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Art thou a Ruler in Iſrael and knoweſt not theſe things? viz.
The great errour in that which is called the Apoſtles CREED.
And the reall truth of JESUS CHRIST his glorious conque
WITH Mans ſalvation by the free grace and favour of God and Jeſus Chriſt. Laid open by him who heartily deſires the manifeſtation of all the truths of God, and of Jeſus Chriſt. And the utter extirpation of all the errours of MEN.
WILLIAM FARMER Gent.
England doth allow of, and acknowNycen Creed, the ApoAthynaſian Creed.
Nothing ought to be counted Apoſtolicall, that is not grounded upon, and anſwerable unto the Apoſtles Doctrine. Our Apoſtles Creed is, That Chriſt was Crucified, dead and buried, he deſcended into Hell: the third day he roſe again from the dead.
There is no Doctrine of the Apoſtles, that Chriſt betwixt his bu
Whatſoever is not Apoſtolical, ought not to be made Catholical. The Nycen Creed which is counted Catholicall, ſayes, that Chriſt ſuffered for our ſalvation: deſcended into Hell; roſe again the third day from the dead. That Chriſt ſuffered for our ſalvation, or rather that Chriſt ſuffered for our ſins: was finiſhed when he had received the vineger, and ſaid it is finiſhed: Father into thy hands I commend my
Spirit: and having ſaid thus, he gave up the Ghoſt; or his divine SpiJeſus knowing
that all things were now accompliſhed that the Scripture might be fulfilled: as this Nycen Creed ſaith well: Although he be God and man, he is not two Chriſts, but one Chriſt: ſo when his God-head was departed from his man-hood, then hee had finiſhed or fulfilled all Scripture as a ſufferer: becauſe he was a perfect Chriſt no longer
Nycen Creed to be underſtood.
The Athanaſian Creed ſaith, That Chriſt ſuffered, and was buried, and the third day roſe againe according to the Scriptures, and therefore a truth; for what the Spirit of God hath revealed, that only is truth: but the Spirit hath in no Scripture revealed that Chriſt be
This Doctrine, that Chriſt betwixt his buriall and his reſurrePeter, where he ſaith, That Chriſt hath once ſuffered for ſinnes, the juſt for the unjuſt, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in
Pet. 3. 18, 19, 20.the fleſh, but quickned by the ſpirit (the holy Ghoſt) by which (Spialſo he went and preached to the ſpirits in priſon, which ſometime were diſobedient (to God) when once (or at that time that) that the long-ſuffering (or forbearance) of God waited in the dayes of Noah while the Arke was preparing. From which Text doe the erroneous Antichriſtian Doctors of Rome gather and conclude, that Chriſt betwixt his death and Reſurrection divinely in his God-head, went amongſt, and preached unto the Infernall damned ſpirits: and to this purpoſe have inſerted thoſe their owne diabolicall words and Doctrine amongſt the Apoſtles doctrine, and made the ſame CathoTo day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. To be in Paradiſe, is to be in a place of pleaLord remember me when thou commeſt into thy Kingdome. The humane Jeſus that ſame day after he was dead, was laid ſafe in Joſephs Tomb or grave which is called hell, where there is no pleaſure,
to day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe; he ſpake of his own divine Spirit or God-head, and of the thiefe's inviſible, internall, immortall, eternall ſpirit or ſoule, which came from God, and not of their mortall bodies which came from the earth, and lay in the earth. And when he ſpake of ParaEden, into which the man was put after his creation: but of that heavenly Parais pleaſure for evermore: and ſo are the Romiſh Doctors and their antichriſtian diabolicall doctrine, with their falſe interpreation, confuted.
The true meaning of the holy Ghoſt in Peter, by thoſe words of Peter, are thus to be interpreted and underſtood; that Peter and all others by God appointed for that purpoſe, into whom the holy Ghoſt was ſent, and ſpake as the Spirit gave them utterance: did not ſpeak, preach, or reveale the will or mind of God to the mortall bodies of men, becauſe the mortall bodies of men are to periſh, and ſo cannot for ever retaine the word of God which is to endure for ever, as Jeſus Chriſt ſaith. Heaven and Earth (that is the whole mortality) ſhall paſſe away: but not one jot or tittle of my word ſhall paſs away. But the Spirit of God doth direct the word of God to the immortall, eternall ſoules or ſpirits of men; becauſe the ſouls or ſpich former liberty was boundleſs and limitleſs. Therfore it was thoſe ſoules that were in the mortal bodies of thoſe wicked men of the old world, that lived in the days of Noah, before the flood that Peter ſpeaks of: that were the ſpirits in priſon preached unto by that quickning ſpirit or lively ſpirit of God the holy Ghoſt, by wch the dead body or fleſh of Jeſus Chriſt, was quickned or raiſed the 3d day again to life from the dead. It was that ſame Spirit or holy Ghoſt ſent by Jeſus Chriſt into Noah, that did preach in Noah to the ſpirits or ſoules of thoſe wicked men that lived in the days of Noah, before the flood, wch were in priſon, then impriſoned in their mortall bodies, by their finfull fleſh: whoſe ſins were ſo provoking of the Almighty, that the Lord ſaid, It repented him that he had made man on the Earth, and it grieved him at the heart. Theſe mens ſoules or ſpirits were ſo impriſoned in Noah for repentance & amendment of life: but were like the deafe Adder that ſtoppeth his eare againſt the Charmer, charm he never ſo well, Peter ſaith, that God did ſuffer their diſobedience long: and with patience Noah was preparing of the Arke. And thus is this Text to be interpre
SAith the Apoſtle Peter, No propheſie of the Scripture is any prineither came it by the will of man: but holy
men of God ſpake as they were moved by the holy Ghoſt. The Scripture is not the word of men, but it is the word of God. And ſaith the Text, the Propheſie of John is, The revelation of Jeſus Chriſt to ſhew
unto his ſervants things that muſt ſhortly come to paſſe. Therefore Chriſt ſent and ſignified the ſame by his Angel to his ſervant John. One and the ſame holy Ghoſt delivered the whole word of God, though by divers Inſtruments, amongſt whom John was one, and the laſt, who ſaith, I ſaw an Angell come downe from heaven, having the key of
the bottomleſſe pit, and a great chaine in his hand. And hee laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent, which is the Devill and Sathan, and bound him a thouſand yeares: and caſt him into the bottomleſſe pit, and ſhut him up, and ſet a ſeale upon him, That he ſhould deceive the Nations no more untill the thouſand yeares ſhould be fulfilled. Iohn doth not propheſie of any thing to come, but what was anſwerable & agreeable to forIohn with other Scriptures, as the noble Bereans in the Apoſtles dayes, tryed the Apoſtles doctrine, and then the very truth of God will appear, according to the promiſe of Jeſus Chriſt, Whatſoever you ſhall aske the Father in my name, hewill give it unto you. Therefore ask and you ſhall receive. Aske by prayer for heavenly wiſedome in faith, and you ſhall receive a good underſtanding. Seeke and you ſhall finde. Seeke by ſearching of the Scriptures for the truth, and you ſhall find eternall life. Knock and it ſhall be opened unto you. Knocke at heaven gates by a fervency in heart for the ſpirit of God, and the gates of heaven ſhall be opened, & the holy Ghoſt ſhall come in unto you: and he ſhall reveal all things unto you that be written, whether paſt, preſent, or to come. God in the beginAnd loe all things were very
good. But when that old Serpent, the Devill and Sathan, that eneEve, and by her Adam, and ſo in them all man-kinde, by ſowing tares of diſobedience in the whole mortality of God. The Lord ſaid, the whole earth and creatures were ſo corrupted through the deceit of the Devill, that it repented
God that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at the heart. And ſtill even ſo long as the Devil ſhall have power over the whole mortality of God, he will deceive the Nations: but Ieſus Chriſt by his ſervant Iohn hath promiſed: the whole mortality, a whole deliverance from the power of the Devil for a thouſand years, by ſending an Angel with power from heaven downe into this world, to lay hold on, and arreſt the Devill at the ſuite of Ieſus Chriſt, with an action from God Almighty out of the Court of Gods
ſhut up the body of Ieſus Chriſt in the grave with a great ſtone, and ſealed him up with the ſignet of the Scribes & Phariſees:
Iſaiah. That the devouring Lyon
ſhall eate graſſe as an Oxe, and all creatures ſhall be atpeace; even at the ſame peace they had in the day of the creation before man ſinned: by reaſon whereof the Devil had a power to work in all creatures the evil of malice and death: & this 1000. years of the Devils confiAdam and Eve were matrimonially lawfull man and wife before they ſinned; yet did they not get Cain the ſeede of the Serpent, before they had ſinned; for if they had, he could not have been wicked; for the Text ſaith, all mn were conceived in ſin. And this Text may very well be granCain the firſt man that was conceived, was a bloody murthering ſinner; for if Cain had been righteous, then might ſome have diſputed whether Cain had not beene conceived before Adam and Eve had ſinned, as well as they to be married before they had ſinned; therefore and thereby is Jeſus Chriſt only and alone known to be the Son of God, becauſe he was not conceived by the ſinfull and luſtfull ſeed of ſinfull man: but as the text ſaith, he was, and none but he was conceived by the holy Ghoſt, and horn of the Virgin Mary. A virgin, becauſe with Child, & her womb not defiled with ſinfull ſeed of luſt.
The Devill is ſaid to be the God of this world, becauſe of his princely power overal the mortal works, & creatures of God in this world through mans ſin; gained by the Devils ſubtle temptation: therefore Jeſus Chriſt, though the Sonne of God, by the love of God to the world, muſt take upon him ſinfull fleſh, that thereby hee
Jeſus Chriſt, though perfect God, as well as perfect man, during the time of his mortall fleſh which hee did reDevill himſelfe, and his wicked inſtrumentall members, ſaying, Give unto Caeſar that which is Caeſars; for my Kingdome is not of this world, during the princiDevill; for God and Belial cannot dwell both together, that is, God and the Devill, cannot be both Kings in one Kingdome at one time, becauſe God is light, and the Devill is darkneſſe, as the Text ſaith, light and darkneſſe cannot abide together; for either light comprehendeth the darkneſſe, or elſe the darkneſſe comprehendeth the light, as every night and day maketh it appear unto us: But Pithe Governour ſaid unto Jeſus Chriſt, are thou the King of the Iews: he denied not, ſaying, thou haſt ſaid it: as if Chriſt ſhould have ſaid, Pilate. Wiſe Solomon ſaies, there is a time for all things under headiffers not from a ſervant; yet the time will come he is Lord of all things. So Pilate, though I now by reaſon of my ſufferings at the preſent, in the time of my mortall fleſh, nonage, and infancy, of my not being riſen from the dead: and againe, being not yet glorified of my Father in heaven, but am here counted as a ſervant. The time will come when it will and King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; as my Father hath ſaid, ſit thou at my right hand, untill I have made thine enemies thy foote-ſtool, even when all power ſhall be given me of my Father, both in heaven and in earth, then Jacob ſhall rejoyce, and Iſrael ſhall be right-glad, becauſe of the new heavens and the new earth, and the holy Citie new Jeruſalem which Iohn ſaw, and Iſaiah propheſied of, comming downe from
God out of heaven: And becauſe Chriſt, Gods Tabernacle, ſhall be with men, and dwell with them on earth, and they ſhall be his peoSolomon ſaith, from God as a promiſe to the children of God. It is true indeed, that God will dwell on the earth, as Paul ſaith of Chriſt at the preſent, ſaying, who only, (and none but he) hath immortality, and dwelleth in that light that none can attaine unto (which is in the glorious preſence of God Almighty) whom never man ſaw, neither can ſee; as the Text ſaith, No man hath
ſeene God at any time, neirher can ſee him, while hee is cloathed with ſinfull fleſh: but when the ſinfulneſſe of the fleſh ſhall be done away, then men ſhall ſee God, and Jeſus Chriſt on earth in ſuch a glory, as mortall ſinfull fleſh cannot behold for the exceeding brightneſſe thereof, as God himſelf ſaith, No man can ſee my face and live; that is, no man who is corrupted by tranſgreſſion or ſinne, can behold the righteous face of God, becauſe that tranſgreſſion is darkeneſſe from the Devil the Prince of darkeneſſe, whoſe darkeneſſe cannot ſtand before the righteous glory of God Almighty. For as the preJohn, that an Angel from heaven muſt firſt by his power ſhut and chaine up the Devill, and then behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell
with men, and they ſhall be his people, and God himſelfe ſhall be with them, and be their God. That is, God ſhall wholly be their God, becauſe the Devill ſhall wholly with all his power be taken away, and confined as cloſe priſoner for a thouſand years: during which thouſand years all the mortal creatures ſhall be at peace as the ProIſa ſaith, The Lyon ſhall eate graſſe like an Oxe, and leave devou
Qu. What reaſon is there grounded upon Scripture that Chriſt ſhall come and dwell on earth, and reign Kinge of Kings and Lord of Lords a thouſand years.
Anſw. Firſt, for his promiſe-ſake, who hath promiſed the ſame in divers Scriptures, as Peter ſaith. That in the latter dayes there ſhall be ſcoffers, that ſhall ſay, where is the promiſe of his comming. (We doe not believe it) for all things continue as they were from the beginning. Theſe ſcoffers do not regard what Solomon ſaith, That there is a time
for all things under heaven. But becauſe ſuch ſcoffers will not ſtay Gods time, but expect that time ſooner then God hath appointed the ſame: and for that they want patience to waite upon God, will fall into unbeliefe, and ſay, where is the promiſe of his comming, as though hee would never come: but unto ſuch ſaith the ſame ApoBeloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thouſand years, and a thouſand years as one day. As if Peter
God for Chriſt his comming, who is faithfull in all his promiſes, and who is in all his promiſes yea and amen. I will conbehold all was very good. And therefore God adds to his ſixe dayes of labour, one day, or a ſanctified holy day of reſt from all labour: but when man (by the temptation of that old Serpent the Devill and Sathan) had diſThat it repented him that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at the heart. Becauſe that man by ſinne had corrupted, of this world; the Prince of darkeneſſe, and the Prince that ruleth in the ayre. The Devill is not for ever to reign as God of this world, Prince of the aire, and Prince of the darkneſſe of this world: but ſhall be curbed at a time by God appointed: as the Devill himſelfe confeſſeth, ſaying to JeArt thou come to torment us before the time? As if the DeJeſus Chriſt, why doſt thou command our power out of mortall man, knowing that the time of our power ogive us leave to goe into yonder heard of ſwine. And becauſe the Devill is not alwayes to have power over mortaliPeter ſay to theſe unbelieving ſcoffers: but Beloved, be not ignorant of this one
thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thouſand years. Therfore as the Lord was 6 days making the whole mortality very good: and man by his finne did provoke God to curſe the ſame, with giving the Devil power over the whole. Man muſt alſo labour under the powPeter ſay, that in the latter days, or towards the end of the 6000. years. Near to that coming of Chriſt there ſhal be impatient unbewhere is the promiſe, or the fulfilling of the promiſe of his comming; unto whom Peter ſaith, Be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thouſand years with man, or man cannot accompliſh that under ſix thouſand years, that God did in ſix dayes, evPaul ſaith, the creature ſhall be delivered from the tyrannical power of the Devill for a thouſand years, into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of
God, even for that thouſand yeares in which John ſaw a new heaven and a new earth, and the holy City new Jeruſalem comming down from God out of Heaven, with a great voyce out of heaven, ſaying, Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they ſhall be his people (becauſe the Devill in, or during that time, and God himſelfe ſhall be with them, and be their God. Therefore faith John, Bleſſed and holy is hee
that hath part in the firſt reſurrection: becauſe on ſuch the ſecond death hath no power: but they ſhall be Prieſts of God and of Chriſt, and ſhall reigne with him a thouſand yeares; according to the promiſe of God to Jeſus Chriſt: Sit thou at my right hand, untill I make thine enemies thy foote-ſtoole. Even the Devil and all his power and wicked inſtruPeters accompt, ſixe thouſand years of Mans miſery under the power of the Devill, by reaſon of ſinne: and taking the ſeventh day of Gods accompt, in which he, with all the works of his hands, reſted and kept a holy day unto himſelfe, and accompt a thouſand years deliverance from the powPeter, confirmed by the workes of God, under Gods accompt, of ſeven dayes in the beginning: but Peter for more certainty of this truth, notwithſtanding thoſe impaNevertheleſſe we according to his (that promiſe, looke for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſſe. Unto ſuch ſaith Peter, Beloved, ſeeing that yee looke for ſuch things, be diligent that ye may be found in peace, without ſpot, & blameleſſe; becauſe they that ſhall enjoy ſuch things ſaith Peter, Are a choſen generation, a royal prieſthood, a holy nation, a peculiar
people. Being made ſo by the righteouſneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly, the comming of Chriſt is manifeſted by the glory of God as the Text ſaith. If Chriſt had not riſen from the dead, then had Chriſt dyed in vaine. So likewiſe may it be ſaid, if Chriſt be perfect God, as well as perfect man, (who for man tooke upon him the nature of man: by which on earth he was by his perfect obedience to redeeme man from that power of the Devill, which the Devill gained over man by mans diſobedience) it ſtands with the glory of God, for Chriſt, God on earth, to triumph over the Devill and all his power on earth, as well as to ſuffer under the Devill and all his power on earth. Jeſus Chriſt as he was a mortall man, it was a glory to him to ſuffer for ſinners, who himſelfe ſinned not, as the Text ſaiThe juſt ſuffered for the unjuſt. But if Jeſus Chriſt as he is God ſhould not triumph over his enemies as a Conquerour, his ſufferings would be counted in vaine on earth: therefore Jeſus Chriſt as he is God, for the glory of his God-head, by his ſervant John revealeth to His, who ſhall partake of that glory that ſhall be on earth, when the power of the Devill ſhall be done away. And when new heavens and a new earth, and the holy City new Jeruſalem from heaven ſhall appeare, then ſhall Jeſus Chriſt glorifie himſelfe as God, over the Devill and all his workes and powers, as that God by whom all things were created both in heaven and earth, equall with the Father as a ſon and heir of all things, and ſecond perſon in the Nyc
Creed very w
Queſt. What manner of glory will that be that Chriſt will have
Anſw. It will be a heavenly glory, according to that which Chriſt deſired as a ſonne from God, as a Father, ſaying, Father glorifie thy ſonne with that glory, which he had with thee: Jeſus Chriſt aJohn after the prophefie of Iſay ſay, I ſaw a new heaven and a new earth, and the holy City new Jeruſalem comming downe from God out of heaven, with a loud voyce, ſaying, Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them. This gloJohn; I ſaw on Angell come down from heaven, and he laid hold on the Devil, & bound him a thouſand yeares, that he ſhould deceive the Nations, or corrupt mortality no more, untill thoſe thouſand yeares ſhould be fulfilled, or ac
This heavenly glory is within the apprehenſion of no corrupted fleſh, further then the things of the fleſh doth behold: & the brighJohn ſaith that that glory ſhall paſſe the glory of the Sunne; inſomuch that that holy City new Jeruſalem, ſhall not need the light of the Sunne, neither ſhall there be any night in it. But as in the Land of Egypt there was an exceeding darkneſſe at noone-day: but in the Land of Goſhen there was no darkneſſe: ſo likewiſe during thoſe thouſand years in all the world there ſhall be night as well as day: but in the new and heavenly Jeruſalem there ſhall be no night at all. And this is all that God hath rePaul ſaith, If our hope were only in this mortall life, then we were of all men moſt miſerable to ſuffer affliction for hope of a better life: if wee ſhould miſſe of it: but ſaith he, Yet it doth not, or here it doth not appeare what wee ſhall be: but when mortality ſhall put on immortality, and corruption ſhall be changed into incorruption, then it will appear; for here wee know but in part: but then ſhall we know as we are known. That is, wee who
Secondly, beſides this heavenly glory which will in brightneſſe paſſe the glory of the Sunne. Chriſt will be glorified by new created heavens and earth, as Peter ſaith; That is, by reſtoring of the firmaſaw them to be very good, to that ſame condition they were by God ceated in, before man had ſinned: and they therefore and thereby were by the power of the Devill corrupted. This reſtoraAdam and Eve, ever ſaw any but a corrupted heaven and earth: becauſe the heavens and the earth were corrupted before they had any iſſue: therefore doth the Text ſay, that God will create new heavens and earth, becauſe the ſonnes of Adam never ſaw that very good condition the heavens and the earth were at the firſt created in, and into which they ſhall be again reſtored.
Thirdly; God, Chriſt on earth, will be glorified by a a holy City, a new Jeruſalem from God out of heaven; which ſhall in largeneſſe ſo farre paſſe that old Jeruſalem builded by the Jewes, though it was in Solomons time, the greateſt City in the whole world, as a Citie of twelve thouſand furlongs ſquare; which is by eight furlongs to a mile, fifteen hundred miles ſquare, can paſſe the largeneſſe of that old Jeruſalem: and this City ſhall ſo far paſſe the old Jeruſalem in glory, as precious ſtones can ſurpaſſe in glory ordinary ſtones, wood, bricke, morter, iron, ſteele, and braſſe, in the foundations, walls and gates thereof: and the pavements of this City ſhall ſo far ſurpaſſe in glory the pavements of the old Jeruſalem, as poliſhed
John at large expreſſeth the ſame. And the Temple in this City ſhall ſo Solomons Temple, that was the glory of the old Jeruſalem, as the glory of God and Jeſus Chriſt doth ſurpaſſe the glory of fine gold, which was the glory of that Temple, as the Text ſaith, The gold beautified the Temple. And this holy and great City ſhall be the refiding place of GOD and Jeſus Chriſt on earth with all the faithfull members of Jeſus Chriſt from Abel to that day.
Object. This relation of John is to ſignifie and figure out Gods glorious Kingdome to eternity: and not that there ſhall ever be here on earth any ſuch glorious place or being.
Anſw. That which is impoſſible with man, is poſſible with God, who is able to doe all things. And hath any man found God a lyar at any time; who is faithfull in all his promiſes, and juſt in all his wayes. But Peter ſaith, That in the latter dayes there ſhall be ſeoffers, who ſhall ſay,
where is the promiſe of his comming; for all things continue as they were from the beginning; and ſo deny the word of truth. But ſaith Peter, We who are written in the booke of life. Nevertheleſſe we according
to his promiſe looke for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſſe, which is Jeſus Chriſt, as John ſaith, I heard a great voyce out of heaven, ſaying, Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwel with them, and they ſhall be his people: and God himſelfe ſhall be with them, and be their God: as Solomon ſaith, It is true indeed, that God will dwell on the earth. And for a ſure evidence of the ſame I Jeſus have ſent mine Angel to teſtifie unto you theſe things in the Churches: which things Peter queſtioned not, but to his Church ſaid. Beloved, ſeeing that ye looke for ſuch things, be diligent
that ye may be found in peace, without ſpot and blameleſſe. And to any Church that ſhall queſtion theſe things, ſaith Iohn. Theſe ſayings are faithfull and true: for I John ſaw and heard theſe things: and I teſtifie unto every man that heareth the words of the propheſie of this
booke, (whereſoever it is publiſhed) that if any man ſhall adde too, or take away from the words of the propheſie of this book: God ſhall take away his part out of the booke of life: and alſo take away his part out of the holy City; which City ſaith the Tlyeth four-ſquare, the length is as the breadth, twelve thouſand furlongs; the ſquares lye Eaſt, Weſt,
North, and South. The Eaſt and Weſt are derived from the antipoSunne in the firmament all heavens:
created on the fourth day. The North and the South are derived from the antipodes of the two ends of the worlds Axletree, called the North and South pole, or the two frozen zones of the earth by reain it there ſhall be no need of the Sun. But the Text doth not ſay that it is not within the compaſſe of the Sunne therefore on earth; For in heaven Gods glorious kingdome, habitation and dwelling place is no Sun: and where there is no Sunne, there can be no Eaſt, Weſt, North nor South; therefore this City cannot be meant nor under
Now the reaſon why theſe things of the Devils confinement or impriſonment for a thouſand yeares; and the glorious new Jeruſalem with all its glorious accommodations promiſed, are not belieGentiles, is this; As the Devill by his power in mortality deceived the Jews of the ſuffering comming of Jeſus Chriſt for mans redemption, though promiſed and prophefied of by the only looIf thou be the Son of God, come down from the Croſſe, and then we will believe thee. And ſo the Devill deceived the Iewes, from their benefit of Jeſus Chriſt, his redeeming condition. And ſo alſo the Devill by his power in mortality goes about to deceive us Gentiles of Jeſus Chriſt his glorious, conquering, Princely condition, by putting on this mask of infidelity upon us Gantiles, notwithſtanding all the ſure promiſes of God, that for Chriſt to come downe out of heaven, and on earth to dwell in a walled Citie that is bounded, is too glowhere is the promiſe of his comming. Expecting no other comGentiles of our benefit of Chriſt his glorious conquering reigne and condition here on earth in that great and
Jeruſalem. Noah had three ſons, Shem, Ham and Japhet. Noah was drunke, Ham jeeres at his Fathers nakedneſſe, and threfore is curſed and deprived of all the precious promiſes made to Noah and his ſeed. Shem and Japhet were ſorry and aſhamed to ſee their Fathers nakedneſſe: and therefore going backward, covered their Fathers nakedneſſe, upon whom the promiſes of God to Noah were confirmed; notwithſtanding the ſaid confirmation of promiſes: inaſmuch as the Devils originall power in, and over mortality by Adam is not taken away, his deceit ceaſeth not; for as he did deceive the Jews of Chriſts ſuffering comming, ſo he labouIohn, without this City ſhal be dogs, murtherers, whoremongers, adulterers & lyers, into whom the Devil when he ſhal be let looſe for a little ſeaſon, ſhall again enter into under the name of Gog and Magog, to make them more wicked then ever they were before, according to that Text: Out of whom the Devill is caſt, and returnes again: he carrieth with him ſeven worſe ſpirits then the former, and ſo the latter end of that man is worſe then the beginning: becauſe they have no ſhare or part in the booke of life, nor in this holy City.
Queſt. When will the time of the comming of Chriſt be to reign on earth for 1000. years.
Anſ. That man that will declare more then God hath revealed, muſt be wiſer then God made him; for ſaith the Text, If an Angell from heaven teach any other doctrine then what is delivered, believe him not: and as is alſo ſaid, If they will not believe the Law and the Prophets, neither will they believe if one ſhould riſe from the dead. The preAdam to Noah's flood, which was 1656. yeares.
And as God waited with patience on Sathans deceived ones, 1656. yeares. In relation by compariſon to that may be ſuppoſed Iohn doth declare the time of Chriſt his patience, and waiting on Sathan the deceiver; for as God in vengeance did not deſtroy the old world, untill he with patience had ſuffered their evill manJohn ſaith, Here is wiſdome; let him that hath underſtanding count the number of the
beaſt; for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. David in his dayes did number the dayes of a man to be 70. yeares, and Iohn here to 66. yeares, becauſe of the decay of nature; for it cannot be thought that mans life toward the end of the world, of which John treates, ſhould be 666. but 66. may be, and alſo is commonly ſeene: by which ſuppoſition it may be gathered, that Chriſt with patience will wait and forbear Sathans evils ten yeares longer then God did beare with the old world. The one was 1656. yeares; and the other will be 1666. yeares, according to this collection. Chriſt will beare and ſuffer the evils of Sathan, before hee take vengeance on the Devill, to deſtroy or confine his power for a thouſand years untill 1666. yeares from the birth of Jeſus Chriſt, to deliver the whole mortality from the power of the Devill, as Paul ſaith, The fervent deſire of the creature waiteth when the Sons of God ſhall be revealed;
becauſe the creature is ſubject to vanity, not of its own will, but by reaſon of him which hath ſubdved it under hope. The creature did not offend, it was the man, male and feAdam that did offend: but the creature becauſe it was crethe creatures alſo ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God; for wee know that every creature groaneth with us alſo, and travelleth in paine together unto this preſent: and not only the creature, but we alſo which are the firſt fruits of the Spirit, even we do ſigh in our ſelves, and wait for the adoption, even for the redemption of our bodies, or an aſſurance of our parts in the bleſſed firſt reAbel the firſt that dyed, and all others dead before, and the living then in the year of Chriſt, from the birth of Chriſt, 1666. ſhall be partakers of Jeſus Chriſt his glorious reign for that 1000. years of the Devils confinement or impriſonment.
THe grace of God is the favour of God: and the free grace of God is Gods free favour. And that which is free, is compleat and abſolute of it ſelfe, and hath no partner nor partaker, neither is under any controule: And ſo it was the free favour or grace of God which did ariſe or ſpring from the love of God in Jeſus Chriſt, to chooſe ſome in the ſecond Adam Jeſus Chriſt, out of the Adam. For God who hath an al-ſeeing eye, did ſee, or fore-ſee all men loſt in the firſt Adam, before the world was, and that was before man was a living creature, and man was a living creature before he was a loſt creature, and thereJeſus Chriſt and meer mercy towards poor loſt man, predeſtinate by his power, elect or chooſe through his love, ſuch as ſhould be ſaved. God did predeſtinate by his power ſuch as ſhould be ſaved, by pulling of Jeſus Chriſt for mans ſins, who himſelf ſinned not. And this was a free favour or grace of God to man, to give Chriſt his Son unto the death, to ranſome ſinPaul ſaith, That God did give up Jeſus Chriſt for us all to the death. Saith Chriſt, Father if it be poſſible, let this cup (of thy fury, wrath or indignation) paſſe from me: nevertheleſſe not my, but
thy will be done. And as Jeſus Chriſt the Sonne and ſecond perſon in the Trinity is God, as well as God the Father and firſt perſon in the Trinity. So Jeſus Chriſt as he was God, did give up himſelfe to the death for ſinners, becauſe in them there was nothing worthy that could, or did move him thereunto: and therefore was it the free favour or grace of Jeſus Chriſt to dye for mans redemption: And that Chriſt did freely lay downe his life a ranſome for ſinners; ſaith Chriſt (know this) that if I did not lay downe my life freely, all the Devils in hell, and all the men on earth could not take it aFor if I ſhould pray unto my Father (for a reſcue, behee would give or ſend me more then twelve legions of Angels. And ſo are all ſuch as ſhall be ſaved by the free favour or grace of God, and of Jeſus Chriſt, through the powin Jeſus Chriſt predeſtinated unto ſalvation by the free grace and favour of God, and of Ieſus Chriſt, and not by any thing at all in man; for if there could be any thing in man towards his owne ſalvation. Then were not the ſalvation of man from the free grace and favour of God and Ieſus Chriſt, if man had any ſhare or part in his owne ſalvation: but that the ſalvation of man is wholly and alone from the free grace and favour of God, and of Ieſus Chriſt, is thus proved. God did predeſtinate, elect and chooſe man unto ſal
God did elect and chooſe through his love in Ieſus Chriſt before the world was, ſuch as ſhould be ſaved; as the Text ſaith, God ſo loved
Election. Joh. 3. 16.the world, that he gave his only begotten Sonne. God did not ſo love the world for any thing in the world that could, or did move God ſo to love the world: but as the Text ſaith, This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleaſed. So that God is well pleaſed with his elected choſen ones in Jeſus Chriſt, becauſe Ieſus Chriſt hath trod the wine-preſſe alone, by a ſufficient ſuffering of the wrath of God, unto Gods full ſatisfaction, and hath wrought out the perfect work of righteouſneſs by his perfect obedience to all the commandements of God, and ſo is God through his love in Ieſus Chriſt well pleaſed with his elected ones, who receive their ſalvation according to eleIeſus Chriſt.
Queſt. If ſalvation be by the free grace of God, and nothing of man: Then wherefore doth God command duties, and promiſe rewards.
Anſw. God doth not command duties from man, becauſe God doth need any thing that man can doe; neither can man do any duwhen man hath done all that he can, he is but an unprofitable ſervant, by which Text God is a Maſter, & may command what he pleaſe: and man is but a ſervant, and ſo doth but his duty in doing what God hath commanded; therefore man cannot deſerve or merit the promiſed reward. For he that breaketh but one commandement, although he could keepe or perform all that is commanded in all the reſt but one, he is guilAdam, according to the luſt of the fleſh can poſſibly keep or perform all the commandeAdam, according to the luſt of the fleſh, can deſerve or merit for doing of a duty, that reward which is promiſed for the duty.
But inaſmuch as God hath promiſed a reward for doing of a duIeſus Chriſt only, and alone, ever did, or could keep & performe all the commandements of God; therefore none but only Ieſus Chriſt could deſerve or merit the reward promiſed for doing the duty comIeſus Chriſt alone of the ſeed of Adam, and not according to the luſt of the fleſh. Therefore in the firſt place, that man in whom God doth worke both the will and the deed, to enable him to will, and alſo to doe a duty. And in the ſeJeſus Chriſt In the third place, that man may by and for the perfect obedience of Ieſus Chriſt, expect the promiſed reward, as Paul ſaith, have reſpect to the recompence of reward, becauſe hee looketh not for the proIeſus Chriſt. As for example, Ieſus Chriſt hath promiſed a Diſciples reward to him that ſhall give a cup of cold water to a Maſter we have left all and followed thee, and what ſhall we have. Saith Jeſus Chriſt, not only you, whoſoever ſhall leave father, mother, wife, children, houſe or lands for my ſake, ſhall receive in this world an hundred fold, and in the world to come life everlaſting
But he that for ſuch a ſmall duty as the giving of a cup of water, and for ſo ſmall a value as a cup of water is of, muſt find out a more valuable conſideration why he ſhould receive ſuch a great reward as Everlaſting life, before he doe receive the ſame: And that muſt be, if it be aright, thus, Jeſus Chriſt is God, unto whom all power was given both in heaven and in earth. And thereby was Chriſt made able to perform whatſoever he ſhould promiſe, both in this world, or the world to come. And Chriſt is God, in whom all the promiſes of God are yea and amen, as the Text ſaith, who hath found God a lyar at any time?
Now that man that will or ſhall expect ſuch a great reward for ſo ſmall a duty, and of ſo ſmall a value, muſt doe this; He muſt know that God hath wrought that will or good affection in him towards the poore members or little ones of Jeſus Chriſt for to helpe them in their need. And he muſt likewiſe know, that although a cup of waGod to him, and that he himſelfe doth receive the water from God, before he can give the water to another: and that he doth give the water to a childe of God: becauſe hee eſteemes him to be a child of God, and that the love of Jeſus Chriſt conſtraineth him to love the members of Ieſus Chriſt. And when it is ſo given, then may a man expect that God will accept of the duty in and through Ieſus Chriſt, and for his perfect obedience ſake: who hath merited from God ability from God to perform whatſoever he hath promiſed. And ſo will make good all his promiſes, If the duty be done in Chriſt, and for Chriſt his ſake, and the promiſed reward expected; not beChriſt, who is an able and a faithfull God, hath promiſed the ſame. There
Firſt, becauſe God hath commanded the duty as a Maſter, man ought to yeild obedience becauſe he is a ſervant.
Secondly, becauſe God, (and not man himſelfe) worketh both
Thirdly, becauſe God who maketh the promiſe, is able and faithGod in a God of Juſtice: and as the Text ſaith, will come in flaming fire, rendring vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our
Lord Ieſus Chriſt: who requireth nothing of man towards his owne ſalvation: but my ſonne give me thy heart; or believe that thy ſalvatiGod, and of Ieſus Chriſt, as Ieſus Chriſt ſaid to the Jewes; O Ieruſalem, Ieruſalem, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings, and ye would not. That is, how often would I have taken you into my protection out of the ſnares of the world, the Devill and the fleſh by my GoſTherefore thy deſtruction is of thy ſelfe O Iſrael, becauſe I offered my ſelfe unto thee, and thou wouldſt not receive me as the Text ſaith, He came unto his owne, and his owne received him not.