Christ Jesus the Son of God who is the subject matter and summ of the Gospel is a man a creature of time as truly as he is God the Creatour and eternal yet he is not to be reckoned or accounted of in any thing according unto man but of God for as his conception is so are all the things of Christ Matth. 1. 20. which is not by man but by the holy Ghost for as the womans name is not reckonable in marriage but only the name of the man therefore in the beginning the woman and the man are both called Adam Gen. 5. 2. so all the things of Jesus Christ have their denomination of God and not of man and are to be extended according to the dimentions that are in God and not bounded within the compass of humane capacity in any point of the Gospel whatsoever his power is the power of God and not of man 1 Cor. 1. 18. Rom. 1. 16. his wisdome is the wisdome of God Prov. 8. 1 Cor. 1. 24. and not humane the wisdome of the world his love is the love of God shed abroad in the heart that many waters or that all waters cannot quench neither can the floods drown it Cant. 8. 7. and not love humane the love of the world which is enmity with God Iames 4. 4 his compassions are the compassions of a God and not the compassions of man Hosea 11. 8. whose mercies are cruel Prov 12. 10. Wo be to the scribes and pharises therefore who falsly interpret the word of God for the deceitful construction thereof was that which first hatched sin and brought it out in the world and hath been the continuation thereof in the sons of men unto this day Gen. 3. Therefore the true ministers of the Gospel and interpretour of the word of God receive nothing as the tenth as an acceptable offering unto God whatever it be that hath not an alsufficiency and eternity in it bearing the proper form of the wisdome of God and not the wisdome humane which wisdome of God is only extant in the faith of Christ and this they offer according to its proper nature and distinct quality unto the Lord as a heave offering as is appointed Numb 18. 21. 32. and a wave-offering the tithes are a heave-offering unto the Lord as being such as are lifted up and transcend all temporary things whatsoever otherwise of on acceptation before God or esteem of an holy minister or a messenger of the Gospel They are also offered as a wave-offering shaken to and fro or as the word signifies and is sometimes translated sifted in a sieve Jsa 30. 28. that is the tithe which God intends in his word are sifted from all earthly and transitory things or commixtures consisting only of that simplicity which is in Christ Jesus that only acceptable thing before God in all the men of God 2 Cor. 11. that ever lived or shall in this transitory world Contrary to this is Satans desire in all the men of Belial to winnow or sift as in a sieve the disciples of Christ that if it were possible nothing should be left in them of that simplicity that is in Christ but turn all things into that which is corruptible and perish in the use as they do the doctrine of receiving and paying of tithes Luke 22. 31. The ministers of the Gospel therefore even men the Levites as they are said to pay tithes unto Melchisedech in the loins of Abraham Hebr. 7. 9 10. are offered to the Lord as a wave-offering sifted as in a sieve and cleansed from all humane conjectures and carnal interpretations of the word Numb 8. 11. so the Apostles were waved or as the Greek translates the word separated unto the Gospel as sifted from all the carnal traditions of men and earthly conjectures in the opening of the wotd of God Rom. 1. 1 Acts 13. 2. approving of nothing as being the scope or any part of the mind of God therein which hath not an alsufficiency and eternity therein and thereby themselves are a sifted offering or gift as the Greek translates for the ministers of the word of God are called gifts Ephes 4. 8. 11. Wherefore when he ascended on high and led captivity captive he gave gifts unto men or gave gifts in the man or gâ—ve men of gifts Therefore the first fruit were given as an oblation and heave offering to the Lord the fiâ—st fruits signifying as the Hebrew phrase is plenty r peness or fulness or as the word first imports the beginning or original or fruit Exod. 22. 29. Exod. 23. 19. which is found only in Christ the fulness of him that fills all in all who is the beginning of the creation of God and in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God Ephes 1. 23. Revel 3. 14. Iohn 1. 1. And so is the tribute signifying sufficiency or enough given as a heave offering to the Lord Numb 31. 14. which is the proper portion of Jacob that when he gives a present to E au of things not naturalized to himself as his wives and children were he retains in himself with respect to them enough or sufficiency all or all things as the word imports Gen. 33. 11. Therefore when the â—ithes yea the tenth of the tenth is given out into the chambers of the house of the Lord Num. 18. 26. Nehem. 10. 38. Exod. 22. 28. 29. as the store and provision for the poor the stranger the fatherless and the widow which indeed are the places of abode the chambers treasuries and storehouses of the word of God that is to say such as are poor in spirit whose proper interest is the kingdome of heaven the stranger alienated and as outcasts with respect unto carnal Israel the fatherless that is such as are not begotten of flesh nor of bloud nor of the will of man but of God and the widow namely such unto whom the law of works their first husband is dead Matth. 5. 3. Psalme 147. 2. Iohn 1 12 13. Rom. 7. 2. And he that gives not in unto these chambers and treasuries of the house of the Lord that which is food convenient and in due season is a wicked steward and false interpretour of the word of God which is not done in any thing wherein there is not ripeness and plenty in the thing commended unto them as also it must be seasonable that is of the time and age of the Son of God even the first-fruits or beginning of all fruits and the choice fulness and perfection thereof as being ripe in the present time and necessity 2. Whereupon the second point is brought in that where this is wanting there is neglect of the weighty matters of the law that is where or in whomsoever transitory things are strictly exacted and stood upon as being the subject matter in the intenâ— of God of the doctrine of the Gospel yea such things as other creatures may after a sort be
never a true account of Stewardship brought in by any imployd about the things of God Thus much through infinite favour and grace God hath revealed unto us that wheresoever that spirit resides not which first framed the mind of the Son of God according to the eternal wisdom to judge of all things as God judgeth the love of God was never shed abroad in that heart for the spirit of faith works by love and where the love of God is not there is the love of this world which is of that wicked ones and the love of the world is enmity with God and the spirit of envy never makes good construction of the expressions of him it doth repugn therefore where the Spirit of Christ resides not there can never be good construction given of the words of Christ for he hath a name given him that none can read but himself and he is called the word of God therefore all other readers are false interpreters and that is the only in let and progress of sin and death in the world unto this day There be many who arogate a Call to interpret the word of God Some holding themselves set a part from the common affairs of this life in such sort as they are not to intermeddle with any temporary occasions but to have all things brought in unto them that concerns this present life by the labours of and means of others who stand not in that relation neither to God nor men which themselves do being men whose Calling is spiritual and therefore not to be imployed about any carnal things assuming Scripture for that purpose not only from the equity of that Law given concerning Levy but also as the Stand in the room of Christ who is of greater deserts to be maintained then Levy was There is one Scripture looks earnestly upon me concerning this Point which such men make great use of to prove their Apostolical Authority to require Tythes Stipends and Contributions together with the honour of the upermost Seats where they come with respect unto the dignity of their Calling and Office above others of the Saints of God in which regard say they all others are become debtors unto them to contribute both wealth and honour for which they aledge as one special ground for such supply as having divine Authority on their side 1 Cor. Cap. 9. Which form of words they deal with as they do with all other expressions in the word of God using it to mans ends and intents and not according to the mind and intent of the Son of God For that which they go about to prove their Calling by to be spiritual and heavenly is a direct Declaration given out by the Spirit of God to prove their Ministry to be carnal and earthly give me leave therefore as briefly as I can to declare from that Scripture what God seems as by his eye to direct and guide unto Our Apostle in the former Chapter sheweth the difference between Knowledge and Knowledge the one in way of the fall of man from God the other in the way of Resurrection and Ascension to God the one puffeth up as an empty blader filled only with wind above others the other is filled with love to edification which ever prostrates it self to the party known where or in whatsoever he appeareth the one sitting at meat or communicating in the Idols Temple the other refusing to eat carnally so long as the world stands rather then to offend the Brother-hood And having concluded that an Idol or an Idolathite for there is a generation of them is nothing in the world and that there is but one God in truth and verity though many do assume the names and titles of that one God yet an Idolathite is nothing in the world though they so assume and arogate the tearms because the Son of God who is the Maker of all things never contributed any thing unto the form thereof no more then it can be said that the holy Son of God did ever give out any thing to the being of the uncleanness of that unclean spirit namely the Devil which an Idol is concluded to be by the Spirit of God for whatsoever the Son of God gives being unto is a work of Creation but an Idol the Devils is that Abaddon and Apollion that is destruction which is nothing of the work of God in Heaven or in earth and so is nothing in the world Therefore but one God or power of Creation of all things for an Idol is the ruin and destruction of Gods proper creating vertue where it is erected which erection of an Idol is to terminate the scope true and proper intent of any part of Gods word in any thing whatsoever besides Jesus Christ and him crucified besides which our Apostle acknowledgeth he desires to know nothing For all other knowledge besides that or without that is thus explained by our Apostle viz. If any man or any thing see thee that hast knowledge or see thee knowledge or thee that art knowledge for such as mans wisdom or knowledge is such is the man for as it gives man his being above all other creatures so it gives distinctions of men among themselves Sit at meat in the Idols Temple that is continue and abide communicating in the word and worship of God as terminating any part of or thing in the Temple or Pallace in any carnal and fading matter or thing Shall not the conscience or shall not that knowing together in thee for there is a unity in Idols worship as certainly as there is in the worship of the true God in spirit and truth Of the weak that is of such as are sick or dead being without and destitute of that healthful Spirit of grace and life in Christ Be imboldned to eat things sacrificed to Idols that is what ever is in thee or belonging unto that assembly of evil doers shall be encouraged to yeild up it self to the Rule of such knowledge for all things in man are governed by wisdom and a spirit of teaching therefore all things concerning the sons of men make their addresses to the light set up in the mind of man of what nature or mind soever it be to take their form receive commission as also instruction for their progress in execution therefore thou Idolatrous knowledg set up in the Idols Temple art become the Authour of destruction for there was never any destroyed since the world was but by this thy knowledge which puffs up with pride as an empty bladder filled with nothing but with the wind of Satannical delusion where the substantiality of the Son of God never was nor never will be Therefore he saith Through thy Knowledge or through this knowledge for the party and property to know are never separated for man is not man but by ability to know and that with respect to a God to be communicated with and worshipped Shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ dyed that is thou
that inferiour part or place of the sting of sin and curse of God Rev. 9. 10. made manifest in his word 1 Cor. 15 56. Oh Serpents this your false and carnall interpretation hath stopped the ear of man from the beginning that he will not hear the voice of the Son of God though he useth all his skil for the opening of it it is carnall and earthly interpretation in all ages that hath stoped the ear from hearing entertaining and approving the good word of God and by other means was the word of life never hindred from making entrance into the heart of man in any age of the world nor among any people or nation And it is only words of spirit and life Iohn 6. 63. that boar the ear and open it to hear the voice of the Son of God Psalm 40. 6. Iohn 5. 25. that they may live it is that which incorporates into the house and family of God so as never to depart thence for he is tyed thereby unto the door post even by that sound of the word in his soul that he can never depart from it even as the Servant that had served his Master seven years and would have no other freedome but what was found in that house and service was brought to the door post and boared thorow the ear entring into covenant therby to serve him for ever Exo. 21. 6. For there may be a Covenant struck by the ear as well as by the hand Heb. 8. 9. Therefore the Psalmist proclames Oh blessed is that people that know the joyful sound for they shall walk on in the light of thy face Oh Lord in thy name shall they be glad all the day and in thy righteousnesse shall they be exalted Psalm 89. 15. 16. alluding to the sound of the Silver Trumpet at the Wars Assemblies Solemn Feasts Iourneys and over the Sacrifices of Israel Psalm 81. 3. Numb 10. 3. 9. 10. Joel 2. 1. 15. The ear listning to true interpretation binds over to God incorporates into that mystical body of Christ and keeps from ever departing thence any more knowing the shrill sound of the trump of God which is the dictate of the spirit of God it preserves in the Camp for ever 5 Fifthly The Serpent is known by his act that is he crusheth the heel of Christ as the seed of the woman breaketh or crusheth his head so he breaks bruiseth or crusheth the heel or foot-soal of the seed of the woman that is of Christ Gen. 3. 15. For as Christ bruiseth the head of the serpent crusheth or squeezeth out the headship and power of the Devil so that nothing of his wisdom subtilty cruelty hypocrisie and authority appearâ— in the Saints of God in any of their wayes even so doth the Serpent by false interpretation bruise and crush the heel or soot soal of Christ or the print of the soot as the word imports that is whereas the Son of God in the Character letter or historical records of the word written in mans heart hath therein secretly and mystically involved his proper and saving intent which the Saints of God know how to take â—ut as their only and meet help Gen. 2. 18. for the propagation of their kind as they are the workmanship of God in Christ and his off spring Ephes 2. 10. Act. 17. 29. Even as the Lord tooke aâ— rib out of the side of the first man that great and original Character of mankind and made a woman of it Gen. 2. 21. for the multiplication of man upon the face of the earth Gen. 2. 28. So false interpreters they take out the letter and history of the word from the intent and mind of God and by that means bruise and squeeze out the life and spirit of Scripture that not a print of Christs proper footsteps which he hath truly taken therein can appear being they have carnallized them by closing up the flesh instead therof as though the glory power consisted only therein and as though no defect were upon man in the departure of the rib or bone the life and spirit of the word wherein all true power and glory doth consist which they by this means of spoyling the proper print of Christs footstep which he hath set upon all things in heaven and in earth terminating the form thereof in transient things which is the arm of flesh and so with the Serpent are accursed Jerem. 17. 5. Oh Serpents who by the bruising and disfiguring of the prints of Christs footsteps which he hath set upon all things rightly considered to make his way known to the sons of men according to the Spirit in closing up the flesh instead thereof to be the glory have thereby deluded and destroyed the world unto this day Rev. 9. 10. But these men cry out against such as stand for the scope intent life and spirit of the Scriptures which Christ saith his words are Iohn 6. 63 that they turn the Scriptures into an Allegory whilst in the mean time themselves are the only persons that so do for they will have all to consist in the proper allegory metaphor history outward form of parable proverb journeys buildings sacrifices and ceremonies and therefore in the laying down of one form and figure they take up another or else they would lose all their Religion as they must needs do at the time of their death for they have nothing to do when they come to heaven according to their own doctrine which they do hear no not to love God himselfe which they say only continues not understanding the speech of the Apostle concerning faith hope and love 1 Cor. 13. 13. for by their owne doctrine they deny to love God in Heaven as they do now here in this world for now they professe they love him mediately in another but then they will love him immediately in himself These are the allegorizers upon the word of God for they turn all into the proper figure Allegory Metaphor and misse of the truth and substance in all things 6 Sixthly The Serpent is known by his names and they are many whereof one is Pithon coming of the Hebrew word Pethen a Spirit of delusion that followed the Apostle Paul thereby to maintain and uphold the way of its delusion this is a certain effeminate Spirit oâ— divination that for gaine fi nds out a way by subtilty to prostrate it selfe to any forme of doctrine and that which seemes to prevail and be in honour with the most that it takes up with great applauding of the same together with the Publishers thereof Act. 16. 16. 17. And that this Sepent sets upon his own principles which are carnall and diabolicall which principles by that means he covertly and cunningly insinuates into the world by transforming himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11. 13. for the upholding of the glory power riches and outward prosperity thereof as though the way of Iesus Christ were promoted and propagated therein Oh ye
and spirit of God if he justifie the Son of God in any one point of the Gospel he is a fulfiller of the whole law even as John and Jesus considered in that one act of baptisme original and ministerial the baptized and the baptizer do therein fulfil all righteousness Matth 3. 15. Wo be to him therefore that neglects this weighty matter of the law namely fidelity in this trust of the word of God committed unto him the first stands in judging and deserning of all things the second in the bounty and goodness of all things and the third in the safe custody and right distribution of all things which Luke comprehends in two that is judgement and the love of God Luke 11. 42. to shew that the love of God opposed to the love of the world Iames 4. 4. is the very original and fountain of all bounty benignity goodness and mercy out of which love there is none to be found but every man seeks himself or his own things and none the things of Jesus Christ Phil. 2. 21. Again the love of God is the proper cause and fountain of all trust and confidence for true custody and conservation and right distribution and laying out of all things without which there is none from whom we may expect mercy nor in whom we may repose trust or have any affiance in at all 4. The fourth point observed wherein the doctrine of these scribes together with their practice ought to appear and that is in doing these weighty matters of the law and not leaving the other undone wherein is contained two points First that the matter of true information and light breaking forth from the word of God hath in it as real reproof and conviction to the wicked as it hath true justification and acquaintance therein unto the godly The splendour and shining forth of the light in the beams of the Gospel is the only way and means of condemnation to the enemies of Christ and that makes the friends of antichrist and lims of Satan so fearful of that day which springs from an high and so diligent to guard the world by humane orders left it should visit the same Luke 1. 78 Psalme 2. 1 2 3. Acts 4. 26 27. Secondly the due observation of the prime weighty and chief things in the law of God is the only way and means of regulating and bringing into orderly practice all inferiour things whatsoever whereas the preferring of mean and transitory matters is the devastation and ruine of the whole order and full intent of the law and work of God And whereas men think the invalliding of all earthly things is the inlet of all disorder it is nothing so but it hath the order of God in it as he is the God of order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. For as God in creating of all things which are inferiour to his Son had respect unto him in them all not terminating his love and delight in all or any of them but only in his Son Prov. 8 30. all the rest of the creatures being as so many significant or Hieroglâ—phical intimations to point us with the finger to the Son of God even as the Star a night light directed the wise men of the East to Christ Matth. 2. For they are all of such nature that according to the eye which beholds them they either lead men to turn in to Herod to get intelligence as though Christ were of such off-spring and so to lean upon the bare letter of the Scripture which can never give satisfaction from his priests scribes and pharises therefore he commands the wise men to bring him word or else notwithstanding Herods command they direct as the wise men were as in a dream to turn from Herod and his priests and go another way And when man hath attained to the end of all things which is Christ he judgeth of all things not by mans day or light 1 Cor. 4 3. but according to the light or judgement of God not only of his own estate in Christ bnt of all things inferiour and subordinate unto that according to their nature end and use and is possessed with a disposition and heart to order and dispose of them all accordingly being freed from those bonds and injunctions which lie upon that spirit of the world in the exaltation or villification of them therefore neither monopolizeth nor dissipateth beyond bounds but can say with Agur Give me neither poverty no riches but feed me with food câ—nve ient for me Prov. 30 8. and therefore is disposest of that Spirit of contention about them that sore plague of vexation in the world 1 Cor. 6 1 7. Matth. 5. 39 40 41. which by setting their hearts upon that which is not every man becomes a vexation and tormenter of his brother yea man becomes a tâ—ouble and vexation unto himself and all is about means to accomplish their ends But whoever attains to the end of the law which is Christ he is the end of the law for or in righteousness in every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. he also attains to the means to bring about that end for the proper end of the Lord in all and the means to bring about that end are all really and substantially founded reside and are in being and exercise in the state of Christ so that the beauty worth and dignity of and contention about all things is blasted unto him and are become as the flower of grass Isaia 4. 6 7. save only that state of the Son of God where all things are realized and eternized both in point of an end and means to bring about that end For Christ is the end finishing and topping up of all righteousness for he is that righteousness of God higher then which none can ever ascend Rom. 3. 21 22. Christ is also the means to bring unto this end for he is that law of righteousness which bindeth over thereunto Rom. 9 30 31. and so Christ is made unto us Righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30 by whom all the seed of the promise do become righteous Secondly the end of the commandment is love 1 Cor. 1. 30. and God is love that is the Son of God is love who consists of twain without which love is not perfect nor can it be in exercise Christ also is the means to attain to love for it is the love of Christ that constraineth 2 Cor. 5. 14 and is the means to carry us on in all things for love suffereth all things it believeth all things it hopeth all things it indvreth all things 1 Cor. 13. 7. it never falls away rejoyceth in the truth 1 Cor. 13. 6 8. Thirdly Christ is that contract and covenant given for the people Isaia 42. 6. Set forth unto us in that marriage of Solomon and Pharaohs daughter Psalme 45. and he is also that means to bring about that covenant and contract as appears in all those solicitations invitations commendations and
observe 1 First An act of Christ in sending Prophets Wisemen and Scribes 2. Secondly An act of these false Interpreters in these words Of them ye shall kill and crucifie and of them ye shall scourge in your Synagogues and persecute from City to City 1 The ground and reason of this miserable and wretched condition on mankind is this because they interpose something between God and their supposed or expected good and happy estate as these interpose their fathers living before them and their supposed present good estate in their not murdering the Prophets For thence it comes to passe that man becomes the Serpent even the Devil himself as Christ affirms of Judas Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a Devill Iohn 6. 70. 71 who interposed riches the love of money between the Son of God and himselfe Mat. 26. 14 15 16. This Spirit which interposeth something between God and it selfe is the proper Author of all mischiefe that ever came upon the sons of men which seems to be a proper maxim in the doctrine of the Priesthood of this age that in the knowledge of Christ every one must keep his Sâ—cundumidem a certain distinction or distance between Christ and a Christian that whatsoever is in Christ Beleevers have somewhat according to that or after the manner of it something resembling or like it but not the very same this is a Pillar set up which all must bow unto which is to appoint men to keep alive and preserve the life of the Serpent For to interpose any thing if but a difference in any thing between Christ and a Christian between one Son of God and the rest of sons is to keep alive the spirit of the Serpent in the world by the falsifying of that word of God uttered in Christ So it was in the beginning it is the very voice that uttered it selfe in the Serpent at the first and in his off-spring unto this day For according to his consultation with the woman or in the woman as she is taken with respect unto the fall of man from God for as the man is called Enosh with respect to shame as well as Ish with respect to honour even so the woman is called Eve as being the original of shame Gen. 3. 20. 21. 2 Cor. 11. 3. as she is called Isha of â—sh with respect to honour and dignity Gen. 2. 23. And with respect unto shame the woman is brought in as never having any other consultation but with or in the Serpent from her very first being therefore the Serpent faith as answering to a former discourse of the woman the beginning whereof cannot be terminated Yea hath God said thou shalt not eat of every tree in the Garden Gen. 3. 1 Nay but God knowes that if you eat you shall have your eyes opened in that day and be as Gods knowing good and evill and by that suggestion secretly denies them to be such for the present as were in the perfect image and likenesse of God wherein God had affirmed he had made them Gen. 1. 27. Gen. 2. 7. and so doth this Serpent by false interpretation interpose the eating of the Tree between their present estate and the compleating and perfecting of the word and work of God which was passed upon them as false Teachers ever bring in something to interpose between God and that happy and perfect estate of Christ as the spirit of bondage in the elect before the spirit of adoption the pangs of death in the terrours of the law before that peace and quiet of the law of the spirit of life which is and ever was in Christ Jesus yea a state of innocency wherein is no need of Christ before that blessed injoyment of that image and likenesse of the eternal Son of God A state of sin in the Saints wherein they are out of the favour of God a time before their participation of that righteousnesse and holinesse of Christ which hath the favour and love of God eternally annexed thereunto yea a certain womb of a woman living in such a time and age of the world before the glorious and perfect revelation and appearance of the Son of God in the sons of men yea they interpose so many hundred years between God and the perfection of the son of man Iesus Christ not knowing the divers names which the son of God hath assumed and taken up to expresse his reall appearance and presence by for he is called Adam as well as Iesus David or Solomon as well as Christ one that departs and goes away from us or else the Comforter comes not Iohn 16. 7. as well as he is said to be Emanuel God with us Isaiah 7. 14. Mat. 1. 23. Yea he is that Alpha the first Letter or Figure in the Alphabet and also that Omega the last Revel 22. 13. without which and all the figures and letters contained between them no point of the law of faith can be spelled out right so as to contain the mind and will of the Author thereof but prove a deceitful interpretation wherein the spirit of the Serpent doth ever consist for these are they who interpose the Tree of Knowledge of good and evill to be eaten of or communicated with to bring man to happinesse instead of that Tree of life eternal which is in Christ Iesus that son of eternity without whom nothing was made Iohn 1. 3. which tree of life Revel 2. 7. hath seed in it self sufficient to preserve it selfe for ever without interposition of any thing whatsoever Gen 1. 12. 1 Iohn 3. 9. For he that brings in any thing to adde unto or to perfect Gods act and workmanship to make it more wise or holy than for the pâ—esent it is as is the pretence of such as say the work of God is begun in the Saints here on earth but not perfected till death and departure hence these persons if they hold the unity of faith as they say they do that God and man are made one in Christ then are they no more twain but one Mat. 19. 5. 6. new man Ephes 2. 15. or one Flesh Ephes 5. 31. 3â— So that those who by their endeavours in bodily exercises go about to make that condition better than at present it is in it selfe as to make it more wise more holy more able and sufficient such go about to amend and make better the son of God as for present wanting wisdom holinesse power or glory which it may in tract of time and means used attain unto either by bringing in somewhat which is not yet come between God and his people as sorrow repentance baptism supper fast or some way of ministry not yet raised up or else not come to its growth and perfection or else by casting out something which for present stands between God and us as fin guilt defects insufficiency and imperfections Now the fear jealousie and suspition the pride presumption and ambition of this spirit let
fulnesse of all subtilty and all mischief the child of the Devill and enemy of all righteousnesse which ceaseth not to pervert the straight wayes of the Lord Acts 13. 10. And without an emptinesse of man in both these respects from the first act of his ordination or creation the full and compleat death of Christ is never known nor doth it appear in the world unto salvation which sets man at an utter distance from God in Cain with respect unto Abel as also it sets man in unity with God in Seth with respect to the same Abel he being set in his stead and the father of Christ Luke 3. 23 -38 And from this twofold vanity the death of the Son of God is forever perfected for in that way of Cain he is dead to al heavenly and spiritual vertue as he is the Son of God and yet God in the exercise of wrath and displeasure is really there and in Seth he is dead to all earthly and carnall things as he is the Son of Sons man and yet man in exercise of goodnesse and love is really there and without respect to these twain the death of Christ is not revealed for it is not part of Christ that suffers for the salvation of man as only in his manhood as the blind Pharisees of the world hold and teach but it is Christ compleat who consists of God and man and in the same respect he is said to dye he never lives therefore it is said that he is dead and is alive as the words may be truly read Rev. 1. 18. Rev. 2. 8. And from this death of the Son of God in this twofold respect there flows a twofold righteousnesse or justice namely of absolution and of condemnation Mat. 25. 34. 41. Psalm 6. 8. And if it were not for this death of Christ thus considered there were no place for the righteousnesse of Faith in the exercise of mercy nor for that of the Scribes and Pharises in that exercise of Gods severity Rom. 11. 22. Rom. 9. 22. 23. but Gods glory were extinct in both respects and therefore he is righteous Abel For if a wicked man could content himself simply with the Creature in his relation to it as the bruit beasts do then were there no severity of God to be exercised in way of the curse for there were no ground nor footing for it But man hath a spirit as it appears in Gain that will inherit acceptation with God as well as his brother though in that way of an earthly and carnall sacrifice whereby it cometh to passe that he kils his brother causelesly nay he kils him because his own works are evill and his brothers good even as all wicked men quench and kill the spirit and life of Christ Iesus in their own hearts by their earthly and carnall thoughts and imagination of that good word and work of God in point of salsalvation 1 Iohn 3. 12. which is the kindling of wrath in our soules for as it was in Cain so it is in all such as wander in the way of Caein Iude 11. For according to the worth and dignity of the person whose life is extinct and taken away which is the spirit and life of the Son of God of such wce and weight is the nature and guilt of his sin for so doing which can never be recovered nor healed and accordingly the weight of justice and Gods severity must of necessity go forth in the exercises of self in his just condemnation and execution thereof And as the spirit of man naturally being made one with God inclineth and seeketh after God whereby to honour and dignifie it selfe with his titles and excellencies without which he cannot make himself Lord of all Gen. 1. 28. which carnally enterprised works such effect So also there is naturally in the Son of God an aptitude and propensity unto man for the revelation and manifestation of himself in all his vertues according to the fulnesse thereof which cannot be but by the crucifying of the flesh in all the affections and lusts thereof Gal. 5. 24. which is a work of no lesse weight than the overcoming of Satan himself which none but the Son of God himself can do Heb. 2. 14. which conquest and vâ—câ—um of the flesh is a work of no lesse worth nor holinesse inferiour unto that which is peculier to the spirit of God and therefore the righteousnesse of absolution and acceptation with God in the bountifuâ—l expression of mercy and goodnesse is ever annexed thereunto and thus is there a righteous Abel or righteous vanity spread throughout the Earth overall mankind there ore the Psalmist saith every man is vanity or as the word is all Aâ—am is vanity taking Adam there as the root of all mankind which are either empty of the things of God as the wicked universally are or else of the lusts of men as the elect of God in that mysticall body of Christ are Gal 5. 24. And it is a certain and undeniable truth as Christ the Son of God is set forth and taught herein that he who is the Creator and Maker of all things emptyeth himself and becomes vain in all things both of flesh and spirit that he thereby may manifest himself to have the glory of all things not only of life but also of death for in that he dies to the things of the Spirit in the wicked he thereby riseth in wrath through the wisdom of the flesh and in that he dies unto the flesh in the Saints he riseth in mercy and peace in the exercises of the spirit whereby he hath the glory of all things which otherwise could never be For as man in Christ hath the righteousnesse and glory of God and yet nothing can be attributed to the things naturall proper to man in that wonderfull work of Gods Creation even so God in Antichrist hath the sin and shame of Satan and yet nothing of that condition can be attributed to any thing naturally proper to God in that wonderfull destruction of the Devill And with respect unto vanity thus distributed it is called the bloods of thy brother in the form plurall Gen. 4. 10. And it speaks guilt and terrour from the ground or earthly heart of Cain that so drinks it in Gen. 4. 11. and it also speaks as a witnesse of acceptation with God by faith in that way of Seth who is that set one unto this day of whom is Christ who yet speaketh Heb. 11. 4 for though Abel be cut off from all succession of mercy in that way of carnall sacrifices in Cain yet hath he a succession of terrour in Cains heart Gen. 4. 13. 14. so also though he have no succession according to the flesh in that acceptable Sacrifice of the firstling of the flock being dead in that respect in the way of Seth yet hath he his succession and language in the witnesse and acceptation of faith unto this day Heb. 11. 4. And according to this
that all true and reall office and administration springs out of Iesus Christ as becoming vain and empty in Abel for being emptied of all humane abilities and constitutions as holding no weight nor being of any account in the Kingdom of God thereby the spirit of the Lord breaks forth as the light at noon day that shined upon Saul as he went to Damascus Acts 22 6. and so upon Zachariah the spirit of the Lord comes upon him and officiates him as a Prophet of God as one who is above all the idolatrous Princes and Priests of Iudah cleaving to Ioash We see then that Ioash being made vain and empty of all the righteousnesse of Kingdom and Priesthood in that holy way of administration upheld and maintained in the dayes and time proper to our spirituall Jehoiada and high Priest of God who is that wisdom and knowledge of the Lord clothing himself as the Text declares 2 Chron. 24. with the praises of men counsell of his wicked Senators and submission of the people becoming thereby officiated in all the corrupt wayes of Idolatry both in Kingdome and Priesthood contrary to the wayes wherein Iehoiada the high Priest walked in his dayes and ever doth where he liveth and therefore in his son Zachariah inveighs against such abominations declaring in order to Abel that all holy and acceptable office and administration ariseth and springeth out of becoming vain and empty of the pursute aprising and love of the glory of this world and that all diabolicall office and idolatrous worship ariseth out of this that men are become Abel vain and empty of all the holy things of God in apostatizing and falling away from God as Ioash did this doctrine taught by Zachariah as it is by all such as are mindfull of the Lord and have the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 16. stirs up apostatizing Ioash together with his wicked Servants against the true Prophet of God For the world cannot indure to hear that Christ is so dead in Abel unto all carnall and temporary Sacrifices exercised by Cain that it sets him in all spirituall holy and acceptable offerings in the bringing forth of the Saviour in all things in Seth or the fulnesse of salvation in that which is set or ariseth in the stead of those carnall offerings Nor can it indure to hear that Christ is so dead in Iehoiada unto all carnall and humane institutions and administrations set up in Joash that it is an investing and installing of him into all spirituall office and administration as in Zachariah his son upon whom the spirit of God comes in such sort that he stands up above the people or as the word stood signifies to minister Ier. 52. 12 compared with 2 King 25. 8. Numb â—6 9. Deut. 10. 8. he ministred by a spirit supereminent in order to all the carnall and idolatrous Princes of Judah and Ierusalem whereupon they find no other means to promote their honour but only to put to death him that is the true Successour of his Father in office only acceptable unto God which springeth only from the power of the Spirit of God coming upon him from no humane education or carnall way of administration whatsoever which vexeth the spirit of the world that it should fall short in all its policy and power to create and institute a godly officer the World therefore in the rage of Cain rejects and slayes the Sacrifice of God which Abel is Rev. 13. 8. and also the Officer and Minister imployd and exercised about the offering which Zachariah the son of Barachiah is therefore the murther of false Interpreters extends from the blood of Abel that is all true Sacrifices and offerings unto the blood of Zachariah the son of Barachiah that is all true Office and Officers or all true Ministry and Ministers for they may not indure that all true Sacrifice and Offering should be the firstling of the Flock or else it is rejected which firstling of the Flock is the Son of God himself and they are ignorant how Christ is all in all in his Saints Ephes 1. 23. and therefore are in a rage against him 1 Cor. 2. 8. or against it that is the true Sacrifice of Christ Neither can they indure that all true Office and Officers should arise from and be created made only by the Spirit of God without which they are of no force verâ—ue nor reckonable in the Kingdome and house of God for then mans common industry in humane Schools publick Votes bodily conquests with Baptisms laying on of hands and common exercise of humane Elderships would be in no estimation nor honour in the sight of God nor any thing whatsoever further than the Spirit of God testifies of it selfe in the use of it No the world cannot indure that all false worship both in point of offering and office matter and manner of performance springing from earthly and vanishing things in the glory or humbling of the Creature in the exaltation or mortification thereof should be that evill one that is the Devill therefore in Abel they slay all true Sacrifice and offering that those which are earthly and carnall within their own Sphear may take place and in Zachariah they slay all true Office and Ministry that so that which is diabolicall may be set up and advanced a work of wicked Scribes and Pharisees false Expounders and Interpreters of the Law of God who in the death of Iehoiada that is in the silencing of the Lord in point of all Kingly and Priestly authority they will only have Ioash to reign in the maintainance of all humane institutions in the way of idolatry advancing the Creature into the place of God in the doing of which they despise and destroy the true succession of the Kingdome and Priesthood of Christ and therein all the proper offerings officers and enterprises of the Spirit which is free in all its administrations not bound to any where it s own image and superscription appears not nor requiring ought from any where it comes not from the same fountain in the suppressing and quenching whereof they set up that spirit and advance it whose office is to accuse and condemn deceive and beguile destroy and torment which ever was is and will be the only exercise and office of Satan Rev. 12. 9. 10. which evidently appears in that wicked Ioash with his retinue who cruelly murther Zachariah the true Successour of that Priesthood royall which only is of God Exod. 19. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 9. set forth in the Kings command and the names of his servants who did it that afterward conspire together to take away the life of the King for so God makes the wicked Executioners and tormenters one of another 2 Chron. 24. 2â— 26. The third point is the place where this Fact is committed and that is between the Altar and the Temple which includes the place both of the murther of Abel and of Zachariah for they are never separated one from
think they shall escape the wiles and power of the Devill when the arm of flesh fails them whereby they seek to defend themselves for the present sure they think their God will be grown to more power and care over them in and after death or else they will be loath to passe through it but I leave them and in Spirit cleave unto him as being in you who is ever the same allsufficient In whom I am yours Samuel Gorton A Copy of a Letter from the Men called Quakers The Superscription For our Friend Samuel Gorton this deliver Friend IN that measure which we have received which is eternall we see thee and behold thee and have onenesse with thee in that which is meek and low and is not of this world but bears witnesse against the world that the wayes and works thereof are evill and in that 〈…〉 spirit we salute thee and owns that of God 〈…〉 is waiting for and expecting the raising 〈…〉 is unâ—er the Earth and in the Grave groâ—niâ—g â—or the removing of the stone which the wise professors hath and doth lay upon that it might not come forth but the time is come and coming for the Angell of his presence to take away that which hinders that the Prisoner may come forth and arise to the glory of him who is raised up to the glory of the Father and hath overcome Hell and Death and all the powers of darknesse and is a spreading his name forth to the nds of the Earth and hath sounded his Trumpet in these parts also and is a beginning his war with Ameleke and the Philistins and Egyptians in this part of the world who are set and setting themselves against the Lord in this the day of his mighty power wherein he will exalt the horn of his annointed and bring down all the fat Kine and Buls of Bashan whose eyes are ready to start out with rage and madnesse against that which is become as a burthensome stone amongst them and is that stone which will break all their imaginaries to peeces and shall become a great mountain which shall bring down the stout hearts of the Kings of Assyria and all their high looks and levell their mountains of wisdome and knowledge and dry up the tongue of the Egyptian Sea and shall make way for the ransomed of the Lord to come to Sion with joy and gladnesse being redeemed from Kindreds Nations Tongues and People by the blood of Iesus which is spirit and life in all those that obey the light which from the life doth come for the life is the light of men and whosoever beleeves in the light which they are inlightned with shall not abide in darknesse but shall have the light of life which light we have obeyed in coming into these parts and we do witnesse the life in the measure given to us whereby we are enabled to encounter with Principalities and Powers and wickednesse in high places and can deny the world and the glory of it and take up his Crosse dayly and follow him in which we witnesse the power of God whereby the World is crucified unto us and us unto the World and in that in â—ur measure we deny our selves and can wait in the eternall counsell which is out of time manifested in time not being hasty but let the Lord alone to do his own worke in â—is own vvay and there can sit down in our rest which is his will and when he moves us then we go and do his will in his power and when he clouds we stand still waiting for the removing of the Cloud and so we know when to journey and when not and herein are we aâ— rest when our Adversaries are in trouble and in Egyptian darknesse sitted and prepared for destruction which assurealy must fall upon them from the God of 〈◊〉 Friend the Lord hath drawn forth our hearts to this place in much love knowing in the light that he hath a great seed among you though scattered up and down and are as sheep without a shepherd and you are travelling from Mountain to Hill in your wisedome and imaginations the resting place being not yet known nor cannot be known by the highest wisdome of the world but in the deniall of it for there is something underneath which is not nor cannot be satisfied with all the divings into the mystery of things declared in the Scriptures of truth which is the man of Gods portion and was given to that to profit withall that it might be throughly furnished to every good word and work but this is too low a thing for those which are high in their wisdome and knowledge which they can hardly stoop unto that is to become fools that they may be wise that the pure wisdome may dwell with them for evermore But the Lord is come and coming â—o lovell the Mountains and to rend the Rocks of wisdome and knowledge and to exalt that which is low and foolish to the wisdome of the world and blessed shalt thou and all those be who meets him in this his work which he is doing in the Earth and in this place wherein thou now dwellest in setting up the King the Lord of Hosts to reign in righteousness for his tabernacle shall be among men and he vvill dwell in them and vvalk in them and he will be their God and they shall be his people from henceforth even for ever Now to that which thou writes to us to know our minds to stay in these parts â—e are unwilling to go out of these parts if here we could be suffered to stay but we are willing to mind the Lord what way he will take for our staying and if he in wisdome shall raise thee up and others for that end we shall â—e willing to accept of it but what the Master of the Ship will do in the thing we know not they indeaveuring to force him to to enter into bond of 500l to set us ashoar in England which he did at first refuse for which they sent him to prison without Bail and Mainprize as we are informed but since he doth proffer his own bond but they will not at present accept it without security b sides to be bound with him for they are affraid that we should be set ashoar in these parts again therefore they make their Bond as strong as they can but the Lord knows away to break their bonds asunder The Master hath been writ unto and warned that he should not enter into bond which if he did not it would be as a Crown of honor upon his head but if he doth the Lord knows how to defeat themand him too Now what he doth is out of a slavish fear because he would not lie in prison and hinder his voyage but if the bond hinder him not he would have been willing to have delivered us and we should have been willing to have satisfied him which we did proffer him and if he be not
hindred the Ship will be ready to set sayl about fourteen dayes hence but at present the Master doth not know what to doe their demands being so unjust to force him to carry us and they not to â—ay him for it nor we shall not and yet will not take hiâ— own 〈◊〉 but will have security besides so that hâ— and they are troubled with a burthensome stone the Ark of God doth afflict them send it away they would but yet they are not agreed what to do with it so we shall leave thee to be guided by that wisedome which governs all men and things â—ccording to the counsell of his own vvill and bringeth his purposes to passe by vvhom and in vvhom he pleaseth From the Servanâ—s and Messengers of the Lord vvhom he hath sent and brought by the arm of his power into these parts of the Word for vvhich vve suffer bonds and close imprisonment none suffered to speake or confer vvith us nor scarce to see us being locked up in the inward prison as the Gaoler pretends because vve do not deliver our Ink-horns although he hath taken away three from us already and vvill not suffer us to burn our owne Candles but takes them away from us because vve shall not vvrite in the night though vve are strangers to thee and others in this place yet seen and knowne in the light yet known in the World by these Names From the Common Gaol in Boston this 28 of the seventh 1656. William Brend Thomas Thurston Christop Holder Iohn Copeland Post We and all the rest of friends with us remember their love to thee and if thou hast freedome let us heare from thee Barwick in the Nanhyganset-Bay this prefone Octob 6. 1656. The Superscription To the Strangers suffering imprisonment in Boston for the name of Christ these with trust present in Massachusets Loving Friends WE have thankfully received your late and loving Letters but are informed that since the penning of them the Master of the Ship is ingaged with two of Boston bound with him to set you ashoar in England so that we perceive God hath diverted our desired designe we doubt not but for the best in a further discovery of that spirit so wickedly bent to hinder if it were possible the fruitfull progresse of the grace of the Gospell and it may be the name given unto you we know not upon what ground may come through an unalterable appointment to be the naturall practice of such as so deal with you when the terrours of the Almighty shall take hold of them And we are glad to see the waters move for then we know that spirit stirs which brooded upon them in the beginning and the Angell troubleth them unto healing but it is only of such as first step in after the troubling or moving of them which must be he who first lookes out from the early morning seeing in the first light that ever shined in that day which springs from on high who is endued with strength sufficient to put himself in without help of any other besides himself for there is none but the first begotten of the dead that can participate in this cure yet we know also how to cure the lame and impotent who hath no strength nor abilitie at all in himself to move towards the waters but only waits for help from another and therefore perceives how all come to be cured before him but the of word salvation passing upon him retains its healing and creating vertue from the beginning and is no lesse healthful in the last than in the first for they are one Yea he is not only the root bâ—t the branch or off-spring of David also the secret mystery of God hid from the world from the foundation thereof effectually moves the waters and a mighty worke done doth visibly appear to all men in uttering the word of salvation beyond the reach and capacity of all carnall Jews who are angry thereat seeking to take away the life and light of the Author of it who never appeareth but they find their Sabbath broken their power impaired or one or other of their carnal laws of sin death cries out in them as being violated as by him that coms to torment them before the time so that in the visibility of him who is invisible we rejoyce with Moses and fear not the wrath of the King In that you say that in the spirit of meeknesse and lowlinesse out of much love you came into these parts such a spirit we can thankfully imbrace knowing that it is the Spirit of the Redeemer who is meek in the losse of all humane and worldly helps without the least murmuring or grudging not opening his mouth in the language of the world in any thing whatsoever Also lowly submitting unto the spirit and will of the Father in whom or in whomsoever it appeareth the Spirit of the loving and loyall Spouse never admits of any divorse in that espousall but in all things submits unto and obeys Abraham and cals him And whosoever doth not become as a little child cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven But we know also that he who comes meek and lowly he comes so therein as he saves himself which is the part of a Victor and Conquerour and the prudent and diligent woman or Spouse clothes her Husband and Family with Scarlet her Husband is known in the Gate when he sitteth among the Elders by her industry yea the heart of her Husband doth safely trust in her so as he fears no spoil and whoso becomes as a child is greatest in the Kingdome of Heaven for in the mouths of Babes and Sucklings God hath ordained and founded his strength And in us a Child is born in us a Son is given but the government is upon his shoulder and he is called Wonderfull Counseller the mighty God t e everlasting Father the Prince of Peace so that whereever this lowly and meek Spirit is there is also the Spirit of that Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah and the Lord thereby shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Ierusalem and the Heavens and the Earth shall shake but the Lord is the hope of his people and the strength of the Children of Israel True lowlyness of spirit and the loftiest minde that ever was are never separated for these twain are made one so as never to be separated no more than a child in point of all humane abilities and the antient of daies shall For as we receive the Kingdom of Heaven as a little child so we are never otherwise in the same respect which we know no wisdom humane serpentine or upon principles properto a creature can ever yeeld unto or finde out And therefore we are fooles unto the world being bereaved of all their principles in regard of any exercise of them according to their proper intent in any of our designs Our wisdom consults not upon any of their principles our judgement determines not according