By I. G. A faithful lover and obeyer of the Truth.  
Now I beseech you, Brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them,  Rom. 16. 17. 
Imprimatur, JOHN DOWNAME.   

TO THE RIGHT worshipful, Sir BENJAMIN RUDYARD, Knight, one of the Honourable House of COMMONS.  
SIR;  
AS formerly I have acquainted you with two small Treatises, which were dedicated to his majesty and the Right honourable the High Court of Parliament, so now I have presumed on Christian affection, to dedicate this victory of Truth to your religious view and meditation. The odds in the conflict was much ten to one, and every one of them being roots of a thousand branches, even so many in number, and so gross in nature, that if I should speak all I know of them, it might seem incredulous to your exercised and experienced judgement, and prejudicious unto many that want the like knowledge and discernment, so that for this time I thought thus briefly to disarm the Leaders, that so the following multitude of the Army may have premonition before the time come that all the enemies of Christ shall be slain before him, and the secrets of all manner of hearts discovered. And for my own particular, Sir, finding the boldness and impudence of error, as well as the multiplicity, whereby the whole city is in every part and place infected, and from thence, as from a fountain, the countries also, I could rest no longer silent, for as much as God of his own goodness and infinite mercy, hath been pleased to communicate and impart the knowledge of the mystery of his Word unto me in some measure, notwithstanding my own unworthiness and weakness: this truth received in my heart, hath been as a fire which I could no ways hinder from burning into a flame, through the light whereof, by the means of your grave and prudent countenance, he that reads it may have information of the evil and error without prefigured, and within this Treatise manifestly revealed; as also the good and happiness of truth, the old path and straight way of the Lord, in some measure opened and declared; to which all that are not of the household of faith are strangers, and most of them perverters. And Sir, I pray of one thing take notice in the figure, that he that is most obscure in his person, is most dangerously subtle and mysterious in his doctrine; and at this very time, in which you sit in Parliament, with the whole counsel of the kingdom, he doth more hurt in one hour then in ten heretofore; his badge is F. Wherefore Right Wor: be pleased to take notice of the Churches enemies, and let the despised and persecuted wife of Christ, and her little children, have your love, help, and assistance. These are all that are entreated for to be granted by you, most virtuous and noble Senator, to him that is your faithful and humble servant,  
JOHN Grant.   

Truth's Victory against heresy.  Truth. 
NOw all you Heresies, new and old, that have mustered up your powers and forces against me that am the Truth of God, and have drawn out your Companies into Regiments, and your Brigades into an Army of strong armed fighting cruel men, whom all this world long have plotted, devised, and waged battle against me and my generation; and by your subtle discipline in the artillery of error, iniquity and deceit, have made yourselves so skilful and artificial, that you have always boldly and scornfully given me many alarms, summons, onsets, skirmishes, underminings, stormings, killings, firings, poisonings, murdering of my Children and Witnesses, denying us quarter, or any mercy, although we have cried out for pity and compassion, above these four thousand years. I pray you take notice therefore, that I do now, in these last days of the world, even now in this little time to come, that makes an end of sins, and finisheth transgressions: and which also accomplisheth my injuries and sufferings, my tears and sorrows, my lamentation and weeping: Now, I say, even in this day, in which you are so much increased, and grown so innumerable; I challenge you all, even all your multitudes and gatherings, of what degree and condition, Sect or Religion, sex, age, tongue or nation soever you are of; for that you have usurped my names and titles, my house and children, my birth, my birthright and inheritance, my privileges and my dignities, my honour and authority, my kingdom and Throne itself: and that you all have robbed, oppressed, spoiled, reproached, belied, persecuted, beaten, wounded and killed me in my truth and innocency, at all times, and in all places with despite and scorn; contemptuously have cast me out from amongst you, and defamed my sincerity with heresy, my purity with iniquity, my fruitfulness you have called barrenness, and my faithful fervency you call hypocrisy.  Heresy. 
What strange voice is this that we hear, (Truth saith she) what is that▪ were you made to reprove our thoughts? we tell you, you are grievous unto us to behold, let us therefore examine her with despitefulness and torture, and let us condemn her with a shameful death.  Truth. 
Thus hath ever been your dealing with me and mine from the beginning; for your Cain killed my child Abel, and so your Ishmael mocked and persecuted Isaac, my son of promise, and my Lord of life was slain by your children of death, and as always you have been at enmity and sworn adversaries: so from the beginning of this world, to this very day, you have had power and authority in your own hands, to work your will and pleasure against us, even the greatness of the pomp and glory of temporal dignity & majesty, in and by whom you have wrought your malice and implacable anger and wrath upon us▪  
The great Image, consisting of the four metals, which the Prophet Daniel described to be the four great powerful Monarchs which should rule and govern in this world: the golden head; the silver breasts and arms; the brazen belly and thighs; the iron legs▪ and the feet and toes, they consisted part of iron; and part of clay, Dan. 2. 31▪ 32, 33, 42. And all you my old sworn enemies, have, in and by them all, even in all and every part of this terrible and great Images power and strength; you I say again, have wrought and effected under▪ and in a seeming bright and excellent way your own wicked spleen and indignation against me; your father the devil exercising his false accusation and lies, his enmity and cruelty in the monarchy of the Babylonians, which was the head of gold; and after him he stirred up the Assyrian Monarchy to the selfsame purpose, deciphered by the breasts and arms of silver; and when that power grew old, weak, and so failed him, than he stirred up the Grecian Monarchy, who exceeded for strength, though not for wealth, whereby my children were cruelly oppressed to their great destruction; for as their nature, so is their operation, declared by the Prophet to be a belly and thighs of brass. And lastly, for the space of this long season▪ near unto the time of seventeen hundred years, that great and huge Monarchy of the Romans, our universal and mighty oppressors, have dealt very cruelly with us, even worse than all that were before them; for their sword hath had a double edge, called Force and Deceit, cunning and cruelty; and for power, worse than all that were before them: as Iron is the basest for value, and hardest for strength, for it breaketh in pieces, and subdueth all things, as one of my dear sons affirmeth, Dan. 2. 40. which I and mine have found by doleful experience, all their tedious, woeful and odious reign of the Iron legs, and dirty toes, how doleful was it in the days of our blessed Saviour; that, that holy Prophet John the Baptist, that takes his name from his office, the harbinger, the forerunner, and preparer of the Lord's own way, that he should be killed, and our innocent Lord grievously abuseded, wounded & crucified also; and how was I and my children havocked, and cruelly destroyed and wasted presently after the resurrection and ascension of our Lord in those numerous and unparalleled ten persecutions, and all wrought and prosecuted against us by those legs of Iron? all which power and authority of the legs are now gone and past, as a storm that's over, and a tale that's told, and as a great fire that's quenched, excepting only the feet and toes, consisting of Iron and Clay, matter of two contrary natures, in them the solidness and strength of Iron, and the weakness or brickleness of Clay; and yet such a powerful enemy, whose cunning craftiness is managed by deceit and policy, in which time iniquity hath, and doth abound under the pretence of verity; this fourth Monarchy, from the first to the last, in all the parts of it, is deciphered by a strange beast, diverse from all the beasts that were before it, dreadful, terrible, and exceeding in the greatness of power and strength: it had Iron teeth, saith the Prophet, and they were great ones, to tear and kill by, and it devoured, saith the Text, and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it, and it had ten horns, Dan. 7. 7.  Heres. 
But let us prove if his words be true; for what is the Babylonian, Assyrian, Grecian, or Roman Monarch to us? for we have been, and are, the spiritual seed of Abraham by faith, we are Christians, who have believed, are baptised, and communicate in all the Ordinances of God; we are warranted in the Scriptures for our Church-discipline and government, and we walk in a Church state, and Church way, in constituting our Congregations, in ordaining our Ministers, our Pastors, our Deacons and Elders, widows, eunuchs, and divers holy orders; as that of Jesus, and John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, and abundance more orders, of men, women▪ and Angels, and all these by authority of Scriptures, and yet will you rank us amongst the Heathens, and compare us to the four ethnic Monarchs long ago past? we doubt not, but upon further discovery, to prove yourself to be untruth.  Truth. 
What ever you are, whether Papists, Familists, Arians, Arminians, Anabaptiss, Brownists, Antinomians, Millinarists, or Monarchists of all sorts; and although all and every one of you, of each sort, gird and bind yourselves with the new found common With of Independency, yet myself and my little children, are able to prove against you all, even against the oldest and strongest of you, (and therefore observe and take notice of it, even of the charge itself) that so many of you that are not born of sorrow and comfort, and have not your parts in mourning, and rejoicing of water and the Holy Ghost, as the Scripture speaketh, I tell you plainly, notwithstanding all your outward names and distinctions, your affirmed Christianity, your churchway and state, your participation in the Word and Sacraments, your ordinations and orders, and what discipline you are of, or any kind or manner however, except, I say, you be separated or dissevered from natural men by the veil of regeneration: as the Temple of God, the Altar, and them that worship therein, were separated by a veil from the outward and common court, erected for the multitude of the house of Israel, to offer and sacrifice; yea, again, because the matter I speak of, is of such great concernment, I speak it the third time, except you are by true repentance and assurance of mercy▪ made capable spiritually to eat Christ's flesh, and to drink his blood, thereby to have eternal life in you, except you be thus gracious, and made spiritually living by regeneration, God's Word, I say, and the Spirit of truth denominates you, reckons and accounts you all among the Heathens and Gentiles, Rev. 11. 1, 2. and notwithstanding all your outside and overcast Christianity, the whole, wicked; cursed, defiled and unregenerate world and you, make but one castaway part, one flock of goats for ever to be excluded from the sheep of Christ, their sweet and pleasant pastor, that flock and fold also.  Heres. 
This fellow condemns us all; we are esteemed of him as counterfeits, or false coin, he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness, yet we marvel how he can prove that we that are Christians, are a part of those Monarchs, whose several times and powers are wholly expired▪ consummated and gone▪  Truth. 
As I have in general proved it already, in showing that all the wicked party in the world make but one fort, one cursed side on the left hand: so also I prove it further by our Saviour Christ's words to the Pharisees, in his days, Matth. 23. 35▪ That upon you, saith he, may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar. Here our Lord lays the murder of Abel and Zacharias to the Scribes and Pharisees charge▪ although the personal actors were dead many years before, saying to them present, whom ye slew; and the reason is, because all murderers from the beginning of the world to the end thereof, make but one generation all of them, even one generation of Vipers, persecutors and destroyers.  
Secondly, as yet the whole Monarch of the Romans is not expired and past, but still in being; the feet that were partly iron, and partly clay, are not wholly consumed▪ nor the mixed matter is not yet abolished: for yet craft & policy doth prosper in wicked practices, to destroy the mighty, the people of the holy One, by standing up and opposing the Prince of princes, who notwithstanding shortly shall be destroyed without hands, Dan. 8. 24, 25, even that man of sin, that son of perdition, even that opposer and exalter of himself above all that is called God, and as God sitteth in the Temple of God, whom the Lord that he opposeth, shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming, notwithstanding all his serpentine working, his power, his signs and lying wonders with all deceivableness and unrighteousness of them that perish, not yet ended, 2 Tehs 2. And although this part of the Image have already continued from the 406▪ years' of salvation, 1238▪ years, and shall remain and live yet 22. years more to fill up and accomplish his determined complete number of 1666, Rev. 13. 18. then, even then, a stone saith the truth, that was cut out without hands, smote the Image upon his feet that were of Iron and Clay, and broke them to pieces together, saith the Text; and they became like chaff of the summer threshing floors, and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the Image, became a greet mountain, and filled the whole earth; of which great mountain we shall speak further in its due place, according to the prophet's understanding it, Dan. 2. 34, 35. 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.  
And all the false Christ's, and false Prophets, false Apostles, and false teachers, who shall privily bring in damnable heresies, deceitful workers, Matth. 24. 29. Mark. 13. 22. 2 Pet. 2. 1. 2 Cor. 11. 13. 1▪ Joh. 4. 1▪ are all denominated by the name of Antichrists, as the Apostle saith, 1 Joh. 2. 18. Little children, it is the last time; and as you have heard that Antichrist shall come; even so now are there many Antichrists, whereby we know it is the last time: and this Apostle was well acquainted with these Antichrists, these teachers of errors, and calls the Antichrist himself the false Prophet, Rev. 16. 13. and with him all his wicked clergy, and lying Priests, Rev. 19 20. and as the false teachers of the Synagogue of Rome; and by their cunning corrupt doctrine, have deceived multitudes, and if it were possible, would deceive even the very elect: so all false teachers, before Popery was, and such as are now, and shall be after it, are of the same company, the same Church, the same Synagogue with them, of what sect, order, or name soever they be, as before is touched: for as Rome is spiritually called Babylon, which by interpretation is confusion; so are all the Congregations and Churches amongst us, that are gathered, built, and covenanted by men, and according to their own invention, and the vision of their own hearts; and so are not purchased by the same blood, gathered by the spirit's power, and built by God's own hand, they are all, even all of them spiritually, as Rome is, even Sodom and Egypt, Rev. 11. 8. where also our Lord was crucified, Rev. 18. 24.  Heres. 
You are very plain, and exceeding round with us, take heed you be not too wise, nor over bold.  Truth. 
Plainness and roundness is truth's badge, or note of distinction from others; so Jacob my son, my chosen one, is said to be a a plain man, Gen. 25. 27. and all my works are perfect round, that is, without any error, as David saith, he hath made the round world, Psal. 89. 11. which shows the globe of the earth to be round; and so saith the Prophet, Isa. Chap. 40. 22. it is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, that is, the round of the earth. Prov. 8. 27.  Heres. 
But why do you rank us of the Church of Rome amongst the Heresies, and new doctrines of late devised and nominated? for we can reckon our antiquity from the Apostles, and that we are descended from them, we have, and continue still the very form of the Church of Christ and his Apostles; for we have the Pope, Peter's successor, Christ's vicegerent here on earth, and answerable to the twelve Apostles, we have twelve Cardinals, we continue the imposition of hands, the washing the Saints feet, the holy Unction, auricular confession, and spiritual absolution; we have the Word and Sacraments, discipline and execration, and therefore we are the Church of Christ, and not an Antichristian Church.  Truth. 
You speak like a Papist, and for the maintenance of the Romish Church; for the Church of God, or kingdom of heaven stands not in outward observation, Luke 17. 20. there's as much difference between the Church of Christ and the church of Rome, as there is between outward show and inward truth, and as St. Paul in Rom. 14. 17. showeth us, what the Church is not, so he showeth us what it is; namely, righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and as it follows, For he that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of men; that is, spiritual men. A man may be in the outward place and office of the Church, an Apostle, as Judas, an Evangelist, as Demas, a Disciple, as Simon Magus, and yet not of the true Church; such men may be amongst them, and yet not of them; as St. John speaks: and the outward form and manner of true Christian Churches are not always the same; for the Primitive Church was as true a Church before they had Deacons, and ordained Elders in every city or Church, as it was afterwards; and for your great ones, chief of Cardinals, except they be least in humility, the most vile in their own eyes; for this is a Paradox, a mystery, a riddle to the world, that the lowest is the highest, the least the greatest, the humblest the most honourable; and this is quite contrary to the fashion of your Cardinals, which our Lord lays down for an eternal truth, Luke 22. 25, 26▪ Chap. 9 49. he that is least among you all, the same shall be great▪ chief, or a Cardinal, as the word signifieth▪ Your Pope, you say, is Peter's successor, in what respect, I pray, in lordship and supreme authority? when you prove that Peter ever had such jurisdiction, than you say something▪ but till than you say nothing. The truth is, Peter succeeded our Lord Christ in the love of the truth, and faithful obedience of his gracious Word, and in denying himself, and taking up his cross, and suffering for the Gospel, the joyful voice; and so all faithful and true Christians do succeed Peter, and the rest of the faithful Apostles: and this law is unrepealable, it cannot be altered, but shall stand firm to all the Saints for ever; for unto you it is given, saith the Apostle, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him▪ but also to suffer for his sake▪ Phil. 1. 29. and he makes it a full resolution to Timothy; yea, saith he, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution, 2 Tim. 3. 12. so than those that truly succeed Peter, are those, and such as succeed him in spiritual things; as in his repentance and faith, his love to Christ and his truth, and his faithful suffering for it, even till death, 2 Pet. 1. 14.  
And this was it, when our Lord saith thus unto him, Mat. 16▪ 17, 18. and thou art Peter, that is, thou are a living stone of my spiritual Temple, blessed of my Father from above to this purpose, and upon this rock will I build my Church, &c. that is, the truth revealed, and given from heaven by God, assuredly received and believed by the elect, acknowledged and obeyed by the believer to salvation; this is the spiritual house or Church▪ consisting all of living spiritual stones, Christ Jesus being the foundation or chief corner stone; and the great Master, workman and builder of it himself, as the Scriptures testify, 1 Pet. 2. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Heb. 8. 2. of this Assembly and Congregation, doth our Lord say, ye are the salt of the earth, ye are the light of the world, Mat. 5. 13. 14. And I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing they shall ask, it shall be done, &c. Matth. 18. 19 and to these only is the promise made, to receive the Spirit of God to lead and guide them into all truth, Joh. 16. 13. And again, I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, Joh. 14. 16. which Spirit of truth, is the great Substitute and Advocate that Christ hath left with his Church all the while of his personal absence, through whose grace and wisdom, they are they only that make use of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, according to Matth. 18. 18. Joh. 20. 13.  
Therefore Pope, I say unto thee, thy vicardome is blasphemy, thy keys arrogancy, thy chair heresy, thy succession vanity, thy Cardinals and chief Priests Pharisees, thy imposition impurity, thy washings uncleanness, thy holy unction extreme pollution, thy crossings Idolizings, thy confessions & absolutions abominations; you say you are the Church of Christ, and that your succession is from the Apostles, where hath Christ and his Apostles prescribed to you that trash and trumpery which you call pure & holy divinity, your breaden god, your unbloody sacrifices, your golden pardons of all rates and prizes, your pilgrimages, your purgatories, your baptizings, to convey grace, and wash away all manner of original sin, your idols, your altars, your masses, your dirges, your execrations by bell book and candle, your Avie maries, and your babbling prayers by numbers in an unknown tongue, your silken copes, your shaved crowns, your vowed chastity and poverty, and a thousand more such fables and heathenish imitations of the Heathens and wicked men's inventions, which now God's Word by the testimony of his faithful regenerated children of truth have for ever discovered you and your Religion, to be but a filthy heap or wall of mud and dirt, whited over: a painted Sepulchre, though outward to the show and appearance of men, beautified, trimmed and adorned with silver, gold▪ and all manner of rich and precious things, under the mask of the Spirits ornaments, yet within, nothing but stinking noisome carrion, rottenness, filthiness and uncleanness, and all your abominable worship of the Heathens, that you were to maintain for a day, a month, a year, the whole amounting to two and forty months, that is, so many years of days, even an 1260. years which is the antiquity you so much brag of, & yet do not consider the older you are, the nearer your dissolution, notwithstanding your Religion be made and woven of all the glorious matter of the gods of the Heathenish Monarchs that were before you, which were worshipped with such vain pomp, varieties of voices, and musical Instruments, as Rimmon and Baal, Ashtaroth and Milcom, and the rest of abominations, that had Priests and Altars, hesaints and she-saints of their own makings, like unto you; as also your devilish doctrines, just after the manner & matter of the heathens idols, Oracles; which vain worldly glory hath so lifted thee up with pride, that thou hast advanced thyself above the stars of God; yet let us wait now but a few days, and we shall see thy glory shame, thy greatness contemptuousnes, thy gorgeous apparel nakedness, thy life death, thy habitation destruction; and as you have done cruelly to others, so shall others deal cruelly with you, your name and generation shall be utterly forgotten, and your judgement shall seize on you, so that your place shall be no more found, Rev. 17. 46.  
And you may as easily keep the Sun from shining, the wind from blowing, the Sea from motion, and the earth from springing, as to divert this judgement of God determined against thee; therefore, all you that will escape her judgements, come out of her, and separate yourselves from her, lest you partake of her sins, and be made partakers of her plagues, 2 Cor. 6. 16. And what I say unto you, the head of Sects, I say unto all the rest, Come out of Babylon, and submit to Zion, of which universal mother, Gal. 4. 26. we shall often have occasion to describe and discover.  Heres. 
This man is not for our turn, he is clear contrary to our doings, he upbraideth us with our offending the Law, and objecteth to our infamy the transgressings of our education. What will you call the holy Church of Rome to question, the Pope the holy Father? who, I am sure, is not Antichrist; for the Antichrist is sin, and not a man: but the Pope of Rome is the Father of the Church, holy▪ and good, and teacheth the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ now by Images, as the Prophet Moses taught the Jews in God's holy Law by Ceremonies heretofore.  Truth. 
This man that speaketh now, is a Familist, who, as he saith Sin is Antichrist, so he believeth, and teacheth that righteousness is Christ, and so turns both Christ and Antichrist from persons to qualities, and the whole Scripture into Allegories, who by cunning and crafty expressions exceeds all others in fulfilling that saying of our Lord, Matth. 24. 24. And there shall arise false Christ's, and false Prophets, and this is such a false Christ, and false prophet, as there is not the like in the world; making Christ a fantasy, a mere fiction, a righteousness of their own invention, and so they conceive of Antichrist to be Sin, which things of themselves are not persons, and yet they confess and preach, that Christ is the seed of the woman, and sin the seed of the Serpent; and to deceive men's understandings, sometimes they will call Christ the new Man, and sin the old man, or human nature of Christ; and so in their preachings, writings, and conferences use the Scripture terms and phrases; yea, their creed, or confession of their faith runs word for word with ours, only differing thus: for they make all their Articles to express the present time, in those things we believe to be past, and to come; they do acknowledge Jesus of Nazareth, but he to be no more Christ the Saviour of the world, than they are that have taken in the light, as they use to speak; and upon this ground confess, that every one of their illuminated ones are conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, are crucified, dead and buried, risen from the dead the third day, and ascend into heaven, and there sit on the right hand of God the Father, descend from thence, and now judge the world; and all these things in a mystery, a Metaphor and Allegory. You read, say they, of these things in the letter, 1600 years ago, but now they are in the newness of the Spirit, and according to these principles expound all the Scriptures, both of the old and new Testament. Now say they, is the wedding of Cana of Galilee fulfilled in the spirit, where righteousness is the Jesus, the union between God the Father and the Son, the Bride and the Bridegroom; the mother of Jesus, they say, is the word of truth that brings to pass this holy marriage, and the turning of water into wine, is the oldness turned to newness, flesh into spirit; so that thereby the new man becomes codeified with God, and God again cohominified with man; and that now Christ whips out the buyers and sellers out of the Temple, meaning by Christ, righteousness, and by the buyers and sellers, sins and corruptions; and by the Temple men's bodies, expounding that Text, Hebr. 1. 13. Sit on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool, to be meant of their holy anointed ones; and when Christ, which is righteousness, is risen in them by regeneration, then that saying is brought to pass that is written, Hos. 13. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 54. Death is swallowed up in victory: they say they are Moses, and the children of Israel, and all natural men are Egyptians, which by conversion become Israelites; and that now Moses is contending with Pharaoh the devil, to bring the chosen of God through the red Sea, and barren, hard and desolate wilderness into Canaan the land of rest, the peace of conscience, and favour of God; and that now God calls Abraham out of Vr of the Chaldees, making it the land of devils, as the Hebrew word signifies, to set forth to us, every unregenerate man's dark and sinful estate naturally, and God's calling of Abraham out of it, to go to a land he would give him, to signify unto us the conversion of a sinner to God, and David's killing Uriah, to signify the quenching the Spirit the Apostle dehorts from, and Reubens' going up to his father's bed, the weaknesses of such as are babes in Christ, as St. John speaks of, calling them little children, and young men, 1 Joh. 2. 12, 13. And that in this nonage, this youth of theirs, it is with their anointed ones, as it was with Christ, which signifies anointed, Mat. 3. & 4. who as soon as God testified to him from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; and when he had fasted and separated himself from his natural ways and sinful affections, forty days and forty nights, as Moses was forty days and forty nights in the holy mount, where he received the covenant of perfection in a figure. And the Text saith, afterwards he was an hungered, that is, this new man hungered and thirsted after righteousness; and as the Text saith, The tempter came to him, the meaning is, say they, the sinful flesh, the enemy to the Spirit said to him, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread, but the new man answereth, it is written, the man Christ shall live by the truth, the Word of God; then the tempter uses other means, to have him to be a self-justifier, and account of himself as the holy city of God, & makes him to be advanced in his own thoughts, as the highest of all, as a pinnacle is above the rest of the building; and then to presume in his infancy, as if he had the experience of old age, and perfection itself, and so the holy child answers, thou oughtst not to tempt, but to wait patiently on thy Lord thy God. His third and last temptation, is the proffer of the whole world unto this young man in Christ, but being now grown in strength, in righteousness, makes a speedy answer, Get thee behind me Satan, God is only to be worshipped and served, so the tempter left him, and the Angels ministered unto him in all passages of service, till they brought the holy One from one degree to another to sit down at the right hand of the Father, and to come to judge the world. And of this spiritual estate do they understand all the Scriptures that speak of the resurrection of the body, understanding it this spiritual body, and this spiritual resurrection, and that Christ is dead or alive in every man in the world, dead in the natural or sinful estate, and made alive, and raised in the illuminated estate; and the terms in Scripture of this present world, to be the sinful estate, and the world to come the regenerated estate, which they call perfection, eternal life and the glory of the Father, the world without end, affirming there shall be no end of the heavens, and of the earth, the whole creation, but that it shall continue for ever successively, one generation after another; and as man comes from God, so he goes to God, in matter and time infinitely. These and a thousand gross and blasphemous doctrines are the tenants of the Familists, which are the very depths of Satan, from which I wish thee to repent, if it may be by any means obtained, and learn to leave off your scorn and contempt of Scripture-learning, and labour to be taught by the Spirit of truth in the true meaning of God's Word.  Heres. 
These doctrines which you call Familists are the tenants of N. H. that is, Henry Nichols, who lived in Germany, and writ divers small books, as The Gospel of the kingdom, The Prophecy of the spirit of love, The glass of righteousness, and divers others; but although he be a seducer and grossly deceived, to the overthrow of the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, in affirming holiness and righteousness to be Christ the Lord; now I am so far from his opinion, that I think Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth, to be only man, that is, mere man, and not God and man, and to partake of the Deity no more than any other natural man doth.  Truth. 
You express yourself to be an Arian; for Arrius that proud Bishop, whose time was above 200. years after the Apostles, and did then fall from the truth of the Scriptures, as they clearly set forth our blessed Saviour in his divine nature as well as in his human, and invented and broached, divulged and published this heresy, that Jesus Christ was only man, and not God, which heresy backed with his authority, proved a great and cruel persecution against the faithful and true Christians, 150. years together, as ecclesiastical Histories, according with the plain and holy Word of God, do declare, as it appears in the first of John, compared with Genesis 1. and Prov. 8. 22, 23, 24. and John, that beloved of the Lord, Revelations the 9th. chapter, makes a full and plain description of the person of Arrius his power, authority, and the complete time of his persecution and false doctrine, where he deciphers his person, by the appellation and name of a star, vers. 1. thereby▪ signifying he was a high and great light in the Church, even in the rank and course of the Apostles, for so are they compared and called, Rev. 12. and that this star was great in the outward office of the Church, is farther intimated in these words, in saying, he fell from heaven, that was, from the purity of the doctrine of the Saints, preached and planted by Christ's faithful Apostles and Evangelists; and in that it is said, he fell unto the earth, it showeth, that as he fell from the light of the truth, so he fell into gross corrupt heretical darkness, apostatising; and as opposite to the sincerity of the truth he formerly professed, as the cursed polluted earth is to the pure undefiled heavens; and as it is said, To him was given the key of the bottomless pit, it shows the permissive power that should be granted and given to him; that as he loved lies more than truth, so he that is the God of truth should give him up to strong delusions to believe lies; and having in himself an adulterous evil heart, a fit receptacle for an error so abominable, doth with as great a longing desire, preach and publish it to corrupt others like himself, by all ways▪ and means whatsoever: as first his own thirsty deceit was not satisfied, proved in these words, vers. 2. And he opened the bottomless pit, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace, declaring hereby, the nature of their corrupt doctrines, even such as smoke, soot and filth, compared to the pure air, and woeful darkness to the glorious Sun-light▪  
The truth of God, whose shining purity was obscured and darkened, as it follows in the next words, by reason of the smoke of the pit; and the Text saith, vers. 3. And there came out of the smoke Locusts upon the earth, which shows the great success and large increase of false doctrines, which are no sooner conceived and borne, but presently it brings forth abundantly a viperous and wicked brood, good for nothing but destruction itself, and their great power is to hurt as a Scorpion, which is the most cruel and venomous of all creeping things, vers. 5. And as they are cruel, so they are cunning, crafty, and unavoidable, by which being once bit or stung, it is incurable; of such dangerous nature was this heresy of Arrius, see the cruelty, vers. 6. their power, cunning, and deceit, vers. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.  
The Apostle also by divine inspiration, sets down the full and complete time of this Arian persecution, saying, It shall be five months, that is, months of years, accounting as before, in the audit of Antichrist, thirty days to a month, which multiplied by five, amounts in the total, to one hundred and fifty years, prophetically reckoning a day for a year, as Ezek. 4. 6. which heresy was grown to such a height of esteem and applause, that the than Christian Emperor called a general council of all the Bishops in Christendom, to confirm and establish this abominable false doctrine by a canon, or ecclesiastical decree, to be an unquestionable verity: from which conclusion, not any one of the learned Doctors did dissent, but only godly Athanasius, who by his alone wisdom and great knowledge in the Scriptures, did protest and declare against this dark and smoky error; and he managed and maintained the truth so clearly by the authority of holy Writ, that as Christ was perfect man, so he was truly God, God and man, our alone Saviour, through which his grave and solid arguments raised from the beginning of the Evangelists, of St. John, and other holy Scriptures, he gained the most of the general council to be of his side and judgement, whereupon they prevailed with him to make and write that famous and excellent Creed, called after his own name, even the Creed of Athanasius, which then, and ever since, hath been embraced, approved, honoured, & confessed of all Christian Churches, although it is now neglected, as gold in the dust, and pearls by the ignorant Cock in the dunghill, and fables in comparison, even husks, preferred before the verity thereof, through the blindness of this present generation.  Heres. 
Although the Pope's universal supremacy in and over all persons and causes ecclesiastical and civil, be an error, and also heresy, to deny the human nature of Christ, as doth the Familists, and as bad in Arrius, to deny the divine nature of our Lord and Saviour, for I am of Athanasius his mind, That he was God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the world were made, and man of the substance of the mother, born in the world, perfect God and perfect man; for as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ.  
And also I believe and maintain, that every man naturally, hath free will to do good, as well as free will to do evil; and that a Christian man's standing in the grace and favour with God, depends upon his obedience in keeping the commandments, and that there is no more, or other certainty of salvation, than that man by his own free good will continues obedient to God's Word; so that a man may be the child of God to day, and the child of the devil to morrow.  Truth. 
You that did last speak, show yourself to be an Arminian; for although you confess many truths, yet indeed you differ no more from a Papist than Arminius, that wicked heretic did, and in your false doctrines of free will, and falling from grace, you agree with the ancient Anabaptists also; for you all three are but one in these two errors.  
And, first, for your tenant of Freewill, that all men naturally have as great freedom and power of will to do good, as to do evil, this is a gross error, and directly opposite to the clear and plain Scriptures, for the Apostle saith, It is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure, Phil. 2. 13. And the truth speaks thus, 2 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God; and this is the faith and confession of the whole Church of God: Isa. 26. 12. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us, for thou also hast wrought all our works in us and for us.  
The error of Free will, is a carnal opinion, and naturally men are inclined to it, and the holy Apostle St. James, reproves it in his days, who writing to the scattered Tribes, saith, you ought to say, if the Lord will, and not to say as you have affirmed your faith to be, we will go, &c. James 2. 13. 15. So that it is plain, no man of himself hath freedom of will to do good; but there is no question but every man hath freedom of will to do evil, as saith the Prophet, Jerem. 4. 22.  
Secondly, your doctrine of the uncertainty of the Elects called and sanctified estate in Christ by regeneration, shows plainly you do not know what it is to be a Christian indeed and truly, for if you did, you would know this truth undoubtedly, that they that trust in the Lord, are as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever; as testifieth the Prophet, Psal. 135. 1. and the Apostle gives the reason of it, because the chief corner stone thereof is Christ, that holy, chosen and precious One; and whosoever he be that believeth on him, shall not be confounded, 1 Pet. 2. 6. And this doctrine is that which our Lord himself hath taught us, upon this rock, saith he, I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, Mat. 16. 18. Mark what greater contrary power can there be, than the gates of hell, and yet that, even the strength of all the powers of the devil shall not be able to do that which you affirm they shall, and the reason thereof our Lord himself gives, Joh. 10. 27, 28, 29. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand; my father which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand: I and my Father are one.  
And that great experienced man of the love of God, even above the rest of his fellows, speaking of the blessed estate of the regenerated Elect, 1 Pet. 1. 2, 3, 4, 5. saith, They were elected according to the foreknowledge of God, begotten again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to a glorious undefiled inheritance, of which it is impossible we should fail of, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation; and those sweet words of our Lord are of efficacy to gain the most contrary heart to the belief of this truth, Joh. 17. 11. Holy Father, keep through thy holy name those that thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are one.  
Now Arminius see the sure and certain estate of a regenerated Christian so sure as God is sure, and unchangeable, as Christ, the same yesterday, to day and for ever, eternal as the Holy Ghost; even so are they that are made one with God, who truly have fellowship with the Father, and with the Son, Jesus Christ, 1 Joh. 1. 3. For he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified, are all of one; as brethren are one, Heb. 2. 11. and as the tree and the branches are one, Joh. 15. 5. even so is Christ and the regenerated man, Oh happy are the people that are in such a case!  Heres. 
At the first I thought what we should find of you, but now I have ready a multitude of Scriptures to show to you, that which I maintain to be truth, and by them I shall discover you, I hope, to be untruth: The first place is, Ezek. 18. 24. When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dyeth in them, he shall die for the iniquity he hath done; again, our Lord himself saith, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, He (that is, God) taketh away, that is, cutteth off from the Vine, Joh. 15. 2. And many of Christ's Disciples were offended at the truth of his doctrine, and turned away, or went back, that is, left him for ever, Joh. 6. 66. others received the Word gladly, and endured for a while believers, but when tribulation and persecution did arise, because of the Word, they were offended, and fell away, Mat. 13. 21. Lake 8. 13. yea, the Apostle is more particular, Hebr. 6. 4, 5, 6. for he speaks of such as were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and had tasted of the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come; and yet notwithstanding all this, to fall away, as not to be renewed again by repentance; yea, the same Apostle showeth farther, Heb. 10. 29. that a man may be sanctified by the blood of the Testament, and afterwards tread under foot the Son of God, and count the same blood as an unholy thing, and despite the Spirit of Grace. And St. Peter, 2 Pet. 18. 19, 20. speaks of some that were clean escaped from the corruptions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and yet after this to be entangled and overcome again, whose latter end is worse than their beginning; these, and many more are the ground of my doctrine.  Truth. 
And secondly, I answer, these Scriptures rightly understood, make nothing at all for the maintenance of your error, but in truth it teacheth us, that we ought heedfully to observe the distinction in one and the same term, which must be generally and really observed throughout the Scriptures, which hereafter I shall more fully discover, when any of the Anabaptists shall speak; and in the mean while, I pray consider of the terms in those Scriptures you have alleged, as the term faith to believe the Word, the affection of joy and gladness in the knowledge of it, a relish and taste of the sweetness and goodness in it for the present, with some apprehension of the glorious things of the world to come, and through the operations of its working in those that received it, as that it is said, they were washed and sanctified, and yet afterwards never the better for all this, nay, worse at last then at first; for it shall aggravate their condemnation: this shows plainly, that the new and living way of life is set open unto all, by the general and particular administration of the Gospel, and that men by the common gifts of the Spirit, may attain to many excellent graces, even beginnings to the peculiar and special gifts, to which whosoever attaineth, shall never fall and perish, which differing effect of the Gospel is clearly set forth unto us in the four grounds mentioned by our Lord; the seedsman was one and the same, and the seed itself was so also, and yet took not the same effect in all, although it was sown and cast into them all.  
The highway side were hard hearted, ignorant men, whose hearts had not earth to cover the seed, and the wicked one came and stole it away; in the thorny and stony ground it sprung up into a blade, in the one it failed, because it could not take root for stones; in the other, because the thorns choked it; the good ground never failed, because the seed took deep root, the hard way was broken up and ploughed, so that the seed was covered, that the fowls of the air could not find it, to steel it, the stones could not hinder the taking root downwards, for they were cast out by repentance: nor the thorns choke it in springing upwards, for the pleasures of this world, and the cares of unrighteous riches are both forsaken, so that the happy success and prosperity of it was not hindered nor prevented, but the broken penitent heart understands, retains and keeps the Word, and bringeth forth fruit with patience, Luke. 8. 15. when as the other three sorts of grounds brought nothing to perfection, vers. 14. Now these several grounds, briefly show us how all your mentioned Scriptures are to be understood, even as the Parable sets forth unto us the differing estate of men under the means of the Gospel; and so also doth the branch in Christ that is fruitful, which God purgeth, that it may bring forth more fruit, and the fruitless branch in the Vine Christ, which God cutteth off to be burned; in this distinction doth the Prophet Ezekiel speak, calling that man righteous in the Scripture you first mentioned, who was so made righteous by the common gifts of the Spirit, as the three bad grounds; and in this distinction we are to understand, that a man may become sanctified by the blood of Christ, and yet afterwards tread it under foot, as Judas, when he was a preacher, and yet afterwards fell to be a Traitor, to kill the Lord, that formerly in some respect he served, and differenced from other men by his holy employment of his apostolical office, as he was that took the Plough by the hand, and afterwards looked back, thereby making himself uncapable of that estate in which before he stood in, Luke 9 62. and the Apostle makes this clear to the Corinthians, speaking, that the Gospel to some is the savour of life unto life, and to others, the savour of death unto death, 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. not that it is so of itself, but occasionally: as the Sun in the Firmament, that is one and the same in itself, yet through accidents in the subject, it softens ice, and hardens clay; so likewise is the administration of the Gospel salvation to them that receive and obey it, and damnation to those that neglect and contemn it, as in profane Esau's case, and the blessedness of Jacob, both sons of Isaac, the one selling his birthright for a mess of pottage, the other seeking and striving for it with prayers and tears: so that it appears plainly, that the Scriptures rightly understood are against your erroneous opinion, and all of them affirm, that truth of God which before I have proved to you, that whosoever believeth, and is baptised shall be saved, as hereafter I shall open more at large; for he is the wise Christian that heareth, and doth build on a rock of a deep foundation; so that it stood still, notwithstanding the great billows of the floods, the huge storms of the winds and showers, when the foolish Christian, the fine built house was overthrown thereby, having no foundation, and great was the fall of it, Mat. 7. 25, 27.  Heres. 
Of late, through the knowledge of the Scriptures, men have come to see and understand the superstition of Popery, the blasphemy of Familists, the gross errors and absurdities of Arrius and Arminius, and that they are all seduced and deceived.  
But we have found a rule of truth in God's Word, plainly directing us to the making matter of the Church of Christ, and none but such as are qualified by faith, are fit subjects for baptism, which faith is wrought by teaching, and then baptism or dipping admits and gives entrance unto such believers, to have communion in Church-fellowship with us in all the other holy ordinances of God, which Church and ordinances are not understood, but neglected and contemned of all the heretics you have named and conferred with before, therefore we are the true Church, for we profess but one Lord, one Faith, and one baptism, Ephes. 4. 5.  Truth. 
Sir, I perceive you are an Anabaptist, and therefore I shall speedily make good my late promise, and indeed, some thirty years since, Mr. Morton, a Teacher of a Church of the Anabaptists in Newgate, than his confession comprehended all the errors of the Arminians which now of late, many that go under your name, in and about London dissent from, as it seems you do.  
And therefore in Answer to you I say, that the term baptism in Scriptures (as well as faith and Lord) hath divers significations, sometimes to signify sufferings, as Matth. 22. at other times outward baptism, as John baptising our Saviour, a holy subject, Mat. 3. 16. and Simon also believed, and was baptised, Acts 8. 13. which was an evil unregenerate man, and yet admitted, and continued in the common fellowship of the Church with Philip; so also by baptism we are to understand inward baptism; sometimes repentance, and sometimes remission of sins, for so faith the Baptist himself, Matth. 3. 11. I baptize you with water unto repentance, by which indeed he wrought repentance in them, but he that comes after me, &c. he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, that is, he should pardon the penitent; which two special administrations are the two parts of regeneration, according to that in Luke 24. 47. That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in the name of Christ; so likewise by baptism we are to understand both the parts of regeneration together, where the Apostle saith, as many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have put on Christ, Gal. 3. 27. and in this sense it is called the laver of regeneration, or the washing of regeneration, Tit. 2. 5. These differing significations, being plain, I marvelled to find some of your company to maintain the contrary, of purpose, I suppose, to avoid the distinction, that so clearly discovers your error.  
You affirm you have found a rule in the Scriptures, plainly directing how the matter of the Church is made, and that is, say you, by teaching and baptising, and yet you, not distinguishing of either, say nothing truly in neither or both; for a man may be taught and baptised, and thereby be made a Disciple in the outward profession of the truth, as the highway, stony and thorny ground, as Simon Magus, Demas, Hymineus, Philetus, Ananias and Saphira, the incestuous person in the Church of Corinth, and such, whose belly was their God, in the Church of Philippi, who notwithstanding, they were all taught and baptised, yet not any one of them any part or portion of the Church of Christ, against which the gates of Hell shall not prevail, therefore the ground and foundation of your Church is sand, and that will fail you, and it is very false and contrary to the matter of the true Church: for the Scripture saith, Though Israel be as numerous as the sand of the sea, yet but a remnant shall repent and be saved, Rom. 9 27. and yet they are called the people of God, Isa. 10. 22, 23. and so all taught, and all circumcised; and the same distinction the Scriptures make of baptism, the very same is said of circumcision, for the selfsame operation that circumcision had in the Church of the Jews, outward carnally in the flesh, and inward spiritually in the heart, of the same distinction and operation is baptism in the Christian Church, the washing with water, or dipping in water, is the doing away the filth of the flesh, which saveth not; for this a man may have and perish, as those Disciples that fell away from Christ, and walked no more with him, Joh. 6. 66. but the washing or baptism that saveth, 1 Pet. 3. 21. is the answer of a good conscience unto God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not the washing of the flesh, but the purifying of the heart by faith; and this spiritual baptism or washing it is that works that full assurance of faith; having our hearts strinkled from an evil conscience by the blood of Christ, and our bodies washed with pure water, Heb. 10. 22. that water that Christ giveth his Disciples, Joh. 4. 14. and washeth his Apostles with, John 13. and this is that which maketh the truly faithful Jew by virtue of the circumcision of the heart, and the truly faithful Christian by virtue of the baptism of the heart all one, as the holy Apostle saith, and that God did bear witness with him also to the truth of it, that there is no difference between us and them, that is, us Jew's, and them Gentiles, purifying their hearts by faith, Acts 15. 8, 9 and the Scriptures show, that the Jews did well know, that when the Messiah should come, that then baptism or washing should be the distinction of Christians from others; as circumcision by God's own ordinance was the distinction the Jews had from all the people of the whole world: and therefore it is written, that when the Jews sent Priests and Levites of the Pharisees from Jerusalem to John the Baptist, to Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptising, the messengers asked him whether he were the Christ, or Elias, or the Prophet, and upon his answer, no, that he was not, they then asked him why he did baptize then, hereby clearly showing, that they understood by the Scriptures, that when Elias, Messiah, and the Prophet foretold of should come, that then baptism should be in use in the Church, and accordingly it was so practised by John the Baptist, Christ and his Apostles, and ever since continued, and of the very same use to Christians, both outwardly and inwardly, as circumcision was to the Jews. And the Apostle to the Church of coloss, useth both the terms, baptism and circumcision, to set forth and teach unto us, one and the same thing in Jesus Christ, Col. 2. 10, 11, 12. You are complete, saith he, in Christ, which is the head of all principalities and power, in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, &c.  
Mark now friend, Anabaptist, the truth of this doctrine of the clear distinction the Holy Ghost makes of baptism and circumcision, and in both double and twofold; as in circumcision, the one outward, the other inward; so in baptism, both in the flesh, and both in the heart, both made by hands, and both without hands; a man may partake of both in one distinction, and perish, but whosoever doth receive one or both, in the special sense, he shall be saved: and as the terms in the meaning do agree, so they do both agree in their administration; for as Abraham received the sign of circumcision, a seal or sign of the righteousness of the faith which he had before be was circumcised in the flesh, Rom. 4. 11. so the regenerate and faithful servants of God, Nathaniel, in whom was no guile, the Eunuch, Lydia, and Cornelius, of whom the Holy Ghost bears witness that they were true worshippers of God, these all, as Abraham, had the inward baptism of the blood of Christ through faith, in the promise, before they received the outward baptism, the washing their bodies with water, a lively representation of the washing their hearts by the blood of the Lamb Christ.  
And for the general use of baptism, as in the Jews Church, all that believed the Law of God were to be circumcised, and so admitted into the Congregation and communion of all the holy ordinances of God's worship and service: so now, who ever believes that Christ is come in the flesh, and acknowledgeth the glad tidings of the Gospel, the ministry and Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles to be the truth, they upon this general or historical faith, aught to be baptised, and to be admitted to communion in the Word and Sacraments, as Simon Magus, Demas, the faulty Christians in the Church of Corinth, and a thousand more had, as the Scriptures show; so that now you see God's Word forces you to distinguish of baptism, and so also of the term Faith, and the name Lord, and yet but one baptism, one faith, and one Lord to salvation.  
Now the Scriptures plainly set forth unto us a threefold faith, which may be truly distinguished by these terms, historical, miraculous, or justifying faith, and all these a full assurance, and are to be believed with all the heart; of the two first sorts, wicked men, devils, may partake of them as well as the Saints, yea, sometimes exceed therein: for Judas wrought miracles among the twelve, but John the Baptist did no miracle, saith the Text; so many are called to believe the truth, to work in the Vineyard, but few are chosen unto salvation and rewarded with eternal life, that is the special peculiar faith, Joh. 7. 38. that whosoever believeth shall not perish, but have eternal life. And there is a great deal of difference between him that by faith eateth Christ's flesh, and drinketh his blood to eternal life, Joh. 6. 54. and their faith by which they are baptised, preach and communicate in the other ordinances, and boldly pray and call upon the name of Christ, and yet notwithstanding are not acknowledged by him, but shut out and excluded from eternal life, and assigned and sentenced to everlasting destruction, and to be rewarded as the workers of iniquity, Mat. 7. 22, 23.  
Now, considering how clear the Scriptures are in distinguishing between faith and faith, I did admire (when I was in company with you) to see you all so earnest, as in baptism, so in faith, to maintain but one sort under either term, wherefore I would here make the several definitions of faith, thereby to make the distinctions the more clear, but that I shall do hereafter, when I come to speak of the Antinomians mistakes in these things also; and I much marvel at your ignorance in Scripture distinctions, for as much as you all profess you read them much, in which, except you distinguish rightly, you can understand no truth clearly nor fully; for the letter of the Scriptures are but the body or corpse, but it is the intention and meaning of the Holy Ghost, by the words of the Text, which is the spirit and life of them, therefore it doth behoove us, and stands us in hand to take heed we do not mistake the meaning of God's Word, nor to give any other sense or exposition then that which is its own, lest we be found such as fight against the Scriptures, and by false and lying interpretations, violate God's Law, and wage war to kill and slay the two witnesses, the old and new Testaments, the lamps and light of truth, Rev. 11. 7, 8. let us take heed of this, brethren, for the judgement against this sin is written and revealed already (to add or diminish from the Word of God) to be a heavy, inevitable, dismal, cursed sentence, Deut. 4. 2. Prov. 30. 6. Rev. 22. 18.  
And if you had considered the Scriptures concerning the name of God, and Lord, you should have found even the Apostle himself to expound to the Church of Corinth, what he meant by his speaking or writing to the Church of Ephesus, One Lord, &c. for he saith, there be many Lords and many gods, so called, both in heaven and earth, but to us, saith he, there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him, 1 Cor. 8. 5, 6. there is but one such a Father, and Lord, and holy Spirit, who is the giver, the purchaser and worker of the grace by which we are called, in the same one hope of our holy calling, Eph. 4. 4. but in other respects, the Heathens Idols, and the Gentiles gracious Lords are called God and Lord, for so did the Gentiles speak of Herod, deifying him with a shout, saying, The voice of God, and not of man; and Christian Emperors, Kings, States, and Potentates, in regard of authority and jurisdiction, are called Lords, and Gods, in which they do represent God; I have said you are gods, saith the Scripture, but you shall die like men.  Heres. 
But we have a plain word for our teaching and baptising, Matth. 28. 19 but you baptize infants, for which you have no word for, and therefore it will be said at last, Who hath required these things at your hands? for indeed you do but continue the mark of the beast in all your babies baptizings.  Truth. 
Whereas you say Christ's words in the last of Matthew, proves your preaching and baptising, you say more than you can make good, or that I can believe from that Scripture; and although there be no express words in the Scripture for the baptising of Infants, yet there is as sufficient warrant for it as for most things you practise yourselves; for what plain word have you for the time of public assembling, or general meetings? what word have you for your people to ordain their Minister? what command doth authorise you yourself to baptize? what word have you when to receive the Lord's Supper, when to administer it, and where▪ who to provide the bread and wine, and what bread, and of what grain; and the wine of what grape? you have not a word for women to receive the Sacrament, and abundance other particulars practised by you?  
Will you therefore say, you do that which you sin in doing; so as you say we do, I think not. The truth is, we need not a word, for there are general rules in the Scriptures, that include particular practices, and divers things under the Gospel, being of the same nature under the Law, the rules given under the Law, serve under the Gospel; so the Apostle proves to the Church of Corinth from the Law of Moses, Deut. 25. 4. That Ministers of the Gospel should have maintenance, that as they which minister about holy things, live of the things of the Temple, and they which wait at the Altar, are partakers of the Altar, even so hath the Lord ordained, that they that preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9 13, 14. compared with Deut. 18. 1. So we may truly say, it is ordained, that as the children of believers before Christ, both Jews and Proselytes, were to be circumcised, Gen. 17. 11, 12. Exod. 12. 48, 49. so believers and their children, since Christ, are to be baptised, as St. Peter speaketh, the promise is to you and to your children, and to all that are a far of, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  
I beseech you observe this place, St. Peter here spoke to the Jews, the men of Judah and Jerusalem, vers. 14. ye men of Israel, hear these words, saith he, vers. 22. so preacheth to them, that Jesus was the Saviour of the world, whom ye have taken by wicked hands, and have killed, and being dead, was buried, who was raised again, and now sits at the right hand of the Father, and is made the Lord and Christ, the alone Saviour of the world, and they that gladly receive this doctrine of salvation by Christ were baptised, vers. 41. who before had been circumcised. Now, as the promise did only belong to Abraham, and his spiritual Seed, and yet all his natural children, and the children of believing strangers, were to communicate of circumcision, which was the outward sign of the Covenant of the righteousness by faith, as before is proved: So likewise under the Gospel, the same covenant of life and salvation is made only to God's chosen faithful regenerated servants, and their spiritual seed; yet the natural children of these faithful Christians, may partake of the outward baptism, which is the outward signification of the baptism of the heart, as circumcision in the flesh was a sign of the circumcision of the heart, and according to this rule, the place before mentioned, and divers other Scriptures speak, as Acts 16. 15. that Lydia and her household was baptised; so the Jailor was baptised, and all his, that is, his household; and the Apostle Paul baptised the household of Stephanus, 1 Cor. 1. 16. And our Lord Jesus laid his hands on little children, and blessed them, and rebuked his Disciples for forbidding them to come, Luke 18. 16. and the Apostle is clear in the resolution of this question to the Church of Corinth, 1 Cor. 7. 14. saith he, the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife by the believing husband, else were your children unclean, but now are they holy, that is, in respect they have right unto the outward covenant, being born of one that believeth. But some of you Anabaptists would have these words, holy and unclean, to mean bastards, or unlawfully born, which is such an exposition, as was never heard nor read of before; and this exposition admits of much absurdity, for it nullifies the law of marriage amongst the Heathens, who have as certain rules for marriage, according to their manner and custom, as Christians have, for the Scripture prescribes no form. Secondly, this exposition makes Abraham himself, and most of the Patriarchs wives to be bastards; for they were the children of Heathens by father and mother, as holy Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Joseph's wife the mother of Ephraim and Manasses a bastard, and that holy and great Prophet, Moses, took a bastard to his wife; for Zipporah was an Idolaters daughter, her father being a Priest of Midian, Exod. 2. 16. but this conceit is so ridiculous, that it strangles itself in the birth.  
And to return to our argument, the Apostle doth understand these terms not of bastardy, but of fellowship and communion in the Ordinances of God's worship, Act. 10. 28. Wherefore I demand upon these premises, what ground you have to deny believers children baptism under the Gospel, seeing it is proved to be the same thing, that by God's command believers children were to partake of under the law. Take heed you do not deny them that which God's Word allows. And for the mark of the beast, when you can show me by Scripture what it is, than I will prove to you, that it is not the baptising of the Infants of believing parents. And for you to make outward baptism and common or historical faith to be the matter of your Church, you do no less than tell me plainly, you do not know what the Church of Christ is; wherefore repent and turn from your errors.  Heres. 
All these that you have made answer to already, are either Idolatrous, blasphemous, superstitious, ridiculous, or erroneous, but we are such as have separated ourselves from the wicked in the world, and we have joined ourselves in Church-covenant, and Church-fellowship, and have set up the Ordinances of Christ, in the purity of them, we have cast off all the abominations of Antichrist, in his superstitious ordinations, ceremonies and false doctrines of all sorts; our congregations call and ordain our Pastors & Elders, and so we walk according to the rule that Christ hath left in his Church, until his coming; and we admit none to have communion with us, but such as are visible Saints, and can give an account of their conversion.  Truth. 
Your position is framed like theirs that are commonly known by the name of Brownists, or Separatists; and it consists of two parts: first, that you are in Church-covenant, and walk in Church-fellowship, in the enjoyment of Christ's Ordinances, as you say; and secondly, that you separate yourselves from all other congregations: this is the sum of your speech, by which you do manifest to me such a strange voice, as doth not agree with the expression of God's Word; for your words are in terms of your own acts and doings, favouring carnally of humanity, whereas holy Writ speaks of the Church of Christ in a spiritual sense, that is, a spiritual building, a house, a Temple not gathered, joined and builded by men, but by God himself, the whole matter of his Church, every stone thereof being made living stones by regeneration; as St. Peter speaks, 1 Pet. 2. 2, 4. Which are built up together, saith he, a spiritual house, a holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices; so that as themselves are spiritual, so is their worship and sacrifice, offered up unto God; and this was the matter of God's Church always: for when the Prophets came to build and plant God's Church, they call to the people, to repent and turn to God, Jer. 1. to Chap. 4. 1. which is the first part of our regeneration; And thus they cry for it, Break up the fallow ground of your hearts, circumcise yourselves to the Lord, wash you, make you clean, &c. Isa. 1. 16. Jer. 4. 4. The place of God's rest and habitation, is a poor and contrite spirit; in vain are all the houses that are built for God, but this that he builds himself, Isa. 66. 1, 2. And as this was the prophet's way to build God's Church, so even after the same manner did John the Baptist, He came in the power and spirit of Elias, to turn men to God, the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, Luk. 1. 17. so prepared he the Lord's way by the ministry of water or repentance, the preparation or first principle humbling the lofty, bending the crooked straight, and breaking the hard hearted; and our Lord himself, he works and builds his Church after the same manner, and with the same matter, Repent, saith he, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Mat. 4. 17. And except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God, Joh. 3. 3. and except ye repent, ye shall all perish; and accordingly is his command to all that he sends into this work, that they should preach in his Name, repentance, and remission of sins, Luke 24. 47. the one ministration bruises & breaks, the other binds up and heals; the one baptism prepares, the other sanctifies; the one makes poor, the other enriches; the one makes naked, the other clothes; the one discovers our folly, the other endues us with wisdom; through the one we are made mourners, through the other we are comforted and made to rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; and by this laver of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, Tit. 3. 5. we are washed clean, and made of sinners Saints; of natural dead men, living men; and this is God's building, whose matter is gold, and silver, and precious stones.  
Now as the true builders build God's Church, so there are false builders likewise, which build too, and they call their workmanship a Church also, but the materials of their building is but hay, wood and stubble, the mortar they daub withal is untempered mortar, They seduce my people, saith the Lord, Ezek. 13, 10, 11, &c. the false prophet's matter with which they build, is compounded of vanity, and lying visions, Chap. 22. 28. they have brick made of earth and straw in stead of stone, and slime in stead of mortar, and so they build the tower of Babel, the Synagogue of confusion, Gen. 11. 3. These builders take upon them to heal the wounds and breaches like God's builders, but it is to no purpose; for they heal the bruise or breach of my people, saith the Lord, slightly, saying, Peace when there is no peace, Jer. 6. 14. and yet such a high esteem and opinion have they of their spiritual building, as they call it, that they contemn the truly spiritual matter, that Christ and the Apostles build with; and therefore it is said, The builders refused Jesus Christ, which is the very foundation that the true builders work with, and build upon, yea, the false builders reject him, Psal. 118. 22. they set him at nought, and disallow of him, Mat. 21. 24▪ Acts 4. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 7. and if they do thus despise and so basely account of Jesus Christ, which is the chief corner stone of his own Church, what a kind or manner of Church is that which these builders build of themselves, as they say? And notwithstanding my Lord and foundation, my rock and preservation be not regarded of such carnal builders, yet he is chosen of God and precious; and he himself makes all his faithful Apostles, Prophets, and Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, wise master-workmen, or builders for the gathering and perfecting his Saints for the work of the ministry, for the building or edifying the body of Christ, Ephes. 4. 11, 12. 1 Cor. 3. 10. for as the Spirit of God by the ministry of his servants prepares and sanctifies them, so he unites and cements them to have communion one with another in spiritual fellowship: and this workmanship in the Lord, is called in God's Word, the Church of Christ, his House, his Tabernacle, his Body, his Spouse, his Temple, the pillar and ground of truth, the place of his dwelling, purchased, cleansed, purified and sanctified by his own precious blood, called and gathered by the power of his Word, made to live by the spirit of his mouth, having communion and fellowship by the Holy Ghost, growing up together in holiness, as branches in one stock or root, being members of one and the same body, of which Christ is head, as truly and really in a spiritual sense, as the head of a man is naturally the head of the whole body, consisting of many members.  
Now notwithstanding all this that hath been said of the true Church, and ten times more that might be spoke, yet these false-ignorant, carnal and fleshly builders, those dirt-daubers, have at all times taken upon them with all boldness, without any blushing, to affirm their wooden, dirty, filthy building, to be God's House, and their rotten straw and stubble to be the work and building of Christ, boasting and crying out of themselves, by way of self-justifying, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, Jer. 7. 4. where, to their eternal reproof, the Prophet to their very faces, saith plainly, notwithstanding all their vain confidence, The Temple of the Lord, Are these such as truly amend their ways and their doings; such as truly and throughly execute judgement between man and his neighbour; such as oppress not strangers, nor the fatherless, nor widow, nor shed innocent blood, nor walk after other gods? vers. 5. & 6. And as these false Christians, robbers and oppressors take upon them my Names and Titles; so also, they assume my authority and peculiar privileges, to excommunicate me, and cast me out with these holy words in their mouths, Let the Lord be glorified, Isa. 56. 5. but he shall appear to my joy, and then they shall be ashamed, this hath been always the bitter cup they have made me and mine to drink in anger and great cruelty, but patience hath ever assisted us, and enabled us to endure a thousand such injuries: They say I am a widow, desolate and forsaken, and lay the contempt of barrenness upon me, but that word of life supports us, In patience possess your souls; and again, rejoice thou barren that bearest not, break forth into singing thou that travelest not, for the desolate hath many more children than she that hath an husband, Gal. 4. 27. Isa. 54. 1.  
Now what have you said more for your Church and members thereof, than the Papists can say for themselves, or any other Antichristian Congregation, you call your members to an account of their conversion, as you call it; so much the Scribes and Pharisees can say, which compassed Sea and land to make a Proselyte, and in so doing, made him more the child of the devil than he was before, Mat. 23. 15. even worse by two degrees, a woeful act to return, and not to return to me, saith the Lord, Hos. 7. 16. Jer. 4. 1.  
Again, you say of yourselves, you have joined yourselves in Church-covenant and you have set up Christ's ordinances, and you have cast away all superstition and abomination, whereas the Saints and Church of God ascribe all to him, thou hast washed us, thou hast called us, thou hast sanctified us, thou hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests, &c. And for your covenant it is a mere human invention, and your people ordaining their Ministers both of the same nature of Popish unwritten verities, which as they are not to be found in the Scriptures, so labour to forget to practise, preach, or think of them any more for ever.  Heres. 
You esteem too meanly of us and our doctrine; what? will you dare to speak against the Church of Christ? take heed what you do; for we walk in a churchway, and communicate in the purity of all God's ordinances, as preaching, praying, fasting, baptism, breaking bread, and the like; and we have separated ourselves from all men's inventions, and unlawful Antichristian Assemblies.  Truth. 
You know there are such as say, and do not; the Whore of Rome doth make greater brags, than the virgin Spouse, and so did their predecessors before them, the Pharisees, yet all of both their boastings are but false and counterfeit, compared with the prayers, tears, fastings, communicatings, sacrifices, oblations, and worships of the Saints.  
And for your separation from other Christians, look to it, for except it be with such caution, which I perceive you know not of, it may prove as Achan's forbidden wedge of gold and Babylonish garment, destruction to yourselves; for the Pharisees who justified themselves, and condemned others, were your fore-teachers in this manner of separation; for they separated from Christ, and John the Baptist, calling our Lord a sinner, and his servant a devil, accounting them, nor any one of those penitent humble little ones, whom they had converted to the truth, worthy their company: witness the Pharises exception against that holy woman, whose tears and love testifies to the truth, where, and in what nation the gospel is preached to the world's end, for a memorial of her, Mark. 14. 9 compared with Luke 7. 39 and this way of separation, the Prophet from God's own mouth, calls an evil and wicked way to walk in, Isa. 65. 25. which people say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou, these, saith the Lord, are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day; for the truth is, in no case are trut believers to separate from other Christians in communion, but in such cases that they cannot communicate with them but they must sin with them, as it was with that Apostate and Idolatrous Church of Rome, who made such wicked and opposite laws to the truth, that a true Christian could not partake with them in any of the ordinances of God, but he must be defiled with their abominations, one way or other; for, they caused the earth, and them that dwell therein, to worship the beast, Rev. 13. 12. whom whosoever doth worship, shall never have rest, but shall be tormented with the wrath of God day and night for evermore, Rev. 14. 10. 11. in such cases as these the Scripture is clear, Come out of her my people, lest you partake of her sins, and be made partakers of her plagues, 2 Cor. 6. 17. Rev. 18. 4. And in this case did the Church of England separate from the Church of Rome, in which Church of England you now are in, whose laws, decrees, and ordinances are all against the abominations, errors and superstitions of Babylon, and all ordered and directed according to the rule of God's Word, by express words, or necessary consequence; and therefore your separation from us is groundless, and not warranted in the Scriptures: for consider how the rule of truth would direct you, and observe how it was with those that were effectually called by the ministry of John Baptist, and our Lord himself, and truly converted unto God from amongst the Jews, in such times, when those in the outward state of the Church were most corrupt; for, they preached for doctrine the commandments of men, nor would not receive the truth themselves, nor suffer such as would receive it, against which doctrine our Lord exhorts his hearers to take heed, and beware of the leven of the Pharisees, but never taught the Disciples to separate from the Church of the Jews, nor to enter into a formed covenant among themselves, as you do, but on the contrarary, he commanded them to continue hearers and doers; The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses chair or seat, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do, &c. Mat. 23. 2, 3. And himself, as his Disciples, continued still repairing to the Temple and Synagogue, and participated in the service and public worship of God, making no separation; for when our Lord gave his account to the high Priest of his Disciples and doctrine, Joh. 18. 19, 20. he saith, I ever taught in the Synagogue, and in the Temple, whither the Jews always resort, and in secret have I said nothing. And for the Apostles practice in many Churches mentioned in the Acts, both in Judea, and among the Gentiles, therein is no separation in your sense spoken of, although many things were reprovable, and admonished against, both in doctrine and practice; the truth is, the good seed in the field, are the Saints, the Church of Christ, the tares the wicked, but both must grow together in the same field, till the harvest, Matth. 13. 30. As the lily grows amongst the thorns, so the chaff lies in the same floor with the wheat, the Goats feed in the same pasture with the sheep, and the crafty Wolves among the harmless lambs, and cannot be separated till our Lord comes to judge and part them, never again to participate afterwards together.  Heres. 
I pray hear me, all those that have already spoke are old, like their doctrine; and it is high time their errors should be thus discovered: but I pray take notice of me, for I have received a new clear light of heavenly doctrine, a light of free grace and justification in and by Christ from all eternity; so that the elect cannot properly be said at any time to be unrighteous, ungodly, or unholy: for they are justified before they believe, even before the foundations of the world, even than when God elected them.  Truth. 
Free grace rightly understood, as the Scriptures declare it, is a heavenly and comfortable Doctrine; but me thinks by your confession you should be an Antinomian, who speak very much of free grace, but do not at all understand it: for they say, the free grace of God towards his elect that are justified before the world was, is like unto the sunbeams in the morning when she rises, that enlightens the dark earth, in which there is no preparation to the enlightening; so the Lord shines into the hearts of his elected justified ones in the very time of their wickedest works of darkness: And then in the midst of their sins, as in the very acts of adultery and murder, even than God lifts up the light of his countenance upon them, and gives them peace, the effect of their justification with God from all eternity: These slight and contemn repentance, and call it a work of the Law; and the preparation to justifying faith, they call a munkish Popish doctrine: and their own fancy, or presumptuous conceit they call that justifying faith, or free grace, by which, say they, the justified before God, come to understand and know their justification from all eternity.  
Oh what a gross seducement and delusion is this, even a general mistake of the whole Gospel in every part of it! Therefore now I will first show you what free grace is, which the Scripture sets forth to us; And then show you how clearly and fully God's word declares the justifying the elect by faith in Jesus Christ.  
Now this is a written and a certain truth, that God loves his Israel, his chosen, freely, Hosea 14. 4, 5, 6. I will heal their backslidings, saith the Lord, I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel, he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his root as Lebanon. Also it is written, Ezek. 16. 6. When I saw thee polluted in thy own blood, I said unto thee, Live; when thou wast in thy blood, Live: yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live, and have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field. Observe how abundantly the free grace of God is manifested to his elect, that of themselves are quite contrary to deserving: for they are polluted with the most abominable pollution, and that is with blood, and not a little, but extremely in the third degree, blood three times repeated by the holy Ghost. And that this threefold uncleanness should be washed and made pure, and that this exceeding deadness should be made to live, and so to live as the bud of the field, to multiply and increase, and bring forth fruit unto God and man, even holy grapes to refresh the hearts of both; this shows the wonderful freeness of God's grace, so to love as there is none like it, nor to be compared to it.  
Now because you have spoken of this free grace in a fancy, I shall endeavour to show it you in reality. And that we may know the things that are freely given us of God, 1 Cor. 2. 12. that is, of his own will, free grace, and goodness, and eternal love; Let us consider it in these four particulars, which only and alone are peculiar to the Saints and Church of God, that is, their election and predestination before all times, their effectual calling and justification in time, and their eternal glorification for ever in the world to come; which world shall be endless, deathless, and sinless for evermore. And all these in all the causes, the free grace of God: And therefore it is said by S. Peter, that the Saints and Church of God, are elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, 1 Pet. 1. 2. And S. Paul saith, According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, Ephes. 1. 4. And the Apostle to the Church of Thessalonica testifies, that God had from the beginning chosen them to salvation, 2 Thess. 2. 13. so than it is clear, that the electare chosen in Christ to salvation: Which secret purpose and foreknowledge of God towards his elect before all time, is made good and effected in and upon his elect in all times, being called thereunto by the Gospel, vers. 15. Now the Gospel, as I touched before, consists of two parts, repentance and remission of sins, Luke 24. 47. which comprehends the two next particulars, our effectual calling by the work of repentance, and whose sins whosoever is remitted, that soul is justified in the Apostles meaning, and both these effected by the Gospel and covenant of life, and therefore called in Scripture, the grace of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Gospel of the grace of God, Acts 20. 24. the word of his grace, verse 32. the word speaking peace by Jesus Christ, Acts 1. the word of the Gospel, Acts 15. 7. And these two effects which the Spirit of God works by his word in his elect to life and salvation, are called in Scripture, regeneration, conversion, a renewing, a birth from above, a new making, and such like, not in a natural but a spiritual sense; not as the first birth of our parents, which procreated and produced us out of their bowels, but by way of similitude and likeness, that as by nature we are born carnal, unclean, and children of wrath; so by this spiritual birth we are born of God from above, holy, spiritual, free, even the sons of God, as the Scripture saith; for, as that which is of the flesh is flesh, so that which is of the spirit is spirit.  
Now, as by Adam came the offence, and by Moses came the Law, through which the offence abounded, Rom. 5. 19, 20. to man's greater misery; so grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, Joh. 1. 17. Adam was the author of sin to his posterity; Moses was the Minister of the Law that condemned that sin; but the grace and mercy of God, the means of salvation, both from sin and death, that is only by Jesus Christ, blessed for ever. Now the manner and order the Holy Ghost taketh in working this grace in the hearts of God's elect, is plainly laid down in Scripture, for him, that is, Christ, saith St. Peter, with the rest of the Apostles, hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince, and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins, Act. 5. 31. And these two parts of the Gospel, which is the free grace of God to mankind, are plainly and generally observed and preached by all the Prophets and Apostles, and our Lord himself; I will take from you, saith the Lord, your stony heart, and give you a heart of flesh; there's the first part, and in that new heart that I shall give you, saith the Lord, I will write my Law, that is, his Statute, and love, mercy, and forgiveness, even a new and holy Spirit, and that's the second part of the Gospel, Ezek. 11. 19 Chap. 26. 36. The baptism of John, that's the first, and the baptism of Christ, that's the second part, and both parts our Lord joins together, Joh. 3. 3. Except a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God, neither to mourn with the bridegroom's friends, nor rejoice with the Bridegroom himself; and for as much as these making parts of a Christian are not of ourselves, but both the gifts of God, it doth abundantly set forth unto us this excellent doctrine of God's free Grace, as the Apostle St. James saith, who of his own will begat us with the word of trub, Jam. 1. 18. And the grace of God, saith holy Titus, that bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men, and teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lnsts, &c. Tit. 2. 11, 12. Yea, it is God's free Grace and abundant compassionate goodness, to find out this new and living way to happiness through Christ Jesus; for he himself is the way, the truth and the life, and God so loved the world, that he gave his Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life, Joh. 3. 16. and none can so believe, but he that is regenerate, John 1. 12, 13. And the Lord is the spiritual bread, that every one must eat of that shall be saved, but none can so eat his flesh, and drink his blood, but by faith; and none can believe, but to whom it is given, and it is given to comfort none, but to the broken hearted, and none are made penitent and humble, thirsting and desiring Christians, but to such as God gives repentance; for this is the nature and method of this free Grace of God, which the Scriptures set forth to us, even that free Grace that Christ gives to him that is athirst, freely to drink of, Rev. 21. 7. he gives the thirst, and he freely gives the water of life, that so quenches, that whosoever drinketh, shall never thirst again, Joh. 7. 37, 38. And the Lord saith, Come and drink; but this coming is by repentance, and this drinking is by faith, Whosoever (saith the Lord) believeth in me, as the Scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of the water of life; yea, to set forth the excellency of this doctrine of free Grace, the Spirit of God takes upon him the office of a crier in a court of Records, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, come ye, buy and eat, yea, the third time he cries, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price, Isa. 55. 1. Hear now you Antinomians, if any of you have an ear to hear the wisdom of God in the truth of the free Grace purchased and preached by Jesus Christ, that it is not fantastical, as you have expressed it, but that real and substantial grace that gives being to the new and spiritual man, the very regeneration of the elect of God; and as they are born of the Spirit, so they are taught, led and guided, anointed and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, who dwelleth in none of the bodies of the elected ones, but where he hath wrought this heavenly work of grace there he dwells, there he witnesseth; there is but three that bear witness for God to the truth in the whole world; and the Apostle tells us, 1 Joh. 5. 8. it is the Spirit, that's the Spirit of God; water, that's his first work and beginning of regeneration; and blood, that's the finishing and accomplishing the new birth; the sanctifying, the binding up the broken heart by faith: wherefore blush and be ashamed of your blasphemy against the truth, in calling repentance a work of the Law, and the preparation to faith a Popish doctrine, and for ever hereafter take notice, that the way of Christ's free Grace is by water and blood, 1 Joh. 5. 6. And that repentance is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Mark. 1. 1, 2.  
Now I should have spoke of the fourth particular of free Grace which is glorification, but of that hereafter.  Heresy. 
I bear you witness you have a zeal, but it is not according to knowledge: for if you did understand that excellent doctrine of justification before believing, you would not speak so much of any preparation to justifying faith: for by Christ's stripes we are healed from the beginning of the world: And to prove this truth, I argue thus:  
First, all the elect of God are justified before God: but some of the elect of God do not yet believe: therefore some that do not believe, are justified before God.  
Secondly, he that is in Christ, is justified: But we must be in Christ before we can believe, therefore we must be justified before we can believe.  Truth. 
I answer, the due observation of terms is the true preservation of proprieties; and except you justly distinguish of the terms before God himself, and God's grace by which he doth justify his elect, you cannot understand truly, but you must confound heaven and earth together, and make God Man, and Man God, concluding such blasphemies as the Familists do, to whom hundreds of you are fallen within this two years; who affirm of the Trinity, that God the Father is the mind, the son is the Word, and the Spirit is the Word made known: And under these terms, mistaking the verity of the mystery of the Trinity, conclude such gross blasphemies as these conclusions hereafter specified, making God the Father the Mind, God the Son the Word of that mind, God the holy Spirit the effect or revelation of the Word. And as these are three, so they are one, as you say, so it is and was at first in the creation, God the Father was the Mind of God, God the Son was the Word of that Mind, and God the Spirit was the working, meaning, or manifestation of that Word; so that in that which God said, Let us make man; and, he spoke and the Heavens and the Earth was made, the Firmament, the Sun, Moon, and stars, the Sea and the Fish therein, the air and the Fowls therein, the Earth and the Beasts, Herbs, and Trees therein, as God spoke the word, and all these were created; so that as they were made by the Word, so they are the Word, and as the Word and the Father are one, and as the Father, the Word, and the revelation of it are one, so whatsoever the Word made, is one with the Father, the son, and the Spirit. And then the conclusion must be this, The whole creation is God himself. Now to avoid such blasphemous consequences, we will distinguish of the terms, and therein show the fallacy of your Arguments, and then I will discover and establish the truth against your doctrine, which by this means will easily appear to be false. First, for the term that concerns God, (justified before God, you say) which if you mean as it concerns God in his infiniteness, it is so far above our line, or the capacity of the elect in point of reconciliation with God, as the highest heavens are above the centre of the earth: for with God himself there is nothing before nor after: For the Scripture speaks thus of God in this respect, that he calleth those things that be not, as though they were, Rom. 4. 17. And again, one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, 2 Pet. 3. 8. Thus you see, God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways, saith the Lord; but as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are his ways and his thoughts higher than ours, Isai. 55. 8, 9 But when the Prophet comes to speak of God's work in the creature to salvation, than he speaks in the creatures language and capacity; so that except man obey the voice of God, he is left without excuse in these words: Seek the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near, let the wicked forsake his was, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord God, and he will have mercy upon him, and abundantly pardon, verse 6, 7. Thus as the Prophet, we must distinguish between God's eternal purpose and decree, which is a secret, & known to himself only towards his elect before all times, and his calling and justifying of them in time, which is the effect of his foreknowledge and predestination, and that which makes known to the elect, God's secret purpose. And although it be said, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? the Apostle there doth not understand the justification of the elect before time, as you do, but the justification of his elect in time called and justified. And although there can be nothing laid (to such an elect justified) to his condemnation, yet many things may be laid to his charge in regard of his weakness and frailty, If any brother be fallen through weakness, you that are spiritual, restore such a one by the spirit of meekness. Thus Nathan charged David, and David chargeth himself, Against thee only have I sinned. So our Lord chargeth his faithful servant Peter; and Paul withstood him to his face, and saith, He was to be blamed. And so that holy Apostle blameth himself also: Oh wretched man that I am, saith he. And the Scripture saith, There is not a righteous man that liveth, and doth good, and sinneth not. And again▪ If any man say he hath no sin, he deceiveth himself, and the truth is not in him. And the elect of God are renewed again (after sinning) by repentance, as the Church of Ephesus is admonished by Christ to repent and do her first works, Rev. 2. 5.  
And however the Saints do daily sin after justification, yet through God's grace they are recovered again daily by repentance, and maugre the malice and temptation of Satan, the snares of the world, and the concupiscence of their own natures; yet the Lord that loved them once, doth still love them for ever, and doth wash off their filthiness, and owns them so for his own, that neither their sins, nor any power, or any creature whatsoever, shall, or can condemn them.  
Secondly, you say, some of the elect of God do not believe, and therefore they are justified before they believe. I pray where did you find or learn this logic, which is so contrary to the wisdom of God, which teacheth thus, by Christ all that believe are justified from all things, Act. 13. 39 And again, those that he calleth he justifieth; but your doctrine saith they are justified before they are called; see in a word, how directly your preaching is against truth's doctrine. And of the same nature with your former is your second Argument, which runs thus: he that is in Christ is justified, but we must be in Christ before we can believe, therefore we must be justified before we believe: which in the very terms is another doctrine than St. Paul teacheth us, who saith plainly, we are justified by faith, Rom. 3. 28. And he justifieth the ungodly; but I question your knowledge of justifying faith, which if you did truly know, you durst not teach, that men are justified before they believe; it is true, he that is ingraffed into Christ, is justified, but it doth not follow therefore a man is justified before he believes: I will assuage the hardness of the question by the mildness of a comparison; that which acquits and frees a malefactor, is the sealed pardon of the King; so likewise that which comforts and assures the penitent heart of mercy and forgiveness, is the sealing witness which God's Spirit beareth to, or assureth the humble heart of the free Grace and love of God through Jesus Christ; so that justifying faith to the sorrowful sinner, is as the sealed pardon to the malefactor: and to this agrees the Scriptures, Acts 10. 43. To him (that is, to Jesus Christ) give all the prophet's witness, that through his Name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins; thus speaks God's Word, and not as you speak; so that it cannot truly be said, neither ought any dare so to preach that a man is justified before he believes, nor that he believes before he be justified, but that it is the same gift of God's Spirit at one and the same time, even then to believe our justification when he accepts us just in him that justifieth the ungodly; and as it is given by the Holy Ghost to believe, so it is continued, maintained and increased by the same Spirit as the other spiritual gifts, as hope, love, joy and patience are; and whosoever doth receive the Spirit of adoption, he hath with it the testimony of it, which is justifying faith; let us take heed we do not separate that which God hath joined together, for that is directly against the commandment, Matth. 9 6. Let no man put asunder that which God hath joined together: and in vain doth that man argue to prove which is first in the Sun, the heat or the light, so vain it is in you to argue, whether justification or faith be first; for when, or to whomsover God gives one, he gives them both, Rom. 3. 26. wherefore I retort your arguments thus:  
If God give remission of sins to the penitent elect, than the impenitent elect are not justified; but he gives remission of sins to the penitent elect, Acts 2. 38. therefore none of God's elect are justified before they are called, and their sins remitted; wherefore never hereafter teach your disciples that the elect of God are justified before they believe, but learn to teach them to repent, that their sins may be done away, as the Apostle teacheth, to life and salvation, Act. 3. 19 and so St. John saith of the Jews, they did not repent that they might believe; and consider our Lord's doctrine to Nicodemus, he tells him not of his election, although our Lord knew well that secret, but he preaches to him conversion; Except a man be borne again, he cannot see the kingdom of God, Joh. 3. Regeneration must be sought for by the elect, and by these effects and operations of the Holy Ghost, to make sure to themselves their election; this is God's way prescribed in his Word: And lest I fall into your error, as I have briefly disproved your doctrine, and discovered the falsehood and misty sophistry of your arguments; so now, by the help of God, I will lay down and confirm the truth itself, how the Scriptures do speak of justifying and believing, that so you may come to know that which hitherto I perceive you are very ignorant of. Wherefore thus saith the Scriptures concerning justification, We are justified freely by his grace, saith the Apostle, Rom. 3▪ 24. Titus 3. 11. likewise, that we are justified by his blood, that is, by the blood of Christ, Rom. 5. 9 and also, that we are justified by saith, Rom. 3. 28. so than these three terms are to be considered in our justification, the blood of Christ purchasing the grace and favour of God, and an assurance of it given to the lost, the dead, the broken, penitent, mourning heart, whereby, though it be dead, yet it is made to live, the broken is healed, the emptiness is filled, the thirstiness is quenched, comforted and refreshed with the favour and love of God, in and through Jesus Christ; justification then is the imputed righteousness of Christ, assured and made known to the elect by faith; and this doctrine is cleared by the Apostle beyond the least exception, speaking of holy Abraham's justification, and being fully assured, saith he, Rom. 4. 21, 24. that what God had promised, he was able to perform, therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness; Now it was not imputed for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe. Observe, first, that the Apostle affirmeth justifying faith a full assurance, for we shall have occasion by and by to make use of this: and secondly, that the righteousness of Christ, which is our justification, is not given to us but by faith, in these words, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe, so that justification and justifying faith, can no more be severed, parted or divided, than the light and the heat from the fire; and to this purpose St. Paul calls Christ the just one, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus, Rom. 3. 26. so that it is proved against all the Antinomians in the world, that then, and not before, when God justifies his elect, then, and at that time he gives justifying faith, Act. 13. 38, 39 And as I promised before, so I will here briefly show the divers acceptations and distinctions of faith, and three particulars do comprehend all other sorts and distinctions whatsoever; historical faith, to believe God's Word; the faith of miracles, by which it is given to a Saint, or a sinner to work this or that miracle; so also in the third place, the Scriptures speak of justifying faith, of which it is said we live by, we are comforted by, through which we are purified and justified, and this sort of faith is called in Scriptures, the faith of God, the faith of Jesus, the faith of Abraham, the faith of God's elect, the faith that worketh by love, the faith in the blood of Christ, the faith accounted for righteousness, the faith of the operation of God the most holy faith, and may be thus defined, that it is a full, firm, and certain trust or confidence, written by the power and Spirit of God in the low, humble, penitent, and broken-heart, whereby it is given assuredly to believe, that all his sins are forgiven; and thus he is made one with God by reconciliation and atonement in and through the eternal and everlasting love of Jesus Christ; the material cause of this justifying faith thus defined is a full, sure, and undoubted trust or confidence; the formal cause is the free grace and favour of God the Father, and of his son Jesus Christ; the efficient cause is the alone work of the holy Ghost; thereby imprinting in and assuring of the hearts of the elect of this confidence of this grace and mercy; the principal and final cause is the glory of God, and our Lord Jesus Christ; and the end subordinate is the salvation of the Saints, the chosen ones of God from the beginning of the world: And this is the faith that justifieth, that comforteth, that overcometh, that excelleth, whose dignity and excellency everywhere shineth throughout the Scriptures; the ignorance of which this very age, yea, I say it again, this very age of ours deserves all these present judgements, and more also then lie upon us at this time; we having had from God afforded us so great means to come to the knowledge of it: which sort of faith whosoever hath, shall never perish, but men may partake of both the other sorts to their condemnation.  
Other acceptations the term Faith hath in the Scriptures also, having reference sometimes to God himself, and therein importing the steadfastness and unchangeable truth of his decree and promise. And in other places it is to be understood of the doctrine of the Gospel; and so also of their faithful discharge of their office that are gifted to declare and preach the glad tidings of peace and salvation: Of which office it is hard for an Antinomian, holding such principles as he doth, to come to understand; wherefore repent in time, lest at last you turn all Familists, which you cannot avoid, if you continue in your principles.  Her. 
We have had the experience of this new found conceited light, that such as have been dazzled with it, have been staggered in the truth, and some have been so blinded therewithal, that they have fallen from the faith.  
But what say you to us? We have the doctrine of the Gospel pure and clear, we hold faith and repentance to be the first works to life and salvation; and that the Church of God are a company of holy believers, and that now the time is come, that the Church shall be delivered from all her sufferings, according to the testimony of the Prophets and Apostles; the purity of Christ's Ordinances shall be established, Christ shall be set up upon his Throne, and his Church shall have the rule and pre-eminence in the world in greater power, dignity, and external authority, than all the Monarchs that ever have been in the world before. And in this outward glory shall she continue till her Lord come to translate her.  Truth. 
You speak like those that maintain that the Church of Christ shall now so flourish and prosper, as that it shall extend its bounds and borders all Christendom over, and most part of the world besides, into a Monarchy; and as formerly the temporal power in Christianity hath had the rule and greatness, so now the ecclesiastical power shall take place, and the sceptre of Christ in the censure of the Church, shall be advanced and bear rule above all other government. And that now already it is begun that God makes the kingdoms of this world our Lords, and his Christ's, and that now it is come to pass, that the godly shall rule over the wicked: for now they are given to be captives to God's people, whose captives God's people were before this time. Wherefore I answer, Great are the privileges and prerogatives that the Scriptures speak of God's Church and people in the world to come after the resurrection, is plain and evident in holy Writ; but to apply those prophecies and promises to the Church in this present evil world, it is not well considered of you: for the Lord by his servants, speaks of his Church in a double consideration, as oppressed, afflected, and suffering here in this life, and as delivered, perfected and saved in the life to come; then to rule, but here to suffer; then to be advanced into Christ's Throne, but now, and here, to submit to the cross; now his house is a house of mourning, but than it shall be a palace of glory, Jerusalem the city of the great King shall be set up the praise of the whole earth. And in regard of his Churches present suffering, her Lord himself thus speaketh to her, fear not little flock; and comforts her with the grace and favour of God for the time to come in these words: For it is your father's pleasure to give you a Kingdom. And it is a truth concluded of by all, if we follow Christ in the estate of regeneration, we shall be made partakers of his glorification; if we suffer with him, we shall reign with him; the one condition is here, the other hereafter; the one in this world, the other in the world to come. This is the testimony of our Lord and all his servants, Matth. 19 28. 2 Tim. 2. 12. And that short time, or while of suffering Saint Peter speaks of, is this present life; and the time of making such sufferers perfect, is the life to come, 1 Pet. 5. 10. agreeing with his brother Paul, who according to the wisdom of God given to him, had cast up his accounts in these words, I reckon, saith he, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Even then, saith S. John, when Christ which is our life shall appear, then shall we appear with him; then shall we be like him in his dignity, as in this life we are like him in his ignominy, 1 John 3. 2. And (friend) look into the Scriptures, and you shall find the Church, the blessed assembly described now to suffer, to mourn, to be hated, to weep, to be persecuted for righteousness sake, and the contrary estate to be none of God's Church or inheritance; Woe be to ye that laugh and rejoice, that are full, and enjoy greatness and prosperity; those that are rich here, have received their consolation; those that are full in this life, shall hunger in the life to come; those that are merry, laugh and want not here, shall weep and wail when the day of redemption comes: then shall be fulfilled to him that suffers not here, these words, Thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things: and to him that suffered here, these words, He his evil things; therefore thou that suffered'st not, art tormented: but thou that didst suffer, thou art comforted, Matth. 5. Luke 6. and Luke 16. When Gods suffering people shall be rewarded, than such as have enjoyed their prosperity here, shall be condemned. I beseech you, as you love the truth, decline this doctrine of yours: for by it you do revive again that old tenant of Popery. For what ever you affirm in your confession, they have maintained it with fire and sword, execration and excommunication: for they would prove, that their Church by Christ's appointment, was to have supreme authority, power, and jurisdiction over all, they place themselves above the stars of God. And as in power, so in title, he must be called and styled, the Lord God the Pope. And so he challenged worship also, that Kings and Emperors must kiss his stinking feet and toes, in token of their slavish subjection in honouring him with the power of heaven and earth, to kill & make alive, to pardon and retain sins, falsely proving this his abomination and whorish power, from God's divine Oracles in these words, To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishment upon the people, to bind their Kings with chains, and their Nobles with fetters of iron. This honour have all the Saints, Psa. 149, 8, 9 avouching this Scripture to be fulfilled in the holy Church of Rome, and that they were the Saints which by this prophecy were foretold of to depose and disthrone Kings: and to cloak & colour their covetousness, which set all their tricks a-work, as Bulls and Pardons, at all rates and prices, whereby their coffers were filled with gold and silver from all countries and people. And this he affirmed was prophesied for his filthy holiness, maintenance and ungodly revenue in these words, The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles, shall bring presents, the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts, yea all Kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him, Psal. 72. 10. And notwithstanding their gross abusing the Scriptures, and false claims to Titles, as Holy Father, and holy Mother the Church, time hath now proved him to be Antichrist, the Man of sin, and capital enemy to the truth of God. And indeed this conceit that the Church of God should enjoy temporal peace, and outward glory and authority, hath been always the opinion of carnal Christians, and the Jews to this day cannot see otherwise then when their still looked-for Messiah should come, that then they shall be gathered to be a great people again, and made a worldly Monarchy to rule over all Nations, as now all Nations rule over them: But their groundless hope will prove but as the spider's web, and so it will be with all others of their mind: for see how the Scripture resolves the question, that the Saints▪ the Church of God, shall still suffer to the world's end, the question is made with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth? And the answer from heaven saith, that they should rest yet a little season, until their fellow servants also, and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled, Rev. 6. 10. And the clad and washed with the righteousness of Christ, and the blood of the Lamb, are those that go through great tribulations, Rev. 7. 13, 14. Finally, of this doctrine we have a double witness, two brethren and Apostles, whose praise is in all the Churches, Acts 14. 22. who both as one man conclude this truth as a Decree for ever, That such as continue in the faith, must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom of God: which kingdom is that which all the Prophets and Apostles in all times have spoken of, which in its due place I shall briefly unfold.  Heresy. 
I pray you give us leave to speak: Have we not clear Scripture for the glorious reign of Christ upon the earth; and that all the Martyrs and holy Prophets shall rise from the dead, and reign with Christ a thousand years in all prosperity, peace, riches, plenty, wealth, and glory, with such supreme power and Majesty, as never any Monarch in this world had before, nor ever shall have after? for when the thousand years are expired, than comes the general resurrection, Rev. 20.  Truth. 
Your confession shows you to be a Millenarian, which error as it hath been ancient, so of late, as of many other errors, there is a reviving of this amongst the rest. And as you say, the sum of it is, that now, or they know not when, Christ shall descend personally from heaven, and then cause all the bodies of the Saints that have suffered martyrdom from the beginning of the world, to be raised, and Christ and his Saints to live in this cursed earth, and corruptible world, in the enjoyment of riches, wealth, power and authority, majesty and Emporality, as no heathen nor Christian Monarchy ever had in this world before; and you ground your mistake on Rev. 20. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.  
Now I answer, that the whole position is directly against the Scripture you allege, rightly understood: for the Apostle Peter affirmeth it plainly, that the heavens must contain and receive Christ personally, until the time of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began, Acts 2. 21. Here are such witnesses as cannot be excepted against, even all his holy Prophets, and then, and not sooner, shall the Lord Jesus come, which before was preached unto you, verse 20.  
And the place you instance, Rev. 20. proves no more the Millenary fancy, as you describe it, than it proves a new world in the Moon; or that men may plow the floods of the Sea to sow and plant on them. And because the true understanding of that Scripture will overthrow this error at once, we will show you that the resurrection there spoken of, is the spiritual and first resurrection which our Saviour Christ clearly lays down both in nature and order, John 5. 25. And because it is a mystery, therefore his expression is more than ordinary, Verily, verily, (twice affirming it) I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God, and they that hear it shall live. This is the spiritual resurrection from sin, through the grace of regeneration: and these are they only that live and reign with Christ, having sought and gained the kingdom of heaven, and the righteousness thereof, Matth. 6. 33. And those only that are risen with Christ through regeneration, are born of God, and those that are born of God through faith, are victors, and overcome all opposition, even the whole world, and the Prince and King thereof, 1 John 5. 4. and in this sense they reign with Christ in their estate of temptation and regeneration, who in their tears and sorrow are happy in the enjoyment of their Comforter, who anointeth them with the unction of truth, and teacheth and instructeth them so sufficiently, that all the powers and thrones of Antichrist, the subtleties, crafts and deceits of him and all his learned Clerks, who have endeavoured and used all means possible to cozen and cheat the people of God, for almost the space of this thousand two hundred and forty years here expressed by the Millenary number only, because it shall not exceed more thousands then one; in which cloudy and dark day the holy Ghost hath so led and guided the sons of truth, that all the Jugglers at Rome and Babylon, could not make them to mistake the mark of the Beast for the mark of the Lamb, nor to worship the Beast and his image in stead of the Lord and his Christ; yea, rather than they would defile themselves with the adultery of the Whore, they would die a thousand deaths: for so saith the Text, they lost their lives and their heads for the witness of Jesus, & for the pure worship of God contained in his word, Rev. 20. 4. and in this spiritual sense they lived and reigned with Christ the whole time meant by the thousand years.  
And lest the inconsiderate Reader should mistake this spiritual resurrection for a corporal, as the Millenarians do, the holy Ghost gives marks and bounds to his Disciples, as evident distinctions between the one and the other, in these words, marvel not at this, John 5. 28. for the hour is coming, (He doth not say as before, and now is) in which all that are in the graves, shall hear his voice; which all contains every one good and bad at the general resurrection: and therefore your doctrine is contrary to the truth the Scriptures hold out to us: for the Thrones, and they that sat upon them, which you expound to be Christ and his Saints, the holy Ghost discovers the quite contrary, even to be the power and authority of Antichrist himself, who had a Charter granted him of God, and under his own hand, for the whole time limited to desolate and consume the Saints, who for their sin's sake the Lord doth often give them up to the pleasure and rage of such heathenish murderers and persecutors for a season, to enter into the Sanctuary, and spoil the heritage of the Lord, Jerem. 9 16. Lam. 1. 10. And if you had but looked upon the Text with clean eyes, washed ●ith the water of repentance, and had learned the song of sorrow of the mourner, you would not have been so blear-eyed as to have taken the abomination forespoken of by Daniel the Prophet, to be the kingdom of Christ, that all God's servants witness to, and give testimony of: And that if it may be possible for you to apprehend the meaning of this Scripture, wash your eyes with tears, and wipe them with the love of the truth, and look upon the Text once again, and compare the 20▪ chapter verse 2. with the 12. chapter verse 3. and you shall see the same Dragon in the one place in the ethnic Heathenish power of the Roman Emperor, with all fierceness and unbridled cruelty, to havoc, destroy, and kill the Saints and children of God exercised in a tenfold persecution, to obliterate & wipe out of the earth the name of Christ, the woman his Spouse, and her first and primitive fruit, which was born to reign with Christ for ever; which power and authority the devil instigated, and stirred up with all their malice and hatred, as with a flood, caused as it were by the breach of the Sea, so that the wife of the Lord had no way to escape drowning and devouring, but to fly into the wilderness, there to preserve herself, and so many of her children as she had preserved from death, where she was assigned to stay an hour, a month, a day, and a year, Rev. 9 15.  
The same Dragon in the 20. Chapter you find to be bound; and yet in all and every day of his religation, to kill and destroy the Saints just as he did before, only differing in the manner: for now it is with a restraint, secretly and cunningly, by guile and craft, pretending Christianity, and taking on him the name of a Christian, and never the less devil than he was before, only a pretence makes the difference: for ever since the great battle that he fought, and lost the field; for Michael and his Angels prevailed then against the Drágon and his Angels; so that ever since all along Popery, the devil hath turned Christian; and herein by a bounded and restrained way, effected his enmity to the full, as he did before in the Heathens, in an open professed opposition to Christ and Christianity. And it is to be observed, that when the devil turned to be a Christian, than he put on Jupiter's coat upon Christ's back, and made the model and platform of Christian Religion, just after the fashion of the idol Gods of the Heathen; and like a Juggler and deceiver, plays the same game divers and several ways, sometimes amongst men, sometimes amongst the Angels of light, sometimes on horseback, sometimes on foot; he rides on a red horse with a great sword among the Heathens in the imperial persecution, and took outward peace from the primitive Christians, as well as from the earth itself. In the time of papacy, among carnal Christians, he rides on a pale horse; where the devilish Dragon his rider, is called death itself, and hell followed with him, Rev. 6. 4. 8. So then, let him have liberty & freedom, or bind and Restrain him, in all conditions he effecteth his work of envy, hatred and malice against the Church of God. Now there is one thing more in the Text, and when I have spoke a word or two of the meaning thereof, I hope than you will see this Scripture proves not your error. And thus it follows, After that he must be loosed a little season. And in the seventh verse, And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison; which words sound as if the devil should become the great red Dragon again after the reign of Antichrist, and fall to act his first part the second time, to deny the Lord Jesus whom all this while he hath confessed, and to set himself to do the utmost he can to oppose the very name of Christ and Christians; and in this sense doth the holy Ghost clearly expound these words in other Scriptures, as our Lord himself, Matth. 24. doth clearly describe and discover the whole time of Antichrists abomination and persecution, as Daniel did prophesy of it, which is the whole and every part and season of the bound and restrained condition of the Dragon before mentioned. And immediately, saith our Lord, after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, the Moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken, vers. 29▪ In all which terms our Lord speaks figuratively, and that another power after the end of Antichrists tyranny, shall arise and fulfil these sayings of his, which things were prophesied of before, by the Prophet Ezekiel, chap. 38. 2. & 39 1. and afterwards so understood by the Apostle John, Rev. 20. 8, 9, 10. which Gog and Magog Saint John understands to be the Kings of the East, and the whole world. Rev. 16. 12, 13, 14. where in a vision he saw the devil come out of the mouth of the Dragon, that is, he left the ethnic imperial power, and also the power of the Beast, and beastly Clergy, he will deceive by that false Prophet no longer; but as he left all his old instruments, so he goes on to make use of a new one, these spirits of Devils go forth unto the Kings of the earth, that is, they go unto them that are of the greatest power at this time, even the Kings of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty; which Kings of the East, and of the Earth, and of the whole World, cannot be understood of any but of him that writes himself God of Gods, and King of Kings, and Emperor of the Universe, the whole world, who giveth for his ensign the Moon, the very emblem of the world. Observe how the Holy Ghost hath deciphered him for his reign and residence, the East; for his religion, the earth earthly and sensual, even the idle fancy and corrupt deceit of Mahomet himself, mingled and composed of the parings, outside and offal of the profession of Christians, Jews and Heathens; and lastly, his unparalleled power and jurisdiction to be no less than the force and strength of the whole world. Now methinks the meaning of our Lord's words, doth agree with his servant John's; for by the term Sun, our Lord doth mean himself, the Sun of righteousness, the truth of the Gospel; and it must be a great power that must so oppose the doctrine of the Gospel in Christendom, as to turn our light, that is, the light of men into the darkness of Mahometism, and that that Egyptian darkness that hath overspread the greatest part of the world where the Turk hath dominion, should darken Christendom also, that is, the Land of Goshen, if the true light should thus be made dark, than the Moon that hath no light but from the Sun, shall not give her light in our saviour's words; and in his meaning also, men that are enlightened by him, as the Moon is by the Sun, shall not give their light; for how can they possibly, when Christ which is their light is darkened? and when the Sun and Moon thus fail, then must needs the Stars, whether Ministers or Professors, all such as are not the faithful indeed, shall fall from heaven to the earth, that is, from the truth to Mahometism; and in this great storm, the powers of Heaven, elect and faithful, from which condition it is impossible they should fall; yet saith the Text, these shall be shaken with the terrible storm, which compared with Rev. 6. 12. makes it more clear; for the Sun became as sackcloth of hair, saith the Apostle, and the Moon became as blood, and the Stars of heaven fell unto the earth; even as a figtree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken with a mighty wind; here the Apostle is clear in understanding the Stars to be not true born Christians, but untimely: and as St. Jude speaks and calls them, wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever, vers. 13. But blessed be God for ever, that hath bounded and limited this last and great storm (that shall fall upon his Church, so as the very powers thereof shall be shaken) with these comfortable words, immediately, quickly, it shall be over, it shall continue but a little season.  Heres. 
For the opinion of the Millenaries, the truth is, there is no show of ground for it in the Scriptures, but we have of late gathered ourselves into a Church communion and fellowship, and walk together in that order that Christ's Word holds out to us, finding in our practice the Scriptures true, that as Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant, so Christ as a son is faithful in his house, so that we order all things according to the Word, and advance Christ's Kingdom, his sceptre and Law in the purity, as the Scriptures do declare; believing also, that every congregation is independent, and that none but Christ hath power to command each congregation; and that none ought to be constrained, or in the least measure opposed or punished, as touching their consciences, but every man ought, and should live as the light of his conscience leads him.  Truth. 
By what you express, you should be an Independent, as some call you, and as some of your judgement call or term themselves, wherefore I demand of you all, that would have general liberty for every man's opinion, whom I mean by Independent, where you find it written in God's Word, that you should gather▪ or congregate yourselves in that manner as you do; you that have been Ministers, to leave your pastoral charges, and others, to forsake their fellow-member-ship in each Congregation, for as much as the Law of this Christian Church, as touching matters for public worship and meeting doth incorporate every Congregation or Parish, and of many members makes them but one body, and yet you from this body, schism and rent yourselves, and so of divers torn pieces, remnants and broken members, to patch up a body or congregation of your own invention, contrary to the public order, the Statute laws and ordinances of this Christian Church, and against the meaning of the holy Scriptures also; and when you yourselves have made a body of your own making, then to have peculiar privileges to do what you please with the consent of your members; and whatsoever you▪ shall do, to be beyond all power or magistracy whatsoever, to either question you or punish you, although by the rule of God's Word there be cause, and all that all of you have done yet, is but outward and external.  
Now, I demand if there be precept or precedent for any or all these things you do, if there be, then show it; if you can show none, for so I am sure you cannot, then how can you clear yourselves, but that your practice is of your own inventions? For, this is your doctrine, that those rules and orders which are prescribed by men, for the public worship and service of God, being not plainly expressed in God's Word, such laws and directions are Idolatry; and yet will you devise rules and order 〈◊〉 practise them yourselves of your own ordaining, for which you can bring no express word, nor true consequence. I pray see the conclusion; therefore your way of Religion is a will-worship, and therefore Idolatrous, and aggravated, because it is against the lawful demands of Christian authority. Here I would not be mistaken, by what I have said, to oppose the private spiritual communion of the Saints, according to the Apostles practice, and the Holy Ghosts direction, Hebr. 10. 25. But you say, this Text proves your churchway, Hebrews Chap. 3. Vers. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. the substance of which Scripture is this, that as Moses was faithful in all his house, as a servant, so Christ as a son, is faithful over his house; you making Moses his faithfulness to consist in those prescripts and rules he gave for the Temple▪ or Tabernacle in the form and structure, for Priests and their habits, for the time of incense, sacrifices, divine services in the Oracles and Ordinances of God, even all the external form and manner of God's public worship: and you say, that Christ's faithfulness in his house under the Gospel is not inferior to Moses under the Law in all external laws, rules and directions in every particular, for as much as Christ is the Son of his own house, and as Moses had a word for every thing, so Christ hath left a word for every thing.  
It is true, Moses is said to be faithful to make and do every thing according to the platform and pattern which he saw that was showed him in the Mount, and his work was to make a temporal resemblance of the eternal Tabernacle, which in a vision was showed him, and therefore he made the Tabernacle or moving Temple, and every particular that concerned the material things, both for substance and circumstance, which were all figures and shadows of that to come; and will you make that to come the Apostle speaks of outward material external things and circumstances, and the Church of Christ under the Gospel, answerable in outward material external things and circumstances prescribed to the Jews by the Law of Moses? then you must have a word for the form and matter of Churches or houses of meeting, a word to direct us, who, and how shall be Ministers, who for what sort of men, and how they shall be ordained, and a word for the bells for calling the congregation together; a word for the Ministers actions in the administration of all holy services; a rule for dismissing the assembly with a blessing; a word for children's baptism, as for circumcision; a word for the time & matter of the Lord's Supper, as which of all grapes for wine, and which of all grains for bread; and for the manner and gesture for communication, as for the Passeover, and the several other circumstances about God's public worship, which Moses by a plain word prescribed to the people. Now, if Christ by himself, or his Apostles, have left no such particular word or direction for the external manner of his Churches, public services and order, as before are expressed, then by your argument, Christ the Lord is not so faithful as Moses the servant, which is blasphemy in any one so to speak. Wherefore it appears plainly you do not understand the Apostles meaning; And that you may consider the Text, look again, and it will teach you, which saith, this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, in as much as he who hath builded the house, hath more honour than the house; and again, Christ is faithful, as a son over his own house, to purchase and redeem, to call, to make, to bless, to sanctify and save it eternally; and this spiritual house, this heavenly Tabernacle is that which the Apostle proves Christ to exceed Moses in even in the substance itself, which all Moses work did but witness to, and figure forth, and therefore the Apostle makes the son's house to be the Saints, the called and justified of God, whose house are we, &c. that is, all Gods elect regenerated ones; wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To day, saith he, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, that is, repent, that your sins may be done away, this is Christ's way and method to build his House, his Church, to make them spiritual by regeneration, and of these spiritual sons to build his everlasting Tabernacle; and thus Christ the Lord, the Son, the great Master-builder, is the high Priest and Minister of the holy sanctuary, the true Tabernacle which God doth build or pitch, and not man, Heb. 8. 2. and in this sense everywhere doth the Holy Ghost understand the son's House, or Church of Christ; the Temple of God is holy, saith the Apostle, which Temple ye are, 1 Cor. 3. 17. and again, ye are the Temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God and not of man, 1 Cor. 6. 19 and in the 20th verse, that it is the purchase of Christ's blood, and the faithfulness of the son of the House; and again, saith he, Christ loveth the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might wash it and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Ephes. 5. 25, 26. this is the body, that is of Christ, which the whole ceremonial law of Moses were but shadows of; and the faithfulness of Christ in his house consisting of such spiritual substances, as hath been before described, take heed how you affect outward external forms, rules and order; for we find in Scripture, that such as have been of your mind, to promote and advance, resting and glorying in the outward observation and common things of the Church, that they have been the worst of Christians and the persecutors of the Saints▪ wherefore take heed of popularity and external dignity, for the outward state of the Church of the Jews killed the prophets, and stoned them that were sent unto them, and yet their outward state was of God's ordinance, and yours of your own inventions, like the case of the Scribes and Pharisees in our Saviour Christ's time, whose fair speeches, pretences and colourable shows, were high in esteem amongst men, yet an abomination before the Lord, Luke 16. 15. And the Prophet Jeremiah saith, the Pastors that should have gathered and fed Christ's sheep, did destroy and scatter the sheep of God's pasture, and tread down the faithful like the dirt of the street, Isa. 51. 23. prophecy against the Shepherds, saith the Lord to the Prophet, Son of man, prophesy against the Shepherds of Israel, and say unto them, woe be to the Shepherds of Israel, who feed themselves, and not the flock, &c. the diseased have they not strengthened, neither have they healed that which was sick, neither have they bound up that which was broken, nor brought that which was driven away, nor sought that which was lost, but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them, Ezek. 34. 2, 3, 4. How many of you Independents is there, that deny the food of life to the Lambs of Christ? and will neither preach to them the Word, nor deliver to them the Sacraments, except they submit to your devised fancied covenant, and yield to such a confession of your own devising, or else to be excluded your Church and communion in God's ordinances, which God himself freely offers to all that receive the common faith? this new Independency is but old Popery, who laid as fair claims to the name Riches and treasury of Christ's Church as you can do, by what ever I have found published by any of your leaders, and your human church constitution, no better than that of Babylon: wherefore omit not to procure oil for your Lamps while the market lasteth, lest your endeavour be too late, when you cannot purchase it.  
You that talk so much of God's Word, and understand so little of it, I pray you tell me where the name that most of you call yourselves by is to be found in the Scriptures; I am sure the term Independency is not once mentioned in all the Churches of the Saints; yea, of and by them the quite contrary is affirmed: For, saith the Apostle, the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee, nor again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you: for as the body is one, and hath in my members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body▪ so is Christ, 1 Cor. 12. 21. and again, by one Spirit we are baptised into one body, vers. 12, 13. that is, the whole Church, whether we be Jews or Gentiles; So then to follow the Apostles argument, if there can be no Independency of the members of, or in one body, than no particular Congregation or Church can be independent from the rest; and the reason is beyond answering, because all particular Churches make but one, which is the body of Christ; and this is the Apostles inference, and so also is Christ, vers. 5. so we being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another; so then see the membership and churchway of God's Church in a spiritual and supernatural respect, and not in a human voluntary covenant, of which the Scripture saith, they confederate, but not by me, saith the Lord, therefore acknowledge not a confederacy to all them, to whom this people (saith the Lord) shall say a confederacy, Isa. 8. 12. For the confederacy or people convenanted together by God, the Apostle calls all the suffering Saints, these are the body of Christ (in these words) for his body sake which is his Church, Col. 1 24. Wherefore now see in a word, how by mistaking God's Word, you mistake the Scriptures, and the meaning of Christ's faithfulness in his house as a son, in comparison of Moses faithfulness as a servant.  Heresy. 
In this his saying, he reproaches us all, for his speech against the external and outward gathering of Churches, whether Authority allow of it or no, is against us all in particular; for we all agree in that, and in the freedom and liberty of our consciences without question, or any control of any power, authority or magistracy whatsoever.  Truth. 
Indeed this is the doctrine you all teach and cry out for with one voice or consent, for which cause I termed you all at first, all one enemy bound together which the new-found common With of Independency, which under a fair pretence, as under the pleasant object of green grass lies the Snake or Serpent, to destroy the very truth of God; and how ever you endeavour to bind Samson, the holy child of God, as Dalilah the Harlot did, yet the With of your own invention, which you call Independency, can the child and mother of Truth break in sunder like a straw of Rye, and grass of the field, to be burned with fire, never again to be reckoned amongst the matter of God's building; and that we may discover this straw and stubble more clearly, let us consider what you say, in that you all agree in the freedom and liberty of conscience, &c. whereby the term Conscience without due distinction, you put upon us most gross and absurd conclusions: For what do you say? in the general you all say as much for Popery, familism, Arianism, Arminianism, and all the rest of the Heresies in particular as for yourselves; Wherefore to clear the question by the rule of truth, note and observe, that the Scripture speaks of the term conscience in a manifold distinction: first, generally of two sorts, good and bad: secondly, apart, and of both particularly; and  
First, for the good, which is to be considered in a double respect; a strong conscience and a weak conscience, so distinguished, because some are strong through experience of the truth, and a great measure of knowledge, others through want thereof are weak, which weak conscience ought not to be forced, but born withal and supported, as 1 Thes. 5. 14. 1 Cor. 8. 7, 9, 10. 11. and chap. 9 22. both which consciences the Scripture calls good, pure, washed and purged, 1 Tim. 1. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 21. 2 Tim. 1. 3. Heb. 9 14. and 13. 18. Again, in the general sense, the bad or evil conscience, that ought not to be born with and supported, in no respect whatsoever, which conscience hath a twofold distinction also: for every man by nature, the elect as well as the reprobate, hath an evil conscience; and therefore the Apostle speaking in the person of the regenerate elect, Heb. 10. 22. saith thus; Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water, clearly showing hereby, that the consciences of the elect themselves are wicked and evil by nature, before regeneration.  
And in the second place, the Apostle to Timothy, and to the Church of Thessalonica, speaks of a higher degree of an evil conscience, even of such as had known the truth, and yet had not received the love of the truth; for which cause God sends such strong delusions, that they should believe lies, 2 Thes. 2. And as such do not love the truth, so they depart from the true faith, and in stead thereof, give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of Devils, speaking and preaching lies in hypocrisy; having their consciences seared with a hot iron, 1 Tim. 4. 1, 2. And the Spirit of God speaks expressly of the latter times, in which last days of the world we now live in, which days and times we by experience find to be perilous and dangerous, and by reason of the crafty, cunning, devilish doctrines that are invented and sown amongst us, that we find our Lord's words true, If it were possible they should deceive the very elect; for under fair speeches and religious pretences, they broach and sow dangerous doctrines: one cries out for Popery, and all the abominations thereof; another with his pretended new light, doth even darken the true light of men; others say the Spirit of adoption is in all men, a shining and burning light in the regenerate, and in the natural obscured and covered over with corruptions, as the fire is raked up in ashes; others say, a man hath no more soul than a horse, and that the resurrection shall be alike between men and beasts; others say there is neither Angel nor Spirit, neither heaven nor hell, neither resurrection nor perfection; others say they are Christ, the prophesied Messiah; others affirm of themselves they are the two Witnesses, the two Olive-trees, the two Prophets, and the two Candlesticks; others blasphemously say, that our Lord Jesus Christ was a deceiver, and so was the Apostles; they also speak sleighly of the Scriptures, and say of themselves, that they can write as good scripture as any of those we have; others are mere Atheists, and say all things come by nature, and that they know not, nor hope for any better condition than the present, and will say these words, and such like; Let us eat and drink, and be merry, for to morrow we shall die: these, and a thousand such blasphemies are maintained amongst us, and will every one of them plead, it is their conscience so to believe, which by your doctrine, should all be suffered without opposition and punishment; for shame never plead any longer for Baal, but search the Scriptures, the Word of God, and it will teach you, that the mouths of such heretics and blasphemers must be stopped, 1 Tim. 1. 11. and St. Paul is as express in this point, I would they were cut off that trouble you, Gal. 5. 12. I pray do not the forenamed false and lying spirits preach another Gospel, another God, another Christ, and so fall within that rule of Moses, Deut. 13. 5. that Prophet and that dreamer of dreams, that persuadeth from our true God to a false, shall be put to death, according to that holy prophet's commission, Ezra 7. 26. that whosoever would not do the Law of God, and the King, execution shall be made upon them, whether unto death, or unto banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. Oh remember God's own hand against such blasphemous gainsayers, and withstanders of God and man, Numb. 6. the earth opened its mouth and buried them alive, their tents, wives, children, cattle, and all that pertained to them, Wherefore give unto God the things that are God's, and to Cesar the things that are Caesar's, do not build Babel again, under pretence of conscience; and learn this truth, that you must needs be subject to all lawful rules, laws and orders, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake, Rom. 13. 5.  
Now for as much as upon true trial all of you of all sorts that are not born of God, are plainly proved to be none of God's house, none of Christ's Church, nor the Temple of the Holy Ghost; therefore, that she may more apparently appear to your understanding, I shall endeavour to make a brief description of her & her children. The Scripture speaks of her sometimes by the name of a man, and sometimes under the name and appellation of a woman: and at other times, in the Neuter gender, either he or she, in these words, They overcame him with the blood of the Lamb, &c. They loved not their lives unto the death; he said unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, &c. and abundance the like Scriptures, by which terms, either sex is to be understood: now where the Scriptures set forth unto us the Saints and Church of Christ in the Feminine gender, under the name and title of a woman, than it notes unto us her fruitfulness, in bringing forth unto God, as well as unto men. Jerusalem from above is the mother of us all, Gal. 4. 26. Of us all, that is, of all those that are born of God, which birth is spiritual and heavenly, as before hath been showed; and in this sense she brings forth fruit unto God also, Rom. 7. 4. And to men, God's elected servants, she is a nursing mother, with bowels of compassion, she hath two breasts full of sincere milk for her little ones that are young; and for her strong and elder children, she hath stronger meat, she killeth for them her beasts; she hath wine and bread, she furnishes her table, Prov. 9 with a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, Isa. 25. 6. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and they that turn souls unto God are wise, Prov. 11. 30. The children of this woman are the children of wisdom our Lord speaks of, who only are they that can testify to the truth, These are the wise that shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and these are they that turn many unto righteousness, who shall be hereafter as glorious as the stars for ever and ever; this is she whom God calls Zion and Jerusalem, that bringeth glad tidings, even the joyful voice, the people in whose heart is God's Law, and covenant of life for ever, in and by them preserved; for they are the keepers of his truth, and as they know the truth, so they preach it and declare it; it is a fountain in them, Out of their bellies do flow rivers of water of life: so also it is a store-house, a magazine of the Lord's provision, abundance, a plenty of things, old and new; this good man, out of the treasury of his good heart, bringeth forth that which is good; this householder is the Scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, who bringeth forth of his treasury things new and old; their fountain is their own and not another's; it is only this spiritual and heavenly woman, the Church of Christ, who unfoldeth and maketh known to the world the manifold wisdom of God, Eph. 3. 10. which woman sometimes, according to the grace given her, is called a holy woman, a pure, undefiled, chaste virgin; behold, these are my mother, saith the Lord himself: and sometimes gloriously described; there appeared in heaven, saith St. John, a great wonder, a woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars, great with child, travelling in birth with pain ready to be delivered, Rev. 12. 1, 2. Observe, this woman is continually fruitful, still increasing, still big, travelling and bringing forth unto God; and as she is thus glorious in regard of her graces, so in regard of her sorrows and sufferings, she is called a barren woman, by such harlots as call themselves the wife of Christ, who not knowing the low, the spiritual, the humble penitent poor condition of the true Spouse, despise her, hate and contemn her, as Hagar the bond-manid did her Mistress Sarah, the freewoman, and report of her that is the Lord's love and delight, as desolate and forsaken of her husband, even a despicable and forlorn widow, and shall so be accounted of all that are filthy, till her sufferings are ended, even as the offscouring of the earth. This holy Church of Christ, is also described unto us in the Scripture, under the Masculine appellation, a man, the first-born, a manchild; Israel, saith the Lord by the Prophet, is my first-born, Deut. 4. 23. Let my son go, saith the Lord; for Israel is my son, my first-born, vers. 22. I am a father to Israel, saith the Lord, and Ephraim is my first-born, Jer. 31. 9 where by Israel and Ephraim, God means his faithful chosen people, his Church: so the first and primitive fruit of the Church, under the Gospel, is called a manchild, Rev. 12. 5. And she brought forth a manchild, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Now this name or appellation of the Church, notes out unto us two things: First, the honour and dignity of the Church, that although now in this life they suffer, and go by the worst of all carnal and outward Christians, yet in the time to come, they shall receive the selfsame honour which to their Lord alone, and in chief belongeth: And as they shall have the same honour with their Lord, Mat. 19 Rev. 2. so the Lord is pleased to be called by their title also, Psal. 89. 27. I will make him my first-born, higher than the Kings of the earth; and then he speaks of his Church, vers. 29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven, where he will place his Church with himself for evermore, Mat. 9 28. Rev. 2. 27. with him in his throne; yea, in his own throne. In the second place, this Masculine title notes out unto us the birthright and inheritance that by right belongs unto the Church of God; that as the first-born manchild is the heir apparent, both by Scripture and nature, so the Lord's first-born is the apparent heir of the purchased inheritance: and to this truth doth the Apostle witness in these words, Rom. 8. 17. If children, than heirs, heirs with God, and joint heirs with Christ, heirs of salvation, Heb. 1. 14. Heirs according to the promise, Gal. 3. 29. Heirs according to the hope of eternal life, Tit. 3. 7. Heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him, James 2. 5. Oh how sweet and comfortable are the words! I could always be mindful of them; yea, of this word, heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised, &c. which now calls me to mind of my promise at first, to describe in its due place, the stone that was cut out without hands, which smote the Image upon his feet, which became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth, &c.  
This term Mountain, in the Scriptures, sets forth unto us, often literally, the hills, or highest parts of the earth, but figuratively the greatest powers that are in this world, or that to come; and sometimes by mountain we are to understand, such carnal and natural men as have high thoughts, and great esteem of themselves; and therefore as it is prophesied of John the Baptist, Isa. 40. 3, 4. so it was fulfilled by him, Luke 3. 4. who by the great gifts given him of God to work repentance, whereby he prepared the Lord's way, and turned the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; and of the operation of his ministry, it is said, Every mountain and hill was brought low, &c. meaning, that the hearts of disobedient natural men were made penitent, and their high thoughts humbled. Also by the term mountain we are to understand, all those great powers, dignities and authorities that have risen up, and born sway in this world, ever since the creation thereof, and amongst the rest, those Monarchies, especially at the beginning of our Discourse, particularly named, and with them, all nations and Religions, Papists, and others, as well Christians as Pagans, that have at all times hated, persecuted and destroyed the Saints, the Church of Christ; and with this truth, the Prophet Jeremiah was well acquainted, in saying, in the name of the Lord, that he would render unto Babylon, and all the inhabitants of Chaldea, all their evil that they had done to Zion; Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyedst all the earth, &c. Jer. 51. 24, 25. and again, Who art thou, O great mountain, thou shalt be made a plain, Zac. 4▪ 7. And for this cause, even for the great oppression of his servants and people, will the Lord shortly go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war, he shall cry, yea roar; he shall prevail against his enemies mightily; and although he have been long silent and held his peace, and restrained himself all this world long, and hath suffered his own wife and little children to be afflicted with judgement from all the powers and authorities that have ruled in the earth, yet now it is near at hand, that he that shall come will come, and will not tarry, but will destroy and devour at once all the mountains and hills that have desolated his own little holy hill of Zion, Isa. 42. 13, 14, 15. Psal. 2. 6. And this holy hill of Zion, which David speaks of, is the small stone, cut out of the mountain without hands, that Daniel so long before saw in a Vision, which became so great a mountain, that it broke to pieces the gold, the silver, the brass, the iron, the clay, that no place was found for them for ever hereafter. Now the holy Scribe Ezra, is showed what the mountain cut out without hands is, 2 Ezr. 13. 35. that it is Zion, the Church of God, and her King, the Son of God, standing on the top of this mount Zion (a posture of Majesty, belonging only to a King,) and that this King should without sword, or lifting up his hand, or any instrument of war, destroy the multitudes that came out to fight against him with a blast of fire, sent out of his mouth, and out of his lips a flaming breath and sparkles, and tempest cast out with his tongue, vers. 10. and the torments are like to a flame, and their destruction shall be with the law, that is, like unto fire, v. 38. And the peaceable multitude are the ten Tribes, carried away by Salmaneser, king of Assyria; now both their carrying into captivity past long ago, and their return, which is not yet brought to pass, are a lively type of the Saints captivity, both of Jews and Gentiles, in the church's pressures and sufferings, and of their deliverance and salvation also; as likewise the set-time to be in the day of the Lord Jesus his coming and revealing, v. 28. to the 50. compared with 2 King. 17. And farther, it filled the whole earth, saith the Text, Dan. 2. 34. Observe the prophet's expression, that the holy mountain of the Lord at the first was seen to be a stone cut out without hands, which clearly deciphereth unto us, the true nature of the Church of Christ in her first and suffering condition, the ten Tribes captivity in their estate of regeneration, by which she is made a holy, living, spiritual stone-house, and so made or fashioned, not by man's hands, or any human power, as all the fleshly Synagogues of this world are, but cut out and made without hands, as that Tabernacle which God doth build, and not man, which is the true Church or Tabernacle, Heb. 8. 2. And as I have often touched before, continually all this life long suffers under those that are evil and malignant, truly so called: wherefore the Lord by the Prophet comforts this holy Church and mother of truth; for a moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee; in a little wrath have I hid my face from thee, for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer; And again, Oh thou afflicted and tossed with tempest; I will speak it again, ●ossed with tempest; here's a word that sets out the suffering of truth with her children to the full, even so tossed with the storm and tempest of affliction, as a ship is tossed with the roaring and raging waves of the seas; or as a ball is tossed and beaten up and down, both by hand and foot, Isa. 54. Now as the Prophet Daniel by the dream of the King did understand the day of small things concerning the church's condition in her estate of regeneration; so also he saw the great and glorious power and sovereignty, its dominion and magnitude, in its deliverance and perfection: and the stone that smote the Image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth; this is the mountain of God's holiness, even the greatest power and sovereign authority that ever was in the world before it. And the Text notes out unto us three things, the time when it shall be, the place where it shall be, and the manner how it shall be; the manner hath a double consideration, first, the beginning and weakness of this powerful kingdom, expressed as before I have declared in her spiritual estate of renovation or regeneration, in these words, a stone was cut out without hands; and in this first estate and condition of the Church, it is said to live and reign, to attain victory, and overcome, Rev. chap. 20. & 12. but this victory is by faith, this overcoming is by suffering, they overcame him, that is, the dragon's pagancy, by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death, and at this battle the armies were great on both sides, and the victory glorious on the Saints side, Rev. 12. 7. 11. In the second consideration, we are to understand the Church in her glory and perfection, and to as far exceed all the Monarchies, Kingdoms and Powers that were before it, as the body exceeds the shadow, the person the picture, the circumference the centre. The Babylonian Monarchy, the head of gold, was a great power, Thou, O King, saith the Prophet, art a King of kings, for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, strength, power and glory, and wheresoever the children of men dwell, beasts of the field, and fowls of the heaven hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all, yet all these bounds and dominations are but by way of comparison, to the universe, the heavens, earth and sea, which are the bounds of Christ's and his Church, rule and Lordship: Secondly, the nature and condition of the kingdoms of this world, and the power and greatness of Majesty that Christ's kingdom shall have in the world to come, differs beyond all comparison: For the kingdoms of this world are sinful kingdoms, powers and authorities; yea, this present evil world is corrupted, and lies under the cursed condition by reason of sin, and as long as this face of the covering is cast over all people, and this evil is spread over all nations, Isa. 25. 7. even so long death the King of fears the wages of that sin shall reign in it, according to the Scriptures, Gen. 3. 17. Rom. 5. 17, 21. 1 Cor. 15. but when the Lord shall set up his kingdom, he will create new heavens, and a new earth: Behold, saith he, I will do it, and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind: but be you glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; For, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy, Isa. 65. 17, 18. And the Apostle by the same Spirit of Prophecy, saith, that the heavens and the earth that are now, with all these things, shall be dissolved: And according to God's promise, we look (that is, all God's Saints) for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, 2 Pet. 3. And the Apostle John tells us, Rev. 21. what this new heaven, and new earth is, even the holy Church of God, the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and a voice out of heaven expounds it to him, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away: And again, saith the Lord, Behold, I make all things new, write, for these things are true and faithful.  
Once again observe the Prophet Daniel, in these words, and it became a great mountain, of which our Saviour gives the meaning in these words, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown (just as the Prophet [it became] so our Lord) it is the greatest among herbs, and became a tree, &c. both which places as one shows, that although the Church be now so little, that no man heeds or regards her, yet her increase shall be from the least of all seeds to a tree with branches, and from a small stone to a huge great mountain, even so big, as to fill the whole earth.  
Which magnitude, excellent glory, greatness, and sovereignty of the Church and kingdom of God, I shall in part discover, by considering these eight particulars: the King, the kingdom, the Throne, the sceptre, the laws, the privileges, the Officers, and the Subjects: And for the King thereof, thus saith the Prophet, notwithstanding all the rage and opposition of the Heathens, and the vain imaginations of the people, Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion, saith the Lord, Psal. 2. 1. 5. and the title of his Crown is the title of his Cross, This is the King of the Jews, Luke 23. 38. and himself testifying a good confession before Pilate, saith, Thou sayst I am a King: to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, Joh. 18. 37. Secondly, the Scriptures speak of the kingdom of Christ above all comparison, and calls it, the kingdom of the Son of God, and, that there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, &c. Dan. 7. 13, 14. Now the consideration of these four things will briefly discover to us, how this Church and kingdom of Christ exceeds all other powers or kingdoms whatsoever: First, in the Majesty of it: Secondly, in its excellency: Thirdly, in its universality; and Fourthly, in its eternity: The Majesty sets forth the magnitude and greatness of this kingdom, the King is great, and the Kingdom is great, Behold, saith the Angel to the Virgin, he shall be great, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, Luke 1. 32. 33. And the Prophet Daniel describes this greatness, and what this house of Jacob is, in these words, and the kingdom, and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions, rulers and powers, shall serve and obey him, Dan. 7. 27. The excellency is set forth by the glory, splendour and purity of it; and in this respect it is in Scripture called the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ, a kingdom of Priests, a kingdom of Saints, the kingdom of our God, the kingdom of glory, heavenly country, city, inheritance, possession, reward, all heavenly, all glorious, all holy, there shall be nothing to hurt nor destroy in my holy mountain, saith the Lord: the glory is expressed beyond the light of Sun and Moon in the firmament, or gold or precious jewels in the earth, there shall in no wise be any thing there that defileth, Rev. 21. 27. Thirdly, its universality sets forth the largeness of the dominion and unbounded limits of it; the Prophet David saith, Its dominion is from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth, I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession, there's the dominion; and in the next words, see the greatness of the power and authority, Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, and dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel, Psal. 2. 8, 9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall how before him, and his enemies shall lick the dust; yea, all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him, Psal. 72. 8, 9, 10. And therefore he is called the King of nations, for his universal jurisdiction; Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for greatness and power pertain to thee, Jer. 10. 6, 7. And Daniels witness is, that all people, nations and languages shall fear him, his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, Dan. 7. 14. which in the last place shows the eternity or perpetuity of the kingdom; and therefore the Apostle calls it, The everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. 1. 11. He shall reign, saith the angel, over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end, Luke 1. 33. And this glorious kingdom of Christ is often in Scripture termed a world without end: under these terms, everlasting life, everlasting kingdom, &c. The people of God, that formerly were, and now are refused, contemned, and cast off from the thoughts and estimations of others, shall then in that day be made a strong nation, and the Lord himself shall reign over them in mount Zion, from henceforth even for ever, saith the Prophet, Mic. 4. 7.  
The next and third particular to be considered, is the throne of the kingdom of Christ; And for that we have the angel's testimony also; And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, Luk. 1. 32. And again, Thy throne, O God, is a throne of righteousness, established for ever and ever, Psal. 45. 6. And again, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. And again, His seed will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven, Psal. 89. 4. ver. 29. And again the third time, His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the Sun before me, ver. 36.  
What moves the holy Prophet thus three times to make mention of the King, the throne, and thy seed, that is, God's children by regeneration, thus to sing and rejoice in the remembrance of them together, but for to show us this holy truth, that the Saints shall reign with their King, that the Saints shall judge the world? for this blessed comfort the Lord preaches to his children himself by his own mouth, Rev. 2. 26, 27. He that evercometh and keepeth my words unto the end, to him will I give power over the Nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, &c. And I will grant to him to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my father in his Throne, Chap. 3. 21. And thus taught he his blessed Apostles that followed him, in the regeneration, as St. Matthew saith, and had participated and continued with him in his sufferings and temptations, as Luke hath it, I appoint unto you a kingdom, saith our Lord, as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel, Mat. 19 28. Luke 22. 29, 30. yea, this honour have all the Saints, with the King in the King's Throne; Oh ye Saints, praise ye the Lord, Psal. 149. 9  
The fourth particular is the sceptre of this kingdom, and that the Holy Ghost calls a sceptre of righteousness, Heb. 1. 8. a sceptre of righteousness, or righteousnesses, that is, righteous in the purity and excellency of it, is the sceptre of thy kingdom; this is properly Shiloh's, the saviour's sceptre, Gen. 49. 10. Yet such is the King's grace to his servants, his seed, Church and people, that of this which in particular belongs to himself alone, even of this also doth he communicate to his little ones, his first-born, the heirs of salvation, not only to sit with him in his Throne, but also to rule with his sceptre: The woman's child which are the Saints, saith the Text, are to rule even as their Lord himself doth, all nations with a rod of iron, that is, with the sceptre of righteousness, Rev. 12. 5. And the Lord hath decreed for ever, that it shall be so, whosoever he be that overcometh, he will give him power and authority to sit with him in his Throne, to rule over all nations, with a rod of iron, and to break them as an earthen vessel is dashed to pieces with a bar of iron, Rev. 2. 26, 27. And as the King of glory doth place the Saints in his own throne, and gives them in particular the sway and rule of his own sceptre, so he honours them with his own crown also, called a Crown of life, a Crown of glory, a Crown of righteousness, and the like, they are all crowned, Rev. 4. 10. The crown is laid up for all that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ the King of Saints, 2 Tim. 4. 8.  
The fifth particular in discovering the greatness of Christ's glorious kingdom, are the laws and rules of this kingdom, for as the kingdom itself is new, and all things new in it, so are the laws also, A new commandment give I unto you, saith the King himself, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you love one another, Joh. 13. 34. Here's both the Precept and the precedent; this holy commandment was given unto them in their estate of regeneration, 2 Pet. 2. 21. and continues in them world without end, in glory and perfection, it is the law of the endless life; this law of love, it abideth for ever, charity never faileth, 1 Cor. 13. 8. most or all things else shall fail, Prophecy shall fail, tongues shall cease, knowledge it shall vanish away; all imperfect things shall terminate and come to an end, but this new commandment Love, endures for ever; Death is strong, for it hath and will kill all men made and created; and the grave, the issue of death is mighty, but love surmounts them all in the better sense, Cant. 8. 6. The sea of waters cannot quench it, nor all the floods, or overflowings of the Ocean cannot drown it; for the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame, and it contemns all manner of substance to purchase it, it is no way to be attained, but by the gift of God. I will put my laws in their inward parts, and write them in their hearts, saith the Lord, Jer. 31. 33. This glorious kingdom are all such as are made of God Kings and Priests; these are the Levites to whom God hath given the Law and Covenant of life to, this commandment of peace and salvation, Mal. 2. 4, 5, 6. which hath comforted his people here, and for ever doth guide and regulate them in the perfection, the glorious and everlasting kingdom of Christ hereafter. Which Law of God's kingdom is called in Scriptures, a holy law, a royal law, a law of life, a law of liberty, a perfect law, and such like, James 1. 25. Chap. 2. 8. 12.  
The sixt thing considerable, is the privileges of this kingdom of glory, which are so great and many, that I shall rather obscure then discover them, their privilege of power and authority is exceeding much, and abundantly set forth in the Scriptures; for when the Lord shall exalt Jerusalem, this his own kingdom, then shall the Lord break the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers, Isa. 14. 5. Behold, saith the Lord, I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews and are not, but do lie. Behold, (saith he the second time again to his Church) I will make them come to worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee, Rev. 3. 9 This is such a dignity and privilege as the Lord himself with a twofold word of audience affirmeth to take them captives, whose captives they were, and to rule over their oppressors, Isa. 14. 2. with the praises of God in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hands, to execute vengeance & punishment upon heathenish people, to bind their Kings with chains, & their Nobles with fetters of iron; this honour or privilege have all the Saints, Psal. 149. And so saith the Prophet, The sons of them that afflicted thee, shall come bending unto thee, and all that despised thee, shall how themselves down at the soles of thy feet, and they shall call thee the city of the Lord, the Zion of the holy One of Israel; whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, or delighted in thy company; I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations, Isa. 60. 14, 15. So also their privilege of freedom and liberty, doth set forth their glory; Jerusalem which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all, Gal. 4. 26. They are all freeborn, so begotten and born by the Word itself; for all the whole kingdom are children of the truth, and the truth it was that which made them free, Joh. 8. 32. Now the Word and the truth are the son, and those that the son makes free, are free indeed, ver. 36. and from all manner of bondage; free from sin, free from death, free from sorrow, free from the grave, free from corruption, free from oppression, free from suffering, enlarged and set at liberty for ever to enjoy immortality, these are the people that possess and enjoy the glorious liberty or freedom of the sons or children of God, Rom. 8. 21.  
Also the company and associates that are in this heavenly kingdom do exceedingly declare the glory of it, to have and enjoy the presence of God, of Christ, and the holy Ghost, the company of all the holy Angels, the company and society of all the holy patriarchs, Prophets, and Saints, with the comfortable delight and excellency of the restitution and perfection of all creatures, both in the heavens, the earth, and the sea, and all that is within them, as shall be showed hereafter, in the point of universal subjection. In God's presence, saith the Prophet, is fullness of joy, and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore, Psal. 16. 11. You, saith the Lord, speaking to his Saints, I appoint unto you a kingdom, and ye shall eat and drink with me at my table in my kingdom, Luk. 22. 30. And as the Angels are ministering spirits here in the Saints sufferings, Heb. 1. 7. so in the world to come with the presence of God we shall have the company & presence of the Angels about the throne, saith the text, Rev. 7. 11. And there shall we see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the holy Prophets in the kingdom of God, and have heavenly sweet society and company with them, Luk. 13. 28. Now as the privileges of the kingdom excel, so also its Officers exceed all others; I will, saith the Lord, make thy Officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness; violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting and destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise, Isa. 60. 18, 19 Then shall mercy and truth meet together, righteousness and peace shall kiss each other, Psal. 85. 10. And this is the seventh consideration; the eight followeth, which are the subjects of this great King and kingdom.  
And the Apostle is so general and universal in these, that he excepts none, neither in heaven, nor in earth, not sea, nor under the earth, even none that can be named, but God the Father only, that subdued all under his Sons feet, which is the King of this Kingdom; for so saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 15. 27. For he hath put all things under his feet; for when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted who did put all things under him: so than it is clear, that Angels and men, and all other creatures, are the subjects of this great kingdom; He hath put all things in subjection under his feet, saith the Apostle, Heb. 2. 8. And this is the prophet's witness; I have sworn by myself, saith the Lord, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall how, every tongue shall swear, Isa. 45. 23. And again, The nations and kingdoms that will not serve thee shall perish, yea those nations shall be utterly wasted, Chap. 60. 12. And of the Angels saith the Apostle, Let all the Angels of God worship him, Heb. 1. 6. And the Apostle expounds the Oath of the Lord for this universal subjection, and saith, It is written, as I live saith the Lord, every knee shall how to me, and every tongue shall confess to God, Rom. 14. 11. And again he saith, At the name of Jesus every knee shall how, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father, Phil. 2. 10, 11. And yet the holy Ghost is more particular, to prove that all things in all places are subject to Christ, Rev. 5. 13. And every creature, saith he, which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, saith John, heard I saying, Blessing, honour, glory and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the lamb for ever and ever. And the Prophet David, he foretold of this universal subjection of all creatures in the kingdom of Christ in the world to come, saith the Author to the Hebrews, and understood it in these words, admiring at it, What is man that thou art so mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him? thou hast made him a little lower than Angels; and the Apostle gives the reason of that, Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, thou hast made him to have dominion over the work of thy hands, thou hast put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, yea and the beasts of the field; the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea: which makes the Prophet fall into a wonderment; Oh God our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psal. 8. 4. Heb. 2. 6.  
Now I am come to the two last particulars, the time when this glorious kingdom of Christ shall be set up, and the place where it shall be continued for ever: the time was thus foreshowed to the Prophet David, that the time of Christ's Churches persecution, should not be till his second Appearing, in these words, When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory, Psal. 102. 16. And this time our Lord himself plainly teacheth us to be at the end of this world, and not before; which truth the Saints and people of God do fully and certainly believe, although a thousand false Prophets should arise and preach the contrary, under what show or pretence of learning and religion soever they make.  
The clear and plain Doctrine of our Lord is this, Mat. 13. 39, 40, 41. The harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the Angels, as therefore the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world, the son of man shall send forth his Angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom, all scandalous things, and all such as do offend them, or which do or work iniquity. And when the question is made by the servants to the householder, Whether the tares the envious man sowed among the good seed should be plucked up? The Master answers, Nay, let them both grow together till the harvest; and also giveth the reason, and showeth farther what shall be done then, and not before, both with the tares & wheat also, although many unwarily do affirm at this time amongst us the contrary, yet thus saith the Lord, (and therefore I would wish all the contrary minded to take notice of it) that at his glorious coming shall be the kingdom's deliverance, reign, and perfection, and not before; therefore saith her Lord and King, When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him, then shall be sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another, is a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats, and then he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left, and assign and put in possession the one to eternal bliss, but the other to a perditious eternal woeful cursed condition, even binding them into bundles to be burned; but the blessed to possess the Lord's own house and habitation for ever, Mat. 25. 31, 32. Chap. 13. 30.  
And because this truth hath exceedingly suffered of late, by the literal learned of this generation, who have befouled the beauty and purity of it, with their dark smoky & misty mistakes, under pretence of pleading for the Lamb and his wife; I shall therefore briefly discover the spiritual learning of the Apostles and Prophets mysterious expressions of this holy truth: the holy Apostle John in the Revelations speaks with the same wisdom, aid and guidance of the Spirit, as the Angel taught Daniel in the same mysteries, and their very expressions in many things are alike, but more opened and revealed by the Apostle, then by the Prophet; they both agree in the computation of the time, though one writ long before the other, and each differing in the rule of reckoning, as the manners of the countries in which they lived; the one living among the Chaldeans, the other among the Hebrews; the one computing their times and years according to the course of the Sun, the other by the course of the Moon: the Hebrews, their reckoning is certain thirty days to a month, and twelve months to a year; the Chaldeans they reckon and compute according to the course and rule of the Moon, which causes this seeming difference: for John's whole time for Antichrists reign is twelve hundred and sixty years, in which the two witnesses shall prophesy in sackcloth, which as it notes out unto us their spiritual low and humble condition, so also their persecuted and suffering estate and condition, Rev: 11. 3. Now Daniel makes the same very time of the abomination of desolation, to be twelve hundred and ninety years, Dan. 12. 11. reckoning both of them days for years, according as the Prophets did reckon and account, as I have proved before: now I shall make it appear unto you, that these two holy men of God, that were moved and led by the same Spirit, both spoke one and the same thing, both for the power and mystery of Iniquity, and for the full and complete time of one and the selfsame number of years, for the continuance of it. And I prove it thus: as thirteen moons are thirteen months, and these thirteen months make but one year of twelve months, reckoning thirty days to a month, and twelve months to a year, by the same rule, one thousand two hundred and ninety years by the Chaldee reckoning, amount but to one thousand two hundred and threescore years, according to the reckoning of the Hebrews. And as they agree in this seeming difference, so they do most sweetly consent and agree in the point in hand, concerning the time of the beginning of the glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ, one and the same Angel teacheth them one and the same truth; and although there were near 500 years' distance between the times of their prophesying, yet the angel's majesty both of doctrine and gesture is one and the same to both, all which shows this doctrine of the time of the Lord's coming to restore all things, to exalt his Church and Saints, to be a most admirable and singular secret and mystery, for the continual comfort and supportation of all his suffering members in all their afflictions; and this made the Apostle, speaking to the Saints of Thessalonica, of the day of the Lord's coming, his descending from heaven at the last trump, and the resurrection of such as are dead in Christ; wherefore saith he, comfort one another with these words, 1 Thes. 4. 18. Blessed and holy is he, saith St. John, that hath part in the first resurrection, for he alone is the man that looks for his coming, and hath comfort in his appearing; the very same saith Daniel, Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the 1335. days, but go thou thy way till the end be, for thou shalt rest and stand in the Lot at the end of the days, Dan. 12. 12, 13. which number exceeds the former, which comprehended the whole time of Antichrists reign and persecution, 45. years, thereby discovering a deep mystery of high understanding, which none but the wise can possibly apprehend, as the Prophet declareth, vers. 10. which additional number notes out unto us, that little season that shall be between the total destruction of Antichrist and the final consummation of this world, which our Lord himself signifieth by the word immediately, thereby to set forth all the time between the days of tribulation, and his own glorious appearing; and St. John uses the word quickly, to set forth all the time likewise between the woeful reign of Antichrist, and the woeful ruin of all ungodly men in these words, Rev. 11. The second woe is past, and behold the third woe cometh quickly; and as it is showed to John, that after the thousand years should be finished, expired, and fulfilled, which is the whole time of Poperies cruelty and mystery of Iniquity; and the Dragon, the devil's liberty, which is expressed for the time to be a little season, in which Satan shall move and stir up the nations of the four quarters of the earth, even Gog and Magog, those great and innumerable multitudes to desolate the Saints, the Church, even the beloved city of God, as before I have touched, till the very instant of time of the son of man's coming in his white and glorious throne to judgement, before whose face the earth and the heavens fled away, and there was found no place for them, Rev. 20. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. and likewise the 45. additional years of Daniels Chaldee reckoning, to be the whole time in which God will accomplish the scattering of the powers of his holy people, and between the ending of the time, times and half a time, and the general resurrection to have all these things fulfilled; and this is clearly, though briefly intimated, wherefore I demand of all you learned Monarchists, Judaists and Millenarists, where in God's Word you will find any time for the glory of the church's prosperity in this world? Well, let a word be enough to the wise, and therefore never preach nor print such doctrines hereafter.  
The last thing is the place, where the Scriptures speak that Christ and his kingdom shall be in for evermore, and that is the earth, saith the truth, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth, Mat. 5. 5. The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever, Rev. 11. 15. even then, when the Lord himself shall descend f●rom heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and the Saints living changed, before the kingdom be established, 2 Thes. 4. 16. which St. John makes to be the voice of the seventh and last Angel, Rev. 10. 7. saying, When he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God shall be finished; and that the earth at that time shall be made the place of Christ and his church's habitation eternally glorified; observe the clear and unanimous consent of all Scriptures; this is the new song of the 24. Elders, Rev. 5. 9, 10. which sung to the praise of the Lamb of God, Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the earth: And David makes it the song of his delight, in the often repetition of it, Psal. 37. 9 Evil doers, saith he, shall be cut off, but those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth, v. 10. 11. And again, Such as are blessed of God shall inherit the earth, and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off, v. 22. yea, the earth hath the Lord given to the children of men, Psal. 115. 16. And again, The spiritual sons of him that feareth the Lord shall inheritthe earth, Psal. 25. 13. Wherefore great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness, beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is mount Zion, Psal. 48. 1, 2. than shall it be that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the Sea, Isa. 11. 9 which cannot be understood here in this world, but of the world to come, not in this old corruptible heaven and earth, but when the whole creation, even every creature, shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, Rom. 8. 19, 20, 21, 22. in that time, when none shall hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord, even then, when these heavens and earth that now are corruptible, shall be dissolved, and new heavens and new earth created, in which dwelleth righteousness, then, even in the day of the Lord's coming, 2 Pet. 3. 11, 12, 13. Isa. 65. 17. and as the glorious Church of Christ shall remain for ever, so shall the restitution of all things also, Isa. 66. 22. Finally, John was showed the new heavens, and the new earth, and the renovation of all things, Rev. 21. 1. when he saw new Jerusalem, the Church of God, even the lamb's wife, come down from heaven to the earth; so that the Tabernacle of God was with men, with whom he will dwell for ever. And this is the heavenly country, Church and City with foundations, which Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the faithful people of God, have ever expected and looked after, that better resurrection, which as yet they possess not; for all these died in the faith, and received not the promise, meaning the hope that was set before them, God providing some better things for us, that they without us might not be perfect, Heb. 11. 13, 14. yet seeing the perfection afar off, and embraced it through faith, and confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth; for they that say such things, declare plainly, that they seek a country, a heavenly Canaan, and Paradise of rest: And as God's children have chosen God and his promises for their portion and inheritance, so the Lord himself hath chosen Zion for his habitation; This is my rest for ever, saith he, here will I dwell, for I have desired it, Psal. 132. 13, 14.  
Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints, Rev. 15. 3.  
The Lord loveth the gates of Zion; Glorious things are spoken of thee, O thou City of God, Psal. 87. 3.  
The Lord himself shall arise, and have mercy upon Zion; for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come, Psal. 102. 13.   

Errata.  
PAge 6. line 17. for same blood, read Sons blood. p. 9 l. 7. for a year, r. and a year, p. 12. l. 25. for N. H. 1. H. N. p. 49. l. 22. for elect. r. the elect.  
FINIS.