Tim. 3. 16. God was manifested in the flesh and 1 Joh. 1. 14. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth And in Heb. 1. 14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he that is God Heb. 1. 8. also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he must destroy him that had the power of death that is the Divell Now as he was thus true God and true man so he became our redeemer and Saviour Compare the first and second chapters to the Heb. together and you may cleerly see that this is a glorious truth that he who is the first and the last Rev. 1. 17 18. and â— 8. humbled himselfe and made himselfe of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men And was this all No he humbled himself unto death even the death of the crosse Phil. 2. 7 8. compared with Revel 1. 17 18. and Rev. 2. 8. with Gal. 1. 4. Now after this Christ of God true God and true man had wrought out eternal redempâ—ion for us poore miserable sinners Heb. 9. 14. compared with 1 Tim. 1. 15. I say after he had done this he ascended up into heaven and there ever lives to make intercession for us Now this Christ having thus compleatly wrought out our Salvation sends his Disciples abroad to preach the same to poore sinners Acts 2. and 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. 1 Cor. 1. 17. and so many as were ordained to eternal life when they heard the word or the Gospell preached by the Apostles which Gospell was this Christ 1 Cor. 1. 17. compared with ver 23. I say so many as were ordained 〈◊〉 eternal life when they hearâ— the word the Holy Ghost oâ— Spirit of Christ fell upâ—â— them Acts 10. 44. compareâ— with Acts 13. 48. which diâ— lead them into the Redemption and glorious things that the Lord Jesus had laid up and prepared for them Joh. 16. 13. 14 15. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Which Spirit was the earnest of their inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory Eph. 1. 13. 14. This earnest of their inheritance was a glorious encouragment to them that had it to hope for the glory that was revealed at the appearing of Jesus Christ which is the meaning of that place in Col. 1. 27. And that will be seen clearly if we truly compare it with Eph. 1. 13 4. before cited Now this Spirit which sometimes is called the Spirit of Christ 2 Cor. 13. 5. This spirit I say being given to all those that were ordained to eternal life it must neâ—ds follow that those that had not this Spirit but did live and die without it were not ordained to eternal life and so were none of Christs but were reprobates Rom. 8. 9. for the Spirit of Christ is the distinguishing Character betwixt a believer and an unbeliever he that hath it and is led by it is a child of God Rom. â— 14. but he that hath it not is none of Christs So then the Answer that I give to the question is this The Spirit of Christ that is given to believers is the Earnest or hope of that Inheritance that Christ hath already purchased and is now preparing for so many as he hath given or shall give this holy Spirit unto And for the proofe hereof Read Eph. 1. 13 14. In whom saith the Scripture ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gâ—spel of your Salvation 〈◊〉 whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance which inheritance is the eternal redemption that was purchased by Christ for poor sinners Heb. 9. 14. untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glorie Againe Gal. 5. 5. for ye through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith And Col. 1. 27. the Apostle speaking of this great mystery saith To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory which glory was then revealed to the Saints no otherwise then by faith as the Apostle saith We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 5. 2. Which hope is begotten by the Spirits shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts ver 5. which hope is not yet seen that is not yet actually enjoyed for we are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for But if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it Rom. 8. 24 25. And as I say the cause of believers hope is this Christ or the Spirit of Christ in them the hope of glory And indeed he may well hope for glory to come who hath already an earnest thereof given him of God and that earnest no less than the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Rom. 8. 16 17. But now this Spirit which is the Cause of a believers hope all men have not Jude 19. Eph. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 9. Jo. 14. 16 17. Therefore what a sad doctrine is that which saith follow the light that Christ hath enlightnâ—d every man withall which commeth into the world which light is the Conscience * that convinceth of Sinnes against the Law and that you may see cleerly if you mind that Scripture Jo. 8. 9. which saith that the Pharises which had neither the love of God nor yet his word abiding in them Jo. 5. 38 43. when they had heard Christ speaking thus to them He that is without sin among you c. being convicted by their own Consciences went out one by one beginning at the eldest even to the least But the Divell that he might be sure not to miss of his design labours by all meanes to render the Scriptures also odious and low telling them of the Scriptures within which Christ never taught nor yet his Disciples But they being given up of God to a reprobate minde have given themselves over rather to follow the suggestions of the Divel then the holy Scriptures which God hath commanded us to betake our selves to Isa. 8. 20. compared with Jo. 5. 39. which Scripture is called the sword of the Spirit Eph. 6 17. which weapon our Lord Jesus himselfe held up to overcome the Divell withall Mat. 4. 4 7 10. Luke 4. 4. 8. 12. But this designe as I told you the Divell carries on by pretending to shew them a more excellent way which they may attaine to if they be but wise and follow what is made knowne to them from the light within them But Reader that thou mayest be able to escape the snare of this cunning hunter I shall lay thee downe some few directions which if
holiness purity of heart and life Acts 15. 9. purifying their hearts by faith and then the more thou hast of the right faith of Christ and of his things in thy heart the more strong and valiant wilt thou be in spirit to doe any worke private or publick for Jestis Christ like Stephen Acts 6 ver 8. who being full of faith and of the holy spirit was also full of power In this book thou hast also laid down from the Scriptures how Jesus Christ is without the Saints as man and yet dwelleth within them that is somthing of his divine nature or his blessed spirit dwels within them which spirit is somtime called the spirit of Christ. Rom. 8. 9. he that hath not the spirit of Christ c. and sometime called Christ Rom. 8. 10. if Christ be in you c. and also how we may know whether it be Christ and the spirit of Christ within or a false spirit calling it self Christ that is thus if it be indeed Christ within that is the spirit of Christ God-man why then it teaches that man or woman in whom it is to apply and trust in Christ without for Salvation Christ as born of the Virgin Mary as fulfilling the Law without them as dying without the gate of Jerusalem as a sacrifice for sin it teaches them to trust in the man Christ as rising againe out of the grave without them as ascending into and interceding in heaven without for them and as to come from that heaven againe in his flesh to judge the world Thus the man Christ himself saith Joh. 16. 13. When he the spirit of truth is come c. he shall glorifie me v. 14. he shall make you more to prize admire and glorifie me who am both God and man And who shal be absent from you touching my body Then followes For he shall take of mine of my glorious things and shew them to you He shall take my divine and humane Nature my birth my person and offices my obedience death satisfaction my resurrection ascension and intercession and of my second comming in the clouds with my mighty Angels to judgement and shall shew them or cleer them up to you He shall take of my salvation which I have wrought for you in my own person without you And he shall take of my glorie and exaltation in the heavens and shew to you Now to minde this one thing and to be set down in a right understanding of it by the Spirit from the Scriptures will be of great concernment to thee and me for for want of this many professors have split themselves some looking only on what Christ hath done suffered without them resting in an historical traditional and indeed a fancyed faith of it without looking for the Spirit of Jesus Christ to come with power into their hearts without which they cannot rightly know nor rightly believe in Christ the Son of God without them so as to have any share or interest in him Rom. 8. 9. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Others have been depending too much upon somthing they call Christ and the righteousness of Christ within them in opposition to Christ and his righteousnesse without them from which all true saints have their justification and comfort it being received through the operation of the spirit which dwels in them and however these may talk much of Christ within them yet it is manifest that it is not the spirit of Christ but the spirit of the Divel in that it doth not glorifie but sleight and reject the man Christ and his righteousnesse which was wrought without them Reader in this book thou wilt not meet with high-flown aerie notions which some delight in counting them high mysteries but the sound plain common and yet spiritual and and mysterious truths of the Gospel and if thou art a believer thou must needs reckon them so and the more if thou hast not only the faith of them in thy heart but art daily living in the spiritual sence and feeling of them and of thy interest in them Neither doth this Treatise offer to the doubtful controversial things or matters of opinion as some Books chiefly doe which when insisted upon more the weightier things of the gospell have alwayes done more hurt then good but here thou hast things certain and necessary to be believed which thou canst not too much study Therefore pray that thou maiest receive this word which is according to the Scriptures in faith and love not as the word of man but as the word of God without respect of persons and be not offended because Christ holds forth the glorious treasure of the gospel to thee in a poor earthen vessell by one who hath neither the greatness nor the wisdome of this world to commend him to thee for as the Scripture saith Christ who was low and contemptible in the world himself ordinarily chuseth such for himself and for the doing of his work 1 Cor. 1. 26 27 28. Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world c. this man is not chosen out of an earthly but out of the heavenly University the Church of Christ which Church as furnished with the spirit gifts and graces of Christ was in the beginning and still 〈…〉 will be to the end 〈◊〉 the world that out o◠which the word of the Lord and 〈…〉 gospel Ministers 〈◊〉 proceed whether 〈◊〉 or unlearned as to humane learning 1 Cor. 12. 2◠28. And though this man hath not the learning or wisdome of man yet through grace he hath received the teaching of God and the learning of the spirit of Christ which is the thing that makes a man both a Christian and a Minister of the Gospell as Isa. 50. 4. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned c. compared with Luke 2. 18. where Christ as man saith the spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor c. He hath through grace taken these three heavenly degrees to wit union with Christ the anointing of the spirit and experience of the temptations of Satan which doe more fit a man for that weighty work of preaching the Gospell then all Vniversity Learning and degrees that can be had My end in writing these few lines is not to set up man but having had experience with many other saints of this mans soundnesse in the faith of his godly conversation and his ability to preach the gospel not by humane art but by the spirit of Christ and that with much success in the conversion of sinners when there are so many carnal empty preachers both learned and unlearned I say having had experience of this and judging this Booke may be very profitable to many others as well as to my selfe I thought it my duty upon
Scripture for our Lord sprang out of Judah Heb. 7. 14. Againe when Christ the Saviour was to come into the world at that time the Scepter was to depart from Judah according to the prophesie of Jacob The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh come Gen. 49. 10. Now the Scepter was then departed from those that were Jews by nature and also the lawgiver and Herod who was a stranger and not of Judea was King over them as Caesars Deputy and Caesar Augustus imposed lawes on them The stuborn Jews also confessed the Scepter to be departed when before Pontius Pilate a Romane governour of â—udea they cryed out against Christ We have no King but Caesar Joh. 19. 15. Nay further the Jewes from that day to this have beene without a â—ing of their owne nation to governe them they never had the Scepter swayed since by any of themselves but have been a scattered despised people and have been as it were liable to all dangers and for a long time driven out from their countrey and scattered over all the Nations of the earth as was prophesied concerning them Jeâ— 24. 9. Zek. 5. 14 15. And yet these poor souls are so horribly deluded by the devil that though they see these things come to passe yet they will not believe And one reason among many of their being thus deluded is this they say that the word Scepter in that 49. of Gen. is not meant of a Kingly Government but the meâ—ning is say they a rod or persecutions shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh come Now they doe most grosly mistake that place for though I am not skilled in the Hebrew tongue yet through grace I am enlightned into the Scriptures whereby I find that the meaning is not persecutions noâ— the rod of afflictions but a Governour or Scepter of the Kingdome shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh come And that this is the meaning of the place weigh but the very next words of the same verse and you will find it to be the Scepter of a King that is meant for he addeth nor a Lawgiver from between his feet Marke it The Scepter nor a Lawgiver the Legislative power depending on the Scepter of the Kingdom shall not depart from Judah untill Shiloh come According to that Scripture written in Isa. 7. 16. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evill and chuse the good the land which thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her Kings which Scripture hath been fulfilled from that same time But a word to the Jews exposition of the Scepter to be a rod or persecutions saying that persecutions shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh come This cannot be the meaning of the place for the Jews have had rest oftentimes and that before Shiloh did come at one time they had rest fourscore years Judges 3. 30. againe And the land had rest from warre Joâ—h 14 15. And againe the Lord gave them rest round about according to all that he sware unto their fathers and there stood not up a man of all their enemies before them Jos. 21. 44. Jos. 22. 4. 23. 1. And the land had rest forty years Jud. 3. 11. There was rest many a time from persecution and from the rod thâ—ugh it we but for a season but the Scepter or Kingdome did noâ— depart from Judah and a law-giver from between his feet tiâ—â— Shiloh came Againe to prove that Jesus is the Christ it is cleer from the hand of God against the Jews for putting him to death What was the reason why they did put him to death but this he did say that he was the Christ the Sonne of God Luke 22. 70. Then said they all Art thou the Sonne of God And he said ye say that I am that is I am he as you say I am the son of God Yea the only begotten Son of the Father and I was with him before the world was Now the Jews did put him to death for his thus owning his own That is for not denying of his Sonship but making himself equal with God therefore did they put him to death Joh. 1â— 7. Now God did and doth most miserarably plague them to this very day for their crucifying of him But I say 〈◊〉 he not been the Christ of God Gods Son he would not have laid sin to their charge for crucifying him but rather have praised them for their zeale and for taking him out of the way who did rob God of his honour in that he made himselfe equal with God and was not He would have praised them for doing the thing that was right as he did Phinehas the son of Eleazâ—r for executing judgement in his time on the adulterer and adultereâ—le Numb 25. 8. But in that he said he was the Sonne of God and accounted it no robbery so to call himself Phil. 2. And seeing that they did put him to death because he said he was thâ— Son of God And in that God doth so severely charge them with and punish them for their sin in putting him to death for saying that he was the son of God it is evident that he was and is the sonne of God and that Saviour that should come into the world For his blood hath been upon them to this very day for their hurt according to their desire Mat. 27. 25. Againe Jesus himselfe doth in his day hold forth that he is the Christ where he saith the time is fulfilled and the Kingdome of heaven is at hand Mat. 1. 15. What time is this thâ—â— Jesus speaks of Surely 〈◊〉 that of Daniels Seventy weeks spoken of in Chap. 9. 24. when he saith Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people to finish transgression and to make an end of sin and to make reconciliation or satisfaction for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to anoint the most hoâ—y this time that here Daniel speakes of is it that Christ saith hath an end and the argument that he brings to perswade them to believe the Gospel is this the Kingdome of God is at hand according as was prphesied of it by Daniel repent and believe the Gospel Repent and believe that this is the Gospel And that this is the truth of God Consider that Daniel had a revelation of these daies from the Angel of God and also the time in which it should be accomplished Namely Seventy weekes was the determined time of the Messias his comming from the time when the Angel spake these words to Daniel Seventy weekes that is about 490 years if you reckon every day in the said twenty weekes for a yeare a day for a yeare a day for a yeare for so is the holy Spirits way sometime to reckon dayes Ezek. 4. 6. and this the Jews were convinced of when Christ saith to them ye Hypocrites ye can discerne the face of the skie but can you not discerne the Signes of the
2. 24 25. Therefore c. 15. He that by his own power commandeth the raging Sea must needs be the true God Job 38. 10 11. Prov. 8. 29. But this did Jesus the sonne of Mary Mark 4. 39 41. Luke 8. 24. Therefore c. 16. He that is the wisedom power and glory of God must needs be the true God But Jesus the sonne of the Virgin is all these as 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. Heb. 1. 1 2 3. Therefore Jesus the son of the Virgin must needs be true God as well as man The next thing that I am to proâ— is this Namely That by â—â— Jesus Christ the sonne of thâ— Virgin the World was made And here I shall be brief â—â—ving touched on it alreaâ— Only I shall lay down someâ— the Scriptures that hold for this to be a truth and sopâ— to the next things that Iâ—tend to speak of ANd therefore in the fâ—â— place see Heb. 1. 1 2. whâ— the Apostle is speaking of â—â— Sonne of God which Soâ—â— was borne of the Virgin Mâ—â— according to these Scriptâ—â— mentioned before Matth. 18 to 23. Luke 2. Matth. 3. â— where God himself saith Tâ— is my beloved fonne c. Tâ— Sonne of God saith the Apâ—stle by whom God hath spoken to us by him also he made the Worlds And Col. 1. the Apostle speaking of the deliverance of the Saints saith Who hath delivered you front the power of darknesse and translated you into the Kingdome of his dear Sonne in whom we have Redemption through his blood even the forgivenesse of sinnes And is that all No but He is also the image of the invisible God ver 15. The first born of every Creature And in ver 16 17. By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him And he is before all things and by him all things consist Also Heb. 1. 10. it is thus written of this Sonne of God Christ Jesus the sonne of Mary And then Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands And again John 1. and the first nine verses the Evangelist or Apostle speaking of the Son saith In the beginning was the Word which Word was the Son Rev. 19. 12 13. This Word or Son was with God and the Word was God All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made In him was life and the life was the light of men And the light shined in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehended it not But in the ninth verse of this first Chapter of Joh. it is written That was the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world Now seeing the Lord hath brought me thus farre and because the Quakers by wresting this Scripture do not onely split themselves upon it but endeavor also to split others I shall therefore before I proceed any further ' speak a few words to it and they are these that follow The Apostle in these nine first Verses or most of them is speaking of the Divinity or Godhead of the Sonne of Mary and shewing that he made the World Now in this ninth verse he speaketh of Man as he is in his comming into the world and not as he is a regenerate person Now every man as he comes into the world receives a light from Christ as he is God which light is the Conscience that some call Christ though falsly This Light or Conscience will shew a man that there is a God and that this God is Eternal Rom. 1. 20. This light doth discover this Eternal God by his works in the world for saith the Scripture before named The invisâ—ble things of him meaning God from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead This light also will reprove of sinne or convince of and make manifest sins against the Law of this Eternal God So that man before he is regenerate is able by that light to know that sins against the Law are sins against God as is manifested in the unconverted Pharisees who as Christ told them had neither the love of God nor the word of God abiding in them John 5. 38 42. yet knew sins against the Law to be sins for they were offended at a woman for committing adultery which act was forbidden Mat. 5. 27 28. by the Law and tiâ— said also they were convicted of sinne by their own consciences John 8. 7 8 9 10. Again the Apostle writing to the Corinthians and admoniâ—hing them to walk orderly 1 Cor. 11. 14. turnes them to nature it selfe saying Doth not even Nature it self teach you c. This Light surely is that wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned every man that commeth into the world which doth convince of sins against the law of God Therefore as the Apostle saith Rom. 1. 20. They are left without excuse That is they have their own conscience that doth shew them there is a God and that this God is to be served and obeyed and the neglect of this will be sure to damn them though the obedience to the Law will not save them because they are not able to make a full recompence to God for the sins that are past neither are they able for the time to come to yield a fall conâ—inâ—al and compleat obedience â—o the law of this Alm◠〈…〉 finite and Eternâ—l 〈…〉 as many as are of 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to doe them But that no man is justified by the works of the law it is evident For the just shall live by faith Gal. 3. 10 11. But now though Christ as he is God doth give a light to every one that cometh into the world which light is the conscience as they themselves confesse yet it doth not therefore follow that this conscience is the spirit of Christ or the work of grace wrought in the heart of any man whatsoever for every one hath conscience yet every one hath not the spirit of Christ For Jude speaks of a company of men in his days who had not the spirit of Christ Jude 19. These be they who separate themselves saith he sensual having not the spirit Yea Heathens Turks Jewes Pagans Atheists have that also that doth convince of sinne and yet are so farre from having the spirit of Christ in them that it is their great delight to serve their lusts this world their sinnes whereas the Apostle saith plainly If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake So that those who are alive to their sinnes have not the spirit of Christ. Nay let me
two weeks shall Messiah be cut off That is Christ shall be crucified But not for himself That is not for any sin that he hath committed for he committed none Then surely it must be for the sins of the people Joh. 11. 50. as the high Piest said It is expedient that one man should die for the people which man was the true Messias Dan 9 24 Which also is the Son of Mary Mat. 1. 18 19 20 21 22. And the sonne of God Mat. 3. 17. And also the true God 1 Joh. 5. 20. And this Messias this son of the virgin this sonne of God this tree God did not die for himself for he had not offended Neither did he fulfill the Law or finish transgression and bring in everlasting righteousness for himself for he had not sinned 1 Pet. 2. 22. therefore it must of necessity follow that this righteousness of God this everlasting righteousnesse is imputed to all and upon all them that believe Rom. 3. 22. 2 Cor. 5. 19. 20 21. But Secondly this Messias this Son of Mary this Son of God this true God he was put to death for the sins that his children had coÌ„mitted according to that saying Herein perceive we the love of God in that he laid down his life for us Also in Acts 20. the Apostle speaking to the Pastors of the Churches saith Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Now I would not be mistaken I doe not think or say that he died in his Divine Nature but as it is written He in his owne body on the tree did bear our sins which tree was the Crosse Col. 2. 14. And as the Apostle saith again Who when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high And again the Apostle speaking of this glorious God saith on this wise Col 1. being before speaking of his Godhead in the 19. ver For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell and having made peace by the blood of his crosse by him to reconciâ—â— all things to himselfe By him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven And you who were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works yet now hath â—e reconciled But how Why in ver 22. he tells you that it is in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight That is Christ who is the true God after that he had finished all actual obedience on earth did in the power and strength of his Godhead yield up himselfe to the wrath of his Father which was due to poor sinners and that willingly according to that saying in 1 Pet. 3. 18. â—or Christ also hath once suffered for sinners the just for the unjust That is the Son of God for poor sinners that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened in the spirit Again 1 Pet. 4. â— For asmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us not for himself in the flesh in his own body which he took of the Virgin 1 Pet. 2. 24. let us arm our selves with the same minde That is let us die to sin as he did that we might live to God as he did and doth And thus have I briefly shewed you â— That the Son of Mary is very God 2. That he made the world 3. That he is our Saviour and how 4. That he died for sinners and how Namely not in his divine nature but in his humane in his own body and in his own flesh redeeming his Church with his own blood Acts 20. 28. and with his own life 1 John 3. 16. John 10. 8. We shall now passe on to some other things the Lord willing touching his Burial Resurâ—â—ction Ascenâ—on Intercession Second comming Resurrection of the body and Eternal Judgement His Burial proved And first I shall prove by several Scriptures that he was buried and so passe on First therefore see that place Matt. 27. v. 57. and so forward After that Jesus the Son of God had been crucified a while he gave up the Ghost that is he died and after he had been a while dead Joseph of Arimathea went in to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus and Pilate gave consent thereto And Joseph took the bodâ— of Jesus wrapped it in clean linnen and laid it viz. the body of Jesus in his own Tomb and rolled a stone upon the mouth of the Sepulchre and departed Matth. 27. 57 58 59 60. Also in Luke 24 51 52 53 The Apostle Paul also teacheth so much 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. where he saith For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ diâ—d for our sinnes according to the Scriptures And that he was buried Again in Actsâ—3 â—3 29. the Apostle speaking there of Jesus Christ saith And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him they took him down from the tree and laid him in a Sepulchre And so much touching the burial of Jesus Christ the son of God In the next place I am to prove That that very man whom the Jewes did crucifie between two theeves called Jesus Châ—ist did rise againe That very man with that they body wherewith he was crucified upon the crosse did rise again out of the grave in which he was laid And this I shall prove by Scriptures by the testimony of Angels by Christs own words after he was risen and by the testimony of the Apostles in the Scriptures First therefore consâ—der Psal. 16. v. 10. where the Prophet speaks on this wise of Christs Resurrection For thou wilt not leave my soule in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption Which words the Apostle Peter cites in Acts. 2. from v. 2â— to 32. also Isa. 26. 19. in the person of Christ saith Thy dead meh shall live together with my dead body shall they rise See also John 20. 15 16. where mention is made of his appearing unto Mary Magdalen and he called her Mary and she called him Master which signifies that he was risen and that she knew him after his resurrection for he was come out of the grave see ver 6 7 8. Again another Scripture is that in Luke 24. 1 2 3. The Disciples of Jesus comming to the Sepulchre thinking to anoint the body of Jesus found the stone that was on the mouth of the Sepulchre rolled away and when they wenâ— in they found not the body of the Lord Jesus and at this they were troubled and perplexed v. 4. But as two of them went up to Emmaus and were talking of what had befallen to Jesus Jesus himselfe drew near and went with them v. 15. Another Scripture is that in Mark 16. v. 9. which saith on this wise Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the
week he appeared first to Mary Magdalen out of whom he had cast seven devils Where take notice how the holy Ghost layes it down in these words Out of whom he had cast seven Devils To intimate to uâ— the certainty that it was the same Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary who did many miracles and cured many diseases who did also cast seven Devils out of Mary Magdalen that did rise again Yea saith the holy Ghost it was the same Jesus that did work such a wonderful miracle on Mary he appeared to her first out of whom he had cast seven Devils And let these Scriptures suffice to prove the Resurrection of the son of God Secondly you shall have the testimony of the holy Angels also by the Scriptures And first look into Mark 16. 3 4 5 6 and 7. verses the words are these And they viz the Disciples said among themselves Who shall roll away the stone They had a good mind to see their Lord but they could not as they thought get away the stone which covered the mouth of the Sepulchre And when they looked that is towards the Sepulchre they saw the stone rolled away for it was great and entring into the Sepulchre they saw a young man that is an Angel sitting on the right side cloathed with a long white garment And they the disciples were affrighted And he said unto them be not afraid you have no cause for it you seek Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified He is is not here he is risen behold the place where they laid him What Scripture can be plainer spoken then this Here is an Angel of the Lord ready to satisfie the Disciples of Jesus that he was risen from the dead And lest they should think it was not the right Jesus he spoke of yes saith he it is the same Jesus that you mean you seek Jesus of Nazareth do you not why he is risen he is not here But doe yâ—u speak seriously and in good earnest Yea surely if you will not believe me behold the place where they laid him This Scripture or Testimony is very clear to our purpose But again the next place is in Mat. 28. 3. 4 5 6 7. In the third verse there is an Angel as before bearing witnesse of the resurrection of Jesus His countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow and for fear of him the Keepers did shake and became as dead men And the Angel answered and said unto them viz. to the women who came to seek Jesus Fear you not but let them that seek to keep the Lord in his grave fear if they will for you have no ground of fear who seek Jesus who was crucisied He is not here for he is risen he cannot in be body here and risen too If you will not beleeve me come see where the Lord lay and go quickly and tell his Disciples that â—e is risen from the dead and behold he goeth before you into Galilee there shall you see him But shall we be sure of it yea saith the Angel Loe it is that have told you See how plainly this Scripture also doth testifie of Christ his Resurrection Here saith the Angel you seek a Saviour and none will content you but he even the same that was crucified Well you shall have him but he is not here Why where is he then He is risen from the dead But are you sure it is the same that we look for yea it is the same that was crucified v. 5. But where should we find him why he goeth before you into Galilee where he used to be in his life time before he was crucified And that you might be sure of it there to find him know that he is an Angel of God that hath told you ver 7. And thus have you in brief the testimony of the Angels of God to witnesse that Jesus the Son of the Virgin the Son of God is risen from the dead Object But you will say might they not be deceived Might not their eyes daâ—le and they might think they did see such a thing when indeed there was no such matter Answ. Well because it is so difficult a matter to be perswaded of the truth of this thing that Christ is raised againe out of the grave that very man with that very body though these things that have been already spoken might be enough through grace to satisfie yet because of the unbelief of some we shall turne to some more of those infallible proofs that are spoken of in Acts 1. 3. to prove the point yet more cleer And therefore First of all do but see how the Lord doth deale with an unbelieving Disciple John 20 v. 23 24 25 26 27 28. You shall see in the 23. ver Christ after his resurrection is talking with his Disciples but Thomas was not with them But when the Disciples saw him againe they said to him We have seen the Lord ver 25. but Thomas would not believe them Another time Jesus comes to his disciples again and then Thomas was with them then so soon as the â—ord had said Peace be unto you he turned himselfe to Thomas and said to him Thomas Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing v. 27. As much as if the Lord should have said Come Thomas thou hast doubted of the truch of my resurrection very much Thou saiest that thou wilt not believe except thou doe feel with thy fingers the print of the nailes and doe thrust thy hand into my side Come Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and see if there were not the nayls driven through them And reach hither thy hands and thrust them into my side and feele if I have not the very hole in it still that was made with the Speare that the Souldier did thrust into it and be not so full of unbelief but believe that my resurrection is a glorious truth Another in fallible proofe is that in Luke 24. from the 36. to the end of the 44. verse In v. 36 it is said that the Lord even while they were talking stood in the midst of them and said Peace be unto you But they were so far from being at peace that they were terrified and suppâ—sed that they had â—eet a Spirit And Jesus said to them Why are ye troubled and why do thoughts arise in your hearts what doe you thinke that I am a spirit Do you think your eyes dazle behold my hands and my feet Look well upon me and see my hands and the holes in them and likewise my feet and the holes in them and know that it is I my self and not a spirit as you suppose Know that it is I my self and not an ther. Doth your heart faile you then take hold of me with your hands yea handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and
is come the second time they that are in their graves shall arise and come forth of their graves as I said before in which they have laine according to that in Job 5. 28. Where Christ saith Marvell not at this for the houre is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evill unto the resurrection of damnation You will say Are these graves spoken of here the graves that are made in the earth yea that they are and for a further proof of the same look into Dan. 12. 2 Daniel there speaking of the same thing saith And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall arise or awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt or damnation I shall not stand here to dispute any distinctions of the resurrections only prove that the dead shall arise and that is a clear truth from the Scriptures Acts 10. 42. Rev. 20 11 12 13 14. and 1 Thes. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52. the dead shall be raised 2. He shall call all men and women to an account for all their close sinful thoughts words and actions then will the secrets of all hearts be made manifest Then shall all thy adulterous and theevish and covetous idolatrous and blasphemous thoughts be laid open according to that saying Their consciences also bearing them witness and their thoughts the mean time or while accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 2. 15. But when why in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ ver 16. see also 1 Cor. 4. 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time what time is that why when the Lord comes what will he do He will bring to light the hidden things of darknesâ—â— that is all those cunning close hidden wickednesses that thou in thy life time hast committed yea he will make manifest the counsels of the heart that is the most hidden and secret things that are contrived and plotted by the sons of men Then shal all the midnight whoremongers be laid open with all their sins Then thou it may be who hast committed such sins as thou wouldst not have thy Neighbour thy father thy wife thy husband or any one else know of for thousands then thou shalt have them all laid open even upon the house tops Luke 12. 1 2 3. Then thou that hatest Gods children his waies his word his spirit then thou that makest a mock at Jesus of Nazareth his second coming then thou that livest in open prophaness or secret hypocrisie then I say will be such a time of reckoning for you as never was since the world began then you that shall die in your siâ—s will cry to the mountains fall on us and cover us from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb which Lamb is the man Christ Jesus Joh. 1. 19. And ah my friends if the very looks of God be so terrible what will his blows be think you Then if all thy idle words shall be accounted for as it is written But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement Mat. 12. 36. and also all thy filthy actions shall be then regarded in such sort as thou shalt receive a just recompence for them And know saith the Scripture that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Eccles. 11. 9. Then Thou that are an unbeliever shalt be sure to fall under the judgement for all thy sins first thou must give account Secondly thou must fall in the judgement Oh my friends there are hot daies acoming for all those that are found out of the Lord Jesus Behold saith Malachi the daies come that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hoasts and it shall leave them neither root nor branch The day of judgement will burn like an oven and all that have not the righteousness of Christ upon them shall be as stubble Ah friends put a red hot oven and stubble together and what work will theâ—e be even the one will burn and destroy the other 3. When Christ doth come the second time another end of his coming will be to purge out all things that offend in his Kingdom Mat. 13. 41 42. Then shall the son of man send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that doe iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth There are many things that doe offend in his Kingdom now namely the lukewarm professor he doth offend first the Lord secondly his people But then thou lukewarm offending professor shalt offend the Church of God no more Secondly the loose professors do also offend God Christ and his Church First he scandals the Gospel by his loose walking and naughty carriages Secondly he doth make the world blaspheme the name of God by the same Thirdly he grieves the hearts of Gods people Phil. 3. 18. But know that thou also shalt be taken away from offending any more God Christ and his Saints and thou shalt have weeping and gnashing of teeth for thy thus offending Mat. 18. 6. 7. 4 Another end of Christs second coming is to cut of all the ignorant persons that are in the world There is a generation of poor souls that do think to be excused for their ignorance Alas saith one I am a poor ignorant man or woman and therefore I hope that the Lord will have mercy upon me We cannot say others do as such and such and will the Lord condemn us And thus poor souls as they are in the broad way to destruction least they should misse of the way to hell do swallow down by clusters that which will poyson them body and soul for ever and ever But you will say What will not the Lord have mercy on ignorant soules Ans. Not on those who live and die in their ignorance He himselfe hath said Esay 27. 11. Because it is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Again Paul also in that 2 Thes. 1. 8. saith that when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world he doth come to take vengeance on all them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ. But ye will say who are those ignorant persons that shall find no favour at that day or how doth the ignorance discover it selfe I shall only mention three or four sorts of men and leave thee to the Scriptures which if thou read them diligently will
The Lord of that of these servants shall come in a day when they look not for him and in an hour that they are not aware of and shall cut them asunder appoint them their portion with hypocrites and there shall be weeping and gnashin of teeth 5. Then what doth this speak to the Lords own people surely this that they should be in a watchful posture Mark 13. 37. Watch therefore over your own hearts least they should be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkeness and the cares â—f this life and so that day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come upon all the dwelleâ—s upon the face of the earth as it is in Luke 21. 34 35 36. 2. Watch over the Devils temptations Oh have a care in the first place least by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eie so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ And the rather because at this day he is very busie with his doctrines and his ministers trying all waies if by any means he might deceive you with fair speeches and inticing carriages with a fair shew in the flesh yet denying the Lord and refusing to be justified by the blood of Jesus the son of Mary the son of God Watch I say over the Divel touching doctrines for he labours as much this way as any way for he knows if he can but get you to lay a rotten foundation he is sure of you live as godly in your conceit as you will and therefore it is worth your observation in that 24 of Mâ—â— when Christ is speaking of the signs of his coming he breaks forth with a warning word to his Disciples to beware of false teachers ver 4. the very first words that he answers to a question that his Disciples put to him is this Take heed that no man deceive you Again ver 11. And many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many And in ver 24. he saith again for there shall come or arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew signs and wonders in somuch that if it were pâ—ssible they should deceive the very elect 3. Take heed that he doth not deceive you in point of worship that he make you not slight any of the ordinances of God for if he do he will quickly make way for another temptation 4. Take heed that you also have not your lamps to trim when the bridegroom comes if you have you many paradventure be ashamed and blush before him at his coming 1 Jo. 2 last ver Therefore content not your selves with a profession of Christ and no more for the divel may deceive yea doth deceive a professing people many time And if he will deceive a professing generation he must come in this manner first under the name Christ secondly with a fair shew in the flesh of outward holinesse Gal. 6. 12. Thirdly he must come with good words and fair speeches Rom. 16. 18. Now though he come to drunkards swearers whoremongers theives liars murderers and covetous persons in his black colours yet if he will come to deceive a profeâ—sing party he must appear like an Angel of light And the reason why souls are deceived by him in these his appearances is because they are not able to distinguish betwixt the Law and the Gospel the convictionâ— of conscience by the Law only and convictions by the spirit but do though they professe the Lord Jesus give eare to every wind of doctrine and being unstable as Peter saith do fall into the temptations of the Divel in wresâ—ing the Scripture to their own destruction 2. Pet. 3. 16. In a word you that have not yet laid hold on the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life lay hold upon him upon his righteousnesse blood resurrection ascension intercession and wait for his second coming to judge the world in righteousness Acts 17. 31. And you that have laid hold I say to you lay faster hold on your Lord Jesus Who so hath â—ares to hear let him hear Matth. 13. 43. Now that thou mayst the more clearly understand my faith in the doctrine of Gods dear son I have thought good to hold forth again the doctrine in the former Treatise by way of Question and Answer as followeth Qu. Seeing there are many 〈◊〉 Christs gone out into the world according as was prophesied of in former times Mat. 24. 5 23. by the Lord himself And seeing if we be saved we must be saved by a Christ for he that misses of him saith the Scriptures cannot be saved because there is no way to come to the father but by him as it is written Joh. 14. 6. Acts 4. 12. How therefore is the knowledge of the true Christ to be attained unto that we may be saved by him Answ. Indeed to know Christ Gods Christ is as the Scripture saith the one thing necessary Luke 10. 42. without which all other things will avail nothing And therefore I shall according to the Scriptures first tell you what Gods Christ is and secondly how the knowledge of him is attained unto And therefore first Gods Châ—ist is true God and true man That he is true God is manifest by that Scripture in Isaiah 9 6 where it is said to us a child is born to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace also 1 Joh. 5. 20. And we are in him that is true saith the Apostle even in his son Jesus Christ this is true God and eternal life see Heb. 1. 8. Joh. 1. 12. Rom. 9. 5. Joh. 20. 28. But Secondly that he is 〈◊〉 Man see again Isa. 9. 6. where it is said Vnto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and compare it with Mat. 1. 21. where it is said And she shalt bring forth a Son and thou shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins see John 1. 14. And the word was made flesh 1. Tim. 3. 16. God was manifested in the flesh These two Scriptures are expounded by Heb. 2. 14. where it is said Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise tooke part of the same that is of flesh and blood see Rom. 8. 3. and compare it with Luke 24. 39. where Christ saith Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see â—e have And he doth often call himself by the name of the Son of Man Mat. 24. Mat. 16. 13. to signifie that he is very man as well as very God Qâ— But why was he true God and true man Answ. He was true man because man had offended and Justice required that man should suffer and make satisfaction and so it is written 1 Cor. 1 5. 21. For since by man came death by man
Answ. First from that Scripture in Luke 24. 37 38 39 40. where Christ himselfe after â—he was crucified appeared to his Disciples who having seen him supposed they had seen a Spirit But he said Why are ye troubled and why doe thoughts arise in your hearts behold my hand and my feet that it is I my selfe and doe not think you see a spirit handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have This he spake after he was crucified Luke 23. 33. and buried v. 53. and rose againe from the dead chap. 24. 6 7. Many other Scriptures could I give for the proof hereof as Acts 10. 39 40 41 42. And Acts 13. 28 29 30 31. 1 Thess. 1. 10. only read Acts 2. 29 30 31. where the Apostle proveth the same bringing in the words of the Prophet David for a testimony thereof saying He being a Prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loynes according to the flesh he would raise up Christ to sit on his Throne saith he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell neither his flesh did see corruption Mark it his flesh did see no corruption v. 31. But if he had not risen againe his flesh had seen corruption But he rose again from the dead that very man that very body for his flesh did see no corruption Q. Why did he rise againe from the dead with that very body Answ. 1. Because it was not possible he should be holden of death 2. Because in his humane nature he suffered for sin and if he had not recovered himselfe from that very curse even from under death and all other things that lay on him which he had through the sins of his children subjected himselfe unto he had not overcome sin hell death the law and the devil but had been overcome by them and if so then had not redemption been obtained for sinners for it was at his resurrection from the dead that God said unto him Thou art my sonne this day have I begotten thee As saith the Apostle And we declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise made unto the Fathers God had fulfilled the same unto us their children in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is written in the second Psal. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thâ—e Acts 13 30 31 32 33 34 35. And it is this namely the resurrection of that man from the dead that doth give us ground of hope as in 1 Pet. 1. 3. where he saith He hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 〈◊〉 dead 3. Because God intends to redeem the bodies of his Saints out of their graves in which they have lien many a yeare John 5. 28 29. Rom. 8. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 52. and to possesse them with his own glory and when this comes to passe then shall that Scripture be fulfilled that saith He shall change our viâ—â— body that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body according to the working of his mighty power whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3. 21. And he hath given us assurance thereof in that he hath raised up Jesus our Lord again from the dead Acts 17. 31. Q. But doe you think that these our bodies that we doe carry about with us in this world after that they are dead and buried and rotten shall rise again out of those graves into which they are laid when the Scripture saith flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Answ. Flesh in Scripture is taken more wayes then one as first it is taken for the workes of the law where the Apostle saith Received ye the spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith Are ye so foolish having begun in the spirit are ye made perfect by the flesh By flesh here he meanes the Law as is clear if you compare Gal. 3. v. 2. 3. with v. 10 11. 12. Again sometimes flesh is taken for sinnes Rom. 8. 1. 5. And sometimes is is taken for the bodies of the Saints * as subject to distempers to pain sicknesse corruptions to death by reason of sinne * 2 Cor. 4. 11. 2 Cor. 7. 5. Now the Apostle in that place where he saith flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of Heaven or of God his meaning is sinful flesh and blood or the sin with any imperfection that is in the bodies of the Saints shall not inherit the Kingdome and that you shall find to be the mind of the holy Ghost if you read with understanding the latter end of the same verse where he saith Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption That is sin or any imperfection of the body shall not inherit eternal life for saith he in ver 53. This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality Mark here I pray you though he saith flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God yet he saith this corruptible must put on incorrution For the Trump shall blow and the dead shall be raised as Christ saith they that are in the graves shall hear his voiâ—e John 5. 28. and shall come forth of their graves incorruptible 1 Cor. 15. 52. and shall all appeare before the judgement-seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 10. Rev. 12. 1â— 13. See also that Scripture Phil. 3. 20. 21 where the Apostle saith He waited for Christ the Saviour from Heaven And what shall he doe when he comes Why He shall change our vile body Mark it it must be our vile body that must be changed But if it be changed then how can it be the same Not the same in respect of sinne or bodily infirmities but the very same in respect of substance For saith he it is our vile body that must be changed And it the very same it shall be fashioned like to his glorious body And if you ask how is it possible that this should be done he answers according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 21. Q. But do you think this is certain methinks the Scriptures semingly hold forth so much yet I cannot believe it for it is contrary to all reason A. Truly the Scriptures do not only hold forth so much seemingly but they do most really and plainly hold out these things to all those that have received the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. For it is it and it alone that can reveal these things For no man knows the things of God but the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 11. Now if thou wouldst know these things thou must first receive the spirit of the son of God without which thou canst not know so much as one of the fundamental truths of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Q. But there
are those in our duâ—es who reject this doctrine that you lay down concerning the Lord Jesus Christ as you lay it down and they are for a Christ within for a cross within for a resurrection and intercession within and they do not hold as you do a Christ without and a resurrection of Christ without and intercession of Christ with uâ— I and they have very much Scripture for that which they say too And therefore what should such as we do that stand tottering and shaking in these distracted and dangerous times for our poor souls are in very much doubt what way to take Ans. Therefore I will speak a few words to you by way of discovery of the falsity of such opinions and a word of direction how you should understand the truth First therefore he that cries up a Christ within in opposition to a Christ without that man instead of having the spirit of Christ in him is possessed with a spirit of delusion for where the spirit of Christ is in truth that spirit causeth the soul to look to the Christ that was born of the Virgin for all justification as it is written Howbeit when he the spirit of truth is come he shall lead you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but what soever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come mark the next verse he saith the son of the Virgin shall take of mine and shall shew unto you Joh. 16. 13 14. he shall take of mine what is that why surely it is he shall take of my Godhead my humanity my birth my righteousness my blood my death my resurrection my ascenâ—ion and intercession my Kingly Priestly and prophetical offices and shall shew you the life merit and value of them And this was it which was revealed to Paul by the holy spirit here spoken of 1 Cor. 15. 1 2. to the 8. Moreover brethren saith he I declare unto you the Gospel which Iâ—p eached unto you which also ye have received and wherein ye stand By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you unlesse ye have believed in vain But what is this doctrine why I delivered to you first of all that which I also receive â— What was that why How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures there is his death and resurrection preached And that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelve after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once of whom the greatest part remain unto this present but some are fallen asleep After that he was seen of James then of all the Apostle And last of all he was seen of me saith Paul as of one born out of due time This is it I say that the spirit of truth doth hold forth to poor sinners a Christ crucified without the gates of Jerusalem Luke 23. 32 33. buried in Josephâ— seâ—ulcher v. 53. risen again the third day Luke 24 6. ascended away from his Disciples in a cloud into heaven as in Act. 1. 9 10 11. And there ever liveth that very man with that very body to make intercession for all that receive him Heb. 7. 24 25. This is I say the doctrine of the spirit of truth whatsoever is the spirit of errour Q. But do not the Scriptures make mention of a Christ within 2 Cor. 13 5. A. Yes And he that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his Rom. 8. 9. But he that hath it is led out of himself by it and as I said before it shews the soul what the blessed son of the Virgin Mary hath done and suffered and is a doing for it Therefore hereby know we the spirit of truth from the spirit of errour Every spirit that doth confesse that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God That is that spirit that doth confess that Jesus Christ took flesh upon him and in that flesh did bear our sins 1 Pet. 2. 24. Col. 1. 20 21 22. 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Pet. 4. 1. and after he was taken down from the cross and laid in a sepulcher rose again from the dead that very man with that very body wherewith he was crucified That spirit that doth believe and confess this is of God and is the blessed spirit of Christ whereof hâ— spake when he was yet with his Disciples touching his bodily presence for he saith the Son of Mary shall glorifie me for he shall take of Mine and shew it to you Joh. 16. 13 14. I have answered this already in my Epistle to the first treatise Therefore believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God for many false spirits and prophets are gone out into the world therefore have a care how thou receivest the voice that speaks to thee but try whether they are according to the truth of Gods word as it is written To the law and to the testimony if it be not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa. 8. 20. Therefore try a little Doe they flight Gods Christ which is the Son of the virgin that spirit is of the Devil 1 Cor. 12. 3. 2. Doe they say that that blood of his which was shed without the gates of Jerusalem doth not wash away sin yea all sin from him that believes that is a spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 1. 7. 3. Doe they say that that man that was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem is not risen again with that verybody wherwith he was crucified out of the Sepulchre Luk. 24. 38 39. That is a Spirit of Antichrist 4. Do they say that that very man that was crucified with that very body is not now in the presence of his father absent from his people touching his bodily presence though present in spirit I say who ever they be that say he is not there they are of the Divel for the proof of this see Acts 5. 30. and 31. and compare it with Heb. 7. 24. 25. The God of our fathers saith the Apostle raised up Jesus But what Jesus Whom ye slew saith he to the Jews Him the very same whom ye slew hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel and forgiveness of sins And indeed here is my life namely the birth of this man the righteousnesse of this man the blood of this man the death and resurrection of this man the ascension intercession of this man for me and the second comming of this man to judge the world in righteousness Acts 17. 31. I say here is my life if I see this by faith without me through the operation of the spirit within me I am safe I am at peace I am comforted I am encouraged and I know that my comfort peace and encouragement
is true and given me from heaven by the father of Mercies through the Son of the virgin Mary Mat. 1. 21. who is the way to the father of Mercies Joh. 14. 6. who is able to save to the utâ—â—rmost all that come to the father by him Heb. 7. 25. Because he that very man with that very body wherwith he was crucified is ascended into heaven Acts 1 9 10. 11. and there ever lives to make intercession for them that come to God by him This is the rock sinner upon which if thou be built the gates of Hell nor Ranter Quaker sin law death no nor the Divel himself shall ever be able to prevail against thee Mat. 16. 16 17. 18. And here I leave thee to the wisdome of the great God who if he hath chosen thee in his Son and brought thee to him and hath made thee by faith to lay hold on him thou needst not fear the divel with his siftings snares wiles and fiery darts wherewith he doth destroy thousands but mayest with the Apostle if thou live in the power and life of the love of God towards thee cry out I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate thee from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 38 39. And now Reader if thou be a true Christian I am sure that these be the things that appearto be the glorious substantial truths to thy soul and thou doest not care for that comfort that doth not make this Man the Son of the virgin precious to thy soul 1 Pet. 2. 7. for thou knowest that it is he that hath deliver'd thee from the wrath to come 1 Thes. 1. 10. Bâ—t as for you that are disobedient except you mend your manners you will stumble and fall backwards and be broken and snared and taken Isa. 28. 13. and wonder and perish because you believe not A few words more and so I shall have done and they are words of counsel to thee Have a care thou receive not every Christ that is profered to thee though it may appear very excellenâ— to thy foolish heart For under the name Christ are men deceived as it is written many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shal deceive many Mat. 24. 5. But have a care that thou receive that Christ that was borne without thee fulfilled the Law in his humane nature without thee spilt his blood without thee is risen againe and ascended without thee and maketh intercession without thee And that he that very man that was borne of the Virgin will come againe in the clouds without thee And this truth must thou receive by that Spirit that he hath promised to send and give to them that aske him And that shall dwell in thy heart and shall shew thee what the Son of Mary the virgin the Son of Man the Son of God the true God hath in his body done for thy soule Joh. 16. 13 14. And if thou receive him in truth then though thou doe not boast nor brag of thy holiness as those painted hypocrites called Quakers do yet thou wilt do more worke for God in one hour then they even all of them can do in all then life time Take my counsel and the Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon thy soul and body Farewel Some Questions to the Quakers Or a few quaeries to those who are possessed with a spirit of delusion in this generation Be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you 1 Pet. 3. 15. And I beseech you do it in sincerity 1. IF thou sayest that every one hath a measure of the spirit of Jesus Christ within him why say the Scriptures that some are sensual having not the spirit Jude 19. And when Christ tells his Disciples of sending them the spirit he also saith The world can not receive it Joh. 14 17. 2. What is the Church of God redeemed by from the curse of the law Is it by something that is done within them or by something done without them If thou answer it is redeemed from the curse of the law by something that worketh in them Then I ask why did the man Christ Jesus hang upon the Cross on mount Calvary without the gates of Jerusalem for the sins of his people And why do the Scriptures say that through this man is preached to us the forgiveness of sins That is through his blood Eph. 1. 7. which was shed without the gates of Jerusalem Heb. 13. 12. 3. What Scripture have you to prove that Christ is or was crucified within you dead within you risen within you ascended within you 4. Is that very man that was crucified on mount Calâ—aâ—y between two thieves whose name is Jesus the son of Mary I say is he the very Christ of God yea or no 5. Is that very man with that very body within you yea or no 6. Was that Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary a real man of flesh and bones after his resurrection from the dead out of Josephs Sepulcher yea or no for the Scripture saith he was as in Luke 24. 39. If so then did that man that said handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have I say did that man go away from his Disciples and not into them in his body as these Scriptures declare Luke 24. 39 40. compared with v. 50. 51. also Acts 1. 9 10 11 or did he with that body of flâ—sh go into his disciple as some fond dreamers think 7. Hath that Christ that was with God the father before the world was no other body but his Church If you say no as it is your wonted course Then again I ask you what that was in which he did bear the sins of his children If you answer It was in his own body on the tree for so saith the Scripture 1 Pet. 2. 24. Then I ask you further whither that body in which he did bear our sins which is also called his own body was or is the Church of God yea or no again if you say he hath no body but the Church the Saints Then I ask what that was that was taken down from the Cross and laid into Josephs Sepulcher Luke 23. 51. 52. Now I know that as Christ is the head of his Church so the Church is the body of the head which is Christ. But as Christ is the Mediatour between God and men I say as he is Mediator so he is a man 1 Tim. 2. 5. and absent from his Saints in the world as is clear 2 Cor. 5. 6. Therefore as he is a Mediator and a man so he hath a body that is absent from his Church which body is descended from his
Disciples above the clouds into heaven If you say no Then I ask you Did he leave the body behind him which was born of the Virgin Mary which walked up and down with his disciples in the world was afterward hanged upon the Cross buried rose again from the dead with which body he did eat drink and likewise walk with his Disciples after his resurrection from the dead and did bid his Disciple see if he were not flesh and bones yea or no Finis J. Bunyan a Heb. 13. 12. Jo 16. 20 b Jo. 19. 38 39 40 41. c Jo. 20. 1. 12. d Mar 16. 7. e Luke 24 16. f Luke 24 39 40. h Act. 1. 3. i Act. 1. 9 10 11. k Heb. 7. 24. 25. Act. 10. 42 17. 31. 2 Pet. 3. 10 11. m Act. 13. 37 38 39. Rom. 3. 25 Eph. 1. 7. Rev. 1. 5. Heb. 1. 2. 9. 14. Though I shall goe seemingly about in answer to this question yet it will be very profitable to them who shal weigh and consider the severall sentences hereof * The Spirit of Christ is the earnest of that â—heritance that Christ as he was God and man did obtain Col. 1 2â— Ephes 1. 13. 14. * The objection answered Joh. 8. 9. It is the spirit of the divel that doth tender the Scriptures contemptible and low Gal. 2. 20. Rev. 22. 17. Nothing â—an make us accepted with God but the merits of Jesus Christ. The Ranters doctrine is false The doctrine is true and of God whatever the man be a 1 Tim. 1. 13. b Mat. 20. 6 7. c Rev. 3. 17 18 19. d Exek 18. 21 22. Tit. 1. 2. When these words were spoken the Covenant was not actually sealed for that was done when the blood of Christ was let out upon the cross * To be holy and without blame is that which God intended for us in that glorious Covenant and by it alone we are holy and without blame before him in love for we are compleat in him alone with whom the Covenant was made Col. 2. 10. Tit. 1. 2. God hath a Christ own distinct from all other things whatsoever that is called Christ whether they be Spirit or body or both spirit and body and this is signified where he saith the Lord Christ. Gal. 3. 13. * They that are redeemed must have redemption wrought out for them thorow their natures for except that nature that sinned do bring in recovery from the curse that is due to it for its sin that nature that sinned must suffer for its own sin Gen. 49. 8 * Joh. 9. 37. Joh. 17. 5. A believer hath no law to fulfill for justification only believe on what the man Christ Jesus hath done and be saved a That is borne of the virgin See Heb. 9. 22. and Compare it with Heb. 8. v. 3. where he saith it is of necessity that this man hath somwhat also to offer which man was Jesus châ— 7. 22. Gal. 2. 10. John 10. 15. Heb. 9. 12 Gal. 3. 10. â—al 4. 4. Compare Rev. 1. 1. If all the Quakers and Ranters in the world were but under the guilt of one sinful thought it would make them to cry out with Cain my punishment is greater then I can bear Gen. 4. 13. Mat. 3. 17. Rom. 3. 25. Rom. 5. 9. Heb. 9. 12. 1. Tim. 1. 10. Heb. 1. 2 * If works would do it what need as there of Faith But it is evident that works will not â—â—ve becauâ—â— there must be 〈◊〉 in the bloâ—d of Jesus the Son of Mary Rom. 8. 10 Jude 6. Mat. 8. 26. Rom. 5. 15. Mat. 27. 3 4 5. He hanged himselfe immediately after * Gal. 3. 10 * For a prooâ— here of take the carriage of the Pharisees towards our Saviour who while they trusted in Moses crucified Jesus 〈◊〉 Cor. 2. 8. Objection Answ. 2. * Phil. 3. 8. Because faith is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. * Col. 2. 12. * Acts 24. 25. Acts 1. 11 Act. 17. 31 Heb. 9. 14. John 16. 5 7. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 7. 24 25. Gal. 1. 8. Rom. 1. 20. Joh. 6. 44. Joh. 16. 24 Mat. 3. 17. Heb. 1. 9. 1 John 5. 20. Object Gal. 4. 4. Joh. 1. 1. Joh. 17. 5 Joh. 10. 3 Gal. 3. 1â— 13. Rom. 10. 4 Rom. 3. 22 Gal. 3. 27. * Phil. 3. 6 * Rom. 3. 22. 1 Joh. 3. 16. Acts 20. 28. â— Zac. 12. 10 â— Pet. 2. 24 â— Heb. 1. 3. â—ol 1. 19 â—o 21 22. John 19. 22 30. * See Heb. 9. 14. and read that verse with under standing Isa. 63. 3. Dan. 9. 26. Rom. 6 10 Col. 1. 22. * They are they that had need to fear and tremble for they deny faith of the son of God * O how doth the Lord condescend to the end he might strengthen the faith of one that is weak Mark 8. 31 Mark 14. 21. John 21. read that whole chapter Act. 10. 4. See 1 Cor. 15. 1 2 3 4. 5 6 7. 8. Joh. 20. 17. Tit. 1. 2. Gal. 4. 4. Acts 1. 10 11. See Mat. 25 19. Maâ— 13 34 Acts 1. 3. Act. 2. 30. 31. Joh 15. â— 1 Cor. 9. 24. 25. Mat. 25. 19 Eph. 6. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 22. Heb. 9. 24. 1 Pet. 3. 2. â—eb 9. 24. â—ev 1. 17 8. â—ev 2. 8. The Scripture speaking of highest implies a lower John 14. 2 3. Joh. 16. 7. Acts 1. 9 10 11. Job 22. 12 13 14. Heb. 12. 22. 1 Tim. 2. 5 Joh. 16. 6 7. Joh. 14. 1 2 3. Phil. 3. 20. 1 Thes 1. 10. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Pâ—â—v â— 8. Pâ—â—v 17. â—8 Mat. 25. 1 2 3 4 5. 6 7. These thinges I doe but hint in though I could inlarge upon them Luke 18 8. * lay 1 Jo. 3. 3. to thy heart and compare thy condition with it thou wilt find this a glorious truth Mat. 24. 24. Mar. 13. 22. â— Pet. 3 3. 1 Thes. 1. 10. Pâ—l 3. 20. 2 Tim. 3. 16. 17. * Though sinners will be unwilling to come to judgement yet this will be their misery God will bring them Mal. 4. 1 2. Men seeking to get encouragement from their ignorance doe more harden themselves in sin and â—â—are in greater danger of eternal damnation This 27 of Isaiah and the 11 verse is a notable confutation of the ignorants hypocriticall hope where he saith He that made them will have no meâ—cy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour 2 Cor 4. ◠〈◊〉 5. 12 * 2 Cor. 12 9. Heb. 11. 6. Rom. 14. 23. 2 Cor. 11. 14. Rom. 5. 12 b Eph. 2. 8 c Gal. 5. 22. d 2 Thes. â— 21. Act. 2. 24. 1 Cor. 25. 50. Col. 1 27. * Act. 17. 21 Gal. 3. 3. Act. 13. 38 Pet. 2 24 Col. 1. 20. c. Luk. 24. 51 Act. 1 9 10 11 Luk. 23. 26 33. 53. Luke 24 v 3 6. 15. 41 42. 39 50. Act. 10. 41