for the witness of Jesus were raised or lived and reigned with Christ as the sense of the former then they that shall be alive at the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep so that the spirit of God might as well deliver a truth which is in the Present tense in the Preterpluperfect tense as a truth in the Present tense which was in the Future and yet is all to exercise the mind of him that readeth and to let us know there is mystery in the Gospel Secondly very few Saints have been beheaded in the litterall sence those that have dyed for Christ have dyed other deaths and not beheaded therefore we cannot understand it in the Letter but in the spirit The fourth particular propounded was what was meant in that the rest of the dead were not raised untill the 1000. yeares were finished that is none that had been bodily dead Saints or wicked good or bad were raised till after the 1000. yeares were finished and then you shall see the resurrection of all which is called the second resurrection the first is called a resurrection and the first resurrection because it shall be a resurrection from shame and disgrace in the world And secondly it shall be a glorious resurrection in the spirit this first all the Saints have in some measure been partakers of it Thus it appeares that Christ shall have a Kingdome a glorious a spirituall One Quest But when shall this Kingdome be Ans It is already begun in the spirits of Saints The Kingdome of Heaven is within you 2. I beleeve that the time of the 1000 years which is a more glorious estate in the spirit is not yet begun but the beginning of that time shall be when the 7. seales are fully opened c. the 7. Trumpets fully sounded and the 7 vials powred forth they being but effects of each other the opening of the seales occasions the sound of the Trumpets the sound of the trumpets occasions the vials the opening of the seales the unfolding of the mysteries of the Gospell which have been hid Rev. 5.1 2. As light breaks forth the Trumpets sound the servants of Jesus preach forth the mystery of the Gospell in the power and puritie of it occasions the vials of wrath to fall upon the Antichristian estate both in the spirit and in the letter which work is now adoing Wait the Lords time and it will come on apace But first we are yet like to be given into the hands of the little horn who changes times lawes the two witnesses are yet like to be slain and to lye dead 3 dayes and a halfe and the Woman cloathed with the Sun to be driven into the wildernes for a little space a time times and halfe a time the beast with two hornes like a Lambe hath yet a little time to make use of his power perswading them that dwell in the earth to make an Image to the first beast and that none but those who own it shall buy or sell with them the Saints beheaded under the Alter to wait a little time before they be raised up to live with Christ 1000. yeares but it is not long the vision is for an appointed time in the end it will speak and not lye it will come and not tarry the first 1000. is almost past the second and third are coming on apace and all the Nations and Kingdoms in the world will come apace to be the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever their lives shall be prolonged for a season and a time and other Scriptures are alleaged for a personall reign of Christ as the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands Dan. 2. that is the glorious power of Christ by weak meanes subduing al Antichristian enemies without his Saints all Antichristian things by his spirit within them So that in Dan. 7.10 the glorious company of Saints attending on Christ in the spirit which shall be fulfilled at the raising of the two witnesses up into Heaven in the sight of their enemies Rev. 5.10 11. This is the first glorious work of the Lord Jesus in and amongst the Saints the Lord reigneth let the Saints rejoyce the Lord reigneth let the world tremble see Zach. 14.5 The Lord our God will come and all the Saints with him that is Christ will come in the Spirit and all the Saints shall appear gloriously in him A word of application First if this be truth that the Kingdome of Christ is a spirituall Kingdome and not of this world this may inform us how farr besides the Gospel in the spirit and truth of it those men are who make the Kingdome of Christ to be meerely politicall and a state-Kingdome who turne the world by a humane power into the Church and Kingdome of Christ as they say and Christ must have a worldly carnall Kingdome no better th n the Kings of the earth enjoy or else he shall have none at all it savours exceedingly of the earth and ere long thither it must returne 2. This could incourage the Saints to pres forward after the knowledge of God in the spirit that as the Kingdom of Christ is spirituall and not of this world so may the Saints Kingdome likewise be in the spirit and so all their enioyments may be spirituall enjoyments this is that will make the soule fat and wel-liking in the Lord I l fithe soule with joy and peace which the world is not acquainted with their eyes never saw it nor their hearts conceived it neither are they like to see it unlesse the Lord make them spirituall SECT X. Of Death Resurrection Iudgement and the state of the Saints after Iudgemene eternally with God FIrst of death It is appointed for all men once to dye Dust we are to dust we must returne and therefore it behoves us to to expect it All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite til my change come Death is certaine although the time be uncertaine it is that none are in a common aid ordinary way exempted from unlesse those Saints who are alive at the last comming of Christ they shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1. Cor. 15.51.52 and so shall be caught up in the spirit to meet the Lord in the ayre 1 Thes 4.17 Secondly of the Resurrection That there shall be a resurrection of the Body at the last day is evident John 5.28 29. John 11.24 with 1 Cor. 15. throughout Rev. 20.12.13 although this truth is by some denyed and by others too carnally looked upon some thinking that our bodies of flesh shall be raised in the same forme in which it dyed others that it shall be spiritual yet question whether it shall be of the same substance therefore it will be necessary to consider two particulars for the clearing of it First by what power we shall be raised Secondly with what bodies 1 By what Power
Thus the first assertion in part is truth Christ shall reigne a thousand yeares that is many Generations but it will be spirituall and not personall 2. Assertion from thence is that all the Saints from the beginning of the world shall be raised and come and reigne with Christ Ans For the clearing of the truth in this Scripture which wil answer this assertion consider 1. what is meant by the behading for the witnesse of Jesus 2. What is meant by not receiving the mark of the beast 3. What is meant by being raised living and reigning with Christ 4. What is meant by the not living of the rest of the dead untill the thousand yeares were finished 1. What is meant by being beheaded for the witness of Jesus It is a spirituall beheading such a beheading as all the Saints who shake off Antichrists badge and yoake like to meet withall Christ is said to be the head of the Church and the head of every man that is of every Saint is Christ now when the Lord discovers the evill of Antichristian wayes to his people and they forsake it they durst not receive either the Image name or marke of the beast they shall presently be beheaded by the beast that is they will condemn them as those that forsake Christ and cry out unto them that they are revolted that they are Sectaries Hypocrits Heritickes c. And thus they behead the Saints spiritually and that for the testimony of Jesus because they cannot but declare the things that they have seen and heard from him which will overthrow and ruine all things contrary to himselfe in the. 2. What is meant by a receiving of the Image or marke of the beast Answ By the Image of the beast is meant that likenesse that it hath unto the first beast who seemes to receive a deadly wound being compared with Chap. 13.11 to 16. that is this beast seemes to make a change he speakes great words his looke is more stout then his fellows he thinks to change times and Lawes yet when all is done it is but the Image of the first beast the exercise of the same power the same wisdom in the things of God the same worship for substance it is all the same in substance and it is but the number of a man all of the flesh it is from below yet such must the worth and the excellency of it be for a time that whosoever will not receive the Image of the first beast and account it somthing too is likewise to be beheaded and not to be suffered either to buy or sell amongst them and many a Saint is like to be given into his hand and he shall prevail over them but it shall be but for a time times and the dividing of a time and then the Kingdome shall become the Saints Dan. 7.2 The Image is that internal spiritual principle from which the beast acts for none can truly follow the beast but those who have received this Image that is who act from the same principl e those are acted who act for and from the man of sin and it is called an image because it resembles Christ both in the internall as well as the externall part yet acts from his own wisdome by its own power according to its own mind to its own end and this in all resembles Christ Now these who refuse this Image in the spirit and cannot be contented with a wisdome like Christ a selfe-acting in the roome of Christ a rule short of Christ and end besides Christ from hence casting off this Image is caerrid on in another track then before they come to be beheaded for Christ because they cannot receive the Image who is the Antichrist in the spirit and not Christ so that here is not onely the Image of the first beast with relation to patern and power but likewise in relation to holiness the first will be for Christ and so the second yet are both but Antichrist 2. What is meant by the marke of the beast in the forehead and in the right hand by the marke in the forehead is meant the visible profession of Antichrist in the externall part those that would not visibly professe the wayes of Antichrist or in the right hand that is to act for him these were denyed to buy or sell Chap. 13.17 to sel that is to preach the Gospel for Antichrist under the notion of preaching the Gospell sells his wares but a time is comeing that none will buy their wares any more so they deny any who own not the Image name or marke to sell hence they may examine those who preach upon such and such intergatories and if it appear that they deny the Image name or marke they may not sell that is give forth freely what God communicates unto them when others sel or buy that is partake of any spirituall good amongst them if they could prevent it and those were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus but they were at last raised and lived with Christ 1000. yeers that is raised up from their low condition taken up into heaven in the sight of their adversaries lived with Christ in the spirit reigning triumphantly over all spirituall enemies selfe sathan world and those Merchants that sell all yea the soules of men too shall be weeping and crying alas alas Rev 18. when the Lord shall make good that word of truth Esa 66.5 Heare the word of the Lord yes that tremble at his word your brethren that hated you that beheaded you that cast you out for my names sake said let the Lord be glorified that is it tends to the Honour of God to behead and to cast out these men but he shall appeare to your joy you shall be raised up with Christ and I will give you a new name but they shall be ashamed Obj. John saith the Saints that had not worshipped the Beast he speakes in the Preterpluperfectence therefore it seemes not to be the Saints raised who at present were beheaded in the mysticall sense but the Saints that had been beheaded in the litterall sense Ans First it is the use of the spirit or the spirits Language to deliver it selfe in darke and mysticall termes so the Apostle saith in another case 1 Thes 4.5 that we which are alive and remaine till the coming of the Lord c. the Apostle speakes of wee as if he had intended the Thessalonians and Himselfe which was least intended but the Saints who being all one in the spirit and but one mysticall body in Christ while there are any Saints in the world the Apostle makes it to be all one as if he and the Thessalonians were them and so delivers it in the present tense when he might have said rather to speak after the manner of men then they which shal be alive at his coming c. as in Rev. the word might have run thus and so questionlesse it is to be understood then they that were beheaded
be acting in something though worse then nothing and so delude themselves in all their actings it causeth them to look to men and not to Christ Secondly it causeth them to blesse themselves in their unity in formes and worships never questioning their Onenesse with Christ in the spirit they are as strangers unto it Hence it is that uniformity in the Letter is so much called for amongst all sorts of People being wholly ignorant of unity in spirit I could instance in divers other particulars as Ministry Guifts Church Ordinances all have somthing like Christ in them but it is all but ths number of a man meerly humane carnall Ministry humane gifts and anointings in stead of the Spirit carnall Church invented Ordinances but I passe it at present SECTION II. What is his Reigne ANtichrists reign is likewise in the spirit and in the Letter Antichrist or the man of sinne is as high in his reigne as confident of his good estate First his reigne in the spirit in the mystery he sheweth himselfe that he is God he perswades soules that he is the Christ his wisdom and his righteousnesse his rules and his ordinances they are of God and they must stand although it hath neither Scripture nor reason I meane in the Spirit for it and thus this mystery of iniquity hath reigned a long time it began to work in the Apostles dayes Secondly the reign of Antichrist in tste Letter he also visibly sheweth himselfe that he is God must be submitted unto under penaltyes fines imprisonments bitter speaking against the Ordinances of Chrst than his Ordinances And thus he reignes with power and likewise with much confidence for she sitteth as QVEEN and saith she shall see no sorrow but her sorrowes will come in one day c. SECT III. The discovery of Antichrist THE Revelation of Antichrist may be considered either first as he openly and publickly reveales himselfe to be the Antichrist by his confidence and powerful acting as the Christ or above Christ of this the Apostle speakes 2 Thes 2.3 2. It may be considered as a mystery of iniquity and so revealed by the spirit of Christ unto his Servants and so the revelation or discovery of Antichrist unto the Saints shall be by the spirit of Christ in the preaching of the Gospel as it is a mystery of iniquity in it selfe so it must be that hidden wisdome in a mystery 1 Cor. 2. that must discover it Now where the Lord worketh for his discovery hee first discovers him to be the Antichrist he helps the soule to find him out And then secondly he discovers the evill the iniquity of him he lets the soule see that it is the greatest and the subtlest adversary that ever it had to deal withall the most dangerous because clothed under so faire and Christ-like a Garb and the hardest to be discovered such an adversary as bears soules in hand that they are going to heaven when they are in the broad and rode-way to ruine like a cunning Hoc as Poc as that jugleth away a mans Estate before he is awarc of it and all the while pretends friendship and thus it is the spirit of God in the Gospell that must discover and reveale Antihrist in the mystery that same spirit who revealed it to the Apostle Paul and the same who revealed both his rising and falling to Iohn in the Revelations those who think to attain the discovery of him by humane industry historicall readings c. are exceeding low in their apprehensions and come short of the discovery of him he may be strongly working in a man while he is discovering of him SECT IV. What shall be the ruine of Antichrist THe consumation of Antichrist shall be by the same means that discovers him the bright goings forth of Jesus Christ in the Gospel for as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ goes up in the spirit for the Kingdome of Heaven is within you c. so the Kingdome of Antichrist must go down this is the meanes fore-told and prescribed by the Apostle who fore-saw him in his rising 2 Thes 2.8 The Lord will consume him with the breath of his mouth destroy him with the brightnes of his coming the preaching of the Gospel and the bright comings forth of Jesus Christ in the spirits of his people shall both consume destroy him As it is not a humane wisdom that shall discover him so neither is it a humane power that must destroy him for all humanity in the things of God whether wisdom or power it is Antichristian Therefore not that which shall destroy Antichrist but that which will uphold him untill he be destroyed the ruine of Antichrist is farther held forth Rev. 14.6 The Angell flyeth through the midst of heaven preaching the everlasting Gospel verse 8. Another Angel followeth saying That Babylon is fallen that great City c. The preaching of the Gospel is the means you see of Antichrists ruine and the Sermon is feare God and give glory to him This Sermon is that will ruine Antichrist both in the letter and in the spirit give glory to God that is let God be all and in all let God be your enjoyment in the spirit see you live upon nothing below him give not glory to Creatures duties actings any thing either of the first Adam or Antichrist give glory to God in the Letter give not glory to man set not up man in the roome of God do not cry the voice of Man and not of God in any of the things of God and this is the Sermon that shall ruine Antichrist See likewise Rev. 1 2.9 The Divel and Satan the mysticall Antichrist was cast forth of Heaven to the earth that is he shall not be suffered any more to delude souls in a heavenly shape the Divell is now turned Christian and he makes warre with the Saints under the name of Christ both in the Spirit as well as in the Letter And hence the great warre is between Christ and Satan in Heaven that is betweene the Heaven of Christ the Heaven of Satan under the name of Christ But now Iohn saith he saw Satan cast out of Heaven that is he shall deceive soules no more in a Heavenly form neither persecute the Saints any more under the name of Christ A glorious work it is coming on a pace for the most part of souls in that part of the world called Christans are ruined in the Divels heaven believe it this is the great work Christ hath to do in these latter dayes the consumation of Antichrists that is first of all Antichrists spirituall delusions by which he hath deceived soules 2. And all Antichrists deluding forms ordinances by which the common sort of people are generally deluded the work of Christ is to powre down vials of wrath upon the head of the Man of sin both in the spirit in the letter look about you therefore all you whose spiritual life consists in
the Church what p. 75. SECTION 9. The spirituall Kingdom of Christ in his Church in the latter dayes of the Gospel discovered p. 80. Who are the subjects of Christs Kingdom p. 81 The externall glory of the Church of Christ in latter dayes p. 82. 83 The spirituall glory of the Church p. 85. The Kingdome of Christ wholly spirituall p. 90 Objections answered conceruing the personall reigne of Christ p. 93 SECTION 10. Of death resurrection and Judgement p. 108. 2. Part. A briefe discovery of Antichrist or the man of sin both in the History and in the Mystery p 113 To the Reader PErusing this Treatise J could not but take notice of some pretious truths in it and commend them abroad The spirituall designe of this Author I find to be this Rom. 14 17. Ephes 4.3 2 Cor. to set up the Kingdome of God in spirit and to draw believers by that more into spirit and that no difference of outward administration or Ordinances should divide Christians that are baptised into one spirit which truth J did much rejoyce to see from his Pen and practise and should rejoyce to see the like from all the rest We know he is not a Jew who is one outward Rom. 2. neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh we are the circumcision saith the Apostle Phil. 3. who rejoyce in Christ Iesus and have no confidence in the flesh There are some excellent truthes hinted in this Book which I intend to speak on as of the two Adams the spirituall Church the spirituall Liberty the spirituall not personall reigne of Christ in a little Treatise of my owne Ephes 1.17 â— Cor. 2. The Lord fill us with the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation The spiritual man judgeth all things John Saltmarsh THE MARROVV OF CHRISTIANITY SECTION 1. Of Adams Condition before his fall THe condition of Adam in his innocency before his fall was 1. A condition of humane perfection an upright and perfect man this is the conclusion of wisdome Eccles 7.29 Loe this only have I found that God hath made man upright but they sought out many inventions Obj. But it is said Gen. 1.27 that God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him therefore it seemes that Adam had more in him then perfect humanity that he was made partaker of the divine nature Answ For the clearing of this Scripture two things are to be considered 1. what is meant by the Image of God 2. what is not meant by it 1. what we are to understand by the Image of God in which Adam was created 1. reason wisdom and understanding Adam was made a reasonable wise and understanding man in this particuler he was in the Image of God A wise God there is no searching of his understanding Esa 40.28 Adam had the Image of Gods wisdome not the wisdome of God not the thing it selfe it dwelled in God fully it was essential in him but imparted to Adam it was and is in God essentially he is wisdome it selfe Adam was but the Image God himselfe the substance That this Image was in man at first appears first from Scripture Gen. 2.19.20 the Lord brought all the creation to wit sensitive Creatures before Adam that he might give names unto them or to see what he would call them God would now put him to the imploying of that reason and understanding he had given unto him a perfection of reason above all other Creatures 2. It appeares from naturall experience hence it is that there is so much enquiring after a perfection of humane reason so much studying of Arts as Phylosophy Logick Rhetorick c. but from these corrupted reliques or principls of reason yet remaining in falne man striving after hardly being satisfied without the perfection of reason able to give a reason of all thiings this your heathen Philosophers have gon far in this is that maybe attained in an high measure yet be but a reasonable moral man nay were it possible to attaine that perfection that was in Adam yet it would be no more then a morall humane perfection and this is that which many who bear the name of Christians to much presse after glory in as if without this wisdom there could be no knowledge of mind of Christ thus did the Greeks seek after wisdom 1. Cor. 1.22 the Greeks being the deepest in the knowledge of humane Arts and of the nature and cause of things therefore they would judge of the Gospel according to reason they seek after natural wisdom but saith the Apostle we preach Christ to the Greeks foolishnesse so indeed is the Gospel in the mystery of it meer folly to the highest naturall understanding in the world nay it is that which the wisdome of the Gospel destroyes where it comes in power he destroyes the wisdome of the wise and brings to nought the understanding of the prudent 1 Cor. 1.19 and here lyes the great mystery of mistake I had almost said of Iniquity we seek after the knowledge of God unto this wisdome of the first Adaem how many are there that would confine the knowledge of God in the wisdome who are not ashamed to say that Phylosophy is the mother of Theologie without this naturall wisdome men must com short in the knowledge of God when the truth is the first Adam was of the earth earthly the 2d is the Lord from heaven and they who have but the first Adams wisdome are stil of the earth earthly the wisdom of the first Adam comes infinitly short of bringing us to the knowledge of God in the spirit but it is by the wisdome of the second Adam who is the Lord from heaven and the wisdome of the father we attaine the knowledge of God in the spirit which wisdom destroyes brings to nought the wisdom of the first Adam 1 Cor. 1.19 Chap. 2.6 7 8. and 3 Chap. 18.19.20 Note that all unbelievers and carnall professors are in the wisdom of the first Adam all believers spiritually made alive by Jesus being delivered from themselves are in the wisdome of the second Adam the Lord Jesus who is the wisdome of the Father 1 Cor. 1.24 2 Adam was in the Image of God that was in a perfect morall pure and sinlesse condition he was made upright innocent without sin but he sought out many inventions Quest How may a morall purity and righteousnesse be said to be the Image of God Answ 1. God was and is perfectly essentially and spiritually pure Adam was but the Image or Character of this purity as it is possible to draw a compleat Image of Character of a living man in a peece of stone or timber and we say and speak truly that it is the Image or likenesse of a living man yet it is not a living man nor hath it any part of mans nature in him even so was Adam in the Image of God there was not onely the wisdome
of God in creating of him but the properties of God in some measure imparted to him yet not partaker of the divine nature righteousnesse and freedome from sin was morally in him yet not partaker of that spirituall holinesse that is in God But secondly and more principally in the first Adam who was earthly was the Image of the second who was the Lord from heaven so that all the righteousnesse holinesse wisdom c. of the first Adam was but an Image of the second Adam and that morall and humane perfection in the first and those remaining principles that yet remained in his nature was at the highest and yet it is but an Image as a drawn Character in a peece of timber or stones of the second the spirituall and divine nature which dwelt in Christ bodily and is communicated spiritually unto all the spirituall posterity of the Lord Jesus who in himselfe and in his Saints is the substance of this Image which was the first Adam 3. Adam was in the Image of God in respect of a power he had power given him to stand or fall and in this power he stood til the temptation came the first temptation he fell and this power was but an Image of the power of God in which the second Adam came and of which all the Saints are made partakers they injoy the substance of Adams Image 4. Adam was in the Image of God in respect of eternity he had given him an everlasting being in that morall upright estate had he not degenerated from it as appeares Gen. 2.17 In dying thou shalt dye hence a negative must be necessarily inducted in obeying thou shalt live but this life in Adam was but a Character or Image of that spirituall eternall life soules are made partakers of in the second Adam Iohn 4.14 thus it appeares that Adam was a man in whom all humane perfections wisdom righteousnesse and purity dwelt yet secondly he was in a mutable and changable condition and so quickly fell from his station and perfection in which he was created he sought out many inventions A second thing considerable is what this Image is not 1. It is not that wisdome and understanding which the second Adam was indued with and all beleevers are made partakers of in the dayes of the Gospell Esa 11.12.1 Iohn 2.27 2. It is not that purity and righteousnesse which dwelt in the Lord Jesus the second Adam and so spiritually in all the saints 2. Cor. 5.21 3. Neither was it that power put in the second Adam who is one in God and stands while God stands for he is the Lord from heaven neither that power saints are made partakers of who are one with God in Christ and kept by the same power unto salvation 1. Pet. 1.5 preserved in Christ Iude 1. 4. Neither was his eternity such an eternity in which the saints are inverted a spirituall eternity an eternity in God the Father and in the Son a glorious unconceiveable eternity Col. 3.4 Psal 16 11. 2. As it was a condition of humane profection not of spirituall perfection so it was a condition free from payne and sorrow for he was free from sin so from sorrow his sin brought in sweat and sorrow SECT 2. The cause or ground of mans falling THe cause or ground of mans falling from his first estate may be considered under there particulers 1. The mutability of his condition 2. The temptation of Sathan 3. His disobedient acting contrary to the revealed mind of God First the mutability of his condition he was created of God though upright and perfect yet subject to a change the power being put in his own hand the first opportunity presented him he falls and indeed it could not be otherwise he could not stand of himselfe unlesse he had been God Obj. If the mutability of Adams condition was the first cause of his fall then it seemes that God himselfe was the first cause of sin if God made man at first in that condition that he might fall nay that he could not but fall then God himselfe seemes to be the first cause both of sin and misery Answ It is true that the first cause of all things is in God he was before all things he created all things and all things live and move in him ann by him and he worketh all things after the counsell of his own wil yet 2. Although he be the first cause of all created things yet not of any evil that through degeneration and Sathans temptation flowes from those beings man in his first creation was good but through his degeneration from it he became evil so that the evill was not in God but in man 3. God having made man in such a condition man of himselfe freely voluntarily and rebelliously falling God bringeth about his everlasting purpose in raysing up some in the second Adam to a spirituall and everlasting union with himselfe where they shall be for ever preserved be kept by the power of God from falling and others to wit all unbelievers left in the nature of the first Adam and there he manifesteth his Justice 2. the cause of mans falling was the temptation of Sathan or the Serpent so he is called Gen. 3.1 note first what Sathan is that tempts and overcomes man 1. he is a spirituall enemy to mankinde as appeares not only by his deluding of our first parents but the whole Scripture discovers as much he goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour no sooner was man created of God but he seeks presently to devour him God having given forth Christ as a remedy he presently sets upon him likewise to devoure him if he could and so in him all mankinde for ever Mat. 4. Thus you see Sathan is an adversary to mankind 2. Sathan or the devils or the fallen Angells the Angels that fell seem to be many Iud. 6. the Angells that kept not their first estate are reserved in everlasting Chaines under darknesse unto the Judgment of the great day so there are many devils or spirits as appears by the man possessed by the divell when Christ asked his name he answers my name is Legion for we are many 3. He is a lying deluding Spirit that oft-times transformes himselfe into an Angell of light hence it comes to passe that he so deludes all the Sons and Daughters of disobedience that they look upon all his workes of darknesse with delight and pleasure and oft-times it comes to passe that he so farre transformes himselfe into a son of light that he deludes soules under the name of Christ and when nothing lesse then the name of a Christian will serve he will be the Christ or rather the Antichrist to deceive soules hence it comes to passe when downe-right Papacy will not serve he will turne himselfe into a prelatical shape rather then loose his rule and credit amongst the sons of men if once Prelacy grow out of date he can change
as the instrumentall meanes of this spirit working as the principall meanes Rom. 10.14 Iohn 6.63 now it is true God is not limited in his way of working that is he hath not confined himselfe to a verbal preaching although it is true likewise that he ordinarily and usually worketh faith by such meanes but a Gospell-preaching is of necessity in the working of faith that is a spirituall Gospel-discovery of the love of God in Christ and such a preaching may be by the spirit of Christ in reading some word or any other way he pleaseth to work and it may truly be called a Gospell-preaching any spirituall Gospel-discovery to a soule through which it is brought up into Gospell-injoyments may truly be called a spirituall unfolding or preaching of the Gospell hence it is that the preaching of the Letter or a verball preaching is no where called a powerfull and prevailing preaching unlesse the spirit preach it is the spirit that must convince the World of sin Ioh. 16. And our Gospell came not onely in word but in power and in the holy spirit 1 Thes 1.5 It is true God usually worketh by means but it is as true that he can as well work spiritually without meanes if he please and this he hath done much of late I do not question but many who are spiritually inlightned and live in the spirituall injoyments of God have had experience of it Qu. 3. What are the properties and effects of faith An. The properties and effects of Faith are many It justifies the soule from sin Act. 13.39 by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Qu. How may faith be said to justifie Answ 1. Not as the efficient cause of our Justification that is God onely in Christ it is God that justifies who shall condemne But 2. Faith justifies as it receives Christ and applyes him as its justification so that it is said to justifie because it satisfies and quiets the soule in Christ who is its justification Rom. 4.5 He that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnes Note two words 1. He that believeth on him that justifieth that is Christ all that believe are justified by him Acts 13.39 So it is Christ that justifieth faith only ownes that justification held forth in Christ 2. Word His faith is counted for righteousnesse that is either first God never declares a man righteous and just untill he gives him faith to enjoy his righteousnesse in Christ or else secondly his faith is counted or called his righteousnesse because he never till then enjoyed his righteousnesse And so that when I say or the Scripture saith that Faith justifieth that is faith receives and ownes the justification of God in Christ declared and so soule by it lives in the injoyment of justification and freedome from sin The 2. property or effect of faith is union and peace with God Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God ch 15.13 Now the God of hope filyou with joy peace through believing This is one glorious effect that those who once were a farre off should now be made nigh by the blood of Christ and be brought into the injoyment of it by believing The third effect is it puts the soule into the possession of the love of God 1 Ioh. 4.16 We have known believed the love that God hath to us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him It acts the soule above it selfe and causeth it to dwel in God and so to dwell in his love and this is an exceeding glorious effects and that which in the fourth place fills the soule with joy 1 Pet. 1.8 joy unspeakable and full of glory What can a soule desire more then to dwell continually in the love of God When the soule is satisfied from its union with God and its dwelling in God that all the administrations and makings forth of God is love unto it And thus it dwels in love and from hence is filled with joy it causeth the soule alwayes to dwell at the right hand of God where is joy pleasure for ever more Fifthly in a word to conclude the effect of faith is such as that GOD by it workes up the soule to an internal and external conformity to Christ in some measure with a spirituall and eternal conformity in perfection in another world 1. Iohn 3.1 2 3. Phil. 3.19 where faith shall cease and love and unity be made perfect 1 Cor. 13.13 SECTION VI. Wherein is the condition of persons restored by Christ their union with God discovered THe Restauration of persons by Christ may be considered 1. Either external and generall or else 2. more special and spirituall First externally and generally and that hath a relation to all it is as ye have heard formerly 1. A condition of being in the world 2. A condition of possibility of a spirituall and eternall wel-being in God if God in his Sonne draw up the soule to himselfe Ioh. 6.44 But secondly and that I principally intend is the more speciall and spirituall condition of soules thus drawne up to God in Christ it is not onely a restauration to the condition of the first Adam with relation to a freedome from sin This every believer enjoyes by Christ a freedome a justification from sinne But secondly every soule drawne up out of it selfe to God is brought into the condition of the second Adam which is a condition as far above the first as the Heaven is above the Earth For the first man is above the earth earthly the second man is the Lord from Heaven and as all men have born the Image of the earthly so those who believe beare the Image of the Heavenly and as is the Heavenly such are all they that are heavenly 1 Cor. 15.47 48 49. And wherein in Christ exceeds the first Adam therein believers exceed for they are as he is even in this world 1 Iohn 4.17 Now the condition of Christ and so the Saints exceeds the condition of the first Adam not only in their being upheld by God but principally in these four particulars 1. In their spirituall relations unto God Christ and so all believers are related to the Father as Sons and that not only by creation as the first Adam or naturall generation but first Christ a Sonne by a spirituall proceeding and comming forth from the Father who was eternally one in the Father and so in him all believers are made by the same spirit the adopted sons of God being made partakers of the same divine Nature Adams Son-ship was in the flesh by creation ours in the spirit by regeneration and the spirit of adoption which is indeed a mystery to all naturall men and worthy to be looked into and knowne of all the sonnes and daughters of Syon 1. John 3.1 2 3. Behold what
14.26 That if they loved him they would not reason because he said he would goe away because his spiritual presence was the most glorious presence we see it by experience that the Disciples of Christ were most spirituall and had most spirituall enjoyment of God when Christ was gone from them in person and they enjoyed him in the spirit That the presence of Christ in the latter dayes will be most glorious appeares by all that have been formerly spoken and I think none of light deny it then the conclusion holds true that the presence of Christ with his people in the latter dayes wherein they shall enjoy most light and glory will be a spirituall presence 2. Argument If Jesus Christ be known of the Saints no more after the flesh but after the spirit then his regne in the latter dayes of the Gospel will not be personall but spirituall but he is no more to be known of the Saints after the flesh as you have formerly heard 1 Cor. 5.16 Therefore his presence so and his Kingdome wil not be a fleshly or personall presence and Kingdome but a spirituall 3. Argument Spirituall glory and spirituall enjoyment is that which most of all suites with the Majesty and glory of God John 4.22 23 24. Col. 3.1 1 Cor. 2.9.10.14 The glory of the Saints shall be spirituall and their enjoyment spirituall in the latter dayes spirituall knowledge Esa 11. and spirituall conformity unto Christ Zach. 12.8 and spirituall joy and rejoycing Esa 35.10 Ergo the presence and Kingdome of Christ in and with his Saints will be a spirituall Kingdome and not a personall 4. Ar.g. Christs Kingdome and presence shall be with all his people filling them with spirituall glory Esa 25.7 He shall take away the veil spread over all Nations and v. 6. And they shall say Loe this is the Lord we have waited for him Christs personall presence cannot be with all his at once therefore his presence and Kingdome will be spirituall and not personall Objections answered concering the personal reigne of Christ Obj. 1. That Christ was promised to the Jews to come as a King they to this day expect him to come as a King to deliver them from their captivity Ans 1. It is is true he was promised to come as a King Isa 9.7 and so he came King although not in outward appearance Mat. 2.2 Where is he that is borne King of the Jewes we have seen his Star in the East and are come to worship him He was the King of the Jewes when he was born he was a Child and yet a King 2. he is King of all spirituall Jewes For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but he is a Jew that is one inwardly and Christ reignes spiritually in all his people the Kingdome of Heaven is within you 3. Christ will appeare a spirituall glorious King to the Jewes the natural seed of Abraham in the latter dayes gathering them from among the Heathen to himselfe in the spirit and so will reigne in and over them in the spirit gloriously Ezek. 37. throughout see ver 24 25. That they shall be gathered in with all the beloved of God by the spirituall working of Christ and not by his personall appearing is cleare from this ground They shall be gathered unto Christ from the beholding of Christ crucified and not from the beholding of his glorious personall appearing Therefore Christ shall come a King in the spirit to his people and not in the flesh see Zach. 12.10 They shall looke upon him whom they have pierced and mourn over him c. The eying of a pierced Christ shall be the way of bringing in Jew as well as Gentile Obj. 2. Christ suffered reproach and shame in the flesh from his enemies therefore it is likely he shall be glorified in the flesh before his adversaries Answ Christ shall without question be glorified in the presence of his adversaries and all Nations shall be gathered together before him when he shall appeare from Heaven in flaming fire to render vengeance to them that know not God and obey not his Gospel but whether Christ shall appeare personally or in any personall form will be a great question but with much spirituall power manifesting himselfe to the salvation of his people and to the confusion of all his and his Churches enemies Matt. 5.25 Obj. 3. It is said Rev. 20.4 That those that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God that had not worshipped the Beast nor his Image nor received his mark in their fore heads and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeares and the rest of the dead lived not againe Answ For clearing the mysterie of this Scripture it will be requisit first to set downe the things asserted from hence Secondly to unfold the mysterie intended which will answer the things asserted the things asserted hence are these 1. That Christ shall reigne a thousand yeares personally 2. That all the Saints departed from the beginning of the world shall be raised and come and reigne with him 3. That the wicked shall not be raised till after the thousand yeares be finished For answer unto and clearing of the truth 1. I conceive it to be a glorious truth that Christ shall come and reigne a thousand yeares a long time spiritually in his people but not personally amongst his people that Christ shall reigne thus gloriously see not onely this Scripture but Rev. 11.15 And the seventh Angell sounded and there weare great voyces in Heaven saying the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord. and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever Thus you see Christ shall have a Kingdome and for the time of it it is said Rev. 20. to be a 1000. yeares and in Isa 60. to be many Generations I will make thee an eternall Excellencie a joy of many Generations Obj. But it s said Rev. 11.15 That the Nations and Kingdomes of the world are become the Nations of Christ and he shall reigne for ever therefore it seemes that his Kingdome shall be personall Answ The Nations and Kingdomes of the world may be said to be the Nations and Kingdomes of Christ in a two fold respect and yet Christ not reigne personally and this the Scripture clearly holds forth 1. In respect of the abundance shall be converted unto Christ in all Nations that in comparison of what hath been formerly the Nations and Kingdomes shall become the Kingdomes of Christ Esa 66.19 20.60 ch from 5. to 12. verse 2. Christ may be said to be the King of Nations in respect of the ruling of his Saints over their enemies for in this Kingdome of Christ shall the enemies of Christ be subjected and shall serve the Saints the Nations that will not serve thee shall perish and Christ reigning in his Saints over them may be said truly to reigne over them Psal 149.7 8 9. Rev. 2.26 27. Rev. 5.10
nothing but spirituall Antichristian delusions with invented and Antichritian formes and Ordinances A Vial of wrath is coming on you which will shatter to pieces all your confidence and then if mercy prevent not you may stand looking on and crying alas elas in one houre is so great riches come to naught and then when this is fulfilled there shall be no more War in Heaven or spirituall delusion under the name of Christ A glorious word for those that dwell in Heaven and that which will cause joy to the Saints For first they shall be without and above all danger of delusions in the spirit or in the letter And secondly they shal from the same ground be for ever freed from fellowship with Hypocrits and literall Christians for their communion shall be more in the spirit and lesse in the Letter and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoaever worketh abomination that is lives earthly carnall and prophane or maketh a lye that is Hypocriticall that seems to be what he is not But they which are written in the Lambs book of life and there shall be no more a Canaanite in the house of the Lord for ever This is the great work Christ hath to do in these latter dayes the consumation of the Kingdome of Antichrist who hath a long time sat in his seat with the exaltation of his own Kingdome in the spirit SECTION V. Quest When he shall be ruined Answ FIrst in the mystery and spirits of the Saints as Jesus Christ comes in and shines gloriously in the spirit so shall Antichrist be discovered and destroyed and so he hath received a great blow already in this Nation through the shinings in of Jesus Christ in the spirit amongst many of his Saints so that this is the time of Antichrists ruine when Jesus Christ comes in takes place in the spirit of his people and the Kingdome of Christ increaseth so the Kingdome of Antichrist decayeth and consumeth Secondly Antichrist shall be destroyed when the everlasting Gospell shall be preached that is when the Angell flyeth through the middest of Heaven preaching the everlasting Gospell that is when the Ministers of the Gospel shal come forth with their full and heavenly discoveries of God in the spirit being permitted to preach the Gospel by the earthly power in all places with liberty For much hath been don already by the witnesses prophesyng in sack cloth that is almost always in danger of a civill persecution and much ignorance of the mystery of the Gospel which hath caused them to prophesie in sac-cloth yet they have had power to cause fire to come from Heaven as oft as they please burning up all Antichristian formes and invented delusions And then what will be done think you when the Ministers of the Gospell shall come forih in the full and bright discoveries of the Gospel with liberties here below for the publishing of it Thirdly Antichrist shall be destroyed when the witnesses have been slaine laine dead three dayes that is a short space then a tenth part of the City shall fall and the rest shall have their time prolonged but for a time a season The first woe is almost past behold a second and third woe cometh quickly wait and it will come apace Thus have I from the light of Truth with as much brevity as may be in some measure hinted at this Man of sinne this mystery of Iniquity with his reign ruine with the meanes and time FINIS