soul in patience to everlasting happiness and the fruits that spring up in the soul from that are very good and acceptable Thus Abraham believed and saw not and his faith grounded on the Word was stedfast the sensible deadness of his own body and decay of natural strength nor the known and proved barrenness of Sarahs womb caused him not to stagger but the Word wrought effectually in him to keep him in a patient waiting upon God for the accomplishment of the thing that was spoken and accordingly when he had patiently waited he received the Promise Heb 6.15 the first fruits or some particulars in it for he died in Faith not having received much of it Heb. 11.13 in a better way then Sarahs hasty counsel of turning in to Hagar could have brought about The Word of God the Gospel of the Kingdom being received in a good single honest heart brings forth fruit with patience perswades the heart to waite upon God in his way keeps it from carefulness in a year of drought when sense is not satisfied by more flowing feelings of consolation from the pourings out of Spirit but as faith comforteth in looking to the Word and yet it leads the heart to long and thirst after those flowing consolations promised in the Word in the way of the VVord the desires after which and rejoycing in the injoyments of which I would not be mistook as if I dasht against them or at all faulted It were better for me that my right hand should be withered then write a word to take the heart off from pressing after them in the way of believing but onely from the botoming our faith upon the sensible feelings of them and not upon the VVord that leads to wait for them in Gods way and firms the soul against hast-making and against the ready listening to other doctrines promising greater liberty and freedom or otherwise then the VVord of God declares to us or can there be found for our instruction Take you therefore heed beloved to the VVord of God to believe what he hath said by the mouth of all his holy Apostles and Prophets meditate ye in his Law night and day and try the doctrines yea and the Spirits too that come unto you by their consonancy with those divine sayings and count accursed what swerveth or leadeth you therefrom from or besides the Gospel Gal. 1.8.9 I mean as declared therein so shall you be able to quit your selves as men defending your selves against and driving back from you Satan and his instruments in their Temptations Sect. 4. Of the Scriptures I Know some will grant all this and yet undermine all again by this saying Ay but what is this VVord of God and where to be found Is not Christ the VVord and what he says in and by his and so he being in us speakes to us and what we say he says by us and it s his Word and to be heeded by men And thus even those that come to deceive will put that title upon their own conceptions and sayings and so catch and cheat men For avoiding which snare we are to Know further That as Christ is the VVord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so of him properly and as in his own person merely considered the Apostle here speaks not but of that that declares and unfolds him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is indeed that that God hath spoken by the mouth of his Servants which that none might cheat us he hath ordered and caused to be also written and recorded so much as his wisdom hath seen meet and sufficient for our helpfulness in the holy Scriptures which ceaseth not to be his VVord because written down but becomes of greater usefulness to us for whose sakes they were so written though the letters and syllables as written are but humane instruments of makeing over what was by God spoken yet those divine verities the Oracles of God by and in those mediums made over and recorded are in themselves spiritual and full of divine operations abstractedly taken from the visible Characters or outward sound which are only mediums of conveying them unto men By these then heeded and minded shall you see what is Truth viz. that that agreeth with and is contained in these divine Revelations as also what is the righteousness to be put on and walked in what the Gospel of Peace and its preparation for that Gospel is there recorded as in 1 Cor. 15.3 That Christ died for our sins was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and the publishing of repentance and remission of sins in his Name amongst all Nations c. Luke 24.47 that also is the right and lasting faith that is grounded upon Christ and God in him according to the Scripture declaration of him to that the Promise is made as in Joh. 7.37,38 He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters as also therein witness is born to the salvation to be hoped for By this VVord of God so written and recorded did Jesus Christ himself in the days of his flesh and of his temptations beat back Satan saying It is written thus and thus shewing us that while we cleave in faith and obedience to that that 's written in the Scriptures of Truth we shall not be overcome of Satan Beware ye then of those that impugn the authority of them and by crafty jugling insinuations indeavour to draw you to a slight esteem of them and to take you off from giving heed to them and so to God and his VVord in them Know that they are the Scriptures of Truth a sure VVord yea more sure and safe for you to look to then any dreams visions or sights be they what they will that any shall suggest to you The Apostle Peter preferred them before his own Vision of the glory of Christ and his hearing of the lively Voyce that came from God to Christ for others faith in him 2 Pet. 1.16,19 And our Saviour instructs us that God would have us mind them and not wander in our desires after other things to bottom our faith on as miracles c. and tells us that they that will not believe them will not believe though one should arise from the dead and declare Doctrines to them Luke 16.31 They are the inspirations of God into his servants the Prophets Apostles whom for this cause Christ being ascended gave unto his Church with Evangelists Pastors and Teachers that we might not be as children tossed to and fro with every winde of Doctrine Ephes 4.11,12,13 but taking heed to their words the words of the Prophets and commandements of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.2 we might be preserved from Satan and his Instruments that shall mock at the coming of Christ and other sound doctrines according to godliness and that we might grow up in the unity of the Faith and Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man Know that the Scriptures came
not by the wlll of man nor did the Penmen of them write as they pleased as their own fancies led them but as the holy Gost inspired and acted them 2 Pet. 1.20,21 and the things therein written were written for our learning Rom. 15.4 that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and in believing might through patience and the comfort of them have hope yea and life in his Name Joh. 20.31 In them is laid down a form of wholsom words which we are to take diligent heed unto and not to depart therefrom because they are profitable as says the Apostle to instruct correct reprove c. yea to maâ—e us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ 2 Tim. 3.15,16 both to discern truth from error light from darkness yea when it glisters like light and to lead to avoid the darkness and walk in the light yea in a word they are sufficient to perfect a man of God to every good work of the ministry or service required of him Let that Word then and the Gospel there recorded be held fast by you and the Doctrine that according thereto ye have heard from the beginning even the first principles and foundation the Death and Resurrection of Christ as therein declared that beleeve and depart not from it nor from viewing and beholding the grace and love of God and all those glorious and mysterious depths contained therein nor from the secret voices and speakings thereof to you in its teaching you that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts ye should live soberly righteously and godly yea give diligence in Reading Hearing and minding the Scriptures in every truth exercising faith in Christ so will he by his Spirit mind you so of his truths and put such Scriptum est's such sayings of divine Record into your memories and mouths as shall discover the subtilest workings of Satan and his instuments and lead you to avoid them yea to oppose and baffle them Sect. 5. Some objectiont against the Scriptures Answered LEt not vain spirits who make it their business to deceive withdraw you from cleaving to them as the true and faithful record of the Truth of God I know their wiles and what pretences they come withall to withdraw you from them some that they have got from their Father who made it his way to overthrow us at the first to withdraw us from the VVord of God See his first coming to Eve Gen. 3.1 He doth not at the first deny the saying of God but only puts a question Hath God indeed said or hath he in saying said ye shall not eat Gen. 3.1,2 Just like a generation now that knowing they shall not lead men into their errors unless they be first poysoned in their judgements about the Scriptures and withdrawn from credit giving to them first amuse people and try them with this not in a sober but a captious way How do you know that the Scriptures are the VVord of God and that they are true what have you more to say for them then the Turk for his Alcoran the Papists for their golden Legend c To whom I could wish people to give them this Answer that as by faith they understand that the world was made by the Word of God so by faith they know the Scriptures to be of God and of the inspiration of his Spirit and that they will hold to and not listen to any vain reasonings to the contrary but I hope you have a proof of God speaking in them you behold there such impressions of holiness purity truth goodness Majesty and see such a light in them as evidences them to be of him yea and you see their truth both in some experiences of them in your hearts and by the fulfilling of many prophesies in them as they spake long ago of the calling of the Gentiles when they lay all in Egyptian and gross darkness and we see it after so many hundreds of generations fulfilled they speak of the ruine of many then famous places which now answerably are ruined they foretell of such perverse Spirits and Doctrines of Devils in which men would deny the Lord that bought them and mock at saying where is the promise of his coming and bring in heresies of destruction as we may see accomplished even in many of them that make this questioning and therefore we need not go far for arguments to enduce us to beleeve the truth of the Scriptures which is questioned by them they suggest the Differences of some Greek copies of the new Testament and variety of readings which as it cannot be denyed so is it not of any materiall weight for what they subtilty use it those varieties being generally except in two or three places in things of lesser moment and such as either reading in the most Authentick Copies is no whit dangerous or destructive to the faith of Jesus yea usually the different readings do sound so much to the same purpose as they scarce deserve the name of differences as that in Mat. 1.22 we read This is that that that was said of the Lord by the Prophet saying c Others adde the name of the Prophet by the Prophet Isaiah saying So Mat. 2.11 When they came into the house and saw the child some and found the child so others So Chap. 3.9 Bring forth therefore fruit or fruits meet for repentance and vers 12. He shall gather the wheat into his garner or his wheat into the garner and in vers 11. He shall baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire some omit the word fire there is no danger in either reading but ours is confirmed and that defect in the other of the word fire is made up in Luke 3 16. Where all copies agree that the word fire is added and yet the other reading is in a manner repeated and so owned by our Saviour in applying that saying to his Apostles in Acts 1.5 Many of those readings stand but in a diversity of word to the same sense and differ no more then God wils and God willeth or God commandeth and God requireth as in Mat. 2.13 some read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which differ no more then these two English words kill and slay so in vers 6. some read Bethlehem of Judah others Bethlehem in the Land of Judah so in Chap. 4.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as some read and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as others differ no more then walking about and going or travailing about and such are those in the 19. and 23. verses some read I will make you fishers of men others I will make you to be fishers of men He healed them so we vers 22. He healed them all say others so in Chap. 5.11 some read for my sake some for righteousness sake either of them right and both come to one and the same thing many such like differences I might instance
opened in him a way to life for them and had given to them the Apostles a ministry of Reconciliation towards them already upon the same Gospel-terms to admit and receive to favor any of them And so in applying the Promises and Priviledges of the Gospel and owning as brethren they knew no man according to the flesh either according to the judgement and guidance of the wisdom of the flesh in themselves or according to the fleshly differences in them as if because Jews therefore brethren and heirs of the Promises but the Gentiles though believers yet not heirs or brethren unless or untill circumcised or as if this Nation or Sex or Kindred were more advanced in Christ then that according to the advantages or greater dignity after the flesh Now it being evident that that 's the meaning of the Apostle in that phrase according to that Gal. 3.20 There is neither Jew nor Gentile male nor female bond or free but ye are all one in Christ Jesus it follows thence that the other phrase of knowing Christ after the flesh is after the same way to be understood viz. that though they had thought of or looked upon Christ according as the fleshly understanding or wisdom presented him as a mean despicable man or as more ingaged to the Jews then to the Gentiles for his flesh sake to be readier to save them c. and though they had minded him and judged of him according to what he was after the flesh judging of his Person Worth Office and work of Saving accordiâ—g to his flesh yet now henceforth they judged no more of him but as the Spirit represented him and witnessed of him and according as the Gospel declared and revealed him and according to the Spirit or Divine Nature in him not but that they considered him as dignified or glorified * In the flesh and after the flesh are two distinct things as is evident in 2 Cor. 10.3 for though we walk in the flesh ye we do not war after the flesh in the flesh or Humane Nature but they looked not upon him as if that dignity he hath stands in any fleshly priviledge though they had thought his person the more excellent and honorable because his flesh was of the Jews and he therein circumcised yet now they prized him not according to that but as the Spirit evidenced him to be the Word made flesh the Son of God which suffered which would have put the same dignity into him as man of whomsoever he had taken flesh and according to that they now esteemed and valued him and hoped in trusted and believed on him They that knew him so after the flesh as the false Apostles they also considered the kindred and relation in the flesh between Christ and the Jews as having his flesh of them and the want of that kindred and relation between him and the Gentiles and so they thought of him as one that would honor and lift up the Nation of the Jews for kindred and relation sake but less advance or honor the Gentile believers and therefore that it was needful for them to become Jews in the profession of their way of Worship and Observation and therefore they preach'd the Gospel rather to the Jews as such and imbraced and applied the Promises rather to them as more interested in Christ because of their affinity in the flesh which was the error of the false Apostles reproved and spoken against here by the Apostle Paul besides which there is also another way of knowing him after the flesh and another effect of some mens so knowing him namely an estimating valuing and judging of him according to the flesh in his Sufferings Sacrifice and mediation a measuring their vertue and excellency by that as if but the Sufferings Sacrifice and mediation of a meet man and so of a finite sorry creature whence they also stumble at him and count it foolishness to believe in him And in this way most of those that turn the Truth of God into a Fable or the History of Christ into a meet Allegory and depart from the faith of him do know him and consider him Yea and that is the ground of that their denying and turning from him What say they should we trust and put confidence in a man Can a man be able to save us Shall we think because such a lump of flesh was put to death and spilt its blood therefore we shall have foregiveness In which and many like speeches they speak like the obstinate Jews and bewray that according as he is declared in the History they know him after the flesh after the wisdom and judgement of their flesh and not as glorified by the Spirit to them and so value his person sufferings and mediation as but the sufferings and mediation of a man and judging it foolish to trust in a finite creature they know him at all no more nor will believe in him any longer or approach to God by him or have any thing to do with him or the story about him as they call it but onely look upon it as a Fable or Parable at the best to represent some other thing by which they call the mystery Thus Paul with the Jews and Pharisees knew him and stumbled at him in the time of his ignorance its good that men would cease to know him thus any longer and know him even the man Christ Jesus who was of the seed of David after the flesh in all his Doctrine Sufferings Death Resurrection and Mediation according to the Spirit as the Son of God though made man and his Sufferings Death and Resurrection as the Sufferings Death and Resurrection of such a man as is the Son of God the Word made flesh the anointed one the sanctified and holy one of God yea of him that was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal with God so would they not deride him and faith in him and them that hold it fast blaspheming the Tabernacle of God and them that dwell and worship therein nor would they so backslide and appostatize from him denying him that bought them so bringing upon themselves swift distruction Which that thou maist avoid keep thou close to Christ as declared and set forth in the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles for the same Apostle whom they misunderstand and abuse in his saying that they knew Christ no more after the flesh writing to the same people in his first Epistle Chap. 15. minds them of the Gospel which he had preached and which they had received in which they stood and he tells them thereby they should be saved if they kept in memory how he had preached it to them namely how in the first place or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst the first doctrines he had declared to them that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures not
might willingly be exhorted to this â—s not to bear with them that are evil and would pervert souls from Christ so neither to fall out â—nd make rents from those that are built upon â—nd sincerely and peaceably seek the glory of Christ Sect. 4. How to walk towards Seducers and the Secuced 3. BUt now for those that have not Christ for their foundation but are bottom'd upon their own works yea and would bottom Christ â—pon them too hindring souls from coming â—…ghtly to Christ and that bring another Gospel then that of Christ tending to deny and overthrow the Gospel of Christ but chiefly those that have apostatized from him the case is otherwise They that divide from Christ the elder Brother are not to be owned as brethren but divided from yea and looked upon in their endeavors to draw others to themselves as enemies to our souls Wolves that come to devour deceitful workers and so we are to avoid them The Apostles looked not upon the zealous Jews and Pharises opposers of the grace of Christ as their brethren in Christ nor upon the false Apostles that perverted the Gospel of Christ mixing it with the Law and withdrawing men from the sincerity of the Gospel of Christ much less those Apostates and Blasphemers Hymeneus and Alexander and Philetus men that denied the Resurrection and affirmed it to be now made or past denying the Lord that bought them and subverting the faith of divers 2 Tim. 2.16,17 If such as these plead for a brothers portion of love from the Saints in those their wayes they are much mistaken brotherly love with them would be as bad as Jehosophats familiarity and correspondency with Ahab which the Lord reproved and punished in him 2 Chron. 19 2. And as the Churches tolerating the Baalamites and Nicolaitans which he hated Rev. 2.14 20. Men are much out in thinking that those that are evidently and upon due trial false Apostles and of the Synagogue of Satan ought not to be so reputed but walked towards and loved as dissenting Brethren How shall the members of the body hold unity with the head that are at one with members separated from the head and disclaim all influence of spirits from it Who ever come unto us we are to try them yea though they come as Angels of Light and Messengers of Righteousness and finding them deceitful workers to beware of them 1 Thes 5.21 Phil. 3.2 So the Wisdom of God speaking of â—he spirit of error under the notion of a foolish and whoorish woman opposed to the Spirit of Truth under the notion of Wisdom or the wise â—oman bids us beware of her and come not neer â—he corner of her house Prov. 5.8.3 nor give ear â—o her sweet and specious inchantments not to â—ut our selves â—…shly into her way and company 〈◊〉 presuming on our own strength to preâ—…rve us much less entertaining her as a friend â—nd companion meet for us and our Saviour while on earth in the flesh left it as a Caâ—…at to us to beware of false Prophets who though â—hey come in Sheeps clothing to us yet inwardly are â—…vening Wolves and seek to devour us Matth. â— 15 He would not have us out of charity to â—…dge all sheep and correspond with them that â—ome to us in the appearance of sheep but wariâ—… try them and discerning Wolves in that haâ—it to flee from them as we are not rashly to account and walk towards all as Wolves that men account so so neither to imbrace all that profess themselves sheep I know the VVolves will plead for charity towards them but what foolish Shepherd would out of charity listen to the VVolves so pleading or what silliness would it be in real sheep to joyn themselves with â—hem because they pretend as sheep a desire to graze with them that 's bad charity to another that layes me open to destruction my self The Jews of old regarded not such a pretended charity in Sanballat and Tobiah desirous to build with them the Temple of the Lord because they discerned them to be no friends to their work but sought by subtilty to hinder it and destroy them Ezra 4.1 It s indeed the common plea of such and of some weak sheep of Christ who are in danger that way to be worried by them what ever a mans principles be yet we ought to permit them and not speak harshly or at all against them but let every man injoy his own minde which is a notorious gross and false position Indeed as we have said where men build and are built upon the same foundation even Jesus Christ there we may and are to tolerate difference in doubtful disputations where the matters of difference are not evident and plain in Scripture and but matters of meer indifferency and lesser moment But that all should be tolerated in the Church of God of what ever opinion and doctrine though destructive to the fundamentals of the faith and no sharpe reproof may be given them is as bad a principle as to tolerate the Devil in his possession of men oâ— to tolerate all vice and wickedness without 〈◊〉 punishment of them yea in â—oâ—…e casâ—s 〈…〉 worse for there are some pâ—…nciples 〈…〉 doctrine as bad or worse then any evil of practise amongst men because some doctrines may naturally lead to all evil practises As that there is no difference to be put between good and evil sin and righteousness that all actions are alike approveable to God the opinion of good and evil is to be destroyed out of men that sin is nothing but an imagination that this or that is sin that all men live or believe how they will shall have eternal salvation that there shall be no resurrection c. Beside that evil doctrines may poyson more secretly and are less dreaded oftentimes then gross actions because they have â—ot so horrid an appearance many times to the eye of men We find Christ commending some Churches for their patience when yet he presently subjoyns by way of praise too that they â—ould not bear evil persons Rev. 2.2 such as seduced the people from him faulting them that bare with and permitted them Revel 3.15,16 yea that were but lukewarm for him and against them as those that mattered not what men hold or teach how destructive to Christ and Christianity so they would think well of them and let them alone such Christ threatens to spue out of his mouth so far is he from allowing and approving them Yea he tels us he hates such wayes himself Rev. 2.6 and sure he leads his people to be like him How canst thou say Christ is in thee when what he declares himself to hate is patiently tolerated and not reproved by thee The Apostles not onely bid us hold them as execrable and account them accursed that preach beside what they have preached or that introduce another Gospel though they come like Angels but they have also themselves given them over to Satan 1 Tim 1.20 and
his Sacrifice sanctifieth men and makes them Saints or holy unto God it being the anointed one Christ himself that is their sanctification by being in him they become separared from the world and are made Gods lot part and portion a people holy to him Saints then are a people created in Christ Jesus or begotten and born to God in the Knowledge and faith of his Son by the power of the Spirit a people born of the Promise of God or word of Promise that is the Gospel concerning Christ raised from the dead and the salvation that is in him Gal. 4.24,25 Acts 13.32.33.1 Pet. 1.3 and 3.31 The manifestation of God his Mind Love Grace and Goodness therein being that water in the Word flowing from beside the Altar of God of which it behooves that men be born through the power of the Spirit working therein or else they cannot inherit the Kingdom of God Ezeck 4.7 That 's the Free-woman the Jerusalem that is above the mother of us all by this a man drawn to Christ quickened up and devoted to God in him is made a Saint of God So that in this Saintship there are these two things to be minded 1. That God in the word of the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ and his Death Resurrection and Mediation hath shined in his love to the soul and thereby hath begot and in some measure quickned up a man to a lively hope a hope in God and that founded upon nothing of his own nor any fruit of the Law in him whether sorrow humiliation reformation legall conversion work indeavour frame or vertue found in him but only the grace and love of God as manifested in Christ Christ dead for him and risen for him and glorified of God for and to him received into his heart by faith is there become the hope of glory to him the sight or belief of Christ crucified for him drew him in to beleeve not his conceited act or fruits of beleeving made him judge Christ crucified for him 2. That the love and grace in Christ thus apprehended by him and giving him hope changes him into the likeness of Christ principles him God-ward puts a law of love into his heart and carries him after God and so devotes him unto God to Christ to be his and for his praise So that in a Saint of God there is neither a hope bottomed upon his changing and endeavors nor yet a dead hope without a change but a change and renovation springing from his hope and that hope from grace discovered in God by Jesus Christ in the power of the spirit he hath his life in love and lives to the God of Love And every such soul as from the grace of God in Christ is quickened up to hope in God and in that hope given up to be God's Christ's whatever difference may be found otherwise in the flesh or in some opinions not essentiall to the faith is a Saint of God whether for the Scripture makes this difference 1. Children weak and as it were but embrio's Christ not yet formed in them Gal. 4.19 their apprehensions of Gods love in his Son but weak and small and so their hope and faith but little and weak wavering staggering not as yet setled and confirmed and made strong in Christ who therefore are to be tendred and more warily walked toward and as it were nursed up with wholesome words like milk and not roughly dealt with lest they be broken and lest by any abuse of our liberties or any other way they be scandalized and offended or 2. Young men such as are strong and have overcome the wicked one have endured temptations and have the word of God somewhat setled and abiding in them and therefore ablet to bear and not so soon stumbled nor in so great danger of miscarrying or 3. Farhers men well grown and long experienced and so more usefull for begetting and training up others in the knowledge of Christ 1 Joh. 2.14.15 And to all such as thus by the word of the Gospel and the grace or love of God therein discovered to them in the Death and resurrection of Christ have been emptied of themselves and their filthy confidences and rejoycings and are begot to hope in God and framed to the love and likeness of God in some beginnings or in further growth do I bend my following words with the severall counsels and instructions therein given CHAP. II. Sect. 1. Of the estate of the Saints ANd first of all I desire you to minde the state in which you are which admits of diverse distinct considerations For a Saint is in a measure proportioned to Christ and there is a great deal of likenes between them though also mixed with much unlikeness Christ had a twofold nature and discent each of which had its distinct properties of God and of man the Son of God and the Son of man according to the flesh and according to the Spirit according to the flesh of the seed of David according to the Spirit the Son of God and so declared to be with power in the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1.2.3 According to the flesh the Jews knew whence he was and stumbled at him according to the Spirit they knew him not whence he was nor did acknowledge him according to the flesh he was put to Death and died according to the Spirit or in the power thereof he was raised again He was a man a man anointed of God with the holy Ghost and power So is every reall Saint or Christian he is to be considered as a man and as a Saint as of Adam as in Christ of God according to the humane nature that he hath by generation in the flesh and according to the divine nature which he partakes of in the Spirit He is neither all flesh nor all Spirit but hath something of both though yet neither in the same way had Christ his flesh as he hath neither hath he the Spirit in the same immeasurable fulness as Christ had so that in that regard there is also disproportion between them the very flesh or body of Christ was so of God that it was not by immeditate humane generation and he was so the Son of God in the Spirit that he also was and is God and all the fulness of gifts and grace was and is in him not so the Saint he hath his flesh by humane generation as other men and he hath a measure of the gift of Christ in one way or other but no one hath all nor can communicate to others as Christ can The man Jesus Christ was the Son of God by union with the word so are the Saints but not in the same manner there the word was made flesh and the person so made is yet called the word here the word is united to the soul by faith yet so as it s not made to be flesh or man nor the person in whom it is is made the word there he was the
that they not being the objects of sense are the less feared or discerned and can the more easily mingle themselves with or insinuate themselves into our spirits which are somewhat of like nature with them that such essences were created by Christ is affirmed in Col. 1.16 Things visible and invisible c and that some of these leaving their first habitation or principality fell from God and are reserved in chains of darkness unto the Judgement of the great Day which they also tremble at the thoughts of is affirmed by the Apostle Jude 6. Nor need I go about to prove to you that there are such for I speak to you that are Saints and therefore I hope not easily gulled into the error of the Sadduces to deny that there are Angels or Spirits or any thing that cannot be seen or discerned with bodily senses you cannot be Saints if ye believe no more then your senses perceive for then neither can ye believe that there is a God forasmuch as with mortal eyes you cannot see him and Saints they are not that believe not in him much less that believe him not to be because they cannot see him The Scriptures everywhere plentifully testifie to this that there are both Angels and Spirits good and evil and such as I speak to are born of that Word of Faith that is held forth in the Scriptures else have they nothing to do to conceive that they have any interest in the glorious priviledges there spoken of I shall leave others to believe what there is said or to take theâ—… course till they experiment the truth thereof iâ— their own smart There is an evil spirit I saâ— whereof the Saints have experience with many emissaries or Angels unclean and evil spiriâ— too that worketh in the children of disobedâ—ence bewitching the minds of men with false iâ—lusions and stirring up that corruption thaâ— is in them to their own and others perjudiâ—… He blows and stirs men up to opposition agaiâ— God and his Truth and kindleth up anger aâ—… wrath against the Saints because of the truth deceiving the world and suggesting to them thâ—… the Saints are an evil people not fit to be peâ—mitted amongst men suiting himself to meâ— several dispositions ways and principles Tâ—… the prophane and men bent upon their lusts aâ—… pleasures he insinuates that the Truth of Goâ— and the Saints that profess it are opposite 〈◊〉 them and seek to cross them of their enterpâ—ses and therefore that it cannot go well witâ— them while they are permitted To those thâ—… are potent and powerful in the world he suâ—gests that these people are refractory to theâ— and under pretence of worshipping God 〈◊〉 Christ deny subjection to them and therefoâ—… not to be tolerated To them that are world wise he presenteth their way as foolish anâ— therefore to be despised To them that are falâ—…ly and ignorantly zealous he representeth theâ—… as Sectaries and perillous to their way of Religion and so fitting his suggestions to their several tempers stirreth them all up to war against them Sometimes also he worketh in some of more seeming ingenuous tempers to flatter and intice them with worldly proffers from their way of Piety and Religion Yea he can insinuate into the Saints themselves and suggest such things to their hearts as tend to supplant them and set one to play the adversary to another either by flattering speeches to perswade one another to turn aside from the way of Christ to avoide the Cross and persecution or else by raising up emulations divisions or the like to weaken them He Proteus like can transform himself into any shape and put into the world and into the flesh an addition of his own power and policy to make them more dangerous enemies unto the Saints to harm them The Beast the worldly power setting it self in the House of God and the false Prophet the pretended spiritual but really corrupt power worldlified into a way of secular pride and pomp are both strengthened by him the great red Dragon to persecute the woman clothed with the Sun and the Offâ—spring that she brings forth in the earth and happy is he that is not overcome by one wile or other of him Great need deer fellow-Travellers to look about us and to take to our selves Armor of Proof and to stand upon our Watch that none of these potent enemies do circumvent us and turn back from the possession of the eternal inherâ—tance to prevent which before I come to sheâ—… you the way to escape their force I shall say little about the Temptations that God orders 〈◊〉 his people by them chiefly some of the moâ—… dangerous of them CHAP. III. Of Temptations Sect. 1. That God suffereth his Saints to be tempted and why YOur estate being such as I haâ—… described you may see that yoâ— have ground to expect tempâ—…tions and cause neither to bâ— secure considering your imperfections nor yet diffident coâ—sidering what perfection you have in Christ Jâ—sus Your ground to expect them may be fuâ—ther seen in this that God pleases to order theâ—… to his people permitting them to be tempted 〈◊〉 Satan who of his own nature is most read thereto as may be seen in the head of the Saint even the Lord Christ Jesus We read thâ—… when He was Baptized and the heavens openâ—… upon him and God had declared him to be his well-beloved Son and the Spirit was poured out upon him designing him to be the Minister and servant of God to the world in the revelation of the knowledge of God to them Matth. 4.1 though God had testified his welpleasedness in him yet even him Satan set upon and thrust sorely at that he might try his strength and God also by his Spirit led him into this way into the Wilderness to be tempted of Satan sure to let us see what we are to expect and look for viz a portion too in temptation as of old he led his Israel also into the Wilderness and suffered a day of temptation to fall upon them before he led them into Canaan And that 's Gods trying men in this way that he leads them into such occasions and into such a way as wherefrom Satan take advantages to tempt them And though Satan do herein evilly like himself yet God doth it for good as to the Israelites of old because as there so here much mixt people comes out of Egypt with the Saints Many come out of the worldly Societies and Fellowships wayes and professions upon the heare-say of the Gospel and through the light truth that they see therein who yet are not so principled as the Saints not of their spirit and disposition though amongst them drawn by the hope of the inheritance but not so moulded into holy confidence and that those might be made manifest and either healed or turned quite out therefore God doth order temptations to them and then many such depart from amongst the Saints because they were not of them of
us and other we expect and waite not for come come and let go that your fleshly knowledge of and faith and hope in that Jesus Christ the man that was born without you according to the letter and you shall enter into the love with us and shall find all these things that ye there read of done within you you are now exposed to tryals and walk sometime sadly and you are tyed to this and that ordinance but we are past all those things and quite beyond them and we are come to inform you of this our perfect condition in which there is nothing that God reckoneth sin to us nor are we in any bondage but peace and liberty is all our portion You are in hell in darkness but we in heaven in light into which we are come to draw you these and such like are the hony combs that drop from their lips the flatteries with which they entice and lay in wait to deceive the yong and unstable ones boasting of their own peace liberty and high attainments of infallibility and promises of the like betterness to others that will follow them with an undervaluing of others attainments and simplicity of faith that they have in Christ Jesus till they corrupt them from it And indeed whom would not such fair speeches catch and carry away Who would not long to lick at such hony drops and kisse the lips that are so delicious who would not beleeve such fair flourishes when they tell them also they are their experiences especially when they that hear are unsetled and impatient to follow their Jesus through tryals and wait upon him for his glorious happinesse many strong men have fallen by her saith Wisdom and few or none that turn in to her are able to get out again but are so in wrapped in her snares and find so much pleasantness in her deceits have such strong fancies and delusions of joy peace liberty heaven happiness here already God giving them up thereto with such a free run to serve the flesh too that they follow on still as an oxe to the slaughter and as a fool to the stocks till a dart strike through their liver for though this strange womans guests are in the depths of hell yet they are not sensible of it they know it not till Christ by the brightness of his coming and breath of his mouth shall awake them and fill their souls with horror This is the way by which they beguile the simple and unstable souls colouring over their words with here and there a snatch from the Scriptures as Satan also did in his temptations and confessed Christ for his own ends and purposes though in their hearts they slight the Scriptures in generall picking out here and there a line which they wrest and pervert to their own destruction as they will alledge that there is no new thing under the Sun to prove that Christ shall never come otherwise then as he doth come daily and was never otherwise 〈◊〉 childe and weak but as he is at present they will tell you that Paul saith henceforth know we Christ no more after the flesh to prove that the beleeving on Christ as he was made flesh dyed rose and ascended c. is but a fleshly faith and knowledge of him and to justifie themselves for their not so beleeving they will alledge that Flesh and blood shall not inherite the Kingdom of God to prove that Christs body was not taken up into heaven that body which he bade his disciples handle and see that he had flesh and bone in and to prove that our bodies shall not rise again and be made glorious and immortall as also to the same purpose they alledge that the body returns again to the dust and the Spirit to God that gave it they will bring that Christ in you the hope of glory not as the Apostle preacht it but to prove that there is no being of Christ without and distinct from men and that Christ is nothing else then some spirituall frame within and many such like abuses of the Scripture they do make to perswade to the belief of their assertions such as yet bear some reverence to the authority of Scripture and indeed some of them in their Writings and discourses begin with very taking considerations and some true speeches arguing that they have met with spiritual light but have been led away from or perverted in it through Satans subtilty they will speak against a notional Faith and against idle speculations of Christ without power and urge that Christ must be in men and they conformed to Christ and partake of the holy Unction c. and all this way fair and good but then with them or at the close of them they usher in these perverted strains of slighting Scriptures Ordinances Faith in Christ crucified c. yet with such subtilty that there needs a good measure of spiritual understanding and good vigilancy to descry them for by reason of those preceding Truths they begin withall many are unaware caught and taken yea they would deceive if possible the very Elect. Such is the way of the whorish woman such her Panders the messengers of Satan transforming themselves into Minsters of Righteousness to pervert the Passengers towards Wisdoms House into their deceptions but now what is the danger of being snared by them and of falling in to this temptation is nextly to be spoken Sect. 7. Of the danger that attends mens falling into this Temptation THe danger that attends the being taken iâ— these snares or rather the end and issue 〈◊〉 such men as are overcome thereby is altogetheâ— inexpressible but those expressions of it that thâ— holy Ghost hath left us upon Record are such aâ— may well affright us from once listening theretoâ— and fill the hearts spirits of with those inuttâ—rable horror that are guilty thereof The rewarâ— or Wages of sin in general is death Rom. 6.23 and the ruine of all that know not God and thaâ— disobey the Gospel is exceeding horrible viz. to be punished with everlasting destruction from thâ— presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thes 1.9 to be debarred for ever from the enjoyment of the presence of God in which is fulness of joy and where are rivers of pleasure for evermore Psal 16,11 and to be shut up in perpetual misery and darkness but yet the expressions of their ruine and misery that run into these snares of Satan are such as evidently assign to them a first portion the holy Ghost being very full and frequent in setting forth the nature and consequents of these kinde of sinnings with answerable aggravations of their punishments for he tells us that these persons that run into these snares do not onely neglect a greater salvation then any formerly in the Law propounded Heb. 6.2,3 but also they crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame Heb. 6.5,6 He was once crucified for
goodness anâ—… through them believed sometime fell awâ—… when tempted in the withdrawings of theâ— though they see the same mighty works thâ—… others did that abide faithful the reason of was because the Word was not mixed with faiâ—… in them they believed when and because they 〈◊〉 so great things but blessed is he that believes 〈◊〉 seeth not as our Saviour said to Thomas 〈◊〉 when they that believed because of their sighâ— came to want sights their faith failed and theâ— were easily drawn aside into rebellion a coâ—… trary sense begat contrary thoughts in theâ—… they being led by Sense and not by the Worâ—… which abide the same without alteration on thâ—… otherside Abraham who believed not according to what was in his sense for there all thing went contrary to what he believed for but aâ—… cording to what was spoken gave glory to Goâ—… and abid stedfast knowing that however Goâ—… dealings altered as to his sense yet the Word 〈◊〉 God altered not and so his faith being buâ—… upon that abid stedfast and he obtained 〈◊〉 honour to be called the friend of God And truâ—… it s to be minded that divers who have turneâ— aside from the Faith of Christ were such as hâ—… not their faith and joy springing from what thâ—… Word recorded but from their sense and setting yea sometimes fancies and conceits wheâ—… they have seen and felt or fancied something of of God then they have believed but when God â—hath withdrawn again then they have been All â—…mort and not having the Word within them to support them and lead them to a patient waiting for his counsels they have readily â—istened to any doctrine that promises less trials and more sensible satisfaction and so into such as â—…ve have spoken of whence they are called Sensual as not having exercising and living by Faith â—ut rejoycing and living upon and impatiently â—oveting after matters of sense 3. Such also as are high minded and puffed â—p with conceits of their own attainments These thinking themselves out of the reach of all danger presume to neglect the way of God to â—eight Ordinances and Fellowships of the Breâ—hren praying and watchfulness and matter not â—o hear any doctrine accompany themselves with any people throwing themselves from the â—inacle of the Temple in confidence that the Angels of God shall keep them and so they are â—or their tempting God justly punished of God â—…y false Angels hurrying them into strong deâ—sions as was before noted 4. They that are curious and unsober in their â—esire of Knowledge and trusting to their own â—apacities and abilities undertake to pry into all â—ecrets looking into things which they have â—ot seen rashly puffed up with a carnal minde hese soaring up above their bounds and goiâ—… tbeyond the proportion and measure given theâ— are often met withall and mounted up 〈◊〉 Satan till they fall into his * 3 Tim. 3.6 The word there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signâ—… as well fault as punishment fault and condeâ—nation 5. Others not unlike the former through stability have itching ears and are desirous novelties and not abiding in and cleaving what they have heard and received of God 〈◊〉 to try conclusions and rather to taste someâ—… of every way then to drink well of any thoâ—… what they have met with God and his Spiritâ— 6. Others through leaning upon the wisdâ—… parts holiness professions of men having soâ—… in admiration and judging them as infallibiliâ—… when they see such persons holy humble â—…rent and well gifted in the eye of man or 〈◊〉 make great boasts of themselves and their attâ—ments speaking great swelling words to be gâ—… in such wayes then they leaning upon them 〈◊〉 with them being built more whatever thâ—… pretend of ceasing from man upon their proâ—…sions holiness parts attainments then uponâ— Word of God it self held forth to them Korah Dathan and Abiram being men of nown famous in the Congregation drew them company into Rebellion with them because likely many admired and leant upon them So these such a one say they of such parts gifts abilities experience are of this or that minde sure they cannot be deceived but they regard not whether it be according to the Word of God and held forth in and suitable to the Scriptures but seeing such imbrace it they follow with them and will stand and fall with them though into distruction forgetting that the Apostle Paul adviseth that though He himself an Apostle or Angel from heaven should preach beside the Gospel already delivered they should be held as execrable and accursed Gal. 1.8,9 Alas though these see many things in those they lean on below either Paul or an heavenly Angel yet their parts gifts profession of experience c. is such as they will venture soul and body upon them And no marvel if when the Stars fall that they steer their course by they split upon the Shelves of Temptation and Delusion that are steered by them 7. Ambitious persons that desire to be or to be thought to be above others and to attain to the highest steps that any boast of these reaching out after greatness sometimes make more haste then good speed and so swell beyond the due bounds of Truth that they fall into gross error 8. Some also through Coveteousness and such like evil affections nourished by them easily imbrace such things and God justly leave them thereunto as may least cross their getting or keeping worldly principles and so if they can meet with a profession that will promise as large or larglier then any and yet wil baâ—… them all attendance in Ordinances and sparâ— them more time for their earthly imployments and not indanger them to sufferings be cause they may suit with any thing they wilâ— not be hardly perswaded thereunto but presently strike hands with it what ere it coâ—… them as to their utmost happiness These anâ— such like are in danger to be snared Aâ— also 9. All that love to live as they list and to follow their own ungodly lusts such as these are oftentimes with those temptations turned asidâ— and taken but yet not all at once they go usâ—ally gradatim as it were by steps to the depth of Satan 1. At first its but this that ordinances anâ— poor carnall things and not only to be liveâ— above but without also and it s a state of moâ—… pefection to sit loose to them and disregarâ— them 2. Then from that the Scriptures are poâ—… low things an inky Divinity a dead letter full of fallacies and uncertainties and contradictions not much to be heeded especially according to what they say in the letter every liâ—… must have another meaning then the letter holds forth to us 3. Then they go yet higher and say and beleeve that the doctrine of Christs death and Resurrection ascension priesthood and mediation as things done without us is but a beginning fit for novices not to be dwelt in but to be left again and forsaken
or to be understood in a quite other sense then as if we should live by faith in any such person as the Scripture seems to speak of in such expressions and then for indeed if Satan get a man once to question the Word of God hath God in saying said thus he will soon bring him to believe contrary to what is said Ye shall not surely die then I say 4. They come to this that there is no such person glorified nor to be expected to come personally to judge the world as the Scripture literally speakes of and that its a poor low thing if not a piece of Idolatry too to worship God in a Mediator 5. Then they grow with that to deny the Resurrection of the body and tell us the Resurrection is already past all that 's to be met with 6. Then to this that there never was any such man or person as Jesus Christ but that all is an Allegory and it signifies nothing but light and love and such good frames born in men and there crucified by corruption and then again reviving and prevailing 7. Then they go a step higher some of them and know no difference between good and evil those actions that they did before and judged evil according to the Scripture are now no sin in them what ever they be and now they are as high they think as Adam in his first state if ever there was such a one they know neither good nor evil though they do much evil and no good and then they can ascend little higher but 8. To think God is all things and all things God and then they are high enough above all Religion and can step no higher or no lower rather then to Atheisme And thus by many steps they go or tumble rather down into the chambers of Death from whence there is no returning But this they see not at first nor do all that turn from the truth go down alike Some stay longer in one step and some in another some get to the lowest step more suddenly some more leasurely c. But all of them are in great danger to go down to ruine These and such like oh ye Saints are you dangers in this state of imperfection to be encountred and set upon with such deceits as unless your election be firm and the Word of God well rooted in you will vilely shake you and pâ—… you to some grief and trouble to crowd through them To say nothing of the hot persecution that these are likely to raise that the ancient prophecies may be fulfilled of slaying the witnesses even all that will faithfully bear witness to Christ Jesus making them as contemptible as dead carkases and rejoycing over them if God shall permit them power and authority especially if also they come to that as is foretold to work lying signs and wonders which will make such a shaking in the Churches of God as will indeed hasten Christ to his coming but pervert so many too and so dead the hearts of others that when he comes he shall scarce find faith in the earth as himself hath foretold us Sect. 9. Of other Temptations THere are also besides these forementioned many other temptations that ye have to encounter with which I shall not insist upon least I grow voluminous as Temptations to distrust and desperation To distrust and sadness because of outward trials wants and chastisements which out of a fatherly care God will exercise you with in this life some in one way some in another that ye might not settle upon the world and forget your resting place and that he might purifie and purge you from your corruptions that ye might be made partakers of his holiness concerning which the Holy Ghost instructs us in the Epistle to the Hebrews that God speaks to us as to children saying My son despise not the chastisement of the Lord neither faint thou when thou art corrected of him for whom he loves he corrects and chasteneth every son that he receives so that if any be without chastisement or nurture whereof all are partakers he is a bastard and not a son Heb. 12.6,7 c. Those corrections then are fatherly nurturements for our good and salvation and so to be accepted by us But whatever they be as from God yet Satan having a foolish sensuall heart or principles in the heart to work upon will be playing the part of an evil slave and suggest hard thoughts into our hearts as if they proceeded from Gods hatred of us And so from sense of corruption yet remaining in us he often assaulteth to cast away the confidence we have in Gods goodness and perswades us that He loves us not or is not faithfull c. Which thoughts listened to surely oppress some in their way and makes their Spirits utterly faint within them Yea to desperation he often hence endeavoureth to thrust some from the consideration of their sinfull failings and backslidings the hidings of Gods face want of visits from him want of fruitfulness in themselves c. And might he have his will He would here surely devour and undo many some he setteth on more violently this way and some in the other wayes but all in one way or other must expect temptation and therefore had need girt up their loines prepare themselves for the encounter and therein quit themselves like men that they may overcome and the crown of righteousness be given them And indeed the promises of enjoying the glory of that state to which they are called in the eternall Kingdom are pronounced by Christ upon such as shall endure temptation and overcome and not be overcome of them Now that Saints may as well stand fast in the day of their oppositions and wilderness walkings as be minded of their condition and dangers thereunto belonging I shall proceed in the next place to lay down the helps afforded of God for their overcoming and oh that God may so overcome all our hearts thorowly to close with them and faithfully to make use of them and walk in them that we may be able to withstand and put to flight the wicked one working out though not working for finishing though not by our own strength fetching in our own salvation CHAP. IIII. Shewing the Remedies against Temptations Sect. I. That God hath provided us Remedies THe consideration of your present weaknesses with the sharp warfare in which your state standeth here in the flesh if looked upon alone might breed discouragement in your hearts and make you say as sometime the unbelieving Israelites though the Land that 's given the state we are called to of grace be never so good in it self yet it s too difficult to be attained by us the Cities are walled up to Heaven the enemies Gyants in power number and subtilty too many for us Therefore my Brethren I must intreat you to come on a little further with me or rather to look back to what I minded you of in the
which do but manifest that while men have copied out these sacred writings they have sometimes either through heedlesness or through difficulty of right discerning or reading some word overslipt or altered some particles or words sometimes setting down some other of a like or neer signification agreeable to the sense and scope of the Text and sometimes perhaps something being noted in the margin by way of conference of like places in the several Evangelists some word or saying hath thence been afterward looked upon as pertaining to the Text and hath been by others inserted thereinto for so sometimes some word or sentence in some copies inserted in some History in Matthew or Mark more then other copies have is found in the same History in Luke or John by consent of all copies And this is clear that there is nothing of faith about which there are diversities of readings but what other places in which all copies agree will guide us to discern what is consonant to truth of them and which of them is corrupted and doth disagree nor any passage of weight in our received copies out of which our Bibles are translated which other places in which all copies agree will not confirm as in that most weighty place about which there are divers readings 1 Joh. 5.7 there are three that bear record in Heaven c. which some copies have not but most have the Scripture else where attests it to be according to truth for we have the same there in Joh. 1.1.33 clearly spoken of and all agreeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into one as some read it and again in Mat. 29.19 with divers other places which there is no difference or variety of reading in Nay we find the Holy Ghost sometimes varying a word in the Scripture and while the same truth is held forth though with some variety of expression it s still divine truth and not for that variety in expression to be rejected as where Moses said Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and shalt serve him our Saviour repeats it against Satan thus thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve which being both the sense of that place and the scope of divers other Scriptures it was no untruth to say it was so written this objection then is only a frivolous rub put in the way not to be regarded these varieties of readings being found either in matters not essentiall to the faith or if in such yet then they are either so small that they no way alter the truth propounded or are in other places cleared and the right reading attested I know some object against the translating of them that we have them not in their proper language and there is great difference in translations and one Minister corrects one place and another another c. A sorry objection too for 1. we have them in their Originall languages though all understand them not there 2. That languages or words are signarerum the expressions of things and not the things themselves expressed and that the alteration of the sound or name of a thing in severall languages alters not the thing so differently named is clear and that interpretation is needfull in languages not understood to make them understandible is as evident and that there are certain Idioms and properties of speech in every language which are scarce so fully to be expressed in other languages as in their own is confest too by all that understand languages besides that there is variety of signification of some words in most especially the Hebrew and Greek languages which sometimes render sentences somewhat dubious as well in the Original as to the translators and sometime one translator takes a word in one signification sometimes in another which are not cases often obvious but that the scope of the place matter evidence what the use of the word there is though sometimes it doth not so clearly but that there may be diversity of conceptions about it yet this being usually in things less essential to the faith no divine truth essentiall to our beleeving in God and walking aright with him is thereby left uncertain only some instruction or relation of things for our learning and further helpfulness or consolation in the things otherwhere many times more clearly and without all doubt asserted is not so fully made out in some translations as in others which doth but shew an usefulness in giving diligence to understand and make out the properties of the Originall languages by men of learning not at all that we are to slight the divine truths made out to us by the good hand of God upon those who have done their endeavours herein by translating them for us especially seeing we have almost generally left to us in the margin of some editions the diversity of the significations in which such dubious places may be taken that we might consider them both and take either of them as God shall present instructions to us from them and yet the rather too seeing the great mysteries of God and Jesus Christ are in clear and undoubted expressions in all translations amongst us so unanimously represented as that nothing but sloth or unbelief or wickedness can be the hinderance of our attaining to so much of them as may lead us to and preserve us in the way of salvation But yet neither is this all there is yet another wile of Satan that prevails much with many viz. that the Scriptures have another meaning then what the words import a spirituall mystical or Allegorical sense which is the true sense and therefore they are not indeed to be rejected but studied yet not to stick to the literal expression but to find out the spiritual that is the allegorical sense and this comes most up to the old Serpent who did not at the first say God never said ye shall not eat but hath God indeed said or in saying said ye shall not eat c. as if he should say though them words ye heard yet do you think that was the meaning of them there was some other thing in that saying then you think of and not that which the words seem to import this is a very specious temptation and takes with many and the other forementioned are often made of use to usher in this In answering which this I shall say that 1. All Scripture in one sense hath a spirituall sense as by spirituall sense we mean the sense of the Spirit or that the Spirit holds forth but then that is most usually no other but what the words hold forth and express as there is one god one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all the sense of the Spirit in that is as is exprest in th◠words and so usually in other places 2. Many Scriptures are indeed parabolically and figuratively exprest and there the Spirit had a further aime then at what the letter of
stories as that a cock scratching up a dunghill found a Jewel and finding it wisht rather that he had found a kernel of Barley in which he intended not to tell a real story of any Dunghill Cock but under that devised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Fable to set forth the folly of vain men who if they light of some pretious Truth or meanes of understanding prize it not but prefer some small worldly commodities or pleasures before it as better suiting their principles and dispositions and so under a Tale of a Frog and a Mouse fighting till the Kite catch them both up and devoured them he sets forth the way and issue of civil dissentions in which while both parties fight against each other they both become a prey to some third common and more potent enemy And under the Tale of a Dog passing over the water with a piece of meat in his mouth catching at the shadow of it and loosing the substance he declares how foolish vain men having some substantial Truth and catching at some vain shadow of Truth as if it were another or a more substantial truth loose and fall from that substantial Truth that before they were possest of Such is the nature of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a devised Fable Now the Apostle Peter tells us that they did not so declare the coming of Christ as if what they declared of Christ as born of a Virgin the Word made flesh and as opposed by Herod and other enemies working Miracles dying rising and ascending was but a witty representation of something done within them as of Truth born in an honest and innocent heart and there opposed by Corruption and Lust yet after some strength attained teaching many good Lessons to the soul and doing great works in it curing its blindness healing its lameness inlivening it from its deadness sometimes again stifled as it were by corruption and darkness but yet after a while getting the upper hand again and obtaining a more glorious conquest ravishing the soul and carrying it up into heavenly joyes and consolations Verily if this had been the thing the Apostles meant in speaking of Christ his Incarnation Sufferings Teachings c. and all the History of Christ but deviled to set this forth they have declared as plain and manifest and yet as wisely a devised Fable as ever Aesop devised to represent his moral instructions But the Apostle tells us lest we should be beguiled and led into such a fancy that they did not follow any such thing when they preached Christ but told us a true History and that that was the true Grace into which they have instructed us 1 Pet. 5.12 .. It s a truth indeed and that plainly asserted too in the Scriptures that while w◠behold the glory of the Lord with open face as in a Glass we are transformed into the same image c. that there is a great resemblance between the word of essence or Word that is God made flesh in the person of Christ and the Word or revelation of the grace of God in Christ united to our hearts by faith this conforms us unto Christ in Death and Resurrection It is opposed by corruption and growing up getting roote or dwelling richly in us teaches and admonishes us and keeps us safe in the midst of corruption from being overcome of it yea inasmuch as the Spirit of Christ is in it it gives the soul understanding and fills it with life power and salvation or rather Christ doth all this by it through his Spirit 's working effectually in it possibly to corruption at some time may cloud and dead its operations in some hour of temptation and day of desertion and it may break forth again and shine more gloriously in the soul after such a condition by the power of the Spirit quickning it in us and it may then raise us up in our spirits more gloriously and lead us up to heavenly consolations and all these things may be found attested in the Scriptures but yet this is not that coming of Christ in the flesh the Death and Resurrection of him declared in the Gospel but in some things the fruit of our sinnings against God or of his hiding his face by way of trial of our faith and in other things the fruit and operation of the Spirit of God sent unto us in Christ Name who suffered and rose for us We are to distinguish between the sufferings of the Humanity in the person of Jesus of Nazareth with its Resurrection and Glory his being made Lord and Christ c. and the conformity of the Humanity to him in his members by the working of his divine Spirit in them through the faith of him and not make the things affirmed of the head meet devised things to set forth Truth in the members nay deny the head and make him but a fained type of the members as they that hold not the head Col. 2.19 or ascribe not to the Humanity that suffered rose and ascended or to Christ as in it the true nature of a head I am the larger in this because it having a shew of wisdom beguiles many from the head of all principality and power the Lord Jesus Col. 2.8.10 and as was foretold by the Apostle causes them to turn asideto Fables or rather to turn the Gospel into a Fable This turning all into an Allegory is as notable a baite as any Satan can fish with for if a man be once brought to that that he thinks the Scriptures hold not forth the mind of the Spirit in and according to its expressions but speak of other things then it will follow that the literal expressions will not be much heeded but some spiritual pretended mystery looked for to resemble the things spoken of and then Satan himself transforming himself into an Angel of light may pretend to declare or suggest that true spiritual meaning and the soul hath nothing in the Word left certain by taking heed to which it may dicover him the Scriptures being now made to it like to the Philosophers first matter Omnium formarum capax fit to be interpreted by any new devise or figment that hath a shew of wit and subtilty in it as the spiritual sense of it yea the devil will lead men inevitably by this to deny the plainest affirmations of God in the Scripture as he was bold to tell Eve that in dying she should not dye the dying spoke of was not what she thought of it should be but a dying to her present dark state of faith and she should be as God and live a more divine life of Knowledge and sense so will he nay he doth lead men upon this principle to deny Christ the Lord that bought them suggesting to them that though the Scripture speak of one Jesus born of a woman at Bethlehem and dying neer Jerusalem for our sins and that we ought to believe in him yet the truth is that is but a Fable a
glorious appearance of him unto Paul as caused a bright shining visible to the standers by if he had had no other being or existence then in the hearts of men Acts 9.7 and 22.9 Such inferences then are meer abuses of Scripture not asserted in but contradictory to the Scriptures by keeping close to which as was before noted thou maist descry them to be vain as Christ holding close to the Scriptures detected Satans abuse of Scripture to him Beware I say then of their false Collections and strained inferences against the stream of the Scriptures and contrary to their plain sayings and their errings from the faith once delivered to the Saints as they are by the Scriptures made evident to be errings therefrom contend against but yet this their practise notwithstanding or their allegation of Hereticks in general abusing and diversly wresting them do not thou slight them but the more to minde them they being as the Apostle tells us sufficient to make the man of God perfect even fully able also to detect and reprove such abusive perversions of them yea and in and through faith in Christ to guide and keep thee and make thee useful to others also for salvation Sect. 7. Of Prayer ANd yet because they are the Sword of the Spirit a sword that cannot be weilded by every arm or to purpose by any but by and in the hand of the Spirit thou wilt need skill and strength from God rightly to use and weild them for though they are the glorious things of God and Christ uttered by the mouth of his servants the Apostles and Prophets that are contained therein yet as they are written so that writing is but a medium to make over those divine revelations by and the writing it self is not the thing that hath life in it but the things witnessed to and spoken of in them which things are not the object of the natural eye that looks upon the outward writing nor is the glory and certainty of those things discernable to the natural understanding unless the Understanding be opened though Truth in true expressions be presented to it yet it will not see them in the lustre beauty certainty glory heavenliness of them nor will it minde the love grace wisdom and glory of God therein shining and so the heart will not be rightly affected to them nor able to hold them fast so as nothing separate or withdraw it from them nor can or shal we so make use of them as not to be over-reached by Satan or have them in readiness when we should have most use of them uness they be put into us by the finger of God ingraven in our hearts and dwell in us being understood believed loved delighted in by us though the word therein declared be a spiritual Sword fit to fight the Lords battel with yet we have need of God to teach our hands to war and our fingers to fight with and to make it powerful and effectual against our spiritual enemies against whom we draw it Now the Lord hath promised to send his Spirit to the end to bring his Words to our remembrance to teach us lead us into all truth help our infimities c. And he is a Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding a Spirit of Might and Power and of the fear of the Lord a spirit of Truth and Consolation in whose might and wisdom and not in our own if we encounter Satan and his messengers we shall overcome them but as he is in the hand of the Lord to send forth yea is his hand so hath he told us that he would be sought to by us to perform for us the things that he promiseth us and so for this his Spirit to give wisdom and understanding to us Thence we are to look to him also in prayer and supplications with thansgivings for what he gives us according to that Phil. 4.6,7 In nothing be careful or thoughtful as to say and reason with our selves how shall we finde out truth how shall we escape the wiles of Satan but in all things or cases make known your requests unto God by supplications and prayers with thanks givings and then the peace of God that passeth understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in safe custody 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the knowledge of Christ as if he should say if you thanking him for what he hath done for you call upon him for further grace and mercy then shall he give down or so mind you of the knowledge of his Son as shall safeguard the heart in peace and quietness and this too agrees with that in Prov. 2.3 If thou callest for wisdom and liftest up thy voyce for understanding if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasure then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God for the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth proceeds knowledge and understanding which ver 10 11. if it enter into the heart and become pleasant to the soul will preserve thee from the evil man that speaks perverse things and from the woman or spirit of error that flatters with her lips Seeing this so pretious wisdom comes from God it is but meet and requisite that we go for it to God that we desire and pray to him for it and that without ceasing our desire and suit till he do give it to us yea and hath brought us by it to the haven of rest and set us past all further difficulties trials and temptations in which we cannot but need wisdom to direct and guide us which saith the Apostle James also Chap. 1.5 if any man want let him ask it of God who giveth liberally to all and upbraideth not that 's far the better course then to lean to our own understanding and take the thoughts and dictates of our own hearts for sure guides in which Satan oftentimes may come in and deceive us It is true that God doth often prevent us with his goodness and is found of them that seek him not yea that also is necessary to our seeking him for if he did not first give to us a knowledge of our wants and of his goodness how should we call upon him but it s as true that he having so prevented us and freely made known himself to us he expects this fruit again from us that we be thankful to him and follow on to know him seeking for further help and mercy of him So he could have given us blessing spirit knowledge c. immediatly into our selves but having found us unfaithful in Adam and to have plaid the Prodigals he hath in his wisdom chosen rather to depositate them in Jesus Christ willing us to repair to him to God by him for them to be given us out according to our needs which he also hath promised we shall receive so coming to him but if we turn our backs upon him and shall stoutly and proudly lift up our selves and
according to some other more mystical way that the Scriptures had not declared if the testimony of Paul be valid as they seem to make it in the other place which they wrest to their harm then listen to him explaining himself in that place and the rather because he tels us in holding those things fast not according to some more spiritual understanding as is pretended but according to his preaching and declaration of them we shall be saved to wit from running into erroneous conceptions such as that of the denial of the Resurrection there by him faulted and by consequence from loose and evil practises and which is the issue of both from eternally perishing for indeed it is an undeniable truth that according to the judgement men make of Christ so is their judgement of other things they that believe not the first fruits of our nature really to have died and to be raised again and glorified in the person of Christ they deny the resurrection of the rest of the lump or body of Christ and of mankind in general and they that deny that must needs deny the judgement with its rewards and punishments following then what will hinder that piece of Epicurism Let us eat and â—rink for to morrow we shall die for take away the Resurrection and the judgement as we have said before and you take away the life of all Religion If then thou shouldest ever be so far corrupted as under pretence of not knowing Christ after the flesh to make nothing of and to be waved from the Doctrine of Christ as in the flesh dying for us and by the power of the Spirit raised again in that his body from the dead thou art in the way to fall from all Christian Religion and into all profaneness and Atheism there being so great a connexion between the foundation Doctrines as those concerning the person of Christ and the things suffered by and done to him of God are and the superstructures as the things that are to be done to and in us are and so great a dependency of these latter upon the former that if the former the fundamental be shaken the latter will soon fall but if the former stand firm the latter will be upheld by them or we rather in the faith and practise of them his Death being the foundation of all our hope his Resurrection a certain pledge of ours and an argument of the judgement in which all shall be judged by him and his glory the forerunner and pledge of that that shall be manifested on all that love and waite for his appearing Acts 17.31 Chap. 6. Concluding with exhortation for the Saints walking worthy of their calling Sect. 1. That exhortations are usefull and needfull to Believers TO all this that 's before said I shall add onely some exhortations and directions to you to walk as becometh Saints that you may glorifie God who hat hitherto called you preserve your selves in his Love and be useful unto others which I beseech you to suffer and think not that in exhorting you hereunto I put a burthen upon you that you are not fit to bear or that I put you under the Law Christianity consists not onely in Speculation but also and that rather too in divine vertue and action wherein God deals not with his Saints with Herbs and Plants that have no sense nor â—ason as they are intelligent reasonable creaâ—res so he governs them by his Word and Spiâ—…t and puts them upon an exercise of those faâ—…lties given them that they might not appear to â—eidle and to no purpose in them He doth not â—… take all upon himself to do in them that they â—re thereby left without all action nor doth he â—act them by force and violence transporting â—…em beyond themselves that they need no adâ—ce counsel or exhortation It s true they are â—ot under the Law of Moses either the types â—ad shadows to be instructed to wait for Christ 〈◊〉 come nor under the precepts and injunctiâ—ns as ministred by Moses to be shut up under 〈◊〉 and curse much less to be left to seek to obâ—…in righteousness by endeavouring after them â—ot yet neither are they without Law to God â—…ey have a royal thoughtâ— not a rigid Law a Law â—f Liberty and Freedom of spirit to serve God â—hough not a Law of bondage under sin and death 〈◊〉 law of grace they have in them and the soveâ—…gnty and government of God over them they have the Spirit to guide them and the Law of the Spirit which is to be obeyed by them that which the Grace of God received by them requires again of them and leads them to both towards God and man Grace and Love from God as well teaching and obliging to duty as Mosaical precepts and indeed the believer hath no other Law but such as springs from Grace and leads to answer Grace The Law of Christ which is a Law of Love even of Gods Love in him and that 's a Royal Law indeed for it giveth first what it requires again of us It gives power and spirit for acting as well as puts an obligation and ingagement upon us so and so to act The Spirit writes it and prompts to walk as we receive to work out as he works in us and to yield up our members and powers to him that he may write in us and act forth by us his whole pleasure and confirm us to his minde and yet we are not to put a fancy upon his writing the Law in us as some do that strain their wits to shew how God writes all the Bible over in man the Books of Genesis Exodus Leviticus and so on the Creation of the world of heaven earth light firmament herbs plants fishes fowls beasts and man himself and so of the Paradise woman tempter c. which yet they cannot strain cleaverly to their purpose in all matters but are fain to catch at here there a picce as their wits serve them and let the rest alone This is to turn the Truth of God into a fancy and secretly to withdraw the heart from giving glory to God in the belief of the Truth of the sacred story But this writing the Law in man is his framing the heart unto his own Heart and Will putting into it heavenly principles and dispositions of love and holiness and whatsoever the Law requireth That denying ungodliness and wordly lusts we may live godly soberly and righteously in this present world Tit. 2.11,12 nor yet because God writes thus in man do they put too much upon man that exhort to these things for we may the better exhort to them because men have principles to act them no man would exhort a dead man to walk because he wants a principle to inable him but to living men such an exhortation is agrecable though it be God that makes themwalk or that hath printipled or inabled them thereunto no man would blow upon wood without fire put to
the Apostles in their Writings I fear men that rightly understand not will abuse this that 's here said even as they do the very Scriptures also yea not onely they that are not believers but even some weaker or rasher believers also will be too often ready to take up these practises which they ought to walk in against the Wolves and Seducers upon due proof and knowledge that they are such against their brethren for some smaller differences but the abuse of truth by some must not hinder the use practise of it in a due way by others It s likely too that the Scribes Pharises and Hypocrites of the Jewish Church would be ready to justifie their own practises against the Apostles and Christians in condemning and speaking evill of them by the Apostles practises and so sharp writings against the false Apostles and Apostates though in this they differed that the one made use of carnal weapons upon unjust grounds against the truth and the other of spiritual weapons upon good and warrantable grounds for the truth the one fought against men with violence to the death for holding to the Scriptures and asserting that Jesus is the Christ and the other spake against and warned men of the Apostates and perverters of the Gospel for what they knew they acted and preach'd against the Scriptures and the faith of Christ and probably some of the like spirit may think to justifie and strengthen themselves in their desired way of persecuting Gospel and Scripture assertions by what is here writ against such as lead men from the Scriptures into heresies of destruction yet that notwithstanding be we wary of our own and one anothers souls and take the Apostles counsel in walking towards those that upon due grounds from the Scripture we see would pervert them I say upon due Scripture-grounds that we may not mistake in our application of the counsels they give us to these or those persons left we condemn such as are not condemned by them It s needful that we try things and persons before we receive them or reject them and in this tryal as its needful to mind the Apostle Johns notes of discerning men viz. to mind whether they confess that is hold forth exalt and lead to faith in Christ come in the flesh that is as he was made of a woman made under the Law died for us and is risen again c. and to minde whether they hear hold forth consent and come up unto the Apostles Doctrine and wholsom Sayings So do I approve that it be with the joint advice and helpfulness of brethren chiefly such as are of more stability and greater understanding not but that weaker believers in case God by his Providence cast them upon such alone in taking heed to the word of Grace and looking to God for help may be able to discern them but God loveth unity of brethren and liketh not of mens despising the help he therein affords but punisheth such despisings of them and self-presumption to brotherly union God hath promised his blessing and Christ his presence to his agreeing together to act in his Name a sheep straying from the fold and going alone is often catcht up when they that abide with the flock sustain no harm To this trial also we may give credit to the testimonies of approved understanding and faithful brethren as to matters of fact or speech of their own knowledge declared by them for so we find even the Apostles to have practised 1 Cor. 1.11 and 11.18 and 5.1 in believing the testimonies of approved brethren against men and to have given warning to others of men whom they proved unfaithful or evil themselves 1 Tim. 4.14,15 yea and it is an argument of some defect and want of charity towards such brethren not to give due credit to their testimonies and brotherly warnings such a thing we finde upbraided in the Disciples by our Saviour in Mark 16.14 Because they believed not them that had seen him after the Resurrection Again when it is evident that men are departed from the faith ye are to put difference between some and others in your carriage toward them as the Apostle Jude hath given direction as towards those that through temptation and simple heartednedness are over-reached and turned aside but as yet not made one with and confirmed in the deceits by which men or Satan hath beguiled them ye are to walk with more tenderness in the spirit of meekness and love seeking to recover them till ye see there is no further hope of them But for others that begin to grow stiff reprove and rebuke them more sharply and by fear and the terrors of the Lord endeavour if possible to scare them from their evil wayes but if after twice or â—…ice admonishing they yet chuse their own â—…y and depart from the Apostolical Doctrine â—one of their own devising then as the Apostle â—…ul advises reject them Tit. 3.11 yea such as 〈◊〉 perceive upon good and due proof to be of 〈◊〉 Synagogue of Satan membred into him and â—…come a seed of his begetting sworn enemies â—s it were to the Lord Jesus doing the devils â—ork for him we may not onely count as accursed and give them up to Satan but also pray against them as divers passages will warrant us 〈◊〉 the Apostles Doctrine onely ye are to be â—…y wary in this case of doing nothing rashly 〈◊〉 upon mature deliberation and a clear â—…cerning Sect. 5. Exhortations to worthy walking towards the world or residue of men yet uncalled FOr your walking toward the world Let it be such as becoms the Gospel such as may â—orn and commend it to men such as in which â—…en may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Matt. 5.16 an unreproveable and faultless walking as the Sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation â—…il 2.15,16 having for the end of it the glorifying of God in Christ and the good of the world viz that the yet uncalled or unsubdued ones may be convinced and drawn to believe if it may be at least have their mouths stopt and their ignorance silenc'd that they may have no excuse for their folly nor any just cause in you of stumbling them and keeping them out from God to whom ye seek to draw them And indeed the grace 〈◊〉 God and what ye have therein heard seen wiâ—… teach you how to walk towards all only I shaâ—… briefly put you in mind of its teachings it wâ—… lead you to sobriety in your selves amongst them not to walk in coveteousness but to shew forâ—… moderation and contentedness in the lot of yoâ—… condition not to drunkenness riotousneâ—… chambering wantonness as if ye had your happiness in the enjoyment of fulness in the creatures or in satisfying the flesh in its lusts and afflictions but in mortification of your earthly members as those that are called to better and moâ—… lasting pleasures and
turn preachers of the Law to them in stead of the Gospel to bring them to some such fruits as legal repentance sorrow reformation and upon such things found in them as what else but fruits of Law and a legal conscience can be produced by them before the grace and love of God be held forth to them as testified in Christ toward them they are bold to apply the Gospel to them as if they were the undoubted signs of Election for so much is intimately implyed by comparing this their practise with their other Assertions of the Grace of God and Death of Christ limited to the Election from which practise of their legal preaching it comes to pass that some working and striving for this and that frame and attaining to some legal qualifications or workings with the Pharisee presume that they are righteous and have part in Christ and bless God as if his Grace had wrought those frames in them when as his Grace that is his love and goodwill in Christ they never apprehended or believed nor was that the ground and rise of those frames and changes in them but onely is inferred and concluded to themselves upon those frames by them Others spend their dayes in sadness and in labouring as the Israelies under their Egyptian Task-masters to get to themselves those frames which onely the belief of Gods Grace would kindly effect in them falling short of what they seek in themselves to build their title to the Gospel Doctrine of the Death of Christ upon they pine away in a servile slavery and are alwayes neer unto desperation unless mercy otherwise breaking forth unto them seasonably relieve them Take heed therefore of this preposterous preaching of Election and Reprobation to the world and limiting the Gospel and death of Christ to the Election which no Scripture doth and declare that to the world that Christ hath instructed us that his servants are to declare to them viz. tell them of the feast prepared in Christ forgiveness with him his death for them all things ready for their entertainment God willing that they be saved and Christ perfected for their saving and thereupon invite all and call upon them to go to the wedding to believe and submit unto him And where it pleases God to work so powerfully as to prevaile with some so as that they are perswaded to let go all for him to receive him believe in him and cleave unto him we may comfortably mind them of the doctrine of Election as the Apostles have used to apply it to believers minding them it was Gods goodness and free mercy and grace to them that they are preserved or plucked out from the same unbelief wickedness that is found with others or not given over for their follies against him when as many others perhaps as little or less rebellious have been more severely dealt with by him and that in Christ in whom they believe they are made compleat being by Gods order from before the foundation of the world chosen in him to be holy that is a peculiar devoted portion for God and blameless in love before him and when we see men neglect and slight the goodness of God propounded we may tell them how God rejected such and such for their folly against him and warn them lest for the like follies the same should befall them as Jer. 6 30. and 7.4,5 yea when we see men resting in their birth works priviledges c. we may well mind men that God hath not chosen the flesh and seed thereof as such to inherit with him not Adam and his seed as such nor Abraham and his seed as in the flesh nor the Law and its seed but Christ and his seed or members to inherit glory with him the rest otherwise then as they may be born again and become the seed of God in Christ are rejected from part and portion in his kingdom not from Gods good will toward them and the death of Christ for them for that was for sinners ungodly enemies yea as considered in such an evil condition but from fellowship with God c inheriting with Christ which none shall partake of that abide but in that state of nature yea though advantaged by more honourable birth or more zealous frame in which Christ extended his pitty to them in dying for them that so they may be pressed to let all go for Christ in whom there is both sure and certain ground for their repenting and believing and out of whom there is nothing to be found but perishing Now if ye do thus walking answerably thereto not measuring the outward court Rev. 11.1,2 given to the Gentiles as if we appropriated it to our selves onely but worshiping God in his Temple in fellowship with Christ and his people that are in union with him and at his Altar or in the sacrifice and meditation of Christ labouring both by word and conversation to bring up the Gentiles from their Gentilism and resting in the outward Court of external profession to the circumcision of the Spirit and worship of God in the same in the inward man and in his Temple and Altar as before Then shall ye find his blessing upon you making you a blessing to them and filling you with his own spiritual blessings in grace and peace till he bring you safely to the full injoyment of the glorious promises Even so Amen FINIS Postscript ONe word more I would commend to you viz. That of our Saviour Iohn 6.56,57 He that eats my flesh drinks my bloud abides in me and I in him c. a most excellent and choice direction for our preservation from the errors here in the Treatise mentioned and from all other that may indanger our miscarrying Would we abide in Christ that is in his faith Spirit lowe Iohn 15.10 and so in the experiment and injoyment of the fruits and vertues of his mediation for us and would we have him abide in us as surely he will if we abide in him that is have his love Spirit and divine power abide in our spirits making us fruitful and filling us with divine and eternal life and by consequence would we be preserved from the errour of the wicked and from drawing unto perdition This is the choice and most sure and excellent way to eat the flesh of Christ the flesh given by him for the life of the world ver 51. and drink his bloud the bloud of the covenant shed for the remission of our sins that is to mind view diligently look upon consider meditate on and keep in believing remembrance the abasement of the Son of God for us his obedience and sufferings in the flesh to the death the death of the Cross for us the satisfaction given by him for our sins the victory obtained over death the pretiousness of the bloud and sacrifice of Christ the peace thereby made redemption obtained the prevalency of it with God for us the covenant and promises thereby sealed the performance whereof he mediates in the vertue of it to his called c. and verily we shall be preserved we shall prove it the power of God to save us Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 15.1,2,3 1 Iohn 2.24,25 Heb. 3.1.6.14 Gal. 2.20 Search these Scriptures and see how they fitly explicate the business live we then by the faith of Jesus and forget we not the stripes by which he heals us But alas as many taste not the sweetness of this heavenly Manna but abide ignorant of the Cross of Christ feeding and living upon their actings sorrows good desires confusions performances changes zeal self-acted and conceited believing as indeed I know not how many should do otherwise because the Testimony of God holding forth the Death of Christ for all which should let them see good and undeniable ground for minding it and feeding upon it forsaking all other things for it is by the guids generally denied and condemned as an error so as they durst not believe it and therefore they having no divine evidence in the Word of God that Christ died for them they are put upon it to reason it out by their acts and changes fore-mentioned and to make them the evidences to themselves of it so as they must needs be the bottom matter of their feeding and consolation so many do but taste it abide not there to eat of it Heb. 6.4,5 but after they have found some sweetness in it fall a lusting after evil things counting this heavenly food but a dry bread and so they either feed upon their past acts of believing their rejoycing the operations of it in them which are often soon dried up for want of supply from this Fountain Christ crucified or else they reach after some more seemingly glorious matter of their feeding as is before spoken to Chap. 3. Sect 4. and so forget that they were purged from their old sins or the means rather of their purging the true bread that should have nourished them and either turn to the world and their corruptions again or are carried away with some strong delusion to their ruine from which the eating or feeding upon the flesh and bloud of Christ those despised low things in the eyes of proud men would have preserved them Note also that when in some passages I fault men for hearing any whom they will my meaning is not that I would have men tied up to this or that man as if it were unlawful to go from any to another or to hear any for trial-sake or the like but my meaning is that men are faulty in having an itching ear that when they have found Truth yet they will be out of curiosity or self-confidence diving into and trying what good they can get in some other doctrines Such an hearing of them as our Saviour says his sheep will not afford to strangers from him Iohn 10. FINIS
hath manifested himself and is to be believed in in each of these as that this one God by his Word and Spirit having made and created all things for man and man in his own Image deserved and required to be obeyed and honoured by man but man sinning and therefore falling under his displeasure and making himself thereby unable to please him and unfit for fellowship with him by reason of that unspeakable pollution that hath overspread him God was yet pleased in the greatness of his mercy and freeness of his love to find out a way to recover us again and a way by which we might return back again unto him So as that both his justice and displeasure against sin might clearly be demonstrated and yet his goodness and love too toward sinful mankind be magnified which was by appointing and sending forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law so being found in shape as a man a reall man to bear in his body the punishment of our sin the sin of the world and so to give himself a ransome for all That this his Son the Word made flesh as was long before even from the beginning of the world fore-prophecied of him is now come already and hath taken upon him in the body that was prepared for him the burthen and cause of man and as a publike man given himself a ransome for All induring the Death and undergoing that sentence of curse and condemnation that by the offence of one came upon All men and that for All and hath in grapling with that death and sin overcome them so that God hath raised and justified him in the behalf of all so as he may also see the justificatian of all that do and shall believe on him To which purpose also viz. that men might in believing on him have him for their justification the Father hath glorified him in the nature and behalf of mankind making him Lord of all and his salvation to the end of the earth giving him all fulness of Authority and Power and filling him with all the fulness of the Godhead bodily even the fulness of Divine Spirit Power and Vertue yea also appointing and ordaining him as Mediator to stand in the Vertue of his Death and Sacrifice between God and men as the propitiation for them even for our sins that believe and not ours onely but also of the whole world 1 John 2.1,2 So as that with respect to him and what he hath done and suffered for sin he is good and patient and bountiful to the whole world not withstanding they sin yea and hath sent out his Gospel to be published to them all without limitation or restriction viz. that though this his Son there is forgiveness for them and he would have them saved and to that purpose come to the acknowledgement of the truth yea He to wit Christ is He in whom all the world or any of them may find favor and come into favor with God again so as to be at one with him namely by acknowledging his Truth and believing on him who also is appointed by his teaching them as a Prophet by his ruling them in righteousness and writing his Law in them and subduing their enemies as a King and Lawgiver and Judge over them and by mediating the new Covenant or Advocating and making intercession as the great High-Priest to the utmost to save all them of the sons of men that see and believe on him and so judge his and their enemies that that hate his Light and reject his â—endred mercy to condemnation to which end he shall at the time appointed of the Father come again and raise and judge both the one and the other as they have here behaved themselves towards him That as the Father hath put his Spirit upon Christ so they are to submit unto Christ in his Word and Ordinances and look unto and wait therein for this his Spirit upon him as he that is Power of God that is to bring down or effect in man that salvation that is in Christ Jesus set forth to them the Renewer Sanctifier Teacher Comforter and therefore to be heard sought after received and obeyed by men in the power of which they are to worship the Father through the Son and in the receit and indwelling of whom they shall finde and experiment the streams of that Fountain of Life that flows from the Father or rather that the Father is in and through the Son yea God himself by his Spirit to dwell in them and to set up his Kingdom in them in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost to the full possession and revelation of which in and upon them this Divine Spirit in such their listning to following after and obeying him will not fail to bring them Sect. 7. A Caveat against some mens preposterous mistakes about the Doctrines of Election and Reprobation THis then is the brief summ of the Doctrine to be held forth to the world in which we may hopefully expect and look for the assistance and operation of the Spirit to convince them of the good will of God toward them and therein of their sin for not believing on him Joh. 6.11 that hath done so much for them and is so appointed and fitted of God for saving them And of Righteousness both that all the righteousness they have of their own is empty and will not avail them otherwise no need for Christ to have died for them and also that in him is everlasting righteousness worthy to be looked after and certain in that their looking to him for it to be met with by them And of Judgement that their own self-justifications will not serve them nor their own self-condemnations so valid as remedilesly to cast them but to his doom they must stand by whom the Prince of the world is judged and they must receive their final sentence from him who is able in case of their believing on him to absolve them from all self-condemnings and in case of their disobedience against him and the Will of his Father to destroy them however their own thoughts and other men have hitherto justified them Yea in this Doctrine we may hopefully expect the holy Spirit to draw in and allure the convinced to hope in him and believe on him and therefore this hold ye forth to them and to the furtherance of this let all your conversations and walkings be directed as becoms the children of such a Father the members of such a Head as the Lord Jesus and as the Temples of the holy Ghost that they that are apt to slight the Word may yet be woon to glorifie it by the goodness of your conversation And beware I pray of that preposterous way that some run into who through mistake or unbelief of the Gospel delivered to us by the holy Apostles according to the commandment of the everlasting God and through the exercise of their own reason with the mistaking of some
Scriptures do hold forth to the world another manner of doctrine telling them that some few are and were Elected from Eternity and others the most part of men even where the Gospel is sent too were from Eternity reprobated and must inevitably be damned because God hath so appointed to them and hath not appointed or sent forth any Mediator for them to approach to him by nor that Mediator done any thing for them in his Death and suffering only those few he hath elected he would have saved and for them onely Christ hath given himself a ransom and is a Mediator all the rest God hath no good will to nor hath provided any remedy for but hath left them in their fall that they might there sink and perish thus mistaking and preposterously holding forth those decrees of Election and Reprobation which they rightly understand not making of them dangerous and unprofitable doctrines which otherwise in due place and manner propounded are very wholsom for herein they go beside their Commission preaching an uncertain sound to men which the world can have no good use of for when they hear it what use have they of it but to trouble or harden them for what other consequence can they naturally draw from thence then this Either I am elected or not if I be then I am well enough no sin can or shall hurt me Christ hath wholly taken if off and will not suffer it to condemn me no matter whether I hear or not nay though I swear and drink or whore or do what I please if there be any Christ for me I shall and must have him and in due time be brought to him and to life by him do what I can if otherwise I shall but here torment my self with a melancholy and religious life in vain what profit is it to pray to him and seek him seeing if I may obtain life I shall have it thrust upon me yea and if I be Elect I shall be made religious too when Gods time is and till then no evil shall harm me otherwise no duties will profit me Till I be compelled then and constrained to do otherwise I will take my pleasure and do what I pleas no actions of mine can either help or hinder me Now if it work not thus with all in the world yet then they are busied to know their Election which being indeed in Christ cannot rightly be known but in him nor till men be in him and in the mean time the Gospel is withheld from or made doubtful to them by which they should be drawn in to him and in which they might see good ground for them to believe in him for how shal any know that there is good news from God for them while they know not that Christ was sent of God for their sakes or hath given himself a ransom for them seeing God makes out his Love to men onely through him in whom and none else there is salvation And how shall these things be known by any according to that way of doctrine but by knowing first of all their Election though yet according to the Gospel and Scripture-tenor delivered by the Apostles this is a thing not precedent but consequent to their being in Christ and believing on him Now what is it to believe in Christ but through the hearing and receit of what God hath done for them in him and he suffered and done by the appointment of God for them and the fulness in him to trust in him and through him for all their future saving the working all their works in them preservation of them here and bringing them to glory hereafter according to that Rom. 5.9,10 God hath commended his love to us in this that while we were sinners yet Christ died for us whence as follows springs up that believing exercise and reasoning of the heart for his future saving them if while enemies God hath reconciled us through the death of his Son how much more shall he not save us by his life we being through what he hath done reconciled to him The hearing and belief then of what God hath done for men in Christ is the medium of drawing men in to believe on Christ and thence faith is called a faith in the bloud of 01 Christ Rom 3 25 but now in that way of doctrinating men that medium to this believing is made a consequent of it that that should draw them in to him made to follow their being in him and so in stead of believing through Grace as the phrase is Acts 18.27 that is through the good will of God held forth in the Gospel and there made to appear to them they are required first to believe in Christ that they might be perswaded that there is grace and good will with God toward them they are required to trust in his Name that they may know there is something in it that they may trust in and not first taught to know his Name as meet to be trusted in by them that so they might trust in it whereas right trusting in him springs from the very power of the Spirit working in the opening and declaration of his Name unto them Pal. 9.10 And onely such a faith a faith of the right stamp a faith that springs from and worketh by Love is sufficient to evidence mens Election but such a faith I say none can have till the goodness of God is first discovered to them and they see and believe his love to them for our love to him and so by consequent the faith that works by love springs from the appearance of his love to us according to that We love because he loved us first That faith is dead which the Word of the Gospel declaring the goodwill of God in Christ and so the appearance of his Love therein inlivens and quickens not such a faith can never evidence a mans Election and yet such a faith they must build the thoughts of their Election upon that that should produce a living faith in them being not to be apprehended by them as true for them till that be first known except they will run themselves and their hearers upon a gross 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of producing the fruit before the tree the effect before the cause a living faith before they receive that that should make it living rest in the bloud of Christ for remission before they can tell whether that bloud was shed for them that in resting in it or in God through it they might have their sins remitted one of these they necessarily put men upon they knowing it to be unsafe to pry immediatly into the secrets of God and indeavour à priori to find out that their Election as a way that leads to delusion and destraction and yet such an inconvenience many so doctrinated are ready to run upon Besides that while they indeavour to bring men to apply the Gospel to themselves only upon some conceived fruits of Election they