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
comfortably unto them in their great distress when they were at their wits end then Joseph spake unâ—â— his brethren and said I am Joseph doth my father yet live Come neer to me notwithstanding ye put me away in your hatred but come neer unto my love Come neer to me I pray you and they came neer and he said I am Joseph your brother whom ye foolishly sold into Egypt be not grieved nor angry with your selves that ye sold me hither for ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good for God did send me before you to preserve life Gen. 45.3 4 5. Gen. 50.20 The spiritual application of what hath been said Sect. 8 is betwixt Christ and a poor soul and if this were wel taught and wel learned it would mitigate that heat of strife that is amongst us and then we should observe that new Command which Christ gave That we should love one another Now I shal refer you unto that place of Scripture which Joseph gave unto his brethren for their advice and he said unto them See that you fal not out by the way for ye be brethren You may travel from Egypt to Canaan now with joy for I have freed you from all your fears see now that you fal not out by the way Consider Jesus Christ the spiritual Joseph who hath delivered you from spiritual Egypt and doth give you spiritual joy that you may travel to the heavenly Canaan and wil you yet fal out by the way Again consider Jesus Christ as he is a Prince of peace and of his peace there shal be no end Christ is our spiritual Joseph and our elder brother and hath left this Word Go tel my brethren that I ascend to my Father and their Father to my God and their God and I wil prepare a place for them and they all shal be where I am A Prayer O sweet Jesus shal thy people be with thee who art the Prince of peace and live with thee in heaven O Lord make this a lively motive to all thy people that as they shal live in heaven together so they may live in love and be at peace on earth together though they cannot agree about circumstances if the Lord would be pleased to enlarge our hearts then we should by his strength run the way of his new command which is love Love one another Lord do thou teach us and help us that we may not fal out about the way to Canaan but we pray thee plane us into Jesus Christ who alone is the new and the living way and gave unto us such a spirit as Jacob had when he did see the wagons of Josephs love then his spirit was revived and he said It is enough Joseph my son is yet alive Genesis 45.27 28. When our spirits are a dying then to have news from Jesus Christ would be a reviving to our spirits and we shal say as Jacob said It is enough my son Joseph is alive It is enough my friend Jesus Christ is alive and doth send good news to my soul and I shal go and live with him To conclude We should not rest in making clean the outside of the cup and of the platter Mat. 23.25 For the kingdom of God cometh not with observation or with outward shew Luk. 17.20 Neither let us take content in tithe-mint and anise and cummin when we are ignorant of the weightier matters of the Law as Judgment Mercy and Faith Mat. 23.23 And so it wil be for our shame and loss if we take the shadow for the substance and say The Temple of the Lord are these Jer. 7.4 and so be like unto the five foolish Virgins whose lamps were out and their oyl was spent and they went from Christ to buy grace when as indeed they should have come to Christ but in not coming they missed of Jesus Christ Mat. 25.8 10 11 12. Yet let us not fal out by the way as we are traveling through the wilderness of this world but let us admonish one another in love and think upon Josephs advice to his brethren when they were to travel from Egypt to Canaan to their father saith Joseph Ye be brethren see that ye fal not out by the way Gen. 45.24 Sect. 9 I shal now crave leave to speak a word or two betwixt the Minister and the People but with submission to better judgments for what I have said or shal say 1. We are not now to expect Prophets and Apostles to pen new Scripture Secondly We are now to look for men gifted to open the mind and meaning of God in the Scriptures which were written for our learning Thirdly We are not to take upon trust what men do deliver because God doth command us to try that which men do deliver whether it be from God or no 1 Thes 5.21 1 Ioh. 4.1 Fourthly Now we have no infallible men as the Prophets and the Apostles were therefore we should do as the noble Bereans did search the Scriptures to see whether those men that preach preach according to the Scripture or no Acts 17.10 11. But it may be you wil object and say Is there any that can infallibly search the Scriptures and so be able to try others I answer Christ hath given gifts unto men to try as wel as to teach and it is his command to try Try all things hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 But it wil be counted a boldness in a man that dwels in a Parish to try the Minister or the Church-Officers but the Church may cal them to account I mean the whole Parish or a select Congregation may cal their Officers to account for they are but as Stewards to the Church I shal conclude with that of the Apostle Peter As every man saith he hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God And if any man speak let him speak as from the Lord and if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 4.10 11. There hath been much said Sect. 10 of late about the power of the Church and that this power doth belong and that by Divine Right unto the Officers of the Church and to them only and something hath been writ to that purpose by him that answered the Queries that the Parliament set out but not for him to answer neither did he answer them though he said he did But I reason thus If all the power be in the Church-Officers and the keys be given unto them where shal the body which is the Church whereof these Officers be members find relief in case they should oppress or be found faulty for they are but men and the Shepherd may err as wel as the sheep may go astray as for instance the Bishops said they were the Church and every superstitious Priest in a parish
of God the Father and the unspeakable and sweet comforts of the holy Ghost and that in a spiritual way in all the ordinances they do not nor cannot lean upon the outside of any ordinance A true Beleever sees within the vail and sees the most holy of all Mine eyes saith old Simeon have seen thy salvation O Lord Luk. 2.29 30. A Saint sees Christ in the Spirit though he be vailed with flesh A true Beleever sits down at the table with Christ who is the King of this banquet and there is friendly discourse between Christ and a poor soul A poor soul sits down under the shadow of Christ with great delight and the graces of Christ are sweet to my tast saith the poor foul Cant. 2.3 4 5 6. Now Christ answers the poor soul again and saith Thy graces smel sweeter that I have given thee then the ointments of all spices Cant. 4.8 9 10. Now a beleeving soul is married to God and Christ and doth confess all her sufficiency is from God and from Christ While the King siteth at his table saith the poor soul my spikenard sendeth forth the smel thereof that is while Christ is in the soul to act those graces that he hath given into the soul so long those graces send forth a pleasant sinel Cant. 1.12 13. Now Christ being once in the soul is for ever in the soul and with the poor soul for to help it in all its wants and loves it to the end that is for evermore Joh. 13.1 And Christ promises That he wil never leave the poor soul nor forsake it in its greatest wants Heb. 13.5 6. Now a poor soul begins to be strong in the Lord because Jesus Christ hath taught it to cal God Father Mat. 6.9 And Christ himself cals the poor soul his brother and his sister and tels them he wil pray his Father and their Father for to send his love-token into their hearts that is the sweet Spirit of God for to uphold them in the hour of temptation and to comfort them in their greatest distress and to teach them to have communion and fellowship with God and with Jesus Christ and this is the food that a true beleeving soul feeds upon in all the ordinances of God and in all the promises and providences of God in this world and this is that which a Saint leans upon even upon the very bosome of God and of Jesus Christ as that beloved Disciple did lean upon the brest of Christ at Supper Joh. 21.20 Sect. 3 Now by this means a true beleeving soul begins to be without slavish fear and without bastard-like fear because God hath said Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I wil strengthen thee yea I wil help thee O thou poor weary soul yea I wil uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Isa 41.10 Now this is that which holds up the head of a beleeving man or woman in this troublesom world for they see a way made by the blood of Jesus a new and living way and by the hand of faith they can take spiritual food out of that new and living way and feed upon that when worldly food seemeth to decay Heb. 10.19 20. And so likewise a beleeving man by the eye of faith doth see himself secure in this new and living way though the world should be turned upside down What saith the Prophet Habakkuk Although saith he the fields should yeeld no meat and the flocks were cut off from the fold and there should be no herd in the stals Mark the condition of a true beleeving man Yet saith he I wil rejoyce in the Lord and I wil joy in the God of my salvation Habak 3.17 18. I wil lift up mine eyes saith the beleeving man unto the hils from whence cometh my help My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth Psa 121.1 2 3. Now in the next place to lean upon Church-fellowship this wil not profit us But there is a fellowship which the Apostle speaks of which wil profit us Truly saith the Apostle we and all that do truly beleeve our fellowship saith he is with God and with Jesus Christ read 1 Joh. 1.3 4 and this fellowship is by way of union I in them and thou in me saith Christ that they may be made perfect in one Joh. 17.23 24. I shal now speak a word to those that are in external Church-fellowship Sect. 4 who hold it not fit for to have communion with one in some ordinances nay almost in all if one be not in fellowship with them but count of one as to be without or to be men of the world or almost as bad as Heathens in that condition But the Foundation or Being of the Saints is built upon the eternal good wil and good pleasure of God which he had purposed in himself before the world was and hath chosen us with an unchangeable love in him that is in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world That we should be holy and without blame before him in love read Eph. 1.4 9. 2 Tim. 1.9 Here you may see the original of the Saints from whence they are They come forth from God and they go with Jesus Christ to God their Father again For their life is hid with Christ in God read Col. 3.3 4. Joh. 14.19 20. For at that day saith Christ to the Saints ye shal know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you and because I live ye shal live also And where I am there shal you be also and you shal behold my glory saith Christ to the poor souls of men and rejoyce in that and you shal see my Fathers love in me and it shal be in you and I wil be in you read Ioh. 17.23 24 26. Here you may see from whence the Saints are and upon what fellowship they lean They lean upon the unchangable love of God and they lean upon their friend Jesus Christ and they lean upon the coming forth of the sweet Spirit from God and from Jesus Christ into their hearts and that sweet Spirit wil shew them things to come as Christ tels them and that blessed Spirit wil teach them to profit and he wil make Jesus Christ beautiful in their eyes for he shal receive from God and from Jesus Christ and shal shew it unto them as Christ himself speaks read Ioh. 16.13 14 15. Isa 33.16 17. Here you may see what heavenly provision and what a sure place of rest the holy one of Israel hath prepared for every true beleeving soul and here you may see what fellowship God and Jesus Christ have with every true beleeving man or woman And wil you that are called Anabaptists have no fellowship with those that God and Christ and the holy Spirit of God have fellowship withall except they be baptized your way You say to be baptized young availeth nothing I ask
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
zeal and piety they endeavor to make honest godly men seem odious to the world Instance in Mr Edwards read his first Gangraena pag. 61. 172. and there you may find him reproaching of honest godly men under the name of Sectaries and he draws them up into ten heads And the first is looseness of life and liberty of conscience The second is Covetousness and Self-seeking The third is policy and subversion The fourth is seeming activity in the prosecution of that way And the fifth is Tumultuousness Disorder and Confusion The sixth is Destruction of Government The seventh is Insolent Pride and Arrogance The eighth is Unhumane incivility or to that effect And the ninth is to have power to carry on all before them and throw down all that stands in their way But me thinks this is a beam that sticks fast in Mr Edwards own eye and a thing that he strives hard after himself And the tenth thing is what they do saith he they do it in hypocrisie under pretences of piety and holiness And this is a garment that M. Edwards would have all men to be clothed in that do not look like himself or tread in his steps THE LOVE of GOD AND THE Blood of Jesus Christ Are a soveraign medicine to take away sin past present and to come 1 JOHN 1.7 9 10. Christ is the Rule of a Christian or the Law he walks by Gal. 6.15 16. Psa 1.2 J Cannot but speak a word or two of the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which is a Gospel of free grace and the alone means to break a hard heart and the only means to melt a frozen soul and the only cordial to comfort a sick soul and the only staff of love to stay up a drooping spirit O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thine help saith the Lord Hosea 13.9 I wil heal thy backsliding I wil love thee freely saith the Lord The Lords free love unto al his people Hosea 14.4 I even I am he that bloteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake saith the God of Love and I wil forgive thy iniquity and I wil remember thy sins no more Isa 43.25 Jer. 31.33 34. Now he that knows the Lord for his own good knows the Lord after this manner and beleeves the report that God in Christ hath made of himself That he is a God that delighteth in mercy and that he hath cast all the sins of his people behind his back and he hath cast all the sins of his beloved people into the depths of the sea of his Sons blood which is able to quench the fears and the flames of hel in any mans soul 2 Cor. 5.19 Mich 7.18 19. Exodus 34.6 7. Isa 38.17 The learned world knoweth not this manner of Gods love 1 John 3.1 Neither do they know that fit man the one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Who hath carried all their sins into a Land of forgetfulness a Land not inhabited this is a fit man of the Lords sending out Levit. 16.21 22. This is a ransom that the Lord hath found and he wil be gracious through him Job 33.23 24. And this Messenger is sent to bind up the broken hearted and to proclaim liberty to the captives Isa 61.1 Luk. 4.18 and the opening of the prison to them that are bound Now in these days and in this time saith the Lord The iniquity of Israel shal be sought for and there shal be none and the sins of Judah and they shal not be found any more Jer. 50.20 For the Lord hath laid all our sins upon the back of Christ Isa 53.6 7. And Christ hath nailed them to his cross and buried them in his grave and we are compleat in him Col. 2.13 14 15. And sin shal not condemn those that beleeve for Christ is risen again to save and sanctifie and glorifie those that are one in him Rom. 8.33 34. and he hath made them clean every whit Joh. 13.10 But if I speak after this manner Sect. 5 I shall be cloathed with that reproachfull name of Antinomian of which name our Pulpits have rung of late time and by this means some people have got a habit of a proud and a high look and a scornfull eye against their neighbours and with disdain they will turn away from them as from one that had a plague sore upon him if it be their lot for to meet in the streets this I my self and others have experience of For under the name of an Antinomian that will have no Law of God to walk by as they say and live as they list and pray for no pardon of sin under this name which is a false one many honest godly men seem odious to those they live by I shall instance onely in five men which they say have and do preach Freegrace which is an occasion to open a gap to all licentiousness And the first man is Doctor Crisp a man that was famous and eminent for vertue and an able Minister of the Gospel of Grace and one that made the Law of Faith and Love his rule for to walk by 1 Joh. 3.23 24. Now this man was brought upon the stage for an Antinomian and Master Burges at Lawrence Church did dispute learnedly against him but to little purpose as one that would take up the weapons of a dead man to fight with him when he was dead The second man is young Master Simpson a man unblameable in his conversation and a man eminent in the work of the Lord but counted an Antinomian and so looked upon as contemptible The third man is Master Peter Sterry such a man as there are but a few in respect of the great number that are called the Ministers of England yet this man lyes under two reproachful names as Antinomian or Familist or else jeered at by some for a Free-grace Preacher This Peter Sterry is a man approved to be an Evangelical Heavenly Divine Preacher of the Mystery of the everlasting Gospel Now no ministery but such a ministery can be a soul-comforting ministery because it is full of Light and Life Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost But no new light as some cry out but an old light of Jesus Christ John 1.1 2 3 4 5. which was before the foundations of the earth were laid read Prov. 8.22 23. Now the fourth man is one like unto Mr Stirrey and that is Mr Saltmarsh a man eminent to declare the King in his beauty and that is Jesus Christ who is the rose of Sharon and the lilly of the valleys And as an apple tree among the trees of the wood is excellent even so is Christ among his sons and Christ is the pearl in the field and as a shadow of a great rock in a weary land and all this Christ is to them that know him and such can tel how to speak to his praise The fifth man that I shal speak
be as a book sealed or as a box that hath far more precious ointment in it then that of Mary Magdalen as you may read Mark 14.3 But such men want a key to open this box A literal reading of preaching Minister doth but speak empty words in the ears of people or they want heavenly art to break this box that the sweet smels of Jesus Christ may come forth into the world amongst men Such men can speak of the letter of the Word which is as a Cabinet but they can speak little or nothing of Christ in the Spirit which is the Pearl in this Cabinet and this is one reason why your hearers are so ignorant and there is so little love to God in the world and love unto our neighbors Now I shal give your hearers one Caution Sect. 4 which is this It is not enough to cal Lord Lord but to have the grace of Christ to inable them to do his wil read Luk. 6.45 46. It is not the hearing of the Common Prayer Book read nor the verbal reading of it your self A form of Prayer only taught by men doth but beat the ayr that wil profit you It may be you may hear it read and be zealous in that and pray and yet remain ignorant in what you hear and in what you pray and your understandings ful of darkness But the Apostle saith He wil pray with the light of the Spirit and that light wil enlighten his understanding that he may edifie others 1 Cor. 14.14 15. And so likewise you may learn to say over the prayers in that book The definition of prayer viz. nay it maybe say over many prayers without the book but this is not prayer herein you are mistaken for prayer consists not in length of words nor in strength of words A true and a comfortable prayer comes from the spirit of grace returns to the spirit again but in the breathings of the Spirit of God into the soul and the souls breathings back again unto God And this is that which the Apostle saith The Spirit it self maketh intercession for us or in us with groanings which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit Rom. 8.26 27. because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the wil of God Now this grace of Christ in prayer comforts every soul that hath it and makes them able in the publick for the Kingdom and it makes them able for their families in private This grace of Christ makes those that are the Ministers of his Gospel sufficient and able in the newness of the Spirit to bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7.4 6. Now I know that you that are readers and hearers of the Common Prayer Book and of those imitating preaching Ministers which can preach but little or nothing at all of the mystery of Christ and of the unsearchable riches of the sweet grace of Jesus Christ but they can speak pleasingly of the history of Christ and of the letter only I know now that you wil plead liberty of conscience to hear and to have this manner of reading and preaching And for my part you should have the liberty of your conscience A people delighting in a litter alministry are sotishly ignorant for the most part of them and ful of segality but I am sorry that your understandings are so dark that you are not able to discern the natural artificialness that is in some mens reading and preaching and I am grieved to see that you are not able to discern between the naturalness and the spiritualness of Ministers Some by the principles of nature can preach elegantly and use plausible words and this pleases you wel and this you cry up and magnifie But the spiritualness which some Ministers have from the Spirit of God this you cry down and say it is new light or new wine and with mockings say these men are ful of new light or with a jeer as Festus did to Paul saying Too much of this learning makes men mad And thus natural parts are advanced and true Ministers of the Gospel discountenanced as you may read Acts 2.13 15 16 17. Acts 26.24 25. 1 King 22.26 27. Mat. 27.63 Sect. 5 Now I shal speak a word in the behalf of those Ministers which are made able by the grace of the Gospel of God as Paul was such Ministers have the mystery of God manifest in the flesh revealed unto them by the spirit of God They are ful likewise of knowledg of the mystery of Christ in God and God in Christ and Christ who is God and the new man dwelling in the Saints now this is a glorious mystery read John 17.21 23 24. Eph. 4.23 24. 2 Cor. 6.16 Now such Ministers are made able by the gift of grace and the effectual working of the power of God that they may preach the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ unto a poor soul A ministry built on Christ doth administer grace to the hearts of the people now such Ministers have the secrets of the Lord revealed unto them Psa 25.14 And they do declare unto all the world the mystery which hath been hid in God from the begining of the world but now in these last times it shal be made known by the Church of Christ the manifold wisdom and love of God in his eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness and access with confidence that we shal be filled with all the fulness of God And thus the true Ministers of Christ are furnished from God to speak the things of God Evangelically and to speak spiritually what they hear and see of Jesus Christ and this you may read at large Eph. 3.3 the whole Chapter And so likewise every poor member of Christ is compleat in Christ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily and of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Col. 2.9 10. Joh. 1.16 17. Now if the Lord would be pleased to let this grace come down from above as an overflowing stream of love into our Land it would heal our breaches it would move the Kings heart to be easie to be intreated by the Parliament for the good and peace of his subjects that they might enjoy their own with quietness and the freedom of free subjects though he as a King lost something which is his own to purchase peace for his people and then he would be as a nursing Father unto his people which I desire to see all this a tender-hearted father doth for the good of his child he wil part with much of his own because he loves his child And this grace must move the Parliament if they be like unto a tender-hearted father Now those that are like unto a tender father If they see any one lie under a burden though it be but light they go speedily they make no delays in taking off
he wil hang upon every thing to save himself so the Iews for the most part did hang upon their own performances and so the Pharisees in Christs time and so to this very very day as for instance in Isa 58.3 Wherefore have we fasted and done so much say they and thou seest not wherefore have we afflicted our soul and thou takest no knowledg of us Now the Lords answer is this These be but your bodily exercises and wil profit you but little It is not a form of godliness but the powerfulness of Gods Spirit in you and that must teach you to profit Isa 48.17 Now in the next place you have the Lords description of these outside professors in these words Yet they seek me dayly and delight to know my ways they ask of me the ordinances of justice they take delight in approaching to God Isa 58.2 Now they reply from this in these words Wherefore have we humbled our selves and prayed why saith the Lord your performances which you have woven are but as the spiders web which shal not be garments to cover you for you are like unto the spider that leans upon his house but it shal not stand neither shal you cover your selves with your own works Isa 59.6 compared with Iob 8.13 14 15. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me saith the Lord when you have not faith and love in your inward parts I delight not in your vain repetitions and luke-warm discourse it is an abomination unto me saith the Lord because they are your Idols or a false Christ of your own making if Christ the Son of God be not all in all in the heart of a man or woman then the heart is ful of Idols and false Christs Isa 44.16 17. So the most part of the world are ful of heart Idolatry and false Christs Beware of Covetousness Sect. 3 which is Idolatry Eph. 5.5 And I wil say to my soul soul thou hast much goods take thy rest Luk. 12.19 now here is a false Christ For there is no rest but in Christ Psa 116.7 Now it is a good thing to throw down outward Idolatry and Superstition but in the mean time if our hearts be as Temples ful of Idols and of false Christs what have we done Is not this that which the Lord complains of and cals it an abomination unto him and saith he is weary of their performances because they bring them and their prayers and their civil walking and their good meaning unto him and leave Christ behind them Therefore saith the Lord When ye spread forth your hands I wil hide mine eyes from you yea when ye make many prayers I wil not hear you that is I wil not regard you Isa 1.11 12 13 14 15. CHAP. III. The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. Lev. 10.1 2. Rev. 8.3 4. Prov. 15.8 Mark 11.13 Rev. 22.2 Gen. 3.7 Ezek. 16.8 Mark 15.16 24. Joh. 6.63 Ezek. 36.22 Rom. 8.26 Mark 10.17 18 19 20 21. Joh. 14.6 Joh. 4.23 24. Joh. 1.4 5. Rev. 3.7 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 2 Cor. 3.6 Jam. 3.10 13 14 15 16. Gal. 5.22 23. 2 Tim. 1.7 Joh. 5.39 40 41 42 43 44. compared with Joh. 12.42 43. Psa 50.19 20 21 22. Mat. 5.17 Mat. 9.3 4. Luk. 7.33 34. Mat. 12.24 25. Joh. 5.16 18. Joh. 9.16 Joh. 18.30 Joh. 11.47 48. Joh. 12.19 Joh. 15.18 19 20. Joh. 18.30 31. Mark 15.8 9 10 11 12 13. Joh. 19.14 15 16. Joh. 5.39 46 47. Jer. 23.21 Jer. 14.12 13 14. Acts 24.2 5 6. Acts 19.23 24 25 26. Acts 17.18 19 20. Gen. 9.22 23 24 25. Acts 22.22 23 24 25. Revelation 17.7 9 12 13 14 15. 2 Thessalonians 2.3 4 7 8 9 10 11. Zachariah 2.7 Zachariah 1.19 20 21. Acts 26.11.22.3 4 5. Acts 22.3 4 5. Acts 26.9 10 11. Acts 8.3 4. Exod. 7.10 11 12. 1 Kings 18.21 22 23 24 25.38 Leviticus 9.24 Ieremiah 14.12 13 14 15 16. Ezekiel 13.10 11. Ier. 6.13 14. Zach. 10.2 3. Jer. 23.28 31 32. Mat. 24.24 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5. Phil. 1.15 16. Act. 4.20 2 Cor. 4.13 Phil. 3.2 18 19. 3 Joh. 9 10 11. Psa 15.3 Luk. 11.35 NOw to give you the reason of what hath been said of the Pharisee or outside professor Sect. 1 is this God the Father wil not accept of any thing out of Christ his Son or besides Christ instance in Nadab and Abihu which took fire but not from the Altar and so offered strange fire And there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them and they dyed before the Lord Lev. 10.1 2. Secondly Christ is that golden Censer in which the prayers of the Saints are Thirdly Christ as God is that golden Altar upon which the prayers of the Saints are offered Fourthly Christ is the first and the only accepted with God and hath in himself much incense and in him are all the prayers of the Saints acceptable and sweet before God and by him alone are all the prayers of the Saints offered up to God as a sweet smelling savor Rev. 8.3 4. Now it is otherwise with a Pharisee or an outside Christian for they come to God alone by themselves and bring their prayers and performances and good meanings to God without Christ and leave Iesus Christ behind them and so they offer strange fire as Nadab and Abihu did And so likewise they have no golden censer for their prayers nor sweet incense to offer with their prayers nor any to offer their prayers upon the golden Altar but themselves for they know not Iesus Christ whose place it is to offer up prayers to God for he is the only accepted of God and if they seem to know him yet they wil not give him the preeminence in all things instance in those Iews Rom. 9.31 32. But as it were by the works of the Law that is partly by Christ and partly by their own works They would come to God but to come to God without Iesus Christ is as if the stubble should come to the flaming fire to be agreed and to come to God with a half Christ or to be halfes with Christ is plain Popery for it is to deny Iesus Christ the preeminence in all things as you may read in Col. 1.15 16 17 18 19. And thus they foolishly strive to be something of themselves with Christ in all things that they do and Christ not to be all in all things for them but themselves as it were to do something of themselves and so their prayers become as vain babling as Christ speaks Mat. 6.7 for Christ wil be all in all things to a man or else he wil be nothing at all to a man and then as Solomon saith The prayers of such a man and all things that he doth are an abomination to the Lord but the prayers of the upright are his delight Prov. 15.8 because he sees the Son of his delight to be all in them Sect. 2 Now I shal make
have not found Iesus Christ there It is a great mistake and the most in our days are subject to this mistake They think the meer having of the letter of the Scripture is sufficient for them to have eternal life so in some sort they become Idolaters even with the Scriptures themselves What is the Scripture to thee if thou mistake it In them ye think ye have eternal life but thy darkness comprehendeth not the light that shines in them as you may read in the Gospel of John 1.4 5. For what is the body without a soul Or what is the Scriptures to thee if thou hast not the key of David to open and unfold them unto thee Rev. 3.7 Or what is the Word to thee if thou hast not the Spirit of God by which it was given to open the mystery unto thee that is in it and then that Spirit wil teach thee to profit by the Word and wil instruct the in righteousness 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. And thou canst not take liberty to sin as the great out-cry goes now in our days but so much for that Mistake me not my advice is to account it a very great mercy to have the Word of God amongst us but ten thousand times a greater mercy to have the Spirit of the Word among us our Teachers and then that Spirit would heal our divisions and shed his love abroad in our hearts and then we should not bite and devour one another as we do and this is the crown of Pauls rejoycing to be made an able Minister not of the letter but of the Spirit for the Spirit giveth life and worketh love in our hearts 2 Cor. 3.6 O Lord Sect. 5 how little of thy sweet and peaceable Spirit is abroad in the world amongst Ministers and people if we consider the bitter envying and strife in mens hearts which is brought forth in contention and reproaching one another Now I shal speak as S. James speaks My brethren these things ought not so to be James 3.10 13 14 15 16. Is this the Spirit of Iesus Christ No in no wise For the fruit of the Spirit of Christ is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness meekness temperance Gal. 5.22 23. For these gifts the Spirit of God works in the hearts of the Saints as the Apostle speaks For God saith he hath not given us the spirit of fear and of error and heresie and division but of power of love and of a sound mind as you may read 2 Tim. 1.7 You Pharisees saith our Savior you search the Scriptures but ye wil not come to me For how can ye beleeve in me when ye receive honor one of another John 5.39 40 41 42 43 44. compared with John 12.42 43. and you shal find that not to be of the Pharisees simple judgment one shal have no place amongst them no not so much as to be the Beadle of a Ward not to be one in their way is as much as to be put out of their Synagogue as for instance in the blind man And they cast him out Iohn 9.32 33 34. And so you may instance in Lazarus But the Chief Priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death For he was a cause that the people went to meet Iesus Christ as you may read in the Gospel of John Chap. 12. Vers 10 11 18 19. Have not we many chief Priests and Pharisees now in our days as wel as there were in Christs time that sit and consult against their brethren as you may see in John Chap. 11. Vers 47 48. Instance if you wil in Mr Edwards a mighty man in the Scriptures and yet hardly knows Jesus Christ like to Nicodemus Joh. 3.1 4. He is something like to Tertullus too who disputed maliciously against Paul a notable Orator and one that had learned a leaf past grace and could talk nimbly but to little purpose as Mr Edwards doth read Acts 24.1 2 5 6. But now if Mr Edwards had an ear to hear what the Lord saith he would tremble Thou givest thy mouth to evil saith the Lord and thy tongue frameth deceit Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother thou slanderest thine own mothers son Mr Edwards have you not done these things doth not your conscience accuse you yet The Lord wil reprove you Mr Edwards consider whether you have not forgot God read Psa 50.19 20 21 22. Mr Edwards I shal refer you to one place more Have you heard of the doctrine of Iesus Christ Now the doctrine of Christ is First For Information Without me saith Christ ye can do nothing pleasing to God Joh. 15.5 Secondly It is for Exhortation to you Mr Edwards beware of being like to the Scribes and Pharisees Mar. 12.38 which neither loved Christ nor his followers Mistake me not I am no favorer of Sectaries yet I can with patience look upon them til God doth change their hearts In the third place I advise you not to be like an unskilful man to pluck up the wheat in stead of tares And in the fourth place Beware of being like unto the Scribes and Pharisees in loving to be chief and to have the uppermost places and to have domination and beware that you be not like the Pharisees and Lawyers that lode men with burdens grievous to be born and for a pretence make long prayers and so devour widows houses that is you oppress the weak and poor by your power and self-seeking Read if you please Mark 12.38 39 40. and Luke 11.44 45 46. Master Edwards be not angry with me for quoting these Scriptures unto you for they are the words of our Savior to the Pharisees and to the Lawyers and they were as wise men as your self Mr Edwards and as zealous read Joh. 5.16 17 18. and yet they made no conscience in seeking to kil Jesus Christ as you do not under the name of Sectaries to kil the Saints in their good name and in their reputation by your reproaches which you lay upon them and then you cal for the Magistrate to punish them and imprison them But God hath given the Parliament wisdom above such spirits as you are Mr Edwards for to restrain you or else what is it that you would not do and so the chief Priests and Pharisees likewise were very skilful in clothing Jesus Christ with a filthy garment of their reproaches and then they made the people out of love with him and then Barabbas must be let loose and Christ must go to suffer As for instance in their reproaching of Christ The first is this They thought Christ was come to destroy the Law Mat. 5.17 The second is this They said Christ was a Blasphemer Mat. 9.3 4. The third is this They said Jesus Christ was a gluttonous man a wine-bibber and did resort to ungodly men and to sinners Luk. 7.33 34. In the fourth place They said that Christ was a Conjuror This fellow say they doth cast out devils by
great sinner Blessed saith he be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Christ is a Saints spiritual magazine for free grace but if I speak of the things I shal have the name of Independent or Antinomian put upon me which is to me a smal thing In the next place Sect. 3 a true Beleever is the only thankful man Blessed be God saith Paul for his free grace Secondly The man in Christ is the most able of all men for to try the doctrines that men bring whether they be of God or no for a man in Christ is blessed with spiritual blessings in Christ and he tries the doctrines of men whether there be any spirituality in them or no because he himself is exercised therein day and night Psa 1.2 Thirdly A true Beleever in Christ is able to declare the truth to others and that out of experience Come saith David I wil tel you what God hath done for my soul or in my soul Psa 66.16 Here you may see the ability and the authority of the members of Christ which is the Church of Christ Now for the abilities of the Saints there are degrees some more able to try the doctrines of men and some less able and so some are more able to declare the truths of God to others and some are less able as it pleaseth God to bestow his gifts to men Now the reason or ground why or how they come to be thus able Ans They are built upon Christ a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ read 1 Pet. 2.5 And so likewise they have that unction from the holy One that is from God in Christ and that abideth in them and teacheth them above all the teaching of men read 1 Joh. 2.20 27. and by that they come to know the mind of God in Christ 1 Cor. 2.16 And so it comes to pass now in our days that there is a beginning to fulfil the promise which hath been spoken of long ago I wil saith God in the last days pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your young men and your maidens shal be able to declare the Truths of Jesus Christ to all that are about them Act. 2.17 18. Joel 2.28 It may be to more profit then those that are called their Teachers and at this the world is angry and says that boys and girles now adays are become wiser then their Teachers It pleased God to instruct Timothy from a child to know the holy Scriptures and to know the mind of God in Christ therein 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. when the old zealous Nicodemus's know but little of God and nothing of Christ though they have the holy Scriptures before them read Ioh. 3.2 3 4. But out of the mouth of babes and sucklings God doth perfect his praise and they for the most part speak so as though they had by experience tasted of the sweetness of the grace of God in Christ read Mat. 21.16 Psa 8.2 Now by these few lines you may take notice That none but those that know the voyce of Christ whether young or old are able to try the doctrines of those that say they are the Ministers of the Gospel Secondly All those that are thus inabled have a divine right and authority to try the doctrines of men The Church hath liberty from God to try their Officers before they trust them Prove all things hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 Secondly Beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 John Chap. 4. Vers 1. Thirdly The Church ought to admonish their Pastor and their Officers for the shepherd may err as wel as the sheep may go astray Therefore saith the Apostle to the Church of the Colossians Bid Archippus take heed to his ministry Col. 4.17 I shal now in the next place Sect. 4 crave leave to speak a word or two for the liberty of the subjects of the Kingdom of Christ I mean the Church of Christ which doth consist of beleeving men women I desire that they did know the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free then they would not gladly suffer men to bring them into bondage and devour them then they would not be glad of men that do exalt themselves and so intangle them with a yoke of bondage but you that beleeve stand fast in the liberty of Christ and for the liberty of Christ with meekness of spirit Gal. 5.1 2 Cor. 11.19 20. And beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit and let no man beguile you of your liberty nor of any part of it but hold fast Christ your head from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Col. 2.8 18 19. And consider those that you have given power to rule amongst you I mean your Ministers and your Church-Officers for they are as servants to the Church but it is an honorable service if they rule wel but beware they do not rule over you with constraint read 1 Pet. 5.2 and with a vast and unlimited power and then put the name of Divine Right upon it and so by that means they come to over-power the Church which called them only to advise The Ministers and Church Officers have not power as of themselves but the Church giveth them power and hath power over them even to put them out from amongst them if they walk disorderly as some in our days have done When ye are come together saith the Apostle to the Church of the Corinthians put away from among your selves that wicked person and if that wicked person then by the same power the Church may put away from among them either Minister or Church-Officers if they walk contrary to sound doctrine 1 Cor. 5.4 12 13. The Bishops of late memory pleaded a Divine Right for what they did and so they made fools of men and women they made fools of women in causing them to come covered with white vails through the streets to be churched as they cal it and they made fools both of young men and of old in making them to sit bare-headed an hour or two together to hear their divine Service as they cal it and they durst not be covered in their unsanctified presence And so likewise they made fools both of men and women in compelling them to come up to the Rails and to fal down upon their knees to receive the Sacrament and this they did for decency and for uniformity as they said and so they made fools of the poor that some of them were fain to sel their pot to them their tithes And is this Divinity Here you may see how these men were subject to err Sect. 5 and are not we
Luke 22.24 25 26. John 13.14 15. Mark 10.42 43 44. The second place of Scripture is that in Peter where the Apostle doth exhort the Elders of the Church or the Ministers of the Church to feed the flock of God gently and not by constraint neither to be as lords over Gods heritage or lordly against them but to be as ensamples to the flock in all humility and love 1 Peter 5.1 2 3. Now I shal desire Sect. 7 with all humility and tenderness of affection to speak a word in season both to Ministers and to the people Live in peace one with another and have fervent love among your selves the which you shal be able to do when God doth shed his love abroad in your hearts and these alone wil heal our divisions and put an end to our strife and this wil be amiable when our eyes are opened For which consider these three places of Scripture The first is this Behold saith the Prophet David how good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwel together in unity It is like the precious ointment It is like the smel of a pleasant field Psa 133.1 2. The second place of Scripture is that of faithful Abraham whose faith wrought by love for Abraham said unto Lot Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee and between my herdmen and thy herdmen for we be brethren Gen. 13.8 Now those that would have some speedy course taken against their brethren and so put them to grief are not like unto faithful Abraham but they are like Esau against Jacob and in this they are like the Pharisees against Jesus Christ The third place of Scripture is this concerning Joseph who was a type of Christ Joseph gave gifts to all his brethren but to Benjamin he gave double God gave large gifts unto Joseph and that was the ground why his brethren hated him and called him dreamer as you may read and so they fought to slay him Take heed ye sons of Jacob do not think evil against Joseph nor against Benjamin but if there be any amongst you that is like unto Reuben hearken to him for Reuben would have preserved Joseph from the rage of his brethren but he could not yet consider once more Joseph hath his Benjamin and Jesus Christ hath his Benjamins and loves them and hath ingraven them upon the palms of his hands Isa 49.15 16. Take heed ye sons of Jacob what ye do against your brethren and be not like unto the world which cry out for some speedy course to be taken for the suppressing of their brethren but it is under the name of Sectaries and so they cry out that they may be declared against and then they may have something to proceed against them for But I wil tel you what I think that many of those that are so far out of your affections are as Benjamin when his father Jacob named him sons of the right hand Benjamins that Jesus Christ loves and wil rejoyce over them to do them good Jer. 32.40 41. Now you that think you do God service when you put your brethren to grief and speak harshly against them because they are not of the same mind with you Consider what Jacob said Joseph is not and Simeon is not and now ye wil take Benjamin away I cannot bear this all these things are against me saith Jacob unto his sons The irons have entred into Joseph sides in the Prelates time and Simeon was bound up in prison and wil you now take Benjamin from me Gen. 42.36 and send him into a far Country or else put him to grief at home Consider Lot he being in Sodom it could not be destroyed for his sake whilest he was there And so likewise consider whether your zeal be according to knowledg as the Apostle speaks Rom. 10.1 2 3. And consider Pauls being in the ship all the mens lives were preserved for his sake Acts 27.22 23 24. These be great mysteries as the Apostle speaks Eph. 5.32 But I speak concerning Christ and his Church Christ loves his Redeemed ones one as wel as another and the world is blessed for their sakes But I am sorry to see them that do profess themselves to be knowing men and yet know not so much as Laban did concerning Jacob Laban said he had learned by experience that the Lord had blessed him for Jacobs sake And Laban did intreat Iacob to abide with him and his family and he should have contentment and respect Gen. 30.27 But now ye sons of Iacob you are worse then Laban for you evilly intreat your brethren and speak harshly of them and the Kingdom is too little to hold you both nay say some the Kingdom must be rid of them before all things can be wel and is this the way to make all things wel Wil this please Iacob nay wil not this displease Jesus Christ to see brethren of one profession in a Kingdom in a Family to bite at one another to strike at one another and the one laboring to thrust the other out of the Kingdom or else shut him up in a pinfold at home and make all men to dislike him and to speak evil of him as Iacobs sons did of Ioseph Object But now I know that you wil object and say That you do not mean any hurt or speak any evil against them as they are brethren But as they are Sectaries Sol. and as they are Troublers of the STATE and wil not be conformable to our GOVERNMENT and for this we ought to deal roughly with them But now let me speak a word unto you that are of this mind and I shal tel you that you are like to Josephs brethren for they did not hate their brother as he was their brother but because he did something or said something that they did not like of and so they called him Dreamer And they said one to another Behold this dreamer cometh Come now therefore and let us slay him Gen. 37.19 20 21 22. Read the whole Chapter if you please Now Reuben being one of the brothers and amongst them he said Let us not kil him let us shed no blood Take notice of one thing that is remarkable here There may be some among you that may be gentle towards their brethren when they see the anguish of their soul beseeching you to hear them but you wil not There may be some remaining among you like unto Reuben in the day of your distress that may put you in mind of all your hard dealing and bitter words which you have used against your brethren And this Reuben put his brethren in mind and spake unto them saying Spake I not unto you saying Do not sin against the Child and ye would not hear therefore saith Reuben all this distress is come upon us Gen. 42.21 22. This Joseph was one of the sons of Jacob and a servant of Jesus Christ therefore his love continueth unto his brethren and he speaks
concerning hell as it is a prison for sin and sinners and so ariseth a false fear or a slavish fear and so no true knowledg of God nor of Jesus Christ who is the Law of God and he makes sin to become exceeding sinful Romans 7. verses 12 13 14 22. None but Christ can forgive sin nor none but the Spirit of Christ can convince of sin John 16.7 8 9. Our learned make large confessions of sin and so almost all other men do or may do for to make a confession of sin by roat and in a customary way and so to think by confession of sin they have done enough to get the pardon of sin and this the Papists do but this will not profit neither them nor us And do not the most of men do this Mistake me not I speak not against confession of sin to God for a right confession of sin to God turns to the praise of his free-grace who hath forgiven our sins before we confess them and hath blotted out our sins for ever from before his face and will not bear them in his minde any more Read that remarkable story of David Psalm 103. read the whole Psalm and so Rom. 5.8 Isai 43.25 The end of my speech is against the formality that is in the confession of sin by the most of our learned and others and how few there be that make a right confession of sin as from the cross of Jesus Christ believing the blotting out of their sin and Christ taking it out of the way and nailing it to his cross Colos 2.13 14 15. The unbelieving men Ministers as well as others may make a very specious confession of sin for matter of form and yet have neither faith in God nor love to God nor joy in the holy Ghost But the believing men Ministers as well as others they are the most able men for to make confession of sin because they have faith towards God and love to God and joy in the holy Ghost As for instance Though I have lien among the pots saith the believing man yet I shall be as white as snow in Salmon I beleeve this therefore have I spoken Psalm 68.13 14. 2 Cor. 4.13 I am black saith the believing man or woman but yet comely through that comeliness which Christ hath put upon me therefore my soul is in love with Jesus Christ Cant. 1.3 5. Ezek. 16.14 So likewise the true believing Christian can make a confession of sin rejoycingly and with great joy seeing the victory and the spoiling of the powres of sin and darkness by the divine nature of Jesus Christ read 2 Peter 1.3 4. Which threw down the humane nature of Christ and bruised it nay it pleased the Lord and he put it to greif and pain and made it an offering for sin that he might see his seed by the travel of his soul and he is fully satisfied and the pleasure of the Lord is in him and upon all those which are his seed and grow up in him read Isai 53.6 10 11. And this Christ as God did and does crucifie sin and the old man every day triumphing over them is it or in himself Colos 2.15 And is not this matter of great joy to a pooâ— soul that carries about in his body every day the dying of the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 4.10 O thou poor soul thou must lose thy self and be taken up by the power of God and thou shal be found in Jesus Christ Phil. 3.8 9 10. Ephes 1.18 19 20 21. Be of gooâ— cheer O thou poor soul for if thou be dead with Christ thou shalt live in eternal glory with Christ and if thou suffer persecution either from the tongue or from the hand with Christ or for Christ thou shalt reign with Christ 2 Tim. 2.11 12. O thou poor soul if Christ hath inabled thee for to make such a confession of sin in faith thou hast cause to walk rejoycingly Now here will arise two objections The first is this Sect. 8 You will object and say Object there needs no confession of sin now by your discourse and so we shall forget that we are sinners and continue in our sins and live as we list for there is one that hath done all for us we need to do nothing I answer Sol. It is not a vain repeating of sin as the Pharisee and the Heathen do Matth. 6.7 and as most people do but it is a forsaking of sin as the man in Christ does 2 Tim. 2.19 It is not a bare confession of sin in words but it is a turning from sin to God and this is the work of Christ onely and none of thine O man Turn me O Lord saith Ephraim for I cannot turn my self Jere. 31.18 We that are dead to sin saith the Apostle and risen again with Christ we cannot live any longer therein because grace doth abound Rom. 6.1 2. Now you will ask in the next place Object what those must do that are said to make a confession of sin with great joy nay rejoycingly which is a thing that you seldom hear of in our days for we are taught to mourn and to shed tears as it were to wash away our sin that is in part Romans 9.32 I shall answer your question Sol. and tell you what those do that make a confession of sin rejoycingly they fight against sin and they fight against Antichrist which is very much amongst us and they fight against the world and I will tell you with what weapons they fight with all the first weapon is the sheild of Faith by which they are able for to quench all the fiery darts of the devil and wicked men the second weapon is the helmet of salvation which shall cover men in the day of battel the third weapon is the sword of the spirit and that is Jesus Christ the living Word of God which will subdue all things unto himself And is not this matter of great joy Read those two remarkable Scriptures Ephes 6.13 14 15 16 17. 2 Cor. 10.4 5. But you will object and say Object that I exclude all outward sorrow for sin But I say no by no means Sol. if it be godly sorrow for godly sorrow proceedeth from a right apprehension of the love of God in slaying of sin with the sword of his mouth and this sword is Jesus Christ the living Word of God Read Revel 19.13 14 15 16 20 21. Heb. 4.12 13. The goodness of God leadeth men to repentance and makes a man flie from sin How shall I saith Joseph do this sin against my good God Rom. 2.4 Gen. 39.8 9. Now this is the root that godly sorrow grows upon and is not to be repented of but fleshly and carnal sorrow causeth or worketh death but godly sorrow causeth hatred against sin and love to God and is not this a great cause for to walk rejoycingly Read that remarkable Scripture 2 Cor. 7.8 9 10 11. One word more and so conclude It is
of is Mr Bacon a man of worth if some amongst us had ears to hear and eyes to see But there are some nay many both in London and in the Country to whom he is approved both in their hearts and consciences to be an able Minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and one that is Evangelical and spiritual and one that is made able by the Spirit of Christ to give a good Exposition of the holy Word of God which is a strengthening of the feeble knees and the hands that hang down and this is his glory and joy as Paul said of the Church of the Thessalonians read 1 Thes 2.19 20. And this is his crown let him go where he wil. But there are some that are like the blind man as you may read in Mark 8.24 that are half-sighted men and they encountred him and cal him babler and a setter forth of strange doctrine or new doctrine that they do not know and it is strange unto them and this was Pauls condition read Acts 17.18 19 20. And so it was with Christ Ioh. 18.19 c. But when Christ doth touch these half-sighted men the second time then they shal see doctrine clearly Mark 8.25 But some do object and say that he is slow of speech and of a slow tongue and so was Moses Lord saith he I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue Exod. 4.10 But if Moses his Lord be with his mouth and the Lords Christ teach him what he shal say for the Lords Aaron can speak well and will be glad in his people and he will be there spokesman I mean God in Christ is and will be with those of a slow tongue when he hath made them like unto Moses and then he will teach them and they shall teach others Exod. 4.12 14 15 16 7.1 2. I desire that I may not be accused of seeking the applause of these men that I have spoken of for the praise of men to me is as a feather upon my sleeve which the wind will blow away but I have had thoughts of their worth and not of theirs onely and so I rest Now you that make your boast of the Law and seem for to be a light and a guide of the blinde and instructers of the foolish and teachers of babes and yet dishonor you the Lord and break the Law of God which you would seem to uphold Rom. 2.17 18 19 20 21 22 23. If ye fulfil the royal Law according to the Scripture then you would love your neighbor as your self James 2.8 But how little of this Law of Faith and Love do you practice among your neighbors if they be not of the same minde which you are Do not you turn away from them with pride and disdain 1 John 3.23 and so begin to speak evil of them James 4.11 under some notion as Antinomian that will have no Law of God to be their rule nor ask for the pardon of sin and live as they list And so you begin to call them Sectaries and say there must be some course taken with them for they are infectious But if you had the Law of Christ in your hearts that would be kinde and suffer long and not envy nor vaunt it self nor be puffed up as some are nor seek her own nor easily be provoked as the most are love thinketh no evil 1 Cor. 13.4 5. And if in any thing ye be contrary minded one to another God must reveal even this unto you and love will suffer long for it Phil. 3.15 But on the contrary side Sect. 6 I my self have heard Master Calamy to the grief of my heart in an open and publike Congregation make these people loathsom by his expressions meaning nay naming these Antinomians or Law-destroyers saying That these people are worse then the Papists for they would but take away the second Commandment and that they are worse then the Prelats for they would but take away the fourth Commandment and that they are worse then the bloody Cavallers that burned Towns and dashed out the brains of men But saith he These men do labor for to dash out the brains of all the Commandments at once or to this effect Now the Caution given with the accusation which is false in reference unto those that lye under this odious name of Antinomian But his Caution was That they should be as wary of them and shun them as they would shun a man that hath the plague and have nothing to do with them And this caused such postures and such jestures and such sighing in many of the hearers that it caused a second grief of heart in me to see it and when they came forth from hearing they fell into scorning and disdaining of the innocent and contemning of the upright But you will object and say Object That I would not have errors nor Sectaries spoken against I answer Sol. I would not have Wheat called Tares nor Tares called Wheat as many men do that judg of Spiritual Truths with carnal reason and so they call truth error and error truth Neither would I have the hearts of the righteous mad sad whom God hath made glad neither would I have the hand of the wicked strengthened Eze. 13.22 Neither would I have the Lambs of Christ to want their food read Joh. 21.15 and then put into a Beats skin and worried with the tongue and bitter words Psal 64.3 Now this is the fruit and the effect of those filthy devil-like names as Antinomian Independent The devil would have no law of God neither would he depend upon God therfore clothe men and women with these names and then they shall be odious but let some take heed lest they be like the accuser of the Brethren which is cast down Revel 12.10 I am perswaded there are many that shall live in Heaven together that do not live in love and peace upon the earth together And this is the issue and the sad effect that those filthy names do produce which are frequent abroad and it is an abomination to the Lord for to sow discord among Brethren Prov. 6.16 17 18 19. If there be any errors abroad or any thing amiss throw your foolish and filthy names aside and preach the Gospel of peace if you can tell how for that onely will bring health and cure and amendment and reveal the truth and bring abundance of peace and truth read Jere. 23.6 7 8. Which will be as the Fathers Commandment and as a loadstone to draw thee up into Christ out of whom thou shalt proceed and be born read Ephes 1.4 5. Gal. 4.19 Isa 66.12 13. 49.22 Christ and a Christian together 23. And Christ who is the Law of God shall be with thee when thou goest and shall lead thee and when thou sleepest he shall keep thee and when thou awakest he shall talk with thee read and consider these Scriptures Psa 32.8 Prov. 6.22 For Christ is a lamp
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
his benefits who hath forgiven thee all thy sins whodoth forgive thee al thy sins he doth continually declare unto thee the forgiveness of all thine iniquities that thou mightest rejoyce before him in the forgiveness of all thy sins for he hath healed all thy diseases and he doth heal all thy diseases and he wil continually heal all thy diseases Therefore thou mayst be of good cheer O my soul for thou mayst and dost swim in rivers of pleasures for evermore Now this river is loving kindness and tender mercies whereof the soul doth drink and is abundantly satisfied and it lives in this river and shal never more thirst after sin read Psa 103.1 read the whole Psalm Now this river is God himself in which the soul doth live and refresh it self as in a fountain of life and it never needs to fear drowning read Rev. 22.1 2 3 4 5. Psa 36.7 8 9. Secondly This Fountain of Israel which is the sweet God himself is the ayr in which the soul doth live and in which the soul doth move and act and hath its being Acts 17.28 And so likewise the soul as a bird doth fly up and down in this ayr admiring of God and praising of God and chirping forth praise unto God in the midst of this heaven and thus the soul doth fly in the midst of the Heaven of God delighting it self in God where it shal abide for evermore read Rev. 14.4 5 6. Now the soul doth wind up its conclusion in giving all honor unto its original All my springs saith the soul are in thee who art the fountain of Israel which is God blessed for evermore read Psa 87.6 7. Psa 68.26 And so much with submission to better judgment about praying for a pardon for sin nay rather a praying for the manifestations of the Spirit and the evidences of the Spirit to be in my heart of that pardon which God hath had ever ready from the foundations of the world and holds it forth unto all men But I Quest saith some poor soul want the Spirits application of this pardon and if he would but keep it close unto my soul or in my soul then it would cause me to rejoyce both in life and at death But the Spirit is free to work where he wil and in whom he wil and to pass by whom he wil and who shal say Why dost thou so unto him Fifthly You are accused of saying That God sees no sin or no sin in you But how is it then that God suffers sin to come into his Creation as an accident he not creating of sin Answ Because he wil bring forth his own defign in manifesting of the glory of his free grace and making out of Christ Secondly There is no equality between Christ and sin or Christ and siners neither hath Christ any accord with sin And what agreement hath Christ the Temple of God with idols which is sin None at all 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. God sees sin contrary unto himself therefore he appears as a consuming fire unto sin and not unto sin only but unto all created forms and beings Heb. 12.18 21 27 29. Heb. 1.10 11 12. 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12 13. And so likewise to siners that is sinful men and women in whom sin hath taken possession and is their present king Now such in their capacity look upon God as a dreadful Judg because they look out of the prison house of sin and think they most dwel with devouring fire and with everlasting burnings And thus God appears unto all that look upon him out of Christ Isai 33.14 But now on the other side Sect. 8 Those that are Baptized with the fire of the Holy Ghest this is their proper heavenly element that they live in and they are like the bush that was all on a flame of fire and was not consumed Exod. 3.2 3 4. Now this fire wil burn stubble and all maner of sinful works of men 1 Cor. 2 11 12 13. But this heavenly fire is nourishment unto that which is of it self 1 Pet. 1.5 7 8. Now these seeing God in Christ see him unchangeably good and the same yesterday and to day and the same for ever Heb. 13.8 Now God is not as sinful dark men judg him to be that is to be made up of love and hatred Fury is not in God Isa 27 4. and wrath and fury and so they stand a far off from him and say that he is an hard Master Now what a mistake is here for God is the only true Good he is loving merciful and just and sin shal not stand neer him but sin shal be bowed down and the siner whose heart is a throne for sin to be his king he shal not stand upright in the judgment of God in Christ Psa 1.4 5. Now sin doth delude a man to think that God is like unto himself read Psa 50.19 20 21. But God is of purer eyes then to behold such evil and to look on iniquity and sin and not to destroy death with his sting Habak 1.13 Heb. 2.14 15. Now I shal speak a word by way of comparison of sin coming in by way of accident and Gods design in suffering of it Now the comparison wil fal infinitly too short But suppose a curious Artificer makes a Watch very curiously but something fals out in a very short time and puts the Watch out of order and this we cal an accident and use to say there is such an accident faln out and hath put the Watch out of order and it doth nothing now but jar and it never goes right until it be taken in pieces and a second Art applied unto it and so new made up again but now if this Artificer could have prevented this accident he would not have suffered this accident to have faln out upon his Watch and spoiled it But it is not so with God for accidents are not against God Nothing done without Gods providence but for God and permited by God to be or not to be and are suffered by God and ordered by him to bring his own designs about Now an accident is in relation to men as not knowing God and so they use that word accident or luck or chance or as some grosly cal it fortune not knowing that God is neer unto that which they cal accident or luck and doth dispose of it and them as shal make most for his own glory As for instance The lying spirit was admited to go into the mouth of the Prophets of Ahab and so Ahab was deluded And so likewise the arrow was ordered that was drawn out of a bow at a venture and was directed to the joynts of the harness of the King of Israel and so he was wounded And so likewise David hasted and ran to meet the Army and put his hand in his bag and took thence a stone and slung it Now David being a type of Christ Revel 22.16 as it is writen
hand of the Gospel moveth the heart of a man to a godly sorrow The goodness and the kindness and mercy of God applyed to the hearts of men that leadeth men forth to a true repentance and a right breaking of heart Now when the love of Jehovah doth break into the heart of a man or woman then the soul doth cry out and say the loving kindness and the goodness of God hath conquered my soul and the Lord draws my soul after him with the cords of love and how then shal I return again to folly seeing Jehovah hath taken hold of my soul with his love Now the rough hand of the Law as it is unskilfully handled by the most of our learned Men that know not Christ handle the law roughly rather hardens the hearts of men and sears them up in their sins then it mollifies and softens the heart because the Law is a strict rule holy jvst and good not given for men to do and live thereby Now the strict rule of the Law in the letter meeting with a crooked siner these two fal to variance as Cain did with Abel Now this carnal siner looks upon the Law as too strict that if he offend in one point he is guilty of all and so lies lyable to a curse for not continuing in all things which are in the book of the Law to do them Now this siner looking upon the Law out of the hand of Christ his heart begins to harden against God and he becomes an enemy against God and is not subject to the Law of God Rom. 8.7 And if it were possible this carnal minded man would destroy both God and his Law for the very same reason that Cain slew his brother 1 Joh. 3.12 And thus a man comes to be seared up in his sins when both he and his minister look upon the Law carnally and not in the hands of Christ as we in our days have many pretenders for the Law and many that rest in the Law and not in Christ and yet make their boast of God and seem to be Teachers of others and yet not able to teach themselves and yet make their boast of the Law and remain carnal in the Gospel and can hardly tel how to speak any thing of Christ Sect. 9 Now these rough handlers of the Law are like unto Esau cuning men of the field men that love red pottage and see no beauty in Jacobs heritage but despise it How can these men apply savory meat unto a poor hungry thirsty soul whom they hate for the blessing wherewith it is blessed in Christ And Esau said in his heart Now Esaus heart being ful of the seed of the serpent he said he would slay his brother Jacob as Herod would have done Christ Now by savory meat I mean the sweetnesses and the refreshings of Christ unto a poor weary soul which these men by experience know not as you may take an instance of the Jews and Pharisees Instance great zealous talkers of the Law of God and the Worship of God Nay they made their boast of God and yet they did not know Jesus Christ though he was present amongst them but dealt roughly with him according as they did see the Law as you may read at large Rom. 2.17 21 23. Gen. 25.27 30 34. 27.41 Iohn 9.13 14 15 16 29. Have not we many now in our days which hold forth the Law as the chief Priests and Pharisees did that is quite out of the hands of Christ and they tel the people they know not the Law but they must beleeve it as they hold it out unto them for the chief Priests and Pharisees told the people in Christs time That the people who know not the Law are cursed And thus the Law did seem to be rough by their unskilful handling of it out of the hands of Christ as we also may do at this day Iohn 7.45 48 49. How the Law in the hand of Christ turns to be Gospel Christ is the living law of God and the onely rule for a Christian and doth the greatest work as for instance Saul in his height of malice when he was going to Damascus the light of Christ did shine round about him and changed his evil heart He did not hear the voyce of thundering and lightning at Mount Sinai but a gentle hand and a soft sweet voyce speaking unto him and saying Saul Saul why persecutest thou me in my members Now Saul was not afrighted out of his wits but said Who art thou Lord and the Lord said I am Iesus whom thou persecutest but thou shalt do so no more for I will make thee a Minister of grace and though Saul trembled yet his heart was possest with love to the Lord and to those that he had persecuted for saith he Lord what wilt thou have me to do for thee and for them that I have so wronged Now this is a Gospel-change Acts 9.3 4 5 6. 26.16 Sect. 10 Now if this work of the Gospel had been wrought in the hearts of those that might have prevented bloodshed or in those that were so exceeding mad to shed the blood that was shed in Guildhal-yard but it seems they were of Sauls minde Men in our times like unto Saul and the chief Priests and Pharisees thinking that they might do many things nay any thing against a man or a woman under the name of Independents or Sectaries that is to put Christ and his members out of their Synagogues and City nay further even to kill Christ in his members or Christ and his members together and in so doing To think that they do God service These things are done and the cause is they neither know God nor Christ these are Christs own words as you may read Acts 26.9 10 11. John 16.2 3. But I am of Stevens minde and shall say Lord lay not this sin to the charge of this City Acts 7.58 59 60. Now the Law being in the hands of Christ and the Spirit of Christ who is the onely blessed God and the efficient cause in changing of that which we call Law into Gospel Thus God in Christ saith unto every soul I am the Lord thy God thou shalt have no other Gods before me Exod. 20.2 3. Now this Law is brought by the Spirit of Christ Christ makes way for himself in the hearts of men into the heart of a man or a woman and there it is planted and ingraven Jere. 31.33 34. and Christ puts in the finger of his sweet Spirit in at the hole of the door of the heart in at the hole of the lock as it were and his Spirit is the key that opens the heart and Christ with his finger puts back all the barrs and bolts that stand between him and the soul and Christ looks into the soul and takes away all drousie distempers and waters the soul and refreshes it with his sweet graces Christ is a sweet Law
and the soul follows him in delight and then the bowels of the soul were moved after its Christ and rose up to open to it s beloved and its hands dropped with myrrhe and my fingers dropped with sweet smelling myrrhe ' which Christ had left for me upon the handles of the lock which he handled Cant. 5.4 5. Now Christ is the Law of God and the Rule of a Christian and he alone opens the heart and plants himself therein and then the soul doth begin to wait upon Christ and attend to hear what Christ speaks as it is plain in the case of Lydia Now she being baptized with the baptism of the holy Ghost she begins to love the servants of Christ and to constrain them in love to abide in her house Psal 40.7 8 9. Acts 16.14 15. Now this is a good president for all you that are rigged Presbyterians and endeavor under the name of Independents or Sectaries to out the servants of Christ out of their own houses nay out of the City if it were possible and it is much ado for a man and his wife to live together if they be not both of one opinion but as for parents and children there must be a separation between them for their opinion and as for the poor hired sersant some men in a Parish it may be out of zeal doth come into his or her Master and Mistriss and solicite them for to turn away their servant because of their opinion it may be for not coming unto their Parish Church or the like My Brethren these things out not so to be for it is believed that these are the servants of Christ which you labor for to put so far from you This is not to be like unto Lydia to constrain them to abide in your houses but like Gaderens to thrust them out of your coasts and so to adde trouble and grief unto a poor soul But now let me speak a word Sect. 11 by way of a second Use unto thee Vse 2 O man or woman that art thus troubled The servant must be as the Lord is it was even so with Christ but comfort thy self with this O thou poor soul The Lord knows how to deliver thee and before thou call the Lord will answer thee even the secret pantings and the inward struglings and the lifting up of thy heart unto God and as Christ said so mayest thou say Father I thank thee that thou hearest my inward groanings and complaints I know that thou hearest me always and seest me and art ever present with me Iohn 11.41 42. Now some will object and say Object That they are under great temptations A sad complaint of a troubled soul and extream heavy burdens and mighty difficulties and in many wants sorrows griefs and pains do possess them day and night And the light of Gods countenance is hid from them and they want the assurance of his love and favor and new troubles do arise every day and overtake them and they are dejected in themselves and either forsaken or forgotten of God and rejected of the world and as for their part they cannot say as Christ said Father I thank thee that thou hearest me I know that thou hearest me always Christ indeed said so And as for my part in my troubles I call upon God and I know that he hears me and sees me and stands by me and looks upon me in all my miseries but yet he doth not deliver me out of my troubles but lets them lye heavy upon me still And I see likewise That all things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked to the good and the clean and to the unclean to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath Yet for all this I do not say It is in vain to serve God or what profit is it that I have to keep his ordinances Though I see they that tempt God are even delivered Mal. 3.14 15. But as for my part I am not let alone so long as to have time for to swallow down my spittle but one trouble is in the neck of another upon me Job 7.19 And God stands by me The reasoning of a troubled soul with God and looks upon me in all my miseries and I know that he is a pitiful heavenly Father Now this is that which I wonder at and am astonished to see a natural earthly Father as soon as he sees his poor childe in misery he indeavors to help him out of it presently Now I know that God is a tender-hearted Father and is able for to help his poor children out of all their troubles in a moment but he suffers them to lye among the grimy pots and the thorns a long time it may be all their life time Psal 68.13 So that I may say as Job said Why hast thou set me as a mark to be shot against so that I am a burden to my self Job 7.20 Alass poor soul I shall answer thee Thou speakest out of the anguish of thy own spirit and out of the bitterness of thy own soul as Job did Job 7.11 Sect. 12 Now I shall answer these objections Answ which thou hast made four several ways and the first is by a comfortable perswasion Alass poor soul thou hast made a pitiful complaint not knowing the minde and love of thy heavenly Father in his dealings towards thee thou judgest according to thy sense and so indeed thy outward miseries seem grievous And this was the Churches fault in the Prophet Isaiahs time And Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Isai 49.14 Hearken now Christs is neer in troubles to help his that they faint not O poor soul and behold thy God in Christ bids thee break forth into singing for he hath graven thee upon the palms of his hands and thou art continually in his eye and his mercy is round about thee when thou art afflicted he stands but behinde the curtain though thou think he is far off yet he is there to be thy protector Isai 49.13 15 16. And he will step into thee and acquaint thee with his minde and dealings towards thee and when this is thou shalt be a delightsome land or as a fragrant Garden full of sweet smells unto thy God Mal. 3.12 Now it is Gods minde and will that thou shalt suffer for Christ sakes as well as to beleeve on him that thou mayest be like unto him Phil. 1.29 For he doth teach his Disciples to pray Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Matth. 6.10 And it was his own practice O father saith he if thou be willing remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thine be done Luke 22.42 But for this cause came I unto this hour Father glorifie thy Name John 12.27 28. Now let me tell thee
ignorantly Come you old men which consented and suffered your men to go forth in such multitudes to Westminster and after that to Guildhal it might have produced sad things but God prevented it even as sad things All men by nature like unto Saul as Saul accused himself of unto the Lord Lord saith he They know that I imprisoned and beat in every Synagogue them that beleeved on thee and when the blood of thy Martyr Steven was shed I also was standing by and consenting unto his death and kept the rayment of them that slew him And I gave my voice against those that did speak of the Name of Jesus and when they were put to death I gave my consent and when they were to be persecuted or any did but speak evil of them I also gave my vote against them I ask Quest is not this the temper of a great many in our Kingdom and City read Acts 22.19 20. 26.10 11. I am perswaded that we have many Aldermen and Common-Councel men and others That are good religious men yet it is possible that good men may do unworthy actions As for instance Instance Joshua was a good man Good men sometimes may do bad actions as Joshua did Numb 11.28 29. and the servant of Moses and one of his young men now he hearing another young man complaining to Moses of Eldad and Medad that did prophesie in the Camp Joshua he seconds him and answered and said My lord Moses forbid them that they may not prophesie Now this was an unworthy action of Joshua as you may see by the reproof that Moses gave him read Numbers 11. verses 26 27 28 29. Now had we not a whole Councel that did envy against such men as did prophesie or preach or speak call it what you will Witness our City Remonstrance which did request That they might have something against such people that they might proceed against them as Sectaries or factious persons and so stop their mouths and compel them and so likewise our young men and other good men amongst them meeting at Guildhal many days together they sotishly reviled those that were good Christians and the sotish young men ignorantly cryed down with these Sectaries down with these Independents and so thrusting them up and down the Hall and the yard with their Elbows and Shoulders And this was the simple behavior and gross ignorance with their proud mockings and secret whisperings and outward scornings and contempt of those that are good Christians and this was done by many or the most in that multitude as also now at this day under the name of Sectaries as he that hath eyes in his head may see And this did prove but of bad consequence at Guildhal which made those wounds that are not healed yet A word to the Citizens whom I love to the grief of some But shall I point you unto the word of the Lord and consider well of it My people saith God have been lost sheep their shepherds have caused them to erre or to go astray If God turn you you shall see a fountain of grace to wash away your spots Jere. 50.6 But yet for all this turn not away from the Lord but turn to the Lord with all your hearts nay rather the Lord will turn your hearts and cause you to see a fountain of grace open to wash off all your spots O it is a comfortable grace it will make you new men it will purge your corrupt mindes it will make you love them that formerly you did hate it will cause you sweetly to rejoyce in Christ Jesus O it is a soveraign Grace it will heal you as it did Paul It may be you did what you did ignorantly in unbelief A man may be very zealous and yet have neither faith nor love yet be of good cheer for it was Pauls condition I saith he before I had this grace was a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious and yet I was very zealous for the worship of God in my way and yet I had neither faith in Christ nor love to his people But when this abundant grace this translating grace came into my heart then I that thought my self to be righteous did see my self to be the chiefest of sinners And when this sweet grace and mercy came I was and am a pattern to shew forth the long-suffering of God to me and I also am taught of the Spirit of Christ to give forth most excellent reports of this grace and mercy saith Paul An outward shew may seem good and yet not profit No true ground to rejoyce in but onely in Christ spiritual because this mercy endureth for ever It is not the having of an outward Church-fellowship nor the being a member of a visible Church nor any external priviledges whatsoever that is a sufficient ground for the soul to rejoyce in but onely the circumcision of the heart in the Spirit and to worship God in the Spirit and to rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh but in the appearance of Christ alone in the Spirit read these three Scriptures 1 Tim. 1.12 13 14 15 16 17. Rom. 2.29 Phil. 3.3 4 5 6. O this grace of God is a soveraign grace it healed Zacheus Art thou an oppressor of the poor hast thou plundered the poor Christians out of spight against Jesus Christ these have been plundering times But I will tell thee if thou hadst but the grace of Christ in thy heart it will make thee like Zacheus Behold Lord saith he the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation or by oppression I restore him four fold for it read Luke 19.5 8 9. O you ignorant Sect. 8 and sotish ones of our times The grace of Jesus Christ is a healing grace it will heal a bloody issue though a particular person or a whole Kingdom have had a bloody issue twelve yeers and have spent all their hope and all their wit and all their living upon natural policy and have fastened their hope upon the King and upon the Parliament and Army Why none of these can heal this bloody issue but onely the grace of Jesus Christ alone O poor England and Ireland that have had this bloody issue seven yeers Nothing but the grace of Christ will heal England Ireland and yet uncured Your Physitians cannot heal you though you spend all nothing but the grace of Jesus Christ can heal you You have not as yet touched the hem of Christ garment that vertue may come out from him and stench your bloody issue and heal you Luke 8.43 44 45 46. We have all looked for the King and the Parliament and the Army to be our Physitians to heal us but our Physitians have let the Kingdom blood but the grace of Christ alone will heal us Therefore let us pray to God for to fill the Kings heart
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
mistake not your self in the application of these few lines for these are perilous times for some indeed preach Christ out of envy and strife and those that preach Christ thus have it by Art and not by Grace Phil. 1.15 16. And thus a natural carnal man may preach Christ having the common gifts of the Spirit which are common to all men as the Arts and the Tongues which may be learned at Oxford and then the help of a great Library and a good pen and sit at it all the week and then a good memory and then a fluent tongue then such a man may talk of Christ an hour or two together but I suppose this is not preaching if it be we have great store of it now in our days And those men that so preach are subject to speak evil of those that preach Christ out of good wil To preach Christ out of good wil is a saving gift And such men cannot but speak the things which they have seen and heard Acts 4.20 Now true preaching is to beleeve We having the same spirit of faith saith the Apostle therefore we speak 2 Cor. 4.13 though we be evil spoken of and upbraided with new doctrine and with a new light M. Edwards are not you guilty of this clamor and I fear others besides you are But I remember a caution that the Apostle gave to the Philippians Beware of evil workers saith he who boast of the letter and of the outsides of Religion and yet are enemies to Christ for they mind earthly things Phil. 3.2 18 19. as profit and preeminence M. Edwards I pray you be not like unto Diotrephes who loveth to have the preeminence among them receiveth us not saith the Apostle But when I come saith the Apostle I wil remember his deeds which he doth prating against us with malicious words and not content therewith neither doth he himself receive the brethren but speaketh evil of them and forbiddeth them that would receive them and casteth them out of the Church read 3. Epistle of Joh. 9 10 11. M. Edwards I shal take leave of you now I shal speak of you again only I shal present you with two cautions The first is Follow not that which is evil and take not up a reproach against your neighbor to do him harm Psa 15.3 The second is Take heed that the light which is in you be not darkness Luke 11.35 CHAP. IV. The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. Rev. 2.17.2.2 Cant. 2.8 John 10.4 5 27. 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Ioh. 14.10 11 Ioh. 17.21 22 23 14. Eph. 1.3 c. Lu. 7.44 c. Psa 1.2 Psa 66.16 1 Pet. 2.5 Joh. 2.20 27. Act. 2.17 18. Joel 2.28 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Joh. 3.2 3 4. Mat. 21.16 Psa 8.2 1 Thes 5.21 1 Joh. 4.1 Col. 4.17 Gal. 5.1 2 Cor. 11.19 20. Colos 2.18 19. 1 Pet. 5.2 1 Cor. 5.4 12 13. Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.13 Mark 9.35 1 Cor. 7.23 Prov. 6.16 19. Rom. 14.5.23 1 Thes 2.7 8. 2 Cor. 1.24 Act. 15.5 10. Joh. 11.47 48. Luke 22.24 25 26. Iohn 13.15 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. Psal 133.1 2. Gen. 13.8 Isa 49.15 16. Ier. 32.40 41. Gen. 42.36 Acts 27.22 23 24. Eph. 5.32 Gen. 30.27 Gen. 37.19 20 21 22. Gen. 42.21 22. Gen. 45.3 4 5. Gen. 50.20 Gen. 45.27 28. Mat. 23.24 25. Luke 17.20 Mat. 23.23 Ier. 7.4 Mat. 25.8 10 11 12. Gen. 45.24 1 Thes 5.21 1 Pet. 4.10 11. 1 Cor. 6.5 6. Mat. 15.14 Isaiah 2.2 3 4 5. Matthew 10.9 10. Luke 10.4 5 6 7 8. Matthew 6.31 32 33 34. Luke 22.22 25 26. Matthew 26.47 48 49 50. Luke 11.45 46 52 53 54. Matthew 26.3 4. Ephesians 4.22 Psalm 31.11 13. Psalm 35.13 14 15 16 19 20. Acts 14.22 Luke 18.9 Iohn 8.41 42. Iohn 9.16 29. Iohn 2.3.11.47 43. Iohn 12.10 11 19. THere is great contending Sect. 1 now in our days how one should know who are the true Ministers of the Gospel Ans But they who have an ear to hear what the Spirit of God saith unto the Churches Rev. 2.17 are inabled by the spirit of Christ in some measure to try them which say they are Apostles and are not and have found them lyars Rev. 2.2 The Church of Christ only knows the voyce of Christ It is the voyce of my beloved saith the Spouse Cant. 2.8 My sheep hear my voyce saith Christ and a stranger they wil not follow for they know not the voyce of strangers and wil flee from them Iohn 10.4 5 27. Here is the report that Christ gives of his sheep which holds forth a sufficiency in them by his holy Spirit to try the messages that the messengers or ministers of the Gospel do bring unto them and that by a divine authority Now here wil arise an Objection and that is this Object Can an unlearned man try the Doctrine of a learned man Ans Sol. Yes for the doctrine of Christ is spiritual though it may be delivered literally or in the letter and so it may be as a Cabinet sealed up to him that carries it or delivers it But an unlearned man may have and hath the key of David that is the Spirit of God to teach him the mystery when the learned man may have but the history There is no man in the world though never so learned so able as the Saints are Are true Beleevers to give out the spiritual meaning of the Word of God It is true indeed learned men may take up the Truth as other men lay it down and so they may talk of it But the beleeving man Sect. 2 the new man he is the only man for he hath the Truth and he can declare the Truth for the Spirit of God doth teach him read 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12 13 14 15 16. The beleeving man is the only man for these Reasons The first is God is in Christ Joh. 14.10 11. The second is Christ and God is in every true Beleever I in them and thou in me saith Jesus Christ Joh. 17.21 22 23 24. The third is Every true beleeving man and woman were in Christ before the world was and as soon as they came into the world they went astray and then were accepted again in the beloved that is in Christ they have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of all their sins at once and not by peece-meal and this is to the glory of free grace O there is nothing in the world that can cleanse the world of taking liberty to sin but only free grace read Eph. 1.3 4 5 6 7 8. A great sinner once made a true beleever such a man and woman is the only man and woman that can magnifie free grace Mary Magdalen a great sinner was overcome by the free grace of God in Christ and then she washed Christs feet with tears and kissed his feet and anointed them Free grace begets much love Luk. 7.44 45 46 47. And so Paul a
becomes strong to shut the door against sin p. ibid. A defence of the doctrine of free grace p. 268. Who the most of men and women fall in with in these times p. 268. § 5. Whence 't is that many learned men are meer fumblers in speaking of free grace p. 269. What 's the cloud that lies upon the doctrine of free grace p. 270. § 6. What is the banqueting house into which a Christian is brought p. 271. How a Christian opens himself in his longings to Christ p. 272. Of the work of the third person in the blessed Trinity p. 273. § 7. The ayr in which a Christian lives is God himself p. 275. What is the appearance of God to sinners § 8. To whom the appearance of God is pleasant p. 277. The multitudes mistake of God 278. Whether sin came into the world by accident p. 279. That accidents are not against but for God ibid. Not chance but providence doth all p. 280. Sect. 9. Of the author use and end of the first Creation p. 281. Sin is none of Gods Creation but a vail over it p. 282. That Christ was slain by Adam and Eve ibid. How Sin and the Devil broke in upon man ibid. How the whole Creation greans till Christ appear p. 283. What is the heaven of God ibid. God permits of many things for his own glory p. 284. § 10. The Godhead is the womb out of which-every good and perfect gift doth proceed p. 285. God sees no sin in the new Creature because it is his seed p. 286. What is that ayr of which Satan is the Prince p 287. Sect. 11. That there were and yet are false Prophets many p. 288. Want of humane learning is no let in revealing Christ p 289. Why unlearned men that beleeve speak more truly of heaven then others p. 290. What is the great sin of England ibid. How our English Clergie are divided p. 291. Few of our learned men can speak experimentally of Father Son and holy Spirit p. 291 292. Sect. 12. That God hath made use of illiterate men for the propagating of the truth in these times 293. What are the foolish things the world despise 294. Sect. 13. What the Apostle Paul would say if he were now living in England 296. Whence Wars arise 296 297. The child Jesus is the first wonder in heaven 298. CHAP. X. THe Scriptures opened and applied set down P. 299. Sect. 1. The womb in the which the Children of God are conceived 302. What a one a lame Minister is ibid. § 2. What are the brests the New Creature is nourished by 303. Christs tenderness a president to the Ministers of this age That many call God Father who hate his children 305. § 3. How Christ is said to be both mother and child P. 305. That the holy child Jesus must be born in the heart of man ibid. How Christ is the ground and hope of a Christians glory 306. How a Christian comes to partake of of the divine nature 307. § 4. How the Jews dealt with Christ in his low estate 307. Christ overcame the malice of the world with love 308 309. § 5. How a man comes to look within the vail 312. That a Christian is Gospelized by Christ 313. The heart of man is the pulpit in the which the spirit of grace preacheth 314. § 6. That Christ is but one illustrated by a simile taken from the Sun ibid. A true beleeving man is a shining star and a royal diadem in the hand of Christ 317. § 7. What is the light of that world to come in the which the beleever walks 317. Christ is the King of that City to which the Saints fly for rest 318. Christ is the life of the oppressed soul 319. That a poor soul hath the substance of faith within it self 320. Sect. 8. The soul is weak in faith when it saith Christ is far from it 321. The soft hand of the Gospel moveth the heart of a man to a godly sorrow 322 The rough hand of the law unskilfully handled hardens the heart of men 322 323. What Cains enmity of Abel was a type of 323. Sect. 9. The rough handlers of the Law set forth by Esau 324. What was Jacobs savory meat ibid. Many handle the law as the Pharisees quite out of Christ 325. The Law in the hands of Christ turns to be Gospel 325. Pauls conversion well opened 325 326 Sect. 10. The madness of those in the Guildhal-yard taxed 326. That the Law is planted by Christ in the heart of him that beleeves 327. The fruit of rigid Presbyterianism 328. Sect. 11. A sad complaint of a troubled soul P. 330. Sect. 12. To which is a spiritual reply for consolation 332 333. CHAP. XI THe Scriptures insisted on set down P. 334. Sect. 1. Christ is the seed of God growing up through the earthiness of mens hearts 337. How Christ the seed of God lyes hid in the earth of the first Adams heart 336. Christ is the day of God in the which the loftiness of man is layd low 337. That a Christian in trouble is as a woman in travel till he bring forth Christ in the knowledg of him in his heart Rev. 12. 337. What is the grave-clothes many a man is buried in 338. Sect. 2. A word of consolation to one troubled every day ibid. VVhat are those treasures that are hid in Christ for a Christian 339. What it is for a Christian to look into the Ark of Gods strength P. 339. That a Christian in his trouble hath an Angel from heaven to comfort him as Christ had 340. How God remembers the sin of his people no more ibid. Why chastisements from the Lord are upon the Christian 341. Sect. 3. That God doth not punish a Christian for sin ibid. Christ is as a privy Chamber for the soul to retire into to refresh it self 342 343. Tryals are given and taken away again according as God pleaseth 344. Sect. 4. The commodities of Christ are his graces and they run forth freely to sinners 344. Most men complement and dissemble with Jesus Christ 345. Who were the Citizens that hated Christ ibid. Of the trouble raised at Guildhal of late by some Citizens 346. Sect. 5. What kind of bargain Christ makes with a beleeving sinner 347. A man that hath been in the Mount with Christ gives an excellent report of him P. 347. Christ the power of God is a Christians might 348. Grace discovers sin ibid. Those that strike at a Christian hit Christ first 349. S. 6. The greatest sinner Christ calls to himself to do cure on him 350. A whisper in the ear of the young men of the City that made that ado at the Parliament door Guidhal and elsewhere 350 351 That they did as Paul did whiles he was Saul ibid. That Christ is calling and alluring them to himself 351. A word to the old men that had their hand in the same thing ibid. That good men may do bad
actions 352. The City Remonstrance the cause of much evil 353. A sweet saving word to these troubles of the Land 354. That a man may be very zealous yet have neither faith nor love 355. How men are mistaken touching Church-fellowship 355. A word to the plunderers of Christians in these times P. 355. § 8. A word to the sottish and ignorant people of these times 356. Nothing but the grace of Jesus Christ can heal the Land 356. That our Phisitians King Parliament and Army have let the Kingdom blood but none but Christ can heal it 357. What will do the King good and in him the Land ibid. That the grace of God will do more then a Covenant of our own making 358. A word to the Parliament that they as Solomon give the living child to the right mother ibid. § 9. 'T is necessary that something be done with speed for the settling of the people 359. One right Fasting day would set all right ibid. Who are the obstructers of peace and truth in the Land ib. Vpon what account the Author upbrayds the ignorant and sottish Clergie for speaking lyes 360. Who hath made merchandize of the people Page 361. § 10. As there were in times past so there are now false teachers among our chief rabbies many ibid. VVhat is the learning the most of the Prelatical many of the Presbyterian and some of the Independent men lean on 362. Of the people devoted to the Common Prayer ibid. A miserable thing to be learned in the Letter only 363 That Jesus Christ is now come in the Spirit 364. That there is no other interpreter of the Scriptures but the holy Spirit 364. CHAP. XII THe Scriptures opened set down 365. § 1. There be three sorts of Ministers VVho preach for applause 367. Of Ministers that cannot expound the Scriptures Page 368. The Scriptures are a box of precious ointment but the most want a key to open it 369. § 2. Who be the true Ministers of Jesus Christ 370. Imitating Ministers who they be 371. How the people are deceived by their pretended Ministers 372. That the most Ministers feed themselves and not the flock 373. § 3. A word to the Common Prayer-book Ministers ibid. A Note agreeable to these times 374 Who they are to whom the Book of God is sealed 375. Whence ignorance and enmity doth arise 376. § 4. Of the common sort of hearers ibid. Of the nature and mystery of prayer 377. A spiritual Ministry the people are much offended with 378. § 5. Of the Ministers that have the mystery of God manifest in them 379. What alone will be able to make the heart of the King willing to yeeld to the Parliament 380. What will do the Parliament good 381. What is the glory of the King and Parliament 382 What alone is able to settle the three Kingdoms England Ireland and Scotland 382. § 6. A word to and of the Army 383 The Christian trusts God with his liberty 384. § 7. The strife betwixt Martha and Mary well opened and applied 385 386. The carnal Christian as Martha and Mary knows Christ as after off but the spiritual sees him nigh at hand 388 389. A note of great concernment 388. § 9. How the Almighty God vails himself that he may manifest himself to and in men 390. Christ is the living Word of God ibid. How God humbleth himself to do good to men 391. Whether Christ suffered in his divine nature an excellent similitude to open it 391. How God went in Christ before the chief Priest and Pontius Pilate yea into the grave with him 392. Sect. 10. The fellowship of Christs sufferings sweetly opened 393. How Christ is crucified in man and who have a hand in it 394. CHAP. XIII THe Scriptures spoken to set down 395. Sect. 1. How many men are zealous for God and yet have Christ in contempt 397. That many think they do God service in killing those in whom Christ appears 398. Sect. 2. That Christ hath as many enemies now as he had when he dyed at Golgotha 399. When Christ is born in the heart of men there is a Councel called there against him P. 400 Who be those that sit in councel in the heart of a man against Christ 402. That every man hath a Judas in his heart to betray Christ 403. Who it is that gives sentence against Christ in the heart of man ibid. § 4. How the Cross of Christ is in the heart of man and what is crucified thereon 404 405. The spiritual and first Resurrection opened 405. The vertue and power of Christs Cross in the heart of man 406. How Christ takes the soul into the grave with him ibid. § 5. What a blessed thing it is to be conformable to Christs death 407. A word to him that is arrived at the haven of life which is God himself 408. Here the Author takes his leave of the Reader 408. § 6. That the whole Church together are a Temple for God and the Lamb to dwell in ib. The true Christian enjoys God every where 409. Of the Gospelized man ibid. Of the various appearances of God to man P. 410. Of carnal Ordinances which profit not without Christ 411. That neither the learned nor unlearned will have cause to jeer at these expressions because after this manner Antichrist is disthroned 412. How God is Father Son and holy Spirit first and last 410 412. § 7. That the Christians see Christ as the Angels do 413. How the unity of the Spirit is kept in the Church through the knowledg of God 414 S. 8. How all good is from God 415 God wil renew the heart and make it as a chast virgin to bear Christ in the Spirit as well as the virgin Mary did bear Christ in the flesh 415 God comes down into every low condition to comfort a poor soul 416 S. 9. A note of great comfort to a poor soul 417 Ecclesiastes the first and the seventh sweetly applyed 418 The Authors Testimony concerning himself P. 418. S. 10. What the names of Errour and Heresie is a vail unto 419 Whence it is that many feed on hay and stubble in stead of Manna 420 Whence Errors and false christs arise 421. That Christ and his Ministry are still found together ib. That a Minister not rooted in Christ shall be rooted up 422. CHAP. XIV THe Scriptures opened set down 423. Christ is the best thing in the worst times ib. What 't is neither King or Parliament Army Synod or City can neither give nor take away 424. The vanity of mens strivings in these times about matters external and circumstantial in Religion 425. Presbyterians and Independents like unto the four beasts Revel 4.6 7 8. ib. Two sorts of Presbyterians The first like a Lion The second like a Calf 426. Two sorts of Independents the one like a man the other like an Eagle 426. The Lion-like the Calf-like and he that had the face like a man are offended at the Eagle-like Christian ib. The strife betwixt Presbyters Independents and Prelatical men 428. How they have not all the same food 429 Who they are that feed on Angels food ib. What gives fulness of comfort when a man lies on his death-bed 431. How all relations fail but that of a man to God in Christ ib. That a flood of the grace of our Lord Jesus running into the hearts of King and Parliament wil only heal the Land 432. § 4. The blessing of a right Magistracy 433 Sect. 5. What moved the Author to undertake this work 434. Boaz field in the which the Author as Ruth gleaned 435. Sect. 6. Of what sort of readers 't is the Author looks for acceptance 436. Of the sweet refreshing the Author had in writing this book ibid. That the writing of this book cost the Author no labor or study 437. The Author gives the glory of all to God 438. How God dealt with the Author as Boaz dealt with Ruth 438. That God opens the mouth of the soul and fills it as the mother deals with her child The Conclusion of all is Christ the fulness of all ERRATA PAg. 66. read sold their pot to pay their tythes P. 138. l. 5. r. thy P. 156. l. 10. supply not P. 182. l. 12. r. margent of the Bible P. 303. l. 5. supply have P. 328. l. 20. supply put P. 329. l. 1. r. unto P. 374. l. 27. r. as Possibly some other faults and false pointings have escaped which the Reader is desired to correct as he shall find them FINIS