learne to know what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God that they may do it as they see the servants that are joyned to his body to do and in this estate they are to walke in the light of those which are perfect members in the body of the sufferings for Christ Jesus Iohn 3.19 21. with Heb. 13.7 8. 3. Now if any are able to hold the word of the new Testament in the enmity against the world then they present their Members as weapons of righteousnesse unto holinesse Rom. 6.19 wherein they are to do the will of God in their own persons and to walk worthy of the mysteries of holinesse which they take unto themselves in the Law of seperation 2 Cor. 6.16.17 2. In the Law of the love of the Creator Isa. 56. 6. Heb. 4.3 4. 3. In the Coeincorporation by Baptisme into the body and death of Christ Rom. 6.3 c. Col. 2. 6 11 13. These degrees are of necessity to be of speed that none may presume to come into the service of the only true God without an evident calling and preparation for so holy a work 2. I conceive the wedding garment to be the true and perfect love of God in Christ thus There are 3 undevidable gifts whereof if one faile all the other cease from Christ viz. 1 Faith 2. Hope and 3 Love 1 Cor. 13.13 1. Faith is the substance of all the invisible promises which we hope for whereby we beleeve that we shall enjoy them as certainly as if we did now enjoy them in sight sence and feeling Heb. 11. 1.2 hope is the meanes whereby we are saved and preserved notwithstanding all morral temptations to wayte in patience for what our faith apprehends but cannot see it with mortall eye Rom. 8.24.25 35.1 Pet. 1.5.1 Cor. 2.9.10 3. Love extends it selfe beyond all for as the exercise and manifestation of it is in the keeping of the Commandements which concerne both our Lord God and our neighbours Marke 12.29.30 31. so this love is stronger then all yea then death and it only is worthy of the wedding feast for hereby all pleasures friends wife yea and life is hated in respect of this calling to the wedding supper and Communion of Christ in immortality whereas all that love other things more then this Communion do justly perish in their false and mortall love and those which presume to come with a heart and a heart that is without this perfect love in the marriage of the sonne of the blessed are all justly cast out for profaining the pure and immortall love with an unclean and mortall lust Mat 22 2 c. with Luke 16. c. to 26. Eph. 5.23 â—o 32.2 Cor. 3.5.4 1. All that live in common or open sins doe live without God in the world and these are unworthy of the love of the righteous for they will be a reproach unto such men wherefore it is of necessity that first all sinners do so know God as not to sin against his presence and word and to have a good report for their conversation in the world before they can be reconciled to God so as to be joyned in common love with the righteous in Christ 3. I understand from Iohn 3.8 That there is a twofold wind or spirit 1. The one is called the common wind spirit or ayre whereby all flesh do breath and live the naturall and mortall life as Wisd. 7.1 with Gen. 7.21.22 23. The unclean or common spirit hath the authority of this ayre and he worketh in all that have their conversation in the lusts of the flesh c. Eph. 2.2.3 2. The other is called the holy wind of spirit whereby such as are begotten from above by the spirit do breath and live the spirituall and immortall life Iohn 3.3.5.8 1 Pet. 1.3.23.1 Cor. 2.15.12.16 This holy wind is the spirit of truth which the Lord Jesus giveth to all that he calleth and chuseth out of the world which worketh in all Children that walke after that holy wind minding the things that are above in Heaven after the life of immortality Iohn 14.17.26 Rom. 8.1.14 Col. 3.1 2. 4. All the world is darke and is laid in wickednesse and for this their sins are condemned and dead in the Law before Christ Jesus came when he came in the flesh he was the light of the world and all that by the discovery of that light hated their evil workes did come unto the light and love to walke in it doing the truth that their workes may be manifested to be done in God but on the other side there were and are another seed that have enmity against the light and the Children of light and these will not come unto the light but hate the light because they love their own evill workes of darknesse this light then is the confirmation of their former condemnation without any remedy Iohn 1.5.9 with 3.11 to 21. with 8.12 24. 5. The work of God for salvation is proposed by the house of God 1 Tim. 3 15. All that sin against the Law of the house are enemies to God Ezeck. 43.7 to 11.12 All that are reconciled in their mindes and will no more sin against God by transgressing the Law of his house do first desire and make peace with any of the servants of God that keepe the house After this admittance they have freedom to converse with the houshold servants and to learne the orders of the house and may see the service and God and behold their faith and godly conversation in love but yet as strangers they are not imployed in any service of God to do as his servants neither may they dare to presume or be admitted thereunto If any do desire to draw near unto the Majesty of the Lord of the house as servant he must be admitted according to the Law of the house in that kind and from that time he must do all the will of God as the other servants do 6. The men of this worldly authority when they have Christ or any of his Christians under their hands in torments do boast against them to save themselves thinking that none can save our of their hands but this is the gate of God whereby the righteous do go unto God in Heavenly peace Mar. 50.30 31. Psal. 118.17.20 The 2. day of the week THere is come into my mind a sight of darknesse and light and how the Children thereof are profitable or unprofitable to themselves how they treasure to themselves hatred and wrath or love and good pleasure from the only true God Thus the darknesse is this world and the auâ—hority of darknes is the tyrannizing authority over the truth The light is the Law of the world to come the authority thereof is Christ in the authority of suffering for well doing The Children of darknes are they which live after the course of this present evill world and the glory authority thereof these go into darknesse continually till they
be deadly enmity betweene the old and the new a contrary and dis-joyned nature in either if once the old man get the victorie againe by any meanes over the new it is to be feared that he will make himselfe sure enough in the condemnation as that he shall never recover himselfe to live by repentance as Heb. 6. 4. to 8. 2. If the flesh should prevaile against the spirit then Goliah doth overcome David and the spirituall and new man in Christ is slaine and who can save it And many absurdities will arise 3. But seeing that which is borne from above after the spirit of Christ is of the spirit and that which is after the flesh is flesh distinctly as are flesh and spirit mortall and immortall distinct the least part of that immortall spirit must needs be stronger then the strongest felsh of the body for it is stronger then all the fleshly power of the world 1 Ioh. 4.2.4 4. Againe the new man after it hath a being in a man is increased dayly in the regeneration but the old man dyeth dayly in his generation therefore that regenerate an which groweth dayly getteth the victory to day is better able to overcome to morrow 2 Cor. 4.16 5. Thus the comparison is made true for David how little or young soever he was well able by the power of his God to kill for ever the man of flesh that had none but mortall defence and that before he came so neer as to encounter with him for he fought for the hope of Israel 6. Againe the comparison of the Sunne shadowed with black clouds in not to this purpose for we grant thus much that they have not alwayes the Sunne-shine but have sometimes heavinesse and temptations in the flesh which being overcome the comforts returne from above but expect man can prove that the light of the Sunne is overcome in its course of the contrary darknesse otherwise then in the order of the day and night it confirmeth that the Sonne of righteousnesse never ceaseth to shine more or lesse and all times sufficiently testifie to the conscience that the Sunne giveth light through the clouds to keep darkenes from the understanding till the day be ended by death 7. And where it is said in conclusion that the birth is not perfected untill the generall day of his resurrection this absolutly denieth the former and the nature of regeneration namely that he is regenerate and a new man for one cannot be a man till he be borne Therefore the new men must needs have a perfect birth before it can be a new man and so before the resurrection For after Beptisme this new man which is now created in body is in his account risen from the dead and living together with Christ Cel. 2.11.12 Rom. 6.3 to 11. All which sheweth the power and truth of the regeneration that where divine nature doth live as doth a renewed minde the flesh of that man must needs be kept that Satan shall not touch that body to overcome the divine nature so as to yeeld the members of that man to the service of sinne unto death 1 Ioh. 5.18 Rom. 13.16.23 By this Doctrine we may distinguish in word and deed and know every one by their fruits for the word and spirit of Christ is the same in operation in all that are adopted Men are not the children of God to day and of the Devill to morrow as they might be under the worldly justifications but all they which are perfect in heart whom the Lord loves are obedient to death and he loves to the end 9. It is manifest that the wedding garment is to love the marriage more then all goods in the world or then ones own life If any be found to presume to come to the weding without this perfect love he be convinced to want it he is condemned of his conscience as guilty and God doth condemne him and execute him by himselfe as he did Ananias and Saphira for they not having this perfect love which was required but a heart to love his money in part was thus executed for he was silent to death Mat. 22.1 to 12. Acts 5.1 c. 10. Among the Christians that are joyned to the Lord Jesus Christ to shew his death there is in love a twofold communion the one lesse and farther off the other great and neere to the Lord The first is communion of goods Act. 4.32 The next is communion of sufferings as in one body and Church of Christ 1 Pet. 4.8.13 16. with I Ioh. 3.16 Now in this brotherhood if any have the good of this world and doe not communicate in love to him that hath need it is impossible that hee can have that love of God to lay down his life blood for his brother that will not lay downe dayly as his common food to sustaine him 1 Ioh. 3.16 17. Therefore it is the judgement of the holy spirit that whosoever is false in the common communion of goods cannot hold the love in the holy communion of the body and blood of the Lord and therefore the holy Spirit doth give us to understand that it is better for the man that doth lye and dissemble in the common communion and more for the glory of God that such an one should dye by the hand of the invisible God in the first offence then that he should live longer to blaspheme and deny the love of the Lord that made him when he should com tobe tryed for his love how he doth hold the communion in the death of Christ as Acts 5.1 to 13. 11. This common communion is naturall and is as food given to one part as to the mouth or distributeth the good and efficacy thereof to all and every of the members of the same body yet it must be left free to the will of the possessor and not in bondage under the seare of carnall compulsion for this is coutrary to the nature and holy spirit of love but if a man see the necessities of the body and sell any thing the money remaines free at his voluntary disposing in love Act. 5.4 Or if a brother have much good in the world he gives as the seeth good in love of the immortall good and life Iames 2.8 12. 1 Ioh. 3.17 with 23. This Commandement to love one another the Lord gave especially to his Disciples and every one is to try his owne heart how this love remaineth in him and the judgment of this Law is left to his spirit so as every Christian that suffereth want is to possesse his soule in patience of poverty sickneâ— or imprisonment toward his brother as towards his neighbour in this respect and not so much as to desire any of his goods but leave his heart to the motion of the God of all mercy and love Notwithstanding on his part it shall be required that detaineth that which is fit As if by the example of others own purpose and promise to sell and
their kinde as 2 Pet. 2.22 Or evill trees cannot but bring forth evill fruit whatsoever they shew at first Whereas good simple and perfect of heart that hath received the good seed will bring forth fruit to perfection When the tree is of a good nature it cannot but bring forth good fruit Math. 7.16 c. The branch that is in Christ is fruitfull to the Father and it is more fruitfull Ioh. 15.1 c. The new man that is once borne againe from above is renewed dayly 2 Cor. 5.17 with 4.16 Men that are imperfect and wavering minded will looke forward and then backward Luk. 9.62 Iam. 1.8 Whereas perfect men forgetting the things behinde doe stretch forward to the things before they presse hard to the marke c. Phil. 3.13.14.15 All that are perfect in love mercy towards the Brethren the grace of God and his love and mercy remaineth firme to them 6. There is great difference betweene the repentance under the Law of works and the repentance under the Law of faith They after the Leviticall Law were borne holy according to the carnall Commandement and were instructed in the Law of God from the breasts and whensoever they sinned they repented and were justified by the works of the Law and because their conscience was never freed from the weaknesse of the flesh they fell commonly into sinne and repented and this was the course of the obedient men such as of David till they came to know the free justification of God by faith whereas the true repentance after the Priesthood of Christ doth clense the Conscience from the guilt of all sinnes past and doth perfect them from that minde of the flesh so as sin doth no looger raigne in their mortall body but in this justification by faith in Christ they present themselves to God as living from the dead and their members weapons of righteousnesse to God Hebr. 9.9 14. Rom. 6.2 12.13 The third day of the VVeeke THe mysteries of the Kingdome are shewed by the Parable of a Sower Luk. 8.10 c. with 5. The Sower is the Sonne of man and the seed is the word of God inlightening to immortality The Deceiver is the Devill both as hee is a spirit and as he hath the authority in men of this world which as vessell or a bed do cover and darken the light of immortality in this world under mortality The men that heare the word are of foure sorts The first sort of hearers are onely hearers and no doers these deceive themselves in the vaine knowledge of the word for the Devill and the World take away the word from the heart that they cannot beleeve the truth of it in such sort as to reforme their lives and to fulfill it in their obedience that so they should be saved but as an hard way hath seed and sheweth it as to allure the fowles of the ayre So aâ— hardâ—â—d heart and worldly minde as Matth. 13.15 May have knowledge by the word but they onely boast of it in a common profession after the mortall life whereby they may be made the better instruments for the Devill to possesse such hearts commonly to serve every lust as turne and to be subject even as for a man to walk in a hard way at his pleasure these are such as know but beleeve not 2 The second sort are such as receive the seed in stony ground These doe both know and beleeve the Word so as with joy to doe it very hastely for as the stony ground doth make the seed to spring forth soonest so these take the Word quickly with joy as Mat. 17.13.5.20 Matt. 4.5 but have no strength of heart to hold the word constantly in the faith hope and love of immortality but when the mortall Authorities come upon them and afflict them with the Sun beames of their torments and chastise them as a Father for that they would forsake them and their mortall glory to embrace a vaine base word as it seemeth to them without any wordly society honour or pleasure And thus wordly men being offended at the Word do rage against these sort of people that with such joy received it whose hearts also being not prepared for these tryals doe faint under the burthen and all their knowledge faith and obedience to the word is by force of the hard persecution disdained to bee any longer beleeved in their heart and as stony ground it is able to bring the fruit of the word to no further perfection therefore they now submit their heart to the power that oppresseth from without them by which all their former light is concluded in darkenesse 3. The third sort are such as receive the seed amongst thornes These also are such as know and believe for a time but they nourish an enemy to the word within them namely worldly cares desire of riches and the pleasures of this mortall life which may seeme to sustain and to give honour and credit to the word but in the end it will quite chocke the faith hope and love to immortality as that such will fall away of themselves wholly to imbrace this present world the reason is because these were never perfect in love nor sound in the faith but having a heart and a heart the deceits of sin which are in the world through lust growing naturally in the hart will soone exalt such men in pride of knowledge to fall into the condemnation of the Devill secretly For thus much doth the parable import to them which know it that the seede which fulleth among thornes doth by helpe of the thornes in some part of the seede spring up to be taller and longer yet at length the thornes take away the naturall being of the corne so as it perisheth as a man whose breath is stopped if the thornes riches and pleasures of life be cut down and fall from him he is seen to fall of himself as a tree that being decayed at the roote is overswayed of the top and the fall thereof is greater by how much the weight of the branches is heavier This is the estate of those which receive the word of Christ with the glory of the world pleasures of sâ—â—s the greater shew it maketh the greater shame it bringeth in the end the greater condemnation in the word and none of these can bring forth fruit to perfection 4. The last sort of men are like good ground These receive the word as the Children of wisdom and the Children of light they know believe the word with reverence they prepare the heart that it be gentle perfect and simple as worthy to receive it being carefull that what they know and believe they may hold both in profession and practice constantly and with increase wherefore this good ground bringeth forth fruit in patience Luke 8.15 The reason is because of the contrariety of the evill one either in worldly authorities or in the lusts of the flesh which hate the word
spirit of Christ manifested in expresse words doth resist all meanes of salvation for Christ came and gave his word to be made so plaine with his life-blood that now no man can more sensibly apprehend the image and nature of God and Christ then by the letter which we by reading doe conceive in our minde so as though a man walke according to all that is written and yet deny one little direction this man resisteth God with open face this one word which hee despiseth to doe it will cut him off from the life of the Christian and for this one thing the peace and protection of Almighty will goe from him so as hee will be in feare night and day and evill may come to him suddenly out of which he cannot escape because the word of God is against him the least part whereof is stronger then that min can quiet or justifie his owne heart against it for it may be concluded that what man soever wilâ— not yeeld obedience to an expresse word will not follow the inspiration of God moving his conscience without an evident Scripture either to do good to others or evill to his flesh for Christs sake 3. It is great hypocrisie for men to preach the honour and glory of the Crosse of Christ when they tkemselves feare or refuse the condemnation of the Crosse in the testimony or martyrdome of Jesus Christ The first day of the Weeke 1 THe Lord Jesus Christ devideth himselfe into three parts Ioh. 14.6 saying I am 1. The way 2. The truth 3. The life that whosoever suffers for any of these doth suffer for Christs sake 1. The way is the devision of the Christians from the glory and authority of the worldly Priesthood to follow him in spirit and truth according to the invisible authority of his Priesthood 2. The Truth is the Law Psal. 119 142. whose perfection as it is spirituall every Christian acknowledgeth and suffeth for it And in this sence it may be said that John Baptist his blood was shed for Christ insomuch as he suffered for the testimony of the truth or spirituall law against turpitude in unlawfull marriage 3. The Life is the immortality after the death and resurrection of the Body If the carnall authority doe by their force withhold this life mortality and enforce to take the Gospel in a mortall state in this case the faith or Jesus Christ is suffered for in the confession of his glory to bee enjoyed in immortality and not in this present life 2. I have meditated how the fear of God-Lord is the beginning of wisdome to the Nations that are not under the Law When by any meanes any of them come to have any thing to doe with the Lord he first requireth them to feare his Name which is to depart from evill pride of minde and every way which is contrary to his Word This feare worketh a knowledge of his invisible and terrible presence that as a man will not sinne against his Law so he will not presume to partake of his service and holy things or any of his Mysteries untill this feare have wrought a reconciliation and peace of Conscience with God in such sort as he so apprehendeth the immortall Lord in his minde that he inclineth to love him and to desire his Law in his heart or minde and to make an everlasting covenant with him in the mysteries of Christ Whosoever of the Nations that hath his heart thus purified by faith willingly to take upon him the yoake and Law of Christ in love is accepted of God as a sonne to partake of the mysteries of his holynesse 3. Whether we ought yeeld to a mans private opinion thus farre as not to offend him in doing what he misliked Offences arise either in respect of the authoritie of God or of man In respect of God the offence doth rise from the world or any of the world when they doe offend any that beleeve in Christ and doe hurt them in contempt of the authority of the Word of God Matth. 18.6.7 Againe offences arise betweene the servante of God when the authority of his Word is denyed by transgressing the law thereof in any thing Offences arise in respect of the authoritie of men when the authority of Jew of Gentile is publikely provoked by trangressing their Commandements or blaspheming their divine worship Act. 19.37 Againe offâ—â—ce is also given by the Christian if he offer any violence or carnall force or use any evill words against a man that is otherwise perswaded then by the word of Christ that walketh after his owne heart neither according to the Law of God nor the course of the Commonwealth In this case as I offend him not by evill word or deeds so I am not bound to doe as he dotâ— that I may nor offend him but let him follow hâ—â— will and I will follow the law of righteousness otherwise in this I may be brought in bondage a private mans conceit I may harden him in errour and partake in his folly And at last 〈◊〉 should be drawne to offend both the authority 〈◊〉 God and man by favouring every one that are â—â—ven up to a reprobate sence The second day of the Week THe justifying of a sinner in the blood of Christ is the act of the spirit of Christ and it hath 2 parts 1. The acquitting of all sins past that the sinner have no feare or conscience of guilt or punishment for them Rom. 3.25 and this is applyed by the merit of his blood 2. The preserving from all sin by the power and spirit of Christ so as the evill one cannot touch him by prevailing against the man whom Christ hath made righteous to move or carry him to do any sin but on the contrary he shewâ—th forth the righteousnesse of God in Christ by the saith of Jesus whereby he communicateth in the sufferings and blood of Christ in his own â—ody The third day of the week JEsus is truly a doore to his suffering Christians on this manner that when they through many tribulations are brought to death then through his presence they enter into life for as it is by fight in a doore whereby men enter into other places so when we come to death there are two doores the great doore openeth to passe into the torment of the second death the straiter doore openeth to passe from death to eternall life and this doore and way is Jesus to all that suffer death in the testimony of his name The fourth day of the week I Cannot but admire the wisdom of the only true God who having put enmyty into the world so as of necessity offences are taken against his holy people to condemn them according to their worldly wisdom and carnall authority hath also given a Law in Christ according to which he will justâ—fie his Children against the condemnation of meâ— as Rom. 8.33 As if our heavenly Father should say I have given you my Law and I have
may bee left to the evill of the world and doe now confesse our sinne against Christ and our readinesse to deny the faith of Jesus and doe take our sicknesse weaknesse or danger of infection with the sinne of the world as a chastisement for our profit as 1 Cor. 11.29 30.31.32 and learning obedience under the present hand of our Lord resolving to renew our Covenants in his communion and doe thus with simple hearts pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by the spirit of holynesse in his resurrection all things will worke that we may live to glorifie God our Creator in the love of his Word and may be preserved to obtaine that crowne of life which is in the Martyrdome of Jesus The first day of the VVeeke THere is a corporall idlenesse which is the way of deadly sinne as Ezech. 16.49 And there is a spirituall idlenesse which is the way of apostasie from Christ as 2 Pet. 1.5 to 8. Now the common Professors and such as have the authority and glory of the world know no Idlenesse but bodily idlenesse and when they urge men to labour they compell to bodily labour in a worldly calling for riches or to get the meat that perisheth but how to labour for assurance to make their calling and election sure they are blinde Wherefore seeing corporall labour is but a type or example of true Christian labour in the minde all that so much urge labour in an outward calling and confound the labour in inward calling as a thing inferiour to the type these are deceivers of mens minde and to bee avoided Mark 8.36 The sixth day of the week J Understand by that in Rom. 3.5 to 8 How God in judging the world bringeth wrath upon man for their sinnes If man doth repent and turne to God tho unrighteousnesse and the lye according to which he walked before his conversion doth now commend the righteousnesse and truth of God thuâ— in that he which was unrighteous is not now to be judged according to what he was namely a sinner but the righteousnesse of God is to bee commended in him because that he which was a sinner is now righteous and will doe no evill no not though good may come of it and the lye of him which was once deceived maketh the truth of God abound to his glory thus in that he which was a lyar doth now walke in the truth and convinceth the world of Gune The first day of the Weeke JN this plague I have considered the enmity of God Iam. 4.4 How from the beginning since mankind was devided upon the earth the judgement of God the Creator and the judgement of men are contrary In that evill men sit on earth to judge God in his word and people Rom. 3.4 and on the other side God sitteth invisibly on his thraone judging the men of the world in righteousnesse Psa. 9.1 Chro. 16.14 2 Chron. 6.30 The judgements of men are in sight but the judgements of God are seen of his people by faith and they discerne how God hee killeth men by the plague c. According to the judgement of men Christ and all his people have their tempration under the authorities of men Luk. 22.28 According to the judgement of God the whole world hath its temptation comming from God Rev. 3 10. From whence we may gather in truth that seeing these two judgement seates are so contrary and the people that are separated to put difference so contrary the people of God are so farre from partaking of the judgements of God upon the people of the world as the people of the world are farre from the judgements of men in the sufferings of Christ Notwithstanding if any of the people that are separated to God doe sinne secretly or openly hee judgeth them by plague or other curses and so killeth them like wicked men of the world as Levit 26 25 25-Num 16.11 46. with Rev. 2.21 23. 2. I consider that it proceedeth from the efficacie of the resurrection of Christ to justifie from sinne Rom. 4 25. with 1.4 5.1 19. And all that doe not apprehend the truth of Christ raysed from the dead they are yet in their sinnes 1 Cor. 15.17 All that condemne us for doing the Law in the righteousnesse of Christ doe judge the Law and doe in effect say that the Law is sin as Rom. 7 7. whereas all that doe the Law confirme it to be holy just and good The third day of the week BY observing the power of God present tâ— helpe I have compared salvation from the plague or other such curses by the faith of Jesus to that salvation from the biâ—ing of Serpents when by faith they looked to the Brasen Serpent and to the word of our God for helpe as Num. 21. with Ioh. 8.14.15 That whosoever can by the word within him apply the communion of Christ either in his own body by suffring as a Christian or in true love and mercy with any that so suffer If any such are smitten or infected with the plague and they presently pray in faith to Jesus the King of Israel looking to his power authority and immortality together also to the fellowship of his sufferings here on earth I am perswaded that the plague shall have no more power over their bodies but they shall be preserved to glorifie God in the love of the Church of Christ as they desire but they must be mindfull in every danger presently to looke up to Jesus whom God gave to save the world and they must looke or pray in faith of his name and of his judgement Joh 3.16.17.18 The fourth day of the week I Have considered that they which have the Martyrdome of Christ God truely known to them in their owne sufferings have the communion of the Sonne of God Jesus Christ in whom they are wonderfully inriched in all speech and in all knowledge 1 Cor. 1.5 to 9. with 2.1.2 The fifth day of the week I Have considered the wonderfull price of mans purchase and the reason of our being Gods owne peculiar body in this price given thus Christ having given himselfe for the life of the world and being gloryfied from the sufferings in mortality hath obtained to give his holy spirit to those which follow him in the new birth Ioh. 14.16 26. with Act. 2.33 All therefore that deny themselves in their sinnes and bring their bodies subject to God so as he accepts of their body for a Temple by the gift of his Holy Spirit these are now bought with this price of the holy Spirit which is of God Therefore seeing the spirit which is in the body is one with God in Christ it is manifest that not so much as the body is any mans owne but it is Christs which liveth in it 1 Cor 6.19.20 17. with Gal. 2.20 And thus every man that in the Baptisme of Christ hath received the earnest of his Spirit as 2 Cor. 1.22 5.5 Ephes. 1.14 Is bought
come thither they spend every day without any other then mortall profit so they passe away the year and it goes into darknesse without comfort at length they have consumed the length of their Age and then they go into darknesse without so much as worldly good These are shut up in darknesse kept unto the Judgement of the Lord who shall render to them according to their unprofitable and evill workes The Children of light are they which exercise themselves in the Law and light that shineth to mortality eschewing evill and doing good as if they were alwayes with the Father of lights and enlightened to treasure to themselves for the time to come Those go into light continually every day addeth unto their strength and they profit in the true riches which preserve the man of God to an immortall life the day and the year they spend in the light going to immortality and the time filleth up to their comfort and consumeth their evill sorrow and sufferings for the light sake in this world when they have spent their time all their labours go with them they go out of this world as a good Servant to be refreshed and rewarded for his good service their immortall soule is gathered into Paradice and joy way ting yet for the day of Judgement and Redemption of the body when according to their good workes they shall be crowned with unutterable and immortall glory Thus the Children of light do so number their dayes and spend their time as that they may apply their hearts unto wisdom and to receive the honour and glory thereof whereas the Children of this world as a bird that rejoyceth in the bait before the snare turne over and take it so these rejoyce in their temporary pleasures and mortall joyes untill the Judgement of the Lord overtake them in their rioting as a snare out of which they shall not nor cannot escape Luke 21.28.35 2. It is appointed from the beginning as the onely way to immortality from mortality that righteousnesse here should suffer in inseculer conflicts which conflicts whosoever refuse thereby to save their mortall life do loose the immortall life and that justly because they feare man more then the maker of man Mat. 10.28 to 39. 3. As treasure is distributed to the poore by the hands of men so the treasure of the spirit of Christ is communicated to the poore which live in the world by the distribution of the poore to whom it is committed The 3. day of the week I Have seen how the Children of this world study Athisme or to live without God in that whereas the Godly study to retoine God in all their knowledge by doing the worke of the word in all obedience to it as to God Rom 1.28 Jam. 1.22.25 with Iohn 1.1 These of the world on the other side will not have God in all their thoughts but as ungodly do make voide all ungodlinesse and conscience of God above and mind only the feare of men and the love of this present world so as they keepe their Conscience sanctified towards men to shine forth onely from themselves to others though in words they professe to know God and Christ yet all their thoughts and practices do manifestly shew that they do deny to know God as he is in spirit and truth to live in all good Conscience to him as all do that hold the power of the word is it is from the authority of the living God and not from men as it requireth obedience of all without respect of Pope Prelate Emperour King Prince Noble Ignoble Jew Gentile Bond or Free Male or Female 2. The tryall of Christians by torments to death is to discover the man of God that is the hidden man of the heart which in Christ is renewed againe in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse which as the power and spirit of Christ the word doth shew it solfe more lively in the sufferings of the mortall body for whereas the persecutors are deluded to think that there is no immortall soule in man but that their soules and bodies shall dye together these Christians by their faith in the estate of immortality â—o put a wonderfull difference in that there is in them a mind and spirit to overcome all the paines and torments of their body and to tryumph over all the power and authority of men and mortality which doth evidently shew that in such men the divine nature of Christ in immortality is distinct from the humane nature of mortality as death is distinct from life which spirit and divinity of Christ as it doth sustaine them to suffer death so it shall raise from death every body that is sanctified by its abiding within it 3. The sufferings of Christ do also put difference between those which worship and serve God in spirit and truth and those which worship him in word or outward forme for whereas all men in the world have God without them and the power of God without them yea and the heathen to shew the mouth of mans heart do make Gods to looke upon without thom and do within themselves retaine the wisdom power and authority of their Gods and that without or against the true God and his Law or authority on the other side the Christians only have the living God his word power and authority within them and wheresoever or in what estate soever they be they carry their God within them and their heart is to him as the Arke to hold his Law and their body to containe his glorious essence so far as every one is capable of it and this part or distribution of the spirit of God to every body doth witnesse and testifie to the Conscience together with the invisible and inconceaveable Majesty of the spirit of God above that they are of the seede and Children of the living God in immortality whereby also they may serve God in truth without any legall forme or visible worship in place or company The manifestation of this is first within every one to do according to the diverse effects the reoâ— in so much as if it be so that many do meete together which have the gift of the same spirit the more there are the greater is the presence and power of God that even the place doth shake as the glory of the one invisible Majesty of God inspiring and expiring the severall effects of the essence of Gods spirit 4. I have understanding of the power of God in the word which saith that if thou shalt confesse with thy month the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart it is believed unto righteousnes and with the mouth it is confessed unto salvation Rom. 10.9.10 And thus I propose it There are all manner of Torments proposed and threatned to be inflicted upon whomsoever shall confesse the Lord Jesus to be Christ the Judge of all if none dare to confesse with his
mouth what he believeth in his heart for of the torments he goeth back from Christ but if any see the prize in immortality namely Jesus the Authoux and perfecter of that faith raised from the dead and believeth in his heart that if he suffer death with Christ God will also raise him by Christ to life this faith will encourage a Christian to enter the conflict in the love of Christ and without feare to confesse to his name If after they enter combate with the seede of the serpent are at length vanquished by intollerable payne and are not able to indure the agony and conflict of Martyrdom they loose the glory of their confession for they are to hold the confession of their faith constantly unto death without wavering But if they looke to the end of the conflict and set their eyes on the resurrection of Jesus they by the power of his love will hate their mortall life and think it long before they can come to knock at the gates of death whereof he hath the keyes to receive such into life Rev. 1.18 5. These sufferings of Christ are of absolute necessity to enter in life and immortality for by meanes of the Serpent we have put on the old and sinfull man which is mortall by reason of the lusts of deceit And therefore in Jesus Christ we must put off this body of sin by death that we may put on the new and spirituall man which is immortall by reason of this love in the truth 6. The necessity of chastisements in Christ are shewed by a Schoolmaster The Child naturally hates his book and would never learne it except the Master did by his presence and chastisements keepe him to learne The Child is the Christian the book is to learn Christ Ephes. 4.20 the rod are men in authority the Schoolmaster is the Law or the heavenly Father discovering our miserable and mortall estate by the Law of his presence And as a Child so a Christian if he should not learne obedience by what he suffers would soone grow wild and vain such as are worldly Christians that in time are grown so proud as to blot the book and teare it to despise and burne the rod and to correct controule contradict and defie the good Master The 4. day of the Week I Have observed the course of Religion in the world and I find that another word and authority doth alter the Religion As in Christian Religion the word or Law of the Church is Christ manifest in the Scriptures and Doctrine from the beginning The authority thereof is from Heaven manifested in power to hold the words against the authority of men The Sea or seate to governe according to this world and new Covenant is the Lord Jesus his 12. Apostles and all that are built upon them having the same word and spirit their conversation is love meeknesse and humility towards others so as he which is most poore and humble in the flesh is endued with most authority in the spirit of holinesse their faith is in immortality after this mortality according to the Communion in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ the head of the whole Church of true Christians If now there stand up another man that taketh upon him the Christian Religion and the maine of Jesus Christ and the apostolick Sea if he bring in any other word he bringeth in another Christ he alâ—ereth the Religion if another authority of carnall force to impose his word upon the Consciences of men he opposeth Jesus in his spirituall authority which worketh in the heart invisibly if he under the name of Christ enforce other Christians by oppression to do contrary to any word or any jot or title of the Scriptures delivered by the foundation of the Christian Church he is an Antichrist he denyeth the Father by presuming to possesse the Conscience of man which he made with his word and he denyeth the Sonne in denying the word and the power thereof The Conversation of such is also contrary to the suffering Christians being putt up with mortall pride to exalt themselves one over another in the flesh and pride of life Their faith is also contrary in that it is fixed on mortality wherein they rejoyce and are confident of the durable estate in the pleasures of sin And thus the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ immortality is in all things perverted under the colour of his own name and of his own word and Ordinances to mortality and wickednesse greater then paganisme 2. It is observed that in processe of time after the much blood of the Christians had brought forth the world to bee Christian from that time the Church of Christ ceased to be visible of the world and the world blinded it self under the name of the Church of Christ which cannot so be for Ecclesia the Church of Christ consisteth of the people that in all times are called out of the world to the unity of spirit now the world cannot be called out of it self Therefore the true and spirituall Christians are hidden to the world under the feighned and carnall Christians yet the Church is as visible in it selfe now as it was viz. when Christians suffer joyfully under worldly Christians for the same cause of the Word Commandement and Faith of immortality as they did in the beginning 3. Men deny the Catholike Faith when they labour to comprehend it under their carnall authority For the Catholike Faith must needs be granted from the name of it to be both universall and spirituall If then it is such a Faith as is to extend to all the ends of the earth such as withstand it or hinder the spreading thereof by their wisdome and power do deny that the Faith should be universally obeyed and so Catholick Again sâ—eing Faith is the onely work of the spirit of truth which spiritually worketh in all men alike If anyby carnall authority doe hinder the spirituall work of Christ they fight against the spirit and Faith of Christ to bee preached to all nations for the finishing of the Body and Church of Christ And thus some that professe themselves to be of the Catholicke Faith of the Church may deny it yea fight against both the faith and the universality thereof 4. If prayers and tears are the weapons defence and authority of the true Church of Christ as all grant then fire and sword must needs bee the weapons and offensive authority whereby the kingdom of Antichrist is discovered in all places 5. It is a horrible thing to behold the Creator without Christ the Word For he teacheth with terror of death for transgression of the Law but he that seeing his estate to bee thus before God and goeth to Christ and learneth obedience in the word and in the death of Jesus Christ shall in him have boldnesse to stand before the throne of his gracein immortality 6. A truth may be preached and yet made utterly void by worldly practize as the popish
spirit of the Christian from Christ Heb. 2.14 with Mat. 16.18 through this gate Jesus Christ the head is entered into the Kingdom of Heaven and from death is living in immortality Luke 24.26 Rev. 1.18 Christ therefore being in the state or immortall glory knocketh on the farther side of the gate calleth to his spouse that are in suffering estate of mortall shame to come away to him from mortality to immortality On this hither side of the gate the spouse or Church which are every suffering Christian in the truth do knock when they sigh in their â—â—ibulations being oppressed and grieved desiring that mortality may be swallowed up of life and wishing hartâ—ly that they might be out of mortall bodies be present with the Lord which is best of all 2 Cor. 42.4.6.8 Phil. 1.23 And thus we may understand how earnestly Christ the husband knocks at one side calling the Christian his wife and we may consider how lovingly the wife also knocks at the other side beseeching him to draw her and indue her with power to put off the mortall cloathing whereby she is yet holden in this world from him that so she may overcome all the power principalities and authorities which do keepe them from the full enjoying of love not that Christ can come to his spouse againe into a mortall and cursed estate but that she having the earnest of his spirit may follow him through the straightest gates to his glory in an immortall and blessed estate And as many as are thus gathered unto Christ from mortality are the Church of the first borne written in the Heavens and their spirits are perfected all which at the time of the judgement of Christ shall receive that Kingdom of God which cannot be moved Heb. 12.22 to 28. 4. It grieves me to heare such as think themselves to be spirituall and Christians to boast in a carnall mortall Bondage after the worldly elements of the heathen whereby they are inforced to eat swines flesh as a thing necessary to eternall salvation and to justifie themselves in defiance of God his holy spirit and word whereas in Christ the lawfull meates which were sanctified to an holy Use for sacrifice profited not to purge the Conscience from sin nor to justifie before the holy God of Israell Heb. 9.8 c. These therefore are much deceived and blinded in mortality and reprobate to every good work as Tit. 1.15.16 untill they are by the light of the word enlightened to immortality and by the grace of God the saviour which hath appeared unto all men are by chastisement taught what to deny how to live and for what to waite Tit. 2.7 to 14. 5. From the fulfilling of this word I will have mercy and not sacrifice Mat. 12.7 Hos. 6.7 is shewed what the Lord rejecteth and what he now requireth in Christ If any man bring to God an offering or be envious against a brother or neighbour for Gods sake as he thinketh first he rejecteth the offering for that it is the gain of oppression as if God should say I gave thee life and commanded thee not to defraud or oppresse therefore I will not â—obery for an offering if the goods be lawfully gotten yet God rejecteth him saying I commanded thee to be mercifull and to love thy neighbour and the stranger as thy selfe which thou hast not done this Offering and more then this is by my will due to the poore and so none of thine therefore I will not have neglect of the poore or transgression for an Offering If the Offering be lawfull and free from sin against the poore yet the Lord saith I will not now have thee to offer thy goods in sacrifice but that with them thou extend mercy to all that are in want of thy mercy If a man do thus serve God in his goods yet offend in his person in being hard hearted to his brethren that confesse and desire forgivnesse of the trespasse against him if he yet bind and will not loose the sin the Lord will say unto him except you forgive men their offences Mar 11.25.26 neither will the heavenly Father heare thee to forgive thy sins Mat. 6.14.15 All which sheweth that it is in vaine or a procuring of judgement for any man to go to the Lord by faith in Christ and his heart not perfect in mercy and love to his brother that he seeth with his eyes 1 Iohn 4.20 The first day of the Week 1. THe eare receiveth the word as the mouth eateth meate The bread which the mouth eateth is no bread nor the life which bread sustaineth is no life in respect of the bread of an immortall life therefore the holy spirit calleth mortall man to eat of the true food for to live which is done by hearing to obey the word for thus their soule shall live c. Isai. 55. 〈◊〉 c And thus we eat the bread of God which is come down from Heaven and thus we are communicants in the body and blood of Christ for life when we hear and do the word of God and be made obedient in the fellowship of his sufferings John 6.27.33.35 c. this hearing is the same with believing as John 6.47 c. and this is the immortall eating for not every one that heareth and understandeth the word eateth or believeth to life but he only that so tasteth the word with his eare as that he obey and delight in it from his heart to do the work thereof in spirit and truth and knowledge 2. From the presence of Gods being with us we have faith as Heb. 11.6 with Reu. 1.8 For as we believe his presence to be such in his visitation that in him we live move and have our beings so likewise in his inspiration whereby we are instructed to avoide all wayes of errour heresie and are guided into all truth so also by his being with us in spirituall presence we are kept by his power from all evill of this world and are likewise rewarded with the blessing of his presence because we wait on him to seeke him diligently and to serve him with all our heart in love This his presence requireth faith in his guidance protection and preservation as in the mind so in the body that no evill shall come to us from him whether of the Plague or otherwise as Psal. 91. Those which sin against his presence and have not the love of God in them do lye open to the hand of his destroying Angel but whosoever have good Consciences towards his presence with us love his name if we should now fear the fears of worldly men we dishonour the presence of the living God we bewray our infidelity in his presence which is all sufficient to keepe us that the evill one shall not hurt us or if we are faithfull in his presence that hath all power in his hands so as a sparrow cannot fall without him nor a hayre of our heads perish but hâ—â—â— his
al-seeing spirit if we are thus perfect in hiâ— love without feare or doubting of our safety when destructions and distracting distresses aâ—â— in the world though notwithstanding in this life all things come alike to us so as we are taken iâ— the Plague c. yet we shall see that the hand 〈◊〉 our Master is present in it for our good either to try our faith in his presence and to make us moâ—â— perfect in love or else out of his fellow-feeling of our reproach and misery which we endure in this life he is pleased to give us rest from our sufferings and to bring us to himselfe from the bondage of mortality for the blessings and promises of peace or long life is of faith and cannot be fully enjoyed by sight in this world while the woman which is the Church of Christs presence or any member thereof wherein his presence iâ— manifested is persecuted and afflicted in this present evill world 3. Having observed the naturall evill of mans heart infected by the evill and common spirit oâ— the Prince of the authority of the ayre by the operation whereof they are naturally inclined either fulnes of eating drinking in the abundance or in the want of houses Sheepe Cattell gold silver or other pleasures of life to be lifted up in forgetfulnesse of God that made us or to be cast down with worldly sorrow and in these estates to leave the Word Law and presence of God to seeke after our own hearts till destruction do utterly break the evill heart I have seene the only meanes whereby a man may possesse his â—wn heart to rule it and make it subject to his â—pirit namely by hearing obeying and keeping his evill heart of the mortall soul subject to the â—â—bukes and chastisements which our Creatour â—oth inflict that induring the paine in our flesh â—ur spirit may thereby know the feare of his presence in punishment and thereby learn wisâ—om in the obedience of his Sonne Jesus Christ whom he hath proposed to us and made a light â—o immortality the harder the strokes or the â—reater our afflictions are the more earnestly we â—ay cry and the nearer we may draw unto his Majesty Prov. 15.30 to 33. Heb. 12. So as when â—mong all estates of men in the world whether â—ewes or Gentiles we see troubles and amazements fearing death and seeking to save their â—â—fe we shall find that only with the suffering Christians is peace without fear of death beâ—â—use these according to the Law and example of â—hrist do possesse their soules and mortall life in â—â—tience under the death that man is able to kill â—â—em with And therefore when the Kingdom of God cometh to the terrour of the worldlings â—â—ese shall lift up their heads because now their â—edemption is come Luke 21.19 c. to 36. 4. The Lord Jesus foreseeing how hardly men should be drawn to acknowledge him to be the Christ and being acknowledged how easily men would be seduced by false prophets and false Christs to deny him Therefore first he proveth himself to be the Christ that Moses did write of who by miracles did confirme the truth of every jot and tittle of the Law and the Prophets as Mat. 4.23.24 with 5.17.18 19. c. whereas false Prophets under colour of miracles did teach transgression of the Law as Deut. 13.1 c. and 17 2. c. with 18.13 c. And accordingly out Lord reacheth us to try the Preachers which after him should come in his name as under the name of Jesus Christ and Prophets of God thus if they call Lord Lord and in his name prophesie and in his name cast out Devills and in his name do many miracles yet if under pretence hereof any of them do work lawlesnesse that is do transgresse and also teach men to transgresse any the least of all the Commandements in the Law of God these and all such are rejected and accursed of the Lord and judge of the world as false and deceivers of men Mat. 5.19 with 7.15.21 22.23 whereby we see how fearfull a thing it is to forsake the Law and the Prophets for in that estate we are without all meanes to know Jesus to be Christ in truth without any knowledge to try deceivers but remain as men deceived and deceiving others and can by no meanes come to the true knowledge of Christ till we believe the writings of Moses and the Prophets Iohn 5.39 46.47 which who so believe and do the will of our Father which is in Heaven and then call Jesus Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 7.21 5. A man may prophesie of a truth and yet apply spirituall things to a carnall sence As Caraphas fearing the Romans should come and destroy them all for Jesus the King of the Jews said it is expedient rather that one dye them all whereas God intended the spirituall and eternall salvation by his death Iohn 11.47 to 53. Feare enforced the Jews to do what they did 6. From the opposition of the authority of men against the authority of God in Christ we may see the bondage under men by the Law and the liberty of the Law in Christ in things indifferent as it is lawfull to the Nations to remain in the presence or to be circumcised upon occasion in liberty from bondage o the worldly authority Act. 16 3. with Gal. 2 3 4 Rom. 2.25.26 It is lawfull to marry to not to marry 1 Cor. 7. 28.36.38 with 9 5. It is lawfull to eat lawfull meate or it is lawfull to abstain and to fast or such like But this liberty man be occasion of evill in respect of the different authorities It a man fear the authority of men and will be circumcised in bondage to their Priesthood he is fallen from the liberty of Christ and hath denyed the faith in his Priesthood Act. 15.1 c. Gal. 5. 1. c. If on the other side a man fear other worldly authority and make circumcision in the liberty of the Gospel to be sin such do denye the liberty wherein Christ hath made them free to use it for their advantage in the Gospel Act. 16.1.3 So as in this thing of Circumcision if one be compelled to be circumcised he is brought in bondage to men and bound to observe the worldly elements Gal. 5.3 If a man stand fast in the liberty neither to be Circumcised nor to remain uncircumcised in subjection to men he holdeth the truth of the Gospel Gal. 2.3.5 with 5. 1 Act. 16.3 otherwise if the word be not holden in freedom of spirit it will be an occasion of evill under the bondage of men And on the other side it may be occasion of evill under the authority of Christ when it is not hold on as a thing indifferent namely when men justifie themselves or think themselves the better for doing or not doing it for Circumcision is nothing nor perpuce is nothing but the keeping of the
Commandements of God 1 Cor. 7.18.19 So if Marriage be exhibited under the worldly authorities it may bring the parties into bondage likewise if lawfull meates be forbidden by the Doctrines of Devills we are to maintain our liberty in Christ in assurance that though we suffer death yet he will raise us again according to his priesthood 1 Tim. 4.1 c. 10. Alwayes with this respect in the Law of liberty that there be no justification of condemnation on one side or other in lawfull meates but to judge indifferently that he which cates is not the better by it neither is he the worse which cates not 1 Cor. 8.8 wherefore in all such indifferent things every man is to have respect to his own Conscience before God and to the present estate and Nation wherein he is either Jew or Gentile that he be without offence but to use his liberty not for any occasion to his own flesh but to the profit of others in such sort that whether any eat or drink or what other indifferent thing soever they do they may do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.23 32.33 31. The second day of the Week I Have observed in Christ how the old man of the flesh doth naturally bring forth the new man begotten in the spirit of truth thus After that the heart hath conceived the immortall seed which is from above so as for joy hereof it estrange 〈◊〉 selfe from mortall vanities by and by the Lords of this mortall flesh will shew their authority and they will labour with all their force and wits to destroy this good conception that they may again rule the heart in this estate the mortall body of a man is as a woman in travell which cryes out not to be eased of the payne but to bring forth the fruit of her wombe and this in Christ is the travell of a Christian he hath conceived the mind of Christ and for this cause is persecuted and suffers all things untill from out of the greatest torments of the heart he is able to deliver or bring forth the spirit of that immortall seede unto Christ whose it is Esa. 26.13 17. 18. Mat. 27.46 with Luke 23.46 Heb 5 7.9.2 Cor. 4.6 amp c. with 5.2.4 5. 2. Further is noted in what respect the Church of Christ a woman and the wife of Christ because from the beginning she hath conceived in her heart the seed of God which is the Word Christ and thus she hath travelled with shadow of Christ till her time was fulfilled that shee should bring forth the spirit and truth of Christ which was when Jesus Christ being made one flesh with the Church she by his divine nature gave up the word law and truth of God perfected into her husbands hands so as the carnall Church is now delivered from that law and labour which was committed and required of her for she hath now in Jesus Christ brought forth the spirit of holynesse to God by the death of the flesh and in the resurrection of of the spirituall man to the immortall life of God her spirituall husband Jesus Christ then which the Church of God having suffered the pain of travell to death being risen from the dead and exalted to glory as Lord and Christ is made the head of his Church in a more neere and familiar manner even as a man that going to take a wife manifesteth the secrets of his hearty love unto her in way of espousals who after his departure returneth againe to her in way of marriage and giveth his owne spirit as Iob. 14.16 17.18 26. Acts 2.33 36. This immortall seed therefore being freely communicated in the love of Christ is gladly received of the Church and of none other which travelleth in subjection to Christ her husband to perfect that birth of the spiritual immortal man of whom she hath conceived immortall and spirituall seed and thus is she become bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh in love which union in Christ is confirmed to every soule of man that in their severall age or nation are so beloved of God in Christ that as an husband he should give of his immortall seed so as every one that conceiveth it in a good heart doth know both the union and her husband unto whom every such heart doth increase that seed of the new and immortall man dayly and in groweth by the obedience and death of the life-blood unto a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead For such is the love of every good heart that she in her proper body will tenderly respect to preserve that word of the living God which shee hath willingly conceived in her minde and heart so as no cares shall choake nor reproches dismay but that her body shall bring forth to her husband that Word which abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1.3.4 22 c. 3. This word of God in what body soever it come in the love and communion of sufferings in Christ Jesus is the salvation of the same body to that immortall life in glory with Christ for whereas the persecutors that would adulterate us from our husband their dead shall not live neither shall their ghosts be raised againe notwithstanding our bodies which have dyed to bring forth the spirit of truth shall be raised to immortall truth of our head Christ Esa. 26. 13 18.19 when being sanctified in the truth with him we shall be perfected in one with our Father and our Lord Christ Jesus Iohn 17.19 21. c. 4. It is a wonderfull wisdome to consider in Jesus Christ how the Lord by his mercy doth call the world to judgement for in that he hath sent his Sonne into the world with mercy toward all that shew mercy and in it hee executeth the justice of his Law on none by the Law It is most manifest that all that out of their owne heart do judge and condemne shewing no mercy to sinners doe by their owne justice in the Law procure the Lord to enter into judgement with them for their judgement without mercy And thus we may see how the Law was given by Moses and sinne was required by pesent justice but grace and truth is by Jesus Christ he requireth sinners to sinne no more and they shall not be judged for their sinnes past and every one to shew mercy and they shall find mercy Math. 18.21 to 35. if not but that men will despise the grace of God towards them by judging and condemning their fellow-servants they are inexcusable before God their owne measure shall be measured to them they have denyed to shew mercy therefore mercy shall be denyed to them Rom. 2.1 to 5. Luk. 6.37.38 5. The cause of falling from the love of God is the evill of the heart whereby men dissembled with men for when men retaine the nature of swine and yet will be washed without doubt they will returne to their filthynesse Or dogges by nature will turne to
and Gospel of immortality for he that receiveth the word of truth withall his heart and full resolution to suffer with Christ the saver thereof this man can never fayle In persecution of the word he hath prepared his heart to suffer and so he continuath constant unto death and he winneth by holding the word the Crown of an immortal life In all other temptations which are in himselfe together with the world he denyeth himself after the honour of this world he hateth his own soule to satisfie it with the lusts thereof he suffereth in the flesh and so ceaseth from sin 1 Pet. 4.1 c. patience maketh his heart soft to give rooting to the word the harder the persecution of men the softer the heart is to nourish the immortall seed and to bring forth the fruit thereof in the perishing and death of the mortall flesh chusing rather to lose his life then lose the word of God patience maketh his heart heard to resist the Devill and all his deceits and temptations he is open hearted faithfull and perfect in love to the Lord by whose word he holdeth the assurance of immortality with him but he is close shut to obey the worldly vanities he hateth to think of their wicked courses in mortality This is the estate of those which are able to endure the try all and to walls perfectly in the love of Christ the more their oppression is from without the greater is their obedience from the heart the more their temptations are the greater is the tryall of their faith which worketh the more patience The more patience they possesse their soules with the more perfect the work of wisdom is untill they be perfect and entire defective in nothing Iam 1.2.3 4 5. Of all sorts of Christians that have heard the word of Christ these only that suffer as Christians in patience of the good word are able to bring forth the fruit thereof unto perfection 2. This is the miserable estate of the men of this age that while they think to fly from death they fall into it for flying from the patience of the word of life they run after their own thoughts to save their life in mortality when they in so doing lay themselves open to all miseries in this world and do even feele the terrours of the second and immortall death while they are yet living and yet are forced to run into it The fifth day of the Week THere is great opposition of Christians in this world all which in may dream I divided into 2. sorts the one terrence humain and baptised under the authority of men to live according to their severall Lawes and Corporations after the power of a mortall life The other Christians are coelestical divine and baptized under the annointing and authority of the only true God to live according to his holy law in their mind looking through the resurrection of Jesus unto that glorious life in immortality 2. Having observed how such as professe themselves preachers of light are darkened in the world by leaving the expresse word and wisdom of Christ to follow mortall vanities I am drawn to discover their folly that they can no more helpe a man to go the way of immortality then a natural blind man can direct a man in the way of a mortall life And therefore being in themselves so blinded with the God of this world it is mischievous madnesse for them to presume to speak what they know not thereby to deceive others or else by their authority of blindnesse to hinder them which being ignorant of their blindnesse do enquire of them the good old way but it is safe for blind men to confesle they are blind that all that erre and have eyes may enquire of others that do see It yet thay will make themselves Preachers of light and immortality they must be discouraged to the false Preachers that instead thereof do indeed preach darknesse and mortality as to deceive others of the wayes of life 3. I understand that the Christians are not Ministers of the letter as 2 Cor. 3.6 because that were to take upon them the carnall authority of the Scribes and Pharisees who are charged with that Mat. 23.2.23 yet to deliver the spirit and truth contained therein The sixth day of the VVeeke I Had a sight of the love of God in man and the sencible understanding thereof was wonderfull In mine eyes Man being by sinne deprived the glory of God wherein Adam wa created is now by the evill spirit become subject to the bodie of the sinnes of the flesh to sow to the flesh and of the flesh to reape mortality And to restraine man from sinne God gave his Law and gave power to condemne accordingly to the chastisement of the flesh and to death Yet the heart of man is naturally so evill that this authority in evill minded mens hands cannot reforme the minde that so man should yet please God in mortality Therefore lest mankind should bee swallowed up in death for the sinnes of the flesh the Sonne of God by whom the world and man was made became flesh that in the love of God he might teach us in the flesh by the mediation and direction of his spirit manifested in the flesh the truth of salvation in suffering death in the resurrection of the flesh and in the full restoring to glory yet flesh and blood is weake and cannot follow him in this hard and strait way Wherefore the Lord of glory condescending to mans weaknesse hath given his holy spirit into the world which being Gods spirit might redeeme men from the earth in the death of Christ who being departed in sight hath sent his owne spirit to teach men and to guid them into all truth how they should learne obedience in the sinnefull flesh how to put off the carnall man of mortality and to put on the spirituall man of immortality how to mortifie the carnall actions of the body to the holy spirit of Christ for to perfect the mystery of suffering in the flesh this word and spirit of Christ Jesus doth give his Christian menwisdom how to suffer under the evill authorities of the world to death and so to passe on in the way of Christ to immortall life And as in the course of nature our minde was catyed wholly to live after the lusts of uncleannessse so being converted to God by the power of this spirit which worketh in our hearts mightily our minde is caryed wholly to live after the will of that holy spirit so that in this way we have no more to doe but to discharge our selves of cares and pleasures of this world and to be delivered from the body of death which is after the old man that we may be presented in the new man to him that is now invisible and that onely hath immortality 2. The word of the holy Scriptures is more perfect then the inspiration without a plaine word therefore who so resisteth the
given you my Christ to become flesh that he might be a perfect guide and redeemer of you from the bondage of mortality in this evill world so as the subject may know his duty to his Magistrate the sonne to the Father the servant to his Master it every one do thus walk according to my word in their severall estates and degrees and yet your superiours do take offence as you for not obeying them rather then me I will justifie you in what you do in Conscience of my law fear not their condemnation but learn obedience in the flesh as Christ Jesus my only Sonne hath shewed you and looke unto the throan of my judgement sent which I have appointed and know my righteousnesse in the love of Christ and come unto me from mortality and bondage for by constancy to death you and every one of you shall evercome and be more then Conquerours and you shall condemn then for sin that have condemned you for sinners in hatred of my word and of my Christ which I have given to be a light unto the world whom with you they have killed 2. In the estate of enmity between God and man that repentance which men teach is apostasie from God for when a man yeeldeth obedience to the word as the Servant of God If the authority of man do compell him to repent of this his obedience in any matter wherein the word of God requireth obedience and this man doth repent under the fear of man and blaspheame the service of God as wicked and magnifie the service of man as holy and righteous it is manifest from antiquity that this repentance is the worldly wickeknesse against God for whosoever in oath with them saith destroy the wicked saith in effect to destroy all Christians that live godly in Christ and all the servants of God both great and small because these only are the wicked in the evill worlds account and these that are righteous are their spirituall enemies so as whosoever seeth not this enmity to avoid it as not to have Communion of enmity with the world against Christ is yet guilty of the curse with the seede of the Serpent The fifth day of the week IT is noted that he which preacheth the Crosse of Christ must do it sincerely not scaring the shame and death of the Cross in the Communion of his sufferings but there are those which preach the Cross of Christ in enmity of the Cross in that they go back from Christ crucified to follow their profit or pleasure in this mortall life These also set up a Throan of Judgment in enmity against Christ by authority whereof they keepe men from looking to the Judgement if Christ so as it is of necessity for every man to discern these two Throans of Judgment for if a man fear the Judgment of mortality he is darkened from seeing the Judgment of immortality but if he truly see the Throan of Judgment setled in Heaven he will be enlightenned not to respect the humain Judgment of men on earth The fifth day of the week 1. THe shame and reproach of Christ and his Christians is that they are men without honour in the world and suffer all things as base men Therefore they which follow him in the honour of the world and in power to defend themselves from oppression are not under the shaddow of Christs Cross for these count it a great shame to suffer as a Christian constantly to death 2. It is noted from 1 Sam. 15.22.23 That it is a worshipping of false God to break the Commandement of God for any worldly or carnall respect whatsoever 3. The unclean meates forbidden in the Law note out how abominable the Idoll and false Doctrines of Devills should be unto us to obey them in our soules who so observeth the Law may escape what it discovereth as death 4. It is noted that Christ made an end of the Law when he took revenge and desire of judgement out of mens hearts that they should not now require eye for eye and go to judgement one with another but on the contrary to forgive each other and so to go to God beseeching him to forgive them and thus in all cases to judge themselves and not others for sin 5. It was the wisdom of God that his own Sonne Christ should come in poore state that none might be allured with worldly glory nor terrified with mortall terrours but that who so receive him may be known to follow him in true love more of him then of themselves 6. Evill Shepherds of mens soules keeping the word in their own authority do as if a Shepherd pretending to feede the flock should keepe the sheepe from the pasture and from safe feeding and agree with these for a part and with the wolfe for the skin and yet aske wages for their service The sixth day of the week 1. AS the eye is the light of the mortall so he mind is the light of the immortall man The eye is simple when is clearly seeth by the light of the world the mind is simple when it is clearly enlightenned by the Word and spirit of Christ which is the â—â—ue light to immortality the mind kept under mens authority is as a man blind-folded 2. If it be Church-robbery or sâ—criledge to take vessells and goods consecrated to holy uses what is it to take the holy word it selfe out of the Book which is sealed in the blood of Christ The first day of the week COncerning the workes of the Law Rom. 3.20 I have this understanding that seeing that is certain that none can be justifyed by the works of the law namely by the justifications holden in the ministery mediation and Priesthood leviticall constituted under the fear and authority of men Then we may conclude that all the service under any worldly authorities though it may seeme farre better then that of Rome yet it Will be found only to condemnation and cannot justifie as to purge the Conscience from dead workes to serve the living God for as these were the workes of the Law of God in the worldly holinesse and authority of justification by men so are these of other Common-wealths the workes of their Law constituted in their feigned holinesse and justifications by their own authority And if that of Israel could not cleanse the Conscience surely all Religions of mens devising do make vain man more vain and harden the heart to commit sin in enmity of the word of God The third day of the weeke 1. FRom Ephes. 3.15 is apparant that as a housholder is over his Family so the heavenly Father is over his Family which consisteth of all his Creation both in the Heavens and upon the earth Therefore his good servants are carefull that Christ of whom all this family is named may dwell in our hearts by faith looking to his invisible presence being rooted and grounded in love both towards the Father and his Sonne who is over the Family in
applying the salvation in Christ 1 Cor. 15.54 to 57. with Hos. 33.9 14. setteth downe five degrees as those which can read the originall text may see 1. This Keteb bitter destruction hee calleth the victory of hell 2. The Pestilence is called the sting of death 3. The cause of this plague he affirmeth to be sinne 4. The power of sin to be the Law 5. The victory which the Christians have received over all these evils is of God through Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Cor. 15.54 c. Hos. 13. From hence we come to apply this preservasative against the plague and destruction Who is the man whom the Lord will deliver him that God hath separated as Israel Exod. namely him that knoweth in his conscience the onely true God from all other Gods and that he himselfe dwelleth under his protection delighteth under his shadow Psal. 91.1 14. Ioh. 17.3 This knowledge of God is discerned from all false knowledge by that he which hath it keepeth the the Commandements of God 1 Ioh. 2.4 So as he which knoweth the true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent is united to the body and Church of Christ and knowes him in spirit from all false Christs or devils as a woman knowes her husband from all other men and therefore of all that doe thus discerne and know God in Christ he is the Saviour of their bodies Ephes. 5.23 This man shall be kept in all his waies Psal. 91.11 For seeing it is the truth in Christ that all that are borne of God doe keepe themselves so as the evill one toucheth them not with any just accusation of sinne as 1 Ioh. 5.18 with 3.9 It must needs follow that God their Father will deliver them also from any deadly disease which is executed for sinne This temporary salvation is applyed onely by Christ and his Christians not against carnall wickednesses but against spirituall evils namely that these plagues shall not come without cause unto them Psal. 91.9 For seeing Christ was baptized to suffer death by the seed of the world and seeing his Christians are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ to shew his death in resisting sinne till he come to judgement iâ— must be granted as a truth and applyed for the glory of God in Christ that no accidentall death from him shall prevent any faithfull Christian that hee should not live to glorifie God in the martyrdome of Jesus but this is the man thaâ— shall be preserved to see a thousand fall on oâ—â— side by the plague of death and ten thousand 〈◊〉 the other side yet it shall not come neere him only hee shall behold it as the reward of God 〈◊〉 wicked men Psal. 91.7.8 Psalm 15. This is the preservation of every perfect man whose faith overcommeth the evill of the world whose hope is God the Creator and whose habitation is the most high Psal. 91.9 and not of him onely but of all whose love is able to cover their sins so as he require of the Lord life for any weake one that hath sinned and the sinne is not a sin unto death 1 Ioh. 5.19.20 For thus is his boldnesse for his friends also by warrant from the Law which saith unto him and the plague shall not come neare in thy tabernacle Psalm 91.10 which is not understood of any worldly dwelling as under the Law but of the severall persons who with him doe beare the reproach of Christ in some kind in enmity that doe come out of the sinnes of the City by not partaking with her sinnes these also may have faith that they shall not partake of the plagues of the City Rev. 18.4 Neither can any conclude from the Law that all which live in and under the Law dye of the plague doe dye to the second death for the plague of it selfe is onely a bodily execution from God to the first death For when both King and people doe in the feare of the true God confesse and forsake their sinne which is the cause thereof from the anger of God and in obedience doe give themselves to fall into his hands and rely upon his great mercies in this case all that dye of the plague wee leave them to the mercy of the Lord by whose death the King and all that remaine may more earnestly beseech the Lord to remit his hand 2 Sam. 24. Wherefore every one that can truly apply the God of Israel to be his shadow Christ his Law and truth to be his shield and buckler and hath in himselfe the baptisme of Christ by vertue whereof he hath alwayes within him the request of a good conscience calling unto God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 this man hath the faith of God in him and therefore doth not fear any evill of the day or night Psal. 125. neither doth he flee as those that are conscious of their sins against God but remaineth as sure as Ierusalem which is above and is the mother of all the true Children of God For the rod of wickednesse shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous This is the work of faith whereby they pray in faith to be delivered from the evill one and are delivered Mat. 6.13 whereas the faith of all that serve Idoll Gods is a deceit and the prayer of the sinner is abomination and will work infidelity and terrours from God as their consciences do testifie that they may repent of their sins and be reconciled unto the true God in truth 2. This assurance is to all Jsrael in the Law under the signe of the blood of the passeover sprinckled out on their upper doore posts whereby they were assured that the destroyer should not or could not hurt the poore persecuted and oppressed for their desire of liberty and freedom of body and mind to serve the living God as Exod. 12. Heb. 11.28 which was true in this thing to save the persecuted Isreal from the mortality of persecuting Egypt and is but a figure or shaddow of that faith which the spirituall Isralites have that know in themselves that Christ their pass over is killed for them 1 Cor. 5.7 for these desiring also to serve that one only true God are also persecuted wherein being chastized of the Lord in the communion of the sufferings of Christ they do shew and declare this death before the Lord and one with another which who so do it in love cannot but know that the condemnation of the world is nothing to them as to condemn them for the sins of the world which are pardoned to them in the death of Christ from the time of their baptisme of repentance for the forgivnesse of sins if they walk worthy of this calling and continue constant and faithfull in this Communion unto death 1 Cor. 11.25 to 32. Mark 1.4 with Heb. 9.14 Rev. 2.10 The third day of the Week 1. I Vnderstand that I put on Christ when being baptized into his death I put on his death upon