CHRIST Held forth by the WORD, the only way to the Father.  
OR a Treatise discovering to all, the difference between Laws, Bondage, and the Gospel's Liberty.  
By IONAS del.  Rom. 10.4. 
For Christ is the end of the Law, for Righteousness unto every one that believeth.  
London printed by J. C. For William Learner, at the sign of the Blackamoor in Bishopsgate street, and are to be sold at his Shop.  
1646   

To my Honourable Colonel Rich..  
RIght Honourable and Religious Colonel, grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from God the Father, and from our Lord jesus Christ. The cause of this my writing unto you is: that I may be one of your Remembrancers amongst the rest to the advancement of truth. Right Honourable Colonel, I have a little opportunity, have gathered into a little book these scattered meditations: Not but that you know much more than I am able to present before your view; but having no better thing to present to your Honour; having confidence that you will not despise the least Talon employed to the best of any power. I do make bold to offer these weak meditations to your 〈◊〉 hoping you will accept of them; though weak, desiring God that he will fill, you with himself, and empty you of all but his own glory, and if you find any thing therein that may glorify God. I desire that all may be ascribed to him to whom all glory belongs.  
Your humble Servant in the Lord ever to Command. IONAS del.   

CHRIST Held forth by the word, the only way to the Father.  GAL. 5.1. 
Stand fast therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the Yoke of Bondage.  
THis Chapter is part of an Epistle of Paul to the Galathians, and in this verse there is an express exhortation, or declaration unto the Church of the Galathians, to stand fast in that Liberty wherein Christ had made them free.  
Now that which I would have you to take notice of in Paul's writing to the Church, is: that there is a distinction between the Church of God and the people of the world, Io. 17.15.16. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world; but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil of the world, they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world; this doth show that the Church of God and the people of the world, are two, for they are not of the world; but they are one with Christ; speaking of the Church in another place; he calls them the temple of God, 2 Cor. 6.16. for ye are the Temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people, so to distinguish between the Church and the world, he saith, in the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace. I did ask a learned man how the whole world became a Church; he told me that I was an Independent, and he being a proud man, would give me no other Answer; then I did ask another, and he told me that it was by much teaching; but I told him that he was deceived. And so are all others that think that the whole world is a Church: the world is not a Church, nor every parish is not a Church, but a visible Church of Jesus Christ is a knowing, believing, and a practical people, baptised into the faith of the Gospel. Now I will give you to understand how every perish came to be a Church, or taken to be so by the people of the world, but it is evident, if you do but read the history of Eusebius, he tells us that every parish was made a Church by the Proclamation of Constantine the first Christian Emperor, by which Proclamation as is worthily set out by master Brightman upon the Revelation, that at that time Ordinances came to be so corrupted; that according to that Orthodox man's judgement, the Church then fled into the Wilderness, at which time that prophecy than was fulfilled in Rev. 12.14. where the Church was to be nourished in the Wilderness for a time, and times, and half a time from the face of the Serpent; then in 13. Revel. The beast rising up, and the Dragon giving his power to the beast ever since by that tyrannical power, overruling by the power of Antichrist, that man of sin hath forced the world and parishes to be made Churches, as though that were now the Church of Christ; so as now those members of those Antichristian Churches still standing to maintain that worldly Church and the power thereof are as yet enemies of the Church of Christ, for if Antichrist in his Infancy in the time of our Saviour Christ, and of the Apostles, did then oppose the Gospel much; as the Scripture plainly sets forth, as in the 2 Thes. 2.4. In the former verses the Apostle exhorting the Thessalonians to look to themselves and to stand fast lest they should be deceived; for he tells them there that the man of sin opposeth & exalteth himself above all that is called God, so he as God, sitteth in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God. If he the● could deceive so much as to exalt himself above God, and be to be God, much more easily can he now being in power, and in his Kingdom deceive many to make them believe that this world is a Church, or that the parishes be Churches; As our saviour saith, if it were possible he would deceive the very Elect; But they cannot so be deceived, for they have a more perfect rule to walk by, as the Apostle Paul well commends unto us, 1 Cor. 11.2. Looking upon the Church of Christ, seeing them to walk according to the rule of God, & not after the rule of men, saith (Brethren,) I commend you (why) doth the Apostle commend them? Because they had kept all the things and the ordinances as they had received them from the Apostle; Now if the Apostle doth so commend those that walk according to the rule of the Gospel, than all that do not walk according to this rule of the Gospel, they are to be reproved: Why, because are all we to be judged if we believe otherwise then the Gospel sets forth. But now all those that believe that the world is a Church, or that parishes be Churches, they believe otherwise then the Gospel declares, therefore all such aught to be reproved.  
Now to come to the thing in hand as to prove the Church to be as I said it was, a knowing, believing, and a practical people baptised into the faith of the Gospel, it is knowledge, and faith, and baptism that makes us differ from the world, john 2.3. the knowledge of God and true faith causeth us to obey God, and in obeying of God, we differ from the world. Rom. 1.21. We see some that knew God, but glorified him not; but they had not the true knowledge of God; it is true faith & baptism that makes the difference; the world knew not God until they do know him, and believe in him, they are not of the Church of God. in the time of the Apostles, a knowing, believing, and a practical people were baptised and so called the Church of God and the Temple of God, 1 Cor. 1.2. unto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours, 2 Cor. 6.16. And when they did believe and separated themselves from the old corrupt ways that they had lived in, to the Gospel of Christ, they were made members of the Church, Rom. 1.1. And then making themselves known what alteration is in themselves to forsake the world, and then desiring to be in the fellowship of the Saints, which is the Church of God, the Church perceiving this upon good grounds, received them into fellowship, Act. 9.26.27. Heb. 4 5. One Faith, one Lord, one baptism, Act. 8.37. If thou believest with all thy heart thou may'st; so you see that here is faith to believe received before Baptism. Acts 22.15.16. and Acts 2.36.37.38. And I know of no power that was left to us to alter the Ordinances of God as to turn baptising of believers to the sprinkling of unbelievers, this is contrary to the Example of the Apostles, 1 Cor. 11.2. where the Ordinances were to be kept according as they were delivered unto them. Now concerning the Liberty which the Apostle speaks of, it is not such a Liberty as to change the Ordinances of God: or it is not a Liberty to sin; for the grace of God which appeareth unto all men teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, and righteously in this present world.  
Again, it is not such a Liberty as to be free from persecution, John 15.20. For if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you, John 16.32. Our Saviour tells them that they shall be scattered, John 16.2. Christ tells them that they shall be put out of their Sinagogs', yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service. If then Christ foretells that these things shall come to pass, it is impossible it should be meant of such a Liberty.  
Again, the Prophets were also thus in persecution, for it is said of David that the drunkards made their songs of him, and Eliah being left alone, they persecuted him to take away his life also. And in Heb. 11.36.37.38. showeth the great hatred and persecution against them, they were stoned, they were sawed a sunder, were tempted, they were slain with the sword, they wandered about in Sheepskins, and Goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented, whom the world was not worthy of; much more might be said of these things, but in proving these things I shall but light a candle to the Sun.  
Furthermore, as we are freeborn in the Nation to stand for that our Liberty, and freedom, this is not the Liberty. Neither as the Apostle here doth command us to stand fast in, though lawful.  
Having now made way, we come now to the words stand fast: having already showed what the Liberty is that we should not stand fast in. I will now come and show what the Liberty is that we should stand fast in;  
First, before I shall show what the Liberty is wherein we should stand fast, I shall desire to speak a word or two of the bondage that we are enthralled in:  
Briefly, the bondage that we all are in under the Law, is a miserable thing, we are all by nature borne slaves under the bondage of sin, and Satan. But from this bondage hath Christ Jesus delivered us, Rom. 10.4.  
From whence will arise this observation, that is, that Christ is so our Liberty that all which do believe he hath fulfilled the Law for them, and hath taken away the curse from them, Rom. 8.1, 2, 3. there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit, for the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the Law of sin, and death, for what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us.  
This is the Liberty of the Sons of God, that when they come to believe they are no longer in bondage under the Law, Gal. 3.23. before faith came we were kept under the Law, shut up under the faith which should afterwards be revealed; wherefore the Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith; But after that faith is come we are no longer under a Schoolmaster; for ye are all the Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, Rom. 10.4. for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth.  
Every one that doth not believe is in Bondage, Gal. 4.1, 2, 3, 4. Now I say that the heir as long as he is a Child, differeth nothing from a servant though he be Lord of all, but is under tutors, and Governors until the time appointed of the Father, even so when we were Children, we were in bondage under the Elements of the world, but when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son made of a woman, made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons, as you may read further in the Chapter, so you see the point is clear (Namely) that Christ is so our Liberty that all which do believe, he hath fulfilled the Law for them, and they are no longer under it, Christ hath freed us from the curse by being made a curse for us, and therefore he calleth us no longer Servants, but sons, if sons, than heirs.  
Again, we may see it is the drift of the Apostle, to take off the Galathians from circumcition, and the Law, this we may see was the simplicity of the Galathians, though professors; they did not know their Liberty, they were not well grounded in the faith of the Gospel, and so the Apostle Paul had a great deal of trouble with them as you may see, Gal. 4.9.10.11. but now after ye have known God, or rather are known of God; how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly Elements whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? and so he blames them for observing days, and months, and times, and years, and stands in doubt of them, and saith, I am afraid of you lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vane, also in Gal. 3.1.2. saith he, O foolish Gallathians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth and crucified amongst you?  Galathians 5.1. Stand fast in the Liberty whereby Christ hath made you free, etc. 
Where the Apostle still goes on arguing the cause, and reasons of the matter with them, and saith he, Gal. 3.2. this would I learn of you only: ye received the spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith, are ye so foolish having begun in the spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be but in vain; he therefore that ministereth unto you the spirit; and worketh miracles among you, doth he it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith, Rom. 10.3. for the being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God, Gal, 2.16. knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ;  
Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law, shall no flesh be justified: Read further in the said Chapter and ye shall see that the Saints are delivered from the Bondage of the Law, into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, Gal. 4.4.5. so I say they are at Liberty, 2 Cor. 5.19. to wit, that God is in Christ reconciling the World unto himself, not imputing their crespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation, so this is the glorious Liberty the Saints so reconciled unto God in Christ, and this speaks comfort unto the Saints of God that they should so redound in glory; for which cause saith he we faint not but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day, this is that which carries on the Saints so cheerfully; for (saith he) our light afflictions which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more weight of glory, therefore though the Saints of God suffer in this Life; yet their Liberty is a glorious Liberty, Rom. 8.21. and they shall be restored into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, Phil. 3.21. so we see the Saints have Liberty in this Life, and in the Life to come. We are not only brought out of Bondage, but we are brought out of darkness into light, 1 Thes. 5.4.5. but ye brethren are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief, ye are all the Children of light, and the Children of the day, we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  
Again, John 1.9. Christ is the light of the world, Psal. 36.9. in thy light shall we see light, this is a glorious state, it is a glorious Liberty, but those that are without Christ are in a sad condition, they are in bondage under the Law, as I said before, and they walk in dorknesse, knowing not whither they go, Alas how soon is their candle out, as you may see, Job. 18.5. how soon is the candle of the wicked put out, John 12.35. and Mat. 6.23.  
To follow the words stand fast in that Liberty, as this Liberty is such a Liberty that we who were the children of sathan are by Christ become the Children of God, we who were dead in trespasses and sins hath he quickened, we who in time passed walked according to the course of this world, Ephes. 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. And so throughout the Chapter all along setting forth the love of God, and the free grace of Christ unto his Saints, who were in Bondage under the yoke of sin, wounded and lay bleeding between Jerusalem and Jericho, Christ was that good Samaritan that bond up our wounds pouring in Oil and wine for the suppling of our griefs, so in Ezekiell 16.5. when no eye pitied thee to do any of these unto thee to have compassion upon thee, but thou wast cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou was borne and when that I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine own Blood. I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood; live, in the seven and eight verses, and so forward. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold thy time was the time of love, and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy nakedness, yea I swore unto thee and entered into a Covenant with thee saith the Lord God: and thou becamest mine, than washed I thee with water, yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with Oil, thus the Prophet goes on, felling out unto us the love and free grace of Christ. Notwithstanding Jsrael had played the whore with the Assyrians, because thou walt unsatiable, yea thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldst not be satisfied, at the 28. verse, thus when we were in misery and in distress when no eye pitied us, than was the time of love, so when we were going away from God, and after other lovers, than he alured us, Hosea. 2.14. so the love of Christ outbid all other lovers.  
Is it so that Christ is so our Liberty, that all that do believe in him he hath fulfilled the Law for them, and taken away the curse from them; this may instruct us to take notice of this Bondage, that every man is in by being under the Law, it is a miserable thing, we all by nature are borne slaves under the Bondage of sin and sathan, but from this hath Christ delivered his people; and in respect of this deliverance it is glorious, and honourable, as in all times when God delivered his people he doth it with honour; so when God delivered his Children out of Egypt, it was with honour in the face of all the world, & so Christ delivering us from sin and from sathan, how glorious was it even when he being on the cross, did on that cross, by his death triumph over the devil and over his Kingdom by the pouring out of his blood, he did work a most glorious deliverance to the delivered; of slaves, men were made the servants of God; of bondmen, adopted to be his Children; this Bondage which the Apostle speaks of here is a Bondage under the Law, and under Ceremonies you may see Col. 2.8. Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ; when they do bind them to human Ordinances, it is a leading of them captive from Christ, are ye alured then, let this be instructions to you.  
Hath Christ delivered you from bondage and set you at Liberty, and hath he fulfilled the Law for you, and taken away the curse of the Law from you, art thou alured and art thou brought to Christ, hast thou taken Christ for thy way to the Father, how comes it then to pass that thou art subject to human Ordinances, this shows that you have no part in Christ so long as you are subject to human Ordinances; for Christ's death hath abolished all Ordinances of the Law which were of Gods ordaining; much more the Ordinances of men in the worship of God, this is a bondage under Ceremonies, but Christ's death hath made it void, therefore let us say with david, Psalms 53.7.8. Oh that the Salvation of Israel were come out of Zion, when God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.  
Use 3. Is it so that Christ hath delivered you from the bondage of sin, and hath set thee at liberty, this must still further instruct thee, that thou art not to live to thyself, or to thine own lusts: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation unto all men, hath appeared, and teacheth us that we should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world. And in the 14. verse, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purge from us sin, to be a peculiar people unto him, zealous of good works, Rom. 13.11, 12, 13, 14 And that knowing the time that now is, it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is fare spent, the day is at hand, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the Armour of light. We that profess Religion, we that have given our names to Jesus Christ, and are brought to believe in Jesus, let us walk as in the day, not in riotting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof. Hast thou Christ for thy Way to thy Father? hast thou faith? Then show thy faith by thy works. Art thou Christ's free man, and hast thou the Spirit of God? If thou hast, than thou hast the fruits of the Spirit, and the fruits of the Spirit are, (Gal. 5.22, 23, 24.) Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Godliness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no Law. And they that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit. So he that is in Christ, is a new creature. Old things are passed away, and all things are become new: Old Drunkenness, old Swearing, old Uncleanness, 1 Pet. 4.1. ●. 3. All these are not the fruits of the spirit, but contrariwise, these are the fruits of the flesh, and tend to death; which things are to be done away in those that are become new, and are to live no longer to the lusts of the flesh, but to the will of God, who hath redeemed us from this bondage, and set us from thraldom to liberty, to serve him in newness of life.  
Now in the next place, I will show you what kind of Liberty or Way he is for us, and to us to the Father: that Christ is so our liberty, that he is the way from the Father to the Soul, and from the soul to the Father: though Christ hath satisfied the justice of God for us, and so hath made a way for us to the Father; yet we cannot go to the Father, till Christ comes to us. The Reason is, because there is no light in us by nature. Christ must come and set up a light in the soul; and then in that light we shall see light, Psal. 36.9. Christ must come to us, before we can come to him: he must come and knock at the door of our souls, as in Eph. 5.14. Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from the dead, & Christ shall give thee light. Thus must Christ come and awaken us; this is the way of Christ to to the soul, this is the liberty we have by Christ to take away our darkness, and to give us light.  
2. By nature we are all dead: and this is the way of Christ to quicken the soul; so the soul being brought out from that sleep of death, doth begin to look up after Christ, and to take Christ for its way to the Father. Thus the soul makes Christ a way, whereby it doth suck comfort from the Father. Thus Christ is the way for the soul to have acceptance with the Father: if we obtain any thing of the Father, it must be in, and by, and through Jesus Christ. We must not in our own names, or in the name of Saints or Angels, but in the name of Christ. Then whatsoever we shall ask in faith in the sons Name, he will give it us, Joh. 16.23. So you see what kind of way Christ is to us to give us life, and to give us light, and so sets at liberty from the bondage of darkness and death: and therefore having done these things for us, he would have us stand fast in that liberty wherein he hath made us free.  
3. Therefore Christ is so our Liberty, that there is no coming to the Father but by him. This will appear to be true, if we consider the present estate and condition that every man is in by nature. All men have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; that is, we come short of heaven, We are by nature the children of Wrath, Ephes. 2.3. This is true, God made man in a good condition, but man hath sinned, and so hath lost his first estate: he was made perfect, and was to have lived for ever; but now he must not eat of that tree of life, God hath sent him forth from the Garden of Eden. So he drove out the man, and placed at the East end of the Garden, a Cherubin, and the flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the Tree of life, Gen. 3.24.  
Now here came in man's misery, he is cast out from God, and without the mercy of God he must die unto all eternity. Here is now no coming to the Father, but by Christ; no coming to have an oneness with God, without Christ, man must perish, without Christ, man must die unto all eternity, Rom. 5.12. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, death passed upon all men, for that all men have sinned. The Devil hath deceived Eve, he said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: But we see man shall die, and man doth die, and man is cast out of the presence of God, and there is no coming to the Father, but by Christ, he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Joh. 14.6. Now concerning man's fall, it is irrecoverable: If man should have lived 10000 years, and been thinking how to find out a way to the Father, he could not find out a way, as in Acts 4.12. There is now no other name under Heaven whereby we can be saved, bue only by Jesus Christ. Had not Christ been our way, we had perished, and remained under the bondage of wrath. Galat. 3.23. Before Faith came, we were kept under the Law; and so we were in bondage, shut up to sin until Faith came. So I say, had not Christ been our way to the Father, we had been miserable, we had still remained in bondage under wrath: But Christ is the way from wrath, Rom. 5.9. Much more, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. There is no cendemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.12. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the Law of sin and death. But had not Christ been our way, we had remained, as I said before, under wrath, without any hope of recovery. This caused the Attributes of God to be set on work to deliver us from this bondage: For man having eaten of the forbidden fruit, God had said, In the day thou catest thereof, thou shalt die. Then the Justice of God stepped in, and said, Justice must be satisfied. But the Mercy of God not willing that man should perish, Mercy stepped in, and said, O let not man perish, whom thou hast taken so great pains to make him for thine own glory, & all things for his use.  
Then spoke the Truth of God, and said, If man doth not die, Truth will be at an end. For God's Truth hath said, In the day that man doth eat thereof, man shall die: So that Truth silenced Mercy.  
Then spoke the Wisdom of God, Is there no way to find out how Man may be delivered, and that Justice may be satisfied, Mercy may have his request, and Truth may be satisfied? So Wisdom said, Man sinned in the flesh, and if man suffered in the flesh, than justice would be satisfied, Mercy would have his request, and Truth would be performed. And Wisdom than finds out a way how that Christ should take flesh upon him, and so suffer in the flesh, and then the satisfaction of God's justice was fulfilled in Christ, as though man had perished; and so the Attributes of God were all satisfied. And all this sets forth the great love of God unto us in stooping so low, and taking off from us the bondage that we were enslaved with, and having done this for us by the shedding of his blood; & therefore he biddeth us to Stand fast in the liberty wherewith he hath made us free, and not to entangle ourselves again with the yoke of bondage.  
Having now shown you what kind of way Christ is, I shall now come to show you, that he is the Only Way. For there is no name under heaven that we can be saved by, but only by the Name of Jesus, Heb. 10.4. For it is not possible that the blood of Bulls, and of Goats, should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifices and offerings thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou prepared me: he is the Only way, there is none with him, Esay 63.3. He hath trodden the Winepress alone, and of the people there was none with him, So he hath born our sins alone, there is none with him, Matth. 1.21. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins. So, again, The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost: he doth seek, and in seeking he doth find them, it is he alone, there is none with him, he is that good Samaritan that had compassion on us, and bound up our wounds pouring in oil and wine, there is none that can cure that wound of sin but he alone, there is none that can comfort nor refresh the hearts of his people; but he alone, Christ is the only way, none can take away sins but he, the Priests nor their sacrifice could not save the people, as you may see, Heb. 10.1. and so forward: They were to look to Jesus Christ. Now Christ is the highpriest, he is able to save them from their sins to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them, Heb. 10.25. so it is he that doth it and no other, it is he that sets us at Liberty, and therefore we ought to stand fast in that Liberty.  
Christ is so our Liberty, that he is our way from a state of sin and wrath, to a state of grace and glory: there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus which walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, for the Law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the Law of sin and death, Rom. 8.2. that man that hath Christ for his way to the Father, stands in the sight of God as having no fault at all in him, the King's Daughter is all glorious within, her Clothing is of gold, Christ hath put a comeliness upon her, and so she is beautiful in the sight of God, Canticles 4.7. thou art all fair my love, there is no spot in thee; Come from Lebanon with me my spouse, with me from Lebanon, thou hast ravished my heart my sister my spouse, thou hast revished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck, thus God sets forth the Beauty and the comeliness of those who have Christ for their Liberty, and way to the Father, saith he, fair is thy love my spouse, how much better is thy love then wine, and so all along he shows the beauty of the Church and looks upon her without spot, he likens her to a frultfull garden, and a spring, and a fountain, and fruitful plants; All these names set forth the gloriousness of the Saints of God, thus set at Liberty by Christ.  
And now it remains further to prove that the people of God are without spot● I shall show that all their sins are done away by Christ, he hath borne upon his body the iniquities of us all, and so we remain without spot; behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, that is, the sins of those that are sanctified by him, and so in God's account are without spot, Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctify and cleanse it, and that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, not any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blame, even as he is holy, Ephes. 5.27. so you may see that that man which is not in bondage under the Law and Ceremonies, and humane Ordinances; but hath Christ for his Liberty and way to the Father, stands in the sight of God, as I said before, without spot, and so is made free indeed, john 8, 36. If the Son shall make you free, than you shall be free indeed without any contradiction, who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen? it is he, and he alone that justifies, and who shall condemn them, now this is true? the Saints are made free; Christ hath taken away all our sins, and our sins shall not be laid to our charge, we read of the scape-Goate in Leu. 16.21.22 that Aron did lay the sins of the children of Israel upon the head of the Goat, and the Goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a land not inhabited. This scape-Goate was a type of Christ, Christ is come and hath borne away all our sins, and so hath made us free and without spot; he hath satisfied the Justice of God; for all our sins, and so as we are considered in Christ, we are without spot, and so we are lovely in his sight, as in Rom. 3.24. being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood; to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins, that is passed through the forbearance of God, to declare. I say at this time, his righteousness that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Now who can say that the Saints of God are not justified? Rom. 6.18. Being then made free from sin ye became the Servants of righteousness unto God; for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. And so you see that that man which hath Christ for his way to the Father, stands in the sight of God as having no fault at all in him; to the praise of the glory of his grace be it, and thus you see it is through him alone that we are set free, and are delivered from bondage to stand fast in the Liberty wherewith he hath made us free.  
Is it so, that Christ is so our Liberty, and so our way, that there is no coming to the Father, but by him? is it so that there is no way to be completely happy, & completely to be justified? as I said before; this doth hold out unto all men that there is a necessity that they all take Christ for the way to the Father; there is no other way to the Father but by Christ; now not to have Christ is to perish: he that hath not Christ for his Liberty and free pass, will be bid to stand, he will be shut out of the presence of the Father; there is some that shall see Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets and yet themselves shut out: it is a dangerous thing to reject Christ, not to believe in Christ: this is the condemnation because ye believe not: because ye do not take Christ for your Liberty and way, and let pass to the Father, that man which hath not Christ for his Liberty and way to the Father is under the law, and so is under a curse that is unless thou canst keep the Law: for not the hearers of the Law are just before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified as you may see, Rom. 2.13. Now if thou hast not Christ for thy way to the Father thou must keep the Law or else thou wilt be condemned by the Law, Gal. 5.18. if ye be led by the Spirit ye are not under the Law, that is, if you have Christ for your Liberty and way to the Father; if you do believe in Jesus Christ then you are not under the Law, Rom. 10.4. Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness unto every one that believeth, so than he that believeth not is yet in bondage under the Law, and so is under a curse; cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them. But no man can keep the Law; therefore no man can be justified by the Law, this is evident, this is true, Gal. 3.11. therefore I say that there is a necessity that thou shouldest take Christ for thy Liberty to the Father, therefore I entreat thee to forsake all other ways & to come to Jesus Christ and take him for thy way, do not deceive thyself, lean not on thy one righteousness for that will deceive thee; that man which presumes to go to God by his own righteousness, that way is too broad to lead to the Father, Mat. 7.14. wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth unto destruction, and many there be that go in thereat; the way of a man's own righteousness, is the broad way to destruction, do not think to come before God in thy own righteousness; for that is as filthy rags, and as a menstruous cloth, thou must deny thine own duties, and put no worth in them, thou must not think to be justified by thy prayers: were thy prayers crucified for thee? I know they were not; then I must tell thee, that it was one that was crucified that did satisfy the justice of God, (that was Jesus Christ) and thou must of necessity forsake all other ways, and take Christ for thy way, as I said before: if thou lookest after any other way, or usest any other means for thy free pass to the Father; thou wilt not come into the presence of thy Father; for the Father will not allow of any tickets, unless his Son's hand be unto their pass, all other tickets be unlawful, therefore I pray you to look into the third of john 14. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent into the wilderness: Even so must the Son of man be lifted up; how was the Serpent lifted up, Numb. 21.9. 2 Kings 18.4. And Moses made a Serpent of Brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass that if a Serpent had bitten any man; when he beheld the Serpent of Brass he lived; the Brazen Serpent is a type of Christ, There is one thing which I would have you take notice of in this brazen Serpent when he was lifted up to the people, if they did use any other means then to look upon it they did perish; So Jesus Christ being the true Brazen Serpent is lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; for this was the end why God gave his Son, that poor lost undone creatures might not perish; but whosoever seeks after any other means than Christ shall perish. Even as those perished as looked on any other means besides the Brazen Serpent: And yet me thinks I hear many say with the young man in the Gospel, what shall we do to be saved; oh how feign would they be doing of something to help to save themselves, but I tell thee that thou canst do nothing in it, it is all done already, he hath trodden the winepress alone, and of the people there was none with him that did any thing in it: therefore thou must take Christ for thy whole Saviour; therefore if any will go to God they must deny themselves, and take Christ to be the only way to the Father, do not think to be justified by thine own righteousness which is of the Law; For Paul saith by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the Law is the knowledge of sin: that is all thou canst attain unto by the Law; thou mayst know thyself to be a sinner by it and so be under a curse, but if thou mean to have life, I told thee where it is to be had; thou must deny thyself and take Christ for thy way to the Father; though thou mayst go to hell by the deeds; yet if thou go to Heaven, thou must go by Christ, though the way to Hell be broad, yet the way to Heaven is straight, Mat. 7.14. that is so straight that there is no entering but by Jesus Christ: so than it must not be by thy duties, nor by performances, nor by thine own righteousness, our Saviour Christ did speak of some in his time, Mat. 7.22. many will say, Lord, Lord, unto me in that day have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils and in thy name have done many wonderful works? yet Christ will not own them, Christ will look upon thy righteousness as filthy rags, & as a polluted cloth, Esa. 4 5.24. so Solomon saith, I saw a righteous man perish in his righteousness; Now for a man to think to go to the Father by his own righteousness, it is to perish, and to fall short of Heaven, and that Paul did know full well; for saith he, I desire not to be found in mine own righteousness which is of the Law, but the righteousness which is of faith of Jesus Christ, so than it is plain that it is Christ alone that takes us from Bondage and thraldom, and sets us at Liberty, and then causes us to stand fast in that Liberty whereby he hath made us free.  
Again, I will show you what kind of Liberty Christ is to the Saints, first, he is a free way to the Saints: they may go boldly and freely to the Father by Jesus Christ, Paul goeth boldly to God being confident that God would hear his prayers, Heb. 4.16. Let us come with boldness before the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in time of need; so Christ saith come and take of the water of life freely, there is benefit by having Christ for thy way he will give thee living water, whosoever shall drink of the water which I shall give him shall never be more athirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life, John 4.14. so you see Christ is a free way, and a refreshing way, and therefore behold with joy: may you draw water out of the well of salvation, Esa. 12.3. Secondly, Christ is a free way to all comers, he is a way for drunkards, and for swearers, and for unclean persons, and for the ungodly, Rom. 5.8. thus God commendeth his love to us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us, Christ died for sinners, there is not a bar set up against any person whatsoever, though thou art a grievous sinner, yet if thou canst believe that Christ died for thee, he is as free a way for thee as for any other; for what saith the Scripture Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, Rom. 4.5. but to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is accounted to him for righteousness; for if thou canst believe in Jesus Christ; and if the free grace of Christ doth outbid all thy lusts, than Christ is thy way to the Father, Rom. 5.6. do not say thou art a great sinner, and therefore keep of from God, do not deprive thyself of Christ, for Christ died for the ungodly, Rom. 5.6. thou shalt not be condemned if thou do believe; this is that which is required of thee by Jesus Christ, that is, to believe, Zack. 13.1. there is a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, that is, there is a way opened for the worst of sinners to come to God by Christ, those that do come unto him he will in no wise cast of, and if thou do come he will make thee clean, Christ will sprinkle clean water upon thee and thou shalt be clean; therefore do not trouble thyself so much with the greatness of thy sins that they should be any bar in thy way to hinder thee from coming to Christ; this is needless, we have seen as great sinners as thou, come to Christ: Even such as crucified him: yet Peter said unto them repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, Act. 2.38. What greater sins than these, they did despise Jesus Christ, they did spit upon him and put him to death, what greater sin is there then this, to put to death the Son of God, yet saith he, repent: so say I, though thy sins be great yet if thou repent and believe thou mayst have Christ for thy Liberty and thy way to lead thee to the Father; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, 1 Tim. 2.4. for there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus; so large is the call of Christ that he invites all to come to him, and all that do believe in him shall be saved be their sins never so great; O come to the Lord Jesus though thy sins be as Scarlet, they shall be as white as Snow, though they be as red as Crimson they shall be as Wool; but some may object and say from 1 Tim. 4.2. that there is power in man to believe and be saved if they will, but I deny that, I deny that there is ability in any man by nature to believe, Phil. 2.13. for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure, Rom. 8.16. it is not in him that runeth but in God that showeth mercy, as I said before; so I say still that Christ most be our Liberty, and way, and let pass to the Father, and he it is alone that delivereth us from the bondage of the Law, from the bondage of corruption, from the bondage of Ceremonies, from the bondage of humane Ordinances, which is the bondage of the Conscience under Tyranny, Col. 2.20. you shall find that the Spirit of God doth by Paul blast all those services at one breath intended by men, and imposed of necessity upon the conscience; in useing those prayers which the service of God anulleth: the Apostle calls all such will worship, as you may see, Col. 2.23. though they pretended humility in all these inovations of men pretended to be loving and hambles; yet all this worship is a will worship devised by man becomes a snare to God's people, and then again this is that our Saviour Christ expressly condemns, Mat. 15.9. it is a vain worship, Esa. 1. and what is the reason of this; what is the ground of all this but because their fear towards me was taught by the precepts of men Esa. 29.13. this is the very ground why the service devised by men is a bondage before God, and as nothing but mere hypocrisy, when men draw with their lips, and honour God with their mouths, and their hearts are far from them; many men would teach how to serve God, and prescribe rules for the service of God, and to impose this yoke upon God's people; they would sit in God's Chair, and do in this as if the servant should teach his master what to do; God did not do it; nor Christ did not do it, but man he will do it: by which it may appear that all that will do such things would keep the Saints in bondage; But it is Christ and he alone that is the Liberty of the Saints and he is delighted in them if they hold fast their Liberty being thus set free by him.  
Is it so, that Christ is so our Liberty and way to the Father, that he hath freed us from the bondage of the Law, and ceremonies, and human Ordinances; What then shall we say to them that would keep us still in bondage? by what power do they stand? or by what rule do they walk? It is not by Apostolical Rule; Paul blameth the Galatians for observing ceremonies and human Ordinances, and for observing one day above another, and bids them stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. Is it so that Christ hath made us free? what shall we then say to them that would fain keep us still in bondage, those that would forcibly keep the people of God in bondage, endeavour still to keep the world in darkness? But what shall I say of them, or what shall I liken the unto? I shall therefore compare them to the Moon in the Eclipse, which giveth not her perfect light: or liken them to a dark Lantern, which giveth some light, but concealeth part of the light which is in it. Thiefs do sometimes carry a dark lantern, it is best for their hellish idesignes, profit and worldly gain. What shall I say now of our Priests and Prophets under the Gospel? I compare them to the Priests and Prophets in the time of the Law, Mica 3.11. The Heads thereof judge for reward, and the Priests thereof teach for hire, and the Prophets thereof divine for money, yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord amongst us, no evil can come upon us? Therefore shall Zion for your sake be ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the House, as the High places of the Forest. Our Prophets and Priests are now in a great rage, they will make the people err, they by't with their teeth, and yet cry peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him, as you may see Mica 3.5.6. I think the Prophecy is now fulfilled in our days, as in the sixth verse, Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision, and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine, and the Sun shall go down over the Prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.  
Again, those that would keep us in bondage under ceremonies and human ordinances, they would have us walk by types, and shadows, that is, to walk by Moonshine, when we may walk by the light of the Sun; pray bear with us, we cannot but walk by the light of Jesus Christ, so fare forth as we see the light; Christ is the light of the world, and we must walk by the light of Jesus Christ: for he is our way to the Father, and so the Apostle tells us, in 1 Thess. 5.4.5. ye are the children of the light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness; we are not now to walk by types and shadows, as the people of old; they did see darkly, and afar off, but we are brought nigh to Jesus Christ, he is come nigh to us; they had the shadow of good things to come: but we have the substance, therefore let us not sleep as do others. Let us not be deceived by any means, let us not keep ourselves in bondage, sigh we are set at liberty by Jesus Christ. Alas! what enemies are they, not only to us, but even to themselves, that would have us observe ceremonies, & human ordinances? would they fain have full Barns, and become rich in this world, and yet would they have us to be poor in Christ, and so perish? Doth not the Apostle say, that all such human ordinances are to perishwith the using, after the commandments and Doctrines of men, Coloss. 2.22. which things (saith he) have a show of wisdom in will-worship and humility, and neglecting of the body, not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Therefore I shall say unto all that shall read this book, let your loins be girt about, and your lights burning. Wherefore if ye be be dead in Christ from the Rudiments of the world, be ye not subject to human ordinances, and so far as the Sun hath diiven away the Foggy mists of Antichrist, so fare as ye see the light, walk in it.  
Is it so, that Christ is so our liberty, to redeem us from the bondage of the Law, from the bondage of ceremonies, & from the bondage of human Ordinances, then to conclude, & draw to an end; let this be a use of comfort unto all the sons and daughters of God. We now see but in part, but the time shall come when we shall see him as he is, even face to face, 1 Corinth. 13.12. And although we now know but in part, yet then shall we know him even as we are known. We can cry from earth to heaven, Abba, Father, but we cannot as yet conceive of that fullness of glory that is in Christ, & that fullness is yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is Gods, 1 Cor. 3.23. Paul did see something, Philip. 1.21. For to me to live, is Christ; and to die, is gain: but we cannot see that glory that is in Christ: that glory that is in Christ, is hid, Coloss. 3.3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we appear with him in glory. There will be a glorious time for all the Sons and Daughters of God; when they shall enjoy Christ: he shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, they shall say, Farewell all my persecuters, farewell my enemies. I shall of you be persecuted no more, I shall be now delivered from that bondage: I now go to the Father: Thus shall the Saints of GOD come from the East, and from the North, and from the South, and shall sit down in the Kingdom of Christ, and then we shall partake of that glory and everlasting blessedness which is in Christ, to our everlasting comfort for ever and ever; and then shall the Sons and Daughters of God be freed from the bondage of the Law, from the bondage of Ceremonies, and from the bondage of human ordinances; and seeing Christ Jesus hath freed us from all these alone, by himself alone, by his precious blood, let all the Saints be careful be careful to live to the praise and glory of him that hath given us this freedom and liberty.  
FINIS.