unto him even to the man Christ Jesus He is the Mediator between God and men who gave himselfe a ransome for all to be testified in due time And this that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father that they should acknowledge his right of Lordship by purchase and redemption and by the Fathers gift to be as large and full as is the Fathers right of Lordship by Creation and absolute propriety in And liberty to dispose of them as his Creatures for the Father hath committed all judgment to him as the Son of Man whence also his ability and fitnesse to judge is the same with the Fathers for the Father hath now actually glorified him in mans nature with his own selfe the glory he had with him before the World was haveing finished the works the Father gave him to doe on Earth which were also so accepted as finished with the Father from the beginning of the World He hath put his spirit on him to bring forth judgment to the Gentiles so that he stands in the strength of the Lord and in the Majesty of the name of the Lord his God Joh. 11. 4 5. Math. 28. 18. Isa 42. 1 6. with ch 11. 1 2. Mich. 5. 4. That Men in honouring him might honour the Father in him and that in hearing his word and through and according to it believing on the Father that sent him and whosoever so doth the Father through that word and according to it justifies them and makes them partakers of eternall life and the rest he holds under condemnation by and according to the same word doctrine law and rule of the Son of Man so bearing witnesse of him yea that men might honour him The glory the Father hath given him is such as in which he is infinitely strengthened fitted and appointed to call all the ends of the Earth as Isa 55. 4 5. 45. 22. Psal 50. 1. Math. 28. 18 19 20. Mark 16. 15 Luk. 24. 47. Act. 3. 22 26. And that in the name and power of God his Father in such wise as to make the dead to hear to open the blinde eyes and awaken those dead in sins or make his word so powerfull to the awakening them that they might in hearing hear even in the light and power of his voyce in the Gospell as that is by any meanes of his appointment witnessed preached to them and that they that in hearing doe heare may be quickned and made alive by it For as the Father hath life in himselfe so he hath given to the Son to have life in himselfe and hath given him authority to execute judgment also both here and hereafter because he is the Son of Man 3 In the verses under consideration he compleates the discovery of the excellency of his person and works and his singular one-nesse with the Father in declarâ—ng those greater and more glorious works which the Father will after shew and bring forth by him in the generall Resurrection and judgment And with this also corrects their sinfull marvelling at what he had before declared Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth c. The end and scope of our Saviour then in the text appeares to be to discover the excellency of his person and works as he is God-man the word made flesh the son of God the son of man and therein to teach and lead into the understanding and usefulnesse of things to come even of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all And ended this is the prime end and scope of all Scriptures to bear witnesse of Christ Joh. 5. 39 as the Son of God the Saviour of the world the Lord by purchase and so the Judge also of quick and dead 1 Joh. 4. 14. Act. 10. 36 42. yea this is the way of the holy Ghost in them to teach all things and lead into all truth and so to shew even things to come in the demonstration of him or by glorifying him and that in taking of his things and shewing them Therein he commends and displayes the compassionate love mercifull kindnesse and pitty of God to sinners Joh. 3. 16 17. Rom. 5. 5 6 7 8. his faithfulnesse and readinesse in giving all things with him Rom. 8. 32. And to accept all comers into delightfull love and favour without upb ayding or respect of persons 2 Cor. 5. 17. with verses 14 15. Act. 10. 34 35 43. As also his unspeakable terror against scorners that will break forth afterward if while it is to day they receive not the love of the truth to save them 2 Cor. 5. 11. 14 15. Hebr. 10. 29. Yea there he shewes mans sinfulnesse vilenesse and deadnesse in shewing him in whom his help is 2 Cor. 5. 14. And so the unprofitablenesse of all his works and therewith also the greatnesse of the evill of unbeliefe and unthankfulnesse of loving and chusing darknesse when light comes Joh. 16. 8 9 10. yea thereby he leades into all truth and so shewes things to come vers 13 14. The word of the beginning of Christ being the Doctrinall foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God and of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and eternall judgement Hebr. 6. 1 2. Called therefore the great things of his Law the vision of all Hose 8. 12. Isa 29. 11. with ch 28. 12 16. The key of knowledge Luk. 11. 42. 52. That by an exercise of faith in him according thereto we might reape the profit and use of all Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. 15. The way in which our Saviour proceeds in pursuance of the forementioned scope and end in these verses is 1 By warning or admonishing them against sinfull marvelling such as is the proper fruit and issue of unbeliefe and an impediment to faith for there is a marvelling that 's good and commendable such as is of faith an esteeming reverencing and so admiring the unsearchable depth and excellency of the truth wisdome and goodnesse of the things believed and perceived as passing all understanding and knowledge such as that Rom. 11. 31. with Eph. 3 18 19. Phil. 4. 7. Psal 40. 5. and 71. 15 17. But that marvelling that 's not of faith but an impediment to it such as in which a man lookes upon the things set before him in thy testimony of God concerning Christ as strange absurd and incredible because he cannot comprehend it by reason such as that in Nicodemus how can this thing be Joh. 3. 9. like that Joh. 12. 34. with Hosea 8. 12. and Isa 29. 9 12. Against this our Saviour admonisheth them marvell not at this namely that which he had already declared of the present power of the voyce of the son of God by reason of the glory which the Father had given him
and effectuall with the Father as that through Christ in the name and grace of the Father they might have been saved in due time They could not be righteously judged for denying him that bought them and not receiving the love of the truth that they might be saved His judgment therefore from such demonstrations is and shall be evidenced to be according to truth against them that commit such things see Rom. 2. 2. 4. 5. 10-16 3. 3 4. Act. 17. 30 31. 2 Thess 2. 10. 11 12. Though the spirit that dwelleth in us as of us Justeth to envy and pride yet God giveth more grace and because he doth so therefore he saith He resisteth the proud that still persist in their pride and stubbornnesse notwithstanding his grace bringing salvation did abound and was more then their naturall filthinesse and corruption and would have overcome all for them and in them had it not been willfully again and again rejected by them This is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darknesse Jam. 4. 5 6. Joh. 3. 19. Therefore also in the right understanding of the greatnesse and truth of this love of God in Christs dying for all and through it to manward the Apostles did discern and know the unspeakable greatnesse of his terror against Scorners in that Day of his judging all men by Jesus Christ according to their Gospell 2 Car. 5. 10. 11-14 15. Hebr. 2. 3. 10. 29. And the truth is whatever is said to the lessening or taking off from either the greatnesse or truth of Gods grace in and through Christ to manward tends every whit so much to the extenuating of their evill that sin against it and to the abating or taking off from the clear discoveries of the terror of the Lord and the greatnesse and equity of his severity that shall be against Scorners persisting such and so to the blunting the edge and taking away the force of all Gospell admonitions and warnings for according to his fear or grace and glory in Christ to manward that he might be feared by them now even such so infinite and unspeakable will be his wrath against Scorners then Psal 90. 10 11. 2 This Resurrection and Judgment shall be effected by his mighty power In the immediate and wonderfull putting forth of his voyce even the same powerfull voyce or spirit that now breathes in the Gospell to the awakening the dead or making them to hear and to the making partakers of life them that in hearing hear That it shall be by the same voyce is clear in the 25. and 28. verses compared This more wonderfull efficacy of his voyce in raising the dead and bringing them in judgment is here declared to correct and silence their sinfull marvelling at the 〈◊〉 power and efficacy of the same voyce on the spirits of men before 〈…〉 â—uch is asserted by the Apostle Rom. 8. 11. If the spirit of him that 〈…〉 the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead 〈…〉 also quicken your mortall Bodies that is Raise them in the first Resurrection and to life by the same spirit that now dwels in you And in such wise also the generall Resurrection of all the rest of the dead shall be effected by him in the last day as is signified Joh. 6. 39-44 where he not only saith that he will raise them up at the last day But clearly signifies that he will doe it by the same power by which he was now sent to draw them and was drawing them even by that eternall spirit by which he was raised and with which he is filled and cloathed without measure in that Body in mans nature by vertue of his sufferings and by which he is now striving with and working on the spirits of men to the drawing and quickening them yea that word that he hath now spoken to them and preached by his spirit to their spirits shall judge them at the last Day Joh. 12. 48. By the power now graciously breathing in it to make them willing they shall then be brought to his judgment Seat whether they will or no And be judged by and according to it God hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised Him from the dead by whom in the mighty putting forth of the same power and spirit he will judge discern discover and bring to light and judgment every secret thing whether it be good or bad And so judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to Paul's Gospell This Instruction is used in Scripture for consolation to those that now receive and retain this voyce of the Son of man This word and spirit in it by which he was raised to dwell in them He shall raise and judge them by the same word and spirit that now dwels in them speaking peace and giving healing to their spirits through his bloud and the love of God therein displayed so that it must needs be to them a resurrection to life and the compleating of that joy to which they are now quickened in their spirits by the first fruites of the same spirit while yet the body is dead because of sin as Rom. 8. 10-11 12. 24-25 so Job 11. 25 26. I am saith our Saviour the Resurrection and the life not only as the procuring Cause but also as the effecter and worker of it And that by the same spirit by which he was raised and with which he is immeasurably filled in mans nature And by which he now accompanies his word that through him men might believe and dwels in the hearts of the receivers in a first fruites of it as is shewed before Therefore says he because I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth on me though he were dead yet shall he live And he that liveth and believeth on me shall never dye he shall not dye or be separated from God or cut off from his hope in that first death or shadow of death which he must passe through And the second death shall have no power on him yea the first fruites of the spirit being to the quickening their spirits that now receive it what can the harvest or fullnesse of the same be to them when it shall be poured out upon them but still more even to fullnesse of efficacy of the same nature life from the dead The totall quickening of soul and body together So likewise the same Doctrine is used for admonition and warning to the rejectors while it s to day to take heed of murmuring against that power by which he is now striving with them drawing and working upon their hearts For by the same power spirit voyce or word of the Son of man they shall be raised and judged in the last day And therefore it must needs be a terrible resurrection and Judgment to those
necessity of ceasing from a mans own works that he may attain righteousnesse yea that this cessation is in and with that believing that is imputed for righteousnesse The working here mentioned and the believing on him that justifies the ungodly cannot stand together There is then in this believing with the heart which is unto righteousness A ceasing from a mans own works an entring into rest as Hebr. 4. which also answers to that instruction in the verses before the Text shewing the hearing his word and believing on him that sent him to be such as in which the Son is honoured and so the Father in him who is not truly honoured or gloryed in without this ceasing from our own works in which is a relinquishing all glorying in the flesh and not suffering it to glory or lift up it self in his presence Phil. 3. 3-10 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 with Jer. 9. 23 24. 1. The hearing his word Joh. 5. 24. The believing God Rom. 4. 3. in his testimony or record that he hath already given of his Son as 1 Joh. 5. 9-12 This is the first and fundamentall act in this faith of the opperation of God where this is with the heart and unfeined there is equally the other act or acts in it produced by the power of the word of truth so believed Therefore this alone is given as a description of that whole faith of the opperation of God wherwith a man believes to righteousnesse Rom. 10. 9 10. with ch 4. 3. Such it is as in which a man being enlightened and made to hear by the preventing grace of God in which the voyce of the Son of God in the witnesses of Gods goodnesse that is in and through him or in the preaching of peace by him comes to him even to his spirit by Gods spirit in and through the meanes vouchsated opening the eyes and eares of his mind with which grace God in and by Christ prevents every man in due time and alwayes before he require any hearing or receiving of them Such I say as in which a man in that enlightening and perswasion that is in that evidence and demonstration of the spirit in which his testimony that he hath already given comes to them Falls down before it gives glory to it as to the word of the Lord ceasing from his own thoughts words and works on Gods holy day even in the day of Gods power or powerfull word coming to him he is in that evidence and demonstration of the spirit in it perswaded of the truth goodnesse and faithfullnesse of it in it selfe and in all it saith and embraceth it esteemes loves receiveth and reverenceth it as the word of God and not of man As a good word a faithfull saying worthy to be received with all acceptation as the truth which teacheth all things and of which is no lye And accordingly rejoyeeth in it as having found all riches and that which answers all needs and is worthy to be submitted too and that all reproved by it should be parted with for it and so with meeknesse receives the ingrafted word that is able to save the soul without inward wrath murmurings or disputeings against it Ceasing from the workings of their own thoughts reasonings or Imaginations and so from consulting with the Doctrines and traditions of men that life up themselves against the knowledge of God suffering them to fall before it as the weapons thereof are mighty through God to cast them down they let God be true and themselves and every man lyars Neither seeking to measure or comprehend this light or word of truth brought to them by the darknesse of their reason or Imagination or by Philosophy and vain deceite after the traditions of men But perceiving in this light every man to be brutish in his knowledge as Jer. 10. 14 23. with Prov. 30. 2 3 4. They fall down in the sence and acknowledgment of their inabillity by any wisedome or strength of man to receive and comprehend what is discovered and brought to them That so they may be made wise in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit that brings it attending to receive all their demonstrations of truth and light and power to receive and embrace them in and from Gods testimony in a silent adhearing to it as fooles in themselves And so in believing the truth goodnesse and faithfullnesse of the word in its own sayings though they be never so short in understanding what is contained and plainly expressed in it yet believeing they waite for all further wisedome understanding and strength seeking it in the Lord and not in man or the things of man that no flesh may glory in his presence Likewise in this receiving his word with the heart there is a ceasing from the workings of the carnall mind in its inclinations affections and lusts which are set upon the riches of this World the praise of men the pleasures of this life or some exaltation or lifting up himselfe in some selfe sufficiency and that not only before men but before God or in his presence A ceasing from these 1. In their lifting up themselves in direct opposiâ—ion to the testimony or word of truth And to hinder the receiving and acknowledgment of it 2. In their seeking to get seeret service and satisfaction to themselves in mens receiving and closeing with it Either of which wayes the flesh with its affections and lusts will hinder mens hearty and unfeined receiving the word of truth the Gospell of their salvation if they suffer it not to be crucified and themselves to be brought of from it in the light and power of that word Therefore those that are Christs are said to have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Implying that they could never have so received and retained his word in their heart as to draw and unite them to Christ if they had still lived in the flesh or suffered that to live and rule in their spirit or minded the things of it and made provision for it for they that are in the flesh cannot please God Some by working in the wisedome and Imaginations of the flesh seeking and professing to be wise consulting with Philosophy and vain deceite their own thoughts and the traditions of men and so by murmuring among themselves close the eyes and eares of their mind against the truth when opened by it break his bands by which he is drawing them in his Doctrine And so keep out the light of his knowledge and themselves from acknowledging or understanding the truth of his sayings Joh. 6. 41 42 43 44. 12. 34 35 Rom. 2. 21 22 23. 1 Cor. 1. 21 22 23. 1 Tim. 6. 20 21. Others when convinced of truth yet still seeking after wisedome in themselves to find out and comprehend the truth of Gods sayings by their Imaginations or by the same wisedome and reason of man with which before they did or others yet do oppose it And to build their faith
up in the blessing Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from hence forth yea saith the spirit c. He that endureth to the end shall be saved Be thou faithfull unto death saith Christ and I will give thee the crowne of life Math. 24. 13. Rev. 2. 10. So James affirming the blessedness of the man that endureth temptation saith That when he is tryed namely to the end when that work of trying purging and making white through manifold temptations is finished he shall receive the crown of life Jam. 1. 12. Many that have been going right on their way yea runing wel suffered many things yet afterward wickedly drawing back and departing from the living God by an evill heart of unbeliefe have not been found among the righteous nor shall be found among them when he appeareth they so persisting till sin be finished Therefore let us not be weary of well doing In due season we shall reap if we faint not Thus we have done with the first branch of the point under consideration namely who they are that have done good And what we have said in it leads into the understanding of the next branch namely who they are that in a like scripture-sence according to the rule of the Gospell have done evill To that therefore we shall ad but a few words The doing evill that is imputed to men and which brings under condemnation the wrath of God is clearly expressed according to what is also shewed before to be mens being contentious against and not obeying the truth when it is manifested to them in their minds by the evidencâ— demonstration of the spirit and powerfully leading to repentance They then like not to retain it in their knowledge or so to receive the love of the truth as to save them but are incensed against Christ and his gospell because he reprooves their deeds by the light and power of it Rom. 2. 6 7 8 9. with ch 1. 18 19 21 28. 2. 1-4 5. 2 Thess 1. 8. 2. 10 11 12. Isa 45. 24. Their willfull refusing to come in his drawings to â—imselfe for he is drawing all in due time even to himselfe for life And this is the condemnation that when light comes men love and chuse darkness Hose 11. Job 6. 47 with ch 12 31. 32. Psal 2. Joh. 12. 47. 48. 25. 22. 24. nor is any man under a state of condemnation or wrath but for such seeing hateing hearing and rejecting for the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son And so the time of their doing evill in this sence is in the very opportunity given them for doing good even when light comes when he is preaching peace and witnessing goodness to their spirits when his goodness is leading and drawing to repentance even when and as they are so called to the most high they goe back and willfully refuse to exalt or honour him in those discovery â—s and operations of his goodnesse and glory in and through him vouchsafed Hose 11. 1 Pet. 3. 19. Joh. 3. 19. Rom. 2 4 5. If light had not so come to them or he had not so spoken to them they had not known or been capable of sins of this nature as now charged upon them But yet mens evill or in quities of this nature though they are truly said to be Doers and workers of it while they continue in it yet are not in a full and proper sence said to be done or finished nor so reputed of God While yet the day of salvation lasteth to any man that is while God is yet calling his grace bringing salvation to them If yet they repent and seek him none of their former wickednesse shall be remembred to him that is joyned to all the living there is hope but when sin is finished it brings forth death In an utter separation of the person from Gods mercy and binding him over and sealing him up to the wrath to come They that have done evill to the resurrection of damnation 2. The next and last point to be considered in this last position propounded is where in the manifest difference that shall be made between them in the resurrection standeth or how it shall be made and made to appear in the coming forth of the one by the power of his voyce to the resurrection of life of the other by the power of the same voyce to the resurrection of damnation there is a reall difference between the doers of good and the doers of evill now in this day before either of them have finished their course And a very great one too see 1 Ioh. 5. 19. 20. The whole world lies in wickednesse even in the wicked one for while they willfully remaine in the state and condition or in the darknesse of this world in ignorance of God in Christ strangers to the life of God loveing and chusing their darknesse when light comes they consequently remaine under the Power Bondage and Dominion of Satan holding in captivity to sin the mind conscience and whole man So that they are in their uncleannesse and not washed from it in the flesh and under the wrath of God for not believing on him that came to save and deliver them is bringing that salvation to them through the power and in the grace of his truth But saith the Apostle speaking of themselves and other Believers or doers of truth God hath given us an understanding to know him that is true and we are in him that is true namely as the fruit of the knowledge of him we are brought into him to have our hearts and mindes stayed there as a full object and foundation of rest and satisfaction to our soules a sure refuge and house of defence to save us from sin and Satan and hide us from the wrath of God we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ and so in God This is the true God this is eternall life Babes keep your selves from Idols They in whom the word of truth the things heard from the begining in the word of the truth of the Gospell remaines or abideth do continue in the Son and in the Father 1 Ioh. 2. 24 25. As the fruit of which knowledge of and union with God in Christ The righteous is more excellent or abundant then his neighbour But the way of the wicked seduceth them Prov. 12. 26. But this difference is not yet manifest or visible as to outward appearance or to be seen by the carnall mind nor otherwise then as faith is the evidence of things not seen while Christ doth not yet appear personally in his glory on the Earth and in his spirituall presence in through and according to the Gospell is hidden not discerned known or taken notice of by the World But under reproach his people also are in lâ—ke manner a hidden people and rendered as the filth and off-scouring of all things unto this day As he
of Gods truth on such demonstrations as is suited to the wisedome of this World They receive it not as the word of God but as the word of men And so deprive themselves of the excellent sweetnesse and efficacy of it their faith resting on the wisedome and strength of man and not in the power of God as is signified 1 Cor. 2. 1 5. 1 Thess 2. 13. whence Believers are admonished to beware of Philosophy and vain deceite c. Coll. 2. 8. Likewise some by working in their own will and purpose to hide serve and get satisfaction to the lusts and affections of the flesh against the light and power of the reproofes of instruction keep out themselves from listening to or from understanding and receiving the word of truth yea many see and hate because it reproves their deeds Joh. 3. 19. 7. 7. 8. 43 44. 6. 27-36 5. 44. Ezek. 33. 30-33 Others in listening to and receiving the truth yet retaining such divers lusts the heart still inclined to covetousnesse the praise of men or the like And now thinking to get or keep these things together with the truth or also to get them by and in the receiving and profession of it still retaining and pursuing the lust seeking to render themselves wise strong and honourable in Christ or in the receiving and acknowledgment of him as those 1 Cor. 4. 10. contrary to 1 Thess 2. 3 4 5 6. They herein disable themselves from so coming to the knowledge and acknowledgment of the truth as that they might be saved by it And so make their very believing in vain Joh. 12. 42 43. 2 Tim. 3. 6 7. 1 Tim. 6. 9 10 11. For no man can serve two Masters Math. 6. 24. No following after righteousnesse to purpose without an equall fleeing from these things in the pursuite 2 Tim. 2. 19-22 But he that doth truth cometh to the light ceasing from his own wisedome thoughts and works that he may see all his works wrought in God receives his word as his word in its own evidence and power and not as mans to be measured or comprehended by mans wisedome And as a good and faithfull saying in which is contained enough to satisfy and make willing to let goe all other advantages and suffer the breaking of other purposes and desires for And worthy to be submitted to in what ever it saith though discovering and reproving evill in himselfe And so there is in this hearty believing the word of truth the true confession of sins and judging a mans selfe believing and acknowledging himselfe such a sinner and worthlesse helplesse one his sins so vile his works so vain and unclean as this word discovers them And because so discovered in the light of that Gospell of their salvation that sets open before them the Fountain for their washing and healing 1 Ioh. 5. 7. 9. And this word where-ever so believed and received with the heart unfeinedly According to the Discoveries and Demonstrations of it brought nigh in those preachings of it vouchsafed for he requires not any other or farther receiving then according to what he gives yea he is very mercifull in not upbraiding with what dullnesse and shortness he findes in that and to him that hath shall more be given I say where so believed with the heart it works effectually 2. A believing on him that sent Christ Ioh. 5. 24. And hath raised him from the dead and through him as raised from the dead for our justification justifieth the ungodly Rom 4. 5. 24. 25. Which believing on him is such as in which I. The heart and mind from the hearty perswasion of the truth and goodnesse of his word and in the light and power thereof is stayed on the Lord Jesus Christ and so on that name of the Father in him resting satisfied with this and trusting in and to it as a sure full and sufficient ground and foundation for all faith and hope in God and bottome matter of feeding and rejoyceing at all times a sure Refuge and strong Tower of defence to run into for saving to the utmost and in all his needs And so rejoyceing in the Lord Jesus even in his flesh that he gave for the life of the World And so in that Redemption Righteousnesse and life in Him as the fruit thereof as one that needs or desires no other thing to be added to or with it for object of saustaction or feeding ground of faith or hope for whatever is yet needfull or wanting to him And therefore renouncing all other objects of satisfaction and grounds of rest trust or rejoycing to his soul as losse and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of him that he may only know him and him crucified and be found in him cloathed with his righteousnesse and not that of his own either alone or together with it Isa 26. 3. 50. 10. Ioh. 6. 32 33 35 45-50-58 Phil. 3. 7-10 Gal. 2. 20. He worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly Some labouring to establish a righteousnesse of their own in the wisedome and strength of the flesh according to the Law thereby keep out themselves from knowing and proving the fullnesse and excellency and from submitting to the righteousnesse of God in Christ Rom. 10 3. Others in their coming to him yet reasoning with flesh and bloud and looking upon the things to be let goe or parted with for him and the sweetnesse and gain they have apprehended in them labouring to retain and hold fast the rejoyceing and confidence they have had in such works or things of the flesh And yet to have their rejoyceing in Christ and enjoy that consolation that is in him And the comfort of Gods love through him also and together with the former or looking back again upon those things believed when they have begun to let them goe for Christ and seeking to be perfected by the flesh in the wisedome or strength of it or things of its commending to that purpose when they have begun in the spirit These by their working and labouring make Christ of none effect to themselves For they cannot know him prove and tast his preciousnesse And he found in him without a hearty and daily letting goe and suffering the losse of their own things yea whatever hath been gainfull to them as discovered and reproved in the light of the knowledge of him Phill. 3. Others also when they have suffered the losse of many things for Christ and tasted of his excellency and preciousnesse and been much filled with the consolations that are in him the comfort of Gods love by and through him the fellowship of the spirit and thence with bowels and mercies even to the bringing forth the fruites of righteousnesse by Jesus Christ Yet they falling to work according to the wisedome and inclination of the flesh to make these fruites and efficacies of the knowledge of him the matter of their feeding and rejoyceing or seeking to to joyne