An explicite declaration of the testimony of Christ: according to the plain sayings of the Gospel: and therein, of the purposes, promises, and covenants of God, as by Gospel declared. With, a consideration of a question stated about faith. By Thomas Moore, Senior.

CHAP. 9.

Of the third way of our Saviour's Revelation and mani∣festation of himself, to the first witnesses. of his Resur∣rection.

OUr Saviour, according to his Promise, did within a few dayes after his Ascension, by vertue, and as a fruit of his Ascension and Sacrifice offered and accepted, and his Me∣diation begun, he did send, and shed forth, and pour upon and in them, the Holy Ghost, in an audible, sensible,* 1.1 and visible shape, both resting upon them, and supernaturally and in∣wardly filling them; by which Holy Spirit, he brought again to their minde, and gave them to understand all his fore-Re∣velation and sayings to them, and shewed the things of him∣self, and the Father so leading them into all Truth, and making known to them the whole counsel of God in things pertaining to Eternal Life, to be taught till his coming again; enduing them with power, motion, and fitness to witness of him and giving them the gift of tongues to speak to eve∣ry Man in his own Language, wherein he was born; so a∣bundantly was the Revelation of the mystery of Christ by the Spirit made known to them: and yet, that we may rightly understand what the Holy Ghost is, that was thus given unto them, it is good to consider, what in Revela∣tion of Christ from the beginning, and now by himself is given us to understand; and that is, that it is something, that was never before this so given; no, not as then while

John was baptizing,* 1.2 nor yet while Christ himself was personal∣ly ministring here on Earth, nor could be given, till he left the World in that body of his, and went to the Father; so that it cannot be meant properly of the essence and be∣ing of the Holy Ghost, which is one and the same with the Father and the Son, the same God, by whom the Heaven and the Earth was made, and all the Hosts of them; for in this respect he fills heaven and Earth, and is everywhere present, and alwayes was: so that in respect of essence he is not said to be sent or proceeding from the Father and Son, or descending, being ever one in and with both; but onely in respect of person or manner of existence in, and operation of that one divine essence: but it must be meant of some forth-coming of the divine power from the Father by Christ; yet in this also it cannot be meant of such forth-coming in breathings and operations, as tend to the supportation of the old Creation,* 1.3 in upholding, and ordering, and garnishing the Heaven and Earth, and Creatures therein, for the good of Mankinde; and enduing Men with understanding and skill for Husbandry and disposing the Fruits of the Earth,* 1.4 and for curious Arts and Works, or for War, Physick, Laws, and Government of a Commonwealth, &c. though these be all Mercies to lead to Repentance; for these were extended be∣fore Christ carried the Nature of Man into Heaven: no, nor yet is meant simply of a discovery of the Minde and Grace of God through Christ,* 1.5 striving with Men, to bring them in to God; for this also was from the beginning; yea, and some brought in to believe thereby, from the rumour of the Go∣spel in Paradise delivered, and the works of Creation and Providence: and yet more abundantly to Israel, in Types, Promises, and Prophesies; and yet more in John Baptist's Ministration: yea, the Holy Ghost in such means to enlighten and teach, hath not onely been alwayes in the Church, but some have been wonderfully filled with him: he signified in and to the Prophets,* 1.6 and they spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; and the Holy Ghost spake by them; and E∣lizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and Mary, and Za∣charias; and the Holy Ghost was upon old Simeon, and re∣vealed Christ to him; and the same may be said of divers o∣thers:

so that though no other Spirit be promised, yet some farther Discovery and Operation of the Spirit, which was not as yet given, is evident to be meant here by the giving the Holy Ghost. If any think, that his coming like a mighty and rushing winde, and sitting on them in the likeness of fiery Tongues, and giving them to speak with divers Tongues, is that which was promised, he is not deceived in that; for it was included in the promises as to the first Witnesses: but it was neither the whole, nor the main in the Promise, but an over-plus and addition to the main,* 1.7 the promise being that which however with more abundance to them, yet in the Testimony given them, it appertained to all, that through that Testimony believe in Christ: and this appears to be such a giving of the Holy Ghost, as never was before, in,

• 1. A more full and cleer Revelation of Christ,* 1.8 and things of Christ (that lay hid in the bowels of the Scriptures) then e∣ver was before, all being in this Testimony opened, so far as is to be known till his own personal coming again; so as the full of the Holy Ghosts Testimony of Christ is come forth o∣pened, which was not so before.
• 2. A more free and cleer manifestation of the Lord Christ,* 1.9 as having compleated the Sacrifice, and being filled with Spi∣rit, and the Father's Face and Minde appearing in him (not through Types and Prophecies, but) in a cleer Demonstration of him in the Gospel, as the Object of Faith, and Allurer (not with servitude in a Law of Works, but) with Freedom to believe in him, and therein to receive more free and abundant spiritual Operations, and spiritual gifts, then ever before.
• 3. A larger Freedom for all Gentiles as Jews without dif∣ference,* 1.10 all, every or any one in believing the Testimony, to receive the gracious Priviledges; and in all this, he abounded to the first Witnesses in all Wisdom and Prudence, making known to them the mystery of his will for the dispensation of these last times.
• 4. That this Testimony of Christ in which all parts of the Testimony fore-given by Inspirations, Types, Prophecies,* 1.11 Visions, Dreams, was opened, being fully and cleerly given forth by the Holy Ghost witnessing of Christ: this Testimo∣ny,

• being a birth of the Spirit, and the Medium in which the Spirit worketh, and his own Testimony, it also beareth his Name; and he that believing receiveth it, receiveth him, and shall experiment this Light and Operations.

And that this is meant by the giving of the Holy Ghost, fore-promised & now performed by Christ, appears both in the Pro∣mises and Performance, and the Scriptures quoted, and also by the Apostles Affirmation, that as the Promises of Christ con∣cerning it,* 1.12 so the Prophesies of the Prophet concerning his pouring forth his Spirit, both for convincing the rebellious, and leading Believers into all Truth, and also the efficaciousness of the Spirit for making known the Mind of Christ, and his Ope∣rations for and in Prophesie, Vision, Dreams, had all a fulfilling in this given to them: so full a Testimony & cleer Revelation, with such Divine Illumination and Operation was given to these first Witnesses, that by that Testimony Christ and the things of Christ might be made known, that Men might be∣lieve, and so come in to Christ. And this the last and fullest Revelation of Christ, and no other but the cleer know∣ledge of this to be looked for till he do personally and visibly come again. But now for the way of making this known to the Sons of Men, and carrying it an end, we have that also shewn us in this Revelation, these three wayes given to them. In which we have three things to note: first, The prime Medium or Way of making it known, and the chosen Instruments to use that Medium to make it known, and also the Furniture wherewith they are furnished to make it known, that Men may come to know Christ thus re∣vealed, and so be saved, reconciled and brought to God by Christ. Of which see what the Scripture saith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Act. 2.2, 3, 4, &c.
• * 1.2

  Mar. 1.8. Joh. 7.38, 39. Joh. 14.16. & 16.7. Act. 5.3, 4. 1 Ioh. 5.7. Gen. 1.2. Psal. 33.6. & 139.1, 11.
• * 1.3

  Joh 26.12, 13. Psa. 104.29, 30.
• * 1.4

  Deut. 28.26, 29. Exod. 31.3. & 35.31.
• * 1.5

  Heb. 11.6. Gen. 6.3. Act. 14.17. Rom. 3.2. & 9.5. Joh. 1.7, 29.
• * 1.6

  1 Pet. 1.11. 2 Pet. 1.21. Act. 28.25 Luk. 1.41, 46, 67. & 2.25, 26.
• * 1.7

  Joh. 7.37, 38, 39. & 17.20, 21. Act. 2.39.
• * 1.8

  1 Cor. 2.9, 10, 11. Joh. 5.39. Heb. 1.1. Rom. 16.25. Eph. 3.3, 9.
• * 1.9

  2 Cor. 4.6. Col. 1.25, 26, 27. Joh. 7.37, 38, 39.
• * 1.10

  Eph. 3.3, 4, 9. Gal. 3.28. Eph. 1.8, 9, 10.
• * 1.11

  Joh. 15.26. & 14.26. & 16.13, 15. Joh. 3.16. Rom. 1.16. 2 Cor. 3.6, 7, &c.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 68.18, 20. Act. 2.33. Eph. 4.8, 11. Act. 2.17, 18.