The Retired Mans Meditations, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Shewing the ſubordinate uſe that the elect Angels are of, unto Chriſt (in his bearing up the pillars of the creation, that elſe had been diſſolved through the fall) and the place which they have in the threefold general adminiſtration of his mediatoriall kingdom, ſet up in the world.
THough ſin entred upon all men, and death by ſin, through the act of one mans diſobedience, and judgement came upon all men, becauſe in one man all had ſinned: yet by the obedience of one and his righteouſneſs the free gift came upon all men unto juſtification of life, Rom. 5. and where ſin abounded grace did abound much more: by reaſon whereof, the whole firſt creation in all the parts of it is made Chriſts by the price of his blood, which was made Sathans and ſins by the fall; that as the ſoul of the Father is Chriſts, ſo alſo is the ſoul of the Son, and he only that perſonally tranſgreſſes ſhall die, Ezek. 18. 4. God having been pleaſed to find a ranſom in Chriſt for atonement and propitiation, to the forbearance of ſins that are paſt, and to the admitting of man to a new treaty of reconciliation and trial by vertue of the firſt covenant renewed in and through the blood of Chriſt, whereunto the miniſtry of the good Angels ſerves and is made uſe of by Chriſt the KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, who employs theſe his miniſters of juſtice as the higher powers over the world, committed by him to their charge, to mannage order and govern in all the affairs thereof under him (having put all its Inhabitants in this ſenſe in ſubjection unto the government of the Elect Angels) to be a terrour unto evil works, and a protection and refuge to them that do well; who therefore, Eccleſ. 5. 8. are deſcribed to be thoſe that are higher then the higheſt miniſters of juſtice in this world, or then the ſupreme powers here below, and yet ſaith the text, there be higher then they: which are Chriſt the WORD of God, and the bleſſed Trinty.
In reference to the Angels therefore in this their office and adminiſtration of juſtice under Chriſt, it is ſaid, Deut 32. 7, 8. The moſt high divided unto the nations their inheritance, from the daies of old or the beginning of the world, when he ſeparated the ſons of Adam according to the number of the Angels (as the Septuagint renders it) or under their rule and government, as he ſeparated the day from the night in this viſible world by two great lights that he ſet up in the material heavens, the greater to rule the day, and the leſſer to rule the night, Gen. 1. 14. 16. typifying this office and miniſtry of Angels as to the government of the ſons of Adam; all the nations whereof in their earthly ſtate God made of one blood, to dwell on all the face of the earth: but thought fit upon the fall and ſin of the firſt Adam, to ſet the bounds of their habitation according to the number of the Angels or meaſure of their natural perfection, as ſubjected & made ſubſervient to Chriſt their head, being in this reſpect the ſhadowy image of Chriſts firſt appearance, in which they are able to proportion ſuitable manifeſtations of Chriſt to the natural diſcerning of men, in what ſtate or condition ſoever they are found, whether ſuch as are without law, or ſuch as are under the law.
The firſt of theſe know no higher rule at preſent, then this ſhadowy image of Chriſts natural perfection reflected and beamed forth upon them from the face of angelical glory, where the ſound of the Scriptures hath not yet been heard: who therefore as heathens, are ſaid comparatively to abide in darkneſs, as under the rule of the leſſer light, typifyed by the moon the ruler of the night: theſe are the uncircumciſion in the fleſh, living remote from, and (as it were) without Chriſt and God in the world, as aliens from the Commonwealth of Iſrael, and ſtrangers to the Covenants of promiſe; yet in a capacity to ſeek the Lord, if haply they may feel after him and finde him, though he be not far from every one of them, being that light that enlightens every one that comes into the world.
The ſecond ſort of men are thoſe ſons of Adam that are higher enlightened, by being brought beyond this firſt ſhadowy image of Chriſt, unto the Miniſtry of the Law, and placed under the dominion thereof, becoming actually thereby of the ſeed of Abraham according to the fleſh, being made partakers of the firſt Covenant, renewed in the blood of Chriſt, and ſo called the circumciſion in the fleſh; and in that ſenſe, Iſraelites, children of the firſt Covenant, to whom pertains the Adoption and the glory, and the Covenants: who are called Jews, children of God, or viſible Saints, reſting in the Law or taking up their ſtation in Chriſts firſt appearance or natural perfection; making their boaſt of God, as knowing his will and approving the things that are more excellent, being inſtructed out of the Law (whether conſidered as miniſtred by Moſes, or by the fleſh of Chriſt, who therein is the head-perfection of it) who are confident that they themſelves are guides unto the blind, lights unto them that ſit in darkneſs, inſtructers of the fooliſh, teachers of babes, which have the form of the knowledge and truth of the Law or firſt miniſtry of Chriſt, whoſe praiſe is of men, Rom. 2. 29. who in one word are made the children and off-ſpring of Chriſt, according to what he is as head and root unto the perfection of the natural Creation ſingle; yea even unto himſelf according to the fleſh, conſidered as a meer man, or in the faſhion and likeneſs of the firſt Adam in his ſinleſs and incorrupt nature.
Both theſe ſorts of men being ſtill but the ſons of the firſt Adam, or of an earthly deſcent and birth, fall properly under the Miniſtry of Angels in the hand of Chriſt, whom he hath appointed in a twofold diſpenſation, ſerving in the one to veil, and in the other to unveil him in his firſt appearance, as he is KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESSE, being in the witneſs they give herein, as two great lights in the firmament of the ſpirits of men, the greater to rule the day, and the leſſer to rule the night; In this latter they are as the Moon, to rule the Kingdom of darkneſs, whereinto all mankinde in their fallen corrupt ſtate are plunged, renewing and ſetting up ſomething of that light in the natural ſpirit of man, with which every man is enlightned that comes into the world, however degenerate his condition be in all other reſpects; in the other, they diſcover the Sun that is to rule the day of mans further enlightned judgement, when he is ſeparated from amidſt all the corrupt world, and is clothed with a viſibility of Saintſhip & profeſſion, wherein he hath the praiſe of men that meaſure themſelves by themſelves, and compare themſelves amongſt themſelves, without having the true Spiritual light of Chriſts ſecond appearance to help their diſcerning therein, 2 Cor. 10. 12. and ſo, are not wiſe; but are ſuch children, Deut. 32. 20. in whom is no faith; who, notwithſtanding all the commendation they aſſume unto themſelves, are not they whom God commends.
This generation of men are Iſrael according to the fleſh, whether under the Law or under the Goſpel; which are not to paſs away till the ſufferings of the whole ſpiritual ſeed be fulfilled: but ſhall be found in that great city Jeruſalem, mentioned Rev. 11. 8. which ſpiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where alſo our Lord was crucified, and amongſt whom the dead bodies of his witneſſes muſt lie unburied three days and an half, ver. 9.
Thus the moſt High divided to the Nations their inheritance, when he ſeparated the ſons of Adam not only into their ſeveral countries and local habitations, but into the day and night of his adminiſtrations of Rule over them and communications of light, life and power to them after their Fall, when he ſet the bounds of the people according to the number of angels, made by him miniſters of his Kingdom of natural righteouſneſs, as hath been declared.
The third ſort of people in that diſtribution of the Sons of Adam, are the true Jacob or Spiritual Seed, that are of the Faith of Abraham, whether Jews or Gentiles, and right Heirs of God according to the promiſe; that are not only Sons of Righteouſneſs, as the former, in the perfection of the natural man: but SONS OF PEACE, where of twain ſprings up one new man, through the blood of the croſs, and life from the dead. Theſe are the hundred fourty and four thouſand, ſpoken of Rev. 14. 1. which were redeemed from the earth, ver. 3. or out of all that was earthy; and had learned to ſing a new ſong before the throne and before the four beaſts, and the four and twenty elders, which no man could learn but themſelves, ver. 3. Theſe are they which were not defiled with women, but are virgins, induced from the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt, to follow the Lamb whereever he goeth; who, were redeemed from amongſt men, being the firſt fruits unto God and to the Lamb, v. 4 In whoſe mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God, able to ſing the ſing of Moſes and of the Lamb.
Theſe are the Jacob that are Gods portion, Deut. 32. 9. or his peculiar people and treaſure, the lot of his inheritance, reſerved for the immediate ſhining forth of light from the face of the Son himſelf, whether in his firſt or ſecond appearance. Theſe are they, of whom the Iſraelites after the fleſh (that were not of the faith of Abraham, nor born after the ſpirit, but children only of Mount Sinai, and of the bondwoman) were only the types and figures; and as ſuch, were caſt off when the true ſeed came and appeared, calling the Gentiles home unto himſelf; even as the worldly Church and fleſhly ſeed of Profeſſors among the Chriſtian Gentiles ſhall be dealt with, when the Jews are grafted in again upon a Spiritual account, and ſhall be made known to be the fulneſs of the Gentiles.
Thus in brief we have made way unto the ſtating, firſt, the ſubjects of that threefold kingdom of Chriſt, which we propounded to treat of; ſecondly, the rule ſet up over each of them, appointed by Chriſt to govern judge and condemn thoſe of them that walk not in conformity thereunto, in theſe ſeveral, diſtinguiſhed conditions of men. Thirdly the diſtinct nature and kind of theſe ſeveral adminiſtrations of Chriſts Kingdom and Government, kept on foot and upheld by him in the world. Which three particulars we ſhall firſt give you the view of in a clear witneſs from the Scriptures, and then apply our ſelves to a diſtinct treating of the things and perſons relating to each of theſe three Dominions or Kingdoms of Chriſt, or rather diſtinct adminiſtrations of the one Government of Chriſt, which he is heir and poſſeſſor of, over men and Angels.
Firſt then, we are to conſider the ſubjects that are bred up under the three adminiſtrations of Chriſts Government and Rule over men, in their proper diſtinguiſhing characters, names and deſcriptions wherein the Scripture preſents them to our view.
But that we may be the better underſtood what we mean when we ſpeak of theſe ſubjects, it will be needfull for us to premiſe, that there are two ſorts of ſubjects under each adminiſtration; either firſt, ſuch as are willingly ſubject for conſcience ſake, whom Chriſt rules by the power of his light, by them received, owned and walked in. Or ſecondly, ſuch as he rules over by force and with a rod of iron, as his enemies, breaking thoſe that will not bend, when they fall by their miſcarriage and demerit under the power of his revenging Juſtice in any of theſe branches of his Government.
Firſt then, theſe two ſorts of ſubjects under Chriſts firſt adminiſtration of Rule, we ſhall find comprehended in thoſe general Scripture expreſſions which diſtinguiſh all the Nations of the earth in their Gentiliſm and uncircumciſed ſtate from the Jews, that are a higher enlightened ſort of the ſons of Adam, in a ſeparate and divided ſtate, as planted wholly a right ſeed, Jer. 2. 21. a noble vine; whereas the other are ſaid to be alienated from the life of God, delivered up to vile affections, having their underſtandings darkned, and walking in the vanity of their minds, who (as compared with the Jews) are thoſe that live without Law, are ſinners without law, and periſh without Law, Rom. 2. 12. who are alſo ſaid in this ſenſe to be without God and without Chriſt in the world: Such as have little or nothing of the firſt Image left in them, but are carried away unto dumb idols as they are led.
This is the ſtate wherein we are all by nature, dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, walking according to the courſe of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the air, the Ruler of the darkneſs of this world, working in the children of diſobedience; having our converſation in the luſts of the fleſh, fulfilling the deſires thereof and of the mind, as children of wrath, Eph. 2. 1, 2, 3. working all uncleanneſs with greedineſs.
Theſe are further deſcribed by the uncircumciſion in the fleſh, the corrupt natural man or the heathen, in Scripture phraſe, that is to ſay, the nations, kindreds and people of the world, that through the fall, are turned into a degenerate plant, a wild Olive tree, having their place and habitation in the WICKED ONE, who Rules, acts and influences them at his pleaſure.
In this ſad. helpleſs, forlorn and wretched ſtate, Chriſt the Mediator finds all mankind by the fall, and is pleaſed not here to leave them, but through the ranſom by him paid for all, to beſtow freely upon them the benefit of this firſt light and Rule under which he places them (by the means of the miniſtry of Angels) with which he enlightens every one that comes into the world: begetting in them a capacity to ſe…k the Lord and to feel or grope after him in the midſt of their darkneſs; and ſetting up a work in their conſcience to do and perform the things contained in the law, if they wilfully deſ…iſe not and neglect the means of light provided for them in this ſtate: which ſome of them do make a right and good uſe of, and ſo are led forward, by further enlightnings and quicknings to the ſaving of their ſouls, whilſt ſuch as refuſe or deſpiſe this, are hardned and ſeared in their rebellion, and reſervea with the wicked Angels in chains of darkneſs to the judgement of the great day. Theſe willing captives of Sathan were typed out by thoſe ſervants under the law, who refuſing their liberty offered in the years of Jubilee and ſeaſons for their redemption, were boared in the ears in token of the juſt and perpetual ſervitude that belonged to ſuch, as ſo little valued their liberty when freely offered to them, and when the having or not having thereof, depended meerly upon their own acceptance or refuſal.
Secondly, The two ſorts of Subjects under Chriſts ſecond adminiſtration, conſiſt of thoſe ſons of Adam that are purified, quickned and enlightned, whoſe bodies are waſhed with pure water, cleanſed from the filthineſs of their natural man by having that done to them which was done to the Jewiſh nation or ſeed of Iſrael, when called by God into a diſtinguiſhed ſtate from among the Gentiles, Ezek. 16. ver. 5. to the 15. when ſhe was as a caſt-out among the Gentiles to the loathing of her perſon in the day of her nativity, then God paſſed by her, looked upon her, and made it the time of his love, ſaying unto her when ſhe lay in her blood, Live; and cauſing her to multiply as the bud of the field, till ſhe encreaſed and waxed great and came to excellent ornaments: to have her breſts faſhioned, and her hair grown, who was naked and bare: for God had ſpread his skirt over her, covered her nakedneſs and entred into covenant with her, ſo that ſhe became the Lords. And he cleanſed her with water, waſhing away her blood from her, anointed her with oil, decked her with ornaments and jewels, and cauſed her to eat fine flower and hony and oil, and ſhe was exceeding beautiful and did proſper into a kingdome; in which glory of hers ſhe was viſible to others, ſo as her renown went forth among the heathen for her beauty which was perfect through the comelineſs which God had put upon her.
This is farther enlarged Deut. 32 4. &c. where this work of God upon theſe Iſraelites is alſo called perfect, flowing from their rock, or from Chriſt that had been a Father to them, and had bought them, and made and eſtabliſhed them, and had thus divided and diſtinguiſhed them from the reſt of the ſons of Adam. Yet there were amongſt theſe, an unwiſe generation, in and under all this: thoſe that had no faith, and who conſidered not their latter end, but corrupted themſelves, and had a latter end worſe then their beginning: ſo as their grape was the grape of Sodom, and their vine was the vine of Gomorah, and their ſpot ſhewed itſelf not to be the ſpot of Gods children, declaring them to be a very crooked and perverſe generation.
The firſt of the ſame principles with theſe, was Cain, whom Eve received as a man from the Lord: then thoſe ſons of God in the old world, who corrupted themſelves and left a rebellious race of Giants or men of renown for enmity againſt God, with which fleſhly ſeed the Lord would not ſuffer his ſpirit any longer to ſtrive in the daies of Noah, Gen. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4. Then Iſhmael the ſon of Hagar the bond-woman, figured out this generation under the firſt covenant: after him Eſan; then the whole nation of the Iſraelites brought out of Aegypt: who were all of them baptized unto Moſes, in the red ſea, and did eat the ſame ſpiritual meat, and drink the ſame ſpiritual drink, yet with many of them was not God well-pleaſed. And ſo Iſrael after the fleſh, all along from them downward, as they are deſcribed in all the Prophets, to be righteous men and a holy ſeed, yet ſuch as Ezek. 18. 24. turned from their righteouſneſs, and committed iniquity ſtumbling at the ſtumbling ſtone, being leavened with the leaven of the Phariſees, and in whom ſprang up a root of bitterneſs to their defilement: ſo as after all their enlightnings and enlivenings from God, they miſcaried, being ſuch as Elias interceded againſt, ſaying, Lord, they have killed thy Prophets, and digged down thine Altars, and I am left alone, and they ſeek my life, Rom. 11. 2, 3. and concerning whom Eſay is very beld, ſaying, All the day long I have ſtretched forth mine hands to a diſobedient and gainſaying people, Rom. 10. 20, 21. who alſo ſaith of them, Rom. 9. 29. except the Lord of Sabboth had left us a ſeed, we had been as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorah; which frame of ſpirit they fully diſcovered at laſt, when they crucified the Lord of glory, and were the Jeruſalem in whom was found the blood of all the Prophets.
Nor are we to think that this generation of men paſſed away with the Jews, ſince Chriſt himſelf in the very Goſpel may be known after the fleſh, and doth beget an Iſrael after the fleſh, in and under Goſpel-ordinances and miniſtrations: who by the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt and the holy commandment delivered unto them, in his fleſhly manifeſtation, for their Rule, may clean eſcape the pollutions of the world through luſt, and yet return with the dog to the vomit and with the ſow that was waſhed to her wallowing in the mire, 2 Pet. 2. 20. &c. yea, who may by the word of the beginning Heb. 6. 1. or firſt appearance of Chriſt, paſs through the great enlightnings and quicknings from Chriſt there ſpoken of, to the taſting of the heavenly gift and partaking of the Holy Ghoſt, to the reliſhing of the good Word of God and powers of the world to come, and yet fall away and draw back unto predition, being void of that faith that failes not, wherewith we are to believe to the ſaving of the ſoul.
This ſort of men the Apoſtle Paul in all his Epiſtles takes notice of and diſtinguiſhes the true believer from: having had his warrant for it from Chriſt himſelf who ſaid, Many are called, but few are choſen: and again; of the labourers in the vineyard he ſaith, there are firſt that ſhall be laſt in Gods acceptance, and laſt that ſhall be firſt: and that theſe children of the kingdom ſhall ſee many come from the four parts of the world, to ſit down with Abraham, I ſaac and Jacob, in the kingdome of heaven, and they themſelves be thruſt out with thoſe that ſay Mat. 7. 22, 23. Lord, Lord, have not we prophecyed in thy name and in thy name caſt outdevils, and done many wonderful works? unto whom Chriſt will anſwer, Depart from me, ye workers of in iquity, I know you not.
Theſe are they Rom. 4. that find whereof to glory in the fleſh of Chriſt, or in their own holy fleſh, as the ſeed of Abraham, that are by the law or firſt covenant: who are righteous workers according to the law, in the moſt Goſpel-like adminiſtration of it: but at the bottom, are ſtill upon the tenure and account of debt; for ſo is their reward accounted to them by God, as looking upon them ſtill under the firſt covenant, till they be brought to be of the faith with bleſſed Abraham.
Theſe in 1 Cor. the 12. and 13. Chapters, are intimated under the title of ſpiritual men, in diſtinction from the heathen, as having the manifestation of the ſpirit given them to profit with, by means whereof they may come to great attainments in ſpiritual gifts; and excellent operations of mind, ſo as to ſpeak with the tongues of men and Angels, know all myſteries, have all faith, ſo as to remove mountains, give all they have to the poor and their bodies to be burned: and all this but upon the firſt root and ſingle ſeed of natural righteouſneſs, remaining yet unexperienced of the more excellent way of enjoying and doing all this in union and harmony with a higher and better principle of life by participation of the divine nature, which the true heirs do obtain, and which is there called by the name of love.
Again, 2 Cor. 10. 11. Theſe are deſcribed under the names of thoſe, of which number Paul ſaid he was not, who meaſuring themſelves by themſelves, and comparing themſelves amongſt themſelves were not wiſe; but juſtly comprehended under the rank of fooliſh virgins, over whom the Apoſtle was jealous with a godly jealouſie, hoping to have preſented them as a chaſte virgin to Chriſt, but now fearing leſt they ſhould be beguiled and ſin after the ſimilitude of Adams tranſgreſsion, through the ſubtilty of the devil, transforming himſelf into an Angel of light.
Theſe among the Galatians were they that Paul ſtood in doubt of, as diſcerning in them principles that would carry them no higher then the firſt Covenant; before whom therefore he laid the diſtinction of the two Covenants and the two ſeeds, even under the Goſpel; thoſe that might be born after the ſpirit, and thoſe that might be born but of the fleſh only; one of the free woman, the other of the bond.
And among the Philippians this ſort of Profeſſors were ſo prevalent, that the Apoſtle was very ſharp, ch. 3. v. 2. & v 18, 19. calling them, thoſe of the conciſion, dogs, and enemies to the croſs of Chriſt, whoſe God was their belly, and whoſe glory was in their ſhame, minding earthly things; walking in a quite different ſtrain from them, who forgetting what is behinde, preſs forward to the mark ver. 14. of perfection, brought to light by the death and reſurrection of Chriſt, worſhipping God in the ſpirit, rejoycing in Chriſt Jeſus, and having no confidence in the fleſh.
It would be endleſs to rehearſe the ſeveral paſſages in the remaining Epiſtles of Paul and the other Apoſtles, deciphering this generation of Profeſſors in the times they lived, Teachers of the Law, that knew not what they ſaid, nor whereof they affirmed, as to the lawfull uſe of the very Law it ſelf; who, by not holding faith and a good conſcience, which is interpreted, Heb. 10. 23. a not holding them faſt, but in ſuch wavering, uncertain principles as the firſt Covenant miniſters, concerning faith made ſhipwrack, and ſo loſt their good conſcience too at laſt, drawing back into perdition; Like the Jeruſalem complained of, Ezek. 5. 5. &c. where they were ſo far from walking up to the light of the Covenant with God which they were under, that in their walkings they fell beneath the very light and principles of heathens, not doing according to the judgements of the nations round about them, but becoming adulterers and adultereſſes, ſuch as defile the Temple of God, and therefore ſuch whom God would deſtroy.
Laſtly, as once for all, we may ſee this generation of men in their holy profeſſion and viſibility of Saintſhip, incorporated together with the true ſpiritual ſeed in every one of the ſeven Churches, mentioned Rev. 2. and 3. chapters: which are uſually accounted to be typical, inreference to the ſtate of the Church under the Goſpel, from the Primitive times to Chriſts ſecond coming.
In every of theſe churches, Chriſt makes the diſtinction between the Spiritual Seed that had the ſpiritual ear, and the carnal Seed that had it not; but who in and under thoſe very Church-forms were the Nurſeries of all hypocriſie, apoſtaſie, and other Spiritual uncleanneſſes and defilements there, and were not of the faith, nor in the faith of thoſe that overcome; but were ſuch as from whom the Candleſtick and light they had from Chriſt, might be removed, verifying therein that ſaying of his, ſpeaking of this generation, as they ſhould continue under Goſpel Ordinances (when he was foretelling the end of the world, under the type and figure of the deſtruction of the material Temple in Jeruſalem:) Verily, verily, ſaith he, This generation ſhall not paſs away till all theſe things be fulfilled; his myſtical meaning herein being, that this crooked and perverſe generation, mentioned Deut. 32. 5. who were always reſiſting the Holy Ghoſt, Act. 7. 51. (and were to ſucceed in that enmity which they bear unto the true Spiritual Seed, to the very end of the world, according unto what God declared from the beginning, when he ſaid, I will put enmity between the Seed of the woman and the ſeed of the ſerpent) ſhould continue till the ſerpents head be wholly broken, and he trampled under foot: and the Saints heel wholly bruiſed, or the meaſure of Chriſts ſufferings remaining to be wrought out in his whole body, the Church, fulfilled.
Theſe are they which call themſelves Jews, but are not, in ſpirit and truth, though they paſs currant in the judgement of mans day for the only viſible Church of God, excluding the heathens on the one hand, as Sathan appearing in his own likeneſs, and the true ſpiritual believers on the other hand, as the ſame evil ſpirit transformed into an Angel of light.
The third ſort of ſubjects, belonging to the laſt adminiſtration of Chriſts kingdom, are they, who in faith and patience do poſſeſs their ſouls, following the Lamb whither ſoever he goes, not loving their lives unto death: but through the blood of the Lamb, being received into the unity of the faith of the Son of God, have the uſe of ſpiritual ſenſes ſet up in them, enabling them to hear and obey what the ſpirit ſaith unto the Churches: and ſo are worſhippers of God in ſpirit, rejoycing in Chriſt Jeſus, & having no confidence in the fleſh; enjoying within themſelves the witneſs of a better and more enduring ſubſtance then what is experienced under the firſt-covenant-miniſtry: & through this law of the ſpirit of life which the ſpiritual ſied are made under, have that overcoming power of Chriſt ever preſent with them in the actings of true and ſaving faith, which overcomes the world, and gives them the victory over all oppoſition: not but that they alſo in walking as men, have the ſame common weakneſſes as other men, & are liable to many failings and miſcariages, but as they are born of God, and walk and live in that ſpirit, ſin hath no more dominion over them, to make them fulfil the luſts thereof, Gal. 5. 16, 18.
Theſe therefore are diſtinguiſhed from all the earth-born ſons or children of the firſt covenant, by their higher and more divine birth, as born, not of blood, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but of God, Joh. 1. 13. not but that they are born alſo of all the other principles as well as othermen, & poſſeſs them in common with others, ſomething of the corrupt nature with the heathen, and ſomething of the renewed nature with the Jew or worldly Chriſtian: but they have over and beſides, a birth of God, which none of the other two have, living thereby in that light and life which no man hath ſeen or can ſee: wherein they are a ſort of heavenly ſeers and men of God, that enter with Chriſt within the veyl, and are admitted into the ſight and enjoyment of God in the very brightneſs of his glory and expreſs character of his perſon, ſhining forth in the face of Chriſts ſecond appearance; and herein are heirs of God, and co-heirs with Chriſt, partaking after this manner of the divine nature it ſelf, wherein they ſee God face to face in his own ſimilitude, apparently; converſing with him, as friend ſpeaks with friend: having the natural powers & faculties of their mind (which they ſtill poſſeſs in common with other men) ſo ſubdued and made ſubject to this higher birth of the divine will, and preſence in them, that they are taught to do the will of their father in earth as it is done in heaven, and to be the fulfillers of all righteouſneſs, not only of that which is according to the rule and law of the ſpirit of life that they are under, excluſive to the reſt: but what is according to the law and rule of Gods judgements, given either to the Jew & worldly Chriſtian, or to the heathen in the right way of ſubordination wherein they ought to be practiſed and obſerved according to the will of God: when we are ſo made one with Chriſt as he is made one with the Father, ever doing that which is pleaſing and acceptable in his ſight.
Theſe are they then in the general, whom we mean by thoſe that are born after the ſpirit and of the free-woman: that are from above, of the Jeruſalem that is above, the heavenly City, whoſe builder and maker is God, by his own immediate hand forming and ſetting it up for that end, in the perſon of the mediator, as that wherein Chriſt as the firſt begotten from the dead, might become the head to this whole ſeed of ſpiritual believers, whoſe names are written in heaven.
This divine birth is that through which we believe to the ſaving of the ſoul, and therefore is deſcribed, Heb. 11. 1. &c. under the name of faith, and is ſaid to be the ſubſtance of things hoped for, and evidence of things unſeen: giving the ſight of him that is unſeen to every natural eye, and bringing the ſoul to the knowledge of the inward living WORD: through the knowledge of whom we come to underſtand that the worlds were framed, and how they are ſince upheld and governed.
By the power of this divine birth, Abel offered to God a more excellent ſacrifice then Cain; and the famous men of God in old times (whoſe genealogy, as all partaking of this ſpiritual ſeed, is derived in that Chapter from Abel downward through all the old Teſtament) obtained a good report, or lived that life which was in repute with God, and which he owned as welpleaſing and acceptable unto him.
Theſe are they that throughout the new Teſtament alſo are to be underſtood for the ſeed of true believers, there ſpoken of: unto whom, as their pattern in ſpirit, theſe worthies Heb. 11. are propounded: that they might run the ſame race, having ſo great a cloud of witneſſes ſet before them, looking alſo to Jeſus, not only as he is the author and beginner of our faith in the miniſtry of his firſt appearance, but as he is alſo the finiſher of it, making it the faith that fails not, which is attained in and by the new covenant or miniſtry of his ſecond appearance: through which he doth not only appear a King of righteouſneſs, conveying a ſeed of righteouſneſs anſwerable to the perfection commanded by the law; but alſo a King of peace, conveying a ſeed of everlaſting peace and abſolute reconciliation between God and the ſoul through the blood of the Croſs, wherein the perfection of the life of faith conſiſts.
For wherever the ſingle ſeed of righteouſneſs is in any without this other ſeed of peace, bleſsing will not ſtay or long abide in that heart: nor will the profeſsion of faith and a good conſcience be held faſt and without wavering and danger of falling away. But where both theſe ſeeds are caſt in together, to live together, as brethren in unity, the elder ſerving the younger, they are the two that are better then one, mentioned, Eccleſ. 4. 9, 10. who ſhall have a reward for their labour; and when one falleth, the other ſhall help him up: but woe to him that is ſingle and alone. For the wavering unſtable principles of the firſt holy and righteous ſeed are never rightly fixed nor made durable, or abiding unto life eternal, but by this higher divine birth; whereby the firſt hearing of the word becomes mixed with faith, and produceth in the heart that ground which brings forth the good ſeed in abandant fruitfulneſs, without any danger of miſcarrying.
This new-creature-life and glory is ſignified by the white ſtone and new name that none can read but thoſe that have it: who feed upon the hidden Manna, and are admitted to ſit down at table and meat with the Son in the Kingdom of the Father, having the ſeal of the living God in their foreheads, by which they eſcape out of all trials and ſpiritual dangers, and are brought forth as gold refined by the fire.
Theſe are they that are baptized with the Holy Ghoſt and with fire, into the name of the Father, Son and Spirit, in the truth of the thing, in the living WORD; and not only in the ſhadow and figure held forth in worldly rudiments and carnal ordinances; being the choſen veſſels which God ſelects out of thoſe many which he hath called, cauſing them to bear his own name, his new name, whom he makes pillars in his houſe, never to go forth more. Theſe are the true ſeed of the promiſe, as it is written, not to ſeeds, as of many, but that one ſeed, which is Chriſt: who are now ſons, though for a ſeaſon under the veil and form of ſervants, unſeen in their true and proper appearance: yet at laſt they muſt be like unto Chriſt their head in their heavenly, glorified man-hood, as ſaith the Scripture: we ſhall be like him, and ſee him as he is.
And as thus the ſpiritual ſeed, conſidered as living by the faith that fails not, are one ſort of the ſubjects under this third diſpenſation of Chriſts Rule: ſo there is a counterfeit ſpiritual ſeed that are deſcribed Jude ver. 12, 13. who are to be numbred under this third rank of ſubjects, as the ſecond ſort under this third adminiſtration, intruders into this ſpiritual ſociety of true believers, being ſpots in thoſe feaſts of love wherein they feaſt with them, ſporting themſelves with their own deceivings, feeding without fear, clouds they are without water, carried about of winds, foaming out their own ſhame, wandring ſtars; and 2 Pet. 2. 14, 15, 17, 18, 19. having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot ceaſe from ſin, beguiling unſtable ſouls, curſed children, who have for ſaken the right way and are gone aſtray, who ſpeaking great ſwelling words of vanity, allure through the luſts of the fleſh, through much wantonneſs, thoſe that had clean eſcaped from them who live in errour; being themſelves the ſervants of corruption, whilſt they promiſe liberty to others: unto whom is reſerved the miſt or blackneſs of darkneſs for ever.
Thus man, in a threefold reſpect, is the ſubject of theſe three kingdoms and dominions of Chriſt: and is ſo vaſtly diſtinguiſhed from himſelf in theſe three ſtates, that he ſeems to have (as it were) a threefold nature and ſpirit, proper to each of them. In one of which, all the nations of the world live and walk, as they are diſtinguiſhed from the earthly Jeruſalem, the children of Mount Sinai, or the firſt convenant.
In the ſecond, the fleſhly ſeed of Iſrael or the worldly Church lives and walks, diſtinguiſhed both from the nations of the world, and from the heavenly Jeruſalem, or the true Mount-Sion.
And in the third, the ſpiritual ſeed or children of the Jeruſalem that is above, do live and walk, diſtinguiſhed from both the former: each of them therefore are placed by God under a ſeveral Rule and law, according to which their lives and actions are to be faſhioned and conformed, and by which they are to be tried and judged at the laſt day, when the ſecrets of men of all ſorts ſhall be judged by Chriſt Jeſus according to the Goſpel, which is of that large comprehenſion, as to take in all the three diſpenſations.
Firſt, for the nations of the world, they have judgements given them by God, Ezek. 5. 6, 7. with which Iſrael is reproched, as having walked ſhort of them; ſo that the uncircumciſion did out-doe the circumciſion in the righteouſneſs, the effect whereof was contained in the law, as in a much ſuperiour and more excellent adminiſtration.
Theſe the Apoſtle cals Rom. 2. 12. ſuch as ſin without law, and periſh without law, but yet are acknowledged as ſuch, that though they have not the law as it was given to the Jews, yet have a law given them from God, the work and effect of which ſheweth it ſelf in their conſciences, accuſing or excuſing them, as they walk up to it, or ſhort of it; even the law of nature, in which they are a law unto themſelves, having that within them that ſhall witneſs for them or againſt them before the Throne and judgement ſeat of Chriſt: that is to ſay, the law of natural right and juſt, exhibited to them through the miniſtry of Angels, that are inviſible Thrones, Dominions, Principalities and powers, ſet up by God for this very end, as his miniſters for terrour unto evil works, and as encouragers and Protectors of them that do well, as will preſently more fully be evinced.
The ſecond Rule or law containing the judgements and ordinances of God given unto the fleſhly ſeed or children of the firſt covenant, is the WORD of God coming forth in his firſt appearance, or the law proceeding from Mount Sinai, witneſſed unto by the Scriptures of truth and Oracles of God, that were committed to the Jews firſt, and afterwards to the Gentiles; which in all the degrees and ſteps of its adminiſtration, anſwers the true meaſure and proportion of Chriſts natural righteouſneſs and perfection, as he is (and ſo hath been here deſcribed) the head and root thereof to Angels and men, being that holy commandment that either may be turned aſide from (leaving them that have been under it, to a far worſe ſtate then it found them in, and rendring their latter end worſe then their beginning, as 2 Pet. 2. 20. &c.) or elſe be kept without ſpot and blameleſs through the power of faith, by the true Saint or ſpiritual ſeed.
The third law and Rule, is the law of the ſpirit of life in Chriſt Ieſus (the WORD of God, in his ſecond appearance, which comes forth from Mount Sion, the heavenly Jeruſalem) conſiſting not in meats and drinks and worldly rudiments, but in the power of an endleſs life and an everlaſting righteouſneſs, written out in fair characters in the death and reſurrection of Chriſt, when he ceaſed from his own works, and became the beginning and author of life from the dead, as the firſt-born among the many brethren, whoſe names are written in heaven, and upon whom God hath written his new name, and the name of the new Ieruſalem.
The perfection and righteouſneſs of which ſecond appearance, is brought to light fully by the brightneſs of Chriſts comming the ſecond time: the firſt-fruits whereof are already given and ſet up in the hearts and ſpirits of the children of promiſe and of the free-woman, being the hidden Manna which they feed on; the new name which they can read, and the holy anointing whereby they judge all things, whilſt themſelves are judged of no man.