Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	forbid_v	know_v	sin_n	6,464	5	5.7703	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34470	A blow at the serpent; or a gentle answer from Madiston prison to appease wrath advancing it self against truth and peace at Rochester. Together with the work of four daies disputes, in the Cathedral of Rochester, in the Countie of Kent, betweene several ministers, and Richard Coppin, preacher there, to whom very many people frequentlie came to hear, and much rejoyced at the way of truth and peace he preached, at the same whereof the ministers in those parts began to ring in their pulpits, saying, this man blasphemeth, ... Whereupon arose the disputes, at which were some magistrates, some officers, and souldiers, peaceable and well-minded, and very many people from all parts adjacent, before whom the truth was confirm'd and maintained. The whole matter written by the hearers, on both sides. Published for the confirmation and comfort of all such as receive the truth in the love of it. By Richard Coppin, now in Maidston Prison for the witness of Jesus. Twenty five articles since brought against him by the ministers, as blasphemie, and his answers to them, how he was	Coppin, Richard, fl. 1646-1659.	1656 (1656)	Wing C6094; ESTC R215454	85,329	113

for their sins commited by them who is that sinner then in the world that shall be saved and what is that sinner which shall perish if you know declare it what and who that sinner is Rosewell I doe think there is one in the Pulpit which doth sin against God in blaspheming his Name Coppin There is one then but is that all well you say I am a sinner but I hope you think your selfe to be a righteous person I say then let him that is without sin cast the first stone the Scripture ●aith he hath concluded all men under sin that he might have mercie upon all and 't is wel for me that I am a sinner for then I am sure to have a part in Christ for he came not to call the righteous but sinners Rosewell If none shall be saved but the Elect then all shall not be saved but it is cleare none shall be saved but the Elect when he is revealed from heaven he will take vengeance on all that know not God Isa. 27. 11. Also 2 Thes. 1. 7. 8. And indeed the whole Chapter read and consider it seriously and be not led away by these Imposters Coppin The Lord Jesus is now revealed from heaven in flameing fire taking vengeance on all that know him not neither own him in his people as al unrighteousness of men which hold the truth in unrighteousness doe not and against this the wrath of God is revealed and not against the persons of men yet those men so long as this unrighteousness is in them they appeare not as men yet saved by him but doe suffer the vengeance and terror of this fierce fiery appearing of God to them till the enemie the devill in them is destroyed that made them sinners by commiting sin in them Rosewell Take notice he doth deny a general coming of Christ at the last day in flaming fire rendering vengeance on the persons of men Coppin I do not denie the coming of Christ to render vengeance to whom it belongs for vengeance is mine saith the Lord and I will repay therefore I believe some hath it now and he is come and doth come and will come to take vengeance on all that know him not and is of the devil in me you and every man else and when he is so come to any soul for that work he will then let them know that he himself is that flame of fire that will devoure his adversaries to wit the bryers and thorns with which we fight against God in the time of our ignorance persecuting the truth For what was Paul when Christ came to him was he not a great persecutor of the Church and people of God in those daies and Christ came to him in a flame of fire to take vengeance on that in him which knew not God but had fought against the truth saying Saul Saul why persecutest thou me and yet he in that person after that lived and Preach'd the Gospel which he once destroyed French You had need go and be a School-boy again Coppin I am indeed a School-boy now in the School of Christ and 't were well if you were one there also French The Lord stop thy mouth Rosewell He doth say the day of Judgement is past already Coppin I say it not but do say that it is come and coming and therefore answer me to the former Scripture which you would passe by He that commits sin is of the devill for there is yet more to be said to that before we leave it Rosewell That is every one that continues to be of the Devill he shall be destroyed and there is whole heaps of them in hell now and there for ever shall be tormented with fire and brimstone Coppin If this be all you know I will tell you more He that committeth sin is of the devil and there is no man but doth commit sin and so long the devil raigns in him but when the Lord Jesus Christ doth manifest himself in that man to destroy the works of the devil he then binds the devil in that man disposses●es him of his place throwes out all his goods and houshold stuff and sets them on a fire together according to this Scripture Mark 3. 27. 28. No man can enter into a strong mans house and spoile his goods except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoile his house This house is man the strong man that keeps it is the devill or man in his strengh but when the Lord Jesus Christ who is stronger then he is come then is the devill bound his goods spoiled and all that mans sins forgiven him Rosewell I doe confesse all by nature are sinfull but all doe not sin in that sense so that all that hath been said is to no purpose Coppin You did say at first you would make me so ashamed that I should not shew my face here any more and indeed all that hath been said by you yet is little to that purpose Rosewell Indeed I did alwaies dispairof making your brazen-face ashamed Coppin Then give me leave to proceed I say there is for a time in every man the old man living and sining and also the new man that sineth not and those are at difference one with another untill the one hath overcome the other as Paul saith of himselfe after he was first converted Rom. 7. 22. I delight saith he in the law of God after the inward man but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind that I cannot doe the things that I would for with my mind I serve the law of God but with my flesh the law of sin so it is no more I that sins but sin that dwelleth in me not the new man but the old man that sineth Rosewell And this you doe affirm to be in every man Capt Smith Mr. Coppin many people desire to know if you speake this of the regenerate state of man or if it be the state of all men Coppin I say this that all men so far as they are regenerated doth not commit sin but the wicked one which is called the unregenerate part doth rule in all men for a time more or lesse untill he be wholly thrown out but when the Lord Jesus by manifesting himselfe for that work doth begin to seize on that wicked part then the work of regeneration begins and then man is not all wicked nor all righteous but part of both as the Apostle was in his first conversion and so long there is a warfare in man till the old man be wholly subdued according to this Scripture he that is in Christ is a new crature old things are past away and all things are become new Captain Smith And concerning this Paul saith I thank God through Jesus Christ with my mind I serve the law of God though with my flesh the law of sin Rosewell He speaketh there of a regenerate state People say let Mr.

Blasphemies that I had delivered in the Cathedrall to the great dishonour of God and the seducing of many people for which cause they sent for me I answered that for what might be informed against me I knew not but I doe know nothing that I have at any time spoke to the dishonour of God or against the present Power but hath ever beene and still am more for it then those that doe accuse me No said he you did contrary to our orders Preach yesterday though you were forbid I answer that I know no Law by which they could as yet forbid me to Preach any thing of God that I did know neither should I be silent so long as I had liberty and my mouth were open then said he by what authority doe you come to Preach here I answer that I Preach by the same authority that he himselfe hath pretended to Preach by which is by the power of God and the authority of the present Goverment and also in this Citie by the desires of the people and I Preach not for tythes and yearly maintenance to be setled on me as the Ministers of England and of Anti-Christ doth but in love to the Lord Jesus and his people and then the Articles against me being read which were very many I desired to know my accusers and they that had sworne against me and I to answer to the articles No saith Major Generall Kelsie we shall heare no answer to them at present and so said all the said Justices for we shall not judg of the business now saith they but what we doe at this time is onelie in order to a triall I answer that if they would not heare a answer now I did not question but whensoever I did answer that by the wisdome and power of God which lived in me I should be able to cleare my selfe upon them all No said the Major Generall I hope not I answer doe you hope not but if there were in you any true love you would rather desire that I might and assist me in it for said I where doe you read in all the Scripture that ever Christ and his Apostles or any for them that did ever persecute any for their judgment or make use of any outward Law therein but were themselves persecuted by the false Prophets and enemies to the truth and the truth doth always suffer by those that know it not but said the Major in the times of the Apostles there were no godly Magistrates or Governors as be now nor Laws established as we have I answered that there were Magistrates then for the Apostles said be subject unto the higher Powers and there were some that did persecute the truth as well then as now for they were brought before Rulers and Governors for the truths sake as now they be and as Christ saith they should be for his Names sake But said the Major we are not come here to Dispute with you about those things for you will word it out till to morrow night if we let you alone therefore withdraw the room then one Major Browne of Chatham-Dook who never saw me nor heard me before in his life railed against me and said that I deserved to be hanged that I was the greatest instrument that ever the Devil had in England I answer that an instrument indeed I am to discover what and where the Devil is as an enemie to God and therefore am I my selfe called Devil by the Devil but being commanded to withdraw the roome I and my friends that were with me went aside into another room by our selves and after a while came some Officers of the Souldiers with an order from the said Justices and horses readie provided to carrie me to prison to Maidstone which was from thence about nine miles and where I should be from my friends that none might come to me and amongst those that they supposed were my enemies upon which some of my friends then present went unto the Justices and offered for my Bail thousands of pounds and whatsoever should be desired but no Bail would be taken whereupon I desired before I went to speak with them my self they sent me word if I would come alone I might of whom I demanded a reason why I was sent to prison without a hearing and no Bail to be taken the Major General said they were not to give me an account upon which I pleaded the priviledge of the Act of Blasphemie by which they accused me and that I was not wayes guiltie of it I also produced the Instrument of Government signed by his Highnesse the Lord Protector how contrarie also to that they had acted against me whereby it no man professing Faith in God by Jesus Christ though differing in judgment from the Doctrine Worship and Discipline of other men publikely held forth yet should not be restrained from but protected in the exercise of their Faith and practise of their Religion so as it extended not to Popery and Prelacy nor to a lice●tious walking and the disturbance of the Peace and that all Laws Acts and clauses in any Law Act or Statute whatsoever contrary to the foresaid liberty should be ●ull and void And now unlesse you can prove me guiltie of the breach of somthing in this Instrume●t of Government to bring me under those exceptions to which Instrument I appeal you have nothing to do with me and therefore what you in this have done against me is contrarie to the Law of the present Government yea all Laws of sound reason and the Scriptures but your owne wills but it is not a prison nor any thing else that you can doe against me that I feare knowing my selfe cleare both before God and man from what any one can justly accuse me of but this I find that those that are enemies to the present power and that hate it are suffer'd to make use of it unjustly to persecute those who to their power are the greatest friends to it and there is none hath more contended for it so far as our freedome and liberty in the truth hath been protected by it then I have done and for that am I a sufferer under it though contrary to it And you M. Wise of Chatham that Preach General Redemption and as your friend Mr. R●sewell said whom you assist here against me that if all were redeemed all must of necessitie be saved therefore said he that your judgment of Generall Redemption was as erronious as those of General Salvation and you to clear your self as you thought of that aspersion did the last Sabbath day before declare in your Sermon that though you held General Redemption yet you did believe that not one of a hundred in all England should be saved Then said the Major General unto me Do you know who you are before methinks you should not dare to be so bold in another mans room I answered Sir I do know for I am in the presence of God and

Mat. 25. 35. That by the left hand we are to understand nothing but the Law as by the right hand nothing but the Gospel Answer First they under the Law not believing the pardon of their sins are at the left hand of God as Goats cursed for cursed is everie one that is under the law Secondly they under the Gospel believing that their sins are pardoned are at the right hand of God as sheep blessed For blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sin is covered and blessed are they that know the joyful sound of the Gospel for they are at the right hand of God in the way of life where they hear his voice and behold his face and have pleasures for evermore and Christ to redeem man to this state of blessednesse from that curse and Goatish nature which man by reason of sin lay under at the left hand of God did himselfe bear our sins in our steeds at the left hand and was cursed for us signified by the Scape Goat on whom Aaron laid the sins of all the people sending him away with them to lose them so did God on Christ lay the sins of all people and as the Goat in the tipe did so did Christ carrie them away from us no more to be remembered to us which is blasphemie to say Article 4. That the Lord Christ was the High-Priest spoken of in Heb. 5. 3. and that he offered for his own sins Answer As concerning this I only asked the question what High-Priest was there meant and the answer was given by one of the Ministers that it was Jesus Christ but read and consider the Scripture and you may be better satisfied for he was one that could have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way and who this is I will leave for the Reader to judge compared with Chap. 7. 27. Christ is there said to do that by one offering which the Priests under the Law did at twice that is they offered first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people but this did Christ once when he offered up himself not that Christ could offer for his own sins as known to him but for our sins as reckoned to him in our nature and so all our sins became his till he by death discharged both himself and us of them together Article 5. That the Human Nature of Christ is not ascended to heaven and brought this Scripture to prove it that flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 13. 50. Answer The Humane Nature of Christ was of the same nature of man which was of the earth earthie and Christ by living in it did sanctifie and cleanse it and so made it heavenlie which may be said to be its Ascention into heaven but that a humane bodie of flesh blood and bones should be in a local place above the Stars as M. French and others would have it I find not anywhere proved from Scripture for then it would be also out of its element and then heaven were to be understood as the earth and not as heaven and so one contrariet●e would be in another but John saith That which is of the earth is earthy and that which from heaven is heavenly and flesh and blood never came from heaven therefore shall not enter into heaven but the Holy Spirit and Power was said to descend down upon the Mother of Christ and not a humane bodie and Paul saith He that ascended up to heaven is the same he that first descended from heaven and not another Article 6. That he that looks for the humane nature of Christ to come from heaven may look long enough Answer He that looks for such a coming of Christ in his second coming as is contrarie to the Scripture and not as God himself which is the Lord from heaven may look long enough before he see him but the Scripture saith That though we have known Christ after the flesh yet henceforth know we him so no more but in spirit and in glorie to be revealed in our flesh And this coming of Christ is the coming of God to take a Kingdom to himself in man of that which is himself which coming must be as God ro man and not as man to man for he shall come in the glorie of his Father and this coming I know and therefore speak not denying any other Article 7. That there shall be no Resurrection of any body that dies and when that of Job the 19. 23. to 28. was urged he returned that Job said he knew not what and proceeded most abominably to Allegorie the Scriptures Answer First I deny not what may be proved by another but the Apostle saith That the same bodie buried is not the same bodie raised but God giveth it a bodie as pleaseth him that is to be like himself for so it 's written He will change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto his glorious bodie whose body is not as mans is and David saith When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likenesse which is for all things in man to be subdued unto the Lord that God may be all in all who is not the God of the dead but of the living and when Job said His Redeemer lived and that he should see him stand upon the earth at the last day was a mysterie which Job did not then know until he saw it fulfilled in himself which afterwards he d●d and then saw his last day and confest that he had before uttered words without knowledge things too wonderfull for him which he understood not But now saith he hear I beseech th 〈…〉 and I will declare unto thee for I have often heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now do mine eyes see thee and then was Jobs Resurrection come when he saw God to be risen within him and we rise not but as God rises with us For saith he the dead men shall live together with my dead bodie shall they arise Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead and blessed are they that hath part in this Resurrection Article 8. That there shall be no day of Judgment and that the Scriptures warrant it Answer This I never said but that a day of Judgment according to the Scripture there is which had its beginning with Christ manifest in flesh after the fall of man to destroy sin which Day of Judgement was then is now and ever will be to man so long as sin remains in man unjudged and uncondemned by Christ and so saith Christ For Judgement am I come and now is the Judgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out and now will I convince the world of sin of righteousnesse and of Judgement which day of Judgment

him to save a man neither shall any thing be able to keep us from him but though for a time man hath destroyed himself yet in God is his help and this doth not thereby give any toleration to sin for though their good works brings them not to heaven yet they are profitable unto men as they are and their bad works unprofitable but the love of God in Christ Jesus manifested to them keeps and constrains them from that which is evil Rosewell I am glad this Auditorie doth see sufficiently the carriage of this man in this thing you may take notice he hath been before five several Judges of Assizes already Coppin Then I have been like to my Elder Brother Jesus Christ who said that as he was so should we be brought before Judges and Rulers for his Names sake and yet I shall while I may still continue in speaking and writing to testifie to the world what the Lord for their sakes hath made known in me for truth Rosewell Those things you call truths of God are nothing else but the lies of the devil and if Mr. Mayor and the rest think fit I shall proceed no further but conclude for I could imploy my time far better in my Study and I shall meet with you in my Catechisical Exercises which I intend to begin next Saturday and Mr. Mayor and the rest and Souldiers I shall present to you several Catechismes to keep you from those damnable errors Coppin Have you been a Teacher of your people so long and now do you begin to Catechize them it seems your design is to keep them still in ignorance to have them alwayes learning but never come to the knowledge of the truth and truly you that have been his hearers all this while it hath been to little purpose that now you must turn back to be Catechized at last Well Sir if you have any more go on Rosewell Yes I have many things against you but time will be but lost here to discover them with you yet take one thing more CHAP. III. Christ at the left hand of God bearing sin shun the curse and condemnation for all men what the right and left hand is also the Sheep and the Goats that the way to the right hand is by the left and how ROsewell He that will perswade the people to believe that Jesus Christ is a sinful Goat to whom God will say Go ye cursed he is a perverter of Scripture a venter of damnable errors but you do ergo Coppin Let me ask you one question the Goats that are spoken of Are they believers Or are they unbelievers Or are they part of both Rosewell The Goats on the left hand are unbelievers and the Sheep on the right hand Believers Coppin It is also necessarie for you to shew what is to be understood by the right and left hand of God and then we shall know the better how the Sheep and Goats are there and when for in this there is an Allegorie which if you know not I will tell you Captain Smith Mr. Coppin It is referred to you to declare your judgment upon it Coppin I will There is mention made of a right and left hand of God in Scripture the sheep and the goats Believers and Unbelievers they on the right hand are the sheep blessed and they on the left hand are the goats cursed but to understand this the left hand of God where the Goats are cursed is the Law and the right hand of God where the Sheep are blessed is the Gospel the left hand of God is also his wrath and the right hand is his love and he saith to those on the left hand as under wrath manifested by the Law Go ye cursed for ye believe not and are damned and he saith to those on his right hand as under love Joy and peace manifested by the Gospel come ye blessed for you believe and are saved Now all men for a time before they believe and are regenerated are at the left hand of God under the Law cursed For he that breaks but one Commandment is guilty of all and all have sinned and God hath concluded all men undersin and unbelief that he might have mercie upon all Now all men being so under the curse and under the Law at the left hand of God cannot be said to come from thence to the right hand to receive the blessing and mercie but by his stretching forth his right hand to take them from his left as 't is written All the day long have I stretched forth my arm to a disobedient rebellious and gainsaying people Now what is this Arm of God but the Lord Jesus Christ freelie and in love held forth by the Father to the worst of sinners and that would not receive him For he came to his own and his own received him not therefore saith the Prophet Isaiah Who hath believed our report and to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed even to sinners and them that were out of the way to them is Jesus Christ manifested for the knowledge of those things And according to this did Jesus Christ come and put himself under the Law and under the curse at the left hand of God to receive the wrath and the curse due to us and all this he did for us to bring us to the right hand of God that we might receive the forgivenesse of sins through him and so be blessed for evermore in him for whatsoever we were Christ made himself the same and all to redeem poor man from the curse he lay under Was man under the Law so was Christ Was man accursed for sin so was Christ In Leviticus 16. 21. you may read there of a Scape Goat on which Aaron laid both his hands and confest over him all the sins of the people and all their transgressions laying them on the head of the live Goat and the Goat was to carrie them away into the Wildernesse into a Land not inhabited from whence they should appear no more Now this live Goat was a livelie tipe of Jesus Christ who was to carrie away our sins and was he indeed under that tipe that did carrie the sins of all the people as in Isa. 53. 6. We all like sheep have gone astray and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquities of us all and he hath carried them away into the Wildernesse and lost them buried them in the grave cast them behind him drowned them in the Sea of forgetfulnesse never to be remembred any more So that all people were cursed and at the left hand of God bearing their own sins till Jesus Christ did go there himself to redeem them from thence by taking the curse on him and bearing their sins for them and so sets them at libertie from under the curse and wrath due by the Law he being both God and man fitted for the purpose having power to lay down his life and to

take it up again And this Commandment he received from his Father to do for us Now he that must take on him the sins of the people must take the curse on him also therefore was Christ accursed for us Gal. 3. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being made a curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree but Christ his own self did bear our sins in his bodie on the Tree And friends I call you all friends though enemies and brethren though strangers for I hate no man but do love all as Christ my Elder Brother hath given me Commandment and shewed me an example that I should follow his steps I say there is no believer now but once he was an unbeliever and there is no sheep now but once he was a Goat at Gods left hand and under the curse till Jesus Christ the blessed Redeemer freed you from it and blessed you by it at his Fathers right hand Now while man is an unbeliever the Scripture saith he is condemned He that believeth not is condemned already so that the best of us all are in a prison in the state of condemnation and in hell under the curse one as well as another till Christ the Lord Jesus doth free us from it by breaking open the prison doors and puting himself into this prison hell and condemnation with us standing there in our steeds to receive that curse and condemnation which by the law is due to us without him and so deliver us and himselfe together as one man according to those Scriptures he was himselfe taken from prison and from judgment he was given for a Covenant of the people and for a light to the Gentiles to open the blind eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house that they might be where he is all comes out with him he leaves not one behinde but delivers himself and them together and then shuts up the doors and locks in the divell and so keeps the keyes of death and of hell saying Feare not Roswell Christ was never in hell Coppin Sir will you denie your own Faith which you have so often confessed in your Creed that he descended into hell Robison What do Christ goe into hell to turne us out before him and then come out himselfe Coppin As we are first in hell before we are in Heaven so he comes into hell to us and with himselfe brings us out and carries us to Heaven according to those Scriptures He hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus and together with my dead body shall they arise and I saith he if I be lifted up will draw all men unto me But take this with you also as a bone to pick against the next time that as you are unbelievers before you are believers so are you to be damned before you are saved and in hell before you are in Heaven for the way to Heaven is through hell He that hath an eare to heare let him heare DISPUTE II. The Heads of a Dispute between Daniel French Minister of Stroud and Richard Coppin on the nineth of December being the Sabbath Day after Morning Sermon in the Cathedral of the City of Rochester Mr. Coppin coming into the place to Preach his Morning Sermon and Mr. French having left his own Congregation and being there did before Sermon propound to Mr. Coppin a question as follows FRench Sir on Munday last in the Dispute with Mr. Rosewell I did hear somthing from you which did seem very strange to me and I came now desiring to be satisfied Coppin The Truth is alwayes a stranger to those that are strangers to that and know it not till the Truth hath made them free For I was a stranger saith Christ and ye took me not in and 't is the Truth it self that must satisfie you and not I. French I desire to speak somthing to the people after you have done Coppin Truly the time will be but short after I have done therefore if you have any thing to say to me you had better take a day to your self some other time and I shall be willing to give you a meeting provided it be in love and for edification to the people French I professe before the Lord I have no hatred nor prejudice to any mans person but their opinions Coppin Then it seems those opinions which are not one with yours you hate and judg to be wrong and your own only to be right but I must tell you I am not of your spirit for I hate no mans person nor opinion but am reconciled to all men in their several judgements and opinions leaving them all to the Lord knowing that the manifestations of God are various to some more and to some lesse but as every man hath received Jesus Christ the Lord so let him walk speak and act standing still in that light which the Lord hath enlightened him withal and be content with his wages till the Lord shall give him more French 'T was never well with us since there were such new lights Coppin 'T is true that which you call new light will out-shine your old lights and yet no new light but the same that ever was so he proceeded to Morning Sermon CHAP. IIII. Christ no sinner mans nature redeemed what 's meant by the grave death hell and hell fire how man is in it and how long FRench Having some opportunity I shall declare semthing among you to shew you the errors of this man Mr. Coppin how he hath abused Jesus Christ by saying he took on him our sinful nature as hath been delivered from his own mouth in the last Dispute and now which I shall shew to the contrary from severall Scriptures that there was no sin in him and endeavour to undeceive you of this error first in Heb. 7. 26. For such an High-Priest became us who is holy harmlesse undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the heavens Here you may see he had no sin so in 1 Pet. 1. 19. We are redeemed with the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot still you see he was without sin verse 23. Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God therefore there was no sin in the nature of Christ as appears by these Scriptures and I think I have given you Scriptures enough now and yet I have more Coppin But Sir let me answer this first you said you came for satisfaction and not to preach therefore pray let me answer as to the holinesse of Christ himself as he is in himselfe the Son and Seed of God so he is holy and without sin but our nature which he was to offer up and make holy was sinful and unholy before he took it

burne till it hath burnt up all the foundations and buildings of men in their several forms and Religions that are not founded upon Christ the Chief Corner Stone and this will be a Chaos and confusion and an end of the world to men And now what are you and what do you doe when you seek to imprison or banish this truth away from you which you know not and to stop those cleansing floods which the Lord hath opened in drie places for you and to quench those fierie coales which the Lord hath kindled amongst you to refine you you do but add a greater encrease to the truth for all that which is ungodlie selfish and wicked within you that hath opposed the truth shall be imprisoned by it and drowned with it yea it shall be burnt with the fire and melted with the heat until all be consumed and you dissolved into the nothingnesse of all things below God where you are all lost and you again swallowed up into his own Almightinesse where you are found in your true and everlasting Centre that sends you forth and takes you in at his pleasure And this is the begining and end of the world and of all your fighting against the truth to be lost and to be found to be and not to be and therefore look about you you that talk so much of the end of the world when Christ shall come do you know this end and when it shall be I will tell you my experience it is to your end and at your end that Christ doth come and therefore would you prolong his coming for his coming in will be your going out overturn overturn his rising will be your falling and his life will be your death for you are a lie and he is the truth therefore stay Lord Jesus and come not yet say you that know not his coming to be in you stay till the time of the end of the world which you would not have to be yet because your end must come with it but come Lord Jesus come quicklie say I and all those that know his coming to be in them that the world of sin death hell and all Devillishnesse may have an end in all men as in them that there may be no more wrath nor hatred no more fighting nor quarrelling disputing nor contending for the truth nor against the truth but that heaven and earth righteousnesse and truth may meet together and imbrance each other in all men and at all times places and things whatsoever according to the word and will of the Lord that there may be no more any thing at a distance neither truth nor error light nor darknesse day nor night but that in the evening there may be light and so but one day known to the Lord over all the earth one King and his name one But in the mean time you have here following Articles against the truth and answers for the truth The twenty five Articles called Blasphemy brought against Richard Coppin by the Ministers of Kent and for which he was sent to Prison with his Answers to them COppin First I denie all their Articles to be spoken by me as they are here laid down by them they having much abused my words and also my sense by their adding and diminishing yet for satisfaction to many people of the truth of that which may be in them I shall give a brief answer to them according to the plain sense of Scripture and the manifestations of God to men here on earth which so far as I ever knew in my self I alwaies declared and hid nothing of the counsel of God made known to men but for what God will do by man at the end of this life beyond what is revealed I leave also with him till he shall more reveal it Article 1. That all the Scriptures is but an Allegory that is all said he both Law and Gospel and that it is but an Allegory said he it is clear from Gal. 4. 24. Answer The whole Scripture of Law and Gospel the son of the Bond-woman and the Son of the Free-woman are the two Covenants in an Allegorie so saith Paul Gal 4. 24. which things saith he are an Allegory for those are the two Covenants The Allegorie is in this , Abraham had two sons the one by a Bond-maid the other by a Free-woman the Bond-maid is the Law or first Covenant the Free-woman is the Gospel or second Covenant in a mysterie and these also are the two Jerusalems Sina and Sion the one which is below as in bondage the other which is above as in freedome which are also the two mothers of the children after the flesh and the children after the spirit they who live by the works of the Law under the conditions of the first Covenant and so not all their sins to be forgiven them are the sons of the Bond-woman after the flesh and are in bondage with their mother to this day persecu●ing the sons of the Free-woman born after the spirit that lives by free grace and sees their sins pardoned Secondly the carnal mind of man is the son of the Bond-woman after the flesh minding the things of the flesh which is death the spiritual mind is the son of the Free-woman after the spirit minding the things of the spirit which is life for so it is written To be carnally mindad is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace and this son of the Bond-woman is to be cast out as no more to be remembred for he shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman for he understands not the things of the spirit of God but they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but the spiritual man knoweth all things yea the deep things of God and therefore lives in God as in peace and freedome and is no longer in bondage Thus is the Scripture an Allegorie and a great Mysterie for great is the mysterie of godlinesse and saith Christ you erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Article 2. That our Jesus took our defiled nature with sin and was a sinner in that nature Answer That Jesus Christ took on him our sinful nature and in it destroyed the sinfulnesse of it is a truth according to these Scriptures Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood Jesus Christ himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might also destroy him that had the power of death which is the Devil c. and God made Christ to be sin for us laid upon him the iniquities of us all and he did bear them in his own bodie on the Tree which is no blasphemie to say but that he should be a sinner in that nature I never said it neither do affirm as you would have it Article 3. That he was a cursed Goat for the Goats on the left hand

and such a one enjoyes it as possessingly and the other doth not and that makes it more especially unto him and so he have a greater assurance then the other hath because he trusteth in the living God who is the Saviour of all men of which all he knows himself one and so believes it upon a sure ground till which time I could not assure my self Article 15. That if there be but one man of all that ever were or shall be in the world damned no man can assuredly know that his soule shall be saved Answer And if Christ were not the Saviour of all men and I hear but of one man that shall be damned to all eternity and this man not yet pointed out as knowne from all the rest to be the man and Christ come to save the worst of sinners what full assurance then can I have of my savlation more then another of his salvation but some doubts and some feares will arise within me who shall be that man that is to be damned till I see a pardon come forth for all men to be saved and then I knowing my selfe to be one of that all cannot but have a good assurance of my owne salvation this axperince-in me doth witness as also saith the Scripture that I can no more judge any man to eternall damnation but that which is not of God in man Therefore who art thou O man that judgest another and dost the same things thy selfe for wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thy selfe for thou that judgest dost the same things and who hath made thee to differ from another that thou shouldest be saved and not another wherefore think not better of thy selfe then of another for there is no respect of Persons with God that is more accepted with him but only Christ in all and all in Christ for he hath concluded all men as men under sin and unbeliefe that he might have mercy upon all and then O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgment and his wayes past finding out for who hath knowne the mind of God or who hath bin his councellor for of him and to him and through him are all things to whom be glory for ever Article 16. That the unpardonable sin of the Holy Ghost is nothing but flesh opposing and quenching the spirit till Christ come into the soule and destroy the flesh Answer To explaine this the Holy Ghost is the spirit the sin against the Holy Ghost is the opposition and war that is made against the Spirit by the fleshly carnall mind for the flesh wa 〈…〉 against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to another in man and so saith Paul I find saith he a warring within me that when I would do good evill is present with me 't is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me for with my mind I serve the Law of God though with my flesh the Law of sin and this flesh opposing the Spirit is for a time in every man as a man of sin ruling in them till Christ come into the soule and destroy it which shall never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come but is the only enemy that God will destroy in man Article 17. That when a soule is once regenerated then he is free from all sin that the flesh is quite destroyed Answer Regeneration is a new birth and the new birth is to be in Christ a new creature free from all sin without which man nor his prayers nor any thing is accepted of God for he heareth not sinners and without holiness no man shall see God but if the Son shall make you free then are you free indeed and him that is in Christ is a new creature old things are past away and all things are become new by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Article 18. That no man shall receive any good by any good that he doth that it shall no way further his salvation Answer If man by his good works could merit heaven then salvation by Christ were made void or if any thing of man which is imperfect were to joyn with Christ in the work of salvation then mans salvation were not all by Christ but by man and would so far be imperfect and then man might boast and say he was able to help Christ to save his soul and so robing Christ of his work would rob him of his honor also but not of works saith Paul lest any man should boast neither by any other name under heaven but by Jesus Christ is any man saved that no flesh might glory in his presence but he that glories let him glory in the Lord that his soul was saved by the Lord Article 19. That no man shall receive any hinderance by any sin he committeth that shall do him no hurt Answer If any sin of man should hinder mans salvation by Christ then that sin would appear to be too strong for Christ to conquer and then no man could be saved for there is no sin but every man is guiltie of for all have sinned and all are guiltie but this I say with the Prophet Elihu that his bad works may hurt a man as he is and his good works may profit men but shall no way profit the salvation of his soul But because good works are good to men therefore would I have all men observe and do them doing unto others as they would others should do to them which is the sum of the whole Law for he that loveth God will also love his Brother Article 20. That our Lord Jesus Christ is the three persons in the Trinity God blessed Father Son and Holy Spirit and that the blessed Trinity is but three manifestation of God Answer The blessed Trinity Father Son and Spirit I acknowledg the Father as begeting the Son as begotten and the Holy Ghost uniting as being the compleat union of all three together in one spirit where they all meet as copartners together in one work that what the one is the other is the same and what the one doth the other doth the same as all but one God manifesting himself under various appearances of Father Son and Spirit to the creatures apprehension Article 21. That our Lord Jesus Christ himself was the Leper that was cleansed and returned to give thanks Luke 17. 15. Answer I say not that Christ was a Leper but there were ten Lepers that were cleansed and one of them when he saw himself cleansed turned back and glorified God and Christ saith Where are the other nine There are not found that returned to give glory to God save this stranger and who was this stranger but Christ in that man that gave glory to God for the work done as Christ saith Father I have glorified thee on