Page images
PDF
EPUB

down the imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. And Paul speaks of the truth of Christ in him, and that he had espoused them to one husband, that he might present the saints as a pure virgin to Christ. Then they must be free from sin, and must not plead for sin, for term of life, as you professors do, for there is no fellowship betwixt light and darkness,' as 2 Cor. vi. 14.

And 2 Cor. xiii. 3, &c. 'ye seek a proof of Christ that speaks in me, (mark, a proof of Christ's speaking in the apostle,) which towards you (saith he,) is not weak, but is mighty in you.' (mark, in you.) And further he saith, though he was crucified concerning his infirmities, yet he lived, (to wit, to Christ,) through the power of God, (mark, he that was crucified,) and we no doubt are weak in him, but we shall live with him, through the power of God,' &c. which we witness. Wherefore, prove yourselves whether you be in the faith, examine yourselves, know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? mark, we have proved ourselves, and examined ourselves; and know Christ Jesus in us. And if Christ be in you, as was said before, your body is dead because of sin, and you are alive to God,' &c. and not reprobates.

And so it is the duty of all christians to prove and examine themselves, whether they be in that faith that works by love, that Christ is the author of; whether Christ be in them yea or nay, that they be not found reprobates; for reprobates may make a profession of Christ, in that birth that will persecute them that are born of the spirit, as we have seen a great deal of, among you professors these twenty years. But the apostle saith, 2 Cor. xiii. the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all, amen.' This we witness.

And now ye that deny that there is any immediate inspiration of the Holy Ghost to be looked for now a-days, ye are out of the communion of the Holy Ghost, and out of the praying in the Holy Ghost, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, which was and is the true church communion and fellowship, that Christ is the spiritual head of. And Gal. i. 4. Christ that gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God.' &c. Now mark, and see whether you are not delivered from this present evil world, ye that profess; and therefore it is not for people to profess Christ, and live in the evil of the world, that will serve their turn. And though we, or an angel from heaven preach unto you any other gospel, let him be accursed,' saith the apostle. And Paul was an apostle, 'not of man, nor by man, but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and God the Father

[ocr errors]

'which hath raised him from the dead. And the gospel which he preached was not after man; no more is it now, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. And when the Son of God was revealed in the apostle, he preached him; but do not many of you professors and others preach the Son of God, before he be revealed in you? I live,' saith he, Gal ii. 20. 'yet not I, now, but Christ liveth in me, mark, in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who hath loved me, and given himself for me.'

Now this we testify should be every true christian's life. And Gal. iii. 13, &c. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith. So then they, that be of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham, which we witness, blessed be the Lord forever.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ should be given to them that believe. The 'law was the school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be made righteous by faith, (mark, made righteous by faith,) for after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school-master. For ye are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For all ye that are baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, (mark, put him on,) and baptized into Christ; this is his baptism with fire and the Holy Ghost, who thoroughly purgeth the floor, and gathereth the wheat into his garner. But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, and made under the law, that he might redeem them which were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of his sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, which crieth Abba Father.' Gal. iv. 4.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

And the apostle tells the Galatians, he travelled in birth again, until Christ be formed in them.' And in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but faith that works by love, as Gal. iv.

And Gal. vi. In Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing but a new creature.' And chap. v. 'If ye are led by the spirit, ye are not under the law. And they that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts:' and this we do believe and witness.

But see, you professors, by what spirit you are led, you that talk so much of Christ, and see that your affections and lusts are crucified. But is it not your principle that they shall not be crucified on this side the grave, who plead for sin and imperfection to the grave? and Eph. i. 4, and so on: God hath chosen us in him, (to wit, Christ,) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy without blame before him in love, (mark, here is a new life, more than a bare profession,) by whom

we have redemption through his blood, and the forgiveness of sins, according to his mercies, that in the dispensation of the fulness of time he might gather together in one, all things, both which are in heaven, and which are in earth, even in Christ. Wherein also after that you believed ye were sealed by the holy spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of the possession purchased, unto the praise of his glory. [Mark,] this seal, this belief and election we witness with the holy spirit, blessed be the Lord, forever. And the apostle prayed that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory might give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation through the knowledge of him, (now this revelation ye professors deny,) that the saints might know what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards us that believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his right hand in heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not in this world only, but also in that which is to come; and he hath made all things subject under his feet, and hath appointed him over all things to be the head of his church, which is his body; even the fulness of him that filleth all in all; which we witness, glory be unto the Lord.'

[ocr errors]

And Eph. ii. 5. Even when we are dead by sins hath he quickened us together in Christ, by whose grace we are saved, and raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that he might shew in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace, through his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. And this we do witness, that these ages are come, and that this loving kindness and riches are seen and felt, who are made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus; praised be his name, for ever.'

[ocr errors]

For by grace ye are saved,' saith the apostle, through faith, and not of ourselves, [mark,] it is the gift of God. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,' which God hath ordained that we should walk in them, who were without God in the world, and had no hope, and without Christ, yet professing him like others. But now in Christ Jesus we, who were once afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ, for he is our peace, which hath made of both one, and hath broken down the partition wall, in abrogating through his flesh the hatred, the law of commandments which standeth in ordinances,' for to make of twain one new man in himself. So making peace, that he might reconcile both unto God in one body, by his cross, and slay the hatred thereby, for through him we have an entrance unto the Father by one spirit; and are built upon the foundation of the prophets and the apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.' And to make clear unto all men what the fellowship of the mystery is, (and this is our

[ocr errors]

fellowship which we make clear to all men,) which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who hath created all things by Jesus Christ,' Eph. iii. 9, that Christ might dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in love, might know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,' &c. be praise in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, that witness this in Christ. Amen.

And Eph. iv. There is one body and spirit, even as ye are called into one hope of your vocation. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; there is one God, and Father of all, who is above all and through all, and in you all. And Christ ascended on high, led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he that ascended what is it, but that he had also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth; he that descended is even the same that ascended, far above all heavens, that he might fill all things,' (mark, fill all things,) that is he that gives gifts unto men for the work of the ministry, for the edifying the body of Christ, and this we believe and witness.

Let us, therefore, follow the truth in all things, growing up in him, which is the head, even Christ. For ye have not so learned Christ, to live wantonly, and in uncleanness and greediness, if so be that ye have heard Christ, and have been taught by him, (mark, by him,) as the truth is in Jesus, that ye cast off, concerning the conversation in times past, the old man, which is corrupt through the deceitful lusts.' So then ye professors must not plead for them, if they must be cast off; and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new man, which is after God, created in righteousness and holiness. And grieve not the holy spirit of God by whom ye are sealed (said the apostle,) unto the day of redemption.' And now ye professors and others may say, how can we grieve it, when we do not look for such a spirit as the apostles had? but let no man deceive you with vain words, for the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience. And no unclean person hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.' And the apostle saith, be ye followers of God as dear children, and walk in love as Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto God. But fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness, let them not be once named among you as becometh saints; neither filthiness nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are things not comely, but rather giving of thanks.' Here ye see what a christian's life must be, it is not an outward talk, as ye may see. Eph. v.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

And Eph. iv. 32. Be ye courteous and tenderhearted one unto another, forgiving one another.' But this hath been wanting amongst you, that have professed yourselves christians, and made a great boast and talk of Christ, but have persecuted the appearance and life of Christ in his people, for the fruits of the spirit are in all goodness, righteousness,

and truth and love, &c. and these fruits are wanting amongst you professors, and others called christians.

And the apostle speaks of the great secret and mystery concerning Christ and the church, comparing them to husband and wife; how he sanctifieth and cleanseth it by the washing of water through the word, that he might make it unto himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blame. Mark, all ye that call yourselves gathered churches, see who is the head of them, and what spots and wrinkles are in them. But we cannot but give thanks for all things to God, even the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ the holy head, who makes his church holy.

And Eph. vi. for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.' And therefore, all true christians are to put on the armour of God, and the spiritual weapons, that they may stand against the assaults of the devil, to wit, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, &c. And these weapons we own; and may not all people see that those weapons have been wanting amongst you that profess yourselves christians, and not in the possession of the true christian's life? for had ye been in it, ye would have stood as the apostles and the rest of the saints and true christians did; to make a profession of Christ when the sun shines, and when the storm comes then to shut up your doors. So how often have you taken leave of your God and Christ? and he hath had no witness borne by you; our desire is you may come to see yourselves, and your fallen state. And he that hath begun the good work in his saints, will perform it unto the day of Christ: this we know, and the fellowship is in the gospel, that is in the power of God, not in the form without the power.

And the apostle saith, God is my record how I long after you all from my very heart-root, or bowels in Christ Jesus (mark, in Christ Jesus,') that Christ may be magnified in my body, whether by life or death.' Here was a steadfast minister. For, Phil. i.Christ is to me both in life and death, advantage. Let your conversation, therefore, be as becomes the gospel of Christ, for unto you it is given not only to believe in Christ, but to suffer for his sake.' This we do witness, and it is fulfilled amongst us; but ye professors see how your conversation is as becomes the gospel of Christ, ye that profess so much of it. Also, 'let the same mind be in you (saith the apostle, Phil. i.) that was even in Christ Jesus.' And i. Cor. ii. 16. but we have the mind of Christ,' which every true Christian should witness.

6

Now Christ, who being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to VOL. V.-14

« PreviousContinue »