any of these Laws be broken if they may not be broken then they are perpetual Ans. The reason why they may not be broken is not because that the dispensation of them is still in force but because the dispensation of the law of the spirit comprehends all the righteousness of Moses his law and the end of Christs dissolving that Covenant was not that any man might have liberty to do any thing which is there manifested to be unrighteous but that the righteousness of it might be fulfilled in them who receive his law in the spirit which never could be fulfilled by receiving of Moses his law in the letter Rom 8.4 And mark this diligently ye that have been exercised in spirit towards God The law of sin is nearer to us then any law of the letter can come the covenant of Death and Hell with the laws thereof are written within by the finger of Satan and that which blots them out must be as near even an inward covenant an inward writing from the Eternal Word in the heart by the law of his Eternal Spirit of life This then is my Answer Moses his law in substance remains as it is taken in by Christ and administred by him in spirit but not as it was given in the letter to the Jews for so it was a shadow making nothing perfect but making way for the better hope for the Covenant established upon better promises for the inward law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which effects that in the spirits of his people which Moses his law could by no means do Quest But what is the substance of the law which abides Ans. The substance of the law is Love To love God above all above all without above all within and to love one's Neighbor as ones self To receive this love from God and to bring it forth in his spirit this is the substance of the law this is the thing which the law drove at in a shadow The law is fulfilled in this one word Love but that love must be received from God which fulfils the law A man may strive to love abundantly and strive to obey in love and yet fall short of the covenant but the Lord must circumcise the heart afore that love can spring up which fulfils the law Deuter. 30 6. Obj. But doth not the Apostle Paul say That by the law is the knowledge of sin and that he had not known lust except the law had said Thou shalt not covet plainly referring to the tenth Commandment which saith Thou shalt not covet Ans. By the law outwardly was the knowledge of sin outwardly to the people of the Jews by the law inwardly is the knowledge of sin inwardly to the spirits of Disciples Now a little consider and wait on the Lord to know what administration of the law it was that Paul knew sin by whether it was by Moses his administration of the law in the letter or by Christ's Ministration of his law to him in the spirit It is rendred in our last Translation Thou shalt not covet but it might more properly be rendred Thou shalt not lust For if {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} be properly rendered Lust then {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} may as properly be rendred Thou shalt not lust And he that hath received the administration of the law in the Spirit knoweth it thus to issue forth from the Word of life into his Spirit It discovers the lusts and affections of the flesh which draw from the yoke and subjection to the spirit and then by a command from the living spirit it hedgeth up the way after the other lovers saying Thou shalt not lust And as the law of the flesh ariseth kindling desires after vanity and after fleshly ease and delight so the law of the spirit arises in the inner man forbidding pricking stopping and limiting that which would be at liberty out of the life and purity of the holy law And here begin the bitter fights and terrible battels and conflicts between the two Seeds wherein all the powers of heaven earth and hell are engaged Now because this interpretation of Paul's words may seem strange and uncouth to persons who have drunk in another apprehension and have taken it for granted that Paul there refers to the tenth commandment consider the place yet further and perhaps the Lord may please to open it to you from the very Letter even as he hath opened it to others immediately by his Spirit by causing them to feel the thing which Paul felt and to receive the Law as he received it Paul in that seventh of the Romans speakes of three states vvhich he had known First a state of life before the law I was alive without the law once v. 9. Secondly a state of death after the commandment came Then sin revived and he dyed When the Word of Life came with its living commandment to set upon sin indeed then sinne would dally no longer it would no longer lye as dead and let Paul live in his Zeal and Worship as he had done before but it slew him it shewed its power in him sometimes deceiving him and sometimes forcing him from that which was holy spiritual just and good and to that which was unholy insomuch as he did do what he hated and could not do what he loved and found himself a wretched man and in miserable captivity because of the body of death and the law of sin in his members v. 23 24. 3dly A state of life after the commandment had done its Work in throughly slaying of him When that was removed which the law came against then then he was marryed to another husband then he could bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7.4 then he could walk freely with God not after the flesh but after the spirit ch. 8.4 and rejoice in the life and the peace instead of roaring out because of the death which came from the carnal mind v. 5. Now when was the time when Paul was alive without the Law Was it not when he was righteous when he was whole then he had no need of the Phisician then he had not received the Wound even the terrible Wound which Christ then gives the soul when he calleth to it by his spirit and giveth forth the commandment Thou shalt not lust When he had confidence in the flesh being circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the Tribe of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the Law a Pharisee concerning Zeal persecuting the Church touching the righteousness which is in the Law blameless Phil. 3.4 5 6. Here was a living man and his exact receiving the Ministration of the Law in the letter was part of his life yea but he had not received the commandment yet that slew him Paul was alive yet and could flourish in the freshness of his life zeal and abundant knowledge under this administration of the Law But when
this Jerusalem was a type of an inward building in the Spirits of Gods people both in its rearing up in its scituation in its standing in Gods dealing with it all the time of its standing and lastly in its downfall and utter desolation There is an appearance and building of God in the Spirits of his People which is to give way to and be swallowed up in a fuller and higher appearance But the fleshly spirit getting into this building will not give way to the further and more inward spirituall appearance of the Spirit but will have the first building stand as the building and will entertain no further appearance of God then as it can comprehend it subject it and afford it a place in the first building Hereupon God distresseth Ariel even the City which David built saying within his heart surely that which I have built will I break down and that which I have planted will I pluck up even this whole land So he causeth the overflowing scourge to pass even over Thy whole land O Immanuel Now when the enemy enters within the holy City and within the holy Temple it is time to fly and exceeding great distress will befall that Disciple whose flight is either on the Winter or on the Sabbath day Do not imagine at this but if the Lord open it not at present wait his season for the thing is true and sealed both by the openings of the Light eternall and by sensible exercises and experiences from that Light Thus I have answered such of the Queries as concern the seventh days Sabbath Such as seem to argue the unwarrantableness of observing the first day of the week for a Sabbath I leave to those to whom they are tendred and of whom an Answer seems so conscienciously zealously desired as I do not see how it can be reasonably neglected or denied that by weighty evidence of Scripture he may be reduced if he hath erred but if not but it be truth vvhich he hath therein held forth the Lord may be honored in mens bovving and subjecting to every truth of his by vvhat instruments soever it pleaseth him to make it manifest Some Queries sent in writing upon occasion of an Epistle directed to all such as observe the Seventh Day of the week for a Sabbath Answered Query 1. IF the whole Law of Moses the Law of the ten Commandments as well as the Law of Sacrifices were both added upon one and the same account for transgressions Then why doth the holy Spirit in the Scriptures lay forth such an antiphitical use of them I suppose he means anti-tipical the one that sin might abound Rom. 5.20 the other sacrificing for sin Heb. 9.7 8 9. Ans. That the Lavv of Moses vvas added because of transgression is manifest from that Scripture quoted by me in my Epistle as vvel as from other Scriptures and one end vvhy it vvas added in relation to transgression vvas that the offence might abound vvhich vvould make the Sacrifice or propitiation for sin appear more necessary and more acceptable And the sacrifices also relate to the sinner some referring to the sin committed others to the thankfulness and acknovvledgement due for the peace mercy and blessings of God tovvards his poor sinful erring creatures both vvhich vvere to last till the time of reformation from the sin Heb. 9.10 Gal. 3.19 But that they vvere both added upon one and the same account that I did not affirm that is vvrongfully put upon me Now though both these were added because of transgression yet they had not both the same use and service in relation to transgression but the one was added to discover sin and to make it appear exceeding sinful Rom. 5.20 the other to blot it out to take it away to make atonement for it which the sacrifices did making the sinner upright and perfect as relating to that outward state and capacity though they could not as pertaining to the conscience Heb. 9.9 Qu. 2. If the whole Law the ten Commandments as well as the Sacrifices were representations figures or shadows of somewhat relating to Christ the Seed Then what did they in general or either of them in particular represent figure or shadow forth before they were written in Tables of stone or since they were written in Tables of stone more of Christ then then now Answ. That the ten Words were some of the Precepts of Moses and appertaining to the first Testament or Covenant all which Precepts were sprinkled with blood cannot be denied And the Apostle distinguisheth the Precepts of Moses under the Law which were sprinkled with the blood of the Sacrifices under the Law Heb. 7.19 from the Precepts of Christ which he writes in other Tables ch. 10.16 which also are sprinkled with blood but not with the blood of Bulls and Goats but with his own blood and he that receives any of these Precepts out of the blood of Christ cannot truly and spiritually obey them though he may strive much to form his spirit into the obedience thereof Now the time and season of their signification was the time which God allotted them under the Law wherein was the use of signs but the Gospel is a state of substance of bringing the life and immortality into the heart and into the possession of believers which the state of the Law shadowed So that they are not signs since the Gospel since Christ put an end to the Law-signs shadows and figures not yet before the Law to Believers so far as they were in the New Covenant For as the thing signified cometh so that which signifieth it passeth away though that was a mixed state wherein God gave a taste of both Covenants before his perfect dispensing or bringing forth of either Qu. 3. If the whole dispensation of the Law was given to the Jews and not to the Gentiles and so the Gentiles not bound to that Law but another way for them to know the mind of God Then whether that Law cited Rom 2 15. which the Gentiles shewed the work of in their hearts be another Law contrary to that Law that was given to the Jews even the ten Commandments Ans. The Law which is the substance is not contrary to the Law which is the shadow but is the comprehending and fulfilling of it The Law in the Spirit written by God's power and presence in the heart and mind is not contrary to the Law in the letter but is an higher and more glorious Ministration of it The one commandment which God gave by Moses to the Jews Deut. 30.11 which was the commandment of life and death as relating to their inward and eternal state ver. 15. was not contrary to the ten commandments which God had commanded them before by another covenant which he had made vvith them as an outward people and which was to be their Rule as to their outward state for they were chosen by God to be an holy people outwardly and so an outward Rule
Qu. 7. If Jesus Christ as he is the Son gave forth another law to his house or family and that law contrary to that that the Father gave forth then whether there is not two law-givers when the Scriptures say there is but one Jam. 4.12 Answ. The substance when it is shadowed out or when it is nakedly dispensed is one and the same thing so that when ever it comes it cannot be an other thing then what the shadow represented it to be Moses his dispensation and Christs are one in Spirit and when he cometh in Spirit he doth not destroy either Moses or the Prophets but comprehends them So that the law is but one although the dispensations of it have been various but the proper dispensation of the law now to Christians is Christ's dispensation not Moses his dispensation Christians are now to look for the Light and Knowledge of it in the Tables where Christ writes it according to his Covenant So that there have not been two Laws given out but the one Law of God hath been variously dispensed in and according to the letter by Moses to the Jews in and according to the Spirit by Christ to his Discipes Quer· 8. If the Tables of Stone the writing of the law of the ten Commandements in the Tables and the Law of the ten Commandements it self which was written were figures or representations Then whether the finger of Gods Spirit doth write the law of God two ways in the inward Tables So called namely in the heart of Christs family in one way whilst Moses dispensation was on foot Psal. 37.31 For the Psalmist speaks in the present tense which was under that dispensation Now is it another way in this latter dispensation expressed 2 Cor. 3.3 Qu. 9. If two wayes then how doth the finger of Gods Spirit write them those ways Answ. The eternall Covenant was the same under the Law as under the Gospell and its Tables were the heart then as well as now and its way of writing the same then as now even by the finger of God's power or eternall Spirit and thither the Jews were even then referred for the inward writing of the Law Deut. 30.14 So that they that truly hearkned even to Moses were to wait on this word vvhich vvas nigh in the heart for the vvriting of his Laws there And they that hearkned to this Lavv vvhich endureth for ever knevv the writings thereof in their hearts whereas the Jews vvho vvere very diligent to get the Law into their hearts from the letter could never thereby attain the writing of it there but vvere still found breakers of it and under that curse vvhich belonged to the breach Abraham Isaac and Jacob David and the Prophets knevv the invvard Jew who becomes so by the invvard Covenant and by the inward dispensation of the Lavv in that Covenant and the Law vvhich vvas after the promise could not disannul the promise vvhich vvas before it but it stood good and firm to the children even to all the Spirituall seed the vvhole time of that outvvard dispensation of the Lavv Qu 10. If not Then how doth the writing of the Law in Tables of Stone represent the writing of the Law in the Tables of the heart seeing the Tables of the heart were writ upon by the finger of Gods Spirit whilst the Tables of stone were in full force and the dispensation had not ceased Answ. Though the Tables of Stone or Law thereof was in force to that outvvard people of God the Jews yet this did not destroy his inward people nor his inward Tables in their hearts nor hinder him from vvriting his invvard Lavv there but the invvard and eternall Covenant ran underneath to them invvardly even all the time of that outvvard dispensation whereby they were made invvardly righteous and obedient to God And as God had perticularly directed by Moses to the Word and Commandement of that Covenant So hee would not fail to write it thereby in the hearts of such as turned to that word and Commandement So that this was the Law vvhich God vvrote in the heart even then and vvas alvvays the invvard substance while as Moses his dispensation was but an outward sign thereof Qu. 11. If the Law of the ten Commandements it self which enjoined love and duty to God and love and duty to man as Matth. 22.37 38 39 40. was or is a figure of an other then what Law that is that 's the antitipe of this Law which in succeeding of it enjoyns not love and duty to God and not love and duty to man Ans. This Query ariseth from a great mistake as if the Law in the letter and the lavv in the Spirit could not require the same thing vvhereas they do require the very same thing in substance but severall vvays according to the difference of each administration to vvit the one litterally of a litterall or outvvard people the other Spiritually of a Spiritual or invvard people The one requires love according to the tenor of the letter the other according to the Spirit Qu. 12 If the owning of the ten Commandements as they are plainly laid down in the letter be a breaking of them in the Spirit and especially those contained in the first Table Then how doth the truth of God written which is life and truth Act. 7.38 and Eccl. 12.10 and the Spirit which is given forth meet together seeing the Spirit leads and guides into all truth Ans. I do not know any who hath said that the owning of the ten Commandements at they are plainly laid down in the letter is a breaking of them in the Spirit but he that hath the Spirit owneth the dispensation of the letter in its place and season but the Spirit doth not teach him to run from his own dispensation where it is livingly administred to such as wait on the eternall Word in his Covenant of Life for it to that dispensation which was appointed for and given forth to others But that the truth as it is written outwardly is Life I do not read but otherwise 2 Cor. 3.6 where Paul saith the letter killeth speaking of the letter of the New Testament The Spirit indeed guides into all truth but it is the living Soul whom hee so guides and it is the living truth into which he guides in the New Covenant though it was he also who gave forth required and was able to lead into the letter of the Old Covenant Qu. 13. Whether when Jehovah gave forth the ten Commandements plainly as a Law in the letter he did intend by the observation according to the letter the breach of them by the Spirit Ans. The Spirit doth not teach to break the commands in the letter but such as are under the ministration of the letter to observe them according to the letter and such as are under the ministration of the Spirit to fulfill the righteosness of them in the Spirit Yet the Son of man is Lord of
THE New-Covenant OF THE GOSPEL Distinguished from the Old Covenant OF THE LAW AND The Rest or Sabbath of Believers from the Rest or Sabbath of the Jews which differ as much from each other as the Sign and Shadow doth from the thing signified and shadowed out In Answer to some Queries of W. Salters tending to enforce upon Christians the observation of the Jewish Sabbath which was given under the Law to the Jews for a sign As also to some other Queries sent in Writing upon an occasion of an Epistle directed to all such as observe the seventh day of the week for a Sabbath now under the Gospel As likewise to some Letters to the same purpose With a brief Explication of the Mysterie of the six dayes Labour and seventh days Sabbath Whereto are added some Considerations propounded to the Jews tending towards their coâ—â—ersion to that which is the Life and Spirit of the Law By ISAAC PENINGTON the younger VVe which have believed do enter into rest Heb. 4.3 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new Moon or Sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come but the body is Christ Col. 2.16 17. London Printed for Robert VVilson and are to be sold at his shop at the black spredd-Eagle and VVindmill in Martins l' grandâ— 1660 The Preface THE Apostle Paul saith That God had made them able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Cor 3.6 After the dispensation of the Law which was a shadow of good things to come and after the dispensation of the Prophets who foretold of better days and of a better state to come then the days and state under the Law was it pleased God first to send the fore-runner John the Baptist in the spirit and power of Elias to prepare the way for the King and his Kingdom and then to send the King himself in the fulness of his spirit to gather Disciples to him and to furnish them with a competent measure of the same spirit to raise up a Spiritual Seed to him in whom he would set up his Kingdom dwelling walking and reigning there causing his Light to shine from thence round about the Earth as from his holy City founded upon his holy Hill of Sion Now those Disciples or Ministers whom he chose to raise up this holy Seed unto him he made fit and able to minister his New Covenant by which it was to be raised yea he furnished them with such a power of his Spirit that they were able through him to minister not in the Letter as the old Covenant was ministred which left the people still dead nay because of the transgressing nature made the offence abound and so encreased death upon them but in the quickning spirit which raiseth from death and bringeth into the light of the living to walk with the living God towards the land of Eternal rest and peace So that that which they ministred was spirit and that which they ministred to was spiritual By the power of the spirit in preaching the living Word of Faith they reached through the vail to that which lay in death they stirred up a living Principle and ministred life to it through the spirit Gal. 3.5 and such as were born of this living Principle they taught to live in the spirit to walk in the spirit to be made perfect by the spirit and not to run back to the Ministration of the Letter as was proper for the Jews in their day after the manner of the former dispensation but to keep in the living Principle to grow up in the Seed into the eternal life and immortality of the Gospel Mark well O ye Christians who desire eternal life the different way of Ministration between the Law and Gospel The Law was a Ministration of the Letter in which they were to wait for assistance from the Spirit by which they might be kept in the faith of and be made obedient to the Law Nehem. 9.20 The Gospel is a Ministration of the Spirit wherein they are to begin with the spirit and to go on with the spirit not to gather outward Rules out of the Letter from what is written or spoken but to keep to the living Principle and feel refreshment to that in reading or hearing what is written or spoken by the Spirit And thus the Scriptures being read or any one speaking from God being heard it is mingled with faith and becomes profitable feeding and refreshing the young tender plant the living Principle and causing it to grow up into God whereas whatever is understood or received or held out of this feeds but the earthly and doth but thicken the vail over the living Seed to which the Kingdom belongs and to which the Gospel is sent to be preached to raise it that it might live and thrive and grow up into its stature that so it might inherit The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand said John the Baptist Mat. 3.2 It is come unto you said Christ Mat. 12.28 that Power of Life which was made manifest in him was it and this Kingdom is also within you saith Christ to the Pharisees Luk. 17.21 The Pharisees demanded of him when the Kingdom of God should come It cometh not saith he with outward shew or observation it cometh not that way you look for it to wit by the manifestation of an outward glorious King to reign outwardly in the Common-wealth of the outward Israel but the Kingdom is within you How was it within them Christ explains to them in another place it was in them like a Grain of Mustard-Seed it was the least of all the Seeds in their hearts There were many great seeds of darkness there but yet there was also one little Seed of Light It was there as well as the rest though less then them all and did sometimes cast some glimmerings of light and of its shining in the darkness though the darkness could not comprehend it This Seed was also likened to leaven which being received by faith into the lump would leaven the whole lump and bring it into the savor and Dominion of the Kingdom Now the Ministry of the Apostles was to turn men from Satan's Kingdom to this Kingdom from his large compass of Dominion in the heart to this narrow Seed from his great Territories of darkness to this little Principle of Light from his great Power of Death to this little weak Thing of God wherein the Eternal Power and God-head is made manifest as this comes to be opened and encreased by the Spirit Here light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart where it is to grow up and from whence it is to be reaped after its growth to perfection Oh how long have Christians so called wanted the Spirit How have they wearyed themselves in running to and fro about the Letter to find out the mind of God and are still
of holiness and obedience was prescribed them but by all their obedience thereto they could not be justified but only by hearing believing and obeying Christ the Word nigh in the heart and by feeling in the spirit the blood of that one offering Qu. 4. If the Gentiles were not bound under that Law that the Jews were which carryed the curse with it then which way have the Gentiles redemption by Jesus Christ seeing all that are redeemed are redeemed from the Law and the Curse thereof Gal. 4.5 3.13 Ans. As they were under the curse outwardly by transgressing that outward Law or Covenant and so mâ—ssed of the outward happiness of the holy Land and still met with Wrath and Judgements and at last utter cutting off as to their outward state and as to all their hope from that Covenant so he that comes to receive the Ministration of the Law of the Spirit will find the curse as abundantly inwardly even till that be cut down by the sword of the Spirit which the curse is to and that brought into dominion to which is the promise and blessing So that the Gentiles find as great need to be redeemed from the curse inwardly which the inward Law brings upon the transgressor as the Jews did outwardly yea and find a more heavy burthen and load then ever the Jews did outwardly Paul when he was alive in the outward Administration of the Law not being acquainted with the inward he knew little of the curse he was according to it blameless Phil. 3.6 but when he came to receive the living light of the spiritual Administration of it into his spirit then he felt the burthen and weight and misery of sin and the curse indeed and cryed out O wretched man who shall deliver Qu. 5. If the duration of the dispensation of Moses Law in the Letter was till Christ the Seed should come and fulfil it and the dispensation of Moses Law so stated without distinction between that that was perpetual and that that was ceremonially vanishing and so in the fulfilling of it besides Then what law or commandments that or they were which while Moses dispensation was in full force is said to be perpetually sure to stand fast for ever and for ever as Psal. 10.11.7 8. and when Christ the Seed was come and had fulfilled all that the Father had appointed him to do was established Rom. 3.31 and not one jot or tittle of it to pass so long as heaven and earth remain Mat. 5.18 Luke 16 17. Ans. That distinction between something in Moses Law being perpetual and something ceremonial is not sound and proper in this place For all that was under Moses law was but a shadow as in that dispensation and that Testament was dedicated with blood with the blood which was a shadow which related to every precept Heb. 9.18 19. and it was all substantiall and perpetuall in what it signified and related to The sacrifices were substantiall in that Sacrifice which they signified as well as the law and precepts were substantiall in the law and precepts which they signified And as the first Covenant pointed at a second Covenant so the laws of the first Covenant pointed at the law of the second Covenant the ministration whereof is from the Mediator of that Covenant and they come into the heart sprinkled with his blood Now the law or Commandement which even under that dispensation was to be perpetuall and last for ever was the word in the heart and the laws thereof Deut. 30.14 which Moses by especiall order from God and according to the tenor of an other Covenant directed the Jews to v. 4. For the law as administred by Moses in the letter is not perpetuall or eternall but as it comes from the Spirit and is administred in the Spirit so it is Spirituall and eternall That administration was fitted to that people and we knovv the Lord if he had pleased could have given a fuller administration of his law in the letter then that was as Christ plainly intimates divers times Mat. 5. But if it had been never so full yet the administration of it in the letter is to give place to the administration of it in the Spirit So that the administration of it in the letter is not perpetuall but for the time which God allotted it but the administration of it in the Spirit is eternal and perpetual and there it remains an eternall Light witness and sword against sin and the transgressor And thus it is established in the hands of the Spirit after the season of that ministration of it in the letter was ended and thus not one jot or tittle of it was to pass away after the other ministration with every jot and tittle of it was ended Qu. 6. If the coming of Christ in the flesh and his fulfilling all the righteousness of the law and being foretold by Moses to be that Prophet that was to be heard in all things which is not denyed by us but if by these he put an end to the law of the ten Commandements and gave forth an other law to his house or family Then what law that is And whether it be contrary to that law that he with the Father gave forth as Deut. 33.2 with Psal. 80.17 which now is in Gospel ministration holy just good as Rom. 7.12 and Spirituall ver. 14. Answ. It is the law of the Spirit or the Light of the Spirit in the heart which discovers sin not only in the outward acts but in its principle rise first motions and inward nature giving forth his living commands against it This is the law now in which the believer is to begin Gal. 3.3 and according to which he is to go on to perfection For as the believer is begotten of the Spirit and born of the Spirit so he is to receive the ministration of his law from the Spirit and in the Spirit Hee receives a gift of Faith a measure of Faith from the eternall Spring of Life and that 's his Law His law is the law of Faith The Light of Life which receives in the Faith opens the mind and will of Christ to him in the Spirit shewing him both sin and also the things of God more fully then the Law of Moses could though opened by the Spirit for it is a fuller a deeper kind of ministration and so opens the things which it ministers more fully then a ministration of an inferiour nature can Yet it is not contrary to Moses law but comprehends all the substance all the righteousness and equity of it as I said before which it as a shadow represented and commanded to that outward or shadowie people the Jews But the law which Paul spake of Rom. 7. was the law of the Spirit or such a ministration of the law as Paul knew not all the while he was under the ministration of Moses's Law blameless but this law found out sufficient blame in him ver. 14. c.
the Sabbath and if he bid a man Take up his bed and walk which was bearing a burthen and doing of work on the Sabbath day it is no breach of the Sabbath Now this is most righteous that as the Son's rest should be entred into under the Gospel so his day of rest should be kept by his Disciples and family Qu. 14 Whether to say The keeping the Law of God according to the letter is a breaking of it in the Spirit be not a charging of God that gave it forth to be kept and the holy Spirit that incites us so to do now in this administration Jam. 2.8 and says they do well that do so and yet thou saist they break it in Spirit but tell us by any one Scripture how a man assisted by the Spirit to own Jehovah alone to be his God according to the letter of the first Commandement doth break that Command in the Spirit Or so the like of any other of them Ans. This Query is altogether from a mistake for it was not said by me That the keeping the Law of God acccording to the Letter is a breaking of it in the spirit but that he that runs back to the Law in the letter to take up any command as hold forth in it will be found a breaker thereof in spirit And for this the Jews in general and Paul in particular may be my instances who was exceeding strict according to the Letter of the Law but yet was a grievous breaker of it in spirit and did not love his neighbor as himself but in a blind zeal was a bitter persecutor And if the Jews had taken that direction of Moses Deut. 30.14 the observation of the law in the letter might have been more easie to them So that the turning towards and receiving the Word in the heart from whence the letter came is the onely way to fulfll the letter and the Law is not so much as to be known much less fulfilled by running to the letter of it in the first place And this I certainly know that there is no coming to the Lord of life nor no keeping chast to him but in the New-Covenant and in the light of the Lord as it is there dispensed and till then the mind cannot forbear making of images and false representations of him to it self though being from the light of this Covenant it cannot discern that it doth so no more then Paul by the Letter of the Law could discern how he was a breaker thereof in his violent persecutions Qu. 15. Whether the Prophets Jesus Christ or the Apostles their keeping the Law according to the letter that they did do so is evident did break the law in the spirit Ans. The Prophets were under the Law as to their outward state though inwardly not without feeling the vertue of the New-Covenant Christ also was made under the Law and took upon him the fulfilling of that dispensation of Moses that he might bring the believing Jews from under it into the liberty of the Spirit that they might receive the adoption of Sons and the free Ministration which was appointed for the Sons and might not be held under that Ministration of bondage which was appointed for the servants And the Apostle bids Believers to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free not making themselves debtors to the Law Gal. 5.1 for they were children of the promise children of new Jerusalem the free Woman children of the New-Covenant and not children of Mount Sinai the old Covenant the Law in the Letter c. 4.15 16. Qu. 16. If there be but one day of rest holy to the Lord and all the Sabbaths of the law were but signs of it that is said to be the day of redemption that the Lord hath made Then whether that day be a day natural one of the seven days of the week which either respect the Day on which our Redeemer suffered or that on which he rose again from the dead or any other Ans. As the Gospel is not natural but spiritual so its day of rest is not natural but spiritual likewise Yea I may add this also the six days Work in the new Creation are not natural neither Qu. 17. If not so but that it should he intended applicable to the day or time of the Gospel Administration from the time that Christ suffered in the flesh unto the end of the world Then whether this day that is intended as a Sabbath is one with that day that the Scriptures intend and call a Sabbath which Christ himself gave his Disciples charge to have respect unto in their flight Matt. 24.20 Answ. The supposition here put demonstrateth that those that put it have no acquaintance with the Gospel-Sabbath but propose another outward time for it even the time from Christs suffering in the flesh to the end of the World Now if any should so affirm it were as justly to be excepted against as pressing the observation of the Jews Sabbath is That which signifieth is outward or natural and signifieth to that part which is without that which is signified is inward and spiritual and is known entred into kept and enjoyed in the spirit It is a spiritual Sabbath not a natural which God hath instituted for his spiritual people after he hath led them out of spiritual Aegyt into the spiritual Wilderness where he administreth to them the Law in the spirit and teacheth them to worship him in spirit and truth Qu. 18. If they intend one and the same Sabbath day then how impossible was it for the Disciples of Christ to escape flying on that Sabbath day though never so fervent in prayer in regard that this Sabbath spoken of begun when Christ had suffered and put an end to the dispensation of Moses Law and the flight spoken of by Christ which respect the Lords Sabbath was not until many years after his sufferings Supposed-Sabbath being before denied the foundation of this Query fails An. Christs Sabbath is not an outward time or day in the flesh but a day in the Spirit even a day of rest from all the labours of the fleshly part But this was spoken to before in the Answer to the last of W. Salters Queries whereto I may add this Christ spake to his Disciples of things as they were able to bear them Now as they understood not his death so then they understood not the abolishing of those things which were to pass away after his death so that Christ might very well call Jerusalem the holy place and the seventh day the Sabbath speaking to them in that state Qu. 19. If they intend not one and the same Sabbath day then which are the Disciples of Christ to have respect unto whether that that Jesus Christ injoined his Disciples to have respect unto or that that Isaac Penington would injoyn the Disciples of Christ to have respect unto Ans. This Querie hath very little in it save to shew the unsavouriness