Part 53

If to use Games, Sports, Plays; if to card, dice, and dance; if to sing, fiddle, and pipe; if to use Stage-plays and Comedies, and to lye, counterfeit, and dissemble, be to fear always; and if that be to do all Things to the Glory of God; and if that be to pass our Sojourning here in fear; and if that be to use this World as if we did not use it; and if that be not to fashion ourselves according to our former Lusts; to be not conformable to the Spirit and vain Conversation of this World; then are our Adversaries, notwithstanding they use these Things, and plead for them, very good, sober, mortified, and self-denying Christians, and we justly to be blamed for judging them; but not otherwise.

If the Profanation of the holy Name of God; if to exact Oaths one from another upon every light Occasion; if to call God to witness in Things of such a Nature, in which no earthly King would think himself lawfully and honourably to be a Witness, be the Duties of a Christian Man, I shall confess that our Adversaries are excellent good Christians, and we wanting in our Duty: But if the contrary be true, of Necessity our Obedience to God in this Thing must be acceptable.

If to revenge ourselves, or to render Injury, Evil for Evil, Wound for Wound, to take Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth; if to fight for outward and perishing Things, to go a Warring one against another, whom we never saw, nor with whom we never had any Contest, nor any Thing to do; being moreover altogether ignorant of the Cause of the War, but only that the Magistrates of the Nations foment Quarrels one against another, the Causes whereof are for the most Part unknown to the Soldiers that fight, as well as upon whose Side the right or wrong is; and yet to be so furious, and rage one against another, to destroy and spoil all, that this or the other Worship may be received or abolished; if to do this, and much more of this Kind, be to fulfil the Law of Christ, then are our Adversaries indeed true _Christians_, and we miserable _Hereticks_, that suffer ourselves to be spoiled, taken, imprisoned, banished, beaten, and evilly entreated, without any Resistance, _placing our Trust only in GOD_, that he may defend us, and lead us by the Way of the _Cross_ unto his _Kingdom_. But if it be otherways, we shall certainly receive the _Reward_ which the Lord hath promised to those that _cleave to him_, and, in denying themselves, _confide in him_.

And to sum up all, if to use all these Things, and many more that might be instanced; be to _walk in the strait Way that leads to Life_, be to _take up the Cross of Christ_, be to _die with him to the Lusts and perishing Vanities of this World_, and to _arise with him in Newness of Life_, and _sit down with him in the heavenly Places_, then our Adversaries may be accounted such, and they need not fear they are in the _broad Way that leads to Destruction_, and we are greatly mistaken, that have laid aside all these Things, for Christ’s Sake, to the crucifying of our own Lusts, and to the procuring to ourselves Shame, Reproach, Hatred, and Ill-will from the Men of this World: Not as if by so doing we judged to merit Heaven, but as knowing they are contrary to the Will of Him who redeems his Children from the Love of this World, and its Lusts, and leads them in the Ways of _Truth_ and _Holiness_, in which they take delight to walk.

THE CONCLUSION.

_If in God’s Fear, _Candid Reader_, thou appliest thyself to consider this System of Religion here delivered, with its Consistency and Harmony, as well in itself as with the Scriptures of Truth, I doubt not but thou wilt say with me and many more, that this is the spiritual Day of Christ’s Appearance, wherein he is again revealing the ancient Paths of Truth and Righteousness. For thou mayest observe here the _Christian Religion_ in all its Parts truly established and vindicated, as it is a living, inward, spiritual, pure, and substantial Thing, and not a mere Form, Shew, Shadow, Notion and Opinion, as too many have hitherto held it, whose Fruits declare they wanted that which they bear the Name of; and yet many of those are so in Love with their empty Forms and Shadows, that they cease not to calumniate us for commending and calling them to the Substance, as we therefore denied or neglected the true Form and outward Part of Christianity, which indeed is, as God the Searcher of Hearts knows, a very great Slander. Thus, because we have desired People earnestly to feel after God _near_ and _in themselves_, telling them that their Notions of God, as he is beyond the Clouds, will little avail them, if they do not feel him near; hence they have fought maliciously to infer that we deny any God except that which is within us. Because we tell People, That it is the _Light_ and _Law within_, and not the _Letter without_, that can truly tell them their Condition, and lead them out of all Evil; hence they say, we vilify the _Scriptures_, and set up our own Imaginations above them. Because we tell them, That it is not their talking or believing of Christ’s outward Life, Sufferings, Death, and Resurrection, no more than the _Jews_ crying, _The Temple of the Lord_, _the Temple of the Lord_, that will serve their Turn, or justify them in the Sight of God; but that they must know _Christ_ in _them_, whom they have crucified, to be raised, and to justify them, and redeem them from their Iniquities: Hence they say, We deny the Life, Death, and Sufferings of Christ, Justification by his Blood, and Remission of Sins through him. Because we tell them, while they are talking and determining about the _Resurrection_, that they have more Need to know the _Just One_, whom they have slain, _raised in themselves_, and to be sure they are Partakers of the _first Resurrection_; and that this be, they will be the more capable to judge of the _Second_: Hence they say, That we deny the Resurrection of the Body. Because when we hear them talk foolishly of Heaven and Hell, and the last Judgment, we exhort them to come out of that hellish Condition they are in, and come down to the Judgment of Christ _in their own Hearts_, and believe in the Light, and follow it, that so they may come to sit in the heavenly Places that are in Christ Jesus: Hence they maliciously say, that we deny any Heaven or Hell but that which is within us, and that we deny any general Judgment; which _Slanders_ the Lord knows are foully cast upon us, whom God hath raised for this End, and gathered us, that by us he might confound the Wisdom of the Wise, and bring to Nought the Understanding of the Prudent; and might, in and by his own Spirit and Power in a despised People (that no Flesh might glory in his Presence) pull down that dead, dark, corrupt Image, and mere Shadow and Shell of Christianity wherewith Antichrist hath deceived the Nations: For which End he hath called us to be a First-fruits of those that serve him, and worship him no more in the Oldness of the Letter, but in the Newness of the Spirit. And though we be few in Number, in Respect of others; and weak as to outward Strength, which we also altogether reject, and foolish if compared with the wise Ones of this World; yet as God hath prospered us, notwithstanding much Opposition, so will he yet do, that neither the Art, Wisdom, nor Violence of Men or Devils shall be able to quench that _little Spark_ that hath appeared; but it shall grow to the consuming of whatsoever shall stand up to oppose it. The _Mouth of the Lord_ hath spoken it! Yea, He that hath arisen in a small Remnant shall arise and go on by the same Arm of Power in his spiritual Manifestation, until he hath conquered all his Enemies, until all the Kingdoms of the Earth become the Kingdom of Christ Jesus._

Unto Him that hath begun this Work, not among the Rich or Great Ones, but among the Poor and Small, and hath revealed it not to the Wise and Learned, but unto the Poor, unto Babes and Sucklings; even to Him, the Only Wise and Omnipotent GOD, be Honour, Glory, Thanksgiving, and Renown, from henceforth and for ever. _Amen. Hallelu-JAH._

_A TABLE of the AUTHORS cited in this BOOK._

A

Alanus, 386

Amandus Polanus, 201

Ambrosius Ausbertus, 487

Ambrosius Mediolanensis, 102, 440, 441, 487, 490

Amesius, 201, 426

Anselmus _Bishop_ of Canterbury, 487

Antiochus, ibid

Apollinarius, 113

Athanasius, 7, 439, 482, 487, 490

Augustinus Bakerus, 328

Augustinus, 6, 33, 61, 62, 74, 121, 160, 162, 187, 217, 222, 385, 388, 389

Author _de Vocat. Gentium_, 102

B

Basil _the Great_, 481, 487

Beda, 487

Bellarmine, 172, 438

Bernard, 8, 329, 341

Bertius, 199

Beza, 90, 185, 434

Borhæus, 185, 191

Bucerus, 186

Buchanan, 162

Bullinger, 184

C

Calvin, 27, 28, 29, 49, 50, 58, 90, 187, 199, 277, 302, 376, 383, 396, 411, 423

Carolostadius, 442

Casaubonus, 460

Cassiodorus, 487

Castellio, 442

Catechism _of_ Westminster, 204

Chamierus, 185

Chemnitius, 187

Christianus Druthmarus, 487

Chromatius, 487, 490

Chrysostom, 102, 427, 481, 487, 490

Cicero, 159

Claudius Albertus Inuncanus, 192

Clemens Alexandrinus, 6, 7, 142, 143, 160, 487, 494

Conference _of_ Oldenb. El. D., 202

Confession _of_ Augsburgh, 202, 202, 226

---- _the_ French _Churches_, 50

---- Faith _of the Churches of_ Holland, 50

---- _the_ Divines _at_ Westminster, 50, 58, 168

Council _of_ Aszansic, 222

---- Carthage, 51

---- Florence, 38

---- Laodicea, 51

---- Trent, 84, 201, 485

Cyprian, 441, 487, 490

Cyrillus Alexandrinus, 7, 130, 135, 136, 487, 490

D

Dallæus, 423

Diodorus, Siculus, 484

E

Epictetus, 3

Epiphanius, 60, 487

Erasmus, 462, 487, 490

Estius, 192

Eusebius, 37

Euthymius, 487, 490

Eutyches, 113

F

Forbes, 186, 187

Franciscus Lambertus, 260, 335

Fredericus Sylvius, 494, 498

G

Gelasius, 222

Gentiletus, 201

Gerardus Vossius, 137, 202, 226

Godeau, 462

Gregory _the Great_, 7

Gregorius Nazianzenus, 487

Gregorius Nyssenus, ibid

H

Haimo, 487

Hilarius, 440, 487

Hildebrand, 438

Himelius, 192

History _of the_ Council _of_ Trent, 442

---- Reformation _of_ France, 457, 458

Hosius, 440

Hugo Grotius, 481, 486

I

James Coret, 199

James Howel, 462

Jerome, 7, 60, 64, 222, 440, 458, 482, 487, 490

Johannes Damascenus, 487

Johannes Ferus, 490

Johannes Floracensis, 386

Johannes Maresius, 462

John Hus, 71

Isidorus Hispalensis, 487

---- Pelusiota, ibid

Justin Martyr, 143, 160, 487, 490, 492, 495

L

Lactantius, 161

Lucas Osiander, 104, 167

Ludovicus Vives, 160, 161, 498

Luther, 8, 103, 165, 167, 243, 442, 461

M

Martianus, 440

Martyr, 91

Melancthon, 8, 185, 226

Musculus, 199

N

Nicolaus Arnoldus _of_ Franequer, 242, 262, 263, 284, 298, 299, 301, 374, 387

O

Oecumenius, 487

Origen, 9, 270, 487, 490

Otho Brunsselsius, 487

P

Papirius Masson, 389

Paræus, 90, 128

Paschasius Radbertus, 487

Paulus Riccius, 382, 406

Philo Judæus, 486, 492

Phocylides, 160

Piscator, 91

Pithæus, 386

Platina, 252

Plato, 159, 486

Plotinus, 159

Polybius, 481

Polycarpus, 37, 487

Prosper, 101, 102

Pythagoras, 159, 486

Q

Quintilianus, 486

Quintus Curtius, 485

R

Reinerius, 450

Richard Baxter, 192, 201

S

Seneca, 159

Smith, _Doctor in_ Cambridge, 9

Stobæus, 486

Sulpitius Severus, 495

Synod Arelatensian, 102

---- _of_ Dort, 50, 89

T

Tertullian, 7, 441, 487, 490, 492, 494

Theophylactus, 487

Thomas Aquinas, 33

Thysius, 184

V

Victor Antiochenus, 137

Vincentius Lyrinensis, 496

W

Waldenses, 487

Wickliff, ibid

Z

Zanchius, 90, 184, 188, 201

Zuinglius, 84, 91, 192

_A_ TABLE _of the_ CHIEF THINGS.

A

_Abraham_’s Faith, 19.

_Adam_; See _Man_, _Sin_, _Redemption_. What Happiness he lost by the Fall, 74. What Death he died, 75. He retained in his Nature no Will or Light capable of itself to manifest spiritual Things, _ibid._ Whether there be any Reliques of the heavenly Image left in him, 78, 117.

_Alexander Skein_’s Queries proposed to the Preachers, 347, 348, 385.

_Anabaptists of Great Britain_, 39, 322.

_Anabaptists_ of _Munster_, how their mischievous Actings nothing touch the _Quakers_, 36 to 40.

_Anicetus_, 37.

_Anointing_, The Anointing teacheth all Things; it is and abideth for ever a common Privilege, and sure Rule to all Saints, 34, 35.

_Antichrist_ is exalted when the Seed of God is pressed, 118. His Work, 273, 274, 275, 279, 280.

_Antinomians_, their Opinion concerning Justification, 175.

_Apostasy_, 224, 270.

_Apostle_, who he is, their Number was not limited, and whether any may be now-a-days so called, 275, 276, 277, 278.

_Appearances_; See _Faith_.

_Arians_, they first brought in the Doctrine of _Persecution_ upon the Account of Religion, 439, 440.

_Arius_, By what he fell into Error, 270.

_Arminians_; See _Remonstrants_.

_Assemblings_ are needful, and what Sort, 299, 300, _&c._ See _Worship_, they are not to be forsaken, 341.

_Astrologer_, 44, 45.

_Aurelia_, There ten _Canonicks_ were burnt, and why, 385, 386.

B

_Baptism_ is one, its Definition, 355, 358 to 364. It is the Baptism of Christ, and of the Spirit, not of Water, 365 to 368. The Baptism of Water, which was _John_’s Baptism, was a Figure of this Baptism, and is not to be continued, 367 to 387.

_Baptism_ with Water doth not cleanse the Heart, 359, 369. Nor is it a Badge of Christianity, as was Circumcision to the Jews, 372, 385. That _Paul_ was not sent to baptize is explained, 372 to 374. Concerning what _Baptism_ Christ speaks, _Mat._ xxviii. 20. it is explained, 376, 377. How the Apostles baptized with Water is explained, 378 to 382. To _Baptize_, signifies to _Plunge_, and how _Sprinkling_ was brought in, 382, 383. Those of old that used _Water-baptism_, were Plunged, and they that were only Sprinkled, were not admitted to an Ecclesiastical Function, and why, 383. Against the Use of _Water-baptism_ many heretofore have testified, 385, 386.

_Infant-baptism_ is a mere human Tradition, 355, 387, 388.

_Bible_, The last Translations always find Fault with the first, 60.

_Birth_, The spiritual Birth, 47. Holy Birth, 217, 218. See _Justification_.

_Bishop_ of _Rome_, concerning his Primacy, 38, 39. How he abused his Authority, and by what he deposed Princes, and absolveth the People from the Oath of Fidelity, 438, 442.

_Blood_, To abstain from Blood and Things strangled, 418, 419. It hath been shed, 398.

_Blood of Christ_; See _Communion_.

_Body_, To bow the Body; See _Head_.

_Books Canonical_ and _Apocryphal_; See _Canon_, _Scripture_.

_Bonaventure_, 302.

_Bow_, To bow the Knee; See _Uncover the Head_.

_Bread_, The breaking of Bread among the Jews, was no singular Thing, 406, 411. It is now other Ways performed than it was by Christ, 401. Whether unleavened or leavened Bread is to be used; also it is hotly disputed about the Manner of taking it, and to whom it is to be given, 411, 412. See _Communion_.

C

_Calvinists_; See _Protestants_. They deny _Consubstantiation_, 38. They maintain absolute Reprobation, _ibid._ They think Grace is a certain irresistible Power; and what Sort of a Saviour they would have, 147, 248. Of the Flesh and Blood of Christ, 393, 396. They use leavened Bread in the Supper, 411.

_Canon_, Whether the Scripture be a filled up Canon, 69, 70. Whether it can be proved by Scripture that any Book is Canonical, 70, 71.

_Castellio_ banished, 442.

_Ceremonies_; See _Superstition_.

_Christ_; See _Communion_, _Justification_, _Redemption_, _Word_. He sheweth himself daily, revealing the Knowledge of the Father, 8. Without his School there is nothing learned but busy Talking, 9. He is the Eternal Word, 11. No Creature hath access to God but by him, 11, 12, 13. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, 13. He is the Mediator between God and Man, 12, 170. He is God, and in Time he was made Partaker of Man’s Nature, 12. Yesterday, To-day the same, and for ever, 22. The Fathers believed in him, and how, _ibid._ His Sheep hear his Voice and contemn the Voice of a Stranger, 51, 258, 261. It is the Fruit of his Ascension to send Pastors, 63. He dwelleth in the Saints, and how, 113. His Coming was necessary, 115. By his Sacrifice we have Remission of Sins, 115, 152, 170. Whether he be, and how he is in all Men, is explained, 115, 116. Being formed within, he is the formal Cause of Justification, 164, 189. By his Life, Death, _&c._ he hath opened a Way for Reconciliation, 190, 191, 192. His Obedience, Righteousness, Death and Sufferings are ours; and it is explained, that _Paul_ said, _He filled up that which was behind of the Afflictions of Christ in his Flesh_, 173. How we are Partakers of his Suffering, 213, 214, 215. For what End he was manifested, 209, 210. He delivers his own by suffering, 210. Concerning his outward and spiritual Body, 390, 391. Concerning his outward and inward Coming, 417.

_Christian_, How he is a Christian, and when he ceaseth so to be, 5, 10, 25, 26 to 31, 220, 244, 245, 246, 247, 257, 258. The Foundation of his Faith, 45. His Privilege, 46. When Men are made Christians by Birth, and not by coming together, 236, 237. They have borrowed many Things from Jews and Gentiles, 356, 357. They recoil by little and little from their first Purity, 415, 498. The Primitive Christians for some Ages said, _We are Christians, we Swear not_, 485. And, _We are the Soldiers of Christ, it is not lawful for us to fight_, 495, 496.

_Christianity_ is made as an Art, 10. It is not Christianity without the Spirit, 24 to 27, 49, 50. It would be turned into _Scepticism_, 267. It is placed chiefly in the Renewing of the Heart, 238. Wherein it consists not, 313. What is, and is not, the Mark thereof, 371, 372, 385. Why it is odious to Jews, Turks, and Heathens, 395. What would contribute to its _Commendation_, 454.

_Church_, Without which there is no Salvation; what she is; concerning her Members, Visibility, Profession, Degeneration, Succession, 232 to 255. Whatsoever is done in the Church without the Instinct of the Holy Spirit, is vain and impious, 160. The same may be said of her, as was in the Schools, of _Theseus_’s Boat, 280. In her Corrections ought to be exercised, and against whom, 427. She is more corrupted by the Accession of Hypocrites, 435, 436. The Contentions of the Greek and Latin Churches about unleavened or leavened Bread in the Supper, 411. The Lukewarmness of the Church of _Laodicea_, 246. There are introduced into the _Roman Church_ no less Superstitions and Ceremonies than among Heathens and Jews, 237.

_Circumcision_, a Seal of the old Covenant, 373.

_Clergy_, 275, 276, 279, 289, 290, 412.

_Clothes_, That it is not lawful for Christians to use Things superfluous in Clothes, 467 to 470, 500.

_Comforter_, For what End he was sent, 8.

_Commission_, The Commission of the Disciples of Christ before the Work was finished was more legal than evangelical, 263.

_Communion_, The Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ is a spiritual and inward Thing, 388. That Body, that Blood is a spiritual Thing, and that it is that heavenly Seed, whereby Life and Salvation was of old and is now communicated, 388, 389, 390. How any becomes Partaker thereof, 393 to 395. It is not tied to the Ceremony of breaking Bread and drinking Wine, which Christ used with his Disciples, this was only a Figure, 388, 395 to 406. Whether that Ceremony be a necessary Part of the new Covenant, and whether it is to be continued, 406 to 424. Spiritual Communion with God through Christ is obtained, 75.

_Community_ of Goods is not brought in by the Quakers, 427, 453.

_Compliments_; See _Titles_.

_Conscience_; See _Magistrate_. Its Definition, what it is; it is distinguished from the _Saving Light_, 418 to 421, 426. The good Conscience, and the hypocritical, 226. He that acteth contrary to his Conscience sinneth; and concerning an erring Conscience, 426. What Things appertain to Conscience, 427. What Sort of Liberty of Conscience is defended, _ibid_. It is the Throne of God, 428. It is free from the Power of all Men, 442.

_Conversion_, What is Man’s therein, is rather a Passion than an Action, 121. _Augustine_’s Saying, _ibid_. This is cleared by two Examples, 122, 123.

_Correction_, how and against whom it ought to be exercised, 427.

_Covenant_, The Difference betwixt the new and the old Covenant Worship, 32, 298, 299, 324 to 337, 369 to 371. See also _Law_, _Gospel_.

_Cross_, The Sign of the Cross, 385.

D

_Dancing_; See _Plays_.

_Days_, Whether any be Holy, and concerning the Day commonly called _the Lord’s Day_, 301, 405.

_Deacons_, 414.

_Death_; See _Adam_, _Redemption_. It entered into the World by Sin, 83. In the Saints it is rather a Passing from Death to Life, 84.

_Devil_, He cares not at all how much God be acknowledged with the Mouth, provided himself be worshipped in the Heart, 10, 149. He haunts among the Wicked, 210. How he may seem to be a Minister of the Gospel, 271 to 273. When he can work nothing, 220, 221. He keeps Men in outward Signs, Shadows, and Forms, while they neglect the Substance, 398, 399.

_Dispute_, The Dispute of the Shoemaker with a certain Professor, 260. Of an Heathen Philosopher with a Bishop in the Council of _Nice_, and of the unlettered Clown, 367, 368.

_Divinity_, School-divinity, 256. How pernicious it is, 268 to 279.

_Dreams_; See _Faith_, _Miracles_.

E

_Ear_, There is a spiritual and a bodily Ear, 8, 20.

_Easter_ is celebrated other Ways in the Latin Church than in the Eastern, 37. The Celebration of it is grounded upon Tradition, _ibid._

_Elders_, 17, 279.

_Elector_ of _Saxony_, the Scandal given by him, 349.

_Eminency_, your Eminency; See _Titles_.

_Enoch_ walked with God, 216.

_Epistle_; See _James_, _John_, _Peter_.

_Esau_, 309.

_Ethicks_, or Books of moral Philosophy, are not needful to Christians, 268.

_Evangelist_, Who he is, and Whether any now-a-days may be so called, 277.

_Excellency_, your Excellency; See _Titles_.

_Exorcism_, 385.

F

_Faith_, Its Definition, and what its Object is, 18 to 21. How far, and how Appearances, outward Voices, and Dreams were the Objects of the Saints’ Faith, 19, 20. That Faith is one, and that the Object of Faith is one, 20. Its Foundation, 45. See _Revelation_, _Scripture_.

_Farellus_, 411.

_Father_; See _Knowledge_, _Revelation_, 18.

_Fathers_, so called, they did not agree about some Books of the Scripture, 50, 60. They affirm that there are whole Verses taken out of _Mark_ and _Luke_, 60. Concerning the _Septuagint_ Interpretation, and the Hebrew Copy, 60. They preached universal Redemption for the first four Centuries, 101. They frequently used the Word _Merit_ in their Doctrine, 200, 201. Concerning the Possibility of not sinning, 222. The Possibility of falling from Grace, 226. Many of them did not only contradict one another, but themselves also, 270. Concerning Baptism, and the Sign of the Cross, 385. Concerning an Oath, 478.

_Feet_, Concerning the washing of one another’s Feet, 407 to 410.

_Franequer_, 284.

_Freely_, The Gospel ought to be preached freely, 183, 284.

G

_Games_; See _Sports_.

_Gifted Brethren_, 254.