A wakening call, or, An alarm from heaven to the wise and foolish virgins wherein the vices of this age is laid open and bewail'd, the sublety of Satan discover'd in his temptations in several particulars ... : likewise there is discovered the nature of regeneration or the new birth, in several particulars ... / from a minister in the country to a minister in the city for the publication. Sikes, George. 1698 Approx. 227 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 105 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A66477 Wing W279A ESTC R26303 09418405 ocm 09418405 43038 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A66477) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 43038) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1319:10) A wakening call, or, An alarm from heaven to the wise and foolish virgins wherein the vices of this age is laid open and bewail'd, the sublety of Satan discover'd in his temptations in several particulars ... : likewise there is discovered the nature of regeneration or the new birth, in several particulars ... / from a minister in the country to a minister in the city for the publication. Sikes, George. 207, [1] p. Printed for the author and sold by Will. Marshall, London : 1698. Attributed to George Sikes--NUC pre-l956 imprints. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. 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Devil. 2000-00 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2001-07 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2001-09 TCP Staff (Michigan) Sampled and proofread 2001-09 TCP Staff (Michigan) Text and markup reviewed and edited 2001-11 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Wakening Call : OR , An Alarm from Heaven TO THE Wise and Foolish Virgins . WHEREIN The Vices of this Age is laid open , and bewail'd ; the Subtilty of Satan discover'd in his Temptations , in several Particulars . I. As to Original Sin. II. As to the Love of the World. III. As to the Danger of Ignorance . IV. As to the Evil of Pride , &c. Likewise , There is discovered the Nature of Regeneration , or the New Birth , in several Particulars . I. The Nature of Union to Christ. II. The Nature of True Faith III. The Nature of True Repentance . IV. Christian Carriage commended . V. The Glory of the New-Ierusalem Open'd . From a Minister in the Country , to a Minister in the City , for the Publication . A Verse may find him who a Sermon flys , And turn Delight into a Sacrifice . Herbert's Temple , p. 1. LONDON : Printed for the Author , and Sold by Will. Marshall , at the Bible in Newgate-street ; and Iohn Marshall , at the Bible in Grace-Church-street ; MDCXCVIII . CHAP. I. Concerning the purely Divine Nature , and Things thereof . 1. GOD in his Divine Nature was infinitely blessed in the Sight and Enjoyment of himself from all Eternity , above and beyond all possibility of Addition or Diminution to his Blessedness , by any thing , meer Creatures , Angels or Men , good or bad , can ever be , think , say or do , to all Eternity ; yea , even Creature-nature , in the Mediator's wonderful compounded Person , set up by the immediate Divine Hand ( though by unchangeable personal Union with the Divine Nature , all one incomprehensible God ) adds not to the infinite Blessedness of the Divine Nature ; but was set up from the Beginning , and possess'd by the Lord in the beginning of his Way , towards the Creation of Angels and Men , Prov. 8. 22 , 23. This was the Beginning of the Creation of God , Revel . 3. 14. Divine Nature had no Beginning . The whole Creature-part in Christ's Person , Root and exalted Branch , adds not to the Glory of the Divine Nature , but was set up in reference to the twofold Creation of Angels and Men , natural and spiritual , and as the Means to let down the Visions of the Divine Glory at second-hand , with safety to the spiritual Sight , Understanding and Enjoyment of blessed Angels and Men in their new-created Capacities . 2. In the Divine Nature , the Divine Essence and Form are the infinite Divine Father and Son. The Divine Form , Image or Glory of the Divine Essence , is the Son thereof , by eternal and ineffable Generation ; very God of very God , in the most absolute Sense ; co-equal and co-eternal with the Father ; both are one Infinite , Incomprehensible , Divine Being . But the Divine Essence is not the Form ; nor Form the Essence . The Three distinct invisible Powers in the Divine Essence or Father , did from all Eternity shine forth in the divine Form or Son , to God's own infinite Understanding , Enjoyment and Delight . The same three are , therein , the immediate Object of Sight and Enjoyment , to the whole Creature-part of the Mediator , Root and exalted Branch , as in unchangeable personal Union with the Divine Glory or Form in him ; but are never so to any meer Creatures , blessed Angels or Saints , to all Eternity , in Heaven . They can never so approach unto , or see and enjoy the Divine Light or Glory , immediately , as he does , 1 Tim. 6. 15 , 16. Mat. 11. 27. Iohn 1. 18. In , with , and through his heavenly Creature-Spirit , as born of that which in him is God , ( Iohn 1. 1. ) and therein Partakers of the Divine Nature , ( 2 Pet. 1. 4. ) can and will they see and enjoy the Divine Glory , mediately , as let down to them by the exalted Creature-Son and Branch , being Members of that spiritual Body , his true Gospel - Church , to which he , therein , is Head , Col. 1. 18. For this Purpose it pleas'd the Father or Divine Essence , that even in the lowest Creature-part of the Mediator , the exalted Son and Branch , all Fulness should dwell , all the divine and Creature-fulnesses and Perfections of his divine Form and Creature-root . The Divine Essence , singly and abstractedly consider'd , in and by it self , is absolutely invisible for ever ; nor will the Divine Form , Glory , Image , or Visibility thereof , and of the three that are one , therein , ever be the immediate Object of Sight and Enjoyment to any meer Creatures , blessed Angels or Saints , to all Eternity ; but only to the whole Creature-nature in Christ's Person , Root and exalted Branch . Never will any meer Creatures be found in personal Union with the Divine Nature , as Creature-nature in Christ is . They will never have Divine Nature , an Ingredient into their personal Constitution ; or as the supream Principle of Life and Operation in them , as some in our Days have most presumptuously and unwarrantably affirm'd : for then would there be an innumerable Multitude of Christs and Gods , the greater sort of Polytheism . The Divine Form or Son , is the Eternity , the supream Heaven of Heavens , the high and lofty Divine Essence , or Father inhabited from all Eternity , in distinction from the Creature-form , Glory or Image thereof ; the high and holy Place , or heavenly Creature-temple , of immediate Divine Building ( Prov. 9. 1. ) in personal Union with the Divine inhabitant , Isa. 57. 15. This heavenly Creature-Spirit , House and Temple , with the Life and Things of God therein , was prepar'd by and within himself , to be communicated in the distinct appointed Portions thereof , to them that love him ( 1 Cor. 2. 9. ) because he first , even from Eternity , lov'd them , 1 John 4. 19. These spiritual , heavenly Creature-things of God , communicable to Men and Angels , by a new or second Creation , are quite out of the reach or sight of the highest single natural Understanding of Man , at best , in the but restor'd first-Covenant-Law-life of the Creature , given in the first Creation . No intellectual Eye , Ear or Heart , therein , can see , hear , perceive , conceive , receive , own , or know what to make of them ; Isa. 64.4 . Hence does Man account them , and all right Words about them , Foolishness , 1 Cor. 2. 9 , 14. Here 's the Case of Man at best , in but the living Soul of the first Adam : In the Life of the quickning Spirit of the second Adam , and the new , spiritual , infallible , all-discerning Understanding , therein , do Saints see and know all things , divine , and both spiritual and natural Creature-things , ( in their proper Differences , Distinctions , Subordinations and Superiorities ) even the deep things of God , 1 Cor. 2. 10. And as they have an infallible Understanding to know all things ; they have also therein , an incorruptible Will , in unchangeable Harmony with the Infinite Divine Will , for the doing all things after God's own Heart . In his Heavenly Creature - Spirit , can any rightly worship his Divine Spirit , John 4. 23. In it only can any rightly perform all Duties to God , and to their Fellow-Creatures . All these things lie hid from ( and are unpracticable by ) Man , as out of the Reach of his own Understanding , and desiring or performing Power of his own Will. So will he not regard , look , or seek after God , for the Life and things hid with Christ in God , Rom. 3. 11. Col. 3. 3. Paul , with others that come to be true Saints , till the spiritual Seed of true Life be waken'd up in them , are wholly ignorant of any such heavenly Creature-Gospel-Life and things of God , however eminent in restor'd Law-life , Wisdom and Righteousness of Man , Phil. 3.6 . Hence they verily think they do God Service , in persecuting Gospel-Saints , as the arrantest Hereticks and Blasphemers in the World , Act. 26. 9 , 11. Iohn 16. 2. The reform'd natural Man , at best , understands not the transform'd , truly regenerate spiritual Man's Understanding , nor any of the Divine or spiritual things , he thereby understands and speaks of . He cannot know them ; for they can only be spiritually discern'd , and he has no spiritual discerning , 1 Cor. 2. 14. If therefore he finally lean and trust to his own Vnderstanding , at highest , for directing his Steps , contrary to God's Counsel , ( Prov. 3. 5 , 6. Ier. 10. 23. ) he is gone for ever , he never sets one Foot in the Paths of Life . A Man of deepest Reason , most soaring , searching , natural Capacity , vastest Display of his rational and intellectual Powers , with all Imbelishments of Art or acquir'd Accomplishments , may be Paul's most unreasonable Man to be dealt with , or discours'd , in Gospel-Matters , which he therefore desir'd his Thessalonian Converts to pray for his Deliverance from , 2 Thess. 3. 1 , 2. What 's here said in this first Chapter , may give some aim towards right thoughts of God's Divine Nature and Things , which are to be acknowledg'd above and beyond all Conception or Language , by the Understanding or Tongue of natural Man or Angel ; yea , will be Master of wonder to blessed Angels and Saints to all Eternity , in their spiritual new-Creation-Capacities . CHAP. II. The twofold Purposes or Counsels of God within himself from Eternity , with reference to the twofold Creation of Angels and Men. 1. GOD , in the free Purposes and Counsels of his own Divine Mind , did , from Eternity , when he pleas'd , determine to create Angels and Men , and to give them immortal Spirits , by a first Creation ; but , to put into them a corruptible Seed ( 1 Pet. 1. 23. ) of a mortal , earthly , though pure and spotless , First-Covenant Law-life , in which to be but mystical Trees of Good and Evil. He declares , he will break down this first Building , and pluck up this Tree ( though of his own planting ) by the Roots , Ier. 45.4 . This changeable good Life and Things , given them in their first Creation , could not answer the Needs and Wants of their immortal Spirits , nor enable them to answer the whole Counsel , Will , and Command of God , in an everlasting well-pleasing active Obedience to him . 2. He did , therefore , in his Free-Grace-Purposes ( another sort of Counsels within himself ) determine , from the same Eternity , by his own immmediate divine Power , to form , produce and set up a heavenly Creature-spirit of originally immortal Holiness , everlasting Righteousness , infallible Truth , and eternal Life , and to take it into personal Union with his divine Nature , in the Mediator . He determin'd also to find a way in his infinite Wisdom , to render this Life communicable to Angels and Men , by a second or new Creation of them , as the only Principle of Desire , Thought and Action , in which , ever possible to please him , so as to find eternal Blessedness to themselves , in the Sight and Enjoyment of him . All conducible to this , was prepar'd to be given them by a second or new Creation , in a New-Covenant Life , the Life of the Creator , above all Deaths , Dangers , Enemies , Bondages , or Fears . The Life given them in their first Creation , God calls their own , with all the things thereof , their own Wisdom , Righteousness , all natural Excellencies and Perfections : All is but a Life , a Wisdom , a Glory to be done away for ever , with all Works or Fruits , possible to be done or brought forth by them , therein . The new and everlasting Covenant-Life ( given by a second Creation of them ) God's own heavenly Creature-life ( with all the things thereof , the Wisdom and Righteousness of God therein ) is a Life , a Glory , that unspeakably excels the former , and will remain for ever , 2 Cor. 3. 10 , 11. By God's new building them , and putting his incorruptible Life into them , they become particular Trees of Life , under and with Christ , working all their Works in God , and bringing forth right Fruits to him , Iohn 3. 21. Rom. 7. 4. Their own Life and Wisdom , &c. was given them for Trial of their Obedience to the declar'd Method of God's Wisdom for receiving his . All that finally refuse , in Passive Obedience , to submit to the Death of their own , in order to find all again , with unspeakable Gain , in his own , prefer the Life of the Creature to the Life of the Creator , and will perish for ever , Rom. 1.25 . All Life and things , given Angels and Men , in their first Creation , are character'd in Scripture by Grass , Flesh , a fading Flower ( Isa. 40. 6-8 . 1 Pet. 1. 23 , 24. ) call'd a vain Shew , altogether Vanity , a vanishing , transient Shadow of the heavenly Creature-life and Things of God , offer'd by a second . In this , 't is as impossible , ever to sin against or displease God , as 't is in our own earthly Life , to please or find everlasting Peace with him . If the First-Covenant-Life , given in the first Creation , had been faultless , or not defective , as to the pleasing God , or finding true Blessedness to our selves , no Place had been sought for a second , Heb. 8. 7. CHAP. III. The preparatory Condescensions of God , towards accomplishing the said two-fold Purposes or Counsels , with reference to the twofold Creation of Angels and Men. 1. THE first of the three distinct Powers in the Divine Nature , call'd Father , did by the peculiar Operation thereof , in the one Divine Mind of all three , produce , beget , form and set up a Creature-spirit of originally immortal Holiness , everlasting Righteousness , infallible Truth , and eternal Life . This , in the Creature-part of Christ's wonderful compounded Person , is call'd by the Name of its peculiar Divine Producer , Father . This was the first Step of God's preparatory Condescension towards the Creation of Angels and Men ; the Beginning of the Creation of God ( Revel . 3. 14. ) that will have no ending . This is the supream Root of all Creature-being and Life , in both Creations or Worlds ( Heb. 1. 2. ) natural and spiritual , by a first and second Creation of Angels and Mer , and also of the Creature-Son and Branch in the very Mediator's Person . This originally unchangeable Creature-Spirit , in personal Union with the divine Nature , was situated too high , above the Capacity of being the immediate Hand of God , either for the first Creation of Angels and Men , or the giving them eternal Life by a second , so as to answer and fulfil the twofold Counsels of God concerning them . 2. The second therefore of the Divine Three in One , call'd the Word , did , in the one Divine Mind of the Three , cause the said Creature-root to bring forth a Creature-Son and Branch , in the Fountain-purity of all earthly mortal First covenant Law-life , determin'd of God to be set up in Angels and Men , by a first Creation of them . This Creature-Son and Branch is call'd by the Name of its peculiar divine Causer , in the Creature-part of the Mediator's Person , the Word . This Word , as the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World , ( Revel . 13. 8. ) and exalted by and out of that Death , into the originally unchangeable Life of his Creature-root and Father , became the living Word of God , and immediate Creator of all Angels and Men , by a first Creation , and of an innumerable Multitude of both by a second . He will also be the immediate Performer of the whole Divine Will , on all Angels and Men , good and bad , in the final Love or Wrath of God , in Heaven or Hell , to all Eternity . 3. In order to all this , did the third of the Divine Three , call'd Holy Ghost , cause the said Creature-root and Father , as the supream mystical Abraham , to perform a sacrificing Death-work on his Creature-Son ; and caus'd the said Creature-Son , as the supream mystical Isaac , not only to submit thereto , in a compleat Passive Obedience to the Divine Will ; but ( in the supreamly partaken of heavenly Creature-life of his Root , and Love thereto ) to join therewith , in Active Obedience to the Divine Will , for carrying on the said Death-work on himself . The like did he , in our mortal Nature , when in the Fulness of God's appointed time , taken by him , in the Fountain-purity thereof , above and beyond what it was in the first Adam , before his Fall. He was , therein , also full of Grace and Truth , John 1. 14. full of the Holy Ghost , Luke 4.1 . He was Son of Man in Heaven ( in full Possession of the eternal Life of his Creature-root , without any mortal Life about him ) at same time , that he was Son of Man on Earth in our mortal Nature ( Iohn 3. 13. ) and long before . All in Christ's Person , below his infinite Divinity and Creature-root , is call'd Man. His whole Creature-nature , Root and Branch , in personal Union , is the heavenly Creature-spirit or Holy Ghost , render'd communicable to Angels and Men , by the exalted Creature-Son and Branch . This Creature-Son was one of the three Men that did eat of Abram's Meat , else would not have own'd his worshipping him , in Prayer , for Sodom , when the other two created Angels were gone towards it , to destroy it , and deliver Lot , &c. The two good Angels are also call'd Men , Gen. 18. 1-8 . and v. 22-33 . Satan also with his evil Angels , are Men of Sin , 2 Thess. 2. 3. Christ was active in carrying on the Death-work upon himself , as First-born of every Creature ; and so was he , in his second Sacrifice , by carrying on the Death of our whole mortal Nature , in him , Spirit , Soul and Body . By the Holy Ghost or heavenly Creature-spirit in him , did he crucify the Spirit of our Nature in himself , Luke 12. 49 , 50. He was also a voluntary Giver up of his Body into the Hands of Men , under Devils , to put a full Period to all that was mortal about him , Iohn 10. 17 , 18. He laid down the Life of our whole mortal Nature , and took it up again , in the originally incorruptible , immortal , eternal Creature-life of his Root , above all Deaths , or Enemies . And by his communicated heavenly Creature-spirit , or Holy Ghost in Saints , will he enable them to be active in carrying on the like Death-work on the Spirit of Nature , at best , in themselves ; and freely also to give up their bodily Life , into the Hands of evil Angels and Men , God's and their Enemies , where God so permits and orders , for the witnessing his Gospel-Truths . The Record , Witness , or Products of the first and second of the Divine Three , Father and Word , in the Creature-part of the Mediator's Person , as brought into inseparable Union by the Third , bears the Name of the peculiar Divine Causer , Holy Ghost . All these things were transacted and done , by and within God himself , before any meer Creatures , Angels or Men were brought forth . The Three in the Divine Nature , with their Record in Heaven ( the Divine Form ) are one ; and the same Three , as bearing Witness in Earth ( the Creature-part of the Mediator ) agree in one . The one Divine Mind is declar'd and done , in and by both , and all , 1 Iohn 5.7,8 . By what was done of the Divine Three , by their distinct Products and Operations , in the Creature-part of the Mediator , will they let down themselves to the Sight and Enjoyment of blessed Angels and Saints for evermore . The Divine is not the Creature-nature in Christ ; nor , in his whole Creature-nature , is the Creature-root , the exalted Branch . And his whole Divine and Creature-Person , is most intimately one with the Divine Essence or Father , the Head of all in him , 1 Cor. 11. 3. All are one incomprehensible God , Iohn 10. 30. The exalted Branch in Christ , is the immediate Head of his true Gospel-Church . The Creature-root in him , Head of that ; his Divine Form , Head of his whole Creature-nature , Root and Branch ; the Divine Essence or Father , Head to his whole Divine and Creature-person ; yet remains uncompounded with Creature-nature , as the Divine Form or Son is , Gal. 3. 20. 1 Tim. 2. 5. After all this account of Superiorities and Inferiorities in all that 's truly call'd God , the lowest Creature-part in the Mediator , the exalted Branch , or living Word of God , thinks or infallibly knows , that 't is no Robbery or unwarrantable Presumption in him , to reckon himself equal with God , as in personal Union with his Creature-root and infinite Divine Nature , Phil. 2.6 . These are strange , seeming Contradictions to Man's Wisdom , which is Foolishness to God's , and to be destroy'd ( Isa. 29. 14. ) in all self-confident Disputers of this World , 1 Cor. 1. 19 , 20. CHAP. IV. The infallible Consequents of the said preparatory Condescensions of God within himself , in pursuance and for the accomplishing of his abovesaid twofold Purposes in the twofold Creation of Angels and Men. 1. THUS were the Works determin'd of God to be set up in Angels and Men , by a first Creation of them , finish'd ( Heb. 4. 3. ) to his well-pleasing , by the right Use of the mortal , earthly , First-Covenant Law-life of the Creature , in order to receive the Heavenly-Creature New-Covenant Gospel-Life of the Creator . Finish'd they were , by the Mediator himself , as the Lamb slain in the Fountain-purity of the first , and ascended into the originally unchangeable Gospel-life of the second , Rev. 13.8 . All this was done within God himself , by the Mediator , as the Lamb slain from ( or in ) the Foundation of both Worlds ( natural and spiritual , this World and the World to come ) laid in himself , the Creator of both . All , receiv'd by Angels or Men , in their first Creation , or restor'd in Men by the Redeemer ( since their Fall in Adam ) is ( with the fallible Understanding and corruptible Will thereof , their discerning and desiring Powers , their own Righteousness , Wisdom , Glories , natural Excellencies and Perfections , therein ) to be given up , in Sacrifice to the Will of God , by Passive Obedience . This is the only possible Means and Way , for their being transform'd and exalted into the originally unchangeable never-sinning Creature-life of God , in the Mediator , the only Life or Principle of everlasting Active Obedience to God , and Blessedness to Man. All true thorow-Followers of the Lamb slain ( in the narrow unpleasing Way to Nature , at best ) will find all their own Life and Things , with unspeakable Gain , in an infallible , all-discerning , spiritual Understanding , and incorruptible Will , by personal Union with Christ in his heavenly Creature-spirit of true Holiness and eternal Life . And so will they find themselves in unchangeable Harmony with , and Obedience to the infinite Divine Will. This is the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God , in which they that are born of God , by the new-creating Workmanship of Christ passing upon them ( to the Death of their natural Spirit , and Resurrection into his spiritual Life ) come to be Heirs and Coheirs , under and with Christ , of God , Rom. 8. 17. 2. Thus became the exalted Creature-Son and Branch in the Mediator , of the First-born of every Creature ( in the Fountain-purity of a mortal earthly Life ) the First-born from the Dead , ( Col. 1. 15 , 18. ) in the originally immortal Creature-life of his Root and Father . So became he the living Word of God , ( the Book of Life of the Lamb slain and exalted ) in which were written ( by the super-wonderful mysterious Way of Divine Writing or Engraving ) the Names of all God's Elect , predestinated to be conform'd to Christ their Head , in a like Passive Obedience to the Divine Will , by the Death of their natural Spirit or living Soul of the First Adam , and Resurrection into the quickning Spirit of the Second , the Life of their Creator , Rom. 8. 29. & 6. 3-6 . Whoever do finally refuse to die with him , ( and lose all their own mortal , earthly Life and Things , receiv'd in their first Creation , or restor'd since , with all Works or Fruits , done or brought forth by them , therein ) will never attain that heavenly , eternal Creature-life of their Creator , in which to live and reign with him , 2 Tim. 2. 11 , 12. True Followers of the slain Lamb of God , will be enabled to say with him , I was dead in my own mortal , earthly Law-spirit of Works , and am alive in his Gospel-spirit of Grace and Truth for evermore , Rev. 1. 18. All that establish themselves in their own Law-spirit of Works , and Righteousness of Man , will be found unchangeable Enemies of God's Righteousness , in his heavenly Gospel-spirit , and so in unchangeable Union with the God of this World , the Devil . Such mystical Sodomites , in Filth of Spirit , Enmity to God and his Gospel-spirit of Grace , will have worse of it for ever , under the Wrath of God , than common Sinners in Filth of Flesh , wallowing in the miry Filths and Brutalities of literal Sodom , Mat. 11. 23 , 24. 3. Thus became the exalted Branch in the Mediator , the ready prepar'd immediate Hand and living Word of God , for performing his whole Divine Mind and twofold Purposes thereof , in the twofold Creation of Angels and Men , and for the dealing with them , both and all , as hating their own Life , given them in their first Creation , in love to his own , offer'd them by a Second ; or , as from love to their own , in the first , unchangeably hating his own ( offer'd by a second ) in Union with the Devil . The said exalted Son and Branch , did bring forth Angels and Men , out of their radical Existencies in himself , into their personal Subsistencies and Individuations in themselves . This was their first Creation , in the same kind of mortal , earthly First-Covenant Law-life , himself had first taken , in the supream Fountain-purity thereof , as First-born of every Creature therein , and rightly us'd in order to the second , in which he became the First-born from the Dead , in a Life above all Deaths , temporal or eternal . Thus was it true , in the immediate Creator , as well as in meer Creatures , Angels and Men ; First , that which is natural , and afterward that which is spiritual , 1 Cor. 15. 46. Unchangeable Love to our selves in our own Life , receiv'd in our first Creation , is the unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost , or heavenly Creature-spirit of Christ , and Life thereof , offer'd by a second . 4. The exalted Creature-Son , or living Word of God , his prepar'd and fitted immediate Hand , for the twofold Creation of Angels and Men , was also his ready prepar'd infallible Mouth , Wisdom and Word , to declare to them , as soon as made , his whole Counsel , Will and Command , for the right Use of their natural Beings and Life , given them in their first Creation , in order to a second ; and that , as their unspeakable Concern , as well as Duty , for finding the Salvation of Heaven , or scaping the Damnation of Hell. Final refusing the Loss of all their own , in the first , for his own , by a second , will be everlasting Destruction to all that so do . 5. Christ , as exalted Creature-Son and Branch , became the ready prepar'd immediate sacrificing High-Priest of God , after the Order ( and in the Power ) of the Original Melchisedec , ( Heb. 5.6,10 . & 6.20 . & 7. 17. ) his Creature-root and Father , who first perform'd the sacrificing Death-work upon himself , when in the Fountain-purity of all mortal First-creation Life . Thus is the immediate Creator of Angels and Men , by a first Creation , the immediate High-Priest of God , to perform the like sacrificing Death-work on them , therein , as his Creature-Father had before perform'd upon himself . This exalted Son and Branch , was the Melchisedec , Priest of the most high God , that met Abram , returning from the Slaughter of the four Kings , and bless'd him , Gen. 14. 18 , 19. Heb. 7. 1. He was also one of the three Men , Abram pray'd to and worshipp'd , as God , ( Gen. 18. ) which no good Angels would ever own , Rev. 19.10 . & 22.9 . The Devil and his proud self-exalting evil Angels , own themselves as Gods , ( in the uncontroll'd Soveraignty of their own Wills , above and against all that is truly called God , and to be worshipp'd ) requiring Divine Worship to be paid them , Isa. 14 . 12-14 . 2 Thess. 2. 3 , 4. Yea , Satan most presumptuously attempted to bring the Lord himself to own , fall down and worship him as the true God , whom he knew to be the true Lord and God ( Mark 1. 24. ) he and all Angels and Men ought to worship , Mat. 4. 8-10 . Christ own'd the wise Mens worshipping him , when born in our Nature ( Mat. 2. 1 , 11. ) and after ; others worshipping him , Mat. 8.2 . & 9.18 . with eight other Scriptures in the four Evangelists . 6. And lastly ; Christ as exalted Branch , was in the fully partaken of Life of his Creature-root , the ready prepar'd infallible Example and unerrable Pattern for Angels and Men to follow , by the like Death of Nature in them , at best , in order to a happy Resurrection into the spiritual everlasting righteous Life of their Creator . All that finally refuse a Submission in Passive Obedience to this Change , will perish for ever . For this Change , as their Duty and unspeakable Concern , did he represent himself in such Transactions as had pass'd in the Creature-part of his Person , to all the Angels single and higher intuitive natural Understanding than Man's , though in but the same First-Covenant Law-life of the Creature , as Man. He appear'd to the Angels , immediately , as four living Creatures that had the Likeness of a Man , ( Ezek. 1.5 . ) the comprehensive Sum of all changeable First-Creation-Being and Life . The word Man , comprehends all . Every individual Man is a Microcosm , or lesser World , having all found in the Macrocosm , or greater , without him , and something more , peculiar to himself . He has Being ; an earthy Body , with Elements , and all inanimate Simples or Compounds ; a threefold Life , or Spirit of Lives , ( Gen. 2. 7. ) Vegetable , with Grass , Herbs , Trees , &c. a Life of Sense , with Birds , Beasts , Fishes and creeping things ; an intellectual Exercise of the Life of his natural Spirit , above and without the Body , while in it , with Angels , but inferiour to them , therein . Then , besides all this , has he the rational Exercise of his natural Understanding , by bodily Organs , not found in any Parts of the greater World , Angels or Beasts . The four living Creatures , by which Christ represented himself to the Angels , had the Face or Likeness of a Man : And they are call'd again and again , the ( or one ) living Creature ( Ezek. 1.20,21 . & 10. 15 , 17 , 20. The good Angels figur'd by Wheels , or Chariots ( Psal. 68. 17. ) follow'd this Head , fully : Whithersoever his Spirit was to go , they went , and turned not ( or looked back ) as they went , Ezek. 1. 17 , 20. The Reason hereof was , the Spirit of the living Creature was in the Wheels ( v. 20 , 21. ) a Seed of his spiritual Life was in them . Hence , when the four living Creatures with the Face of a Man , did let down their Wings , the said Angelical Wheels did let down their Wings , v. 24. In Passive Obedience to the Divine Will , and Conformity to Christ's Death of the first Creation , they ceas'd from the mortal Life of their own Spirits , given them in their first Creation , and from the Exercise of their own fallible Understandings and corruptible Wills , therein , which are the mystical Wings , by which natural Angels and Men flie abroad , in this perishing World , to view and place their Thoughts and Affections on what seems desirable to them , in order to pick up a true Happiness to themselves , where it never is to be found . While Man thus rambles and flies abroad for a self-pleasing delusive Happiness , amongst the Delights of the Sons of Men , he never looks or seeks after God , and his heavenly Creature-life and Things , the peculiar Delights of the Sons of God. These heavenly Creature-things , offer'd by a new Creation , are out of the Reach of all single natural Understanding of Man , ( 1 Cor. 2. 9. ) and the only way for attaining them , is most contrary to his natural Will. The Death and Loss of both and all , is the appointed way , in God's Wisdom , whose Thoughts and Ways are not as Man 's , but quite contrary , about their true Salvation , Isa. 55. 8 , 9. When the good Angels had let down their Wings ( importing a perfect Rest and Cessation from the Labours or Exercise of their own Spirits , Wills and Understandings ) a Voice from the Firmament , over their Heads , calls them out of the said Death of Nature , into a living spiritual Faith , working by love to Christ , as seen by them , the Man upon a Throne , as exalted Son and Branch , in his heavenly Creature-life . Hereby were they actually possess'd of eternal Life , and infallibly sure of being compleated therein , in God's time . They patiently waited ( with a holy kind of Impatience , well-pleasing to God , also ) in longing Desires and Pantings after the actual Gift of the Holy Ghost or Gospel-Spirit of the Man , they saw upon his Throne , therein . They , with Old-Testament-Saints , waited four thousand Years , for this promis'd unspeakable Gift , which was not given to either or any of them till Christ was ascended in our Nature , Iohn 7.39 . But , as inseparably united therewith , by a living spiritual Faith , working by Love thereto , they all had a good Report with God , as well-pleasing and acceptable to him , though they had not receiv'd his promis'd Holy Ghost , Heb. 11. 39. All along the said four thousand Years , the good Angels with Old-Testament-Prophets and other Saints , desir'd to pry , look into , and consider what time the Spirit of Christ in them ( as enjoy'd by a spiritual Faith therein ) did signify , when it testified before-hand , the Sufferings of Christ , and the Glory that should follow , with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven ; and clear Gospel-preaching , experienc'd therein , 1 Pet. 1. 10-12 . On this account , the good Angels had Cause of Rejoicing at the Birth of Christ , in our Nature , as their own concern , as well as Man 's , though not in reference to Sin. For they never sinn'd , at all , nor were in danger of ever sinning , after their first change from Nature to Grace . They rejoic'd also , on behalf of Mankind , who are all born Sinners . The high Joy of the good Angels , on these Accounts , at Christ's Birth , is recorded . Luke 2. 8-14 . By the first Demeanour of the good Angels , is implied the contrary Behaviour of the evil ones . The good follow'd Christ , their Head : the evil ones turn'd from their true Head , as they went , or were going , a while , with the good , under the same Light. Satan made himself a contrary , opposite Head to Christ , and , with his Tail , drew a third part of the Angels , ( Revel . 12. 4. ) signified by Stars , ( Iob 38. 7. ) into the same Condition with himself , under him as their Head , in the self-chosen earthly Life of the first Creation , in unchangeable Enmity to God and his heavenly Life , offer'd them , by a second . As thus it was with the evil Angels , so , too oft , with Men. Under high spiritual enlightning Gifts , many that have gone a while with Gospel-Saints , after Christ , as their Head , finding his Cross , or the Death-work of his heavenly on their earthy Spirit , to be pass'd under , in order to be married to him , as risen from the Dead , they turn away from him under Satan's Witch-crafts ( Gal. 3. 1 , 3. ) to set up for themselves in their holy Flesh , or righteous Life , given them in their first Creation , in unchangeable Enmity to God and his holy Gospel-Spirit , offer'd by a second . So Satan , as God and Prince of this World , brings them under his Influence , by which , he renders them the most enrag'd Antichristian Enemies of Gospel-Saints and Truths , 1 Iohn 2. 19. A third part of the Angels will perish for ever . Of Mankind , the many in the broad , easy , self-pleasing Way to Hell , out-number Christ's few , in the narrow Way to Heaven , though they , also , out of all Generations , will be a numberless Multitude , Revel . 7. 9. CHAP. V. A short Review of the four preceding Chapters , by way of Recapitulation . CHAP. 1. God , infinitely blessed , from all Eternity , Chap. 2. Determin'd to create Angels and Men , to give them immortal Spirits , and to put into them a mortal Life , in their first-creation , to be call'd their own , with all the things thereof , their own Righteousness , Wisdom , Works , Fruits , &c. but all mortal , and to be done away for ever . He , therefore , determin'd to set up in personal Union with his Divine Nature , a Creature-Spirit of originally eternal Life , and render it communicable to Men and Angels , by a new Creation of them . The former rendred them but mystical Trees of Good and Evil. The latter makes them particular Trees of Life , under and with Christ. God , hereby , works all their works in them , ( Isa. 26. 12. ) and they , in him , Iohn 3. 21. The Leaves of such Trees never wither : every thing they do , therein , prospers , Psal. 1.3 . All good Works or Fruits done or brought forth by them in the former , at best , are nothing to God , ( Hos. 10. 1. Iob 35. 7 , 8. ) nor of any avail for their ever entring into his Kingdom , but only a new Creature , Gal. 6. 15. The most restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man , preach'd up and warranted for Salvation , is Man's Dream , under Satan's Witch-crafts ; all their delusive Doctrine , therein , Chaff , Psal. 1.4 . And what 's this Chaff to the Wheat , the Gospel-Doctrine , Words and Things of God ? Ier. 23. 28. Chap. 3. ( 1. ) In pursuance of God's twofold Purposes , for a twofold Creation of Angels and Men , the first of the Divine Three , call'd Father , did produce , beget , and set up a Creature-spirit of immortal Holiness , of the same Name in the Creature-part of the Mediator , with its Divine Producer , Father . ( 2. ) The Second , the Word , caus'd the said Creature-root , to bring forth a Branch , in the Fountain-purity of all mortal First-creation Being and Life , that was to be set up in Angels and Men , by a first Creation . ( 3. ) The Third , the Holy Gost , by its peculiar Operation , brought the Creature-Father and Son , into unchangeable personal Union , and so the whole Creature-nature in the Mediator , into unchangeable Union with his Divine Nature . The Creature-Son and Branch , thus exalted , was the immediate Creator of all things , in both Creations or Worlds , natural and spiritual , Heb. 1. 1 , 2. Chap. 4. ( 1. ) Thus were the Works , determin'd of God , to be set up in Angels and Men , by a first Creation , finish'd in the Mediator , by the right Use of all , in order to the second , Heb. 4. 3. ( 2. ) Herein , was the exalted Son and Branch , the living WORD and Book of God , in which were written the Names of all the Elect , that are to be conform'd to him , in the like Death of the first Creation , and Resurrection into the Life , given by a second . ( 3. ) The exalted Branch , or living WORD of God , gave Angels and Men their Being and Life , by a first Creation ; as the immediate Hand of God , for it . ( 4. ) He was , therein , the infallible Mouth of God , to declare his whole Counsel to them , for the right Use of all , given them , in their first Creation , in order to the second . ( 5. ) He was , therein , the High-Priest of God , to perform the like Death-work on them , as had pass'd upon himself , by the Original Melchisedec , his Creature-root and Father . ( 6. ) And lastly ; He was the ready prepar'd infallible Pattern , for them to follow , out of the mortal , earthly Life of the first Creation , into the immortal and heavenly , by a second , as the only Means and Way , to find the Salvation of Heaven , or scape the Damnation of Hell. CHAP. VI. Concerning the Trinity . THE three distinct Powers in the Divine Essence or Father , shining forth , from all Eternity , in the Divine Form or Son , consider'd separately , in each , or jointly in both , are call'd Father , Word and Holy Ghost , 1 John 5. 7. The one of these is not the other in the Divine Father or Son. The word , Father , as the Divine Essence is call'd , in distinction from the Divine Form or Son , is of a very differing Consideration from the same Word , as signifying the first of the Divine Three in both . So , the word , Son , as signifying the Divine Form , is of a very differing Signification from the same Word , as signifying the Second of the Divine Three , in Father and Son. The like may be said of the Third of the Divine Three , the Holy Ghost , in Father and Son , of distinct Significancy from what the Divine Father and Son , jointly together , are so call'd , as the one Infinite Divine Being . The Three distinct Divine Powers in the Divine Father and Son , do beget and set up their distinct secondary Record or Witness of themselves , in a Creature-Form , distinct from the Divine Form. The whole Creature-nature of the Mediator , Root and Branch , is call'd Earth , in distinction from the Divine Form in him , the supream Heaven of Heavens . Their threefold Witness in Earth , is signified by Spirit , Water and Blood , 1 John 5.8 . The same Three that are One in the Divine Nature , agree in compleating the one Mind of all Three , in the Earth , or whole Creature-nature of the Mediator . The Witness of the First of the Divine Three , is Spirit , a Creature-spirit of originally immortal , Holiness and eternal Life . The Witness of the Second , is call'd Water , signifying the Creature-Son and Branch , in the Fountain-purity of all mortal Being and Life , design'd to be set up in Angels and Men , by a first Creation . Blood signifies the Death of that , as first-born of every Creature , in order to its Resurrection into the originally unchangeable Life of its Root and Father , and , therein , first-born from the dead . In , by and through this Creature-form , do the three in the Divine let down the Vision of themselves , to the spiritual Sight and Enjoyment of Angels and Men ; and by such Transactions , therein , do notify to both , the only Means and Way for their true Blessedness , by the Death and Loss of all Life and Things receiv'd by them , in the mortal First-Covenant Law-life of the first Creation , in order to ascend into and receive his originally immortal new and everlasting Covenant Gospel-life , by a second , communicated to them by the exalted Son and Branch , as first-born from the dead ; and , therein , the immediate Performer of the one Will of the Divine Three , in both Creations , and in dealing with all Angels and Men , Good and Bad , in final Love or Wrath , to all Eternity , accordingly as they submit , or refuse to submit to the Terms of receiving the Life , offer'd by a second . Thus was the Foundation laid , within God himself , in the Creature-part of the Mediator , for rendring the three that are one in the Divine Nature , discernable and enjoyable to blessed Saints and Angels , in their spiritual new-Creation Capacities . Man's highest Wisdom and Understanding sees not the heavenly Creature-things of God , by which only the Divine Three can be known , 1 Cor. 2.9 . So , all his Conceptions , Thoughts and Words , about the Trinity , can be but implicite random-Conjectures and Discourses , not seeing or knowing what he says . The immediate discernable Objects of Man's highest natural Understanding , are but the mortal Life and Things of the first Creation , by which they ought to conclude and may know , there is an eternal Power and Godhead ; but see nor that , nor his heavenly Creature-things , immediately , Rom. 1. 20 , 21. 1 Cor. 2. 9. Isai. 66. 2. The Three in the Divine Essence or Father , singly and abstractedly consider'd , will be absolutely invisible to Saints and Angels in Heaven to all Eternity . And the Divine Form , Son or Glory thereof , in Christ's Person , will never be the immediate Object of their Sight , but be let down to them , in the first Conjunction thereof , with his Creature-root , through the exalted Creature-Son and Branch in him , the immediate Creator of all . This is the Branch , God made strong for himself , ( Psal. 80. 15. ) to perform his whole Divine Mind , in both Creations ; in this World , and the eternal World to come . This is the Branch that shall reign on Earth , execute Iudgment and Iustice , therein , as the Lord our Righteousness , Jer. 23. 5 , 6. & 33. 15 , 16. By and through this exalted Branch , the immediate Do-all , in both Creations , will the same Three in the Divine Essence , that shin'd forth in the Divine Form , from Eternity , let down themselves to blessed Angels and Saints , to Eternity . All the Three in the Divine Essence , and heavenly Creature-Glories , are one Trinity , and that Trinity , one individual God , Iohn 10. 20. The Three that are One in the Divine Nature , are the immediate Object to the Sight and Enjoyment of the whole Creature-nature in Christ ( Root and exalted Branch ) that 's in personal Union therewith : but never so , to any meer Creatures , blessed Saints or Angels , 1 Tim. 6. 15 , 16. Iohn 1. 18. Mat. 11. 27. They are personally united with the exalted Branch , in him , as Members of his mystical , spiritual Body , to which he is Head. But never so to his Creature-root ; and much less , yet , to his Divine Nature . The Three in the Divine Nature , shining forth to meer spiritual Creatures , by and through the exalted Branch , are no where , in Scripture , call'd a Trinity , nor said to be three Persons . If they be three Persons , as three distinct individual Angels or Men , in Angelical or humane Nature are , would they not be three distinct individual Gods ? would not this be the asserting a Tritheism , the lesser sort of Polytheism ? If they be call'd three Persons , it must be , as acknowledg'd in a Unity , transcendently above meer Creatures , who are so , in one specifical humane or angelical Nature . The three , in God , are three , in one individual Divine Nature , shining forth to Saints and Angels , in the Mediator's one individual Creature-nature , which , in and with his Divine Nature , is , with his Divine Father or Essence , one individual God. In this Sense , if any , may they be call'd three Persons . But the acknowledging three distinct Powers in God , may justly secure any , from the Imputation of Antitrinitarianism . They are so three , that the first is not the second ; nor second , the third . The Divine Form in Christ , is not the Divine Essence , nor his Creature-nature , his Divine ; nor his Creature-root , the Branch in him ; but all one individual incomprehensible God , Iohn 10. 30. He that says ( knows and owns ) God the Father and his Divine and Creature-Son , says all that God is , or is God. Man , in the fallible Understanding and corruptible Will of his First-creation Life , can never truly see , rightly know and do the one Will of both . All , therefore , that trust to their own Understanding , deny both the Divine Father , and the divine and heavenly Creature-Son . Whosoever denies the Divine and Creature - Son , hath not the Father . But he that rightly acknowledges the Son , hath the Father also , 1 John 2.22 , 23. Antichristian Deniers of both , pass in reputed Orthodox Man's Day of Judging , under Satan , God of this World , as the only true Christians , excommunicating or casting out of their worldly Churches , the true Owners of both , as the arrantest Hereticks and Blasphemers in the World. God the Son , or Mediator , in the Divine and Creature-glories of the Divine Essence or Father , is call'd a Person , 2 Cor. 2. 10. In his Creature-part , he is call'd the Brightness of the Divine Glory in himself ; and , therein , the express Creature - Image of God's whole Divine Person , Essence and Form , Heb. 1. 3. The Creature-root in the Mediator is God's Soul , not immediately discernable to the highest spiritual Understanding of meer Creatures : but , in its first Conjunction with Divine Nature , is let down to their Sight and Enjoyment , in and by the exalted Creature-Son and Branch , as God's Body , or Visibility of all , to them . Of the Creature-root , God's Soul , himself says , in reference to the unpardonably sinning Shepherds ( or pretending Teachers of the Way to Heaven , and Peace with God , in but the restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man ) my Soul loath'd them , and their Soul , also , abhorred me , Zech. 11. 8. Every individual Man , in the three essential Ingredients into his personal Constitution , Spirit , Soul and Body ( 1 Thess. 5. 23. ) is a shadowy Image of the three in one God ; and of the Divine Spirit , Creature-root or Soul , and Creature-body or Branch , in Christ's wonderful compounded Person . Man , in another Sense , was in the primitive Purity of his whole Being , a shadowy Image of God's Righteousness . This was lost , to all Mankind , by their first Sin , in and with Adam . The Reason therefore of the threaten'd Death on Murderers ( that whosoever sheds Man's Blood , by Man shall his Blood be shed : for in the Image of God , made he Man , Gen. 9. 6. ) relates to Man's being the Image of God , in the former Sense , Gen. 1. 26 , 27. The Image of him , in the latter , being wholly lost , the Murderers of him , in reference to that , might seem unaccountable . The Spirit of Man , singly and abstractedly consider'd , may seem a dark Shadow of the very Divine Essence , as comprehending in it , a threefold distinct Life , rational , sensual , and vegetable ; but all three , invisible and unexercis'd , till brought into hypostatical or personal Union with its fitly organiz'd Body . And , all the said three Lives , when brought into Exercise , are called a living Soul , in distinction from the Spirit , separately consider'd ; and , from the Body , that 's the personal Appearance or Visibility of the whole Man. And , in both and all , the Man is but one Person . CHAP. VII . The Mystery of God in general ( of all that is truly called God , and to be worship'd ) and , in particular , of God the Father , or Divine Essence ; and , of Christ , the Divine and Creature-Son , ( Col. 2. 2. ) both and all , one incomprehensible God , John 10. 30. IN general , all are one individual God. In particular , the Divine Form or Son ( though most intimately one with the Divine Essence or Father , in the one infinite Divine Nature ) became personally united with the Creature-form of God , the Divine Essence or Father , remaining , ever , single and uncompounded therewith , Gal. 3. 20. A Mediator is not of one Nature ; but God , in his Divine Essence , is one . God the Mediator , as consisting of two Natures , Divine and Creaturely , in personal Union , is fitted to mediate between infinite Divinity and finite Creaturality , in blessed Angels and Saints , for ever , 1 Tim. 2. 5. The Divine and Creature-Son will remain a Mediator , for ever , in Heaven , between infinite Divinity and elect Angels and Men , in their compleated spiritual Beings , and New-creation Capacities ; not in reference to Sin , or any Danger or Possibility of Sinning , ever incident to them . But , First ; For letting down the Visions of the Divine Glory or Form , in himself , with Safety , to their spiritual Understanding and Enjoyment , through the transparent Vail or heavenly Creature-Image of the Divine Nature , in him . No Man or Angel hath seen God , immediately , at any time , in his purely Divine Nature , nor ever will , or can , to all Eternity , in Heaven . The only begotten Son , will , in and by his Creature-spirit , as the prepar'd Means for it , let down the Visions thereof to them , at second hand , Iohn 1. 18. Mat. 11. 27. Should the Divine Glory of the Father , in the Son , shine forth , immediately , in the infinite Brightness thereof , on Gospel-Angels or Saints , in Heaven , it would be a consuming Fire to their very Beings , Deut. 4. 24. & 9. 3. Heb. 12. 29. The Request therefore of Moses , ran too high , when he said , Lord , I beseech thee , shew me thy Glory , Exod. 33. 18. That he meant the immediate Sight of the very Divine Glory , Form , or Face of God , in the Mediator , appears by God's favourable Answer to his mistaking Thought , saying , no Man or Angel ) can ever so see me , and live . But there 's a heavenly Creature - place by me , in personal Union with my Divine Glory , through which , as my back-parts , thou mayest see me ; but my Divine Face or Glory , shall never be immediately seen , by thee , or any meer Creature , to all Eternity , in Heaven , v. 20-23 . By and through the Creature-form or Face of God , in Christ , did he speak to Moses , Face to Face , ( v. 11. ) Mouth to Mouth , as his living Word , Numb . 12. 8. 'T is the peculiar Prerogative and transcendent Privilege of the Man Christ Jesus , only , to see the Divine Glory , immediately , in himself , as the supream Ingredient into his personal Constitution . He is that King of Kings and Lord of Lords , in the Creature-part of his wonderful Person , dwelling with and in that Divine Light or Glory , which no Man or Angel , can ever so near approach unto , as immediately to see , 1 Tim. 6. 15 , 16. Thus will the Dignity and Prerogative of the infinite Divinity , and the peculiar Privilege of Creature-nature in the Mediator , be preserv'd , in the transcendent Superiority of both and all , above all meer Creatures , Saints and Angels , for evermore . And so will they be secur'd in their unspeakable Privileges and utmost Blessedness , by the wonderful compounded Divine and Creature-person of the Mediator . Secondly ; A second Office of the Mediator , to all Eternity , in Heaven , will be the presenting the blessed Persons of Angels and Saints , with their spiritual Sacrifices of Praise and Thanksgiving , to the absolute well-pleasing Acceptation of his Father and their Father , ( John 20. 17. ) his God and their God , in , with , and through him , for evermore , 1 Pet. 2. 5. The Multitude of Saints which no Man can number , ( Revel . 7.9 . ) and the innumerable Company of Gospel-Angels ( Heb. 12. 22. ) will , in their eternal Praises to God most high , acknowledg and ascribe their eternal Blessedness in the Sight and Enjoyment of him , to his electing Love , in the Free-Grace-Purposes and Counsels of his Divine Mind , from Eternity , as the single and only supream distinguishing Cause of their everlasting Blessedness , from those that perish , for ever , under his everlasting Curse , and unquenchable Wrath. Creature-nature , of immediate Divine Begetting , qualifies him to mediate between two vastly distinct Natures , Divine and meer creaturely , in Angels and Men ; so as to answer all that can rightly be desir'd by them , and to enable them , to answer all that God requires of them . By his right Performances , therein , on both and all Accounts , Divine Nature can't suffer the least Diminution , nor meer Creatures , Angels or Men , be swallow'd up , or consum'd , in their highest Exaltation . The infinite Dignity of the one , and unspeakable Privileges of the other , will ever be preserv'd by the Mediator . He is the wonderful Counsellor , the mighty God , the everlasting Father ( of Saints and Angels ) the Prince of Peace , the only Procurer of their everlasting Peace with God , Isa. 9. 6. He transforms and translates us , out of the earthly Life of the Creature , and fallible Understandings , and Freedom of our own corruptible Wills , receiv'd in our first Creation , into the heavenly , eternal Gospel-life of himself , our Creator , and infallible spiritual Understanding of all things , and incorruptible Will , therein , for the right doing all things , God requires of us ; which is the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God , in unchangeable Harmony with his infinite Divine Will. The Head of every Man , is Christ ; the Head of the Woman is the Man ; and , the Head of Christ , is God , 1 Cor. 11. 3. The Woman , or natural Man , in the changeable Womanish Life of the First-creation , is , by Death , and Resurrection into the unchangeable manly Life of the second , brought into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God , into unchangeable Harmony with the infinite Divine Will. In this Transformation , the manly Spirit of Christ , becomes the Head of the transform'd womanish Spirit of Man ; and , the Head of every such spiritual Man , is Christ ; and , the Head of Christ's whole compounded Person , is God , the single , uncompounded Divine Essence or Father of all . But all these Superiorities and Inferiorities , in God the Father , and his Divine and Creature-Son , are swallow'd up in Christ's wonderful compounded Person , into an equality , as with his Divine Father , one incomprehensible God , Iohn 10. 30. All , that 's in personal Union with the infinite Divinity , is God. CHAP. VIII . The Mystery of Godliness , and Mystery of Iniquity . TO awaken'd spiritual Saints , it is given to know the Mystery of the Kingdom of God , the Mystery and Power of Godliness : but , to them that are without such spiritual Life and Knowledg , all the spiritual heavenly Creature-things of God , prepar'd for them that love him , are done and spoken in Parables , earthly Figures and Similitudes . So , hearing , they hear , but do not understand ; seeing , they see , yet not perceive , or rightly take the mystical Truths , therein and by , signified , Mat. 13. 13 , 14. and Mark 4. 11 , 12. They desire not to understand them , they are so contrary to their own Wills , and self-Interests . They , rather , like , chuse and approve of Satan's Mystery of Iniquity , and embrace the Doctrine that carries on that , which gratifies their own Wills , both as to self-Interests in this World , and a delusive Hope , therein , for true Blessedness , in the World to come , also . In Conclusion , he that hath not the Life , God has prepar'd and offer'd by a New Creation , which alone is eternal , from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have , or thinks to be eternal Life , Luke 8. 18. And so , will he find eternal Death , in a most exquisite Sensibleness of his whole Being , Spirit , Soul and Body , under the unquenchable Wrath of God. This will Men get , by following Satan's delusive Gospel , in his Mystery of Iniquity . Those that shall be Saints , till the spiritual Seed of true Saintship be waken'd up in them , may be , for a time , under the same delusive Power of Satan , with others . Paul , till then , was a fierce , self-confident Enemy to Gospel-Saints and Truths , in the Law-righteousness of Man , under Satan's Mystery of Iniquity , Phil. 3.6 . All reading of the Scriptures , or hearing them expounded by Men , in Law-righteousness , however eminent in their own Understandings , will never deliver from being captivated by Satan's Mystery of Iniquity . All Scripture is a Book seal'd , Isa. 29. 11. Let Man , in but his own Understanding search the Scriptures , he will not come to Christ , the living Word and Book of God , for that Life , in which , alone , 't is possible to understand , receive and own the mystical Truth of all . Such Interpreters , with their self-confident Hearers , should they be at this Work , longer than Methuselah liv'd , they 'd still be wholly to seek , as when they began , as to that eternal Life and things of God , in which , 't is possible to enter into his Kingdom , or scape the Damnation of Hell. Awaken'd Saints , in their new spiritual , infallible , all-discerning Understanding , are enabled to see and declare , not only , the heavenly Creature-life and things of God , therein ; but , to pry and search into the deep things of the infinite Divinity , in Christ's Person , ( 1 Cor. 2. 9 , 10. ) to understand all things , ( v. 15. ) the divine and spiritual things of God , and what the natural things of Man , given him in his first Creation , amount unto . The becoming a little Child , as to the Life , Wisdom , Will and Understanding of Man , in order to a receiving the heavenly spiritual eternal Creature-life and Things of God , his Wisdom , his everlasting Righteousness , true Holiness , a new infallible Understanding , for knowing all things , and a new incorruptible Will , for doing all things well , in God's Sight ; this , Christ makes absolutely necessary to our ever entrin into his Kingdom , Mat. 18. 3. and Luke 18. 17. Paul , an eminent self-confident Pharisee , in the Law-righteousness of Man , and a fierce Persecutor of Gospel-Saints , was , doubtless , of high esteem with those that in his Law-principle were wise , strong and honourable . But , when a Gospel-Saint , he became as a little Child , a Fool weak , and despicable , in the Judgment of those , who were wise , strong and honourable in restor'd Law-life and First-covenant Attainments from Christ ; Phil. 3. 6-11 . 1 Cor. 4. 10. When a Gospel-Saint , he renounc'd the Knowledg of Christ himself , after the Flesh ; to be married to him in that Spirit , into which risen , out of the Death of our Nature , in himself , 2 Cor. 5. 16. Rom. 7. 4. He had , now , a Life and Things , as far above all , given Angels and Men , in their first Creation , as the Heavens are higher than the Earth . This Life , hid with Christ in God , from Man's highest Understanding ; and , all Man regards , given up , in Sacrifice to God , what Esteem could he find , with Men ? This has been the Case of true Saints , Prophets and Apostles , and of Christ himself , all along this World , from Abel , to this Day , Matth. 23. 34 , 35. While any are confident in Satan's Mystery of Iniquity , preferring the Law-life of the Creature and Righteousness of Man , to the Gospel-life of the Creator and everlasting Righteousness of God , therein , such are the greatest Haters of true Saints , and were the Murderers of Christ himself , when Pilate a Heathen Judg , would have releas'd him , as finding no Fault in him , John 18. 38. & 19. 4 , 6. Christ warns his true Followers , to expect the like Usage , from such , Iohn 15. 18-20 . & 16. 1 , 2. Saints , fix'd in Union of Mind , with God , become the most hateful to all , fix'd in the Law-righteousness of Man , in unchangeable Union with the Devil . In the Form of Godliness and Righteousness of Man , they deny the Power of Godliness and Righteousness of God , as a diabolical Fiction , 2 Tim. 3.5 . Such said of Christ himself , he had a Devil , and was mad . Here 's the demeanour of any , fix'd in Satan's Mystery of Iniquity , to such as experience and declare the Mystery of Godliness . Hence , are God's true New - Ierusalem-Saints a Contempt , all along this World , under Satan's Reign . But , when Christ shall appear the second time , in his all-powerful , all-discovering Gospel-light , and enter upon his Reign on Earth , they 'l be a Praise in the Earth . For this , therefore , all Gospel-Saints and Angels continually pray , and keep not silence , Isa. 62. 6 , 7. Man's Wisdom denies true Godliness to be any Mystery , at all , which God's Wisdom declares without Controversy , and beyond all dispute or question , to be a great Mystery , 1 Tim. 3.16 . The Scriptures , and Mind of God therein , as to the eternal Concerns of Men , are easy to be understood , says Man : impossible to be understood , says God , by Man's highest Understanding , in the Light , Wisdom , and Righteousness of Man , 1 Cor. 2. 9 , 14. Isa. 29. 11. God , here says , what learned Man should say , in his highest Wisdom . 'T is not in Man , to make one right Step towards eternal Life , in his own best natural Understanding , Reason or Wisdom , Ier. 10. 23. 'T is , says Man's Wisdom , and warrants final Peace with God , therein ( Ezek. 13. 1-10 . ) where there 's no such Peace . Boldly and confidently does Man's lying Spirit of Divination , in Satan's Gospel-Divines , say this , and warrant their Hearers , they 'l confirm their Word , v. 6. Man may know God's infinite Divine Power , by the things that are made in the First-creation : but , sees neither his Divine Nature and things thereof , nor any of his hidden , spiritual , eternal Creature-things , prepar'd to be given , by a new or second Creation , Rom. 1. 20. 1 Cor. 2. 9. All Mankind are capable of , and may receive the common Salvation , as a Fruit of Christ's Death , in our Nature , and convincing Discoveries of his Truth , or Gospel-life , if they will , 1 Tim. 2. 4. But , as to special Salvation , or eternal Gospel-life , this is not of him that willeth , but of God , who will shew such Mercy , to whom he will , Rom. 9. 15 , 16. Many , in all possible Attainments in the former , will perish for ever . Satan attempted to bring Christ himself to be a Member of his Church , or Synagogue , and worship him as God , in his Mystery of Iniquity , Mat. 4. 8 , 9. where are we , till infallibly experiencing his Gospel-life , and therein the Mystery of Godliness ? All along this World , under God's most wise Permission , Satan and his Gospel-Ministers , transform'd into the Likeness of Christ and his , carry all before them , 2 Cor. 11. 13-15 . All , in but their own Spirit and worldly Life , at best , wonder and run after them , ( Revel . 13. 3 , 4. ) worshipping the Dragon , and under and with him , opening their Mouth in Blasphemy against God , and his Creature-name , that 's his heavenly Tabernacle , and them that dwell therein , v. 5,6 . And it is given to him and his Party amongst Men , to make War with Saints , and overcome them , ver . 7. They are condemn'd as Traitors , discovering his Counsels in the Mystery of Iniquity , and he will cause them , to be so accounted , also , against Heathen Cesars , and others , of his Party , under him . Christ himself was condemn'd and murder'd , on this Pretence , Iohn 19. 12 , 15. Saints can discover him , when sitting in the Temple of God , shewing himself that he is God ( 2 Thess. 2. 4. ) to be the worst of all Creatures , the Man of Sin , and Son of Perdition , ver . 3. Will he quietly bear this Discovery ? will he not , by his humane Instruments , shew his utmost Rage against them ? and , God permits . But be it as it will ; the Sum of all true Gospel-teaching , is a declaring the Mystery of Godliness , for the Salvation of Men and preventing their Damnation ; and , a discovering Satan's Mystery of Iniquity for the Damnation of Men , and preventing their Salvation . So , only , can Saints , with Paul , become free from the Blood of all Men , ( Acts 20. 26. Ezek. 33. 7-9 . ) as having no Share in that Guilt , by which they bring that Blood upon their own Heads , which will be found to amount unto no less than eternal Death to their whole Beings , Spirit , Soul , and Body , in a Resurrection of Damnation . The experimental Knowers of the Mystery and Power of Godliness , and faithful Discoverers of the Mystery of Iniquity , will have a Resurrection of Life , ( John 5. 29. ) above all Deaths , temporal or eternal . CHAP. IX . The first Sin , Fall , and Punishment of many evil Angels , and of all Mankind , in Adam . EVIL Mankind , in Adam , joyn'd with evil Angel-kind , in Satan , through a mutual Union of Love to themselves and one another , electing or chusing for themselves , their own earthly , mortal , First covenant Law-life of the Creature , given by a First-creation , in preference and opposition to the heavenly , immortal , Second-covenant Gospel-life of the Creator , offer'd them by a second or new Creation . The evil Angels herein , did , at first , commit the unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost , under the immediate Beamings forth of Christ's heavenly Creature-Gospel spirit , the Son of everlasting Righteousness , upon their highest , single intuitive natural Understandings . Secondly , They had no superiour Rank of Creatures , in the First-creation , already fallen , above them in Subtlety and Power , to tempt them . Thirdly , They were all , actually created and set up , in their compleated personal Beings and Life , at first ; Mankind receive their personal Beings , successively , Generation after Generation . Fourthly , Mankind's first Sin , in Adam , was not against such clear Knowledg of their own unspeakable Concern , as well as Duty to God , though in the same kind of First-covenant Law-life , with Angels . The inferiour Ingredients into Man's personal Constitution ( bodily , Sensual-life , tho created pure and incorrupt ) rendred his intuitive Discerning , inferiour to that of Angels , where 't was single and alone . Hence , what was immediately and more convincingly made known to Angels , was represented to Adam , by a figurative Tree of Life ; and , himself , in distinction from that , by the Tree of Good and Evil. The former represented Christ to him , in that heavenly Creature-life , offer'd by a new Creation : the latter , represented himself to himself , as but a mystical Tree of Good and Evil , in his own Life , given in his first Creation , corruptible and changeable , mortal and perishable , with all the earthly things , therein , Will , Understanding , Righteousness , Wisdom , &c. with all Works or Fruits ever possible to be done or brought forth , therein . By , and under the superiour Subtlety and Power of the Devil , the mystical Old Serpent , was Adam , in the primitive Purity of his whole Being , and Mankind , in him , as their Head and Representative , induc'd , perswaded and deceiv'd , so as to prefer Satan's self-pleasing Lie , to God's Spirit of Grace and Truth . So , under and with the Serpent , he chose his own earthly Life of the Creature , in preference to God's own heavenly Creature-life of the Creator . Many of Mankind , when restor'd out of the Darkness and Death of their own Spirits , into the Light , Life and Righteousness of Man , do sin again , in their own Persons , after the Similitude of Adam's first Transgression , who , at best , in Innocency , was but a Figure of the Second Adam who was to come , in the Fountain-purity of our Nature , and also , full of the Holy Ghost ( Luke 4. 1. Iohn 1. 14. ) his heavenly Creature-spirit of Grace and Truth , Rom. 5. 14. This Sin , again , in their own Persons ( after all sad Experience of fallen Mankind , thereby , in Adam , and all Warnings and Counsels of God , since ) is unrepentable by them , ( Heb. 6. 4 , 6. ) and unpardonable , by God , Heb. 10. 26 , 27. This is the Case of any , that conclusively and absolutely prefer their own restor'd earthly Life of the Creature and Righteousness of Man , to the heavenly Creature-life of the Creator , and everlasting Righteousness of God , therein . All , that will not receive and have , the heavenly Creature-life of God ( by submitting to the Death of restor'd Nature , at best , the Loss of all their own Life and things , therein ) God will take away the said Life , from them , again , and lay them down , for ever , under his unquenchable Wrath , in eternal Death , Luke 8. 18. This is that , Christ says , Mat. 16.25 . Whosoever will save his Life , shall lose it : and , whosoever will hate and lose his own Life , for my Sake , from Love to my heavenly Creature-life , shall find it , with unspeakable Gain , as chang'd by Death and Resurrection , into an eternal Life . Satan was at it , with Christ himself , ( Matth. 4. 8 , 9. ) to stay and set up with and under him , as a State of true Happiness , in the mortal Life of our Nature ; and , by his Apostle Peter , was at the same Point , to pity and spare himself , there , saying , be the Death thereof , far from thee : this shall not be unto thee . Christ discover'd and declar'd this Word of Peter , to be Satan's Counsel , in and by him , Mat. 16. 21-23 . As the first Sin of Angels was differing from Man's first Sin , so was the Punishment . The Punishment of evil Angels , was the giving them their own evil Choice , their own self-chosen earthly Life , receiv'd in their First-creation , with all the things thereof , their own Wisdom , Righteousness , Subtlety and Power , all natural Excellencies and Perfections , therein , as by them abus'd , turn'd into , and us'd , in unchangeable Enmity to God and his heavenly Creature spirit of eternal Life . God also permitted to them the Exercise of a ruling Power over sallen Mankind , all along this World , by which , Satan carries on the same delusive Work , as on Adam , at first : that the Life , given in the First-creation , is eternal , no need of a second ; nor , therefore , of the Death of the first . Ye shall not die , Gen. 3. 3. This is Satan's uniform Lie , all along this World , that the Life given in the First-creation is eternal . You must die , or never live and reign with me , in my heavenly Creature-life , which is eternal : This is Christ's Truth , his faithful Saying , 2 Tim. 2. 11 , 12. There 's nothing more pleasing to Man's Will , in the restor'd earthly Life of the First Adam , than Satan's Lie : and , nothing so universally contrary to it , as God's Truth ; that , the Death and Loss thereof , with all the things therein , is indispensably neceessary to any Man 's receiving that Life which is eternal , by a new Creation . Man , in the restor'd Life of the First Adam's living Soul , and highest spiritual enlightning Gifts , convincing him of the Life offer'd by a Second , and of the Necessity of parting again , with the restor'd earthly Life and things of the First Adam 's living Soul , for the heavenly Life and Things of the Second Adam 's quickning Spirit ; under all this Mercy , is Man liable , through his own unspeakable Folly , to be bewitch'd back from looking after Christ's heavenly , Gospel-life , shew'd and offer'd him , and to set up for himself , under and with Satan , in his own earthly Law-life and Righteousness , signified by Holy Flesh , Gal. 3. 1 , 3. This may be call'd a Sinning after the Similitude of the evil Angels first Transgression , under the clearest Discovery of the Life offer'd by a new Creation , with the Terms of receiving it , and their unspeakable Concern for submitting thereto , as the only possible Means to find eternal Life , or scape eternal Death . That the Punishment of evil Angels for their first Sin , by God's giving them up , to their own self-chosen Life , and their own Will and Way , therein , all along this World , that this was a greater Punishment than Man 's for his first Sin , ( which was the Death and Loss of his abus'd First-covenant Life and Things , receiv'd by a First-creation ) may seem strange to Man's Wisdom , who reckons , Adam should have kept what he had , in the primitive Purity of his First-creation , the keeping of which , in preference to the Life of the Creator , offer'd by a Second , was his Sin ; the Loss of it , by God's taking it , from him , his Punishment . At Man's rate of Judging , the evil Angels were in the Right , as keeping what they receiv'd in their First-creation , all the Glories and Excellencies , Wisdom and Power , therein . Quest. Could Mankind , or human Nature , at best , in Adam , chuse the heavenly Creature-life of God , shewn and offer'd them , by a New Creation ? Answ. No. Neither Man nor Angel had Power in their own earthly Life and Wills , to choose the heavenly Creature-life of God , offer'd by a New Creation : for , then they would have elected themselves . The receiving from Christ , as a Fruit of his meritorious Sufferings and Death in our Nature , the renew'd Life and Righteousness of the First-creation , is of him that willeth . All may receive that , if they will. But , the attaining and receiving of the Life , God offers , by a Second-creation , this is not of him that willeth or runneth , in his own Spirit and Will , at best , but of God who will shew this Mercy , to whom he will , only , Rom. 9. 15 , 16. All , that finally elect or chase for themselves their own earthly Life of the Creature , reject the heavenly Creature-life of the Creator . All , that God has elected , will be brought to hate and lose their own earthly Life , at best , from love to his heavenly , as the only Way to receive it . A third Part of Angels fell , irrecoverably , by their first Sin , Revel . 12. 4. The far greater part of Mankind , the many in the broad Way , will be found irrecoverably fallen , for ever . Yet , will Christ's few , in the narrow Way , be an innumerable Multitude , Revel . 7. 9. CHAP. X. The second Sacrifice of Christ , in our whole human Nature , Spirit , Soul , and Body . IN and by his first Sacrifice , he became the immediately fitted Hand of God , ( the living Word of God , which is God , Iohn 1. 1-3 . ) for performing the whole Divine Will , in both Creations of Angels and Men , and in dealing with them , all , for ever , in final Love or Wrath. This first Sacrifice related not to the Pardon of Sin , in Angels or Men. They were none of them , then , extant in their own personal Beings . A Preparation for preventing Sin , in both and all , was thereby made ; notwithstanding which , many Angels sinn'd and fell , irrecoverably . All Mankind sinn'd and fell , in and with Adam ; but , recoverably , both as to their Sin and Punishment , and also to a being render'd capable of that true Salvation-life , they , at first refus'd . This second Sacrifice of Christ , therefore , in our Nature , related only to the Sins of Mankind . The good Angels never sinn'd , at all . The evil , were absolutely unpardonable . In reference to Sin , therefore , Christ took on him the Nature of Man , not of Angels , ( Heb. 2. 16. ) and , therein , became a little lower than Angels , even than evil Angels , in the Glory of their First-creation , chosen by them , and granted them by God , in his just Judgment on them , with a ruling Power over Mankind , therein , all along this short-liv'd World ; and then to be stripp'd of all their worldly Power and Glory , and laid down , for ever , in everlasting Burnings , under his unquenchable Wrath , in the lowest Hell-part of the eternal World , to come . In reference to this second Sacrifice of Christ , we are to consider his Entrance into this World , in our Nature . The Virgin Mary was found with Child , of the Holy Ghost , Mat. 1. 18. An Angel appears to Joseph , in a Dream , telling him , that what was conceiv'd in her , was of the Holy Ghost ; and , warn'd him , that when born , he should call his Name , Iesus , that would save his People from their Sins ; and , Immanuel , also , was he to be call'd , that is , God with us , ver . 20-23 . Isa. 7. 14. The like Account , as to his wonderful Formation in the Womb of the Virgin , we find , Luke 1. 26-35 . and his Birth , Luke 2. 7. The good Angels rejoic'd thereat ( Luk. 2. 13 , 14. ) not in reference to a procuring their Pardon for Sin , having never sinn'd ; but , as knowing thereby , the time drawing near , for them ( with Old-Testament-Saints ) to receive the Holy Ghost , which they waited for , all along , four thousand Years , by a living spiritual Faith , working by Love to God , therein , and amounting to an indissoluble Union with Christ , therein . But , the Holy Ghost was not given to Angels or Saints , till our Nature , in Christ , was ascended and glorified , Iohn 7. 39. Both the said Angels and Saints obtain'd a good Report with God , as well-pleasing to him , by a living spiritual Faith therein , though they had not receiv'd the promis'd Holy Ghost , Heb. 11. 39. From the good Angels Concern , herein , did they , with Old-Testament-Prophets , desire to pry , look into , and diligently to search out what manner of time , the Spirit of Christ in them , did signify , when it testified beforehand , the Sufferings of Christ , and the Glory that should follow ( 1 Pet. 1. 10-12 . ) to our ascended , glorified Nature , in him ; and to them , by the Holy Ghost's being sent down from Heaven , into Angels , with the Spirits of Old-Testament-Saints , departed , and New-Testament-Gospel Saints , in the mortal Body , Act. 2 . 1-4 . This is the other , better Comforter ( Christ told his Disciples , the Father in pursuance and for accomplishing of his Free-Grace-Mercy , to them , would send ) than he had yet been to them , as a fleshly Bridegroom , in the but restor'd First-covenant Life and Righteousness of Man , therein , Iohn 14. 26. This better Comforter , he told them , would teach them all things ( divine and spiritual ) and so bring to their Remembrance , all that he had hitherto , spoken to them , in Parables , earthly Figures and Similitudes , in which , the mystical divine and spiritual Truths , lay hid from them , as well as others . The good Angels also rejoic'd at the Birth of Jesus , on the behalf of Mankind , in general ; and , of Saints , in special , as the means for recovering all , out of the Darkness and Death , into which brought by their first Sin and Punishment thereof , Gen. 2. 17. Iohn 1. 9. The World was made by him , yet when he came into the World , none , in their worldly Life of the Creature , at best , either knew , receiv'd , or own'd him , Iohn 1.10 . The righteous First-Covenant professing Jews , in Union of mind with evil Angels , were the most signally enrag'd Contradicters , Blasphemers and Murderers of him , for his Gospel-Doctrine of Salvation , Acts 3 . 13-15 . The exalted Son and Branch , was the immediate Former of himself , in the Womb of the Virgin , the Son of God , on Earth , remaining , still , what he was in the Beginning , the Son of Man in Heaven , John 3. 13. Evil Angels and Men were God's permissive Hand , under his infinite over-ruling Wisdom and Power , to finish the Death-work on all that was mortal , about him , in our Nature ; and so , oft , on Saints , to their greatest Good , and Enemies greatest hurt . Hereby , do they compleat Saints Conformity to Christ's Death , freeing them from all that 's mortal , about them , while in the Body , Isa. 57. 1 , 2. The Iews would have made Christ , a King , if he would have own'd his Kingdom , in that mortal First-covenant Law-life they saw him in , Iohn 6. 15. But , witnessing his Kingdom , not to be in that worldly Law-life , but in his Gospel-life of Grace and Truth , ( Iohn 18. 36 , 37. ) they murder'd him , and so , compleated the Death of him , as to that mortal Law-life , wherein they would have made him their King. They chose rather to be Subjects to a Heathen King , than such a King as he own'd himself to be , ( Iohn 19. 12 , 15. ) who would have made him such a King , as would have render'd them Traitors and Enemies to Cesar. Here 's the confounded Doings of Man , at best , in his own worldly Spirit and Life . Some Corinthians , Laodiceans , and other Professors , in but the First-covenant-life and Righteousness of Man , all along , since , are of the same mind , with them , 1 Cor. 4. 8. Rev. 3. 17. The God of this World offer'd Christ , a far larger Bribe than the Jews did , all the Kingdoms of this World , visible and invisible , under him ( all worldly Power , Human and Angelical ) in Case he would own his Kingdom to be in this First-creation Worldly-life , Mat. 4. 8 , 9. Whoever are finally taken with his worldly Bribes , the literal or mystical Riches of this First-creation World , do fall down and worship him , as God. And , by such Loyal Subjects of him , does he murder true Saints , that refuse so to do ; as they did Christ himself . True Heaven-born Sons of God , have the whole self-confident legal-spirited Generation of Professsors , on the same Account , universally , in all times , against them . They mortally and irreconcileably hate them , for owning the Death-work of Christ's Gospel-spirit of Grace , on that Law-spirit of Works , they confidently trust in , for entring into the Kingdom of God. Such become the highest Rank of Satan's Subjects , and most serviceable Instruments for maintaining the Credit of his worldly Kingdom , as the only true Blessedness , to any . God's Thoughts and Ways for true Salvation , are not as Man 's : and , when he has declar'd his Ways , in his holy Oracles , let Man's highest Wisdom undertake the interpreting them , all shall run on Satan's Side , God's Thoughts , therein , remaining fast seal'd and lock'd up , from Man's best Understanding , in but a restor'd First-covenant Life , Isa. 29. 11. CHAP. XI The Difference of Christ's Death , in our Nature , as to the intent and Extent thereof , from Saints Conformity to him , by the Death of Nature , in them . CHRIST's condescending to take our Nature , and , therein , by the Grace of God , to taste Death for every Man , ( Heb. 2. 9. ) was in reference to the pardonable Sins of Mankind , in Adam , and , also , in their own Persons . This was God's appointed Way , for the redeeming and recovering them out of their fallen State , wherein born , dead in Trespasses and Sins , ( Ephes. 2. 1. Col. 2. 13. ) into the Light , and also Life , receiv'd by them , in their First-creation . All may receive this general Redemption-Mercy , the Common-Salvation-Work of Christ , as a Fruit of his meritorious Sufferings and Death , in our Nature , if they will. But , as to the special eternal Salvation of the Elect , in his new and everlasting Covenant Gospel-life , this is not of him that willeth or runneth , in the most fruitful Exercise of his own restor'd First-covenant Law-life , but , of God's Free-Grace - Mercy , which he will ( effectually and infallibly ) shew , to whom he pleases , only . The ceasing from their own Life , Will , and Understanding , is the only appointed Way for their receiving this special eternal Salvation-life of God. Iude ( with others ) writ of both these distinct Salvations , common and special , temporal and eternal . And when he had , with all Diligence , inform'd them of the former , he found it needful to exhort them , to contena earnestly , in Prayer to God , for a living spiritual Faith , working by Love to him , in the latter , in which , only , true Saintship and Salvation ever could or will be found , by any Man , Iude v. 3. Thus is Christ the Saviour of all Men , with a common or general Salvation ; but of them that believe in his Gospel-life , and place all their Hopes of Salvation , in that , with a special , 1 Tim. 4. 10. They trust in the living God , that living Word of God , which is God , John 1.1 . Those that wax confident in the common Salvation , the restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man , do trust in that Life , for Entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven , which Christ crucified , in the Fountain-purity of it , in himself . God will , not only , that all Men should be saved , with the common Salvation , but has rendred them capable also of receiving the Knowledg of the Truth , ( 1 Tim. 2. 4. ) his Gospel-spirit of Grace and Truth , by the convincing Discoveries thereof , to their natural Understandings . But , after all this , are they liable to apostatize , fall away , and finally refuse so great Salvation , as is thereby offer'd them , and perish for ever , Heb. 6. 4-6 . The submitting , in Passive Obedience , to the Death and Loss of all , receiv'd from Christ , in the Common-Salvation-Benefit of his Death , rendring them but holy Flesh , is absolutely necessary to their finding the special , eternal Salvation-life of his holy Gospel-spirit , the Holy Ghost . Otherwise , after all , receiv'd in the Common-Salvation , they 'l find everlasting Destruction . Conformity to Christ's Death , by the Death of Nature , at best , in us , is the appointed way , to reign with him , in the Life he is ascended into , out of the Death thereof , in himself , Rom. 6. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 11 , 12. Nor Devil , nor Jews , could prevail with him , to own his Kingdom in the Fountain-purity of his worldly Law-life ; but , in that Gospel-spirit of eternal Life , he was to ascend into , out of the Death thereof . Paul , when a Gospel-Saint , would no longer know , or own Christ himself , after the Flesh , in but the restor'd fleshly First-covenant Law-life and Righteousness of Man , but , in his holy Gospel-spirit and Righteousness of God , therein , 2 Cor. 5. 16. As married to him , therein , only , is it ever possible for any , to bring forth Fruit unto God , Rom. 7. 4. All , fix'd by Satan and themselves , in the Common-Salvation , become the most irreconcileable Enemies to those , in the special . Those that own but the Form of Godliness , Righteousness of Man , in the Common-Salvation , as a State of true Happiness , and finally deny the Power of Godliness in Christ's Gospel-life , they are mystical Infidels , ( after all such temporary Faith in Christ , by which they have receiv'd their own Life , again , from him ) the most criminal Sinners , spiritual Sodom , Egypt , and Babylon , such as crucified our Lord , ( Revel . 11. 8. ) and have been the Murderers of true Saints , all along this World , from Abel , downwards , and will so be , to the ending thereof ; and , reckon , they do God Service , therein , John 16. 2. Literal Infidels vastly out-number these mystical Ones , not believing in Christ , at all , so as to receive the Common-Salvation-Life and Righteousness of Man , from him . What a World of such , is there , now , in this World ? Mahumetans , other Pagans and Infidels , and amongst all Varieties of such as are call'd Christians , innumerable even of them , not living in the Principle of rational Light , that many meer Heathens walk in Obedience to . What final , eternal Benefit , are all these like to find , from the meritorious Sufferings and Death of Christ , in our Nature ? Saints Conformity to Christ's Death , as true Followers of him , in the narrow , unpleasing Way to Nature , through the Strait Gate of Entrance into his eternal Gospel-life , relates not , at all , to the peculiar Benefits of Christ's Death in our Nature , for Mankind , in general ; or , Saints , in special . But , 't is their unspeakable Advantage , to follow him into the said Death , by the Death of Nature , at best , or in whatever Condition , as the only Way to find the Salvation of Heaven , or scape the Damnation of He●l . The restor'd righteous Life of Man , in his own Spirit of Works , put him , afresh , upon his own personal Trial , for the Right Use thereof , as was the Case of Adam , at first . If from Self-love , he finally chuse this , in preference to the Gospel-life and Righteousness of God , therein , he sins , again , in his own Person , after the Similitude of Adam's pardonable Transgression ( Rom. 5. 14. ) unpardonably , and unrepentably , Heb. 6. 4 , 6. & 10. 26 , 27. Filth of Spirit , Enmity to God's Divine and Creature-Holy-Ghost or Spirit , lurking under all Righteousness of Man's holy Flesh , will , to all , unchangeably fix'd therein , be eternal Death . The Surrender and Loss of the Life of our own Spirits , at best , and our own fallible Understandings and corruptible Wills , therein , is the only Way to arrive at the happy Experience of an infallible Understanding and an incorruptible Will , in God's heavenly Creature-life , the only Principle of everlasting well-pleasing active Obedience to him , and Blessedness to us . A ceasing from the best Works , and fasting from the best Fruits , performable or producible by us in our own Spirit , Will , and Way , to live in God's Sabbath-Spirit of true Rest , to us in him and him in us , and Delight only in such incorruptible Fruits as can be brought forth by us , in his Spirit only , this is such a Fast , and such a Sabbath as he has chosen , Isa. 58. 5 , 13. And this , will all , whom he has chosen , be brought unto , by his infinite Free-Grace-Mercy . All outward bodily Fastings and Sabbath-keepings , never accompanied with this inward mystical Truth of all , were an Abomination to God , when his own literal , figurative Appointments and Ordinances to the Jews , Isa. 1. 10-15 . & 66. 3. Gospel-life is the Wine of Christ's Kingdom , which Saints , with Christ , can daink of , only , in his Kingdom-spirit , as , therein , new Creatures ; Mark 14. 25. This was figur'd in Iotham's Parable , cheering God and Man , ( Judg. 9. 13. ) answering all , Man can rightly desire of God , and enabling him , to answer all , God requires of him . No such true New - Ierusalem-Saints , shall ever have occasion to say , we are sick , ( Isa. 33.24 . ) or need any thing ; and to say , we fear no Danger of Repenting , or Change , from a mind of everlasting Obedience to God ; nor , therefore , of Condition , from a State of unchangeable Blessedness , in the Sight and Enjoyment of him , in his infinite Divine Favour and Love. This gets Man , by a change from his own earthly , continual sinning Life of Vanity , to God's own heavenly never-sinning Gospel-life . He will be enabled , therein , to say with Christ , I was dead in my own Spirit , and am alive for evermore , in his , Rev. 1. 18. Our own right Eye , Hand , and Foot , the highest Light , best Practice , and walking in our own Spirit , Understanding and Will , must be pluck'd out , cut off , and cast away , or we shall be cast into Hell-fire , Mark 9. 43-48 . They offend us , as rendring the Cross or Death-work of Christ's heavenly Spirit on our earthly , offensive and displeasing to us ; and us , therein offensive to God ; and so , standing in our Way to eternal Life ; so , on all Accounts , and in every Sense , offensive to God and our selves . We are to pray , that God , by his Spirit , would do this to , and for us ; pluck out our right Eye , &c. We ought , also , by his Spirit in us , or a living spiritual Faith , working by Love to him , to be active in carrying on such Work , in Obedience to his Command . We are also to rejoice , in what God suffers evil Angels ( or Men ) to do to us , in their implacable Malice , as knowing all , over-rul'd by him , in a constant , infallible Conducibleness thereunto . So , only , can we arrive at the happy Experience of an infallible spiritual Understanding for knowing all things , and an incorruptible Will , for doing all things , to God's well-pleasing , in the marvellous Light and glorious Liberty of the Sons of God ; in such a Free-will , as is in unchangeable Harmony with the infinite Divine Will ; the Free-will of the second Adam . The Light and Free-will of our own Spirit , at best , kept up , in Opposition to his , turns it into the greatest Darkness and Bondage , of all , Mat. 6. 23. The Will of our Nature in Christ , found the full Death thereof , so exceeding terrible , as to pray , saying , O my Father , if it be possible , let this Death - cup pass from me . But , he instantly renounc'd the Request of his natural Will , so , as in the same Breath , to say , nevertheless , not as I will , but as thou wilt ; thy Will be done , Matth. 26. 39 , 42 , 44. As to the Sufferings of Nature , in Saints , as the Will of God , for their greatest Good , Christ says to them , my Yoke is easy , and Burden light , Mat. 11. 30. There are none of the said terrifying Ingredients into the Death of Nature , in Saints , peculiar to the Death of it , in Christ himself . Nor were they , in his first Sacrifice of Nature , in general , above-spoken to : To Saints therefore the Sufferings of the present time , are not reckon'd worthy to be compar'd with the Glory which shall be reveal'd in them , ( Rom. 8. 18. ) which , they have the infallible forehand-Sight of ( by such Beginnings thereof , as they already experience in them ) with Ioy unspeakable and full of Glory , 1. Pet. 1. 8. CHAP. XII . Regeneration . BY true Regeneration , Man , that was made of God , by a First-creation , in the mortal , earthly , Law-life of the Creature , is born of God , in the immortal , heavenly , Gospel-life of the Creator , the living Creature-word of God , which is God , Iohn 1. 1-3 . As for the Life and Things , given Angels and Men , in their First-creation , those are things which have been , but shall not be , for ever ; temporary , transient things , to be laid aside , in order to their receiving God's own heavenly Creature-life , by a New-creation . To the blessed Submitters to the Terms of receiving this , does God look , with Regard and Delight , as Objects of his everlasting Love , Isa. 66. 2. The poor , broken , contrite Spirit of Man ( under the Cross or Death-work of the heavenly Creature-spirit of Christ , on his earthly , in order to be born of his heavenly ) is of more Value , in God's Sight , than all the unbroken Excellencies and Perfections of Men and Angels , in their First-creation-Make and Life . All , that by a delusive Confidence in their own earthly Life , given them in their First-creation , finally despise God's heavenly , offer'd by a second , do chuse Satan's Lie , in Union with him , in the first , in unchangeable Enmity to God's Truth , offer'd by a second . They prefer the Form of Godliness in the Life of the Creature , to the Power of Godliness , in the Life of the Creator , 2 Tim. 3.5 . 2 Thess. 2. 10-12 . True Saints are Followers of Christ , in the Regeneration , Mat. 19. 28. by the Death of their own Spirits , at best , into his everlasting true Salvation-life , above all Deaths . So , come they to be chang'd from a visible First-covenant People of God , in their own holy Flesh , Righteousness of Man , into an invisible People of God , in his Holy Ghost , or heavenly Creature-Gospel-spirit ; and , therein , have a Life hid with Christ in God , Col. 3. 1-4 . Their Peace with God , therein , passes ( or surmounts ) all natural Vnderstanding of Man , with all the Things of God , wherein it consists . Man's highest natural Understanding in the First-covenant , understands not the Saints spiritual Understanding , in the Second , nor any of the divine and heavenly Creature-things of God , he , thereby , sees , understands or speaks of . He therefore , reckons all , Foolishness , 1 Cor. 2. 9 , 14 , 15. The Seed of Life , put into Angels and Men , in their First-creation , was corruptible , in the second , incorruptible . This latter is the Life , which by the Gospel , is preach'd and made known , 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 . This , Saints come to be the happy Experiencers of , as the Root , Spring , and Principle of their Desire , Thought , and Action . By Death of the First-creation , and Resurrection into the Second , was Christ himself , as First-born from the dead , qualified to be the immediate Creator of Angels and Men , by a First , and the giver to them of eternal Life , by a Second-creation of them . So , only , can any be Subjects to him , in his heavenly Kingdom . None that finally refuse to suffer and die with him , in the First , can ever live and reign with him , in the Second , 2 Tim. 2. 10 , 11. By true Regeneration , the corruptible Life , with the fallible Understanding and corruptible Will of the Creature , is chang'd and transform'd into the incorruptible and infallible Life , Will and Understanding of the Creator ; the marvellous Light and glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. Awaken'd Saints , in the all-discovering Light of the quickning Spirit of the Second Adam , see an end , all natural Life , Wisdom , Glories , Excellencies and Perfections , in the living Soul of the First , will come to , Psal. 119. 96. No such changeable Life or temporary good Things will be found in the Heaven or Hell-part of the eternal World to come , Rev. 18 . 14-19 . There will be nothing , then , but eternal Life or Death ; eternal good or evil Things . The changeable , fallible , womanish Spirit of the First Adam , at best , is the mystical Iezebel , or false Prophetess , as to Mens eternal Concerns , exactly serviceable to Satan's Designs , in such Interpretation of the Scriptures of Truth , as to preach up , with all Confidence , his Lie , for Salvation ; to them and their finally deceived Hearers everlasting Destruction . All this Iezebel's Children , her Thoughts , Doctrines , Works or Fruits , will be kill'd with eternal Death ; burnt up , and destroy'd , for ever , Rev. 2. 20-23 . By the wrong Use of their own Free-will , did evil Angels , at first , set up for themselves , in a Shadow of Divine Soveraignty , to be as Gods , in the uncontroulable Exercise of their own Wills , as God is , in his infinite Divine Will. And , they soon drew Mankind , in Adam , to make the same Choice , with them , to be as Gods , telling them , that God knows they shall be so , and will own them , therein , as having made a right Choice , for their everlasting Blessedness , Gen. 3.5 . In pursuance of this first destructive Lie , as soon as any of Mankind are restor'd into the Life and Righteousness of Man , by the Redeemer , Satan is at the same Point , with them , as , at first , in Adam , and prevails with many such redeem'd ones , to strike up an everlasting Covenant with him , in the First-creation-life of the Creature , in unchangeable Enmity to God and the everlasting Life of their Creator . To all such , God says , what have you to do , to take the Words of my new and everlasting Covenant , in your Mouth , ( Psal. 50. 16. ) as pretending to preach my Gospel , when Ministers of Satan's other , no Gospel , in a direct Contrariety to mine ? Gal. 1.6,7 . Saints , by true Regeneration , as born of God , do experience his working all their Works in them , by his heavenly Spirit , Isa. 26. 12. What a surprizing , amazing Answer , will all others find , at last Day , from Christ , we find , Mat. 7. 21-23 . Depart from me , ye that work Iniquity . CHAP. XIII . The Difference of the spiritualiz'd Natural , from the spiritual Understanding . MAN , in the former , is said to be a Partaker of the Holy Ghost , or heavenly Creature-Gospel-spirit of Christ , the living Word of God , under highest spiritual enlightning Gifts . These are the best Gifts , to be coveted or desir'd , receivable by and upon Man's natural Understanding ; but short yet , of the more excellent Way or the very spiritual Life and Gospel-Principle of all right Desire , Thought and Action . Without this , call'd Love , as rendring any true Lovers and Beloveds of God , Fulfillers of the whole Law , Mind and Will of God , after his own Heart , all 's nothing , as to eternal Life , 1 Cor. 12. 31. & 13. 1 , 2. Rom. 13. 8 , 10. The natural Understanding ( with all such enlightning spiritual Gifts , receiv'd thereon ) is to be given up , in Sacrifice to God , with the Life wherein exercis'd , for the new spiritual , eternal Gospel-life of God , and true infallible Understanding , therein . Man , under all spiritual Enlightning , discovering to him , the more excellent Gospel-life of the Creator , offer'd by a New Creation , is yet liable , by Satan's Witchcrafts , with his own Consent , to be fetch'd back again , from looking after , or owning Christ's Gospel-life , though known to be his unspeakable Concern , to submit to God's Terms and appointed Way of receiving it , as the only way to find the Salvation of Heaven or scape the Damnation of Hell , Gal. 3. 1 , 3. & 5. 7 , 8. Thus prevalent was Self-love , at first , in evil Angels , under the clearest Conviction of their unspeakable Concern as well as Duty ; and , they prevail to bring Men , under the like Knowledg of their eternal Concerns , to make the same wrong destructive Choice , to their known eternal Ruine . They are perswaded by Satan to receive his self-pleasing Lie , that by a being made perfect in their Flesh , the fleshly Life of the Creature , Righteousness of Man , they will find Peace with God , and Entrance into his Kingdom . This , yielded to , and absolutely concluded , is the unpardonable and unrepentable Sin against the Holy Ghost , Heb. 6. 4-6 . & 10. 26 , 27. This Sin excludes any , for ever , from any Benefit of Christ's meritorious Sacrifice , leaving them nothing but a certain fearful looking for of Wrath and fiery Indignation , which will devour all such wilful , incorrigible Adversaries ; forcing them to dwell with and under everlasting Burnings , as in unchangeable Union of Mind , with the Devil . All spiritual enlightning Gifts , and thereby , understanding all Mysteries , and having all Knowledg of the Will of God and their own eternal Concerns ; and , speaking with the Tongues of Men and Angels , in the utmost Dexterity of organical or intuitive Expression ; all , still , without Love , or a partaking of the very Life of the Son of God , is nothing ; of no avail , at all , for their ever entring into his Kingdom . In Man's Day of judging , such are the only true super-eminent spiritual Saints : in God's , unchangeable Enemies , and the highest sort of Adversaries to him and his Saints . In the ever-new Life of God , given by a New Creation , Saints come to experience a new infallible spiritual Understanding , and an incorruptible Will , in Harmony with the very infinite Divine Mind and Will. In this Life and Principle of Desire , Thought , and Action , can they answer that Command , for loving the Lord their God , with all their Heart , Soul , Strength , and Mind , and the true mystical Neighbour , Christ , in his Gospel-life , and spiritual Saints , born of God , therein : No fix'd Law-spirited , however righteous Man , loves , but hates the Lord his God , and the true Scripture-Neighbour , Christ and true Saints , the new eternal Gospel-life , in him and them ( Head and Members , one mystical Body , ( 1 Cor. 12.27 . ) the true Neighbour ) with a perfect , unchangeable hatred . This may seem the dangerous Case of the self-confident Lawyer , that tempted Christ , saying , Master , what shall I do to inherit eternal Life ? Christ asks him , what 's written in the Law ? how readest thou ? These are two distinct Questions . The Lawyer agreed with Christ , in answer to the first , as to what was written in the Law. But , was to seek , for answering the second , as to the right reading or understanding , in what Spirit and Principle of Life , 't was ever possible to perform what was written , Luk. 10 . 25-28 . The implacable Haters of the true spiritual Neighbours , Christ and his Brethren , will go away into everlasting Punishment ; and the true Lovers of them , into Life eternal , Mat. 25 . 31-46 . Christ takes all hating and persecuting his Gospel-Saints , as done to himself , Act. 9.4 . Spiritually enlighten'd Men , finally refusing to submit to the Terms of receiving Christ's offer'd spiritual , Gospel-life ( though , a while , among Gospel-Saints , as Members of the true Church , owning Gospel-Truths ) will , at length , depart from them , and become their most signal Antichristian Enemies , 1 John 2. 18 , 19. Such prove grievous Wolves to Christ's true Sheep , ( Act. 20. 29 , 30. Mat. 10. 16. ) Satan's choicest Instruments , to disswade and draw away Disciples after them , from looking after , or owning any such thing as Christ's Gospel-life , or Doctrine thereof . Hereby , become they the most criminal Sinners , of all Mankind . This , after they had run well , among true Saints , owning Gospel-Truths . Who did hinder or call them back , that they should not finally obey the Truth ? Gal. 5.7 . The Devil . He , prevailingly , call'd them back , from what Christ fairly offer'd , and invited them to , ver . 8. Such become Satan's chief Apostles , Ministers of his other Gospel ; fitted for his Work , in calling others back , from all Gospel-Truths , as diabolical Illusions . So , do they shut up the Kingdom of God , and set open Satan's ; exclude , explode and deny all Christ's Gospel-Truths , and preach up Satan's Lie , the Life of the Creature , given in the First-creation ( transform'd into the Appearance of , and deck'd with all Scripture-Titles , belonging to the Gospel-life of the Creator , offer'd by a second ) as a State of true Salvation . In this Posture , and , at this Work , did Christ find the most enlightned teaching Jews , Matth. 23. 13 , 33. Teachers of Satan's other Gospel , furnish'd with all Wisdom , Subtlety , Eloquence and Dexterity of Expression , may thus be dressing up Satan's Lie , with all Scripture-Language of Christ's Gospel-Truth , so as with their Hearers to grow irrefragably confident ( under Satan's strong Delusion , and God's giving them up , thereto ) as verily to think , they are in a State of true Salvation . Thus , the renew'd Old Man , passes for the new Creature ; restor'd Nature , for a State of Grace ; Reformation of Naturals , for Regeneration into Spirituals ; Satan's and Man's Nothings , for God's All-things ; the restor'd mortal Life and Things of the Creature , for the immortal Gospel-life and Things of the Creator . So , the Devil , God of this World , passes for the true God ; his Kingdom , for God's ; his Lie , for God's Truth . Where such are like to be , at last , see , 2 Thess. 2. 10-12 . At this rate , all along this World ( Satan's permitted Reign , and Man's Day of judging , under him , in Matters of Religion , and remarkably , in this long Anti-christian Day of twelve hundred and sixty Years , now near expiring ) have things gone . God's only things that are ( and will ever be ) his eternal Gospel-life and Things , pass for chimerical Nothings , in Man's Day ; and Man 's confidently reputed All-things , will be found nothing , in God's Day of Judging . Man's highest Wisdom calls nothing in his pretended Divinity , by the right Name ; but , the contrary , in all Extremity . Satan's Gospel passes currant for Salvation ; and Christ's , for a Blasphemous Fiction of the Devil , and Madness . If it was reckon'd so , by eminent First-covenant righteous teaching and professing Jews , in Christ himself , what can his true Followers expect ? Iohn 10. 20. & 15. 18-20 . & 16. 1 , 2. All worldly Honours , Applauses , and Rewards run on Satan's Side , to his reputed Gospel-Divines ; nothing but Contradiction , Reproach and Persecution , are the usual Recompence of Christ's true ones , in this World ; under all which , they rejoice , in the certain Fore-sight of their great Reward , in the next , Matth. 5. 11 , 12. Act. 5. 41. Satan offer'd Christ himself , all the Kingdoms of this World , if he would own him for God , and his false , Law-Gospel , for God's true : if not , crucify him , crucify him , says he , by the legal-spirited professing Jews , Iohn 19. 6. If he or his Followers preach up another Kingdom , contrary to mine , away with them , kill them , as Traitors to me , and my earthly Cesars , under me , in but my worldly Life and Principle ( though under the Name , Christian , and that of the highest Rank , in but First-covenant-Righteousness of Man ) mystical Infidels , as to Christ's New-covenant Gospel-life and Righteousness of God. Thus will Matters go , while Satan and his Ministers are permitted to transform themselves into the Likeness of Christ , and his , 2 Cor. 11. 13-15 . They carry all , before them , in this World ; Christ and his , will have all , in the next , to Eternity . CHAP. XIV . Concerning the two Covenants , first and second . THE Life , given Angels and Men , in their First-creation , was the Principle of a First-covenant-communion with , and worshipping of God. Many Angels , and all Mankind , in Adam , by such Knowledg of God , as they had , therein , by the things that were made , glorified him not as God ; were not thankful for what they had received , nor made the right Use thereof , in Sacrifice to his Will , in order to receive the eternal Gospel-life of their Creator , by a new or second Creation , the only Principle of a new and everlasting Covenant with him . They became vain in their Imaginations , professing and owning themselves wise enough to know what was best for themselves to do , in their own First-covenant Law-spirit of Works , as not needing any other Life or Things for true Happiness , in a Second , Rom. 1. 19-22 . God made Man upright , ( Eccl. 7.29 . ) pure and incorrupt , in the First , but not incorruptible , as in the Second . All Mankind are sad experimental Witnesses of this , however many of them , all along this World , deny it with their Mouths . The Disputers of this World , under Satan's Inspirations , seek out many Inventions , to defend and maintain their evil Choice and false Confidence in the First , ( as transform'd into the Likeness , and disguis'd with all Scripture-Titles , belonging to the Second ) in unchangeable Enmity to God and the Second . This greatest Folly , as to their eternal Concerns , are many guilty of , taking great Pains to dispute themselves into everlasting Destruction . They decry the New-covenant-life , and , therein , the Wisdom and Righteousness of God , which Christ requires all , to seek after ( Mat. 6. 33. ) and complains , that no Man will , ( Rom. 3. 11. ) while confident in his own fallible Understanding , in which , he can never make one right Step in the Paths of Life to himself , or Peace with God , Ier. 10. 23. Prov. 20. 24. Had the First-covenant-life ( given Man , in his First-creation , or restor'd by the Redeemer , since ) been faultless , ( or not defective , as to his true Blessedness ) no place should have been sought , or appointed of God , for a Second , by a New-creation , Heb. 8. 7. Mens establishing themselves in the First , in unchangeable Enmity to God and the Second , turns a visible People of God , inholy Flesh , Righteousness of Man , into no People of God at all , but a Synagogue of Satan , Hos. 1. 9. & 2. 2. Revel . 3. 9. Yet , when so , will they confidently , under Satan's strong Delusions , assert themselves to be the only true Iews , or spiritual Israel and Church of God : but , lie . This will they say , when in unchangeable Enmity to God and his true Saints . Such have been , all along this World , Haters and Murderers of true Saints , Prophets , Apostles , and Christ himself , for the Life and Doctrine of the Second-covenant . True Saints , under the Inspirations of the Almighty , are gradually ceasing from the Labours of their own Law-spirit of Works , at best , or delighting to seed on the best Fruits brought forth by them , therein , and to commit their Way to the Lord , to work all their Works in them , ( Isa. 26. 12. ) by his heavenly Creature-spirit of Grace , and to feed on such incorruptible spiritual Fruits as are producible by them , therein . This is the true mystical Fast and Sabbath , which he has chosen , and requires Men to keep , Isa. 58. Man is but a mystical Tree of Good and Evil , in his own Spirit , Will and Way ; a mystical Tree of Life , in God's . All outward , literal , bodily Fasts , and Sabbaths , though God's own Appointments and Ordinances , to the Jews , without this inward mystical Truth of all , rendred all their Performances an Abomination to God , and themselves a mystical Sodom , ( Isa. 1. 10-15 . ) worse than literal , Matth. 11. 23 , 24. The delighting in , and feeding on the best Fruits of our own Spirits , in preference to God's , is the self-same thing with Eve's Apple , and our first Transgression , in Adam . All First-covenant Life , Wisdom , Righteousness , Works , and Fruits of Man's own Law-spirit of Works , are to be given up , in Sacrifice to God , in order to our arriving at the happy Experience of the spiritual , heavenly Creature-life , Righteousness and Wisdom of God , working all our Works in his Spirit of Grace and Truth , ( Iohn 3. 21. ) and bringing forth right Fruits to him , Rom. 7. 4. That the First-Covenant Life , given Man in his first Creation , was eternal , is Satan's Lie , ( carried on , all along this World , by all manner of Disguises , in his evil Angelical Subtlety ) in opposition to God's Truth , in the second . The Law was given by Moses , to direct to First-Covenant Righteousness of Man , in the living Soul of the first Adam ; but Grace and Truth come by Iesus Christ , in the quickning Spirit of the second ; Iohn 1. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 45. God rewards the Righteousness of Man , for a season , as a Debt to him , ( Rom. 4. 4. ) but takes away such Rewards from Saints , the inward Comforts of a good Conscience , there ; and , sometimes , outward also , by the permitted Hands of evil Angels and Men , to make room in them for his eternal Life and Blessings , where all is of Grace , both Works and Rewards . Iob was a signal Experiencer of both ; and Paul also , with other Saints ; Phil. 3. 6-11 . All that passes in Man's day of judging , and Words of his own Wisdom , for eternal Life , will , in God's day of judging , be found , by all that trust thereto , eternal Death . All first-Creation Life and Things thereof , all Works and Fruits , done and brought forth , therein , will pass for nothing in God's day . The Temporary Wrath of God , bringing Saints into the lowest Hell , in this World , from which there is Deliverance ( Psal. 86.13 . ) is God's way for delivering them from the Wrath and Hell to come , which are eternal . The Saints Hell , in this World ( as plagu'd and chasten'd all the day long , Psal. 73. 14. while Enemies have more than Heart could wish , v. 7. ) is their true Purgatory , cleansing them from all Filth of Flesh and Spirit , and God's way of bringing them into the never-sinning Life and everlasting Righteousness of his Spirit of Grace and Truth . Man , in his own Spirit , Will and Way , at best , has no right Knowledg of the true God ; or , God of this World , the Devil ; or what the Heaven or Hell-part of the eternal World to come , amount unto ; so , on he goes , in the delusive Pleasures of this Mortal World , and Things thereof , literal or mystical , within the reach of his natural Understanding , without any looking after God , for his Spiritual , Heavenly , Eternal , New-Covenant Life and Things , without which , 't is impossible to find the Salvation of Heaven , or scape the Damnation of Hell. The Death of Man's Spirit , at best , in but the restor'd first-Covenant Life of the Creature , is the only way to find the Life of the Creator , in the second . The living Soul of the first Adam , has nothing , but what Death will swallow up into Victory . The Life of the quickning Spirit of the second Adam , will swallow up all Deaths into Victory ; 1. Cor. 15. 53 , 54. The deepest Reason , and highest Wisdom of Man , in a first-Covenant righteous Life , is by Death and total loss thereof , the only way to find all again , by way of Resurrection , the very Reason , Wisdom and Righteousness of God , in the quickning Spirit of the second Adam . Paul obediently parted with all the former , for the latter ; Phil. 3. 6-11 . God challenges the Disputers of this World , standing up , with Confidence , in defence of their own Reason and Wisdom , to produce their strong Reasons , against him , and see what all will amount unto ; Isa. 41. 21. 'T is Man's true Interest and greatest Reason , to give up his own Reason and Wisdom , for God's . Iob was , a while , at this disputing Trade of Man , against God , as Elihu charges him ; Iob 34. 35-37 . At this work , we find him , under the Cross , challenging the Almighty to answer his strong Reasons , in Self-defence , and for his Justification , in the Life , wherein he had been eminently righteous ; Iob 19. 6-11 . & 30. 1-10 . & 31.35 . When Christ told any that enquir'd after eternal Life , the parting with all they have , or can do , in their own Spirit , was necessary to the finding Eternal Life , in his ; away they went , and walk'd no more with him ; Mat. 19. 16-22 . Mark 10. 17-22 . Luke 10. 25. & 18. 18-23 . Iohn 6. 66. All Words of Man's Wisdom , are without any true Knowledg , a darkening the Counsels of God's Wisdom , as to Man 's eternal Concerns . Iob , that had been confident in the former , acknowledg'd what God charg'd him with ( Iob 38. 1 , 2. ) when in the latter ; Iob 42.3 . I utter'd that I understood not , things too wonderful for me , which I knew not ; so , darken'd the Counsel of God , by Words without Knowledg . He that contends with , and reproves the Almighty , can he answer it ? Job 40. 2. CHAP. XV. The Mystery of Cain and Abel , Ishmael and Isaac , Esau and Jacob. CAin , Ishmael , and Esau were sad Types of all those , that , with them , follow Satan's whole Counsel , in his Mystery of Iniquity , preferring the Law-life of the Creature , in the first Creation , to the Gospel-life of the Creator , offer'd by a second . Abel , Isaac and Iacob , were the joyful , happy Types and Patterns , in their Persons and Principles , of those that follow , obey , and declare the whole Counsel of God , in the Mystery and Power of Godliness , for the Salvation of Men , and preventing their Damnation . All , fix'd in the former , under Satan , unchangably hate and persecute the latter . In their holy Flesh , Righteousness of Man , they fight against God's holy Gospel-spirit and Righteousness of God , in true spiritual Saints . There 's , for a time , something of the Cain , Ishmael , and Esau , even in Saints , not only fighting and warring against the true Abels , Isaacs and Iacobs , Paul's Case , before his Gospel-Conversion , ( Acts 26. 9-11 . ) but also against the Gospel-Spirit and Principle of Life , Desire , Thought and Action in themselves , after . This also , Paul experienc'd , after an eminent Apostolical , Gospel-Saint ; Rom. 7. 15 , 19. And , he warns other Saints to expect the like Civil War and Contests within them , between their fleshly and Christ's spiritual Mind in them , till Nature ( in the thinking and desiring Powers thereof , their own fallible Understandings and corruptible Wills , therein ) be fully crucified and silenc'd , in order to their living and walking in the undisturb'd infallible Understanding and incorruptible Will of Christ's Gospel-Spirit of Grace and Truth ; Gal. 5. 17. Till this War be over , and Victory over the Carnal Mind of Nature , at best , compleated , are Saints to be continually fighting the Battels of the Lord , against the Foes of their own House or Hearts , ( the most dangerous Enemies , within them , tho not more subtle and potent than Enemies without , evil Angels and Men ) till they come to live and walk wholly in the Spirit of God , their Gospel-Principle ; and , mean while , to strive continually , more and more , so to walk ; ver . 25. As to Enemies , without , the highest Rank of Professors in but First-Covenant Principles , fix'd there , in the restor'd Law-Life and Righteousness of Man , with Confidence therein , for entring into the Kingdom of God , these Cains , Ishmaels , and Esaus , are the fiercest Persecutors of true Gospel-Saints , in the partaken of Life of Christ's Heavenly Creature-Spirit of Grace and Truth , and , verily think , they do God Service , therein ; Isa. 66. 5. Iohn 16. 2. So thought Paul , once ; Acts 26. 9-11 . Paul singles out the particular History of Isaac and Ishmael , in this Point ; Gal. 4. 22-31 . Self-confident First-Covenant Ishmaels , mock and scoff at true Spiritual Isaacs , all along this World ; Gen. 21. 9. And , even Abraham , Father of the Faithful , was griev'd , and loth to part with his Ishmael ( ver . 11. ) when Sarah , as Figure of the New-Covenant Spirit , requir'd it ; and God , in Confirmation of her most just Desire and Advice , requir'd the same ; v. 12. Iohn declares the same thing , figur'd in Cain and Abel , and in them , the murdering Mind of Enmity in a fix'd , self-confident first-Covenant visible People of God , in holy Flesh , Law-Righteousness of Man , against an invisible People of God , in their Gospel-Life and Righteousness , hid with Christ in God ; Col. 3. 3. Cain slew his Brother , because his own Works were evil , and his Brother 's righteous ; 1 John 3. 12. He was of that wicked one , ( born of , and in unchangeable Union with the Devil , in the first Creation ) and , with him , in unchangeable Enmity to God , and true Saints , in the second . Cain's Works in the Law-life of the first , in his own Law-Spirit of Works , are , in Man's Day of Judgment , the only good and righteous Works , and his Words of Man's Wisdom , the only right Words for Salvation ; and all true Abel's Works , and their Words of God's Wisdom , in his New-Covenant Gospel-Spirit , contemptible and blasphemous . Christ himself found this murdering Mind of Cain , in the most enlighten'd , righteous , professing first-Covenant teaching and professing Jews ; unchangeable Enmity to his Gospel-Spirit , and whole Counsel of God , by him declar'd to them , therein . On this account , he tells them , they , with their Fathers , in the like Cainish Spirit of Enmity , were guilty of the Blood of all God's true Prophets , shed from the Foundation of the World , from the Blood of Abel , to that day ; Luke 11 . 49-51 . And so will it be , to the end of this World , under Satan's permitted Reign , and Man's Day , under him , of judging in Matters of Religion and Worship of God , so as nothing must pass for Gospel , but what Man pleases to give his Approbation to . The Jews built the Sepulchres of the Prophets , under pretence of paying Honour to them , and owning their Counsel , when with their Fathers , Murderers of all such , and in unchangeable Enmity to all their Words , rightly understood . If they had been in the days of their Fathers , they say , they would not have been Partakers with them in the Blood of the Prophets ; Mat. 23. 29-31 . Under all these Pretences , and self-deceiving Imaginations , Christ declares them , fix'd in the self-same murdering Mind of Enmity , with their Fathers , against all true Prophets , and himself also , as soon appear'd , and therefore ask'd them , how they could think to escape the Damnation of Hell ? ver . 33. Since all such dealings of the Jews with their own true Prophets and Christ himself , with his Apostles , in the foretold long Antichristian Day , now near ending , how have unchangeable , idolatrous Haters of Christ and his Gospel-Truths and Saints , been found under the Name Christian , building stately Churches or Temples to the Honour of Paul , Peter , Iohn , &c. who would , as certainly murder them , for their Gospel-Doctrine , were they now here , as others did , even in the Primitive Apostolical Gospel-day . Let Men , under Satan , interpret their Gospel-Writings , in a Sutableness to their own Wills , and so in a universal Contrariety to the Words of God's VVisdom , in them , and all 's well ; and they , with the Apostles , in the way to eternal Life and true Salvation . All , void of a true living spiritual Faith in Christ's Gospel-life , working by Love to him , therein , are the unreasonable and incorrigible Adversaries of true Gospel-Saints . Paul shews the like Figurative Significancy in Iacob and Esau ; Rom. 9 . 10-13 . Esau mortally hated Iacob , and God hated Esau. Esau's murdering Mind of Enmity to Iacob , is express'd by himself ; Gen. 27. 41 , 42. The like is notified , in all his murdering-minded Followers , against God , Christ , and his true spiritual Iacobs ; Obad. v. 8-10 . Amos 1. 11. CHAP. XVI . Concerning meer Creaturality in Angels and Men in their first , and also , in their highest spiritual , second , New-Creation Capacities ; with some account of all , possible to be done by any in their first , and the differing Ends of all , at last . HAving already spoken of the ready prepar'd Hand , the exalted Creature-Son and Branch in the Mediator's Person , the living Word of God , as qualified and fitted for a first and second creating of Angels and Men ; come we , now , to consider , what they , both and all , amount unto , for ever , as but meer Creatures , not only in their natural Beings and Life of the Creature , given them by a first , but also spiritual Beings and Life of the Creator , given by a second Creation of them . Angels were all created , at first , in their compleat Personalities , invisible immortal Beings , without any innate Capacity of , or connatural Tendency to the exercise of a threefold Souly or Animalish Life , rational , sensual , and vegetable , in and by a fitly Organiz'd Body . As for Mankind , they do gradually descend from one another , in a continued Succession , Generation after Generation , for a compleating their Personal Beings , from the beginning to the ending of this mortal World. What became of Angels , good and bad , by the first well-pleasing Passive Obedience of the former , and first unpardonable Sin of the latter , has been above-spoken to , Chap. 4. of this Treatise . Man , inferiour to Angels , in their single intuitive natural Understandings , ( tho in the same kind of Mortal , Earthly , First-Covenant Life ) is , in his compleated Personality , a much more comprehensive Being , than an Angel. He is the most compleat shadowy Image of God , on all accounts , in the whole Natural , Mortal , First-Creation World , visible or invisible . This is signified concerning him , in distinction from Angels and all other Creatures , therein , created before him , in a readiness for his Entertainment . Of none thereof is it said by God , as of him ; Let us make Man in our Image , after our Likeness ( Gen. 1.26 . ) as the Compend or Epitome of all other Creatures , and something more , peculiar to himself , the rational Exercise of his Mind , in and by a Body , found in no Creatures , above or below him . So find we , a peculiar Consultation of the three that are one , to draw an earthly shadowy Image and Representation of themselves , in every individual Man. This Enlargement of Man's Personal Being , beyond Angels , expos'd and rendred him liable to vain sinful Desires and Thoughts , so as to wallow in Mire among Satan's Swine , feeding on Husks , the lowest Dust of this World ( below any Palate in any evil Angels , to savour , any Belly , Desire or Appetite in them , to lust after , delight in , or feed upon , being never link'd with mortal Bodies or sensual Life ) Pleasures , in common with brute Beasts . So , the Enlargement of Man's Being , beyond Angels , was a Diminution to his intuitive Understanding , in common with them , and to the Exercise of his Natural Will , as exposing him , to a running out in his Desires , after the lower sort of Desirables , in the vast heap of vanishing Shadows , in the visible Parts of this First-creation World. And evil Angels , tho they care not for such things themselves , have Power , through God's most wise Permission , to shoot their fiery Darts into Mens Spirits , and kindle in them evil Lustings after such visible things , in which , they keep the far greater part of Mankind , wallowing in Mire , as their Swine , far from any looking after God , at all . The Soul , or threefold animalish , souly-Life of Man , distinct from his Spirit , ceases , as to exercise , at the Death of his Body . The Spirit , then , retreats to the full Experience and Exercise of its supream , intuitive Way of discerning and converse with Angels , good or bad ; in a spiritual Intuitiveness , with the good , Gospel-Angels , or natural , with the evil , Law-Angels , ( Lawyers ) from the beginning , on their First Sin and Fall ; setting up the Law-life of the Creature , given in the First-creation , against the Gospel-life of their Creator , offer'd by a Second ; and so , their Lie , against God's Truth . The Devil was a Murderer from the Beginning , ( John 8. 44. ) and his fix'd Law-party of Mankind , in the restor'd Law-life-Wisdom , and Righteousness of Man , have been , under him , the irreconcileable Haters and Murderers of Christ himself and his Gospel-Saints , all along this World. At the Death of the Body , Man ( good or evil ) is dead . His Spirit is , for a time , strip'd of the threefold Souly-life , as to exercise , that are essential Ingredients , into his personal Constitution . At last , Saints will recover their Bodies , in a Resurrection of Life , and , therein , the right Exercise of their whole Beings , Body , Soul , and Spirit , in the incorruptible New-creation Order of all , to Eternity . Incorrigible Sinners , also will receive their Bodies , in a Resurrection of Damnation , Iohn 5. 28 , 29. Saints , in their glorified Bodies and whole personal Beings , will be everlastingly blessed , in the Enjoyment of God ; and incorrigible Sinners , in their whole Beings , most exquisitely sensible under God's everlasting Curse and unquenchable Wrath , without any Hope or Possibility of mitigation or end of their Torments , to an endless Eternity . 'T is a most fearful thing , thus to fall into the Hands of the living God , to be dealt with , in final Wrath , and infinite revenging Justice , ( Heb. 10. 31. ) without any Day's-man or Mediator to stand between them and such Wrath ; but , instead thereof , will he be their Accuser , Witness and Pleader against them , Judg and Condemner of them , and the infallible irresistible Executor of his infinite and everlasting Wrath upon them . All this , will he do , so easily , as by the Word of his Mouth , by which he made them . With the Breath of his Lips will he slay the incorrigibly Wicked , ( Isa. 11. 4. ) Satan , with his Gog and Magog , his innumerable Multitude of evil Angels , and serpentine Seed of Men. His Breath , like a stream of Brimstone , will kindle his unquenchable Wrath upon them , both and all , as having rendred themselves , fitted perpetual Fuel for it , in the Tophet , ordain'd of old , the Lake of Fire and Brimstone , prepar'd for the Devil and his Angels , with their innumerable serpentine Seed of Men , Isa. 30. 33. Rev. 20. 10. This will be the everlasting Condition of all Inhabitants of the Earth , and of the Sea , in distinction from the Dwellers in Heaven , who will have eternal Joy and Blessedness , in the Sight and Enjoyment of God , for evermore . All , that in this World , take up their Rest and Dwelling in but the earthly Law-life and Righteousness of Man , as needing nothing , therein , for true Blessedness ( Rev. 3.17 . ) these Inhabitants of the Earth , will , with the Inhabitants of the Sea ( all that Party of Mankind , that wallow in the miry Filths of literal Sodom , foaming out their own Shame ) find their Portion in the same Lake of Fire and Brimstone , in the Hell-part of the eternal World to come , Rev. 12.12 . Isa. 57. 20. Iude 13. Dwellers in Heaven , that have their Conversation in Heaven , ( Phil. 3. 20. ) Minds , fix'd on things above , the peculiar Delights of the Sons of God , these , only , have true Joy in this World , and continual Advantage , by all , God permits Devils and Men to do to them , in their implacable Malice . So , they rejoice under all Trials and Injuries from evil Angels and Men ( Matth. 5. 11 , 12. Act. 5. 41. ) and Wo is denounc'd to all sorts of incorrigible Enemies of God and them , to eternity , after all their laughing and delusive Merriment in this short-liv'd World. They 'l mourn and weep , eternally , Luk. 6. 24-26 . Under Satan's Reign , by his false Prophets and Apostles , true New - Ierusalem-Saints , are counted the Filth of the World , and Off-scouring of all things , 1 Cor. 4. 13. Under Christ's Reign , they 'l be a Praise in the Earth ; for which , therefore , Gospel-Angels and Saints continually pray , and never keep silence , Isa. 62. 6,7 . This will Saints come to , after a little time , spent , in this confounded mortal World , under and amongst a Throng of innumerable Enemies , evil Angels and Men. Come we now to consider , what was ever possible to be done by Angels or Men , in their First-creation earthly Life , at best , with reference to their finding eternal Life , or scaping eternal Death . The Death and Loss of all , therein , Life , Wisdom , Righteousness , Works , Fruits , by Passive Obedience , in Sacrifice to the Divine Will , is undispensably necessary , to the finding eternal Life , the heavenly Creature-life of the Creator . In the Methods of God's unquestionable Wisdom , and Appointments of his declar'd undisputable Will , this is the Way to eternal Life . When any ask'd Christ , what they must do , to inherit or find eternal Life , and confidently asserted , all these things they had done , in the restor'd righteous Life and Wisdom of their own Spirit , in their own Will and Way ; his reply upon them , and Counsel to them , was , Part with all this , and follow me , in the true Regeneration , by Death and Resurrection , out of the Death of the Creature , into the Life of the Creator . To this effect , was Christ's constant Answer to such Enquirers . And their constant rejecting such Counsel , and departing from him , sorrowful and amaz'd thereat , we find , in these Scriptures , Matth. 19. 16-22 . Mark 10. 17-22 . Luk. 18. 18 -23. None can do the Divine Will of the Father , but in the partaken of heavenly Creature-life and Will of the Son ; nor , therefore , enter into his Kingdom , Mat. 7. 21. None but new Creatures can ever come there , Gal. 5.6 . & 6.15 . 2 Cor. 5. 16 , 17. In the restor'd Light of the First-creation , by him that lighteth every Man that comes into this World , ( Iohn 1. 9. ) ought all Heathens to walk , and keep that kind of good Conscience , that consists in a moral Obedience thereto , as their Principle . In the restor'd First-covenant Law-life , ought Men to walk , in such Obedience to that higher Knowledg of God , as amounts to the legal good Conscience , withstanding all brutish Lusts and sinful Desires of their sensual Life . But all this done , till the partaking of , and experiencing the Life of the quickning Spirit of the Second Adam , or a living spiritual Faith therein , working by Love to God , and walking therein , so as to have the evangelical good Conscience , we have nothing of that eternal Life , in which , only , any can ever enter into the Kingdom of God. Paul could truly declare to the Jewish Council , that he had liv'd in all these three sorts of good Conscience before God , successively , one after another , in Obedience to the Light of Nature , Law , and Gospel , Act. 23.1 . And he found his evangelical good Conscience , by living and walking in Christ's Gospel-spirit , ( Gal. 5. 25. ) to comprehend and unspeakably out-do , all , performable by any , in the two former . This , indeed , is the only right Performer of all Duty to God and our Fellow-creatures , in God's Sight . All First-covenant Life , receiv'd by Angel or Man , in their First-creation , is figuratively character'd in Scripture , by Flesh , Grass , a fading Flower , call'd a vain Shew , or vanishing Shadow ; all their natural Excellencies and Perfections therein , all , but a Glory to be done away , in order to receive the heavenly Creature-life and Image of God , in Christ , with the eternal things of God , therein , the Wisdom and Righteousness of God , Isa. 40. 6-8 . 1 Pet. 1. 24 , 25. 2 Cor. 3. 10 , 11. Satan , with all his humane Disputers of this World , in the Words of his and Man's Wisdom , against God's ; and for their way of Salvation , quite contrary to his , ( Isa. 55. 8 , 9. ) God challenges , in a holy Contempt of their vain Thoughts , to produce their Cause , bring forth their strong Reasons , for self-defence , and see what all will amount unto , Isa. 41. 21. Object . 1. Will God destroy the First creation-works of his own Hand ? Will he take away Man's Reason , Wisdom , and Righteousness , bring to nothing all his good Works and Fruits , done and brought forth therein ? Must the very Life of our own Spirit , at best , with all the things thereof , our own Wills and Vnderstandings therein , be given up in Sacrifice to the Will of God , by a holy Death ? Answ. Yes ; And all , to our transcendent Advantage , and greatest Gain , in order to find all again , in a Life above all Deaths , and therein , an infallible Understanding and incorruptible Will , for the right knowing and doing all things , in answer to the very Divine Will of God Most High. Object . 2. Does God require Impossibilities of Man , such Obedience as 't is impossible for him to perform in his own Spirit , Will and Way , at best , in the restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man ? Answ. Yes ; But had provided an originally incorruptible , heavenly , eternal Creature-life , in the Mediator , to be given them in the room thereof , by a Second or New-creation of them . This is a Life above all Deaths , temporal or eternal ; will swallow up Death , in Victory , Isa. 25.8 . 1 Cor. 15. 54. This Life is figur'd by the Wine in Iotham's Parable , ( Iudg. 9. 13. ) cheering God and Man , answering all , Man can rightly desire of God , and enabling him to answer all , God requires of him . He that has not this Life of the Son of God , has not Life ; not true , eternal Life , 1 Iohn 5. 12. Quest. Will the Disputers of this World , still contend with their Maker , in defence of their own Wisdom , Will , and Way , against his , for Salvation ? Answ. They will , till Satan's Reign and Man's Day , under him , are at a full Period . But , what are Men like to get by this Contest ? Eternal Death . True Saints oft suffer a violent temporal Death , from such self-confident Contenders against God and them . Man 's own fallible Reason or Wisdom perverts him , turns him away , from looking after the infallible Wisdom and Reason of God , to his own sudden unfore-seen everlasting Destruction , Isa. 47. 10 , 11. He searches the Scriptures , thinks he understands those written Oracles of God , yet never comes to Christ , the living Word of God , for the Life , therein witness'd and declar'd , Iohn 5. 39 , 40. The Scriptures are a Book seal'd , as to Man's Understanding ; that reaches not to the heavenly Creature-life and things therein signified , under Figures , Types and shadowy Similitudes , Isa. 29.11 . All spiritual , Salvation-truths , signified from the beginning of Genesis to the End of the Revelation , are fast lock'd up and hid from Man's highest single natural Understanding . The losing all , in our own Law-spirit of Works , is the only way to find and do all in God's Spirit of Grace , Esphes . 2. 8-10 . 'T is by Grace , only , or in the never-sinning Life of God's Spirit of Grace , in Christ Jesus , communicated to them , any can be finally sav'd ; never , in their own boasting Law-spirit of Works . Having thus promiscuously consider'd Sinners in their First-creation , and Saints in the Second , come we now to consider meer Creaturality , in spiritual Saints and Angels , for evermore . Spiritual Saints , of the Double-portion , making up God's New Heavens , in their various distinct Portions therein , from the highest to the lowest ; and Gospel-Angels , the supream in the single Portion , with all variety of Gospel-Saints , therein , making up God's New Earth , in true Salvation-life , are all Members of Christ's mystical Body . In the former , Christ's peculiar Dove , supream double-portion'd Saints , in the twofold heavenly and glorified earthly Life of Christ , are the peculiar Wife and Bride of the Lamb , Revel . 19. 7. Below these , in the double Portion , are threescore Queens ; and then , in the single , Virgins without Number , all , in a Union of Mind with her , praising her and owning her Superiority to them , Cant. 6. 8 , 9. There will be no envying of the highest , in the lower and lowest , nor any insulting of the highest , over the lower , in Heaven , to Eternity . They 'l all rejoice in the superiour and inferiour Attainments of each other , as is figur'd in the higher and lower Members of the literal Body of Man , all mutually rejoicing in the Joys of one another , as compleating the Joy of the whole Body , 1 Cor. 12. 12-27 . The various spiritual Capacities in higher and lower Saints , are figur'd by Cups and Flagons , Isa. 22. 24. None of all these will ever pretend to a personal Union with Christ's Creature-root , and less yet , with his infinite Divinity , but only with the exalted Creature-Son and Branch in him , the living Word of God , the immediate Creator of all , and Performer of the whole Divine Will , on all , good and evil , for evermore , in Heaven or Hell. A World of gross Errors concerning God , Christ , and the eternal Concerns of Men , have been toss'd up and down in the various Conceptions of Man's fallible Understanding , under the unperceiv'd Influence of evil Angelical Rulers over this dark World , ( Ephes. 6. 12. ) so as to blind and keep Men from looking after God , for his all-discovering Spirit of Grace and Truth , Rom. 3. 11. CHAP. XVII . The ruling Power of Satan , over Mankind , all along this World , as permitted God thereof , under God's infinite over-ruling Wisdom and Power . HE is so call'd in the Scriptures of Truth ; God of this World. And he uses all his evil Angelical Subtlety and Power , for the blinding and deceiving Men , so as to keep them from any regarding or looking after God , for his Gospel-life , wherein alone any can be saved , or ever enter into his Kingdom , 2 Cor. 4. 3 , 4. Christ himself calls him Prince of this World , John 12. 31. & 16. 11. & 14. 30. But , says of him , he hath nothing in me : nor shall be able to touch , or ever meddle with , so as finally to overcome any Partakers of my all-powerful Gospel-life , 1 Iohn 5. 18. Saints , therein , are Fence-proof against all the Gates , or Strength of Hell , all the Powers of Darkness , evil Angels and Men , Rulers of the Darkness of this World ( Ephes. 6. 12. ) in their own dark-spirited worldly Life and Wisdom , of the First-creation . The first unpardonable Sin of the evil Angels , was their turning as they went , or were a while following Christ , towards that Life , he represented himself in , to them and the good Angels , and in the Passage thereto , by way of Death and Resurrection , in such Transactions as had pass'd in the Creature-part of his wonderful Person , before they were brought forth . In a contrary Demeanour to that of the good Angels , they turned as they went , in love to themselves , in their own self-chosen mortal Life , given them in their first Creation , in unchangeable Enmity to God , and the Heavenly eternal Creature-Life of their Creator , offer'd them , by a second . The good Angels did let down their Wings , ceas'd from the mortal Life of their first Creation , and Exercise of their own fallible Understandings and corruptible Wills therein , signified by letting down their Wings , in Conformity to their Head , in the Death of the first Creation , and Resurrection into the Life of the second . So , pass'd out of their own mortal First-Covenant Law-Life , into God's own New-Covenant Gospel-Life , of originally immortal Holiness and everlasting Righteousness ; Ezek. 1 . 5-26 . The Devil and his Angels kept not their first Estate , but left their own Habitation ; Jude 6. To Man's Wisdom , they , only , kept their first Estate , the Life and Things given them , in their first Creation . And , consequently , in the Wisdom of Human Nature , is Man ready to follow the evil Angels first Choice , as best . Here 's the case of many , restor'd into the First-Covenant or First-Creation-Life of the Creature ; ready to establish themselves therein , as a state of true Salvation . This Paul fear'd , and labour'd to prevent in his Israel-Brethren ; Rom. 10. 1-3 . At this dangerous Point , were the Corinthians and Laodiceans , in the delusive First-Covenant House of feasting and rejoycing ( 1 Cor. 4. 8. Rev. 3. 17. ) as not , at all , needing any other Life , by a second or new Creation , for their everlasting Blessedness . On the first unpardonable Sin of the evil Angels , they were immediately cast down to Hell , deliver'd into Chains of Darkness , to be reserved unto Iudgment ; 2 Pet. 2. 4. They , by their Sin , fix'd themselves in their own self-chosen Life , in Preference and Opposition to the eternal Creature-Life of their Creator ; and God , in his righteous Judgment , giving them up to , and thereby , fixing them in their own Choice , was a casting them down to Hell. In this Hell , and their Chains of Darkness , are they Rulers in this dark , mortal , first-Creation World. The Chains of Darkness , in which they are reserv'd to the Iudgment of the Great Day , are all Life , Wisdom , Righteousness , Excellencies and Perfections of their Angelical Nature , given them in their first Creation , as turn'd by their Abuse of all , into the greatest Wickedness , Madness and Folly , in unchangeable Enmity to God , and his Heavenly Creature-life , shewn and offer'd them , by a second . So are they in a state , in all Extremity , contrary to what they were created in , chang'd by Self-destroying Self-love , from a state of temporary changeable Obedience , to a state of eternal , unchangeable Enmity to God. An absolute Exclusion of them from the Kingdom of Heaven , is called a casting them down to Hell. God , not only gave them their Choice , but also , in the abusive Exercise of their self-chosen Life , a permitted ruling Power over Mankind , all along this World , as God thereof , under the restraining , limiting , over-ruling infinite Wisdom and Power of the true God , so as that he can never hurt any true Saints or Subjects of God's everlasting Kingdom . Yet , even Saints , for a time , are under their Power . Yea , he told Christ himself , all the Kingdoms of this World , and Glory of them , were his , offering all , as his greatest Bribe , to the true King in the World to come , in case he would fall down , own , and worship him , as God ; Mat. 4. 8 , 9. Luke 4. 5-7 . Christ denied not , that all the Kingdoms of this World were at his Dispose , by God's most wise Permission . He that said this to Christ , in the Fountain-Purity of the First-Creation , and full of that Spirit of Grace and Truth , that 's offer'd by a second , what will he not do to Saints before their experiencing any thing of Gospel-life , or when but in some little beginnings thereof , and Enemies within , Foes of their own House , in their own Spirits and whole Nature , in Union of Mind with him , in Enmity to God and his Gospel-Spirit , in themselves ? He is permitted a Power of transforming his Earthly Spirit , into the likeness of Christ's Heavenly Creature-Spirit , that 's the mysterious House and Temple of God ; and , therein , to shew and assert himself to be God , the very infinite Divine Being ; 2 Thess. 2. 4. And , herein , is he undiscoverable by the highest single natural Understanding of Man , in but First-Covenant Principles , tho , indeed , the worst of all Creatures , the supream Man of Sin , and Son of Perdition ; v. 3. This God of this World , who passes with Man , for the true God , will not be able finally to blind and deceive any but them that are lost ; 2 Cor. 4. 3. If it were possible , he would so deceive the very Elect , by his false Christs , evil Angels , and his false Prophets und Apostles , amongst Men , transform'd into the likeness of Christ's true ones ; 2 Cor. 11. 13-15 . Clothing their own First-Covenant Law-Life , with all Scripture-Language and Titles , belonging to God's own Heavenly Creature , New-Covenant Gospel-Life , as the true Regeneration , new Creature , State of Grace , in which they have true Joy , and final Peace with God ; Ezek. 13. 1-10 . All this is confidently asserted , by Men , under Satan's lying Spirit of Divination . With such , the renew'd old Man , in the restor'd First-Covenant Law-Life , given in the first Creation , must pass for the new Creature , without all Scruple or Contradiction ; and does so pass , in and with the most reform'd People or Churches of this World , in but First-Covenant Principles . All Worldly Preachers and Hearers , in but Worldly , First-Covenant Principles , confidently take Satan's other Gospel , that 's no Gospel , for Christ's true ; Gal. 1. 6 , 7. 1 Iohn 4. 5. Restor'd First-Covenant Law-Life , is so far from rendring any , Fence-proof against the evil Angelical Rulers of this World , that they make that , their strongest Hold , and Men , eminent therein , their choicest Instruments , to oppose , dispute against , contradict and blaspheme the Heavenly Creature-Life , and Gospel-Righteousness of God , wherein any can be sav'd . Let Satan , in his superiour evil-angelical Wisdom , and Men in their inferiour human Wisdom , under his Influence , interpret the Scriptures , all , therein , shall seem to run current , for carrying on Satan's Design , to the everlasting Destruction of his blinded Teachers and Hearers , Leaders and Followers . That shall be preach'd up , as a State of true Salvation and final Peace with God , which , if fix'd in , will be found a State of unchangeable Enmity to God , and eternal Death to Man. All , establish'd in the First-Covenant Law-Life and Righteousness of Man , in unchangeable Enmity to the Gospel-Life and Righteousness of God , go on , to their dying moment , with their delusive Laodicean Confidence therein , to their sad long eternal Condition , in the World to come . Paul was confident , awhile , but not fixedly , wilfully and unpardonably , in his Law-Spirit of Works , against God's Gospel-Spirit of Grace , in true Saints ; but , immediately on Gospel-Conviction and Conversion , gave up the Life and Righteousness of his own Spirit , in Sacrifice to God , in order to find all again with Usury , in God's eternal , everlasting righteous Gospel-Spirit of Grace and Truth ; Phil. 3. 6-11 . Many , not only eminent in the Wisdom of Man , but under highest spiritual enlightning Gifts ( receiv'd on their natural Understandings , amounting to a partaking of the Holy Ghost ( Heb. 6 . 4-6 . ) in the all-discovering Light , but not the all-powerful Life thereof ) are bewitch'd back again , by Satan , to set up for themselves , in their own holy Flesh , Righteousness of Man , Life of the Law , against God's holy Gospel-Spirit ; refusing to submit to the Death of their own Spirit , at best , for the Life of his . This do they , tho they know Christ himself , crucified that Law-Spirit of Works , in the Fountain-purity of it , in his own Person ( Gal. 3. 1 , 3. ) the preserving of which , was Satan's Attempt and Design upon him , by himself , the Jews , and Peter , to have set up his Kingdom , in ; Luke 4. 5-7 . Iohn 6. 15. Matth. 16. 22 , 23. All 's nothing as to our ever entring into the Kingdom of God , till we have that Gospel-Life of God , or a living spiritual Faith , working by Love to God therein ; 1 Cor. 12. 31. & 13. 1 , 2. Such a Faith , only , renders any , true Lovers and Beloveds of God ; right Performers of all Duties , to God and their Fellow-Creatures . Such as look back , after all convincing Discoveries and Offers of Christ's Gospel-Life , for Justification with God , in their Law-Righteousness of Man , are fallen from Grace ; Gal. 5. 4. Who hinders Men , or calls them back , from Christ's offer'd Gospel-Truth ? ver . 7. The Devil and his human Instruments , that shut up the Kingdom of Heaven , excluding and denying all such Gospel-Truths , by which any can ever enter thereinto . Satan takes Men alive , at his , and their own Will , in the restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man , as the highest Snare , by which , to keep them from ever looking after the Gospel-Life and Righteousness of God , therein ; 2 Tim. 2.26 . The Greek Original runs thus ; That they may awake out of the Snare of the Devil , who are taken alive by him , at his Will. Christ requires all , to look after God , for his Heavenly Kingdom-Life , and everlasting Righteousness ( Mat. 6. 33. ) and complains , that no Man , while confident in his own Understanding , will answer this Advice , or seek after God ( Rom. 3. 11. ) for his Heavenly Creature-life and things , which lie quite out of the reach of all single natural Understanding ; 1 Cor. 2. 9. Neither Morally righteous Heathens , nor First-Covenant Jews or Christians , regard or look after God , for his new or second Covenant-Life , in which any can be finally sav'd . But , where God wakens up any , out of their delusive Dream for true Happiness , in their own Righteousness , whether Jew or Gentile , and gives them a living spiritual Faith , working by Love to him , in his Gospel-Life , all such will find the Salvation of Heaven . Satan deceiv'd Mankind , at best , in the Primitive Purity of their Nature , in Adam , assuring them , that holding fast the righteous Life , they were first created in , and walking in the uncontroll'd Soveraignty of their own Will and Wisdom , therein , they should be as Gods. 'T is the peculiar Prerogative of God , so to live and be ; and the unpardonable Presumption of any Angels or Men , to conclude and set up for themselves , in their own Wills , so as never to be subject and obedient to his . Obedient Subjects of God , will be eternally blessed ; and all proud , presumptuous Self-exalters , to be as Gods , will fall under the everlasting Curse and Wrath of God. He that prevail'd with the first Adam , in the Primitive Purity of our Nature , when he found the second Adam in the Fountain-Purity of our Nature , a little lower than his Angelical Nature ( Heb. 2. 9. ) he most presumptuosly tempted him , to fall down and worship him , as God. What Work is he like to make with Men , in but the restor'd Life , Wisdom and Righteousness of Man , with Filth of Spirit , Enmity to God and his Spirit of Grace , under all ? In awaken'd Gospel-Saints , while any thing of the Carnal Mind and Life of their own Spirit remains uncrucified , he will be continually kindling the sinful Lusts and Desires of that , his own Party , yet , in them , as Paul found ; Rom. 7.15 , 19. and 2 Cor. 12. 7. Hereby , does he endeavour to quench and extinguish the Mind and Life of Christ's Gospel-Spirit in them , keeping up the War of their Fleshly Mind , his Party in them , against their Spiritual Mind , Christ's Party , so that they cannot do the things they would ( Gal. 5.17 . ) fully and constantly , till this War within them be finish'd , by a full extinguishing of the Life of their own Spirit , and Mindings thereof . Then are they freed from all Filth of Flesh and Spirit , too , for ever . Till then , tho they live in God's Spirit , they do not continually and constantly , walk , think and speak therein , as is their Duty and Concern ; ver . 25. In all this Combat and Danger , Saints , in a living Faith , know their Salvation sure , by a final Victory over all Enemies , without and within them . No Devils or Men shall ever be able to pluck them out of Christ's All-powerful Hand ; John 10. 28 , 29. When the God of this World , with his Party of Men , find , they cannot prevail with Christ or his Followers , by any Worldly Bribes or flattering self-pleasing Offers , to turn from and disown any such thing as indeed is God's eternal Gospel-Life and Truth , then go they to work , another way . When all Allurements fail , they will , in the Exercise of their implacable Malice , try to fright them out of their Gospel-Profession , and , if permitted ( as oft they are ) to murder their Bodies , Christ himself was so dealt with by them , and warns his Followers to expect the like ; Iohn 15. 20. & 16. 1 , 2. Evil Angels and Men have a kind of short , self-pleasing Heaven , in this World ; and Saints a short , and to their natural Spirit , unpleasing Purgatory-Hell , by which , cleans'd from all Filth of Flesh and Spirit . The former are ripening and fitting themselves for the eternal Hell , and God is ripening and fitting the latter , for the eternal Heaven , in the World to come . God's temporary Wrath upon them , bringing them into the lowest Hell , in this World , is his way , for delivering them , from the Wrath and Hell to come , that 's eternal ; Psal. 86. 13. & 116. 3. 2 Sam. 22.6 . Nature in Saints is sorely put to 't , in this Hell-work of God upon them , in this World ; but know , God will not leave their Soul there , for ever ; Psal. 16. 10. Tho chiefly spoken of Christ , will these words , at last , be found true , in Saints . All that God does to them , and all he suffers evil Angels and Men to do them , in their implacable Malice , does God over-rule , to their greatest good . When Satan appear'd or stood before the Lord , before whom , he knew it was to no purpose ( because impossible ) to conceal his way of deceiving , in Ahab's case , he down-right acknowledg'd it , that he would be a lying Spirit in the Mouth of all his Prophets . And God said , Go , and do so ; Thou shalt perswade him , and prevail also ; 1 Kings 22. 22. Thus did he prevail , as God's permissive Hand , to the Destruction of Ahab . His four hundred false Prophets , pleas'd Ahab , to his Ruin , and were highly esteem'd ; and , God's one true Prophet that counsell'd him for his good , was cast by him into a Prison , and fed with Bread of Affliction , and Water of Affliction ; v. 26. 27. He hated Micaijah , the Lord 's true Prophet , as not prophesying , what he reckon'd good , concerning him ; but , loved and rewarded Satan's false Prophets , as pleasing to his own Will , and after his own Heart's Desire . So , Ieremy , who counsell'd King and People for the preserving their Lives , was cast into a Dungeon , where he sunk in the Mire , while Satan's false Prophets pleas'd them , to their Destruction ; Ier. 38. 5 , 6. God's one true Prophet , among the then only visible People of God , a fleshly First-Covenant Israel , found King , Princes , Priests and People , all , as one Man , against him , while Satan's false self-pleasing Prophets were listen'd to , and rewarded . Satan , that acknowledg'd to God , he would be a lying Spirit in Ahab's Prophets , is so far from being discover'd by the highest Wisdom or Understanding of Man , in but First-Covenant or First-Creation natural Principles , that he will pass with them , there , for Christ and God most high , when , indeed , the worst of all Creatures ; 2 Thess. 2,3,4 . Where God permits this , and not only so , but , in Judgment , gives them up to Satan's Man-pleasing strong Delusions , for believing his Lie , rather than God's Truth , the Issue will be , eternal Death to their whole Beings , Spirit , Soul and Body , in a Resurrection of Damnation ; ver . 10 , 12. Men are either brought by Satan , in love to their own righteous earthly mortal Life , given them in their first Creation , to hate God's Heavenly Creature Gospel-Life , offer'd by a second ; or by the electing Love of God , to hate their own Life , at best , so as to give it up , in Sacrifice to God , in love to , and as the only way for attaining and experiencing his New-Covenant everlasting Gospel-Life , by a second or new Creation ; ver . 13. This latter is Christ's Counsel ( Luke 14. 26. ) in the Mystery of Godliness : the former , Satan's , in his Mystery of Iniquity . Satan's Counsel is , for sparing , saving and keeping the Life of the Creature , given in the first Creation : Christ's Counsel , is , for the Surrender and Loss of that , and all the things thereof , for the Life of the Creator , offer'd by a second , and things of God , therein . The keeping the former , in Preserence and Opposition to the latter , Christ declares will be the loss of all Life and Righteousness , God's and Man's too , on which , their whole Beings , Spirit , Soul and Body , will be laid down , for ever , in the Nakedness of their own unpardonable Guilt , under the unquenchable Wrath of God , for evermore ; Mat. 10. 39. & 16. 25. Mark 8. 35. Luke 17. 33. Iohn 12. 25. Man , not only eminent in the First-Covenant Life , Wisdom and Righteousness of Man , but under highest spiritual enlightning Gifts , on his natural Understanding ( short of the very Gospel-Life of Christ , or a living spiritual Faith , working by Love to him , therein ) is yet within Satan's reach , to beguile , bewitch , and fetch back into an unchangeable Union with him , in the first Creation , and unchangeable Enmity to God and his Heavenly Life , offer'd by a second ; 1 Cor. 12. 31. & 13. 1 , 2. Gal. 3. 1 , 3. & 5. 7. Satan would keep all Mankind , in the dead , corrupt State of Nature , wallowing in Mire as his Swine , spending and ending their Days in this World , in the brutish Lusts of literal Sodom . But , when cast out , as to this kind of Work in them , as fast as any are brought by Christ , out of such Filth of Flesh , into the Righteousness of Man , he attempts and frequently prevails to get into such mystical cleans'd Houses , and fix them with himself , in Filth of Spirit , unchangeable Enmity to God , and his everlasting righteous Creature-Spirit of Grace and Truth ; and then , he has a sevenfold surer hold of them , than ever ; Mat. 12. 43-45 . Luke 11. 24-26 . So comes the last State of that Man to be worse than the first , in his corrupt Nature . Mary Magdalen's and Zacheus's , in the Filth of corrupt Nature , were capable of Christ's true Salvation Gospel-Life , and such righteous Scribes and Pharisees utterly uncapable thereof , or , therefore , of scaping the Damnation of Hell ; Mat. 23. 33. & 21. 31. Publicans are brought to justify God , and be eternally justified before him , while righteous Pharisees and Scripture-Lawyers , in restor'd Law-life and Righteousness of Man , reject the Counsel of God , for receiving his Gospel-life , to their everlasting Destruction , Luk. 7. 29 , 30. & 15. 1 , 2. & 19. 2-9 . Fixure in Law-life and Righteousness of Man , in unchangeable Enmity to Gospel-life and Righteousness of God , renders Men , mystical Sodomites , in Filth of Spirit , worse and more criminal Sinners than literal Sodom , in Filth of Flesh , Mat. 11. 23 , 24. But , corrupt Nature or Filth of Flesh , fix'd in , with literal Sodom , is unpardonable , also . And , therein , do the greater part of Mankind , run their Race in this World , from their Cradles to their Graves . Take and put together all , of both the said Sorts of Mankind , in the broad Way to everlasting Destruction , under Satan's prevailing Influence , and they 'l be found wonderfully to out-number , Christ's few in the narrow Way to Heaven , Mat. 7. 13 , 14. Yet , will they be a numberless Multitude also , out of all Generations , Revel . 7. 9. Many of Satan's two Parties , fix'd in the corrupt or righteous Spirit of Nature , against God and his Gospel-spirit of Grace , oft die , without any Remorse or Fear , as to any By-standers Observation ; without any right Knowledg of the true God , or false God of this World , Heaven or Hell , till in the latter , beyond all Remedy , for ever . Yet , farther , Satan will not only exercise his permitted ruling and tempting-Power over Mankind , all along this World , but after his Imprisonment at beginning of Christ's thousand Years Reign on Earth , and his loosening out of it , at the ending thereof , will he , as his last and most transcendently presumptuous Attempt , rally up his Gog and Magog , his innumerable Multitude of evil Angels and Men , and in the transform'd Appearance and counterfeit Guise of Angels of Light and true Saints , besiege the New - Ierusalem-City of true Saints , in the very Glory of the Resurrection , Revel . 20. 1-3 . & v. 7-9 . This last Attempt of Satan and his Party of Angels and Men , will have no Success at all . Immediate will be the Decision of this intended Battel , by Fire from God out of Heaven , to devour them all ; casting them , with the Devil that deceiv'd them , into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone , where to be tormented , for ever and ever , ver . 10. Then Creation ceases , and all Angels and Men good and bad , finally concluded in their eternal Conditions of Joy or Sorrow , unspeakable , in Heaven or Hell. CHAP. XVIII . Concerning Heresies and Hereticks . THE Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Option or Choice , all variety of humane Opinions , in which Men chuse to set up for themselves , with Confidence for Salvation , contrary to the sound fundamental Principles of Religion , and right Worship of God in his Gospel-Spirit of Grace and Truth , in which alone any can be sav'd , Iohn 4. 23 , 24. All , short or destitute of this Spirit , or a living spiritual Faith therein , working by Love to God , worship they know not what , or whom , ver . 22. All , in but their own worldly Spirit or Principle , at best , in the restor'd Light or Life of the First-creation ( and conclusively setting up there , with Confidence for Salvation , as a State of eternal Life and Peace with God ) will be found , at last , unpardonable Hereticks , Sinners against the Holy Ghost , in unchangeable Enmity to the Gospel-spirit of Grace and Truth , offer'd by a New-creation , in which , alone , any can ever enter into his Kingdom , or scape the Damnation of Hell. Evil Angels were the supream Hereticks , in their first sinful Choice of their own earthly , mortal First-covenant-life , given them , in their First-creation . They soon prevail'd with all Mankind , in Adam , to make the same Choice . In Mankind , when by Christ restor'd into the Light and Life of the First-creation , and therein , but the Understanding and Wisdom of Man , whoever do conclusively set up for themselves therein , as a State of true Blessedness , do become with evil Angels , unpardonable Hereticks , Sinners against the Holy Ghost , rejecting the whole Counsel of God , and denying his Gospel-life , in which , only , any can be sav'd . Man , in his highest fallible Understanding , for judging , and corruptible Will , for chusing , in Matters of Religion and Worship of God , is under the Power of Satan , to deceive and impose upon him . Hence , are all the Doctrines and Words of Man's Wisdom , about eternal Life and Peace with God , Heresy . In all the various Conceptions , and Language of Man's Wisdom , we find a World of contrary Opinions , and Disputes , amounting to a mystical Babel . They will , all , in one Mind , reject and disown the Gospel-life and Truths thereof , as the grand universal Heresy of all . Scribes , Pharisees , Essen's , Herodians , &c. among the enlighten'd , righteous professing First-covenant Jews , were all , as one Man , against Christ himself , for his Gospel-Truth . They said , he had a Devil , and was mad ; that he was a Blasphemer , a Sabbath-breaker , a Wine-bibber , a Friend of Publicans and Sinners ; an Enemy of righteous Men , most uncharitably sentencing them to the Damnation of Hell ( Mat. 23.33 . ) and taking up Mary Magdalen's and Zacheus's , Publicans and Sinners , into the Salvation of Heaven . These were the strange , wonderful Appearances , Christ and his Doctrine , and way for eternal Life , had , in the Sight and Understanding of wise , righteous , First-Covenant , Saint-like People . What wonder ? None , in that Principle of Understanding can see , know , own or receive the Gospel - Life and Things of God ( 1 Cor. 2. 9. ) the New-Covenant Principle of true Salvation , which , therefore , is universally denied by them all , as a Diabolical Illusion . Many , that come to be true Saints , at last , may be found , for a time , with Paul , deeply engag'd , in a murdering Mind of Enmity to true Saints , for their Gospel-Principle , and Doctrine , in the words of God's Wisdom . But , all that fix there , become unchangeable Enemies to God and them . All final Builders on the sandy Foundation , the mortal , earthly , perishing Life of the first Creation , will deny , contradict and blaspheme all that are built on the firm , sure , rocky , Gospel-Life of God , in which , alone any can ever enter into his Kingdom . What these differing Builders will come to , in Conclusion , Christ declares ; Mat. 7. 24-27 . The Righteousness of Man , in Scribes and Pharisees , is not that , in which , any can ever enter into the Kingdom of Heaven ; Mat. 5. 20. The Righteousness of God , in his new and everlasting Gospel-Life , which Christ requires Men to seek after ( Mat. 6. 33. ) this only will give all the happy Partakers thereof , an Entrance into his Kingdom . The imputed Righteousness of God , to the compleating the imperfect Personal Righteousness of Man ( for a First-Covenant Communion with , and worshipping of God in that Principle ) is still but the fading Beauty , and Righteousness of Man , in and with which , he is liable to play the Harlot with the Devil , in Enmity to Christ , as offer'd to be a spiritual Head , Lord , Bridegroom and Husband to them , in his Heavenly , Eternal Gospel-Life , by a new Creation of them . So , come they to be judg'd as mystical and most criminal Adulterers and Murderers ; Ezek. 16. 14 , 15. & v. 38. Imputed Righteousness or Comeliness of God , to Man , in the First-Covenant , on Man's abuse of all , in him , in Union with the Devil , is withdrawn again , and he , for ever depriv'd of all or any Benefit of Christ's Sacrifice , in our Nature ; Heb. 10. 26. In the second Covenant Gospel-Life of God , Man comes to have the Righteousness of God , in him , under and with Christ. This is a Life , a Wisdom , a Righteousness and a Glory never to be done away . In this , only , can any enter into the Kingdom of Heaven . This is as much above the Righteousness of Man , as the Heavens are higher than the Earth . Thus are God's Thoughts and Ways for Salvation , as far above Man's Thoughts , and Words of his own Wisdom , as the literal Heavens are higher than the Earth ; Isa. 55.8,9 . God requires the plucking out our right Eye , cutting off our right Hand and Foot , when finding our selves therein offended at his way of saying us ; and so , offensive to God and to our selves , as to our own truest Interest and greatest Concern , for finding eternal Life , or scaping eternal Death ; Mat. 5. 29 , 30. and 18. 8 , 9. Mark 9. 43-48 . This , with other like Requirings of God , are not to be understood , in a literal Sense ; nor , if so perform'd , would answer the Counsel or Command of God. We may give our whole Body to be burn'd , and yet be destitute of that Spirit of God , call'd Love ( rendering all the happy Partakers thereof , true Lovers and Beloveds of God ) and so of no Value with God , or true Advantage to our selves ; 1 Cor. 13. 3. So , the selling all that we have , and give to the poor ( Mat. 19.21 . Mark 10.21 . Luke 18.22 . ) the mystical Truth of such Commands , relates to the mystical Riches of Man's Law-spirit of Works , and Fruitfulness of his own Nature , therein ; all which , are to be given up , in Sacrifice to God , for the durable Life and Heavenly Treasures of his Gospel-Spirit of Grace , in them . The right Eye , Hand and Foot , to be pluck'd out , cut off , and cast away from us , are , in Mystery and Truth , the most enlighten'd natural Understanding , signified by the right Eye ; the best Practice in our own Will and Way , and most righteous walking , in our own Law-spirit of Works ; all such , seeing , working and walking , are to be given up and parted with , in Passive Obedience to the Will of God , in order to find all again with unspeakable Gain , by seeing , working , walking , and doing all things , in the Gospel-Life of God , the only Principle of everlasting , well-pleasing , active Obedience to him , and Blessedness to us . In the infallible Understanding of his Spirit , can we know all things , and in the incorruptible Will thereof , can we do all that God requires of us . God himself , therein , works all our Works for us ( Isa. 26. 12. ) and we work all our Works , in him . These are the only Works , that will not be burnt up , at the last Day ; Iohn 3. 21. All Christ's Gospel-Words , seem'd hard Sayings , even to his Disciples , while known to them , but as a fleshly Bridegroom , in a restor'd First-Covenant Principle of seeing , working and walking ; Iohn 6. 60. To give up all inward Riches of their own Spirits , all Righteousness , Wisdom , Works , Fruits ( every thing , given them in their first Creation , or done by them , therein , at best ) this seems a hard Saying , exceeding strange and amazing to Man's Wisdom . The very Disciples were exceedingly amaz'd at such words of Christ , saying , Who then can be sav'd at all ? Mat. 19. 24 , 25. This was a narrower Question , than he ask'd , that said to Christ , Master , are there few that be saved ? Luke 13.23 . If there be no possibility of entring into the Kingdom of God , by the best , Man can do or be , in the restor'd Life , Wisdom and Righteousness of his own Nature , he is ready , with the Disciples , to ask the same Question . Consequently , is he ready to deny the Truth of Christ's Saying , and that as a Duty to God , that sure , he would never require more of Man , for his true Blessedness , than the utmost he can do , in the Life , given him , in his first Creation , or restor'd since . The Disputers of this World , under Satan's delusive Influence , in defence of their Worldly Principle of Life , Desire , Thought and Action , will never have done , till the ending of the Devil's Reign , and commencing of Christ's . Such Disputers are not to be striven with , but , in Meekness instructed , and if they 'll hear , well and good : if they be peremptory and conclusive , in their own fallible Understandings , contradicting and blaspheming all right Gospel-words of Counsel , for true Salvation , Saints may pray , and desire other Saints Prayers , for a Deliverance from such unreasonable Men ; who ( tho temporary Believers in , and Owners of Christ , in the restor'd First-Covenant-Life and Righteousness of Man , which he crucified in himself ) are mystical Infidels , as to that New-Covenant Gospel-Life and Righteousness of God , he is ascended into . They call all the right Words and Doctrine thereof , a blasphemous Fiction . Here 's the pass , true New-Covenant Saints , with their spiritual Faith in Christ's Gospel-Life , are at , with First-Covenant Believers , in their restor'd Law-life . All Contests with them , amount but to a vain , unprofitable jangling . Such Teachers of the Law , understand neither what they say , nor whereof they affirm ( 1 Tim. 1.6,7 . ) utterly denying the Gospel-Principle of true Love to God and our Fellow-Creatures , in which , alone , possible to be obey'd and fulfill'd ; Rom. 13.8 , 10. But , still , this remains to be the Saints Duty , with Paul , to become all things to all Men ( 1 Cor. 9. 20-22 . ) stooping and condescending to all kinds and degrees of Understanding , in the Light of Nature , Law , and Gospel , owning what 's good , in any ; but , in order to lead them into , and build them up in , what 's unspeakably better , Christ's Gospel-Spirit of everlasting Righteousness and infallible Truth . They will , also , as their Duty , bear with such , as at present , persecute them , as Blasphemers of the Law , by preaching the Gospel-Cross and Death-work of God's Heavenly , on their Earthly Law-Spirit of Works , at best . This , Man's Wisdom calls a blaspheming or evil-speaking of the Law , Moses , and God ; Acts 6. 11-13 . Paul was at this Work , for a time , in his own Law-Spirit : Yet , at length , became a most eminent Preacher of the Gospel ; and then , was as fiercely persecuted , by such as he once was , in their own Law-Spirit of Works . In Man's day of judging in Religion , and interpreting the Scriptures in the Words of his own Wisdom , all his Preachings and Writings , therein , will exactly conduce to the carrying on the whole Counsel of the Devil , in his Mystery of Iniquity , for the Damnation of Men , and preventing their Salvation . And , as in Church , so in State-Affairs , may we see what Man 's deepest Reason and Wisdom amounts unto , as to his own eternal Concerns in the case and end of Achitophel . His Counsel was , as if a Man inquir'd at the Oracle of God , and that , under such a Man of God , as was King David . In Conclusion , on God's crossing him , and disappointing his Counsel , in the Case of Absalom , he hang'd himself ; 2 Sam. 16. 23. & 17. 23. Thus , is Man ( trusting to his own Understanding , at best , for directing his Steps ) gone , at every turn , in this World , and the World to come . To enumerate particular Heresies , all along , since the Primitive Apostolical Gospel-day ( and , remarkably , in our own Day , and Nation , within the compass of sixty Years ) would be endless , and to no end . If God's Gospel-Truth , be evidenc'd , and receiv'd , all the Disputes and Controversies , manag'd in the fallible Understanding of Man , on all hands , about Satan's Lie , in his Mystery of Iniquity , will be discover'd , and laid in the Dust. CHAP. XIX . Concerning true Charity or Love. TRue spiritual Saints , in God's Gospel-Spirit , call'd Love , are the only right Performers of all Duty to God and their Fellow-Creatures , therein . They have a right Love to all Men ( not known to be fix'd in Enmity to God and them ) and a peculiar Brotherly Kindness to the Houshold of Faith , Christ's and their spiritual Brethren . Yet , are none reckon'd by Men , in their own Wordly Life and Wisdom , at best , so universally uncharitable , as reckoning all , below their spiritual Principle of true Life , to be in great danger of Damnation . Men , in the restor'd Life , Wisdom and Righteousness of their own Spirits , are ready to say to them , as the Disciples said to Christ himself , Who then can be sav'd , at all ? Are all Mankind damn'd , both corrupt and righteous ? This amazing Truth , renders Saints , in all appearance , the most uncharitable of all Men. If all the World wonder after the Beast , and worship the Dragon , that gives Power to his Human Beast , his false Prophets and Apostles ( in their Wordly First-Creation Principles , at best , all Righteousness and Wisdom of Man ) what a most uncharitable , censorious Creature , must the true Saint appear to be ? Rev. 13. 3-7 . If all that dwell on the Earth , fix and set up for entring into the Kingdom of Heaven , in but their own Earthly Life , in which none can ever enter thereinto , what must Christ's few in the narrow way , whose Names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb , slain from the Foundation of the World , be accounted ? v. 8. They that are of the World , in but the Earthly Life of the first Creation , preach up that , in the Righteousness , Wisdom and Glory of it , as a state of eternal Life ; and the World , all in that Principle , hear and own their Doctrine , as God's Gospel-Truth . We are of God , says Iohn , he that knoweth God , heareth us : he that is not of God , heareth not us ; 1 Joh. 4. 5 , 6. What is Man's Wisdom like to say , to this ? You are in the right Principle for Salvation , and all , short thereof , or contrary thereto , in a delusive Perswasion , doing , saying and worshipping they know not what . This is your most presumptuous , uncharitable and unwarrantable Opinion of others , and a justifying your selves , as the only true People of God. The First-Covenant righteous teaching and professing Jews said to Christ , they were born of God , and that he had a Devil , and was mad ; Joh. 8.48 . and 10.20 . and 8. 52. Now we know that thou hast a Devil . Here 's the Language of a First-Covenant People , fix'd in their own Earthly Spirit , concerning Christ himself and his Followers , by the Death of that , into the Life of his Heavenly ; his Holy Ghost , they call the Devil . While the God of this World passes for the true God , with any , what other Language can be expected from them ? If the World hate you , says Christ , ye know that it hated me , before it hated you ; Joh. 15. 18. It was the highest Rank of Men , in the Worldly Spirit , a righteous visible People of God , that contradicted , blasphem'd and murder'd Christ himself . What can his true Followers expect ? His chusing them out of the World , his transforming them , by death of their own Earthly Spirits , and Resurrection into the Life of his Heavenly , will render them hateful to all , fix'd in their own Earthly ; ver . 19. True Saints in Christ's Gospel-Spirit , can answer that Command of God , in Sincerity and Truth ( Mat. 5. 44. ) Love their Enemies , &c. They can truly forgive other Mens Trespasses against them . These are Commands , too hard for Man , in his own Nature and Spirit , at best , to answer . The right performing them is an infallible Evidence of their being born of God's Heavenly Creature-Spirit , or Holy Ghost ; ver . 45. They that pray , God would forgive their Trespasses against him , as they forgive others Trespasses against them , in case they do not so forgive others , they pray , in effect , God would not forgive them ; Mat. 6. 14 , 15. True Saints , on all accounts , are truly and universally , the only right Performers of all Duties to God and their Fellow-Creatures , by a true universal Charity or Love to all Men , not fix'd in Enmity to God. Such , 't is their Duty , in Union of Mind with God , to hate with a perfect Hatred ; Psal. 139. 21 , 22. Christ himself said , of our Nature in the Fountain-Purity of it , I can of my self do nothing ; John 5. 30. The only doing Principle , for everlasting well-pleasing , active Obedience to the Divine Will , in me and my Followers , is my Heavenly Creature Gospel-Spirit of Grace and Truth . Against this Spirit of Truth , God permits Satan to carry on his Mystery of Iniquity , by transforming his Earthly , into the likeness of Christ's Heavenly Creature-Spirit , that 's God's House , and as sitting in that Temple of God , shewing himself to be God. And then , are his Ministers ( preaching up the Righteousness of Man , only , for eternal Life ) transform'd into the likeness of the Gospel - Ministers of the Righteousness of God ; 2 Cor. 11. 13-15 . They dress up Satan's and their Earthly , with all the Titles belonging to Christ's Heavenly Spirit ; and are receiv'd and own'd , beyond all Dispute and Question , as true Ministers of the Gospel . Where Satan , in and by his Party , among Men , sits on the Judgment-Bench ( Rev. 2. 13. ) and Gospel-Saints forc'd to stand at the Bar , all right Gospel-words , for their Defence , will be reckon'd matter of Condemnation to them , without any need of other Witnesses against them . Christ himself was thus handled . He has spoken Blasphemy , says the High-Priest , What think ye ? Guilty of Death , say the Iews , as his Jury ; on which they did spit in his Face , and smite him , saying , Prophesy unto us , thou Christ , who is he that smote thee , Mat. 26. 65-68 . They not only condemn'd , but ridicul'd him , in their proceeding towards the murdering of him . This did they to him , who had that Spirit in him , which created all Angels and Men. True Saints give no ground for any to despair of Salvation , who are not guilty of the unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost , in a fix'd wilful , unchangeable Enmity to the Gospel-Spirit of God. They also endeavour , by all Condescensions , Ways and Means , to bring them into the Knowledg and right owning of Christ's Gospel-Truth , in which , alone , any can be sav'd . Final Refusers of their Gospel-Counsels , will persecute them , for their Pains , as has been experienc'd in all Times . And , we are now drawing near to , yea , are in the worst of Times , since Noah's Flood , under the permitted Exercise of Satan's great Rage , because he knows he has but a short time , to the finishing of his Reign over Mankind , Rev. 12. 12. All manner of Wickedness encreases and abounds , more and more , continually ; such Wars , Tumults and Confusions , of all sorts , as now are , have not been the usual Experience of former days . All tends to the running down the present Generation , towards that Midnight-darkness ; a State , in which , Christ declares , that at his second Coming , he shall find the World , at near the same pass , Mankind were found in at the Flood ; Mat. 24. 37-39 . Luke 18. 8. Under all these Discouragements , Saints have an infallible fore-head-Sight , what Matters will come to , on all Hands , at the winding up of all , in the final Love or Wrath of God. Then , the unwarrantable Charity of Men , warranting Salvation and Peace with God , in a Principle , where never to be found , will be sadly and remedilesly experienc'd by themselves and their blinded Followers , to have been the leading their Hearers into everlasting Destruction , with themselves . Then all Persons and Things , all Words and Doctrines , will be call'd by the right Names . Under Satan's permitted Reign , all things in Religion and the Worship of God , have been call'd by wrong Names , all along this World , and will more and more confidently be so call'd , to the full ending thereof . In these last Days , and near approach of the second Coming of our Lord , will there be more Scoffing at any such thing , and a more universal Disregard and Denial of the Spirit he will come in , than ever , 2 Pet. 3. 3 , 4. CHAP. XX. The Conclusion of this whole Treatise , shewing the Security of true Saints , all along this troublesom confounded World ; wherein God never suffers the Rulers of this dark World , Devils or Men , to do any thing to them , in their implacable Malice , but what his infinite Wisdom and Power over-rules into a constant Conducibleness to their greatest Good. This , with many other things , are the Matters of this Concluding Chapter . TRUE Saints have God , and Christ himself , on their Side , in a Partnership with them , under all the Blasphemous Contradictions of Men , to their Words of God's Wisdom , Words which the Holy Ghost , his Gospel-spirit in them , teaches . In Blaspheming such Words , they blaspheme Christ himself and God Most High. Christ say'd to such as search'd the Scriptures , in but their own Understandings ( and thought they had eternal Life , in such Obedience as was performable by them , in the restor'd Life of their own Law-spirit of Works ) ye will not come to me , the living Word of God , for my Gospel-life of Grace and Truth , in which only , any can be sav'd , or enter into my Kingdom , Iohn 5.39,40 . From the same infallible Mouth of God , we have a yet seemingly harder Saying than this ; No Man can come to me , except the Father which hath sent me , by the attractive Power of his electing Love , draw , bring and give him to me , John 6. 44. And , I will give eternal Life to as many as the Father hath given me , ( John 17. 2. ) to all , whose Names are written in me , the living Word and Book of Life , ( Revel . 13. 8. ) predestinated to be conform'd to me , in that heavenly , eternal Creature-life , into which I was exalted , as the Lamb slain , from the Foundation of the World , out of the Death of the First-creation , into the Life , appointed to be given Angels and Men , by a Second , Rev. 13. 8. Rom. 8. 29. The attaining eternal Life , is not of him that willeth , nor of him that runneth , in the Life , Will and Understanding of his own Spirit , at best ; but of the Will of God , who will shew to whom he please , such Mercy , as is the Free-Grace-Gift of quite another Life , Will and Understanding , than was given Angel or Man , in their First-creation , Rom. 9. 16. The Election , or Elect from among Mankind , will obtain what they seek for , even eternal Life ; the rest will be blinded by Satan , and find eternal Death , Rom. 11.7 . These , with many the like Sayings in the Scripture , seem exceeding hard to Man's Wisdom , in which , if the attaining eternal Life , or scaping eternal Death , be not in the Power of his own Will ; and if the things of God , in his eternal Gospel-life , be quite out of the reach of his own Understanding , so as that it is impossible to be sav'd , in his own Will and Way , he is ready with his strong Reasonings to charge God himself with Unrighteousness , as requiring Impossibilities , Rom. 9. 14-21 . Man , with all his strong Reasons , when he produces his Cause , and stands up in his own Defence against God , will be found less or worse than nothing , Isa. 41. 21 , 24. All seeming hard Sayings , in the Scriptures of Truth , about Mens eternal Concerns , ( the finding eternal Life , depending singly and meerly , on the electing Love of God ) exclude none from the Hope of a Share or Portion therein , till guilty of the unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost or Gospel-spirit , and so , of unchangeable Enmity to God. Even Gospel-Saints know not who are elected of God , till it appear to them , by the self-evidencing Fruits of Christ's Gospel-spirit , in them . On this account , Paul knew his Gospel-converts , amongst the Thessalonians , to be the Elect of God , 1 Thess. 1.4,5 . Those that are elected of God , and shall be true Saints , are born , with all others of Mankind , dead in Trespasses and Sins , Ephes. 2. 1. Col. 2. 13. Could the self-confident righteous Scribes and Pharisees , think Mary Magdalen and Zacheus , the Elect of God , while in the same corrupt Spirit of Nature , with other Publicans and common Sinners , in Filth of Flesh ? Could awaken'd Gospel-Saints think Paul elected of God , when they saw him a fierce Persecutor , and Blasphemer of all Gospel-Truths ? None are absolutely excluded from a Hopefulness of a Share in God's electing Love , and so of finding eternal Life , till fix'd by their own sinful , unpardonable Choice ( and God's righteous Judgment upon them , in giving them up thereto ) in Filth of Flesh or Spirit , corrupt or righteous Nature , rendring them a literal or mystical Sodom , in unchangeable Enmity to God and his Gospel-spirit of Grace and Truth . No Scriptures , rightly interpreted and understood , give ground to any , for despairing or giving up all Hopes of God's electing Love , save to the two abovesaid Sorts of Sinners . A distrusting our own Understandings , and Wills , at best , as to the finding eternal Life , or ever answering the whole Mind , Will , and Counsel of God ; such a kind of Despair , is a Duty , of high Concern ; and , a false Confidence therein , is exceeding dangerous , as answering Satan's whole Counsel , to our eternal Destruction . God forewarns us hereof , Ier. 10. 23. Prov. 3. 5-7 . None will finally take this warning , but the Elect , and not they , till the dormant Seed of Gospel-life , unknown to themselves , be actually quicken'd and waken'd up in them . The Words of God's Wisdom and Counsel about our eternal Concerns , are universally contrary to the Words of Man's Wisdom . Christ told the self-confident Law-righteous Scribes and Pharisees ( who reckon'd themselves and Followers , such as were born of God , ( Iohn 8. 41. ) and could not miss the Salvation of Heaven ) they were Serpents , a Generation of Vipers , that could not escape the Damnation of Hell , Mat. 23. 33. He calls them Hypocrites , not as pretending , only , to , and not really experiencing the Righteousness of Man ; but , as accounting themselves , therein , the only true Saints , in the Kingdom-life and Righteousness of God , when in unchangeable Enmity thereto . All such Interpreters of Scripture , exploding , denying and blaspheming Christ's Gospel-life and Truths , in which any can ever enter into his Kingdom , are said to shut up the Kingdom of Heaven , disswading any that are looking after that Life , in which , alone , possible to enter into it , as a most dangerous delusive Fiction , ver . 13. Except our Life and Righteousness be quite of another kind , than the Law-life and Righteousness of Man , to wit , the Gospel-life and Righteousness of God , by a New or Second-creation , we can in no wise , enter into the Kingdom of Heaven , Matth. 5. 20. The highest Rank of Antichristian Enemies to true Saints , and their Doctrine of Grace , in the Words of God's Wisdom , are such righteous Men , who set up for Salvation , in the same Law-principle of restor'd Nature , as Christ found the teaching and professing Jews , in . Under all blasphemous Contradictions , and Persecuting-work of such as set up in the restor'd earthly Law-life and Righteousness of Man , in preference and opposition to the Heavenly Gospel-life and Righteousness of God , Saints have God on their Side ; who can be against them , ( Rom. 8.31 . ) so as to do them the least Harm ? 1 Pet. 3. 13 , 14. Whatever Devils or Men , as God's permissive Hand , can , in their implacable Malice , do to them , is infallibly overrul'd by God's infinite Wisdom and Power , for their greatest Good. They are secur'd from any hurt , by the great red Dragon , or any of his innumerable serpentine Seed of Mankind , Rev. 12 . 3-5 . What was the Issue of the first War , in Heaven , between Michael and his Angels , in the heavenly Life and Glory of the New or Second-creation , and the Dragon and his Angels , in the earthly Life of the first , we find , v. 7 , 8. They were utterly excluded out of Heaven , from ever entring thereinto , as transform'd by themselves into the Guise or Appearance of true Gospel-Angels of Light. And , by such deceitful Work , does that Old Serpent , the Devil and Satan , deceive the whole World , ( v. 9. ) all , in but the worldly Principle of Life , and Righteousness of Man. By such deceitful transforming Work of Satan and his Angels of Darkness , into Angels of Light , and his Ministers of but the Righteousness of Man , into the Likeness of Christ's true Gospel-Ministers of the Righteousness of God , does he decry all Gospel-Truths , as the greatest Heresies and Blasphemies in the World. Christ himself suffer'd himself , to be so dealt with , by them . When Saints declare the Gospel-life , and assert , that therein , only , any can ever enter into Heaven , or scape the Damnation of Hell ; they do not deny that any in the corrupt or righteous Life of their own Nature or Spirit , can ever come to experience Christ's Gospel-life , or enter into his Kingdom ; but endeavour to be instrumental , under Christ , for leading them thereinto , 2 Tim. 2. 24-26 . Quest. Does the Gospel-Doctrine of true Salvation discourage or condemn the Righteousness of Man , in the honest moral Heathen , walking in a Sutableness to the rational Light of Nature , restor'd by Christ , in all Mankind , as a Light which lighteth every Man that comes into the World ? John 1. 9. Does it discourage the righteous First-covenant Iew , or Christian , walking in his higher kind of good Conscience , in the restor'd First-covenant Law-life , as his Principle , owning the imputed Righteousness of Christ , there , for the compleating him , in a First-covenant-Communion with , and worshipping of God ? Consequently , does it judg and condemn the moral Heathen , or legally righteous First-covenant Iew or Christian , for teaching and exhorting others , to walk in such Obedience to God , as is performable in the said Light of Nature , or Life of the Law ? Answ. Nothing of all this , is justly imputable to the right Teaching of the Gospel . Moral and legal Righteousness of Man is good for himself and his Fellow-creatures in this World , ( Iob 35. 8. ) and better in God's Sight , than gross Wickedness , Injustice , vile Affections and brutish Lusts : but , as to entring into the Kingdom of God , in the World to come , not at all , available , Gal. 6. 15. God himself testified of Iob to the Devil , that there was none like him in the Earth , a perfect , upright Man , fearing God and eschewing Evil , Job 1. 8. The Devil ( knowing Iob , in all this , to be rewarded of God , as a Debtor to him , ( Rom. 4. 4. ) for such Righteousness , in a Plenty of this World 's temporary good Things ) replied , v. 9 , 10. Hast thou not bless'd the Work of his Hands , and encreas'd his Substance in the Land ? Take all this away again , and see , if he curse thee not to thy Face , v. 11. God puts it into Satan's Power , to be instrumental , herein , for the Trial of Iob's Patience , and carrying on the Work of his Cross upon him , in a Conducibleness to his greatest Good. His ten Children are kill'd by a great Wind , blowing down the House , where they were Feasting ; all his Goods were taken away by wicked Men , under the Influence of the Devil . Thus far , Iob did bear his Trial , without sinning , or charging God , foolishly ; blessing the Lord , that gave him , and then took all the said Gifts away , again , from him . Then Satan desires the Liberty of smiting his Body , and God grants him a limited Power , as to that . Then Satan moves his Wife , to counsel him , to do what himself , had said to God , ( Iob 1. 11. ) Curse God and die , Chap. 2. 9. Job rebukes her , saying , shall we receive Good from God , and not Evil ? In all this did not Iob sin with his Lips , Job 2. 5-10 . But , when he felt the Cross or Death-work of the Spirit of God , on his very Spirit , as to the Life , Wisdom , and Righteousness of Man , and Satan's permitted working upon him , in this Hour and Power of Darkness , he was sorely put to his utmost Trial , and utter'd many hard Words against God's strange and wonderful Dealings with him , reflecting upon his faithful Walking , ( Iob 29. 2. ) so as not , in the least , to deserve any such dealing of God with him , Iob 3. & 19. 1-11 . & 31. 35. He desires that the Almighty would answer him . Here 's the Case and Demeanour of the Mirror of Patience , next the Lord himself , under all Sufferings , in our Nature . Elihu charges him with multiplying his Words against God , Job 34. 37. The Lord himself charges him with darkning Counsel , by Words without Knowledg , Chap. 38. 1 , 2. He saw not , as yet , or understood the unspeakable Advantage of all this strange Dealing of God , with him . So , contended with the Almighty , and therein , reprov'd God himself , Chap. 40. 1 , 2. He reflected upon his former Condition and flourish in all worldly Prosperity , and such an Eminency in Wisdom and Righteousness , that when he open'd his Mouth in Counsel , Princes refrain'd talking , and Nobles held their Peace ; now , Children of Fools abhor'd him , made him their Song and By-word , not sparing to spit in his Face , Iob 29. 9 , 10. & 30. 8-10 . He comes , at length , to abhor himself , in such a Change of Life and Mind , for the better , as to rejoice in seeing all the fading Glory , Wisdom and Righteousness of his own Spirit , turn'd into Dust and Ashes , as the Way of God , for experiencing his heavenly Creature-life , above all Deaths , and his eternal good Things , therein , the Righteousness and Wisdom of God , and his living and working all his Works , in God's Spirit of Grace and Truth . But , in the hundred and forty Years of his Life , after all this , we hear not a Word of such high Esteem with Men , as when eminent in the Wisdom , and Righteousness of Man. Were the restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man , all that God requires of him , for entring into his Kingdom , Godliness would be no Mystery . The Light of Nature , in all Men , convinces , judges and condemns all gross Sins , vile Affections and brutish Lusts in all others , and themselves also , who are guilty thereof . And , then , also , Satan would have no Mystery of Iniquity , to make use of , in his destructive Practisings upon Mankind . But , for this , he has , not only all the Wisdom , Righteousness and Glory of the First-creation , in himself and Men , to deceive them , by ; but a permitted Power , also , to transform all that , in himself and Men , into the Appearance and Likeness of Christ's Gospel-life , and Righteousness of God , and by his Ministers amongst Men , to dress it up with all Scripture Language and Titles of the very Gospel-Truths of God ; Regeneration , New-Creature , and the like . So does Satan , as the supream mystical Whore of Babylon , with his whole Babylonish Party of evil Angels and Men , ( furnish'd with all Glory of the First-creation , and counterfeit Appearances also of the Second ) carry on his Work , in the womanish Spirit of Nature , against God's manly Spirit of Grace , as deck'd and adorn'd with all worldly Glory , Pomp and Beauty , and having a gilded ( not golden ) Cup , full of Abominations , by which , to deceive , if possible , the very Elect , and , infallibly , all others , into everlasting Destruction . Even Iohn , the peculiarly beloved Disciple , an eminent Apostolical Saint , marvel'd to see the Pomp and Glory of Satan and his whole Party , herein , and in all that , call'd , Mystery , Babylon the Great , Mother of Harlots , and Abominations of the Earth ; all , amounting to a rebellious fixing in the earthly Life of the Creature , in unchangeable Enmity to God , and the heavenly Creature-life of the Creator , offer'd by a New-creation . The Righteousness and Wisdom of Man are the best sort of things , in Nature's First-creation ; spiritual enlightning Gifts are the best Gifts , towards a New-creation , receivable by the natural Understanding ; and yet , Man , in all these Advantages , short of the very Gospel-life of God , or a living spiritual Faith therein , is nothing , has nothing that will give him Entrance into the Kingdom of God , 1 Cor. 12. 31. & 13. 1 , 2. The best things in Nature , are corruptible , and if corrupted , become the worst of all things . The highest Light , Wisdom and Righteousness , therein , establisht , in preference to the marvelous Light , Wisdom and Righteousness of God , offer'd by a New-creation , is the greatest Darkness , Wickedness and Folly , of all , Mat. 6.23 . Mystical Babylon and Sodom is worse than literal , Mat. 11.23,24 . The prevailing Power and Danger of Self-love , did most signally appear in the first Sin of evil Angels . Under the clearest Knowledg of the Will and Command of God , that was possible to be given to their supream natural intuitive Understandings , for the right use of their natural Beings and Life , given them in their First-creation , in order to the Second , they turn'd away from God's Offer of the latter , in Love to themselves , in the former . This did they , in a known Rebellion against God , and a known Contrariety to their own unspeakable Concern , for finding eternal Life or scaping eternal Death . They preferr'd the Life of the Creature in themselves , to the Life of the Creator , in himself , in an unchast , adulterous , murdering Mind of unchangeable Enmity to their Creator , as offer'd to become their Lord , Bridegroom and Husband , in the Life of that all-powerful Spirit , that gave them their own Beings and Life , by a First-creation . They added to this first unpardonable Sin , the drawing all Mankind , in Adam , to make the same evil Choice , for themselves . And , all along this World , when any are restor'd into the Life of the First-creation , and brought under high spiritual enlightning Gifts , convincing Discoveries and Offers of the heavenly Creature-life of God by a Second , evil Angels do attempt , and prevail with many , under such Advantages , to fetch them back again , from Christ's offer'd eternal Gospel-life of the Creator , in his holy Spirit , and set up for themselves in their own holy Flesh , or earthly Life and Righteousness of Man. Gal. 3. 1 , 3. & 5. 7 , 8. Balaam and Saul , with many others , are signal Instances of such Apostacy from Christ , under the prevailing Influence of evil Angels . The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul , so that he was among the Prophets of God , under the enlightning Gifts thereof , by which God turn'd him into another Man , gave him another Heart , to see , know , and seek after him . But , he turn'd from God , and the Spirit of God departed from him ; and when his Life was in danger , he ask'd Counsel of the Devil , in a known Witch , what would become of him , 1 Sam. 10. 6 , 9 , 11. & 16. 14. & 28. 7. Balaam , taken by the Lord , for a time , out of the Hands of the Devil , was forc'd , contrary to his own and the Devil 's , and Balak's Mind , to bless , instead of cursing Israel . He declares , that he heard the Words of God , and knew the Most High , saw the Visions of the Almighty , Numb . 24. 16. He pray'd , that he might die the Death of the Righteous , and that his last End might be like his , Numb . 23. 10. He tells Balak , if he would give him his House full of Silver and Gold , he will speak what the Lord says , Chap. 24. 13. After all this , the Holy Ghost in Peter , charges him , with loving the Wages of Vnrighteousness , 2 Pet. 2. 15. When he found himself disabled to curse Israel , he counsell'd the Midianitish Women , to go amongst them , to allure them to Whoredom , and so , to cause the Lord to appear against them , Numb . 31. 16. And , listing himself in the Midianites Army , was slain , with the five Kings of Midian , by the Israelites Sword , v. 8. None , in the restor'd Life of Man , and under the enlightning Discoveries and Offers of the Gospel-life of God , are out of Satan's reach , till born of God. Then have they a Life in them , which the evil one cannot touch , 1 John 5. 18. All restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man , renders Men but natural Branches in Christ , Servants in the House of God , liable to be turn'd out again , and cast into unquenchable Fire , John 15. 1-6 . & 8. 35. In all restor'd Law-life , and Freedom of their own Wills , Men are under the Law , and under the Curse , ( Gal. 3. 10. ) in danger of the final condemning Power thereof , while destitute of that Gospel-life , that 's the only continuing Principle of infallible everlasting well-pleasing Obedience to God. This brings with it , into Man , the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God , wherewith Christ makes Men free indeed ; in a free Will to Good only , under an Impossibility of ever doing Evil , therein . The Will of Man , in New-creation-life , is in unchageable Harmony with the very Divine Will. In this , he never sins . But , in his own Will , till fully crucified , the Saint continually sins , opposing and fighting against his spiritual Will , that never sins , 1 Iohn 3. 9. & 1. 8. Rom. 7. 15 , 19. Gal. 5. 17. In the First-creation , at best , Man was but a mystical Tree of good and evil , but changeably good , and liable , by his own choice , to become unchangeably , unpardonably , and unrepentably evil . In the second , he becomes a particular Tree of Life , under and with Christ , amongst the innumerable Multitude of blessed Angels and Saints , unchangeably Good , and under an Impossibility of ever becoming unchangeably evil . The uncontroll'd Soveraignty of our own Will , at best , and the highest Light of our own Understanding , fix'd in , is the greatest Darkness and Bondage . The unchangeable Subjection and Captivity of our Will to the Will of God , is the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God , 2 Cor. 10. 5. Man , in all the Light , Life , Wisdom and Righteousness of the First-creation , ( restor'd by Christ , as the Common-Salvation-Benefit of his Death in the Fountain-purity thereof ) is still within the Compass of Satan's universal Monarchy or Kingdom of this World , in Opposition to the marvellous Light and glorious Liberty of the Sons of God , in Christ's reigning Gospel-spirit of the World to come . The Old Serpent was too hard for humane Nature , and so , for all Mankind , in Adam , at best , in the primitive Purity , and personal Perfection of all First-creation-life and Things . We must quit all kindred with the first Adam ; yea , with Christ himself , as a Husband and Head to us , in but the restor'd fleshly Life and Righteousness of Man , to be married to him as our spiritual Lord , and Bridegroom , in that quickning Spirit of the Second Adam , his Gospel-spirit of true Holiness , 2 Cor. 5. 16. & 1 Cor. 15. 45-47 . Ephes. 4. 24. Christ crucified the living Soul of our Nature , in himself , by which , he purchas'd the restoring of that , in Mankind ; and , therein , also , became an unerrable Pattern to them , for the right Use thereof , in Passive Obedience to the Will of God , in order to the attaining that heavenly , eternal , incorruptible Creature-life , he ascended into , which is the only Principle of everlasting well-pleasing active Obedience to God , and Blessedness to Man. Man , in his First-creation , at best , before his Fall , had but a fallible Understanding and a corruptible Will. And , what was fallible , Satan could and did deceive : what was corruptible , he could and did corrupt : all Mankind are sad experimental Witnesses of both . And , the same things can he do to any , in but the restor'd Life and Righteousness of Man , of the First-creation sort , ever since . If we consider the small part of Mankind this Day , under the Name , Christian , and even amongst them , so call'd , somewhat rare to find such as walk in Obedience to the common Light of Nature , as honest moral Heathens , and much less yet , as First-covenant Believers in Christ , and much less yet , as having a living spiritual Faith in his Second-covenant Gospel-life ; all this put together , and consider'd , evidence the near approach of Christ's second Coming , of which himself has said , that when he comes , shall he find Faith on the Earth , ( Luke 18. 8. ) a Faith in that Gospel-life , he will come in ? Both Wise Virgins , in New-covenant Gospel-principles ; and foolish ones , in but First-covenant Law-principles , cleans'd from filth of Flesh , only , will be found all slumbring and sleeping , Matth. 25. 1-12 . Yet , will he own the Wise , but to the Foolish , he will say , I know you not ; so , Matth. 7. 21-23 . In the dark Midnight-Season to both , will he come , to the amazing Surprize of the Foolish , and unspeakable Joy of the Wise. All are requir'd to watch ( the time of his Coming , being unknown to both and all ) Mat. 25. 1-13 . 'T will be a like amazing surprize to the far greater Number of Mankind , as the Flood to the Old World ; or Fire from Heaven , on Sodom , Luke 17. 26-30 . The Day or time of his Coming , is kept secret , from the Knowledg of spiritual Saints , and the very Angels of Heaven , Matth. 24. 36. ( yea , and from the Son himself , Mark 13. 32. ) Saints are requir'd , therefore , to watch continually , not knowing the time of his Coming , v. 42. A thousand Years with the Lord is as one Day ; and one Day as a thousand Years , 2 Pet. 3.8 . 'T was said , sixteen hundred Years ago , This is the last time , ( 1 John 2.18 . ) and , yet a little while , and he that shall come , will come , and will not tarry beyond the appointed time , for his second Coming , Heb. 10. 37. Hab. 2. 3. A Day , an Hour , a little time , in God's Account , may be a long time , in Man's . When the Disciples ask'd Christ ( after his Resurrection , and ready to ascend into the Glory , he will come again , in ) Wilt thou at this time , restore again the Kingdom to Israel ? his Answer was , It is not for you ( or any ) to know the Times or Seasons , which the Father has put in his own Power , Act. 1. 6 , 7. Satan can be willing , Man should be presumptuously fore-telling , with great Confidence , what is utterly unpossible for him , to know ; that , while busy about an Impossibility , he may be so ignorant and regardless of the Gospel-spirit and Glory , he will come in , as may render his second Coming , most amazingly frightful to him , amongst and with Millions of others , who will be found in unchangeable Enmity to that Spirit , he will come , in . Yet , after all this , and God's withholding the Knowledg of the time thereof , 't is Man's Duty to observe the fore-running Signs of Christ's Approach , Mat. 16.3 . And , such Signs are now remarkable , beyond all former Days ; the Harvest seems very near ripe for the Sickle of God's Vengeance , the Press full , the Fat 's overflowing , the Wickedness of Mankind , exceeding great , Ioel 3. 13. This is a great Sign , that the Day of the Lord is near , v. 14. But , preparatory to the Lord 's personal Appearance , will he send his Gospel - Angels , to gather his Elect together out of all Mankind , that Day , on Earth , ( Mat. 24. 31. ) and they will call up his Gospel-Witnesses , from amongst Men , into an Association with them , in the said Work , Rev. 11. 12. That Gospel-dispensation will be accompanied with a more abundant wonder-working and Gospel-converting Power , than was experienc'd in the primitive Apostolical Gospel-day . This preparatory Dispensation , by Gospel-Angels and Saints , may seem to be , as to the Duration thereof , forty five Years , Dan. 12. 11 , 12. This Dispensation , will be but the Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven , ( Mat. 24. 30. ) not his very personal Appearing . In this Preparatory Dispensation , will evil Angels , as false Christs , with their false Apostles , amongst Men , in their transform'd Appearances of Christ and his true ones , be permitted to make their utmost Opposition to true Gospel-Angels and Saints . Satan , with his evil Angels , will not be excluded from such delusive Practices , by his false Apostles , till Christ comes forth in his own Person . Then , they 'l be imprison'd in the bottomless Pit , and disabled to deceive Mankind any more , till Christ's thousand Years Reign be fulfilled , Revel . 20. 1 , 3. After Christ's thousand Years Reign , Satan will be loos'd out of his Prison , and permitted with his Gog and Magog , his innumerable Multitude of evil Angels and Men ( transform'd into the Guise of good Angels and Saints ) to compass the Camp of Saints , God's New - Ierusalem-City , in the very Glory of the Resurrection , as their last and most transcendent Presumption , on which , immediately to be destroy'd , for ever , Revel . 20. 7-10 . Saints will be immediately taken up into their eternal Heaven ; and all Enemies will be thrust down into their eternal Hell. Then , to all eternity , in Heaven , will Saints and Angels acknowledg and ascribe their eternal Blessedness , above all Conception and Wonder , to God's infinite Free-Grace-Mercy and electing Love , as the single and only supream distinguishing Cause thereof , from those that perish , forever , under his everlasting Curse and unquenchable Wrath. The oft saying the same Things , and quoting the same Scriptures , on several Occasions , is no other than is found in the very Scriptures , where the same things are oft said by the various Pen-men thereof ; and , by the same , also . FINIS . Books , publish'd by the Author . FIRST Part of Evangelical Essays — 1666 Book of Nature — 1667 On the Whole Book of Iob , the two Epistles to Timothy , and sixteenth Chapter of Numbers — 1677 Reign of Christ — 1679 On the Whole Book of Ecclesiastes — 1680 Gospel-Catechism — 1688 The two last , and this are sold by William Marshal at the Bible in Newgate-street , and Iohn Marshal at the Bible in Grace-Church-street . This is also sold by Andr. Bell at the Cross-Keys in the Poultrey .