Two Treatises, Letter – Errata
A LETTER OF Sir HENRY VANE, To his LADY, from the Iſle of SCYLLY.
My Dear Heart,
THe Wind yet continuing contrary, makes me deſirous to be as much in Converſe with thee (having this opportunity) as the Providence of God will permit; hoping theſe will come ſafe to your hand. It is no ſmall Satisfaction to me in theſe ſharp Tryals, to experience the Truth of thoſe Chriſtian Principles, which God of his Grace hath afforded you and me, in our meaſures, the knowledge, and emboldned us to make the profeſſion of. For ſurely by this Fiery Tryal, which is from God appointed to try us, no ſtrange or unuſual Diſpenſation of God hath happened to us, differing from that which all his Servants and Prophets from the beginning of the World to this day, have found alſo to be their Lot: Nor is it other, than the Condition (as I may ſay) and Law, that all thoſe muſt come under and ſubmit unto, that will approve themſelves Chriſt's Diſciples indeed, Luk. 14. 26, 27. And it is no ſmall Mercy, that the greateſt Extremities we have already under-gone, and which do as yet threaten, have found that ſtrength and rooting of the Grace and Love of Chriſt in our Hearts, which cauſes us not to deſpair of being made more than Conquerors in the end, without deſiring thoſe Conditions of peace, (verſ. 32.) which are not conſiſtent with our being ſuch Diſciples of Chriſt, as will cheerfully (when called to it) forſake all they have, in love to him, and ſubjection to his Will.
Why ſhould Chriſt ask us, Whether we be able to drink of the Cup he drank of, and be baptized with the Baptiſm he was baptized with? Was it not, to intimate, That if we die with him, we ſhall alſo live with him; if we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him, and have it granted to us to ſit down with him, on the Throne of his Glory, our very Enemies beholding? What would it be leſs, even in this world, if he ſhould but pleaſe to cauſe, upon this occaſion of our Suffering, that the Spirit of God, and of Glory, ſhould reſt upon us, and bring forth his Kingdom within us, in Power, giving us that Mouth and Wiſdom that will make us mighty in word and deed; that Faith, to which all things are poſſible; that Spirit of Supplication and Prayer, that he will alwayes hear and immediately anſwer? God's Arm is not ſhortned; doubteſs, great and precious Promiſes are yet in ſtore, to be accompliſhed in and upon Believers here on Earth, to the making of Chriſt to be admired in them. If we come not to live here, in the actual fruition and full accompliſhment of them, (as they will be experienced by Believers, even on this ſide the death, or full change of their mortal body) yet if we die in the certain fore-ſight and embracing of them by Faith, this will be no ſmall bleſſing.
This dark night and black ſhade, which God hath drawn over his Work in the midſt of us, may be (for ought we know) the ground-colour to ſome beautiful piece, that he is expoſing to the Light. His Sons muſt be manifeſted and evidently diſtinguiſhed from thoſe, who ſay they are ſuch and are not. There is a glory to be revealed in them, unto which their Suffering is made the needful Preparation; and this is called the Redemption of the body. In that day, the tabernacling of God in men ſhall be viſible. Their very bodies ſhall be the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt. In them, as his Sanctuary, will God dwell for evermore, whence ſhall be given forth ſuch viſible ſigns of his extraordinary Preſence, as ſhall render it paſt diſpute, to the ſight of every man, that God is in them and with them of a Truth.
This ſtate of entire reſignedneſs and ſubjection of our bodies to our Spirits, and of our Spirits unto Chriſt, the Father of them, ſhall certainly be brought to the view of the whole World. The eyes of thoſe that ſee them, ſhall acknowledge them; and the ears that hear them, ſhall bear witneſs to them, that they are the Seed and Offſpring, which the Lord hath bleſſed.
Our body, thus conſidered, as capable of ſuch advance and honour, is not meerly the outward caſe or ſhell, that muſt return to duſt, but includes alſo the bodily, organical ſtate of Life, or that ſouly, animal Life, which the Spirit of man exerciſes in conjunction with his mortal body. In this kind of Life it is, we ſee, hear, and ſpeak, have the exerciſe of our Senſes, after a diſtinct manner from Angels and intellectual Subſtances, in a way of operation inferiour to theirs, proper and peculiar to the rational Soul, as needing and uſing the earthly Organs or Inſtruments of the mortal body. There is alſo in man, that which is peculiarly called Mind or Spirit, in diſtinction from his Soul, or from the ſouly Life and activity of the ſame Spirit, in and by its earthly body, 1 Theſſ. 5. 23. The Spirit or Mind of man, (as diſtinguiſhed from that life and operation it performs in the mortal body, is capable, even while in the body, to be awakened by the Father of Spirits, and come forth in a ſuperiour way, even of natural life, received by man in his firſt creation, to act as out of the body, or without the uſe of bodily organs, as an equal or aſſociate to the very Angels. Now becauſe the bodily and inferiour powers of our mind, are the inſtruments of that converſe we are ſubjected to in theſe dayes of our vanity, ſo that if we will be ſociable, it muſt be by the uſe thereof, the Apoſtle James comprehends all the action of theſe inferiour powers by the ſenſible organs we make uſe of in the exerciſe thereof, under the name of the tongue, when he ſaith, If any man offend not in word, the ſame is a perfect man, and able to bridle the whole body. To bridle and regulate the tongue, order all the language, action, and expreſſion of the animal powers aright, is to bridle the whole body, under the government or ruling authority of the Mind or Spirit, conſidered in its ſuperiour and angelical kind of life and acting, as out of the body, or above and without the uſe of bodily organs. The Mind or Spirit of man thus conſidered, is as the Pilot that turns the Ship about, whitherſoever he liſteth. If it well and truly exerciſe its governing power, it cauſes the animal life in all the operations and affections thereof, to obey its dictates and commands, however fiercely driven by contrary Winds, falſe Doctrine, any corrupting violent influences of Devils or men upon it, and fetches it off from whatever tumultuous diſorder, its own ſenſual luſts and paſſions are ready to run it into, Jam. 3. 2, 5.
To be partaker of the Redemption of the body, is to be made this perfect man, which is taught ſo to live and act, from right, ſpiritual Principles, as not to offend in word, through the Power actually conferred on him and exerciſed by him, for the bridling of the whole body, in the ſence above declared, and for the keeping it in ſubjection to the Spirit or angelical part in him, in righteouſneſs and true holineſs.
This taming of the tongue, or ſubduing of the bodily part in us to the ſpiritual and intellectual, is a work of no ſmall difficulty, a thing that is not to be purchaſed but at a dear rate. It may coſt us all that we have, and no ill bargain neither, ſince by our words it is that we ſhall be juſtified, and by our words we ſhall be condemned. For until we have brought under our body, and reduced it into a fixed ſubjection and entire reſignation to our Spirits, let us boaſt never ſo much, that which is perfect is not yet come; even that perfection which in a very eminent degree ſhall be experienced by the Saints here on Earth, on this ſide the grave, and during their continuance in the mortal body. This, for ought I can diſcern, will be the product of the preſent ſharp and fiery Tryals, that God hath brought upon his People all the World over. After they have ſuffered a while, and the ſame Afflictions have been accompliſhed in the reſt of their Brethren that are in the World, they may ſo far have the work of Patience perfected in them, as, in this ſenſe, to become perfect and entire, wanting nothing, and to ſhine forth as ſo many bright morning ſtars, and fore-running ſigns of the near approach of the brightneſs of the Day of Chriſt's ſecond coming. This God hath ſet before the eye of my Faith, as the mark for the price of the high Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus. This is that perfection, which by conformity with Chriſt in his Death, and fellowſhip with him in his Reſurrection, is in a moſt eminent degree attainable, before our diſſolution and the putting off our earthly Tabernacle. It ſhall be ſo far attained by the Power and Glory of Chriſt, that is to be revealed in us, that it ſhall not much fall ſhort of a very Transfiguration. And the ſtate of the then glorious Church will be no leſs than an Heaven upon Earth, in the new Heavens and new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs. This glorious ſtate of things we look for, and therefore are or ought to be haſting a-pace, unto the coming of that Day of God.
Yet, when I ſay, until we experience this kind of perfection in Power in us, that which is perfect is not yet come, my meaning is not, that the incorruptible Seed and Principles of this very perfection are not already ſeated and rooted in the inward man and in the Spirit of the Mind, ſo ſoon as we are regenerated, and that Chriſt is formed in us, dwelling in our hearts by Faith. Thus it is, that we are all glorious within. Thus the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, liken'd to the hidden Treaſure, which when a man hath found in the field, he keeps it concealed, till he hath ſold all that he hath, and bought that field. Faith, which is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, and the evidence of that Glory which doth not yet appear, is not unfitly expreſſed, when it is called a light ſhining in a dark place, that is, in our bodily and ſenſual part, which continues ſo for a long time after our new birth. But thoſe that are all glorious within, muſt have their time of manifeſtation, and be made all glorious without alſo. The outward-man of the heart, and the outward Court of the Temple, muſt come to be meaſured, and be of account and eſtimation, in the ſight of the World. Then the whole body ſhall be full of light, having no part dark, as when the bright ſhining of a Candle doth give thee light.
This is the Perfection which is near us, even at the very door, ready to be teſtified and witneſſed unto, after another manner than thoſe do pretend to, who are for the ſubjecting and keeping under the body, but by thoſe mutable and wavering Principles of Perfection, which amounts but to that viſibility of Saintſhip, which is the ſubject of Apoſtacy, yet hath hitherto paſſed for currant Coin. Nor would I have it thought, that I have already attained the powerful practice of this holy Duty and Perfection, but it is much in my deſire, aim, and hope. The difficult Circumſtances I am in, and that I am ſtill more and more every day caſt into, by God's wiſe-diſpoſing Providence, to the ſequeſtring me from the World, and with-holding all ſenſible Comforts from me, ſo much as he doth, make me, in ſome ſort, confident it is for a good end, and that out of love and faithfulneſs I am made to drink of this bitter Cup, the better to help forward this neceſſary work in me, and upon me, wherein conſiſts the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. If I may have and enjoy this, it would ſeem a very little matter to me to be in outward bonds, baniſhment, want, or any other afflictions. Help me then (in all your ſolicitudes and cares about me) to what will further and advance this Work in me.
The Lord grant me and mine to be content, if he deny us to live of our own, and will bring us to the daily bread of his finding, which he will have us wait for, freſh and freſh from his own Table, without knowing any thing of it before-hand. Peradventure there is a greater ſweetneſs and bleſſing in ſuch a condition, than we can imagine, till we have tryed it. This may add to my help, even our making little haſte to get out of our Troubles, patiently waiting till God's time come, wherein he will open the Priſon doors, either by Death, or ſome other way, as he pleaſe, for the magnifying his own great Name, not ſuffering us to be our own chuſers in any thing, as hitherto hath been his way with us.
And why ſhould ſuch a taking up Sanctuary in God, and deſiring to continue a Pilgrim and ſolitary in this World, whilſt I am in it, afford ſtill matter of jealouſie, diſtruſt and rage, as I ſee it doth, to thoſe who are unwilling that I ſhould be buried and lie quiet in my grave, where I now am. They that preſs ſo earneſtly to carry on my Tryal, do little know what preſence of God may be afforded me in it and iſſue out of it, to the magnifying of Chriſt in my body, by Life or by Death. Nor can they (I am ſure) imagine how much I deſire to be diſſolved and to be with Chriſt, which of all things that can befal me, I account beſt of all. And till then, I deſire to be made faithful in my place and ſtation, to make confeſſion of him before men and not deny his Name, if called forth to give a publick Teſtimony and Witneſs concerning him, and to be herein nothing terrified. What then will the hurt be, that I can or ſhall receive by the worſt that man can do unto me, who can but kill the body, and thereby open my Priſon door, that I may aſcend into the pleaſures that are at Chriſt's right hand, prepared for thoſe that teſtifie and openly diſcover their love to him, by not loving their lives unto the death. Surely this will prove better, than to prefer ſin or evil (ſo much as in appearance) unto Affliction and the Croſs, which Chriſt would have me take up daily and follow him in.
If the Storm againſt us grow ſtill higher and higher, ſo as to ſtrip us of all we have, the Earth is ſtill the Lords and the fulneſs thereof; he hath a good ſtore-houſe for us to live upon. There is nothing more deſtructive to us every way then the uncertainty we are in.
God can, and (if he think fit) will chalk out ſome way, wherein he may appear by his Providence to chooſe for us, and not leave us to our own choice. And being contracted into that ſmall compaſs, which he ſhall think fit to reduce us unto, we may perhaps meet with as true inward contentement, and ſee as great a mercy in ſuch a ſequeſtration from the World, as if we were in the greateſt outward proſperity.
I know nothing that remains unto us, but like a toſſed Ship in a ſtorm, to let our ſelves be toſſed and driven with the Winds, till he that can make theſe ſtorms to ceaſe, and bring us into a ſafe Haven, do work out our deliverance for us. I doubt not but you will accordingly endeavour to prepare for the worſt.
March 7. 1661.-62.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
In the Epiſtle to the Reader.
Page 1. line 30. leave out, if, and now.
In the Epiſtle General.
Pag. 6. l. 9. f. well, r. dwell. P. 7. l. 30. f. manhead, r. manhood. (the ſame word is ſo miſprinted all along, and to be ſo corrected) P. 8. l. 23. f. their, r. your. P. 10. l. 39. leave out, or would not. P. 15. l. 17. f. or, r. nor. & l. 37. r. ſee him not. P. 21. l. 30, 31. leave out, the fountain of theſe outward ſenſes, his inferiour part, to be in his Soul or Spirit. & l. 37. f. his, r. its. P. 23. l. 17. r. much as hearers. P. 24. l. 22. f. and, r. which. l. 23. leave out, in. P. 25. l. 9. f. of his, r. for his. P. 26. l. 10. f. are, r. ſeem. l. 40. f. duly, r. daily. & f. by, r. find.. P. 27. l. 9. f. other, r. one. & l. 40. leave out, not. P. 28. l. 6. f. by, r. amongst. P. 29. l. 7. f. firſt, r. laſt. l. 25. f. perfection, r. perfective. l. 29. r. to the. P. 30. l. 22. f. his, r. Chriſts. l. 28. leave out, which. P. 33. l. 1… f. nor, r. or. & l. 23. f. by, r. thereby. P. 34. l. 8. f. his, r. its. & l. 28. f. into, r. unto. P. 35. l. 7. r. witneſſing in every reſpect. l. 39. f. their, r. the. P. 37. l. 3. f. a, r. as. P. 38. l. 27. f. our, r. open. P. 43. l. 14. f. ſo, r. to. l. 37. f. Monarchs, r. Monarchies; ſo p. 44. l. 8. P. 45. l. 14. f. whereby, r. whereby. P. 48. l. 25. f. heads, r. headſhip. & l. 35. f. one, r. his own. P. 52. l. 23. f. directed, r. diſcerned. P. 53. l. 21. f. duty, r. duties.
Many other obſcurities through the miſtake of words, and miſplacing of Points, have happened in the Printing of this General Epiſtle, by reaſon of the ſeveral difficulties that attended its Publication: It being twice taken in the Preſs, and two Preſſes, well furniſhed with Materials, taken away in the doing of it.
Errata in The Face of the Times.
Page 64. line 26. for forme runder, read former under. P. 70. l. 33. f. unto, r. into. & l. 37. leave out, or. P. 78. l. 36. f. o, r. or. P. 95. l. 10. f. doubteſs, r. doubtleſs. duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page
End of the text · Henry Vane, Two Treatises (1662)