Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Part 1 · Chapter 3
Further, concerning the Man Chriſt, which was conceived by the holy Ghoſt born and brought forth of the Virgin Mary, and ſuffered Death for the Redemption of all men, and as many ſhall be ſaved as believe in his Name.
GOd ſo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting Life, John 3.16. Which doth manifeſt, that God ſent his only Son, born of a Woman, to ſuffer Death in a Body of Fleſh, for the Redemption of Peoples Souls, in which Body of Fleſh did remain the Fullneſs of the Spirit, towards the Salvation of all mens Souls, yet they only ſhall be ſaved which believe in his Name; for his Name is called Jeſus, becauſe he was ſent of God to ſave his People from their ſins, Mat. 1.21. Luke 1.31. which is according to the Prophet Iſaiah, cap. 7.14, 15. A bruiſed Reed ſhall he not brea…, nor ſmoking Flax ſhall he …ot quench, till he ſend forth Judgment unto Victory; and in his Name ſhall the Gentiles truſt, Mat. 12.15. to v. 21. He came to his own and … received him not, but as many as received him, to them he ga…e Power to become the Sons of God, which were born not of Blood, nor of the will of Fleſh, nor of the will of Man, but of God, Joh. 1 11, 12, 13. Which doth manifeſt, that where men only believe in the outward Righteouſneſs of the Man Chriſt, who as he was in the Body of Fleſh, was God and Man, without the believing in the Gift of his Spirit, which i… the inward Word of Life, and leads the heart and mind of every ſincere Chriſtian into a ſanctified ſtate of true Obedience to the Gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit of Grace, without which they cannot come to live in that true Faith which juſtifies the Souls of the Righteous in the ſight of God the Father, in which ſtate of true Obedience the evidence of his Spirit doth bear witneſs with their Spirit, That the Declaration of his Truth recorded in the holy Scriptures, hath proceeded from the Spirit of Life in Chriſt Jeſus, who in that Body of Fleſh was both God and Man according as it is written for Peoples learning That the Word was made Fleſh, and dwelt on Earth among the Sons and Daughters of Men, and many that believed his Name, believed his Glory, as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth, Joh. 1.14. They outwardly believed as Man with a viſible Eye, but as to his inviſible Glory of Holineſs, they believed him the Lord of Life, as he was God and Man, with an inviſible Eve, which by the Giſt of his Spirit enlightened them to know him to be the Lord of Life, whom to know by true Faith, is Life Eternal, which was made known unto them by the gift of Gods …race, through the effectual Working of the holy Ghoſt, by which they came to underſtand the Will and Mind of God the Father, in the Death and Reſurrection of his Son, the Lord Jeſus, which was expedient that he ſhould depart, that … forter might come, Joh 15.26. which Promiſe was fulfilled by the voilding up that Body of Fleſh, which was born of a Woman, and betrayed by Judas, condemned by Pilate, delive … unto … ſet him at naught, and crucified the Lord of Life upon their Croſs without the Gates of Jeruſalem, which Body was buried, and roſe again the third Day, being the firſt Day of the Week, which Chriſtians attend for the Worſhip of God, having the holy Apoſtles for an Example, to follow them, as they were Followers of Chriſt, who met together on the firſt day of the Week to worſhip the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, which is in the Power of his Spirit, by the effectual working of his Gift, through his Death and Reſurrection, which appeared unto the Saints, who received of his Fullneſs, Grace for Grace, which made them able Miniſters of the New Covenant of Life & Light in Chriſt Jeſus, which then aſcended into Heaven with God the Father, and with him is in a glorified Body, which Fleſh and Blood cannot reveal, being glorified with that Glory which he had with the Father before the World began, which is the Chriſt that the holy men prophecyed ſhould come for a Light to the Gentiles, and for Salvation to the ends of the Earth, Iſa 49.6. Acts 13.47. who accordingly is come, and hath done the will of God the Father, in that Body, as aforeſaid, and by him, through his Death; Reſurrection & Aſcention, have all the Sons and Daughters of Men received a Gift of his heavenly divine Light, as a Talent & Tale…ts for them to work out their Salvation with fear and trembling at his Work which is able to make… thorow ſeperation betwixt the precious and the vile, that is, between the begettings of his own divine Life, and that Seed which brings forth the Life of the Stranger, which is the Devil and Enemy of mans Soul, whom the faithful will not follow, but are willing to ſubmit under the Croſs of Chriſt, whoſe Yoke is eaſie and his burden light, not deſiring the Death of any one Sinner, but that all might turn at his Reproofs, and live the Life of the Son of God, who hath ſuffered Death, been buried, and is riſen again, and aſcended into the Heavens, where he maketh Interceſſion with God the Father for the Redemption and Salvation of all them that are willing, by true Faith, to receive the tenders of his free Grace, which by the Gift of the divine Light of his Spirit of Truth is largely manifeſted unto the Sons and Daughters of men; for his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit in his People, that is Chriſt in them the Hope of Glory, by which not any will be left without excuſe in the great Day of his Coming to take Vengeance on all the Ungodly of them which have not improved their T…lents to the Honour of his Name, and profit of their Immortal Souls, in which Day with the Righteous it ſhall gowell, but with the Wicked, who have ſlighted the Day of the Lords Viſitation, through their idle, careleſs, looſe and vain living in Diſobedience to that which the Lord by the gift of his divine Light and Word of his Spirit requires of them, for which cauſe ſorrow and anguiſh ſhall overtake them in that Day, in which they ſhall forever be ſhut out from having any lot, part or ſhare among the faithful in the Kingdom of Heaven, through the Death and Reſurrection of the Son of God, who laid down his Life for the Sins of the whole World, but as many ſhall be ſaved as truely believe in his Name; for as by one Mans Diſobedience many were made Sinners, ſo by the Obedience of the Man Chriſt Jeſus, many ſhall be made Righteous. Rom. 5.19 for Chriſt is the end of the Law for Righteouſneſs, to every one that believeth ſo that not any … to ſay, wh… ſhall deſcend to bring up Christ again from the … who ſhall aſcend to bring down Chriſt from Heaven, for the … nigh, even in the Mouth, and in the Heart, that is the Word of Faith. Rom. 10 … by which Word of Faith we …, that Chriſt wh… outwardly deſc…d, … aſcended, and by … Power of, divine Light & quickening word of his Spir… he is the Author & Finiſher of every good Work of Faith in the hearts of his People; for he is the Word of Life unto the … by true Faith believe in him as he outwardly ſuffered, and in the giſt of his Spirit, which is the inward Word of … them t… whom Chriſt giveth the Shield of Faith, and Hope, the H… not of their Salvation, by which Word Sim…n Peter came to know the Lord of Life to be the Chriſt, the Son of the living God, which Fleſh & Blood did not reveal, Mat. 16 14, 15 16. but was revealed by God, the Father of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe meer B…d…y Preſence did not give Peter the knowledge of the Church buils on that that Rock whoſe Foundation was ſo ſure, that …he Gates of Hell could never prevail againſt …s Members, which by the moſt ſare Word of Prophecy are ingrafted in the Man Chriſt, in whom the fullneſs of the Godhead dwelleth for evermore; for he is the well-beloved of the Fathers own begetting, and hath done the Work of God in that Body of Fleſh which ſuffered on the Croſs without the City Gates of Jeruſalem, and was buried, and roſe again the third Day, and appeared to the Saints, and gave Gifts unto them, and aſcended into Heaven, of which things the Father, Word and Spirit beareth witneſs, and theſe three are one God, and that no man ſpeaking by the ſpirit of God, calleth Jeſus accurſed, and that no man can ſay, That Jeſus is the Lord but by the holy Ghoſt; and as there is but One God, One Lord Jeſus Chriſt, One Father, One Son, and One holy Ghoſt, One Word, and One Spirit, all which are One God, who hath given Diverſittes of Gifts, but the ſame Spirit, and Differences of Advaniſtrations, but the ſame Lord, and Diverſities of Operations, but it is the ſame God which worketh all in all, for a manifeſtation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, 1 Cor. 12.3, 4 5, 6, 7. for as the Body is one, and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body, being many, are one Body, ſo alſo is Chriſt; for by one Spirit are all the faithful baptized into one Body whether they be Jew… or Gentiles, Bond or Free, they have been made to drink into one Spirit; for the Body is not one Member but many, and are ingrafted by the Power of Gods Spirit, the moſt ſure Word of Prophecy, into the ſtock, which is Chriſt, the true Vine, with which every true Branch that is a Member of his Body, doth of his divine Nature partake, by which it doth bud, ſpring and bring forth Fruit abundantly, to the Praiſe and Honour of Gods holy Name, but every Branch that bringeth not forth Fruit unto God, by true Faith in Chriſt, the Father taketh away; for its by Diſobedience the Lord cuts it off, and appoints it its Portion in Hell, which is the Portion of all them that let the Day of Gods Grace and Viſitation of his Spirit to paſs over; but every Branch that beareth Fruit in Chriſt the true Vine, the Father purgeth it of its first nature, the old heaven of Degeneration, and by the Power of his Word, Grace and Spirit, leavens the heart, mind and ſpirit into the new lump and nature of his heavenly Kingdom in Chriſt Jeſus, the Author and Finiſher of his own Work in them that truely believe, which by Faith in Chriſt, bring forth Fruits of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, which are the Works of true Faith, without which, Faith is even dead as the Body is without the Spirit, for by the Gift of Gods good Spirit of Grace, is the Faith of every true Believer wrought into a lively hope, in which ſtands an aſſurance of that Crown of Righteouſneſs which … ſtore for all true Believers that fear the Lord and keep his Commandments, ſuch are they that live in the true fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of Wiſdom, and leads the Mind out of viſible delights, and to follow Chriſt with an eaſie Yoke and light burden to do his Will, which is that ſtrait and even narrow Way which leadeth unto the Kingdom, in which no unclean thing can enter, neither is there any cleanſing but what is here on Earth; for as Death leaves, ſo Ju…gment finds, and there is no Repentance in the Grave.
Which things, in the true Love of God to Peoples Souls, I do exhort them to weigh and conſider, that they may turn in their minds from all vain Delights, and obey the Voice of the Son of God in their own hearts, that by the Gift of his Spirit they may come to be turned from Darkneſs to Light, and from the Power of their Souls Enemy, to ſerve the Lord in true Holyneſs of heart, mind and ſpirit; for there is no other Name given under Heaven for men to be ſaved, but as they come to believe in Chriſt as he did outwardly ſuffer, and alſo believe in the Gift o… his Spirit and inward Word of Life unto all them that are in true Obedience to the gift of his divine Light, which hath been the Path of the Juſt in all Ages, and yet appears in the heart of every man and Woman, with whom the Day of Gods Grace is not over; for his Love remains ſtedfaſt to all that which is of his own Nature, which is of a contrary Nature to that permitted Power unto which too many yeild their obedience, by which the deſire of their Minds is drawn from obedience to the gift of Gods divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit; in which ſtate they ſerve the the Luſt of the Fleſh, the Luſt of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, and as men void of all ſpiritual ſenſe and reaſon, as to the things of God, their Thoughts, Words and Actions are here and there in the love of thoſe things, which Work the Lords Soul abhors, and ſuch appear as Trees without Fruit, as to God; for their Fruit is of a ſtrange Plant and unregenerate Vine, for which cauſe the Spirit of the Lord in his Servants is the ſame as it was in his Servants of Old, who are called of God to bear their faithful Teſtimony againſt all Unrighteouſneſs of men, who as evil corrupt Trees bring forth evil corrupt Fruit, for which cauſe evil minded men are at Enmity with the Lord and his People, whoſe Fruit is of his own Spirit, which is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-ſuffering, Gen…leneſs, Goodneſs, Faith, Meekneſs, Temperance, againſt ſuch there is no Law, for they live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit with Chriſt, whom now, as in days paſt, the wiſe builders ſet at naught, wherefore he hath ſaid, The things of the Kingdom are hid from the wiſe and prudent of this World, and revealed unto Babes, even ſo hath it pleaſed God; for the wiſe and prudent of this World pretend to build upon him at whom they ſtumble, and is become the Head of the Corner, and will ſo remain, to the breaking down all that which is contrary to his holy & bleſſed Truth; ſo that no building ſhall ſtand but that which is built by the Power of his own Spirit in them, whom the Wiſdom of this World doth deſpiſe, even as the Wiſe did deſpiſe in that Day, when they ſet their Learning in H…brew, Greek and Latine over the Head of Jeſus, Joh. 19 20 even ſo is it with the Wiſe of this World in this Day, whoſe Learning is ſet above the gift of God, which came by Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe People, begot by him in the true Faith and Oneneſs of Spirit, do well know that there is No other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby to be ſaved, but by that Name Jeſus of Nazareth, that Chriſt by which is the Righteouſneſs of his People; for he unto them is made of God Wiſdom. Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption, and that in this World, as well as in the World to come, and not ſimply ſo accounted, as ſome judge, and then made unto us of God Wiſdom Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption hereafter in the World to come, but realty made to us here, and that perfectly too, ſo far as he is perfectly hoped in, (1 Pet. 1.13.) for Salvation, that is, Salvation from God by Chriſt, through the Faith of his outward Sufferings and by obedience to the gift of his Spirit in the heart, which is the inward Word o… Life to them that hear and obey, by which they may be turned from Darkneſs to Light, and from the Fower of Satan to the Power of God, by which they may witneſ… …he Evidence of Gods ſpirit, That they have the Pardon of ſin, and forgiveneſs of that which is paſt, being waſhed with the Blood of Sprinkling, which cleanſeth the Heart, and purg…th the Conſcience from dead Works, to ſerve the living God in uprightneſs of Soul, Body and Mind; and without witneſſing of this VVork perfected, through Faith in Jeſus Chriſt, the Soul can never be clean to enter his Reſt with him in the Kingdom of Heaven which was prepared before the Foundation of the Earth was laid, for a People that ſhould ſerve the Lord in uprightneſs of Soul. Mind and Spirit, being throughly cleanſed by the Blood of Jeſus Christ whoſe Death, Reſurrection and Aſcention will not avail any Man or VVoman whoſe Mind remains in the love of any one thing more than to love him and ſerve him with uprightneſs of Heart & Mind; for to be carnally minded is death, but to be ſpiritually minded is Life and Peace, and whereby every Man and Woman may know how it ſtands between God & their own Souls, which is good for all to mind, and make their Peace vvith the Lord vvhile he hath given them ſpace and time for that end, that their Souls may not faint in the great Day of his Coming to call every Man and Woman to an account for their Deeds done in the Body.