and spirit of God if he justifie the Son of God in any one point of the Gospel he is a fulfiller of the whole law even as John and Jesus considered in that one act of baptisme original and ministerial the baptized and the baptizer do therein fulfil all righteousness Matth 3. 15. Wo be to him therefore that neglects this weighty matter of the law namely fidelity in this trust of the word of God committed unto him the first stands in judging and deserning of all things the second in the bounty and goodness of all things and the third in the safe custody and right distribution of all things which Luke comprehends in two that is judgement and the love of God Luke 11. 42. to shew that the love of God opposed to the love of the world Iames 4. 4. is the very original and fountain of all bounty benignity goodness and mercy out of which love there is none to be found but every man seeks himself or his own things and none the things of Jesus Christ Phil. 2. 21. Again the love of God is the proper cause and fountain of all trust and confidence for true custody and conservation and right distribution and laying out of all things without which there is none from whom we may expect mercy nor in whom we may repose trust or have any affiance in at all 4. The fourth point observed wherein the doctrine of these scribes together with their practice ought to appear and that is in doing these weighty matters of the law and not leaving the other undone wherein is contained two points First that the matter of true information and light breaking forth from the word of God hath in it as real reproof and conviction to the wicked as it hath true justification and acquaintance therein unto the godly The splendour and shining forth of the light in the beams of the Gospel is the only way and means of condemnation to the enemies of Christ and that makes the friends of antichrist and lims of Satan so fearful of that day which springs from an high and so diligent to guard the world by humane orders left it should visit the same Luke 1. 78 Psalme 2. 1 2 3. Acts 4. 26 27. Secondly the due observation of the prime weighty and chief things in the law of God is the only way and means of regulating and bringing into orderly practice all inferiour things whatsoever whereas the preferring of mean and transitory matters is the devastation and ruine of the whole order and full intent of the law and work of God And whereas men think the invalliding of all earthly things is the inlet of all disorder it is nothing so but it hath the order of God in it as he is the God of order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. For as God in creating of all things which are inferiour to his Son had respect unto him in them all not terminating his love and delight in all or any of them but only in his Son Prov. 8 30. all the rest of the creatures being as so many significant or Hieroglâ—phical intimations to point us with the finger to the Son of God even as the Star a night light directed the wise men of the East to Christ Matth. 2. For they are all of such nature that according to the eye which beholds them they either lead men to turn in to Herod to get intelligence as though Christ were of such off-spring and so to lean upon the bare letter of the Scripture which can never give satisfaction from his priests scribes and pharises therefore he commands the wise men to bring him word or else notwithstanding Herods command they direct as the wise men were as in a dream to turn from Herod and his priests and go another way And when man hath attained to the end of all things which is Christ he judgeth of all things not by mans day or light 1 Cor. 4 3. but according to the light or judgement of God not only of his own estate in Christ bnt of all things inferiour and subordinate unto that according to their nature end and use and is possessed with a disposition and heart to order and dispose of them all accordingly being freed from those bonds and injunctions which lie upon that spirit of the world in the exaltation or villification of them therefore neither monopolizeth nor dissipateth beyond bounds but can say with Agur Give me neither poverty no riches but feed me with food câ—nve ient for me Prov. 30 8. and therefore is disposest of that Spirit of contention about them that sore plague of vexation in the world 1 Cor. 6 1 7. Matth. 5. 39 40 41. which by setting their hearts upon that which is not every man becomes a vexation and tormenter of his brother yea man becomes a tâ—ouble and vexation unto himself and all is about means to accomplish their ends But whoever attains to the end of the law which is Christ he is the end of the law for or in righteousness in every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. he also attains to the means to bring about that end for the proper end of the Lord in all and the means to bring about that end are all really and substantially founded reside and are in being and exercise in the state of Christ so that the beauty worth and dignity of and contention about all things is blasted unto him and are become as the flower of grass Isaia 4. 6 7. save only that state of the Son of God where all things are realized and eternized both in point of an end and means to bring about that end For Christ is the end finishing and topping up of all righteousness for he is that righteousness of God higher then which none can ever ascend Rom. 3. 21 22. Christ is also the means to bring unto this end for he is that law of righteousness which bindeth over thereunto Rom. 9 30 31. and so Christ is made unto us Righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30 by whom all the seed of the promise do become righteous Secondly the end of the commandment is love 1 Cor. 1. 30. and God is love that is the Son of God is love who consists of twain without which love is not perfect nor can it be in exercise Christ also is the means to attain to love for it is the love of Christ that constraineth 2 Cor. 5. 14 and is the means to carry us on in all things for love suffereth all things it believeth all things it hopeth all things it indvreth all things 1 Cor. 13. 7. it never falls away rejoyceth in the truth 1 Cor. 13. 6 8. Thirdly Christ is that contract and covenant given for the people Isaia 42. 6. Set forth unto us in that marriage of Solomon and Pharaohs daughter Psalme 45. and he is also that means to bring about that covenant and contract as appears in all those solicitations invitations commendations and
of God or any good man And as it is with man chiefly to look to the inside of vessels unto which things of worth are committed so it is Gods chief principal and first intent that the mystry of God in Christ into which all the chief things of his kingdome are consigned should be preserved and kept in purity without all stain or putrifaction and this is such a secrecy or inside of all things as no mortal eye can see into Iob 28. read the whole chapter to know how to cleanse it for as the seed of which the Saints are conceived and born is not mortal but immortal seed 1 Pet. 1. 23. even so the light by which the Saints do see is not a mortal but an immortal light Psalme 36. 9. 1 Cor 2. 9 10. Observe from this point that whosoever hath a form of teaching holding a certain residency of sin for a time and stain of corruption in the mystical body of Christ or any of the vessels of mercy appertaining thereunto Rom. 9. 23. Acts 9. 15. unto that man the Lord Jesus utters these words and in him to all of that spirit thou blind Pharisee the chief and only thing is to cleanse the inside of the cup and platter 2. The second thing thing to be noted in this point is this that in what term or phrase soever the word of God doth utter it self it is a sharp and severe rebuke unto all false interpretours of the Scriptures here is an exhortation uttered as a sharp and bitter rebuste of blindness in them to whom it was given even as Christ said to Judas when he had given the sop with which Satan entred what thou dost saith he do quickly not as approving Judas his act but to declare his restless and instant spirit through the instigations of the devil to work wickedness It is not as vain men think that the word of God only rebukes men when they sommons in a use of reproof no in what manner or form soever the word of God is uttered in way of true interpretation whether in way of exhortation revelation counsel comfort a word of wisdome or knowledge in promises covenant sonship or right of inheritance rightly explained and faithfully and seasonably set forth they are all rebukes reproofs sentences of death and just acts of execution unto and upon all wicked men for they are still wandring in the wayes of Cain and with Balaam they ever love the wages of unrighteousness 2 Pet. 2. 14 15 Iude 11. Therefore the whole word of God as it contains the curse either expressed or inclusive appertains and belongs unto them for the word of God cannot be divided no more then God himself can be divided 1 Cor. 1. 13. Therefore in whatsoever the word of God expresseth it self in unto the Saints they find a most sweet and comfortable intelligence therein all and every sentence becomes Gospel unto them testifying unto them from what they are delivered and into what they are delivered in which twain consists that harmonious mellody of the kingdome of God Psalme 16. 10 11. 7. The last particular noted in this Wo is what would inevitably follow in case the mystery of the Gospel were kept pure if the inside were cleansed in these words That the outside may be clean also wherein observe that there is nothing can keep men from defiling and being defiled in the sight and according to the judgement of men but only the conservation of the hidden mystery of God in Christ in its native original and eternal purity which only consist in the faith of the Gospel a secret hid from the world from the foundation thereof only made manifest in the Saints Coll. 1. 24 25 26. Observe in this point that the mystry of the Gospel is never kept pure when the word of God is terminated in any thing whatsoever that is inferiour unto or below the Son of God for as Jesus comes forth from God and goeth to God John 13 3. even so the word of God which word he is Iohn 1. 1. Revel 19. 12 13. comes forth from the wisdome of God and terminates it self in nothing but in that wisdome of God which is not found elsewhere but only in Christ Job 28. 12 28. for that wisdome he only is 1 Cor. 1. 24. For in whatsoever we terminate the word of God which is the proper character and form of his mind and will from which himself can never depart unto that thing what ever it be we necessarily assign a Deity and so bind over our selves to the worship of it in way of love or fear desire hope trust in it or delight therein or the like and it being a thing inferiour to the Son of God it is nothing else but bowing down to an Idol and thence it is that men are taxed for worshipping the Sun the Moon and the whole host of heaven Deut. 4. 19. Deut. 17. 3. 2 Kings 21. 3. Amose 5. 25 26. because they lodge the word of God in such inferiour things as being the scope and drift thereof do not take all things below the Son of God as meer plankerings or pavements upon which our minds may pass unto Christ For there is nothing in the visible heavens and earth wherein Gods proper intent is terminated in the framing thereof nor have they or any of them either the good or the evil in them which holds proportion with the mind and intent of him that formed them but become either good or evil according to the mind that passeth upon them for unto the clean all things are clean but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is clean but even their minds and consciences are defiled Titus 1. 15. So that to terminate the word of God in any thing short of Christ is to attribute a certain divinity unto that thing setting that in the place of Christ which is not he and that is Idolizing the creature which is that spirit of fornications and uncleanness so detestable unto God in all ages for it gives that to the creature which appertains to the Creatour therefore the Apostle saith there are gods many and lords many which men according to the letter and outside of the cup and platter impute power and authority unto but unto us there is but one God even that father or fountain of all things which we count upon and we in him as being made a fountain together with him and one Lord Jesus Christ as being the end of all things and we in him as being made the end of all things together with him 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. If the mystery of the Gospel be kept pure as Christ being the proper end of the law that is of all things relations and respects whatsoever and elsewhere we lodge not the word of God as in its sphere or center then is the letter rightly managed and all things become clean unto us But if we lodge the word of God as having its scope
delighted in Gallatians 6. 14. It never attains to the offering up unto God the fruits of an Eternall spirit as that which is onely acceptable to God without the institution or addition of any things transient and temporary whatsoever for Christ who is onely acceptable to God so offereth up himself once and for ever in the true operation and continued act of acceptation thereof for the act and acceptation are of like continuance and have the same place of residenccy for where the one is found there is never the absence of the other Hebrewes 9. 14. For Christ is both the one and the other Again false Interpretation can never make God its onely inheritance and portion to live on him onely in the exercise of its Ministery because it terminates the word in carnall things and therefore is bound over to seek some certainty and settlement in the things of this present life and cannot as a pilgrim in point of all transitory things where ever he comes commit himself to God as his onely and allsufficiency as the true Priests and Prophets of God have ever done according to that Royall Ordination and apointment of God Deut. 18. 1 2. Num. 18. 20. 21. who is become their lot and happy inheritance Psal 16. 5 6. even of all true worshippers who are made Kings and Priests unto God Revel 5. 10. Revel 1. 6. False interpretation never invests into the spirit of intercession an office of the Priest which Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites never received nor gave out the spirit of prayer never accompanies false interpretation and it is the Spirit only that helps our infirmities and makes intercession in us or by us otherwise we know not how to pray as we ought Rom. 8. 26. and the spirit of prayer never moves but upon the words of truth Psam 45. 4. for it ever comes to God in the name of Christ or in the power and authority of the Son of God Iohn 14. 13 14. Iohn 16. 23. which onely consists in the true understanding of his Word Isay 11. 4. Revel 2. 16. For all things receive their being form and proper vertue from it Moreover false interpetation never attaines the Priests office to make an Atoment and Reconciliation between God and man to reconcile the Word of God so as to accord and agree with it self in all things and at all times having a like cessity of the utteriug of it self upon the same foundation 1 Cor. 3. 11. in the same termes and form of Words according to the true scope and intent 2 Tim. 1. 13. and of the same attainments in point of the end and issue 2 Tim. 4. 8. Iames 1. 1â— without which there was never peace wrought between the Creator and the Creature nor form given unto the Faith of Christ for the Word of God never came out as from God but in that onenesse of spirit which appears in the man Christ and he that cannot bring the Word of God into an agreement and harmony in it self without neglect of what hath been spoken or want of somewhat which hath not yet appeared he Can never utter the truth as it is in Iesus Ephes 4. 21. and without the Truth as it is in Iesus no peace with God appears for he onely is our peace Ephes 2. 14. And this reconciliation of the Word of God is as strange a thing to a naturall minde as to bring the strict Iew and the profane Gentile to become one and that to the minde of a carnall interpreter takes a man being a Iew or a Confessour according to the letter as far from the Word of God as it is the ground of his beleese as the Apostle Paul that Minister of the Gentiles was taken away from his religion as it consisted of the orders of Ierusalem the minde letters and power of the High Priest and Elders and those breathings out of slaughters against all that called upon the name of the Lord Acts 9. 1 -14 And as it takes a strict Iew that is one outward and according to the letter so far from his religion and so from his God which hee flies unto as his onely help So also it takes the carnall Gentile as far from his religion and God who walkes at large without any tie or bond upon him in the liberall and licencious use of all things as Corneliâ—s was taken far from being a thing common and unclean to become a devout man one that feared God with all his houshold giving much almes and praying unto God yea became Baptized or ingrafted through the Apostle Peters Ministery who was a Minister of the Circumcision into the grounds and true principles of the whole Law of God Acts. 10. To bring therefore the carnall Iew into liberty as from under the Law in all things and the profane Gentile who hath no bond upon him in the use of Gods works buâ— can use them all at his pleasure to become as under the bond of the law of the Spirit in all things This power of God in freeing from the law of the flesh and bringing men under the law of the spirit is in a carnall mans eyes as though religion cast off both the Word of God as also the works of God as though he would not be ruled by the one nor acknowledge any thing to be in the other as though religion sprung from neither of them both neither from word nor work of God but did annihilate both and verily so it doth according to that judgement which a carnall Interpreter passeth upon them according to which he can never reconcile the Word of God and therefore his proper work is to set God and man at variance Adde further that false Interpretation never blesseth nor speaketh well of the King Christ it never attaines unto the Office of Priesthood so as to speak well of the King of Saints therefore he saith ye shall not see me so as to blesse praise or commend him that comes in the Name of Lord it is a definitive sentence given by Christ that the spirit of a false Interpreter will never speak well of the power and authority of the Son of God who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revel 19. 16. Revel 17. 14. that is his Kingdom consists of none but Kings for they all Reign over the things of this life as things put under their feet Psal 8. 6 7 8 9. as really as they are all in subiection unto what soever is of God which no earthly Kingdom can ever attain unto 1 Whosoever comes therefore in the Name of the Lord as having authority to command by vertue of the law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus Carnall interpreters ever prefer the commands of men according to the law of the flesh before that Iohn 19. 7. Setting up the glory of the Creature before the glory of the Creatour 2 Whosoever comes in the authority of Gods Wisdome to order and contrive all things according to that
God out of which treary we find sufficiency and plenty to live upon forever whereas the rich give only out of their superfluity for it is ever superfluous to add or lay out any of the glory wealth of the creature unto the riches and glory of the Son of God which is the proper way of living to the men of the world either to add something to the crown or cross of Christ that is humaue and temporary and whatsoever they give out in that manner they still keep in the main stock of their own livelyhood in themselves which living after the slesh is death such riches are a meer deprivation of all the holy things of God But a true widow neither owns the worlds miseries nor yet its mercies for she knows both the one the other are cruelty but only lives upon that stock in the treasury in the diminishing demolishing of them both If these two mites were not here tendred in the true manner of the offering of them as also the nature of the superfluous offerings of the rich and that in such sort as they are not found in the common records pulpit schools elderships and great students of this age I would hide my self in some corner of the temple rather then make tender of them to publick view much less to one of your atchievments give me leave humbly to profess that I know the principles upon which the common priesthood of this age stands to be inconsistant to the true intent scope of these following lines in point of a matter of no less weight then of life death eternal if any man receiving his ministry from the degrees in schools laying on of hands by the presbitery or eldership as commonly and practised in these dayes or such as are appointed to examine correct and reform insufficient ministries if any such will undertake to answer for themselves by giving a punctual and plain account of their doctrine according to the true intent and scope of this small Epistle in any or in all the particulars contained therein not striving about words but look to the truth of the matter they shall if God spare life be as faithfully answered with profession made what is thought of their arguments and upon what grounds as this is faithfully and loyally out of an affectionated heart presented to your Highness And that to the intent that in case a carnal Counsel Synod or Eldership should pass some unjust censure upon it branding it with errour when men now awake may be fallen asleep there might be a remonstrance found to declare the nature of their act for it is an easie thing for such to condemn as errours such things as come not within the compass of carnal capacity or else stands in there light to hinder their attaining to the glory of this world And as for Logical argument height of style Elegant and Rhetorical expressions as we have little of them so we matter them not much but only keep to that real truth and substance which will abide in us for ever yet do we not deny unto any thing its proper excellency or eminency in whatsoever it excelleth Therefore we can freely give all relations amongst men their proper terms and titles afford them their proper places and offices if conducing unto and tollerable in humane societies as well as we can afford the Sun Moon and Stars in the firmament their names places offices or that conjugall tie betwixt man and wife for the propagation of mankind on the earth Else we should go about to race out that which the almighty hath stamped upon the creature as a document to figure out and point unto eternal things in Christ and so lay mans spirit wast of any capacity to gather up the mind and intents of one another whereby we should become barbarous each to other debarred and shut out from the use of communion in that way of rationallity wherein properly man excels all other creatures For how should we know or to what should we have recourse in the divers and variety of distinctions appertaining to the kingdome of God to make them speakable one to another if not to the several distinctions which God hath set among the creatures unto which he elegantly aludes in the expressing and revealing of himself as in way of family by father and son in way of order by city and field and in way of rule and authority by Prince and people if we should not maintain such names terms and titles how should the figure or letter of the word be preserved in the world which proves as true a snare through the wisdome of the serpent to catch men in unto destruction as the temptations of Satan have an issue and way of escape given unto them in the Saints by that wisdome of God whereby they prove as inlets into the kingdome The Scriptures deny not a souldier his titles only let him put no man in fear nor accuse any falsly and be content with their allowance in all their prosecutions using their place aright And with like cautions all places and titles may be used which are tollerable and useful in humane societies even by the Saints and people of God for all things are lawful though not in every person at all times expedient neither are we to be brought under the power of any thing that is transitory and humane The most profitable use that I know of all things visible to humane understanding is to take them all as proper figures as the phrase of the Apostle is whereby we cast up an account of substantial material and eternal things and according as we are possessed of the durable treasure so the figure looseth its natural use and virtue which otherwise it inclineth and serveth unto canselling it self in the very act of casting up the just and perfect summ therefore we are to use the world as though we used it not both with respect to the diversity and also the universality thereof because the figure of it passeth away Those renowned Christian expressions pathetical and plain in edicts come from your mouth have rejoiced my heart unto Immaduêre Lachrymis genae and have imboldned me thus far wherein I am prostrate as an unworthy servant to your highness in whatsoever is consonant to a Christian course Samuel Gorton From Warwick in the Naniganset Bay this present October the 20. 1656. New England THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Which may serve as a Paraphrase upon the ninth Chapter of the first Epistle of Paul to the CORINTHIANS CHristian Reader For unto thee only this small Pitance which concerns interpretation of the word of God is intended by the Penman hereof who cannot expect from any other a voluntary consent from any concordancy of judgment or sympathy of desire and affection in point of any thing here expressed according to the true intent and scope of the Authour for where the Authour and the Penman are twain there is
of a carnal kingdome erected by such a priesthood which are never separated no more then the kingdome and priesthood of Christ are separated in Melchisedech Gen. 14. 18. Heb. 7. 1. then the child of hell is completed as being two fold wreathed and twisted together which the priesthood alone could not be which is universally a spirit of fear and terrour further then it is backed with its trust in man and in the power of the arm of flesh Jerem. 17. 5. and as Satan is a lyer from the beginning and the father thereof Iohn 8. 44. even so this false interpretation is a child tyrannicall and Satanicall and also the father of it So that the sons of men have ever been deceived and undone thereby and is the greatest judgement that ever came upon mankind Ierem. 5. 29 30 31. Ieeem 6. 13 13 14 15. 2 Thess 2. 9 10 11 12. for it is the proper fountain of all plague that comes upon man in all ages of the world and ever shall be for being the only inlet of sin it must needs be the inlet of all mischief Gen. 3. 4 5. of such nature product and consequence is the false and deceitful interpretation of the word of God 4. The cause of the fourth wo is expressed in the 16. verse of this chapter and so on to the 23. verse concluding these false interpreters to be blind guides the word translated blind signifies not only to be blind but also to make blind they are blind because they say they see Iohn 9. 40 41. that is because they conclude the light of humane reason is the light of God therefore their sin of blindness doth remain upon them by which light and argumentation they hinder and extinguish the wisdome and argumentation of God in themselves and others and so do make blind as really as they are blindnesse and if the light that is in them be darkness how great is that darkness Matth. 6. 23. Jf salt have lost its savour wherewith shall it be cured or salted Matth. 5. 13. It is henceforth good for nothing for all remedy of recovery of taste is gone so if light be become darkness what shall inlighten it for all means of recovery is gone if light be made darkness So that if the light of life be made darkness in man by translating it into humane wisdome there is left no means to recover it for that which should cure is become the very mallady it self Therefore Christ tells them what they say ye say saith he that is you teach and affirm such things as blindness and ignorance brings forth therefore calls them blind guides or dark leaders that is leaders in darkness and confusion where nothing takes aright form but leaders and followers fall into the pit together Matth. 15 14. Luke 6. 39. before they are aware thereof Matth. 24. 43. The doctrine they teach is this that wh soever shall swear by the temple it is nothing but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple he 〈◊〉 a debter Matth 23 16 that is he that is sworn or ingaged unto the temple or pallace which is the dwelling place of the Lord his Sanctuary and place of worship Psalme 29. 9. That man say they is not bound alwayes to attend there for in some cases there was tolleration to send an offering to the temple and he that prayed and looked but towards the temple though remote in banishment it was acceptable 2 Chron. 6. 38 39. Again the places of worship hath been divers as in Abrahams family in Noahs family in the Tabernacle among the tribes in the temple in Solomons dayes in Christs family and in particular congregations in the dayes of the Apostles and yet a new Temple and new Jerusalem with those glorious foundations and gates to be looked for Revel 21. 10 23. and a Church member whatever he be in these dayes may be dismissed from one Church or dwelling place of God unto another therefore say these interpreters an ingagement to the Temple is no absolute bond and a man becomes not a debter or a sinner in falt though he decline such an oath or solemn ingagement But say they he that swears by the gold of the Temple he is bound and is in fault and under sin in case he decline his ingagement by the gold of the temple we are to understand that which was laid upon it for ornament Exodus 25. chap. Secondly that which was the gold in the treasury Mark 12. 41. Luke 21. 1. Now for the golden ornament of the temple wherein doth it consist but in the offices and officers thereof what is the temple without Priests Levites Nethinims Porters and Singers Ezra 7. 24. Nehem. 10. 28. and what is a Church in point of glory without Pastours Teachers Elders and Deacons or Priests Elders Scribes Pharises and Lawyers these ornaments men are bound and ingaged unto or else not a Church in honour but being destitute of them they lie under censure and are in fault therefore in their account and doctrine ingagement to the gold is an absolute bond upon the spirits of men Again for the riches of the treasury being the reception of all the gifts Luke 21. 1. of the Church where is that to be found but in the officers who have received them from Schools Counsels Libraries and laying on such hands as may as well advance a mans self into a saddle as raise up others thereinto such as are ingaged in this respect they only are debters unto the disposure of all the riches and excellencies of the Church so as others are not and therefore are to have the benefit and the glory to redound unto them such is the doctrine of the scribes and pharises concerning the gold of the Temple both in the ornaments and treasures thereof so that they are the proper glory and riches the holyness and the righteousness of the house and Temple of God But what saith the answer of God in Christ ye fools and blind that is ye that are as destitute of and as far from the true principles and grounds of Gods wisdome as a natural fool or idiot is from the use and exercise of the true principles and reason of a man ye blind or dark not only dark because light appears not but if the Sun of righteousness be set before your faces standing still as once the sun did in Gibeon in Joshuas time Joshua 10. 12. ye neither will nor can behold the glory of it no more then those carnal calf merchants could behold the face of Moses when he had been in the mount talking with God Exod. 34. 30. and he proves it by argument that they are such for saith he whether is greater the gold or the Temple which sanctifieth the gold whether is greater that which makes holy or that which is made holy but it is the Temple that makes holy therefore ye are fools and blind to prefer that which is made holy before it for where
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
man or else it were sinfull to consent to the marriage of unbeleevers Again if marriage simply considered were any part of the end of the law then would Christ Iesus the fulfiller of the Law Mat. 5. 17. never have neglected that relation but he doth it of purpose to declare that as naturall conception is not intended to be that which brings forth the Son of God and therefore he is conceived by the holy Ghost in like manner naturall marriages and contracts is not the thing intended by the word of God in the fulfilling of the Law and therefore he enters not into that relation for the consultation of the grossenesse of mans cogitations therein Therefore the spirit of the Scriptures solicite carnall Ierusalem as having relation to the Iebusites for the abrogation of her sinfull and murthering laws as she sets the scope of the word of God in vanishing things which is as durable in its proper end in all things as in its foundation Rev. 22. 13. and beginning Such laws therefore as receive strength by terminating the word of God in transient and momentany things as the Laws and orders of Ierusalem that now is and is in bondage with her children ever did Gal. 4. 24. 25. and therefore the Prophets ever cry out and inveigh against their Sacrifices Sabbaths New Moons and solemn Assemblies Temple Priesthood Fasts and all manner of exercises which God himself had commanded only they understood and used them in a litteral and carnall manner terminating the end of the commandement in things that fade and vanish which laws are the very ground and fountain of all uncleannesses and abhominations springing up among the sons of men in the World Isaia 1. Isaia 58. Ezek. 23. 38. 39. the mistake and misconstruction of the word of God in this point is the proper prophanation of all things amongst the sons of men therefore Ierusalem is said to stone them that are sent intimating thereby that she doth it by her Laws and Ordinances alluding to the Law of Moses which appointed Malefactors to be stoned to death Lev 2. 2. 27. Deut. 13. 10. Deut. 17. 5. and in that includes all other laws instituted by a false construction of the word of God whereby in her executions she brings the word of God for what she doth for her defence as though she did nothing but by the command and direction thereof which is only brought in as the Devill did the word of God in the tempting of Christ which Christ gives a quite contrary meaning thereof than the Devill intended Mat. 4. 5 -10 which is the proper overcoming of the tentation and by this false and satanicall alleging of the word of God false Interpreters do blind both themselves and the world and thereby direct the force of their law against a wrong object and so exercise their cruelty upon the innocent instead of the guilty party for we shall hardly find a wicked Lawyer or judge in the world that cannot by this means find some fault with a godly man according to his interpretation of the law of God for it is easily said thou art an Heretick Scismatick or a Blasphemer a mover of Sedition troubler of the state or enemy to Caesar Acts 24. 5. Acts 18. 12. 13. Iohn 19. 12. 13. Acts 17. 6. 7. But the question is by what law he is made such a one whether by the law of faith or by the law of sin and death for if the Judge be not able to interpret the word of God according to the Law of faith and so be a Preacher of righteousnesse 2 Pet. 2. 5. otherwise the word of God is become in him a law of sin and death directing him to the innocent instead of the guilty and therefore his judgement must needs passe according to the will and law of Satan and not of Christ Not that we deny that the sentence and execution of death may passe amongst men upon the face of the earth we only plead for a just and righteous law by which it is done otherwise the judgement is as ready to take hold of the innocent as of the malefactor for the maintaining of the Judges own ends and honour for if a wicked Iudge did it not for sinister ends and respects he would only bend the force of the l aw against the godly of the Land and not against them of his own spirit as all wicked men are only they become Tormenters one of another If a man should aske many who sit in judgement according to the law of Jerusalem in bondage with her children how it comes to passe that an Adulterer or an Adulteresse is by the law of God to be stoned to death and yet Christ acquits one taken in the act notwithstanding a grave Eldership are her accusers Iohn 8. 3 -11 or how a Murderer is by the law of God guilty of death Numb 35. 16. 17. 19. 21. and is to dâ—e the death and yet God sets a mark upon Cain that grosse Murderer that no man shall kill him Gen 4. 15. or how it comes to passe that a Usurper or Tyrant is not to be suffered therefore David complains of Saul for usurping the Kingdome Psalm 4. 2. as appears by the word translated men in that place which is â—sh a name given to man with respect to dignity authority and power as Saul had and yet David though a Warriour will not lay his hand on Saul when he was in his power to put an end to such usurpation though God had said the Kingdome was rent from him and given to David 1 Sam. 24. 6. 1 Sam. 15. 27. as one better than he and many the like which no carnall Iudge can reconcile to any satisfaction of a rationall mind and he that cannot reconcile the word of God to be at one and in an eternall agreement in it self as it is the word of God that man can never bring forth a pure law of God and he that works by a corrupt and crooked rule must needs misse or sin in all his operations for he that cannot bring the word of God to agree in all things he can never bring God and man to agree in Christ in whom only all righteousnesse dwels and abides for ever and out of whom is nothing but wickednesse in all the sons of men The Law of God then applyed unto false priuciples is the ground of all disorders in the world for can we think that if men did not put a certain Deity in worldly wealth by terminating a blessing of the word to consist in riches that ever men would spend their time and strength use such deceits and sleights in trades to deceive ingrosse monopolize and inhaunce the price to grind the faces of the poor alienating themselves from friends family and house or people of God to abide among infidels for that end and purpose to grow rich in the world Nay would men steal rob and slay but to get wealth or to attain some other
them in all particulars and upon as reall and substantiall grounds as we can give for the appearing of the day and succeeding of the night or as we can give the reason why we eat why we drink why we sleep marry and give in marriage without which things man can neither multiply nor tarry upon the face of the Earth and we know the nature of all things that God reveals unto us as well as we know the nature of the fire by putting a finger into it either the things of Satan in that body of sin as we dye unto it and it is dead to us or the things of God in Christ as we live to them and they live in us and such are our imaginations And for our wandring from Mountain to Hill we do professe our selves to be gone from that rigid and mountainous power and pride of Pharaoh under which in a Figure you now are three dayes journey a perfect and perpetuall departure therefrom into that Wildernesse that is waylesse of the tracts of Pharaoh and his Host else we had not come to Sinai or Horeb that hill of God where he calls us up to converse with him in the height of his own Son where we meekly receive that law of the spirit in the laver of the People yea that fiery law that borns up all combustible and corruptible matter in us purifying and trying our faith as silver is tryed in the fire We also are gone from that Mount with the Ark of God and law therein three dayes journey to seek a resting place for the Ark which is a perfect and perpetuall removall from the place of the giving and receiving the law of the flesh the earnall commandement in all the terrours fears effects and operations thereof or else we had never come to Mount Zion the Hill which God doth love and where he will dwell for ever where glorious things are spoken in that City of God for in Iudah is God known his name is great in Israel at Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Zion and there he breaks the Arrowes of the Bow the Shield and the Sword and the Battel Selah Yea there is he more glorious and puissant than the Mountains of prey even than all the Host of Sennacâ—arib which compasse about Ierusalem thinking to make a prey and a booty thereof but it becomes a heavy stone and a cup of trembling beyond all their expectations unto them Whereas you say the meek and lowly Spirit is not of this World but bears vvitnesse against it we freely own it so to be and that you bear vvitnesse also unto the life in the measure given you vvhich is eternall and therefore seems to be immeasurable for he receives not the spirit by measure we do heartily rejoyce in any that God stirs up to testifie to his truth inthat verity of his word and life and light of his Son which is to us as lise from the dead knowing it to be as honourable an office as ever a Saint can attain unto to be that faithful and true witnesse only found in the Son of God who only is an eye and ear witness of all the doings of the father and therfore he only can give true testimony and a just account of them which we count to be as great a Crown and royall diadem unto our selves to hear as to be inabled to speak thereof and therefore can freely suffer our own eclipse for ever so that the splendent brightnesse of that Sun of righteousnesse may break forth and have its proper place seat and course being made marvelous in his Saints even in all that beleeve so as it may be said with admiration suitable to such an Aspect Who is this that looks forth as the morning fair as the Moon cleer as the Sun terrible as an Army with Banners A true witnesse is truly honourable being one who only can give true testimony of the state of all things so as true judgement passeth to give every thing its due without which there is no righteousnesse on the Earth He only can witnesse against the world concerning the nature of their act in crucifying the Lord of glory whom they know not for they that know him never do it and onely they which can witnesse what it is to take away and destroy such a life and to put out such a light they only can witnesse what that light and life is in all such in whom it appears namely what the eternall and everlasting Sonship is which is that which is in time as well as that which is eternall which being gathered into one by that spirit of eternity it is made one state or incorporation wherein all the severall and various relations therein consist of and are become a spiritual and an eternal law which gives unto it self an orderly being and form in all its operations which operations offices are known onely by that name which is writ upon them which is that particular power and authority they carry in them and expresse and this is such as none can read but himself and he is called the Word of God which word is the law of the spirit of life and this life is the light of men and this light gives a true form unto all things which it testifies unto therefore it is said by the Lord unto Iob Hast thou commanded the morning since thy dayes or caused the day-spring to know his place that it might take hold of the ends of the Earth that the wicked may be shaken out of it it is turned as clay to the Seal and they stand as a garment but from the wicked their light is with-holden and the high arm shall be broken So that this true light lights us up to see the Son of God as being of twain made one for in what respect soever he appears there is a true relation considerable in it or else it is not that Son of God the Saviour or salvation of the world for he is of twain made one new man in which is the Vnity as also the fellowship of the Gospell in all things for there is nothing in Christ without its proper relative and without relation the word or law of God is not as in creation the thing made as well as the thing making in knowledge the thing known in love the thing beloved in a Father the respect to a Son in a Husband the respect to a wife which gives to each other their proper being so as if one cease the relative ceaseth also from being such So that if I witnesse to the Son word light life Law or peace of God I must witnesse unto the being of such a thing that such a thing it is as also to the manner of its being how it comes to be such a thing together with its necessary and proper operations which must inevitably accompany such a manner of being with the comprehensions extensions of such operations and motion or