and therefore are to be taught to know him before they be admitted into that Covenant Again All that are Members of that Covenant have right to the Ordinances of that Covenant as my Antagonist saith but the Lords Supper is an Ordinance of the new Covenant and yet Infants prohibited from that Ordinance as you say O wise Priest where is your understanding got now surely it is brought to nought as God hath said 1 Cor. 1.19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. Reas 4. Again The Fourth Reason why Children may not be Baptized and so brought into Christs House or Vineyard is Because Infants are not capable to labour there and Christ hath none but Laborers there as you may read Matth. 20.1 2 3 4. And the Fifth Reason is Reas 5. Because Infants are not capable to be taught but such as are Baptized must be first taught as Matth. 28.18 19. Mark 16.15 16. Neither did John or Christ or his Apostles baptize any other but such as had been before taught which if they did I humbly crave my Antagonist or any of his Brethren to prove it And if he or they do prove it I do profess in the presence of Almighty God and men to renounce my Judgment in this particular and be of the same Judgment with them and walk in the same steps And so to the Sixth and last Reason to prove that Infants are not fit subjects to be baptized is Reas 6. Because they are not capable to confess their sins nor to know God nor to beleeve in his Name nor to witness a new Birth by shewing the fruits of Regeneration the which qualifications must appear more or less in all that are fit subjects of Baptism as I before have proved And in a word you my Antagonist nor any of your Brethren were never yet able to prove such a practise warrantable by the Word of God And so I pass to the Grounds and Reasons given by my Antagonist and others to prove That Infants are fit subjects to be baptized which is say they Object 1. If the Kingdom of Heaven do belong to Infants then the Ordinances of the Kingdom doth belong unto them but the Kingdom doth belong unto them Therefore the Ordinances of the Kingdom doth belong to them Answ To which I Answer and say That if the Ordinances of the Kingdom do belong to them as my Antagonist saith then is he and the rest of his Brethren in a great evil in denying them the Lords Supper which is as they say an Ordinance of the Kingdom and so they condemn themselves in the things which they know And as for the Kingdom of God it is taken for several things in Scripture it is compared to the preaching of the Gospel as a draw-Net as to Leven to a Merchant and to the Church sometimes though very seldom and to Righteousness and Joy in the holy Ghost and it is compared to the state of Glory or the state of Glory is called by the name of the kingdom of Heaven or the kingdom of God and that Infants as such have right to everlasting life and glory by the righteousness of Christ I never did deny but yet notwithstanding that they can be accounted of as Members of the Kingdom in the other sense that I deny as first They are not Members of the new Covenant and so consequently of the Church because as I have already shewed that none are Members therof but such as know the Lord from the least even unto the greatest and so need no teaching to know the Lord but Infants know not the Lord and therefore are not of the new Covenant or Church of Christ But if you should ask me then how are they saved and by what Covenant I should tell you by that gracious Promise made by God in Gen. 3. in these words the seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head and indeed had not man sinned since the Fall he then should have had no need of Baptism or any other act of obedience as a means of his everlasting peace for Salvation is a free gift of God but when we come to years of maturity and the knowledge of God and then like Adam transgress it we then have forfeited our happiness and hence it comes to pass that we have need of Repentance and Baptism to break off our sins that the forfeit which sin hath laid upon our heavenly inheritance might be removed and then Salvation be given over full into our lap as I may say as at the first namely as a free Gift and Repentance and Baptism is of no use to such as have not sinned against God manifest in Christ the which Infants have not done and therefore no need of Baptism as I in a former Treatise have already shewed more at large Object 2. Secondly The Children of Abraham were to be Circumcised at eight dayes old saith my Antagonist and therefore why may not the Children of Beleevers be baptized about that age Answ To which I Answer and say That God did command that the Children of Abraham should be Circumcised at eight dayes old but hath not commanded the Children of Beleevers to be Baptized at that age which if he hath shew the place of Scripture where it is so written and the Controversie will cease Secondly Remember that there was far greater reason that Infants should be Circumcised than Infants now Baptized because as the first Covenant was a Covenant appertaining to the flesh with carnal Ordinances so the seed that was to enjoy it was a fleshly seed and were to receive Circumcision upon a fleshly account namely that they might be inrighted to dwell in the Land of Canaan in their Fathers house the which without Circumcision they might not do but there is no such damage lyable to the seed of Beleevers being unbaptized so as to be cut off from the Nation or their Fathers house so that as there is not the like command for Beleevers to baptize their Children as there was for Circumcision neither is there the same Reason for it But that you may see this more at large read my Book intituled Dagons Downfal where it is discoursed more at large only this know That such as have Faith the same are accounted the Children of Abraham and the only fit subjects to be baptized for not to Abraham and his seed through the Law was the Promise made of the heavenly inheritance but to his seed that was by Faith For as saith the Apostle Rom. 9.8 The Children of the flesh are not the Children of God but in Isaac viz. Christ shall thy seed be called for ye are all the sons of God by beleeving in Christ Jesus for as many as have been baptized unto Christ have put on Christ and if ye are Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heirs according to Promise therefore plead not your right to Gospel or Heavenly Enjoyments by vertue of being the Child of a Beleever for if you were
Mr. Henden seems to reprove Mr. Elmestone in his 33. pag. for calling Babylon by way of argument Zion and yet in his 29. pag. he calls Mount-Zion Babylon himself so that I may take up St. Pauls words Rom. 2.22 which saith Thou that abhorrest Idols dost thou commit sacriledge but I pass to the conclusion which is saith Mr. Henden If the Romish and Antichristian defection be not decyphered by these figures but the Jews only then it is altogether omitted in this book then must all from thence to the end of the Revelations be peculiar to the Jews Answ These figures do not decypher the defection of the Romish Babylon and yet both her defection and judgment was shewn unto John as in Revel 17. chap. 18. and also somewhat shewn as a consequence of it chap. 1.5 chap. 6. but these things would be too large to speak to in particular at present considering my time is short I may have time to open these things more at large hereafter but at present I say in a few words that both the vision of Daniel and also of the Revelations speaks more properly of the change of the Monarchical Governours and Governments of the World than the defection of a Church to wit the Church of Rome for the fourth kingdome upon earth which was the Roman kingdome was begun before the vision was shewn unto John yea before Christ suffered for he suffered under the Roman power and therefore he speaks not much of that and the defection of a Church or false worshippers and the people of God suffering under them is no strange thing and therefore not so observeable when we consider how frequent apostates and false worshippers are in this world and for a Church to change its government into states pollicy is no great thing to be noted in Scripture but the alteration of Monarchical Government and Governors is of great note in the Prophesie of Daniel and also in the book of the Revelations because they are the things that shew forth the government of the great King Jesus upon Earth whose Kingdome shall break in pieces all other Kingdomes when their Kingdom cometh into the hands of the eight who also is of the seventh the which I have shewn how it is although in differing phrases before the which time and things approacheth very near for we doutless live in the latter end of the fourth Kingdom viz. the Roman Kingdome in the time of the feet and toes which was partly Iron and partly Clay which holds not together in its mixture which is the Cause of the great stir and strivings in our Nations and other places in the World at this day Dan. 2.31 32. to the 45. But I leave this and the reasons cited by Mr. Henden to prove that the Sealed number were Gentiles and leave the serious Reader to peruse Revel 7.4 5 6 7 8. which will better inform them who the Sealed number is and thus I pass to the next thing considerable which is The best of Saints saith Mr. Henden are not yet come to that height of righteousness requirable in a Gospel order in point of love and mutual fellowship page 70. Answ I had thought that you had said before in page 2. that their spiritual union and charity and all moral Precepts did remain according to their primitive institution and were not corrupted by the Beast in all the times of apostacy and now to say that the sealed elect number had lost their righteousness in point of love mutual fellowship is to say that the sealed elect number that were not hurt as you say were so hurt as they had not only their outward order corrupted but were also so corrupted within that the notable and theological grace of love and mutual fellowship was so defaced as they not fit to meddle with outward Ordinances and if they were not fit to meddle with them how were they fit to meddle as I may say with God in that Ordinance of Prayer and Praying and how could such eat the Lords Supper which signifieth mutual love and fellowship the which Ordinance you say was practicable and to be practised in all the times of apostacy and would not their defection in that point as well disable them from being an elect number as well as from outward Ordinances when we consider all other graces without that grace of love is nothing when they had lost that grace of love or so defaced in it as not fit for the out-side of things I mean the outward Ordinances which you speak of how then could they be fit for God and spiritual worship I know not mend it when you write again and when you have done all that you can do to it there will appear in my judgment more confusion contradiction in it than good reason but I leave it at present and shall speak somewhat to your sixth Reason against constituting as you call it of Churches in our times which is A further reason of the unwarrantableness of Church constitutions in our times is the divisions rents amongst the godly page 72. Answ The divisions amongst the godly is acknowledged not to be their strength but weakness not their vertue but rather their vice yet notwithstanding it may be and is a time now for the gathering of Saints and constituting them into congregations in the order of the Gospel for so we understand the word Church to be a congregation for there was divisions in the primitive time amongst the Churches and also amongst the Apostles so as that St. Paul and Barnabas rent or divided one from another and also there was great contentions amongst the Corinthians and the Philipians and others Acts 15.39 1 Cor. 1. 1. Phil. 1.16 which was not their vertue as before said and there are a people in our dayes even in our Nation I may say and speak safely consisting of thousands that are one in the faith fellowship and order of the Gospel many more are coming onwards according to their several abilities in the knowledge of God although there be some that are weak amongst professors yet that may not hinder those that are strong and able to work in their building of a house for the Lord but I pass these things and come to the next and last Objection which is to prove a seperation without Church stating cited by Mr. Henden which is saith he This return from mystical Babylon is not fully accomplished at one time but is traced by distinct steps and degrees Answ You would have done well to have shewn the steps that is to say how many there be and what time they require to be trod that we may know when we be at the journeyes end surely its a long journey for you have been almost ten years already in your journey for now it s almost 1660. and the fullfiling of the time of the captivity ended as you say in the year 1650. was Israel so long coming out of
the Scriptures and if thou find in this Treatise any thing that seems strange unto thee be not over hasty to condemn it or the Author but know assuredly that he is one that aimeth and strives after Truth as much as thy self who ever thou art and know that the things that are disapproved of by men are the things that are chosen of God and precious and that in all Ages as I have formerly said the Truth of God hath been accounted Heresie and the assertors thereof Hereticks and turners of the world upside down therefore it much concerns thee to be earnest with God in prayer and supplication to give thee a discerning spirit that thou mayest discern between Truth and Error I have in the following Treatise shewed in a methodical order what Baptism is and that it is not Sprinkling or scattering a little water in the face of the Subject no but a Dipping or Plunging or a thorow washing of the person Baptised and also that the Subjects to be Baptised are not Infants as such but such as have first believed in the Lord Jesus or at least such as do make a visible profession of faith such were those that John the Baptist Baptised for they came and confessed their sins and was Baptised of him in Jordan and also when the Eunuch said to Plilip See here is water What hindreth me that I may not be Baptised and he said If thou believeth with all thy heart thou mayest and the Samaritans when they did believe the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the name of Jesus they were Baptised both men and women So that the Scripture is plain that testifieth what Subject should be Baptised And that conceit or more properly great deceit about Original Sin in saying That Infants dying in their Infancy without being Baptised are damned and so bring in Infants Baptism to purge away Original Sin I have shewed is no such thing but a dream of mens own brains and that there is not one Text of Scripture from Genesis to the Revelation which saith that any shall die the second Death for Original Sin nay the second Death was not so much as threatned in any one Text of Scripture either upon Adam or any of his posterity for that sin but the Death of the Body was threatned and also executed for saith the Lord Dust thou art and unto Dust thou shalt return And as touching Mans Mortality it is a general received Opinion That the Soul of Man is Immortal and dyeth not although the Scripture saith that Christ poured out his Soul to death and made his Soul an offering for sin but it is supposed that when men die their Souls if they have done evil go immediately to Hell and in the Resurrection come again from thence to be judged to see whether they deserve it yea or nay as though Souls should be put into their torments before they are tryed and judged to see whether they have deserved it yea or nay for although some mens sins go before to Judgment so as that they are convicted before death yet some mens sins come after them that there is not the sense of their sins at the time of death but they come after them unto Judgment these things I have shewed my opinion upon also the which amongst men is strangely looked upon as a gross Error however peruse it for there is no dangerous consequence in it for he that believeth it or he that believeth it not may both meet with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God if they walk uprightly according to their several measures although if it be a Truth as it appears to me to be it is very necessary that every godly man know it for several reasons that I could give But as touching the Resurrection of the Body which I also have spoken to that is of such weight that without believing it and being stedfast in the same it makes Preaching voyd and Faith voyd and whosoever doth deny it their words eat as doth a Canker and indeed I do not see as yet how such men as deny it can be saved I have also shewed the great and universal love of God to all men which is the ground of Faith and Salvation to all that do believe and be saved which is a very comfortable Doctrine to all men and I think that none can have cause to be offended at it but such as have their eyes evil because Gods eye is good And as touching the Personal Reign of Christ upon Earth viz. on the Throne of his Father David in Zion in Jerusalem is that which causeth the godly to rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory and it is that which Christ hath commanded us to pray for though we understand it not as we should do when we pray Thy Kingdome come thy will be done in Earth as it is done in Heaven but that he is to receive a Kindome and Reign upon Earth I have proved in its particular order although briefly I have also added a second Part entituled The good ancient Laws and Statutes of King Jesus Vindicated wherein I have proved the continuance of all the Laws and Ordinances of the Lord Jesus given forth in his last Will and Testament with many Objections answered And also have shewed who is the travelling Woman spoken of in Revellations 12. and who is her Man-child and who is the Remnant of her Seed and to what Wilderness she is to flea into and for how long and who are the two Witnesses and the time and place of their Prophesie and many such like things which I have shewed my opinion upon in the following Treatise and therefore I desire thee courteous Reader to peruse these things seriously and desire the Lord to give thee an understanding heart to receive it so far forth as thou findeth it agreeable to the Word of the Lord and sound Reason It should have been published long before this time if extraordinary occasions had not hindred me therefore it is my desire that they that have long waited for it may excuse the matter because many are sensible of my great occasions taking me off from finishing of it sooner So desiring the Lord to make it to be a word in season unto thee and to fill thy heart with joy thorow believing and also with the fruits of righteousness that having thy fruit in holiness the end may be everlasting life which is the desire of Thy Friend and Brother in the Faith and Profession of the Gospel of Christ GEORGE HAMMON THE CONTENTS OF THE Principal Matters Contained in this BOOK B BAptism to be Dispenced to such as are of ripe years and of understanding Page 5. to page 12. Baptism may not be Dispenced to Infants for several Reasons page 13. to page 25. Of the Battel of the great Day and the Destruction of Gogg and his Company page 89. to page 92. G Of Gods universal Love unto all men and how far
to be part of the Nation when he talketh of Baptism and not see them part of the Nation so as to be Preached too What are Infants part of the Nations and comprehended in that Text then why preach you not to them for the Text saith Preach unto them me-thinks your language being so divided discovereth you to be one of Babels builders but no more as to that only this observe that the word should be read Go Desciplize all Nations or make Disciples in all Nations and Baptize them as the Greek Word will render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And that was Christs own practise to make Disciples and then Baptize them as you may read John 4.1 But your practise is clear contrary for you first Baptize them and then make them Disciples if you can and so I pass saying that the word All Nations sometimes is to be understood the Major part and sometimes the Lesser and better part as God promised to Abraham that in his seed should all the Nations be blessed which is to be understood not All or the Major part but the Lesser and better part for few there be that be the blessed Ones indeed And so to the next Objection which is drawn from Acts 15. Object 5. They would have put a yoke upon the neck of the Disciples IN SHORT THEIR MEANING IS THAT INFANTS ARE DISCIPLES THAT IS THE THING THEY WOVLD PROVE FROM THAT TEXT IF THEY COVLD Answ To which I Answer saying That I shall not trouble the Reader with a large Answer because I have already Answered this Text also and therefore I shall give a short word to prove that Infants cannot bear the Name Disciple and so leave it because it is the Answer to the whole Matter And now that Children cannot bear the Name Disciple you may read Luke 14. which saith If any deny not himself and take up his Cross and follow Christ he cannot be his Disciple But Infants are not capable so to do therefore cannot bear the Name of Christs Disciples And we know that the word Disciple is a Schollar and I pray can a person be called a Schollar of Christ till he hath learned of Christ or is at least capable to learn of him But an Infant is not a Schollar of Christ having not learned any thing of him neither is he at present capable to learn any thing of him therefore no Disciple And so I pass to the next Objection which is Object 6. Christ saith Suffer little Children to come unto me and he put his hands upon them c. Mat. 19.14 Answ To which I Answer and say That although this be the main place which hath been alleaged and made use of by the Priests in their Baby-sprinkling yet I shall shew that this place is much against them if it be well understood and that you may see it so to be take notice that Christs Disciples which forbad these little Ones to be brought were such as were the Administrators of Baptism which sheweth That there was no such practise as to Baptize Infants because they would not then have forbid them to be brought And Secondly That they were not brought to be baptized is clear because the Parents brought them not to the Disciples which were the baptizers And Thirdly It is also clear that they were not brought to be baptized because that Christ did for them as their Parents did desire and yet baptized them not for he baptized none but left that work to his Disciples But peradventure some may say Wherefore were these Children brought to Christ My Answer is That it was to Cure them of some Disease or Infirmity which did accompany them And if any should ask me what Reason I could give to prove it I Answer These Two or Three in short The First is Because he was at that time in the work of Cureing of all manner of Sicknesses as you may see Matth. 19.1 2 3. And Secondly His Way or Method in Curing was by putting his hands upon those that had infirmity as is clear from many Scriptures but I shall cite but one Text at present because I study brevity which is Luke 4.40 in these words Now when the Sun was setting all they that had any sick with diverse Diseases brought them unto him and he laid his Hands on every of them and healed them And for this end they brought little Children that he might put his Hands upon them also but his Disciples fearing their Master would be troubled with their crying and the like forbad them but Children being part of those whom Christ Redeemed he had as great love to them as to the Men and Women and said Suffer them to come and do not hinder them and giveth a weighty Reason why he was willing to do them good because saith he of such is the kingdom of God therefore hinder them not of any benefit that may conduce to their good or ease So then in the First place you see that Christ was at that time about the work of Healing And Secondly His Way in Healing was by putting his Hands upon them whom he Healed And Thirdly They brought the Children to him that he might put his Hands on them also And Fourthly and Lastly Christ did convey a blessing unto them by doing that to them for which they were brought and yet baptized them not as before said and that it was Healing of their Body and not any spiritual thing is clear for as they were not capable to receive a spiritual blessing so there was no eminent need of it for they had right to the kingdom of God before which is the greatest blessing of all blessings Add this That in all likelihood their Parents did not mind to get for themselves spiritual blessings and much less for their Children for if they had minded that so much as they should have done they would have followed Christ and so have been of the Number of his Disciples but they were not his Disciples for his Disciples forbad them and indeed many did follow Christ which minded no spiritual good but temporal only as some to receive Cure for their infirmities for he went about doing good and some followed him because they eat of the Loaves and were filled Joh. 6.26 And thus much as to that Objection Their Parents neither brought them to be Baptized neither did Christ Baptize them yet did do for them the same for which they were brought And so I pass to the next Objection which is Object 7. Circumcision say they was a Tipe of Baptism and Baptism came in the room and place of it Answ To which I Answer that neither of the Assertions are true As First Circumcision was never a Type of Baptism but was a Type of the Circumcision of the heart as Rom. 2. and two last verses and as the Circumcision of the flesh did denote persons heirs to the temporal Land of Canaan so the Circumcision of the heart viz. the vail of
secondly because time also at present will not give leave in reference to other occasions I only hinted at these few things to caution the courteous Reader to take heed and try well what doctrine he doth receive before he receiveth it And as touching the Resurrection of the body even the same body out of the dust thou hast heard already proved but peradventures some may object and say Object That flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdome of heaven Answ To that and such like Objections I briefly answer and say That this no whit contradicts that men after they be risen shall be flesh blood and bones if we consider that the same Apostle opens the meaning of his words in the very next verse by saying neither doth corruption inherit incorruption shewing that his meaning is that that corruption of flesh and blood or flesh and blood corrupted shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven until that corruption hath put on incorruption so then while it is corrupted flesh and blood it cannot enter into the kingdome of Heaven for no corrupt thing shall come there yet notwithstanding man which is flesh and bone is at this time in Heaven and so shall many more after the Resurrection inherit that glory and yet shall be flesh and bones for man was created so at the first before he was corrupted and shall be so namely flesh and bone after his corruption is taken away for when he ceaseth to be flesh and bone then he will cease also to be man unless man can consist and have a being without flesh and bone which cannot be Moreover the text it self may be read and doth well bear it thus For this I say unto you bretheren that the corrupt nature or infirmity OF MAN cannot enter into the kingdome of God For so the Original will bear it from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and being so read it lyeth without Objection for I have ever affirmed that the corruption or infirmity of man shall not enter into the kingdome of God but shall be taken away before that time And where it is said That that which thou sowest thou sowest not the same body that shall be but God giveth it a body as pleaseth him To which I answer and say that it is true it is not the same body which is sown in respect of corruption for the text saith that it is sown in corruption and it is raised in incorruption and so it is true in that sence that the Apostle speaks of that is it is not the body of corruption which is raised although every seed shall have its own body only the corruption taken away and this is the meaning of the Apostle in this place Object And as touching that objection spoken by Job 7.9 in these words As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more Answ To which I answer and say That these texts of Scripture are the most material ones that I know of whereby the Resurrection may be denyed although some other seem to shew a colour unto it and that we may see that this Scripture intends no such thing as some would have it to do even to deny that the same body shall arise and enter into the kingdome of God read the next verse and that will shew you that Job means that men which die shall rise no more so as to be known as men after the flesh as men that have taken a great journey and be long absent do return and possess their houses and habitations but man shall not so arise as to possess his former house or habitation and this appears to be Jobs meaning as from verse the 10. in these words He shall return no more to his house neither shall his place know him any more So then this 10 verse expounds Jobs meaning in the 9 verse or otherwise Job sadly contradicts himself so that we cannot tell when he speaks the truth for he doth frequently declare the Resurrection of the body as in Chapter 14.12 and 14. Chapter 19.26 27. These things considered I shall only add a Use of Comfort to those that do believe that all that are asleep in the dust shall come to a Resurrection to receive what they have done in the body whether good or evil and being perswaded thereof do wait all their dayes in the right way of the Lord until their change come even to such the Scripture speaks much comfort for they shall be exalted to inherit the earth in the morning of their Resurrection they shall have dominion over the wicked and they shall be as ashes under the soles of their feet when those that have walked wisely shall shine as the Firmament and they that have turned many to righteousness as stars for ever and ever therefore know that although the wrath of man may possibly lay thee in the dust yet from thence the Lord will bring thee and set thee with Princes and put a Crown of Righteousness upon thine head and make thee inherit the throne of glory Psal 37.34 and Psal 49.14 15 16. Dan. 12.3 4. Mal. 4.2 3. 1 Sam. 2.8 1 Pet. 5.3 4 5. 2 Tim. 4.6 7 8. Revel 14.12 13. Chap. 20.5 6 7 8. And thus I pass from this subject of Discourse and come to the next which is The love of God to all men in giving of his Son to bring them to a Resurrection and after that to an eternal weight of glory if they sell it not for the pleasure and glory of this present world as Esau sould his birth-right for a mess of pottage and so he received not the blessing Gods Love to Man-kind DISCOVERED AS touching Gods universal Love to the Sons of Men or the whole lump of Man-kind I need not spend much time about for the Scriptures are full and the truth thereof is written as I may say in Capital Letters so that he that runs may read and see the truth thereof and therefore I shall be brief as to this Subject of Discourse and in order to the clearing of it I shall lay down this Position as the ground-work to the Discourse which is That Gods Love was so great to the Lump of Man kind viz. the whole World that he gave his only begotten Son to Death to bring all men to a Resurrection and to an Eternal weight of Glory the which glory all men shall enjoy if they sell it not by their sins Or thus in short Jesus Christ tasted death for every Man and Woman And that this is truth read these few Scriptures as first Heb. 2.9 in these words We see Jesus who was made a little lower then Angels for the suffering of death was crowned with glory and honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man From whence we may learn that Jesus Christ did die for all men or the whole lump or quantity of man as it is rendred from
and possess the kingdome together and raign under Heaven and if it be under heaven then it doth necessarily follow that it will be upon earth and this text agreeth with that which is spoken by Dan. 2.34 44. in these words Thou sawest till a stone was cut out without hands which smote the Image upon his feet that were of Iron and clay and brake them in pieces and in the dayes of these Kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdome which shall never be destroyed and the kingdome shall not be left unto another people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and shall stand for ever And the stone shall become a great mountain and fill the whole EARTH verse 35. which meaneth Christ and his people from whence we may see that the Kingdome that Daniel speaks of is to be upon earth because he saith it was to fill the whole earth so then Christ and the Saints are to receive a Kingdome and to raign upon earth Reas 2. Secondly the second reason to prove that Christ and the Saints shall receive a Kingdom and raign upon earth is Because the Scripture saith that Christ and the Saints shall rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron and bruse them like a Potters vessel the which cannot be unless Christ and the Saints receive a Kingdome and raign upon earth for if the received opinion be true that all shall arise together at the last day and at a moment or in a short time one go to Heaven and the other to Hell how then can Christ and the Saints then rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron and bruse them like a Potters vessel for so long as the Saints live in this world they must expect to suffer for Christ and the Gospels sake as saith Saint Paul and Daniel and indeed many Prophets and Apostles that thorow many tribulations we shalt enter into the kingdome of God yea every one that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution and as Daniel saith The same Horn viz. Antichrist made warr with the Saints and overcame them until the Judgment was set and the time came that the Saints were to possess the Kingdome Dan. 7.21 25. Acts 14.22 2 Tim. 3.12 And indeed the nigher to the end there shall be bating one another and betraying one another and the People of God shall be hated of all men for Christs name sake and as Christ saith in this world you shall have tribulation for if they have persecuted me they will also persecute you and this was the portion of the primitive Saints and will be the portion of the lâ—st also therefore in this corrupt body they do not raign but the wicked rule them with rigour but there is a time that Christ and the Saints shall raign over them and rule them with a rod of Iron and bruse them like a Potters vessel which shews that Christ and the Saints are to receive a Kingdome and raign upon earth Now that they are to rule all Nations read Psal 2.8 9. compared with Rev. 2.26 27. in Psal 2. the words are these Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron and than shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters vessel Thus you see the honour and dignity that God hath given to his Son namely to rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron and this very honour hath Christ given to the Saints as you may read Rev. 2.26 27. in these words He that overcometh and keepeth my works to the end I will give him power over the Nations and he shall rule them with a Rod of Iron and burse them like a potters vessel even as I have received of my Father Here we see the Scripture saith that Christ and the Saints shall rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron which sheweth that Christ and the Saints shall receive a Kingdome and raign upon earth And so I pass to the third reason why Christ and his Saints shall receive a Kingdome and raign upon the earth which is Reas 3. Because the Scripture saith that Christ and the Saints shall inherit the earth now to live on the earth and to have it or possess it as their own inheritance are two things for Abrahams slaves lived in Canaan but they had not the land in possession so was Abraham a sojourner in the land that afterwards he was to receive for an inheritance or possession even so it is with us we are strangers and sojourners in the earth as was our fathers and yet shall have it given into our hands for an inheritance when it is restored into its glory I do not say we shall have no more mistake not For otherwise the first Adam lost some happiness or soverainty that Christ never restores but that Christ and the Saints shall inherit the earth read these Scriptures diligently which saith He viz. Christ shall come down as rain upon the new mown grass as showers that watereth the earth and in that day shall the righteous flowrish and abundance of peace so long as the Moon endureth his dominion shall be from Sea to Sea from the rivers unto the ends of the earth Thus Christ shall come down and inherit the earth They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him Hence we see that Christ is to inherit the earth and the Nations to serve him and now you shall see that the Saints shall inherit the earth also and that Kings shall bow before them and they shall bind them in chains and fetters of Iron for so saith the Scripture Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth and the high praises of God be in their mouths and a two edged sword in their hands to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishment upon the people to bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron to execute upon them the Judgment written this honour hath all the Saints mark that praise ye the Lord therefore wait upon God and keep his wayes and he will exalt thee to inherit the earth when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be viz. bear rule but the meek shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace for evil doers shall be cut off but those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth Hence we see that Christ and the Saints are to inherit the earth and to exercise authority in government over Kings and this honour is not peculiar to a few of the Saints only but it belongs to all of them even to the beggar upon the dunghil for this honour hath ALL
the Saints praise ye the Lord Psal 149.8 9. Psal 72.5.6 7 8 9. Psal 37.9 10 11. Mat. 5.5 From which reason and Scriptures appeareth plainly that Christ and the Saints are to receive a Kingdome and raign upon earth And so I pass to the fourth reason to prove that Christ and the Saints shall receive a Kingdom and raign upon earth which is Reas 4. Because God hath promised to restore the Kingdom to Israel and their Judges as at the first which were men that judged them in righteousness even holy men and Christ sheweth us that he and those that obey him are to be Judges over the twelve Tribes of Israel now this is not to be understood in a spiritual sense that is to say that there were to be some of the twelve Tribes converted and Christ to rule over them for hear we see the Saints shall judge them that is meant be governors as the Judges at the first which cannot be taken in such a sense for the Saints are not to exercise authority one over another as considered in one and the same body as saith Christ The Lords of the Gentiles exercise authority and they that are cheef bear rule but amongst you it shall not be so but he that is greatest let him be your servant But that the Saints with Christ shall receive a Kingdome and judge the twelve Tribes read Luke 22.28 29 30. in these words Ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations and I appoint unto you a Kingdome as my father hath appointed unto me that ye may eat and drink with me at my table in my Kingdome and sit upon Thrones Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel And as before said this honour shall all the Saints have and therefore saith Saint Paul to the Corinths Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world 1 Cor. 6.2 4. Luke 22.28 29 30. Isa 1.26 These Scriptures with many more that I could add only I study brevity proveth that Christ and the Saints are to receive a Kingdome upon earth and raign and Judge the Tribes of Israel And so I pass to the fifth reason to prove that Christ and the Saints are to receive a Kingdome and raign upon the earth which is Reas 5. Because the Scripture saith that the Kingdomes of this world are to become the Kingdomes of the Lord and his Christ and he to take his great power and to raign and it is a true and a faithfull saying that those that suffer with Christ shall raign with him but to prove that the Kingdomes of this world shall become Christs kingdome and he to take his great power and to raign read Rev. 11.15 16 17 18. in these words And the seventh Angel sounded and there was a great voice in heaven saying the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall raign for ever and ever and the four and twenty Elders which sate before God on their seats fell upon their face and worshipped God saying we give thee thanks O Lord God almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast raigned and the Nations were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give a reward unto thy servants the Prophets to the Saints and to them that fear thy name small and great and should destroy them which destroyed the earth From these words we may see these particulars laid down First that the Kingdomes of this World are to be the Kingdomes of Christ at the sound of the seventh trumpet read my Vindication of Zions Redemption and Original Sin where you shall find the effect of the seventh trumpet the which at present I shall not speak to in particular but know that there is a set time that the Kingdomes of this World is to become the kingdomes of Christ But peradventure some will say was there a time when the Kingdomes of this World were not Christs I answer yea for although Christ was born King of the Jewes and by his descent according to the flesh was to be King as the Lord shewed the wise men that came from the East to worship him yet Christ tells Pilate that his Kingdome was not then of this World for he was first to suffer and afterwards to receive a Kingdome and raign so that there is a set time when the Kingdomes of this World shall be given into the hands of Christ And secondly the Nations were angry and his wrath and fury came up into his face he took his great power and did raign From whence we may see that although Christ never was without power yet there is a set time for his exercising of it which is implyed in the word TOOK his great power and did raign Thirdly it is the time that the dead shall be judged that is the dead in Christ and then he shall give the reward to his servants the Prophets and all that fear his name small and great Fourthly He will destroy them which destroyed the earth and make warr to cease from the ends of the earth and they shall beat their Swords into Plow-shears and their Spears into pruning hooks for there shall be abundance of peace so long as the Moon endureth So then there is a set time for Christ to take his great power and to raign and for the Kingdomes of this world to become the Kingdomes of our Lord and his Christ From whence we may see that Christ and the Saints are to receive and possess a Kingdome and raign upon earth and so I pass to the sixth reason to prove Christ and the Saints to have a Kingdome and raign upon earth which is Reas 6. Sixthly Because the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and he shall dwell with them now this very word the Tabernacle with men and he dwell with them implyeth that Christ shall come again and dwell upon earth for so is the comparison that Christ made while he was upon earth that the Son of man was like to a certain Noble man that went to receive a Kingdome and to return Luke 19. verse 11 12 13. From whence we may see that Christ is to return again as he also hath said I will come unto you again and your hearts shall rejoyce and your joy no man shall take from you but as for this I shall shew more at large anon only that you may see that the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and he dwell with them read Rev. 21.3 in these words And I heard a great voyce out of heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God O let the Nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt Judge the people righteously and govern the Nations
Christ and the Saints shall receive a Kingdom and raign upon earth Reas 9. Ninthly Because the Scripture saith That God will send Jesus Christ whom the Heavens must retain until the times of Restitution of all things Act. 3.19 20 21. and that he shall take the Kingdom out of the hands of the wicked and give it into the hands of the Saints according to Daniels words Chap. 7.14 18 22. where he as King and they as Princes shall raign in righteousness Isa 32.1 and Kings shall bow before Christ and them and lick up the dust of their feet and Kings shall minister unto them that is serve them or be servants unto them peruse these Scriptures well and so I shall hasten to the tenth and last Reason and also to a conclusion as to this Subject of Discourse the Scriptures are these Psal 72.10 11. Psal 68.29 Psal 110.5 Isa 49.7 23. Chap. 60.10 11 12. and thus it is written Princes shall come out of Egypt Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to God because of thy Temple at Jerusalem Kings shall bring presents unto thee they that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba viz. Ethiopia and Arabia shall offer gifts Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him The Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thy enemies thy foot-stool the Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion mark that rule thou in the middest of thine enemies The Lord at thy right hand shall strike thorow Kings in the day of his wrath he shall Judge amongst the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the head over many countries He hath shewed his people the power of his works that he may give them the Heritage of the Heathen Psal 111.6 For thus saith the Lord the redeemer of Israel and his holy one to him whom man despiseth to him whom the nations abhorreth to a servant of rulers Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the holy one of Israel and he shall chuse thee and they shall bow down with their faces towards the earth and lick up the dust of thy feet and thou shalt know that I am the Lord for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me For Kings shall minister unto thee for the nation or Kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish yea those nations shall be utterly wasted From these Scriptures with many move that I might add if time would give way to it we may see that God will take away the Kingdomes and Dominions out of the hands of the wicked heathens and give them into the hands of Christ and the Saints that they may possess the heritage of the heathen of which the taking the land of Canaan of old was a type and so Kings to fall down before them this honour shall Christ have and all the Saints praise ye the Lord. And thus I come to the tenth and last Reason that I shall give at present although many more might be given to prove that Christ and the Saints shall receive a Kingdome and raign upon earth which is Reas 10. Because the Scripture saith that there is a world to come to be put in subjection to Christ and the Saints now the word WORLD presupposeth the estate of things as at present in this world namely an inhabitance of men and beasts and of all creatures so as Adam had all things put into subjection so also shall the whole creation be restored to their former dignity Rom. 8. only the Serpent excepted and such men as sell their inheritance by their sins as Esau did his But because I must be brief I shall now give the Scriptures to prove that Christ and the Saints are to have a world to come put in subjection unto them which cannot be meant in heaven for I have already shewed that they shall not have that subjected to them but Christ and the Saints at that time viz. after the Mediator-ship is delivered up to God shall be in subjection themselves as you may see 1 Cor. 15.24 25 26 27 28. So then they having the promise of a world to come to be put in subjection under them implyeth clearly that Christ and the Saints shall raign upon earth or to have a world to come to raign in or the Kingdoms of this world to be altered and become the Kingdoms of Christ and the Saints as I before have proved but to the proof that Christ and the Saints are to have a world to come subjected under them read and peruse these Scriptures and the Lord grant to open thy understanding the Scriptures are thus read unto thee For unto the Angels hath he not put into subjection the world to come whereof we speak but one in a certain place testified saying what is man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of Man that thou shouldest visit him Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet for in that he hath put all things in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him but now we see not yet all things put under him but he shall subdue the people under us and the Nation under our feet For whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the World or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods And the Saints shall take the Kingdome and possess it for ever neither shall it be given into the hands of another people for ever from whence we may see that Christ and the Saints are to receive a Kingdome and Raign upon Earth And so I pass to the next Particular saying that I have given thee but a dram at present for what I might give as to this Subject of discourse if time had not prevented me but I hope that what hath been said here being seriously read and weighed will bring other Scriptures into thy mind and so citing the Texts before read unto thee Heb. 2.5 6 8. Psal 33.8 1 Cor. 3.22 Dan. 7.18 Chap. 2.44 I come to the third particular which is the manner of the coming of the Lord and the great slaughter at the taking of the Kingdome The Battel of the great day As touching the Battel of the great day of the God Almighty We find that the Prophets as well as the Apocalepse do bear their Testimony unto the truth thereof so that I need not use much circumlocution or argument to prove it yet in order to the clearing of the matter I shall lay down this point as a ground of the dicourse which is That there will be such a great slaughter at the coming of Christ to take and possess the Kingdome that the very Fouls of the
the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts yea all Kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him his name shall be for ever Name signifieth authority his name shall be continued as long as the Sun and the whole earth shall be filled with his glory Amen Psal 62.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. This whole Psalm with many more speaks fully of this thing and how can it be imagined that the Babylonion and Pertian and Gretian and Roman Monarchs should continue so long and Christs Kingdome that the Scripture speaks most of which is to be the Kingdome under the whole Heavens should remain so little a while as some do Imagine to what end is it for him to take his great power and to raign if it be for such a small time as one day according as a day is in our account no doubtless it is to be for a thousand years at the least Secondly We understand the six dayes vocation of Gods work doth hold forth and teach us that the continuation of the World is to be for six thousand years it being considered that a day with the Lord is as a thousand years only the dayes to be shortned for the elects sake and the seventh day which was Gods rest from his labour and the year of Jubilee to be understood to figure out unto us the seven thousand years which is to be the time of Christs Kingdome and the glorious rest that we are to labour to enter in to Thirdly It appears to be a large time because the families of the earth are to come up to worship this great King the Lord of Hosts Isa 66. Zach. 14. Mich. 4. and the Lord is to be their teacher and he is to make war at that time to cease to the ends of the earth and he is to be one and his name one at that time and to govern the nation upon the earth all which things bespeaks more time than a moment or one natural dayes time Fourthly It further appears that the time will not be short because in the time of Christs Kingdome his will shall be done in earth as it is done in heaven when the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and he dwell with them as the time is at hand when it will be so and the earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea time would fail me to speak of these things in particular and therefore I shall omit it at present and more especially because there are many in this nation would assist me with their help in this point of Christs Kingdom if it should lie at the stake for want of proof and that makes me the more sparing for I could thorow Gods assistance speak more largely about the same point but because of the reasons before mentioned I have only given thee what lyeth before me in my understanding and leave the most serious perusal of things until a future and greater occasion offereth it self unto me and at present shall only speak a few words to the estate and condition of the wicked in the day of the Lord and in the time of his Kingdome which is First as concerning the coming of Christ we find that the greatest part of men shall be gathered together to make up that company of Gogg and Magog and we may read what will become of them when the Vine of the earth is reaped and cast into the great Winepress of God and trod without the gates of Jerusalem that blood shall come out to the horse bridle and Joel and Ezekiel speaks largly of that and more of it Revel 19.1 And although time admits not of writing the words of the several texts yet peruse them at thy leasure as thou mayest find them written Isa 63.1 2 3 4. Ezek. 39. to the sixteen verse Joel 3.11 12 13. Revel 14.18 19 20. Chap. 16.16 ARMAGEDDON a place of slaughter Chap. 19.17 18 19 20. From these and many more which might be cited the which elsewhere I have cited we may see that a very great multitude will be slain at the very time when Christ shall take his Kingdome although a few shall be affrighted and give glory to God but the next or that which remains is to speak somewhat of the rest which are not slain and First we cannot conclude any of them in a state of Salvation or any grace to be offered to them that are wicked and refuse the tender of the Gospel save them few above written because when Christ cometh he that then is holy shall be holy still and he that then is filthy shall then be filthy still Revel 22.11 12. Secondly the great Antichrist shall cause all unless the sanctifyed ones and some few elect that shall escape him to receive a mark in their right hand or forehead and they that escape the sword which received his mark they shall be tormented day and night and they shall have such curses as I spake of not long before concerning the sinner that remained so till he come to be a sinner an hundred years old But paradventure some may say There is some that have not heard of Christs fame shall at that time be sent to that they may see his glory Isa 66.19 Answ There are some that shall escape the Man of sin and not receive his mark as Edom and Moab and the chief of the children of Ammon Dan. 11.41 And Moab shall be an hiding place to Israel in that day these shall be sent to Tarshish and pull and lug that they that by reason of being remote have not heard these shall have a day of grace offered in the time of Christs raign and also the children that are in their non-age but the Sons of those that have afflicted Gods people shall come bending unto them and in brief thus as the wicked shall be broken like a Potters Vessel at the coming of Christ even so those that in their generations come not up to worship the Lord Christ in the time of his Kingdome shall be bond-slaves to Israel and at last perish in the manner before spoken of so in the time of Christs Kingdome there will be some sinners though not of the Jews and their Judgment will be great and at last when the Devil is loosed at the end of the thousand years there will be such a seed for him to work upon as in fore time and then he shall befool them perswade them that they may break off their yoak from off their neck and not be captivated but may themselves conquer and raign and so shall come up to Jerusalem thinking to besiege it and take it and then fire shall come down from God out of Heaven and destroy them and this bringeth in the resurrection of the unjust namely the last and general resurrection the eternal Judgment then when all Rulers and authority is put down even the very last enemy which
sink and be loosed for their efficacy for a time Answ From what you say here I understand you do believe or at least admit of it that the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against the Church of Christ but that there shall be one in all ages only this Church is to loose her keyes as you think so as not to bind and loose open and shut that is as I understand not to receive in nor to cast out and how this Church shall come to loose her keyes I know not although I have well perused what you say concerning the star that fell from Heaven to Earth for God will not take away the keyes that I can find from the Church and Devils or wicked men cannot take them away for the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it how then shall these keys come to be loost I am a thinking what you might have said from Mat. 25. That while she slumbred and slept shee let them fail out of her hands but I suppose that if she had so done she would have took them up again when she was awake but you say that there was a star fell from Heaven to Earth that had the key of the bottomless pit viz. an evil Angel or Minister as I understand you which had usurped all Church power into his custody totally apostated from Heaven to Earth and becomes a meer earthly Angel by which the Church policy that before was a Kingdome of Heaven is become a bottomless pit and instead of the keyes of the celestial Kingdome was another contrary key of the same bottomless pit the key being the same with the Church Answ The particulars considerable are these as first there was an Angel that had usurped all Church power into his custody say you To which I say me thinks its very strange that an Angel should usurp all Church power into his custody sure it was not while he was in Heaven nay but I remember it was after he was fallen to Earth and then it was not the key of the Kingdome of Heaven viz. the power of the true Church corrupted but it was another key viz. another power ever the key and power of Darkness and indeed it cannot be rationally imagined as I think that an Angel that is to say or Minister should carry all the power and authority away of all the seven Churches of Asia which had seven Angels belonging unto them and not only those seven Churches but also many other Churches that were then extant upon earth so then if the Angel received his key after his fall the which he did read Revel 9.1 2 3 4. then it could not be the key of the Kingdome of Heaven CORRVPTED but another key given to him namely the key of the bottemless pit and what proof is this to prove that all Church power was lost when an Angel viz. or Minister fell away from Heavenly mindedness to earthly mindedness let the rational Reader Judge Secondly That the keyes spoken of Mat. 16.18 were to remain in the Churches hands for ever is very plainly proved in the Scripture as First From the words of our blessed Saviours own mouth Mat. 18.18 19 20. in these words Verily I say unto you that whatsoever ye viz. the Church shall blind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in HEAVEN from these words we may see that Christ hath given his Church power to deal with offenders and to bind them that is to exclude them from that Communion of Saints and that it is to be perpetuated is plain because it is annexed to vers 20. which is perpetuated as is most evident Thus we may see in the first place that Christ did once give his Church his power and never took it away again from them and the power and strength of Hell cannot do it For the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and surely the falling of one Star from Heaven to Earth namely the fall of one Minister could not dispossess the whole body of Christ namely his Church in all places consisting of many particular Churches and Stars or Ministers of all their power that Christ gave unto his body the Church it being further considered that the Gates of Hell was not to prevail against it take this comparison Suppose the Constable of Benenden should lose his power as an Officer by reason of his rebellion doth it therefore follow that all the Constables in the seven hundreds or in that division have lost their power who have not rebelled and the several Parishes thereby lose their power so as they cannot execute the Law upon offenders which if so it is a Paradox unto me even so if one Minister of the Church or one Minister and Church should fall away and so lose their true power and in the room thereof take up the power of darkness doth it therefore follow that all the other Churches and Ministers which did not fall should lose their power also surely no there is no reason to be given to prove it but we find there was but one STAR in the singular number and not STARS in the plural number that fell and therefore to say because one Minister fell and lost his place and true power therefore there must needs be a sink of all Ministers and power is all one as if I should say that because Judas fell and lost his power and Apostle-ship therefore there was no Apostle-ship nor power upon Earth which to say would be rediculous and yet there is as good reason for the one as for the other but indeed no reason at all for neither so then the sum of what can be said from Revel 9.1 2 3. Is that there was a STAR that fell from Heaven to Earth and worked wickedness that is one Minister fell from Heaven that is to say from the Heavenly Church state to an Earthly Church state from the Oracles of God to the traditions of men and so it might be and was that one Minister amongst many might fall and yet the rest stand fast as it was with many in the primitive age and this is all which can be said from Revelations 9. And Secondly That Church power was perpetuated and to remain after these Apostles Death amongst the Churches is plain because the successive Ministers and Churches were to use the same practice of receiving and rejecting as we may read Tit. 3.10 2 Tim. 4.2 2 Thes 3.14 And your own principle alloweth of it for you do affirm that the practice of the Lords Supper is perpetuated and to remain in all ages and suppose you did do what you judge is your duty to do namely observe and keep the Lords Supper it must also of necessity be your own practice for suppose that one of your communicates that appeared to be a civil honest religious man but last Lords day and one which ye much delighted in but peradventures before the next Lords day
he appears to be an hypocrite even a drunkard or a fornicator or the like now will you admit of that man although formerly he had communion with you to have communion with you now when he appears both to you and all men that behold him to be a scandalous and prophane man I hope not and if another man of the great or little Bodies as you call them should proffer to have communion with you whom you judge godly would you not admit of him surely yea and if so consider at your leisure how much less this is than receiving and rejecting taking in and casting out binding and loosing consider well if yours were a congregation approved of by Christ the danger of such as ye reject and the benefit of such as ye admit of and indeed my opinion is that the great reason why ye do not practise that Ordinance is because if you did then you would be necessitated to receive in and cast out or otherwise you would have such a communion as the very worldlings would hisse at but now that you may shuffle a company together of all sorts and inlarge your Tents rather than you would let go some the which you would be ashamed of if yours were a communion of Saints you let go Christs Ordinance and so condemn your self in the things that you allow and indeed I do profess it seems very strange to me that any man that hath but a face of zeale in Religion and godliness that they will associate themselves with you in spiritual things for I do assure you that I should be very cautious how I had any communion with a man that liveth in the breach of that which he knoweth to be his duty to do fearing that he that makes but little conscience or indeed no conscience in one duty will make as little conscience in another provided it be inconsistant with his credit or reputation But to pass these things I shall give an argument to prove the continuation of receiving and rejecting binding and loosing which is If there be such a conjunction between keeping the Lords Supper and receiving and rejecting as that the Lords Supper cannot remain practicable and to be practised so as to be approved of God without it then receiving in and casting out is as perpetual as the Lords Supper But there is such a conjunction between the keeping of the Lords Supper and receiving and rejecting so that the Lords Supper cannot remain practicable and to be practised so as to be approved of by God without it Ergo the Ordinance of receiving and rejecting is as perpetual as the Lords Supper and one to attend the other The major is undeniable that is to say in short thus if receiving in and casting out be an Ordinance of such consequence as the Lords Supper cannot remain to be practised without it then it of necessity will follow that if one remain practicable so doth the other and Mr. Henden saith one doth remain namely the Lords Supper And the minor I shall prove that one cannot remain practicable without the other that is to say that without receiving into the Church and casting out of the Church the Ordinance of the Lords Supper cannot remain practicable and practised so as the Lord will approve of it and if so receiving into communion and casting out viz. binding and loosing is perpetuated and to remain as well as the Lords Supper but now to prove the minor namely that the Lords Supper cannot remain practised so as to be approved of by God without receiving in and casting out is first persons must have a time to be received into the visible Church of Christ one way or other unless persons are born members of Christs Church the which I think none will affirm because Christ saith that unless a man be borne again he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God for that which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of Spirit is Spirit marvel not that I say unto thee that thou must be borne again And that it was the practice of the primitive Churches to receive in her members is clear from these Scriptures and many more that might be added Rom. 15.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. 2 Cor. 7.2 Gal. 4.13 14. 3 John 10. So that if there be not a continual adding to the Church daily such as shall be saved then Christs House will be quickly empty Secondly If there be not also a casting out the Lords Supper cannot remain practised so as the Lord will accept of it for the Lord hath commanded that if any be a fornicator or covetous or extortioner or an idolator or a drunkard or a railor that the Church should not have communion with him no not with such an one to eat and that there hath been such in the Church of God and have been cast out when they have been discovered read 1 Cor. 5. from the first verse to the 12. and that it is so in our dayes is plainly seen that there be some that seem to walk a while as Christians and then who can deny them the Lords Supper and not long after do shew themselves wicked and prophane and then who dares to administer it unto them and who dares to eat with them because the Lord hath forbid it And therefore to say that the Churches may and ought to break bread viz. eat the Lords Supper at such a time as she hath lost her power to deal with the wicked and scandalous so far as to exclude them is no less than to say that Christ is a transgressor in building the things the which he hath destroyed and will not the Church then be a cage of all manner of unclean birds or is it not as frequently seen that there be apostates in our dayes as in the primitive age and in short take this maxime that take either a Common-wealth without its power in government namely power to bind and loose in Civils and a Family without its power in government and a Church of Christ without its power in government and you shall see that the best of it will be a lump of confusion and at the end come to destruction or be a desolation so then the sum of all is this in short that if the Ordinance of the Lords Supper be perpetuated and to ramain in the greatest times of apostacy then the power of the Church also did remain because it is impossible for persons to eat the Lords Supper so as for God to approve of it if the Church have not power to exclude offenders because with such the Church may not eat nor have no fellowship in Spiritual things 2 Cor. 6. And that such were and will be found in the visible Church till they be purged out the Scriptures and our experience witnesseth daily from whence we may see that if the Church have not lost that precious Ordinance of the Lords Supper neither hath she lost her keyes of binding and loosing
Heavens shall be filled with the flesh and bloud of Captaines and great men of the earth For thus saith the Prophet Ezek. 39.17 18. And thou son of man thus saith the Lord God speak unto every feathered foul and to every beast of the field Assemble your selves and come gather your selves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel that ye may eat flesh and drink blood Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the Princes of the earth and ye shall eat fat till ye be full and drink blood till ye be drunken of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you And all the heathen shall see my Judgment that I have executed and my hand that I have laid upon them Revel 19.17 And I saw an Angel standing in the Sun and he cryed with a loud voyce saying to all the fouls that flie in the midst of Heaven come and gather your selves together unto the Supper of the great God That ye may eat the flesh of Kings and the flesh of Captains and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them and the flesh of all men small and great bond and free From these Scriptures you may see that there is to be a very great slaughter at the time when the Lord Christ shall take his Kingdome to Raign upon Earth and several Prophets also bear their testimony to this thing as Isa 34.5 6. Joel 2.1 2 3 4. But because of the want of time I pass to the reasons of the point Reason 1. Because the Scripture saith that God will give him viz. Christ the heathen for his inheritance and he shall bruise them like a potters vessel Psal 2. and we also see what the Psalmist saith of Christs victory over his enemies Psal 110.5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike thorow Kings in the day of his wrath he shall Judge amongst the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the heads over many Countries for saith he I will tread them down in my anger and trample them in my fury and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments and I will stain all my rayment for the day of vengeance is in my heart and the year of my redeemed is come from whence we see that Christ is not only to take the Kingdomes of the whole World into his hands but also to trample the wicked as ashes under the soles of his feet and so I pass to the second reason Reason 2. Because the Lord hath said that the destruction of the Assyrian viz. the man of sin or Antichrist shall be like the slaughter of Midian at the Rock Orib Isa 10.24 25 26. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Hosts O my people that dwell in Zion be not afraid of the Assyrian he shall smite thee with a Rod and shall lift up his staff against thee after the manner of Egypt for yet a very little while and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction and the Lord of Hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the Rock Orib now that you may understand what that slaughter was you may read Judg. 7.22 Where we find that the Lord set every mans hand against his brother so that they destroyed each other with a very great slaughter and so it will be in the day of the Lord for when they see the great unavoydable judgments which shall overtake them and that the mountains will be too narrow a covering for them then will their indignation be kindled one against another so as to destroy each other as you may see from that type in the dayes of Gideon and also from the words of the Prophet Ezek. 38.18 19 20 21 22. which saith it shall come to pass at the same time when Gogg shall come up against the Land of Israel saith the Lord God that my fury shall come up in my face For in my jealousie and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken Surely in that day shall there be a great shaking in the Land of Israel So that the fish of the Sea and the fouls of the heaven and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creepeth upon the earth and all men that are upon the face of the earth shall shake at my presence and the mountains shall be thrown down and the steep places shall fall and every wall shall fall to the ground And I will call for a sword against him thorow all my mountains saith the Lord God every mans sword shall be against his brother And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood and I will rain upon him and upon his bands and upon the many people that are with him an overflowing rain and great hailstones fire and brimstome Thus will I magnifie wy self and so forth from these words with the Prophet Zach. 14.13 We may see that there will be a very great slaughter upon Gogg and his Army at the time when the Lord Christ shall dispossess him of his great power and authority and it will be like to that slaughter of Gideon which was called the sword of the Lord and the sword of Gideon Judg. 7.18 Reason 3. That there is to be such a great slaughter is clear because it is to be like the great slaughter of Jehoshaphat upon Moab Ammon and Mount Seir 2 Chron. 20.22 23 24. which was a very great slaughter as you may read in the fore cited text and that this slaughter was a type of the slaughter that shall be at the time when Christ shall take the Kingdome you may see what Joel saith to this Joel 3.1 12 13. For behold in those dayes and in that time when I shall bring again the Captivity of Judah and Jerusalem I will gather all Nations and will bring them down unto the valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there let the heathen be awakned and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to Judge the heathen round about proclaim ye amongst the Gentiles prepare war beat your Plowshears into swords and your pruning hooks into spears put you in the sickle for the harvest is ripe and the Angel thrust in his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God and the winepress was troden without the City and blood came out of the winepress even to the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs Revel 14.19 20. From whence we may see that there is to be a very great slaughter in and amongst the Army of Gogg and Magog I could cite many such like texts only time suffereth me not but I pass to the fourth reason Reason 4. Because it is to