of his grace And so the fountain of that Water of Gods grace and Spirit and so the testimony of him that anointing by the pouring out and shedding abroad of which we in receiving and attending to it shall be washed inlightened healed strengthned and made meet for service Yea that one offering by which all our Sacrifices brought and offered by him shall be made acceptable and to his praise It s not any other Sanctification Separation or consecration that makes meet for this inheritance of the Holy Priesthood or of the Saints in light not the outward and tipical sanctification that was but to a tipical service in the flesh and in the letter Nor any such as may be by the works of the law Nor any such redeeming from any part of the vain conversation as may be effected by corruptable things as silver and gold or by any other Wisdom Strength or Motions onely in the Lord in whom they have righteousness strength In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory 2. As to the nature of the work or effecacy of this one Spirit through the Gospel on the subject needfull to go before to make meet for this service and inheritance of the Saints It is such as in which through the righteousness of God our Saviour they are made partakers of like precious faith with the Apostles through this sanctification of the Spirit fore-mentioned they are chosen out of the way and condition of the World that lyes in ignorance of God in Christ and enmity to him and so under the power of the Wicked one unto obedience the obedience of faith so to understand and know him that is true that therein the soul is brought into him and united with him by faith 1 Peter 1. 2. 2 Peter 1. 1. with 1 John 5. 19 20. They are begotten by the word of truth to such an unfeined belief of the truth as now come forth in Christ as in which it s believed and received not in vain but to purpose even to the same purpose to which it is discovered and given to them viz to the saving of the soul bringing it out of the World and worldly wayes of seeking rest righteousness wisdome strength c. into Christ for all such as in which they are redeemed from among men and from their vain conversation received by tradition from them and so washed in the Spirit of their minde from the errours and pollutions of the World in which men are vainly seeking rest peace wisdome righteousness c. where it is not unto God in Christ to seek all in him by an exercise of faith in him in what he hath done and is become for them in his own body and in the hope set before them in him Such it is as in which their minds or souls are purified to unseigned love of God of Men brethren in obeying the truth They are principled with those principles of truth that naturally lead so to trust in him and seek all in him and so to love that they may thenceforth walk in that newness of life They are so baptized into Christ euen into his death that as to the Spirit of their minde they are subdued and made willing to put on Christ for all and be devoted to him and to that purpose for the excellency of the knowledge of him to let go all other excellencies as loss and dung that they may win him and be found in him yea herein to hate Father Mother Brethren Sisters Wife and Children yea and their own life also for his sake and in comparison of him for they have obeyed his word and kept his covenant Answerable to that Exodus 32. 6. 29. Deut 32. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 1 2. with 2 Cor. 6. 1. Hebr. 10. 39. 1 Peter 1. 18 22. and 2 Peter 1. 4. and 2. 18. 20. Romans 6. 3. 4. Gal. 3. 26 27. James 1. 18. Luke 14. 26 27. 33. Phil. 3. 3. 10. 2 Tim. 1. 5 6. with 1 Tim. 1. 5. There may be among them many feighâ—ned or halting believers That have yet believed but in vain still halting between two opinions or have not yet so crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts as to be renewed and purified in the Spirit of their minde from double-mindedness to have the heart fixed to seek rest wisdome righteousness and strength onely in him by an exercise of faith in him yea there may be many daughters and attenders who though in some good degree of simplicity waiting yet are not so of them of his Spiritual house and holy Priesthood Yet let all that hear say come Revelations 22. 17. 3. Aâ— to the seal and confirmation of the truth of this washing effecacy of the Spirit through the Gospel making meet for this inheritance it is such as in which they are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise even the same which is the earnest of the Apostles inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession by which fealing they are marked out and approved by God as unto the day of redemption so also as a peculiar people unto this service Ephes 1. 13 14. and 4. 30. By this manifesting himselfe unto them powring out abundantly of the Spirit of his Son into their hearts making known his words and so teaching and leading into the Spiritual injoyment and usefulness of the truth making Christ unto them all that which by the power of his word they are instructed and led to seek for in him even wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption and so filling them with peace and joy through the power of the Holy Ghost in the belief of the truth quickning them to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ Giving them access with boldness and confidence in him strengthning them to cry Abba Father by that Spirit of his Son opening the testimony of his Son believed and so spiritually sprinkling the blood of Christ and shedding abroad his love therethrough in their hearts making it usefull and powerfull to all those ends and purposes Also inriching them with some usefull understanding and gifts for the profit of others even as the testimony of Christ is confirmed in them so anointing and fitting them for ministring to him and in his name that through them others may be saved turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that in turning they also may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance with them that are sanctified by fiath that is in Christ John 14. 21. 23. and 17. 20. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. Rom. 5. 1. 11. and 15. 13 14. 1 Peter 1. 3. Ephes 3. 12. Romans 8. 15. Galatians 4. 6. 1 Corinthians 1. 5. and 12. 4 5 6 7. Acts 26. 17 18. A man may say he hath faith in Christ and so fellowship with the light and in so saying lye and deceive himself but if indeed he have it will be manifested by these works and fruits of it If
come in the glory of his Father which he now possesseth in heaven with the father for us and to restore all things and then to fashion their vile bodyes unto the likeness of his glorious body And so the end of their conversation is Jesus Christ The same Yesterday and to Day and for ever as also before is shewed the thing they aim at and strive for in all their seekings and in which they seek righteousness and strength is the faith of the Gospel yea these are the true circumcision persons truely redeemed separated and devoted from men and from their vain conversation unto God the Israel of God that are so redeemed and congregated to him by the precious blood of Christ discovered in the Gospel and the grace of God therein commended who also have their rejoycing in Christ Jesus relinquishing for the excellency of the knowledge of him all confidence or rejoycing in the flesh Phil. 33. c. with Acts 20. 28. 1 Pet. 1. 18. c. Rom. 5. 1 11. The other sorts of walkers such as before mentioned for they are many and under many forms are so to be marked by us as to be distinguished from the true brethren and to be avoided and turned from as strangers Proverbs 5. 1. 8. and 14. 7. and 19. 27. John 1â— 5. Romans 16. 17 18. 2 Timothy 2. 17 21. and 3. 1 5. But with these all or any of these worshippers in the spirit that have their rejoycing in Christ Jesus so as for the excellencie of the knowledge of him relinquishing fleshly confidences that call on him out of a pure heart as 2 Tim. 2. 22. A spirit fixed and purified from double mindedness as to the spirit of the mind at least to seek righteousness and strength in Jesus having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience with the blood of Christ and therein set to seek all things pertaining to life and godliness there With these I say whatever differences in lighter matters or shortness in attainments or infirmities may be found with any of them and discerned by us yet we are to dwell and walk together with such as we have opportunity as brethren and fellow-labourers or helpers in our combate Strift or warfare The Unity of the Spirit to be endeavoured to be kept with such and so in which such are to dwell and walk together in their seeking the Lord and striving for the faith of the Gospel Hath in it 1. Union of love such as in which they love one another with such peculiar manner of love as with which they are beloved of God which is such as in which they are called Sons accepted in Christ as found in him delighted in and chosen to peculiar favour and fellowship so the love wherewith they are to love one another is such as wherewith they are not to love others That are yet of the world or are gon out again from them into the world as is signified 1 John 4. 1 7. Yea such as in which they are to love as brethren beloved of God 1 Peter 4. 8. with 1 Thessalonians 1. 4. Colosians 1. 4. To esteem receive and own another as brethren in a peculiar sense even of one and the same body and heirs together of the grace of life as they have been all baptized or washed from the errours and pollutions of the world into the faith and acknowledgement of that one body of Christ that was broken for us and through sufferings perfected and offered once for all and now glorified with the father for us and so united by faith unto it and to one another in it even as they are called in one hope of their calling 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. Ephes 4. 4. with chap. 5. 30. even so they are to love as brethren and heirs together of the same inheritance and on the same account and terms as members of the same body to be so respected cared for and delighted in for fellowship in the Gospel And so also to be more abundantly pitied and tendred in their infirmities and afflictions and the covering of infirmities bearing burthens and healing diseases to be sought with more abundant diligence and as our own in a peculiar sence more then others to whom yet that love of pity and compassion is to be extended even as God that is so abundantly gracious to all in his great love of pity and compassion wherewith he loveth them in and through Christ when they are yet dead in sins trespasses and so not peculiarly beloved by him with that manner of love in which he receiveth delights in and takes pleasure in persons is yet more abundantly rich in that his tender mercy pity and compassion unto them that call on him in truth that come to him by Christ whom also he accepteth receiveth and takes pleasure in them as they are found in Christ Psaâ—â—â— 103. 11 13. and 145 8 18 19. Romans 10. 12. with 1 Peter 3. 8 Col. 3. 9 13. This love is to be the same and indifferent to them as they are Christs in that peculiar sence without partiality or respect of persons as they are rich or poor bond or free And without dissimulation or hypocrisie to be in them one to another not so much in word or tongue as in deed and truth 'T is indeed too general an evil to lay so much of the stress of Religion in that loving which is in word and in tongue as in familiar calling Brother and Sister and the like that the loving indeed and in truth as brethren is neglected and forgotten as if all stood in word and tongue 2 Union of mind and design as of one heart and soul being made to drink into that one Spirit that testifies of Christ instructing and framing to like mindedness with him each minding and seeking the things which be Jesus Christs and so the things and good of one another without guile hypocrisie or partiallity yea with a neglect of themselves their own ends interests and things as distinct from these not regarding their own life that they may earnestly follow mind and promote the one thing needfull As we read of multitudes of men expert in War and that could keep Rank that were not of double heart but all perfect hatred yea of one heart to make David King 1 Chronicles 12. 33. 38. So also we read of the multitude of them that believed Acts 4. 32. Being of one heart and of one soul as likewise Acts 2. 46. This that prayed for John 17. 20 23. and instructed too Philippians 2. 1 5 20 29. and 4 2. And indeed there cannot be that one-ness or sameness of mind any other way but in the Lord meeting together there each to mind and seek the things which be Jesus Christs with a neglect each of their own For if each be seeking their own interests or things there can be no perfect joyning of them together because their particular interests or things will clash one with another in something
BREACH upon BREACH OR AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF Judiciall Breaches MADE UPON US PROCURED BY SINFULL BREACHES FOUND AMONGST US With Instruction Admonition and encouragement yet to turn to him that smites us and the sum of it was delivered at the Funerall of Mr. Jeremiah Colman late Preacher of the Gospell at Hetherset in Norfolk February 18. 1658 9. By Tho. Moore Junior If they shall confesse their iniquity And that they have walked contrary to me and I also have walked contrary to them Then will I remember my covenant and I will remember the Land Levit. 26. 40 41 42. If any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profitted me not he will deliver his soul from going downe to the pit and his life shall see the light for he hath found a Ransome Job 33. 24. 27. 28. For this cause vide not so discerning the Lords Body that was broken for us as to examine and judge our selves in the light thereof many are weake and sickly among you and many sleepe for if we would judge our selves we should not be judged c. 1 Cor. 11. 28 29 30 31 32. LONDON Printed by J. B. for the Author 1659. The Epistle to the Reader THis our beloved Brother deceased had his conversation in times past among a people zealous about some lighter matters of the Law as to outward order and discipline in the worship of God while yet neglecting the weighty matters as judgement and the love of God ernest in building Churches but slighting if not as there is too much cause of jealouâ—y of many of their builders refusing that stone for the foundation and head of the corner which God hath laid in Sion for that purpose too much like though it may be hoped not so much out of order as Israel of old who when forgetting his maker And counting the great things of his Law even Christ the end of the Law and the knowledge of God in Christ and his righteousnesse the things witnessed in the Law and Prophets as a strange thing were yet zealous in building Temples and multiplying Altars and sacrifices Hos 8. 11 12 14. with ch 6. 6 7. Psal 118. 22. Math. 21. 42. and 23. 23. Luk. 11. 42. Act. 4. 11. with Isa 28. 12. 16. and 29. 11. But God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins and â—respasses and that he might thereby shew the exceeding riches of his grace to others inclined his heart more dilligently to enquire into the great things of his Law or doctrine summed up in the testimony God hath given of Christ and gave him to perceive the faithfulnesse of that saying that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners By the light of which he karned to relinquish the former apprehensions he had of Christ and so of other persons and things after the flesh or as that teacheth and to account losse and dung for Christ and for the excellency of the knowledge of him such things as before were gain to him that he might farther win him and be found in him And so in receiving his word as the word of God and not of men Christ as testified in the scriptures the son of God the Saviour of the world became precious to him And having tested that the Lord is gracious to whom comming as to a living stone disalowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious he also as a lively stone was therein built up in him and so made of the spirituall house and holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ the love of Christ constrained him with much earnestnesse to perswade and beseech others to be reconciled to God and to seeke help in the name of God in Christ to warne the unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weake to be patient towards all men in meeknesse instructing them that oppose themselves and to encourage and stir up such as had believed through grace to abide in him as they had received him and to provoke them to love and good works and so to help forward and strengthen the hearts and hands of the fellow-helpers to the truth As one that had his heart seasoned with those principles of certainty and truth that one died for all so effectually with the father that all have died in that death of one as all have sinned and death passed on them in and by the sin of one And that he therefore died for all that they which live in their severall ages by the grace of God bringing salvation to them as it doth to all men in due time should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose again knowing also in this knowledge of the greatnesse and truth of Gods grace in Christ to manward the unspeakable terror of the Lord against those that will not know him but are contentious and do not obey the truth or by an evil heart of unbelief depart from him and go on in their trespasses and backslidings till the day of grace pass and the master of the house be rissen up and have shut to the dore And in this his earnest seeking the good of all and the edifying of the Body of Christ he was much stirred up espâ—cially in his latter days to press for more fellowship in the Gospell with them that did know and acknowledge the grace of God in truth and so callon the Lord out of a pure heart And that such should joyn together as the heart of one man for the promoting that designe To which purpose he moved it as of great advantage and very necessary that brethren in the Gospell should often gather together as they might have opportunity frroâ— divers parts to consult one with another and together with the Scriptures and the testimony of God concerning Christ as contained in them how they might walk and strive together in more joint order for for the faith of the Gospell This though much upon his spirit to his latter end Yet was too little considered by us Our generall dulness and loss of our first love by wandering out of the way of understanding made us insencible both of the advantage to be sâ—â—â—net within such endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond if peace and so seeking the Lord and his things and therein the things and good of others after the due order and also of the necessiry of it especially in these evill times It seemed to me that Gods removing this instrument in the midst of his days and while his spirit was so earnestly set for the promoting and carrying on so good a worke and yet it was so little apprehended or considered by us had in it a great reproofe of our dulnesse and a loud voice signifying necessity of timely listening to it to awaken us to righteousnesse in this particular that standing up from the dead Christ
and worship him or come to God by him nor seek the lifting him up but turn the grace of God in that unspeakable gift into wantonness turn his glory into shame loving vanity and seeking after lyes I say the removing or cutting off such from the earth cannot come under this consideration as a woe affliction or judgement to the Survivers their being so cut off is a heavy judgement to themselves because they are therein cut off for ever and driven away in their wickedness into utter darkness From the time of their death their is a great Gulf fixed that they can never return to any mercy or door of hope but perish for ever without any regarding it which should teach us not to desire such a wofull day because so woful to them nor to hasten from following him in seeking their good Jer. 17. 16. But the perishing of such is so far from being a judgement of this nature to others That on the other hand as when they rise increase or bear rule a man is hidden Prov. 28. 12. Even the man Christ is hidden his visage more marred then any mans and the man that is godly and so such as are valiant for the truth and have quit themselves thereto like men from those divers entanglements and lusts that weaken They are sought for to be suppressed kept under and hidden yea men not onely such but even all that in any sense quit themselves like men and will not subject themselves to their principles and traditions are faine to hide themselves And therefore thereby the people generally have cause of mourning so when they perish the righteous increase and it goeth well with them and thereby the people rejoyce and there is shouting See Prov. 28. 12 28. and 29. 2. and 11. 10. But they are the righteous even such as have righteousness and strength in the Lord seeking it there by faith in him that ceasing from their own works in the light and power of his testimony believe on him that justifieth the ungodly having raised up Jesus our Lord from the Dead who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification They are such as having tasted that the Lord is gracious do cleave to him with full purpose of heart and are by his goodness retained in the midst of their hearts fitted and apted with earnestness to stir up others so to do Such they are whose being taken away out of this life in the flesh is to themselves great gain whose removal from us is to the Survivers generally great loss a heavy woe and affliction whether they be sensible of it or no. Because such men are through the grace in Christ received and retained by them in its own light and power qualified to mind and seek the promoting of the things of Christ in the World and so the good of others therein and are therefore set and preserved in the World to that purpose To them to live is Christ it tends to the setting forth and magnifying him and so to the carrying on his design and business in the World To die is to themselves gain and advantage but that reaches but to themselves and so the affliction and judgement in the removal of such is greater as they were more one with him in his design not seeking their own things but the things which be Jesus Christs 2 The manner of removing or taking away of such persons that is especially to be looked upon by us as such a woe and affliction in which evil Breaches are made upon us It is not simply or onely their being taken away by death for it s appointed to men the whole kind once to die and that first death is so abolished the sting and wrath so taken out of it that no man shall perish or be holden for ever in that nor is it in himself simply a judgement in wrath or anger to themselves or others for any man once to die But when death seizes them or they are snacht away by it unseasonably or before the time or when it is in some signal testimony of displeasure then it is a correction or judgement either to themselves or to others or to both Now that men may die before their time that they may shorten their dayes though they cannot lengthen them or that the shortning or cutting them off in the midst or before the appointed time may by some means be procured to them is evident in the Scripture There is saith Job an appointed time to man upon earth the number of his Moneths or Dayes are with God beyond which he cannot pass Also his dayes are like the dayes of an hireling Of which a forfeiture may be made to the shortning them Therefore he saith All the Dayes of of his appointed time he would wait till his change came not hasting his end as he was councelled by his wife Chap. 2. 9. And begs of God to turn from him namely his wrath or not to set his iniquities before him his secret sins in the light of his countenance as Psalm 90. 7 8 9. That he might rest or be spared a little to recover strength and not consumed or cut off by the blow of his hand as Psalm 39. 10 13. till he should accomplish as an hireling his day Job 7. 1. and 14. 5 6. 14. See also that caution Eccles 7. 17. Why shouldst thou die before thy time Of like import to this purpose is that saying of Hezekiah That in the cutting off his Dayes threatned he was deprived of the residue of his years his age was departed from him he had cut off like a Weaver his life Isaiah 38. 10. 12. Yea we find that both good and righteous men and also wicked and ungodly men may be cut off and die before their appointed time But this difference is alwayes to be observed The cutting off wicked and ungodly men is alwayes mentioned as a judgement upon themselves such as in which they are utterly â—ut off from all hope driven away in their wickedness but not as a judgment or evil breach or wo to the survivers Yea rather such providences are mentioned as having favor and mercy in them towards others from amongst whom such are cut off As Sauls being cuting off was in wrath to himself but in mercy to Israel So Ahitophel and Judas cut off in judgement to themselves but there being cut off was no evil breach upon others but on the other hand a signal manifestation of Gods taking part with the righteous and pleading their cause for the good of others so that doom generally threatned on such men as put forth their hands against those that be at peace with them break the covenant are bloody and deceitful men as Judas Ahitophel and others that they shall not live out half their dayes Psalm 55. 20 23. â—â—â— mentioned as Gods faithfulness and mercy to the righteous for their sustaining and that they may not be moved by their afflictions afflictions
him as the principal thing the merchandize of it better then of silver and the gain thereof then of fine gold she is more precious then Râ—biâ—s and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her And therefore we are exhorted so to seek after it and get it with all our getting to buy the truth what ever it cost us or we must part with for iâ— and not to sel or part with it whatever advantage we might have in lieu of it Proverbs 3. 14 15. and 4 5 7 c. and 23. 23. To seek first the Kingdome of God and his righteousness so as with a neglect of all other things even things needfull as to the natural life for it leaving it to â—hâ—m without carefulness to dispose of them and add them to us as he sees good Matthew 6. 19 32 33. c. Yea even those things that are of all the things in this World most to be esteemed loved and respected in their place and in subordination to him yet are to be hated by us for him and in comparison of him If any man come to me saith our Saviour and in comming hate not Father and Mother Wife and Children Brethren and Sisters Yea and his own Life also he is not worthy of me he cannot be my Disciple Matthew 10. 37 39. Luke 14. 26 33. They sought not the Lord after the due order that with their mouth shewed much love but their heart went after their covetousness Ezekiel 33. 31. Nor they that loved the praise of men more then that which comes of God alone John 5. 44. and 12 43. That rather then part with or hazard the loss of the one would let go the other or put or keep themselves out of the certain way or meeting with it and so for lying vanities forsake their own mercies As also he that would first go bury his Father that so he might keep the good will of such relations while they lived and so make sure the Inheritance Portion or Advantage he might have from them at their death then promising to himself to follow him with a more full Spirit And likewise he that would first go bid them farewell that were at home at his house that in a designe to keep the friendship of the World and worldly relaâ—ions and friends would seek their consent or a fair and possible come off That he might not incurre hatred and reproach from them and be as the filth and off-scouring of the World to them not willing for the excellency of the knowledge of him to goe out of the Camp beaâ—ing his reproach Luke 9. 58. 61. Yea whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath even to his own natural Life if he lay not that at the stake for him or be not willing to let it goe and part with it oâ— any thing pertaining to it when it stands in the way for his sake and the Gospels or in his seeking to know him and winne him that he may be found in him do not neglect and hate it in comparison of him he is not worthy of him he seeks him not after the due order he cannot be his Disciple for no man can serve two masters the mind and affections cannot be fixed on â—â—ings below and on the things that are above together Therefore lâ—â—t seek we the Kingdom of God and his righteousness so as with a neglect of all other things for it and in comparision of it There is an order in the time and causes of the things that are to be preferred and earnestly and in a sense equally to be sought for by us After which somethings are to be sought first that other things which are also to be preferred and sought may be found in them and attained through them with other things are not otherwise to be sought but in the first things And so to seek the Lord after the due order as with reference to the things of the Lord and to be sought in in him as wisdome righteousness and strength Yea all things pertaining to life and godliness are in him and to be sought in him I say To seek him after the due order as with reference to those things Is First And as the first thing unto all to seek after wisdome in the knowledge of him in what he hath done and is become for us in Christ and the hope set before us in him that through the knowledge of his Grace towards us rich provision for us in Christ even while we were yet dead in sins and trespasses we may be strengthned to believe in him love and trust in him before the sons of men for his name in Christ known by us instructs and strengthens us to trust in him Psalm 9 10. to desire after him John 4. 10. to delight in and rest satisfied with him verse 14. Whence the Apostle prayes for the Ephesians that God would grant them the spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of their understandings being enlightned that they may know what is the hope of his calling c. Ephesians 1. 17 18 19. And the great conflict he had for the Collosians was that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assâ—rance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ and in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Yeâ— this he signifies to be that order of their faith in which it became stedfâ—st which he joyed to behold and according to which he exhorts them to go on walking in him as they had received him even according to this rule or order being rooted and built up in him and so stablished in the faith as they had been taught In their receiving him they were baptized into the knowledge and acknowledgment of his death and so taking root down-ward believing minding and considering what he had done and was now become for them through the blood of his Cross They were thence built up in him and upon him and after the same order might profitably go on to farther growth and stability in him Col. 2. 1 2 5 6 7. And so the way to grow in grace is signified to be in growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 8 18. Also that the mind or soul be without knowledge it is not good nor safe for without it it cannot be made good There is no other arm or power to reconcile the heart to God but the knowledge of his reconciliation in Christ or of â—hat goodness of God that is in and through Christ it s the goodness of God that leades to repentance Therefore the first thing to be sought always and in all oâ—â—â— seekings of the Lord and of righteousness and strength in him is that we may win him in the understanding and knowledge of him that is true
that so we may be found in him for the knowledge of him in what he hath done and is become for us while we were yet out of him being heartily imbraced leades the heart and mind into him and to be stayed in him See Phil. 3. 8 10. 1 Joh. 5 20. And to that purpose the first thing in all the commandements as brought to us by the glorious Gospel is to hear that word or doctrine of faith that presents the Lord our God to be one Lord as evidenced in that one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all a testimony in due time which shews him to be light and in him no darkness at all See and compare Mark 12. 29. 1 Timothy 2. 4 5 6. 1 John 1. 5. Whence also we are exhorted to be swift to hear that word of truth in what condition so ever we be come as we are to it listen to and receive it with all acception as a faithful saying full of truth and goodness for us at all times that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners To hear alwayes before we speak or do that thence we may be rightly taught strengthned and qualified so to speak and do as those that shall be judged by that royal law of liberty Be more ready to hear then to offer the Sacrifices of Fools James 1. 19. Eccles 5. 1. Prov. 22. 17 21. And so the way to seek righteousness profitably that we may attain it is to seek it by faith in Christ Romans 9. 30 32. To believe in him that we may be justified by the faith of him Gal. 2. 15 16. For as by his knowledge or skill so also through the knowledge of himself through his name he gives the forgiveness of sins and justifies the believer Isaiah 53. 11. with Acts 10. 43. and 13 38 39. And so likewise if we would get victory over sin and Satan cleanse our hands from sins our hearts from guile be made partakers of his holiness without which no man shall see him The way to seek it is also in the knowledge and faith of him and to that purpose to be exercised in beholding the glory of the Lord as shined in that glass even in the face of Christ through the glorious Gospel 2 Cor. 3. 18. with chap. 4. 6. Whence the Psalraist tells us That they that have clean hands and a pure heart are onely the Generation of them that seek his face and so seek righteousnes and strength there Psalm 24. 4 6. with Isaiah 45. 24 25. And therefore also calling upon us to seek the Lord and his strength leads us to this as the way to it in his fundamental instruction seek his face evermore Remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth Psam 105. 4 5. They then seek him not after the due Order that first seek to frame or work up their own hearts to a belief or hope in God or confident expectation of good from him before they hear or dare receive and consider the word of faith as true for them but seek to find the act or grace of faith first in their own hearts that from thence they may conclude the truth of the word of faith to themselves that first seek to work up their own hearts to love God before they will know or believe his love to them in Christ as and while sinners and enemies which onely is fit and able to get true love and good affection to him that so from the imagination of their love and good affection to him they may conclude his love and good affection in Christ â—o them Now herein is not love saith the Apostle that we have loved God herein Gods love is not rightly perceived But in this that he fiâ—st loved us even while enemies and sent his Son the propitiation for our sins And therefore and from thence we indeed love him because he fiâ—st loved us and from thence also that being first known and believed springs true love one to another 1 John 4. 9 10 19 and 3 16. They therefore do greatly err as likewise in seeking to get victory over sin and strength against their corruptions before they dare receive the report of his comming into the world to save sinners and the victory and conquest obtained in his resurrection over sin and Satan as faithful and true for them And then from what they imagine they find in themselves they conclude the truth of that done in him for them In this preposterous and disorderly way of seeking the Lord men make iâ— their first and great inquiry whether they be elected or in a good condition before God which they strive to guess and to conclude to themselves from some imagined gracious frames good affection victory over sin or the like or from some particular assurance that hath no better ground for the bottom of it then some testimony of their own or some private spirit before they will believe Gods testimony of his sending his onely begotten Son by his grace to taste death for them and giving him glory that their faith and hope might be in God And then gather up conclusions of the truth of that for them from their imagination of the truth of the former Namely that Christ by the grace of God tasted death for them because they find themselves such as before Hence it is that the way men too generally walk in to comfort themselves and others in distress is to labour to perswade them that they are in a better condition then they think they are Their sins less their Hearts Desire Frames and Works better or else from some signs or testimony of their owne spirit or of others that they are of the Elect and that therefore Christ and all his things belong to them Behold a more excellent way then any of these crooked paths in which who so walketh shall know no true or lasting peace First inquire in the light of Gods testimony and consider diligently what Jesus Christ by the grace of God hath done and what an infinite rich provision of all things pertaining to life godliness is in him for such vile sinners and wretched ones as at the worst thou mayest suppose thy self to be even for such as yeâ— are not of the Elect or chosen Generation that through him they might be saved and in finding him find Life Election Sonship and priviledges of Sons in him and so be made of that Generation that were chosen in Christ from the beginning of the World to be his peculiar treasure even of the chosen generation the Holy Nation Beloved with peculiar manner of love who before were not so as Rom. 9. 24 25. 1 Peter 2. 9 10. Instead then of striving to conclude thy self in a good or safe condition see and consider in the testimony of Christ what there is for such as are in a bad and lost condition like
of Christ the power of godliness that creep into houses or gather into companies and societies like the Churches of Christ Then such as Timothy are advised with more diligence to follow their work and design together with them that call on him out of a pure heart 2 Timothy 2. 22. with chap. 3. 1. 6. And all of us to be followers together of the Apostles and mark them which walk so as they have them for an example considering the end of their conversation as afore-said and so knowing and owning them for our companions to strive together with Phil. 3. 17 18 19 20 21. with chap. 1. 27 28. and 2. 1. 6. c. And that in all our acts of seeking and striving for the faith of the Gospel in all our hearing speaking doing suffering yea in our prayers to God as Romans 15. 30. with Ephesians 6. 18. Acts 1. 14. and 12. 12. See the many instructions and earnest entreaties and exhortations to this seeking and striving together in the Scriptures already mentioned and in divers others Surely a good and pleasant thing is this unity of the Spirit and the generation of seekers dwelling together in it For there the Lord hath commanded the blessing even life for evermore Where ever two or three are gathered together in his name there is he in the midst of them rendring them comely as Jerusalem that is compact together and terrible as an Army with Banners Psam 103 Cant. 6. 4. Mat. 18. 20. This last branch of order in the manner of our seeking is fitly added to the latter part of the former branch For onely by Pride commeth Contention Envying and Strife And then follows confusion and every evil work Proverbs 13. 10. James 3. 13. 16. and 4. 1 6 10. Therefore our Saviour thus joyns them in his instruction and exhortation Mark 9. 50. Have Salt in your selves have peace one with another Meaning by Salt the humbling instructions of the Gospel and the reproofs of instruction and signifying that the retaining them and suffering their effecacy each of us on our Spirits is the way to have peace one with another hence also the Apostle instructs with all lowliness of mind to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace for there can be no union or perfect joyning together without suffering the desires of vain glory to be subdued and our selves to be broken off from our own purpose and desire in which we are each minding and seeking his own things nor will there be any right submission of the younger to the elder nor of all of us one to another in the fear of the Lord without being cloathed with humility in the hearty acknowledgement of his glorious name Ephesians 4. 2 3 c. Philipians 2. 2 3 4 7 20 21. 1 Peter 5. 5 6. According to these last considerations of the due order in the manner of our seeking after which the Lord is to be sought by us They seek him not after the due order that are not gathered together to him in his name and so seeking him in the instruction encouragement and acknowledgement of it and in the unity of the Spirit in it or thus They that worship not in the spirit in the light teaching and instruction of that one spirit that is in and with the testimony of Jesus taking of his things and shewing them and so teaching all things and leading into all truth For as this is the spirit of prophesie so also of faith and of grace and supplication in which all the true worshippers worship God Rev. 19. 10. They therefore worship not aright that worship not in the spirit and so that have not their rejoycing in Christ Jesus who is the truth with a relinquishing and free giving up all Idols and rejoycings in the flesh for the excellency of the knowledge of him John 4. 23 24. Phil. 3. 3. Particularly thus 1. They that run not into that name of Christ in which is the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power for their light and instruction what to seek for in him and from him and how to seek but adhere to their own or some private spirit for that which will instruct and lead to seek and wait for in him or from him such things as God hath not put in him for us and therefore not promised to give with him to us as some such private assurances or speakings of peace and liftings up as are more suited to the sensual mind and may a little gratifie the flesh that desires ease or liberty or like things which instructions cause to err from the words of Knowledge and therefore neither can they stay upon or rest satisfied with the incouragement and strength which that spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus giveth to seek him to hope in and wait upon him and so not with that rejoycing which is onely in Christ Jesus because that gives no incouragement or strength to seek hope or wait for such things in him or from him or to seek in such a way as by their own or some private spirit light word or spark of their own kindling they are led to They therefore run to such sparks for light and heat and for a time may walk in the light of them stollen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret places is pleasant But from all those sparks and rejoycings in them they must lye down in sorrow Nor can these persons while wilfully walking in this way heartily acknowledge his name or give glory to it in submitting and falling down under the discoveries and reproofs of its instruction because their deeds are evil Their principal works and wayes are so contrary to it and reproved by it nor can they be heartily united with those that fear his name and worship him in truth And truly any branches or rellicks of that way of iniquity above-mentioned will have answerable like effects of confusion and disorder upon those that retain and walk in them 2. Nor are they seeking after the due order that though in some good measure right as to the first branch That is as to the things they seek and look for in him and from him seeking according to his will yet are not content with that ground of incouragement and way of approach that is onely in and through his blood and powerful mediation with it and therefore instead of attending principally to seek farther assurance of understanding in that that their hearts might be comforted and strengthned therein are even seeking peeping into corners and waiting for some other private incouragement or ground of assurance in which to seek expect and wait for his righteousness in perfecting what concerns them and so unsatisfifyed if they cannot gather up or kindle something of that nature as if they were without hope in the World as if all that ever God hath done for them in his Son and for and to them through him were nothing to assure them
they were of the first witnesses and preachers of the resurrection of Christ the Evangelists tell us and that they may as any of them is through grace sitted thereto both pray and prophecy and that in the presence of others in some assemblys of believers is clearly fignified 1 Cor. 11. 5. and in other Scriptures but the sense of the saying in both parts together is this They ought not nor is it seemly for them otherwise to speak either in praying or prophecying as the mouth of others or in propounding questions nor otherwise to act no not in the Church or any the assemblys thereof then so as therein they be under obedience and in quiet silence and subjection to the man so as in the Lord and therein to the wise and holy order and disposition of God They then are not capable of any office of rule or oversight in the Church as Elders and Deacons but to be in subjection Yea farther I suppose That in any assemblys of believers where there are men in presence fitted for speaking in prayer or prophecy or in propounding and answering questions for the edification of others it may be convenient for the women there to be silent yea a shame for them to speak unlesse in some extraordinary cases or on some particular occasione and so as desired or appointed as to the order and time of such their speaking by such brethren in presence with them or that are also over them in the word of the Lord as they may judge it needfull and convenient for the man was first formed then the woman likewise the woman was first in the transgression neverthelesse neither is the man without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord. But I forbear to urge my apprehensions of these things and leave what is said to correction by better judgement The women then for decency and ordersake observing such cautions as 1 Cor. 14. 33 34 35. 1 Timothy 2. 11 12. c. with 1 Cor. 11. 5 10. and so every one man or woman keeping their place and attending that place and service to which they are sitted and called The whole Church of unfeigned believers may all prophecy one by one as God hath dealt to them such a gift or exercise any other gift they have according to their severall abillity in this shift for the faith of the Gospell that all may learn and all may be comforted according as God hath dealt to every man For as there are many members in one body and all members have not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ he who hath set the members in the body as it hath pleased him divides to every man severally as he will for there are diversities of gifts but the same spirit and differences of administrations but the same Lord and diverfities of operations but it 's the same God which worketh all in all but the manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withall according to his measure for to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisedom to another knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith c. And so these severall gifts were set in the Church Apostles Prophets Teachers rancked under five heads Ephes 4. 11. there were also other gifts added with these to the Church to accompany the first proclamation of the Gospell to the Gentiles by the first witnesses which gifts were not so set for continuance as the former unto which they were added and therefore not mentioned among those which were given to continue in the Church till it come to its perfect state compare 1 Cor. 12. 28. with Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Now the Apostles themselves as they were appointed and chosen to peculiar service that by them the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear so they were not onely immediately from the Lord but also peculiarly gifted with all spirituall gifts to fit them to that service they had all the scriptures of the Prophets so opened to them and their understandings so opened and strengthened to understand them and the revelation of the mystery even of the truth of all as fulfilled come forth and manifested in Christ raised from the dead so immediately and fully given them from the Lord himselfe and were so gifted with all wisedom knowledge and utterance that they was therein perfectly accomplished and therefore sent in his name to make known the mystery as now revealed and to make it known out of the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God for the obedience of the faith among all Nations for his name and so as wise Master-Builders to lay the foundation for others to the end of the world to build on and so their gift as it was peculiar to them is yet left us in the fruit of it in their word and doctrine confirmed and set in the Church And so also their gift even the gift of Apostles in a secondary and inferiour sense is still found in the prime degree of the gift of Prophecy as set in the Church which therefore is mentioned as the head or chief of the best gifts now to be coveted by believers by other believers since or besides the Apostles such as believe through their word 1 Cor. 12. 31. with câ— 14 1. of which gift there are degrees or diversity of measure and so of administrations and operations accordingly Whence it is expressed in that to the Ephesians under these two heads Prophets Evangelists The prime degree hath in it such an understanding of the Scriptures of the Prophets even as the Testimony of Christ witnessed by them as now manifested by the Apostles is confirmed in the heart As also such acquaintance with the Scriptures and such skill in the word of righteousnesse vide The vision of all the great things of the Law or doctrine delivered by the Prophets and Apostles and as the foundation of and key of knowledge for opening all other things namely the testimony of Jesus as in which they are furnished and apted to a plain and cleare opening the foundation as laid by the Apostles and that out of the Scriptures of the Prophets by the revelation of the mistery given by the Apostles And so to shew the things of Christ by the Scrriptures even the things already done in his owne body which the Prophets said should come to passe and the powerfull efficacy of them with the Father for men and in the name of the Father unto then Through his powerfull mediation betweene God and men as also therein to shew the things yet to come in his glorious appearing and Kingdome and with this word of righteousnesse so distinctly and convincingly to instruct teach exhort reprove c. By the Scriptures of the Prophets as opened by