open their eyes that they may see and be saved and come unto the Knowledge of the Truth For the Lord hath not pleasure in their death but would have them turn and live For which cause I have written because the time is nere wherein the Door will be shut and then it will be too late and the place of Repentance will not be found When Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels shall be said to the Goats on the left hand by the King when he shall come in his Glory and all the Holy Angels with him and shall sit upon the Throne of his Glory and all Nations shall be gathered before him and he shall divide between them as a Shepherd doth his Sheep And so I have done with this Particular and am clear of their blood in this day of the Lord wherein he is coming to render unto every man according to his deeds But to proceed Neither hath the Lord so chosen man since the fall as that he can never be removed from the state unto which he is chosen That were to render the Blood of Christ of none effect and to make void the Everlasting Covenant the Law writ in the heart and the fear put in the inward parts the Word of Life the Power of God by which we are kept Who are kept said Peter writing to the Saints by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. And this is the Doctrine of them who hold Free Grace or that are called by the name of Antinomians that is to say those who hold that he that is once chosen cannot fall from that state Having loved his own which were in the World he loved them to the end John 13. 1. Say they and though they are sinners yet they are justified by Christ and have Redemption by his Blood even the Remission of sins and this is imputed to them though not inherent in them as they speak and they hope to be saved by him because they are sinners and yet are justified by him though they are sinners And with such thin Garments as these they seek to cover themselves and to rest satisfied whilst they are ignorant of and know not him who saveth from their sins all they who put their trust in him Who having loved his own but they are his own which he loved and none else he loved them to the end he went thorough the work which was appointed him for them to do and flinched not which was to lay down his life for them For this was spoken of his suffering John 13. 1. As the Scriptures testifie and that of John in Particular and the Scripture cannot be broken which thus speaks Now before the feast of the Passeover when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this World unto the Father Having loved his own said John which were in the World he loved them unto the end And supper being ended the Devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simons son to betray him Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he was come from God and went to God He riseth from Supper and laid aside his Garments and took a Towel and girded himself after that he poureth Water into a Bason and began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the Towel with which he was girded Then cometh he to Simon Peter and Simon saith unto him Lord doest thou wash my feet Jesus answered and said unto him what I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt hereafter Peter answereth and saith unto him Thou shalt never wash my feet Jesus answered if I wash thee not thou hast no part with me v. 2. to the 9. Simon Peter saith unto him not my feet only but my hands and my head Jesus saith unto him he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit and ye are clean but not all for he knew who should betray him Therefore said he ye are not all clean v. 9 10 11. This said Christ Jesus So it is his own that he having once loved he loved them to the end And they were such whom he washed If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me So not to be washed is to have no part with Christ and this was said to Peter a Disciple And said he unto the Disciples them whom he had chosen ye are clean but not all for he knew who should betray him and yet he was chosen Have not I chosen you Twelve and yet one of you is a Devil John 6. 70. The plain English or summe of the Matter is this Men must be born again of Water and of the Spirit or they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God as he said to Nicodemus Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3. 5. They must be regenerated Old things must passe away all things must become New if they are in Christ Jesus the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness and they that are not so in vain do they talk of Christ they have no part with him for he is Holy and every one that is in him is as he is As he is so are we in this world 1 John 4. 17. And be ye holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1. 16. And Holiness becomes thy House for ever Psal 93. 5. And an high way shall be there and a way and it shall be called the way of Holiness the unclean shall not passe over it Isa 35. 8. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh Abomination or maketh a lie but they that are written in the Lambs book of Life Rev. 21. last Otherwise to say is to dishoner Christ and to blasphem him to make him such a one as such are as live in Transgression and sin who came to redeem from sin and to deliver from Iniquity and to purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works that we might be to his Praise and Honour Now sin is a reproach to any people Righteousness it is that exalteth a Nation Prov. 14. 34. And for any to say they are in him and yet are found sinners they reproach and blasphem him as if he were so that Iniquity had fellowship with him or that Iniquity would be in him or have part with him Can the Throne of Iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by a Law Psal 49. 20. Thou art of purer Eyes then to behold evil and canst not look on Iniquity Hab. 1. 13. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with thee Psal 5. 4. But if while we seek to be justified by Christ we our selves also are found sinners is therefore Christ
so as by fire vers 14 15. And upon this must all be built upon him who is the Corner Stone the tried Stone the sure Foundation the Foundation of many Generations the Restorer of Paths to dwell in the Builder of the old waste Places the Repairer of the breach And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste Places thou shalt raise up the Foundation of many Generations and thou shalt be called the Repairer of the breach the Restorer of Paths to dwell in Isa 58. 11. The Reconciler The Maker of Atonement The Offering The Sacrifice The Altar The Sanctuary The maker of Twain one New man so making peace The Blotter out of the hand writing of Ordinances which was against us which was contrary to us The Taker of it out of the Way The Nailer of it to his Cross The Spoiler of Principalities and Powers The maker of a shew of them openly The Triumpher over them in it The maker of both one who is our Peace The breaker down of the Middle wall of Partition between us The Abolisher of the enmity in his flesh even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances The Preacher of Peace to them that were afar off and to them that were nigh through whom we both Jew and Gentile have an access by one Spirit unto the Futher The Saviour of the body the Church The Saviour of all men especially of them that believe The Saviour of the World whom God hath sent into the World so to be The destroyer of the works of the Devil The Atonement The New Covenant The Law written in the heart The fear put into the inward parts The Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart The Word of Faith which the Apostles preached The Light of the World The true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World who was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not Who came unto his own and his own received him not Who as many as received him to them gave he power to be called the Sons of God even to them who believe in his Name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God The Light in whom whosoever believeth shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of Life The Condemnation of all that believe not in the light In whom whosoever believeth shall not be condemned The Judge of all The Judge of the quick and the dead Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and coming The King Immortal The second Adam The Lord from Heaven The quickning Spirit The Hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble The man Christ Jesus is he that witnesses that shews that judges that reproves that makes manifest it is the Word of the Lord. Into him into this Seed which is Christ the Election that which reproves that which makes manifest that which shews that which judges must all come and grow up therein who are redeemed unto God And the Word of the Lord unto every man whether he will hear or whether he will forbear The measure of him in every man which he hath placed in every man the manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal that in every man it may grow and that every man growing up in it and abideing may be blessed of the Lord the Seed of the blessed of the Lord and their Off-spring with them That they may be of the Root that 's holy of the true Olive in which being ingrafted though a wild Olive contrary to Nature the fatness of the true Olive he may come to be a partaker of which brings forth fruit unto God unto Holiness unto Life Eternal And this unto all is the Word of the Lord of whom I am moved to write that all may know the Root that is in them what it is that brings forth fruit unto God unto Life which the Lord hath blessed unto which being â— joyned and in which continuing a growâ—â—g up will be witnessed in that which is Eternal which never fadeth away but endures for ever And so I have cleared this Matter as I have received it of the Lord whether men will hear or whether they will forbear they all shall witness it in the day of the Lord which is neer wherein he will render unto every man according to his deeds It is the Word of the Lord. And so I have finished this Matter even the Word of the Lord in me to this Generation To whom I am known by the Name of G. Bishop Bristol the 20th of the 6th Moneth 1663. Printed In the beginning of the Second Moneth 1664. THE END
and his mouth must be stopt and he must make supplication to his Judge whom though I were righteous saith Job yet would I not answer but I would make supplication to my Judge Job 9. 15. And this becomes man and not to argue it with the Lord and to wrangle with him as if God were unrighteous as if his Ways were not equal Who measures the Lord by his shallow understanding who cannot be searched out O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and the Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgements and his Wayes past finding out for who hath known the mind of the Lord Or who hath been his Counsellor Or who hath first given unto him and it shall be given unto him again For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be Glory for ever Amen Rom. 9. 33 34 35. 36. So every man's mouth here must be stopt and before his Judge he must be silent as I have said and not lay unrighteousness on God or charge him that his Wayes are not equal For man himself shall conclude it otherwise in the day wherein the Lord will render unto him according to his deeds and therefore it is in vain to stand it out with the Lord. It is but the artifice of the Enemy that works this in you he knows you will otherwise say when it is too late therefore be not deceived by him least when 't is too late you blame your folly Moved of the Lord I am to write this to you in bowels of love that you may see your state and how this matter stands and that ye may be delivered And if ye yet say The Children being not yet born neither having yet done any good or evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated I answer as I did before this is spoken of the two Seeds the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent of which these two were Figures in which as the Knowledge of the Lord foresaw they would be so he loved so he hated For he loveth and hateth no man but as they are in these and it was after the fall that this was spoken both the promise that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head and the Elder shall serve the Younger Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated For before there is nothing spoken of this for all stood well and as the same in the first Adam whilst he stood and there was no need of the Promise nor was there two as to man the one whereof was the Object of Love and the other of Hatred the Elder serving the Younger but man was one spirit from the Root Eternal and in the Root Eternal which God hath blessed And the two or that which made two the seed of the Serpent which entered into man came out afterwards For man receiving the Serpent and obeying his voice after he was made against the Command of God there came to be two things in man two Roots two which strugled the Seed of the Woman the seed of Promise and the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Curse as the Promise came to take place and that seed came to move in man to bring him back to God which the Lord hath promised as the Children strove in Rebecca's womb when she came to be delivered so do these as the time cometh wherein as I have said the promise of God cometh to be fulfilled The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one unto the other So that ye cannot do the things that ye would As the Apostle speaks Gal. 5. 17. And which the Apostle found in himself when the Promise came to be fulfilled in him I see saith he another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity â—o the law of sin which is in my members And he cries out there as Rebecca did concerning the Children If it be so why am I thus And she went to enquire of the Lord Gen. 25. 22. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death Rom. 7. 23 24. So the Children strugled in the Womb of Rebecca which was the Figure Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy bowels and theone people shall be stronger then the other people and the Elder shall serve the Younger said the Lord unto her of whom she went to enquire when it was so with her as aforesaid And when her dayes to be delivered were to be fulfilled behold there were Twins in her womb and the first came out Red all over like an hary Garment and they called his Name Esau and after that came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esau's heel and his Name was called Jacob â— 24 25 26. So the Law of the Spirit of Life which was in Christ Jesus strugled with the law of Sin and of Death In Paul which though the law of sin and of death the law in his members strugled with and came out first When I would do good the law of his mind evil is present with me the law in his members the good that I would I do not the evil which I would not that do I Yet it took hold of its heel and supplanted it as the Name of Jacob the true Seed siignifies Is he not said Esau rightly named Jacob For he hath supplanted me these two times he took away my birth-right and behold now he hath taken away my blessing and Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his Father blessed him And Esau said in his heart the days of mourn-for my Father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob Gen. 27. 36 37. 41. It came after and supplanted overthrew the other I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death For what the Law could not do for that it is weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace vers 21. chap. 8. 2 3 4 5 6. So there is the first and the second the first man Adam and the second the Law of Sin and Death and the Law of the Spirit of Life the Law of the
hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that man whom he hath Ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Acts 17. 31. And who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. And who shall give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead who only hath Immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen or can see to whom be Honour and Power everlasting Amen 2 Pet. 3. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Who is The Judge of all Heb. 12. 23. The Mediator of the New Covenant v. 24. of a better Covenant Heb. 6. which was established on better promises for if that first Covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second but finding fault with the first he saith Behold the day is come saith the Lord when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah not according to the Covenant that I made with their father in the day that I took them by the Hand to lead them out of the land of Aegypt c. But this is the Covenant c. that I will put my Laws into their minds and write them in their hearts c. He that speaketh from Heaven v. 29. The Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15. 26. The blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel whose voice then shook the earth but now he hath promised saying yet once more I shake not the earth only but also Heaven and this Word yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made that those things that cannot be shaken may remain wherefore we receiving a Kingdom that cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear For our God is a consuming fire vers 26 27 28 29. So then the Way that leads to Life being strait narrow and few there being that find it or walk therein and his Flock being a little flock to whom it is the Fathers pleasure to give the Kingdom And those of Israel that shall return being but a Remnant and seeing that without are the Doggs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie and these shall go into everlasting punishment but the Righteous into Life eternal it follows that all are not redeemed for though his life be given a ransom for all that whosoever cometh unto him may have Life and ye will not come unto me that ye may have Life yet all are not redeemed all are not Ransomed all enter not into Life all are not saved and the Reason is plain because all come not to him who is the Ordinance of God to Salvatiâ—n which is Christ in them the Hope of glory the Mistery hid from ages and generations but now made manifest to his Saints the Wisdom of God and the Power of God that which witnesses that which reproves that which makes manifest in them and so they are not saved they are not redeemed they are not ransomed they are not delivered for how can it be that they should be delivered ransomed redeemed saved who come not to him though he be in them a measure of him in every one that which reproves that whick makes manifest that which shews a man all that ever he hath done that searcheth the heart that trieth the reins is not this the Christ nor believe in him and so lay not hold of him to deliver them from death to ransom them from the Power of the grave to redeem them from destruction to save them from wrath to come Nor obey him who shews them wrath and destruction and the grave and death For he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obeyed him Heb. 5. 9. And as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name John 1. 12. And Fight the good fight of Faith lay hold on Eeernal Life 1 Tim. 6. 12. And ye will not come to me that ye might have Life said he to the Pharisees as aforesaid John 5. 40. Now if people believe not on him that of him in them that witness to God if they obey him not if they do not receive him who stands at the door and knocks that which witnesses that which moves to God the Voice of Wisdom which cryeth without which uttereth her voice in the streets which cryeth in the chief places of concourse in the opening of the gates which uttereth her words in the City saying How long ye simple Ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge Turn ye at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit upon you I will make known my words unto you because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction as cometh a whirl wind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me for that they hated knowledge and did not chose the fear of the Lord they would none of my counsel they despised all my reproof therefore shall they eat of the Fruit of their way and be filled with their own devices for the turning away of the simple shall slay them and the properity of Fools shall destroy them but who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil Prov. 1. 20. to the end If they lay not hold on him if they come not to him how can they know his power how can he be to them the Author of eternal Salvation and this is manifest Now if any man say in the words of the Apostle as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 22. And who gave himself a ranson for all to be testified in due season 1 Tim. 2. 6. And God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved John 3. 16 17. I Answer that was not the end of the Lord in sending of his Son into the world to condemn the world as I have shewed at large before but that the world through him might be saved as are the words of Christ as aforesaid but it is through him so that
be saved it is the Word of the Lord. Now in the Son there is Life He hath life in himself and he quickeneth whom he will For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the Son quickeneth whom he will The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to Life Verily verily I say unto you The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live for as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself and hath given him authority to execute Judgement also because he is the Son of man John 5. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. And he is the wel-spring of Life Vnderstanding is a wel-spring of Life to him that hath it but the instruction of fools is folly saith the wise man Prov. 26. 22. And whence then cometh wisdom and where is the place of understanding seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living and kept from the fouls of the Air Behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom and to depart from evil that is understanding Job 28. 20 21. And I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty Inventions The fear of the Lord is to hate Evil Pride and Arrogancy and the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate Counsel is mine and sound wisdom I am understanding I have strength By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice Be me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me Riches and Honour are with me yea dureable Riches and Righteousness My fruit is better then gold yea then fine gold and my revenue then choice silver I lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the Paths of Judgement that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their Treasures The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning ere ever the earth was when there was no depths I was brought forth when there was no fountain abounding with water before the Mountains were stetled before the Hills was I brought forth whils't as yet he had not made the Earth nor the Fields nor the highest part of the dust of the World when he prepared the Heavens I was there when he set a compass on the face of the depth when he established the Clouds above when he strengthened the Fountains of the deep when he gave to the Sea his degree that the Waters should not pass his commdements When he appointed the foundation of the earth then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing allwayes before him Rejoycing in the habitable part of his Earth and my delights were with the Sons of Men. Now therefore hearken unto me O ye Children for blessed are they that keep my wayes Hear inâ—truction and be wise and refuse it not Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my door For who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord but he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul all they that hate me love death Prov. 8. 13. to the end And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his Commandements his praise endureth for ever Psal 111. 10. And the fear of the Lord is Wisdom and the Knowledge of the Holy is understanding Proverbs 9. 10. And this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least unto the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8 10 11 12. And this shall be the Covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their Inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every one his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquities and I will remember their sins no more Jer. 31. 33 34. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them and I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good and I will plant them in this Land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul Jer. 32. 40 41. And I saw another Angel flie in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth and to every Nation and Kindred and Tongue and People crying with a loud voice Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgements is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters Rev. 14. 6 7. And except the God of my Fathers the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaack had been with me thou hadst sent me away now empty God hath seen my affliction and the labour of my hand and rebuked thee yester-night Gen. 31. 42. And Laban said to Jacob behold this heap and behold this Pillar which I cast up between me and the this Heap and this Pillar be witnesse that I not pass over this Heap to thee and thou shalt not pass over this Heap and this Pillar unto me for harm the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor and their Father Judge between us and Jacob sware by the fear of his Father Isaack v. 51 52 53. Thus saith the Scripture and the Scripture cannot be broken John 10. 35. And in him was life and the life was the light of men that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 3. 9. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darkness rather then light