Work or most excellent piece of all the Creatures upon Earth as is already proved it is impossible that any Creature can give him any perfection from whence necessarily follows that no Creature can restore him to his primitive Perfection and integrity § 70. Stand here still with me O thou truth loving Reader and contemplate what manner of Being that must needs be then which according to the order of Nature in all things must restore the Sinner to his pristine state § 71. In the 68. § we have proved the Sinner must be restored by a more perfect Being than himself and not only so but that it must have power to impart of its perfection unto the Creature but this is impossible for any Creature to do according to § 69. yea this being must not only be so perfect but it must be such as must have fellowship with and be united unto Man according to § 68. § 72. All which being well considered every one must needs confess that none other is caâ—ableâ—o restore man but his Creator alone Because the Creator has not only more Perfection than man but can also confer it upon his Creatures which is evident from hence Even because he gave unto all the Creatures their Perfection in the Creation nor can we conceive any thing in the whole Frame of Nature that can have greater Fellowship and Union with Man than his Creator because the Creature depends upon the Creator and the Creator does continually uphold his Creatures § 73. Thus far then it follows beyond all Contradiction that the sinner cannot be restored but by his Creator But seing according to § 61. that nothing can come to its former perfection unless it recovers that which was the cause of its perfection yea that it is impossible that the sinner can by any thing else recover his primitive perfection but by that very thing alone with he lost as is proved § 63. and his pristine or Primitive Perfection having consisted in the Spirit or Image of God according to § 63.64 and seing the sinner cannot be restored to his former Estate but by his Creator according to § 71.72 and that he cannot receive any thing else but the image of God which can bring him thereunto according to § 63.64 it necessarily follows that the Creator must himself be that Image of God which man stands in need of § 74. Now it is manifest to every one that reads the Holy Scriptures that Christ is said to be the Creator of Heaven and Earth as may be seen Col. 1.16 By him were all things Created c. Seing then that the Holy Scripture shews us that Christ is he which Created us then he must also needs be that Image of God which Man had in the state of his uprightness and integrity and that Christ is that Image of God we have already proved at large § 58.59 § 75. From all these then it is manifest that none can restore us to our first perfection but Christ alone who was the Image of God in us which became darkned in us through Sin But for as much as § 66.67 it is proved that nothing can be united to another thing but through suffering and death it is of great consequence now to shew how and on what manner sinners may and by no other means can be united to God § 76. Now to search out it what manner sinners must be united to the Image of God it is not only enough that we know that Christ is our Creator and the Image of God which alone is able to restore the sinner into his Perfect State but we must also well mind this truth in order to a further discovery of the Union betwixt the Sinner and the Image of God viz That nothing can unite except the things which are to be united do meet to wit the uniter and that which is united So that we must here consider what manner of thing that must be which is to be united with Christ who is the Image of God that sinners may thereby be restored unto the state of Integrity again to wit to have fellowship again with God from whom it had separated and estranged it self by sin § 77. It is manifest from § 73. that sinners cannot be again restored unto their former state of Integrity except they obtain that which they lost now we do further say on the other side that that which was lost cannot be re-united unto man again except the nature of man can and do receive it For if it were some thing that were either too mean or too Glorious for man to receive then it could not be united unto man but unto some thing else and therefore it was that Christ could not be united unto any thing else but unto the nature of man that he might restore mans nature into its former state For had Christ been united with any thing else but the nature of Man he could not thereby have restored man but only that with which he had been united and consequently his Union with any other thing would have been of no advantage to the sinner at all nor could have united him with the Image of God but this is that which we are now to prove according to § 75. § 78. Now altho' it be clear from § 76. That Christ was to take upon him the Nature of Man that he might restore unto sinners the Image of God yet is that not enough that Christ should only have taken upon him the Nature of Man but it was also most necessary that Christ should take upon him the nature of such a man as of whom all mankind does depend and from whom all men did come or are descended Because the Nature of all things teaches us that the whole race of any thing cannot be Meliorated except the Source or Root be amended from whence the whole Race or all the Branches are descended as for example when a whole Tree does not bear good Fruit it is necessary that the whole Tree be amended by Transplantation and cutting off the Branches and Pruning the Roots and not one or more of the Branches only Because the Tree bears the Branches and the Branches not the Tree Wherefore altho ' some of the Branches should be cut off and Grafted upon another Tree those Branches which are so cut off and re-engrafted would in themselves be amended but not the whole Tree from which they were cut off To make this plain there is no better way than for us to make a Trial from our own Selves As for Example When the whole Man is sick and out of Order so that the Distemper proceeds from the Life it self and not from the unsoundness of any one of the Parts or Members the Query is Whether any one can be so foolish as to endeavour to restore his whole Being unto Health by cutting off an Arm or a Leg or by applying Remedies to them Verily no but he will endeavour to remove the Cause
and because Darkness may be made Light and Light Darkness This we are taught Gen. 1.2 where there was nothing but Darkness and V. 3. The Light was first brought forth viz. out of the Darkness for V. 4. God Separates the Light from the Darkness To which the Apostle Alledging saith 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness Forasmuch therefore as the Light proceeds from the Darkness and can lye hid in the same consequently they must partake with one another and be ally'd together or derived from one Original For otherwise the Light could never be turn'd to Darkness as Matt. 6.23 If then the Light that is in thee be Darknese And Luke 11.35 Take heed therefore that the Light which is in thee be not Darkness And on the contrary neither would the Darkness ever become Light which yet is positively asserted Eph. 5.8 For ye were sometimes Darkness but now are ye Light Neither would a Darkned Understanding ever be capable of being enlightned which yet is asserted Eph. 3.18 Both these Objections are also answered in my Observations concerning Man § 31.32 And therefore I shall no further enlarge upon them here § 110. We shall only by the way take notice here that if any one from the Existence of thefe two contrary Principles whereof all Creatures subsist shall conclude that there must be two Gods one Good and the other Evil it will be a sign that he hath not considered that the Light may be made Darkness and the Darkness Light as is shewed in § 109. And consequently that these two Principles do not suppose two Gods but one only because they are ally'd together and consequently proceed both of them from one God For if these Principles were not brought forth by one God but the Effects of two several Deities then it would be true that these Principles proceeding from two different Causes could not have any Communion or be united with one another But seing these Principles are United this shews that they proceed from one God § 111. Hitherto we have shewed that all Creatures consist of these two Spiritual Essences and that these two different Beings consist of many Spirits But because our Aime is to shew how or in what state Man was Created by God we are to enquire what kind of Body it was that God Created for Adam § 112. We have shewed in the 2d and 3d. Chapters that Man had in himself the Divine Light viz. The Image of God which did Illuminate his Soul and Body Neither had he only the Image of God in him but he had also a Soul given him of which we have Treated Chap. 4th And besides these two God formed Man a Body out of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adamah Gen. 2.7 which doth not merely signifie Earth or Red Earth as now a days is supposed but the Blood of the Earth For why do our Modern Interpreters say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Red Earth but because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Signifies Blood and Blood is Red. But what wisdom is there coucht in this that Adams Body was formed out of Red Earth For my part I know not what they can make of this But we shall find a fund of Wisdom in this word if we Translate it the Blood of the Earth For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blood signifies the Life or the Spiritual part of the Body as is evident from those places of Scripture that expresly tell us that Blood signifies the Life or Soul Gen. 9.4 But Flesh with its Soul that is its Blood c. and Deut. 12.23 Be sure that thou eat not the Blood for the Blood is the Soul Whence we are taught that Adams Body being formed of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it did consist of the Spiritual and Soulish part of the Earth as before hath been shewed that the Corporeal is brought forth from that which is Spiritual § 113. But it is not sufficient for us to know of what the Humane Body was formed but we must further enquire why God gave Man a Body § 114. In order therefore to our knowing why God hath given Adam a Body we must first of all enquire why Man was Created by God To which commonly is answered that Man was Created to Glorifie God and to publish his Virtues and Praise with other such like which expressions do contain a Truth if we understand what is required to the Glorifying of God But that we may not from these Expressions conceive any Humane thoughts of God as if he were delighted as Men are with hearing himself praised Let us enquire into the Bottom of what these words import and that by putting this Query whether a man when he Glorifies God be not operative To which the answer must be affirmative because the least Action or Thought is an Operation If therefore the Glorifying of God be a working the next thing we are to enquire is wherein this Working consists This Operation of Glorifying God and Magnifying of his name doth not consist in this that God thereby receives more Prefection or a greater degree of Worthiness and that from his Creature for as much as God is every way perfect yea that Being from whom and through whom all things are brought forth and are still daily maintained so that God can have no more perfection or worthiness now than he hath ever had for as much as to that which is perfect in all respects nothing more can be added What then is this Work or Operation of Man whereby he Glorifies God and wherein doth it Consist Mans Glorifying of God consists in this that he performs that which God hath Commanded him which Command is exprest Gen. 1.28 And God said unto them be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth and subdue it and have Dominion over the Fish of the Sea and over the Fowl of the Heaven and over every living thing that creepeth upon the Earth So that we see God commands Man to be fruitful and this Fruitfulness consists in Multiplying which Expressions are Repeated V. 22. Man was also commanded to Replenish or fill the Earth that is he should exalt the Earth to that perfection to which it was to be brought and advanced viz. to be made Spiritual and Glorious And that this is the sence of these words appears from hence that man hath an Earthly Body which is maintained from the Earth for Man continually Eats and is nourished with that which is Earthly which Earthly Body and Food hath been given him to the end he might make it Heavenly and Spiritual as is abundantly shewed 1 Cor. 15. and V. 54. it is said that the Sinners Mortal Body shall be made Immortal and incorruptible c. Yea the whole Duty of Man towards his God Consists in this that he make the Earthly or Dark and Watry Essence whereof his Body Originally consists according to § 98. Light and Glorious and by this means approach near to the Divine and
unchangeable Light and attain to Communion with the same And to the end he might thus fill the Earth that is make it Spiritual God also Commanded Adam to subdue the Earth whereby is not meant that man should have the Earth under his Feet go upon it or Till and Cultivate it for this Nature sufficiently teacheth us neither was there any need of a Command to inforce it but hereby is intimated to us that it is the great duty of Man to have the Earthly and Dark Essence whereof his Body doth Consist under his power and Command so as that the said Dark Essence might not bear Rule over the Fiery but on the contrary that his Glorious and Illuminated Spirit should Rule over the Dark or Watry Essence whereof his Body doth consist and over the Spirits that are in it of which see § 107. and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to have Dominion over to Conquer to bring into Subjection and Obedience And when we put such a Sence as this upon these Words Replenish the Earth and Subdue it we shall find them to hold forth Wisdom and Understanding and such as doth excellently agree and comport with the Nature of Man seing that he consists of these two different Essences viz. The Fiery and the Watry Neither is there any thing throughout the whole Current of Scripture more prest upon than to mortify his Flesh to Subdue it and Glorifie it through the Spirit as hath been shewed § 39.40 105 107. So that the same thing which was Commanded to Adam Gen. 1.28 the Sinner must now obtain through much suffering and manifold Deaths § 115. Seing therefore that it is the great duty and Work of Man pursuant to Gods Command to Subdue that which is Earthly and Bodily and to make it Spiritual it was of absolute necessity that he should be partaker of the Earthly in order to his Glorifying of it And for this Reason Man had an Earthly Body bestowed upon him to the end he should make that Body which is fed and maintained from the Earth Spiritual and illuminate its Darkness Moreover God gave to Man Dominion over the Fishes of the Sea and over the Fowl of Heaven and over every living thing that creepeth upon the Earth And this was necessary because man was appointed to fill or replenish the Earth and to Subdue it In the word Earth being also comprehended whatsoever consists of the Earth or Water because the Earth hath its Original from the Water to the end therefore that Man might have Dominion over all these Creatures it was necessary for him to have some Communion with them that is to be partaker of their Natures to the end that Ruling over them he might in and through the Glorification of his own Body Glorify them also and make them Spiritual And this could have been done in and through Adam because he being the Head of the Earth did Govern all things by his Spirit and therefore was partaker of all Living Crèatures that so they might not be exempted from his Dominion And that Adam was thus Partaker of all Living things appears from this that Man to this day doth Partake of the Fish Fowl and Beasts because he enjoys the same for his Food and Nourishment Moreover which is well to be minded he was also to have Dominion over every Creeping thing viz. Worms and other Infects which Worms were not without him for the Body consists of Worms as appears because when it dies it turns to Worms and Worms are the first Life of all Creatures because all things that die turn to Worms § 116. And to the end we may more clearly Dissect the Condition and Qualities of Adam we are well to consider that Adam before the Fall did not consist nor exist as we Sinners now do for we are part and Members of Adam which were in Adam as is hinted § 78. we therefore being the Members of Adam cannot have the same Perfection which Adam had who was the whole that is who had all Men in himself And in this respect the Apostle saith very well 1 Cor. 12. That we all are one Body yet so as that we are Members of that Body now the Members have not one and the same or an alike powerful Operaton neither are all of the same worth and dignity nor hath every Member separately the same worthiness with the whole Body Whence we understand that none of Adams Posterity can have the Excellency which Adam hath because Adam is the Head and Body whereof all Men are only the Members and every Member Separately hath only the Perfection of being such a Member and not of being the whole Body Neither is Adam only to be considered as the Head of all Mankind and by consequence far more excellent than any of his Posterity but such also was the Prerogative of Adam that the had the whole Earth and all Creatures in himself that is that he Ruled over them all and this could not be except that his Spirit had dwelt in all things and Govern'd them And that all Creatures were in Adam that is that the whole Earth and all living Creatures were upheld and Govern'd by his Spirit in the same manner as the Central Spirit of Man upholds and Governs his whole Body we learn from hence because when Adam had sinned the whole Earth was cursed for his sake Gen. 3.17 Now if so be the whole Earth and all that is in it had not been a part of Adam what consequence or connexion could there be in this that upon Adams sinning the whole Earth should be declared sinful Moreover we Read Rom. 8.19 20 21 22. That the Creature as with a stretched forth head waiteth for the Manifestation of the Sons of God For the Creature was made subject to Vanity not willingly but by or through him who hath subjected the same in hope that the Creature it self also shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious Libery of the Sons of God For we know that the whole Creation groaneth and is in travel together until now When the Apostle here saith that the whole Creation that is the whole Earth is made subject to Vanity or Corruption by him who hath subject it viz. to Vanity can this possibly be understood of any one but of Adam No surely for God had Commanded Adam that the should Subdue the Earth or subject it but not to Vanity but by Glorifying the same as hath been said § 114. tho he did the contrary If therefore Adam being the Head and Governour of the whole Earth hath made the whole Creation viz. the Earth subject to Vanity is not then this our Assertion true and stedfast that the whole Earth and all that is in it is a part of Adam Yea the Apostle saith as much in plain words by calling Men the Earth and whatsoever is in the same one whole Creation or Creature thereby expresly shewing that the whole Earth is
building doth not that number of time signify the number which is proper to the make or essential Being of Man which requires 10 Lunar Months or fourty Weeks to abide in the Womb for the formation of his Body which is made out of the humidity that is governed by the Moon VI. Whether the 6 years may not correspond to the 6 days of the Creation VII Whether when our Lord Christ was tempted in the Wilderness as in Mat. 4.1 2. and fasted 40 days and nights did he not in that fasting consume the flesh of the Old Man and Spiritualize it and after it is said in V. 2. he hungred that is to bring back Humane Nature into its true state and Restoration in and by himself VIII Whether in case it be found true that after 4000 Years from the Creation according to the computation of the Holy Writ it self and also of natural Reason the Fall of Adam and Eve was then to be wrought out and ended must not consequently this be the fulness of time wherein the Messiah was to come and appear IX Whether if Adam as abovesaid had not fallen he would have Spiritually conceived must it not of necessity follow that the Messiah being to come in the place of Adam must be likewise Spiritually conceived of a Virgin X. Whether if Christ who was to become the Messias and was therefore to be united to Adam and Adam was to be restored and perfected through Death and Sufferings doth it not hence follow that Christ also ought to suffer Death to obtain a Glorious Redemption and Resurrection for us XI Whether as Christ was born under the Law must he not be subjected to the Law and accordingly did he not perfectly fulfil the Law as in Mat. 5.18 and Luke 16.17 XII Whether therefore was it not necessary that all the Righteous Duties which the Law commands should be performed and compleated by him and moreover that he should do teach and command us to love our Enemies to be poor in Spirit and submit to Death whereby to obtain Life and many other such like Virtues XIII Whether he was not therefore to give them the Power as in Iohn 2.19 20 21 22. to esteem and use him as a Sinner and to hang him on the Cross and Moses did the Serpent in the Wilderness as in Iohn 3.14 Seing that all Created Bodies are made out of Worms or creeping things of which the Serpent is to be reckoned the chiefest Which Serpent was in Eve as was all Beings in the World as she was the Mother of all Living as it is said in Gen. 3.20 and deceived her XIV Whether the Messiah as being the Seed of the Woman hath not broken the head of the Serpent having through death finished Redemption as he himself testifyed on the Cross as in Iohn 19.30 XV. Whether considering Christ did outwardly and visibly appear in the Flesh was it not necessary the outward and visible Ear should hear a Voice from Heaven signifying the same as in Luk. 9. from 30 to 35. XVI Whether if we rightly consider what our Saviour saith Mat. 10.5.6 Mark 6.7 8. Luke 9.1 2 3. Luke 10.1.2.3.4.5.6 Acts 13.46 Where the sends forth and commanded his twelve Disciples not to go in the way of the Gentiles neither into any City of the Samaritans but rather to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel and to Preach saying The Kingdom of God is at hand we may not find Cause to suppose that he came to prepare the Kingdom for the Jews he having before sent his Disciples to prepare them for the Kingdom especially considering Acts 1.6 The Disciples asking if he would then restore the Kingdom to Israel and his Answer that after they had received the Holy Ghost they should go not only where he had before sent them but likewise to those Places then forbidden which if this Supposition be rejected what Wisdom or Coherence should there be in these Texts Seing Christ himself gives us the Parable of the ten Virgins Mat. 25.1 c. whereof five were Wise and five Foolish may we not suppose them to be the Jews and Gentiles and the five wise to represent the Jews they being those holy Bodies that arose out of the Graves Mat. 27 25. and went into the Holy City with those who were to arise and ascend with him to whom the Kingdom of Heaven was near The foolish representing the Gentiles who were to buy Oyle their time being not yet come wherein they were to enter and therefore our Saviour bids them watch against his second coming at the end of the World at which time they were to enter XVII Whether when the Messias died he signifying the Temple was it not necessary that the Vail of the Temple should be Rent from the top to the bottom as in Mat. 27.51 c. And all seperation now to be taken away between God and Man between man and man also as in Gal. 3.28 and Col. 3.11 XVIII Whether was it not necessary that after 3 days he should arise again from the Dead and that the Graves should be opened and many holy Bodies should arise with him out of the Grave as in Mat. 27. 52 33 to shew forth the Virtue and Power with which he was endued to draw all men after him as in Iohn 12.32 they being the first fruits as in 1 Cor. 15.20 21 22. 23. and in 1 James 18. and Rome 14.4 that had finised their Revolution XIX Whether Holy Writ in Acts 1.3 Signifying that Christ continued 40 days Walking on the Earth before he ascended as in Acts 1.9 may we not conclude that it is signified to us that in 40 Years the whole Temple should be destroyed he having in fourty dayes finished the Work he came to do as in Iohn 17.4 Fourty being the fourt out-workings of Male and Female Wherein all do compleat the final fulfilling of their own Revolutions which I wish to all men as well as to my own self Here follows An Exact from the last Words of the Philosopher Socrates concerning The Immortality of SOULS WHen Socrates had thus spoken Cebes began and said All is right what thou hast spoken O Socrates But as for the Soul Men are generally very apt to disbelieve that Souls after their departure do exist any where but think that at the same time that a Man Dies his Soul perisheth and that it is no sooner let loose from the Body but it is annihilated and like a Wind or Smoak vanisheth and disappears But if it be so that the Soul Exists some where gathered up into her self and delivered from those Evils and Mischiefs thou hast mentioned then may we have a great and good hope O Socrates that all you have discourst is true Yet perhaps there will be need of strong perswasion and Belief to make people think that the Soul after its departure doth still exist and hath some power and understanding Soc. True O Cebes But what thinkest thou if we should