of Wheat which is raised and brought forth doth not arise out of other Grain but doth absolutely and truly arise out of that very Seed and by the Power of God groweth out of that very Kernel which was sown even so shall it be in the Resurrection from the Dead the Natural and Visible Bodies of those that believe in Christ although they shall not be raised as they are sown viz. vile corruptible natural weak and dishonourable yet nevertheless they shall be raised and though God will give a Body as it pleaseth him clothed with incorruptibility yet he will give to every Seed his own body 1 Cor. 15. 38. and they shall be raised again without all deformity and clothed upon with their house which is from Heaven yea their vile Bodies shall be made like the glorious Body of Christ even a Spiritual Body which Spiritual Body shall arise out of that Natural Body which doth die and is laid in the Ground even as Grain doth arise out of that very Grain which was sown being the same in substance when raised as when sown only raised in a glorious condition sown in a weak and dishonourable And as the Grain doth all arise and leaves not one jot of it self in the ground even so there shall not be left one jot of whatsoever goes to the making up this Body compleat and every way a perfect man but it shall be raised wholly and fully as it is written 1 Cor. 15. 35 36 37 38 42 43 44. Sect. 10 And that all Believers may be fully assured that their vile Bodies shall be changed and fashioned like the glorious Body of Christ according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 20 21. The Apostle doth unfold this Mystery 1 Cor. 15. 51 52 53 54 55. Behold saith he I shall shew you a Mystery We shall not all Sleep but we shall all be Changed in a moment at the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead viz. in Christ 1 Thes 4. 16 17. such as lye in the visible Earth shall be raised incorruptible and we viz. the faithful that are alive and remain in this corrupt mortal estate unto that time shall then be changed for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this Mortal must put on Immortality so when this Corruptible shall have put on Incorruption and this Mortal shall have put on Immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory O Death Where is thy Sting O Grave Where is thy Victory The Sting of Death is Sin and the Strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Thus is the Resurrection and Change of all Believers from Death to Life from Corruptible to Incorruption from Mortal to Immortality by the blessed Apostle both Vindicated and Unfolded that every faithful Man and Woman may know that although the Wages of sin is Death yet the Gift of God is eternal Life through Iesus Christ Rom. 6. 28. which God will give unto them all at one and the same time even at the coming of Christ that according to the Word of Truth 1 Thess 4. 15. These that remain unto the coming of the Lord may not prevent them which are asleep in him but although the Lords Labourers are called to work in his Vinyard at the several Hours of the Day of his Grace yet they all shall have their reward together at the Evening Matth. 20. 8. For God hath provided so well for the Faithful of this last Age that though many in former Ages have obtained a good Report through Faith yet shall not they without these be made perfect Heb 11. 39 40. Sect. 11 And although the Preachers up 〈◊〉 the Light within all men do boast of Perfection which they imagine that some of them do attain unto in this life yet it is evident by the Scriptures of Truth that the Perfection in Glory which is promised to the Faithful and the Perfection in Holiness unto which they are exhorted is not attained unto but only in part until the bodies of those that beleeve in Christ the second Adam are raised from the Grave and changed from the corruption whereinto they are fallen by the offence of the first Adam Rom 5. 15 For although in this Life those that believe in Christ are through the Rich Mercy of God even when they were dead in Sins quickened together with Christ Ephes 2. 5. and so renewed in the Spirit of their Mind Ephes 4. 23. that with the Minde they serve the Law of God Rom. 7. 24. Yet alas this Perfection is but in part Paul himself who had attained to so great a Portion of Grace that by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus he was made free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. 2. and though together with this Freedom from Guilt and liablenesse to Punishment for Sin he was so set free from the Dominion of Sin being not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. that he did delight in the Law of God after the Inward Man yet notwithstanding he found another Law in his Members which warring against the Law of his Mind brought him into Captivity to the Law of Sin in his Members Rom. 7. 22 23. So that though he had hope of Deliverance from this his Enemy the Flesh which lusteth against the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. and for his comfort had obtained the Gift of God The Holy Spirit as a help to him to war a good warfare and as the Earnest of his Inheritance Ephes 1. 13 14. which is to be enjoyed at the Redemption or Deliverance of the purchased Possession yet for the present such was his Condition that as himself testifieth Rom. 7. 23. So then saith he With the Mind I my self serve the Law of God but with my Flesh the Law of Sin So that although this Renovation of the Spirit of the Mind by the Assistance of the Holy Spirit whereby a Believer knows himself to be a Son of God by Adoption and is inabled to cry Abba Father Rom. 8. 16. be the earnest of the Inheritance a Rising with Christ through the Faith of the Operation of God who raised him from the Dead to the obtaining Forgivenesse of all Trespasses Col. 2. 12 13. yet this is not the Resurrection from the Dead nor the State of Perfection which the Faithfull unto death shall obtain as the same Apostle testifies 2 Tim. 4. 7. I have fought a good fight saith he I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousnesse which the Lord the Righteous Judg shall give me at that Day and not to me only but unto all them also that loves his appearing For the obtaining whereof his great Desire was while he enjoyed but the
the Divine Nature as it is in a different manner from the Union of the Divine and Humane Natures of the Person of Christ so in this life it is but a part 1 Cor. 13. 12. With the mind saith the Apostle I my self serve the Law of God but with my flesh the law of sin Rom. 7. 25. The Renovation the Apostle exhorts to is in the spirit of the mind Ephes 4. 23. The perfection the Apostle declares the Saints now to be come to is to the Spirits of Iust men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. which is but the earnest of that inheritance Believers shall obtain the first fruits of the Spirit Believers though they enjoy this do wait for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of their Bodies See Romans 8. 23 24 25. Sect. 9 For as the Humane Spirit Soul and Body of Christ wherein his Humane Nature Heb. 5. 8 9. doth consist is now perfectly glorified his Body being raised from the Grave and ascended up into Heaven Luke 24. 51. So shall the Spirits Souls and Bodies of all true Believers after the Resurrection of their Bodies from their Graves or change from mortal to immortality be perfectly glorified See 1 Cor. 13. 10. And when they come to this estate and condition then they come to the full enjoyment of the promised Inheritance to which they are of God predestinated that is to say to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Rom. 8. 29. And this is that the Apostle prayes for in behalf of the Church of the Thessalonians And the very God of Peace saith he Sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23. Then Believers shall have their compleat participation of the Divine Nature when they having overcome and kept the Works of Christ unto the end are by him brought into likenesse of estate and condition with his own now glorified Humane Nature for when the day of Christs appearing shall dawn then shall the Day-star the Glory of his Humane Nature arise in the Hearts of all that love him 2 Pet. 1. 19. For as Jesus Christ is that bright morning-Star Rev. 22. 16. so he promised to give it unto them that hold fast till he come Rev. 2. 28. And then he whose Humane Nature hath received of the Father Rev. 2. 27. Power Glory and Honour John 17. 1 2. John 8. 54. will give unto his Brethren a likenesse of Glory unto that to which his own Humane Nature is now advanced which being once dead is now alive again and lives for evermore and is now fully able to open the doors of death and to set at liberty the Prisoners of Corruption and Mortality as he himself testifieth saying I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the keys of Hell and of Death Rev. 1. 18. Although the second Adam be of the same Substance with the first Yet oh how excellent is the estate and condition of the second Adam now since his Resurrection from the So is the Greek saith the Learned dead The last Adam saith the Apostle was made into a quickening Spirit It is raised a spiritual Body saith he 1 Cor 15. 44 45. And as the first Adam being fallen those that bear his Image bear the Image of the earthly that is Sin Corruption and Mortality so the second Adam being raised those that shall bear his Image shall bear the Image of the Heavenly that is Righteousnesse Incorruptibility and Immortality 1 Cor. 15. 49. 55 56 57. For the first Adam having by sin defaced the Image of God wherein he was created the second Adam repaired it again and by fulfilling the Law under which he was made hath so condemned sin in the flesh that having suffered death for the World of sinners and being also risen again from the dead his own Humane Nature Spirit Soul and Body and also the Spirits Souls and Bodies of all that believe on his Name shall for ever enjoy Life Spirituality and Incorruptibility And when the Church shall come to this estate and condition then shall she resemble her Head Christ Jesus who having first given himself for it to Sanctifie and to cleanse it will then give himself unto it and thereby make it like Glorious with his own Glorified Humane Nature See Ephesians 5. 25 26 27. Rev. 19. 7 8 9. Sect. 10 For thus saith the Truth Christ hath once suffered for sins the Iust for the Vnjust that He might bring us to God who being put to death in or concerning the flesh was quickened again by the Spirit of Holinesse that is to say the Godhead of Christ did quicken the manhead of his Person that so the Manhead in the Person of Christ might by the Power of his Godhead quicken the same Manhead in the persons of others For now even the Manhead of Christ hath though still the same Substance as the first Adam yet the quality and condition of a quickening Spirit for that manhead which being alwayes in Personal Unity with the Godhead and now also raised by it from the dead and exalted to the Glory of the Father hath such Power through the Godhead with which it is in Personal Unity that he can give a likenesse of Glory to the Manhead which is not Personally united to the Godhead for He hath received of the Father such Power over all flesh that He should give eternal Life to as many as are by the Father given unto Him John 17 1 2. For the Father giveth those that believe in Jesus Christ unto Christ that they may receive of his Fulness Ephes 1. 3 4. John 1. 16. Ephes 4. 10 11 12 13. And Christ giveth unto them with Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit the Hope of eternal Life to support them in all their Tribulations which they endure for his Names sake and at the last he will give them eternal Life and the Glorious enjoyment of blessednesse unspeakable Rom. 14. 17 18. Col. 1. 5. 2 Thes 1. 4 5 6. Yea Christ as man in the Substance of Adam in the Created Substance hath taken hold of eternal Life that the Creature man may be assured of enjoying the same by virtue of a title derived from him as he himself testifieth John 6. 27. saying Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting Life which the Son of Man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father Sealed for since by man came death by man came also the Resurrection from the dead saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 21. And God hath given good assurance both of the Resurrection and of the Eternal Life which is promised unto them that believe in that the Man Christ Jesus in the Substance of Adam is risen from the dead and entered into Life and
God is not in all his thoughts but as saith the same Prophet Psal 69. 32. The humble shall see this and be glad and your heart shall live that seek God Sect. 12 The humble do see themselves in a lost and undone Estate by reason of Sin which they and all the world are guilty of by the Sentence of the righteous Law of God they are so broken in their spirits finding themselves under the Curse of the Law Gal. 3. 10 That as Christ teacheth concerning the penetant Publican Luke 18. 10. thinking themselves not worthy to lift up their eyes to Heaven do smite their breasts saying God be merciful to us Sinners while the proud Pharisee rejoycing in himself and in his own Righteousness of the Law like those that now Preach up the Light within exalteth himself saying God I thank thee I am not as other men are Extortioners Unjust Adulterers or even as this Publican Oh with what affection doth the Repentant Believer receive Jesus Christ Oh how precious is the Blood of Sprinkling to him Heb. 12. 24. Which the proud Legalist Pharisee Papist and pretended Preacher up of the Light within do trample under their feet Sect. 13 Even as Water is to a thirsty Land Psal 143. 6. or to the panting Hart Psal 42. 1. which being at the point of death except it be refreshed by the Water Brooks doth expire So is it with the poor Believer who finding himself beset on every side with the guilt and burthen of his Sins which he not able to bear flees from but is still pursued with the guilt thereof until he meets with Christ who sets him free from the guilt and takes away the burthen of his Sins giveth him assurance of peace with God through the Satisfaction which he hath made to his Justice by the Sacrifice of himself for all his sins that are past and requiring this late lost Creature now to follow him he bringeth him to his Fathers house makes him a Son of God by Adoption and giveth him the holy Spirit whereby he may both know that God is his Father and be inabled to serve him in newness of spirit promiseth him that his Grace shall be sufficient for him to relieve him in all his Temptations in this world and that by his Mediation with God he will so secure him from the Calumnious Accusations of Satan that he shâ—â—l not be able to lay any thing to his Charge in the Court of Heaven and now requiring him to be faithful to the death assureth him that he will give him the Crown of life Oh what glorious Grace is this Oâ— hâ—w is he that was Sentenced to death and pursued with the Executioners thereof meeting with Jesus Christ and being by him not only delivered from the power of his Puâ—suers but also intituled to Everlasting Life refreshed and comforted who is able to express the consolation of the water of Life John 4. 10. which Jesus Christ gives to refresh the fainting Spirits of those he meets with that while they flee from sin are pursued with the Law Sin and Death and are never able by all the strength they have to deliver themselves from the power of those their Enemies until Jesus Christ interpose with the might of his power relieve them by his grace delivering the poor broken in spirit that are pursued with the guilt power and wages of Sin from the Law Sin and Death speaking peace to them in the pardon of their sins sprinkling his Blood upon their spirits to cleanse them from the guilt thereof and giving them the holy Spirit John 7. 37 38 39. to strengthen them against the Reigning power of Sin and thereby intituling them to life Everlasting and to the deliverance from the wages of Sin which is Everlasting Death Sect. 14 Oh how contrary is the Doctrine of the Gospel to the Doctrine of those that Preach up the Light within all men as that which though it be but the work of the Law Rom. 2. 15. is sufficient in the opinion of these followers of the Romish Synagogue to lead out of all Sin and eternally to save and therefore contrary to the practice of the Apostles who direct unto Christ all the weary and heavy laden with sin with Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World John 1. 29. These Messengers of Satan lead all such as follow them from Christ to themselves setting up themselves under pretence of the Light within and rejecting that which is indeed the Light viz. the Word of the Prophets of Christ and of his Apostles 2 Pet. 1. 19. which is written in the Scriptures of Truth Dan. 10. 21. they set up that which is indeed the Darkness of this world the Traditions of men the Doctrines of the Romish Harlot and other Adversaries to the Doctrine of the Gospel which they deliver by word of mouth and disperse in their written Books and Pamphlets CHAP. II. Wherein is shewed That the Doctrine of these that call themselves Preachers of and to the Light within all men is not according to the Doctrine of Jesus Christ expressed in the Scriptures of Truth neither concerning the Person of Christ nor the Father Son and Spirit nor the Light nor the Ordinances of Christ nor the Resurrection of the Dead nor the Coming of Christ nor the End of the World Also the Doctrine which is according to Godliness as it relates to these Particulars is here manifested Sect. 1 THe second thing which I lay to thy Charge which teachest that People should be guided by the Light which is within all men is That thy Doctrine is not according to the Doctrine of the Scriptures neither concerning the Conception of Jesus Christ nor the Divine Being of the Father Son and Spirit nor the Light nor the Ordinances of Christ nor the Resurrection of the Dead nor the Coming of Christ nor the End of the World and therefore thou art led by the Spirit of Antichrist Sect. 2 First Because thou dost not confess that by vertue of the Holy Spirit his coming upon and the Power of the Highest his overshadowing that visible woman called Mary that that man Christ Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and made of the Woman without her knowing of man and that he is the only begotten Son of God both according to the Spirit of Holiness Rom. 1. 3 4. and also as he is a man of flesh and bones and that there is none nor can be any that is the Son of God in that sense that that God-man Christ Jesus was and is the Son of God from and to all Eternity according to the Spirit of Holiness and also in the fulness of time according to the flesh Gal. 4. 4. I say because thou dost not own this Person which I here speak of to be the only begotten Son of God and no other but he in all the world beside Therefore thou art deceived and art a Deceiver for thou sayest
seeking the blessing from God by lifting up and laying on of hands for hands are not to be laid on except they be first lifted up and therefore the Prayer of Faith is a main part of this Ministration That Jacob when he blessed the Children of Joseph He laid his hands upon them Gen. 47. 14 16. Moses by the Command of the Lord laid his hands upon Joshua in order to his being filled with the Spirit and thereby fitted for his Charge of going in and out before the Congregation of Israel Numb 27. 22 23. Deut. 34. 9. And the Lord Christ himself when he blessed those little ones which were brought unto him He put or laid his hands upon them Mark 10. 13 14 15. Matth. 19. 13 14 15. Now what man or men can say that this is a dead practice which the Lord of Life and Glory and his holy Prophets and Apostles practised without blasphemy against Jesus Christ yea against God the Father Can any man revile that practice of Prayer and laying on of hands which as hath been shewed was used according to the direction of Christ and for no other end than for the obtaining the Spirit of Promise which is the â—arnest of the Inheritance of all Believers Ephes 1. 13 14. and not thereby deny his Word How can they say they love him that keep not his sayings He saith Christ that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings John 14. 24. Is not the Spirit the Seal of Righteousness by Faith After ye believed saith the Apostle Ephes 1. 13. ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise This only would I learn of you saith the Apostle to the Galatians Gal. 3. 2 3. being tempted to turn from the Righteousness which is by Faith to that which is of the Law Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh What other reason can truely be given why the Preachers up of the Light within all men do revile that principle of Christs Doctrine but this viz. Because the Righteousness which they teach is contrary to that which the holy Spirit seals therefore they reproach that practice whereby Believers obtain the holy Spirit as a seal of their Righteousnesse which is by Faith as the strength whereby they stand stedfast in their heavenly Calling and as the earnest and assurance of their everlasting Inheritance Wherefore cry they out Turn to the Light within Turn to the Light within but because their delight is in the works of the Law not in the hearing of Faith Oh how pleasant is a fleshly Righteousness Rom. 2. 15. Gal. 3 5. unto men unregenerate which because it is wrought by the strength of the Creature which although now since the Fall is only the strength of corrupt flesh yet is it cryed up by fleshly and carnal men that know not what it is to be born of Water and of the holy Spirit as the onely Righteousnesse though it will leave them under the Curse of the Law and never give them the blessing of Abraham the Promise of the Spirit which is not to be obtained by the works of the Law but by Faith in Jesus Christ through his grace Gal. 3. 10. 14. Rom. 4. 4 15 16. Rom. 11. 6. and in the way that he hath appointed in his Word wherein this Service of the Prayer of Faith with the laying on of hands is taught as a part of that way which is the way of life in which the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is found which maketh free from the Curse of the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8. 1 2. Gal. 3. 10. and although it be despised and contemned with other Ordinances of the New Testament by such as whilst they boast of Light do walk in Darknesse yet as a reward of whose disobedience the mist of darkness is reserved for ever 2 Pet. 2. 17. Sect. 7 But like measure ye mete also to that holy Appointment of Jesus Christ viz. the Lords Supper which he celebrated with his Disciples at his departure from them the same night in which he was betrayed and sanctified as a standing Ordinance unto his Church to evidence the breaking of his Body the pouring out of his Bloud with the benefit thereof unto all true Believers yea to set forth his Death and bodily absence until his coming again in his own Body wherein he suffered upon the Crosse for this Ordinance is by the pretended Preachers up of the Light within all men very much reviled and the practice thereof as it is used in the Churches of Christ not only villified but opposed which whether it be not done to make way for that Popish Idol of the Masse because in dispute about this Question the Bread which is eaten in the Lords Supper was denied to be Bread made of Corn or the Wine that is drunk to be the fruit of the Vine by a Preacher up of the so called Light within And how near this Denyal comes to the Harlots doctrine of Transubstantiation the Children of God through his grace will well perceive Sure I am the denial of the Ordinances of Christ manifesteth contempt both of the Person and Power of Christ and whosoever denyeth this Ordinance in particular doth thereby deny that which is set forth by it which is not only his Death 1 Cor. 11. 26. but even his coming in the flesh For therefore a Body was prepared him that his Body might be offered once for all Heb. 10. 5 10. He took part of flesh and blood that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them that through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. The Death of Christ being of such precious concernment unto his Church the Lord hath in his wisdom appointed this holy Feast which is called His Supper to set forth in his bodily absence his Death until his Coming again in his own body that so the Church might have him in remembrance by whom they receive so great a benefit 1 Cor. 11. 24 25 26. as the Remission Act. 1. 11. of sin of which the Cup is the New Testament in his Blood as the Bread is that which doth shew forth his Body broken and given for them an Offering not like the Legal Offerings nor like the Popish Masse daily offered which yet never take away sin But being once offered doth so take away the sins of them that walking in Faith Hope and Charity look and wait for his appearing that he shall appear the second time without sin unto their salvation Heb. 9. 26 28. It must needs therefore be a mischievious design which is carried on by those that contemn the Ordinances of Jesus Christ which are of so blessed concernment to those that believe in him It is no lesse than the denying of him
the Grace of God through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus unto and upon all them that believe whose Faith is imputed to them for Righteousness and whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered Thou art a stranger unto which notwithstanding is the Doctrine of the Apostle Paul Rom. 3. 22. and Rom. 4. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Sect. 9 Sixthly Thou deniest Christ which died c. because all such as follow after thy Doctrine do not deny themselves as he hath taught they should thou makest a shew of Sin-denial but Self-denial thou dost not practise but Self must be denied and Self-Righteoushess which is of the Law yea when men have done all whatsoever they are commanded they are then to say with humble hearts they have done but what was their duty and that they are unprofitable servants I say to deny our selves and self-righteousness accounting it but dung that we may win Christ and be found in Him not having our own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith this is the way to true blessedness as the Apostle teacheth Philip. 3. 8 9. But this laying low Self and onely resting upon Christ by Faith thou canst not away with therefore thou art in Self-exaltation in the highest degree only thou coverest this with a fair pretence by putting pretended Sin-deniall for Self-denial and hereby is many a poor Soul miserably deceived by thee but thus saith the Word of the Lord Rom. 3. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the Law is the knowledge of Sin And Gal. 3. 10 11. For a many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continuetb not in All things that are written in the Book of the Law to do them But that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God it is evident for the Just shall live by Faith Behold saith the Prophet Habâ—k 2. 4. His Soul that is lifted up is not upright in him but the Iust shall live by Faith Sect. 10 To which Justification by Faith in the Blood of Christ thou that placest pretended Sanctification in the stead and place of Justification art a stranger and herein it will appear that although thou seemest to have a Zeal of God yet it is not according to Knowledge for thou sayest so far only as the Creature is brought out of the filth of this World and to leave sin so far only is he justified before God whereas the Scripture saith Rom. 4. 5 6 7. But to him that Worketh not but Believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted to him for Righteousness even as David also describeth the Blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth Righteousness without Works saying Blessed are they whose Iniquities are Forgiven and whose Sins are Covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not Impute Sin So that God justifieth the Creature while it is in its Sins in its Blood Ezek. 16. 6. by the pardon thereof upon Repentance and Believing the Gospel which Believing is Imputed to us for Righteousness as it is written Rom. 4. 3. Abraham Believed God and it was counted to him for Righteousness And although Repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20. 21. be requisite in order to every Sinners Justification yet is Justification an Act of God Rom. 8. 33. whereby he freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ doth acquit from guilt of Sin the Repentant Believer not Imputing his Sins to him and accounting his Faith to him for Righteousness See Rom. 3. 23 24 25 26. Yea to Believe as a Sinner while under the guilt of Sin and thereby lyable to the wrath of God Rom. 3. 19. Gal. 3. 10. Ephes 2. 3. that God hath received such absolute Satisfaction by the Sufferings of Jesus Christ in his own Body upon the Cross without the Gate of Jerusalem That he that Repenteth and Believeth the Gospel is wholly acquitted his debt discharged fully and freely through his Blood this is the way to be justified before God So that the main ground and reason why we that Believe should be holy in all manner of Conversation in this present evil World is because we are not our own but are bought with a price even with the precious Blood of Jesus Christ Therefore ought we to Glorifie him in our Bodies and in our Spirits which are his 1 Cor. 6. 20. And so ought we to live to him that dyed for us and rose again c. 2 Cor. 5. 15. That seeing Christ dyed for our sins we ought not to live in them but to die to that which he dyed for and as he was Crucified for our Iniquities So they that are Christs do Crucifie the Flesh with the affections and lusts lest they joyn with his Enemies and provoke his anger against them and as the Apostle Peter teacheth 1 Pet. 1. 14 15. As obedient Children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your Ignorance but as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Because it is written Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am holy Levit. 19. 2. But Sect. 11 Seventhly In that thou layest aside this God-glorifying Doctrine of Christs free Reconciliation of Sinners to God by his Death out of and without themselves and of Gods Justification of the Ungodly by the Remission of their Sins upon Repentance Faith It appears that with the High-Priests Elders and Scribes of the Law Acts 4. 5 6 10. the Preachers up of the Light within do set at nought that precious and tryed Stone which is the Head of the Corner and the Foundation of all Generations that shall be Saved yea that Rock of Ages upon which the Congregation of the Faithful are built which is not the Rock of these Legallists their Preachings and Printings being Witnesses see Deut. 32. 31. For in as much as the Light within is no other than the work of the Law written in the hearts of the Gentiles Rom. 2. 14 15. It is evident that these Preachers are Preachers of the Law not of the Gospel to which with those Jews and Greeks mentioned 1 Cor. 1. 23. they are such Adversaries that the Preaching of Christ Crucified is to them both a Stumbling Block and Foolishness while unto them which are Called Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God Oh how great and glorious is the Power of God in the work of Redemption by the Sufferings of Jesus Christ Oh the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God which the proud in Spirit know not as the Prophet David teacheth Psal 11 4. The Wicked through the pride of his Countenance will not seek after God
of Abraham in the womb of the blessed Virgin his taking part of Flesh and Blood Heb. 2. 14 15. 16. Being for no other end but that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lives time subject to bondage Sect. 4 And as the Priestly Office of Christ wherein he offered himself to God an unspotted Sacrifice to put away Sin and that Body which was prepared him for that purpose Heb. 9. 14 26. and Heb. 10. 5. is denied by these Legallists that exhort all men to look only into the Light within the work of the Law written in their hearts for their direction unto Righteousness so also is the Prophetick Office of Christ made useless by them for as it is written Deut. 18. 15. Acts 3. 22 23 Moses truly said unto the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you And it shall come to pass that every Soul which will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People But do these Seducers hear him in all things whatsoever he hath said Do they teach men so to do No no it is far from them Do they hear him that hath said Mark 7. 21. From within out of the heart of men proceed evil Thoughts Adulteries Fornications Murthers Thefts Covetousness Wickedness Deceit Lasciviousness an evil Eye Blasphemy Pride and Foolishness that say there is such a Light within all men that will lead them out of all Sin and Iniquity and eternally save them if they sink down to it and are guided by it Where hath Christ the great Prophet taught as these men of Belial teach When Christ met him whose eyes he had opened John 9. 35. He said unto him dost thou believe on the Son of God And when the man answered and said Who is he Lord that I might believe on him Jesus said unto him thou hast both seen him and it is he that talketh with thee But how do these pretended Preachers up of the Light direct men unto Christ that making no clear discription of his Person do only advise all men to turn into a so called Light within them which as the Lord hath taught Mat. 6. 23. is great Darkness If saith he the Light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness And is not great darkness in them that have no light And who those are the Prophet shows Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony saith he if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them But do these boasters of Light that walk in darkness go to the Law and to the Testimony of Jesus Do they hear Him in all that he hath said there nay do they hear him in any thing that he hath there spoken Is their Repentance such as he requireth Do they confesse their sins and pray for mercy for them They are heard it may be with the proud Pharisee to say God I thank thee I am not as other men but which of them hath been heard to say God be merciful to me a Sinner Do they mourn for their transgressions that seldom or never confess them Do they forsake sin that are servants of sin that not only do despise the Gospel of the Grace of God but also Blaspheme his Name his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven Are these self-exalters captivated into their Curses Is it through infirmity of their flesh and against the law of their spirits that they thunder out their Anathema's like the Popes Bulls against the Worshippers of God and the Followers of the Lamb And as it is evident that they which do not believe in Christ do abide in darkness John 12. 46. So it is apparent that he which hateth his Brother is in the same condition as John teacheth in his first Epist 2. 9. He saith he that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in Darkness but contrariwise he that loveth his Brother abideth in the Light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him But how can they say they love their Brethren that give them occasion to stumble at the Word that Pure Word which is laid in Sion for a foundation at which they stumble and thereby give occasion to others to stumble by their example See Rom. 9. 32. 1 Pet. 2. 7 8. Can they say they love those whom they delude and being blind themselves lead others that are blind also into the pit of destruction Matth. 15. 14. unto whom instead of giving direction and encouragement by their Doctrin and Example to confess Jesus Christ come in the flesh they do the direct contrary neither making confession of the Person Office or Administrations of Christ not his Person not his Divine and Humane Natures personally united and personally distinguished from the persons of all other men but a Light within all men they extoll Not his Office of High Priest to offer the Sacrifice of Himself for the sins of the World and to give Peace to all that believe in his Name by the remission of their sins Of a Prophet to teach Of a King to rule and govern But a Light within all men which though it be but the work of the Law is exalted and the only Name under Heaven given among men whereby they must be saved is thrown down What he is what he hath done what he hath taught is not regarded his Promises are not imbraced his Threatnings are not feared his Commandments are not obeyed yea the main reason and ground why the holy Ordinances of Baptism in Water Prayer and Laying on of Hands and Breaking of Bread c is denied by those that teach all People to be guided by the Light within them is because they contemn Jesus Christ that gave commandment to administer those his holy Appointments and despising his Doctrine they exalt their own Delusion His Word they will not hear his Work they will not do but have walked after the Imaginations of their own heart Jer. 9. 14. teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men Matth. 15. 9. Sect. 5 For was it ever heard that any Professor of the Faith of Jesus Christ any Confessor of him to be come in the flesh did deny the Baptism of a repentant Believer in Water in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins which is an Ordinance of so great authority that although there hath been some difference among Professors about the manner of Administration thereof yet few or none have ever been heard to question the Ordinance it self till now of late and it being appointed for so excellent uses as not only to signifie the Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ but also the Fellowship of every true Believer in his Death which he dyed unto sin once Rom.
earnest of the Spirit and was at home in the body and absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 4 5 6 7. to be found in Christ not having his own Righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith that I may know him saith he and the Power of his Resurrection and the Fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable unto his Death if by any means I may attain unto the Resurrection from the Dead not as though I had already attained either were already Perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus Phil. 3. from the 8th Verse to the end So that that which truly and properly is called the Resurrection from the Dead is the raising of man from the dead in every part wherein he is dead by reason of sin to be alive again and to live in every part wherein he lived before he sinned For before man sinned he was alive in Spirit Soul and Body Gen. 2. 7. and so should for ever have lived and not have tasted death nor have seencorruption or have returned unto Dust in his visible body had he not transgressed the righteous Law of God for the wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. which Law of God Man at first was able to have kept and might and ought to have kept it but he broke it through his wilful disobedience in hearkening to the Counsel of Satan and thereby brought himself and his Posterity to the Penalty therein threatned In the day saith God that Eating thou shalt Eat Dying See Gen. 2. 17. with the Hebbrew in the Margent thou shalt Die. Therefore the Resurrection from the Dead is the Raising of the whole Man from Death in every part wherein he is dead by reason of Transgression to be alive again and to live in every part which was once alive before Transgression This Resurrection is yet to come The renewing of the Spirit of the mind is but the Earnest or Assurance thereof and of Happinesse at that time It is to come and not past as the False Teachers did affirm of whom the Apostle doth give warning to the Saints 2 Tim. 2. 16 17 18. but shun saith he prophane and vain bablings for they will encrease unto more ungodlinesse and their word will eat as doth a canker or gangreen of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus who concerning the Truth have erred saying that the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some From whence we may take notice That these False Teachers did err in mis-applying the Resurrection of Man for they did not deny a Resurrection wholly but taking a part for the whole or puting the Earnest for the Inheritance said It was past already In like manner those against whom we contend they do not say That there is No Resurrection at all yet in effect they say as much for they say It is past with them and they look for no other kind of Resurrection than what they do now enjoy But this their Doctrine being no better than vain bablings all true Believers are to shun and avoid Sect. 12 And yet they that are thus deceived as to imagine that they have attained unto the Resurrection from the dead think to bring something to bear up their building from Revel 20. 6. where the Spirit of God saith Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection on such the Second Death hath no power c. concluding that the Resurrection is past with those that have attained to their supposed Degree of Perfection but alas they are greatly deceived for the First Resurrection here spoken of is not the Quickening of the Spirit only but the raising up and investing the whole bodies souls and spirits of those Holy Ones there mentioned with Life and Immortality And that this is so appears by the 4th and 5th Verses where John saith I saw the souls of them which were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshipped the Beast neither his Image neither had received his Mark upon their Foreheads or in their Hands and they lived and raigned with Christ a Thousand Years but the rest of the Dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished This is the First Resurrection c. Now what part of man is it which is capable of being beheaded Is it not the Body Therefore the Bodies lived though only the Soul is mentioned and it is usual in Scripture to mention a part for the whole as Gen. 46. 27. All the Souls of the house of Jacob which came into Aegypt were threescore and ten but who knows not that their Bodies came also And were it so That by the first Resurrection here mentioned is meant the Renovation of the Spirit of man by rising from sin to newness of Life yet this is so far from concluding against the Resurrection of the Body of man that the Resurrection of the Body of every true Believer may rather be concluded from it as saith the Apostle Paul Rom. 8. 11. But if the Spirit of him saith he that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you and as the Holy Spirit doth bear witnesse with the spirit of every true Believer that he is a Son of God so also that he is an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ of a glorious Inheritance which is to be enjoyed at the Redemption of the Body This Redemption of the body See Rom. 8. 16. 17 23. is that which all Believers wait with patience for and hope to enjoy in their bodies which now are liable to Sufferings for Christs sake and seeing it is in the last times that the Beast and his Image are set up which the Saints refusing to worship or to receive his Mark are by his Followers persecuted to death as a reward of whose Sufferings the First Resurrection shall be given to them and to all other Believers that are asleep in Jesus therefore it will not be accomplished till the Lord himself descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch Angel and with the Trump of God and then the Dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thess 4. 16. and this saith the Spirit is the First Resurrection Revel 2. 5. as is also testified 1 Cor. 15. 21 22 23. For since by Man came Death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead For as in Adam all dye even so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order Christ the First Fruits afterward they that are Christs at his coming Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God even the Father when he shall have put down all Rule all Authority
In the Paradise of God was he placed of all the Trees of the Garden excepting onely one was he allowed to eat and amongst those which he was allowed to feed upon and even in the midst of the Garden was the Tree of Life whereof if he had eaten before he transgressed he had no doubt continued for ever in that blessed estate and condition of Righteousnesse and true Holiness wherein he was made Gen. 3. 23 24. But he soon lost that blessed estate and condition and by sin made himself and his posterity exceeding wretched and miserable for of a Son of God he became a son of Satan a child of Wrath Ephes 2. 3. he defaced the Image of God and got unto himself the Image of Satan for he took the Devil for his Father by following his counsel for his reward the man Adam by transgression became like the Devil that is to have the knowledge and experience both of good and evil Behold saith the Lord God the man is become like him For it is observed that the Hebrew word may and ought so to be rendred for man became like the Devil by sin from us viz. the Devil to know that is to experience good and evil Gen. 3. 22. For God is Pure and Holy the Devil is impure and unholy God cannot behold the evil of sin with approbation the Devil cannot behold good with approbation see Heb. 1. 13. therefore saith Christ to the Jews Ye are of your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do he was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own for he is a lyar and the father of it John 8. 44. So that man by sin being in condition become like the Devil for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. that so the substance of Adam might be redeemed out of that lost condition whereinto it was fallen by transgression and be so secured in happinesse for the future that it should not fall again from it that this might be effected it was necessary that the eternal Word the second Person of the Trinity should take the substance of Adam into personality with himself that those two Substances the eternal Word and the Substance of Adam might be one in Personality that so the obedience of Life and suffering of Death of the Substance of Adam in the Person of Christ might be of such infinite worth and value with God that for the merit of it he might set free the same Substance of Adam in all other persons also from that bondage and misery whereunto they are fallen by the transgression of Adam and of themselves for the Substance of Adam in the Person of Christ fulfilling the Law and then also that Substance being made a curse and suffering the Sentence of the Law due to the World of sinners not to Christ that sinned not the world of sinners are put into a capacity to be delivered according to the condition of the New Covenant from that wrath and Curss unto which they are fallen by the transgression of the old and first Covenant which fallen condition is called in Scripture the old man or Adam which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts Ephes 4. 22. The body of sin Rom. 6. 6. The members which are upon the earth Col. 3. 5. The Law of sin in the Members Rom. 7. 23. The Flesh the carnal mind Rom. 8. 7 8. and such like all which do set forth that miserable estate and condition into which the Substance of Adam is fallen by sin on the contrary that condition which the Substance of Adam had before he sinned and to which it is restored in the Person of Christ is called in Scripture the new man which after God is created in Righteousnesse and True Holinesse Ephes 4. 22. The Law of the Spirit Rom. 8. 2. The Spiritual Mind Rom. 8. 6. The new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Col. 3. 10. and such like Now the eternal Word taking hold of the Substance of Adam and uniting it unto personality with the uncreated substance and the created substance keeping the condition of the first Covenant that is to say exact unsinning obedience that substance of Adam in the Person of Christ is as Pure and Holy as Just and Righteous as it was in Adam before he sinned but that the same Substance of Adam in all other persons also might be redeemed from that miserable estate viz. guilt of sin power and dominion of sin and from the punishment justly due unto the world of sinners that substance of Adam in the Person of Christ that knew no sin underwent the Sentence and Curse of the Law that so the same substance in the persons of others might be set free not by their performing the condition of the first Covenant for it is impossible that they that have sinned should be justified by that Covenant which requires exact unsinning obedience but by their performing the condition of the second Covenant which is Repentance Faith and Gospel-obedience which those that have sinned may through the assistance of Gods Spirit perform upon condition of which Repentance Faith and Gospel-Obedience the Lord giveth unto them both pardon of their sins past and also such help and assistance by his Spirit that those that thus enter into Covenant with him may be enabled to walk more agreeable to the rule of the spiritual and holy Law of God Rom. 7. 12 14. than any man or woman out of Covenant with him by all their own strength and endeavours now since the fall of Adam can possibly do yea Jesus Christ doth so assist those that are in Covenant with him that with their minds they may be enabled to serve the Law of God though through the warring of the flesh against the Law of their mind they are somtimes captivated to the Law of sin in their members See Rom. 7. 22 23 24 25. Now so far forth as persons come to be in Covenant with Christ and are enabled by him to walk according to his direction so far forth are they said to have Christ formed in them that is to say to be brought into a blessed estate and condition of freedom from the guilt of sin of freedom from the power and dominion of sin of assurance of redemption from the first death and of deliverance from the second death and so by Christ to be entituled unto eternal Life so that if the created substance of Adam in the Person of Christ though by the power of his uncreated substance doth set free the same created substance in the persons of others from that miserable estate and condition into which that substance is fallen by sin and transgression and also entitle that substance unto eternal life It may well be said of all