Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Part 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. VI. Concerning Faith, Hope and Obedience, which by the Power of God, through …eſus Chriſt, worketh Salvation to the Souls of them that truly believe in the gift of his Grace. Alſo ſomething concerning Silence.
JEſus Chriſt in all things became obedient to the Will of God the Father, for the Redemption of all Mankind, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but ſhould receive Life Everlaſting, which is the Promiſe of God by Jeſus Chriſt, unto all the faithful, willing and obedient, that is, in all things for the Salvation of their Souls, by Faith in Jeſus Chriſt; for Man, by Obedience to the Gift of God, which is a meaſure of divine Light by Jeſus Chriſt, by whom the Soul comes to be reconciled unto God; for the Lord in … …ay requires no leſs than perfect Obedience of all Men; … all men have received of his Gift of his Spirit of divine Light by Jeſus Chriſt, ſo he will not have any left without Excuſe in the Day of his Coming to take Vengeance on all the Ʋngodly, which call not upon the Name of the Lord. for Chriſt is made manifeſt according to the Commandment of the Everlaſting God, made known to all Nations for the Obedience of their Faith, Rom 16.6. and for that end did the Apoſtle write, that he might know the proof of them whether they were obedient in all things; 2 Cor. 2 9. for this is the Day of Gods Viſitation, wherein if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your hearts againſt the Light of his Spirit of Grace; for unto whom ye yeild your Minds Servants to obey, his Servants you are, to whom you obey, whether of Sin unto Death, or Obedience unto Righteouſneſs, Rom. 6.16. Now the Gift of Gods divine Light by Jeſus Chriſt, makes manifeſt to all men, all the thoughts of his Heart and intents of his Mind; for the Righteouſneſs of Faith ſpeaketh on this wiſe, Say not in thy heart who ſhall aſcend into Heaven, that is, to bring Chriſt down from above? or who ſhall deſcend into the deep, that is, to bring up Chriſt again from the Dead? but what ſaith it? the VVord is nigh thee, even in thy Mouth & in thy Heart, that is the VVord of Faith, Rom. 10.6.7, 8 By which it is evident, that where men periſh, it is not altogether for want of Knowledge, but for want of Obedience to the Gift of God, which he hath placed in the hearts of all the Sons and Daughters of Men, which by obedience would give them Power over their luſtful Deſires, which by Nature lodgeth in the hearts of ſinful Men and Women, whoſe Minds, for want of Obedience are drawn by the Enemy's Power, to joyn with the Temptations of the Devil, but if they yeilded Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit, they would witneſs ſtrength to with-ſtand the Enemy, and cauſe him to flee; for the …eapon of every true Believers VVar-fare, are not carnal, but ſpiritual, and mighty, through God, to the pul…ing down ſtrong Holds, caſting down every high thing that exalteth its ſelf againſt the Knowledge of God, and bringeth into Captivity every Thought, to the Obedience of Christ having in readineſs to revenge all Diſobedience, when their Obedience is fullfilled, 2 Cor. 10.1, 5, 6. and in this do the faithful come to witneſs the inward Affections of Chriſt more & more abundant towards them, whilſt he remembereth their Obedience, how with fear and trembling they receive him, 2 Cor. 7.15 Which things are plain and by Obedience eaſie to be understood, that they who come to receive the benefit of Chri… by the Power of Gods Spirit, in and through him, it is by true Faith in Obedience to his Word, at which they fear and tremble, it being ſharper than any two-edged Sword, dividing between the Precious and the Vile; which is an Engagement between the Power of God and the Power of the Souls Enemy, who hath ſeated himſelf in the Temple of God, as if he were God; which Enemy is the ſtrong Man that hath taken Poſſeſſion in the hearts of the Sons & Daughters of Men, (whoſe Minds are alienated from God, by reaſon of Sin and Tranſgreſſion) who keepeth the Houſe, until a ſtronger than the Devil doth diſpoſſeſs him of his Power, unto which Povver through the Luſt of Peoples unregenerated Hearts, they are moſt inclined to ſerve, vvhichwhich hath been and yet is the ſtate of many Thouſands of Men and Women, vvho are deceived by the Devil, vvhichwhich is for vvant of Obedience to the gift of God, Povver, vvhichwhich by true Faith and Obedience, vvould diſpoſſeſs the Devil of his Povver, and bring the inward Man into the true ſaving Knowledge of his ſanctified Work of Grace in their own Hearts, vvhichwhich things they are ignorant of, who remain in a blind zeal for God, but not according to the true ſaving Knowledge of him in Jeſus Chriſt, Rom 10.2. by which their Faith remains in a dead Hope that ſhall periſh; for true Faith works the whole inward Man of Heart, Mind, Soul and Spirit into the true Love of God, and Hope of Salvation by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe Spirit gives Evidence of an aſſurance in thoſe things that by true Faith are hoped for; ſo that Faith is the ſubstance of things hoped for, and the Evidence of things not ſeen, Heb. 11.1, 2. for by Faith the holy Men of God obtained a good Report; for we ſee and underſtand, through Faith in God, that the Worlds were framed by Chriſt, the Word of God; ſo that things that were ſeen were not made of things which do appear, Heb. 1.3. By when it is manifeſt, that Chriſt is the Word by whom all things were made long before the Scriptures were given for …: for the Law came by Moſes, but Grace and Truth came by Jeſus Chriſt, in whom remaineth the …ope of h…s People for the …arvation of their Souls; and from this Word (Chriſt) the Se…vant of God received Grace & Apoſtleſh…, for their Obedience to the Faith, among all th… Nations for his Name, Rom. 1.5. and as many as received this Word, in o…e …rence to the Faith, being grafted in him, in whom there is not my thing availeth the Soul of Man, but by that Faith which worketh by the Love of God, Gal. 5 6. Now ſeeing that t…e Faith worketh by the Love of God, in and through Chriſt, what Faith is that in them which leads to deſtroy the Lives and Eſtates of People, for their Obedience to God, who worketh by Love in the hearts of his People, for this end, that they might believe in the Word of Faith, which ſanctifies the Soul of every true Believer, that by Faith in Jeſus Chriſt, through Grace, they are ſaved; for true Faith works by Love, through Obedience to the Word of Faith, which is Chriſt in his People, the Hope of their Glory by whom his People are begot into a lively Hope, that maketh not aſhamed? but that Faith which leads People to believe that they do good ſervice for God, by deſtroying the Lives and Eſtate of their peaceable Neighbours, for their different Judgment concerning ſpiritual things, is it not the Faith of Devils, and Hope of …pocrites whoſe Obedience is to the Prince of Darkneſs, the Enemy of Mans Happineſs, and all ſuch are in a dangerous ſt…? for God worketh by love, and Chriſt came not to d…ſtroy mens Lives, but to ſave them; and ſuch men being many, that pretend to work …o God, whoſe Truth is contrary to their Doctrine, Principle and Practice, as doth at large appear by their preaching and writing ſuch things (as in Deut. 13. Numb. 25. alſo in Ezra, and divers other places in the Law) which were only to continue the Lords time of fullfilling the Righteouſneſs thereof, whoſe R…gateouſneſs in this Goſpel …ay will not be received by the many Teachers in this Age, who preach and teach to advance their own profit in way of their Trade; for in the time of the Law the falſe Worſhipper, with all h… Subſtance, was held accurſed before the Lord, and for that end both were to be deſtroyed; and therefore in this Age, the Anti-chriſtian Teachers do account, that ſuch who are not of their Faith, and as one with …hem in Doctrine, Principle and Practice, that …he…, as falſe Worſhippers, are to be deſtroyed. But Chriſt is come, by whoſe Coming the Righteouſneſs of the Law is fullfilled, in that he came not to deſtroy m…ns Lives, but to ſave and make alive, by calling Stanners to Repentance, and to return, by Faith in O…edience, to ſerve him the living God with uprightneſs of Heart, Mind and Spirit, doing unto all Men, even as they themſelves would be done unto, which is the Law and Prophets; out of which ſtate men are not in the true Faith, but are ignorant of Gods Righteouſneſs, which is in the New Covenant of Life, Light and Grace, which came by Jeſus Chriſt, contrary to whoſe Righteouſneſs they eſtabliſh their own Righteouſneſs, and not ſubmit themſelves to the Righteouſneſs which is of God, Rom. 10.13. wherefore their Faith remains dead, and their Hope vain; for Faith is the gift of Gods Word, which is Chriſt the true and living Prieſt, who by the gift of his Spirit of divine Life & Ligh…, preaches Light, Life and Grace, by which the Souls of …he faithful are ſaved; and of this nature cometh Faith, …y hearing the Word of God, Rom. 10.17. which doth manifeſt, that Faith comes not by that Word, which is not from the Spirit of God; in ſuch faith…eſs men, who for …cre of Gain, make uſe of other mens lines made ready to their hands, that is, of ſuch who bargain with People to preach unto them for their Money, who if they perceive a greater benefit to preſent in another place, they account it ſufficient Encouragement to leave the leſſer, and to hold the greater; but ſuch their Doctrine Principle and Practice is inconſiſtent with Gods holy Truth, which doth live in the hearts of them that are faithful unto what of God by Jeſus Chriſt, is made manifeſt unto them; for unto them doth the Promiſes of God belong, by whoſe Spirit of Grace is his Righteouſneſs revealed from Faith to Faith, as it is written, The J…ſt ſhall live by Faith, Rom. 1.17 Then what doth it profit any man to ſay, that he hath Faith, when that by works of Righteouſneſs he doth not ma…eſt the …me; for Faith without Works is dead, even as the Body is dead without the Spirit; ſuch may believe that there is one God, they do well, the Devils alſo believe the ſame, and fear and tremble; but they fear and tremble becauſe of Gods Wrath in Judgment, even ſo it is with the Rebellious, who by their vain Life of Diſobedience fall ſhort of true Faith they alſo fear and tremble, but not in love to God, but for fear of Terment to com…; ſuch are they whoſe Faith is without Works, whoſe Faith is as dead as the Body is dead without the Spirit. … 2 17, 18, 19 20. Then ſeeing, that without that Faith wh… is by the gift of Gods Grace, that ſanct…fies every true Believers Work of Obedience, by which it is imputed to him for Righteouſneſs, without which …t is impoſſible to p…eaſe God, who will hold all men guilty of Diſt bed…ence …ha… remain in ſin; for ſin makes a continual …eperation … God and …he Soul, whereby they that continue in a ſtate of ſin…ng againſt the gift of Gods Grace, they by ſo doing, fall ſhort in the true Hope of Salvation; for by true Faith in Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit, the Mind is wrought into a ſtill frame of Spirit, being made able, through the Power of Gods Gift to wait for the Hope of Righteouſneſs by Faith, Gal. 5 5. By which it is manifeſt, that waiting in Silence of M…, the inward Affections come to be drawn from having any deſire in that part, which through the Temptation of the Souls …nemy is natural to luſt after evil; for the Body is the Temple of the holy Ghoſt, and all thoughts and intents of the heart and mind, that appear contrary to the moving of his own Spirit, they are Thieves and Robbers, that proceed from the Souls Enemy, which ſtrive to prevent and hinder the proſperity of Gods Gift of divine Light, which is of the Seed of the Kingdom of God, which Seed in meaſure hath been ſown in all ſorts of ground, which is the heart in all men, Mat. 13.3, 4, 5 6, 7, 8 for the Temple of God is the Body of Man, in which Chriſt is to rule, for the Salvation of all them that by Faith in obedience to the gift of his Grace, Life and Light, receive him. Know ye not that ye are the Temples of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the Temple of God, him will God deſtroy, for the Temple of God is holy, which Temple ye are, 1 Cor. 3.16, 1…. …t is a worthy ſubject for every Man and Woman to conſider well with themſelves, by making a diligent ſearch with the …ight of the Lord in their own hearts, how it ſtands between God and their Souls, which muſt either live forever, or eternally periſh with the Devil; and all they that by obedience to him in this Life, have ſinned out the Day of Gods Grace, and of his …ich M…cies by Chriſt Jeſus, which hath been tendered unto them, for the Salvation of their Immortal Souls. So to all with whom the Spirit of God doth ſtrive, that they may bend in the ſtrength of their Minds to …ir upon him in a retired ſtate out of all their owRn…nnings from Hill to Mountain, in which ſtate they are out of that Silence which the Lord hath commanded, That the whole Earth, which is all fleſh, ſhould keep ſilence before him, Hab. 2 20. And again, the Spirit of the Lord, by the Mouth of his holy Prephet, ſaith The Lord who is raiſed out of his holy Habitation commandeth all fleſh to keep Silence before him, Zech. 2.13. By which it appears to all that hear, ſee and underſtand, That Silence is that which God hath commanded to all Men and Mankind, who are to wait upon him in the Silence of Mind, that they may ſee and perceive, hear and underſtand the Lords Will and Mind in hole things which belong to the Peace and Well-fare of their Immorcal Souls, in which ſtate of true faithful Obedience, the inward Man of Heart Mind & Spirit, will be made capable of receiving that benefit which the Lord will improve by his faithful Inſtruments, and that not only for the benefit of his own good, but for the benefit and good of others, that ſo the Name of the holy One may b… honoured thereby. The Lord in his rich Mercy is good unto all them that wait for him in S…ence, Lam. 3.25 28. And in this ſtate did David wait on God, from whom cometh the Salvation of the faithful, who truly wait i… Silence on the Lord, Pſal. 37.7 69.1. Now … the …alvation of Peoples Souls cannot be without Obedience to the Faith of God in Chriſt, of whoſe Spirit… men, in meaſure, have received, which is the Call of God by the Son of his Love, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who was obedient to the Fathers Will in …ll things, for the Redemption of mens Souls, which without true Faith and Obedience, according to the Requirings of his good Spirit of Grace, there is no Salvation by him; then, if no Salvation by him, to them that remain in Diſobedience to the gift of Grace, they are to periſh for evermore; for as in the outward, among the Diſobedient and Rebellious, which pretend themſelves Subjects to ſome Earthly King he knowing them ſo to be, will not protect them with that care and ſafety from the danger of an outward Enemy, as he will protect them whom he well knows, that the… are faithful Subjects, which in true obedience ſerve him; ſuch Subjects will remain in ſilence to hear what their King doth relate, as tending to the preſervation of their outward Man; then how much more, ſuppoſe ye, will the great King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, keep and preſerve them that obſerve his Commands, to remain in ſilence before him, the Lord of Life, to hear what he will ſpeak by the Voice of his Spirit, for the preſervation of their Souls, which keep ſilen…e before him; Ʋnto me Men gave ear, and waited, and kept Silence at my Counſel, Job 29.30. Now they that are not in the Faith of theſe things, they are in a Faith of their own Righteouſneſs, ſeeking the Lord where he is not to be found, crying, Lo here, and Lo there, in this and the other Form, wandering in their Minds from place to place, from one high Hill to the other barren Mountain, which bringeth forth barren Fruit by Hebrem Greek and Latine, of which are few that are not in Paul's firſt ſtate, in which all his unſanctified Learning would not give him the true ſaving Knowledge of God by Jeſus Chriſt; for in that unregenerated ſtate, Mans Will and Time is not accepted with God, but Gods Will is to be Mans Time, in that which Man offers unto the Lord, otherwiſe, Who required theſe things at your hands? depart from me, ye that work Iniquity, againſt me and my People, for I know you not; and foraſmuch as you have not received them, you have alſo denyed me; therefore the Lord will utterly deſtroy the Wicked, by bringing their Works to nought; but he will preſerve the Righteous, which ſhall ſhine as Stars in the Firmament of H…ven, as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad Tidings of good Things, Rom. 10.14, 15. Now where are the good things that the Hireling Teachers bring? as to ſpiritual, I could never find any thing by or from them, that did proceed from the divine Nature of God, by his Son, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but as to other Mens Lines made ready to their hands, that for Money men may buy once or twice a week, of which things I ſhall only touch in this Chapter, leaving the ſubſtance for another place, where, through the aſſiſting ſtrength of Gods Power, I ſhall prove, to the ſatisfaction of them whoſe Minds are in faithfulneſs before the Lord, who cannot b… ſee, hea… and underſtand, that forced Maintenance for Preaching, is not according to the Rule of God, nor practiſed by any of his holy Prophets in days paſt, neither is the manner and method in Preaching, nor their Order in that they call their Church Government or Goſpel Order in their Church, with divers others of their Principles and Practices, which they account belongs to their Calling, are ſo inconſiſtent with Gods holy Truth, as is ſufficiently mani…eſted by his own Spirit, and by his holy Prophets and Apoſtles leſt on holy Record, as doth appear by the Declaration of the holy Scriptures, and the Spirit of God by which they were given fo…th; and my Charity is to write and ſpeak of them that which I am fully perſwaded is the Truth of God i… my heart, That they either hold the Truth of God i… Unrighteouſneſs, or that they are ignorant of his ſaving Knowledge by the Son of his Love, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that is, they know little or nothing as they ought to do, of Gods …ving Power, and ſpiritual appearance of Chriſt in their own he…ts, but are blind Leaders of the blind, till (without true Repentance and Reformation) they ſhall fall together, which according to Chriſts own words, all they that continue in a ſtate of unfaithfulneſs, in D…obedience to the gi…t of his Word, of his good Spirit of …race, which is given by meaſure to heal and make alive, they ſhall …ade and wither away as fruitleſs Branches, which when their day is over, they ſhall be cut off and caſt into the Fire, where the Worm dyes not, nor the Fire of Go…s Wrath goeth out; for Chriſt came not in any meaſure of that nature which hath appeared in the falſe Teachers of this Age; for he came not to deſt oy mens Lives and Eſtates, but his coming was for this end, To ſave that which he had made alive, by calling Sinners to Repentance, which by Obedience, through Faith, found Mercy, and entered into that Hope, by which the Righteous have been preſerved in all Ages, Heb. 11.2. to 40. for it is the Juſt that live by Faith, …ab. 2.4. and therein is the Righteouſneſs of …od revealed from Faith to Faith, as it is written, The Just ſhall live by Faith, Rom. 1.17. which proves, That the Righteous, by Faith in Chriſt, are the Juſt that live by Faith, having yeilded their Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace, which gave them the Hope of Chriſt, through his Death, and riſing again to Life, by whoſe Spirit of Grace, Life and Light, they come to receive an aſſurance b… Faith, of that bleſſed Hope in Chriſt, for the Salvation of their Immortal Souls; for through Faith, by Grace are the Righteous ſaved, for it is the gift of God, Epheſ. 2 8. and the gift of God is Life Eternal unto them that are not found cloathed with any thing of their own Righteouſneſs, but altogether cloathed with that Righteouſneſs which is by Faith in Chriſt, which is the Righteouſneſs of God, Epheſ 3.9. which … works b… love, and is that Faith which …or…s into th… Ʋ …ity of the one Spirit, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fullneſs of Chriſt, Epheſ. 4.13. in which ſtate the Righteous … …tified b… Faith, and have peace with God through the Lord Jeſus …hriſt, Rom 5 1. and by him have the …aith … acceſs by Faith, into the Grace wherein they ſtand, and rejoyce in the Hope of the Glory of God and not only ſo, but they glory in Tribulation alſo, knowing that Tribulation works Patience, and Patience works Experience, and Experience works Hope, and Hope maketh not aſhamed, becauſe the Love of God is ſh…d abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghoſt, which is given unto them, Rom. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Which things are by the Spirit of God in his faithful Servants & Meſſengers of Truth, left upon holy Record, that People may learn to keep low in their Minds, from the love of all Vanity, and things of a periſhing nature, that ſo they may come to give wholly up in their Minds to retain God in their Thoughts, by which, through Faith and Obedience, they may not fall ſhort in the Hope of Gods heavenly Riches, which are treaſured up in Jeſus Chriſt, for all them that by Faith and Obedience live up to his Spirit of Grace, Life and Light, whereby the faithful have been made partakers of Gods durable Riches which is that Crown of Righteouſneſs laid up in ſtore for all them that by true Faith live in Obedience to the appearance of Chriſt in their Hearts; ſuch, ſo living and ſo dying, ſhall in no way fall ſhort in the true Hope of Jeſus Chriſt.