cause of any thing in God but God out of his love gives forth his Son to effect that work As if a man indebted for more than he is ever able to pay the Creditor having vowed satisfaction the debter is cast down and troubled exceedingly the creditor to satisfie both his own word and the mind of the debter sends forth his Sonne and fully inables him to pay the debt he brings along the debter with him payes the debt cancells the bands and sets him free and thus it was with the Father man had sinned God had said in the day thou sinnest thou shalt dye this debt of death must be discharged the Father that he might be just and yet a justifier and that the conscience of falne man whom he loved might be satisfied he gives or sends forth his Sonne he payes the debt and so satisfies the word of the Father and the conscience of the sinner and so indeed is not essentially the procuring cause of love but rather an effect of love to satisfie both the word of the Father and the conscience of the sinner and this was Gods way from eternity through which he intended to manifest himselfe to his people SECTION 5. How persons come to have benefit by this meanes that God hath appointed as the way of life SInners come to have benefit by Jesus Christ by believing Iohn 3.16.36 he that believeth on the Son hath life and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth in him Faith as an instrument is the meanes appointed of God by which sinners receive and owne Jesus Christ and life by him For clearing this truth three things will be necessary to be considered First what faith is Secondly how it comes Thirdly the properties and effects of it 1. What it is faith is the apprehending and applying Christ and so the father and his everlasting grace in him 1. It is the apprehending of Christ that is the observing and beholding of him as he is in himself the seeing of him in his beauty and excellency Esa 33.17 thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty it is to see all that worth to be in him that the soule needs and then 2. to apply him according to the soules present occasion a dying Christ to a dead soule and this Christ commends unto us to be the faith by which soules come to enjoy salvation Iohn 6.40 this is the will of him that sent me that he that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life note he that seeth the Son that is apprehends that worâ—h and excellency that ability the Father hath put in him to save sinners able to save all those to the utmost that come unto God by him and believeth on him that is applyeth him receiveth him as its alone Saviour and justifier to them he gives power to become the Sons of God â—ohn 1.12 even to as many as believe on his name 2. this faith doth not onely apply Christ as given forth of the Father singly and a part from the Father but it applyes that is ownes the Father in the Son and that everlasting love of the Father to the Soule brought downe through the Son for the Son is but the Fathers way down to sinners John 24.6 Iohn 12.44 He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me that is be loveth not alone in Christ but believes injoyes â—hat everlasting good will and love of the Father to the Soule and so seeth the Father in Christ commending love and so giveing forth himselfe to the Soule and so is able to see and say tha it is indeed God that justifies and that God was in Christ as the way reconciling sinnâ—rs to himselfe not imputing their sins and now the sinner sees that Christ never acted any thing or brings down any thing to the Soule buâ— what was and is the good will and pleasure of the Father and so faith ownes not onely Christ but the Father giving forth the Sonne as the price of their redemption Ephes 1.7 Gal. 3.13 and way of their adoption Gal. 4 5. 2. How is this faith obtained Answ It is the free guift of God as Christ who is its objects and all other good things or every good and perfect guift comes down from the Father God in Christ is the Prince and Author of our faith Heb. 12.2 Looking to Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Eph. 2.8 ye are faved freely by grace through faith that not of our selves it is the gift of God faith is the proper and peculiar guift of God no man cometh unto me except the Father which hath sent me â—raw him it is the Father that workes all the Father first loves and then gives his Son and then drawes Soules up unto himselfe in the Soâ— â—lse they never come No man comes tâ—â—ne unlesse the Father draw him Iohn 6. hence it is that the experienced soule desires to be drawn Câ—nâ— 1.2 Phil. 1.29 for unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not onely to believe but to suffer that is you who have received this guift of faith must expect to suffer likewise Obj. But is not faith held forth in the Gospel as the coâ—diâ—ion of the Covenant of grace he that believeth shall be saved A. 1. Although it seems in the letter of the Gospel to be held forth as a condiâ—ion of the Covenant he tha believeth shall be saved yet it is in the spirit or mystery of the Gospel of conditioâ— on Gods part it is true none can be said say truly himself that he is in the Câ—venant of grace before faith yet this faith is the guift of God as you have heard and if any condition it is on Gods part in the mystery and it is his promise Heb. 8.10 this is the Covenant I will make with them I will write my Lawes in their hearts saith the Lord that is I will take them off themse ves and make them partakers of my spirit which shall cause them to own love in God and o live out of themselves in God and shall cause them to act spiritually even as Jesus Christ himselfe acted and so faith may be said indeed to be rather a bâ—anch or part of the Covenant of gracâ— than the condition for God in the Covenant promiseth to write his Law and to give faith and all good unto the soule he gives Christ a Covenant and with him he gives all having given us his Sonne how shall he not with him give us all things 2. Faith is indeed an evidence to the Soule that it is in the Covenant of grace and made one with God hence it is called Heb. 11.1 The evidence of things not seene that is not seene with a carnall eye the spirit evidenceth it and faith receiveth that evidence to the soule is satisfied through faiths believing of the word and spirit of God Obj.
What is the meanes by which God worketh faith Answ The meanes by which God workes faith is his word and spirit by the preaching of the Gospel as the instrumentall meanes of his spirit working as the principall meanes Rom. 10.14 Iohn 6.63 now it is true God is not limited in his way of working that is he hath not confined himselfe to a verball preaching although it is true likewise that he ordinarily and usually worketh faith by by such meanes but a Gospel preaching as of necessity in the working of faith that is a spirituall Gospel desiring of the love of God in Christ and such a preaching may be by the spirit of Christ in reading some word or any other way he pleaseth to worke and it may truly be called a Gospel-preaching any spirituall Gospel discoverie to a soule through which it is brought up into Gospel-injoyments may truly be called a spirituall unfolding or preaching of the Gospel Hence it is that the preaching of the letter or a verball preaching is no where called a powerfull and prevailing preaching unls the spirit preach it is the spirit that must convince the world of sin Iohn 16. and our Gospel came not onely in word but in power and in the holy spirit 1 Thes 1.5 It is true God usually worketh by means but it is as true that he can as well worke spiritually without meanes if he please and this he hath done much of late I do not question but many who are spiritually inlightned and live in the spirituall injoyments of God have had experience of it Qu. 3. What are the properties and effects of faith Answ The properties and effects of Faith are many It justifies the soule from sin Act. 13.39 by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Qu. How may faith be said to justifie Answ 1. Not as the efficient cause of our Justification that is God onely in Christ it is God that justifies who shall condemn But 2. Faith justifies as it receives Christ and applyes him as its justification so that it is said to justifie because it satisfies and quiets the soule in Christ who is its justification Rom. 4.5 he that worketh not but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Note two words 1. He that beleeveth on him that justifieth that is Christ all that beleeve are justified by him Acts 13.39 So it is Christ that justifieth faith onely ownes that justification held forth in Christ 2. word His faith is counted for righteousnesse that is either first God never declares a man righteous and just untill he give him faith to enjoy his righteousnesse in Christ or else secondly his faith is counted or called his righteousnesse because he never till then enjoyed his righteousnesse And so that when I say or the Scripture saith that Faith justifieth that is faith receives and ownes the justification of God in Christ declared and so the soule by it lives in the enjoyment of justification and freedome from sin The 2d property or effect of faith is union peace with God Rom. 51. Being justified by faith we have peace with God chap. 15.13 Now the God of hope fill you with joy and peace through beleeving This is one glorious effect that those who once were a-farre off should now bee made nigh by the blood of Christ and be brought into the enjoyment of it by beleeving The third effect is it puts the soul into the possession of the love of God 1 John 4.16 We have known beleeved the love that God hath to us and God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him It acts the soule above it selfe and causeth it to dwell in God and so to dwell in his love and this is an exceeding glorious effect and that which in the fourth place fills the soule with joy 1 Pet. 1.8 Joy unspeakable and full of glory What can a soule desire more than to dwell continually in the love of God When the soule is satisfied from its union with God and its dwelling in God that all the administrations and makings forth of God is love unto it And thus it dwels in love and from hence is filled with joy it causeth the soule alwayes to dwell at the right hand of God where is joy and pleasure for evermore Fifthly in a word to conclude the effect of faith is such as that God by it workes up the soule to an internall and externall conformity to Christ in some measure with a spirituall and eternall conformity in perfection in another world 1 John 3. 1 2.3 Phil. 3.19 where faith shall cease and love and unity be made perfect 1 Cor. 13.13 SECT VI. Wherein is the condition of persons restored by Christ and their union with God discovered THe Restauration of persons by Christ may be considered 1. either externall and generall or else 2. more speciall and spirituall First externally and generally and that hath a relation to aâ—l it is as ye have heard formerly 1. A condition of being in the world 2. A condition of possibility of a spirituall and eternall well-being in God if God in his Sâ—nne draw up the soule to himselfe John 6.44 But secondly and that I principally intend is the more speciall and spiritual condition of soules thus drawn up to God in Christ it is not onely a restauration to the condition of the first Adam with relation to a freedome from sin This every beleever enjoyes by Christ a freedome a justification from sin But secondly every soule drawn up out of it selfe to God is brought into the condition of the second Adam which is a condition as far above the first as the heaven is above the earth For the first man is of the earth earthy the second Man is the Lord from Heaven And as all men have born the Image of the earthy so those who beleeve beare the Image of the heavenly as is the heavenly such are all they that are heavenly 1 Cor. 15.47 48 49. And wherein Christ exceedes the first Adam therein beleevers exceed for they are as he is even in this world 1 Iohn 4.17 Now the condition of Christ and so the Saints exceeds the condition of the first Adam not onely in their being upheld by God but principallâ— in these foure particulars 1. In their spirituall relations unto God Christ and so all beleevers are related to the Father as Sons and that not onely by creation as the first Adam or naturall generation but first Christ a Son by a spirituall proceeding and comming forth from the Father who was eternally one in the Father and so in him all beleevers are made by the same Spirit the adopted Sons of God being made partakers of the same divine Nature Adams Sonship was in the flesh by creation or in the Spirit by regeneration and the Spirit of adoption which is indeed
all his spiritual Ones after him unto the same perfection into the same glory Object If this be the Gospel in the Spirit to know Christ no more after the flesh and to live in the spirit to look upon Christ as the way in the flesh into the spirit or holyest where he is then what need of faith so much spoken of in the Scripture the just shall live by faith and We are justifiâ—d by faith c. Answ 1. Faith may be acted not only on Christ dying upon the Crosse but in Christ living in the soule that is my beleeving that Christ is spiritually formed in me as wel as that he hath dyed for me that I am justified in the spirit as wel as in the flesh faith hath the same object in the spirit as in the flesh to beleeve that Christ lives spiritually in the soule and that it shal bee swallowed up in the conclusion wholly in the spirit 2 There may be often occasions to make use of faith likewise while we are in this body of flesh although the soule obtaines a good degree of the enjoyment of the spirit from and in God yet there wil bee through the presence of corruption some stirre and trouble and this God in his wisdome permits for ends best known to himselfe The Apostle Paul who lived exceeding highly in the spirit sometimes in the third heaven that is in the highest discovery of God yet he meets with a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet him that was some strong lust in the flesh that might cause him to look down again And the reason he renders Lest he should be exalted above measure 2 Cor. 12. For the truth is if God should cause any one to live alwayes in heaven that is above all lusts and corruptions in the highest discovery and enjoyment of God he would be ready to be lifted up above measure Experience teacheth us as much ready to look upon all knowledge and enjoyment beleeve it to be nothing but carnal therefore he brings down Paul that he might exercise faith and live upon grace as well as others My grace is sufficient for thee My strength shall be perfected in thy weaknesse So that notwithstanding this life of a Christian in the spirit yet there will be the use of faith alwayes either in the Spirit or in the Letter sometimes God brings a soule to live upon grace as it was revealed by Christ in the flesh and brought home and enjoyed by the spirit when we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord in the spiirit but when we are absent from the body we are at home in the Lord in the spirit 3. There is a continuall use of Faith and that of the most spirituall Christian with relation to the perfection of our eternall injoyments for the Saints do not onely injoy a onenesse with God here and from hence much spirituall and internall glory but by faith believes and hope expects that perfection of glory hereafter wherein it shall be perfectly made like unto Christ when this vile body shall be changed and made like unto his glorious body which at present so acts it selfe even in the Saints which prevents them even of that perfection of glory which they by faith expect when the change comes when Corruption shall put one Incorruption and Mortall shall put on Immortality When this naturall body shall become spirituall then shall be fully injoyed what hath been by faith believed and by hope expected and of this hath the spirituall Christian a taste in the spirituall injoyment of God here although not as then so fully swallowed up in that glory Obj. But it seemes that Christ in the flesh is the way to Justification and glory the way into the holyest which is heaven it selfe where none shall enter till they are changed but Christ who is entred already Heb. 9.24 Answ True Christ is entred into heaven it selfe onely in perfection but beleevers they enter likewise in part viz. when they are got within the veil that is to say the flesh then they see into the spirituall mystery and mansions of glory unconceivable and indeed un-utterable as the Apostle saith and desire to live continually within the veil if it might be while they are here yet they are raysed up more and more in the spirit and in the conclusion shall be for ever with Christ within all veiles which was best of all as the Law in the Letter was a veil to the Gospel both in Letter and Spiriâ— 2 Cor. 3.14 So is the Gospel in the flesh a veil to the Gospel in the Spirit a veil through which and within which all the Saints by degrees shall fully enter Qu. What is the difference between the Law and the Gospel Answ The difference is both in the Letter and in the Spirit the Gospel in the Spirit is the substance of that righteousnesse spiritually included in the Law as the Type Image or Character of that spirituall substance the Saynts are partakers of Hence it is often called the Law in the Spirit the Letter killeth the Spirit giveth life and I through the Law am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Gal. 2.19 that is I through the Law of the Spirit that is the righteousnesse of God in Christ am dead to the Law in the Letter that I might live unto God in the Spirit and not to the Law and selfe in the Letter 2. Difference is in the Letter of the Law and so of the Gospel and this is glorious for the letter of the law required a righteousnesse that was broken death ceiseth on all by that meanes the Gospel in the Letter holds forth a righteousnesse in Christ fulfilling the Letter of the Law so that what righteousnesse is in the Law required is obtained by Christ and every beleever is made partaker of it and so the difference is 1. The Law prescribes a Rule the Gospel fulfills the Rule Mat. 5.28 The Law requires a righteousnesse The Gospel fulfills that righteousnesse Rom. 10.3 The Law was the administration of death the Gospel the administration of life Qu. Is not the Law in the Letter a Rule to beleevers Answ 1. Not as it was handed forth by Moses from Mount Sinai so it was a killing Letter but 2. as it was taken into the hand of Christ and so satisfied and handed forth by Christ being turned into Gospel-Rules it remaines a Rule so farre as we are in the flesh I meane in the knowledge of Christ after the flesh but as God writes his Lawes in the heâ—ris of his people and taketh them up in the spirit so shall they live above the Law in the Letter even of the Gospel yet not without for they have it within them it is in their hearts and so they are a Law unto themselves Then the Rule in the Letter is as a stay in the hand or as a guide in the way helping the soule up to the
prelaticall shape rather then loose his Rule and credit amongst the sons of men if once prelacy grow out of date he can change himselfe into other shapes if ten hornes be too heavy to be borne he will be content to weare but two like a Lambe rather then none at all Qu. Why is Sathan called a Serpent Answ Because in his first prevailing with the woman he did either make use of the Serpent Gen. 3.1 who was a subtill creature and so comes in the Serpent unto the woman or else secondly transforms himselfe in the shape and forme of the Serpent and so represents himselfe unto the woman and so from hence received the denomination of a Serpent Rev. 12.9 If the first then learn that Satan usually makes use of the wisest and subtilest creatures to bring to passe his will in or by them If the second learn that Satan can transform himselfe into any shape or form to delude and deceive soules A third cause of Mans fall was disobedient acting contrary to the mind of God In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye saith the Lord Adam eateth thereof and dieth disobedience was the cause of mans fall Rom. 5.18 19. Quest What was Adams disobedience Ans Eating the forbidden fruit Gen. 2.15 Qu. What was this fruit Ans The fruit of a Tree in the Garden or Paradice of God Gen. 2.9.16 called the Tree of knowledge of good and evill good if a man did not eate of it evill if he did eate of it A Tree whoso eateth the fruit thereof shall know the difference between good and evill so he indeed knew good by the want of it and evill by the sense and enjoyment of it What mystery might be represented by this pleasant fruit I shall not at present dispute because it is something dark unto me whether sinne which seemes very pleasant unto a carnall eye or the world which much prevailes upon a carnal mind or honor or both All these temptations Satan made use of unto Christ himself and represented them to his eye as a deceiveable fruit if possible he might deceive him And the Tree of Life representing Christ that whosoever eateth and drinketh of him might live for ever Jo. 4.14 Rev. 22.2 SECT III. Mans Misery by reason of his Fall MAns misery by the sinne of Adam was death In dying thou shalt dye or thou shalt dye the death Gen. 2.17 Now under the name of Death the Scriptures comprehend divers things A spirituall death in sin so are all Naturall men dead in trespasses and sins subject to externall miseries and deadly plagues Exod. 10.17 Externall afflictions upon the body so Paul 2 Cor. 1.23 the dissolution of mans externall and naturall life Gen. 35.18 Psal 146.4 The perdition of body and soule for ever All which miseries come in by the sin of Adam As the second Adam was the way letting in all good to mankind so was the first Adam the way or flood-gate letting in all miseries upon soul and body Object Some will object and say But how could Adam lose a spirituall life and so come under a spirituall death seeing he never had a spirituall life in God how could he lose that which he never had Answ Although Adam had never a spirituall life in God yet he had a spirituall subsisting given him of God free from sin and so capable of defilement For the truth is it is the internall part of man that sins the forme or body of man is acted by the guiding of the internall part so that Adam now dies in his spirit he hath neither power wisdome nor will to doe that which is well-pleasing to the Lord he hath not onely lost that wisdome will and power of acting in the first Adam but likewise of beleeving and so of applying that salvation tendered in the second Adam untill he spiritually and powerfully draw up the soul unto himselfe John 6.44 and so makes him not onely partaker of all that compleat righteousnesse wrought for him but likewise fulfils all righteousnesse in him Rom. 8.4 Or else mans misery may be considered under these three heads 1. A condition of death as you have heard In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death that is death internall and death externall and death eternall without a meanes or a remedy preventing it 2. A condition of enmity I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed all unbeleevers which so live remain are in a state of enmity God hath not declared himselfe any other unto them and their nature is still at enmiâ—y with God 3. A condition of insufficiency to help themselves Adam was notable to help himself all that he could doe was to hide himselfe he could not deliver himself out of this condition neither are all the sons and daughters of Adam able to help one soule out of this condition if God help not Therefore this should teach soules made alive by Christ to admire mercy and to cry Grace Grace unto the whole work of God both in them and for them SECT IV. What is the meanes God hath apppointed for the recovery of man out of this condition THe meanes God hath appointed to deliver Man out of this condition is Jesus Christ and therefore promiseth Christ immediatly upon the Fall Gen. 3.15 Herein is Gods love manifested that hee leaves not man in his lost estate but gives forth his son out of his bosome that he might seek and save that which was lost and so deliver us from wrath to com Rom. 5.9 1 Thess 1.10 He is Jesus the Saviour and the alone Saviour of his people from their sins Mat 1.21 Acts 4.12 that is he is the alone way through which the Father brings down salvation to sinners and through which he drawes up soules to himselfe there is no other way of God down to the soul nor of the soul up to God but through Jesus Joh. 14.6 Quest What must Christ Jesus undertake and perform before the breach is made up and faln man recovered Answ 1. He must take the sinne and fault upon himselfe Isai 53.6 1 Pet. 2.24 He that knew no sinne was made sinne for us that we might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Admirable mercy that when man had sinned and lost himselfe Jesus Christ who never knew sin either in act or thought must now take upon him the sinners sin and so be made as it were a lump of sin and this he did willingly of himselfe he bare our sins on his own body on the Crosse Christ took the whole sin of Adam and the whole world upon himself when Adam had sinned and all mankind him Adam and all must have died Christ takes the sin upon himselfe and so taking the sin upon himselfe he withall takes the curse and so undergoes the sentence of death The curse was In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death Christ he
Thessalonians were them so delivers it in the present tense when he might haue said rather to speake after the manner of men then they which shal be alive at his coming c. as in Revel the word might have run thus and so questionlesse it is to be understood then they that were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus were raised or lived reigned with Christ as the sence of the former then they that shall bee alive at the comming of the Lord shal not prevent them which are asleep so that the spirit of God might as wel deliver a truth which is in the Present tense in the Preterpluperfect tense as a truth in the Present tense which was in the Future and yet is all to exercise the mind of him that readeth and to let us know there is mystery in the Gospel Secondly very few Saints have been beheaded in the litteral sence those that have dyed for Christ have dyed other deaths not beheaded therefore we cannot understand it in the letter but in the spirit The fourth particular propounded was what was meant in that the rest of the dead were not raised until the 1000. yeares were finished that is none that had beene bodily dead Saints or wicked good or bad were raised till after the 1000 years were finished and then you shall see the resurrection of all which is called the second resurrection The first is called a resurrection and the first resurrection because it shall be a resurrection from shame disgrace in the world And secondly it shal be a glorious resurrection in the spirit this first all the Saints have in some measure been partakers of it Thus it appeares that Christ shall have a Kingdome a glorious a spiritual One Quest But when shal this Kingdom be Answ 1. It is already begun in the spirits of Saints the Kingdome of Heaven is within you 2 I beleeve that the time of the 1000 years which is a more glorious estate in the spirit is not yet begun but the beginning of that time shal be when the 7 seales are fully opened and the 7 trumpets fully founded and the 7 vials powred forth they being but effects of each other the opening of the seales occasions the sound of the trumpets the sound of the trumpets occasion the vials the opening of the seales the unfolding of the mysteries of the Gospel which have been hid Rev. 5.1 2. As light breakes forth the trumpets sound the servants of Jesus preach forth the mystery of the Gospel the preaching of the mysteries of the Gospel in the power and puritie of it occasions the vials of wrath to fal upon the Antichristian estate both in the spirit and in the letter which work is now a doing Wait the Lords time and it wil come on apace But first we are yet like to be given into the hands of the little horn who changes times lawes the two witnesses are yet like to be slain to sydead 3 dayes a half and the woman cloathed with the Sun to be driven into the wildernesse for a little space a time times halfe a time the Beast with two hornes like a Lambe hath yet a little time to make use of his power perswading them that dwel in the Earth to make an Image to the first Beast and that none but those who own it shal buy or sel with them the Saints beheaded under the Altar to wait a little time before they be raised up to live with Christ 1000. years but it is not long the vision is for an appointed time in the end it wil speak and not ly it wil come and not tarry The first 1000. is almost past the second and third are coming on apace all the Nations and Kingdomes in the world wil come apace to be the Kingdoms of the Lord of his Christ and he shall reign for ever their lives shal be prolonged for a season a time and other Scriptures are alledged for the personal reign of Christ as the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands Dan. 2. that is the glorious power of Christ by weak meanes subduing all Antichristian enemies without his Saints all Antichristian things by his spirit within them So that in Dan. 7.10 the glorious company of Saints attending on Christ in the spirit which shal be fulfilled at the raising of the two witnesses up into heaven in the sight of their enemies Rev. 5.10 11. This is the first glorious work of the Lord Jesus in and amongst the Saints the Lord reigneth let the Saints rejoyce the Lord reigneth let the world tremble See Zach. 14.5 The Lord our God wil come and all the Saints with him that is Christ will come in the spirit and all the Saints shall appear gloriously in him A word of Application First if this bee truth that the Kingdome of Christ is a spiritual kingdome not of this world this may inform us how far besides the Gospel in the spirit and truth of it those men are who make the Kingdome of Christ to bee meerly political and a state Kingdom who turne the world by a humane power into the Church and Kingdome of Christ as they say Christ must have a worldly carnal Kingdome no better than the Kings of the earth enjoy or else he shal have none at all it savors exceedingly of the earth ere long thither it must return Secondly this should incourage the Saints to presse forward after the knowledge of God in the spirit that as the kingdome of Christ is spiritual and not of this world so may the Saints Kingdom likewise be in the spirit and so all their enjoyments may be spiritual enjoyments this is that will make the soule fat and wel-liking in the Lord fill the soule with joy peace which the world is not acquainted with their eyes never saw it nor their hearts conceived it neither are they like to see it unlesse the Lord make them spiritual SECT X. Of Death Resurrection Judgement and the state of the Saints after judgment eternally with God FIrst of death It is appointed for all men once to dye Dust we are and to dust we must return and therefore it behoves us to expect it All the dayes of mine appointed time wil I waite till my change come Death is certain although the time be uncertain it is that none are in a common and ordinary way exempted from unlesse those Saints who are alive at the last coming of Christ they shal be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1 Cor. 15.51 52. and so shall bee caught up in the spirit to meet the Lord in the Ayre 1 Thes 4.17 Secondly of the resurrection That there shal be a resurrection of the body at the last day is evident Iohn 5 28 29. Iohn 11.24 with 1 Cor. 15. throughout Rev. 20.12 13. although this truth is by some denyed and by others too carnally looked upon some thinking that our
Nations called Christian whether almost all people of all sorts devoutly slain in the spirit under this mystery of iniquity to have formes of worships prescribed that all Priests and People may walk in one forme and way of worship and all compelled unto it is accounted an excellent part of Christianity but here lyeth a mystery of iniquiâ—y under it First it brings all sorts of people to be acting in something though worse than nothing and so de ude themselves in all their actings it causeth them to look to men and not to Christ Secondly it causeth them to blesse themselvs in their unity in formes and worships never questioning their Onenesse with Christ in the Spirit they are as strangers unto it Hence it is that uniformity in the Letter is so much called for amongst all sorts of people being wholly ignorant of unity in spirit I could instance in divers other particulars as Ministry Guifts Church Ordinances all have something like Christ in them but it is al but the number of a man meerly humane carnal Ministry humane guifts and annointings in stead of the spirit carnall Church invented Ordinances but I passe it at present SECT II. What is his Reigne ANtichrists reigne is likewise in the spirit and in the letter Antichrist or the Man of sinne is as high in his reign as confident of his good estate First his reign in the spirit in the mystery he sheweth himself that he is God he perswades soules that he is the Christ his wisdome and his righteousnesse his rules his Ordinances they are of God and they must stand although it hath neither Scripture nor reason I mean in the spirit for it and thus this mystery of iniquity hath reigned a long time it began to work in the Apostles dayes Secondly the reign of Antichrist in the Letter he also visibly sheweth himselfe that he is God and must be submitted unto under penalties fines and imprisonments better speaking against the Ordinances of Christ than his Ordinances And thus he reignes with power and likewise with much confidence for She sitteth as QVEENE and saith she shall see no sorrow but her sorrowes will come in one day c. SECT III. The discovery of Antichrist THE Revelation of Antichrist may bee considered either first as he openly and publicly reveales himselfe to bee the Antichrist by his confidence and powerful acting as the Christ or above Christ of this the Apostle speakes 2 Thes 2.3 2 It may be considered as a mystery of iniquity and so revealed by the spirit of Christ unto his servants and so the revelation or discovery of Antichrist unto the Saints shal be by the spirit of Christ in the preaching of the Gospel as it is a mystery of iniquity in it self so it must be that hidden wisdome in a mystery 1 Cor. 2. that must discover it Now where the Lord worketh for his discovery hee first discovers him to be the Antichrist hee helpes the soule to find him out And then secondly he discovers the evill the iniquity of him he lets the soule see that it is the greatest and the subtlest adversary that ever it had to deal withall the most dangerous because cloathed under so faire and Christ-like a Garbe and the hardest to be discovered such an Adversary as bears soules in hand that they are going to heaven when they are in the broad and rode-way to ruine like a cunning Hocas-Pocas that jugleth away a mans estate before he is aware of it and all the while pretends friendship thus it is the spirit o God in the Gospel that must discover and reveal Antichrist in the mystery that same spirit who revealed it to the Apostle Paul and the same who revealed both his rising and falling to John in the Revelations those who thinke to attain the discovery of him by humane industry historicall readings c. are exceeding low in their apprehensions and come short of the discovery of him he may bee strongly working in a man while hee is discovering of him SECT IV. What shall be the ruine of Antichrist THe consummation of Antichrist shall be by the same meanes that discovers him the bright goings forth of Jesus Christ in the Gospel for as the kingdom of Jesus Christ goes up in the spirit for the kingdoÌ„ of heaven is within you c. so the kingdom of Antichrist must go down this is the meanes fore-told and prescribed by the Apostle who fore-saw him in his rising 2 Thes 2.8 The Lord will consume him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him with the brightnesse of his coming the preaching of the Gospel and the bright comings forth of Jesus Christ in the spirits of his people shall both consume and destroy him As it is not a humane wisdom that shal discover him so neither is it a humane power that must destroy him for all humanity in the things of God wheâ—her wisdome or power it is Antichristian Therefore not that which shall destroy Antichrist but that which will uphold him untill he be destroyed the ruine of Antichrist is farther held forth Rev. 14.6 The Angel flyeth through the midst of heaven preaching the everlasting Gospell and vers 8. Another Angel followeth saying That Babylon is fallen is fallen that great City c. The preaching of the Gospel is the meanes you see of Antichrists ruine and the Sermon is Feare God and give glory to him This Sermon is that wil ruine Antichrist both in the letter and in the spirit give glory to God that is let God be all and in all let God bee your enjoyment in the spirit see you live upon nothing below him give not glory to creatures duties actings any thing either of the first Adam or Antichrist give glory to God in the letter give not glory to Man set not up Man in the roome of God doe not cry the voyce of Man and not of God in any of the things of God and this is the Sermon that shal ruine Antichrist See likewise Rev. 12.9 The Divel and Sathan the mystical Antichrist was cast forth of heaven to the Earth that is he shal not bee suffered any more to delude soules in a heavenly shape the Divel is now turned Christian and he makes warre with the Saints under the name of Christ both in the Spirit as wel as in the Letter And hence the great warre is betweene Christ and Sathan in Heaven that is between the Heaven of Christ and the Heaven of Sathan under the name of Christ But now John saith he saw Sathan cast out of Heaven that is he shal deceive soules no more in a Heavenly forme neither persecute the Saints any more under the name of Christ A glorious word and it is comming on apace for the most part of soules in that part of the world called Christians are ruined in the Divels Heaven and beleeve it this is the great work Christ hath to doe in these latter dayes the consummation of Antichrist
that is First of all Antichrists spiritual delusions by which he hath deceived soules 2 And all Antichrists deluding formes and ordinances by which the common sort of people are generally deluded the worke of Christ is to powre downe Vials of wrath upon the head of the Man of sinne both in the spirit and in the letter Looke about you therefore all you whose spiritual life consists in nothing but spiritual and Antichristian delusions with invented and Antichristian formes and ordinances A Vial of Wrath is coming on you which wil shatter to pieces al your confidence and then if mercy prevent not you may stand looking on and crying alas alas in one houre is so great riches come to nought and then when this is fulfilled there shal be no more warre in Heaven or spiritual delusion under the name of Christ A glorious word for those that dwel in Heaven and that which wil cause joy to the Saints For first they shal bee without and above all danger of delusions in the spirit or in the letter And secondly they shal from the same ground be for ever freed from fellowship with Hypocrites and literal Christians for their communion shal bee more in the spirit and lesse in the letter and there shal in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abhomination that is lives earthly carnal and prophane or maketh a lye that is Hypocriticall that seemes to be what he is not But they which are written in the Lambs book of life and there shal be no more a Cananite in the house of the Lord for ever This is the great work Christ hath to do in these latter dayes the consummation of the Kingdome of Antichrist who hath a long time sate in his seate with the exaltation of his owne Kingdome in the spirit SECT V. Quest When he shall be ruined Answ FIrst in the mystery and spirits of the Saints as Jesus Christ comes in and shiues gloriously in the spirit so shal Antichrist bee discovered and destroyed and so hee hath received a great blow already in this Nation through the shinings in of Jesus Christ in the spirit amongst many of his Saints so that this is the time of Antichrists ruine when Jesus Christ comes in and takes place in the spirit of his people as the Kingdome of Christ increaseth so the Kingdome of Antichrist decayeth and consumeth Secondly Antichrist shal bee destroyed when the everlasting Gospel shal be preached that is when the Angel flyeth through the middest of Heaven preaching the everlasting Gospel that is when the Ministers of the Gospel shal come forth with their ful and heavenly discoveries of God in the spirit being permitted to preach the Gospel by the Earthly power in all places with liberty For much hath beene done already by the witnesses professing in sackcloth that is almost always in danger of a civil persecution and much ignorance of the mystery of the Gospel which hath caused them to prophesie in sack-cloth yet they have had power to cause fire to come from Heaven as oft as they please burning up all Antichristian formes and invented delusions And then what wil be done think you when the Ministers of the Gospel shal come forth in the full and bright discoveries of the Gospel with liberties here below for the publishing of it Thirdly Antichrist shal bee destroyed when the witnesses have beene slaine and laine dead three dayes that is a short space then a tenth part of the City shal fal and the rest shal have their time prolonged but for a time and a season The first woe is almost past behold a second and third woe cometh quickly waite and it wil come apace Thus have I from the Light of Truth with as much brevity as may be in some measure hinted at this Man of sinne this Mystery of Iniquitie with his reign ruine with the meanes and time FINIS Errata PAge 4. line 5. for ministry read mystery p. 5. l. 29. for in peece r. in a peece p. 11. l. 1. for manifesteth 2. The cause of mans falling his Justice c. r. manifesteth his Justice the second cause of mans falling is the temptation of Satan p. 12. l. 7. for he delivers r. h. deludes p. 18 l. 13. for all mankind him r. in him p. 22. l. 3. for and eternal r. and internal p. 28. l. 2. for John 24. r. Iohn 14.6 p. 28. l. 25. f. or r. for p. 29. l. 24. f. of r. a p 30. l. 10. for blanch r. branch p. 31. l. 12. for as r. is p. 30. l. 13. for desiring r. discovering p. 37. l. 4. f. or r ours p. 51. l. 9. for enter r. eate p. 66. l. 11. f. beleeve r. below it p. 66. l. 11. f. ever of r. the present enjoyment of p. 78. l. 20. f. learning r. bearing p. 85. l. 8. for eternal r. external p. 93. l. 7. f. stall r. shall