is ascended into the heavens after the like unto which consideration David is not ascended but dead and buried And after what consideration is that otherwise than in that body in the humane nature which is now received up into glory even therein and so God hath actually fully and gloriously made that same Jesus whom they crucified both Lord and Christ See Act. 2. 22-36 and 5. 30 31. And the Heavens must receive him till the restitution of all things Act. 3. 21. In the heavens being opened Stephen saw the Son of man standing on the right hand of God signifying his readiness and power to help and stand by his suffering Saints even the same that descended into the lower parts of the earth is ascended up far above all heavens Within the reach of our sight or comprehension of our mind as here below without some supernatural demonstration and strenthning to behold when t is affirmed Stephen saw the heavens opened and the Son of man standing c. Eph. 4. 8-10 Heb. 4. 14. If any shall here think to amuse us with such Questions As are we sure what is meant or signified by the word Heaven when used in this case that is what is meant by that heaven or those heavens into which our Forerunner in our nature is entred and in which he is received untill the restitution of all things whether is meant thereby a place on high in which that one personal body resideth or some state of glory dignity or spirituality into which Christ might pass or ascend For Answer to this We say first let it be remembred That it is distinctly proved That it is Christ after the same consideration of him in which he was laid in the Sepulchre I mean in that body in our nature which they slew the same though not in the same quality but raised a spiritual and glorious body that is ascended and not as this foolish question would in the issue of it lead us to conceive Christ passing out of flesh into spirit or out of that body into an imagination as we may truly call it in the bodies and souls of others This being remembred which also will again appear in our Answer we answer thus That by heaven may sometime bee meant some state or condition of happiness or glory as well as a place we shall not oppose but the Question here being only what is meant or signified by Heaven or the Heavens when Jesus Christ his ascending into them and being there received is spoken of to that we answer Most frequently when so spoken of it signifies directly and only speaks expresly of the place into which hee is gone in that body and where he is received untill the restitution of all things and not of the state of dignity or glory which he there possesseth that is usually signified by another phrase joyned with his ascension into Heaven namely his sitting down on the right hand of God on the right hand of power and of the Throne of Majesty in the Heavens observe That word in the Heavens signifies the place in which he is so dignified The word when so used alwayes especially means it and frequently speaks only expresly of the place c. And what that is we thus far farther answer in which farther Answer we shall more fully demonstrate the truth of what is said 1 The Heavens or that place of glory or heavenly places on high where the most glorious being dwelling and presence of the Essence and Majesty of God is who though in râ—spect of his inspections influences and operations he be every where and in his gracious spiritual presence and manifested nighness in and through his Son dwelling in Son even in the hearts and societies of his people yet in respect of the most glorious presencâ— and dwelling of the Essence of his Majesty he dwelleth in the light into which no man no meer man as from Adam can approach whom no man hath seen at any time nor can see 1 Tim. 6. 16. Joh. 1. 18. The Lords Throne is in Heaven Psal 11. 4. In heaven as opposed to the earth where we are so heaven is exprâ—sly said to be the place of his habitation from whence he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth Psal 33. 13 14. God is in heaven and thou on the earth saith the Preacher Eccles 5. 2. therefore let thy words be few in prayers or speaking to God as considering his Greatness and Majesty so infinitly above thee and his perfect discerning of thy thought afar off which is therein signified for from heaven where is the Throne of his Majesty he perfectly beholdeth all the sons of men His eyes behold his eye-lids try the children of men yea the greatness of his glory is signified in its being so far above us and unapproachable by us O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth Thou hast set thy glory above the heavens Whence also our Saviour directs us That in all prayers this be commemorated in our acknowledgement of the Father That he is in heaven likewise examples and instructions are frequent in Scripture to the use of that gesture of lifting up the eyes to heaven in our prayers prayses c. With the Father in the heavens even in that light into which no meer man can approach is that Son of man that is the only begotten Son of God appearing in his most glorious presence in the heavens themselves 1 Joh. 2. 1. Heb. 9. 24. set on the Throne of his Majesty in the heavens not on the earth Heb. 8. 1. 4. with Chap. 7. 26. 2 The heavens as opposed to the earth to that earth where the Disciples were and where while they remained he was parted from them in his being carryed up into heaven and where while they did or we do remain we are personally absent from that person and have not him personally with us as he is in heaven in the time of this our mortality See the Scriptures forecited with that 2 Cor. 5. and Matth. 26. 11. Mark 14. 7. Joh. 12. 8. The highest heavens as opposed to the lower parts of the earth where he was buried Eph. 4. 8-10 The heavens are opposed to the earth where the former high Priests served Heb. 8. 4. 3 The heavens from which at his second appearing he shall descend or come down We look for the Saviour from heaven Phil. 3. 10. Wait for his Son from heaven 1 Thess 1. 10. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven 1 Thess 4. 16. where by heaven cannot be meant his state of dignity and glory but his place only in which he is now received for us and possesseth that glory for in respect of his state of dignity and glory as he is personally glorified in and with it he shall never descend or come lower but keep his station even then when he shall be seen coming in the clouds of heaven yet still sitting on the Right hand of God
the Gospel immediately from that person was that I said though indeed not on such occasion as thou mentionest in they letter but in Answer to thy witness That thou hadst seen Christ as Paul had And also by way of demonstration That Timothy and so all secondary Ministers in the Gospel since had not their demonstration of the person of the Lord nor their furniture in the Gospel in the same manner that those first and great Apostles had who were also the Apostles last in that respect of which Paul was one though born out of due time and the last so immediately called and furnished On this occasion I say was that assertion forementioned And that also that appearance or immediate Demonstration of the person of Christ was such as his bodily eyes were strengthened some little time to behold or see that also at least I supposed and gave my reasons for But that I positively affirmed so much I remember not I suppose you will find in my Answer to your Charges that on the mention of that Charge I neither own nor disown it as charged on me but being then in haste onely desired you again to consider what was propounded as to that This I mention not as doubting whether he did or no though to dispute such a thing with men that have no faith in that person I think is in vain because such men are also unreasonable or absurd 2 Thes 3. 2. They will not regard understand or be swayed by the plain import and force of the words of the Holy Ghost they would as lightly cast off the words themselves and reject all use of them or allusion to them if they did not fear its being disadvantagious to their design among a people where the Scriptures are generally esteemed But to that which I said about this whether laid down by way of position or supposition it matters not this was plain enough to be understood in both my saying and writing That he was on earth when he enjoyed that immediate demonstration was so strengthened to behold that person that glorified body in the Heavens that Just or Holy One Act. 22. 14 with chap. 2. 27-30 31. and to hear the words of his mouth I say that he was on earth then is plain in what I said about it for I brought that Act. 9 3 7 8. as implying that he was strengthened to behold that glorified body in the Heavens even in that light shining round about him above the brightness of the Sun which sight occasioned his falling to the earth And it is clear that then he appeared to him in the way vers 17. And that he had then and probably after such a sight of the Just one as was as to the manner of his seeing equivalent with the manner of hearing vouchsafed him of the words of his mouth see Act. 22. 14. which whether it was not with bodily ears also let the Text be considered Act 9. 7. which saith The men that were with him heard a voyce also they heard a sound of a voyce though the voyce or the distinct words of that sound they understandably heard not Act. 22 9. that discovers what manner of bearing was vouchsafed but saith the Text seeing no man as it even thereby appears Paul dâ—d even that mâ—n Christ Jesus from whom the voyce came before his falling at least And that which makes it more clear is that he saith 1 Cor. 15. 8. Last of all he was seen of me as of oâ—e born out of due time And it is evident he was not the last to whom he was spiritually demonstrated nor born out of due time for that yea to prove himself an Apostle as well as the rest 1 Cor. 9. 1. even one of those immediate Messengers and Ambassadors of the Lord for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his name as Rom. 1. 5. though last of all called and furnished he saith Have I not seen the Lord which must needs bee in another manner of demonstration than onely spiritual for so all beleevers have seen him as Gal. 3. 1 2. in or through the hearing of saith yet all are not Apostles 1 Cor. 12. 29. yea his sight was in such manner of demonstration as other beleevers since have not seen as in my first Answer and might be more fully shewed but I forbear onely this I have mentioned partly to discover the falseness of thy charge in this Letter And that it may appear as in all said it dâ—th That I do and did in all said about it apprehend and fully signifie my appreheâ—sions to be such that Paul was on earth when he had that demonstration of the person of Christ in the Heavens And are you so sensual that you cannot beleeve that God may manifest his Son even in his person visibly to men on earth while yet the same person so demonstrated remains in Heaven Is not he able to give supernatural demonstration of objects and strengâ—h to behold them too And what more is this we have said of Paul as to sight of the person than was vouchsafed to Stephen the first Martyr we read of after Christs A scension with what eyes did he look up sted fastly unto Heaven and was it not with the same that he saw the glory of God and Jesus even the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God See Act 17. 55 56. But why art thou not ashamed to mention my words by peece meaâ— leaving out such a material clause and yet calling it my saying As when thou chargest me with saying That Paul saw Christ after the same manner that the other Apostles did I did indeed in the paper query whether that last of all of me c. 1 Cor. 15. 8. as added to the former Verses do not signifie that he appeared or was demonstrated to him in the same mannen that he had been to the other after his Resurrection and before this But thou well knowest its backed with this caution which is so placed that it cannot go for my saying without it But thou leavest it out knowing it would spoil thy intention and clear me of thy slander as likewise all fore-written about it in that paper will do The Caution is this I stretch not my words in the same manner further than to a personal Appearance or visible Demonstration of his person which surely he might injoy as well as Stephen though he on Earth and the Lord in Heaven But thou wilt not beleeve any thing thou sayest that thou knowest to be a lye however fully implied though in Scripture for there was no other implications mentioned I suppose thou wilt not say whatever thou think that the Scriptures do by any fair and clear implication signifie a lye But to wave that How dost thou know that this is a lie That Paul enjoyed such a visible demonstration of the person of Christ as before for thou speakest to that as well as to the other branch which I
had seen Christ That he the said Moor never saw Christ as Paul did That the benefit that Drunkards have by Christ is that they injoy that drink wherewith they are drunk That there is something which is not of God which teacheth the creature to deny sin The Answer to the aforesaid charges sent them the same evening by Thomas Moor. 1. THat God is not manifest in the Creature I never said But that God was not manifested in the flesh in a full and absolute sense in any natural son of Adam in the time of this mortality nor so as he was manifested in that person the onely begotten Son of God that is now received up into glory in the nature of man in that one body 2. To the next Charge that which I said was That Timothy did not receive his word nor so his furniture to his service in the Gospel immediately from the person of Christ as the first Apostles but mediately through their word and by the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit therein and for proof of this I brought that 2 Tim. 1. 14 15. and 2. 1 2. and 1 Tim 4. 14. And so all others for blessing on whose ministration our Savior prayes besides those first Apostles that immediately received their word from him are thus distinguished Joh. 17. 20. Them also which shall beleeve on me through their word 3. That Timothy had not the same Testimony as the Apostles had I said not nor delivered any thing in like expressions nor do I understand by his expressions what he means or would fasten upon me If he mean that he had not the same that they had I disown it if he mean that he received it not in the same manner it is spoken to and Answered before 4. That Paul was strengthened with his bodily eyes to behold the person of Christ after his ascention To this I desire this be considered which I then propounded though it could not be heard Act. 9. 7. 8. And the men which journyed with him stood speechless hearing a voyce but seeing no man and Saul arose from the earth and when his eyes were opened he saw no man Do not the verses together imply That immediately before his falling at least in that light shining about him he did see the glorified Body in the Heavens which might occasion his falling to the Earth even the man Christ Jesus from whom the voyce came whom they saw not at all that were with him though they heard a voyce especially if we compare it with that 1 Cor. 15. 8. where after he had said He was seen of James then of all the Apostles he adds And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time I desire in the fear of God This may be considered was he born out of due time to enjoy a spiritual appearance or discovery of him or was he the last to whom he so appeared yea is it not plain that he appeared to him last of all in the same manner as he had done to the other before I stretch not my words in the same manner further than to a personal appearance or visible demonstration of his person And do they not say That their eyes had seen that their hands had handled of that word of life in such a sense as Beleevers since had not seen compare 1 Joh. 1. 1 2. with 1 Pet. 1. 8. Joh. 20. 19. Whence Paul to prove himself an Apostle saith Have I not seen the Lord 1 Cor. 9. 1. 5. That Naylor was a false witness in saying that he had seen Christ To this I Answer That Naylor would not suffer me to speak out what I was about to say as to that and other things all will bear me witness yet I suppose I at first said and I am sure did after explicate my saying thus That if he had said he had seen Christ as Paul did in the same manner or I might say also received the word in the same manner immediately from the person of Christ which was the thing reasoned about then he was a false witness For they were the Apostles last in that respect 1 Cor. 4. 9. Paul the last of them to whom he so appeared as before 1 Cor. 15. 8. That he might have seen Christ after another manner of demonstration which in this immediate Revelation was not wanting but more abundant to them also I will not deny yea that he yet in some sense and at this time might through the Spirits demonstration of him in his words for many see and hate as those Joh. 15. 24 6. That I never saw Christ in the same manner that Paul and the rest of the Apostles did with their bodily eyes I own yet not having so seen I desire to love him even that person and to wait for his second appearing as those 1 Pet. 1. 3 7 8. 1 Thes 1. 9 10. 7. That the benefit Drunkards have by Christ iâ— That they enjoy that drink with which they are drunk That that is the benefit I said not â—â—â— one of the benefits And they injoy many more and all to a saving 〈◊〉 and not to abuse them which is the thing that makes them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their condemnation great in abusing such benefits which as then more fully explicated was the answer given to their Queerying What benefits Drunkards had by Christ 8 That every thing that teaches to deny sin is not the true light many false principles and lights teach to deny many sins as that which teaches to establish a righteousness of a mans own yea the wisdom of the flesh teacheth to deny many lusts of the flesh And having thus fully answered I desire him to Answer and Prove 1 That God is manifested in his flesh and how 2 That no wicked man hath any benefit by Christ nor any man till he can witness Christ in him 3 Whether the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles be a dead letter 4 Whether Christ be any thing that beareth our sins in us as the propitiation yea or no Which things if he asserted not let others witness The Answer to one of the fore-mentioned Charges as it was writ and left for them the next day ON review of their Paper next day I find another Charge which truly I slipt over unawares in my answer to it the last night viz. That the Scriptures are the absolute Rule and medium of Faith To this I answer viz. That which I said to this I am sure was with this clause According to which it is begotten and regulated which I suppose they wittingly leave out for it was oft urged on their cavilling at it And for proof and demonstration of the sense of what I affirmed as to that I propounded that Job 7. 38. He that beleeveth on me as the Scripture hath said And that Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever beleeveth in him c. I had then spoken
but took it in writing as matter of accusation against me shewing what Generation you are of such as ever sought accusation against the Son of God where hee is manifest to salvation but who are ignorant of his salvation could never bear the confession of his name And when I confessed the flesh of Christ your carnal reason stormed at it like the blind Jews saying How could I have his flesh in me which one of you after confessed too when he saw the letter declared of it so that further than your carnal reason can read in the lâ—tter You will not beleeve what a Generation would you have been had you lived in the times of the Apostles who preached down Circumcision Temple and Sacrifices without such things as the letter said should continue for ever yet they preached them down without and confirmed them within in spirit which is the ground and bottom of all and in which all must end And that the word which became flesh which is ascended they knew to be the Bread of life which they broke and fed on who was their Rule and Mediator But the ground of your Faith is seen and what testimony you bear who say The Scripture is the absolute rule and medium of Faith as thou Thomas Moore didst before the people And when I asked thee if God could not give Faith without it then thou wast forced to deny what thou hadst said But such Doctrine as this thou makest people beleeve who are ignorant and not able to try thy spirit Oh shame with thy preaching If the Scripture be the absolute Rule and medium then Christ is not the absolute Rule unless thou say the Scripture is Christ And thus thou not knowing Christ to rule thee thou settest the letter in his stead for the Rule of Faith But of Abrahams Faith thou are not nor knows it who had an absolute Rule before the Scripture was But this Doctrine excludes all from faith who have not the letter so thou that art a Minister of the Letter preachest another Rule and Faith than ever any of Christs Ministers preached who preached the Word and Faith in the heart of them to whom they preached and Christ in them who is the absolute Rule and ground of Faith and the Law written in their hearts and the Spirit of Truth their rule and guide into all truth and the light in their hearts which gave them the knowledge of God and his glory which never was known by the letter without and Christ saith the Kingdom of God is within you which the Pharisees durst not deny Rom. 10. 8. Hebr. 8. 10 11. Joh. 16. 13. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Luk. 17. 20 21. But thou art more brazened against the truth and wouldest exclude God out of his Kingdom and perswade all thou canst not to look for him within but without lo here lo there But Christ saith Go not forth to such Teachers and thou art found to be one of those he forewarned of and in that work he foretold of which is against him and with the same spirit thou art seen to be an enemy to his Appearance who is the eternal life of his people which is not without the knowledge of God in his Temple for death reigns in the creature where God is not present and this word of Reconciliation thou withstands and all that are led by thee will have cause to curse thee when it is too late and time is spent to no purpose and the day of visitation passed over And from the immediate call which I witness wherewith I am called I do testifie against thy false Doctrine who denies That any have been immediately called since Christ ascended onely those who saw him bodily upon earth and when I instanced Paul thou saidst he saw Christ personally with his bodily eyes when he was called And when I said then must he be come personally again since he ascended then thou saidst Paul was in Heaven and saw him there with bodily eyes when the Scripture saith he was fallen to the earth and saw no man with his bodily eyes being blind three days and such confused stuff thou utteredst forth to uphold thy lyes wherewith thou keepest blind people in Babylon but with the light thou art comprehended thy ground root off-spring and end praised be our Redeemer for ever and in thy paper thou tellest of his seeing Christ after the same manner the other Apostles did Then must it either be bodily upon earth or the other went bodily into Heaven to be called both which are yet unproved by plain Scripture And thy implying is no ground for me to beleeve that which I know is alye and here thou art found preaching another Gospel which no plain Scripture will warrant and all that know God in them sees thee acoursed and thy Antichristian Doctrine who denys the Father and the Son and fellowship with them who hath spoken to his people in all ages and does at this day where the â—ar is circumcised but the serpents seed could never hear him whose ears are open to that wisdom yet canst thou not be content to speak thy own condition but in thy busie mind wouldst exclude others and this is thy work to shut up the Kingdom and deceive the Nations that are without but we are entered and the Elect is witnessed which cannot be deceived and we know him that is in us and we in him onely they who will not own the light such are made to be deceived and over such onely hast thou dominion for a season But thy time is coming to an end that makes thy rage great And thou are forced to utter what testimony thou bearest such as none of Christs ever preached That God is not known in his people Is this thy word of Reconciliation and to what must they be reconciled if not to God And how must they all be taught of God if they must never hear his voyce more but thy Ministry begets not such children nor such sheep thou knows not but opposes who have seen him and heard him such thou callest false witnesses so thou appearest to be a witness to that which thou hast never seen and many such witnesses there are in the Nation who preach up separation instead of reconciliation which pains might be spared amongst them you preach to all having that by nature but that the Devil fears his Kingdom which is onely upholden by ignorance of God in his people whose eyes are blinded but whose eyes are open and have seen him bear witness of him and what we have seen and heard we declare against all false witnesses who have nought but by hear-say from others who have eyes and see not ears and hear not a heart that doth not understand who knows not the spiritual man his eyes and ears and so judge of God to be like themselves as thy companion did say That God had neither eye nor ear nor heart and thus with your carnal imaginations you will judge of
Mark 14. 62. If after all this it be replied Can flesh and blood enter into the Kingdome of heaven We answer No Neither can corruption inherit incorruption 1 Cor. 15. 50. which latter clause in that verse as well as what follows We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed shews That by flesh and blood is meant the body in this its mortal state which same body shall bee raised though in another state as it was in the person of Jesus and so though flesh and blood cannot yet the same flesh and bones the blood as the life was in it being poured out and gone the same body in the Resurrection spirituallized and immortalized is entred and set on the Throne and so shall all his in their bodies in which now they suffer when so changed inherit the Kingdome prepared for them with him for ever If any say What weight is there in this acknowledgement that it should be so earnestly contended for or that so much danger should be conceived in the sleighting of it what relation hath it to the ground or foundation of our faith or hope I answer It is that in which all the ground and foundation of our faith and hope was finished or perfected and without which all done before had been nothing for even as if Jesus in the same nature and body in which he suffered had not been raised from the dead and therein taken from the prison as a discharge of our debt in him we had been yet in our sins whatever he had suffered and faith in him had been vain 1 Cor. 15. 17. The same may be and is affirmed concerning the necessity of his ascension and presenting and offering that sacrifice to the Father in that most glorious presence of him from which we stood condemned and being there received and accepted And abiding for ever a high Priest of good things to come after the order of Melchizedeck for if he were on earth hee could not be a Priest after this order to abide for ever Heb. 8. 1 4. For such a High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners made higher than the heavens who needeth not daily to offer as those Priests c. Heb. 7. 25 26 27. If he could have carried his sacrifice no higher than the former Priests even into heaven it self and there presented it in the most glorious presence of God and if it had not been for the worth value and excellency of it accepted there and so hee with it or he himself accepted and set down as the perfect Sacrifice and Sacrificer he must then have offered again and could never with such offerings have made the commers perfect therefore the infinit perfection of his Sacrifice and Righteousness in the discovery of which all other righteousness is decryed is by the Spirit demonstrated in this That hee is gone to the Father and wee see him no more sent down to suffer or offer for sin Joh. 16. 10. Heb. 10. 1-10 11 12. Yea if he had not ascended on high he could not have been so glorified in our nature as was the end of his suffering and as was needful for us he could not have received in the man and so for men that eternal redemption which he had obtained through sufferings and so that plentious furniture of gifts for men even for the Rebellious that the Lord might dwel among them and that to that purpose he might fill all things with the influences and vertues of his sufferings give the peculiar gifts to the Church Heb. 9. 12 14 15. Ps 68. 18 19 20. Eph. 4. 8. 10 11. He could not have been glorified with the Fathers own self fully and perfectly in our nature and for us even with the glory he had with the Father before the world was If he had not ascended and gone up into heaven and remained there in that body glorified by vertue of sufferings for sin presenting therein the infinite vertue of those sufferings for otherwise the glory of God could never have been brought down amongst or unto men nor men received into it so that he could not have been a High Priest for ever and of good things to come if he were on the earth but now hee is entred into the heavens themselves there to appear in the presence of God for us there to sprinckie the Mercy-seat with the continual presentation of the infinite and abiding vertue of his blood in that body in our nature and person by vertue thereof and to all the ends for which he suffered raysed and glorified in the presence of God where we need the perfect Sacrifice and high Priest to abide for ever and he is both in that one body and in such exaltation perfected and finished In the Name and Anointing of the Father a Prince and a Saviour Act. 5. 30 31. That from thence the goodness of God may come forth in all things and to all men and his presence with his people And therefore also he is able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth with the Father for them God hath given him glory that our faith and hope might be in God by and through him 1 Pet. 1. 21. And truly we could have no ground of hope of the resurrection and glorifying our bodies that they may dwel for ever with the Lord even in that light into which no man can now approach If our Surety and Fore-runner were not for us already entred which thing also was vertually done from the foundation of the world as soon as we had need of him there If our nature in him were not received up into glory even now before the glory of God be or can be fully and gloriously brought down to us as it shall be when there shal be new heavens and new earth we could not be received into his glory with him It was needfull for him to go away to ascend to his Father and ours in and through him that so with him he might prepare everlasting Mansions for us and from thence come again and receive us to himself that we might be with him for ever as well as it was also needful for him so personally to go away into heaven and there to appear in the presence of God for us as the perfect Sacrifice and Mediator that thence in the Name of the Father influences of Grace and Spirit might here be sent forth to us to guide our feet in the way of peace and prepare us for the glory to be revealed Joh. 14. 1 2 3. and 16. 7. with Chap. 20. 17. whence its mentioned as the bottome and ground of the beleevers consolation and incouragement Wee have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world This is a material branch in that bottome of our consolation and that in which all of
8 9. not here injoyed by way of actual possession by any of them But Jesus Christ in that which he hath done and is become for them with the Father as preached in the Gospel to every man being received by faith is even so in them and to them the hope of glory the ground and foundation of the hope of things not yet sensibly injoyed or possessed Col. 1. 27 28. with Rom. 8. 19. 24 25. Heb. 11. 1. yea in a sense the thing hoped for as in respect of his second personal appearance on the earth which shall be in the glory of his Father and with his holy Angels Then and thereby do they look for an accomplishment of those glorious promises of the new heaven and new earth and the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven and of all things restored or made new by him Act. 3. 21 22. Rev. 21. 5. Phil. 3. 21. When he shall also bring all that sleep in Jesus with him 1 Thess 4. 14 16 2 Thess 2 1 2 with Chap. 1 6 7 c. â— Tim. 4. 8. Rev. 20. 4 6. 2 It farther appears that it is not yet come down from heaven in or to any persons because in it there is no death pain or mortality but in and amongst the best of beleevers here even while the Spirit is made alive for righteousness sake delivered from the condemnation and bondage of the Law by the body of Christ in the discovery of it even by the Law Doctrine and power of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and so quickned to a new and living hope and so also in desires and affections through the Resurrection of Christ as Rom. 7. 4. and 8. 2 3 4 1 Pet. 1. 3. 1 Joh. 3.3 yet the body is dead because of sin Rom. 8. 10. yea besides these mortalities there is infirmities and passions of the mind through remainders of the old man yet in their members warring though through Jesus Christ they get victory dayly Rom. 7. 23 24. yea in many things they all offend James 3. 2. 1 Joh. 1. 1. 8 10. And so there is with these mortalities yet upon them which are the fruit of sin and as a remembrance of it there is I say with them particular chastisements and corrections for sin of which they are made partakers as there is found in them sins against light and grace committed needing discovery and purgation 1 Cor. 11. 30 31 32 Heb. 12. 4 5-11 Their bodies are yet vile both their particular personal bodies and their societies also they are not yet made glorious without spot or wrinckle But he shall in that day when Jerusalem comes down from heaven so present them compare Phil. 3. 21. with Eph. 5. 26 27. He is therefore now all this day washing them that he may in the issue so present them with his likeness in the morning of the Resurrection as the issues and vertues of his sufferings Ps 17 ult Rev. 14. 1-5 and 7. 12-17 1 Joh. 3. 1-3 2 Qu. What and where that Sion is Isa 2. Mich. 4. c. Answ The former Answer may serve for Answer to this also Sion and Jerusalem being so neer a kin as they are in those Scriptures mentioned and in Heb. 12. 22. For though as in those Scriptures the Law Doctrine or word of the Lord do now come from thence to the Nations and they that with the heart beleeve or receive that word do by faith come unto it and are made of it in such beleeving yea do so come forth of its waters that its truly said Jerusalem that is above is the mother of them all yet it s still Jerusalem above even to them and not come down as is shewed before Gal. 4 26. Yea farther Though in this day we have a first fruits of the Spirit in performance of those promises yet the fulness and harvest of that and the redemption of the body and things pertaining more properly thereto we wholly wait for and are not yet possessors of the Nations are yet learning war whereas when those promises are accomplished They shall learn war no more neither is the enmity removed out of nor bondage of corruption taken off from the creatures as is promised then to be fully and clearly accomplished compare with those Scriptures Isa 11. Rom. 8. 19-25 Act. 3. 20 21. according to the ends and vertues of Christ having made peace by the blood of his Cross Col. 1. 20. Heb. 2. 5 8. 9. 3 Qu. What and where that Covenant is Jer. 31. 33 34. Heb. 8. 10 11 12 c. Ans 1. In respect of the foundation ground and assurance of it It is Jesus Christ himself as raised from the dead and exalted and glorified in our nature in hâ—s own personal body by and with the vertue of his sufferings the most glorious presence of God in the heavens compare Isa 55. 3 4. with Act. 13. 34. Heb. 4 14 and 8. 1 2-10 2 In respect of the matter of it or promises in it They also are all in him yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. given us through sealed in and the way for coming forth made by his bloud yea so given into him and into him inseparably That they may be given only with him in and through the knowledge of himself and so received by faith in the receiving him by faith and so it s a Covenant made and sure in him with all the seed viz those that come to God by him now I say now made with them in the giving him in the knowledge and faith of him in what he hath done and is become and in the ends and vertues thereof for a Covenant to the people and in some first fruits of the Spirit performed also Rom. 8. 32. 2 Pet. 1. 3 4. Isa 42. 6. and 55. 3 4. But 3 In respect of the performance of it in the harvest or fulness of those spiritual blessings we have in Christ and the redemption of the body c. by Christ it is yet to be waited for even all the time of this mortaliâ—y and till he come as before as may be seen in the Scriptures forecited and also in comparing Hab. 2. 2. 4. with Heb. 10. 35 36 37 38. In the beginning of which Chapter he also mentions the same Covenant as made and sure in Christ to all that come to God by him and to be so made with all the Israel of God yet with reference to it again in this latter end of the Chapter with allusion to that of Habbakkuck he signifies yet a time for the exercise of faith and patience in doing and suffering according to the will of God before the promises in their performance or accompâ—â—hment shall be received that vision of God in which they shall be revealed in the accomplishment being the second and glorious appearance of Jâ—â—â—s Christ in our nature which is yet to be waite for compare the 〈◊〉 Habbakkuck saith The Vision shall surely come