all his Natural Posterity to come of him it was committed And against what Knowledge and inward Natural Principle of Righteousness and with what deliberation and freedom of will when he was no way necessitated thereto he committed this sin and also how he committed this sin by the motion of the Devil in the Serpent in sayings questioning the Truth of and contrary to the plain saying of God and all for a dreaming conceit to get a shadow when he had the substance of good which he let go for it and so for very vanity it self so that we may with marvelling say Oh how vile and abominable the sin of Man how contrary to the nature and will of God! how tempting and provoking his Majesty how unworthy and unbeseeming such a Man as Adam 5. Having thus viewed Man's demeanor and sin in his fall and first offence let us minde also the misery that befel him and all Mankinde in and through him by this one so great and manifold offence and that the Spirit saith plainly was the entrance of sin and death by sin Rom. 5.12 18 6.23 1 Cor. 15.21 22. The very yielding to commit this sin brought forth fruit unto death as is evident For I. In drinking in I Gen. 3.1 13. Eccles 7.29 Rom. 8.6 7. Col. 1.21 and obeying the poysonful word and temptation of the Serpent the Natural Disposition and Inclination of Man was poysoned and polluted with that Hellish and Serpentine Venome and so Man became emptied and stripped of his Uprightness and so of his Comfortable Knowledge of God and love of God and his inward Natural Principle of Righteousness and filled with a Disposition and inclination averse to God and all things pleasing to him and bent and prone to all things displeasing to him and so became an Enemy to God II. It brought Weakness Pain and Mortality on the Body and Grief Shame and Fear of wrath and death on the Soul of Man n Gen. 3. Heb. 2.14 III. It cast man under the commanding and condemning Power of the Law of Works To love the Lord his God with all his Heart Soul Minde and Strength and his Neighbour as himself and to walk in and bring forth the Fruits of that Love he was not under the Power of any such outward Law to direct command move and lead him before for the Law of God was before in his Heart it was his Natural Inclination and Aptitude so to love and walk in it but this by his Fall was lost and gone out of his Heart Rom. 2.15 3.19 5.12 18. Gal. 4.4 yet notwithstanding God lost no part of his Authority his Goodness foreshewn to Man did still as much oblige Man to this Love and walking in it as before and so the Law without took hold of Man and had its efficacy in him to command and so to excuse or accuse but afforded him no help or power of doing it yet justly condemned for every Transgression or short coming of it and that to death and this befell all Mankinde in the first publick Man IV. IV. Rom. 8.20 Deut. 28.16 24 Eccles 1.1 2. Psal 75.3 It occasioned misery and vanity on all the Creatures made for the service and commodity of Man and put under his Dominion and turned that which was for his welfare into a snare so as all turned to be a vexation and curse to him to fill him with horror and madness to his Torment Ruine and Destruction V. V. Numb 21.21 22 24 31. Judg. 11.13 15 21 25. According to the Law of Arms and the right of a Victorer Satan had gotten the Dominion of Mankinde and so Mankinde in the first publick Man fell under the power and slavery of the wicked one the Devil that thus overthrew Man and got the power of Death to terrifie Man withal Rev. 12.9 2 Cor. 11.3 1 John 5.19 Heb. 2.14 VI. VI. Rom. 5.12 18. 6.23 Gal. 3.10 Deut 27 26. It threw man and all mankinde in that publick man unavoidably under the guilt and Dominion of sin and Death even all that first mentioned Death Gen. 2.17 and so into subjection to the Sentence Condemnation and Curse of that Law of Works under which he was fallen and to be judged by the Almighty according to that Law to suffer the utmost of the Curse it did sentence unto for all the breaches of it Lo such the Fall and Misery of Man such the foulness and fruit of this first and Original sin and such the state of the first Man in his fall and of all Mankinde in him and this without difference of any of them that Naturally were in him Rom. 5.12 18 19 6.23 1 Cor. 15.49 and come forth from him neither ever did doth or can any Man by Nature or Naturally come forth from him in any better state but in coming Naturally forth from him to bear his Image so that we may by this see a little of the sin and misery Mankinde at first fell into He that was once righteous now unrighteous he that was once in favour and well-pleasedness with God now under guilt and displeasure he that was happy now miserable yet God the same and Man changed and fallen into misery in respect of himself and all Creatures without Remedy to help of which a word or two to prepare for following Business CHAP. 11. Of the Immutability of God notwithstanding the mutablity fallen Angels and Mankinde NOtwithstanding all this Evil of Man his enmity against God and misery in himself and so his woful change yet was not there in or by it any change in God nor any alteration or failing of his minde or purpose he from Eternity was and now is and to Eternity will be the same for ever a Exod. 3.14 Rev. 1.4 8. 11.17 16.5 Heb. 13.8 Mal. 3.6 Jam. 1.17 1 John 1.5 4.8 without change or shadow of change the Father of Lights yea Goodness and Light it self and there is no Darkness in him He is Love and as for fury and wrath working out to the hatred destruction and torment of any of his Creatures it hath not its first rise from the Being and Nature of God but from such Transgressions against his Goodness by his Creatures as stands cross to his Wisdom Love and Goodness so as even from thence because of such Transgression hatred and wrath floweth from him as a Fruit of his Goodness and Love to his glorious Goodness and well-beloved Son as a just Reward of such Contemners thereof b Psal 21.8 109.4 5. 89.36 Prov. 8.22 23. Psa 119.68 136.10 20. so that fury is not in him c Isa 27.4 but the Fall and Destruction of Transgressors is of themselves deserved and procured by themselves d Hos 13.6 9. Jer. 14 8. And in all this God is of one minde and changeth not he at first made all things good and so Angels and Men righteous and such as he loved
of living Waters Psa 36.9 Jer. 17.13 Mal. 4.2 Col. 2.3 9. Joh. 1.16 of Light Life and Spirit the Sun of Righteousness in whom all Light Life and quickning is in whom the fulness of the Spirit of life is and from whom it flows and so those that through Grace believe on him receive of his fulness and see light in his light and so in beholding of and believing in him the same Spirit that is in him floweth into them Joh. 3.6 and effecteth the minde and disposition of Christ in them which is also called Spirit in which respect Christ is said to dwell in them and the Holy Spirit is said to dwell in them who as proceeding from Christ and remaining in him so he entreth their hearts and worketh this new Spirit or disposition in them and by his light and operations dwelleth in it and so in them and this Spirit effected in them and dwelling in them they have derivatively from Christ and it cannot be had divided from him but they believing in him Eph. 3.16 17. have it of and from him and him within and by it and so they have him and this Spirit of and from him in their hearts by Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 2 Tim. 1.7 1 Ioh. 4.4 and it is in them a Spirit of Faith the Spirit of Power of Love and of a sound minde and this Spirit dwelling in them is greater and stronger then the Devil that is in the World so that they may full readily mix the Promises with Faith 1 Ioh. 5.4 5. yea and believing in the Son of God overcome the World their Faith being their Victory whereby they overcome And thus we have seen the Promises to Believers in their spiritual frames and exercises are many the Promises to them abiding in the Faith given them are many the Promises that they may abide many and the helps for their abiding many and all gracious from the Almighty God of Truth through the Mediator to Believers to whom Faith is given that they may and whoever as they may mix the Promises with Faith and so accepteth the Grace given may have the Assurance of Faith even for his perseverance in which the following Promises will be still farther helpful also let them be considered CHAP. 5. Of the Promises to be fulfilled to Believers after this Life THe fourth sort of Promises are those which are to be performed to Believers when they have lived and died in the Faith when their Battel is fought their Race run and so they have finished their Course and kept the Faith and so overcome The Promises to be then performed to them be great precious and of three sorts 1. Such as are to be performed to them at their death as all shall but such as survive at the coming of the Lord to whom such Promises not needful nor suffer they loss 2. Such as are to be performed at the Resurrection of the Just in the personal coming of the Lord. 3. Such as are to be performed when Christ delivers up the Kingdom to God the Father and so God is All in all I shall according to what I finde hint somewhat of each I. For the Promises that shall be performed to Believers at their death 1. They shall rest from their labours sorrows Rev. 14.13 Isa 26.20 21. 57.2 Ioh. 3.17 18. Zach. 9.11 12. 1 Thes 4.14 Ioh 17.13 16. 19.25 27. combates with temptations being kept as in Chambers of safety till the indignation in which the inhabitants of the earth shall be punished have gone over them all yea they shall enter into peace their bodies resting in the earth in their several places as in beds of peace and though in respect of the enjoyment of the great hope their bodies be as Prisoners yet are they at rest and free from all trouble and fear and so Prisoners of hope that sleep in Jesus and shall be raised at his coming to see him and come with him so it is a blessed sleep and rest 2. Their Spirits or Souls shall walk in their uprightness in the presence of Christ their Righteousness and under his Wings Isa 52.2 Rev. 6.9 10 11. Phil. 1.21 23. 2 Cor. 5.1 2 6 7 8. as the Altar of safety and solace enjoying a more full sight of the Person of the Lord Jesus and being nigher and having more full fellowship with greater rejoycings in him and with him and with the Spirits of just Men made perfect of which they now are then ever they did or could have enjoyed Heb. 6.12 15. 4.3 4 10. while they were in mortal bodies in which respect as touching their Souls they may be said to inherit the Promises to enter into rest and in both these respects the day of their death is better to them then the day of their birth was 3. Their works do follow them Rev. 14.13 Ioh. 15.16 2 Pet. 1.15 1 Tim. 6.14 2 Ioh. 8. 1 Thes 2.19 20. 2 Cor. 10.15 16. Heb. 11.4 12.1 that which through Faith working by love they have done in their preaching the Testimony of Christ their works of mercy their prayers their sufferings and constancy therein in bearing witness to the Truth and against Antichrist have not only had their fruits for holding forth the Faith and winning in others to God in their life-time but in the efficacy of the Truth witnessed by them in preaching and suffering in answer of their prayers and the memory of their good examples their fruits shall remain yea also multiply and encrease upon their account after their decease II. For the Promises to be performed to them at the coming of the Lord Jesus in and at the Resurrection of the Just they are of great and glorious things as to instance some of them 1. Their Bodies shall be raised again not corruptible 1 Cor. 15 23 42 45 52. 1 Thes 4.16 Phil. 3.21 Mat. 22.30 weak and mortal as before they had been but incorruptible powerful immortal and glorious at the very coming of Christ yea so as they shall be as the Angels of God though not Angels and Spirits onely Mar. 15.25 Luk. 20.35 36 Rom. 8.23 yet as the Angels and spiritual equal to the Angels for impossibility of dying or falling for strength agility swiftness of motion in ascending or descending and moving every way Thus shall their bodies be raised and united to and possessed of their own perfect Souls or Spirits for ever being both moved and carried about by the divine power 2. 1 Thes 4.17 Isa 9.4 5 6. 11.4 30.27 28 60.12 Zach. 14.5 2 Pet. 3.7 See Part 2 ch 17. Being so raised and made spiritual and glorious in Soul and Body they shall in a moment ascend and meet the Lord in the Air and so be ever with him yea come along with him to that great Battel in which shall be no carnal Sword no confusion no garments of any Saints rolled in blood and yet the
as the other by worldly Thoughts they remained stony and so became unfruitful so as how much or how long they believed we have no warrant to make them like those fore-mentioned Nor yet of them John 2.23 of whom it 's not affirmed they professed or confessed him There was more danger in that then in believing But I need take no pains in this for Mr. Owen hath excluded these from those mentioned in stating the Question of whom he affirms the Graces given and received to be the works of the Spirit effectually working in all the powers of the Soul and producing Light Love Joy Zeal change of Affections amendment of Life Obedience And going over them again Page 423. Chap. 17. Sect. 27. he saith That in persons thus wrought upon there is or may be such an assent upon Light and Conviction to the Truths professed and preached to them as is true in its kinde not counterfeit giving and affording them in whom it is wrought Profession of the Faith and that sometimes with constancy to the Death or the giving of their Bodies to be burned with perswasions whence they are called Believers of a future enjoyment of a glorious and blessed condition filling them with ravishing affections and rejoycings in Hope which they profess suitable to the expectation they have of such an estate and condition These cannot be said to be Hypocrites in the most proper sense of that Word c. their high Gifts Knowledge Faith change of Affections and Conversation being in their own kinde true as the Faith of Devils So far he In all which it appeareth That other rabble mentioned by him cannot be brought in to be numbred with these which he confesseth may abide and die in the Faith yea and for the Profession of the Faith or they may fall away and of such as do fall away he saith Page 429. That before their falling they were in a fair way for Life and Salvation As for his Parenthesis about the Truth of their Faith As the Faith of Devils he therein intimately granteth this That the Devils have Faith true in its kinde but That the Devils have Faith and true Faith in any kinde as the word Faith is used in the Scripture I believe not because with all my search I finde not one such word there That the Devils in a sense do believe That there is one God I believe because the Scripture saith it But to believe the Devils have Faith I dare not because it is said The simple believeth every word but the prudent Man looketh well to his going Iam. 2.19 Prov. 14.15 Deut. 32.20 Mat. 17.17 Mar. 9.19 Luk. 9.41 2 Thes 3.2 with Rom. 15.30 31. And upon search and pondering I dare not say but many of them did believe there is one God that are affirmed Children in whom is no Faith and likewise of those our Saviour calleth Faithless yea and some of them also of whom the Apostle affirms All Men have not Faith I mean not to justifie that foolish Proverb Seeing is believing yet there is a believing that is from personal knowledge sight and sensible experience and such believing is in the Devils But the believing that is called Faith is a gracious Gift of God Act. 17.31 Rom. 1.5 16.26 Act. 11.21 Rom. 4.24 5.1 10.15 Gal. 3.1 2 3. 2 Thes 1.3 10. in which he hath provided for all Men an Object of Faith and causeth it to be preached to Men for the Obedience of Faith And those that in hearing hear he by his Spirit enlightneth their Mindes and moveth their Hearts that they may believe and believing is no farther called Faith then it closeth with the Object of Faith and so Faith is by hearing and the Spirit also and so in believing receiving the Testimony is in Men Faith But God hath provided no Object of Faith for the Devils and so for believing by Knowledge Sight and Sense they do know that is so believe that the Man Jesus Christ took neither their Nature nor Cause on him and so did not die or work any Redemption for them but took on him the Nature and Cause of Mankinde whom the Devil had overthrown and came to save Men and of Purpose to destroy the works of the Devil and that there is no door of Repentance for them but he hath destroyed his first work already and is about destroying his second and will utterly destroy it in his time shut him up in prison for a time bound and after cast him into a Lake of fire tormenting him for all the mischiefs he hath done to Mankinde and to his People he knows that God in Christ is one and will thus torment him and this certainty of his knowledge and so believing makes him tremble at the minding of his own Damnation Now I hope none will put the Sons of Men in the same species or rank and order with the Devils as that Christ took not their Nature and Cause on him hath wrought no Redemption for them nor opened any Door of Repentance to them but came to aggravate their sins and so to damn them to the same punishment with the Devils If any should believe thus they should believe as falsly as the Devils believe truely But on the contrary if any Man do by hearing the Testimony of Christ as verily believe Jesus Christ to have taken the Nature and Cause of Mankinde on him and so to have died for our sins and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice to God and so to be the Propitiation for the sins of the World and God through him propitious to Mankinde and so a Justifier of sinners that believe in Jesus and all this for the good of Mankinde that they might believe and in believing be saved This will fill a Man with Consolation and Hope as verily as the Devils believing the Truth of all this to be against them doth fill them with trembling and so believing in the Devils is neither having of Faith it makes them averse to it but such believing in a Man as closeth with the Object of Faith and receives influences from it is Faith Hence the Apostle proveth That though a Man believe there is one God yet seeing God is in Christ propitions if that he believeth work not up confidence and love to bring forth Fruits either it is no Faith he hath never yet been united to the Object or if he were he is withdrawn and so hath lost the Spirit and Life of Faith and so his Faith is become dead like the Body of a Man when the Soul and Spirit is departed so that if the Faith in a Man be as real and true in its kinde closing with the Object as the believing of the Devils is true in their kinde filling them with enmity against that believed then that Faith is right and in a Man as verily saving as to the Devils an occasion of trembling V. Whereas he saith They are changed as to their use not in
but for the present The Spirit is life for righteousness sake yet the body is dead because of sin yea and something savouring of death is also in and troubling their souls But through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ as they in beleeving walk after the Spirit they are made free and enlived from the sentence and fear of death and filled with the promise and hope of life which comfort in so great love of God enlives us in love of the brethren And 1 Joh. 3.14 We know that we have passed from death to life 1 Joh. 4.7 16. 3 6 9 5.2 because we love the brethren c. We that are born of God that have beleeved the love wherewith God hath loved us and so abide in Christ keeping his commands of faith and love We know we are passed from being judged by our works according to the law which sentenceth to death into the gracious acceptance and favour of God in Christ and so into the liberty and life of Christ and enjoyment of his gracious Spirit which brings forth this fruit of love which whoever hath not abideth in death And this is true of all abiding in the faith without difference Eph. 2 2-5 and Col. 2.13 Speak of that quickning Act. 10.43 Joh. 3.16 18 36. which is through beleeving in Christ in which remission of sins and hope of eternal life is begun to be received which all true beleevers receive without difference though not in like fulness in every beleever And on that ground Rom. 6.11.13 8 9. Are exhortations to persevere walking in faith and love Secondly From darkness to light This is true though that quoted Act. 26.18 doth but shew the end of Gods sending the Gospel to be ministred to men Mat 4 13-16 without difference of any to whom it is so sent which where it comes light springs up And Eph. 5.8 shews what beleevers without difference are in the Lord Eph. 5.8.9 15. since called and inabled to beleeve and that pressed as a motive to abide and persevere walking in the light And 1 Thess 5.4 5. shews that beleevers are not in darkness of ignorance and unbeleef and how efficacious the light of truth beleeved was in them They were born of it They were he saith not some but all the children of light c. From whence he presseth an exhortation Not to sleep as others but to walk 〈…〉 c. And Col. 1.13 Is a blessing of God in giving him thanks for having delivered them he faith not from all darkness but from the power of darkness Col. 1.12 13.23 24. and having translated them into the Kingdome that is the spiritual Kingdome or government and interest in and hope of that promised Kingdome of the Son of his love for which cause he presseth their abiding and continuance And 1 Pet. 2.9 shews That Gods elect and chosen people are such as he hath called out of darkness into his marvellous light to shew forth his praises And what this light is 2 Cor. 4.6 and where it shineth is plain to be in the face of Christ Gods prime Elect. And this is true in a measure of all unfained beleevers let them minde this That conceit an elect company before the appointment of Christ to dye to be given him to dye for and demonstrate what they are and reconcile them into one condition with these Thirdly From an universal habit of uncleanness unto holiness In a begun inclination and through all the powers a tendency thereto that there may be a proceeding to perfection in holiness this is true But Ezek. 36.25 speaketh directly of the Jews when he hath returned them to their own land And as in reference to a first fruits in beleevers in this life Ezek 36.24 25 26 27-37 Eph. 5.23 26 27. It speaks of that God will do to them after he hath called them to beleeve in Christ And so of a continued business on and in beleevers till it be compleat for which he will be sought of them And 1 Cor. 6 11. speaks of a work begun and so in the beginnings of it done in them In the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God And this given as a ground both to reprove some evils and uncleanness in them 1 Cor 6. 1 9 11 2 20. and to warn them from sinning and to stir them up by the same Name and Spirit to press on to further holiness And Tit. 3.5 shews the manner of this work and by what means and to what end it is done and so the beginning and proceeding but shews not the accomplishment as yet to be in them And Heb. 10.22 is not an affirmation of what is attained but an exhortation to use the right way for having a continual increase of renued holiness Heb. 10 12-18 19 20 24 25 12 12 14. upon that very ground of what we have in Christ and have begun to receive and may be daily receiving from him that so in holding last our confidence and profession we may follow after holiness Fourthly From a state of enmity stubboruness rebellion c. into a state of love obedience and delight This is no other but in change of an expression what was confessed to be in the first kinde of beleevers and Saints And indeed it is true of both alike for both so far as true are one Rom. 6.11 speaks of that done and compleated in Christ and not yet in us but by degrees and in due season to be done Rom. 6.11 12 13 14. And that laid as the ground in beleeving on him both to reckon our selves after him and in that account yeeld up our selves to live to him in which that will be verified of us that is said from vers 17 22. and so it plainly appears to be understood Eph. 2.12 13. Speaks of that state of Gentilism enstrangement to God all we Gentiles were in before Christ came in the flesh and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice and the priviledges confirmed before to the Jewish Nation were set open to the Gentiles Chap 3 3-6-9 and they made nigh by the blood of Christ that made peace broke down the partition wall slew the enmity c. and came and preached peace by which peace preached in his Name all that beleeve in him have access by one Spirit to the Father that is clear Col. 1.21 Speaks of the enmity in their mindes and of the efficacie of the Death and Sacrifice of Christ and peace made thereby and Gods love there-through appearing displayed and beleeved how it reconciled them to God And that to this end Col. 1.4 5.20 Tit. 3.4 5. Rom 5.8 10. Eph. 5.25 26 27. Col. 23 24. Heb. 8.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10. Heb. 12.22 23 24 25 26. To present them in the body of his flesh through death holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight if they continued in the faith
about the Truth and Righteousness of the Sayings of Christ lest that lead us to stumbling as it did those John 6.30 52 60. Secondly Read the Scripture as the Declaration of the God of Truth which he by the Spirit of Truth hath caused to be written for our learning and in which he speaketh to us d Rom. 15.4 Mat. 22.31 Heb. 3.7 13.5 And therein first and chiefly minde what he hath testified of his Creation of the World for Mankinde and of Mankinde righteous in one publick Man and of the Disobedience and Fall of Mankinde into sin and death in and through one publick Man and of the Redemption wrought for Mankinde in and by another publick Man and of the fulness that is in the second publick Man to make known the Minde and Love of God and to send forth Spirit to convince Men and bring them in to believe and of the Remission of sins and Eternal Life for Believers and the just Condemnation of such as disobey and refuse to believe and of the Resurrection of the just and unjust and the appearing of all before the Judgement-Seat of Christ and his sentence of the Just into Everlasting Blessedness and of the unjust to Everlasting Torment and how all these Sayings are plain being written to that end that we may know the certainty of the words of Truth and that we might apply our Hearts to his Knowledge and put our trust in the Lord e Prov. 22.17 21. And if these Sayings should not hold forth their own Sence no man could tell us what the Sence is let not our Mindes be waving in this but give God the Honour of his Truth and Love in speaking these things so plainly to us as they admit not of any Limitation Glossing or Allegory These be the first things to be known and most needful to be first known and all other Sayings known by their agreeing in Sence with these therefore read them as God's Declaration of his Minde to us that we may know it Thirdly as God hath been pleased to condescend so low to us as to make known his Minde to us in words understandable to and used among Men and in such manner as is usable among Men for importing their Sence so let us observe and minde about them that which is observable of Men about the Import of words to know their sense as to say 1. The Country or People where such words are used knowing that many things are expressed by divers words in divers Countries and understood by the use of the expression in that Country where it is used and that in some one Country one and the same word is diversly used and the Sense it beareth known by the sentence in which it is used Now the Country whence the Gospel came being Zion and according to the Spirit 's breathing writ in the Scriptures we are to minde how and in what sence words are used there and so to understand them according to the sentence in which they are used 2. By and of whom a Speech is whether Governour or Subject wise or simple true faithful and knowing or ignorant and unfaithful and accordingly we value the Extent Truth Worth and Goodness of their Sayings or put Limits and make Doubts thereof so in the Scriptures being related the Sayings of God by his Spirit and the Sayings of Men both of faithful and unfaithful Men we may understand those sayings accordingly for their Extent Worth Truth or for their scantness weakness c. 3. The persons and things treated of whether the chief Magistrate of a Commonwealth or inferiour Magistrates or Fathers or Masters and so whether of a Kingdom Commonwealth Corporation Association or Family and so understand the words All Every Head Body or Hand ruling or subjection accordingly so may we observe in reading the Scriptures of whom and what we read where we read of two Adams or two publick Men the first a living soul the second a quickning Spirit the first fallen and of the Earth earthy the second alive for evermore the Lord from Heaven heavenly the first having all his Generation in his loyns naturally to come forth of him the second taking the Nature of the first and spiritualizing it to have his Generation out of the first Man's Children by bringing them in to him in a spiritual manner And so we read of Men as they are of the Race of the first Adam and of some Men as born of Water the Spirit and become of the Generation of the second and spiritual Man And so we read of the Works of God and of Men about both and of things sutable to the one and his Generation and of things sutable to the other and his Generation And so when we read the sayings of the first Man and his natural Race and of things pertaining to them whether All Every or Head Body Eye Hand Foot or of Wisdom Power Works of Righteousness or of Lands Waters Trees Mountains we may understand it in a sense sutable to the natural Man and his Race whether it be plain or metaphorical But if the sayings be of the second Man that is the spiritual Man and his spiritual seed and of things peculiar to him and them we may understand it spiritually in a sense suiting to Christ and the things of Christ whether it be Temple House Body Eye Hand Foot Fire Water Trees Wisdom Strength or righteous Doing yet still according to the Import of the Letter speaking of such things comparing natural things with natural and spiritual things with spiritual and in sayings relating to both natural and spiritual Men to understand them in both senses according to their Relation 4. The Business in and about which the saying is whether Monarchical agitated by Imperial Edict or National agitated by a Parliament or State or whether the Business of a Province or Country agitated by Judges Justices and Jurors or a Corporation Business agitated by Major Aldermen Counsellor or a Family-Business agitated by a Father Master or Steward's direction or Personal Business between two or three and then the words Rule House Order Law All Every Many or Elect are easily understood of a larger or less extent or more general or more special in the Import of the Sense so in Scripture we may observe the Business of which the Sayings are whether of God and of Christ and his Works and therein whether of his Works in general as of Creation of all things and of Mankinde or his Redemption of Mankinde or his Preservation of them and Extention of Mercies and Means to them to call them to Repentance or whether of more special Mercies and Means extended to one Nation more than to another or of peculiar Graces extended to his new-born People and so whether of his Works of Salvation for Men or iâ— Mâ—n or of his Redemption and Purchasing of Men of God and calling them to God or of his redeeming and purchasing some Men from among Men
them and extending to some Revelation Demonstration and making known his minde and goodness to them and also dealing with Men from and for God in opening their Eyes and moving their Hearts to turn to God and look to him and be saved and again still dealing with God for Men for patience pardon and means still to be extended to them that so they might come to Repentance and Faith and that he in his Father's way may freely give it to them By which means and in which patience he is striving with Men in opening their Eyes and moving at their Hearts that they might believe and so from the prevalency of his Mediation by vertue of his Oblation he is giving them Faith and Repentance and such a Mediator he is for all Men yea so set to be of his Father and hath himself accepted to perform this Office also and is furnished for it with the vertue of his Oblation and Immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost being faithful able and constant in performance and so in respect of his receiving from the Father and so from God dealing with the people calling and making known God's minde being full of Spirit Love and Faithfulness he calls enlightens moves and so strives with all 2 Isa 42 1-7 45.22 49.6 8. 55.5 61.1 2 3. Joh. 1.4 5 7 8 9 10 11. Rom. 2.4 5. as hath been foreshewn a. And whereas men closing their Eyes which he hath opened c. not owning and receiving his reachings and motions which is the sin of the world he yet by vertue of his Blood and Oblation once offered so intercedes with God as to procure such forgiveness that they are not cut off presently for these transgressions but that longer time and patience and more mercies and means be extended towards them and farther strife with his Spirit that they might yet repent believe and be saved A gracious Mediator intimated to us in the Parable of the Vine-dresser Luk. 13.8 9. Lord let it alone this yeer also till I dig about it and dress it and if it bear fruit well if not then after c. If any say This is meant of the Church the Vineyard of the Iews I answer However meant it is spoken of particular Trees therein of some of which our Saviour saith Ye are of this World Joh. 8.23 Joh. 1.29 but it is plain express by Iohn Baptist Behold the Lamb of God which taketh or beareth away the sins of the world In which it appeareth evidently he speaketh of more than the Atonement and Purgation made and so of the sins taken away from before the Face of God at once by that one Oblation of his once offered yea he speaketh of a continued act by vertue of his Oblation in Mediation he taketh that is spoken of a present and continued business he taketh or beareth away the sin of the world that is his Office and his continued work That he is faithful in doing and how he doth it was long before prophesied Isa 53.12 He poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with transgressors and he bare the sins of many And then speaking of another and farther business done by vertue of the former he faith also And made intercession for the transgressors A little of which we may see fulfilled in Christ's praying for them that crucified him Father forgive them they know not what they do Luk. 23.34 And this Prayer of his was answered yea in as full a sense and farther degree than that of Amos and they so forgiven this great Transgression that they were not presently cut off Amos 7.2 3 4 5 6. Luk. 24.47 Act. 2.38 3.26 5.31 32. but patience and forbearance and more and greater means extended and used towards them yea the Gospel after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ first preached to them and Remission of sins c. according to Christ his Order so rendered and given to them And many of them did believe and receive the same And in like manner he procured patience and long-suffering for other great Transgressors even for the same gracious end That they might repent 2 Pet. 3.9 Rev. 2.21 2 Pet. 3â—â—5 whence we are willed to account That the long-suffering of the Lord is salvation Yea we are instructed into the knowledge of this Mediation of Christ by the Types of old the Truth of all being fulfilled and found in Christ Heb. 9.28 For Christ was once offered to bear the sins of man and unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation It is evident in this place That more is here spoken of and meant than bearing of sins in his Oblation-offering 2 Pet. 2 24. Col. 2.14 Rom. 4.25 Heb. 9.14 1 Ioh. 2.1 Rom. 6.9 for those he bare in his Sufferings and Death and nailed them to his Cross so as he did them all away in his Resurrection and then by the eternal Spirit offered himself a spotless Sacrifice to God in the Heavens nor can there be any more sin so imputed to him or so born by him he is just and can die no more but his bearing sins now is his taking them away and keeping the punishment of them off from us And this was also figured to us in the two Goats one slain for a sin-offering figuring out the Atonement made by the Death of Christ the other a living Goat Levit. 16.9 10 20 21 22. 1 Cor. 15.17 Rom. 4.25 over whom was confess'd all the iniquity of the Children of Israel and he bare them away into a Land of separation where no man dwelt to be charged with them So figuring out the Resurrection of Christ for our Justification and bearing away our sins the forgiveness whereof men perceive and receive in confessing and believing on him and yet a farther bearing away of sins was here typed 1 Joh. 1.7 9. in that it was of sins confessed after the Atonement was made over the live Goat that carried them away c. But I will not urge that but come to that which is more full and plain for this purpose Aaron the High-Priest did bear the names and the Judgement of the Children of Israel Exod. 28.29 30. when he went into the holy place continually and he with his Sons the Priests were to bear the iniquity of the Congregation to make Atonement for them before the Lord Levit. 10.17 and this was besides the Atonement made in the holy of holies once in the yeer And what bearing of iniquity this was may be cleer to us not that the iniquity of the people was imputed to the Priests and confess'd over their heads and they to suffer the judgement and punishment due to the peoples sins and to be offered in Sacrifice for them not so But as skilfull Hebricians say The word signifies and the Greeks translates so to bear and take away yea Numb 18.1 2
Believers since the beginning of the World though more abundantly present where he is more known as declared since his Ascension into Heaven and this his presence by Spirit in Believers is the whole time of believing and living by Faith and though more abundant in operations at some time than at others yet it is also to help them in their weaknesses and temptations and through sufferings while they are yet mortal But his personal coming which Believers wait for is to free them from weakness temptation sufferings and mortality and it is a personal visible and bodily coming as is foreshewn so as the deceit of these is by it easily seen and avoided 5. Those who though they vary from the former sayings Mat. 24.5 23 24. yet say in effect the same as Lo here is Christ in this or that Form of outward Discipline or such a way of outward performing such an Ordinance to be seen in the strictness severity or some outward appearing excellent thing in it or Lo he is in the wilderness Mar. 13.6 21 22. if you will let go all the hopes begot in you by the Letter of the Gospel concerning Christs dying for sinners c. you shall then see Christ or Lo I am Christ I speak from the infallible Spirit if you receive my saying and Testimony you receive Christ if you refuse my saying you refuse Christ Isa 52.6 1 Joh. 5.19 20. 2.20 27. Of these our Saviour hath forewarn'd us and we that believe the Testimony of Christ do know That he is by his Spirit in his own word the Testifier of his own Grace so as they that believe shall know the same and his personal appearing will be so visible as we shall need no man to tell us where he is or which is he for every eye shall then see him as is said Thus will the knowledge of this Branch of the Testimony of Christ help us against all these and such-like delusions which withdraw from the Faith and disciple to Men and make Schisms and Rents from the true Church Secondly The knowledge belief and minding of the coming of Christ as set forth in this Branch of the Testimony of Christ will help to preserve and keep us from falling into many miscarriages mis-conceptions and mis-expressions of some Brethren and also to afford help to such of them as do prefer the plain sayings of Christ before the Notions of any other Man as to instance some of them 1. Such as deny any appearance of Christ in person on the Earth till the last and final Judgement and sentence when all the wicked shall be cast into the Lake of Fire c. True it is he will be visible on Earth and on his Throne at that time and true it is That all the Just shall enter into everlasting Joy then also And then Christ delivereth up the Kingdom to his Father that God may be All in all but then is no time for destroying all worldly powers and for restoring all things and for bringing the Creation into the Liberty of the Sons of God and for the new Heaven and new Earth to be filled with Inhabitants and for Christ to sit on the Throne of David his Father and for Abraham and his seed to inherit the world and for Christ and his Saints after his coming to rule over the Nations or for the Nations to serve them and bring their Glory and Honour to the City c. In this Life the Saints according to their measure glorifie God through sufferings and in the new Heaven and new Earth God both glorifieth his Saints making them to raign and they glorifie him by raigning but in that last State God only glorifies himself upon them and in them and through them and them with himself And why should any of us so dishonour God as to deny the Truth and true fulfilling of so many plain sayings of Scripture so oft affirmed as hath been shewn and will be more If any say That we stick too much to the Letter of the Scripture in understanding those places It might be answered That in such plain sayings so often affirmed and bound with the Oath of God and his Protestation of the Faithfulness of them it is safer and better to stick close to the Letter or VVords of Scripture as they have been breathed forth by the Holy Spirit than to make Unbelief of the Truth of those plain sayings the Interpreter of their meaning though with never so much humane VVisdom and Learning And it may be also answered That so to understand those sayings is according to the Rule commanded by God and approved by all Believers yea and godly learned as is foreshewn But I farther answer Part 1. ch 7. That we are led by the Scripture thus to understand these things both in that the things spoken of his first coming in which many things had their spiritual sense also yet were all performed according to the plain expression of the Letter as his being born of a Virgin in Bethlem his being called a Nazarite his riding on an Ass his being sold for thirty pence the banding of the Rulers and people against him the scattering of his Disciples his Death Burial Resurrection Ascension his pouring forth the Holy Ghost and sitting on the right hand of God all fulfilled to the utmost of the plain import of the Letter and shall any thing be wanting in the second coming of Christ saith not the Angel This same Iesus shall so come even as ye have seen him go c. And also in that the Apostle speaking of these things shews both a certain measure of fulfilling spiritually now and also a fulfilling according to the utmost of the Letter which is also spiritual but the one is inward in the soul spirit the other outward on the Body also of that inward in Soul and Spirit he saith We that believe have a first fruits he saith not all nor half nor a tenth but a first fruits and that we wait for is not only the whole or harvest of this but the adoption even the redemption of the body when also the whole Creation shall be restored into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God And I might add the Apostles alluding to Psal 8. in Heb. 2. but enough is foresaid for this So that all our Brethren that heed and prize Scripture-Testimony more than Traditions and Opinions of Men will soon yield to believe this 2. Such as believe and look for Christ his raigning in and over the VVorld in his Saints and so would fight and strive to set Christ on his Throne and think all Adversaries to Christ that oppose them in his design to be before his personal appearing These Brethren seem to acknowledge this Truth That Jesus Christ will come and appear personally to raign on Earth and that the Saints that now suffer with him shall raign with him in the Earth and over the Nations and that Christ
this that in due time he will in that body of his personally come again and receive them to himself and then take his great power and raign and they shall raign with him nor need they be deceived about this his coming Mat. 25.32.46 Joh. 5.28 29. for it shall be so personal open and visible that every eye shall see him and when he doth sit upon the Throne of his glory then shall all Nations be gathered before him and having raised all the dead will separate those that have believed in him and lived to him from those that have rebelled against him setting the one on his right hand and the other on his left hand and then judge and give sentence on both and the righteous that are on the right hand shall go into everlasting joy and the wicked that are on the left hand shall go into everlasting Fire there to be tormented for ever and that all that believe on him may with patience and comfort wait till that day come he taught and assured them that he would not leave them as Orphans comfortless Ioh. 14.16 17 18 26. but by his word and Spirit in that word he with them and in them and by that Spirit both minde them of Joh. 16.13 14 15. 15.4 7. 1 Pet. 1.5 Joh. 14.6 10.9 14.9 10. and teach them the words that he had fore-given them and also so take of the things of Christ and shew to them that he should present him glorious to them and lead them into all truth that by Faith well-pleasedness in him they may be made fruitful and preserved to the inheritance and that he thus discovered is the door and way of access to the Father and entrance into the Church yea the Father is in him and he in the Father and all that is the Father's is his so that in seeing and having him they see and have the Father also and that he is the Truth and the Life in whom they have Wisdom Righteousness 1.3 Sanctification and Redemption Covenant quickning and all spiritual Riches and Life yea he is such a sure Rock that whoever is found in believing built on him Mat. 16.18 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. the gates of Hell shall not prevail against him his Flesh even his Body as given for the Life of the World is Bread of Life and Meat indeed and his Blood as having confirmed the New Testament is Drink indeed Joh. 6.51 58 63. 15.10 17.24 and what Spirit or Soul of Man soever eateth and drinketh hereof shall never die but have everlasting Life his words are Spirit and Life and as the Father hath loved him even so hath he loved those that believe in him and will come again and receive them to himself that where he is they may be also So that in all this is a blessed clear great gracious and glorious Revelation of Jesus Christ in his own personal teachings Yet to free them from mistakes and inform them cleerly how by him this blessed and saving work shall be carried an end till his coming again that there may be a spiritual Seed encreased and preserved to him till then he instructed them how Men and Women should be brought in to God namely John 3.14 15. Tit. 2.3 Mar. 16.25 Rom. 16.26 that He even Christ the Son of God and Saviour of the World as thus manifested to them must be by them so made known to others yea lifted up and made manifest by preaching his word he had taught them and this to all Men all Nations and in and about this right preaching manifestation elevation declaration and tenders of Christ he taught them much and many things as appears plainly by his own sayings to them and theirs which they learned of him as to instance some of them 1. That it be Jesus that be lifted up and exalted as the Christ Joh. 8.14 15. Luk. 24.47 43. Joh. 15.26 Rom. 1.1 5. 16.25 26. 1 Cor. 22. 3.10 11. 2 Cor. 4.5 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. 5.6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Isa 49.6 the Son of the living God the Propitiation for our sins he in whom God is well-pleased who by vertue of his death is the Lord of all the onely Rock and Refuge in whom whoever believeth shall receive forgiveness of sins this Jesus the He and not the works of the Law not any order or sort of men not any dreams or devices nor any personal endowments or gifts nor any internal Lights and Operations but onely Jesus Christ to be the Lord the Foundation the He in whom all Peace Righteousness and Eternal Life is prepared of God for us and given us of God in him even in Jesus Christ that in believing in him we may receive it and have it And this is plain in comparing his sayings and theirs 2. Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Joh. 4.9 10 14. Rom. 5.6 7 8 9 10. Tit. 3.4 5. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 21. That both this gift of Christ the Saviour of the World and the setting him forth and tendering him in the Gospel is and is to be affirmed a fruit and witness of the love of God to the world to Mankinde even sinners and ungodly ones and the love Grace and good-will of God here-through commended and tendered to them that they might repent and believe and in believing receive remission of sins and eternal Life and this is plain in comparing his sayings and theirs according to that prophesied Psa 36.6 7 8. 145.8 9. Isa 55.4 3. That the end and purpose of God in this gift of Christ and so setting him forth Joh. 3.17 Luk. 9.56 Mat. 18.11 Joh. 12.47 Isa 42.6 7 8. 49.6 8 9. 55.4 5. 63.1 2 3. Act. 3.26 14.15 26.17 18. Joh. 12.35 36 46. 9.5 Joh. 1.4 7 8 9. and making him known and witnessing and commending his love through him and so the end of Christ his first coming and Ministration and of his continuing the same Ministration of the Gospel in which he is still sent held forth and tendered to men till his personal coming again is that the world might be saved yea sinners and the chief sinners that the eyes of the blinde might be opened c. and men brought in to believe and so turned from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God that so they may receive Remission of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by Faith that is in Jesus Christ and this is plain in the sayings of Christ by himself and by his Spirit in the Prophets and by his Spirit in the sayings of those that learned it of him whence he saith of his Ministration that while he is in the world he is the Light of the World and so before was and in the Ministration of his chosen Witnesses will be till his coming again Mat. 5.13 14 15 16. whence his Servants as Ministers of the Gospel are also called
The Light of the World so that the Ministration of Christ in the Gospel by himself or his Servants it or he in it is not to condemn Joh. 8.12 12.47 Joh. 5.34 Rom. 2.5 Joh. 33.16 17 24 29 30. Prov. 1.23 Rom. 11.11 23 32 33. 1 Cor. 5.5 2 Pet. 3.15 Rev. 2.21 Isa 5.4 Ezek. 24.13 Joh. 3.19 Rom. 11. 2 Cor. 4.4 Mat. 13.15 Ier. 8.9 Iona. 2.8 Mat. 10.26 Mar. 8.36 Ioh. 3.18 19. Mar. 16.16 Exod. 34.6 7. Isa 30.16 17 18. Psa 145.8 9. Ioh. 7.47 48. destroy or judge to perdition the World no not those in the World and of it that at present reject his words but even to save such his words to them are still That they might be saved his mercies are to lead to repentance that they might be saved his chastisements to break them of their pride and enterprizes that they might be saved yea his reproofs and beginning to deliver them to Satan are for the destruction of the flesh and to abase them that they might be saved yea his killing by the Law was that they might live to God Gal. 2.19 yea all his patience and long-suffering is and is to be accounted Salvation being extended to Men because he is not willing that any should perish but that they might come to Repentance and be saved yea he doth that in the means he useth whereby they might be saved so that he loseth none Joh. 6.39 17.12 but whoever are lost it is by rebelling against the light and so causing that which was for their welfare to be turned into a snare in their joyning with Satan that is blinding their mindes refusing when their eyes are opened in seeing to see and casting aside his word and following lying vanities they lose their own mercies and their own souls and these have one that judgeth them even the Light in the Word that hath come to them doth inwardly accuse and condemn them as guilty of sin and liable to death But yet notwithstanding Christ in his Ministration is patient towards them and waits to be gracious to them like as his Father doth being the same with him and having his Name on him and doth not in his Ministration in the dayes of his patience judge them but reserveth that his judging and passing Sentence until the last day when he is come again Whence we may understand the meaning of that sentence Eccles 9.4 To him that is joyned to all the living there is hope Rom. 11.23 so that if they abide not still in unbelief they shall be grafted in again for God is able to do it and therefore continue means still towards them but if they persist still in dis-obedience till the dayes of his patience be out Eccles 9.10 11.3 Ioh. 12.48 then no more hope but at that day the word of the Lord that he hath spoken and the light in the means that he hath extended shall judge them Rom. 2.16 for then will God judge all Men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel not by the Law of bondage as they fell under it in Adam but by the Law of liberty brought to them by Jesus Christ Iam. 2.12 which could not rightly be if in his word Salvation were not for them 2 Thes 2.10 and truly tendered to them and means whereby they might have received it and this not onely in a shew and pretence but verily and in truth that they might have been saved So far our Saviour's own Testimony of himself and his Father's and his own end in his Ministration and the same he testifieth of himself and his end in the Ministration continued by his Servants left by him in the World to that end that the words he gives them to speak are such as whereby Men should be saved and to that end and that he sends them in Ministration to that end to open their eyes and turn them Ioh. 17.15 18 21. Act. 11.14 Act. 26.17 18. c. and this affirmed by his Spirit in his Servants that God in Gospel-Ministration sends Christ to bless them in turning every of them from their iniquities and so of Christ his coming into the World both in his personal Ministration and his Ministration by his Servants Act. 3.26 This is affirmed as a faithful saying in which there is no dissimulation no equivocation no wreathedness Prov. 8.4 5 6 9. but it is according to the very Heart and Minde of God and very plain to be understood according to the import of the words and worthy all acceptation to be heeded believed and imbraced with the heart That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners 2 Tim. 1.15 sinners indefinitely such and all such as are sinners and to put all out of doubt the Apostle having mentioned what a sinner he was saith of whom I am the chief such the purpose and gracious end of God in the gift of his Son and of Christ in his coming and Ministration both immediate and mediate extended for teaching to Men. 4. That Jesus Christ according to all this Revelation of him and of the Father's love in giving him and making him known and his gracious end in this Ministration of him is to be displayed held forth preached and affirmed as a word of Truth and Verity to the World of Mankinde to all Nations to every Man in the whole Creation where-ever they come and this is plain in the commission and charge given them True it is the Ministration of John Baptist was but to the people of Israel though the light of it to be extended farther Mat. 28.19 20. Mar. 16.15 Luk. 1.16 77. Ioh. 1.7 Mat. 15 24. Mat. 10.5 6. Rom. 15.8 9. and so the personal Ministration of the Gospel by Christ was primely to them the Circumcision the lost Sheep of the House of Israel and his Disciples Ministration while he personally abode with them on Earth was no farther but to the House of Israel yet was this also to confirm the promises unto the Fathers and that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy whence when by providence led among the Samaritans Ioh. 4.10 42. he as an over-plus in his Ministration converted some of them that in hearing his voice became the Sheep of his Ministration yet he did not outwardly fold them till after his ascension and pouring forth the Holy Ghost Ioh. 10.14 15 16. when the commission and mission was enlarged for his Servants Ministration But now when his suffering-work was finished death overcome the acceptable Sacrifice offered and he on the right of God and having sent forth Spirit the veil of the Temple rent the partition-wall broken down and all Tongues sanctified to declare the Work and Name of God in they are to go into all the World and to declare and preach Christ as thus revealed Rom. 5 12 18. Mat. 22.1 7. Prov. 9.1 2 3. Isa 55.1 2 3 4. Rom. 5.18 3.23 24. to every
Purposes therein concerning Christ already spoken of CHAP. 4. Of the Purposes of God concerning Mankinde GOd in these his Purposes concerning Jesus Christ and in his Election of him hath purposed also concerning Mankinde for the honor of his Son which Purpose as ordered in his counsel is not conceiveable and expressable for us but in distinct and several parcels and so in Scripture I finde 1. The Purpose of God to be To give all Mankinde unto his Son Christ to be his and under his Dominion and dispose Rom. 14.8 9 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor 5.14 15 as their rightful Lord to whom they ought of right to live and so living to him not to perish but have life and this upon the account of his death and sacrifice for them yea whether they yield willingly to live to him or rebel against him yet upon the account of his death resurrection and sacrifice he would give them all unto him Psa 2.1 6 7 8 9 even the Heathen for his inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his possession and he shall rule them and dispose of them and judge them And upon the same account of his sufferings and sacrifice Phil. 2.7 8 9 10 11 2 Cor. 5.10 Rom. 2.16 1.9 10 11 12 in the Name of Jesus in the power and Authority of him every knee shall bow c. and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is the Lord to the Glory of God and all shall appear before his Judgement-Seat and be judged by him on the same account so that Jesus Christ by vertue of his Ransom given is Lord of all according to the Purpose of God according to which Purpose also all Men ought of right to acknowledge him Hos 11.4 Joh. 16.8 11 Phil. 2.10 11 and live to him And those that by the cords of a Man and bands of Love will not be drawn to it now shall by his Iron-Rod and irresistably putting forth of his power be brought in the last Day to that acknowledgement to their wo. And all this the purpose and according to the Purpose of God who is of one minde and hath no secret Purpose contrary to this revealed 2. Isa 45.22 Act. 14.17 17.26 27 28 31 Rom. 2.4 Psa 33.6 8 God also in this Purpose purposed That means should be extended by and through Christ to all Men according to such Revelation of Jesus Christ and evidence of his Grace through him as God hath given forth to them to evidence and make known his Grace through the Redeemer and Mediator to all Men in several ages to call and lead them to Repentance and Faith in him that they might not rebel against their Redeemer and rightful Lord and so lose their own Souls and procure to themselves perishing in a second death but by coming in to the acknowledgement of him in this Day of Grace escape that perishing and have everlasting Life And all this he hath done and doth according to his Purpose as is shewn in treating of the several Revelations of Christ See the first 15 Chap. of the 3 Part. and as he purposed so according to his purpose he sendeth forth in his seasons light and power in the means and in an especial manner where the Gospel in which is the fullest Revelation of Christ come forth Gen. 6.3 Psal 78 Isa 55.4 5 Ezek. 24.13 Joh. 3.17 Act. 26.18 is sent in which Language I am to speak he giveth this light and Power in the means working and moving at the Hearts of Men that they might repent and believe and so be saved yea he leaveth none till he have in some measure stretched forth his hand so Joh. 1.9 Isa 42.7 8 Rom. 10.8 9. 2 Cor. 6.2 as by his Spirit he hath enlightned them in some measure to discern brought his Word nigh them and moved at their hearts that they might believe being at hand to succour and enable them thereto it being his gracious minde they should accept and all this according to his purpose which is seen in his works as hath been often shewn before 3. God in his Purposes also purposed his Purpose as so ordered in the counsel of his will and purpose is That having thus given Men into the dispose of Christ and through him used such means towards them that those of them that believe in Christ according to the means and light therein with help extended shall not perish but have Eternal Life and such as persist rebelling against the light and means therein and so will not believe shall be damned This is verily the declared purpose of God and it is sure according to his minde and heart and this appeareth in God's speaking to Abraham in whose loyns Christ according to the flesh was and forth of him to come and to him God said Thou shalt be a blessing or Be thou a blessing Gen. 12.2 3 18.18 Gal. 3.8 Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.16 Act. 3.25 which is no less then a promise and command of the blessing to be on him for others and who they are is opened And In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed And this explicated to be meant of his Seed which is Christ that was to come of him So God opening his will and purpose to Abraham in preaching this Gospel to him assures him of blessing in Christ for all Nations and this to be held forth in the Gospel given him to preach in which preaching he should also be a blessing as their feet are beautiful that bring glad tidings of peace and this to and for all that they might receive it But who are they that shall indeed partake of it according to this purpose of God the Lord tells Abraham And I will bless him that blesseth thee Gen. 12.3 accepteth and rejoyceth in thy Message and curse him that curseth thee that despiseth so great blessing and salvation suitable to that said by Christ to his Apostles which rightly understood Luk. 10.16 his purpose cleerly is declared And suitable to this is that spoken of Christ in means using Dout. 18.15 18 19 Act. 3.19 23 Isa 28.16 1 Pet. 2.6 7 8 Joh. 8.24 Joh. 3.36 He shall speak forth the words of blessing but he that hearkneth not to him shall be cut off And yet more plain by the following Prophets He that believeth in himshall not make haste or be ashamed judgement also will I lay to the line c. explicated by the Apostle to have this meaning and yet still more full by John Baptist He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life But most plain and express is this in our Saviour's own words to Nicodemus Joh. 3.14 15 16 17 where he plainly shews what the will and purpose of God was and is in the gift of his Son the Saviour of the world and the means he useth towards them by him even express That
a pattern he is set forth to them in which as he is glorified so God is glorified in and by him so that predestination here cannot be a predestination of Men to be saved for whom Christ should die and suffer to save them for he then should not be the first-born in such a predestination scarce so the first in order but here he is the first in the choise predestination call justification and glorification and so in the whole pattern above all in excellency and they First believing and chosen in him and then predestinated to be conformed to him that therein he may be the chief and first-born among many Brethren And so we have the meaning in the Apostle's Description Secondly Let all these things in the words be considered as the Apostle here proposeth to the Believers according to his wonted manner the examples of such as had gone before them in the Faith to comfort and encourage them to service and suffering and through sufferings to wait for glory in which examples he also sets forth Christ as the chief to behold and conform to they when chosen were predestinated and then called to it and also justified and glorified and there is no change in God we may be sure believing in him 1 Tim. 1.16 he will even so deal in the same manner with us they are patterns for us that believe And so the Apostle giving a definition of Faith and a description of it and the marvellous effects of it in the whole Chapter Heb. 11.1 vers 13.2 sets forth a Catalogue of the great things done and suffered and their victory and certainty of the promises encourageth them having such a cloud of witnesses Heb. 12.1 2 to lay aside every c. and to run with patience the race set before them but above all looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who c. and so likewise James Take Jam. 5.10 11. my Brethren the Prophets c. for an example of suffering afflection and of patience behold we count them happy which endure ye have heard of the patience of Job and ye have seen the end of the Lord. 1 Pet. 2.5 So that as the purpose and promise of the Lord is They that trust in him shall not be confounded so these examples of his dealing with his beloved Ones Psal 9.10 34.22 Psal 22.4 5 is as a cord let down from Heaven to draw and hold us to trust in him at all times yea this exercise of Faith the Spirit leads Believers to and upholds and fills them with pleas in greatest distresses and that the Apostle propounds examples here of such as have finished their course appears in that the whole here said in 29 and 30 verses in the preterfect Tense not a word of that doing or to be done but all done Hath predestinated called justified glorified and thus taken the whole business is yet more plain And so I proceed 3. To shew what the Calling is that is here meant that foresaid hath done it already It is not the Call of unbelievers and sinners to repent and believe for Christ was never so called and though in that Call Believers are brought in to him yet it 's a following work of grace to conform to him so that the Call here is the Call of those that are Believers to such services and suffering and imitation of Christ in both as that both in the Call and the services of love and suffering they are conformed to him as is already shewn Moreover whom he did predestinate them also he called Rom. 8.30 There hath not been any of those that have been called according to purpose and loved God and were approved of him but as he hath predestinated them so also moreover and besides he hath called them forth to these services and sufferings and so to conformity with Christ therein and he is the same God still and keeps the same course still with all Believers and Lovers of him yet may we be confident and rejoyce in him in all for 4. Whom he called them also he justified The Justification here meant Rom. 4.5 3.25 is farther then simply a Justification of the ungodly believing in Christ and so receiving remission of sins past even such a Justification as in which the justified are conformed to Christ in his justification and what that was is express in the place of the Prophet Isa 50.7 8 9 Isa 43.2 Neh. 13.14 Heb. 11.4 2 Cor. 8.12 6.8 Rev. 12.11 Psal 44.17 18 Rom. 8.36 37 Isa 41.9 10 11 12 13 14 15 37 40 to which the Apostle alludes in this Chapter which Justification includes in it Help and Assistance in all services and sufferings even when they pass through fire and water that they shall not be overthrown or harmed and however condemned and defamed by Men yet he will accept and justifie their services and sufferings and approve of and justifie them believing in him when and while they are exercised in these services and sufferings yea he give them victory so as they shall overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony yea he hath alwayes done this to his Saints he called hereto he hath justified them and not onely so but Whom he justified Joh. 17.1 Heb. 12.2 Psal 44.17 18 c. Isa 52.2 Rev. 14.13 6.9 10 11. 2 Cor. 5.8 Phil. 1.23 3.20 them he also glorified He hath glorified his Son in the Nature of Man that suffered and finished the work he gave him to do so as he is glorified at his right hand he hath glorified the Saints that followed him with the glory of victory their Bodies at rest in hope and their Spirits with the Lord enjoying glorious rejoycing in the sight of his glorified body and happiness in his presence with infallible assurance of having their glory compleated on Soul and Body at his coming in the Resurrection of the Just and so hath he done to all his Saints before and so will do still and for ever And thus by this Rom. 8.28 29.30 we are led to understand the Purposes of God to be even such and the same that have been set forth in this fourth Part of the Treatise if we consider in the whole three Verses the next two things forenamed it more appears that is 5. What the end and scope of the Apostle here is and that appears plainly 1. Ch. 7.4 7 8.1 4 5 6 12 13 14 To stir them up to abide firm in the Faith and to minde the things of the Spirit and walk after the Spirit in love-services 2. Vers 17 18 23 24 To comfort and support them in the afflictions that came upon them while they walked after the Spirit in the Faith that worketh by love and so encourage them to patience and constancy in the induring of their afflictions persevering in faith and love yea even 3. To lead them to triumphing
a Law of Liberty that a Law of Sin and Death this of Righteousness and Life that a Law of Letter this of Grace and Spirit that a Ministration of Sin of Condemnation of Death this a Ministration of Righteousness of Justification and Life And that Jesus Christ is given for a Law in this sense to give this gracious Law and Testament is cleerly exprest A Law shall proceed from me Isa 51.4 42.1 4. 8.16 20. c. And he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles And the Istes shall wait for his Law And Binde up the Testimony seal the Law among my Disciples I think none that believe the Gospel deny this but we do not all agree what this Law or New Testamental Covenant is 1. Some say It is the Gospel and in this saying there is Truth Gen. 12.3 Gal. 3.8 for it is good News which was promised and is discovered in the Gospel but the Gospel was preached to Abraham before the everlasting Covenant was made with him and he and Isaac and Jacob after the making of the everlasting Covenant sojourned in the Faith thereof a hundred ninty one yeers in the Land of Promise and after that the Children of Israel sojourned four hundred thirty yeers in Egypt before the giving of the Testament given by Moses under which the Gospel was preached also Heb. 8.13 and did not make that Testament old or decayed as the coming in of the New Testament doth so though Truth be in this saying yet it answers not the Question at all What New Testament is 2. Some say The New Testament is the Gospel as now declared since Jesus Christ came in the flesh and died and rose and offered the acceptable Sacrifice and sent forth the Holy Ghost Surely they that then preached him to come and do all this preached Gospel yet was the first Testament a distinct thing then besides this And so those that now preach him come and having done all this preach good and true Gospel yet the New Testament may yet be some farther distinct thing then yet mentioned in it though I confess this saying hath much Truth in it and more tending to satisfaction then the former Isa 42.6 8.16 but yet it satisfieth not because of that said before and because all here mentioned is preached in his being a Light to the Gentiles and that is somewhat peculiar to be for a Covenant of the People besides the everlasting Covenant as to be made in compleat performance is mentioned in the Gospel also so that there is more in the Gospel then New Testament though all in the Gospel as now come forth is to be preached under the New Testament as the Gospel was before preached under the old So this saying shews not what the New Testament is to any satisfying 3. Some say The everlasting Covenant made with Abraham now the old Covenant that shadowed it is taken away by the coming of Christ and that so cleerly opened in the Gospel that is therefore called The New Testament This hath much Truth in it and comes nigh to satisfying leaving room for Faith without Mosaical Observances to lay hold on this Covenant as confirmed in Christ to Abraham Heb. 8.6 10.19 and to wait for the making of that Covenant in performance to all the Seed And this might seem to be grounded on Heb. 8 But when I consider That the Holy Ghost speaks there of Laws Heb. 8.10 10.16 and saith I will put my Laws into their minde and write them upon their hearts whereas the Prophet mentions but one Law Iâ—r 31.23 saying I will put my Law in their inward parts c. this gives me to conceive a twofold performance of that Jer. 31.33 34. one spiritual onely to the Sons of God by Faith in and by the first coming of Christ the other literal and spiritual both on Soul and Body at the second coming of Christ of which the Prophet more especially speaketh including the former and so leaving room for a New Testamental Covenant to come in and remain from the first coming of Christ to the second in stead of that old faulted Covenant Ier. 31.32 And the Apostle speaking there more especially of the first coming of Christ and things done thereby including the second coming and things to be then done he speaks of both Laws the first whereof is the New Testament as shall after be shewn and doth here also in this That the Prophet expresly and the Apostle inclusively speaks of a time yet to come saying After those dayes that is Ier. 31.8 31 32. Heb. 8.10 when God hath brought both Israel and Judah together into their own Land and converted them Besides here is that mentioned that shall be but is not done to any Believer in this life nor fully will till it be done to them all together at that day as so to know him as they shall teach no more every Man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know him note this well from the least of them to the greatest of them and what time that is the Apostle tells us and he so forgives iniquity as he will remember their sins no more no 1 Cor. 13 9 10. 1 Iob. 3.2 Ier. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.11 12. not by any corruption abiding in them or any weakness on them in Soul or Body any pain hunger thirst mortality or death as the Spirit explicates it to us Rev. 21.3 4. so that not onely the New Testament but somewhat more even the whole everlasting Covenant as made with Abraham and David is in Heb. 8.10 11. which Covenant being made and lived in so long before the first Testament did not make that Testament old no nor yet the renewing of it to David so that cleerness of satisfying is not yet in this saying and yet truely this everlasting Covenant made with Abraham and renewed to David signed with Circumcision the literal fulfilling as typical both for the Inheritance and King being over the spiritual fulfilling begun by Christ compleated in him manifested and extended by him and the first Fruits received and receiving by the spiritual Seed Rom. 8.23 24 25. 1 Pet. 1.3 9. and the Harvest and full of the Covenant in Soul and Body is that we wait for so that this very Covenant is the Flower of our Hope and it is confirmed in Christ begun to be performed in and by him and given in him and he given for a Covenant and in believing in him and receiving him it is by Faith received and Hope of real receit enjoyed a blessed Hope If any say But the outward Sign and Seal of the Truth of this Covenant to testifie withal which Abraham had is wanting to us I answer That typical fulfillings of the Covenant are over and Circumcision as it was a Seal so it was a Type and Figure also Blood being shed in it and what it did typisie and figure forth the
uphold in temptation To raise from the dead To meet Christ in the air I make no determination But I do not beleeve that so it is because neither the Scripture nor experience of any beleever so testifieth But of this I am sure That every one that beleeveth in Christ according to the working of this his mighty power in which is some distinctness intimated between this mighty power and the working of it He that beleeveth according to the working or forth-putting of the operation of this his mighty power whether more or less put forth too and in him he is accepted as a true beleever in him and of that Church whereof he is the head in whom all the fulness is Eph. 6.10 1 Pet. 1.5 And the exceeding greatness of his power is for and towards such And so not the present working of it or operation in them but the exceeding greatness of this his mighty power that is in him which he desired they might know is propounded to all the beleevers one and other that they might beleeve in it and be strong in it that so by it they might be kept through faith unto salvation Yet notwithstanding what the exceeding greatness of this his mighty power is towards such beleevers All such beleevers do not know clearly which if they did it would afford them unspeakable consolation though the full and perfect knowledge of it is not in any mortal man nor will so be in beleevers till the resurrection of the just no more than the greatness of the hope or that hoped for to which he called them or the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints though growing in faith and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus they by his spirits illumination be sweetly and in a measure cleerly and in respect of the first beginning of faith abundantly known which the Apostle acknowledging these to be beleevers sealed and faithful in Christ intimates them to be yet wanting in and so prayeth for it for them suitable to his instructions and exhortations to the Hebrews So that this place was wrong quoted for any other kinde of faith or manner of obtaining it serving nothing at all to such an end Eph. 2.1 5 6 7 8.10 Speaks of no other kinde of faith or manner or obtaining it Col. 1.23 24 2.13 14. Gal. 4.6 7 3. 5. Heb 3.1.6 c. or quickning in it but of that is compleat in Christ and a first fruits received through faith in him which was also in those mentioned among the Collossians and Galatians and Hebrews to whom those great warnings were given and so not at all to the purpose quoted for another manner of obtaining faith CHAP. XVII Of Mr. Owens second saying in his second Concernment IN explication of this New life the holy Spirit is given to quicken them unto He faith Enduing them with a new life with a spiritual gracious and supernatural habit spreading it self upon their whole souls making them new creatures throughout in respect of parts investing them with an abiding principle All this soberly Col. 1.4 5 22 23 24. 2.13 14. Gal. 4.6 7. 3. 5 4. Heb. 3.1.6 6 1 2 4 5. and according to Scripture understood is very good and true Nor is there any kinde of faith of the Spirits working received that can be called True in its kinde or upon account whereof any in Scripture are frequently termed Saints and beleevers if they be not in some measure in truth endued with this And all this in a good measure evidenced to be in those beleevers so warned and so in that faith and holiness affirmed to be in them the Collossians the Galathians and the Hebrews and confessed by the many expressions used by M. Owen in that kinde of faith and holiness which he saith also is really true in its kinde and wrought by the Spirit as hath been shewn in opening the principles c. and in setting down his expressions So that there is nothing neither in this saying worthy the least blame or refusal but to be received and confessed true and good But only his asserting it to set forth another kinde of faith and holiness and manner of obtaining it then besides that before confessed by him true in its kinde And his altering and stretching out some terms to make this faith seem to be of another kinde but neither will his quotations or terms prove or countenance the same or serve for that end at all Let his quotations be considered Matth. 7.17 Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit but accrrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit Consider with this the 16 18 19 20. verses Matth. 12.33 Either make the tree good and his fruit good or else make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt for the tree is known by his fruit Consider with this also the 34 and 35. verses And consider with both James 3.10 11 12. The whole weight of the business for right understanding these parabolical and metaphorical sayings lyeth in knowing what is here meant by Tree whether the man in the substance of his soul and body or the ruling disposition in the heart of the man diffusing it self in all the powers and faculties of the soul or both these And then in what manner the one and upon what account the other Let these be every way considered And so 1 If we take the Tree simply singly directly 1 King 8.46 2 Chron. 6.36 1 Joh 1.8 10. Mar. 10 17 18 Heb. 9.5 Luke 20.36 and properly for the man in the substance of his soul and body then as all are naturally come forth from fallen Adam so we fell in him and come forth corrupt from him so there is no man living on this earth sinless and good yea there never was a man living on this earth good indeed but one that is the man Jesus Christ who is God over all blessed for ever So that in this sense there neither is nor will be found upon the earth any good man that may answer to those Texts till the resurrection of the just and then there will be such found So this is not the sense 2 If we take Tree for the disposition ruling in man which is neither the substance of soul or body simply considered but some infused inclination so as man in falling from God lost and deprived himself of his Image so there was a corrupt inclination or disposition ingendered and sprung up in his heart Rom. 5.12 Gen. 8.21 Jer. 17.9 Rom. 6.19 20 7.5 Eph. 2.1 2 3. 2 Cor. 4.4 from the word or lye of Satan in and by the Serpent suggested and by man beleeved which is full of aversness and enmity to God and prone to all that is contrary to the minde of God and his design whence flows manifold evil lusts and affections all strengthned and revived by a new plot of Satan in unbeleevers whereby he rules and so these lusts bring forth
And exhortation to them vers 6. And admonition to them that none beguile them vers 4.8 either with inticing words or Philosophy and vain deceit or by shews of humility and great knowledge intruding themselves into things they have not seen c. and so happily either pressing them to Law-observances for their perfection or to some humane and self-mortifications or to look for some particular words or some degree and condition in attainments or some secret decree of election that was of their persons before their calling or any thing what ever besides that which is discovered to them in Christ As if there were not enough in him to be received in beleeving on him And so hee warns to beware that we be not removed from him and that hope of the Gospel given us in beleeving on him Col. 1.22 23 24. For he will present us blameless if we continue in the faith c. This is the Apostles doctrine and scope as appears in this and former and following Chapters cleerly so as in all the proofs not a syllable to maintain any true faith of a second kinde nor the cause contended for but much rather that he contendeth against and more need not bee said but only to view his terms about their priviledges in the works of God passed on them which also are needful to be considered CHAP. XXII Of the terms of Gods works passed on beleevers in this Concernment OF these terms understood as is fore-shewn and some so molified as hath been shewn before in Pages 414 435 436. they may be all received As for the term Regenerated it is not used here and hath been considered where it is onely here let that place Mat. 19.28 Ye which have followed me in the Regeneration c. be considered he saith not Ye which are regenerated as speaking of a work done but a doing and it may be taken both for Regeneration and the Ministry of Regeneration in both which they were then following him Now what was the Regeneration of Christ surely he needed none of heart spirit or disposition he was holy in and from conception and knew no sin but he had a weak frail and mortal body of the seed of David Abraham Adam and how was that regenerated but through many sufferings and death in the resurrection from the dead Luke 24.26.45 46 47. Isa 53 8 10 11 Psal 2. Act. 13.33 And so he passâ—â—on through sufferings till he was truly dead and in the resurrection he was begotten there was his regeneration and such as are so raised are his generation or regenerated people whence such promises to be performing in the spirit and soul as through dying with Rom. 6 4 5. 2 Tim. 2 11. Phil. 3.9.10 11 12 13. Joh. 15 16-25 Mat. 10. 24 9-13 and for him we are conformed to his death for we need it in that and in soul and body after we are truly dead in the resurrection of the just and those that follow him so to the death shall then enjoy that promised Mat. 19.28 and such desires of conformity to him in sufferings And as for the ministration of Christ for regeneration of others it was a ministration carried an end through sufferings in which he persevered to the end and so must that ministration of his servants be also and he that perseveres in following him in that to the end shall enjoy also that promised And that regeneration is thus to be understood here for a work not compleatly yet done but in doing both in regeneration and ministration of it is evident by the Spirit in Luke mentioning the same thing so far as they had proceeded in it saith Luke 22.28 29 30. Yee are they which have continued with me in my temptations expressing that as the medium through which regeneration is here attained which minded will help to understand all the terms that are here used The term Accepted I suppose he means it to be the same with Justified because there is no other quotation for it and they may well be alike taken and they are both alike true of all that are indeed beleevers without difference in respect of their persons as such and so sons by faith yet is not this acceptation and Justification answerable in degree to that which shall be in the resurrection of the just when their persons as Sons and all their wayes as becoming Sons will be alike accepted and justified but not altogether so yet yea in this life even beleevers in whom the faith is may be in that respect accepted and justified as Sons and yet some words or act and so a way of theirs rejected and condemned and they in that not accepted or justified but both reproved and corrected No doubt but Moses and Aaron aboad in the faith Numb 20.12 and were accepted as the Saints of the Lord yet their failing in an act of faith and not honouring the power and freeness of Gods mercy before the people was reproved and they corrected for it No doubt but Peter aboad in the faith and love of his Master Maâ— 16.22.23 and was accepted as a true disciple yet not acting rightly in his faith his carnal counsel is rejected as proceeding from some suggestion of Satan to whom Christ as in Mat. 4. saith Depart and Peter sharply reproved 1 Cor. 11.30 32. No question but those corrected with weakness sickness and some with death for so gracious an end were true beleevers and so accepted but their demeanor not suitable to their faith was deeply reproved and chastened And the same I conceive of David Psal 32. though at one time foulely faln yet not utterly departed from the faith and his beleef in God and adoration of him for then what caused that great grief and disquietness of heart nor yet wholly out of favour of God in respect of his person as the Lords servant but in respect of his evil way disallowed 1 King 15.5 reproved and sorely afflicted And this I conceive because David is affirmed not to have turned aside c. all the dayes of his life it is not said save onely in that time in which sure were many other matters but save onely in the matter of Vriah Rom. 3.22 25. 5.8 3.25 4 5. 10 9 10. c. And the word Accepted thus understood is safe and good for all beleevers and so the word Justified also But for the rest there are quotations to be viewed Rom. 5.1 The Apostle had before discovered what true faith is in respect of the object Christ as having dyed rose c. And the true beleeving begot by the discovery of this object which is therefore called faith first in the beginning bringing to and closing with him namely an hearty beleeving That this Jesus is the Christ and that he dyed for our sins and rose for our justification and is the Lord of all and the propitiation for our sins this is the