Yea, he speaks alfo of their being as lively ftones, built up a fpiritual house, an holy priesthood (mark; all God's people who are gathered into the name, who are of the faith, who are in the life and power, are priests unto him) to offer up spiritual facrifices, acceptable to God by Jefus Chrift, 1 Peter ii. 5. Now was it a fmall thing to be a priest under the law, to offer up the outward facrifices thereof? What is it then to be a priest in the Holy Spirit and power of life?

John alfo writes a general epiftle, wherein he divides Chriftians into three eftates (children, young men, fathers), fpeaking great things and glorious of them all. He faid, The darkness is past, and the true light now fhineth. Paul had faid, The night is far spent, and the day is at hand, but he faid, the night is paft, and the day is come, 1 John ii. 8. And he writes to all (children, young men, fathers), as being paffed from the darkness, and in the light of the day. The little children had had their fins forgiven them for his name's fake, and had known the Father, ver. 12, 13. The young men were ftrong, and the word of God did abide in them, and they had overcome the wicked one, ver. 14. The fathers knew him that was from the beginning, ver. 13, 14. and knowing that, they knew enough; for that was it which appeared to fave, and that was it which was to be preached, even that which was from the beginning, the light which was with God, the light which was in God, the light which was God, in which is no darknefs at all, chap. i. 1. 5. Yea the little children had an unction from the Holy One, and they knew all things; and John wrote not unto them as not knowing the truth, but because they knew it, chap. ii. 18. 20, 21. Yea, they had received the anointing, and it did abide in them, and they needed not that any man fhould teach them, but as the fame anointing taught them of all things; and it fo taught them, as that no feducer nor antichriftian deceiver could impofe or prevail upon them, they keeping to it, ver. 18.-26, 27. What a glorious ftate was here when the little children were thus advanced in the ftrength and power of life? Sure that promise was now made good indeed, Ye shall be all taught of God, when the little children were thus taught. Yea, and they were taught to abide in him, so as they might not fin; for how could they, the anointing abiding in them, and teaching them of all things, and they being. in fubjection thereto; for that preferves out of fin the veffel in whom it dwells and reigns. Sin is a tranfgreffion of the law; but they that are in the anointing, taught by the anointing, fubject to the anointing, are far above the righteousness of the law, even in the righteousness of the Son; the righteousness of whofe nature is far above the righteousness which the law requires of man's nature. And let men talk and imagine what they will, the finner is not in the redemption and power of righteousness, which is by Jefus Chrift. For that which is born of God doth not commit fin, but the feed remaineth in him which is born of God, preserving him from the nature and spirit of the Devil, and from the works which flow from that.

fo

nature

nature and spirit, chap. iii. 4. &c. Yea, they might fo walk as that their hearts fhould not condemn them; but that they might have confidence towards God, ver. 20, 21. And as Christ said to the Father; Father, thou always beareft me; fo could they fay, Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do thofe things that are pleafing in his fight, ver. 22. even as Chrift had faid; He that fent me is with me, &c. for I do always thofe things that please him, John viii. 29. Yea, thefe little children, having received the anointing, were able to try fpirits, and had tried and overcome them (notwithstanding the fubtilty and strength of all their deceits), because that light, life, Spirit, and power which dwelt within them, was greater than that which was in the world, chap. iv. 1, 4. And can the lefs overcome the greater, the greater keeping to its ftrength? Nay, nay: These that are of the love, and dwell in the love, are (by the power and virtue of the love) kept out of all the fnares and devices of the enmity; for the enmity cannot enter the love, nor the foul that abides in the love; but only him that departs out of it. Here is a munition of rocks, here is fafety indeed; let him that hath an ear hear, and let him that hath a spiritual eye read and confider. What should be faid more of them? They were in the love which keeps the commandments of the birth to which the victory is given, and in the faith which gives the victory, chap. v. 3, 4. Yea, did they not fo keep themselves, as that the wicked one could not touch them? ver. 18. How could he, when they had overcome him, and abode in that which overcame him? Satan falls like a flash of lightening before the power of truth, before the living faith; the faith which is from, and ftands in, the power. And if the Devil would fly from those that refifted him, how much more would he fly from those that had overcome him, and stood armed with that armour which is painful and dreadful to him?

Again, the apostle that writeth to the Hebrews, fpeaketh of their work and labour of love (which advanceth the foul apace towards the kingdom), and of their patient enduring the trials, perfecutions, afflictions, and croffes (through which perfection is attained, James i. 4.) Heb. vi. 10. and chap. x. 32, 33. Yea, he fpeaketh exprefly concerning them, that they were come to Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerulem, and to an innumerable company of angels; to the general affembly and church of the firft-born which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the fpirits of just men made perfect, and to Jefus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of fprinkling, chap. xii. 22, 23, 24. and that they had received, or were receiving, a kingdom which could not be moved, ver. 28.

There is another place in my heart to mention, which speaks great glory and an high state, in the fenfe of my fpirit, attributing glory and dominion to Christ for his loving them, and washing them from their fins in his own blood, and making them kings and priefts unto God and his Father,

Rev. i. 5, 6. What is he who is both a King and priest to God? Surely he is washed, furely he is cloathed with the priest's raiment, furely he is in the dominion and purity of life, who reigns and offers up therein holy facrifices to the Father.

Thus far have inftances been given in reference to the general ftate. Now it is alfo in my heart to give fome inftances in particular churches, wherein teftimony is given to the freshness of life in them, and of their precious ftate therein.

First, I fhall instance in that church at Jerufalem: In what a beauteous glory and luftre did they spring forth! As ii. 41. to the end. Confider the place well, and tell me, if this was not the beginning of the spiritual and heavenly Jerufalem; if the glory of it did not defcend upon this newgathered people and converts? So likewife fee chap. iv. 31, &c.

The church at Rome, the apostle Paul fays, were beloved of God; and that their faith was fpoken of throughout the whole world, Rom. i. 7, 8. Now what a glorious precious ftate was this! For by faith is water drawn out of the wells of falvation: And how much might they draw, who abounded in faith! True faith fprings from the power of life, and it brings the power of life into the foul in which it fprings, according to the degree and growth of it. He that is beloved of God, and abounds in faith towards him; what glory, what life, what virtue, what power can he want?

power

The fame apostle, writing to the church at Philippi, faith, he did thank God, upon every remembrance of them; making request for them with joy always, in every prayer of his for them all, for their fellowship in the gospel (which is and life to them that have fellowship therein) from the first day until now, Phil. i. 3, 4, 5. And he calls them dearly beloved and langed-for, his joy and crown, chap. iv. 1.

So writing to the faints and faithful brethren at Coloffus, he gives thanks for their faith, and their love to all the faints, chap. i. 3, 4. And faith further concerning them, that the word of the truth of the gospel had brought forth fruit in them, fince the day they beard and knew the grace of God in truth, ver. 5, 6. To what then were they grown? Surely very far into the myftery of life in Chrift; in whom they had been circumcifed and baptized, and were complete, abiding in him, and drinking in of the life, virtue, and power which floweth from him.

Likewise he writes to the church of the Theffalonians, as being in God the Father, and in the Lord Jefus Chrift, 1 Theff. i. 1. Ah! how excellent and glorious was the ftate and condition of Chrift, to be in the Father! How glorious is the state of that church, which is both in Chrift and in the Father! He fpeaks alfo of their work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope, verfe 3. Yea, he writes to them again as fuch, 2 Ephef. i. 1. Surely they did abide in the vine; they did dwell in the name and power into which they were gathered; and fo did feel the dews from above, and the fprings from beneath; fo that their faith did grow exceedingly, and

their love abound; and the apoles did find caufe of glorying in them, in the churches of God, for their patience and faith in all their perfecutions and tribulations that they endured, ver. 3, 4.

Writing alfo to the Ephefians, he giveth an high expreffion of the goodnefs of God to his people in those days, and of the blessedness of their eftate, in that God had bleffed them with all fpiritual bleffings, in heavenly places in Christ, chap. i. 3. That is hard to be understood; yet this may be fenfibly faid: In the heavenly places in Chrift, the fpiritual bleffings are received, and they that are raised together with him, and live in and with him, do alfo fit with him in the heavenly places in him, even in the manfions which he hath prepared, and is preparing; for he raifeth the foul higher and higher, from glory to glory, at his pleasure. The apoftle also faith, that they were fellow-citizens with the faints, and of the household of God; and were built together in Chrift, for an habitation of God, through the Spirit, chap. ii. 19. 22.

So the church of Smyrna; Chrift owneth her works, and tribulations, and poverty, and pronounceth her rich, Rev. ii. 8. Chrift knoweth how to value things.

And the church of Philadelphia was in a very precious ftate indeed; Christ owning her works, and having fet before her an open door, which no man could fhut; and promifing to make those who made a profeffion of the truth (of being Jews) but were not in it, to come and worship before her feet, and to know that he had loved her; as alfo that he would keep her in the hour of temptation, becaufe fhe had kept the word of his patience, Rev. iii. 8, &c. Thus it is manifeft that the church in general, and many churches in particular, was once in a pure, fresh, living, powerful glorious state.

II. Of the Church in its declining and falling Estate.

BU

UT all the churches were not thus; nor did thofe who were thus always continue thus: but there was a declining and falling from this glorious eftate by degrees, even from the light, brightness, purity and power of the day, into the darkness and corruption of the night again.

And thus the apoftafy came in; to wit, by not keeping to the anointing, by not abiding in that Spirit, life, and power whereinto they were gathered; by not keeping fingly to the voice of the Shepherd. For then another ear got up in them, and that itched after new and strange things; not being contented with the fimplicity of truth which is in Chrift, with the plain heavenly bread. For truth is a naked fimple thing to look at; not answering man's wisdom at first, nor ever afterwards: but in the cross to that its power

is felt, and its beauty feen. But if the wisdom of man get up from under the cross, if it be not ftill kept down by that, it will presently be judging the wisdom of God and the plain way of truth foolishness, and be liftening after fomewhat else.

Thus the church of Corinth, who did abound in fpiritual gifts, yet were apt to run out, and be lifted up above their measures, and think they reigned as kings, without (if not beyond) the apoftles; and fo came into danger of hearkening to falfe fpirits and minifters of unrighteousness, 1 Cor. iv. 8, &c. 2 Cor. x. xi.

And the churches of Galatia, which began well, and very zealously, even fo as they could have plucked out their eyes for Paul's fake; yet were afterwards fo far bewitched and prevailed upon, that the apostle professed he stood in doubt of them, and was afraid left he had bestowed upon them labour in vain, Gal. iv. 11. 20.

When the enemy could not prevail in open battle, by manifest afflictions, oppofitions, perfecutions, &c. then he tries by deceit, getting into the form, to fee what he can do there, how he can please and fatisfy men therewith, and fo work them from that power which redeems. And those that do not eye the power, keep to the power, walk in the power, and judge by the power, to be fure he catcheth this way. The false prophets, faith Christ, which come in fheep's cloathing (with the good words, as minifters of righteousness; but not with the living powerful fruits of righteousness) come with fo fubtil an appearance, as, if it were poffible, they would deceive the very elect: but God keepeth that eye in his elect open, which cannot be deceived; but all elfe are. They that depart from the power, they that err from the faith, they that are in the high-mindedness and conceitedness, out of the fear, they easily hearken to feducing spirits, and drink off their poison. And Peter plainly forefaw that these would be many, 2 Pet. ii. 1, 2.

See also what complaint Paul makes to Timothy, about the declining of many from the truth; he exhorts him to keep faith and a good confcience; which fome having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck, of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, 1 Tim. i. 19, 20.

Again he fpeaks of fome that were already turned afide after Satan, chap. v. 15. And of fome that had erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many forrows, chap. vi. 10. Again: All they which are in Afia be turned away from me, 2 Tim. i. 15. Likewise he speaks of fome, who would increase unto more ungodliness, and whose word will eat as doth a canker, chap. ii. 16, 17. and that evil men and feducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, chap. iii. 13. Yea, the time will come, faith he, when they will not endure found doctrine, chap. iv. 3. Demas bath for faken me, having loved the prefent world, verfe 10. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works, verse 14. firft answer, no man ftood with me, but all men forfook me, verfe 16.

VOL. II.

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