thorow a glass 1 Cor. 13.9 10 12. neither came all that they knew to them at the first moment after their new creation or new birth of the Spirit John 3.5 but by degrees for saith Paul 2 Cor. 4.16 their inward man was renewed and perfected day by day the morning and the day-star going before them further and further until it came and stood over where lies the young child or Truth new found Mat. 2.9 so guided their minds from one consequence to another as from the lowermost link through the whole intermediate concatenation unto the higher end of the Chain yet in no great space of time that in following it close by seeking and by knocking for he who will that it should be opened to him must knock Luk. 11.10 and rise early and watch at the posts of wisdoms door Prov. 8.17 34. and traffick with his talent but never keep it laid up they did climb up by degrees into all wisdom and truth came to some knowledge in all the most hidden things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and so did stand in no need of a sudden immediate impulse and inspiration to declare and speak of them when they saw an occasion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will lead you in the way John 16.13 now leading one in the way implys that he walks himself and neither is carried to nor the things which he is led into brought unto him And the Son of God saith 1 John 5.20 hath given us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 note he saith not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the understanding it self but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is novum lumen in mente a discerning faculty that we may by consulting judging and examining discern to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where the conjunction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in English that we may shews that the said enquiring and discerning faculty is the way and the means which the Holy Ghost brought St. John and the Apostles to know 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Truth by Also it is plain from hence that the gift of the Son of God the Holy Spirit bestowed on the Apostles is first an understanding enlightned and rectified to which they were left even in the midst of their Visions to gather from what they saw what they were to do and teach Act. 16.10 10.15 28. Whereas the ancient Prophets under the Old Testament with whom the true Unction the Comforter or Spirit made no such constant abode as Christ promised it would with those that should keep his words thenceforth or believe in him John 14.16 23. had not the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Light constantly shining in their minds to direct them upon all occurrences but the word of the Lord came to them and his Spirit upon them by intervals God was not yet Emmanuel the Tabernacle of the Lord was yet sometimes taken down Isa 33.20 and his Oracle or his Word the Verbum Domini that is his intellectus voluntas posse actus nam cum omnisciens omnipotens Deus neque consilio neque voce utatur scire velle agere is still but one thing in him to wit his Verbum or Christ who is therefore called the wisdom of the Father by which he knows and willeth and the arm and the power of the Lord John 12.38 41. 1 Cor. 1.24 by which he can acts creates and makes all things Heb. 1.2 and saves all them that believe did not as yet dwell in men John 14.17 1 Cor. 6.19 for they did not receive the promise of the Father Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.4 5 8. till Christ was glorified John 7.37 16.7 Therefore the ancient Seers had not the Oracle in them to consult with at all times like Christians whom God speaks to in these last days by his Son Heb. 1.2 who is the true Mercy-seat or Propitiatorium Rom. 3.25 found between the Cherubims viz. the Angelical Souls which have Heaven within them Luk. 17.21 Phil. 3.20 from whence God gives his Oracles ever since his first coming or appearance in the flesh But the Angel of God Christ Gen. 48.16 18.1 10 13 16 17. Mal. 3.1 made himself known and spake to them 1. in Visions and Dreams Numb 12.6 Gen. 31.11 Dan. 7.1 2. 2. or spake to them by a voice from above the Mercy-seat between the two Cherubims as the Lord did with Moses Exod 25.22 Numb 7.89 9.8 9. whence to the Testimony saith Isaiah 8.20 Numb 17.4 because that it was then hidden under the Mercy-seat in the Ark Exod. 25.16 21. Heb. 9.4 to enquire for counsel at the Lords mouth by Vrim Numb 27.21 Josh 9.14 Isa 30.2 Exod. 28.30 28. 1 Sam. 30.7 8. 3. or the Lord did put his word in their mouth and in their ears Numb 22.38 23.16 1 Sam. 9.15 Jer. 1.9 Ezek. 5.14 Isa 6.7 49.2 not in their understandings as by the new Covenant Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8.7 8 13. 4. or they were as Peter saith 2 Pet. 1.21 transported 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some sudden rapture of the Spirit upon them Numb 11.26 1 Sam. 10.6 19.20 to 24. 2 Kings 3.15 1 Chron. 12.18 5. or received their Visions falling into Trances like Abraham Gen. 15.12 Balaam Numb 24.4 Ezechiel ch 2.12 8.3 and some others Dan. 10.8 9. And they were called Seers 1 Sam. 9.9 because that for the most part they saw what they were to say and to do represented and described in their Trance Exod. 25.9 Heb. 8.5 thus having their eyes open to see the Visions of the Almighty whilst their body was dead and bereft of sense But the Apostles of Christ being one degree higher understood not by but from their Visions when they had some by means of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what they were to do and speak and fell not into Trances which were accompanied with pain horrour and darkness Gen. 15.12 Dan. 10.8 when they had any Visions but being in the Spirit often of their own accord Revel 1.10 they were in such Extasies caught up into Paradise Rom. 14.17 there to hear and see without weakness anguish and horrour the unspeakable words and Visions they received 2 Cor. 12.4 Whence if according to Christ John 20.29 blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed because intelligere being ipsum credere he that can without seeing understand what other men cannot understand and so believe without they see it is blessed with a better enlightned understanding as hath been shewed already the Apostles were blessed with a greater share of that which gives men understanding and were therefore greater than the said Seers and Prophets And hence comes that John till whom the Law and the Prophets were Luk. 16.16 though the greatest among all them that are born of women was the least saith Christ Mat. 11.11 12 13. among all them that are born of God John 1.13 or the least in the kingdom of God which as it began but from the time John lived Luk. 16.16 so it did not include him for the
THE ETERNAL GOSPEL Once more Testified unto and Vindicated Against the Ignorance or Malice of the Bishops and Teachers of the now Church of England This Book proving against their Doctrine That the Holy Ghost is not ceased but is still given to all the Faithful and to some in the same measure as the Apostles and Disciples of Christ had it Also at the occasion of a late Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Bishop of London by the Vicar of West-ham that Miracles and other gifts and works of the Holy Ghost are not ceased in the Church and that the School-Learning helps no man to understand Scripture and the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven nor the knowledge of Nature where by the way the true cause of the so much perplexed and famous Phoenomenon taken for a Weather-glass is by Experiments cleared and demonstrated against the Hypothesis of the New Virtuosi John 5.44 12.43 Luk. 7.35 How can they believe who seek for the honour of one another and love the praise of men more than that which comes from God But wisdom is justified or known of all her Children LONDON Printed for Allen Banks and are to be sold by most Booksellers in London 1681. HAving received this Book from the Author in order to its Printing I do hereby appoint Allen Banks to print the same Witness my Hand HENRY SCARLOT TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS JAMES Duke of YORK Patroni valeant Ecquis proteggere Verum Luci aut optatae fautor adesse potest Qui Lux qui Verum est qui Verum in saecula servat I liber ille tuus nempe Patronus erit THis is not therefore Great Sir to beg your Patronage for this Book nor for my self but rather to direct you to the Light of salvation Luk. 1.17 and to make it shine to you 2 Cor. 4.4 lest you lose here your Earthly and after your Heavenly Kingdom for lack of knowledge Hos 4.6 for though I seem angry with some men for Religion I am so far from hating a man for his Religion that I look upon him as he whom the Son of man came to save Mat. 18.11 a fit object of my love and charity and as a wounded man who needs me that am neither Priest Minister nor Levite for his Friend Luk. 10.30 37. and Physician Mat. 9.12 And therefore I am so much farther from being concern'd against Your Highness for yours with the Epidemical distemper though it wants not a President in Scripture 2 Kings 3.13 14. that Your Highness is one of the powers of this Land whom I am bound to honour and that for the Oath of God Rom. 13.1 2. Eccl. 8.2 and that looking upon you not only as a wounded but as such wounded man who though fallen unhappily into the hands of those Thieves John 10.1 20.21 22. that are stripping Your Highness both of the Triple Earthly Crown you might else enjoy one day and of your chiefest Kingly Heavenly Prerogative the Holy Unction whereby Christ makes all those Kings indeed Prov. 16.32 25.28 that do obey his commands Rev. 1.6 Exod. 19.5 6. may not only recover but be a great instrument to promote Gods Spiritual Kingdom and therefore as such Dan. 12.3 deserve one the first Thrones and Crowns among the twelve Tribes of Israel in Heaven Luk. 13.30 7.43 47. I tender your safety more than that of any man wishing with all my heart that like the Samaritan I might pour Oyl and Wine into your Highness's wounds set you on my Beast bring you to an Inn your Throne and thence to an everlasting Kingdom where may your Highness reign for evermore Amen But how can I do this except you own and believe that you are wounded and sick and how can you believe it except you come to know it and how shall you come to know except one doth shew it you and except you attend to the things that shall be shewed Act. 16.14 Rom. 10.14 15 17. If you will be pleased therefore to peruse this Book it shews you and you may easily gather from it that all men generally Christians as well as Gentiles are by birth bruised and sick Gen. 3.15 Rom. 3.23 1. Cor. 11.7 that the way to recover from the said sickness and bruise and to become whole again as to the Kingdom of God which is in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 being by the said new birth of the Holy Ghost who is then renewed within them Tit. 3.5 all men must to be saved be thus regenerated and receive the Holy Ghost therefore as well and as much as the Primitive Christians and that the said renewing or new birth of the Spirit being a reformation to the same Image of God Adam was created to which doth consist in knowledge Coloss 3.10 as well as in righteousness Ephes 4.24 the Spirit of the Father that doth create us anew to his Image and likeness teaching all things John 14.26 16.13 1 John 2.20 27. 1 Cor. 2.10 as well as he is the power of Christ Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 Gods arm revealed to us and the bloud of the Lamb whereby sin is overcome and righteousness fulfilled Rev. 12.11 is inconsistent therefore with a despondent relying on other men for what we are to know to believe and to practise and is not attained to by a change or conversion from Popery for instance to another Religion which knows Christ as much after the flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 worships the Father as little in spirit and truth John 4.24 aâ—â— grieves the Holy Spirit no less than the Popish Church and which under the pretence of Reforming makes a Schism which is a far greater sin than to bear with some few erroneous opinions but by a true conversion from sin to righteousness by knocking and by waiting at the posts of Wisdoms doors Prov. 8.34 Jam. 1.5 by perusing daily and keeping diligently the precepts of that wisdom contained in the Scriptures in vitam lucem assurgendo our selves For such conversion is to know me saith the Lord Jer. 22.16 9.3 and such knowledge of God is saith Christ John 17.3 life Eternal Verily such knowledge and not an implicite Faith is both Salvation it self and the cause of Temporal and Worldly felicity for when a man meditates daily in the Law of God and observeth to do according to all the words that are written therein he makes his way prosperous and successful in all things Josh 1.8 Deut. 28.1 to 14. and when his ways please the Lord even the worst Enemies he hath are at peace with him Prov. 16.7 But Sir as such knowledge is our summum bonum both in this and the next World so extremum malum est non recognoscere Deum in the said manner for though God for a great while winketh at this ignorance Act. 17.30 yet he will be known at last and felt specially of those that either forget to know or having the means offer'd to know him do neglect them see Judg. 2.10 11 14. And the Egyptians
shall know when I stretch forth my hand that I am â—he Lord saith he Exod. 7.5 and whether men will or no they shall give glory to God 1 Sam. 6.5 and acknowledge that their breath and their ways are in his hand Dan. 5.23 that he rules in the kingdom of men v. 21. 4.25 32. and that no Evil whether against a Nation or against a man only Job 24.29 is done and sent but by him Amos 3.6 Read the Scriptures and see there how all those Kings that followed the way of Jeroboam knew God no better than he and their People for their sake were severely punished and how Manasseb having paid dear for his ignorance came to understand at last and know that the Lord was God 2 Chron. 33.11 12 13. and thereupon was restored again from Captivity to a flourishing State and a glorious Kingdom Nay the most prosperous King that ever was Solomon found true by experience that when a Prince forgets God and goes a whoring after another Worship of God than that which is agreable to that in Spirit and truth Judg. 2.17 then his anger waxeth hot and he doth deliver him into his Enemies hands and stirreth up not only Adversaries against him 1 Kings 11.8 9 10 14 23. but also his own Subjects who lift their hands against him v. 26. 12.18 whilst those whom he trusted to help him not but forsake him 2 Chron. 11.4 for this thing is done of me and neither understanding strength nor counsel against me can avail you saith the Lord Prov. 21.30 In vain is safety hoped for from the hills and from the abundance of strong holds Jer. 3.23 In vain are Garrisons kept and a new Army raised for all will work together to the destruction of those that know and believe not God Rom. 8.28 At the presence of the Ark the waters of Jordan were divided and heapt up the walls of Jericho fell down and the heart of all the Kings of the Canaanites melted before Israel whilst they believed in God Josh 5.1 Judg. 2.7 but when they had forgot him at the presence of the Ark they whose heart melted before receive vigour and courage and Israel that shouted is overcome and smitten 1 Sam. 4.5 7 9. and that when they fled to it as to their Anchora sacra or their sure refuge And because men of the World are very unwilling to acknowledge that it is the immediate hand of God the first time they are smitten and attribute the cause to some fault or accident as the men of Benhadad when they had been defeated 1 Kings 20.23 who said their Gods being Gods of the hills have given them this advantage in the hills but if we fight with them in the plain or the Valleys we shall be stronger than they therefore God to make them know that it is he that doth it brings as upon Benhadad upon them the second time an entire destruction Sir There is no greater sin laid to the charge of a Prince who is born in and pretends to the Covenant of God than that of his ignorance and ungratefulness to God which is properly the sin and way of Jeroboam who thought by establishing in his Kingdom a worship altogether repugnant to the true worship of God 1 Kings 12.28 John 4.24 to preserve it for himself and for his Posterity but lost it and destroyed his Posterity by it The same thing got Gideon by the Ephod which he made for it became saith Esdras Judg. 8.27 such snare unto his house that his threescore and ten Sons were all at once caught in it ch 9.5 and such an evil Spirit of misunderstanding as is now between your Highness and the English People was sent between his Bastard and those who had chose him King v. 23. that they carried it not far but were soon after so fast entangled in the same snare that they utterly cut off and destroyed one another By the revolts of Subjects the Princes sins against God are commonly punished and nothing makes Princes more potent and absolute than when they themselves serve God their King and Master in Truth Do so then rise from darkness to light convert your self Sir to the true God of all flesh and when you are converted set up a strong purpose to promote his Spiritual Kingdom with all your power and those very Enemies that would not have you to reign over them shall be your Friends and shall as they did before at your former return meet you with Acclamations and become your dutiful Subjects and continue such as long as you continue dutiful to your Maker God give you understanding that you may serve him and live as it was the prayer of a wise King for himself Psal 119.34 144. so it shall be mine for you and that the Earth may be full of the knowledge of the Lord Isa 11.9 under you if you outlive and succeed his Majesty The Reader is desired before he reads this Book to correct it as followeth viz. PAg. 4. l. 13. for and the old read and that the old Pag. 31. l. 18. for and I cannot pray read and I can pray Pag. 32. l. 8. for availeth read availing Pag. 38. l. 1 for impudientes read impedientes Pag. 49. l. 6. for mirarles read miracles Pag. 104. l. 20. for these read this Pag. 106. l. 9. for undestand read understand Pag 108. l. 5. for also the Column is very low read also though the Column is as low Pag 108. l. 7 8 9. for whereas the Air flowing then laterally hath no such pressure upon the Stagnum as it would in still weather if it had any at all read yet the Air flowing then laterally ought to have no pressure on the Stagnum which I prove c. Pag 108. l. 24 for the Air would likewise abate read the Air ought likewise to lose Pag. 108. l. 26. for of the descent read all the descent Pag. 117. l. 23. for disjoyns the Fluids read divides the Fluid Pag. 124. l. 8. for casc read case Pag. 126. l. 25. for in D C A read in D C E. Pag. 149. l. 18. for said an Author read saith a Modern Author Pag. 212. l. 6. for hem read him THE ETERNAL GOSPEL Once more Testified unto and Vindicated c. GOD forbid that I should revile or censure the least of the Ministers of God Mat. 18.10 as some will with the Vicar of West-ham pag. 22. be apt to say I do for then I could not but fear some such punishment as fell upon those Children who reviled Elisha 2 Kings 2.25 But God forbid also that I should look upon some men as God's Ministers because they count themselves such Job 32.21 22. for then I must needs be sitting in the same shadow of death ignorance of God John 17.3 and in danger to lye down at last in the same sorrow Isa 50.11 as they that know God only by hear-say and worship him in shews with their mouth and lips The means to avoid mistakes
grief and of despair which lies between her own natural state or principle and the new principle or state of Light and of Conversion much less to bring it over the same safe and entire because it must be willing and co-work to its own help but will do neither of them Mat. 23.37 and though I set my will as fully as it can be upon the thing purposed and lift up my mind as high as it can rise and extend and even beyond its source or mother Eternity and in fine stretch out my Soul to such incredible size as to be greater than all things within ubiquity yet because a Soul is not to be reduced by force and taken by a strong hand into the Kingdom of God or else the Almighty power and wisdom of God needed not to have dyed to reduce men under it and that is not the Kingdom of God where he reigns by force but where men yield obedience and subjection to his will out of love for his goodness and freely give him up all power honour and glory I cannot for all this transport prevail upon it but like the stronger man Luk. 11.22 I may thereby prevail over the strong armed man the Devil that keeps his house v. 21. and take from him his armour his fiery darts and having cast him out of his strong hold loose the Soul which he had bound before Mat. 18.18 and taken captive as St. Paul saith at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 and I canâ—â—â— pray to God to appease his fierce wrath by his great fountain of love Jesus his own heart and Light to cleave the Rocks and to shake the Earth as when Christ dyed and to shake Heaven also Heb. 12.26 Luk. 22.44 as it is certainly done in every conversion for the powers that are in Heaven must be shaken before the sign of the Son of man the bright morning Star 2 Pet. 1.19 Rev. 3.28 22.16 appears in the contrite Souls which are the clouds of Heaven Luk. 17.21 with his light and great glory Mat. 24.29 30. Mark 13.26 Luk. 21.26 27. and then to send down his Light of Life to convince the Soul and to give it strength to turn away from its vanity Act. 3.26 Now the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availetâ— much as saith James 5.16 the prayer of such Faith as this may convert a Soul v. 15. procure it some light and grace which when a man sees it come to pass he may boldly say thy sins are forgiven thee Whence by the way Conversion being so great a miracle and so much above the strength of humane capacity first how insignificant is all the humane Learning towards effecting of it what the Vicar mistaking Conviction for Conversion and confounding them saith both were done by humane Learning in the Areopagite for they were not only convinced as the Jews were by arguments and reasons Act. 18.28 but believed which implys conversion and the Vicar ascribes without distinction their belief to the humane Learning of Paul and the rest and secondly if some men convert still in our days as it is believed and confessed on all hands with what truth can the Vicar and his fellow Church-men say that all Miracles are ceased with none Faith the victory that overcometh the World 1 John 5.4 being still able to force God Luk. 18.4 Mark 11.12 to do all the things needful towards a man's conversion to make of a man a God Luk 6.40 John 17.21 Rev. 3.21 and to bring the Believers through all things imaginable but impossibilities Phil. 4.13 Mark 9.23 But what Faith that of your Church and of your Lords Spiritual who do Lord it over the heritage of the true and only Lord and Master contrary to his doctrine 1 Pet. 5.3 1 Cor. 8.6 Eph. 4.5 Mat. 20.27 28. 23.8 No truly Master Vicar for a Believer is he that keeps the Precepts of Christ and shews his Faith by his Works like the Primitive Christians Act. 19.18 who confessing their errors and sins past did forsake them Mat. 3.6 Prov. 28.13 like Zacheus Luk. 19.8 and others who parted with what they did value above any thing Act. 2.45 19.19 before they believed Christ's doctrine which teacheth and that very peremptorily Mat. 24.35 that he who leaves not Houses and Lands for the Gospels sake Mark 10.29 that hates not Wife and Children and even his very life John 12.25 is not worthy of the name of a Christian believer Mat. 10.37 and which commands us to sell what we have to give the poor Luk. 12.33 to invite the poor and lame and blind to the feasts we make ch 14.33 to seek the kingdom of God and to take no thought for what we shall eat and drink and be cloathed with in time to come Mat. 6.33 31. These thoughts being not the thoughts of Christians who believe 1. That God knows that they need all these things and when they need them 2. That God having out of his nature which is to act and do always good for it is summum bonum bestowed already upon them life and body a far greater gift than food and raiment will without doubt because he never changeth supply out of the same goodness the rest of their wants and give them the lesser gift which he doth allow even to the Fowls and to the Grass creatures which are not so much worth his care as Believers 3. That all their taking thought and care can add nothing to their state and condition and cannot make so much as one of their hairs white or black 4. That God is now as able as ever he was to afford all things to them Heb. 11.6 and therefore relie on God for all their necessaries but being the thoughts of the Gentiles Mat. 6.32 and natural men who know not these things of God though they feel his great goodness Act. 17.27 Mat. 5.45 and therefore dare not relie upon him for any thing A Believer is he that understanding perfectly wherein lies his chiefest good or the most happy state of bliss he is capable of and being convinced that all these tribulations are the only way and means that can lead him into it Act. 14.22 is notwithstanding the same so transported and taken with the thoughts and hope of it that resolving upon them he takes up the cross of Christ 1 John 3.3 like a stout Champion and doth enter the Lists against them by parting with all he hath to buy this hidden treasure Mat. 13.44 and without so much as saluting his acquaintance Luk. 9 6-10.14 he runs blindfold Gal. 1.16 from his Wife Children Parents and himself by leaving as much as is possible his eyes and his hands that is denying the lusts which are incident to them behind him to sight and seek to get with less distraction Mat. 5.29 30. the said beloved treasure Prov. 2.4 Mat. 6.21 33. which he is in pursuit of and hath still before his eyes But to do as the Bishops who seek for praise and applause preach
Holy Ghost being given but after that Christ ascended to his Father John dying before was not entirely in God's kingdom Rom. 14.17 and had not the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dwelling in him as appears from his doubting whether Christ was the true Messiah that was to come Luk. 7.19 for they that have it know that 1 John 5.20 and so he was but one and the last of the old Prophets But notwithstanding this great Prerogative which all the Apostles had above them they were but men of the like passions and infirmities with them and with other men Act. 14.15 as appears by Act. 15.39 and by Peter compelling the Gentiles to do those things Gal. 2.14 which he himself condemned Alas per Antithesin to Master Vicar's alas which I have mentioned before out of his 5 th page lumen patiebantur tenebras interdum to wit when they did but slack the hand over the body Mat. 25.13 Rom. 6.6 8.13 23. 1 Cor. 9.27 Jam. 3.2 and had it been but for their extraordinary Spirit and Humane Learning Dionysius and Damaris had no more cleaved to them than those that heard the same things that they heard and yet mocked Act. 17.33 for what is Peter and Paul but the Ministers by whom Dionysius Damaris and the others believed and that how not as Paul's extraordinary Spirit prevailed but as even as God gave to some of them the grace to believe 1 Cor. 3.4 5. Quaere Seeing Damaris is mentioned together with learned Dionysius preferably to the men that believ'd at the same time Act. 17.34 and submitted with him to the School-learned reasons which as it follows from what the Vicar saith pag. 5. Paul was necessitated to make use of at that time to convince Dionysius was not the said Damaris a very learned woman and brought up in the Greek Schools or else was Dionysius become so much a Changeling that Paul had no greater need of Learning to convince him than to convince a woman Luke mentioning with a man of great Learning a woman before any of the rest seems to hint at the latter and Christ saying that we must become like little children to come into his Kingdom Mat. 18.3 and Paul that the wise worldlings must become fools to be wise 1 Cor. 3 18. because not many wise men after the flesh are called 1 Cor. 1.26 and God hides from such wise men his mysteries Mat. 11.25 it is plain that the learned Athenian was become so woman-like that the Bishops must look out elsewhere for another proof of the great necessity of Learning to convince him and for another better confutation of those Sects which they say do revile it Alas had it been but for the pretended supplement of it in the Apostles the Gospel had been nipped in its very budding forth the preaching of the Gospel had convinced no more men than it doth now amongst us the World had continued to be imposed upon like the people of Samaria Act. 8.9 10. and in general all they that heard the Word had mocked Is it wisely done therefore of the Lords Bishops to use or suffer to be used a falshood in a Pulpit with out check and correction as an argument of the great necessity of the thing so falsly supposed viz. School-learning in Preachers to reduce unbelievers to the obedience of Christ especially when Paul asserts flat and plain that he made no use at all of it God having chosen saith he 1 Cor. 1.27 the foolish things of this world to confound the wise whereof you have an instance in me and he preach'd not with wisdom of words the Humane Learning of the Vicar which he calls somewhere else a vain deceit Col. 2.8 lest the Cross of Christ saith he v. 17. should be made of none effect for it is to the Cross that the powers of the World among which Humane Learning and wisdom is not the least are nayled and by the Cross by self-conceited wise men resolving to become fools which is a great cross to them are the proud worldly wiselings with their imaginations and high conceits overcome 2 Cor. 10.5 Col. 2.14 15. Nay it is altogether injurious to the power which worketh effectually in the hearts of all converts Gal. 2.8 to call to help the wisdom of man and the School-learning in the preaching of the Word and therefore the Apostles spoke not with enticing words of mans wisdom v. 4. but planted and watered or preached always with all plainness of speech and simplicity committing the success to him that gives the encrease and trusting to his Spirit not to their own industry the work of man's conversion from sin to righteousness the means and the way to which is all that all Preachers ought to treat of in their Sermons And for all this their plainness weakness and infirmities they seldom preached in vain and they had better success than our Lords with all their great wisdom that comes to nought 1 Cor. 2.6 Also for all their want of Logick and Metaphysick they did not doubt as having saith Paul 1 Cor. 7.40 obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful but that they had the Spirit of God that directed them that what they designed was purposed in that Spirit Act. 19.21 and would have Christians to know that what they spake or wrote as their judgment or sentence was the command of the Lord 1 Cor. 7.25 14.37 And here had I but time enough I could run down the Bishops so very low that they would be glad to make of their Sleeves a Moses vail if they knew what they know not Zeph. 3.5 and were not so confident Prov. 14.16 For the fear of God being not only the beginning and instruction of wisdom Prov. 1.7 15.33 but also wisdom it self Job 28.28 and a whole treasure of it Isa 33.6 is not learning the Greek Tongue Logick and Metaphy sick and such like excluded from the means to get wisdom for what can they contribute and add unto that which yields a whole treasure of wisdom If a man asketh wisdom in faith God will give it him Jam. 1.5 6. God will give him his good gift the wisdom of the Father that is the Spirit of Truth Luk. 11.13 to guide him into all Truth For if any man will do Gods will John 7.17 keep the words of Christ ch 14.23 he and the Father will come to him by the Holy Ghost whereby he shall not only know of the doctrine of Christ but know all things and all Truth both Divine and Natural the word all comprehending omnia scibilia specially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 3.12 or the knowledge of nature as done before our eyes For such an understanding have all they that keep Gods words Psal 111.10 that they come of themselves to know and understand more than all their wisest Teachers Psal 119.99 100 104. and in a word the Scriptures proclaim almost nothing more than that men grow in knowledge as fast and by the same means only
not so much as that the Scriptures foretold or meant any thing of it Luk. 24.25 45. John 20.9 until their understandings were opened by Christ breathing the Holy Ghost upon them v. 22. And much less therefore can we who are not only as blind and dull as the Apostles were before their second birth but never conversed with and never were taught of Christ but of such ignorant men as we are understand Christ the Gospel of his kingdom and what the Scripture teacheth better than the Apostles before the eyes of our dark minds or understandings are enlightned as theirs were by the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation for the acknowledgement of Christ Ephes 1.17 18. This is worth observation and because this very thing was denied by Esquire Boyle and some such other learned Scribblers of Divinity I think it not amiss to observe yet further that although the Apostles had seen Christ still the winds and waves cause the Fig-tree to wither and twice multiply the bread yet they were so slow of heart to understand or believe Luk. 24.25 that not only they could not do the least sign in his name but did not believe him able without taking thought or care for the bread that perisheth and for the leaven thereof Mat. 16.11 to preserve them from starving and that he calls them faithless v. 8. Mark 9.19 using these expressions almost on all occasions viz. how is it ye have no faith Mark 4.40 Are ye also like the world so without understanding ch 7 18. Mat. 15.16 perceive ye not yet neither understand Mat. 8.17 how is it that ye do not yet understand v. 21 9.32 and are so sensual and gross that you savour not the things of God but the things of men Mat. 16.23 From whence if they that heard his doctrine out of his own mouth that were constant beholders of his wonders and miracles and were to be what they did become since great and chief men among the true believers could understand no better until they had received the gift of the holy Ghost the things which they saw and heard what reason have we to think that they who are born nay bred at the Universities like the Colt of a wild Ass Job 11.12 do believe and understand the same things better than they when they can no more than they Mark 9.19 do the least Christian virtue and relish the things of God so much as to deny their vile passions in the least Mat. 16.24 and leave upon the account of his promise Mark 10.30 Houses Lands Country Parents and Children for his sake and the Gospels for who among the present Preachers of the English Church doth leave and venture even the uncertain hope he hath of a mean settlement here to go and preach the Gospel not in Turky or in Spain as Tillotson doth object to some that dissent from him but in Carolina Virginia and New-Jersey where they may do it without danger and find more hearers ready prepared for them and willing to allow something for their subsistence than some of those great many who flock from all parts of the Country to London as the best Market-place to make merchandize of their Sermons and Souls of men in Rev. 18.13 Gal. 4.17 do meet with in many years And if for saying these things some of them should say to me as the Lawyers said to Christ Luk. 11.45 thou reproachest us also let them shew me by their deeds Act. 19.18 how much they believe better than the said spectators of Christ his works of wonders John 10.38 that they need not to take thought for what they shall eat or drink and that Christ would be as good as his word if they did but seek first the kingdom of God Mat. 6.31 33. for God is no accepter of persons and of parties and whoever doth those things is no more excusable than they whom my discourse is chiefly intended against Nay let them shew me that Sect which is not as ready as those Beholders of Christ Mark 9.38 to forbid true believers to shew by their acts of Faith that they do truly believe except they follow that is become of one Sect with them and receive from them the same token and name of the Beast Rev. 13.16 17. Therefore this understanding knowledge and belief on Christ being not obtained by the strength of wit and learning nor from the Scriptures alone even when preached by Christ himself to the Apostles but by the help of the light of the holy Spirit of God which is his free gift Mat. 13.11 John 6.65 how say the Vicar and Hales that all Preachers have a great necessity of Learning and that otherwise than out of the Apostles and other holy mens Books the Spirit speaks not to men Now to return to the main subject in hand it appears from the manner of working of the extraordinary Spirit in the Apostles that all Christian believers do feel the same in themselves and that it is no more than what they may pretend to even the Bishops themselves or Vicars being Judges for they say pag. 13. that whenever any man experiences the genuine operation of the ordinary Spirit under the Gospel he finds a vast alteration in the state of his mind his apprehensions of things are far different from their former selves when he was under the command of lust and prejudice he then better sees the nature of things and those several excellencies that are in them he pitches upon objects which are every way more agreeable to the delights as well as necessities of his Soul than the husks he formerly fed upon and pag. 9. they say that its business is to enlighten our dark faculties whereby we may see the beauty and excellency of those divine objects that are proposed to our understandings to strengthen our good purposes for an holy life and to excite our affections to a love agreeable c. So that even from this same description of the working of the said ordinary Spirit by Master Vicar which makes it almost the same as that which I have shewed was seen in the Apostles it follows that the same extraordinary Spirit the Apostles had is found in all Believers and that therefore in respect of them that believe in Christ it is but ordinary and so that the distinction of an ordinary and extraordinary Spirit among Believers as not grounded in Scripture is erroneous and false and an old Sophism hammer'd even from the time of 1 John 4.3 in the shop of Antichrist who denies the coming of Christ by the Holy Ghost to us whilst yet in the fiesh binding the strong influence of it in the believers or limiting its power to the measure of his own Spirit which is not so great v. 4. giving out that any but the same he hath is ceased and thus by reducing the mighty Spirit some have to the level of his own mean ordinary Spirit doth to the withstanding of the kingdom of Heaven Act. 11.17 which
that I have said nothing tending to establish the doctrine or opinion of an equality of Spirit among believers as though every member of Christ's mâ—stical body or every believer had an equal share or part of Spirit with those that are instead of eyes ears and of the other senses to it No I have from St. Paul 1 Cor. 12. and in some other places of the foregoing pages inferred the contrary and I only assert that the Holy Ghost being given to all the faithful even in the same manner as unto the Apostles they may by knocking asking praying and by watching so as to purifie themselves 1 John 3.3 from that which defileth man Mark 7.21 22 23. serve God in such holiness and walk in such righteousness before him Luk. 1.74 75. as to obtain as great a portion and gift thereof as the Apostles And this grounded besides the instances we have of it Act. 10.35 46. 19.6 upon the promises of Christ Mat. 19.28 Rev. 3.21 that they which shall follow him in the regeneration and overcome the seventh time that is to say to the end shall sit with him in his Throne as well as the Apostles shall partake as much as they of Gods own divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 shall be one with God himself John 17.21 or transibit in Deum as the Right Reverend Doctor Trismegistus said For note that though Christs promise makes mention but of twelve Thrones it extends nevertheless further than to the twelve men who were then speaking with him as appears first from the words themselves of the said promise which are you that follow me or that shall follow me in the regeneration and not you my Apostles that have followed me as the Translator mistakes for none of the Apostles had as yet followed Christ in the regeneration but were still to do it then being not till afterwards when Christ was glorified born again of the Spirit John 7.39 and which shew that the promise belongs to the Apostles upon condition only for pray shall Judas sit with the rest upon a Throne and so to you Lords Bishops if you will but dye to your Lordships worldly-mindedness to follow in the new birth your Lord and to them likewise that have and shall accomplish and perform that condition and this appears secondly from the forementioned place of Rev. 3.21 which saith not Peter and James and the other Apostles but he that overcometh shall sit with me in my Throne and so doth confirm this sence And thirdly from that Christ would not promise any of them the first seats in his Kingdom but they shall have them saith he Mat. 20.23 for whom such reward is prepared of my Father as he who knows which of all mankind shall deserve it best Verily I dare say that as many as shall wade through the red Sea of their bloud Luk 22.44 and the other deep waters of tribulations with Christ Act. 14.22 shall sit with him on twelve Thrones that is get the brightest Crown of glory or highest state among the twelve Tribes that is among the whole multitude or the compleat number of the Israel of God And though this is not meant of nor attainable in this life yet Salvation being in and through the Holy Ghost Rom. 14 17. and being rendred to man but according to his works which he hath done in this life an adequate proportion or supply of the Spirit proportionable unto his degree of future glory and capable to procure it is required in this life and must be got before death Besides not Peter and the other Apostles only but whoever is righteous shall shine as the Firmament and if any man should turn more men to righteousness than the greatest Apostles he should shine brighter than they as the Sun above the Stars in the kingdom of Heaven Dan. 12.3 Mat. 13.43 But because all Believers do not purifie themselves to that degree of brightness or holiness that some do therefore in the Fathers house which is the Holy Ghost as I have shewed before there be several mansions John 14.2 distinguishable from the state and the proportion of Faith the faithful shall be found with and not distinguished by any place assigned or state before-hand decreed for them as Babel teacheth so that any righteous man that will live by Faith indeed in going from Faith to Faith mounting up with wings as Eagles and never being weary of knocking asking watching and of waiting on the Lord Isa 40.31 Psal 84.7 may not only press into Zion the kingdom of God Luk. 16.16 but take by force even the highest seat that is in it as I doubt not many have done since the Apostles and shall do to the Worlds end That the Holy Ghost is sent and given during this life or whilst we are in the flesh and before we taste of death to them that prepare themselves for Salvation it appears from John 14.23 Rev. 3.20 where if we open the door hear Christs voice and keep his Word which is done during this life Christ will come by his Spirit and make his abode with us Behold I come quickly had not been repeated three divers times in the last chapter of all the Scriptures Rev. 22.7 12 20. if that coming were meant of Christs coming in Judgment for that being deferred already near a third part of the age of the World that is near two thousand years is far from a quick coming and so it is another coming by the Holy Ghost which St. John meant in that place And the regeneration or new birth of the Spirit John 3.3 5 8. is performed here upon Earth v. 12. And verily doth Christ say Mat. 16.28 Mark 9.1 Luk. 9.27 there be some here standing by which are not to taste of death till they see the Son of man come in his kingdom that is as Mark and Luke explain it the kingdom of God come with the power of the Spirit Act. 1.8 Luk 24.49 Which saying could not be true had it not been fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in many of the disciples that stood by when Christ spake it by their receiving power after that the Holy Ghost was come and sate upon them Act. 1.8 2.3 4. for all they which stood by Christ when he spake these words are dead so long ago and therefore so long before his coming to receive and deliver the kingdom to the Father viz. at the end of the World Luk. 19.15 1 Cor. 15.24 that no man can think but that since they did see the kingdom of God before they dyed the said coming of the Son of man in his said kingdom is before they and other disciples of Christ taste of death and not when all men are dead Whence John that doth not tarry till the day of Judgment comes tarried till God's kingdom came John 21.22 for he having received the revelation of Christ the Holy Ghost John 15.26 14.26 Luk. 17.30 not only upon that day with the rest but more particularly than some of
nonsensical and to no purpose contrived without reason or necessity nay repugnant to the end it was instituted for viz. the breaking of the flesh 1 Cor. 11.26 and the communicating to Christs spiritual body ch 10.16 which is done in becoming spiritual men our selves and a very wicked fool to persecute another because he will not be as great a fool as thy self I say that he who eats of this flesh shall live by it and shall by this flesh and bloud the power of our Christ and from on high Luk. 24.49 Act. 1.8 be quickned and so strengthned that he shall overcome the accuser or Tempter that tempted Eve Rev. 12.11 I mean shall bruise the head of the flesh that creeps and makes our Souls to creep with it Gen. 3.15 like Serpents v. 14. to cleave unto this vile Earth Psal 119.25 and to sink down from God into Hell it self Philip he that hath seen me hath seen the Father also John 14.7 9. for the Son is his express Image and represents him Heb. 1.3 John 1.18 And can therefore the Son of the invisible God who is a Spirit saith he that Son who dwells in the light no man can approach unto 1 Tim. 6.16 in the bosom in the throne of the most infinite God John 1.18 Rev. 3.21 be like unto flesh and bloud and sit there and come therence Rev. 3.20 to make us sit there also in the same bodily shape he lived with in the flesh what and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up saith he John 6.62 where he was before how can you then think he shall have flesh and bloud about him since when he was there before he had neither flesh and bloud nor humane shape and body John 5.37 Deut. 4.12 how can the flesh and bloud I had then about me which is not my flesh and bloud John 8.23 but the seed of Abraham Heb. 2.16 which I took upon Earth in the womb of one of his daughters that I might dye therein to deliver you from it v. 14 15. Rom. 8.6 be the true bread from heaven and the meat and drink indeed that makes you live for ever John 6.32 33 38 41 50 54 55 58. Truly if I had still a body of flesh and bloud I could not quicken you and the words that I speak being Spirit v. 63. how can you take them in a carnal sence but if you understood them and knew me saw my glory John 17.24 whereof that in Mat. 17.2 was but a very weak beam that body of flesh and bloud which you so much doat upon would vanish out of your sight Luk. 24.31 Heb. 10.20 2 Cor. 3.14 and then you would understand that I am risen indeed Luk. 24.34 from such body of death Rom. 7.24 and by rising from it or being no more in it made the fitter author of your eternal salvation Heb. 5.9 that is more able to help you and fitter to strengthen you John 16.7 both against the said body and him that tempts you by it 2 Cor. 5.1 4 6. by the power I have in rising unto glory obtain'd of an endless life Heb. 2.18 7.16 whereby you may rule over the tumultuous Nations the lusts that war in your flesh and come out of their bondage into the glorious freedom of the Sons of God v. 15. Rev. 2.26 27. which is rising from the dead and entring in the kingdom of God or your Salvation O you house of Israel both Jews and all Christian Sects come on now for the time past ought to have sufficed you open your eyes and at last walk in the light of the Lord Isa 2.5 Ephes 5.8 sit no longer in darkness and in your shadow of death otherwise under the thick umbraculum which your flesh darkneth and deads your Souls with learn to know me in Spirit and in truth according to mine own essence and nature and look no more upon me as your Antecessors John 6.42 and as the Mahometans and even as you your selves have done and do to this hour John 14.7 for the Jews look for nothing but worldly and temporal blessings for their flesh from Christ to wit to live in plenty glory and prosperity in this life under his reign as when Solomon reigned 1 Kings 4.20 21 24 25. taking accordingly what the Prophets say of the Spiritual kingdom of the Messiah literally as Isa 55.10 and therefore they thought of a visible appearance of Gods kingdom in the days of Christ Luk. 17.20 19.11 And the Turks expect to have all fleshly lusts satisfied by the mediation of their Prophet Mahomet when he comes with God say they to save his true Musulmans or them that truly believe in him and to judge the World So that Christians believing that they shall be one day saved with their flesh and bloud 2 Cor. 5.6 that their Salvation was once performed and perfected in the flesh by Christ as man by his becoming a man and by dying in the flesh when by his incarnation and death without ascending and coming in the Spirit there is no body saved John 3.5 13. 16.7 and that the second coming of Christ will be seen of all appear with observation to the eyes of all the World Luk. 17.20 look on him with the same eyes and in the same manner as both the Jews and the Turks have no higher thoughts of his kingdom than the others have know him still as the man of sorrows humiliated not as sitting from the time of his humiliation on the right hand of power and coming with great glory though he tells them so himself Mat. 26.64 Mark 14.62 and concurring thus with them in a temporal worldly and carnal knowledge of him they do not only bring back his Spiritual knowledge and worship introduced by him and the Apostles to the old bodily and ceremonial worship of God in the Jewish Church but even to a creature worship Rom. 1.25 23. and like the Heathen changing the truth of their God into that which he is not the shape or Image of man they set up an Idol made like unto flesh and bloud the fleshly conceits of him in the holy place their heart thus instead of knowing God as a Spirit in Spirit destroying his Spiritual knowledge and establishing a knowledge after the flesh and also per consequent a worship accordingly a down-right idolatry for Lux intelligendi being in mankind the Lex volendi agendi man willeth and acteth but according to his knowledge worships God as he knows him quia ignoti boni nulla cupido lusts for no more than that which he conceives and knows of him to wit a bodily temporal and carnal good and so continues to be such as he was at his birth that is carnally minded and this carnal mind being enmity against his God Rom. 8.7 Jam. 4.4 man in revolting to it or siding with that party which is in war against God he commits adultery that is falshood against God Luk. 16.13 18. with the great whore worldly