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.

VI. Concerning Christ and the Elect Angels. (Book 6)

NOw Christ is said to be God's Elect in whom his Soul delighteth, Isa. 42.1. But he was not Elect∣ed because there was any danger of his falling; but he was elected according to the purpose of God: That by him might be made good the promise God made to our first Parents. That by the Seed of the Woman, the Serpent's Head should be bruised. And as for the elect Angels St. Paul speaks of, it doth not appear, that they were elected, because the fallen Angels had left their own Habitation, Jude vers. 6. And therefore God would afterward secure the rest of the Angels by electing them; but rather that God did elect them for a purpose he had determined. For the terrible Judg∣ments of God resting upon the Angels that fell, who are reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness, un∣to the Judgment of the great Day. Which thing is known to all the holy Angels, and so a warning to keep them from falling. And the reason of Lucifer's Fall, was not because he was not so much in the favour of God as the other Angels, for he was one of the greatest, if not the greatest Angel of God: And thro' the greatness of the power which God had given him, he set himself in opposition to God, and so drew off others of the Angels with him in that great Rebellion. But if Man had not sinned, Christ had not suffered;

and Christ laid down his Life for the World. But I do not here deny, but am ready to believe that all the Heavenly Host that is now remaining in Heaven, as Arch-Angels, Angels, Cherubims, and Seraphims, might have a Promise from God after the Fall, that their standing should be secured to them through Christ. But in that St. Paul mentions the elect Angels, from those words is rather to be understood, that they were Angels whom God had made choice of to assist and aid Man: And according to this Christ saith of Children, That in Heaven their Angels do always behold the face of his Father, Mat. 18.10. So likewise the Disciples told the Damsel, when she affirmed that Peter knocked at the door, that it was his Angel, Acts 12.15. From these Texts it is clear, that there are some Angels that in particular are concerned with us, and were elected and chosen for that purpose; and so they being more near our Persons man the other Angels, and thereby know our Trans∣actions, and therefore more probable the Apostle gave Timothy his charge before God, and Christ, and the e∣lect Angels, 1. Tim. 5.21. Which Angels being im∣ployed concerning them, could likewise bear witness of this his Charge: And in the whole Book of God there is no mention made of elect Angels but in this place, and therefore it doth appear to be as aforesaid.

And after the Creation, God saw every thing that he had made, and it was very good, Gen. 1.31. as to what he had then made, nothing had defiled it self. Therefore when God made the Stars they were then all very good and God made the Lights for Signs, and for Seasons, and for Days, and for Years, vers 14. And they being in the Creation by God made very good, therefore they were not made of God to influence Man to Iniquity; But as the Prince of Darkness drew off part of the An∣gels and Man, so likewise he drew off part of the Stars also, by which he doth influence Man to Iniquity; for

by his drawing the Stars, is not only meant the Mini∣sters of the Word, which he hath drawn after him, Rev. 12.4. Jude vers. 13. but the real Stars also; but with care and Prayer, their evil Influences may, and is to be withstood. Likewise, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, was of God made good; but by the knowledge of Evil, and liking it, he became a Devil; For the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, was the Devil, or the representative of the Devil; as the Tree of Life was the representative of Christ, as by the Word I have clearly proved in my Book of the Explanation of the New Testament, and the Three Worlds; but God forewarned them of this evil Root: and had they first taken of the Tree of Life, they might have eaten and lived for ever; but this evil root in time to come will be sealed up, and then will the evil Stars fall down into Blackness and Darkness for ever, Jude vers. 13. And the Elect that will be gathered in from the Four Winds, after the Lord comes, they will be Israel, as I have fully proved in my forementioned Book: But their standing will not be secured from their Election, but by God's then establishing the pro∣mised New Everlasting Covenant with them; in which the Saints and true Believers will then be inclu∣ded as Heirs with them to the same Promise. And there is of the Heathen fore-appointed then to be called in, but not being secured by the Everlasting Covenant, part of their Posterity will afterward be insnared again, as I have made appear in the foresaid Book. As for those that talk of a Covenant of Grace from all Eter∣nity, therein they know not what they say, nor what they affirm: But the forementioned mistaken places treated in the 6, 7, 8, and 9 pages, has occasioned these so great and dangerous Errors; for the Covenant that will make the Inheritors of it eternally blessed, is still but the Covenant of Promise, Gal. 3.29. And if ye are

Christ's, then are ye Abraham's Seed, and Heirs accord∣ing to the Promise: which Promise was the establish∣ing of the New Everlasting Covenant with Abraham and his Seed together, Gen. 17.7,8,9. The which the Remnant, and first Churches were chosen to be Heirs to; and a Door of Mercy set open to others, that now they might freely come by the Call of the Gospel. And whereas the Apostle after he had rehearsed the promised Covenant, Heb. 8. The which they were fore-chosen to be Heirs to; saith of the Old Cove∣nant, That it was ready to vanish away, vers. 13. And in the 9th Chap. expostulating about the Ceremonial Law, shewing they were but Shadows of good things to come, ver. 11. And therefore saith, That they which are called, might receive the Promise of the Eternal Inheritance, ver. 16. The which was the Promise of the foremen∣tioned Covenant. And in ver. 27. he saith, It is appointed for Men once to die, and after this to come to Judgment. For they must rise again, and come to Judgment, be∣fore this Covenant will be established, And then to them that look for him, shall he appear the second time without Sin unto Salvation, Heb. 9.28 2 Tim. 4.8. For they are to have their part in the first Resurrection, Rev. 20.6. the which will be at the time of Restitution, for then will the Lord redeem Israel from all their Sins, and establish his Everlasting Covenant; and then it is Israel will be all Righteous, and inherit the Land for ever, Isa. 60.21. For there is to be another time according to the former time, in which it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought? Num. 23.23. And then it is God will behold no Iniquity in Jacob, when he hath purged all Iniquity from them; for then he will for ever perfect them that are sanctified, Heb. 10.14. For God, and Christ, the Prophets, and Apostles, mention things which are to come, as if they were al∣ready past or present. These things were easie to be

understood by them that had been well instructed therein, as all they were, to whom the Apostles writ their Epistels; but unto us that come so many Genera∣tions after the knowledge of these things, were lost by the Nations falling into Popery, by which they were deprived of the Scriptures for several hundred Years, and so they lost the true meaning of them; but in that any of us have been so mistaken as to think the ever∣lasting Covenant is now made with us, is most amazing, seeing by that Covenant they were all to be taught of God; so as they should no more teach every Man his Neighbour, and his Brother, when we all know in this time, the Gospel was establisht to be taught, and that all since have been taught either right or wrong; but had we only thought this Covenant had been made with them who were the first Publishers of the Gospel, and were then taught of God, and had the evident witness of the Holy Ghost in them, and the mighty power of God going along with them, this would have been of no great damage to us, but to think that we are now in the posses∣sion of this promised Covenant is a strange delusion, and of most dangerous consequence, for thereby some have thought they might fall foully, but not finally, and thereby some have made themselves eternally misera∣ble, which had they not known those notions they might have been blessed; but when this Covenant is established they will not Sin; but in this time, Whosoever says he is without sin is a Lyer, and the Truth is not in him. 1 Joh. 1.8.