Predictions of Christopher Love, Part 10 – Part 12
An Answer to Doctor PRIESTLY, And all other Deis…ical Unitarians, who deny Christ's Divinity; By a Christian Unitarian, who believes in Christ's Divinity.
THIS is a subject of the greatest importance to mankind, par…i…ularly as their eternal happiness depends on the knowledge of this great divine m…ster…, which the pe…ple who imagine they are Christians▪ concei…edly … themselves they have a perfect knowledge of; and some independent people will spurn with contempt at the impudence of any spiritual, enlightened person, who will dare intrude so trifling a subj…ct on their idle fashionable hours: yet a great many who read this will acknowledge that not one in a million know any thing of the matter, not know how to-call-on the Deity, or what Deity to-call-on.
Mankind may be informed in the new testament, that in the last days, (which is shortly before the general judgmen…) fa…se Prophe…s shall appear and deny the Lord J…sus Christ, who bought them with his blood, and will almost deceive the very el…ct. The word elect means such as are filled with the Holy Ghost.
In the book of Isaiah the Propher, in the old testament, God speaks frequently of his intention of essuming flesh and becoming man, and even speaks to the humanity, and the humanity to his divinity; which confound the unconverted, not knowing how to separate the divinity from the humanity. The followi…g remarks and explanations will prove there … but one God▪ or one Being to be worshipped, which is the invisible God in the visible Christ, and the Holy Ghost in God This is well known to the elect only and is also called grace, which word grace … understood by the unconverted externally only, not internally. Whosoever worships Christ, includes the God-head.
In Isaiah, cha…. 1, and ver. 4, God calls himself the holy one of Israel, verse 11, he never delighted in offerings. Verse 13. incense an a…omination, verse 18, though your sins be red as scarlet they shall be made white as snow, verse 24, Lord of Hosts. mighty one of Israel. Chap. 7. verse 14, shews how the Virgin Mary was to conceive and bear a son, whole name should be …manuel (which is God). Chap 8. verse 13, 14, the Lord of Hosts himself shall be your fear a…d dread, he shall be for a sanctuary (a holy place to resort to), but to some people a stumbling none, a rock of offence, and a sna…e, …such as despise information to holiness and Christ. The same words are mentioned of Christ in the new testament. Chap. 9, verse 6, shews the birth of Christ, that his name shall be Wonderful, Counsellor, the migh…y God, the everlasting Father, the p…ince of peace There shall be no end to his government, it shall hold for ever This chapter and verse is sufficient to prove Christ God. Chap 11, and five first verses, shew the birth of Christ, that is in his human nature, saying, there shall appear▪ a rod, or branch of the root of J…sse [J…ss…-was David's father.] and the … of the Lord shall rest-upon him, he shall be filled with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, righteousness. Ver. 11. the Lord shall set his hand the second time [Christ] to recover the remnant … p…ople. Chap 12, his people will praise him, and say, behold God is my salvation, the Lord Jehovah … my strength, &c. Chap 17, verse 6, 7, Lord God of Israel, man's maker, and holy one of Is…ael. Verse 10, the God of S…lvation▪ and the Rock. Chap 40, …erse 1. 3. the voice of John the Bap…ist in the wilderne…s […his worl…] p…epa…e the way of the Lord in the … make a straight way for our God [Christ]. Ver. … all s…sh shall see it, which was God's sanctua…y, Christ. v 9. b… old your God. Verse 10, behold the Lord God will come, with a strong hand he shall rule, his reward is with him, his work [on earth] is … him. Verse 11, he shall … his … like a …hepherd, gather his lambs, carry them in his bosom, a…d gently lead those that are wi…h young, &c. Chap. 41, verle 4, Iam the first and the last. Verse 13▪ 14▪ he i… Lord God, the Redeemer and holy …. Chap. 42, first five verses, God speaks of assu…ing fle…h, and then says he h…s cr…at…d Heaven and Ea…th, and all thing…, and gave breath to the peop…e. Chap 43▪ verse 3▪ I am the Lord God, the holy o…e of Is…ael,, the …. Ver. … I am he Lord and only Saviour. Ve…se. 13, before the …ay was made, I am. Verse 14▪ God is Lord Re…eemer and holy one of Israel. Vers. 25. I b…t out transgression, and will not remember … for my own sake. Chap. 44▪ verse 6▪ I am the Lord, the … of Israel, the Re…e…mer, … Lord of Hosts, I am … and I am the last, a…d b…sides me there is no God. Chap. 45, verse 15, God of Is…ael, the Sav…ur. Chap. 48, verse 12, …, I am the …, I also am the …. Verse 17. the Lord, Re…e…mer, holy one of Israel, the Lord God. Chap 49. this chapter entirely requ…es to be expl…in…d, out it is suff… cient to say, … the humanity and …, to, and of, each other. In verse 26, God concludes, saying, …ll fleth shall know, that I the Lord am Saviour, Redeemer, and mighty one of Israel. Chap. 50, verse 1, 2, 3▪ God speaks in the divinity, and in verse 4▪ 5▪ 6▪ 7. &c. he speaks in the in…ended humanity▪ and says, I gave my back to … …miters, and my che…ks to them that plucked off the hair, I hid … my face from shame and spi…ing. Ch. …1 verse 1, he speaks in the divinity, and calls himself the rock. Chap, 53, God calls his humanity [Ch…] his arm, he has no beauty extraordinary, but … in his human form be de…pis…d and …ej…cted among men, a man of sorrows, and acq…ainted with g…ief, shu…ed by men and not esteemed, he bore manking's grief and sorrow▪ though they believed he was …, and afflict…d of God, with his sufferings to the end of this chapter. Chap 54, verse 5, God sa…s, I am Creator, Lord of …osts, Redeemer, holy one of Israel, and God of the whole earth. Jeremiah, chap. 2. ver 13, God is the fountain of hving waters. Zacariah, chap. 12, verse 10. they shall look … whom they have pierced. Having made a few observations out of many, from Isaiah the prophet, proving God to have become Christ, by taking on him human nature, and appearing like man: it now remains necessary to prove Christ from the doctrines of the new testament, to be that same God spoken of in the old by references.
In the beginning of the new testament, and first chapter of Matthew, verse 21, 22, 23, it appears the Virgin Mary was to bring forth a …on, who should save his people from their sins, and his name shall be called Emanuel [that is God] reference to Isaiah, c. 1. v. 18. c. 7, v 14. c 43, v. 25, c 44, v. …. Mathew, chap. 2, v 1, 2, his star in Heaven guided the wise m…n of the East to. Jerus…lem, to worship Jesus and the… called Jesus King of the Jews a…d worshiped him. … …, and they fell down and worshiped him. Ma…hew, c. 3, v 3. John Bap…it… …id, prepare the way of the Lord, make his path stra…gh…. Refer to Isaiah, ch 40. v. 13, in Isaiah Jesus is called G…d. Mathew. chap. 4. v. 4, man shall …ve by every word that proceeds out of …he mou…h of God. … 7. Jesus said to the Devil, it is written again, thou … not tempt the Lord thy G…d: here Jesus calls himself God twice. V. 10, the Devil temp…e… J…sus a third time, and Jesus grew a…gry and bid him …, and desired him to worship Jesus, for he was the Lord God. Ch. 7. v, 23, Jesus pronounces … as God. Ch. 9. v. 2, Jesus forgive… sins, refer to isaiah. c 43, v. 25 Mathew, c 9, v. 18, a great man wo…ships Jesus C. 12. v. 8 Je…us is Lord of the Sab…th, C. 15. v 22, 25, the woman said to Jesus, have mercy on me, O Lord, and worshiped him. Luke, c 2, v. 11. J…sus Christ is Saviour and Lord, refer to Isaiah, c. 43, v. 3, v. 11. c. 45. v. 15. c 49. v 2…. John, c. …. in the beginning was the word, and the word was God, a…l things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made, in him was life, which was light. [or spiritual knowledge] to mankind. And the light shined in darkness [mankind] and the darkness [of stubborn man] comprehended it not. He was the true light, he was in the world▪ he created the world, and the people of it, and they did not know him; he came to his own [the Jews] and his own would not receive him. And [God] the word was made flesh [Jesu…] a…d dwelt among mankind on earth, who behe…d the glo… of the father in him. full of grace and truth. Ver. 18, no man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten son (or human tabernac…e) which is in the bosom (o… pro…ection) of the father, hath d…clared him. Verse 29. St. John says, he takes away the sins of the world. V. 33, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost [rivers of living water]. This chapter proves Christ the same God [as has been observed from the book of Isaiah] the fi…st verse prove… him God [or rather the earthy … th…ough] The second and third ve…s prove him from the beginning to be God, the Creator of all things. The tenth verse proves J…sus she same God and Creator. And in the 14th verse the word (God) was made fl…sh, and lived in the world. In the 18th verse, the divinity [or God] was invisi…le, speaking in the … Jesus, or Jesus the …, decla…ing God In the 23d ve…se St. John says. he is the same God spoken of by Isaiah the P…ophet. N…w, if he was not God, he could not forgive … nor dispose of the Holy Ghost as he pleased▪ nor create all things, nor did he commit sin himself, and if he was no… God, he would not suffer the people to worship him frequently. There is no nec…ssity …o re…er to Isaiah, to corroborate the observations made in this chapter, as most of the quotations from Isaiah … it. Ch. 4. v. 10▪ if Jesus was not God, he c…uld … offer the w…man of Samaria▪ living waters, which is the Holy Gh…st Refer to J…remiah, c. 2. v. 13, in v …4 of St. Joh…'s, 4…h chap Jesus said, whoever drinks of the wat…r I give, it shall be a well in him sp…inging up to everlasting life (which water is the Holy Ghost) Refer to Jeremiah, as before. A…d in John. c 4 v. 23, 24. Jesus said, true worshipers shall worship …he …ather in spirit and in truth. Now observ… God [out of Christ] is a co…suming fire, therefore he is to be worshiped in Chinst, [the sat…ctuary and propitiation for ….] Ver. 42, Christ the Saviour of the world Refer 10 Isaiah, c 43. v. 3. 1…. J…hn, c 8 v. 16, 17▪ 18▪ 19▪ … says, my judgment is …ue, I am not alone, but I and the father tha sent me, this prove… God in Jesus, the earthen vess I which God made and sent; and again he says, the test mony of two are true. God and himself; and again he says to the people, if …e had known me, ye would know the father also. V 29 he that sent me is with me, the father has not left me alone, for I do alwa…s the things that please him. V. 58. J…sus said before Abraham was, I am, and in the old testament God is called the great I am. Ch. 10, Jesus said I am the door of the sheep. by me man sh…l be saved. I am the good shepherd, I giv… my life for my sheep. I am the good sh…pherd▪ I know my sheep, and they know me, I lay down my life for my sheep, no man compels me or takes it from me▪ I lay it down of myself, and take it again, because I have power, I and my father are one, the father is in me and I in him Refer to Isaiah, c. 40, v 9 …0. 11 In John, c. …2, v. 45, Jesus says, whoever sees me. sees … father also; c. 14. v. 7, whoever knows me k…ows the father, and have seen him and known him. V. 9, he that knows me, sees and knows the father. V. 10, I am in the father, and the father in me, and the words that I speak are not sp…ken by me, but by the father that dwells in me; he does the works. Acts, c 20, v. 28, G…d was crucified▪ and purchased his people with his won blood Corinth c. 5. v …9, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. The first epistle general of John, c 3 v. 5 God was manifested in the fl…h [Chri…] to take away sins. Rev. c. 1, v 7, 8. J…sus is God, behold I…come in the clouds, and every eye shall see, and also them that pierced him, and the people shall weal; then he said, I am Alpha and Omega▪ the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, which is▪ a…d which was [on earth] and which is to come again on earth, the Almighty. V 11, I am A…pha and Omega, the fi…st and the last. V. 12. like the son of man [Jesus] V. 17, 18, I am the first and the last. I am he that lived, and was crucified, and behold I am a…ive again for ever more … 2, v 8, J…sus is the first and the last, that was crucified, and is a live. Ch. 4 v. 8. 9. 10, 11, Christ proved to be God. Ch. 5, v 5. Jesus is called the Lion of the tri…e of Juda. Ch 20, v. 12▪ J…sus is called God, opening the books and judgi…g the world. Ch 21, v 5, 6, 7, and he tha… sat up…n the throne [Jesus judging the world] said it is done, I am Alpha and O…ega, the beginning and the end. I will give u…to the thi…sty the fountain of living waters. But unbelievers, liars, &c▪ shall be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Ch. 22. v. 12, 13 16, behold I come quickly, my reward is with me▪ to give according to people's works. I am Alpha and Om… ga, the beginning a…d the end, the fi…st and the last. I Jesus have sent my angel to testify unto you these thing… in the churches [among the people] Ver. 20▪ he that testifies these things▪ saith, surely I come quickly, the Lord Jesus ….
A most effectual Plan, To Prevent a French Invasion.
THE people who are to execute this plan, are that class, who are possessed of perpetuities of upwards of One Thousand Pounds yearly, after a deduction of two thousand pounds, principal money, for each of his or her children, except the eldest son, who should have 200l. yearly from the age of 21, and the remainder at his father's death, except 200l. yearly to the widow, if a widow should be. Religion, and the bare necessaries of life, are such total strangers to the lower class of people that they are always looking for a change in the government favourable to a total annihilation of the wealthy; and the wealthy, on the other hand, believe keeping the poor in profound pove… ty and darkness, the best way to keep them quiet; but it is not, and only resembles a fire to be quenched by putting dry fuel on it, which will make it burn more violent; oppression always terminates in human slaughter, though the fire may be a century kindling, or centuries: it is better for the wealthy lose a liable voluntarily, than lose all with the loss of life, i… voluntarily, like a death bed repentance, which God does not listen to; for what man worth five, ten, or twenty thousand pounds yearly, in the hands of a banditti of assassins, would not give it all for his life. Here follows the preventative: take a poor man, and settle him in a comfortable situation, making him pay (or fecure) a reasonable valuation; then see what family he has, and for himself, wife, and children, abate twenty shillings yearly, each, on the following terms, give him the book called the new testament, and then say, do you and your family read this as often as ye are at leisure, and whilst you perform its contents, I will keep you in the comfortable place I have given, but no longer: wealthy one, you must do more, establish a school in your parish, or neighbourhood, and pay the teacher also; and thus do ye wealthy ones, with all the poor, and idolatry goes to destruction; the poor will all love you, and God will love you, the poor will revolt at the idea of invasion, or revolution, or any change that should di…comfit their comfort. Or if you will not do this, subscribe a million of guineas, and all people you suspect for wishing your overthrow, give them a guinea an head to each in their families, to go to America. But this last advice will not prevent an invasion, it would be only a foolish act of charity, that God reqnires; besides, it wonld depopulate the nation, and lessen the rent roll, then would the wealthy cry out, O my rent roll, my rent roll is not half what it was; but God will answer, O thy rent roll has shut thee out eternally from me, thou did not send my messenger among the nations (that is to distribute the new testament among the poor); thou did not propagate the gospel. You will say your Ministers did propagate the gospel, but the Lord will say. your Ministers are ordained with human forms, but my Ministers are ordained with the Holy Ghost, from the foondations of the world, but ye and your Ministers persecute them: and perhaps he will even say, ye have also called yourselves Lords, and great ones who are but earth, which names and titles are for me only, and how can you look in my face.
EXTRACTS, FROM DUPATY'S TRAVELS, IN ITALY.
IN my way to the capitol I met a coach, in which were two recollet Friars, the one seated backwards, the other forwards, holding between their legs something I could not distinguish. Every one stopped and saluted with profound respect. I asked to whom this reverence was addressed. It is, answered one of the standers-by, to the Bambino, which these good Fathers are carrying to a Prelate, who is very ill and given over by his physicians.
I afterwards procured an explanation what this Bambino was. The Bambino is a little wooden Jesus, richly dressed and ornamented.
The Convent, which has the good fortune to possess this image, neither has, nor needs any other patrimony.
As soon as any person (who can afford the expence,) is seriously ill, they send for the Bambino, and always in a coach, for he never goes on foot. Two Recollets conduct, and place him by the sick man, where they remain, at his expence, until he dies or recovers.
The Bambino is constantly running about; they sometimes fight who shall have him at the gate of the Convent, and tear him from each other; in the Summer, especially, he has extraordinary business, though he makes them pay very dearly for his visits, on account of the demand, and the hot weather. This is but fair.
THE progress, insolence, and intolerable tyranny of the church of Rome, is now become of serious consideration and publick complaint, the establishment of which will infallibly be the destruction of church, state, laws, liberties, properties, and lives. The Protestant writers, ever since the Revolution, have frequently and effectually exposed and confuted this pernicious doctrine, calculated to plunder and rob the ignorant and illiterate; to whom only the Church of Rome pretends to be the mother and mistress of all churches; and domineers the vulgar and wicked into that belief, or faith; always exerting her tyranny to continue them in the grossest darkness, and from a knowledge of the Gospel light from generation to generation.
The Pope always imposes a belief on the ignorant, that he is successor to Christ, St. Peter, &c. and such blasphemy; and none can be saved but his subjects: and eating of all the luxuries and dainties in the world, on a friday or saturday, sends people to Heaven, except meat, which sends to Hell, but all his, wicked doctrines being contrary to that of Christ, he takes …are the gospel light shall be kept from them, as long as he can; well knowing a general knowledge of it, would destroy his craft, as St. Paul did that of Alexander the Copper-Smith.
FINIS.
End of the text · Christopher Love, Predictions of Christopher Love (1651)