Saints be joyful in glory c. Psal 149.5 6 7 8 9. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth or throat and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to binde their Kings in chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgement written This honour have all his Saints Hallelujah Mal. 4.3 For in that Day they shall tread down the wicked and they shall be as ashes under the soles of their Feet and so in the great straight to give the great Overthrow to the Enemies at the Day of the Lord 's coming it is said Zach. 14.1 2-6 Rev. 19 11-21 2 Pet. 3.5 6 7 8-10 The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee And so the Armies in Heaven follow him to the taking of the Beast and the false Prophet and casting them into the Lake of Eire and slaying the Remnant with the Sword c. when also the Earth with the Works that are therein shall be burn'd up and destroyed as the old World was with Water And this being done the next work is 3. To restore all things so said Peter Act. 3.19 20. When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you And so as in the beginning of the first Creation the whole business is first set forth in general Gen. 1 chap. and then the things done in the same time more particularly set forth and explicated chap. 2 and 3 So here in the dissolution of the Old and compleating of the New Creation the things done are in general related Rev. 19 and 20 chap. and then more particularly opened Rev. 21.7 5. chap. 21 and 22. And so Iohn saith He saw a new Heaven and a new Earth c. And the Lord saith Behold I make all things new c. And again These words are true and faithful And so the Believers when that great Overthrow is given to the wicked 2 Pet. 3.12 13. do look for a new Heaven and new Earth according to his promise for so when he cuts off the wicked Isa 65.12 15 17. he hath promised to create new Heaven and a new Earth c. And this is assured to be in that Day of the Manifestation of the Sons of God that the Creature even the whole Creation shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God who shall then enjoy the Adoption Rom. 8.19 20 21 22. Heb. 2.5 6. with Psal 8.4 5 6 7 8. Rom. 4.13 Heb. 11.16 Isa 58.12 the Redemption of the Body which they now wait for This the World to come whereof we speak this the World to come of which Abraham shall be an Heir this the Country he and our Fathers waited for and then shall inherit so as Christ in this respect also is the Restorer of paths to dwell in And having thus renewed the Heaven and the Earth the next work which is done in compleating this is cleerly shewn 4. Rev. 11.18 Luk. 14.14 Joh. 14.3 2 Tim. 2.12 Rev. 1.5 5.10 Luk. 22.28 29 30. Mat. 19.28 29. To take unto him his great Power and Raign and so to give rewards to his Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name small and great and so to receive to himself all that have formerly believed on him lived to him and suffered with him that they may raign with him yea eat and drink at his Table in his Kingdom and sit on Thrones c. In which Raign and Kingdom of Christ with his Saints when he comes and takes it divers things are considerable as expresly declared and affirmed in the Scripture as about the place of his raigning and the place of his Throne and the extent and manner and prosperity and duration of his Kingdom CHAP. 18. Of the things considerable about the Kingdom of Christ THat mentioned in the Scripture about the Kingdom of Christ is 1. The place of his Kingdom and Raign it shall be upon the Earth the Earth being renewed This is plainly intimated in Heb. 2.5 6 7 8. compared with Psal 8.4 6 7 8 9. and affirmed both of him and his Saints upon the making of the new Heaven and the new Earth I Iohn saw the holy City Rev. 21.1 2. new Ierusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband Is not this the Spirits of Just Men made perfect receiving their Bodies raised immortal Heb. 12.22 23 24. Gal. 4.26 1 Cor. 15.51 52 53 54. 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. glorious powerful and spiritual and the living Saints in the same moment of their Resurrection changed and made like them and so both together ascending and meeting the Lord in the Air or Heaven and so coming down with him as is foreshewn And that we may rightly understand the meaning of the Vision declared he farther saith Rev. 21.3 4 5 6 7. Zach. 14.9 Psal 72.8 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and so on Yea the Raign of Christ is expresly affirmed That it shall be on Earth and the Raign of the Saints with him that it shall be on Earth also so they confess Thou hast made us unto our God Rev. 5.10 Psal 37.9 10 11. Kings and Priests and we shall raign on the earth And so it is said When the wicked are cut off and shall not be then the meek that wait on the Lord in these dayes of his patience shall inher it the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace But this will still more appear in the Points following and so I will proceed to them 2. The place of the Throne it shall be Ierusalem the great and Holy City in the midst of Canaan in which Abraham walked and sojourned as a Stranger though then renewed and enlarged Jer. 3.17 and so it is said At that tune they shall call Ierusalem the Throne of the Lord And all Nations shall be gathered unto it Isa 24.23 to the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem c. The Lord of Hosts shall raign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously Isa 33.17 20 21 And again Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty c. Look upon Sion the City of our solemnities Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation a tabernacle that shall not be taken down c. There the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams c. Oh Jerusalem the holy City Isa 52.1 henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean Rev. 21.10 11-27 Isa 2.3 Mic. 4.2 Isa 62.7 Ezck. 38.35 Psal 122.5 Mat. 19.28 according to that Rev.
perdition and destruction of ungodly Men yea of all that then will not serve Christ and his people yea all the Saints with him shall have this honor To execute vengeance upon the Heathen to binde their Kings c. as is said 3. Jer. 3.17 18. Ezek. 30.24 37.21 22. Isa 52.8 Jer. 33.7 8 9. Isa 19.24 25. Jer. 48.47 49.6 7. Rom. 11.15 26 27. Psa 126.1 2. Heb. 8.10 11. Jer. 31.31 33 34. 32.38 39 40 41 Ezek. 37.24 28. Yea they shall also be with him and see the natural Seed of Abraham that are at that time found surviving of the whole twelve Tribes of Israel from all the utmost parts of the World come into their own Land yea then will that be fully performed that is promised 2 Sam. 7.10 13. Isa 11.11 16. Jer. 31.8 9. And they shall not onely see this but they shall also see of other Nations come in together with them to worship God as Egypt and Assyria and of Moab and Ammon and Elam yea of all Nations that shall be left living upon the Earth Psal 66.4 and 89.9 O joyful sight what can this be to such as love God less then life from dead and ravishing and satisfying joy and yet this is not all for then also being with the Lord they shall themselves receive of the Lord the full of the Covenant and Testament he in the day of grace was for and to them being the Mediator of that Testament in their behalf the Minister thereof giving in a spiritual first fruits to their Spirits but now openly making it in performance both to Soul and Body and they shall also see it made with the whole house of Israel as it was fore-made for them with their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob yea in a fuller sense because not to be looked and waited for by Faith then but to be enjoyed in performance both to their Fathers and them so as they shall then all know the Lord and there will be no more any remembrance of their sins by him they shall have no more any hunger thirst pain or any sorrow 4. Then also shall they see Jerusalem that great City Psa 128.5 Isa 33.20 66.13 Jer. 3.17 Isa 9.7 24.23 Luk. 1.32 33 Dan. 7.14 Psa 72.8 9 10 11. 106.5 Isa 65.17 2 Pet. 3.13 Isa 9.6 7. 11.1 9. Psa 72. 75.1 2 3. Heb. 2.8 Psal 8.4 5 9. Rom. 8.21 22. the praise of the Earth the Throne of the Lord a quiet Habitation yea then and there shall they see Jesus Christ in his glorious Body The Son of David The King in his Beauty and Glory sitting upon the Throne of David his Father and ruling before his Ancients gloriously in Jerusalem and over all the Nations and Kingdoms of the Earth under the whole Heavens then shall they see the good of his chosen and rejoyce in the gladness of his Nation and Glory with his Inheritance for then they shall have a new Heaven and new Earth wherein dwells Righteousness the Creation restored to its purity the light of the Sun as the light of seven dayes the Earth bringing forth plentiful encrease and all Creatures at peace among themselves the people among them all righteous and not one suffered to live among all Nations that shall rebel against them all Righteousness and Peace and Prosperity streaming among them through the blessed Restauration by and Government of the Lord Jesus Christ the King 5. The Tabernacle of God Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily and the holy City Rev. 21.1 5. 1.6 5.10 2 Tim. 2.12 Mat. 19.28 29. Luk. 19.17 19. which are these that have died in the Faith being risen and meeting the Lord in the Air comes down from Heaven in which God then dwelleth with Men having made all things new and now shall these Children of the Resurrection be Kings and Princes and chief Rulers in the Commonwealth of Israel and shall judge or govern the World and rule the Nations and so raign in this flourishing Kingdom with Christ on whom they have believed and with whom they have suffered yea now the Lord Jesus the King of Kings as he hath secured them from any hurt by the second death Rev. 2.11 20.6 3.5.21 2.7 17. 22.14 Mat. 10.41 42. Luk. 14.14 Mat. 29.29 Rev. 7.13 17. 11.18 so he will give unto them to sit with him in white raiment on his Throne and give them a new white Stone with a new Name even of Victory in it and to eat of the hidden Manna and of the Tree of Life yea also Rewards according to all their services and sufferings for his sake yea the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints Dan. 7.27 Rev. 21.24 6. Isa 66.10 23. Psal 72. Their exercise shall be a joyful and continual Sabbath-keeping with the Lord in singing Hallelujahs and new Songs of praise and all Nations shall acknowledge them The beloved and blessed of the Lord Isa 60.3 14. 61.9 1 Joh. 3.2 1 Cor. 13.12 Phil 3.20 Col. 3.4 yea they seeing Christ as he is and as they are seen they shall be like him but how glorious this estate will be is not yet manifested and so beyond our conceptions but onely that we know that we are now Sons and that in a measure we shall be then like him in glory And all these things may be seen more at large before in Part 2. ch 18. III. For the Promises to be performed to them when Christ shall have finished the work of the Davidical Regiment raised and judged all the Serpentine Seed and cast the Devil and his Angels and all the Enemies the wicked into the Lake of Fire and then delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father the Promises to be then performed I finde no other but an Ascension or encrease of this happiness and glory in God being All in all onely this I finde That the Kingdom shall never end Dan. 7.14 27. Isa 9.7 60.19 20. 61.7 Luk. 18.30 1 Cor. 15.28 Psal 16.11 never pass to another people they shall be ever with the Lord and everlasting joy shall be upon them and they shall be in everlasting life for ever and for ever only the administration of the Government is exalted or ascended higher so as God is All in all in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right Hand are pleasures for evermore that this is and that so it shall be is exprest and so most certain and sure but what manner of glory it will be is not yet revealed nor will be till Jesus Christ come and take unto him his great Power and Raign And these be part of the Promises made to Believers to be performed to them 2 Tim. 4.8 after they have finished their course and at the coming of Christ and if Believers do well minde these Promises Rom. 8.18
man of all Nations in all the World where-ever they come and this as a Word of Truth and so to set forth this second publick Man the spiritual Man the Lord the quickning Spirit as he on whom God hath executed the Judgement that was due to Mankinde for their sins as fallen in whom their Nature is restored the Nature of Man being united and married unto God in the Person of his Son and so a great Feast of fatness even the sure mercies of David prepared in him is Mankinde perfect again as in a publick Man having in him forgiveness pardon peace wisdom righteousness eternal Life so verily that in believing in him they may receive it 1 Ioh. 5.10 11 12. 2 Cor. 2.17 3.12 4.2 and be partakers of it and so is he to be set forth without any Cloak or equivocation plainly to every Man appealing to their consciences in the sight of God and that Jesus is so and as such a one to be held forth to all that every one may behold him as he in whom there is healing for them to be received in believing is plain in our Saviour's own personal Testimony a Ioh. 3.14 15. and the Testimony of his Spirit in his Apostles b Rom. 3.24 25 26. 2 Cor. 5. 14 19 21. Col. 1.28 and this to this end that by this Men might be reconciled to God c 2 Cor. 5.20 And this hope given the Servants of Christ in such elevation of Christ that he will confirm their words and manifest their Testimony true so that all Men shall be drawn thereby even by Christ testified unto him d Joh. 12.32 such as in this day of grace believe this Testimony of him it shall be the power of God unto Salvation in them and work effectually in them uniting and conforming them to Christ so as they shall by degrees and in due season enjoy all this revealed blessedness e Mat. 10.40 Rom. 1.16 1 Thes 2.13 2 Pet. 1.1 10. And such as persist in refusing and rebelling against the Light extended shall by the same Spirit that breatheth in the Gospel be at the last day convinced f Joh. 16.7 8 9 10 11. and come before Christ and bow to him and confess him Lord to the glory of God g Phil. 2.10 11. and shall confess the Truth of the Testimony his Servants delivered and them to be the Servants of the Lord which in the dayes of his patience they despised and opposed h Isa 60.14 Rev. 3.9 and all before the final sentence be executed on them for God that frustrateth the tokens of the lyars and maketh diviners mad that turneth wise Men backward and maketh their knowledge foolishness doth and will confirm the Word of his Servants and perform the counsel of his Messengers i Isa 44.25 26. And to both parts of this said he hath given us his Oath That all shall come before him k Isa 45.22 23 24. And thus was the mystery of Christ revealed by himself in his own personal Ministration Part 1. ch 6. in which also as he uttered many Parables so he opened them all to his Disciples to teach them openly and whereas the Disciples did not yet cleerly understand all this Revelation of Christ so taught to them before Christ had suffered and risen from the dead therefore Christ after his Resurrection appeared to them and taught the same again to them and then expounded Moses and the Prophets and in order opened in all the Scriptures unto them the things concerning himself also opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures l Luk. 24.26 27 45 46 47. yet because all was not yet acted by Christ as well as taught by him that was to be in the mystery held forth in their Ministration for Christ his body though then risen was not as then ascended and glorified m Joh. 20.17 and so the fulness of understanding of the whole mystery by the Holy Ghost not yet given n Joh. 7.39 16.7 therefore they were yet to wait for further divine Power even the holy Ghost to be given them to open cleerly this Revelation to them and to help them to witness it which Christ promised them and did perform it after his ascension o Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 CHAP. 9. Of the third way of our Saviour's Revelation and manifestation of himself to the first witnesses of his Resurrection OUr Saviour according to his Promise did within a few dayes after his Ascension by vertue and as a fruit of his Ascension and Sacrifice offered and accepted and his Mediation begun he did send and shed forth and pour upon and in them the Holy Ghost in an audible sensible Act. 2.2 3 4 c. and visible shape both resting upon them and supernaturally and inwardly filling them by which Holy Spirit he brought again to their minde and gave them to understand all his fore-Revelation and sayings to them and shewed the things of himself and the Father so leading them into all Truth and making known to them the whole counsel of God in things pertaining to Eternal Life to be taught till his coming again enduing them with power motion and fitness to witness of him and giving them the gift of tongues to speak to every Man in his own Language wherein he was born so abundantly was the Revelation of the mystery of Christ by the Spirit made known to them and yet that we may rightly understand what the Holy Ghost is that was thus given unto them it is good to consider what in Revelation of Christ from the beginning and now by himself is given us to understand and that is that it is something that was never before this so given no not as then while John was baptizing Mar. 1.8 Joh. 7.38 39. Joh. 14.16 16.7 Act. 5.3 4. 1 Ioh. 5.7 Gen. 1.2 Psal 33.6 139.1 11. nor yet while Christ himself was personally ministring here on Earth nor could be given till he left the World in that body of his and went to the Father so that it cannot be meant properly of the essence and being of the Holy Ghost which is one and the same with the Father and the Son the same God by whom the Heaven and the Earth was made and all the Hosts of them for in this respect he fills heaven and Earth and is everywhere present and alwayes was so that in respect of essence he is not said to be sent or proceeding from the Father and Son or descending being ever one in and with both but onely in respect of person or manner of existence in and operation of that one divine essence but it must be meant of some forth-coming of the divine power from the Father by Christ yet in this also it cannot be meant of such forth-coming in breathings and operations as tend to the supportation of the old Creation Joh 26.12 13. Psa 104.29 30. in
preaching of the Cross and so the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified and so it must be a preaching suitable thereto and the means to make Christ known according to this Revelation is preaching such a preaching as in which he is lift up as shewn in the eighth Chapter before and in the Scripture we may finde it farther thus set forth that is 1. That it must be preaching Joh. 12.38 Rom. 10.16 1 Pet. 1.12 Joh. 17.6 7. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. Act. 13.32 33. 26.27 Rom. 3.25 26. 1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4 5. Act. 5.42 18.26 28.23 31. 1 Tim. 2.7 Act. 20 21. 2 Cor. 5.10 11 14 19 20. that is in Scripture Language proclaiming and reporting Jesus to be the Christ and therewith the things done by him declaring with manifestation and making plain the things reported and therewith so teaching and expounding the same that the ends vertues and excellencies of Christ and his Cross and the things of Christ with his requirings and promises may appear and be made known and evidencing and testifying the Truth of all so taught by the Scriptures according to the Commandment of God Rom. 1.1 5. 16.25 26. Act. 18.25 28. 17.2 3. 26.22 23. And from Christ the things of God in Christ thus declared taught 2 Tim. 3.16 Tit. 2.15 and testified to perswade Men to Repentance and Faith and so to be reconciled to God and then live to him and to press this with Reproofs Instructions Beseechings and Consolations as need is and in this manner to exalt and tender the Grace of Christ as aforesaid is preaching yea that preaching that according to the minde of God is to be used 2. This preaching must also be with plain and understandable words 2 Col. 2.17 3.12 4.1 2. 2 Pet. 1.15 16. not in dark Parables and Allegories but with such simplicity and plainness that they may appeal to every Man's conscience in the sight of God with all sincerity without any cloak of covetousness craft or guile As for Christ before his Ascension preaching many things in Parables it hath been fore-answered Part 1. ch 6. Mat. 10.27 28. and shewn how he opened all to his Disciples and charged them to teach the same openly and plainly so that the mystery of Christ as opened by Christ is by his Servants to be plainly preached now without fear of Man and so as in plain words so in such language and terms Act. 2.6 8. 1 Cor. 14.6 7 19. Rev. 19.10 1 Cor. 14.3 1 Joh. 3.20 21 27 28. 1 Cor. 1.1 2. Gen. 3.15 1 Joh. 3.5 8. as the Hearers do know and understand so the Holy Spirit given them did at first give them to speak to every Man in his own language and so they used to speak in words understandable to the Hearers They are now taught that the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophesie the original spring and Leader to all right speaking for Edification in knowing him all things are known and other knowledge and teaching then according to what is taught by the Spirits witnessing of him is not needful The knowledge of the first Report of the Gospel is in knowing him as now testified cleerly understood whereas those that by humane Wisdom think to know that first saying without this help given run into many mistakes yea all that the Fathers had in Visions and Dreams Act. 2.18 19 20 21. is met with in this Testimony of Christ now given by the Spirit yea all that the Heaven and Earth with his Works therein do witness is seen most cleerly in Christ Psal 19.1 6. Rom. 10.18 Isa 42.6 2 Cor. 1.20 Col. 2.17 Heb. 7 8 9 10. Col. 3.11 as set forth in this Testimony and by him made apparent to be more cleerly seen in them yea the Covenant made with Abraham it is to be seen and met with in him and all that was figured by Sacrifices and all other Types the Truth is in him and to be seen and known in him so that now Christ is all and in all and so in this Doctrine and Testimony And therefore he and the things of him are plainly to be preached and that in a known language and understandable words being alike holy and sanctified to declare the Gospel with and so alike fit to express God's Minde to us as is before shewn Part 1. ch 5. and for us to express our Minde to God in praying to him And so the Apostles writing to the Church at Rome Rom. 8.25 Gal. 4.6 where also both Jews and Greeks were shews how the Spirit breatheth in both languages Abba Father and so to another Church and so they spake with all plainness of Speech in things needful to be known for Faith and good Manners and so is the Gospel to be plainly preached in understandable words 3. This preaching of the Gospel now must neither be with the wisdom of words 1 Cor. 1.17 18 19 20. 2.1 2 3 4 5. which the Spirit of Wisdom that is in the Princes of this World for Learning or the Wisdom of Man teacheth or in such manner as to draw applause to the Preacher or to receive that said for his excellency in Learning and arguing in Rhetorical perswasions Nor must this preaching be with Fables and endless Genealogies 1 Tim. 4.7 6.20 Tit. 3.9 Col. 2.8 1 Cor. 1.19 20 17 23. 2.1 4 12. or opposition of Science falsly so called nor with Philosophical Subtilties Reasons and Depths after the Fashion of humanely-learned wise Men nor with Artificial and framed Eloquence and Rhetorical Perswasions according to Man's Art nor yet with pretences of great Light intruding into things they have not seen in the Testimony there being in that no Revelation of it Rom. 12.3 Col. 2.18 Gal. 1.10 1 Thes 2.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 14.6 19 28. and so beyond the measure of Faith given though covered with great pretences and shews of Humility nor by tempering their Doctrine to the humours of Men to please them and get applause from them nor with using quaint words or words of a strange language not understood If a strange Tongue inspired were to be silenced where it was not of the Hearers understood how much more that which is acquired by study 1 Cor. 2.4 5. Rom. 16.26 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Tit. 2.15 1 Pet. 4.11 1 Cor. 3.18 Rom. 1.1 5. all these things are to be avoided in this preaching and the preaching to be with Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit in the Testimony he hath given of Christ in the Scripture and so with all Power and Authority as the very Oracles of God and all this plain-speaking to Men not for Men to exercise their Wisdom to imagine a Riddle and study for a mysterious sense but for the obedience of Faith that Men as Fools in their own wisdom may be wise in credit-giving to this Testimony and so believe and obey in
so saith yea all quoted and the rest are against it 2. In this Purpose of glorifying his Son and shewing forth his Glory through him he purposed also to do both in this by creating by him an infinite or numberless company of Angels or heavenly Spirits all holy and good to attend on and minister to this his Son Heb. 1.4 6 7. Psal 104.4 and so to serve and glorifie God in serving and glorifying his Son whom only he had exalted glorified with equality to himself and to endue them with fitness and ability for this service and to free them from any seducing Tempter without them Job 38.7 Psal 9.7 Luk. 20.36 to turn them aside from it and in their rejoycing in him and acknowledge him their supreme Lord rejoycing in his Exaltation and well-pleasedness with their own place and service of him to establish them by his Son as his Sons for ever But if any of them contented not themselves with this their place and service Job 1.6 2.1 Jude 6. See Part 1. chap. 11. but aspired to a likeness and equality with God as was peculiar to his first-begotten Son then to cast them down for ever and reserve them in chains of darkness to the judgement of the great Day All which according to his Purpose he hath done 3. In this Purpose of glorifying his Son and shewing forth his glory through him he also purposed to create by him the Heaven and Earth and a VVorld of Creatures for Mankinde and so to create Man righteous c. for his Glory and the good of Mankinde as hath been shewn 4. See Part 1. chap. 9. In foresight of Man's Fall and Misery thereby he purposed still the shining forth of his Glory through his Son in working by him a Redemption and Restauration for Mankinde and a New Creation for all that by his Glory shined through should believe on him and that he should be the Judge of all See Part 1. ch 12 13. as hath been foreshewn And of the Purpose of God as new last mentioned and the Purposes included in it it is that comes within the compass of this Discourse and of no other for in consideration of this Purpose and Purposes included in it we shall meet with all that is revealed for us to know concerning the Purposes of God about Eternal Salvation for Mankinde or the Eternal Damnation of any of them And yet before we proceed it is needful to observe and minde well a few Cautions to prevent Mistakes CHAP. 2. Of some Cautions to be heeded to prevent Mistakes THat we distinguish between Foreknowledge Caution I. and Purpose or Decree By Foreknowledge I mean not fore-owning or pre-approbation in which sense the word is frequently used in Scripture but knowing before foreseeing or prescience In which sense the word is commonly used among ordinary people and sometime some word also bearing that sense used in Scripture and such foreknowing I mean Reply If any say Nothing could have any being life strength and ability of motion and action for God to foresee if God had not forepurposed and did not according to his purpose give and preserve the same Answer If it be meant of created beings and such life and power of moving and acting as is in Creatures then this is very true but if it be meant of all the demeanor of those beings and their various movings and actings in and with that power of acting and moving which God hath given them then this is not true Doubtless God did foresee how Jerusalem would abuse all that Life Beauty Ezek. 16.2 27. Riches and Ornaments he gave them but he did not will purpose or decree they should so abuse them though he purposed how to deal with them for it yea he expresly sa it They did both chuse such ways and do such abominations as he not onely not commanded them Isa 66.4 Jer. 19.5 32.35 but as came not into his Minde which can be no less then not purposed by him So surely God foresaw when he purposed to make the first Adam and to give him that life and power of moving and acting which he did and that Furniture he furnished him with how he would abuse his power and Furniture and sin against God but God never willed purposed or moved him so to sin Jam. 1.13 much less approved he should so do yea according to his purppose he afforded him sufficient means by heeding which he might have been preserved And farther he would not withstand and hinder him and so onely permitted but decreed not his Fall yet in foreseeing it he purposed to shew forth the Glory of his Goodness more in provision of a fit remedy for restoring of Mankinde of which Purposes we are to treat And indeed he said well that said God is so good that he would never suffer evil to be if he knew not how to work good out of it So that Foresight is one thing and Purpose another Reply If any reply But then God foreseeing these miscarriages did decree to permit the same Answer I answer If this be put in if Men by the means used by him to keep them from sinning would not be so kept back from sinning but notwithstanding all helps to preserve will transgress then I will confess the saying true else not though I finde not the Scripture anywhere calling such permissions decrees nor do such decrees if in such sense they may be so called come within the compass of such purposes as we have before us to treat of And so let this first Caution be heeded That the Purposes of God we are to treat of Caution II. are his Purposes of Eternal Salvation and of Eternal Damnation and not of such Purposes of God concerning Men as being verily fulfilled et even of those persons on whom they are fulfilled some may be Eternally saved and some may be Eternally damned so as the fulfilling of such Purposes neither necessitates the persons on whom they are fulfiled to be Eternally saved nor to be Eternally damned they being fulfilled both on the righteous and the wicked as for some instance 1. As God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth so did he also purpose and in his Purpose determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their Habitation Act. 17.26 27. and this with a gracious end and tendency for their good also in his way yet in this Purpose onely those and all those in all times ages and Nations of the World that fear him should be accepted of him Act. 10.35 so that though purposed and according to purpose some be Kings and Magistrates somâ— Subjects some Rich some Poor and all in a gracious tendency that they might seek and acknowledge the Lord in these condition some of all sorts have been found in every of these conditions seeking and fearing God and so walking
sure Isa 4.2 32.1 2. 55.1 7. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 20 21. Tit. 3.2 3 4 5. c. as a known thing to relie on and to hold forth to others as that which is alwayes the same and is not impaired by our transgressions but hath enough in it to uphold us with desires and endeavours for such as are turned aside and to allure them if they will hear and minde it to turn in again And what can this be other then Jesus Christ as he is set forth in the Gospel having made peace by his Blood and the love of God to Man-ward commended through him Surely the belief and telling of an eternal Purpose of God to save some certain persons of fallen Mankinde having elected them and to damne all the residue having reprobated them and the most of both sorts unknown and the one sort however for the present it be with them shall be eternally saved the other sort shall never attain any saving Faith and what seeming soever they have it shall be taken away and the Purpose and Election of the one sort to be the Foundation that standeth sure Surely this can produce no such effects to encourage to such diligence in Ministration or to help any by it Seeing if this be true it could be no otherwise with any then it is come to pass yea if this Doctrine be believed and minded for Truth it will naturally of it self produce other Fruits for both Scripture and rightly-ordered-Reason will lead us to conform to the will of God to rest well pleased with it yea pray that it may be done in Earth as in Heaven And why then should any be grieved for such as God in his Will and Purpose hath absolutely excluded life and reprobated to damnation that they pesist in unbelief or if at any time believing depart from the Faith and become reprobate seeing nothing is done but God's will and no remedy to have it any better Psa 58.10 107.40 41. Isa 66.23 24. Rev. 13.14 17. Surely when any through their own fault are in that remediless state of perishing the righteous are said to see it and rejoyce And why should any murmur against God and repine at the fulfilling of his will according to his Purposes or stir to pray or use means to assay to cross or hinder the same 1 Sam. 3.18 2 Sam. 15.25 26. but rather submit with quietness to it as in other cases some have done so that such a thought would have made Timothy quiet and sit still and not to trouble himself with desires prayers and preaching to such an end But the Apostle that had experience what the knowledge and Faith of Jesus Christ Rom. 5.5 8 10. 1 Tim. 1.15 Rom. 1.14 15 16. and God's love appearing through him to Man-ward would effect what a sure fruitful Foundation Christ was how it reconciled him to God how it moved him to count himself a debtor to all Men and to pity them 2 Cor. 5.11 14 15 19 20. Rom. 9.1 2 3. 10.1 2 3 4. 11.4 14. 1 Cor. 9.19 20 and adventure his life to bring in Men to believe yea to desire and endeavour earnestly the return and Salvation of Israel those rejecting and cast-off Brethren whereas had he had in his heart that opinion and thought before mentioned he could not have so done But he had in his heart a better thought even the Testimony of Jesus Christ and that did so lead him and therefore he layes the same before Timothy even so to lead him yea I suppose any unprejuced will in reading Paul's Doctrine and Writings and his scope here to Timothy confess that it was Christ according to the Testimony of Christ that he propounded and laid before Timothy as the Foundation to encourage him and not a hidden and secret Purpose in respect of Particulars 2. This still farther appears by that which the Apostle had in his view and which he suggested to Timothy 1 Tim. 1.19 20. 2 Tim. 2.14 16 23. 2 Pet. 2.18 19. Jude 16. as that which threatned some danger to which he opposeth Nevertheless the foundation c. which is clear to be the blasphemy of those that had made shipwrack of Faith in their words tending to no profit but to the subversion of the Hearers their prophane and vain bablings tending to increase unto more ungodliness their foolish and unlearned questions their great swelling words promising liberty perverting the Gospel and giving out as if Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary and died and was buried and rose and ascended in that Body into Heaven c. were but a fleshly Christ and the knowledge of and Faith in him as having died for us and being risen and at the right hand of God interceding c. a fleshly and literal knowledge and faith and the looking and waiting for his personal coming again and the Resurrection of the dead Bodies a vain hope keeping to the Letter and under Bondage But their devised allegorical Christ that is dead and risen in them is the true spiritual Christ and the imbracing and believing this being dead to the former confidence in Christ this Christ according to the Spirit is come to them and in them and they are risen Heb. 13.8 1 Pet. 1.24 25. the Resurrection is past c. O lofty O vain Dream How should any that have once believed in and professed Jesus Christ and the Resurrection from the dead be drawn to this Is not Christ alwayes the same The Word of the Lord that endureth for ever Yes surely but these like the fallen Angels were not content with their place Jude 6. Col. 2.18 2 Cor. 11.3 4 13 14 15. Gal. 1.6 7 8. 2 Tim. 2.18 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Isa 40.8 9. 1 Pet. 19.25 Heb. 13.7 8. in the light and knowledge afforded them in the simplicity of Christ as set forth in the Gospel but would be intruding into things not seen and so pervert the Gospel as if they would declare a more spiritual Jesus a more pure Spirit and more heavenly and spiritual Gospel and truer Resurrection then the Letter as they call it of the Gospel doth declare and so they have erred and departed from the Truth which if they had minded and abiden in would have preserved them from such error Nevertheless The Word of the Lord the Lord Jesus Christ as set forth in the Gospel for the Foundation standeth sure abideth and remaineth for ever the same though they boast of such a glorious change from Christ in the Flesh to Christ in the Spirit from Letter to Mystery yet he is the same and had they abode in belief of that Truth they had not so erred VVherefore let none believe or admire their fancies for though they be changed in their thoughts of Christ and the Truth yet he is the same and whoso holdeth to and continueth in his Words he will preserve for though they have erred from the
same Spirit and Covenant yet there is as much difference between this given and that promised as between a handful or first Fruits of the Corn and the whole fulness of the Harvest which is in this making of the Covenant now treated of in which it appears they shall all be made sinless and righteous perfect in the love of God and one another compleat in all true holiness II. And I will be their God and they shall be my people Jer. 31.33 30.22 32.38 Ezek. 11.20 Exod. 3 4 6 20. Psal 120. And this appears in that which went before in verse 32. and several places to be spoken emphatically to be understood in a higher sense and after a more eminent manner then ever before for he was their God and they his people when they were afflicted in Egypt and in more manifestation when they were in the Wilderness and still more appearingly when they were setled in Canaan and his Worship setled among them and of these remaining while Jeremiah prophesied among them and still more manifestly in special manner Rom. 9.24 25 26. he is our God who believe in Christ and receive of the first Fruits of the Spirit and we his people but here is cleerly more implied to be done after those dayes and here and elsewhere exprest as namely That he will multiply his wonders among them and his favours on them so as he will make himself known to all Nations to be their God Ezek. 36.36 37.28 Isa 60.14 Ezek. 37.26 27. and make them known to all Nations to be his peculiar People when the Heathen shall know That he is the Lord and That he doth sanctifie and build Israel and shall acknowledge them The City of the Lord The Sion of the holy one of Israel yea he will set his Sanctuary in the middest of them for evermere yea he saith My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea I will be their God and they shall be my people And so he hath opened his own meaning And what this Sanctuary and Tabernacle is and from whence it comes and where it shall be he hath told us viz. Jesus Christ The Son of God The Son of Man The Man in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwels bodily he that is in the Father and the Father in him he is the Temple and Sanctuary and no other like the old Temple or new formed Church-Governments under the Gospel in this City for the Lord God Almighty Rev. 21.22 Ezek. 37.22 24 25. 34.23 24 30. and the Lamb are the Temple of it and he the Son of David shall sit on the Throne and be the mighty King and Governour among them and Christ also coming with his Saints those that in Spirit are now in Heaven the Jerusalem that is now above these shall come with their Lord and Master down from Heaven and receiving their Bodies glorified the great City the Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God having the Glory of God upon her Of which it is said I saw the holy City Rev. 21.2 3. new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying The Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them their God Thus we have it cleerly opened so that these Saints this spiritual Seed Dan. 7.14 27. Ezek. 48.35 See Part 2. chap. 18. shall be Princes among the people and sit upon Thrones with Christ raign with him And all the Kingdoms under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High and all nations shall serve him and the name of the City shall be from that day The Lord is there Thus will God be with them their God and they shall be his people Thus owned by him III. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them Jer. 31.34 saith the Lord. To know the Lord is both to understand and know That he is Jehovah and that he is infinite in Wisdom Power Goodness c. and to know that is acknowledge Jer. 9 24. Joh. 17.3 love and adore him as the Lord as he doth discover himself such a one in and by his Son Christ and thus to know the Lord every Man except Jesus the Son of God that hath lived or doth live upon this Earth in their several Ages have needed and do need to be taught this knowledge and it is the part of every Man Exod. 18.16 Deut. 4.34 39. 6.11 7.9 Joh 5 27. 11.16 1 Chron. 28.9 according to his understanding and Faith to teach and receive teaching from his Brother saying Know the Lord. But because in respect of some this is confest of all I forbear further proof onely because some conceit established Believers past this need since Christ came I shall consider the place alledged for it which is 1 Joh. 2.20 27. Ye have an unction from the holy One and ye know all things The anoynting which ye have received of him abideth in you and you need not that any man teach you but as that anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is noâ—ly and even as it hath taught you you shall abide in him This place being a sweet needful instructing Truth crosseth nothing here foresaid for the Apostle speaks here of a first fruits of that promised spiritually dispensed Jer. 31.34 Heb. 8.6 10.1 Joh. 5.20 Rom. 8.22 23 24 25. Heb. 11. 13 40. Heb. 11.1 and not of the Harvest as a pears in his former after-Discourse for as he that receiveth Christ receiveth all things with him but still according to his receiving either by spiritual discerning and believing or by open sight and enjoyment so he that knoweth Christ knoweth all things but still according to the manner of his knowing either through a Glass dimly by Faith or else in open view seeing as he is seen Paul confesseth the first to be now in this life but the later 1 Cor. 13.12 1 Joh. 3.1 2. at the time we are speaking of and so this Apostle confesseth the former to be now but the later not to be enjoyed till the time of the visible appearance of Christ And so he saith not Ye need not that any Man teach you saying Know the Lord for that anoynting teacheth you of all things but that he saith is Ye need not that any man teach you 1 Joh. 2.27 but as that anoynting teacheth you of all things c. that is as the Spirit in the Testimony of Christ in that Doctrine of Christ in which he hath helped you to believe in Christ and by that Doctrine teacheth you of all things do ye
3.24 4.25 28. Rom. 1.1 2 3 they know also That what the Scripture saith the Holy Ghost saith the same o Gal. 3.8 Heb. 3.7 and what the Holy Ghost hath once said and testified as true in Christ he never altereth that Testimony but breatheth in it still and so where-ever written that remaineth Truth which proves this Objection vain Object 2 You understand not our meaning for we do believe in and magnifie Christ and the Scripture as much as you do but we have Christ and the Scripture within us and we believe that and speak that from inward and experimental Knowledge and the infallible Spirit and that we speak is the Minde of God but you believe in and magnifie a Christ without you and so believe and speak of and from the Scripture that is without you and so the true Sense and Mind of God which is infallible and from Christ and the Scripture within is to you a Parable and all you hold and believe is but fleshly and fallible Answ Here is still the former boasting and self-witnessing and self-exalting though with more discovery of Vanity Blasphemy and Pride or Atheism than the former as will appear to all that know who we mean by Christ and what we mean by Scripture For 1. By Christ in whom we believe we mean not An Imagination or Frame but the second publick Man the spiritual Man who not only out of us but before we in our Persons were and without any Motion or In-being in us did himself take our Nature being conceived by and born of a Woman a Virgin that was of the natural Seed and Lineal Descent of David and Abraham and Adam and so took a personal Body of his own in which he bore our sins on the Tree and was made a Curse and died for us and overcame Death and shook off all Mortality without seeing corruption in that Body in which being buried he rose again and appeared to and conversed with his Disciples and then in their sight departed from them out of this World in that risen Body and so ascended into Heaven and offered himself a sacrifice to God and sate down on his right Hand and in that now glorified Body remaineth in Heaven a great High Priest appearing before God ever-living to intercede for us This is The Christ our Saviour not to come to take flesh nor so coming nor so in us he hath done that already he was to do in his own Body for us and can die no more but is alive for evermore immeasurably filled with Spirit to send forth to us The right knowing of him is the original and right way of knowing all things and right knowing and worshipping of God is in the Confession of him thus to be already come in the flesh 1 John 4.3 and that Spirit that denieth this is the Spirit of Antichrist and he that denieth that This Jesus is The Christ he is Antichrist 1 Joh. 2.22 23. and denieth the Father and the Son And whoever believeth in This Jesus receiveth of his Spirit which imprinteth his Word and frameth his Minde in his Heart enriching him with his Consolations and so by Word Col. 1.25 26 27 and Spirit and Riches of Grace and not in bodily presence is Christ in Believers and in so being in them he is to them the Hope of Glory But whoever believeth not in this Christ without them and receiveth not the Efficacies and Frames within from the excellency of the knowledge of and Belief in him without so as he that is without in bodily presence is within by spiritual presence but come to undervalue him as without them and magnifie something within them All that within is but meer delusion which the ensuing Discourse will further shew so that the voice of this Objection being so strange the sheep will not hear it 2. And as for the Scripture we mean not by Scripture Ink and Paper nor Letters of A B C c. nor Syllables and particular Words nor Writing or Printing or a Book bound up in Leaves or rolled in Parchment But that we mean by Scripture is not the writing but the thing written not barely the words but the thing sounded forth and imported to us in the words And so the Almighty God that is Eternal without Beginning before all Things and without End Omnipotent Omniscient Infinite and Immutable the Creator of all things and his onely Son that was in the Beginning and from Eternity with him by whom he made all things and whom he sent forth made of a Woman and so Man the essential Word and the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son the infallible Spirit that witnesseth the Minde of God This one God Three in One and this Minde made known to Men the Manifestation and making it known is the Instrumental Word of God whether inspired spoken or written And of this God and his Minde it is as so made known that we mean and when it is once by his Command and Inspiration written and put on record for us to make known his Minde to us Prov. 22.20 21 as now it is then is all this called Scripture and so when God had once by his Spirit preached the Gospel to Abraham this being after written by Moses is since called Scripture Now it was not Moses his Writing that did fore-see and preach nor the Book or Letters or Words written therein but the Spirit in that Testimony did fore-see and preach which being Written and left on Record is therefore called Scripture Gal. 3.8 And when the Holy Ghost had in and by David said to the People To day if you will hear my voice harden not your hearts This being once written and left on Record for Generations following Psal 95.7 the Holy Ghost is said where-ever that Scripture is given still to say it And to those to whom no probability that that particular Word was inspired into every of them Heb. 3.7 which was so given to Israel and Joshua Deut. 13.6 8. yet it being after written and left upon Record for his peoples use it 's said to them many Generations after Heb. 13.5 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee yea that which God spake to Moses in the Bush our Saviour it being written Exod. 3.6 said to the corrupt and erroneous Sadduces Have not you read that which was spoken by God to you saying Mat. 22.31 32 I am the God c. And so the Spirit in the Apostles teacheth us That whatsoever things were written aforetime Rom. 15.4 were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope Surely this written aforetime so long before we were was written without us yea without even those of us to whom that sentence was written and therefore written without in Leaves that they might have recourse to it and learn it and love it and so have it
to turn aside therefrom so proud to think you know more and better than all these so singular from all other Men in your Opinion and Way know you not it will be an Offence to our learned Men and Teachers and lay a blemish on them and our Fore-fathers as if they were mistaken and did erre Answ We have a plain Answer to all this in the Doctrine of Christ that all Doctrines Sayings Interpretations Glosses Sences Traditions that are not found in the Law and Testimony that have but the Doctrine and Tradition of Men to warrant them how many learned and how ancient soever they be yet they must not be taken because their Words and Sense to be therefore right but must be rectified and brought to the plain sayings of Truth and all not so rectified must be rejected And thus did our Saviour rectifie the commonly received sense of the Law and rejected the false Glosses a Mat. 5.21.22 39. Mar. 10.3 9. and so he hath likewise taught us That it is in vain and makes the Word and Sayings of God of none effect to teach and believe and worship God with and by the Doctrines Traditions and Opinions of Men that are not in the Sayings of God and so not of him but of men how many learned holy or ancient soever they appear b Isa 29.14 Mat. 15.1 9. Mar. 7.1 14. And he hath likewise taught us That every Plant which our Heavenly Father hath not planted must be plucked up and God's own Sayings Believers are to justifie whoever be thereby found a lyer letting such lyers alone not being troubled with fear of offending them because they be blinde leaders of the blinde c Mat. 15.13 14. 11.19 Rom. 3.4 The Jews of old were commended for observing the plain Words and Sayings of the Law though many right holy Men for divers Generations before had not done so exactly according to the plain saying of the Law d Neh. 8.14 15 16 17. yea the Priests and Scribes of the Jews in Herod's time when they answered a Question with a plain saying of Scripture erred not in the Answer given e Mat. 2.5 6. so victorious is the Truth in its own sayings Nor is it Pride or sinful Singularity or just cause of Offence to any to believe the Sayings of God to be true whoever be reproved as a lyer thereby but rather true Humility in laying aside our own Wisdom and desire of Repute with humane Rabbies and it is Obedience to God in justifying him in his Sayings which are never rightly understood but in believing them f 1 Cor. 3.18 19 20. Rom. 3.4 so that he that believeth the plain sayings in the Testimony of Christ to be true will not hearken to or be waved by this Objection Object 2 It is not like yea not possible yea against Reason That Moses should speak of so low a business as the Creation of this visible World with visible Heaven Earth and Creatures or That from one Man and one Woman the World should be so people'd by Noah 's time or That eight Persons with Creatures of all kindes should be preserved a whole yeer in such an Ark as is mentioned when all the World of Mankinde and other Creatures besides should be drowned or That if the World were so drowned that it should be so people'd and inhabited so fully by Abraham 's time or That there should be Three in One God and yet God but One or That God in the Person of his Son should become Man or That that Man should be God and yet die or if as Man he died that that very Body that died should be risen again and ascended into Heaven and remain so long in the Heavens or That by his Death and Righteousness other Men should be saved or That if there be such a thing as Eternal Salvation if God made all Men and Christ died and gave himself a Ransom for All that All should not be Eternally saved or That there should be a Resurrection of all the Bodies that have died since Adam 's time c. Answer These are all such plain Blasphemous and Atheistical Assertions that they are rather to be abhorred and answered with silence and departure than any parleying about such Absurdities and Infidel-like Blasphemies according to the Counsel given us not to answer but depart g Prov. 26.4 14.7 Isa 36.21 yet because many devise Allegories to make them true in an Allegorical Sense thereby to colour their Atheism and Unbelief and pretend a Fancy of higher things though they are vain Fancies and Dreams Prov. 26.5 we may give an Answer beside plain Denial which yet were enough And so it 's answered That however Types and Shadows and Parables might be Allegorized to an Agreement in a spiritual sense with the substance of Truth shadowed and typed Col. 2.17 2 Pet. 1 16. 2.1 2 18. Jude 12. yet the Truth it self is no Type or Shadow no Fable nor can there be any higher Business so as it admits not of Allegorizing and such as fancy Allegories to shew something more high and spiritual their Allegories are vain Dreams Fancies meer Winde and Vanity As for others not so far departed from the Faith that yet not believing the extent of God's own Sayings about his own Works of Creation Redemption and Extention of means that men might partake of Redemption c. who to colour their Unbelief bring in Forrain Senses and limiting Interpretations as if the words of a Man concerning the work of a Man and not the Words of God concerning the Works of God and so where he faith All men every man they gloss it Some of all sorts if he say The world and The whole world they will gloss it The world of the Elect. Whereas in a saying that is of God and his works if general and large and no saying of his contradicting it at any time there can be no limitation let not mortal Man presume to be wiser than his Maker But our Saviour's Answer may serve for all these who tells us That Unbelief and Ignorance of the Scripture and of the Power of God is the cause of all such Errors g Mat. 22.29 Mat. 12.24 and disables to give any right Interpretation Allegorical or Logical Object 3 You have the Scripture but in a Translation and have not sufficient Words to import the full sense of many Words in your Language which the Hebrew and Greek the Original in which the Scriptures were writ do import therefore the sayings are not plain to you that understand not the original Tongues Answer This is a meer gull to deceive the ignorant that their Rabbies might be Lords of their Faith for against this Objection we may finde in the Scripture it self many things viz. 1. That all words are not in every sentence to be taken according to the full extent of the Etymologie of the word as where it is said Our Saviour will
this writing collected and on the Margent quoted the Sayings of the Gospel in the Testimony of Christ will appear plain bearing forth their own import and sense and the Testimony of Christ being known all Truth being included in it and flowing from it we shall by that be led into all Truth and so far as is for us meet and profitable understand what we read in the Scriptures so far as to discern Truth from Error in all Doctrines and Sayings brought unto us I shall therefore proceed in the next part according to the Scripture assaying to declare the Testimony of Christ An Explicite Declaration of the Testimony of Christ c. PART II. CHAP. I. Of the Testimony of Christ THe Testimony of Christ is that Testimony and Witness and Doctrine of Christ 1. Which God the Father hath by his Holy Spirit immediately first given of Christ Gen. 3.15 22.18 Act. 3.18 24. Luk. 1.70 1 Pet. 1.11 12. as the promised Seed and he in whom all Nations shall be blessed after mediately by his Spirit in Moses all the following Prophets concerning his coming and suffering and the Glory that should follow and after all this immediately to John Baptist both who he was and what a one he is and how well-pleased he is in him a Mat. 3.17 and after that mediately by his Spirit in and by John Baptist that he is the Christ upon whom the Spirit resteth full of Grace and Truth by whom it comes and that he is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world and that he that believeth on him hath Eternal Life b Joh. 1.16 17 29-34 3 27-36 and after this immediately to three of the Apostles and first Witnesses of Christ c Mat. 17.5 2 Pet. 1.17 18. and mediately likewise before by types d Heb. 8.5 and Angels and by Zacharias e Luk. 1.32 33 67-79 2.11 30-34 and old Simeon as also in his own Ministration by the mighty works done by him in his Name John 5.36 14.10 11. 2. Joh. 3.16 17. 5 17-30 6 27-69 10. 12.50 Which Jesus Christ himself received from the Father and testified in his Ministration unto Men which also he did explicate and give unto his Apostles and first Witnesses to testifie and witness Luk. 24.25 26 27 44 45 46 47 48. Joh. 15.15 27. 17.6 7 8. Act. 1.8 3. Joh. 14.26 15.26 16 7-15 Act. 5.32 Eph. 3.5 1 Joh. 1.1 2. 2 Tim. 1.10 Which the Holy Ghost did witness to and in and by the Apostles and first Witnesses with the cleer opening and revelation of the Mystery formerly hidden till Christ had opened the holy of holies offered the acceptable Sacrifice and sate down on the right Hand of God and sending forth the Holy Ghost and by the Gospel in his Testimony opening the door to immortality and eternal life 4. Act. 5.32 13 25-39 Rom. 1 1-5 16.25 26. Which also the Apostles and first VVitnesses have by the same Holy Spirit testified witnessed preached written and recorded according to the revelation of the Mystery Ephes 3.3 4. Phil. 3.1 whence the whole Scripture is said to testifie of Christ John 5.39 of which more is said Part 1. Chap. 1 2. And this Testimony VVitness and Record is called the Record and VVitness of God and of Christ and of the Spirit f 1 Joh. 5.6 7 8 9 10. Joh. 3.33 1 Cor. 1.6 Rev. 1 2. 20.4 2 Tim. 1.8 and it is also called the Testimony Record VVitness and VVord of the Apostles and first VVitnesses of Christ because they bare it forth and left it upon record g 2 Thes 1.10 Joh. 17.20 and because it is of Christ by Christ and according to the appointment of Christ by his Apostles opening the things of Christ it is called the Doctrine of Christ h 2 Joh. 9. and in every respect it is one and the same the Testimony of Jesus Christ i Rev. 19.10 and in this Testimony so cleerly come forth is Jesus Christ plainly set forth who he is what a one he is whence he is what he became what he hath done and is become what he doth and for whom what he will do for some and who they be and what he will do against others and who they be how the good to be enjoyed and the peril to be avoided and all this is full and plain in the Testimony 1. VVho he is and that is not Adam Seth Enoch and so none of the Prophets before John Baptist nor was Iohn Baptist the Christ nor any of the Apostles or VVitnesses that followed k Luk 3 Joh. 1. 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 2 Cor. 4.5 nor is it the Church or any Society of Men though such as do indeed bear his Name though they be of his mystical Body as resembled by a King whose Body is the Commonwealth or a General whose Body is the Army or a Major whose Body is the Corporation yet are not the Commons the King or chief Magistrate nor is the Army the General nor the Corporation the Major and so Mat. 23.8 1 Cor. 8.6 Col. 1.18 Eph. 1.22 23. though the Head and Body be one yet the Body is not the Head so the Church is not the Head the Husband the Lord the King of Saints the Christ but the person of Christ is all that and none but he so that the Church Col. 1.15 21.26 27. 2 Cor. 13.3 5. 1 Joh. 3.24 Rom. 1.18 2 Cor. 4.5 though one with Christ is not the Christ nor is it any inward Frame or spiritual Light or Disposition in the Heart of the Reliever though this being right as flowing from him and effected in such as are believing on him is even the Spirit of Christ by which he is in them and dwelleth in them yet is not this the Christ the person of Christ But Jesus that very Jesus and no other but he that was born of a Virgin espoused to one Joseph a Carpenter Mat. 1 2 c. Luk. 2 3 c. and born in the time of Caesar Augustus when Herod was King of Iudea and in Bethlem in an Inn and Stable in that Inn and circumcised the eighth day and his name called Jesus who was carried into Egypt and returned again to Nazareth in Galilee and there lived a time and after was baptized of Iohn in Iordan and then went about preaching the Gospel and working Miracles called Disciples and chose Apostles suffered and was crucified under Pontius Pilate died was buried and rose again in the same Body and appeared often to his Disciples who saw and heard and felt him and received commandments from him and then he blessed them Act. 1 2 3. and ascended up to Heaven in that Body of his and fate down on the right hand of God Mat. 16.16 Joh. 6 69. and sent down the Holy Ghost to his
him distinct though never divided from the Divine so that this humane Nature or Body of Christ is not only sinless just holy but also exceeding precious and beyond all our valuation for excellency and worthiness yet in this his personal body was he under the Law for us and brought before the Judgement-Seat for us and condemned and put to death in the flesh for sins committed by us in the flesh f Rom. 8.3 2 Cor. 5.21 Gal. 3.13 he himself bare our sins in his own Body to or on the Tree being put to death in the flesh g 1 Pet. 2.24 3.18 and by death he overcame death and him that had the power of death h Heb. 2.14 and so rose again just and for our justification in the same Body that died i 1 Cor. 15.3 4. and by the Eternal Spirit ascended in that Body by or with the vertue of his own blood into Heaven and offered that spotless Body of his which had satisfied for our sins by death and overcome death and risen just a Sacrifice to God k Heb. 9.12 14. 10 5-10 14. and God hath accepted him and taken up his well-pleasedness and dwelling in him and glorified him in the humane Nature also with the glory that he had in person with him before the world was and hath born Testimony of him And this the Oblation Gift Ransom Sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ the second publick Man a matchless and invaluable Sacrifice which excluded all other Sacrifices and all other works of Righteousness from being it or any part of it this Body of Christ that was crucified for us it and it alone is the Sacrifice which in his Oblation he offered to God for us CHAP. 4. 2. Who it was that offered up this Sacrifice THis is here also in Tit. 2.14 plainly express'd to be our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us plainly it was Jesus Christ he himself that did freely give himself Peter also speaking of the sufferings of Christ and having expresly named Jesus Christ that suffered for us saith of him Who his own self bare our sins in his own body a 1 Pet. 2.22 24. and our Saviour Christ saith of himself I lay down my life that I might take it again no man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again This commandment have I received of my Father b Joh. 10.17 18. And so it 's often plainly and expressy said he gave himself for our offences Christ hath loved us and given himself for us he gave himself a ransome c. he offered up himself c. c Gal. 1.4 Eph. 5.2 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 7.27 If it be replied That God the Father he gave his only begotten Son he made his Soul an offering for sin he spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all d Joh. 3 6. Isa 53 10. Rom. 8.32 I answer This is no contradiction or unsaying of any thing foresaid but rather an illustration and confirmation of the approvedness goodness and excellency of that his giving himself a Sacrifice not only in that no other Man did and that he himself did it by the Divine will and authority of the Father in respect of which will and appointment the Father did and in respect of acting and fulfilling that will he himself did but more also in this respect Joh. 10.30 1 Joh. 5 7. that the Father and he are one in respect of Divine Essence and in respect of both Natures in the person of the Son Joh. 5.17 18 16 20 21 22 23. the Father and the Son are both one in love to Mankinde and so both one in will and design so as also they work together so that the Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do and what things soever the Father doth those also doth the Son likewise and also in that the Father fitted him with a Body for this business and appointed and sent him forth to do it and even so he willingly accepted the appointment Heb. 10.5 7 8 9 10 12. and took the Body and came to do and did it and so with free and ready will and oneness of will with the Father he did offer up himself in that body of his once for all so that the saying He gave and offered up himself is not contradicted by saying the Father gave him but receiveth confirmation and illustration of the goodness and excellency of this his gift and giving yea it opens to us the right understanding of it he came and did it not barely of himself Joh. 8 42. 1 Joh. 5.6 but in union of will and approbation of the whole three in one God the Father sent him he came and the Holy Ghost witnessed of him Gal. 4.4 the Father sent him forth made of a woman of the Seed of David and the Holy Ghost sanctified that Seed in the wombe of the Virgin and framed him a Body thereof Luke 1.35 uniting it in the very framing to the person of the Son of God and so it was not the Father nor the Holy Ghost John 1.14 Rom. 1.3 but the Son that is the Word was made flesh of the Seed of David yet the Father by the Spirit made it so and the Son accepting willingly to receive this humane Nature into union of person with himself and to be thus abased he is truly said to have made himself of no reputation Phil. 2.7 8. and took upon him the form of a Servant and humbled himself so it was not the Father or the Holy Ghost that did die Joh. 10.17 18 1 Pet. 3.18 but the Son in the humane Nature or Body which he took he layed down his life for us being put to death in the flesh neither was it the Father or the Holy Ghost that rose from the dead Joh. 10.18 Eph. 4.9 10. but the Son and yet the Son in that Body of his the Father by the Holy Ghost did raise him yet was it he in that very Body that died that rose from the dead even so it was not the Father nor the Holy Ghost that offered the Sacrifice but Jesus Christ himself in oneness of will with the Father Heb. 9.14 Psa 110.1 Heb. 1.13 Heb. 1.3 10.12 and by or through the power of the Holy Ghost he did offer up himself his own Body a Sacrifice without spot to God even the Father who hath accepted him and set him on his right hand and so also as having finished and compleated his oblation and being accepted he sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high so that there is no exclusion or denial of the works of the Father or Holy Ghost about the provision preparation offering and acceptance of this Oblation in saying Christ himself offered it but onely the affirmation of
Power and Authority and oneness with the Father with I will c. That they be one with us and filled with Spirit even all the good things of thy holy Temple that their Prayers be answered and he is answered But I will instance in some particulars as well as by Scripture I may 1. By vertue of his Blood presented to his Father and sprinkled in the spiritual documents of it 1 Joh. 1.7 9. 2.1 2. Phil. 4.7 Rom. 5.1 2. believed Isa 52.15 Rom. 15.20 21. upon their hearts to bring them to see and acknowledge their present and daily infirmities defilements and offences and by the vertue of his Blood to dispense to them forgiveness and cleansing and so maintain that Peace of God in them that shall keep their hearts through him 2. Heb. 6.20 9.24 1 Cor. 1 30-31 By presenting himself for them Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and so presenting them before the Father in himself wise righteous holy free 3. Joh. 14.21 23. Heb. 9.13 14. 10.14 Col. 1.22 23. Eph. 5.25 26 27. By procuring of the Father such Manifestations by his Spirit in the Gospel of the vertues of his Sufferings and Sacrifice for them and his Father's Love there-through to them as thereby both to comfort and purifie them so as in due season he may present them as spotless to himself as now he presents them in himself before the Father 4. Heb. 9.15 8.2 6 10. Rom. 8.23 Joh. 14.16 17 18 26. 15.26 27. Act. 5.31 32. Joh. 16.13 14 15. 1 Pet. 2.7 2 Cor. 3.3 13. Heb. 3.10 11. By procuring for them a performance of the promises of the New Testament in sending forthe the holy Spirit in a first fruits to them according to his promise to be an Advocate and Comforter in and to them and so to minde them of and teach them the understanding of his sayings and to witness of him to them and through them to others to take of the things of Christ and shew to them and thereby glorifying him to them and making him precious to their hearts and so guiding them into all Truth so writing his minde in their hearts Rom. 16.20 1 Joh. 4.4 5.4 5. Rom. 5 1-3 8.14 15 16. Gal. 5.22 Phil. 1.9 10. 1 Pet. 2.5 Ioh. 7.38 39. Rom. 8.26 Ezek. 36.37 2 Sam. 7.27 and to subdue their sinful and fleshly lusts Micah 7.19 Rom. 8.13 Gal. 5.16 18. and to answer their opposers Mat. 10.20 and to support them in troubles Isa 43.3 Joh. 16.33 to be treading and so to tread Satan under their feet in due season and to give them victory over all the evil Spirits and Temptations that are in the World and to shed abroad his Love in their hearts and so fill them with peace joy hope and all spiritual springs of his goodness and fruits of righteousness and because of their ignorance and unworthiness of and inability to reach to or receive these things to lead instruct and move them to pray unto God for all these things promised in the Name of Christ Joh. 16.23 24. Zach. 12.10 5. To perfume their Prayers Praises and Services Rev. 8.3 Joh. 14.16 16.22 1 Pet. 2.5 6 7 9. with the Odours and sweet-smelling Vertues of his Death and Sacrifice and so by his Intercession thereby to expel from before his Father's Throne those mixtures of their fleshly weakness that were in them and make their suits acceptable to his Father and so procure them Answers from God 6. To procure their preservation for their Generation Joh. 17.9.13 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. 1 Cor. 3.5 6 7. 4.1 Phil. 2.14 15. Eph. 4.7 8-12-16 Joh. 15.5 8 16. 1 Pet. 1.8 to be in his place in the World for the Ministration of the Gospel and holding forth the word of Life to the World and edifying one another and likewise for unity of Spirit among them and Sanctification and Blessing of them and their Ministration that so the World might be brought to believe and Believers may grow up together into Christ by that which every joynt supplieth that so they may not be barren but fruitful in the knowledge of Christ 7. To prepare for them heavenly Mansions Joh. 14 2 3. 1 Pet. 1.4 5. and them for the enjoyment of them and so to preserve them through Faith to the possession of the promised Inheritance All this doth he make Intercession for for all those that come to God by him and this a brief or little mention of his business he is now doing in heaven in making Intercession for Believers And because of his sending forth his Spirit into their hearts by which he is present with them and in them as in his Body also he appears in heaven before the Father for them Joh. 14.16 17 18. Hence that blessed and Holy Spirit of Christ bears his Name being called their Advocate Rom. 8.26 27. and Christ by him doing that work in them he is said to do it even to make Intercession for the Saints so that this making Intercession for the Saints in his Mediation of the New Testament dealing both with God and with them for them and in them is an high heavenly choice and peculiar business And surely all that come to God by Christ believing this it will fill them with strong consolation and make them pray with assurance of Faith knowing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them that come to God by him And therefore 4. That he is able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him which as it is plainly affirmed so I hope none of us doubteth therefore I will no farther instance proofs only let that be remembred 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. which hath been before noted That though the Death and Ransom by Christ given was for all men and so his Mediation in general for all men that they might be preserved and come to the knowledge of the Truth for which he is able also yet the utmost and Eternal Salvation and Inheritance purchased by his Oblation was and is to be conferred on Believers not on all he died for or mediateth for not on such when through his mediation the heavenly cords are let down Psa 2.3 4 5. 2 Thes 1.8 2.8 10 12. will not obey in suffering themselves to be drawn to him Sure it is there is another portion justly designed for such but to those that by his heavenly cords are drawn to him Heb. 5.9 Joh. 1.12 and so believing come to God by him to these he gives Eternal Life Eternal Salvation and for these Believers that approach to God by him he maketh his special Intercession and Advocation and seeing he ever liveth to do this for them he is able powerful faithful true ready fit doing it at all times evermore to save them to the utmost and this Mediation of Jesus Christ by vertue of his Oblation both as in general for all men and
of which is spoken in many places a Deut. 18.18 Psal 16.10 40 6-9 Isa 53. 1-10 Zach. 9.9 Psa 68.18 and so he is already come and hath compleared that Work done in his own Body and can die no more nor will offer any other or more Sacrifice but liveth for ever in that glorious Body once offered in Sacrifice remaining still a continual Mediator and High-Priest by vertue of that Oblation 1 Joh. 4.3 2 Joh. 7. 1 Joh. 42. and he that denieth and confesseth not this and doth not in the belief thereof worship God is led by the Spirit of Antichrist The true Spirit confesseth this And of this coming is spoken in the former two Heads of his Oblation and Mediation by vertue of his Oblation all his stretching forth his power in providential Comings in Mercies and Judgements and in gracious Visitations or spiritual Comings are the effects and fruits of his Oblation and Intercession in his Administration in his bodily Absence But the second and next personal and bodily coming of Christ is in Glory and to take unto him his great Power and Raign and to receive to himself to raign with him all that have believed on him and suffered with him b Col. 3.4 Rev. 11.17 18. And this is the coming again of Christ which is here to be treated of in this Head and this his personal coming in Glory is that which was also spoken of by the Prophets Zachary The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee c Zach. 14 1-5 Malachi The Son of Righteousness shall arise with healing c. d Mal. 4.1 2. Isaiah of the encrease of his Government and Peace no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom c. e Isa 9.7 And upon the first coming of Christ even before he had actually offered his Oblation this was declared in his personal Ministration by himself both to his Disciples saying For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels f Mat. 16.27 and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory g Mat. 24.30 Mar. 13.26 Luk. 21.26 and I will come again and receive you to my self c i Joh. 14.3 And also to his Crucifiers Hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hard of Power and coming in the clouds of Heaven k Mat. 25.64 Mar. 14.62 Luk. 22.69 And so it was likewise declared by the Angel The Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David and he shall raign over the house of Iacob c. l Luk. 1.32 33. And again upon his Ascension the Angel said This same Iesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven m Act. 1.11 And the same hath been also taught by the Apostles And he shall send Iesus Christ c. n Act. 3.20 21. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout c. o 1 Thes 4.16 Unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto Salvation p Heb. 9.28 And this is testified to be the Promise of Christ and the Desire of those led by the Spirit of Christ q Rev. 22.20 Whence all unfeigned Believers are said to wait for his coming r 1 Cor. 1.7 Phil. 3.20 21. 1 Thes 1.10 And the Crown of Righteousness to be given at that day to them that love his appearing s 2 Tim. 4.8 And concerning this his next personal coming there is declared in the Gospel and Testimony of Christ these three things First The manner of his coming Secondly The Ends of his coming Thirdly The Time though not the day and hour of his coming Let us consider what the Scripture saith of each of these and first of the first point The manner of his coming It is expresly said 1. It will be sudden in an hour not known before he come Mat. 24.27 44. Mar. 13.36 1 Thes 5.2 3. Rev. 16.15 1 Cor. 15.52 even to his own and as a snare to all the Inhabitants of the World in a moment in the twinkling of an eye as a flash of lightning 2. It will be visible openly and discernable to every eye yea all the Believers those that are asleep Mat. 24.30 Mar. 13.26 Luk. 21.27 Rev. 1.7 Mat. 24.27 and those that are at that time living on the earth not one before another but them that are asleep being first raised then all at once together shall see him 1 Thess 4.15 yea every eye and all the kindreds of the earth shall see him it will be as visible as the lightning that shines from the East to the West 3. It will be with Power and great Glory 2 Thes 1.7 Zach. 4.5 his mighty Angels and all his Saints meeting and coming together with him And in such a sudden visible and glorious manner will Christ come CHAP. 17. Of the second Point The Ends of the coming of Christ. THe Ends of the next coming of Jesus Christ is for the fulfilling his Word and Promise in doing those things he hath said and that are testified of him to be then done by him which I may comprehend in the naming under these four Heads that is to say 1. To raise the Just that sleep in the Lord and change and make immortal the surviving Believers that have suffered with him 1 Thes 4.14 15 16. this is affirmed as necessarily included in the belief of all that do indeed believe Jesus to have died and rose again if we believe this then this also That even so them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord That we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep for the Lord himself shall descend c. And the dead in Christ shall rise first that is before we which live shall see him then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up c. being in the very moment of their raising 1 Cor. 15.52 53. 1 Cor. 15.23 24. changed and for the Resurrection it is said Every man in his own order Christ the first Fruits that was in his personal Resurrection who is now ascended afterwards those that are Christ's at his coming And then speaking of another Time he saith Then the End when or then cometh the End and when is that End when he shall have delivered up c. As it is given out with an Oath That there should be Time no longer Rev. 10.6 7. Rev. 8.2 6 Rev. 11.15 1 Cor. 15.24 25. but in the dayes of the voicē of the seventh Angel which Angel is to found the last Trumpet which beginneth in Christ his beginning to Raign and endeth in Christ
filling them with the holy Ghost 1. Of the first way of the Manifestation of Christ by himself Jesus Christ was manifested and did manifest himself in the very acting and sensible demonstration in himself of all those things fore-told concerning him to be done in upon and by him in his first coming as to say his immediate coming on the appearing of his Messenger and fore-runner and so his conception and birth having the very nature of Man born of a Virgin that never knew Man that was of the Seed of David Abraham Noah Adam born in Bethlem altogether sinless yet having the weaknesses and infirmities of Man's Nature his flight into Egypt while Rachels Children were slain his return to Nazareth and being called a Nazarite his Baptism with the Testimony of God concerning him his fasting temptations victories his poverty and mean life among men his travellings preaching cures miracles his calling Disciples and chusing Apostles and seventy and sending them forth to preach his being persecuted by the High-Priests and Priests Scribes and Pharisees his being betrayed by one of his called Disciples and chosen Apostles the scattering of the rest from him his agony and bloody sweat his being arraigned condemned scorned and crucified between two thieves the souldiers giving him vineger and gall and parting his raiment his bitter cry on the cross his committing his Spirit to God and so his giving up the Ghost and dying and so his death and his burial by two rich Men laid in a rich Man's tombe in which never any man before lay his Resurrection the third day and so victory over death his appearing to his Disciples after his Resurrection being seen and heard and felt by them and giving commandments and commission to them and blessing them ascended up in their sight to heaven testified by an Angel that he even the very same Jesus shall so come again as they saw him go up into heaven his being received and set on the right hand of God and his sending forth the holy Ghost with plenty of spiritual gifts testifying the certainty of his coming again in glory a glimpse whereof three of them had fore-seen in his transfiguration so that he appeared to be and to have suffered and done and shed abroad all that God by the mouth of his Prophets had spoken of him concerning his first coming so that he hath now fully come in the flesh and done all this work and is not now a dying and doing it or so to do it over again he hath finished the work given him to do at his first coming in his own person on earth and in and by him is fulfilled all that the Prophets spake concerning the first coming of Christ so as in no other ever was or will be so that this Jesus is the Christ and hath been thus manifested and so manifested himself to be and this manifestation given in his first appearing to the first Witnesses of his Resurrection for all that should after believe on him that it was manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 1.10 Joh. 2.11 1 Pet. 1.20 21. Joh. 1.1 2 3. Act. 10.41 42. in doing all this is expresly affirmed that it was so manifested for all that 〈◊〉 by the discovery of him and his spiritual operation believe is also expresly affirmed that it was manifested to these first witnesses in this manner who both heard and saw and handled him is expresly also affirmed and that they declared that we might believe and the things that were by the Prophets so foretold and written of him as hath been foreshewn being so fulfilled and manifested in him Act. 13. 17.2 3. 18.28 Rom. 16.26 Luk. 1.1 2 3 4. Joh. 20.31 they did according to the commandment of the everlasting God make known him to be the Christ and make him known according to the revelation of the mystery by the Scriptures of the Prophets and have written and professed to write these things that we might know the certainty of them and so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that in believing we might have life through his Name and according to all this Jesus himself witnessed and affirmed also the Truth of John's Testimony concerning him and how by the works done by him and by voice from Heaven Joh. 5.33 36 37 39. the Father did bear witness of him and how the Spirit in the Scripture did bear witness of him and that eternal life is in him And this the first way of Jesus Christ revealing and manifesting himself to his first witnesses CHAP. 8. 2. Of the second way of our Saviour's revealing and manifesting of himself and the things of him to his first witnesses of it IEfus Christ besides this actual manifestation did also in his performance and bodily ministration vocally and audibly teach the Gospel according to the revelation of the mystery to the first trusters in him and witnesses of him after his resurrection and so he taught them 1. That he is the Massiah the great Prophet and high-Priest and King of Israel the Son of God and the Son of David Mat. 16.16 20. Mar. 8.27 Luk. 9.20 Joh. 1.41 49. 4.25 26 42. 6.69 the Christ the Saviour of the World spoken of by all the Prophets 2. That for estecting his business in all his Offices that he may be manifested to be such a one and thereby have a Seed saved and justified by him to serve him Isa 53.10 11 12. Psa 68.18 21. 2.1 9. and to enjoy the Kingdom with him and Nations for him and them to raign over he must first suffer and die and rise again and ascend into heaven and receive the fulness of the Spirit in the Man and send forth of the same to Men that Repentance and Remission of sins may be preached in his Name to all Nations and so he on rightful terms judge all according to that fore-written of him and therefore from that time that he had instructed them that he was the Christ Mat. 16.21 Mar. 8.31 Luk. 9.22 Luk. 9.29 30 31. Mat. 17.12 Mar. 9.12 Mat. 20.18 19. Luk. 9.44 the Son of the living God the Saviour of the World he then began to shew and teach them that he must go unto Ierusalem and suffer many things of the Elders and chief-Priests and Scribes and be rejected of them and be killed and the third day rise again yea this was spoken of between Christ and Moses and Elias in their hearing when he was in his transfiguration before them and after on that occasion by himself to them and often after on other occasions yea he teacheth them a reason of the necessity of it namely for taking away sin and overcoming death and so having an innumerable generation according to that said Hebrews 9.22 2.14 Isaiah 53.6.7 8. and so he taught saying Verily verily Joh. 12.24 I say unto you except a corn of wheat
all anointed and called Shepherds to rule order lead teach and minister Jer. 3.15 23.4 5 6. and so suitable to that prophesie by Jeremiah and a spiritual first Fruits of it for here is Jesus Christ the anointed of God into whose Lips Grace is poured the great and mighty King the Prophet and great High-Priest over the House of God the good Shepherd of his Flock sitting in his Body in the Heavens at the right Hand of God till he come again and take to him his great Power and Raign that is also the Anoynter and in sending forth of Spirit hath given gifts unto Men to get him a spiritual Kingdom amongst Men and to order it till he come to take them to raign with him 1 Joh. 2.20 And so he by his Spirit is present with them and anoynteth them and maketh them a spiritual House an holy and royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.5 9. to shew forth his vertues and offer spiritual Sacrifices to God by him suitable to and a spiritual first Fruits of that prophecied by Isaiah and so as he hath put his Word Isa 66.20 and therein laid the Foundation in them so he hath filled and fitted them in his anointing with spiritual gifts to hold forth teach and so lay the same Foundation for others and to convince them of the falseness of all other Foundations and to draw and build them up on this Foundation and to help them to growth and feeding thereon and for direction for walking therein till they come to the fulness of possession Eph. 2.17 22. so richly were these first VVitnesses furnished in the Faith having both the Gospel in such full and clear knowledge and all these spiritual gifts immediately from Jesus Christ himself whose personal body they both saw and heard even after his Resurrection And whereas Paul seemed to be born out of due time for this yet it was vouchsafeth him and he did and was the last that did both hear and see him in his personal Body and receive the Gospel and these spiritual gifts immediately from him 1 Cor. 15.8 9. 9.1 2. Gal. 2.11 12 21. Luk. 16.29 2 Pet. 1.15 3.2 and by that he proves his Apostleship and in this immediateness of receit and commission they have no Successors but do continue with us in all their knowledge and gifts by and in the Gospel recorded by them 3. That the end for which all these gifts were given them was for perfecting the Saints that is Eph. 4.12 all that are prevailingly called by his Grace and so united to him and sanctified by and to him and for his service not limiting this to outward Officers nor engaging it to all them some of them it may be not being such Saints but limiting it to such Saints and enlarging it to all them for perfecting them for the work of the Ministery the Ministery of the Saints of the whole Body whereof no Member is Officeless or useless but each hath some Service or Ministration and fitness for it and spirit of life running therein and so a Ministration for the edifying of the Body of Christ and this such an edification as is for the growth of the Body both in multitude of converts and their growth in Union Fellowship and Conformity every Member in this sense growing by the influence that proceedeth from the Head but yet not immediately into every particular Member nor through some outward Officers onely but as from the Head of the mystical Body so through every living Member making increase to it self in love And so the growth of the Body by that which every joynt supplieth for so gracious an end were these gifts given 4. The time of the continuance of these gifts and that is express Till we all come in the unity of the Faith c. that is Eph. 4.13 till the last Man be called that is to be called before the personal appearance of Christ till we all that is the whole company that is to meet with him and to come and raign with him meet in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge and so the acknowledgement of the Son of God unto a perfect Man Gal. 4.3 7. Jer. 31.34 1 Cor. 13.8 9 10 11 12. 1 Joh. 3.2 a full and compleat Company a fit and suitable Corporation or Body for such an Head the measure of the stature or age of the fulness of Christ which as the knowledge of the Freedom of Sons was by his first coming so this will be at his next coming and appearing in Glory when this manner of Ministration will cease but till then they to continue in this Ministration of the Gospel True it is The Gospel that is the Faith to be taught and received Jude 3. 1 Tim. 6.13 14. 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 2 Pet. 1.13 14 15. 3.2 Gal. 1.6 7. it was once and but once immediately given unto the Saints in these first VVitnesses but that very same Gospel is mediately continued and so to be received and held forth and no other Gospel nor another immediate giving of that unless to some Jews but that kept and held forth by the Saints till Christ come again even so these spiritual gifts to minister the Gospel with were once given and that was when Christ ascended up in our Nature to Heaven Act. 2. and then he sent them down to his Saints at once and in this immediateness and fulness as then but once but these gifts even all of them as mediately received through belief of the Gospel delivered by them which Gospel whoever unfeignedly believeth is become of them and so of Christ and so of the same seed the seed of them who are the seed of Christ and the seed of Christ his seed and his seed's seed And so this VVord and Gospel given them and the spiritual gifts given them therein and therewith and so put in them shall not depart out of them nor out of their seed Isa 59.20 21. nor out of their seed's seed from henceforth for ever and so will he make good his promise to them of being with them to the end of the VVorld Mat. 28.20 and that to this gracious end That having such a standing and enduring Gospel recorded and in that record revealed and in minding and believing thereof receiving such known spiritual gifts as all lead to exalt Christ and draw to and build on him VVe may no more be as Children tossed to and fro Eph. 4.14 15. and carried about with every winde of Doctrine by the slight of Men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love we may grow up into him in all things which is the Head c. And so much for their blessed Furniture that is of continuance and abideth in the Church believing and professing this Gospel in some good measure throughout all ages But with this they had some other Furniture
then and now be said to do these signs which those of the first times personally did 2. But this will more appear by the words Mar. 16.17 Shall follow them that believe for as the Signs and Wonders done by Moses and in his Ministration did follow the Israelties that is accommodate them in all after-Ages till the Messiah promised came not in being done over again but in that first Deut. 6.6 7 20 24. with Exod. 12.26 27. they were left upon record together with the Law and Doctrine confirmed by them in which they had those Signs together with the Law and Doctrine to teach their Children and one another And secondly in having and believing Psa 78. all and minding the Law and Doctrine so confirmed they had all those Signs also to minde and believe And thirdly Psa 66.6 Hos 12.4 Jer. 32.19 20 21. Mat. 12.38 39. 16.1 4. in minding and believing the Doctrine confirmed by those Signs they had the same use and benefit of those Signs for farthering their confidence and rejoycing in God in praying to him seeking help of him and resting on him for it in every need as they had in whose personal sight they were done And so did these Signs follow them Mar. 8.11 12. Luk. 11.29 Joh. 2.18 6.30 31. Heb. 12.22 23. and it was an evil and adulterous Generation that did call for the doing them over again even so the Believers being come into the same Society and Congregation with the first Witnesses The Apostle in this very sense takes in all the Believers to the coming of Christ using that word we 1 Cor. 15.51 1 Thes 4.15 And in this sense we all may be said to have those Signs done by the first Witnesses to follow us and to accommodate us in that they are left upon Record for us in the Record of the Gospel that was confirmed by them Luk. 2.1 4. Joh. 20.31 Rom. 15.4 Mar. 16.20 Heb. 2.4 1 Cor. 14.20 21. Isa 28.11 12 13. Luk. 16.31 that therein and thereby we may have the same use for minding and teaching them and being confirmed in the Faith of the Gospel and so for farthering our confidence as they of the first times had yea they are affirmed to be writ for that end and it is a Sign of an evil heart to call for these Signs to be done over again which if it should be granted yet would not such evil hearts believe And as this appears both by the manner of Christ his promising and the words in his promise so it doth also appear 3. By the Apostles setting them down having set down the abiding gifts first second third sort he saith After that 1 Cor. 12.28 miracles then gifts of healing helps in Government diversities or kindes of tongues After God had called Moses and Aaran and spoken by them to the Children of Israel and sent them to speak to Pharaoh he added Signs and Wonders that made the Enemies say This is the finger of God and he fighteth for Israel and causeth Israel to believe his Words and sing his Praise But those Signs were not to be done over again but remembred in all Generations following and so much the Apostle intimates here by the word afterward as an addition and over-plus for a time All that may seem to darken this sense is because helps in Government is named among these Gifts to which answer might be given That the naming them with these doth no more equal them and make them of the like Nature for their Tendency and Temporariness then the naming things indifferent and evil onely in the use by Circumstance in one and the same sentence with things simply and absolutely evil Act. 15.20 doth equal them and make them of like Nature and Tendency at all times And yet this placing helps in Government among the things that come in afterward and in the middest of those temporary Gifts doth instruct us also 1. That these helps in Government Elders and Deacons and such outward Offices were not of the Essence of those spiritual Gifts which Christ ascended up to Heaven to give but such as in the Wisdom of those spirituall Gifts given they might as occasion and need was after appoint or elect and so those came in afterwards as hath been foreshewn 2. That these helps in Government are not of the Essence of the Church nor simply requisite thereto the Church was before them and truely in being before it had them and these came afterward into the Church for outward Order and Ornament as is foreshewn yea it may be to instruct us 3. That as those outward Offices had not their rise immediately in the first pouring forth of the heavenly Gifts but afterward so they shall not have their continuance in the true Church and Sanctuary the real and mystical Body of Christ till his personal coming again as those spiritual Gifts shall though they were of longer continuance then the Miracles and Gifts of Healing and diversites of Tongues for outward acting were a time was fore-seen to come when some of these outward Officers would fall from Heaven from the simplicity of Christ and receiving their Knowledge and Furniture from the Gospel believed even the Testimony of Jesus that is the Spirit of Prophesie and came from Heaven and those spiritual Gifts and Furniture received in belief thereof which came from Heaven and so fall to the Earth in love of the Learning Philosophy Rev. 19.20 Arts and Sciences of the Gentiles and with that interpret and teach using it as the Key of Knowledge and so bring in a smoke covering the Face of the Gospel and Church with Darkness And such Officers getting to be the chief in the outward Court the outward Court would be left unto the Gentiles and then the Man of sin would enter and sit therein and he would be making Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teachers and none should be counted so but those of his making and calling and if by his usurped Power and feigned Miracles he could not generally perswade Men of this yet he would claim such Authority for ordaining Bishops and Deacons that there should be none acknowledged but of his ordaining yea he and the Officers ordained by him shall bear the Name of the Church and Clergy as if out of Union with them no Salvation and all that will not submit to and acknowledge this Power in him and his Officers shall soon be thrust out of Office and excommunicated out of the outward Court of the Church and then the Holy City the true Church and Sanctuary would be trodden under Foot Rev. 11.1 2 3. 2 Thes 2.4 Joh. 6.2 and clothed with sackcloth in disgrace and persecution yet the Testimony of Jesus and Truth and Verity of all these spiritual Gifts was in and would remain and be in this Sanctuary the true though despised Church and stript of her outward Ornaments and Officers and Power is given to these by
of my bowels Which shews plainly both that he was one with the Father in this Prov. 8.29 30 31 as in all other his Decrees and Purposes and also that he did accept to undertake and do the same as his own words verifie Psal 40.7 Lo I come rendered by the Apostle Heb. 10.7 8 9 Heb. 10.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God and then opened descanted and pressed again From which Will of God of the Father and Christ his oneness in the same the vertue of his Sacrifice is affirmed to be Heb. 10.10 12 14 and to have been from the beginning vertuous and prevalent with God for Men and with and in all that believe in him And as in order to the performance of this his Will concerning and for Mankinde he in his Purpose prepared and gave him a Body so as he might be truely and verily man and the Son of Man and so capable of suffering for Man having right as a Kinsman and fitness as having the Nature of Man to undertake and do the whole business of Mankinde Rom. 5.14 18 being according to this his Father's Purpose a perfect and publick Man yea the Word and Son of God made Man and so having the Divine and the Humane Nature in one Person and so one with the Father and one with Man a fit Mediator between God and Man to deal with God for Man and with Man in the behalf of God and so the digging or opening of the Ear Joh 33.16 17 24 as it signifieth in Men the fitting and preparing for obedience to that which God calleth to that they may obey so in respect of Christ it signifieth the giving him and fitting him with such a Body as in which he might have capacity and fitness to suffer and do his Will which being given him Isa 50.5 6 Psa 40.6 7 he was not rebellious nor did draw back but being one with his Father in his will and love to Man he accepted and delighted to do the same and so the Spirit by the Apostle teacheth us to understand it who knowing that to be the meaning cites that very Text according to the Translation then extant and known A body hast thou fitted or prepared me Heb. 10.5 And that he might do his Will in that very Body he in this Purpose 2. Purposed concerning the Man Christ the second publick Man first an Abasement of him secondly by vertue thereof an Exaltation 1. He purposed and decreed an Abasement of him for Mankinde Gal. 4.4 as that he should be made under the Law for Men and though without sin yet to have on him all the infirmities of the Nature of Man Rom. 8.3 which befel it for sin meerly through the Fall and so though true and sinless flesh yet in the similitude of finful flesh 2 Cor. 5.14 15 2 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 Eph. 2.13 Heb. 9.14 7.27 See Part 2. ch 7. Luke 24.26 46 Mat. 26.24 Isa 53.2 7 Psa 22.6 11 18 Act. 2.23 and so that he in the stead of and for all Mankinde should die that death yea all that death in the ignominy and pain of it yea suffer the Curse in it which was due to Mankinde for the first offence and all the sins that necessarily flow from it and which the Law on that account can charge Men with and also make such full satisfaction and such a vertuous Atonement by his Blood as by it even following sins against himself might in his way be taken away and freely forgiven All which he hath done as was fore-purposed and fore-written of him and because of the certainty of God's Purpose and his being one with God in that Decree having accepted to do it it is spoken of before the actual and visible performance as done and when manifestly performed he is said truely to go as it is written of him and to be delivered thus to suffer by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God so his Abasement was according to Purpose 2. Psa 16.10 11 Isa 5.3.8 Act. 2.25 33 13.29 33 37 Psa 68.18 47.5 Luke 24.52 Heb. 10.12 13 8.1 1 Pet. 3.22 Col. 2.9 10 Joh. 17.5 Psal 20.3 4 110.1 He purposed and decreed the Exaltation of him in that personal Body in which he was so willingly abased and this Exaltation to be in his Resurrection and in his Ascension into Heaven and in the acceptation of his Sacrifice for all that for which he offered it and so filling him with the immeasurable fulness of the Spirit even glorifying him with his own self so that the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and he set at the right Hand of God in all Power and Authority Angels Authorities and Powers being made subject to him and all this now done as was fore-purposed 3. God in Approbation of all this his own Purpose and of his Son becoming the Son of Man and suffering and doing all this for Mankinde and in his own well-pleasedness in his Son in Man's Nature thus exalted the heavenly and spiritual Man the Lord the quickning Spirit He in this Purpose did also purpose to elect and chuse and so did and hath elected and chosen him to be and so made him his Servant or Minister by whom he will do all his choice works of saving and judging yea Isa 42.1 Mat. 12.18 3.17 17.3 Psa 89.19 20.28 his delight in whom he takes his rest and well-pleasedness for ever yea the very he in whom and through whom he will shew forth the brightness and excellency of his Glory and with whom his Covenant stands fast for evermore And so in this Purpose and choice of his and by the vertue of his sufferings and Sacrifice and by reason of and in and with alâ—â—â—â—hs Furniture he hath fitted and made him to be and so 4. He hath purposed and according to Purpose confirmed him to be 1. The Lord of all even of the Devils and fallen Angels as his Captives and Slaves Act. 2.36 10.36 Mat. 4.3 11 Heb. 2.14 Col. 2.25 Eph. 4.8 Heb. 1.3 4 5 6 7 13 14 Rom. 14.7 8 9 1 Cor. 6.20 2 Cor. 5.14 15 Rom. 2.16 2 Pet. 2.1 John 3.16 by vertue of his Conquest and Victory over them in the Nature of Man whom they had overthrown and by conquering death which they brought Man under yea by reason of the transcendent excellency of his Person and his Work and Office even Lord of the holy Angels also but Lord over all Mankinde by vertue of his Death suffered and his Resurrection and his Sacrifice offered for them so as they are all released over to him who in his time will bring them out of that Death he died for them and shall judge them for they are his and ought of right to live to him which if according to the Grace he extendeth to them they do they shall not perish in another death but have everlasting life 2. The
Heb. 11.25 26 27 it will cause all services sufferings for Christ to appear but a little matter to be born yea it will lead to count sufferings for Christ greater riches then all the treasures of this World and strengthen them to endure as seeing him that is visible in which while these Promises are believingly viewed 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. our afflictions will work for us a far more exceeding weight of glory yea should temptation come so fiercely as to dazle the eye Psa 116.3 11. 31.22 23 24 56.4 10 11. or daunt the courage of our believing so as we fainted in the exercise of our Faith yet the minding of these Promises sealed by him that shed his Blood for us would make us cry to him in that fainting and he would hear us and help us comfort and enable us to comfort our selves in his word And will they not then allure and help to perseverance Surely Yes And thus I have briefly hinted the Promises of God through Christ to Mankinde to Mankinde believing to Believers in each condition and to them and Promises to be received after this life which heartily believed it would lead to cleanse from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit 2 Cor. 1.1 5.1 1 Joh. 2.24 25. and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord it would lead to perseverance and to cause to long and wait for our House from Heaven In all which we see That the Promises of God and the Purposes of God and the Testimony of God concerning Christ are all one and the same Doctrine declare the same thing the same minde of God by diversity of expressions setting forth and closing together in one and the same Truth and so as the knowledge usefulness of and in any one will be found the same of and in each and every one yet I to evidence this will a little go over what hath already been shewn in usefulness of the Testimony of Christ and of the Purposes to shew how we are taught the same in the Promises and how the knowledge of them as hath been set forth is helpful to us in many things CHAP. 6. How this knowledge of the Promises is instructive to us about understanding some Sayings of Scripture 1. THis will help us to understand that saying 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature c. It is evident That in this and the former Verse Rom. 1.1 2 3 4 5. Eph. 1.2 4 5 11. Act. 26.18 Peter was declaring the Furniture given him by God for his Ministration as was Paul's course oft in beginning of his Epistles and both his Furniture and Mission for the same end that Paul had his and so in the former Verse he tells us That the divine Power of Christ Joh. 15.26 27. Act. 1.4.5 Luk. 24.4 Joh. 5.25 11.25 26. and so of God in and through Christ which was the Holy Ghost inspiring them with the Testimony of Christ hath given unto them all things pertaining unto life and godliness To life that is to forgiveness quickning and life and being enlivened to godliness to right worshipping of God and living to him an = d uniting and conforming to him 2 Pet. 1.1 2. and all this he saith the divine Power gave them through the knowledge of him that is in the Testimony of the Righteousness of God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 Thes 2.14 2 Cor. 5.18 19. which the divine Power shined into their hearts in the face of Jesus Christ who hath saith he called us by glory and vertue or to glory and vertue whereby or by which divine Power and Spirit in the knowledge of Christ according to the Testimony put in our hearts are given to us that is for Ministration and to minister with exceeding great and precious Promises that by these ministred by us and heard and believed by you you might be Partakers of the divine Nature that you in hearing might believe and in believing being convinced and brought out of darkness might receive the light and so believing in Christ have Fellowship with and partake of the divine Nature and so the Promises here appears to be the same with Gospel-Testimony and the several Heads or Branches of Promises forementioned Consider it well 1. For fallen Man the Seed of the first Adam that are under sin and death that they may attain to life and godliness receive forgiveness and be accepted into favour and become of the spiritual Seed c. Needful it is That in that Nature of Man sin be condemned and punished blood shed death and curse suffered and overcome in the same Nature risen just ascended and offered to God a Sacrifice so as Aronement be made Redemption obtained Spirit and Eternal Life received in the Man to send forth that Men might believe Act. 13.31 32 33 38 39. Joh. 1.45 and that whoever believeth on him may receive forgiveness and life And such a Saviour God from the beginning promised to Mankinde and after more explicately to Abraham and by the Prophets and Jesus Christ that died and rose c. is this very Promise fulfilled as God hath now fulfilled this Promise in raising him from the dead Luk. 1.69 70 Joh. 14.6 Eph. 2.17 Rom. 3.25 1 Cor. 3.11 1 Pet. 1.21 25. Joh. 6.48 Isa 42.1 c. and so set him forth in the Gospel and this Jesus so set forth is the Way of approach to God The Propitiation for sins The Foundation The immortal Seed The Bread of Life The Elect of God The First-begotten and First-born Son of God that all that believe in him may through him approach to God receive forgiveness be united to and built on Christ and so become of the same seed born of God a Son of God by vertue of the Death and Resurrection of and union with the Son of God And this fulfilled Promise Joh. 3.14 15. Act. 2. 3.9 26. 13.38 39 and so the Promises under this first Head or Branch of Promises of things done are exceeding great and precious and to be held forth as the Promises of God fulfilled that in believing Men might be begotten by and born of the Word or Promise so that to conceive or suggest to any another Seed an elect Company for whom this Seed should come and die is altogether erronious there is but one blessed Seed in which blessing is and that is the Seed of the Woman of Abraham in which is blessing Gal. 3.16 26. And this Seed was not a People for Christ to die for but it is Christ dead and risen and by his communicative vertue all those that through Grace are brought in to him and united to him as such a Seed to bring Men in therefore to be of this Seed this Promise fulfilled in him is to be preached 1 Cor.
15.14 15. Indeed to witness this of Christ that he is dead and risen again and alive for evermore that whoever believeth on him may live if it were not so indeed would be a false witness-bearing of God and so a vain preaching and so likewise to preach this as good News and Gospel to any for whom Christ did not indeed die and rise Act. 3.26 10.34 43 13.38 39 47. 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6 7. 2 Pet. 1.20 21 23 24 25. and give himself a Ransome so as there is forgiveness and life in him for them that they might believe and in believing receive the same were a false witness-bearing of God and Christ of which the Apostles freed themselves when they preached this to Jews to Gentiles to all Men where-ever they came affirming the same for Truth and so this the first Promise in which the Foundation is held forth and the immortal Seed effused and so Peter preached this Promise 2. That sinners ignorant blinde weak and dead Men may be enabled to believe and so come upon this Foundation and be united to and quickned and born of this Seed and so partake of life and godliness and therein of the divine Nature needful it is That this Foundation be discovered to them and light shined on them with some spiritual fervour and power opening their eyes to see and moving in their hearts that they might believe testifying to them That if they in seeing see c. following Grace shall flow into them enabling them to believe and that in believing they shall receive Remission of sins and life and that this is the very end of God in sending forth the Gospel to them and all this God hath promised and is doing as hath been shewn in the second Head or Branch of Promises and this Promise See Part 5. ch 1. with the Promises contained in it are given in the Gospel also to be preached yea so as in the plain Declaration of the Gospel See Part 4. ch 4. with invitation of Men by it to be reconciled to God God be affirmed to be fulfilling these Promises also reaching forth his hand to such a Performance that Men might indeed Joh. 3.14 15. Act. 3.26 26.18 Act. 11.20 21. 2 Cor. 3.3 5.20 Act. 17.30 31. Hos 11.3 4. Joh. 6.27 32 33 62 63. Mat. 4.15 16 17. 1 Pet. 1.12 Act. 5.22 1 Rom. 1.16 Thes 2.12 13. 1 Pet. 1.20 21. by that he discovereth in his Son believe and so be built on the Foundation united to and born of the immortal Seed and so the Preaching is said to be for this end to enlighten and save and the hand of the Lord to be with them and do this work in this Ministration and so God is affirmed to beseech in their beseeching by the Gospel yea in the Ministration of the Gospel of Christ risen from the dead to be giving Faith to all Men to be giving the Bread of Life drawing with the Bonds of Love and the Cords of a Man taking the yoke from off the Jaws and laying Meat before Men to give Light to them that sit in Darkness whence Peter confident of his Master's Truth in his Word Mat. 28.20 Joh. 15.26 27. doubted not to affirm That they preached the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven and That the Holy Ghost did also witness of Christ in their witnessing and so these Promises were also exceeding great and precious which they had also to preach so as whoever as Light came discovering Christ and opening their eyes to see did but then and so behold him this Word would work so in them that they should by him believe on him and so be enlivened and partake of divine Nature and so through this Promise received united to the former Promise fore-fulfilled and so born of that Promise fulfilled through this Promise now in performing 3. That these weak Believers and new-born Babes may be more and more built on Christ and grow up in him and so live through him and so have life more abundantly and be and live godly in partaking of the divine Nature in Interest in Union in Fellowship in Usefulness in Conformity and in assured Expectation of a compleat Enjoyment in due season See before ch 2 3 4 5. Eph. 1.18 2 Thes 2.14 Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.1 3 4 5 6 7 2.3 4 5 9. 2 Pet. 1.1 2 5 11. needful it is That following Grace be vouchsafed to them opening to them the Inheritance and affording them Blessing in divine spiritual Presence in all their spiritual Frames and Services in their Temptations and Sufferings in their Abiding and for their Abiding and assuring them of Help and Preservation to the end and the Inheritance in its season which are all given us in the Gospel and set forth in the third Head or Branch of Promises and these Promises also be exceeding great and precious and Peter had them also to preach to the same end and so did these being the Promises to the Hope whereof Believers are by the Word begotten and born And so of the Promises given them II. This will also help us to understand Rom. 9.8 The Children of the Promise are counted for the Seed In that by that said it 's cleer both who be the Children of Promise and in what sense they are said to be born of the Promise and so of VVater and of the Spirit yea of God and from above which onely they are that being born of the immortal Seed are reckoned one with it and so after it and so counted for and are the spiritual Seed 1. They are born of the Promise that is of Christ promised to be the Saviour which Promise is now fulfilled Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.20 21 23. Joh. 1.12 Isa 53.8 10. and he so held forth therein as The Propitiation The Foundation The immortal Seed The Word of the Lord that the Love of God appearing in him they beholding are by him begotten quickned born and so are accounted his Generation This the Promise of which borne 2. They are born through the Promise that is the Promises God hath made of filling Christ with Spirit which is done and sending forth Spirit through him Isa 42.1 8. 55.4 5. to open the eyes of the blinde c. and so to allure and bring in to him in performance of which Promise in the heavenly Call the Word becomes effectual in the heart of those that in hearing hear 1 Pet. â— 25 Gal. 4.23 and so prevails with them to answer the Call in believing that set before them in the first Promise seen fulfilled which therein quickens them and brings them forth to the birth and so of that Promise through this Promise they are born 3. Gal. 3.16 26 29. 4.23 18 31. They are in this Birth born Heirs to the Hope of the Promise even the Promises of and pertaining to the Inheritance And these Promises coming all
kinde he pleadeth for many may go without that assurance all their dayes hee onely undertakes to prove notwithstanding it shall so bee for ever Now let his quotations be viewed to see what they say for one beleever more than another for the Spirits abiding with them for ever Joh. 14.16.26 in vers 16. Ioh 14.16.26 15.26 16 7. Luke 24.49 Our Saviour tells his Apostles and first witnesses that were to carry forth the testimony of him to the world after his Ascention That he after he was gone from them in bodily presence would yet be an Intercessor with the Father for them And the Father in his Name and so he from the Father would send them another Advocate or Comforter Let the words be well minded he faith not Another Spirit no he mindes them of that that it is the same Spirit of truth Joh. 14.17 Mat 16.16 17. Joh. 17.6 7 8. which they knew by which the Father in his ministration made him known to them to be the Christ and had given them to beleeve on him in which he did also stil even now he was with them dwell with them So that it is not one spirit opposed to another spirit but one Advocate or Comforter in respect of the manner of advocation and comforting opposed to another God had been formerly even by the Spirit of Christ Heb. 1.1 2. 7 8 9 10. 2 Cor. 3 7-14 teaching his minde by parcels to them and leading them to look to Christ and so to worship him by types shadows and carnal ordinances which were to be removed and now to these in the personal ministration of himself in his bodily presence in which he had been even so an Advocate and Comforter to them Psal 63.18 Act. 2.33 Rom. 16.25 Joh. 16.7 7.39 1 Joh. 2.1 But he was not alwayes so to abide with them nor was the excellency fulness and mystery of either his oblation or mediation and advocation to be clearly opened and made known till he had finished his suffering work and cast off mortality and overcome death and ascended in his body immortal into heaven and offered the acceptable sacrifice and received the fulness of the Holy Ghost in that nature of man to send forth for that full discovery of himself and the Fathers minde in him and then hee would so send forth this Holy Spirit himself remaining with the Father the Advocate still to discover him and so the Fathers mind in him and so and therein to be an Advocate and Comforter to them even so and such as never was before as is shewn in the eighth and ninth Chapters of the third part of this Treatise about the revelation of Christ and so he opens it vers 26. Joh. 15.15 17.6 7 8. He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you For he had made known his Fathers Counsel and Name unto them and given them his words And this holy Spirit of truth in his coming shal guide them into all truth Eph. 1.8 9. by taking of the things of him and shewing them and glorifying him c. So as they shall have the fulness of the testimony in all wisdome and understanding to minister Oh blessed Advocate and Comforter And yet this not all but as the next quotation Joh. 15.26 He shall testifie of him in them to them and through their ministrations so as they also shall bear witness Act. 5.31 32. Act. 1.21 22 10 34.42 1 Cor. 9 1. 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. because they have been with him from the beginning even ear and eye witnesses of his person and ministration and miracles and sufferings and death and resurrection and assent to heaven And this Advocate and Comforter both the Doctrine of the Gospel by him so opened and the ministration of it he taught and lead them in And his power and presence in that Doctrine so ministred should not be as the Mosaical Law to pass away and give place to another ministration nor as the ministration of John nor his ministration in his bodily weakness 2 Cor. 3 3-18 Joh. 5.35 36 14.12 13. Eph. 1 3-10 See part 3. chap. 12. to be over-shined by a more clear ministration but this shall be the last ministration and abide till his own coming again and so her shall be in them in their doctrine and ministration for ever So as to all beleevers here is given certainty of truth goodness and immutability of the Gospel delivered by the Apostles and of the presence of the Spirit in such ministration thereof as left upon record by them to the end of the world And as for the promise and hope given in these promises to beleevers of this Doctrine for the Spirit in their hearts abiding in them for ever Note 1 It is great Joh. 17.20 21-23 7.37 38 39. 14 17. our Saviour having prayed for the same blessing for them also and promised the same but that is not to some peculiar kinde of beleevers but to all that beleeve on him not beleevers opposed to beleevers but beleevers opposed to the world that lieth in unbeleef as is exprest 2 That the manner of the assuring is abiding in them for ever is by our Saviours own explication to be in their abiding in him Joh. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. in that faith love and confidence in him which the Spirit hath wrought and worketh in them and his word that which he hath helped them to understand and by which he teacheth and comforteth them abiding in them This also express So that by there quotations we are lead to hold fast our first faith that Heb. 6. Rom. 8.10 11. The Apostle both admonishing exhorting instructing and comforting in such a manner as telling them how it was with them if Christ be in them and how it should be with them if the Spirit of Christ did dwell in them and so not affirming what would bee for ever but warning and directing that it might be I marvel this should be quoted for this assertion it so suiting to that by him opposed 1 Cor. 6.19 The Apostle tells them that beleeve and surely had such illumination and participation of the Holy Ghost as mentioned Heb. 6.4 5. That their body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost in them c. Their body may be taken either for their personal bodies which were the vessels and instruments in and with which they were to be given up as servants of righteousness unto God Rom. 6.19 or by body may be meant their society in which Truth was and God to be worshipped and therefore to be kept holy 1 Cor. 5.6 7 8. and undefiled Now the Apostle minding them of this That their body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost or rather secretly reproves them for their neglect of minding what their body was consecrated to in the heavenly call
Witnesses and remaineth in the Heavens till the time of the restitution of all things this is that Jesus and this Jesus is the Christiand all that the four Evangelists writ Luk. 1.4 John 20.31 Act. 2.36 3.13 16. 4.11 12 c. 17.2 3. 1 Joh. 5 1. Joh. 1.12 13. was to certifie us of this that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that in believing we might have life through his Name And so the Apostles preached that he is the Christ and proved by the Scripture that this very Jesus whom they preached is the Christ he that believeth that this Jesus is the Christ is born of God and he that denieth it is a lyer Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2.22 More of this is shewn part 1. ch 1. 2. Joh. 1.1 Rom. 9.5 Tit. 3.13 Heb. 1. 2 Tim 2.5 Joh. 3.16 17. Isa 53. Joh. 5. Luk. 1 31. Joh. 1.14 Rom. 1 1-4 Mat. 16.16 Joh. 14 14 18. Rom. 5.17 18. 1 Cor. 86. 1 Pet. 3.18 4.1 1 Joh. 3.16 Act. 20.28 Heb. 2.14 What a one he is is also in the Testimony shewn namely that he is God the great God God over all blessed for e-ever that he is Man a true and very Man of the Seed of David c. that he is the Son of God the onely proper and natural Son of God the Son of God by Divine and unconceivable Generation according to the Divine Nature and by a supernatural conception and by the Resurrection from the Dead and by union in person with the Word and wel-pleasedness with the Father according to the humane Nature as he is Man and God-Man the Son of God the Son of Man in one person being one and the onely proper Son of God the Christ one Lord Jesus Christ in respect of the union of two Natures in one person that is one Son of God that which is done by or in either Nature may in respect of person be said of both so though he was put death in the flesh and God cannot die yet God is said to have laid down his Life for us and his Blood called God's own Blood and so though not Man but God could overcome Death yet this Man is said by Death to overcome Death so with respect to each Nature he is diversly spoken of in respect of the Divine Nature Joh. 10.30 even when he was on earth yet the Father and he were one even in Greatness and Power and yet as he was man John 14.28 to suffer and offer Sacrifice the Father was greater than he and having offered the Sacrifice he is exalted above all Principality and Power 1 Pet 3.22 Heb. 8.1 Col. 2.9 and set down on the right Hand of God Angels Powers and Authorities made subject to him and the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily Col. 1. Heb. 1.3 so as all compleatness is in him he is the Brightness of the Glory of God and the express Image of his Person the Image of the invisible God he is one with God Heb. 5. Isa 4.2 Cent. 5.10 God is in him as is said He is God he is one with Mankinde the Nature of Man is in him as is said He is Man a fit able loving and wonderful perfect Saviour Beauty and Glory Comely and Excellent White and Ruddy the Standard-Bearer and chiefest of ten thousand the Saviour of sinners whose Work and Office is to save sinners the Lover of the Righteous whose Office is to preserve the Righteous such a one he is even the Christ 1 Tim. 1.15 Psa 11.7 Rev. 15.3 Heb. 7. Act. 3.22 Isa 42.1 8. 61.1 4. Heb. 4.14 15 16 5.2 7.15 4.12 the King of Saints the King of Kings the Lord of Hosts and Rules the Great High Priest that orders the whole Worship of God by whom Men may approach to God the High Priest over the House of God the great Prophet that revealeth the Father and teacheth the things of God in a word he is full of Spirit full of love and compassion knowing all things and able to do all things such a one he is 3. Whence he is and that is even from Heaven It was the infinite Wisdom and Goodness of God that found out this Ransom 2 Sam. 14.14 Job 33.24 Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Joh. 4.9 10 14. Rom. 5.6 8 10. Tit. 3.4 Joh. 1.1 14. 17.5 16.28 Act. 3. Joh. 1.4 5 9. Act. 14.17 Rom. 2.4 Isa 45.22 it was the infinite Pity and Love of God to Mankinde that moved him to give and send forth this his Son to become Man and by his Death and Sacrifice to be the Saviour of the World He was with God in the bosome of God glorified with God's own self he came forth from the Father and came into the world again he left the world and went to the Father and now there in his glorified boby remaineth in the Heavens and from thence by his Spirit beholding discerning all things he sends forth of the beams of his light and goodness and so the Father through him in Testimonies of his goodness in mercies and means to draw Men to Repentance and looking to him that they may be saved by him and so Righteousness flows down from Heaven l Psal 85.11 but especially and more abundantly in the Ministration of the Gospel in which God sendeth and giveth his Son to open the eyes of the blinde and turn them c. m Act. 3.26 26.18 and is giving to men the bread of life to feed on n Joh. 6.32 Jesus Christ in that Ministration is coming down spiritually from Heaven the bread of God the bread of life giving life that Men may feed on him and live o Joh. 6.27 33 48. and so is God the Father of lights from whom comes every good and perfect gift and giving p Jam. 1.17 and Jesus Christ is the Lord from Heaven heavenly q 1 Cor. 15.47 and so Jesus Christ by his Spirit the wisdom of God in its Teachings and saving Operations doth not first ascend or spring from within out of the wisdom heart and frame in Men the wisdom that so doth ascend is earthy sensual devilish but this wisdom is above and descendeth from above and so is pure c. r Jam. 3.15 17.18 and entreth into the heart and so springeth up into sutable fruits so that Christ and Faith in Christ and the things of Christ are from above from the grace favour and free-gift of God even as his next personal coming will be of Gods sending him from Heaven s Act. 3.20 4. For what remains to be said viz. what he became what he hath done what he is become what he doth and for whom and what he will do for some and who they be and what he will do against others and who they be this being the Subject of this following Discourse in this part of this