one God Eph. 4.6 cometh down from heaven into Christ not by measure but in the fulness of God to dwel in the body of the tree of life which tree is Jesus Christ John 1.32 33 34. Joh. 3.34 Col. 2 9. 1.19 Now the sweet Spirit of God is the head and life of this tree and this tree is the head and life of the branches which are surely graffed into this tree Now God is the head of Christ and his life and Christ is the head of the Church and their life Col. 3. â— 4. Now Jesus Christ being man united unto God and God dwelling in this man Christ now Christ being man and so weak saith this of himself I saith he can of mine own self do nothing as I hear I judg and I seek not mine own wil but the honor of the Father which hath sent me John 5.30 And thus Christ reasons with Philip that he might lead Philip through himself unto the Father that he might give God the Father the honor of his love for Christ thus Christ seeks the honor of his Father Now Christ being the spiritual tree of life and Philip a branch of this tree the spirit of life runs through this tree into all the branches and causeth the branches to bring forth the fruit of praise to God And thus Christ and his members do seek to advance the glory of the Spirit of life which is God as you may see by these words Have I been so long with you saith Christ to Philip and yet hast thou not not known me He that hath seen me hath seen the Father And how sayst thou then Shew us the Father Beleevest not thou that I am in the Father and the Father in me The words that I speak unto you I speak not of my self Mark this But the Father that dwelleth in me he speaketh the words and he doth the works Beleeve me Philip saith Christ that I am in the Father and the Father in me Joh. 14.8 9 10 11. And thus Christ the tree of life bears and brings forth honor to his Father and thus the branches of this tree bring forth fruit and give the honor of it wholly unto God instance in Paul The life saith he that now I live it is not I but it is God in Christ that lives in me Gal. 2.20 And thus the sweet Spirit of God cometh down into the head of the body which head is Christ and so down into the branches which are the body of Christ and the Church of Christ which Church is created in Christ Jesus Eph. 2.10 God is a Spirit John 4.24 If I be lifted up from the earth saith Christ I wil draw all men unto me Joh. 12.32 that is Christ who is God in the Spirit shal draw men with the Spirit up into Christ and they shal be all taught of God the Father who is a Spirit and learn of him spiritually to come to Christ John 6.44 45 46. And thus you may see that a Christian in deed and in truth is not in Jesus Christ or for Jesus Christ after a carnal manner or after the rudiments of the world or after the laws of mens making Col. 2.8 18 19 20. But as the Apostle Paul saith We saith he worship God in the spirit and we rejoyce with the spirit in Christ Iesus and have no confidence in the flesh or fleshly ordinances Phil. 3.3 Carnal reason and fleshly wisdom may and do handle those things which we cal the ordinances of God and it may be very learnedly and with a seeming shew of zeal and piety and yet for all this be but carnal and fleshly and like the grave where Mary stood weeping An allusion because she could not find her Lord Christ there now Christ was risen and gone and she sought the living among the dead John 20.11 12 13. Luk. 24.5 And so a poor soul stands by the ordinances that most men handle Observe weeping because it finds them dul and cold and dark And if one ask the poor soul why it weeps it answers as Mary did I weep because I cannot find my Christ here These men cannot tel me of my beloved Lord whom my soul loveth Let me advise thee a little An Advice O thou poor soul thou must go a little beyond these dark and dul watchmen I was saith the Church but a little passed from these watchmen but I found him whom my soul loveth I held him and would not let him go such is the love of the soul unto Jesus Christ that it cannot be satisfied without Christ read Cant. 3.3 4. Such a man is the only man for a sick soul that beleeves what he speaks A true preacher and speaks what he hath seen and learned of Christ read 2 Cor. 4.13 Eph. 4.21 Now the man in Christ Sect. 9 with the spirit of Christ speaks spiritually of God in Christ and the Spirit of Christ is the Saints rest or resting place for unto that the Saints flee as a cloud and as the doves to their windows for shelter and for food Isa 60.8 The Spirit of God is the original good The Spirit of God and the only sweet good unto the spirits of men The Lord Iesus Christ saith the Apostle be with thy spirit 2 Tim. 4.22 Thus the sweet Spirit of God comes down into the tree of life which is Christ and so into the branches that grow in this tree of life Christ is the tree out of which these branches grow and come forth Iames 1.17 18. The Saints life Every true beleeving man and woman is a branch in Christ the tree of life and the sweet Spirit of God is their life that they live by and move by and act by Acts 17.28 And it pleaseth the sweet Spirit of God to give this title to the branches in Christ That they might be called trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord by the rivers of his sweet Spirit that he may bring forth fruit in his season read and compare Isa 61.3 9 10 11. and Psa 1.3 together And thus the sweet Spirit of God works all the Saints works in them and for them Isa 26.12 13 19 20. And thus the holy Spirit of God doth write his Law in their hearts even the Law of Faith and Love which they account of great use Secondly They live not as they list but as the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus doth constrain them and so in its love it doth direct them read Isa 30.21 Thirdly We are to do nothing for Christ as the most people in the world do to this day for this were to go down to Egypt the flesh for strength to get Christ but this wil be to no purpose or vain labor Now in this case Our strength is to sit stil saith the Prophet read Isa 30.7 Christ is a gift of God John 4.10 and not for us to get of God or from God We are not to work for
that should teach the people to love one another rather cause the people to hate one another by laying foolish and false reproaches upon some and tel the people that they say God sees no sin in them they need not to ask for pardon of sin Christ hath done al for them and such like discourse And it may be cal them Independents that wil live under no Government and then the drunkards of a parish make songs of them and swear the Kingdom must be rid of them before all be wel And if they be asked how they know all this they answer Our Parson said so Psa 69.12 and so in Neh. 6.6 There Sanballet chargeth the Prophet with rebellion and those that were with him and thus the Pharisees accused Jesus Christ of being a wine-bibber a gluttonous man and a friend of Publicans and sinners and of coming to break the Law and to be a Ringleader of Sectaries as you may read in Joh. 12.19 And the Pharisees therefore said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the world is gone after him And they tel the people they who know not the Law are accursed and in the mean time they themselvs beleeved not on him who was the Law and the life of the Law Joh. 7.47 48 49. And thus you see what usage Christ had and those that followed him As for instance Jesus Christ loved Lazarus therefore the Chief Priests and Pharisees hated him as you may read in Joh. 12.10 11. And the Chief Priests and Pharisees consulted for they are all one for to put Lazarus also to death as wel as his Master Now the reason why they did so was because many of the Jews went away from them and beleeved on Jesus Now who wil follow Jesus Christ must make account to suffer from the stricter sort and as Paul said all men have not faith therefore unreasonable so all men and women have not the knowledg of Christ nor the love of Christ in them therefore unreasonable though they seem to be zealous for the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the City raised persecution against Paul for preaching Jesus Christ Acts 13.50 Thus you may see what hard usage Christ had in the world and those that he draws after him with the cords of his love We seem all to profess and follow one Christ and one Religion and yet we bite and backbite and devour one another this is strange dissimulation Sect. 2 But to make good what I did intend to say to the Pharisee and to the Pharisaical and outside Religion that is in the world Take special notice of three places of Scripture which I shal name The first is Jer. 7.4 14. All things are as a shadow that passeth away but Christ is the substance that endureth for ever and ever therfore trust ye not in your own lying words saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these For what profit hast thou in the Temple of the Lord or in the Ordinances of the Lord or these if thou see not Jesus Christ there and know him by the power of his Resurrection It is a vain thing to rejoyce in the Cabinet when the Pearl is not there The second place of Scripture is Mat. 7.21 22 23. To be something with Jesus Christ by way of merit or desert is the next way for Christ to shut us out of door Lord Lord have we not prophecyed and prayed and humbled our selves and in thy Name have cast out devils and in thy Name done many wonderful works Mark the argument that 's pleaded Lord Lord have not we done something to lean upon and as it were with thy help to bring us to heaven And so that proud Pharisee in Luk. 18.11 12. God I thank thee I fast and pray and give alms and I am not as this Publican and so saith the Ruler What shal I do to inherit eternal life Luk. 18.18 Now I wil shew you the difference betwixt a Pharisee and a true Beleever The Pharisee or the outside Christian argues from what he hath done or from what he wil do But a true Beleever argues with the same argument that God himself useth with himself as you may read in Ezek. 36.20 21 22 23. where the Lord argues with his own holy Name for to deliver the people that was in bondage But I had pity saith the Lord for mine holy Name and gave them rest and so in Isa 43.25 I even I am he saith the Lord that blotteth out thy sins for mine own sake Now there is nothing of man that can move God but God for his holy Names sake moves himself This is the great argument which the Saints of old have made use of as for instance Lord saith Moses I beseech thee for thy Name sake do not destroy this people but let the power of my Lord be great that is let the Name of my Lord be great in shewing mercy Numb 14.12 13 17 18 19. And so likewise David argues Lord saith he for thy Names sake pardon mine iniquity not but that David knew that his sins were pardoned but David desires a comfortable and a constant assurance of the pardon of his sin in his own breast Psa 25.11 And so the Apostle speaks Not by works of righteousness which we have done but for his Names sake he saveth us Tit. 3.5 Here I have shewed you the difference between a true Beleever and a Pharisee or an outside Christian Now a true Beleever makes the Name of God his great argument nay more he cals the Name of God The Lord his righteousness Jer. 23.6 But a Pharisee or an outside Christian raiseth his argument upon what he hath done instance that forenamed place Luk. 18.11 God I thank thee I am not as other men I fast and pray and do many things and so in Mat. 7.22 In thy Name we have done many wonderful works Now Christ answers I profess I never knew you that is I do not approve of you depart from me But why shal we depart from thee Because you do but seem to draw nigh me with your mouth and with your lips but your hearts are against me And ye are they which justifie your selvs before men and this you highly esteem but God knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongst men is abomination in the sight of God Luk. 16.15 Now the third place of Scripture which I shal name is Isa 58.2 3 4 5 6 7. Now an ignorant zealous man or woman knows not Iesus Christ to proceed forth come forth from God and to be sent forth from God Joh. 8.42 to be the Way Ioh. 14.6 for lost man to return back again to God Now Christ is the new and living way Heb. 10.20 Now mark all those that are not in this new and living way are subject to walk in by-ways and like unto a man that is in the water and likely to be drown'd
life but we are to work from a principle of life which is in Christ Jesus A right knowledg of this and the exceeding great and precious promises and the in-comes and the in-dwelling of the Divine Nature in our nature and in our hearts Now this is the seed in the tree of life which wil cause us to â—ease from our selves whose breath is in our nostrils and we shal cease from our own doings For wherein are we to be accounted of Now in this day and at this time The loftiness and the haughtiness of men shal be made low and the Lord alone shal be exalted in that day read and compare 2 Pet. 1.3 4. Isa 2.17 20 21 22. together Now when the grace of God in Christ doth abound in your hearts saith the Apostle That wil make you that ye shal neither be barren nor unfruitful in the works of the Lord nor in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ read 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. Now this wil stop the mouths of your adversaries that say that you say Christ hath done all for you and you need to do nothing Now I know you wil answer and say as Christ said to Philip The words that you speak The Saints defence and the works that you do it is not you that do them but it is Christ who is God that dwelleth in you that doth all in you and for you and by the strength of Christ you do what you do and Christ shal have all the praise Ioh. 14.10 Fourthly You are accused of saying That you need not pray for the pardon of sin Of the pardon of Sin Now the Love of God and the Blood of Jesus are the pardon of sin and the pardon for sin and the sweet Spirit of God is the Messenger that brings the Manifestations of this pardon unto the soul nay into the soul and makes it glad In my love I have bloted out thy sins as a thick cloud saith the Lord. Isa 44.22 And with my Sons blood I have writen a pardon Rom. 5.8 9 10 11. Heb. 9.22 28. Now this pardon lies in the Covenant ordered in all things and made everlastingly sure though I do not as yet beleeve it or at sometimes I do not so clearly see it or feel it in my soul Read and consider 2 Sam. 23.4 5. Hebr. 10.16 17 18 19. Now in time of Trouble The time of Temptation or in time of Ignorance when men do not beleeve or in time of Desertion when God doth withdraw himself or hide his face or in the time of men being weak in faith then they are apt to think that there is no pardon or that there must be one got made for them but there is one ready for them before they pray for it or cal for it Isa 42.6 7. Now the love of God and the blood of this man saith the Apostle meaning Christ who offered one sacrifice for sins from the foundation of the world 1 John 4.9 Heb. 10.12 14. Rev. 13.8 Now this is the pardon that is ever ready for poor siners to come unto and it is able to save them to the uttermost Hebrews 7.24 25 26. Now we are not so much to ask for the pardon for that is sure and stedfast in the heaven of God but we are to ask much more for the manifestations of this pardon in our own souls and that by the Spirit of God and this wil make the lame man leap as an Hart Isa 35.5 How the soul is refreshed 6 7. and make the sick man wel and heal all our doubts and expel our fears and make us holy and heavenly before God as for instance saith Ieremiah The Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me Lam. 1.16 And so in David Lord saith he I know my pardon is sure but there is a cloud before me and it Lord saith he take this cloud away Davids prayer Ps 51. opened and cause me to hear the joy and gladness that I had wont to have in and with the Spirit of Christ O Lord restore this joy and let me have thy free Spirit to comfort me and uphold me O Lord let thy holy Spirit be constantly in my brest or in my heart that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce The absence of thy Spirit O God is as the breaking of bones and the presence of thy Spirit O God is as marrow and fatness and as wine upon the lees And thus it was in David Psa 51.8 9 10 11 12. And thus it was between the Church and the Spirit of Christ in her union and communion with the Spirit of Christ I am thine and thou art mine saith the soul to Christ I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine And this we know saith the Apostle by the Spirit of God which he hath freely given unto us Cant. 6.3 1 Cor. 2.12 13. Now the question is not whether there be a pardon or not a pardon but whether I saith a poor soul have any interest in this pardon or no The perplexities of a poor soul wanting assurance I know not And if I had saith a poor soul or if I could but get saith another poor soul the assurance of the pardon of my sins then I should tread the world under my feet I know saith another poor soul that there is a pardon but whether it be for me or no it is not as yet revealed unto me but if it were revealed in my soul then it would be as a crown of life to me as David said Lord saith he thou hast crowned me with loving kindness and with tender mercies Psa 103.4 10 11 12. Now the word Pardon which is so much spoke of amongst us and prayed for by us it is apparently known to be and to be generally held forth unto all men for Christ hath spread as large a plaister as Adam made the sore Rom. 5.18 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. And life and death good and evil blessing and cursing are set before men therefore chuse life O men for why wil ye dye O ye sons of men Deut. 30.13 14 15 19. Ezek. 18.31 Now you wil say I am for general Redemption and for free wil. I answer An Objectionmade and answered I am for that which God is for It is not in faln man to direct his steps to God Jer. 10.23 All men in Adam went out of the way from God and are to be found in a way of sin Rom. 3.11 12 18. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots No it is their nature we have a proverb That custom is a second nature Man at the first falling into sin sin is become a custom and so is become a second nature and so men drink in sin as a fish drinks in water John 8.44 The Ethiopian cannot change his skin no more can a man change himself that is accustomed to sin Ier. 13.23 A man in his sins is dead
Ministers do fall in with these two and make up their conclusion with the Jews in the ninth of the Romans But as it were by the works of the Law Together with thy help O Christ we look for a blessing and for heaven and for what we have Rom. 9.30 31 32. Now for want of Preaching of Free-grace Sect. 5 A Simile we know not where the strength of Sampsâ—n lyes I mean Christ and so we begin to set up our selves as it were to be partners with Christ and thus the people are at a loss Now on the other side Free-grace teaches a man for to deny himself and to give God in Christ the preeminence alone and to say it is no more I but the Lord is my light and my life and my strength and in this will I be confident and this Free-grace causeth to grow Psal 27.1 3 5. Now he that hath tasted of the sweetness of Free-grace cannot but speak of it because it is the onely means for to break a hard heart and the onely cordial for to comfort a sick soul 1 Pet. 2.3 7. Psal 45.1 2. 1 Tim. 1.12 13 14 15 16 17. Psal 27.13 14. Now on the other side he that hath not tasted of Free-grace but speaks of it by hear-say though he be never so learned a man yet he will be but a fumbler in speaking of Free-grace or a bungler as we use for to speak And to deal plainly I conceive that the most of our Ministers want both will and skill for to speak of the Free-grace of God in and through Christ for they speak but little of it and that is the reason that the most people are so ignorant of it and live so much in sin read Tit. 2.11 12. When grace doth appear sin vanishes away O the glorious truths of grace that lye under that black cloud of Antinomianism That reproachful name which causeth the people for to sin in speaking evil of that which they know not Now I shall reflect back Sect. 6 and speak a word of the souls being taken by Christ into the banqueting house where Christ doth acquaint the soul what the pardon of sin is and that its sins are done away both past present and to come of this I spake before Now Jesus Christ doth acquaint the soul that it shall have the evidences of his Spirit for to comfort it in time of distress when temptation doth come upon it and when the world doth trouble it and when worldly men do oppose it and if it doth begin to sink or to droup then it shall call but not for the pardon of sin for that is sure in God for it but it shall say with Peter help Lord send the evidences of thy Spirit to acquaint me of the sure mercies of David and thus the soul doth acquaint Christ with its wants and then the soul doth find the left hand of Christ to be under its head when it is in communion with Christ in the banqueting house which house is Christ himself and there the right hand of Christ doth imbrance me saith the soul Now these embraces that Christ gives the soul they are the sweet gayls of the Spirit which put all things out of doubt in the soul Cant. 2.4 5 6. Now it pleaseth Jesus Christ Christ like a mother draws a curtain sometimes to draw a curtain between himself and the soul as a mother doth sometimes in love to her child and then the child cries after her and thus the poor soul cries after the Spirit of Christ in all occasions to come and comfort it Make hast my beloved saith the soul to Christ and be thou like to a Roe or to a young Hart upon the mountains of spices Flee away make haste do not stay by the way saith the soul that longs after Christ No comfort like unto thine O my Love No love like unto thine O my Joy Cause me to hear thy voyce quickly that I faint not O my dear I hearken to thy voyce O sweet Spirit of Christ let me hear it and it sufficeth me though I dye and come to thee which is best of all For in thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Cant. 8.13 14. Psa 16.11 And thus he whose Name is Love 1 Joh. 4.8 doth descend and come down into the hearts of his people to manifest himself unto them and in them 1 John 4.8 9 10. John 17.6 And thus the blessed God doth manifest himself and make known things unspeakable and ful of glory and doth let into the soul high manifestations of his love which is the original of the pardon of sin Now if there come a black cloud at any time between the soul and the Sun of righteousness who is God blessed for ever yet the soul in this case can say as Peter said I am sure that my sun is in the living God and he wil speak words of eternal life unto me Iohn 6.68 69. For the Spirit of the Lord put his Word in my mouth saith David and hath made with me an everlasting Covenant which is sure I know and though my sun doth not always shine yet in him wil I be confident read 2 Sam. 23.2 4 5. Psa 27.1 3. Now here comes in the work of the Sect. 7 third Person in the blessed Trinity which is according to the promise of Christ Iohn 15.26 Now here follows the souls desires that hath tasted how gracious the Lord is first That it may dwel in the house of the Lord which house is Christ and there to behold the beauty of the Lord and to have it made out in his holy Temple which Temple is Jesus Christ Psa 27.4 5. And here to have the light of his fatherly countenance and the sweet smiles of his holy Spirit constantly upon its soul and to have the high manifestations of the love of God in Christ as the Apostle prays for Eph. 3.16 17 18 19. and to have the evidences kept close unto its soul Now Christ answers the soul Answ my Spirit shal come into thee and shal keep thee guide thee and shew thee things to come concerning me and he shal make me beautiful in thine eyes and he shal shed his love into thy soul which wil cause thee to love me Rom. 5.5 And thou shalt have all thy treasure in me saith Christ to the soul for all things that the Father hath are mine and I and my Father are one and thou shalt be one with us in my union and with me shalt thou have communion Iohn 16 13 14 15. 17.21 to 26. Answ Now here is the souls answer unto Christ O blessed God the fountain of Israel O my God thou hast turned all my prayers that I made for the pardon of my sin into praises or praising of thee O my God who hast forgiven all my sins Bless the Lord O my soul saith David and forget not to praise him for all
A Looking-glass FOR A PROVD PHARISEE very zealous and very ignorant As also for a TRVE CHRISTIAN very meek and very mercifull Discovering an Effectuall way by the Mysterie of God For the healing of the Land through the Uniting al sides to God and one to another by JESUS CHRIST Humbly presented to the City of London By ROBERT PRIER a member of it For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge ROM 10.2 3. LONDON Printed by J. M. and are to be sold by Henry Overton in Popeshead Alley and Giles Calvert at the West end of Pauls 1648. THE EPISTLE OR A Word in kindness and good will to inform the READER Courteous Reader I Have made bold to present unto you some plaine words and my advice is judg not according to outward appearance but judg righteous judgment for a little Religion goes a great way amongst rich people and the rich have many friends but the poor man hath but few in the day of his distress And so likewise the most men and women have the truth of God in respect of mens persons as a Bishop or a great learned Doctor or some noted man these and no other must be the men to speak the truths of God because they have the School Arts and this is the peoples cry as though the Ministry o◠Christ were a Ministry o◠Art but I answer the Ministry of Christ is a ministry and a gift of the Grace of Christ given unto men of all sorts as well to unlearned men as to learned men as you may read ACTS 4.13 EPH. 3.7 8 9. And if there were less Art and more Honesty it would be better for us all And as for the Ministers sent forth only from men there are two things that spoil them And the first is the looking after a great benefice And secondly for honor among men Now the deceitfulness of riches and honor are as thorns which choke the Word which these men have got by Art and other men as well as they so that they all become unfruitful Mat. 13.20 21 22. Now the Ministry of the grace of Christ I mean all sorts of men they are to mind the good of mens bodies but especially the souls of men for they freely receive therefore they must freely give and depend upon God Mat. 10.8 9. Courteous Reader though I be mean and illiterate and a Tradesman and so contemptible and compassed about with sin as all other men are and in my own esteem a worm nay a fool yet do not trample upon me nor be angry with me for anger resteth in the bosom of fools Eccles 7.9 nor rise up in scorn against me for any thing that I have done or writ And I pray you let not this little handful of words seem tedious to read Read them all over before you judg and then observe that golden rule 1 Thes 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good Read with a single eye and if you find any truth mind the truth mind not me and mind the truth for the truths sake and take up no prejudice against the truth because it comes through such unworthy hands as mine are All things should be done for the glory of God and for the good of one another If you have found truth give God the glory of it and so you answer my desire and as Paul saith 2 COR. 4.5 6 7. I am your servant for Jesus sake in all offices of love The meanest of the servants of CHRIST Robert Prier A Vindication c. Courteous Reader I Had finished all my Copy and it was licensed and almost finished at the Press before Master Edwards departed this life This I relate unto you because I have spoken much of him in my Treatise I should think it would have been a blemish unto me if I should have spoken but one word after his departure for that would have been as the taking up of weapons to fight with a dead man But let the living make use of what hath been said and take heed that they be not such An Explanation touching the word Note Hand or Behold THe words Note and Hand or Behold in Scripture when God speaks of himself in his Christ these are remarkable and full of sweetness and kindness for the hand and finger of God in a Beleevers heart puts back all the bars and bolts deadness in the soul and leaves the soul full of sweetness and longing after him The word Note Rom. 16.7 or Hand ☞ Cant. 5.4 5. or Behold Isa 42.1 2 3 4. are remarkable excellent and full of sweetness An Explanation touching the Hand or Finger of Oppression BUt when God takes notice of the putting forth of the Finger of men the Finger of Oppression by men and the faigning love of men and the winking with the eye and the jears with the tongue that most men and women now use this shews the great fall of men from God and if so then no kindnes but cruelty from them the putting forth of the Finger by most men is grievous and burthensom The Hand ☞ Isaiah 58.9 or Finger Ezek. 33.30 31 32. of Oppression Psa 35.19 21. Jer. 5.1 2 5 30 31. Jer. 4.22 Joh. 7.48 49. By the unjust Judges and by the proud and ignorant Clergy and the sottish people which love to have it so and the feigning love of most men and the wink with the eye and a jear with the tongue these are full of infamy the Lord sees it Why do poor souls here weep and wail When ordinances do them fail Since they to substance are a shade And Christ to us their all is made And tho i' th' grave he 's seen no more He 's risen and he 's gone before That where he is we all may be As he is to eternity R. P. A WORD To you that are SCHOLARS IN Christs School Courteous Readers MY language in my Book may have something amiss in it but it is plain to a single eye and that which may seem to be amiss unto one may not be amiss to another Christian Readers my language in my Book is not dressed with school Arts nor with the curious phrases of Scholarship for these do but dazle the eyes of the people I wonder that a beautiful child should be disliked because it is not dressed in fine clothes the naked and plain truth is most beautiful naked Christ is most amiable and sweet when the wisdom of men doth not appear but only the wisdom of God God will have the foolish and the weak and the base things of this world to bring to nought the wisdom of faln man 1 Cor. 1.24 25 26 27 28. But the wisdom of the new man is a mystery in the world and not many mighty nor many learned men receive it 1 Cor. 2.4 5 6 7 8. Therefore the loftiness and the haughtiness of men shall be made low And the Word which was made flesh and
of Jerusalem knew the Commandments of God and were strickt in their Traditions and yet none broke the Commandments of God more then they for they were blind and yet they said we see and so they supposed to draw nigh to honor God but it was with the mouth and the lips their hearts being far from me saith our Savior as you may see in Mat. 15. from ver 1. to 9. For in vain do they worship me saith our Savior that break my Fathers Laws and teach men so to do Sect. 2. Take heed and beware of an outside and a seeming shew of zeal for God as those had in Rom. 10.2 3. For I bear them record saith the Apostle that they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledg For they being ignorant could not find the way to Gods righteousness so went about to establish their own works and so submitted not to Jesus Christ Sect. 3. Take heed and beware of being partners with Christ and laying claim to do something with him as many do in these our days laying too much weight upon their prayers and fastings and all other holy performances Mistake me not I prize them highly when Christ is all in them For he is alone and of the people there was none with him Isa 63.3 No intercessor Therefore Christs arm brings salvation and deliverance alone in all straits Isa 59.16 Take heed and follow not the example of Ziba in that unjust act of dividing with his Master as you may read 2 Sam. 16.1 2 3 4. verses compared with cap. 19.26 27 28 29. Christ is our Master we must not divide with him for in all things he wil have the preeminence Col. 1.18 Take heed likewise of making a bargain with him for the laborer had his peny but it was with this answer Go thy way as you have it in Mat 20.2 13 14. But to conclude with that woful miscarriage of the Jews in Rom. 9.31 32. But Israel which followed after the Law of Righteousness hath not attained to the Law of Righteousness What is the reason because saith the Apostle they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law partly by their works partly by Christ O! it is a sweet and a precious work of the Spirit of Christ for man and woman to be brought wholy from themselves and set wholy upon Christ the root of Jesse out of which root doth flow Light and Life Rest and Peace the Spirit of Knowledg and a right Understanding and of the fear of the Lord and unfained Love flowing forth to the Lord Jesus Christ and to all the Saints To conclude Take notice of those words in Rom. 9.32 but as it were by the works of the Law as it is to be feared many in these days do and so stumble at Jesus Christ Consider what is said but God must give thee understanding Take heed of Self-Righteousness Sect. 4 a disease which is ancient for Moses complains of it in his time and Christ tels the Pharisees of it in Luk. 16.15 Ye are they which justifie your selves before men but God knoweth your hearts Speak not thou in thine heart for my righteousness the Lord hath done this for me Deut. 9.4 The righteousness of Christ the riches of his goodness leadeth man to Repentance but the conceited righteousness of man lifteth up the heart but the heart that 's lifted up is not right the heart that 's lifted up is ful of several vanities as a high look private censures disdainful behavior Psa 101.5 Vain thoughts about their sacrifice as those in Isa 65.5 Which say Stand by thy self come not neer to me for I am holier then thou these are a smoak in my nose saith the Lord a fire that burneth all the day Beware of carnal confidence Sect. 5 and be not like to those Pharisees in the 9. of John which rest upon the Scriptures and not upon Jesus Christ as you may read in the 28 29. Verses And they reviled him that was blind and said Thou art his Disciple but we are Moses Disciples We know that God spake unto Moses as for this fellow meaning Iesus Christ we know not say they from whence he is Search the Scriptures saith our Savior for they testifie of me for in them ye think ye have eternal life by working out as it were your salvation and ye wil not come to me that ye might have life freely Ioh. 5.39 40. The Father himself which hath sent me hath born witness of me Mat. 17.5 This is my beloved Son hear ye him But you have despised me and those that follow me Joh. 7.49 1 Cor. 1.27 28. I bring good tydings to the world I open the blind eyes of the body and of the understanding I set at liberty those that are bound up in prison by their sins and bid them be of good cheer Mat. 9.2 I break the heart and bind it up comfortably again I come not to cal the righteous but sinners to repentance The goodness of Christ to be amongst sinners makes the Pharisees murmur Luk. 5.29 30 31. The whole need not a Physitian but they that are sick For which of these good works do you persecute me and those that follow me You know not the gift of God for all your zeal for God and I know you that ye have not the love of God in you For I came out of the bosom of the Father and ye hate me but do not think I wil accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust Take heed how Sect. 6 and what ye see for the Iews said we see but saw no form or comeliness in Iesus Christ whose beauty they desired not Isa 53.2 Take heed likewise how and with what you are rich Thou sayst I am rich Rev. 3.17 but thou art miserable poor blind and naked and thy garments wi not cover thy nakedness There is a poor rich man but God has purposed in himself the poor in spirit that are in this world shal be made rich with the riches of his free grace Eph. 1.7 8 9. And these Riches are in me saith Iesus Christ Prov. 8.18 yea durable riches and righteousness So likewise there is a rich poor man as you may see in the forenamed place Rev. 3.17 Thou sayst I am rich but thou art poor without me saith Christ Though thou hast great possessions in the world as the young-man in the Gospel came to Christ rich but went away without him therefore he was poor as many men and women in the world that be rich but not from the Creation of Christ Iesus in them Christ Iesus comes down from heaven loden with spiritual riches and sends forth his voyce and cries My commodity is better then gold yea then fine gold I wil lead you in the way of righteousness Prov. 8.19 20. Now Christ Iesus comes amongst the Scribes and Pharisees and the Iews and the Lawyers and the
Beelzebub the prince of devils Mat. 12.24 In the fifth place They accounted Jesus Christ to be a breaker of the Sabbath and a loose fellow for which they did persecute him and sought to kil him Ioh. 5.16.18 Ioh. 9.16 Ioh. 18.30 In the sixth place They thought Christ would give liberty to sin and this they said tempting him Moses in the Law commanded us that this woman should be stoned for the act of adultery but what sayst thou And thus the subtil Pharisees sought whereby they might have something to accuse Jesus Christ of as Mr Edwards doth his members Joh. 8.3 4 5 6. In the seventh place The chief Priests and the Pharisees took counsel against Jesus and said What do we For this man with his new doctrine and his new light wil draw all men after him and then we shal lose our places Joh. 11.47 48. In the eighth place the Pharisees consulted among themselves against Christ and said Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing Behold the world is gone after him he wil increase and we shal come to nothing if we let him alone Joh. 12.19 Is not this your clamor Master Edwards against those that wil stand Sect. 6 when you shal fal In the ninth place Here you may see the base esteem that most in the world have against Jesus Christ though they seem to profess Religion it appears in this that they hate those which Christ loves not directly as those that Christ loves but under some notion as the Pharisees persecuted Christ not as Christ but under some notion as a Conqueror or as a Blasphemer and a loose Fellow and a Sectary or one that did draw the world after him and so the world doth not hate men as members of Christ but under some notion as Independent Antinomian Separate Sectary or a Troubler of the State and so they wil do them all the hurt they can though they speak them fair to their face now the ground of all this hatred is They hate Jesus Christ first as Christ himself speaks If the world hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you Joh. 15.18 19 20. Now Master Edwards if you wil come in and give your vote with the High Priest and Pharisees and people against Christ come in but that I suppose you wil not do But the Pharisees had incensed the people against Christ And they all cry out to Pilate If he were not a Malefactor we would not have delivered him up unto thee Joh. 18.30 31. Here you may see the reproaches and mockings which Christ did bear Mr Edwards I would desire you to take notice of the spiteful behavior of the Chief Priests and the people whom the Chief Priests had moved to cal for Barrabas a murderer to be let loose and Christ our Savior to be crucified For Pilate knew that the chief Priests had delivered him to be crucified for envy read Mark 15.8 9 10 11 12 13. And Pilate said Behold your King But they cryed out Away with him away with him crucifie him Pilate saith unto them Shal I crucifie your King The chief Priests answered he is none of our King and thus you may see their blindness Joh. 19.14 c. Mr Edwards I shal crave leave to ask you one question and that is this What is the reason that the chief Priests and the Pharisees and Lawyers were so blind concerning Iesus Christ They had the Scriptures of the Prophets they did testifie plainly of Christ as Christ himself speaks Ioh. 5.39 46 47. But they had but the letter of the Word and to deal plainly Mr Edwards A question I think you have no more They had the letter of the Word but they had not the life and spirit of the Word therefore they could not see Iesus Christ though he was amongst them nor love him because they had not the love of God in them M. Edwards Is not this your case You have the letter of the Scriptures and you say that you are a Minister of Christ and by this rule the Iesuits and Friers and the learned Doctors of Rome and the Pope and all the false Prophets in the world are Ministers of Christ but these run and the Lord hath not sent them M. Edwards I ask the question Have not you done so Consider what God saith I have not sent these Prophets saith the Lord yet they ran I have not spoken to them saith the Lord yet they prophesied read Ier. 23.21 Beware of false Prophets Sect. 7 saith our Savior which seem to be like sheep Mat. 7.15 Act. 20.29 but would have an iron mace in their hand to drive the sheep of Christ withal as some have the black rod in their mouths to spot the sheep with their reproaches and make them odious in the eyes of all men Instance in that simple book that libelling book of M. Edwards called the Gangraena pag. 61. and 172. There are false Prophets now and false Ministers as you may read 2 Pet. 2.1 Beware M. Edwards Some cal them dissenting brethren whom you despise and reproach and upbraid because the hand of God hath sent the pestilence into their house and another with his eyes being pickt out with a pike in the streets M. Edwards I did ask you if you would give your vote with the chief Priests and Pharisees against Christ but I did suppose that would be too gross for you in these days but now I know you wil come forth nay you are come forth to accuse your brethren though unjustly And now Master Edwards Try if you be not a Minister or an Orator like unto Tertullus that disputed against Paul that was a true Minister of the Gospel read Acts 24.2 5 6. Or like unto Demetrius who could not agree with Pauls way because he was like to lose his gain read Acts 19.23 24 25 26. And so likewise you do as those in Acts 17.17 18 19 20. If they cannot walk by your dark light then you cry out of this new doctrine and this new light The chief Priests and the Pharisees moved the people to envy against Christ Mr Edwards do not you move the people to envy the members of Jesus Christ I ask you the question it is plain you have spoke very ill of some by name instance in Mr Bacon M. John Goodwin M. Henry Burton M. Holmes M. Burroughs M. Greenhil M. Peters M. Walden and divers others both publick men and private But God wil cause these men to grow in favor when the world shal see your folly and emptiness Mr Edwards consider that it was a sin in Ham that he did not cover his fathers nakedness nay it was a double sin to declare his fathers nakedness he went and told his brethren and this was a sin in Ham as wel as it was a sin in Noah to be drunk But mark M. Edwards Noahs sin was forgiven him but Ham was cursed for his sin read Gen. 9.22 23 24 25. And are not
of such a Ministry with the answer that Christ gave to one of his Disciples and the answer is this Let the dead bury their dead Mat. 8.22 That is let a dead living Ministry preach to a living dead Auditory for these be strangers to Christ and that is the reason there is so much barrenness in the most part of this Kingdom Now the sheep of Christ wil not follow strangers but flee from them for they know not the voyce of strangers but they know the voyce of Christ only and he calleth them by name and leadeth them out into green pastures and by stil waters read Joh. 10.3 4 5. Psa 23.1 2 3. Sect. 5 The Elders that are old in Christ and come from Christ they are right Elders NOw such Elders are able for to feed the flock of God 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. And they are gentle among them even as a good nurse to her children which out of her affection feeds them with good milk 1 Thes 2.7 8. Even the sincere milk of the living Word which is truth and the taste of the grace of the Lord Christ and he is preious in their esteem 1 Pet. 2.2 3 7. And they suck and are satisfied with his brests of consolation and grow up into abundance of his glory and he like unto a mother is always comforting them read Isa 66.11 12 13. Now such Elders as these are like unto a good nurse Simile whose brest is ful of good milk and she is pained until the child hath received it instance in David My heart saith he is inditing of Christ and my heart boyleth within me or as water bubbleth up I am pained until I have declared Jesus Christ Psa 45.1 Therefore saith he come thou poor soul and I wil declare unto thee what Christ hath done for my soul and we wil praise him both together Psa 66.16 17. Now there is this difference between a good Elder and an Elder that is an hireling or an Elder that doth pretend for to be one Now a hireling is a servant to men for mens sakes and for mens wages but a good Elder is a servant to men for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 But he that is an hireling seeth the wolf coming which is fin and Antichrist now this hireling loves not the sheep therefore he leaveth the sheep to these wolves because he is one with these wolves and is not in relation to the sheep and hath no wil nor skil to help them Ioh. 10.12 Acts 20.28 29 30. Now the good Elder is in relation to Jesus Christ and so to the sheep of Christ and hath both wil and skil to lead the sheep apart from the wolves and as they receive freely so they give freely Mat. 10.8 Out of their store-house of love and good affection as Paul said not only the Gospel of God but our own souls for ye are dear unto us 1 Thes 2.8 Now on the other side the hireling loveth not the sheep but to feed him and cloath him read Ezek. 34.2 3. And so if he see a fatter benefice or a better abroad he wil leave the sheep for others that can feed them better though he cannot feed them at all but with husks in stead of fine wheat for he can neither pray nor preach but only say over a prayer and read over a Sermon Now the reason of all that hath been said is this these be hirelings of men and not sent out from Jesus Christ as Christ himself speaketh The â—ircling fleeth because he is an hireling and he careth not for the sheep read Ioh. 10.12 13. Now on the other side the good Elders whether they be Lay Elders or preaching Elders they wil very gladly spend and be spent for the good of one anothers souls as Paul said of himself for they have the same spirit that Paul had to make him a Minister read 2 Cor. 12.14 15. 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 7. Now the reason and the ground why the good Elders are so able it is this Jesus Christ hath made them able Ministers to speak of the New Testament not of the letter only but of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 And again they are raised from the dead with Jesus Christ for to bring forth fruit unto God But not in the oldness of the letter but to serve him in newness of spirit Rom. 7.4 6. Now these being married unto Jesus Christ are the circumcision which worship God in spirit and rejoyce in Christ Iesus and have no confidence in the flesh read Rom. 7.4 Phil. 3.3 Here you may see the Lay Elder as wel as the Learned Elder is in some measure able to feed the flock of God For the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall and God worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.6 7. Now you wil object and say Object That I am all Spirit or all for the Spirit and nothing is to be done but by the Spirit I answer Ans As the body is dead without a soul so is the soul dead without the last Adams quickening spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 Though the soul may seem to live a natural and fieshly life yet it is as though it were dead if the life of the Spirit of Christ be not communicated into it It is the Spirit that quickeneth saith Christ your living soul and natural fleshly life wil profit nothing The words that I speak unto you or in you they are Spirit and they are life saith Christ Ioh. 6.63 CHAP. VIII The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. Phil. 2.1 2 3 4 5. Gal. 6.2 Rom. 14.5 23. Mat. 7.12 Iohn 13.35 Rom. 14.17 18 19. Col. 3.12 Ioh. 12.26 Isa 14.12 13 14. Rev. 9.11 18 19 20 21. Revel 12.10 11 12 13. 2 Thes 2.7 8 9. Gen. 3.4 5 6 7 8. Gen. 4.3 4 5. Acts 26.9 Acts 22.3 Rom. 9.31 32. Zech. 7.10 Psa 15.2 3. John 8.44 Gen. 4.8 Acts 9.1 2 3 4 5 6. Psa 119.11 Psalm 119.105 John 14.6 Gen. 4.8 Ioh. 12.10 11. 1 Cor. 2.6 7 8. Mat. 6.11 Psa 150.5 6 7 8. Hosea 13.9 Hosea 14.4 Isa 43.25 Ier. 31.33 34. 2.5.19 Micah 7.18 19. Exo. 34.6 7. Isa 38.17 1 Iohn 3.1 1 Tim. 2.5 Lev. 16.21 22. Iob 33.23 24. Isa 61.1 Luk. 4.18 Iere. 50.20 Isa 53.6 7. Col. 2.13 14 15. Rom. 8.33 34. Iohn 13.10 1 Iohn 3.23 24. Iohn 1.1 2 3 4 5. Prov. 8.22 23. 1 Thes 2.19 20. Mark 8.24 Acts 17.18 19 20. Iohn 18.19 20 21. Mark 8.25 Exo. 4.10 12. 4.14 15 16. c. 7.1 2. Rom. 2.17 18 19 20 21 22 23. Iames 2.8 1 Iohn 3.23 Iames 4.11 1 Cor. 13.4 5. Phil. 3.15 Ez. 13.22 Iohn 21.15 Psa 64.3 Rev. 12.10 Prov. 6.16 17 18 19. Ier. 23.6 7 8. Eph. 1.4 5. Gal. 4.19 Isa 66.12 13. Isa 49.22 23. Psa 39.8 Prov. 6.22 23. 1 Ioh. 5.3 4 9 10. Rom. 5.8 1 Ioh. 1.7.2.1 2. Gal. 6.15 16. Psa 1.2 Eph. 4.20 21. Iohn 14.6 7. Isa 9.6 Psa 90.1 2. 1 Pet. 2.5
94.7 8 9 10 11. Gen. 1.31 1 Iohn 3.8 Rom. 8.28 Psal 103.14 15. Hosea 13.9 Psal 30.5 Isai 27.4 Hosea 14.4 Gen. 3.8 Tit. 3.4 5 6. Psal 110.3 Revel 22.2 4 5 16. 1 Iohn 3.9 Matth. 12.28 29. 2 Cor. 7.1 Luke 18.9 Rom. 7.18 Colos 2.14 Gal. 6.14 Col. 1.27 29. Gal. 6.14 Rom. 7.15 Rom. 7.25 Iere. 23.21 30 to the end 1 King 22.11 12. 2 Pet. 2.1 Matth. 24.24 25. Phil. 3.20 Ephes 2.20 21. Iohn 14.2 Isai 33.17 Phil. 3.20 Gen. 5.24 Heb. 11.5 Psal 9.10 1 Iohn 4.1 2 3. Isai 1.11 12. Isai 58.2 3. Iere. 7.4 8 14. Iere. 5.30 31. Phil. 3.4 5 6 7 8. 1 Corinth 1.18 19 to the end 1 Corinth 13.4 5 6 7 8. 1 Iohn 3.11 12 13. Iames 4.1 Mark 7.21 22. Revel 12.1 Gen. 2.2 3. Heb. 4.9 10. Matth. 17.5 Iohn 17.23 24. Hebr. 2.11 12 13. I Shall speak a word of the freeness of the pardon which is in general Sect. 1 held forth unto all men Isai 55.1 2 7. This is the ground I confess of every ones coming that comes aright If the pardon be free to every one then I am within the number Now this pardon of sin which we pray for it is not to be made now for it was in God with Christ before the foundation of the world Rev. 13.8 Eph. 1.4 5. Rom. 5.8 Psa 68.18 Rom. 8.3 Heb. 9.22 28. And so much in general of the pardon of sin Now I shall speak a word of this pardon in particular And here lyes a scruple and here lyes everlasting comfort I know Object says some this pardon is held forth to all But yet for all this I cannot beleeve that it is for me I answer Sol. If you know it by the hearing of the ear naturally and earnally and by the seeing of the eye sensually and according to your natural sense and no more then you cannot know it nor beleeve it by these for your good because it is spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 Secondly I answer A man may have a true knowledg of the pardon of his sin and yet have the comfortableness of it withdrawn for a time Now here comes in a right panting and breathing and praying not for the pardon of sin for that is sure in God but here is a praying for a comfortable evidence and the sweet manifestations of the Spirit of God to my soul or in my soul O Lord saith David pardon my sin Psalm 25.11 Now David at this time did know that his sins were pardoned You will ask how I know that Quest He himself said Answ That God had made with him an everlasting pardon or covenant ordered in all things and sure and this is all my salvation and all my desire although he make it not to grow saith he 2 Sam. 23.5 And I know the Lord changeth not for he hath said it Mal. 3.6 Now David was a strong man in the Lord and yet he was up one while and down another while Up when the Spirit of God did act the grace of Faith in him then he did flourish like a green bay-tree and then his mountain was strong but when the sweet Spirit of God did withdraw it self then David was troubled Psal 30.7 Now a poor soul in its winter season when its fruits are in its roots Sect. 2 is kept by the power of God as in the secret chamber of God and lives upon a word of promise when it doth not see the spirits fruits at that time it beleeves that God is faithful though he doth not shine upon it and cause it to grow 1 Pet. 1.5 7. Isai 43.1 2 5. Now a poor soul not having the heat and sunshine of the Spirit is discontented though it may have its eye fixed upon its pardon which is sure and stedfast O saith Mary Magdalen they have taken away my Lord And so saith the poor soul Iohn 20.13 O Lord saith David let the light of thy Spirit shiâ—e into my soul and that will make me more glad then corn and wine increased Psal 4.6 7 8. One smile from thy fatherly countenance O Lord one beam or glance of the refreshings of thy sweet Spirit O let me hear of spiritual joy and gladness and then I shall follow thee all the day long My soul panteth for thee the living God I cannot live but in thy light restore my wonted joys My heart and my flesh fail me But God is my rock and my well-spring of joy and he never faileth and this is all my joy Psal 51.8 12. 73.25 26. 36.8 9. The poor soul once being possessed of this spiritual dew it begins to speak of the excellency of Christ while the Spirit of grace sitteth as king in my soul and hath spred his table full of divine Graces upon which my soul doth feed and while the King sitteth upon his throne in my soul saith the Church my graces send forth a pleasant smell While the king lodgeth within my brest saith the poor soul he his sweet as a bundle of myrrhe to my soul And the king saith I am fair and there is no spot in me because of the comeliness which he hath put upon me and he saith that I am fair and have doves eyes read Cant. 1.3 12 13. Eze. 16.14 Cant. 4.1 Now a poor soul being brought by the king into the banqueting house on the day of the Lord nay in the day of the Lord and upon the Lords day I mean Christ who is the Lords day Psalm 118.22 23 24. Now Christ is the king of this day and the day it self in which every true believing soul doth abide for ever any Christ himself is the house into which the poor soul is brought and Christ himself holds his banner of love over a poor soul and makes it glad in himself Cant. 2.4 Now Christ and the soul have sweet communion together Sect. 3 and Jesus Christ tells the soul of his Fathers great love unto it before the foundation of the world and that he hath chosen it in him and blessed it with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in himself And Christ tells the soul that it shall stand in him for ever before God and be holy and without blame before him in love Ephes 1.3 4. And Christ tells the soul that he came out of the bosom of the Father to be its ransom and to pay its debts to the law and to sin and to hell and the devil and the grave John 1.16 17 18. Isai 53. read the whole Chapter Hosea 13.14 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 57 58. Heb. 2.14 15. And so likewise Christ tells the soul he will inable it to beleeve all this Heb. 12.2 And so Christ tells the soul he will make it fruitful in good works before God and men that they may glorifie God on their behalf Eph. 2.10 Matth. 5.15 16. And Christ tells the soul he hath done all for it that it stands in need of and that he is all unto it that it wants
O poor soul its Gods minde that thy corn of wheat shall die and bring forth much fruit unto life eternal and it is for thy exceeding honor for to serve Christ and to follow Christ for where he hath been thou must go John 12.24 25 26. But now let me speak a word of comfort unto thee that art a believing man or woman Though thou be in never so great extremities difficulties wants griefs and pains and revilings temptations of the right hand and of the left and though all these should come as thick as the pains of a woman in travail thou needest not to be disheartned Christs stands by the soul in trouble for thy God stands by thee The angel of the Covenant the messenger of peace and rest doth appear from Heaven for to strengthen thy soul CHAP. XI The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. Ephes 2.14 15 16. Rom. 5.14 Isai 2.17 Luke 18.9 11 12. 1 John 3.2 1 John 4.17 Colos 2.2 3. John 14.2 3. Psal 145.14 Luke 22.43 Revel 3.19 Heb. 8.12 Jere. 31.34 Isai 53.11 Mal. 3.2 3. Rom. 5.3 4 5. Isai 53.6 Heb. 2.10 11. Isai 43.2 Isai 32.2 Psal 46.1 2. James 1.2 3 4. Revel 1.9 Job 1.21 Revel 3.18 Isai 55.1 2 3 4. Prov. 8.18 19 21. Acts 24.24 25 27. Luke 19.14 Matth. 27.62 63. Luke 11.45 Jere. 4.22 Luke 19.27 Gen. 17.18 2 Cor. 12.9 10. Ephes 6.10 11 12 13. Ephes 6.14 15. Psal 91.13 read the whole Psalm Ephes 6.16 17. Joh. 1.1 4.24 15.26 2 Cor. 12.10 2 Cor. 4. read the whole Chapter Psal 66.16 Luke 8.2 3. Mark 16.9 Acts 26.9 10 11. Acts 7.57 58 59. Acts 22.19 20. 26.10 11. Numb 11.26 27 28 29. Jere. 50.6 1 Tim. 1.12 13 14 15 16 17. Rom. 2.29 Phil. 3.3 4 5 6. Luke 19.5 8 9 8.43 44 45 46. 1 Pet. 2.13 14 17. 2 Sam. 24.17 24. 1 King 3.16 26 27 28. Isai 58.2 6 7 9. Zech. 7.5 6 9 10. Isai 58.8 9. Jere. 31.24 25 26. Ezek. 13.7 8 9 10. Jere. 23.30 31 32. 14.18 50.6 Ezek. 34.2 3 4. Jere. 4.22 5.30 31. Jere. 14.18 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. Matth. 7.15 21 22 23 15.13 14. Acts 8.30 31 34 35. Luke 24.45 BUt now in the next place let me speak a word for thy observation O poor soul that art so opprest Thy heart is like an earthly Garden into which Obser ∣ vation the seed of some curious flower is sown and in the growing up it breaks through the earth and grows up towards Heaven Even so is the seed of God sown in thy heart and comparatively like as a Chicken grows in the shell until it cracks the shell and breaks it all to peeces Christ is the seed of God growing thorow the earthiness of mens hearts even so Christ the Rose of Sharon the Lilly of the Valleys and the Seed of God grows in thy natural earthly fleshly heart and cracks the partition Wall all to peeces Ephes 2.14 15 16. and breaks down the strong holds of sin and self and high imaginations and doth subdue every thought that is stout against God Now Christ the seed of God which lay vailed and hid in the earth of the first Adams heart who is the figure of him that was to come Rom. 5.14 Now this seed hath been a working it self out of the earth in all ages but in several ways of working As first before the Law and secondly under the Law and now under the Gospel Christ will take away all mens righteousness and carnal confidence which they have of their own works This seed is pulling down the foundations of the money changers and the tables of those that sell doves and endeavor to set up false christs in the earthy hearts of men And this seed is now striking down all the self-righteousness of men and women and all their fleshly wisdom and carnal confidence that they have of themselves and their ways and works And this seed Christ will have the loftiness of men broke down and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day Now Christ is that day read Isai 2.17 Now thou poor soul that made such a pitiful complaint like a woman in travail it may be Christ is breaking through the earth of thy heart and throwing down the mountains and filling up the valleys that were in thy heart and taking every thing out of the way that he may bring his whole train of graces into thy soul and when he doth thus appear in thy heart then he is a raising thee out of the grave and he will cause thee to leave thy grave-clothes behinde thee I mean the good opinion which thou hast had of thy self and of thy performances which have been but as grave-clothes to wrap thee in as the Pharisees did Luke 18.9 11 12. And when this seed Christ doth appear to be in the earthiness of thy heart he will cause thee by his grace and power to grow up out of that earthiness together with himself and he will inable thee to rise out of the grave and make thee as the sons of God And when he doth thus appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Iohn 3.2 Nay more then so for as he is so are we in this world 1 Iohn 4.17 Sect. 2 Now I shall speak a word of Consolation unto thee that art exercised in all maner of troubles every day Consola ∣ tion And though thou saidst God lets thee alone in all thy troubles and miseries and gives thee no ease yet the Lord hath many a time in his love opened or drawn back the curtain that thou mightest see into his treasures of holiness and kindness and mercy love wisdom tender heartedness And these are hid in Christ and are as mansions for thy troubled soul to dwell in Col. 2.2 3. Iohn 14.2 3. Now when thou art in thy saddest troubles and greatest perplexities and sharpest miseries and heavy temptations lying upon thee ready to sink thee then do but turn about and look into these Treasures which are in Christ and they will so refresh thee that thou wilt count thy afflictions but as small things and for a short time And so likewise when sad melancholly thoughts do take hold in thee so that thou thinkest one day thou shalt perish by these troubles Alass poor soul these troubles are for the honor of God and for thy own good as I shall tell thee anon Be of good chear thy troubles shall not sink thee and when thou thinkest that God hath forsaken thee or forgotten thee he hath thee by the hand Psal 145.14 God is more tender hearted then a mother can be and when thou thinkest that thou art falling then God steps in like a tender hearted father and saith O my childe and takes thee up in his arms and puts thee in his bosom and thou lookest into the ark of his strength which ark is Christ and there
which is God to lift up his head that he may look into heaven and see the glory of God and Jesus Christ the right hand of God opening himself to receive his poor weary soul O what a refreshing comfort is this unto a dying man to see the heavens of God in Christ opening A beleeving soul sees it self happy and compleat in God through Iesus Christ and the Son of man God-man standing with the souls of men which he hath made just and perfect and they standing as the right hand of God in Christ as a Queen in gold of Ophir All this you may have an instance of in Steven if you do but read Acts 7.55 56. And so likewise in the whole Church of Christ if you do but read Heb. 12.22 23 24. Psal 45.9 And thus a poor soul is received from misery unto glory even into Abrahams bosom that is into the bosom of Jesus Christ where it takes up its rest as Steven did but while the poor soul doth live in this world it shal find trouble For all that do live the life of God in Christ Iesus shal suffer persecution in this world 2 Tim. 3.12 All relations under the Sun variable as the relation to a wife to a family in Church fellowship in professed friends in parents and in children in riches and in outward contentments but in Christ all these are constant and dureable For a mans enemies shal be they of his own houshold Mat. 10.36 Nay in Church fellowship which is like an houshold if they differ in judgment read 1 Pet. 4.16 to 19. If it be so in a mans houshold and in Church fellowship as there is experience between the Presbyterian and the Independent I shal conclude and say as David said It is good for me to draw neer to God and to desire him to plant my confidence and my joy in him alone for in every external condition in this world I shal find trouble But my fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ and spiritually there I shal find good cheer read these Scriptures Psal 73.25 26 28. 1 Iohn 1.3 4. Iohn 16.32 33. Sect. 4 I shal speak now of a precious balsam and a sweet cordial that wil heal all our diseases in this Kingdom that is if the Lord would be pleased to raise a flood of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and cause it to run with a mighty stream into the hearts of the King and the Parliament this would enable them to bear one anothers burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ that is to restore the poor groaning subjects in the spirit of meekness that they may rejoyce once again Gal. 6.1 2. Now he that ruleth over men must be just mark this ruling in the fear of God read 2 Sam. 23.3 Now my hope is and my desire shal be that God would be pleased through Christ his strong arm to make good that Prophesie in our days which is spoken of in the Prophet Isaiah That Kings may be nursing Fathers and Queens may be nursing mothers in these our days O that we might truly say once out of experience that we are beholding to them as nourishers or for their good nursing Isai 49.23 For this end God did set up Kings at the first as David and Solomon who were types of the spiritual King Jesus and fed their people with wholsom and sweet food that is with a peaceable life as good Magistrates and preserved them in all godliness against those that would harm them and disquiet them Psa 78.70 71 72. But of this we have had but little these many years instance in those domineering Bishops and the high Commission Court which was of long standing and persecuted godliness under the name of Puritans or some other names but I hope it will not be so now therefore let us follow the Apostles Exhortation That prayer be made for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty for he or they that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God 1 Tim. 2.1 2. and 2 Sam. 23.3 Courteous Reader Sect. 5 I shal speak a word or two in my own defence and so conclude Now my first word is When I first set my pen to paper it was not with any sinister respect or by-end but it was for the glory of God Neither was it for profit nor the applause of men for that to me is as a vain thing I speak the words of truth and soberness But seeing the customary and the outside Pharisaicalness which most men and women of all sorts use in matters of Religion Ministers as wel as others this I saw and was at a loss within my self but the Lord did teach me to consider of it and then I went to glean as Ruth did into the field of Boaz read Ruth 2.7 8 9. But the field that mine eyes was upon to glean in it was not the field of external Art nor the field of a great Library for that is to learn to speak other mens words which I disclaim But mine eyes were upon that only one field where I gleaned among the sheaves and that field is the Scriptures the only one Book which I had and no more and that is the Bible which is the Word of God Now courteous Reader I have gleaned and am satisfied and I commend that unto you which I have reserved and as Naomi did make use of the barley which Ruth did glean as you may read Ruth 2.18 so I desire that you may be wise to make use of what hath been said for your own good and I shal be glad Sect. 6 Now my second and last word is to the Christ-baptized man or woman for I speak unto thee O man or woman who art inwardly taught by the sweet Spirit of God hast that unction from the holy One which wil teach thee to know all things for that anointing abideth in thee anâ— teacheth thee all truths and thou shalt abide in him or it 1 Iohn 2.20 27. Therefore I speak to thee O man or woman who art baptized with the Spirit of Christ because thou art the best able to discern between wheat and chaff True Christian Reader when I first set pen to paper my heart was inabled to indite of matter concerning the Lord of Lords and I spake of things touching Christ the King and my heart was stirred within me as the water is when it bubbleth up or the water which the fire boyleth And I was made able by the sweet Spirit of God who did blow sweet gales of wind spiritually into my heart Ioh. 3.8 And I was so refreshed by them for they so comforted my heart that my tongue became as the pen of a ready writer The knowledg of the mystery of God in the flesh of Christ the Saints and the givings forth of the Spirit are not got by
the life of the Word Page 44. How the Jesuites Popes and Friers are Ministers of Christ P. 44. ◠7. The shepherds of these times would rule Christs sheep with an iron mace P. 45. Some named that were reproached in Mr Edwards book P. 46. Mr Edwards ten heads in his book like the ten horns Rev. Zech. P. 47 What it is that frays these horns viz. the Spirit of our Lord Jesus P. 48 49 S. 8. That Saul was a Minister upon the same account that many are at this day P. 50 51. A Minister sent out from men is a Minister of terror not of tenderness P. 51. How the false Prophets are mingled among true as heretofore so even now P. 51 52 53. The Confidence of most Preachers in these times is their library and books P. 53. Vpon what account there is much preaching to little purpose in these times P. 54. CHAP. IV. THe Scriptures insisted on set down P. 55 S. 1. None but beleevers able to prove approve of and reprove Ministers P. 57 58. S. 2. There is no cure for the world but free grace P. 59. Jesus Christ is a Saints spiritual magazine P. 60. S. 3. That in these days God begins to pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh P. 61. That upon this account beleevers speak more profitably then their teachers P. 62. That beleevers have a divine right and authority to try the doctrines of men P. 63 A Caution given beleevers not to be despoiled of their liberties in Christ P. 63 64. Many pretend falsly to a divine right in these times P. 64. S. 5. How the people have been and yet are abused by Clergy men 65 66 What divine right is and to whom it doth belong P. 66 67. The honorable Commissioners why not approved of by the Ministers P. 67 The ignorance of the people taxed in not being able to try their Ministers P. 68. Who they be that creep into houses and lead captive silly women P. 68. That discord among brethren ariseth from the Ministers of this age 69. § 6. Who they be that bind heavy burthens and lay them on mens shoulders P. 69 70. Dr Gouge his complying formerly with the Archbishop reprehended Page 70. To rule with force and violence doth ill become Ministers P. 71 72. § 7. A word to Ministers and people to unite them into one band of love by the Spirit p. 72 73. The story of Abraham and Lot of Jacob Joseph and his Brethren excellently opened and applied to these times p. 73 74 75 76 77. What men pretend that mind persecution p. 77. § 8. A sweet prayer to God for Vnity p. 80. § 9. Arguments to perswade to Vnity p. 82 83. § 10. Where and what is the power of the Church p. 84 85. Who are Evangelical Preachers and that none profit the people but they p. 87 88. § 11. That most Ministers seem to read Christs advice Mat. 6.31 backwards p. 89 90. Who are Elders according to God page 90. Three sorts of corrupt men in a parish page 91 94. That Jesus Christ is the mind of God page 94. That most of our Protestants are fit matter to make Papists p. 95. CHAP. V. THe Scriptures insisted on set down p. 100 101. § 1. A most excellent and spiritual instruction given to the Eldership in the Church of God p. 101 108. The Church is a school and Christ the alone teacher in it p. 104. The Church in the Apostles time had many young men in it that were full of the Holy Spirit p. 105. Many hungry people in the Church whom nothing can satisfie but Jesus Christ p. 106. Great use of Elders if right in the Church of God P. 106. Religion without love is Pharisaism Page 107. How the Religion of the most is Popish P. 108. That there hath been much hypocritical fasting in these times P. 109 § 2. A true fast to the Lord is a feast to men P. 110. The most content themselves with the shel but neglect the kernel of Religion P. 112 113. The holy Spirit is the love-token of Christ in the hearts of the faithful P. 115. § 3. What food the Saints live upon Page 116. § 4. Too much confidence placed now adays in Church-fellowship Page 117. A just reproof of such P. ibid. What is the Churches foundation 118 Vpon what the Christians lean 118 The commonly called Anabaptists reprehended and that justly 119 120. They justifie the parishes they seem to condemn Why the Anabaptist and Presbyterians disagree P. 121. That Anabaptists are mistaken in the foundation of Church-fellowship 122 An excellent reason against rebaptizing P. 123 124. § 5. A modest debate with a moderate Anabaptist P. 124. That the soul enjoys all things in Christ P. 125. Vpon what account the beleever is conversant in external observations P. 125. § 6. Of the baptism of infants and that they have faith and may be admitted as well as others thereto P. 126 127. A whisper in the ear of an Anabaptist and Presbyterian P. 128 The same Lord is now a Cloud to the Egyptian world but a pillar of light and fire to the spiritual Israel 129. § 7. The plea of an unbeleever 131. Of the confession of sin and how few confess sin aright P. 132 133. The beleever hath joy from the Cross of Christ in the confession of sin 134 The death of Christ most divinely opened P. 134. Several Objections answered made against confession of sin with joy p. 135 136 137. CHAP. VI. THe Scriptures insisted on set down page 138 139. § 1. What the most of our Elders and Pastors are and what they are able to do p. 140. Who seek the good of King and Kingdom p. 144. § 2. That there is no steers-man in the Church on the heart of a true Christian but Jesus Christ. p. 145. Christ the guide of a Christian in his active and passive obedience to Magistrates p. 146 147. A wise caution given to Magistrates and why page ibid. § 3. Several objections answered touching the discerning of true teachers and false by their fruits p. 147 148. That the unlearned beleever doth and knows more then the learned that beleeves not p. 149. Those that have been with Jesus and in whom Jesus is alone understand the Scriptures p. 149 Christ the Covenant of God p. 150. What learned men they be that are unfit for the ministry p. 151. Christ is the day of Gods rest p. 152. That many talk of Reformation that are ignorant of the pure Religion page ibid. § 3. What the pure Religion is 152. The most of the learned in Christendom do agree in pleasure ease and profit p. 153. Many zealous for Presbyterian Government care not for coming to the Elders and why p. 156. That one place for worship is not to be preferred before another ibid. Whether it be decent for Ministers to go all in black p. 157. Of humane learning of what use and profit it is p. 158. A word of
Ordination ibid. That all men in the Church of God have liberty to exercise p. 159. A word touching Order p. 160. Who are and what the true Ministers of Christ must expect of men p. 161 § 5. That the Apostles order cannot be observed in our parish Churches without offence p. 161 162. The good gift of God to men in the Church is Jesus Christ p. 162. The Scriptures as a box of ointment are full of Christ p. 164. That this Author was a hearer of Mr Edwards p. 165. A vindication of some reproached by Mr Edwards p. 166. The Author no Sectary p. 166 167. That the Religion of most is but traditional p. 167. That there is much form and little power of Religion in these days 168 The Ministers that are for persecution put to silence by an argument of their own p. 169. Many Citizens reprehended for changing their Common-Councel men p. 170 171. The corruption of the several Wards and Parishes p. 172. Doctor Bastwick reprehended p. 172. That old preachers are not always the best p. 174. § 6. That as Christ proceedeth and cometh forth from God so doth a true Christian proceed and come forth from Jesus Christ p. 175. § 7. Who the silly women be that are lead captive p. 177. Three characters by which to know the false Prophets of this age p. 178 179. CHAP. VII THe Scriptures insisted on set down page 180 181. § 1. A word in season to two sorts of Elders p. 182. Bad Elders like unto a bad Nurse p. ibid. He that is an Elder in Jesus Christ is a good Elder p. 183. The fleshly Elder fills the ear but feeds not the heart p. 184. 'T were to be wisht that the Elders had the gift of discerning spirits p. 185. Vnder what delusion the Papists are p. 186. § 2. How the Protestants resemble the Papists p. 186. That a Synod or Councel may erre p. 186 187. How far Antichrist hath crept in among us in England p. 188. How difficult it is to get right Cedars in a parish to build a Church on p. 190. The superstition of the common Protestant p. 191. From whence the ignorance of the people doth arise p. 192. Why 't is so hard a thing to get and keep a good preacher in a parish p. 193. How few men will stand when Christ appears p. 194. Why all things are out of course both in Church and State p. 194. § 3. The fountain from whence the true and the right Elders do proceed p. 195. The fountain of Israel and the welspring of learning is God himself in Christ p. 196. That many men have but grosly abuse school Arts and humane learning p. 197. The way to God few men know p. 198. Humane learning and School Arts grow in Natures gardens p. 199. § 5. Of right and good Elders 200 How the hireling and the true shepherd differ p. 201 202. What all things are without the Spirit 204. CHAP. VIII THe Scriptures insisted on set down p. 204 205. § 1. A cordial Petition for our sickly times p. 208 209. A vindication of those called by the foolish name of Independents 210 § 3. Ten Independents drawn up into a file 1. the Devil 2. Judas 3. the cheif Priest 4. the Pharisee 5. Cain 6. Pilate 7. the young man in the Gospel 8. Dives or the rich man Luke 12.9 9 Adam 10. Eve p. 211 212 213. How Christs lodged himself in Davids heart p. 214. How Christ is a crucifying in his members all Europe over p. 215. Vpon whom the Independents have their dependency p. 216. § 4. Whence 't is honest men are called Sectaries p. 216 217. Mr Nye falsly reputed a Jesuite by some p. 218. A Rhyme to reproach the Independents taxed p. 219. The ten heads under which Mr Edwards ranks the Independents or Sectaries 219 220. R. B. THE CONTENTS Of this BOOK Being the second Part Directing to the Chapters Sections and Pages where they are spoken to § 5. THe love of God and the blood of Jesus Christ are a soveraign medicine to take away sin past present and to come p. 221. What alone is able to quench the flames of hell in any mans soul 222 The fit man that undertakes with God for man p. 223. How unjustly men are charged with the name of Antinomian p. 224. The person of Dr Crisp and several other men instanc't in 224 225 226 A word of Mr Burgess at Lawrence Church p. 225. The pretended Law-defenders the greatest Law-breakers p. 228. § 6. A word of Mr Calamy p. 229. The filthy names on foot in these times the cause of much evil p. 231. That Christ is the rule of a Christian p. 232. A sweet prayer to the Father Son and holy Spirit opening that mystery p. 234. An excellent simile opening the mystery of Christ p. 235. Whence the Christians comfort doth arise even from the anointing of the Father p. 236. § 7. That the heart of a true Christian is the City of God and the consolations of the Spirit the river that runs thorough it p. 237. § 8. Christ a spiritual tree rooted in God of which the Saints are branches p. 238. How Christ led Philip and every one that beleeves through himself to the Father p. 239. That the Spirit of Christ is God 240. That a Christian is not in Christ after a carnal manner p. 241. Why a Christian weeps as Mary by the ordinances when handled after a carnal manner p. 242. An excellent advice to a troubled soul p. ibid. § 9. A true preacher what he is ib. The Spirit of Christ the Saints resting place p. 243. The Saints life what it is ibid. That the Saints cannot live as they list p. 244. That they that beleeve work from and not for life p. ibid. The Apologie they that beleeve make for themselves p. 245. What is the pardon of sin p. 246. The condition of a man in trouble about the pardon of sin p. 247. What is the refreshing of a weary soul p. ibid. Davids Prayer Psa 51. opened 248. The great business of assurance spoken to p. 249. An objection touching general Redemption and free will p. 250. Where the Church is to be found 251. What is free will in man p. 252. Who alone hath free will p. 253. CHAP. IX THe Scriptures opened set down P. 255. § 1. By what a man is encouraged first to come to God p. 256 257. Touching a particular assurance some objections opened p. 258. § 2. Christ the day in which every true Christian abides for ever 261. § 3. How Christ opens himself in the heart of a true beleever 262 263. How Christ vindicates a Christian from the slander of men p. 264. § 4. Christ hath done all for and doth all in the soul p. 265. How God sees no sin in his p. 266. What was the better part of which Christ spake p. ibid. Of the Cross of Christ in the heart of a Christian p. 267. How the soul