To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
WE Sincerely Profess Faith in GOD, by his only begotten Son JESUS CHRIST, as being our Light and Life, our only way to the Father.a That GOD Created all things, He made the Worlds by his Son JESVS
CHRIST; He being that Powerful and Living Word of GOD by whom all things were made,b And that the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit are one in Divine Being, inseparable; One true living and eternal GOD▪ blessed for ever.c
Yet That this Word or Son of GOD in the fulness of time, took flesh▪ became perfect man according to the flesh, descended and came of the Seed of Abraham and Davidd but was miraculously Conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of The Virgin Marye and also further declared to be the Son of GOD with Power according to the Spirit of Sanctification by the Resurrection from the Dead.f
That in the Word (or Son of GOD) was Life and the same life was the Light of men, and that he was and is that true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the Worldg and therefore that men are to believe in the Light that they may become Children of the Lighth Hereby we believe in Christ the Son of God as he is the Light and life within us, and wherein we must needs have sincere respect and honour to (and belief in Christ as in his own unapproachable and incomprehensible Glory and fulness i As he is the Fountain of Life and Light, and Giver thereof unto us▪ Christ as in himself, and as in us being not divided.
And that as man Christ dyed for our sins and rose again, and was received up into Glory in the Heavensk He having in his dying for all bee•• that One and great universal Offering and Sacrifice for peace. Atonement and Reconciliation between God and Man;l and he is the Propitiation not for sins only but for the sins of the whole worldm we were reconciled by his death, but saved by his Life.
That Jesus Christ who sitteth at the right hand of the Throne of th•• Majesty in the Heavens, yet is he our King, High Priest and Prophetn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Church, a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man:o He is Intercessor and Advocate wit•• the Father in Heaven and there appearing in the presence of God for usp
being touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Sufferings and sorrows, and also by his Spirit in our hearts, he maketh Intercession according to the Will of God, crying Abba Father.q
For any whom God hath Giftedr and Called sincerely to Preach Faith in the same Christ, both as within and without us, cannot be to Preach two Christs, but one and the same Lord, Jesus Christs having respect to those degrees of our spiritual Knowledge of Christ Jesus in ust and to his unspeakable fulness and Gloryu as in himself in his own intire Being wherein Christ himself and the least measure of his light and life as in us or in Mankind are not divided nor separable, no more than the Sun is from its Light. And as he ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all thingsx his fulness cannot be comprehended or contained in any finite Creaturey
But in some measure known and experienced in us as we are capable to receive the same; as of his fulness we have received Grace for Grace, Christ our Mediator received the Spirit not by measure,z but in fulness but to every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christa
That the Gospel of the Grace of God should be preached in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghostb being Onec in Power, VVisdom, and Goodness, and indivisible (or not be divided) in the great Work of Mans Salvation.
We sincerely confess (and believe) in Jesus Christ both as he is true God and Perfect Mand and that he is the Author of our living Faith in the Power and Goodness of God, as manifest in his Son Jesus Christ, and by his own Blessed Spirit (or divine Unction) revealed in use whereby we inwardly feel and taste of his goodnessf life and Vertue; So as our souls live and Prosper by and in him. And the inward sense of this Divine Power of Christ and faith in the same, and this inward experience is absolutely necessary
to make a true sincere and perfect Christian in spirit and life.
That divine honor & worship is due to the Son of Godc & that he is in true faith to be prayed unto, and the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ called upon as the primitive Christians didd because of the Glorious Union or oneness of the Father and the Sone and that we cannot acceptably offer up prayers or praises to God the Father, not receive a gracious answer or blessing from him but in and through his Dear Son Christ.
That CHRIST's Body that was Crucified was not the God-head, yet by the Power of GOD was raised from the Dead, and that the same CHRIST that was therein Crucified, ascended into Heaven and Glorief is not que∣stioned by us. His Flesh saw no Corruptiong it did not corrupt, but yet doubtless his Body was changed into a more Glorioush and Hea∣venlie Condition that 'twas in when subject to divers Sufferings on Earth; but how and what manner of Change it met withall after it was raised from the Dead, so as to become such a Glorious Body (as 'tis declared to be) is too wonderfull for Mortals to Conceive, Apprehend or Pry into, (and more meet for Angels to see) The Scripture is silent therein as to the man∣ner thereof, and we are not Curious to Enquire or Dispute it, nor do we esteem it necessary to make our selves Wise above what's writteni as to the Manner and Condition of Christ's Glorious Body as in Heaven, no more than to Enquire how Christ appeared in divers Manners of Formesk or how he came in among the Disciples the Doors being shutl or how he vanished out of their sight after he was risen: However, we have cause to believe his Body as in heaven is changed into a most Glorious Condition far transcending what it was on Earth, otherwise how should our low Bo∣dy be Changed, so as to be made like unto his Glorious Bodym For when he was ou Earth and attended with Sufferings, he was said to be like unto us in all things, sin only exceptedn which may not be so said of him as now in a state of Glory, as he prayed for,o otherwise where would the Change be both in him and in us?
True and living Faith in Christ Jesus the Son of the Living Godp has respect to his entire Being and Fulness, to him entirely as in himself, and as all Power in Heaven and Earth is given unto himq and also an Eye and Respect to the same Son of Godr as inwardly making himself known in the Soul in every Degree of his Light, Life, Spirit, Grace and Truth, and as he is both the Word of Faith and a Quickning Spirit in uss whereby he is the immediate Cause, Author, Object and Strength of our Living Faith in his Name, and Power, and of the Work of our Salvation from Sin and Bon∣dage of Corruption; and the Son of God cannot be divided from the least or lowest Appearance of his own Divine Light or Life in us, (or in Mankind) no more than the Sun from its own light; nor is the sufficiency of his Light with∣in by us set up in opposition to him the Man Christ, or his Fulness considered as without us, nor can any Measure or Degree of Light received from Christ, as such, be properly called the Fulness of Christ, or Christ as in Fulness, nor ex∣clude him so considered from being our Compleat Saviour for Christ himself to be our Light, our Life, our Saviourt is so consistent, that without his Light we could not know life nor him to save us from sin, or deliver us from darkness, condemnation or wrath to come: And where the least degree or measure of this Light and Life of Christ, is sincerely waited in, followed and obeyed, there's a blessed encreass of Light and grace known and felt, as the path of the Just it shines more and more untill the perfect day,u and thereby a growing in Grace and in the knowledge of God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ hath been and is truely experienced, and this Light, Life or spirit of Christ within (for they are one Divine Principle) is sufficient to lead into all Truth, having in it the diverse Ministerations both of Judgement and mercy, both of Law and Gospel, even that Gospel which is Preached in every intelligent Creature under Heaven, it does not only (as in its First Ministeration Manifest Sin, and reprove and condemn for sin, but also excites and leads them that be∣lieve in it to true Repentance and thereupon to receive that mercy, Pardon and Redemption in Christ Jesus which he hath obtained for Mankind on those Gospel terms of Faith, (in his name,) true repentance and Convers••••ion to Christ there∣by required.
Now, though we had the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a belief of Christ crucified and raised &c. We never knew the mystery thereof until we were turned to the Light of his Grace and Spirit within us, We knew not what it was to be Reconciled by his Death, and Saved by his Life, or what it was to know the fellowship of his Sufferings, the Power of his Resurrection, or to b•• made comformable to his Death, we knew not untill he opened our eyes, and turned our minds from darkness unto his own Divine Light, and Life within us.
Notwithstanding we do sincerely and greatly esteem and value the Holy Scrip∣tures; Preaching and Teaching of faithful divinely inspired, gifted and qualified persons & Ministers of Jesus Christ as being great outward helps and Instrumen∣tal in his hand and by his spirit for Conversion where God is pleased to afford those outward helps & means as that we neither do nor may oppose the suffici∣encie of the Light or Spirit of Christ within to such outward helps, so as to reject disesteem or undervalue them, for they all proceed form the same Light and Spirit and tend to turn Peoples minds thereunto and all center therein.
Nor can the Holy Scriptures or true Preaching without be Justly set in oppo∣sition to the Light or Spirit of God or Christ within; for his Faithful Messenger are Ministers thereof being sent to turn People to the same Light and Spirit i•• them.
Acts 26. 18. Rom. 1. 2. 2 Cor. 4. 6. 1 Peter 2. 9. 1 John 2. 8.
'Tis certain that great is the Mystery of Godliness in it self in its own Being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 excellency, namely that God should be and was Manifest in the Flesh, Justifie•• in the Spirit, seen of Angels, Preached unto the Gentiles, Believed on it th•• World, and received up into Glory.
And it is a great and precious mystery of Godliness and Christianity also th•• Christ should b•• spiritually and effectually in mens hearts to save and deliv•••• them from sin, Satan and bondage of Corruption, Christ being thus reveall•••• in true Believers and dwelling in their hearts by Faith, Christ within the ho•••• of Glory, our Light and Life who of God is made unto us, Wisdom, Righteou••••ness, Sanctification and Redemption, 1 Cor. 1. 30.
And therefore this Mystery of Godliness both as in its own Being and Glor••
and also as in men (in many hid and in some revealed) hath been and must be Testified, Preached and believed where God is Pleased to give Commission (and prepare Peoples hearts for the same) and not in mans will.
Heb. 12. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 21. Joh. 14. 6. 1 Tim. 2▪ 5.
Eph. 3. 9. Joh. 1. 1. 2. 3. Heb. 1. 2.
1 Joh. 5. 7.
Rom. 1. 3, 4.
Mat. 1. 2. 3.
Rom. 1. 3, 4.
Joh. 1. 4, 9.
Joh. 12. 36. Isa. 2. 5.
1 Tim. 6. 16.
1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Tim. 3. 16. Mat. 19. 28. and 25. 31. Luke 9. 26▪ and 24. 26.
Rom 5. 10. 11. Heb. 2. 17. 18. Eph. 2. 16. 17. Col. 1. 20▪ 21. 22.
1 John. 2. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. Heb. 2. 9.
Zech. 9. 9. Luke 19. 38. John 12. 15. Heb. 3. 1, 6. Deut. 18. 15, 18. Acts 3. 22. and 7, 37.
Heb. 8. 1. 2.
Heb. 7. 25. Heb. 9. 24.
Rom. 8. 2, 6, 27, 34. Gal. 4. 6.
Ephes. 3. 7. 1. 13, 14, 10.
1 Cor. 8. 6. Chap, 15. 3, 8.
John 15. 26. and Chap. 16. 13, 14, 15.
John 1. 16.
Eph. 4. 10.
Col. 1. 19. and 2. 9.
John. 3. 34.
Ephes. 4. 7.
Matth. 28. 19.
John 1. 1, 2, 3. 4.
John 1. 1, 2. Romans 9. 5. 1 John 5. 20. 1 Tim. 2. 5.
1 John 2. 20, 27. and Chap. 1. 1.
1 Peter 2. 3. John. 6. 33, 35, 51, 57, 58.
John. 5. 23. Heb. 1. 6.
1 Cor. 1. 2. Acts 7. 59.
John. 10. 30. 1 John. 5. 7.
Luke. 24. 26.
Psal. 16. 10. Acts 2. 31. 13. 35. 37.
Phil. 3. 21.
1 Cor. 4. 6.
Mark 16. 12. John 20. 15. 1 John 20. 19. Luk. 24. 36, 37. and Chap. 24. 31.
Phil. 3. 21.
Heb. 2. 17. and 4. 15.
John 17 5.
Joh. 14. 1.
Matth. 28. 8. Chap. 11. 27. Joh. 17. 2. Heb. 1. 4. Chap. 2. 8.
John 14. 23. and 17. 21, 22, 23, 24, 26. verse••
1 Cor. 15. 45. Rom. 10. 7. 8.
John 1. 4. 9. and Chap. 3. 19•• and Chap. 12. 35, 36, 49. and Chap. 8. 12.
Prov. 4. 18. Psal. 36. 9•• Col. 1. 23.