hence hath he left the Legacie of dearest and pretious love My peace I give unto you my peace I leave unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you Let not your hearts be troubled nor feare Therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 The second voice of Christ is the voice of Adoption As our Justification our Redemption our Vnion our Reconciliation our vocation and Glorification are in Christ So our sonneship or Adoption is in Christ If the Father of glorious mercy account thee a branch it is because thou art in Christ the vine if hee account thee a member it is because thou art in Christ the head If hee account thee one of the espoused it is because thou art in Christ the Bridegroomed If he account thee a son it is because thou art in his deare and welbeloved Sonne hence I come to draw thy soule to me I make to thee thy priviledge According as I have related by my servant Iohn 1 Ioh. 3.1 Behold how great love the Father hath given to us that we should bee called the Sonnes of God That though thou wast a slave of hell a vessell of wrath a child of perdition a bondslave to the law and under the ridged and severe tyranny of the devill notwithstanding I have chosen thee to be one of mine by the covenant of my freest grace and bounty I have redeemed thee for my selfe and called thee by my name I have adopted thee to be one of my sonnes and children by adoption when I tooke up my rest in my beloved I preached peace to the peacelesse liberty to the bondmen grace to the gracelesse riches to the poore and assurance of sonship to them who are and have not beene my sonnes by adoption hence though no creature pitty thee though Angels shut their eyes against thee and all the sublunarie Creatures should bid thee adew and farwell notwithstanding I come to imbrace thee and to love and delight in thee for ever since the day that I adopted thee have I not filled the soule with the joyes comforts and solaces of my spirit have not I sealed thee to the day of Eternall redemption by the seale of Adoption have not I given thee the spirit of prayer and supplication have not I given thee the assurance of life and salvation Now then there is no condemnation to thy soule which art in Christ Jesus for thou walkest not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thirdly the voice of God in JustificatioÌ„ how in justificatioÌ„ yea beloved this is the Admirable worke of the spirit of glory that we are assured that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ imcomparable that wee are reconciled by the death of Christ unspeakable that wee are assured that wee are justified by the righteousnesse of Christ undeclarable I being justified in Christ how should I injoy any thing but salvation Am I not made compleate in him that is the head of all principalities and powers Am I not cloathed with the righteousnesse of the Sonne of righteousnesse more bright then ten thousand Sunnes Am I not washed purified and clensed in the purest rarest and most pretious fountaine which is in the Kingdome of the deare Sonne of God hence I shall enjoy the horne of salvation the great free and eternall salvation in Christ Now then there is no condemnation to me that am in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Moreover these three things preserves the Saints from death and condemnation 1. The love of Christ 2. The power of Christ 3. The glory of Christ What said I the Love of Christ yea search the hights above sound the depths beneath extend thy thoughts abroad to all the parts of the sublunarie Orbe and thou shalt finde no love like the love of Christ is the love of a mother so deare to her child is the love of a husband so deare to the wife of his bosome as Christs love is to his Church no with the same love wherewith the Father hath loved Christ with the same love hee hath loved the Church and chosen the Father loved Christ from eternity Christ hath loved the Church from eternity the Father through his tender love did not leave his beloved in the day of his Crosse when he cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Thou wilt not leave my soule in grave neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Psal 16.10 Loe the Lord Christ will not leave his poore servants his dearest jewels his pretious Saints in the dayes of greatest miserie and calamity Psal 9 10. The Lord is a refuge to the poore a refuge in due time in the day of trouble The Fathers love to the Lord Christ was so great that he set him above principalities above might above power and above all things that all things in heaven earth might bow bend before him Wherefore God hath exalted him and given him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow both of things in heaven of things on earth and of things under the earth Phil. 2.9.10 The love of the Lord Christ is so deare to his that hee hath exalted them above all to him that overcommeth I will give to sit with me in my throne as I have overcome and sit with my Father in his throne Revel 3.21 The Father loved Christ so intirely that hee filled him with the riches of righteousnesse the treasures of wisedome and the plenitude of all heavenly excellencies Christ loves his Church so affectionately that hee fills her with heavenly joyes he enriches her with all spirituall and heavenly gifts blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ Eph. 1.3 therefore through my love there is no condemnation to mine they not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 Secondly Because of the power of Christ there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ His power is not onely the cause of our vivification from the dead of our Collocation in the heavenly places of our faith in his name But also of our conservation to eternall life and salvation John 17.2 He defends thee by an internall and efficatious power when thy spirit says that thou art overcome the spirit saith thou art more then a conquerer through him that loved thee every day thou art a conquerer through his blood a victoret through his death a tryumpher through his righteousnes neither the darts of hell the fire bales of the Devill the strength of the law the warres of the flesh nor the puissant strength of the world can vanquish thee for thou art defended by a strength invincible thou art protected by a power unconquerable thou art inviâ—oned by a might insuperable and thou art garded with a force
theme prolong Sith that no obiect to the view or sight Gives such sweet solace to the soules delight And graces power grants its free consent That all my theame of Christ was congruent That pen might stay and I might cease my verse Of Christ in prose the more I might rehearse Christs gratious Message from the Throne of Grace to all the Prisoners of hope ROM 8.1 2. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death WHen we look upon the Sun Moone and Starres and behold the wisedome mercy and power of the Father towards humane generation it makes us to stand amazed and astonished so when wee looke and behold the wisedome mercy and power of the Father shining forth in Christ the morning Starre the Sonne of everlasting grace and bounty it makes us to wonder and admire at that which shineth forth to us in the morning starre and glorious Sonne of righteousnesse That which shineth to us by in and by the Creature is not comparable to that which shineth toward us in and through the Lord Jesus What is the brightnes of the morning starre to Christ the morning starre or what is the beauty and glory of the sunne to Christ the Sun of glorious righteousnesse or what as the beauty of things terrene earthly to things sublime or heavenly hence the Apostle memorates and records the excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ by the priviledge the Saints received in and by him according to the Text. Now then there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8 1. Beloved our manner is by way of exposition or contemplation Now then there is no condemnation They have been cast out to the open shame of their faces they were not swadled in the day of their Nativity but troden in their blood and overwhelmed with the deepest miserie they have beene alienated from the throne of grace estranged from the mercy seate and have lived without God in the world they have beene in the blacke swadle bands of the Devill under the claves of the roaring Lyon the Devill and have beene children of wrath as well as others The truth of the premisses is granted notwithstanding there is no condemnation to them sith the being of the Saints in Christ frees them from all the gulfes of horrid miseries whatsoever They have many sinnes many infirmities iniquities and transgressions they are an offending and erring people out of the way as well as others they have beene silenced before the throne of Justice they have sinned and shot their arrowes below the glory of the Father the truth of the premises is granted Notwithstanding there is no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus sith the Father of eternall mercy hath given unto them an absolute Nonimputation of offences in the Lord Jesus in whom hee hath reconciled his beloved Saints and peculiar in the act of Justification hee hath given to his Saints a generall acquittance freeing them from sinne iniquity and transgression by the blood of the Lord of life and glory and by the death of him who was the onely beloved of his bosome hence comes in those rare sentences of divine testimonies Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen it is God that justifieth who is it that shall condemne it is Jesus Christ that is dead yea rather that is risen againe who is at the right hand of God making intercession for us Rom. 8.33 34. To them is given the priviledge and dignity of union they are branches to Jesus Christ the blessed and fruitfull Vine of his Church I am the Vine ye are the branches John 15.5 they are members to Jesus Christ their blessed head and reconciler to wit Members of his flesh of his bones Eph. 5.30 they are the choise pretious and dearest spouse of the Lord Jesus Christ My beloved is mine amd I am his he feedeth among the Lillies Cant. 6.3 they are not onely deare to Christ because he hath bought them but they are neere to Christ because they are made one with him The glory that thou gavest me I have given to them that they may be one as we are one John 17.22 What Devill therefore shall accuse the accuser of the Brethren is cast out of the heavenly places And I heard a great voyce out of heaven saying Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of the brethren is cast downe which accused them before our God day and night what hell shall terrifie sith the Lord Christ hath triumphed over hell death the devill and all Evills O death where is thy sting oh grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law But thankes be to God which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. shall the law adjudge us noe sith wee have a gratious Mediatour who ever presents us glorious in the sight of his gratious and heavenly Father hence it is spoken by the holy Ghost that Christ entred into heaven to appeare in presence of God for us For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 shall death amaze or trouble us no for by the death of Christ wee are delivered from the servitude and slaverie of death That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill and deliver them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2.14 15. What though the venamous Serpent seeke to sting thee yet be not thou dismayed what though the Law morrall would accuse artaigne or condemne thee before the barre of justice yet be not discourâ—ged what though death with the sting thereof would amaze thee yet bee thou not amazed sith there is no Condemnation to thy soule or conscience sith thou art in Christ Jesus and he pleades thy cause at the right hand of the Father saying This my people stands righteous before thee in my righteousnesse holy through my holinesse and pure through my purity and integrity am I not their Lord of pure and divine righteousnesse am I not their prince of glory who hath presented them pure spotlesse and intire in thy sight Am not I the Mediatour of thy everlasting grace mercy who was made not onely unto them wisedome and redemption but also righteousnesse and sanctification was not I arraigned at the barre of Pontious Pilate that they might not be arraigned at the barre of justice accused of my native countrymen that they might bee excused
ever If they take away their liberty yet have they alwaies liberty to the throne of my hevenly grace and highest mercy if they take away their goods yet are they enriched by my heavenly grace and treasure of wisdome if they take away their vestments yet stand they cloathed with my garments of everlasting righteousnesse And if they take away their lives yet their lives are hid in me in my Father Therefore there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 There is a threefold ground why there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus The first ground is this sith the Eternall justice of the Father is satisfied I argue thus if the eternall justice of the Father in and by Christ is satisfied then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ But the Eternall justice of the Father is satisfied in by Christ therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ That the justice of the Father is satisfied in and by Christ is evident first upon denomination Christ is called the Sonne of the Father in whom the Father is well pleased so the holy Ghost hath related in the Evangelist Mat. 3. the last This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased As if the Father should speake thus to his people Let all my people know that I know of justice no more of wrath no more of indignation and vindication no more true it is my pleasure to hide my face my joy my peace my rest my glory and the rarenesse of my communion from mine notwithstanding such hath beene my divine and rarest pleasure that my delight alone is in the Sonne of my bosome my glory in the prince of grace and glory and my rest is in him whom I have constituted and appointed to bee Mediator of the Covenant of grace and bounty amongst the Saints triumphant none are accepted to dwell in my presence but in and through my beloved amongst my Saints and warriours Militant none are welpleasing in my sight but in and through the Son of my bosome hee is the sweet smelling sacrifice most gratious acceptable before Me I my selfe have spoken it Eph. 5.2 And walke in love as Christ hath loved us and given himselfe an offering a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour The Mirhe the Aloes and the Cassia are not sweet in my presence the sweetest gumes the frankinsence and pleasant oyntments are not pleasant in my nostrills nothing is pleasant before me but the first begotten frō the dead and prince of the Kings of the earth I have undervalued al my Angels respecting none but the Angels of the everlasting covenant though my pleasure was to give them a song of praise for ever counting them worthy of the light of my countenance dignifying them with the honour of messengers protectors notwithstanding they could not answer my purity nor satisfie my justice I have disesteemed the sonnes of men though I made them Lords over my creatures the noblest of my worekmanship and gave to them both purity and innocency notwithstanding they cannot answer my demands nor appease my wrath nor furie I have disaccounted of the bodies of bulls of beasts of goats and I have prepared a body by and for my selfe I my selfe have spoken it Wherefore when he commeth into the World he saith sacrifices and burnt offerings thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared Heb. 10.5 Hence I have accepted of the body of the Lord of life for my people of the blood of the prince of glory for the children of death and misery of the death of him that is the Mediatour of of the Covenant of life and promises for the curse and death of my peculiar Now then there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 The second ground why there is no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Because the law is satisfied the law is satisfied actively and passively my beloved was to present my people compleat pure and holy without spot or wrinkle unblameable unreproveable and righteous to make of unrighteous righteous of unholy holy of impure and defiled pure and undefiled which in and by him was performed when hee fulfilled all righteousnesse when he answered every jot and title of my law required when hee was made sinne for mine that they might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5. the last He answered my law passively for he was wounded bruised and broken to peeces who but your Lord was led as a Lambe to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearer as dumbe who but your Lord cried out upon the Cross my God my God why hast thou forsaken me who but your Lord sweat water and blood in the day of his passion beloved thou cammest short of the glory of God yet thy deare Lord bought thee the prince of glory sought thee the shepheard of the covenant came and performed all for thee hence he is the end of the law for righteousnesse sake Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the law for righteousnesse sake to every one that beleeves therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walke not aftert the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 The third Ground why there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Because they are united to the Sonne of my love had they not beene united to the vine of rarest vertue the Lord of richest wisedome the bridegroome of sweetest love then might they have bin condemned but because of their union they injoy communion in him and with him by their union they injoy a threefold voice The first is the voice of Reconciliation The second the voice of Adoption The third the voice of Justification and Redemption Of the first to wit concerning the voyce of Atonement or reconciliation the day hath been that the wall of seperation hath beene betwixt thee and the Father the hand writing of ordinances against the conscience the blacknesse of darkenesse had overclouded the soule thy sinnes iniquities and transgressions had separated between me and thee and the whole heavens were overcast with the mists of dimnesse till I speake of rarest love in the Sonne of my love till I speake of peace in the reconciler of my Redeemed till I spake of Rest to all your restlesse soules under heaven because my Sonne hath reconciled mine through his pure and pretious blood hence I have nothing against them that are washed in his blood because I have made an attonement in and through him who hath beene my choise and beloved servant therefore I have no charge against them who have beene children of wrath and enemies against my Majesty As my love my grace my peace my glory rests in him so my peace abides in him
If mine groanes with sighes and groanes with unspeakable and unutterable it is by my Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 8.26 27. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered and hee that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God If mine are consolated through consolation it is by Spirit of consolation 2 Cor. 1.4 5. who comforteth us in at our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them that are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ Doe my people incounter with hell sinne the law death the Devill and all evills without my presence no doe my people Navigate upon the mighty seas of miserie doe they saile over the vast Ocean of calamity without my assistance no I am not onely their Lord victorer to triumph over hell by heaven over death by my life over sin by my blood over the law by the law of the Spirit of life over the flesh by my spirit over the Devill by my death over the world by my glorious and triumphous victorie I am not onely their Lord acquirer of glory by relinquishing of my glory of righteousnesse by fulfilling all righteousnesse of peace by the peace of my crosse of love by the losse of the sence of love but I am there Lord conducter and leader to my heavenly glory What morning starre conducts them to rest but I the morning starre what sonne of beauty leades them to the light of felicity but I the sonne of righteousnesse I am the sunne by day and the cloud by night I am the only captaine of my redeemed and purchased I am the day starre that alwais appeares in the hearts of mine Therefore there is no condemnation to them which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 A sweet Contemplation Oh the depth of the sweet love and mercy of my Lord that bought Mee what no condemnation to me No I am washed in the blood of the lambe immaculate I am presented spotlesse in spotlesse robes I am Redeemed from amongst the prisoners of no hope I am united to the sonne of God and injoy communion with him My soule who shall condemne thee shall death shall hell shall the law shall the Devill shall the world shall the flesh no for they are not in thy beloved what though London England and the whole world band themselves against thee what though Legallists the Angells of light the world and all the rable of hell shall beset thee on every side what though the nearest and them which should be dearest to thee raise lies slanders reproches rebukes ignominies and all evills against thee yet be not dismayed for there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Now thy thoughts shall be continually upon thy free redemption thy rich justification thy sollid sanctification thy glorious Adoption thy wonderfull union and thy eternall glorification now thy spirit is full of love of praise of glory saying with the Apostle Rom. 8.1 2. Now then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus who walke not after the flesh but after the spirit For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made mee free from the law of sinne and death The Philosopher saith there is a hidden and secret vertue in the starres and planets not in consonant to Scripture canst thou restraine the sweet influences of Pleiades And that there is a hidden vertue in gemms and pretious jewells that none can understand but those that are skilfull lapidaries So there is a hidden and inclosed excellency in Christ the Lord of life and Prince of glory and who can restraine the influences of his goodnesse or who can understand the richnes of his love but those who have knowne him by experience who can speake of the glorious robes of righteousnesse but those that are cloathed with the glorious robes of righteousnesse who can make mention of the rarenesse of Adoption but those who have obtained inheritance immortall and immarcessable or who can declare concerning the liberty of grace and glory but those that have accesse to the throne of grace by the spirit of glory hence came the rare experience the blessed Apostle found in and through the hand of the Mediator who delivered him from the law of sinne and death by the glorious and indissoluble Law of life according to the Text. Rom. 8. 2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death The law in Scripture is taken severall waies First Sometimes for the rule of mercy and peace because from it the Saints injoy Mercy from the bowels of mercy in God the Father from Jesus Christ Mediatour of the Law or Covenant Gal. 6.16 As many as walke according to this rule peace be unto them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Secondly sometimes it is taken for the law of faith sith in and by that wee doe not onely beleeve the pardon of sins through the blood of Christ the non Recordation of iniquity through the mercy of the Father and the free injoyment of God to be our God and heavenly Father in that Covenant of life peace and Adoption but also because that we by that Covenant are under the command of the Father the mind and will of the Lord Christ the gratious mediatour of the law of life reconciliation Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting excluded by the law of workes nay but by the law of faith Thirdly Sometimes it is called the New Testament not onely in opposition to the old but because the Father of dearest mercies hath beene pleased to reveale and testifie a more full fruition and Communion of his love in the remission or condonation of iniquity in the blood of his deare Sonne Luke 22.20 Likewise also he tooke the Cup after Supper saying this Cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you Fourthly Sometimes it is tearmed the new Covenant to denote that high dignity great Prerogative and wonderfull priviledge that is given to them under this Covenant sith in this he becomes their God and bountifull Father Remembreth their iniquities no more Writes his law in their hearts And teacheth them the high and deepe truths of the Gospel Jeremiah 31.31 32 33 34. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which my Covenant they breake although I was an husband unto
that of Abell O ye prisoners of hope weigh consider and ponder whether the Law of sinne and death is like to the law of peace and life hath it revealed redemption to bondmen Adoption to slaves of hell and children of the devill reconciliation to those that shooke and quivered in my presence justification to those that were found unrighteous in my sight sanctification to those who have beene unholy before me and glorification to those that were shut out from the blessed fruition and communion of my Kingdome what mention hath it made of the death of the Lord of life and the incomparablenesse thereof of the blood of my dearely beloved sonne and the richnesse thereof of the crosse of the prince of glory and the conquest thereof If I speake of rest to my restlesse prisoners it is by the Gospel of Adoption If I speake of peace to Captives it is by my word of reconciliation If I speake of grace to them that are bound in the black chaines of darkenesse it is by my message of grace and salvation Is the voyce of my servant Moses like the voyce of my beloved sonne no he was slow of speech my son is swift to deliver my minde of grace to my people he was not eloquent but my beloved he hath the rarest sentences of grace and bounty Aaron his brother spake for him to Pharaoh but my beloved for all in matter of Mediation and to al in the matter of reconciliation hee was unwilling to speake to and for my people but my beloved hath beene willing to speake for my chosen and Adopted John 17.9 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me Heb. 5.7 Who in the dayes of his flesh offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared I gave to Moses the law of terrours to terrifie them that are wilfull sinners the law of horror to smite a horror into them that are incorriggable transgressors of severe equity to pronounce woe and miserie to them that live in sinne and iniquity I have honoured my sonne above my servant Heb. 3.5 6. And Moses verily was faithfull in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to bee spoken after but Christ as a Sonne over his owne house whose house are we if wee hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firme unto the end Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himselfe to be made an high Priest but he that said to him thou art my son to day have I begotten thee The Son by eternall generation is above the son by Adoption I thought non worthy in heaven above in the earth below o under the earth worthy to deliver my minde my will my pleasure to my people but him whom I have made king Lord over my people there is none fit ot declare the words of eternall life but the fountaine welspring of life the words of peace Attonement reconciliation but he that by his blood hath purchased peace attonement and reconciliation the words of liberty freedome and redemption but hee that acquired by his death liberty freedome redemption Apoc. 5.9.10 And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the booke and to open the seales thereof for thou wast slaine and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred tongue people nation and hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests we shall raigne on the earth The words of protection justification and sanctification by his death blood and righteousnesse sith hee hath protected his justified them through righteousnesse and sanctified them thorough his words John 17.17 hee hath spoken of peace that procured peace John 14.26 But the comforter which is the holy Ghost whom my Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I said unto you Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I it unto you let not your hearts be troubled neither let it be affraid Words of life and victory that obtained life and victory Apoc. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and I have the keyes of hell and death Words of joy and consolation being the pretious river and welspring of consolation John 16.22 And ye now therfore have sorrow but I wil see you again your heart shal rejoyce your joy no man taketh from you Who can speake words of my gratious glorious presence but Jmmanuell my presence who can speak words of life but him that is the spring of eternall life and Lord of life by conquest from the dead or who can speak words of liberty freedom redemption but him that I have appointed to be the deliverer of my people the Doctors have wondered at his sentences the people admired at his gratious speeches the Churches delectation was in the rarenss of his voice Cant. 5. the last His mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely this is my beloved and this is my friend O daughters of Ierusalem If he speake from the throne of my grace and bounty his words are onely grace and bounty If hee speake from the throne of mercy and pitty he speakes nothing but of grace and pitty is it not thus recorded Mat. 12.18 19 20. Behold my servant whom I have chosen my beloved in whom my soule is well pleased I will put my spirit upon him and he shall shew judgement unto the Gentiles he shall not strive nor cry neither shall my man heare his voice in the streets a bruised reede shall hee not breake and smoaking flax shalhe not quench till he send forth judgement unto victory His words are life to the lifelesse grace to the gracelesse pitty to the pittilesse and truth to the hopelesse his words are freedome to the bound health to the sick healing to the wounded binding to the broken and riches to the poorest under heaven The words of Achitophel were like the words of an Oracle But the words of my beloved are Oracles his words surpasseth the words of Solomon he spake of the nature of trees of plants of hearbs and of all sublunarie things from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Hysop upon the walls The words of Christ are of grace of mercy of peace of truth from the highest mercy to the deepest miseries all were happie that might stand at the footsteps of Solomon to heare his wisedome but they are happie that may stand at the feet of Christ to heare the wisedome of Christ the Queene of Sheba came from the South to heare the wisedome of Solomon The Prisoners of Hope departs from the barre of Justice to heare of the riches and glory of Christ Solomon was the wonder and
admiration of the times because of his wisedome and discretion Christ the wonder and admiration of his Churches because of his speeches and declaration My soule he that is thy peace thy rest thy love thy mercy he shall be thy cōmander he that is thy prince of glory thy Lord of life he is thy gratious protector hee that is thy vine thy head c thy bridegroome he shall be thy leader rule for grace and peace came by him when the Law came by Moses Ioh. 1.17 Redemptiō Justification and Reconciliation came by him when Condemnation adjudication came by Moses Consolations comforts joyes and springs of solace came by him when terrors horrors feares and servitude came by Moses Therefore thou shalt glory and expresse the praise of glory concerning the words of freedome and liberty Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death 2. The Law of the Spirit of life It hath beene said of Paradise that it was the rarest place in the habitable world in respect of Altitude in respect of Amaenetie in respect of Profunditude and in respect of Jucunditie the same may be spoken concerning the Spirit of life and glory it is extolled in respect of Altitude sith it is in Christ who was placed in the high and heavenly places of Amaenetie sith it is the delight of the beloved Saints and peculiar of Profunditude sith it soundeth the lowest and deepest misery of Jucunditie sith it makes the drooping soule most joyous and chearefull Therefore the same that was the joy and glory of the blessed Apostle is the joy and glory of the drooping soule joying and glorying in the words of the Apostle Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sinne and death The Law of the Spirit of life Pretious are the gifts and graces which come from the Father of everlasting light rare are the treasures which come from the Lord of life and peace rare and pretious is the Law of life which is from and of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus What is so jucundious what is so amaenious or what is so joyous as the spirit of Adoption which sealeth the soule up to the day of eternall Redemption or what can be so pleasant so delightsome or joyfull as the spirit that consolates the soule in the midst of all distresses or what can be so rare so wonderfull and admirable as the law of of the spirit of life that frees us from the law of sinne and death the seale of the spirit doth rejoyce thee in the day of thy Adoption the disconsolated are consolated in the day of Consolation the wanting vacuous are filled with joys in the day of impletion and the soule is filled with all fulnesse and sweetnesse in the day of liberation hence comes in our joyfullnesse and fullnesse that as we receive our peace from the Prince of peace our righteousnesse from the Lord of righteousnesse so we receive the law of life from the spirit of life in Christ Jesus If thou hast the revelation of the mistery of the Kingdome it is by the spirit Mat. 16.11 He answered and said unto them because it is given unto you to know the misteries of the Kingdome of Heaven but to them it is not given If to thee is given to know the deep and profound things of God it is by the spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God If to thee is given to know the mind of God before the world was it is by the spirit Ephes 4.7 But to every one of us is given grace according to the gifts of Christ Ephes 3.5 That to other Generations hath not been known to the sonnes of men is now revealed to the Apostles and prophets by the spirit So if there is a revelation of the mistery of glory to Babes and Sucklings and denied to the learned Doctors and Rabbies of the world it is by the spirit Mat. 11. 25.26.27 At that time Jesus answered and said I thanke thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hide these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to Babes even so Father for so seemed good to thy sight All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the sonne but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the sonne and he to whom soever the sonne will reveale him None can write the law of God in the hearts of the Saints but the spirit of Christ as none can seale to the Conscience the everlasting love of God the Father and the precious treasures of Jesus Christ but the spirit of glory as none can give the spirit of oration to them that cannot pray the spirit of consolation to them that sit in mourning weeds but the spirit of Comfort so none can write the mind of God in the conscience or the will of Christ in the spirit of the Saints but the spirit of assurance or obsignation Hence it is recorded by the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.3 Yee are our Epistles written in our hearts which is known and read of all men manifest to be the epistle of Christ c. The same spirit that reveales unto the Saints the unsearchable riches of Christ that engraves the heavenly and gracious mind of the Father in the consciences of the Redeemed the same quickens the soule by the mighty power of life and vivification when we lay dead in sinnes and trespasses when wee were troden in our bloods by the Horsmen of Hell and Death when we were involved in the depth of the gulfe of miseries then by the same spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead we were quickned therefore not without cause is he called the spirit of life First In the respect of Christ Secondly In respect of the life that the Saints receive through uniō by the spirit Thirdly In respect of that life the Saints receive through Faith Love and hope by the spirit in the act of communion When our Lord was in the grave neither hell nor death nor law nor justice nor all the force of the creature could retaine him for he shewed himselfe the Lord of life by rising from the dead Apoc. 1.18 I am he that liveth and was dead I am alive forever more Amen and have the keyes of Hell and death Lord over sin by the blood of his crosse Col. 2.14.15 Blotting out the hand writing of ordinances which was against us which was contrary to us and tooke it out of the way nailing it to his crosse and having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them all Conquerer over the Divill by the power of his death Heb. 2.24 For as much then as the children are partakers of
love and glory Acts 2.23 Him being delivered by the determinate councell and foreknowledge of God yea have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slaine Aaron dyed and another succeeded in his place but I live for ever to make attonement and entercession for my reconciled Heb. 7.2.5 wherefore he is able to the uttermost to save them which come unto God by him seeing he ever liueth to make intercession for them Aaron neither entred into the land of Canaan nor brought others into the land of Canaan But I have entred into my Fathers kingdome provided that for the children of the kingdome John 14.2 3. In my Fathers house are many mantions if it were not so I would haue told you I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe and prepare a place for you I will come againe receive you unto my selfe that where I am there you may be also Aaron had the names of the Children of Jsrael ingraven in pretious stones and wore them upon his breast that hee might present their names and cause in the presence of my Father I have the names of mine ingraven upon my breast that I may ever present the cause of the Israel of God in my Fathers presence hence it is said of of me that I might appeare in the presence of God for mine Heb. 9.24 For Christ it not entered into the holy places made with hands which are figures of the true but into Heaven it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for us ut supra Secondly The Father hath given Christ to be the object of Faith through the Covenantâ— according to that thy eye beholds so is thy mind affected according to that the eare heareth so is the spirit delighted according to that thou conceivest of Christ so thy soule imbraceth The lowest thoughts thou hast it as heigh as the heavenly mantion and the heighest thought thou hast is as heigh as Christ Lord and Mediatour thou knowest or no mercy no grace no bounty no pittie no love no joy no rest no hope no promise no glory nor no felicitie without Christ rest is no rest if Christ be not thy rest hope is no hope if Christ be not thy hope felicity should be no felicity If Christ be not thy felicity and all things are nothing if Christ be not all things If thou injoyest light diurnall is it not from the sun in the midst of the planets If thou injoyest raine from the clouds is it not from the raine therein contained If thou injoyest hope rest felicitie is it not because it is in Christ comprehended all the rivers of the vallie wants water but Christs river Psal 46.4 There is a river the streames thereof shall make glad the Citie of our God All the Fountains of the world are empty but Christs Fountain John 4.14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up to eternall life And all the springs upon the earth are vacant or void but Christs overflowing sprinsg Psal 36.9 10. For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light we shall see light Who from the beginning of the world ever heard of reconciliation but through him was not he the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world who amongst the prisoners of hope ever heard of deliverie without him was not he the promised deliverer Isaiah 59 20. And the Redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turne from transgression in Jacob saith the Lord. Who amongst the poore and bruised of the Saints ever heard of riches and liberty of the Saints without him is hee not the anoynted of the Lord Luke 4.18 The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anoynted me to preach the Gospel to the poore hee hath sent mee to heale the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised Did Moses heare of mercy clemency bounty patiencie and of verity in the rocke and doe not we of the same in the rocke Christ yea he is the rarest object Doth the sunne draw the Comets and Meators from below above and the Loadstone draw the needle distant to it and doth not Christ the Sonne of beauty and the pretious stone of glory draw the soule in misery to his highest mercies Joh. 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men after me Hosea 2.14 Therefore behold I will allure her and bring her into the wildernesse and speake comfortably unto her Not onely the savour of his oyntments allures us not onely his sweet distilling Myrrh affects us but his strength of operation drawes us Uertue and strength went from Christ whereby the woman was healed and the vertue and dignity of Christ is that whereby the soule is fixed Hence saith the Scripture John 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and wee beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth Hence it doth not onely chuse Christ to be its Vine of sweetnesse its shepheard because of his tender care and pitty the Lord its rightousnesse because he alone wrought righteousnesse but also its object of delight and delectation sith he is the only object of delight and delectation Hence is the Churches delight and delectation Ostende faciem tuam sonet vox tua in auribus meis vox enim tua dulcis facies tua decora O my soule pitch thou alone upon the treasures of his wisedome the storehouse of his mercy the plenitude of heavenly blessings upon his abundant grace truth righteousnesse goodnesse clemency merit death and satisfaction upon his glory peace rest and reciliation upon his liberty from slavery his freedome from bondage and everlasting redemption upon his hope blisse felicity and eternall benediction If thou brayest as the hart brayeth after the rivers of water it shall be after Christ Psal 42.1 2. As the heart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee my God my soule thirsteth for God after the living God when shall I come and appeare before God If thou thirsteth as the thirsty land it shall be after Christ Psal 63.1 O God thou art my God early will I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is If thou wishest after any in heaven above or in the earth below for him shalt thou wish Psal 73.24 25. Thou shalt guide me with thy councell and afterward receive me to thy glory Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Hee is thy meate thy drinke and thy all things thy water thy wine thy fire and all things thy being thy welbeing thy life and thy althings Hence shalt thou rejoyce
father so we also may walke in the newnes of life Rom. 6.4 O that I might feele the mighty operatiō of Christs mediatiō then should I behold God most propitious and clementious then should my faith cleave fast to the mercy seate for mercy and to the throne of grace for grace thereby should I rejoyce abundantly the singing birds would not so rejoyce when winter is gone and summer doth approach as I shall rejoyce in receiving delectation from Christs mediation then should I not runne from God with Adam but have accesse to God as Ester had to Ahashuerosh By whom also through faith we have accesse unto his grace by which wee stand and rejoyce under the hope of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 O my soule give glory to God thy heavenly Father and to Jesus Christ thy gratious Redeemer and to the holy Spirit who sealeth unto thee sure mercies which will never faile thee in the greatest extreamities Gods eternall favour in Christ established the efficatiousnesse of Christs merits and value the sealing thereof is not in thine owne power but in the power of the holy Spirit Hee that lookes upon the Creature he concludes that the Creature made not it selfe but it was made by the hand of the Creator he that minds how great a matter it is to have the eternall love of God and the merit of Christ to his conscience sealed will conclude it is not of himself but through the work of the Spirit who is our sealer And ye are scaled by the holy spirit of promise who is the earnest of our inheritance to the obtaining of Redemption unto the praise of his glory Ephes 13.14 but to draw unto a conclusion least many lines may be offensive unto thy patience Christian Reader only chuse thou Christ O my soule that when thy heart failes thee hee may be thy strength and thy portion for ever is not thy Saviour better then tenne thousands all things are valued but his value is invaluable all things are esteemed yet his worth is inestimable many things are uttered yet his excellency is unutterable Am I not ravished when he is my contemplation Am I not overjoyed when hee is my Meditation doth not my valley abound with pleasure when the vertue of his grace takes in me possession is the morning sunne so joyous to a traviller as Christ is to me when I thinke of him in the morning hee is more to thee O my soule then riches then honours then gold thē silver yea then pretious stones if thou hadst a kingdom and wast not assured of his kingdome what would that profit thee if thou hadst a world if thou hadst no interest in that blood which purchased the world to come what would that availe thee if thou hadst all the joyes and pleasures under heaven if thou hadst not the joy of his spirit what would that benefit thee if thou hadst al the gay apparrell in the world if thou hadst not Christs righteousnesse to defend thee from the wrath of God what fruit would that bring ūto thee if thou hadst all to plead for thee if thou hadst not Christ to excuse thee in the day of the Lord what joy could possesse thee it is good for thee to rest where Christ is so shall he be to thee a resting place it is good for thee to dwell where hee is for there are joyes for evermore O my soule feare not what man can doe unto thee if they take away thy name remember thy name is ingraved upon his breast he bare thy name upon the crosse he beareth thy name now in the sight of thy gratious Father Though thy name is extinguished yet not extinguished though not remembred yet remembred evermore Let Justiciaries cast their Arrowes by day and their fierie dars by night yet know that through thy saviour thou art able to repulse the fiery darts of Satan much more theirs Let them take away thy life thy life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Let them conclude that thou art vaine glorious thy glorying expression shall be of Christ thy Lord of life and righteousnes sith if any in heavē or earth are bought to God by our Lord of life glory then thou art one of that company whilst thou as a poore pilgrim wanderest towards heavens City make thou a heavenly dimention of his glory Worthy is the Lambe who was slaine to receive power riches and strength wisedome and honour and glory and blessing and to him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lambe be ascribed blessing and honour and glory and strength for ever and ever Amen Revel 5.13.13 From the law of sinne and death O my people what have I done for you as Reconciliation to God my Father through my blood and death is the greatest mercy as my Adoption by my Spirit of glory is the highest love so my Redemption from the law of sinne and death by the Law of the Spirit of life is the freest bountie Have you not come short of my glory and the glory of my Father Rom. 3 23. For all have sinned are come short of the glory of God Have you not been under the curse and execration of the morrall law Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the the workes of the law are under the curse for it is written cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Law to do them Have not your Spirit been silenced and your mouthes stopt before my Fathers presence Rom. 3 .19 Now wee know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them that are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God Hath not Moses accused you before the barre of justice John 5.45 Doe not thinke that I will accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust Was not the same Law that was made for ungodly wicked and incorrigable siners made for you 1 Tim. 1.10 For whoremongers for them that defile themselves with mankind for men-stealers for lyers for perjured persons and if there bee any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine But I have delivered you from the law of Condemnation by the law of Salvation from the law of execration by the Law of benediction from the Law of accusation by the law of life and reconciliation and from the law of adjudication by the law of hope and Redemption When that I saw that ye were come short of all righteousnes fulfilled al righteousness Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness sake to every one that beleeveth Whē I saw that you were accursed I became a curse for you having undertaken to die the cursed death of the Crosse Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for
and tryalls afflictions calamities and miseries under penurie shame and reproach under bonds fetters and chaines under shipwrack death and tortures that their faith might be much more pretious then gould their love then the purest gould their patience answer my commmission concerning patience and that they might prize my deliverie and redemption when I shall deliver and redeeme them from tribulation For I will see them againe their heart shall rejoyce and their joy shall no man take from them I will see you againe This was Josephs charge see my face no more unlesse you bring your yonger brother with you this was the charge of David to Abner thou shalt not see my face unlesse thou bringst with thee Micall Saules daughter This is the charge of the drooping spirits to the watchmen of Israell let us heare your voice no more let us see your face no more unlesse you tell us where we may behold the countenance of our beloved whilst the watchmen saith they see him not Christ saith he will see his own I will see them againe their hearts shall rejoyce and their joy shall no man take from them Have I not looked upon you when no eye beheld you have not I respected you when none respected you when neither Levit nor Priest had compassion on you in the day of your wounds then I healed you by my death blood and righteousnesse I exalted you by my resurrection assention and mediation and I comforted you by my adoption union and justification as my father beheld his Israell in Egyptian tyrannie to give them delivery So I beheld you in bond-slaverie to give you my richest bountie As I have looked upon you being the morning starre that first rose in your hearts so I will shine upon you as the morning sunne that first appeared in your soules For I will see you againe your heart shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man take from you I will see you The face of Esau was deare in the eyes of Jacob he counted it as the face of an Angell the face of Jesus Christ is deare in the sight of the saints they count it more gratious then the countenance of all the Angels was there an acceptation of Jacobs presents a safety of the lambs the children and the aged through Esaus favour and is there not an acceptation of the offerings of the Saints and a deliry from death and destruction by the face and favour of Jesus Christ therefore they are ravished with the joy of my countenance saying O joy of joyes O solace of solaces O consolation of consolations that flowes from me their dearest Lord that brought them when I shall see them againe my countenance will be to them most deare and pretious What sun like me that am the sonne of righteousnesse what starre like me that am the morning starre the starres are darkenesse the sunne is dimnesse the moone is obscurity when I appeare in glory heaven should be no heaven if my countenance should not be in heaven the celestiall places should be a denn of Dragons if I had not beene in the celestiall places If glory be in the soule it is because I am the hope of glory if glory be in the heavenly place it is because I am the prince of glory What beauty hath the firmament without the sunne moone and starrs what ornament hath the earth without grasse hearbs trees and plants or what excellencies hath the soule without my gratious countenance therefore my dearest servants waite for the time of my appearings Is not my countenance more deare to them then the face of Esau was to Jacob sith in the sight thereof there are pleasures for evermore deliverie from the blacke chaines of darkenesse righteousnesse to eternall life hope of the fruition of my felicitie and praises from the beginning of my grace unto eternitie For I will see them againe and their hearts shall rejoyce and their joy no man shall take from them And your hearts shall rejoyce In the day of Tyre it was said of Tyre that she was the fame and glory of the world because her delights were the delights of paradice she walked in the midst of the stones of fire she had every precious stone as the Topaze the the Carbuncle the Saphire the Onix in the day of the Churches glory it may be said of the Church that her delights surpasseth the delights of paradice that she walkes triumphing in the midst of fierie tribulations and that Christ her precious stone is more to her then all pretious stones he that is to her the choysest stone of delightment is to her the streame of rare contentment O what citie like the citie of our God O what streames are like the streames that refresh the citie of our God as the fountaine is only delectable so the streames are absolutely delightfull for my joyes are the joyes of my people my rivers of solace their sole delight and my fountaine surpassing all the fountaines under heaven if they want comfort I make them rejoyce in the robes of purest righteousnesse Isai 61.10 I will greatly reioyce in the Lord my soule shall be ioyfull in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the robes of righteousnesse as a bridegroome decketh himselfe with ornaments and as a bride adorneth her selfe with her iewels If they want solace I make them to injoy the holy Ghost the comforter John 16.7 Neverthelesse I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I goe away for if I goe not away the comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you If they are clothed with the garments of heavinesse I give to them the oyle of joy gladnesse Isa 61.1 The spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath anoynted me to preach good tydings unto the meeke To appoint unto them that mourne in Sion to give unto them beauty for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning the garments of praise for the spirit of heavinesse that they might be called the trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified And if they are crowned with sorrow and lamentation I cause everlasting joy to spring out of the wells of salvation Isa 12.3 Therefore with ioy shall yee draw water out of the wells of salvation Shall my people hang down their heads like bulrushes lowre like the Hypocrites and wear sackcloth and mourning weeds No I would have my people dwell by my fountaines my waters are not bitter as the waters of Marah I would have mine refresh themselves with my rivers my waters passe the waters of Abanah Pharpar rivers of Damascus Have I not left to them the words of full consolation John 17.13 And now I come to thee and these things I speake in the world that they might have my ioy fulfilled in themselves Have I not removed their feares and perturbations John 14.1 Let not
as I have loved you Nothing is so pretious as Christs blood nothing so victorious as his death nothing is so pure as his righteousnesse so nothing is so tender as the love of our dearest Lord that bought us who hath left the highest throne of glory for the bondslaves of miseries but the prince of glory who hath stood betweene light and darkenesse betwixt heaven and hell betwixt eternall justice and the children of unrighteousnesse but the Lord our righteousnesse 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sinne the just for the uniust that hee might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the spirit Who hath beene surety for mine in respect of the acquirie of Redemption to make up the breach of union to answer the righteousnesse for justification to atchieve glorious communion beatification bediction felicitie and the fruition of my presence but he that shall stand for ever mediatour and intercessour in my presence or who hath indured that mocking that buffeting that scorning that arraigning that condemning but he in whom there is no condemnation but eternall life and salvation Act. 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved He hath laid downe his life for them that were deprived of the hope of life hee spilt his dearest blood for them that were involved in their blood hee hath ventured his death for the lives of them that were the children of death had a child of wrath died for a child of wrath that should not have been excellent had a child of death dyed for a son of death that should not have beene superexcellent but for the beloved of the father to die for miserable catives and captives that is transcendent The death of mee the Lord of life is more then a thousand Lords the death of mee the prince of peace is more then the death of tenne thousand princes the death of mee who am King of Kings is more then the death of all the Kings and Monarches under heaven I looked and behold the Angels hid their faces all creatures hid their heads Sith none could make up the breach of union a glorious presentation in my fathers presence conquer death through death overcome the devill through power blot out impurity through righteousnesse remove sinne through blood make peace through atonement and by grace and glory bring the poore soule to eternall glory Isay 59.16 And he saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessour therefore his arme brought salvation unto him and his righteousnesse it sustained him 2 Cor. 3. last But wee all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Out of my love I give rare gifts and graces to my Saints and servants Who hath opened the treasures of wisedome and knowledge if not I who hath broken open the treasure-house of heaven opened the throne of grace unlocked the mercy seate if not I who hath placed the heavenly minds in the heavenly places blessed the people delivered from the curse with spirituall blessings and made them that have tasted my love attaine to the height of my love but I. I powre my water upon the thirsty I give my bread to the hungry my cloath of righteousnesse to the naked and my dearest mercy and love to the lovelesse I power out my spirit upon my servants shew my visions to the young and give my dreames to the old Acts 2.17 And it shall come to passe in those dayes saith the Lord I will power out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie and your yong men shall see visions and your ould men shall dreame dreames My gifts are not of gold but of that which is more pretious then the gold of Ophir my gifts are not jewels gemmes and pretious stones But that which is more rich then jewels gemmes and pretious stones My gifts are not earthly treasures morrall righteousnesse worldly wealth and things terren and sublunarie but heavenly treasures and heavenly righteousnesse celestiall wealth and things sublime and heavenly Hence mine receive abundance from me the the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelt in me bodily Collosians 2.6 verse For in him dwelleth all the fullnesse of the Godhead bodily Hence mine receive grace and truth from the fulnesse of grace and truth as I have spoken and mine confesse John 1.16 And of his fulnesse have wee all receiued and grace for grace Out of my love I will not forsake mine in the midst of all their tribulation and temptations though the heaven should frowne and the earth should lowre the conscience should terrifie justice should amaze death should trouble sinne should burden the Devill should roare the flesh should assault all evills should environ notwithstanding I will not forsake my peculiar though principalities though powers though death though famine though perill though sword though hell though law though sinne though the grave and all evills should beset mine yet will I not leave them I love them in wants as if they had abundance in tribulation as if they were free from tribulation in temptation as if they were free from temptation And in sheep skins and goats skins as if they had cloath of gold beset with the rarest jewels What if they are stoned for my name sake what if they be banished for my testimony what if they should be wracked for the witnesse of the word of my truth what if they had not a hole with the fox nor a nest with the birds yet I will not shut them out of my presence Have I not given a testimony concerning them Heb. 11.36 37 38 39. And others had triall of cruell mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment They were stoned they were sawne asunder were tempted were slaine with the sword they wandered about in sheep skins and goats skins being destitute afflictet tormented of whom the world was not worthy They wandered in the desarts and in mountains and denns and caves of the earth And all these have obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promise When Paul and Silas my servants were in prison did I not make them sing songs of my dearest love When Peter was in prison was not the Angel of my presence by him when my servant Steeven was stoned did I not make his face to shine as an Angel and when my servants were in the fire furnace have I not delivered them from the furnace of fiety afflictions I am the rock when there is no rocke I am the refuge when there is no refuge I am their hope and horne of salvation when there is neither hope nor horne of salvation Hence mine may conclude with my servant Psal 18.18 They prevented me in the day of my calamitie but the
this mistery among the Gentills which is Christ in you the hope of glory Eph. 2.7 That in ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse towards us through Christ Jesus Fiftly WEE beleeve that the Church which hath beene redeemed by the pretious bloud of our Lord and Master that she hath received the spirit of Adoption Glory Sanctification and obsignation to the intent that she might be absolutely assured of everlasting glory of God the Father the pretious riches of grace in Jesus Christ and the promises which are in Christ yea and Amen Vnto the praise and glory of the Father Rom. 5.2 By whom also we have accesse by faith into this grace wherein we stand and reioyce in hope of the glory of God 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisedome and righteousnesse and Sanctification and Redemption 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us Sixtly WEE beleeve that Jesus Christ having paid an Eternall price and ransome to his Father in the behalfe of his Church and peculiar therefore the price in it selfe being eternall infinite and unmeasurable doth comprehend in it selfe a remedie for the miseries of All mankinde whatsoever Mat. 20.28 Even as the sonne of man came not to bee ministred unto but to mimister and to give a ransom his life for many 1. Tim. 2.6 Who gave himselfe a ransome for all to be testified in due time Seventhly WE beleeve that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel universall and is to be preached amongst all creatures whatsoever to the intent that the Father of eternall love and mercy might single out his people out of the world shew forth the dignity of his owne Son manifest the marvilous riches of his owne glory and leave the Creature without excuse Mat. 28.19 Goe yee therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Col. 1.23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and setled and bee not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven whereof I am made a Minister Eph. 2.12 That at that time ye are without Christ being Aliens from the common wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of grace having no hope And without God in the world 1 John 5.10 He that beleeveth me the sonne of God hath the witnesse in himselfe he that beleeveth not God hath made him a lier because hee beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Sonne John 3.18.19 Hee that beleeveth one him is not condemned but hee that beleeveth not is condemned already because hee hath not beleeved in the name of the only begotten son of God And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkenesse more then light because their deeds were evill Eighthly VVE beleeve that the Church being called by the word of life and salvation to participate of the glorious riches of Christ is bound by an everlasting bond of love and favour to yeeld all loyall obedience and subjection to Jesus Christ her Lord and Master 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 12.1 2. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable sacrifice and be not conformed to this world but bee transformed by the renewing of your minde that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God Ninthly VVEE beleeve that the Church of Jesus Christ is presented glorious in the sight of God her heavenly Father through union with Jesus Christ and her interest in her royall robes of righteousnesse Phil. 3.9 And being found in him not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is thorough the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Isay 61.10 I will greatly reioyce in the Lord my soule shall be ioyfull in my God for hee hath cloathed me with he garments of Salvation hee hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse as a bridegrorme decketh himselfe with ornaments and as a bride adorneth her selfe with her Jewells Tenthly VVE beleeve that neither sin the Law nor Justice is any cause of her chastisement onely the free and deare love of her deere Father to the end that he might teach her the way to glory weaken the power of the flesh and make her live by faith and love before him all her dayes Heb. 12.6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne whom hee receiveth Apoc. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Psal 119.6 7. Then shall I not bee ashamed when I shall have respect to all thy commandements I will praise thee with uprightnesse of heart when I shall have learned thy righteous judgements 2 Cor. 12.7 And least I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations there was given to me a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me least I should exalted above measure 1 Pet. 1.6 7. wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if neede be ye are in heavinesse through manifold temptations that the triall of your faith being much more pretious then of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ Eleventh WE beleeve that although her God and father is in every place and beholds all things and by consequence seeth sin as it is in the flesh not withstanding having presented her just by the act of Reconciliation through the blood of the Sonne of God Justified her through the none imputation of iniquitie and made her stand in Christ for ever through union with him hence she stands in his sight for ever without spot or wrinckle Heb. 4.13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open unto him with whom we have to doe 2 Cor. 5.17 Therfore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature Old things things are past away behold all things are become new Col. 1.22 In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy unblamable unreproveable in his sight Ephes 5.27 That he might present to himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Twelfe VVE beleeve that though in the dayes of Adam we with Adam stood under the old Covenant yet that Covenant is wholy abolished and that now injoying the law of faith mercy peace we stand for ever under that covenant
which hath beene proposed in Christ hence it comes to passe that we are freed absolutely from the law of sin and death and are brought under the Law of freedome and life Jer. 31.32.33 Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the day when I tooke them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which Covenant they brake although I was a husband unto them saith the Lord. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people Heb. 8.6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death Thirteenth VVE beleeve that the Saints are to be a deare a tender and a loving people from the love that is given them in and through Jesus Christ and are bound to walke in the bond of Love to the intent that they may shew themselves children of light hold forth the love of Jesus Christ and the glory of God their heavenly and dearest Father John 15.12 This is my Commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you John 17.22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one Fourteenth VVE beleeve that the expressions of this love stands not onely in in the communion of gifts but also of goods insomuch that is it possible they are to live in one body as one common wealth nothing differing from the state of the Churches in the City of Jerusalem Acts 2.44 45. And they that beleeved were together and had althings common and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had neede Fifteenth THe Saints are to be a quiet peaceable and loving people sith they are of the Kingdome and patience of Jesus Christ God hath called them to peace having given them a command to have peace with all and love towards all men And he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people and they shall beate their swords into plowshares and their speares into pruning hookes Nation shall not lift up swords against Nation neither shall they learne warre any more Isay 65.25 The Wolfe and the Lambe shall feede together and the Lyon shall eate straw like the bullock and dust shall be the serpents meate they shal not hurt nor destroy in all my mountaines saith the Lord. Apoc. 13.10 He that leadeth into captivity shall goe into captivity he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints Apoc. 12.11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Sixteenth VVEE beleeve that those that are to enter into a Churches estate are to make known to the Church their experience of the Spirit and faith in Jesus Christ insomuch that none are to bee admitted into a Churches state but such as are cordiall in their faith and experementall through communion with the Lord Jesus Acts 8.37 And Philip said if thou beleevest with all thine heart thou mayest and he answered and said I beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God Acts 10.47 Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we Acts 9.26 27. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem hee assayed to joyne himselfe unto the Disciples but they were all affraid of him and beleeved not that he was a Disciple but Barnabas tooke him and brought him to the Apostles and declared unto them how he had seene thk Lord in the way and that hee had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus c. Seventeenth VVEE understand that although their ought to be an especiall love of the Saints one towards another notwithstanding they are to shew themselves loving courteous and gentle to all that are without not reproaching but praising praying and blessing God for all that hate them Mat. 5.44 45 46. But I say unto you love your Enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you and pray for them which dispitefully use you and persecute you That ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to rise on the evill and on the good and sendeth raine on the just and on the unjust For if ye love them which love you what reward have ye Doe not even the Publicans the same FINIS TRust ye not in a friend put ye not confidence in a guide keepe the doores of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom Therfore I will look unto the Lord I will waite for the God of my salvation my God will heare me Isa 50.6 7. I gave my backe to the smiters and my cheekes to them that plucked off the haire I hid not my face from shame and spitting For the Lord will helpe mee therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed VVE judge no man If any man is contrary minded God shall reveale it according to his Divine Love and rarest Mercy in the beloved