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.

IV. A Twofold Indwelling of Christ by his Spirit in the first Churches. (Book 4)

AND whereas St. Paul saith, Rom. 8.11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you; he that raised up Christ from the Dead, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Here the Apostle writes to the elect Church among the Romans, who were then called and justified, and glorified, by receiving the Holy Ghost to be in them, 1 Pet. 1.11,12. But these had not the Promise from Christ, that none should pluck them out of his Hand: That Promise did appertain to the Disciples, which were of that Remnant chosen from among Is∣rael, John 10.27,28,29. Of which Remnant were the Elect that should never be deceived by the Beast nor false Prophet: And they are the Foundation which standeth sure. But the forementioned, which were the Elect among the Gentiles, were cleared from their past Sins, Rom. 3.25. by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness; and therefore he saith, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that ju∣stifieth, Rom. 8.33. But after they were thus cleared

from their past Sins, they were to walk in newness of Life, and so are all. And therefore when he found the Elect to walk disorderly, and were guilty of Sin, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not sparing to charge them with it, and reprove them for it, like as he did others, Gal. 3.1. But he saith, vers. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39. He was perswaded that neither tribulation, nor distress, nor death, nor life, nor height, nor depth, nor any other Creature shall be able to separate them from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus: But in the forementioned Verses, he mentions not Sin; knowing that wilful Sin will seperate them from God; there∣fore the Apostle saith, vers. 11. And if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the Dead, dwell in you; that is, con∣tinue or remain in them. And accordingly he saith to the Elect Church of Corinth, chap. 11.3. Fearing lest the Serpent should beguile them as he beguiled Eve. And then their mortal Bodies will not be quickned again 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Spirit being in them; but if they did not •…•…ve the Holy Ghost, Ephes. 4.13. thereby to cause him to withdraw, then the same Spirit would raise up their mortal Bodies to have a part in the first Resurrection, and to partake of the glory ••hen the Lord again comes, Rev. 20.4,5. Ephes. 2.7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is also by the same Spirit and Power of God that all that has done either good or bad, shall be raised up at the last Judgment: For Christ saith, All that are in the Graves, shall hear his Voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good, to the Resurrection of Life, and they that have done evil, unto the Resurrection of Danna∣tion, John 5.28,29. But all that remain faithful to the Lord Jesus, longing for his appearing: Though they have not the Holy Ghost in them, but with them, they shall likewise have their part in the first Resurrection, and receive the Crown of Righteousness in that day, 2 Tim. 4. ver. 8. But the Lord speaking of the first Resur∣rection, mentions it very darkly, John 5.25. because he

spake to the Jews that were to be left to blindness, so as seeing they might see, and not perceive; and hearing they might hear, and not understand, Isa. 6.9,10. And like∣wise it is said, the Lord spake to them in Parables, and without a Parable spake he not unto them, Mat. 13.34. And therefore the Lord also speaks to them darkly about the first Resurrection, vers. 25. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Hour is coming, and now is, when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. These words may have a twofold ten∣dency in having some reference to the first Churches which had the peculiar calling, and thereby brought in, which was the Hour that then was; but whereas the Lord saith the Hour is coming, that of certain is the time when he again should come; at which time the dead Bodies of the Saints shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and live: And also then dead Israel 〈◊〉〈◊〉 both see him, and hear his Voice and live. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 these words had their chief reference to the time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Judgment, Power, and Honour is given to the Son, is evident by the 22, 23. Verses. But according as the Evangelist saith, So spake the Lord to them in Parable, that they did not understand it, Mat. 13.34. And th•…•… it is the Saints that rise in the first Resurrection; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all that have done good, shall afterwards arise to the Resurrection of Life. And Israel, when judged, will not be condemned for that they ignorantly committed against Christ, for he prayed for them, Luke 23.24. Blessed be the great and glorious God, who hath en∣abled a weak Worm to vindicate his Justice to the praise of his Name, and the comfort of his Creatures. In that it is now made clearly appear, the Judge of all the World will do right; who publisheth his Praise by the weak things of this World, that thereby all the Glory may be attributed to himself, who is God bles∣sed for ever and ever.