HERE ariseth a question in the first place, what this promise is? Which question is resolved in the 17th verse; which was the promise that God made by the prophet Joel, saying, and it shall come to pass in the last days (saith God) I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy. So that this promise is the gift of the Holy Ghost. The second question is, to whom is it promised, and upon what conditions? Answer, it was promised to all that was there present, which were both Jew and Gentile, yea, of every nation under heaven, verse 5. And upon what condition is shewed in the 38th verse? Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptised, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call: As much as if he should say, this promise is not made only to you that are here this day present, but to your children af­ter you, and to all that are afar off; for so did God before promise, [Page 7] by the prophet Joel, not only to pour out his spirit upon their sons and daughters, but also upon all flesh, that is, so many as God shall call, both far and near, they repenting, believing, and obey­ing; so that this promise is made (both to father, son and daughter, upon their repentance, and being baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ) that they shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and also to all afar off, not only to Jews, but also to Gentiles; as saith Paul, Eph. ii. 17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, that is the Gentiles; and to them that were nigh, that was the Jews; for both Jew and Gentile have an entrance into God's love and favour, only by Jesus Christ, and that through the blood of Jesus, who was that lamb of God that taketh away that sin of the world.

NOW the outward washing with water by the ministers of Christ, is but an outward sign to the world; and there is no virtue at all in it; for all divine virtue is only from the divine power, for every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from God; and that is not the baptism that is outward with the element of water, but that is the baptism that washeth the heart and inward parts, from the defile­ment of sin, James i. 17. Matt. iii. 11. 1 Cor. xii. 13. which is the work of God, done only in the name of his son; and by a divine water, which is the water of life, and doth quicken the dead sinner, that repents and believes in the God that raised up Jesus from the dead, he also is raised up by the same spirit with Christ. And this outward sign, acted by the ministers of Christ, is a figure of this death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, which is seen and felt by every one that is Christ's; for they have the im­mediate witness of God in themselves, 1 John ii. 20. 1 John v. 10, 20. 2 Tim. iii. 5. But the antichristian world, that hath not this immediate inspiration of God, which is a holy unction, they idolize the outward signs, and are enemies to godliness, but know nothing of that mighty power that worketh in us; as it is written, Eph. iii. 20. Col. i. 29. 1 John iv. 4.

THE first thing that we are to take notice of is this, that this chapter is an answer to what this church wrote to Paul about, and is to resolve their doubt about marriage; as verse 1, they be­ing such as had newly turned from dumb idols to the living God, and questioning whether it was lawful for the believer to have com­munion with the unbeliever, as man and wife; to which doubt Paul gives his judgment, as in the 12th verse, but to the rest speak I, not the Lord; for though he had not any immediate commandment from the Lord, yet he gives them his judgment, saying, If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away, ver. 13. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. And the reason that he gives, why the believer should not put away the unbeliever, is this, that the unbeliever is sanctified to the believer; for it is evident, though the marriage was made in the belivers unconverted estate, yet to be kept by the believers; for marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled, Heb. xiii. 4. But the question here ariseth, only by the believer; now if the unbe­liver be not sanctified to the believer, then of necessity the children must be so esteemed also, as unclean, and not holy, to the beliver; as in Ezra x. 3. and so both wives and children to be put away, not being sanctified, but unclean to the believer: For this sanctifi­cation and holiness, that the unbeliver and belivers children is to the beliver, comes not in by the redemption of Christ, to which baptism is a figure of, but by the covenant of marriage, which is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled; for the children's holiness comes as well from the unbeliever as from the believer; for if the unbeliever be not sanctified by, or to the believer, then the children are unclean to the believer also; for these children's cleanness to the believer, comes in by the unbelievers being sanctified to or by the believer; so that both wife and children are clean to him, or hus­band and children clean to her; but if the one be to be put away, then the other also; for if the one be not sanctified, then is the other unclean also, and not holy, and so both to be separated from the believer, as not clean; so that if the unbeliever be not first sanc­tified to the believer, then are the children unclean also to the [Page 9] believer, and not holy; so that the unbeliever bears the root of this holiness, as well as the believer, which is the cause of the branches, or children are holy. Why do ye not baptize, and receive into your churches, in the first place? And so when you have baptized, and received the unbelievers into your churches, then their children which come to be holy, by their being sanctified to the believer? For ye fools and blind, whether is greater, the child's holiness, or the unbeliever's being sanctified by, or to the believer, by which the children come to be esteemed holy? else saith the scripture, they would be unclean; for which is the greatest, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? for so it is in this case.

QUESTIONS founded upon the Holy SCRIPTURES.

WHETHER the first day of the week be a sabbath, by God's appointment, or an invention of Antichrist?

1st Question. Whether the holy scriptures be a perfect rule of in­struction, as to the way of righteousness?

Ans. 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for in­struction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2d Quest. Doth the scripture teach who is the law-giver, as to true religion?

Ans. James iv. 12. There is one law-giver, who is able to save and to destroy; who art thou that judgest another. Isa. xxxiii. 21. The Lord is our law-giver.

3d Quest. Doth God impute sin where no law is? Or can there be transgression where no law is?

Ans. Rom. iv. 15. For where no law is, there is no transgression. Rom. v. 13. But sin is not imputed when there is no law. 1 John iii. 4. Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.

Seeing that the scripture is profitable for instruction in righteots­ness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished un­to all good works, and that it teacheth us that there is one law-g [...]er, who is God; and that where no law is, there can be no trans­gression.

4th and last Quest. Whether God hath any law to forbid work on the first day of the week? Or is it an invention of the Devil, by which the antichristian world is deceived? If of God, quote chapter [Page 10] and verse for it; for if they speak not according to this word, it is be­cause there is no light in them, Isa. viii. 20. For if it be but the com­mandment of men, Christ teacheth us, it is but vain worship to at­tend it, Matt. xv. 9. Hos. v. 11. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. Psal. xciv. 20, 21, 22, 23. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. But the Lord is my defence, and my God is the rock of my refuge. And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.

Concerning ABRAHAM'S Covenant.

AS to the covenant that God made with Abraham, it contained in it, spiritual promises as well as temporal; and the tem­poral promises were figures of the spiritual, or signs. Now when God made this covenant with Abraham, he was ninety-nine years of age, and had no child but Ishmael; and being affected with God's gracious promise, in promising and covenanting with him, to be a God to him, and to his seed after him; and to give unto him, and to his seed, the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I say, and having no children but Ishmael, he breaks forth into supplication and prayer to God for Ishmael, saying, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed, and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. As for Ishmael (saith the Lord) I have heard thee, &c. but my covenant will I establish with Isaac; so that Isaac was the son of promise, not being yet born, to whom God promised to establish his covenant saying, In Isaac shall thy seed be called; shewing to Abraham, when as yet Isaac was in his loins, that he would establish his covenant in Isaac, and in his seed, pointing at Christ, who was in the loins of Abraham, and after in Isaac; for this covenant made with Abraham, was in Christ, and he alone was intended of God, who is the natural heir of that inheritance, for God doth not covenant with Abraham, saying, to thy seeds, as speaking of many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ; and if we be Christ's, saith the Apostle, then are we Abraham's seed, and heirs according to pro­mise; for we come to be heirs of this inheritance, by adoption in Christ, and God comes to be our God and father by adoption; for we are heirs but by adoption in Christ, of this inheritance; for we are [Page 11] the children of God by faith in Christ, upon which the covenant is founded; for the children of the flesh, though Abraham's seed, are not counted for the seed, nor intended in the covenant; but it is the children of promise, saith the apostle. Now, we, brethren (saith the apostle to the Gentiles) as Isaac was, are the children of promise; and Abraham is the father of all them that believe. So that the covenant as it is spiritual, and a gospel covenant, it is made to Abraham and his seed, counting them only to be Abraham's seed, who are Christ's by adoption, and that through faith, and so come into this covenant, Gal. iii. 16, 29. Rom. viii. 15, 16, 17. Eph. v. 11, 13, 14. 1. Pet. i. 3, 4. Rom. ix. 8. Gal. iv. 18, 29. Rom. iv. 11.

NOW as the covenant was temporal, it contained only temporal promises, which had a temporal token annexed to it, which was the outward circumcision that was made in the flesh; but to relate it in order as it was temporal, it was thus, God was a God to Abraham's fleshly seed, begotten by Isaac and Jacob, in that he brought them out of Egypt, and led them forty years in the wilder­ness, and gave them the earthly Canaan, read Gen. xv. begining at the 13th verse to the end, for there the covenant was first made with Abraham.

BUT the gospel covenant was preached to Abraham by these tem­poral things, as thus; God is a God to Abraham, and to his seed, through faith in Christ, in delivering them out of the bondage of sin, and leading them safely through the wilderness of of affliction, till he brings them to the everlasting inheritance purchased by Christ, and there gives them rest from all their enemies; which in­heritance is everlasting, world without end. And the token of this covenant (as it is spiritual) is the circumcision of the heart, wrought by the spirit of God, in cutting off our sins, by the circumcision of Christ; and this circumcision of the heart is the seal of this coven­ant, as it is a gospel covenant; and therefore it is written, That is not circumcision that outward in the flesh. And again, saith the Apostle, Abraham received the sign of circumcision, calling the out­ward circumcision, the sign of circumcision, That he might be the father of all them that believe; so that only them that believe by scripture account, are reckoned for Abraham's seed: And another scripture saith, After that ye belived, ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance; Rom. ii. 29. Col. ii. 11. Phil. iii. 3. Eph. iv. 30. 2 Cor v. 5. Eph. i. 13, 14. Rom. ii. 8. chap. iv. xi.

Concerning BAPTISM.

BAPTISM is an ordinance of the New Testament, and it is a visible figure of the death, burial, and resurrection of Je­sus Christ, and of our death, burial, and resurrection by Jesus Christ; for the Lord Jesus did ordain, that the excellent virtues of his sufferings should be held forth by outward figures, which have no virtue in themselves, but are outward signs of real bene­fits and virtue that we have received by Christ. For as Christ of­fered himself a sacrifice for sin through the eternal spirit of God, a [...] a lamb without spot and without blemish; so the repenting sinner that believes in him, and comes to God through faith in him, God sends forth his holy spirit into the sinner, in the name of his be­loved son, and so condemns sin in the sinner; that the sinner feels sensibly a death to sin in himself; that he hath an inward witness immediately from God; that Jesus is the Christ and Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world, Gal. iii. 1. 1 John v. 10. And can give as true a witness of the death of Christ as they that did behold his sufferings with a mortal eye; and can set to his seal that the holy scriptures are true by an immediate inspiration of God, 1 John ii. 20, 21. For the sinner is now born again, and is become a saint, and doth see by the eye of faith, that the body of sin, which he before carried about with him, is crucified with Christ, dead and buried with him; so that the old man, or body of sin, is put off by the power and spirit of God; so that he sees by the spirit of faith which dwells in him, that he is put to death in the flesh, as to sin, by the virtue of Christ's death, applied to him by the spirit of God; and he hath not only a wit­ness of Christ's death, but also of his resurrection; for by the re­surrection of Christ, a resurrection out of sin is brought to light, and also a resurrection of the body; for what is lost by the first Adam is recovered by the second; for upon repentance and faith in Jesus Christ there is not only a death to sin, but the very spirit that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead hath quickened us also together with him, and raised us up to a new life, 1 Pet. iv. 1, 2, 3. So that we are recovered by Christ out of a state of sin al-already, and brought to a state of innocency; and hereby is brought to light a resurrection of the body, and an eternal life, by the immediate witness of God's spirit in us, by which we have a lively hope. And thus the sinner hath an entrance into the love of God by Jesus Christ, and stands and rejoices in hope of eter­nal life, seeing he is born of God even by the spirit of truth, by [Page 13] which spirit he is purified and washed from the guilt and filth of sin; and his body, which before was a body of, in which the prince of the power of the air did rule, is now become the temple of God, even a sanctified body, being baptised by the spirit of truth, and thereby made a fit habitation for God to dwell in by his spirit, John iii. 5, 6, 7. Heb. x. 22. 1. Cor. iii. 16, 17, chap. vi.xix. 2 Cor. vi. 16.

NOW this great work, which is the workmanship of God, is in­vinsible to the world, and therefore God hath ordained that it shall be preached by an outward and a visible figure, ministred by his messengers, in burying the repenting and believing sinner into the likeness of Christ's death, and raising him up in the likeness of Christ's resurrection; so that the death and resurrection of Christ is figured out, and our death and resurrection by Christ, in that ordinance; and this is the reason why we are buried with him in baptism, Rom. vi. 3, 4. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? There­fore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Jesus Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Col. ii. 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead, 1 Cor. xv. 29. Else what shall they do, which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead? So that this ordinance of baptism, being administred according to the form and pattern delivered to us by the scriptures, doth by a visible sign, preach and shew forth the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, with our death to sin by Christ, as also our resurrection out of sin by him, and also the resurrection of the body.

BUT as to the antichristian foppery, who have a bason of water brought into their meeting-house, is a sign of nothing else but their own delusions, an idle of their own invention and blasphe­mously, in the administring of it, take the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, in vain; and yet will pretend the scripture to be their rule, although they walk as contrary to it, as light is to darkness; for the scripture of the apostles teacheth them otherwise, although they may be wholly blind, as to any divine light by God's quickening spirit, and therefore cannot discern the things that are spiritual, as God's children can, who have an unction from the Holy One, and know all things, 1 John ii. 20. The scripture doth plain­ly [Page 14] tell us, that there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptised of him in the river of Jordan, Mark i. 5. And ver. 9, it is said, that Jesus was baptized of John in Jordan. And in acts viii. 38, 39, it is said, that they both went down into the water, and came up out of the water. As also John iii, 22, 23, after these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea, and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptising in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there. Which scripture fully confutes and condemns the antichristian foppery, for the apostle testifies that it was because there was much water there: But a little in a bason will go a great way with an antichristian minister. And for any to make this outward sign, although ministred never so exactly according to scripture, to be the baptism, it is also [...]n idolizing a figure of the true baptism: For by one spirit we are all baptized into one body; for there is but one baptism that washeth us from the defilement of sin: For it is not the washing the filth of the flesh outwardly with water, but it is the answer of a good conscience towards God, that we have by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, with whom we are risen; which conscience is purified by the spirit of truth, 1 Cor. xii. 13. Matt. iii. 11. Mark i. 8. Eph. iv. 5.

Concerning the LORD's SUPPER.

THE supper of the Lord also, the bread and wine, is a visible sign of that which is invisible to the carnal eye, and it is no more the body and blood of Christ, than the baptism of water is the baptism of Christ, for they are both but outward signs of gospel truths, and they are revealed by the scriptures of the apostles; but that which is signified by them, is revealed by the spirit of truth immediately by God, so that every one that believes hath the wit­ness in himself, and can set to his seal, that the scripture is true, according to what is written, 1 John ii. 21. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it: For the children of God have their understandings opened by the spirit of truth to understand the scriptures, Luke xxiv. 45. Now the scripture of truth gives u [...]n account, that the same night in which our Lord was betrayed, he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he break it, and said, take eat, this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. This also is an ordinance [Page 15] of the New Testament, whereby the man Christ Jesus, who through the eternal spirit offered himself a sacrifice for sin, who was fore-ordained of God to be the Lamb that should take away the sins of the world; and through the blood of this Lamb of God, which is the blood of the New Testament, the guilt of sin is taken away by free pardon and remission of sin. So that the blood of the New Testament is drink indeed; for the free pardon and re­mission of sin through the blood of Christ, is revealed immediately by the spirit of God in the sinner, where remission and forgiveness is: And there is no remission of sin but only by the blood of this Lamb of God, for this is he that came by water and blood. By his blood we have free remission of sin, and by the divine water we are washed or sanctified from the defilement of sin, and it is the spirit of truth that applies the virtue of his blood to us. So that we being now sprinkled from an evil conscience by the blood of Jesus Christ, we can draw nigh to God with a true heart, in the full assurance of faith, which causeth joy unspeakable, yea, greater than the joy of wine that makes the heart glad; which wine is ministred only in remembrance of his blood shed for sin. And his body that was offered a sacrifice for sin, by the application of the spirit of God, is the true bread of life by which we live; for Jesus Christ is both God and man; for he took our nature and laid down his life, and hath taken it up again, and of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace, and because he lives we live also; for he hath given us of his spirit, even of that spirit which raised up Jesus Christ from the dead, and hath given us life through him, who were dead in sins before. And it is the spirit of Jesus that quickens us; for saith Christ, John vi. 63, It is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing: And saith Christ, he that eat­eth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. So that the spirit of Christ is the true bread of life, that quickeneth and strengtheneth us in righteousness, and dwelleth in us; and this true bread of life is given us through the sacrifice of himself, as he was the seed of David, whom God raised from the dead; for it is he that was dead and is alive, and lives for evermore.

AS to the bread which he brake the night in which he was be­trayed, after he had given thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. And saith the apostle, as oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do [Page 16] shew the Lords death till he come. So that this ordnance of bread and wine is to shew forth his death, who was raised from the dead, af­ter that he had offered himself a sacrifice for sin, and shall appear a second time in glory, as to his divine presence we now enjoy, for he dwells in us, and is the object of our hope of glory; so that it is to be done in remembrance of that man Christ Jesus (whom God hath raised from the dead) till he come, John xiv. 16, 17, 21, 23. Col. i. 27. And every worthy receiver doth discern the virtue of that body, and that blood of the New Testament; for by it they are purged from the guilt of sin, and thereby do discern the Lord's body. But whosoever shall partake of this visible sign of the body and blood of Christ, which was offered for sin, being un­der the guilt of sin, crucifies the Lord afresh, and so becomes guilty of the body and blood of Christ, and doth but eat and drink judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body, which is distributed to every worthy receiver, by the spirit of truth, which is Christ's divine nature.

BUT the antichristian minister, who confess the scripture to be their rule in words, but in works are always denying it, they ad­minister an imitation of it at noon, calling it the sacrament of the Lord's supper, when as they, contrary to the scripture, make a dinner of it, or rather idolize the ordinance than attend the rule of the scripture, as Matt. xxvi. 20. Now when the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve. Mark xiv. 17, 18. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, &c. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, &c. for as the lamb of the passover was al­ways to be offered in the evening, which was the figure of Christ, the real Lamb of God, who was betrayed the same night in which it was offered, and then he left this ordinanance w [...] his church, to be done in remembrance of himself, when he offered up himself a sacrifice for sin; and every believer is a partaker of his body and of his blood, but not the antichristian world.

A Description of the true Shepherds of Christ's Flock, and also of the Antichristian Ministers, according to the Testimony of Jesus Christ, in the Scriptures.

THIS was a parable spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ when he was upon the earth, but the hired shepherds of Israel that he put it forth to, understood it not, as in ver. 6, compared with ver. 12. Now a parable is to set forth another thing, and hath always a meaning to it, as in Prov. i. 6. Now this parable of Christ hath an interpretation to it, which we are to search into. In the first verse we read of a sheepfold, and a door to enter into the sheepfold, also, they that enter not into this sheepfold by the door, but climeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. In the second verse we read, that he that entreth in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep.

NOW these things raise questions, and an enquiry, what this sheepfold is? And what the flock is? And what the door is? And who the thief and robber is? And who the shepherd is that enters in by the door?

TO which I answer: The sheep is Christ's flock, the fold is the place where they rest, the door is Christ, as in verse 9; the thief and robber were those shepherds which the world hired, and not sent by Christ, as in verse 12; and the shepherd that enters in by the door, are those shepherds that go not into the fold till Christ sends them; so that they enter in by him, who is the good or chief shepherd of his own flock, as verse 14.

BUT some may say, I desire to be farther informed in this mat­ter, how Christ calls and sends his shepherds, so that it may be truly said, they enter into the sheepfold by the door, which is by himself? And also, how the thief and robber that climbe up some other way into the sheepfold, may be found out who he is, that so the true shepherds may be discerned from the false, and that by scripture testimony? To which I answer: I cannot give fight to the blind, but Christ can; as you may see in the former chapter [Page 18] all this discourse arose about the blind man, whose eyes were opened by Christ, the chief shepherd; but, for several reasons, they did not believe aim to be the chief shepherd, but rather took him to be the chief deceiver, or Belzebub; one reason was, because he hid the man carry his bed on the Sabbath day, and also mingled clay and spittle on the Sabbath day; therefore (said they) this man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day, as in chap. i [...]. verse 16. Others said, do any of our rulers believe on him? Chap. [...] verse 48. So that we may see they built much upon their wise and learned men, being those that judged godly, who sought to put him to death as a deceiver; but these were deceiving reasons.

NOW we shall come to describe, by the scriptures of truth, which way the true shepherds come into their ministry; and then 2dly, how the thief and robber climbs up another way, which is the hireling. In verse 8 saith Christ, all that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; so that here in this verse the thief and robber is said to be thieves and robbers, that is, the hirelings, or hired shep­herds. Now to look with a carnal eye at Christ's words, where he saith, all that ever came before me, it might be objected and replied to him, that Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the like, were true shepherds, and came into the sheepfold before thee, yet were no thieves nor robbers, but entered in by the door. Christ would have answered, they did not come before me, for before Abraham was, I am; and Abraham did not go before I called him, and sent him, Gen. xii. 1, 4. Isa. xli. 2. And so Moses did not go before, till I appeared to him in the bush, and called him, and sent him [...] people Israel, to be their shepherd. Yea, it may truly be said, that Christ was in them, and went with them, and that it was his voice which spake; and that no man taketh this honour to himself but he that is called of God, as was Aaron, Heb. v. 4; if they do they are thieves and robbers, though men and devils or­dain them in their office, and teach them all the learning that the world can afford; to preach and to pray with all the excellent words they can study, and that the devil can suggest into them; yet if Christ have not called them, and sent them, they do but de­ceive the world, and a devil is in them, that transforms himself as an angel of light. Now such shepherds as these come not in by the door, but come in as a thief, only to kill and steal, as in verse 10, not being called nor sent by Jesus Christ, who is the door, but climb up another way. They come to cloath themselves with the wool, and to kill them that Christ hath fed, according to what is written, Ezek. xxxiv. 2, 3, Wo be to the shepherds of Israel that do [Page 19] feed themselves. Ye eat the fat, and ye cloath you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed. These are the hirelings that have no faith in God, but, contrary to the scripture, take thought what they shall eat, and what they shall drink, and how they shall be cloathed, be­cause they have no ground of faith in him, not being called nor sent by him, but climb up another way into the sheepfold.

NOW all the true shepherds of Christ come in by the door, that is, by Christ; for they are called and sent by him into the sheep­fold, and so enter in by the door, not to kill nor steal, but to feed the flock. They do not go before he comes to them, and calls them, and sends them, and delivers to them the key of know­ledge; so that they enter in by the door into the sheepfold, that is to say, by Christ himself. And being thus called and sent by Je­sus Christ, having their authority from heaven as John the baptist had, and not from an earthly power, they come in the name of Jesus Christ, in opposition to the world, and to those hireling shep­herds that have their authority only from men, and so have entered into the sheepfold another way, and not by Christ, who is the door.

NOW consider the cloud of witnesses that have left record in the holy scriptures, after what manner Christ called and sent his shepherds into the world to feed his flock, and to bear witness against the thieves and robbers that climb up into the sheepfold, and enter not in by Christ the door, who have their call and authority from an earthly power, and have not seen Christ nor heard his voice at any time; for tho' he was in the world, and the world was made by him, yet the world knew him not; neither doth the world know his shepherds, and therefore saith the scripture, the world knoweth us not, because it knew not him; as Christ saith to his shepherds, If ye were of the world, the world would love you, but because I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you.

BUT those hirelings, as Christ calls them in ver. 12. or thieves and robbers, as he calls them in ver. 8. who have their call and authority from an earthly power, and are not called nor sent by Christ, they are of the world and therefore the world heareth them, saith the scripture. They have their call and commission from the world, and therefore the world heareth them; and they have their reward and their honour from the world. They do not nor cannot deliver any message from Christ, for he hath not sent them with any; but to deceive the world they study a message of their own heart, and not from the [Page 20] mouth of the Lord, according to what is written, Jer. xxiii. 16. Hearken not unto the words of the Prophets that prophesy unto you; they make you vain; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. Ver. 21. I have not sent these Prophets, yet they run; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. Ver. 22. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Ver. 32. Therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord. Now these Prophets were looked at in Judea and Jerusalem to be the true Prophets and messengers of God, and Jeremiah to be the false Prophet, as in Jer. xviii. 18, chap. xxix 26, 27, chap. xliii. 2. Thou speakest falsly, the Lord our God hath not sent thee. Thus they refused to hear the voice of Christ by his messenger whom he sent, not believing that he was sent, but inclined their ears to the false Shepherds, and would not believe the true. Now this Prophet whom they did not believe, but reviled and persecut­ed for a deceiver, was sent, and did not run before he was sent, though he had no call from the earthly power, yet was he called by Christ, sent with the key of knowledge, and so entered in by the door, Jer. i. 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19. Now when Christ sends his messengers thus into the world, it is to be a witness against them that enter into the sheepfold, but not by the door, and to be a wit­ness against Kings and Governors for setting these up, and main­taining them whom he hath not sent. Thus Christ comes by his messengers, not to send a message of peace to these intruders, thieves and robbers, or hireling Shepherds, as Christ calls them, but to bear witness against them, and against their upholders; and there­fore it is written, You shall be brought before Kings and Governors for my sake, for a testimony against them. And saith Christ in another place to his brethren that did not believe on him. The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testify against it, that the works thereof are evil. And thus Christ comes, not to send peace to these intruders, who are the chief men of the world, but to send a sword and to kindle a fire; and therefore the Prophet Jeremiah, chap. xv. 10. saith, Wo is me, my mother, that thou hast born me a man of strife, and a man of contention to the whole earth; for Jesus Christ's messengers always meet with but coarse entertainment in the world, for they are strangers to it; as Christ saith to the world, I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; that is, his messengers were so to the world. Now these intruders that come into the sheepfold, and not by the door, but climb in another way, that is, such as are call­ed of men, and ordained of them, and not called nor sent by Christ, those the world will reward and respect, they will feed, and they [Page 21] will cloath, and they will visit: these can look every one for his gain from his quarter, as saith Isaiah, chap. lvi. 11. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are Shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his gain from his quarter. Thus it is with these Shepherds that have their call from the world, and are not sent by Christ: But the Shepherds whom Christ sends to feed his flock, who are faithful, they come not for gain, nor for reward, but to feed the flock of Christ. They covet no man's silver or gold, or apparel, but labour with their hands night and day, that they may not be chargeable to any, They consider Christ's words, who said, when he was upon the earth, It is more blessed to give then to receive Acts xx. 33, 34, 35. These are reviled, reproached, and persecuted for the sake of him that sends, according to what is written, Acts xxviii. 22. For as con­cerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against; but saith Christ, wo be unto you, when all men shall speak well of you, for so did their fathers of the false prophets; but blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you, and the like; for so did their fa­thers the prophets that are before you. Thus they did to Jeremiah, chap. xx. 1, 2, and xxvi. 11, and xxxii. 2, and xxxvii. 15, and xxxviii. 6. Isa. l. 6. Yet these their persecutors made a great shew in the world of seeming worship to God, by which they de­ceived the world and themselves: They would fast, and make prayers, and keep sabbaths, and have solemn meetings; thus they garnished their outside with a high profession of the name of God, but their inside was full of pride, and covetousness, and wicked­ness. But the messengers of Jesus Christ, they are sent by him with a message of peace and reconciliation to those that repent and believe in God; for God will wash such from the defilement of sin: And his messengers were always sent with this message, viz. that it is purity and cleanness in the inward parts that God looked at, and not a flattering of God with the mouth and lips, when the heart is defiled and full of sin; and therefore saith Jeremiah chap. iv. 14, O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayst be saved. And Isa. i. 16, wash ye, make you clean. This hath always been the doctrine of Christ's messengers, to make clean the inside of the cup and platter: To worship God in spirit and in truth, in the inward man. But this doctrine is grievious to the world, for they never saw a clean inside washed from the guilt and filth of sin, neither will they believe this message, because their lives are always with the unclean; the strong man of sin hath ever kept his throne in them, and they never yet saw a stronger than [...]e; for their bodies are the habitation of sin, where the prince of [Page 22] the power of the air rules. Now these are not of Christ's sheep nor of his fold, neither will they believe his shepherds voice. B [...] all Christ's shepherd that ever were, or ever shall be to the end o [...] the world, are immediately called, inspired, and sent by him, a [...] it is his voice speaking in them, for he is present with them to t [...] end of the world, and it is not they that speak, but it is his spir [...] speaking in them. They never run before they are sent, for a [...] that do so, enter not by the door, but climb up some other way in­to the sheepfold.

BUT we have a cloud of witnesses as is before mentioned, to the way and manner of God's calling and sending his messengers, a [...] hath been already shewed, by Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, as also Ezekiel, chap. ii. 1, 3. Hos. i. 2, 3. Joel i. 1, 2. Amos vii. 14, 15. Jonah i. 1, 2. Hag. i. 3. Yea, they we [...] all called of God, as was Aaron, and did not take this honour upon themselves by any earthly call or institution of man, b [...] came all into the sheepfold by the door, and looked for no reward or revenue from the world, but passed through great tribulation and sufferings, testifying against hireling shepherds that came into the sheepfold, but not in at the door, as might be abundantly in­stanced: Every one seeks for his gain from his quarter, saith one. Another saith, they are all given to covetousness, from the priest to the prophet. Another saith, the judges judge for reward, and the priests teach for hire, and the prophets prophesy for money. And ano­ther saith, wo to the shepherds of Israel that feed themselves; ye eat the fat, and ye cloath you with the wool. Another, his shepherds are blind, yea, they are greedy dogs, which can never have enough. Now I must confess these are offensive words to be spoken to them that are in authority in the world, and honourable men.

HAVING had an account by the scriptures of the prophets, that were before Christ (the great shepherd of the sheep) came into the world, how that they were called of God as was Aaron, and so entered into the sheepfold by the door. And also, having had an account, how that the hirelings or false shepherds had no call of God, but came into the sheepfold by climbing up another way, and not in at the door, who came only to feed and to cloath them­selves with Christ's flock; and how that these intruders had good entertainment in the world, and were honoured with great gifts and rewards; and how that they attained these things by a wile, in that they appeared to the world as ministers of righteousness, by their prayers, prophesyings, or preachings, keeping Sabbaths, [Page 23] days of fasts, and solemn meetings, which had a fair outside shew to the world, but their inside was the habitation of sin and unclean­ness, which the world could not discern.

IN the next place, let us come to the following generations, which were in the days when Christ and his Apostles were in the world; for reason will afford us, that the world had got better experience, in seeing how their fathers had been deceived, and that by these intru­ders that climbed up into the sheepfold, and how that God punished their fathers with sore judgments, for the abuse of his messengers, as it is written, 2 Chron. xxxvi. 15, 16, 17. And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and send­ing; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and mis­used his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the King of the Chaldees, who slow their young men with the sword, in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young men or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age; he gaue them all into his hand. Reason will afford that one should think, that this might be a sealed instruction to the succeeding generations, seeing also that it was a pure church that came out of Babylon, for there God refined his church, and pur [...]fied it in the f [...]ce of affliction, and brought it forth as gold tried in the fi [...]e; so was she once before, when God had purified her in the wilderness of affliction, as it is written, Jer. ii. 2.3. Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, thus saith the Lord, I re­member thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thy espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the first fruits of his increase; all that devour him, shall offend, evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord. Isa. i. 21. How is the faithful city become an harlot! Thus the church of God, that was a holy people at the beginning, began to be a declining people, till little by little she became a harlot, and only kept an outside form, but lost her inward purity and fellow­ship with God's spirit, and then she began to expect instruction from the wise and learned men, whom they did adore, and so the intruders entered into the sheepfold, being approved teachers by the judges, and so became persecutors of God's messengers, and took upon them to deliver messages of their own imaginations, which they studied, and not from the mouth of the Lord, Isa. iii. 14. and ix. 16. and xxviii. 14. and xxix. 14. Mich. iii. 1, 2, 3. Amos v. 10, 11.

But I say. it was a purified church that came out of Babylon, and [Page 24] her shepherds were the messengers of God, immediately called and sent of God, as in Hag. i. 13. Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger in the Lord's message unto the people. Zech. i. 3. Therefore say thou unto them, thus saith the Lord of Hosts. These were now true shepherds that entered into the sheepfold by the door; for they were called and sent by Jesus Christ, and his flock knew his voice, while they were in a state of purity and holiness while they were an inclining people, and not a declining people, therefore saith Christ, my sheep hear my voice, and the voice of a stranger they will not hear, for they know not the voice of strangers. However, it was not long before this people came to be a declining people, and yet retained and upheld an outside profession; but God that searches the heart and the reins, did see what his church began to be in her inside, in the days when he sent his messenger Malachi; she was then much corrupted and declined, yet I do not say, but that she kept a fair outside profession, so that she could not come to have a right judg­ment and discerning of herself. She was so far gone from God, and declined, that she reasoned with God's messenger, in a justify­ing way of herself; for God had sent a curse upon the fruits of the ground, and she could not discern the reason why it was, she hav­ing attended those ordinances commanded in the law, which were signs and figures of heavenly things, as sabbaths, sacrifices, and the like; yet notwithstanding her exactness in these things, and all outward rules whatsoever was commanded in the scripture, yet while Christ sees the love of his espousals grows cold to him, and that her heart begins to go after other lovers, after the world, and the things of the world, Oh! how this wounds the Lord's spirit! jealousy [...]s a grievous thing! for Christ to look upon his Church, his spouse, and to see her flatter him with her tongue, but sees her heart is re­moved from him, and set upon other lovers, this is grievous to be born; this was the state of her mother, who had a bill of divorce, Isa. l. 1. Thus saith the Lord, where is the bill of your mother's divorce­ment, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? behold, for your iniquities have you sold yourselves. Psa. lxxviii. 36, 37. Nevertheless, they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongue. For their heart was not right with him. Now this pure and sanctified church of Christ that came out of Babylon, begins to be enticed with the love of the world, and her priests and teachers were in a declining state, yet not so far gone as to persecute God's messenger, yet to be so careless and negligent of the flock, that they were in great danger of thieves and robbers entering in upon them. But they reason with the prophet, Mal. i. 7, Ye offer poluted bread upon mine altar; [Page 25] and ye say, wherein have we polluted thee? Mal. ii. 1. And now, O ye Priests, this commandment is for you. Ver. 7. For the Priests lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. Ver. 8. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law. Thus the Lord sent his messenger to reprove both priests and people for their de­clention. Now they were not so far declined as to persecute him, for she was not yet become a harlot, but began to be bewilder­ed, as in Mal. iii. 14. Ye have said, it is vain to serve God; and what profit is it, that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? Yet here was a remnant that feared the Lord, and obeyed the voice of his messenger, and spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of rememberance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name, ver. 16. Here we see God's church did hearken to his messenger, though she was far declined, and her teachers so far declined, that they caused many to stumble at the law, yet were stirred by God's messengers, so that they spake often one to another; and then God made them gracious promises, how that he would send his messenger, that was John the baptist, and a pro­mise, that the Lord whom they did seek should suddenly come, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, chap. iii. 1.

But now let us turn and look upon her again, now these messen­gers (before prophesied of) be come, even John the baptist, a man sent from God, and also the Lord Jesus Christ himself: Alas! she is now become a wicked and adulterous generation, and thieves and robbers are got into the sheepfold, garnishing the sepulchres of the prophets, whom their fathers slew, and appeared as Angels of light to the people, and said, If we had been in our fathers days [...] [...]ould not have partook with them in the blood of the prophets. They pray and they preach, and they extol the scriptures of the prophets (whom their fathers slew) very highly; yea, so highly, that in them they thought to have eternal life, John v. 39. They are very strict in keeping sabbaths, and attending their solemn meetings and it is like enough, that they stood in the meeting house, and under a pre­tence of duty to God, they made long prayers; for Christ shewed to his disciples, That that was a custom of hypocrites, to pray, and to fast, and to give alms publickly in view of men; but he teaches his disci­ple [...] to do these things in secret, looking only for a reward from him that sees in secret; and that they should live in the world without care, and free from covetousness, taking no thought for their lives, what [Page 26] to eat, or what to drink, or how to be cloathed: But hypocrities can­not do so, to live without care; and if their praying, their sabbath keeping and their singing David's Psalms, for so we read, they chau [...] to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instrument of musick, like David, take but this cup of an outward shew out of this churches hand, and look but into the inside of it, and it is full of the abomi­nation of the filthiness of her whoredom; for thus it is with a church that is gone a whoring from God, they know no freedom form sin, neither will they endure such a doctrine; all that they do, is to be seen outwardly, but their heart and inward parts is full of defile­ment, when Christ told this adulterating generation, John viii. 34. Whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin, promising to make them free, ver. 36. If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free in­deed. Ver. 45 saith Christ, And because I tell you the truth, ye be­lieve me not. But this was a grievous doctrine to them, to tell the [...] of a freedom from sin. In the beginning of this chapter they were very forward to accuse the woman taken in adultery; but whe [...] Christ saith to them, ver. 7. He that is without sin, let him first cast a stone at her, they all appeared guilty, being convicted by their own consciences. After this, he declares unto them his power and willingness to make them free from sin, but this doctrine they can­not bear. What answer do they make? Ver. 48. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a Devil? And after this we find that they cautioned o [...] another of the danger of hearing him, see chap. x. ver. 10. And many of them said, he hath a Divil, and is mad; why hear ye him! But Christ tells them, ver. 26. Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. For those that are under a form of godliness, but have not the power of godliness in them, these are not the sheep of Christ, for the power of godliness they deny, because it is not in them; for as the prince of the power of the air rules in sinners, and they feel no greater power than the power of sin in them, so Jesus Christ, as he is a great King, rules inrighteousness in the saints, and they feel no greater power than the power of righteousness, so that they can say, Jesus Christ is my King, and rules and reigns in me, in righteousness, and my body is the habitation of God, to dwell in by his spirit, and can truely witness what the Apostle John saith, 1 John iv. 4. Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. And in another place, It is [...] I that live, but Christ that liveth in me. If these outside professors would but come to a serious self-examination of themselves, accord­ing to scripture direction, to see whether they are in the faith which they cannot be, except Jesus Christ be in them; and if Jesus Christ [Page 27] be not in them, they are reprobates, that is dross, and not silver, o [...] sinners, and not righteous, or unclean, and not clean; yea, re­probate silver or counterfeits, shall men call them.

Now are we come to the age and persons to whom Christ put forth this parable, and tho' it speaks to all times and ages past, pre­sent, and to come. As to the time past, hath been shewed, how that always the true shepherds entered in by the door into the sheep­fold, they did not run before they were sent, and Jesus Christ, as he was God, was present with them, and it was his voice that spake in them; but those that were not of his sheep, could not under­stand his voice by his shepherds, as in ver. 26. but his own sheep could, as in ver. 27. but his flock is very small, Luke xii. 32. Matt. vii. 14. And we shall find, that this great shepherd of the sheep did not run before he was sent, as in John viii. 26. I have many things to say, and to judge of you, but he that sent me is true. And ver. 29. He that sent me, is with me, the father hath not left me alone. Thus we see the great shepherd of the sheep did not run before God sent him, but followed his calling, till he was about the age of thirty years, Luke iii. 23. But when he was called and sent of God, he went into the meeting-house and taught, but it was great­ly offensive to the people that were brought up under the hirelings, which they hired to teach them, Mark vi. 1, 2, 3. And he went from thence, and came into his own country, and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath-day was come began to teach in the synagogue; and many hearing him, were astonished, saying, from whence hath this m [...] these things; and what wisdom is this which is given unto him? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary? and they were offended at him. So we may see that these goats that are brought up under the thieve [...], robbers, and hirelings, as Christ calls them, they are taught and instructed by their shepherds, that none are fit to teach but the scribes and learned men of the world; and because they saw their elders or shepherds persecute Christ, they judged him to be a de­ceiver, that they were cursed that did believe on him, John vii. 48, 49. For these shepherds, which were intruders, never had any vision from the Lord, therefore the people under their teaching, always perish; their flock ever did and ever will be a depending upon their wisdom, and their learning, and their study, and there­fore never did, nor never will believe any that come from God by an immediate call and sending. This is the reason of all the per­secution that ever was; for these intruders never had, in any age, any revelation from God, nor never would believe there was any [Page 28] that is to say, in their day: They would acknowledge that the pro­phets, whom their fathers slew, had immediate revelation from God, but would not believe any in their day, in no age of the world, and therefore always persecuted God's messengers with a confident boldness, That they were false reachers, and seducers, and pestilent fellows, and troublers of Israel.

BUT let us now take a description of them from the mouth of of Christ, the great shepherd of his flock, for he is the best able to give a description of these hirelings, thieves and robbers, as he calls them; and when we have a description from Christ's own mouth, we shall have no reason admire why they were offended at him, to take it upon himself, as they judged, whom they knew to be a tradesman, viz. a carpenter, for going into the meeting-house to teach; for those that are in their state and condition, are liable to the same error and censure. For, first, consider their mini­sters were wise learned men, not brought up to trades, or work, but to learning, to the end that they might be able to teach others; for they did not expect nor believe any immediate call from God; a false church and false teachers never had nor never did expect any revelation immediataly from God, neither did they believe that any had in their day; they also looked at themselves to be God's church and ministers, not considering that they had gone a whor­ing from God, were degenerated, and so were not now his church.

BUT to come to the description that Christ gives of the stewards or intruders into the sheepfold: They are such stewards as cannot work for their living, and to beg they are ashamed, for they are the learned men of the world. Now when they come to be turn­ed out of their stewardship [it is bad times with such then] these bad stewards will certainly be as Luke xvi. 3. Then the steward said within himself, what shall I do? for my Lord taketh away from me my stewardship, I cannot dig, and to beg I am ashamed. For these intruders lay heavy payments upon the people, but the receivers bear none of it, according to Christ's words, Matt. xxiii. 4. For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be born, and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fin­gers. Here is two descriptions of these stewards, thieves, robbers, or hirelings, as Christ calls them; the one is, they cannot dig, and to beg they are ashamed, which shews they are the honorable men of the world. The second is, they are such as lay heavy burdens on the people, but bear nothing themselves. Well, let us see what further description Christ gives of them, viz. they are such as expect the up­per [Page 29] rooms at feasts, and that men should greet them in the market, and to sit in the uppermost seats in the meeting-house, and to be called of men, master, master. These are very notable descriptions that Christ gives of them, which will stand good to discover them in any age or time of the world, whenever they shall appear to deceive them­selves or others, Matt. xxiii. 6, 7. But that which these deceive the world with, is, they will sit on Moses's seat, or climb up into the sheepfold, under a pretence of expounding Moses law, and the prophets writings; and under a pretence of duty to God, they will make long prayers, and be very strict in Sabbath-keeping, judging Christ and his apostles for being short in their duty. And thus these blind guides will make clean the outside of the cup and platter by an outside show of seeming worship to God, by which they deceive the goats, but kill and steal Christ's flock from him; and by this means they feed and cloath themselves, but their inside is full of extortion and excess: Yet Christ shews that these mini­sters, by these outside pretences, appear righteous to men, Matt. xxiii. 28. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. But these thought in themselves, that if they had been in the days of their fathers, they would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets; but they are punishing and putting to death them that they judge to be evil doers, blasphemers, perverters of the nation, and deceivers; but it may be, they may be deceived as their fathers were before them, for thus they judged of Christ and his apostles; but they do ignorantly as their fathers did, as it is written, Acts iii. 15. Ye killed the Prince of life. Ver. 27. And now, brethren, I wet that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. And saith Paul, 1 Cor. ii. 7, 8, But we speak the wisdom of God in mystery, which none of the Princes in this world knew, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. But however, they thought themselves to be in the right way, and those they perse­cuted, they thought to be in the wrong way, as always a wicked and an adulterous generation doth. Upon this generation will be re­quired all the righteous blood shed from the foundation of the world to this very day. Now it is to be observed, that the false prophets al­ways keep in friendship with the judges of the earth, and make an image of worship to the earthly power; and they command all, both small and great, rich and poor, to worship that image, or form of godliness, and that no man must buy or sell, that refuses to worship the said image, that is, they must not meddle with the ordinances of Christ, though they are sent of God, but must be [Page 30] judged; for these will always get into the seat of judgment, which is Christ's place, and judge those that are sent of God. as deceivers and troublers of the world; and indeed God's mes­sengers be, and ever were, offensive to the world: Yea, the scripture saith, that Christ is a rock of offence, and a stone of stum­bling. For the world always was, and ever will be offended by his messengers, because they are witnesses against their false wor­ship. When the world sees such poor objects appear, and do not see him that sent them, they cry, Do you think so stand against the whole world? Or who is able to make war agaidst the beast? That is, the earthly power that sets up false worship.

NOW we have had a view of the state of the church in the time of Christ and his apostles, and find, that they were as much de­ceived as their fathers that were before them, for all their high conceits and opinions of themselves, but is a declining church, like to be deceived the third time, yea, so often as she declines; for though she keeps all the outward rules of the scripture, as exactly, and as strictly as these scribes and Pharisees did in Christ's [...]me; for it is purity in heart that gives a true sight of God▪ It it the p [...] in heart that shall see God, and it is the path of the ju [...] that is a shin­ing light. It is not an outward form that makes a Christian, but it is the spirit of Christ in the heart that makes a Christian, and to be led by it; for so many as are led by the spirit of God, are the sons of God, and no more: These are Christ's sheep, and know his voice. Now when Christ's church is so far declined, that she is become a persecuting church, yea, an adulterous generation, then Christ, after she hath had her time and space of repentance, and doth not repent, then he discovers her delusions, by the bright­ness of his appearing in his messengers, and discovers her scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls. Now though she be thus beautified and glorified with outward ornaments, enough to win the affection of the whole world, yet shall she be stripped naked, and made bare of all her outward or­dinances, and her scarlet coloured garments shall be seen to be only coloured with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, and that she drunk only with the blood of the saints whom she con­demned for deceivers and deluded persons, and that the scarlet-coloured beast that she rid upon, was only an earthly power that upheld her, and persecuted the flock of Christ, and so became a scarlet-coloured beast, being stained with the blood of saints and martyrs of Jesus, and that her teachers were only com­missionated [Page 31] and instituted, defended and maintained by an earthly power.

IN the next place, let us come to view the cautions and warn­ings that Christ and his apostles give to the children of God, to be­ware of these outside gilded deceivers, that are garnished with an outside profession, but inwardly are ravening wolves; they will be very ready to judge sinners, and look upon their own fine gar­ment of ordinances of praying, singing, expounding of the scriptures, keeping their Sabbaths, fasts, and the like; are forward to accuse the woman taken in adultery, although they are every one of them guilty sinners themselves. Thus they look upon their outside pro­fession, as if they did some service to God, without any consider­ation that it is all sin and wickedness, and burdensome to God, according to what is written, Isa. i. 13, 14. Your Sabbaths, so­lemn meetings, and the like, they are a trouble to me, I am weary to bear them. Amos v. 21, 22, 23. I hate, I despise your fast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. I will not accept your offerings. Take away from me the noise of thy songs; for they invent­ed to themselves instruments of music like David, as in chap. vi. ver. 5. And chap. ii. 13. I am pressed under you as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. Prov. xxi. 27. Psa. l. 16. But unto the wicked God saith, what hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shoulast take my covenant in thy mouth? Yet these sinners will se­parate themselves from other sinners, because they deceive them­selves with an outside profession, according to what is written, Isa. lxv. 5. Stand by thyself, come not near me, for I am holier than thou. Thus these outside worshippers deceive the world, and many times God's children too, when they are in a declining state; therefore saith Christ to his desciples, Luke xii. 1, 2. First of all, beware of the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy: For (saith Christ) there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be known. For the bright shining light of God's spirit in his messengers, always discovers these outside professors, who are all sinners, and defiled within, not having the spirit of God dwelling in them, yet separate themselves from other sinners, into church fellowship. These will pray, preach, sing, fast, keep sabbaths, and thus deceive themselves and others. These are those anti­christs which Christ and his desciples have given warning to the little flock of Christ, to beware of. These are they that Jude speaks of. ver. 19. These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit. These are they that spread the antichristian [Page 32] world over, that went out of the true church, according to what is written, 1 John ii. 19. They went out from us, but were not of u [...] ▪ for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.

THESE four following descriptions Christ and his Apostles give of the anti-christians, which they foretold of, that should come in the latter days, yet no other ways than the false prophets did of old, will inform us who they be.

• THE first is, They shall be persecutors.
• The second is, They shall be known by their covetousness.
• The third is, Their form of godliness to deceive the world with.
• And the fourth is, Their call should be from men.

FIRST. John xv. 20. If they have persecuted me, they will also per­secute you. Chap. xvi. 2. They shall put you out of the synagogues [...] yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service. Ver. 4. But these things have I told you, that when the time cometh, ye may remember that I told you of them.

THE next is, covetousness. 2 Pet. ii. 1, 2, 3. But there were many false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you; and many shall follow their pernicious ways: [Note the words; he does not say few but many] And through covetousness shall they, with feigned words, make merchandise of you. Jude 11. We unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, (that is, bloody per­secutors) and ran greedily after the error of Balaam, for reward; that is, covetousness, to get a reward for their teaching.

THE third is, 2 Tim. iii. 5. Having a form of Godliness, but deny­ing the power thereof; that is, the powerful working of God's spirit in his people, they shall deny.

And the fourth is, 2 Tim. iv. 3, 4. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall he turned unto fables. Thus the Apostle shews, that these anti-christs have their call from men [They shall heap to themselves teachers] he shews they shall be plenty enough, but it must be money that must hire these teachers that the world heaps up to themselves.

BUT the Apostle John saith to Christ's sheep, 1 John ii. 20. But ye have an unction from the holy one; as much as if he should say, but [Page 33] ye are anointed with the spirit of the holy one, and ye knew all things; that is, by this immediate inspiration of God. Now these deceivers began to deceive the church in the apostles days, and to teach them to observe days, and months, and years, and to judge the church for not keeping sabbaths, and new moons, and the [...]ke, as it is written, Gal. iv. 10, 11, Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you la­bour in vain. Gal. v. 12. I would they were even cut off, which trouble you. Col. ii. 16, 17. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath da [...]; which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. Thus the apostle endeavours to keep the church from these things, which were shadows (under the law) of Christ, and written by a hand-writing in the book, so that Paul call it a hand-writ­ing of ordinances, in the 14th verse: Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances, that was against us, nailing it to his cross. And in Eph. chap. ii. 15 having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments, contained in ordianances. And saith John to the true church of Christ, when these deceivers appeared in the world, to deceive them with sabbaths and holy days, which were command­ed under the law of Moses, and were shadows of Christ, and were all abolished at his coming; and therefore saith the apostle John, when these antichrists and deceivers appeared in the world, to de­ceive the Gentile church, as they had done the church of the Jews, 1 John ii. 24. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning, shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the son, and in the father. Ver. 26. These things have I written unto you, concerning them that seduce you. Ver. 27. But the anointing which ye have riceived of him, abideth in you; and ye need not that any man teach you But, as the same the anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie; and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Now these thieves, robbers, and h [...]rel­ings, as Christ calls them, and those that are not his sheep, they have not this immediate teaching of God's spirit, neither know they what this immediate teaching is, that the holy scriptures b [...] witness to; for all the holy bible directs to this immediate teach­ing of God, which anti-christs know nothing of, neither would they ever believe God's shepherds that were thus inspired by this spirit of truth, as it is written, Neh. ix. 30. Yet many years did▪ thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets; yet they would not give ear. Christ also tells these [...]ireli [...]gs, and their flock, this very thing of God's teaching, John vi. 45. And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, [Page 34] and hath learned of the father, cometh unto me. And this teaching is by the immediate word of God speaking in his people, which word is not in the anti-christians, as saith Christ, John v. 38. And ye have not this word abiding in you. Now all God's children have this word abiding in them, even that very word that was made flesh, John. [...].14. This very word is ingrafted in all God's children, which word is the divine nature of Christ, ingrafted into every saint's human nature, according to what is written, 2 Pet. i. 3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Ver. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature. Thus the divine nature of Christ, which is the liv­ing word of God, is grafted in all God's children, and gives them faith and strength against the devil, as it is written, 1 John ii. 14. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you. This is that powerful word that is in all God's children, that gives them strength against sin, and the author of it, which is the devil; but those that are not of Christ's sheep, have not this word of God abiding in them, neither were they ever taught by it, and therefore know not his voice, as his sheep do the follow him; for he is their King, Captain, and lead­er, even this word of God, which the whole book of God teacheth, and is Christ's divine nature in his saints Rev. xix. 13, 14, 16. And he was cloathe [...] with a vesture dipt in blood; and is name is called, the word of God: And the armies which were in heaven followed him. And he hath on his vesture, and on his thigh, a name written. KING of KINGS, and LORD of LORDS.

NOW it may be asked, what the scarlet-coloured beast is? And what is the woman arrayed in scarlet-colour, which is upheld by the beast?

I ANSWER: The beast is the earthly power, the woman is the declining church, that is become a harlot, let her be in any age or time of the world whatsoever, and let her be under what form so­ever it will, and never so exact according to scripture, as to ordi­nances, the beast and the woman's scarlet-coloured robe is coloured with the blood and martyrs of Jesus; and he that hath his vesture dipt in blood, whose name is the word of God, is Jesus Christ, who kills with the sword, the worldly power, and the false church, who killed the saints, so that their blood is sprinkled on his vesture, and hath stained all his garments, according to what is written, Rev. xiii. 10. He that killeth with the sword, must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and faith of the saints. James v. 6.7. Ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.

[Page 35]NOW this immediate divine teaching, which all God's children are taught with, the whole antichristian world, nor their teachers, know nothing of, for it is the immediate voice of Christ teaching every child of his; for they are all in covenant with him, not in the covenant of works (that covenant was written in tables of stone) but in a covenant of free grace, which is written upon their hearts, not with ink, the bible that bears witness to the truth of it, is written with ink; nor yet upon tables of stone, though the old covenant, or covenant of work, was writ on tables of stone, to wit, the ten commandments, but this covenant is writ on the fleshly tables of the heart by the spirit of God, 2. Cor. ii. 3. And all Christ's shepherds are ministers of this covenant, as ver. 6. Not of the letter but of the spirit. Now the Lord is of that spirit, ver. 17. And teacheth the righteousness which is of faith, and is written in the heart by the spirit, and are not letter teachers with­out the spirit. Now all that are in covenant with Christ, are all immediately taught by him, accoding to what is written, Heb. viii. 11. And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord; for all shall know me from the least to the greatest: They shall be all taught of God; and as the apostle John saith, They need not that any man teach them, but as this anointing teacheth them, as before was said. The word that was made flesh is in all God's children, which is Christ's divine nature, even that word which was in the beginning of this world, and all things were made by it, there is not any thing that our eyes behold, that was made without it; for in that word is life, and this word is in all God's children, and is their teacher, and this word is God, 1 John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. Now this is the commandment of God, that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ, and love one another, and he that keepeth these commandments dwelleth in God, and God in him; and by this we know that Jesus Christ dwelleth in us, by the spirit he hath given us, and this spirit of God witnesseth to our spirits, that we are his children. So that all God's chil­dren, which have received his spirit, and are led by it, walk in a perfect light, and a clear sight, that they are the children of God, for all such have the witness of God in themselves, even his spirit witnessing to their spirits, that they are his children, and these can draw nigh to God, in a full assurance of faith, for there are no clouds of darkness comes betwixt God's spirit and theirs, while they are obedient children, being led singly by his spirit, they come under no condemnation, but their inward joy and peace [Page 36] is full, and there is a good judgment in their going. But these teachers that come n [...] in this spirit of Christ, they know not the way of peace, neither is there any judgment in their goings, let them attend their traditional prayer as much as they will, let them keep their Sabbaths as strictly as they will, and let them preach and sing David's psalms as often as they will, all will not give them any true peace, nor free them from the guilt of one sin. Seeing then that it is the heart and inward parts that God looks at, and a clean inside, which is cleansed by the blood and spi­rit of Jesus Christ, then we ought to beware of false prophets that come in sheep's cloathing, not having Christ's spirit in them, but a ravenous spirit, even the spirit of a wolf, and not of a lamb; and therefore saith the apostle John, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God; for many false prophets are gone out into the world. Thus we are taught to try the spirits of these prophets, and not their profession only, for they may say, and do not; therefore examine them, whether Jesus Christ be come into them (and cast out the strong man of sin that rules in the antichrists) and whether they can say with Paul, It is not I that live, but Christ that liveth in me, and Christ in me is my hope of glory; and as John saith unto the children of God, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, that is, the false prophets, as in the foregoing verses; for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world; for he that is in the children of this world, is the prince of the power of the air; but he that is in God's children, is Jesus Christ, who rules in them in righteousness, and is their King, who hath offered himself a sacrifice for their sins, and hath purged them from the guilt and filth of sin, and therefore is their priest; and he hath sent his spirit into their hearts to teach them, and therefore is their prophet, or teacher, and they need not that man teach them, but as that spirit teacheth them. And so I shall conclude with Paul's good exhortation to all that are under the profession of the name of Christ: Not to deceive themselves with a bare profession of his name, but to examine themselves, whether they be believers or not, by looking in their own hearts, to see whether Jesus Christ be in them; for if he be not, then are you but dross, and not silver, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves; know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobrates? Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity, 2 Tim. ii. 19.

Concerning the two Ministrations, to wit, of the Law, and of the Gospel.

THE first Ministration was represented by the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; for when Adam had eaten of it, his Eyes were opened, and a di­vine Light shined in him, which was the Moral Law written in his Heart, or the Knowledge of Good and Evil communicated unto him, which was the first Mi­nistration, [Page 2] and came by the first Adam's Fall, whose State was represented by the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was in the Midst of the Garden of God.

Concerning the Second or Gospel Minist­ration.

THE Second or Gospel Ministration was represented by the Tree of Life, the Fruit of which Tree is given to the Transgressor, through Faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ, that he may eat thereof, and live forever, and thus to overcome Death by the second Adam, whose State was represented by the Tree of Life, which was in the Midst of the Garden of God.

The first Ministration was the Ministration of God's Justice to the Transgressor, in which Ministration the Light of the spiritual Law of God was communicated to Adam and to his Posterity, which gave them the Knowledge of Good and Evil, even the Knowledge of Sin, and this came by eating of the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was in the Midst of the Garden of God.

The Second Ministration is the Ministration of Life and Righteousness to the Transgressor, in which Mini­stration God's free Grace and Mercy is ministred to him through Jesus Christ; for in this Ministration the Cherubims and flaming Sword, which turned every Way to keep the Tree of Life (lest Adam should also put forth his Hand and take of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever) is removed, that the Transgressor [Page 3] may come at the Tree of Life, and put forth his Hand, and take of that also, and eat thereof and live forever, which Tree of Life was in the Midst of the Garden of God also.

Those that are only under the first Ministration, are under the Guilt of their Sins, and the Wrath of God, and have a Spirit of Fear attends them, whose Kingdom and Glory is of this World.

But those that are under the Gospel or second Mini­stration, they have received the Spirit of Adoption, which Spirit witnesseth with their Spirit that they are the Children of God, and Heirs with Christ, whose Kingdom is not of this World, but they are Pilgrims and Stangers here in this World.

In the first Ministration there is only Justice minist­red to the Transgressor; in the second Ministration there is only Mercy ministred to the Transgressor. So that here is two distinct States that Mankind is in, and two distinct Kingdoms, to wit, the Kingdom of this World, which was the Kingdom of the first Adam, and still is the Kingdom of his Posterity; the other is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, whose Kingdom is not of this World, but of that which is to come; and this Kingdom is not under the Law, but under the Grace and Favour of God. But those that are under only the first Ministration, they are under the Law, and not under Grace, and their Kingdom is only of this World; for they bear only the Image of the first Adam, and have only the Light of the moral Law, which is the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which Knowledge is the Effect of the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; by which Knowledge they shall be [Page 4] either justified or condemned, according to their own Works; and by this Knowledge do they rule in their own Kingdom, which is of this World.

But they that are under the second or Gospel Mini­stration, they have received the Spirit of Life and Righ­teousness which is the Effect of the Fruit of the Tree of Life, and is the Light of the Gospel.

So that they which are under the first Ministration only, they have received a Light, by which they see themselves to be under the Guilt of Sin, and therefore fear the Wrath of God.

But they that are under the second Ministration, have received a Light, by which they see themselves made free from Sin, and so consequently free from Guilt, and free from the Fear of God's Wrath. But those that are under only the first Ministration have not this Gospel Light, and therefore know nothing of it, nei­ther will they believe there is such a Thing; for they have eaten only of the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the first Adam, but have not yet tas­ted of the Tree of Life in the second Adam; so that their Eyes have not seen, nor their Ears heard, neither hath it once entered into the Heart, the Things which God hath made known by his Spirit to them that are under the second Ministration, by which Spirit they are be­come Followers of the second Adam, who is their alone Pattern, since he came into the World.

But before he came into the World, those that were under the second Ministration were led and taught by a shadowing Law, and were under Typical Judges Kings and Priests, who were Types of Christ's kingly, prophetical and priestly Offices; but since his coming [Page 5] in the Flesh they are ceased, and he himself is their alone King, Priest and Prophet to rule and teach them, in a more Evangelical or Gospel Way; and this was prophesied of before his coming into the World, Deut. 18.15. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Pro­phet from the Midst of thee, of thy Brethren, like unto me, unto him shall ye hearken. Isa. 3.6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the Government shall be upon his Shoulder, and his Name shall be called Wonder­ful, Councellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, of the Increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no End. Psal. 110.4. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedeck. Thus was he prophe­sied of before his coming in the Flesh, to wit, in his prophetical, kingly and priestly Offices; but he being now already come, we are to hear him in all Things, and to follow him in all exemplary Things, and he alone is to rule in his Church, being their King, Priest and Prophet.

Quest. Can it stand with Christianity, according to Christ's Doctrine and Example, since he came into the World, for his Church and People to join in with the Powers of this World to resist Evil, by judging and condemning Sinners, and to destroy Men's Lives, by fighting against Flesh and Blood with carnal Weapons, as Guns, Swords, or the like Weapons; or to lord it over others, by exercising Authority over them, as the Kings and Judges of this World do?

Answer. No: for both his Doctrine and Example forbids his Church all such Things, as appeareth by [Page 6] these following Scriptures, Mat. 5.38, 39. Ye have heard that it hath been said, an Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth, but I say unto you, that ye resist not Evil. Now this was the Work of the Judges un­der the Ministration of the Law of Justice, to resist this Evil, on the Behalf of him that was smitten, who was to give Life for Life, Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth, &c. Exod. 21.23, 24. So that the Lord doth both forbid such a Judgment by his Disciples, and doth also forbid the Prosecution of it by him that suffers the Wrong, being his Disciple. Rom. 12.19. Dearly be­loved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give Place unto Wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. By this, we may see, the Fol­lowers of Christ, are not to avenge themselves by an earthly Judge, as they had Liberty to do under the Law: but they are to leave Vengeance unto their Lord, who will repay it on their Behalf; and to take him alone for their Example, Joh. 3.7. for God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World, but that the World by him might be saved. Joh. 12.47. for I came not to judge the World, but to save the World: neither did he assent to condemn the Woman taken in Adultery, but said unto her, go and sin no more. Joh. 8.4. &c. And thus are we to be Followers of him, who is our only President and Example to follow. 1 Cor. 11.1. Be ye Followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. And thus are we to be Followers of him, and not to take the Place of a Judge upon us, from the Hands of the Children of this World, and so follow them in their Kingdom, to sit with them in Judgment, to judge and condemn Sinners, whom Christ did not come to judge, [Page 7] or to condemn, but to save. And also seeing he who was without Sin, hath not executed Justice upon us who were Sinners, but hath extended his Grace and Mercy to us, in acquitting and forgiving us, so ought we to be Followers of him, and not now become Judges and Condemners of Sinners, seeing he hath not judged nor condemned us for our Sins. And seeing he who was without Sin, did not cast a Stone at the Woman taken in Adultery, who was a Sinner, so likewise let us, who were once Sinners, learn of him to be merciful unto Sinners, as he hath been merciful unto us, who came not to destroy Men's Lives but to save them, Luke 9.56.

And by his Doctrine, he teacheth us that the Wea­pons of our Warfare are not carnal, 2 Cor. 10.4. and that we wrestle not against Flesh and Blood, Eph. 6.12. but we know that the Weapons of the Powers of this World are carnal, and that they have no other Weapons to fight withal, and that it is Flesh and Blood they fight against; contrary to Christ's Doctrine here taught to his Disciples; for they are under the Ministration of the Law (but Christ's Disciples are under the Ministra­tion of the Gospel) but God hath put into their Hand the Sword of Justice, and they themselves also shall be judged by the Law [...] [...]ustice.

But Christ's Doctrine doth not give his Disciples so much Liberty as to defend themselves by the Law of Justice from the Hands of earthly Judges. Mat. 5.38. &c. Ye have heard that it hath been said, an Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth, but I say unto you that ye resist not Evil, &c. And if any Man will sue thee at the Law, and take away thy Coat, let him have thy Cloak also, &c.

[Page 8]From hence we may observe, That under the Mini­stration of the Law, before Christ came in the Flesh, it was an Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth, that is, if any Man smote another Man's Eye or Tooth out, he might resist by the Law and Judges, who were to give Eye for Eye and Tooth for Tooth; but now in the clear Gospel Dispensation, a Christian is, by Christ's Doctrine, forbidden to resist this Evil by the Hands of worldly Judges, but are to commit their Cause to him that judgeth righteously, 1 Pet 2.23. who hath said to his Church, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, saith the Lord; therefore if thine Enemy be hungry, feed him; if he be thirsty, give him drink; for in so doing, thou shalt heap Coals of Fire on his Head, Rom. 12.19, 20. As also, under the Law, before Christ came in the Flesh, there was Liberty, that if a Man was sued to the Law he might defend himself by the Law: but now, under the clear Gospel Dispensation, his Dis­ciples are forbidden this Liberty; for saith Christ, if any Man will sue thee at the Law, and take away thy Coat, let him have thy Cloak also.

And forasmuch as Christ's Followers have no Li­berty from him to defend themselves by the Law of Justice, from the Hands of earthly Judges, so it doth consequently follow, that they are not to sit in Judg­ment with them; for that is also absolutely forbidden both by his Doctrine and Example; for, saith he, My Kingdom is not of this World, Joh. 18.36. Jesus an­swered, My Kingdom is not of this World, if my Kingdom were of this World, then would my Servants fight, &c. Joh. 6.15. When Jesus thereof perceived that they would come, and take him by Force, to make him a King, he [Page 9] departed again into a Mountain alone. From hence we may note, that he declares that his Kingdom is not of this World. And secondly, When they would have made him a King, he refused to receive that Office at their Hands, to wit, to be a King by the Ordination or Appointment of Man; for the Kings and Gover­nors of this World are the Ordinances of Men, who ordain them to their Offices, to govern and rule over them; for so hath God appointed it should be among them. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's Sake, whether it be to the King as supreme, or unto Governors, as unto them him that are sent by him for the Punishment of Evil Doers. From hence we may observe, that a worldly King is the Or­dinance of Man, for it is they that have ordain'd him and set him over them, by God's Appointment, to rule & govern them, under the Ministration of the Law, they being the first Adam's Successors in his Kingdom. And earthly Governors they are also the Ordinance of Men, for the King hath ordained them under him to punish Evil Doers; and all this is by God's Appointment under the first Ministration of the Law, and is so to continue still over them that are under the first Mini­stration, to wit, of the Law.

And also, under the Law, before Christ was Partaker of Flesh and Blood, God set over his Church a typical Kingdom and a typical Priesthood, till he came in the Flesh, who is the alone and only Ordinance of God, and not the Ordinance of Man, as worldly Kings are; but God alone hath ordained him to be a King and a Priest forever over his Church, whose Members in this World are as Strangers and Pilgrims, according to what [Page 10] written, Heb 11.13. And confessed that they were Stran­gers and Pilgrims on the Earth, 1 Pet. 2.11. and there­fore are not to exercise any Authority among them in a strange Country, but to follow the Example of their Lord and Master, who refused to be made a King by the Ordinance of Man, and hath taught the like to his Disciples, saying, Luke 22.25. And he said unto them, the Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them, and they that exercise Authority upon them are called Benefactors▪ but ye shall not be so, but he that is greatest among you, l [...] him be as the younger, and he that is chief, as he that doth serve; for whether is greater, he that sitteth at Meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at Meat? but I am among you as he that serveth, &c. And I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, &c.

From hence we may observe, that Jesus Christ is the Ordinance of God, and not of Man; for it is God alone that hath ordained him to be a King, and not Man; and saith Christ unto his Disciples, I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto m [...] So that God hath appointed Christ's Kingdom, and Christ hath appointed his Disciples Kingdom. And this he saith unto them, that they may know, as his Kingdom is not of this World, so likewise that their Kingdom is not of this World; and as he refused to exercise kingly Power in this World, so ought they to refuse the same likewise, and to take him for their Ex­ample, who though he was born a King, and for this Cause came into the World, Joh. 18.37. yet, saith he, I am among you as he that serveth; and therefore he teacheth them, as being their President, to take Ex­ample [Page 11] by him, and to learn of him, who did conde­scend to minister to them in the meanest Service in the World, even to wash their Feet, John 13.4. &c.

Even thus he hath left us an Example to minister one to another in this strange Country, even while we are Strangers among the Kingdoms of this World, and not to exercise Lordship or Authority among them; for saith he, and they that exercise Authority upon them, are called Benefactors, but ye shall not be so, saith he, but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he that is chief as he that doth serve.

Thus we may see, that though God hath appointed the Children of this World to ordain Kings and Go­vernors over them, to punish Evil Doers whose King­dom and Glory is of this World, yet he hath not so ordained among his Disciples, but hath appointed a King over them, whose Kingdom is not of this World, and his Servants are but Strangers here in the World, being free born Subjects to his Kingdom, being born not of Blood, nor of the Will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God, Joh. 1.13. but though the Children of God are free from the Kingdoms of this World; yet they are not to use this Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness, but as the Servants of God, and of Christ, they are to honour all Men, and to love the Brother-hood, to fear God and to honour the King, 1 Pet. 2.16, 17. Yea, we are to love our Enemies, and to bless them that curse us, and to do good to them that hate us, and to pray for them that despitefully use us, and persecute us, Mat. 5.4 and to do Violence to no Man, and to live peaceably with all Men, as much as in us lies, by suffering ourselves to be defrauded, Rom. [...]2.18. 1 Cor. 6.7.

[Page 12]Thus we may see, by the Doctrine and Example [...] Christ, that it cannot stand with perfect Christianity [...] be either Governor, Judge, Executioner or Jury m [...] or to be active in the making any Laws, which may useful in the Body of the Kingdoms of this Wor [...] who are only under the first Ministration of the m [...] Law, and their Weapons are carnal, with which W [...] pons they fight against Flesh and Blood only, pun [...] ing both the Righteous and Wicked, according to w [...] is written. And he was numbered with the Transgress [...] (by the Judges of this World,) Mark 15.28.

But the Weapons that are under the Gospel Dispe [...] sation are to cut down Sin, and save Flesh and Blo [...] alive, as Christ saith, Luke 9.5, 6. For the Son of M [...] is not come to destroy Men's Lives, but to save them. Rom 8 13. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the Body, ye shall live So that this Gospel Weapon, [...] wit, the Spirit, mortifies Sin, but Flesh and Blood live after the Body of Sin is destroyed.

Quest. Hath Christ since he came into the World [...] an End to Wars among Christians?

Answ. Yes; for that also belongeth to the first M [...] nistration; for those Kings and Judges which God [...] sed up in his Church under the Law (before this o [...] King came into the World) were Types of his Kingdom, and by Faith in him they fought against the Kingdoms of the Gentiles, and in that Faith they always overcome the Enemies of God's Church. And foras­much as David and those good Kings (which God [...] over his Church, under the first Ministration) were Types of Christ's Kingdom, it is said, Luke 1.32, 33. [Page 13] And the Lord shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David, and he shall reign over the House of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there shall be no End. So that those Kingdoms set over God's Church before Christ's coming in the Flesh, were Figures of his Kingdom, and continued no longer than till he came, who was to gather both Jews and Gentiles into one Body, by one Spirit, that he might reign over them, so that his Church, after his coming, might have no other Head, Judge or King but himself; for the Church of God is espoused to him, as much as the Wife is to the Husband, and she is to have no other Head, Ruler or Governor but him, 2 Cor. 11.2. For I have espoused you to one Husband, Rom. 7.4. That ye shall be married to another, even to him who is raised from the Dead.

But while the Church of God was under a typical Kingdom, the Gospel of Christ was held forth under the Law; but Christ being now come, that Kingdom over his Church hath ceased, and those Laws which they did rule by, to wit, an Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth, and Life for Life, are not to be put in Execu­tion by any of Christ's Church since his coming, to whom Vengeance belongeth. And this was prophesied of before the Church was govern'd by this typical Kingdom, even by Jacob, Gen. 49.10. The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Law giver from between his Feet until Shilo come, and unto him shall the gathering of the People be. For whereas he saith, The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, that is, the typical Kingdom and Laws should be given to them to rule by, and to con­tinue till Christ's coming. And to him shall the gather­ing of the People be, that is, by Faith, that he might [Page 14] rule and govern them in Righteousness, and in Peace. And this his Kingdom and peaceable Government was before prophesied of, and how he should put an end to Wars, and reconcile Sinners to his Church, who were compared to Ravenous F [...]s; but by his coming and Gospel, they are so reconciled, as that the Wolf comes to dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard to lie down with the Kid, &c. Isa. 11, 1, &c. And there shall come forth a Rod out of the Stem of Jesse, & a Branch shall grow out of his Roots, and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him &c. This is a plain Pro­phecy of Christ, that he should come of the same Stock as David did; for David was a Rod that grew out of the Stem of Jesse, and a Branch that grew out of his Roots, and was a Figure of Christ; and therefore the Prophet alludes from David, as he was a Type of Christ, shewing, That Christ should not judge after the Manner of other kings; for saith he. And he shall not judge after the sight of his Eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his Ears, but in Righteousness shall he judge the poor, &c. ‘And Righteousness shall be the Girdle of his Loyns, and Faithfulness the Gir­dle of his Reins: The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid, and the Calf and the young Lyon and the Fatling together, and a little Child shall lead them; and the Cow and the Bear shall feed, their young Ones shall lie down together; and the Lyon shall eat Straw like the Ox, &c. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain; for the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea.’ Thus the Prophet makes [Page 15] Use of these fierce Beasts, to wit, the Wolf, Lyon, Leopard, and the Bear, to set forth the great Peace and Reconciliation that should be at the coming of Jesus Christ, and by the Preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles, who were before as ravenous Beasts, to devour God's Church and People, according to what is written, They have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him. Thus speaking after the Manner of Beasts that eat up, and devour, and consume the Flock. But now, by the coming of Jesus Christ there is Peace and Reconciliation between the Jew and the Gentile, where the Gospel is received, there the Wolf shall lie down with the Lamb, and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid, &c. they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain, that is where the Gospel is received, there will be no killing nor destroying one another. Isa. 2.4. ‘And [...]e shall judge among the Nations, and rebuke many People, and they shall beat their Swords into Plow­shares, and their Spears into Pruning-hooks, Na­tion shall not lift Sword against Nation, neither shall they learn War any more.’ This also was a Pro­phecy of Christ how he should put an End to Wars at his coming; for saith the Prophet, He shall judge among the Nations, and shall rebuke many People, and they shall beat their Swords into Plow shares, and th [...] Spears into Pruning Hooks, &c. As much as if he should say, When he shall come to be Judge among the Nations, he will rebuke many People, for their killing and destroying one another, and shall cause them to beat their Weapons for War into Tools for necessary Uses; Neither shall they learn War any more, [Page 16] saith he. Thus the Prophet fore saw that at t [...] coming of Christ, and preaching of the Gospel to the Nations, it would put an end to War, and r [...] concile both Jew and Gentile into one Body, whe [...] the Gospel should be received, and that they should learn War no more; as also Micah fore saw the sam [...] Mic. 4.3, And these Prophecies were fulfilled in him at his coming, as appeareth both by his Doctrine and Example, Mat. 26.52. ‘Then said Jesus unto hi [...] Put up again thy Sword into his Place, for all th [...] that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword. Rev. 13.10. He thas leadeth into Captivity shall go into Captivity: He that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword.’ Here he rebuke [...] the Use of the Sword, according to what was before prophesied of him, threatning them that use it to mea­sure the same Measure to them, in that he saith, A [...] they that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword; [...] He that killeth with the Sword must be killed wit [...] [...] Sword. From hence it appears plainly, that the ver [...] Reason why Christ bid them provide Swords, was, th [...] he might fulfil those Prophecies which prophesied o [...] him before hand, That he should rebuke the Use of the Sword when he should come, and cause them to be [...]t their Swords into Plow-shares, and their Spear [...] into Pruning hooks, and that they should learn W [...] no more; for when they told him, there were two Swords, he said, It is enough; but when they came to make use of them, he rebuked the Use of them, saying, Put up again thy Sword into his Place; for all they th [...] take the Sword shall perish with the Sword. So that it appears he did not bid them provide Swords to kill [Page 17] and slay with them, but put an End to the Use of them in his Church. Thus seeing Christ hath rebuked the Use of the Sword, and taught us to love our Ene­mies, and not to resist Evil for Evil, saying, ‘And as ye would that Men should do unto you, do ye also to them likewise, Luke 6.31.’ And further saith, ‘Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour, and hate thine Enemy, Mat. 5.43.’ But this which Christ termeth, To hate thine Enemy, was no other, than that Israel was to engage War by the outward Sword against their Enemies; for we no where read those Words, Thou shalt hate thine Enemy; but only they had Liberty to make War against them; but now Christ hath put an End to it in his Church.

We thus seeing that Christ hath rebuked the Use of Sword in his Church, and that they are to learn War no more, but are to beat their Swords into useful Tools, for necessary Uses; it is an evil Thing for a Christian to practise any Gesture that tendeth to War, as watch­ing, warding or training, or exercising any Posture leading to War; for it is some Degree of Contempt to the Doctrine of Christ, who hath taught us to learn War no more, but to live the Life of Faith and Love, who hath promised us his Protection and Preservation from Famine, Pestilence and Sword, when we love him and keep his Commandments, as throughout the 91 Psalm, Job 5.19, 20. Isa. 26.1, 2, 3, 4. Rev. 3.10.

But God hath ordained that there shall be a Govern­ment over the Children of this World, whose King­dom and Glory is of this World; for this World is their Inheritance, they being under the first Ministra­tion [Page 18] only of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which is the moral and spiritual Law of God, written in their Hearts, by which Law cometh the Knowledge of Sin, and maketh all the World guilty before God, and un­der the Power of Sin, therefore God hath set over them a Government to, be a Terror to the Ungodly and Sinners; but neither the Law, nor yet Judges hath he set over the Righteous, for the Law is not made [...] a righteous Man, but for the lawless and disobedien [...] 1 Tim. 1.9. neither hath he ordained the Famine, Pesti­lence or Sword against the Righteous, but against the Wicked and Ungodly; for God hath ordained that they shall kill one another with the Sword; Rev. 6.4. And there went out another Horse that was red, and Power was given to him that sat thereon, to take Peace from the Earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great Sword. Mat. 24.6. And ye shall hear of Wars, and Rumours of Wars, see that ye be not troubled, for all these Things must needs come to pass. But God will protect his People, and preserve them in Safety that trust in him, so that they shall not be afraid of Destruction when it cometh, Joh. 5.21, 22. But forasmuch as we have obtained Mercy and Grace by Jesus Christ, and are thereby reconciled to God, and made Heirs of a better Kingdom, and are but Stran­gers, Pilgrims and Sojourners here, we are not to mix ourselves with the Children of this World, by joining with them in their Kingdom, to judge or condemn, or torture any Man for his Sin, seeing we are under ano­ther Ministration, having not been condemned by Christ for our Sins, neither are we to join with them to kill or slay our Fellow Creature, seeing Christ hath [Page 19] rebuked the Use of the Sword in the Hands of his Followers; and except we deny ourselves in all these Things, and take up our Cross and follow him, we cannot be his Disciples.

And although we are of another Kingdom, and therefore are not to be concerned in the Kingdom we do not belong to, either to sit in Judgment with them, or to fight and kill under their Kingdom, yet as being in their Country and Limits, rather than to offend them, we have Liberty from our King to pay them Tribute for the carrying on the Affairs of their King­dom and Government, both by his Doctrine and Ex­ample, Rom. 13.6, 7. Mat. 17.24 &c. ‘And when they were come to Capernaum, they that receive Tri­bute Money, came to Peter, and said, Doth not your Master pay Tribute Money? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the House, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon, of whom do the Kingdoms of the Earth take Custom or Tri­bute? of their own Children or of Strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of Strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the Children free; notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the Sea, and cast an Hook, and take up the Fish that first cometh up, and when thou hast opened his Mouth thou shalt find a Piece of Money; that take, and give unto them for me and thee.’ From hence we may observe, That when the Receivers of an earthly King's Tribute, asked Peter, saying, Doth not your Master pay Tribute? he saith, Yes. 2dly, We may observe, That when he was come into the House, Jesus prevented him, by asking him a Question: The Question was, Of whom do the [Page 20] Kings of the Earth take Custom or Tribute? Of their own Children, or of Strangers? Peter saith, Of Stran­gers. Then saith Jesus, The Children are free. He doth not say, their own Children are free, (which was the Question) but, then are the Children free, (saith [...]e Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them (saith Christ) give them a Piece of Money for me and the [...]

Here necessarily ariseth a Question, Why did Chr [...] prevent Peter, by asking him that Question?

Answ. It was to let Peter understand upon wh [...] Account he gave them the Money, to wit, lest he should offend them; for when Peter had answered the Question, then saith Jesus, Then are the Children free. And it is evident that Christ intendeth the Children of God, for he applies the Freedom to themselves, in saying, Lest we should offend them, give the Money for me and thee; for his Words carry in it, not as a due Debt from us to them, but for Peace Sake give it them. And Peter in his first Epistle, Chap. 2 v. 13, &c. writes after the same Manner, ‘Submit yourselves (saith he) to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's Sake whether it be to the King as supream, or unto Go­vernors, as unto them that are sent by him, &c. [...] free, and not using your Liberty for a Cloak of Ma­liciousness, but as the Servants of God.’ From hence we may observe, That forasmuch as worldly Kings are ordained by Men to be their supream Head on Earth, Peter calls the King the Ordinance of Men. And for­asmuch as Governors are ordained by the King, for the Punishment of Evil Doers, this is the Ordinance of Man also. And forasmuch as it is the Will of God that there should be Kings and Governors set over the [Page 21] Children of this World, we are to submit ourselves t [...] them for the Lord's Sake, who hath appointed them. And whereas Peter saith, As free, that is after the Manner of Christ's Speech to Peter, Then are the Children free. But although the Children of God are free, being of another Kingdom, yet are they not to use their Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness against them, but as they are the Servants of God, and pro­per Subjects of his Kingdom, they are to honour all Men, and to fear God, and to honour the King, and to make Conscience, as Christ did, not to offend them, but rather to give them their Demand for carrying on of their Affairs in their own Kingdom, that they may uphold and defend it by their own Sword, till God himself shall overthrow it, according to what is written, Rev. 11.15. Dan▪ 2.44. And thus by well doing are we to put to Silence the Ignorance of foolish Men, whose Trust is in their own Strength, and not in the living God, whom they ignorantly profess.

Concerning Swearing.

MAtth. 5.33, &c. Again, Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old Time, Thou shalt not forswear thy self, &c. but I say unto you, Swear not at all.

We may observe from hence, that Christ is not speaking of any vain Swearing that was un­der the Law, but of such Swearing as was al­lowed under that Ministration, under which [Page 22] Ministration false Swearing is forbidden, and all vain Oaths; but Swearing itself was allowable; and that Swearing which he alludes from, and forbids, is that allowable Oath that was under the Law, to wit, Lev. 19.12. And ye shall not swear by my Name falsly. It is this allowable Oath that was under the Law, that forbids Swearing falsly in God's Name, that he here forbid his Disciples, saying, But I say unto you, swear not at all. So that he forbids, in the first Place, that lawful Swearing that was under the Law, and in the next Place, forbids all vain Oaths in common Communication; for as it was said by them of old, Ye shall not swear by my Name falsly, in Answer to this, saith Christ, But I say unto you, swear not at all. So that he is forbidding his Disciples Swear­ing by God's Name, in the first Place; and 2dly, saith he, Neither by Heaven, for it is God's Throne. So that he forbids Swearing by God's Name, and by God's Throne. And 3dly, He forbids Swearing by the Earth, which is God's Foot-stool. And, 4thly, He forbids Swearing by Jerusalem. And, 5thly, He for­bids Swearing by thine own Head. And lastly, He exhorts his own Disciples to let their Com­munication be Yea, and Nay, for what is more than this cometh of Evil.

[Page 23]But as to the Swearing of Men to worldly Offices, and Swearing of Witnesses, I know of no such President in the Bible, but do think it is crept into the World in the Night of Apostacy.

But an Oath under the Law was for Confirmation, to end Strife between two, in such a Case where Witnesses could not be procured, as in Exod. 22.10, 11.

Concerning God's Visitation by Sickness.

IN Time of Sickness, Ake or Pain, we are to examine our own Hearts, to see and find out the cause of God's Chastisement, and to look up to him who wounds, and whose Hands alone make whole, who is the same Yesterday, to Day and forever; and to attend the Apostle James's Direction. James 5.13, &c. If any Man among you be afflicted, let him pray; is any merry, let him sing Psalms; is any sick among you, let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with Oyl in the Name of the Lord; and the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed Sins, they shall be for­given him. Confess your Faults one to another, [Page 24] and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man availeth much.