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.

An Explicite Declaration of the Testi∣mony of Christ, &c.

PART III.

CHAP. I.

Of the first Revelation of Christ, and Way of making him known.

THE first Revelation of Jesus Christ was in Paradise, thus:* 1.1 I will put enmity be∣tween thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. In which, according to Explication since, is observed,

1. That the first Promulgation of the Gospel, as it was immediate from and by God himself, so it was done in the denouncing the Curse on the Serpent and his Seed; yea,* 1.2 in some measure on the Serpent that was the Devil's Instrument, and its Seed; but in full, and specially on the Devil the old Serpent, with

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his Angels,* 1.3 and those by his Temptations, become of him, and so his Seed, even as the compleating of the Exaltation of Christ, and those that are his Seed; is declared in the de∣nouncing and bringing in the last and great Wo upon the Inhabiters of the Earth, which are the Seed of this old Ser∣pent.

2.* 1.4 That the Seed of the Woman is also so exprest, that it may have a double sense; one a more remote sense, in which it may be carried to all that come of her by a natural concep∣tion; before whom, in the Promise, Hope was set; and of and from among whom, the two Seeds more directly spoken of, are and will be drawn.

And the other sense proper and nigher, and that both princi∣pal, full,* 1.5 and most cleer and direct; and that is the Lord Jesus Christ; for he saith, It shall bruise thy head. It was not thus: The Woman, nor any of her Seed by natural conception (which are every way as much the Seed of Adam, the Man, as of the Woman) of which, no Man can redeem his Brother, or give to God a Ransome for him: But it was, He, even Je∣sus, that was conceived in the Wombe, and born of a Woman and a Virgin, in a supernatural way, without the help or use of Man: which Virgin was of the Seed of Abraham and David, to whom also, the Promise was explicated: and so he was the Seed of David, of Abraham, of the Woman; the pro∣mised Seed, even he that in due time was manifested, to take away sins, and destroy the works of the Devil. And the Holy Ghost hath given us to understand, That this Jesus is that very promised Seed here primely meant.* 1.6 And also here is, in and with this principal, a farther, intimate, necessary, consequential and included sense; namely, That by Seed is meant all those of the Sons of Adam, that by this Grace of God discovered through Christ the promised Seed, are brought in to believe in Christ, and by Faith united to Christ, and reckoned after him, his Seed, and so of one and the same Seed, the same spiritual species or kinde, to enjoy the benefit of all his sufferings and victory, and to inherite with him.

3.* 1.7 The way in which Christ should take away sins, and de∣stroy the works of the Devil, and so enter into Glory, even

by suffering and conquest, by Death and Resurrection,* 1.8 and pouring forth of Spirit, and returning again to triumph: and the way in which those that come to be of his Seed, must o∣vercome and inherit with him, being by the word of the Testimony of him, and by his Blood, not loving their lives unto death; and so through much Tribulation, to enter in∣to his Kingdom. Both these are implied and testified in the very words, It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

4. That as there is enmity between the two Seeds; yea,* 1.9 according to all the whole sense given us, that is, between Christ and the Devil; and so enmity in the Devil against all Mankinde, preserved by Christ: but especially those of Man∣kinde, that are by the Grace of God through Christ, con∣verted, born from above, and so become the Seed of Christ; yea, he moveth all he prevails with to do his will, to be E∣nemies to them also: and so there is enmity between the two Seeds also, as is express, I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: (where also might be noted, That as Adam in his publick place, was a Type of Christ; so the Woman here a Type of the Church) even so also, as Christ came first in the flesh, and by his sufferings and victory in his Oblation overcame the Devil, and overthrew his first work; so he is by Spirit overthrowing his second work, in which he endeavours to keep men from the know∣ledge and acknowledgement of Christ: and he will come a∣gain in glory, and fully destroy his later work also, and bring all before him to acknowledge him Lord, to the Glory of God: and then shall the Devil and all the ungodly, be over∣thrown; and he, and his Seed shall raign: all which was in∣cluded in this saying, It shall break thy head. And this was opened to, and prophesied by Enoch the seventh from Adam; and so, though mysteriously, yet inclusively, the whole Testimony of Christ was given in this first Revela∣tion.

5. That the fulness and cleerness of the glorious mystery of Christ, and life in him, contained in the Gospel,* 1.10 as first declared, was yet hid with Christ in God; and so to be farther opened, as Christ came to be farther manifested: and

this implied in that word also,* 1.11 It shall break thy head: as the glorious life of Believers is still hid with Christ in God, and will then be manifest, when he shall appear in Glory; when, and not till then, they shall appear in Glory with him.

6. Here in this Revelation, is no mention or intimation, That the promise in this Gospel, was made, given or applied personally to Adam or to Evah, to both or to either of them, or any probability of such a thing: for in all this, the Speech was directed as the Curse to the Serpent,* 1.12 with intimation of the continuance of his malice, chains and limits till his full o∣verthrow and final judgement: and the sentence of the Curse, in sorrow, mortality and death, is in the Speech directed both to the Woman and the Man after this, and the Curse on the Earth, for their sakes also; and so on all Mankinde in this first publick Man: but the promise was fore-made to Christ, that now had undertaken, and intimated here in this word,* 1.13 It shall, &c. The Promise for that divine assistance he should have in all he had undertaken to suffer and do, in the Nature of Man for Mankinde; and the Victory he should have; and so, that Eternal Life he should have in the Na∣ture of Man and for Mankinde, to dispense to all that by the means he useth, believe on him: so that all the promises of God are his,* 1.14 and in him yea, and in him Amen. The Pro∣mise of Eternal Life was made with him first; and with, and to him,* 1.15 for all that in believing come to receive it of him: yea, the Everlasting Covenant was first made with him, and confirmed in him; and so by necessary consequence, for all that should believe in him, and so have him; and in having him, have with and through him Forgiveness of Sins, As∣stance in Services and Trials, the Promises, Everlasting Cove∣nant, and Eternal Life; and so all that is good for them. This is the way of God's giving such good things to Men, to give his Son to them,* 1.16 who was fore-delivered up for us all: and in giving him, with and through him to give the Blessing and all good things, so to Abraham, and so to all o∣ther. And thus is Christ the Everlasting Father of all Be∣lievers, and they are his Generation or Seed. And in this respect also Christ is the first-born, before David, Jacob, Isaac,

Abraham; yea, Adam and Evah: yea, in this respect and relation, he is the Root and Father of them all; yea,* 1.17 he is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the Beginner and the Accomplisher of every Man's Faith, and bringing in to God: and so of theirs also. And though in his actual taking of Flesh, and so as Man, he was after them and of them; yet the vertue of his Oblation was efficacious with God, and vertuous for Men, from his first ac∣cepting to undertake, and so from the beginning, even in the first moment of Adam's Fall; and so he the first Receiver and Dispenser of the Promises: which in denouncing the Curse on the Serpent, were thus sounded forth in the hearing of A∣dam and Evah. And the knowledge of all this, is very pro∣fitable for us, seeing by it we are taught so cleerly,

First, That the Gospel thus sounded was not by Adam or Evah received by sense, or by discerning of any peculiar interest they had in it more than others of Mankinde, or any betterness in them more than others; but by the Divine Power in the discovery of God's Love to Mankinde, without any difference of one from another, or preferring one be∣fore another, they, as fallen Ones, received it by Faith; in which, it became theirs: and so receiving it by Faith, ac∣cording to the import of the sound, and the Light that was in it; thence Adam in this sight and receit, called his Wives Name Evah, because she was the Mother of all living: and this might well be in a twofold sense; natural, of all A∣dam's Race, because there was hope for them; and spiritual, of all Believers, she happily being the first Receiver, according to that, Where sin abounded, there grace abounded much more.

Secondly, That the Sentence and Curse did pass on them after the Promise and Interposure of Christ the new publick Man, he having fore-accepted to be in that Nature, and under the Law under which they were fallen, that so he might come and bear that Sentence and Curse for Mankinde, and so take the sting and venome out of it, and in due season bring them out: and this also was without difference, for the good of all Mankinde.

Thirdly, That the promise in the Testimony and sound,

lies as open and free for all Mankinde and every of them, as it did for Adam and Evah, that they might believe, and in believing be the Seed of Christ, and Children of their be∣lieving Mother Evah, and so have the same hope.

Fourthly, That we may know, That as the Gospel for the good of Mankinde, was first declared in denouncing the Curse on the Serpent and his Seed: so all the Threats and Curses denounced on the Enemies of Christ and his Peo∣ple, they are Fruits of God's Love, and sure Promises to Believers. And this was the first Revelation given of Christ.

Now also for Evidences and Demonstrations of the Truth and Goodness hereof, besides this revealed Testi∣mony of God, it is to be seen in his works of Creation and Providence:* 1.18 for whereas all was lost, and so for sin to be so far dissolved, as every Creature remaining, to have been as a Curse, Vexation and ruine to Man; that the Heavens and Earth, with the Inhabitants are upheld, and that Sun, Moon, Star, Earth, &c. do serve for the good and comfort of Mankinde, It is through Jesus Christ, and by vertue of his Oblation and Intercession. And so now, and from thence, The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shew∣eth his handy-work. Day unto day uttereth speech, &c. And by these works of Creation and Providence, God shineth forth, and manifesteth to Men his Eternal Power & Goodness, his Being or Godhead, his Wisdom and Love to Mankinde: and these he hath divided to all Nations under the whole Heaven, to serve them for their good, and to such a gracious end: and by these he gives hints of a Ransome and Mediator between him and men; through whom, he that is holy and just is yet so merciful and gracious to sinful and unworthy men, even that they might believe him to be, and to be merciful, and a Rewarder of them that seek him, and so repent, and come in to him; and so far, and in such a sense, the sound of the Gospel is preached in and by the Creation in the whole Earth, and so in and by every Creature under Heaven, to all Nations and every Man. And these two, the rumour of the Gospel as declared in Paradise, and the Evidences of his Goodness in the works of Creation, were the two Mediums

or Books, in which the Testimony of Christ hath been held forth from the beginning, and is to be read.

Yet God did even at the first, in this provision made in Christ, for Men, and for instructing them in this Revelation and these Evidences of him, he chose in him certain Instru∣ments, whom he furnished above others with the Knowledge of the Gospel, as so revealed, and also with Understanding of his Power, Wisdom, Justice, Mercy and Minde, evidenced in his works, that they should teach the same to others, to convert them to God. And these were those who themselves received the Testimony, and were by it led to love and worship God, and desire the Salvation of men; as all the first Fathers, Adam, Seth, &c. who all preached to the World the same Gospel (though not so fully come forth) as we now have: it is in respect of the more full and cleer Demonstra∣tion of it, by the Apostles called, a new Commandment;* 1.19 and yet in respect of the thing it self, the old Commandment, being the same that was from the beginning. And all those first Fathers from Abel to Abraham, are affirmed to have said such things, and to live and die in the Faith thereof, Heb. 11.2, 13, 14. yea, all these were Preachers in the World, A∣dam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methusala,* 1.20 Lamech; yea, all these at one time, sometime before Noah, Adam, Enoch and Seth, being departed before the time of Noah; but Enos above half a hundred yeers in Noah's time, and Cainan above one hundred, Mahalaleel above two hun∣dred, Jared above three hundred and a half, and Lamech and his Father above five hundred yeers preachers in Noah's time, and Methusalah till the yeer before the Flood came; and then, still Noah and Sem. What all these might do for Gospel-preaching in the first Ages, who can say, with all that received it of them? but preach the same Gospel they did: and so Noah preached, Enoch prophesied, and in Enoch's time Men called on the Name of the Lord: so, as then be∣gan a Profession of his Name, in which they were distinct from the careless and prophane Sons of Men. Such Teachers then provided:

And yet this is not all, for God did endue these Teachers with his Spirit, and went forth with his Spirit in their Mini∣stration,

and the means he did use toward them:* 1.21 so Christ preached by his Spirit in the Ministration of Noah, and with his Spirit did strive long with them; and that the Ministrati∣on and spiritual Motions might take more place, he in his Providence wrought much for them and with them, in sending about and stirring up his Servants to admonish and exhort them,* 1.22 extending mercies to allure them, and while they did hang back, using Judgements and Chastisements, to take down their pride, and break them off their enterprize, and bow their Ear to hearken to the Voice of God in Christ; so that God dealt graciously with the World at that time; and it was justly, for great ungodliness and sinning against the mean; of Grace, overthrown with Water. And the teach∣ing of the Gospel thus revealed, and such Evidences in such manner taught,* 1.23 continued, and was still vouchsafed after the Flood, to the whole World again; and such, as before, the chosen Teachers, as Noah, Sem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abraham; and such as through their Teachings were converted and fitted. And how many of these were living together or at one time in divers parts of the World, who can tell? But this we know, That Noah so prayed for, and prophesied of Sem, that im∣plies no less,* 1.24 than that the Church should be in his House, (as God useth to put his Word in his choice people, that are his House, that it may sound forth from them, to bring in others.) And Sem lived five hundred and two yeers after the Flood; so that if he did not out-live Abraham, yet he was living on the Earth, when Abraham offered up Isaac his Son; and he was a Priest and Teacher of God in the Church, and for, and to the whole World: I will not determine, That he was Melchizedec, that blessed Abraham, though probabilities of it enough might be given: nor will I say any thing more of Arphaxad, and the rest; but, That the Gospel thus revealed and rumoured, and the Goodness of God in his workes of Creation and Provi∣dence thus evidenced, being thus taught by those Elders that feared God, was, for the good of all Men, and saving to them, and such as did receive the same, and abide there∣in, were saved thereby, I suppose none questions. And if

we proceed a little farther to the time of Job,* 1.25 which very probable was before Moses; however, not in that part of the World, where the Children of Israel lived: and what knowledge he had of his Redeemer, we may read; and what way they then looked for, and found, the Knowledge of God, their own words testifie: Bildad saith, Enquire,* 1.26 I pray thee, of the former ages, and prepare thy self to the search of their Fathers, &c. shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and ut∣ter words out of their heart?* 1.27 And Eliphaz gives this as the Reason of their Knowledge, With us are both the gray-headed, and very aged men, &c. and how profoundly they spake of God from the Teachings they had in the works of Creation and Providence, the story shews;* 1.28 though some particular enlargement in use of that Knowledge, they had by visions also: yea, Elihu gives his Instructions to Job, from the great works of God: and the Lord himself did also even by his works instruct Job: so that the Love of God to Mankinde in providing a Redeemer, as declared in Paradise, in the hear∣ing of all Mankinde, as then in being in the first publick Man, to be taught and rumoured to all the World, and the Evi∣dences and Demonstrations of his Goodness in works of Creation and Providence, that all might look to him and be saved: and such as were through the hearing and discerning of his Goodness, brought in to believe in him, and live to him; those his elect and chosen Instruments to teach the Know∣ledge of God in these two Mediums unto others. Whence also Moses, when he writ the Law, yet saith, Remember the dayes of old, the yeers of Generation, and Generation;* 1.29 ask thy Father, and he will shew thee; thy Elders, and they will tell thee. And the Truth revealed in the beginning, and the Evidences of it in works of Creation and Providence, and the Teaching of the Truth from both the Revelation at first given, at the Evidences continued, by those graciously brought in, and chosen into the acknowledgement of it, that others might still come in,* 1.30 hath been God's approved Way from the beginning, and so remaineth to the end of the World: and though other Revelations followed, yet it was still but the farther opening the same Truth: and though other Ordinances and Officers were afforded, yet

it was for farther helpfulness,* 1.31 and no exclusion of these first chosen from bearing forth his Name: and so our Sa∣viour teacheth us to have respect, for assured Truth and Goodness, to that which was from the beginning. And so the Apostles also avouch of their Doctrine, It was from the beginning: and so the Love of God to Mankinde, e∣videnced by Word and Works, taught and shewn forth by Believers, hath been from the beginning. Too blame was he, that, now farther Light is come, would have de∣nied the Death of Christ for All Men, by saying, Christ died not for Cain; for he came not of Cain: for Christ came not of Abel, nor of Joseph or Levi, the Sons of Jacob, &c. Yet sure Christ not onely died for these, but they were saved by him also: and as for Cain, if he was not one that Christ had accepted to die for, his Father would not have instructed him to offer Sacrifice: nor would God have so expostulated with him, and told him, In doing well,* 1.32 he should have been accepted. His wo came by his own stubbornness,* 1.33 in becoming of the wicked One. And all the Fathers mentioned from Adam to Noah, are as much the Natural Parents of all Mankinde now living, as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were of old Israel: and that God had a merciful end in making all Nations of Men of one Blood,* 1.34 that they might seek him; and so in con∣verting any, that they also might seek to convert others, is affirmed; and still the prevalency of this Grace in the Heart, is that in which the blessing is met with.

CHAP. 2.

Of the second Revelation of Christ, and way of making him known.

THe second and more full Revelation of Christ, and so the Gospel concerning him, was by God himself imme∣diately to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at several times.

If any demand, But why was not this Revelating given to Melchizedec?

I answer, How much was revealed to Melchizedec, is un∣known to us:* 1.35 nor doth God answer or give account of his matters: therefore I list neither to enquire nor study to give an answer, unless this may be taken as one given of God, because that Melchizedec was the highest and choice Type of the Eternal Priesthood of Christ, greater than Abraham, the Blesser of Abraham, figuring out Christ as the Chief, the King of Righteousness, and King of Peace, &c. And Christ knew all, and needed not this Revelation,* 1.36 but was one with the Father in revealing, and he in and by whom it was revealed, he being greater than all, the Blesser, and A∣noynter, &c. But I shall consider what of the same Te∣stimony of Christ fore-revealed and taught, was now more fully revealed to these three, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: and this was,

• 1. That whereas the Nations were now multiplied and divided, and many Men and Families in them all, it was hard to know, in whose Loyns the promised Seed (Christ ac∣cording to the Flesh) was; and so, out of which Family or Man, (for there were many, even of Sem his Posterity also) Christ should come. This was now immediately revealed by God himself to Abraham, saying, In thee shall all Families of the Earth be blessed. And, In thee, explicated to be meant,* 1.37 In thy Seed: and so to Isaac after. And again, the same in both Expressions to Jacob. And this Seed in the personality of the Man, as the Root and Fountain of blessing, af∣firmed to be Christ; and in the multiplicity and union in en∣joyment of the blessing in him, to be all that unfeignedly be∣lieve in Christ.
• 2. That in this Seed (which is Christ) all the Nations,* 1.38 yea, all the Families of the Earth shall be blessed: which can be no less, than that there is blessing prepared and given in him for all Nations; that in minding of, and believing in him, they might receive it, according to that Isa. 45.22. and 49.6. Act. 13.47. 1 Joh. 5.11, 12. and 2.2. and also, That in believing on his Name, every of them so believing, do receive, and shall participate of the blessing, according to

• that Joh. 1.12. and 3.16. and also, that there is a time coming, in which all the ends of the World shall remem∣ber, and turn unto the Lord, and worship before him, and sing unto him, according to that Psal. 22.27. and 66.4. and 86.9.
• 3. That for multiplying of this spiritual Seed, in bringing Men into union with Christ,* 1.39 he told Abraham, That he would multiply to him a Natural Seed, a great Compa∣ny, that should come forth of his Bowels; and others, by gracious providence, or proselyting, be put into, and made of his Family; that so, out of much or many People, a spiritual Seed may be drawn, according to that Act. 18.10.
• 4. That God by his blessing and Spirit in the means he would afford him,* 1.40 would multiply to him a spiritual Seed; in such number, that no Man shall be able to number them: and that all this spiritual Seed, shall in all their encrease and nume∣rousness, be one Seed still; yea, so spiritually one, that Christ, and those spiritually united to him, are joynt-Heirs, and in a measure alike beloved of God with the same Love: so that God will bless them that bless this Seed, and curse them that curse it, either in the Head or Mem∣bers.
• 5. That whoever of any the Sons of Men, do in hear∣ing and believing this preparation of Blessing and Life God hath made for us,* 1.41 and given us in Christ, so minde it, that they are thereby led to believe in him, for the Promise of Eternal Life, and the Inheritance which is yet to come; so walking as strangers on the Earth in that Faith and Hope, it shall be imputed to them for Righteousness, and so they count∣ed of the spiritual Seed.
• 6. That Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with the Man Jesus Christ,* 1.42 and all his spiritual Seed, shall one day enjoy, in a hea∣venly, pure, peaceable and joyful manner, all that very Land much enlarged, which Abraham saw, and had Liberty to, and did walk in the length and breadth of it, and sojourned with Isaac and Jacob therein; and so the Holy Ghost teacheth us to understand it: but then it will be renewed, and so a new Heaven and a new Earth. And so was Christ revealed,

• and the Gospel preached to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, these three Fathers. And it was confirmed in Christ to them, by a free, absolute and everlasting Covenant, immediately made with them by God, that gave to them an outward Covenant in the Flesh, as a sign of the Righteousness of the same Faith, for them to testifie with also to others; of which remains to be spoken in treating of the Covenants.

And for the way of making the Gospel thus revealed, known to others, to draw them in to God, it was even all that mentioned in the first Revelation, and the farther Teaching of this revealed Explication, with the Promises and Cove∣nant made, for which God did chuse and approve of these three primely; yea, first and chiefly Abraham, and after and with him Isaac and Jacob, who, though his Sons, yet were with him the Fathers naturally of all Israel, and spiritually of the faithful among them, and in all Nations following. They the first that received, and taught, and walked in the Faith of the Gospel and Covenant, as thus explicately reveal∣ed and come forth. And they, besides the former helps they had in common with all that feared the Lord, as forementi∣oned, were yet more abundantly furnished,

• 1. By God his immediate speaking to them, and ma∣king this Everlasting and sure Covenant fore-confirmed in Christ, personally with them, for themselves and their Seed. Whence he is said to make his Covenant with Abraham, and to remember his Covenant made with Abraham, Isaac,* 1.43 and Jacob, & confirmed with an Oath to them, for them and their Seed, for an Everlasting Covenant to them and their Seed. And the Children of Israel willed to remember the Covenant so made with those three. And God in promising to do the People god, saith, He will remember for them his Covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with the residue of his Seed. No mention yet that it was or is (though one day in performance it shall be) personally made with them; but onely the same shewn to them; And enabling them as A∣braham's Seed, to believe his performance for Abraham's sake: and no otherwise was this Covenant made with any that is made known to us, till it was with David more explicitely in respect of the Kingdom: but to these three it

• was so made, and they thereby so abundantly furnished to teach it.
• 2. They were marvelously and supernaturally enlightned in the knowledge of it, in their believing: so that Abraham saw the Day of Christ,* 1.44 and rejoyced, (and we may suppose the same of Isaac and Jacob, though our Saviour had not occa∣sion then from the Jews words to mention them) so that they were abundantly fitted to preach this Faith and Covenant unto others.
• 3. They had also an outward Ordinance called Circum∣cision, as a sign and seal of the Righteousness of the Faith they had received,* 1.45 and were to teach; that they might so wit∣ness the Truth, and disciple their Children born of them, and by gracious providence brought under their tuition and government; and so teach them to attend on God in his way, who in such attention would in due season circumcise their hearts, that thus they might be the Fathers of all that believe.
• 4. They were enabled by Faith to walk as strangers in this very promised Land,* 1.46 not building Cities in it, nor having of their own the possession of a foot, (onely a burying-place bought with their money) yet did they believe to enjoy that very Land according to the promise; and by the pre∣paration of it for them, and Promise of it, and Gift of God to them, believed, they did wait, and look for it: in which Faith, they both lived and died; believing, That they should be raised again, and possess in due season. And so as A∣braham at first in the Faith of the Gospel, as set forth in the first Revelation, went at God's Call into that Country, not knowing whither,* 1.47 till he came there, even by Faith: so he lived and walked in that Land by Faith, as farther enlarged, according to the Revelation explicated to him in that Pro∣mise given him again and again.* 1.48 And after the Covenant was made with him, he lived and walked in that Land, by Faith enlarged according to it, for one yeer himself; and after with Isaac all his dayes: and he with Isaac, and Isaac with him, lived in this Faith all the dayes of Abraham: and Isaac was sixty yeers old when Jacob was born, with whom he then lived in that Faith all his dayes: and Jacob that was

• with him, and after him lived in that Faith with his Sons, was an hundred and thirty yeers old, when he stood before Pharaoh in Egypt.* 1.49 So that their sojourning in the Land of Promise, or promised Land, which they are one day to pos∣sess, was one hundred ninety and one yeers after the Cove∣nant made. In which time, they taught the Faith thus en∣larged to their Children, and them so to live in it: which remained with the spiritual Seed. But after Israel was come into Egypt, they began quickly to be defiled with the I∣dolatries of Egypt, and then they sojourned (not in the Land of Promise as their Fathers did, but) in the Land of Egypt four hundred and thirty yeers,* 1.50 of which four hundred and thirty yeers after the Fathers living in the Faith of the Covenant one hundred ninety one yeers, the Apostle speak∣eth, for so long it was still confirming to them; and they in be∣ing so furnished, have taught the same.

CHAP. 3.

Of the third Revelation of Christ, and way of making him known.

THe next Revelation of Christ was in Moses time,* 1.51 and it was both immediately to Moses, and mediately by him to Israel: and this was in divers manners, and at divers times, or by divers parcels: as to say,

1. By divers types, shadows, and figures immediately appointed by God to Moses for the people,* 1.52 and mediately by him to the people: as to instance,

1.* 1.53 The way by which Christ should make Peace and A∣tonement for the sins of Men, that he might have them into his dispose. This was figured out by Beasts slain and offered to God in Sacrifice for sin, and the High-Priest entring into the Holy of Holies once in the yeer to make Atonement for all Israel: as Christ was by his death and bloodshedding for our sins, and offering himself a Sacrifice to God, entering in∣to

Heaven by his own Blood, to make the Atonement, and obtain eternal Redemption.

2. The way how he communicateth unto Men, this Peace and Atonement,* 1.54 and Redemption, and maketh them par∣takers of the benefit thereof in the extention of his Grace and Spirit, making it known with the Fruits thereof, gaining in to believe; and so sprinkling the vertue of his Blood and Sacrifice on their Heart and Conscience, thereby wash∣ing and comforting them: this figured by sprinkling the Blood and the Water of Purification on them with a Bunch of Hyssop.* 1.55 Whence that Prayer, Purge me with Hyssop, &c.

3.* 1.56 The way how people may come to, and partake of the benefit of all this Grace in him and by him dispensed, name∣ly, by looking to him, attending his Voice, approaching to God by him, through his Sacrifice and Propitiation made, yield to and receiving in by Faith, his Blood sprinkling, and Water of Purification, so drawing nigh to God by him: this figured by their so looking to, and approaching to the Ta∣bernacle, and observing those Rites aforenamed.

4. That Christ is wonderfully filled with Power, Spirit, and Authority, and all riches of Grace, to be all to us, and work all in us, for Peace, Purity, Union and Communion with God, he having our Nature in a personal Body, in which he hath by Sacrifice made the Atonement: and the ful∣ness of the Godhead now dwelling in him bodily,* 1.57 He is the Tabernacle, Temple or House of God, in whom are all the Treasures of Wisdom and Understanding; in whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily: in and through whom only God is to be worshipped: and such a House he is, that all that believing in him, are united to him, and worship God in him, are made of the same spiritual Tabernacle, Tem∣ple, or House. This figured by their Tabernacle or Temple, made according to the pattern given of God, and the En∣joynment of them to come and worship there, looking to∣wards it.

He is also the Altar on which all Prayers and spiritual Sacrifices are to be offered up to God.* 1.58 This was fi∣gured by that one Altar, to which their Sacrifices were

to be brought, and upon it to be offered, and on no other.

He is the Propitiation, the Covering, or Mercy-Seat,* 1.59 where all the Righteousness in Mercies and forgiveness, and the Oracles of God are to be met withal. This figured by the Mercy-Seat they had in the Holy of Holies.

He also is the great High Priest,* 1.60 that once for all hath made the general Atonement, and by vertue of it, remaineth an High-Priest of good things to come, interceding for Trans∣gressors; and in special manner, for all that come to God by him; perfuming their Prayers with his Incense, and returning Answers of Blessings to them: and this was figured by such-like things appointed the High-Priest to do for them:* 1.61 for Christ did not naturally descend from Aaron or Levi, or any of the Priests of the Aaronical or Levitical Race, nor was he of that Order, nor was he called by Men, Ecclesiastical or Civil to his Priestly Office; but was immediately made and called to be a Priest by God himself; which was figured though most lively, in Melchizedec, yet also in God's imme∣diate calling of Aaron, to be their first High-Priest.* 1.62 Jesus Christ hath for his inferiour ministring and spiritual Priests suitable to his Order, those all, and onely those, that through the Knowledge and Belief of his graciousness are born from above, and united by Faith to him, and so become one in and with him. And this also was figured by appointing those onely to be Priests, according to the Order of Aaron, which came of him, and were his Sons by Birth in a natural descent; any many other types and figures, which I here omit; onely I will minde one general Type more, for,

5.* 1.63 The manner and time of God's beginning to manifest the things of Christ, and dispense thereof to the Souls of men, namely, when by the Ministery of Christ in the Gospel, he calleth them out from the Power of Satan, the Prince of the Air, and therein out of the darkness and bondage of, and Uni∣on and fellowship with the world, that lieth in the power of the wicked one; at, and against which, the Devil rageth and laboureth to oppose: and the World led by him, is angry, and joyneth with him in oppositions, by deceits, pressures and persecutions; yet those that follow the conduct of the Spirit in the Gospel, believing in the Blood, and accepting

of the Cross of Christ,* 1.64 are through the same, even in shame and sufferings, saved, and so brought into the Wilderness, as being strangers to, and in this World, and on the way to the heavenly rest, while the Enemies and Persecuters are by the same appearance of God in the Cross of Christ, tumbled back and overthrown: and all this typed out by God's bringing the people out of Egypt by Moses, and the rage and opposi∣tion of Pharaoh in his oppressions, and cruel withstandings of Israel, and the Egyptians joyning with him therein, to keep them from departing out of Egyptian servitude; and when they were led out, pursued them, to bring them back again, till they were overthrown in the same Sea, by which God preserved Israel, and brought them to believe his word, and sing his praise.

And this saved people that then believed his words, and sang his praise; some of them in minding his goodness were united by Faith to the word of the Lord; and so had a Spirit of Faith,* 1.65 and followed the Lord; and these were his Elect and Chosen: some deviated from the Faith, waited not for his counsel, and so believed not his words, but fell a lusting, and so to murmuring, and tempting God, and provoking him with grievous sinning,* 1.66 and were according to the height of their provocations, overthrown and destroyed in the Wil∣derness. And these were types and figures of the different demeanor of many brought out of the darkness of this World into the Light of the Gospel, and the Faith and Pro∣fession of Christ, and so of God's different proceeding with such; and so who are his elect and chosen, and whom he will reject and reprobate. All these and much more was shadow∣ed out by types and figures to Israel, and remain in the Re∣cord instructive to us; and though Types be short of Truth it self, and have their dissimilitudes also, yet what by simili∣tudes they were to shadow out, is really true, and to be found in the Truth, which is Christ, and the things of Christ: but they had not onely discovery by shadowing types and fi∣gures, but also they had,

2. A more cleer Revelation of the Gospel, and that was by an immediate inspiration of it to Moses, and a mediate Declaration of it by the Spirit of prophesie in Moses to the

people, and this with some Explication of the Gospel, fore∣preached concerning Christ, and now also,

• 1. Concerning his person, that he should come in the flesh, that he should come of one of those very Israelites,* 1.67 that he should be very Man, that he should be like unto Moses the great Prophet and the Mediator, having neerest familiarity with God, knowing the whole minde of God; and that he should be meek, patient, loving, merciful and faithful, and declare all the counsel of God; and that they should hearken to him; and whosoever hearkned not to him shall perish. A Prophet, saith he, will the Lord thy God raise up to thee, from the midst of thee, like unto me, &c.
• 2. Concerning all true Righteousness and Eternal Life, that it is to be found in Jesus Christ, that promised Messiah,* 1.68 and received by Faith in him, whose work for Mankinde is so compleat, his Goodness and Grace so evidenced, and ex∣tended so nigh to the heart, that there needs no enquiry for any other help or strength, but onely believing according to the Demonstration given for that end; and that the end of the Law given, was in one part of it, to discover the righteous Affections and Services, to which men were by it obliged; that seeing their sins, and desert of the Curse, they might be humbled, and say Amen to the Curse sentenced: and yet, without inquiry of any other imaginary help, look to Jesus, that was to come, and believe in him, which was typed out to them in the other part of the Law, that in observance thereof, they might without resistance in those observances look to Christ typed out by them, and believe in him, and look to him: and this was the right doing of his commands: for the end of the Law for Righteousness is Christ.
• 3. Concerning the Kingdom, that God will judge his peo∣ple,* 1.69 and avenge the Blood of his Servants, and appear in his excellency for their help: And then Israel shall dwell in safe∣ty alone, and a fountain of Jacob upon a Land of Corn and Wine: also his Heavens shall drop down dew. Happy thou, Oh Israel; who is like unto thee, Oh people saved by the Lord? &c.

Now the Revelation of Christ thus far come forth in the three Branches of the Testimony of him, the means and in∣struments

approved of God for making all this known, that Men might discern, and believe, and enjoy the benefit of this Grace of God, and come to enjoy the Hope given, that, and those fore-approved from the beginning remain so still,* 1.70 that is, the Report by the Elders of the Gospel fore-given, the Fathers teaching the Children, and Neighbours one ano∣ther; and all to consider the works of Creation and Pro∣vidence, and to remember the Covenant made with their Fathers, and God his remembrance thereof, and now farther to remember and heed the Covenant that God hath made with them, which he did not make with their Fathers, that they may minde and observe the ends and uses of it; that so in obedience to God, they obey their Mediator, and Law-giver, and Prophet Moses, and attend the Ministration of their Priests and Levites, and observe and do all the Statutes and Ordinances appertaining to them, about the Taber∣nacle, Altar, Sacrifices, and Purifications, till the Truth of all came to be fulfilled in Christ, in whom the Truth remains for ever.

But now, as the Revelation was more full, and the Ordi∣nances and Observances more than before: so God in Christ, for this Revelation of him, chose some more peculiar instru∣ments for this Business also, to teach and lead the people to the right knowledge and observance of all this, that they might enjoy the benefit: and these chosen Instruments were,

Moses to be the Law-giver, and Mediator, and Prophet, to begin and set all in order to and for them, as the Record is plain he did, and how he was furnished with neer familia∣rity with God, and inspiration of his Spirit and Minde, and enabled to know and write both all this Revelation and Law, and all that was meet to be known from the Beginning of the Creation: and with what wonders God confirmed all his Doctrine, is to be seen in those five Books writ by him: in which,* 1.71 though his Person was taken away, yet he in that Prophecy, Narration, and Law, and Instruction for Faith and Observance, continued with them in all Ages, till Christ came.

Aaron and his Sons, and the Levites to help; and so the

Priests and Levites, for ministring about the holy things in Sacrifices, Incense-Burning, Atonement-making, Purificati∣ons,* 1.72 and such-like Temple-Services, for themselves and for the People; and also to teach the People the Laws there∣of.

And these were not onely chosen, but furnished also, even with spiritual blessings of Pardon, Purity,* 1.73 and Consolation for themselves and others, to bless in his Name; yet were they not so blessed with spiritual Blessings in spiritual things in heavenly places, so spiritually to dispense blessing, as the first Trusters in Christ after his Resurrection were: but the spi∣ritual Blessings they were blessed with to dispense, was in ma∣terial things in earthy places, which of themselves did reach but to the purifying of the Flesh. And the spiritual Blessings were received in looking up through these to Jesus, that as then was to come to fulfil the Truth typed: but ma∣terial and earthy things to minister with, they had; and so were furnished there-with, having a material Tabernacle or Temple, a material Altar and Mercy-Seat, Laver, Incense, Sacri∣fices, Purifications, Order of Priests and Levites; yet were not these all in one (as the spiritual things the first Trusters in Christ had) but each distinct from other:* 1.74 their Temple was not their Altar, nor their Altar their Laver, nor any of these the Mercy-seat, nor any of these the Sacrifices, nor the Incense, nor any of these the Purifications; nor yet were any of these the Priests, but the Priests to minister these; & they all distinct, each by it self, not the other: and for the furtherance of Faith and Obedience, they had some Prophets. And these writings of Moses, with their Prophets; and these instructions of the Fathers, Elders, and godly Ones, all Israel, and all that fear God, are ever to attend to. And all this Temple-Worship, in Sacrifices, and Purifications, and Observances in attending the Ministration of the Priests and Levites, according to the Mosaical Institution, were all Israel to attend and observe, till Christ came and offered up the acceptable Sacrifice:* 1.75 and in that attention, blessing was to be met with, and God would be an Husband to them; but if they despised, would not regard them: and in these things they were preferred before all other Nations.

And though this was an abasement to the Gentiles (till Christ his first coming) for their slighting and abuse of all the means so long continued to them, and a taking down of their pride; yet was it not an exclusion of them wholly from Eternal Salvation: for if, according to the Demonstrations of the good∣ness of God in the Light and means he afforded to them,* 1.76 they or any of them (though the light and means were small, in com∣parison of these) did repent, believe, and so fear God; such were accepted, and should be eternally saved: yet did these means given to Israel, exclude all other Nations from fellowship in the Commonwealth of Israel,* 1.77 and so from having a right and open profession of God in his true outward worship, and en∣joyment of such instructives and ready means to come to Christ, and so to God by him, unless any submitted themselves to come in to them, and be circumcised, (which was free for any Nation to do;* 1.78) and so they should be one with them, of the same Family and Nation, have the same Law, and the same Priviledges:* 1.79 so that great were the Priviledges of Israel above all Nations, for the means vouchsafed to them, to know and enjoy God, and his Name put on them, and his presence with them: so as to them was given the Word, Statutes and Oracles of God; to them pertained the Adoption, the Glory, the Covenants, the giving of the Law, the Service of God, and the Promises; so that Salvation in the Promise was nigh them, that in minding it, they might be born of the Promise, and so receive the Adoption by Faith, and live to God, and be eter∣nally saved, as were all the Children of Promise: but such as did not so believe, and receive his words, &c. should not be eternally saved. So far the Testimony of Christ was then re∣vealed to Israel; yet it pleased God after, to give to them some more cleer revelation of some particulars concerning Christ, that were at first included, and already hinted forth in the same Testimony.

CHAP. 4.

Of the fourth Revelation of Christ, and his Kingdom.

IT pleased God yet further to enlarge and cleer up more this Revelation of Jesus Christ to David, and by him to Israel; and to David he revealed the same, both by inspiration to himself, and by Vision, and also by the Spirit of Prophesie in Nathan for some part: and so we finde revealed,

1. The Oblation and Sacrifice of Christ,* 1.80 and therein his Sufferings, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, sitting on the right hand of God, and pouring forth the holy Ghost to men, that they might turn, &c.

2. The operations of his Grace in a blessed Man,* 1.81 and his preservation of him; and what true blessedness is.

3. The coming again, and Kingdom of Jesus Christ; yea, if, as those skilful in the Hebrew say, the Book of Psalms is di∣vided into five Boeks, the first ending with the 41. Psalm, the second with the 72, the third with the 89, the fourth with the 106, the fifth with the 150; We do minde and perpend, every Book of them speaketh of all these things; and so of the Testimony of Christ in every Branch of it, in one place or other. And thence it is they are so often spoken over again in the whole Book of Psalms: but that I have specially to note in this Revelation, is the more explicite Revelation of the Kingdom then ever was before. And so for the Kingdom, the King and his raign; by his Spirit in Nathan he said,* 1.82 I will appoint (or ordain) a place for my people Israel; and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more, (and they shall dwell in their place, and be moved no more) neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more as a∣fore-time, (as at the beginning,* 1.83 and since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies.) Morever, I will subdue all thy enemies. Furthermore, also the Lord telleth thee,* 1.84 That he will make

(or build) thee an House. This is not like the Promise of the Law,* 1.85 and Covenant made with the House of Israel; but altoge∣ther gracious, free and absolute, like that made with Abra∣ham, Isaac, and Jacob. And here also it is evident, That Jo∣shua gave them not the Rest in Canaan, according to that promised to Abraham: and it is also evident, That though David was now raigning over Israel in Canaan; yet he had it not according to the Promise made to Abraham, but in that respect counted himself a stranger in it, as all his Fathers were. And this is manifested, all Israel never yet was so planted in it: and so it is a thing to come, that shall surely be: and the House here promised, is neither the Tabernacle built by Moses, nor onely the Temple after built by Solomon, (though these were types) nor was it only to have a great Name,* 1.86 with a great and famous Posterity, to be great according to the great men on the Earth; for so David was already: but an House not builded by men according to the directions given of God; but built by God himself, and his Son Jesus Christ: and so also an heavenly City of God's building & making, and not Man's. And it farther appears, That before this be done, David must die in the Faith, and sleep with his Fathers, and rise again, and stand up in his lot, as Daniel; and then that will be fulfilled, which God promised David, saying, And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee:* 1.87 thy throne shall be stablished for ever. And so we are led to understand that is said,* 1.88 I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom: (thy seed which shall be of thy Sons.) Take both expressi∣ons, and it will appear, That this in the figure or type was meant of Solomon; but in the Truth it is clearly and evidently meant of Jesus Christ,* 1.89 the Son of David and of Abraham; and so it's said, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will stablish (he saith not their, but) his king∣dom; he shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever, the throne of his kingdom; and I will be his Father, and he shall be my Son; and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him (that is, Saul) that was before thee: but I will settle him in my house, (that of my building) and in my kingdom, (that of my immediate giving) and his throne shall be established for e∣vermore:

(which was never yet performed to any of David's natural Race, that said) if he commit iniquity, &c. May shew the justness and removing those that were types; but is no let to him that is here principally meant; which is Jesus Christ, that came of David in a supernatural way. And so David by the Spirit understood, saying,* 1.90 Thou hast spoken also (that is, besides the present house he had) of thy servants house (he saith not onely to continue, but) for a great while to come: and so his following prayer includes both: and it is affirmed expresly to be meant of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, and the Son of God, that this Kingdom and Throne is to be given to him: as for those natural Sons of David of that Kingly Race, if they had not committed iniquity, they might have held the earthy Kingdom till Christ had come: but iniquity being found, they came to a lessening of the largeness of their King, and so to captivity, &c. such, as in which the Covenant seemed made void, yet the Truth remains in Christ and to him, and at his coming will be compleatly fulfilled, as according to all this vision Nathan spake to David; yea, God spake the same in vision to David, Psal. 89.* 1.91 how he would exalt him; and there brings in Christ under his Name, as he had before done to Abraham, and shews how he will beat down his Foes, and make him higher than the Kings of the Earth; how his Seed shall indure for ever, and his Throne as the dayes of Heaven: yet here in this Life, if his Children forsake God's Law, and walk not in his Statutes, he will visit their Transgressions with the Rod, and their ini∣quity with stripes, but his mercy he will never take from him, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail; his Covenant he will not break, &c. once he hath sworn, &c. he shall have his Seed still, and his Seed shall endure for ever, and his Throne as the Sun before him, it shall be established for ever;* 1.92 and of this he speaketh, Psal. 132.11, 18: and also in 2 Sam. 23.1, 5. where mentioning the Ruler, what a one he shall be, and the excellency of his Raign; David confesseth his house in his own personal Raign, was not so with God; nor in his na∣tural Race, did the Lord make it so to grow: yet saith he, He hath made an everlasting Covenant with me, (he saith not, with my house, as then it was, but with me) ordered in all things, and

sure; and professeth for himself) this is all my salvation, and all my desire. And David by the Spirit filled with the Knowledge of this Kingdom of Christ, God did still by inspiration of his Spirit reveal to him, and he by that Spirit spake of Christ the Anoynted, the true David and Solomon; the Son of Da∣vid, the Son of God, the great King, of him he saw and fore∣told.

The great opposition and raging conspiracies that would be against him in his first coming in the flesh,* 1.93 and spiritual evi∣dencing thereof, to draw men in to him: and this by Jews, Gentiles, Rulers and People.

The great sufferings that he should undergo by great and small,* 1.94 their laughing, scoffing, shaking the head at him, piercing his hands and feet, parting his Garments, giving him Gall and Vineger to drink, &c.

The Treason of Judas,* 1.95 one of his chosen Apostles, and the overthrow of that Traitor that rewarded evil for good.

His Death and Resurrection, Psal. 16.8, 9, 10, 11. Act. 2.31. and 13.33.

His doing the whole will of God, and so ascending to Hea∣ven,* 1.96 and offering the acceptable Sacrifice, and then sitting at the right hand of God, receiving immeasurable fulness of Spirit in the Man, and for Men; and so extending thereof to the re∣bellions, that he might dwell with them: and to that end, raising up many Preachers to declare his Name, &c.

His coming again,* 1.97 and sitting upon his Throne and raigning, and the coming of his Saints to raign with him, and the great overthrow he and they all shall give to all the worldly Powers that stand against him; and then the flourishing E∣state of his Kingdom in Jerusalem, and over all the Earth: and this largely in the last Psalm, which he sung, and com∣mitted to the Church,* 1.98 and most probable at the same time with that 2 Sam. 23.1, 5.

Yea,* 1.99 the time of this his building up Sion and raigning, to be even then when he shall appear in his glory.

All this, and much more, with the gracious requirings and operations of this Grace believed, was revealed to David; and he being filled & furnished with the Holy Spirit, hath de∣clared the same, and left it upon record in the Book of Psalms,

and so I leave it and the residue, for such as desire the same, to read there. And so there was now a great explicite and cleer Revelation, in which also was opened and interpreted to them the meaning of, and the Truth typed by their Sacrifices and other figures and shadows; yet it pleased God still to give more revelation of Christ, and to explicate the Testimony in particulars more.

CHAP. 5.

Of the fifth Revelation of Christ, and the things of Christ.

IT pleased God by his holy Spirit to be still revealing Christ, and the things of Christ, in and to the following Pro∣phets;* 1.100 and by them to Israel and Judah, and that so fully both of his first coming and second coming, that there is no∣thing of the things of Christ, as then to come, but it was re∣vealed to and by them: as to instance some:

1. The Messenger that should go before his face, or in his presence, to prepare the way before him;* 1.101 and the Doctrine in crying down all flesh, and exalting the word of the Lord by which he should do it, and the sudden coming of the Lord on the appearance of this Messenger, which is now evidenced to be John Baptist.

2. His own first coming and living among men, his Mini∣stery, Sufferings, Victory, and Works, in each particular,* 1.102 as to say a little, his birth into the world, of a woman, a Virgin of the House and Seed of David; his birth in Bethlem-Ephra∣tah in Judah; yea, his flight into, and return out of Egypt, Hosea 11.1. Mat. 2.15. and the slaughter of Rachel's Chil∣dren on that occasion in Bethlem. His return to Nazareth, and manner of living among men, Isa. 53.2, 3, 4. Mat. 2.23. Luk. 2.51. Joh. 1.46. & 7.52. Mar. 6.3. His Ministery, his Miracles and Patience, Isa. 42.1, 8. Mat. 12.1, 18. His Parables, Psal. 49.1, 4. & 78.2. Mat. 13.35. His Zeal for

purging the Temple.* 1.103 His Meekness and riding on an Ass, and a Colt the Fole of an Ass, Zach. 9.9. Mat. 21.1, 10. His being sold for thirty pence: the scattering of his Disciples from him, Zach. 13.7. Mat. 26.31, 56. His being scourged, and crucified between two Thieves, Isa. 50.6. & 53.12. Mat. 27.26, 38. Yea, his Death, Burial and Resurrection, and his Sacrifice offered: his being filled with knowledge; and, his Mediation on that account, or by vertue there∣of: yea, his being God-Man in one Person, Emmanuel, God with us.

3. That in respect of all this which he hath suffered and done,* 1.104 and is thereby become and fitted, and ready to do; God would in and by the Gospel of him, lay him in Sion for a Foundation, that by Sion he might be so discovered to others, that whoever believeth on him should not be ashamed: and so he would cleerly declare, and set him forth for his Sal∣vation to the ends of the Earth, the Saviour of the world; that all the ends of the Earth might look to him and be saved. And,

1. To give him, in making him known to be a Light to the Gentiles, even to such as are blinde, deaf, and so dead, and know him not, to open their eyes and ears, and move in their hearts, that they in beholding and believing might come in to him, and so receive a spiritual birth, and become of Abra∣ham's Seed.

2. And for a Covenant to the people, that receiving and enjoying him by Faith, they might in knowing and enjoying their interest in him, know and enjoy their interest in the Everlasting Covenant for the inheritance and Kingdom made with and confirmed in Christ first, and in and through him with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, for them and all the spi∣ritual Seed, who in believing in Christ, are interessed in the same, and receive a spiritual first-Fruits thereof, that they may with assured hope, wait for the fulness till ano∣ther Day; when in performance it will be made with them.

4. the second coming of Christ in his glorious return, when he shall come to raign,* 1.105 and all his Saints with him, Zach. 14.9. And so,

1. That a little before his coming, Elias shall come to the Jews and Israelites,* 1.106 to turn the hearts of the Fathers (open the minde of the Prophets) to the Children, and to turn the hearts of the Children to the Fathers, helping them to un∣derstand and embrace, and so repent and turn; and so to pre∣pare the way of the Lord's glorious coming, as John Baptist came in the Spirit and Power of Elias, to prepare the way of his first coming in the flesh in meekness: and so our Saviour affirmeth, both that Elias shall come, and is come. He that is come, spoke of Mal. 3. He that still shall come, spoke of Mal. 4.

2. That before the coming of Christ personally,* 1.107 the Jews and Israelites, even all the twelve Tribes of Israel, shall by some instinct, or motion, or medium used by the Lord, be stir∣red up, and gathered to Jerusalem, from all ends and quarters of the World, to Jerusalem in Canaan, and be exercised with great wars and troubles, for about forty five yeers before the coming of Christ.

3. At his coming he will work wonders, as he did in the Land of Egypt, and in dividing the red Sea; so drying up Eu∣phrates,* 1.108 and making way for the Israelites to come over, and move the hearts of many to bring them: so that all, young and old, men, women with child, lame, &c. even all of the twelve Tribes, both Israel and Judah, shall come and be joyned in one; yea, in his visible appearance when he is so come, those that sleep in the Lord, whose bodies are in the dust, shall rise and be with them, not onely Abraham and all the Fathers before and since, but even the young children slain in Bethlehem, and all that sleep in Jesus; both Houses of Israel joyned in one, never more to be divided, and of the Gentiles joyned with them, a great Congregation.

4. In his coming with all his Saints, and being so come,* 1.109 he shall slay all the wicked, and overthrow the worldly Powers, even all that will not serve him and his People, with the Rod of his Mouth, and the Breath of his Lips: which slaughter will not be like other battels, where blood is shed on both sides; for in this, the wicked onely shall be destroyed with burning and fuel of fire: which Battel fought,

Then will he make the Heaven & the Earth new, for his peo∣ple

to inhabit, and make in performance the new and ever∣lasting Covenant with all the People; and then shall he re∣ceive the Kingdom from the Father, and sit upon the Throne of David, even in Jerusalem: and all Nations shall be ga∣thered to him, and serve him, and he shall rule over them, Isa. 2.2, 4. Mic. 4.3, 4. Dan. 7.14. and the Saints that come with him, shall rule under him, and with him; so as all the King∣doms under the whole Heavens shall be given also to them, Dan. 7.27. Isa. 32.1. & 14.1, 2, 3.

5. His Government shall be with Justice and Equity, full of Glory,* 1.110 Peace, Plenty, &c. and all Creatures at peace one with another; yea, then the everlasting Sabbath kept, and continual Halelujahs sung: but I must proceed no further, un∣less I should transcribe a great part of all the Prophets, which all that have an heart thereto, may read.

It is enough, that the Apostle affirms of the first coming of Christ, and so of his Ministration, Sufferings, Death, Re∣surrection, Ascension, and being contained in the Heavens till the time of the restitution of all things;* 1.111 and how in the mean time he spiritually sends Jesus Christ in the Gospel-Ministration to bless us, in turning every of us from all evil wayes: and that he will in his times send forth this Jesus Christ that hath been thus fore-preached, to appear visibly; and that then the times of restitution and refreshing shall be from his presence: and saith, That not onely Moses and Sa∣muel, but also all the holy Prophets that followed, have spoken and fore-told of these dayes,* 1.112 (and so of these things) and that the mystery of Christ is by and according to the Scriptures of the Prophets, made known for the obedience of Faith to all Nations: and that they said no other things, but what Moses and the Prophets did say should come: so that the Revelation was now exceeding great and cleer, and no more nor further Revelation vouchsafed, till the per∣formance began, and then of no other but the same things in cleerness and mystery opening, manifested. And as God chose these Prophets,* 1.113 and furnished them with his Spirit to make known the Testimony of Christ according to this Revelation; so they have left it on record in their wri∣ting; in which it, and so they are still with us, in viewing

of whose writings, we may discern that all the Sriptures testi∣fie of Christ.

CHAP. 6.

Of the next and sixth Revelation of Christ, his person and personal coming in the flesh.

THe next Revelation of Christ was of his person and per∣sonal coming in the Flesh, who he was, what a one he was, and wherefore come, &c. and this was first to Zachari∣as, by an Angel;* 1.114 declaring his Son that should be called John to go before him in the Spirit and Power of Elias, &c. him before whom he should go, the Angel, called The Lord their God; then by the Angel to the Virgin Mary her self, declaring his conception and birth; and who,* 1.115 and what a one he should be, and that he should have the Kingdom of his Father Da∣vid: then by the holy Ghost in the Prophecy of Elizabeth, my life of Zacharias: then by the Prophecy of the Virgin Ma∣ry, the Mother of Jesus: then by the Prophecy of Zacharias being filled with the holy Ghost: then by an Angel to Joseph, the espoused Husband of the Virgin Mary: then to Shep∣herds by an Angel, with a multitude of Angels confirming the same, declaring his birth, with the day and place thereof; and that he is the Saviour, even Christ the Lord; and this ti∣dings of great joy which shall be to all people. And then by the Shepherds when they had both heard and seen, unto others: then by old Simeon, who had it revealed to him, and was inspired by the holy Ghost,* 1.116 and came and took him in his arms, and declared him to be God's Salvation, which he had prepared before the face of all people; a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and to be the Glory of his people Israel.* 1.117 And then by one Annah, a Prophetess. And after all this, by cer∣tain wise men, that came from the East to Jerusalem, being di∣rected to him by a Star,* 1.118 who declared him born King of the Jews, and worshipped him, and offered him gifts. And af∣ter

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all this, to John the Son of Zacharias, declaring this Je∣sus to be The He,* 1.119 The Christ, &c. to which John the Word of the Lord came at that time mentioned.

Thus, and in many things now came to pass, according to fore-prophecies, Christ was declared to be already begun to be come in the Flesh, and to be the Son of God, and the Son of David, the King of the Jews, and the Saviour of the world, the great Prophet, and Messiah promised: and, that this very Jesus, that was born in Bethlem of the Virgin espoused to Joseph, and seen of the Shepherds, and taken in the arms of old Simeon, and witnessed to by Zacharias, and John his Son; even this very Jesus is he, even the Christ, &c. and ready to set on his work. And now the person of Christ thus come, and thus witnessed and pointed out who he is, and that he was personally on the earth, and ready to set on his great business doing; and that that very Jesus is he, is more than ever was so revealed and manifested before, and the beginning both of the performance, and the more cleer o∣pening of all the prophecies that have been of him from the beginning, and so light began to shine forth more cleer∣ly.

And now in this Revelation of Christ, and for making him known according to this Revelation,* 1.120 to prepare men, that they might come into the acknowledgement of him, it pleas∣ed God to chuse in Christ the Messenger of the Father, and his own Messenger also fore-purposed, and now declared to be his immediate Fore-runner, to go before his Face, to prepare his way: and him he approved for this Ministration.

And for this blessed Ministration, he was abundantly fur∣nished, in that he was filled with the holy Ghost from his Mo∣thers Wombe; and was confirmed by all the Declarations and Prophecies fore-mentioned, given to him by the Spirit in the Prophecies and Instructions of his Father, and was himself indued with the Spirit and Power of Elias, to go on in his Ministration before the Lord; and had the word of the Lord came to him, revealed, and inspired by God into him, both in the Doctrine he had to teach, and how to apply it, to his hearers, and also commission to testifie the Truth of it, by baptizing with water. And in this receit of the Word of

the Lord that came to him, he received his Commission to set on the business of preaching and babtizing, and so did set on it in the fifteenth yeer of the raign of Tiberius Caesar,* 1.121 when Poutius Pilate was Governour of Judea, and Herod the Te∣trach of Galilee, and Annas and Caiaphas High-Priests; and what his Testimony and Doctrine was, appears in that which is re∣corded, of what he taught and delivered, to be,

1. That Jesus Christ is the Word, that was in the begin∣ning with God, that was God, and that was with God,* 1.122 by whom all things were made, that are made; and that this same Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among them, Emmanuel, God with us, in our Nature and for us, even he that was promised and manifested to do that great work for taking away our sins, and destroying the works of the Devil:* 1.123 so that in him is Life, and the Life is the Light of Men, and he is the true Light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the World.

2. That he is the onely begotten Son of God, and yet very Man, full of Grace and Truth: and being in the heart,* 1.124 minde and bosome of the Father, knowing all his counsels, and be∣ing one with him in his will and design, and so in all his de∣crees and purposes; and as Man, having commission from him, he hath revealed and declared him so, as in knowing him, his minde is to be known.

3. That he, the Man Jesus Christ, being the Son of God,* 1.125 and perfect Man, the Mediator between God and Man, full of Grace and Truth, declaring the Father, he is so loving to Man, and so bountiful to all that receive his Declaration, and so believe on him, that he giveth them of his own Priviledges, even to be the Sons of God, and so dispenseth to them of his own fulness; so that as the Law discovering sin and sen∣tencing to death; and that part of it also, which by types and figures in Sacrifices and purifications, shadowing out a better hope to be looked to in Christ to come, though afar off, came by Moses; even so Grace and free favour in forgiveness of sins and delivery from death, and truth in receit of, and en∣joyment of true righteousness, peace, quickning, purity, & hea∣venly riches came by Jesus Christ, even in all times past; and so now more fully and cleerly doth; so, as though he came after

John, yet he is preserred before him; yea, he was before him, so, as now he is come, John and all the residue of Believers, then and since, even we of his fulness have received, and Grace for Grace: for the Grace of God in Christ, by vertue of his Sacrifice, which God hath graciously accepted of him for us, we receive the Grace of Faith to believe, and therein remis∣sion of sins, and so Grace for Grace; yea, this, and so one, to make us meet to receive another, and that to make us meet to receive more still, and so Grace for Grace, plentifully one heaped upon another:* 1.126 yea, as Moses had a Law of Works to nurture the people towards Grace; so we a Doctrine of Grace, and Law of Grace, to teach and lead people to partake of Grace.

4. That this Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, (the sin-offering and the true passover) which by vertue of his sacrifice medi∣ating, taketh (or beareth) away the sin of the world,* 1.127 that by his own death and sacrifice offered, takes (and now hath taken) sin out of the way, removed the contradictions that were in the mid-way between God and the world of Mankinde, and made peace, that it may be preached to them; and that by ver∣tue of his blood and sacrifice,* 1.128 hath fulness, fitness, authority and readiness to take sin out of the consciences and nature of Men; and by his Mediation procures forbearance, patience and mercies to sinners to lead them to repentance: being he, and onely he, set forth for that end, the propitiation for the sins of the world, in whom there is blessing for all Nations; and that by spiritual application of his Blood, he doth so take sin away from all that in believing come to him for it; and that he is neer at hand to set up his spiritual Kingdom, the fore-runner of his Davidical Kingdom.

5. That the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hands,* 1.129 and immeasurably filled him with the Spirit; so that whoever believeth in him hath everlasting life; and be that believeth not on him, the wrath of God abideth on him. This Doctrine was John filled with to teach.

And with this Doctrine he was to throw down the Mom∣tains, exalt the Valleys,* 1.130 cry down all Flesh, and exalt the Word of the Lord, and so to call Men to Repentance and to Faith in Christ, and so to newness of life; assuring them, that

Christ would baptize them with the holy Ghost and as a wit∣ness of the Truth of this Doctrine, and that Christ was at hand, and shortly to be manifested to Israel, he did baptize with water unto repentance, and so discipled all that came to him, and refused it not.

Yet did he not in the beginning of his Ministration, point out which of all the Sons of Men was that Man that is the Christ; so he shewed not which was the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, till he was especially fitted, and directed, and commissionated for that also, by the direction of the holy Spirit, by communication with Jesus Christ himself;* 1.131 and seeing the Spirit of God descending like a Dove, and lighting on him, and hearing the voice of the Father from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And so was he furnished to know and declare the person of Christ, as distinct from all others, and who he was.

And then he did most plainly point out the Man Jesus,* 1.132 the Son of the Virgin, with confession, that not himself, and so no other Man but that very Man Jesus was the He, the Christ, the Lamb of God, the King of Israel, the Bridegroom, the Son of God; he, even this very Jesus, he pointed to, and affirmed to the be very he, and so exhorted his Hearers to behold him, even Jesus, and to follow him, cleave to him, and exalt him.

And in this his Ministration, he was greater than all the Prophets that were before him,* 1.133 though less than any of his Lord's first Witnesses of his Resurrection that were to come after him; and although in the exercise of his Ministration, he was but for the House of Israel, who, if they had received him as he came in the Spirit and Power of Elias, they would then have received Jesus Christ also, and so they might have enjoyed the Gospel of the Kingdom, and have continued in their own Land, till his coming again to raign, and then John Baptist had been all the Elias they should have needed; and the coming of Elias, mentioned Mal. 4. it would have been needful onely for the ten Tribes of Israel, formerly cast off; but they refusing, came to be cast off also, and so its needful for them. And in this Ministration,* 1.134 according to this Reve∣lation, all the former helps, in and under all the former Reve∣lations

and Ministrations still remained, and all for the good of Men, specially the house of Israel.

CHAP. 7.

Of the seventh Revelation, and the last that shall be of Christ till his own return, and personal and visible ap∣pearing.

THe next Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the last that is to be carried an end for usefulness by teaching, and use of such outward Ordinances as now, even until his personal appearance, when all such means shall cease, and the eternal Sabbath be;* 1.135 and this Revelation was by the Father to the Son, even to the Man Jesus Christ, his Elect, upon whom he hath put his Spirit, and by Jesus Christ to his Disciples, God by his divine power bearing witness thereto, and confirming the same: and this Revelation by Jesus Christ was of the same things fore-revealed to, and by the Prophets, but now more fully and cleerly manifested, with the mystery more a∣bundantly opened; and this his Revelation was in a three∣fold manner, or by three distinct wayes or means:

• 1. By manifestation of himself and all that appertained to him to do in his first coming, by demonstrating the same in the very act visibly, &c.
• 2. By his personal and bodily Ministration, in a vocal and audible teaching the Gospel and the Testimony of himself in the Prophets, and explicating it.
• 3. By pouring on his witnesses, and filling them with the holy Ghost.

1. Of the first way of the Manifestation of Christ by him∣self.

Jesus Christ was manifested and did manifest himself in the very acting and sensible demonstration in himself of all those things fore-told concerning him to be done in, upon and by him in his first coming; as to say, his immediate

coming on the appearing of his Messenger and fore-runner, and so his conception and birth, having the very nature of Man, born of a Virgin, (that never knew Man) that was of the Seed of David, Abraham, Noah, Adam: born in Bethlem, altogether sin∣less; yet having the weaknesses and infirmities of Man's Nature: his flight into Egypt, (while Rachels Children were slain) his re∣turn to Nazareth, and being called a Nazarite; his Baptism, with the Testimony of God concerning him; his fasting, temptati∣ons, victories; his poverty and mean life among men; his travellings, preaching, cures, miracles; his calling Disciples, and chusing A∣postles, and seventy, and sending them forth to preach; his being persecuted by the High-Priests and Priests, Scribes and Pharisees; his being betrayed by one of his called Disciples, and chosen A∣postles; the scattering of the rest from him; his agony and bloody sweat; his being arraigned, condemned, scorned, and crucified be∣tween two thieves, the souldiers giving him vineger and gall, and parting his raiment; his bitter cry on the cross; his committing his Spirit to God, and so his giving up the Ghost and dying, and so his death and his burial by two rich Men, laid in a rich Man's tombe, in which never any man before lay; his Resurrection the third day, and so victory over death; his appearing to his Disciples after his Resurrection, being seen, and heard, and felt by them, and giving commandments and commission to them, and blessing them, ascended up in their sight to heaven, testified by an Angel, that he, even the very same Jesus shall so come again, as they saw him go up into heaven; his being received and set on the right hand of God; and his sending forth the holy Ghost with plenty of spiri∣tual gifts, testifying the certainty of his coming again in glory, a glimpse whereof three of them had fore-seen in his transfigura∣tion; so that he appeared to be, and to have suffered, and done, and shed abroad all that God by the mouth of his Prophets had spoken of him concerning his first coming: so that he hath now fully come in the flesh, and done all this work, and is not now a dying and doing it, or so to do it over again; he hath finished the work given him to do at his first coming in his own person on earth; and in and by him is fulfilled all that the Prophets spake concerning the first coming of Christ; so, as in no other ever was or will be; so that this Jesus is the Christ, and hath been thus ma∣nifested, and so manifested himself to be, and this manifestation

given in, his first appearing to the first Witnesses of his Resur∣rection, for all that should after believe on him, that it was mani∣fested by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ:* 1.136 in doing all this is expresly affirmed, that it was so manifested for all that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by the discovery of him and his spiritual operation, believe; is also expresly affirmed, that it was manifested to these first witnesses in this manner, who both heard, and saw, and handled him; is expresly also affirmed, and that they declared that we might believe: and the things that were by the Prophets so foretold and written of him (as hath been foreshewn) being so fulfilled and manifested in him,* 1.137 they did according to the commandment of the everlasting God, make known him to be the Christ, and make him known according to the revelation of the mystery, by the Scriptures of the Prophets; and have written and professed to write these things, that we might know the certainty of them; and so, that we might believe, that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that in believing we might have life through his Name: and according to all this, Jesus himself witnessed and affirmed also the Truth of John's Testimony con∣cerning him; and how by the works done by him, and by voice from Heaven,* 1.138 the Father did bear witness of him: and how the Spi∣rit in the Scripture did bear witness of him, and that eternal life is in him. And this the first way of Jesus Christ revealing and ma∣nifesting himself to his first witnesses.

CHAP. 8.

2. Of the second way of our Saviour's revealing and mani∣festing of himself and the things of him, to his first wit∣nesses of it.

IEfus Christ, besides this actual manifestation, did also in his per∣formance and bodily ministration, vocally and audibly teach the Gospel according to the revelation of the mystery to the first trusters in him, and witnesses of him after his resurrection: and so he taught them;

1. That he is the Massiah, the great Prophet and high-Priest,

and King of Israel, the Son of God, and the Son of David;* 1.139 the Christ, the Saviour of the World spoken of by all the Pro∣phets.

2. That for estecting his business in all his Offices, that he may be manifested to be such a one, and thereby have a Seed, saved and justified by him to serve him,* 1.140 and to enjoy the Kingdom with him, and Nations for him, and them to raign over, he must first suffer, and die, and rise again, and ascend into heaven, and receive the fulness of the Spirit in the Man, and send forth of the same to Men, that Repentance and Remission of sins may be preached in his Name to all Nations; and so he on rightful terms judge all according to that fore-written of him; and therefore from that time that he had instructed them, that he was the Christ,* 1.141 the Son of the living God, the Saviour of the World; he then began to shew and teach them, that he must go unto Ierusalem, and suf∣fer many things of the Elders, and chief-Priests, and Scribes, and be rejected of them, and be killed, and the third day rise again; yea, this was spoken of between Christ, and Moses, and Elias, in their hearing, when he was in his transfiguration before them, and after on that occasion by himself to them, and often after on other occasions; yea, he teacheth them a reason of the necessity of it, namely, for taking away sin, and overcoming death; and so having an innumerable generation, according to that said Hebrews 9.22. & 2.14. & Isaiah 53.6.7, 8. and so he taught, saying, Verily, verily,* 1.142 I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it a∣bideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit: and so he plainly taught them out of the Scriptures after his Re∣surrection, that it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that Repentance, and Remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations,* 1.143 beginning at Jerusalem; and in teaching this, he taught them many mysteries, about the vertues, ends, and efficacies of his death, and that di∣stinctly also; as to say,

• 1. His death in one respect and end, was satisfactory for the Re∣mission of sins, to make peace and atonement with God for Men,* 1.144 that they might be released from the first sentence and curse in the first death into his dispose, that he might bring them out of that death, as was prophesied he should, and is confessed he hath done,

• and this he did teach them often:* 1.145 and in respect of this end, his death and ransome giving is unimitable by any other; not in respect of this end did either Jews or Gentiles, Scribes, Priests, Governours, People or Souldiers, lay on him our sins, and so for that put him to death; it was God the Father that so laid our sins on him, and delivered him to death for our offences, and his own free offer to accept and do the will of the Father for us: and this al∣so our Saviour himself taught them. And in this offering himself, he had to do with God onely, for Men; and with God it is so effectual, that he hath granted all this to him upon this account, without any further business to be done by him for this grant; and it shall be manifested to all Men so evidently one day,* 1.146 that they shall acknowledge it true, and him Lord, to the glory of God, whe∣ther now they will believe it, and in him, or no.
• 2. His death in one other respect and end, was confirmatory and sealing,* 1.147 that the New Testament of precious Promises of Forgiveness of sins, of purifying the heart, and writing his Law in the inward parts, giving in eternal life, and preserving by his power through faith unto the inheritance, might be confirmed, sealed and stable, that believers might have a certain and undeni∣able evidence of the performance of them all by him, in whom all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen,* 1.148 to the glory of God. And this could nor be without the death of the Testator; but by that, even the same death that was for Remission of sins, though in this respect a farther end, it is done, and fully confirmed and sealed; but then this death also is in some respect free from con∣straint; and so it is said,* 1.149 While he was in his strength, and cried with a loud voice, he bowed down his head, and then, and so gave up the Ghost, which caused the Centurian to confess that he was the Son of God, and Pilate, and others to marvel that he was so, and so soon dead, (for the Thieves that were crucified with him, died neither so, nor so soon:) and as concerning this end, he is by vertue of his death; &c. the Mediator of the New Testament, that Believers may enjoy the benefit hereof: neither is his death in respect of this end imitable for any other:* 1.150 nor did the Scribes, Pharisees, &c. put him to death for this end: but he freely laid down his life and gave up the Ghost; and so the Testament is confirmed, and of force: and this our Saviour himself plainly taught them.

• 3. There was yet one other distinct end of his sufferings and death, which is also expressed by himself, namely, to bear witness of the Truth, which he taught, and this in love,* 1.151 even to his Enemies, that they might believe, for whom, for that end he so far prayed, as Luke 22.34. according to that in prophesie, Isa. 53.12. and in love to, and faithful care o∣ver such as he had called and taught, being the sheep of his own personal Ministration that heard his voice; and in love, obedience, and faithfulness to his Father. This he professeth to Pilat, saying, To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth; every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice: (as for the same cause when he left the World, he left his Witnesses in the World.) And in this he instructeth his Hearers, and so he doth his own Disciples, that all good Shepherds may follow him herein, that as he, so we might not seek to be Lords over one another, but to serve each other in love and in sufferings, when for their good to put our selves in our Brethrens stead or place: and so laying down our lives for our Brethren, according to his example; and this he plainly taught to them: so that his death, in respect of this end, is moving, alluring, and exem∣plary for us to imitate and follow him; and that also, in taking up our Cross, receiving it as a Cup out of our heaven∣ly Father's hand, in patient bearing all, that for his sake (and by our Father's providence) is laid upon us, how wrongfully soever by Men, Isai. 53.17. Mat. 26.63. & 27.12. Mar. 14.61. & 15.5. In holding, and fast-standing to the Professi∣on of the Truth through all sufferings, Joh. 18.36, 37.* 1.152 Mat. 10.16, 18, 32, 33. and all this in loving and seeking the good of our enemies, Psal. 35.11, 12, 13, 14. Luke 23.34. & 6.27, 28, 36. Rom. 12.20, 21. and in love to, and tender care for our Brethren, submitting to all the lowest services of love even through sufferings for their safety & good: in all, approving our hearts in love and faithfulness to God, that we may glori∣fie him, Joh. 17.4. & 7.16, 17. & 14.31. 2 Cor. 5.6, 7, 8. and so his death, as it was for witness-bearing to the Truth,* 1.153 and to witness, and so to give an example of imitation to us: it is not right to say, That God for that did put him to death: no, it was the Scribes and Pharisees that for this

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• did envy him and put him to death, and they did it wickedly and with wicked hands: but God raised him, and so he will us by him, if we follow him through sufferings to the en∣joyment of glory.

In respect of the first end of his death, for satisfaction and propitiation making; and of the second end, for confirming the New Testament, the death of Christ was vertuous and efficacious with the Father, upon and from his first under∣taking, and accepting to do it; and having accepted it, it was vertuous in dispensations through him towards men: whence he is called,* 1.154 The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world: and upon the account of the vertue thereof, all that believed from the beginning of the World,* 1.155 were saved by this Grace in and through him: and all that rebelled against Light and Grace, were damned on the same account, for rebelling against the Light and Grace extended through him. It is an ignorant de∣mand of some, Did Christ die for those in Heaven, or for those in Hell, before his death? for his acceptance and undertaking was vertuous from the first, and from the beginning; and God's pro∣ceedings with men through him on that account of his death in due time to be acted; and so to the two first ends, vertuous and effica∣cious from the beginning, before the actual accomplishing of it: but for the last end of his death, to bear witness of the truth, and give his personal example to follow: the same cannot be so affirmed, True it is, He suffered and was slain in his members and spiritual Seed from the beginning of the World, even begin∣ning at Abel,* 1.156 and so on in those which followed till his own personal coming, as our Saviour taught; and though him∣self in his own personal body have now once died, and risen, and is alive for evermore, and can die no more; yet in his members and spiritual seed on Earth, he is suffering and dy∣ing still: such his love to them, and union with them, he counteth these as his own sufferings: & these examples of the Saints through Faith passing through, and overcoming in these sufferings, are very useful for us, and speaking examples to us, to be beheld and minded of us: but our Saviour's own personal example was not so before his actual sufferings accomplished, as now it is: in beholding of which, as set forth in the Gospl we may see both more into the vertues, and ends, and effi∣cacies

of his death, than before could be seen; and his ex∣ample therein also, which could not so be beheld of men,* 1.157 be∣fore his actual accomplishment of it: so that in him we have the beginning and foundation of life and strength, the motive, pattern and example also to follow him, and therefore now to look to him, and to the other examples also through him, and to him, in and above all the other: and this our Saviour plainly taught his first witnesses.

3. Our Saviour having instructed his first witnesses thus, a∣bout his death and resurrection, and the things done by him therein;* 1.158 and so the end of his first personal coming into the World, to do and teach all these things: he then also in∣structed them about his leaving the World, and going again [now] in that personal body of his to the Father: and this, to present himself in that body with the vertue of his blood, to obtain eternal redemption of the nature of Man in himself;* 1.159 and so to have all men into his dispose, that he may dispense to them and deal with them according to the Father's will; which also is his will; and so to receive the immeasurable fulness of the holy Ghost in the Man, to send forth, even to the rebellious, to convince them; and to believers, to lead them into all Truth,* 1.160 and so to make known still farther his Father's Name, and therein sprinkle the vertue of his blood upon the hearts and consciences of believers, and herewith enduing them with his Spirit, to be with and in them, a Tea∣cher, Advocate, and Comforter, to minde them of his words, enable them to prize & trust in him, and approach to God by him, and pray in his Name; and so to prepare them mansi∣ons; that having all fulness in him, they might have their re∣joycing, hope, converse, and dwelling with him in Heaven by Faith; and that in one mindedness with God and Christ in his design,* 1.161 in believing and walking in the Truth breathed forth from Jerusalem that is above, they might have in Spi∣rit, a dwelling and fellowship with the Prophets, and Apo∣stles, and Spirits of just Men made perfect, that are in and with Christ, and under the Altar; and also through the effi∣cacy of his Spirit in their Ministration, they may have a spi∣ritual dwelling in the hearts of such as living in this World, have their conversation in Heaven, and fellowship in the

Gospel with them. And last of all, according to the Spirits preparation of them, and fruitfulness in and by them, en∣largedness in his Kingdom, which is reserved in Heaven for them,* 1.162 to be given them at his coming; all which he assures them he is now preparing in the Heavens for them; yea, he is now there in Heaven, appearing at the right Hand of God before God for us, mediating between God and Men, and advocating and interceding in special manner for Believers that come to God by him; and so, as in that he did in his own Body, he made peace, wrought and obtained Redem∣ption with God for Men, and obtained the Power of ex∣tending the vertues thereof, in these spiritual efficacies to Men; so by these efficacious makings known and application of the same to Men, he draweth M••n to himself, and worketh Redemption in Believers, and preserveth them to the Inhe∣ritance: all which our Saviour taught to his first Witnesses. And moreover,

4. Having thus instructed them about his bodily absence from them, and how much it is for their benefit, because of the bu••ness he is in Heaven doing with God for them, and from God by his Spirit with them;* 1.163 he also assures them of, and instructs them in this, that in due time he will in that body of his personally come again and receive them to him∣self, and then take his great power and raign, and they shall raign with him: nor need they be deceived about this his coming;* 1.164 for it shall be so personal, open, and visible, that every eye shall see him; and when he doth sit upon the Throne of his glory, then shall all Nations be gathered be∣fore him; and having raised all the dead, will separate those that have believed in him, and lived to him, from those that have rebelled against him, setting the one on his right hand, and the other on his left hand, and then judge and give sen∣tence on both; and the righteous that are on the right hand, shall go into everlasting joy; and the wicked that are on the left hand, shall go into everlasting Fire, there to be tor∣mented for ever: and that all that believe on him, may with patience and comfort wait till that day come, he taught and assured them, that he would not leave them (as Orphans) comfortless,* 1.165 but by his word, and Spirit in that word, he

with them, and in them; and by that Spirit both minde them of,* 1.166 and teach them the words that he had fore-given them; and also so take of the things of Christ, and shew to them, that he should present him glorious to them, and lead them into all truth, that by Faith, & well-pleasedness in him, they may be made fruitful, and preserved to the inheritance: and that he thus discovered, is the door and way of access to the Father, and entrance into the Church; yea, the Father is in him, and he in the Father; and all that is the Father's, is his: so that in seeing and having him, they see and have the Father also; and that he is the Truth and the Life, in whom they have Wisdom, Righteousness,* 1.167 Sanctification and Redem∣ption, Covenant quickning, and all spiritual Riches and Life; yea, he is such a sure Rock, that whoever is found in be∣lieving built on him,* 1.168 the gates of Hell shall not prevail against him: his Flesh, even his Body, as given for the Life of the World, is Bread of Life, and Meat indeed; and his Blood, as having confirmed the New Testament, is Drink indeed:* 1.169 and what Spirit or Soul of Man soever eateth and drinketh hereof, shall never die, but have everlasting Life: his words are Spirit and Life: and as the Father hath loved him, even so hath he loved those that believe in him, and will come again, and receive them to himself, that where he is, they may be also. So that in all this is a blessed, clear, great, gracious, and glorious Revelation of Jesus Christ in his own personal teachings.

Yet to free them from mistakes, and inform them cleerly how by him this blessed and saving work shall be carried an end till his coming again, that there may be a spiritual Seed encreased and preserved to him till then; he instructed them how Men and Women should be brought in to God, name∣ly,* 1.170 that He, even Christ the Son of God and Saviour of the World, as thus manifested to them, must be by them so made known to others; yea, lifted up and made manifest by preaching his word he had taught them; and this to all Men, all Nations, and in, and about this right preaching, mani∣festation, elevation, declaration and tenders of Christ, he taught them much and many things, as appears plainly by his own sayings to them and theirs, which they learned of him: as to instance some of them.

1. That it be Jesus, that be lifted up and exalted, as the Christ,* 1.171 the Son of the living God, the Propitiation for our sins, he in whom God is well-pleased, who by vertue of his death, is the Lord of all, the onely Rock and Refuge, in whom whoever believeth shall receive forgiveness of sins: this Jesus, the He, and not the works of the Law, not any order or sort of men, not any dreams or devices, nor any per∣sonal endowments or gifts, nor any internal Lights and O∣perations; but onely Jesus Christ, to be the Lord, the Foun∣dation, the He, in whom all Peace, Righteousness, and Eter∣nal Life is prepared of God for us, and given us of God in him, even in Jesus Christ, that in believing in him we may re∣ceive it, and have it. And this is plain, in comparing his say∣ings and theirs.

2.* 1.172 That both this gift of Christ the Saviour of the World, and the setting him forth, and tendering him in the Gospel, is, and is to be affirmed, a fruit and witness of the love of God to the world, to Mankinde, even sinners and ungodly ones; and the love, Grace, and good-will of God here-through commended and tendered to them, that they might repent, and believe; and in believing, receive remission of sins, and eternal Life: and this is plain in comparing his say∣ings and theirs, according to that prophesied, Psa. 36.6, 7, 8. & 145.8, 9. Isa. 55.4.

3. That the end and purpose of God in this gift of Christ, and so setting him forth,* 1.173 and making him known, and wit∣nessing and commending his love through him; and so the end of Christ his first coming, and Ministration, and of his continuing the same Ministration of the Gospel in which he is still sent, held forth and tendered to men, till his personal coming again, is, that the world might be saved; yea, sinners and the chief sinners, that the eyes of the blinde might be opened, &c. and men brought in to believe, and so turned from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, that so they may receive Remission of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified by Faith that is in Jesus Christ: and this is plain in the sayings of Christ by himself, and by his Spirit in the Prophets, and by his Spirit in the sayings of those that learned it of him: whence he saith of his Ministra∣tion,

that while he is in the world, he is the Light of the World, and so before was, and in the Ministration of his chosen Witnesses, will be till his coming again:* 1.174 whence his Servants as Ministers of the Gospel, are also called, The Light of the World; so that the Ministration of Christ in the Go∣spel, by himself or his Servants, it, or he in it, is not to con∣demn,* 1.175 destroy, or judge to perdition the World; no, not those in the World, and of it, that at present reject his words; but even to save such: his words to them are still, That they might be saved; his mercies are to lead to repentance, that they might be saved; his chastisements to break them of their pride and enterprizes, that they might be saved: yea, his re∣proofs and beginning to deliver them to Satan, are for the destruction of the flesh, and to abase them that they might be saved: yea, his killing by the Law, was, that they might live to God, Gal. 2.19: yea, all his patience and long-suffering, is, and is to be accounted Salvation, being extended to Men, because he is not willing that any should perish, but that they might come to Repentance and be saved: yea, he doth that in the means he useth, whereby they might be saved; so that he loseth none, Joh. 6.39. & 17.12. but whoever are lost, it is by rebelling against the light, and so causing that which was for their welfare to be turned into a snare, in their joyn∣ing with Satan, that is blinding their mindes, refusing when their eyes are opened in seeing to see, and casting aside his word, and following lying vanities, they lose their own mer∣cies, and their own souls: and these have one that judgeth them, even the Light in the Word that hath come to them, doth inwardly accuse and condemn them as guilty of sin, and liable to death. But yet notwithstanding, Christ in his Ministration is patient towards them, and waits to be gra∣cious to them, like as his Father doth, being the same with him, and having his Name on him; and doth not in his Mi∣nistration in the dayes of his patience, judge them, but re∣serveth that his judging and passing Sentence, until the last day, when he is come again. Whence we may understand the meaning of that sentence:* 1.176 To him that is joyned to all the living, there is hope:* 1.177 so that if they abide not still in un∣belief, they shall be grafted in again, for God is able to do

it; and therefore continue means still towards them: but if they persist still in dis-obedience till the dayes of his patience be out,* 1.178 then no more hope: but at that day the word of the Lord, that he hath spoken, (and the light in the means that he hath extended) shall judge them;* 1.179 for then will God judge all Men by Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel: not by the Law of bondage, as they fell under it in Adam; but by the Law of liberty brought to them by Jesus Christ,* 1.180 which could not rightly be, if in his word Salvation were not for them,* 1.181 and truly tendered to them, and means whereby they might have received it: and this not onely in a shew and pre∣tence, but verily, and in truth, that they might have been saved. So far our Saviour's own Testimony of himself, and his Father's and his own end in his Ministration: and the same he testifieth of himself, and his end in the Ministration continued by his Servants, left by him in the World to that end that the words he gives them to speak, are such as where∣by Men should be saved, and to that end, and that he sends them in Ministration to that end, to open their eyes, and turn them,* 1.182 &c. and this affirmed by his Spirit in his Servants, that God in Gospel-Ministration sends Christ to bless them, in turning every of them from their iniquities; and so of Christ his coming into the World, both in his personal Ministrati∣on, and his Ministration by his Servants.* 1.183 This is affirmed, as a faithful saying, (in which there is no dissimulation, no e∣quivocation, no wreathedness;* 1.184 but it is according to the very Heart and Minde of God, and very plain to be under∣stood, according to the import of the words) and worthy all acceptation, (to be heeded believed, and imbraced with the heart) That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners,* 1.185 (sin∣ners indefinitely, such, and all such as are sinners; and to put all out of doubt, the Apostle having mentioned what a sinner he was, saith,) of whom I am the chief: such the purpose and gracious end of God, in the gift of his Son, and of Christ in his coming and Ministration, both immediate and mediate, extended for teaching to Men.

4. That Jesus Christ, according to all this Revelation of him, and of the Father's love in giving him and making him known, and his gracious end in this Ministration of him; is to be displayed, held forth, preached, and affirmed, as a word

of Truth and Verity, to the World of Mankinde, to all Nati∣ons, to every Man in the whole Creation, where-ever they come: and this is plain in the commission and charge given them.

True it is, the Ministration of John Baptist, was but to the people of Israel, though the light of it to be extended farther:* 1.186 and so the personal Ministration of the Gospel by Christ, was primely to them, the Circumcision, the lost Sheep of the House of Israel; and his Disciples Ministration while he per∣sonally abode with them on Earth, was no farther but to the House of Israel: yet was this also to confirm the promises un∣to the Fathers; and that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy: whence when by providence led among the Samaritans,* 1.187 he (as an over-plus) in his Ministration con∣verted some of them, that in hearing his voice became the Sheep of his Ministration, yet he did not outwardly fold them, till after his ascension and pouring forth the Holy Ghost,* 1.188 when the commission and mission was enlarged for his Ser∣vants Ministration. But now when his suffering-work was finished, death overcome, the acceptable Sacrifice offered, and he on the right of God, and having sent forth Spirit, the veil of the Temple rent, the partition-wall broken down, and all Tongues sanctified to declare the Work and Name of God in; they are to go into all the World and to declare and preach Christ as thus revealed,* 1.189 to every man of all Nations in all the World, where-ever they come, and this as a Word, of Truth: and so to set forth this second publick Man, the spiritual Man, the Lord, the quickning Spirit, as he on whom God hath ex∣ecuted the Judgement that was due to Mankinde for their sins, as fallen; in whom their Nature is restored: the Na∣ture of Man, being united and married unto God in the Person of his Son; and so a great Feast of fatness, even the sure mercies of David, prepared: in him is Mankinde perfect again, as in a publick Man, having in him forgiveness, par∣don, peace, wisdom, righteousness, eternal Life; so verily, that in believing in him, they may receive it,* 1.190 and be partakers of it: and so is he to be set forth without any Cloak or equivo∣cation, plainly to every Man, appealing to their consciences in the sight of God: and that Jesus is so, and as such a one,

to be held forth to all, that every one may behold him, as he in whom there is healing for them to be received in believ∣ing, is plain in our Saviour's own personal Testimonya 1.191, and the Testimony of his Spirit in his Apostlesb 1.192: and this to this end, that by this, Men might be reconciled to Godc 1.193. And this hope given, the Servants of Christ in such elevation of Christ, that he will confirm their words, and manifest their Testimony true, so that all Men shall be drawn thereby, e∣ven by Christ testified unto himd 1.194: such as in this day of grace believe this Testimony of him, it shall be the power of God unto Salvation in them, and work effectually in them, uniting and conforming them to Christ; so as they shall by degrees, and in due season enjoy all this revealed blessed∣nesse 1.195. And such as persist in refusing and rebelling against the Light extended, shall by the same Spirit that breatheth in the Gospel, be at the last day convincedf 1.196, and come before Christ, and bow to him, and confess him Lord to the glory of Godg 1.197, and shall confess the Truth of the Testimony his Ser∣vants delivered, and them to be the Servants of the Lord, which in the dayes of his patience, they despised and op∣posedh 1.198; and all before the final sentence be executed on them: for God that frustrateth the tokens of the lyars, and maketh diviners mad, that turneth wise Men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolishness, doth (and will con∣firm the Word of his Servants, and perform the counsel of his Messengersi 1.199. And to both parts of this said, he hath given us his Oath, That all shall come before him.k 1.200.

And thus was the mystery of Christ revealed by himself in his own personal Ministration,* 1.201 in which also, as he ut∣tered many Parables, so he opened them all to his Disciples to teach them openly: and whereas the Disciples did not yet cleerly understand all this Revelation of Christ so taught to them, before Christ had suffered and risen from the dead; therefore Christ after his Resurrection appeared to them, and taught the same again to them, and then expounded Moses and the Prophets, and in order opened in all the Scriptures unto them the things concerning himself; & also opened their un∣derstanding, that they might understand the Scripturesl 1.202: & yet because all was not yet acted by Christ, as well as taught by

him, that was to be in the mystery held forth in their Ministra∣tion; for Christ his body, though then risen, was not as then as∣cended and glorifiedm 1.203, and so the fulness of understanding of the whole mystery by the Holy Ghost, not yet givenn 1.204: there∣fore they were yet to wait for further divine Power, even the holy Ghost to be given them, to open cleerly this Revelation to them, and to help them to witness it: which Christ promised them, and did perform it after his ascension.* 1.205

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,* 1.206 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,* 1.207 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,* 1.208 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,* 1.209 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,* 1.210 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,* 1.211 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,* 1.212 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,* 1.213 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,* 1.214 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,* 1.215 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,* 1.216 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,* 1.217 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.

CHAP. 10.

Of the prime Medium or Way of making Christ known, ac∣cording to the Revelation of the Mystery, to bring Men to God by Christ.

THis way of making Christ known for so gracious an end, so cleerly, it is manifest to be preaching this Word, Testi∣mony or Gospel, as it is now come forth:* 1.218 and such a manner of Preaching, as never was before Christ his coming in the Flesh, and suffering on the Cross, and having been put to death in the Flesh, but quickned by the Spirit, and now a∣live in that Body for evermore; and by vertue of his Cross and death, by which he made our Peace, and by vertue whereof he still mediateth for us, and by vertue where∣of he worketh in Believers, and so will have his Cross and sufferings remembred, imbraced, and professed till his coming again; so,* 1.219 as the preaching of him now as it is cal∣led the preaching of Christ, so it is called also the preaching of the Cross, and so the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified, and so it must be a preaching suitable thereto: and the means to make Christ known according to this Revela∣tion, is preaching, such a preaching, as in which he is lift up, as shewn in the eighth Chapter before: and in the Scripture we may finde it farther thus set forth, that is,

1. That it must be preaching,* 1.220 that is (in Scripture Lan∣guage) proclaiming and reporting Jesus to be the Christ, and therewith the things done by him, declaring with manifesta∣tion, and making plain the things reported; and therewith so teaching and expounding the same, that the ends, vertues and excellencies of Christ and his Cross, and the things of Christ, with his requirings and promises, may appear and be made known; and evidencing, and testifying the Truth of all so taught by the Scriptures, according to the Command∣ment of God, Rom. 1.1, 5. & 16.25, 26. Act. 18.25, 28. & 17.2, 3. & 26.22, 23. And from Christ & the things of God in Christ,

thus declared, taught,* 1.221 and testified, to perswade Men to Re∣pentance and Faith, and so to be reconciled to God, and then live to him; and to press this with Reproofs, Instructi∣ons, Beseechings and Consolations, as need is: and in this manner to exalt and tender the Grace of Christ, as aforesaid, is preaching; yea, that preaching, that according to the minde of God is to be used.

2. This preaching must also be with plain and understand∣able words;* 1.222 not in dark Parables and Allegories, but with such simplicity, and plainness, that they may appeal to every Man's conscience in the sight of God, with all sincerity, with∣out any cloak of covetousness, craft or guile. As for Christ be∣fore his Ascension, preaching many things in Parables, it hath been fore-answered,* 1.223 and shewn how he opened all to his Disciples, and charged them to teach the same openly and plainly: so that the mystery of Christ as opened by Christ, is by his Servants to be plainly preached now, without fear of Man: and so, as in plain words, so in such language and terms,* 1.224 as the Hearers do know and understand; so the Holy Spirit given them, did at first give them to speak to every Man in his own language: and so they used to speak in words un∣derstandable to the Hearers. They are now taught, that the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophesie, the original spring and Leader to all right speaking for Edification; in know∣ing him, all things are known; and other knowledge and teach∣ing, then according to what is taught by the Spirits witnessing of him, is not needful.

The knowledge of the first Report of the Gospel, is in knowing him, as now testified, cleerly understood: whereas those that by humane Wisdom think to know that first saying, without this help given, run into many mistakes; yea, all that the Fathers had in Visions and Dreams,* 1.225 is met with in this Testimony of Christ now given by the Spirit; yea, all that the Heaven and Earth, with his Works therein, do wit∣ness, is seen most cleerly in Christ,* 1.226 as set forth in this Testi∣mony, and by him made apparent to be more cleerly seen in them; yea, the Covenant made with Abraham, it is to be seen and met with in him; and all that was figured by Sacri∣fices and all other Types, the Truth is in him, and to be seen

and known in him, so that now Christ is all and in all, and so in this Doctrine and Testimony. And therefore he, and the things of him, are plainly to be preached, and that in a known language, and understandable words, being alike holy and sanctified to declare the Gospel with, and so alike fit to express God's Minde to us, as is before shewn;* 1.227 and for us to express our Minde to God in praying to him. And so the A∣postles writing to the Church at Rome,* 1.228 where also both Jews and Greeks were, shews how the Spirit breatheth in both languages, Abba, Father; and so to another Church: and so they spake with all plainness of Speech in things needful to be known for Faith and good Manners; and so is the Go∣spel to be plainly preached in understandable words.

3. This preaching of the Gospel now, must neither be with the wisdom of words,* 1.229 which the Spirit of Wisdom that is in the Princes of this World, for Learning, or the Wisdom of Man, teacheth; or in such manner as to draw applause to the Preacher, or to receive that said for his excellency in Learning and arguing in Rhetorical perswasions.

Nor must this preaching be with Fables and endless Ge∣nealogies,* 1.230 or opposition of Science falsly so called: nor with Philosophical Subtilties, Reasons, and Depths, after the Fa∣shion of humanely-learned wise Men: nor with Artificial and framed Eloquence and Rhetorical Perswasions according to Man's Art: nor yet with pretences of great Light, intruding into things they have not seen in the Testimony, there being in that no Revelation of it,* 1.231 and so beyond the measure of Faith given, though covered with great pretences and shews of Humility: nor by tempering their Doctrine to the hu∣mours of Men, to please them, and get applause from them: nor with using quaint words, or words of a strange language not understood. If a strange Tongue inspired were to be si∣lenced, where it was not of the Hearers understood, how much more that which is acquired by study?* 1.232 all these things are to be avoided in this preaching, and the preaching to be with Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit in the Testi∣mony he hath given of Christ in the Scripture, and so with all Power and Authority, as the very Oracles of God; and all this plain-speaking to Men, not for Men to exercise their

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Wisdom to imagine a Riddle, and study for a mysterious sense, but for the obedience of Faith, that Men, as Fools, in their own wisdom may be wise, in credit-giving to this Testimony, and so believe, and obey in believing. Such plain preaching, and for the most part by as plain Instruments, is this preaching to be used, even such as crosseth and confoundeth the wise and learned of this World; but it is the Wisdom and Justice of God, that so it should be: for God had tried them long enough, he had imprinted his Wisdom in the Gospel re∣ported in Paradise, and carried on by the Fathers and Elders Instructions, and manifested much of himself and his good∣ness in his works of Creation and Providence,* 1.233 and given them understanding above the Beasts of the Earth, and the Fowls of Heaven, and many of them by study became wiser then the ordinary sort of Men; yet in all this time, by their wisdom they did not learn to know God in the Wisdom of God. Well, God tried them farther, and gave to Israel the Revelation of his Minde in Word and Oracles by Types and Prophesies,* 1.234 that by these they might come to know the Wisdom of God: but in all this time, they have not found out the knowledge of God in the Wisdom of God.* 1.235 Therefore, after all this, it pleased God in his great mercy to Men, to give forth this full and plain Discovery and Revelation of himself in Christ;* 1.236 and in his Wisdom and Justice also, to appoint this plain Report and preaching thereof, as to the wise of the World seems foolishness, as neither magnifies, nor needs their wisdom and learning to interpret or finde out the sense; yea,* 1.237 it's such, as in the plain report, wise Men exercising their wisdom, it is hidden from them; and babes believing, under∣stand, and it is revealed to them, and for the more part, such Babes, illiterate, Shepherds, Fishers, Mechanicks, whom the Men of the World deride, are the Preachers of it: and this kinde of preaching, is a great stumble and offence to the learned and wise of the World, and by them counted foolish∣ness; and through their teaching, which tends to magnifie worldly wisdom and learning, and to exalt an outward or∣der of Priests of that sort to rule over the people, it becomes an offence to the people also, that love to have such to rule over them: and the pride of all this glory God will stain, and

cast shame upon it: so that this manner preaching the Go∣spel becomes a part of the Cross of Christ,* 1.238 to be taken up by the Preachers, and willingly born; and through their dying in their bearing this Cross, the Life of Christ worketh in them, and through their Ministration. And this kinde of Preaching, is suted to this Revelation of Christ: howbeit, that this preaching may be rightly carried on, this is also to be always joyned with it:

4. That those that preach the Gospel,* 1.239 walk suitable to the Gospel, that their Light may shine forth in their Works and conversation, enduring through reproachings and sufferings; that they so preach and witness, that they preach to others, even by their conversation.

And in this manner of preaching, is the Gospel to be preached: to which also, they have certain helps annexed, discovered in this Revelation of Christ.

5. For their helpfulness in doing good with this preach∣ing, they are,

• 1. To use earnest Prayer to God in the Name of Christ,* 1.240 for Divine Help and Assistance.
• 2. To read, minde,* 1.241 and meditate the Holy Scriptures that are fore-written.
• 3. And as any are brought in to entertain the Gospel,* 1.242 if they have not so been fore-baptized, to baptize them and all that are theirs, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; so testifying the Truth of the Gospel they have taught, and admitting the Baptized into the Family of Christ, to be his Scholars to learn of him. And for such as are come to the knowledge and profession of Christ in his Family, to break bread,* 1.243 and so to eat and drink together ac∣cording to his institution in remembrance of his death, and to shew it forth till he come.
• 4. And for their better profiting in, and use of all these helps,* 1.244 to have their assemblings together for fellowship in the Gospel, that so they may grow in Faith and Love, and in Union and Fellowship with God and Christ, and one ano∣ther, and others be still brought in to God by them, and stub∣born, and criminal Offenders shut out of that Fellowship till they repent.

And this the Preaching,* 1.245 and these the helps for carrying on this business: but who is sufficient for these things? it is therefore good to consider who they be, that in this Reve∣lation of Christ, God did purpose, and in his purpose pre∣approve, and so chuse for this business; and how he hath fur∣nished them so chosen, which is also in this Revelation made known.

CHAP. 11.

Of those whom God hath appointed and chosen to this busi∣ness, for declaring his Name, and shewing forth his praises to this end, for Convincement, Conversion, and Edifica∣tion.

WE do finde in the Scripture, that these are in some re∣spect of two sorts; though in respect of Faith, and that ministred,* 1.246 one; and so he chose first and primely those that were brought in by his own personal Ministration, and the first Trusters in him after his Resurrection, to be the Beginners and Layers of the Foundation, and Recorders of the Go∣spel thus revealed; and likewise together with them, and to be after them, all those that should through his Word mi∣nistred by these first Witnesses be brought in to believe on him, to carry this business an end, to the same end, till his coming again. And this appears cleer in the Scripture: for,

1. He chose for this business those that were brought in by his own immediate and personal Ministration, and receiv∣ed the Gospel immediately from himself,* 1.247 having seen and heard him personally; and so were to be the Trusters in him after his Resurrection: he chose them not as they were the Sons of Adam, and born of such natural Parents, and had of them such Names, though they were such, and had such Names; but as they were his Called, and believed on him, even so, and as such he chose them: and so it is said of them

he chose to be Apostles, they were first his called Disciples, and then he after called and chose them to be Apostles; and one of these, notwithstanding all this Grace extended,* 1.248 was false-hearted, and became of the Devil, and lost himself, and so never came to trust in him after his Resurrection; but ano∣ther of his Disciples, that so trusted in him, had that place and office of his: for those in and with him in this business approved of him, are called, and chosen, and faithful: and of these, of his first Witnesses, he saith, You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, that you should go,* 1.249 and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. And again, Ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, &c. And as such, he prayed for them, that they might be fitted, pre∣selved and blessed in their Ministration. And so likewise he appointed seventy others to go before his Face, to evange∣lize. And thus also Paul was chosen to be one of these first Witnesses, and an Apostle; and proves his Apostleship by this, That he received the Gospel immediately from the Lord, and that he had seen the Lord. And this the Apostle affirms of all the first Witnesses, that saw and heard Christ af∣ter his Resurrection, That they were witnesses chosen before of God, and precious, and commanded by him to preach unto the people, and testifie, &c. so that of this first sort there is no question.

2. He also in this choice, did also chuse for carrying an end this business till his coming again, those, and all those (ap∣proving onely those) that in believing his Word, as delivered and left upon record by his Apostles, are by his grace brought in believing on him, to be united, and built on him, and so to have his Word in their Heart. And this is express,* 1.250 That these are the spiritual house, and holy Priesthood, the chosen Gene∣ration, and peculiar people, called out of darkness into his mar∣vellous light, to offer up his acceptable Sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ, and shew forth the praises, according to what was fore-prophesied of such: whence that hope of the Apo∣stle to be enlarged by the Corinthians; and that acknowledge∣ment with thanksgiving of the Word,* 1.251 sounded out to others by the Thessalonians, and their edifying one another,* 1.252 to which he still exhorts them (for Officers in outward Congregations,

I am not yet to speak, but as they are one with the unfeigned Believers thus united to Christ) who as they are admonished in their speaking or Ministration,* 1.253 not to presume beyond the measure of Faith dealt to them; so they are exhorted accord∣ing to the gift they have received,* 1.254 to minister the same one to another, as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God; and if any man speak, to speak as the Oracles of God; yea, and in the midst of a crooked Generation,* 1.255 to shine forth as Lights, and hold forth the Word of Life, as Jesus Christ bade. And so the Manifestation of the Spirit is said to be given to every Man to profit withall. And indeed, the House being of God's building, and not Man's, by a Rule; for so was the old Tabernacle: and Christ being the Minister of this San∣ctuary, the High-Priest, that is, the Prophet and the spiritual. Man, that hath none but spiritual Priests to attend his service, there being a change of the Priesthood, that Law is also changed,* 1.256 and we have from Christ now no Priests by a na∣tural birth or lineal descent, but by a spiritual birth onely; none by worldly Power,* 1.257 and Documents, and Order: but by the Teachings and Calling of Christ by the Spirit of Grace.

But for these two Points, that is, The means of carry∣ing forth the Gospel, and the Instruments approved and chosen thereto by God in Christ, we may yet see much more in the next and last Point, which followeth next to be spoken of, namely, The Furniture wherewith he hath furnished them, and that with fulness of spiritual bles∣sings both in knowledge, grace, wisdom, and understanding; and also with spiritual gifts, of which now.

CHAP. 12.

Of the Furniture of spiritual blessings the chosen Witnesses are endued with.

THe choice and blessed Furniture of the first Witnesses of this Revelation, is set forth by the Apostle in Ephes. 1, & 2, & 3, & 4 Chapters, fully and cleerly: Ephes. 1.1-12. he begins with magnifying the Grace of God given him to mi∣nister,* 1.258 and the Office of, and Furniture for the Apostleship given him, as he did to the Romans and others, but here more abundantly; and in viewing the Excellencies he was to speak of, he begins with Thanksgiving,* 1.259 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spi∣ritual blessings (that is, of Knowledge, Faith, Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost, with all heavenly Riches, and fitness to display them) in heavenly places, or things in Christ; (that is, above and better then our Fathers of old,* 1.260 who had not heavenly places and things, but earthy, mate∣rial Temple, Altar, Mercy-Seat, High-Priest, Sacrifices, In∣cense, Purifications, &c. yea, and all distinct, not one the other, but each several and divided: but we have a spiritual and heavenly Temple, Altar, Mercy-Seat, High-Priest, Sacri∣fice, Incense, Purification; yea, Father, Brother, Sonship, Fellowship, &c. and all these one, and in one,* 1.261 even in Christ) in that preparation made, and Furniture given us in Christ, in whom was fulness of provision made, for extending Grace in the several Revelations of him, for the several Ministrations of him in the several Ages of the World, (as hath been shewn) and so for this last Age of the World after his Resur∣rection,* 1.262 in which he purposed the first Trusters in Christ to be his choice Ministers; and in that purpose, all this Grace was given us in Christ, before the World began; but since his Resur∣rection, so revealed and manifested to us, as never was to any before. And this vers. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him

(these words may be taken to be read, as in a Parenthesis, for an actual Election; which was indeed passed on them, and in that choice they received nothing, but what was prepared in Christ for them before the Foundation of the World: and this is a good and true reading and sense; and so is this that follows, if we take the words for God's fore-purpose and pre-approbation of these first Trusters in Christ, and so take them without a Parenthesis) before the foundation of the world,* 1.263 that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. It's cleer he speaks here of something, wherein they were prefer∣red before the Instruments in former Ministrations: for to be holy and unblameable before him in love, shall one day be the portion of all the Saints from first to last.* 1.264 And of faults deserving blame in conversation, the best Saints on Earth have not been altogether free;* 1.265 yea, the Apostles con∣fess, That they were not: But here he speaks of their Mini∣stration, and the Testament they were Ministers of, as he did elsewhere. And so Moses in his Ministration was faithful in all his House as a Servant, and Aaron the Saint of the Lord: but the Law and Testament they ministred, made nothing perfect;* 1.266 it was weak through the flesh: therefore God sent his Son, &c. and faulting the former Covenant, he changed, and took away that Law, and hath brought in: New Covenant, established on better promises, which Christ ministers by these chosen Witnesses; so that they needed a∣bundance of Furniture, and were indeed so abundantly fur∣nished, that in Love, and Declaration of his Love, by an un∣erring Spirit, they were un-erringly led in this excellent mi∣nistration, holy and unblameable, in ministring of an holy and unblameable Covenant before him in Love, which they have left upon record; which did we more believe, we should more prize the Gospel, with the sayings in it left upon record by them.* 1.267 But he proceeds, vers. 5. Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Note well the words: he saith not, Having predestinated us to be adopted children; for they were in election; and being chosen, (whether in purpose or act) as much adopted as chosen: for sure that Phrase, Mint Elect in whom my soul delighteth,* 1.268 is well and truely rendered,

My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased, and is the same with that, This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Besides,* 1.269 Adoption is onely in Christ Jesus, and had in receiving and having him, as Eternal Life is; and no other way: and yet farther, Adoption and Acceptation to Sonship in Christ, is in a peculiar manner the work of God the Father, that cal∣leth, and draweth, and begetteth to Christ. And the com∣munication of the Dignitie and Priviledges of Sons, is in a peculiar manner the work of Jesus Christ the Son; as it is in a peculiar manner the work of the holy Spirit to witness it: besides, Adoption is a thing to be ministred, and did, though not so cleerly, appertain to the Jews under Moses Ministra∣tion. So that it is evident here, That in saying, Having pre∣destinated us to the adoption of sons, he points out the more cleer business in their Ministration they were predestinated to (as predestination relateth also to the means, as well as the person and end) and that is here the Adoption of Chil∣dren by Jesus Christ, in which the way is pointed out, a more cleer one then ever was in former Ministrations, by preaching Jesus Christ according to the Revelation of the Mystery:* 1.270 and so the Gospel is called, The Word of Reconciliation; and the Ministery of it, The Ministery of Reconciliation: and both committed to them for that end. Whence they said in Ministration, to be sent to open the eyes, and turn, &c. that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance,* 1.271 &c. whence our Saviour saith of them, I have chosen you, and or∣dained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit,* 1.272 &c. and what fruit that is, is to be seen in the commission given them: so that they were appointed to Adoption, that is, in Ministration of the Son to bring men in to the Faith of the Son of God, and so to Sonship or Adoption.

And this by Jesus Christ, that is, by abiding in him,* 1.273 and so preaching and witnessing him, and so Repentance and Re∣mission of sins in his Name, to draw men in to him, as hath been shewn: and this unto himself, to draw to him, unite to, and inamour with him, that he may have their heart, and the praise: such the end of their Ministration and Furniture, and so of their preaching: so they say, We pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God; and, We have espoused you to one

husband, even Christ. Thus was their Ministration to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself; and herein far above the Ministration of Moses and Aaron, and all the Levitical Priesthood, and their Law: for though their A∣doption appertained to them, and their Ministration was to bring Men to God, and so to be Sons and Tutor. Sons; yet it was not with such a cleer Revelation of Christ, but by Types, and Shadows, and Prophesies of him to come; and by Circumcision,* 1.274 still holding out the Gentiles as strangers to their Priviledges, and binding even the Circumcision to such observances of outward Rites, that they were kept still in a kinde of bondage; so, as they were under Tutors and Governours as Servants, so as the most upright that were in Grace and not of works of the Law, yet were they under the Law: but this Ministration is of Grace onely, and of Free∣dom, and leads thereto:* 1.275 yea, even John's Ministration, though before, and above all the former, yet short of this; this being a glorious Ministration of a glorious Gospel, to a gloriously gracious end,* 1.276 even the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ unto God, according to the good pleasure of his will, not onely according to his will, and the pleasure of his will; for so were all the former Ministrations: but through Men's weaknesses they did not so profit,* 1.277 nor were to conti∣nue but for a time, till Christ had offered up the Sacrifice; and so were not approved for continuance and perfecting the Saints. But his delight is in his Son, and the cleer Reve∣lation of him, and that Men should love and honour him, and so come to God by him; and of this their Ministration, and so this Ministration to continue till his coming again,* 1.278 with which he is well pleased: so that all the efficacies of it, are to him a sweet savour. This the choice and good pleasure of his will, according to which they were to minister, and did minister; and both his choice of them, and furnishing of them to his Ministration, and their so ministring to bring Men by Christ to Sonship,* 1.279 was for this glorious end, Vers. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace. The Grace of God was from the beginning, and testified in his works and word, and he praised for it by his Servants: but the riches and glori∣ousness of it, was but dimly seen, in respect of what indeed it

is; nor did it so appear, till the Son was manifested, till he came and was thus revealed, and that God spake by him,* 1.280 and manifested himself through him, who is the Image of the invisible God, the brightness of his glory, the express Image of his person, who hath declared him; so that God that commanded the Light to shine out of darkness, shined in the Hearts of these first Witnesses the Light of the Glory of God,* 1.281 in the Face of Jesus Christ, revealing the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery, &c. as formerly had not been revealed to others; yea, the largeness of this Riches, and extention of it to all Mankinde in Ministration, that they might participate; so as they were for the praise and praising,* 1.282 and their Mini∣stration for declaring, extolling and praising the glorious largeness, riches and freeness of his Grace, and to occasion and bring others to glorifie and praise the same together with them: in which free and abundant Grace, or, as still in vers. 6. Wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,* 1.283 which is as much, as in more words to say, That in the discovery of his glorious Grace in Christ to us,* 1.284 and shedding it abroad in our hearts, he hath therein and thereby reconciled us (who were sinners as others are) unto himself, and so made us ac∣cepted in Christ the Beloved, and counted us faithful, and put us in the Ministery; so as we have seen and known what we preach, and have our selves experience of that we preach to others, being also patterns set forth of God for them that believe: he having committed to us, and put in us the word of Reconciliation, and by that large and free Love of his, filled our Hearts with Love and Desire, that others may participate of the same; and so answered that Praver made for us, Joh. 17.11, 20. by Christ lesus.

Vers. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood,* 1.285 the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. The Redemption here spoken of, is explicated, by the medium, his blood (applied,) the thing it self, the forgiveness of sins, and the manner, according to the Riches of his Grace, and so more full then what believers in former times received, who had the application mediately by other blood, figuring out his blood, as then yet to be shed, and yet short of that full and com∣pleat Redemption that is still to be waited for: of which, this

is a first fruits and sealing confirmation of it to us. And of the having Redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,* 1.286 is more then having received forgiveness of their own sins in their own consciences, and so freedom from the bon∣dage of the Law, and Justification through his blood, and so peace with God, and access to him in this Grace and Hope of Glory; which indeed they had, and were thereby filled with, and fitted by experiments of his Grace. But having, here signifieth both all this, and somthing more then all this, even something wherein they were preferred before all the Ministers that went before them. These having in Christ, in the word of Christ, as given them, the word of Reconci∣liation, in which all this is brightly discovered in him:* 1.287 and so in the Ministration given them, they have the Redem∣ption compleated by him in himself for Men, and there∣in Remission of sins, to preach to others in his Name, that so by Faith in his Blood, they also may receive the same, Romans 3.24, 25. Acts 10.43. & 26.18. yea, even by Faith in his Blood, without outward Circumcision, or undering to the works of the Law; so glorious the Mini∣stration he hath given them, and they have to display, not according to the works of the Law, but according to the Riches of his Grace. And this sence appears by the next following words, cleerly to be here meant.

Vers. 8.* 1.288 Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence. This cleerly appears not to be the wisdom of the World,* 1.289 or of the Princes of this World, or their prudence, which cometh to nought; yea, with all their wisdom, they have not known this wisdom:* 1.290 but as Christ is the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God, in whom are hid and treasured up all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily, he being im∣measurably filled with the Holy Ghost,* 1.291 the Spirit of Wis∣dom and knowledge, to send forth, and it flowing from him: and that Spirit testifying of him, and enabling rightly to te∣stifie of him. When the Apostle prayes for the Ephesians, that God would grant to them the Spirit of wisdom and Re∣velation in the Knowledge of Christ,* 1.292 that so in the know∣ledge of that Object unbared, and their eyes opened and

strengthened to behold, they might see the hope of his cal∣ling them (in this Ministration,) &c. and it being the wis∣dom of the prudent to understand his way, so it is manifest,* 1.293 that here by all wisdom and prudence he meaneth, the im∣parting and giving in to them the cleer knowledge of Christ, and the things of Christ, and so of his Minde, according to the Revelation of the Mystery,* 1.294 and ability to declare the same by the Holy Ghost, as essewhere he expresseth himself to mean; and so by abounding towards us, he openeth himself to mean, he hath given more abundantly to us,* 1.295 and revealed the Mystery more fully to us, and fitted us to manifest the same in all wisdom and prudence, more then ever he did to a∣ny of the Sons of Men, or any his Servants in former Ages: and this to be the meaning, is fully cleered in the next words.

Vers. 9.* 1.296 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he had purposed in himself. Having, saith he, made known to us the mystery of his will,* 1.297 which is called also, The Mystery of Christ, The Mystery of the Gospel, The Mystery of Faith, The Mystery of Godliness, yea, The Mystery of God, even of the Father and of Christ: in which also the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God: all which was given to them to know; and these were made Stewards of the Mysteries of God thus made known to them, as he saith, Having made known to us the mystery of his will,* 1.298 ac∣cording to the good pleasure which he had purposed in himself. This of it self clears up to us all; God working all things according to the counsel of his will, in which is his purpose; he having at first so prepared in Christ, and ordered for the several Re∣velations of him, and the Miniders with their furniture in the several Ages, to carry the same forth, he then for these last times purposed this great and cleer Revelation of Christ; and the first Trusters in him after his Resurrection, to be his chosen Witnesses, and to be thus furnished; and according to this purpose in himself, he hath thus chosen and furnished them to this gracious end: in which, this sense doth farther appear by that before and following.

Vers. 10. That in the despensation of the fulness of times,* 1.299 he might gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are

in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. By fulness of times, he gives us to understand, is meant the times after that due time was come when Jesus Christ was come, and had suffered and compleated that prophesied and typed of him,* 1.300 to be done by him in his first coming, and so had given his Word to his Disciples to manifest him by preaching: and so it is said,* 1.301 When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons:* 1.302 which fulness of times, is also called the last times; be∣cause also there shall be no more changes of the manner of his Dispensation in any other Revelation or Doctrine of Christ,* 1.303 but in and by this; and this to be continued till that visible coming again of his, which is the last day and last time, in which the whole Mystery of God will be finished; that be∣ing called, that day, when will be the fulness of the stature of Christ; when all that are to be brought in to him by such means are come in to him, and with him; and from his first coming which was in due time, in the beginning of the fulness of times, to his next personal and visible coming, which will be at that day, that is the last time; all between, is called, the last dayes, the last times; and here, the fulness of times, that we may be mindeful of and heed this Dispensation and Go∣spel thus dispensed by the Apostles, that proved all by the Prophets also, and to look for no other till Christ come a∣gain.

And the end of this glorious Revelation, and glorious Dis∣pensation is,* 1.304 That by Christ thus discovered, and as discovered in it, he might shew forth in Christ, and gather together in one,* 1.305 even in Christ, all things which are in Heaven and in Earth, even all the parcels of his Minde fore-declared in the heavenly Prophesies, or by Dreams and Visions, or by earthy Types and Shadows, and that was hid 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ, now to be revealed and made manifest together in him, in whom God and Man are one; and Truth and Righteousness, with Mercy and Peace meet in one, in him; yea, in Temple, Al∣tar, Propitiatory, Oracle, Priest, Sacrifice, Purincation; yea, Life and Covenant are all in one,* 1.306 in him; yea, in him Father, Son, Spirit are all one; yea, the worshipped and worshippers

meet in one in him; yea, the Spirits of the Prophets, and A∣postles, and of all just Men made perfect in Heaven, and of all unfeigned Believers on Earth, meet in one in him; yea,* 1.307 Faith, Love, De res, Refreshings, all flow from him, and run into him, and meet in one; yea, Jew, Gentile, Bond, Free, Male, Female, all one in him; and by Faith in him, come to enjoy Union and Fellowship in and with him and one ano∣ther, and enjoyment of his blessing: and this Union with him, the Gospel thus dispensed, effecteth where believed.* 1.308 And thus to understand this gathering together of all things in Christ to be of these things, and this Union, we are led by the 3 vers. and other Scriptures; so that the end of this Dis∣pensation is to let Men see all in Christ, and so draw them in to believe in him, to place all their Love, Faith, Desires and Content in him, and so to finde all their satisfacti∣on in him, and so partake of the Blessing of this Union in him.

Vers. 11. In whom, (that is,* 1.309 in Christ) we have obtained an inheritance: this he sheweth to be, they had it in hope; and the Holy Spirit as the earnest, till the possession be given: and this they had also to preach to others, and assure all unfeigned Believers of the same, to be theirs in hope; yea, there was a confirmation of the Truth of all this, and of the Blessing of their Ministration in the Ephesians, believing on their report,* 1.310 and being therein sealed, though they had not so much light into the Mystery as the Apostles had, for which he also prays after for them, and explicates the Mystery to them, as it was revealed to the Apostles, both in the Doctrine and Ef∣fects of it in Believers, and the Priviledges held forth to all Men that they might believe, with experiments in some mea∣sure found in all Believers, which I leave to be read in the second and third Chapters, onely here taking notice of what he affirms concerning all he hath said, Vers. 11.* 1.311 That to all this, they were predestinated according to the purpose of him that worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. Mark how he concludes, and approves the pur∣pose of God to be such, and his predestination of them ac∣cording to his purpose, even from his works in them, that God having so chosen, and blessed, and furnished them-above

all his former Servants, and put them in this Ministration for such a Dispensation, and confirmed it with such Bles∣sings; he working nothing at randome, but all things ac∣cording to the counsel of his own will: This is an evidence that such was God's purpose, and according to his purpose did he predestinate us to all this, to this end,

Vers. 12.* 1.312 That we (we so elected and furnished, according as we were predestinated, that we) should to be the praise of his glory, (we in our Ministration in this Dispensation, setting forth his glorious rich Grace in and through Christ, as never was be∣fore) should lay the Foundation, and deliver the Doctrine and Dispensation in which the Glory of his Grace shall be displayed to the end of the World; so that we now in our personal doctrinal delivery and Dispensation, and we after in the same Doctrine and Dispensation, delivered and re∣corded, by us held forth in the Ministration of those that be∣lieve through our word, in which our Fruit still remaineth and encreaseth, that so we should be to the praise of his glory, e∣ven we, who first trusted in Christ; and so were Eye-witnesses of him, and had our Gospel immediately from him: in which he puts a distinction between the first Witnesses that first trusted in Christ, and the believing Ephesians that also trusted in him, after they had heard the Word from the first Witnesses,* 1.313 of which Believers he affirms graciously, but short of what he affirmed of the first Witnesses, putting a re∣markable difference in respect of the measure of the Furni∣ture between himself with those spoken of, and these he speaketh and writeth unto. So that the whole Series of all the things affirmed from vers. 3. to vers. 12. will agree to none but the Apostles and first Witnesses of Christ, to none of the Servants of God before Christ carried our Nature into Heaven, nor fully in all and every of the things af∣firmed, scarce to any since their times: but to all them, all that is said doth fully agree, and in the Text is expresly af∣firmed of them,* 1.314 which doth abundantly testifie the Truth and Goodness of the Gospel delivered by them, who were so a∣bundantly furnished with such a full and cleer Revelation of Christ, which they received so immediately from himself, whom they also saw; and being so filled with his Spirit, have ac∣cording

to his purpose left the same on record for us,* 1.315 who have the same Gospel and Dispensation, a revealed by them to believe and declare, as we have it mediately from them; and not to gape after another immediate Revelation of it to us, but to take it, as in believing we may by the Spirit come to know it in and by their writings; and so Blessing, Electi∣on and Furniture, with the Predestination according to his purpose for such a gracious end for these last times here set forth, speaks good to, and for all the Sons of Men to whom it comes, that they might believe; and sweet Consolation to all Believers: and the wresting of Election and Predestination here spoken of, to mean a certain set Company of Men se∣vered from the residue of Men, that they, and onely they, shall be eternally saved, that were thus absolutely predesti∣nated thereto, before the Foundation of the World; and these onely, and all these thus chosen and blessed, as Ephes. 1.3, 4. sure there is not one word in the whole Text, or else∣where, expressing or importing such a sence as this. But there are many things in the Text against such a sense, and that will not admit it, as appears in that said, over and beside the expression of this Company, to be the first Trusters in Christ, and speaking of them distinctly from after-Trusters, changing the person from those spoke of, to those spoken to, with some difference in that affirmed of either; yea, this sense pretended in the Face of it, compared with the Text, would cut off all the Fathers from Adam to Noah, and all the Believers in their times, and all from Noah to Abra∣ham, and all from Abraham to Moses, and all from Moses to David, and from him to John Baptist, from being of the number of the Elect, and predestinate to Eternal Life: for the things here affirmed of these Elect and predestinated, cannot be affirmed of those from the beginning; no, not of John Bap∣tist himself; yea, and by that Trial, few Believers since, will ever come to finde themselves of this elect Company; be∣side, this pretended sense pleaded for, weakens and denies the evidence of good and credit this place affords to the Go∣spel-Dispensation, and darkens the light of the whole Text, so cleerly shewing and intended to shew forth the excellency of the Gospel as now revealed, and the heavenly and rich

Furniture of the Apostles and first Witnesses to deliver it, and the Gospel and Dispensation recorded by them, to be the Dispensation for these last times, and all this according to the purpose of God; so were they furnished, and in the Go∣spel recorded, they are in Spirit with all this Furniture with us now. But as this Furniture was in a sort common to all the first Witnesses, so they had also a Furniture of spiritual gifts, in which was difference; some one, some another; some more, some less. Let us view these also.

CHAP. 13.

Of the Furniture of spiritual gifts the first witnesses had, as in Ephes. 4.

EPhes. 4.7.13.* 1.316 But unto every one of us is given grace, ac∣cording to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith,* 1.317 When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.* 1.318 (And then there is an inference: read vers. 9, 10. and then he saith,) And he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers: for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministery, for the edifying of the body of Christ,* 1.319 till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature (or age) of the fulness of Christ.

In these words are many things affirmed and taught, both shewing their rich and plentiful furniture of spiritual gifts, and worthy our observing.

1. That these gifts, as here mentioned, were never so given to the Servants of Christ in this manner,* 1.320 before his personal Death, and Resurrection, and Ascension into Heaven, in that personal Body of his that died and rose again; and so, that on his Ascension, he received in that personal Body of his, the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost to send forth; and then, and not till then, but even then, he did send forth the Holy Ghost upon his first Witnesses, with all these

his spiritual gifts:* 1.321 and this is evident in the Apostles fore-in∣ference; and in the Prophesie of it, and in the testified per∣formance of it, and in this express Affirmation. As for outward Offices, for Order in Churches, for teaching and leading in the Administration of Outward Ordinances; they were before according to God's Direction, both for Temples, Synagogues, and Families, as well as those that follow for their time among these, as Elders, or Bishops, and Deacons, which are to be chosen by the Church, which is to follow Christ; in cnusing whom he hath fitted, and not enjoyning him to follow them, in fitting whom they have chosen, or else to allow him no Ministers in his Church: but of these after, in fit place.

2. That these gifts,* 1.322 bear not the names of ordinary Officers in the outward polity of the Church, but the names of the Offices and Business of the first Witnesses of Christ,* 1.323 which were to preach him, to bring in such as were no Church, that they might be a Church, and of the Church;* 1.324 and then to e∣difie the Church: and so a true Church in being, which was before, and while as yet there was no such outward ordinary Officers, for the outward polity thereof ordained therein, they being ordained in the Churches, some time after the Churches were congregated, and in being. And so we finde,* 1.325 That of the Disciples immediately called by Jesus Christ him∣self, that after they were come to and followed him as Disci∣ples, he then called them to him: and first, of them he chose twelve, whom he named Apostles,* 1.326 whom he sent forth to witness of him, and preach him; and also that after that he appointed other seventy, and sent them to go before his face, which could be no less then to evangelize: yea,* 1.327 all his Disci∣ples he appointed, to be a Light to the World, and to let their Light shine forth, in Word and Conversation, so preach∣ing him: yet with these gifts fitting for the great business that was to be done, were they not yet endued, nor could be,* 1.328 till Christ had suffered and ascended; and so were to go forth where Christ was not named, &c. till after Christ his Ascen∣sion, they were by his pouring forth the Holy Ghost on them indued with power from on high; and by this, and their ex∣ercise, and allegations of Scripture in their Ministery, it ap∣peareth,

that the first, primary, and choice gift, was the gift of Apostle,* 1.329 put in this his first, and by himself immediately gathered Church: and this appeareth to be such a spiritual Manifestation,* 1.330 Light, Knowledge, and Gift, for teaching Christ, with such spiritual power and efficacy as apted and enabled them to preach Christ, where, and to those he was not before known to be The Christ,* 1.331 or else where he was not so much as named, and so known at all; and so not to be the first instru∣mental layers of the Foundation; and such brought in by them, were the seal of their Apostleship.

And in this gift of Apostle this is also to be farther noted, That in it all the rest were included; so, as such as had the gift of Apostle, had therein all the other following gifts, as of Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher; though others that had these, had not all that was in the gift of an Apo∣stle.

The next gifts here mentioned, are Prophets and Evan∣gelists; first here naming Prophet, and then Evangelist, be∣cause of the double efficacy for convincement and drawing on to believe, else they may be called by one or either of the Names; and so the Apostle elsewhere includes Evange∣lest, in that Phrase of Prophet;* 1.332 saying, secondarily Pro∣phets; by which, with the phrase Evangelist used here, and by their Ministration, and the effects, we may discern what these gifts or this double gift is. Prophesie here not to be limited to that gift of fore-telling some events to come; which was more before, then since the Ascension of Christ;* 1.333 such as that of Agabus: but it was such a spiritual Manifestation, Light, Knowledge and Gift for teaching Christ, with such power and efficacy, as apted and enabled them so to preach Christ, as might tend to the convincement of unbelievers,* 1.334 and the throwing down all their strong holds, convincing them of the fulness of all Foundation: for trusting in, or doors of approach to God, besides Christ: & that he is the onely Foundation & door of approach to God, which was done in prophesying, and in this respect the gift for this, called the gift of Prophet:* 1.335 and then the drawing in the con∣vinced to believe in Christ, and so turn to the Lord, which is the proper effect of evangelizing: and so the Apostle

saith, The Word was evangelized,* 1.336 to those that were brought in to believe: whence the gift is called Evangelist most frequently, though also both are called, Prophet. And this is also to be here noted, That Evangelist includeth Pastor and Teacher; so, as those that had the gift of Evangelist, had therein also the gift of Pastor and Teacher, though all that had the gift of Pastor and Teacher, had not also all that was in the gift of Prophet and Evangelist. And so,

The next gift here mentioned is, And some Pastors & Teachers: he saith not as before of the other, And some Pastors, and some Teachers; as if these were several, and distinct, and different gifts, as the other: though in this, as in the former, there may be a various distribution in the measure, to some more than to others:* 1.337 yet feeding and teaching is in them all; yea, feeding is by teaching, and right teaching the way of right ruling and feeding; and so as the Apostle includes both these Pastor and Teacher, in one word, saying, thirdly Teachers: yea, Pastors are in and with these gifts, so as Apostles are Pastors and Prophets and Evangelists are Pastors, and Teachers are Pastors, and all of them are Teachers;* 1.338 yet all according to their several gifts, and the measure of Faith given unto them; and so all of them together Stewards and Shepherds: and in this is seen something of the spiritual Kingdom of Christ in this World, as was also typed in the temporal Kingdom of Da∣vid, in which was King Priest, Prophets, and all anointed and called Shepherds, to rule, order, lead, teach, and minister;* 1.339 and so suitable to that prophesie by Jeremiah, and a spiritual first Fruits of it: for here is Jesus Christ the anointed of God, into whose Lips Grace is poured, the great and mighty King, the Prophet and great High-Priest over the House of God, the good Shepherd of his Flock, sitting in his Body in the Heavens, at the right Hand of God, (till he come again and take to him his great Power and Raign) that is also the Anoynter, and in sending forth of Spirit hath given gifts unto Men, to get him a spiritual Kingdom amongst Men, and to order it, till he come to take them to raign with him.* 1.340 And so he by his Spirit is present with them, and anoynteth them, and maketh them a spiritual House, an holy and royal Priesthood,* 1.341 to shew forth his vertues, and offer spiritual Sacrifices to God by him, suitable to, and a spiritual first Fruits of that prophecied by Isaiah: and so, as he hath put his Word,* 1.342 and therein laid the

Foundation in them; so he hath filled and fitted them in his a∣nointing, with spiritual gifts, to hold forth, teach, and so lay the same Foundation for others, and to convince them of the false∣ness of all other Foundations, and to draw and build them up on this Foundation, and to help them to growth and feeding there∣on, and for direction for walking therein, till they come to the fulness of possession;* 1.343 so richly were these first VVitnesses furnished in the Faith, having both the Gospel in such full and clear know∣ledge, and all these spiritual gifts, immediately from Jesus Christ himself, whose personal body they both saw and heard, even after his Resurrection. And whereas Paul seemed to be born out of due time for this, yet it was vouchsafeth him; and he did, and was the last that did, both hear and see him in his personal Body, and receive the Gospel and these spiritual gifts immediately from him;* 1.344 and by that he proves his Apostleship: and in this immedi∣ateness of receit and commission they have no Successors; but do continue with us in all their knowledge and gifts, by and in the Gospel recorded by them.

3. That the end for which all these gifts were given them, was for perfecting the Saints (that is,* 1.345 all that are prevailingly called by his Grace, and so united to him, and sanctified by and to him, and for his service; not limiting this to outward Officers, nor en∣gaging it to all them, some of them it may be not being such Saints; but limiting it to such Saints, and enlarging it to all them, for perfecting them) for the work of the Ministery, (the Ministery of the Saints of the whole Body, whereof no Member is Officeless or useless, but each hath some Service or Ministration and fitness for it, and spirit of life running therein, and so a Ministration) for the edifying of the Body of Christ; and this such an edification as is for the growth of the Body both in multitude of converts, and their growth in Union, Fellowship and Conformity; every Mem∣ber in this sense growing, by the influence that proceedeth from the Head; but yet not immediately into every particular Mem∣ber, nor through some outward Officers onely; but as from the Head of the mystical Body, so through every living Member, ma∣king increase to it self in love; And so the growth of the Body by that which every joynt supplieth: for so gracious an end were these gifts given.

4. The time of the continuance of these gifts, and that is ex∣press,

Till we all come in the unity of the Faith, &c. that is,* 1.346 till the last Man be called that is to be called, before the personal appearance of Christ, till we all (that is, the whole company that is to meet with him, and to come and raign with him) meet in the unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge (and so the acknow∣ledgement) of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man,* 1.347 (a full and compleat Company, a fit and suitable Corporation or Body for such an Head) the measure of the stature (or age) of the fulness of Christ; which, (as the knowledge of the Freedom of Sons was by his first coming, so this) will be at his next coming and ap∣pearing in Glory, when this manner of Ministration will cease; but till then, they to continue in this Ministration of the Gospel. True it is, The Gospel, that is, the Faith to be taught and received,* 1.348 it was once and but once, immediately given unto the Saints in these first VVitnesses; but that very same Gospel is mediately con∣tinued, and so to be received and held forth, and no other Gospel, nor another immediate giving of that (unless to some Jews,) but that kept, and held forth by the Saints till Christ come again; even so these spiritual gifts, to minister the Gospel with, were once given, and that was when Christ ascended up in our Nature to Heaven,* 1.349 and then he sent them down to his Saints at once; and in this immediateness and fulness, as then but once: but these gifts, even all of them, as mediately received through belief of the Gospel delivered by them; which Gospel, whoever unfeignedly believeth, is become of them, and so of Christ, and so of the same seed, the seed of them who are the seed of Christ, and the seed of Christ his seed, and his seed's seed.

And so this VVord and Gospel given them, and the spiritual gifts given them therein and therewith, and so put in them, shall not depart out of them, nor out of their seed,* 1.350 nor out of their seed's seed, from henceforth for ever: and so will he make good his promise to them, of being with them to the end of the VVorld:* 1.351 and that to this gracious end, That having such a standing and enduring Gospel recorded, and in that record revealed; and in minding, and believing thereof, receiving such known spiritual gifts, as all lead to exalt Christ and draw to, and build on him; VVe may no more be as Children, tossed to and fro,* 1.352 and carried about with every winde of Doctrine, by the slight of Men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive: but speaking

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the truth in love, we may grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, &c.

And so much for their blessed Furniture, that is of continuance, and abideth in the Church, believing and professing this Go∣spel in some good measure throughout all ages. But with this they had some other Furniture tending to confirm their Doctrine and Ministration, peculiar to the first times.

CHAP. 14.

Of the peculiar confirming Furniture of the first Witnesses and the Churches brought in by their personal Ministra∣tion.

THese first VVitnesses had also some other gifts that were for confirmation, which were chiefly to them, yet neither per∣sonal to every one, nor peculiar to the first VVitnesses, but pecu∣liar to the first age of the Church, the gifts mentioned that are for continuance, were to some more, to some less, yet to all some; and these were for edifying the body of Christ: but these other gifts are not personally to every Believer; and though they were given to the Church, yet their principal end was for unbelievers, That such as had not heard, and been taught, and so did not know, That the Messiah, the Saviour of the world was come, and had offered up the acceptable Sacrifice; and, that this very Jesus was he; this Jesus whom they preached is the Christ; and, that God will be worshipped and approached to in and through him; and that such as do believe in him, and approach to God by him, shall be saved. Till this was proclaimed, rumoured, and taught through the world, and had been sufficiently confirmed for truth, so, as it was received and professed by many witnesses; signes and miracles were necessary, to convince the unbelievers of the truth of it, and to confirm the weak and unstable in the be∣lief of the same. And indeed for these ends were such signs, won∣ders, and miracles granted to be donea 1.353: and so it's evident such

effects they hadb 1.354, and such use the Apostles made of themc 1.355: and these gifts of speaking with divers Tongues, and of working Miracles, and healing Diseases, were given abun∣dantly in the first age of the Church, but not to every Be∣liever: yea, primely and most abundantly to the Apostles, that had the Power or Gift of giving the Holy Ghost, in such∣like Gifts of speaking with Tongues, by Prayer, with lay∣ing on of Hands. Philip was an Evangelist; and God did by him shew many Signs and Wonders: yet the giving of the Holy Ghost in such Gifts of speaking with new Tongues, was not given by him, but onely in Ministery, on the Prayers and laying on of Hands, by two of the prime and immediate A∣postlesd 1.356: and so in the Preaching of Petere 1.357; and so by the laying on of Paul's Handsf 1.358: though many had the Gift of speaking with Tongues, yet by any thing recorded, it's not like they received it, but in the Ministery of some of the A∣postles; though the Holy Ghost, for comforting, renewing, and filling the Heart with joy and some spiritual Gifts, was given in the Ministery of the Gospel by other Disciplesg 1.359: yea, the Promise of the Holy Ghost in this sort, is to all that God calls by the Gospel, that in believing they may receive ith 1.360. But this Gift of giving the Holy Ghost for speaking with Tongues, appears to be peculiar to the immedately cal∣led Apostles, and for their times: but the Gifts of healings, and doing other Wonders and Miracles, was given to divers others, not onely Evangelists, but other Disciples, yet not to every Disciple, nor all to onei 1.361; and this to multitudes of the first Witnesses, and to divers others brought in by their Mi∣nistration, during their times; but not to continue for the times to come, as the Doctrine with the fore-mentioned Gifts were; But to confirm the Doctrine of the Gospel, and the Grace and spiritual Gifts to be received in the belief thereof, which was to continue till Jesus Christ come again, as appears,

1. By our Saviours manner of promising them: And these signs shall follow them that believe, &c. he saith not,* 1.362 That he (or every one) that believeth, shall do these signs; as he had fore-said, He that believeth, shall be saved: but, And these signs shall fol∣low them that believe, in my Name they shall, &c. where, by the

order of the words according to Scripture-Language, They signifieth the unity and community of the whole Society of Believers from first to last, all of them participating in that, which but some of them have actually done: and so such as are of that Number, Body and Society, are verily said, in re∣spect of the unity and community of the whole Society, to do the same that any of them do, while they do not oppose or disallow it; yea, more fully, if they like, and be glad of it; as the whole Body may be said to do that, which, with its living force and likement, any one living Member doth: and so They,* 1.363 even whole Israel, are said not to have hearkened, but transgressed; when but some did personally so transgress: and so They,* 1.364 even Israel, are said to have sent Messengers to the King of Edom, and the King of Moab; when it was but Moses and the chief of the Rulers that sent: and so They, Israel,* 1.365 are said to have sinned and transgressed God's Cove∣nant; when it was but one Man that personally did it. And this sense the Apostle counts it a shame for Christians to be ignorant of.* 1.366 And to come neerer this very business, that God did by Moses, Aaron and Joshua to those of Israel, personally in their times, is yet counted as done to the whole Society of Israel,* 1.367 and the Generations of them, and that af∣ter them, many Generations, and many hundreds of yeers; and so looked on and spoke of, because of their oneness and interest as, Them; and because of oneness, Him, for, and to whom God by Moses did these things: and the People of Israel,* 1.368 in after-times and Generations, reproved for not ac∣knowledging the same. And though all the Apostles did, be not writ; yet so much is writ, that we may know they, and many of the first Witnesses, and many that believed through their Ministration in the first times, did all these Signs menti∣oned by our Saviour: and now those that believe in Christ through their word, are one with them: of this they, of the same Society; we theirs, and they ours, of the same unity and community, Ephes. 2.17, 22. 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. & 12.26. and so,* 1.369 as they of old are said to rejoyce in God in their Father's rejoycing when they went through the Sea, and to be spoken to by God, when he spake to Jacob, or in that speaking: so, and in that sense may they,* 1.370 the whole Society of Believers,

both then and now, be said to do these signs, which those of the first times personally did.

2. But this will more appear by the words,* 1.371 Shall follow them that believe; for as the Signs and Wonders done by Moses, and in his Ministration did follow the Israelties, that is, accommodate them in all after-Ages, till the Messiah pro∣mised came: not in being done over again, but in that, first,* 1.372 they were left upon record, together with the Law and Do∣ctrine confirmed by them; in which they had those Signs, together with the Law and Doctrine to teach their Children and one another. And secondly, in having, and believing,* 1.373 and minding the Law and Doctrine so confirmed, they had all those Signs also to minde and believe. And thirdly,* 1.374 in minding and believing the Doctrine confirmed by those Signs, they had the same use and benefit of those Signs, for far∣thering their confidence and rejoycing in God, in praying to him, seeking help of him, and resting on him for it in every need, as they had in whose personal sight they were done. And so did these Signs follow them:* 1.375 and it was an evil and adulterous Generation, that did call for the doing them o∣ver again; even so the Believers being come into the same Society and Congregation with the first Witnesses, The A∣postle in this very sense takes in all the Believers to the coming of Christ, using that word we, 1 Cor. 15.51. 1 Thes. 4.15. And in this sense we all may be said to have those Signs done by the first Witnesses to follow us, and to accommodate us, in that they are left upon Record for us in the Record of the Gospel that was confirmed by them,* 1.376 that therein and thereby we may have the same use for minding and teaching them, and being confirmed in the Faith of the Gospel, and so for farthering our confidence, as they of the first times had; yea, they are affirmed to be writ for that end: and it is a Sign of an evil heart, to call for these Signs to be done over a∣gain; which, if it should be granted, yet would not such evil hearts believe. And as this appears, both by the manner of Christ his promising, and the words in his promise: so it doth also appear,

3. By the Apostles setting them down; having set down the abiding gifts, first, second, third sort, he saith, After that,* 1.377

miracles, then gifts of healing, helps in Government, diversities or kindes of tongues. After God had called Moses and Aa∣ran, and spoken by them to the Children of Israel, and sent them to speak to Pharaoh, he added Signs and Wonders that made the Enemies say, This is the finger of God: and he fight∣eth for Israel, and causeth Israel to believe his Words, and sing his Praise. But those Signs were not to be done o∣ver again, but remembred in all Generations following: and so much the Apostle intimates here by the word afterward, as an addition and over-plus for a time.

All that may seem to darken this sense, is, because helps in Government is named among these Gifts: to which, an∣swer might be given, That the naming them with these, doth no more equal them, and make them of the like Nature for their Tendency and Temporariness, then the naming things indifferent, and evil onely in the use by Circumstance, in one and the same sentence with things simply and abso∣lutely evil,* 1.378 doth equal them, and make them of like Na∣ture and Tendency at all times. And yet this placing helps in Government, among the things that come in after∣ward, and in the middest of those temporary Gifts, doth in∣struct us also,

1. That these helps in Government, Elders, and Dea∣cons, and such outward Offices, were not of the Essence of those spiritual Gifts, which Christ ascended up to Heaven to give: but such as in the Wisdom of those spirituall Gifts given, they might, as occasion and need was, af∣ter appoint or elect; and so those came in afterwards, as hath been foreshewn.

2. That these helps in Government, are not of the Essence of the Church, nor simply requisite thereto: the Church was before them, and truely in being before it had them: and these came afterward into the Church for outward Or∣der and Ornament, as is foreshewn; yea, it may be to in∣struct us,

3. That as those outward Offices had not their rise im∣mediately in the first pouring forth of the heavenly Gifts, but afterward; so they shall not have their continuance in the true Church and Sanctuary, the real and mystical Body of

Christ, till his personal coming again, as those spiritual Gifts shall, though they were of longer continuance then the Miracles and Gifts of Healing, and diversites of Tongues for outward acting were: a time was fore-seen to come, when some of these outward Officers would fall from Hea∣ven, (from the simplicity of Christ, and receiving their Knowledge and Furniture from the Gospel believed, even the Testimony of Jesus, that is, the Spirit of Prophesie, and came from Heaven; and those spiritual Gifts and Furniture received in belief thereof, which came from Heaven) and so fall to the Earth, in love of the Learning, Philosophy,* 1.379 Arts and Sciences of the Gentiles; and with that, interpret and teach, using it as the Key of Knowledge, and so bring in a smoke, covering the Face of the Gospel and Church with Darkness. And such Officers getting to be the chief in the outward Court, the outward Court would be left unto the Gentiles, and then the Man of sin would enter, and sit there∣in, and he would be making Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers; and none should be counted so, but those of his making and calling: and if by his usurped Power and feigned Miracles, he could not generally perswade Men of this, yet he would claim such Authority for ordaining Bishops and Deacons, that there should be none acknowledged but of his ordaining; yea, he and the Officers ordained by him, shall bear the Name of the Church and Clergy; as if out of Union with them, no Salvation: and all that will not submit to, and acknowledge this Power in him and his Officers, shall soon be thrust out of Office, and excom∣municated out of the outward Court of the Church; and then the Holy City, the true Church and Sanctuary, would be trodden under Foot,* 1.380 and clothed with sackcloth in dis∣grace and persecution: yet the Testimony of Jesus, and Truth and Verity of all these spiritual Gifts, was in, and would remain and be in this Sanctuary, the true, though despised Church, and stript of her outward Ornaments and Officers: and Power is given to these, by spiritual Gifts and Vertue, to witness the Testimony of Christ still in all this time. And as God forsook Shilo where his Taberna∣cle was in Canaan first pitched, for the wickedness there∣of,* 1.381

and returned his Tabernacle no more thither;* 1.382 so God may reject this outward Court, (in which his Sanctuary once was, and his Glory shined in it) and for the wicked∣ness of it, never beautifie it with his true Sanctuary again; but preserve his true Sanctuary by his Word and Spirit, till Christ come;* 1.383 and the Holy Ones beneath, and the Holy Ones above do meet, and the false Prophet be slain, and the Church become a Kingdom; which, whether hinted in leaving out the Name of the outward Court, Heb. 9. I will not say, but onely that the placing helps in Govern∣ment, among such Temporary things as came in afterward, may afford these instructions to us: and so leave it to each man, as Light of Truth perswades.

But for the Gospel, and these spiritual Gifts given from Heaven, that they have already been abundantly con∣firmed by Miracles, and they so divinely recorded, as is e∣nough to confirm Faith, and no need of doing them over again, is that affirmed and proved; and yet to make it more cleer and evident, we have it expresly testified,

4. By the Apostles own words to the Hebrews, when having set forth the excellency of Christ, as in Testimony of him set forth, and then exhorted them to diligent heed taking thereto;* 1.384 he admonishing them saith, How shall we e∣scape if we neglect so great Salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord; and was after confirmed unto us by them that heard him: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost, ac∣cording to his own will? So that the Gospel hath been con∣firmed above all that the Law of Moses was: and as the Mi∣racles confirming that, was no more to be iterated after the Law was once taught, setled and confirmed; but those re∣membred with the Law; yea, the Prophets that came af∣ter, endeavouring to move them to deviate from that Law, with Signs and Wonders,* 1.385 were not to be believed or heark∣ned to: so we are now warned for these times, that false Prophets, false Christs and Antichrists, will come with signs and wonders to deceive, and draw credit to their false Do∣ctrine with.* 1.386 So that which we are now to heed, is the Word of the Testimony of Christ; in which is testified, Jesus

to be The Christ, the Apostles and first Witnesses to have de∣clared his Minde, even the Gospel, according to the Revela∣tion of the Mystery, and the spiritual gifts with which they went forth; and the Gospel revealing all this, to be taught and left upon record by them,* 1.387 the sound whereof went through the whole World, before the first Witnesses all of them left the World. And it was, and hath been setled in many Churches in divers parts of the World, and sufficient∣ly confirmed with Signs, Wonders, Miracles and miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghost already; and they also written, that we might believe.

And thus have I shewn, according to this last and fullest Revelation of Christ, who were chosen in and by him the first Instruments for laying the Foundation, and beginning the building on it; and so to set this glorious Ministration on foot, and how plentifully they were furnished. Now it is needful also to shew the Furniture of the following Witnesses that are of the same society and house, and to carry on this Ministration to the same end, till the return and personal ap∣pearing of Jesus Christ.

CHAP. 15.

Of the Furniture of the following Witnesses till Christ come again.

WHo are the chosen of God in Christ, to be,* 1.388 and so are these Witnesses to carry on this blessed business till Christ come again, is already before shewn; and that they are such as through belief of his Grace in the Testimony of Christ delivered by the Apostles, are by his Spirit built on Christ; and so come unto Mount Sion,* 1.389 and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and to an innumerable com∣pany of Angels, to the general Assembly of the first-born, which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all,

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and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect, and to Jesus thn Mediator of the New Covenant, &c. and so have fel∣lowship with the Prophets,* 1.390 and Apostles, and so with the Father and the Son, being now fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the houshold of God, build upon the Founda∣tion, &c. having the same Word and Spirit in their Heart, and in their Mouth, which the Apostles had: these are to hold forth the Word of Life, &c. as hath been shewn: for these are the House of God, and of Christ; the Church of the living God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth. So that,

1.* 1.391 As a Pillar was used for a Witness of Peace, Gen. 31.51, 52. so these are God's Witnesses to the World, of Christ being his salvation to the ends of the Earth, to open the eyes of the blinde, &c.

2.* 1.392 As the Pillar of the Cloud was a Testimony of God's presence, and a Guide to Israel, Exod. 13. so these are God's Witnesses and Holders forth of his presence and propitia∣toriness to the World, as Preachers and Patterns, that they might repent, and come in to follow him. God spake to his People in a cloudy Pillar, Psal. 97.7, 8. and through the same Pillar looked upon the Egyptians, and troubled them, Exod. 14.24. and so by and through these, God speaks unto the World,* 1.393 and manifesteth the savour of his knowledge through them,* 1.394 which proves a savour of Life unto Life in them that in believing receive it, and a savor of death unto them that op∣pose and rebel against it.

3. As a Pillar: the word is sometimes used to express some chief ones, as Gal. 2.9. so whereas God hath testified his goodness in that rumour of the Gospel proclaimed in Para∣dise, and in his works of Creation and Providence, and after by Types and Prophesies, and after by the Fore-runner of his Son,* 1.395 and had Instruments suitable to each for Ministration; yet when his Son is manifest as come in the Flesh, who is the Brightness of his Glory, and chief Testimony of his good∣ness: so in that respect, the Ministers that thus hold him forth, they are the chief, and such are these, and the Church now.

4. A Pillar is used for an upholder and stay, and so the

Truth is the upholder and stay of the Church, and the giver of Authority to it; and not the Church the stay of, and Au∣thority-giver to the Truth; yet even in this respect also, as Christ is the Head of the Church, and his Truth and Spirit; and he thereby an Indweller in the Church: so they in hold∣ing forth the Truth, are instrumental upholders of it,* 1.396 and maintainers of the Faith to the World, and so the Light of the World: and in respect of some in the outward Court, that turn the Grace of God into wantonness, pervert the Gospel, deceive the World, and labour to beguile Believers in turning them from the Faith; These are the Keepers of the Faith by teaching it, and opposing and fighting with the sword of the Spirit, against their prophaness and errors; and so maintaining the Faith against their falshoods. And in all these senses, the Church that are these Witnesses,* 1.397 is the Pillar of Truth; and yet more fully, in one sense more, including all the former in it, This Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth, taking in as is given us, both the words; that is to say,

5. As they were of old to write the Commandments and Statutes of the Lord upon the door-posts of their house,* 1.398 and their gates, (as the Ten words were written in Tables of stone) that they might be seen and read: and as some say, The Prophets did hang or fasten their written Prophesies upon one of the Pillars in the Temple, as is the use of the chief Magistrate to have his Proclamation fastned on some noted post or pillar, in the Market-place, where all the Coun∣try may take notice of it, and read it: so these are the Church or House, and so that post and pillar the Table or Ground, in, and upon whom the Truth is so written, that all may read it, though some with likement, and some with dislike; as the Apostle hath plainly affirmed, saying to the Church, Ye are our Epistle, written in our hearts, seen and read of all Men; forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in Tables of stone (as the Law of old was,) but in the fleshly Tables of the heart: in which there is a performance spiritually by Christ of that said to the Prophet of old, Write the Vision,* 1.399 and make

it plain upon Tables,* 1.400 that he may run that readeth it; and being taken with that read, he may read to others, even that Vision of All: and others may read it on him. And this writing is the very work of Christ, by his Spirit in Mini∣stery of the Gospel. We never read that Christ did per∣sonally in his own Body, write any part of the Scripture; that work he left for his Servants by his Spirit to do: yet once we finde that he wrote with his Finger on the ground, as not regarding his Tempters;* 1.401 yet what he wrote is not said: but to say the Apostle alludeth to that, I dare not: nor yet will I say it was an intimate Instruction of his own work, so freely to write by his Finger (which oft signifieth his Spi∣rit) his Epistle in the ground of the heart of his unworthy ones: but this I may say in treating of his spiritual writing, To allude to this is no error. But however, it cleerly ap∣pears, this Society and Church spoken of, is the Pillar and ground of Truth, where Truth is written and holden forth to be read;* 1.402 yea, even the Truth that is the Mysterie of godli∣ness, that great Mystery, God was manifested in the Flesh, justified in the Spirit, &c. And so these unfeigned Believers united to Christ, having his word (as delivered by his A∣postles) in their heart, be his Witnesses now, and the Mi∣nisters he hath chosen for this Ministration, to minister ac∣cording to the grace and gifts given them (none presuming beyond) these are the holy City and Sanctuary of his build∣ing, and the Ministers of the things thereof,* 1.403 to whom he gives Spirit and Power, that they may witness him even to the World; and among these is the true Altar, even in this Temple, and these are the Worshippers thereat: and because of the Gospel in their hearts, and there through some portion of these forementioned spiritual gifts, by which they witness him, & hold forth the word of life with their tongues: there∣fore their tongue is said to be as choice silver, and their lips to feed many;* 1.404 their tongue useth knowledge aright, and speaks of God's righteousness and praise all the day; yea, even so as sinners may be converted to him; and so from them the word of God soundeth forth. And also by the same Spirit in the Gospel, their hearts being framed to the minde and design of Christ, they so have a Christ-like Spirit springing up,

Love, Joy, Peace, &c. which leadeth them to walk in Faith and Love, in Holiness and Mercy,* 1.405 &c. So that also hereby they do witness of him, and hold forth the word of Life al∣so in their conversation in good works and holy profession: whence the Fruit of the Righteous is called, A Tree of Life,* 1.406 (and a way of winning Souls;) yea, their Fruit is for Meat, and their Leaf for Medicine; so their Conversation winneth, and their Zeal provoketh many: and because the Spirit of Glory resteth on them,* 1.407 and giveth them power to glorifie God in witnessing both these wayes, though through suffer∣ings; Therefore in respect of their twofold witnessing and holding forth the word of Life, to glorifie God and do good to Men, convincing by Truth, and comforting with Truth, and confuting falshood;* 1.408 They are also called the two Witnesses that witness; yea, that witness the Truth on God's part a∣gainst the Man of sin, and God of the World; and the two Olive-Trees that bring forth that good Fruit whence the good Oyl runneth; and the two Candlesticks that hold forth the true Light that shineth: so that every way it appears that these unfeigned Believers, united to Christ in him by Faith, and he in them by Word & Spirit, are his chosen Ones, to bring forth Fruit, his Ministers for carrying an end the Ministration of this last Revelation of Christ till he come again: these are the Temple of God, the House of God, the Church of God, (I need not to use worldly terms, else I might shew how;) these are the Achademah or School, University and Colledge, in which are all the Scholars that are taught of God. And I might shew how Christ is here the chief Master, Doctor and Rabbi, and the Prophets and Apostles the Masters. of this Assembly; the Scriptures, the Library; the Testimony of Je∣sus, the Original; the Holy Spirit therein, the Interpreter; the way of Learning and coming to knowledge, is Attention and believing; the Fellows and Collegiates are all that are built upon Jesus, and so one in this spiritual house; the pu∣pils are all that like or desire to learn the Doctrine of the Gospel, though yet hardly believing, or weak and unstable in the Faith; or believing the Truth of the Gospel, and pro∣fessing it, but not so prevailed with by it, as to be united to Christ, and framed to his Minde, so as to have his word in

their heart, these not yet to be Teachers but Learners; but the residue all Teachers according to the measure of Faith and Gifts given them, and their acts are Fellowship in the Gospel; and to those acts the World may come also to hear. And all the Ministers God approveth and sendeth forth to minister Gospel to the World, they are brought up in, and sent forth of this University, being Members thereof, as is proved in that already said; and yet I would add one proof more, even from the Prayer of our Saviour for these, in John 17. where having prayed for the fitness, furniture and bles∣sing on the ministration of those immediately called, chosen, taught and set forth by himself, he proceedeth in that Prayer, saying,* 1.409 Neither do I pray for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word, (which is no other but his own word, he received of the Father, and gave to them:) and so it is through their Ministration of the word; and so the same word, and as ministred and recorded by these first VVitnesses, who were immediately sent forth by him, with this Ministration, for the Obedience of Faith among all Nations, and for all that believe through their word, He prayeth,

Vers. 21. That they all (he saith not some onely or the chief Officers they shall chuse, but the unfeigned Believers, even they all) may be one, as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us. VVhich cannot be meant of the Essence of God, because he speaketh of Ministration; nor is it meant onely of being one in him by the Spirit of Faith re∣lying on him, though this be included; yea, the union of the Father and Son in will for Ministration, and of the Fa∣ther in the Son, and the Son in the Father, and so the union between them, is more then so; yea, I may say, there is such an union between them, as is higher then we can conceive, and incommunicable also, though the benefit of it be com∣municable; but the union here meant, appears by that fore∣going, and this following, with the scope of the business, to be the union of the Spirit for Ministration, as the Father was and is one, and of one minde in Christ, that he should make peace by his blood, and then preach peace, that Men might believe; and that in preaching peace, he should speak his

words, that he gave him, and seek his ends for glorifying him, in displaying and extending Salvation to Men; and eternally saving believing Men. So Christ was one in and with the Father in all this: and in the same love with the same design, did both make peace by his Blood, and preach peace in the same words, and for the same end the Father gave them to him, and so are they one in the same love and design, for the good of Mankinde in this Mini∣stration of peace-preaching to bring Men in to believe, and to preserve Believers to eternal Life. And now having committed the Ministry of Reconciliation by peace-preaching to his first VVit∣nesses, and prayed for, and begun to frame them into union with him in this design, he prayeth therewith, for all that unfeignedly believe on him through their word, and so are united to him by Faith and Love, that they may be framed by the same Spirit of Faith to his minde, and so be one in the Father and him, in the same love and the same design, for carrying forth this Ministration as he did; and to the same ends, though through like sufferings, as he did, and as the first VVitnesses did, that so we may be one together with them, and all one in the Father and the Son in this love and design pursued in the same way for Ministration. And this to be the union meant, appears also in the next words, which are, That the world (that is, such as yet believe not) may be∣lieve that thou hast sent me: (which can be no less,* 1.410 then that through their Ministration carried forth in such love and union of Spirit and way, such as yet believe not, may believe, &c.) And this to be the meaning, the next words shew,

Vers. 22. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, (which is not the glory he had with the Father be∣fore the world was, and with which he is now glorified at the Father's right hand, for that was not then as yet given to him, as he was Man, but to be given him on the finishing his whole work for suffering and overcoming death, and his own immediate personal Ministration and his Ascension into Heaven, and offering up the acceptable sacrifice, and then was that glory given him; so that of this glory he speaketh not but of) the glory of the Mini∣stration, given him immediately of the Father; which was a more great and glorious Ministration then ever before given to Moses, or any of the Priests, or Prophets, or John Baptist: and so it's called the glorious Gospel. And this Ministration with com∣mission,

with power, and authority, and Spirit he received im∣mediately from the Father, and so gave it as immediately to the first VVitnesses, and now here mediately through the belief of their Gospel, unto all unfeigned Believers in every age that through their word believe; to them, and all them, our Sa∣viour gives this glory of the commission, power and authority for Ministration:* 1.411 and that to these ends, both that they may be one, even as we are one, (in that union forementioned;) and so,

Vers. 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. I in them: The Nature of all Mankinde is in me in which I have died their Death, and suffered the Curse that was due for their sins, and made peace for them by my Blood, and offered the acceptable Sacrifice, and obtained eternal Redemption, and received in the Nature of Man, Remission of sins, and fulness of Spirit, Grace, Truth, and Eternal Life for Men; that in believ∣ing, Men might receive me; and in receiving me, receive it all. And now these believing, though not by my immediate personal Mini∣stration, yet by my mediate Ministration, through the VVord re∣corded by my first Witnesses that received it immediately from me, they in believing come in to me; & receiving my words, they receive me. So that I by my word, and in that by my Spirit, with all the heavenly riches and treasures I am filled with in their Nature, am thus spiritually in them, and pray that I may so be still, and more abundantly.* 1.412 And thou in me: the Father is in the Son, and all that is the Fathers is the Sons; so that as he that in believing receiveth the Gospel, doth receive Christ therein; and he that re∣ceiveth Christ, receiveth the Father; and so from both that Holy Spirit, that uniteth both to Father and Son, and frameth to oneness of minde, love and design: and so for that farther end also here exprest, that being made perfect in one, and so in this unity of Spirit in love and design, their design may prosper in this, That the world may know that thou hast sent me (the Saviour of the World, and that the World through me might be saved, and so that I am the Christ) and (that thou) hast loved them (these that believe in me, and in love minister Gospel to them in my Name) as thou hast loved me. Which if any one come to know and believe what a one Christ is, and how he loves and approves them and their Ministration, who also are as patterns

to them: this will draw them also to believe and be pulling them out of the VVorld into the Church.* 1.413 The next Petition is for glory to be conferred on them after their Ministration; the hope whereof, is an encouragement and support to them in their Mini∣stration through all sufferings.

And by all this our Saviour gives us to understand, both who be his chosen Ministers, and also what their Furniture is; and the same that appears in our Saviour's Prayer, is to be seen likewise in the practice and counsel of the Apostles, who were so filled with, and guided by the Holy Spirit, as to be unerring both in delivery of their Doctrine, and direction for the Ministration;* 1.414 so as it is well done of their followers, to keep both Gospel and Ministra∣tion as they delivered the same: and they committed the Gospel and things thereof, to such as were known to be faithful, and en∣dued with the Holy Ghost, and charged them to commit the same to faithful Men, not limiting it to outward Officers, (though in such an Epistle as was most needful to name them,* 1.415 if such a thing had been intended) but to faithful Men (whether such Of∣ficers or no.) But more need not be said of this: enough is shewn before, proving these the spiritual House, the royal Priesthood, the chosen Generation, his chosen Ministers to shew forth his praises.

But yet a word or two more, to make plain the Furniture those following Ministers have: and in this Revelation of Christ, we shall also finde that for Furniture,

1. They have the VVord or Gospel discovering Christ;* 1.416 and so Christ in that Gospel in their heart, and so are come to Sion, and so are of Sion, and the Foundation is laid in Sion, (that is Christ as set forth in the Gospel) for Sion to hold forth to others the same Foundation, that they may come in and be built thereon; yea, this word hath come from Sion, Jerusalem that is above, and is the Mother of us all, Joel 2.23. Gal. 4.26. and is in the Heart, Fellowship and Ministration of Sion. that part of it, which though in heart and Spirit above, Phil. 3.20. Col. 3.1. yet in Sion hath God taken up his rest, and will abundantly bless her:* 1.417 he dwelleth there; yea, the Lord loveth the Gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob besides; And so we may say, This Ministration, more then all that fore-went it. So that the word of Truth, of Life and Salvation is here, as in the outward record; so

in the understanding and heart, and floweth forth from hence as a first fruits of that, Isa. 2.3. Mic. 4.2.

2, They in believing and imbracing this word, have with it the Holy Spirit,* 1.418 effecting the Spirit and Minde of Christ in them all: and in some good measure enduing them with all the first menti∣oned spiritual gifts among them, to every one some, though not to all and every one alike. Thus are they furnished. And this may be truely said of Sion, whom no Man seeketh after, they are in worldly appearance made so like their Lord, and there are so many Concubines; though this Beloved be but one, and the onely one of her Mother, that for discerning her, that prayer is needful, Shew me where thou feedest, &c. and the direction there given, needful; and to such as do discern it, it may be said, as Psal. 48.12, 13, 14.

But now because these following VVitnesses, that part of Sion yet below, have not the Gospel, and these spiritual gifts, so imme∣diately from Christ, and so not in so full a measure, as that they are alwayes infallibly freed from erring in every particular thing al∣together in delivery of Doctrine and Ministration, as the first wit∣nesses were: but as they have received their Doctrine and Mini∣stration mediately in belief of, and receiving the Doctrine and Gospel as delivered by them, that are Sion now above: so their preservation from error in Doctrine and Ministration, is mediate likewise,* 1.419 even in heeding the Gospel received from God and Christ, by them, and delivered by them to us: and so both the Com∣mandment of our Father, and the Law of our Mother in one, to be imbraced and kept by us: and so we are directed, and commanded, and promise of guidance given us therein. And so,

3.* 1.420 They are furnished with Matter, Rules, Directions and Cautions in this Doctrine of the Gospel, as delivered and re∣corded by the Apostles; and which they also in believing it have in their hearts savingly working. And this helpful,

1. For speaking right and wholesome words in Faith and Love, and to edification,* 1.421 learning, and comfort, Rev. 19.10. 2 Tim. 1.13. 1 Cor. 4.6. and 14.3.

2.* 1.422 For keeping measure and due order in our speakings, that upon no pretence or presumption of Learning, Parts, Invention or Office, we presume to speak of things we have not seen in the word of the Gospel; having that also to testifie withal: And so,

that none go beyond the proportion of Faith dealt to him, even that which he is, without taking it on trust from others;* 1.423 enabled to see and understand in the Gospel; so as verily, thereby to believe: and that his venting be not in imita∣tion of other Men's Gifts and Administrations; but ac∣cording to the Manifestation of the Spirit and Grace given him, freely operating and leading him forth, and not straining beyond that.

3. For giving this honour to no Man on Earth, how learned soever, or in what Office soever, or of what parts, excellency,* 1.424 or appearing godliness soever, as to make, count, or call him our Rabbi, Master or Teacher; so as to take any matter of Faith on trust from him for Truth: or to be waved from the belief of, or holding forth the Truth of the plain-sayings of Christ in the Gospel, out of fear to make such a one a liar: or to temper our Doctrine and delivery, so as it may suit with any cross sayings of his; yea, to give this honour of taking this upon trust, to none but God and Christ;* 1.425 and so to him for his sake, taking it from his Prophets and Apostles, by whom, in the Record left by them, he speaks to us still. And that none desire or take this honour to himself: but let God and Christ by his Spirit in the Gospel delivered, and recorded by his first Witnesses, be our Father, Rabbi, and Master, for Faith and Love, and all holy walking; and we as Brethren.

4. For keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace,* 1.426 that we be not any of us puft up with the excellency of our own Gifts or Administrations, nor discontent at the meanness thereof, in respect of others; nor despise or discountenance o∣thers, for their meanness therein; but acknowledging God and Christ in all, and in love preferring one another,* 1.427 that we judge not, & despise not one another for difference in some outward things, through the knowledge or want of the knowledge of our Liberty in Christ, nor trouble the weak Brethren with doubtful disputations: But with all lowliness and meekness, with all long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,* 1.428 en∣deavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit (in the Gospel-Love and design forementioned) in the bond of peace, that we may all speak the same thing in the Testimony of Christ, con∣firmed

among us: and if in any thing any of us be otherwise minded, to wait for God in the Ministration, to reveal the same to him: nevertheless, to walk by the same Rule of faith and love, according to that we have attained; and so minde the same thing, that there be no divisions among us, so shall all men know us to be Christ's Disciples.* 1.429

5. For keeping cleer and fair the Name and Truth that is written upon us:* 1.430 that we follow after Righteousness, Holi∣ness, Purity, Mercy, good Works; and flie all Pride, Wrath, Malice, Coverousness, Fraud, Lying, Uncleanness, Intempe∣rancy, &c. that we do not blur or deface the Name and Writing that is upon us, but adorning the Gospel we profess, doing all things heartily as to the Lord in the Name of Christ, to the glory of God, and good of Men.

6.* 1.431 For the profiting in speaking and walking, that it may take place with, and be edifying to others, to see that all our speakings and doings be done in charity, with the love and bowels of Christ moving us with desire of the good of others; without which, all Knowledge, Faith, Gifts, Works or Suf∣ferings, will not avail us in this profiting: and so in desire of spiritual gifts, that we desire them not for our own applause or exaltation, but for the edifying of the Church; and that in this desire also, we do more earnestly desire and follow after cha∣rity.

And these with such-like are the constant and abiding helps given in the Gospel for Believers, which in living by Faith, they may alwayes have and use, and so be preserved from erring in Doctrine, Ministration or Manners: so that here is a sufficient gracious helpfulness and Furniture, always needful, and always at hand, for all times till Christ come a∣gain: yet in respect of some occasions, there is yet needful to them some other helps, as order and helps in Government, with which they are also furnished in this Revelation of Christ in the Gospel.

CHAP. 16.

Of the helps in respect of occasions which are given these wit∣nesses.

FOr the encrease and multitudes of Believers and Pro∣fessors of the Faith brought in by this Ministration, be∣cause their Societies and Assemblies may come to be both ma∣ny, and many of them great and numerous; and because their employments in this World be many and various; and because many brought in to believe the Report of the Gospel to be a Truth, are not yet by it convinced of their own un∣believingness, vileness, and the emptiness of their own righ∣teousness;* 1.432 vileness, and the emptiness of their own righ∣teousness; and some though convinced, yet not prevailingly wrought upon to be through-hearted, in cleaving and submit∣ting to Christ to have all their life in him, and live to him, though in abiding in this belief of the Truth, and attending this Ministery of it, it will save them, and work them up to the Truth that will make them free; both which, though At∣tenders, and of the outward Society, yet not the true Sanctu∣ary; and so to be Learners, and not the Teachers: yea, it may be also, some in some measure unfeignedly believing, and yet Novices, newly come to the Faith,* 1.433 may be ready to speak beyond the proportion of Faith given them; yea, and it may so be, that some feigned and dissembling ones, yea, and disorderly ones also, may creep into the outward pro∣fession, and so be of this Society in profession, and so the outward Court, though while such, not in nor of the Sanctu∣ary and holy Place, of which hath before been spoken: and by reason of this, if help be not had, disorder and confusion will be found in, and blemishes besal the whole Society: but for remedy hereof, there are helps afforded:

One for Constancy; and that is order in speaking in the Assembly, that but one speak at once, and the rest be silent: and so two or three may speak one after another, so it be in order:

and after, while time and silence is, may be a sober Question∣ing, as in 1 Cor. 14. at large.

And the other Help, is Helps in Government, which is to be used, when and in such times and places, as they may be enjoyed. And this is to ordain certain Brethren into cer∣tain Offices, and set them in the same, for better carrying on of the Ministration in the several and great Societies and As∣semblies, and for the comfort and enlargement, and more or∣derly and beautiful proceedings in the Church, and of the Affairs in her Assemblies, and for convincing and stopping the mouths of unbelievers, that may come into their Assem∣blies to hear them. And these Officers chofen into these Offices,* 1.434 are, first, Bishops or elders, (for both these Names are the Names of one and the same Office.) And second∣ly, Deacons, called also Ministers. And about these the Go∣spel affords us many Directions, some intimate, some ex∣press; all plain: which for understanding I will instance some, as,

1.* 1.435 That these Offices appertain to the Church; & the Officers are to execute their Office in & to the Church in those Assem∣blies, for and in those Assemblies where they are chosen and set:* 1.436 as for their preaching to the World & Unbelievers, or ser∣vice they may do in other places or Assemblies, it is by vertue of the Gospel in their hearts, and the spiritual Gifts received, and so with Churches consent their Authority is from Heaven, by which any of their Brethren so gifted, and according to their Gifts, may do the same as well and as approvedly of God as they.

2. That there is nothing in these Offices, or given therein to these Officers to do,* 1.437 but what was vertually in the Church before it chose them, and which she had Authority from Christ, and Love in her Heart to lead her to do: for Christ himself is the chief Bishop of our Souls; and when he was on Earth, he was as a Servant, Deacon or Minister also, and did in that give us example:* 1.438 and so the Apostles by vertue of their commission, and the business they were called to, were Bishops, and their Office a Bishoprick; and by vertue of the Grace and heavenly Gifts given them, they were Bishops or Elders, having the care and oversight of all the Churches;

yea, and they were Deacons or Ministers also; yea, and those grown in Grace, and indued with spiritual Gifts,* 1.439 going as Fathers before others, are also Elders, and were to be sound in the Faith, in Charity and Patience, sober, grave, temperate, as well as Elders by Office, and to be submitted to by the younger also; yea, all the Brethren were to over∣see, and look to the things of one another, to exhort, com∣fort and edifie one another, to warn them that are unruly, to comfort the feeble minded, support the weak; yea, even to admonish those that were Elders by Office, and likewise to submit themselves one to another in the Fear of God, as well as to those that were in outward Office; yea, to them all it belonged, to visit the sick and releave the poor; yea, the Liberty for use of all the Ordinances of God, be∣longed to the Church and holy Place; yea, where two or three of them, by his Grace, in the belief and love of his Name, were met together, they have the promise of Christ,* 1.440 his own presence with them; they may preach, pray, receive in and baptize such as freely offers themselves and theirs to them; and when need comples, cast out. Nor do we read of any of these things limited to Officers of a Church chose for doing them, or so as if the Believers cannot with safety have these Officers, they should be deprived of use and enjoyment of any of these Ordinances; yea,* 1.441 it is most probable the Corinthians wanted these outward Officers when Paul wrote his first Epistle to them, yet had they all the Ordinances in use: yea, this Liberty and power conti∣nues in the holy Place, when by the power of the Gentiles getting into the outward Court, they are so kept down,* 1.442 that they can chuse no Officers in the place of the outward Court. So that the chusing and setting such Officers in the Church, is not to give or make up the being or true being of the Church, which was truely a Church in being before it chose them,* 1.443 and they were set in the Church, which was a Church in being before they were set in it; neither do they give the Church the Liberty and power of using the Ordinances of Christ: but the Church gives the power of officiating by Office unto them, the original of that power remaining in her still. Nor are they chosen to infringe the Liberties of the Church, or to

free any of the Members of the Church from any service of Love, Grace obligeth them to; but to help forward and pro∣mote the same: for all Believers are not alike, either filled with Grace or Gifts, some of them weak: all have not like victory over their passions, but some will be ready to vent disorderly: all that are faithful and well gifted, cannot have that Freedom and Liberty to oversee all their Brethren, to afford help according to all the needs of the Society, by reason of their outward callings and imployments in Domestick and Commonwealth-Affairs, and the distance of their habitati∣ons and places of imployment; though as God by provi∣dence opens the door, and gives them ability and opportu∣nity, they moved with charity, do readily and diligently minde how it is with their Brethrens Souls, and what their needs are for their Bodies; and according to the proportion of Faith given them,* 1.444 do teach, exhort, rebuke comfort, &c. and according to the ability given them of God, minister to them for their relief: which still belongs to all Believers to do, even when they have Officers also; yet cannot they give themselves wholly to this Ministration, so to search the Scriptures, and attend the Doctrine of the Gospel, and oversee the state of all their Brethren, and look into their distresses, as need requires, and is to be desired. Wherefore, as the Church or holy place hath power, so she may chuse of the Brethren to attend to, and give themselves to this Ministration; which, when so set in Office,* 1.445 these Officers are to look to their Mi∣nistration, to fulfil it, and the Brethren accordingly to attend and obey them in the Doctrine of the Gospel they teach,* 1.446 and submit to them in all lawful outward Order for Church-Affairs, and as they labour in the Word and Do∣ctrine, to count them worthy double honor for their Works sake, that so they may more cheerfully and fully perform their Ministery; and to reprove and warn them, if they ne∣glect their Ministration; so that these Officers are for the help, commodity and service of the Church, and so not for bon∣dage but enlargement.

3.* 1.447 That the Men that are to be chosen into these Offices must be of their Brethren, of the holy place, such as are known to be faithful and spiritually gifted, holding the My∣stery

of Faith, even the faithful Word as it hath been taught from the Apostles, in a pure Conscience: That they be not double-tongued, not self-willed, not soon angry, not covetous, not greedy of filthy lucre, not given to Wine, no fighters or brawlers; but sound in the Faith, and also, sober, vigilant, holy, temperate, and apt to teach; each Man having but one Wife, and ruling well his own House; that they also be not accused of Riot, &c. These, even such of the true Sanctuary, are by them of the true Sanctuary to be chosen for this Ministration, that the Church may be edified, well ordered and governed, as is at large shewn in the Epistles to Timothy, and to Titus.

4. That for the Officers to be chosen, and set in Office, they are of two sorts, called by several Names: 1. Elders or Bishops: 2. Deacons.

1. The first is, Elder or Bishop; for both these signifie one and the same Office, as is beforesaid; and he is to be such a one, as aforesaid: as for his skill in divers Tongues, and Philosophy, and Liberal Sciences, and Arts, so much extolled in the Wisdom of the Gentiles; or his Collegiate Education, in the Worlds Universities, nothing is menti∣oned or required in that; but onely, that he be not a Novice, or one newly come to the Faith, that is, not spi∣ritually learned and established in the Faith, lest he fall into the Condemnation of the Devil, not content with his place, to abide speaking according to the proportion of the Faith dealt out to him,* 1.448 but puft up with his Function and Office, or with that humane Learning (if he have it) intrude into things he hath not seen, and pervert the Scriptures to maintain it, and Lord it over his Brethren. But that he be one that is found in the Faith, and endued with spi∣tual Gifts: in fore-exercise whereof, he is known to hold fast the faithful Word, and to be apt to teach, and so also to be such a one, as is foresaid: and his Office is especially to oversee and watch over the Souls,* 1.449 and spiritual state of his Brethren, and so to divide in his Doctrine to every one sutably, that they may grow in Faith and Love, & the Fruits thereof, as one that is to give account of the same to God.

In all which also, they are with their Doctrine, in their Life to be a pattern and example to their Brethren: and they also are to counsel,* 1.450 direct and help in the order of the Assem∣blies, and sometime also themselves to baptize, and to order the times of Assemblings, and manner of proceedings in the Assemblies; and to lead in the Administration of the Supper, and give counsel in ordering distribution of Church-Almes, and to be sent for to pray when any is sick.

And in respect of Church-Officers, by an outward Ecclesi∣astical choice,* 1.451 these may be said, to be the first-born, of the strength of the Church, the first chosen, the first that we read of by their Names: (yea, the Apostles were also Elders:) and being such, and so demeaning themselves as the Servants of the Church in their Ministration, as the Apostles and prime Christian Elders did; They are blessedly useful and profitable, and meet to be highly esteemed, submitted to and followed.

But if any of these, under the pretence of this Office, should assume to themselves to be the onely Pastors and Teachers, and so to be the Church, and God's Clergy or Inheritance, the onely Priests and Levites; and that none is to presume to preach the Word, and to be Pastors and Teachers, but such as have the Authority from them, and come into their Order: And that Believers must understand the Word ac∣cording to their Interpretation, & submit themselves to their Injunctions and Traditions; and so Lord it over their Bre∣thren, and become Lords of their Faith, and Lords of their Gifts, so assuming the place or bed of Christ himself: Then the Church may say of them,* 1.452 as Jacob of his Son Reuben: Reu∣ben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power; unstable as water: thoushalt not excel, because thou wentest up to thy Father's bed, &c. yea, this would come neer to, and make way for that sin of the Man of sin;* 1.453 and so be the in-let and way-making for the outward Court to be left into the hands of the Gentiles,* 1.454 and to have the Holy City trodden under foot. Whence the Apostles abhorred all such lording it over their Brethren, and so did all the prime Elders, and warned fol∣lowing Elders to beware of the same: and when such an e∣vil

time comes, the witnesses in the true Sanctuary,* 1.455 may go on in the strength of the Lord without measuring or fighting for the outward Court, and letting it be where it is; and chuse and take as ne•••• is such of themselves, and in such manner, as they may safely and lawfully have, and so prosper though in disgrace and persecution.

2 The second sort are called Deacons,* 1.456 whose Office is especi∣ally to oversee the necessities of the poor, and exhort their Brethren to a merciful relieving of them; and these to receive and faith∣fully and wisely to dispense the benevolence of the Church. And these were first ordained upon a necessity of the prime Elders, lest they who before had done it, should by continuing that busi∣ness, be hindred from attending the Ministration of the Word and Prayer: and these Deacons were also to help the Elders in Ministration, and to assist in preaching and baptizing,* 1.457 and also in breaking bread, as is seen in the Acts and Timothy; and these also were to be sound in the Faith, and such as is aforesaid, yea, and proved and approved to be such.

5. That for the chusing, order, and number of these Officers, it is to be according to the fitness and necessities of the several Churches, and the Liberty God-in his Providence gives them: the Church among the Corinthians, among whom were many divisions, and many puft up; for some against other were ex∣horted, (to that which should be constant) even to order in their proceedings, and to let such of them as had prophetical gifts,* 1.458 have the precedence in leading; but not being fit, because of being puft up for one against another, &c. they were not yet permitted to chuse their outward Officers, that so all things might be so set in order till the Apostle came and did that: Believers furnish'd with Apostolical, or Evangelistical gifts at least, needful in such a case. But the Church among the Philippians, a gracious, sweetly-framed people in their fellowship in the Gospel, they had their Bishops and Deacons among themselves, and were well approved of. And the Churches among the Ephesians, had also their Bishops and Deacons; but still needed more and more helpfulness about them: and Timothy that was an Evangelist by his Gifts,* 1.459 and to do the work of an Evangelist in his preaching, was left as a Bishop or Elder there, to oversee both the several Churches, and the Elders or Bishops and Deacons in the several Churches, to

charge some, that they teach no other Doctrine beside that delivered them in the Gospel, and to silence and stop the Mouths of perverse erronious Ones by the Word, and to help them in choise of Officers,* 1.460 and for the right ordering of all their Assemblies and Manners: and for the same cause, was Titus left in Crete, both to ordain them Elders, and oversee both them and the people, and give directions to them; yet were all these in Corinth, Philippi, and Ephesus, and Crete, true Churches; and fought not one with another about these out∣ward Forms, it being in and to each according to their firness and necessity.

Now while the immediate Apostles, Prophets, Evange∣lists, Pastors and Teachers lived, and thos mediate Ones that had heard and seen them; and that the Officers were chosen by, and of those of the true Sanctuary, who were clothed with the Righteousness of Christ, and gloried in the Doctrine of Christ delivered by the twelve Apostles, and contemned the glory,* 1.461 riches and pleasures of this World: and that the outward Court was in the Hands of the Saints, and they the Ministers, and these the Officers therein also; the Church ap∣peared beautiful and glorious indeed. But in that time the outward Court is left into the hands of the Gentiles, the true Sanctuary is trodden down, and as one dwelling in a Wilder∣ness, among Briars,* 1.462 & Thorns, and wild Beasts, and then cloth'd with Sackcloth; and yet patiently bearing this, shall carry on their Work, with the rich, spiritual and constant Furniture given, which is shewn to be very good and great, though they have not all their Priviledges in the outward Court: and to encourage, I will name one Help more.

6.* 1.463 To fit and furnish for, and in all the former Directions, and against all that comes to oppose or hinder us, he hath given us his gracious promise to be with us; that believing on him, his strength and Spirit shall support, lead and go forth with us, and whatever we finde wanting, ask in his Name, and it shall be done for and to us, that so we may be able to do all things through Christ that strengthneth us: so wonder∣fully are these chosen Ministers fitted for the Ministration of the Gospel, according to the Revelation of the Mystery. And thus much of the several Revelations, and so of this last Reve∣lation of Christ.

CHAP. 17.

A Corollary from the Testimony of Christ in the three Bran∣ches, together with all these several Revelations of Christ to the fullest.

FRom all that hath been said in the second and third Part of this Treatise, and the Scriptures alledged, and so in the whole Scripture-Testimony of Christ, it appears,

I. That there is one Faith, and but one Faith, that is, Faith indeed, real and true in its kinde; and so not divers kindes of Faith, each true in its kinde. The whole Testi∣mony of Christ holds forth to us one, and but one kinde of Faith, that is, true Faith: yea,* 1.464 upon exhortation to keep the Unity of Spirit, this is given as the ground of it, There is one Faith, as there is one God and Father, one Lord and Savi∣our, and one Spirit, and so one true Church in which he is: so there is one Faith, and no more kindes of true Faith, then of Gods, &c. we may see this, in every sense the word Faith is used in the Testimony;* 1.465 the word Faith being used some∣time for the object of Faith, and for the Word or Gospel in which that object is set forth; and sometime for the Grace of Faith, or believing in that object; and sometime for both the object and believing; so as the Believer is u∣nited to it: and so still the Faith one, and of one kinde. For,

1. The object of Faith, is every way one and the same: the Gospel, that is the discovering Medium,* 1.466 the Word of Faith and of Grace, though it hath many Branches and Uses, yet they flow from, & meet in one; and there is but one and the same Gospel, and not another: and Jesus Christ set forth, and as set forth in this Gospel, he is one, and there is not another, though he be set forth as indeed he is, The Son of God, and the Son of Man, God-Man; and what from Eter∣nity he was, and what in time he became; what he hath

done, and what he is thereby become, and what he is furnished to do,* 1.467 and what he doth and will do, as the mighty God, and the Son of Man, as the Saviour of all Men, especially of those that believe; and the Judge of all; yet he is one, and but one Lord Jesus Christ; the Christ, the Saviour of the World, and there is not another Jesus that is the Christ: and so God the Father that is in Christ, and dwells in him, though his works be manifold, yet he is but one God, he is one: and so the Holy Spirit that pro∣ceedeth from the Father and the Son, and discovereth Christ, and God in Christ, and beareth forth the Testimony, though his Gifts and Operations be manifold; yet the Spirit is one in the same; yea, the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit are one and the same God; one in Essence, Will, Design, Testimony and Power, and God in Christ propitious to Men: and having prepared E∣ternal Life in Christ for Men, this is the Object of Faith to be preached and believed; and if this were not, there could be no such thing as the Gospel calls Faith, to be preached, obeyed, or enjoy∣ed. And this is one.

2. The Grace of Faith, or that believing in the Gospel that is called Faith, it is that believing which is begot in the heart by the Discovery and Testimony,* 1.468 the Spirit in the means he useth, hath given of Christ; in which a Man discerneth the Truth and Goodness testified, is perswaded of it in his heart. And this is one, one way and manner of believing that Object of Faith; and from thence it is called Faith, and so truely still one Faith, the Object discovered having drawn to it self a believ∣ing.

3. So when through the Operation of Grace believed, the Heart imbraceth the Object believed,* 1.469 and so by Faith is u∣nited to it, in trust and well-pleasedness, &c. it is still but one and the same Faith, the same Object uniting to it self: whence indeed it hath the name of Faith; so as still Faith is one, and but one.

II. That as Faith is used for the prevalency of the Object of Faith, drawing the Hearer and Beholder to believe: and so for the Grace of Faith or Believing, though the Faith be one, yet there are divers Degrees in and of it, and divers Acts and Opera∣rations of it.

1. One Degree of Believing (which in respect of the Testimo∣ny

by which it is begot, and which it believeth,* 1.470 and which if a∣biden in it will unite to, may be called faith) is yet short of a real new-birth: it is such a belief of the Gospel-Testimony, as ac∣cording to light seen, one believeth Jesus to be the Christ, so far as to count his saying true; and yet not so overcome by that be∣lieved, to see and acknowledge his own vileness, and the vanity of all his own best righteousness, and his sin in not sooner believing by evidences foregiven, and so see not yet the fulness and liberty in Christ for them, and so are not by the knowledge of the Truth made single to Christ: they are sprinkled with water, and moved with Spirit, but not yet born of VVater and Spirit; they be∣lieve Righteousness, but not yet with the heart unto Righteousness: they are by the hearing of Faith so far born of God as to believe Jesus to be the Christ, and confess him to be the Lord; but not so far born of God, as to be emptied of themselves, and united to Christ, and so are not yet inwardly renewed and regenerated; and so though in the outward Court, not yet really translated out of the Power of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's dear Son: and yet even these Believers, if they abide in this Faith of the Testi∣mony of the Gospel, and give heed to the plain sayings thereof,* 1.471 and abide therein, they shall be saved, shall know the Truth, and the Truth will make them free. To say these did but pretend or seem and profess to believe, and so are said to believe in respect of their seeming and prosession to believe, in the judgement of Charity, is too much presumption, and sawciness, and derogation from the Holy Ghost; for the Evangelists writ this after Christ was ascended, and they indued with the Holy Ghost, and so writ by his inspiration; so that those sayings such did believe, were not the sayings of Men imperfect in knowledge, and judging ac∣cording to the judgement of Charity by conjecture; but the say∣ings of the Holy Ghost that knoweth all things, the Spirit of Truth that cannot erre or be deceived. And he saith, they be∣lieved on his Name, they believed on him: and who will be so proud of his VVisdom and Knowledge, as to direct the Spirit of the Lord, and undertake to counsel him, and teach him to speak more rightly and safely, and say, they seemed to be∣lieve, they professed to believe; in the judgement of Charity they ought to be counted Believers, though in the issue it appears they did not believe? That which some bring to help this conceit,

helps it not:* 1.472 namely, that Christ did not commit himself to them, because he knew all Men, &c. for it is not said Jesus knew they believed not,* 1.473 or that he knew there was no truth in their believing: but he knew what was in Man, an evil and unfaithful disposition, &c. and he knew that his Words or Miracles that brought these to believe on him, were not so submitted to, as that their evil disposition was yet mortified, and they made faithful to him; and so they might have served him as he did, Joh. 5.14, 15. but believe, the Spirit saith, they did. And so in the other place the Holy Ghost affirmeth, That as Christ spake, many believed on him:* 1.474 and that our Saviour then spake to those Jews that believed on him. And again the Holy Ghost faith, A∣mong the chief Rulers many believed on him;* 1.475 but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him. So that these were Be∣lievers, and therefore so called: and not called Believers, because they seemed or professed to believe, which the Holy Ghost saith they did not; nay, the praise of Men had that prevalency with them, that it kept them from profession of believing, though it had not so great prevalency with these, as with those Joh. 5.44. whom it kept from believing, or yet put them in an incapacity of it: so that these pointed to, did believe, is evident; that it was not a feigned but true believing, is evident; for else in continuance in it, they could not be saved: that they were yet short of the know∣ledge of the Truth, &c. is express: that if they continued in his words received by this Faith, they were even then his Disciples, and they should know the Truth, and the Truth should make them free, is express: so that here is one Degree of Faith, yet short of a real New-Birth; which yet abiden in, is certain to be effected; and was after in many of these, as appears in comparing John 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 18. and John 7.50, 51. with John 19.38, 39, 40.

2. The other Degree of believing, in which by the pre∣valency of the Light seen,* 1.476 and Grace believed, the Heart is convinced and brought off all things, to accept of, and confide in Jesus, and so brought out of the power of Dark∣ness into the Kingdom of his dear Son; and so by his Love

believed, framed to love him: and that this is true Faith indeed, none that I know, but the deniers of Jesus to be the Christ, gainsay; yet is this but the farther Efficacies of the same Object of Faith beheld, and so one and the same Faith still, though in this degree united and made one with the Object, so as it was not in the former Degree: yet even in this Degree also there are divers Degrees, and so some weak,* 1.477 some stronger, some stablish'd, some Babes, some young or strong Men, some Fathers; yea, and in every of these De∣grees, some may be more grown then others, and be before others, yet all still in one and the same Faith, and still also in this one Faith.

3. There be divers Acts and Operations of this Faith,* 1.478 as to say, a receiving Act, in which is received the Word or Testimony, and therein Remission of sins, Justification, San∣ctification, Liberty of access to God, the Spirit of Faith, Love, Power, and a sound Minde, a springing act, raising up prizings of Christ, Love of God and Brethren, bowels of Mercy, &c. a streaming Act, Faith working through Love, and so bringing forth the services of Love, in Confession, Prayers, Praises, Works of Mercy and Righteousness; yet the Faith it self is still one and the same, and so called the same, the same Spirit of Faith; yea, when it produced Mi∣racles,* 1.479 the Faith was still the same, though the Act extraordi∣nary. The belief of the History,* 1.480 is the belief of the Testi∣mony of Christ; which whoso believeth with his heart, shall be saved; and when through the Grace believed, one is brought upon Christ, he is justified from all sins past; and in that believing, receiveth continual justification:* 1.481 and if any depart from the Faith, that proves temporary; but he that endureth to the end, shall be eternally saved; the Faith it self being one still, and but one Faith.

III. As Faith is used to express the Object of Faith,* 1.482 so it hath been reyealed, for the full and cleer Demonstration of it, at divers times, and by divers parcels and degrees; and at last fully and cleerly by Jesus Christ; and yet that Object of Faith still one and the same, each Revelation agreeing with, and opening the former, and so still one, as hath been shewn in this whole third Part of the Treatise. And because there

is no Faith by the Holy Spirit called Faith, but that which by his Discovery of this Object, is drawn towards it in believing, that the Believer might so be united to it; There∣fore the Faith is one; yea, and this Demonstration to lead us into unity, because, as it unites Believers in one Foundation to one Head, so it makes them of one Heart and Fellowship;* 1.483 For, there is one Body, (that is, one Mystical Body or Corporation, Fellowship and Society, though the Members of this Corporation, and their Of∣fices, be many, yet) the Corporation and Society, in Faith, Love and Fellowship of their Priviledges, is one, and all bear one Name,* 1.484 (the Name of Christ) being called Chri∣stians. And so there is but one true Church and Sanctuary that is united to Christ, and shall be in and with him for e∣ver; and by vertue of their Union with Christ, they are all in respect of kinde, one Seed and one Son; though in respect of their several particular Persons, Heirs, Children and Sons of God by Faith. And as there is One Body, so there is in it,

One Spirit, even the Spirit of the Father and the Son, that beareth forth the Testimony of Christ, and enables to be∣lieve in Christ, and brings to God by Christ, and into this Fellowship working the Minde of Christ, and so called the Spirit of Faith, by whom all he calleth, and so all Be∣lievers, are called in One Hope of their calling, The same Grace proclaimed, The same looking and believing required, and for the same end, To be saved, and to the same Hope in believing, even the obtaining Eternal Life and Glory; and so One Lord, even the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily; and so One Faith; as one Object, so one Manner of believing, which is Faith indeed, that is produced by the Holy Spirit, through the Gospel, and closeth with Christ the Object of Faith: and so also One Baptism, one kinde and end of the gracious Ope∣ration of the Holy Spirit in Baptizing into Christ, and through his Name (by all the Mediums of baptizing,* 1.485 called also Baptisms) into conformity to Christ in his Death, that they may partake of the vertue of his Resurrection, and so into the Fellowship of his body, drinking into one Spirit,

and so becoming of one minde, and that the minne of Christ the Son of God, even as also there is,* 1.486

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through al, and in them all, (that are Believers) he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in him, and shmes forth his Glory through him, that Men might believe; and so in and through him, he is the Father of all that believe in Christ; and above all, able to overthrow all their Enemies and Opposers, and to perfect all that concerneth them all; so, as all flows from and leads into Union, and this Union of the Spirit bringing into the Union of the acknowledgement of the Son of God, is that which the Spirit teacheth, and to which all the Degrees and Operations tendeth: whence we are exhorted to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace:* 1.487 and so but one Faith, which the Gospel calleth Faith: and he that would finde out another Faith really true and holy in its kinde, must first finde out another true Body, that is, the Church, another Spirit, another Jesus to be the Christ, another Gospel, and another Hope to call to, and ano∣ther God, all real, true and holy in their kinde: which is altogether impossible for any to do: so that there can be but one Faith that is really true and holy in its kinde.

IV.* 1.488 That the fullest and cle••rest Revelation of the Myste∣ry of Faith, is that given immediately by Christ himself, and left upon Record by his Apost es and Evangelists, and so the cleering up of all the former Revelations: and the sense and meaning of the Prophets is most cleerly and in plain Words to be sound in their Writings; and so the Gospel as delivered by them, because of the a∣bundance and plainness of Truth, and fulness of spiritu∣al Evidence in it, is truely and indeed, and so called,* 1.489 The Power of God unto Salvation, to bring every one that believeth, &c. for therein is the Righteousness of God, (not any deceit, or fable, or pretence, equivocation or falshood but the Righteousness of God in his Words, say∣ing, or mises) revealed (not hinted in parabolical and cloking terms; but revealed, opened, brought to light) from Faith to Faith, from one Revelation of Christ the

Object of Faith, to another, and so to another more cleer; from assuring him to come & suffer, to assure him to be already come, and to have suffered, and to come again in Glory; from Faith in him, being so come; from believing in him, through Types, Shadows & Prophecies, to believing in him now from a cleer Demonstration of his having compleated Righteousness, and the Father's face shining in him; and so now; and from believing this Testimony of him, to confiding in him; and so from one Degree of Faith to another, till he come to Vision; and yet all the way one Faith still: as it is the same strength encreasing in them, in which they are said to go from strength to strength, till they appear in Sion: and so the Just shall live by Faith.* 1.490 And here we have the fullest and plainest Revelation of it.

And so we are to heed all, and none but those Purposes, Promises and Covenant of God, which are set forth in this Testimony and Revelation Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 3.15.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 3.1.14, 15.
• * 1.3

  Rev. 12.9. & 20.2. & 8.13. & 9.12. & 11.14-18.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 3.16, 17. Rom. 5.18. Heb. 9.27.
• * 1.5

  Gen. 3.15. Psal. 49.7, 8. Isa. 7.14. Mat. 1.22, 23. Luk. 1.30, 34, 35. Gal. 4.4 Mat. 1.1. Rom. 1.3. Gal. 3.16. 1 Joh. 3.5, 8. Heb. 2.14.
• * 1.6

  Gal. 3.16, 29. Isa. 53.8, 10, 11. Psal. 72.7, 8, 9, 14. & 89.29, 36
• * 1.7

  Luk. 24.26, 46, 47.
• * 1.8

  Heb. 2.14. Col. 2.14, 15. Psal. 63.18, 21. Rev. 12.11. Act. 14.22. Gen. 3.15.
• * 1.9

  Rev. 2.8, 9. &c Mat. 13.25, 28 1 Pet. 5.8. Joh. 8.41, 44. Gen. 3.15. Jude 4. Rom. 5.14. Eph. 5.31, 32. Col. 2.14, 15. Eph. 2.16. Joh. 16.11. Psal. 68.18. 2 Cor. 4.4. 1 Joh. 5.8. Phil. 2.10, 11. Isa. 45.23. Gen. 3.15. Jude 14, 15.
• * 1.10

  Joh. 1.18.4-9. Heb. 1.1, 2. 1 Joh. 1.1, 2, 3. & 3.5.
• * 1.11

  Gen. 3.15. Col. 3.3, 4. 1 Ioh. 3.22.
• * 1.12

  Gen. 3.14, 15. Iude 6. Gen. 3.16, 17, 18, 19. Rom. 5.12, 18.
• * 1.13

  Gen. 3.15. Isa. 50.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Ioh. 17.2.
• * 1.14

  2 Cor. 1.19, 20.
• * 1.15

  Tit. 1.2, 7. 1 Ioh. 5.11. Gal. 3.17. Ioh. 1.12. 1 Ioh. 5.12. Isa. 49.8.
• * 1.16

  Rom. 8.32. Gal. 3.13, 14, 15, 16, 26, 29. Isa. 9.6. & 53.8, 10.
• * 1.17

  Rev. 22.15. Ioh. 8.56, 58.
• * 1.18

  Psal. 75.3. Col. 3.17, 18. Joh. 1.3, 4, 5. Heb. 1.2. 1 Cor. 8.6. Psal. 19 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Rom. 1.19, 20, 21. Act. 14, 17. Deut. 4.19. Psa. 147.15, 16, 17.18. Psa. 145.8, 9, 17. Jer. 5.21, 24. Heb. 11.6. Rom. 2.4. Rom. 10.18. Col. 1.23. Act. 4.17.
• * 1.19

  1 Ioh. 2.7, 8. & 1.1, 2, 3.
• * 1.20

  Gen. 5, & 6.
• * 1.21

  1 Pet. 3.19, 20. Gen. 6.3.
• * 1.22

  Rom. 2.4. Psal. 36.6, 7. Ioh 33.14, 15, 24, 29.
• * 1.23

  Gen. 15.
• * 1.24

  Gen. 9.27.
• * 1.25

  Job 19.25, 26, 27.
• * 1.26

  Job. 8.8, 10.
• * 1.27

  Iob 15.10.
• * 1.28

  Iob 25, & 26, & 27. Iob 4.12.21. & 33.14, 15. & 35, & 36, & 37, & 38, & 39, & 40.
• * 1.29

  Deut. 32.
• * 1.30

  1 Pet. 2.3, 5, 9.
• * 1.31

  Mat. 19.8. Ioh. 1.1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Ioh. 1.1, 2, 3.
• * 1.32

  Gen. 4.3-7.
• * 1.33

  1 Ioh. 3.12.
• * 1.34

  Gen. 17.26, 27. Ezek. 18.31, 32. & 33.11. Psal. 36.7, 8.
• * 1.35

  Iob 33.13.
• * 1.36

  Heb. 7.1-25. Ioh. 1.18. 1 Ioh. 2.20.
• * 1.37

  Gen. 12.3. Gen. 22.18. Gen. 26.4. Gen. 28.14. Gal. 3.13, 14, 16, 26, 29.
• * 1.38

  Gen. 22.18. & 26.4. & 12.3. & 28.14.
• * 1.39

  Gen. 13.16. & 17.6, 12, 13. Exod. 12.48. Deut. 1.10, 11. & 10.22.
• * 1.40

  Gen. 15.5. Rom. 4.13, 14, 18. Isa. 53.8. Rom. 8.16, 17. Ioh. 17.21, 22. Gen. 12.3. & 28, 15.
• * 1.41

  Gen. 15.5, 6. Rom. 4.13, 14, 16, 18, 22, 23, 24, 26. Gal. 3.6, 7, 9, 26, 29.
• * 1.42

  Gen. 13.15, 17. & 19.18. & 26.3. & 28.13. 1 Chron 16.16, 17, 18. Psa. 105.8, 9, 10, 11. Heb. 11.9. Isa. 65.17. Gal. 3.8, 16.
• * 1.43

  Gen. 17.1, 8. Psal. 105.8, 11. 1 Chron. 16.15, 16, 17, 18. Lev. 26.42. Psal. 25.14.
• * 1.44

  Joh. 8.56.
• * 1.45

  Gen. 17.9-14. & 18.18, 19. Deut. 30.6. Rom. 4.11, 12, 15.
• * 1.46

  Act. 7.4, 5. Heb. 11.9.16.
• * 1.47

  Heb. 11.8.
• * 1.48

  Gen. 12.2, 3. & 13.15. & 15.4, 5, 6. & 16.16. Gen. 21.5. Gen. 25.26.
• * 1.49

  Gen. 47.9.
• * 1.50

  Exod. 12.40, 41. Gal. 3.17, 18.
• * 1.51

  Heb. 1.1.
• * 1.52

  Heb. 8.5. & 9.23. & 10.1.
• * 1.53

  Heb. 7.27. & 9.7, 12, 22.
• * 1.54

  Heb. 9.13, 14. & 12.24. Rev. 1.5.
• * 1.55

  Psal. 51 7.
• * 1.56

  Heb. 7.25. & 10.2, 19, 20, 22. Eph. 2.17, 18.
• * 1.57

  Joh. 2.19. Col. 2.3, 9. Joh. 2.19. Joh. 5.20. Joh. 14.6. 1 Pet. 2.3, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 6, 16. Heb. 3.6. Heb. 8, 5.
• * 1.58

  Heb. 13.10, 11-15. 1 Pet. 2.5.
• * 1.59

  Rom. 3.25. 1 Ioh. 2.2. Joh. 1.18. Heb. 9.5.
• * 1.60

  Heb. 9.7, 12. 1 Tim. 2.5. Isa. 53.12. Heb. 7.25.
• * 1.61

  Heb. 7.13, 20. & 5.4, 5. Exod. 4.16, 27. & 28.1. & 40.12.
• * 1.62

  1 Pet. 2.2, 3, 4, 5, 9. Heb. 3.1, 6. & 13.10. Numb. 18.7. Heb. 7.12, 13. & 9.6, 7.
• * 1.63

  Act. 26.17, 18. Eph. 2.3, 4, 5. Col. 1.12, 13. 1 Pet. 2.9. 1 Ioh. 5.19. 2 Cor. 4.4. 1 Thes. 2.18. 1 Pet. 5.8. 1 Joh. 3.8. Mat. 10.17. Joh. 15.19. & 16.33.
• * 1.64

  Rom. 3.25. Gal. 6.14. Rev. 12.21. 1 Pet. 3.21. & 2.7. Mat. 21.44. Luk. 20.17, 18. Gal. 5.11. Phil. 3.18. Prov. 8.36. Isa. 54.15 Exod. 5, & 6, & 7, & 8, & 9, & 10, & 11, & 12, & 14.
• * 1.65

  Exod. 19.5.
• * 1.66

  Psal. 106.15, 18. 1 Cor. 10.1, 6, 11. Jude 1, 4, 5. Heb. 3.14, 19. & 41. 1 Pet. 2.7, 8, 9.
• * 1.67

  Deu. 18.15, 18, 19. Act. 3.22, 23. & 7.36. Joh. 1.41.••5.
• * 1.68

  Deut. 30.10, 11, 15. Rom. 10.4, 10. Deut. 17.26. Gal. 3.10. Heb. 7.19.
• * 1.69

  Deut. 32.36, 43 & 33.26, 27, 28, 29.
• * 1.70

  Deut. 32.7, 8. & 6.6, 7. & 11.18, 19. Exod. 26.11. Deut. 2, & 4, & 5.15. & 4.31, 32. & 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 21. Gal. 3.19. Lev. Numb. Deut. 2. Cor. 3.11, 13.
• * 1.71

  Luk. 16.29, 31.
• * 1.72

  Numb. 8.1, 7. Deu. 33.8, 9, 10, 11.
• * 1.73

  Deut. 10.8. & 21.5. 1 Chron. 23.13. Eph. 1.3, 2. Heb. 9.13, 18, 23. Psa. 51.7.
• * 1.74

  Eph. 1.3.
• * 1.75

  Heb. 10.1, 9. Ier. 31.32. Heb. 8.8, 9.
• * 1.76

  Act. 10.34, 35. Rom. 2.6, 7, 8, 16.
• * 1.77

  Eph. 2.11.
• * 1.78

  Exod. 12.48, 49
• * 1.79

  Psa. 147.19, 20. Rom. 3.2. & 9.4. Rom. 2.13, 17, 29. & 9.6, 7, 8. & 3.9.
• * 1.80

  Psal. 40.6, 7, 8. & 22.14, 18. & 26.7. & 16.10, 11. & 68.18, 20. & 110.11.
• * 1.81

  Psal. 1, & 15, & 24, & 32. Psal. 98.
• * 1.82

  2 Sam. 7.10.
• * 1.83

  1 Chron. 17.9, 10.
• * 1.84

  2 Sam. 7.11.
• * 1.85

  Deut. 5.2, 3, 4. & 28. & 4.31. Heb. 4.6, 7, 8, 9. & 11.9, 16. Psa. 39.12.
• * 1.86

  2 Sam. 7.9. 1 Chron. 17.8. Heb. 3.3, 4, 6. & 8.2, 5, 6. & 11.10, 16. 2 Sam. 7.12. 1 Chron. 17.11. Heb. 11.13, 14, 15, 40. Dan. 12.13.2 Sam. 7.16
• * 1.87

  2 Sam. 7.12.
• * 1.88

  1 Chron. 17.11.
• * 1.89

  Mat. 1.1. 1 Chron. 17.11, 12, 13, 14.
• * 1.90

  2 Sam. 7.19, 29. 1 Chron. 17.16, 17, 25, 26, 27. Luk. 1.31, 32, 33, 35. Heb. 1.5.
• * 1.91

  1 Chron. 17.15. Psa. 89.19, 20, 29, 30, 37.
• * 1.92

  2 Sam. 23.3, 4, 5.
• * 1.93

  Psal. 2.1, 2, 3. Act. 4.25.
• * 1.94

  Psal. 22.7, 18. & 69.12, 21.
• * 1.95

  Psal. 41.9. & 109.2, 3, 4, 8. Act. 1.20.
• * 1.96

  Psal. 40.7, 8, 9, 10. & 110.1. & 68.11, 18, 20. Heb. 10.5, 6, 14. Act. 2.33.
• * 1.97

  Psal. 2.6, 9. & 149.4, 9.
• * 1.98

  Psal. 72.1, 16.
• * 1.99

  Psal. 102.16.
• * 1.100

  1 Pet. 1.11, 12. 2 Pet. 1.20. Luk. 1.70. Act. 26.22.
• * 1.101

  Mal. 3.1. Mat. 11.10. Isa. 40.3, 8. Joh. 1.16, 20, 23, 29. Mar. 1.2, 3.
• * 1.102

  Isa. 9.6. Luk. 2.11. Jer. 23.22. Gal. 4.4. Isa. 7.14. Mat. 1.23. Isa. 11.1. Luk. 1.27, &c. Mic. 5.2. Mat. 2.5. Ioh. 7.42. Jer. 31.25. Mat. 2.16, 17, 18. Isa. 61.1, 2, 3. Luk. 4.18. Psal. 69.9. Ioh. 2.14, 17.
• * 1.103

  Zach. 11.12, 13. Mat. 26.15. & 27.3, 9. Isa. 53.7, 8, 10, 11, 12. Isa 7.14. Mat. 1.23.
• * 1.104

  Isaiah 28.16. 1 Pet. 2.5, 6. 2 Cor. 5.19, 1 Cor. 3.11. Act. 4.11. Isa. 49.6. & 45.22. 1 Joh. 4.14. Act. 13.47. Isa. 42.6, 7, 8. Luk. 2.31, 32. Gal. 3.16, 26, 29. Rom. 8.23, 25.
• * 1.105

  1 Thes. 4.15. Col. 3.4.
• * 1.106

  Mal. 4.5, 6. Mat. 17.11, 12.
• * 1.107

  Hos. 14.1, 2, 3, 4. Zach. 14.1. Dan. 12.3, 11, 12.
• * 1.108

  Isa. 11.11, 12, 16. Jer. 31.8, 9. Isa. 4.9, 18, 23 Jer. 31, 13, 15, 16. Dan. 12.2, 12, 13. Heb. 11.35. 1 Thes. 4.14, 18. Ezek. 37. Isa. 19.23, 24, 25.
• * 1.109

  Isa. 11.4. & 9.5. & 60.1, 12. Zach. 14.3, 16. Isa. 65.12, 17. Jer. 31.33, 34. & 32.37, 40. Dan. 2.44. & 7.14. Isa. 9.7. & 24.23. & 66.5, 13. Zach. 12 6. Luk. 1.32, 33.
• * 1.110

  Isa. 9.7. & 11, & 60, & 65.14, 20 & 66.12, &c.
• * 1.111

  Act. 3.18, 19, 20, 24.
• * 1.112

  Rom. 16.26. Act. 26.22.
• * 1.113

  1 Pet. 1.10, 11, 12. 2 Pet. 1.20. Luk. 16.29.
• * 1.114

  Luk. 1.13, 14, 15, 16, 17.
• * 1.115

  Luk. 1.26, 27, 35 Luk. 1.41, 42, 43, 48, 55, 67, 68, 69, 79. Mat. 1.20, 21, 23. Luk. 2.10, 11, 14, 16, 17.
• * 1.116

  Luk. 2.25, 28, 32, 35.
• * 1.117

  Luk. 2.36, 38.
• * 1.118

  Mat. 2.1, 2, 9, 10, 11.
• * 1.119

  Joh. 1.31, 33. Luk. 3.1, 2, 3.
• * 1.120

  Isa. 40.3, 4, 6, 7, 8. Mal. 3.1. Luk. 1.13, 14, 15, 16.17, 76, 79. & 3.15, 16. Joh. 17.20, 23. Luk. 1.15, 44, 76, 78, 79. Luk. 1,17.
• * 1.121

  Luk. 3.1, 2, 3, 4.
• * 1.122

  Joh. 1.1, 2, 3, 14. Gen. 3.15.
• * 1.123

  1 Ioh. 3.5, 8. Ioh. 1.4, 7, 8. 9.
• * 1.124

  Joh. 1.14, 16, 18.
• * 1.125

  Joh. 1.11
• * 1.126

  Tit. 3.3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Col. 1.12, 13. Joh. 1.15, 16, 17. Act. 26.18.
• * 1.127

  Job. 1.29, 36. Col. 2.14, 15. Eph. 2.12, 13, 16, 17. Rom. 5.18.
• * 1.128

  Isa. 53.12. 1 Tim. 2.4. Rom. 2.4. Rom. 3.24, 25, 26. 1 Joh. 3.2. Gen. 22.18. Act. 10.43. Rom. 4.5. Mat. 3.2, 11.
• * 1.129

  Joh. 3.34, 35, 36.
• * 1.130

  Joh. 14.18, 29, 33. Mat. 3. Mar. 1. Luk. 3.
• * 1.131

  Joh. 1.33, 34. Mat. 3.13, 17. Mar. 1.9, 10.11. Luk. 3.21, 22.
• * 1.132

  Joh. 1.29, 35, 36. & 3.30, 36.
• * 1.133

  Mat. 11.10, 11.
• * 1.134

  Mat. 11.13, 14, 15. & 17.11, 12. & 23.37.
• * 1.135

  Isa. 42.1. & 61.1, 2, 3, 4. Joh. 12.49, 50. Heb. 1.1, 2. & 2.4.
• * 1.136

  2 Tim. 1.10. Joh. 2.11. 1 Pet. 1.20, 21. Joh. 1.1, 2, 3. Act. 10.41, 42.
• * 1.137

  Act. 13. & 17.2, 3. & 18.28. Rom. 16.26. Luk. 1.1, 2, 3, 4. Joh. 20.31.
• * 1.138

  Joh. 5.33, 36, 37, 39.
• * 1.139

  Mat. 16.16, 20. Mar. 8.27. Luk. 9.20. Joh. 1.41, 49. & 4.25, 26, 42. & 6.69.
• * 1.140

  Isa. 53.10, 11, 12. Psa. 68.18, 21. & 2.1, 9.
• * 1.141

  Mat. 16.21. Mar. 8.31. Luk. 9.22. Luk. 9.29, 30, 31. Mat. 17.12. Mar. 9.12. Mat. 20.18, 19. Luk. 9.44.
• * 1.142

  Joh. 12.24.
• * 1.143

  Luk. 24.45, 46, 47.
• * 1.144

  Isa. 53.5. Rom. 5.18. & 14.7, 8, 9.
• * 1.145

  Mat. 26.28. Joh. 6.51. Psa. 40.6, 8. & 49. 7, 8. Mic. 6.6, 7. Heb. 10.1, 10. Isa. 53.6. Rom. 8.32. Psa. 40.6, 7, 8. Heb. 10.5, 10. Joh. 10.17, 18.
• * 1.146

  Psa. 2.10, 11.
• * 1.147

  Heb. 8.8, 9, 10, 11. 1 Pet. 1.5. 2 Cor. 1.20.
• * 1.148

  Gal. 3.13, 14, 15, 16, 17, with Heb. 9.15, 16, 17.
• * 1.149

  Joh. 10.30. Mar. 15.39, 44. Joh. 10.32, 33. Heb. 9.14, 15. Rom. 5.1, 2, 8, 10, 11.
• * 1.150

  Mar. 26.28. Mar. 14.24. Luk. 22.20. 1 Cor. 11.25.
• * 1.151

  Joh. 17.21, 23. Joh. 10.15. Joh. Joh. 10.11, 12. Phil. 2.8. Joh. 18.37. Joh. 17.15, 16, 17, 18. Joh. 10.2, 3, 4, 15. Phil. 2.4, 5, 6, 7. 1 Joh. 3.16. Joh. 13.14, 17. & 15, 12, 13. Mat. 20.25, 26, 27, 28. Eph. 5.1, 2. Joh. 18.11. Mat. 16.24. 1 Pet. 2.20, 22, 23.
• * 1.152

  1 Pet. 3.16, 17, 18. Joh. 13.12, 13, 14, 17. 1 Joh. 3, 16. Heb. 13.18.
• * 1.153

  Act. 2.23, 24. & 3.13.15. & 4.10. & 5.30.
• * 1.154

  Rev. 13 8.
• * 1.155

  Joh. 1.4, 5, 7, 11, 12. Rom. 1.16, 17, 20. & 2.4, 5, 11. Prov. 1.23, 33.
• * 1.156

  Mat. 23.34, 35. Rom. 6.9. Rev. 1.18. Col. 1.24. Luk. 10.16. Act. 9.4, 5.
• * 1.157

  Heb. 11. & 12.1, 2. Jam. 5.10, 11. Mat. 5.12. & 10.13, 14, 15. Joh. 15.20, 21.
• * 1.158

  Joh. 12.8. & 13.3. & 15.6, 28.
• * 1.159

  Heb. 10.5, 10. & 9.12. Rom. 14.7, 8, 9. Joh. 17.2. Psa. 68.18, 20. Joh. 16.7, 15.
• * 1.160

  Ioh. 17.26. Heb. 12.24. 1 Pet. 1, 2. Joh. 13.8. & 15.3. Joh. 14.16, 17, 26. & 16.13, 14, 15, Eph. 2.5, 6. Phil. 3.20. Col. 3.1. Ioh. 14, 20, 21.24.
• * 1.161

  Gal. 4.26. Heb. 12.22, 23. 1 Ioh. 1.2, 3. 2 Cor. 5.8. Rev. 6.9. Heb. 12.22, 23. Eph. 2.19, 22. 2 Cor. 7.3. Phil. 1.7. 1 Thes. 2.17.
• * 1.162

  Col. 1.5. 1 Thes. 2.19, 20. 2 Joh. 8. 2 Pet 1.11. Joh. 14 2. Heb. 8.1, 6. & 9.4. 1 Tim. 2.••. 1 Joh. 2.1, 2. Heb. 7.25. & 9.15.
• * 1.163

  Joh. 14.3. Mat. 19.28, 29 Rev. 11.17.18. Mat. 24.27, 30.
• * 1.164

  Mat. 25.32.46. Joh. 5.28, 29.
• * 1.165

  Ioh. 14.16, 17, 18, 26.
• * 1.166

  Joh. 16.13, 14, 15. & 15.4, 7. 1 Pet. 1.5. Joh. 14.6. & 10.9. & 14.9, 10.
• * 1.167

  & 1.3.
• * 1.168

  Mat. 16.18. 1 Pet. 2.3, 4, 5.
• * 1.169

  Joh. 6.51, 58, 63. & 15.10. & 17.24.
• * 1.170

  John 3.14, 15. Tit. 2.3. Mar. 16.25. Rom. 16.26.
• * 1.171

  Joh. 8.14, 15. Luk. 24.47, 43. Joh. 15.26. Rom. 1.1, 5. & 16.25, 26. 1 Cor. 22. & 3.10, 11. 2 Cor. 4.5. 1 Joh. 1.1, 2, 3. & 5.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Isa. 49.6.
• * 1.172

  Joh. 3.16, 17. 1 Joh. 4.9, 10, 14. Rom. 5.6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Tit. 3.4, 5. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15, 19, 21.
• * 1.173

  Joh. 3.17. Luk. 9.56. Mat. 18.11. Joh. 12.47. Isa. 42.6, 7, 8. & 49.6, 8, 9. & 55.4, 5. & 63.1, 2, 3. Act. 3.26. & 14.15. & 26.17, 18. Joh. 12.35, 36, 46. & 9.5. Joh. 1.4, 7, 8, 9.
• * 1.174

  Mat. 5.13, 14, 15, 16.
• * 1.175

  Joh. 8.12. & 12.47. Joh. 5.34. Rom. 2.5. Joh. 33.16, 17, 24, 29 30. Prov. 1.23. Rom. 11.11, 23, 32, 33. 1 Cor. 5.5. 2 Pet. 3.15. Rev. 2.21. Isa. 5.4. Ezek. 24.13. Joh. 3.19. Rom. 11. 2 Cor. 4.4. Mat. 13.15. Ier. 8.9. Iona. 2.8. Mat. 10.26. Mar. 8.36. Ioh. 3.18, 19. Mar. 16.16. Exod. 34.6, 7. Isa. 30.16, 17, 18. Psa. 145.8, 9. Ioh. 7.47, 48.
• * 1.176

  Eccles. 9.4.
• * 1.177

  Rom. 11.23.
• * 1.178

  Eccles. 9.10. & 11.3. Ioh. 12.48
• * 1.179

  Rom. 2.16.
• * 1.180

  Iam. 2.12.
• * 1.181

  2 Thes. 2.10.
• * 1.182

  Ioh. 17.15, 18, 21. Act. 11.14. Act. 26.17, 18.
• * 1.183

  Act. 3.26.
• * 1.184

  Prov. 8.4, 5, 6, 9.
• * 1.185

  2 Tim. 1.15.
• * 1.186

  Mat. 28.19, 20. Mar. 16.15. Luk. 1.16, 77. Ioh. 1.7. Mat. 15 24. Mat. 10.5, 6. Rom. 15.8, 9.
• * 1.187

  Ioh. 4.10, 42.
• * 1.188

  Ioh. 10.14, 15, 16.
• * 1.189

  Rom. 5 12, 18. Mat. 22.1, 7. Prov. 9.1, 2, 3. Isa. 55.1, 2, 3, 4. Rom. 5.18. & 3.23, 24.
• * 1.190

  1 Ioh. 5.10, 11, 12. 2 Cor. 2.17. & 3.12. & 4.2.
• a 1.191

  Ioh. 3.14, 15.
• b 1.192

  Rom. 3.24, 25, 26. 2 Cor. 5. 14, 19, 21. Col. 1.28.
• c 1.193

  2 Cor. 5.20.
• d 1.194

  Joh. 12.32.
• e 1.195

  Mat. 10.40. Rom. 1.16. 1 Thes. 2.13. 2 Pet. 1.1, 10.
• f 1.196

  Joh. 16.7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
• g 1.197

  Phil. 2.10, 11.
• h 1.198

  Isa. 60.14. Rev. 3.9.
• i 1.199

  Isa. 44.25, 26.
• k 1.200

  Isa. 45.22, 23, 24.
• * 1.201

  Part 1. ch. 6.
• l 1.202

  Luk. 24.26, 27, 45, 46, 47.
• m 1.203

  Joh. 20.17.
• n 1.204

  Joh. 7.39. & 16.7.
• * 1.205

  o Luk. 24.49, Act. 1.4.
• * 1.206

  Act. 2.2, 3, 4, &c.
• * 1.207

  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.
• * 1.208

  Joh 26.12, 13. Psa. 104.29, 30.
• * 1.209

  Deut. 28.26, 29. Exod. 31.3. & 35.31.
• * 1.210

  Heb. 11.6. Gen. 6.3. Act. 14.17. Rom. 3.2. & 9.5. Joh. 1.7, 29.
• * 1.211

  1 Pet. 1.11. 2 Pet. 1.21. Act. 28.25 Luk. 1.41, 46, 67. & 2.25, 26.
• * 1.212

  Joh. 7.37, 38, 39. & 17.20, 21. Act. 2.39.
• * 1.213

  1 Cor. 2.9, 10, 11. Joh. 5.39. Heb. 1.1. Rom. 16.25. Eph. 3.3, 9.
• * 1.214

  2 Cor. 4.6. Col. 1.25, 26, 27. Joh. 7.37, 38, 39.
• * 1.215

  Eph. 3.3, 4, 9. Gal. 3.28. Eph. 1.8, 9, 10.
• * 1.216

  Joh. 15.26. & 14.26. & 16.13, 15. Joh. 3.16. Rom. 1.16. 2 Cor. 3.6, 7, &c.
• * 1.217

  Psal. 68.18, 20. Act. 2.33. Eph. 4.8, 11. Act. 2.17, 18.
• * 1.218

  Mar. 1.15. Act. 10.42. 2 Tim. 4.2. Tit. 1.3.
• * 1.219

  1 Cor. 1.18, 20. & 2.1, 2.
• * 1.220

  Joh. 12.38. Rom. 10.16. 1 Pet. 1.12. Joh. 17.6, 7. 1 Joh. 1.1, 2, 3. Act. 13.32, 33. & 26.27, Rom. 3.25, 26. 1 Cor. 15.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Act. 5.42. & 18.26. & 28.23, 31. 1 Tim. 2.7. Act. 20, 21. 2 Cor. 5.10, 11, 14, 19, 20.
• * 1.221

  2 Tim. 3.16. Tit. 2.15.
• * 1.222

  2 Col. 2.17. & 3.12. & 4.1, 2. 2 Pet. 1.15, 16.
• * 1.223

  Part 1. ch. 6. Mat. 10.27, 28.
• * 1.224

  Act. 2.6, 8. 1 Cor. 14.6, 7, 19. Rev. 19.10. 1 Cor. 14.3. 1 Joh. 3.20, 21, 27, 28. 1 Cor. 1.1, 2. Gen. 3.15. 1 Joh. 3.5, 8.
• * 1.225

  Act. 2.18; 19, 20, 21.
• * 1.226

  Psal. 19.1, 6. Rom. 10.18. Isa. 42.6. 2 Cor. 1.20 Col. 2.17. Heb. 7, & 8, & 9, & 10. Col. 3.11.
• * 1.227

  Part 1. ch. 5.
• * 1.228

  Rom. 8.25. Gal. 4.6.
• * 1.229

  1 Cor. 1.17, 18, 19, 20. & 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• * 1.230

  1 Tim. 4.7. & 6.20. Tit. 3.9. Col. 2.8. 1 Cor. 1.19, 20, 17, 23. & 2.1, 4, 12.
• * 1.231

  Rom. 12.3. Col. 2.18. Gal. 1.10. 1 Thes. 2.4, 5, 6. 1 Cor. 14.6, 19, 28.
• * 1.232

  1 Cor. 2.4, 5. Rom. 16.26. 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. Tit. 2.15. 1 Pet. 4.11. 1 Cor. 3.18. Rom. 1.1, 5.
• * 1.233

  See Part 3. ch. 1.
• * 1.234

  See Part 3. ch. 3.
• * 1.235

  Rom. 1.21, 22, 28. Joh. 1.4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11.
• * 1.236

  1 Cor. 1.17, 21, 23.
• * 1.237

  Psal. 8.2. Mat. 11.25. Luk. 2.17. Joh. 21. Act. 2. & 4.13. Mat. 2.16. Mr. 6.3. 1 Cor. 1.21, 23, 27. Jer. 5.30, 31. Isa. 29.14. & 33.18. 1 Cor. 1.19, 20, 26, 27.
• * 1.238

  Mat. 13.55, 57. Mar. 6.3. Rom. 15.2, 3. 2 Cor. 4.10, 11, 12, 13.
• * 1.239

  Mat. 5.4, 16. 1 Cor. 9.16, 27. Phil. 1.27. & 2.16. 1 Tim. 6.11, 12, Til. 3.14.
• * 1.240

  Joh. 16.23, 29.
• * 1.241

  2 Tim. 3.14, 17.
• * 1.242

  Mat. 28.19, 20. Act. 16.33.
• * 1.243

  1 Cor. 11, 23, 24.25, 26.
• * 1.244

  Mat. 18.15, 16, 20. 1 Cor. 5. & 11.23, 31. & 14. all. Heb. 10.25.
• * 1.245

  2 Cor. 2.16. & 3.5, 6.
• * 1.246

  Mat. 5.1.13, 14, 15, 16. Joh. 15.1, 2, 4, 8. & 17.20, 21, 22, 23.
• * 1.247

  Mar. 3.9, 13, 14, 15, 16, &c. Luk. 6.13, 14, &c.
• * 1.248

  Joh. 6.70. & 17.12. Act. 1.15, 26. Rev. 17.14. Ioh. 15.16, 19.
• * 1.249

  Joh. 17.13, 14, 20. Luk. 10.1, 2, 17. Gal. 3.11, 12, 17. 1 Cor. 9.1. & 15.8, 9. Act. 10.41, 42.
• * 1.250

  1 Pet. 2.3, 4, 5, 9. Isa. 59.21. & 61.1, 2, 3, 4.
• * 1.251

  2 Cor. 10.
• * 1.252

  1 Thes. 1.8. & 5.11, 14.
• * 1.253

  Rom. 12.3.
• * 1.254

  1 Pet. 4.10, 11.
• * 1.255

  Phil. 2.15, 16. Mat. 5.13, 16. 1 Cor. 12.7.
• * 1.256

  Heb. 7.12.
• * 1.257

  Psa. 68.11. Pro. 9.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• * 1.258

  Eph. 1. Rom. 1.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. & 11.13. 2 Cor. 11, & 12. Gal. 1.11, 12. Til. 1.1, 2, 3.
• * 1.259

  Ephes. 1.3.
• * 1.260

  See Part 3. ch. 3.
• * 1.261

  Col. 2.9, 10. & 3.11.
• * 1.262

  2 Tim. 1.9, 10. 1 Pet. 1.11, 12, 19, 20, 21. Col. 1.26, 27. Eph. 3.3, 4, 5. Eph. 1.4.
• * 1.263

  Eph. 1.4.
• * 1.264

  Eph. 5.25, 26, 27.
• * 1.265

  Rom. 7. Gal. 2. Jam. 3.2. 2 Cor. 3.3, 14.
• * 1.266

  Heb. 7.19. Rom. 2.3. Heb. 7.12. & 8.6, 11. & 9.14, 15. & 10.5, 10.
• * 1.267

  Eph. 1.5.
• * 1.268

  Isa. 42.1.
• * 1.269

  Mat. 12.18. Mat. 3.17. & 17.5. 1 Joh. 5.10, 11, 12. Gal. 3.16, 26, 29. Joh. 1.12. 2 Tim. 1.9. Joh. 6.44 Jam. 1.18. Joh. 1.13. Joh. 1.12, 16, 17, 18. Rom. 8.16. Rom. 9.4.
• * 1.270

  Rom. 16.25, 26. 2 Cor. 5.18, 19, 20.
• * 1.271

  Act. 26.17, 18. Joh. 15.16.
• * 1.272

  Mat. 28.19. Mar. 16.15, 16. Luk. 5.10.
• * 1.273

  Eph. 1.5. Joh. 15.4, 7, 8, 27. Luk. 24.47, 48. Eph. 1.5. 2 Cor. 4, 5, 6. Heb. 13.7, 8. 2 Cor. 5.20. & 11.2.
• * 1.274

  Gal. 4.1, 7. & 3.16, 26. & 5.1, 4.18. Joh 1.14, 15, 16, 17. & 8.31, 36.
• * 1.275

  Mat. 11.11. 2 Cor. 4.4.
• * 1.276

  Eph. 1.5.
• * 1.277

  Rom. 8.3. 2 Cor. 3.6, 14. Heb. 7, & 8, & 9, & 10.
• * 1.278

  2 Cor. 2.14, 15, 17. & 3, 10, 11, 12. & 4.1.
• * 1.279

  Eph. 1.6.
• * 1.280

  Col. 1.15. Heb. 1.1, 3. Joh. 1.14, 16, 17, 18.
• * 1.281

  2 Cor. 4.6. Col. 1.26, 27. Rom. 6.25, 26. Eph. 3.6, 7.
• * 1.282

  2 Cor. 1.20. & 4.7. 1 Pet. 1.4.
• * 1.283

  Eph. 1.6.
• * 1.284

  Rom. 5.1, 6, 8.11. Tit. 3.4, 5, 6, 2 Cor. 5.14, 15, 18, 19, 20. 1 Tim. 1 12, 13, 14.15, 16. Rom. 8.2. 1 Joh. 1.1, 2, 3.
• * 1.285

  Eph. 1.7.
• * 1.286

  Rom. 5.1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11. & 8.2. Rev. 1.5. Col. 2.13. Act. 10.43.
• * 1.287

  Col. 1.14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23. 2 Cor. 5.18, 19, 20, 21. Luk. 24.47, 48. Act. 13.38. Rom. 3.26, 27, 28. & 4.5.
• * 1.288

  Eph. 1.8.
• * 1.289

  1 Cor. 1.19, 20, 21. & 2.6.
• * 1.290

  1 Cor. 2.8. 1 Cor. 1.2.4. Col. 2.3, 9.
• * 1.291

  Prov. 8.11, 12. Isa. •• 1.2. & 42.1, 8. & 61 1, 2, 3, 4. Joh. 15.26, 17.
• * 1.292

  Eph. 1.17, 18, 19.
• * 1.293

  Prov. 14.8.
• * 1.294

  1 Cor. 2.9, 10, 12, 13, 16.
• * 1.295

  Rom. 16.25, 26. 2 Pet. 1.3, 4. Col. 1.26, 27. Eph. 3.5.
• * 1.296

  Eph. 1.9.
• * 1.297

  Eph. 3.4. Col. 1.3. 1 Tit. 3.9, 16. Col. 2.2. Luke 8.10. Mat. 13.11. Mar. 4.11. 1 Cor. 4.1.
• * 1.298

  Eph. 1.9.
• * 1.299

  Eph. 1.10.
• * 1.300

  Tit. 1.3.
• * 1.301

  Gal. 4.4, 5.
• * 1.302

  1 Pet. 1.20.
• * 1.303

  1 Pet. 1.4, 5. Rev. 10.6, 7. & 11.14, 19. 2 Tim. 4.8. Eph. 1.23. & 4.13. Rom. 4 6. Gal. 4.4. 1 Pet. 1.4, 5. Act. 2.17. Heb. 2.2. 1 Pet. 1.20 2 Pet. 1.15. & 3.2.
• * 1.304

  Eph. 1.10.
• * 1.305

  Heb. 1.1, 2, 3. Col. 1.15. Joh. 1.18. Mat. 1 23. Psal. 85.10.
• * 1.306

  Heb. 12.22, 24.
• * 1.307

  Col. 2.10, 11.
• * 1.308

  1 Joh. 5.20.
• * 1.309

  Eph. 1.11.
• * 1.310

  Vers. 13, 14.
• * 1.311

  Eph. 1.11.
• * 1.312

  Eph. 1.12.
• * 1.313

  Vers. 13, 14, &c.
• * 1.314

  Vers. 12.
• * 1.315

  Ephes. 3.3, 4. Phil. 3.1. 2 Tim. 1.13. & 2.2. 2 Pet. 3.2. Rev. 22.18, 19.
• * 1.316

  Ephes. 4.7,
• * 1.317

  8,
• * 1.318

  9, 10, 11,
• * 1.319

  12, 13.
• * 1.320

  Ephes. 4.9, 10. Psal. 68.18, 19, 20. Act. 2.2, 6, 16, 21, 33.
• * 1.321

  Eph. 4.7, 8, 11, 12.
• * 1.322

  Luk. 24.48.
• * 1.323

  Act. 26.18.
• * 1.324

  Act. 24.21, 22, 23.
• * 1.325

  Luk. 6.13.
• * 1.326

  Luk. 10.1, 17.
• * 1.327

  Mat. 5.14, 15, 16.
• * 1.328

  Joh. 16.7. Luk. 24.49. Act. 1.4, 5. & 2.1, 33.
• * 1.329

  1 Cor. 12.28.
• * 1.330

  Isa. 52.15. Rom 15.18, 19, 20, 21.
• * 1.331

  2 Cor. 3.10, 11. 2 Cor. 9.2. 2 Cor. 3.1, 2, 3. & 13.3, 4, 5.
• * 1.332

  1 Cor. 12.28.
• * 1.333

  Act. 21.10, 11.
• * 1.334

  Joh. 16.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. 1 Cor. 14.24, 25.
• * 1.335

  Rom. 10.15. Act. 11.20, 21.
• * 1.336

  1 Pet. 1.21, 2, 25.
• * 1.337

  1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 8.
• * 1.338

  1 Cor. 12.28.
• * 1.339

  Jer. 3.15. & 23.4, 5, 6.
• * 1.340

  1 Joh. 2.20.
• * 1.341

  1 Pet. 2.5, 9.
• * 1.342

  Isa. 66.20,
• * 1.343

  Eph. 2.17, 22.
• * 1.344

  1 Cor. 15.8, 9. & 9.1, 2. Gal. 2.11, 12, 21. Luk. 16.29. 2 Pet. 1.15. & 3.2.
• * 1.345

  Eph. 4.12.
• * 1.346

  Eph. 4.13.
• * 1.347

  Gal. 4.3, 7. Jer. 31.34. 1 Cor. 13.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. 1 Joh. 3.2.
• * 1.348

  Jude 3. 1 Tim. 6.13, 14. 2 Tim. 1.13. & 2.2. 2 Pet. 1.13, 14, 15. & 3.2. Gal. 1.6, 7.
• * 1.349

  Act. 2.
• * 1.350

  Isa. 59.20, 21.
• * 1.351

  Mat. 28.20.
• * 1.352

  Eph. 4.14, 15.
• a 1.353

  1 Cor. 14.20, 21, 22.
• b 1.354

  Act. 8.13. & 13.12. & 14.3. & 16.29, 32.
• c 1.355

  Act. 2.33, 36. & 3.12. & 4.10. & 9.42. & 11.18.
• d 1.356

  Act. 8.14, 15, 16, 17.
• e 1.357

  Act. 10.44.
• f 1.358

  Act. 19.6.
• g 1.359

  Act. 8.39. & 9.17, 18, 19.
• h 1.360

  Act. 2.38, 39.
• i 1.361

  1 Cor. 12.28, 29.
• * 1.362

  Mar. 16.17.
• * 1.363

  Exod. 16.20, 27, 28.
• * 1.364

  Numb. 20.14. with Iudg. 11.17.
• * 1.365

  Josh. 7.11.
• * 1.366

  1 Cor. 5.6.
• * 1.367

  Isa. 63.11, 16.
• * 1.368

  Jer. 12.6, 7, 19, 20. Act. 16.18. & 28.3, 5. & 12.5, 19. & 2.4, 6. & 10.46. 1 Cor. 14.18. Act. 9.33, 34, 41. & 28.8. & 8.17, 18.
• * 1.369

  Psal. 66.6.
• * 1.370

  Hos. 12.4.
• * 1.371

  Mar. 16.17.
• * 1.372

  Deut. 6.6, 7, 20, 24. with Exod. 12.26, 27.
• * 1.373

  Psa. 78. all.
• * 1.374

  Psa. 66.6. Hos. 12.4. Jer. 32.19, 20, 21. Mat. 12.38, 39. & 16.1, 4.
• * 1.375

  Mar. 8.11, 12. Luk. 11.29. Joh. 2.18. & 6.30, 31. Heb. 12.22, 23.
• * 1.376

  Luk. 2.1, 4. Joh. 20.31. Rom. 15.4. Mar. 16.20. Heb. 2.4. 1 Cor. 14.20, 21. Isa. 28.11, 12, 13. Luk. 16.31.
• * 1.377

  1 Cor. 12.28.
• * 1.378

  Act. 15.20.
• * 1.379

  Rev. 19.20.
• * 1.380

  Rev. 11.1, 2, 3. 2 Thes. 2.4. Joh. 6.2.
• * 1.381

  Jer. 7.12
• * 1.382

  Rev. 12.1.
• * 1.383

  Rev. 11, & 19.
• * 1.384

  Heb. 1. & 2.1, 2, 3, 4.
• * 1.385

  Deut. 13.
• * 1.386

  Mat. 24.24. Mar. 12.22. 2 Thes. 2.10.
• * 1.387

  Mat. 24.14. Rom. 10.18.
• * 1.388

  Part 3. c. 11.
• * 1.389

  Heb. 12.22, 2 24.
• * 1.390

  1 Joh. 1.3. Eph. 2.19, 22. Isa. 59.20, 21. Phil. 2.15.16. Heb. 3.6. 1 Tim. 3.15.
• * 1.391

  Isa. 43.10. Act. 13.47.
• * 1.392

  Isa. 43.10, 11. 1 Joh. 2.2. 2 Cor. 5.19. Rom. 3.25. 1 Tim. 1.16. Heb. 12.1.
• * 1.393

  2 Cor. 5.20.
• * 1.394

  2 Cor. 2.14, 17.
• * 1.395

  Eph 3.3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10. 1 Pet. 1.11, 12. 1 Tim. 3.16.
• * 1.396

  Act. 9.15. 2 Tim 4.7. Mat. 5.14.
• * 1.397

  2 Tim. 4.1, 7. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5, 6. Jude 3, 4.
• * 1.398

  Deut. 6.9. & 11.20.
• * 1.399

  Feb. 2.2.
• * 1.400

  Isa. 29 11, 12.
• * 1.401

  Joh. 8.6.
• * 1.402

  1 Tim. 3.16.
• * 1.403

  Rev. 11.1, 2, 3.
• * 1.404

  Prov. 10.21, 22. Pro. 15, 10. Psa. 35.28. & 71.24. & 119.172. & 51.31. 1 Thes. 1.8. 1 Cor. 3.3, 18. Gal. 5.22, 23.
• * 1.405

  Mat. 5.16.
• * 1.406

  Prov. 11.30. Ezek. 47.12. Rev. 22.2. 2 Cor. 9.2.
• * 1.407

  1 Pet. 4.10, 11 14.
• * 1.408

  Rev. 11, 4.
• * 1.409

  Joh. 17.6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, & vers. 20.
• * 1.410

  Vers. 21.
• * 1.411

  Vers. 22.
• * 1.412

  Vers. 23. 23.
• * 1.413

  Joh. 4.10. 1 Cor. 2.8. 1 Joh. 1.1, 2, 3, 4. Joh. 17.24.
• * 1.414

  2 Tim. 1.13. Gal. 1.8. 2 Tim. 3.4. & 4.5. 1 Cor. 11.2, 23. 2 Tim. 1.14. 1 Tim. 6.20.
• * 1.415

  2 Tim. 2.2.
• * 1.416

  Joh. 14 21, 22, 23. 1 Joh. 2.14, 24. Isa. 59.21. 2 Joh. 2. Eph. 3.17. Heb. 12.22. Isa. 78.16. & 46.13. 1 Pet. 2.6. Isa. 40.9.
• * 1.417

  Psa. 132.13, 14, 15. Joel 3.21. Psa. 77.2.
• * 1.418

  Isa. 59.21. Rom. 8, 9, 10. 1 Joh. 2.20. & 3.24. Eph. 4.7. 2 Cor. 12.4, 7, 11. Jer. 30.17. Isa. 35.2, 3. Cant. 6.8, 9. Cant. 1.7, 8.
• * 1.419

  Prov. 6.20, 23. 1 Tim. 4.15, 16. 2 Tim. 3.14, 17. Col. 3.16.
• * 1.420

  Rom. 1.16. 1 Thes. 2.13.
• * 1.421

  Pro. 22.20, 21. Eccles. 12.10, 11.
• * 1.422

  1 Cor. 4.6. Prov. 22.21. Rom. 15.4. Col. 2, 18.
• * 1.423

  Rom. 12.3, 4, 6, 7, 8. 2 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6, 12.
• * 1.424

  Mat. 23.9, 10. Isa. 8.20. 2 Thes. 5.20, 21. Col. 2.8, 18. Gal. 1.6, 7, 8. Rom. 3.4. 1 Cor. 7.23. Gal. 1.10. 2 Cor. 4.5, 6. 1 Joh. 4.6.
• * 1.425

  Mat. 23.8.
• * 1.426

  Eph. 4.2, 3. 1 Cor. 4.6, 7. & 12.4, 11. Phil. 2.3, 4, 5.
• * 1.427

  Rom. 14.32, 21. & 15.1, 4.
• * 1.428

  Eph. 4.2, 3, 4. 1 Cor. 1.6, 10 Phil. 3.14, 1••
• * 1.429

  Joh. 13.35.
• * 1.430

  1 Tim. 6.11, 12, 13, 14. Tit. 2.10. Phil. 2.27. Col. 3.17. 1 Cor. 10.31.
• * 1.431

  1 Cor. 16.14. 2 Cor. 5.14. 1 Cor. 13. 1 Cor. 8.1, 2, 3. & 14.1, 2, 5, 12.
• * 1.432

  Joh. 2.23, 24. & 8.31, 36.
• * 1.433

  1 Tim. 3.6.
• * 1.434

  Tit. 1.5, 7. Phil. 7.1. 1 Tim. 3.1, 2. & 5.17. Phil. 1.1. 1 Tim. 3.8, 10, 12, 13.
• * 1.435

  Act. 14.23. & 20.17, 28. Col. 1.7. & 4.12.
• * 1.436

  Act. 11.19, 20, 24. & 15.22, 32
• * 1.437

  Pet. 2.25. Mat. 20.26, 27, 28. Joh. 13.13, 14, 15. Act. 1.20.
• * 1.438

  1 Pet. 5.1. 2 Cor. 11.28. Act. 4.35. & 6.1, 2.
• * 1.439

  Heb. 11.2. Tit. 2.2. 1 Pet. 5.5. Phil. 2.4, 5. 1 Thes. 5.11, 14. Col. 4.17. Eph. 5.21. 1 Thes. 5.12. Col. 3.12. Jam. 3.17.
• * 1.440

  Mat. 18.15, 20.
• * 1.441

  1 Cor. 5.1, 5, 8. & 11.2, 23. & 14.29, 30, 40.11.34.
• * 1.442

  Rev. 11.2, 3.
• * 1.443

  Act. 14.23.
• * 1.444

  Rom. 12.3, 11. 1 Pet. 4.10, 11.
• * 1.445

  Rom. 12.7. Col. 4.17.
• * 1.446

  1 Thes. 5.12, 13. 1 Tim. 5.17, 18. Heb. 3.7, 17. Col. 4.17.
• * 1.447

  1 Tim. 3.2, 3, 5, 8, 12. Tit. 1.7, 8, 9. Act. 6.3.
• * 1.448

  1 Tim. 3.6. Jude 6. Col. 2.18. 2 Pet. 3.16. 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, &c. 1 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 7. Tit. 1.6, 7, 8.9.
• * 1.449

  1 Tim. 3.15, 16. 2 Tim. 2.15 & 3.14, 17. Heb. 13.17. 1 Tim. 4.6 12.
• * 1.450

  Act. 6.2, 7. & 8.12. 1 Cor. 1.14, 17. 1 Tim. 3.15. Tit. 1.9. Jam. 5.5, 14.
• * 1.451

  Act. 15.4, 6. 1 Pet. 5.1. 2 Cor. 4.5. Heb. 13.7.
• * 1.452

  Gen. 49.3, 4.
• * 1.453

  2 Thes. 2.4.
• * 1.454

  Rev. 9.1, 2, 3. & 11.2. 2 Cor. 1.24. & 4.5, 12. & 10.18. & 11.2. 1 Pet. 5.3.
• * 1.455

  Rev. 11.1, 3, 4.
• * 1.456

  Act. 6. & 7, & 8.5, 2. 1 Tim. 3.13. Act. 13.15. & 15.4. 1 Cor. 1.14.
• * 1.457

  1 Tim. 3.9, 10.
• * 1.458

  1 Cor. 14.26, 29, 40.
• * 1.459

  2 Tim. 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 1 Tim. 1.3, 8. & 3, & 4, & 5, & 6.
• * 1.460

  Tit. 1, & 2, & 3.
• * 1.461

  Rev. 12.1, 2.
• * 1.462

  Rev. 12.14. & 11.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• * 1.463

  Joh. 11.25. & 7.38, 39. & 14.16, 26. & 16.7, 15, 23, 26. Mat. 28.20. & 7.7. Mar. 11.23, 24. Luk. 1.7.6. Phil. 4.4.5, 7, 13.
• * 1.464

  Eph. ••.5.
• * 1.465

  Rom. 1.5. & 10.8. & 16.26. Gal. 1.23. & 3.2. Rom. 4.19, 24. Eph. 2.8. Act. 13.8. Rom. 3.20, 30. & 4.5. & 5.1.
• * 1.466

  2 Cor. n. 4. Gal. 1.7, 8, 9. Col. 1.5, 23.
• * 1.467

  1 Cor. 8.6. Joh. 4.42. 2 Cor. 11.4. 1 Cor. 8.6. & 12.6. Gal. 3.20. 1 Tim. 2.5. 1 Cor. 12.4, 11. 2 Cor. 11.4. 1 Joh. 5.7. Mar 12.32, 34. Joh. 10.29, 30. 1 Joh. 5.10, 11.
• * 1.468

  Heb. 11.13. Joh. 6.40. Act. 6.7. Rom 3.25. & 10.8, 9, 10.
• * 1.469

  Heb. 11.13. Rom. 10.10.
• * 1.470

  Joh. 2.23. & 12.42.
• * 1.471

  Rom. 10.9. Joh. 8.30, 31.
• * 1.472

  Joh. 2.24, 25.
• * 1.473

  Gen. 6.5. & 8.21.
• * 1.474

  Joh. 8.30, 31.
• * 1.475

  Joh. 12.42.
• * 1.476

  Col. 1, 12, 13. 1 Pet. 2.3, 5, 9. Phil. 3.7, 8, 9.
• * 1.477

  Joh. 2.13, 14. 2 Thes. 1.1, 3. Rom. 3.21, 22, 25, 26, 27. Act. 6.7. 2 Pet. 1.1.
• * 1.478

  1 Thes. 2.13. Act. 10.43. Gal. 2.3, 5. 2 Tim. 1.7. Joh. 7.38, 39. Gal. 5.22, 23. Gal. 5.6. Rom. 10.10. Psal. ••6.1, 10.
• * 1.479

  2 Cor. 4.13. Act. 4.10, 11, 12.
• * 1.480

  Rom. 10.8, 9.
• * 1.481

  Rom. 3.25, 26, 27. Gal. 5.7. Mat. 24.13.
• * 1.482

  Heb. 1.1.
• * 1.483

  Eph. 4.4.
• * 1.484

  1 Cor. 12.12, 20. Eph. 2.19, 22. 1 Joh. 1.3. Cant. 6.9. Gal. 3.16, 29. Hos. 11.1. Rom. 8.17. Gal. 3.36. Eph. 4.4. 1 Joh. 5.6. Joh. 15.26. Eph. 2.17, 18. 1 Cor. 12.13. 1 Cor. 2.16. Eph. 4.4. sa. 45.22. Joh. 3.14, 16. 2 Thes. 2.14. Eph. 1.18. Eph. 4.5. Rom. 10.6, 15. 1 Pet. 1.20, 21. 2 Thes. 1.10. Joh. 1.12, 13. Eph. 4.5.
• * 1.485

  1 Cor. 12.12, 13. Rom. 6.3, 6. Gal. 3.26, 27, 28.
• * 1.486

  1 Cor. 6.11. Phil. 2.1, 2, 5. Eph. 4.6. Eph. 1.3, 17. 1 Cor. 2.6. Mat. 10.40. Rom. 16.20, 25, 26. 1 Pet. 5.10, ••. Psa. 138.8.
• * 1.487

  2 Cor 114. Gal. 1.6, 7, 8.
• * 1.488

  Rom. 16.25, 26. Eph. 3.3, 9. 2 Cor. 3.12, 14.
• * 1.489

  Rom. 1.16, 17.
• * 1.490

  Psal. 84.7.