through believing The second is in expecting that from those who indeed falsly have appropriated that title of Priest to themselves which they are to expect from Christ as namely Teaching O how have those men been and still are to this day set up as Christ amongst many people making their words their rule as if it were not possible such learned men might erre and I conceive it arises partly from the misunderderstanding of that Scripture Mal. 2.7 The Priests lips should preserve knowledge and they should seek the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts Now this usually is applyed to the Ministers who have given themselves the title of Priests and that the people should seeke the law at their mouthes and indeed they themselves have done what in them lyes not only to bring people into this errour this ignorance but to keep them in it whereas Christ is indeed the alone Priest the substance of the lews type And the people are to seek the Law at his mouth for hee is the messenger of the Lord of hoasts he is called the messenger of the covenant Mal. 3.1 the alone Prophet and Teacher of his people Object But Christ hath appointed Ministers to teach his people are not the people to seek the Law at their mouthes Answ 1. Not by vertue of that Scripture for Christ is the alone Priest and there is none in that office beside him though it is true all the Saints are Priests and the Church a holy Priesthood 2 Wee are to receive nothing from any man as truth but what hee brings from Christ and therefore our duty is to try all things and hold fast that which is good We are men subject to errour and it is our duty to try the truth of what is delivered and not receive any thing because another sayth it but see whether the Lord hath said it therefore the Apostle sayth Gal. 1.8 If I or an Angell from Heaven teach you any other dectrine then that you have received hold him accused And the Noble Bereans were commended for searching the Scriptures to try if those things preached were truth Acts 17.11 If the Bereuns try the truth of Pauls doctrine by the Scriptures who spake by divine inspiration from Christ much more should you search and try the truth of things delivered and not build your faith upon any others word but the word of Christ your High-Priest who keepeth knowledge for you and hath promised to teach you Esay 54.13 The fifth and last ground of mens I meane still those that have some knowledge of God comming short of answering the rules of the Gospel is their ignorance in not understanding the difference between covenant and covenant God owned the lews as they were a body a Church under a covenant of works but the church of the Gospel under a covenant of grace It is true the covenant God made with Abraham Gen. 17. from the first verse no the fifth is a covenant of grace and by vertue of that covenant he promised to be 2 God to Abrahams naturall seed but he never owned Abrahams naturall seed in a covenant of grace if so then they must all of them have been saved for the covenant of grace is sure to those that were under it see Esay 55.3 it is called An everlasting covenant even the sure mercies of David Ier. 32.40 I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turne away from them to doe them good but will put my feare in them and they shall not depart from me But God never made such a covenant with Abrahams naturall seed nay the truth is that God never intended such a thing neither to Abraham nor any man in the world to make a covenant of grace with their naturall seed for God himselfe sayth of the Iews the seed of Abraham Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea yet but a remnant of them shall be saved Esay 10.22 23. with Rom. 9.27 now the covenant under which God owns his church under the Gospel is an everlasting covenant Heb. 8.10 11 12. when God promiseth this covenant in Ier. 31.3 32. Behold that day is come sayth the Lord That I well make a new covenant not according to the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt which covenant they brake c. This covenant of works it was under which God owns the children of Israel as a church to which circumcision hath a relation therefore called a covenant Gen. 17.10 binding to to this covenant the Law Gal. 5.3 Rom. 2.25 Now there are two evils that usually flow from this misunderstanding of the covenant The first is this that seeing the covenants are one and the same under which God owned the church of the Iews under the Law and now owns the church 〈◊〉 Gentiles under the Gospel which 〈◊〉 is not so the conclusion is drawn that we must lay the foundation of Gospel churches and Gospel Ordinances in the Law and hence it is that men are so hardly drawn off from their legall principles we must have nationall Churches we must have infants baptized the ground ariseth from the Law because the Iews were a nation all church and their males were baptized O grosse legality Is not this to deny Christ to be come in the flesh 1 Iohn 4.3 Truly if it be not I confesse I am yet ignorant of what God intends in that Scripture O how hard it is to bring learned wise men to lay the foundation of their practice in the Gospel It is almost impossible nay I had almost sayd altogether impossible if God doe not mightily work to perswade them that Christ Jesus as a Son over his own house is faithfull in all things giving exact rules in every particular for the well ordering and governing of his house that is the Church 1 Tim. 3.15 and for the administration of every ordinance although Moses himselfe hath sayd Deut. 18.15 A Prophet shall the Lord thy God raise up unto thee of thy brethren like unto me him shall yee hear If the Lord 〈◊〉 you once to see that yee are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6.14 Then you will be contented to receive your rules from the hands of grace the Lord Jesus Christ A second evill that flows from hence is this many a poore soul for want of a cleer apprehending of the differēce between the covenān the one of works the other of grace are held under much slavish feare and legall bondage the poore creature lookes upon the law the covenant from Mount Sinay Exod. 19. 20. chapters Where is nothing but feare and dread and hence it is that no longer then the creature can worke can it have comfort and the reason is because it hath been ever set upon working out salvation not remembring that blessed word of truth Heb. 12.18
the great commands of the Gospel Ans 1 Love is the great command and where true faith and love is there will be the effects of it 1 Tim. 1.5 Now the end of the commandement is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfained This is both the beginning and end the first and last in the Law of the Gospel Love first God out of love hath given us a law wee out of love yield obedience to it James calls it the royall Law Jam. 2.8 If ye fulfill the royall law according to the Scripture thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyselfe 2 Now this love is manifested 1 To Christ 2 To the Saints 1 To Christ and that first in keeping his commandements Joh. 14.23 Jesus answered and said If a man love me he will keepe my words ver 24. he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings Love will cause those in whom it is to submit to Christ in every thing 1 John 5.3 This is the love of God that wee keep his commandements that is here in is our love to God made manifest in keeping his commandements Quest What are the commands of Christ to his children with relation to himself Ans His command is first love as you have heard 2 Obedience flowing from her this obedience is first to Gospel commands 2 In a Gospell manner 3 To Gospel ends First it must be to Gospell commands wee are to heare Christ in all things not Moses Act. 3.22 him shall you heare in all things c. believers are to receive every comand as from the hands of Christ John 15.14 Ye are my friends if you doe whatsoever I command you The first command that Christ requires of believers and that next after faith received is Baptisme Mar. 16.17 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved so likewise Mat. 28.19 Disciple Nations and baptize them this was the first thing in the commission to be submitted to and it was ever so in the Apostles practice which must be our pattern Act. 2.41 As many as gladly received the Word that is believed the truth of the Gospel and gladly received the Lord Jesus the summe and substance of the Gospel were haptized so Act. 8.12 They believed and were baptized both men and women so Act. 16. Lydia and the Goalar In a word this was the first duty that ever the Saints performed the first ordinance that ever they subscribed to after faith received in the Scripture there is neither precept nor president either to baptize before faith or after to teach faith or else after faith is received to neglect or slight baptisme it being a command of Christ love in the Saints compelling them to yield obedience to every ordinance of Christ for his own sake with an expectation of a farther discovery and manifestation of love and grace from God in his own ordinance in his own way Now I confesse there are many objections that by many are made against this truth who plead for and practice the baptizing of insants But because I have in another treatise indeavoured from the light of Scripture to cleare the truth and answer those objections I shall in this place passe them by onely by reason of our late conference I shall briefly touch upon these three Scriptures we then had in disputation The first is Act. 2.38 39. The promise is to you and to your children c. The Promise in this place was concluded upon that it was remission of sins and the gifts of the holy spirit hence was drawn this conclusion that the infants of believers found as large an interest in this promise as their parents and therefore ought to bee baptized Which I cannot but deny and assirme that the promise here was to the Iews as many as the Lord did call to their children as many as the Lord should call to the Gentiler afar off as many of them as the Lord should call There is a sound truth in the Scripture thus interpreted for God gave remission of sius his spirit all the good things of the Gospel to as many as he called both Iow and Gentile and so he will to the worlds end and indeed he never promised it to any other He that believeth on the Son hath life he that believeth not hath not life Joh. 3.31 If the promise of the Covenant of grace remission of sins and the goodthings of the Gospel had been to the Iews that beleeved and to their naturall seed it must then have been made good to them or else there was no truth in the promise but it was never made good to them for then they had not been apostated as they are to this day nay the Lord was so far from intending any such thing to the Iews that hee intended their rejection and casting off Rom. 11.15 neither was the promise to the naturall seed of the believing Gentiles but the elect of God both Iews and Gentiles obtain it Rom. 2.7 and God under the Gospel makes no difference between the seed of the believer and unbeliever with relation to their Generation but it is grace that makes the difference The second Scripture was Mar. 10.13 14. Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God That which is hence inferred is that children are blessed that they are a part of the Church and therefore have a right to baptisme whereas it is very probable that those infants were brought to Christ to be cured of some diseases for the Text sayth They brought young children to him that he might touch them and he blessed them that is gave them the blessing they came for to wit health and cure and whereas Christ sayth of such is the kingdome of heaven that is of such qualified spiritually as those infants were naturally so Christ himselfe interprets it ver 15. Verily I say unto you whosoever doth not receive the Kingdome of Heaven as a little childe be shall not enter therein that is whosoever doth not receive the Kingdom of God both of grace and glory as a little childe that is humble and meek and teachable able to doe nothing himselfe but Christ is his all and in all he shall never enter therein so that Christ takes occasion from those little infants to discover a Gospel mystery a mystery indeed to naturall men Mat. 18.2 3. The third Scripture was that in 1 Cor. 7.14 The unbelieving wife is sanctified to the believing husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Now it was first granted that the sanctification of the wife is but a civill sanctification shee is sanctified to his use that he ought not to put her away 2 This was granted also that holinesse is a fruit of sanctification then I say the fruit or effect cannot be greater then the cause the cause cannot produce a greater effect then it selfe the cause being onely a civill sanctification the holinesse of the children
of glory the soul in whom Christ dwels who lives in the continuall enjoyment of God must needs enjoy much consolation In his presence is fulnesse of joy and at his right hand pleasures for evermore 4 He brings over those in whom he rules to submit to the outward regiment of his Kingdome The second particular propounded is the Kingdome of Christ over the Saints as Christ reigns in so he reigns over the Saints It is this Kingdom in them that brings them in submission to his Kingdom without them and this is a spirituall Kingdom likewise note I pray you this kingdom of Christ is all spirituall likewise 1 There is spirituall matter 2 Spirituall Laws and Institutions 3 Spirituall executions 4 Spirituall ends 1 Christ he is a King he is the King of his people and God will exalt him and manifest him to be King one day Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon the holy hill of Sion Christ is King and he shall reign notwithstanding the opposition of men of great men Why do the Gentiles rage and the people imagine vain things they consult they take counsell together against the Lord and against his Christ Kings and great men and wise learned men they rage they consult they take counsell together against Christ to destroy his Kingdome The most great and learned men in the world at this day rage against the Kingdom of Christ they would set up a Kingdom of their own and then compell men unto it who ever it is that establishes a worship with Laws and Edicts to compell all unto it and to inflict bodily punishments upon all that refuse it or cannot joyn with it doth what in him lyeth absolutely to destroy the Kingdome of Christ over the soule and if men be erroneous and worship contrary to the rule of truth it is Christ himselfe that must judge him and not man he to wit God hath committed all judgment to the Son therefore saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 4.5 Judge nothing before the time and Jam. 4.11 12. if thou judge another sayth the Apostle thou art not a doer of the law but a judge There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and destroy What art thou that judgest another Note for men to passe a finall sentence is not to doe the minde of Christ but to get into the room of Christ for man to set up a law in matter of worship and compell unto it and judge and condemne body and soule for not submitting is to exalt themselves above Christ and so indeed is Antichristian not but that the Churches of Christ have power to judge and determine of things amongst themselves about the spirituall affairs of Christ and to excommunicate a wilfull offender it is according to the rule to cut him off from every fellowship with the Saints as you shall heare anon but not to destroy his body but the Church of Christ hath nothing to doe to judge or meddle with those that are without 1 Cor. 5.12 13. Therefore if any Church or Magistrate would exercise that power they conceive Christ hath entrusted them in about spirituall Church affaires I humbly conceive that they have nothing to do with those that are not of the same body with them or the same society as many Churches may be in society but those that are without be they Saints be they what they will good or bad they are without to them and what hast thou to doe with them that are without God judgeth them Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own master he standeth or falloth If it be objected that the Church of England is a true Church and all these that absent themselves were members and therefore they are to be dealt with as offending members in the Church This is all can be objected I am sure against them for I think their faithfulnes to the State speaks in the eares of every man almost of reason and therefore the State cannot meddle where there is no Civill law transgressed Therefore for answer to that objection suppose Englands Church were a true Church which will never be proved but I passe it in this place yet can they but proceed according to the rule Christ hath given in Scripture if in this perticular there might be a proceeding according to rule that is to admonish those that are contrary minded if that will not do to excommunicate passe the Church censure upon them this is the furthest that I know can be done by any Church of CHRIST and they are then not to cut them off out of the Land out of the World but to admonish them as brethren 2 Thess 3.15 If such as do not or cannot cōform to the worship prescribed by man should be cut off our of the land out of the world what meanes could then be used for their conversion Is there not still hope while the creature is yet alive and above ground Therefore I conceive it to be unchristian cruelty to judge men in this case never any wee read of but heathens that did the like under the Gospel and Christ hath said Judge not that ye be not judged for with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged Mat. 17.1 2. Jam. 2.13 For hee shall have judgment without mercy that sheweth no mercy Mercilesse men are the miserablest men under Heaven there is no mercy for them God wil deal with them as they deal with others it is both the Law and Prophets to do as we would be done unto Now consider a little I pray thee thou that canst be content in thy heart to persecute those that differ from thee in judgement wouldest thou be content to be so dealt with thy self Doth the Lord Jesus the King of Saints require or accept of any service but that is free and voluntary but I professe Christ you see is King and he shall be exalted King and manifested to be King on day Psal 45.6 with Heb. 1.8 But unto the Son hee sayth thy throne ô God is for ever a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy kingdome Here is a King a Kingdome a Scepter Christ the King the Saints the Kingdome the Word the Scepter Esay 9.6 7. He is a King and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end that is till there be no more time till time shall cease in this World after he shall give up the Kingdome to the Father and God shall be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 Thus you see Christ is King I come in the second place to the Kingdome which is wholy spirituall My kingdom sayth Christ is not of this world 1 The matter of Christs Kingdome is spirituall Saints called out of the world this is the Church the Kingdome of Christ the Saints gathered out of the World by the preaching of the Gospel into the order and fellowship of the Gospel they are Saints although some thinke strange to hear of Saints in
CHRIST The alone PROPHET of SAINTS CHAP. II. I Come in the next place unto the Prophetical office of Christ wherein hee is also in the dayes of the Gospell to be exalted In the handling of which I shall first shew you from the word of life That he is the Prophet and teacher of his people and secondly that hee is to be exalted in the days of the Gospell as the alone teacher of his people First that he is the Prophet and teacher of his people now for the better proceeding in the unfolding of this particular unto you I shall goe along comparatively holding forth the Prophetick office of Christ by the Prophets under the Law Now there were three things ordinary to the Prophets under the Law viz. Teaching working miracles and foretelling of things to come Now in all these three Christ answers them yea and excels them all for he himselfe is the substance of all their prophesies Iohn 1.45 1 It was the worke of the Prophets to teach the people so Moses a type of Christ both in respect of Law and worship God taught Israel by him so Esay 1 throughout Jer. 1.5 6 7 Chap. 2. and all the Prophets In this Christ hath manifested himselfe wonderfully to be a Prophet this part of Christs Propheticall office to wit as hee is the teacher of his people may be considered under these three heads First as hee was a teacher of his people before he came in the flesh Secondly When he was in the world Thirdly Now he is in heaven 1 before hee came in the flesh Christ taught them by the Prophets therefore you have ever the Prophets in the Old Testament saying The word of the Lord came unto me Jer. 1.4 Cap. 2.1 This Peter confirms 2 Pet. 1.20.21 For the prophesie came not in old time by thye will of man but holy men of God spake as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit No Scripture is of private interpretation that is men did not speak of their own private spirits not that private men as they call them may not interpret Scripture there is no such thing in the word but the truth held forth to us in it is that holy men that writ the Scripture did not speak their own mindes their own fancies but spake as they were inspired by the holy Spirit and hence it is that upon good grounds we receive the Old Testament for Scripture because it is the Word of God But 2 Christ performed his Propheticall Office when he was in the World hee then taught personally Mat. 5.12 He teaches his Disciples in the Mount he teaches a very long Sermon the longest Sermon we read of in all the Gospel it continues to the end of the seventh Chapter Mat. 13.1 2. you have Christ teaching multitudes in a ship by the Sea shore hee continues his Sermon almost throughout that Chapter speaking to them in parables In John you have Christ often teaching in the third Chapter teaching Nicodemus in chap. 5 6 8 9 10. and almost in every Chapter you have Christ teaching the Jews But beloved in the third place Christ is still a Prophet to his people now he is in heaven which is the principall thing I intend to speak unto In the handling of which I shall indeavour First To prove from Scripture that Christ is still the Prophet of his people Secondly By what rule he teaches his people now he is in Heaven Thirdly The manner how he teaches Fourthly The matter what he teaches 1 That he is a Prophet still to his people now he is in heaven he never fails teaching his people he is still powerfully present with his people now he is in heaven Mat. 28.20 I will be with you to the end of the world hence it is that Christ sayth John 6.45 And they shall be all taught of God and Christ when he ascends promiseth to send the Holy Spirit what to do to teach his people Ioh 14.26 But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance and this is the new Covenant the Covenant of Grace Heb. 8.10.11 I will give my Laws into their mindes and write them upon their hearts and they shall all know mee from the least to the greatest for they shall be all taught of the Lord Esay 54.13 so that you see Christ is still teaching and leading his people as a Pophet in the way he would have them to walke The second particular propounded was by what rule Christ teacheth his people now he is in heaven and that is by his Word the word of God is the alone rule by which Christ teacheth his people now he is in heaven therefore he sayth Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them you think to have eternall life and they are they that testifie of me and Esay 8.20 To the Law and to the testimony if any speak not according to this rule it is because there is no morning in them Ob. But some may say this was before Christs ascension into heaven Ans True but the same rule holds still see it confirmed after Christs ascension Gal. Co 6. He that walketh according to this rule peace shall be upon him and upon the Israel of God Marke it he that walketh according to this rule peace shall be upon him c. Note first The Word of God is the rule of a Christians life and secondly they are to walke according to it see 2 Pet. 1.18 20. We have also a more sure word of prophesie wherento you doe well that yoe take heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place c. A sure word of prophesie that is the Scriptures and note in ver 20. he confirms the Scriptures for that end Know this that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit now the Scripture brings a sure word of truth It is that which ought to be the rule of the Saints in all their actions and believe it Christ never teacheh contrary to this Scripture If this be truth how may this reprove two sorts of people First those that cast off Scripture and refuse to walk according to it under a pretence of being lead by the Spirit and so above Scripture refusing to receive the Scripture as the rule by which Christ teacheth looking upon the Scripture as nothing to them It is a very sad thing that men professing Godlinesse should fall into such absurdities in receiving such principles as are destructive to the very power and being of godlinesse how can a man walke if he have no rule how can a man walke without his compasse his line he knows not when he is in or when he is out so it must needs be with those that cast off Scripture they cannot know when they walke according to the mind of God or when they
doe not Object Christ hath promised to write his laws in the hearts of his people and that they shall be all taught of God and that hee would send his spirit which should teach them all things Ergo for those thus taught of God it is to legall for them to walke by Scripture Answer First those that deny some Scripture must by the same ground deny all and if one Scripture be not a truth to mee and to be received in any practice how can I judge of the truth of another and the truth is that those that will believe but on that Scripture which they have a minde to believe rejecting the rest do not rightly believe any there is the same ground to believe all as to the believe one 2 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 I answer If you doe indeed believe these Scriptures to be a truth I make no question but you will anon believe the truth of the whole Scripture these being opened in comparing them with other Scriptures First Christ promising to find his spirit c. I answer that it was a particular promise made to the Apostles most principally and in some measure to all the Saints Two things here mentioned in this Scripture are most principally to the Apostles 1 That is mentioned is the first Hee shall bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Note the Disciples of Christ were with him saw his miracles heard his word but now when Christ is gone to heaven he will send his spirit which shall bring all things that Christ spake or did necessary to be be remembred for our information and consolation to their remembrance that they might leave it upon record to future generations and this promise of the spirit properly belongs to the Disciples of Christ who were both eye and eare witnesses of all he did or spakes and this may confirme us admirably in the truth of the Gospell it was you see written by the immediate inspiration of that Spirit of promise bringing it to the remembrance of those that wrote it and by no meanes serves to destroy the rest of the Scriptures The second thing promised is That it shall teach them all things note here also an admirable word Christ tels his Disciples that that spirit he would send them should teach them all things that is all things that God intended to make knowne to man for their rule and direction in this life and this without question Christ who is truth it self made good to his Disciples Therefore I hope this doth not serve to destroy Scripture but to confirme it abundantly for if Christ did as without question it is blasphemy to say hee did not teach his Disciples all things then are the rules prescribed by the Apostles in their Epistles true and perfect rules and you and I are bound in duty as wee will approve our selves Christians to submit unto them to receive them as the holy promised truths of God Object But Christ makes this promise not only to the Disciples but to all the Saints also for all Scriptures is written for our learning c. Ans True but in the first place it is to the Disciples that they might leave us a perfect patern from himself and in this there is much comfort for the Saints that wee have in the Scripture truth and all truth needfull for a Christian to know and secondly this promise is made good to all the Saints in its measure God gives them his spirit to understand the Scriptures and therefore it is that the Apostle sayth 2 Tim. 3.16 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction and for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works Note it is the Scriptures that thorowly furnishes or perfects the man of God to every good worke and wee are said to be built upon the Apostles and Prophets that is the doctrine the truth layd down by the Apostles and Prophets Christ himself being the chief corner stone Ephes 2.20 And for the second Scripture that God hath promised to write his laws in the hearts of his people and they shall be all taught of God c. It is true God makes this promise good hee writes his law in the heart where hee once corres in a way of grace that is he puts his spirit in them makes them freely willing to walke according to the rule of Scripture for the spirit and the word do answer each other If any man will say he hath received the spirit of Christ and refuses to walk according to the rules of Christ hee is alyar 1 Iohn 2.4 5 6. and the truth is not in him It is true also God teaches all his people they are all taught of God but how God doth teach and leade into all truth by the rule of Scripture therefore Christ sayth in his prayer 1 Iohn 17.17 sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth see then what a sweet harmony is held forth in all the Scriptures the spirits teaching and leading it is still according to the Scriptures The spirit of Christ where it is leads into truth and that truth is contained in Scripture Now for any man to say hee hath the spirit of Christ and yet cast away Scripture or for every man to say hee hath the spirit of Christ and yet cast away Scripture I must give him leave to say it but he must give me leave not to believe him and also to tell him that it is a diabolicall lying spirit that casts away Scripture if any man speaks not according to this rule it is because there is no truth in him Esay 8.20 A second sort of people that are here to be reproved are those that pretend to be all for the Scripture and yet walk not up according to the rules of Scripture without question those whom Christ teacheth hee teacheth to walk according to the rules that he prescribes them Of these there are two sorts 1 those that do not rightly divide between Law and Gospel between Legall rules and Gospell rules 2 those that instead of following the rules of Christ follow the rules and inventions of men that wait for what men will prescribe resolving to make that their rule First those that doe not rightly divide between Law and Gospell And of these there are both Ministers and people not rightly dividing the word of truth as the Apostle exhorts Timothy 1 Tim. 2.15 And this is ignorance which remayns to this day upon the hearts of many whom I question not for their godlinesse and honesty yet God hath not taught them to this day that cleere difference betweene Law and Gospell and the ignorance of these men consists principally under these five heads 1 In not understanding the difference betweene Gospell Churches and the Church of the Jews 2 Gospell Ordinances and the Ordinances of the Jews 3 Gospel priviledges
this World yet they are in Scripture called Saints that is Sanctus holy see 1 Cor. 1. called to be Saints called to be holy so Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling so that the kingdome of Christ is or should be Saints holy ones not the world for all the world are not Saints but the Kingdome of Christ are Saints called out of the World John 15.19 Ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world The Church of Christ are Saints chosen out of the World they are not of the World they are a people separated or severed out of the World so was the Church of the Iews Levit. 20.26 Ye shall be holy to me for I the Lord am holy and have severed you from other people that you should be mine And thus it is with the spirituall Israel of Christ under the Gospel of which the naturall was a type they are not of this World they are called out of this World and severed or separated from the World 2 Cor. 6.14 to the end they are to be separated from the world although the world hath gotten a forme of godlinesse See 2 Tim. 3.1 5. The Apostle speaking of the last times reckons up what courses men should take what sins they should be addicted to and yet concludes they shall have a forme of godlines but from such turne away or be ye separated So that you see the Church which is Christs Kingdome are a people called out of the world they are not of this world as he is not of this world Then certainly those are no friends to Christ that would turn the World in to a Church and so make the kingdome of Christ not a spirituall but a carnall kingdom and so make the Lord Jesus a lyer for he hath said His Kingdome is not of this world but let Christ be true and every man a lyer The Church of Christ his kingdom they are such as are in the order and fellowship of the Gospel compacted together according to the Gospel rule in order and fellowship it is in the spirituall kingdome of Christ in this case as in the body politick the whole kingdome under one governmēt is but one body politick or state so the Kingdom of Christ his church although gathered in many bodies yet it is but one body and every body hath the same power the same priviledges so that it ought to be a body compacted together under the reign and rule of one Lord lesus Ephes 4.16 and the externall way by which the Saints enter into this fellow ship it is by baptisme as you may see Acts 2.41 Then they with the godly received the word and were baptized and so added but I have spoken of this formerly and therefore I passe it here 2 As Christ hath a Kingdom and that is spirituall in relation to the matter so he sets up Laws and they are spirituall the Laws of Christ in his Kingdom is 1 The law of love 2 The law of edification 1 The law of love Gal. 5.13 14. By love serve one another for all the Law is fulfilled in one word even this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe and Jam. 2.8 It is called the royall Law of God Thou shalt love thy neighbonr as thyselfe this is the Law of the Gospel love to Christ and love to the Saints A new commandement give I unto you that yee love one another Joh. 13.34 Now this love breaks forth in causing the Saints to walke up according to every rule of the Gospel it constrains them to submit to every word to every comand of Christ it causeth the Saints to watch over each other to build up each other in the most holy faith to restore a weak brother with the spirit of meeknesse being falne Gal. 6.1 to beare one anothers burthens and so to fulfill the Law of CHRIST Thus CHRIST rules in and over his Kingdom by this law of love It is the end of the command of the Gospel love out of a pure heart and faith unfained 1 Tim. 1.5 He gives rules unto his people out of love he causeth them to obey out of love there is no condemnation in his law to his people but if they sin they have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 1 Joh. 2.1 who is a propitiation for their sins Here is love in the King love in the subjects love in Christ commanding love in Christians obeying a Kingdom upheld and maintained by the law of love O that the God of love would increase this love more abundaritly both in your and my soul 1 Thes 3.12 The Lord make you to abound in love one towards another and to wards all men O this love is sweet amiable pleasant Psal 133.1 love to the Saints love to all men it is the way to win them to the Lord Jesus 2 Tim. 2.25 This is the main law by which Christ rules in and over his Saints his Churches his Kingdom and this is spirirituall 2 There is the law of edification 1 Cor. 14.26 Let all things be done to edifying It is the law of Christ in his Church that all things should be done to edification for the building up of the Saints in their most holy faith therefore the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.23 makes light of that which tends not to edification All things are lawfull for me but all things edifie not that is it which a Christian should looke most unto that is it that will edifie most it is the end of their compacting and building together in faith and fellowship that they might edifie each other in love Ephes 4.16 All done in the Church is for the edification of the body or should be every Ordinance that Christ hath set up in his Kingdom is for Edification Watching over each other Exhortation Admonition it is all for edification Baptisme Preaching the Supper of the Lord Communion and fellowship it is all for edification and consolation as Christ hath appointed it Act. 2.41 to 46. 1 Cor. 14.3 Church censure excommunication it is an Ordinance appointed of God for edification to bring the sinner into the sight of his sinne and that should bee the Churches end in the use of it Give him up to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the soule might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 5.5 that is the end of this ordinance and should be the Churches end in the execution of it 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be Anathema Maranatha let him be accursed till the Lord come so the word Maranatha implies it consists of two Syrian words Maran out Lord Atha come till our Lord come That is as I understand it till the Lord come either in a way of love convincing him by this ordinance or to judge and condemne him so that other Scripture seems to imply 1 Cor. 5.5 That his soule may be saved in the