came also the resurrection of the dead And again All we like sheep have gone astray and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all And in 1 Pet. 2. 24. where that 53. of Esay is mentioned he saith Who his own selfe bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousnesse by whose stripes we are healed And againe God did prepare this body the humane nature of Christ that it should be a sacrifice for sins wherefore he saith Sacrifices and offerings that is such as were offered by the Law of Moses thou wouldest not have but a body hast thou prepared me Heb. 10. 5. In this body which God had prepared for him which he tooke of the virgin Gal. 4. 4. in this he did beare all the sins of all his elect 1 Pet. 2. 24. And he must needs be true God because it was an infinite God that was transgressed against and Justice required an infinite satisfaction and therefore he must be infinite that must give this satisfaction oâ— else justice could not be satisfied and so it written where the Apostle is telling the Pastors of the Church of Ephesus by what they were redeemed he tells them that God did purchase them with his own blood Acts 20 28 see 1 Joh 3. 16. where he saith herein perceive we the love of God in that He laid down his life for us Not in his divine but in his humane nature for as I said before Gods Christ was of both natures Esay 9. 6. Râ—m 9. 5. 1 Jâ—h 5. 20. Joh. 1. 1. 14. True God and true man and the divine nature did inable him to undergoe in his humane nature all that sin curse and wrath that was laid upon him for us and to overcome and obtain eternal redemption for us Heb. 9. 24. 3. Qâ— How did this Christ bring in redemption for man Ans. Why first Man brake the law of God but this man did fulfill it again and became the end of it for righteousnesse to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. 2. Man was foiled and overcome by the devil but this man Christ did overcome him again Luke 4. Heb. 2. 14. 15. and that for us 3. Man did lose the glory of God but this Man hath obtained it again 4. Man by sin lost eternal salvation But this man by his own blood hath obtained it again for him Heb. 9. 12. 5. Man by sin brought death into the world But Jesus Christ that Man hath destroyed it again Heb. 2. 14. compared with Hos. 13 14. and brought in life and immortality 2 Tim. 1. 10. Rom. 5. 15. Q. But how are we justified by this Mans obedience Ans. All our iniquities were laid upon him Isa. 53. 6 8 11 12. And his righteousnesse is bestowed on us if we believe as it is written even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe And this is it which Paul so much sought after when he saith yea doubtless and I count all things losse 〈◊〉 do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness of God by faith Phil. 3. v. 8 9. Q. How doe men come by this righteousnesse and everlasting life Ans. By faith men lay hold upon it and apply it to their own souls in particular Gal. 2. 20. For it is by faith they are justifyed as also faith the Scripture Rom. 5. 1. That is faith laies hold on and applies that which this Christ of God hath done and is a doing and owns it as his own Q. What is this faith that doth thus justifie the sinner Ans. It is a gift fruit on work of the Spirit of God whereby a soul is enabled under a sight of its sins and wretched estate to lay hold on the birth righteousnesse blood death resurrection ascension and intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the assistance of the Spirit whereby it is wrought to apply all the vertue life and merit of what hath been done and suffered or is a doing by the same Lord Jesus Christ to its own selfe in particular Gal. 2. 20. Rom. 7. 24. 25. as if it selfe had really done all that the Lord Jesus Christ hath done I doe not say â—hat the soul doth any thing for justification but it doth know that whatsoever Jesus Christ hath done in point of justification is given to and bestowed upon it Rom. 3. 22. and God finding the soul in him that is in Christ doth justifie it from all things from which it could not be justified by the law of Moses Acts 13. 38 39. Q. Well but is there no way to come to the father of mercies but by this man that was borne of the virgin is there no way to come to God but by the faith of Him Ans. No there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Acts 4. 12. And Jesus himselfe that was borne of the virgin Mary said I am the Way the truth and the life No man commeth to the father but by me Joh 14. 6. Q. And where is this man that was borne of the virgin that we may come to the father by him A. He ascended away from his Disciples in a cloud into heaven as we may read Act. 1. 9 10 11. Q. What doth he there Ans. He ever lives to make intercession for all that come unto God by him Heb. 7. 25. That is they that shall come out of themselves to him and venture their soules on what he did and suffered when he was on earth is doing now in heaven shall certainly be saved For he ever lives to save them that doe thus come to the father by him And it is because he spilt his blood for all that shall by the faith of Gods elect lay hold upon him and thus it is written where he saith we are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Mark it whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse that is to declare Gods righteousnesse for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God to declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth or layeth hold on Jesus Rom. 3. 24 25 36. Q. But did this man rise again from the dead that very man with that very body wherwith he was crucified for you do seem as I conceive to hold forth so much by these your expressiâ—ns A. Why do you doubt of it Q. Doe you believe it Ans. Yes by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ for he hath enabled me so to doe Qu. And can you prove it by the Scriptures Answ. Yes Q. How
then thou art one of those that will fall in the judgement except thou art born again and made a new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. But secondly thou thinkest that thou hast been born again 't is well if thou hast but least thou shouldst deceive thy poor soul I pray thee consider when did the spirit of the Lord Jesus shew thee that thou hadst no faith in thee by nature and when did the spirit of Christ convince thee of sin because thou didst not believe in him It may be thou hast been convinced of sins against the Law by the Law and thy own conscience as the Pharisees were Joh. 8. 9. and Rom. 3. 20. I but when didst thou see thy self a lost creature for want of faith in the son of Mary if not thou hast not yet been savingly convinced by the spirit of Christ for that when it convinceth effectually of sin it convinceth of unbeliefe though thou hast been never so much convinced of sins against the Law if thou hast not seen thy self under the power and dominion guilt and punishment of â—in because thou didst not believe in Christ thou hast not yet been savingly convinced for that 's one work of the spirit to convince of sin because they believe not on me saith Jesus the Son of Mary who was espoused to Joseph the Carpenter But on the contrary dost thou not say in thy heart thou never hadst thy faith to seek but hast alway believed with as good a faith as any one alive If so then know for certain that thou hast no faith of the operation of God in thee according to Gods ordinary working and if so then know that if the Son of man should come to judge the world at this moment of time that thou with all thy faith thou thinkest thou hast wouldst fall in the judgement 2 Thes. 2. 12. 3. Art thou born again then thou seest that thy great sin was want of faith in the Son of Mary Then thou seest that it is he that was sent of God to die for the sins of the world Jâ—h â— 19 Jo. 3. 16 17 18 19. Act 13 38 39. and that thou art compleat in him without any works of the Law Rom. 4. 4. theâ— thou rejoycest in Christ Jesus and puttest no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3. 3. yet thou rejoycest in the flesh and blood of the son of Mary knowing that his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed Joh. 6. 55. out of which thou wouldst very willingly make thy life all thy daies out of his birth obedience death resurrection ascension and glorious intercession now at the right hand of his father Heb. 7. 24 25. but if thou art wavering in these things know that thou art but a babe at the best and for ought thou knowest God maycut thee off in thy unbelief and cast thee into utter darkness where there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth 4. Art thou born again then thou seest all true peace and joy comes through the blood of the son of Mary and his righteousnesse as in Rom. 7. 24. 1 Cor. 15. 57. there are many poor souls that are taken with raptures of joy and false conceited consolation Joh. 16 20. which doth come from the Divel and their own deceitful hearts but their joy shall be turned into mourning and sorrow of heart Luke 6. 24 25. but thou that art a Christian indeed and not in word onely rejoycest in Christ Jesus the son of Maâ—y yea though now you see him not yet believing you rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. And these two things are the fruits of thy faith and of thy joy 1. The Lord Jesus Christ is very precious unto thee 1 Pet. 2. ver 7. 2. Thou dost purifie thine heart by this faith and the power of the spirit of Christ which thou hast received into thy soul Rom. 8. 13. Acts 15. 9. and 1 Joh. 3. 3. but if thy guilt of sin goes off and convictions go off any other way then by the blood and righteousness of the man Christ Jesus thy guilt goes off not right but wrong and thy latter end will be a very bitter end without faith and repentance for it is his blood through which all true peace comes Col. 1. 20. and there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we should be saved but by the Lord Jesus of Nazareth Acts 4. ver 10 11 12. compared together 5. Art thou borne againe Then thou canst not be quiet till thou doest see God lift up the light of his Countenance upon thee yea thou hast such a desire after the light of Gods countenance that all the glory riches honour pleasure profits c. of this world will not satisfie till thou doest see God to be a reconciled father to thee in the Lord Jesus Christ as it is Psal. 4. 6. Joh. 14. 8. Ps. 35. 3. then thou wilt not be quiet till thou doest hear from the son of Mary which is the Lord of glory 1 Cor 2. 8. such a voice as this Son be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee and My grace is sufficient for thee But if thou canst content thy selfe with any thing below this thou wilt when all comes to all be found but a rotten-hearted professor who wilt have thy portion among the slothfull ones who will fall in the judgement of the son of Man when he comes in flaming fire with his mighty Angels 2 Thes. 1. 8. 6. Art thou borne againe Then thou knowest that God hath given thee thy faith that thou hast in his son then thou art able to say through grace there was a time in which I had no faith there was a time in which I could not believe in the son of God for eternal life But Gâ—d who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved me even when I was dead in sins and unbelief which is the greatest hath quickned me together with Christ by grace I am saved Eph. 2. 4 5. through faith v. 8. 7. Art thou borne againe Then thou knowest that the doctrine of the Son of God the son of Mary is a right doctrine which is this First that the Son of God which was with his Father before the world was Joh. 1. 1. John 17. 5. came into the world in the fulnesse of time and was made in the likenesse of Men Phil. 2. 7. being made of a woman or virgin made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Gal. 4. 4. And that was done in this wise What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh that is through our flesh God sending his own Son in the likenesse of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that is condemned him in the flesh for the sins of poor sinners For this compare Rom. 8. 3. and 2 Cor. 5. 21. with Gal. 3. 13. and it will appeare
thinking thy self to be wondrous well because of that Notion of the Truth and that notion thou hast in the things of God I say being in this state thou art lyable to these dangers First Thou art like to perish if thou die with this notion in thine head except God out of his rich gr ace doe work a saving work of grace and knowledge in thy heart for know this thou mâ—yest understand glorious mysteries and yet be a Castaway 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. Or else Secondly thou art lyable to the next damnable heresy that the Divel sendeth into thâ— world See and consider Luke 8. â—3 2 Tim. 2. 18. I say thou doest lie lyable to be carried away with it and to be captivated by it 〈◊〉 that at last through the delusions of the Divell thou mayst have thy conscience seared as with an hot iron so hard that neither Law nor Gospel can make any entrance thereinto to the doing of thee the least good And indeed who are the men that at this day are so deluded by the Quakers and other pernicious Doctrines but those who thought it enough to be talkers of the Gospell and Grace of God without seeking and giving all diligence to make it sure unto themselves And for this cause God hath sent them strong delusions that they should believe a lye That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness as it is written 2 Thes. 2. 11 12. And indeed if you marke it you shall see that they be such kinde of people who at this day are so carried away with the Quakers delusions namely a Company of loose Ranters and light Notionists with here and there a Legalist which were shaking in their principles from time to time sometimes on this Religion sometimes on that and thus these Vnstable Souls are deluded and beguiled at last 2 Pet. 2. 14. So that these who before as one would have bought had somthing of God in them are now turned such enemies to the glorious truths of the Gospel that there is none so obstinately erroneoâ—s as they And indeed it is just with God to give then over to believe a lye 2 Thes. 2. 11. who before were so idle that they would not receive the Truth of God into their hearts in the love of it And to be bewitched by the Divell to obey his temptations and be damned who would not obey the truth Gal. â— 1. that they migth be saved But you will say what lyes are those that the Divell beguileth poor souls with all I shall briefly tell you some of them but having before said that they especially are lyable to the danger of them who slip into high Notions and rest there taking that for true faith which is not I shall desire thee seriously to consider this one Character a Notionist Such an one whether he perceives it or not is puffed up in his fleshly mind and advanceth himself above others thinking but few may compare with him for religion and knowledge in the Scriptures but are ignorant and foolish in comparison of him thus knowledge puffeth up 1 Cor. 8. 1. whereas when men receive truth in the love of the truth the more the head and heart is filled with the knowledge of the mysterie of Godlinesse the more it is emptied of its own things and is more sensible of its own vileness and so truly humbled in its own eyes And further a Notionist though he fall from his former strictness and seeming holiness and appeare more loose and vain in his practises yet speaks as confidently of himself as to assurance of Salvation the love of God and union with God as ever But now to return and declare some of those lyes which the Divell perswades some of these men to believe First That salvation was not fully and completely wrought out for poor sinners by the man Christ Jesus though he did it gloriously Acts 13. 38 39. by his death upon the cross without the gates of Jerusalem Heb 13 12. compared with Jo. 19. 20. 2. This is another of his lyes wherewith he doth deceive poor sinners bidding them follow the light that they brought into the world with them telling them that light will lead them to the Kingdome for say they it will convince of sinne as swearing lying stealing covetousness and the rest of the sins against the Law Rom. 3. 20. But the Law is not of faith Gal. 3. 12. And then I am sure that it with all its motions and convictions is never able to justifie the soul of any poor sinner For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the law to doe them Gal. 3. 10. but that no man is justified by the law is evident for The just shall live by faith ver 11. Now because I am not altogether ignorant of the delusion of the Divell touching this grace of faith also I shall therefore in short give thee reader a briefe yet true description from the Srcipture 1. What true justifying faith is and what it layeâ— hold upon 2. I shall shew who it doth come from 3. That every one hath it not 4. What are the fruits of it First therefore True faith is a fruit work or gift of the Spirit of God Gal. 5. 22. 2 Thes. 1. 11. and 1 Cor. 12. 9. whereby a poor soul is enabled through the mighty operation of God Col. 2. 12. in a sence of its sins and wretched estate to lay hold on the righteousness bloud death resurrection ascension intercession and comming againe of the Son of God which was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem for eternal life Jo. 3. 16 18. compared with Mat. 3. 17. Gal. â— 20. Rom. 5. 8 9 10. Ro. 3. 25. Act. 16. 31. Heb. 13. 12. according to that saying in Heb. 11. 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen that is the things that are hoped for faith sees layes hold upon and embraces them Heb. 11. 13. as if they were present yea it seales up the certainty of them to the soule Therefore saith the Apostle it is the evidence or testimony or witness of those things that are not seen as yet with a bodily eye which are obtained by the bloud of the man Christ Jesus Heb. 9. 14. comparâ—d with Heb. 10. 12 19 20. by which the soule sees as in a glass the things that God hath laid up for them that feare him 1 Cor. 13. 12. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Secondly If you would know who this faith comes from read Ephes. 2. 8. For by grace ye are saved saith the Scripture through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Againe in Phil. 1. 29. it is thus written For unto you that is believers it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to
poore sinners For this thou mayest have and do yet be but a companion for Demas yea for Judas and the rest of the damned multitude As the Apostle saith For all this thou mayest be but as sounding brass and as a tinckling Cymball that is nothing but a sound 1 Cor. 13. 1. 2 3. But Secondly if thou wouldst not be deceived then have a care to avoid false Doctrines which are according to the spirit of the divel and not after Christ. As first If any Doctrine doth come unto thee that telâ— thee Except thou art circumcised after the manner oâ— Moses then canst not be saved That is if any man come unto thee and tels thee thou must doe such and such works of the law to the enâ— thou mayest present thy selfe the better before God doe not receive him For to him that worketh not but believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4. 5. 2. If any come unto thee and bring such a Doctrine as this That thou mayest be saved by grace though thou walk in the imaginations of thy own wicked heart his Doctrine also is divellish doe not receive him Deut. 29. 19 20 21 22 23. 3. But if any come unto thee and doth in truth advance the bloud righteousness resurrection intercession and second comming of that very man in the clouds of heaven that was borne of the Virgin Mary and doth presse thee to believe on what he hath done shewing thee thy lost condition without him and to own it as done for thee in particular and withall doth admonish thee not to trust in a bare Notion of it but to receive it into thy heart so really that thy very heart and soule may burne in love to the Lord Jesus Christ againe And doth also teach thee that the love of Christ should and must constraine thee not to live to thy selfe but to him that loved thee and gave himselfe for thee 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Eph. 4. 20 21 22 23. 1 Cor. 7 23. ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of Men. If hiâ— conversation be also agreeable to his doctrine a believing honest loving self-denying counteous Conversation he also is a true Christian Receive that Doctrine * and receive it really for it is the Doctrine of God and of Christ Gal. 4. 4. Gal. 1. 4. Eph. 1. 7. Rev. 1. 5 Acts 13. 38. Joh. 1. 19. Acts 4. 12. Acts 10. 40 41 42. and 1 Thes. 1. 10. Mar. 13. ult 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. 8 9 10. Considering the end of their conversation Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever Heb. 13 7 8. Againe if thou wouldst not be deceived then beware of slighting any known truth that thou findest revealed or made known to thee in the Gospel but honour and obey it in its place be it as thou thinkest never so low Joh. 14. 15. 2. Have a care that thou doe not undervalue or entertain low thoughts of God Christ the Son of Mary and the holy Scriptures but search them John 5. 39. And give attendance to the reading of them 1 Tim. 4. 13 for I will tell thee he that slights the Scriptures doth also slight him of whom they testifie And I will tell thee also that for this cause God hath given up many to strong delusions that they might believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes. 2. 11 12. Therefore I say unto thee In the name of the Lord Jesus the Son of Mary the Son of God the very Creator of heaven and earth and all things that are therein have a care of thy selfe for the divel doth watch for thee day and night 1 Pet. 5. 8. thine own heart also doth labour to deceive thee if by any means it may Jer. 17. 10. Therefore doe not thou trust it for if thou doe thou wilt not doe wisely Pro. 28. 26. I say therefore have a care that thou labour in the strength of the Lord Jesus to escape all these things For if thou fall into any one of them it will make way for a further income of sin and the divell through whose deceitfulnesse thy heart will be hardned and thou wilt be more uncapable of receiving instruction or reaping advantage by and from the Ordinances of Jesus Christ The rather therefore Give all diligence to believe in the Christ of God which is the Son of Mary and be sure to apply all that he hath done and is doing unto thy felfe as for thee in particular which thing if thou doest thou shalt never fall And now Reader I shall also give thee some few considerations and so I shall commit thee to the Lord. 1. Consider That God doth hold out his grace and mercy freely and that to every one Rev. 22. 17. Isa. 55. 1 2 3 6 7. 2. Consider That there is no way to attaine to this free mercy and grace but by him that was borne of the Virgin Mary for he himselfe saith I am the way the truth and the life No man cometh to the Father but by me Joh. 14. 6. compared with Mat. 1. 20 21. 3. Consider if thou strivest to go over any other way thou wilt be but a thief and a robber Joh. 10. 1. compared with ver 9. And know that none of these so continuing shall enter into the Kingdom of he even 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. 4. Consider that if the devil should be too hard for thee and deceive thee by perswading thee to embrace or entertaine a new Gospell which neither Christ nor his Disciples did allow of it would make thee gnash thy teeth when it is too late 5. Consider that though thou hast been deluded by Satan to this day yet if now thine eyes be opened to see and acknowledge it though as yet thou hast been either exceedingly wicked or an idle luke-warme hypocritical professour and hast stood it out to the last for all this there is hope and if now thou receive the truth in the love of the truth being as willing to be rid of the filth of sin as the guilt of it thou shalt be saved 6. Consider that the Lord will call thee to judgement for all thy sins past present and what else thou shalt practice hereafter especially for thy rejecting and trampling on the bloud of his Son the Man Christ Jesus And if thou doest not agree with thine adversary now while thou art in the way he will deliver thee to the Judge and the judge will deliver thee to the officer if he cast thee into prison I tell thee thou shalt not come out thence till thou hast paid the very last mite Luke 12. 58 59. And therefore I beseech thee to consider Here is at this time life and death heaven and hell everlasting joy and everlasting torment set before thee Here is also the way to have
or conâ—ent with any thing below the blood of the sonne of God to purge thy conscience withall even that blood that was shed without the gates Heb. 13. 12. Also thou canst not be at quiet till thou doest see by true faith that the righteousnesse of the son of Mary is imputed unto thee and put upon thee Rom. 3. 21 22 23. Then also thou canst not be at quiet till thou hast power over thy lusts and corruptions till thou hast brought them into Subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then thou wilt never think that thou hast enough faith No thou wilt be often crying out Lord give me more precious faith Lord more faith in thy righteousnesse more faith in thy blood and death more faith in thy resurrection And Lord more faith in this that thou art now at the right hand of thy Father in thy humane Natâ—r making intercession for me a â—iserable sinner And then O poor Soul if thou commeâ—h but hither thou wilt never have an itchâ—ng eare after another Gospel Nay thou wilt say If a Preshyter or Anabapâ—â—st or Independent or Ranter or Quâ—ker or Papist or Pope or an Angel from heaven preach anyother Gospel let him be accuâ—sâ—d again and again And thus have I briefly shewed you First how Christ as he is God doth enlighten every man that comes into the world Secondly what this light will doe viâ—â— shew them that there is a God by the things that are made and that this God must be worshipped Thirdly I have shewed you the difference between that light and the Spirit of Christ the Saviour Fourthly I have also shewed you how you should know the one from the other by their several effects As first the first light convinces of sins but of none other then sins against the Law neither doth it shew the soul a Saviour or deliver for that is the work of the Spirit from the curse vvherevvith it doth curse it But I shevved you that vvhen the Spirit of Christ comes and vvorkes effectually it doth not only shevv men their sinnes against the Lavv but also shevvs them their lost condition if they believe not in the righteousness blood death resurrection and intercession of Jesus Christ the Son of Mary the Son of God And thus much I thought necessary to be spoken at this time touching the nature of Conviction Now in the third place Though I have spoken something thing to this thing already namely concerning our Lord the Saviour yet again in few words through grace I shall shew that he was made that is born of a woman and made under the Law to redeem them that are under the Law My meaning is That God is our Saviour And for this see Isa. 45 15. where you have these words Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour and ver 21. 22 you have these words Who hath told it from ancient times have not â— the Lord and there is no God besides me a just God and a Saviour and there is none besides me Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Why who art thou for I am God and there is none else Also in Isa. 54. 5. For thy maker is thine husband the Lord of hosts is his name and thy redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole earth shall he be called read also vers 6 7 8. of that Chapter I could abundantly multiply Scriptures to prove this to be a truth but I shall only mâ—nd you of two or three and so pass on The first is in Jude ver 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and Acts 20 28. Joh. 3. 16. But you will say How is God a Saviour of Sinners seeing his eyes are so pure that he cannot behold iniquity Habak 1. 13. For answer hereunto First when the fulnesse of time was come wherein the salvation of Sinners should be actually wrought out God sent forth his Sonne which Son is equal with the Father made of a woman made under the Law that is he was subject to the power and curse of the Law to this end to redeeme them that are or were under the Law that is to deliver us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us From whence take notice that when the salvation of Sinners was to be actually wrought out then God sent forth the everlasting son of his love into the world cloathed with the humane nature according to that in Joh. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 14. And 1 Tim. 3 16. which saith God was manifested in the flesh that is took flesh upon him 2. This Sonne of God which is equal with the Father did in that Flesh which he took upon him compleatly fulfill the whole Law So that the Apostle saith Christ is the very end of the law for righteousnesse to every one that believes This righteousness which this Christ did accomplish is called the righteousnesse of God Rom. 3. 22. This righteousnesse of God is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe my meaning is it is imputed to so many as shall by faith lay hold on it This is also part of the meaning of that speech of the Apostle As many as were baptized into Christ have put on Châ—ist That is by faith have put on the righteousnesse of Christ with the rest of that which Christ hath bestowed upon you having accomplished it for you This is also the meaning of the Apostle Col 2. 9 10. where he saith For in him that is the sonne of Mary chap. 1. 13 14. dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And ye are compleat in him That is in his obedience and righteousness Which also the Apostle himselfe doth so hard presse after Phil. 3. 6 7 8. saying Doubâ—lesse I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord which Lord was crucified by the Jews as it is 1 Cor 2. 8. for whom that is for Christ I have suffered the loss of all things as well the righteousness of the Law in which I was blameless as all other things and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ And be found in him not having on mine owne righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith which is unto all and upon all them that believe That place also in the ninth of Daniel v. 24 25. holdeth forth as much where prophecying of the Messias he saith that it is he that came to finish transgression and to make an end of sin and to make reconciliation for iniquiâ—y and to bring in everlasting righteousness Now that the righteousnesse of the Sonne of Mary is it mind the 26. verse where he saith thus And after Threescore and
sign that his coming doth draw nigh even at the doors 3 The love of many waxing cold is another signe that it is nigh even the comming of Christ And how cold is the love of many at this day They that were hot two or three year agoe are now grown lukewarm and cold They are cold in love to the Lords appearing they are cold in the profession of the Gospel They are cold in love to the Saints they are cold in the worship of God Yea very cold which is a notable Demonstration that the comming of the Lord draweth nigh 4. The Stars falling from heaven That is profe â—ors falling from the faith which once they professed is another signe that the comming of the Lord is at hand And how many professors doe you see now a dayes fall from the doctrine of God and his Son Jesus Christ as though there were no such thing as a world to come and no such thing as a Lord Jesus Christ and his second coming 5. Many poore souls will go on in their profession with lampes without oyle just before his second comming And the Lord knowes that most of the professors of this generation are such kind of professors yea very foolish professors which is another sure signe that the comming of the Lord drawes nigh 6. When the time of Christs second comming is at hand there will be but a very little faith in the world And the Lord knowes that there be many who are now as high as Lucifer that at that day for want to faith will be thrown down to the sides of the pit even into the very belly of Hell 7. Another signe of Christs second comming is the carnall mindednesse of the most of the world and the very carriages of almost all men now living do discover this truth to be at this day fulfilled and know that when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction comes and they shall not escape 1 Thes. 5. 1 2 3 4. 8. Before Christs second comming there shal come many fals Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders to seduce if it were possible the Elect. And is not this more cleerly fulfilled in our daies then ever it was especially among those men called Quakers who being as persons whose consciences are seared with an hot iron and they being sealed up unto destruction do some of them call themselves Christ and shew great signes as their Quaking and such a legall holiness as makes the simple admire them and wonder after them which shewes the comming of Christ to be very nigh 9. Before Christs second comming there shall come scoffers into the world walking after their own lusts and if ever this Scripture was fulfilled it is fulfilled on these men called Quakers For they are the men that at this day make a mocke at Christs second comming which shall be from heaven without and therefore saith the holy Ghost these Mockers shall be such as shall say where is the promise of his comming for since the fathers fell a sleep all things continue as they were See 2 Pet. 3. 3 4 5 6 7. and there you shall see their mocking and the reason of it Read and the Lord give thee understanding But because I would not have thee think that I speake at randome in this thing Know for certain that I my self have heard them blaspheme yea with a grinning countenance at the doctrine of that mans second comming from heaven above the stars who was borne of the Virgin Mary Yea they have told me to my face that I have used conjuration and witchcraft because what I preached was according to the Scriptures I was also told to my face that I preached up an Idoll because I said that the Son of Mary was in heaven with the same body that was crucified on the Cross And many other things have they blasphemously vented against the Lord of life and glory and his precious Gospel The Lord reward them according as their work shall be I could have hinted in many other things which Christ and his Apostles have shewed to be signes of his comming But I shall commend the holy Scriptures unto thee which are able to make the man of God perfect in all things through faith in the Lord Jesus Now you have also the manner of his comming how iâ— shall be most notably laid down in the Scriptures I shall 〈◊〉 in a few things touching it as first He will come when there is but very few looking for his comming When they shall sâ—y peace and safety then sudden destruction commeth 1 Thes. 5. 1. 2 3 which sudden destruction will be at his second comminâ— for that is it which the Apostle spake of in those three verses Then will all the world be caught at such an unexpected time that it will come upon them even as a snare commeth upon those creatures that are caught in it As it is written Luke 21. 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earâ—h Which is all on a sudden before they are aware 2. He commeth with all his saints and Angels Then will the Lord descend from that heaven into which he now ascended as it is written in 1 Thes. 4. 16. Then will be come and all his Saints with him as Jude saith in his Epistle v. 5. Then shall Abell and Enoch Noah and Abraham David and Job Peter and Paul together with all the Saints which have been now are or hereafter shall be and they shall sit on the throne with the Lord Jesus Christ as in Mat. 19. 28. Before whom shall all the Nations of the world be gathered as it is written Joel 3. 12. Let the heathen be wakeneâ— or raised out of their graves Dan. 12. 2 and come down to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about Which never was yet accomplished though it shall certainly be in in Gods time to the astonishment everlasting damnation of all those that shall continue mocking or sinning against God and his Christ. 3. He shall come in flaming fire when he doth come again he will come in such a manner as will make all that shall be found in their sins rather seeke to creepe under a mountaine then to meet the Lord of Glory Rev. 6. 15 As Esay saith For behold the Lord will come with fire and with his Charets like a whirlwind to render his anger with fury and his rebukes with flames of fire Esay 66. 15. To execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. as I shall shew farther by and by And therâ—fore in the next place I shall shew you what shall be done when he is come First When Christ
is come the second time they that are in their graves shall arise and come forth of their graves as I said before in which they have laine according to that in Job 5. 28. Where Christ saith Marvell not at this for the houre is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evill unto the resurrection of damnation You will say Are these graves spoken of here the graves that are made in the earth yea that they are and for a further proof of the same look into Dan. 12. 2 Daniel there speaking of the same thing saith And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall arise or awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt or damnation I shall not stand here to dispute any distinctions of the resurrections only prove that the dead shall arise and that is a clear truth from the Scriptures Acts 10. 42. Rev. 20 11 12 13 14. and 1 Thes. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52. the dead shall be raised 2. He shall call all men and women to an account for all their close sinful thoughts words and actions then will the secrets of all hearts be made manifest Then shall all thy adulterous and theevish and covetous idolatrous and blasphemous thoughts be laid open according to that saying Their consciences also bearing them witness and their thoughts the mean time or while accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 2. 15. But when why in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ ver 16. see also 1 Cor. 4. 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time what time is that why when the Lord comes what will he do He will bring to light the hidden things of darknesâ—â— that is all those cunning close hidden wickednesses that thou in thy life time hast committed yea he will make manifest the counsels of the heart that is the most hidden and secret things that are contrived and plotted by the sons of men Then shal all the midnight whoremongers be laid open with all their sins Then thou it may be who hast committed such sins as thou wouldst not have thy Neighbour thy father thy wife thy husband or any one else know of for thousands then thou shalt have them all laid open even upon the house tops Luke 12. 1 2 3. Then thou that hatest Gods children his waies his word his spirit then thou that makest a mock at Jesus of Nazareth his second coming then thou that livest in open prophaness or secret hypocrisie then I say will be such a time of reckoning for you as never was since the world began then you that shall die in your siâ—s will cry to the mountains fall on us and cover us from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb which Lamb is the man Christ Jesus Joh. 1. 19. And ah my friends if the very looks of God be so terrible what will his blows be think you Then if all thy idle words shall be accounted for as it is written But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement Mat. 12. 36. and also all thy filthy actions shall be then regarded in such sort as thou shalt receive a just recompence for them And know saith the Scripture that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Eccles. 11. 9. Then Thou that are an unbeliever shalt be sure to fall under the judgement for all thy sins first thou must give account Secondly thou must fall in the judgement Oh my friends there are hot daies acoming for all those that are found out of the Lord Jesus Behold saith Malachi the daies come that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hoasts and it shall leave them neither root nor branch The day of judgement will burn like an oven and all that have not the righteousness of Christ upon them shall be as stubble Ah friends put a red hot oven and stubble together and what work will theâ—e be even the one will burn and destroy the other 3. When Christ doth come the second time another end of his coming will be to purge out all things that offend in his Kingdom Mat. 13. 41 42. Then shall the son of man send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that doe iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth There are many things that doe offend in his Kingdom now namely the lukewarm professor he doth offend first the Lord secondly his people But then thou lukewarm offending professor shalt offend the Church of God no more Secondly the loose professors do also offend God Christ and his Church First he scandals the Gospel by his loose walking and naughty carriages Secondly he doth make the world blaspheme the name of God by the same Thirdly he grieves the hearts of Gods people Phil. 3. 18. But know that thou also shalt be taken away from offending any more God Christ and his Saints and thou shalt have weeping and gnashing of teeth for thy thus offending Mat. 18. 6. 7. 4 Another end of Christs second coming is to cut of all the ignorant persons that are in the world There is a generation of poor souls that do think to be excused for their ignorance Alas saith one I am a poor ignorant man or woman and therefore I hope that the Lord will have mercy upon me We cannot say others do as such and such and will the Lord condemn us And thus poor souls as they are in the broad way to destruction least they should misse of the way to hell do swallow down by clusters that which will poyson them body and soul for ever and ever But you will say What will not the Lord have mercy on ignorant soules Ans. Not on those who live and die in their ignorance He himselfe hath said Esay 27. 11. Because it is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Again Paul also in that 2 Thes. 1. 8. saith that when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world he doth come to take vengeance on all them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ. But ye will say who are those ignorant persons that shall find no favour at that day or how doth the ignorance discover it selfe I shall only mention three or four sorts of men and leave thee to the Scriptures which if thou read them diligently will
The Lord of that of these servants shall come in a day when they look not for him and in an hour that they are not aware of and shall cut them asunder appoint them their portion with hypocrites and there shall be weeping and gnashin of teeth 5. Then what doth this speak to the Lords own people surely this that they should be in a watchful posture Mark 13. 37. Watch therefore over your own hearts least they should be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkeness and the cares â—f this life and so that day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come upon all the dwelleâ—s upon the face of the earth as it is in Luke 21. 34 35 36. 2. Watch over the Devils temptations Oh have a care in the first place least by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eie so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ And the rather because at this day he is very busie with his doctrines and his ministers trying all waies if by any means he might deceive you with fair speeches and inticing carriages with a fair shew in the flesh yet denying the Lord and refusing to be justified by the blood of Jesus the son of Mary the son of God Watch I say over the Divel touching doctrines for he labours as much this way as any way for he knows if he can but get you to lay a rotten foundation he is sure of you live as godly in your conceit as you will and therefore it is worth your observation in that 24 of Mâ—â— when Christ is speaking of the signs of his coming he breaks forth with a warning word to his Disciples to beware of false teachers ver 4. the very first words that he answers to a question that his Disciples put to him is this Take heed that no man deceive you Again ver 11. And many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many And in ver 24. he saith again for there shall come or arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew signs and wonders in somuch that if it were pâ—ssible they should deceive the very elect 3. Take heed that he doth not deceive you in point of worship that he make you not slight any of the ordinances of God for if he do he will quickly make way for another temptation 4. Take heed that you also have not your lamps to trim when the bridegroom comes if you have you many paradventure be ashamed and blush before him at his coming 1 Jo. 2 last ver Therefore content not your selves with a profession of Christ and no more for the divel may deceive yea doth deceive a professing people many time And if he will deceive a professing generation he must come in this manner first under the name Christ secondly with a fair shew in the flesh of outward holinesse Gal. 6. 12. Thirdly he must come with good words and fair speeches Rom. 16. 18. Now though he come to drunkards swearers whoremongers theives liars murderers and covetous persons in his black colours yet if he will come to deceive a profeâ—sing party he must appear like an Angel of light And the reason why souls are deceived by him in these his appearances is because they are not able to distinguish betwixt the Law and the Gospel the convictionâ— of conscience by the Law only and convictions by the spirit but do though they professe the Lord Jesus give eare to every wind of doctrine and being unstable as Peter saith do fall into the temptations of the Divel in wresâ—ing the Scripture to their own destruction 2. Pet. 3. 16. In a word you that have not yet laid hold on the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life lay hold upon him upon his righteousnesse blood resurrection ascension intercession and wait for his second coming to judge the world in righteousness Acts 17. 31. And you that have laid hold I say to you lay faster hold on your Lord Jesus Who so hath â—ares to hear let him hear Matth. 13. 43. Now that thou mayst the more clearly understand my faith in the doctrine of Gods dear son I have thought good to hold forth again the doctrine in the former Treatise by way of Question and Answer as followeth Qu. Seeing there are many 〈◊〉 Christs gone out into the world according as was prophesied of in former times Mat. 24. 5 23. by the Lord himself And seeing if we be saved we must be saved by a Christ for he that misses of him saith the Scriptures cannot be saved because there is no way to come to the father but by him as it is written Joh. 14. 6. Acts 4. 12. How therefore is the knowledge of the true Christ to be attained unto that we may be saved by him Answ. Indeed to know Christ Gods Christ is as the Scripture saith the one thing necessary Luke 10. 42. without which all other things will avail nothing And therefore I shall according to the Scriptures first tell you what Gods Christ is and secondly how the knowledge of him is attained unto And therefore first Gods Châ—ist is true God and true man That he is true God is manifest by that Scripture in Isaiah 9 6 where it is said to us a child is born to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace also 1 Joh. 5. 20. And we are in him that is true saith the Apostle even in his son Jesus Christ this is true God and eternal life see Heb. 1. 8. Joh. 1. 12. Rom. 9. 5. Joh. 20. 28. But Secondly that he is 〈◊〉 Man see again Isa. 9. 6. where it is said Vnto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and compare it with Mat. 1. 21. where it is said And she shalt bring forth a Son and thou shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins see John 1. 14. And the word was made flesh 1. Tim. 3. 16. God was manifested in the flesh These two Scriptures are expounded by Heb. 2. 14. where it is said Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise tooke part of the same that is of flesh and blood see Rom. 8. 3. and compare it with Luke 24. 39. where Christ saith Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see â—e have And he doth often call himself by the name of the Son of Man Mat. 24. Mat. 16. 13. to signifie that he is very man as well as very God Qâ— But why was he true God and true man Answ. He was true man because man had offended and Justice required that man should suffer and make satisfaction and so it is written 1 Cor. 1 5. 21. For since by man came death by man