and so framed to his minde by all the means he useth to that end towards us And this the Perswasion and Principle begotten in the Heart by the Oracles of God in the Doctrine of Baptisms CHAP. 7. Of Hebrews 6.2 HEb 6.2 And of laying en of hands This by the connexion of the words appears to be the Doctrine of laying on of hands And for the right understanding of this Principle four things are to be well heeded 1. What laying on of hands was used by Christ and his Apostles and first witnesses and in what manner they used to lay on hands And this appears in their writings to be sometimes that men might receive the visible Gifts of the Holy Ghost as our Saviour to prepare his Apostles to receive the Holy Ghost breathed on them and lift up his hands and said Receive c. a Joh. 20.22 Luk. 24.5 So they prayed and laid on their hands on Believers that they might receive the Holy Ghost b Act. 8.15 17 19.6 and sometimes they used this for miraculous curing and healing of Diseases c Mar. 6.5 8.22 25. 16.18 Luk. 4.40 3.13 Act. 9.17 28.8 and sometime it was used for procuring special Blessings on men Mat. 19.13 15. Mar. 10.16 as of old Gen. 48.14 15 16. and sometimes it was used for Believers fitness and ability to preach the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.6 as of old for fitness and blessing in leading a people Deut. 34.9 and sometime it was used for setting men in Office in and for the Church and for fitness and blessing therein d Act. 6.6 1 Tim. 5.22 and sometime for fitness and a blessing for Messengers sent by the Church about Church-Affairs e Act. 13.3 And the manner of their laying on of hands was with prayer to God for that they desired for those on whom hands are to be laid f Act. 8.15 28.8 in
fall into the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit and so he plainly taught them out of the Scriptures after his Resurrection that it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that Repentance and Remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations Luk. 24.45 46 47. beginning at Jerusalem and in teaching this he taught them many mysteries about the vertues ends and efficacies of his death and that distinctly also as to say 1. His death in one respect and end was satisfactory for the Remission of sins to make peace and atonement with God for Men Isa 53.5 Rom. 5.18 14.7 8 9. that they might be released from the first sentence and curse in the first death into his dispose that he might bring them out of that death as was prophesied he should and is confessed he hath done and this he did teach them often Mat. 26.28 Joh. 6.51 Psa 40.6 8. 49. 7 8. Mic. 6.6 7. Heb. 10.1 10. Isa 53.6 Rom. 8.32 Psa 40.6 7 8. Heb. 10.5 10. Joh. 10.17 18. and in respect of this end his death and ransome giving is unimitable by any other not in respect of this end did either Jews or Gentiles Scribes Priests Governours People or Souldiers lay on him our sins and so for that put him to death it was God the Father that so laid our sins on him and delivered him to death for our offences and his own free offer to accept and do the will of the Father for us and this also our Saviour himself taught them And in this offering himself he had to do with God onely for Men and with God it is so effectual that he hath granted all this to him upon this account without any further business to be done by him for this grant and it shall be manifested to all Men so evidently one day Psa 2.10 11. that they shall acknowledge it true and him Lord to the glory of God whether now they will believe it and in him or no. 2. His death in one other respect and end was confirmatory and sealing Heb. 8.8 9 10 11. 1 Pet. 1.5 2 Cor. 1.20 that the New Testament of precious Promises of Forgiveness of sins of purifying the heart and writing his Law in the inward parts giving in eternal life and preserving by his power through faith unto the inheritance might be confirmed sealed and stable that believers might have a certain and undeniable evidence of the performance of them all by him in whom all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen Gal. 3.13 14 15 16 17 with Heb. 9.15 16 17. to the glory of God And this could nor be without the death of the Testator but by that even the same death that was for Remission of sins though in this respect a farther end it is done and fully confirmed and sealed but then this death also is in some respect free from constraint and so it is said Joh. 10.30 Mar. 15.39 44. Joh. 10.32 33. Heb. 9.14 15. Rom. 5.1 2 8 10 11. While he was in his strength and cried with a loud voice he bowed down his head and then and so gave up the Ghost which caused the Centurian to confess that he was the Son of God and Pilate and others to marvel that he was so and so soon dead for the Thieves that were crucified with him died neither so nor so soon and as concerning this end he is by vertue of his death c. the Mediator of the New Testament that Believers may enjoy the benefit hereof neither is his death in respect of this end imitable for any other Mar. 26.28 Mar. 14.24 Luk. 22.20 1 Cor. 11.25 nor did the Scribes Pharisees c. put him to death for this end but he freely laid down his life and gave up the Ghost and so the Testament is confirmed and of force and this our Saviour himself plainly taught them 3. There was yet one other distinct end of his sufferings and death which is also expressed by himself namely to bear witness of the Truth which he taught and this in love Joh. 17.21 23. Joh. 10.15 Joh. Joh. 10.11 12. Phil. 2.8 Joh. 18.37 Joh. 17.15 16 17 18. Joh. 10.2 3 4 15. Phil. 2.4 5 6 7. 1 Joh. 3.16 Joh. 13.14 17. 15 12 13. Mat. 20.25 26 27 28. Eph. 5.1 2. Joh. 18.11 Mat. 16.24 1 Pet. 2.20 22 23. even to his Enemies that they might believe for whom for that end he so far prayed as Luke 22.34 according to that in prophesie Isa 53.12 and in love to and faithful care over such as he had called and taught being the sheep of his own personal Ministration that heard his voice and in love obedience and faithfulness to his Father This he professeth to Pilat saying To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness to the truth every one that is of the truth heareth my voice as for the same cause when he left the World he left his Witnesses in the World And in this he instructeth his Hearers and so he doth his own Disciples that all good Shepherds may follow him herein that as he so we might not seek to be Lords over one another but to serve each other in love and in sufferings when for their good to put our selves in our Brethrens stead or place and so laying down our lives for our Brethren according to his example and this he plainly taught to them so that his death in respect of this end is moving alluring and exemplary for us to imitate and follow him and that also in taking up our Cross receiving it as a Cup out of our heavenly Father's hand in patient bearing all that for his sake and by our Father's providence is laid upon us how wrongfully soever by Men Isai 53.17 Mat. 26.63 27.12 Mar. 14.61 15.5 In holding and fast-standing to the Profession of the Truth through all sufferings Joh. 18.36 37. 1 Pet. 3.16 17 18. Joh. 13.12 13 14 17. 1 Joh. 3 16. Heb. 13.18 Mat. 10.16 18 32 33. and all this in loving and seeking the good of our enemies Psal 35.11 12 13 14. Luke 23.34 6.27 28 36. Rom. 12.20 21. and in love to and tender care for our Brethren submitting to all the lowest services of love even through sufferings for their safety good in all approving our hearts in love and faithfulness to God that we may glorifie him Joh. 17.4 7.16 17. 14.31 2 Cor. 5.6 7 8. and so his death as it was for witness-bearing to the Truth Act. 2.23 24. 3.13.15 4.10 5.30 and to witness and so to give an example of imitation to us it is not right to say That God for that did put him to death no it was the Scribes and Pharisees that for this did envy him and
so abide in that and receive the Testimony and teachings of that by all that teach you as that anointing teacheth you But saith he If there come any unto you 2 Joh. 10. 1 Joh. 2.18 26. Gal. 1.7 8 9. and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house nor bid him God-speed And this Counsel on the same ground given in this place to warn against Seducers And so Paul to the same purpose saith Though we or an Angel from heaven preach unto you other or besides that we have preached unto you c. Again If any man preach any other Gospel unto you then that ye have received let him be accursed And John's saying to be thus understood is cleer by comparing two sayings of Paul speaking by the same Spirit * 1 Cor. 15.1 4. 2 Cor. 11.2 3 4. yea in John's own exhortation a 1 Joh. 2.28 and professed end of his writing which was still to teach them as this anoynting teacheth from Chap. 2. to Chap. 5.13 And so Peter and the residue of the Apostles 2 Pet. 1.12 13. 2 Cor. 3.3 1 Thes 5.11 14. Heb. 3.13 1 Thes 4.18 1 Pet. 4.11 Rom. 12.3 were in this manner diligent to teach Believers that knew the Truth and were established in the Truth yea Christ his anoynting is affirmed to be in such Ministration and all Believers exhorted daily to teach and exhort one another yet still according to this anoynting with the words of the Gospel in which the Spirit testifieth of Christ and according to the proportion of Faith as God hath dealt to every Man So that this place is of excellent use in all teachings and receiving of teaching But when that time comes and that is done of which Jeremiah speaks here 1 Cor. 13.12 1 Joh. 3.2.1 Cor. 4.5 Then they shall see Face to Face and know as they are known yea see Jesus as he is then will be open the hidden things of darkness and then not some of the choise onely but all the Seed even from the least of them to the greatest of them shall know the Lord so that Tongues Prophecying and Knowledge by such Mediums as now shall be useless 1 Cor. 13.8 Col. 3.4 1 Joh. 3.2 and such teachings cease then but we shall all know the Lord by an immediate sight of the Lord which will make us to be like him Such so full and so cleer Knowledge to be given then IV. For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more This is cleer to be such a forgiveness Jer. 31.34 as in which all sin is wholly taken away and they presented altogether spotless before him such a degree of Forgiveness Justification and Sanctification and Freedom as no Man attaineth in this Life In which daily Forgiveness is needed 1 Joh. 1.6 7 8 9 10. Eph. 5.25 26 27. Col. 1.22 23. Act. 3.19 1 Cor. 1.8 But this is that spotlesness which Christ by his Blood sprinkling commending his Father's Love there through in Gospelministring by his Mediation sending forth Spirit in his Word to work on the Heart is now about to fit his Seed for and bring them to and it shall be compleated at that very Day of his coming when also that which follows will be performed with it namely That he will remember their sin no more Whatever Forgiveness God extendeth to Men yea though into their Consciences yet while any sorrow shame pain weakness or oppression lieth on them there is some remembrance of sin for how good and gracious ends soever and while any good promised for Soul or Body is withheld there is some remembrance of sin how advantagious soever it be made yea as long as the Bodies of the Saints are in the dust there is some remembrance of sin But here from this time shall be no remembrance of sin their sins shall be remembred no more which includeth and assureth them That God will wipe away then all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death Rev. 21.4 7.15 16 17. Jer. 31.12 Isa 60.17 18 19 20. 11.6 9. Isa 65.17 18 19. Rom. 8.21 22. Isa 9.6 7. 11.4 5. Psal 72. Isa 60 65 66. neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away and so they shall not have any violence injustice or oppression in their Government nor suffer violence from any nor shall there be contention or strife among the Creatures with them any more nor any pollution in the Air or Earth or any thing that grows out of it but the whole Creation the Heaven and Earth made new for them Their Government and Commonwealth shall be altogether peaceable righteous and flourishing the Earth abundantly fruitful and all Nations bringing their Glory to them and they enjoying and filled with all happiness for evermore everlasting joy upon them as is before shewn in the Promises Part 5. Chap. 5. and Part 2. Chap. 10 13. And this the everlasting Covenant which was made in promise to Abraham Isaac Jacob and David and declared by the Prophets and Apostles who shall in that day be also with them when this shall be made in performance to all the spiritual Seed so as they all shall then triumphingly confess As we have heard Psal 48.8 so we have seen in the City of the Lord of Hosts in the City of our God God will establish it for ever and so filled with Rejoycings they breath forth Hallelujahs Nothing more full and plain in Scripture then these things therefore let the Rule and Consent in it be here remembred and this the Hope we are called to by the Gospel and are interested in Par. 1. ch 7. 2 Thes 2.14 Gal. 3.29 in believing in Christ so that Prayer is good for us That God would grant to us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Christ that we may see what the Hope of his Calling is which is to all engaged in this Covenant and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints a little in this discovered and what the exceeding greatness of his power c. which will bring all to pass CHAP. 10. Of some usefulness of this Discovery of the Covenants IN what hath been shewn we may see if we search and read the Scriptures pointed unto That the Gospel of God and the Testimony of Christ therein is according to the Covenants of God and the Opener thereof and also That the Testimony of Christ The Purposes of God The Promises of God and The Covenants of God agree in one and the same The Revelations of Christ shew forth the Testimony of Christ which is the Key of Knowledge The Testimony of Christ declareth The Purpose of God from his Purpose The Promises of things purposed and as purposed flow and to assure the Promises the Covenants are suitably made so as in the Testimony of Christ