that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turne away from him that speaketh from heaven and againe how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation In the midst of this sixteenth head of demands thou bids me answer thee and let the truth speak and come to the light and bring my deeds to it Answ I have fully answered thee and for thy sake to give thee satisfaction if thou art yet capable of any I have laid together the words of truth that thou and all who read them may understand what is spoken in them to the things demanded and if my deeds be examined by these words of truth which have been a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths it will plainly appear to all who are unprejudiced and who are judicious that I have done no unrighteous deed and thing in demanding to receive from thee that portion of my due maintenance which is in thy hand but from God the Lord both of thee and me to whom both must give an account for our doings assigned unto me for my labours Thy sixteenth head of Demand hath now its full Answer CHAP. XVII Thy seventeenth head of Demands is thus expressed WHat is the first principle of the pure Religion Is the steeple house the Church What Scripture hast thou for sprinkling Infants What Scripture hast thou for the word Sacrament Hast thou heard Gods voice immediately from heaven as Prophets and Apostles did or Christs voice Doest thou believe that a man shall come to that which is perfect while he is upon the earth and have the body of sin put off and be free from sinne Dost thou own that salvation that is wrought out with fear and trembling Dost thou own the same Revelation and Inspiration that the Prophets and Apostles had now in this age yea or nay Dost thou own the prophecying sonnes and daughters in this age and that the Lord will poure out his Spirit upon all flesh When Christ saith to his Disciples be ye not called Masters for ye have one Master and ye are all brethren Where dost thou read Mr. Paul Mr. Matthew Mr. Mark Mr. Luke Mr. John Mr. Peter Mr. James Mr. Timothy Mr. Titus that these transgressed the command of Christ is not he Antichrist that transgresseth and the deceiver and hath not God nor the Son and is not he to bid God speed Read Johns second Epistle and answer me Answer these queries in writing to the thing that is queried and do not say that they are foolish and non-sense but let me have an answer in writing Answer Here are eleven Questions proposed whereunto an answer shall be returned severally as they come in order 1. Quest what is the first principle of the pure Religion Answ The pure Religion is the doctrin according to Godlines containing such wholesome words which teach men the way of 1. Tim. 6. 3 2 Tim. 1. 3. 2. Pet. 4. 6. 2. Cor. 13. 4 Act. 24. 14. 1. Pet. 4. 2. 1. Pet. 4. 11. living to God and with God of serving God according to his own will The principles of this holy doctrin or pure Religion which are to be known are all those holy truths which are revealed from God and are plainly to be found in the Oracles or written words of God called the holy scriptures for there they are recorded Scripturall truthes are the principles or things in the pure Religion which are to be known and the holy scriptures are the principles or chief outward means by which men come to knowledge of those principles or truths which are in the pure religion and the first principle of this pure Religion which is to be known is this there is a God and he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him 11. Heb. 6. 2. Quest Is the steeple house the Church Answ In what sense the places of our holy Assemblys are truly called Churches will appeare by what I shall deliver at present touching the name of Church know then that A multitude of believers is called the Church namely the Rationall Church or the congregation of reasonable creatures conspiring together in the profession of the Common faith and in the practise of all things truly promoting the common salvation Thus the whole company and society of believers throughout the world agreeing in the Profession of Christ calling on his name submitting to his Ordinances holding communion in the same faith worship exercise of godlines and in things of everlasting salvation Act. 20. 28. 1 Tim. 3 15 Rom. 16. 61 is called in holy scripture the Church of God the Church of the living God the Church of Christ And thus also partiaular Societyes of believers visibly dwelling together within certaine convenient limits and bounds who prosesse publickely together the same doctrine of faith and love and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and his ordinances and to partake in these holy institutions which he hath appointed and who do meete as the Lords people publickely to worship God and Christ I say these particular visible societyes of believers 1 Thes 1. 1 are also called the Church The Apostle writes to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the father and in Jesus Châ—ist a Church in God and in Jesus Christ is Persons who have felâ—owship together in the faith obedience and worship which God the father and his son Jesus Christ requires Again know also that the very places of Christian Assemblyes where Christians meete to perform solemne service to God and Christ and to injoy holy ordinances these also are in holy Scripture stiled the Church of God namely the Local Church thus the Apostle speaking of the assembly of the Corinthian 1 Cor. 11. 22 church and abuses therein saith have ye not houses to eate and to drink in or despise'ye the Church of God the opposition which he puts between theire own houses which were places proper for their own ordinary and Common businesses and the place where the Church was publickly assembled which was no mans house but a place for the common use of the Church in things only spiritual plainely shewes that the Apostle calls the place of Christians assembling for Christian purposes the Church of God And he confirmed it by saying afterwards when ye come together to eate tarry one for another and if any 1 Cor. 11. 33 34. man hunger let him eat at home so then the very place where the Church Rationall of Gods people publickly meet is by the Apostle called the Church of God his Locall Church not mens home but Gods house of publick worshiping him where Mark 11. 17 ever such a place be in any nation Though thou in derision calls the place of our holy Assemblys a steeple house yet it is our comfort that the Apostle calls it the Church of God and that God himself hath promised to come and meet us and blesse us in it as he will all his holy people in all
Levitical Priesthood and the admininistration of the Jewish service and as by that Priesthood which is changed there was no perfection so that Law of Heb. 7. 11 Ordinances which is changed called by the Apostle carnal Ordinances could not make him that did the service perfect and they were but imposed until the time of reformation Heb. 9. 9 10 Heb. 10. 14 which Christ brought who is a Priest for ever and by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified I say therefore that the Law of those Ordinances which were administred by the Levitical Priesthood and by which the Priests of that order were impowered to officiate or were made Priests is now changed together with that Priesthood for Christ who is a Priest continuing hath appointed the manner and order of holy administrations to be of another kinde then these were when the Levitical Priesthood was in request And likewise he hath appointed another manner of admitting those whom he chooseth to be his Stewards and in his stead to dispense unto his people warrantably the spiritual Ministrastrations then was the manner of deputing any to the service of the Tabernacles and the Temple while the Levitical Priesthood for then such Priests were consecrated by washings anointings sacrificing and purifying of blood to attend upon the service enjoyned them whereas Christ hath appointed 1 Tim. 2 7 1 Tit. 5. 1 Tim. 4. 14 2 Tim. 3. 17 Eph. 4. 11 12 that by Ordination only his Ministers should be authorized to do the work of the Ministry hereby they are put into the Ministry and receive the gift of becoming men of God to do service for God and so they are by him given to his Church to be Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ hence Gods tythes are designed unto them as maintenance of Gods men as a recompence for the service which they do for Jesus Christ who is over all God blessed for ever 1 Cor. 9. 14 3. Thou asks Is the Commandment disanulled that gave them tythes Answ The Commandment which the sonnes of Levi had to tythe their brethren was a special Law or Commandment Heb. 7. 5. without which they could not have any title to tythe at all because tythes originally belonged to the Priesthood of Christ typed in Melchizedeck who tythed Abraham by Right or Law original but the sons of Levi had onely a special command or grant for a time for tything their brethren according to the original Law of tything which was before setled as on a foundation in the Priesthood after another order and therefore I say that that particular command which the Levitical Priesthood had for taking tythes expired with their Priesthood So that now none of that Tribe can claime tythes by vertue of any such peculiar command unto the Levitical Priesthood And this also I say that that Law of tything which was Original and by vertue of which Melchizedâ—ck tythed Abraham is still in force by vertue of which all tythes ought to be paid unto the Lord Jesus Christ who is an everlasting Priest after Melchizedecks order he receiveth them who liveth for ever he Hâ—b 7. 8. ever liveth to be a taker of tythes but seeing these cannot be paid unto him in Person because he is ascended into heaven and sits at Gods right hand an high Priest for ever therefore they are to be paid according to his appointment unto his Ministers with whom he hath promised to be present unto the end of the world He hath ordained that they should have that very meanes appertaining unto the Gospel which is due in as much as he by them doth preach the Gospel of peace unto his people The Apostle saith so hath the Lord orâ—ained Eph. 2. 14. that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospâ—l To live of the Gospel is to have the maintenance and livelihood 1 Cor. 9. 14 or portion of temporal substance which belongs to the Gospel and that is the tythes due to Christ the eternal Priest who thereby payes his own peculiar servants out of his own proper goods which he hath reserved unto himself out of every mans increase and is generally known by the name of tythes Therefore I answer to thy question Though that command be disanulled that gave the Levites tythes yet the Law of tything is not disanulled which gave Melchizedeck right of tything and which is given by Christ unto us his Ministers of the Gospel We do not take tythes as the Priests of the Tribe of Levi did in way of holding up the Levitical service and Priesthood both which is abolished but we take tythes as they are that tribute or portion of the earths increase which the Lord hath reserved for himself and given them unto us for our attendance and waiting on the Ministry of the Gospel to which he hath appointed us 4. Thou asks Did Abraham pay tythes to Melchizedeck of his substance or of the spoile Answ The holy Scripture plainly tells us that he paid unto him tythes of both 1. He paid unto him the tythe of his substance Moses in Gen. 14. 20 Heb. 7. 2. saying that he gave him tythes of all and the Apostle in saying that unto Melchizedeck Abraham gave the tenth part of all do both of them intimate that there was not any substantial increase which Abraham possessed left untithed by Melchizedeck the Priest of the most high God And 2. The Apostle also in saying that he gave him the tenth of the spoile or out of the spoile doth thereby specifie one Heb. 7. 4. remarkable event not before known to the world whence tythes are due to the Priesthood of Melchizedecks order as oft as such occurrents shall come to passe wherefore Melchizedeck took from Abraham the tythes of spoiles out of which there ought to arise an Augmentative benefit to the Priest of the high God Jesus Christ as oft as victories over enemies are obtained I say therefore that Abraham paid unto Melchizedeck tythes both of his substance and of the spoiles The blessing which Melchizedeck gave containes in it the reason of paying tythes of both these Blessed saith he be Abraham of the most high God possessor of heaven and Gen. 14. 19 earth Abraham was blessed and to be blessed from the most high God with the influences of heaven whereby the earth Hos 2. 21 22 was enabled to yeeld unto him her increase and blessings and therefore he was to pay tythes to God as an acknowledgement of his Soveraignty over all and of his liberality unto him in all he being truly according to the title given unto God first by Melchizedeck in holy Scripture the high possessour of heaven and earth Again blessed saith Melchizedeck be the most Gen. 14. 20 high God which hath deliver'd thine enemies into thy hand Abraham was therefore to pay unto God the
witnesse and that for this end he came into the world that he might bear witnesse unto the truth and he hath fully and truly spoken out of the will of God and he is one of these three Great witnesses which bears record in heaven yet the people of God and Christ ought not because he is the faithfull witnesse to think that therefore the Ministers are not Christs publick witnesses and Rev. 19. 10 publishers of his truths unto his people for the Scripture tells us that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy the testimony of Jesus is that he hath chosen these his Ministeriall servants to beare witnesse to his people of his truths doth give unto all his faithfull Ministers the Spirit the authority the boldnes the life the liveliness to discharge that Propheticall or preaching service which he hath appointed them to performe the testimony of Jesus touching this particular is thus recorded Math. 24. 14 the Gospel of the Kingdome shall be preached unto all the world as a witnesse unto all nations Christ after this his testimony did commission Ministers to preach that Gospell and the Ministery which Ministers have received of the Lord Jesus is to Mark 16. 25 testify the Gospell of the Grace of God And therefore none of Gods people ought on this ground because Christ is the faithfull Acts. 20. 24 witnesse after a most eminent manner to deny that the Ministers are Christs publick witnesses to his people they are chosen and ordained to publish his truths according to his appointment Moreover Christs being the faithfull witnesse doth not warrant any of his people to deny due maintenance unto his Ministers of whom he said they shall be witnesses to me to the uttermost parts of the earth because Christ hath already condemned all kinde of misusage which shall be done to these Prophets Acts 1. 8. wisemen and scribes which he sends and because he hath faithfully witnessed that though they whom he sent shall not take pay for their working miraculously cures because they had Mâ—th 23. 34 35. freely received that miraculous gift and were therefore to give freely its worke yet Christ hath testified that they whom he sends may for their paines in preaching receive the pay of maintenance saying for the labourer is worthy of his hire or Luk. 10. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his reward worthy to have a reward answerable to and fully recompencing his worke 5. It is true that Christ is called the Lords Anointed because Psal 2. 2. Aâ—ts 10. 38 Joh. 3. 34. 1 Joh. 2. 27 he was anointed with the Holy-Ghost and with power and the Spirit was not given him by measure it is true also that the anointing of grace by his Spirit is received from him and abideth in his holy people yet it is also most true that neither Christ being anointed to preach which he did personally perform on earth and doth since his going to heaven Ministerially perform by his Ministers nor his sanctified people being anointed with grace received from him doth exclude outward teaching and the Ministers from being Christs publick servants to teach his people seeing Christ hath set them in his Church Eph. 4. 11 12 for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of his body the Church Moreover Christs being anointed in a supereminent manner Heb. 2. 9. above his fellows and his sanctified people being anointed with grace according to measure doth not warrant any of his people to deny unto the Ministers of the Gospel their maintenance Isa 61. 1. Luk. 4. 17 18 for Christ was anointed to preach but not to abolish the maintenance of Preachers or of any else which is for upholding the publick preaching of the Gospel in the world And the anointing which his believing people received from him was to make them gracious but not to give unto them any allowance to be injurious unto any in with-holding their dues least of all to Ministers whom he hath appointed to be instruments by their preaching to work gracious men to become more 1 Cor. 14 22 gracious for Prophecy is for them that believe namely to perfect the grace begun in them since they were in Christ Besides it is of divine appointment that as Christs Ministers Math. 5. 14. 15 are by him placed publickly to be lights on a Candlestick pouring out the oyle of their labours in their lightsome informations of people so Christs anointed people are placed by his providence as Olive trees round about his Ministerial servants that every Zach. 4. 11 12 13 14. one of them should be as Olive branches emptying the golden oyle of maintenance for his Ministers out of themselves Gods 1 Coâ— 9. 11 appointment is that if his Ministers so v unto his people spiritual things his people should not grudge his Ministers or count it a great thing if they reap their carnal things Thou hast a full Answer to thy fifteenth Head of Demands CHAP. XVI Thy sixteenth Head of Demands is as followeth ARe not they Ministers of unrighteousnesse and so messengers of Satan that seeks for meanes maintenance tythes of them they do not work for Is not that an unrighteous deed and thing Now if it be said the labourer is worthy of his hire is it not then an unrighteous thing to go and take hire of them that have not hired them answer me and let truth speak and come to the light and bring thy deeds to it Now if you say we plow in hope and thresh in hope that we may be made partakers of our hope now if thou plowest not for me nor thresheth for me how can thou bring the Scripture and say the workman is worthy of his meat to me and the labourer is worthy of his hire to one that hath not set thee on work and that thou plowest not for and threshest not for Answ Ministers who discharge the work of the Ministry which God hath given them to do in those places where he doth set them to be teachers unto his people are neither Ministers of unrighteousnesse nor messengers of Satan because they require the allowed maintenance by tythes or any other things from those people among whom they spend and are spent 1. They are no Ministers of unrighteousnesse for 1. It can be no unrighteousnesse in them to discharge their Ministerial duties seeing God who enjoynes his servants no unrighteous thing hath commanded them to do so And 2. It is no unrighteousnesse in them to demand the maintenance by tithes from those people among whom they discharge their Ministeriall dutyes seeing the maintenance by tithes which they demand is Gods own peculiar rent wherewith he as Lord of all hath charged all lands and hath assigned his due since himself needs nothing to his servants the Ministers of the Gospell for that service which in his stead they performe among his people They in demanding
wayes and now he speakes to his people by his Sonne People are therefore said to be all taught of God because they Joh. 6. 45 have the doctrine or teaching of Christ who is God whose doctrine is the Gospel or the the spell or speech of God Now Christ the son of God from his word written by the mouth of all his holy Ministers in their interprating and applying his whole revealed will or voyce touching the wayes of his service and their salvation doth preach and speake Eph. 2. 20 that his people might be built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ being the corner stone And this his preaching by his Ministers from and out of his word written 2 Pet. 1. 19. is called a more sure word of Prophecy It is a word more sure for the benefit of the Church then any immediate voyce whatsoever 6. Quest Dost thou believe that a man shall come to that which is perfect while he is up on the earth and have the body of sinne put off and be free from sin Answ I believe all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets and in the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles and therfore I believe no otherwise touching those things whereof thou askes here what is my belief then according as I finde what is conteined in these holy writings Take then this distinct account of my beliefe concerning what thou demaunds 1. I believe that in some places the holy scriptures speakes of that which is perfect to which they only have come who are in heaven but thereunto they who are on 1 Cor. 13. 10 Heb. 12. 23 Phil. 3. 12. earth have not come though while they abide on earth they must be still striving that they may come to celestiall perfection 2. I believe that the holy scriptures saith that believers are perfect or compleat in Christ their head by reason of their union with him and justification by him who supplyes Col. 2. 10 Heb. 12. 14. 1 Thes 3. 10 Col. 1. 28 Eph. 4 12 Gen 6. 9. 1 Cor. 2. 6 Phil. 3. 15. Eph 5. 14. Heb. 6. 1 2 Cor. 13. them with all things necessary for their salvation and yet though these believers have from Christ supereminent prerogatives and surpassing spirituall influences they are neverthelesse not perfect in themselves for as much as they need perfecting that which is lacking in their faith however they are men to be esteemed in the way of perfecting or compleating 3. I believe that the Holy scriptures speakes of some who are comparatively perfect that is perfect in comparison of others so was Noah a man perfect in comparison of the wicked who live in his generation Thus strong Christians who out strippt weake ones in the knowledge of Christ in grace and piety and in the practise thereof are called perfect in comparison of such who adhere to Mosaicall ordinances and priviledges and who were rude and raw even babes in the knowledge and practise of Christianity yet such who were called commparatively â—erfect were not so perfect but that the Apostle exhorts them to a proceedure unto further perfection and he wishes the absolut perfection of those who yet were strong or in some measure perfect 4. I believe that the holy scripture in some places speakes of some who were evangelically perfect that is whose 1 Kings 15 14 2 King 20. 3 Job 1. 1. Luk. 1. 9 Obedience was not hypocriticall but sincere and upriâ—ht such were Asa Hezâ—kiah Job Zachariah and Elizabeth and others and yet the holy Scripture shewes that these were not legally perfect that is they were not such whose obedience 2. Chro. 15. 10 2. Chrâ— 32. 25. 26. Iob. 7. 20. Iob. 9. 20. Luk. 1. 20. had so exactly conformed to the Law of Righteousness as that from it they had not at all swerved for it records their particular defaultings however God was pleased to account them evangelically perfect because he accepted the uprightnes of their intention instead of perfection justly requirable in their obedient actions pardoning all what was amisse and their falling short of exact perfection in their performances 5. I believe that though holy men on earth may be called perfect because they have grace which is the good work begun in them for perfecting them yet they are not perfect by their bare haveing Grace because the holy scripture exhorts all gracious ones to abound in grace and to strive to be perfect in the 2. Cor. 8. 7. 2. Cor. 13. 11. Jaâ— 1. 4. Psal 84. 7. Râ—m 1. 17. Phil. 3. 15. highest degree or pitch of grace and to let their grace have its perfect work and it tels us of gracious mens progressions in grace they going from strength to strength according as the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith Yea the Apostle who counted himselfe perfect in respect of his Grcace in Christianity yet acknowledgeth that he was not perfect namely in respect of the supereminencyes of those graces after which he Phil. 3. 12 pressed hard From all thess assertions of the holy scripture it is that I do believe that a man while he is on eaâ—th may come to have that perfect proportion or measure of grace given to him which God sees convenient for his state standing and service in Christianity while he lives yet seeinâ— the fullest Eph. 4. 7. measure of the most eminâ—nt in grace on earth is far short of that hiâ—hest pitch to which Grace may be extended and which shall be heâ—eafter attained to in heaven therefore I believe that though a gracious man is and may be called perfect in respect of that stinted measure of grace which is allotted to him on earth yet he is not absolutely perfect on earth because he hath not as yet attained to that ultimate consummate heavenly perfection which he is to presse after on earth and which shall be by him possessed in heaven when he shall their be gloryfied 6. I believe that a man on earth may have the body of sin put off that is he â—ay have it mortified or so destroyed as that sin shall not raiâ—n in him and that he shall not serve sin But I have no ground to believe that while a man is on earth he can have the body of sin put off that is so mortified or utterly destroyed in him that no Relicks of his corruption should remaine in him This I cannot believe because it is contrary to holy Scripture which describes a regenerate man to be one who is not altogether spirit but in whom there is both flesh and spirit and these in him lusts one against the other and it is certaine Gal. 6. 17. the warre between them will not cease untill he himselfe hath fought the good fight of faith and hath finished his 2. Tim. 6. 12. 2. Tim. 4. 7. course sin therefore will not be so mortified and destroyed in any holy man while he is