before proved The same is likewise confirmed Joh. 14.16 And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the spirit of Truth but lest it should be said as in the Objection this promise was made to that Age of the Apostles only it is added that he may abide with you for ever Obj. But were the Apostles at that time without that spirit altogether Answ It is answered in the 17. verse But ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you the spirit shall be the same but the measures enlarged the same spirit of faith but not the same measure Object What shall the spirit do when it is given in that larger measure Answ It is resolved partly in the 26. verse He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you And partly Joh. 16.13 He will guide you into all truth and he will shew you all things to come Obj. This is that dispensation of the spirit which is mentioned in Joh. 7.38 39. and for which the Apostles were commanded to waite at Jerusalem Luk. 24.49 and which the Apostles did receive Act. 2.4 according to the prophecy Joel 2.28 A. It is not to be denyed as before that one branch of the dispensation of the spirit is to open it self in such discoveries as those but the whole thereof and the all of that dispensation is not limited or confined to the external and outward and miraculous manifestation thereof only as in the Apostles dayes At which time not to every person individually was it so communicated as hath been proved before unto which you are referred and they which did receive the dispensation of the spirit at large both in its inward operation and outward manifestation yet did receive but the first fruits thereof Rom. 8.23 From the whole of what hath been spoken in answer to this main objection this briefly is the summe 1. That notwithstanding the dispensation of the spirit in the times called primitive viz. in the dayes of the Apostles and primitive Christians was with great evidence and outward manifestation accompanied with signs and wonders and mighty deeds yet it was so but in some persons not in all beleevers as by the instances before cited may appear for there were some beleevers that did not know of such a thing as the spirit Act. 19.2 2. That as some Beleevers were ignorant of outward manifestation thereof so there were others who having the outward were destitute of the inward Mat. 7.22 23. 10.4 8. 3. The gift of the spirit is a Covenant gift first promised to Christ and in him to them that are his that is Christs to him and to his seed throughout their generations seeds seed Isa 59.21 4. It was promised by Christ to his Apostles to be in them for ever Joh. 14.16 17. not so to remain in their individual persons for ever but in their successors and not in them only as such that is Apostles but also in all such as should thenceforth beleeve thorough their word Joh. 17.20 5. It was prophesied to be poured upon all flesh Joel 2.28 and applyed to all that were a farre off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Act. 2.39 6. The Apostle declareth of himself and the beleeving Romans who although they had received the Spirit of Adoption whereby they cryed Abba Father and he at least had also received the outward visible manifestation of the Spirit yet saith of himself and them They had received the first fruits of the spirit intimating that there was yet a further manifestation thereof reserved to them which were to come after according to the tenor of that Scripture Heb. 11.40 That they without us might not be made perfect Hence therefore it may be argued that though it hath pleased the Lord for the misuse or abuse of his holy spirit or for other most holy ends known unto himself to withdraw from the children of men for a season the manifestation thereof in that which is outward in gifts of tongues prophecies healings c. Suffering Arts so called by Man to prevail instead thereof till the faith of his people prevail through cryes and tears to bring back the Anointed and with him the Anointing For the prophesy of Joel is as yet but in part fulfilled and the direction of our Lord remains firm to this day Luk. 11. from the 5. verse to the 14. touching the incessant importunate prayer for the holy spirit concluding thus vers 14. If ye then which are evil know how to give good things to your children how much more shall the Heavenly Father give the holy spirit to them which ask him And surely were but the Lords people awakened to consider the necessity of the return of that spirit which hath been for so long a time withdrawn and to be importunate with the Lord and give him no rest but with all humble and holy boldness continue in prayer and not faint according to that in Luk. 18.1 who knowes how soon the most high might turn the Captivity of his people as the Rivers of the South as to this particular and meet his mourning praying Servants where David met the men of Judah who came to conduct him over Jordan even at Gilgal viz. the place of the rowling away of reproach Ioshuah 5.9 and make it a time as that was a place of rowling away of reproach from his people forever Nevertheless though in respect of its visible manifestation there be a great hiding and withdrawing yet according as was promised Joh. 14.18 Our Lord hath not left his children Comfortless nor Orphans But hath left them a Comforter as promised Continuing to them the invisible Operations of his holy spirit enabling them thereby to cry Abba Father who in that respect is called the spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father becoming in them a sanctifying spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 a spirit of sanctification 2 Thes 2.13 1 Pet. 1.2 witnessing to their spirits their estate of Sonship Rom. 8.16 Causing them to Read that new-Name written on the white stone which no Man knows but he which hath it So that all though they cannot assure another by infallible evidence so as to leave them without doubt touching their estate yet to themselves the spirit of God by which they are regenerated doth evidence its own operation according to that testimony 1 Joh. 5.10 He that beleeveth hath the witness in himself and by filling them with fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of God leading them in paths of righteousness keeping their feet that they stumble not upon the dark mountains sanctifying them throughout as well in body as in soul and spirit enabling them to mortify the deeds of the flesh and to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh
though with all possible brevity Reply That the Gospel is the power of God to salvation may not be denyed Rom. 1.16 for it is so to every one that beleeveth and let him be accursed that preacheth any other gospel than that which is so Gal. 1.9 But where the gospel which is the power of God to salvation is preached if it be not mixt with faith in them which hear it it is not the power of God to salvation to such according to the testimony of that Scripture Heb. 4.2 For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard So that the gospel is not the power of God to salvation to any but to such as beleeve it and by faith receive the glad tidings and message thereof and become obedient thereunto Rom. 1.17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The just shal live by faith The gospel which in it self is the power of God to salvation so named already may be prerched not only in word but also in power and in the holy spirit as twice to the Thessalonians 1 Thes 1.5 in demonstration of the spirit and power as to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 2.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it may be powerfully ratified and confirmed by signs and wonders and mighty deeds yet not powerfull to salvation except received by faith in them that hear it Such a gospel was it to the Thessalonians 1 Thes 1.5 It was brought to them in mighty power and received by them in much assurance as the very word of God to which they yeilded the obedience of faith 1 Thes 2.13 14. As the Romans also did Chap. 15.18 19. Wheresoever the Gospel is preached in Evidence and demonstration of the spirit and received by faith in them that hear it it is the arm and power of God to salvation to such and doth powerfully incline them to yeild obedience in word and deed to whatsoever is therein revealed unto them He that receives the light and is obedient to it receivs the gift of God and shall receive the power the light rejected no power received Reply It hath been said before by this friend to whom I now reply That Christ is the light and That Christ is the gift of God To which may be added that which is testified 1 Cor. 1.18 That Christ is the power of God as it is expressed by the Apostle Now let it be considered what is spoken by the friend in this parcel of words above recited and whether it amount not to a repetition and Tautology of words He that receives the light and is obedient to it receives Christ for Christ is the light receives the gift of God that is Christ for Christ is the gift of God and shall receive the power that is Christ for Christ is the power of God and such as receive Christ and obey him reject not the light nor can be without the power forasmuch as he whom they have received and obeyed is both the light and the power and the gift and is no more than if it had been thus express'd He that receives Christ obeys him receives Christ and shall receive Christ Christ rejected no Christ received Your heart shall fail and your eyes wax dim that look for another way or another Gospel than that which redeems out of sin Reply It hath been said before that Christ is the way Let their heart fail and their eyes wax dim that expect salvation by any other way than by him who is the Way the Truth and the Life Forasmuch as there is no other name given under heaven whereby we can be saved and that Gospel which tenders salvation by Christ to sinners without redemption from sin let it indeed be Anathema from the Lord. For it is witnessed of the true and only Lord Jesus that his name should be called Jesus that is Saviour for that he should redeem his people from their sins Mat. 1.21 and save them to the utmost that come unto God by him everliving to make intercession for them Heb. 7.25 even for them who by him do beleeve in God purifying their souls in obeying the truth through the spirit being born again c. 1 Pet. 1.21 22 23. Which testimony is born up in the hearts of the children of the regeneration who are made the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus having received the adoption of sons they cry unto him in spirit incessantly night and day that this redemption from the body of sin and death may be compleated in them saying how long Lord holy and true fighting the good fight of faith keeping up the watch and warre of the Lord as knowing that the God of peace will shortly tread Sathan under their feet I say their feet as really within them as he hath troden him under his own feet for them without them And further knowing that they shall assuredly reap in due time if they faint not this being their victory even their faith by which with patience they possess their soul being confident of this one thing that he is faithful who hath called them who will also do it and having begun a good work in them will also perfect it perform or finish it untill the day of Christ having this hope they purify themselves in the power of him who of God is made to them righteousness and sanctification as well as wisdome and redemption The name of Christ is pleasant in the outward sound in as much as thereby men think to have their sins taken away but the Gospel is the power of God that redeems out of sin Reply Who ever names the name of Christ is to depart from iniquity and he who naming the name of Christ how pleasant soever he count that name yet if such an one depart not from iniquity but rowl his sinne under his tongue as a sweet morsel and bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the Imagination or stubborness of my heart to adde drunkenness to thirst the Lord will not spare him but the anger of the Lord and his jealousie will smoak against that man there 's no such use of the name of Christ as to make it a Cloak for sin for the wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness in men Whatsoever and in whomsoever it be and he that regards iniquity in his heart hath a root of gall and wormwood that will eat out all the pleasantness that may seem to be in the name of Christ in the outward sound Deut. 29.18 19 20. Yet for asmuch as there may be some snare and temptation lie upon some souls touching those words before minded and repeated viz. the Gospel is the power of God that redeems out of sin Whence some persons do conclude that they are redeemed out of sin and that the body of sin is destroyed in
words like it self so saying it can comprehend all mysteries especially now having the addition of Gospel-discovery yet notwithstanding all this may be said of it and possible much more Yet the testimony of God speaks on this wise That touching him there is no searching of his understanding Isa 40.28 That his understanding is infinite Psalm 147. Object Though a man cannot by searching find out God unto perfection yet he may attain to a competent proportion of the knowledge of him especially in Gospel-discoveries Answ 1. Vain or empty man would be wise though man be born a wild asses colt Job 11.7 What is more incongruous and inconsistent than for a natural Organ to comprehend a supernatural Object The spirit of man may know the things of a man but the things of God knows no man but the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.11 The reason is because the things of a man are connatural to the spirit of a man and are objects adequated to his Organ but the things of God are not so Ergo. Object This Scripture speaks only of the deep things of God that the Spirit searcheth them verse 9 10. Such as eye never saw nor ear heard nor ever entred into the heart of man c. Answ Nay for though the Apostle doth cite a passage out of the Prophet Esay where those words are used Esay 64.4 Yet he doth not limit the search of the Spirit unto those things only forasmuch as it is added The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God not only other things but those also that is the deep things of God which may relate to the seventh verse the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdome which God ordained before the world unto our glory which none of the Princes of this world knew c. the hidden mysterie the wisdom of God which none but the Spirit of God could search out according to this Scripture It was beyond the reach of the spirit of man yet this hidden wisdome of God doth the Spirit of God search out Answ 2 The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 Hence its evident that there is an impotency and defect in the reason and understanding of the natural man he cannot receive them because he cannot discern them neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned both his eye and his hand are as it were Planet-struck his understanding and his will are both defective Object This is still spoken of the deep things of God as before which eye hath not seen c. and consequently are not discernable Answ Not so for it is evident they are discernable by others though not by the natural man as appears verse 10 12 15. they are spiritually to be discerned or judged of 2. They are so far discernable by the natural man as that they are rejected by him therefore they are things to be seen yea even by him while he is such only his eye is not adapted to the object he looks upon the things of the Spirit of God without the eye of faith enlightned by the Spirit as its medium by which these things are only dscernable and hence his wrong judgement doth proceed that is he counts them foolishness ver 14. for they are foolishness to him that is to the natural man They are not so secret and unseen but that he can see so much of them as to pass sentence upon them and count them foolishness Object This is true of the natural man that is the carnal or sinful man whose eyes are closed up by infidelity according to that of Mat. 13.15 This Peoples heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed c. But to such as improve the light of their understanding and reason it is not so as Solomon witnesseth Prov. 14.6 A scorner seeketh wisdome and findeth it not but knowledge is ease to him that understandeth Answ It is not to be denyed but that God in justice may and often doth give such up to blindness of mind and hardness of heart who close their own eyes and refuse to entertain the light and make scorn of it Prov. 1.24 33. Yet that this should be the proper signification of that word that is the natural man is not so evident nay the contrary appears Forasmuch if this place viz. 1 Cor. 2.14 be compared with another of the same Apostle viz. 1 Cor. 15.44 45 46. where the same phrase is used it will appear that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the natural man is not to be taken for the carnal or sinful man in the sense intended in the objection but for a man in puris naturalibus meerly natural for of him as such an one doth the Apostle speak in the Scripture last mentioned Where the first man Adam is spoken of as of a natural man yea as being made such and in his Creation he was not made a sinful man though he was then made a natural man Object Nor doth it avail ought to say this place speaks of his Body where it is said It is sown a natural body and there is a natural body c. A. If that which follows be considered v. 45. As it is written the first man Adam was made a living soul the last Adam was made a quickning or live-making spirit Whence it appears evidently that not the natural body taking the Body per se or divisim is there intended but the natural man else how could that be which is there said so it is written the first man Adam c. I say how could this be a pertinent quotation and proof to the former if it were not the same in sense with the former And how could it be of force by way of Antithesis or Opposition to the second Adam If it took not in the whole first man and that as he was at first that is at his being made so that is without sin for so was he made Eccles 7.29 upright without crookedness without inventions they came in afterwards Whence it follows that the Pseuchical man that is the natural man yea in his purest naturals as only such and while he is only so cannot receive nor discern the things of the Spirit of God until he is Pneumatized or made a Pneumatical man that is born of the Spirit or from above according to the tenour of those Scriptures John 1.13 and 3.3 6. and 1 Cor. 2.14 Object But the Apostles James and Jude doe render this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sensual not natural whence it may be concluded that by the natural man is not to be understood man as impotent and under an incapacity or defect and privately so but rather positively making himself so and therefore rendred here earthly sensual and devillish James 3.15 and Jude 19. sensual having not
thou must no more goe forth to seeke a righteousnesse but looke in the kingdome of heaven is within Ans The Christ of whom this discourse hath been treating is no other but the same to which the Scripture beares witnesse as hath been testified by many severall passages before recited not here to be repeated viz The Lord 's Christ The anoynted Saviour or Christ the Lord. And it is a truth not to be disdain'd but considered by the sober-minded and received according to the divine Evidence that appeares in it That the Lord Jesus Christ is held forth in the Scriptures under a two-fold dispensation First Either as hee was God the Word made flesh so becoming the Lord's Christ and Tabernacled among men and as such hee was to be beleeved on though hee under that dispensation were without not only before but after his Resurrection That hee was without while in the dayes of his flesh none will deny whether hee be considered before his suffering or after his resurrection 1 Cor. 15.5 6 7. That hee was to be beleeved on while hee was so is prooved from Joh. 14.1 Yee beleeve in God beleeve also in mee Hee that honoureth not the Sonne honoureth not the Father Joh. 5.23 Thus he spake touching himselfe while yet hee was in the flesh and consequently without during which space of time hee fulfilled all Righteousnesse Math. 3.5 And became the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10.4 His soule being made an offering for sinne according to the Prophesies which went before of him Isa 53.10.12 Hee finished transgression and made an end of sinne Confirmed the Covenant and brought in Everlasting righteousnesse Dan. 9.24 27. By the sacrifice of himselfe which he offered up through the eternall Spirit at once and that once for all Heb. 9.14.26 28. This hee did for his Redeem'd ones without them as is witnessed by many Scriptures Rom. 5.8 While wee were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered For our offences and was raised againe For our Justification 1 Cor. 5.7 Was sacrificed For us Gal. 3.13 Was made a Curse For us Eph. 5.2 Given himselfe for us 1 Thes 5.10 Who dyed For us Titus 2 14. Who gave himselfe For us Heb. 9.12 By his owne Blood hee entered in once into the Holy place having obteined eternall Redemption For us 1 Pet. 2.21 24. Christ also suffered for us who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that wee being dead to sinne should live unto Righteousnesse By whose stripes yee are healed 1 John 3.16 Herein perceive wee the love of God because Hee laid downe his life For us All this hee did for his without them not within them as is plaine by this Cloud of witnesses So that to speake of a Christ without and of what he both did and suffered without not in but for his people Even while they were yet sinners is no despicable thing nay it is such a dispensation of Christ as the Scripture gives testimony of and beares witnesse unto The beleife of which is necessary unto salvation and without which there is no peace according to the divine truth of those Scriptures Esay 57.21 There is no peace saith my God to the wicked And Rom. 4.23 24 25. But for us also to whom it shall be imputed if wee beleeve on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised againe for our Justification Rom. 5.1 2. Therefore being Justified by faith wee have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also wee have accesse into this grace wherein wee stand and rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God and hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5.1 2 8 9 10 11. For when wee were yet without strength in due time Christ dyed for the ungodly Yea while wee were yet sinners Christ dyed for us vers 8. Much more then now being Justified by his blood shall we be saved from wrath through him vers 9. And being reconciled wee shall be saved by his life And hence wee Joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom wee have now received the Attonement And to this purpose is that prayer of the Apostle Rom. 15.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all Joy and peace in beleeving Nor is this consideration of Christ as the object of faith for justification the antitype of the brazen Serpent lift up upon the pole in the Wildernesse to which the then bitten ones under which the sins-smitten soul the self-condemned sinners were figured and to it must these looke and live Numb 21.8 9. Esay 45.22 John 3 14 15. I say this consideration of Christ is not the whole of what the Scripture testifies concerning him nor may any such use be made hereof as if the magnifiing the grace of God were a covering for sin as the objection intimates Nay nay should we continue in sin because grace hath abounded God forbid Rom. 6.1 There is therefore a further dispensation of Christ viz. in Spirit according to the tenour of that testimony of the Apostle touching the mystery of Godlinesse 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifest in flesh Justified in Spirit and this dispensation of Christ in Spirit the Scriptures likewise beare witnesse unto which is Christs application of that which hee did for his beloved ones in the dayes of his flesh applying that to them by his Spirit by which he dwelleth in them which he wrought for them without them Then he prepared the medicine and since applyes it and gives it operation then he wove the Garment and since cloathes his therewith then he was the bruised and broken Corne now the loafe or staffe of Bread his flesh meate indeed and his blood drinke indeed both eaten and drunken by the beleever As there was a necessitie that the Word should be manifested in the flesh to answer the end of that dispensation 1 Tim. 3.16 viz. to become the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth Rom. 10.4 That he might Confirme the Covenant viz. finish transgression and bring in everlasting righteousnesse Dan. 9.24 27. By being made of God to the beleeving Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 So it was necessary that he should be Justified in Spirit in order to the more effectuall application of what he had done to those for whom he did it To whom hee was to be preached and by whom hee was to be beleeved on in the world and received up into Glory According to the testimony of the Holy Spirit by the mouths of men and Angells Luk. 24.51 52. Acts 1.9 10 11. 1 Tim. 3.16 For which purpose hee promised to send the Comforter the Spirit of truth that he might abide with his schollers and followers for ever John 14.16 17 18.26 To teach them all things and to bring all things to their remembrance whatsoever hee had said unto them viz. all
up to God before the publication of the positive law wherein as well Cain as Abel offered sacrifice Gen. 4.4 I therefore call their offerings sacrifice because they are so called Heb. 11.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10.18 Abels sacrifice was mingled with faith offered up upon the true Altar witnessed unto by Gods acceptation and by faith he obtained a good report among the Elders Heb. 11.4 with whom he had received the same spirit of faith But with Cain and his sacrifice it was not so nor accepted as such nevertheless it appears to me from hence that there was the power of a Law of faith as of works upon them both and they equally obliged thereby only the one offered a sacrifice as an obedience of faith the other in form without faith and as it were by the works of the Law Rom. 9.32 Nevertheless in obedience to the same law of faith for as much as he offered sacrifice also though not in faith the one had faith in his heart and Christ in his eye as a redeemer and restorer the other was wanting at least in faith which should have seasoned his sacrifice They both had equal obligation from one and the same law of faith which looked at Christ as its object as the law of sacrifice did imply whether propitiatory Heb. 9.22 or gratulatory Levit. 7.12 15. Psal 107.22 Both yeelded obedience to the law of faith in what was outward in the Act only Abel had an eye open to him that was invisible as the object of his faith carrying him above the Act. So that the law of faith doubtless respected all the race and generation of mankinde by way of obligation from the giving of the promise but the children of the promise are counted for the seed like as it is said All are not Israel who are of Israel Rom. 9.6 though all the family of Abraham were greatly privileged Rom. 3.2 and 9.4 and obliged So likewise all the race of mankinde are greatly privileged by virtue of the promise or promised seed in whom all the nations are blessed yet not all Nations but the children of the promise are counted for the seed according to the tenour of that word 1 Tim. 4.10 Who is Saviour of all men especially of them which beleeve A common Salvation is extended to all Men by Jesus Christ Jude 3. and all men are bound to beleeve and repent that they may be saved Act. 17.30 John 3.16 But the special Salvation is to them only who have obtained like precious faith 2 Pet. 1.1 i.e. the faith of Gods elect Tit. 1.1 the faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 these are they which are reckoned or counted for the seed Gal. 3.7 9 29. these are they to whom the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ is manifested unto all and upon all them that beleeve Rom 3.21 22. As the law in the first consideration i. e. of works was Gods first-born and man was fitted for the work thereof while his bow abode in strength God having made him upright Eccles 7.29 So the Law in the second consideration i. e. of faith whose foundation was laid in that blessed word of promise Gen. 3.15 lay in the same womb and bosome of eternity for they were twins And though that stept out first declaring the Majesty of him whose Image it bore yet this caught its Brother by the heel declaring the infiniteness of the Mercy and compassion of him whose Law it was proclaiming the Lord the Lord gracious long-suffering c. No sooner is the Transgression detected but the Redeemer is promised Oh the heighth and depth of the riches of mercy who kissed Justice and overcame it Psal 85. Mercy and Truth met together Righteousness and Peace kissed each other nor doth this latter destroy the former nay it establisheth it Rom. 3.30 31. Like as when the Law of the first Covenant was engraven on tables of stone it did not at all diminish or lesson the glory of that which was written upon the heart nay it did augment the luster thereof and made it more legible so neither doth the Law of faith destroy the Law of works nor make it void nay it doth establish it for as much as it no way dispenseth with its subjects service nor acquits them of their duty save only of the manner and end of the service As it was performed in the oldness of the letter now it must be performed in the newness of the Spirit Rom. 7.6 but it must be obedience still Loving the Lord our God with all the heart with all the minde with all the soul with all the strength and our neighbour as our selves this is not diminished or made void by the Law of faith it only requires Newness of Spirit in lieu of Oldness of letter These two considerations of the Law went hand in hand together all along thorough the old administration From righteous Abel to the end of the Catalogue of all the cloud of witnesses who were subjected to the first dispensation dying in faith saluting though not possessing the promises they seeing him who was invisible their faith did not at all lesson their obedience nay it winged their obedience It was the salt that salted every sacrifice Mark 9.49 For without faith its impossible to please God Heb. 11.4 6. This Law of faith however it ran along as the bloud in the veins and was that which led to God through every service and in every sacrifice was nevertheless veiled under great obscurity and under much darkness The Spirit thereof did testifie of the suffering of Christ and of the glory which was to be revealed but it testified of them as of things a great way off the promises whereof they saluted but possessed not the way into the most holy not being open or made manifest while the first Tabernacle was yet standing Heb. 9.8 This double kinde of sacrificing ran all along thorough out the whole dispensation in as many as retained the Law of sacrifice and cast not off utterly the Knowledge of God which the most part did as the Apostles argument Rom. 1.21 26 28. makes it evident For as much as all along there was a Remnant having an eye upon the promise obtained a good report and the Savour of them in Divine Testimony remains to this day as a Cloud of witnesses This Law of faith as it sprung not with mankind in Nature but was added by occasion of the Transgression for it succeeded that as a plaster doth the wound it was not written in the heart of the natural man as a thing just and equal For God to remake and to redeem faln man into whose heart it could not rationally have entred that there should ever have been a way found out in justice or equity or with a due saving of the truth of him that made the Covenant that man should be put into a capacity or come under a possibility of being preserved having
manifest But in the fulness of time the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windowes of heaven were open and the treasure of wisdome and Counsel which had comparatively been hidden from ages and generations not positively so for every Age had its proper measure in proportion to the dispensation under which it was yet in comparison of what was further made out by the appearing of the grace of God giving testimony of his great love to the world in sending his own Son Rom. 8.3 To dye for sinners Rom. 5.8 Yea while they were yet sinners and at enmity with him then to reconcile them to God Rom. 5.10 Then I say and at this time for the Word to be made flesh and Tabernacle among the sons of men and cause his glory to be beheld as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth without controversie this was the great Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the flesh c. He had been hid in God long before but now was made manifest bringing immortality and life to light by the Gospel preparing a way into the Holyest of all which way was not yet open but shut up under veiles and shadowy darkness whilst the first Tabernacle was yet standing and this God hath done upon terms not of the first covenant that is to say of works called the old Covenant but upon the terms of the second Covenant or Law of faith bringing in everlasting Righteousness upon the account of that better hope by which we draw nigh to God Heb. 7.19 Thus as that first Covenant or law of works which was witnessed sufficiently in mans heart so far as to justifie God and render man inexcusable for transgressing it yet through the bountiful goodness of God was afterward engraven on Tables of stone and so became a written and legible Law the keeping of the Oracles whereof was committed eminently to Abrahams posterity yet so as that the sound thereof went forth among the Gentiles far and near who also might be admitted upon the terms thereof into the family of the then Israel of God and many taking hold of that Covenant of God were admitted to whom there was but one Law as well to the stranger as to him who was born in the house Exod. 12.48.49 In like manner this new Covenant which God made with miserable fallen affrighted run-away hidden Adam touching the seed of the woman which should break the head of the serpent as in the promise Gen. 3.15 this in process of time comes to be drawn from under the veil and so immortality and life comes to light through the gospel Which notwithstanding it were so sufficiently manifested from the time it was first promised as that the heirs of Salvation did see through these veils and beheld him that was invisible and all others might have seen and many did see that which left them without excuse for with whom was he angry but with those who had not faith Heb. 3.11 18 19. as with those to whom the Gospel was preached but did not profit them not being mixt with faith Heb. 4.2 Yet out of the super-abundant goodness and riches of grace Eph. 2.7 commending his love to poor sinners God makes this new impression thereof in such large and capital letters as that it may be read and seen of all men to whom the tidings thereof comes making publication of this joyful message by the Acclamation of that heavenly Host who praising God said Glory to God in the Highest on earth peace good will toward men Luke 2.13.14 bringing good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people the sum of which was There is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luke 2.10.11 or the Lords Christ v. 26. a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel v. 32. Which voyce of this heavenly Host was not like that on mount Sinai wherein the mount was altogether on a smoke like the smoke of a furnace where the whole Mount quaked greatly and the people which were in the Camp trembled Exo. 19.16 18. but contrarywise it was here Peace on Earth good will towards Men and glad-tidings of great joy to all people These were the blessed openings of the Fathers bosome bringing life unto light Revealing the Counsels of his heart which had been kept secret from the beginning of the world but was now made manifest for the obedience of faith among all nations according to the tennor of that Scripture John 3.16 17. God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Now is the first promise unbowel'd and declaration is now made who is the seed of the woman and what is the Law of faith and also who are the proper subjects thereof Every one to whom the sound thereof comes is under the obligation thereof but they only which do beleeve in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life and these also are reckoned for the seed This then is the tennor and tendency of the Law of faith That whosoever beleeveth on Jesus Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life and this not occultly but openly declared Together with this new Edition of the Law of faith the Subjects thereof are likewise declared to be such as are to be renewed to be new made to be born again and to have a light implanted in them suitable to this Law as they had a light implanted in them suitable to that of works That like as the former light sprang up with them in the natural birth Man had his candle from the beginning of his Creation to see his Creator and a Law sprang up with him to serve his Maker that is to love him with all his heart with all his soul c. So now in this new Creation is he in like manner to be endued with a light suitable to his birth he must be born of the Spirit or from above and therewith to be enlightned to have this Law written in and on his heart this is a branch of the new Covenant I will write my lawes in their hearts c. This is that which was pointed at all along thoroughout the old dispensation in all the types and sacrifices they looked unto Jesus the Mediatour of this new Covenant whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his Righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God That he might be just and the justifier of him that beleeveth in Jesus Rom. 3.25 26. and by this law of faith to exclude boasting The Law of works speaking on this wise do and live or the man that doeth these things shall live in them sets man upon doing for life or that he may live and while man is doing he is apt to be boasting as he Luk. 18.11 I am
beleeved entred into rest It follows then that although God hath made of one blood all Nations to dwell on the face of the Earth c. and bounded their habitations Act. 17.26 Yet he hath distinguished the Race and Generations of mankind into two seeds first expressed in Gen. 3.15 in these words Thy seed and her seed Afterwards more amplified and that distinction evidenced not to be different qualities or qualifications in one and the same person as some understand but in distinct persons differently qualified as appears in the persons of Cain and Abel Ishmael and Isaac Esau and Jacob and so all along Wherein though all mankind are of the Race of Adam yet there are but some which are of Abraham and of those all are not the seed which the Lord hath blessed for though all which proceeded from his loins were his children according to the flesh yet the children of the promise are counted for the seed and these also are so the children of Abraham children of Promise children of Faith children that cannot lie as that they were first the children of Adam as Abraham himselfe also was according to that divine testimony 1 Cor. 15.46 47 48 49. That was not first which is spiritual but that naturall and afterward that spirituall The first man is of the earth earthy the second man is the Lord from heaven As is the earthy such are they that are earthy and as is the heavenly such are they also that are heavenly The former are the children of the first Adam by naturall generation the latter are the children of the second Adam by spirituall regeneration of whom it is thus witnessed Joh. 1.12 13. That to as many as receive him i. e. the Lord Jesus to them he gave the privilege or prerogative to be made the Sons of God even to as many as beleeve in his name who are born not of bloods nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God So that it appears As the first stone of the building viz. that living elect precious corner-stone the Lord Jesus himselfe was not borne of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Luk. 1.34 35. So likewise the living stones of the same spirituall building are borne after the same manner for nature and kind not of the will of man nor of the will of the flesh but from above according to what is testified in John 3.3 by the true and faithfull witnesse himselfe Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be borne again or from above vers 5. or of the spirit vers 6. he cannot see the Kingdome of God Which being regenerate or born from above reverts into the former Joh. 1.12 13 viz. a receiving of and beleeving on Jesus Christ both which put together produce that new birth which is from above viz. when it shall please God the Father by his holy Spirit to make discovery of his love in Christ through or by means of a promise to sinners shall take off the fears and doubts of a Soul causing it to lie down at the foot of that grace thus brooding over it and willingly accepting thereof upon the terms on which it is tendred Surely this amounts unto a begetting again unto a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 is a testimony of the great good will of God by which he begetteth by the word of truth a kinde of first fruits to himself Jam. 1.18 especially when this discovery of Gods love shining into the Soul through the face of Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 shall be mixt with faith in them that hear and receive the glad tidings of it Heb. 4.2 Gal. 3.14 The Spirit of God thus revealing Christ to the heart of a Sinner and Gods great love in him preparing the heart to receive him mingling faith with the promise and giving strength to receive the seed of the Word of promise in fulness of time or according to the time of life spiritually so considered brings forth that birth which is after God according to that which is spoken 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever This new birth presupposeth a new Life which holds similitude and proportion with the first Creation when God first made man he breathed into him the breath of lives and he became a living soul setting up in him a light viz. the spirit of a man viz. the Candle of the Lord suitable and proportionable to his capacity as he then stood directing him in all things necessary to be known or done in respect of God or himself according to the law written in his heart So likewise in this new birth or new creation the person receives a new life Ephes 2.5 Even when we were dead in sinnes he hath quickned us c. Evidencing that as he which hath the Son hath life 1 John 5.12 So this life puts forth it self in such discoveries as wherein the new-born Babe in Christ having received through beleeving a witnesse in himself 1 John 5.10 and hath set to his seal that God is true John 3.33 crying to God Abba Father by the Spirit of Adoption received Rom. 8.15 even the spirit of the Son sent forth into his heart Gal. 4.6 and desiring as new-born Babes the sincere milk of the Word the unmix'd milk of that same Word by the incorruptible seed whereof the new Birth was begotten and born 1 Pet. 1.23 That it may grow up in him in all things and this upon the accompt of having tasted that the Lord is gracious 1 Pet. 2.2 By which spiritual growth it appeareth to others as to himself also that he is alive in Christ as in his head and root by faith And that Christ lives in him also by faith Ephes 3.17 and Gal. 2.20 Not onely as an Object to be beleeved on without him as having done all for him Rom. 4.25 and 8.3 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5.21 but as inhabiting in him according to that Testimony Gal. 1.16 It pleased God to reveal his Son in me which is more amplified and explained Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me This inhabiting or in-dwelling of Christ in the heart is proper only to beleevers to new-born Babes in Christ unto whom he hath become a quickning Spirit Ephes 2.1 5. and 1 Cor. 15.45 in such he dwels as in his Tabernacle while they are Tabernacling in their house of clay And as its proper to them only which beleeve so it is effected and performed in them by the same Instruments by which its life and being was at first conveyed viz. by the Spirit on Christs part John 14.17 Rom. 8.11 and by that fruit of the Spirit viz. faith on mans part Ephes 3.17 That Christ may dwell
in your hearts by faith so may those Scriptures be understood Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of glory and that 2 Cor. 13.5 Know you not that Christ is in you c. He is in the hearts of beleevers by his Spirit and dwells there by faith guiding and leading them directing and assisting them teaching and enabling them to perfect holiness in the fear of God not only becoming a Principle of life or quickning giving existence or being to the new-born but causing them to grow up in him and to perform the actions of spiritual life or of a living new-man Secondly as in the first Man there was not only life but light set up in him so the new-born babe in Christ the new Man is also endowed with light suitable to his life That quickning Spirit which gave him life gave him also light Ephes 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light as is the Man so is his life and his light His birth is from above so is his life his light Eph. 1.17 18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints that he may answer the ends of God in his new Creation As formerly the spirit of a man the Candle of the Lord in man Prov. 20.27 acted its part under the first Covenant so the quickning Spirit of Christ or rather the Lord Jesus Christ that quickning Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 and 2 Cor. 3.17 is the Sun of righteousness arising with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 upon them which sate in darkness Isa 60.1 2. and in the region of the shadow of death Luk. 1.78 79. and Mat. 4.16 notwithstanding all their Torch or Candle-light Christ is their spiritual Light This living light or Light of life is it which beams into the souls of the new-born babes those little ones which beleeve in Christ giving them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 according to that testimony of the holy Spirit Psalm 36.9 With thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light as far surpassing the Candle-light of mans spirit as the administration of the law of faith doth that of works This spiritual light as far excelling the former as the administration of the Covenant to which it relates doth excell that which was in-glorious in comparison thereof 2 Cor. 3.10 As man was not at first made for himself but to serve his Maker and had for that purpose the law of his Creatour written on his heart by which to this day he is accused or excused So neither is the new man or renewed man indued with the principle of life and light according to the image of him that created him for no other purpose but to exist barely and to be no other way serviceable to him that hath quickned and illuminated him But there is a law proper to this state of new life called by the Apostle Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus to which law subjection is to be yeelded by all that are born of the Spirit or from above Which law as the former viz. of works is written in the hearts of these Heb. 8.10 as that former on the hearts of those with this difference viz. that was written on the heart in Creation this in regeneration that in the first birth this in the new birth On which law of the Spirit of life the renewed principle of light which is in the renewed man acts as the candle in the man did or doth in the former capacity reflecting on it and receiving conviction and direction from that and as far as the new Covenant is above the old so far is this law of faith above that law of works Prov. 6.22 23. And this law of faith Rom. 3.27 or law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.2 or this better Covenant Heb. 8.6 doth excel and far surpass the first Covenant as being founded upon better promises than that was which are expressed most fully in Jeremy 31.33 34. and 32.40 Ezek. 36.25 26 27. and applyed Heb. 8.10 11 12. Wherein God undertakes by Covenant and promiseth to pardon iniquity transgression and sins and to remember them no more also to cleanse from all pollution and all filthiness that is to take away both the guilt and filth of sin to take away the old and give a new heart to take away the heart of stone and give an heart of flesh to put his laws in their inward parts and write it in their hearts to put his spirit within them and cause them to walk in his statutes and to keep his judgements and do them God will not turn from them and they shall not depart from him these are better promises than those upon which the first Covenant was established Heb. 8.6 For there was equitie and justice in that Covenant whose tenour was Do and live And cursed be every one which doth not continue in every thing that is written in the Law to do it Who can say God is unrighteous in taking vengeance upon those who abide not in all things fulfilling that Covenant considering the capacity wherein man stood when this Covenant was made with him at first when God made him upright But now a Person being left to wrestle it out and to toil in the remaining strength of his own spirit to fulfill it how impossible is it for him to attain to the fulfilling thereof not so much in respect of the faultiness or weakness of the law or first Covenant though it pleased the Lord to impute a faultiness thereunto Heb. 8.7 And the Apostle saith that it was weak Rom. 8.3 And if there had been a law given which could have given life verily righteousness had been or come by the law Gal. 3.21 Neither doth this lay an imputation upon the law which the same Apostle testifieth is holy just and good Rom. 7.12 For surely if there be any such person which abideth in all things that are written in the law to do them such an one shall finde the Lord just in his Covenant fulfilling to a title what on his part is promised therein The weakness therefore imputed to the law is not so much in respect of the law as in respect of the subjects thereof who through the weakness of the flesh cannot fulfill it according to Rom. 8.3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh c. The law is holy just and good but it can do no more then point out the duty and discover the transgression and pronounce sentence against the transgressor and this it doth not in weakness
in healing miracles and tongues c. and the one might then be where the other was not as hath been proved already In like manner also such is the Dispensation of the holy Spirit at this day as the wind bloweth where it listeth forming the new-birth which is after and according to God by faith in Christ Jesus becoming a Spirit of regeneration and illumination Eph. 1.17 18. Tit. 3.5 opening the blind eyes not only to see Christ as he is held forth in the word but to be beleeved on accepted and received as the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey him Heb. 5.9 but also by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Spirit purging the conscience from dead works Heb. 9.14 giving boldness and access to the throne of grace through the faith of him who is thus become a quickening spirit and principle of life a new and living way to all that receive him and manifest that faith by obedience true and unfained Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. This may be thus evidenced by divine testimony viz. 1. That as the wind bloweth where it listeth so is the birth of the Spirit in those which are regenerate is proved John 3.3 6 8. 2. That they which beleeve in the Lord Jesus are thus dignified and privileged with the estate of sonship as being born of God and from above is witnessed Joh. 1.12 13. Gal. 3.26 3. That this is effected by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Spirit that being justified by his grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life is likewise born witness unto by the Apostle Titus 3.4 5 6 7. 4. That this was not the work of the spirit in any one particular age only viz. in the Apostles dayes or primitive times as they are called and distinguished by some but as it is said of Christ he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13.8 so is it said He is the Author and finisher of faith not only of theirs Heb. 12.2 though the word Ours being inserted in the English reading may seem to carry it that way but he was the Author and finisher of theirs also who are catalogued and Chronicled in the 11. of Heb. who began as low as Abel and so upwards and not of theirs only who thus beleeved receiving the word of promise or rather Christ in the promise from the first giving forth thereof in Gen. 3.15 mixing the Gospel with faith Heb. 4.2 nor of those who in the times of more clear manifestation thereof did know and beleeve Joh. 17.6 7 8. But of their faith also who from thence forth should beleeve on Christ through their word Joh. 17.20 and therefore in the place mentioned Heb. 12.2 Christ is not said to be the Author finisher that is the beginner and ender of our faith nor of your faith nor of their faith but of faith in relation to all times and persons according to the tenour and testimony of that word of truth Act. 13.38 39. By him all that beleeve are justified from all things c. not only the Jew but the Gentile also even all that are a farre off as many as the Lord our God shall call hence the Apostles testify that they had received the same spirit of faith with those who had gone before 2 Cor. 4.13 And as the faith of all true beleevers from Righteous Abel thoroughout the whole cloud of witnesses and thence forward owns it self to Christ as the Author and the Finisher thereof as was said before So likewise it is as necessarily applyed to the spirit whose gift it is and by whom it is wrought 1 Cor. 12.11 among which operations of the spirit Faith is one reckoned among yet diverse from that of miracles And it is called the fruit of the spirit among many other inward qualifications of the renewed and regenerate Man Gal. 5.22 5. To this agree those other testimonies of the holy Scripture wherein the holy spirit is promised not for this or that particular age much less this or that particular person or persons onely but to all the seed not reckoned according to the flesh but according to the faith of beleeving Abraham Rom. 9.8 2.28 29. Gal. 3.7 8 9 14. Gal. 4.27 28. But to speak more particularly The Scriptures bear witness to Christ Jesus that he is the true seed promised in whom all the Nations of the earth should be blessed according to that so often mentioned place Gen. 3.15 as also Gen. 22.28 expounded by the Apostle in Gal. 3.8 of Christ himself as the seed promised a Covenant to the people So is he also the seed to whom the promise is made as appears by the same Testimony Gal. 3.16 Not to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ who was the seed which was to come to whom the promise was made vers 19. thus is Christ originally both Root and Offspring It is with Christ that the Covenant is made originally Isa 53.10 11. and in him with those that are his to whom he is given for a Covenant as appears Esay 42.1 6 7. Behold my servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him and he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and wil hold thy hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant to the peoples for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes c. In this Covenant it is promised that he should have the spirit put upon him Isa 42.1 which also was fulfilled in Luk. 4.18 And as the spirit was by Covenant to be put upon him so was it also to be put upon them which were his as doth appear in the fifty ninth of Esay 21. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith Jehovah my spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith Jehovah from hence forth and for ever Where it is Evident that the gift of the spirit is a Covenant-promise as to Christ in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen so to them which are Christs to him and to his seed and seeds seed according to Joh. 17.20 Not only they which did beleeve but those who through their word should beleeve were the subjects of Christs prayer in the Application and Mediation of the Covenant This is promised also in Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes c. which promise is not limited to Israel or to Abrahams seed according to the letter or Circumcision but to Abrahams seed according to faith If ye be Christs then are you Abrahams seed and heirs according to promise Gal. 3.8 9 29. and as is
the father and to eternall life for it roles him in garments full of blood it tumbles the transgressor into his grave and roles a stone upon him and seales the stone so farre is it from leading up to God from the fall that it drives the soule from God and keepes him in the fall till the Lord who is the quickning or live-making Spirit say to him while he is in his blood live by opening to him a doore of hope in this valley of Achor Besides what is said in this instance of Paul and that it appeares plainly that the light in him did not discover to him his transgression and lead him out of the fall up to God and unto eternall life notwithstanding hee professeth himselfe to have had a zeale toward God in what he did and that he did not sin against his light in what he did but thought he ought to doe as he was doing while he was opposing and kicking against the Lord. So may it be further discovered touching the light in every man that as it leads not out of the fall up to God and unto eternall life those that love it and obey it as in this instance last mentioned So neither doth it lead into all truth such as love it and obey it as may be discovered in severall instances and examples viz. Who can Impeach that man of Aethiopia the Eunuch of not loving or not obeying the light in him in whom neverthelesse it appeares to be insufficient to open to him the meaning of the Scripture of the Prophet wherein he was reading but understood not of whom the Prophet spake for being asked whether he understood what he was reading he doth not say yea But answereth How can I except some man guide me and discovers plainly he did not understand what he read by the question he propounds when he saith Of whom speaketh the Prophet this of himselfe or of some other man Nor is it sufficient to say the light reveales all truth to them that love and obey it though not all at once but by degrees to them which know little and doe love and obey it they shall know more and so it might have been with this Eunuch the light in him was sufficient to have opened to him this Scripture and all others though Philip had never instructed him This were to Impeach the wisdome of the most high and holy God as if hee had needlesly and causelesly appoynted Philip by the Spirit to goe neare and joyne himselfe to the Eunuchs Chariot And it were to impute folly unto Philip who when in obedience to the Command of the Spirit he was come to the Chariot of the Eunuch did not bid him minde the light within him and informe him of the sufficiency thereof to instruct him and teach him and that he had not need of any man to teach him if he would but love and obey the light which was in him that was sufficient to direct him into all truth and particularly into the understanding of that Scripture of the Prophet Esay which he was then reading but understood not Nay had hee not a faire opportunitie of reprooving him and of calling him an Ignorant man for saying How can I except some man guide mee Might he not have had just occasion to have bid him turne his eyes inward and minde the light within his guide and teacher was within hee had Scripture within But there is not a word of all this proceeds from him but contrariwise as hee by the Command of the Spirit was bid to arise and goe toward the South and particularly was directed to the Eunuchs Chariot to which hee accordingly applyed himselfe so being come thither without any reproofe to the Eunuch or acquainting him with the sufficiency of his teacher the light within him Hee opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preacht to him Jesus and accepted from him this Confession I beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God Acts 8.26 to 39. A further example there is in the person and case of Cornelius of whom it cannot be said but that hee was in the meeknesse loving and obeying the light and prosecuting the dictates thereof in all simplicity improoveing his measure and talent even to acceptation with God for that hee was one that feared God and wrought righteousnesse as Peter testifies of him Implicitly Acts 10.34 35. And the Spirit of God beares him witnesse that Hee was a devout man and one that feared God with all his house and gave much almes to the people and prayed to God alway or incessantly Was hee one that walked not up to his light loving and obeying it The Lord by his holy Angel doth acquit him of this Charge testifying unto him in these words Cornelius Thy prayers and thine almes are come up for a memoriall before God Nor doth the Lord by his Angel encourage him to goe on in his way hearkening to the light in him and to abide therein loving and obeying it nor doth he call him into silence and command him to cease prayer and to waite in silence expecting his teaching from within but expressely directs him to send for Simon Peter that he might tell him what he ought to doe who accordingly so doth and Peter being come unto him at the speciall instance and direction of the Lord manifesting his pleasure to him in the vision and having received an account from Cornelius his owne mouth of his being sent for who having called together his kinsmen and neare friends said Wee are all heere present before God to heare all things that are Commanded thee of God Then Peter opened his mouth and preached unto them Jesus of Nazareth whom God anoynted with the holy Spirit and power who went about doing good being hee to whom all the Prophets give witnesse that through his Name whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sinnes And while Peter yet spake or while he was speaking those words the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word and they spake with tongues and magnified God This was not a silent meeting for Peter opened his mouth and spake nor was it a fruitlesse and empty meeting notwithstanding there were words spoken for the Lord bore witnesse thereunto by the gift of the holy Spirit yea though a Christ without them were preached unto them as appeares by Peters Sermon who stileth him Jesus of Nazareth whom God anoynted with the Holy Spirit and power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devill for God was with him even hee whom they slew and hanged on a tree whom God raised up the third day and shewed him openly I say a Christ without them is by the Apostle Peter preached unto them and their faith in him as such is borne witnesse unto by the holy Spirit which is given unto them whence it may without Injury to the truth be offered to the serious and sober minded to Consider
things which hee had heard of his Father John 15.15 Who when hee was come should guide them into all truth Joh. 16.7 13. Nor should this be a priviledge peculiar to the then Disciples only or to the persons of that age or generation as appeares Joh. 17.20 21. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall beleeve on mee through their word That they all may be one c. in us By the Administration of which Spirit of truth Hee i. e. The Lord Jesus Christ makes forth the discovery of himselfe his minde and will touching things to be knowne and done beleeved and practised Joh. 16.13 14. Whatsoever hee shall heare that shall hee speake and hee will shew you things to come Hee shall glorifie mee for hee shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you As the glory of God did shine forth through the appearance of Christ Joh. 17.4 So the glory of Christ doth shine forth through the appearance of the Spirit Joh. 16.14 As Christ did nothing of himselfe during his ministration in the world Joh. 12.49 50. I have not spoken of my selfe but the Father which sent mee gave me Commandement what I should say and what I should speake and as the Father said to me so I speake So the Spirit of truth hee shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoever hee shall heare that shall hee speake Hee shall glorifie mee for hee shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you As God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe 2 Cor. 5.19 So is Christ in Spirit subduing the world to himselfe Joh. 16.7 8. Now the Lord is that Spirit 2 Cor. 3.17 As Christ by being put to death in the flesh hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring them to God 1 Pet. 3.18 So by being justified in spirit or quickned by the spirit or declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness 1 Tim. 3.16 He doth actually effect that thing in all them who by him do beleeve in God that raised him from the dead and gave him glory that their faith and hope might stand in God 1 Pet. 3.18 Rom. 1.4 Who by faith purifies their heart in obyeing the truth through the spirit waiting for the hope of righteousnesse by faith 1 Pet. 1.19 21 22 23. By which spirit he doth negotiate all the affairs of his kingdome on earth and so hath done from the time of his ascending up on high when he led Captivity captive and not only received gifts for men or in the man yea for the rebellious that he might dwell among them Psal 68.18 But also gave gifts to men Eph. 4.8.12 for the gathering into one or perfecting the number of the Saints for the edifying or building up the body of Christ till we all that is all the seed come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ which cannot be so long as one joint one finger or member of the body is uncalled ungathered or unjoynted according to that of Heb. 11.40 For as they without us could not be made perfect so neither they nor we apart nor together can so be without those which are to come after who altogether make up the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ whose body cannot be compleat till every joint be supplyed The Effecting whereof the Lord Jesus Christ performs by his spirit from the very first stone the foundation to the top stone thereof For he having been hammered and broken smitten and bruised crucified through weaknesse when his soul was made an offering for sin yet being raised in power and declard to be the Son of God with power by the spirit of holinesse and liveing by the power of God was made perfect through suffering and became the Author of eternall salvation to them which obey him being laid for a foundation for a Corner stone 1 Cor. 3.11 1 Pet. 2.6 Ephes 2.20 21 22. In whom the building is fitly framed together and built up together for an habitation of God through the spirit by which spirit the work is both begun and carried on by it the stones are hewen and made meet to be made partakers of a place in the building they are fitted and then fitly framed and built up together from first to last The first work which Christ by his spirit would exercise in the world after his departure was to reprove the world of sin viz. of unbeleefe John 16.7 8 9. and not only should they thereby be reproved of sin and of that before named in particular or in speciall that is of unbelief but it should convince them also of righteousnesse and of judgement The law under the former dispensation though it convinced of and reprooved for sin yet it discovered not a perfect righteousness nor brought forth judgement into victory but haveing detected the sinner it left him under the sentence of judgement and condemnation but the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus That quickning spirit proceeds at another rate it not only reproves the Sinner but reveales the Saviour opens a doore of hope to the convicted sinner If so there may be hope and for this reason among others it is called the Comforter giving to the sin-smitten soule the valley of Achor for a doore of hope I will be mercifull to their unrighteousnesse and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more making the discovery of grace a foundation of repentance and returning to a poore convicted and reproved sinner holding proportion with that ancient and first Gospel promise or word of faith the seed of the woman shall breake the head of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 applied by God to the trembling sinner Adam when he was affraid and hid himselfe By the same spirit doth Christ administer as a spirit of wisdome and revelation opening the eyes of the understanding Ephes 1.17 that men may come to the knowledge of him and may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints i. e. in them that trust in Christ or beleeve and are sealed with the holy spirit of promise Vers 12 13. Which operation of the spirit is wrought as himselfe listeth Joh. 3.8 and by what means himselfe pleaseth though ordinarily by the preaching of the word according to divine appointment Rom. 10.17 Ephes 4.11 12. whereby the spirit opens the blind eyes and turns men from darknesse to light and from the power of Sathan to God that they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith which is in Christ Jesus Act. 26.15 16 17 18. Which Faith is the fruit of his spirit in them Gal. 5.22 whereby they are given to beleeve Phil. 1.29 and to receive Christ Jesus Joh. 1.12 and to
submit to him for life and salvation by which they receive the witnesse in themselves that they are adopted Sons 1. Joh. 5.10 the spirit it self bearing them witness that they are born of God Rom. 8.16 and are the seed whom the Lord hath blessed Esay 61.9 So that Christ is not at a distance not a farre off from such as truely beleeve but is nigh them dwelling in their hearts by faith Eph. 3.17 and by his Spirit Rom. 8.11 and is in them the hope of glory Col. 1.27 whereby they being renewed in the spirit of their minde Ephes 4.23 and being married to this their other husband henceforth they bring forth fruit to God not according to oldnesse of letlet but according to newnesse of spirit Rom. 7.4 6. not taking advantage of the grace of God to dispence with themselves in poynt of obedience toward God but reckoning themselves under deeper obligation that as grace hath abounded toward them so might their obedience towards him that hath manifested that grace unto them as hee who sayd What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits I will take the Cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord Psal 116.12 What were those benefits The Lord hath heard the voyce of my supplication thou hast delivered my soule from death my eyes from teares and my feete from falling I will walke before the Lord in the land of the living Psal 116.1 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the Lord as long as I live Psal 116.17 She loved much because much was forgiven her Luk. 7.47 The life of the New Creature of the renewed man or man in Christ in whom Christ lives by his spirit and dwels by faith is no idle unfruitfull life but as a branch in the Vine and as a part of Gods husbandry he is purged and pruned and caused to bring forth fruit filled with fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of God Phil. 1.11 Not living to himelfe It is his meate and drinke to doe the will of his Father He now comes to beare witnesse to the truth of that Scripture which saith In keeping thy Commandements there is great reward Though formerly his soule went forth after the knowledge of Christ sometimes the Excellency of him as he was discovered and revealed in the Scriptures sometimes the necessitie of him as being the way to the Father and the only Name besides which there is no other given among men whereby they can be saved Under which dispensation and in the exercise whereof it was not so much Christ that was the ultimate object of the soules enquiry as it was the Creatures preservation from wrath to come It was not so much for Christ himselfe as for the Creatures owne selfe that the soule was so earnest and ardent in its pursuite after vision and manifestation yet it knew it not nor could it have beleeved that it had been so with it But Judgement breaking forth into victory remooving the Spirit of Feare and giving in stead thereof the Spirit of love and of a sound minde 2 Timothy 1.7 The Grace which was given in Christ Jesus was made manifest and by him brought to light and in his light was the new Creature caused to see light and by it to discerne where it had stucke all this while and how it had mistooke its way and sought its selfe in all its seeking under pretence of following on to know the Lord whom to know is life eternall Then the fire burned and the love was kindled towards him who had shed abroad his love in the heart by the Holy Spirit setting it in an holy flame towards himselfe and his service Henceforth hee became as one made up of strong desires and breakings of heart after doing the will of God Oh that hee were then baptized into the will of him whose he is and whom hee would serve according to the tenour of those Scriptures I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minde that ye may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God Rom. 12.1 2. 2 Cor. 7.1 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16. As being bought with a price would glorifie God in body and Spirit which are Gods Not now as formerly obeying for life or that he might live but from life or because he is made to live or because he doth live by the power of Christ living in him Gal. 2.20 his whole life is a Thank-offering a sacrifice of praise the end henceforth of all he is and all he does is this that he may live to him who dyed for him and rose again to him who hath loved him and washed him from his sins in his blood Rev. 1.5 to him who hath said to him when he was in his bloods live not expecting a covering of sin that he may live in sin nor the righteousness of another that himselfe may live in unrighteousness but that he might live to God and serve him without feare in righteousness and holiness of truth Luk. 1.74 75. But as really as he doth beleeve that Christ is made of God to him righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 so verily expecteth he to be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 that the righteousness of the Law which could not be fulfilled by him through the weaknes of the flesh might be fulfilled in him by the power of the spirit of life Rom. 8.3 2 4. wherein he is made able and wiling to wait for the hope of righteousness by faith Gal. 5 5 18. expecting to be led and made willing to follow the guidance of the spirit even the spirit of truth by which he lives and moves and exists in Christ who is by his spirit in him the hope of glory Col. 1.27 Object Thou hast heaped up together many of the Saints words whose condition thou never learned of God Tell plainly whether the Christ thou tells of be within or without Answ How farre my soule is made one with what I beare witness unto is knowne unto him from whom nothing is hid to whom I apply for a further measure of the spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him whom to know is eternal life remembring what is witnessed Rom. 15.4 being unmooved by the Judgement or censure of mans day and in relation to the objection have spoken in plainness already That the Lord Jesus Christ to whom in this poore stammering way I bear witness is considered both as being without and within the soule Respecting his person or bodily presence his glorious or glorified body so he is considered as being without not within the soule according to the testimony of those Scriptures before-named Joh. 17.24 Father I
will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me 1. Tim. 3.16 Beleeved on in the world received up into glory And he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you whom the heaven must receive untill the times of restitution of all things Acts 3.20 21. For our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body or body of vileness that it may be fashioned like his glorious body Phil. 3.20 21. according as John also testifies 1 Joh. 3.2 3. But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Thus then in relation to his bodily presence he is considered as without us as is testified 1 Pet. 3.22 Heb. 1.3 Col. 3.1 Act. 7.56 But in relation to his spiritual presence so he filleth all things Ephes 4.10 and in respect thereof it may be sayd Whither shall I go from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence Psal 139.7 8 9 10 11 12. and though the influence of his supporting and susteining presence extendeth to all things upholding them by the word of his power Heb. 1.3 though they see it not Col. 1.17 Yet his special Resience and presdence is with such as being joined to the Lord are become one spirit and are his house his Temple where he abides as one at home and that for ever as is testified 1 Cor. 6.17 19 20. He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit What know you not that your body is the temple of the holy spirit in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own for you are bought with a price therfore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are God's Nor is this union of Spirit or spiritual union this residence or Temple presence as the state of a wayfaring man which tarries but for a night for this is the word of promise Joh. 14.16 17. I will pray the Father and he shall or will give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of truth Ye know him he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 The fear of Casting out is removed and gone and the soul put into a capacity of serving the Lord without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of its life Such persons being joyned to the Lord and become one Spirit with him Beholding with open face or with the face unveil'd which veil is done away in Christ the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord and of such persons such Temples such spiritual houses may it be said as anciently it was said of the typical place of Gods residence and abode 2 Chr. 7.16 I have chosen and sanctified this house Mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually Psal 132.14 This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it I will make the Horn of David to bud which was is and shall be accomplish'd in the Lord Jesus whom God hath raised up as an horn of salvation in the house of his servant David Luk. 1.69 By whom he hath begun to repair the breaches and build again the tabernacle of David which was fallen down and will build again the ruines thereof and will set it up that the residue of men may seek after the Lord and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called or as many as the Lord our God shall call Act. 2.39 saith the Lord that doth all these things Act. 15.16 17. Then shall the body be compleated and every joynt supplyed the Saints perfected and gathered into one in the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Who as he is the head of the body Ephes 4.16 5.23 in whom the universal body or Church of the first born become a perfect man being fitly joyned together in due order of membership to the compleating thereof So is he the foundation or chief corner stone of the building in whom every living stone is framed together built together an holy Temple in the Lord an habitation of God through the spirit Thus is the Lord Jesus Christ in Spirit both Author and finisher of faith in every one that beleeves As considered the object of faith so is he held forth in the Word as one who himself in his own body hath done whatsoever was necessary to bring us to God and this he did for us and without us Phil. 2.7 8. 1 Pet. 2.21 24. As considered the Author and Finisher of faith in bringing us to God so he performeth all in us by his Spirit from the very first step of conviction laying himself as a foundation in the judgement and will to the very top stone of the building and that he might be all in all It remains to consider some certain passages expressed in a Letter written by a friend of this conscience and perswasion the particulars whereof follow viz. Dear Friend I Truly own in thee a breathing after the Lord and unsatisfiedness till thou hast found him whom to know is life eternal but the mistake is about the way to attain Now the way for lost man to return to have Communion and fellowship with the pure and holy God is by Christ who saith I am the way But where to find this Christ or way here lyeth not only the difference but also for the want of the knowledge of this and walking in it is the true cause of mans misery and thou thy selfe art not ignorant of the several forms that cry Loe here and loe there yet the way is but one Search the Scriptures and see if Christ be not only the way but also Christ near and while we consider Christ at a distance is it any more than those that are of the world which say Depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes To this will that other Scripture agree When they knew God they glorified him not as God these had such a knowledge of God that they might thereby have glorified him as God which not doing they were given up to vile affections Now to know him that is the gift of God if ever we will we must know him as God holds him forth Christ saith of himself that he is the dore Can any one enter to God otherwayes than by Christ He also saith he is the light Can any one come to God but he must receive the light Also there are measures of this light The first measure or degree of light is that which discovers sin and iniquity and
them they are come unto mount Sion to the Citty of the living God to the heavenly Jerusalem to the spirits of just men made perfect hence proceeds that frame of spirit of judging others with severity austereness who dare not so say of themselves but through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousness contrary to the spirit of meekness and lowliness of mind wherewith each should account and esteem others better than themselves according to the rule of Christ given by the Apostle often repeated Ephes 4.2 Col. 3.12 which requireth a shewing all meekness to all men Tit. 3.2 Jam. 3.13 to the end as our Lord Jesus himself left example who quenched not the smoaking flax Mat. 12.18 19 20. who said Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Mat. 11.29 Others on the other hand judging themselves because they cannot so say of themselves that they are not redeemed out of sin but go mourning and bowed down and are in fear continually because of the fury of the oppressor the evil they would not that they do and the good they would that they do not and are crying out in bitterness as Ruben for Joseph Alas for the Lad is not and I whither shall I go or as she If it be so why am I thus There might be some good use made of a seasonable word to each of these if it might please the Lord to direct therein Are there some redeemed out of sin and come to the spirits of just men made perfect and is it so indeed with them What means then the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen which are heard in such I mean such as say they have attained but in measure I am not free to instance in personal or perticular discoveries But this wotd in measure declares plainly that such are not at home they are not in the City they are at most but travailers towards it they have certain Miles yet to travail before they arrive Who ever saith he knows in part declares plainly he is short of perfection 1 Cor. 13.10 12. and who ever saith he knows perfectly he knows not how imperfect his knowledg is Therefore to the first sort I would say why boastest thou O vain man of that which is not who so boasteth of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain Or if thou dost not pretend to have attained and to be arrived at end of thy journey and to be perfect as the heavenly father is perfect Why dost thou judg thy Brother and why dost thou set at nought thy Brother who is in his way as well as thou we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 who then art thou that judgest another mans servant contradicting that rule of Christ Jam. 4.11 12. Mat. 7. the five first verses Iudge not that ye be not judged c. Take with thee therefore these two Cautions viz. 1. Boast not against thy Brother neither glory in a false gift for thou art not perfect while thou knowest but in part and hast attained but in measure 2. Despise not the day of smal things in another while as yet thou thy self art not perfect but remember that command of Christ Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Mat. 11.29 shewing all meekness to all men Tit. 3.2 break not the bruised reed Remember the parable which our Lord Jesus spake unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others Luk. 18.9 To the Second Sort. To those who are bowed down in their spirit for fear of the fury of the oppressor of whom it 's said in truth and sincerity of heart the evil that I would not do that I do the good I would do I do not whose soul goes forth in them for deliverance from the body of sin death by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel the power thereof to such it may be said notwithstanding they may be judged and despised by the former yet the foundation of God is sealed who will bring forth judgment into victory and perfect the work which himself hath begun in them having laid the foundation will lay the topstone also to the praise of the glory of his grace for faithful is he who hath promised who will also do it according to the tenour of those words Ezek. 17. last And all the Trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the High tree have exalted the Low tree have dryed up the green tree and have made the dry tree to flowrish I the Lord have spoken it and have done it Thou thy self art not ignorant of the many forms which cry Lo here and lo there yet the way is but one Reply I am not unacquainted that there are indeed many forms which do pretend to that one way That only way the Lord Jesus Among which the present form now under debate between us is one touching which I have met with these passages viz. Sinck down into the eternal love and thou wilt see me and the rest that we are in unity of that one spirit Rich. Farn. discovery of faith p. 4. Though ten thousand times ten thousand yet they are but one in the body one faith one seed one baptizing one Supper one Covenant one God and Father all one heart and one soul serving God in one way worshipping him in spirit and with one mouth glorifying his great and glorious name Who are of this seed are of Abraham Rich. Farn. Rant discov pag. 17. The contrary to which the most High and holy Lord hath been pleased to suffer to discover it self most eminently in the Schism which hath been made in the body of this so much adored admired profession which I cannot but take notice of being so opportunely led into it by this Appeal which is made to me touching my not being ignorant of many forms to all which the Lord hath suffered the addition of this one more and that also increased into more than one by dividing the heads thereof which many dear to the Lord in holy fear and trembling say touching this matter What hath God wrought While they consider that the unity so much gloried in being as the band or girdle which bound up the bundle and was made an Eminent Character of the verity of the persons their Doctrine and practice by which it was exalted magnified in opposition to other peoples of whom it was said that they were in division and confusion but themselves were in unity of one heart and of one way as in the passages last recited out of Rich. Farnworth beside many others which might be named For the most high and holy Lord in his great wisdome to permit that this band or girdle should be rent in sunder without hand no man contributing toward the doing thereof but themselves this is not a smal thing in the eyes of the impartial and sober minded
which may be referred to those two lectures which this messenger and blessed Apostle of the Gentiles mannages in behalf of the most High God against the worshippers of Jupiter and Mercury Both priests and preisted people Act. 14. v. 11 to 18. And those lofty Athenians Philosophers Epicurians and Stoicks whom he encounter'd Act. 17. from v. 16 to 31. proving and alleaging their Gods to be no Gods and contrarywise preaching and declaring to them that unknown God to whom their Altar was inscribed calling them to repentance by an Argument drawn from the judgement which the most High God would administer to the world in righteousnesse by Jesus Christ of which he hath given assurance unto all men by raising him from the dead In which he briefly layes down the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God the true and living God of the resurrection from the dead and of eternal judgment But if any shall say What doth this Babler say Are we Lycaonians or Athenians Stoicks or Epicures what doth all this concern us Whereunto tends all this waste Are not we Christians born of Christian Parents Did not our Fathers say for themselves and us I beleeve in God the Father Almighty Did they not promise and vow in my name and made me say Amen to it in my infancy in the way that seem'd good to them to signifie thereby my consent Therefore we are no Heathens but Christians out of doubt and worshippers of the true God To you then O ye men women and children not of Athens but of England to you is this poor plain word directed Are you of the posterity of Adam so am I. Are you Natives of England so am I. Were you made to confesse God in your infancy when you were uncapable of knowing him so was I in such a manner as my zealous parents were instructed and as I in that estate was capable Were you any of you put in mind of the vow and promise which was made in your name and educated accordingly I also had my measure thereof Were you vaine neverthelesse so was I stubborn and rebellious so was I. Were you foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures all this and more than this was I. Had you under all this checks and reproofs of conscience for vanity for lying even in your Childhood so had I. Did you resolve against it so did I. Did you cry to the most high God for strength against it in my degree measure I did so too Were you tender in heart so was I. Were you grieved when God was offended I was the like Saw you the root and spring of all wickednesse and noisome lusts to proceed from the corrupt and impure fountain of the heart I did the like being convinced that till the heart was changed and a new heart given instead thereof it would not be otherwise with me Did you reforme what you were convinced of so did I. Did you put on a form of profession so did I. Did you walke on in that forme for some time I did so too Suffered you any thing from Superiours or equals for walking strictly or differently from them I had my share therein also Were you not even and constant in this course of witnesse and walking no more was I. Were there not breakings out into sins such as from whence you seemed to have been departed that state I witnesse Had you peace then no more had I. Durst you approach God in prayer then no more durst I Did mournings and repentings tears and fastings renew the confidence and create the peace 'T was so with me so long as I was obedient I had peace and when I was in transgression I was afraid I ran away and hid my self Did you ever search your own heart to discern and discover the evil thereof so did I oft From all which I conclude the truth of the foregoing premises That there is a light and law in man c. Did you after many years of profession enquire into the ground of your profession and consider whence as well as what it was I did so too Were you convinced that your worship and service of God was founded upon tradition and education and the custome of the Nation the light that was let in thorough the observation of what they said and did and that whensoever you were checked or reproved for sin or affrighted and discouraged from approaching to God being self-judged and self-convicted that it proceeded from what you had received and learned from reading or hearing and as you did conform or not conform to this so was your peace made up or broken and discontinued without any other or further ground Have you or have you not been acquainted with this enquiry and observed the result thereof I have known the person who upon this enquiry hath been smitten the mouth stopped and the person silenced and the building which for many years hath been erecting blown upon by the breath and spirit of the Lord and laid even with the ground through the power of this discovery that Jesus Christ was not laid as a foundation nor corner stone in this building But all the profession hath amounted to no more but to a creaturely and selfe-righteousnesse made up of reformation and purification founded in the Creatures act and power But the name given of God for salvation besides which there is no other name given among men whereby they can be saved this being not understood received or beleeved on there hath appeared nothing but stones of emptinesse and lines of confusion persons appearing as men which have dream'd that they were eating but when they are awakened by the spirit of the Lord which reproveth and convinceth of sin indeed behold their soul is empty and faint To such then as not only have improved their first radical principles in the exercise of the moral vertues but to those especially who have made progresse in higher profession I demand whether they have considered the force of natural education what an influence it hath upon the offspring you may read of him who said he profited in the Jews Religion above many being exceeding Zealous of the traditions or ordinances of his fathers and the mixt multitude who fell all sting Numb 11.4 went up out of Aegypt Exod. 12.38 and bear a share in the external part of that song Exod. 15.2 My fathers God I will exalt him how apt is it for man to say my fathers God my Countries God my friends God my Companions God yet not know the God of their fathers or not to know that knowledg to be indeed according to God in verity and truth There are empty Vines which bring forth fruit to self Hos 10.1 Trees which flourish and grow and bring forth fruit goodly to the eye and in outward appearance are as that green olive tree fair and of goodly fruit on which nevertheless the most high will kindle a fire and cause
as he hath any stock of his owne so long as he hath one penny to go to the Physicians with he 'l spend it there but to be made a beggar and to be saved of alms to receive salvation of gift he likes not to be accompted so lame and impotent so sick yea dead proud man cannot bear thus nor will not beleeve this Nor is this spoken to discourage any from waiting on the Lord in the use of his appointments in order to their salvation Nay it is required of all that they work out their salvation with fear and trembling Yet withall to remember that it is God that worketh in them both to will and to do of his own good pleasure but it is spoken to mind thee that there is an ambitious mind in me and thee and we would think we are not so poor as we are nor so beggarly as we are nor so unable to help our selves but we can contribute much upon accompt of the stock we have in hand our Candle will serve the turn well enough we do not stand in so much need of the sun we may work by Candle-light sufficient to answer what 's required of us Whereas the scope and tendency of the Gospel is as to leave man without excuse for not improving what is left with him so it is to cut off glorying and boasting from man in the utmost of his improvements that he should reckon himself to have done nothing but to have been an unprofitable servant even then and there where and when he is most conversant in what is required of him and to be so far from bearing himself in hand that any work of righteousness which he can do hath in it a vertue whereby to declare him righteous as before God that the very unrighteousness of his righteous action either as to matter or manner would silence him in that perswasion if his eye were open to see it as it is seen by God If the most high should enter with thee into judgement thou wouldest not be able to answer him one of a thousand of thy miscarriages and transgressions which pass thee untaken notice of in the day of thine own judgement which would not nor could not if thine eye were open there are sins of ignorance as well as of knowledg yea sins cleaving to thy most holy things sufficient to abate thy glorying Those things which are now of price unto thee in which thou confidentest thy self are but creaturely excellencies and may be found in such as whom thou in comparison wouldest not set with the Dogs at thy Table I mean those whom thou in thy own judgement infinitely surpassest in vertue and goodness would blame and shame thee if compared with thee be therefore content to be stript of thy seeming glory which indeed hath a beauty if considered by it self as that of Moses also had in its day of dispensation but considering it as that which was to be done away and so the glory thereof was inglorious it had no glory in comparison of that glory which excelled The face of Moses did shine but it was veiled the schollers then could not behold it with open face But this veil is done away in Christ in whose face the glory of God doth shine with more clearness and with less terror and amazedness so as that the disciples the scholers and followers of the Lord Jesus those who having heard and learn'd of the father come unto him God who commanded light to shine out of darkness shines in their hearts to give them the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ which they beholding not as under a veil but as in a glasse with open face are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. To the Regenerate man upon the accompt of his first manifestation And is it so indeed that notwithstanding all thy hitherto zealous strict and religious appearance putting it self forth in reformations humiliations resolutions austere and strict obligations for piety for purity for bringing under the body of sin by vows covenants holy purposes performances in religious duties and services neglecting of the body through watchings fastings abstinence from necessary supplyes and all this in order to the attainment of the true peace which is after God the peace which passeth mans understanding which thine awakened and wounded Spirit thirsted after the attainment of and could not be satisfied till it was enjoyed and in these supposed to have found it but it was but at times however it was liable to breaches yet those breaches were healed and made up with some one or more of these and this was the case of thy soul for many days perhaps for many years sometimes 't was day with thee otherwhile 't was night sometime thou sawest nor Sun nor Moon nor stars for many daies sometimes thou wert confident thy estate was good and safe thy heart melted into tears of compassion for others which were not so as thou wert and saw not that which thou sawest and in this thy confidence thou becamest a guid to the blind a light to them which were in darkness an instructer of the foolish a teacher of babes Thou prayedst with and for them thou weptst and madest supplication over them this or something like this thou bearest testimony unto as having been the frame of thy spirit neverthelesse in this thy bow abode not in strength 't was not alwayes bent sometime when thou wert reproving others thou thy self wert secretly reproved in thy self either for the same or some other evil when thou wert comforting others thine own heart was in doubt whether thou wert truly comforted of God while thou wert helping others with strengthning arguments against distrust despair couldst thou thy self believe that thou wert indeed translated from death to life when others thought highly of thee and their souls blessed thee and God for thee did not thine own heart at times tremble within thee lest thou after thou hadst comforted others shouldest thy self become a cast-away whence might this proceed these ups and downs these yeas and nays why did the mountains skip why was Jordan the river of judgment driven back why did the earth tremble the state which seemed to be founded upon a rock to move and step backward was it not because it did but seem to be so founded It was but earth and therefore trembled the bow was not the bow of Joseph therefore it abode not in strength the bogh was not Josephs bogh therfore not increasing it was not rooted in him who was the excellency of Jacob not strengthned by the arm of the mighty God of Jacob and therefore no marvail it admitted of such variety mutability notwithstanding its seeming excellency and stability Thy garments were but prison garments and thou in thy prison house though thou knewest it not the iron was entred into thy soul and thou couldest not
shake it out thy soul was afflicted distressed in its season the iron pierced and grieved thee sore the wounds which the archers had given thee were not throughly healed notwithstanding all thy medicines plaisters and thus thou remainedst till the time the word of Jehovah came the word of the Lord tryed thee as the Goldsmith tries metal in the fire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conflavit purgavit Esay 1.25 Was not thy soul then put upon it to make diligent search to see upon what foundation thou hadst been building all this while Did not this word or some such like as an arrow from the Almighty enter into thy soul other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ or this neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved or the like wast thou not as one in the fire under examination and tryall Did not thine heart throb within thee and was not the voyce of the Spirit in this word applying it with power to thy soule evidencing and demonstrating to thee that thou wert as yet unacquainted with the Lord Jesus as being the foundation of thy rest and peace that name that only name besides which there is none other given among men for salvation this name thou wert a stranger unto and never hadst any knowledg of this begot strange work in thy soul great were thy strivings and struglings to maintaine thy former building But this error in the foundation put thee to a great stand thou consultd'st thy friends with whom thou hadest mourned and fasted and prayed thou calledst up thy former experiences thy tendernesse of conscience which rendred thee exemplary to thine observers thy reformations vowes covenants resolutions strict performances both publique and private and concludest these could not grow in natures garden therefore sure it was some great temptation which had seized upon thee to make thee to question thy former evidence and to empaire thy former goodly structure and to rase the foundation thereof thus thou wouldest have healed the breach which the Spirit of God had begun to make in thee by the reasoning of thine own spirit drawne from thien own former experiences and the suffrage of thy friends and companions But this work of conviction being from the Lord and put into the hand of his owne spirit to effect he mightily and irresistibly convinced thee of unbeliefe and as the words of the men of Judah were said in another case to be fiercer then the words of the men of Israel so was the voice of the Spirit of God more powerfull in convincing reproving and silencing all the arguments of thine owne Spirit testifiing plainly that whatsoever thou had'st done hitherto not being founded upon Christ Jesus nor done as an obedience of faith thou wert but laying another foundation besides Christ which no man can or ought to lay that thou wert not building upon Christ the Foundation Gold Silver precious stones c. But thou wert laying these or something like these for a Foundation instead of Christ mean while he that the Father hath anointed to be the Corner stone elect and precious his name thou knewest not nor wert acquainted with either the necessity or the excellency of him whom to know is eternall life But thou contrarywise wert building a Towre to reach up to heaven to mount up by a Ladder of thine owne makeing the one end whereof though it were upon the earth and had it's footing in natures excellencies improved by education and other qualifications yet it would and should reach to the highest attainment and besides it there needed no other to give thee full fruition of thy soules desires Thy both foundation was laid in selfe that was the rise thereof and the top stone was selfe that was the end thereof selfe was at ends of the worke and this was discovered to thee by this convinceing spirit who caused thee to see where thou wert and the evill of what thou wert doing That thy very righteousnesse which to thee appeared so and which was commended of others for such was not the righteousnesse of faith but at the best a righteousnesse of works upon the beauty whereof the Spirit of the Lord did blow and the flower thereof past away faded and whithered as the grasse or flower of the feild fadeth and falleth off The glory of the Lord revealing it selfe in power through that word I will make waste Mountaines and hills and dry up all their hearbs and I will make the Rivers Islands and I will dry up the pooles and I will bring the blinde by a way that they knew not I will leade them in paths that they have not known I will make darknesse light before them and crooked things streight these things will I doe unto them and not forsake them Heare ye deafe and looke ye blinde that ye may see Thus wast thou convinced of thine error thine ignorance blindnesse and unbeliefe thy mountaines were laid waste and thy pooles dryed up and thou received'st the sentence of one deafe and blinde notwithstanding all thy former excellency which as a flower was now blown upon by the breath of the Lord and thy building discovered to have been begun in sand and not on the rocke the Lord Jesus of whose name and nature thou wert yet ignorant Neverthelesse the Lord who leaveth not himselfe without witnesse in the soules of his not only began his good worke in mercy truth and faithfulnesse convinceing thee of sin even in thy holy things viz. of unbeliefe which wrought no small stir in thee to see thy building which had been the fruit of many years wherein thou had'st with no small cost and travaile been exercised to see it all tumbled down in a moment and laid levell with the ground and not a stone left upon a stone but a new foundation discovered by thee not hitherto known nor understood where nor what it was And not only so but putting under his left hand he susteyned thee and kept thee from sinking under this conviction by opening a crevis of light discovering the righteousnesse of God in opposition to thine owne unrighteousnesse and to thy former seeming righteousnesse wherein thou seemest to have made such progresse nor was this a bare discovery that such a thing there was but what it was and how attainable viz. by faith in Jesus Christ who is made of God to the beleever wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption thus he convinced thee not only of sin but also of righteousnesse discovering and revealing the fountaine thereof Nor was this all but the same spirit led thee on to further measures of knowledge in order to the attainment thereof not suffering thee to be satisfied with the knowledge thereof at a distance but raised up in the strong desires and earnest longings to be possest thereof and to be made one therewith partly to quench the fiery sting and
of thy visitation forasmuch as in all thy out-goings thou still kept'st on the form of Godliness though all thy former zeale and quicknesse life and power in thy profession were reduced to a bare empty forme at most especially thy secret and personall comunion how ever with others thou assembled'st wept'st and covered'st the Altar with teares yet when thou wert alone thou either durst not make bold with God as formerly or cared'st not for so doing thy promotions and preferments thy Silver and thy Gold thine honours and possessions some one or more if these make such a ratling noise in thy soul that thou can'st not listen nor lend an eare to these silent gailes and heavenly whispers of the divine breathings of the Spirit of truth which thou once pretended'st to be instructed guided and led by Oh consider this you that forget God least he teare you in peices and there be none to deliver To the awakened and sensible back-slider I have this word Why cryest thou for thine affliction thy wound is incureable for the multitude of thine iniquity thy sins were increased and now the most high hath visited them upon thee Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God fainteth not neither is weary and that because he changeth not therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed nor that the foundation of God standeth sure haveing this seale the Lord knowes who are his I know these words of truth are with thee but what influence have they upon thee thou art sensible of thy backslidings and thou art cut to the very heart and pained beyond expression and that which wounds thee is thy unkindnesse to thy Lord and husband to whom thou art betrothed and espoused yet canst not behold him who to reprove and correct thy backesliding hath withdrawne his presence from thee which once was deare to thee and however thou hast been in a deep sleep in a farre Country among the hoggs and swine of the earth feeding with them and wallowing in the mire with them during which time thou wast unsensible of thy losse yet being alarm'd from on high with that voice What meanest thou O sleeper arise now thy heart is troubled and the thoughts of thy fathers house comes to thy remembrance and now thou would'st faine return to thy first husband But Oh the many feares and doubts which are created in thy troubled spirit thy sorrowes are multiplyed because thy transgression is aggravated Now thou findest what that word means It had been better never to have known the way of righteousnesse then after the knowledge thereof to turn from the holy Commandement like a dog to his vomit or a washed sow to her wallowing in the mire thou canst now say what hath pride profited me mine honours my promotions my preferments my Silver and my Gold my musicks and dancings what can these availe me in this houre of my sorrow the God of this world hath by these bewitched and poison'd mee under the specious pretence of liberty and freedome and glorying God in and by these till a dart is struck through my liver and now woe unto me woe unto me I will take up a lamentation and say look away from me I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me for it is a day of trouble and of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord God of Hosts In this state of perplexity and hour of visitation thou findest an emptinesse in all those imaginary delights wherewith thou hast contented thy selfe these cannot satisfie nor quiet thy restlesse minde Nay they are so far from doing it that they are as so many pricks in thine eyes and thorns in thy sides thou art wearied in the beholding them and that word is come upon thee in part and in measure already that thou art ready to cast thy Gods of Silver and Gold to the moles and to the batts wishing a thousand times in secret that thy heart had never been let loose to goe out after these and if parting from them would give thee peace and recover thy communion with God thou would'st let all goe but thou knowest if thou shouldest give all thy goods to the poore and thy body to be burned this would be too short and too narrow to procure communion with God therefore by prayer and Supplication thou applyest unto God as at other times but thou perceivest him not to answer neither by dream nor by vision but is as one who hath hid himselfe from thee in displeasure Hath hedged thee about and made thy chain heavy when thou cryest and shoutest he shuts out thy prayer he hath covered himselfe with a cloud that thy prayer should not passe through and hath caused the Arrow of his quiver to enter into thy reines filled thee with bitternesse and made thee drunk with wormwood testifiing against thee that all this is come upon thee because thou hast been unsteadfast with him in Covenant forsaken thy first love and embraced other lovers other contents and delights thy heart hath been divided between God and some creaturely excellency with which thou hast been enamoured and by which thou hast been beguiled and deluded And now thine eyes begin a little to be opened and thou beginnest to say where am I what have I done But like a silly bird thou art snared and taken thy Dalilahs in whose lap thou hast been sleeping have cut of thy locks and betrayed thee into the hands of him that hunts for the precious life Neverthelesse though thou art ashamed as a Theife when he is found yet thou art not left to say there 's no hope no or the case is desperate nor I have loved strangers and after them will I goe But thou findest a secret power bearing up thy Spirit and causeing thee to looke towards the Lord and to seeke his face thou canst not give it over but must come unto him though the iniquity of thy heeles doe compasse thee about and thou art full of secret feares least thy locks should never grow againe nor thy former strength return to thee againe When thou remembredst God thou art troubled yet that which most troubles thee is thy own unkindnesse and ungratefulnesse toward him whose love and goodnesse hath been so wonderfull toward thee thou remembred'st what he hath been to thee and done for thee in the times of thy greatest sorrowes streights tryalls and temptations which thou wert under and from which none but the eternall arm could rescue or deliver thee and now thou callest to minde what vowes what promises what resolutions thou then madest to live to him who had given life to thee but compareing things together thou art confounded and ashamed in thy selfe and yet art strangely and secretly born up thou knowest not how still to looke toward God against whom thou hast sinned notwithstanding thy sensiblenesse of thy departings from him The foundation of God standing sure and being sealed the Lord having once known thee and owned thee for his Oh how it
him but a common thing could this be possible if he had been the alone object of thy soules desire and delight is it not apparent that it was not He but His not his person but his revenue his Salvation his peace his deliverance which when thou hadst attained it was enough had he all thy heart all thy might all thy strength all thy soule was he indeed thy all Nay thou knowest he was not was not selfe the wheele which turned every motion was it not the center where they all fixt No mervaile then that all this is come upon thee which hath befallen thee that the most high hath suffered thee to make thine abode with the Beasts of the field and forrest to shew thee thereby what was in thine heart which thou before didst not know nor could'st beleeve but now canst set thy seale to it as true in thine own sad experience Thou doest now understand what an influence that grand Idoll Selfe had upon every motion and how it was first and last in every action which thou wert conversant in this discovery is now made forth unto thee with fulnesse of evidence which thou couldest never have beleeved touching thy selfe before Therefore now thou abhorrest Selfe in dust and ashes and cryest unto the Lord night and day that thou maist be delivered from this secret soul-deceiver that henceforth it may no more be as formerly that not Thy selfe but Himselfe may be the object of thy soules seeking nor not so much His as He may be thy soules solace joy and delight that he would glorify himselfe in thee and by thee makeing manifest his strength in thy weaknesse his power in thy nothingnesse that thou maist now know him in power and not in word or in forme only that he would be indeed thy life to act thee and lead thee to guide thee and preserve thee that he would perfect the work which himselfe hath begun in thee that thou mayst in all persons and things thou hast to doe with converse with him and behold him treating thee and administring unto thee whether it be in plenty or scarcity in abundance or in want in crosse or in more fair appearances if Shimei curse let him alone for God hath bidden him if Jonathan shew kindnesse he hath his Commission from him who is thy God thy Rock if when thou callest he answers thee not it is that thou mightest owne his Soveraingty over thee as knowing best what and when and how to doe thee good according to what he knowes to be best for thee if waiting for thy mercy be best thou shalt be made to waite and susteyned in waiting wherein faith shall be exercised and patience be perfecting being raised up into an expectation of the promised good for which thou art waiting for as much as it is healing and restoring that thou wantst and prayest for and God hath promised to thee and given thee to beleeve that he will heale thy backsliding and restore comforts unto thee thou art in good measure quieted in him resting upon his goodnesse by which he made this promise and upon his faithfulnesse by which thou beleevest he will make good this promise in expectation whereof through patience thou possessest thy soule Hearkning what God the Lord will further speak unto thee who will speake peace unto his people and to his Saints and they shall not turne againe to folly For he will be as the dew unto them they shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth roots as Lebanon they shall revive as the Corne and grow as the Vine and be beautifull as the Olive tree and all this not in themselves but in him in whom their fruite is found even in him who is the Roote and off-spring of David who loves them freely and therefore will heale them perfectly Psal 107.43 Who so is wise and he shall understand these things prudent and he shall know them for the wayes of the Lord are right and the Just shall walke in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Hosea 14 9th FINIS These faults being omitted at the Presse the Reader is desired to mend as followeth 1 PArt P. 2. l. 1. r. 2 Cor p. 10. l. 30. r. of things p. 11. l. 14. r. Mat. 26. p. 12. l. 3. r. was p. 13. l. 27. r. of faiâ—h p. 14. l. 25. r not p. 16. l. 14. 32. r. lessen p. 34. l. 32 r. newcreaâ—e p 39. l. 26. r. Ps 44.11 l 38. â—â—r 31. r. 24 25. p. 41. l. 4. r. unison p. 44. l. 12. r. 13. 2. p. 45. l. 19 dele all 2 Part. p. 1. l. 18. r. society l 26. r every p. 4. l. 10. p. 47. l. 16 p. 49. l 23. r. the word p 9. l. 32. dele mentioned before l. 37. r. as l. 40. r. God manifested p 16. l. 4. dele viz. Fox way to the kingdome p. 17. l. 18. dele to p. 18. l. 3. r. a more l. 22. r. as l. 36. r. 1 Joh. 1.1 p. 19. l. 12. r. 1 Pet. 1. p 32. l 28. for eyes r. ages p. 27. l. 33. r. 1 Joh. p. 32. l. 1. 1. Ezek. l. 3. r. privatively l. 6. r. not l. 38. r. decision p. 33. l. 34. r. Farneworth p. 36. l. 2 5. add admâ—… p. 37. l. 23. r. reviewing p. 46. l. 36. r. there p 50. l. 36. r. neither did Part 3. p. 25. l. 16. r. 1 Chr p. 32. l. 33. for spirit r. first p 41. l. 35. dele both l. 37. add both p. 45. l. 32. r. vie iâ— p. 43. l. 7. r. reclaimed p. 49. l. 15. r. glorifying p. 52. l. 19. r. aside p. 54. l. 20. r. vile