Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	apostle_n	church_n	religion_n	2,366	5	5.7896	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96143	The judgement set, and the bookes opened. Religion tried whether it be of God or of men. The Lord cometh to visit his own, for the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God. To separate the sheep from the goats. and the precious from the vile. And to discover the blasphemy of those that say, they are apostles, teachers, alive, rich, Jewes, but are found lyars. Deceivers. Dead. Poore, blind, naked. The synagogue of Satan. In severall sermons at Alhallows Lumbard-street, by John Webster, a servant of Christ and his church.	Webster, John, 1610-1682.	1654 (1654)	Wing W1210; Thomason E805_13; ESTC R207390	257,953	337

of the subtile Serpent within him then followed Death Hell Misery and Condemnation then he sees his folly and madnesse in harkning to and giving way to this false Lyar who before told him he should better his condition and he should be like God himself And thus seeing and beholding his nakednesse his folly and misery he being not able to behold it nor live in the sight thereof for he is not able to behold the wrath of God and Hell-fire flashing in his face then he bethinks himselfe of some Covering some Shelter some Cloaths to cover his nakedness he is not able to behold his own condition and he invents a thousand wayes to shelter himself runs to this duty and that rule and he will find out somthing he will do something to quench the fire in him that is kindled by the breath of the Lord. And is not man in this more mad Esa 30.33 and more vain and more miserable For by all these things he doth but adde fuell to this fire for doth he think till one stronger then himself come even to be delivered Alas Luk. 11 22. thus are all the sons of men deluded but when Christ who is the true Mediatour comes when he sets up his light in man then he convinces him of his Emptinesse of his Weaknesse of his Nothingnesse and that he cannot arise Joh. 11.43 nor live without the loud and mighty voyce of the son of God quicked him when this light and life comes upon him then though he be naked in himself yet he is not ashamed but he standing in this condemnation all sin and darknesse and condemnation vanish before the glory of these heavenly things and come to nothing and empty themselves into their own nothingness that so the glory of Jesus Christ may come in the room thereof who is truth and life and fulness and perfection and all things But while man walks by the light of his own fire Esa 50.11 and in the sparks which he hath kindled he is holy and good and pure and excellent and great in his own sight and high in his own wisedome but when once he comes to be guided by the fire and light of the Tabernacle then he is a Miserable Empty Bare Beggerly thing nothing in him of Wisdom Power Glory Riches Goodnesse a meer naked empty and simple thing except he be made happy in the light of God and in the union with Jesus Christ wise in the wisdom of God and holy in the holinesse of God Here sayes the Apostle I permit not a woman to speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14.34 Ibid. 11.16 here let her head be covered that is let not man speak any thing in the Church in the presence of the Lord of his wisdom of his goodness of his upright walking but let Christ be all these in the Church There let all the Weaknesse and Womanishnesse of man come upon him and let him be covered with shame in the presence of this Bridgroom for t is a shame for a woman to speak in the Church let not her shew so much pride but let her ask her Husbad at home let him have all the glory Let not the Bride speak any thing of her riches of her beauty in the presence of her Lord but to see her selfe rich in his riches and glorious in his glory wise in his wisdom let her not meddle herein without her head be covered so that she sees she hath nothing of glory nothing praiseworthy nothing beautiful in her but that her head be perfectly covered with the righteousness riches and glory of Jesus Christ All the men in the world be they of what parts learning strength or excellencie can be named are but WOMEN in this respect and are to cover their heads in the presence of Christ in the Church of Christ In thy Temple every one speak of thy glory Psal 26.9 saith David If a Woman offer to speak in the Church this is but weaknesse this is but shame and confusion of face in the CHURCH what 's that think you without question the meaning of the Apostle is not to be taken Litterally of a material Church nor t is not meant of a Congregation of men or women assembled or congregated together as the wisest of men take it for this in the Scripture sense is not called A CHURCH much lesse in a low and vulgar acceptation of a meeting place built of bricks or wood or stone But the CHURCH is the Temple of God the House of God the Body of Christ in which the Lord discovers his Riches Glory Wisdome Bounty and the Treasures of Wisdome and knowledge and his everlasting power and goodness to the soules of Beleevers and in this Church where the Lord is present let not weaknesse discover its pride insolency or vain-boasting for this is the Church and this is the Woman that ought not to speak there Now this fire of the sanctuary is that which discovers all this Weaknesse Darknesse and Blindnesse in the soul when this light of God appears then all shadows vanish then all coverings are removed and all things in and of Man appear as they are to be nothing but Darknesse Deformity Delusion Lyes Confusion and Misery and God appears to the soul to be onely Light Life Happinesse and Perfection Gen. 2.25 and the soule is not ashamed to be thus naked because this makes way that God may have all the glory all the wisedome all the excellency and man may come to be nothing but sin and emptinesse Thus the soule comes with the Apostle to rejoyce in and to glory in his infirmities 2 Cor. 12.5 and that the power and wisedom of God is made perfect in his Weakness and Folly As a good Wife she is not ashamed to be as nothing in the presence of her Husband but rejoyces that He is esteemed and that he is made all in all to her So doth the true Spouse of Christ let her be nothing so He may be all for she acknowledges that she is only rich in her Husbands riches and wise in his wisdom and strong in his strength 1. Pet. 1.7 she sees she lives not by her own care and industry but in the love and care of her Husband and thus she glories not in her selfe but in her Husband This is to become NAKED and yet not ashamed as was Adam in his Innocency Rev. 3.17 2 Cor. 10 5. To have a poor sinner freely to confess to the glory of Christ Time was when I was rich and had high imaginations of my self and I was in my own esteem able to guide and rule and direct my self and all my affairs and I thought my selfe in a blessed and secure condition but I finde now that was nothing but a lye and a delusion But even then the meer love and tender compassion of my Saviour and Redeemer set up a candle and light in my soul whereby I was discovered to

his wisdom knowledge dignity and preferment in Jesus the Eternal Saviour of his Soule therefore I say here may any that live in the light see the great work of the Lord even when the greatest wisedome is made folly the greatest knowledge made ignorance and all that Gods wisdom may appear Oh what a wonder is it yea a Beautiful thing in this case to see a rich man spoild of his riches a strong man robbed of his strength and a spirit adorned with All carnal exercises made willing to suffer the loss of all that it may enjoy be filled with the fulness of him that filleth all in all there is none but such spirits as His that are made willing to suffer the losse of all that will forsake the Worlds Crown for Christs Crosse yet his spirit hath chosen with poor Moses rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures and profits of the world for a season As doth appear plainly in that he is not afraid to declare and witnesse forth to the unbeleeving world what great things the Lord hath done in and for his soule though he receive nothing from the world but scandal persecution and reproach which was and is all the reward that the people of God doe or ever shall receive from the world because they bear forth the witnesse of the Lord against all its formal covetous self-ended Religion which covers it self under the mantle of Christ thereby to gain the honour riches and pleasant endowments of the earth and makes the mercy and goodnesse of God which leads into all charity towards All creatures a cloak for them to hide their carnal and selfish practices under but this Poor heart having cast off and abandoned the cloaks of shame and renounced the hidden things of dishonesty deals not craftily neither handles the word of God deceitfully but declares the truth to every mans conscience in the sight of God For first here is laid open the foundation declaring that there is no peace life power wisdom righteousnesse nor Eternal happinesse in any other but in Jesus Christ and the heart of the Fathers love made manifest in flesh And also that there is no way to attain to the knowledge of this Jesus but by his own life power and wisdome And this is that which makes the professing ones in this as in all ages to bend their utmost power and strength against it For now cryes BABEL that 's hunting after God on purpose to get worldly power and riches into its hand that when by its pretended Religion it hath got earthly power it may oppresse persecute and undoe the poor groaning and distressed Saints of Jesus Christ who have relinquisht the world that they may serve him in doing good to every one of his creatures if this truth saith shee go forward then the hope of all our gain is gone and we shall no longer be applauded esteemed or set by for this teaches all men to deny themselves to forsake the world The riches pleasures and profits thereof and alwayes to doe good by relieving the oppressed and paying the debts of the imprisoned and that every poor captive may goe free Nay and not only so but also it declares the emptinesse of all our Forms Negative Religions Duties precise Walkings preachings prayings and all other of our Customes and Observations therefore is she forc't to seek the downfal of it or otherwise to lose all her self-glory But O yee Religious Ones let me ask you one Question or two Did Christ or his Apostles deny all ou●ward grosse sins as drunkennesse swearing lying and the like that they might become covetous proud and powerful in the world as it is too too apparent by your practice YE do as I shal clearly evince and demonstrate in these ensuing particulars 1. Is there any that have increased and advanced their carnal and worldly estates more then you in these times 2. Is there any that flatter men in Authority more then you and if for any other end then earthly preferment let the effects and fruits speak I know your pretences are that you aim at the glory of God but what are the fruits are they not self-glory for who are more self-seeking who more rich who more high and potent then you who are more desirous of worldly honour and rule then you And why do you say the Scriptures are a rule of life and make them no lesse then God and walk not according to their Rule Do you ever read in Scripture that Christ or his Apostles grew rich and mighty in the world by declaring and witnessing forth the truth in life and doctrine and wherefore are you not like them And ought not all to follow their examples if They ought then why doe not you Where is that self-denial and forsaking the world that Christ so often commands and exhorts to amongst you who are imbracing and thrusting after the world with all eagernesse and love to go in long cloathing to be known from other men that ye may receive Greetings in Markets and the chief seats in the Synagogues and the uppermost rooms at Feasts these are the things that please you How can you believe who thus love to receive Honour of men and seek not that which is of God Would it not be a happiness to you to have the Scripture changed into another form where it saith forsake the world deny thy selfe that it might say embrace the world and cleave to thy selfe for sure I am the one agrees more with your wayes then the other But now to my second Question did ever Christ or his Apostles persecute and hate any that were not of their minds yea or no if they did not then why do you And where is that spirit of love amongst you that is kinde to the evil and unthankful and why do you seek to civil Governours to assist in upholding that you call your Religion and in punishing all those that are contrary to it seeing Christ and his Apostles did not so doth it not hence plainly appear that you own the Scripture in words but denies it in your practice Oh my dear Hearts Are you talking of the Word being a rule of being frequent in duties of becomming obedient to Gods revealed will and walk not according to that rule but in words and outward restraint of some common vices have any of you at any time given freely of your goods to the poor or relieved poor Captives imprisoned for debt or visited the poor Widows and Fatherlesse children in their necessities purely for Christs sake nay this is not with you and if it were what were it available if it should not be from a right Principle yet I know you can speak well but alas that helps not Well thus I have clearly declared your estate it therefore now remains to shew unto you why you do all these things even because you have not known Christ nor the father working in you death

saith he there is no truth in him he was a lyar from the beginning and the father thereof and so continues he doth nothing but lye in all his Religious servants for they will take up any form of Religion and are as conformable as may be as though they were the true servants of Christ but in all this they do but lye and dissemble and inchant and delude And my brethren is not the Devil as fair in his pretences now adayes in taking up forms duties conformity strictnesse and following the mind of Christ many say they will do nothing but they will have the rule of the word for it and they will undertake to open the Scriptures and give out the mind of Christ These Servants of Satan come not on the account of prophaness or ignorance but professing Knowledge and Religion and Learning and they are the great searchers into all knowledge and think themselves not ignorant of any thing but obedient in all things and indeed who more knowing or obedient according to the external Letter then they These are very high and fair pretences yet who were more learned and knowing more seemingly zealous then the Pharisees whose abilities were still manifested in their marvailous cunning catching questions to intrap Jesus Christ these men though they know not the wisdome and the knowledge of God or Christ yet they are notable Apes and Imitatours of them though they know not the truth they will pretend they do and think verily they do and they will frame themselves and their notions as near as man can to understand the Scriptures by his learning wit and industry but alas while they make a shew of knowledge and yet are ignorant of the Truth and the Mystery and this is nothing but a lye and t is no other but the Language of the Beast For mans bucket can never reach the truth and the water of life and no man in Heaven or Earth was counted worthy to open this Book and loose the Seales thereof but onely the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah Rev. 5.5 And there is no man knows the Father but the Son Luk 10.22 and him to whom the son will reveal him Beloved all things in the world are from these two Principles or Roots they are either from the wisdome that is from above which is pure peaceable humble meek long-suffering Jam. 3.17 Vers 15. full of good works or else they are from the wisdome which is from beneath which is earthly sensual and devilish It is given to catching carping insnaring reviling lying slandering c. Now the wisdom from above never teaches men to carp and lie lurking to catch the innocent and guiltlesse man such was and is the wisedome of the Pharisees in all ages Psal 10.9 they will be very forward to argue as though they would willingly know all truth but they do but argue to catch and insnare and when they cannot understand or comprehend then they will invent some gin and forge some lye or other Again this wisdome from beneath it s very full of judging Jam. 3.15 and full of pride and it magnifies all things of mans inventing and whatever man magnifies But do you think any of this is from God or from the Divine Wisedome No no the property of Divine Wisdome is to become humble to lay aside all things of self and flesh and to become teachable and nothing in its own power or wisdom This is the property of Divine Wisdome in man but when man would act and be Something and undertake to observe this rule and the other and they can undertake the alone work of the spirit to lead men into all truth before Christ comes in by his light power and wisdome Joh. 16.30 and they will be journying before the Lord remove the Cloud Exod. 40.36 2 Cor. 11.14 All this is from the Wisdome of the Serpent in man who can transform himself into an Angel of light and his Ministers into Ministers of righteonsness What do these men more then the Pharisees for they by their own power conformed to all outward rules and indeed unquestionable Ordinances appointed by God himselfe and how exact were they in performing them even far beyond the strictest now adayes of all those things they say are Ordinances and yet they are not sure they are so though they cry out The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord Jer. 7.4 and call for the wayes of Christ and the rules and minde of Christ yet how sharply doth Christ fall upon them and call them Hypocrits Mat. 23.27 15.14 Joh. 8.44 and painted Sepulchres and blind leaders of the blind nay and calls them Devils for all their strictnesse ye are of your father the Devil and his works and his will ye doe in all this that ye pretend to serve God by For in all this wherein they seem so holy and strict and to surpasse and outrun all other men 't is onely the Devil that carries them out in their own power and the fruit of it is nothing else but to glory in men and in the flesh The Jewes they had an outward and worldly sanctuary 1 Cor. 3.21 and a formal worship and this they boasted of and gloried in And so t is now men have taken up some things equivalent and like unto these For now Satan appears in things that men call ORDINANCES as outward washings and in call this the true baptisme and Church-order and Fellowships and say his is according to the rule of the Gospel and partaking of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament they call this the eating of the Body and drinking of the Blood of Christ Now in nothing doth the Devil more delude men then in these things calling them the Ordinances of Christ when indeed they are not As you see how the Jews stood upon it justified themselves that they were the true seed of Abraham when he told them of being made Freemen and would have convinced them of their unknown bondage they answered We are Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any Joh. 8.33 and howsayest thou ye shall be made free Now indeed there was a kind of truth in it that they were the fleshly seed of Abraham and they had submitted to Circumcision and to those external iules commanded and this seemed to be somewhat as to outward appeanance as if they were the true seed of Abraham but that was not it and they had Circumcision and yet were not Circumcised in heart neither were they his true seed And so many boast of Ordinances and Washings and Baptisme and breaking bread and Church-fellowships and laying on of Hands and observing the rules of Christ and following the pattern of the Apostles when alasse poor soules they quire mistake the matter t is true t is like Baptisme but t is not it and they are like the Ordinances of Christ but they are not such they would seem to make

pictures and to have their dependance and life on them and to make IDOLS of them Ps 106.37 1 Cor. 10.20 21. and in this case saith David and the Apostle Paul They sacrifice unto Devils and not unto God And yet none more precise none more holy in words and gestures and in their Apish Imitations and carriages then they none pretend more justice and carriages then was it not thus with the Pharisees They made it a great matter to be outwardly just to men and stood much upon their praying fasting paying Tythes not keeping back so much as that of the smalest consequence Mint and Cummin yet what were they for all this but Hypocrits Dissemblers painted Sepulchres without Mat. 23.27 but full of rottenness and dead mens bones within But those that are indeed Saints and Members of the true body of Christ their minds are first changed and they have a new nature and from this they work and worship and do acts of Justice and Mercy The other whatever they pretend change but the outside and wash but the outside of the cup and platter Ibid. v. 25 but the inside is as foul and loathsome as ever they can be very strict in their performances and carriages they can make long prayers and seem very devout but then they must be thought to be Somebody and they must be honoured or else all the fat is in the fire as the proverb is and they must have the uppermost seats and grave greetings by the Name of RABBI RABBI and they must be thought to be the only holy men are mighty circumspect to keep their distances with all but whom they think wel of and hereby they think to keep up their honor and respect and they are very conversant in reading praying and expounding the Scriptures as they themselves understand them and this is their Holiness and their Religion and these things make them to be feared and honoured as they think and this makes them bold and this strikes an awfulnesse on the spirits of others and makes them TERRIBLE alas poor ignorant deluded soules these things may be called holiness and holy duties and their many words and long bablings they may be called prayer by themselves and others who are as blind as themselves who cannot see their pride and vain-glory and self-confidence and lifting up themselves and indeed men know them not for saith Christ Luke 11.44 Luk. 11 44 They are as graves which appear not and men are not aware of them but as for those who have the spirit of God in them and a spirit of discerning in them they see plainly that all this is vanity They see that all their highest and strictest zeal and performances are a meer sound of words without any real life to be no other but as sounding Brass 1 Cor. 13.1 or a tinckling Cymbal which vanishes and comes to nothing it being no more but air and emptimesse having nothing of truth or reallity in it The Pharisees long prayer was no prayer at all but was rejected when the poor dejected Publicans saying but a few words was esteemed a prayer and was accepted and he went home justified and not the other These Pharisees they are furnished at all times Luk. 18 13. they can preach and pray and do any thing they are fitted at all times they can at any houre command themselves they can pray either in the Chamber or in the Temple or in the Closet and keep their set rules and houres And this is their Holiness and all that do not follow their Modes and their Forms are loose and prophane and they can judge and censure a brother for a Mote in his eye but perceive not a Beam in their own eye Mat. 7 3. These are the men our Lord so much aimd at Mat. 23.26 33 and had so much to do to uncase and convince and him they so much hated because he had such a slight opinion of them and of their holinesse and because he censured them for Hypocrits and blind Pharisees nay the worst of all men yea worse then Whoremongers Thieves and Murtherers Nay he calls them Serpents But the other who worship God in the spirit and have their help strength and dependance on the Lord they see really their own insufficiency and they receive all by waiting on God they cannot speak nor preach nor pray but when he doth all this in them they will not be unjust to men because they have an inward principle that conforms them to the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 29.16 1 John 5.18 having a new nature they work all their works from that being good they cannot but do good but the other they do good things thinking thereby to make themselves good and to procure favour and acceptance But the sons of God know that whatever is not acted from the spirit of God working in such is no other but from the Devil is no other but Witchcraft Sorcery Inchantment c. In brief the one keep a great deal of stir and are very busie and exact about outsides and forms and times and places and the like when as the other see the vanity and folly of such things and having a principle of holinesse within from thence doe they act and work This they know is the true circumcision who worship God in the spirit Phil. 3.3 and rejoyce in Jesus Christ and have no confidence in the flesh and doing any duty from this principle of the new man or the new creature in them this they esteem to be an ORDINANCE because it is done with life and power and in the spirit of Jesus Christ and they cannot call any thing an Ordinance but only this whatever all the Wizzards Southsayers Diviners Inchanters in the world say to the contrary THE ROOTING up of every Plant not Planted by the Heavenly Father Preached at Alhallows Lumbard-street Matth. 15.13 14. But Jesus answered and said Every Plant which my Father hath not planted shall be rooted up Let them alone they be blind leaders of the blind And if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch THese words contain an answer of our Lord unto his Disciples For they having heard how the Scribes and Pharises were much offended at some things he had preached they being very strict for the outside and formal part of Religion and being generally taken for great Professours and our Saviour knowing their hearts knew that though the outside was clean aimable and beautiful yet the inside was foul stinking and loathsome for all their observances of washings and fastings and the like Hereupon our Saviour to undeceive the people concerning them calls the multitude together and tells them plainly wishing them not to be foold and deluded but hear and understand in the eleventh verse saith he It is not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man but that which cometh out of the mouth that defileth a man Vers 11 The

free ye shall be free indeed They every moment committed sin and were servants to sin and rejected Him that would have made them free and yet were ignorant thereof and still justified themselves so that Christ could not be a Deliverer to them notwithstanding he continually preacht this Doctrin in their ears He would have spiritually made them free-men indeed and he could never convince them of their bondage that so he might have made them Free And this Freedom is beyond all other freedoms This is that perfect Law of liberty which Iames speaks of Iam. 1.25 Jam. 1.25 All other deliverances are but imperfect deliverances without this And in Rom. 6.22 sayes the Apostle Rom. 6.22 being made free from sin and become servants to God yet have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life for when ye were servants of sin ye were free from righteousnesse From all which Scriptures it appears that never any were or could be made free and set at liberty but onely by His power and by His Eternal right hand t is not all the Power Wisdom Righteousnesse Endeavours Rules Strictnesse Conformity that all or any of the sons of men could use could ever deliver them from their bondage to the least sin though they may pretend a godly reformation forsooth and strictnesse of walking and sticking close to God and walking up to their knowledge and to their strict rules yet they were never yet freed nor delivered from any one sin by Jesus Christ nor ever left any one sin from any good end but the Devil in them hath only shifted shapes and left or put off some particular sins which were not profitable or convenient or stood not with their credit but he hath caused them to take up Forms to cover the defilements of their hearts and of their inward man which notwithstanding all their shewes is full of rottennesse hypocrisie and all iniquity And again the Apostle 1 Cor. 7.22 He that is called in the Lord being a servant is the Lords Freeman 1 Cor 7.22 likewise he that is called being Free is Christs servant Therefore ye are bought with a Price be not ye the servants of men All that are once made free by Christ they cannot be servants to men that is to those things men are so subject to yeild obedience to they not only ought not but cannot serve those lusts that men serve when Jesus Christ has set the soul Free they will be onely servants to him They will not be servants to the world nor servants to their own will they cannot go where they list but they are girded to wait upon the will of their Master as Christ told Peter when thou wast young thou girdedst thy self John 21.18 and walkedst whither thou pleasedst but when thou art old another shall gird thee and lead thee whither thou wouldest not Christ Intimating thus much to him that while he was young and in the state of unregeneracy he followed his own will and girded himself and did what himself pleased but hereafter he should not do so but he must serve his Master and his commands should gird him and rule him he should be girded by Christ and should cross his own will and follow his Masters in whatever service he should command And truly Brethren he that is thus made a Servant by Christ he is truly a free-man and a Citizen of Heaven And thus to have experience of Christ in us to be the Deliverer to know him to feel him and to rejoyce in his salvation there is none like this to see HIS mighty power and his strong arm delivering thy soul from the powers of Hell and Darkness And holding this forth not onely by the Prophets and their pointing at Him but chiefly in holding this forth in Himselfe by all his external actions what a mighty Mystery is this yea such a Mystery as none knows but only he who is delivered Indeed men talk of it and run over it in words but to Feel Christ a Captain a Conquerer a Deliverer in them this is that Mystery that neither the Pharisees nor all the Learned nor all the wisdom nor industry of man could ever yet comprehend for it is spiritually discerned In this sense the whole Scriptures are a Book sealed and a Garden walled about Rev. 5.1 Cant. 4.12 and a Fountain shut up few can make this out in their own experience they can tell you a story of Abraham and David and Peter and Paul but that they are the men no such matter they can neither make out the way the manner nor the means how their souls were brought out and delivered from the pit nor from out of the mire and clay nor how their fetters were broken off nor how their eyes were opened nor how their anckle-bones received strength Acts 3.7 for how can they when they never found they were in prison or under death or condemnation they were never blind Mat. 13.42 nor deaf nor dumb But t is onely the Scribe that is instructed to the Kingdom of Heaven can bring out of his treasures things new and old what Christ did in him at first and how he carried him on and how he brought him out and set him at liberty And truly Beloved there is one thing among others that I would gladly speak out that every man may examine himselfe The world hath made a great noise and made great boast of what they have received by Jesus Christ and what Freedom he has purchased for them what a mighty and wonderful redemption he hath wrought by One Act of his suffring and dying upon the crosse in the days of his flesh or at least as some say by all his actions and suffrings And this is their Anchor hold their hope and their trust because he hath purchased thereby Heaven and Salvation for them And if they do but perform the condition on their part viz. Beleeve then all is theirs all his Riches Glory Peace Redemption Salvation Heaven and all that is in Jesus Christ But alas alas what 's all this to any man if he do not experience the truth thereof in himself and have not Christ formed in him and he be not baptized into his death Col. 3.1 and have not experience of his Resurrection in himself to be risen with Christ to seek those things that are above In a word what is all thy external faith and beleeving if thou doest not know the Mystery of that appearance For He is the Lamb slain from the beginning Rev. 13.8 he is yesterday and to day and the same for ever He is that Eternal Sacrifice which is once and for ever offered up and presented to the Father He is to this day from the foundation of the world not only crucified at Jerusalem but he is crucified in all ages in Sodom and Egypt as Saint John witnesseth Rev. 11.8 And their dead bodies speaking of those two Eternal Witnesses which ever stood