'.***"^ 
 
 BAP 
 
 3 *f 
 
? PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 Presented by Mr. Samuel Agnew of Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Ag?iew Coll. on Baptism, No. ' (Ui.J^.^ ^ — 
 
 

Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/godsordinancesaiOOspil 
 
% 
 
Gods Ordinance, 
 
 THE SAINTS PRIVILEDGE, 
 
 Difcovered and proved in two Trcatifes. 
 
 The firfi^ 
 
 The Saints Intereft by Chrift in all the Priviledges 
 
 of Grace : 
 Wherein their right to the ii(c ofBapti/me^ and the 
 Lords Supper^evi^n now during the reignc of ^ntichrifi^h 
 ck and \ and the objeBions of thofe that oppoje the fame j ere anfarered. 
 
 The fecond^ , 
 
 The peculiar Intereft of the Eled in Chrift^ and his 
 
 faving Grace : 
 
 Wherein it is proved that Chrift hath not prefented 
 
 to bis Fathers juftice a fatisfadion for the finnes of all 
 
 men j but onely for the finnes of thofe that doe, or fhall believe \ 
 
 in him ; which are his Eleft onely : And the objeftions 
 
 ofthofe that maintaine the contrary ^ are alf anfwered. 
 
 Both written by J o H n S p i l s b e r i e. 
 
 And the laji tranfcribedj andjomervhat enlarged^ by Benja'nin Coxe. 
 
 Mark. 1 3* 34? 35' 37' ^-^^^ Sonne of man if as a mm taking afarre journey^ 
 who left hk huufe, and gave authoritie to his fervantSj and to every man his 
 rvork^y and commanded the porter to watch. Watch yee therefore^ &c. And 
 what I fay unto you , I fay unto ally Watch. 
 Ephef. I. 3,4. Bleffed be God — who hath bleffed w with aUfpirita ill bkf- 
 fings in heavenly things in Chrif : According m he hath chu\en w in him, . 
 before the foundation of the world^that wefjould be holy and with mt blame 
 before him in love. 
 '~~ Licenfed, entred, and printed acrordiug to Order. 
 '. ' L N V U N] 
 
 Printed by M. Simmons for Benjamin Allef7^ and are to be 
 (old at his Shop at the Crowne in Po/7W- head- Alley. 1646- 
 
^m > * 
 
 -v^ 
 
 
 iMi#J^ '■ 
 
 
 ro THE CHRISTUN READER. 
 
 Wife and Chriflian R E A D E r j 
 
 T is not to be expe<5led in this inqui- 
 ring age, wherein through the good 
 providence of God, truth hath lome 
 libertie to (hew her face ; and many 
 alfo arc travailing in paine to bring 
 forth that roan-childejbut there will 
 _ be lilcewife a fpirit of errour as for- 
 
 ward and ready to put off bis ware in this open market, 
 as the fpirit of truth : and efpecially in this Kingdome 
 where the people generally have been fo long trained 
 up in the ftrength of rationall notion,made out by the 
 arts and parts of nature ; who will be cafily drawne to 
 trade with fuch as have befl skill to fet out their ware 
 upon the ftrongefl termes of the creatures reafon.For 
 he that can prefent the richeft jewel in reafons treafure, 
 is like to carrie away "* the faireft daughter that nature That is, nati 
 hath. Which caufeth fo much divifion and contention l^'lyl^l^l° 
 among men profelTing Religion, as that many of the fon mfpuia 
 godly can hardly tell where to fet a foot upon found »" ^^^'ngs- 
 ground, to the great fadding of their Ipirits, and turn- 
 ing of many away from the truth.Thc confideration of 
 which caufed me to hold forth that light I have from 
 the Lord in thefe two fubjeds. 
 
 A 2 Krft, 
 
To the Reader, 
 
 Firft, That as God hath a people whom he calls and 
 owns out of the world , even fo hath he anaong all er- 
 rours and by-paths, a truth> and a true way for fuch to 
 obfcrve and to walk with him injapart from the world 
 ana the rudiments thereof, as witnefTes to the truth in 
 the profcllion of the fame, according to the rule of 
 truth, left to all his in his laft Te (lament 5 wherein all 
 that profeflc him, fhall be confefTed of him. 
 
 Secondly^Unto thefe Chrift hath preached,and God 
 bath afligned fuch priviledges as are not common to 
 the worldjout of which he cals them to injoy the fame. 
 As Chrift himfelf;even fo all things by him are for fuch 
 to injoy as bi^lieve in hira,an J no more. For as the end 
 was firft minded in Gods ordering of /he means, even 
 fo in all the caufes concurring to effedl the fame, the 
 end mud ever be minded as the life and ftrength of the 
 caufe^fo that as God chofe perfons in Chrift, and gave 
 them to him to be faved by him , fo their finnes were 
 laid upon him, for them he died, rofe againe^afcended,^ 
 and appeares in Gods holy prefcnce , prefenting them 
 perfect in himfelfe. Unto him all inch fhall come as 
 were given to him, and had their finnes laid upon him, 
 for him to give fatisfadion for them. All fuch fhall 
 be faved from all their finnes by him •, that being the 
 end for which they were laid upon him. 
 
 This I believe to be a truth that defervcs noafperfi- 
 on to be call upon it,nor tends to caufe any divifion or 
 contention among fuch as walkeby faith in the light 
 of truth ^though the rational I ftrength of nature in her 
 owne vvifdome cannot reft here fatisficd. 
 
 And thus in (umme, Chriftian Header , I prefent to 
 thy view the fubjed 1 deale upon, endeavouring to 
 maintaine the right & priviledges purchafed by Chrift, 
 
 andi 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 and freely given to all that believe in him for falvarioi?, 
 againftfuchasoppofethe fame: who under pretence 
 of fccking the truth, doe by cunning and craftie enqui- 
 ^ries undermine the famcjand (as they of old did}over- 
 throw the faith of fome : who deny unto fuch as do be- 
 Jievcin Jefus Chrift for eternall life. Church fclloiv- 
 fliipand communion with Chrift in his Ordinances of 
 thenew Teftamentj for want (as they fay) of a Ndini- 
 ftcry with power from God to call and (it a people for 
 Ordinances, and to adminifter the fame. 
 
 This opinion much opprelTcthand difturbs the goi- 
 aly, for whofe fakes I have endeavoured to hold forth 
 'my portion of light5for fuch as belive toconfider well 
 the freedomc & pnviledgc of faith in all the free pur- 
 achafe of Chriftjand gifts of grace 5 and to hold fait the 
 libertie wherewith Chrift hath made them free, & not 
 to be brought into bondage by men. And as none are 
 •to lofe any priviledge they have by Chrift, no more 
 are any fo to be fatisfied with aright to all things in 
 Chrift, astonegledtheirdutie to him, in their con- 
 fcfiionofhim, in holding out an holy fcllowrtiip snd 
 -communion with him in all thofe relative properties 
 of a wife to a husband, and a body to a head, in fuch' or- 
 der by himfelfe appointed, as may ferve to the honour 
 of his crowneanddignitie,declaring him to be the fir ft 
 borne among themjand to have the pre- eminence over 
 them. This being the end for which God fand-iHed 
 him., for him to call and fan(5lifie a people,to keep him 
 a name and praife in the earth, thatglory might be gi- 
 ven to God in the Church by Chrift through all ages .* 
 and not for fuch as believe in him,to give away^as far as 
 in them lies, his glory, name, and praife, by for faking 
 of their priviledgesjand therein denying themfelves to 
 411 of ' bcj 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 I am informed thjtfvme offence it likely to he tak^n at the word id\Sr- 
 farkSj ufidin the fecmdireatifejf any offence be there given in the ufe of 
 that word, I onely mufl beare the blame of it. Therefore permit me to ex" 
 prejfe borv I underjiood ity of whom I meant it^ and rvh at induced me to 
 the ufe of it. i . By adverfaries / underjiood onely oppolers, and namely^ 
 ■oppojers ofoitr doBrine.. 2. lintended not this title to all that do not fully 
 cbfe with uf in judgement 'j but to thoje thatfo oppofe uf^af that they deny 
 ■m to preach any Gof^el^ to hold forth any true faith^ or to adminifler any 
 true Bjptifme 5 n?ho have openly called m the gates ofhellj their common 
 enemicj &c. 3. 7hii tlmr dealing with ut did move me to give them that 
 title ; and Iconceivedy I hadjttji caufe jo to doe. But mtp I confeffe^ the 
 cjfejiands vpith me concerning the ufe of this terme^ and concerning any 
 parpmffe that I can now difeerne in any pjff'^gs of mine in this Treatife^ 
 Of it ftoodtvith David xvhen he had cut /t^ Sauls shirt. But touching the 
 doBrine maintained in this Treatife^T amfofarrefrom recalling any part 
 ofity that I count my fife bound^ifthe Lord flyall call me to it, tofeale it 
 with my bloud. And I have caufe to blejje God for this opportunitie vphich 
 he bath given me , thm to ajjifl in the publick^afjlrting and clearing of 
 this truth. And jo much the rather ^ becaufe I have fometimes not beenfo 
 cleare in the fight ofity as through the goodneffe ofGody I novp am. let 
 even then I held and maintained^ That the Lord Chrift giving him- 
 Telfe to fufiTer death, intended ( according to his Fathers will from 
 all eternitie) by his death effeftually to procure the eternall falva- 
 tion of all the Eleft, and onely of them. This I grounded upon thefe 
 principles, i . the eternitie and immutabilitie of Gods counjaile. 2. Gods 
 jfeciall love to the Ele&^and their being faved through the fame. 3. the 
 rvifdome and power of Chrij^^ intending what he effcBeth, and effeQing 
 tvhat he intended. 
 
 In the tranfcribing and enlarging of this treatije^ Iwasjnuch fir ait' 
 nedin time-^ but I found the Lord more then ordinarily jhrengtheningme : 
 Whereupon I am the more confirmed^ that he meanes to make this treatife 
 a meane of good unto his^ when they pall diligently peruje it. Neither doe 
 Jquejiion his following of the jirji Ireatife alfo with his effe&uall blejjing. 
 So commending this whole Booke to thy ferious perufaB^ and thee to the 
 \grMe of the Almighty -^Ireji 
 
 Thine, as thou art Chrifts, 
 
 Benjamii^^ Coxe. 
 
BsavsMwaiiM 
 
 
 
 T Hf F 
 
 SAINTS INTEREST BY 
 
 Chrift in all the Privilcdgcs of Grace. 
 
 Here be two Queftions that are defired to be anfwe- 
 red : The firft is ; Whether fitch as believe in Jefw 
 Chriji for falvation^ may injoy the Ordinances of the 
 new lejiament ; riamely ^ Baptilme, and the Lords 
 Supper, now under the reigne of Antichrifi . Andfee- 
 
 ing that all the true and right adminijirations^accordt 
 
 ing to the firfl order andpatteme^ have been lofl. through the myfierv of 
 confufion in the world ; How wee (hall now cotfte by a true and orderly 
 adminijlration of Ordinances according to the firfi injiitution ; if not by 
 the fame Minifiery , with the fame calling and gifts of the holy Spirit 
 that the firfi Mini fiery had. 
 
 The fecond Queftion is j Howfarre the death of Chrifi extended to 
 the taking away the fin of man •, whether he dyed for thefinnes of all men 
 without exception^ or for thefinnes offome onely. 
 
 Unto the firft Queftionj I (hall by the help of God now addrefle 
 my ielfe to an anfwer. And firft , I fay , that fiich as believe in Je- 
 fus Chrift in the Scripture- Icnfejraay and ought to enjoy the Ordi- 
 nances of Chrifts new Teftament, as their own free Privilcdges by 
 Grace , and part c£ their inheritance, as they are heires of glory, 
 and that even during the reigne of Antichrift ', for then have they 
 moft need of them, as being Chrifts their Generalls colours, and 
 part of that (pirituall armour by which they are to fight againft the 
 Beaft, and all falfe wayes , Rev. 1 2. Eph. 6. 12, 1 3. They are the 
 memorialls of Chrifts love unto all that believe in him, and look 
 for him in his abfence, Luk^22. 19. with i Cor, n. 24,25, 16. 
 And the Ordinances of Chrifts Teftament arc given to (uch as be- 
 lieve, for the helpe and confirmation of their faith, and the decla-^ 
 
 B ration 
 
The Saints i/tteyefl hy Chri(l 
 
 ration thereof, and thereby God feparates them from the world, 
 and owns them far his people. And for the iarae Miniftcry , with 
 the fame calling, and gifts of the holy Spirit j that the firft had ; I 
 own no other Miniftery. 
 
 But for the better under ftandlng of this truth, I defire that wee 
 may confidcr well of an anfwer to fome inquiries: thus ; 
 
 1 . What worke God had for the firfl Miniftery, above what he 
 hath for any now ^ 
 
 2. Whether Chrift hath left in his New Teftament an abfolute 
 rule to know (uch as are Tent of God to the work of the Miniftery,. 
 and what the fame is^ 
 
 5. If there be falvation now for men, and mcanes thereunto ap^ " 
 proved, and appointed of God, then what that is? 
 
 4. Whether there be any time in which man is freed from ol>e- 
 dience to the Scriptures, fince the New Teflrament came in force ; 
 and if not, then what part of truth ftands now in force to be obey- 
 ed, and whatnot? 
 
 «; . Whether the NewTcftament be not of equall Authoritie with 
 the Oldjto command obedience, and holds not forth a rule for the 
 fame, as the old Teftament did ? 
 
 6. Whether Chrift requires not a publick confeflion of him, by 
 all that believe in him5andifhe doe, then what the fame is, and the 
 ruk for it ? 
 
 Now -to each of thefe particulars. And firft, what worke God 
 had for the firft miniftery or workmen to doe above others, either 
 then, or now : Where in generall niinde 5 The worke God had for 
 the firft workmen, was firft , to be eye-witnefles of Ch rifts doings 
 and lutferings, death and refurreftion ; and fo to teftific him to be 
 the Son of God, come in the flefti, and exalted to be Lord over all, 
 A^s 1. 1 , 2, 3, 4. A^s i-o. 3 9.-42. AUs 4. 33. 1 Joh. I'. 1,2. 
 
 2. They were to difanuli and make voyd that typical! way of 
 worftiip, ftanding under types and fliidows,inftituted by Godjand 
 confirmed to the people by fignes and wonders , ^xod» 19. 9. And 
 to (et up and eftablifti another way of worfliip in the place thereof, 
 that was never knownc before , and therefore to be confirmed by 
 fignes and wonders, at the firft founding of it , as that before was. 
 Which fignes and wonders ftand for ever together with the fame 
 tFUth,as witness for the truth , and againft all that (hall oppo(e 
 
 or 
 
in ail the Priviledget of grace. 
 
 or condemnc the (ame to the end of the world. And whereas many 
 look and cxpcft for fomc to come from God, working niiracles, 
 fignesj and wonders, let fuch take heed they be not deceived by the 
 man of (inncj who is fct out by God in his Word to come that way 
 and deceive many, A^at. 24. 24. Adark. 13. 22. 2 'Thef.z. 9. Kev. 16. 
 14. Rev. 19. 20. But where is one word in all the new Teftamentj 
 that any man fhall come from God in this manncr,6f working mi- 
 racles, fignes, and wonders ? 
 
 3. They were to the people ihen, the unerring Oracles of God, 
 and the infallible mouth of Chriftfor all to have recourfe unto, 
 for the minde and counfell of God ; whofe teftimony was unque- 
 ftionable, being that by which all things muil; be tryed3Mi/.28. 1 9, 
 20. GaL I, 8, 9. I Job. I. 1.-7. 
 
 4. They were the layers of the foundation, and the minifteriall 
 inftituters of the whole ftate and order of Chrifts Church tobeob- 
 fervcd of all to the end of the world, I Cor. 3.10, 11. Ephef. 2.20, 
 Kev. 2 1. -14. 
 
 Laftly, They were the pen-men of the holy Scriptures of the new 
 Teftament, in which Chrift is held forth, or fet up as an enligne a- 
 mong all Nations for the obedience of faith5i^^?.24.i 4. Luk. 2.31. 
 Jfai. 52, 10. By which all both pcrfons and aftions fhall be iryed 
 and judged , 2 Pe^ 3. 15.1 Cor. 14. 37. Rom. 2.16. 2 Jhef. i. 8. 
 This worke God had for the firft workmen , or mhiificry to doe, 
 who bare witnefle to the fame , by fignes, wonders , arid miracles 
 from heaven, for the convincing of the world, that the fame was of 
 God^Heb.z.^Mark^iS.lo.Joh.id.^^^^ 10, H. Job. 17.20,21. 
 There are now no more inftituters or beginners of any fuch work j 
 All that men have to doc now is onely to learn their way , and to 
 walke in the lame, and fo to believe and receive iheir teirmiony. 
 Job. 3. 1 i.Rom. 10. 16. 2 "tbef. 1 . 19. And to build upon the fani^ 
 foundation laid by them,i Cor. 3, lo, 1 1, i2.Thc rule and warrant 
 for the fame, being their word and writings aforeiaid. Yet let this 
 be minded, that fomc of the worke in the hands of the fir ft work- 
 men, namely, the Apoftles, was then , and is now, as proper and 
 common unto others, as to them ; As to preach the GofpeI,and ga- 
 ther the Elefl; of God into the fellowftiip of Chrifts body -, to beare 
 witnefle to the truth, and to ftifier for the fame, and the like. All 
 which as well belongs to preaching Difciples now,as to them then, 
 
 Job,l'/,tOy2l,2tifn.2.2,&^,2* B2 If 
 
The Saints tnterejl ky Chriji 
 
 OhjeB. I. It ir be laid , where the fame worke is to be done,there the fame 
 workmen are required for the doing of ir, both in refpeft of Mini- 
 dery and Gifts , becaufc the Scriptures hold forth but onely one 
 Miniftery, appointed and given by Chrift, for the work of the Mi- 
 liifteryj which is to continue to the end of the world, where and 
 when the faid worke is to be done, Eph. 4. Adat. 28. 
 Anpi>. This I confeflc and affirme to be true •, but let us minde in a word 
 what all this is •-, The worke to be done, is to call home the Eled 
 of God, into the faith and fellowdiip of Chrift. The Miniftery, 
 are men ftirred up, and (ent by Chrift, with gifts and abilities fit 
 for the worke called unto. Which Miniftery remaines untill all the 
 Ele^ of God are brought unto one unity of faith and fulnefle of 
 Chrift5as Eph. 4. Adat. 28. But what gifts and abilities are.of ab- 
 fchite neceflitie required by Chrift unto this worke, is well to be 
 minded. To gather the Eleft of God into the fellowftiip of Chrift, 
 and to edifie them in the fame, is the workcAnd God inlightcning 
 men in the knowledge of the myftery of Chrift, in the Principles of 
 the Gofpel, and the Spirit inabling them with gifts of utterance, to 
 preach the fame, for the convincing of finne, and to bring over the 
 heart to believe, and fubmit to Chrift, and to teach them their du- 
 tie to God and man ; here is now the workmen, or Miniftery, that 
 Chrift gave, and is to continue to the end of the world, Adj^t' 28. 
 19, 20. 
 
 Ohje^. 2. It is faid. The divcrfities of tongues are of neceflitie for the Mi- 
 niftery of Chrift,becaufe they are to preach the Golpel unto all Na- 
 tions, A^at. 28. 1 5>. Mark. 1 6. 1 5 . 
 Anfrp. The Gofpel indeed is to be preached unto all Nations,that is, to 
 
 one nation as well as to another,excIuding none^as before the Gen- 
 tiles were, but now to all, (eeing God is the God of the Gentiles, as 
 well as of the Jewe/, Kcm. 3. 2^. For now Chrift by his death hath 
 opened a free way for the Gofpel, to goe into all the world, to ga- 
 ther the Ele£t out of every narion, tongue, and people, Zech. 2. 11. 
 il/j*. 24. 31. Kev.^. p.Ifai. 54. 1,2. 3. 
 
 But this rather feems to be by fome inftruments whom God ftull 
 ftirre »p in every nation of their owne language , then by all lan- 
 guages in one man 5 which thing was never yet knownc, Ifd* 1 9.1 8. 
 -25. Zsch. 8. 20, 21, 22, 23. 
 
 3, Tongues are of necelTme for fiich tofpeakeunto a people, to 
 
 whoto 
 
in all the Priviledges of Grace, 
 
 whom they are fent, and Chrift never fends any man to preachj or 
 with a meflage to a people or perlbn, but he gives him a tongue at 
 the prefent to deliver the fame. And more then is ufefull herein, is 
 notofneceflitie. 
 
 3. That all tongues to (peake all languages fhould be (b eflenti- 
 all to the Miniftery of Chrift, that there can be no true Miniftery 
 without them : this lies to be proved ; for it is very queftionablc 
 whether all the (everall languages, by which God did confound 
 and fcatter the people, <Je«. 1 1 . 6, 7, 8, p. were ever yet all knownc 
 to any one-man ; and if not, then how (hall any man know when 
 he hath them all ? But if it be granted, that onely fo many tongues 
 as are needfull : this I freely confefle, rauft be in the Miniftery of 
 Chrift, and no more are required of neceffitie. 
 
 4. Where the diverfities of tongues are not of u(e for the t^rell 
 being of a Church, they cannot be of abfblute neceflitie for the be- 
 ing of that Church. But ftrange tongues are not of u(e for the well 
 being of a Church that underftands them not, i C<?r. 14. 27,28. 
 and therefore not of abfolute neceflitie for the being of it. 
 
 5. The firft Church of the new Teftaraent, which may be our 
 chiefe pattern , confifting of the hundred and twentie Difciples, 
 ABs I. was neither converted or conftiruted by a Miniftery of di- 
 verfitie of tongues 5 and yet by a true Miniftery of Chrift. Thefe 
 were in Church-fellowftiip before the diverfities of tongues were 
 given, who were a Church, AB. i. To whom the 3000. were ad- 
 ded, and converted by the tongues given, ABs 2. 
 
 6. The want of fuch diverfities of tongues will not excu(e a mans 
 filenccj much leflc prohibite the ufe of (uch tongues aTj for the pre- 
 fent men have of God, to declare and publifti what light and truth 
 the Lord doth reveale , and fo much the more, feeing every man 
 ftands accountable of himfelfe to God, for every gift and meafure 
 of light and truth he receives of the Lord, for the improvement 
 thereof, to the glory of God and good of man, as thefe Scriptures 
 compared together doe manifeft, Lnk. 1 9. 1 1.— 1 5. Luk: ^2. 40,41. 
 --47. with jl^^i^i3.34. 37. I Cor. 11. 26. Which Scriptures fpeakc 
 of the Lords coming, and the condition both of times and perfons 
 the mean while in his abfence,with their work charged upon them, 
 fo as that they arc at no time freed from the fame, untill his com-/ 
 sig CO take an account of them. And it is a vaine thing ibr any man 
 
 to 
 
$ Tbo Sainti tnterejl ly Chrtfl 
 
 to ihinke he (liall be excufcd by his pleading the want of tongiieg 
 to i'peake ail languages, and the like, but rather fxpe6t to be called 
 to account, how he liath improved that abilitie and tongue which 
 he haih for his Lord and Mailers advantage, as JUat. 25. 1 4, 15. 
 24, 253 263 27. And thus men are to improve what abilities they 
 have received to the glory of God ; and when he eals them to grea"> 
 ter workcjhe will give them anfwcrable abilities for the (ame^whe- 
 ther tongues, or el fe J as Exod. 4. 1 1. 13. A^at. 10. 183 19320, 
 
 And laiUyjThe Miniftery which Chrift hath now in his Church, 
 hath as many tOKgueSjand I conceive can fpeak as manjLJanguages, 
 as that Minifter}' which converted and planted the firft Gofpcl- 
 Church of Ch rifts new Teftament, which may be vatW our exam- 
 ple. And as God did honour and beautifie his Church and Mini- 
 Itery then , by powring out of his Spirit in fuch a meafure upon 
 them, fo he may doe in his owne time upon his Church and Mini- 
 ftery now as he fees occaiion, when he hath tryed who are the dc- 
 ijiifers of the day of fmall things. 
 Obie^.^' It is Taid, that by the power of darknefle over-fpreading the 
 whole world, the true Church, Miniftery, and Ordinances, have 
 all been loft, and a falfe Antichriftian forme come in the place. 
 There muft be now as at the firft, an immediate Miniftery (ent of 
 Gcd, with the holy Ghoil and power to reftore the (atpe againe, 
 Ar2frv, The Church, Miniftery, and Ordinances, are not loft to the 
 
 Scriptures, the Spirit, and faith, but onely to the world , as all di- 
 vine and heavenly things arc fubjcQ; to be, through their oppofing 
 and defpifing of them. 
 ObieEi. 4. ^^^ ^^'^ ^^^> ^^^ Adminiftrations of theft were loft, &c. 
 Anftv* The Adminiftrations were not loft to the Word :, Spirit , and 
 
 faith j for all the holy things of God lie clcareand free in the Word ' 
 to whoralbever the Spirit reveales them, and gives faitii to believe, 
 by which they become one, and rife together. 
 Oh]eli. But fome may fay , (hew us now a true Adminiftrator ftnt of 
 
 God. 
 AnCw. SomuchincfFeftiaidthej^crre/ofoldto Chrift,J<?^.6. 3o.aod 
 
 the oppofers of Gods truth to the Apoftle, 2 Cor.i^,:^, But let fuch 
 ftiew us believers approved fo by God after Chrifts Refurreftionj 
 without which there is no falvation, and then will I by the helpcof 
 the Lord (hew a true Adminiftrator fent of God , which indeed 
 
 were 
 
in all the Priviledges of Grace. 
 
 were ncver-apart in Chrifts new Teftament, neither ought they ro 
 be afimder now. But all the difficulty is, how to know one that is 
 truly fent of God to the worke of the Miniftery ; and for this let us 
 fee what abfolute Rule or way Chrift hath left in his new Tefta- 
 ment to know (Iich by. Now for any abfolute Rule in refpeft of 
 cither gift, power, or qualiBcation, to note out a man lent of God 
 to the worke of the Miniftery jdiftinft from the lame work I know 
 none. But fiich as Chrift ftirres up and (ends to the worke of the 
 Miniftery, they are declared by the work as it anfwers to the Pvule; 
 for as the Scriptures juftific the worke,and own that to be of God, 
 -even fodoth the fame Word juftifie the workman , and owns him 
 to be lent of God about the fame. Thus did Chrift appealc to his 
 worke for witnefle to prove him(elfe to be (ent of God, Joh, i o. 37, 
 38. &i^. II. And fo did the Apoftle ?aul^ I Cor. 9. 2. 2 Cor 3. i, 
 2, 3. And (b are all to be knowne by walking in their footfteps and 
 bringing their doftrine, Mat.j.ij^ 18. Such as God enables to 
 preach the fame Go(pel,and to bring men to believe in Jefus Chrift, 
 and to give up thcmlelves in obedience to his will.Such whofc gifts 
 and abilities improved, doe hold forth Chrift as an enfigne to the 
 Nations, and gather pcrfons into oneunitie of faith, and fellowftiip 
 of Chrift : in fuch appeares the Miniftery and Spirit of Chrift, and 
 this declares them to be fent of God, E^h. 4. 11.— 16. Kom. 1 0.14, 
 15. I Joh. 4. 2. I Joh, I. 2, 3. 2 Joh. 9. 
 
 Some will fey. There is not thofe gifts and abilities for the work OhjeS. 5. 
 ofthe Miniftery now, as was with Chrift and the Apofties, and 
 therefore not the fame Miniftery. 
 
 As there is not thole gifts and abilides for meafurc now, as was y^njiv, 
 then, fo there is not that occafion for the fame now, as I havefor- 
 merly (hewed. God enables men now with abilities and gifts,as the 
 worke requires, which is to dilcover and la^ out the foundation, 
 and to fit and prepare the matter, and to build it upon the fame, 
 iCor. 3. That is, to preach Chrift crucified, anc? to bring perfbns 
 to believe on him , and baptize them into the profefiion of him. 
 Adjt.2^.ig.AB. 8.4,5. I2.y4£?. 11.20,21. This was the worke of 
 the Miniftery then, and is the fame now, done by the fan;e Spirit, 
 who is above ail his gifts. And no greater power,gifts, and abilities 
 was ever in any, or can be cxpefted , then to bring foules to God, 
 Gal, 2, 8. 1 Cor. I.. 23, 24. with Joh. 1 4. i^. Which worke is done 
 
 now 
 
The SainU tJiterefi by Chrift 
 
 ^now as truly as ever , and therefore there is the (ame power ; £ot 
 now the dead are railed ^ the eyes oi the blind opened ; the Devils 
 fpiritually caft out ; the lame walke ; the ficke reftored to health ; 
 and the poore receive the Gofpel : and what more can be required 
 to declare a true Miniftery of Chrift ^ 
 Obje&. 6. Such as profefle themfelves to be the Mlnifters of Chrift , as the 
 firft werejmuft be (b fentjand have the fame authoritic from Chrift 
 as they had. 
 Anffv, All this is true, and therefore, I fay, as before j that fuch as re- 
 
 ceive a Meflage from Chrift , with gifts and abilitie to deliver the 
 fame to a peoplcjGod aflifting his VVord with a bleifing and power 
 to bring in the heart to believe and receive the (ame ; fuch may as 
 truly be laid to be lent of God, as the firft were, neither can we ex- 
 pcft any to come from God any other way 5 and their authoritie 
 is from the Lord Chrift, who by his Word and Spirit commands 
 to preach,and baptize 5 and that upon no other condition or terms 
 but onely faith, Mark^i6.i'^3i6'JB. 8. 36,37. Job. 1. 12. Job.ij. 
 20, 21. For where the power of God goes with his Word to call 
 men to the knowledge of the truth, there is alfo the fame power to 
 admit fuch into the obedience of the fame, Mark^2%. 18,19,20. 
 AB. 10. 34, 35. 47. So that the lame Spirit, VVord , and faith, 
 brings fuch as have it now under the fame power and authoritie, 
 as one together with the former; as thefe Scriptures compared to- 
 gether doe manife ft , -M*f. 25. 15. L«i^ 12. 48. Ali. 2. 17. 18. 
 lC(!>r.i2.7.iPe^4.io.yo^.i.i2.feeL«^i2.37.— 42.wnchyl^j/'^i3.37, 
 What other lending had Thilip that gathered the Church at Sw 
 martj, Aft. 8. and the Icattered Brethren that planted the Church 
 at Antioch, Aft. 1 1 . 1 9, 20,2 1 . and ApoUos^who was an able Mini- 
 fter of the Gofpel, i Cer. 3 ^ All which the Word holds out to be 
 able Mini fters of the tJofpel, and preaching the fame. But what 
 fending had they who called them to it ^ and by what authoritie 
 did they doe it, more then men of the lame Spirit, and faith, have 
 now ? 
 &iie(i, How can fuch preach the Gofpel order, and receive others to 
 
 the fame, that never were in it themlelves^ 
 A?i(h. l(vie fay. How ftiall men preach truth, that never under ftood 
 
 truth? This indeed none can doe, i Cor. 2. But if it be fa id, that 
 none can hold forth,or preach the Gofpel- order,untill they be firft 
 
 in 
 
in all the ^rivtUdget of gracc^ p 
 
 iait th^qmiclY^Sjthcn it might bp dpiriaBded how fuch came to be in 
 it, and who admitted them uuto it ? for fomc muft be firft , where 
 ther^ is a beginning. Obedience to God depends upon nothing but 
 or^^y hi^ word that^ve being to order, and the Gofpel-order 
 ooceinftituted ftandshrme ftill lor all that believe to enter upon it, 
 as living matter i^on the foundation, i Cor\ 3. which is Chrift, 
 who calls all fuch aa living fto,n?s tQGPn^e unto him , and be built 
 uponhimj a (piritua)! hpi^p^ a^ hplyl^rieftl^ood to offer, up l^i^- 
 tuall (acrifices acceptable to God by Jelus Chrift , who Kath made 
 a free and open way for all that believe to come with boldnefie into 
 the moft holy place, i ?iCU 2. 4, 5. Meb. 1 0. i\nd much more to iriT 
 )qy all thole priviledges of grace inferiou^ to the lame, i Cor.i^. 22. 
 And when any lie (hort of truth , as toucbing the Gofpel-order, 
 and the like,it is on^ly the God of truth that brings up his creature 
 to. the obedience of truth. And (iicHas God fo wQrkes in by his Spi- 
 rit, as the uuderftanding is inlightened in the truth, the confcierice 
 cpnvi^ed by it, and the m^n hath faith in it,as his dutie to obey it, 
 wi;h the waiy open for it, and the Word calling to it. Such by mu- 
 tuall agreement with truth, are by feith one together in truth; 
 which gives being to an orderly praftife of truth, "to fuch Chrift 
 ojjcns, Jokio. Such the Spirit guides. Job. 1 6. Such God approves, 
 AJUt^* 18,. The word of God commands them, and faith, in them 
 obeyes, AB. 2. And thus by the power of truth , fuch as believe 
 cproe tp be one in Chrift, with the God of truth. Job. 1 7. 
 . Theord<:rofphriftsnewTeftaraent, is the adrainiftration qf 
 tl^e g;'a<pioHS new Covenant, ^nd of the fame nature with it, which 
 ll^s for ever free in all the branches and priviledges thereof^ to fuch 
 a,s believe , who arc the onely true-bprne heires of all that is con- 
 tained in the faid new Covenant. And (b of the order and Ordi- 
 nances of the Golpel, which are but the Adminiftrations thereof. 
 I;^pv5{_the l^eire being once put in pofleflion of his inheritance, with 
 tljie pifiyiledges thereof^ altigned to hirn, ancl conferred upon him, 
 free without any condition, but onely. his faith ; here he is, for ever 
 to ftand, and keepe his poflcftion. A^ if at any time he through 
 ignorancG, and unbeliefe, miftake his freedome, and lies (hort of his 
 priviledges, then when God his Father ftiall acquaint him with it, 
 an4 ft^^w him the (ame, he may, nay ought by vectue of his firft or- 
 ^j|^,enter upon tiis^jnheritance,\j7ithowt Ippking a( this or that con,- 
 
 C dition, 
 
lo 
 
 The Saints tntereji ^y Chrijl 
 
 A'jftv. 
 
 fdition, or qualification of pcribn, to admit him in, but onely that 
 / his inheritance be di(covered> and his right to it. That iSjan order- 
 ly communion of fuch as believe, with the Spirit to guide as afore- 
 laid, for there is no exception by God again ft fuch as believe. And 
 faith is the fame at one time that it is at another, and in one per- 
 fon that it is in another, and fo are all the Privilcdges of Grace the 
 fame to fuch as believe at one time as at another. 
 
 The Scriptures hold forth the Adminiftrators to be (iich as were 
 baptized perfons j but there is none fuch now , and therefore not 
 lawfull to enter, untill there be a Porter to open. 
 
 i.What though none but baptized perfons did baptizcjit doth not 
 follow, that none but fuch muft baptize, except God had fo faid : 
 we finde not Chrift confining the difpenfing of Baptifme in the 
 hands of baptized pcrfbns, and excluding, others : neither is there 
 any'example where ever any that cfid baptize, were examined whe- 
 ther they therafelves were hapdied. 
 
 2. The Scriptures no where exprcfly hold out the Admrniftra- 
 tors to be baptized perfbns,the Apoftle PW onely excepted 5 for of 
 none but him doth the holy Spirit any where fpeakexprefly of their 
 being baptized. • 
 
 3. The word of God holds out fuch to baptize others, that 
 ivere not baptized thcmfelvesj as John the Baptift : who was there 
 to baptize him, before he baptized others? 
 
 4. The Apoftles, and all the Difciples of Chrift were not bap- 
 tized with that Apoftolicall Baptifme, Mat. 28. that witnefled the 
 
 L^oly Spirit to be corae.For want of which Difciples were ignorant,. 
 
 di.%. 
 
 jtnfip* 
 
 Und knew not whether there was any holy Spirit, A3s 19. 2, 3, 4. 
 jWhich yet is the Baptifme of Chrlfts new Teftament, into which 
 they baptized others, and yet were not fo baptized with the fame 
 thcmfelvcs. 
 
 By all which it appcares that baptizedneflc is not eflentialt ta an 
 Adminiftrator , and therefore we ought not to ftay without when 
 •phrift the Porter opens,i and invites us in. 
 
 The Miniftery of the new Teftament,TS a minitlration of the Spi- 
 rit, and of gifts of the holy Spirit, as 2 Cor. 3. 6. 8. A&j 8.^ 17, 18 . 
 Alt, 1 9, 6. But there is none fuch now. 
 
 The Miniftration of the Spirit in the rvew Teftament, 2 (^or, 3. 
 the Apoftle oppofeth to the Miniftration of the letter under the 
 
 darke: 
 
— — ■ 
 
 in all the Priviledges af Grace. H 
 
 darkc (hadows of the old Teftamcnt ; as appcarcs , v^rf. 6, 7,, 8, 9. 
 compared together. Otherwise , as for them to be agents to con- 
 vey the Spiritjas from themfelves unto any, this the Apoftle denies, 
 I Cor. 3. 5, 65 7>but onely as inftruments by preaching the Gofpel, 
 as I Cor. 3 . 5. with Gjl.'^,i. (o it is now as truly as it was then, God 
 giving in his Spirit of life into mens hearts by preaching of the 
 Word of life. And for the appearing of the holy Spirit by laying 
 on of hands, as ABs 8. 17, 18. AH. 19. 6. This was proper onely 
 to the ApQftles themfclveSjas -^^.8.14..— iS.where P^i/i^jwho ccm- 
 -verted and planted this Church at Samaria, had not the Miniflra- 
 tioh of the gifts of the holy Spirit, which came afterwards by lay- 
 ing on of hands by P«er and 7o/:'«3 who were fent by the ApoftLs 
 from J^rufjlemyWerCi^. 1 7. Neither doe wefinde any in this worke 
 but onely the Apoftles ; after who(e decease the holy Spirit appea- 
 red not To full and rich in his gifts, as he did in them. As it was of 
 old, after the laft Prophets that wrote Scripture were decealed, 
 there was not that meafure of the Spirit to be found in any untill 
 Chrift came, that appeared in them : and yet they held faft ftill the 
 profelTion of the name of God under thofe inftituted Ordinances 
 that they once were put in poIlefTion of, according to what light 
 they had, which was very d^rke to what they had ar the firft. And 
 many things were altered from what was appointed by God at the 
 firft 5 as the order of the high Priefts for one 5 and this they did un- 
 der all their captivities and conditions untill Chrift came in the 
 flelh. And Co are all believers to doe under their captivitie by the 
 Antichriftian worlds tyrannic, ■yi:^. to hold faft the profelTion of 
 Chrift under thole inftituted O. dlnances they were once put in free 
 pofletUon of, untill Chrift come againe in power , and the bright- 
 nefie of his glory, and (ec them fully free, i Cor. 1 1. 26. Kev. 2. 25. 
 e5?'22. 12. 1. 
 
 As of old in Ifrael there was a ceflation of Ordinances in their Ol^j-icf. 
 temporall captivitie, and chiefly that in Babylon : and at their re- 
 turne there was a prohibition from eating of the moft holy thing?, 
 untill there ftood up a Prieft with llrim and Thumrnim , t^zra 2. 
 62.^eh. 7. 65. So it is to be wiih the godly now in their capcivitie 
 in fpirituall B^ij^/^);?, whereof that was a type. ; • 
 
 It doth not to me appeare, that in Jfraclj raptivities there was a A/Jh^ 
 cciTation of Ordinances, no nor yet in that oi Bah^lm^hut the con- 
 
 C 2 traiy. 
 
1 2 T^e Saints mtereft by Cbrifl 
 
 trary. Biit if k were fo, yet I/rue/in all faer captivities was ililla true 
 conftituted Church under that inftituted Ordinance ofCircumci- 
 fioHj by which God (eparatcd them from all Nations in the world, 
 as a people to himfelfe for his great Name, as he doth now by Bap- 
 tiffiJe. Which Ifrael had ftrll her Miniftery, and Mintflcriall powec 
 and order, and at her returne out o{ Babylon^ ftiee caftie forth "vwth 
 the fame, Ezra 2. 56- 'J0.-& 3. i. — 6.2^h. 3. i. And for the probi- 
 bkion, Ezra 2. 62. this was onely of the houfe of Habajab^ Kozj 
 and Bitrzillai, who(e flegifter could not be found, and therefore 
 they were as polluted put from thePrieftliood5E2ir<i 2. di, 62, 63. 
 And to thefe onely the words are fpofoen, and not of the whole 
 Congregation, who had an highPrieft, and a Prieftly power and 
 order, Nch.i^. I . Ezra 2. 36. t^ 3. i.— 6. 
 
 So that if there was a ceflation of Orc^nances m IJrael^it was not 
 for want of a Miniftery, as the calc is made with us, but as this is 
 our type, then with a true proportion from the ty»pe to the anti- 
 type, we that believe, and fo are true Ifiael in fubftance, are not to 
 ceafe from injoying of our Ordinances for want of a Miniftery, but 
 to hold faft our true podertion and inheritance once delivered into 
 the hand of faith in all our capcivitie, as i/r.«/of olddid. 
 Ohje&i 10. Believers now have loft the poflefTion of all Adminift rations 5 ibr 
 " there hath been a ceflfation for thefe many yearesjboth of Miniftery, 
 
 . ' Church, and Ordinances, according to the firft Rule and inftituci- 
 
 ' . on of Chrift 5 and therefore men are to waite upon God for him to 
 
 re ftore the fame againe in pDWer, and not to take up wayes and or- 
 <dinances ofthemielves. 
 Anjw,, ''' Believers never loft their right to anytriKh, or ordinance of 
 ,' ^ / - ^ Chrift, for they by faith doe or ought to poflefle all truth once ^- 
 ven unto them, i Cor. 5.21,22, 23. 2 Cor. 6. 10. J«^ 3. And if any 
 depart, and forfake their own mercies through unbeliefe, they are 
 to returne againe to the fame by faith; and God prohibits none 
 that believe in bis Son, the u(e of his Ordinances, ordained by him 
 for their comfort and confirmation of their faith ; but helpes them- 
 on to the fame, by giving his Spirit for their guide, his Word for 
 their rule, and himfelfe for their warrant,who commands them to 
 obey him in all truth that he ftiall make knownc unto them. Men 
 are indeed to waiic upon the God of truth for him «o difcover 
 truth. Bat when he hath not onely made it knowne to them^ bur 
 
 aKb 
 
in ait the Privihdges of Grace, rg; 
 
 alfo revealed troth in them, and by the power of it, made the heart 
 one with it , then men take not up truth of themlelves, but are ta- 
 ken up by truth , into the nature of truth , and fhall ftand by the 
 power of it; when fuch as take up truth of thcmfelvesjand for their 
 own ends, (hall lay it downe againe to their own deftruQ:ion. 
 
 God ordained a Miniftcry in the Gofpel which ever was in order ObjcB. 1 1, 
 firft, namely, Apoftlcs, Prophets, and Evangeliftsjby whom Chur- 
 ches were planted, and other Officers ordained for thofe Churches 
 wdl- being. 
 
 This Miniftcry I confefle^and ownj and therefore I fay ftill, 
 that menmuft come from God with truth, and with abilitietodc- 
 Kver the fame for the converting of men to the faith. Now when"' 
 God (hall aifift; his Word with power, to bring over mens hearts to*^ 
 believe, and obey the fame, fuch the Scriptures hold out to be true^ , 
 Meflengensfent of Chrift, declared by their worke as it anfwers to,^ 
 the Rule. And this way men were convinced, and Churches plan- 
 ted that now ftand under the profeffion of Chrift. And thus came^', 
 Churches to be planted, and other Officers ordained , by thole 
 that God made the firft inftruments to bring on the worke,in com- 
 munion with the reft,as to direft and aflift them in the famejTi^.i . . 
 
 The Miniftery aforefaid, to bring men to the faith, was attended J&c<f/ri ?.^I~ 
 with the power of miracles, as raifing the dead, healing the ficke,^^^Jf^J^^p* 
 cafting out dcvills, and the like, to confirme their teftiraony to bef^'^'^^^^^ 
 of God, none of which appeares now, whereas there is as much 
 need to confirme the truth of God as ever, among fo much confu- 
 fion as now is. The like miracles are alligned by Chriil ever to at- 
 tend hisMiniftery, Afarl{. 16. 17. and confirmed by the Apjft!eas/^( 
 an Ordinance of God in his Church, Jam.\. 14>-15. and the firft 
 Principles of Chrift, Hab. 6, i , 2. Ail which are now wanting that 
 (hould confirme a true Miniftery from God to n<:. 
 
 That the working of miracles did attend the Miniftery of Chrift Anfrp. 
 at the firft, and that to confiime the truth tlien held forth to be of 
 God, this I confefle to be true. But that the working of thofe mi- 
 racles fhould be fb cfieHiiall to the Miniftery, that there can be no 
 true Miniftery of Chrift , neither in whole, nor in part, without 
 working of the faid miracles s that I deny. 
 
 1- John tbi Bj^tijl wa« a true Minifter^nd fent of God,who did 
 
 no 
 
The Saiftts interejl by Cbrijl 
 
 no miracle 3 Joh. la 41. and yet he was more then a Propher, 
 
 Afat. 1 1. p. And fo was Apnllos a tf ue Minifter of the new Tefta- 
 
 mentj who knew onely the Baptifme oijnhn^ and no more , untill 
 
 that Aquils and Frifcilla had further intormcd him in Gods way, 
 
 but was never knownc to workeany miracle, A3. iS. 25, 26-28. 
 
 with 1 Cor. 3.5. And likewife the icat'ered Diiciples that gathered 
 
 the Church at Antioch^ Aft. 11. ip, 20, 21. All which were true 
 
 Minifters of Chriftj and yet not attended with the forefaid power 
 
 of working miracles in their Adminiftrations. 
 
 It is aHcodi 2. Miracles can be no true note of Miniftery , nor Minifter (ent 
 
 hope to fee a of Chrift, becaufe the working of miracles is that by which falie 
 
 "^^^'s^^A^' P*'op^c^5 ^^'^ deceive the people , Afark^i-^. 22. Rev. 16. 14, 
 
 Exod.7. 9.° 3' The fame miracles that confirmed the truth at the firft to be 
 of God, ftandinequall authoritie, together with the fame truth, 
 a« witnedes together for God, and again it all that oppole, untill 
 the coming of Chrift, without adding more miracles to them, any 
 more then oftruth to what is written, Heb.z.^. Nothing more is 
 now to be expefted, then the holy Spirit for to open the Scripture?, 
 and inable men to unfold the minde of God in the fame j and the 
 fame Spirit working faith in the hearts of the Eleft to believe his 
 own teftimony of the myftery of the Fathers love in the Sonne, 
 through the word, without any other miracle. So thatif Chrift 
 inableth men to underftand, and to open the Word, and God o- 
 pens the heartjand the Spirit workes faith ; here will need no mira- 
 cle to bring fuch to believe. 
 
 Laftly , As great miracles are done now as ever, to caft out De- 
 vills out of mens fouleSjto open the eyes fpiritually blind, to raile 
 the dead from the death of finne. In a word, to bring forth a new 
 creature, and olfer up the fame to God. Thele arc the (libftance of 
 all miracles to fuch as by experience know them, and greater then 
 all, asChriftfaith, J(;/:J. 14. 12. AndforChrifts words, Afjr^ 16. 
 ly. Theje Jtgnes fljali fi>lb-v them that believe ^ &c. Thele iignes are 
 there faid to follow fuch as believe, and not fuch as are fent of 
 Chrift to preach thcGofpel. The words are to be taken either li- 
 terally ormyftically. If myftically, then all thofe fignes are to be 
 taken in a (pirituall fcnfc ; as to caft out devills by converting of 
 foules to God, in preaching of Chrift , as aforefaid ; and to fpeake 
 
 with 
 
in all the Priviledges of Grace, ly 
 
 with new tongues, is in reference to the new creature, which being 
 of a new nature,h« fpcaks with a new tongue^St fo a new language, 
 as he never did before , 2 Cor. 5. 17. according to thefe Scriptures, 
 Zepb.^. 9. Jfjt. 19. 1 8. d^ 3 $. 5, 6, And to take up Serpents, that is, 
 inrefpeft ofthegreat workeof the Gofpel, by which God will 
 alter and change the Serpent-like nature ot men, unto a Lamb- like 
 temper of fpirit, J/ii. 1 1 . 6.—g. and the fweet peace God will make 
 for his people with fuch, fob. 5.23- And for drinking any deadly 
 thing, it ftiall not hurt (uch as believe, that is, if they drinke in, at 
 any tmie, fal(e doftrine or errour , which in it felfe is poyfon and 
 deadly jbut God of his grace will Co provide that it fhall not hurt 
 them, (6 as to deftroy them,but he will rccovei-,and preferve them 
 by Come way or other. Mat. 24. 24. Jam.'y. 19,, 20. i Cor, 10. 13. 
 2.Fet. 2. 9. 
 
 But if the words be to be taken literally, then confider whether 
 the faith may not be the fame with the (i^nes^viz. the faith of mi- 
 racles which men might have, and yet perilh, Alat.y. 22, 23. But 
 grant the faith there fpoken of to be faith unto falvation , fpoken 
 of in the verfe aforegoing , and the words to be taken literally ; 
 yet Chrift there onely (hews how the truth of the Go(pel (hould 
 then be confirmed by fignes and miracles ; but doth not meane 
 that in every age, or in that age, none (hould be accounted be- 
 Kevers, but fiich as could doe (uch miracles, or (hewiuch (ignes;, 
 fee I Cor. J 2. 28, ip, 3,0. As touching James 5-1 4, 1 5. the dirc6Hon 
 there given is (till to be ob(erved according as God gives in faith' 
 into mens hearts to depend upon the promile there made:and fuch 
 obfcrvation of that direftionin the exercile of faith, will (urely be 
 accompanied with the promi(ed iuccefle. Neither was it any more 
 in the ApolUesdayes ; for even in that age Saints might and did 
 dye, as well as in (iicceeding ages. And for Hey. 6. 1,2. there is 
 nothing at all of any miracles, but cnely of laying on of hands.. 
 
 All therefore that hath been objefted, makes nothing to prove 
 the workingof njiraclesa note to declare a true Mini(tery of ChrilV, 
 either in whole or in part., but rather the contrary, nowin our 
 dayes. And againe, it is not to the point in hand',^ what power any 
 perfonswere attended with , but to what power or qualified per-- 
 ions, Chrift hath confined the difpenfing of his Ordinances abfb-- 
 tutclyj^ fo that none but onely fuch rau(t nwddle with.thc admini- 
 
 ftiung-, 
 
1$ Xha Sainn interefl hy Chrift 
 
 ftringotthem. Either let fuch as condcmne ourpraftife, hold us 
 ciitj and confine us to an siblolute Rule from the mouth of Chrift, 
 or el(e ceafc to oppofe us, left they oppofe Chrift hlrafelfe and his 
 Saints portion ; and (o at his coming be found in ftead of feeding, 
 to be fmiting of the flocke , Luk. 12. As of old , at the peoples rc- 
 turne out of teinporall Bahyleri in the typeawas. onely the fimple call 
 of God without any miracle j even fo in the antitype, the peoples 
 corning out of fpirituall Babyhn^ is oncly by the limple call of God 
 without any miracle, 21s l^cv. 18. 4. 
 Ohjc^. 1 5. The ApoUks having a Commiflion to preach uato all Nations, 
 M^t. 18. 19. yet they \ycre afterwards commanded to ftay at Jeru' 
 fakm until! they had received power from God to execute the (amc, 
 A&s I. Which power they receUed^Ath 2. Which (hews that none 
 can preach the Gofpel, nor are any to attempt the fame, without 
 the like pow^r of the holy Ghoft 5 for if any might, then the App- 
 ftles who had their CommifTionjbut they muft ftay tor power from 
 God, and (b muft men now. 
 Anfr^ This is but the fame in efi[eft that I have ever faid, that if any 
 
 man goes before he hath a Meflage from God, and power to deli- 
 ver the fame,(uch a one goeth of him(elfc undent : but one who 
 hath a Meflage, and abilitie to deliver it , God alTifting the fame 
 with power to effeft the wprke ; this now is one truly n:nt,|as afore- 
 said. But in a word briefly , let us a little minde what this power 
 here is , which the Apoftles were to waite for at Jemfalem ; this 
 power was the holy Spirit, the comforter, the Spirit of truth, the 
 promife of the Father, as the Scriptures manifeft, ABs l, 4.8. 
 Luh^2Af.^9-AB.i. 4.33. Joh. 14.16, 17.26. Joh.j.T^g. Thehojy 
 Spirit, in refpeft of his fanftifying power and gifts, the comforter, 
 in relpeft of his evidence in the myftery of the Fathers love ; in 
 which (e\\(e he was to fupply the place of Chrift, and was not to 
 come untill Chrift was afcended , Joh. 14. 16,17.26. Joh.\6.j. 
 Joh. 'j''^9' This holy Spirit and comforter, was the promife of the 
 Father, received of Chrift, and is given to all that believe through 
 Grace, Joj&.7.38,39.Kow. 8.9. 11. 14, 15, 16. G^/. 4. 6. Being the 
 holy regenerating Spirit of Grace, 3^(7^.3. 5,6. Jo^. 1. 1 2, 15, i jFo/7.3. 
 9. The comforter that brings the Fathers love through his Sonncs 
 death to a cold heart, Joh. 14.16. B.om. 5.5. The witnefle of all our 
 happincfle, and the holy Spirit of promilc, that ftals us up in the 
 
 Fathers 
 
in all the Priviledges of grace. 1 7 
 
 Fathers love, enabling of us to cry Abba Father, I Joh. 3 . 24. d^• $ . 
 10. Kww. 8. 15, i6.E^. 1. 133 14.6*1/. 4. 6. All which is oiiely on^ 
 and the fame Spirit, not many, bat onely one and no more, i Cor, 
 12. 4. w.^ph. 4. 4. Whole Minifteriall abilities I ftiall reduce unto 
 twoheadi. ' ■ i ' 
 
 1. Light and knowledge in the myftery of Chrift,in the Gofpeli 
 JEp^.3. 3,4,5.6. 
 
 2. Power or abilkie of utterance to preach and teach the fame, 
 ^5.2, 4. E^i?. 6. 1 9. Co/. 4. 3. i. - i 
 
 Let men ftrive while they will, here is the fubftance <rf"the Mini- 
 ileriall power of Chrift, and according to every mans talent, and 
 abilicic, he is to labour in this worke, Mat. 25. 14, 15. The mani- 
 feftation of the Spirit is given to every man(norie excepted) to pro- 
 fit withall, I Cor. 12.7. So that the Meflage of the holy Spirit is 
 holy and found do£lJrine, fuch as tends to bring perfbns to one 
 onitie of faith, and conformitie to the my ftery of God, and of the 
 Father, and of Chrift, i Joh. 1.1,2, 3.C0/.2, 2. Efh. 4. And the 
 Meflengcrs are fuch as the fame Spirit ftirres up, and enableth to 
 deliver the fame , as aforefaid. Such are, as it were, the eyes and 
 hands, and feet, of the holy Spirit, to call , and guide, and to goe 
 before, and lead on others. And as God in Ghiift hath received 
 thefe, fb he doth others brought to him by their Miniftery. 
 
 This was the power or promifeof the Father, that they were to 
 ttr'aite for, the Spirit to inable them to lay out Chrift dead and ri- 
 fen for a foundation to beare up the Ipirituall houfe of God ; and 
 as Lord and King of that Kangdome preached before to beat hand j 
 and now exalted at Gods right hand, and advanced to the throne 
 of his Father Vavid-^znd to hold him forth among all Nations as 
 the way to life, by faith in his death. All which could not be prear 
 ched untill Chrift wasafcended, and the holy Spirit given that 
 muft teach the fame. 
 
 And this in briefe was the power the Apoftles were to waite ac 
 Jernfalmt for , and fo is every man now. Though the holy Spirit 
 appeared then more fully and richer in his gifts then now he dothj 
 yet tor the eflcntialls of truth, both for falvationby belicvingin Je- 
 fos Chrift, and profcfling him under thofe honourable titles a(^ 
 ligned him by his Father , the holy Spirit doth now for fubftance 
 appeare the fame in his Minifteriall operadoos, as ever he did for- 
 
 D meiiy. 
 
i8 The Saints interefl ^ Chrift 
 
 merly. Though there be much imperfcftion and weaknefle in the 
 creature, this caufeth not truth to ceafe from being truth. Other- 
 wife there can be no fatvation tor any man 5 which is the next 
 thing to be examined. 
 
 Having difcovercd the way how (o know fuch as come from 
 God to the worke of the Miniftery, in Chrifts new Teftament, 
 which is by their worke as it anfwer s to the word of God^which is 
 theFvuleoftruth 5 
 
 I come now to the third particular^ namely , Whether there be 
 falvation now for man, and a way or meanes thereunto approved, 
 and appointed of God 5 and if there be, then what the lame is. 
 
 This being the third inquiry about the Saints enjoying the Or- 
 dinances of Chrifts new Teftament,! anlwer direftly, that to me it 
 is out of queftion, there is {alvation now for man, and meanes to it 
 appointed by God, or elfe none can be (av'd, and (b every perfon 
 in the world muft perifh. But in a word, note what I meane by fal- 
 vation, and that is, for one to be in fuch aneftate here in Grace, 
 that the word of God )uftifks to be attended with glory hereafter, 
 as follows ; - iw " ^^ f ^ » dz.. 
 
 1 . To believe that Jefus is the Chrift, the Son of God, ordained 
 of the Father to be the Saviour of man, i Job. i. 22. Mat. 16. i&k 
 jiH.S.^j.i Tet. 1.20. 
 
 2. And that Chrifts is come, and hath fufFered in the flefti, dyed, 
 and rifen againe by the power of God , and is exalted to be Lord 
 over all, i Job, 4. 2. Kom. io.f^.AB, 2. 32, 33. 36. B.om. 14. ^. i 
 
 3. And that Chrift by one ofiering hath made a free and open 
 way into the prefence of his Fathers love, the moft holy place, for 
 all that believe, to have free accefle unto the Father by him, Heh,^. 
 12. i^.Heb. 10. i9,20.£/>k2. 18.^^3. 12- 
 
 4. And that by his own bloud he hath waftied away all the 
 finnes of his people, and prelents them to the Father in his own 
 perfeftion ; in whom they are all compleat, and perfected for ever, 
 Kev. I. %.Job. 17.21,22, 23. Co/.2.p, lO.Heb. i©. 10. 
 
 5. That Chrift hath not onely by his bloud redeemed a people 
 from death, condemnation, and the curie for finne, and Co the guilt 
 of finne, but alio hath redeemed them from among men,and from 
 a vahie converfation, and traditions of men, to an holy coafelTion 
 of him, according to that rule and order inftituted by him in his 
 
 Uft 
 
in all the Priviledges if Grace. ip 
 
 Ud will and Teftamenc^ fealed with his bloud , Kev. 5. 93 xo. Hex/. 
 1 4. 1, 2, 3, 4. X Pe/. 1. 18. dr* 2. 9. £p/^. 2. 13.-22. Gj/. i. ^..IjfV. 2. 
 14. 
 
 Laftly 5 This truth believed of us, is not onely by the Scriptures 
 prefentcd to us, and from thence onely learned by usjbut alfo made 
 good upon usjand revealed in us by the holy Spirit given unto uf, 
 who hath given us an underftanding to know him that is true, 
 Kfjw. 5.5. I Job. 5. 20. Which Spirit of truth, as he brings light, 
 and reveales love, (b by the power of love he fubdues finne, morti- 
 fying the flefh, and brings up the new creature to God, and draws 
 forth the heart in love to man. And thus in briefe of (alvation that 
 is now for man, which is a being in the fweet pofleflion of the Fa- 
 thers love through Chrift, by faith unto etemall glory. 
 
 Now themeanes approved and appointed of God,for this great 
 worke of (alvation jis alfo manifeft, which in generall is, the Mini- 
 ftcriall power and operation of the Spirit of God, in what inftru- 
 ments foevcr he plealeth to appearejand to ufe them for that work, 
 who is limited to none, but commonly doth great things by weake 
 and defpifcd meanes, that the crownc and glory might reft on his 
 own head, as i Cor. i . 27, 2 8, 29. And yet there is the fame meanes 
 now to bring men to God in truth and for fubftance , which hath 
 been formerly. 
 
 1 . For wee have now the holy Scriptures of God, which are to 
 us in the place and ftead of the perfonall prefcnce both of Adofes 
 and the Prophets, L«^.i 6. 3 1 .and Chrift,and his Apoftles ; if God 
 pleale to (peake to us by them, as he did to his people of old by the 
 other. ( Who being dead yet fpeaketh, Heb. 1 1. 4. ) 
 
 2. Wee having this blcfled word of truth, to reade, (earch,»nd 
 ftudie, and Gods blefTmg being the fame to us, as to his people for- 
 merly, he being the (ame God ftill,and Chrift the fame yefterday, 
 and to day, and for ever, HeA. 13. 8. wee may therefore expeft, 
 and doe enjoy the fame effe^ with them , which is to underftand 
 the minde of Chrift concerning us in the fame. 
 
 3. We have the fame Spirit, who enables men to preach Chrift 
 crucified, which though to fome a ftumbling blocke, and to others 
 fooliftinefle, yet to many appeares to be the power of God, by 
 which they are brought to believe in Jelus Chrift for etemall life 
 and glory. And thus we have the fame Oofpel;, the fame faith, «he 
 
 D 2 lame 
 
20 T^^ Saints interejl hy Cbriji 
 
 iame Ghrift, and (o ?he fame way to fj^lyation as they fprmerly 
 had ; and thefe meanes doth God appointjand approve^and ble^, 
 for the efFefting of this great worke of falvation to us now, as well 
 ' as nnto others before us, that we together with them may be pro- 
 * Koked to praifc and magnifie the great Name of To gracious a God, 
 that hath done fuch great things fpr uSj tokeepehimfelfe a Name, 
 and witncfle in the earth. 
 
 But Come demand of us. Whether that the Ordinance of preach- 
 ing the Gofpel be now afoot for to bring men to life j according 
 to Chrifts CommiflTion, Mat. 28. 19, 20. 
 
 There be fome that ftrive againft the Ordinances of God, by 
 putting nice diftinftions in the word Preaching 5 to beare the finiple 
 hearted in hand, of fome great matter therein to be minded, and 
 that in the Originally thinking that every one is not able to dcale 
 with them there. But if we were minded to cavill , wee might de- 
 mand of them, how they know that to be the Originall> or the 
 fame copic Chrift and his Apoftles did fpeak or write ? But we feri- 
 oufly demand,whether we may not as well depend upon that tran- 
 flation in our own tongue, by the helpe of the Spirit of God, to 
 know the minde of Chrift, in things abfolutely neccflary for faith, 
 and life, as they upon the Originallafeeing that their Originall and 
 our tranflation hold forth the fame Gofpel of Jefus Chrift, They 
 make as if none could ever preach the Gofpel but only fuch as had, 
 and have the fame meafure of the gifts of the Spirit that the Apo- 
 ftles therafelves had,ahd yet they are at a ftand about Philip^hdi.^, 
 and confeife that he did preach in the proper iignification of the 
 word. But for my part,! freely grant them thus much,that no man 
 can truly preach the Go(pel , but he that hath the fame Spirit of 
 God that the Apoftles had.And fo I come to anfwer their demand 
 briefly thus : 
 
 1 . As preaching is to deliver a Meflage received of the Lord, as 
 B^m. 10. 14, 15. thus it is now afoote. 
 
 2. As preaching is a publiftiing of the Gofpel of Chrift occa- 
 fionally, to bring men to the truth, as AB, 8. 4. J&,i i . 1 9,20, 2 1 . 
 fo it is now afoote. 
 
 3. As the Difciples were to preach the Gofpel of Chrift freely to 
 all p^fons without exception, as Alsr^ id. i'^»A3i, 10. 34. thusic 
 is now afoote^ 
 
 Laftly, 
 
in all the Priviledges of Grace. 2 1 
 
 Laftly 5 As men are to trade with xhat at»l!tie given theoi of 
 Chrift, for their Lords advantage, z^ Mat. 2'y, 15* ' ^or. V2.j, 
 1 Tet. 4. 10. fb preaching the Gofpel is now afoote. 
 
 For men are now to improve that abilitie chey have received,^ 
 becaufe that all men are by the (ame Word now as well as then^ 
 to give account for the fame, Luh,' I2. 41.48. Mat. 2^. 25,25327. 
 -30. All which is according to Chrifts ComtnilTionj Mat. 2 8. and 
 no way contrary to the fame. 
 
 There is not that converting; Miniftery now abroad in the world Ohjedt. i «, 
 that the Word of God holds forth ; there is one Miniftery abroad ^ 
 
 that converts men unto faith in Chrift for (alvation, or juftificaci- 
 onj but the Minifters labour to keepe fuch ftill in the fin of idola- 
 try} or fal(e worfhip, and then others pretend to convert thele fur- 
 ther by bringing them into order as they (ay , by dipping. But 
 where is that Miniftery that calls Perfons out of the world, and 
 plants them at once in Church- fcllowfliip^ 
 
 For fuch a converfion to faith in Chrift for falvation, as fully Af^iv,. 
 leaves the (aid converts in idolatry, and fhort of the Go(pel-order 
 and fellowftiip ; I know no fuch converfion,Chrift owning no fuch 
 faith in him for falvation, that brings not perfons out of idolatry 
 unto the fellowftiip of the Gofpel. But what though, there be a 
 Miniftery abroad that brings perfons but part of the wayjand then 
 another that brings the fame perfons more fully home into fellov/- 
 fhip i This order the Word of God will beare us out in for a truth,^ 
 as Job. 4. 37, 38. And alfo the Jewes they made Profelytes ; and 
 John the Baptift , he brought them further ; and the Apoftles they 
 brought the fame perfons fully home into fellowHiip, A^. 2.10. 
 40, 41 , A£i. 18. 24.-28. AS, 19. 1 . — 7. The fame order was 
 fhadowed out in the building of the Temple by King Solomon, 
 I King. 5.6. Where the Sidoniani hewed timber and ftone for the 
 houffof God abroad ; but the fervants oi Solomon laid them in the 
 building. And this, I fay, that in reference to the meanes, it is a far 
 harder worke to convert and fit matter for the ^irituall houfe of 
 God, out of An tich rifts hard and rockie frame, then out of the . = 
 
 heathenifti and prophane world rand yet notoncly the beft,if I may 
 fo fay, but the very worft of them, hath been from thence c died 
 home, and planted in the Lords vineyard. Atid there muft be as 
 grwt a power from God appeare to bring thefe deniers of a belie- 
 
2 2 The Saints inter efi by Chrifi 
 
 vers priviledges of iheGolpeljfrom their (elfe-wifdomejand carnall 
 principles, unto the fimplicity of Chrift, as ever was to caft out a 
 devillj heale the fickcjraile the deadjor convert any (inner. And yet 
 our weaknefle through Gods power hath fo prevailed, that it hath 
 brought oftthechiefeft of finners unto the obedience of the Gofpelj 
 and prophane perfecuters of us have been convinced , and become 
 lovers of God and his truth togecher with us j and lb as Serpents 
 have been taken up , and their (lings pulled outjand of Lions made 
 Lambesrand thus hath Chrif]: been pleafed to honour the Miniftery 
 which he hath now in his Church , and leaves not himlelfe with- 
 out witneflfe againft (iich as oppofc him in the fame. 
 
 4. Inquiry 3 Whether there be any time in which man is freed 
 from obedience to the Scriptures (ince the new Teftament came in 
 force : And if not, then what part of truth (lands now in force to 
 be obeyed, and what not? 
 
 For man to be freed from obedience to the Scriptures in gcnc- 
 rall, I (iippofe none that fearc God will once countenance fuch an 
 opinion -, therefore I come more particularly to confider what part 
 of the Scriptures is now in foice, and fpecially to be knowne, and 
 obeyed. They are tho(e Scriptures that are neceflfary to bring God 
 and man together unto a onene(re in Chrid. And this is the Go- 
 fpeljwhich is called the ff^ordofReconciliationythtGoj^elofthe King- 
 dome ; which holds forth Chrid to be King, Prie(l, and Prophet, 
 and the onely way unto the Father ; and brings perfbns to be of the 
 J^ houfhold of God. Which hou(hold is that compo(ed order, and in- 
 
 ftituted (late of Ch rids Church of the newTedament,with thefub- 
 jeftsin that order and date, according to the fameTcdament; of 
 which Tedamcnt Chrid is the Mediator, who hath confirmed the 
 fame by his own bloud, and (an£tified all things therein contained. 
 All which the Scriptures of the new Tedaraent hold forth , and 
 therefore they of all others are to be obeyed ; for therein the whole 
 Mediatorfhip of Chridjtogether with the efFeft of the famejand his 
 rule and order for ever to be>ob(erved, is written for our learning. 
 This Tedament, and Chrid the Mediator thereof, ^nd mans falva- 
 tion 3 are all fo inleparably joyned together by the holy Spirit, 
 that the Gofpel holds forth no one of the(e without the other ; fo 
 that there is no faith in Chrid approved of, apart from the word 
 of the Tedament} of which he is the Mediator. And that faith 
 
 wluch 
 
in all the Priviledges of Gract. a 3 
 
 which is truly of hinij and in him, brings up the heart believing to 
 a profefTed fubjeftion to him. Both which together {viz. faith, and 
 the profefllon of faith ) doe give unto a man both a being , and a 
 name in Chrills Teftament, R<?m. i o. 10. Gj/. 3 . 26, 27. Mark' 1 6. 
 16. Take away from a man either faith, or the profeifion of faith, 
 and there is no name found for that man in Chrifts newTeftament, 
 'Kev. 22. xAf.Hih, 3. I. Ueh. 10. 22, 23. None are owned either of 
 God, or man, to be members of Chrift, that are no way under the 
 profcflion of him ; as appearcs in Mat, 10. 32, 33. i 'joh. 4. 3. And 
 there is now no profeflion of Chrift according to the rule of his 
 Word, without Baptifmc , Mm. 28.19. M^rh^ 1 6. 1 6. Lwi^y. 30. 
 Gd. 3. 26, 27. Epk> 4. 5. 
 
 By all which it appearcs, notonely ingenerall that the Scrip- 
 tures of the new Teftament ftand now in forccjand are to be obey- 
 ed of all that doe believe ; but alfo in particular that the word of- 
 the new Teftament which holds forth Baptifmc, and requires the 
 ufe of the fame,is ftill in force, and to be obeyed ; becaufc thecleare 
 promile of the faving bsneHts of Chrifts MediatorQiip, and the ad- 
 niiniftrations of the new Teftament, whereof he is Mediator, goe 
 together in the Word , AH. 2. 38. Ati. 22, 16. Rom. 6. 334,5. 
 I Co)-. 12. 13. Co/. 2. 12. I Pe^3.2l. 
 
 And here let it be well minded,how Chrift encourageth us to the 
 perpetuall obfervation of that rule in Mat.2S. 19. 20. by this pro- 
 mife i And loy I am rvithyou alnoay , even unto the end of the n>orld. 
 And how the Apoftle iignifies it to be our duty , in the u(e of the 
 Supper, to (hew the Lords death till he come, i Cor. 1 1. 26. Is not 
 then the word of the new Teftament, concerning the ufe of the Or- 
 dinances of the new Teftament, now in force ? Let us take good 
 heed that we doe not diminiOi from the word of Chrift, nor make 
 voyd the (ame, Veut. 4. 2. Kev. 22.19. Pfal. 1 1 9, 1 26. 
 
 And fo I pafle to the next inquiry, which is this j 
 
 Whether the new Teftament, whereof Chrift is the Mediator, be ^. 5, 
 not of equall authoritie with the old TeftaTnent, (whereof A/o/e/ 
 was the Mediator) to command obedience : and holds not forth 
 a rule for the fame, as the old Teftament did. This will appeare 
 to be an undeniable truth , that the authoritie of the new Tefta- 
 ment is equall with, if not above , the authoritie of the old Tefta- 
 ment 
 
 1. The 
 
24 ^^^ Sarnti inter e^ hy Chrifi 
 
 1. The inftituter, and Law-giver of the new Tcftamcnt is of 
 equall power and authoritic with the inftituter of the old , being 
 the Sonne of God, who is Lord over all , Heb, i. Kom, lo. 12. 
 James 2. i. 
 
 2. The Mediator of the new Teftament is higherjand of greater 
 auchoritiea then the Mediator of the old Teftament, Heb.:^. i 6. 
 
 3. The whole ftate, LaweSj and Ordinances of the new Tefta- 
 ment, are of a higher and more heavenly nature, then the ftate and 
 Ordinances of the old Teftament^ He^. 9. 2 C^r. 3. He^. 12. and gi- 
 ven with greater authoritie, and therefore the negleft of obedience 
 thereunto, is by the holy Spirit laid under the greater punilhment, 
 Heb.2.i. — 4. Hf^. 12.25. 
 
 4. The old Teftament was confirmed by the bloud, and death 
 of Buls & Goats, and the like, but the new Teftament is confirmed 
 by the bloud and death of Jefus Chrift the Sonne of God, the Lord 
 of life, and therefore of greater authoritie then the old. 
 
 Hereby it is manifeft , that the authoritie of the new Teftament, 
 is equdll with, if not above the authoritie of the old Teftamentj to 
 command obedienccAnd touching the rule of the lame obedience, 
 this is cleare alfo, being of the (ame nature with the Word, or Te* 
 ftament it {elfe^for that which commands a thing, (hews alfo what 
 it commands. That command by which a mans wayes fliall be try- 
 ed, judged, juftified5or condemned ; that is the rule given by God 
 of mans obedience unto him j and this is the word of Chrift, as he 
 is the great Prophet of the new Teftament , and consequently the 
 Scriptures of the fame new Teftament, -^^.3. 22, 23. Mat, 2%. 20. 
 Chrift thus commanding obedience with authoritie in the newTe- 
 ftament, and holding forth the rule thereof in the fame,di(pen(eth 
 neither with things, nor time, norperfons, AB, 17. 30, 3i.He^. 2. 
 1,2, 3.He^. 12. 25. 
 ObjeB. 15. The new Teftament requires obedience onely of fuch as are un- 
 der the fame. 
 Anfrv* The Golpel that declares the authoritie , and government of 
 
 Chrift, is fent out into all the world, and holds up him to be Lord 
 of Lords,and King of Kings,before all Nations,and commands and 
 requires obedience and fubjeftion of all, without exception ; and 
 makes neither age, time, perfon, gift, nor qualification the conditi- 
 on of mans obedience to the Go(peI,and fubjedion to his Crowne. 
 
 If 
 
in all the Priviledges of Grace, 2 5 
 
 If all in generall are to obey the Golpel , then all that come at Object, 16. 
 the outward callj are to be admitted to fcllovvfhipand commu- 
 nion. 
 
 All that may be judged to come in obedience and faith , are to be jinfrr. 
 admitted to fellowfliip and communion. And all ought to come 
 and fubrait and tender themfclves and their fervice, that their Lord 
 and King might receive themjwhodoth not receive any but fuch as 
 come in faith 5 neither did he other wife intend in the calljbut to fe- 
 ver between the good and the bad , Afatth.2<^. 657. lo, ii, 12. 
 Mat. 1 3. 48. For thoitgh many are caUedyyet ferv are chejenyMu.20.16. 
 And it is one thing to command fubjeftlon, and another thing to 
 bid a man immediately and direftiy to believe he (hall be faved. 
 By refufing fubjeftion unto Chrift, men pull upon themfelves hea- 
 vie judgementSj and dreadful! deftruftion ; and this their dellrufti- 
 on fhall be from the power and juft fentencedf ChriftaMjf.i 1.23. 
 Mat. 23.54,35.37338. iCor. 10. 5, — ii. Heb. 5. ly^lS. Ifji,6o. 
 \2.2lbef. 1.85 9. The Lord Chrift hath a Lordly right and power 
 in^ and over all creatures ; and though the lame doth not yet fully 
 appeare in the efFefts of it, yet in due time it (hall , Heb. 2. 8. with 
 Kev. 1 1. 15. 17. In the meane time, Chrifl: the Lord demands his 
 right of all nienjand will judge the dilbbedient for their difloyaltie 
 to him, Jude 1 5. Lvd^. 19. 27. Yea he requires all, both perfons, 
 ftates, and powers, to be under fubjeftion ^ who alfo (hall acknow- 
 ledge him to be Loi d , to the glory of God the Father , who fub- 
 duedall things under him, ^jal. 72. 8, 9, 10,11. 1 Cor. 15.24,25. 
 Thil. 2. 9j 10, 11. 
 
 Thus the holy Scriprures hold forth Chrifts power and domini- 
 on, and call for fubjeftion to the fame, of all perfons without ex- 
 ception, Pp/. 2. 12. And when Kings and Nations (hajl acknow- 
 ledge this, and fubmit them(elves thereunto , then fliall they fit 
 downc in peace one with anotbfr, and learne to vvarre no more, 
 Ifai.2. 4- Zech. 9. 10. And fo (hall be delivered from thofc many 
 heavje miseries and deftruftions which they fuffer one from ano- 
 ther, for their rejefting and oppofing the Scepter of Chrift, t!:cir 
 Lord and King ; as the Jerves of old did. Ani wiiereas feme con- 
 ceive, that Chrifts kingly office, to ml:f, and command, isofno 
 larger extent then his Prieftly office to redeeme , and to fave from 
 linne and wrath.I doe believe that Chrift by h<s kingly power com- 
 
 E mai'.ds 
 
2 ^ The Saints interefl by Cbriji 
 
 mands and rules over both Angels and Devils, and all his enemies, 
 for whom he was never a Prieft to redeeme them, and fave them 
 from finne. As Vavid ( a type of Chrift ) was in fome refpeft King 
 onely of J/J^^e/^and yet in the exercife of his kingly power for Jp-aels 
 good, commanded & ruled over many heathen Nations and King- 
 domes : fo Chrift is indeed, in fome fenfe, and in fome refpeft King 
 of his own peculiar people only, who onely are they that obey him 
 willingly and fincerely, and over whom he reignes for their eter- 
 nall good, to make them Kings reigning with him ; and yet in the 
 exercife of his kingly power for their good , he rules with might 
 overall the world, and juftly punifheth all the difobedience of the 
 whole world. And now I come to confider of the laft enquicry> 
 thus; 
 ^. 6* Whether Chrift requires not a publick confefldon of him , by all 
 that believe in him : and if he doe, then what the fame is , and the 
 Ptule for it. 
 
 Now that Chrift requires a publick confeffion of him,by all fuch 
 as believe in him, is fo cleare in the Scriptures that I fuppofe none 
 that believe the Scriptures will deny it. Mat, i o. 3 2, 3 3. Joh.12,^23 
 43. Kom. ic. 9, 10. 1 Job. 4. 2, 3. 
 
 But for the more full clearing of this truth , two things muft be 
 minded : 
 
 1 . What we meane by believing in Chrift. 
 
 2. Whatbyconfeflion of Chrift. 
 
 Touching the firftj By believing in Chrift,! meane that believing 
 that Jefus is the Chrift, which John fpeakes of in i Job. 5. i. That 
 believing with all the heart , which Philip (pake of in A3s 8. 37. 
 That believing with the heart untorighteoufne8,which Paul (peaks 
 of in Kom. 10. 9, 10. 
 
 Touching the (econdjThe confefllon that Chrift requires of men 
 fo believing, is toconfefle him in his Name and Titles that his Fa- 
 ther hath honoured him with, and (et him out by,z'i;5.To be a fuf* 
 ficient and onely Saviour , and the Mediatour of the new Tefta- 
 ment ; as Kingj Prieft, and Prophet. A Prieft to redeeme and pur- 
 cha(e his people; a Prophet to teach and inftruft that people; 
 and a King to prote6^ and defend the faid people in their obedience 
 to the truth, revealed by him as a Prophet, and by him as a Kng 
 commanded to be obeyed. And as (his is to beknowne and belie- 
 ved 
 
in all the Privf ledges 'of grace, 27 
 
 ved of fuch as expeft life by him : eveu lb it is to be confefled, by a 
 profeficd iubjeftion to him in the Came. The Rule of which pro fef- 
 fed fubjeftion and con ^eirioiijis the iiiftifuted order and adiiiniftra- 
 tion of Chrilh Teftamentjfor no other confeffion doth he approve 
 ofjbut that which iioids him forth to be Jelus Chrift^ the Sonne of 
 God, come in the )Se(h5dead, and n^en againcjafcendedjand exalted 
 at Gods right handjto the throhc of his Father David -, and fo to 
 be Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. And fubmiflion to the infti- 
 tUtcd order and adminiftrationof ChriftsTeftament, is an ordai- 
 ned confeflion of this believing In him, in a profefled fub)e6^ion to 
 him. This confeflion doth Chrifl: therefore require of fuch as be- 
 lieve in him, and cwnes no believing unto falvation in his newTc- 
 ftamcntjonce confirmed by his death, where this is rcfufed.For the 
 benefits of Chrift as Mediatour 3 and hisadminiftration, and the 
 ftate, order, and rules of that Teftament whereof he is Mediator, 
 and the fubje6:s partaking of thofe benefits,goe together in the re- 
 cord of Scripture 5 fo that if there be no baptizing into Chrift,then 
 is there not conftflicn of Chrift, according to his appointment. 
 Mat, 28. 19. 1 Cor. 12. i^.Gal. 3. 27. Kom, 6. 3. Eph.^.'^. Luk.y.^o, 
 And if not confeflion of Ghrift,according to his appointmsntjthen 
 nofeith toiaivation by Ghriftexp.efly owned, Mat. 10. 32,33. 
 with I Job. 4. 2, 3. Job. 12. 42, 43.1 his I (peake in reference to the 
 expreiTe word of God , which owght to be every mans rule to trie 
 his way and walke by, becaufc by the Word he fhall be tryed, and 
 judged, iuftifi^d, or condemned , according as he appeares by the 
 hmeyj'b. 12. 48. Rem. 2. 16. 
 
 This niak^s agarnH: the free grace of God, that faves man, with- Obje^: 1 
 out any condition of obedience, or refpeft to any outward exter- 
 nal! Ordinance, but onely to Chrift, and believing in him. 
 
 1. The truth afoiefaid no way oppofeth Gods free grace in fa- Anfv. 
 ving man through faith in Chrift j for it brings nothing in with 
 
 Chrift to fave any man, but lays out the way that God brings per- 
 foijs into, whom he doth lave. For they come not into that way of 
 profeflion to be faved, but being favcd they come to (hew their 
 thankfulnefle to God for the fame. 
 
 2. This order of truth difcovers and fets out the true nature of 
 Grace in it? proper place, and ufe. Gods eleftingand chufing per- 
 fons to falvation is of his free Grace, but whom he fo chuleth, he 
 
 E 2 chuleth 
 
2 8 T^he Saints tntereji hy Chrift 
 
 chureth in Chrift, E^/?. i. 4. Therefore to make Chrift eflentiall to 
 mans falvation , is not again ft grace, but for it. 
 
 3. The gift of Chrift, and life by him, is free grace ; but neither 
 Chrift, nor life by him is given without faith. Therefore to make 
 believing in Jelus Chrift of abfolute necelTitic to life , is not againft 
 grace, Eph, 2. 8. Faith it felfe is the free gift of God, and the work 
 of grace in the heart of man,yet is there no faith approved by God 
 in his Word without workes, James 2. Therefore to put faith to 
 tryall by its woike5',and to bring both to the light, to try and to 
 fee if it be indeed that which God of his grace hath given to man 
 for life, and the manifeftation thereof, and to make them both in- 
 feparable companions,is no way againft the free grace of God,that 
 favcs not man without faith, nor approves of faith without works, 
 and trycs aTl workes by his Word. 
 
 4. The forefaid truth confirmes grace,or faith in grace,by hold- 
 ing forth from the Scriptures the priviledges that belong untofiich 
 as believe through grace, and the frcedorae thereof in grace to faith 
 alone, without any other condition at all. As the gracious new Co- 
 venant it felfe is free, which comprehends all that is between God 
 and man in grace, and requires nothing but onely faith in Jefu* 
 Chrift to admit perfons into the lame,w hich makes them one with 
 all that the laid Covenant containes j whether ftate, order, ordi- 
 nances, adminiftrations, adminiftratorSj things adminiftred,or to 
 be adminiftred , things paft, prcfent, or to come. All is theirs who 
 are in the Covenant ofgrace,that contains all.And none are in the 
 way of life held forth in the word of God, that are out of this Co- 
 venant. And all priviledges and benefits comprehended in the faid 
 Covenant,, lie all as free without conditions unto fuch asbclieve,. 
 as the Covenant it (elfe. For the Covenant in generall compre- 
 hends the (everall parts in particular: and therefore looke what 
 condition any one part lies under, the fame doth another, and (b 
 all. If one part be free, all is free, and fo indeed it is a free Cove- 
 nant to fuch as believe. And all the pardcular branches of this gra- 
 cious Covenant are fb in(eparably joyned togetherjthat if a man be 
 truly under any one part,he is uitder all : if he have Chrift, he hath 
 all : if he have faith,, he hath all : if he have o>ie promilc truly, he 
 hath all : and if he have right to any one ordinance, he hath the 
 fame right to all. So that he that dif- inherits himfelfe of any one^ 
 
 partj 
 
in all the Priviledges of Grace, 2^ 
 
 part, dif-inherits himfelfe of all. For grace in the Covenant, and 
 the priviledges therein contained are not divided. And when faith 
 finds the treafure, (hee will have alfb the field, where the treafiire is 
 hid, Mjttb.i^.^^. Thus joyning of faith in Chriflr, andfubje- 
 Oiion to Chrift infeparably together, as the Scriptures doe, ( both 
 being branches of one and the lame gracious Covenant ) doth no 
 way oppole Gods free grace in (aving man by faith in Chrift. 
 
 If the adminiftrations of the new Teftament lie fo open and free Ohje&. 18. 
 to all that believe , without condition or exception, then any that 
 believe may adminifter all Ordinances-; and fo women, as well as 
 any other. 
 
 By pretended abfurdities and falfe confequences, the truth of ^^0^. 
 God is commonly oppofed and obfcured by the adverfaries there- 
 of: yet truth never brings upon it felfe any ablurdity. But abfurdi- 
 ties fometimes feeme to follow through the fubtilty of men oppo- 
 fing the truth 5 and fometimes through the ignorance of men, noc 
 knowing how to avoyd them, and defend the truth from them. 
 
 Truth alwayes lyes within the bounds of order , whither true 
 faith brings in a man, and there truth makes him free, JJj. 8. 32.; 
 Truth and order are never apart, mujh leffe oppofeeach other, 
 how ever men conceive : for God who is one, is the God both of 
 truth, and of order, 1 Cor. 14. Sjthat wherefoever fiith findes 
 truth, there order alfo dwells. For as God is the God of order, fo 
 his Word which is truth 3 is the rule of order 5 and this Word is 
 faiths foundation , v. hereoi^. fhee builds : which Word is (o farre 
 from being any exceptive condition of truih, as that it is truth it 
 felfe. God calls no man to difpenfe his truth , whom he doth not 
 fit and enable for the fame : and whom God doth call and (endj 
 he (b (ends them that they goe in faith. And faith ever attends ac 
 wildomes gate, and bids not goe other waycs then Chrift dire6b* 
 Sofarreisfauh froRileadng any to any abfurdity and diforder, 
 that it keepes them in the hand of truth, which guides them accorr 
 ding to order, and reproves the contrary. 
 
 And for womens adminiftring of Ordinance? j Gods free lovs 
 and true faiih never admits or gives way unto any unlawflill or dii- 
 orderly libertie. And I have endeavoured to prove that the free tile 
 of ordinances is only to faith,not to the fleQi,and fo not in any un- 
 fieemly way. God who is the Godof order > hath in his Word of 
 
^o The Saints tnterefl by Chrifl 
 
 truth taught women what their dutie is : and namely in i Cor, 1 4. 
 54, 35. I 'lim. 2. II, 12. This rule forbids unto them the admini- 
 ftringof ordinances. And they which have faith, will believe the 
 Lord, and obey his Word. 
 
 Againcjl have not (aid, that the adminiftrations of the newTc- 
 ftaraent are free for any that believe to adminifter thcm.But I have 
 proved that they are free for all that believe to iubmit unto them 
 (or rather, to Chrift in them3)without any condition or exception 
 again ft the fame. Therefore it is ftill the duty of all that believe in 
 |e(us Chrift, as aforefaid, to hold forth a confeflion of this their 
 believing in him, by their profeflTtd fubjeftion to him in the order 
 and rules of his Teftaraent, without which he doth not exprefly 
 owne any faith in men according to the tenour of the faid Tefta- 
 ment. 
 
 It is faid, Rev. 6. 14. That heaven departed^ &c. Which muft be 
 underftood of the Church and Ordinances, and wee doe not finde 
 when ftiee appeared in the like manner againe. 
 And^, ^^^^ ^^^* ^^^ neceflarily be underftood of a departing of the 
 
 Church and ordinances, is not fo certaine as is imagined. See the 
 like prophecy in Jfaiah 34. 4. and note well what went before in 
 ver. 2j 3. and what followes in verf. 5, 6. — 1 1 . and then confider 
 whether Ifaiah did there prophecy of fuch a departure of the 
 Church and Ordinances, as is now fpoken of. That departing of 
 heaven as a fcroll, fpoken of in Kevel. 6. 14. ftiall then be when the 
 Sunne becomes blacke as lackcloth , and the Moone as bloud ; 
 when the ftarres of heaven fall unto the earth,as figs from a fig-tree 
 (haken with a mighty wind ; when every mountaine and ifleland 
 are moved out of their places ; when the Kings of the earth , and 
 the great men,and the rich.and the chiefe Captains,and the migh- 
 ty, and every bondman, and every free-man hide themfelvf $ in the 
 dens, and in the rockes of the mountaines, &c. fee the place, viz. 
 Kevel.6. 12, 13,14, ij, 1 6. And then judge whether it be certain 
 that this prophecy is fulfilled, and the heavens departing as a fcroll 
 is a departing of the Church and Ordinances. 
 
 But lee this feeme as granted for the prelent ;( becaufe heaven in 
 this Booke of the Revelation, doth fonietimes fignifie the Church :) 
 But then alfo minde that the Churches departing is here fet forth 
 •by the fimiiitude of a booke or fcroll folded togcther,which before 
 
 lay 
 
in all the Privi ledges of Gface. ^ i 
 
 lay open. So then the Church fomctimes lay open in her glory, 
 and her light did (liine abroad among the Nations ; but now when 
 that great oppolition and perlecutiou did riie again ft her, (hee re- 
 tired her felte in a more private way. A booke or fcroll is not de- 
 faced nor deftroyed when it is rolled up together, but is as perfeft 
 in it felfc as before, onely it lies not fo open for every one to looke 
 into : and fo it is with the Church, her departing is not from being 
 a Church, but in refpcft of her ob(curing and hiding of her felfe 
 from her enemies, as Ifai. 26. 20, Rw. 12. 6, 14. For fhee onely de- 
 parted as a fcroll when it is rolled together , and fo continued in 
 her felfe a Church, enjoying (as her right) her ordinances and her 
 communion ftill. For in the next Chapter, there is the Lord upon 
 his throne, with his Church & Miniftery about him worfhipping. 
 The Church then here departed (as is afore(aid)from her enemies, 
 together with her Ordinances, to a more retired and obfcure con- 
 dition then before ; but never departed from her felfe. 
 
 It is faid, Kiv. 15. ^.'that the Tempk was filled n>ithJmokg from the Ohjedf, 20<. 
 glory of God J and from his potver^ and no man was able to enter into the 
 Temple, till thejeven plagues of the [even Angels were fulfilled ; Whence 
 it is gathered, that in the time of Antichrift, and the Beafts reigne, 
 there is no entring into any Church-order, &c. 
 
 1. Confider whether it be not a manifeft property of an erring '^«)0'« 
 fpirit, to wave cleare places of the Scripture, calling for the perpe- 
 
 tuall u(e of the Ordinances of Baptifme, and the Lords Supper ; as 
 Mat.1%. 19. 1 Cor, 11. 26. and other like places .'and tochufe to 
 walke in the darke, retiring to oblcure places(not yet underftood) 
 for a (eeming refuge. 
 
 2. Coniider whether this place do not manifeftly allude to that 
 in I l^^ng 8 1O5 1 1. and wheiher that place doe import that there 
 was any C-ffation of Ordinances in Solomom time. , 
 
 3. T ike noc'ce that this place in Kni'l. 1 5 . doth hold forth unto 
 us a Church, and a ij'orious one too. Foi here is a Temple out of 
 which the (vten Angels goe with their feven g Uden via!s full of the- 
 Wrath of God againft Antichrift, or the Beaft. For this fee Kezel, 
 15. 1. 5, 6. Kevel, 1 6. i. &c. Are not the(e the Miniftersof Chrift, 
 which goe forth of the Temple , which is the Chu ch of Chrift ? 
 into which men muft firft comejor elfe they cannot goe out thence; 
 for no man can be faid to goe out of a place that he never came in. 
 
 Thus 
 
3 2 The Saints inter e^ by Chrifi 
 
 Thus this Scripture well confidercdjlhews the weaknefle of thofe 
 that t.ike upthe fame tooppoie the Saints fellowfhipnowjind their 
 conftfTion of Chrift in their profefled lubjeftion to his order of the 
 r.ew Teftamenc. This text is lb farre from keeping any backe^ that 
 it rather calls all that have faith tocome^ (eeing Chrift will have 
 at this time (even under the reigne of Antichrift ) (bch a Church, 
 out of which God will raife fuch notable inftruments to encounter 
 with his enemie?. 
 
 Though the Church lyes fometimes low and obfcure, yet God at 
 fome times raifeth her up againe. The Church is as the Temple, 
 fometime open, and fometime (hut : and as the Moone , (bmetinie 
 at the full, and fometime in her change : and as a wife, fometime 
 fporting with her husband, (as Kebecca with IfaacjGen,26. 8. )and 
 fometime in travaile and paine : fometime finging the fong o^Mo- 
 fes and the Lambe, and fometime hanging her harpe upon the wil- 
 lowes. And thus fhee is made conformable unto Chrill her head) 
 who is fometime in bloud , fbmetim.e on his throne -, fometime In a 
 cloud 3 and {bmetime with his face (hining as the Sunne ; (cjmetime 
 with a raine-bow on his head, and fometime in the brightnefle of 
 his glory. Therefore although that truth doth not alwayes in like 
 manner appeare, yet this frees not man from his obedience unto it 
 when it appeares -•, but rather engageth him the more. 
 ObjeB. 21. Chrift foretells of falfe Chrifts and fal(e Prophets that (hall a- 
 rife and deceive many, faying, Lo here is Chrifl^ or there, Matf h. 24. 
 And this is fulfilled in thofe that attempt the worfhip of God fome 
 oneway, and fome another 5 and yet have niifled the right way. 
 And fome perceiving their miftake,have begun againe: and all for 
 want of the infallible Spirit of God to lead them forth at the firft. 
 And as they failed before, even fo they may doe againe. 
 Anfiff, , I . Chrilh words in Adatth.2^. are an anfwer to a demand of his 
 Difciples concerning his coming, and the end of the world; (ec 
 z/er/3, 4. And Chrift doth not anfwer concerning his coming in 
 the miniftery of the Gofpel and adniiniftration of his Ordinances •-, 
 for therein he came not in fuch a manner as he fpeakes of in this 
 Chapter : fee verf.2'j. 30. But concerning hisperfonall coming-, 
 the time whereof was to men unknowne: whereupon he chargeth 
 all his to be alwayes ready, waiting and looking for his coming 
 continually 5 fee verf. 3 6. 42, 435 44. 
 
 2. The 
 
in all the Priv Hedges of Grace, 2 5 
 
 2. The falle Chrifts and falfc Prophets thatChrift hercfore- 
 v/arnes the faithfull to take heed of, are fuch as (hall (hew great 
 lignes and wonders, ver. 24. How then comes it to pade , that they 
 which hold forth the Gofpel and Ordinances of Chriftjare clofely 
 infinuated to be thefe falfe Prophets , whiles this is one maine ex- 
 ception again ft them. That they do not (hew great (ignes and won- 
 ders^ Surely they prepare men to be deceived by the(e fal(c Chrifi:s, 
 and fal(e Prophets, who teach men to receive none as Minifters of 
 Chrift, though they prove their doftrine and way by the Scrip- 
 tures never fo clearly , unlede they (hew great (ignes and wonders, 
 and confirme their wcjrd and way thereby. 
 
 3. The fal(e Prophecs here fpoken of, are fuch as (hall falfly af- 
 firme themfelves to be fuch Prophets as the Prophets of the old Te- 
 ftamenr, Ifdah, Jeremiah, and the reft , were in their time ; ajid as 
 Agabus and feme others were in the Apoftles time. And the falfe 
 Chrifts here (poken of, are fuch as (hall falQy affirme theTifelves to 
 be Chrift in perlbn ; as appeares in verf.<^. This therefore cannot be 
 taken up and applyed again ft tho(e that now ftand up for the pre- 
 ient ufe of the Ordinances of Chrift. 
 
 4. As in the next Chapter Chrift teacheth his fervants not to 
 hide their talents in the earth, but to trade with the fame 5 that is, 
 to u(e their gifts to the gathering of the Eleft, and the Churches 
 edification ; in which u(e their gifts al(b (hall be encrea(ed : fo in 
 Marki 13. which is the fame in effeft with this pre(ent Chapter, he 
 mindeth his (ervants, not onely to watch ihat they may not be 
 found fleeping, fe/*/ 35, 36. but alio to coufider the authoritie that 
 he hath given unto them, and the worke that he hath appointed 
 them, vcrf. 34. which muft be underftood of a minifteriali autho- 
 ritie, and a worke of the Miniftryjto continue till his coming. And 
 in this Chap. verj. 45, 46. he minds them to give unto his houfhold 
 their meat in due (eafonjwhich houfhold mult needs be his Church; 
 and their meat, his Word and Ordinances. 
 
 5. Doe not they in (bme fort affirme Chrift to be in the dcfert, 
 and in fecrcr chambers , who affirme the Church to be in fuch a 
 fort in the VVildernelTe, as that there is now no place for the ap- 
 poiiited Minlftry of theGofpeljand Gofpel- Ordinances^ 
 
 6. As touching the want of an infallible fpii it to lead men forth 
 into all truth j It is true indeed that not onely ail true and faithfull 
 
 ¥ Preachers 
 
54 T^be Saint i interefl by Cbrifi 
 
 Preachers of the Gofpel, but alfo all true believers have an unfti- 
 on from the holy One, and know all thingSj i Job. 2. 20. But this 
 is meant onely of fame nieafure of knowledge, for true believers 
 muft fiiil grow in knowledge, 2 Pet. 3. 20. And it is meant onely 
 of their knowing all thofe things, the knowledge whereof is ne- 
 cefiTary to fulvacion. As touching other things, the Spirit of truth 
 doth not leads the Saints into all truth at once. The Apol^le Peter 
 and the Church at Jemjalem was dcfeikive in theunderftandingof 
 the extent of Chrifts Commiflion touching the preaching of the 
 Gofpel to thofe Gentiles that were not Profelytes, untill God did 
 further informe them. This appeares in ABs 10. 10.— 1 5, ip, 20, 
 28. ^^.A£is II. 2 — 18. yet was Peter a true Apoftle, and the Con- 
 gregatioaat Jersifiletn a true Church. Yea it appeares that the bre-* 
 chren which prophcfied in conftituted Churches were not free from 
 all pOiTibiiitie of miftaking. Note well, i Cor. 1 4. 2p. and i "tbef. 5. 
 20, 21, 22. Vavid and all Ijrael with him did miftake, when they 
 carried the arke of God in a Cart, i Cbron.i^. And were afterward 
 fenfibic of their raill:ake,and reformed it, i Cbron.!-^ . yet Vavid was 
 the faithfull iervant of God, the Priefts were the Priefts of the 
 Lord, and Ifrael was his people : and God did not reprove their 
 endeavour to bring up the arke to Jerufalemy though he made a 
 breach upon them at the firft,bEcaufe they (ought him not after the 
 due order. Therefore mens miitaking the truth in fome things^ 
 dothnotmakevoyd that truth which they have : neither (hould 
 men forbeare to receive truth , till they can infallibly receive all at 
 once. Although even godly men be not infallible, yet the rule of 
 Gods written word, according to which the Saints are to walke, 
 and to judge of wayes and Doftrines, is an infallible rule. 
 
 To prevent fome further ob]eftions,& to make the anfwers more 
 full to Come objeftions already minded, conlider how the veflells 
 of the houfe of the Lord being cut in pieces,the doores of the Tem- 
 ple (hut up, the Lampes put out , and the burning of incenfc and 
 offering burnt offerings in the holy place unro the God oi Ijrael jbc 
 k)g quite let fall in the daycsof Abaz, ( 1 Cbron. 28. 24. and 29, 
 ^3 7. J in thedayesofHe^sei^^/; the Priefts and Lcvites being en- 
 couraged and commanded by the King, renewed and reftored the 
 Cblemne worfhip of God \ their authoritie for the doing of this be- 
 ing not from any worker ofmiracles, or extraordinary Prophet in 
 
 that 
 
in all the Privikdges of G/&ce> 3 5 
 
 that time , though the Prophet l[j.Uh was then living ; but front 
 the Law oiAfoJes, and the Word of God by the Prophets that 
 were in Davids dayes, 2 Chro». 29. 25. So Zembbabel and the Jcwes 
 in his time ereftmg a£;aine atfernfakntj firft the Altar, and after 
 that the Tenjple, and fo reftoring there Gods appointed worfhipj 
 had not their authoricie from miracles or extraordinary Prophets 
 then railed iipj nor from any Prieft that then fl:ocd up ivith Llrim 
 and Thuramim5( fee "Ez^ra 2. 53. J but from the Scriptures before 
 written. Haggai and Zechariah did indeed prophecy unto them ; 
 but they did not firft give unto them their CommilTion and autho- 
 riticj but did reprove them for their flackneflcj and encourage them • 
 in the workej ( (ee Ezrj^. 24. and 5. i. ) fliarply reproving thole 
 that (aid then, as fome doe now, The time is not come that the Lords 
 houfell:>ould be builtjHaggda 1.2. The like is to be noted concern- 
 ing the reftoring of the right obfervation of the feaft of Taberna- 
 cles, which had been intermitted from Jojlmahs time ; fee Nehem. 8. 
 
 13 1 7. If queftlon be yet made whether the Saints have now 
 
 authoritie to reftore the folcmne worftiip of God appointed in his 
 Word for the time of the Gofpel, then mind that they are a royall 
 Priefthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar people, 1 Pet. 2. p. And that 
 as John the Baptiji was greater then the Prophets that were before 
 him, Co he that is leaft in thekingdome of heaven, is greater then 
 John^Mat. II. 9. II. 
 
 Here alfo let it be confidered, that though all the labour of He 
 zekiah Teemed to fall to the ground in the dayes of Manajfeh and 
 Amoriy and all the labour oijofiah (eemed to be loft in the dayes of 
 his fonnes , and in the time of the captivitie, yet God looked not 
 upon it as a loft labour. And though after the captivitie the pro- 
 ceedings were flow, being retarded by many difficulties and di- 
 ftraftions,yct the rebuilding of the Altar and Temple, and the re- 
 ftoring oi the folemne inftituted worfliip , was pleafing to Gody 
 and profitable to his people 5 notwithftanding that many of the 
 Jewes did fall off unto unjuft and irreligious praftifesj and many 
 ftayed ftill in the territories ofBabylon^ and did not come to alfiil 
 in that building : yea though the glory of the fecond Temple was 
 farre ftiort of the glory of Solomons Temple, and there ftood not 
 up at that time any Prieft with Llrim and Thummim. This well 
 conlidered, will eafily anfiver many objeftions that are now made 
 
 F 2 again ft 
 
5 6 The Saints tMterefi hy Chrift 
 
 againft thofe that have laboured, and ftill labourite revive the ufe 
 of Chrifts Ordinances , and to fet up agaiue his pure inilituted 
 worfhip. 
 
 If many baptized perfons doe now fall to errours , and (bmc to 
 irregular praftlftsjand there be among them fuch divilions as ought 
 not to be '-, even Co alfo it was in the Apoftles dayes: yet no godly 
 perfon will hereupon condemne the gathering of ChurcheSjand the 
 ufe of Chrifts Oi dinances in thole dayes. And if (brae godly per- 
 fons have not had like experience with others, of Gods effe^tuall 
 blelTing following the ufe of the Ordinances , it may partly be im- 
 puted to fome weaknefle of their faith5and partly to their afcribing 
 to the Ordinancesfomewhat belonging onely to Chrift.And fome- 
 tinies God here trycs his children, whether they will live by faith, 
 and waite on him in obedience, even againft prcfent fcnfe. And 
 fome Saints have had experience fometlmes of the like deadnefle in 
 and after prayer, and hearing, and conference : yet theie things are 
 neither to be refufed, nor neglected. 
 
 Let it alfo be minded that the fame falfe principles whereby men 
 are now taken off from obedience to Chrift in the ulc of his Ordi- 
 nances, if they be followed home, will alfo take men off from obe- 
 dience to all Chrifts commands : for upon what ground any one 
 command of Chrift may be difobeyed, upon the fame all may be 
 difobeycd ', lee i Tim. 5.21. And if the authoritie of Chrifts new 
 Tcftament be weakened in dne thing,it is weakened in all.To come 
 to particulars. The fame principles will take men oflf from preach- 
 ing the Gofpel, and from hearing the Gofpcl preached to be edi- 
 fied thereby, and from afllembling themlelves together , and from 
 joyning together in prayer and thankfgiving ; yea from meditation 
 and ftudie of the Word of God : for all thefe are Ordinances of 
 Chrift, and are no more appointed in the Word for thelc times, 
 then Baptifme and the Lords Supper. 
 
 Many that receive not thefe Ordinances , yet doe not refliie all 
 Gofpel-preaching, conference, prayer, &c. 
 
 I . This ftiewes that they are not conftant to their principles, 
 which difcovers their great weaknefle to receive fuch principles as 
 they may not in all things walkc up unto. 
 
 2. Though they doe not yet refufe the(e things, ytt are they in 
 the ready way to the refufall of them. 
 
 Minde 
 
in all the Priviledges of Grace. 57 
 
 Minde alfo that as thefe principles carry men to the denying of a 
 Church and MiniftryjCwhich denial! is moft contrary to the Scrip- 
 ture 5 (ce 'Epbef, 3.21. and almoft the whole Booke of the Revelati- 
 on ', and the promiie in Matth. 1 6. 1 8. and 28. 20. ^ (b they carry 
 them by degree* to the rejefting of all the Scripturcj and to the de- 
 nying of faith and iaivation j as lamentable experience hath (hewed 
 infbme. And fbme upon the aforelaid principles have (with as 
 much eaft and as faire a colour , as the no-Church-men di(pute 
 from any Scriptures againft Ordinances, though with as grofle fal- 
 lacioufncfle ) hitherto wrefted our Saviours words in Jidark^i 6, 17, 
 18. The anlwer whereunto doth fully overthrow the maine argu- 
 ments of the oppoftrs againft Ordinances. Indeed if any one of 
 thofe three witnelles in i Jvh. 5.8. were to be excluded and fligh- 
 ted, then were they all to be in like manner (lighted,, and fo all 
 were loft. But we know that they are all to be regarded and made 
 life of. 
 
 It is alfo oblervable by what contrary wayes the enemy endea- 
 vours to make men refuie the right ule of Chrills Ordinances^ 
 Sometimes he perfwades men that Gods people are not yet fie for 
 the u(e of thefe Ordinances, becauCe their light is fo dim 5 becauie 
 they have fo fmall a meafure of gifts, of knowledge^of faith, &r. 
 And fometimes againe he perfwades men that they are above ordi- 
 nances.He might as well tell thera that they are above Jcfus Chrift. 
 who commands the ufe of his Ordinances, and communicates him- 
 (elfe unto his in his Ordinances. Thus arry thing ffiall lerve the 
 turne, whereby believers may be diverted from the riglit ule of the 
 Ordinances of their Lord and Ma fter, and from obedience wnto 
 him. Surely the enemy is mindfull of the great advantage that he 
 thus gets over beUevers, and how much he makes them herein to 
 fin againft Chrift, robbing him, what in them lyes, of the glorie, 
 and them(elves of the comfort and benefit of his Mediatorfhip. O- 
 that the Saints were more fenfible of the depth of this my derie of 
 iniqiride! lam conftrained in my conicience now to fpeake with 
 •ameftnefle, conceiving the caufe to be great ; and remembring our 
 dutie to contend earnellly for the fdith, which w^ once delivered 
 to the Saints, y»(!/e 3. ( Where I defire that the force of this word 
 o«ce,may well be weighed.)I therefore advlfe, and earneftjy exhort 
 all them that believe, to beware of thole doftdnes and wayes 
 
 (how 
 
38 The Saints intereft by Cbriji^ &<:. 
 
 ( how faire foever they may feeme to be before they be tiyed , and 
 what fafety (bever in thefe times of trouble they fecme to proniife;) 
 which indeed take men offfrom obedience to Chrili, and fiom ac- 
 knowledgrng the authoritie of the Scripture. Have no fellowlhip 
 with that Doftiine which weakens and quedions the power and 
 authoritie of JefusChriftjand the perpetual! validitieof hisTefta- 
 ment; which iiifarmes his Souldicrsj disbands his armies, and Co 
 gives them up into the hand of the enemy ; which empties mens 
 hearts of faichj and deprives the world of the appointed meanes of 
 ialvation, teachiPig men to fhuc up the kingdome of heaven. Beware 
 of that doiTtrine which making voyd the authoritie of the new Te- 
 flament, pulls Chrifts Scepter out of his handjhis crowne from his 
 head, and himielfe from his throne, tlemembcr that the Saints in 
 their communion and order, are the Lords portion , the declared 
 objeft of his love in Chrill:, and the exprefled fubjeft of his promi- 
 ^ fes and bleflings : yea they are Chrifts relative perfe^^ion, as a wife 
 is to her husband, and the body to the head. They are his prevai- 
 ling armie againft Antichrift 5 the Standard-bearer to hold him up 
 before the Nations, and fb the meanes of the worlds conviftion, 
 and the converlionof the reft of the cleft. You therefore that be- 
 lieve in Chrift for falvation, hold forth the confeffion of him be- 
 fore men. Remember that by him you are made the (bns of God, 
 and Kings and Priefts unto God, Jo^. i. 12. Kevel.'^. 10. Withhold 
 not your (elves then from worftiipping God, and enjoying the ap- 
 pointed priviledges of fons. Feare not, but believe : for you being 
 Chrifts, all things are yours ; and have you not then a right to his 
 Ordinances? Pvemember Chrifts love in giving you his Ordinances 
 to coniirme your faith. Remember the need that you have of thefe 
 Ordinances, and of that eflfeftuall blefTmg with which Chrift ufeth 
 to follow the right u(e of his Ordinances. Minde your communion 
 with Chrift, and fo be not flow to have communion with him in 
 his Ordinances. Have fellowftiip with us 5 for truly our fcUowfliip 
 is with the Father , and with his Son Jcfm Chrift. But fpecially 
 mind the command of Chrift, and that charge of his in Joh.\\.i 5. 
 Ifyee love we, ^eepe mj Commattdements. 
 
 THE 
 
39 
 
 • Wtesttej-JffiBSs 8*s !^ ::&sM ^ a^SdTAii ixkl sr«*^-. site* 
 
 THE 
 
 PECULIAR INTEREST 
 
 OF THE ELECT IN CHRIST, 
 AND HIS SAVING GRACB. 
 
 Now come to the fecond Queftion y 
 
 w'lZ.Hon^fjrrc the death ofChriji extmded to the 
 taking away the fin of man ; whether he djcdfor 
 the fins of oilmen rvithoHt exception , or for the. 
 fim offome enely. My anfwer hereunto I lay 
 downe in theie three Propofitions. 
 
 I. Chrift hath not by his death taken away 
 the finnes of all men : for the wrath of God 
 comes upon the children of difobediencc for their finnes, Ephefi^.S. 
 But this is that which he declares himfelfe to have effefted by his 
 death. That through his Name, whofoever believeth in him, (hall 
 receive remilTion of finnes, Joh. 3. 14, 15,16. A£fs 1.0. 43. And it is 
 given to the Eleft, and to them onely , to believe in Jefus Chrift, 
 Ko/w.8.29. iFet. 1.2. 
 
 2. Chrift intended not by his death to (ave all men from their 
 finnes, but thus to fave the E!e£t onely, Jo/?. 10. 15. Ep^e/15. 25,265 
 2j,Heb. 2. i/^.Genef. 3. 15. i Fet. 2. 8. 
 
 3. Chrift hath not prefented unto his Fathers jufticea fitisfaftl- 
 on for the finnes of all men 5 but onely for the finnes of thofe that 
 doe, or (hall believe in him j( which arc his Eleft onely.) Kev, 5. cji:. 
 And if this laft Propofition be granted to be true , the two fo rnjer 
 cannot be queftioncd. This therefore I thus confirme. 
 
 I. Thole finnes for which Chrift hath prefented a fatisfaftlon 
 to his Fathers juftice^ he hath To fully fatisfiedfor, thattheyare 
 
 not. 
 
40 *^he peculiar tntere^ of the SleB in Chrift^ 
 
 not to be fuflfered for againe, Heh. 1.3. Heb. 9. 2 6. Heh. 1 o. i o. > 4. 
 Kevel. 1.5. Kom. 5 . Pj 1 o. Ifai, 53.5. Levit. 1 7. 1 1 . It muft needs be 
 thus: I. Becaufe the fdtisfaftion that Chrill hath prefented to his 
 Fathers juflicejis fufficient for the fill! and finall putting away of all 
 their fins, for whom it is prefented. This cani;ot be denyed. 2. Be- 
 c.uife Chrift dyed as a publique perfon, repreftnting all thole for 
 whofe fins he prefented a latisfaftion to his Fathers juftice, 2 Cor.5. 
 1 1 . Even as the firft Acljm fell as a publick perlon , reprelenting all 
 thofe that fell by him, and in him ; fee Kom. 5. 14. And as the 
 high Priell: went into the Holy place as a publick pcrfon^reprelent- 
 ing all Tfrael^ Exod. 28. 29, 30. Heb. 9. 24, 25 . Hence it is that wee 
 are looked upon as fmictcn in Chrift, and buried with Chrift, and 
 revived and railed up in Chrift, and with Chrift , and made to fie 
 together in heavenly places in Chrift; fee Hof. 6.1 ^i.wilh 1 Cor.15. 
 :i^y^.Colof 2. 12. 'Epb^. 2. 5^ 6. Now furely they who were thu»re- 
 prefented by Chrifcj when he prefented to his Fathers juftice a fa- 
 <isfaftion for their (innes, (hall not themfelves be puniQied for the 
 fame finnef. 3. Becaufe elfe the fatisfaftion prefented by Chrifi:, 
 would fall Ihort of the type of it , l^vit. 4. 20. 26. 35. and 5. 10. 
 and note Htb. 9. 13,14. 4. Becaufe this latisfaftion is accepted of 
 the Father for all thole for whom it is prefented by Chrift, //J/.53. 
 10. For Chi ill: the beloved Son of the Father prefented this (atif^ 
 faftion according to his Fathers will. 5. Becaufe it were an unjuft 
 and unreafonable thing that God fhould receive a fatisfaftion pre- 
 fented to his juftice for the finnes of men, and yct_punifh the fame 
 men for the lame finnes. And fhali not the Judge of all the earth 
 doe right ? Gau 18.25. But Reprobates ( or finall unbelievers) fhall 
 luffer eternally for all their finnes j as appeares not onely in E/?/?. 5* 
 6. but alfoin Joh. 3. 36. Joh. 8. 24. Mat, 12. ^6. Ecclcf, 12. 14. Juda 
 15. Yeajfor their fins conlidered as breaches of the La w^as appeares 
 in I Tim. 1.9, 10. Gal.^. 10. Therefore Chrift prefented not unto 
 his Fathers juftice a latlsfaftion for the fins of R-cprobateSjand con- 
 iequently not for the fins of all men. 
 
 2. Chrift prcfenting to his Fathers juftice a fatisfaftion for mens 
 finnes, prefents this iatisfaftion as well for all their finnes, as for 
 any of their finnes 5 as well for their fin of unbellefca and the fruit J 
 thercor, as for their finnes agalnft the Law , conlidered as imnes 
 agijnft the LaWjiewV.i^. 2I3 22,'Dan.c^, 2^,Heb,io. 14,1 Jah.i.y. 
 
 But 
 
and his favi»g Grace, 4 1 
 
 But even by our adverlaries own confcflion, it is a cleare and cer- 
 taine truth, that Chrift hath not prefented to his Fathers juftice 
 a (atisfaftion for the unbeliefe of ReprobateSj nor for the fruits of 
 their unbeliefe, conlidered as fruits of their unbeliefe. Therefore he 
 hath not presented to his Fathers juftice a fatisfaftion for any of 
 the finnes of any Reprobates. The anfwer of our adverfaries here, 
 and the principall reilige to which they fly ,18 thistChrift ((ay they) 
 hath not prefented to his Fathers juftice a fatisfa6Uon for the un- 
 beliefe of any. But thefaKh'Jodofthisappearcsbythe places now 
 alledged:as I fhall alfo eaiily manifeft, if our adverfaries will anfwer 
 direftly whether our unbeliefe be a fin, or not. I conceive they dare 
 not fay it is no fin, in as much as it is difbbedience again ft the Go- 
 fpel, and againft the command of God in Matth. 17. 5 • and that 
 whereby ( fo farre as it workes in us ) we caft upon God the impu- 
 tation of lying, trufting him no more then wee would truft a Iyer, 
 I Joh. 5. 10. and our adversaries affirme it to be the onely damning 
 finne. Now if it be a fin , the bloud of Jcfus Chrift doth wafli us 
 from it, I Joh,\.y. I further demand ; Is our unbeliefe remitted un- 
 to us, or not ? If it be not remitted unto us, our cafe is moft mife- 
 rable. If it be remitted unto us, it is then done away by the bloud 
 of Chrift : for without fhedding of bloud is noremilTion, Htb,^. 22, 
 Whereas (bme fay, that we have already fuflfered punifliment for it 
 in the want of that comfort and Joy that faith brings ; I demand ; 
 Doth our fin of unbeliefe delerveno other punifhment ? If they fay. 
 No : it ftiews that they neither know the nature of this fin, and its 
 ill defervittg 5 neither yet the glorious righteoufnefle of God , and 
 the declaration thereof in his Word. But if they fay j yea, it de- 
 (erves eternal! deftru^ion ; but for all that it is neither remitted 
 unto us with the reft of ourfins,as being waftied away by the bloud 
 of Chrift, neither (hall we be fo punifticd for it : then they will bie 
 found to utter manifeft contradiftions. Whereas they plead that 
 our unbeliefe doth not continue,but is broken off; I anfwer:Indeed 
 it doth not continue in the reigne of it : but it is enough that it did 
 -Cftice reigne in us, and that there is a remainder of unbeliefe ft ill re- 
 ijelling in us. Arid the (ame (and no more)is tobe faid of the reft 
 ofour fins and corruptions alfo: for which notwithftanding wee 
 muft have been punifticd with everIaftingdeftruftion,ifthe bloud of 
 Jefus Chnft filed for us for the remilTion of finnes, did not clenfe 
 
 G HS 
 
^2 The peculiar iKterejt oftbe EleBin Chrifi, 
 
 us from the fame. Whereas they objeft that there could not have 
 been that unbeliefe whereby the Gofpel is refuted /if Chrift had not 
 dyed that he might (end forth his Golpel ; and that therefore this 
 unbeliefe could not be looked upon before the death of Chrift^ and 
 the declaration of his Gofpel. I anfwer; i. That Chrift forefeeing 
 this fin ( as he did all other (innes) and all the fruits thereof, in his 
 Eieft 5 did accordingly provide a remedy for the (ame : other- 
 wayes he had not been unto them a perfeft and efFeftuall Saviour. 
 2. That the condemnatory fentence of the Law, takes hold on 
 ^nen forthis fin alfo, and for all the fruits of it ; becaufe it binds 
 men to obey every command that God (hall give, and to believe 
 every word that he fiiall fpcake : without which obeying and be- 
 lieving, no man can have the Lord for his God , according to the 
 meaning of the affirmative part of the firft Commandement. 
 Therefore Chrift had not taken us off from the Lawes condemna- 
 tion, if he had not prcfented to his Fathers jufticc a (atisfaftion 
 for this our fin, as well as for our other finnes. 
 
 3 . The Pafleover ( a type of Chrift ) was not killed for any un- 
 jcircumcifed,but onely for the Ifraelite/y and thofe that were joy- 
 ned unto them, Exod. 1 2. Neither were the Priefts to offer facrifice 
 for any other. All this was appointed of God to fignifie,that when 
 the Mefliah through the eternall Spirit fhould offer himfelfe with- 
 out fpot to God, he (hould prcfent unto divine juftice a fatisfaftion 
 for the finnes o( the Jfrael of God, and none other. 
 
 Whereas it is objefted, that many of the Ifraelites for whom the 
 Pafleover was killed, and facrifices were offered , were unbelievers 
 and perifhed. 
 
 I anfwcr : So alfo the high Pricft himfelfe might be an unbelie- 
 ver and perifh 5 yet in his Pricftly office he was a type of Chrift not- 
 withftanding that difparitie. So the whole Nation of the Ifraelites 
 Teparated from the world to be a peculiar people unto God^ were 
 a type of Gods chofen JfratU 
 
 4. When Chrift prayed unto his Father that they for whom he 
 laid downe his life, might receive the benefit of the fame ; he ex- 
 prefiy affirmed that he prayed onely for the Eleft, and for none o- 
 xhtr^Joh. 17. 9. Whereby he fufficiently declared that he did not 
 then prelent to his Fathers juftice <i fatisfa^ion for the (ins of any 
 other, but onely of thefc. 
 
 5. The 
 
and his faving Grace* ^g 
 
 5. The higheft degree of Gods love to man is fet forth by his 
 Sonnes being given , and giving himfelfe to dye for mens iinnes, 
 tliat (b he might prefent to his Fathers juftice a (atisfaftion for 
 their UnneSyJoh. 10. 11. 1'y.Joh. 15. 12, 13. Row.8.32. i Joh.^.i6. 
 and 4. 9, 10. Rom. 5. 8. If then we ftiall Cay^that Chrift in his death 
 prefented to his Fathers juftice a (atisfaftion for the finnes of all 
 men, we (hall be found to extend the higheft and choiceft love of 
 God as well to hated Efau^ as to beloved Jacob ; as well to the leed 
 of the Serpent} as to the ieed of Chrift : which doftrine the Scrip- 
 ture will not endure. 
 
 6. The whole doctrine of the Gofpel of Jefus Chrift being deli- 
 vered unto us in the Scriptures, it is a (ufficient ground for us not 
 to believe that Chrift prelented to his Fathers juftice a fatisfaftion 
 for the finnes of all men, becaufe the Scriptures doe no where de- 
 clare this to be a truth } as (through the helpe of God) fhall be 
 made to appeare by our anfwers to the objeftions of our adverfa- 
 ries. For the more calie dilcovery of the weaknclle of which ob- 
 jeftions, I lay downe thele enfuingPropofitions. 
 
 1. The word .^//in Scripture, doth many times fignifie onely 
 Ibme of all forts j as appearcs in thele places, Mat. ^.2^. AB.io.i2» 
 Mat.^. 5, 6. In Mat.^. 23. it is faid that Chrift healed every fick^ 
 nejje^and every difiaje among the people ; yet the meaning is onely this. 
 That he healed every kind of ficknefle and difeafe : fee Adarl{. 6. 5. 
 and Job. 5.3. &c. In A^s 10. 12. it is (aid i—»' herein were all foure- 
 footed beafts^ &c. that is. All kinds of foure- footed beafts, &c. In 
 Matth. 3. 5, 6. it is faid, T^here ivent ont to him all Jud^a, &c. And in 
 Mark. 1. 5. it is alfo exprefly (aid, that they were all baptized of him, 
 &c. Yet this was true onely of all orders and degrees of men com- 
 ing to John from all the parts oijud^a. 
 
 2. The word All, muft fometimes be underftood with limita- 
 tion unto the prefent fubjeft fpoken of. As in Heb. 12.8.- 'whereof 
 4tU are partakers ; not all perfbns, but onely all (bns. 
 
 3. The word All,doth fometime fignifie onely the greater part : 
 a<in Thilip* 2.21. Allfeek^ their owne^^c. and in Luk^6.26. Woenn- 
 toyoHn>hen all men (hall fpeabe ppeUofyou, Here All cannot take in all 
 the godly 5 but onely the wicked, which are the greater number. 
 There was not this woe to that Venwtrim which had a good report 
 efall men^^ Job, 12. that is, of all godly men that knew him. 
 
 J G 2 4. The 
 
44 The peculiar inter e^ of the EieB in Chrifl^ 
 
 4. The word ff^orld in like manner doth not alwayes fignific all 
 perlbns without exception ; but fometime onely the worfefjthough 
 greater part of mankinde : as in Job. ly. 9. where the world h put 
 onely for perfons not elcfted. Yea^ and when the word tvhoUh ad- 
 ded to it : as in I Job, 5.19. 
 
 5. Sometimes the word IVorld is put for the Gentiles oppofed to 
 the JeweSj yea and with manifeft limitadon unto thofe of the Gen- 
 tiles which did} or fhould believe ; ( which were onely the Eleft : ) 
 (ee R0m.11.12. 15. The(e Propofitions being thus layd downe and 
 proved , the anfwer to the objections will be the more eafie and 
 cleare. 
 
 1. Ohjelif. The objeftion that I will take notice of in the firft place, is taken 
 from Job. 1.29. Behold the Lambe of God which tak^ih away the fin of 
 the world. Whereto I thus anfwer. 
 An^» !• Let this be minded , that Chrifl; is here called the Lambe of 
 
 God, as being typified by the Pafchall Lambe kUled for Jfraet, not 
 for the uncircumciied. 
 
 2. Ic is here declared that it is Chrift, and no other, that taketb 
 away the fin of the woild. He is the onely Redeemer and Saviour. 
 The Father (aveth us no otherwayes but in and by Chrift, 
 
 3. The fin which Chrift takes away, is the fin of the world, be- 
 ing that fin which is derival to us , and fb to all the world, from 
 Adjm ', and in which all the world hath lafyen. But the perfons 
 from whom Chrift takes away this fin, are onely they that doe or 
 (hall bdieve in him 5 and fo tbey are indeed that world (poken of in 
 Rom. II. 12. 35. but not that world fpoken ofin^^. 17, 9. and 
 ijoh.'^.ic}. Our adverfaries confefle that Chrift takes net away 
 the unbeliefe of that world : and the Scriptures declare that world 
 to have no part in the bleflednefleof thole to whom the Lord will 
 not impute fin ; fee Kern, 4. 5, 7, & 
 
 i.Objeti. A fecondobieSion isdrawnefrom 1 Joh,2. 2.—^notfgrottfjone* 
 /y, hut alfofor the fins of the whole world. 
 My anfwer hereto is as followes : 
 Anfw^ 1 . Note well the force of the word rendredprc^tiatioff, both ir 
 
 this verle,and in 1 Job. 4. 10. As in thcle places it is ufed,rt importa^^ 
 that Jefiis Chrift makes the Father to be gracious unta us in the 
 free and full pardon of ourfinnes* Here ic is ufed to cleare and 
 prove J^fusChriiUo be4bru» an accepubk and^^uall Ad^^o* 
 
and his faving grace, 45* 
 
 cate with the Father, though we have finned agamft him. And in 
 I Joh. 4. 10. the higheft manifeftation of the Fathers love unto us, 
 18 fet forth by his giving his Son to be the propitiation for our fins. 
 This (hews it to be the peculiar blefledneileofGods beloved chil- 
 dren, whom he faves for ever, to have Jefus Chrift to be the propi- 
 tiation for their finnes. 
 
 2. In 1 Joh. 1. 7. 9. it is clearly fignified that they onely are the 
 perions whom the bloud of Jefiis Chrift doth clenfe from all fin, 
 and to whom the Father according to his faithfulneffe doth for- 
 give their finnes, and whom he clenfeth from all unrighteoufnefie, 
 who (hew their faith by walking in the light , and by confefling 
 their finnes. This alfo confirmes that Jefus Chrift is the propitiati- 
 on for their finnes onely. 
 
 3, By our finnes the Apoftle here meant the finnes ofm believing 
 Jtrpes : ( for to thefe the Apoftle here immediately wrote ; as may 
 be gathered from i Joh. 2. 7. and Gal. 2. 9. Yea all the generall E- 
 plftles, of which this was one, were written to theft : ) and by the 
 fins of the whole tvorld^ he meant the finnes of all thole that did or 
 ihould believe among the Gentiles : fee B.om. 1 1 . i $ . 
 
 The words of our Saviour in jftf^. 3.163 17, 18, iparealfoob- ^.Objecf. 
 ytSted unto us, as if they made againft us; wee will therefore dili- Viomfoh $, 
 gently confider theim » ^, &c» 
 
 Here firft wee muft minde that the fame word is fometirnes ufed Aiifincm 
 in divers fcnfes in the lame (entence;examples hereof are to be feene 
 in Joh. 3. 6. Kern. 9. 6. Gal. 4. 2 1. and in other places. Yea this very 
 word IVorldy is Co ufed in Joh. 1 . 10. And now let us (cg how this 
 word is ufed in this Scripture, and confider whether this Scripture 
 do indeed make any thing againft us ; verfi S.God fo loved the rvorld. 
 By the tvorld here feemes to be meant mmkinde in generall : and 
 Gods loving the world is his dealing lovingly with the world. 
 This then is the fenie 5 God dealt fo lovingly with mankinde, thai 
 he gave his onely begotten Son^&e. All this makes nothing againft us : - 
 for It is not fa id, that he gave his one!y begotten Son to prefenta' 
 ia-tisfaftion to his juftice for the fins of al^ men : but that he gave hif- 
 onely begotteti Son^ that rtohofnever believe th m hiin^fhould not peripybitt 
 have eternall life. Herein furely God dealt lovingly wiih mankrnde' j, 
 I. Making agreatpartofmankiijde to receive the benefit hereon 
 %, Gracioufly fending this Gofpel to mankind j Bifkviinthe Son of 
 
 God. 
 
 '9- 
 
4^ T^he peculiar tnterejl of the SleB in Chrtfty 
 
 Godf imdjecfmllhfjved eternally. This Gofpel {hews thit God is 
 graciousj and dcalcs lovingly, though rnen left: to themlclves rejcft 
 this Gofpelj and lo receive no benefit by it in the end. 3. Sparing 
 mankind a long tiracjand affording unto them many benefits by the 
 hand of Chrift, for the Elefts fake, whiles he gracioufly waits and 
 etFeftiially provides for their converiion by the Gofpel , and Co for 
 their falvation according to the fame. None of which benefits had 
 been afforded to mankindjif God had not given his Son^that who- 
 (bever believcth on himjOiould not perifh; {eeFrov.S.ii^^ 16. Joh.i. 
 9. Mat. 24. 22. ABs 14. 17. Yet unbelievers ftill lye under all their 
 iinSjas I have already proved, and as farther appeares in Kom.^.22. 
 and 2 Tet, 2. 9. It follows in verf. 17. ¥or Godfent not liis San into 
 the world to condemm the world. God then fent his Sonne into the 
 world, when he gave him to be made flefh, and to dwell among us, 
 as it is (aid of him in Joh.\ . 14. Then he fent him not tocondemne 
 the world , nor to judge the world j ( as the Greeke word is (aid 
 here to fignifie:) But at his (econd coming he fhiU be (^jnt to judge 
 the world, and to condemne all unbelievers. But the new doQ:rine 
 of our adverfaries makes Chrifts firft coming to be a coming tocon- 
 demne the world, in a (en(e quite contrary to the ScriptureSjwhiles 
 they teach , that ifChrift had not come and dyed for all, none- 
 \A.t lycn in his could have been damned. It follows ; hut that ^e world through him 
 )ra^net-p.SS' might be faved. I. Here mind that the pleafure' of the Lord did pro- 
 fper in Chrifts hind, Ifai^ 53. icnotealfo Job. 6. 38, 39, 40. and 
 Job. 17. 2. Therefore Chrift did certainly effefl: what he was fent 
 for. 2. Mind that the falvation here fpoken of, frees men from all 
 condemnatory judgement. This appeares by the antithefis (or op- 
 pofition ) in this verfe. 3. So mind that the world is faid to be (a- 
 vcd, in that believers are faved, who are part of the world of man- 
 kind, and were chofen out of the reft of the world, to be faved by 
 Chrift ; (ee alio i Job. 4. 14. compared with the verfes there afore- 
 going, viz. z'er/T 9.-— 13. of that Chapter. Our adverfaries not re- 
 ceiving this truth, doe fometimes fay, that though all the world be 
 not faved eternally .becau(e they believe not ; yet Chrift for his part 
 did for them all, whatfoever he was to doe for the falvation of any. 
 But if this were true, then all muft needs be faved. See Jerew1.17.14. 
 For our falvation is fully from Jeftis Chrift. Wee cannot (ave ouc 
 (elves : neither doth the Father worke our falvation 9 or any thing 
 
 that 
 
and his [aving Grace, 47 
 
 that concernes the (ame, any other wayes then in and by his Sonne 
 Chrift. If then Chrid as a Saviour have done for us whatfoever he 
 is to doe for the falvation of any, how can wee mifle of falvation ? 
 It follows here in verf\%~ He that believeth on him^ U not condemned : 
 but he that believeth not 3 is condemned already ^ becanfe he hath not be 
 lievedj 8cc. The believer is delivered from the condemnation of the 
 Law. As for the unbeliever , becaufe he believeth not, he is left to 
 the (entence of the Lawjand is already condemned thereby .All this 
 is with us. It follows in verf. ip. And this is the condemnation ; that 
 isj the caufe of condemnation^ as being a grofle evill for which men 
 are to be condemned, and a maine caufe of that unbeliefe by which 
 men are left to condemnation j 7hat light is come into the worldy &c. 
 that is •, that light being come, into the jvorld^ men loved darknejfe rather 
 then light. The light come into the world is Jefus Chrift held forth 
 in his Gofpel. And all this oppofcth us notjbut confirmcs the truth 
 that we hold. Thus at the appearing of the light of truth, the ob- 
 jeftion from this place is vanifhed away. 
 
 A fourth objeftion is drawne from 1 7im,2. 4. 6. which to our 4. Obje&. 
 adverlarics feemes to be of fpeciall ftrength. From I'/iw.a. 
 
 In the anfwering(or rather preventing) whereof we will through- 4»'^.anfwcrcd. 
 ly (earch that place alfoj beginning at the beginning of that Chap- 
 tei^ and weighing every thing diligently that may (eeme to have 
 any relation to the present Queftion. i Tim. 2.1. 1 exhort therefore^ 
 thatjirji ofall^jifpplicationsyp'ayersj intercejjionsyand giving ofthanh^s 
 be made for all men* By all men in this place we may not underftand 
 all peribns, or every perfon without any exception or limitation. 
 For under (upplications, prayers, and interceflionSj are here com- 
 prehended all petitions for all good and needfull gifts andbleflings 
 for the persons to be prayed forjput up unto God with all earneft- 
 „nefle,and fervency, in which the Petitioners will and muft ftill 
 continue filing unto God with a holy and humble importunitie 
 for tho(e things that they crave : fiich Petitions cannot be made in 
 faith for all perfons without exception ,in as much as we know that 
 ', there are many vefiells of wrath ordained of old unto condemna- 
 tion, Kew. 9. 22. Jude 4. And there is a fin unto death , for which 
 we arc not to pray, i Joh./^. 16* Therefore by all men we are here 
 to underftand all orders and degrees of men. And (b the thing to be 
 graved is^that God according to his pur|)ore and gracious promifes 
 
 Woulcl 
 
48 The ^eduliar i»terefl of the EkB in Chrifl^ 
 
 w^iil^ fliew mercy, and extend the fruits of his love to all orders 
 and degrees ofmen jtbat is, to all thofe whom he hath chofen to 
 himfelfe out of ^ Very nation and kindred, and out of every order 
 and degree of rrfcn .^nd women in the World. This is further con- 
 firmed by thac fpeclfication or exemplification which followcs in 
 verf.2. Fdr Kings. Though thele were before comprehended under 
 allmehj yet are they here more particularly exprefled 5 1. Left the 
 Saints (hould have been difcouraged from praying for them, by 
 their wicked neile. 2. Becaufe God hath given Magiftrates to be his 
 own Minifters to us for good, Kom. 13.4. And for all that an in 
 duthontk', that is to fay; I. Magiftrates or Governours in thofe 
 Common- wealths that were riot ruled by Kings. 2. Theleverall 
 orders and degrees of inferiour Magiftrates. That n>ee may kade a 
 quiet and peaceable tife^ &c. Not that this is the onely thing that we 
 are to crave, or aime at : but becaufe this fhould in a (peciall man- 
 ner ftirre us up to earneft prayer for Magiftrates ; wx. that God 
 hath given them their authoritie to this end, that by meanes of this 
 authoritie rightly ufed,we might leade a quiet and peaceable life 
 in all godlineflc and honefty. T^erf.z. For this is good and acceptable 
 in ihe fight of God our Saviour : viz. That we (hould thus pray, and 
 give thankes for all orders and degrees of men; and namely for 
 Kings, and for all that are in authoritie. And note how the Apo- 
 ftle proves thrs in the \<^ords following in verf. 4. W'ho will 
 'have alimentohe Caved J and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 
 In as much as it is the Apoftles (cope here to prove that it is ac- 
 ceptable to God, not oncly that we ftiould pray, butalfo that we 
 (hould give thankes for all men, (^viz. in that fenle in which the 
 words all men are ufed in verf, i. ) I therefore conceive that he here 
 ipeakesof Gods effeftuall will. And fo God willeth not that all 
 perfons, or every perfon in the world, fliould be faVed , and cotcit 
 unto the knowledge of the truth : as appeares in i Vet. 2. 8. Jude 4. 
 Ifai. 6. 9, 10. Kom. 1 1. 7,8. Here therefore by all men, wee muft of 
 ncceflitie underftand onely all orders and degrees of men ; that is, 
 (btne of all orders and degrees : viz. thole whom God hath.chofen 
 to himfelfe out of eVe'ry order and degree among men. Tlius the 
 great obje^on from this verfe is fully taken off.It follows Itiverf.*^, 
 For there w one God^ and one Mediatottr betvcemGod andmen^ the man 
 Chtifi Jefm, Not one God of Kings, and another of (ubje^s ; one 
 
 God 
 
and his faving Grace. 49 
 
 God of Merchanttj another of husbandmen : but one and the fame 
 God is the God of all^ that (avcth all that are hdres of falvation, 
 of what order or degree focver they be. And as the fame God hath 
 appointed and conftituted the (evcrall orders and degrees among 
 men, (b he hath his Eleft whom he will fave, among all tho/ib or- 
 ders and degrees. So alfo there is not one Mediatour between God 
 and great menjand another between God and meane men : but the 
 fame Chrift Jefus is the Mediatour between God and all the Eleft, 
 of whatlbever order or degree among men they are. 
 
 Verf 6. ^ho gave himfelfe a ranfome for all. The word all muft here 
 be underftood as in verfi. and 4. Neither the coherence or context, 
 neither yet the matter will fufferus to underftand it otherwayes. 
 For whofbever they are for whom Chrift gave himfelfe a ranibmc, 
 the fame are certainly redeemed from deftruftion^and (hall for ever 
 be faved. For where a ranfome is paid and accepted for any, the 
 ranfomed is thereby freed and made (afc, Ex^d. 2 1. 30. Exod.1^0.12^ 
 -15. TfaL/\f^. 7. Jer. 3 1. 1 1, i2. And the everlafting falvation of the 
 ranfomed of the Lord is clearly held forth in Ifd. 35 • 9^ 10. and 
 5 1 . 1 O5 1 1 . Hof, 13,14. with I Cor. 1 5 . 5 4, 5 5 . Therefore thefe A& 
 for whom Chrift gaveliimfelie a ranfome, are c«icly (as aforefaid) 
 men of all orders and degrees 5 even thofe many (poken of in Mat. 
 20, 28. Marh^ 10. 45. Thole whom Chrift hath redeemed to God 
 by his bloud out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and na- 
 tion, 'B^evel. 5. 9. It follows ; To be tejiijied in dm time ; compare this 
 with I Tet.l . 20, 2 1 .^-"but was manifefl in thefe laji timer for jou, n>ho 
 by him doe believe, &c. Confidcr alfo how the words there aforego- 
 ing doe declare, that they which are ranfomed or redeemed with 
 the bloud of Chrift, are redeemed from their vaine converlation, 
 1 Fet. 1. 18, 1 p. Yea Chrift gave himfelfe for them, that he might 
 redeeme them from all iniquitie , and purifie them unto himfelfe a 
 peculiar people, 'Tit. 2. 14. And this is the fomme of the GofpeiS 
 teftlmony concerning Chrift, that being made prfsB he Ucame the 
 author of etemall falvation ( not to all perfons in che world.but) ««'- 
 to all them that obey him, Heb. 5. 9. having given himfeUe for them, 
 Ephef. 5. 25, 26. Thus this Scripture is fo farre from btiiig tuU and 
 ftrong againft uSjthat it doth not oppofe us in any thing. Now hre- 
 caule the objeftion from this Scripture (eemts to fur adverfai ies to 
 be backed and ftrcngthened by the faying of Peter in 2 Fet. 2.1. 
 
 H there- 
 
5o 7"jbf peculiar intereft of the EleB in Chrifi, 
 
 therefore thac place (hall nexc be looked inco.^ 
 5 . ObjeH. 2 ?«/. 2 . 1 .'^'there (ball befalji teachers amongjoUy vfbo privily (hall 
 TtoimPei.x, bring in damnahk herefies, even denying the Lord that bought themy 
 I . anfwcred. and bring ttpon themfelves fivift dejirutiion. We grant the peiibns here 
 fpoken of to be Reprobates; butminde thac though the Lord be 
 here faid to have bought them, yet ic is not faid that he gave him- 
 Ceife a ranfome for them. Between thefe two there is a great diffe- 
 rence. The Lord Chrift hath authorise and power given unto him 
 of the Father over all men ; fee Ffal. 2. 8j p. Yea over all creaturcs> 
 ii^^.2.73 8. over the Angels in heaven, i Fet. 3. 22. And the Devils 
 that hate him , are yet under his poiver. In the exercife of this 
 power and authpritie, he (hall at the laft day judge all both men, 
 and Angelsj Jo^.'^. 27. A^s 17.31. Then every knee ftiall bow to 
 him, of things in heaven, and things in earth,and things under the 
 earth i and every tongue (hallconfefle that JefusChrilt is Lord, 
 Jfji. 45. 23. Fhil. 2. 9, 10, II. This Lord(hip the man Chrid hath 
 obtained by his death, P/?i/.2.8,9. In that by his death he hath ob- 
 tained his kingly power and authoritie over his Church, and con- 
 iequently this power and authoritie over all , that as Kng of hia 
 Church he may ufe it to his Churches good, ( I^hif. i. 20, 21,22, 
 23. J and the Church may enjoy the glorious benefit of it; (ee Re^ 
 veU 2. 26,27. 1 Cor. 6. 2, 3. FfaL 149. 6, 7,8,9. Dm. 7. 27. The Fa- 
 ther alfo being plealcd thus to (hew las gracious approving and ac- 
 cepting of Chrifts dying for his Church, even by giving him this 
 power and authoritie over all for his Churches gQod» In this ienfe, 
 and in this (brt Chrift hath bought all creatures : yet it doth not 
 followjnor is it true,that Chrift hath given himfelfe a ran(bme for 
 all creatures , or prefented to his Fathers juftice a fatisfa6Uon for 
 the (innes of all creatures. We are put in mind that the Lord ha- 
 ving bought the(e finners, this was a great aggravarioa of their fin 
 in denying him. We acknowledge this to betrue. But let it becon- 
 fidered ; i. In what fort they did deny Chrift. 2. How their being 
 boughtby Chrift, was an aggravation of this their (in. i. They 
 did not deny Chrift openly, faying exprefly that Jcfus was not the 
 Chrift : for they brought in their damnable here(ies privily, and 
 made mercliandiie of Chriftians with fained words, 2 Fet, 2. i. 3* 
 and were admitted to their love-feafts, Jnde 12. But their denying. 
 «f him was like unto thac which Faul 4)ake ofin 7if.x>i.i. being re- 
 bellion 
 
and hit faviftg Grace* 5 i 
 
 bellion againft his commands. 2. It was a greac aggravation of 
 their iin of rebellion, that they denyed the Lord that bought them. 
 I. BecauftChrift having bought them, had power and authoritie 
 to command them : therefore they ought to have obeyed him, and 
 not to have rebelled againft him. 2. It was (for the prefent ) very 
 beneficiall unto them that Chrift had fo bought them. For Chrift 
 in the exercife of that power and dominion over the world, which 
 by his death he hath obtained, conferres upon men all the benefits 
 that they receive. It was therefore an aggravation of their finjthac 
 they did rebell againfl fuch a benefa£tour. 3. Chrift having ob- 
 tained by his death this dominion over all, for the good of tho(e 
 that believe in him , the confideration of his being the Lord that 
 hath fo bought all, (hould perfwade tinners to believe in him. This 
 therefore was an aggravation of their (in of unbeliefe and dilbbe- 
 dience. 4. Thus the Apoftle did alfo reprove their madnefle in re- 
 belling againft the Lord that bought them , who therefore could 
 not want power to punifli them. Now although the Lord ( in that 
 CenCc and in that Con that we have taken notice of) hath bought 
 thefe; yet will he truly (ay unto them in the day of judgement, 
 J never knewyou^ Mat. 7. 2 3 . 
 
 A fixth objeftion is prelented to us from Heb. 2. 9." — 'that he by 6. 0bje3, 
 the grace ofXjodJhould tajie death for every w^«. Whereto I thus returne From Heb. », 
 anfwer. I. I deny not, but have already declared, that every man 9-anrwcred. 
 ( without exception of any ) doth in this life receive benefit by the 
 death of Chrift. And what Chrift cfiefteth by his death, the (arac 
 was intended both by the Father, and by Chrift. 2. lam informed 
 that the word man , is not here expreflcd in the Greeke Text, but 
 (upplyed by the tranflators : Whereupon I would have it to be con- 
 iidered, whether they might not as well have fupplyed the word 
 Sony becaufe of that which follows in verf. 10. For it became him, for 
 whom are all things ^ and by rvhom are all things , in bringing many fins 
 unto gloryy to make the Captain of their falvatien perfeQ through ftiffk" 
 rings. 3. Though we here readeyor every man ; yet confidering what 
 here follows in virf i o. and what went before in Chap, i . 1 3. Are they 
 not allminijhringjpiritSy fint forth to minifierfor tbem^ who jhall be 
 heires offihation? I concdweby every man we may here underftand 
 onely every fin ; or (which is all one) every man that ftiall be an 
 heire of falvation. This I am the more confirmed in by that which 
 
 H 2 follows 
 
52 The peculiar intereft of the EleB in Chrifl^ 
 
 I- I ■ 11 II ■ ' • ' i - -- . ■ II I ,^^,, 
 
 follows in verf. n.^—iy. where they for whofe fake Chrift took^ 
 part of flefti and bloudj (and confequently, for whofe falvation he 
 tailed death ) are declared to be brethren of Chrift, and children 
 given to Chrift of the Father^I am alfo the more confident of this, 
 becaufe of thtfe words by th grace ofGod'm the place objefted to ufl j 
 it being certainc that the Eleftj and onely they, are the obJe£l: of 
 that grace of God whereby wee are faved. Thus I can difceme no 
 ftrength at all in any ci>je£kion to be made againft ns from this 
 place. 
 •J. OhjcU. Some endeavour to nrake a feventh <)bjeftion from i lim,^. i o. 
 From f Tim 4* — ti^e tmfi in the living Godyfcho is the Saviour of all mtn^ ^cially of 
 i^. anfwered. ^^g^ ^ij^t believe. But the ftiewing of the true meaning of the place> 
 may fave them the labour of making their objeftion. The Scrip- 
 ture Ipeakes of a twofold falvation. i. A falvation temporally of 
 which you may reade in thele places; ffal io6. 8. lO.Nehem.^. 27. 
 Mat,%. 2 5 . Tquching this falvation, God is the Saviour of all men. 
 Yea he pre(erveth man and beaft, Vfd. ^6,6. 2. Eternall falvatk>n. 
 And this God hath prepared for his owne people, and for none o- 
 ther ;faving them by his Son Jefus Chrift from fin and eternall de- 
 ft ruftion. To thefehe gives to believe in Je(us Chrift, that they 
 may be faved by him, according to the promise of theGofpel. 
 Thus he is the Saviour of all men , fpecially of them that beKcve. 
 And thus there remaines no objcftion to bemade againft us from 
 this place. 
 8. ObjtB. Another place from which an objeftion is made againft us , is 
 from Htb.io- Heb. 10. 29. Ofhcr» much forerpunifhment fitppofeyee jhall be be thought 
 ig, anfwered. worthy , who hathtroden under- foot the Son of God y and hath csunted 
 the hhudofthe Covenant^ wheremth he tp-as fanBifed, an unholy things 
 &c. This is cleare that by the Uoud of the Covenant is here meant 
 the bloud of Jefus Chrift, which he himfelfc calls the bloud of the 
 new Teftament or Covenant, Marh^ 1 4. 24. But who is the perfon 
 that is here faid to befan&ified with this bloud t Our advcrfaries 
 fay. The finner here fpoken of. But this finner is not in Chrift Je- 
 fus, Rom. 8. I. He is not made partaker of Chrift , Heb. 3.14. He 
 is not fprinkled with his bloud,i Pef.i.2.How then is he fanftified 
 with his bloud>Thofe that are fanftified with this bloud of Chrift, 
 by one offering Chrift hath perfected them for ever, Heb. 10. 14, 
 Therefore they are faved eternally. It is not therefore the finner 
 
 that 
 
and his faving (Jrace^ 5 3 
 
 that pcriflieth, but Jeiiis Chrift himfclfc ( fpoken of by the name of 
 the Son of God in the words immediately afore-going ) who is 
 here declared to have been fanftified with this bloud. There i*a 
 fan6tifying of Chrift fpoken of in foh. 10. 36. That was the Fa- 
 thers letting him apart to the office of Mediatour. That is not the 
 fanftifying here fpoken of. But that you may rightly underftand 
 the fanftifying here fpoken of, you muft remember that Chrift did 
 beare our linncs, i Ttt, 2. 24. Yea the Father did lay on him our 
 iniqulde , IfaLfy^, 6. And fo he was made fin for us, 2 Cor. 5. 21. 
 Now that our fin might neither returne upon us , nor ftiil lie upon 
 iiim, it was neceflfary that he fhould purge it away from hlrnfelfe. 
 This he did' by himfelfe, Heb. i . 3. by his bloud, Kevel. 1.5. Doing 
 this he faniiified bimfelfe with his own bloud : and had he not 
 done this, he had not fanftificd us with his bloud as the Scriptures 
 declare him to have done , Heb, 13.12. Therefore when he was 
 neare to his Partion, (in which he was to doe this worke ) be faid 
 to his Father concerning his Difciplcs, For their fak^f ( or, for them, 
 as fome underftanding the Greeke tonejue, doe fay the words may 
 be rend red ; that is, for their good ) IfanBijie n^felfe, Joh. 17. 1 ^, 
 As this interpretation (eeme? to be genuine and proper ,and no way 
 forcedifo it fuUy agrees with the Apoftles fcope,which was to hold 
 forth the excellency of the bloud of Chrift , that fb he might alfo 
 (hew their odious fin that count it an unholy thing. And the excel- 
 lency of the bloud of Chrift could not be more clearly declared, 
 •then by (hewing that Jefus Chrift when he was made fin for us (all 
 oiirfinnethen lying upon him) Was fanftified by his own bloud. 
 Thus this Scripture being tPuly under ftcod, and ib made to agree 
 with other Scriptures, makes nothing at all againft us. 
 
 The next place of Scripture objefted to us by our adverfaries, g.OhjeB^ 
 that we will now confider, is Hg^.- ^. 15. from which they ecdea- From ii ft. 9- 
 vour to iiiferre that Chrift hath freed all men from their finne* a- * 5«a"f^^'^^'^' 
 ' gaifaft t^efiHt^Teftameni^, and coniequently from their fins againft 
 theLaWjConfideredasfinnesagair.ft theLaw. And if Chrifi have ' 
 
 freed all men from their finnes againft the LaWjConfidcred as finnes 
 againft the Law, then he hath pre(ented to his Fathers juftice a 
 fatisfa^ion for the finnes of all' men. The words in that placeof 
 Scripture, are thefe 5 And for tfm ca»fe he u the Midiatour of the n6t& 
 t'efiament^tbat by meanes ofdeath^far the redemption of t he tranjgreffions 
 
 tha»; 
 
54 ^^* peculiar tnterefi of the SieB in Chrift, 
 
 that xrere under thefirfi Tepament j they which are called might receive 
 ihepromijeofeternallinheritance. Here thefe things are tobcconfi- 
 dered. i. By the firfl Teftanient is not here meant any Covenant 
 made with Jdam^or any Teftament given to Adam before his fall ; 
 but the legall and typicall Covenant and Teftament made with 
 Jfrael, and given to Jfrael^ in the dayes of A^ofes : as appeares in the 
 words following, viz. in verf. 16, 173 183 ip, 20. compared with 
 'Exod.2^. 3 543 5 3 63 7. 8. (ee alio Heb. 8. 6, 7, 8, 9. 2. The Apoftles 
 fcope here is to fhew that the believing Jevpes were freed from their 
 finnes againft the firft Teftament, not by the bloud of bulls and of 
 goats, or any fuch like thing offered according to the Law oiMo- 
 fes: but by the death of Chrift.This appeares in this Chap.m verf.p. 
 12.23. ^^^ *" Chap. ic. verf. 1.4, 5. 8,93 lo, 1 1. And here note by 
 the way, that thele words oneefor all in Heb.io. 10. doc not fignifie 
 once for all men, as fome have ignorantly conceived : but once and 
 no more, 3. The reftriftion of this to believers appeares plainly in 
 the words of the Scripture objedtcd, if men had eyes to fee it. It ap- 
 peares likcwifc clearly in the vcrfe afore-going.Alfo in z/er/2 4. com- 
 pared with Cj[;^/>. 7. 25. AiroinC/;j;>. 10. 10.14,15,16,17. And 
 that unbelievers under the Law were not redeemed from their fins 
 againft the Law, is manifeft in Rom. 2. r2. where it is (aid, that they 
 jhali be judged by the Law. 4. As it hath been already proved * that 
 all wicked perfons (hall be condemned and puni(hed for all their 
 wickednefle what(bever , fo I defire our adverfaries to behold this 
 truth againe in that glalle which is held forth unto them in Revel. 
 21. 8. For that place doth not onely (hew who ftiall be punilhed 
 with eternall torment, but alfo notes the evills for which they (hall 
 be fo puniftied. Thus we have found this place al(b ( though ob- 
 ]e£ted againft us by fome of our adver(aries with much conlidence, 
 yet) indeed to prove nothing at all of that which our adverfaries 
 have endeavoured to prove againft us by it. 
 lO.ObjeB. Another objeftion is made againft us from i Cor. 15. i. 3. by 
 Fromicor.i r which place our adverfaries would prove that Chrift dyed for the 
 i.^.anfvfcred. (Jjjg of all men, and con(equently that he pre(ented to his Fathers 
 Juftice a fatisfaftion for the finnes of all men. True it is that Chrift 
 dyed to this end, that whofbever believeth in him, the fame (hould 
 rcceiveremi(rionoffinnes,7(7^. 3. 16. AQs 10.43. And Chrift in- 
 tended that his death (hould be of perfedt fufticiency (as indeed it 
 
 is) 
 
and his frving Grace, 5 5 
 
 is ) for the effefting of this. Yet ftill it is true that he neither did in 
 his deathjHor doth in his interceflionj prefent uato his FatheM ju- 
 fticc a (atisfaftion for the lins of any , fave oncly of thoie that doe, 
 or (hall believe in him ; which arc his Eleft onely. But let us con- 
 fider the place objefted. The words from which the obje5:'on is 
 niad^ are thefe.— — Ii^ec/jre unto you the Gojfel which I preached ttnto 
 jott..^~-.For I delivered unto you fir^ of all J that which I alfi received^ 
 bow that Chrijl dyed for our fins according to the Scriptures, The Apo* 
 files fcope here is to (hew the certainty of Chrifts refurreftion, not 
 onely in it fclfe, but alfo.to the faith of the believing Corinthians 5 
 and conftquently how fooHfh they fhould be, if they (hould deny 
 the refurrcftion of the bodies of the Saints, wherein by neceflary 
 and immediate conlequence, they would be found to deny Chrilh 
 refiirrcftion. To this end he repreients unto them how the Gofpel 
 which he at the firft preached unto thenij and they through grace 
 received, did contain in it (as a maine and fundamental! part there- 
 of) the doftrine of Chrifts refurre^ion. This, I fay,is the Apoftle* 
 fcope in this place. And thus reprefenting to them ( to the end a- 
 fore-mentioned) the Gofpel which he fir ft preached to them, he 
 branchcth the doftrine thereof into three Articles. 1. The doftrine 
 concerning Chrifts death. 2. Concerning his burialL 3. Concern- 
 ing his reiiirreftion. And here he tycs not himfelfe to the fame 
 forme of words which he at hrft u(ed , but onely represents unto* 
 them the fubftance and heads of that dodrine which he firft prea- 
 ched unto them. The doftrine of Chrifts death he thus fets forth ;■ 
 ThatChrifi dyed for onrfins according to the Scriptures, By the Scrip- 
 tures he meanes the Scriptures of the old Teftamenr. t which Scrip- 
 tures doe not hold forth Chrift prelenting to his Fathers juftice 
 a fatisfaftion for the lins of all men, but the contrary altogether. 
 The types of Chrift^ in and under the Law held him forth as a 
 Prieft and a F\.edecmer for his Ifrael^and of his Ifrael ondy : and the 
 reft of the Nations were looked upon as aliens from the Common" 
 wealth of ^rael^ and jirangers from ihe CovenantSyf^c, Ephef2.. iz. 
 Infbmuch that the Apoftles themielves for a while ( not yet know- 
 ing the larffenefle of the extent of Gods Ifiaeljknew not that Chrift: 
 ftiould be found to be a redeemer of any of thol^ Gentiles whichr 
 were not ^oyned unto Jfi^ailns Ptofelytes.This appeaaes in A&j 10*- 
 and la.fee alfo ^J^ef^' 3'. 5 ♦ 6. And the tsiUmony* of^l^ ■Prophets 
 
 cottc^ning; 
 
5 6 The peculiar intereft of the El^B in Cbrifi^ 
 
 .conoerning Chrift J you may fee {\imincdiyp'm.Msr^o,^^. Thji 
 xhen was the Gofpel wh^ch the ApoiliesCandconlcquentlyPW, 
 who preached the fame Gofpel that the reft of the Apoftlesdid) 
 jdid every where preach •, viz. That Chrift according to the Scrip- 
 tures did dye for the taking and putting away of all the iinnes of 
 all thole that did orfhouLd believe in him ; compare ASij ip. 43. 
 with ABs 1 5» 7. This doftrine Paul la this his briefe repetition di- 
 reftly applyesj not onely to himfelfe, but alfo to the Corinthians to 
 whom he wrote, becaule he looked upon them as believers, I Cor. i. 
 2iand 6.1 1 . And thus it appeares that this Scripture alfo r^akes no- 
 thing for our adverfaries in this controverfie or queftion, I 
 
 1 1 . OhjeB. Whereas fome of our adverfariesdoe endeavour to trouble both 
 ¥roTxii Corn 1. thcmfelvcs and us with an objeftion from i C0r.15.22.w9 will next 
 zi. anfwcred. confider that place. The words of the Apoftle there are thefe : As 
 
 in Adam all dye 5 even fo in Chriji jhalJ all be made alive ; qv as (bme 
 tranflate ', As by Adam all dje^ evenfo by Chrifl flyall all, be made alive. 
 Touching which place, mind theie things, i. The Apoftle doth 
 not there fpeake of fomething already paft,but onely of (bmething 
 to come. If he had there fpoken of Chrifts prcfenting in his death 
 a fatisfa6tion to his Fathers juftice for the fins of all men,he would 
 have {a.id',As in Adam all have dyed^evenfo in Chriji all have been made 
 dive. 2. The Apoftle there fpeakesof^rfip refurrefltion of the body 
 unto life, even to the life of glory ; of that which Chrift calls 'the 
 re^rre£?ia» in 1^^20.35,36. Of the fame which he Ipeakes of af- 
 terward in this Chapter, verf. 42, 43, 44. Neither doth he in this 
 Chapter fpeake immediately and dircftly of any other reftirrcftion*- 
 3. By AU therefore we muft here underftand onely all thofe that are 
 Chrifts ; verfi^. of whom Clirift is the firft fruits ; verf.20. Upon all 
 thefejas well as upon the reft of mankinde, death entred by Adam 
 and in Adam : and to all thefe, though not to the reft of mankind, 
 there ftiallbc a glorious rcfurreftion of the body by Chrift and in 
 Chrift. If this were not true, then Chrift were not rifen, and fo our 
 faith were vaine, and we yet in our finnes. Thele things being thus 
 cleare, I doe not feare any objeftion from this place. 
 
 12. OhjeB, There feemes unto (bme to hz fomewhat againft us in 2 Cor. 5. 
 Jfom a Cor.^. 14, 15. Therefore that place alfo ftiall now be diligently weighed. 
 '4jJ f • anfwc- •pjjg words are thefe ; The love of Chriji conftrainetb uf^becaufe we thus 
 
 j*f^h *^^f 9^ one dyed for all^ then vecrt all dniid : And that he dyed for 
 
 al 
 
and his fdVing Grace, 5 7 
 
 aU^ that they which live^Jhould not henceforth live unto themjelves^ but 
 anto him which dyed for them, androfe againe. Let the coherence and 
 Icope of this text be minded. The Apoftle had before exprefled his 
 labouring to keepe a good confcience, verfp. and 1 1. And in that 
 exprefiion concerning himfeife , he feemed to ]oyne him(elfe with 
 others that faithfully alfifted him in the preaching of the Gofpel. 
 Here he declares the Itrong motive that ftill put him on upon thvit 
 holy labouring ; viz. The love of Chrlft apprehended by faith. 
 This love of Chrift to him he declares and commends by Chrifts 
 dying for him, when he himfeife was dead. He (hews a!fo the end 
 for which Chrift fo (hewed this love unto him ; viz. That hence- 
 forth he might not live unto him(elfe5 but unto Chrift who dyed 
 for him.And in holding forth all thiSjhe extends the fame (as there 
 was good caule for it ) to all believers : but with any other hemed- 
 leth not in this place. The word All is here ufed, as in Heb. 12.8. 
 for all the fonsjoot all perfons ; for all the Saints, (C^i*/».i. 1.) not 
 all men ; for all that arc in Chrift , ( verf. 17.) not for all in the 
 world. And Chrifts dying for them all , Ihews that they were all 
 dead in themlelves, eife Chrift needed not to have dyed for them. 
 It is objeftedj that all men in the world were thus dead in them- 
 felves. Anf, The thing indeed is true ; but the Apoftle had no oc- 
 caiion to take any notice of it, or to make any u(e of it here ; but 
 onely of this, that we who now live through grace, were once mi- 
 fcrably dead, as fufficiently appeares by Chrifts dying for us to (ave 
 us from this mifery.The Apolile hath the like expreflion in Kom.^, 
 2 3 . For a U have finned, and comejhort of the glory of God. Though this 
 in it felfe be true of all men without exception, yet it is manifeft by 
 that which there goes before in verf. 22. and that alio which fol- 
 lows in verf.2i^j 25, and 26. that the Apoftle there (peakes onely of 
 all thofe that doe believe. Whereas our adverfaries would obferve 
 in this faying in 2 Cor. 5.15. that they which live are but a part of 
 thofe all for whom Chrift is there faid to have dyed ; they thf.rein 
 endeavour to obferve that which the Apoftle neither fpake , nor 
 meant. For by they which Uve^ is there meant onely they living:^. 
 
 Whereas our adverlaries would either coniirme their objeftion j ^. OhjeB, 
 from the place la ft anfwered unto, or elfe trouble us with another, From 2 c.9r.r . 
 
 from that which follows in verf. 1 9 Godwas in Chrifi^ncanciling i^. anf'.Tercd. 
 
 th& world nnto bimfelfi^ not impHtitJg their trefpajfes unto them. I there- 
 - 1 to 
 
58 The peculiar intereft of the EieB in Chrifl^ 
 
 to thus anfwcr. The word world ^ muft there be underftood as in 
 Kom. II. 12. 15. and (b not be extended beyond thofe to whom 
 ^race is (or (hall bs) given to believe in Jeliis Chrifl:. For thcfe 
 onely are the blefled oneSj to whom God imputethnot iia j as wee 
 have already feene in 'Rom. 4. 6, 7, 8. Thefe onely are they that are 
 afterwards fpoken of in 2 Cor. 5. 21. for whom the Father made 
 Chrjft to be (innc, that they might be made the righteoiifnefle of 
 God in Chrift. For God is not fruftrated of his end there pro- 
 pounded. 
 14. OhjeB. But the obje6tion which feemeth ftrongeft againft iK, is that 
 ^vomRom. •)'. which is drawne from Kom. 5. and fpscially from verf 18. of that 
 18. aafwercd. Chapter, where the Apoftle hath thefe words ^therefon fis hy the of- 
 fence of one ^ judgement came upon all men to condemnation : even fo by 
 the righteoufnejje of one , the free gift came upon all men unto jujlification 
 of life. Therefore I ihall now addrefle my (elfe by the helpe of God, 
 to c;iv£ a plaine antwer to this alio in words of truth and (bber- 
 ntffe. I. The fcope of the Apoftle here is to commend the infinite 
 love of God unto his children, (hewen and extended unto them in 
 Jefus Chrift , and (hed abroad in their hearts by the holy Spirit 
 which is given unto them. This will eafily appeare to any godly 
 perfon that ftiall diligently read from verf, 5,. ot this Chapter to the 
 end ; and (hall confider how every verle depends on that which 
 went immediately before. 2. In the latter part of this Chapter,. 
 Jefus Chrift as the fecond or laft J dam ( as he is called in i Cor. 1 5 .. 
 45. 47.) is compared with the firft Adam , which firft Adam is (aid 
 to be the figure of him that was to come, verf. 14. For as all that 
 fell, did fall in and by the firft Adam : fo all that are raifed agaiae 
 toetcrnalllife, are raifed againe in and by Jefus Chrift. Other 
 things wherein the (imilitude doth either holdjor not holdjbetween 
 ^jwand Chriftj I leave the Fveader to con(ider in the Chapter. 
 3.. Whereas in verf 17. the Apoitie fpeakes of an ahtrndance ofgrace^ 
 and of the gift ofrighteoHfnejJei which believers receive j this is not 
 meant of a greater meafure of grace received by (bme believers 
 then by others: but ic commends the abundant excellency of that 
 grace, and gift of righteoulhcde which all believers doe receive, 
 whereby they are a(ru!ed that they (hall reigne in life by jefus Chrift. 
 Here alC> confider verf i5.ofthis chap, and compare this 17* z'«r/r 
 therewi^. 4. All they upon whom the free gift C4me unco juftifi- 
 
 odon 
 
and his faving Grace, 59 
 
 cation of life, by the righteoufiieflc of Chrift , and all they which 
 (hall be made righteous by his obedience ( as it is in verf 1 9, ) (hall 
 be faved eternally: as alfo further appeares in verf. 9, 10. and in 
 verf. 21. o{ this Chapter. 5. Thofe all men on whom judgement 
 came unto condemnation by the offence of Adam , and thofe manj 
 that were made finners by his difbbedience ; (as it is in verf. i p.^are 
 all thofe, and onely thole, that are ( or (hall be ) from AJam and # 
 
 by Adam in refpeft of naturall life and being; and were according- 
 ly reprelentcd by Adam when he fell. Thus the man Jefus the Son 
 of the virgin Marie, was exempted. As he was not by Adam;, Co nei- 
 ther was he reprefented by him when he fell. He was not for his 
 own partjand as touching his own perfonjmade a (inner by Adams 
 difobedience, as we were : neither did the judgement fo come upon 
 him to condemnation by Adams offence, as it came upon us. For 
 then he had been under condemnation for his own origtnall (inne. 
 So that even here the words all men are not to be taken in the largeft 
 extent, without any limitation. 6. Accordingly thole all men oa 
 whom the free gift came unto jullification of life by the rightcouf- 
 ncfle of Chriftjand thole many which (hall be made righteous by the 
 obedience of Chrift, ( as it is in verf. 1 9. _) are all tho(e, and onely 
 thole, that are ( or (hall be ) from Chrift and by Chrift in refpeft 
 of new life, and their being new creatures, being borne ( or begot- 
 ten) of him , I Joh. 2. 29. who were accordingly reprefented by 
 Chrift when he dyed and role againe , as I have * already (hewed. * Pag. 40^ 
 Thus the leed of the Serpent is excluded. And thus even here alfo 
 (through thegoodnedeofGod) the light of truth (hines forth, 
 and the mift of crrour vanifheth before it. 
 
 Some conceive that they (hall finde foraething againft us in the i^.ObjeQ, 
 faying olCaiaphas recorded in Joh. 1 1. 49, 50. and in Johns note ¥rom Joh.x r, 
 or oblervation upon the fame in verf 5 1 ,5 2. Indeed liCaiaphas had ^^'^^ anfwe- 
 fpoken of himfelfe, we might polfibly have expefted fomc oppoliti- ' 
 on, confidering how a carnall heart, and the large and fle(h- plea- 
 ling doftrine ( fallly called Gofpel ) which we now oppole, doe ea- 
 fily agree and dole together 5 as experience alfo maketh raanifeft. 
 But in as much as Caiaphas now (pake not of hiralelfe , but being 
 high Prieft that yeare,did prophe(ie*,we (hall certainly find nothing 
 againft us in his fpeech. The laying of Caiaphas wa« this ; Tee k^om 
 nothing at all^ nor confiderihat it is expedient for «f j ( that is , for m 
 
 J 3 JetPiS; 
 
6o "^^^ peculiar intereft of the EkB in Chrifi^ 
 
 Jewes •, for the Nation of the Jewes ) that one man jhould dye for the 
 people^ and that the whole Nation perifh not. Hereupon John gives this 
 note 5 — 'Hf prophejied that Jefus fljould dye for that Nation^ &c. The 
 dying of Jefus for that nation, was his dying for the redemption 
 of all the children of God of that Nation ; yea of all the children of 
 God wherefoever fcattered abroad , of what Nation focver they 
 were : of all which children of God that Nation ( in the (eparaltion 
 thereof from the reft of the world to be a peculiar people unto 
 God ) had hitherto been an appointed type. For {o John further 
 cxplaines it inverf.'^.i. And not for that Nation onely^ hut that ht 
 fhould gather together in one the children of God that were fcattered a^ 
 broad. This onely holds forth that JediS was to preient unto the 
 juftice of God his Father, a fatisfaftion for the fins of all the chil- 
 dren of God of what nation foever, and that hereby their falvatioa 
 fhould be effefted. So it confirmes the fame truth that wee mainr 
 taine. 
 i6. Ohie^, ^"f y^^ o"^ adverfaries feeme confident thatby the words of our 
 From Mat. n. Saviour in Matth. 12.31, 32. they (hall prove that all fins againft 
 3 r , 5 2 . anr the Law ( confidered as finnes againft the Law ) are forgiven to all 
 ^^e4> men ; and conlequently, that Ghrift hath prefented a fatisfaftion to 
 
 his Fathers juftice for the fins of all men. Let us therefore with all 
 ferioufnefie, and in the feaieofthe Lord, confider that place alfo j 
 and diligently mind botk what is faid, and alfo what b truly to be 
 (aid concerning it. The words of our Saviour there are thus ren- 
 dred ; — AU marmer of fin and hlafphemy fjoall be forgiven unt9 men : 
 but the blafphemy againft the Spirit jhall not be forgiven unto men. And 
 whofiever jpeaketh a word againft the Sonne of man ^ it jhall be forgiven 
 him I but whojbeverjpeak^tb againft the holy. Spirit , it pall not be forgi- 
 ven him.;, neither in this world;, neither in, the world to come. Here let 
 the(e things be confidered. 
 
 I. Whereas our adverfaries find fault with the laft tranflation 
 
 in the former part oiverf.^i. contending that the words ought 
 
 there to be thus rendrcd i Ever/fin-andblajphemie -, I have already 
 
 ^"i: 45* ■* proved tiiat the word Ally or Everjy doth fometimes fignifitonely 
 
 fome of all fortSj or of every fort. 
 
 a. Whereas they bring this place to prove the forgiving of all fins 
 againft the Law to all men, but not of any fins againft the Gofpel; 
 ( which.they acknowledge not to be forgiven to all men) let k be 
 
 mindecL 
 
and his faving Grace, ^ i 
 
 minded that Chrift here fpeake« of finsagainft the Gofpel, as well 
 as of fins againd the Law ; unlefle it be no iin againft the Gofpel ta 
 (pcake againll Chrift. 
 
 3. Oblerve that Chrift doth not here fayjcvery fin and blafphe- 
 mie if forgiven unto men ^ and whofbcver fpeaketh again ft the Son of 
 man^ it U forgiven him. But he fpeakes with manifeft and exprefie 
 reference unto time to come 5 It fhall be forgiven. Even as he faith of 
 the Wafphcmy againft the holy Spirits with reference to the fame 
 time to come ; Jt (ball not be forgiven^ neither in this voorld^ neither in 
 the world to come. But by the doftrine of our adverfaries , every fin 
 and blafphcmy, that they underftand to be here fo fpoken of, is al- 
 ready forgiven to all men j yea and they would have this place to 
 feemc to prove it. I fuppofe they will fay, that Chrift did here thus- 
 (peake of the time to come , becaufe he had not yet fciftered for 
 mens finnes. But this reafon is infufficient. For though Chrift had^ 
 not yet aftually fufFcred, yet his fufferings were already accepted of 
 the Fatherland foeffeftuall for the putting away of the fins of all 
 thole that were partakers of him ;^ (ee Van.g. 1-9. i Sam^ 12. 13, 
 Matth. 9. 2 . And this faying of Chrift in Matth. i a. 3 1 , 5 2 . doth as 
 well belong to the time after his paffion, as to that particular time 
 in which Chrift fo fpake it : as alfo appeares in 1 lim. i. 13. com^ 
 pared with Heb. 1 o. 263 27, and ijoh. 5.16. 
 
 4. Whereas our adverfaries conceive, or take it for grantedjthar 
 the fin againft the holy Spirit here fpoken of, which (hall never be 
 forgiven, is nothing elfe but finall unbeliefe ; in this alfo they doe 
 greatly erre. For they which doe fall into this fin, doe fall into it 
 in their life-time; yea fomctimes long before their death. Thus ic 
 was with thofe Phari(ees that had now committed this finne : iee 
 yI^d//)&. 12. 24, 25. wlthz^er/313 32. and A/jr)^. 3, 22. 28,29530. 
 This alfo appeares in Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6. and Heb. 10. 26, 27, 28, 29. 
 Moreover, there are mu'tltudes y yea millions of unbelievers, that 
 goe to eternall deftruftion without committing this fin. And here^ . 
 I conceive, it will neither be impertinent, nor unprofitable, to ftiew 
 what this fin is. This fin againft the holy Spirit, is the fin of thofe 
 that wittingly and wilfully oppofe with odious blalphemies the 
 Go(pel of Jefus^ Chrift, and Jefus Chrift himfelfe as he is-the aur 
 thor and fubjeft of his Gofpel. 1. This fin is an oppofing andre- 
 jeftiBgorthe whole Gofpel of Jefus Chrifti.aad of Jpfus^ Chrift 
 
 himfcift 
 
61 The peculiar tntere^ of theEleH in Cbrifl, 
 
 hknfelfe as he ia the author and fubjeft of his Gofpel. Therefore 
 the coramitters of this iin are not onely faid to fall away, but alfo 
 to crucifie to themfelves the Son of God afrelh , and to put him to 
 an open fha'nej Heb. 6. 6. Yea they are faid to tread underfoot the 
 Son of Godj and to count his bloud an unholy thing, and to doc 
 defpite unto the Spirit of grace3iit;^.io. 29. 2.This fin is not com- 
 mitted ignorantly, butagainfl: a great and clcare light of know- 
 ledge, 1 7im. 1. 13. Heb. 6. 4. Heb. lo. 26. Mat. 21.38. 3.Thi5fiti 
 18 not committed through infirmitie, but wilfully, in the exercile of 
 a full and fetled malice, even againft Chrift, not onely knowne but 
 alfo minded to be Chrift, and againft his Gofpel , both knowne 
 and minded to be his Gofpel , and againft the commands and in- 
 vitations of the Spirit of grace, though knowne and minded to be 
 ills commands and invitations : and accordingly this Devilifti ma- 
 lice caries on the finnerto abominable blafphemtcs,and makes him 
 alwaycs to hate all thoughts of repentance, though he expeft no- 
 thing but fiery indignation. All this is to be feene by the light of 
 thefe places of Scripture, vi35,Heb.6.6. and He/>. 10. 26,27, 29, 
 And this fin is called. The fin(or blafphemie) againft the holy Spi- 
 rits becaule it is fo committed againft the worke of the holy Spirit, 
 giving fuch a light of the knowledge of the Gofpel, and calling up- 
 on the finner to obey the Gofpel Co revealed. This fin a man falls 
 into when he is onely enlightened ( by the worke of the holy Spi- 
 rit) with the knowledge of the Gofpel, and called upon (by the 
 fame Spirit)toyeeld obedience thereunto : and God doth not adde 
 a further powerfull worke, giving unto him a new heart, and put- 
 ting a new fpiric within him. And thus is discovered the defperate 
 wicKedneflc of mans heart, and his hatred of the Gofpel, which 
 would in like manner appeare in all, if all were dealt with in like 
 (brt. By this it may be difcerned howgrofle the errour of our ad- 
 verfaries is, who account this fin and blafphemie againft the Spirit 
 to be nothing elfe but finall unbeliefe. ^ 
 
 5. The fcope of our Saviour here was to fticw that this finne a- 
 gainft the holy Spirit, fhall never be forgiven to any perfbn that 
 once fallcs into it 5 and that herein this finne differs from all other 
 finnes that men commit. For there is no fin but it may be forgiven, 
 and is ( or fhall be ) foi^iven to fbme that have committed it , this 
 fin onely excepted ; there being no fioj (ave onely this, which may 
 
 not 
 
 J 
 
and his [aving grace, ^5 
 
 not be repented of, and is not repented of (through Gods mightie 
 grace) by foine that have committed it. Our adverfaries doe not- 
 withftanding ftraitly prefle iis with the(e words 5 IVbofieverJpeak^tb 
 a tvord agix'mji the Son ofmav^ it jhall be forgiven him. Whereto I an- 
 fwer. That this claule. It pall be forgiven him^ doth here ilgnifie no 
 more then, i^ wjy be forgiven him. As in i Cor. 3.15. this claufe. He 
 himfelfe (Ijall befavedy doth fignifie no more thf n 3 he himf4fe may be 
 fived. For it is not of necelTitie that every one muft be faved , that 
 builds hay and ftubble on Chrift the foundation ^ that is, brings 
 falfe profeffbrs of faith into an outward union in Church-fellow- 
 (hip with others that arc built on Chrift the Rocke. Thus it Will 
 remaines Brine, that no iin is indeed remitted to unbelievers. Aod . 
 thus this place makes not againd us. 
 
 Some of our adverfaries doe alfo objeft againft us 3 Jert. 31.335 17. ObjeBi, 
 .34,affirming that God hath now made the Covenant there fpoken From/tr. ? i. 
 of, with all men 5 and conftquently that all mens fins are forgiven. 55'34. anfwc- 
 This therefore fhall next be inquired into.The words of that Scrip- ' 
 ture arethe(e j T^his fjall be the Covenant that Iivillmjke with the 
 houfe of Jfr act '^ After thofe day es ^ faith the Lord^ I will put my law in 
 their inivard parts^ andtprite it in their hearts , andrvill be their God^ , 
 and they fhall be my people. And they Jhall teaoh no mare every man his 
 neighbottry, and every man his brother^ faying , Knors? the Lord: for they 
 flfall aU know me , from the leajl ofthemunio the greatejl of them, faith ■ 
 the hard: for Ivpill forgive their iniqmtie, and I tvill remanher their fn- 
 no more. Touching which Scripture laffirme, and undertake to 
 prove,that God hath not made the Covenant here fpoken o^,with 
 all men, but with his Eleft onely. i ♦ The Scripture doth not teach 
 US; by the houfe ofJfrael to underftand all men. 2. This Covenvint 
 God keepes and perforraes, with all thole, and unto all thole that 
 he hath made it with : othervvile God were not faithfuU^but rather 
 falfe and deceiving ; which to imagine were odious blafphemy. But 
 God performes this Covenant onely to his Eleft. 3. Itismanifeft 
 from the latter part of wrf. 34. that God performes this Covenant; 
 both to all thofe, and onely to thofe , whole iniqyttic he will for- 
 give,, and whole fin he will remember no more. This place there- 
 fore is fo farrefrom fpeaking for our adverfaries, as that it over- 
 throws them altogether.But they objcft that all oi iht houfe of Ifrael 
 »e not Gods EJlcS. I aRfwer^ that Jfragl notwithftaoding did ty- 
 
^4 '^^s peculiar tnterefl of the Sletl in Chrifly 
 
 ll'p pifieihe whole compa-nie of GodsEIeft, as alfo is intimated ?n 
 
 ' ^* f/j/. 135. 4. and accordingly they who are declared tobeGoJs 
 
 Eic6Vj are called JJraely and Ifiaelites indeed, Kow. 9. 6. Pfal. 73. i. 
 Joh. 1 . 47. Osl. 6. 1 6. They further objet^, that God puts his Law 
 in the inward partSjand writes it in the hearts of foineCat the leaft) 
 that are not his Ekdi. I anfwerj that the Law here fpoken of, is the 
 very doftrine of the Gofpel 5 and that Gods putting this Law into 
 mens inward parts, & writing it in their hearts, is his making them 
 to iinderftand , and to love i to believe, and to obey this Gofpel. 
 And this God workes oncly in his Elcft, whom he makes his own 
 people, and he is found to be their God, For this fee Jere. 24. 7. 
 Jere. 32.38, 39, 40. Exei^. 11. 19,20. Ezek^^6. 263 ly^iS. It being 
 a cleare and moft manifcft truth, ( though fome of our adverfaries 
 are fo blind, that they cannot fee it) that that precious promife in 
 Ifai. 54. I3« is made onely to the Eleft. 
 iS. Obje^, Some endeavour to frame an objeftion againfl: us from Van. 9, 
 From "Dan. 9. 24. whcre we thus read ; Stijventk n^ek^ are determined upon thy peo- 
 14. anfwcrcd. ple^ and upon thy holy Citie , tojinifh the tranJgrejJioHy and to mak^ an 
 end of fins, and to m,2ke reconciliation for iniquitie^and to bringinever" 
 hfiing righteoufneJJ'e, Sec- But all this is fpoken with a mahifeft refe- 
 rence and reftriftion to Gods Ele^. — 7hy people ; thsit is. The peo- 
 ple odfraely ( who are thy people after the flelh, thou being one of 
 that (eparated Nation*,) viz. as they are a type of the Ijfr-ae/of God, 
 and no otherwayes.Or rather, Jhy people ; that is, The I^<ie/of God 
 to which thou appertaineft.So a\ib,'thy holy Cf/ie;that is,Tbe Citie 
 Jerufilem as it ty pities the heavenly Jemfalem.Ot rather, "thy holy Ci- 
 tie-^that h,Jentfakm which is above,which is thy mother. Here alfo 
 obferve, ihateverlaftingrightcoufiieflc is the portion of all thofe 
 whole tranlgreflion is finifhed,to whofe finnes an end is putjand for 
 whofe iniquity reconciliatio is made.This then is peculiar to Gods 
 El€£t3Who onely are heires of everlafting righteoufnefle;who onely 
 are that remnant of Gods heritage, whofe iniquitie he pardoneth, 
 and whole tranlgrclTion he pafleth by^whofe iniquities he will fub- 
 due , and all whole finncs he will caft into the depths of the Sea, 
 Micahj. 18, 19. Thele onely arc that Jacob the Lords fervant, 
 and that Ifrael whom he hath chofen, ( Ifai. 44. i . ) whole tranf- 
 grelfions heblotteth out for his own fake, and will not remember 
 their finne8,i/dpi. 43. 25. Thefe onely arc that Jacobw\{ich the Lord 
 
 hath 
 
and his faving GracCm ^5 
 
 hat h redeemed, and that Ifrael in which he hath glorified hlmfelfe j 
 whofe tranigreillons he hath blotted out as a thicke cloud ; and as 
 a cloudj their fmncs, Jfii. 44, 22323. Thefe are ihcy to whom the 
 Lord proclaimed himielfejnot onely mercifull and gracious, long- 
 (uffering, and abundant in goodnefle and truth ; but alfo keeping 
 meicy for thoufands, foigiving iniquitie and tranlgreifion and fin, 
 Exod. ^^. 6,7. See alfo Pfal. 103. lo, ii, 12, ig. As touching the 
 reftjhe proclaimes him(elfe to be that Lord that will by no meanes 
 cleare the guilty, Exod. 34. 7. who will take vengeance on his ad- 
 verfaties, and referveth wrath for his encmies^NahHin 1.2. who re- 
 payeth them that hate him, to their face^ to deftroy them, Veut. 7. 
 10. Their ovvne intquities fhall take them, and they (hall be holden 
 with the cords of their fins, Trav. "5. 22. The reward of their hands 
 ihall be given them, Ifai. 3. 1 1. Their iniquity fhall be remembred 
 with the Lord, and their iin (hall not be blotted out , but the fame 
 (hall be before the Lord continually, P/i/. 109. 14? i^- 
 Some endeavour to confirme the objeftion that I have now an- Kp.Obje^. 
 fwercd, by another objeftion from i/ui. 40. i, 2. where it is thus From z/ii. 40, 
 wriiten'-, Comfort yeCj comfort jee my pepple^ pith j'our God, Speak^y^e ij*«a'^Cwercd 
 comfortably to ferujalem, and cry tmto htr , that her tvarfare is acccm- 
 plifoedy that her iniquitie is pardoned^ &c. But they (hould here take 
 notice that by my people^the Lord clearely meanes his choien people, 
 and none other. This therefore is to be applyed to the EleOi one'y. 
 Theyob'leSl, that this* was fpokcn of Jerufalem which then v/as. 
 That believers in that Jernfakm were even then to make life of it, 
 h acknowledged. But it is manifeft that as this was onely meant of 
 believers, fo it was fpecially meant of believers which fhould be in 
 the time of the Gofpel more fully declared,and oijernfalem which 
 is above, which fiiould then be more clearely difcovered and glo- 
 riouQy enlarged.This is made evident partly by this claule in verf2. 
 —that her warfare if accnmpliyjed : partly by that which follows in 
 verf. 3 5 4, 5 . Ihe voice of him that crycth in the Wilderiie^i , Prep. ire yee 
 the voay of the Lord, &c. And here mind the faying of Peter in i Pet. " 
 I. 10, 1I5 l2. Of rvhich filvatinn the Prophets have enquired^ and 
 fearched'diligently.y rvhoprophefied of the grace that fhould come untoyoUy 
 fiarchingvrhat^ or rv hat manner of time tlye Spirit of Chrift which n>as 
 in thentydid fignife^Tvben it tefUficd beforehand the fufferings ofChrif-^ 
 and the glory that fhould follow. Vntoxi^hom itrvas reveakd^ that not 
 
 K unt$ 
 
66 The peculiar interest of the EleEi in Chrift^ 
 
 unto themfehesy but unto Uf th?y didminiflcr the things which are notv 
 reported unto yon. 
 20. OhjcB, ^ "■ oppolers now feeme to fly to that which is written in Ifiu 
 From if. 1. 5 ,'. 53- 5, 6. He was wounded for our tranfgrejfiom^ he teas bruifedfor our 
 ^f^-^vS\\sicd. iniq:aties : tfye chajiifcracnt of our peace was upon bim, and with his 
 fripes we are healed. Ail ivee likejheepe have gone ajiraj : rve have turned 
 evcj one to his own wtj'i tvidthe Lord hath lay don him the iniquitie of 
 w all. But here they will fit)d as little defence or helpcjas they have 
 found in thofe places to which wee have already followed them» 
 They conceive that all men are brought inhere fpeaking, or (at 
 leaft ) feme fpeaklng as in the name of all : whereas indeed oneiy 
 believers doe here fpeake. Onely that people of God for whofe 
 FrapfgrelTian Chrift was finirten, verfS>. Onely th^it feed of Chrijh 
 wliich is fpoken of in ver.jo.Oi\e\y thofe many whom by his know- 
 ledge Chrift doth juftitie 3 having borne their iniquities^ verfii. 
 Onely thofe tranfgreflours for whom Chrirt made intcrcefllionj 
 verf 12. which are onely thofe that come unto God by hm, Heb.y, 
 2'y.Joh. I J. 9. 20. Who are healed by the ftripcs of Chrilt , but 
 oncIy believers ? To thefc onely ( according to the promife in Ma- 
 lacb. 4.2. ) the Sun of righteoufnefle did arife with healing in his 
 wings. Conlider alfo how this is apply ed unto believers, and unto 
 believers onely, in i Tet. 2. 24, 25 . Jf^ho hii ownefelfe bare our finnes 
 in bis own body on the tree .^th at wee being dead to finnes yfhould live unto 
 righteoHJheJfe 5 by whofiflripesyee were healed. Foryee ivere as (heepe going 
 ajiray^ but are now returned unto the Shepheard and Bijhop of your Joules. 
 Here take notice both of the end chat Chrift propounded unto him- 
 ielfe when he (b bare our finnes, and alfb how he was not fruftra- 
 tedj neither did faile of the fame. Moreover, I demand this of our 
 oppofers, whether this confcifion (being fincerely made) doe not 
 (hew a man to be a bdiever 5 viz. Chrijl was wounded for my tranf- 
 grejfionsy he was bruifedfor my iniquioies^ &c. They dare not answer 
 negatively. How then dare they affirme that any other befide be- 
 lievers, doe here make this confeflion t Though many unbelievers 
 did efteeme the Lord Jefus in his pafiiori to be ftricken , finitten of 
 God, and afflifted, according to that faying in Ifaiah 55.4.yet one- 
 ly thofe that were afterward converted to the faith, did come to 
 filch a fight and humble acknowledgement of that their finfull er- 
 rour, as is there held forth. But poflTibly it will be objefted unto 
 
 USj 
 
and bis favi/tg Qyace, 6y 
 
 us 5 that it u written in Adatth. 8. 16, 17. 7hej brought unto Jefus 
 many that n'ere foffvffed with deviUs ^ and he caji out the ^iritJ with 
 Iw vpord 3 and healed all that nxa^ jicke : That it might be fulfilled 
 which was jpok^n by Efaias the Prophet , faying y Himflfe took^ our 
 injirmitiesy and bare our fickneffes. Which hathcieare relation unto 
 that in Ifai. 53.4. Surely he hath borne our griefes^ andcaried our for^ 
 rowes. Which makes it leemc probable ( at leart ) unto Ibmcj that 
 this is to be extended farther then to believers onely. Hereto there- 
 fore! thus anfwcr. i. The Prophet Ifaial? there nianifeftly fpeakes 
 ofChrifts bearing ourlinneSj uhich arc there called ourgriefej, 
 and our ftrrflrves^becaiuCe they are caufcs of griefeand forrow. Here 
 in Adatth. 8. 1 7. th^y are in like manner called our infirmities ^ and 
 ottrficknejfes, becaufe they arc caufes of infirmitie and licknefle : for 
 it is fin that hath brought in all griefe and (brrow 5 infirmitie and*" 
 ficknefle. 2. The love and compafuon that Chrift effcftual!y (hew- 
 ed in calling out the Devills out of thole that were pcfleflcd with 
 them, and healing the [Kke, did prove him to be that promifed Sa- 
 viour, which (hoiJd fo beare and carric the griefes and (brrowes of 
 his people. And all the good which he did to men by fuch his 
 workes, was the fruit ( and fo alfo the evidence ) of that his bear- 
 ing the linnes of his people. And therefore, I conceive, the Evange- 
 lic laid that he did this^thatit might he fulfilled t»hich was jpok^n by 
 IJ^iah the Prophet^ &c.that is. That the fulfilling thereof might be 
 manifeft. 3. Theperfons to whom Chrift fo (hewed compalTion, 
 were either indeed Gods cholenones, or at leaft of the nation of 
 the Ifraelites ; ( which were the appointed type of all Gods Eleft. ) 
 See Adatth. 9. 2. 22. Joh. 4. 5 3. LuJ^y. 9. Adat. 10. 5. A/jm 5. 24 8cc. 
 And thus it was intimated who they were whole griefes and for- 
 rowes Chrifl: came to beare and to carrie , viz. Gods peculiar and 
 cholen people. 
 
 There is alfo an objeftion made from Genef. 12. 3. ( and other 21. Obje&. 
 like places ) where God faid unto v4^ra^^w. In thee fhall all families FroraGfsiz 
 afthe earth be bleffed. But this is fully taken off in Galat.-^. 8, 9. S-anfwcrcd. 
 where the Apoftle faith ; The Scripture forejeeiftg that God would jtt- 
 fiifie the heathen thrmgh faith^preached before the Gojpelunto Abraham^ 
 faying^ In thee {hall all Nations be ble£kd. So then^ they which be of faith ^ 
 arebkjj'td with faith full Abraham. If then wc will believe the Spirit 
 of God in the Apoftle, we muft acknowledge chat the meaning of 
 
 K 2 that 
 
^g The feculur imerefl of the EleB in Chrijf^ 
 
 that promift was onely this ; That believers of all Nations (hoald 
 be blefled in Chrift the promifed feed o( Abraham, 
 22. OhjS, The words fpoken by Teter to the men of Ifrael in the Temple at 
 xom Alls ?. JemfaUm, recorded in A^s^. 26. are by fome fuppoled to be very 
 6.anfwcred> ftrong againft US. Thofe words therefore fhall now be taken dili- 
 gently into confideration. The words are thefe -, Vntayoufirjtj God 
 hiving raif.d up his Son Jefuf^fefit him to bkjfiyou , i?j turning atvaj 
 every one of you from his iniquities. Here let thele things be conlidered. 
 I. In as much as God doth never fall fhortof the end that he pro- 
 pounds to himfelFe, he muft bcunderftood to have blelied thefe 
 Ifiaelites by his Son Jedis, in that many of them which then heard 
 the Word, believed, ^£?.4. 4. He bleiled them then, that is5many of 
 themjwz. thofe that were ordained to eternall life. 2. Whereas it 
 followes ; In turning arvay every one of yon from his iniquities. This 
 implyes that they onely fhould (hew chemiclves partakers of this 
 blfcffing, who (hould (hew their believing in Jefus Chrift through 
 the grace of God , by bemg turned away ( through the fame grace 
 ofGod) from their iniquities. In turning aaoay every one of you j viz. 
 whom he blefleth, or (hall blefle, by his Son. And wee have proved 
 in our anfwcr to the objeftion aforegolngjthat ihey onely arc blef* 
 fed in Chrift, that believe in him. 3. This their being turned away 
 from their iniquiticsjwas a being truly converted from the love and 
 fervice of linne, to the loathing and forfaking of it. And thus tljis 
 place alfo doth indeed make nothing againft us. 
 i'i,.Oh)eB. Some have endeavoured to frame an objection againft us from 
 iOi-njob 9 the words of our Saviour to the Pharifecs in Job. 9. 41. Ifyee rvere 
 ' . anfu'eicd. blind^ yee p.ioHld have no fin. From thefe words they would inftrre, 
 that thele Pharifees had not been chargeable of any fin, if the Go- 
 fpel had not been preached to them j and conlequently,that Chrift 
 had taken away iroii them their finnes againft the Law ; and if he 
 tooke thofe fins away from them, then alfo from all men. Our an- 
 fwerjiis as followes. 1. Chrift doth not fay to thefe Pharifees, 1^ 
 the Gojpel had not been f reached wit you ; But ; Ifyee rvert blind. 2 . He 
 doth not (ay. Tec (hould not have been chargeable of any fin : But onely 
 with reference to the time prefent and to comt.yee fhould have no fin. 
 3. He doth not there (ay 5 But now the Gojpel hath, been preached unte 
 you. But he (aith,B?<? nesvyeefay^rvejee. 4. Chrift plainly tells thcmj 
 "Xmrfin remaimth. If their fin remained, then Chrift did not take it 
 
 from 
 
and hit (iiVtng Grace, ^g 
 
 .from them. Their fin which remained , was nctonelyfin againft 
 the Gofpcljbut alfo fin againft the Law. Their devouring widowes 
 hollies, Matth.2:^. 1 4. Their omitting the weightier m uters of the 
 Law, judgementjmercyaand faith falncffe, A^at.2^.2^. Their extor- 
 tion and exccife, Matth, 23. 25. Yea it ieemes our oppofers them- 
 (elves underftand Chrift to fpeake in this verie of finne againft the 
 Law : for otherwife they would not have brought this place ( as 
 they have done) to prove Chrifts taking away finnes againft the 
 Law from thofe that continue finally in unbeliefc. Thus this Scrip- 
 ture is fo farre from oppofing our doftrine, that it confirmes it al- 
 together. 5. The true meaning of this Scripture, is this •■, If ye were 
 blind 'j t\\ztiijfjee did fc^^we are blind. This interpretation is con- 
 firmed by the antithefis or oppofition following ^ But now yee fay, * 
 roe fee. If yee did fayjWe are blind ; ^/x. being (enfible of your blinds 
 nefle, and fincercly and freely acknowledging it, and fo cxcrcifing 
 and manifefting true repentance and faith. Compare this with 
 I- Job. I. ^.Ifyeeconfejjej diCcTCefhoHldhavenofin; that is, Tourjznne 
 poitld not remaine.Thh alfo is confirmed by the antithefis in the la ft 
 words of the verfe -j 'Thereforcyourjin remainetb. Your fin (hould not 
 remained for z/rre confejfe our fmncs^God is faithful! andJHJl to forgive 
 m flitr finnes^ and to cknfefrom aU unrighteoufnefje, 1 Joh. i. p. If any 
 (hall yet rejeft this true txpofition of this Sci ipture, he muft be en- 
 forced to fay, that mans blindnes whereby he doth not behold the 
 light of the Gofpel of Chrift, doth make a min to have no finne. 
 Then which nothing can be fpoken more abiurdly, nor more 
 falfely. 
 
 The fame oppolers h ive endeavoured to ftrengrhen their former 2 4. Ohfecf,. 
 ob'ieftion by another (like unto it) from the words of Chrift in From /o/? if. 
 Jvh. 1 5 . 22. 24. If Ihadnot coim andjpokm unto them^ they had mt had "^, ^^' ^nfwe- 
 fin. — Iflbadnot done among them the workes which none other man 
 did^theybad nothadjin. From hence alfo they would in like manner 
 inferrc, that the men of whom Chrift here fpcakss, had not been 
 chargeable of any finjif the Gofpel had not been preached to them. 
 Our anfwer is this. Chrift did not here Qy, If the Gofpel hadnot been 
 preached to them. But, Iflbadnot come andfpoken unto them. That isr, 
 If I had not come and preached to them in mine own perfon. And, 
 Jfl had not done among them the works which none ether man did. That 
 hjlf I had not wrought my mightie workes aiid muacles among 
 
 them.. 
 
o The peculiar intereft of theEleB in Chrifl^ 
 
 them. Therefore when Chri ft here faith, they had not had Jin ', he 
 doth not meane. They had been in no wife chargeable of any (in : 
 But, They fliould not have been fo manifeftly inexcufable in grofle 
 and open iin. For lb the word finners doth lometimesfignifie per- 
 Tons manifeftly inexcufable in grofle and open lins : as you may ice 
 in Matih. p. i o. The Jerves were chargeable of linne before Chrift 
 wrought his miracles among them j before he preached unto them 
 in his owne perfbn ; and before his incarnation ; (ce Amos 2. 4, 5. 
 Yea the men of 7)reand Zidon were chargeable of fin ; and the men 
 oi Sodom and Gomorrah were chargeable of fin 5 (ee ^^zeh^i6. 49, 50, 
 and Judz 7. Our interpretation of Chrifts words doth agree plain- 
 ly with the cleare meaning of that in James 4. ly . Tt; him that knotv- 
 eth to doe goody and doth it not, to him it is fin. That is. To him it is 
 manifeftly grofie and inexcufable fin.And this interpretation is ful- 
 ly confirmed by the antithefis prcfently following in wr/^ 22. Bnt 
 non> they have no cloah^ ( or, no excufe)for their fin. Thus this place 
 alfo is farre from proving chat which it hath been brought co prove 
 againft us. 
 25 . ObjeB. The faying of the Apoftle in Colof 1.20. is alfo by (bme obje£fc2d 
 Vromcolof.i. againft US, as if it contradifted ourdoftrine. The faying of the 
 io.anfwcrcd. Apoftle there is this -■, And ( having made peace through the bloudofhis 
 crojfe ) by him to reconcile all things unto himfdfe j ly him J. fay ^ whether 
 they be things in earthy or things in heaven. Our anfwer hereto fliall 
 confift of thele branches, i. Whereas fome of our oppofers take 
 all things herein the largeft fenfe, comprehending allcreatur€?,and 
 fo Angells as well as men ; this is a manifeft errour. The holy An- 
 gels needed no reconciler. The Angels that fell are not tceonciled ; 
 neither did Chrift take on him the nature of Angels 5 Heb. 2. 16. 
 And I believe, our oppofers will not fay, that Chrift prefented to 
 his Fathers juftice a fatisfaftiolffor theiinncs of Angels. 2. It hath 
 * In Pag. 43. been already proved * that the word AH muft fometimes be under- 
 ftood with limitation to the prelent fubjeft fpoken of. See another 
 example of it in i Cor. 6.12, All things are lawfully &c. Where un- 
 der allthingsy you may not comprehend theft, adultery, lying, &c. 
 but onely all meates which had been forbidden to the Jerpes m 
 the Law given by Mofes : as there appeares in the vcrle following. 
 3. Though the Apoftle here (eeme to fpeak of thing9,yct he meanes 
 men, and no other things. So when he faith in i Com. 27, 2S. 
 
 God 
 
And hit faving grace^ 
 
 God hath chofm thefonlifo things of the Vforld, See. he meaneth onely 
 perfons. 4. Neither can All things here fignifie all men univerfally, 
 and every particular perfon whatfoever. For if every perfon were 
 reconciled to God by the bloud of Chrift , then every perfon muft 
 be faved etemallyjas appe^res in K0W.5.8593IC. By All things there- 
 fore we arc here to iinderflrand All the members of that body of 
 which Chrift is the head, verf.i%. All thole that either already 
 were, or afterward sfliould be, (uch as thekColoJJians now were, to 
 whom this is applycd in the enfiiing verfes. 5. By things in heaven 
 are here meant the fpirits of juft men made perfs6: , Heb. 12. 23. 
 who being abicnt from the body , are prefent with the Lord , 
 
 There rcmaincs yet an objeftion from Chrifts words in Job. 15. 26, Ohje&l 
 2. which fcemes to (bme to raze a great part of the foundation on From/oA.tf< 
 which we have built. It is therefore expedient that the fame (hould ^* «nfwcrcd. 
 be clearely and fully anfwered. The inference that is made, is thi«. 
 Unfruitful! perfons that perifh eternally, are j or fometime were, in 
 Chrift. Therefore they were in Chrift when he fuffcred. There- 
 fore Chrift, when he fuffered, made fatisfaftion to his Fathers ju- 
 ftice for their (innes. But let us firft coniider the words of Chriftj 
 from which fbmc endevour thus to reafbn. Job. i'^.i^2.Iamthe true 
 vine J and my Father is the hts^bandman ; every branch in me that beareth 
 notfrnit^ he taketh arpoy, &c. And that our oppolers may not be too 
 confidentjlet them in the meane time mind thecleare laying of Paul 
 in Kom. 8. i.'there is no condemnation to them rvhich are in Ghrijl Jefits ; 
 and remember that that which there foljowes in the latter part of 
 that verfe (viz. who ivalke not after thefeflj, hut after the Spirit) is not 
 an exception from any thing that went before, or a reftraining of a 
 general! terme to one particular comprehended under it;bur an ex- 
 plication of that which immediately went fc>efore ; and io a defcrip- - 
 tion of thofe that are manifefted to be in Chrift Jefus 5 fee 2 Cor, 5. 
 17. Here then is held forth the full juftification, and conlequently, 
 the eternal! falvation of a!! thole whom the Apt>ftle fpeakcs of as 
 perfons truly in Chrift Jefus. 
 
 As touching that faying of Chrift in Job, 1 5^.Iet it \x confidered 
 whether it be not a figurative fpecch; an allegoiicall or metaphori- 
 cal! fpeech. If we fpeake without any metaphore, and under ftand 
 our words according to their proper and literal! fenie or fignificati- 
 
72 The peculiar tntereft of the SUB in Chrijf^ 
 
 on, without any figure, then wc cannot truly (ay, that Chrift is a 
 vine^that the Father is an hiisbandman;that difciples are branches. 
 The meaning then is onely this ; That Chrifl: is hke a vine, or as it 
 Were a vine, yea the true vine : The Father is like an husbandman, 
 or as it were an husbandman : the difciples are hke branches, or as 
 it v^ere branches. They therefore which utterly rejcft the ufe of this 
 word as it jvere,}n the opening of this and fuch like Scriptures, doe 
 not rightly divide the VVord. Difciples are as it were branches of the 
 true vine, in a twofold refpeft. i. In reCpe6t of communion with 
 the Church of Chrift in the outward worlhip of God and the ufe of 
 Chrifts Ordinances. Thus though not all men, yet all Church- 
 members are as it were branches of the true vine, and fo to be look- 
 ed upon by us, till they a re (or at lea ft ought to be) caftout of the 
 Church for their manifeft unff uitfulnefle. 2 In refpeft of true com- 
 munion and union with Chrift. Thus onely true believers are as it 
 were branches of the true vine, and (b looked upon by God. 
 
 As touching that in verf 2. If I be not mif-informed, it is word 
 ior word J Every branch in me not bearing fndt. Then the meaning 
 may be this ; Every branch that beareth not fruit in me. This implyes 
 onely thus much % That there arc Church- members, who though 
 they be as it were branches of the true vine in that refpeft that I fir ft 
 mentioned, and (b to us in Chrift in refpeft of outward profeflion 
 and communion ;yet doe not beare fruit in Chrift : and (b doe not 
 fhew themfelves to be really in Chrift, but the contrary. Thefe the 
 Father taketh away:vi2:,C2i{{in^ them out of his Church,and punifti- 
 ingthem with eternall dcftruftion. That they which abide not in 
 Chrift, were never in him really, appeares not onely by that in 
 llom.8. 1, already alledged, butalfo by thefe Scriptures among ma- 
 ny others, Matth. 7. 2 3 . Hcb. 3. 1 4. i Joh. 2.27. Ephef. i . 3, 4. &c. 
 
 Now as touching this conceit, that all men either are, or were in 
 Chrift 5 1 would demand of thofc that fo conceive, whether all men 
 doe for ever continue in Chrift. I am confident they will not an- 
 fwer affirmatively,as feeing clearly that no fuch thing can be main- 
 tained ; and that they cannot make fuch an opinion to agree with 
 this Scripture, no not by their owne interpretation of the fame. 
 I would therefore demand of them in the fecond place, when they 
 which perifti, doe ceafe to be in Chrift ; whether in this life, or af- 
 ter this life. If they will fay. Not in this life , but after this life ; 
 
 ihcn 
 
and his faving Grace* 73 
 
 then muft they relinquifh this Scripture , which (peakes of mens a- 
 biding , or not abiding , in Chrifl in this life ; fee verf. 4, 5, 6, 7. 
 Yea they will be found to hold , (mod manifeftly contrary to all 
 truth ) that men may be in Chrift all the time of their life hercjand 
 yet perifh eternally. If they will fay that in this life they ceafe to be 
 in Chrift ; I would then know when , and how. If they fay that 
 they cea(e to be in Chrift through their unbeliefe, or their unfruit- 
 fulnelle •, I demand : when were they other then unfruitfull and un- 
 belicTing perfons ^ And if men who neither hadjnor ever would or 
 Ihould have, cither faith, or fruits , could notwithftanding be in 
 Chrift 5 how comes it topafle that unfruitfulneflfe, or unbelicfe 
 makes them ceafe to be in Chrift 1 Thus I fuppofe, I have iufficicHt- 
 ly manifcfted the weaknefle and vaniiie of this objeftion. 
 
 The next objeftion that I will anfwer, (hall be that from 2 Per.2. 27. OhjeB, 
 20. If after they have efcaped the poUutions of the v^orld , through the From xfett.. 
 knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jefuf Chrijl , they are agdne entan- -o. anfwQiCcl* 
 gled therein^ and overcome^ the latter endis rporfe n-ith tbem^ then the be- 
 ginning. Hence our oppofers would inferre, not onely that finncrs 
 pcrifhing have efcaped the pollutions of the world 5 which touch- 
 ing fome ofthofc iinners wee grant, in the Apoftles fenfe , not in 
 theirs : but alfo that all their finnes againft the Law, conlidered as 
 finnes againft the Law, are forgiven unto them : which wee neither 
 grant, neither did the Apoftle meane any fuch thing, i. The Apo- 
 ftle doth not here fpeake of all periftiing finners, but onely of fbme, ' 
 
 upon whom the doftiine of the Gofpel had had fiich a workjas that 
 they were thereby outwardly reformed, and purged from outward 
 pollutions, in which the reft of the unbelieving world did generally 
 lie. Even asjohns doftrincdid Co farre work upon Herod^th^t when 
 he heard him,hedid many things,i'1^^^.6.2o. 2. The Apoftle doth 
 not fay, nor meane, that thefe finners were juftified in Gods fight 
 from any of their finnes ; but onely that they were outwardly refor- 
 med in their lives. So they were rvajbed, verf. 22. But how? As the 
 fow that hath wallowed, and is ftill ready to wallow, in the mire. 
 They were externally waftied in the outward reformation of their 
 lives, but ftill retained their fwinifti nature. They were not fo much 
 asTprinkled with the bloud of Chrift, and therefore not waftied in 
 it from the guilt of their finnes.Thcy were juft like a dog that hath 
 caft up oat of his ftomack fome filthy thing that he had fwallow- 
 
 L cd 
 
74. The peculiar intere^ of thzEleB in Chrifl^ 
 
 eddownc, but ftiU retaineth the nature and appetite of a filthy 
 greedy dpgge. Thus thefe remained filthy dogs and fwine j being 
 never any of thofe (heepe of Chrift , for whom he laid downe hi» 
 life, and whom he fanftifieth by his death , purging them by his 
 bloud from all Cmncyjoh. lo. 15. Ephef 'y.2'^,26. Revel. 1. 5, 6, 
 28. Obje&, There is another objection made from the words of Feter ia 
 rom 1 Pet- r. 2 Pet. i, 9. which are thus rendred ; But he that lack^th thefe things 
 , anfwered. is. blind and ca7inot fee afarre off^ and hath forgotten that he n>as purged 
 from his old finnes. From which words our oppofers inferre that un- 
 believers ( and coniequently all men ) were purged from their fins 
 by thebloudofChriil. But i. This cannot be underftood of one- 
 that never was a believerj by their pwne doftrine : for though they 
 fay that all men are purged from their fins by the bloud of Chriftj 
 yet they fay alfo that none doe know and mind this but believers : 
 and they make faith to be nothing elfc but the knowing of thjg. 
 Now he that hath forgotten this, did fometirae know and mind it. 
 And though fome of our oppofers have drunke in thiserrour alfo, 
 that a true believer may fall away to totall unbeliefcjand fb perilh^ 
 yet the Scripture teacheth us a more comfortable doftrine. Job. 60 
 35. 1 Tet. I. 5. a.Thew is nothing in this Scripture that requires 
 it to be underftood of an unbeliever. For though he that totally- 
 lacketh thele things, (^viz. faith, vertucj knoTvledge, temperance^ Sco 
 verf.^<i 65 J.) muft needs be an unbeliever: yet a true believer may 
 fometimes lacke thefe things in a great mealure ; fee James i. 5, 6. 
 They objeft, that in the Greeke it is ; He to whom thefe things are not 
 frefent. We anfwer^that this phrafe here onely imports thefe things- 
 not to be unto him in a continuall prefent readinefle, as it were at 
 his hand continually, for the manifeftation of them in exercife and 
 praftife. And this is confirmed by the antithefis in the verfe afore- 
 going j If thefe things be inyouj and abound, they rvill make you thatyee 
 jhallneither be barren, ner unfruitfuU in the k^wkdge ofotcr Lord Jefm 
 Chrijl, This alfo receives further confirmation from that vvhicbr 
 folio WC8 in verj. 1 1. Forfi an entrance (halJ be mimjlred unto you abun* 
 dantly, into the everlajiing k^gdome,$i.c. So ', that is, thefe things be* 
 ing in youjand abounding ; thefe things being continually in a pre- 
 fent rcadinclle unto you for the manifeftation and exercife of them 
 in your praftife; you being continually doiug thefe things, and fo 
 neYer falling, verf i o. ( which is meant noc onely of totall, but alfo: 
 
 of 
 
and his favi/tg Grace. 7 5 
 
 of grievous falles : ) u4n entrance pall be mini^red unto you abundant- 
 ly ; that is, you Oiall have abundant afliirance of your cntranccj&c. 
 which abundant afllirance 9 even thole believers to whom thele 
 things arc not (b prefenr, may remaine (hort of for a feafbn. 
 5. Whereas that which follows, is in the tranflation tluis rcndred ; 
 He i! blind, and cannot Jee afar off. The copulative And is not in the 
 Greeke text, but onely thele words , He is blind, not feeing afar off\ 
 or, not being able to fee afar off. And the (econd word ftiewcs the 
 meaning of the firft. Though he be not fo blind as to ice nothing ac 
 all, ( for fo no believer can be ) yet he is fo far blind as not to fee a- 
 far off. 4. The forgetfulncfle alio , or forgetting here fpokcn of, 
 is Fiot totall, ( for fuch indeed is not found in a believer ) but onely 
 a forgetting in a great meafure, like that Ipoken of in Heb. 12.5. 
 
 This then is all that here appeares j vis^, that a man purged from 
 his finnes, may yet with the Angel of the Church at Epbefuf^ leave 
 his firft love, arid fo far fall, as not to doe his firft workcs , Kez/c/. 2. 
 4,5.Faith,vertue, knowledge, &c. maybe farre from abounding 
 in him, and lb he may be in a great mealure barren or unfruitfull. 
 Yea the eyes of his minde may be in a great mealure dimmed, and 
 his mindfulneflfe of the purging away of his finnes, may be much a- 
 bated. Ail this proves hot the conclufion of our oppofers , neither 
 oppofeth our do£i:rine. * 
 
 There is yet another place in this Epiftle objcfted unto us; viz. 2Q.0bie&, 
 2 Tet. 3. ^.T^heLordis not flacky concerning his promife, (offnte men From iPet,^, 
 cotmt Jlackneffe ) but is long'fuffering towvoard^ notvpiUing that any 9.anfwerc<l, 
 fhbuld peripj, but that allfjould come to repentance. Hence fome would 
 inferre, that God would have no perfon to perifh ; and conlequent- 
 ly, that he gave his Son to prefent a fatisfaftionf to his )u ftice for the 
 fins of every perfon. But if the Lord open cur eye?t,weefhall fee this 
 miftdifpelledby the light that filings from this place, i. The will 
 of God here Ipoken of, is an effeftuall will. For the Greeke word 
 here uled,holcl8 forth not onely the will of God, but alio his coun- 
 faile ; even thatcounfaileof his wiiljaccording to which he eff.;fta- 
 allyworketh. Therefore the Apoftle here fpeakes onely of thole 
 whom G(xl efftftually faves, 2. The Apoftles Icope here is to (hew 
 the caule why it was and ftiould be fo long before Chrift did and 
 jhould come to judgement ; vizxhit none might perifh,^!^ that all 
 might come to rf pentance. Even this Ihewes that the-Apoftle hath 
 
 L 2 here 
 
7 ^ The peculiar i»tertft 'of the EieB in Chrift, 
 
 here refpeft to none but the Elcft, of whom none fhall perifhjbut all 
 of them (hall come to repentance before Chrifts coming to judge^ 
 ment. 3. VV hen he here fai th 3 T^he Lord it long [offering to m- rrard 5 
 by i*^ he meanes the Elcft, and more particularly , the eleft of the 
 jewiili Nationjof whom he and they to whom he now wrotejwerc 
 A parr. And when he addes ', not rviUing thM anypouldperijb ; he in 
 iike manner mcancs, not willing that any of us hb cholcn people 
 ihould perifh. And in that which followcs ; But that all fhould come 
 to repentance •, by all he likewise meanes All of us his Elcdj and fpc- 
 cially. All of us hisEle£k of the Nation oftheJ/r^e/i/e/. 
 
 " o. Obieci, ^i" t^s objefUon feemes ftronger that is made from tze^. 1 8. 32. 
 
 romfv-k >^- '^^^ 35. 1 1. 1 therefore now haften to thofe places, Exe^ 18. 32. I 
 
 s. & 55. r I. ly^fue no-pleafi4re in the death ofhimthatdyethjjaith the LordGod. Ezek. 
 
 ni\vercd. ^^.h.AjI live, faith the L'>rd God, I have nopUaJUre in the death of the 
 Kfickedy but that the rpieked tttrnefrom his P^ay and live. For anlwcr 
 whereto thefe things are to be minded, i. God fometimes fpeak- 
 <th of himfelfe after the manner of men ; and yet thofe fpeeches of 
 his arc to be underftood after the manner of God. Thus it is when 
 God afcribes unto himfelfe angerjforrowjand the like. As in Gen.6. 
 4. It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earthy and it grie^ 
 ved him at his heart. And in 1 Sam. 1 5. 1 1 . If repenteth me that I have 
 fet up Saul to be King, Yet Samuel there faith in verf. 2g.Theftrengtb 
 tfjfrael rviSnot lyf, nor repent :for he is not a man that he jhoitld repent. 
 And thus it i$ when the Scripture afcribes to God a taking pleafurc 
 in anything done by man, or any fruit thereof : as namely when it 
 holds forth God as having pleafurc in this , that the wicked tume 
 from his way, and live. 2. When the Lord faith, J have no pleafme 
 in the death of him that dyeth:! have nopleajkre in the death ofthennc- 
 ked: he declares indeed that he hath no pleafurc in the milery of hia 
 creature in it felfe confidered. Yet it is not contrary to the pleafurc 
 of God to fet forth the glory of his righteoufnefle, and power, and 
 jufl: wrath againfl: finnerSjin the deftruftion of the veflels of wrath 5 
 fee Kom. 9. 22. ?rov. 1. 26. frov. 16. 4. 3.The Scripture holds forth 
 Gods greateft delight to be, not in a (inncrs deftruftion, but in the 
 converfion and falvation of iinncrs. This is plainly held fo»th in 
 thefe placcs.And clfwhcrc the Scripture manifefts that the deftrufti- 
 on of finners thatperifh, is purpofely ordered of God to the com- 
 Y&endation of his inHnite and glorious mercy cowards thofe whom 
 
 he 
 
and his faving Grace » 77 
 
 he fives, K»w. p. 22, 23. 4. The fcopie of thefe places is to declare 
 Gods rcadincfs to accept and (avc thofe that fincerely turnc to him : 
 and lb to move and encourage finners to fuch converlion unto God. 
 In all this there is no oppoficion againft our do6lrine. 
 
 In the next place through the helpc of God , I (hall returne an- 3 '• Obje&^ 
 fwer to an objeftion drawne partly from htk^ 24. 47. And that re- ^^i *'^' 
 tentance and rent'iffion of jinnesjhould be preached in his Name among all ag-anlwcrcd 
 Nations^ beginning at Jcrufalem. And partly from ABs 1 3 . 5 8. Be « 
 ItTtowne-unto jiou therefore^ men and brethren , that through this man is 
 preached unto you the forgivenejj'e offinnes. From hence fomc doc thus 
 iirgue. Pvemiflfion of iinnes was to be preached to all men 5 even to 
 unbelievers^ Therefore finnes are remitted to all men. I anfwer, 
 i.InLMi^24. 47.obQrvethis expreflionj^/Wtfwg 4// Njfwn/. We rea- 
 dily grant that the true doftrine of the Gofpel concerning remiifi- 
 on of Iinnes, was to be preached among all Nations, and i« to be 
 preached among all men. Some objeft that the Greeke words here 
 lignifie, Vnto all Nations. Wee deny not that the Greeke Prsepoliti- 
 on here ufsdjdoth fometimes fignifie ««/<?; properly it fignifies into j 
 and fometimes, among. And this laft fi^nification doth beft agree 
 in this place. 2. If we here tranflate, Vnto all Nations : yet fo this 
 Scripture will make nothing againft us. This dodrine ; Through 
 Chrifis Name^ rvhofoever believetb in him^jhall receive remijjion of finnes ; 
 C A3s 1 0. 43 .) was to be preached to all Nations, and is ftill to be 
 preached to all. And here ( in L«^24.47. ^ note ^<^w the preaching 
 of repentance, and of remilTion of (ins, is joyned together : import- 
 ing that the Gofpel that was to be preached , tcftifies cemilTion of 
 finnes onely to thofe that repent, or are changed in their mind, be- 
 lieving in Jcfus Chrift , ABs 3.19. 3 .Thofe that are fpoken to in 
 AUs 13.38. were profeflburs of faith in the Meiriah,a8 he was held 
 forth by the light of the old Teftament, and were now fo looked 
 upon, ABs 13. 16. 26. 4. Yet the preaching of reraiflion of finnes 
 unto them, that was here fpoken of, was onely the preaching of 
 that doftrhie exprefled in the next ver(e ; By Jefus the Saviour, ^ 
 that believe^ are jujiified from all things. The particle And in^ be- 
 ginning of that verfe, doth there import ( as oftentimes It doth ) a ' 
 declaration of that which was before fpoken of. 
 
 But it is objeftcd, that every one is bound to believe that Chrift 32. Objetf, 
 prcfenced a fatisfa^on to divine juftice (oc his finnes , and that his From tjob^i. 
 
 finiK* »<>>•»• 
 
'/S The peculiar t/iterefl of theEleB in Cbrifl^ 
 
 fmnes are remitted : Therefore this is true. And fome conceive that 
 this objeftion is ftrengthened by that in ijoh.'y.io, 1 1. — He that 
 bdkveth not God^ hath made him a lyar^ because In belkveth not the re- 
 cord that Godgsve ofhif Son, &c. My anfwer is this. 
 j^njh. What every man is commanded of God to believe, that I grant 
 
 to be true. For the God of truth commandethno man to believe a 
 lye. But God commandeth every man to believe what he affirmeSj 
 and declares^ and no more. This then he declares to be trutb, and 
 (6 commands every man to believe it. That through Chrifts Name, 
 whofbcver believeth in himjOiall receive remiffion ofiinnesj/f^.io. 
 43. This I fay, God commands every m.m tobelieve^and to receive 
 it as the true and good word of God , and Co to reft upon it, and 
 obediently to depend upon Jefus Chrift held forth in this word, 
 as the Prince and Saviour exalted of God. yWjr^i. 15. Job. 12.36. 
 &c. When a man thus believe;;, then both the Spirit and the Word 
 of God doth teftifie and declare that Jefus Chrift hath presented 
 unto divine juftice a (atisfadtion for his linnes in particular , and 
 that accordingly his finnes are forgiven unto him. This then he is 
 noiv (and not till now) bound to believe as a certaine truths as in- 
 deed it is and now appeares to be. And touching the unbelieving 
 and difobedient perfon, who obeys not the Gofpel of Jefus Chrift, 
 this is one part of the truth that God revealcs , and commands all 
 to believe -, viz.tha.t perfbns (till continuing rucb5remaine under the 
 curfeand wrath of God, and muft be judged, condemned, and pu- 
 nifhed for all their finne?. Job. 3, 1 8 Jude 15. 2 1h f.i. 8, 9. As al- 
 io hath been already fully proved. Now God doth not command 
 any man to believe c:ontradi6lions. 
 
 Touching that in i Job. 5. 10. it is to t>e minded that achildeof 
 God hath unbeliefe remaining and rebelling in him;and fometimcs 
 it rcbells very ftrongly and grievoufly. As fai re as this unbeliefe 
 workes in him, fo farre he believes not God , but medics him a lyar ; 
 that is, cafts upon him the imputation of lying : becauje 'he believer 
 not on the tejiimeny that God hath tefiijied concerning hii Sonne. That 
 this h Johns meaning, appeares by that which follows in verf. 1 1. 
 And this is the record ( or tejiir/iony ) that God hath given to us eternaU 
 life, and this lije is in his Sonne. God hath not given this eternalliifc 
 to us men, whether we be believers, or unbelievers ; but to us to 
 whom he gives grace to believe in his Son ; Secy^ib.3.36.and 17.^- 
 
 This 
 
and hit faving (Jrace^ yg 
 
 This is farther confirmed by that which follows in i.Joh.'y. 13. 
 Theje things have Irvritten untoyoji-that believe on the Nvneofthe Son 
 njGody thatyee maj k^o'V thatyee have ettrnalUife^ a?id that yee may 
 believe on the I^ame oft he Son of God. 
 
 ItisalCoobjeited thatin J^^r^i^. 15. Chrift commands that ^:2.0bfe&. 
 the Go(pcl (hould be preached to eveiy creatiircrbut by our do^rine From A/jr.itf-, 
 there reraaines no Gofpel to be preached to the world for the con- i ^ aafwcrcd. 
 verllon of linners. I demand. Is this indeed no Gofpel ^ viz. That 
 the Father hath given his oncly begotten Son^ that whoibever be- 
 lieveth in him, (hould not perifli, but have everlafting life. That 
 through Ghrilb Name , whofbcver believeth in him, (hall receive 
 remiffion of linnes. ( Surely this is called 'The word of the Gojpel, A6ts 
 15. 7. with J&s 10. 45. ) Alfo that Chrift came into the world to 
 fave finners; even the vileft of linners, that doe or (hall believe in 
 him, I Tim. 1.15,16. Is all this, I fay, no Gofpel ? If this be Go- 
 fpel, as indeed it is, then there remaines a Gofpel, which through 
 the grace of God we faithfully preach unto llnners^and God makes 
 the preaching of this Gofpel effeftuall to the converiion of his. 
 
 It is further objefted, that true believers are grounded in the z±.Ohje^., 
 faith, Colojj] 1.23. But we have no ground of our faith. From Colol}\i. 
 
 Anfac. The ground of our faith is the divine tr&th oFthat Gofpel ^ >• anfwercd. 
 which we are commanded to believe 5 and the ftilnefle of power, 
 and authoricis, and righteoufne{Te,atid faithfulneffe, and love, and 
 mcrcyj which is in him that commands us to believe in him \ which 
 the Scripture declaresjand the holy Spirit d; (covers unto us. This h 
 a fufhcient ground of our faithr.ind they which buiid not upon this 
 ground, will be found to build upon the fand,.Pj«/ built upon this 
 ground, 2 Tim. 1. 12. And theElcft that lived in his time did build 
 upon no other ground i fee >4i3/ 17.11,12.1 Thef.i.i^. 2 ?et.i.i6.. 
 
 Laftly, it is-objeftc J, that, the Vevill is a lyar^ and there is no truth 3 ^ . ObjeVf. . 
 in him^ Joh.8.44.But our doftrine makes him to fpeake truth when \^toai fob. ». 
 he faith to a veflell of wrath that dyes in defpaire ; Chrill hath not '^** aafweted. 
 preiented to his Fathers juftice a (atisfaftion for thy liiis. I anfwer. 
 I. Though the Devill bea lyar,yet fbmetimes he (peaks fonje truth,. 
 Mark^i.24.A^s 16.1^. I 5j?w. 28.17,18319. 2. We doe no more 
 jultifie the Devill as fpeaking truth herein, then the Scripture doth 
 jultlfie him when he faith to a ve(lel of wrathjT/jcw ivaji before of old 
 erdaimd te this condemnation^Juds ^.Xea hereunto thou ivajl appointed, 
 
 i.Pe/.i» 
 
8o The peculiar interejl of the SieB in Chrift, &c. 
 
 I ^et. 2. 8. Thimart none ofChrifts floHpy John. lo. 26. Thy judgement 
 ^i%reth mty and thy damnation jlumbreth not, 2 Pet. 2. 3. 3. He that 
 aftirmes a truth to be a certaine truth , not knowing it to be (bj is 
 therein a lyar. And God doth not acquaint the Devill wiih his 
 counfailj further then hemanifefts the fame to all by his Word and 
 by his accomplifhing thereof. 4. When one fpeakes truth malici- 
 oufly, that by falfe inferences he may make a perfon rebell againft 
 truth, he is now an odious lyar. And this is the Devils cafe when, 
 he fpeakes any truth. 
 
 Now in conclufion let it be minded, that the oppofingofthe 
 truth which I have now aflerted, brings forth ( among other) theft 
 evill fruits, i. It makes men deny the truth of the Scriptures do- 
 ftrjnc concerning divine predeftination. 2. It robs God of the glo- 
 ry of his fpeclall and fingular love and mercy to his chofen ones. 
 3. It tends to pufFe up believers with pride, perfwading them that 
 they have dilUnguifhed themlelvcs from the reft of the world, and 
 fo faved themfclves : for Chrift for his part did no more for them, 
 theii for thofe that perifli. 4. It robs the Saints of aifurance of per- 
 fev^ance, and To of aflurance offalvation. For if men come to be 
 believers by a common grace afforded to all, then they may alfo 
 ceafc to be believers through that weaknefle and corruption that ig 
 in all. Now take away from Saints their aflcirance of faIvation,and 
 yee take away from them their joy, their thankfulnefle, their love, 
 their life. 5. It holds forth God as making a fhew of being equal- 
 ly loving to all, when indeed and in his purpofe he is not To : and 
 feeming moft gracioufly to foreive the finmcs of all men, when yet 
 he determines to punifli the veilels of wrath eternally in hell for all 
 their finnes. 
 
 I could fay much more, and yet may not now with convenience 
 enlarge this Booke any further. I therefore conclude , (uftaining 
 my felfe againft the errour that I have thus oppofcd , and the pro- 
 greflc of the fame, with that in 2 Tim. 2.19. Neverthekfiy thefomda-' 
 Hon of God Jiandethjkre^ having thisfiaky The Lordknorveth them that 
 are hk. 
 
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