The True Light Shining in Darkness, Letter
To the Church or Congregation which is at Cambridge; unto which I stand as a Pastor or Overseer in the Faith, Fellowship and Order of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: And to many others my Constant or Occasional hearers, of whom I am perswaded such things as do accompany Salvation. Blessed be God.
Dearly Beloved,
I Do greatly rejoyce in you all, as my crown and my joy in the Day of Jesus Christ: And though I cannot say of you all, that I have begotten you by the Gospel; no, blessed be God that you were in Christ before my coming amongst you, and that others labours were blest for that end to you; yet this also I can say of some of you, now in the Church, and of others not yet joyned to it; that I have begotten you through the Gospel unto Jesus Christ, and that you are the seal of my Ministry, and the proof of Christ speaking in me, and by my Ministry unto your Hearts effectually; yet in you all and concerning every one of you; I do rejoyce in three things, Namely,
1. Your Election of God known of us, and manifestly appearing in you by the Sanctification of the spirit unto Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ, as 1 Pet. 1.2. Elect according to the foreknowledg of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, and 2 Thes. 2.13, 14. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Your abiding in the Truth, and the Truth abiding in you, and that you stand fast both in the Faith and love of the Truth that you may be saved: When so many have departed from the Faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and are, (as is to be feared,) given up to strong delusion to believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness: as, 1 Tim. 4.1. 2 Thes. 2.11, 12. Which sheweth the unction of the holy one to be in you, as 1 John 2.20.21. But ye have an unction from the holy One, and ye know all things: I have not written unto you, because ye know not the truth: But because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth; and again, v. 26, 27. These things have I written unto you, concerning them that seduce you: But the anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you: and ye need not that any man teach you: But, as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie: and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him, 28. And now, little Children, abide in him; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. And in this I do rejoyce, and will rejoyce in and over you all, your stedfast, abiding and walking in the Truth, when there are so many deserters, as 2 John 1. Whom I love in the truth: and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth, for the truth sake which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. And 3 John 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my Children walk in truth; and again, John 8.31, 32. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my Disciples indeed: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
3. Your order in the Faith and fellowship of the Gospel as a Church, which appeareth in your professed and declared subjection to the Government which Christ hath set in his Church, and that because it is Christs appointment, that so it should be, and his Spirit works in you, that willing and ready subjection and obedience, as a fruit of your Faith, upon which dependeth and followeth, that blessed Peace that ye now have, both in your own Consciences, and among your selves; it's prophesied of Christ, Isa. 9.7. Of the encrease of his government and of his peace there shall be no end; upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even for ever: This belongs to the Kingly Office of Christ, to whom only it appertaineth to give and appoint Laws for his Church, and they must not appoint Laws for themselves; nor can Man, or any sort of Men in the World, appoint or give Laws to the Church of Christ, 'tis Christ prerogative Royal, and he alone sits and rains as King in Zion, as Ps. 2.6. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Now this Government which Christ hath set in his Church, is by a Faithful and approved Ministry, as Pastors and Teachers, freely chosen by the whole Church according to Christs mind, and rightly set over them in the Lord as he hath appointed them to be, Ephes. 4.11, 12, 13. And being so set, as Acts 14.23. The Church and all the Members are to obey such, and to have them in high esteem for their works sake, and to be subject unto them; in the true light and conduct of the word, shining in their Ministry; and therefore they are called Stars and Angels, or Messengers, from the Ministerial light and conduct they give to the Church from Christ himself, the Sun of Righteousness, and the Angel of the Covenant; as Rev. 1.20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest, are the even Churches. The Churches therefore I say, are to be subject to them, and to obey them in the light of Truth shining in their Ministry from Christ the head, as the Stars do shine in the Firmament with their lesser lights all borrowed from the Sun; and for the proof of this let these Scriptures be considered and well weighed, Heb. 13.7, 8. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose Faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. And again, v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit your selves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account: that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. And 1 Tim. 5.17, 18, 19. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before (or under) two or three witnesses. Where the rule of the Ministry is secured of the double honour of Maintenance and Reverence, and 1 Thes. 5.12, 13. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly for their works sake. And be at peace among your selves ▪ This is the order and Government which Christ hath set in his Church; upon which their peace doth depend: And where thi… Government of Christ is not submitted unto, and kept, but is rejected and broken, there is an end of Peace; there followeth nothing but confusion, and every evil work, as James 3.16. To prevent which Christ hath set Order and Government in the Church, yea in all the Churches of Christ; as 1 Cor. 14.33. As it is in a Mans Heart, if the Government of Christ be not there, if Christ, ruleth not there by his Word and Spirit, there is no Peace to that Man; There is no Peace saith my God to the wicked: Even so it is in a Church; if Christs Goverment be not there, there is no Peace, but strife and bitter envying, confusion and every evil work. And I will therefore Rejoyce, and do Rejoyce in this, concerning you all beholding and seeing your order, and the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ, as Col. 2.5, 6. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. For this order floweth from the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ (as the breach of it in others doth emerge from the unstedfastness of their Faith.) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, v. 7. Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you: Keep therefore and hold fast this Faith and order, and this will be your wisdom and understanding in the sight of all Men, as Deut. 4.5. Ephes. 5.17, 18, 19, 20. And this is the salt or true wisdom commended to us by Christ himself, which will preserve you in purity and peace, and keep you from Corrupting; as Mark 9.50. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will you season it? Have salt in your selves, and have peace one with another. And this, as it is, and will be your glory, so it will be our rejoycing in the Day of Christ, Heb. 13.17, And 1 John 2.28. That we (i. e. we your Elders and Ministers,) may rejoyce in the Day of Christ. As ye have therefore obeyed, and in a great Conflict and Tryal of your Faith and Patience, have testified yout obedience to the Truth through the Spirit; So I beseech you work out your own Salvation, with fear and trembling: For it is God that worketh in you both to will, and to do, of his good pleasure: And be in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition; but unto you of salvation, and that of God. For to you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but als… to suffer for his sake; Having the sam… conflict which ye saw to be in me, Phil▪ 1.28, 29. Now whether I live or die whether I be present in the body and so absent from the Lord, or whether I be absent from the body, that I may be present with the Lord; st…and fast in one Spirit, with one mind, striving together for the Faith of the Gospel; and so fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, of one accord, and of one mind. And the God of peace shall be with you, and shall bruise Satan under your Feet shortly; and shall make those, that say they are Jews and are not; but are the synagogue of Satan, to come and worship before you feet, and to know that he hath loved you, as Rev. 3.8, 9. Amen.