§ 1. The Position propounded.

THat the Chief WORK of Jesus Christ in his first Coming into the WORLD was to save sinners; to build up his own House, the Church of the Living God; and to institute all Gospel-Ordinances necessary for his Dis­ciples to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

§ 2. The Position proved.

1. That our LORD Jesus Christ came into the WORLD to save [Page 3] sinners, Luk. 5.32. I came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance, Matth. 18.11. For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost. And 1 Tim. 1.15. — Christ Jesus came into the WORLD to save Sinners.

2. That our LORD Jesus Christ being come in the Flesh, did build up his own House, the Church of God, Heb. 3--6. For this Man [Christ Jesus] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, in as much as He who builded the House, hath more honour than the House. Moses was faithful in all his House, as a Servant, but Christ as a Son over his own House, the Church of God, 1 Tim. 3.15.

3. That our Lord Jesus Christ hath instituted all Gospel-Ordinances neces­sary for his Disciples, to worship God in Spirit and in Truth, 1 Cor. 11.1, 2. Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ—And keep the Ordinances as I de­livered them unto you, Joh. 4.21, 22, 23, 24.— The true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

§ 3. The Position explained.

The first part of our general Position to be explained, is, That our LORD Jesus Christ came into the WORLD to save sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. Now the Method I shall observe in the Explana­tion of this part of our Position, shall be to shew,

1. What kind of Saviour Christ is.

2. What Salvation Sinners may have by Jesus Christ. And

3. How Sinners are saved by Jesus Christ. And of these in order.

First, What kind of Saviour is Jesus Christ? I answer, 1. The LORD Je­sus Christ is an Almighty Saviour. As there is none other, Act. 4.12. so there needs none other Saviour. None can pull a Soul out of Christ's hand, Joh. 10.27--30. Christ is [ [...]] God-Man, Emmanuel, God with us, Matth. 1.23. Jehovah our Righteous­ness, Jer. 23.6. The Mighty God, Isa. 9.6. The Almighty, Rev. 1.8. The true God, and Eternal Life, 1 Joh. 5.20. There is no Saviour, but God, Isa. 43.3, 11. I even I am Jehovah, [Page 5] and beside me there is no Saviour. And Jude v. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour, be Glory, and Majesty, Dominion and Power, both now and ever. Amen. It is absolutely necessary unto Salvation to know and believe, That the LORD Jesus Christ is very God, as well as very Man. So the Virgin Mary believed, when she said, My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour, Luk. 1.46, 47. And so did all the holy Apostles and Saints believe and confess, Rom. 9.5. 2 Cor. 5.19. 1 Tim. 2.3. Tit. 1.3. Tit. 2.10. Tit. 3.4. & 1 Joh. 5.20. Who is the true God and eternal Life. They that do not believe, but deny Je­sus Christ to be God, do deny the LORD that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift damnation, 2 Pet. 2.1, 2, 3. They undervalue his most precious Blood, Heb. 10.29. compared with Acts 20.28-- To feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. And they in effect deny the Alsufficiency of Christ's Satisfaction for the sins of Mankind, whose Nature he took, namely, the Seed of Abraham, Heb. 2.16. [ [...], that is] But he taketh [Page 6] hold of the Seed of Abraham.

2. The Lord Jesus Christ is a gra­cious Saviour, Eph. 2.5. By Grace ye are saved. And vers. 8. For by Grace are ye saved. This Free Grace is the kindness and Love of God our Saviour towards sinful sinners, Tit. 3.3-7. whom he justifies freely by his Grace, Rom. 3.24. & 2 Tim. 1.9. And saveth them with an everlasting Salva­tion. And also sanctifies them by Faith in him, Acts 26.18. where Faith is put synecdochically for all the Graces of Sanctification, which our LORD Je­sus Christs imparts unto, and implants in the Souls of Justified Believers, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. Joh. 1.16. And of his Fulness have all we received, and grace for grace, Eph. 4.7. To every one of us is given grace. And James 4.6. He giveth more grace. Such is the unsearch­able [and the exceeding Riches of his grace, Eph. 2.7.] Riches of Christ, Eph. 3.8. that he will be gracious to whom he will be gracious, &c. Read Exod. 33.19. & Rom. 9.15.

3. The Lord Jesus Christ is an Alsuf­ficient Saviour, Heb. 7.25. He is able to save to the utmost, &c. Christ hath [Page 7] made full satisfaction for the sins of all them whom the Father gave him to Redeem, Isa. 53.10. His Soul was made an Offering for Sin; And he gave himself a Ransom for all, 1 Tim. 2.5, 6. There's enough in Christ; there's all in Christ, Col. 1.19. For it pleased the Father, that in him should all Fulness dwell. And in him dwelleth all the Ful­ness of the God-head bodily, Col. 2.9. He is a full Christ, and hath an infinite Alsufficency in himself, to supply all the wants of his Saints, 2 Cor. 12.9. My Grace is sufficient for thee, &c.

Secondly, What Salvation may sin­ners have by Jesus Christ? I answer, 1. Sinners may be saved from their sins by Jesus Christ, Matth. 1.21. For HE shall save his People from their sins. It is a very great mercy to be saved from our sins. This Salvation is not by any other, Act. 4.12. There are three things in sin, from which Christ saveth sinners, viz. First, the dominion of sin. It was David's prayer, Psal. 19.13. Psalm. 119.133. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me; and Christ's promise, Rom 6.14. Sin shall not have dominion over you; because ye are not under the Law, but [Page 8] under Grace. There is a Reigning power in sin, Rom. 6.12. Let not sin therefore Reign in your mortal body, &c. Also Rom. 5.21. which Christ subdueth, Mich. 7.19. He will subdue our iniquities, and destroyeth, Rom. 6.6. Secondly, The captivating power of sin. This the Apostle sadly experienced, Rom. 7.23, 24. I see another law in my mem­bers, warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin, which is in my mem­bers. But yet he blessed God for Jesus Christ, vers. 25. through whom he had deliverance, Rom. 8.2. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death. Thirdly, The guilt, curse and condemnation of sin, Jam. 2.10.— And offend in one point, is guilty of all. Gal. 3.18. Cursed is every one, that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law, to do them. Tit. 3.11— And sinneth being condemned in himself. But there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.1. for Christ hath Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, Gal. 3.13. and saved us from [Page 9] the Wrath of God, Rom. 5.9. and 1 Thes. 1.10. And giveth us eternal Life and Salvation.

Thirdly, How are sinners saved by Jesus Christ? In Answer to this Query, two things in general must be consider­ed, 1. What Jesus Christ hath done for sinners? 2. What he doth in them in order unto their everlasting Salvation?

First, Jesus Christ hath made full sa­tisfaction unto the Divine Justice of God for all the Transgressions of sin­ners, Isa. 53.5, 6, 8, 9, 11. He was wounded for our Transgressions, vers. 5. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, vers. 10. He shall see the travel of his soul and be satisfied, v. 11. Christ through the eternal Spirit, offered him­self to God, Heb. 9.14. & 1 Pet. 2.24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own Body on the Tree. Now once in the End of the WORLD hath he appeared to put away sin, by the sacrifice of himself, Heb. 9.26. And 1 Tim. 2.6. Who gave him­self a Ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Secondly, Jesus Christ hath purcha­sed and obtained for sinners eternal Re­demption, and everlasting Salvation by [Page 10] his own precious Blood, Heb. 9.12.— By his own blood he entred in once into the holy place, having obtained eter­nal Redemption for us: Therefore eter­nal Life and Glory is called the purcha­sed Possession, Eph. 1.14. and an In­heritance reserved in Heaven for us, 1 Pet. 1.3-5.

Thirdly, Jesus Christ hath instituted and ordained the Ministry of the Gospel, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. and all Gospel-Ordinances for the salvation of sinners, to the Glory of God the Father. And after he was crucified, he rose from the Dead, ascended into Heaven, and is set down on the Right hand of God, where he ever liveth to make In­tercession for sinners, that they may be saved, Heb. 7.25. The LORD Jesus Christ having done all these things for the salvation of sinners; he doth by his holy Spirit and Word work all his Works of Grace and Salvation in them. Isa. 26.12. LORD, thou hast wrought all our works in us. And Phil. 2.12, 13. It is God that worketh in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure. Therefore sinners are said to be God's workmanship, Eph. 2.10. Created in [Page 11] Christ Jesus unto good works, &c. that thereby it may yet more plainly appear, that they are his Workmanship.

The first Work that God doth ordi­narily by his holy Spirit and Word up­on a sinful sinner in the Ministry and Administration of the Gospel of his Grace, is a work of Conviction, John 8.9. Being convicted in their own con­science. Tit. 1.9. To convince gainsayers, Jam. 2.9. They are convinced of the Law as Transgressors. And Joh. 16.8, 9. He shall reprove the world of sin. The World, that is to say, those sinners that are without Christ, and without God in the World, Eph. 2.12.

Now God Reproves the sinner, and sets his sins in order before him, Psal. 50.21. and makes him possess the sins of his youth, Job 13.26. God doth by the Scripture (as in a Glass) give the sinner a sight of his sinful Nature; shews him the sinfulness of his sins, Rom. 7.13. God doth by his Spirit and Word convince the sinners conscience of his Transgressions against his holy Law, and against the Gospel of his Grace. The holy Spirit, ordinarily, by the Ministry of the Word, convinceth [Page 12] the sinner of his Original corruption; tells him, that every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed; Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death, Jam. 1.14, 15. The wages of sin is death, Rom. 6.23. The soul that sins shall dye; and also convinceth him of his Actual Transgressions; to wit, his sins of Omission, and his sins of Commission, both in doing that which God hath forbidden in his holy Word, and in not doing that which he hath com­manded, or not as he commandeth it to be done. God convinceth the sinners conscience of his sinning against Light, against Checks of Conscience, and many good Motions of the holy Spirit; and shews him how he hath sinned against the mercies, patience and long-sufferings of God, and how he hath sinned under God's chastisements, corrections and righteous Judgments; and that neither the Word of God, nor his Rod, hath wrought Repentance in him, nor caused him to turn from his sinful courses.

The sinful sinner being under this great work of Conviction of Consci­ence, [Page 13] begins to see and apprehend the vileness of his Nature, and the sinfulness of his sins to be such, so many, and so great, that he trembles, and is afraid of Death and Damnation; he begins to have some sense and feeling in his con­science of the wrath of God, and fears he shall dye in his sins, and go to Hell, and be damned to eternity.

Now the terrours of the Almighty are in his conscience; his heart is filled with horrour; the sting of sin hath wounded his Spirit; and a wounded Spirit who can bear? Prov. 18.14. and being pricked in the heart, cryes out, What shall I do? Acts 2.37. I am a sinful sinner, a vile sinner, a lost undone perishing sinner. Woe's me, that ever I was born! I am a damnable wicked wretch; my heart is deceitful and de­sperately wicked. Ah my vain thoughts, my vile affections, my evil concu­piscence, my sinful lusts! Alas! alas! my idle words and blasphemies, and my ungodly life and sinful conversation! Woe and alas! the deceitfulness of sin hath so hardened my heart, that I can­not Repent; and I have been so accu­stomed to do evil, that I know not how [Page 14] to Reform and amend my life, and for­sake my sins; and if I go on in my former sinful courses, I shall certainly be damned.

Hereupon the sinful sinner sets upon Reformation; saith to his sinful com­panions, as David did, Psal. 6.8. De­part from me all ye workers of iniquity: And saith to his Lusts, as Ephraim did to his Idols, Hos. 14.8. What have I to do any more with sinful lusts and plea­sures? Now the convinced sinner re­solves to leave his sins, that he fears else will damn his soul; and now he begins to perform some holy Duties; he will hear Sermons, and read the holy Scri­ptures, and good Books, and pray. And it may be the convinced sinner will mourn for his sins, and humble himself, (as Ahab did) and Reform some of his evil courses.

And by this Reformation, Humilia­tion, mourning for his sins, and per­forming some holy duties, the sinner may have some calm, and feel some quiet in his conscience for a season, and begin to hope all will be well with him, until the Reigning power of sin, that hath yet the dominion over him, pre­vail [Page 15] against him; and he being yet a servant of sin, and free from Righte­ousness ( as the Apostle speaks, Rom. 6. v. 20.) yieldeth willing and ready obe­dience to his own lusts, that inticeth him to sin, and when his lust hath con­ceived and brought forth sin, then his conscience accuseth him, and Satan now begins to suggest, that there is no hope of pardon, nor salvation for him; Now his latter end is worse than his beginning; and therefore the Devil tells him, It is in vain for him to pray any more, or to hear any more, or to perform any holy duties.

And now the convinced sinful sinner judgeth his Soul's state and condition to be worse than ever it was; he hath so many dreadful Temptations, he is so filled with blasphemous Thoughts, that he begins to be a terrour to himself, and is tempted to chuse strangling ra­ther than life, he is so tormented in his conscience, and so tempted by Satan, and terrified with fears of Hell. He sees now the Law curseth him, Gal. 3.10. and the Gospel judgeth him, 2 Thes. 1.9. And he is made to receive the sentence of Condemnation in himself, & is made [Page 16] to read it in the written Word of God, Joh. 3.18. He that believeth not is con­demned already.

Now God goes on with his work of Conviction, which he had before be­gun in the sinful sinners Conscience, and sends his holy Spirit to convince and reprove him of Sin, of Righteous­ness, and of Judgment, Joh. 16.8, 9, 10. And the Spirit by that Scripture, Joh. 3.18. or some other Scripture to that purpose doth thoroughly convince the sinner, that although his pride, passion, worldliness, uncleanness, prophaness, his lying, stealing, swearing, drinking, whoring, or any one or other of his sins deserves eternal Death, Rom. 6.23. Yet that sin for which the wrath of God abideth on him, and for which he is by the written Word of God condemn­ed already, is his great sin of unbelief, Joh. 3.18.36. and Heb. 3.11, 18. God hath sworn, that those who do not believe, shall not enter into his Rest; that is, into Heaven, Heb. 3.18, 19.

Take notice, Reader, that in Con­viction of sin, because we believe not, the holy Spirit doth by the Word convince the Sinner; First, That he is an un­believer, [Page 17] and hath not obtained the pre­cious Faith of God's Elect, whereby the Soul is united unto Christ, Eph. 4. v 13. adopted the Child of God, Gal. 3.26. justified, and all its sins pardon­ed, and at peace with God, Rom. 5.1. and now the convinced sinner sees he is without God, without Christ, and without Faith. Secondly, That he must believe, or he cannot be saved, Mar. 16.15, 16. He that believeth not, shall be damned. His praying, mourning, re­forming, though they are good in them­selves, and are his duty, yet the doing these, or any other; yea all other holy duties, without this precious Faith in Christ, will not, cannot save him; and now the sinner is convinced, that there is an indispensible necessity of his believing in Christ for salvation. Thirdly, That he cannot believe. Faith is not of our selves, it is not of Works, Eph. 2.8, 9. They err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the holy Will of God revealed therein; who say, that men may be­lieve, if they will; and they have power in themselves to believe. Ask now the sinner that hath been con­vinced of sin, by the holy Spirit and [Page 18] Word of God, because he believes not (and is commanded to believe, 1 Joh 3.23.) I say, ask that convinced sin­ner, if it hath power of himself to be­lieve; or if Faith in Christ be of our selves, or of our good works, or of ho­ly duties; and he will tell you, No; Nay, Nay, Faith in Christ is not of our selves; Jesus Christ himself is the Author and Finisher of Faith, Heb. 12.2. It is not of our works; but it is the Faith of the Operation of God, Col. 2.12. It is the exceeding greatness of God's mighty Power, that doth make the soul of a sinful sinner (con­vinced of sin because he believes not) wil­ling and able to believe in Christ, Eph. 1.19, 20.

Now saith this convinced Sinner, I know and am persuaded, that whoso­ever believes in Christ, shall be saved; and I know and am convinced, that I ought to believe in Christ, and it is my sin, that I do not believe in him: Yea, I am also persuaded (upon Scripture grounds) that if I did believe in Christ, I should not perish, but have everlast­ing Life: But this is my impotency, and here is my misery, I cannot believe [Page 19] in Christ of my self; I know not which way to begin to believe; I could do something materially about the works of the Law, though but weakly and in­sufficiently; but I can do nothing about obedience of Faith according to the Gospel: It is such a Mystery as I am very ignorant of; Faith is the Gift of God, and unless he give it me, I perish. Now is the sinner convinced of his sin of unbelief, This is God's workman­ship upon a sinful sinner's conscience; but this is not the whole work of Con­viction; therefore God proceeds in this work, and convinceth the sinner by his Spirit and Word of Righteousness, Joh. 16.10. shewing the sinner whilst he goes about to establish his own Righ­teousness by the works of the Law, and by performing those duties, that the Law requireth, he maketh void (as much as in him lyes) the Righteousness of God by Faith in the Gospel, Rom. 10.3.4, 5, 6. and thereby convinceth the sinner,

1. That all his own Righteousnes­ses are as menstruous Raggs, Isa. 64.6. our most holy duties and performances are polluted and defiled with sin, and [Page 20] God might abhor to accept an Offer­ing at our hand, did not Christ offer up his Incense with our Sacrifices, they could not come up to God, Rev. 8.3, 4 both our prayers and our persons are accepted only and alone in and thorow Jesus Christ.

2. That Sinners must be covered with the Robe of Christ's Righteous­ness, and the Garments of his Salvation Isa. 61.10. He is the LORD our Righteousness, Jer. 23.6. And Christ is made of God unto us Wisdom, Righ­teousness, &c. 1 Cor. 1.30. This Righteousness of Christ, is that skirt, which God casteth over the Sinners Soul (when he lyes in his Blood) to co­ver his nakedness, Ezek. 16.6, 8.

3. That Christ's Righteousness is the Righteousness of God by Faith, Rom. 3.21, 22. which Righteousness the Apostle Paul did so much prize and desire to be found in, Phil. 3.8, 9. And now the convinced Sinner will say with holy Job, chap. 9. v. 21. If I justifie my self, mine own mouth shall condemn me,—though I were perfect, yet would I not know my Soul.

This is also God's workmanship up­on [Page 21] a sinful Sinners Conscience: But yet this is not the whole work of Con­viction; for when God hath by his holy Spirit and Word convinced the Sinner of his state of unbelief, and re­proved him for sin, because he believes not: And when God hath also con­vinced him, that his own Righteous­ness is as filthy Raggs, and that he must submit to the Righteousness of God, and take Christ's Righteousness by Faith unto Justification of life: Then God proceeds on in the work of Conviction, and reproves or convinceth the Sinner of Judgment, Joh. 16.11. And this God doth by causing the Sinner to know,

1. That there is a Day of Judg­ment, called the Eternal Judgment, Heb. 6.2. and the Judgment of the great DAY of God, Jude vers. 6.

2. That All shall appear and stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, Rom. 14.10. & 1 Cor. 5.10. And every one shall then give accompt of himself unto God, and shall receive a just Reward of all that he hath done in the Flesh, Rom. 2.5-13. and Rev. 22.12. and Matth. 16.27.

[Page 22]3. That the Prince of this world is judged, and therefore none of the Chil­dren of Disobedience, in whom the God of this World now worketh, shall escape the Righteous Judgment of God, Rom. 2.3, 5, 6. for the Lord Jesus Christ, ( who shall judge both the quick and the dead at his Appearing and his Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4.1.) shall come from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction, &c. 2 Thes. 1.7, 8, 9. And the Spirit and Word of God doth witness and testifie to the Sinner's Conscience, that he must come to Judgment, as Solomon told the young man, Eccles. 11.9. Know thou, that for all these things, or sins, God will bring thee to Judgment. And now the sinful Sinner is throughly convinced; and this is the first part of God's workmanship upon him, in order unto his Conversion and everlasting Salvation.

And I desire the Reader to take no­tice, that the want of a thorow work of Conviction, is the cause of the want of a sound and saving work of Con­version. [Page 23] One Reason why there are so few true Converts in this our Day and Generation, is because the Ministers of the Gospel do not labour in the Word and Doctrine of a thorow Gospel-Con­viction. The Reason why so few Hea­rers do believe in Christ, is because they were never thorowly convinced of the sin of unbelief. How many Herod-like Hearers are there in and about London? Mark 6.20. How many stony-hearted Hearers follow and flock after the Preachers of the Gospel, who hear the Word with Joy, & believe for a time, Luk. 8.13. But when the time of the Tryal of their Faith comes, by suf­ferings and persecutions, then they fall away, Matth. 13.20, 21. And you have the Reason of their falling away expressed by both the Evangelists, They had no Root in themselves; that is to say, They had not Christ in their Souls to be the Root of their Faith, Col. 2.6, 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him, and stablish­ed in the Faith. Faith rooted in Christ will stand out all Storms of Temptation and Persecution; it will indure all fiery [Page 24] Tryals; but Faith without Christ will fall away. And the Spirit tells us ex­presly, that some (who made a great and glorious profession of Faith) will de­part from the Faith in the latter daies, 1 Tim. 4.1. because they have not possession of Christ, and their Faith is not Rooted in him. Do but diligently observe and enquire into this matter, and you shall find, That those Ministers of Christ are most instrumental in con­verting Souls unto God, who labour most in the Word and Doctrine of Gos­pel-Conviction of Sinners. Those Mi­nisters that Preach Christ and the Gos­pel of Free-Grace, most convincingly, & labour in the Application of every Do­ctrine to convince the Conscience of Sinners, that they are in danger of the Wrath of God, and of eternal Death for their sins; especially because they believe not in Christ, exhorting them to Repent of their sin and Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they may be par­doned & saved by him: I say, those Mi­nisters have most Converts; those are workers together with God, and their convinced, humbled, converted and san­ctified Hearers, have not received the [Page 25] Grace of God in vain, 2 Cor. 6.1.

Some poor Souls may haply object, or rather query, Is there not a sound work of Conversion, where there hath not been so great a work of Conviction and Humiliation, nor so great horrours, fears, terrours, and so clear and distinct a work of the Spirit's Reproof of Sin, Righteousness and Judgment, as God works upon some Sinners? I answer; Though this be God's workmanship upon some; yea many, if not upon most notorious sinful sinners, yet we may not limit the Holy One of Israel; God is a free Agent: And because I would not break the bruised Reed, nor quench the smoaking Flax, I know and acknowledge, That some sinful sinners have lesser terrours, fewer temptations, fears and horrours than others have; and some are longer under the work of Conviction and Bondage than others are, though they have been as great and notorious sinners, as they that were more and longer exercised with fears and terrours. Yea and I know both by Experience and by Scripture, that some sinners, who have had Religious Education under godly Parents or Go­vernours; [Page 26] and have lived (from their youth up) under a godly Soul-saving Ministry, and have thereby been re­strained (by the Common Grace of God) from all gross sins, that have not expe­rienced the said terrours and tempta­tions; nor have they had such horrours of Conscience, and fears of Hell. Yet this I know, that they have been tho­rowly convinced of their sinful natural state, and of their lost and undone con­dition, being (and seeing themselves to be) without Christ, and without Grace; and they have been thorowly convinced that their own Righteousnesses are fil­thy Raggs, and that they must have Christ's Righteousness to justifie them, and his Holiness to sanctifie them, and his precious Blood to redeem them from their iniquity: But as for Time, whe­ther longer or shorter; and as for Mea­sure, whether greater or lesser, whereby God did this work of Conviction upon them, who can limit God?

God having wrought a thorow Conviction upon a sinful sinner, the next part and piece of his workman­ship upon his Soul, is Spirituall Illumi­nation, in the Saving Knowledge of the [Page 27] LORD Jesus Christ, Eph. 1.17, 18· whereby the Eyes of his Understand­ing is enlightened, that the sinner may know, that there is hope of pardon and salvation in Christ for him through Faith and Holiness.

In the work of Spiritual Illumina­tion, God doth by his holy Spirit and Word, discover to him, and enlighten the Eyes of his Understanding first, to see the Divine Beauty, and glorious Ex­cellency of Jesus Christ above all other persons and things in the world. A poor sinful sinner sees no beauty nor comeli­ness in Christ, why he should desire him, Isa. 53.1, 2, 3. The Daughters of Jerusalem said, What's thy Beloved (Lord Jesus Christ) more than anothers Beloved? Cant. 5.9. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God-neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. 2.14. until it please God to make an inward discovery thereof by his holy Spirit and Word in the Soul, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10, 11, 12. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. So 1 Joh. 5.20. We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding [Page 28] that we may know him, &c. The Psal­mist tells the sinner, That Christ is fairer than the Sons of Men, full of Grace is his Lips, Psal. 45.2. The Spouse told the Daughters of Jerusalem, That her Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand. He is altogether lovely, Cant. 5.10-6. And the Apostle count­ed all things loss and dung for the Ex­cellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus his LORD, Phil. 3.7, 8.

Secondly, God inlightens the Eyes of Sinners Understanding, to see the worth of Christ, in some measure and degree: As poor lost Sinners discern not the Beauty and Excellency of Christ; so they understand not the worth of Christ, until God discover it unto them, and reveal it in them by his holy Spirit and Word, Gal. 1.15, 16. Now God makes known to the Sinner the worth of Christ, by shewing him in the Glass of the Gospel.

1. The unvaluable preciousness of the Blood of Christ, that cleanseth Sin­ners from all sin and unrighteousness, 1 Joh. 1.8, 9. The precious Blood of Christ purgeth the Consciences of Sin­ners from dead works, Heb. 9.14. And [Page 29] Christ both justifieth and sanctifieth Sinners by his precious Blood, Rom 5.9. Heb. 13.12. & 1 Cor. 6.11. This speaks forth the worth of Christ.

2. God shews the Sinner in the Glass of the Gospel, the unsearchable Riches of Jesus Christ, Eph. 3.8. the exceeding Riches of his Grace, Eph. 2.7. And though Christ hath freely, richly, and abundantly given forth of his ful­ness so much Grace to so many poor Sinners from the day of Adam's trans­gression, even to this day; yet in this Vision of Christ's Riches, the poor sinful Sinner sees him still as full of Grace and Truth, as the Disciples did, Joh. 1.14.

3. God shews the Sinner in the Glass of the Gospel, the glorious Liber­ties of the Spirit of Christ, Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, 2 Cor. 3.17. And the Saints are com­manded to stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free, Gal. 5.1. called the glorious Li­berties of the Sons of God, Rom. 8.21.

This Gospel-Liberty is not a Liberty to sin; nor may this Liberty be used for an occasion to the flesh, Gal. 5.13. [Page 30] but it is a freedom from sin, Rom. 6.18, 22. in respect of the condemna­tion due thereunto, Rom. 8.1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus; and in respect of the do­minion thereof, Rom. 6.14. Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under Grace.

Thirdly, God shews the Convinced Sinner in the Glass of the Gospel, his need of Christ, and acquaints him with an indispensible Necessity of accepting Christ upon Gospel-terms of Free-Grace, Without money, and without price, Isa. 55.1, 2, 3. & Rev. 22.17. God doth by his Spirit and Word in­form the Sinner, that the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the only Saviour of Sin­ners, Act. 4.12. Neither is there Sal­vation in any other. And hereby the poor lost sinful Sinner sees his need of Christ to justifie him, and pardon all his sins; also to sanctifie him, and save him from his sins, and the wrath of God due unto him for his sins; and to save him with an everlasting salvation.

God having thorowly convinced, and savingly inlightned the Sinner, the third and next part of God's workmanship [Page 31] upon his Soul, is the work of Conver­sion. Sinners are often called upon to turn unto God, and to turn from their sins, Ezek. 14.6, 18, 30, 32.33.11. that they may know it is their duty so to do; and that finding by ex­perience it is not in their power, being faln in Adam, they should pray to God to turn them from their sins unto him­self by his Spirit and Grace, Jer. 31.18, 19. Turn thou me and I shall be turned, &c.

Conversion is that part of God's workmanship upon a Sinner's Soul, wherein God doth first change the whole Man from the sinful similitude of Adam, into the Image of Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 3.18. We are changed into his Image, &c. I say, in the work of true Conversion, the whole Man is chang­ed; the heart is made a new heart, Ezek. 36.26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. The Man is made a New-man, Eph. 4.23, 24. And that ye put on the New-man, which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness. And [Page 32] his Life, a New-Life, Rom. 6.4. Even so we also should walk ill newness of Life.

Secondly, God doth in the work of Conversion, sanctifie the converted per­son wholly and throughout in Spirit, Soul and Body, 1 Thes. 5.23. The ve­ry God of Peace sanctifie you wholly, &c. Upon ( or at the time of) the Sinner's Conversion God imparts unto him, and implants in him of every Grace, (that is in Christ) a measure, Joh. 1.14.16. And from his fulness have all we re­ceived, and grace for grace. Also Eph. 4.7. To every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ; which grace is called the in­corruptible seed of the New-birth, 1 Pet. 1.23. which seed abideth in sanctified Believers, 1 Joh. 3.9. It is implanted, and it is inherent grace, which grows like the grain of Mustard-seed, Matth. 13.31, 32. unto which Spiritual Growth every sanctified Believer is ex­horted, 2 Pet. 3.18. But grow in grace, &c.

Thirdly, God doth in the work of Conversion actually and really turn the converted person from darkness to [Page 33] light, from the power of Satan and Sin unto God, Act. 26.18. Before Con­version the Sinner was under the Vas­salage of Satan, who had dominion over him, and ruled and worked in him, Eph. 2.2. And he was then the servant of sin, which had also dominion over him, and reigned in him, Rom. 5.21. And though the Sinner was convinced of his sins, and troubled in his mind for his sins; yea, and saw the danger that his Soul was in by reason of his sins (where­upon the Sinner resolved to forsake his sinful courses, and to commit his sins no more) yet until he was truly convert­ed, he had no power nor strength to overcome them, nor could he pray and perform holy duties with delight and comfort, but as a task and work, that was hard and burdensom, Isa. 43.22, 24, 25. Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, and thou hast been weary of me, O Israel; But thou hast made me to serve with thy sins; thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities; I, even I am he, that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake, and I will not remember thy sins. Now that the Sinner is con­verted, he is by the Spirit and Grace of [Page 34] God called to Repent, and to Turn from his sins to God, with his whole heart, Jer. 31.18, 19, 20. Surely af­ter that I was turned, I repented—I was ashamed, &c.

Thus we may see, what work God doth upon sinful sinners, in respect whereof they are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. Let us in the next place consider, what Work God doth upon sanctified Believers, in respect whereof they also are God's workman­ship.

God having called and converted sinful Sinners unto himself by his holy Spirit and Word, formed Christ in them, and changed them into the Image of Christ, given them his holy Spirit, and imparted grace unto them, and im­planted it in them; and having of his free Grace adopted, and justified them through Faith in Christ, Gal. 3.26. Gal. 2.16. God is pleased out of the exceeding Riches of his free Grace, to go on with his workmanship gradually, until he have made them compleat in Christ, Col. 2.10. whom he hath crea­ted in Christ Jesus. And in order there­unto, there are divers other works of [Page 35] God, which he doth by his holy Spirit and Word in and upon the Souls of those Converts, in respect whereof they are his workmanship.

And the first is the work of Faith with Power, 2 Thes. 1.11. called the Faith of the Operation of God, Col. 2.12. wherein God demonstrates what is the exceeding greatness of his Power toward us, who believe, accord­ing to the working of his mighty Power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, Eph. 1.19, 20. And this God doth in raising Souls from the death of sin, to the life of Righteousness by Jesus Christ, Eph. 2.5, 6.

This Faith Jesus Christ is the Author of, and will be the finisher of it, Heb. 12.2. and therefore called the Faith of the Son of God, Gal. 2.20. by which Faith the Soul in its Conversion is united unto Christ, and kept through it by the Power of God unto salvation. Compare Eph. 4.13. with 1 Pet. 1.3, 4, 5. it's called the precious Faith of God's Elect, 3 Pet. 1.1. even the same Spirit of Faith, that Abraham had, and that all the Sons and Daughters of [Page 36] Ahraham have and do receive, 2 Cor. 4.13. This Faith is the Substance of things hoped for, and the Evidence of things not seen, Heb. 11.1.

This Faith God worketh in us ordi­narily, by his holy Spirit and Word in the Ministry, and administrations of the Gospel of his Grace, Rom. 10.8. That is the Word of Faith, which we preach. And verse 17. So then, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God; By which Faith we receive Jesus Christ our Lord, John 1.12. Adhere and cleave to him with purpose of heart, never to forsake him or deny him, Act. 11.23. but to own him for our Head, Lord and Lawgiver, our King, Priest and Prophet: And trust and rest upon him alone, and on him only for Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Re­demption, Isa. 26.3. with Isa. 50.10. And by this precious Faith Believers are justified, Rom. 3.28. adopted, Gal. 3.26. and sanctified, Act. 26.18. through our Lord Jesus Christ. But the converted Believer is not yet fully as­sured that Christ will save him; he is fully persuaded that there is not Sal­vation in any other; and believing that [Page 37] Christ is able to save to the utmost all that come to God through him. And be­ing drawn to Christ by God the Father, he doth by a lively Act of Faith go to him, and adventure his Soul upon him, resolving, If I perish, I will perish here.

This Faith is God's workmanship, Eph. 28. By grace are ye saved, through Faith, and that not of your selves, it is the Gift of God. Faith is not of our selves, for when the poor lost Soul sees a necessity of believing, and is willing to believe, he experienceth, that it is not in his own power to believe; he cannot believe; Faith is the gift of God: and the Convert lies under doubting, until God give him to believe. Though to believe be our duty, yet it is God's Grace, Gift, and Work, 1 Thes. 1.11. Called the Work of Faith with power, and the Faith of the operation of God, Col. 2.12. As before.

Another part of God's Workman­ship upon Converted Believers is Morti­fication of Sin; Rom. 6.6. Our Old-man is Crucified with him, that the Bo­dy of Sin might be destroyed, this is also our duty, Rom. 8.13. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the [Page 38] Body (to wit, of sin,) ye shall live. And it is the Effect of true Faith in Christ, Acts 15.9. Having purified, or purg­ed their hearts by Faith. The Spirit of God by Faith works out sin and cor­ruption, both out of the heart, and out of the life gradually, killing and cruci­fying our Old Man, Gal. 5.24. that the body of sin might be destroyed. That hence­forth we should not serve sin, Rom. 6.6. nor fulfil the lusts of our flesh, and of our carnal mind; for to be carnally minded is death.

This part of God's Workmanship called Mortification, is begun in Evan­gelical Repentance, and godly sorrow for sin; whereby a sanctified Believer is made to loath, abhor and hate his sins, 2 Cor. 7.9, 10. and by the Grace of God to deny ungodliness, and world­ly lusts: And to live soberly, righte­ously, and godly in this evil world, Tit. 2.11, 12. Now his heart being out of love with sin, the Young Convert doth by the Assistance of the holy Spi­rit, and Grace of God, labour and en­deavour the mortification of every cor­ruption; and the power of the in­dwelling Spirit in every sanctified Be­liever [Page 39] opposeth and subdueth the power of indwelling sin, that remains in him after Regeneration, Gal. 5.17. And the Spirit and Grace of God in him gets the Victory, whereby Grace Reigns, Rom. 5.20, 21. And the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus makes him free from the Law of sin and death, Rom. 8.2.

Free, first, from the Reigning power of sin, Rom. 6.11, 14. Sin hath not dominion over a sanctified Believer; nor will Christ suffer sin to reign in him, nor suffer him to obey it in the lusts thereof. Secondly, From the cap­tivating power of sin, which Paul so sadly complained of, Rom. 7.23, 24, 25. and was freed from by the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ, Rom. 8.2. Thirdly, From the Motions of sin in the flesh, Rom. 7.5, 6. So that no lust shall conceive and bring forth sin, Jam. 1.14, 15. And at last Christ will free sanctified Believers from the indwelling presence of sin. Death will make a total and final separation be­tween their sins, and their souls for Eternity.

Another part of God's Workmanship [Page 40] upon converted Believers in order to their Salvation, is sanctification of heart and life. God hath chosen you to Salva­tion, through sanctification of the Spirit, 2 Thes. 2.13. And Jesus Christ sancti­fieth his People, Heb. 2.11. As the End of our Faith is the salvation of our souls, 1 Pet. 1.9. so the way to Salvation, is Sanctification and Holi­ness, Isa. 35.8. And without Holiness no Man shall see the LORD to his comfort and salvation, Heb. 12.14. Sanctification consists in the Truth of Grace, in the Growth of Grace, and in the Perfection of Grace. The Truth of Grace produceth the Spiritual Fruit of the Gospel, Col. 1.5, 6.— The Word of the Truth of the Gospel—bringeth forth fruit since the day ye heard it, and knew the Grace of God in Truth. The Growth of Grace hath a threefold gradation; some sanctified Believers grow like little Children in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 2.2, 3. As new-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. Those St. John calls little Children, whose sins are forgiven, 1 Joh. 2.12, 13. And St. Paul calls them Babes in Christ, [Page 41] 1 Cor. 3.1. & Heb. 5.13. For he is a Babe; one that is weak in Faith, Rom. 14.1. & 15.1. Though such have but a little grace, yet it is true grace, and doth grow. Grace is of a grow­ing nature, like a grain of Mustard­seed, Matth. 13.31. Other sanctified Believers grow like young men; they are strong in Faith, and overcome the wicked One, 1 Joh. 2.13, 14. Their Faith is great, their Love is fervent, and their Patience hath its perfect work, that they may be entire lacking no­thing, 1 Thes. 1.3. And some sanctified Believers are compared to Fathers, that is to say, gracious, grave, grown and experienced Christians, 1 Joh. 2.13, 14. Such were some of the Saints in the Church at Thessalonica, 2 Thes. 1.3, 4. Your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all to each other aboundeth. The Perfection of Grace is the state of sanctified Believers in Hea­ven; there are the spirits (that is the souls) of just men made perfect▪ Heb. 12.23. Sanctified Believers ought to go on to perfection, Heb. 6.1. And they that have received the Promises ought to cleanse themselves from all [Page 42] filthiness of flesh, and filthiness of spirit, perfecting Holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1, 2. And God hath ordain­ed the Ministry of the Gospel for the perfecting of the Saints, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. Until we all come in the unity of Faith unto a perfect man. And though the Apostle was not perfect (as he con­fessed) yet he pressed toward the mark, for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus, Phil. 3.12, 14. So ought all the Saints to do, until they be translated from Earth to Heaven, and from Grace to Glory, and shall be set down in the Father's house among the Spirits of just men made perfect. Thus Jesus Christ (who came into the WORLD to save sinners) brings them to salvation.

The next particular in our general Position to be explained is, that Jesus Christ came into this WORLD to build up his own House, the Church of God. As Moses was faithful in the House of God, as a servant, who did all things about the Tabernacle ac­cording to the Pattern shewed unto him by God in the Mount, Exod. 25.40. Acts 7.44. & Heb. 8.5. So Jesus [Page 43] Christ was faithful unto God, that ap­pointed him, as a Son over his own House, the true Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not Man, Heb. 3.2, 3, 5, 6. & Heb. 8.2. called The Church of the Living God, 1 Tim. 3.15.

The LORD Jesus Christ, in order unto the building up his House, the Church of God, did ordain a Gospel-Mi­nistry, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, &c. And set them in his Church, 1 Cor. 12.28. And God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, se­condarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, &c.

The Apostles, as wise Master-buil­ders, did prepare fit Materials for to build the House of God, and to that purpose they having received Commis­sion and Command from the LORD Jesus Christ, Mark 16.15. went out into the WORLD, and Preached the Gospel, beginning at Jerusalem. And when they had made and baptized ma­ny Disciples, they planted those Churches that we read of in the holy Scriptures, which were built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Pro­phets, Jesus Christ himself being the [Page 44] Chief Corner Stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together, was builded together an Habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2.19-22. The Church at Jerusalem was the first of all those Gospel-Churches, Act. 2.47. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved. Which Church was at its first Constitution a particular Congregation of sanctified Believers baptized with Water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, Matth. 28.19. and se­parated from the Synagogues of the unbelieving Jews, to worship God in Spirit and in Truth, Joh. 4.21, 23, 24. according to the sacred Institutions of Christ and his Apostles, even the Ordi­nances of God delivered unto his Churches of Saints, 1 Cor. 11.1, 2. And although the number of the Dis­ciples were multiplied from one hun­dred and twenty, Act. 1.15. to three thousand, Act. 2.41. yea to five thou­sand, Act. 4 4. & Act. 5.14. And Be­lievers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. So that the Apostles had their own distinct Companies, Societies, or Congrega­tions in Jerusalem [Act. 4.13, 19, 23. [Page 45] And Peter and John being let go, they went to their own Company.] Yet they all being of one heart, and of one soul, were but one Church, and are so deno­minated, Act. 15.4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were re­ceived of the Church, &c. Act. 15.22. The whole Church. And so were all the particular Congregations in every City denominated and called, viz. The Church of God at Corinth, 1 Cor. 1.2. And so our Lord and Saviour denomi­nated all the Churches of God in Asia, by the particular Cities wherein they were first planted, and assembled to worship God, Rev. 2.1, 8, 12, 18. & Rev. 3.1, 7, 14. Read those verses.

I intreat the Reader to consider, 1. That our Lord Jesus Christ in build­ing up his own House, the Church of God, ordained and appointed a pre­ceding Ministry, to be workers toge­ther with him in building his House, Heb. 3.4. 1 Cor. 3.9, 10, 11. We are labourers together with God—Ye are God's Building, &c. 2. That the Churches of God under the Gospel, are not National, but Political, and Congre­gational. 3. That a particular visible [Page 46] true Constituted Gospel Church of God doth consist of fit Matter, and due Form. Jesus Christ the Chief Corner Stone, is a lively Stone, and the Mate­rials of the Church ought to be living Stones, Mat. 3.16. 1 Pet. 2.4, 5. Sanctified Be­lievers, 1 Cor. 1.2, 6. And Christ himself was Baptized with Water, Act. 10.44, 47, 48. and with the holy Spirit; every one in his Vi­sible Churches of Saints, ought to be Baptized with Water, and with the holy Spirit. Joh. 5. v. 5. 2. Those sanctified Believers ought to he fitly framed toge­ther, and orderly compacted, joyned and built together, an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2.19, 20, 21, 22. & chap. 4.15, 16. which is the Form of the House of God, the Church of the Living God, 1 Tim. 3. v. 15.

God commanded his Prophet Eze­kiel, chap. 43. v. 10, 11. saying, Thou Son of Man, shew the House to the House of Israel [...] [ex [...]] in conjugatione hiph. Annunciavit, exposu­it, narravit, indicavit. — And let them measure the Pattern—Shew them the Form of the House—And write it in their sight. A wise Master-builder will [Page 47] take care to prepare fit Materials in every respect answerable and suitable unto the House he is about to build; and so ought the Ministers of Christ, who are Co-workers with God in building his House, (which is his Church) to take heed both what, and how they build, 1 Cor. 3.9-14. Eve­ry mans work shall be made manifest, for the Day shall declare it: And the fire shall try every mans work, of what sort it is, &c. Young Converts, new-born-Babes in Christ may be added to the Church of God, Act. 2.41, 47. But they are not fit Materials to be laid next unto the Corner Stone of that Spiritual building I say again, they are not fit for the Foundation-work of God's building; nor are they fit for Pillars in the House of God. Consider what St. Paul, that wise Master-builder, saith of such young Converts, 1 Cor. 3.1, 2, 3. & Heb. 5.12, 13. Read the words. These, and such as these are not fit Matter for the Foundation, nor for Pillars, nor for Beams in the House of God, at the first Beginning, Planting, and Building, or Gathering of a Church of God. But rather Fathers, [Page 48] that is, grave, gracious, holy, wise, and experienced Believers▪ Also some young Men, that is, such Christians that are strong in Faith, and have in some mea­sure overcome the World, the Devil, and their own Corruptions, who are full of the holy Spirit, rich in Grace, and zealous for the House of God, and the Purity of his Worship; I say, a competent number of such Christians, being sound in the Faith, holy in their Life, and fitly qualified with diversity of spiritual gifts, knowledge and grace, are (in my Opinion) most meet to be (by their own mutual free consent and agree­ment) joyned tegether to become a particular Church of Saints by the help of some wise Master-builders, and faith­ful Ministers of Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 3, 9-11.

The Gospel-Form of a particular Church of God consists (as we said) in the fitly framing, compacting and joyning those sanctified Believers toge­ther into▪ ONE Fellowship, Society and Gospel Brotherhood in a solemn Day of Prayer, with Fasting, wherein some Able Minister of the Gospel, having by Preaching the Word unto them, [Page 49] shewed them their Respective Duties in a Church Relation, the Elders and Chief Brethren of some particular Churches of Saints being present, and assisting in the work of the Day (if they may be obtained) may in the Name and Authority of the LORD Jesus Christ (by virtue of this Commission given to him) constitute and make them a parti­cular Visible Church of God; they giv­ing up themselves professedly first to the LORD, and then one to another, mu­tually and solemnly with one accord en­gaging themselves to come together in ONE Congregation, and to Assemble themselves together in some one Place every first Day of the week, to worship God publickly in all his holy Ordinan­ces, with their mutual professed Sub­jection unto the Laws of God's House, and with a Professed Resolution to Continue in the Apostles Doctrine, and in Fellowship, and in Breaking of Bread, and Prayer, through the Help of God. All which being done, the same Minister ought to declare them to be a Church of Saints, and the Mi­nisters and Brethren of other Churches being also present, ought to own and [Page 50] acknowledge them to be a Sister-Church, by giving them the Right hand of Fellowship; and so to com­mend them by Prayer unto God, and to the Word of his Grace, who is able to build them up, and to give them an Inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

The Well-Being of a particular Church of Saints, doth principally con­sist in three things, viz. Oneness, Or­der, and Government. That Gospel-Oneness which maketh very much for the Well-Being of a particular Church, is threefold: First, That there be but ONE Church in one City; 1 Cor. 14.19, 34. and that all the Congregations of Saints in that City (called Churches) bear but one Name, to wit, the Church of God in that City, as in the Apostles daies, Act. 15.4.22. 1 Cor. 1.2. Rev. 2. & 3. chap. That so there may be no Schism, Divisions, nor sinful Separations from the Church of God; but that the whole Church may be perfectly joyned together in ONE, As a City that is compact together, Psal. 122.3. as an House or Build­ing fitly framed together, Ephes. 2.21, 22. and as a Body fitly joyned [Page 51] and compacted by every joynt of sup­ply, Eph. 4.16.

Secondly, That this Church be of one Heart, and of one Soul, Act. 4.32. being perfectly joyned together in the same Mind, and in the same Judgment, 1 Cor. 1.2, 9, 10. that so they may all with one Mind, and one Mouth, glo­rifie God, even the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, Rom. 15.6. ha­ving the same Love one to another, Phil. 2.1, 2, 3. and the same Care one for another, 1 Cor. 12.25, 26, 27. each one endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, Eph. 4.3-6. This Oneness will make the Communion of Saints very comfort­able, Col. 2.2-5. And hereby they will enjoy Fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit, in all God's holy Gospel-Ordinances, to the Glory of God, and their own Edification.

Thirdly, That this one Church, and all the Congregations of Saints, that are Members thereof, walk by one and the same Rule of the written Word of God, Phil. 3.16 being Ordered and Guided by their Bishops, Pastors, Teachers, Pres­byters, or Elders, according to the [Page 52] Royal Laws of God's House ( called the perfect Law of Liberty, Jam. 1.25.) submitting themselves unto those Guides, Act. 20.28 whom God hath made their Overseers, who watch for their Souls, as they that must give an Account, Heb. 13.7, 17.

Cant. 6.4.10.Gospel-Order is a great Beauty and Ornament to the Church, Col. 2.5. and Order makes very much for the Well-Being of the Church. And Gospel-Order consisteth in these things; Psal. 48.2. & Ezek. 16.12, 14. First, That the Bishop and Presbyters set in Order the things which are wanting in the Church, Titus 1.5. & 1 Cor. 11.34. Secondly, That all things in the Church be done decently, and in Order, which Christ hath commanded to be done: 1 Cor. 14.40. And for which his Apostles and Dis­ciples have given us Example. Phil. 3.17 Thirdly, That the Order of the Gospel be care­fully observed, and kept in the Admi­nistration of God's Sacred Ordinances, in the Admission of Members, in the Ordination of Church-Officers, and in withdrawing from every Brother that walketh Disorderly. God was offend­ed with his Church under the Law, because they sought him not in due [Page 53] Order, 2 Chron. 15.11, 12, 13. 1 Cor. 14.33. And God hath committed the Government of his Gospel-Church and Kingdom un­to Christ, to Order it, &c. Isa. 9.6, 7. & God is not the Author of Confusion.

Gospel-Government is ordained and appointed of God for the Well-Being of his Church: The Church of God cannot have a Well-Being without Christ's Instituted Gospel-Government. And to that end God the Father hath laid the Government of his Church up­on his Son Jesus Christ, Isa. 9.6, 7. To whom he gave all Power in Hea­ven and Earth, Matth. 28.18. And he hath made Christ Lord of his House, and King of his Church, Heb. 3.1-6. & Psal. 149.2. The Lord Jesus Christ deligated this his Ecclesiastical Govern­ment of the Church unto his holy A­postles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, called Bishops, Presby­ters or Elders, who where allowed of God to be put in Trust with the Gospel, 1 Thes. 2.4. And the Apostles and E­vangelists did commit the same unto faithful men, 2 Tim. 2.12. whom they Ordained Bishops, Presbyters or Elders in the Churches of Saints, Titus 1.5, 7. [Page 54] Act. 14.23. which Gospel-Govern­ment (as we said before) is not a Coer­cive-Power over Mens Consciences; nor is it a Dominion over their Faith; neither is it a Lordship over God's Cler­gy or Heritage; but it is a Stewardship of the Mysteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1, 2, 3, 4. Let a Man so account of us, as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the Mysteries of God. And Titus 1.7. For a Bishop must be blameless, as the Steward of God. Unto this Gospel-Government appertains Church-Cen­sures of Admonition, 2 Thes. 3.15. and Titus 3.10. Suspension (or with­drawing from a Brother or Member, that hath, and doth walk disorderly,) 2 Thes. 3.6. and Excommunication of those Members that live in gross and scandalous sins, 1 Cor. 5.1, 4, 5, 13.

§ 1.

THE LORD Jesus Christ is the Chief Minister of God's Sanctua­ry, and of the true Tabernacle, [...] Heb. 8.1, 2. which the Lord pitched, and not Man; He is the Chief Pastor of God's little Flock, [...] Pasto­rum Prin­ceps, 1 Pet. 5.4. [...], &c. & the Bishop of our Souls, [...], 1 Pet. 2.25. & Heb. 13.20. — [...]. Heb. 13.20. The great Shepherd of of the Sheep, who in all things hath the Pre-eminence, — [...] in omnibus Ipse Prima­tum tenens. or Supremacy.

§ 2.

HE gave Apostles, Prophets, Evan­gelists, Pastors and Teachers, for the work of the Ministry, Ephes. 4.11, 12, 13. & 1 Cor. 12.28. The Apostles, Prophets & Evangelists, were appointed [Page 56] by Christ to Preach the Gospel to the World, Mark 16.15. and for the Gathering of the Saints, framing, and perfectly joyning them together, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. [...], &c. [...], &c. The Pastors and Teachers were Set by Christ in the Churches, as fixed Offi­cers, for the Edifying of the Body, un­til we all meet together in the Unity of Faith, &c.

§ 3.

Those Pastors and Teachers are called Elders, 1 Pet. 5.1. Elder is a name of Office in the Church of God: Elders are indeed fixed Officers for Rule and Government, who are to be counted worthy of double Honour, 1 Tim. 5.17. They are also called Bi­shops, Phil. 1.1. And the Elders of the Church of Ephesus, Act. 20.17. were called Bishops, Act. 20.28. Act. 20.17, 28. — [...]— 28. [...]. over which the holy Spirit hath made you Overseers, or Bishops. The Office of a Pastor, Bishop, and Presbyter, or Elder in the Church of God, is to take the Charge, Oversight, and Care of those Souls which the Lord Jesus Christ hath committed to them, to feed the Flock [Page 57] of God; to watch for their Souls, Act. 20.28. Heb. 13.17 1 Tim. 5.17. 1 Tim. 3.15. Isa. 33.22. to Rule, Guide and Govern them ( by virtue, of their Commission, and Autho­rity received from Christ, Mat. 28.18, 19, 20. & Titus 2.15.) according to the Laws, Constitutions and Ordinan­ces of the Gospel.

§ 4.

The Office of Episcopacy and Pres­bytery, or Eldership in the Church of God, is Divine and Sacred, but not Lordly, 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3. — [...] — [...], pro­spicientes, ne (que) ut do­minantes Cleris, &c. neither over-ruling the Clergy: No Bishop, Pastor, or Presbyter, is [ [...]] the Master of the House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, but [ [...]] a Steward (or Dispensor) of the Mysteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1, 2. The Apostles, Bishops, Pastors and Teachers, were Fellow-Elders, 1 Pet. 5.1. The Elders which are among you I exhort, who am a Fel­low-Elder: [...], &c. But they were not all of equal Dignity and Authority.

§ 5

It doth appear, (at least I think so, and indeed it is my Opinion) that there was (even from the Beginning of the Gospel of the Grace of God) a Priority and Pre-eminence among the Ministers of Christ, approved of God; yea, and appointed by himself in the Church, [...], &c. 1 Cor. 12.28, 29. And God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, se­condarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of Tongues. Are all Apostles? are all Prophets? are all Teachers? are all workers of miracles? Christ gave Priority, and Pre-eminence unto his Apostles above the Ordinary Prophets and Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, and all other Ministers, Eph. 4.11. 2 Cor. 2.9. & 11.28. 2 Thes. 3.6. The Evangelists Timothy and Titus (called Bishops in the subscriptions of St. Paul's Epistles to them, both in our English Bibles, and in the Greek Testa­ment) had Authority and Pre-eminence above other Pastors, Teachers and [Page 59] Elders in the Ephesian Church, and in Crete, 1 Tim. 1.3. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine. Titus 1.5, 10, 11, 13. and 2.15. and 3.10, 11. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain El­ders in every City, as I had appointed thee. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the Circumcision; whose mouths must be stopped; who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres sake. This witness is true; wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the Faith. These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all Authority. Let no man despise thee. A man that is an Heretick, after the first and second Admonition, reject; Knowing, that he that is such, is subvert­ed, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

§ 6.

And the consonant Testimonies of the Antients, with the general consent [Page 60] of Modern Divines, and Protesta [...] Writers of good esteem and approbation do assent and acknowledge, That Timothy and Titus were not only Evangelists, but Bishops set and fixed by some of the Apostles to Oversee, Order, and Govern Churches, Ordain Bishops and Presbyters, and to exercise Authority over them, according to the Laws, Ca­nons and Constitutions of Christ and his Apostles given unto them. Walo, Walo, alias Sal­mas. lib. de Episc. pag 229. Titum Cre­tae Insulae praefecit Paulus, qui non sin­gulari in aliqua Civi­tate Episcopus fuit, sed totam illam Pro­vinciam ad tempus procuraret, &c. called Sal­masius, who professedly plead­ed for the Identity of Bishops and Presbyters, confessed concerning the Antients that Chrysostome, Epipha­nius, Theophylact, Theodoret, and other Greek Commen­tators have collected out of the words of St. Paul, That Titus was verily the Bishop of Crete. Hierom. de Ec­cles. script. Ephesio­rum Episcop. à Pau­lo ordinatus, &c. Hierom hath recorded both Timothy and Titus Bishops, the one of Ephesus, and the other of Crete, to whom Ambros. in Praefat. ad Timoth. c. 3. hunc creatum Episcopum, &c. Ambrose, Primasius and Gregor. Pap. de Curat. Past. part. 2. c. 11. Prima [...] in Trin. Gregory the [Page 61] Great, do consent; so do Reverend Beza, Beza, de Minist. gra. cap. 22. Habuit jam tum Presbyteri­um suum aliquem [...] Presbyte­rum, etiam Presbyte­rorum manente com­muni appellatione. Learn­ed Scultetus, Luther, Master Moulin, Tossanus, Zuing­lius, Calvin, Dr. Gerard, Dr. Reynolds, and several others assert and acknow­ledge, That the Presby­tery had their Presbyter (or President) over them, in the Apostolical Age, when the community of Names of Presbyters and Bishops remained among them. Such were Timothy and Titus, whom the Apostles ordained Bishops, 1 Tim. 4.14. & 2 Tim. 1.6. & Titus 1.5. Scultetus in Titum, cap. 8. p. 10. At Paulus Ephesi, & in Creta aliquan­diu docuerat, ideo Titum & Timotheum in Creta jubet manere, non utique ut Evangelistas, sed Ecclesiae Gubernatores, &c. Luther. tom. 1. fol. 309. conclus. 13. Probo quamlibet civitatem habere debe­re Episcopum proprium jure divino, quod ex Paulo ad Titum ostendo dicente, v. 5, 7. [...], As I have ordained thee, Calvinus in Titum, 1.5: Discimus (saith he) ex hoc loco non eam fuisse aequalitatem inter Ministros, quia unus aliquis Authoritate praeesset.

§ 7.

Jesus Christ commanded his Servant John the Apostle, to write a Book, and send it to the seven Churches in Asia, Rev. 1.11. He directed his seven seve­ral Epistles to the seven several Angels of the seven Churches beginning thus, Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, and so the rest, Chap. 2.1.8.12.18. and Chap. 3, 1, 7, 14. And those seven E­pistles were by those seven Angels to be communicated to all the Asian Churches, and every one was called upon (in that Epiphonema, at the End of every several Epistle) He that hath an Ear, let him hear, &c. Rev. 2.7, 11, 17, 29. & chap. 3.6, 13, 22. that is, to hearken, attend, and observe what the Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit saith utno the Churches, not to this or that particular Church only, Rev. 2.1, 7. nor to these seven Churches exclusively, but unto all the Churches of Saints in all other Countries, Cities and Places in all the future Ages of the World. Dr. Scultetus saith, Scult. observat. in Titum. Doctissimi quique in­terpretes per sep­tem Eccle­siarum An­gelos interpretantur septem Ecclesiarum Episcopos; ne (que) enim aliter possunt, vim nisi facere Textui velint. All the most [Page 63] Learned Interpreters by Angels expound the Bishops of the Churches, nor can it be otherwise interpreted without Vio­lence to the Text. As punctually and pertinently speaks Marlo­rat, Marlorat. in A­poc. 1.12. Quamvis quaedam tam in Cle­ro, quàm in Populo corrigenda essent, non tamen Populum, sed Clerum aggreditur: nec quemlibet de Cle­ro, nominatim Prin­cipem Cleri, utique Episcopum. Some things (saith he) were to be corrected, as well in the People, as in the Clergy; yet, doth not Saint John write unto the People, nor yet to the Clergy, but to the Chief of them, which is the Bishop. Dr. Reynolds in his Conference with Hart. cap. 2. divisio 3. saith, Although in the Church of Ephesus, there were sundry Elders and Pastors to guide it; yet among these sundry Pastors was there one Chief, whom our Saviour calleth the Angel of that Church, Apoc. 2.1. And the said Doctor telling us of that very Time, when St. Paul assembled the Elders of Ephesus at Miletum, Act. 20. 17, 28. chap. 8. distinct. 3. saith, One was chosen as Chief—called Bishop.

§ 9.

Smectym. &c. assert, that the word Angel, Rev. 2.1, &c. doth signifie on­ly the Presbytery, or the Colledge of Elders, Pastors, and not the Church. Sme­ctym. Vin­dication, pag. 146, 148. And they draw argument from the Epistle of Christ, to the Church in Thyatira, Rev. 2.18.20, 24. Upon which place Beza thus paraphrased, Unto you, that is (saith he) unto the Angel as President; and unto the rest (of the Elders, viz. the Colledge of Pres­byters) in Thyatira: And as many as have not this Doctrine, that is have not received this Doctrine of Jezebel. But why would Christ have the Angel or Chief Bishop of the Church of Thya­tira blamed for suffering false Teachers in that Church to Teach and Seduce his Servants, if he was not their Presi­dent, or Superintendent, who had Prio­rity, Preeminency and Authority above other Pastors, Teachers, Presbyters, or Elders (called Bishops) in that Church? Beza in Apoc. 2.1. Angelus [...], quem opor­tet admo­neri, & per eum Collegas, totam (que) adeo Ecclesiam. Gualther. Hom. 9. in Apoc. 2.8. Angelo, id est, Episcopo Smyrnensi atque toti Ecclesiae, constat ex Historiis Polycarpum fuisse hunc Angelum. Consult Beza, Gualter, especially [Page 65] Ignatius that holy Martyr, ( who is said to live in the daies of the Apostles, who writ an Epistle to the Ephesians, where­in he hath plainly and fully distinguish­ed between Bishops and Presbyters, and towards the end of that Epistle he doth exhort them to obey both the Bishop and the Presbytery with an undivided mind. Igna­Epist. ad Ephes. p. 17-29. &c. [...]. Ibid. [...].

§ 10.

Polycarpus was Bishop of Smyrna, when St. John wrote that Epistle, Revel. 2.8. Unto the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnians, saith Irenaeus. And who can better inform us than they that lived in the daies of the Apostles. Polycarpus (saith Irenaeus) Iren. advers. Hae­res. l. 3. c. 3. [...], &c. was not only taught by the Apostles, and conversed with many that had seen Christ; but also was [Page 66] by the Apostles Constituted in Asia Bishop of the Church, which is in Smyrna; Whom we our selves also did see in our younger Age; for he continued long: And being very aged, he most gloriously and nobly suffering Martyrdom, depart­ed this Life. To this let me add the Testimony, which those Brethren of the Church of Smyrna, who were pre­sent at the Martyrdom of their Bishop Polycarpus gave him, Smyr­nens. Ec­cles. epist. de Marty­rio Poli­carpi. Eu­seb. lib. 4. hist. [...]. 15. [...]. Vide Euseb. l. 2. [...]. & lib. 4. [...]. as Eusebius, l. 4. Hist. [...] 15. He was (said his Brethren) the most admirable Man in our Times, an Apostolical and Prophe­tical Doctor, and Bishop of the whole Church in Smyrna. Famous and cer­tain is the Testimony of Hegesippus, in his History of the Church, as Eusebius noteth to the same purpose. The next and last I shall cite, is the Testimony of Clement, whom St. Paul mentioneth among other his fellow Labourours, Phil. 4.3.

§ 11.

Clement is said by the Antients, to have written an Epistle to the Church [Page 67] and Saints at Corinth, which Epistle hath the Attestation of Irenaeus, who calls it [ [...]] a most substantial Epistle to the Corin­thians, and of Photius, that stiles it [ [...]] an eloquent (or a worthy spoken) Epistle. It is also highly commended by Origin, Cyril, Justin Martyr, St. Jerom, and other godly and learned men. Which Epistle Mr. Patrick Young saith, is extant in the King's Library at Oxford. His words in that his Epistle are these, [...], &c. Clem. Epist. ad Corinth. pag. 57. D. Patrieii Junii. Our Apostles knew (saith he) by our Lord Jesus Christ, that there will be Contention about the Name of Episcopacy; And therefore for this very same cause, having received perfect knowledge, thy appointed the foresaid Degrees, and gave thereupon a Designed Order, and List of Offices, &c.— And it would be no small sin in us (saith he) if we should re­fuse or reject them, who have sacredly, and without Reproof, undergone the Of­fices of Episcopacy, &c. The Magd. Cent. 1, 2, 3. do make mention of such Bishops in the Churches of God: [Page 68] And all Ecclesiastical Historians (that I have Read) do testify the Priority and Pre-eminence of Bishops.

§ 12.

I would not be misunderstood, there­fore I will take liberty to tell the Rea­der, That this Priority, Presidence, and Pre-eminence of any one Bishop above other Bishops, Pastors, Teachers, Pres­byters, or Elders, and Ministers of Christ, is not any Lordly Prelacy, with coercive Power over the Conscience, or Dominion over the Faith of God's Cler­gy: For the holy Apostles did approve themselves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God, 2 Cor. 4.1, 2. not having Dominion over their Faith, 2 Cor. 1.24. Neither as being Lords over God's Clergy, or Heritage, 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3. But I mean and intend any one of the Bishops, Pastors, Teachers, Presbyters, or Elders, who are, or shall by the Consent, Approbation and Choice of the rest be appointed, or­dained, and set over them as Chief Bishop or Presbyter of the Church in any City and Villages adjacent, who [Page 69] for Order sake in Gospel-Government, hath Priority, Pre-eminence, and Au­thority above the rest of the Presbyters or Bishops of the same Church, not alone, nor without them, but when Con­vened with them, to Act, Rule, Guide, Order and Govern with their Consent, Suffrage and Assistance, according to the Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Constitutions and Commandments, the Practice and Example of his holy A­postles, Act. 15.2, 6, 19, 22. Nor should the Ministers of Christ strive which of them should be greatest, Luk. 22.24, 25, 26. Neither ought any of them to Love (and Affect) to have Pre-eminence among them, as Diotrephes did 3. Epist. of John v. 9. [...]. 1 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Titus 1.7, 8, 9. 2 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. But a Bishop must be blameless, an En­sample to the Flock, vigi­lant, patient, apt to teach, not covetous, not greedy of filthy lucre, and one that Ruleth well his own House, that he may take Care of the Church of God; holding fast the faithful Word, &c.

§ 1.

GOD did separate his Antient People the Jews from all other People in the World, to be his pecu­liar People, to worship him according to his Institutions and Commandments, Levit. 20.24, 26. And God hath com­manded the Believing Gentiles to be se­parated from Idolaters, and Unbelie­vers, or Infidels, and to have no Com­munion or Fellowship with them in any false Worship, 2 Cor. 6.14-18.

§ 2.

But though Believers may be, and ought to abide separated from the Worship and Worshippers of Idols in their Temples, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17. and from the Wor­ship of the Unbelieving Jews in their Synagogues; Act. 19.8, 9. And also from the Worship and Worshippers of the Beast, or his Image, Rev. 14.9, 10. & 20.4. and from the Assemblies of all false Worshippers, and from all false Worship; yet sanctified Believers ought not to separate them­selves from the true Churches of God, and of his Saints, that Worship him in Spirit and in Truth, and walk in the Faith and Order of the Gospel, accord­ing to the Rule of the written Word of God, so far as they have attained.

§ 3.

The most pure Churches of Saints on Earth, are subject to mixture; some false Brethren may creep into a Church of Christ unawares, Gal. 2.4. and some false Teachers too, 2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8. Men of corrupt minds, and corrupt manners also. 2 Cor. 2.17. And [Page 97] there may be some Errours in Doctrine, and some Evils in Conversation among them; as there was among some of the Churches of Christ in Asia, in the Apostles time, Rev. 2.14, 15, 20, 24. But yet Believers ought not to separate themselves from those Churches of Saints, whereof they are Members for those Errours in Do­ctrine, or Evils in Conversation, until they have first, faithfully and orderly born their testimony against them; se­condly, until they have humbly entreat­ed the Church, and the Ministers there­of, to Reform those things that are amiss among them; and thirdly, until the Church, and the Ministers thereof, do utterly Refuse to Reform those Er­rours in Doctrine, and those Evils in Conversation among them.

§ 4.

The Ministers and Members of the Churches of God ought to imitate Christ in this matter, and to follow his steps. Our LORD Jesus Christ did see many things amiss in some of the Churches in Asia, viz. unsound Do­ctrines, and corrupt Manners; to wit, [Page 98] the Doctrine and Deeds of the Nico­laitans, which Christ hated, &c. But notwithstanding Christ did not present­ly forsake those Churches, nor did he command any of the Ministers, or Mem­bers thereof to separate themselves from them; neither did Christ blame any Believers that were sound in their Judg­ments, and holy in their Conversations for holding Communion with those Churches. But Jesus Christ did, first, bear his Testimony against those Errours in Doctrine, and Corruptions in Conversation. Secondly, Christ called upon the Church and Angel to Repent, and Reform what was amiss. And Thirdly, Christ gave them space to Repent, and waited for their Amend­ment, before he did forsake them. Read the second and third chapters of the Re­velation: And therefore I conclude, That none of the Ministers nor Mem­bers of any true Church of God ought to separate themselves from the Church; nor ought they to forsake the Assem­bling of themselves with the Church, nor absent themselves from any part of the true Worship of God, nor turn [Page 99] their back of any Gospel-Ordinance of Christ in the Church, because of Of­fence against any Member or Minister in the Church: But they ought to bear, and have patience, and to wait upon Christ and his Church, until such Offen­ders be orderly proceeded against, and those offences be reformed or removed by the Laws of God's House: Or else until the Candlestick be removed out of its place, for suffering those Errours in Doctrine, or Corruptions in Manners and Conversation; and for adding im­penitency unto such impiety & iniqui­ty suffered and indulged in the Church by the Ministers therein, and by the Members thereof, to the dishonour of God, the scandal of the Gospel, and the great offence and grief of the godly, who have walked orderly, and have not defiled their Garments, but have watched and kept themselves unspotted of the world, and uncorrupted with those Evils in the Church; which would not be healed, and therefore ought to be forsaken and separated from, by the faithful Ministers of Christ, and all the holy People of God. Seeing then that the Ending Time of this evil [Page 100] world will be so perillous, and a Day of so great Tribulation, I do intreat both unconverted Sinners, and sanctified Believers, to suffer a word of Exhorta­tion. I do therefore exhort uncon­verted Sinners, upon whom the End of this WORLD is coming by Death, or Dissolution, That you would come to Christ, Believe in Jesus Christ, and Re­pent of your sins.

First, I exhort you to come to Christ; for there is not salvation in any other, Acts 4.12. If you will not come to Christ whilst you live, you will certain­ly go to Hell when you dye, Psal. 9.17.

Some poor sinner haply will say, Alas! I am a vile sinful sinner; I am unworthy, may I presume to come un­to Christ? Yes, Jesus Christ who came into the world to save the chiefest of sin­ners, doth invite all, that will, to come unto him, Isa. 55.1, 2, 3. & Rev. 22. v. 17. But if I do come unto Christ, will he not refuse me, and reject me, and cast me off? No! Joh. 6.37. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. Some poor lost sinner may haply say, Indeed I see a great need of Christ to justifie me, and to sanctifie me, and [Page 101] to save me; but I know not how to come to Christ; I cannot come to Christ; what shall I do? I answer, It is true, no man can come to Christ, ex­cept the Father draw him, John 6.44. but God the Father doth draw sinners unto Christ with his Cords of Love, Jer. 31.3. Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting Love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. Though thou canst not come to Christ, yet know, that the Lord Jesus Christ can, and will come to thee, and teach thee to go to him, as he did Ephraim, Hos. 11.3, 4. The danger is not in thy own Inability, that thou canst not come to Christ, accept of Christ, and take Christ upon Gospel-terms of Free Grace: but thy souls danger lyeth in thy own unwillingness, Thou wilt not come to Christ; this Jesus Christ complained of, John 5.40. But ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Ah! woe's me, saith the poor lost sinner; If I were so deeply humbled for my sins; if I had a soft, broken, penitent heart; if I could get victory over my corruptions, then I should be willing to come to Christ for pardon, and for salvation; [Page 102] but these things hinder me, and dis­courageth me from coming to Christ; I am ashamed to come; I am afraid to come; I confess I am unwilling to come; yet know, God and Christ is willing that thou shouldest come, Mat. 11.28. And ere long, the Day of God's Power will come upon thee; and then thou wilt be willing, Psal. 110.3. Thy People shall be willing in the Day of thy Power.

Secondly, I exhort you to believe in Christ. When the Jaylor asked Paul and Silas, and said, Sirs, What must I do to be saved? They said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, Acts 16.30, 31. This is that glad Tydings of the Gospel, which Christ hath commanded and commis­sioned his Ministers to Preach unto every creature, Mark 16.15, 16. He that believes shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned. There is an absolute necessity of believing in Je­sus Christ unto salvation; for without faith it is impossible to please God, Heb. 11.6. Alas! saith a poor sinner, I can­not Believe, I know not how to Believe; what shall I do to Believe? I answer, [Page 103] Faith is not of our selves, it is not of works, but it is the Gift of God, Eph. 2.8, 9, 10. The Faith of the Opera­tion of God, Col. 2.12. It is the ex­ceeding greatness of his mighty power, Eph. 1.19, 20. The same Almighty Power of God, that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, must raise the soul of a sinner from the death of sin, unto the life of Righteousness. The soul being dead in trespasses and sins, must be quickened together with Christ, and raised together with Christ, Eph. 2.5, 6.

Thirdly, I exhort you to Repent of your sins. Repentance is also the Gift of God, Act. 11.18. Then hath God also to the Gentiles, granted Repentance unto life. Evangelical Repentance is a godly sorrow for sin, or a sorrowing for sin after a godly manner, 2 Cor. 7.9, 10. For godly sorrow worketh Re­pentance to salvation, &c. which Gospel-Repentance consists of confession of sins to God, contrition, and mourning for sins before God, and turning from sins unto God with our whole heart, and with our whole man, in Spirit, Soul and Body.

And I do exhort sanctified Believers, [Page 104] to prepare themselves to leave this world, and to enjoy the world to come. Noah did prepare himself, all the time he was building the Ark, by being a just and perfect man, and walk­ing with God, Gen. 6.9. for the End­ing Time of this world draws near: And the End of our natural life is to us the End of this World: And that we may be prepared, we ought to dye daily to sin, to self, and to this evil world; And we must live to God, live God in Christ Jesus, Titus 2.11, 12, 13, 14. For the Grace of God that bringeth sal­vation, hath appeared to all men, teach­ing us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righ­teously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glo­rious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himself a pecu­liar people, zealous of good works.

1. The Position propounded.

THere is a World to come, where­in will be the New Heavens, a New Earth, and the New Jerusalem; also the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints; the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Eternal Judgment; which World to come will begin, when the LORD Jesus Christ shall come again from Heaven.

2. The Position proved.

The holy Scripture of Truth doth Testifie, 1. That there is a WORLD to come; Matth. 12.32.— But whoso­ever speaketh against the holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this World, neither in the World to come. Eph. 1.20, 21.— Not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And Heb. 2.5.— For unto the Angels hath he not put in subjection that WORLD, even that to come. 2. That then the LORD Jesus Christ will come again from Heaven, Phil. 3.20. For our con­versation is in Heaven, from whence al­so we look for the Saviour, the Lord Je­sus Christ. Heb. 9.28. — And to them that look for him shall he appear the Se­cond Time, &c. 1 Thes. 3.13.— At the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ with all his Saints. 3. That then there will be the New Heavens, and a New Earth, and the New Jerusalem; yea, and all things new, Isa. 65.17. I create New Heavens, and a New Earth. 2. Pet. 3.13. We according to his promise look for New Heavens, and a New Earth, [Page 3] &c. Rev. 21.1, 2. And I saw a New Heaven, and a New Earth; And I John saw the holy City, the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven, &c. And Heb. 12.22, 23, 24.— The heavenly Jerusalem. 4. That the LORD Jesus Christ and his Saints shall have a Kingdom, and shall Reign on Earth. Dan. 7.13, 14. & 27. And there was given to him a Kingdom. Zech. 14.9. And the LORD shall be King of all the Earth. Dan. 7.27. And the Kingdom, and Dominion, and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the most High, &c. Rev. 5. 9, 10. And thou hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests, and we shall Reign on Earth. Also Rev. 11.15. & 20.4. And they lived and Reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5. That then there shall be a Resurrection from the Dead, 1 Thes. 4.16. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Rev. 20.5, 6. And the Rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. 1 Cor. 15.21, 22, 23-51, 52. And the dead shall be raised incorruptible, &c. 6. That then shall be the last and Eternal Judgment, [Page 4] Rom. 14.10. and 2 Cor. 5.10. For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. And Act. 17.31. Rom. 2.16. and 2 Tim. 4.1. Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom. 1 Pet. 4.5. Ready to judge the quick and the dead. Eccles. 12.14. God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, &c. Rom. 2.16. and Matth. 12.36. called the Eternal Judgment, Heb. 6.2.

So then without all controversie, or any modest contradiction, we have the Testimony of Christ, his Apostles and Prophets recorded in the holy Scripture of Truth, for the full confirmation of our general Position.

3. The Position explained.

In explaining our general Position, I shall begin with the first branch there­of already proved; viz. That there is a WORLD to come, wherein will be the New Heavens, and a New Earth, and the New Jerusalem. By the World to come, we are to understand, that which the Apostle calls That inhabited WORLD, [even] that to come, Heb. [Page 5] 2.5. [...]. The Apostle Peter tells us, that the old world being overflowed with water, perished; & the world that now is, (even this present evil world) is re­served unto fire against the day of Judg­ment, &c. 2. Pet. 3.6▪ 7. But there will come another world after the world that now is, called the WORLD to come, in contradistinction unto this world, Eph. 1.21. This world is distinguished from that world by Christ himself, Luk. 20.34, 35, 36, 37. The WORLD to come, will be a New Creation; then Christ will make all things new, Rev. 21.5. He will create New Heavens, and a New Earth, and a New Jerusa­lem, Isa. 65.17. When St. John had seen [in his Vision] the New Heaven, and a New Earth, Rev. 21.1, 2. He saw the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven; and vers. 5. He that sate upon the Throne said, Behold, I make all things new. This New-Creation will bear some Resemblance unto the first Creation, in respect of Matter, Manner, Parts and End there­of.

The Matter out of which the Lord Jesus Christ will create the WORLD [Page 6] to come, whereof we treat, is a meer Chaos, viz. the Confusion and Desola­tion of this present evil world. All things will be in a confused and deso­late Condition; towards the End of this world will be perilous Times, 2 Tim. 3.1. In the last daies perilous Times shall come. And great Tribulations, such as never was, Mat. 24.21. yea and most wicked Abomination; the whole world lying in wickedness, 1 John 5.19. and behold then (even then) will the Lord Jesus Christ appear, Matth. 24.29, 30. And HE will come, and restore all things. For then will be the Times of the Restitution of all things, Act. 3.21. and then will Christ Restore our Judges as at the first, Isa. 1.26, 27. HE will make our Oppressors Peace, and our Exactors Righteousness. Isa. 60.17. Then the Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together,—They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain, saith the Lord, Isa. 65.25.

The Manner of the New-Creation will be in an Instant, as the first Crea­tion was; God spake the word, and it was done; He commanded, and they were created, Psal. 148.5. God said, [Page 7] Let there be Light, and there was Light, Gen. 1.3. & Isa. 66.8. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the Earth be made to bring forth in one day? (They are created now, and not from the Beginning, Isa. 48.6, 7.) Or shall a Nation be born at once? far as soon as Zion travelled, she brought forth her children. And so will the whole New-Creation; there will be a Restitution of all things, and all things will be on a sudden made new, Rev. 21.5.

The Parts of the New-Creation in the World to come, are, first, the New-Heavens, and the New-Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteousness, 2 Pet. 3.13. whereby we are to understand, that New-State, and Frame of Government here on Earth, which the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, and King of Nations, will constitute, and command his Saints to execute in all his Domi­nions and Kingdoms, under the whole Heaven, Dan. 7.13, 14, 27. & Isa. 9.6, 7. Secondly, The New- Jerusalem, that heavenly Jerusalem, Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. called the General Assembly, and the Church of the first born, writ­ten in Heaven, &c. whereby we are [Page 8] to understand that glorious State of the Church of God on Earth, which will be in that day, when God will glorifie the House of his Glory, Isa. 60.1, 2, 7, 13, 19, 20. which Christ shall present unto himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, nor any such thing, Eph. 5.27. but holy and without blemish; called the Lamb's Wife, Rev. 21.9, 10, 11. prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband, v. 2. In this holy City the heavenly New- Jerusa­lem, shall the pure Worship of God be celebrated, and his Sacred Ordinances shall be administred according to his Divine Institutions; and his Spiritual Gifts shall again be given unto his Saints for the Glory of his holy Name, and for the Conversion of the Nations, that shall be saved, Isa. 60.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The Gentiles shall come to thy Light; — The Abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee. And Rev. 21.10, 23, 24. And the Nations of them which are saved, shall walk in the light of it, &c. Thirdly, The Renewed Creatures, whose earnest Expectation waiteth for the Manifestation of the Sons of God, Rom. 8.—23. And not [Page 9] only they, but our selves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we our selves groan within our selves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our body.

The End of the New-Creation in the World to come, is, first, To make all things very good, as God did in the first Creation, Gen. 1.31. And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good. So the Lord Jesus Christ will create all things new, and make every thing very good, in the world to come: Wherein will be the Times of the Restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets, since the world began, Act. 3.19, 20, 21. Secondly, To glorifie himself, and to make his Church glorious, Isa. 28.5. & 62.3. In that Day shall the LORD of Hosts be for a Crown of Glory, and for a Diadem of Beauty unto the Residue of his People. Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD, and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God. Isa. 60.1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 13, 19, 22. I the LORD will hasten it in his Time.

The second Branch of our general [Page 10] Position, which hath also been proved, is this, That the LORD Jesus Christ shall appear the Second Time; which is now to be explained. The Second Coming of Christ from Heaven, is often asserted by the Prophets and Apostles, and confirmed by the Testimony of Christ himself. Rev. 22.7. I come quickly, ver. 12. Behold I come quickly. And ver. 26. Surely I come quickly, Amen, Even so, Come LORD Jesus. Zech. 14.5. And the Lord my God shall come, and all the Saints with thee. Also 1 Thes. 3.13.— At the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, with all his Saints. These Scriptures, and those also before mentioned for proof of this Branch of our Position, viz. Phil. 3.20. & Heb. 9.28. do testifie, That our LORD Jesus Christ will certainly, sud­denly, and visibly appear the Second Time, and come from Heaven upon the Earth in his own Person. This Job believed, and therefore did he speak, Job 19.25. For I know that my Re­deemer Liveth: And be shall stand [ [...]] in the last of Time or Day upon the Earth. Read ver. 26, 27. Heb. 10.37. Yet a litlte while and HE that [Page 11] shall come, will come, and will not tarry. Act. 1.11. This self same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner, as ye have seen him go into Heaven. As Christ ascended into Heaven in his own Person; so he shall lihewise descend from Hea­ven in his own Person, Matth. 24.27. As the Lightning cometh out of the East, and shineth unto the West, so shall also the Coming of the SON of Man be, so visible, Rev. 1.7. Behold he cometh with Clouds, and every Eye shall see him. And 1 Thes. 4.13, 14, —18. The LORD himself shall descend from Heaven, &c. To them that look for him, he shall appear the Second Time without sin unto Salvation.

Now the principal things to be ex­plained in this Branch or part of our general Position, are three, viz. 1. The Manner; 2. The Time; 3. The Ends of Christ's Coming.

First, Touching the Manner of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven, it is testified, Matth. 16.27. That the SON of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father. The Glory of the Father is the highest and most heavenly [Page 12] Glory, called the Excellent Glory, 2 Pet. 1.16, 17, 18.— When we made known unto you the Power and Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ—For he re­ceived from God the Father, honour and glory—from the Excellent Glory; which was but a glimpse of that Excellent Glory of the Father, which Christ shall come in, Attended with all his holy Angels, and glorified Saints from Hea­ven, and met in the Air by all the changed Saints then living on Earth. Jude v. 14. Behold, the LORD com­eth with Ten Thousand of his Saints; and ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of Angels, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb (that was slain) to receive power, and honour, and glory, Rev. 5.11, 12. and 2 Thes. 1.7-10. When the LORD Je­sus Christ shall be Revealed from Hea­ven with his mighty Angels At the Com­ing of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints, 1 Thes. 3.16. & 1 Thes. 4.17, 18. Then we which are alive and remain (unto the Coming of the Lord, ver. 5.) shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and so shall we ever be with the [Page 13] Lord. Read Luk. 21.17. Mark 13.16. & Matth. 24.30.

Secondly, Touching the Time of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven. Though of that Day, and that Hour (when Christ shall come) knoweth no man, no not the Angels of Heaven, nor the Son of Man, but the Father only, Mark 13.26, 32. Yet there are some signs of Christ's Second Coming recorded in the Scripture of Truth, whereby we may know, that it is near, even at the door. The Disciples of Christ asked him, What shall be the sign of his Coming? Matth. 24.3. to whom Christ gave this for a sign; ver. 37, 38, 39. But as the Daies of Noe were, so shall also the Coming of the Son of Man be. And Luk. 17.28, 29, 30. Likewise also as it was in the Daies of Lot, even thus shall it be in the Day, when the Son of Man is revealed.

It will be so with the Men of this World, as it was with the Men of the Old World, which God destroyed with Water. Then the wicked ones of that Generation, were very ungodly, Gen. 6.5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the Earth, &c. And [Page 14] Christ told his Disciples, Matth. 24.12. That Iniquity shall abound, a little before his Second Coming, vers. 30. And it will be so with the Men and Women of these Cities, as it was with those Ci­tizens of Sodom and Gomorrah, whose Cities were burned.

Another sign of Christ's Second Coming, is a great Apostasie both in the Doctrine and Worship of the Gos­pel. This sign of Christ's Second Com­ing, the Apostle Paul foretold, 2 Thes. 2.1, 2, 3. Now we beseech you Brethren, by the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ,—Let not man deceive you; for that DAY shall not come, except there come a falling away first: An Apostasie first from the Doctrine of the Gospel, especially, Faith and Love, 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. Now the Spirit speaketh ex­presly, that in the latter daies some shall depart from the Faith, &c. And Christ saith, Matth. 24.3, 12. The Love of many shall wax cold before his Second Coming from Heaven, vers. 30. Some Teachers make the Law of the Ten Commandments a Doctrine of Faith in Christ, affirming that those ten words are a Covenant of Grace. Other [Page 15] Preachers make the Gospel of the Grace of God a Doctrine and Covenant of works, teaching Justification by works, and Salvation by works, holding Free-will, and falling away. And many there are, of whom the Apostle Peter pro­phesied, 2 Pet. 2.1, 2. False Teachers, who privily shall bring in damnable He­resies, even denying the Lord that bought them, &c. And 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. That there shall come in the last Daies, Scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and say­ing, Where is the Promise of his Com­ing, &c? Insomuch that our Saviour said, Luke 18.8. When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find Fa [...]th on Earth? And many Professors will fall from their first Love, as the Ephesians did, Rev. 2.4. The Faith and Love of the Primitive Saints in the Churches of Christ continued and increased, 2 Thes. 1.1, 2, 3. Your Faith groweth exceed­ingly, and the Love of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth: But in these last Daies many depart from the Faith, and many cool in their Spiritual Affections to Christ; there are great decaies of Grace, and many flou­rishing Professors experience great wi­thering, [Page 16] fading, and decaying in their spiritual gifts and graces; their back­slidings are increased.

As the Apostasie in Doctrine, so in Worship, is a sign of the Last Daies, and of the Second Coming of Christ: The Apostle Paul foretold thereof, 1 Thes. 2.3, 4. & 2 Tim. 3.1, 5. This know also, that in the Last Daies—Men shall be Lovers of their own selves, &c. more than Lovers of God, having a form of Godliness, but denying the power there­of. In those last Daies, even a little be­fore the Second Coming of Christ, the Laodicean Churches will be lukewarm, neither cold nor hot; formal, not fer­vent in spirit serving the Lord, Rev. 3.15, 16. And then the National Churches will be Papal, Superstitious, and Will-worshippers. Col. 2.16, 18-22, 23. Which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship, &c. Then My­stery Babylon will say, I sit a Queen, &c. Revel. 18.7, 8. Therefore shall her Plagues come in one day, to wit, the se­ven Vials of the last Plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God, Rev. 15.1, 7. And then our Lord Je­sus Christ will come in power and [Page 17] great glory, and shall utterly destroy Antichrist, 2 Thes. 2.8. Whom the Lord shall—destroy with the brightness of his Coming.

When those Virgin-Professors, who have highly pretended to be upon their watch waiting for the Coming of the Bridegroom Christ Jesus, shall grow se­cure, careless, invigilant, and all slumber and sleep; it is a Sign that the Second Coming of Christ is near. Matth. 25.5, 6. While the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) tarried, they all slumbred and slept: And at midnight there was a Cry made, Be­hold the Bridegrom cometh. And ver. 10 — The Bridegrom came, called the Son of Man, ver. 13. See my exposition upon the Parable of the ten Virgins; printed Anno 1667. David prophesied Psal. 145.10.11.12.13. that the latter DAY Saints shall bless the LORD, Saying, They shall speak of the Glory of thy King­dom, and talk of thy Power, To make known to the Sons of Men—the glorious Majesty of his Kingdom But when the wise Virgins begin to be Sinfully silent, and dare not bear their Testimony bold­ly and publickly for Christ against Antichrist; when they cease to teach, and [Page 18] preach the Doctrine of Christs Second Coming, and of the glorious Majesty of his Davidical Kingdom: then they begin to grow carnal, worldly, careless, and secure, formal and lukewarm. But there will then come a Midnight Dis­pensation that will awaken all virgin Professors, and then Christ will come.

Another Sign of Christ's Second Com­ing from Heaven is that great Tribu­lation, which our Saviour foretold his Disciples would be immediately before his Second Coming, and Appearance, Matth. 24.21, 29, 30. For then shall be great Tribulation—And imme­diately after the Tribulation of those days—they shall see the Son of Man Com­ing in the Clouds of Heaven, &c. This great Tribulation will cause Distress of Nations with great perplexities, Mens hearts failing them for fear, and for look­ing after those things which are coming upon the Earth, Luk. 21.25, 26, 27. Read Dan. 12.1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 13, &c. This great Tribulation will be such as never was since the world began, Mat. 24.21. WOE, WOE, WOE, to the Inhabitants of the Earth, Rev. 8.13. and of the Sea, Rev, 12.12. And the [Page 19] People of God (especially his two Pro­phetical Witnesses, to wit, the separated Churches, and their faithful Ministers) shall not be exempted from the Tribu­lation of those Daies; for they shall suffer Persecution, 2 Tim. 3.1, 12. This know also, that in the Last daies perillous Times shall come. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer Persecution. And when the two Pro­phetical Witnesses of Christ shall have finished their Testimony (that is to say, have Preached the Gospel of the King­dom of Christ, King of Nations, Jer. 7.10. and Matth. 24.14.) The Beast that ascend­eth out of the bottomless Pit, shall make War against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them, Rev. 11.7. See my Ex­position of the 11th chapter of the Re­velation, where I have proved, That before the Second WOE be past, Rev. 11.14. The Papal-Beast shall ascend, that is, Rise and Reign; and He shall overcome, that is, the Papists will pre­vail against the Protestants, and will kill the Two Witnesses, that is, they will persecute the separated Churches of Saints, and their Ministers; scatter their Assemblies, disperse their Con­gregations, [Page 20] break their Meeting-places, imprison some, banish others, and con­demn some to Death, and will burn them, kill and slay them. And the Se­cond WOE being past, the Third WOE will come quickly, Rev. 11.14. to wit, the Seven Vials of the Last Plagues of God Almighty shall then be poured out upon the Papal-Antichristian Beast, the great Whore, and the false Prophet, whose Name is Mystery-Babylon, Rev. 17.5. See my Book intituled Mystical-Babylon unvailed.

Thirdly, Touching the Ends of Christ's Second Coming, to wit, what Christ will do, when he comes again from Heaven. First, When Christ cometh from Heaven with his holy Angels, HE will send them to gather together his Elect from one end of Hea­ven to the other, Matth. 24.30, 31. Then shall the dispersed of Judah be gathered, and the Out-casts of Israel with them, as was foretold, Isa. 11.12, 16. And HE shall set up an En­sign for the Nations, and shall assemble the Out-casts of Israel, and gather toge­ther the dispersed of Judah from the four Corners of the Earth. In that DAY God [Page 21] will pour upon the House of David, and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace, and Supplication; and they shall look upon Christ whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, Zech. 12.10. and Rev. 1.7. Behold he cometh with Clouds, and every Eye shall see him; and they also that pierced him. Then shall come to pass that wonderful work of the Jews Conversion prophesied, Isa. 66.6, 8. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the Earth be made to bring forth in one day? Shall a Nation be born at once? And so all Israel shall be saved (as it is written) The Redeemer shall come to Zion, Isa. 59.20. And shall turn away ungodli­ness from Jacob, Rom. 11.26, 27. For this is my Covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. And all the Tribes of Judah and Israel being ga­thered, they shall all be Reunited into one Nation; which the Prophet Ezekiel shewed them by the parable of two sticks made one stick in his hand, Ezek. 37.15-22. And I will make them one Nation; And one King shall be King to them, Vers. 24. And they shall have [Page 22] one Shepherd. Vers. 27. My Tabernacle also shall be with them: Yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my People. Vers. 28. My Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. Then shall also the fulness of the Gentiles be con­verted unto them, Isa. 6.1, 2, 3, 5. And the Gentiles shall come to thy Light, and the Abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee. Rom. 11.25. Un­til the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And the Nations of them which are sa­ved, shall walk in the Light of it; and the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour into it, Rev. 21.24. This will be a glorious day, and a glo­rious work; and then will the LORD be for a Crown of Glory, and for a Dia­dem of beauty unto the Residue of his People, Isa. 28.5, 6. Then shall they be also a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD, and a Royal Diadem in the hand of their God, Isa. 62.3. And this is One End of our Sa­viour's Second Coming from Heaven, Isa. 49.6. To gather his People together unto himself. Psal. 50.5. Gather my Saints together unto me, Matth. 24.27, 28.

Secondly, Another End of Christ's Coming from Heaven, and another [Page 23] Work that he will do, when he comes again, is this, viz. He will put down all Rule, all Authority, and all Power, that are his Enemies, who would not have him to Reign, Luk. 19.27. For he must Reign until he hath put all his Enemies under his feet, 1 Cor. 15.24, 25. as was prophesied, Psa. 110.1. and Luk. 20.42, 43. The External Enemies of Christ are principally three.

First, Ezekiel's Gog and Magog, who are prophesied of, Ezek. 38. & 39. chapters. Thus saith the Lord, I am a­gainst thee, O Gog; c. 38. v. 2, 3, 8, 11, 16. And thou shalt come up against my Peo­ple Israel: It shall be in the latter daies. And vers. 23. Thus will I magnifie my self, and sanctifie my self, &c. chap. 39.1, 8-13, 21, 25, 29.

Secondly, Mystery Babylon, and the Kings of the Earth, who have given their Power and Strength unto the Beast, Rev. 19.19, 20, 21.

Thirdly, John's Mystical Gog and Magog, and all their multitude, Rev. 20.8, 9. Who will compass the Camp of the Saints about, and the Beloved Ci­ty: And fire will come down from God out of Heaven, and devour them.

[Page 24] Thirdly, Another End of Christ's Coming from Heaven, and another Work that he will do when he comes again, is this, viz. He will set up his Davidical Kingdom on Earth, Dan. 2.44. And in the daies of those Kings, shall the God of Heaven set up a King­dom that shall never be destroyed, Luk. 1.31, 32, 33. And the Lord shall give unto him, the Throne of his Father Da­vid. And Isa. 9.6, 7.

The next particular in our general Position is touching the Kingdom of Christ, and his Saints. The holy Scri­ptures of Truth do in several places plainly affirm, That the Kingdoms of this World shall become the King­dom of Christ, and his Saints, Dan. 7.13, 14, 27. Vers. 14. And there was given him Dominion, Glory, and a Kingdom—His Dominion is an everlast­ing Dominion, which shall not pass away. And his Kingdom that, which shall not be destroyed. Vers. 27. And the King­dom and Dominion, and the greatness of the Kingdom, under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People (even to) the Saints of the most High. And Rev. 11.15.— The Kingdoms of this World are become [Page 25] the Kingdom of our LORD, and of his Christ, &c. By the Kingdoms of this World, we may understand universally, All the Kingdoms in the whole world; for Christ shall be King of all the Earth, Zech. 14.9. In that Day shall there be one Lord, and his Name one: Particu­larly, the Kingdom of David, to wit, Judah and Israel, Luk. 1.31, 32, 33. And the LORD God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David: And of his Kingdom there shall be no end, Isa. 9.6, 7. Micah 4.8. And thou O Tower of the Flock, the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come; Even the first Dominion, the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem. And vers. 7. All those Pro­phesies shall be fulfilled, Dan. 2.37— 43, 44. When the Stone hath broken all those Kingdoms in pieces, vers. 34, 35, 45. (which Stone is Christ, Luk. 20, 17, 18. and his Jerusalem, Zech. 12.3. compared with Matth. 21.44. and Jerem. 51.19-24. And with thee will I destroy Kingdoms.) Then that Stone will become a great Mountain, and fill the whole Earth, Dan. 2.35. that is to say, Christ will be King of [Page 26] all the Earth, Zech. 14.9. And th [...] Kingdom of Christ will be enlarged;

1. By the extraordinary Conversion of Sinners, both Jews and Gentiles, Isa. 60.3, 5, 8, 10-15. and Rom. 11 25, 26, 27.

2. By the pouring out of the Spirit upon all Flesh, Joel 2.28. Isa. 44.3, 4, 5. whereby the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea, Joel 2.29. and Hab. 2.14. Then the Nations shall know, That the LORD Jesus Christ is King of Nations, Jer. 10.7. The King of Kings, and the only Poten­tate, 1 Tim. 6.15. And HE shall put down all Rule, and all Authority and Power, 1 Cor. 15.24, 25. For he must Reign till he hath put all Enemies under his feet. And the Saints shall know, That the Kingdom of Christ is not of this World, Joh. 18.36. that is to say, Christ's Kingdom is not of a worldly Constitution, but it is a spiritual and Heavenly Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4.18. and called the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 25.1, 2. though it will be a glorious Kingdom, Psal. 145.10, 11, 12, 13. yet it is not that Kingdom of Glory, [Page 27] where Jesus Christ, his holy Angels, and the Spirits of Just men made perfect now are; for there are no foolish Vir­gins in that Kingdom of Heaven. See more of this matter in my Exposition of the Parable of the Kingdom of Hea­ven Printed anno Dom. 1674. And al­so in the third Part of my Apocalypti­cal Mysteries Printed Anno 1667. like­wise in my Exposition of the 11th Chapter of the Revelation, Printed Anno 1679. This Kingdom of our LORD Jesus Christ, will begin in the Daies of these Kings, Dan. 2.44. that is to say, the ten Kings of the fourth Kingdom the Roman Monarchy. Then the Dominion shall be given unto the Saints, Dan. 7.27. And the Saints of the most High shall take the Kingdom, and possess the Kingdom for ever and ever, Dan. 7.18.22. And they shall Reign on Earth, Rev. 5.9, 10. Then the Saints shall be rarely qualified and spirited for Government; for They shall be all Righteous, Isa. 60.1, 2, 3, 20, 21. They shall do no ini­quity, Zeph. 3.13. And They shall be without fault before the Throne of God, Rev. 14.5. They shall be endued [Page 28] with courage, clad with Zeal, and girded with strength to bind Kings in Chains, and Nobles in fetters of Iron, and execute upon them the Judgment written, ( Luk. 19.27.) This Honour have all his Saints, Psal. 149.1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9. and Zech. 12.5, 6, 7, 8, 9. and Isa 60.12. For the Nation and King­dom that will not serve thee, shall perish; yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted. And when the Kingdom of our LORD Jesus Christ is established on Earth, and all the Kingdoms of this world are become his; the thousand years of the Reign of Christ and his Saints be­ing ended, ( Rev. 20.4, 5, 6, 7.) then Christ will Raise the Dead, and he will judge the Quick and the Dead; which being done, HE will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; that God may be all in all, 1 Cor. 15.24-28.

The next particular in our general Position to be explained, is the Resurre­ction of the Body, at the Second Com­ing of Jesus Christ: compare 1 Cor. 15.20, 22, 23. with 1 Thes. 4.16. The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven—And the Dead in Christ shall [Page 29] Rise first. The Dead Bodies of the Saints shall then be Raised from the Dead, that shall yet remain in their Graves: They that sleep in Jesus will God raise up; them will Jesus Christ awaken with the Trump of God, 1 Thes. 4.14. The Resurrection of the Dead hath this Order, and is described by the Apostle in this manner, to wit, Christ first, 1 Cor. 15.22, 23, 24. afterwards they that are Christ's at his Coming. But the rest of the Dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished, Rev. 20.5, 6. This is the first Resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurre­ction. They shall Reign with Christ a thousand years, and that on Earth, Rev. 5.9, 10. These Kings and Priests are the Children of the Resurrection, Luk. 20.35, 36. being the Children of God. Whose vile Bodies shall be changed and fashioned like unto Christ's glori­ous Body. The Saints raised Bodies will be perfect, no defect, no deformity, but spiritual, and glorious, 1 Cor. 15.42, 43, 44. So is the Resurrection of the Dead; It is sown a natural Body, it is raised a spiritual Body. It is sown in [Page 30] dishonour, it is raised in glory. After the Saints deceased are raised, and have lived and reigned with Christ a thou­sand years, shall be the general Resur­rection, Rev. 20.12, 13. And I saw the Dead small and great stand before God.

The last particular in our general Position, to be explained, is the Eternal Judgment. So it is called, Heb. 6.2. There are several dayes of Judgment, as that of the Old World, and that of Sodom and Gomorrah, &c. but the Eternal Judgment is that last Sentence which our LORD Jesus Christ shall pronounce upon, and unto the Righteous, and the Wicked, Matth. 25.34. and 41. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. And vers. 41. Depart from me ye Cursed, into everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. And ver. 46. These shall go away into everlasting pu­nishment; but the Righteous into eternal Life, which is the Execution of God's Eternal Judgment.