or to be understood in a quite other sense then as if we should live by faith in any such person as the Scripture seems to speak of in such expressions and then for indeed if Satan get a man once to question the Word of God hath God in saying said thus he will soon bring him to believe contrary to what is said Ye shall not surely die then I say 4. They come to this that there is no such person glorified nor to be expected to come personally to judge the world as the Scripture literally speakes of and that its a poor low thing if not a piece of Idolatry too to worship God in a Mediator 5. Then they grow with that to deny the Resurrection of the body and tell us the Resurrection is already past all that 's to be met with 6. Then to this that there never was any such man or person as Jesus Christ but that all is an Allegory and it signifies nothing but light and love and such good frames born in men and there crucified by corruption and then again reviving and prevailing 7. Then they go a step higher some of them and know no difference between good and evil those actions that they did before and judged evil according to the Scripture are now no sin in them what ever they be and now they are as high they think as Adam in his first state if ever there was such a one they know neither good nor evil though they do much evil and no good and then they can ascend little higher but 8. To think God is all things and all things God and then they are high enough above all Religion and can step no higher or no lower rather then to Atheisme And thus by many steps they go or tumble rather down into the chambers of Death from whence there is no returning But this they see not at first nor do all that turn from the truth go down alike Some stay longer in one step and some in another some get to the lowest step more suddenly some more leasurely c. But all of them are in great danger to go down to ruine These and such like oh ye Saints are you dangers in this state of imperfection to be encountred and set upon with such deceits as unless your election be firm and the Word of God well rooted in you will vilely shake you and pâ—… you to some grief and trouble to crowd through them To say nothing of the hot persecution that these are likely to raise that the ancient prophecies may be fulfilled of slaying the witnesses even all that will faithfully bear witness to Christ Jesus making them as contemptible as dead carkases and rejoycing over them if God shall permit them power and authority especially if also they come to that as is foretold to work lying signs and wonders which will make such a shaking in the Churches of God as will indeed hasten Christ to his coming but pervert so many too and so dead the hearts of others that when he comes he shall scarce find faith in the earth as himself hath foretold us Sect. 9. Of other Temptations THere are also besides these forementioned many other temptations that ye have to encounter with which I shall not insist upon least I grow voluminous as Temptations to distrust and desperation To distrust and sadness because of outward trials wants and chastisements which out of a fatherly care God will exercise you with in this life some in one way some in another that ye might not settle upon the world and forget your resting place and that he might purifie and purge you from your corruptions that ye might be made partakers of his holiness concerning which the Holy Ghost instructs us in the Epistle to the Hebrews that God speaks to us as to children saying My son despise not the chastisement of the Lord neither faint thou when thou art corrected of him for whom he loves he corrects and chasteneth every son that he receives so that if any be without chastisement or nurture whereof all are partakers he is a bastard and not a son Heb. 12.6,7 c. Those corrections then are fatherly nurturements for our good and salvation and so to be accepted by us But whatever they be as from God yet Satan having a foolish sensuall heart or principles in the heart to work upon will be playing the part of an evil slave and suggest hard thoughts into our hearts as if they proceeded from Gods hatred of us And so from sense of corruption yet remaining in us he often assaulteth to cast away the confidence we have in Gods goodness and perswades us that He loves us not or is not faithfull c. Which thoughts listened to surely oppress some in their way and makes their Spirits utterly faint within them Yea to desperation he often hence endeavoureth to thrust some from the consideration of their sinfull failings and backslidings the hidings of Gods face want of visits from him want of fruitfulness in themselves c. And might he have his will He would here surely devour and undo many some he setteth on more violently this way and some in the other wayes but all in one way or other must expect temptation and therefore had need girt up their loines prepare themselves for the encounter and therein quit themselves like men that they may overcome and the crown of righteousness be given them And indeed the promises of enjoying the glory of that state to which they are called in the eternall Kingdom are pronounced by Christ upon such as shall endure temptation and overcome and not be overcome of them Now that Saints may as well stand fast in the day of their oppositions and wilderness walkings as be minded of their condition and dangers thereunto belonging I shall proceed in the next place to lay down the helps afforded of God for their overcoming and oh that God may so overcome all our hearts thorowly to close with them and faithfully to make use of them and walk in them that we may be able to withstand and put to flight the wicked one working out though not working for finishing though not by our own strength fetching in our own salvation CHAP. IIII. Shewing the Remedies against Temptations Sect. I. That God hath provided us Remedies THe consideration of your present weaknesses with the sharp warfare in which your state standeth here in the flesh if looked upon alone might breed discouragement in your hearts and make you say as sometime the unbelieving Israelites though the Land that 's given the state we are called to of grace be never so good in it self yet it s too difficult to be attained by us the Cities are walled up to Heaven the enemies Gyants in power number and subtilty too many for us Therefore my Brethren I must intreat you to come on a little further with me or rather to look back to what I minded you of in the
goodness anâ—… through them believed sometime fell awâ—… when tempted in the withdrawings of theâ— though they see the same mighty works thâ—… others did that abide faithful the reason of was because the Word was not mixed with faiâ—… in them they believed when and because they 〈◊〉 so great things but blessed is he that believes 〈◊〉 seeth not as our Saviour said to Thomas 〈◊〉 when they that believed because of their sighâ— came to want sights their faith failed and theâ— were easily drawn aside into rebellion a coâ—… trary sense begat contrary thoughts in theâ—… they being led by Sense and not by the Worâ—… which abide the same without alteration on thâ—… otherside Abraham who believed not according to what was in his sense for there all thing went contrary to what he believed for but aâ—… cording to what was spoken gave glory to Goâ—… and abid stedfast knowing that however Goâ—… dealings altered as to his sense yet the Word 〈◊〉 God altered not and so his faith being buâ—… upon that abid stedfast and he obtained 〈◊〉 honour to be called the friend of God And truâ—… it s to be minded that divers who have turneâ— aside from the Faith of Christ were such as hâ—… not their faith and joy springing from what thâ—… Word recorded but from their sense and setting yea sometimes fancies and conceits wheâ—… they have seen and felt or fancied something of of God then they have believed but when God â—hath withdrawn again then they have been All â—…mort and not having the Word within them to support them and lead them to a patient waiting for his counsels they have readily â—istened to any doctrine that promises less trials and more sensible satisfaction and so into such as â—…ve have spoken of whence they are called Sensual as not having exercising and living by Faith â—ut rejoycing and living upon and impatiently â—oveting after matters of sense 3. Such also as are high minded and puffed â—p with conceits of their own attainments These thinking themselves out of the reach of all danger presume to neglect the way of God to â—eight Ordinances and Fellowships of the Breâ—hren praying and watchfulness and matter not â—o hear any doctrine accompany themselves with any people throwing themselves from the â—inacle of the Temple in confidence that the Angels of God shall keep them and so they are â—or their tempting God justly punished of God â—…y false Angels hurrying them into strong deâ—sions as was before noted 4. They that are curious and unsober in their â—esire of Knowledge and trusting to their own â—apacities and abilities undertake to pry into all â—ecrets looking into things which they have â—ot seen rashly puffed up with a carnal minde hese soaring up above their bounds and goiâ—… tbeyond the proportion and measure given theâ— are often met withall and mounted up 〈◊〉 Satan till they fall into his * 3 Tim. 3.6 The word there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signâ—… as well fault as punishment fault and condeâ—nation 5. Others not unlike the former through stability have itching ears and are desirous novelties and not abiding in and cleaving what they have heard and received of God 〈◊〉 to try conclusions and rather to taste someâ—… of every way then to drink well of any thoâ—… what they have met with God and his Spiritâ— 6. Others through leaning upon the wisdâ—… parts holiness professions of men having soâ—… in admiration and judging them as infallibiliâ—… when they see such persons holy humble â—…rent and well gifted in the eye of man or 〈◊〉 make great boasts of themselves and their attâ—ments speaking great swelling words to be gâ—… in such wayes then they leaning upon them 〈◊〉 with them being built more whatever thâ—… pretend of ceasing from man upon their proâ—…sions holiness parts attainments then uponâ— Word of God it self held forth to them Korah Dathan and Abiram being men of nown famous in the Congregation drew them company into Rebellion with them because likely many admired and leant upon them So these such a one say they of such parts gifts abilities experience are of this or that minde sure they cannot be deceived but they regard not whether it be according to the Word of God and held forth in and suitable to the Scriptures but seeing such imbrace it they follow with them and will stand and fall with them though into distruction forgetting that the Apostle Paul adviseth that though He himself an Apostle or Angel from heaven should preach beside the Gospel already delivered they should be held as execrable and accursed Gal. 1.8,9 Alas though these see many things in those they lean on below either Paul or an heavenly Angel yet their parts gifts profession of experience c. is such as they will venture soul and body upon them And no marvel if when the Stars fall that they steer their course by they split upon the Shelves of Temptation and Delusion that are steered by them 7. Ambitious persons that desire to be or to be thought to be above others and to attain to the highest steps that any boast of these reaching out after greatness sometimes make more haste then good speed and so swell beyond the due bounds of Truth that they fall into gross error 8. Some also through Coveteousness and such like evil affections nourished by them easily imbrace such things and God justly leave them thereunto as may least cross their getting or keeping worldly principles and so if they can meet with a profession that will promise as large or larglier then any and yet wil baâ—… them all attendance in Ordinances and sparâ— them more time for their earthly imployments and not indanger them to sufferings be cause they may suit with any thing they wilâ— not be hardly perswaded thereunto but presently strike hands with it what ere it coâ—… them as to their utmost happiness These anâ— such like are in danger to be snared Aâ— also 9. All that love to live as they list and to follow their own ungodly lusts such as these are oftentimes with those temptations turned asidâ— and taken but yet not all at once they go usâ—ally gradatim as it were by steps to the depth of Satan 1. At first its but this that ordinances anâ— poor carnall things and not only to be liveâ— above but without also and it s a state of moâ—… pefection to sit loose to them and disregarâ— them 2. Then from that the Scriptures are poâ—… low things an inky Divinity a dead letter full of fallacies and uncertainties and contradictions not much to be heeded especially according to what they say in the letter every liâ—… must have another meaning then the letter holds forth to us 3. Then they go yet higher and say and beleeve that the doctrine of Christs death and Resurrection ascension priesthood and mediation as things done without us is but a beginning fit for novices not to be dwelt in but to be left again and forsaken
which do but manifest that while men have copied out these sacred writings they have sometimes either through heedlesness or through difficulty of right discerning or reading some word overslipt or altered some particles or words sometimes setting down some other of a like or neer signification agreeable to the sense and scope of the Text and sometimes perhaps something being noted in the margin by way of conference of like places in the several Evangelists some word or saying hath thence been afterward looked upon as pertaining to the Text and hath been by others inserted thereinto for so sometimes some word or sentence in some copies inserted in some History in Matthew or Mark more then other copies have is found in the same History in Luke or John by consent of all copies And this is clear that there is nothing of faith about which there are diversities of readings but what other places in which all copies agree will guide us to discern what is consonant to truth of them and which of them is corrupted and doth disagree nor any passage of weight in our received copies out of which our Bibles are translated which other places in which all copies agree will not confirm as in that most weighty place about which there are divers readings 1 Joh. 5.7 there are three that bear record in Heaven c. which some copies have not but most have the Scripture else where attests it to be according to truth for we have the same there in Joh. 1.1.33 clearly spoken of and all agreeing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into one as some read it and again in Mat. 29.19 with divers other places which there is no difference or variety of reading in Nay we find the Holy Ghost sometimes varying a word in the Scripture and while the same truth is held forth though with some variety of expression it s still divine truth and not for that variety in expression to be rejected as where Moses said Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and shalt serve him our Saviour repeats it against Satan thus thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve which being both the sense of that place and the scope of divers other Scriptures it was no untruth to say it was so written this objection then is only a frivolous rub put in the way not to be regarded these varieties of readings being found either in matters not essentiall to the faith or if in such yet then they are either so small that they no way alter the truth propounded or are in other places cleared and the right reading attested I know some object against the translating of them that we have them not in their proper language and there is great difference in translations and one Minister corrects one place and another another c. A sorry objection too for 1. we have them in their Originall languages though all understand them not there 2. That languages or words are signarerum the expressions of things and not the things themselves expressed and that the alteration of the sound or name of a thing in severall languages alters not the thing so differently named is clear and that interpretation is needfull in languages not understood to make them understandible is as evident and that there are certain Idioms and properties of speech in every language which are scarce so fully to be expressed in other languages as in their own is confest too by all that understand languages besides that there is variety of signification of some words in most especially the Hebrew and Greek languages which sometimes render sentences somewhat dubious as well in the Original as to the translators and sometime one translator takes a word in one signification sometimes in another which are not cases often obvious but that the scope of the place matter evidence what the use of the word there is though sometimes it doth not so clearly but that there may be diversity of conceptions about it yet this being usually in things less essential to the faith no divine truth essentiall to our beleeving in God and walking aright with him is thereby left uncertain only some instruction or relation of things for our learning and further helpfulness or consolation in the things otherwhere many times more clearly and without all doubt asserted is not so fully made out in some translations as in others which doth but shew an usefulness in giving diligence to understand and make out the properties of the Originall languages by men of learning not at all that we are to slight the divine truths made out to us by the good hand of God upon those who have done their endeavours herein by translating them for us especially seeing we have almost generally left to us in the margin of some editions the diversity of the significations in which such dubious places may be taken that we might consider them both and take either of them as God shall present instructions to us from them and yet the rather too seeing the great mysteries of God and Jesus Christ are in clear and undoubted expressions in all translations amongst us so unanimously represented as that nothing but sloth or unbelief or wickedness can be the hinderance of our attaining to so much of them as may lead us to and preserve us in the way of salvation But yet neither is this all there is yet another wile of Satan that prevails much with many viz. that the Scriptures have another meaning then what the words import a spirituall mystical or Allegorical sense which is the true sense and therefore they are not indeed to be rejected but studied yet not to stick to the literal expression but to find out the spiritual that is the allegorical sense and this comes most up to the old Serpent who did not at the first say God never said ye shall not eat but hath God indeed said or in saying said ye shall not eat c. as if he should say though them words ye heard yet do you think that was the meaning of them there was some other thing in that saying then you think of and not that which the words seem to import this is a very specious temptation and takes with many and the other forementioned are often made of use to usher in this In answering which this I shall say that 1. All Scripture in one sense hath a spirituall sense as by spirituall sense we mean the sense of the Spirit or that the Spirit holds forth but then that is most usually no other but what the words hold forth and express as there is one god one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all the sense of the Spirit in that is as is exprest in th◠words and so usually in other places 2. Many Scriptures are indeed parabolically and figuratively exprest and there the Spirit had a further aime then at what the letter of
shadow and type of some spiritual thing in us which is the true Saviour indeed of us Nay he upon this ground teaches men peremptorily to deny that there was ever such a one as that Jesus and that he is to be believed in and though men believe not in him yet shall they not be damned whatever the Scripture seems to say to the contrary And so for the Resurrection of the body it leads to turn that into an Allegory and to say however the Scripture seems to speak of such a thing yet it but seems so for it s to be understood only of a resurrection of the Spirit out of a sad and dark condition into a state of light and gladness Nay the very Being of God and our walking towards him the instructions reproofs and precepts of Grace must at length be so looked upon too as but figurative for I have met with such as have not sticked rashly to affirm that no line in Scripture but hath its spiritual meaning distinct from what the letter speaks which is the way to deny the true God and his Worship yea to make nothing of corporal adultery fornication theft drunkenness and whatever evil the letter of Scripture reproveth so that this will lead a man to be like a wild horse in a fenceless Pasture to run whither Satan shall delude his fancy and stir up his lust to lead him Therefore beware my Brethren of this temptation and of those that shall intice you to fall thereinto by sleighting the open sense of Scriptures themselves and indeavoring to draw you from it too Take the Apostles directions Remember the words of the Prophets the Commandments of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.2 so look for the Spirits opening the mind of God as to hold to the words which he hath declared himself in and think not that he will declare himself to thee in any such new form as to evacuate and make a fable of what he hath fore-declared God raised up and gave to his Church Prophets and Apostles as was noted above to declare his minde and leave his Doctrine so to the Church as that we might not be tossed too and fro with every winde of doctrine But how should their Dispensations of their Knowledge of Christ as left to us by them be usefull to keep us from such tossings if they have given an uncertain found and left their Writings like a Weather-Cock to be turned this way or that with every winde if they have given us hâ—dden expressions and left them at liberty to be interpreted by whatever other spirit can declare to us another mystery then what they seem therein to have delivered Dear souls let us take heed to what is written for our instruction If the touchstone given us be made uncertain what are we better in trying mettals if the Compass given us to say by fail or be uncertain how shall we steer aright by it to our desired Haven Suffer not we our selves then to be baffled out and spoiled by Satan and his instruments in this matter remember it was the written Word and in the sense that the words seem to hold forth withour wresting straining or allegorizing with which Christ opposed Satan in his temptations learn we to do so also if we will go on safely and not be cheated of the inheritance As for that objection of some as of T. C. that the Scriptures have come through the hands of Papists and therefore probably they may be corrupted it s a very weak one as concerning the Original Languages in which they were first written for neither have they only had the keeping of them but those of the Prophets and old Testament the Jews have also and both them and those of the New Testament the Witnesses against them and their evils have had in all Ages as also the Greek Churches not all subject to the Pope and his Faction and yet those Copies they have in nothing of weight if at all differ from the Copies in the Latine Churches nor is there any probability that the Roman Church hath corrupted them not only because they could not do it but others of other Churches yea so many as were faithful Witnesses against its errors within it self must needs detect her falshood and cry shame of her but also because then they would have corrupted them in those places which reprove and detect her own errors Verily if they ever dared to corrupt them they were very fools to leave untouched the places that make against their own errors yea and yet more if they would corrupt them to speak against their errors if ever they spake otherwise more conformably to them for there as they keep them in their original languages we find testimony born against all their errors as against the Lordly dominion assumed by the Pope against their adoration of Images Invocation of Saints and Angels Purgatory Justification by Works and what not so that the preservation of the Scriptures to witness against their corruptions is a notable argument of Gods care of them and that they are not corrupted by them for if they had corrupted them they would undoubtedly have done it in those things in which they make against them But no more to that Let none of those vain assaults of Satan prevail with you to let go the Sword of the Spirit the Record of God in the Scriptures with which ye should oppose him but the more he indeavours it the more fast hold it and the more closely cleave unto them mind we that of David Thy Word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it Psal 119.140 and that ver 126 127. It is time for thee Lord to work for they have made void thy Law therefore I love thy Commandments above gold yea above fine gold the more men slight the Scriptures the more mind we them and cleave we to them there can be no greater folly then for a man to throw away his weapon because his enemy desires to have it wrested away that he might the better harm him Sect. 6. A Caveat against their abuses of Scriptures by wresting them beside their meanings I Know its an ordinary objection against heeding the Scriptures that all Hereticks too will alledge Scriptures to maintain their Heresies which as its true in it self so is it rather an iâ—…gagement to mind the Scriptures more diligently and stick to them more closely then therefore to neglect them it being certain that no Scripture contains in it any error but men do err in their collections from it and that is certainly an error that contradicts the sayings of the Scripture So we find that when Satan himself the father of Heresies set upon Christ with Scripture It is written He shall give his Angels charge c. Christ did not thereupon betake him to some other weapons and let go the Scripture but by cleaving to it repell'd his temptation from the abuse of Scripture indeed here it becomes
God made to rule day is but one and its the Sun and yet that light is after one manner in the body of the Sun and after another in the glorious ray and beam the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or shining forth of the Sun in another manner yet in the air illuminated by the beam from the body of the Sun and yet all these but one light not three lights yet that one light hath a threefold manner of subsisting the Sun is not one light and the ray or beam of the Sun another and the clearness or bright shining in the air illuminated through the beam a third but one day light or light of the Sun The Sun is the fountain and generateth or begetteth its â—ray or beam and worketh by it whatever it doth by way of illumination heating quickning c. yet is not the body of the Sun its ray or beam Again the ray is begotten and generated in a sort by the Sun and yet its cotemporary with it It evidences the Sun lives by its dependence on the Sun is in the Sun and the Sun in it after a sort so as that it doth nothing of it self without the Sun nor the Sun without it which comes down from the Sun and is not the body of the Sun nor subsists of it self without the Sun Again the clearness or light difâ—used into the air proceeds from the Sun the fountain of light by with in and through the ray or beam yet is it neither the body of the Sun nor its ray for it is and may be where the ray is not but is intercepted as to the proper substance of it as in a cloudy day or in a room where the Sun beam comes not and yet these cannot be divided one from the other for this clearness cannot be but from and by vertue of the ray and of the Sun So that if either of them were taken away and removed from the Horizon the luster or illumination in the air ceaseth and they cannot be but this is and follows too Here is an unity of light in a threefold way of subsistence by which we may darkly see into the glorious mysterie of Trinity in Unity which no similitude can fully illuminate the Father is as the fountain of the Deity and to the Son or Word as the body of the Sun to its beam not to be seperated from each other or divided so as the one can be without the other though the Father is first in order of nature he of whom are all things and doth all by and nothing without the Son or Word as the Sun doth nothing without its beam The Word or Son in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1.2 The brightness or offâ— shining of the Fathers glory Lumen de lumine light shining for discovering and leading up to the fountain of light always with the Father and yet came down from the Father and doth all from him and yet is not the Father but the Son yea and forther as the beam of the Sun may be contracted and as it were so incorporated in a burning glass or the like so as the glass by vertue of the beam and the beam by the glass worketh otherwise then either glass or beam by themselves could have done and yet neither the light nor the body of the Sun is to be so contracted but only the beam so was it with the Son or Word he was imbodied or incarnate in the nature of man and the man Christ Jesus by vertue of the Word so contracted as it were or incorporated in him did such glorious things and got such a glorious conquest over sin death and hell as man of himself â—ould never otherwise have done or gotten nor was the Word in and by it self perfected for and yet neither the Father nor the holy Spirit was so incarnate or made man and yet further the Son had all his vertue in himself from the Father and in the Spirit without which he â—ould do nothing as the ray contracted derives all its vertue that it shews forth in and through the glass from the body of the Sun without which it could neither be nor do any thing The holy Spirit is the power vigor and divine verâ—…e proceeding from the Father that fountain of divine glory from and through the Word by which we have and enjoy the benefit of the Sun and its beam when both of them are otherwise interpreted and clouded out of our sight I mean the Father and the Son even in a day of temptation and spiritual hiding of himself in his more glorious shinings But these things I bring onely to shew that there may be such a thing evidenced even to reason and sense as a three-fold way of subsistence of the same created being that so we might not stumble at that which the Scripture hints to us so abundantly about the Trinity in the Unity of the divine Being Concerning which I needed not to have multiplyed so many words were it not that the old Serpent not abiding in the truth is so prevalent in blinding men and corrupting them from the unerring Oracles of Divine truth to listen rather to the shallowness of their own purblind reason For the Saints are not without experience in themselves did they well mind it of this distinction in the glorious workings and operations of God in and upon themselves in their believing they prove the Father calling them to himself by the Son in the power of his Spirit they have believed the love of the Father in sending forth his Son and in the word of his Gospel they have felt his power and Spirit drawing and inabling them to believe in Christ and to approach by and through him unto the Father according to that Eph. 2.18 We both that is Jew and Gentile have access through him to wit Christ by one Spirit unto the Father namely to call upon him trust in him and have fellowship with him Indeed they that depart from the Son they both lose the operations of his divine Spirit and fall from the right worship of the Father into Heathenism or such philosophical speculations of God and of his Being as were found with the ancient Heathens that had not the light of the Gospel to instruct them and no marvel then if they fall from or deny the mysterie of the Trinity as in the Apostolical doctrine is held forth with those divine operations that should evidence the truth thereof unto them But now to return again to the matter whereto I was exhorting viz. the doctrine of the Gospel to be held forth to men as it supposes the Being of God and he but one though thus distinguished so is it not only the bare affirming him to be but one or in that Unity so as before to be distinguished that 's to be delared but his Name according to that Unity and distinction the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost viz. how God
profess them Rom. 1.18 2 Cor. 6.1 Some hold the truth in unrighteousness and receive good doctrines in vain because not deep enough into the heart or because not singly so as to be acted by them Not every one that saith unto Christ Lord Lord shall inherit the Kingdom c. Matth. 7.21 of the same judgement or opinion many times some may be Saints in light others devils and walk in darkness Joh. 6.70 Christ hath Chaff and Wheate in the same floore of profession a Judas that was a Professor and Teacher of the same Doctrine with the other Apostles 4. They are not the sons of Hagar born of the bond woman Gal. 4.22,23,24 c. not every one that hath a zeal of God for some have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge Rom. 10.2 are zealously affected in a wrong way and think themselves to be knowing people too as the Pharisees that took it in great scorn that they should be accounted blind and unknowing Joh. 9.40 It s not every one then in whom much knowledge in their own and others apprehensions with much zeal and strictness for Ordinances Worship Religions Actions and Practises meet together that is a Saint of God The old Pharisees had all this according to the Church State then openly owned and judged true and right and yet not Saints but Hypocrites whited walls and painted Sepulchres There are that have been trained up in religious duties from their youth or that having been prophane and loose and meeting with the Doctrine of the Law consisting of Precepts Promises Prohibitions and Threatnings have been convinced of their wayes that they were sinful and tended to destruction and so for fear of hell and out of a desire to be saved have reformed their courses and conversations let go evil company and practises and set upon zealous and religious performances yea and perhaps espying some defects in the way of worship they have walked in have left society in such a way and put themselves into a purer as they have perceived and attaining to something in these ways do from their betterness of way walking from others judge themselves alive to God and call themselves the Saints and holy ones apply to themselves all the promises in Christ who yet are deceived herein the bottom of all this being not Grace or Love from God apprehended by them and springing up life in them but their own convictions sorrows changes reformations and alterations from the Law of God or the Precepts and promises of the Gospel in a Law way understood and minded is the ground of their hope though yet they will as also did the Pharisee Luke 18.10,11 put all these their convictions and conversion upon the grace of God and thank God for it Now these in as much as their Conversion and Religion is the product of a Doctrine of Works the Covenant given in Sinai answering to the bond maid Hagar and inasmuch as from their changes so wrought their hope is sprung up and their conclusion of Saintship is made they must indure the sentence that the Scripture gave upon the son of the Bondwoman Cast out the Bond-woman and her son for the son of the Bond-woman shall not inherit with the Free-woman and her son Gal. 4.30 As Hagar was to have been a servant to Abraham and Sarah but not for the generation of children so also did God appoint the Law for convincement of sin till the Seed came but not to beget sons to God or such Changes and Reformations as should be the ground for their judging themselves Saints and confident expectation of the Kingdom They then that are of the works of the Law Gal. 3.10 that hold by the title and lay claim upon that ground to Saintship be their knowledge never so much their zeal never great their profession never so accurate according to the Rule as pertaining to the appearance of their works yea be they of what name or profession so ever they are all under the curse and are to be separated from this Saintship and those to whom it is to be applied Saints they may perhaps judge themselves and be judged by others but none of Gods Saints they are according to the prime sense of the Word nor shall they be owned by him for such but judged theeves and robbers that have climbed over the wall and stokâ— the priviledges and pasture of Christs sheep unto themselves which shall therefore be taken from them Joh. 10. To all such of what society or profession soever is that to be applied to that was spoken to Nicodemus Joh. 3.3.5 They must be boâ—… of water and Spirit or else they cannot see or enter the Kingdom of God but have their portion with unbelievers 5. It s not every one that hath been in Trance or seen Visions and Apparitions of Glory and excellent things though from God himself for such was Balaam and yet no Saint 〈◊〉 God but a false Prophet Numb 24.4 Or thâ—… hath power to work some miracles or cast oâ— a devil Matth. 10.1.4 for so had Judas anâ— those in Matth. 7.22 Some such also may henâ— be discharged and yet it s to be feared that many of those that in these times call themselves Saints have no better foundation then one or other or at most all of these last forementioned false grounds in whom is fulfilled what in former times the true Churches of Christ met with they are such as say they are Jews men interested in the Covenant of God and of Christ but are not but do lye and are many of them of the Synagogue of Satan Rev. 2. Take heed my friends that none of you that read these things lean upon so weak foundations as that you are of such or such an opinion either really or in your apprehension right that you are are zealous reformed of such a Church or Congregation having all Christs Ordinances purely have had such visions of glorious things concerning Gods Church and people c. thence concluding your selves to be Saints But I shall come to the Discription of a Saint affirmatively Sect. 2. Who are Saints A Saint hath his name from Sanctification Now to sanctifie is to separate or set apart from common and prophane to holy use from being a mans own and for himself to be Gods and for God which in reall Saints is done by God and according to his Will Heb. 10.10 And God doth it by his Spirit and in the Name of his Son who hath fore-offered up himself to God for men 1 Cor. 6.9.11 The Spirit of God in the Word or Name of Christ preached or unfoulded to them discovering the Grace or good will of God towards men in the Gift Death and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and thereby killing and crucifying them to the flesh all fleshly birth parts wisdom righteousness goodness affections and lusts of their own and in drawing them to Christ to believe in him and his bloud and so to communicate with
them and bought them and that he willingly condescended to out of his love to them but now these crucifie him again to themselves and put him to more grief as it were by their wicked and wilful departings from him and so in the most hainous sort ill requite and deny him Nay they are said to trample him under foot and count the pretious bloud of the Covenant by which they Were sanctified a common thing and to do despite to the Spirit of Grace Heb. 10.2.9 That bloud that was the bloud of God pretious bloud not to be reckoned amongst corruptible things as silver and gold Acts 20.28 1 Pet. 1.18,19 that they account as prophane or common ordinary blood nothing better then the bloud and sufferings of an ordinary man and whatever the Spirit speaks therethrough they despightfully and reproachfully blaspheam so great is their sin and he tells us their punishment is like to equalize it for they in so sinning put themselves besides the benefit of Christs sacrifice there remains no longer any sacrifice for them that can make in their behalf any expiation Heb. 10.26 thy have neither Father nor Son to be their protection or to afford any safety to them 2 Joh 9. Whatever they may dream of taking Satan for their glorious God and King and his delusions for lighâ— and consolation and however they may boaâ—… of God yet God they have not he is no way ingaged by any Covenant or Promise now tâ— them they having trod Christ under foot anâ— wickedly departed from his bloud and from hiâ— Doctrine they bring upon themselves swift distraction 2 Pet. 2.1 and the very blackness of darkness is reserved for them for ever Jude 12. though now they talk of greater light and Satan make them as Wandring Comets Jude 13. having 〈◊〉 fixed abiding station in the Son of God nor filled with the divine beams of his Light yet they must go out in darkness yea into the blackness of it the most horrid darkness the worst and depth of misery must be their portion this is the end and will be the issue of their delusion thither tend the steps of this whorish woman or spirit of error her house inclineth unto death and her paths unto the dead Pro. 2.20 Yea the dead are there and her guests are in the depth of hell Pre. 9.18 I will not here run into any curious search oâ— discourse about hell what it is it is sufficient to know that it is and will be a state of unspeakable horror torment misery and confusion in which men shall partake with the wicked one and his Angels in the weight heaviness and everlastingness of their destruction in the depth of which the Spirit of God â—ells us are the guests of the foolish woman the spirit of Error opposed to the Spirit of Truth called Wisdom I will not say nor do I think that all have been â—…ibling at these baits of Satan and parlying with him in these temptations nor that all that have through weakness been overtaken and catched in some degree of them are irrecoverably gone into this condition no some such may be pulled either by compassion or by fear and dread as brands out of the sire Jude 22,23 and God may be merciful unto them because they did it in weakness and through violence of temptation but all that willingly yield up themselves hereunto and persist therein till they be one with Satan and his Instruments are like to partake with them in the blackness of their portion and to have their latter end Worse then their beginning 2 Pet. 2.20,21 Sect. 8. Who are in danger to be snared herewith and by What steps THere are divers sorts of people in more speciall danger to be snared with these deceits and they that are snared are carried to the heigth of it by divers steps worthy our noting It s good indeed for every one to be cautelous and not secure yet there are some in greater danger then others and that are more usually taken in it In general all such as have not thâ— Word of God abiding in them or so rooted and deeply entred with understanding intâ— them as to dwell in and keep them through temptations as is noted Matth 13.19 such 〈◊〉 the Word had not root in fall away in a time 〈◊〉 temptation for indeed it s the power of Goâ— that keeps men and that keeps us by Faith aâ—… Faith is not but of the Word of God so thâ—… letting go the VVord is the departing frâ—… Faith and the departing from that is the beiâ—… loosed from that saving Power of the Spirit 〈◊〉 God Now all they in whose hearts the VVorâ— hath but a little superficial place their hearts being stony so as they give not through and intiâ—… credit to it are soon loosed from it and so 〈◊〉 great danger of falling and this Peter implieâ— 2 Pet. 3.16 when he saith They that are unlearned and unstable unlearned he means not 〈◊〉 Arts Sciences and Languages which suffice noâ— to this business but that are but smatterers dâ—… of hearing not of understanding in the Mysteriâ—… of God or in the Word of his Truth and whoâ—… hearts are unstable and unsetled not throughâ— perswaded but halting between two opinionâ— easily blown away and removed these wâ—… the Scriptures to their own destruction and fiâ— away into the error of the wicked and so inâ—… perdition More particularly 1. Such as are slothful in the VVord of Goâ— that cry not for wisdom that give not diligent â— eed to understanding that follow not after God with earnestness but neglect that great â—alvation set before them and of which they have â—ad some views and nigh drawings to them such â—s take not up well pleasedness in Jesus Christ â—hat way of Gods appointing nor have pleasure 〈◊〉 the Truth Knowledge is not sweet unto â—hem and so not heartily cleaved to by them â—or fruitful in them they receive the Grace of God in vain in that regard rest in the form â—nd in some illuminations and tasts but give not â—iligence to atrain the power of it they add â—ot in their Faith Vertue force or efficacy and 〈◊〉 that Knowledge or a further growing up into â—he Knowledge of Christ and his Truth and to â—hat Temperance and sobriety c. but abiding â—arren and unfruitful in that Knowledge and â—rofession of Christ that they have in a time of â—emptation they fall off and wither are lopt off from the Vine and men gather them into their â—ocieties and perverse wayes and doctrines strong delusions take with them that they might be damned that had pleasure in unrighteousness and not in the Truth the righteous Truth of God that they might be saved 2. Such as believe not upon the VVord and its faithfulness but upon their sensible feelings and visits whose faith is built upon sense more then upon the Authority and Power of Gods Word thus the Israelites of old who had maâ—… sensible experiences of Gods
Apostle further adds as useful for our direction herein in that sixth of the Ephesians viz. 6. Take unto you also the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God To the Law and to the Testament that that speaks not according to that word hath no morning light in it Isai 8.20 there 's no divine Truth in it That will discover and drive back all assailants The VVord of God that 's the immortal seed that the Believer is born of and this is he still to covet after that he may grow by it This David his in his heart that he might not sin against God and indeed that 's the best preservative from sin and direction in Righteousness when it s so hidden This is the Truth and discovers the true Righteousness of God is preached in and declares the Gospel is the Mother and Nurse of right Faith the word of Faith and of Salvation yea this is a Lanthorn to our feet and a light unto our paths In this the Spirit worketh and in the belief thereof preserveth the soul unto eternal life yea this is Spirit and Life as its full of divine and living operations unto Faith But what is this VVord of God I Answer in one sense Christ himself is the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word or Reason that was in the beginning with God and by which all things were made of God the essential Word or Word of power and Wisdom of God which also was made flesh and dwelt amongst us And it s no doubt but with this Word the Spirit fights as he doth glorifie and lift him up but that 's not done but by the Word in another sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that 's the Word there in Ephes 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word spoken the declaration of the Mind and Truth of God that which God hath uttered by the mouth of Christ and of All his holy Prophets and Apostles this Word as it was originally from and by the Spirit so is that the Sword that he leads his to make use of and by which he driveth back the subtile and violent adversaries of our souls and defends us that believe and believingly make use of it in the Spirit Take to you selves then this Word of God this Sword of the Spirit believe it mind it meditate on it cleave to it bring all Motions Doctrines and Practises to the Light of it let it dwell richly in you in all wisdom it will teach and admonish you it will shew you the right way and how to behave your selves in every condition it will admonish you of the danger that is in by-wayes and in temptations so that it be I say hid in your hearts and dwell there so as that you know love believe understand and mind it in what it speaketh as it was in the heart of the Lord Jesus being so kept it will keep you instruct teach and guide you aright for his words do good to the upright-hearted Mic. 2.7 that believe and obey them in sincerity And indeed this as Cha. 3. Sect. 6. was before hinted is worthy to be minded that that 's the acceptable and right believing which purely and singly closeth with God and Christ not for or according to our sensible experiments and feelings so much as for and according to the Soveraign authority of God and his infallible and most pure sayings that believes the Word though it see not any probability as to Sense or Reason of the things there declared That Faith that 's built upon Sense as we have shewed alters and varies often according to the alterations in sense as we shewed in the Israelites who so long as some great work was in their eye and some satisfaction apprehended in their sense believed the VVord and sang his Praise but when those great things were withdrawn and danger and death surrounded them they distrusted murmured and rebelled the Word of God was of no account or force with them because it was not the bottom of their faith nor abode in them So fares it now also with many souls that receive the Word as the stony ground doth the Seed with joy for a time so long as there is no trial but all seems to go along with and demonstrate the thing that is spoken to and believed by them but when such sensible feelings or satisfactions to Reason fail and trials come then in a day of temptation they fall away they wither in a year of drought as it were not having moisture enough from the Word within to cause them to abide in a patient waiting upon God for his gratious returns to them the Gospel of Peace hath not prepared them for a long travel or trial because not heartily and throughly received and cleaved to by them in the love of it nor well digested in them therefore they have no patience but fall to murmuring repining and inordinate lusting after sensible feelings of comfort and God deferring them they either run back to the world again resolving to have its consolations rather then none or else if any Doctrine or Spirit under pretence of Gods come unto them and promise them feedom from such sad conditions and long waitings though it be from Satan and lead them quite from the faith of Jesus to some strong delusion they embrace and run after it to their own destruction preferring sensible feelings and flashes of joy and comfort and raptures c. though from false and failing delusions of Satan withdrawing them from the VVord before a patient hoping in a dark exercised condition in the VVord for its unspeakable and eternal consolations Surely from this sometimes souls are misled and given over to believe or rejoyce in a lye as if they were now at prefect freedom and as fully possessed of heaven as ever any shall be had attained the Resurrection already as much as any shall or can attain to yea were Godhead with God and made parts of his indivisible Essence Satan mounting them up aloft and causing them to speak great swelling words of vanity and shine as Comets to the admiration of others he transforming himself into an Angel of light and perswading them it is the true Light that they see and glory in though in the issue they go out in darkness and have the blackness of it reserved for them whereas on the other side where the Word of God is in the heart and the meditation thereon day and night and the hope in the Lord Jehovah there-through and according thereto it will preserve and perfect that man to the inheritance being the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes Acts 20.32 a pure infallible and sure Word that will not fail or deceive any Happy is he that though he see not or prove little or nothing in his own sense yet believeth according to what is said in that that will give comfort strength greenness growth fruitfulness and preserve the
soul in patience to everlasting happiness and the fruits that spring up in the soul from that are very good and acceptable Thus Abraham believed and saw not and his faith grounded on the Word was stedfast the sensible deadness of his own body and decay of natural strength nor the known and proved barrenness of Sarahs womb caused him not to stagger but the Word wrought effectually in him to keep him in a patient waiting upon God for the accomplishment of the thing that was spoken and accordingly when he had patiently waited he received the Promise Heb 6.15 the first fruits or some particulars in it for he died in Faith not having received much of it Heb. 11.13 in a better way then Sarahs hasty counsel of turning in to Hagar could have brought about The Word of God the Gospel of the Kingdom being received in a good single honest heart brings forth fruit with patience perswades the heart to waite upon God in his way keeps it from carefulness in a year of drought when sense is not satisfied by more flowing feelings of consolation from the pourings out of Spirit but as faith comforteth in looking to the Word and yet it leads the heart to long and thirst after those flowing consolations promised in the Word in the way of the VVord the desires after which and rejoycing in the injoyments of which I would not be mistook as if I dasht against them or at all faulted It were better for me that my right hand should be withered then write a word to take the heart off from pressing after them in the way of believing but onely from the botoming our faith upon the sensible feelings of them and not upon the VVord that leads to wait for them in Gods way and firms the soul against hast-making and against the ready listening to other doctrines promising greater liberty and freedom or otherwise then the VVord of God declares to us or can there be found for our instruction Take you therefore heed beloved to the VVord of God to believe what he hath said by the mouth of all his holy Apostles and Prophets meditate ye in his Law night and day and try the doctrines yea and the Spirits too that come unto you by their consonancy with those divine sayings and count accursed what swerveth or leadeth you therefrom from or besides the Gospel Gal. 1.8.9 I mean as declared therein so shall you be able to quit your selves as men defending your selves against and driving back from you Satan and his instruments in their Temptations Sect. 4. Of the Scriptures I Know some will grant all this and yet undermine all again by this saying Ay but what is this VVord of God and where to be found Is not Christ the VVord and what he says in and by his and so he being in us speakes to us and what we say he says by us and it s his Word and to be heeded by men And thus even those that come to deceive will put that title upon their own conceptions and sayings and so catch and cheat men For avoiding which snare we are to Know further That as Christ is the VVord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so of him properly and as in his own person merely considered the Apostle here speaks not but of that that declares and unfolds him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is indeed that that God hath spoken by the mouth of his Servants which that none might cheat us he hath ordered and caused to be also written and recorded so much as his wisdom hath seen meet and sufficient for our helpfulness in the holy Scriptures which ceaseth not to be his VVord because written down but becomes of greater usefulness to us for whose sakes they were so written though the letters and syllables as written are but humane instruments of makeing over what was by God spoken yet those divine verities the Oracles of God by and in those mediums made over and recorded are in themselves spiritual and full of divine operations abstractedly taken from the visible Characters or outward sound which are only mediums of conveying them unto men By these then heeded and minded shall you see what is Truth viz. that that agreeth with and is contained in these divine Revelations as also what is the righteousness to be put on and walked in what the Gospel of Peace and its preparation for that Gospel is there recorded as in 1 Cor. 15.3 That Christ died for our sins was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and the publishing of repentance and remission of sins in his Name amongst all Nations c. Luke 24.47 that also is the right and lasting faith that is grounded upon Christ and God in him according to the Scripture declaration of him to that the Promise is made as in Joh. 7.37,38 He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters as also therein witness is born to the salvation to be hoped for By this VVord of God so written and recorded did Jesus Christ himself in the days of his flesh and of his temptations beat back Satan saying It is written thus and thus shewing us that while we cleave in faith and obedience to that that 's written in the Scriptures of Truth we shall not be overcome of Satan Beware ye then of those that impugn the authority of them and by crafty jugling insinuations indeavour to draw you to a slight esteem of them and to take you off from giving heed to them and so to God and his VVord in them Know that they are the Scriptures of Truth a sure VVord yea more sure and safe for you to look to then any dreams visions or sights be they what they will that any shall suggest to you The Apostle Peter preferred them before his own Vision of the glory of Christ and his hearing of the lively Voyce that came from God to Christ for others faith in him 2 Pet. 1.16,19 And our Saviour instructs us that God would have us mind them and not wander in our desires after other things to bottom our faith on as miracles c. and tells us that they that will not believe them will not believe though one should arise from the dead and declare Doctrines to them Luke 16.31 They are the inspirations of God into his servants the Prophets Apostles whom for this cause Christ being ascended gave unto his Church with Evangelists Pastors and Teachers that we might not be as children tossed to and fro with every winde of Doctrine Ephes 4.11,12,13 but taking heed to their words the words of the Prophets and commandements of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.2 we might be preserved from Satan and his Instruments that shall mock at the coming of Christ and other sound doctrines according to godliness and that we might grow up in the unity of the Faith and Knowledge of the Son
of God unto a perfect man Know that the Scriptures came not by the wlll of man nor did the Penmen of them write as they pleased as their own fancies led them but as the holy Gost inspired and acted them 2 Pet. 1.20,21 and the things therein written were written for our learning Rom. 15.4 that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and in believing might through patience and the comfort of them have hope yea and life in his Name Joh. 20.31 In them is laid down a form of wholsom words which we are to take diligent heed unto and not to depart therefrom because they are profitable as says the Apostle to instruct correct reprove c. yea to maâ—e us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ 2 Tim. 3.15,16 both to discern truth from error light from darkness yea when it glisters like light and to lead to avoid the darkness and walk in the light yea in a word they are sufficient to perfect a man of God to every good work of the ministry or service required of him Let that Word then and the Gospel there recorded be held fast by you and the Doctrine that according thereto ye have heard from the beginning even the first principles and foundation the Death and Resurrection of Christ as therein declared that beleeve and depart not from it nor from viewing and beholding the grace and love of God and all those glorious and mysterious depths contained therein nor from the secret voices and speakings thereof to you in its teaching you that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts ye should live soberly righteously and godly yea give diligence in Reading Hearing and minding the Scriptures in every truth exercising faith in Christ so will he by his Spirit mind you so of his truths and put such Scriptum est's such sayings of divine Record into your memories and mouths as shall discover the subtilest workings of Satan and his instuments and lead you to avoid them yea to oppose and baffle them Sect. 5. Some objectiont against the Scriptures Answered LEt not vain spirits who make it their business to deceive withdraw you from cleaving to them as the true and faithful record of the Truth of God I know their wiles and what pretences they come withall to withdraw you from them some that they have got from their Father who made it his way to overthrow us at the first to withdraw us from the VVord of God See his first coming to Eve Gen. 3.1 He doth not at the first deny the saying of God but only puts a question Hath God indeed said or hath he in saying said ye shall not eat Gen. 3.1,2 Just like a generation now that knowing they shall not lead men into their errors unless they be first poysoned in their judgements about the Scriptures and withdrawn from credit giving to them first amuse people and try them with this not in a sober but a captious way How do you know that the Scriptures are the VVord of God and that they are true what have you more to say for them then the Turk for his Alcoran the Papists for their golden Legend c To whom I could wish people to give them this Answer that as by faith they understand that the world was made by the Word of God so by faith they know the Scriptures to be of God and of the inspiration of his Spirit and that they will hold to and not listen to any vain reasonings to the contrary but I hope you have a proof of God speaking in them you behold there such impressions of holiness purity truth goodness Majesty and see such a light in them as evidences them to be of him yea and you see their truth both in some experiences of them in your hearts and by the fulfilling of many prophesies in them as they spake long ago of the calling of the Gentiles when they lay all in Egyptian and gross darkness and we see it after so many hundreds of generations fulfilled they speak of the ruine of many then famous places which now answerably are ruined they foretell of such perverse Spirits and Doctrines of Devils in which men would deny the Lord that bought them and mock at saying where is the promise of his coming and bring in heresies of destruction as we may see accomplished even in many of them that make this questioning and therefore we need not go far for arguments to enduce us to beleeve the truth of the Scriptures which is questioned by them they suggest the Differences of some Greek copies of the new Testament and variety of readings which as it cannot be denyed so is it not of any materiall weight for what they subtilty use it those varieties being generally except in two or three places in things of lesser moment and such as either reading in the most Authentick Copies is no whit dangerous or destructive to the faith of Jesus yea usually the different readings do sound so much to the same purpose as they scarce deserve the name of differences as that in Mat. 1.22 we read This is that that that was said of the Lord by the Prophet saying c Others adde the name of the Prophet by the Prophet Isaiah saying So Mat. 2.11 When they came into the house and saw the child some and found the child so others So Chap. 3.9 Bring forth therefore fruit or fruits meet for repentance and vers 12. He shall gather the wheat into his garner or his wheat into the garner and in vers 11. He shall baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire some omit the word fire there is no danger in either reading but ours is confirmed and that defect in the other of the word fire is made up in Luke 3 16. Where all copies agree that the word fire is added and yet the other reading is in a manner repeated and so owned by our Saviour in applying that saying to his Apostles in Acts 1.5 Many of those readings stand but in a diversity of word to the same sense and differ no more then God wils and God willeth or God commandeth and God requireth as in Mat. 2.13 some read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which differ no more then these two English words kill and slay so in vers 6. some read Bethlehem of Judah others Bethlehem in the Land of Judah so in Chap. 4.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as some read and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as others differ no more then walking about and going or travailing about and such are those in the 19. and 23. verses some read I will make you fishers of men others I will make you to be fishers of men He healed them so we vers 22. He healed them all say others so in Chap. 5.11 some read for my sake some for righteousness sake either of them right and both come to one and the same thing many such like differences I might instance
according to some other more mystical way that the Scriptures had not declared if the testimony of Paul be valid as they seem to make it in the other place which they wrest to their harm then listen to him explaining himself in that place and the rather because he tels us in holding those things fast not according to some more spiritual understanding as is pretended but according to his preaching and declaration of them we shall be saved to wit from running into erroneous conceptions such as that of the denial of the Resurrection there by him faulted and by consequence from loose and evil practises and which is the issue of both from eternally perishing for indeed it is an undeniable truth that according to the judgement men make of Christ so is their judgement of other things they that believe not the first fruits of our nature really to have died and to be raised again and glorified in the person of Christ they deny the resurrection of the rest of the lump or body of Christ and of mankind in general and they that deny that must needs deny the judgement with its rewards and punishments following then what will hinder that piece of Epicurism Let us eat and â—rink for to morrow we shall die for take away the Resurrection and the judgement as we have said before and you take away the life of all Religion If then thou shouldest ever be so far corrupted as under pretence of not knowing Christ after the flesh to make nothing of and to be waved from the Doctrine of Christ as in the flesh dying for us and by the power of the Spirit raised again in that his body from the dead thou art in the way to fall from all Christian Religion and into all profaneness and Atheism there being so great a connexion between the foundation Doctrines as those concerning the person of Christ and the things suffered by and done to him of God are and the superstructures as the things that are to be done to and in us are and so great a dependency of these latter upon the former that if the former the fundamental be shaken the latter will soon fall but if the former stand firm the latter will be upheld by them or we rather in the faith and practise of them his Death being the foundation of all our hope his Resurrection a certain pledge of ours and an argument of the judgement in which all shall be judged by him and his glory the forerunner and pledge of that that shall be manifested on all that love and waite for his appearing Acts 17.31 Chap. 6. Concluding with exhortation for the Saints walking worthy of their calling Sect. 1. That exhortations are usefull and needfull to Believers TO all this that 's before said I shall add onely some exhortations and directions to you to walk as becometh Saints that you may glorifie God who hat hitherto called you preserve your selves in his Love and be useful unto others which I beseech you to suffer and think not that in exhorting you hereunto I put a burthen upon you that you are not fit to bear or that I put you under the Law Christianity consists not onely in Speculation but also and that rather too in divine vertue and action wherein God deals not with his Saints with Herbs and Plants that have no sense nor â—ason as they are intelligent reasonable creaâ—res so he governs them by his Word and Spiâ—…t and puts them upon an exercise of those faâ—…lties given them that they might not appear to â—eidle and to no purpose in them He doth not â—… take all upon himself to do in them that they â—re thereby left without all action nor doth he â—act them by force and violence transporting â—…em beyond themselves that they need no adâ—ce counsel or exhortation It s true they are â—ot under the Law of Moses either the types â—ad shadows to be instructed to wait for Christ 〈◊〉 come nor under the precepts and injunctiâ—ns as ministred by Moses to be shut up under 〈◊〉 and curse much less to be left to seek to obâ—…in righteousness by endeavouring after them â—ot yet neither are they without Law to God â—…ey have a royal thoughtâ— not a rigid Law a Law â—f Liberty and Freedom of spirit to serve God â—hough not a Law of bondage under sin and death 〈◊〉 law of grace they have in them and the soveâ—…gnty and government of God over them they have the Spirit to guide them and the Law of the Spirit which is to be obeyed by them that which the Grace of God received by them requires again of them and leads them to both towards God and man Grace and Love from God as well teaching and obliging to duty as Mosaical precepts and indeed the believer hath no other Law but such as springs from Grace and leads to answer Grace The Law of Christ which is a Law of Love even of Gods Love in him and that 's a Royal Law indeed for it giveth first what it requires again of us It gives power and spirit for acting as well as puts an obligation and ingagement upon us so and so to act The Spirit writes it and prompts to walk as we receive to work out as he works in us and to yield up our members and powers to him that he may write in us and act forth by us his whole pleasure and confirm us to his minde and yet we are not to put a fancy upon his writing the Law in us as some do that strain their wits to shew how God writes all the Bible over in man the Books of Genesis Exodus Leviticus and so on the Creation of the world of heaven earth light firmament herbs plants fishes fowls beasts and man himself and so of the Paradise woman tempter c. which yet they cannot strain cleaverly to their purpose in all matters but are fain to catch at here there a picce as their wits serve them and let the rest alone This is to turn the Truth of God into a fancy and secretly to withdraw the heart from giving glory to God in the belief of the Truth of the sacred story But this writing the Law in man is his framing the heart unto his own Heart and Will putting into it heavenly principles and dispositions of love and holiness and whatsoever the Law requireth That denying ungodliness and wordly lusts we may live godly soberly and righteously in this present world Tit. 2.11,12 nor yet because God writes thus in man do they put too much upon man that exhort to these things for we may the better exhort to them because men have principles to act them no man would exhort a dead man to walk because he wants a principle to inable him but to living men such an exhortation is agrecable though it be God that makes themwalk or that hath printipled or inabled them thereunto no man would blow upon wood without fire put to
enduring substance it wâ—… teach you also to walk towards others with 〈◊〉 righteousness equity in your several places aâ—… and relations if men in authority then to execuâ—… Justice and Judgement to shew mercy to the â—…flâ— cted oppressed to govern them under youâ— the fear of the Lord and according to the good laudible and just Statutes and Laws agreed upâ—… in the Land hating covetousness extortion 〈◊〉 pression and bribery not respecting person 〈◊〉 taking rewards nor lifting up your selves â—…oudly above your brethren despising and seeking to enslave them but exercising the power 〈◊〉 have for the good of all men and special protection and encouragement of those that are â—…ceable and righteous amongst them If ye be â—…rsons under Authority then be ye subject to â—…se set over you for the Lords sake whether worthy or unworthy good or froward looking â—… on them as ordered by the just hand of the â—…rd to those places above you either for your â—…rtties or chastisement and trial Thus the Apostle exhorteth to be subject to the higher â—…ers paying tribute to them and custom to â—…m custom honor to whom honor is due c. â—…m 13.1,2.7 Due that is by their places â—…ugh they themselves may be unworthy perâ—…s as those Roman Magistrates many of them â—…re at that time when those things were writâ—… by the Apostle not stirring up disobedience 〈◊〉 rebellion against them but leave them to â—…d in case of oppression and injustice to order them knowing he can alter them either by â—…al wayes of superior or coordinate powers â—…sed up by him to that purpose or by making 〈◊〉 of wicked men to pleasure his Church by inâ—…ding judgement from God upon them according to that saying Wickedness proceedeth â—…m the Wicked but my hand shall not be upon 〈◊〉 1 Sam. 24.14 And if Authorities clash one against another or one part of it with another keep thee to the utmost of thy endeavour to peace and righteousness and look to the hand of God in determining their controversies and be subject to them whom God impowreth looking at that during his impowring it as God Ordinance for the powers that are are of God Rom. 13.1 And so if thou beest a servant obey thy Masters in the flesh 1 Tim. 6.1,2 and bear the yoke patiently and serve them faith fully whether they be good or frowarâ— that God hath set over thee doing what 〈◊〉 good and lawful in the Lord at their commandment and for what is otherwise patiently induring their wrath and punishment 〈◊〉 they will injustly inflict it for so is the wâ—… of God to put to silence the ignorance of thâ— follish 1 Pet. 2.15 walking as Christ hath give example when he was wrongfully judged anâ— punished though he could have raised legions 〈◊〉 Angels for his rescuing If married walking 〈◊〉 that relation with love and chastity accordinâ— to the Apostles Doctrine yea to all men walâ— in all gentleness meekness love forbearancâ— apt to put up injuries So much as in you lieâ— have peace with all men Rom. 12.18 and as aâ— are in need of help counsel succour or supporâ— be ready to help counsel and relieve them to thâ— ability in all these things looking after anâ— walking in holiness without which no man can sâ— or injoy fellowship with God Heb. 12.14 Seek not peace with them then by denying thy God and Saviour thy Faith and the Doctrine of the Gospel or by consenting to them and approving them and much less walking with them in their unjust unmerciful wanton coverous riotous and licentious practises in things indifferent become all things to all to win them but be not so indifferent in thy walking with God as to become sinful also with them and to conform thy self in their vanities excesses delights fashions to them He that sells peace with God to buy peace with men makes an exceeding silly bargain Have no fellowship then with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Ephes 5.11 To sin with men is the way to strengthen them in sin and not to save them Take heed then of those loose principles and practises that some monsters of men under pretence of higher knowledge of God have run into as to deny all difference of good and evil in actions to make a sport of sin and to account it nothing but a vain opinion endeavouring to destroy the habits of Vertue with the contrary vitious habits yea accounting it the top of perfection to be shameless in sinning and to blot out of themselves all sense or conscience of sin tunning headlong into all lasciviousness and filthiness with greediness Ephes 4.19 to whom it is hapned according to the true Proverb The Dog is returned to his vomit again and the Sow that was washed to Wallow in the mire 2 Pet. 2.22 Such persons with their gross and wicked opinions and all tendencies thereto as liberty taking to carding dicing drinking riotousness ranting c. instead of fasting praying confering and reading of the Scriptures avoid and flee from that ye crucifie not the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame making Him and the Worship and Name of God to be despised amongst men for indeed that as was said before is one main end that ye are to aim at in all your walking viz. that ye might glorifie God unto the world and make his name honorable amongst them that they might be convinced of the truth and goodness of your faith professed by you according to that in our Lords Prayer that the World may know that thou hast sent me as that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me Joh. 17.21,23 Therefore also the Word of God is to be held forth to the world together with your just and good conversation that they may see what principles it springs from that ye walk so well and honestly amongst them that so also they may thereby be woon in to the same In both which respects of doctrine professed and conversation becoming it Believers are termed the salt of the earth and the light of the world a light to be set up in a Candlestick that it may not be hid Matth. 5.13,14 Sect. 6. The Doctrine to be held forth to the world and therein of the Trinity by way of Digression BUt now what that Doctrine is that believers are to hold forth to the world would require more words to declare fully then this inrended Treatise will afford room for yet something I shall with Gods assistance hint about it It s in a word the Gospel or word of God in which he hath declared his mind will to men according to that Phil. 2.16 holding forth the word of life and that Mark 16.15 Go Preach the Gospel to every creature Which is such a setting forth of the way of life to men as in which they are called upon to turn from all other things as vain and dumb Idols and to turn to the living and true God by his