expound the word so as it may be applied to poor silly women whom they can intangle and trap in their talk and so make such the guilty persons and authours of mischief But the Temple and he that dwells therein is one undivided and never was nor shall be separated whatsoever the pharises teach to the contrary which our Apostle elegantly declares saying and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things in the church which is his body the ful ness of him thht filleth all Ephes 1. 22. 23. in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord in whom you are builded together for an habitation of God in the spirit Ephes 2. 21 22. Thirdly Christ useth another argument to evince the truth against these false interpretours which is an explication of the former saying And he that sweareth by heaven sweareth by the throne of God by him that sitteth thereon that is he that is ingaged and bound over as by oath unto heaven he is ingaged to the throne of God that is to the kingly authority of the Son of God Psalme 132 11 12. and to him that sits thereon to sit is to abide and continue or dwell Psalme 1. 1. Psalme 2. 4. in the execution of that authority the word translated seat or to sit signifies also an assize session or assembly for the use and skilful ordering and disposing of all things so the Hebrew word Moshab is taken in Psalme 107. 32. see what follows to the end of the Psalme the throne and him that sits thereon are one entire thing for the unction is upon none but Christ the anointed of God and the exercise of this unction cannot be found extant but in the Son of God alone And whereas he brings in heaven and the throne of God to be one and the same so that he that swears by heaven swears by the throne and him sits thereon it is to explicate his former argument that as by heaven here we are not to terminate our thoughts in these visible heavens or in any thing or place limited according to the bonnds of a creature but according to the throne or authority of the Son of God even so we are not to terminate our thoughts in a Temple or altar in what sence soever they may be taken if their edifice and form were either erected or shall pass away in time which is the doctrine of the pharisaical and false interpretours But true interpretours terminate the subject matter of their doctrine in that state of the Son of God who is the first and the last yea it is he alone who is and was and will be the same Revel 22. 13. Revel 1. 8. out of whom or out of which the heart of man can never enter into rest Hebr. 4. 6 11. And these deceitful prevaricatours of the law in dividing Christ in matter of doctrine they divide themselves from Christ by unbelief And thence is brought in the ground of the denunciation of the fift wo laid down in the 23 24. verses which consists in their tything of mint Annis and Commin and neglecting the weighty matters of the law wherein observe 1. First what they do they tithe mint annis and Commin 2. Their Neglect that is of the weighty matters of the law 3. Wherein these weighty matters do consist that is in judgement mercy and fidelity 4. Wherein their doctrine and practice out to appear that is in doing these weighty things not leaving the inferiour undone 5. A severe charge laid upon them to be blind guides 6. Their gross hypocrisie in straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel 1. For the first they take tithe and they also pay tithe as Matthew and like compared together declare for so the law appoints in tithing or taking the tenth two things are to be considered as the first born are known to be the Lords in that they first open the womb and none can deny but the right of inheritance belongs unto them Yea that first born of God Jesus Christ is known to be the Royal off spring of the most high by opening the womb of eternal life unto us or in us so that none can call into question the blessing of the birth-right being he is descended of God But the tenth as considered in the flock or in the field none can give a reason why the rod should pass upon this rather then upon that Levit. 27. 30 32 33. even so the sons of God as they spring out of the earth and are formed of the slime and dust of the ground Gen. 2. 7. no man can give a reason why the rod or scepter of Jesus Christ should fall into the hand of this man rather then that which God hath left in their sins and given up unto wrath for by nature in that refpect we are the same which they are Ephes 2. 3. 2. Again the word tithe or the tenth comprehends all of that kinde which is presented even as the whole law is comprehended in one of those ten words for so the phrase is Deut. 10. 4. which God spake unto Moses for it is fulfilled in this one word love Gal. 5. 14. Rom. 13. 10. The tenth also is taken for eternity by the verdict of the word of God the tenth generation is expounded to be eternity Deut. 23. 3. by the Spirit of God so that the tenth comprehends all times and all things which nothing but the Son of God can do who only is that all in all Ephes 1. 23. who is an inheritance falling by lot in way of tithe Psalme 16. 5 6. as well as in way of a purchased possession Ephes 1. 14. as really as he is a son by adoption taken out of the house of a stranger as he is man and a natural son the true off-spring of almighty God also as he is begotten of the father of lights Iohn 1. 13 14. Iames 1. 17 18. So that as the Hebrew word Mas is often used for tribute signifies sufficiency or enough and is so translated Deut. 15. 8. because it gives an interest in him that payes it and to all that he hath if occasion be even so the tithe comprehends an alsufficiency or enough of all thiugs whatsoever which is not elsewhere to be found but only in Christ Let earthly tithe-mungers who translate the Gospel into transient things weigh this point well and know they are these deceitful pharises 3. Add further that in tithes the priest is to pay tithe as well as to receive it for he is appointed to pay the tenth of the tenth Nehem. 10. 38. Therefore the Spirit of God saith by Matthew ye pay tithes of mint Annnis and Commin speaking to these hypocritical teachers or expounders of the law But Luke hath it ye tithe as taking tithe the Mint the Rew and all manner of green herbs Luke 11. 42. So that they receive inferiour and base things of the
Iewes and Grecians Christ is the power of God and the wisdome of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. and thence it is that our faith stands not in the wisdome of men or any thing that they can transfuse or instill but in the power of God 1. Cor. 2. 5. which is one and the same in whomsoever it appears 4 Fourthly the Hen hovereth upon her Chickens for their nourishment and increase that they may attain to her stature and ability Even so doth the wisdome God brood upon his saints that they may come unto a perfect man unto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4. 13. Therefore it is said that the Saints increase with the increasinâ—s of God Collos 2. 19. Now wee know that the Holy One dwells not it temples made with hands for the heavens of heavens cannot contain him 2 Chro. 6 18. No more is he subject to increase or diminution therefore perfected at once and for ever in all his demensions and operations whatsoever his increasings are that bountiful flowing forth and issuing out of his Spirit in the variety of his operations and revelations springing from that inexhaustible Fountain in Christ that Store-house and Treasury of them all 5 Fiftly the Hen broods upon her Chickens to save them from harm of storm and tempest or birds of prey which otherwise they are Lyable unto Even so the wisdome of God hovers upon his Saints to save them from danger Isaiah 45. 6. Psal 91. 1. even the cruell stormes and tempestuous gusts of the Devil who goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom hee may devour 1 Peter 5. 8. who though he come in against the Saints as a flood yet shall this spirit and wisdome of the Lord lift up a standard aganst him to chase him away Isay 59. 19. And this is the onely safety of the Saints who otherwise are in continuall danger even as a Sparrow upon the house top Psal 102. 7. who watcheth alone for if shee fall upon the earth there is the Fowlers snare and if she abide upon the rooff of the house she is subjct to birds of pray So are the saints of God if it were not for this wisdom and Word of God rightly interpreted that watcheth over them for it they look down to the inferiour and more grosse things of this life there is a snare hid in every thing to catch us with vain hopes and expectations to be inriched and exalted by them in case we can but heap them up together and make the best of them and if wee look up at the principalities and powers of the world we are ready to be devoured and swallowed up by them if this wisdome move not upon us as the spirit brooded upon the waters in the beginning to preserve them in purity that they corrupt not as we see they are in motion unto this day for that purpose in their ebbings and flowings Nay if we look down to mans sin fall from God and imperction in all things we are ready to bee insnared with doubts and feares and discontentments with our own condition and if we look up unto that happie and blessed estate of man in Christ we are Ready to wax proud arrogant and wanton in the things of God if this wisdom of God do not brood and flutter upon us and watch over us that his power may prevent all inconveniences that otherwise would fall upon us Psal 77. 10. This wisdom and Word of God is our onely strength and help in the true interpretation thereof and without that there is no proper power or help of God at all as is formerly noted therefore it is said thou hast advanced thy Word over all thy Name or upon all thy Name or Authority and power Psalm 138. 2. So it is said that the mercy of the Lord is over all his works Psalm 145. 9. or upon all his works That is there is not a work of God in Heaven or in Earth but there is a stamp and impression of the mercy of God upon it with respect unto the Saints of God yea every work of God is a Monument or Remembrancer of Gods mercy unto them See an epitomee or breviary hereof Psalm 136. 1 -26 where the Spirit of God impresseth the mercy of God upon his works six and twenty severall times Even So the Lord hath magnified his Word upon all his Name or his authority and power that is there is no power and authority of God but that which his Word in the true interpretation thereof invests into it is that and that onely which sets up and maintaines Gods Name and Authority in all things whatsoever and without the true interpretation of the Word of God his Name is not magnificall in the heart of any man likewise there is nothing whereby the power of Satan is advanced in the world but onely the false interpretation of the Word of God neither is there any contention among the sons of men besides that contending for the common salvation by faith once given unto the Saints Jude 3. But it ariseth from a mistake and false interpreting of the Word of God for it is at unity with it self where in whomsoever it is truly acknowledged We Conclude then that it is Word of God which is the wisdome of God that is the proper wing of God under which the Saints are gathered which false interpreters refuse to come under 5 Which is the fift point in order And that is their unnaturall deniall but ye would not Not that the wickednesse and destruction of man depends onely upon the will of a creature simply considered but it depends upon the law of the flesh or the word of a carnall commandment that is the word of God falsly interpreted Neither doth Salvation depend upon the meer will of an Eternall God simply considered but it depends upon the Law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus which is that word or wisdome of God rightly opened and interpreted else doth not Salvation consist only in Christ Iesus who is God and Man as the wisdome of God affirms it doth Acts 4. 11 12. And this is the Stone cast aside by you builders which is become the head of the Corner Neither is there Salvation in any other for among men there is given none other name under heaven whereby we must be saved Mat. 1. 21. 1 This denyall of being gathered into unity by Christ therefore is the voice of a law which wicked men are under in way of Hagar the bond woman which speaks effectually in way of negation to every point expressed in the metaphor taken from the Hen and her Nest or Chickens that is we will not have the Nest to bee one in originall and off-spring that is God and man making one inâ—ire Condition in all and every Saint of God in the point of time place and individuall subsistence for the Spirit of God in the soul of man in every operation of a
hindred the Ship will be ready to set sayl about fourteen dayes hence but at present the Master doth not know what to doe their demands being so unjust to force him to carry us and they not to â—ay him for it nor we shall not and yet will not take hiâ— own 〈◊〉 but will have security besides so that hâ— and they are troubled with a burthensome stone the Ark of God doth afflict them send it away they would but yet they are not agreed what to do with it so we shall leave thee to be guided by that wisedome which governs all men and things â—ccording to the counsell of his own vvill and bringeth his purposes to passe by vvhom and in vvhom he pleaseth From the Servanâ—s and Messengers of the Lord vvhom he hath sent and brought by the arm of his power into these parts of the Word for vvhich vve suffer bonds and close imprisonment none suffered to speake or confer vvith us nor scarce to see us being locked up in the inward prison as the Gaoler pretends because vve do not deliver our Ink-horns although he hath taken away three from us already and vvill not suffer us to burn our owne Candles but takes them away from us because vve shall not vvrite in the night though vve are strangers to thee and others in this place yet seen and knowne in the light yet known in the World by these Names From the Common Gaol in Boston this 28 of the seventh 1656. William Brend Thomas Thurston Christop Holder Iohn Copeland Post We and all the rest of friends with us remember their love to thee and if thou hast freedome let us heare from thee Barwick in the Nanhyganset-Bay this prefone Octob 6. 1656. The Superscription To the Strangers suffering imprisonment in Boston for the name of Christ these with trust present in Massachusets Loving Friends WE have thankfully received your late and loving Letters but are informed that since the penning of them the Master of the Ship is ingaged with two of Boston bound with him to set you ashoar in England so that we perceive God hath diverted our desired designe we doubt not but for the best in a further discovery of that spirit so wickedly bent to hinder if it were possible the fruitfull progresse of the grace of the Gospell and it may be the name given unto you we know not upon what ground may come through an unalterable appointment to be the naturall practice of such as so deal with you when the terrours of the Almighty shall take hold of them And we are glad to see the waters move for then we know that spirit stirs which brooded upon them in the beginning and the Angell troubleth them unto healing but it is only of such as first step in after the troubling or moving of them which must be he who first lookes out from the early morning seeing in the first light that ever shined in that day which springs from on high who is endued with strength sufficient to put himself in without help of any other besides himself for there is none but the first begotten of the dead that can participate in this cure yet we know also how to cure the lame and impotent who hath no strength nor abilitie at all in himself to move towards the waters but only waits for help from another and therefore perceives how all come to be cured before him but the of word salvation passing upon him retains its healing and creating vertue from the beginning and is no lesse healthful in the last than in the first for they are one Yea he is not only the root bâ—t the branch or off-spring of David also the secret mystery of God hid from the world from the foundation thereof effectually moves the waters and a mighty worke done doth visibly appear to all men in uttering the word of salvation beyond the reach and capacity of all carnall Jews who are angry thereat seeking to take away the life and light of the Author of it who never appeareth but they find their Sabbath broken their power impaired or one or other of their carnal laws of sin death cries out in them as being violated as by him that coms to torment them before the time so that in the visibility of him who is invisible we rejoyce with Moses and fear not the wrath of the King In that you say that in the spirit of meeknesse and lowlinesse out of much love you came into these parts such a spirit we can thankfully imbrace knowing that it is the Spirit of the Redeemer who is meek in the losse of all humane and worldly helps without the least murmuring or grudging not opening his mouth in the language of the world in any thing whatsoever Also lowly submitting unto the spirit and will of the Father in whom or in whomsoever it appeareth the Spirit of the loving and loyall Spouse never admits of any divorse in that espousall but in all things submits unto and obeys Abraham and cals him And whosoever doth not become as a little child cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven But we know also that he who comes meek and lowly he comes so therein as he saves himself which is the part of a Victor and Conquerour and the prudent and diligent woman or Spouse clothes her Husband and Family with Scarlet her Husband is known in the Gate when he sitteth among the Elders by her industry yea the heart of her Husband doth safely trust in her so as he fears no spoil and whoso becomes as a child is greatest in the Kingdome of Heaven for in the mouths of Babes and Sucklings God hath ordained and founded his strength And in us a Child is born in us a Son is given but the government is upon his shoulder and he is called Wonderfull Counseller the mighty God t e everlasting Father the Prince of Peace so that whereever this lowly and meek Spirit is there is also the Spirit of that Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah and the Lord thereby shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Ierusalem and the Heavens and the Earth shall shake but the Lord is the hope of his people and the strength of the Children of Israel True lowlyness of spirit and the loftiest minde that ever was are never separated for these twain are made one so as never to be separated no more than a child in point of all humane abilities and the antient of daies shall For as we receive the Kingdom of Heaven as a little child so we are never otherwise in the same respect which we know no wisdom humane serpentine or upon principles properto a creature can ever yeeld unto or finde out And therefore we are fooles unto the world being bereaved of all their principles in regard of any exercise of them according to their proper intent in any of our designs Our wisdom consults not upon any of their principles our judgement determines not according
is the beginning and end of all things that Alpha and Omega therefore never from off the head of him who rightly runs in this race for he is never void nor destitute of that honour which is peculiar to the Son of the eternal a glory without compare ever accompanied with sufficient courage fortitude and confidence to gain the prize for time to come which is as certainly renewed in the continued act and exercise in the race as it is certainly injoyed in the present time for as the operations of the Spirit of God are in present exercise upon him so he knows that the Spirit of glory and of God shall remain and rest upon him for time to come through his suffering of the loss of the glory of this world which shall be the crown of all his exercise in the things of God unto perpetual aye and therefore he runs not as at uncertainties but upon present possession which gives us assured hope for time to come as it is certain that God is faithful and cannot deny himself So fight I not as one that beateth the air that is I give not my strokes in combate in my contending for the faith of the Son of God as one that woundeth not or as one that findeth not reality of matter for the weapons of my warfare to take place in exercising their force skill and accomplishing their ends upon but I deal with such as I accomplish like atchievments upon in the management of mine affairs in the gospel as David the beloved of God did in that 11. Psalme which is a true commentary upon this my warfare For I am not as one beating or fighting with the aire as with a thing of no substance I doing no real exploit nor it receiving any wound or foil from me but closeth up and healeth it self again as fast as it receiveth the strokes but contrarily I beat down and bring to nought that which hath in it the reality of sin and death which is the wisdome or law of the flesh As certainly as I guard and defend that which hath in it the reality of eternal life and peace namely tbat wisdome or law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus my Lord exercising it self in the one and the other in my soul and that no otherwise but as it shall be my life and peace spirit and power prowess and victorious imployment and conquest forever for the offices exercises and virtues of Christ are all of like honour worth and duration Vers 27. But I beat down my body that is the body of sin and death and it is my body as in the original and materials of it consisting of God and man as truly as Esau and Jacob came both out of loyns of Isack and Rebekkah so doth the body of sin arise of God and man being made one in that way of the body of death and also that mysticall body of life in Christ in the one the properties and heavenly disposition of the Son of God are crucified to the sin and Satan in the Son of perdition and in the other the properties and earthly disposition of man aâ—â— crucified to the life of righteousness and peace in the Son of God Again it is my body as I am considered from the earth and so have naturally in that respect the nature and disposition of all flesh as the gospel is my gospel as in the spirit of God I come down from heaven and so am one with the Son of God being of the same spirit with him who is both the authour and product thereof Again it is my body as I die thereunto dayly as the same Apostle speaks and also it dies nnto me so as it never hath any power over dominion or me or I any community or fellowship with it even as the body of Christ is mine as I rise and live in newness of life unto it and it unto me wherein consists my proper and only converse and fellowsh p. Again it is my body as I acknowledge the misery and wretchedness of all slesh destitute of the wisdome and Spirit of God and so it is gone over all in regard of the aptitude and disposition of all men naturally inclining thereunto and so I can say in that respect O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Even as I can give God thanks as in that body of Christ acknowledging by the spirit thereof my deliverance happy condition and salvation being inabled by the same spirit to bring that body of death into subjection in all things exercising the rule and authority of the Son of God over it so as it can never prevail against me but though the enemy may come against me as a flood yet the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standerd against him to chase him away so that in my mind that is in the formings fashionings and framings of all things in my spirit I serve the law of God but in my flesh that is as my natural disposition is found in the men of the world out of Christ there it is under sin and death being a servant thereunto forever Now the ground and reason why I thus beat down my body and bring it in subiection and not the body of another is this viz. Lest whilst I preach to others I my self should become a reprobate in these words our Apostle doth elegantly as in a figure as he speaks formerly in this epistle in a like case transferring the state and condition of all false teachers of the word of God unto himself that thereby he may with modesty set them forth and make them appear in truth to be that which indeed they are Lest while I preach to others or as the word is lest while I preach in others the word lest is not brought in here as a doubt or supposition but as a thing of certainty as if he should say he who preacheth in another he is a reprobate or he is reproved rejected or is become a castaway as disallowed of God So that the Apostles argument stands thus he that preacheth in another that which he preacheth not in himself as being matter of the gospel that minister and ministry is as reprobate silver it is disallowed of God and never passeth for currant doctrine in his kingdome So that he which forms sin in such sort as that he inveighs against it and indeavours to beat it down in another and not in himself as being free from a sin of that nature as in or of himself that is a reprobate ministry he beats the aire and doth not beat down that body which is his that ministry therefore that forms sin so as to belong to one state of men and not unto another to be a sin in one age of the world but not in another or to belong to one six or age of man and not unto another that man doth not in all things beat down his own body that
Serpents that can seem to prostrate your selves as an harlot to any form of doctrine for gain and to get your Masters and Maintainers advantage that can distill your diabolical principles through any Lymbeck or form of expressions for upholding of the trade and merchandise of Tyrus whereof read Ezekiel 27. the whole Chapter in which you manifest your selves to be the original and final cause of the destruction and ruine of mankinde by your subtle insinuations and deceitfull interpretations of the word of God Again another term or title given unto them is he cals them the generation of Vipers there is a brood and off-spring of them as proceeding from the Viper a Serpent differing from the former in the bringing forth of its seed being most poysonfull and venemous it is said that some of that kind biting a man that if present and soveraign remedy be not applyed he dyeth within the compasse of three hours these breed not of eggs as â—â—her Serpents do but take their form and life in the belly of the dam and before they be brought forth they eat and gnaw her belly that she dyes in short time after they be brought forth so that they breed not but by the destruction of her in whom they are bred Right so it is with these false interpreters they breed not but in the womb of that Harlot who adulterates the word of God by making the copulations thereof to consist in earthly relations and things and the very breeding and bringing forth of such a brood and generation is the destruction of that state and condition in which they are bred for the divinations and witchcrafts of the Devil do not only bewitch but it is also bewitched it doth not only destroy but it is destroyed therfore saith Christ of this Spirit or Serpent Oh generation of Vipers who hath bewitched you forewarned or forestalled your hearts as to think that baptisms bodily exercises verball expressions and temporary institutions should be armour of proof upon you to escape the wrath to come being it is as truly to come as it hath been from the beginning therefore a temporary act or institution cannot defend nor shelter from it Yea to destroy and to be destroyed to bewitch and to be bewitched are as really in the wicked as to save and to be saved to heal and to be healed are in the Son of God So that whilst men are destroying silly women for witchcraft laden with iniquity it is well if they be not destroying themselves for there are self destroyers which do not appear to all men when the spirit whereby they are held puts them upon defigns to pursue with great eagernesse which becomes often not only the destruction of their souls but their bodies also in fine therof Againe it is said of the poysonful Viper that the poyson thereof retains its vertue after the Serpent is dead which is not found to be in other Serpents So in false Interpreters be they never so dull incapable naturally civil seeming to be dead in regard of doing any hurt let them but be dead unto the spirit and life of the Scriptures they are as poysonfull and deadly in their wayes in the sight of God as such as are most quick lively and active in the sight and judgement of men 2 From which he brings the second point propounded in the Text how should you escape the damnation of Hell In this interrogation he challengeth them if they can find out any way or means of escape any time or place of escape any hopes or expectation of a possibility of escape and so is a strong affirmation that they never can nor shall in like sence Christ interrogates How can you beleeve and receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God only Iohn 5. 44 that is you can never believe repose trust and confidence in the power of God alone when ye prefer another honour than that which is only of God ye cannot have unity with God when you joy n another glory together with God for he is of such nature that is either all in all or else becomes vain in that party where he is not so in all things this interrogation therefore concludes and strongly affirms by arguing it upon the conscience of the Serpent together with all his off-spring as the brood of a Viper that they can never escape or be released from the damnation of Hell By damnation in this place is meant a just and final Sentence together with the severe execution thereof to an everlasting and utter destruction Mark 3. 29. And by Hell in this place is meant the proper state of the Devil himselfe even as by Heaven the Scriptures intend God himselfe or the Son of God therefore where one Evangelist saith the Kingdom of Heaven another expressing the same thing saith the Kingdome of God Mat. 19. 23. compared with Mark 10. 23. So the Prophet Daniel in the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dreames First he cals God by the name of the most high and secondly by the name of Heaven saying Thou shalt know the Heavens rule or thou shalt know the Heaven rules Dan. 4. 25. 26. the phrase plural may be indifferently taken even so in this place by Hell we are to understand the Devil The force of the argument stands thus you have that spirit of the Serpent by which the curse entered upon mankind therefore you are justly called Serpents you are that generation and off spring of the poysonfull Viper or seed of the Serpent you have the nature disposition and operation of the Serpent who brought in the curse and propagates it in the world untill now which is nothing else but the Devil therefore you being the Serpent the Viper the generation the original and off spring of the Devil how can it be possible that you should escape the proper state and condition the condemnation and destruction of him whom you are for the Devil is that false interpreter of the word of God from the beginning for he is a Lyer from the begining Iohn 8. 44. And that lye hath in it all manner of untruth for he aboad not in the Truth yea it is an untruth of an illimited comprehension for it turns the truth of an infinite God into that lye Rom. 1. 25. Therefore must needs contain all manner of unrighteousnesse as the truth of God comprehends all righteousnesse of what nature or distinction so ever and as the one is the proper seat and subject of grace and salvation which is of God Psalm 3. 8. so is the other the onely seat and subject of all wrath and destruction which is of Satan the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil Rev. 20. 2. The 34. Verse is a Reason rendred how this fearfull and desperate estate of these false interpreters is brought about together with a secret insinuation of the state of the Son of God as all Christians or true Prophets are personated in him in which
of God which is that wall of partition or separation interposed between the grace and favour of God and the sons of Adam Ephes 2. 14. 15. and where the glory and power of the arm of flesh is advanced there is the proper place of residence for the carnall Commandement that middle wall of separation for unto that is the separation from God fastned for ever and all carnall institutions in their proper nature and kind are there to be found for they are nailed there by the death of Christ in point of all spirit and life which are not in that way of ministration to be found nor never were and yet therein doth the Son of God triumph over all carnall things spoyling thereby Principalities and Powers making a shew or a shame of them openly Gal. 2. 15. for as man being made of the dust is naturally carnall but through that unity of faith is become spirituall in the word of life and thereby is made King of Salem or Prince of Peace set down at Gods right hand as having conquest over all adverse power Heb. 7. 1. 2. Heb 1. â— Heb. 10. 12. 13. even so the word of God being by nature spirituall yet through mans infidelity or that unity of the Harlot 1 Cor. 6. 16. it is become carnal by false interpretation and so is made the King of terrour and feare Iob 18. 14. and contrary to its own nature is an Executioner of wrath and vengeance whereby he triumphs over the wicked even all Principalities and Powers of that nature and is a just tormenter of them eternally thrusting down into Hell and that bottomlesse pit even as man is become a Saviour and lifts up unto the Throne of God and Diadem of Heaven and hence it is that God is said to be as a Lion as a Bear and as a Moth Lam. â— 10. Amos 5. 18. 19. 20. Hos 5. 12. and so many terms and titles of horrour and dread are given unto him in the word of God even as all power and princely authority in Christ peace reconciliation wisdom and judgement are given to the Son of man Mat. 28. 18. Iohn 17. 2. Mat. 1. 21. Iohn 5. 22 -27 3 These false Interpreters scourge the men of God in their Synagogues or Assemblies that is there is no Combination Session Consociation Coupling together or relation according to the intent and exercise of a carnall Commandement terminating the word of God in fading and mortall things but it is the framing and twisting together of a whip or scourge shamefully and ignominiously to beat or thresh out the spirit of the word of God as a Vagrant and that which they cannot approve of For as Christ wips out the Buyers and Sellers money-Changers and all carnall Commerce to clear his Temple and all the relations in his house of all such prophane and common Commerce because the intercourâ—e and mutuall exchange between God and man are full in all points through that plentifull Spirit or Spirit of plenty in Christ where no need of any thing of another nature is found all being spirituall even so false Interpreters whip out the spirit of the Scrip ures in all their mutuall converse in the way of the Harlot to bring in their own corrupt Commerce with God according to their Iewish and carnall institutions in which the Spirit of God breathes nor but is thereby extinct nor can a true Prophet be admitted amongst them without a lash of what shame dishonour or hardship they can possibly put upon him to signifie unto the world that he is rather a Vagabond than one of the houshold of Faith an Heir of Heaven and Co-heir with Christ Rom. 8. 17. and all this cometh to passe because the spirit of a Christian can not but discover the spirit of falshood hid under their hypocriticall interpretation 4 They persecute them from City to City that is they cruelly expell the Spirit of the word of God out of all the forms and orders in their institutions though they be many as the orders of Cities are in the world so are the Ordinances of worship as in way of Turk Pope inferiour Bishop Presbyterian Anabaptist Separatist but who can count how many Cities of this nature they are almost multiplyed as men for two are hardly found of one mind if their supposed principles were but ript unto the bottome there is hardly a man but he will either be shaken out of himself or run away in a rage before his nakednesse be discovered City Orders and forms of Religion are multiplyed in these dayes much like those several Nations which Israel passed by in the Wildernesse and met with in carnall Canaan as named after the son of Cham the cursed though they differ one from another among themselves yet they are all against Israel even so all forms and statues of worship they all agree in this to expell the Law of the Spirit of Life which is not extant nor upon record but only in Iesus Christ Rom. 8. 2. for whatsoever their order or institution may be if it terminate the word of God in any transient thing that vanisheth in time there is no place of residency or aboad for the Law of the Spirit in that City whosoever therefore goeth about to lay a foundation in Gods building not made with hands but eternall in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. according to the ancient customs of that Law of the Spirit as every true Zorubbabel and Nehemiah do at their happy return out of Babylon then stands up Tobiah and Sanballat to hinder the work yea to expell and persecute all such enterprise and workmanship from every order and institution of any humane constitution in the world not permitting it to take place nor abide in peace in one or other Order Exercise or Relation whatever it be where holinesse or righteousnesse is set and terminated in a vanishing and terrene thing to persecute the law of the Spirit from Order to Order is to persecute the Saints that live thereby and not to permit them a place of residency and they that persecute the Saints of God they persecute the man of God even Christ himself Luk. 10. 16. Iohn 13. 20. Now we come to the Event and issue of this false dealing with the word of God and the cruelty manifested thereby in all such in whom it appears laid down in the Verses following 35. 36. That upon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed upon the Earth from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zacharias the Son of Barachias whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar Verily I say unto you All these things shall come upon this geneon Luke hath it thus that the blood of all the Prophets shed from the foundation of the World may be required of this generation from the blood of Abel c. Luke 11. 50. 51. Wherein observe two points first their guilt Secondly the Progress and extent of that guilt In
pittance thereof is applicable to every particular beleever in any or in all ages of the world and to tye the salvation of God unto any time or party concerned in that mystical body of Christ more than to any other is to divide Christ and may as well say that Paul was crucified for us as to ascribe more power of salvation to one Saint than to another â— Cor. 1. 13. for it is nothing else but to deny God to be all in all Ephes 1. 23. Therefore false Interpreters are the proper and immediate Actors of that so cruel and bloody murther in the shedding of one and the same innocent blood of the Son of God for no more than Christ can be divided or the proper spirit and life of his word can be made twain Iohn 6. 6â— or the spirit of Satan halfed or parted which is the quenching of that immeasurable spirit of God in all its vertuous operations no more can any false Interpreter of the word of God free himself from being guilty of all the righteous and innocent bloodshed upon the Earth since the foundation of the World Therefore in the fifth place Christ affirms in way of an asseveration or oath saying Verily Amen or So be it to that which he hath and shall affirm concerning this matter being irrevocable confirmed by an avowed sentence which depends upon the truth and certainty of his being the word of God to perform and put in execution the same Verily I say unto you that all these things shall come upon this generation that is in how many respects that one Sacrifice of Christ is offered up to God as an holy and acceptable offering which is multiplyed according to the severall Sacrifices and Offerings appointed by the law which are innumerable in so many respects shall guilt in the annihilating of all these things come upon this generation of false interpretation of the law of God and also by how much the offices and Officers by the appointment of God are multiplyed in way of Family Tribe City Tabernacle Temple Army ' and in the whole Kingdom of God which cannot be numbred by so much shall the multiplication of guilt and condemnation come upon this generation for killing and unjust annihilating of them all therefore it is said that all these things shall come upon this generation of false Interpreters as with full force and power never to be resisted but it shall come upon this age line or off-spring of false interpretation of the word of God as it is the proper portion of every particular of them as their inheritance both by birth as being the seed and off-spring of the Serpent and also by due desert as purchased unto themselvs by their own act Mat. 3. 7. Hos 13. 9. 1 Note from hence that such are false Interpreters of the word of God who teach that only the sins committed in one time place or age shall come upon those who live in that age time or place they not being guilty of any other for it is the sin and guilt of all ages that every Unbeleever attracts ur to himself for it is the nature of the spirit sinning that attracts the guilt and not any place or tract of time therefore Luke saith it shall be required of this generation as one intire act for as the demand of the Almighty is but one in making inquisition for blood Psalm 9. 12. so the blood is but one the guilt is but one and it is but one act of exaction of penalty requiring it to the uttermost farthing at the hands of every one found in the Fact Matthew â— 26. It is to be admired to see how zealous some persons are to cut off exorbitant persons where they live to clear the Land of sin and so free it from Gods execution of vengeance if they can cut off the seed of the Serpent there were some hope to attain their end which is as difficult a thing to do as to dry up the water in the Ocean Sea or if they could take away the life of Cain whom God hath said no man shall kill Gen. 4. 15. for there is no man that is a meer man destitute of the Spirit of God but will uphold and maintain earthly Sacrifices which whilst men cry out against other exorbitances to the cutting off the lives of thousands as for Theft Murther Adulteries and the like which are not to be tolerated amongst men in the mean time the life of Cain is not only preserved but stood for and maintained in earthly worships and carnall and blemished Sacrifices halt lame and blind brought unto God wherein Cain lives as also the spirit of the Serpent is maintained in carnall policies subtle devises and enterprises in all estates callings and conditions of men though secretly carried on that the body and bulk of the people discern it not or else over-awed they dare not expresse it but Satan in such things can transform himself into an Angel of Light so as all hands shall set to to maintain it 2 Cor. 11. 14. 15. And this spirit of the Serpent or of such as wander in the way of Cain Iude 11. is that which attracts not only the guilt of the sin of the present age but also the sin of all ages past and to come if these Zealots could cut off this spirit from the Land it were a work that was never heard of that is that it hath not a residency upon the Earth yea in every earthly minded man though he never come under the breach of the lawes of man but could walk as Paul speaks of this Pharisaicall practice concerning the law blamelesse that is in the judgment reason of man Phil. 3. 6. if men could cleanse the world or their jurisdiction of this spirit which carries the guilt of the sin of all times and places in every particular time place and person when where or in whomsoever it properly acts then I should think they would not rest in Heaven till they had been in Hell to vanquish it there also and this is the spirit that every Christian contends with and stands in opposition against for falsifying of the word of God for ever and to shew the wickednesse thereof is his proper errand in the world in the justification of the words of wisdome which is of God but he can no more desire that such a thing should not be than he can desire a nullity of his own salvation or a cessation of the justice of God 2 Note further that they are no lesse false Interpreters of the word of God who reach that the labour of a Saint and glory wherewith he is clothed consists in those particular acts and operations done in that tract of time wherein he sojourns and abides here below conversant among these terrene creatures whereas it is true that his operations and the benefit and glory of them reacheth according to the extent of that spirit whereof he is and from which all his
by Iebusie who when David was made King in Hebron he and all Israel went unto Iebusie which is Ierusalem which resisted David saying Thou shale not come in hither 1 Chron. 11. 4. 2 Sam. 5. 6. So also Ierusalem is called Iebusie when the land is divided unto the sons of Israel Ioshuah 15. 8. and by that name falls in the inheritance of Benjamin in whose lot the Temple was built Ioshua 18. 28. which is a Temple destroyed into which Christ never carne and a Temple reedified wherein Christ stands and preacheth Luke 4. 16 -22 of which Moses the man of God prophecies when he saith The Lord shall cover him all the day speaking of Benjamin and between his shoulders that is in the midst of the Coasts of his Land the Lord shall abide and dwell in his Temple Deut. 33. 12. So also when that Levite who sojourned on the side of Mount Ephraim fetched home his Concubine it is said they came over against Iebus which is Ierusalem which is then said to be a City of Strangers and not of the children of Israel Iedg 19. 10. 11. 12. We conclude therefore that Ierusalem is to be understood in a diverse respect according to the mind of the Scripture and that according to a reall state and condition in both for it is to be taken in that order and constitution of blessedness and peace according to that order and place of aboad of our Melchizedeck who hath his Kingdom and Priesthood there Gen 14. 18. for Salem is Ierusalem and so the Chaldees paraphrase reads that place of the Psalmist Psalm 76. 2. Jerusalem is also to be taken as it is constituted ordered or inhabited after the manner and according to the state of the curse as it is built and inhabited by the Iebusites who are of Iebus who is of Canaan who is of Cham the cursed Gen. 10. 15. 16. Gen. â— 25. Ierusalem then in this place together with her children according to Christs true intent is to be taken in the accursed state of the Iebusites Enemies to Israel as it is constituted ordered and inhabited by her proper off-spring of false and counterfeit interpreters even as the sons of men do erect constitute order and possesse the Cities and affairs of this world namely for their glory benefit safety and peace by advancing all honourable thing according to mans account in the disparadgement debasing and abandoning all things of shame discommodity and danger so far as mans wisdome in their constitution can find out with the exercising and executing their laws and edicts accordingly Even so this City and Temple of these accursed Iebusites it erects and possesseth it it self by the advancing and promoting of all things acceptable in the eyes of mans wisdom with contempt and despising of all things which might impair or any way abate the glory and lustre thereof which cannot be maintained but by debasing and despising the Spirit of God whose propertie is to blast and to wither as grasse and as the flower of the field all things set up and consisting in whatsoever that perisheth in the use thereof as all humane institutions do if ever the spirit of the Lord breath upon them they wither and come to nought where such things then are the things chiefly maintained we may safely say that the Spirit of the Lord never breathed there Isaiah 40. 6. which are the only things that false Interpreters promote and erect amongst men in the world It is not without cause therefore that Christ ingeminates upon this word Jerusalem Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem most emphatically declaring thereby that false Interpretation is cruell and accursed both in the Mother and in the Children in the Root and in all the Branches these are accursed in their Fathers who murthered the spirit of the Prophets and their Fathers are accursed in them that do the same things that spirit which is the originall and ground of their interpretation is accursed and cruell and all the fruits that flow therefrom are cruelty and accursed Oh Ierusalem yee carnally constituted and moment any Churches Oh Jerusalem yee carnally instructed Members made great of flesh Ezek. 16. 26. Ezek. 23. 19. 20. Oh Jerusalem the Mother of false Interpreters as she is in bondage with her children by the works of the Law and in all things ingendreth thereunto Now the erecting of the curse in this City is the same with the setting of it up in Canaan the son of Cham and father of Jebus Noah having planted a Vineyard after the Flood which had swept away all Cains posterity from the face of the Earth as such as have not a being in order to the new Heavens and the new Earth wherein dwels righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3. 13. yet is the curse conserved in the Ark in that spirit of the unclean Raven as well as the blessing is in that spirit of the Dove for the work of God as well as the word of God hath its operation in way of death as well as in the way of life 2 Cor. 2. 15. 16. for death springs up and revives through the resurrection of Christ in the wicked as really as life springs up and revives through his death in the godly and yet there is no savour of life in the wicked nor any savour of death in the just and this conservation of Cham in the Ark who is of Noah and so of Enoch in the destruction of all Cains posterity in the Flood is to declare that neither the blessing nor the curse is tyed or entailed to any naturall and carnall generation according to mans judgement but God hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Rom. 9. 10-18 But it is said that Noah drinks of the fruit of the Vine unto drunkennesse Gen. 9. 20. 21. we know that the spirit of God alludes there unto naturall drunkennesse in the stupifying of the senses through excesse of strong drink and deny not but that holy man might take liberally of the very fruit of a naturall Vine to the obstruction of the use of naturall reason as it is in the time of sleep but we affirm that God teacheth a higher thing hereby which is Gods proper intent as the Apostle affirms concerning the care of God in not mussing the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the Corn 1 Cor. 9. 9. 10. God therein takes care for men and not for beasts according to the true scope and intent So God in Noah teacheth what the death of Christ is personated in Noah and not what taking away of mans naturall sense is by strong drink which is common to a beast as well as man so that as out of a deep sleep in Adam a woman is brought forth that is not only the way of mans propagation and preservation on the Earth but also one who through deceit brings in the fall and death so out of this drunkennesse and sleep of Noah there is not only the blessing of Shem and
3. 7. though the Letter or ministry of condemnation be done away in the Saints yet it abides in the wicked for unto this day when Moses is Read the Veil of separation is upon their heart 2 Cor. 3. 15. only in such as turn in unto the Lord in the holy place with Moses in them the Veil is taken away Exod. 34 34. We conclude then that the true Character of the word of God is the whole work of God in the visible Creation in their severalâ— natures relations motions and operations wherein stands firm and stable the reall Character of the word of God which becomes unto man the true end and scope thereof either a Minister of condemnation or a Minister of salvation as the spirit of Cain or Abel makes use thereof in bringing unto God a heavenly and earthly Sacrifice Gen. 4. 4. 5. Let these men therefore prove all things in Heaven and in Earth to be worn out of date of no use nor benefit one unto another otherwise the letter of the Scripture shall stand firm unto this day and the vertue and power of the spirit of the Scriptures which is the proper spirit of God in Christ Iesus in that way of his salvation shall only be out of date and not in present use and exercise in these men who deny the use of the letter of the Scriptures There is another generation of interpreters who are of the same spirit of these Antiscripturians though they cry out against such grosse opinions for Satans Kingdome is divided in it self and therefore cannot stand but is in a continued act of apostatizing and falling away from God and these are such as hold and teach that some part of the word of God is out of date and not in p esent use as the Leviticall and Iudiciall laws as they call them likewise that some part of the word of God is not yet ripened and so not come into present being and use as the perfecting of the sound of the seventh Trumpet and the fulfilling of divers Prophecâ—es which foretell of peaceable and glorious times and states which say they were never yet accomplished as the new Ierusalem coming down from God with her glorious foundations wals gates form and furniture which these men never yet saw to appear Rev. 21. These Interpreters are reall Antiscripturians for he that denyes any part of the word of God to be in present use as a thing too old or yet not grown into present use and vertue that man denies the fulnesse and perfection of the word of God and he that denies the fulnesse of the word of God he also denies the fulnesse of Christ and it is all one to say something in the Son of God is out of date and too old to be in present use and also that something in Christ is not yet come into ripenesse and present use concerning that salvation that is by him alone these men look upon the word of God with the same eye that the carnall Iews beheld Christ who sought to kill him because he said he was the Son of God Mat. 26. 63 -66 no doubt but these men would say in like manner if they heard the word of God rightly and faithfully opened this man blasphemes because he saith this is the word of God Ioh. 10. 36. for if the sum of the whole word and law of God be not so brought in in every Scripture as to give Christ a perfect and present form and being therein it is not truly and faithfully interpreted whether it be in Moses or any of the Prophets it speaks the things that concern Christ himself Luke 24. 27. who is the perfect Son of God that Immanuel in what respect or relation so ever he appears Mat. 1. 23. for there is a fulnesse in every law as well as the law of love and he that breaks one command all are included in that breach Iames 2. 10. We see here that the Son of God charges Ierusalem to be the ground and mother of false Interpreters as one that by law falsely expounding Moses kils the Prophets he finds their legislative Assembly to be the Author thereof and therefore bends his speech for the repeal and abrogation thereof which he attains in all them who are of Ierusalem that is above and in none else of what rank soever in the eyes of the world which abolishing of the Law is this namely that all humane and temporary institutions and commands lose their force and authority in the Kingdom of God for all humane laws in their proper intent is to set one man in authority over another which are all countermanded in every true Beleever by that law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus for whether it be right in the fight of God to obey men rather than God judge ye Act. 4. 19. yet doth not this hinder a Christians obedience to humane authority only makes it voluntary according to that free and royall law under which he is Iames 2. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 9. otherwise if he were in bondage to one he were in bondage to all of the same kind and then must obey the order established wherever he comes yea if it were to fall down to Nebuchadnezzars Idol Dan. 3. 1 -18 and every law that concerns mankind must be either humane or divine and all temporary institutions are humane because they spring from humane reason and are under that bond for performance for humane reason can require no more but what it can devise and invent but divine laws or that law of Faith hath the spirit of Christ in it which is the proper moulder and constituter thereof which spirit s eternall and the only bond for the performance thereof which no other law whatsoever can supercede countermand or intrench upon the authority thereof Observe that in the ground of all Law there are two Tables considerable that is not only the Letter and the Spirit but also Kingdome and Priesthood and thence it is said The Lord said to my Lord sit on my right hand Psalm 110. 1. for there is a Lordship on the right hand in both and they are never separated in Christ but ever subsist and exist in the power and royalty of faith 1 Pet. 2. 9. Exod. 19. 6. even as they were both found in that one Melchizedek King of Salem Priest of the most high God Gen. 14. 18. Heb. 7. 1. And whatsoever is in a capacity to be presented as an acceptable thing to one of these is fit for the other therefore when the Priests offered the lame the blind the sick and imperfect Sacrifices the Prophet bids them go to the Ruler or Governour and see whether he will be well pleased with it or accept the person of such as so offer Mal. 1. 8. implying that what is brought unto the Priest and what is brought unto the King ought to be of like value perfection and consideration so that these Tables of Kingly and Priestly