Truth vindicated against all heresies shewing how the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent is distinguished : the woman cloathed with the sun discoverd, she having the moon under her feet : the Old and New Testament made to agree and God's justice and mercy magnified.

XV. Christ proved to be the Son of God. (Book 15)

BUT peradventure some will say, how can we prove the New Testament to be true, and Christ to be the Son of God, seeing the Jews do not own it. I shall not here go to prove it from the Words of the Apostles, as to be∣lieve it through their bare Word; but I chiefly be∣lieve it, because I find those things that were fore Pro∣phessed of by the Prophets concerning the Messiah,

made good in the Crucified Jesus, unto which sure word of Prophesies we are always to take heed. And in that the Scriptures now again being rightly understood, they are not contradictory to what God before spake by the Prophets; for we are to believe nothing in contradicti∣on to what God hath spoken by the Prophets, for what God hath absolutely promised, he will certainly per∣form. And therefore to declare his Righteousness in the performance of his Promise, he sent the Son of his Love to Suffer for Sinners, as was declared by the Pro∣phets, and that for Israel's wilful Disobedience, he was then a Stone of Stumbling, and a Rock of Offence to both the Houses of Israel, for a Gin and for a Snare to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, Isaiah 8.14. Which accordingly so fell out; for they expecting he should come as a King, and not apprehending that he should first come to Suffer, therefore he was Despised and Re∣jected of Men. A Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief; they hid as it were there Faces from him, he was despised, and they esteemed him not, Isaiah 53.3. And it was Prophesied concerning him, Isaiah 7.4,15,16. That a Virgin should conceive and bear a Son, and that he should be born in Bethlehem, Mic. 5.2. And lowly Riding upon an Ass. Zach. 9.9. And the Lords Sufferings and Death were likewise foretold; Isaiah 53 7 He was brought like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep dumb before the shearers; so opened he not his mouth, Zach. 11.12,13. And they weighed for his price thirty pieces of silver, Ps. 22 16,18. And they pierced his hands and his feet, Dan. 9.26. And the Messiah was cut off, but not for himself; all these hings, and many more were made good in the Crucified Jesus. Therefore I believe him to be the Messiah, that Seed of the Woman that should •…•…ise the Serpents Head, Gen 3. And that Lord unto whom the Lord said, sit thou on my right hand till I make thine 〈…〉〈…〉 Ps. 110.1. Which will be when the Lord again comes to deliver his People. And for

further Proof that this Lord is God, God saith, Zech. 13.7. Awake O sword against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts. And none can be the fellow of God, but the Son of God, which is God, and therefore said of him that Was to be born in Bethlehem, that his goings forth have been from of old from everlasting, Mic. 5.2. And of him it is said, Ʋnto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and he shall be called the wonderful counceller, the mighty God, the ever∣lasting Father, the prince of peace, Isaiah 9.6. And when this Prince of Peace shall come and take the Government, then will he be to all his Sheep the everlasting Father, and the God of the whole earth shall he be called, Isaiah 54.5. And of this Prince of Peace it is said, Thy throne O God is for ever and ever, the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scep∣ter, thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; there∣fore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows, Psalm 45.6,7. And according to this the Apostles declare of Christ the Lord, that he is God; for they were not, nor did not hold any thing in contradiction to what God hath declared by the Pro∣phets, and what is declared of God in the Old Testa∣ment, there is nothing contrary thereunto in the New. And as the Holy Spirit was spoken of throughout the Old Testament, so likewise in the New only sometimes called Holy Spirit, sometimes Holy Ghost, which is all one; it being the Breath of God, which is called the River of God, the Streams whereof shall make glad the City of God, the Holy Tabernacle of the most High, Psalm 46.4. Which pure River of Water is said to pro∣ceed out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb, Rev. 22.1. therefore this River giveth Life and maketh glad. Now as there is Figurative Heavens and Earth spoken of in the Old Testament, so there is also in the New; and as there is a Figurative Sea made mention of in the Old Testament, so likewise in the New; for there is in both

several Figurative Expressions which have one and the same meaning, aluding to one and the same thing in both, which I have fully made appear in my Book of the Fi∣gurative Speeches, therefore I shall not insist here up on it. But God did not only speak mystically to Israel concerning Christ's first coming, because for their Sins they might be snared, broken and taken; but the second coming of Christ is also to us now, since we have lost the true meaning of the word, these things appear very mystical in the New Testament to us, that the wicked of the Adopted Seed, whose turn it is now to be snared, broken and taken for God by the Law, and Gospel speaks to them that under it (as I have fully made ap∣pear from the Scriptures in my Book of the Explanation of the New Testament) and they are the World that will be Judged by it, and the Wicked of them that will not live in, Obedience to it, are the World that will be then Condemned by it. The which the Christians not apprehending, they put the Day of Judgment far off, expecting the Fall of Babylon, and the Restoration of Israel to be before the Lord comes, the which will not be till after the Lord comes; as I have fully made appear in the fore-mentioned Book. For Idumea will be the Figurative Heavens with their Hosts that will be destroy∣ed, Isaiah 34.4,8. When Israel is Restored; which Idumea in the Revelation is termed mystical Babylon, and the Figurative Heavens and Elements which will be de∣stroyed, Rev. 6.3,4. And the Heaven and Earth that will pass away, with which are included the rest of the Wicked that know his Laws; for the Covetous Man is said to be an Idolater, as well as he that Worships an Idol, Eph. 5.5. Col. 3.5.

And those that walk after the Lust of the Flesh will fall under the Condemnation; for the Wicked shall pe∣rish, and the Enemies of the Lord shall be as the Fat of Lambs, they shall consume, into smoke shall they con∣sume away, Psalm 37.20. And we reckon our Ene∣mies

always to be them that knows us, and not them that knows us not. And St. Peter's Charge was that they should be mindful of the words that were spoken before by the Holy Prophets, and of the Commandment of us the Apostles, 2 Pet. 3.20. Which was, that they might not be ignorant of the coming of the Lord, which the Scoffers are willfully ignorant that by the word of God the Heavens were of old, and the Earth stand∣ing out of the Water and in the Water; whereby the World that then was being overflowed with Water then perished, verse 5.6. The which World was the World of People, and then they were not distinguished by Heavens and Earth, for then there was no Ruling Pow∣ers but what belonged to Parents over their Children and Families; and therefore alike termed the World, and not the Heavens and Earth As Israel was not termed Heavens and Earth, till they became a Ruling Power and People. So likewise the Heathen when they became a Ruling Power and People, then were they termed a Heavens and Earth, as I have already proved, but in that St. Peter saith, the Heavens and Earth that are now by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment, and perdition of ungodly Men, verse 7. But in that he saith, the same Heavens and Earth which are now are kept in store un∣to Judgment. Therefore he had no reference here to those that were of old; and the Figurative Heavens which was then in the Apostles time, was the Roman Power, by which the Servants of Christ were then op∣prest, and it is the Roman Power which are now like∣wise their Afflictors, and will remain till the Lord comes, and then will they be destroyed with Fire, with the Per∣dition of the rest of the ungodly Men, who knowing the Laws of the Lord will not obey them. And then not only the fore-mentioned Heavens and Earth of People will be burnt up; that is, that pa••t of the Earth where the

devouring Storm cometh, mentioned, Psalm 11.6. Ʋpon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tsmpest; and then it is the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, Isaiah 28.17. Whereby it shew∣eth there will be Hail mixed with Fire, as was in Egypt, Exod. 9.23,25. For the Storm of Hail in Isaiah, and the Storm of Fire in the Psalms, hath ••ts tendency to one and the same time. And this Hail is said to come down on the Forrest, Isaiah 32.19. At which time Israel and the rest of the Nations that are saved will be safe in Israel's Land whilst the Earth is renewing, as I have largly proved in the fore-mentioned Book of the Figurative Speeches. But because the Adopted Seed to whom this is spoken, have

'transgressed the Laws changed the Ordinances, therefore the Curse devou∣reth the Earth, and the Inhabitants thereof burned, and few Men left,' Isaiah 24.5,6.

That is, few Men will be found Righteous among the fore-mentioned, so as to be left when the other are destroyed; for this Earth of People that has so wilfully offended ••he Transgressions

'thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall and not rise again,' verse 20.

So as in the first Judgment there will be some Sentenced to everlasting Punishment, ac∣cording as the Lord by the Parable declares, Matth. 25.46. And the wilful Opposers of the Truth will like∣wise be raised to receive their Condemnation; for then the Saints will rise to everlasting Life, and some to Shame and everlasting Contempt, Daniel 12.2. For they that neglect the greater Salvation, fall under the greater Condemnation. For then the Heathen Powers of Rome, or otherwise called Heavens that wilfully resist∣ed the Truth, when the Holy Ghost was given for the Confirmation thereof, will rise to receive Punishment, and therefore likewise said to be kept in store, as well as the Heavens of the Christian Rome, which has made Lies their Refuge. For these sdumean Hea∣vens,

or mystical Babylon will be the Heavens that will be on Fire, and the Elements that will melt with fer∣vent heat, of which St. Peter spake. But he saith, neverthel••ss we according to his promise look for new hea∣vens and a new eaerth, wherein dwelleth Righteousness, 2 Pet. 3.12,13. For the Apostles always had their Eye to the Prophesies, as not to teach in contradiction to the Promises. And God saith, Isaiah 65.17,18. For behold I create new heavens and new earth, and the former shall not be remembred, nor come into mind. But be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I cre∣ate; for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing, and her People a joy. And because God would have us take no∣tice what this is that he here Creates; he therefore saith, Behold I Create Jerusalem a rejoycing, and her People a joy. This is the new Heavens and new Earth that God Created upon the old Foundation, the which is Israel, of which Foundation Christ is the chief corner Stone. And why is it here said that God will Create new Heavens and new Earth; because they are such Heavens and such Earth as was never here such before, as to have Righteousness dwelling in them, as will be when Jeru∣salem is made a rejoycing, and her People a joy. For when Christ first came, the ruling Power was not gi∣ven him, though he had then Righteousness dwelling in him and it is said these Heavens came down from above, Isaiah 45.8. Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness, let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together, I the Lord have created it. This Righteousness the Lord Creates when he comes down with all his Saints, which are the Heavens that comes from above; then will he pour down Righteousness, and then the Earth of his People will bring forth Salvation, and then Salvation and Righteousness will spring up together.

For the Covenant is to them and their Children, and to as many of us as are found in our Obedience, and in that day God will appoint Salvation for Walls and Bul∣warks, Isaiah 26.1. Thus the Prophets and Apostles agree that Salvation will be when the times of Refresh∣ing shall come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3.19,21,22. And Christ saith, Search the scriptures, for they were they that d••d testifie of him, John 5.39. And then there was no other Scriptures but the Old Testa∣ment. Now all Christ's Sufferings being fulfilled in the plain Letter of the Word, and left us upon Record ever to believe the same. And as in the Word it is Prophe∣sied that Israel should be scattered, so we evidently see the same; and we ought also, and are bound to believe all the great Prophesies and Promises relating to Christ's second coming, that they will be performed in the plain Letter of the Word, and as it was Prophesied that God would pour forth his Spirit, Joel 2.28,29. Of which St. Peter saith, It was made good to them in that time, Acts 2.16,17,18 Which was for the Confirmati∣on of the Gospel, and as an earnest of their Inheri∣tance in time to come, or Restitution.

Before which time, as in Joel 2.30,31. God will shew wonders in heaven and in earth, blood and fire, and pil∣lars of smoke, which accordingly has come to pass, for by wars much blood hath been spilt. And the Lord in a great and wonderful manner hath sent out of the earth fire and pillars of smoke for these many hundred years, but much more of late. And it is said, verse 31. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. This came to pass when the Nations which had embraced the Faith came to have no love to the Truth, God then gave them up to Delusion, 2 Thess. 2.10,11. For when the people could not endure sound doctrin, but after their own lusts they did

heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they turned away their ears from the truth, and were turned un∣to fables, 2 Tim. 4 3,4. And when the Seducers and false teachers went about to deceive, they then became de∣ceived, ch. 3.12,13. For God doth never so punish without a cause, Eze. 14.23. And then was the Sun turned into darkness; for in the Scriptures the Teach∣ers are termed the Light of the World, and when the Sun the Teachers were darkned, the Moon which is the World of People which receiveth her Light from the Teachers, as the Moon doth her Light from the Sun, the People were soon turned into Blood, by ha∣ting and killing one another. The Pope and his Cler∣gy pretending to be the true Church, Mahomet the true Prophet, and every Sect the right Remnant; and thus the Prince of Darkness carries on his Designs, in setting Men to hate and kill one another through these Divisi∣ons. (Now in that Prophesie of Scripture is of more than a private Interpretation, 2 Pet. 1.20. But we must be sure to put no other Interpretation on it, but what we can make plain from the Word. And in Joel 3.15. It is also said, The sun and moon shall be darkned, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. Here the Prophet may have a Reference to the material Sun, Moon and Stars, which by the Glorious Appearing of the Lord will be obscured by his Brightness.

But when the Nations came to have no love to the Truth, God suffered a Spirit of a strong Delusion to go forth, 2 Thess. 2.11. For God hath determined, that those that will not deny themselves for him shall suffer by him; for unto them that are contentions, and will not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath upon every soul of man that doth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory honour and peace to every man that work∣eth good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile, Rom. 2.8,9,10.

For there will be a Redemption in time to come, for all that order their Conversation aright, and have not been wilful Opposers of the Truth, which is one of the worst of Unrighteousnesses. And though it is those who comes in Heirs to the Promises made to the Fathers that are made partakers of the greater Glory, yet there is Glory and Salvation for others of a lower degree. And though the Jews that have been since Christ's time were cast off for the Sins of their Parents, yet not for ever and ever to be forgotten of God, without their own Sins does occasion it; for there will be a Re∣demption in time to come for some; and if Israel for the Sin of their Parents has been left to stumble on the dark Mountains these seventeen hundred years, no won∣der if the Adopted Seed has been left to stumble thereon for above this thousand years. For it is Israel, who as touching the Election, is beloved for their Fathers sake, Rom. 11.28. For though there was but a Remnant chosen from among them that were chosen according to the Election of Grace, verse 5. Yet they were all Gods chosen and elected People for their Fathers sake, Isaiah 45.4. And this God did because he loved their Fathers, because they had walked with a perfect Heart before him. The which, when the Lord proved Israel in the Wilderness they did not. And therefore the Lord saith, Deut. 31.21. For I know their imaginations which they go about, even now before I have brought them into the land. Here because God would have us take notice when it was he knew it; therefore he redoubles his Words, and saith, even now at the time when they were in the Wilderness. But we do never read of God's foreknowing his Drowning of the World, till he saw the Wickedness of Man was great, and then it was that it grieved him at his Heart that he had made Man; but God's choosing Israel was for their Fathers sake, and not that he had Elected them without a why or a where∣fore;

but when God had proved and tryed Israel in the Wilderness, and as they had there often miscarried; God saw they would again fall away, for which he de∣termined to leave them to Blindness; the like God fore∣seeing that the Gentiles would fall away, for which he determined to leave them to Delusion. For as of old when the People fell away, Rom. 1.18,20,21. the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all un∣godliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and godhead; so that they were without excuse, because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkned, verse 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind. So we see Man's not improving his Day of Grace, has been his Destructi∣on all along; and not that they had not a Day of Grace given them; and it is such that God gives up to Delusi∣on, that first deceives and deludes themselves, Ezek. 14.7. And like not to retain God in their knowledge, but in the way of well doing, we may commit the keeping of our souls unto God, as unto a faithful creator, 1 Pet. 4.19. Now St. Paul speaking of the Creation of the World, in the fore-going Words, Rom. 1.20. makes menti∣on of it as such, and not as the Foundation of the World. And all the Apostles in all their Writings, agree in cal∣ling the Twelve Tribes the Foundation of the World to come. And likewise Zachariah the Priest said, God hath raised up a Horn of Salvation in the House of his Servant David. Here he doth not say that this was Prophesied of from the Foundation of the World, but by all the Holy Prophets since the World began, Luke 1.69,70. That he would raise up a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David. And in David and Solo∣mon

was the Typical Kingdom of Christ. And after Da∣vid had received the Kingdom, God by the Prophet, said, His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me, Psalm 89.36. This ever, is the ever of the time to come, the which all the Prophets Prophesied of from David till Christ came; but no Prophet Prophesied that this Salvation should come out of the House of David, be∣fore David was, and had received the Kingdom. But we not apprehending the difference between the Creation and Foundation, nor the beginning of this World to come, has cast us into most dangerous Mistakes; for thereby we have received another Faith, than what the Gospel teacheth, in thinking none but the Elect can be saved, and that some thereby have thought they should be sa∣ved by the Righteousness of Christ, contrary to the Words of Christ, which are upon the condition of their O∣bedience, which will prove destructive, if unrepented of. Likewise we have another Hope than what the Scripture Teacheth; for by our Predecessors falling in∣to Popery, we have lost the form of sound words, as they were first delivered; and to maintain our receiv∣ed mistaken Notions we must not believe what God hath declared, promised and sworn to. And this out of pretence of justifying God's Wisdom, which some say doth greatly consist in God's sore-knowing all the Wick∣edness of the Devil and Man from all Eternity; where∣by they make God the first conceiver of it; and like∣wise with such approbation, as some say, as he did not only suffer it, but decreed it to be committed; which is so quite contrary to the Holy God, as the thoughts thereof are to be abhorred, it being Blasphemy for to think it, for he hath absolutely declared against it. For it was after God saw that Man had corrupted his Way, it repented him that he had made Man upon the Earth, and God said it griewed him at his heart, Gen. 6.6. Now whether it is right in the sight of God, to believe Man

rather than God, judge ye, Acts 4.19. And that God that is an unchangeable Being, in Holiness, Wis∣dom, Justice, Goodness and Truth, which are his pro∣per Attributes, and therefore impossible for God to lie, Heb. 6.18. For God is not a man that he should lie, neither the Son of Man that he should Repent; that is, when God hath absolutely promised, a Blessing, he will certainly perform it, as it is here declared. Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23.19. And we are to believe of God in every thing, as he hath declared of himself; to be moved to pity upon Man's Repenting and Returning, and to Anger and Wrath upon Man's Rebellion; and of certain, God will never be angry with any for believing what he saith, or hath promised or sworn to. And the Prophet for believing what another Prophet told him, in contra∣diction to what God had declared to him, a Lyon met him and Slew him, 1 Kings 13.17,18,24. And as the Faith of Abraham was set down for our Example, so this was Recorded for our warning, that we might not believe Man in contradiction to God. Now Christ and the Apostles being rightly understood, are found to agree with the Words of God and the Prophets; and the Care of the Apostles was such, as to compare spiritual things with spiritual things, 1 Cor. 2.13. To see if the Spirit spake in them agreeably to what the Spirit spake in the Prophets of old, that thereby no Delusion or Deceiver might creep in among them; for God did never send his Son, and the Servants of his Son, to contradict what he himself hath declared, promised and sworn to.