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A87006 Truth and innocency, prevailing against error and insolency: wherein is examined and discovered these following particulars. I. Whether Baptism be sprinkling or dipping. II. Whether the subject to be baptised, be infants or believers. III. Whether the punishment of original sin, be the first or second death. IV. Whether man be in an immortal estate before the resurrection. V. As touching the resurrection, whether these bodies of ours shall rise again & be made immortal, or whether it will be another body. VI. Of Gods love to the whole lump of mankind make known. VII. Of the personal raign of our blessed saviour upon Earth ... by way of answer to Mr. Hezekiah Holland, sometimes preacher at Sutton-Valence in Kent ... a second part: wherein is proved, that all the laws and statutes of King Jesus ... are practicable ... with many objections answered. It being an answer to one Mr. Simon Hendon of Benenden in Kent. / By George Hammon, Pastor to the church of Christ in Biddenden, Kent. Hammon, George. 1660 (1660) Wing H505; Thomason E1022_4; ESTC R208505 201,438 228

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the Scriptures and if thou find in this Treatise any thing that seems strange unto thee be not over hasty to condemn it or the Author but know assuredly that he is one that aimeth and strives after Truth as much as thy self who ever thou art and know that the things that are disapproved of by men are the things that are chosen of God and precious and that in all Ages as I have formerly said the Truth of God hath been accounted Heresie and the assertors thereof Hereticks and turners of the world upside down therefore it much concerns thee to be earnest with God in prayer and supplication to give thee a discerning spirit that thou mayest discern between Truth and Error I have in the following Treatise shewed in a methodical order what Baptism is and that it is not Sprinkling or scattering a little water in the face of the Subject no but a Dipping or Plunging or a thorow washing of the person Baptised and also that the Subjects to be Baptised are not Infants as such but such as have first believed in the Lord Jesus or at least such as do make a visible profession of faith such were those that John the Baptist Baptised for they came and confessed their sins and was Baptised of him in Jordan and also when the Eunuch said to Plilip See here is water What hindreth me that I may not be Baptised and he said If thou believeth with all thy heart thou mayest and the Samaritans when they did believe the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the name of Jesus they were Baptised both men and women So that the Scripture is plain that testifieth what Subject should be Baptised And that conceit or more properly great deceit about Original Sin in saying That Infants dying in their Infancy without being Baptised are damned and so bring in Infants Baptism to purge away Original Sin I have shewed is no such thing but a dream of mens own brains and that there is not one Text of Scripture from Genesis to the Revelation which saith that any shall die the second Death for Original Sin nay the second Death was not so much as threatned in any one Text of Scripture either upon Adam or any of his posterity for that sin but the Death of the Body was threatned and also executed for saith the Lord Dust thou art and unto Dust thou shalt return And as touching Mans Mortality it is a general received Opinion That the Soul of Man is Immortal and dyeth not although the Scripture saith that Christ poured out his Soul to death and made his Soul an offering for sin but it is supposed that when men die their Souls if they have done evil go immediately to Hell and in the Resurrection come again from thence to be judged to see whether they deserve it yea or nay as though Souls should be put into their torments before they are tryed and judged to see whether they have deserved it yea or nay for although some mens sins go before to Judgment so as that they are convicted before death yet some mens sins come after them that there is not the sense of their sins at the time of death but they come after them unto Judgment these things I have shewed my opinion upon also the which amongst men is strangely looked upon as a gross Error however peruse it for there is no dangerous consequence in it for he that believeth it or he that believeth it not may both meet with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God if they walk uprightly according to their several measures although if it be a Truth as it appears to me to be it is very necessary that every godly man know it for several reasons that I could give But as touching the Resurrection of the Body which I also have spoken to that is of such weight that without believing it and being stedfast in the same it makes Preaching voyd and Faith voyd and whosoever doth deny it their words eat as doth a Canker and indeed I do not see as yet how such men as deny it can be saved I have also shewed the great and universal love of God to all men which is the ground of Faith and Salvation to all that do believe and be saved which is a very comfortable Doctrine to all men and I think that none can have cause to be offended at it but such as have their eyes evil because Gods eye is good And as touching the Personal Reign of Christ upon Earth viz. on the Throne of his Father David in Zion in Jerusalem is that which causeth the godly to rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory and it is that which Christ hath commanded us to pray for though we understand it not as we should do when we pray Thy Kingdome come thy will be done in Earth as it is done in Heaven but that he is to receive a Kindome and Reign upon Earth I have proved in its particular order although briefly I have also added a second Part entituled The good ancient Laws and Statutes of King Jesus Vindicated wherein I have proved the continuance of all the Laws and Ordinances of the Lord Jesus given forth in his last Will and Testament with many Objections answered And also have shewed who is the travelling Woman spoken of in Revellations 12. and who is her Man-child and who is the Remnant of her Seed and to what Wilderness she is to flea into and for how long and who are the two Witnesses and the time and place of their Prophesie and many such like things which I have shewed my opinion upon in the following Treatise and therefore I desire thee courteous Reader to peruse these things seriously and desire the Lord to give thee an understanding heart to receive it so far forth as thou findeth it agreeable to the Word of the Lord and sound Reason It should have been published long before this time if extraordinary occasions had not hindred me therefore it is my desire that they that have long waited for it may excuse the matter because many are sensible of my great occasions taking me off from finishing of it sooner So desiring the Lord to make it to be a word in season unto thee and to fill thy heart with joy thorow believing and also with the fruits of righteousness that having thy fruit in holiness the end may be everlasting life which is the desire of Thy Friend and Brother in the Faith and Profession of the Gospel of Christ GEORGE HAMMON THE CONTENTS OF THE Principal Matters Contained in this BOOK B BAptism to be Dispenced to such as are of ripe years and of understanding Page 5. to page 12. Baptism may not be Dispenced to Infants for several Reasons page 13. to page 25. Of the Battel of the great Day and the Destruction of Gogg and his Company page 89. to page 92. G Of Gods universal Love unto all men and how far
not a fit Subject for Baptism for Baptism represents a Death and Burial of the old Man and a rising to Life in the new Man which cannot be represented by an Infants being sprinckled but by a Beleevers being baptized So then for as much as Baptism is a visible demonstration of a Covenant made between God and the Soul wherein the Soul promises to put on Christ and walk in him and God promising to give him his holy Spirit to assist him in his so walking which shews That the person thus Covenanting in Baptism must be a Beleever And so I pass to the 10. and last Reason that at present I shall represent unto you to prove that Beleevers are the only fit Subjects of Baptism which is Reas 10. Because without Faith it is unprofitable for any to appear before God in any Gospel Ordinance for without Faith they cannot please him in their so appearing before him Heb. 11.6 For he that cometh so to God must beleeve that he is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him Hence the three thousand beleeving and gladly received the Word were baptized The Samaritans beleeving also were baptized Simon beleeving was baptized Act. 8. and the Eunuch also with the Jaylors houshould And without Faith or profession of Faith at the least none were admitted to Baptism although that they were in the first Covenant being Abrahams seed to whom was the Promise yet they came not to Johns Baptism without confession of sins and being instructed in the Messiah which was to come as you may read Mat. 3. and Luk. 3. at larg and thus of old was the practise of the Ministers of the Gospel to prepare a Temple for the Lord of sanctified stones built up a spiritual house a peculiar people to offer spiritual sacrifice to God 1 Pet. 1.9 Which clearly proveth That if the building of God in Gospel-times be a building through the Spirit Eph. 2.19.12 then spiritual Beleeving Men and Women are the persons which ought to be the subjects baptized and being such fit matter and so fitly joyned together groweth to be a holy Temple for the Lord for as the stones that Solomons Temple was built of were hewn in Hieroms Country before they were brought to Jerusalem and compacted as a Temple for God figuratively to dwell in even so now must the stones of the spiritual building be hewed and fitted before they be laid in that building Hence our blessed Saviour commanded his Disciples to go preach the Gospel so as to make Disciples by instructing of them and then to baptize them and such as did gladly receive the word were baptized and so the Lord added to his Church daily such as should be saved And this was the way of God of old and is the way and will for ever be found to be the right way of Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday to day and for ever therefore be not carried away with the inventions of men but walk as you have had Christ and the Apostles for an example doing all things according to the Primitive patern in the worship of God and as many as walk according to that rule peace shall be unto them and mercy upon all the Israel of God And so I leave this Subject and come to handle the second Position which is Position 2. That Infants as such are not fit Subjects of Baptism IN the Discourse of which I shall Answer my Antagonist in his aleaged Texts of Scripture with several more Objections of that nature which is not aleaged in his Book and now briefly to the Reasons which sheweth That Infants are not fit Subjects for to be Baptized And so to the first Reason which is Reas 1. Because God hath no where in Scripture appointed Infants to be Baptized either by Precept or by the Example of the Apostles whole steps we are to follow and therefore it 's an unlawful practise for whosoever adds to the Word of the Lord God will add the Plagues which are written And the Prophet that shall presume to speak a word in the Name of the Lord which he hath not commanded the same Prophet must die Deut. 18.20 Revel 22.18 Therefore add thou not unto his word lest he reprove thee and thou be found a lyar Prov. 30.6 But as for Gods wayes as in the time of the Law it was very plain and perfect as witness that Ordinance of Circumcision there was the manner of Circumcision and the Person which was to be Circumcised plainly discovered as the foreskin of the flesh and the Children of Abraham and the time when even at eight dayes old nay his Servants and Slaves were to be Circumcised and in a word no uncircumcised person must abide in that Land nor be accounted of Abrahams Family which sheweth That in a spiritual sense none can be accounted Abrahams seed but such as are Circumcised in heart viz. those that have the vayl of Ignorance and Unbelief taken away from off their hearts which causeth the Apostle to say That Abraham beleeved God and it was accounted unto him for Righteousness Know ye therefore saith he that they which are of Faith the same are the Children of Abraham So then Infants not having the vail of Ignorance and Unbelief taken from off their hearts cannot be accounted of Abrahams Family for he received Circumcision as a Seal of the righteousness of that Faith which he received before Circumcision that he might be the Father of all them which do beleeve Gal. 3.7 Rom. 4.11 So then Circumcision was a Seal of the Father-hood of the Faithful unto Abraham therefore the Faithful only are Abrahams seed which cannot be Infants because they have not Faith and that they have not Faith is clear because the Apostle saith That there is but one Faith and that one Faith is wrought in the Soul by Hearing the Word Preached the which Infants are not capable of as will be granted by all men as I think One word or two more about Abrahams Circumcision and so pass to the next Reason which is Abraham received it as a seal of the righteousness of Faith but none of his seed did receive it as a seal neither could do because they could not have the Father-hood of the Faithful sealed up unto them it was only Abrahams prerogative neither was it ever called a seal to any of Abrahams seed and much more I might say But I pass briefly to the second Reason to prove Children not fit subjects to be Baptized which is Reas 2. Because all that are Baptized may and ought to receive the Lords Supper unless they be scandalous in their Conversation after Baptism and that hinder them but Children may not receive the Lords Supper Ergo Reas 3. Thirdly Because Children are not in Gospel-Covenant because all that are in Gospel-Covenant need not to be taught to know the Lord for they all know him from the greatest to the least but children of seven or eight dayes old knows not the Lord
Had the primitive Churches a Command from Christ to preach and gather Churches the very same Command have we unto the worlds end Mat. 28.18 19 20. Had the primitive Churches gifts of Gods Spirit so have the Churches now even so many as are useful for the comfortable being of the Church although others which were more primely concerned as to Unbelievers for to confirm the Gospel that it might be a standing Rule to be observed and practised to the worlds end did cease for so it was under the Law the Law of Moses was once confirmed with Signs and Wonders but there was no such thing looked for when they came out of Babylon it was enough that it was once confirmed admit of this Argument to prove Signs and Miracles now out of use which is If Signs and Miracles serve not for Believers but such as believe not to bear testimony to the truth of the New Testement of Jesus Christ then they are altogether unuseful to us in these Nations who do believe the Testament of Jesus But Signs and Miracles was for that end viz. to confirm the Truth of the New Testament to Unbelievers And therefore of no use in these Nations where all or the most part believe it But those things which are useful to Believers they remain in the same power and efficacy as that Ordinance of Prayer with the Sick and annointing them with oyl is known to be as powerful and efficatious in our dayes as ever and all others which conduce to the Churches comfortable being I know many that can and will if they be called unto it witness the truth of this thing I speak with much confidence it being truth upon my knowledge and so I shall leave this at present supposing that I may have occasion to speak more of it anon and now pass to the next thing which is the four Reasons annexed to this to shew the difference between the new stated Churches as Mr. Henden calls them and the primitive Church which are Faith must foot upon a call saith Mr. Henden as done in obedience to the heavenly voyce but now there is no call for visible Church Marriages Answ By the same word that the primitive Churches practised Ordinances which was by Christs word and voyce we also practise them for his word even the same word was to go into all the world unto every creature Mark 16.15 16. Mat. 28.18 19 20. And by the same Word every creature was to believe and practise the Ordinances in order to their eternal happiness and therefore the same call and whoso practiseth them from the same call with an honest heart obeyes the heavenly voyce And whereas Mr. Henden saith there is no call for visible Church Marriages Answ There is the same call that was in the primitive age for there was but only espousing and making fit for the Maariage day which is not to be till the change of the Gentiles and the same espousing and making fit for the Marriage we are now about as the Apostles in their day was as I before have shewed and so I pass to the second Reason cited by Mr. Henden which is God having promised to spirit these again Faith must relie upon that promise until it be fulfilled page 15. Answ That Faith must relie upon Gods Promises as well as to act from the Command is granted but Christ hath promised his spiritual presence alwayes to the end of the world in the observation of his Ordinances therefore they were never without the Spirit or their spiritual efficacy and as for the pouring out of the Spirit again it s not on the Gentiles but the Jews who now are shut up under unbeliefe who at the second coming of Christ viz. his personall coming shall have the Spirit poured out upon them I mean the whole House of Israel and not before and then they shall be a holy people to the Lord read Zech. 12. from the first vers to the 12. but as for the Gentiles I never find that the Spirit is taken from them viz. the faithful since the primitive times take heed of confounding the Promises made to the Jews with them made to the Gentiles which I find to be your practise which causeth you to speak and affirm things you know not where of but I am sparing to speake considering your gravity and so I pass to the third reason which is Thirdly Profession a lone saith Mr. Henden can no more give life to Ordinances from which the glory of the Lord is departed then it can infuse a living soule into a dead Carkas Answ It 's true if once the Lord have left his Ordinances Mens profession cannot make them lively Oracles but it hath been already proved that Christ is so far from leaving them that he hath promised his Presence in the performance of them to the Worlds end and what you can say of the departure of Gods glory from any Ordinance I can say the same of the Ordinance of Preaching and Prayer which you say you own but Gods glory is not departed from his Ordinances and so I passe to the fourth and last reason which is say you This pretended Faith void of the call and Promise of God and the vitall influence of its prims Original cause is but a meer work a bare creature Foundation by far too week to lay a Gospel fabrick upon Answ This reason is comprehended in the former the which causeth me to say again that this Faith in the practising of all Christs Ordinances is neither void of the call or promise of God read my Reasons to prove their continuance before cited moreover we know that the neglect of the practising of the Ordinances although it may be before a long time so as that they may be lost or unknown yet if they be found written amongst the Statutes of Jesus Christ it s enough to warrant the reviving of them into their former practise without a new call witness the Ordinance of living in Booths being lost for above four hundred years even from the daies of Joshua Son of Nun until their coming out of the Babylonish captivity as you may see Nehem. 8.14 15 16 17. and as to the foundation of the Gospel fabrick you speake of I say that the Foundation of it is already laid and confirmed and we only according to Gods appointment do build thereon and not lay a new Foundation namely we walk not in a new form or Fabrick of Order but in the same good old Ordinances and Fabrick of order which Christ and the Apostles laid and the primitive Churches walked in and we commanded to follow their steps which Foundation of the Fabrick is not only laid as a platform for us to build upon but it s also already confirmed which was the answer that I gave to Mr. Henden in our conference saying our Baptising was no new Baptising but the old way of Baptising both in respect of the form of it and subject Baptised
confirm it again when Israel came out of Babylon nor after the Book of the Law was lost and found again in the dayes of Josia no more need we any Sign to confirm that which is already confirmed and also we know that John did no Miracle and yet was an approved Administrator Again whereas Mr. Henden said that he was a legal Minister and a Minister of condemnation which had no visible demonstration from the spirit viz. Miracle The answer was then Mr. Henden was a legal one and a Minister of condemnation because he professeth himself to be a Minister and yet never work a Miracle that ever I heard of there was much time spent upon a kind of running discourse to little edification for that which I would have had done in order to the legal managing of the discourse was that there should have been one question stated at a time and that managed but when one began he spoke of several things and so confounded one with another and cleared it not as it should be I could repeat what was said about the four Winds and what was said by Captain Tucker as to the grounding of faith upon the obscure and dark Prophesies which was well minded although not well weighed by our Antagonist and as I think as little understood I have found it a sure maxime that the greatest confidence amongst men hath the least reason to warrant it which is sad And whereas Hebrews 12. was brought together with Galatians 4. to prove the Church to be called Mount-Zion neither of the places proveth it the Apostle to the Galatians tels us that it is the Covenant which is called Jerusalem which is from above and from the Hebrews we learn also that it is the Covenant or the thing Covenanted and whereas he saith that we are come to Mount-Zion he also saith that we are come to an innumerable company of Angels and to God the Judge of all things and the Spirits of just men made perfect so that we are come to one as well as to another and to neither of them but by faith in the Covenant for while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord for we walk by faith and not by sight And Paul doth not say to the Galatians that ye are Mount-Zion or Jerusalem but Jerusalem which is from above is the Mother of us all so then it was the Church which was called Jerusalem but Jerusalem from above was the Churches Mother mark a difference between the Children and the Mother and secondly the Author to the Hebrews doth not call the Church of the Hebrews Mount-Zion but tels them that they were come to Mount-Zion viz. the Covenant of Mount-Zion and the Heavenly Jerusalem but I shall leave these things at present and pass to the Answer of some Objections usually urged against the perpetuation of Christs Ordinances or the constant practising of them and the first that I shall speak to is Object 1. There was a time when God did appear in his Ordinances which shewed there was the power of the Spirit went along with them as Peter in his Ministry in converting three thousand souls at one Sermon saith Mr. John Henden but now we see not the same effects therefore the cause ceaseth God hath left them and they are become as a dead carkass without a soul Answ It is very true there was a time when there was such need of a visible demonstration of Gods Spirit to go along with his Ordinances to bear witness to the sons of men that they were the Ordinances that were approved of by the Lord that they might be a pattern or platform for all men to walk in to the Worlds end and hence it was that when God gave to Moses and the rest of the Children of Israel the pattern of the administration of the Law he gave it with the visible demonstration of his own presence with thundrings and lightenings and the Mountain smoaking with a visible maifestation of Gods glory with and upon Moses so that his face did so shine with the Glory of God when he came from the Mount that the Children of Israel could not stedfastly behold him by reason of the brightness of the Glory of God shining upon him this was his appearance when he came down with the Tables of the Law written by God so gloriously did God appear in the giving forth of it but afterwards all that the Children of Israel were to do was to have the words of the Law read to them and they to do it or keep it and not to say who shall ascend up into Heaven for some visible demonstration but the Law is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou maist do it saith Moses Deut. 30.10 11 12. even so saith St. Paul Rom. 10.6 7. The righteousness of faith speaks on this wise say not in thy heart who shall ascend up into Heaven to fetch Christ down from above c. but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart So that true faith giveth heed to Gods word and looks not for miracles for so saith Christ blessed is he that hath not seen and yet believed for a sinful and an adulterous generation seek a sign but none shall be given unto them c. Secondly If no Ordinance may be an approved Ordinance of God but such an one as hath a visible manifestation according to Mr. Hendens sense as aforesaid then he himself never met together so as God did approve of it because we find that when the Disciples met together the house spoke where they were assembled Thirdly his Ordinance of preaching hath not the Spirit with it because instead of converting three thousand at one Sermon I suppose he never converted three hundred in his life nor scarce half half so many and as for the Ordinance of Prayer I never heard any of those that usually hear Mr. Henden say that he hath prayed till the place hath spoke where he was praying as it did when the Disciples were a Praying Acts 4.31 and as for the Ordinance of Preaching and praying and the like Mr. Henden saith he owns to continue in all ages uncorrupted and they had once as great a visible manifestation as any Ordinance that I know of and yet there is no more appearance in a visible manifestation in them now than there is in any other Ordinance which Mr. Henden cryeth down and I may fitly say to Mr. Henden as Christ said to the Scribes and Pharisies which did much dote upon signs and miracles that the Kingdome of Heaven cometh not with Observations as gadding after miracles saying loe here or loe there for the Kingdome of God is within you that is as if he should have said it consists more in inward glory than outward glory or manifestation for the Kings daughter is all glorious within and the proper work of the Spirit is within as Christ
come to the next particular which is the seventh and eighth thing which I shall put together and make the seventh compleat with it to shew who are the two Prophets or Witnesses and where they are to prophesie and to whom Seventhly The two Prophets I understand to be two men appointed and set apart by the Lord for that work to prophesie before Nations and Kings to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the hearts of the Children to the Fathers that the Lord may be one and his Name one upon the Mountains of Israel and these two persons or men as I understand them to be the one I understand to be Elijah or Elias which is one and the other John the Apostle and that Elijah is one read Mal. 4.5 which saith Behold I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the Great and DREADFVL DAY of the Lord and he shall turn the hearts of the Fathers unto the Children and the hearts of the Children unto their Fathers left I come and smite the earth with a Curse From this Text we find that Elijah or Elias is to come before the GREAT and DREADFVL DAY of the Lord and Christs coming in the flesh when he was born of the Virgin was not the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord for he came in such a mean way in that day that he was not dreadful to his enemies but they were bitter unto him as to whip him and smite him with their hands and crucifie him and indeed that day of his coming was so far from being the dreadful day or the notable day of the Lord that his coming in that day was prophesied on this wise Who hath believed our report or to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed for he is despised and rejected of men he was numbred with the transgressors and bare the sins of many and made intercession for the transgessors Isa 53.1 3 12. even so saith the Prophet Zachariah Chap. 9.9 Rejoyce greatly O daughter of Zion shout O daughter of Jerusalem the King cometh unto thee he is just and having salvation lowly and riding upon an Asse and upon a Colt the foal of an Asse All which sheweth with many more that might be added that the coming of the Lord in the day when he was born of the Virgin was not that notable or dreadful day of the Lord but a day little noted so as but few to believe his report And Secondly where it is said that the hearts of the Fathers in that day should be turned to the Children and the hearts of the Children unto the Fathers is clearly seen not to be meant the coming of the Lord in his first day of whom John the Baptist was a forerunner to prepare his way for in that day as was prophesied of him he came to set a man at variance against his Father Micah 7.6 Mat. 10.34 35 36. Luke 12.49 50 51 52. in these words Think not that I am come to send peace on earth I came not to send peace but a sword for I am come to set a man at variance against his Father and the daughter against her Mother and the daughter in law aguinst her Mother in law and a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold compared with Luke 12.53 which saith That the Father shall be divided against the Son and the Son against the Father the Mother against the Daughter and the Daughter against the Mother All which clearly sheweth that the coming of the Lord Jesus in his first day when hew was born of the Virgin was not that notable or dreadful day of the Lord of which Elias was to be a forerunner of but relates to another day in order to the reconciling of that great difference between the Parents and Children which difference and division was begat between the Parents and their Children by Christs first coming who came not as he saith himself to send peace upon the earth but a sword namely a house divided the Father against the Son the Son against the Father c. but because I shall hasten to the Conclusion I shall wave all long circumlocutions and in short say as beforesaid that Elijah or Elias is yet to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children who is to be one of the two Prophets or Witnesses to establish the remnant of the Womans seed namely the Children of Israel which remain in the City after the Womans flight into the Wilderness Object But against this is objected from the words of Christ that Elias is already come which was John the Baptist Mat. 11.14 Mark 9.11 12 13. Luke 1.16 17. Answ That John the Baptist was a fore-runner of Christ in his first day is not denied and that he came in the power and spirit of Elias is as clear for as Elias shall and did bear witness to and for the Lord even so did John the Baptist and so was a lively type of the Elias which is to come for the type or figure of the thing is often called by the name of the thing it self and so we must understand Christs words here where he saith That Elias is already come meaning John the Baptist or otherwise we set Christs words and Johns words one to contradict another for the Scripture saith That John did no Miracle and yet all that he spake of him was true John 10.41 and John himself when the Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him saying Who art thou art thou Elias he said I am not Elias John 1.19 20 21 22. But him of whom the Prophet Isaiah spake of saying I am the voyce of one crying in the Wilderness c. So then from hence we may see that John was a true Prophet and spake the truth and yet when it was demanded of him whether he was the Elias which was to come he said I am not Elias From whence I conclude that although John came in the spirit of Elias and was a type or figure of him and so might be called by the Lord Elias he calling the figure of the thing by the name of the thing figured yet no more the Elias which was to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord than the Bread and the Cup of the holy Supper of the Lord is the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and yet Christ himself saith Take EAT THIS IS MY BODY which is broken for you and yet it was but a figure of his Body to shew forth his death to keep us in remembrance thereof and also we see that there was pictures made with Gold out of the Mercy seat with wings to cover the Mercy seat and they were called Cherubims and yet were not real Cherubims but were a figure of the Cherubims or did only represent them So that we may see that the thing representing is called by the name of the