« V\>x^^^i oi \\u ^l»C'»%fr.tr ^ IRINCETON, N. J. '% n I ^ Presented by Mr. Samuel Agnew of Philadelphia, Pa. Agfinv Coll. on Baptism, No. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://www.archive.org/details/waytosionsoughtoOOking I A 7' i Sought out;, and found ;, for Be- |t> VERS to walk in : $ WAY TO SION' ^ % 1 ^,^> $ -9^ A yREATisB, coniiftjngof Three pm^. ^ %> ' In the fitft part is proved, ^ % I. That God hath had a People on Earch , ^o/fr ^^f^ tbe.% ^ c»^tngofChri(l inthefle{h ^ througimn the dark cfi times of % ^ Pope^j, which he hath owned as Saints, and as his Paple, ^ ^ 2. T^«/thele Saints have pDWcr CO re-afliimc ani^ take up at ^ ^ their right any Ordinance of Chrift, which thej have been ^ % defrived^f bj the violence andtjrannj of the mai^ of Sin. S Wherein k iscleared up by Scriptures, and Arguments grounded upon Scripture,n'^i? of right m^y adminifi^r Or dm^ncts, andamongft the Kli:> the Ordinance of Baptifrru w.th Water, _...^_.-, „ , . , -= ^.. '^ ^ the Kli:, the Ordinance of Baptifnu w.th Water. S ^ / The Jecond Part J^ % Containettia full and large dnfvver to Thirteen Sxceptianj againft ^ ^ the pradice of B.ipiizlng Believers, wherein ^T -•i^ the former particulars are more fully cleared up. J* ^ The third Pf^rt % ^ Proveth thac outward Ordinasces ^ and amongft the reft the Ordi- ^ nance of ^aptifm is to continue in the Church , and this Truth 2; clearcdj up from intricate turnings and windings, clouds and tnifts that make the way doubtfull arid dark. ^ ^ ByZ)^2|/Ei: KI T^G, Preacher of the Word ncevCovemrj, |: ^ ' ^ — — ^- — — .-_, ^ ^ The (econd Edition. ^ ^ , _ — 4» -^ Jer. 50. 5., r^fy /&4« ask the my to Sion with tbdr faces thitherward, % 1 Chron, j o. s 2. Lordy m know not what to do, but our eyes art unto thee, ^ M2t,'/. J, Sufiand}eJJ)aUJind, TS'^T^ ^^ •^ - i^!____ -*€♦ ^a^ ^ ' ' ■ ^c^ ^ Printed at I o?;r/o;i, and Re-printed at VihHT±.h^\ €i^^i^ ■ '" ''' '-■ -•^-^-^- To the Read w^. Reader , WHofoever thou art that maift light of this Treaxife,! give thee to take notice , That 1 make account this Piece w:ll be fcorned and flighted by many, either becaufe of the great number of Men and Women, hat diltafl: this truth, defiring rather liberty from obey- ing Chrtjt, loving h^s refiy Mat» 1 1. 28,29. but ftrugling againft his yo^s ; . Or elfe becaufe the Author wanteth that which thfy mod adore, and too much Idolize ; humane Arts and Learning, to gild it over with Hourifhing words of mans wirdom,iCo/-'.2«4. But 1 bcfeech thee lay all prejudice aOde, and with a fingle affedion rather defire to find out truth , then to look for phrafes to pleafe the curious pallate. I may fay of this \\-or\ Th2 people that believed and obeyed Chrift. ^■'- For Exhortatior^'^ I pray thee read this Treatife, and confider it well 'G:Ii i And as thou goeft, I pray thee lay a Bible by thee^and look TO THE REAVER. the Scriptures quoted, read the \vords,confider FilJw they depend, mark t fcopeof the places • for it is the fault of mart*' Readers tabdieve thin^:, they read,and take them upon trufl: (cfpcciallyif feme Scriptures be cited) not confidering whether the fenfe fper^k out any fuch thing or no, and that is the caufe of fuch iinftablenede in Chriftians as at this day; but be like the commendable noble 'Bereans^fcArch the Scriptures^ &c. And if thou refolve to throw off the Scriptures, as many do, never read it; for I defire to fpeak nothing but what the Scriptures will warrant. But take this with thee, /^ '^ ^^^^ word by vphich thotijhalt be judged at the lasi day , John 12.48. Weill have no more to fay, but if God be hereby honoured,and his Saints hearts cheated up, and poor Souls direifled the way to Sion, and fo Sion enlarged hereby, 1 have enough to rejoyce in. FArcivtll. T^kieintheLordfefM^DAiiiBL King. T0 the Churches y all means, Peace with Truth, i^men. Tour Hnrvorthy 'Brother and Serv4^t >> *^ -t** -f^ oalhhac are called sobeSiincs, fandifiedUy faiihin Chnft Jcfus , All Grace and Peace be multiplyed trom che Father 3 through the Lord j i sus. BElcved Friends^ ]t is not u^iknov^n to yen by exfcricnce , rphAt a damnable (tyidmiferable eflaie all ?y/ankind fell into in our £rfi pa- re»tjy axd hoW death ^.nd condemnation hath reigned upon all man* kl^d thereby '^ I'lfomuch^thn all men by nature are children of wrath: Affd r.o: only [o^ bat u^tdcr the power ar,d dominion of Satan i He being that Trince of the pctver of the air^ The fpirit that now worketh in the hearts of the children of difobedience. N'ow God in rich grace^upon the fore, fight ^ or fore-kyovfledge of mans fo wofull ^nd miferahle a condition^ did ordain his Son Chrlfi Jeftu to he a compieat and full perfcEi Redeemer in the be^ half of all them that believe 5 therefore anfwerable to the mifery and W(7- full eft ate th.tt man h rid plunged hlmfelfin ; So is the falvation^ man ha» ving firmed again [v the holy Law of God^ and brought upon him the infi penalty of^rAth and cternall condim^^ation, Anf^erable to this ^ fefas Chrift was ordained of God to be a High Priefiy as alfo a perfeUfacrifce for the f'^.s of his people^ bj his dcath^ and bhod^ fully fatisfjing the pw nipDment or penally due to the Law, as mans furetj , -when he offered up himfelf : and alfo in time doth through the revelation of this death and 4*Uodof hi^y by his Spirit through fat th^ j^^ft^fi^ and acquit them from all their fins ^ Andfecondly^as they lye not only under '^rath and condemnati- on only , but Alfo under much ignorance and blindnejfe of mind, God hath appointed him to be a Prophet^ furni.'hedwith all the treajures of "^ifdom andlino^ledge^ to deliver rn^zn out of this part of his mifery , through his favinj teacning ; He heir.g that Prophet of God^ which Vioks fore tells of Godjlyouiiratje up to pts from among our brethren^which he commandeth 9U to hear. But in the third place^ there being a third particular, where- in our mifery lay, which is, that \V^ are under the dominion and rule of the Devil , and under [uhjeFtion t9 fin : It plea fed Qod in jpeciall wife to pro- vide for eur red mption and deliverance here alfo,in thai Chrift is a l^iy>gy having f (efficient power and d'9minion put in his hands ^ to deliver fouls fror/} the power cf this curfcd bondage of fm and Satan, and therefore loath laid the Go vernment upon his fhoulders : And having exalted him «t p/tnce and a Saviour, and gsd hathfaid, he fhall rule hisp.'oph IfraeU the The Epiftle Dedicatory. Norvthis part ef Ch/tfis office mo fl immediatly firiking ^igAinfi the [evil and Jin, This vifihle Governmtnt of Chrili becomes hereupon to be the objeB of the Devils envy and implacable hatred^ and alfo of the cor^ ruption of the hearts of men. Hereupon it hath fallen out , th^t Satan in all ages hath moft principally laboured to improve his intereft he hath had in the hearts of men ofparts^tofiir them up^eitherfo to corrupt the way of Gods rVorfhip and government^ or elfe to change the property of it^ fo as God could not o^n it to be his^ but indeed rather Satans : And X^'hen of iate^ the clear light of the ^ojpel had [0 far broke forth ^ m to dif cover thofefalfe wayes , and in fome meafure the true and pure ^ayes of gods fVor(hip^ hath been dif covered to fome of his people : The Devil hath mu- fieredup all his forces of late ^ to blind and pefier the minds of good people^ to keep them from the clear knowledge and praEiice of the way of God , either in poffeffiyig people ftill W^ith old corrupt principles ; or if they have been taken •jf them^then toperf^adewith them^that there are no (^hurches in the ^orld^ and that jterfons cannot come to the ^raBiceof Ordinances^ there being no true Mini fiery in the world : And others^ they run in ano^' ther defparate extream^ holding Chrifi to beajhadow , and all his Gofpel and Ordinances likf himfelfftefhly and car nail. This generation of people have been of ftngular u(e in the hand of the "Devil to advance his king- dom , and to maK^ war againft the Kingdom of our Lord Jefui, NoW none have been m§re patnffill then thefe have been of late , to poifon the City^ the Count re-^^ and Army^ fo far 06 they could -^ Infomuch that it lay upon fome of ourfpirits at a. dutj^ to put out our weak, ability for the discovering of thefe groffe err ours and mijlakes ; b/it it hathpleafed God toftirupthefpiritof our "Brother^ Daniel King, whom we judge a faith full and painfull Minifler of Jefus Chrifi ^ totakf this work-in hand before tu i and ^e judge that he hath been muchaffifled of God in the Vf^ork^ in which he hath been very painfull : IVeJhall not need to (ay mttch ^ the Treat ife ^ only in briefs It is his method to fallow the ApoftUs ruk^ to The Eplftle Dedicatory. I frove every thing by the evidence of Script are- light , exfoufiding ^ripture hj Scripture^ and God hath beipt him in this dtfecurfe^vfe judge ,jor3d am that hath dealt upon this ftibjeH: that is extant , in proving / tie trfithof Churches^ againft all fuch that have gone under the name ^ ith the Controverfte^do not fee ho^ any thing of his dlfcourfe could wel be fpurcd. This 'B 00 kf^e judge will be very pro fit able for any Chrifiians that are for Ordinances y to clear up to them a further light then ordinarily they (hall J}/ J in any Authors. This Bool^ hath been above a year fine e in our hands to put in the Treffe ; but ^'e may fay as Paul faith^ Satan hin- dered, that we Ceuld not timelier put it forth , but to our l^nowledge fuch aTreatife as this hath been much longed for by mar,y of the people of god , in mofl of the bounties in Enghnd: and now its ^ods time ^ V^hich we Judge afeafonable time , that this Treatife ^'illcome into many of their hands* And truly friends , let lu exhort you more then ordinary^ to be^ flow pains to get efiabli(hment in this truth , which Satan and all the corrupt world are mofl deadly enemies to : For friends^ as you have heard before ^it mofl concerns the De^ilto keep you out of the true vifible King^ dom of Chr'tfl^ that he may the better advance his own : and therefore we de fire you to be the more care full and ^udioHS ^ to be armed with judge- ment and underjlanding againfi the Devil and his Inflruments^ ^hich is the prayer of PM your Brethren in the faith and felldwfhif of the ^ofpefy Thomas Patient. William Kiffen. John Spilsbery. ]ohn Pearfon. ^<^®®iijA&-^A^^^^''^^^^tii<5>^j^tijc^ The Concenrs of che principall things handled in thefe T R E A T I S E S. TS A T. 59.21. Ths Analyfis of the Prophecie, Page I. I The divifion of the Verfe* 5 JL what a Covenant U, 3 The ^crds expUined hy proponndifig and a^fWering dtverfe ^lueftions, 4 The firft Quefticn; TVhat is meant hy this phrafi[_K^^ for me.] > The 2. Queft. TVh^t the nature of this Covin^r.t is, 5 The 3. Queft. fVhat perfon u fpol^en io in ths term THEE. 6 7*^^ 4 Quf ft.~ JVhoismeant hj THEM- 7 The Covenant ^Wdo.%. prtv^d to he wade Vclth the Gentiles 06 ioell 04 the Je'^s. 8*9 Objedions Againfi this truths Anfvvered. 1 2 The Scyiptfire^ Heb.8. concerning Neighbours artci Brothers teaching no more^ fome thing explained* 1 5 The 5 .Queft. who are the feed and (eeds feedfpoken of here, 1 7 Ths 6* Qucftt what thne is pointed 4t in the word^ Hence^ forth. 1 8 Reafons why the Covenant took, place principally at Chr'fls revealing in ths flep!^ ip pyhat Sion is, -20 The 7. Qiieft What is meant hy Spirit here ; My Spiritt 2 1 The 8. Queft. What ^ meant ^7 W O R D. 21 The 9. Q^dx* Whj are thefe Vf^ords fatd to h I ?^ the mouthy &c, 22 The 10. C^eft. why doth he fay ^ His words (hall not depart "out of their mouth. - 2a T'^^ /^/? QuclL Uo"^ long is this to continue, 22 The DoBrine laid dorfin and explained* 23 A three- f old fucceffion cleared^ 1* Of 'Believers. 24 It VCAS Prophejied of ■ 24 Performed; there was Believers in all ages* 25 Thetexty Rev. 12. i. concerning the Woman cloathed with the Sun^ opened^ to have relation to the Primitive Chnrch be* fore the Apofiacy* 26 9, Trvo THE CONTENTS. Pzg^ TWo qneflions anfwered ^boHt the tpomans being in the wiU derncfffn . 27 1. ff^'hat (he did there i and ^'hat the '^'ildernejfe is. 37 2. How long fie continued there, 27 7" he explication of the 42. Afoneths, 27 The four Beafls^ and 24. Elders explained. 29 Saints in all ages proved clearly* 29 That commandment in i Tim. 6, explained and cleared, 31 '^afons to prove the point in thefirfifuuejjion of believers. 3 2 The fecond fuccejjlon is of the Spirit ^explained and proved, 3^ what concerneth one ieliever as fuch ^ reacheth all Be^ lie vers* 37 The third fticcejfidn is of the Word or GofpeL 3 8 That an ordinary gift of preaching or in^ruUing is called prophecyingy proved, 3g Proofs out of theOld Tefiament, 38 Out of the 2(jTP Testament, 39 Proved clearly from i Cor. i/|. 46 SuueJfLon of Trofbecyin^ , or f reaching the Gofpel, proved, 44 who the ttpo Witne^es are ^ Rev. 11. di(CHJfed at large in five particulars, 44 why thej are faid to he tvto, 47 Continuation of Prophecy proved after the ^itnejfes refur^ reUion, 49 Reafons to prove a fucce^ion of Prophecying. 50 Tjvo main Ob]eUions again fl the being of a vifible Churchy Ordinances and Adminiflrators, i. Becaufe rve rvant thofe gifts and Offcers mentioned^ Epbef. 4. 1 1, 1 2. 52 ^pofiles^ Prophets^Evangelifls cea/ed^ Pafiors andTeachers eonti/^ued^ proved, ' 52 what is meant by the appearing of C^^^l^y i Himi 6. hid com- ing at the lafi day, 52 Creat difference betwixt things all in a fentence, 54 In a fen fe^ Apofiles^Vrophets^ Evangeli^s continue^ 55 T^^f Pafiors and teachers are to continue, %6 All that taught in the Apo files times did not teach fo infal- libly 06 fom'i imagine, 5 6 Seven poinrs handled concerning Officers in a Church. j8 " ' ufVhaf THB^CONTENTS. I^agc I . if^hat Officers Are to he in a, Church* 5 8 ^. ivhM their Offices are. %9 3. Foint is, the (qualifications of thefs Officers, 61 4. HoW many Officers (ire to be in a, Church. 6z J. Thing is^ that fuch are to continue in the Churchy and in their office. ^* Objedions ffofft the difiir.Bion of Mini^raiior.s. 6) 6. Thatthefe are fufficient, I 6$ J, Ho^ they are to be inflated into office. 66 How Officers are to be ordained, ibid. Objed. Further againft the being of a vifihle Church and tAdminiflrators* ^7 The fecond main ObjeEiion^ becaufe^vehave net thcfe gifts and miracles that thej had in the Primitive times ^ anfyvered in five particulars. * 68 I. That feeking after y and^of^ng of 0Pit^'4rd miracles ts not effientiall to a Believer^ andfo not to a Church. 69 1. Bcc^Mpe they had all things effentiiill to Believers , before they had power to work^ miracles. ibid. 2. Becaufe all Believers did not Vi^ork miracles in the Pri" mitive times. 70 . 3 , Many maj "^ork miracles that ne'Ver belie ve^ truly, ibidt 4, Aiiracles Areno helps towards faith,. yi 5. They are rather hinder ances to faith, ibid. 2. That working of miracles in that outV^ard^ay that fome plead for y are ceajed^ and^e ought not to Icok^for them. ibid. Things difpenfed upon ajpeciall Reafon , ceafe in their difpen* f^tion^ Vehen the Reafon ceafeth, ibid. H^hy miracles ^ere given, jz 3. AH thefe miracles mentioned^ Mark l^. 17. are "brought by believers at this day. ibid. How thej cafi out Devils. , 74 How ihij Ipeak^ y\>fth new tongues. 7S How they take up Serpents. J 6 Hoyf they drinJl that 'i^bicb is deadly, and not hurt hy it, 77 HoV(f they lay their hands on the Sick. ibid. The Church VPork/ miracles fiill ^ and flail da to the end ^jheworld. THE CONTENTS. Page The fecond. main thi^tg to be proved^ u^ TbM thii ^hurch and Saints may re^a^umean^ Ordinance cf God that they have been deprived of by the violence of men^ go Sad confequences that ^Villfollo^-<^ if this ^oUrine he denied, ibid* Horrible tenets that this Detirine leadeih into^ if men fiick^ to thefe principles^ 8 1 7 hat SelieVers may taJ^e up ^Baptifnty or any other Qrdwame, 8 3 1. BecaufetheChurch u to do her duty to Chrifi, ibid. 2. when things have been corrupted^ the Saints have been called back, to the firft in^itmion* g^ Things purefi at the Fountain. g^ 5 . IBecaufe the Church ought to y^alk as Chrijl hath "ppalked, ibid; That the Commiffion to V reach And Bapti-z^fwai given to Chrifts Bifciples^as Difciples, proved, ibid. Alade good by two things, 86 1 . A man may be a Difeiple before he be baptized. ibid. 2. That a ^ifciple majf preach in fome cafes before he be Baptized^ proved by four Arguments, 87 T^at "Believers convinced of the truth , may take ftp an Or^ dinance of Gody as baptifm^ though it have been intercepted^ and no baptized perfon to adminifier it. 89 1. Becaufe there is no change of the Go/pel, ibid. 2. 'Becaufe the Church U to bear up truth as a pillar. 90 5. TheTVordandOrdinancesofGod areher heritage, ibid» 4, In regard of the relations hef^ixt Chrifl and his Church, 91 5, Becaufe all Officers ^ order ^ and Ordinances center into ^e* lievers as their root and fountain, ibid. ^11 things naturally return into their frfi principles, 92 That Ordinances and Officers rife out of the Churchy cleared by a ftmily grounded upon Scripture. 93 A dirctv command from Chrifi to take up an Ordinance that is Wanting. ' 94 The truth further confirmed by Argument, $ 9S y The third general is the Application or ufe of the point, 96 1* For Inform a t ion, ibid* 2, For Reprehenfion, ibid. g. For Exhortation, ibid. 4. For Confotatioru, 97 1 ^-^^^ THESECONDPART. The Tklc-page. AlVord by the way to the Re^dr/-, page Cbrifi nsr hu Apofiies did not do things in Chrtfts Name alone^ exc Inking Father and holy ghofi. lOl i,Theydidthewil0fGod^andthat^A6thewilofChrifi, i©2 gxce ' 2. Chrifl u one with the Father and the Spirit, ibid, on r^That 3. TheSxcepionii too /hort in its proofs, ibid, riiofe places 4. There is but one Lord^Father^Son^and Spirit, 103 taken for 5. GodhAthdeftgnedallintothehandiofChrifi^thcreforeallii ^f^^°^; carried on in his Name, and yet exdudeth not himfelf. As ^[J^^. ge. I, The Kitigdom is called the Kingdom of Chrifl ^ and the Uevers^ are Kingdom of ^od too, ibid« miftaken. The Gojpelisto be preached in the Name of thrift ^ a^id yet They fpea- calledthe Gfelofgodtoo. ■ , io4Snfmin- Our faith is to be in ^hrifl and his Name* 105 to the name dnd yet this is the faith of God, and believing in the Lord, ibid, of the three Our prefcfficn is naming the Name of Chrifi, I05 perfons,but Miracles wrought in his Name ; yet by the power of the Fa- ^^^ Baptifm ther alfo, and the Spirit. ibid, ^y w^^" Infiances of divers other things done all in Chri^s Name, ib. Na^e of Tea^all carried on in his name^proved by jive Argnments, 107 Chrifl a* The 2. Exception^ is^ That it ii a confequence t9 ground wa» lone > An- ter baptifm upon^ Mat. 28. 18. And therefore to exponnd it fo^ ^wered. u an ufurpation upon the Scripture, io§ In Anfwer to which is (hewed. The Baftifm^ Mat. i%*is Baptifm with water ^ if it be any Baptifm, lop pyhat confequences are Id^full^ and ^hat unlawfulU ibid. The confeqHences of expounding^Mit, 28. to be Baptifm with "^atcr^ "Warranted by Scripture, no They that expound it of the Spirit, it is a confequence, ibid. The proof of the Exception dijproved, in The 3, txception : That Mat. 28. andlA'X'ik i6» ^re rather | to be expounded of the Spirits Baptifm^ C^c, 112 ^ THE CONTENTS. Pag^ / anfvper to which , The'Sapti/m^M^t^i^. proved cienrlj to be Baptifm mth wa^ ter by three Arguments, 115 I. Baptiziirfgwith the holy ChoB is enlyChyifis preroga^ tive. ibid. The Objection : That they baptised wit 6 the Spirit inftru^ mentally^ Anfwered. ibid. 2.- Then it y\po ulci fdllo't^ that teaching "H^ould he of the Spirit, 114. 3. If it hA^ been the baptifm of the Spirit^ the Jpofiles need not hAve tAUght them further^ which they vfsre to do* 115 TVhathe cbjecieth out of H^vk i6» to prove that MsiU iS* to be the Baptifm of gifts^ Anfwered. 116 The 4, Exception , ( being the fame with the firfi ) An- fwered. ^17 The $> Exception, concerning the nfe of a form of words at 'Bapti^ing^ Anfwered. 117 The 6. Exception : That to do a thing in the T^ame ofChrift is not alwajes to name Ch4ll ; but in the po^er^ vertue^ effica* cy^ mini fiery of Jefns Chrifl^ &c, 1 1 8 In anfwer to which is (hewed , what it is to do things in the power , vertue ^ ^ff^^^Jy mlm" fiery of fefiu Chrif^. ^ ibid. And what to do a thing in his Name^ by divers infhances% up The power^ vertue^ ^f^^^^Js minifiery of Chrifi explained further. ibid. That by Name of C^rifi is often times meant the Gofpel^ and the profeffixin of it, 1 2 1 The 7. Exception : The jipofiles and Difciples baptiz,ing ^ith Water^ cannot be fetch' d from a pure In^itution , un/ejfe from Johns, &c, ibid. In anfwer is fhewed : That the T>ifclples baptiz.ed by Commijfton from Ckrifi , proved^ 122 The 8. Exception : That every common ^ifciple cannot fo baptize as the fir/t difpenfers , becaufe not fo gifted as to make cut his call to it^ of vthich gifts there is as much neceffity now M then, ibid. In THE CONTENTS. Page In anfwer to which, diefe things are proved. Th4t a Difciple Me to preach the Goj^el maj haptizei ! i J Argum. I. The CommiJJi on yi'as given them not ^ Jpofiies^ nor Fafiors, bat DifcipUs* 1 24 2. htgwm^nt taken from Chrifis promije. 125 3. Elfe no Gofpel cm be preached, ibid. 4. Chrlfts Difciples baptized as D ifciples metrlj, ibid. tAnp^ers to other parts of the Exception. 1 26 The Argument for Difciples bapti^ing^ /row? Ananias, Phi- lip, and thofe [cattered abroad^U cleared from Objedions. 128 The p. Exception. That there U no fuch Officer as ^iy^dmimftrator in the Word^ (S'c^ Anfwered, and cleared up. 1 30 The 10. Exception. That none ought to give Baptifm norv^ becaufe he cannot give the gift J of the holy ghoft With it y and they alwajes did^ and fit II are to go together, Tgi The frfi^ part of the Exception, Anfwereci. ibid. jyhat the ^oEirine of laying on of hands ii, 13a The II. Exception. Koffich Ordinance may be taken from the hands of ^,ny that is not enabled as the fir ft 'D ifciples^ proved by a compArifon of ene a^ing Withom Cemr/^iffion from Civil Authority, An- fwered. 134 The 12. Exception. Thofs ofBaptifm have no greater gifts then other s, and the true Church Jhould be difUnguifhed by fome more eminent gifts, Anfwered. 135 1. The churches mdcr 'Baptifm have greater gifts then ethers. ibid. 2. Miracles do not now diflingtii(b a true Church , from a fa^P^ ibid. The 13. Exception. ' That the time of Ordinances ii not yet come , Anfwered, and difproved. 135 THE '^"E THIRD PART. 4.x T He Title Fage» Page 137 The IntrodtiClien, l^p The definition of an Ordinance of Cod^ a^d the con» tinuatiofi of them ^rovcL 141 The Objedion, thatVmlcAlIeth Ordinances^ Traditions^ Anfvvcred. 143 ,^ The commands of bdieViug and h)>^, I Joh-g. 23, explained, ibid, y'^ Mr* S altmarlli's ohjeElnin by difiingmjhing Chrifis commands as Cl^ift in ^'Jh^ and Chrift in Spirit^ Anfwered. 144 Baptifm with Venter proved a command of Chrift* 147 X^eObje6l. X^^^Mat»28. "Was only for that age, Anfwered. 149 There U difference between a command and a glft^^nd miracles is only a gift, ibid. TheOh\^di* That Mat. 28. is^ Baptise them into themjfle* rj/ofCod^Aniwcred* . 150 The Ohj^&iJhat Mat. 28. is, [ (Difciple the Rations, Anfwered* iK The Objedions, T>oBrine ofBaptifms , page 14. That bap' ttz.e them into the Name^ ^r, is Into God^ or the nature of^od^ Anfwered. 151 2. It ts Chrifts command to ufe the Supper ; or hreaJ{^hread.. v 152 The Objed:. That the comming ofChrifl , i Cor. 11.16, is meant in jpirit^ Anfwered. - 153 Ho^ Uv are to remember Chrift in the Sttpper,. ^ ibid. 3. Preaching ii to continue, 154. Hearings Rea^ling^ and Prayer commanded, ibid. That the Saints are to pray by fVord^ cleared^ 155 No prayer extempore, bat in Spirit^ Anfwered. ibid. That outward Ordinances are (hadows^ Anfwered. 156 The confequences that "^illfollei^ upon carrying on all in Jpi" rit in feme mens fen fe. 157 Some ^rojfe thif^gs maintained by the bjeclions 1 58 ObJQ^» from Mat. 3.15. That Chrifi fulfilled all righteouf- neffe, and fo AboH(bed"Baptifm^ h.w{\Nttzd. 159 TheObjeEl. That'Bapti/m VcithV^ater is John's Baptifm^ andfoofthe Law* Anfw. (iAnd]o\iti% Alinifiration proved Evangelical, 1 60 Johns THE CONTENtTS. Page John's BAptifm legd^ becatife adminifiredby pnfofis of more then ordinary gift^ Anf^'cred. i^l That Chrifis DifcipUs haptiKedufon John's accoum, tsAn^ fvfered. 16 As That they that baptised ^ith "^Msr Wvr^ more Jtwijh^ or did it Hpon their Jpiritual Itbertj^ Anfwered, 1^5 That they did it to ftoop to the "^t^ak^ AnfmreL 1 66 TheObje^* Thn it u ce^fed^ Cecafife men preach not in^ falllbly as the A ponies dii^ A»imrcd. i^j That m^n not infaUibie m^y preachy F rove A ib;d. Whflt ^reaching u, , X(58 The ObjeB, from Heb. 8. ri. and i Job. 2. 2o. 27. That Cod aUne (hall teach^ and hot mun^ Anjwered, l^p The Obje^ion from Col 2. 20, 21, 22. ^nfvpcred. lyo Another Rea/on^ thereby they would prove B^ptifm with ^ater fevpt/h^ ^, Becaufe Chrifii Baptifm of pre did eat up^ or Wear out John's , He rouR incteafe, I muft detreafe, A^^/w* 174 Objed. from Job. 4. God will be worih.ppcd in fpirit and truth, c^y^/tverea. 17 j Ob/ed make mn- fenfe of them, though fkin er>ough to the Ingemo,^, I havl thought good to add a word or tv^tttoK flam what maifeem dSficult in the reading. .u.r, .. s, ,. When jou H C^.«->> within \{arenthep,4t it h here • It uto be prenBunccd^ That is. 2 where jou ^nd in quotations offomeSmfturestht mr}Z asMJh.1. uU. fP fis^'fi^^^ '*' '-i^W'"/ '^'^^fUre the ends of the lines on the left hand m There two ..l;,,ZthCommaes turned mth their faces towards the '£.S^l^'Ztl*S^i''ft ^H' lir.cs, itnoteth th^{eUnesarcthe "' •'" cftZhe(l%h hllf-fyuares thuf I 3 They are mj lords in rqh '" Z^'^^'W i^*'''^^'''^^ ^'i"'' of this Book. A WAY T O S I Sought out ;, and found ,^r Believers to walk in. OR, A Treatise, wherein is proved, Firft, That God hath hid a People en Earth ^ 8iC. Ifaiah 5;. thelaftvcrfe. /Is for me y this is my Covenant yi'itb them faith the Lord, My Spirit that is upon thee , and my y^ords ^ihich I haVe put in thy mouthy /hall not depart out cf thy njot-th, nor out of th^ mouth of thy feed, nor out oftte mouth cf thy feeds feed 9 fith the Lord, from, henceforth and for e1?er, HE Prophets ufually treat cf thefe three things in , their Prophefies. -^ ^^ %Andlj,.. I. The Doftrine contained in the two Tables. ^! ^^-'^ '^"'' 1, The threatnings for difobedience. t^^cy, 5. The Covenznc of Grace and Reconciliation grounded upon Chrift. As touching this hftj ifaiah is moft excellent, in fetring forth Chrift in his Offices , and Kingdom, and Reign : and not only ir, his Kingdom and Go- vernment, in ^ailing in, and ruling ever the Gentiles, but his Kingdom and Government over the Jews and Gentiles in the latter iayes. And you (hall obferve, that where he fetteth forth the grievoufnelTe of the fins of the People , and threatens them with deftrudion : He cafteth in fome ingredients cf confobrion ('from the confideratlon of Chrill and his Kingdom) to the godly, to ftny their hearts from finking and being dif- couraged, C^ap, T . He layeth open their fins, and threatneth them . C^^P* i. He prophefieth of the Kingdom of Chrift. Ch^hi* He threatneth them for divers fins. In the 4th. Chap, he pro- B mifeth 2 tyi ^4y r^SiON fought out y mifcth Chrift again. Inthe 5, 5.andj.Chiptcrs , threatens them again. In tha^ 7. vcrf, 14. Chrift is prcmifed ag\in. Cha^, 8, be Tpeiketh of great afflidion. Inihe ninth chnp. of cxctllent comforts by Chrift to the godly. Cba^, tenth, he fpeakcth of great :>ffli(flion by the ^jjymn. Cbaf. i j^ \z. He Cettethouc the benefits thit the Church hach , and lliali have by Chrift. chap.ii. He tcUcth of the defttuftion of Babylon. Chsp, 14. Of promifestoirrael, Inpartof the 14. Chnp, andthe 15, 16, 17, |8. and part of the ip Ifrael and divers other ptop'.e are threatncd. In the i^, chap.verf. 18. Kefpeaketh of calling divers of them to Chrift. In the reft of the Chapters he goeth on in the Cime method. Inthe 52, Ch'^p ^ndfoonjie brginneih moft clearly and excellently to fct forth the benefit the godly have bv Chriit In iihap 45. He mentioneth the deliverance of the jewsoucof Babylonby Cyrui Kin^oi Perpa. Chzp, 465 47. Hefhev^eth the wofuilruincof Bzhylon. Chap. 4S. He labourttfi to convince the people of their for ner rebellion Inthe 49, and 50. He reproveth the cbftniacy of the pscple, but encourageth the believers with a fweet difcourfe of the Kingdom of Chriih In the 51, He exhorteth them therefore to look to Chrift, and rruft in him ; And bewailing their mifery, by reafon of their captivity, promifeth deliverance again- In the o. 5 Mo[es defcribeth the righteoufnefs of the Law, thit the mm that doth th(p things Jhali live by them, And this you (hsll find in Lcv/f. 18.4, 5. Tepall dx> my judgments ^and fieep mine Ordii:ancfs,to rfalfithcrein : Ic^m the I. ord^, ye jhill tin nfore keep ny Statutes and my 'juigments, vfhich if a m.m dOi hcflmi live in them. So Gai ^.12. z. You may cbferve the pecpfes confent en their parts, Exo. 14. x.j. All the words which the Lord hathfaidy will we do. And veif.y. AUthat the tori hath faii, will we do^andhe obedient. So thit you fee, God propoundeth the conditions, the people accept of thein, and ronfent. Now here wis a Co- venant: Thereforeic is confirmed, vnT. 8. AndMo^^stoo^tbe blood and fprinkled it on the people, and faid^ Behold the blood of the Covenant wbich the Lerd hath made with) ou ccnce^ning cU thefe words. So for ihe'Evangelical Covenant: T, Here is my Son (faith God) tendered in the Gofpel • take him, and l[a.^i.6* reft upon him for life and falvation, and cleave to him, with renouncini of all other things. I will (faiih a Covenant-heart thit is taught of God J I will) reft upon nothing on this GdsChrift; but now live upon, ?.nd unto Chnil:, by the powefofChriltlnmy hearr. Now here is aCoveninr, Ron. \o. 9, 10, II If thou P:alt coiifc[ie with ihy r.nutkiheUrd ^tia, ani jhalt bclccvein thy heart that goi hath raifcd him from the dead, thou jhalt befavei : For with the heart man hekcvith imto rightcoufnefs, and with the mntlh confeffion ii made unto falvation. For the Scripture Dith, IVhofotvtr beleeveih on himfhallno: bs cjha'i ed So Hofea 1. iq. God fpeaketh of a Covenanf^a Marriage-covenaiit between him and hispecp'e : I wiU betroth t^.ee unto me for evfj (^c. And in the hft verfc you m^y lee the munial confent on both fides i I will fay to them. Thou art my people : Th?re is the confent on Gods par: : And they (hiii (Ay. Thcuittt ourCjOit There is th? confent en the peoples par:. So you may fee the anfwer of an Evangelical covenanting hesrr, ?hil ?. 9. Ani be found in him^ nc t having on m ine c .vn rightcoufmfiy whL h U of the laa ; but that which is tbrciigh the faith of Qhrijly therighteoitfvefje which if of God by faith Ga), 5.14. That tbehlcjfwg 0/' Abraham might come on the Gentiles \hfough Jcfui Chriflythdt we might receive the promife oftbeSpirit through faith, Hereis my Son thit was promifcd to Abram ( faith God ) I will take him. 4 e^ fi^^J /^ S I 6 N fought cHt^ faith Faith : Now here \% an AgreementjOr Coven.inc. And this obfcrvc by %Jitc, the way^ That where God maketh the Evangelical Covenant with a foul, he giveth the heart to accepr of the Coven m-, asby comparing two places • you may fee, //<2 ^ 4,10. For the mouJitaiiis Jl^atl depat, and the hills be remo' ved 5 tut m) fiindnefjeJhaU net depart from thee ; mihcr^mU the covenant of my peace be refhOoed, faiihtbe Lc^d^xhithath mercy on thee : And Co he goeth on todeclar' the excelitnc priviledgesof the people in Covenant. And vcrf. i{. he faith, AUthy ibUdrertflaU be taught of the Lord And that this teaching is belccvmg, whcrtby they take hold of tht Covenant, is cie:ir by our Saviour V. hrilTStxpofinon of thrs place, ^6/;?z 6 AS.ltU rvritieninthe ^rcphcts. and they JJ)aU be all taught o^'G^d ; Every manthtre^oretba^ hath heard, aid learned of the Father^ cometb to me^ ihac is, bdeeveih in me, as the 35. vtrle tsp<;un 'eih it. Now iheperlons covenanting are fet down in two terms, Me, and Them. !• As for Me \ Who is this ? why the Lord, as appeareth by the daufe after: fairhthe Lord. 1. The other pirty covenmting,ind that is, Them j Who doth he mean by [Them?] Why rhy feed, and feeds feed : Where obferve, he hath refe- rence to a third perlcn , withwhofe feed be maketh this Coyenant. And thcfe are the Sons oi Sion, fiuhastiirn away frotn ungodlinefs in ^acoby asyoumaycltarly fee,b compiring this verle with the former t F-^^r (fiith he) The Redeemer Jhallc erne to iion, and unto them that turn from tranfgref^ fonin JKob (aiththe Lcrd, As far me thk u myCovinuut with them, (;^e. Ihaimuft needs be [Thtm] mentioned before. a. Confider the matter of the Covenant, And that is the continual diftribution of the fpirit of the Lord, and the ivord of the Lord, into the mouth of the (ecd, and leeds feed. In which difttil: ucinn^obfervc thefe particulars. 1. The things difbibuted, or conveyed • Thofe are two, Spirit, and Word. 2. The explication of the matter, what Spirit, and what Word ? CMy Spirit yiiiih the Lo'id, and CMy Word, I, Obferve where this Spirit and Word is placed, as in a fountain to be conveyed; In ihyCMoutb. 4. Obferve where the channel is that it fliallrnnin, as itcomethfrom the fountain : In the m outk of thy feed, and of thy feeds feed. 5. The time when this diftribution fliallbegm : Ftoui henceforth, 6. The extent, or continuation of this diftribution ; And for ever. Theuordi ex- But before I pafleon to build, I muft cirefuliylay a good foimdation 5 fUinei by for I make no queftion but if the foundation ftand firm, the building will fropounding alfo ftand.- And therefore for explication of the words and terms, there and anfwering muft be divers qu ftions refolved. iiijers ^ue- Qucft H*hat k meant by thk ^hrafe^ eAs for me f fttons, ^Jifrv, The phrafe is taken ufually two wayes in Scripture, t^efirfi ^Mr« I. For a peremptory DeJaration of a thing concewung our fdves or Wf^anlwehd othcri. andfound^ for Believers to TvAlk, in, 5 othcrs, I Sam. 21.^1. As for god^ bis way is ferfe^j (^s. where David dot^ pererrptorily declare ihatGods way is p-rfeft ; wbatfotver hisovvn way is, or mans. way, P(al 41- li Asfrfme,tho% upbol.ieffmt in mite intcgriy.nni feiKJf me before iby U e jor (vtr, Pijl. 7J. a. As for memy feet w.re aln.o i gone, my fteps had well ^:ig''> flipped Where he doih peremp-urily decUi e how thecafeilood with him, not doubtfully, ^'-uccertiinlv, PfaUnS^. n. iAs for theworliy and the Ju'-iej]'. thereof, thou ba^ founded tbcm. ilii. ^ n. eAs for my feople^children are ^beir opprejjors^and women rule over ther/ij (^c. ifi.47.4. ^sUr our Redeemer, the LirJl of Ho ts is bis Hame. ihe holy one of Ijad. in all t'hefe places, the phrafe importerh a confidcn:, p^reoiptory declaration of the muter Ipoken of. 1, It is fmttmies taken for a peremptory Rcfolution J whcnoneisful- lypurpofed todo a thing, and will notchinge; xSam.xi, i> Mo^eojcra^ forrre, God forhix that Ijhould fin .igain't the Lord in (a fug to pray for /ou ; but i willtea by -lithe good and rigbt way. Val. s^ 16 As!o^me IwillcalL upon GodiAuitne Lr>ri jbdl jave me. Jofh. 24. ij. ^sfor r/z-. and my hoiife we will ferve the Lor i. Now inthisp'ace the phrafe r y^j/orwie] importeth both, T conceive ; A ptrempiory declaration of G 3d, that he will do fujha thing; Arid a pe- remptory refduiion of God, to make this Covenant withthis f ed , and feeds feed, fpoken of he^e : fothat it is out of doubr, there is noqucftio- ning of the truth of it. And it is made the more ftron^ by the term {faith the Lord) being twice repeated in the verfe. Toe 1 Qu^ftiOii is, jVh at the nature of this Covenant IS ^ue(l 1. ^n;w. It is a Covenant of grace, altogether free , wholly and fully on Anfw. Gods p^rr, without requiring any thing of man , to be performed as from himfeif, and his own abilities 5 but God is the whole undertaker: And that it is a Covenant of grace, you may fee icplamly , if you compire this Covenant fpoken®f here, with that which is cilled the new Covenintj^cr. 3 ' . ? ?< Butjbu jhall be tb (fovenint that I will ma{e with the Houfe of Ifael after tb^fe dayet, faith the Lor i ; / will put my bw in the iy niward pans , and rvrite t tn tbeir heart r^ and will be their God^ and they jhall be my people , &c. And ^en ?z. 40- And I will m-\e .n ryerlajltng Covenant with them , that I will not turn aw^y from the-n to do them good j but I will put my fear into t'leir hearts andtbeyJJyall not depart from me. Which Covenant the Apoltlefnew- eth in He&.S 10, u, 1 z. to be the new Gofpel-covcnanrjOr Covenant of grace j where God is the whole undertaker for himfelf, and for man both, and fo he is bere in this Covenants Therefore it mufl needs be a Covenant of grace. Queftion J- Ifljat ptrjon it is thai is fpoken to . in the urmc [ Thu ? ] My [pirit thir is ^s^. ?. upon thee ? ' Anlv, Anfw, Chrift. M/ ground* artciiCiC; A rra)- te S i oK fought cut^ T* From the conncxioncf the Verfcs , he is fpokcn otin the former Verfcj the Redeemer, httha: {hall come to them that turn from ungodli- v.ciHc in^Jcob. Andthis title, Redeemer, is peculiar to Chrift,yoi> 19. 2^, Fcr I i{yow that Yiy Rsdcerner live:hi sni that hep)dliani at the latter day u;on emh* Malm 19. 14. LordmyftTengih animy Tificemer. Ifi, 60. i§. Thy Kcdemtr the mi^iy on of J.2. oj. GaL ?. i ^ . Chrft hatb redeemei us from the iiirfc of the law: Luke 14. i i . f.7 the Difciples that went to Emmaus, con- cerning Jefns Chrift ct Nazareth^ If^e trufud it had been he that Jhould have redeemed Jfraeli And Co it was, for Chiift expoundtth to them all the Scrip, tures concerning himfeifjverf. 27- And fo all other Scriprures (for ought I can find ) when they fpeak cf the Redeemer,, Kiean Chrilf. z, Becaufethisperfon fpckentoheie, ihndeth as a Root, Fountain, or Way, through \vhom theSpiriro^ God,2ndhis Word is conveyed toothers. Myjpiit vDhtch is tipcn thee, &c. And this is peculiar to Chrif}, JiUttb.ii.ij, e/^ II things arc delivered to me of my father (faith Chrift) and 710 manlinovfcth the Son but the Father, neither Jificwith a^y man the Father fave the S on, and be to n l:o V. tbe S on mil reveal him, Joh. 14. 6. ^efus faith unto him^ I am the xoay^ the truth, and the lije, no man cm^^ eih unto the father hut hy me, John i; i5. Of his fulnefle bavcm allrecelved, and ^race for grace. John 5. iz. The Father judgcth no man^ hut baxD committed all judgement to the Sen. In thiF, Chrilt the Covenant of grace is n^sde good ; therefore the Lord faithj I fa 44* 6 I Tfillgive him fsr a covenant to the feo^le Objsci, But feme may fay, How can this'bc meant of Chrift, who is Go J, equal ^viththe Father, and hrththe word snd fpiritby pofitflion? How can it be laid, ^ T Spirit which is upon THEE, and MT Word Vvhich 1 have put in thy mru:h ? Jnfvf. Chriii mui^jeconfidered according to ristvvc-fold nature. Di- vine and Humane : According to his Divine nature , he is equal to the Fa- ther 5 but according to his Humine,mferiour to the Father, And here he is fpokcn of rs he is God and Mm, as he is Chriit , anointed j for he is fet here as a Wayjthrovgh whom God convcyeih grace to tl.:ajl^ and fo the Spirit 2nd Word may be faid to be pu: on iiim. Take thtfc inftances, T . For the Spirit, Pfahi as 7- Gsd, even thy Cod bath &noh 'ed thee vo:th the lyle of ghdneffe ahovt tbyflhvees* And that this is fpoken to Chrift,3ppeareth plainly Hff^. 1.9. where the fime words arcr^heaifcd , and applycd to the SonofGoc, which in the beginning of the chapter, is (aid to be the bright*- nclTt: of Gods glory, and the exprcCe image of his perfon, &c. T(ai. 6t. i. The fplritefthe Lord isu\onmc ^ be:aufe hi haih anointed me to prereh the Go'pel to the foor^CJ'c That this was a Prophecy of Chrift , is plain, by Cbniisown expo{ition,l.«J^. 4. i£, where Chrift reading the words of !fa. in this Scripture te:leth the p::op!e, verfe zi. That that day this Scripture vf as fulfilled inthai^ ears. And (fai:n the Tex'^ ihcy all bear him witncfle that It \sis(o,^ohn I. ^4 fpeakingof Chrifl,you have thefe words: Ftrhe tfhm GU hathlentj fpe:i\ctb the r».rdi of ged, fcr gtigivetb mt tbefpirit by tnea'uTe tncA^me to him. So that you fee the Spirit was put upon Chrift , for he was anointed with it, and ii was given him. 3. For ihc Word,^ That that wns put in his m^iith , fee ^ohn 7. 17, i8, J/ any man vedl do hu v;:U, beJJmU iinorv oj ihs Docfrine whether it hs of Godj or VPbethtr 1 (\ e^k of m (( ^/- He th n fpcaliah of himftlf , fedieih hk ownglo- ry J huthe xhat^cikeih hU glory thatfcnt bimyjbe fame k true »atti no unrighte^ oufrejjein him. So chit Chriit Ip akcth the word cf Gcd of him that fent him , ^obn 8,^8. faith Chiift > J/fw^ tb^rvhich I havefeen rvith my Father, Bu: yet more plrin'y, ^ohn i z 49,5^- ^or I have ml fpol{en of my felf^ but ihc Father tv'Ub (ent rr.c , heg'ive me a cm andmtnt rv'?at I fhould fay , O' vcbit JjhottU [peak: Anilfinow that h h con.mamlmeiJt ii life ever tafting i what foe. ver I ffeafi tbcrefor., even as the F^tber !Mtb (aid unto me Jo I (peaJi. In Ifi. 50. 4. you h:^ve thefe words, Tbs Lord hath given methe tongue Qf the learned ^ that Ifliould fincrv horffta (peak a word in fea/on tj him that ii weary. This learned tongue IS given by thcLord, and thii pir;y to vvI;om ir is given , ismrant primarily Chrift, as appc:!rethby the invitation , Mdt.w.i^ Comeumome all yctbat arc weary and heavy laden ^ andlwtUgiieyourtft: Sothatyoulee notwithft^ndingthis obji(ftion, yet it is dear , that this perfonfpoken to, in the terra THEE, is Chrilt. The fourth Qucftion is ^nJ^^v^* 4- VJho u rr.cant by T H E M ^ the parties Covenanted with ; whether ^evps or Gintilesf An(w Both Jews and Gentiles: all that are- taken into the covenant iAvfpicr. ofgracc, of ail Nations. My giounds are thefe. I. Becaufe , if it{hou!dbe intailed upon the Jews only, then it could nor inf-i lihly be made good , becaufe here isprcmifcd a fucceffion of the Word and Sfirit to continue inthe mou.h of feed , and feeds [eed : and the Jews have been a long time cait o£F", and sre not yet calUd into the faith cf Chnft ; Therefore it muft needs include Gentiles that imbrace Chrift, as well as Jews., whoare fons of Godby faith inChriit as wellas Jews , GaU 3.36 iVe are all the children of God by faith in Je/as ChrVi. C-mfidt r w hat the Prophet Hofei futh, Ho( 3. the two faft verfes, For the children oflfrtel fljall abide many dayes without al^ng, and without a Prince, and without a SacrifiUyand without on Imr.ge^ am without an Ephoi, and without Teraphim : AHerward fjallite children of Ifnel return and feeli the Lor d. their God ^ and David ihw l^ivg, and fhall jear the Lrrd and bis goodncjje in the Utter iaycs. So that thiv continuallfucctlTunof fpint and word from Chrilt, couldnot have been made good uponthe Jews only ; therefore it muft needs take in Gentiles aifo. ». Bt caufe this covenant is a covenant of grace , and the covenant of grace rcacheth the Gentiles as wdl as the Jews ; And it is inciiled upon feeds feed , and the feed of the Jewiih Churc according to the faith , arc as weilGcntile-bclieversasothers J Gal^. :8, Now we brethren as J/tfic was, arechildrenof the promife 3 fpeaking-of the Ga/tff/?7;j that believe, who were Gentiles. 2 Ic ^ A W^y /^ S I o N (ought out^ ^. It \^ forthe Cubjcd matter of ir, the Spirit and Word that \% to be given, and the Gentiles are partakers of the spirit and Word of the Gofpel as well as the Jews, E^ht^- ^6. That the GentHet JJ)dutd be jeUoro heirs^ and of the fame body, ani prtaktrs of his promife in (^ hrift by the gofpel. G al. ?. z. IReceiveiyou the Spirit by the icvorl{s of the law, er hj the hearing of faith? that is, the Gofpel; Mir\(, Received you f yen Galathi in Gentiles, received you the Spirit^i^c- Ads 2. 1 7. i nvill pour out of thy fpirit upon all flejh, faith God; Therefore upon the Gentiles as Weil as upon the lews. 4, It appeareth to be fo from the 19. verfe of this chapter, where he fpeaketh of mens fearing the Lord from the Weft, and his g'ory from the fifing of the Sun t which mull needs be meant of the Gentile Nations as well as the Jews. 5. Becnufc whatfoever is fpokenofthe Jews in the covenant of grJce, is applied in the ncwTcftamcnt tolews and Genti'es by verrue of their union v/irh Chi ift , I Cor. 1 2. I ?. For by cite (pirit are rve all baptised into one body, xfibethcr rve be'^etvs or Gentiles, rvbether rve be bond or freehand have been all made to drinl{ into one [pirit. Heb. 8. n. sAUJJjall knovp me from the leajt tg the grcctfjt : ThatiSjall jews and Gentiles that are taken into covenant, Rom,^. 16 Therefore n is of faith, to the end it mfgbt be by grace, to the end the promtfe might be fure to all the feed, not to that only nvhiih is of the law ( that is the jews) &Mtto that al(o which U of the faith of Abraham (that is the Gentiles) for faith he, ht is the father ofm all Now the Romant are taicen in, in this word U S, and they were Gentilts, Gisl. 4. 28 faith the Apoftle ofthegalatbians, WE brethren, as IDac wits, are children of the promife i N-iy,more plninly yet, the covenant m.ide with the Jews, Ifa. 54. rj. And all thy children JJmll be taught o/tbe Lordy is applied by Chrifl to all Be- Icevers. ^o)!??/ 6, 4 >. /^ « written m the ProphetSy and thev [hall he all taught cf God : Every one therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometb to mej(?Axh Chril^; though I confefs thefulncfsand fc,Iory of thefepromifcs toncern the Jews a- their callirg in again,asKr?n 11 125T<^. Now if the fill ofthem be the richcsof the Gentiles, how much more their fulnefle ? Verfe k. If the cafting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what (liall the receiving of thrm be,but life from the drad ? Verfe if, z6 For I •would not, bret^.reiy t^^atyefmU be igmrant of thU myjierie, that blindnefs in part is hapned tollVitl, until the fuineffe of the Gentiles be come in: And fo all llrael fliall be fived, as it is written, There f)allccrae out efSion the Delivefer^ andjhall turn away wtgodlinefj from Jacob 3 for this U my Com venant unte them when I taf^e away thdr fiju. ''Thf r*Tjevdnt ^"^ ^ ^^^^^ endeavour to clear this a little further, becaufe (bme deny P b8 t)yo ei that the covenant, He??. 8. which is called there the new covenant, reacheth ? / ^heGenrilcsat all, but is made only with the Jews: Therefore before I *'^'tl\hGen ^'^ any further, 1 fhaU clear up, that it is made both to Jews and Gentiles, ^-f ^^,1 L ?ndthat will tend to the c earing up this which I affirm hereof this Co- with tje Jews, ^^ Becaufe the Scripture mentioneth but two covenants between Go d an iKeafon. • . ma and found , for Believers to walkjrf] 9 man; 2s they are his Church and chofen people : in which Covenants he hoideth forth life to be had, but in? different wayj in ihecne,bydoirg,iB the other,by believing : that is,a Legall,and an Ev3ngelica'l,G^/. 4.24, 251 ^6, which things are an Allegory i forthefeare the two Covenants s the one from mount Sinai,which gendereth to bondsge^which is Agtf $ for this e/^^tfr is mount Sinai in Arabia, and anfwereth to Jerufalem that now if >and is in bondage with her children ; Butjerufalem which is above, is frccj which is the Mother of us all. Here are the two Covenants typed out by 54f^andH4^dr' H^g^f the Legall Covenant on mount Sinai , Soxah ^% Evangelicall Covenant. Now the Gentiles as well as the. Jews are in the Evangelicall Covenant, GtyC7"c. AndfoHe&. p.from 16. to it. For where a Tefiamcnt is, there muft of nccc filty be the death of the Teftator 5 for a Tefiament is offeree after men ar^ dead, other wife it is of no ftrength at all while the Teftator livetfa : whereupon neither rhe firft Tefiament was dedicate without blood 5 for vfhtntMcfes h9.d fpoken every precept to the people, according to the Law, fee took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and fcarlet wool, and hyfop, and fprinkled both the book and ail the peope, faying, TbU u the blood oftheTeHement which God hath enjoyned unto you, tyc. So the Gofpel-Covenant is confirmed with the blood of Chrift, Heir. 9. 1?, 14, 15, 16. f er if %he blood #f bulls and gtatSf and the ajha tf an heifer fpriniling the unclean, fanHifiethy to the purifyivgtftbefiefli bcwwucJ? mcrejhall the blood of I'hrijf, who through the eternal Spirit offered himfelf vitbout fpotto Gody f urge your coufciences from deadwor^f to (trve the living God: eAndfor thU caufebeU tbeMe* diator of the new Teftament .• That by means of deatby for the redempim of the travfireffms under the frftTeftamenti they which are called might receive the pothife of eternal inheritance-, forwhercATijUmentis, thin muft ofne^ c^tty be the death of the Teftator You fee here, Chrift is faid to be tfce Me- diatof^^c new Teftament, or Coveaant : And what Covenant that is, you may fee, Heb. 8. 8, 9, lo, 11, n. Yea, and the Reader may take notice from the 16. "ycr/ieof the 9. ch after oftiic Hebrews to the 1$. verfeeE the i©. chaper» he (heweth the difference between the two Teftaments ; and then (heweth what the Covenant or Teftament is, that is in force under Chfift, chsf,io 16,17. This is the covenant that I will make with thcna after thofedaycs, faith the Lord, I will put my Laws in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their Gns and iniquities will I re- member BO more. Now then thus I argue,* Either thiscoveaaatis in force to us Gea^ tiles J or clfe Chrift muft flied his blood again , at the time when it ta- keth place ; or it muft be confirmed by fome other blocK% for a Tefta- ment taketh place at the death of the Tcftator,Htf&. 9. 17. Now if this covenant be of no force yet, then the Tcftator is not yet dead 1 but if Chrift be the Teftator, then that is falfci for he is dead, as the Scripture witneflctb, and he is to dye no more, Heb. 9. ult. ''He was once offered •• to bear the finsof many , and to them that look for him, bjC ihall ap- '" pear the (econdtime without fin to falvation, H^b. 10. 12. This man «tcr he had offered oac lacrifice for fms -for ever, fate down at the right C » hand a ' ^ 'A way to S i o N fought out^ hand of God, verf. 14. By one cfFcifng, he bath perfcded for ever thole that arc Sanftified. If any one fay. It is by feme other blood that this Covenant (hall be confirmed ; I would reqneft that man to (hew me by Scripture, by whofe blood it (hall be confirmed} and till then (for my part; Imuft look upon him ax one accurfed, that preacheth ano- ther Gofpd that the Scripture hath not preached : But Chrift is theMe- diatourof this Covenant fpokenof, He^.S. as you may fee, vcrf.6. He IS ( faith the Text , not was, or (hall be) the Mediatour of a better Covenant, which Covenant is laid down in the latter part of the Chap- ter; And he is dead already, and therefore the Covenant hath taken place al- ready, and is in force at^is day, H#^. 9. 17. Aleliamcntis of forceaf. ter men are dead. Andconfideralfo, If there were two Covenants, one for Jews, and [ another for Gentiles 5 there muft be two Mediatours , one for lews, and another for Getitiles; but their is but one Mediatour between God and Man, the MAN Chrift Jefus, iTim.z* j. iMo/enhe mediatour of the l-egali covenant, Chrift of the Evangelicall 5 I'herefore the Covenant, He*, «• being Evangelical], teachetb both to Jews and Gentiles, of which Covc- I^cafine, "3nt Chrift is Mediatour. A^A '¥ ^^"^ ^^ S^^^" ^°^ * Covenant to the people, as he is ^ ^a. 4a. 6. Andif God, now in Gofpel' times, make no Covenant with a people out of Chrift 5 And if Chrift be the Covenant,and all things in the Covenant , arc entailed upon, and unto Chrift , and thofe in Chrift have right to all [ things, a$ I Cor, 5. zi, ii,ig. All things arc yours,whether Paul,or ApU9y or CepbdSy or the world, or life, or death , or things prefent , or things to come, all are yours, and ye are Chrifts, and Chrift is Gods. Then if Chrift CbjcHms a- • ^^^ Gentiles, though it were not yet made good , yet things to come be- tdinfi this ^"^ ^^^^^^ '^^' *'^ ^" Chrift, and all being theirs , the covenant , Hcb, 8. ii truth anfwenii ^^^^" ^* ^^^^ ^* ^^* ^^^** I ' Objc^, I. But God faith, This is the Covenant that I will make with the houfe of Ifrael, therefore not with the Gentiles ? Anfief, Doth he exclude the Gentiles therefore ? when he faith, Salvati- on is of the Jews ? doth he mean that falvation is not of the Gentiles f 1$ not God the God of the Gentiles alfo? Kom. j.i^. Is he the God of the Jews only, is he not of the Gentiles alfo ? yes, of the Gentiles alfo 5 yea and they are jnftxfied both by one and the fame way, verf. jo. Scing it is,one God that jaftifieth the circumfion by faith, and the uncircumcifion through faith , therefore they have remiffion of fin both by one and the fame Co- venant: And they have both one ftanding in Chrift, and in the Church, 2^w. 1 1. 10. Becaufe of unbelief they were broken off ( that is the JcwsJ and thou flandeft by faith (that is the Gentiles) therefore ihey arc not excluded here. I 2. Itisfaid to be made with the houfe of 2/r4e/5 you may as well ex- clude the Jews; for the houfe oi Ifrael is one houfe, and the houfe of fudtb is another ho«fc, J/4. z&.ti, He (LtW be a Hthct ce the ioha- bitants iindfoH'r^dy for 'Behevers to "^alk^ in* b^tantsof Jm^/J/ew, and to the houfe of 'fniah. And Jcr- ^ iS. you tr^ay lee they are dirtinftj Jn \ho[e dayes the hou'e of fiiiab Jhali vfidk with the h$ufe of Ifrael. You mayalfofee the truth of this inE^f^ ?7. from vetf. i^. to the 21. So that by as good reafcn the Jews are excluded from tins Covenant as the Gentiles ; It is with the houfe of Ifrael -, And is Jew and Gentile to be excluded? I would know then which houfe of ifrael thii Covenant is made with ? for there were two houfes of Ifratl; J fa, 8 14. For arockof (ffemetoboth thehoufej of Jfrad. So that by this affcrtion this Covenant will come at laft, to be made with juft nobody, for it can- not be found out with whom -, but it is certain, Jews and Gentiles fiiall bs brought into one (hccp-fold, f:hn 10. 16. And one (hepheard fliall be {hepheard to them all , they (hall be all under one King. Kevtl. 11. ij. The l^ingdoms tf this world are our LerdSy and his Chnfts,n?idhe.J})aU reign for ever and ever* Zach. 14.9. ThelordisJ^itigiverall the earth, in that day there JJ)all be one Lordf There is but one myllicall body of Chrift, whe- ther Jews or Gentiles, i Cor. 12. i^. Fcrbj one fpirit are vte all baptised into me body, whethtrvpe be ^evfs org entiles y &c. Ephef ^, 4. There is oie body) and there is but one fpirit , by rvbicb they are inffirei : There is but one hope of our calling : Jews and Gentiles have but one Lord j Jews and Gemiles have but one Faith, Jews and Gentiles have but one Baptifmj Jews and Gentiles have but one God and Father of all, Efbef- 4. 4, 5 6. And how could this be, if there were two feyerall Covenants, one for jews, and another for Gentiles? 5. Coniider, That believers both of lews and Gentiles, are called in Gofpel-times, Ifrael .• and the other Ifraelites by birth are not to be ac- counted of in comparifon of thele Ifraelites, ^obn 1.47. Behold a true ^ IfrAtlite indeed , in wbm ii no guile. As if he fhould fay, here is the dcno- ^ minationof an Ifraelite indeed, one inwbtmii np guile , Rem. 9. 6,7, 8, They are ntt all Ifrael that are 9f Ifrael i Neither becaufethfy are the feed if Abraham, are they all ihildren , but in Ifaac Jhali thy feed be called : That is. They which are the children of thcflefli,thefeare not the children of God, but the children of the promifc are counted for the feed: Here be Ifraelites; this is Ifrael. Ifrael is not accounted after- generation now, nor lews neither. Rom, i. 28,19. For he is not a few which is ont out^ war dlyi neither is that cinumcifion which is outward in the fiefh: But he is ^ itj^ re^pecfof few which is one inwardly ^ &c. iVe l^now no man after the flejh, * faith the Qof-pcCprivi' Apoftle, 2(7or. 5. 16. But if Chrift have made a diflinft Covenant with i^^Ls, Ifrael after the flefli , from the Gentiles, then they finned in it : then they ought to have known men after the flefh ; but Ifrael after the fpirit, is Ifrael in Gofpcl-times , Gal 6, 16. aAsmany as waHiaccording tc this rulCypeace be upon them , end mercy, as upon the Ifrael of god : Not the If- rael after the flefii, but the Ifrael of God, that is. All Believers that arc Gods chofen. And the Author to the Hebrews doth not fay , The CO" veuant if made with Ifrael after the flefh , as the Apoffle calleth them , i. C$r- 10,18, But fpeaking of an Evangelicall Covenant , he fpeaketh in Evangeli- ^K^ A fVdj / 5. Chrift is called, e/^^j 18. 20. Thebope ofJfrael. Have the Gentiles no hope in him therefore ? So that if this be a fufficient ground to con- clude, that this covenant was made with none but i/r/fe/ after the flefli, becaufe Ifrael only i$ named? Then upon the fame >ground I may con* elude. That Chrift is the King of Ifrael only, that God is the God of If- rael only, that Chrift giveth repentance and remifsion of fins to Ilrael onely, that Chrift was fent to the loft ftteepof the houfeof Ifrael onely; that Chrift is the hop^ of Ifrael onely. But all thefe are falfc , and ' ^ therefore dtsd founds for Behevirs to l^alk^iii\ ^ i$ therefore the other is as hlCt upon that ground. ^r . ;» Ooje^' But it is faid ia the Covenan' , They pall n$ mere teach every mdn ^ " * bit neighbour i and every man bu brother, jayhgy kmrt the Lord, fcr they (hall all l^now me , (S'c. But vte fee no fuch covenant fulfilled yet, and there- fore this ii made to iCrael only, and reacheth not the Gentiles, bu: the Jews at their convcrfion. t/4?i/jy. i» Thit thii teaching meaneth the teaching of the Spirit, I ^nf-a, confeflcj but that this therefore exdudeth the teaching of God, by man, 1 asaninftrument, I deny: Bat the meaning h, The Spirits teaching (hail The Scriptures be the chiefand principal! teaching, as in other icripturcs fuch like phrafes Heb.8 (Qtiar^ are to be underftood , 'fihn 6. 27. Labour not for the meat that ferijhith, ning ndgh^ ■ hut for that thai eaiureth , (^c. He doth not mean th^it a rrisn lliauld boun cnibrO'\ not labour at all f jr outward means ; but not chiefly, or in the firil place, thers teachings Sonant, I Cor. i. 17. C^rll fent me not to bapciie , but to preach, nomorejoms^' Then it feems he was a fa Ife Prophet, ran without a GarnmifTionj for thing exilain^^ he did Baptize, as he confeffeth in that Chapter 5 Buthewasno falfe Pro- ed, > phet , bur a meffenger of Chrift, and a true Apolile : The meaning there- fore is y That was not the principall work about w hicb Chrift fent hirr, but preaching the Gofpel. So it is here. They [hall vo more tejcb every mitt his neighbour j that is , not fo much, the Spirit ihali be chief in teaching, and not fo much need of Neighbours and Brothers teaching: It menneth not i they fhall not teach at all; for mark Chrifts command, Mittb. z8. 19, ' ao. 50 teach all ^liations, baptising them ^ C^c, tedchivg them to obferve ifhatfoever I have commanded you : And h I am vnth you alvfuyes , even unto the endof the yforld^ ^men. So that Chrift givethcommifTion and command tohis Difciplestoteach, and carry on Ordinances ro the worlds end. And riffio% having received commands touching Ordinances and Officers in the Church, is charged to keep them till the appearing of ^ Chrift, irrw.6.14' J a. Suppofe it fhould be granted , that that is onely the fpirits teaching, ' and all teaching by man excluded; yet it wili not follow that the Cove- nant is not now in force 5 for is it not in force, except it be in force in the fame extent and meafure ? Except a man be taught onely by the Spi- rit, is he not taught by t he Spirit at all i> Is not he as truly taught of God that is taught by Gods inftrumentsinGods way , as be that is taught by immediate infpi ration? Did not God (hew Pharaoh what he v/a$ abou? to do , Gc».4i. i^.^8. And yet Pharaoh heard it from fofephs mouth; And Z?4«/e/ telle th the Kmg ^ehuchadncwar , Dan. i.4f. The great 5«i hath made \nown to the J^ing what JJ)all come to pajj'e hereafter. So it is ncrc : Shall 1 conclude then,becaule the glory and fulnefle of ^he Covenant it to be made out at the converfion of the Jews 5 therefore there is no fuch Covenant made now ? Becaufe the (hining glory of the Church ij to appear after the fall of Anti-chrilt, when the Bride, the Lambs Wife hath made her fclf ready; fhall I therefore conc'ude God bath no Church till then? Or that the Church now is not Chrifls Wife ? Or that the Churches t/f PPaj re S I o N fought out^ Churches now have not the fame priviledges in their meafure, as the Church then Qjall hive ? Or that the Church now hath nothing beautsfull, bccaufe the beauty ^indgkry of things is prinripally given to that Church? I (houla ^-sWtV^ ctncludCj if I fhould Co con:lude ; Though then the glori- ouslibertyof the fonsor Gcdbe, yet the Church now is inftatcd incoli- fcf rty , Gal. 4. ult. So \htiu brabren^ we crt ?wt children of the bovd vfomdn ^ i^ut cf the free. Gal. 5. i. Stand fajl t'nrefore in the liberty ixhcrcrvitb Lhri^ hath made va fret , ^c. Nay, there is no change of the Kingdom, but on- ly a mere glcnous decking of the fame Kihgdotn sndSubjeds, Heh, n, 2^3 27, ?8. Whole VLtce then JJ)Oofi the earthy but now he hath promifcd, %ing , Tet or.cr. ntre I fhslie not the earth oudy , but hcAv.n alfi And this word 3 yet 67iC€ msrc, (ignifieth the removing of thofe things that arc (haken, as of things that are made 5 thatthofe things which cannot be fhaken, may remain ; Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, &f. Therefore there fhall no new Covenant be made then , which is not in force now, though it fhall be then more glorious. So tha: I hope you fee this THEM, that this Covenant is made with, are Gentiles as well as Jews. ^ Objcd, But fome (ay thU Covenant U not in force novif , and yit theGeJi" tiles jujfifiedand favedy by venue of a Covenant in force too, which U thU^ He that believeth Oiali be iaved : ttAnd therefore there it m lojfe to the GCU' tilesj though thU Qovenmt be not yet fulfilUd ^ AnfW: I Anfwei J When the old Covenant vanifhed away, this Cove* Avfrver. nanttcok place, Heb.8. ult. In t^at he faith a new Covenant, he hath made the firft old. Therefore either the firtt covenant continueth ftiU, or this hath taken places but the firll is dif- annulled , therefore this bath taken place. 2. Thofe fpeeches in Scripture that fay (asPdM/did to the Jaylor^.^f- lieve on the Lord fefm Chriji^ and thou Jhalt be (aved, are but promifes that center into 5 and depend upon the Covenant; for there is diference between a promife and a Covenant: God promifed, J^r. 51. ^^. IvfiU maf^e a new Covenant, Now here he promifeth to make the Covenant, but it was not a Covenant in force till the death of Chriil, and fo con- J mean in the firmed by his blood. So is that of believing in Chrift, and being favcd, a clear mani- conditional! promife , That upon believing a man (hall be faved ; but fefiationoj it, the Covenant is abfolute , free without condition: Nay, the conditions of the promifes arc abfolutely promifed in the Covenant : fo thit they all, promifes and conditions both, have their rife from the Covenant. And therefore by vertue of the Covenant we have faith given , which is the condition to falvation : For faith God , / will write my law in their hearts, &c. And this is part of his law (I mean the law of jiberty) that we fmili believe on the name of hU Son fe'ui Chriit , i John j. ij. Now this is promifed to be virrittcn in the heart, by vertue of this covenant ; {o that if this Covenant be not in force , there can be no faith, and fonolalvati- on. Dcfide (faith he) they (hall all know me j now knowledge [% put for faith, lahn Ma^fi.5^ And ftuni , fer Believers u r^^tk^ i)u l^ fohti7.%» thUii lift eternally thdtthey know thee the only true God, ini ^efus drift Tvhom thou haft fent. And knowledge is the ground of faith » Raw. 10- 14. H9W jhsU they belicvton himsfvphom they hive not beards Therefore there can be no knowing God, nor believing in God, but by vertuc of this covenant: And fo the ^pnditionall covenant that they fpeak ofjflowethout of this covenant which is abfolutc , and therefore it muft needs be of force to us Gentiles. '^eftim J. The fifth Queftion for the explication of the words j is> Wb« Ate hUfeci^ SHd feeds feed fphl^n of here ? ' e/^»/\Vi tAn(i9. You fee this HE E , is Chrift j and by feed, peradventurc he "' - meaneth the Apoftlcs , whomhefirftcalled to him, and fent them forth to beget others 5 He calleth them children , fohn 2. t. j Children, have yott taty meat} Mark to. 24. Childttn, how hard is itfortbofetbattruftin rithee to enter into the Kingdom of God; fpeaking to his difciples, as the verfc flieweth : And by his feeds feed, may be meant thofe that they begat to him, as Pd«/ faith to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4, 1 5: Though ye have ten tbou^ (and inftru^ers in Chrift^yit have ye notmany Fathers, fit in Chrift fefm I have beiotten you by my gofpeU Peradventurc , by feed , he meaneth the firft Church planted in Gofpel- timcs, which was at ferufaiem : And by feeds feed, other Churches that were planted by them, when they were fcattered by petfecution, as eASii 8.1, 2>?j4. compared with ^flFj I r» 19,10, ai. But to give you the full meaning 5 I conceive by feed , and feeds feed, he meaneth all Believers among Jews and Gentiles, all the Sons of God by faith, fflm i. 12, i?. But as many oi received bim^ to them gave he pmr t9 become the Sons of God^ even to thofe vohieb belitved on his \ame t Which vfere born not of blood , nor of the viU of the fejh, nor of the will of ntan, but of god. Here if his feed, gd, ^ 29. If ye be Cbrifts , then are ye Abrahams feed , ani heirs according lofromije. Here ii feeds feed; here i$ ^&rtfbJ» the feed, and e/^tr/i^rfw^ feed, Rom. B, 16. The Sprit it felfbea- nth witnejfe with our ffirits that we are the ehildren of god i John 3.1. B^- hved , now are we the Sons of God. Rom. ^.8. plainly telleth us who the feed are 5 the'children of the protpife are counted for the feed, And thefe are called, his feeds ked» 1. Either in reference to their Mother the Church , gal. 4. ult, We art not children of the bondswoman y but of the free. Rev.iz.ult. The woman there, which is the Church, is faid to have a feed which keep tke command- ments of God, and have the Teftimony of Jefus Chrift. 1, Or elfc ( which I apprehend to be nearer the truth ) by feeds feed, he meaneth Believers, that enfue in after-generations , that live one after ano- ther by courfe; for it cannot be meant ©f any carnall feed; And this 3ppeaTeth,becaufe they arc fuch, that the Spirit of Chrift , and the Word of Chrift (hall be in their mouths , which cannot be meant of wicked men* And that xt is meant of Believers fncccfTively in all generations; I D gather 3 S A WAy f^ S X 6 N fought out^ gather from thefe wordi, that the Spirit and Word is promifcd not to depart feom them, from henceforth and for ever, ^ Queftion 6, I0iittimtis pintedat in this to ri f Hnceforth ] when dvth thh C^ve* nant take [Uct , cm \jcgin to be m jms orcUdrfy manifejlsd ? a/^?ifVy Here may a four fold time be conJ£,^ed. X. From ^dam, z. Fiom the prcCcnt time when it was fpokcn, 3. From Chnfts coming in the flcQi. 4. From the Jews converfion. And this lait may fee m to be of moft force, from Km, it. 16, fpea- king of their calling in, in the end of the world he citeth this very ove- nant: And fo all Ifraei fnall be faved , as it is written , There Jhall C9mc mt of Si en the Tfeliverer, andJhiU turn arvay ung$dlhielj'e from factb, veri.17, F»r this it my covenant unto them , vohen I jhall tdJ^e arvay thar fins. But we (hall findc another time when this Covenant took place, though the glorious fulfilling of it be referved to that timcj as I faid before. If Chrifibe theTckator and Mediator of this covenant , and bis blood be the blood of this covenant , it muft needs take place at his death. And this appcareth further , beeaufe divers of the Jews were converted, fived , had their finnes taken away prefently after CHRIS TS death. Queft. But how tan you thinlithetimerfiay be talien from Adzm? Anfw, It hath fome probability. 1 Beeaufe the covenant was made with e/4itfwj after his fall. Gen. ?. 13. IvpiU ^ut enmity between thee and the woman ^ and between thy feed and her feed, it jhall bruife thy head , and thou fhaltbruife hiiheel. And this co- venant ij^^'afe fpeakethof, is a covenant of grace; and God hath perfor- med this covenant with the godly feed from Adam., giving them his Word and Spirit alio , as you may fee in Abel, And (^en 6, i. The fins of Goi faw the daughters of men that they were fair, bons of GOD, that is by profeflinn ; for if any (hall fay they were Sons of God by creation; only, fo were the daughters of men Gods daughters by creation, there- fore this muft needs mean more then by creation , even by profeflion, that had fomeihing of God communicated to them : And fo Gods Spirit and Word was given to Abraham , and to fome all along in the time of the Law,, Objrft. 'But God faith y My Covenant is with them: AndtheOtwit tranJJation readttb it, I will make it , and therefore it cannot loofi to the time fiftf Anfw. The words truly read , are to be rendered thus [ This my fo- venant with them'] is, you may fee is put in a fmall letter, as not being in the Hebrew Text : and then the meaning may be this 5 Tbu my Covenant 1 will confirm uf on them. This pointeth not at the time of making the €o7enam: And the word \^mA\e'^ is added in fm^ll letters in the Geneva. ttanfUtioHj Urn in the dftdfotind^ for Believers to "^alk^irt. 19 ttacflatioii, it is truly rendred thus, Jnd I mUthh my Covenant vfitb thmt So that it might be all along in the time pail from ^iflf^OT. The fecond time is from the prefenr, it feemcth to begin at the prefent from the Letter, giving the Righteous prefent confolations againft the (ins and evils of thofe times. And fo it is true, in regard of thofe that.by faith apprehend the MeJJiab to come for the prefent. But thirdly, I take it, that the time efpccially pointed at for the begin- ning ofthe making good this covenant in a clear and manifeft way, was at Chrifts revealing in the flefh, and (hall be wonderfully illuftratcdat the converfion ofthe Jews, which is to come. My grounds why this is the principal time of this covenants taking placej arethefe: o? r A 1. It is faid, verfe 20. The Redeemer (hall com to Sion. And this is a Af4/f«^ »^^ part of the Covenant, as you may fee by the Apoftle, Row. 11 16, 27. tbeCovendnt Tbe Redeemer Jhall come out of Shn, andJhdU turn away ungedlinejj'c from ^^^y t^^ Jacob ; for thU U my Covenant with them, when I tal^e away their fins. Now f '"^""f ^^y'» fuchkindofphrafes in the Old Teftament are principally under flood of C'^rz/ti revff,*- Chrifts comming in the flefli, as Hagg, z, 7. And I willfhakji all %&tmi, ^^J" '" * " iiwi the defre of all Hationsfhall comcydnd I will fill thU bou(e w it bglofy, faith fi^ the Lord. The defirc of Nations (hall come j that is, Chrift come in the fle(h: forthen was the (baking of Nations fulfilled that the Prophet fpke of, as is clear, Heh.iz, 26, 17, i8. %oM&l. g. i. TheLordwbom ye (eek Jhallfuddenly come tohU Temple, even the CMejJenger of the Covenant whom ye deligktin, bejhallcome, faith the Lord, That is» Chrifts comming in the flefli, as appearcth by the firft da ufe, I wiUftnd my Mejjenger to prepare thy v^ay before thee, which was Jd6« Baptift, as appearcth, by comparing this place with !^atth. u. io. Lufie i. 78, & 7. 17. Now this Redeemers comming was, when Chrift came in the flefh, as he faith, I am COME^ tbit they might have Ufe, and that they might have it more abundantly J John 10.10. Andfo fohn Baptift underftood it of his comming, when hefenthisDifciplcstohim with thisqueftion, Mattb, 11. g. Art thou he thatfhould COME, or look we for anoiber ? And Chrift by his anfwer in the verfes following, (heweth that he was he : Go again andjhew John what you hear and fee : The blind receive their fight, (s'c. As if he (houldfay, Thefc works teftifie that I am bethatjhmld come. In Lukei^t 2i.faytheDifcipIes, fVetrufled it had been he that Jhould have redeemed I frael^(^e. Now he taketh occafion to reprove their flownefsto kelievei And faith the Scripture, verfe 27. Beginning at Idofes and all the Prophets, he expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concern- ing himfelf , (hewing that he was come , and was the Redeemer of Ifrael. In sASis 25. 2 2, 2 ? . Paul witneflfeth the fame j I fay no other things i? /^^ then thok\9hichMoftsandtheFrophetsdidfayfhouldCOMEf That Qhrtfi foould ftiffer, and that he Jhould be the firft that Jhould ri(efrom the dtadi andJhoHliJhcw light to the people, and to tbc gentile:. And when Chrift to tAWAj to S I O N fovght Ottty was born , Zacharm by the holy Ghoft bleffeth God , tu\c u 6%, faying, BUjl'ei be the Lord. God of Ifrjcl , jcr hi hath vifited and fedecmfJ his people : As know ingthat the Redeemer was C O M£ to Sinn b^ Revel, 5.9, The four Biajts^ dnd 14. Elden confcffe that the Limb (which is Chrift) had redeemed them to God by fiis bloody out of every kindred, tongue, and na- tion : fo that this muft needs be underilood of the time of Chrifts com- ing in the fle(h. 2. It is faid, he {ball come to S I 0% Now Sion is not only the City of Vavid, the place where the Temple was built , and where the people of the Jewsaflerabledto do Sacrifice; but the Gentile-churches of Chrift, to be called and gathered after Chrifts revelling in the flefh , are cabled SION, Heb. II, tz 'But ye are tome unto MounuSion , vQhicb is the Qity of the living God, the heavenly ^eru(alem, Sec. And lb the Saints are called Jews, R.w. z.ult. He if a few that it one inwardly y Mnd that is cit' cumcifjonthdt isinthehedrt, ^i. So that the Gemile-churches, being cai- kd SION, as well as the Jews 5 and Chrift being come to i/o«, it muft needs mean his coming in the fle(h , when Redemption and Lite was made out to the Gentiles. 2. He is faid to come to Sim (if you take Sion for the Jiewifli Church) ia rcfpe^ of h s firft manifeftation to them , '^ohn 1 ji. But that hejhouli be made manifeft tQ Irael Cfaith John Baptitt) thereftre am I come Baptiiing mib water ^ and the Gofpel was frjt to be preached to them. As appcarerh , 1. By Chrifls fending forth his Difcfples to theni firft , CMattb. lo. 5, 6» Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any City of the Samaritans entef j€ H6t i hut go rather to thetojijheev of the bottfeof Ifrael. x- Bythe Apoftlesfpeechandacknowledfemenc, A&j t^,^6, TfyenVaul «»iBarnab3s vfdxed bold, and faid. It tvAf necejjdrj the word ofgodfbouti firft bc.v9 bun fpofien to you ( (peaking to the Jews : ) Bui feeing you put it from you , and fudge your (elves unworthy of eternall life , lo, we turn to the Gevtilef, Again, It is yet more manifeft , that it is meant of Chrifts coming in the fleai. The Apoftle faith, Rom. 1 1 There (hall come out oj Sion the ieliveter, and (hall turn awayungodlinejjefromjicoh. This hath reference to the Jews cal- ling, but it is not limittcd to that time, batfpcakeih of Chrifts incarnation alfo, for then he came out of Sion, I, Becaufc he wasbornof the Jewsorlfraelites,ltom« 9. 5, of whom con- cerning the flcfh Chrift came. 1. Becaufc from Jeruialem , or Sion , was the Gofpcl fpread abroad into all the world 5 jiHsS.^* Then they that were fcattercd abroad, went 9yefy where fteathing the iVord s for the Word was not preached to the Gen- tiles till that perfecotion, Kom. \%» i6y 17, Saith the Apoftle , It botb ^tafei them t/ Macedonia and. iAchaia , to ma\e a cmm contrikution for the tmSafrntbatgre^ferttfalm* Nowmarkj It hath pleafcd them ffaith he) AH dfoHfid^ for Bdievcrs to rfdhjn. }^ he ) and their cicbtors thty ar€ : and h« provcth it by this argument 5 for if the GcntiUs have bten made partaken of T H E 1 R rpirirusl things , their duty is ai(o, &c. Mark, he calk^h th^m T H E 1 R Ipiritual things ( that is the Jews; ) So that then he came out of Shn co tae Gen- tiles. 3« Becaufcthis is a covenant cf grace, and f^ took its beginning prin- cipally and. learly from Chriftstime. 2?fl7n. 10. Tbevfcrd iiwgfjtbee, even in thy heart, and in thy m»uth, (^c Say V6tj Wiyojlnll af^en.i to bcavLU f that is, to fetch Chrift frcm thence^ &c. F»r the Wifd U nigh r';ee, mcimating thus much, That fiom ChriiU revealing in the fleih, the new covenant of grace, the word oi the Gofpcl, is nigh to every orc that belie veth, or will believe. The reafon of the different reading, in If&iih^ and in the iUm^m^ii this: Jimah fpeaketh according to the difpenfati^ n of the * legal covenantj which * ^^ OUi caileth for works ; He jhall come fo thc"' that turn from uniodlinefs. Foul ^aketh according to the dilpenfation of tht t Gofpe'-covenant^ which ad- \9fNe7»» vanceth grace : and therefore it is faid, HeJkMl comeani turn avfiy ungtL Uitefsjrem Jacob. Queftion 7. ^efim 7; W hath meant by [pritf My fpint which is upon thee? Aiifw, The holy tanftifying fpirit of God^wherewirh Chrift was anoin- ^ftfxvcTM t€d, Luke 4. 18. The fpirit of the L9rd it uptime, hecaufehehathanointsi ' m€tofr€aih,(^c. The Spirit by which he was confecrated and enabled for tfaewoik he had to do: And this Spirit fhall be given to the parties here covenanted with, which is both the grace of the fpirrt in the heart, and the gifts of the fpirit for the Churches edification, fohn 7. 58. He that betievethsn me^ as the Scripture faith, out cfhis belly ffjall fitw rivers of living water. And truly I tio net know wh: re the Scripture hath faid it, if not here ; My ffirit jhall not depart out of the mouth ojtky feed, nor feedi feedjO'c. Now faith the Text in 5pc^«, This fpakeheof the Spirit, that they that beleeve on him ftiould receive : fo that this is a fpirit communi- cated from Ghrift the fountain, to Believers j therefore the fame fpirit that isuponChrift» Queflion 8- • 6) /?' c matii meant by the ff^OKD here? And my Word which I have put 'eut. 18. 18. I witi raife them up a Prophet from among their brethren like unto theCy ani mil put my w^rd in his mouth, and hejhall fpeafi unto them all that i command bim. Mark, the words in the mouth is, that they may be publifhed. 2 Sam» 14. 19. Whe*n the woman of Tekoah had fpoken to Kin^David, faid (he. Thy fervant Joab, he put all thefe words in the mouth of thy handmaid, Pfa. ■ 5.9. There is no faith fulnejfe in their momh. That is, they fpeak not truly, nor faithfully. P[al. 40. g. He hath put a new fongin my mouth, even praife to our God. Mark, a fong in the mouth, is praife to be uttered. CMat^ i8, 16. That in the mouth of two or three witneffes every word may be eftablidied. (i. c»j that they may fpeak and tefli fie what they hear; So that all along, the Scripture meaneth delivering a meflage, declaring or publi(hing : fo that by Word in their mouth, is meant. That they (hall preach the (ame Gofpel that Chrift preached. mfi> io« * Queftion 10. ■" W/jy doth befaytheVyWis word (hall not depart out of their mouth ? ThU feemeth to contradi^ the other f mfwer. dnfw. He doth not mean that they (hould keep his words there, and not litter them forth: but he meaneth, they (hould meditate upon them, and have them ready to declare, asoccalion ferveth. Jq/7;, 1.8. Thisbook of the Law (hall not depart out cf thy mouth; but thou (halt meditate therein day and nighty that thou mayeft cbferve to doall that is written therein. ^uefi. laji. The laft queftion is, . For bow Ung ts this to continue ? H[wcr» Anfw. The word faith, for ezer. The Geneva Bible faith, even for ever. Another tranflation hath it, from this time forth for ever more, world without end. And this appeareth, that it is to continue while the world 'ailctb, becaufe it is a covenant of gracc,which i$ aji cvcrlafting covenant. "^nd fsHfidy ftr 'Believers to \\>alk^fn, 13 ^er* ;i«40» I will make aneverlafti'ng covenant with them, that I-will not dfpart from them, &c. For rv«.r here , meaneth to the end of the world, as Manb, 6. ;?. [ For thine is the K ngdom , the power, and the gloryjfor ever ] Now Chrifts K'ngdom is ChriUs tor ever , and this covenant concet-neth Chi iits Kingdom j it concerntth the dittriburion. of the Spirit and Gofpfl : And fo for tvcr is taken , ^ohn 6. 5 ^. He that eat- cth of this bread, ihall live forever, What isfpoktnof Chrift orhisKmg- dom inthistcrm Iforcvcr'] is t^ken.wit'iout limitarionof time Rev.ii, 15, The kingdoms of this world arc our Lords and his Chrilts, and he (hall reign for ever and ever. Reftrain the word how you will , or can, and it meanech to the laft period of the thing treated of, Philem. ij. Perhaps hedepartedfor a feafon, that thou (houldil receive him for ever, (f e, ) to thelafl period of life 5 till the relation of Malttr and Servant be broken by death. So here I for ever ^ {i O fo long as there is any Spirit or Word of Ghrift to be diftributed. ilo that I hope (through the affiftance of Chrift, whofe fervant I am, and upon whom I depend ) I have laid fuch a foundation , that Earth and Hell cannot raze J concerning the meaning of the holy Ghoft in this Scripture, and now I (hall confidently build upon ir. ' The point of Doftrine from the words thus opened, (hall be this. . • That from the time of Chrifis coming in the flefh, and revealing the "Docirlns* new Covenant, throeghout all ages , to the worlds end : 1 here i^iall be a (ucctflion of Believers that (hall have the Spirit of Chrift , and the Gof- pelof Chrift communicated toihem a and be enabled in fomc meafure to hold it forth, and publi(h it. I have three things to handle in following of this point ; The Explica- tion of it, and the { onfirmation, and the Application. 1. I (liall explain fomething in the point, that you may know wh^at I The Poinl mean* ' , • . 1. To tell you what I mean by Cbrifts coming in the flefh, and **^ revealing the new covenant : 1 mean by this , his being incarnate in the dayes of his flefh, tendering grace to the Jews, and givina fo^e glimpfcs to the Gentiles: And after his death, giving commifli on to his DifcipleS ^o g® «ach all Najjons, and hold him forth to every creature, 2. By Ages , I mean Generations . jj^jt there was not any Gene^ ration of men , nor any age of ^-^^^ ^ j^^j this was in fome meafure made good, ?• By fucceffion of Bclicve'^^J I mean not carnall naturajl^rucccflion; That a believing man muft ne^°s have a believing childe/Neither do I mean that the fticce(rionof Believers was in one place. City, or Coun- trey or Nation j but that there hath been alway believers in one place or other; neither dolmeananyperfonall fuc eflTion, in regard of office , as of Apoftlcs, and the like 5 nor a fucceffion of order and ordinances among thofe believers in all particulars; But that the world in all ages hath 14 red. uOfbdlevers, BelUvtrs [uc- c0on firft popbcficd pf. A way u S i o n fought aut '^ hatb had Believers, 0rhom God bath accouflted for his people, and who hare been indued with the Spirit of Chrifi, and the Word ot Cbriili and enabled ia fomc meafure to declare it. And fo underflood , I (hall endeavour to clear three tbingi, I. That there hath been alwaycs a fuccefiion of Believers, 14 That there hath been a fucceffion of Spirit. J. Of the Word, or Gofpel, or Prophccying, or declaring of the Gofpej. Concerning the firft of tbefc , two things will make it good, 1. It was Prophecied of, 2 It was performed. 1. It was Prophcciedof. The firft Scripture I ffiall name, is,T/£/. 71. j. TbeyJhaU fear thee a/s Uni ts the Sun ani CM son eniuretht thrtuihout all gent' rations. Mark, throughout ALL generations, Obje^. But fomc may fay , This is fpoken of the time when Chrift Ihall fetuphis Kingdom, sAnfrv. I know it is-, but if you reftrain it only to his Monarchy , you are deceived 5 He fet up his Kingdom in part when he dyed, and rofe from the dead, and gathered in Souls and Churches to him; for upon this confi- deration the Apoilles preached , J^s $. 29, 50, 51. Then Peter and the other Apples anfwered and faid^ We ought to obey God rather then men : The Gad ef cur Fathers railed up^e'tts , vfbomye Jliw, and hanged on a ire$y Him bath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince, and a Saviour , to give repentance to Ifrael , and remijfion of fins : And rve are bis witnejjes of tbefe things y and foii the holy Ghofl, whom god hath given to them that oheybim, Mark, they witnclTed, and the holy Ghoft too , that CHRIST was ex- alted now to be a Prince ; therefore now bis Kingdom began. Another Scripture is , Ffal, 100. ^. For the L$rd l^good, hit mercy is ever- iafiingyand bis truth endurethto ALL generations. He fpeaketh here of a tnercy joyned with truth 5 A covenant- mercy , a Church-mercy, as is clear out of the Pfalm : and this endureth to all generations; therefore there Bjuft needs be a Church in all generations. A third Scripture is , Pfal. 102, 11 But thou yO Lord Jhalt endure ftr ever , and thy remembrance totALL generations. And then fee, verf. 1 j. Thou mtt arife, and have mercy uponSion. 1 but fome may fay, Sion lyeth in the duft f True , but it is Sion ftill, though Sion afflided ; for if it were not Sm^ hovr ceuld God have mercy upon Sion, A fourth Scripture is, Pfal. 4^. ult, I will ma^ethy name t9 he remembered in tALL generations 'j therefcre Jh&U the p(9pl£prai ft thee for ever and ever. It matters not to this point, whethet this be the fpeech of Chrift, or the Church : If of Cfirift»then itftieweth that the Churchfball be mentioned in all generations* If of the Church, then (he could notcaufe Chrift to be remembred, if there were no Church to remember him. A fifth Scripture is, Exoi. ^. i^. When God had declared hisCove- aant-aamc there, faith he, Tbk hmy Hamefw hid and found^ for 'Believers td^all^lfj* . "^ had a face like a Man, (i, c.) the Deacon, excrcifed about the bodies of Men. The fourth like a flying E^gle: that is, The Teacher, whofoa- reth aloft to End out true Dcftrine, and to beat down Errors, and to fpywhen they fpringup^ andoppofb ih^m. The four and twenty El- dc!S, that is, The company of faints, th&t v^orjhipgod accordingto hif ,lVord: And they are (aid to have long white Robes, -^Vid Crowns, and Thrones; becaufe they are Kings and Priefls, T^yueL i. 6. And they are laid to be Four and tweniy, alluding to the Eour and twenty Oriiers r^« ^.Bea(fs^ of the Prieflsof old, i Ckron. 14. from the 4. to the i^.yctk. And fo and z.^Sldm the Singers are divided into Four and twenty Orders, iChron.z^, ^'cxfrned^ to the end : And the Gofpel-faints are chief Singers. Now thefe Worfhippers are mentioned as occaiionferveth throughout the Book, Chap. j. ^. In the mcurning time, that none were found worthy to open the little myflerious Bock fealed : One of the ELDERS (aid, ij'c* Verf. 8. When Chriji had taken the Booh^the jour Beajisy and Jour and treeniy Elders fiU domt before the Lamb. And among thepraifesof all creatures, verf. 14. The four Beafu fid, Amcn^ end the four and twevty Elders fall dtven and worjkip. And Chap.y, After all the Seals were cpened, vtrf II. we read'cf the Elders and the four Beafls before the Throne agiin. And fo ^erf. i g. and Cbaf. 1 1. 16. ye read of the E L P E R S ; again, even in the time when the Church vas in the Wildernefi, and theWitneiT^es fliin; between the fecond and third great Woe. Indeed ' it is to be obfcrved in this place, he rpehtioneth not theBeafts, fliew- * ThU place k ing ( as I conceive ) that now the Officers of the Church were put down, ^^ ^^ ^^^.^^ and there was no publ-ick office in regard of Antichrifis tyranny '. V>ui f^f^ncermng te- there is Elders, Believers ftil), And then fee. Chap, 19. 4. Aftfr ^^^ ft^fing of Of" fall of Antichrif^, and arraying of the Bride, ye read of the four '^^^i^hfj^n and Or* and four and twenty Elders again* : They wotfhip God that fate upon-'^^-^^^^^g^ ^j^gf the Throne: fo that thcfe places (hew, here was Gofpel-faints in ^^ if^^e avojtacy. times. Confider alfo thcfe places. Rev. 6.11. v/c read of Saints, that white rohes Saints in all r»er9 gheu^unto, and they were bid to refl a little feafon till their kWow-ages pr^vei brethren were (lain, as they were ,♦ (hewing that there was then brethren clearly, to be (lain (till : And this was at theopeningcf the fifth Seal, verf. 10, ^evel 7. ^, At the time of fealing, we read of fervants of the living God to lefedUdi which fervants of God are fet out by their number, in the reft of the Chapter. Revel. ^, i. There v^ds fiience in Heaven (i e,) in the • Ch«rch : fo that there was a Church (iUl, at the opening of the fevcnth Seal. And Verfe ^. The Angel is faid to have O^o«yj. that he r>fjetei mnh the prayers cfall Saints : (o that there was Saints that prayed lii il. So Verfe 10, A far fell from -Heaven: (i. e.) fome Minii}er,or eminent man from the Church ; for the Angels are called Stars, and the Church Hea- ven, in this Book, (^hap. 9. 4. At the Locufts coTaing forth of the fmoak, there is mention made ofthementhnthad the fealofGcdintbett ftrc'headj. And Chaf, 11. 1,1^3. There is mention made of worfhip- ' ^ A JVay r^ S I o N [ought out^ pcrs of God in the Tempkj even when the holy City was troden under foot : And there is mention made alfo of the two Wicnefies that prophc- fiedinfackcloath atthe fame time, which I conceive were to feed the Woman in the Wilderntfie. At the i ?, and 16. verfc of the fame chapter, after the rifing of the two Witnei^es, there is a voice is Heaven again, fraifinggodj and giving glor J to him. Chip.iz. iilt. The Woman in her banifhment is faid to have a feed ( ni^h rvhom the 'Drago7t made war) that keep the Commdiidments ofg^d, and have the Tejh'm$ny offefut. Chap. 1 j. ^> 7> ^i 9i io* VVe read of fome that dwell in Heaven (i. c. ) in the Church. Vcif.j. There he mentioneth Saints that the Beaftsmade war with. Vcrj 8 There is fome written in the Lfij«&ji?co^ci////(r, that are excepted from worfliipping the Beafl-, vvhenall others worftiipped him. And l^erf. 9, 10. The Saints arc (hewed wherein their Patience and Faith lieth at that time 5 and they are commended for being patienr, and be- lieving then. Chci^' 14. 1 We read of 144000. that ilood onMount-Sion vith the Lamb. CMount-Sion ( /. e,) a Gofpel-Church, Ueh. 1 1 ii. And thefe are they that praifed God, and are. called Virgins, and redeemed ones. Vcr. 4, and ver. 6, we read of an Angel preaching the Gofpel ; that -is,a Gofpel-Minifler, for they are called Angels. In the 12. verf. we read of Saints again that are patient, and keep Gods Commandments. And ver[,ii- we read of the bleflednefs of the dead, that dye in, or for the Lord, even at that time under Amichrift. Chap,i$t i, ^. we read of thofc that had got the viftory over the Beaft, and over his Image, and over his name, and over the number of his name, that flood upon the fea of glafle mingled with fire, finging the fong oiuMofes, and of the Lamb. And Chap. 16.^^6,7. There we readcf Angels that blelTe and praifc God, and confefs his rightecufnefs andjultice, at the pouring out of the third Vial. AndTer/ei^. Cbrift faith, Blejjed U he that y^atihetb, andfieepeth his garments : fliewingthatforaedid watch 5 for if none had watched, he would never have pronounced any bleffed in that particular. Chap, 17. 6:'^^ihn Ciiihy I favf a wmandrunfi-aith the blood of theSaintSf ^nd 'Martyrs offefta : So that there was Saints in the reigii of the'Whorc, how could (he fhed their blood elfe? Verfe 8. It is (aid, They of the emb p?aU vponder^vphofeva/hes are not written in the Book cfUfe. Shewing that they whofe names are written there, (hallnot wonder ; there is fome ex- cepted. And when all the Kings of the earth war againft the Lambj verf. 14. we read of fome that are on his fide, that are faid to be called, and chofen, and faithful. In Chap. 18. 4. when Babylon iscryed down, God calleth a Peopleof bisto come outof her; ihcwingthat then he had a People in Babylon. And Chap. 1 9. 1. We read of much people in Heaven praifingGod, finging HflWytf^ for the fall of the Whore. Verfe <;, All Gods fervants are exhorted to praife him 5 (hewing that he had fer- vants then. And Verfe 11, 11,1^,14. Chrifl goeth forth conquering up- on the white Horfe: An^hxi^ddAtThe Armies that are in Heaven [that is in the Church] JQlldmd after him* And Ch^f- 1<^« VVc read of Saints, that would And found y fcr Believers t$ I^Alk^ in\ 3 1 would not wotfbip the Bealt , nor his Image , &c. and tfecy lived and reisned with Chrift. And verfe 9. Gcg ard ^dgog txt faid to compaffe the Tents of the Saints, and the belcvcd City : fo that ftill there is Saints. And Ckp. 1 X. ? • ^^^ tabmtdcle of Go I U mth men^ and he vpHI dwell mtb them, Aid tbcyjhall behisfeople^Scc So thatic is clear againft all the ca- vils in the world, that there have been Saints at ail times , in all ages of theword: And thofe Saints have gene under the name and tit e of the Church, as appcareth, Efhef j. ult. where F^m/ defireth [That unto God might be glory in the Church by Chrift Jcfus, throughout aU ages world without end. ] Here the Apoftlc concludeth, that there lliallbc a Church in all ages, wherein GOD (hall have glory by Chrift, even world without end, Ephef, 4. 1 i^, i^ [ For the perfeding of the Saints, for the work of the Miniftery, for the edifying of the body of Chrift 5 3 How long ? [ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the know- ledge of the Cons of God, unto a perfcdman, unto the meafurc of the ftatureof the fulneiTe of Chrift:] fo that there is Saints to be perfcfted in all ages till the unity of the faith, Paul in 1 Tim. 6. i?,i4 M* chargeth T'/me;^;' , in the fight of God, and Jeftis Chrift 5 That he Jhould{eep the CQmwandmeiit that he gave him, Thdteomwidn- mtbcut (putun-rebu^eableyuntillthe appearing of our Lord^eftaCbrrfttVfbicif dement in in his times he (hall P)€Vfi(s'c» Now by this commandment, he meanetb all i Tim. 6 eX' the precepts concerning Church-worthips, Do^rines , Ordinances, plained and andOffi.-ers. c\emd» Objed. Buthe faiih, This commdndmeitt, importing [9me one duty in-* )oyncd,and vot ail things m the Epijile ? ft/{vfa>. Our Saviour faith, Matth.zi.jj. Thu is the fir ji and great commandment. He meaneth that which condineth all the duty of man to God : And he calleth that the fecond commandment , that containerh all a mans duty to man. And why may he not do fo here alfo> and that bec.mfc this Epiftlc containeth the duty of a Church towards God efpecially. Objcft. But here in Timothy , Chap. 6» i. He taketh order for fer- vantstobefiithfuli to their Maftcrs, and that concerneth not the duty of a Church to God ? An(vfi. In the fourth commandment , which is a branch of that great commandment , fpoken of, Matth. 22. he faith , Six dayesjhalt thtu la- houryScc. Now this conccrneth man, and not God, and yet it is m the firft Table;, but he meaneth they ft^.ouldfo difpatch theirbutmcfle in fix dayes, that God might have his time when it cometh , for that is the drift of the holy Ghoft there,* So it is here, fervantsfhould be lofi^jeft 2nd ready to obey, and fo faithful!, that God might have his honour, and the Church worftiip God with lefte diftradion ; This maketh nothing againft the interpretation I have given, but rather for it. , Objea, But for all this ^ this charge tvas not kept, and tbetApoftle i'ore. faipf itcmld not be kept-^ jor i Tim 4.1. he (aith^ln the latter dayes fome ftiali depart /^ 3^ A yp^y f^? S i o n fought out^ depart from the faith , giving heed to feduclng Ipirits, &c. «/^«i i Thef^ %> 10. tAntichrifikffiid.to cme witbaU decehjblcncjl'e of unrighteotifnejle in tbemtbatperijh, Anfvp, Wc cannot conclude fiom thefe SaiptureSjthat it was not kept: For in i Tim, 4. 1, he faith , Some fhall depart from the faith, not all: And z Tbef* t. 10. He faith, hi them that peri[h , not in all: And therefore here can be no certain concliifion that ic was not kepr. Thus I have proved the firft branch of the point, vi^. That there hath been, and ever (liall be a fuccefflon of Believers. Now I fnill give you fotne reafons of the point , and then come to ex- plain and prove the other tv/o fucceilions : And truly the reafons for this branch will prove them alfo, if I had no more to fay : For the proving of Believers to be in all times, will necelTarily prove the communication of the Spirit and Word: For to believe without the Spirit of God, is a groundlefl'e thing , ftting faith is a fruit of the Spirit, Gal 5 2 2« And to believe, and h*ve thefpirit,and yet to be able to Uy nothing for God,is as flrange \ Gonftder but thefe places, Gal. j 16. Te are all the fonj of ' Qod by faith in ^efm 0}fijt, Ajid then what followeth upon this. Gat. 4.^. Anihecaufe ytare fan^y God. bath fent forth tbefprit of his Son inf^yowt hearts, -thereby rce cryy /ibba^ Father z Cor. 4. i?. TVe having th^fdme fpi" rit of faith , according as it w m-itten , I believed, therefore have I fpo^en] vpe alfo believe [and whae then ? ] therefore fpeai{. Now I come to the Reafons of the point. T>Oct* Pj.qj^ the time of Chrifts coming in the fleih, and revealing of the ncwcovenanr, throughout all ages to the worlds end , there hath been, and fliallbe aiucceflionof Believers, that have the Spirit of God, and the Word of God communicated to them, and are enabled in fomc meafure to , declare it. RE AS OH I. Kcafons to xhe firft Reafon is taken from the nature cf Chrifts Kingdom , that prove the point jj^ jjje manifeftation of it , began at his birth, and fo continueth and in- in the fiTji fuc- creafeth till it cometh to its glory I fa* 9.6,7. Vnto us a child » born, cejfion of he-l ^^-mo pa a Son is glven^ and the government fljall be uponhJ^fhouldersyScc, Of iieverst ^^^ increale of bis government and peace there fhall be no end — jTrcw bejice* fm)} even for ever. So that from his birth there Ihall be an increale of his government for ever* And left any ftiould fay , This is his Kingdom in Heaven : It is faid. His government is upon the Throne of ZJ^-y/i 3 and that was never his Throne in Heaven , but on Earth : fo that of this there is no end while the earth lafteth. So a'fo the Angel confirmeth it, Lul^e 1.52. j^fpea- king of Chrift , He fhall be great, avdfhdl be called the fon of the higbelf, and the Lori Godfhal give unto him the throne of his Father Diyid. And be fhd reign over the boufe o/' Jacob for ever, and of bis hjngdom there fhall be n» €ni. And that this is meant of Chrift, Fctit cxplaineth it, AB$ 1. jc To this and found y ftr 'Believers to >^Alk^in. 33 this purpofc it is prophefied of him, P/4/. 4J, 6. Thy throne,0 goi,ii for evir and ever , &c. But if there were a time wherein Chrift had no people upon earth, then he could have no Throne upon earth; For among, or rather over the wicked, isSathans throne. Rev. 2 i?. and there he dwclletb, Objed. Buttherervas aChurcbofGod. An(Ws It is true f But the Church ot God were none of Sathans ru&- jefts, but the wicked ; Had there been none but true believers, could it have been faii^Sathans Throne was there? InEfbef, 2. z. He is called the pincc of the pt»er »f the air, the ;prit that xforiieth in the hearts of the children of dilobedience. So on chf other fide , where there is not one true Believer, can it be faid, Qrifls Throne is there ? A Thione prefuppr.feth a King , and a King preluppofcth Subjeds, for they ate relatives. A Huf- band prefuppofeth a Wife, and a Father prefuppofeth a Childe ; for where the one is waming,the other cannot be appi opriated. So if Chrilts Throne ftand for ever, it prefuppofeth him a King for ever ; If he be a King for ever, it prefuppofeth him to have fubjeits for ever. 1, Becaufe,if there (liould not be a fuccefllon of Believers, and of the '^^4^^ ^« communication of the Spirit and Word, God could not be faithfull , he (hould break his Covenant of Grace: You fee here, it isrefolved upon by a Covenant; yea, a perpetuall Covenant, that it (hill be fo. And the Texttels us, T/a/. in. 5. HemllbeevcrrrindfuUofbh Covenant. But if there hath been fome age, wherein there hath not been Believers , and difttibution of Spirit and Word, or declaring the Gofpei ; then GOD hath not been ever mindful! of his Covenant: Howfo? why he failed ^uch an age. And then it will follow , that God is not fo fairhfull to his Church now,ashewastoIfraelof old. It is faid, P/'^/, 105. 8,9, 10, n. He hath remembered hk Covenant for ever j that is. To Abraham, ifaac, and Jacob, and l(rael^ as you may fee. And faith Solomon, 1 King. 8. 56 There hathnot failed one mrd of all hk go9d pomife vfhich be pomifed , (STc But now it feemeth there failethof hts good promife to his in Gofpcl- times, if the Dodrine be not trus : Bur God never failed of his Cove- nant : Therefore, &c. I. There muft needs be a fucccfllon of Believers in all ages, becaufe Kufon j. the world flandeth for their fakes; for when they are taken away, then cometh the end ; when God hirh made up his number , 1[a. i. 9. l(rael had bten utterly dejiroyed , had it not. been Ur the remnant that were Gods. Matth. J. 5. Blejfed are the meek, for theyjkall inherit the earth. Now then Cod cannot deftroy the world while any righteous man remaineth; for then the righteous cannot have his inheritance. I'aul telleth the Church, 2 (;or.4. jj. All things are for their fakes : And Rev 7. ^ The Angel that hadihcfeal of the living God, callethtotbe Angels that held the four wmds , faying , Hurt ye not the earth, neithtr the fea, nor any tree, till wehffuefealedthefervdntsofourGodintbeirfm'heads. IfGodhadhad no fcrvants, there would have been no ftoppage made of ruinc j for it i$ ^ 34 A rvAj to S I o N foHjih out, for their fakes , C^dttb. 14* 12. But the worU ftandeth ftill , and the cirih is prcfcrved , and men live in aH ages; Therefore God hath flill a» Eltd , a People , a Remnant in all ages, and fo fhall have to the end of the World '» 4; ^^, BtcaufeGodcommitteth (in evil times) his truth and Gafpel to his Chu'chts and Difciplts keeping And if fo, iftheyihould utterly fall , and none be lefr, the truth lliould utterly fall upon earth , i Tim. g , 1 $. The Church of God is there called the pillar and flay of truth ; that IS, To bear it up, and maintain it againft wicked men that would raze the foundation of truth. In Ifai, 8. 16. In the overflowing deOruftion threatned there, he faith , Bind up the Tefiimtny^ fedl uf the law among my T^ifciples Now if there be no Dilciples in f3me age, how can the law be fealed up among them ? i» y# 5* Bccaulc it is Gods purpofe to dwell among men: and for that end he huh given gifts to his Chofen, Pfalm 6S,i^ Thit the Lor X rtight dvfcUamongtbcm. Now, if there were not a people of God it all times, God could not be faid to dwell , for he dwelleth in his people only- Ijai, 57. If. 1 Cor.6, 16. IrvtUiwellinthem ('faith God) aaivfal^tnthem. In whom? why in his coveninc-people, as the next words (hew , flni Z w U be tbdr ^oi^ and tbeyjhall be my people. So Paul teller h the Epbeftanj, Chap 1. ii, Tf?eyw€rea bdbitatiin oj God tbroughtbe ipifit. Bu Gjd willd veil, as the Plalm fpeakcth, that IS, Continue; eAniGod wtU not dwili with vfhkednejj'e , Pfalm 5. 5. An6^er. iz« 7. / have Jorfafien mine boufe, I hate left mint heritage ( faith the Lord) wny, what is the matter ? They hdd dealt treacheroujlyt and were grewnwiefied , and cryed out againfi Gody IS verf, 6. 7. If God fhould have no Church nor Saints upon Earth, then he fhould have no Houfe or Temple; for the Church of God is called the Houfe of God : it would render God carelcflTe , that would let his Houfe «o down, and be utterly ruined. Ob/eft. Butvfbrn the new ferufalem it fetup, Rev. n. i, it is faid^ The Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwelLwith thero, &c. therefore that is the time when God vf ill dmll. ^nlvf. That is only in regard of the glorious and eminent pre fence of God, and not that be will not dwell with his people before 5 but he will now fulfill all his promifes in a more ample manner and meafure, as I fhewed before The 6. Rcafon is taken from the continuanre ot his name, Pfal, yil 17. his narnejhall endure for ever ; his nAmeflmU he comiuued as long aa the SuUyi^c. Now if his name (liall continue, then there mufl continue a people to bear his Name : and this Name ('as you may fee by the context^ is Ipecially his Worfhip, and fervice^and fubmi tting to him, and his defen- ding of his people Mai i. i \. Fromtherifinioftbe Sun, tothe going ior»n (ff the lame (faith the Lord) my name JJ)all be great amtng the (jenttUs ; And tn every place hicenfe Jhall be offered to my Home , and a pure of' firing 5 /tr my riame fhall bg great among the Heathen ; that is. There (hall in and foHftd^ for Believers to walJ^in. 35 in every place be a people called by his Name, or upon whom his Name iscalied. The feventh Reafon is taken from the general drift of the Scriptures t Redftn 7. When God m^de the Old Covenant with his People Ifrael, though they finned and fell fearfully, yet he never left himfelf without a People : And . r, ^ * he is ever mindful of his Covenant, IJM f 4. 9, 1°. i ' , 1 ^' See how he ^^^'^ tfjesm- bindeth his Covenant with words and oaths there: And left any {hould pwe,dnic$n' fay. This concerneth the Jews only J r^/e i^ he faith, pAU thy children f^^^^ ^^"■' Jhall be tAught of the Lord. ; w hich Chrift applieth to the Gentiles, and to theprefenttime,^o^7i6. 44)4$« And did God never leave hltrifelf with- out a People, in the moftfinful times, fince he made a Covenant with a People ? And will, he now leave himfelf without a People in Gofpel» times? Did not he graft in the Gentiles in ftead of the Jews? And when their fulntfs cometh in, he will bring in the Jews again : So that as long as Heaven and Earth ftandeth, he will have a People to ferve him, Z/tf. 66. 11,25. 8. Why there (hall be a fucceflion of thefe things, \St Becaufe there Rf4/(>« St {hall be no more removingjOr change of difpenfationsjbut only a purging: It is prophefied in i^agg* z 5, 6 laith the Lord, Aciording to thelVori that I covenanted with you, rtbenjou came out oj the Land of M^ypt : fomy Spirit remaimth among you, fear you wet; For thus faith the Lord of Hojir, Trt once, it is a Uitle wbitcj and 1 willjhake the Heavens^ and the Earthy and theS€a,andthe dryLdnd, Now the ApolUe in Heb. 12. j5 ycpoundeth this, li^hofc voitt then flyoo^ the earth i When ? Why, when he gave the Law on Mount- Sinai, 3.S the is.vcf/cfhewetb.But now he hath promifed; Tetonsemore, IJhafie not the Earth only, but the Heavens : What is that? Why, the removal of all legal difpenlations, th.u then were given ; which fhakingwasat the death of Chriflj when the earth c[uafied, and the vail of thsTemtte rent, and all JewiftiOrdinances were taken oat of the way: For fo the Apoftlc explaineth himfelf, Verfe 27. And this word, yet once WOff, fignificth, the removing ofthofe things that arc ihakcn 5 (that is. The legal worChips) as of things that are made, that thofe things which cannot be (haken, may remain ( /. e. Gofpe!-things*^ Now mark- vcrf.18^ Wherefore we receiving a l^ngdom thai cannot be rmved, (s'c Then there is no new difpentation to be looked for, but a continuance of that that hath been ever (ince the death of Chrift. The laft Reafon is taken from the promife of Chrift. CMatth, i6. 18. TJf^^g q On xhii Rocfi I will build try Church, and the gates of Hell Jhall not prevail itgait:Jiit. 1 fthis be true,then it mult needs continue, and Hand firm in all agts : Then not Devil, not Dragon, not Beaft, not Antichrift» can fo far prevail, as utterly to abclifti and ruine the Church of Chrift j if other- wife, then the gates of He 1 do prevail : But let God be true, and every Hm, 3.4. m. n a lyar 5 let Chrift be faithful, and the conceits of men lie in the duft for ever. Thus I have confirmed the Point by Reafons. F 2 Objea. . ^6 ^Pf^ay rtf S I o N fought ont^ Objed. But (em t may fayjVe \{mrv n6ti nor read, not of any Btluver that {luc\t$cbrift,in the d&riitimeff^o^ery: N.ay,rbe Scripture feemetb tq import thdt there xvts nont. Revel, i ^ 7. The 'JBeaJi U fatd to maiie war wttb the S A INT S, and iverctme theniy (^c, ^nfvp. That there were Believers and Saints then, I have proved it clearly out of the Hiftory of the Revelation ; and this place alio makcth it good, however it may fcem to be againft it 5 mark but the 8. rerfe. And tU that dvtell upon the earth Jhali woijhip him (that is the Beaft) vfhofe names gre not veritten in the Booii of Lije o] the Lamb, from the foundation of the world. So that the 7, rerfe meaneth, The Beaft warred with the bamts, and overcame their bodies, and ftates, and liberties by violence , but could not overcome their fouls and confciences j for tbey rvho[e names were writ^ ten m the Lambs Book of Life, did net worjbip him. And in the 9. and io verfes, he fetterh down a comfort for the baints then ; 1} aiiy man have, an ear y let him hear: He that leadetbtnto captivity y fhallgomto captivity^ i^e. (i.c) That which captivated them, Ihali be captivated; H«rcJJt&c pattern e and faith of the Saints. As if he ftiould fay. Therefore let the Saints be patient, for here is that that maketh them patient. Now what need that be, if there were no Saints then to fuffer. 1. Again, Suppofe none had been known ; Muft it needs therefore be conc'udcd againft all Scripture and light of Reafon^that there were none? Eliabvfisss quick-fighted asthebeft of us, and he knew of none but fcimlelfinhisrime, that walked in the way of God, as appcareth, i I{ing, 19.14. with 7(ow II J. Had God no Church now, becaufe none was feen or known ? Who an (hew that ? Where is the Bill of your Mothers Divorce, faith God, in Ifa. 50. i. which was long afer EliabU time: And E//^ was deceived in frying, he was left alone; for faith God, I lave rejervediome [even thoufand, even every linee that hath mt bowed to Baal, and tve^y mouth that hath not fiijjed him And Taul concludes upon tbt fame ground, that now the Jews were .aft off^ yet God had a remnant, Rom, 1 1. 1,4, ^. then according to the eledion of grace: £.ven fonow, under Antichrift. If we could not have provfed it from age to age, as I have done, ye' it would not follow, but God had a People in all times of the world, that he owned as his peculiar ones* i . , Now I come to prove the fecond fucccdinn, and that is of the fpirit^ [the fectni flic And I need not fay much of this ; for as I tofd you the Reafons and ■^ejfiGnu ojthe proofs that prove Believers, muft nefTarily prove this j for there cannot Spiitty explat" ^g Believers, and they not have the fpirit of God. j«c4 (^ proved* Q^utft. But feme rr.ayfay, If'hat do you mean by afucce[si8n of the fpirit of God f %Anfw, I mean, Not that the fpirit of God pafteth from one when he is dead, to another that is living j but the fame fpirit of God that is up- on one Believer, is upon, or in every Believer, in all ages of the world, in fome work or other, in fome mcalure, leflc or more : and by Ipirit, I mean the graces of the fpirit, common to all Bel'evcrs, as Faith, Love, Patience, andjtund^ for Believers to ^alk. iri. 37 Patience,Joy,&. the fruits of the Spirit, GaL y. 21. I mean not every oift of the fpirit, for they were not common to all, no not in theApoftlcs nmes, as (peaking with tongues, and working miracles, &c. Thefcare iCoy.i».8j9, not called fruits of the fpiric, implying that tut fpirit may be where they lo.i t. zS, 293 are not: Bucthofein the Galatbians are called f-ruics, (hewing that the 50, 31. fpirit cannot be where they are nor, giving us clearly co underltandy the one muft continue when once begun, the other m^y ceale. But to proceed, to prove the Diltriburion, or Communication of the Spirit inallages/ Our Saviour faith, ^o^;z : 4. '6. / vf ill fray tbe Father j and he jhaUgne you amther Comforter^ that he may ahiie with you for ever. Chiift prayeth that the bpirit fnould for ever abide on his Difciples, Be- lievcr;:, from time to time, fuch as they were that he fpoke to : For what ispromifcdto feme Believers, as Believers only, and not with reference tofomepccuharwork, or time, or office, oroccafion, is promifed to ait Believers, as fuch : But the holy Ghofi the Comforter is promifed to j;f^gt concern Believers, as Believers only, and not vvirh reference to fome peculiar ^^jjp, oneBe- work, ortime, oroffice, or occafion, gal 46. E^efi- ^6, 27. iwiU /;^er ^(ucfft fut my spirit within TO U, It is promiled, you fee, to men in Gove- ^Q^f^fj^ti) all nanr, as men in Covenant only : and fo it i^ in the Text, tj Dilciples ^elUwrs, asDifciples: ThereforethismuftneedsreachallBelievers tothecnd of the world. - ^ Obj, "But thii is fpkpi to the Tiifciples which Chrift callctb Jfoftles : Uow vpill it apfear that chrift hath rejirenct to others in it ? aAn(w I. Becaufe it isa fruitof Cnrilhinterceflion,^£>&«i4. i6yi7* And his intercv ffi-m reacheth all Belivers as well as the Apoltks, Joibff, 17. lo Row. 8. ^4. X Becaule this Promife,or the thing promifed h^re, isa partof Chrifts Kingdom Rom, 4. 7. The ^i7igdom of God » rid,hteeufncjje, peacet ani joy in the holy Gh^^ft : And his Kingdom-reacheth to all Believers, and not only to Apoftles, Pfal 71 S, 5« BeCiufc this Promffe was made good to others as well as to Apo- ftles, Hc^. 10, 54. te tooli joy fully the (poyling of your goods , Dith the Authors this mult needs be the joy of the holy Gboltjwhic^ the Hebreias had ; The Comforter proi-nifcd in ^chn 14. 16. fo t'Tet, 1. 8. Te rejoyce rvithjoy unfpeaiiable, and full of glory. Ye do ch!s,faith Pefcr j Who were they ? Why, iheftrangcrsfcattered throughout Pontm^ (jalatia, Cap-^adociai ani'B)tbinia. And F^w/pnyethfor the jRoraawj, Chap i^i^ %pw the God et teace fU TOV with joy and pe^ce in bdieving^ that you may abound rnbop€ tf?rough the povper of the holy ghcfi. 4. Becaule others ai. well as the Apoitles were brought into a fufFering condition, and fo had need of rhefc comforts , and confequently ot the fame promife to be made good to them, That they were brought into a fuffering condition, lee 1 Tim. ^'z But thou baf l^nowi my penecution^C^c, Yea, avdall that will live godly in Qnift feittt^ mujt (ufer perjeQutiim other-5 38 tAwa-j f^ S I 6 N {ought ofity others as well as the Apoftles were brought before Kings and Govern* ours, and therefore might expcd the making good the promife of the Spirits afiiftince, as well a I they ; fothat there muft needsbe afucccffion of thediiiributiori of the Spirit, as well as of Believers. And that it is fo, Inthe laft place, you may fee it by this : It was clear- ly typed out by the annointing that was poured out upon AArom head, Pfdl, 1 ^ J. that ran iovfn to the skirts of bis ga^menty even to the lower end: and this typed cut the fweet amity among brethren , dcfcending from Chrift to his Saints : And though it be called love in the Pfalm, yet it is a fruit of the Spirit, and in other Scriptures it is called love in the Spirit, and the unity of the Spirit: kndsAaron was a type of Chrift as High Prieft, making good this in the Text, defcending from him upon all his members. The third fnC" The third fucccflfion to be proved, is a rucccflion of the word that was cejfwn U of the in Chrifts mouth. Jf'^Qrd or Go- The Doftrine Qith, [ And they Qnll be enabled in fome meafure to ffd, hold it forth and publilh it. J But before I enter upon this , I muft explain and prove one V thing J , .. And that is, That prophefying in fome places in the New Teftament Tm An srat' is nothing buc an ordinary gift of preaching, teaching, or inftrufting the fj^ry gift 9j Church ot God ; becaufc fome put it among the extraordinary gifts of f. jl^^ ^^. the Spirit, and queftion whether it be an ordmary gift or no. ^^f/^„^)^ Prophecy in the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, is taken caUed Pr^fhe- •„ ^^^^^ J^ acceptations. cying^ pQVtA I , por an extraordinary fore* telling of things to cQme,by an immediate infpiration, ». For an ordinary declarlhg of the TriitH of God, from the Word of God to others. For the firft; A fore-telling of things to come, and extraordinary revelation: We have manifold examples in the Old and New Tefta- ment , I fhal! only fct down fome Scriptures where it may be feen: In the Old Teftament, \K.ings i?. lo. Exek' 19- » &<^^ ^KiHh 7.1, 1* In rheNew Teftament, Matth. 20. 68 ASis u. i6, Scii.^, lo, 11. iCorin. u. $. Acfs^ 19, 6 Lui{eyj. 59, Ephef. i. 20. and 4. ti. Bur I know none that queftion the truth of this 5 Therefore I p^fie that by. a . lam to prove both out of the Old Teftament and the New, That only Inftrudting Exhorting, Reproving, Teaching, and that byanot- dinary infpiration of the Spirit, (and not extraordinary) is called Pro- phecying PmUfrdout '• ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ Teftament, i K%s, i8, i6y »7, 18. you may fee eit^>e OliTs- *^^^^ ^^^ Prophets of Baaly crytoSaa/, and pray tor audience all the (lament, morn-'ng: Now mirk, f^crfc 29. They propheiied till the time of the '* ' tvening-ficrifiwe, and ih«ewas>no voice, nor any that anfweredi You fee 0tnd found^ for Believers to ^'all^ in, 39 fee their prayer to Bi^/, iscalled prcphefying , and prayer is an ordinary £itt of the Saints z Prophecy is fomctimcs to praife the Lord , and to inftiuft others by fong, Chron. »5. i, 2. The picphtfy ng fpokcn of there , is tinging ^ praifes, as tte Chapter c!e?rly {lieweth. ^. For to give inftudions to others, Tnv. j{0. i, TheChapteris called the words of Agar^ the Ton of ^dkch , even the P R O P H E C Y the manfp^keto Ithiel^ &c. And yet there is nothing tore-told in this Chapter, but orcinary inftiudion. So TnvtTbs ^x, it The words of King Lmuel , the P R O P H E C Y that his mother taught hitn : and in this Chapter is no extraordinary matter fore-told neither. Thele two Chapters are cabled Ptophtcies, and yet they are nothing but opening of fpirituall duties , and (omc priviledges common to a 1 Believers , and I'omenaturall things too. AndCK-'jy. ^i. 1. It is f 'id, his Mother taught him a Prophecy, that is, nothing but the i.ilttu6tion his M«>ther gave him. E\t\. \j. 4. Troche fe to tbefe dry bones ^ and fay , Hedt the word of the Lord. And veif. 9. 'TKptfie 10 the wmd, and iay, Thm faith the Urd^come, &c. Prophecy is to (hew men ti'C word from the Lord 5 Read Ijaid'o^ fe^ ycw/tffe, E^e^V/j'andother Prophecies, agreat part of iheir work was to expound the Law : and to (hew people their fins, and theirduries according to the Law ; and the pt nalcies tor Difobedience and bleflings forObedienie,acc9rdingto the Law; And yet their pre-.ckings are cal- led Prophecies, (hewing that prophecy is ordinary, as well as extraordi- nary. You may fee further 5 by comparing 1 Chron. 16. 21. with ^cn, 54, ?o. In the Chronicles the Lord faith, concerning *Aha}?.m, I/aaCy ^acob i and fa:obs Tons, in their peregrinuion, and wandring from Countrey to Countrey 5 Touch vot mine tAnointed, And do rr.y Vrophets no hAfra* This was fpoken while they were bur few in numb r, and (han- gers in the Land. Now (ee , Gen. 7,4. ^0. ^acob faid to h.sfons, Te havettoubUdme^ to mAl^eme to jU?if{among the Inhabitants of the Land, dm 9ng th e Canaan it es^Bic And l being few tn numbir^thcy jhalt gaibtrthem- felves together againjt me ySic. 1 cannot fee that Jacobs iom were extraor- dinary PROPHETS} but that Fami y being the Church, they were to inftrud all that would iearn their Rcligicn,ind therefore called PRO- PHETS, and they were of that few number that are called Pro- phets. But to come nca rer to the New Teftament ; tAcfs 1. 17 . Tiurfo */j and your daughters fnali Prophefie 5 Though I con- ^ . ^^ ^j^g fefie in this place, excraordinary prophecy may be meant, yet l-can- ^^^ I'e^fa^ not fee but ordinary may be alfq mcantj for that is bv the Spirit as well ^^ ^ as the other: Andbedde, God did not pour out his Spirit in thofe ex ^^ ' traordinary gifts upon all ficlli 5 but his Spirit upon all flcfh is promifed, and [they [(hall prophefie, that is, Rfveal and hold forth Chrift as Tf- ier did cbcre. Rom- ij»6. Havingtbcngifif di§ertng atardingto the grerc 4^ A TV^j fo S I o N fought out^ given td us, whether PRO PHECT^ let us fropbefie dfcording to the pro^ f onion ef faith. And then fee how thefe gifts art: diltributed, vcrfr, 8. He that tcaibeth one teaching , or he that exbirtetbone exbonathn. Here is the prophecic fpokcn of before; fee alio i Thej. ^. 20. 'Def^ife not -prophecy^ ivgs: ond then, prove all things, ani hoLi fajt that which is good Novt if that prophecy were excraorr.in?ry , to foretell fotne extraordinary thing, it lyeih out of the compaffe of ordinary believers to trv it ; And befide, extraordinary Prophets were infalUbly infpired , that they could nof at fuch times deliver any thing bad ; fo^^vhat they fpake was fundamental!, Eph. t. to. which fneweih, that this is butordinary opening the Word, and exhorting to duty , and thofe that do this are called Prophets s/^^s 1$ li Rev. io. I X. And he faiH, Tnou muft propbepe again to many People, and Naticnsy and Tongues, andl^iiigs. This could not be meant of ^obn, butoi the time when prophecy Ihouldbereftored more publiquely then it was in the dark times of Antichrill. Now it could not bt extra- ordinary, for there ftiould be no more Scripture added : therefore it muft- R and iT/w. i.ii, i^,T4, StithPaul^ they are commanded to be under obedience , as alfo faith the law. Now this rcafon is perpetuall , binding women ( both before thif Epiftlc was written, and after) untoobedience ; therefore the command is perpetuall, 1 Tim. 2; I ^ The reafon is from the prehcminence of the man*; Addm WASfirft formed) then Eve. And man h ith the prehemincnce ftill , there- fore the command is perpetuall. Verf i^. The Wom4nii$M jifjl tntbt tunfgrejfton. Which reafon could not be formed of Women in the Apoftles times 5 but of Ev^atthe begmning, which ftieweth the Apoftlc fpakc generally of all times: Therefore it is clear , the Apoftle aimeth at the reftraintof Womens ordinary prophefying, not extraordinary, and foop- polcth them to Men, which (liewcth that there is or dmary prophecy ing or teaching in the Church ftill. Objed. Bat thk is net a good confeqntncet Pf^men mnj n9t ffeakjthtrefore Men mo)? Anjvf. That the Apoftle in this work.oppoff th Men to Women , fex to fex,and fo in prohibiting Women, he permits Men : When he oppofcth faith and works in the cafe of Jultification, and dcnyeth that we are jufti- fied by works , is not the confequence good , therefore by faith ? Where he oppofeth Believers and Unbelievers in the cafe of faWation , and tcach- cth thai Believers (hall be faved 5 doth he not teach confequcntly that Unbelievers {hall be damned ? It cannot be denyed , why this confc- guenccisasgood. a The Reafons of prohibiting the Women provcth the confequcnce, which are all fuch as prefer the Men before the Women, and fubj-ft the Women to the Men in the Churci", and in rhis very work of prophe- cie,of which he treateth. But now , if in prohibiting Women , he gave not liberty to Men , where were the prerogative of Men above the Women ? J. yNhtxtVerf iiy^A pottles and Prophets by the Spirit. Thefe Scriptures {hew, that the Church is as well built upon the foun- dation of the Prophets (to wit extraordinary, which then were, for of them he fpeakerh) asof the Apol^lesandtheirDodrine : So that if the Prophets could erre in Dodrine, then the Apoftles might crre alfoj ani if in Doftrine taught, why not in Dodrine written? And if one might errc, why not any of them, and fo all of them? And if they might erre, how know we tfaey did not erre ? This tenderh to down-righc AtheifmC; and therefore this could not be extraordinary prophecie, bat ordinary. For in ordinary prophccying we propound fuch Dodrines as we gather from Scripture by the difcoutfe of Reafon, and fo may errCi but extraordinary Prophets delivered Doftrines by the immediate infpiration of the Spirit. In which, by reafon of the divine impreflion which* it made in their hearts, differing from all, both humane affe- ftion, and diabolical faggeftion, they could not erre, or be miftaten, but knew infallibly when, and wherein they were moved by the Spirit of God. The laft Argument is taken from Verf. 57,^8. If any m&n ihinf{ himfelf H he a Pr^phety or ffirhual, let him Mfimwledge that the thhgs that I write untoyw, aretbe CcmmMndments pfGcd. But if any man be ignorant, let him he ignorant, Thefemufl needs be ordinary Prophets 5 for mark. Inhere the force of the Argument lieth : Let him acknoveledge, the things that I write untoytUt art the Commandments of god. But extraordinary Pro- phets were guided as immediately and infallibly by the Spirit of God, a$ Paul himfelf, and might as well have required of him to acknowledge that the things which they fpakc were commanded of God, as he of them: Neither was it poflible for them, or any of them , to be ignorant,that the things which he fpake were the Commandments of God. Therefore he . fpcaketh of ordinary Prophets ; and this Argument is mad€ un-anfwer- able, by confidering, x;cr/fi 36. l^hat, came the Word of God out from you i er tame it tojQU only ? Which words the Apoftle diredeth to the Prophets with whom he dealeth, and that by way of comparifon with himfelf 5 from whom ( to wit ^ by immediate revelation, the Word of God came after a fort to the £orinthiAnii which plainly proveth, That they could not be extraordinary Prophets, from whom the Word of God came to the Church, as well as from himfelf ; for it came from him by im- mediate revelation : For if they had been extraordinarily infpired by the holy Ghoft ajwdUshe, he durft not have challenged them in this manner. G a Now 44 ' Succelfm if f reaching the Who the two Witneffcs arCf kcv II, di[' \ufjci dt large In five prih A J^ay to Si o N fought em] Now to prove a fucceffion of prophecy alfo, ( u e.) ordinary preaching, or opening the Word. 1. It appcareth it was fo till the time of Antichrifts appearing, from Pdu/ifpecch to Timtihy, t Tim. 4. i, i. Preach the tVoTd, be in ft ant in fed- (on dud out offedion, (sTc And he giveth tht realon 5 For the time r»ill come vehen men mil not endure ftmi'DoSirine, (^c. He doth not iay, The time will come when fcundDodrihc (hall not be taught; but if it were fo, yet it fheweth that teaching was alwaies in ufc, and therefore till Annvhiift hadd:irkenedit5 teaching Gods Truth was alwayes in ufe» And when the Weman was driven into the Wildernefs by the Dragon, vrhichisthefame tinfieof Antichrift rifingand reigning ^ fhe is faid to have a feed, tka[ kept the Commdndments ofGody and hdvethe TelHmony of feffiij Tlev. J. ult. Now the Tcltimony of Jefus, is the fpirit of prophecy, Jtfv. '9, 10. Objeft Butfomernayfayytkey hdd the fpirit of fro^hecy, but they did not excrcife it. c/injw. Then they could not have been perfecuted for it, as appeareth, ^ev, II. xiU. The Dragon wade war with them (i.e.) with her feed that kept the t omn.andments of God^ and bai the Tejiimony cffe-ui. And ^obn himlelf was perfecuted for this. Revel 1. 9. which ihewech. That ha- ving and cxcrciliag the Spirit of Prophecie, is the Teitimony of Jcfuf, a. Thatthere was pnphccv under Antichriil, I mean inhis cime, ap» pearcth, 7{ev. 11. %, And IwiUgiv- power to my two witnefles^ andtbtyfha^ "propbefie \ 260. dayes,c'othed in facficioath. Now this is the fame time with-, the Beslts reigning, C^d]) -g.j. And the time of the Womans being hid in tht Wildernefs, C'^^p 1 X. 6. 1. Now that thcle were men in Office, Icannot fee 5 for under Anti«L chrifts reign, none wore allovyed to be in publick office, but fuch as were for him. a. That they were extraordinarily infpired, I cannot fee neither, becaufe the Scripture doth not prophefie, or foretell any (uch thing. And Hdlory (as far as 1 can find^ maketh report of no fuch thing : And therefore I ihculd beleeve it without any ground, if I (hould credit this, ^o that they muft needs be ordinary Prophets, men indued with the Spirit of God,able. to fpeak the truth in fome mcafurc. But I {hall a little beg leave to open this place, and then proceed 5 we muft difculs divers QuelHons,that the place may be made plain, bccaufe- it concerneth me to clear up this truth. 1^ What thefc Prophets were. How long they pr^ophcfied. When they began their Prophecie, How they were flain. How raifed agaia. To prove the continuation of Prophecying after thcit refurrcAion - aad afcemion. Qucft. ^Hd ftnnd^ for Beleivers t» wAlk^ in* 45 Qiiti!^, u H^batthefetm Prophets vf ere, or who tbeyrvere^ ^nfrf' I fii^'^ "o^ ^^^^ much ro ccnfute opinions in this point ; rnme fav they are ^OSES ind ELIAS to appear in the end oi 'But that mil the world. appear but a Others fay, they are the two Tcftaments. J^ncy^jof no I think the application of all that is here faid, will hardly bear tUt Scripture hatff interpretation withcut a great deal of harflinefs; for, anyynew9f J. Thefc twoWitnciks are called two Olive-trees^ and two Candle- T"^^ ^,« ^^^fJ*" fticks, ver. 4. Which thngs, how thcylhould be applied to the vfiOpTCtOtm, ^ Teftaaients by warrant from Scripture, I cannot fee: But cither to the Church, orfome member, either in the Church, orinChrift. As for the firfl of thefe ; Olive-trees, l[d ij. j, 6. The vifiblc Church aflfrael is called an OUveune^ Jfa. 14.15. When God ^hreatncth dc- ftruftion to the vifiblc Church, he faith. There Jhall be as tbejhafiing ofm' Olive-tree^ife* fer. t\- 1^,16, The Church of the 'cws, which God callcth hisbcJo^ed, ver. If. In the 16. -yfir. he fpeaketh thus of her: Tht Lord hath uUed thy name a green OLIV E-tree, (^c. So that the Church is called an 01 ire tree. Orelfe fometimes Come principal Member in the Church, or i^ They are catlei Chrift, is cailedan01iTe-trce5 hi David ^ n Pf aim ^i,S, I om a green ^.j^g ^^q ^f^gjjj^ Olive. And Zaih 4. ^. Two Olive-trees arefaid to ihnd by the Can- j^^ qj^^j ^ ^p^ dlelticks, cue on the right fide, and the other enthe left fide thereof: And ^^^(^ Jeho- thefe are laid to be the two Anointed Ones, that Itand by the Lord of the ^^^^^^h wns wholeearth, vcr.it, 12, 15, .4. which was "^ehojluah and Zcrruhbabel^ HizhPtielL which did refrefh the CHURCH like oyl in their dayes ^ There- ^^^h. 2,1. fore this muft needs be meant of fomc Members, Believers in thefc jnd'z^'vuh- ^V^*' babel wasfet %, They are called two Candlefticks : And Candlelticks are taken ^p^^f ^ ^ ^"^^^> , . Prince to lay I. Literally, forthat kindof Vefic), or Infiruraent in ahoufewhere* the foundation upon the Candle isfet, as i I^fng. 4. 10. Van,^.^. CMatth. j. 15. And andtbe top' aliiteral, or material Canditltick, is lomcnmes typical, as the Candle- yj^^^ Zach. 4, ftick in the Tabernacle and Temple, did type out the Church, which ^ ^ g.^^Solo-. beareth up the light of truth. ^^'n ^^^ the 1. Metaphorically; Sometimes for the Churches, Z^t^. 4 i, ti^ f^^ firft fempU, . gCandUjticJi^f goldiWith (even LampSy (^c, Youmay cafily gather trom the Chapter, that this was meant the Church j fee it clearly, 7{ev* i. 1 1, There is [even golden CAndlefticfis ; And Chrift himfelf expounds iheoii,- verf ult. to be the (even (^hnrthes. i. For fome eminent Members of the Church, Mat. 5.1^, \6. Neithef domenltght a Candle and put it undtr a bujhel, but on a Candleitiefi, and it giveth light to all in the houfe. Let ymr light (0 (bine before men, that the^ fuay fee your goed ie9or\s» The light ( I conceive ) was the Word o£ Godj which the Difciplci were io declare^ according to Trei?, 6. 1?. and • 4^ 1/4 H^^J to Si O^i fought ouf^ and P/k/. 1 1^. lo j. Therefore the Candleftick here muft needs be mtanc tbe Difciples, who carried the light beferemcn to winthem toChrift, that they might glorifie God. So chat I conceive the two Witnefles here, are men that are Believejrs, that bear witnefs to the truth. Ai ^.Bright- J. Some take thefe two Witnefles to be the Scriptures, and the AiTem- tninfoTont, blies of the Faithful. 1. For the Scriptures, that they witnefs, it is clear, Jd^n^. ^9. SeAfcb the Scriptures^ for in tfrem ye thin^ ye have eternal Ufa and. they are they that tejiife of me^ Rom, 3, ii. Being witnefled by the Law and the Prophets. 2. For the Affenablies of the Saints, f«hn 511, Verily I fay mtd you ( faith Chrift) jpeffeak tbatwefinovfi» anitefifie that we havefeeUf and ye receive not $ur witne^e, W E E j That is Cbrift, as he is the head of the body, alluding alfc to his members, ^obn i y. 47 . Chrift tclletb his Difciples, Tealf^Jhall bear witneJJ'e. AUs j, ji. The Difci pies of Chrift tell the Council, If^eare bit }f^itue{fes tf thefe things. Heb» 11. x. All the Believers fpoken of, Chap, ii, arc called a Cloud of Witnefles there. And fay they, Thefe Witnefles arc called Olive-trees, which type is taken out of Zacb.4, 11. to fliew, That as God did thenprefervc his Church, and didbeautificit with thje graces of his Spirit, and that not fo much by the Miniftry of man, as by his own grace, which he gave it bountifully and frequently, like Oyl dropping of it felf : io it (hould be now, the Church was in danger to be fwallowedup; and faith he, The Olive-trees are the Books of Scripture, out of whofe Berries, Oyl is pou- ted to refrefti the Lamps of the Saints. And that the Candlefiicks arc the Churches, or Aflemblies of the faithful, according to Rev. i. ult, Verf. 5. If any man mil hurt them^ ds'c. Here is the power they have to dcftroy their enemies : The fire that proceeds out of the mouth, is the threatning of judgment and ruine to thofe that alter Scriptures, ' change , adde or diminifli, &c. And the fire out of the mouths of the Saints, h the anfwer to their prayers, as L«^c 18. God is faid to avenge his Saints that cry to him day and night, KnARevei.6,iOt The fouls cry under ihe Altdr: Hove long. Lord, holy and true, dofttbiunot avenge tiir blood en them that live upon the earth i Her^ is the fire oat of their mouths. ferfe 6. Thefe have power to Jhut Heaven, ts'c (i.e.) fpiritually, as "Eliah d.\A properly ; for all this time of Antichrifts reign, how was fpi- ritual dew rcftiained, and fcarcity of heavenly fruitfulnefs in the world ? The reft of the fentencesfticw plagues of the like nature 5 but I (hall not particuiarize any more at this time, This 1 rejeft not as untruth, and for ought I know it is truth, at leaft in the fubftance of it ; but I rather incline to another interpretation, ani that is this : That find found ^ for Believers ton^dlkj^* 47 That the two Witncffes were men that did prcphefie againft Antichrift p^a/o^/j all thii time of the 42,i months, as 1 (aid before. / • ^ 1. Bccaufe the Scriptures are rather the ground of prophccying,then Fro* phcts themfelves : And ihcfe two are faid to be Prophets. 2. Becaufe now at this time under Antichrift, the Church was fledin^ to the wilderneffe,as I fliewed , Cha^. ii,6 14. and the Affemb:iej of Saints fcatteredj in fo much tfeat 1 think iz was r?re to findc a vifiblc Affembly of Saints in this dark time: Therefore i conclude they were particular men. I . Becaule it is faid , Verf. 10 tUt thefe two tormented tbem that dwelt Ufon the earth, ( i , c. ) by teititying againft th-Jr Idolatry and wickcdnelTe, which cannot be properly faid of the Scriptures thtmfelves, bur as they ire opened and applycd : And herein,! have Mafter Sahmarjh on my fide , in his Boolf, entituled , S$me Beames of that bright morning Stt,ft page 1 1^, who faith, They are Mii*iftcrs or Chriftians thai witncffe to God, &c. I'hey are called Gods Witneffes, becaufe they witnelTe to the truth, not only by theirX)odrine , but by fealing the fame with their blood; by fufFering under Antichrift , bccaufe they wouUl not yecid to his Tdohrry. Rev. 10,4. Anil faw the fouls of thcmthetrterebfhccided Jdrrbcwifneje ^J fsf^i and for the word oj God : So that Antichrift flew men for witmfs to Jefus, and the Word of God. And they are faid to be two j not that they "were only two men , for we never read of anytwomen that lived iz6o. yeirs j but a fucceflion of mcn,foroftentimcs fiicceffionisolleda man, as %rhef.%.i. And the mm 9ffn be revealed, the (on of per ditto i (u q ) Antichrift in all timts fucceOively. Matth, 16 19 And 1 19 ill give unto thee ihc keyes of the litngdom of Heaven^ andwhatfoever th'^u bindeft en earth, etc. (i. ej ^o ^Cor, j. 1. f fych as thou art fucctflivcly • for elle the power of binding and loofmg^. M* dyed with Tettr, which is falfe. Rev 1, 10. I. But I conceive they arefaid to be two, either in regard of the few- l^hythey are nclfe of aien, that ftiould ftandupfor God; that which is very rare ^ot [aid to be two, fmall, or few, is fometimes faid to be two, 3$ i i{ing, 17. 1 i« I am gather^ ingtwo ftickSjthe meaning i«r, a few ftirks,.i fmaJl company. I. Or elfe m regard of the connpctcncy of their VVitntfte , For -in the mouth of two or three iVitnefjesfhall every word be eftablijhei. Alluding to the time of old, where things were concluded upon for truth by T W O or three witneflcs, and fo in many places of the New Teftament alfo. (Some fay they are called TWO, becaufe the Teftaments are two; hue ifitbefojU isbeaufc the Teftaments arc their Sword and Buckler , as it were; fo that they give a competent evidence againft the Bcaft. 5. Orelfe they are TWO, inanfj^er to the old types, Mofes and ^ar^tt, who brought Ilrael out of -^gypt : Kliab and Elifhay that brought tfacm From under Sdfl/i Idolatry: ZerubbabeUod febofbua, tbatteftified againft Hibwhainei%ari Idolatry. So that it is as much aj if G©d had fatd ^i AfTajto Si ON [ought out ^ thefc my two Witnefles , are my CMofises and Aarons , my Elidhs and Elijhas, my Zerubbabels and fehojhuahs , to teftific againft Antichriftg Idolatry, and as far as they can, to bring my people from under his tyranny. For in the Revelation , every thing almott anfwereth the old Types : and if Co, then this is the mofl cutting interpretation 5 Aifor mftmce, Vcffi $, tAnd if any mil bun them , fire poceeietb out of their mmth , And de* vourethtbem, ^c, And did not Elifhi, call for fire on the Captains and -amei j . 17. j^eir fifties i z lyings i. rerfS, It is faid, Thej had pvoer to fhut Heaven that it rain ntt , (^c. And did not Eliab do fo ? And vcrf. 6, Tbey hive pwer t$ jmite the earth vfitb all manner of plagues as often as they will.' And did not Mo(es2n^ sAaron do fo by Egypt f Verf. 4. They arefaidto be tT»o Olive-trees y andtwoC&nileftickes: and were not fehojlma and Ze- fubbaba (uch, Zack» 4 ? So that by two Witnefles , I conclude he meaneth men, juft like fueh men in the ancient Church , that reform and reftore Religion, (o far as they can ; But note, by all thefe things, as firecom« ing from heaven J (^c. We muft not underftand them literally, but Ipi- rituaiiy , as Ferf. 8. the City is to be underftood , It is fpiritually called SodoM and Egypt: So that the meaning is , that thefc Witnefles (haU foftrike Aniichrift with fpirituall plagues, that (hall bring forth fpi- rituall effeds of the fall of his fpirituall abominable kingdom, zTbef.z^ Wbtm the Lord JIM confume xeitb the fpirit of his meutb, <^c. So that you fee they are men. '^eji. z. The fecond thing is, How longthey propbefied ? AnjiP. TheTexttcUethus, 1260. dayes (that is years, as I proved before ) in fack-cloath, but not how long befide. ^eft. I, The third Queftion is, When they begin their prophety ? Anli9. When the Church fled , and Antichrift began to grow wp and appear in his former colours 3 for then began the fincere Saints to put on their mourning weeds, when the Truth began to be darkned, and cor- ruptions and erroursdid creep in. ^Ji. 4. The fourth Queftion is, Horttbeymrejliini Anjw. For the manner ot their killing j I conceive it i% not killing of their bodies 5 iozvcrf.S. thefe things are to be fpiritually underftood j For if their lying dead, rifing again, and afcending be fpiritually to be un- derftood, then their kil'ing mult needs be fo underftood alfo : and that is, in regard of their performance of the work of prophecying (i.fO i" re- gard of fufpenfions, filencings , out-lawings, (f(. So that none durft meddle with them, nor hearken to them ( as hath often fallen out ; foe they were killed in refptd of Prophecy, as Prophets, not as men 5 for they ly dead as Witncffcsjtifc again as Witncfies,afcend as Witnefles 5 therefore their killing muft needs be as Witnefles. *^ejl. 5. The fifth Queftion is, Hcw tbey were raifei ig&in ? ^ Anjw, It is faid, they lay dead three dayes and a half : This is not na- tutall dayes, forthisis but a ftiort time for them on the earth tofejoycc, Kfvtfi. XMO. and fend Prefcms one lo another 3 But according to propheticall fpeak- - ing and found y f»r believers to ^Al\in^ 4? ' in?, three years and a half, or fome ftiort time. And they rofc and afccudcdby thefpirirof lifet'om God, and by the help of fome good Magiilfates that called the© up, and fo came to a higher degree of puri- ty in Doftrine and Woriliip, then before they were flain, which is nieantby afcending inro heaven: Anfwering Chrili, whofc boc^y was more fpirituall after his rcfurredion then befoie , and more fit foi af- cention into heaven j For as Chrift aiccnded to heaven m a clould, fo are thefe faid to do The fixth thing, h^ to prove their continuation of prophecying after (^ont'muation their refurredi'^n. It ^ppearcth from Revel, lo. 8, &c. tAnd the voice of ^rofbe y which I heard fr«m heaven, (fAlie unio me again ^ and faidy Got^^e the povsd. d^tcr little Toofivfhub is ofen in the bandof theAngd, thatftundeth upon the (ea, thevfthcfjes and upon the torth , A?td I veeiit to the Angel, and (aid r« him , give me the re(uTre^iott. little 'Hook ; Aiid he faid until me, take it^ and eat it up, and itJ})aUmalie thy heUybittety butitJhiUbeinthymoiitb (vfeetashon^y. And Ferf. lo, fuhn is faid to do fo , and it had thefe cft'cds : Now mai k , l^erl. i \, And be (aid unto wic, thou, mujt prophecy again unto many TeoplCyand 'Rations, and Tongues, and fO^gs* Now fohn did reprcfent thofe that (houUi at this time h: ^nfvf This maketh nothing againft the point, nor what I have faid. The Dodrine was ; That from the time of Chrifts coming in the flcfh, and revealing the new Covenant, throughout allagfs to the worlds end ; there fliall be a fucceflion of Believers that (hall have the fpirit of Chrift, and the Gofpel of Chrift communicated to them, and they fnall be en- abled in fome mcafure to bold it forth and publifh u* Now three years and a half is not a Generation , neither doth it hinder the fucceftlon , it i$butaaobftru/ 47, 8, 9, 10, n, 11. The Prophet fp^keth ihers of the Gofpel, Temple, and City, which th9uldbebuiir,andi'peaketh of waters that iflus out of the Sanftuaiy, and go down into the Sea, whichbeing brought into the fea, the waters are healed (faith he) and H faith JO tyiWaj M S I 6 N fought out^ faith that every thing that lived and mored whitherfoevcr the Rivers came^ (hall live, meaning men tkat are under the ufe of thofe Ordinances, and where they came to their hearts and fpirits, as the command- M^ih mem came to F