Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Part 1 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of the ceasing of Ordinances since the Apostles dyed as Saltmarsh teacheth.
SInce Antichrist now reigneth, and Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists are no more, Saltmarsh Sparkles of glory.there is no warrant to labour a reformation like the Ap…stolicke times. God hath no where said hee will have them restored, but he aimes at a pure spiritual worship, more glorious than that of the Apostles, when there shall be no Temple nor Ordinances; …nd that place Ephes. 4 Till we all meet in the unity of Faith, is till hee fill all things.Saltmarsh is for the cea…ing of all ordinanc… since the … now Ap…stles …se.
1 …or who … perfect the Saints but Christ? Apostles cannot doe it, and we … no Apostles now nor any of the pure gifts of the holy Ghost. Doth the scripture any where speak of Apostles, Evangelists, Prophets, only for the first age, and Pastors and teachers onelyonly for the ages after? And that of Matth. 28. Lo I am with you to the end of the world is (if more clearely translated) to the finishing of the age, or that age of ministration, pag. 108, 109, 110, 111.
Answ. It cannot bee denyed but Antichrist reigneth, but where? in false Doctrine in the Protestant Churches? It is most false. Wee have separated from Babylon. Nor is it true that Saltmarsh saith, locall separation is Legall and Jewish, and hath begotten strife and abated love, p. 53. For separation out of Babylon cannot be Jewish, Separation from Rome lawfull.when the Lord hath expresly commanded the Christians, come out of her my people; and a Church-separation, where there is nothing found, as to come out from the unclean Family of Love, is Christian not Jewish, except we should communicate with the unfruitfull workes of darkenesse, and not care to defile our garments. And Familists separation from Protestant Churches upon their owne ground must be fleshly, legall, and Jewish, and hath begotten much … and abated love. But any outward performance or duty done out of conscience of a command, even not to goe to Masse, not to worship Jdols, is legall to Familists, if wee doe it not upon the impulsion of the Spirit separated from the command; as for corruption in conversation, if that be the reigne of Antichrist (our separation (I confesse) is to scarce) then must he reigne more in Familists the uncleanest of sects, then in the truely godly who hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans.
2 Familists and Seekers would have no Churches reformed according to the Apostlick paterne; because they think the Apostles legall and Jewish men, and they judge all externals and outward Ordinances, as hearing, baptisme, praying, to bee Jewish and legall, and hold that love is all. And another commandement there ought not to be. Upon this ground I judge Antinomians say, this is the only gospel-worke and way to beleeve, and there is no sinne but unbeliefe; adultery, murther, sodomy, covenant-breach, perjury, treacherie of Arm…es, Servants to Masters, are sinnes before men onelyonly, but not against God, and in these we are obliged by no Law, but to please one another in love, adultery is against no obligation of command, Saltmarsh free grace 193.74.14… 154. Town 39.40. Honeycombe 95.37. Den sermon of the man of sin 9, 10.
3 Another more pure, and spirituall, and more glorious Ministration where love & all spirit reignes, then is warranted by the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles, wee know not. Yet Saltmarsh pag. 194, 195. condemneth the Assembly of Divines, There are no new lights nor doctrines more to be expected, after the canon of holy Scripture is closed.the seven Churches of the Anabaptists, their confession and reformation, because they indevour a Reformation only in some outward Ordinances, and not any purer or more glorious discoveries of God, or union with the spirit or glory. Why? and what cause is there? For these new discoveries and new lights of a more pure and glorious spirit, are either warranted by the Word of God in the Old and New Testament, or they are not warranted: If the first be said, the Assembly and Reformed Churches, Calvin and Luther, whom Saltmarsh carpeth at, as p. 107. darke, legall, and Jewish reformers, because they loved not the Spirit of the Family of Love, ought to have gone no further on to reform or measure the Temple then according to the golden Reed of the word of God.
But Saltmarsh cannot away with any reformation, but such as setteth up a firmament of new lights especially of Antinomian and Familisticall wild-fire to shine to men, and we confesse we indeavour no new discoveries of that kinde, for they are not known to the Apostles, such as that the justified cannot sinne, their Adultery is no Adultery, they are as free of any indwelling sin as Jesus Christ.
2 They are not to be touched in Conscience for sin.
3 Nor to crave pardon.
4 Nor to doe any duty because commanded in the Law.
5 Nor to beleeve that Christ died for sinners, rose for their righteousnesse.
6 Or to pray continually.
7 To heare.
8 To be baptized with Water, &c.
Answ. 1. Paul saith, 1 Cor. 2.1. He determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified, then Paul knew no discovery or new light, nor any more spirituall way that is all spirit, and a dispensation beyond the Law and that of the Prophets, and beyond the Gospel, which is that of the Spirit, all spirit, and pure spirit, For Paul would have, no doubt, desired to know it, yea, all other things foreign what-ever they bee, are dung and losse to him in comparison of the super-excellent knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, Phil. 3.2. John the Apostle who saw so many Divine revelations and discoveries of the spirit, if any man else, must bee above Law and Gospel, and up at this highest and most spiritual discovery: But John even in his actual visions, and spiritual ravishments, Revel. 1.10. was never beyond sinning, and a capacity of exhortations, consolations, and rebukes for Idolatry, as is cleare, Revel. 1.16, 17. Revel 19.10. Revel. 22.8, 9. Then there can be no such pure and spiritual dispensation to the Saints in this life as is beyond all ordinances of exhortation, consolation, rebukes; for the Holy ghost telleth us that John, in the discoveries of God that are most spiritual, had need of these. Feare not, I am the first and the last, and see thou doe it not, I am thy fellow-servant, worship God.
2▪ It will be found that the anoynting and the holy spirit that leads in truth, leadeth by no other meanes then by the word preached, Rom. 10.14. Esa. 59.19, 20, 21.
But if these new discoveries be not warranted by the word, they must be the traditions of men, and argue the imperfection of the word of God; and if they bee another Gospel, then though the Apostles or an Angel from heaven preach them, let alone Familists, we are to pronounce them as accursed, knowing wel, that the word of God is able to save our souls, John 20.31. Luke 16.29, 30, 31. To make us perfect to salvation, 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. To convert the soule, to make wise the simple, Psa. 19.7. and that new spirit must involve us under a curse, and the breach of a commandement, if we adde to the word of God, Revel. 22.18, 19. Deut. 12.32. chap. 4.2. Prover. 30.6. And the spirit of God biddeth us not follow a rule cōtrary to the word.
3 There is not any in this side of Heaven that need not a Temple, nor Ordinances, but such as need neither the light of the Sunne, or of the Moone, or of a Candel, Revel. 21.22, 23. chap. 22.5. and so are freed of their bodies, and glorified with the Lambe, and such as see God face to face, and are not in the dark moone-light of faith, 1 Cor. 12▪ 12. 2 Cor. 5.7. We read not of any clothed with clay-bodies, all spirit, all perfect, or that can say they sinne not, Pro. 20.9. 1 Joh. 1.8, 9, 10. Eccles. 7.20 nor of any beyond the reach of praying, beleeving, growing in grace.
4 Nor can there be any more in Heaven than the perfection … Saints, and the meeting of us all in the unity of Faith, unto a perfect man, and the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ. For the most perfect and most spirituall, that are all Spirit, shall have mortall and corruptible bodies till the blowing of the last Trumpet, which must be changed in a moment, in stead of dying, 1 Cor. 15.51, 52. and so cannot be perfect; they must be watching, and girding up the loynes of their mind, and so ruled by ordinances.
5. It is true, Christ onelyonly perfecteth, as the principall cause; but the Apostles and Ministers of Christ present men perfect in Christ, 2 Cor. 11.2. 1 Thess. 2.19, 20. and they save themselves and others, 1 Tim. 4.16.
6. We have not Apostles now so eminent in gifts, tongues, miracles; but a Ministery there is, and beleevers, till Christs second comming there shall be: And if so, their faith must come by hearing, and hearing there cannot be without preaching, and so ordinances of Preaching, Preachers, Sending, Rom. 10.14. else the gates of hell must prevaile against the Church builded on the Rock, Matth. 16. and therefore the Scripture warranteth us to think there were Apostles, for the first age, and Pastors and Teachers till Christs second comming.
7. Saltmarsh exponeth, or rather depraveth the place, Matth. 28.20. with the help of the Greek Tongue: then he must be a Legalist▪ and in his Book give us Sparkles of Law, Flesh, Judaisme, The place Mat. 28.19.…0. proveth that a ministery there must be, and a Church, till Christs second comming, what ever Seekers and Saltmarsh say on the contrary.not of glory.
And sure his Interpretation comes not from all spirit, nor must we take his allegories, types, corrupt glosses, phansied consequences, to be Discoveries of pure glorious light, and all Spirit. For foreign, the world, is not an age containing the life time of the Apostles only, but it is the world. For the sin that (Mat. 12.32.) is said, not to be forgiven in this world, nor in the world to come, Mark 3.29. hath not forgivenesse, foreign, it cannot be that it hath not forgivenesse for that age, because it is punished with eternall damnation. Matth. 21.19. Let no fruit grow on thee for ever, foreign. Saltmarsh his new Discovery of all Spirit, must say, the Figge-tree for all this might bring forth fruit the next age. Luke 1.55. as he spake to Abraham and his seed for ever, John 6.51. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live, foreign, for ever; And must he but live one Age, and die the next? John 4.14. He shall not thirst for ever. So is the same word, John 8.51. ch. 8.52.
2. Saltmarsh by this new Discovery, hath found a good way to make heaven and hell endure but for an age, and then have an end. For John 10 28. Christs sheep shall never foreign, perish. He that liveth (saith Christ, John 11.26.) and beleeveth in me, shall, foreign, never die. But doe Seekers and Familists think he shall die the next age, and live the first age? John 12.34. We have heard that Christ abides for ever. John 14, 16. The holy Ghost abides with you, foreign, for ever. Demas hath loved this present world, 2 Tim. 4.10. 2 Cor. 4.4. Satan is called, the God of this world, foreign, in opposition to the world to come, 2 Pet. 2.17.17. To whom the mist of darknesse is reserved foreign, for ever. The darknesse of hell endureth not for an age onelyonly.
3. And foreign is simply everlasting, and that which hath no end, John 3.16. He that beleeveth shall not perish, foreign, but hath eternall life; that is, not life for an age onelyonly. So John 3.36. John 4.14. John 4.36. He gathereth fruit to life eternall, John 5.24. John 6.40. v. 54. John 10.28. John 17.2. Acts 13.46. and yee judge your selves unworthy of eternall life. Rom. 2.7. Rom. 6.22.
4. The same expression that is here, noteth (the end of the world.) For it is that endurance beyond which there is nothing but heaven and hell, Matth. 13.40. So shall it be in the end of the world, foreign. The same expression is, v. 49. v. 39. and the harvest is the end of the world. And Matth. 24.3. What shall be the signe of thy comming, and of the end of the world? And here, Lo, I am with you, foreign, even till the end of the world.
5. And if Christ promised to be with his Church for an age, so as Apostles doe cease in the next age, then must there be no Saints on earth now, but onelyonly in the first age after Christs resurrection: For this promise of Christs presence, is extended not to Apostles only (for Christ walketh with all true Churches, Rev. 10.2.) but to all the faithfull. Then certainly, Christ is the head of his body the Church, Col. 1.8. but he hath no body; he is a husband, but hath no wife on earth; he is a King, and a King for ever, but hath neither people nor kingdome, nor Scepter of Word or Ordinances. He reignes in the midst of his enemies by his Word; slayeth the wicked with the rod of his mouth; hath an everlasting kingdom, & hath dominion till all his enemies be subdued, Psal. 110.1, 2. Psal. 2.6.7. Heb. 1.8. Psal. 72.7, 8, 9. Esay 9.7. ch. 11.4. And if there be no Ordinances, no Church, no word of righteousnesse preached, which is the Scepter of his Kingdome, no Sword of the Spirit comming out at his Mouth, no word of the Kingdome, no Embassadours, no Ministers of the Gospel, his Kingdome had an end above fourteen hundred years agoe.
6. Now to all this we must say, Christs order is strange. First, he led his people through the Law, then to a purer and more glorious Gospel-dispensation, and (say Familists) to a pure spirituall way of all Spirit. And yet after his ascension, and ceasing of Apostles, he led them by a retrograde motion, and …ook away all ordinances of the preached Word, all Seales, all Preachers and witnesses, all Churches, and they have ben so under a darker then a Law-dispensation these fourteen hundred yeares, and shall bee till men of the Family stamp shall arise, even men that are all pure spirit, such as H. Nicholas, and Mr. Dell, Randall and Saltmarsh, who teach that beleevers cannot sinne, nor confesse sinne, nor are to walke in any Commandement of God, nor after any Ordinance of Word, covenant of Grace, Seales, Faith, Prayer. &c.
16. In this most pure, most spirituall manifestation of God (saith he pag. 36.) all shall be spirituall Disciples. This ministery is of the whole body of the Saints, not of one Tribe, or sort of men, page 51, 52. and that immediatly in all gifts and operations, without studying or industry.
Answ. Here 1. all distinction of Church-Officers, which Paul saith,Saltmarsh taketh away all ministery, and calling thereunto, and maketh all Saints Preachers without industry and study, in his third orb or circle of ministration. shall endure till we all meet in the unity of Faith, Eph. 4.11, 12. and is proven from the order Christ hath established, that some (not all) shall be Apostles and Teachers, 1 Cor 12.28, 29. and onelyonly those that are sent, Rom. 10.14. and onelyonly such as have such and such operations in Christs body, 1 Corinth. 12.19. Rom. 12.4. But it is apparent, Familists dreame of a dispensation, when either Christ shall not be head, and have no body, and the Familists so denude him of his headship; or if Christ have a body, then all the members have the same Office, contrary to Rom. 12.4. and all the body is one member, and so no body at all, 1 Cor. 12.19. and when there shall be none to obey in the Lord, and none to command, contrary to 1. Thess. 5.12, 13. Heb. 13.7.17. Tit. 1.5, 7, 8, 9, 10.
2. There is a cleare contradiction in this, That all shall be Teachers and Edifiers, and yet there shall be none to be taught and edified, No Temple, no Ordinances (they are fleshly and Jewish carnalities) none but all Spirit, and taught of God, page 88, 89. page 72, 73. page 66, 67.
3. A time in this life there must bee, when Timothy shall give no attendance to reading, and yet be a Prophet, and all men and women shall preach the Gospel without studying. Now the Scripture speaketh of no such time, and we cannot take such a poynt upon tradition from Familisis.
17. The Christian is and was (saith he 93, 94.) under Prelacy, Presbytery, Baptisme, Independency, &c.
Why not under Popery, Socinianisme, Arrianisme, Judaisme, and the profession of all these? For they are Christians, beleevers, and saved under all Religions, by H. Nicholas his grounds,Mr. Saltmarsh indifferent in all externall worship. who saith, we may deny Christ and Religion before men.
2. Saltmarsh saith, p. 100, 101. under all these Religions (he excludes not Gentilisme) if they wait to come up to higher revelations of the Spirit when discovered, they are true and spirituall Disciples of Jesus Christ. This is grace universall, given to every man to gain, and purchase by his industry and honest merit more and more of Christ, till he come to the highest measure of all spirit. It is known H. Nicholas established a righteousnesse by the Law and workes.